THE TOWER CHIMES. What are your priorities? November 2010

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1 THE TOWER CHIMES The Newsletter of St. James Episcopal Church 1 St. James Place, Goshen, N.Y The Rev. M. Carl Lunden, Rector! November 2010 OUR VISION St. James seeks to love and serve God through Discipleship, Community Service and Eucharistic Fellowship. We encourage spiritual growth and maturity by educating each other in the knowledge of the Christian Gospel. We seek to live in the image of Jesus Christ and invite our neighbors to participate in our family of faith. Phone: (845) Fax: (845) stjames@warwick.net We re on the web! From the Rector What are your priorities? As he was setting out on a journey, a man ran up and knelt before him, and asked him, "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" You know the commandments: 'You shall not murder; You shall not commit adultery; You shall not steal; You shall not bear false witness; You shall not defraud; Honor your father and mother.'" He said to him, "Teacher, I have kept all these since my youth." Jesus, looking at him, loved him and said, "You lack one thing; go, sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me." When he heard this, he was shocked and went away grieving, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, "How hard it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were perplexed at these words. Peter began to say to him, "Look, we have left everything and followed you." Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields, for my sake and for the sake of the good news, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this age--houses, brothers and sisters, mothers and children, and fields with persecutions--and in the age to come eternal life. (Mark 10:17, 19-24, NRSV) The Pew Research Center ( has shown that America is among the most religious of the world s developed nations. Nearly six-in-ten U.S. adults say that religion is very important in their lives, and roughly four-inten say they attend worship services at least once a week. But the recent U.S. Religious Knowledge Survey shows that large numbers of Americans are uninformed about the tenets, practices, history and leading figures of major faith traditions including their own. Many people also think the constitutional restrictions on religion in public schools are stricter than they really are. The findings of this survey are up to interpretation but, what is troubling is that mainline Protestants (of which the Episcopal Church is grouped) along with Roman Catholics scored the worst. Why is it that we know so little about our faith and religion in general? I think before we look for an answer, we have to be realistic about what is officially expected of as members of the Episcopal Church. If we consult the Baptismal Covenant in the Prayer Book (BCP page ) or the canonical requirements for membership (Canon 17) we find that there are some parameters of what is expected of members. All of these requirements assume a serious, passionate engagement with our faith that is at the heart a COMMITMENT. The things that we care most about tend to dominate the choices we make and the allocation of our resources; our time, attention, loyalty, and love. Ask yourself, how would I rank the priority of the following things:

2 Page 2 family my kid s sports retirement having friends a new car continuing my education my relationship to Christ health and fitness travel and vacation owning your own home hobbies and recreation my career goals As a committed Christian it would seem to me that the number one priority should be: my relationship to Christ. Saint Peter makes it clear that we too should leave everything or at least rank other things as secondary to Christ. Saint Paul says, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8). We waste so much time pursuing less- than- significant things in our lives that we can easily lose track of what really matters. We all have a void in our lives that can only truly be filled with God and God s love. But, we try to fill it with less than filling things, money, sex, obsessions (material, political, recreational) codependent relationships, power, status, and self medication (alcohol and drugs). We long to feel complete and whole and it is Christ Jesus that offers us real life. Jesus says that he came so that we may have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10). But, we can t have this life and its connection to God if we place false priorities and obstacle in the way. We need to clear a path and highway for our God straight to our hearts. How do we do this? It begins by making one step at a time. First, becoming more involved in our faith community (i.e. St. James ) by making church attendance a priority. Why? Because it is a tool to grow in our faith and our commitment to Christ. The Body of Christ is here to support and strengthen our faith journey; something that is difficult at best on our own. Second, practice your Christianity every day. We need to pray and develop a relationship to God. We need to daily engage with Holy Scripture by personal reading, and seek out ways to spread the Gospel of love and compassion to all we come in contact with. Being a follower of Christ is a commitment but, we follow these demands so we might reap the benefits of a close relationship to God and all the blessings and joy that it offers. Jesus asks us to set priorities, but he does so that we might gain the Kingdom and truly know and experience what a close relationship with God and our brothers and sisters is all about. Can we like Peter and Paul focus our lives on Christ that we might know abundant life? We can and with God s grace there is no better time than now, today! The newsletter is going paperless. Please sign up to receive it via by sending an to Tammy Matula at smatula@frontiernet.net, or fill out the paper in the weekly bulletin and give it to Genie in the Parish office. It will also be available on the church website at Please help us to be good stewards of our blessings and sign up today! Paper copies will be available on the table in the vestibule for those who do not have .

3 Page 3 The Tower Chimes is the official monthly publication of St. James Episcopal Church. Goshen, New York A note from Father Carl: Thank you for the reception honoring my ten years of service. I was touched by the kindness of our Parish Family, and I am delighted to be a part of such a wonderful Church. The Rev. M. Carl Lunden Rector Tammy Matula Editor Genie McMonigle Secretary VESTRY Nicole Wiggins, Warden Jim Heslop, Warden Jackie Bloem Donna Carbone Ed Connor Jan Golding Jeanne Healy Gregg Markey David Mauriello Sarah Schaumburg Chris Tippin Kit Wallace Jerre Coleman, Treasurer Nicole Wiggins, Assistant Treasurer Tammy Matula Clerk Please join us for Coffee Hour! We now have a coffee crew, so hosting coffee hour is a breeze! Just bring some goodies to share. Think about signing up to do a coffee hour during your birthday month. It s a great way to remember to participate in this important ministry.

4 Page 4 St. James' "Funday School" is off to a wonderful start! Each week begins with music as we wait for everyone to arrive. Tammy Matula is doing an excellent job of finding fun songs and easy movements that engage the children and follow each week's lessons. The children really enjoy rotating through the various stations and look forward to coming back each week. They learn important stories from the Bible through storytelling, crafts, games and other activities. In October they learned about Saint Francis, made pet rocks and baked dog biscuit treats for the Blessing of the Animals. Another lesson focused on Noah and the Great Flood. They made rainbow mobiles to remind them of God's promise and paired up to play "Noah tag." The final lesson was about the life of Moses and included making "Ten Commandments" plaques and baskets with the baby Moses and arranging a timeline of important events. We ended the month with our "Fall Festival." Crafts, cookie decorating and bobbing for donuts were enjoyed by all. Each child received a Trick-or-Treat UNI- CEF box to gather coins on Halloween for children who are less fortunate. November promises to be just as busy. We'll be starting the month with the story of Joseph and his colorful coat. This is also the kick-off of our "Coat Drive." The Sunday School and Youth Group will be collecting coats to donate to Art's Cleaners' Drive. They will clean all coats that are donated and distribute them to local families who are in need. Please help by bringing in any coats or jackets that are in good condition. A collection box will be in the lobby. If you would like to be a part of this exciting, fun and important ministry, please contact Donna Carbone at Canon In the Church we speak of canon law, the canon of Scripture, and people called canons. The canon of Scripture refers to the books of the Bible that are accepted as genuine and inspired by God. When used in reference to people, a canon is the title of a priest who either serves on the staff of a cathedral, or who has exhibited exemplary service to a diocese. Cassock A black robe worn by priests or deacons, and are usually worn with a white over-garment called a surplice. A Canon may wear a black cassock with red piping, or (with permission) may wear a purple cassock. Deans and archdeacons may wear black cassocks with red or purple piping. Lay readers, choir members and acolytes can also wear cassocks. Chasuble A chasuble is a type of vestment worn by the celebrant during Communion. It is usually oval in shape, with a hole for the head to pass through. The chasuble may have been derived from an ancient Roman cloak only worn outdoors and shaped like a tent. Corporal A square piece of linen laid on top of the altar cloth at Communion.

5 Page 5 Goshen Ecumenical Pantry Inc. The next distribution will be. November,13 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. in the Goshen First Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall at 33 Park Place, Goshen. Please arrive by 9:00am and be ready to help! Bagging and shelf stocking are done at the pantry, every Tuesday morning at 9:15 a.m. For about 1 hour, men are need to help the women lift heavy items on pantry shelves. On the fourth Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. we give youth looking for community service the chance to bag and stock shelves. All are welcome. The next date is November, 27 help us help Goshen s people in need. The Free Community Dinner at St. James The next dinner will be held Saturday, November,27. From 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the St. James Parish Hall. The Goshen Rotary Club will host their annual Saturday after Thanksgiving dinner Call John Strobl at if you can donate a dish, bake a cake, or lend a helping hand. We open at 4:00 p.m. to get ready for the 5:30 p.m. meal. The dinner is always held the last Saturday of each month. Food donations needed for the Food Pantry The Food Pantry depends on food & financial donations. Please make it a habit to donate a food item each time you come to Church. Please donate every Sunday at Sunday School. The pantry can use those extra free turkeys; donate them to the food pantry. This month we are collecting Food for Thanksgiving. Stuffing, Gravy, Cranberry Sauce, Instant Potatoes, Canned Yams, Canned Corn, Green Beans, Turkeys, etc People are hungry all year. Please give a financial or food donation to the Goshen Ecumenical Food Pantry to help us feed those less fortunate. Financial donations may be mailed to The Goshen Ecumenical Food Pantry, c/o John Strobl, 55 Wickham Ave, Goshen, NY

6 Page 6 YOUR TALENT IS GOD'S GIFT TO YOU. WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT TALENT IS YOUR GIFT TO GOD. The Stewardship Commitment Sundays got off to a slow start. We need 100% support from the parish members to be successful. If you have not made a pledge, please come forward and help us reach 100% participation in support for The Stewardship Committee would like to thank the members of St. James who spoke each Sunday about stewardship and what St. James means to them. I hope all of our members will give of their time, talent and treasure to St. James. We all need to show our love for our St. James family and be good stewards in supporting the work of St. James in our parish life and in the community. I encourage all members to speak with the rector and vestry about ideas on how we can reach out into the community and set an example of stewardship in the greater Goshen area. It is important to remember that we are to love God, with everything we have, with all our heart, mind and strength. In that way we glorify God in who we are and in everything we do. Our faithfulness to this task can be summarized with the word Stewardship. Stewardship is managing something that is not your own. Stewardship is the key to understanding the Christian life. What are we to stewards of then? Absolutely everything God has entrusted to you. That includes everything from this present day to your wealth, from your talents and abilities to your authority, from your family to your home, from your friendships to your responsibility. Everything is given to us by God, either directly or through the use of the gifts, tools, and the intelligence He gives to you. When it comes right down to it, stewardship is a matter of the heart. Jesus said. "Where your treasure is there your heart will be also." What do you treasure most? Do you treasure your relationship with God? Or the "stuff" of Life? Happy Thanksgiving from the greeters. 9 a.m. November 7 - Barbara Killenberger November 14 - Jerry Killenberger November 21 - Michele Markey November 28 - Ryan Muehlbauer December 5 - Linda Nichols 10:15 a.m. November 7 - Jeanne Meehan November 14 - Berni Muller November 21 - Lillian Quintero November 28 - LaWahna Search Ed Fritsche, Stewardship Chairman

7 Page 7 Quiet Day Saturday, December 4th from 10-3 at Christ Church Warwick, NY. A day for spiritual nourishment. The Rev. Pat Cashman teaches spiritual growth through a hybrid of psychology, monastic, and evangelical Christianity. With God, there is always more! Bring a journal. Bring colored pencils. Bring a friend. Thanksgiving Eve Ecumenical Service at St. James 7:30 pm Wednesday, November 24, The Collection will be for the Goshen Ecumenical Food Pantry. RSVP (845) 986) 3440 or ofice@christchurch.org St. James CHRISTMAS FAIR Saturday November 20th 10 a.m. 3 p.m.

8 Page 8 Altar Flowers 11/7 Lunden 11/14 Chip Hamilton 11/21 Thorley 11/28 Grout St. James Camera Club of Goshen, N.Y. Our meetings are held the 2 nd Tuesday of each month in the St. James parish hall at 7:30p.m. For info all John Strobl at or Martin bend at Is November 10th Please send contributions to Tammy Matula smatula@frontiernet.net If you would like to place a poinsettia on the Altar in thanksgiving or in memory of a loved one for the Christmas Celebration, please place your order with a member of the youth group starting November 21, - December 19th or call the parish office at All poinsettias are $10

9 Light Hearted Page 9 We re about to begin one of the busiest seasons of the year. Not that they all don t have their share of overloaded schedules, commitments, travel plans and daily to do lists, but the Holiday Season certainly brings with it an increased level of preparation and things to do. We all enter the Holiday Season with our own thoughts and expectations. Some of us can t wait for the calendars to turn toward late November to celebrate Thanksgiving and move right into Christmas, while others may view the upcoming days differently depending on family situations, complicated travel plans and varying degrees of stress that can accompany this time of year. I suppose we all have the tendency to put pressure on ourselves as the Holidays draw near. We can easily find ourselves on an accelerating treadmill between now and New Year s; when what most of us would like to do is slow the pace down a bit. Is it possible to eliminate some of the self-imposed pressure and take the upcoming days a little more light-hearted? Can we prepare the meals, purchase the gifts and visit friends and family without being overwhelmed by the typical demands and expectations we place on others and ourselves? Taking the Holidays a little more light-hearted may help us navigate through the season (and the mall parking lots) a little easier. A little light-heartedness can help relieve some pressure, allow a few minutes to find some peace and quiet and give ourselves a little bit of a Holiday break. As we attempt to find the right recipe for what s ahead, perhaps there s another alternative to help set our hearts and minds in the right place. Shedding some of the stress and pressure with a lighthearted approach may be helpful, (and others around us may really appreciate it!), but what else can we do to fully experience the joy of the Holidays? Could it be that we get so lost in the busy-ness of the Holidays that we lose sight of their true purpose? With a few weeks left to prepare, maybe we can take a time out to turn our thoughts to the Lord and recognize that it was this time of the year when God sent His Son to us to become the Light of the world. All of our preparations, gatherings and gifts center on the baby born in the manger who became our Savior. He is the true Light given to us for all seasons. Looking to Jesus as our true Spirit and Light can fill our hearts with His love and replace the stress and pressures created by the world around us. Finding the right recipe for the Holidays may be a difficult task, but we might want to add a little humor and self-forgiveness to our daily lives to be a little more light-hearted. Most importantly, we need to take some time to remember the true reason for celebration, our Lord Jesus, God s gift to all of us and be inspired to celebrate by becoming truly Light hearted! Have a blessed Holiday Season, Dom Perfetti

10 God Bless Chloe Savannah Saverino who was Baptized on October 3, Best Wishes to David Ochs and Genevieve Kessler who were married on October 16, Lola Lofman 11/ 1 Jonathan Lent 11/ 3 Vanessa Cartisano 11/ 4 Nicholas Barnes 11/ 4 Jeanne Healy 11/ 5 James Mahoney 11/ 6 Zachary Mauriello 11/ 12 John De Angelis 11/ 26 Gregg Markey 11/ 27 Ritchard Moraczewski 11/ 28 Barbara Killenberger 11/ 29 John Strobl 11/ 30 Congratulations to Kevin Mitchell and Lindsay Coleman who were married on October 22, Ron & KimLori Devine 11/ 1 Nick & Roberta Mabee 11/ 4 Bryan & Christine Giudice 11/ 11 Henry & Tanya Hamilton 11/ 15 Greg & Diane Nicholson 11/ 21 Harry & Kathy Brown 11/ 23