St. Luke s Episcopal Church. The Northern Light. December 2015

Transcription

1 St. Luke s Episcopal Church The Northern Light Seal of the Diocese of Fond du Lac December 2015 Diocesan Convention Being a People of God's Mercy and Delight The Diocese of Fond du Lac recently met for convenon. While business was a part of the two-day gathering, more me was spent on bringing to life the Bishop s vision for the diocese, congregaons, and people living out life from God s mercy and delight. People gathered around tables to explore what that might look like in their parish and in their own lives. A brief summary of Bishop Mahew s comments is on page 3. John Bramsen, one of St. Luke s delegates offers his reflecon on convenon. In his sermon for the opening Eucharist, Bishop Gunter set the theme for the Convenon, as well as for a connuing discussion among clergy and laity of the Diocese of Fond du Lac. That theme is Becoming Communies of God s Mercy and Delight. What struck me about this was the word delight. Although I ve always thought of God as merciful, I d never thought much about God s taking delight especially that God might take delight in me! The Bishop got a laugh from the assembly when he made what I think was an off-the-cuff remark: He takes delight in you even before you ve fixed your hair! I don t have that much hair to worry about anymore, but I don t think I m all that deligh3ul early in the morning anyway especially before I ve had my morning coffee. It certainly is food for thought. And taking delight is contagious: If God can take delight in us flawed as we all are - and we in Him, perhaps we can take delight in one another not just those of us here today, but all the folks we meet along the way. David Skidmore, another one of St. Luke s delegates, offers his reflecon on convenon This was my third annual convenon of the Diocese of Fond du Lac to a6end (once as a visitor and now twice as a delegate from St. Luke's) and this one worked best at reflecng who we are as the body of Christ. The convenon began with the Eucharist Friday evening at St. John the Bapst in downtown Wausau. In his sermon Bishop Gunter set the theme of the gathering and the focus for the diocese when he noted that the fundamental message of Chrisanity is centered on God's grace. And we as members experience God's grace in two movements, he said: mercy and delight. "We need to start paying closer a6enon to God s mercy and delight. We need to become be6er channels of that mercy and delight to this sin-sick, suffering world. I want us as a diocese and each congregaon to become a people of God s mercy and delight." That means paying a6enon to God's presence in the world and in each one of us. Creaon is sacramental and we are intended to take delight in God's creaon and in each other. Are we paying a6enon to the holy object that is every other person?", asked the bishop. In table conversaons a>er the banquet and again Saturday a>er presentaons by Execuve Council and the Finance Commi6ee, delegates explored how the bishop's call is reflected in their personal lives and the lives of their congregaons. On Friday night we tackled quesons drawn from his sermon: What makes it hard to delight in the world around us? What makes it hard to delight in other people? How can our churches help us become more fully people of God's mercy and delight? The round tables were organized by deanery, o>en with just one congregaon at a table as was the case with St. Luke's. We were puzzled by that scheme at first, but the quesons on Saturday made it clear that the ideas, concerns and hopes arising in the conversaon were meant to be the catalyst for ongoing conversaon in our home parishes. Con"nued on page 6

2 The Northern Light Page 2 The Vestry Betsy Rogers, Sr. Warden Karen Schwartz, Jr. Warden Roberta Thelen (2016) Sarah Wright (2016) Judy Bush (2017) Ray Osinski (2017) Norma Bramsen (2018) David Skidmore (2018) Vestry minutes appear monthly on our website at h%p://stlukessisterbay.org/ O!"#$%"%&' T S&!)& Please don t wait to be asked if you want to get involved. We invite you to pray about serving and see what you discover. You can let any vestry member or Mother Barb know you are interested. Counters for Sunday Offering. Training provided. Reading the lessons and/or the Prayers of the People during Sunday worship. Training provided. Serve as a chalice bearer -- they offer the cup of wine, the blood of Jesus Christ. Some also assist at the table during communion. Training provided. Altar Guild they prepare for worship services including communion bread and wine as well as flowers. Added bonus, great gatherings with scrumpous food. Training provided. Lay Eucharisc Visitor (LEV) they take communion to parish members at Scandia. Training provided. Providing transportaon to church for members who live at Scandia. Operate the electronic organ for worship. Training provided. Leadership Events The Diocese of Milwaukee is hosng two leadership events which they have opened to congregaons in the Diocese of Fond du Lac. The only cost will be for lunch. We hope that St. Luke s will send a group to each of these events. Please let Mother Barb know if you are interested in a6ending. The Changing Culture of the Church Saturday, February 27, 2016 at Nashotah House Seminary This leadership day will feature Dwight Zscheile speaking on the changing culture of the church. Dwight Zscheile is an Episcopal priest and associate professor of congregaonal mission and leadership at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. He also serves part-me as associate priest at St. Ma6hew's Episcopal Church in St. Paul. He is author of The Agile Church: Spirit-Led Innovaon in an Uncertain Age (Morehouse Publishing, 2014), People of the Way: Renewing Episcopal Identy (Morehouse Publishing, 2012) and The Missional Church in Perspecve: Mapping Trends and Shaping the Conversaon (with Craig Van Gelder, Baker Academic 2011) and editor of Culvang Sent Communies: Missional Spiritual Formaon (Eerdmans, 2012). A graduate of Stanford University (BA), Yale University (MDiv) and Luther Seminary (PhD, Congregaonal Mission and Leadership), he previously served congregaons in Virginia and Conneccut. Dwight's experience growing up in a secular home in California has shaped his commitment to helping the church culvate Chrisan community with new populaons and generaons in today's changing world. Does your parish need a jump-start? Saturday, April 16, 2016 (9am-3pm) Locaon TBA LOCATION to be announced as it depends on how many plan to a6end. It is hoped that all parishes will be represented by both clergy and Lay leaders/vestry members. Locaons to accommodate these numbers are being invesgated by those planning this session. Does this describe your church? - Preserving the building has become your mission - Finances are ght - Too many empty seats on Sunday - Tired and worried leadership Hear examples of how other churches are solving their building dilemmas. Discussions will be soluon focused. Thinking will be outside the box. $25 will buy you lunch and a lot of hope. For more informaon on JUMP START! Please let Peggy Bean, Canon for Congregaons, know if you are interested in a%ending either workshop: (414) /ext. 158 or bean@diomil.org.

3 The Northern Light Page 3 November 18, 2015 Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael B. Curry addresses the current Syrian refugee crisis Be not afraid! O>en in the gospels, fear grips the people of God, and me and again, either the angels, or Our Lord himself, respond with the same words of comfort: Be not afraid. In mes like this fear is real. And I share that fear with you. Our insnct tells us to be afraid. The fight-or-flight mentality takes hold. At the present moment, many across our Church and our world are grasped by fear in response to the terrorist a6acks that unfolded in Paris last Friday. These fears are not unfounded. We can and should support law enforcement officials who are working hard and at great risk to protect us from crime and keep us safe. And yet, especially when we feel legimate fear, our faith reminds us Be not afraid. The larger truth is that our ulmate security comes from God in Christ. In the Book of Levicus, God says to the people of Israel that, the foreigner who resides with you shall be to you as the cizen among you; you shall love the foreigner as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. Accordingly, we welcome the stranger. We love our neighbor. The Episcopal Church has long been commi6ed to rese6ling refugees in our own communies fleeing violence and persecuon. The Domesc and Foreign Missionary Society, through its Episcopal Migraon Ministries service, works with dioceses and congregaons, and the United States government, to se6le refugees in communies across this great country. The Episcopal Church has been engaged in this ministry for more than 75 years. We will not let the nightmare this world o>en is keep us from carrying out the words of Jesus who told us to be a neighbor to those in need. Refugees from places like Syria seek to escape the precise same ideological and religious extremism that gave birth to the a6acks in Paris. They seek entry into our communies because their lives are imprisoned by daily fear for their existence. Just as Jesus bids us not to be afraid, we must, in turn, pass those words of comfort to those who turn to us for help. But Jesus calls us to go even further: not just to love our neighbors and our kin, but to love our enemies. This is parcularly difficult when we are afraid. But even in the midst of our fear we stand on the solid ground of our faith and proclaim the faith in Christ crucified and risen from the dead. In praccal terms, this may mean finding strength in prayer, or in our neighbors, or in our churches, or in acts of solidarity with others who live in fear. This is the hope that casts out fear. The fear is real. So we pray. We go to church. We remember who we are in Jesus. Our resurrecon hope is larger than fear. Let nothing keep us from that hope, that faith, that security in God s dream for all of humanity. Be not afraid! The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate, The Episcopal Church A Brief Summary of what Bishop Matthew Gunter said to our diocesan convention We face real challenges. We cannot ignore them. But the tomb is empty and our hope is not. Jesus is sll Lord and he is undaunted. God is not done with us yet. So we can lighten up. We need not be fearful nor anxious. We can lighten up and get serious. We can lighten up because God has already lavished his grace on us. And we can get serious about the challenge of our ongoing conversion. We can get serious about adopng pracces that help us a6end to God s mercy and delight and thus become a people of God s mercy and delight in the way of Jesus. Lighten up and get serious. A6end to God s mercy and delight. Enter into the self-control of spiritual disciplines that enable us to become a people of God s mercy and delight. To move us in the direcon of becoming a people of mercy and delight, we have, among other things, formed a new task force/commission on congregaonal vitality. And we have formed a new Deacons Council to call the whole diocese of diaconal ministry in the world around us. I also encouraged members of the diocese to adopt this Rule of Life. Note: copies of the Diocese of Fond du Lac s Rule of Life are in the narthex or call the church at

4 The Northern Light Page 4 Advent Retreat with Bishop Matthew Gunter Monday, December 14 St. Luke's is blessed to have Bishop Gunter leading a retreat for us. It will be at St. Luke's on Monday, December 14, from 9 unl 3. His central focus will be on prayer with Julian of Norwich, but he will no doubt touch on how we can make ourselves persons and communies of mercy and delight. Something "breakfasty" will be provided, as will lunch. A free will offering to defray the cost of the food would be appreciated. It's a busy me, but a wonderful way to keep Advent and prepare for Christmas. I hope it works for most of us to a6end! Mother Barb Becoming A Member of St. Luke s Recently I ve had a few quesons about official membership in the Episcopal Church. While not as requirement-laden as in some churches, the Episcopal Church does have some membership standards established by canon. Every once in a while, I think it s helpful to review them. If, a>er reading this arcle, you have ques- ons, please feel free to ask! There s only one standard of membership in the church: Bapsm. If you want to become a formal member, you should talk to the priest and he or she will enter your bapsm in the Parish Register. All it really takes to become a member (given Bapsm) in a parcular parish is either a conversaon with the priest, or, if you are already registered as a member in some other Episcopal church, a le6er transferring that membership. Members are communicants (those who received communion at least three mes a year) and Communicants in Good Standing (those who are faithful in worship, in prayer and in support of the church (this la6er is usually measured in terms of monetary gi>s, but isn t required to be remember the standard is me, talent and treasure.) Being a Communicant in Good Standing is o>en the criteria for being elected to leadership posions. I hope this is helpful. Just remember, everybody s welcome! Mother Barb Scandia Christmas Tea Monday, December 7 Please see sign-up sheet in clip board ally. We need lots of goodies as well as help with set-up, serving and clean-up. All are welcome to parcipate. The residents and staff look forward to this fesve event each year. Co-chairing this ministry this year are Nancy Laitner and Pat Wisner. Thursday Bible Study, 10a We are finishing the New Testament study we le> in May. Beginning January 7, we will begin a short 5-week series on archeology. No need to sign up; just show up! TRANSFORMING BIBLE STUDY: Wednesdays at 10a Want to delve into scripture and how God is speaking to you? This class, taught by Gwynne Schultz, is working their way through the Gospel of Mark and will have as its focus the seeking of God s word in and through the Scriptures for each one of us. It will be a me of learning, of discovery and of sharing. All are welcome. Book Group The next book club date will be Thursday, December 10 at noon at St. Luke's. The book selecon is The Gi of Peace: Personal Reflecons by Cardinal Joseph Bernardin. Joseph Cardinal Bernardin's gentle leadership throughout his life of ministerial service had made him an internaonally beloved figure, but the words he le> behind about his final journey would change the lives of many more people from all faiths, from all backgrounds, and from all over the world. In the last two months of his life, Joseph Cardinal Bernardin made it his ulmate mission to share his personal reflecons and insights as a legacy to those he le> behind. The Gi8 of Peace reveals the Cardinal's spiritual growth amid a string of traumac events: a false accusaon of sexual abuse; reconciliaon a year later with his accuser, who had earlier recanted the charges; a diagnosis of pancreac cancer and surgery; the return of cancer, now in his liver; his decision to discon- nue chemotherapy and live his remaining days as fully as possible. In these pages, Bernardin tells his story openly and honestly, and shares the profound peace he came to at the end of his life. He accepted his peace as a gi> from God, and he in turn now shares that gi> with the world. Bring your lunch! Please feel free to invite other people you know that enjoy reading all are welcome!

5 The Northern Light Page 5 Outreach: S&!)%$D O"E&!' F GHFFI,!&D% $HFFI H$J DF KHFFI CANTURBURY KIOSK! FAIR TRADE ITEMS SUPPORT FARMERS & ARTISANS WORLDWIDE St. Luke s Outreach Commi6ee thanks to Judy Bush is operang a kiosk in the Canterbury Room. Each me the church purchases items to sell it benefits individuals and cooperaves on nearly every connent. Right now we are selling coffee, tea, chocolate and a few items for Advent and Christmas. There is a small white cabinet in the Canterbury Room that will house these items, and there is a container there to be used on the honor-system for payment of your purchases. Proceeds from sales will be used by the Outreach Commi6ee for their various other projects. We are working through a group tled SERVV. They began a>er World War II in 1949 in an effort to help those suffering from war deprivaon. Their first items for sale were cuckoo clocks from the Black Forest. They import their products by ship it takes longer, but it is more energy efficient. In an effort to protect the environment they also reuse packing materials and use eco-friendly paper and inks in their printed pieces. They are a non-profit organizaon. A quote from the SERVV catalog, SERVV creates long-term connecons with disadvantaged arsans and farmers. Through our relaonships based on fair trade values, our partners are breaking the cycle of poverty and strengthening their families and communies. We hope to see you shopping at our li6le white kiosk! If you have any quesons, we will try to answer them contact Pete Thelen, Mother Barb or Judy Bush. Renard s Cheese & Pizza Sale Huge Success St. Luke s raised $ with the sales plus received donaons from the community of $ With the matching funds total raised for Syrian refugee ministry through Episcopal Relief and Development totaled $1, Thank you to all who made this gi> possible. Pete Thelen, Outreach Chair St. Luke s Adopts a Family this Christmas The last outreach project for 2015 is our "Adopt a Family" for Feed My People/Cloth My People. This year we will again have a family with children, and the Sunday school class will be coordinating the project. Please check out the Christmas tree in the Canterbury Room which will have decorations with gift requests for our family. Choose one to help provide a special Christmas for our family. If you don't want to shop, monetary donations are always appreciated. Items need to be returned to the church by Sunday, December 13. St. Luke s Generous and Overflowing Support Door of Life s Food Pantry In November, people were invited to take a St. Luke s shopping bag and fill it with non-perishable items for the Door of Life s Food Pantry. The table quickly filled and then spilled over filling space under the table and around it. This pantry is open 24/7. Unlike other pantries, this one doesn t require any kind of check-in. The pastor, Ed House, said that they haven t had anyone abuse their generosity. At a recent an-poverty symposium in Door County, it became clear that there are hungry people in northern Door but they are reluctant to come forward to ask for aid. This pantry seems like an ideal way to aid those folks. Thanks for your on-going generosity! Mother Barb Pictured: A the bags brought in for Door of Life s Food Pantry.

6 The Northern Light Page 6 David Skidmore offers his reflection on convention continued from the front page The first queson we engaged on Saturday morning asked what a community of mercy and delight would look like. All of us at our table had the same response: St. Luke's. It seems we exude those qualies in nearly all aspects of our life, the liturgy, fellowship, outreach, learning, formaon, and our communicaon. The stewardship le6er this fall with the photo of Barb's hands holding out the sacrament embodies what a community of mercy and delight is about: sharing, thanksgiving, and celebraon. The business side of convenon went quickly as we had just one contested elecon, and just one resoluon (expanding deanery meengs to allow for connued conversaon). The budget, which was adopted without debate, includes funding for congregaonal vitality, which will be overseen by the new Commission on Vitality. Other new developments cited by the bishop were the restart of the Deacons School, a broader focus by the Commission on Ministry (all forms of ministry to be supported, not just ordained), the arrival in our diocese of the Order of Julian of Norwich, and a new Otherness Commissions which will focus on bridging the differences that may divide and alienate us from each other. We le> convenon with a resource to help each member of our diocesan community to become agents of God's mercy and delight: a diocesan rule of life that holds up five pracces to shape our life together: Worship in community, daily prayer, fasng one day a week, observing Sunday as a day of Sabbath, and self-examinaon. It is not an obligaon. As the bishop said, we are a community of expectaon. To adopt the rule is not a proof of worthiness or righteousness, but a commitment to growing into the full stature of Christ and being more transparent to God's mercy and delight. So there is much to be hopeful about, and to take delight in. And the bishop intends for the conversaon to connue, one venue being the three deaneries. All members of the diocese lay and ordained will have the opportunity to engage the conversaon at two deanery meengs next year which will be scheduled to accommodate lay people as well as clergy. I hope many of us can make at least one of those meengs. Finally, my thanks to the members of St. Luke's for entrusng me to represent the parish at the convenon. I really enjoyed it. To read the bishop's convention Eucharist sermon download at: h6p:// And the video of his pastoral address on Saturday of convenon is here: h6ps:// Clipboard Alley Clipboard Alley is where a number of things are posted on clipboards including sign-up sheets for serving, Sunday flowers and other events. Clipboard Alley is located along the hallway that leads to the stairs. When entering St. Luke s, the hallway is immediately to your right as you walk towards the worship space. Want to be in the Know? Sign-up for E-News to get weekly and special updates on what is happening in our faith community. This is our primary means of ge9ng news out to people in the most "mely manner. All we need is your address and you will be in the know. Send Carol Ann Osinski an at rcosinski@gmail.com St. Luke s Offers Episcopal Pamphlets A rack in the Canterbury Room vesbule offers a variety of pamphlets on subjects ranging from the Episcopal Church to spiritual life to pastoral care and Bible study. These pamphlets, well wri6en and reliable sources of informaon, instrucon and inspiraon, come from Forward Movement, a naonal Episcopal publishing company. St. Luke s offers them free for your learning and use. Getting your newsletter in the mail? Consider gexng it in color on-line. You can print out only what you need plus enjoy a more vibrant newsle6er. Send an to: stlukescommunicaon@gmail.com Please include your name and address. Sign-up for E-News list as well.

7 The Northern Light Page 7 Thank you to St. Luke s Stewardship Team: John and Norma Bramsen, Betsy Rogers, Doug Schwartz and David Skidmore A note from Deacon Du6on and Joyce Morehouse: Hello St. Luke's friends. We are so sorry that we couldn't meet with you on our way to Georgia. We were very pressed to get the house emped and then on our way to Chicago that night to see our son and his wife. We will hold you all in our hearts always. Peace and Joy. Thank you Altar Guild Members for all you do! The Altar Guild will be gathering for breakfast at the White Gull Inn on Wednesday, December 9, 9a. This is a me for thanking the many people whose ministry to is ensure our worship space is prepared, inving, and holy. Thank you to our Altar Guild members: Norma Bramsen (chair), Hilary Ford, Carol Heil, Lee Hickey, Trudy Jischke, Nancy Laitner, Carol Ann Osinski, Karen Schwartz, Eileen True, Jane Weis, and Sherry Wolf. December 2 Pat Loomis December 3 Steve Ellio6 December 4 Robert Allen December 17 Doug Williams December 17 Sherry Wolf December 18 Sigurd Mary Ann Sandstrom December 22 Be6y Vail December 22 Jon Aija Horton December 31 Tim Magnin Are we missing your birthday or anniversary? Have we given you a new one by mistake? If so, please call the church office and let us know. October Vestry Summary RECTOR: The Rev. Barbara Sajna, 2100 Ridges Road Baileys Harbor, WI Home: Cell: Church Phone: (920) Deacon: The Rev. Joy Zakrzewski Parish Staff: Treasurer: Doug Schwartz stlukestreasurer77@gmail.com Secretary: Jane Weis jnjweis@charter.net E-News Editor: Carol Ann Osinski rcosinski@gmail.com Newsle%er Editor: Joanne Skidmore joanneskidmore@prodigy.net Website Editor: Norma Bramsen nabramsen@aol.com Parish Nurse: Roberta Thelen robertathelen@live.com Financials The Balance Sheet as of September 30, 2015 indicated total assets of $287, The Expense to Budget Performance of January through September 2015 reflected a total net income of $289, and total expenses of $86, reflecng a surplus of $202, These amounts include the gi> from Marion Marcellus. Marion Marcellus GiK We have received the final disbursement of Marion s gi> to St. Luke s. The Vestry decided to place the $11, into the Reserve Fund-Parking Lot. Upcoming Deanship Mother Barb has been asked to serve as dean of our local deanery. Deacon Du%on and Joyce Morehouse 358 Johnson St., Madison, GA Nominaons for Annual Meeng The nominang commi6ee will be meeng shortly to nominate vestry candidates as well as convenon delegates and alternates for next year. Canterbury Room Use Policy The Vestry approved the revised form for use of the Canterbury Room to include pernent clauses of the naonal church policy about the use of alcohol on Episcopal Church properes. Update on Panels for the Canterbury Room Doug Schwartz and David Skidmore will install the 4 addional sound panels and Karen Schwartz has ordered 6 more panels for a cost of $ This was agreeable to the vestry. Update on the Diocese of Fond du Lac s Execuve Council David Skidmore reported that the Bishop is serious about changing the culture of the diocese. Proper financial oversight within the diocese was discussed and how it poten- ally might be handled.

8 St. Luke s Episcopal Church 2336 Canterbury Lane PO Box 559 Sister Bay, WI Church Phone: (920) stlukesdoorcounty@gmail.com Website: h6p://stlukes-sisterbay.org/ Celebrang, Deepening and Sharing our Commitment to Christ Church Next is offering an on-line Advent class. Cost is $10. There is a discussion guide that you can download. Go to churchnext for more informa"on. Advent: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year with Susan Goff Preparaon and ancipaon are in the air - and not just for gi>s and meals - but for Christ to meet us anew in the holy season of Advent. Learn how the Advent message of the Christ who came, the Christ who comes, and the Christ who will come again, can have a significant impact on your spiritual life. Episcopal bishop and teacher Susan Goff leads us through an engaging and transformave journey to the manger. This course is ideal for those who are looking to experience the holy season of Advent more deeply. Annual Stewardship Appeal Underway It Is Not To Late To Offer Your Gift An abundance of blessings is the theme of this fall s stewardship appeal. A le6er has gone to all households, nong the many blessings of our shared life and asking us to consider prayerfully how we can respond to support our parish and its work in Sister Bay and beyond. A pledge form is available in the entry of St. Luke s or call the church office at Christmas Worship Christmas Eve, 4p, recepon following Christmas Day, 10a Opportunities to Serve Others Christmas shopping at church by buying fair trade gi>s. See page 5. Adopt a family for Christmas. See page 5. Preparing for Sunday: Sunday Readings with Commentary h%p://stlukessisterbay.org/ and click on the icon.