St. Philip s Episcopal Church

Transcription

1 THE EPISTLE St. Philip s Episcopal Church 342 East Wood Street Palatine, Illinois (847) Fr. Jim Stanley, Priest-in-Charge A Pastoral Letter, post-orlando, I had hoped, dear friends in Christ, to share with you a joyful meditation this month. I want very much to celebrate my coming to you as priest-in-charge, and express my deep gratitude for your confidence and welcome. I can t adequately do that as I write this missive. My joy is overshadowed by grief, anger and frustration over the obscene tragedy in Orlando. I write one day after the mass murder of 49 people and the wounding of 53 more. I pray each of the wounded recovers and receives treatment for post-traumatic stress. I pray for the repose of the souls of the dead and ask God to comfort loved ones. Let us all pray for the first responders, medical professionals, and any 1 witness to this horror.

2 Thoughts, prayers, condolences. It s become so easy to say. We hear it from politicians, world leaders, religious leaders, police chiefs and news anchors. Our thoughts and prayers and condolences go out to the victims and their families. Of course they do. This is right and an expression of basic humanity. But is that really all we have to offer? Is that the best Christians can do? Whenever a tragedy like this occurs, those who ask probing questions about gun violence, the fetishization of guns and the stubborn refusal of the powers that be to even consider the most basic and limited safety regulations, are told It s too soon and shame on you for politicizing this tragedy. The clergyperson may well be told to preach Christ and stay out of politics. But it will ever be my commitment to speak where the Scriptures speak. The Scriptures have much to say, if we re willing to listen. Our American culture trusts in the gun. At a time when we trust wealth, science, religion, logic and reason all good things in the proper context we trust, above all, in the gun. I speak not of the gun used to shoot skeet or hit paper or tin-can targets. I do not refer to gun used to put food on tables or cull dangerously overpopulated herds. Our supreme confidence, thanks in part to movie heroes and television good guys with a gun, rests in our right to bear arms. (The real reasons for the existence of this Constitutional amendment are hotly debated by historians and various opinions should be carefully studied.) We place our hope in the good guy with a gun. The Psalmist speaks of confidence in a mighty military and of trust in any means of violence as a shelter from danger. Some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the Name of the Lord! (Psalm 20:7 NIV) This is a recurrent theme in Scripture. We are not to trust in might or power, but in the Spirit of the Lord. (Zechariah 4:6) I refer not so much to the idea of a police officer having no other choice but to shoot in a life or death situation. I don t even think I allude to a homeowner discharging a firearm for fear of his family s safety. (Though studies have proven a loaded gun in a home is much more likely used against the homeowner or stolen and deployed in the commission of a crime. 2

3 It would seem that, increasingly, our trust in the gun is a trust in the gun capable of producing the largest body count. Americans are unsatisfied with revolvers and shotguns. The fashion is now for handguns with magazine capacities greater than ten. Or for long-arms (rifles, carbines, personal defense weapons) with clips capable of holding 20, 30 or more rounds. There s little desire for Marshal Dillion s six-shooter or for the famed Colt M with its potently-charged 8 rounds. In 21 st century America, this is the hottest trend: There are even round drum magazines legally available in some states for semi-automatic assault rifles. As Christians, we are to cherish and value life. God has set before us life and death and has urged us to choose life, so that you and your children should live. (Deut. 30:19 NIV) God reminds us to seek the welfare of the city for in its welfare, you will find your welfare. (Jer. 29:7 ESV) Our blessed Lord Himself cries out, those who draw the sword will die by the sword. (Matt. 26:52 NIV) We are reminded by St. Paul that Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Eph. 6:12 NIV) I urge all of us to cherish not only our own lives but the lives of police officers, young men in our inner cities, nightclub patrons, elementary school children and families visiting the local movieplex. There are many ways to commit ourselves to protecting life. Surely one of them is to repeatedly insist to our Senators and our U.S. Representative that there must be better, more comprehensive gun safety legislation. Not a handgun ban. Not the NRA s imaginary federal confiscation of all guns. But simple, modest legislation as endorsed by the National Episcopal Church and numerous other Christian organization. May our God of love save this nation from itself. I remain, your friend under the mercy. Fr. Jim 3

4 Mission Statement SEEK a deeper knowledge of Jesus Christ SHARE the love and compassion of Christ SERVE others with open hearts SHINE with Christ s light, illuminating our world 4

5 3 Steve Gillette 6 Carrol Hercules 10 Jeannie Dessilla 12 Kathryn Jones 13 Jack Swichtenberg 16 Mike Livingston 21 Bob Purcell 25 Dan Gronlund 27 Jeff Cappello 28 Lauren Smith 29 Pam Patyk 16 Ken and Janie Jenssen 5

6 Altar Guild Acolytes 9:00 AM Jessica Hill 9:00 AM Danny Purcell July 3 9:00 AM July 10 9:00 AM July 17 9:00 AM July 24 July 31 6 Nancy Holian Billie Tutttle Janie Jenssen Bonnie Wiggen Judy Zawacke Linda Purcell Liz Huth-Taylor Nancy Holian Counters: Jenna Gillette Danny Purcell Olivia Purcell Katie Gillette Jack Swichtenberg Olivia Purcell Kathryn Jones and Mike Zawacke Greeters Ed Kellly LuAnn Kelly Aubrey Hercules Jack Notzen Gary Morrill Peggy Morrill Jon Swichtenberg Julie Swichtenberg Kathryn Jones Lamar Jones Please find a substitute if you are unable to serve. Readers Karen Cappello Jack Notzen DJ and Marvin Hill Judy Zawacke Grace Horner Linda Purcell Kathryn Jones Marg Duer Peggy Morrill Andy Obara Services: 9:00 AM Chalice Bearers Andy Obara Bob Purcell Lisa Gillette Andy Obara * Volunteer schedules are subject to change. + There are also services on Tuesdays at 9:30 a. m. Nursery Julie Swichtenberg Katie Gillette Jenna Gillette Bob Purcell Julie Swichtenberg 6

7 FEED MY STARVING CHILDREN by Gary and Peggy Morrill Saturday, June 11 th, thirteen in our group (with many others from area churches) participated in a Feed My Starving Children packing event. Those participating were Lisa Gillette, Steve Gillette, Katie Gillette, Jenna Gillette, Bob Duer, Marg Duer, Mike Zawacke, Marion Gronlund, Dan Gronlund, Peggy Morrill, Gary Morrill and two friends of the Morills. We all wore our "lovely" hair nets. We packed 111 boxes to be sent to Sierra Leone in Africa. 111 boxes equates to 23,976 meals and will feed sixty-five children for a year. It was fun and a very successful outreach activity. The dark brown areas on the map are the countries that FMSC packs food for. [The white line on the west coast of Africa indicates the location of Sierra Leone.] 7

8 photographs and captions by Jack Notzen Jack Swichtenberg and Judy Zawacke help Fr. Jim celebrate the Father s Day service. Jill Deichmann made sure Brant got the very BEST Father s Day and birthday gift possible---- Benjamin!!! Lisa Gillette gives a Father s Day gift to Bill Burns after the service. 8

9 The Bremmer Family photographs and captions by Jack Notzen On Tuesday June 7 th, 2016 Father Jim Stanley gave the attendees of the Tuesday Eucharist Service a real treat. He invited his new friends Bill and Kerry Bremmer and their family: Adam (age 20), Hannah (age 17 ½), Daniel (age 15) and Michael (age 13) to meet with us after the service to in the undercroft. Bill, Kerry and their family have just returned from a two year assignment in Istanbul, Turkey for Wycliffe Bible. For more than 70 years, Wycliffe has helped people around the world translate the Bible into their own languages. They also help with language development, literacy and other spiritual and physical needs. Today, from around 7,000 known languages on our planet, up to 1,800 languages are still waiting for a Bible translation to begin, and Wycliffe is working faster than ever to reach those languages as soon as possible. While Bill was working with people native to Istanbul, to translate the Bible into their language, Kerry was teaching at the International School located in Istanbul and the four children were either home schooled by Bill and Kerry or attending the International School. The family has returned after their two year assignment in Turkey to their home base of Fairfax, Virginia where Adam will complete his College education and Hannah will beginning her college career in the fall. The Bremmers are a real Missionary family and believe that the Bible is God s Word to us something that all people should be able to understand in their own language. When people finally get the Bible in their own language, lives often change in amazing ways. People are transformed as they are led to Jesus Christ and a right relationship with God. While Bill and Kerry are quite impressive for their dedication; the four Bremmer offspring are remarkably mature for their ages and equally dedicated to the Word of God. Thank you Father Jim for introducing us to this remarkable family. Daniel, Hannah, Adam and Michael. Bremmer. Bob Purcell greets the Bremmer family after our Tuesday service. Adam listens intently as Kerry and Bill explain their work in Istanbul for the past two years. 9

10 by Grace Horner Grace Horner invites you to two FREE performances of the Palatine Concert Band in July. On Wednesday, July 6 at 8 PM -- there will be a patriotic concert - A suite with music from the original three Star Wars movies and from the celebrated World War II documentary series Victory At Sea. Patriotic favorites will also be featured. On Wednesday, July 27 Summer Fare will be presented and enjoyed. Both performances will be at the Fred P. Hall Amphitheater 256 E. Palatine Road (between the Aquatic Center and Sanborn School, just a little west of church) and will begin at 8 PM. Bring a folding chair or blanket and sit on the lawn under the stars and enjoy some good music live in performance. by Kim McDonald. Photograph and caption by Jack Notzen The next book club meeting is July 18th. We will discuss The Light Between Oceans, by M. L. Stedman. The St. Philip s Book Club discusses The Girls of Atomic City. The story takes place in Australia right after WWII. A lighthouse keeper on a remote island and his wife discover a dead body and a baby in a boat that lands ashore. The couple faces a moral dilemma about what to do when they return to the mainland. Please join us for a discussion of the book. Good conversation and good treats. 10

11 Highlight of the Vestry Meeting June 12, 2016 by Linda Smith 1. A contract with Rev. Jim Stanley has been agreed upon and signed. Next, we will forward the signed contract to the Diocese for the Bishop's approval. 2. In an effort to be more environmentally conscious, we will be providing a recycling can in the undercroft for paper, cans, and plastic. The Village of Palatine is having an electronic recycling event on August 6 th at the Village Hall. We will be disposing of the old large television, old computer, and FAX machine. 3. A portrait of St. Philip that was donated from Fr. Foote's estate is being re-matted and re-framed. It will be hung on the west wall of the altar. 11

12 :00 Worship Independence Day 9:30 am Worship 11:00 a.m. Bible Study 11:30 am Lunch Bunch meets :00 Worship 9:30 am Worship 8:30 am Green Thumb meets :00 Worship Vestry meets 7:00 p.m. Book Club 9:30 am Worship 23 8:30 am Green Thumb meets :00 Worship 9:30 am Worship 31 9:00 Worship