St. Matthew s Online Newsletter

Transcription

1 Episcopal Church of St. Matthew October 2015 The Value of Creation By Fr. Rick Wilson Part of the beauty of our Anglican tradition is an appreciation of nature. Recently I was reminded of that at the Celebration of Life of one of our longstanding St. Matthew s parishioners. The family had selected For the Beauty of the Earth as the processional hymn. It begins, For the beauty of the earth, for the beauty of the skies Another creation-affirming selection made by the family was All Creatures of our God and King, used as the Communion meditation. It begins, All creatures of our God and King, lift up your voices, let us sing... Both hymns recognize the beauty and majesty of creation. Both are praise songs to God for all God gives us. In the Jewish scriptures, we read from the 19th Psalm about the revelatory aspect of creation, The heavens are telling the glory of God; and the firmament proclaims his handiwork. To acknowledge the giftedness of creation is to realize that the cosmos God brought into being and sustains can also be a means through which God speaks to us. The Incarnation, the Word of God made flesh, is the highest point of this revelation as Jesus revealed the nature of God, which is love. In Celtic Christianity, nature is also considered a means of revelation. In his book, The Book of Creation, John Philip Newell quotes A. (Continued on page 2) The Online Newsletter is a production of lay ministers and the clergy. Please all articles or photos to the editor, Julie Neff- Encinas at jneffencinas@cox.net Inside this issue: Wendler Baptism 2 Barnes Vow Renewal 3 Who Are Matty s Angels? 4 St Matthew Day 5 Sacred Self Care 7 Senior Warden 8 Rummage Sale 9 We Rejoice as God s Creation While of course our Earth and all the universe is God s creation, so are we! We celebrate that in many ways here at St. Matthew. From special sacramental celebrations to caring for others via sending Christmas cards; we rejoice in being God s children. There is also a way for everyone to care for their own self as a piece of God s creation; join in on Nov. 7 when the Sacred Self Care event is held in Matt s Place. Whether it is through your piety practices or sacred self care; glorify God for all Creation! Cards for the Troops 10 Who We Are 11

2 Page 2 creation is the grand volume of God s utterance. A. J. Scott The Book of Creation by John Philip Newell The Value of Creation (cont.) (Continued from page 1) J. Scott (who Newell refers to as a Celtic teacher) as saying that creation is the grand volume of God s utterance. Newell goes on, That is where the Creator speaks, in and through all that has been created. Newell s book reveals that in Celtic spirituality, creation is not only gift but a self-giving of God whose image is found deep within all living things. By many theologians, nature and Scripture are often identified as two revelations: the Book of Nature and the Book of Scripture, general revelation and special revelation respectively. The first time I attended an Episcopal Church Holy Communion liturgy, I was in college in Deerfield, Illinois. I had recently left the church in which I was raised and was moving in another direction. A classmate invited me to St. Gregory Episcopal Church. The church was incredibly beautiful. The service was amazingly uplifting. The altar call here was not coming forward to admit how much of a sinner I had been. My former tradition provided that practice as a weekly invitation. The altar call at St. Gregory s was to participate in Jesus sharing of his sacred meal, just as his disciples shared with him intimately on the night of his arrest. When I did that, I experienced a deep sense of God s presence; it was a sacred moment. As I reflected on that experience, I realized how one could believe that the bland wafer and the sweet wine was enlivened with the Spirit of God to mediate the presence of Christ. Creation became for me more than something marvelous and awesome that God had brought into being, but a place where we encounter God. I use an expression to state this proximity: God is closer to us than our very skin is to our bone. Due to that convic- (Continued on page 3) Baptism of Addison Wendler Baptisms are wonderful events! We were a happy community as we welcomed Addison Wendler into the Body of Christ and she was marked as Christ s own forever on Sunday, September 6. Congratulations to the entire Wendler family! Big brother Blake gave us all a giggle when he asked his parents When can I do that? Fr. Rick replied, Once you are ordained, Blake!

3 Page 3 The Value of Creation (cont.) tion, I believe the Word of God speaks to us continually, that the presence of God is with us always, and that through our cosmos we can experience the reality of God and probably do so many times without being aware of it. The church has identified seven communal experiences as sacred moments when God s reality is present and to which we are all invited to be attentive. They are called sacraments. Baptism and Holy Communion are the major sacraments and there are five called ecclesial sacraments: confirmation, reconciliation, holy orders, marriage, and anointing of the sick. These visible signs of God s presence are offered within the community of faith for the community of faith. More often than not, we are probably not truly attentive to the mystery being expressed through these encounters but the mystery is there. Each of them uses some aspect of creation to mediate God s presence. Knowing that creation is a gift from God and that within the created order we can experience God, we need to cherish creation. We need to do so not only out of thankfulness and for the benefit of our own experience, but for those who come after us. We need to be better stewards of this world and all of creation that we touch. The value of creation is that it is our place of being and where God is present to us, calling us to be more fully who we are - God s children, following God s holy child Jesus in helping transform our wounded world. To do as we pray, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. (Continued on page 6) Renewal of Marriage Vows by Kevin & Courtney Barnes Weddings are wonderful events, too! Kevin and Courtney Barnes renewed their marriage vows on Sunday, Sept 13 during the 10:30 liturgy. They celebrated their 14th anniversary with this renewal. The depth of their love is so evident in their commitment to the church, service to others and in their three lovely children, Poeima, Isabella and Elijah, who had front row seats to watch their parents profess their mutual love and dedication!

4 Page 4 Who are Matty s Angels? We are a women s group who meet once a month for FELLOWSHIP, SERVICE, PRAYER, FUN, and much, much more! Matty s Angels is OPEN TO ALL WOMEN & GIRLS of The Episcopal Church of St Matthew. Our past and current activities include: COFFEE/TEA MEET & GREET with SWEETS & TREATS SEPTEMBER 2013 & 2015 REGULAR MONTHLY MEETING TOPICS HAVE INCLUDED: Sharing Inspirational Music and Books, Favorite Devotional Materials, Outreach Efforts on Navajo Nation, Heart Health, Acupuncture, Mental Health and Illness, and Cursillo PREPARED DINNER FOR THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA EPISCOPAL CAMPUS MINISTRY VISITED BIOSPHERE II, a joint activity with Matty s Men s Group ASSISTED WITH OCTOBERFEST 2014, the 50 th Anniversary of St Matthew s Inception PARTICIPATED & RAISED MONEY FOR: NAMI WALK, MARCH 2014 & 2015, UPCOMING Saturday, April 2, 2016 ZERO PROSTATE CANCER RUN/WALK OCTOBER 2014 & 2015 ASSISTED SHOEBOX MINISTRY Shared in wrapping & stuffing the boxes SPONSORED A PASQUA YAQUI FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS 2014 & WILL IN 2015 ALSO VOLUNTEERED AT BEN S BELLS JANUARY 2014 & MAY 2015, date for 2016 TBA VISITED AMERIND MUSEUM IN APRIL 2015, a joint activity with Matty s Men s Group DECORATED TIHAN POZ CAFÉ CARE PACKAGE BAGS JULY 2015, with Matty s Men s Group SIGNED CHRISTMAS CARDS FOR DEPLOYED SERVICE MEMBERS OCTOBER 2014 & 2015 SUMMER & ANNUAL CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST MEETINGS HELD AT LOCAL RESTAURANT WELLNESS DAY 2015, UPCOMING Saturday, November 7, 2015, 9:30am to 12:30pm, Matt s Place - Healing Touch, Chi Gong, Chair Yoga & Nutrition CHRISTMAS BREAKFAST 2015 UPCOMING Saturday, December 12, 8:00 am, Village Inn on 22nd Street just east of Harrison Rd. Prize for the most Christmassy outfit! We look forward to sharing with you in our UPCOMING meetings and activities! Mark your calendars and we ll see you there!

5 Page 5 St. Matthew s Day Celebration On Sunday, September 20, we celebrated our patron saint with a Hawaiian themed potluck luncheon. There was a Hawaiian trivia game that table groups played and the winners each took home a can of sliced pineapple! It was a fun day of fellowship for all. See page 9 and the addendum for more photos of the fun! The trivia contest winners!

6 Page 6 The Value of Creation (cont.) (Continued from page 3) In appreciation for what creation offers, I close with a few sections from the Lorica Litany, also referred to as St. Patrick s Breastplate: Today I shield myself with the power of heaven, light of the sun. Brilliance of the moon, splendor of fire, speed of lightning, swiftness of wind, depths of sea, firmness of earth, hardness of rock. Christ be with me, Christ be before me, Christ be behind me, Christ be inside me, Christ be beneath me, Christ be above me, Christ on my right hand, Christ on my left hand, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ when I rise up, Christ all around me, Christ in the heart of everyone who beholds me, Christ in every eye that sees me; and Christ in every ear that hears me. Yes, our Christian tradition has a way to appreciate nature and to value what God does through creation. Editor s Note: In researching St. Patrick s Breastplate, I found this image of St. Patrick and I learned of a group of Celtic Monks that prays the breastplate prayer every day either saying it or singing it. I followed their link to this You Tube video which is the melody that they choose to use when singing the prayer. The video is of a group that is in prayer for Ireland and Europe. Some of you may find this to be a lovely addition to your own piety practices. I share it with you for your personal use and edification.

7 Page 7 All St. Matthew s parishioners are invited when Matty s Angels present Sacred Self Care: Little Strategies for GRACE FULL Living Saturday, Nov 7th, 9:30 am to 12:30 pm Matt s Place Offering Nutrition Tips: Heart Yoga: Healing Touch: Contemplative Body Prayer: Practitioner(s) Patricia Martinez RN, Certified Healing Touch Practitioner (CHTP) Sandi Fox RN, CHTP, Yoga Instructor Sandi Fox RN Janet Olsen CHTP Nancy Kurokawa HTP, Reiki Sandra Rees RN, CHTP Sherry Lavin MD, HTP Kathy Stogsdill RN, CHTP Patricia Martinez RN, CHTP Janet Marie Olsen CHTP, Certified Tai Chi Instructor Who is leading this team? Janet Olson is a Program Coordinator Sr. at the University of Arizona s Disability Resource Center. She is a Certified Practitioner in various Energy Modalities including: Healing Touch, Energetic Neuro-Linguistic Programing, Matrix s Energetics and is a Usui Senge Ryoho Reiki Master-Teacher. Since 2001 she has been an instructor in Contemplative Prayer, Tai Chi for Energy, Arthritis and Fall Prevention, Qigong and Tai Chi Easy. In 2009, she initiated and coordinated a grant funded, two year research project on the effectiveness of Healing Touch and Guided Imagery for student veterans with symptoms of Post- Traumatic Stress following the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sandi Fox RN is an experienced cardiac nurse, certified Healing Touch Practitioner and Yoga Teacher with additional training in Heart Healthy Yoga. She will guide you in a short chair Yoga session, with emphasis on breathing, stretching and relaxation, and discuss the importance of each. These tools can enhance your Grace-Full Healthy Lifestyle and be done by most everyone as it is especially adapted for people who have never practiced Yoga or have medical concerns. Ask yourself whether or not it is possible to realize your full spiritual potential without first taking care of your body. --Jean Pierre Marques, author Wake Up to Life

8 Page 8 Senior Warden Ramblings by Carol Walker I don t know how you felt when Pope Francis made a visit to the USA, but I was so drawn to watching TV, as I felt the world had stood still, if only for a few days. My worries and concerns seemed to disappear as I felt totally at peace. There is something about Pope Francis that makes him very pastoral and Christ-like. He was very humble, loving, caring and compassionate. He stopped his motorcade to give a blessing or hug or to kiss a baby, child, or a handicapped person in a wheelchair. He brought tears to the parents of youngsters who were disabled, as the Pope smiled and blessed them. He touched the hearts of everyone wherever he traveled with his warm smile. Pope Francis was truly an inspiration and was well-loved and respected. He gave people hope and the message that they are never alone. That God is always with you. He said that sometimes it s the simple things that hold the most power. One simple thing is to SMILE. A smile is a happy, friendly expression with tons of power. People think they already know someone if that person smiles at them, even if it s a total stranger. Long ago, scientists believed there was a need to bond with others in order to survive, so the smile was a sign of friendliness to induce an agreeable sense of shared history. Today, when someone smiles, a glum mood is lifted, an apology accepted, shaky self-confidence gets a boost, a deal is struck or a physical attraction is communicated. A fleeting smile is enough to produce a mini-emotional high in others. It makes people see things around them in a more positive light. I thought of Jesus every time I witnessed the Pope giving smiles to the children, and others, such as the prisoners at a correctional facility in Philadelphia. His smile was so infectious. His facial expressions/smiles made him even more Christ-like, making me appreciate the time I had to watch him as he gave inspiration to everyone he had contact with along the parade routes and places he visited. His smiles were real and spontaneous, unlike a smile that is manufactured. He seemed to be the happiest as he met, shook hands, and blessed those who came across his path. Pope Francis stressed the importance of little gestures to show affection and compassion for fellow human beings. He left to fly back to Rome with a heart full of gratitude and hope. I am very grateful that I was able to experience who Pope Francis is a witness for, Jesus Christ. His power is love. So SMILE and bring life to the desert here in Tucson. Others will follow.

9 Page 9 Rummage Sale Updates! Our parish wide rummage sale is fast approaching. It will run on Saturday, December 5 from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. We re going to be looking for a variety of items from everyone to help raise money for St. Matthew s. We are looking for housewares, electronics, small electrics, clothes, books, tools and furniture in good, salable and working condition. Items that are broken or beat up won t be accepted. In addition to this, we d love to have a table of baked goods and a table (or 2) of craft goods. If you love to bake or have artistic talent, and would like to donate the fruits of your labors, that would be great. We also plan to have a St. Matthew s information table set up. Ideally, we are asking everyone to bring their salable items in the weekend before (Nov 28-29) or during that week. For those with special circumstances, we are clearing out a small corner of Matt s Place where we can store a few items after November 1. A group of us will be organizing all the items the week before, and pricing everything for consistency. If you have a big ticket item, it would be great if you could bring it in with a suggested price to help the committee out. We are also looking for volunteers to help on the 5th for a variety of responsibilities. We ll need greeters, cashiers, table monitors and some folks who can help carry items. Ernesto Encinas has graciously volunteered to help bring items to the parish in his truck for those that need some help. If someone else can do this or any other job, please contact me or another committee member as more help is gratefully appreciated. The committee members are Rhonda Rugg, Caroline Wolstenholme, Cheryl Burke, Ruth Galvin and I. If you have a question, any one of us can help you out. Thanks in advance for all the great stuff I know we ll have to sell, and to everyone who is going to help out. Hopefully, this is going to be a really fun day. Contact Tricia Galvin (pgalvin@cox.net or ) with any questions or concerns. A bit more of the fun

10 Page 10 Christmas Cards for the Troops! Matty s Angels are thrilled to announce that they CRUSHED last year s record of 425 cards written to send to the troops! This year s total was 661!! Our thanks to all who attended on Saturday, Oct 3 and also those who took time during the coffee hours on Oct. 4 to sign a few each. We know the service personnel who receive these cards with heartfelt notes of gratitude and support will have their spirits buoyed during a most difficult time to be deployed away from their family members.

11 Episcopal Church of St. Matthew 9071 E Old Spanish Trail Tucson, Arizona Phone: saintmatthewsrector@live.com We re on the Web! stmatthew.azdiocese.org Everybody Needs a Home! Who We Are We seek to be an assembly of people who are fully devoted to serving God; a people who are grounded, loving, welcoming, respectful and affirming; forever seeking to grow in the ways of Jesus in everything we do. Page 11 We are with God s help, an inclusive people of God, reverent in our worship, radical in our hospitality, and devoted to growing in the Spirit of Jesus, to boldly yet humbly love and serve our neighbors. Opportunities for Involvement Worship Fellowship Growth Sundays 8:00 am Meditative Eucharist 10:30 am Choral Eucharist Second Sundays 5:00 pm Praise Now! Wednesdays 6:00 pm Evening Prayer in Spanish Thursdays 10:00 am Healing Eucharist Saturdays 5:30 pm Celtic Liturgy Sundays After each liturgy Coffee Hour 1st/3rd Mondays 6:00 pm Sewing/Quilting Guild Tuesdays 2:15 pm Yoga 2nd/4th Wednesdays 10:00 am Knit/Crochet Group 1st Saturday 9:30 am Matty s Angels 3rd Saturday 8:00 Matty s Men Breakfast 8:30 am Matty s Men Meeting Sundays 9:15 am Adult Education 10:30 am Sunday School Wednesdays 7:00 pm Cursillo Reunion Group Thursdays 7:00 pm Choir Practice 2nd/4th Saturdays 10:00 am Dream Analysis Class