St. Luke s Episcopal Church. The Northern Light. November 2018

Transcription

1 St. Luke s Episcopal Church The Northern Light The Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac: Being Communies of God s Mercy and Delight November 2018 In bapsm, we promise to connue in the apostle s teachings which we can only do by intenonally engaging and reflecng on scripture, tradion and reason. Here are two avenues to do this. See page 5 for addional offerings. From Mother Barb Exploring Our Faith: Disciple Bible Study When I first arrived at St. Luke's, we did a Bible study called Disciple. At that me, it was a 36 (maybe only 33) week series, but a number of people a&ended and hung in there unl the end. I said then and will say again, that it's the best Bible study I've run across, combining expert lectures, background reading in the theological and historical context of the subject of the week, daily reading and reflecon and discussion. Two shorter 12 week classes. This is a revised curriculum and is 24 weeks long; during that me however, between the two classes we at least touch on about 80% of the Bible. The first 12 week offering is on the Old Testament (or Hebrew Scriptures) and will begin in January. The second 12 week class which covers the New Testament will start around June. We will meet on Thursday mornings. I am hopeful that there are some folks who haven't taken the earlier course (or would like a refresher) who would be interested in doing this. If you want further informaon, please let me know. Sign-up in Clipboard Alley. Coming to St. Luke s in Advent & Epiphany A Journey with Matthew Take a journey through the Gospel of Ma&hew with fi<y days of scripture readings, meditaons, quesons, and prayers. Twenty-five dynamic spiritual leaders and authors serve as guides, wring from around the world about the wisdom, lessons, and parables shared by Ma&hew, one of the great apostles and evangelists. A Journey with Mahew is an extension of The Bible Challenge, a global iniave to encourage daily engagement with scripture and an exploraon of the Word of God. This group will meet Monday at 1p for about one hour beginning December 3. If you want to learn more talk with Ralph and Kathy Blankenburg or with David and Joanne Skidmore. This study can also be done individually. The cost is $12 for the book. Please sign -up in Clipboard Alley. I) *+,-,--./ Opportunies to Serve p. 2 People Needed to Count, Transport p. 2 Bishop Blesses Sign p. 2 How Much is Enough? p. 3 Diocesan Convenon p. 4 Canterbury Cinema / Book Club p. 5 Remembering Those Who Have Died p. 5 Leconary Conversaon p. 5 Join the Conversaon p. 6 CHIP: Glaucoma p. 6 September Vestry Notes p. 7 Birthdays / Anniversaries p. 7 Come to the Revival Back Page November Calendar / Lay Ministry Insert

2 The Northern Light Page 2 The Vestry David Skidmore, Sr. Warden Doug Schwartz, Jr. Warden Ralph Blankenburg (2019) Steve Ellio& (2019) Betsy Rogers (2020) George Hughes (2020) Carol Ann Osinski (2021) Karen Malzahn (2021) Diana Wallace, Vestry Clerk Vestry minutes appear monthly on our website at h7p://stlukessisterbay.org/ O2234*.),*,/- T3 S/46/ 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. Training is provided. Counters for Sunday Offering. Reading the lessons and/or the Prayers of the People during Sunday worship. Serve as a chalice bearer -- they offer the cup of wine, the blood of Jesus Christ. Some also assist at the table during communion. Altar Guild they prepare for worship services including communion bread and wine as well as flowers. Added bonus, great gatherings with scrumpous food. Lay Eucharisc Visitor (LEV) they take communion to parish members at Scandia. Providing transportaon to church for members who live at Scandia. Speak with Ralph Blankenburg, Deacon Joy or Mother Barb. Calling all potential money counters! We are hoping some of you will be willing to help count the donaons a<er church on Sundays. It takes about 15 minutes and is done in the downstairs office by the Canterbury Room (close to the coffee hour delights!). We always have 2 people counng and we will happily train those that are interested in assisng. Signing up to count once a month or more depending on your schedules - would be greatly appreciated. Any and all help would be very welcome! Please sign up to assist on the sign-up sheet in the infamous clipboard alley. Thank you so very much Karen Schwartz (Treasurer) and current counters. Needed Now... Transport parishioners residing at Scandia Village to Sunday morning service. There is no li<ing involved. Transportaon is provided using Scandia Village's van which accommodates wheel chairs. Training will be provided. Please contact Ralph Blankenburg at or ralphkathyb@gmail.com. For a number of years, the Fords have been taking our donaons to Feed My People in Sturgeon Bay. They would appreciate it if someone else could take on this ministry. More informaon? Talk with Marn or Mother Barb. Bishop Matt Visits St. Luke s At his annual visit to St. Luke s, Bishop Ma& Gunter blessed our new sign. With him are Mother Barb and Deacon Joy. He led worship and met with the vestry (our leadership team).

3 The Northern Light Page 3 This is the question we were asked at a workshop David and I attended several years ago. The presenter, The Rev. Davis Fisher, MoneyTree Consulting, who is also a banker and researcher into financial giving by Christians, spoke about how we either ignore or engage the question: how much is enough? Later I heard a playwriter on the radio speaking about her new play: abundance. It is based upon her interviews with people regarding this question: how much is enough? Both found that those who have much less often felt they had enough, even enough to share, while those with much usually felt they needed more. They often perceived that they did not have that much. In fact, a common comment from those who have much was; no amount is enough. No amount was enough for the present, no amount was enough to leave for spouse or children. There was always room, there was always desire, there was always a need for more and more and more. The advertising on TV, radio and in print works to ensure we can t distinguish between a real need and a want. It works to ensure we live with an attitude of scarcity (we don t have enough) and need need for things and products that will make us happy, make us beautiful, make us sexy, make us sparkle, things and products that tell us they will fill that hole within us, quiet the voice that says we aren t enough as we are. But for us as Christians, that hole can only be filled by Christ, by the Holy Spirit, by God who created us, by God who loves us, by God who waits patiently for us to let his love and grace fill our empty spaces. So how much is enough? If we are at all like those interviewed or those participating in the workshop, we haven t thought much about this question. But to have a healthy money life (a term he copyrighted), we need to engage this question within ourselves and, if married, with our spouse and with any children we have. However, if we are like most, we would rather talk about our spiritual life, our social life, our family life, our parish life, and not about our money life. If we believe that all comes from God our abilities and gifts, our resources, our food, the air we breathe, the water we drink, love, passion, joy, compassion then all includes our resources and possessions financial and otherwise. The Rev. Davis Fisher had nine steps for growing into a healthy money life. Know your money life: your money story line. What about your past is shaping you today and do you want to let it continue to shape you? Know your money status: assets, debts, income, expenses and manage responsibly. Examine your decisions and your behaviors for their money content: how do your values and emotions about money impact your decisions, especially when you aren t aware of them. Determine how much is enough: how much do you need now, how much do you need to leave. Once you do this, then you can be more open, more intentional to God s abundance in your life and in giving back to God from that abundance. Have frequent and open discussion with your spouse, parent, and children about money. Money is a taboo subject for many yet it is a leading cause of problems in relationships. Teach your children about money: not just transactions but meanings, about how to use it responsibly, that it does not equate to happiness (if it did, then the happiest people would be in Hollywood), that it does not determine the worth of anyone. And, that Jesus tells us that to those much is given, much is expected. Establish your estate plan and keep it up to date. Based on your circumstances, it might be simple or complex. Decide on a philanthropic focus: what we do with our money is what speaks to who we are as the people of God. Money is only important in relationship with other people. The joy is in giving not in scarcity thinking. And, the challenge: work hands on with the truly poor and receive the gift of perspective. Only when we are willing to examine our money life can we begin to recognize and respond to the abundance of God in our life. So how much is enough for you? When Dave and I answered this question separately, we discovered a considerable difference in our responses. The conversations that flowed from that and the realization we have enough, changed us and our relationship to our money and to our possessions. Giving is no longer I ought to give or how much do I need to give to avoid guilt? Rather it is responding to the needs and situations that we encounter with a sense of God s presence and abundant love for us. In your journey in the coming time, I invite you to pray, think and converse about How much is enough for you. Faithfully, Joanne Skidmore

4 The Northern Light Page 4 A Call to the Way of Love Report on the Annual Convention of the Diocese of Fond du Lac David Skidmore The 144th gathering of clergy and lay delegates to the Diocesan Convenon in Fond du Lac began with Evensong at St. Paul's Cathedral Friday October 19 and ended Saturday a<ernoon at the Thelma Sadoff Center for the Arts in downtown Fond du Lac where convenon business sessions were held. In between there were elecons to diocesan offices and commi&ees, a Eucharist, adopon of a budget and one resoluon on clergy quorums, various reports, and the installaon of regional deans. The key takeaway for many delegates and clergy was the invitaon to embrace the Way of Love pracces that Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has offered to the whole church. In his pastoral address at the Saturday morning Eucharist, Bishop Ma&hew Gunter encouraged all congregaons in the Diocese of Fond du Lac to embrace the seven pracces for a Jesus Centered Life that Bishop Curry commends to the church as a rule of life for the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement. With anxiety and depression overwhelming many of us in this me of social and polical upheaval, we need to follow the example of Catherine of Sienna and reorient our lives to the abiding love of God, said Bishop Gunter in his pastoral address. "In spite of our un-love, our misdirected fears and desires, Jesus abides with us and in us. And he invites us to abide in him so we can bear a different kind of fruit, the fruit of the Spirit, the fruit of love." In the introductory video of The Way of Love (available at episcopalchurch.org/wayoflove), shown to convenon parcipants Friday evening, Bishop Curry summarized the seven pracces: Turn reorienng our lives to Jesus by turning toward the way of truth, love, hope, jusce and freedom; Learn reading and reflecng on Scripture; Pray dwelling with God through daily prayer; Worship gathering weekly in worship to hear the Good News, offer praise and thanksgiving, and break bread together; Bless praccing generosity and compassion and proclaiming the Good News; Go going beyond our circles of comfort to witness to the love, jusce and truth of God; and Rest dedicate me for restoraon and wholeness. Regarding the seven pracces, Bishop Gunter said "they are the classic means by which we abide in Jesus and go deeper into his love." The bishop also announced a new program, Faithful Innovaon, building on the spring conference with Episcopal priest and professor of congregaonal mission, Dwight Zscheile. All congregaons are encouraged to parcipate in this program which offers trainings to develop deeper connecon with God, each other, and our neighbors. Each parcipang congregaon commits to forming a guiding team of four to eight lay members who a&end three day-long Saturday trainings which for 2019 are Feb. 2, May 11, and Sept. 14. Along with adopng a balanced budget of $613,379, the convenon approved the second reading of a constuonal amendment that changes the criteria for a clergy quorum at convenon to be in line with the criteria for lay delegates. At the 2018 convenon and prior ones, the clergy quorum was barely achieved as it required a majority of all clergy entled to vote, including rerees, most of whom live out of state. Represenng St. Luke's at Diocesan Convenon were David Skidmore, Ray and Carol Ann Osinski, and Mother Barb. Getting your newsletter in the mail? Consider gevng it in color on-line. You can print out only what you need plus enjoy a more vibrant newsle&er. Send an to: stlukescommunica- on@gmail.com Please include your name and address. Sign -up for E-News list as well. Preparing for Sunday: Sunday Readings with Commentary Go to our website at h7p:// stlukes-sisterbay.org/ and click on the icon.

5 The Northern Light Page 5 Canterbury Cinema & Potluck Wednesday November 14, 5p POTLUCK, please sign up in Clipboard Alley for specific menu suggesons and feel free to invite a friend or neighbor. We meet in Canterbury Room. Belle (2014) This period drama based on fact traces the life of Dido Elizabeth Belle, a biracial girl born in 1761 to a Brish admiral father and an African mother. Raised by her great-uncle, Dido finds her place in society despite her mixed ethnicity. The film is inspired by the 1779 painng of Dido Elizabeth Belle beside her cousin Lady Elizabeth Murray, at Kenwood House, which was commissioned by their great-uncle, William Murray, 1st Earl of Mansfield, then Lord Chief Jusce of England. Very li&le is known about the life of Dido Belle, who was born in the West Indies and was the illegimate mixedrace daughter of Mansfield's nephew. She is found living in poverty by her father and entrusted to the care of Mansfield and his wife. The ficonal film centres on Dido's relaonship with an aspiring lawyer; it is set at a me of legal significance, as a court case is heard on what became known as the Zong massacre, when slaves were thrown overboard from a slave ship and the owner filed with his insurance company for the losses. Lord Mansfield rules on this case in England's Court of King's Bench in 1786, in a decision seen to contribute to the Abolion of the Slave Trade Act of If you like Downton Abbey, you won t want to miss this. Book Club Scandia Tea Tuesday, December 11, 1-3p We need lots of goodies as well as help with set-up, serving and clean-up. All are welcome to participate. The residents and staff look forward to this festive event each year. Sign-up in Clipboard Alley or call the church office. Our next gathering will be Tuesday, November 27 th at noon in the Canterbury Room. The read is The Death and Life of the Great Lakes, by Dan Egan, Dick and Anne Egan s son. Remember, all are welcome so bring friends! The Death and Life of the Great Lakes, by Dan Egan The Great Lakes Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario, and Superior hold 20 percent of the world s supply of surface fresh water and provide sustenance, work, and recreaon for tens of millions of Americans. But they are under threat as never before, and their problems are spreading across the connent. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is prize-winning reporter Dan Egan s compulsively readable portrait of an ecological catastrophe happening right before our eyes, blending the epic story of the lakes with an examinaon of the perils they face and the ways we can restore and preserve them for generaons to come. Lectionary Conversation Wednesdays, 1:30p The leconary group takes an in-depth look at the upcoming Sunday scriptures, including looking at the history and theology of a given passage. Needless to say, that makes listening to the sermon on Sunday a much more rewarding experience. This class isn t sequenal, so feel free to drop in on any Wednesday. R/>/>?/4,)@ T+3-/ W+3 HB6/ D,/C Lorraine Pendzich, Mother of Ray (Carol Ann) Osinski, a St. Luke s member We thank you God for giving Lorraine to us, her family and friends, to know and to love as a companion on our earthly pilgrimage. In your boundless compassion console us who mourn. Give us faith to see in death the gate of eternal life, so that in quiet confidence we may continue our course on earth, until, by your call, we are reunited with those who have gone before. Give rest, O Christ, to your servants with your saints, where sorrow and pain are no more, neither sighing, but life everlasting. The Book of Common Prayer

6 The Northern Light 6 Don t Forget The vestry (leadership team) is seeking to learn more about who we are as a faith community. Over the next several months, quesons will be posted in the Canterbury Room plus here. You are invited to add your voice. Each queson will be posted for 3-4 weeks (between vestry meengs). Responses will be shared through E-News and the newsle&er. Our first queson: What is joyful about St. Luke s? Cards are available in Canterbury Room for you to write on OR you can send your response to joanneskidmore@prodigy.netwe look forward to hearing your thoughts in the coming months. Thank you for your parcipaon. Right: People a<er worship reading some of the cards and posng their own thoughts. Far right: Mike Eischen preparing to write his response. COMMUNITY HEALTH INFORMATION PROGRAMS WHAT IS A COMMUNITY HEALTH INFORMATION PROGRAM? It is a series of presentaons covering a wide variety of health-related subjects and is available free of charge. These C.H.I.P.s are now being held on Sunday a<ernoons at 4:00 pm at the First Bapst Church in Sister Bay. For more informaon, visit their website at They also provide informaon on other services such as blood pressure screening and transportaon. WHEN: Sunday, Nov. 4 at 4:00 pm To See or Not to See : A Discussion on Glaucoma SPEAKER: Dr. Paul Filar, Peninsula Vision Care WHERE: First Bapst Church, Sister Bay GLAUCOMA is a condion that causes damage to your eye's opc nerve and gets worse over me. It's o<en linked to a buildup of pressure inside your eye. Glaucoma tends to be inherited and may not show up unl later in life. Dr. Paul Filar, a board-cerfied behavioral optometrist from Peninsula Vision Care in Sturgeon Bay, will give an in-depth presentaon on GLAUCOMA at this month's Community Health Informaon Program. Join us for this important discussion! 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 ge:ng 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 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.

7 The Northern Light Page 7 September Vestry Notes John Hauser Discernment Commi7ee report: John Hauser, aspirant for holy orders, appeared before the vestry, which had received the report of his discernment commi&ee recommending his nominaon to go forward in the process. The vote was unanimous in favor. John accepted the nominaon. Rector s report: Barb discussed a community iniave with which she hopes St. Luke s will be involved: We welcome all a new effort at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. We will post a door sign with this statement on our front door. Barb will offer a similar sign to Trudy Jischke for her ImageMaker salon. Barb will contribute $50 from her discreonary fund to the UUF for ongoing We welcome all acvies. Carol Ann menoned some compelling signs posted at Hope UCC in Sturgeon Bay; Ralph will check to make sure village ordinances permit these signs, and Betsy will look for suppliers on line. A beauful poster incorporang a Maya Angelou quote in art might be available. The vestry discussed the report from our July retreat. Karen suggested that we take a month to digest this material and consider how we d like to act on it. Betsy said she hoped we would discuss a range of possible community outreach iniaves, and that vestry members with ideas for such programs would do some research so we d have the informaon needed to consider them. Karen suggested exploring how we might build on exisng programs. Ralph proposed challenging parishioners to donate food regularly to the Door of Life food pantry. We discussed sending welcome notes to those who sign our guest book. We will meet Friday, Oct. 19, for further discussion. Barb has been accumulang a list of our community involvement acvies, which include Canterbury Cinema, Kathy Blankenburg s Scandia ministry (coordinang social acvies at Woodview), Barb s arcles in the Advocate, Clearing classes, work with other churches, Midsummer Music concerts, fundraising concerts, volunteer involvement at Bargains and elsewhere, and engagement with the Interfaith An-Poverty Coalion. Diana has learned that the Bapst Church will host a Thanksgiving dinner and will welcome volunteers. Ralph noted that as of November we will need to find a new way to transport Ruth Dallman to church. He will take the training to drive the Scand van; Ray Osinski and Karen also offered to help. Junior Warden s report: The wall to the le< of the main door is deteriorang. Doug is in touch with Forestville Builders; they will evaluate and recommend correcve measures. Also, the flagpoles will be re-erected and flags flown. RECTOR: The Rev. Barbara Sajna, 2100 Ridges Road Baileys Harbor, WI Home: Cell: Church Phone: (920) Deacon: The Rev. Joy Zakrzewski joylael@charter.net Home: Cell: Parish Staff: Treasurer: Karen Schwartz stlukestreasurer77@gmail.com Secretary: Jane Weis jnjweis@charter.net Organist: Sue Raye Hughes meowyldy2@gmail.com E-News Editor: Carol Ann Osinski rcosinski@gmail.com Newsle7er Editor: Joanne Skidmore joanneskidmore@prodigy.net Website Editor: Norma Bramsen nabramsen@aol.com Parish Nurse: Roberta Thelen robertathelen@live.com Treasurer s report: The reports were reviewed. Nov 5 Doug Fran Peterson Nov 17 Marcia Eischen Nov 20 Lori Holton Nov 25 Lee Hickey 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. Please delete the Sister Bay address for Doug and Fran Peterson. Their address is 304 Drake Court, Marshfield, WI Phone numbers remain the same. Please connue to hold them in your prayers as they navigate cancer being in control with Fran.

8 St. Luke s Episcopal Church 2336 Canterbury Lane PO Box 559, Sister Bay, WI Church Phone: (920) stlukesdoorcounty@gmail.com Website: h&p://stlukes-sisterbay.org/ Bishop Ma&hew Gunter, The Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac Mother Barb Sajna, Rector Deacon Joy Zakrzewski Celebrang, Deepening and Sharing our Commitment to Christ Come to the Revival October Hear the Preacher who captured the world s attention with his powerful address at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle!!! The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, will make an official visitaon to the Diocese of Fond du Lac in October Plans for the visitaon include: Friday, October 25 9am-4pm Diocesan Convenon with business (Red Lion Paper Valley Hotel, Appleton). 12 noon Convenon Eucharist (All Saints, Appleton). 7pm Evening program for Episcopalians, Bishop Curry as keynote speaker. Saturday, October 26 10am-4pm Way of Loves Revival, open to the public (Fox Cies Exposion Center). Includes lunch. Sunday, October 27 8am & 10am Bishop Curry preaching at the Cathedral of St. Paul, Fond du Lac. Hearing Loop System A reminder that the church has two Sound Loop receivers with headsets available. See George Hughes if interested (he is usually by the organ during worship).