THE CANTERBURY TALES

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1 THE CANTERBURY TALES OCTOBER 2016 FR. MARK S MUSINGS I really think that this is the most exciting time I have ever experienced. I realize that not everyone shares my views and certainly I have had some additional excitement in my life in the past month. But even if we put aside our wedding, there is a lot to be excited about. Some of you like Noelle and Joan and other members of the Vision Team are the source of the excitement, while others are being or have been infected with this joy and excitement and it is growing. Over the past couple of years the renewal project has taken on several forms but few of them were very public or obvious. We have tried to keep people informed with regular letters and tale articles but I think most of you have wondered what is going on and when will we see some results. Well it is happening in spades! Last weekend members of St. Thomas participated in the first annual Churches Caring Together ecumenical ministry day. It was a tremendous success and our community was served by representatives from nine churches in the Greendale, Greenfield, and Hales Corners area. Closer to home, we are building the planting boxes for the community garden on the west side of the church property. The lumber has been delivered and this weekend you will begin to see the fruits of all this work. It will be fenced in the spring and then planting will begin. It is our hope that this will be a wonderful way to connect with the community and offer them something tangible, educational, and spiritual. And that s not all!

2 Later this year we are planning on kicking off our senior advocacy program in concert with the Greendale Health Department. In that same time frame the choir will continue its wonderful ministry by performing for various senior centers and nursing homes in the area. On top of all that, in late January we will be hosting a dinner theater fund raiser. Any way you look at it that is a lot of activity and a lot of community outreach and a lot of personal involvement by the St. Thomas congregation. It is exciting. Last month Noelle gave us an acronym that seems to be catching on. It calls us to look to the E.A.S.T. Excitement At St. Thomas! There are many signs of life and growth and these are just some of them. Anyone who was in church last Sunday saw the number of children at the altar. They are another sign of life and growth. It is truly exciting and uplifting. It is both energizing and an honor to be part of a group of people so dedicated and generous. It is that spirit of generosity and sharing that gives me such great hope for the future of our church. It gives me the confidence to say that St. Thomas of Canterbury and The Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee are not dying, but are being reformed and continue our growth into the full stature of Christ. Indeed I think we are living in one of the most exciting and wonderful times in the history of the church. What a great time to be part of it. It is my greatest prayer that each and every one of you will catch this wonderful excitement and share in this spirit of generosity and love. It is truly a step closer to the Kingdom. Peace always, Fr. Mark

3 DEACON S NEWS AND NOTES the fallen leaves in the forest seemed to make even the ground glow and burn with light Malcolm Lowry, October Ferry To Gabriola By the time you read this newsletter, convention will be but a memory. I offer special thanks to Kris Reed for her help with putting the deputy folders together. The results of the voting for the various positions open in the diocese are on the diocesan website. Hopefully the minutes will be ready by the end of the month and on the website. Both the Commission on Ministry and the Executive Council will be meeting in November. The Commission on Ministry will be interviewing for candidacy. The Executive Council will have its final 2016 meeting and will plan for I continue with my regular Fridays at Nicholson House, the diocesan office, (804 East Juneau) and again invite you to stop in for coffee/tea and a tour. With convention over, I will be organizing the Commission on Ministry folders. For many, many years, the completed files have been located in the basement. All folders have been moved to the second floor of Nicholson House; new metal file containers are already in the file room and starting the 21 st I will be putting all in order. Personally, I adopted Charlie from Second Hand Purrs, a no-kill cat shelter run primarily by volunteers. Charlie was a VERY shy, scared cat. When I went to see him, he was as far back in his cage as he could get. When I brought him home, he hid under the bed. NOW he curls up on the bed and his favorite chair, jumps up to the armoire, sits in the windows, throws his catnip pillows in the air and talks, and talks, and talks. What could be more exciting than an October day? It's your birthday, Fourth of July and Christmas all rolled into one. Peggy Toney Horton Peace and prayers, Deacon Marge

4 NOTES FROM PAUL STOVING, SENIOR WARDEN Consecration Sunday Is Coming! Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes. Our congregation s finance and stewardship committee has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principle of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis this year. New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, What percentage of my income is God calling me to give? During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, we are asking our attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our church s missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world. Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.

5 We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete the Estimate of Giving cards. During morning worship our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship. We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through the Consecration Sunday team and vestry members. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their cards, we will make every effort to inform, inspire, and commit everyone to attend Consecration Sunday worship. Thank you in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events. As always, I appreciate your thoughts. Paul Stoving

6 COMMUNITY GARDEN NEWS On Saturday, October 8 th, seventeen people, both members of the Greendale community and STOC, came together to assemble garden boxes for the community garden. Under the direction of Noelle Gehlhaart, and Joan and Mark Lamson, twenty four boxes were assembled and filled with compost. It is really true that many hands make light work. From the youngest to the oldest participant, work was done with joy and laughter. Lunch was provided by the Cram family. Watch for more information from the Vision Team on how you can get involved with the Community Garden.

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8 WEDDING WISHES FOR FR. MARK AND SANDRA On Sunday, October 9th, following the 10 o clock service, the parish community came together to celebrate the marriage of Fr Mark and Sandra during coffee hour.

9 ST. THOMAS OF CANTERBURY COLUMBARIUM After several months of planning, the St. Thomas Steering Committee is pleased to announce the Columbarium has been installed. A columbarium is like a condominium of niches. It will provide a final resting place for parishioners or members of their immediate family who have chosen cremation. There are forty niches in the structure, each of which can house one or two urns holding the ashes. It is constructed with solid cherry wood fronts with marble closure that will be engraved with the name, date of birth and date of death. The history of the space is interesting in that it formerly was the sanctuary of the original church and the cross which continues to exist today was the original back in the late fifties. During the construction phase, a niche was offered at an introductory fee of $975 regardless of whether there were one or two burials. We will continue this fee until December 31, 2016, at which time the fee for one will continue at $975 but the fee for two will increase to $1,500. Only the cost of an urn remains the licensee s responsibility. As of this date, there have been eight niches reserved providing the funds to cover the entire cost of the Columbarium. Members of the Steering Committee besides Father Mark are Bob Stewart, Randy Schraw, Mandy Klumb and Matt Done. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask any of the members for assistance.

10 Trunk or Treat This year, STOC is going to take advantage of our wonderful neighborhood location by holding our first Trunk or Treat during Greendale's Trick or Treat hours, on Sunday Oct 30th from 4-7pm. Decorate your cars and/or trunks and join us in the parking lot shortly before 4PM to pass out candy and treats (individual commercially packaged only, please) to the neighborhood children! This is a great opportunity for those of us who live in areas without a lot of trick or treaters to get in on the Holiday fun and see a lot of cute kids in costumes! Those who live near the church report carloads of kids being brought to the area to trick or treat in this safe location, so come prepared! Ecumenical Green Corners Holy Land Pilgrimage Prince of Peace ELCA and Adoration ELCA are coordinating a Holy Land Pilgrimage in June of The total cost is $3935, and this includes airfare, lodging, tour bus and guide, breakfasts and dinners (buffet style), and 9 full days in the Holy Land. (It s a day and a half for roundtrip travel of course.) This Israel Pilgrimage will be over June 17-27, 2017, and all who are able to come along are welcome and invited to join us! We will visit the sites associated with our Lord and Savior Jesus, and we will visit some sites associated with his Apostles, his Mother, and his early Church. For more information (trip itinerary, registration, and so forth) please call Shalom! Pastor Andrew Nyren and Pastor Tim Singleton

11 OCTOBER CELEBRATIONS BIRTHDAYS ANNIVERSARIES Shelley Luettgen October 3 Dan & Amber McKenzie October 5 Jeanne Langenberg October 4 Gary & Veronica Heaney October 6 Addison Fisher October 8 Scott & Jodi Brunelli October 8 Pam Kasper October 8 Tom & Jane White October 18 Lauren Lent October 11 Mark & Joan Lamson October 19 Terry Greiten October 15 Tony Kluessendorf October 23 Marge Hill October 30 Tom Labisch October 30