A nurturing community with open hearts and minds.

Transcription

1 WEEKLY E-NEWS GeneroUS CourageoUS JoyoUS E-News June 28, 2018 A nurturing community with open hearts and minds. The Very Rev. Katherine Doyle Rector A Message from Just Katherine My Crazy Crushes Growing up I was not one of those teens who had celebrity crushes. Maybe it was because I wasn't allowed to hang posters on my bedroom walls; maybe it was because I couldn't and still can't remember names of actors, musicians and what not. Whatever the reason, it just wasn't me. But... Give me a good theologian, and even better a published good theologian--and then I become like a crazed Beatles fan the first time the Beatles came to America. I read everything I can get my hands on and learn as much about their lives as I can. I follow their social media and "like" everything. You might say I become obsessed--i prefer to call it engaged. But I do know that if I lived in North Georgia, there would probably be a cease and desist order preventing me from driving back and forth in front of Barbara Brown Taylor's house hoping she would come down the driveway--yes, it is true, I have done that. And just like any good fan, I think they hung the moon and I want to, and usually do, agree with everything they say--truth, I want them to like me should I ever meet them. I get dizzy if they ever respond to one of my tweets, blogs, or social media posts...you get the picture... And then came Sunday morning... You've probably heard of The Red Hen by now and how the owner asked Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave. Twitter and Facebook were blowing up with high fives and support--some by my favorite "crushes." So like any good obsessed fan, I jumped on the bandwagon, and guess what?!?!?! One of them liked my tweet!!! It was like nirvana for me, except I felt queasy and a bit uncomfortable. I tried to ignore it--she had LIKED my tweet!!! Tuesday morning I was driving to my preaching group listening to the news. Someone

2 was being criticized for saying "cotton pickin' mind." I was a little ashamed it took me a few minutes to put together why this was insulting. I had grown up hearing and saying this very phrase never thinking about it's origin (I had the same realization with what my grandparents used to call Brazil nuts). Like a dog on the scent of a rabbit racing through the woods, my mind went all over the place. I reminded myself the world was evolving-- people were understanding and bringing to light many ways we have abused, neglected and oppressed others not recognizing the dignity of every human being. For so many years we have looked at some groups of people with one dimensional eyes. Suddenly I spoke these words out loud (another not quite normal behavior). "I'm not sure I do agree about The Red Hen." I hesitated waiting for I don't know what, but the world didn't end, so I breathed a sigh of relief and continued my thinking. I wondered how asking SHS to leave was respecting her dignity as a human being? From what I've read she wasn't disturbing anyone; she wasn't requiring others dining in the restaurant to listen to her. Was asking her to leave really a way of only acknowledging one part of her personhood- -that of press secretary--and ignoring she is also a wife, mother, daughter and friend? I began to think about what I thought Jesus would do, and it hit me that I don't believe Jesus would have asked her to leave. I believe Jesus would have sat down and eaten with her AND even picked up the check. I believe if Jesus was there and saw her leaving, he would have left with her. I also, for the record, believe he would have lovingly challenged her. And then that thing happened that happens to me sometimes--the thing that feels like I need to go potty and I can't think about anything else until I do it, except the thing for me is writing. I knew I had to write about what I really thought. But I certainly didn't want to run the risk of one of my crushes thinking I was a terrible priest and/or person. So I allowed my inner teenager, you know the one that knows how to manipulate and justify like there's no tomorrow, take over. I decided I would write about the incident in my weekly letter to my congregation. True some might not agree with me, but it wasn't that many people who would read it, and truthfully I couldn't think of anyone who would lambast me. I convinced myself I could write about it without running the risk of alienating people I admire, my crushes and even some of my very closest friends knowing what I really believed. I could get rid of the potty urgency feeling and still feel safe. This morning as I was preparing to write the letter that stinking potty feeling came back stronger than ever along with the thought, "Don't be a coward." More importantly I thought about what hiding was really saying. It was saying I didn't trust the community of faith. It was saying my need to be liked and respected was more important to me than standing up for what I believe is right and being willing to have others disagree. It was denying the opportunity for dialogue. It was denying the three fold sources authority used by The Episcopal Church, the three legged stool -Scripture, tradition and reason, and it was denying this tool was best used in community. Most importantly it was denying myself. It was denying I had another way of nderstanding the incident which didn't mean I was right and others were wrong. I believe many who have written, tweeted, and posted share my beliefs that God loves everyone, no exceptions, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect. I also believe we as Christians and leaders in our faith need to practice how to disagree as we walk in love. I still have my idols; I still believe they have much to teach me, I will still get giggly when they recognize me, but I also believe I can love them, admire them and still at times disagree and I believe that's okay. Faithfully, Just Katherine+ WEEKLY SERVICE SCHEDULE Sunday 8am Holy Eucharist Rite I 10am Holy Eucharist Rite II

3 M id-week service schedule change for the summer: Tuesday 7am Holy Eucharist suspended until mid-august Thursday 12:15pm Healing Eucharist July 28 THOSE SERVING THIS SUNDAY Lectors Meranda Phillips, Bob Valvano, Kathy Eigelbach, Alan Ferguson Chalice Bearers Suzy Bowling, John Strange Ushers Bob Valvano, Stephen Dennison Altar Guild Alice Montgomery, Jennifer Lausterer Tellers Kevin Foster, Lynne Schulz Summer Fellowship Hour (lemonade & cookies) (May We Put Your Name Here?) TAKE NOTE AN AFTERNOON OF M USICAL FUN! You're Invited! This Saturday, June 30, 4:30pm at St. Thomas Church Emely Stratton and Erica Blankenship never got to participate in a musical recital during their time at University of Louisville. Now, they will sing confidently before friends and family (including the St. Thomas family.) Join them for selections from musical theater and Disney, spirituals, opera, and fun duets! RSVP Emely (502) or Erica (859) CHURCH OFFICE HOLIDAY CLOSURE The church office will be closed July 3 and 4 in observance of Independence Day. CHALICE BEARERS

4 All chalice bearers, and anyone interested in joining this important ministry, are invited to join Katherine+ for a brief training Saturday, July 7, at 10 am here at St. Thomas. UPDATE ON THE UPDATING As part of the updating/renovating/redecorating of Robison Hall, new hand rails were installed at the main entrance this week. These new rails will keep us safe and look beautiful for years to come. Thanks to Rick Eigelbach for arranging to have this work done! SUMMER FELLOWSHIP NEEDS YOUR HELP! They prepare the table, they spread the rugs, they eat, they drink... Isaiah 21:5 Can you "prepare the table" for Summer Fellowship? Cookies and lemonade on the lawn. St. Thomas church supplies the food and drink--you set the table! Be sure to sign up in the narthex or contact Margaret in the church office! stthomaslouky@gmail.com or (502) ALTAR FLOWERS Do you have a birthday or anniversary coming up this summer? Is there something special happening within your family... a wedding, a birth, other milestones? Give thanks for, or commemorate, special people or events by giving altar flowers on Sunday morning. Sign up in the narthex or contact Kathy Webster. READ TO GROW READING CAMP week. Read to Grow camp is only a few weeks away. If you would like to volunteer to help out with the camp, please contact Earl Trevor or Donna Donovan. There are lots of opportunities to help, and you don't need to commit to being at the camp for the entire Even if you cannot help out at the reading camp, you can make sure it is a succes by donating gift cards from Kroger, Dollar Tree, and Michael's, or by making a monetary gift. IN OUR DIOCESE... and beyond A MESSAGE FROM BISHOP WHITE I write to invite our congregations to participate in two diocesan-wide events that are intended to draw us deeper into the work of sharing our faith. Resources have been created for you by the Departments of Christian Formation, and Mission and Evangelism, in response to the call in my address to the 189th Diocesan Convention to renew our focus on

5 adult baptism and evangelism. Both of these programs will benefit our congregations and our ministry as a diocese. I highly commend them to you and encourage your participation. See information below and the included media packet to begin advertising to your congregation. FAITH SHARING DINNERS Sharing Faith dinners provide an opportunity to gather around a meal to participate in life together. At each dinner a moderator will prompt participants to share stories of faith with printed questions. These Sharing Faith dinners invite people into a safe and welcoming space to share stories of life and faith, as well as build relationships. When? Host a dinner anytime between Sep. 14th (Holy Cross Day) and Sep. 30th How? Canon Jason Lewis (jason@episcopalky.org) and he will sign you up to receive instructions on how to host a meal and receive decks of cards. EVANGELISM RETREAT Evangelism is the life practice by which we seek, name and celebrate God's loving presence in our midst and in the story of all people. Having seen, named, and joined with God's activity, we then hear an invitation and invite others to more. God's Story: See It, Name It, Join It Evangelism Retreat Friday-Saturday, October 26th-27th All Saints Center - Leitchfield, KY Register and find out more about both events HERE EACM FOOD PANTRY NEEDS YOUR HELP The food pantry at EACM is getting very low on supplies. In particular they need: peanut butter, mac & cheese, diced tomatoes, canned fruit, toiletries Please don't forget our neighbors in need this summer. There is a basket in the narthex for your donations, or you can drop them off at EACM in Knox Presbyterian Church, 9104 Westport Road. GENERAL CONVENTION July 5 thru 13 The 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church gets underway in Austin, TX, next week. Please keep the delegates, particularly our own Sarah Katherine Doyle, and the other attendees in your prayers as they teach each other, learn from each other, worship with each other, and make decisions that affect our church and the world. St. Thomas Episcopal Church 9616 Westport Road Louisville, KY The Very Rev. Katherine Doyle, Rector (502) stthomaslouky@gmail.com Visit our web site at this link: stthomaslouky.org

6 STAY CONNECTED