Westminster Chimes. How Will You Measure Your Life?

Transcription

1 Westminster Chimes September 2012 How Will You Measure Your Life? Inside this issue: Rector s Message 1-2 Announcements 3 Financial Upoate 4 Spiritual Life Courses 5 RENEW 6 Updates 7 Family Ministries 8-9 Prayer Parish Calendar 12 Summer is a time when I catch up on my reading, and this one was no exception. One book that particularly resonated with me was Clayton M. Christensen s How Will You Measure Your Life? Christensen is a committed Mormon, a well-respected management scholar and a popular professor at the Harvard Business School. In 2010, as he was fighting a bout with cancer, he was invited to give the commencement address to the school s graduates. The book is an expansion of his address. What Christensen has to say is helpful to any person of any age, and not just young adults. He focuses on questions of career, family and personal integrity. The epilogue alone is worth the price of the book as Christensen describes how to discern your purpose in life, which he puts into three steps likeness, commitment and metrics. Likeness is the person you want to become, but also the kind of person God wants you to become. Take a hard look at yourself, your gifts, strengths and passions. Then try to distill your answers into a concise purpose statement. In reviewing my own life, here is my distillation of what I want to become: 1) A faithful priest, preacher and pastor who transforms lives in Jesus and builds up the church, 2) A loving and supportive husband and father who provides for the spiritual, material and emotional wellbeing of my family, and 3) A committed Christian and compassionate human being who gives and forgives as God does to me. I encourage you to take some quiet time and write down what you want to become and what you believe God is calling you to become. It doesn t matter your age. Life is a journey that we can start at any time. Once you have articulated your likeness or purpose, you need to reflect on your commitment. Review your likeness and ask yourself: How do I become so deeply committed to these things that they guide what I prioritize on a daily basis? In the kind of world in which we live, we have to make decisions about how we will live out our values, making choices on what we will do and what we will not do. Let me share some examples from my own life on how to commit to your likeness. Being aware that a priest s work is never done. I intentionally schedule time on my calendar with my family, reserving periods during the week just for them. Unless there is a dire emergency, I don t bend from that schedule. I also reserve at least one hour each morning for personal prayer, even when that means rising at 5:00 a.m. on Sunday. One last example Heather and I are committed to tithing at least 10% of our annual income to church and charities. That 10% is non-negotiable figure, even when that means scaling down our vacation plans or delaying work on the house. This is not a matter of boasting. We simply believe that being a committed Christian means tithing our income. (Continued on page 2)

2 Whatever your commitments, they should express your priorities. How well are you doing on that score? Do your beliefs connect with your behavior, your life with your lifestyle, your creed with your conduct, and what you profess publicly with what you practice personally? Once you have articulated your likeness and ascertained your commitment, the final step is to find the right metric to determine how well you are succeeding in your efforts. You do this by asking the question, How will I measure my life? For many of us, we measure our lives by the income we make, or the awards we achieve, or the position we hold, or the status and recognition we enjoy, or the power and influence we yield. I remember a fellow law student telling me that his great measure of success was to make six figures. I am sure with inflation it would now be seven figures. A priest once told me that his driving ambition was to be a bishop. He became one and he was an unmitigated disaster. So how do you measure your life? We certainly don t measure by numbers or statistics or dollars in the bank. Here Christensen gives us the answer when he writes: The only metrics that will truly matter to my life are the individuals whom I have been able to help, one by one, to become better people. When I have my interview with God, our conversation will focus on the individuals whose self-esteem I was able to strengthen, whose faith I was able to reinforce, and whose discomfort I was able to assuage a doer of good, regardless of what assignment I had. These are the metrics that matter in measuring my life. As we at St. James Westminster Church prepare to celebrate Round-Up Sunday on September 9 th, think about your purpose in life, your commitment to that purpose, and the metrics you will use to evaluate whether your life is a success. In the end, we all need to think through our life s purpose if we are to grow in discipleship as followers of Jesus. Lastly, I would remind you that a church is far more than its budget or its buildings or even its number of members and average worship attendance, although all these are helpful indicators of health. In the end, what really matters are the lives we touch, the kindnesses we show, the generosity we demonstrate, the compassion we offer each other and the people in our community, and the changed lives that result when we help others experience God. The church is in the business of changing the world one life at a time. So above all, let s love one another as God loves us, and then share that love with as many others as possible, that the whole world may know how sweet is the love of Jesus. Your Friend and Rector, The Rev. Dr. Gary Nicolosi Announcements Congratulations to Bill Danaher and Val Kenyon! We at St. James are blessed to have stellar clergy in our parish, and our diocese has recently honored two of them. At our May diocesan synod, Bishop Bennett made the Rev. Dr. William Danaher a Canon. In June Bishop Bennett appointed Val Kenyon as the Regional Dean of Delaware, having oversight of 19 congregations, including St. James. Bill and Val are faithful and dedicated priests of the church, and we give thanks for their ministries. ACW: There will only be one Parish Bake Sale this fall - at the end of November. If you are making preserves this summer, please keep us in mind for November! Thank you Marion Rake Getting Involved at St. James: As we prepare at St. James Westminster to create another yearly schedule for greeters, please consider whether you might like to get involved in this important ministry. The important function of meeting and greeting those who arrive on a Sunday morning cannot be underestimated. As a Greeter, you are often among the first persons that people meet. You have an opportunity to welcome and be a wonderful resource to those coming to worship. All are welcome and training is provided. Please speak to Rev'd Val if you are interested. Page 2 Westminster Chimes

3 Announcements cont d Confirmation Bishop Robert F. Bennett will preside at the London Area Regional Confirmation Service on October 28 in mid afternoon. The exact time and location has not yet been announced. Confirmation is when a candidate makes a mature public profession of faith in Jesus Christ. Any youth or adult who has not already done so, and is ready to make such a commitment, should consider being confirmed. If you are not sure about your faith commitment, speak with one of the clergy, Mike DeKay or Matt Martin. They will be glad to explain to you the commitment and responsibilities of being a Christian. There will be a brief meeting held September 9 after the 10:30 service for anyone interested in being Confirmed by the Bishop. (Reaffirmation is also provided by the Bishop.) Mike DeKay and Matt Martin will team teach and facilitate the Confirmation classes. We hope to run the sessions (3 or 4) on Sunday evenings in September and October. We will do our best to accommodate your needs. If you are only interested in attending the classes in order to explore and learn more about the Christian faith - you are most welcome. Please speak to Mike or Matt if you have any questions. The Rector s Class on Journey to the Cross: A Study of the Life of Jesus Christ resumes on Sunday, September 23 rd from 9:30 to 10:20 in the Westminster Lounge and continues each Sunday to November 25 th. Even if you have not attended last term s sessions, you can still come to the classes as we focus on the last six months of the life of Jesus, his ministry, death and resurrection. Would you like to study the Bible at home on your computer? Now you can! RBC Ministries here in Canada is now offering 40 free online courses designed to help you with your biblical studies. Course studies include: Old Testament studies, New Testament studies, and Christian living series. These courses are perfect for anyone who would like to expand their Bible knowledge and understanding. The outline format allows the courses to easily fit into any schedule. To access your free courses, go to: ChristianCourses.com. A Word of Thanks for Our Parish Staff As St. James begins another church year; it is a good time to give thanks for our hardworking and dedicated staff. Val Kenyon as Assistant Priest, Gerry Adam as Family Life Minister, Mike DeKay as Lay Reader and William Danaher as Honorary Assistant bring considerable gifts and talents to their ministries. Steve Holowitz is absolutely outstanding as our music director and organist. Rebekah Reid is an exceptionally competent administrative assistant, helped by longtime parishioner and volunteer Marion Witchell. Harold Ford and Peter Cunningham are two of the most able sextons in the entire Anglican Church. Laura Manias overseeing Sunday school, Matt Martin with Youth and Shannon Kelly in the Nursery are all conscientious and compassionate church ministers. Finally, Katy Clark as Children s Music Director brings her own special gifts to the position. This September, do say thank you to these staff members who serve our church, not for the money but for the love of Jesus and their dedication to St. James. They are all God s good and faithful servants. Celtic Vespers: St. James will hold a special Celtic Vespers Service with the Irish/Scottish duo Caim on Sunday, September 23 at 4:00 pm. Heather Innes from Scotland and Jacynth Hamill from Ireland sing together as Caim. Their concerts are typically a mix of sung prayers, traditional Irish and Scottish songs, stories and dance. Plan on attending this inspirational worship service and bring your friends, especially those who do not usually attend church. There is no admission charge, but a freewill offering will be taken. Parish Luncheon: Our first luncheon for the Fall will be on September 9th after the morning service. Everyone is welcome so feel free to invite friends and family. A freewill offering will be received. As well, please note October 28th and December 2nd for upcoming church luncheons. Page 3

4 A Mid-Year Parish Financial Update One of the maxims I have been contemplating of late is by the 18 th century British missionary William Carey who said, Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God. Those words simmer in my mind as I look upon the state of our diocese. Almost every church is struggling with meeting budgets, paying staff, maintaining buildings and financing ministries. St. James Westminster Church is no exception. Some of us may be under the mistaken impression that our parish foundation is able to subsidize any budget shortfall. That is not true. Due to low interest rates, an erratic stock market, and bylaw restrictions on the way money is disbursed, in 2011 the foundation gave the parish about $25,000. That amount did not completely cover our deficit and left no money for outreach grants. However, thanks to the generosity of parishioners along with foundation funds, the budget shortfall of $52,157 was reduced to $3,829 by the end of the year. If you have been following the financial numbers reported in the Sunday bulletin regarding budgeted offerings in comparison to actual offerings, you know that the parish is presently suffering another deficit, one that is growing with each passing month. For the first six months of this year, our deficit is about $25,000 to budget. You may recall that at our 2012 Vestry meeting, a challenge was put to parishioners to increase contributions so that we could continue to afford a full-time assistant priest and a part-time family life minister. After all, we are a parish of over 1300 members large enough to warrant two full-time clergy along with a ministry support team. So the parish leadership was not unreasonable in challenging parishioners to step up to the plate and stretch our giving. Despite the fact that many parishioners responded by increasing their offerings, we have been unable to operate deficit-free. If the deficit continues at its present rate, not even foundation money will be able to eliminate it. That will put the parish in a difficult situation in which the wardens, treasurer and parish council will have to take some cost saving measures, none of which are particularly pleasant. However, as your priest and spiritual leader, I refuse to believe that the only alternatives are living with a deficit or cutting programs and staff. Neither is acceptable. There is another alternative to embrace a mentality of abundance rather than scarcity. This is the biblical response to our financial plight. We call the feeding of the 5,000 a miracle (John 6:1-14), but in biblical terms it gives us a picture of God s economy. The wedding feast in Cana (John 2:1-11), the sharing of talents (Matthew 25:14-30), the full measure pressed down and overflowing (Luke 6:38), the splitting of Simon s fishing nets (Luke 5:1-11), the sower s harvest (Matthew 13:1-23), all proclaim a fundamental biblical view of the abundance of creation. Grace itself is never viewed through the lens of scarcity. It is always amazing. It is always free, generous and overflowing. We need to stop thinking in terms of scarcity and start thinking in terms of abundance. God has given this church all the money it needs to do whatever mission and ministry we are called to do. We need only the will and the way to do it. In part, that means thinking outside the box, imagining new ways of being church, going on faith and asking, What if? rather than saying We can t. With God all things are possible. The only thing that holds us back is our own restrictive thinking. As we struggle with financial issues in a changing church and culture, I encourage you to rise above the mentality of scarcity to a mentality of abundance. It is in times of budgetary restraints and looming deficits that we uncover in our rich tradition a biblical truth whose theological relevance today makes it an idea whose time has come. William Carey had it right: Attempt great things for God and expect great things from God. The Rev. Dr. Gary Nicolosi Rector Page 4 Westminster Chimes

5 Two New Spiritual Life Courses Led by Heather Nicolosi Heather Nicolosi will lead two new spiritual life courses this fall term. Experiencing the Spirit will be a study of the Holy Spirit. Let s Talk about Heaven will discuss one of the most popular spiritual topics today Heaven. Here is a synopsis of both courses. I. Experiencing the Spirit October 3 to November 7 Is your spiritual life dull, boring and going nowhere? Does God seem distant and unresponsive? The truth is, God is a loving Father who wants nothing more than to connect with his children through the power of the Holy Spirit. If you are interested in developing an ongoing, intimate relationship with God or just want to jumpstart your personal journey of faith, why not sign up and join us for this fascinating six-week course of study. Based on Dr. Robert Heidler s book Experiencing the Spirit, this program provides a clear understanding of the person and work of the Holy Spirit and how he operates in the lives of individual Christians and the body of the Christ today. Each session is progressive and builds on the previous class. So in order to get the most benefit out of the classes, it would be preferable to attend all six weeks. Please contact Heather Nicolosi if you are interested and bring a Bible and notebook. The classes begin on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. in the Westminster Lounge following the Midweek Eucharist. October 3 Session 1 Why the Holy Spirit wants to live in you October 10 Session 2 Transformed by the Spirit October 17 Session 3 Receiving the Spirit s power and passing it on October 24 Session 4 Anointed for effective service October 31 Session 5 Giftings November 7 Session 6 Healing and the presence of the Spirit II Let s Talk about Heaven December 2 to December 19 This Advent study of Heaven will be held twice during Advent on Sundays, December 2, 9 and 16 in the Westminster Lounge from 9:30 to 10:20 a.m. and again on Wednesdays, December 5, 12 and 19 in the Westminster Lounge at 10:30 a.m. after the Midweek Eucharist. Heaven is a hot topic right now! Books written by those of all ages who have had Heavenly experiences are popping up all over. TV and radio interviews abound on the subject as interested commentators try to sort out what it all means. Do you fear death? Do you have questions about the afterlife or are you curious to know what Heaven is really like? If so, then this course is for you! We will explore the Biblical view of Heaven, Hell and all places in between along with personal accounts of several people who have had Heavenly experiences and now live to tell about it. We will also examine what some Christians are starting to discover that Heaven is closer than you think!!! T Page 5

6 Renew Is Coming! The Diocese of Huron is embarking on an exciting capital campaign to revitalize existing ministries and to develop new ones. The campaign is called RENEW. There is no doubt that we Anglicans need to renew not just to survive but to thrive as a vibrant Anglican presence in southwestern Ontario. Old churches require revitalization. New ones need to be built. Ministries that build bridges between church and culture need to be developed. Parish leadership needs to be enhanced and the sacramental leadership of our bishops needs to be supported. Huron Church Camp needs a major refurbishing of its buildings and grounds. And the Diocese of Huron needs to replenish its endowments in order to maintain vital needmeeting ministries to clergy and laity alike. But RENEW is more than a diocesan campaign. It also allows parishes to raise money for their own ministry and maintenance needs, including new ventures in mission, support for children and youth, buildings and grounds renovations, and technological enhancements in connecting with an increasing non-churchgoing population. Since the RENEW campaign was made public, I have heard from a number of parishioners about their hopes and dreams for our parish. I have asked them, If money were not an issue, what would you like to see done at this parish? Here are some of the answers I have gotten: Air-condition the church, kitchen and parish offices. Develop a full-scale music program for children and youth Refurbish and renovate our aged buildings. Begin a Stephen Ministries program that will enhance lay pastoral care in our parish. Insure that we have the funding for a full-time assistant priest on staff along with a strong family life ministry. Enhance our communications technology by web casting the worship services and adding video to our audio equipment. Establish a Pastoral Counseling Centre that would offer parishioners and community residents no cost or low cost counseling. Start a thrift shop with half the proceeds going to outreach and half to the church. These are just some of the suggestions I have received in the last several months. The point is to think, to imagine, and to explore what our church can be like in the future if we put the energy, effort and enthusiasm into it. When the RENEW campaign is finalized and our statement is completed, parishioners will have the opportunity to designate their donations directly to the parish or to several diocesan initiatives. Many will choose to give to both parish and diocese. Whatever the selections, your designated funds are guaranteed to go to the ministries of your choice. We expect to kick-off the RENEW campaign at our February 2013 Vestry meeting. Right now we need your participation in developing our case statement that will include our mission, vision and projects for funding. Everyone in the parish is invited to join in this effort. We want to hear your voice and know your views. If you would like to participate in the case statement process or have some thoughts or suggestions on areas for funding, do contact me. Every suggestion and comment will be taken seriously. In the meanwhile, I ask that all of us pray for the success of the campaign both at St. James Westminster Church and in the Diocese of Huron. God is giving us a marvelous opportunity to do some great work for the Kingdom. Let s do it! The Rev. Dr. Gary Nicolosi Rector Page 6 Westminster Chimes

7 New Floors in the Sanctuary Photo by Doug Kenyon Mellow Melodies Cafe, our fundraiser for the Community Breakfast Programs, raised $ Thank you to everyone who participated and to all our volunteers and performers who did such a stellar job to make a wonderful and delightful evening for all in attendance.

8 Newcomer s Luncheon Round-Up Sunday September 9, 2012 It has been a great summer for getting away, visiting with family and friends near and far, digging in the garden, going to summer camp or hanging out in the backyard. We have missed you and remind everyone young and old to come home to St James. Celebrate our gathering together in learning, worship and service, sign up for Nursery, Church School and Youth Group and stay to share in a delicious lunch after the 10:30 am service! Page 8 Westminster Chimes

9 People through the ages have journeyed with God on pilgrimageto perform a penance, to ask for healing, to pray for places where there is war or national disaster, to pray for friends. Pilgrimage is an opportunity to travel lightly, to walk free of daily routines, to meet people, to make friends, to enjoy and celebrate God s creation, an opportunity, too, in the travelling, the conversations and the silences to reflect on the journey of our lives and on our journey homewards to God. (This Is the Day: Readings and Meditations from the Iona Community, Neil Paynter, ed., Glasgow, UK: Wild Goose Publications, 2002) On Thursday August 16 our ten youth pilgrims and their three leaders set off on their much anticipated journey to Taize, France. It was a beautiful sunny day as we gathered in our green gardens to see them off! At this writing we have heard from them Family Ministries Taize Update several times and they are enjoying the Taize community as they engage in study, prayer and service! Please remember them and their families and friends as they continue this wondrous adventure, travelling back to Paris on Sunday August 26 and home on Tuesday August 28! Let us pray for and with David Archibald, Heather Aipperspach, Alannah Collier, Noah Everett, Michelle Hillier, Shen Jones, Duncan Mays, Ian Mays, Ashley Shanklin, Jack Sizeland, Sarah Dekay, Elaine Chick-Jones and Brian Hillier: Bless to us, O God, the earth beneath our feet. Bless to us, O God the path whereon we go. Bless to us, O God, the people whom we meet. Amen. -Gerry Page 9

10 If My Prayer Shawl Could Talk If my prayer shawl could talk, it would say.. Thank you for the prayers as each stitch was made for the warmth I could give when the room seemed chilly for the joy of being a surprise gift for solace for family as I provided comfort midst tears of grief for memories of happier days for faith and love shared by all who made me Interested in taking part in the Prayer Shawl Ministry? Please contact Rev. Val. Rich is the person who has a praying friend. -- Janice Hughes Praying With Our Whole Selves Join us on Saturday, September 15, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm as we consider with Sister Sue from the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, what it means to pray with our whole selves. For 2,000 years, we as Christians have tended to separate our spiritual selves from our physical selves, yet it was Christ's sharing of and working through our human form that is a vital part of the Gospel message. Come and learn ways to pray with, rather than distinct from, the body God gave you. Sister Sue has led a number of workshops on body prayer. Her visit is co-sponsored by the Anglican Fellowship of Prayer (Huron) and the Associates of the Sisterhood of St. John the Divine, who are appreciative of the gracious hospitality offered by St. James Westminster. While there is no fee for the morning, any amounts collected will go towards deferring the costs of Sister Sue's time with us. Christian Meditation Group Beginning in September - Watch in September Chimes for Date Heavenly Father, open our hearts to the silent presence of the spirit of your Son. Lead us into that mysterious silence where you love is revealed to all who call, Maranantha Come Lord Jesus. Interested in learning more about Christian meditation? Whether new to meditation or a longtime veteran, please join us. We will gather in the new Upper Rooms area (at the top of the back stairs immediately off of the Bruce Street parking lot) to learn about this ancient tradition and to practice meditating. More details to follow. STOP! Keeping Sabbath in Everyday Life Lenten Retreat: Friday February 22, 2013 and Saturday, February 23, 2013 As spots for this retreat fill very quickly, please let Rev d Val know if you are interested in attending this year s Lenten retreat at the convent of the Sisters of St. John the Divine in Toronto. We will leave London on Friday, spending some time together as a group on Friday evening, and then will join with others for this quiet day on the Saturday. The topic for Saturday will be Keeping Sabbath in Everyday Life. This Quiet Day will explore the biblical and theological roots of keeping Sabbath, and invite participants to reflect on their own practice and experience of keeping Sabbath in their lives. The leader is the Rev. David Harrison, rector of St. Mary Magdalene, who finds himself in the midst of a life-long struggle to stop and rest. The cost for the Friday and Saturday is $100. Transportation to be decided depending upon participation. Page 10 Westminster Chimes

11 Speak to either Bette Cunningham or Rev. Val for more information. Where Two or Three Are Gathered For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them. Matthew 18:20 Beginning this Fall, Tuesday, October 9, November 13 and December 11, 2012, we will be gathering on the second Tuesday evening of the month in the Westminster Chapel for some informal times of prayer. We will begin at 7:00p.m. and plan to be together for about an hour. Are there situations or people that you would like to come and share; or perhaps you would like to come and lend your prayerful support to the needs of others. All are most welcome. Page 11

12 Parish Calendar September February September 2 Labour Day Sunday Resume regular worship times: 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. September 9 Round-Up Sunday 10:30 a.m. Family Celebration Eucharist Commissioning of Choir and Church School Teachers Parish Luncheon after the 10:30 worship September 20 Deadline for submission to the Thanksgiving Chimes September 23 Rector s Class on the Gospels resumes at 9:30 a.m. in the Westminster Lounge Thanksgiving for our Taize Pilgrims at the 10:30 Eucharist 4:00 p.m. Celtic Vespers with the Irish/Scottish duo Caim December 16 A Service of Lessons and Carols with Candle lighting and procession at 4:00 pm. Reception follows in the parish hall. December 24 Christmas Eve 4:00 p.m. Christmas Pageant with Global Music 7:00 p.m. Christmas Jazz Mass 10:00 pm. Medieval Christmas Mass December 25 Christmas Day 10:00 a.m. Book of Common Prayer Communion Service with Hymns and Soloist December 30 Christmas I Regular 8:30 and 10:30 Worship 2013 January 6 Epiphany Sunday Parish Luncheon after the 10:30 Eucharist September 30 Harvest Thanksgiving Sunday Amabile Singers at the 10:30 Eucharist October 7 National Thanksgiving Sunday October 28 Church Anniversary Sunday Parish Luncheon after the 10:30 Eucharist London Regional Confirmation (Time and Location TBA) November 4 All Saints Sunday Candle lighting, prayers and memorial for our departed loved ones November 11 Remembrance Day Sunday November 26 Deadline for submissions for the Christmas Chimes December 2 Advent Sunday Parish luncheon and Advent family activities after the 10:30 Eucharist January 13 Rector s Class on the Book of Job begins in the Westminster Lounge at 9:30 a.m. January 20 Episcopal Visitation by Bishop Robert F. Bennett who will preach and celebrate the Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. January 24 Deadline for all Vestry Reports February 10 Vestry Meeting Parish Luncheon after the 10:30 Eucharist February 13 Ash Wednesday 10 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Eucharist with the Liturgy of the Ashes Lenten Study Classes begin after each service St. James Westminster Church 115 Askin Street London, Ontario N6C 1E7 Phone: office@stjameswest.ca