The Lantern of Saint Christopher

Transcription

1 The Lantern of Saint Christopher Lighting the Way for Christ Volume CXLXV Ruth s Reveries The other day, a friend of mine asked me a question. I have had others ask me the same thing over the years, and I my answer changes with my season in life. The question posed was, If you knew you had absolutely no limitations, no obstacles, boundaries, monetary concerns, what would you shoot for? What would you dream you could do and then do it? Well, I have never had a time in my life where there has not been some sort of obstacles to my dreams. I have never had anything handed to me carte blanche. To have complete freedom to do what I think best, with a free reign, blank check. WOW! I have to sit with that a bit. Then it dawned on me, I (and we) have been given nearly a limitless ceiling for dreams and desires. It is priceless, but does come with a price. (Yep, there is a catch to it.) Here s the scoop. Every week, I ask us to profess our faith in the words of the Nicene Creed. Most everyone does this. (Actually, I have never had anyone tell me they don t.) We say we believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and earth, etc., etc., etc. So here s the hitch. Do we REALLY BELIEVE? Or are we simply giving this lip service? Or are we conforming to group pressure? Or are we liars. Professing one thing and then turning around and hollering Psyche! Now, it is a mighty sad commentary if we are simply flapping our yaps in this regard. Ephesians 3:20 reminds us, To Him who by means of His power working in us is able to do so much more than we can ever ask for, or even think of. (ask or imagine) IF we believe the words of the creed as we say we do, then how can we NOT believe this? And IF we believe this, then the sky is the limit in what we can do because God is in charge and working in and through us IF we are open to God s Spirit. 1

2 You will notice, perhaps, that I have hung a sign in the narthex, which reads, Love more and worry less. We have to be about living in the moment, doing God s work (not OUR AGENDA business), and love. That is it. There is nothing to worry about. All manner of things shall be well, according to Julian of Norwich. This is how I intend to conduct my future and live my life as your pastor. The time to live into God s will is NOW. Love more! And remember Romans 12:2 (GNT) - Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect. Peace and joy! To: The Rev. Rick Incorvati- Thank you for such wonderful service to our community. Your time with us was certainly too short, but long on the TLC you provided. You have made our congregation a better place by having been here. Many blessings in your future ministry. You will be greatly missed by all of us. And know you will always find a home and prayers here waiting for you! 2

3 WARDENS WORDS Judy Brainard One of the clearly defined duties of the Junior Warden is to run the Stewardship Campaign. This year it is a particularly important duty as we have recently experienced a great loss in our memberships. We have lost members to retirement, moving to be near children and grandchildren or moving to warmer climes. One family even moved to a colder climate. Not only have we lost our friends, but their contribution to this church in financial terms as well as their mission support is a huge loss. Life goes on and we celebrate their life-changing choices. For those of us who remain, the challenge of being able to minister to the poor, friendless and needy is ever present. The Recasting of Assets program is designed to help us discern what is meaningful to St. Christopher s, our communities and the wider universe, and guided by the Holy Spirit we will proceed as a congregation to accomplish our mission. We ask that you prayerfully consider what St. Christopher s means to you and more specifically what you would miss if it were no longer here. Would you miss the friendship, the liturgy, Ruth s sermons, the support when life doesn t go as planned? What would the community miss? FISH would certainly have fewer contributions, our support of The Fairborn Schools would be diminished and St. Vincent s would miss our laundry support. Despite having received a $20,000 grant from the Commission on Congregational Life this year, we will still be in the red. We have investments and savings, but they are finite and won t last forever. Stewardship encompasses not only money but also giving of time and talent. Consider both as you decide how you can best further the work of the kingdom. Your Rector and the Wardens have worked diligently to prepare a budget for next year which is as bare bones as we could make it. During the next month, you will receive information from the Recasting of Assets program as well as s from Ruth+ and me concerning the campaign. A pledge card will be attached. Our Stewardship Sunday will be October 30. Pledge cards will be available and we will have a celebratory lunch. It will be a potluck with fried and baked chicken provided. Side dishes and desserts are needed. Let us be good stewards of our time and treasure. WORSHIP MINISTRY Toni Olgeaty I have disliked Halloween since I was a child. I think I always will too late to change now. I realize some people are very into it, and that s fine. However, All Hallows Eve is another story. I have learned now, that we are honoring those whom we love and have departed this world. This is the time when they are nearer to us, and we can show our love by remembering them. This is a time that is a must for attending church, and praying for our loved ones. We will let the children gather the candies and goodies, while we let those we love that have ended their journey here on earth know how much we love and miss them. This includes our loved ones, our friends, our congregation members we have so many that have passed. They will never be forgotten so long as St. Christopher s is standing, and belongs to us. St. Christopher s should be the center of our lives, next to our family. We have a purpose, never quite so clear to us as at this time, when Ruth+ leads in prayer for those who have departed. We can do so much more than we do. I am in desperate need of Ushers. Please consider helping us out. We have begun our new church year let s begin it right. Consider serving as an usher. It is simple, and if I had enough people, you would do it no more than once a month or so. Let me know if you feel called to help us out. 3

4 HEALING MINISTRY Toni Olgeaty I do not believe there is one person in our church who is not either in need of prayer for themselves, or has some family member or friend who is in need of prayers. If there is, we have a whole world full of people who are in need of help. Well, we are there every Tuesday to help you out with this need. Why don t you join us sometime. The Celtic Service begins at 12:00 noon, and lasts 45 minutes at the most. It is a lovely service, and we pray for a whole list of your family, friends, and neighbors. JESUS HEARS OUR PRAYERS AND HE ANSWERS THEM AS IS BEST FOR EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US. We pray for those with Cancer, those who take care of them; those who are struggling through life, perhaps with an addiction, a chronic illness (heart, liver, diabetes, etc.); those with financial difficulties; those who are homeless; those who are having difficulty coping with the loss of a loved one; those who just need to pass an exam; those who are hungry; those who need to be reminded that they are loved; etc. There is nothing too small or too large! The Lord is listening, and the Lord is pleased if you offer prayer, concern and comfort to those in need! The Lord is good to us all (he certainly is good to me). We all need to take the time to thank him for all the blessings he has bestowed on each and every one of us. Think about your life. Can you possibly say you have not been blessed? I think of my life I am blessed to be here today, I am thankful, and I come on Tuesday s to ask for the same blessings for others. If you are truly unable to join us on Tuesdays, please come to the back of the church (to the Healing Station) on Sunday s, during communion, and we will offer up a prayer to the Lord for those you hold dear in your hearts. Tuesday Healing Prayer Service is 12:00 noon. Everyone is welcome it is nondenominational. Bring your friends and neighbors! Let everyone know they are welcome, and how important it is for us all to pray for healing. Thank you! FELLOWSHIP Mary Donnellan October 21 is the date for our first ever and, we hope, annual chicken casserole dinner. Plan to come after work or before your football game. Our hours of 5 to 7 will make it easy! The menu is chicken casserole, mashed potatoes, green beans, three different salads, rolls and homemade pies. Nice, old fashioned comfort food! All items are individually priced so you just pay for what you want. Casserole is $3.00: potatoes, green beans and drinks are 50 cents; pie $1.50; salad $1.00. If you choose everything, the price is $7.00. We will definitely need your help for this fundraising dinner. Please help with clean up and please donate homemade pies. There is a sign up sheet in Christopher s Corner. Please sign up so that we will know we can count on you. The 5 th Sunday celebration in October is cancelled because that is Consecration Sunday. Mary Donnellan 4

5 ECW Episcopal Church Women Deb Snavely The ECW held their first meeting of the new program year on September 12th at the China Garden Buffet on Woodman Drive. Attendance was good with several men attending as well. After enjoying a delicious buffet, a planning session for the new year was held. It was decided to continue our support of Fairborn FISH as part of our Outreach mission. Last year s accomplishments were reviewed including purchase of a new crib and mattress for the nursery, purchase and installation of a baby changing table for the men s room, compilation of a list of volunteers responsible for our various programs and providing food for a family with a new baby. Fund raisers for the program year include an October 21 st scalloped chicken dinner and on-going book sales. Suggested purchases were discussed and will be researched for future consideration. The schedule of activities for the new year was tentatively established with a POC for each. On October 13 th we will go to the Dayton Foodbank to sort and assemble food items for distribution to needy Seniors or students as needed. Starting time is 1 PM at the Foodbank warehouse located at 56 Armor Place. Before we go we will have lunch at Milano s on Brown Street. There will be a signup sheet in Christopher s Corner. The event is open to all. We could use some nice strong men and women to help with this project. In December we will enjoy our traditional Christmas and New Year s parties. Info on the CY 2017 activities will be included in a future Lantern. Nursery Room Update by Amy Kopp We have exciting news for families and our littlest Christians. Thanks to the work of some volunteers and donations from the ECW, the nursery has been cleaned and updated. Over the next several months we will be replacing the old AC unit and painting to complete renovations. We have established a few guidelines to keep the little ones safe and help the nursery staff. We ask that families utilizing the nursery are familiar with these. They are posted in the nursery as parents sign their children in and out of the nursery. The nursery is available for children under the age of four. Eleven volunteers from the parish will be working a rotating schedule to staff the nursery each Sunday. In the first three weeks of our new program year, we have had three or more babies and toddlers in the room. If you have questions, or want to volunteer to help with final renovation or on the rotating schedule, please reach out to Amy Kopp. 5

6 October Birthdays 1 Ruth Paulus 1 Paul Reichert 6 Rosalie Arnold 14 Grace Mukunzi 14 Michael Brainard 16 Grayson Haberecht 17 Rudy Arnold 18 Telesa Learn 25 Bryce Kopp 31 Barry Kelley October Anniversaries October 8 October 22 October 24 Gail and John Stauffer Carol and Paul Sharp Rosalie and Rudy Arnold We would like to include everyone in the celebration of Birthdays and Anniversaries. If we have missed your special days, please send your family s dates for birthdays and anniversaries to the office. St. Christopher s Prayer List For illness, healing: Carol, Toni, Betty, Kathryne, Steve, Daphne, Ed, Mary, Florence, Martha, Diane, Barry, Sandy, Amanda, Justin, Marcus, Dawn, Reese, David, Judith, Eddie, and Betty s granddaughter-in-law. 6

7 St. Christopher's Episcopal Church Fairborn, Ohio Vestry Minutes August 14, 2016 Those present: The Rev. Ruth Paulus, Deacon Rick Incorvati, Mel Bigi, Judy Brainard, David Manship, Marilyn Power, Deb Snavely, Kathy Smith, Gail Stauffer, Andrea Haberecht; Excused: Amy Kopp. The meeting was opened with a prayer by Ruth+ at 11:30am. The Minutes of the June 19, 2016 meeting were approved. (Motion: Brainard/Snavely) Treasurer s Report: The Treasurer s reports were reviewed. It is hoped that once the monthly reports can be generated within the new QuickBooks Plus Online software, fewer questions and corrections will be necessary. Junior Warden s Report: Judy reported that pledges have been paid ahead of what they normally are at the half-year point. Reports: Andrea Haberecht: Andrea mentioned that John Ziegenhagen wondered about the status of his (September 20, 2015) request of the vestry to put both the grand piano and the electronic piano on piano dollies. John reiterated that he is willing to share the cost of the dollies. Judy and Deb were sure the ECW had authorized funds (possibly up to $500.00) for one dolly only (for the electronic piano). The ECW Minutes and Vestry Minutes need to be checked, and a conversation with John is needed. Marilyn Power - Outreach: Marilyn told the vestry that the fourth Sunday Food For FISH collections are very successful and the staff at Fairborn Fish are overwhelmed by the generosity of St. Christopher s parish. Amy Kopp: Report submitted via , I don't have much to share other than a nursery update. The clean out day was a great start. We still need to paint, remove the window A/C unit that doesn't work and replace (thanks to ECW) and get a few window coverings. I have 4 couples to work the nursery and 3 others who can fill in as needed/backup. I'm working to get a schedule for Sept-December. Other than requesting a Safe Church training for those of us who need it, things seem to be shaping up for the care of out littlest Christians. Kathy Smith: Kathy told the vestry that the youth canoe trip is cancelled this year so the youth can focus on the Acolyte Festival at the National Cathedral, in Washington, DC. The youth outing to Columbus (actually, Franklinton) to serve lunch to the attendees, and others, following Street Church was a success; the youth found it worshipful, eye-opening and fun. Senior Warden s Report: Deb was very pleased with, and thankful for, the parish participation in the introduction meeting for the Recasting Assets program, Thursday evening, August 4. Rector s Report: David Moore has met with Ruth and completed an assessment of St. Christopher s and our facilities for the Recasting Assets program. His written report is expected and will be distributed to the vestry for review. The Building Assets team has been receiving short videos, two per week, for several weeks. It was suggested they be shared with the parish during Sunday Coffee Hour. It is hoped they will spark interest in the program or answer concerns or questions that parishioners have. Strong communication and complete transparency between the Building Assets team and the parish is necessary. 7

8 Other Business: The annual audit has been completed and submitted. Audit Committee was Ed Olgeaty, Becky Wood and Paul Reichert. Crop Walk will be Sunday, October 9. StC s needs to identify a representative. Fairborn Community Health Expo at Abiding Christ Lutheran Church is October 8. St. Christopher s will donate cookies. Cookies need to be at StC s before the event. Old Business Ruth has had no luck seeking examples of hall rental fees and building use policies from around the area, to help with updating StC s Facilities Use Policy. Policies concerning alcohol use are of particular concern. Emergency contact numbers need to be in an easy to find place for anyone using StC s facilities. There being no other business, a motion was made (Manship/Snavely) to adjourn the meeting. Passed. The meeting was closed with a prayer led by Rick Incorvati at 12:40pm. Respectfully submitted, Andrea Haberecht Note: the minutes printed in the Lantern are from the previous month, after they have been reviewed by Vestry. Sunday Attendance It is important that we are aware of how many people are in attendance on Sunday. So each month we show the attendance numbers. Remember, statistics indicate that to have a thriving and prosperous congregation, we need to shoot for 100 as the average Sunday attendance. Sunday Attendance June July August September 1 st Sunday nd Sunday rd Sunday th Sunday tbd 5 th Sunday n/a 80 n/a n/a TOTAL To date 179 8

9 A Gentle Reminder: When planning church activities, please check the calendar posted in the church office to avoid scheduling conflicts. And please post upcoming activities. Events and Announcements, Opportunities Sundays at 9:15 a.m. Adult Forum: The Gift of Years by Joan Chittister Sunday Schedule 9:15 Adult Forum, Sunday School Grade 3 and up 10:00 Eucharist, Sunday School Pre-K thru 2 nd Grade Friday September 30 St. C hosts dinner for Recasting Assets Team. Saturday October 1 St. C hosts lunch for Recasting Assets Team. Sunday October 2 Meeting with the Recasting of Assets Team after the service during coffee hour. See the September Lantern for details. Saturday October 8 - Health Fair at Abiding Christ, 10 am to 2pm. Sunday October 9 at 2 p.m. Cropwalk. You can sign up to walk, or support others who are walking Sunday October 9 St. Vincent s Volunteers Monday October 10 Columbus Day Holiday church office closed. Thursday October 13 ECW to Dayton Foodbank; see ECW article for details. Thursday October 13 6:30 Youth Commission Meeting. Sunday October 16 Discretionary Fund offering Sunday October 16 ECW used book sale Sunday October 16 11:30 Vestry meeting Friday October Our first annual Chicken Casserole Dinner Saturday October 22 2 pm Pre-Convention Hearings for Dayton at Christ Church Dayton. Monday October 24 deadline November 2015 Lantern articles/info Monday October 24 at 7pm, Fairborn Mayor s Citizen Forum, (place tba). Sunday October 30 Consecration Sunday with celebratory lunch Thursdays 7:00 Choir Practice Weekly Healing Service Tuesdays at noon a Healing Service with Holy Communion is held in the church proper. The service is open to anyone who wants to attend. Check sign-up sheets On the counter in Christopher s Corner there are sign-up sheets for altar flowers, sanctuary candles, fellowship, St. Vincent s, ECW activities, Prayer Chain, etc. *** PLEASE NOTE there are many openings to sign up for ALTAR FLOWERS. Please remember to pay for the flowers 2 weeks in advance, and mark on your payment that it is for Altar Flowers and the date for the flowers. OUTREACH Remember Box Tops for Education. Please continue with donations for FISH; they need shampoo, tooth brushes, cereal, peanut butter, deodorant, toilet paper, sugar, and other Food items. And feed your change to our bank -- 2 cents a meal. Prayer Concerns: Please call or Joyce D'Allessandris to activate the Prayer Chain. dallessa@aol.com, phone:

10 The October Lantern will be online at stchristophersfairborn.diosohio.org. A printed copy is available upon request. We are still collecting used printer cartridges. They can be recycled at the office supply stores. There is a plastic container in Christopher's corner for you to fill!! Our Stewardship Sunday will be October 30. Pledge cards will be available and we will have a celebratory lunch. It will be a potluck with fried and baked chicken provided. Side dishes and desserts are needed. Adult Forum Readings Fall 2016 The Gift of Years by Joan Chittister We will be reading The Gift of Years, hoping to be finished with it by the first Sunday of Advent. The weekly schedule is as follows: 9/25- Newness through Adjustments (pgs 45-67) 10/2- Fulfillment through Tale-telling (pgs 67-89) 10/9- Letting Go through Freedom (pgs ) 10/16- Success through Sadness (pgs ) 10/23- Dreams through Productivity (pgs ) 10/30- Memories through Immediacy (pgs ) 11/6- Nostalgia through Forgiveness (pgs ) 11/13- Outreach through Faith (pgs ) 11/27 Begins our Lenten Study. I am anticipating using Waiting Here for You by Louie Giglio since the theme is what we seem to be doing in this congregation presently. 10

11 Special Events **Health Fair at Abiding Christ. Saturday, October 8 th, 10 am to 2pm. Cookies-Cookies-Cookies We are being asked again this year to provide cookies for the annual Fairborn Community Health Expo, Sat. Oct 8, 10AM-2PM at Abiding Christ Lutheran Church, 326 E. Dayton-Yellow Springs Rd. Please have cookies at St. Christopher s by Thurs. Oct. 6, or you can drop them off at the Expo Saturday morning. If you have questions, call Marilyn Power Cropwalk Sunday October 9 th at 2 pm. You can sign up to walk, or support others who are walking The 2016 Fairborn CROP Walk to fight hunger will be held on Sunday, October 9, The purpose of the CROP Walk is to raise money to fight hunger in Fairborn and around the world. If you would like a donation envelope and/or plan to walk please see Tammy Elliott. On Thursday October 13 th ECW will go to the Dayton Foodbank to sort and assemble food items for distribution to needy Seniors or students as needed. Starting time is 1 PM at the Foodbank warehouse located at 56 Armor Place. Before we go we will have lunch at Milano s on Brown Street. Friday October our first ever and, we hope, annual Chicken Casserole Dinner. Plan to come after work or before 11

12 The Prayer of Saint Francis "O Lord, make me an instrument of Thy Peace! Where there is hatred, let me sow love; Where there is injury, pardon; Where there is discord, harmony; Where there is doubt, faith; Where there is despair, hope; Where there is darkness, light, and Where there is sorrow, joy. Oh Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love; for it is in giving that we receive; It is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life." 12

13 St. Christopher s Episcopal Church Fairborn, OH Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sept 30 Oct 1 Twentieth Sunday Pentecost 9:15 am Adult Forum, Sunday School 9:15 am Sunday School 10 am Eucharist, Sunday School Recasting Assets meeting during Coffee Hour, following the service Twenty-first Sunday Pentecost 9:15 am Adult Forum, Sunday School 10 am Eucharist, Sunday School St. Vincent s Volunteers 2 Crop Walk Twenty-second Sunday Pentecost 9:15 am Adult Forum, Sunday School 10 am Eucharist, Sunday School Discretionary fund offering ECW used book sale 11:30 Vestry mtg Full moon Twenty-third Sunday Pentecost 9:15 am Adult Forum, Sunday School 10 am Eucharist, Sunday School St. C hosts dinner for Recasting Assets Team. St. C lunch for Recasting Assets Team New moon :30-8 GS mtg Noon Healing Service 7:00 Choir Bigi Church & Fellowship Hall 6:30-8:30 GS mtg Health Fair at Abiding Christ Wedding COLUMBUS DAY Holiday Office Closed 6:30-8 GS mtg Noon Healing Service 6:30-8 GS Fbn SU meeting ECW to Dayton Foodbank 6:30 Youth Comm. Meeting 7:00 Choir :30-8 GS mtg Noon Healing Service 7 Choir 5-7 Chicken casserole dinner 6:30-8:30 GS mtg Pre-convention Hearings Dayton 2 pm at Christ Church Dayton Lantern Input Deadline 6:30-8 GS mtg Fairborn Mayor s Citizen Forum Twenty-fourth Sunday Pentecost 9:15 am Adult Forum, Sunday School 10 am Eucharist, Sunday School Consecration Sunday & Celebration dinner New moon 6:30-8 GS mtg Noon Healing Service 7 Choir (937) N Broad St., PO Box 1026, Fairborn OH 45324

14 2016 OCTOBER SCHEDULE 2016 Twentieth Sunday Twenty-first Sunday Twenty-second Sunday Twenty-third Sunday Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost after Pentecost after Pentecost after Pentecost after Pentecost October 2 October 9 October 16 October 23 October 30 Worship Leader Toni Olgeaty Tammy Elliott Toni Olgeaty Ron D Allessandris Tammy Elliott Chalice Bearer Ed Smith James Lester Cindy Feltz Toni Olgeaty Alan Haberecht 1 st Reader LECTORS 2 nd Reader Tammy Elliott Lamentations 1:1-6 Ron D Allessandris 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Cindy Feltz Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 Anne Volkmer 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Hayward Learn Jeremiah 31:27-34 Telesa Learn 2 Timothy 3:14 4:5 Ann Foster Sirach 35:12-17 Paul Reichart 2 Timothy 4:6-8, Muriel Markley Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 Judy Brainard 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, Acolyte James Lester Iyabo Eguaroje Ed Smith Cindy Feltz James Lester Ushers Iyabo Eguaroje Telesa Learn Telesa and Hayward Learn Ann Foster Gordon Hermann Eleanor and Becky Wood Telesa and Hayward Learn Healing Prayers Cindy Feltz tbd tbd Joyce D Allessandris Toni Olgeaty Greeters Judy Brainard Telesa Learn Iyabo Eguaroje Gordon Hermann Mary Donnellan Bruce Hain Darlene and Gordon Walbroehl Joyce and Ron D Allessandris Nursery Faller Kopp Jones Stauffer Bigi/Mukunzi Altar Guild Tellers Mel Bigi Andrea Haberecht Rosalie Arnold Bob Bigi Kathy Smith, Sierra Lester Millie Roach Ed Smith Judy Brainard Betty Crichton Cindy Manship Gordon Hermann Eleanor and Becky Wood Deb Snavely John Stauffer Fellowship Bigi / Haberecht open open open PLEASE check the schedule and note your assignment(s). If you are not able to serve, notify the person responsible for that assignment and the office ( ). Mel Bigi Andrea Haberecht Susan Brainard Consecration Sunday Celebration dinner Toni Olgeaty Worship Leaders, Chalicers, Andrea Haberecht Altar Guild Lectors, Acolytes, Ushers Coffee Hour/Fellowship Judy Brainard Greeters Melody Kelley (937) Director of Music Rosalie Arnold Tellers Deb Snavely Senior Warden Amy Kopp Nursery attendants Ruth Paulus Prayer Requests CHURCH OFFICE HOURS: 10 AM to 2 PM, Monday through Friday