COLLECT THE SERVICES FROM THE RECTOR MUSIC REHEARSALS CALENDAR

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1 SERVICES SUNDAY 8:00 am Eucharist with hymns 9:00 am Fellowship 9:15 am Education for Adults, Youth, and Children 10:30 am Sung Eucharist 11:45 am Fellowship MONDAY AND SATURDAY 9:00 am Centering Prayer, Chapel MUSIC REHEARSALS CHORISTERS Tuesdays, 4:30 5:30 pm SCHOLA CANTORUM Tuesdays, 5:45 7:00 pm ST. THOMAS CHOIR Thursdays, 7:15 pm Sundays, 9:15 am CALENDAR OCTOBER 1 Blessing of the Animals, 4:00 pm OCTOBER 1 Adult Forum & Coffee Hour Anne Lynn, guest speaker AFEDJ, Great Hall OCTOBER 4 6:00 pm, Wednesday Evening Series begins, Great Hall OCTOBER 8 3:00 pm, Choral Arts Northwest, featuring Doug Cleveland, organ Church OCTOBER St. Thomas Family Retreat Copalis Beach, WA OCTOBER 21 A Taste of Scotland: Whisky Tasting with the Keith Highlanders Pipe Band, Great Hall OCTOBER 22 12:00 pm, St. Thomas 101, Del Bene Family Library OCTOBER 24 7:00 pm, Cyber Security with Medina PD, Great Hall OCTOBER 28 4:00 pm, All Hallows' Eve Party, Great Hall OCTOBER 29 12:00 pm, Community Luncheon Great Hall THE COLLECT October 2017 St. Thomas Episcopal Church P. O. Box 124 Medina, WA FROM THE RECTOR THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS Worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness; Let the whole earth stand in awe of him. Psalm 96:9 By The Rev. Lex Breckinridge Where is God to be found? St John the Evangelist tells us that God is found in the person of Jesus. No one has ever seen God; it is God s only Son, who is close to the Father s heart, who has made him known, John 1: 18. In Jesus life and work, in his death and Resurrection, we see both God and the pattern God has ordained for our own lives. Where else might we glimpse the Divine Presence? In Beauty. In the beauty of our majestic mountains and our clear waters, abundant with life, we see the Creator at work. In the beauty of music which lifts us out of ourselves and our everyday minds and takes us into a supra-rational space, we hear the Creator s voice. In the beauty of art and architecture, particularly in sacred art and architecture, we see human beings re-interpreting the natural beauty which surrounds us, seeking to come into God s nearer presence. It is sacred art and architecture I would like to reflect on with you for a moment. I know a person who today is a committed and active Christian who, as a young man, wandering through life with no apparent purpose or meaning, underwent a shocking and revelatory experience one afternoon as he wandered into Chartres Cathedral outside Paris. The hushed vastness of the space, the arches, the painting and statuary, the mystery of the Labyrinth, all spoke to him of a larger, transcendent Presence, a Presence whose Beauty was calling forth from him an inner Beauty he didn t know he possessed. From that moment until today, this man, now in his early fifties, has known God. Many of you have heard me relate the first experience Zonnie and I had in our beautiful St Thomas nave late on a sunny March afternoon. As we entered the space for the first time, light was streaming through the windows illuminating the figures in the glass and warming the stone walls. Those walls seemed alive with a spiritual energy and a peace that truly passed all understanding. The Christus Rex spoke to us of a community that wanted to be followers of Jesus. The entire nave told us that here was a community who valued hospitable space in which to welcome the Divine Presence. That brief experience was foundational to my acceptance of the call to be your Rector. This place of such sublime and transcendent beauty does require our faithful attention if it is to continue into the next generation as a place for divine [continued on page 2}

2 FROM THE RECTOR [continued from page 1] encounter. Our engineers tell us the building needs a new roof. They tell us the building urgently requires seismic upgrades to bring it into conformity with current safety standards. The new roof will have a new plywood deck underneath, tying the new roof to the floor, which necessitates replacing the floor, reinforcing the north and south walls, and strapping down the organ. This work is interrelated. Each component must be accomplished. We must also reconfigure the chancel area to accommodate our growing choir and ease congestion at the rail during Communion. This is really the minimum we can do to preserve the character and integrity of our beautiful church home. And everything and anything that is done to refresh and renew our church home will be done with an eye towards maintaining the integrity of this sacred space and enhancing its worshipful character. This is why we are being called to join in the All Things Bright and Beautiful Campaign to preserve and protect the sacred space with which we have been blessed. When I enter our nave, whether I m the only one there or the place is packed, I experience the Beauty of Holiness. I stand in awe before the might and the majesty of the Living God. My heart sings with energy of Jesus Real Presence. In this place, I glimpse the Threshold of the Kingdom. Please join Zonnie and me and so many of your friends and fellow followers of the Lord Jesus Christ here at St Thomas in keeping faith with those who have gone before us and providing for future generations of worshippers by supporting the vital work to ensure our holy and sacred space lives on in to God s abundant future. Faithfully, A NOTE AND AN UPDATE ON THE THANKSGIVING PROJECT I have recently heard from several folks inquiring about the Thanksgiving Project. I thought it might be good to share again the note that went out to the community this summer reporting that the Project has gone on hiatus as leadership has decided to move on to new ministries (see below). As I said originally, this will also invite us to envision new hands on outreach opportunities. One vehicle for this will be the JustFaith program that will begin on October 4 and continue through the Spring. The program will help us to see how we at St. Thomas might translate the gospel s call to live justly and peaceably into action in a world that badly needs our witness. I hope you will check it out! To everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven. Ecclesiastes 3:1 From its beginning in 2005, the St. Thomas Thanksgiving ministry has grown from an undersubscribed event serving five people in the Great Hall to a massive undertaking feeding 1,200 people in their own homes. This project, which engages upwards of 200 volunteers and costs more than $15,000, has been a source of inspiration and great satisfaction for the St. Thomas community over the years. The project is also a logistically complex and labor-intensive undertaking, requiring significant forward planning and a deep commitment of time and talent from its leadership. Over the years, as various members of the leadership team phased out of the project, other leaders transitioned in. This time around, however, as the current project leaders have decided their time has come to retire, no one else has stepped forward to take on their roles. That being the case, it appears that it is time for the St. Thomas Thanksgiving ministry as we know it to take a break. Should new leadership and energy for a similar program arise in the future, the current team has documented their work which would help in a future activation should that happen. It has been instructive for us to learn that other organizations which had similar large-scale Thanksgiving programs in the past have also ended up going in different directions. For example, Bellevue Life Spring, which used to sponsor a Thanksgiving Day meal program, decided several years ago that there were more effective uses of their volunteer time and resources. Here at St. Thomas, with no one prepared to undertake the leadership of this enormous project, it seems the Holy Spirit is calling our community to discern new ways of meeting hungry people where they are on the Eastside. Hopelink is supportive of our decision and has provided Outreach@StThomas a list of projects that could use our support. We now have an opportunity to explore new ministries that allow us and our community to serve our neighbors in a hands-on way on a regular basis year-round rather than once a year over a short holiday in November. While we all grieve the end of a beloved ministry, we can be thankful for the impact it has had over the years. And new doors will open to us for new ministry opportunities! Should you have any questions or observations about this or anything else, I would be grateful to hear them. Faithfully, 2 THE COLLECT

3 FROM THE ASSOCIATE RECTOR God Be With You By The Rev. Karen Haig While it will be October when you receive this Collect newsletter, I am writing on September 19th. Today is the day our beloved Laura died, and I am filled with wonder about living into a life that Laura is not a part of. Our staff gathered for prayer and remembrances of Laura earlier today, and I found myself speaking of the ways Laura truly saw me, and the ways she took care of me. Laura was able to see my weak spots and rather than poke at them or become irritated with me, she would fill in my gaps. She would fill in the things I forgot, remind me of a deadline I d missed, ask when she knew I wanted to publish something that I hadn t yet realized I wanted published. I am typically not a person who allows herself to be taken care of. But I did let Laura take care of me, and it turns out that was a very, very good thing. Laura took care of me in ways more loving and respectful than I can say. I will miss her more than I can say, too. When someone we love dies, we do the good and holy work of finding a way to live into life without our beloved being physically present. But if we re lucky, before that time, we have the opportunity to say goodbye. Being able to say goodbye is such an incredible gift. I took communion to Laura the day before yesterday. I had the opportunity to tell her how much I love her. And bittersweet as it was, I had the opportunity to say goodbye. In his inspiring book The Four Things That Matter Most, Dr. Ira Bock tell us, the word goodbye derives from God be with you, a blessing that was traditionally given at parting, and in some churches, still is. The protection and God s help of presence and guidance can be requested whether two people expect to be separated a few hours or forever. In leaving nothing unsaid, we can recapture this original meaning so that in saying goodbye we are actually blessing one another in our daily interactions as well as when we face major life challenges. It only takes a moment to shift the way we say goodbye from a reflex to a conscious practice. Our good bye and our blessing can become treasured gifts to one another as we part Ours was a beautiful goodbye. Laura didn t speak, but gently rubbed her fingers across her lips where the communion wine still lingered. Her face was pure peace, beatific really. God be with you, Laura. And God be with all of you. Let s not wait for final goodbyes to bless one another, to say again how much we love one another, to remind ourselves of how much others mean to us and too, how much we mean to them. Continue to be God s love in the world, in the way that only you can be, knowing that your love nourishes and sustains those around you, and that you have your own special place in each other s hearts. I believe the world would be healed if love like ours was just spread around enough so carry your love out, and let it change the world. God be with you! Abundant blessings, OCTOBER

4 Are You Interested in Baptism? The next baptismal preparation class for parents and godparents of infants and children will be on two Saturdays, October 28 and November 4, from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm in the Chapel. Learn about the spiritual meaning of baptism. Discover opportunities to deepen your own faith journeys while raising your children to know the love of God and Christian community. Baptisms will occur on All Saints Sunday, November 5, 2017, at the 10:30 service. If you are interested in attending or need more information about preparation for an adult baptism, please contact the Rev. Steve Best at A GREAT YEAR AHEAD FOR CHILDREN AT ST. THOMAS! Excitement is in the air as the many volunteers who work with our children s programs are preparing for a wonderful and wonder-filled program year at St. Thomas! Childcare providers, story tellers, shepherds, leaders and mentors are all looking forward to welcoming the children beginning Sunday, September 10th. Childcare for our littlest ones (ages three and younger), is provided by Maria and Benigne on Sundays beginning at 9:00 am in the Childcare Center located on the first floor in the northwest corner of the Ebsworth Life Center. Service Team begins at 9:15 am in the Kids Club room, located on the west side of the second floor. Service Team is a time for Kids Club and Godly Play children to work on service projects for our community and beyond. Godly Play begins at 10:15 in the Godly Play rooms on the second floor in the northwest corner of the ELC. Children ages 4 through 2 nd grade are welcome in Godly Play, a Montessori-based curriculum designed to immerse children in Bible stories where they can experience God, discover their innately spiritual nature, and wonder together about the marvelous things God is doing! As always, children join their families in church when it s time for Communion. Kids Club (grades 3-5) begins another fantastic year with the Spark Rotation program that uses video, computer labs, drama, cooking, art, music, science and bible skills & games to open minds and hearts to the riches of God s love and great stories. Kids Club begins at 10:15 in the Kids Club room located on the west side of the second floor of the ELC. Kids Club kids join their families in church when it s time for communion. We re thrilled about our children s programs and look forward to welcoming your children! If you have questions or would like information about volunteering or about our children s programs, please contact lisalynn@stthomasmedina.org. Our children s programs require many more volunteers and we hope that you ll consider offering to spend an occasional faith formation hour in one of our classrooms. You ll find that what you give is far outweighed by the gift of being with our young ones as the wonder and mystery of God s great love comes alive in them. If you have questions or would like information about volunteering or our children s programs, please contact Rev. Karen karen@stthomasmedina.org. CHILDREN'S REGISTRATION Registration for Fall Children's Faith Formation is ongoing! Registering provides the adults working wiht your children important information about everything from their family contact information to their food allegeries, and allows us to properly plan for their participation. Please register your children in the Kids' Club or Godly Play rooms with the blue form. Contact Lisalynn Reed at lisalynn@stthomasmedina.org or THE COLLECT

5 ST THOMAS WOMEN S GROUP PLEASE JOIN US! In early 2017, a small group of women came together to form a Women s Ministry Leadership Team to connect St. Thomas women in sisterly communion with the goals of building relationships through deeper fellowship, growing spiritually by exploring our faith together and increasingly becoming instruments of God s love in our community and beyond. The Leadership Team includes Katie Greenberg, Marlena Love, Sheila Miller, Terry Pickering, Kate Rogers and Valerie Wang. In April, we hosted a Women s Day Retreat led by Rev. Karen Haig who is also the Leadership Team s staff facilitator. Thirty-five women attended this spirit-filled, day-long retreat that focused on Lent and our Lenten practices. In July, the Leadership Team coordinated two dinners for the Congregations for the Homeless. More than 20 women participated in preparing, serving and sharing dinner with the men. The St Thomas Women s Group meets on the 4th Sunday of the month between services (9AM) in the Vesta Loyd Parlor. Today we re hosting a Martha and Mary brunch with Rev. Karen leading us in reflecting on the story of Martha and Mary, and we ll begin organizing Martha and Mary small groups. In October we ll talk about spiritual practices and have an introduction to Centering Prayer. In November we ll be doing a service project together, and in December we ll have an Advent Quiet Day Retreat on Saturday the 9th. We hope you ll join us! If you have questions or would like to learn more about the St. Thomas Women s Group, please contact Sheila Miller, millersden89@gmail.com or PARISH LIFE SAFEGUARDING GOD S PEOPLE TRAINING On Sunday, October 8, from 12:00 to 3:00 pm in the Del Bene Family Library, we will offer Safeguarding God s People, a training on diocesan policy for detecting and preventing abuse in our community. All are welcome to participate in this training. The training is mandatory for all active clergy, paid employees, and all volunteers 16 years and older. Certification is for five years, so if you have not completed this training within the last five years, please plan to attend. Childcare will be provided. Contact: Mary Pneuman, mary.pneuman@outlook.com, IT TAKES A VILLAGE OUR VILLAGE! The task of raising children in the Christian faith is not solely the responsibility of parents it is a responsibility that belongs to all of us. Each time we renew our baptismal vows, we promise to support one another in our lives in Christ. There are concrete ways to do this! Our amazing and wonderful Children and Youth Programs require story-tellers, mentors, pancake flippers and companions on the way. Traditionally, parents have taken on this responsibility but it turns out that children and especially young people need to explore their Christian lives with safe and caring adults who are not their own family members. Our children and youth need all of us, and so we re inviting you to volunteer some of your time, your wisdom, and your own story. Every adult at St. Thomas has something to offer the young people of our community. Ask Russ and Jean Haehl about the Sunday school and children s chapel they led for many years. Ask Christopher and Gretchen Breunig about the gifts they receive as they tell stories and wonder with the little ones about God s mysterious and loving ways. What we receive as we accompany one another on our faith journeys far outweighs what we give. You don t need to know facts or to recite chapter and verse you simply need to be present and to be the face of love for these young ones. So say your prayers and search your heart and see if you might be inspired to spend some of your time with our children and youth. If you have questions or would like information about volunteering or about our Children or Youth programs, Rev. Karen karen@stthomasmedina.org. OCTOBER

6 MUSIC NOTES By Doug Cleveland, Director of Music & Liturgical Arts I m delighted to announce some highlights of our season. Please come and enjoy these upcoming Sunday events. - October 8 3:00 pm Choral Arts Northwest with Doug Cleveland, Organ November 5 5:00 pm Solemn Evensong for All Saints, Rite I (incense will be used) November 19 5:00 pm December 10 5:00 pm Piano Trio with musicians from the Seattle Symphony A Candlelight Service of Lessons and Carols for Advent December 24 7:00 and 10:00 pm Festal Choral Eucharist with Brass and Choirs December 31 7:30 pm February 4 5:00 pm Choral Evensong New Year s Eve Concert: The Sacred Music of Duke Ellington February 18 5:00 pm Doug Cleveland and friends, Music for organ and instruments March 4 5:00 pm Choral Evensong April 3 9:00 and 11:00 am Festal Choral Eucharist for Easter with Brass, Organ, and Choirs June 3 5:00 pm Festal Choral Evensong MOMS GROUP RETURNS ON OCTOBER 8 As busy moms, it s easy to put our own spiritual growth on hold as we love and care for our families and friends. We put off exploring our spiritual lives, thinking we ll do that at some future point when things aren t quite so hectic. And yet for most St. Thomas moms, there is a real longing to parent spiritually and to connect deeply with God, with other moms, and with ourselves. Join Rev. Karen and other St. Thomas moms when we gather for contemplation, conversation, laughter, and lots of love and support on Sunday, October 8. We meet on the second Sunday of each month at 9:15 am in the Vesta Loyd Parlor. We conclude at 10:15, and childcare is provided. Questions or more information? Rev. Karen, karen@stthomasmedina.org. YOUTH CHOIRS St. Thomas Youth Choir rehearsals have begun! Chorister rehearsals for the season are as follows: Choristers (beginning/intermediate singers): Tuesdays from 4:30 to 5:30 pm Schola Cantorum (advanced singers): Tuesdays from 5:45 to 7:00 pm Both groups sing during the 10:30 am service on the second Sunday of each month, with a rehearsal from 10:00 am to noon the preceding Saturday. We are always excited to welcome new singers! If your child is interested in singing with a youth choir at St. Thomas, please Tim Blok, tim@stthomasmedina.org for more information. SEEKING NEW ACOLYTES Acolytes have a special place in our Sunday morning worship, and we are delighted to welcome new acolytes each fall. This ministry is open to 3 rd 12 th graders who have a desire to serve God, to have a significant place in our liturgy, and to serve the St. Thomas community as worship leaders. We have a wonderfully enthusiastic group of acolytes at St. Thomas, and they would like for you to join them! New acolytes will be welcomed and trained in the fall. Michael and Katie Greenberg are our faithful acolyte leaders and trainers. Please contact them about becoming an acolyte! michaelg97@mac.com or THE COLLECT

7 ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH Vestry Anne Corley, Senior Warden Michael Greenberg, Junior Warden Fred Barkman, Treasurer Andrea Sato-Borgmann, Chancellor Pat Hughes, Clerk Anne Bentley Bill Cahill Jim Hughes Yvonne Lamey Molly McConkey Lorraine McReynolds Mark Nelson David Paranchych Kathy Smith Fred Williams Stephanie Bentley Isabel Williams Staff The Right Rev. Greg Rickel, Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia The Rev. Lex Breckinridge, Rector The Rev. Stephen W. Best, Associate for Couples & Family Life The Rev. Karen Haig, Associate Rector Doug Cleveland, Director of Music & Liturgical Arts Tim Blok, Director of Youth Choirs Lisalynn Reed, Godly Play Coordinator Kathleen Higgins, Kids Club Coordinator Maria Pineda and Benigne Ibyishaka Childcare Providers Carey Sheffield, Director, Community Connections Doug Anderson, Day Porter Greg Murray, Chief Operating Officer Natalie Ham, Executive Assistant to the Rector The Collect Anne Corley, Assistant Editor Natalie Ham, Layout and Production Editor Deadline: For the November issue, October 11. Please submit copy to or leave in the mailslot marked Collect at the church. All articles will be edited. Questions? Please call Natalie at ARE YOU READY TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD? On Wednesday October 4, we begin another exciting Wednesday evening formation series at St. Thomas. JustFaith ( is an inspiring and energizing small group program that encourages a new or renewed commitment to work for social change, both locally and globally. Over the course of 24 weeks, we will engage such topics as poverty, hunger, racism, global climate change and immigration, all from a Christian perspective. JustFaith provides a safe place to discuss our emotional response to the needs of our world, and motivates participants to respond to those needs with greater love, creativity and compassion. Each Wednesday evening session will include prayer, a short presentation by clergy and guest speakers, scriptural reflection, readings from noteworthy authors and small group dialogue. Our work will lead us to serve alongside vulnerable people in our local communities. The cost for this program is $120 which covers books and study materials. Please talk with any of the clergy if you would like to receive a scholarship; cost should not preclude anyone from joining in! Child care will be provided at no cost. Each evening session begins with dinner at 6:00 pm ($10 per person) followed by our program from 6:30 to 8:00 pm. For more information please Steve Best (steveb@stthomasmedina.org) or any of the clergy. To register, visit our website at THE ST. THOMAS VISITORS PROGRAM IS EXPANDING! As the fall season approaches and we begin a new program year, we are excited about the expansion of our St. Thomas Visitors ministry, a very important part of the Caring Community Network here at St. Thomas. St. Thomas Visitors visit with parishioners who are temporarily unable to attend services as well as those who are homebound for the longer term. Visits are informal and help to connect parishioners who are unable to be at church, not just with all the happenings at St. Thomas, but even more importantly with their parish family. Visitors share the Worship Bulletin, talk about Sunday s service and other St. Thomas activities, chat, help with letter writing, sing, pray, whatever is comfortable for the Visitors and the parishioners being visited. Visits happen once or twice a month, and schedules are set by the people involved. Please consider joining us in this very important ministry! The only job requirement is your desire to serve Christ in others and to share your time with those for whom St. Thomas matters deeply, but who cannot be here. St. Thomas Visitors will tell you that they feel blessed by their connections with our homebound parishioners and that they surely receive more than they give. This is a wonderful opportunity to serve in a way that is uniquely your own, and that requires very little time. Please consider joining us you ll be given training and will be paired with a seasoned visitor as you begin. We will be offering a St. Thomas Visitors training later this fall and we welcome your participation, whether you are simply interested, seeking information, or you know you d like to become a visitor. Please contact Nancy Lund nlund1545@comcast.net or with questions, concerns, or to sign up for this special program. Yours in Christ, Nancy Lund OCTOBER

8 BELLEVUE-REDMOND INTERFAITH CROP HUNGER WALK SUNDAY OCTOBER 8, 2017 Join us for the Bellevue-Redmond Interfaith CROP Hunger Walk, sponsored by Church World Service (CWS) and hosted by the Muslim Association of Puget Sound. Since their inception in 1969, CROP Hunger Walks have been viewed by many as the granddaddy of charity walks. The Walk s legacy is deeply entrenched even in our own community; since 1989, the Bellevue-Redmond Community has raised over $220,000 through 20+ local groups. We walk to protest resource in justices, to protect and provide for our vulnerable neighbors, to build community, and to show solidarity in a time of divisiveness. The Bellevue-Redmond Interfaith CROP Hunger Walk is one of the across the nation, symbolizing the walk many around the world must make for basic resources such as food, water, shelter, and protection. In a world where there is enough food for all, we are moved to action by the fact that one out of every nine people goes to bed hungry each night. With our combined national efforts, we raise around $10 million annually toward the shared mission of ending this worldwide inequity. Money raised supports food programs in emergency response, as well as longer-term solutions like enhancing food security and providing sustainable safe water supplies. Through our interfaith collaboration, 75% of funds support Church World Service, Islamic Relief, and MAZON. The remaining 25% stays in the community to bolster local hunger fighting efforts. The 2017 local recipients are the Emergency Feeding Program and Hopelink. This will be the second year that the Muslim Association of Puget Sound will be our hosts. They have previously participated in three prior Walks. Participating churches from Bellevue include St. Thomas, St. Peter's United Methodist Church, First United Methodist Church, First Congregational Church, and several others. The Walk begins and ends at Muslim Association of Puget Sound and takes walkers approximately 3 miles through beautiful Marymoor Park. (A shorter one mile walk is also available.) A community barbecue will take place following the Walk. All are welcome to this interfaith event. Please visit our St. Thomas team website at From this page you can find our more information, register to walk, or make a much-appreciated donation. For more information, please call or Eric Schwager ( , eric@ schwager.org) or Claude Rogers ( , clauder37@gmail.com) Date: Sunday, October 8th, 2017 Location: Muslim Association of Puget Sound NE 67th Court, Redmond, WA Time: Registration 12:30 pm Group Gathering 1:30 pm Walk 1:45 pm Community Barbeque: 3:00 pm Annual St. Francis Blessing of Animals and Other Creatures! Parishioners and friends of all ages are invited to bring their favorite animal, bird, or reptile friend to be blessed on Sunday, October 1 at 4:00 pm in the Great Hall. The activities will begin with a pet show-and-tell program and will conclude with a lively liturgy honoring Saint Francis and his legacy of love for all of God s creation. All creeds and all breeds welcome; no dogmas allowed! For more information, please the Rev. Steve Best, steveb@stthomasmedina.org. St. Thomas Men's Group Brunch The St. Thomas Men's group is meeting for brunch at Maggiano's Little Italy at 11:00 AM on Saturday, October 7. The address is NE 8th St., Bellevue (Lincoln Square). All men at St. Thomas are welcome to come and enjoy brunch together. 8 THE COLLECT

9 ADULT FORUM AND COFFEE HOUR ANNE LYNN, GUEST SPEAKER American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem Sunday, October 1 On Sunday, October 1, we will hear about the humanitarian bridge-building work of the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem (AFEDJ) from Anne Lynn, President. Anne brings years of knowledge and experience regarding the vital role this organization plays in enabling and sustaining the many teaching and health care ministries of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in Israel, Palestine, Jordan and Lebanon. How? In the land where Jesus walked and taught, the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem is living the Gospel in the place where it was written. The Diocese owns and operates 14 schools, 2 full service hospitals, 4 outpatient clinics, 5 institutes for those with disabilities and much more. Each offers education or compassionate healthcare to all who enter, regardless of religious, ethnic or economic background. Dignity and respect for differences is central to each encounter. This principle is clearly illustrated by the work of St. Thomas Companions the nursery and daycare programs in Ramallah, West Bank, and the integrated school for the blind in Irbid, Jordan. The AFEDJ believes that an educated, healthy population is the foundation of a sustainable peace in our Holy Land. Says Anne Lynn, You ve all heard the adage that peace begins on a school desk. We believe that. We re building peace from the ground up, stabilizing communities and offering hope to those living in fear. In recent years, Jordan has accepted over a million refugees from Syria. AFEDJ has worked to raise funds for the Diocesan schools and institutes for the disabled which address their needs. Those who have been abandoned or who have disabilities are particularly vulnerable. AFEDJ gets aid to these fragile families. As a non-political and non-profit NGO, AFEDJ supports the Diocese of Jerusalem by raising funds and promoting the work of its institutions. To learn more, visit OCTOBER

10 A FABLE FOR OUR TIMES: JOHN STEINBECK'S THE MOON IS DOWN By Shirley E. Deffenbaugh John Steinbeck s book, The Moon Is Down, was published by Viking Press in March 1942, another time of world uncertainty, turmoil, and war. He opens with these lines: "By ten-forty-five it was all over. The town was occupied, the defenders defeated, and the war finished. The invader had prepared for this campaign as carefully as he had for larger ones" (p. 11). Set in a small, unnamed coal-mining town in an unnamed country, the invasion occurs on a Sunday morning. The postman and policeman sail out on a fishing trip, but they pass a boatload of soldiers moving toward the village. They wheel about and follow them. At shore they find a foreign battalion in charge, and they are blocked from their own offices. The local troops (twelve men) have gone to the hills six miles away for a picnic and shooting competition. Seeing the planes and parachutes, they also return to town and confront the invaders. The troops are mowed down with machine guns six dead, three half-dead, three escaped into the hills. By ten-thirty the brass band of the invader was playing beautiful and sentimental music in the town square and the astonished townspeople stood about listening to the music and staring at the gray-helmeted men who carried sub-machine guns in their arms (pp ). At ten-forty-five, Mayor Orden is requested to receive Colonel Lanser, the commander, in the mayor s office at eleven sharp. Steinbeck does not specify political groups or countries, but uses only general terms: conquerors/conquered, invaders/invaded, soldiers/villagers. The conquerors serve the Leader, an authoritarian high commander-in-chief. The author s allusions, however, are clear. The gray helmets, sub-machine guns, tactics, strategy, and political structure of the invaders point to Hitler, the Nazis, and other oppressive regimes on the world scene in the 1930s and 1940s. Colonel Lanser s invaders take over the coal mines and attempt to force the miners to produce coal for the Leader s military machine. To their surprise, military authority meets resistance, not compliance. The first open act of defiance is one miner s refusal to obey an order because, he says, I m a free man. He is immediately tried, found guilty, and shot by a firing squad. An underground resistance begins. Mining machinery breaks down, repairs take weeks. Mail doesn t get through and the invaders wonder why they receive so few letters. Little packages, parachuted from an unknown plane on a clear night, contain small dynamite fuses (and a bit of chocolate). Railroad tracks are blown up, stranding the coal. The resistance is primarily non-violent, even in the face of death, but lives are taken by both sides. The occupation drags on for months. As the invaders gradually learn, the war is far from finished, the villagers far from defeated. As winter descends, the soldiers suffer psychological stress. Finally, Colonel Lanser arrests Mayor Orden and his life-long friend, Dr. Winter, under threat of death, to bring about the good behavior of the villagers. Lanser believes the resisters will stop lighting the fuses to save the two men s lives (p. 184). Orden and Winter talk quietly as they await execution. Dr. Winter says, They think that just because they have only one leader and one head, we are all like that. They know that ten heads lopped off will destroy them, but we are a free people; we have as many heads as we have people, and in a time of need leaders pop up among us like mushrooms (p. 175). In the final scene, Colonel Lanser confronts the men. He tempts Mayor Orden to betray his people to save himself. In answer, the mayor quotes Socrates words before he drank the hemlock: And now, O men who have condemned me, he said, I would fain prophesy to you for I am about to die and in the hour of death men are gifted with prophetic power. And I prophesy to you who are my murderers that immediately after my my death [should be departure]... after my departure punishment far heavier than you have inflicted on me will surely await you.... Me you have killed because you wanted to escape the accuser, and not to give an account of your lives! (pp ). Lanser listens intently; he understands Orden is choosing to die rather than betray his people and his commitment to freedom. Lanser, the committed officer, carries out his orders. As Mayor Orden walks toward his death, he again quotes Socrates to Dr. Winter: Crito, I owe a cock to Asclepius, he said tenderly. Will you remember to pay the debt? The doctor replies, The debt shall be paid (p. 188). Steinbeck s Socratic references invite us to consider why Orden and Winter choose death over life. It is a choice to honor the higher self, the ideals of personal integrity and right action. Committed to their fellow villagers and the resistance, they - understand that their deaths will signal to continue fighting against oppression. They know the Spirit of Freedom burns like an ember in the villagers hearts. They know the dark power of oppression can be countered by a stronger power, the passion for freedom. (See The Story of Philosophy by Bryan Magee, New York: DK Publishing, 2001, on Socratic thought.) We would do well to remember Socrates, Steinbeck, and other wisdom teachers who instruct us in how to live and die with integrity. Our current political situation, which coddles authoritarianism and neo-nazism, calls us to closely examine the power agenda vis a vis our democratic ideals. We are not a small unnamed village, but a democracy currently invaded from within by oppressors, bigots, racists, neo-nazis, and other dark forces. We are challenged to examine our ideals, our personal integrity, and our actions. To stand up for what one believes in is no proof of good character. After all, Hitler stood up for his beliefs. But we are cautioned to examine the beliefs and their effects on others very carefully. The Moon Is Down is a cautionary tale on how to resist oppression and actions that harm the human spirit. It illustrates how the human impulse for good, truth, and justice can endure, survive, and win in the face of evil. Steinbeck s book offers a valuable lesson and perspective. It is a fable for our times. 10 THE COLLECT

11 October St. Thomas SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY :00a Holy Eucharist 9:15a Education for All 10:30a Holy Eucharist 4 p St. Francis Day 8 CHORISTERS 8:00a Holy Eucharist 9:15a Education for All 10:30a Holy Eucharist 12:00p Safeguarding God s People 15 8:00a Holy Eucharist 9:15a Education for All 10:30a Holy Eucharist 6:00p HS Youth Group 22 FAMILY RETREAT 8:00a Holy Eucharist 9:15a Education for All 10:30a Holy Eucharist 12:00p St. Thomas :00a Holy Eucharist 9:15a Education for All 10:30a Holy Eucharist 12:00p Guatemala Luncheon 2 9 5:30p Finance Comm :30p Choristers 5:45p Schola Cantorum 7:30p Boy Scouts 10 4:30p Choristers 5:45p Schola Cantorum 7:30p Boy Scouts 17 4:30p Choristers 5:45p Schola Cantorum 6:00p Vestry 7:30p Boy Scouts 24 4:30p Choristers 5:45p Schola Cantorum 7:30p Boy Scouts 31 4:30p Choristers 5:45p Schola Cantorum 7:30p Boy Scouts 7:15p Choir :00a Sandwich Makers 7:15p Choir 19 7:15p Choir :15p Choir 6 8:30a School Parent Coffee FAMILY RETREAT :00a Altar Guild 14 9:00a Altar Guild 21 FAMILY RETREAT 9:00a Altar Guild 28 9:00a Altar Guild These are just some of the events happening on the St. Thomas campus this month. To schedule meetings or other activities, please call or the church office office@stthomasmedina.org Church Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm OCTOBER

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