St. Anne Episcopal Church July 2017 THE EPISTLE

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1 Ordinary Time THE EPISTLE A message from the Rev. Dr. Jennifer Oldstone-Moore We re cruising into Ordinary Time the long season lasting several months between Pentecost and Advent, bookended by Trinity and Christ the King Sundays. Our color is green for the ordinary growing time. One of my very favorite saints especially appropriate for Ordinary Time is Brother Lawrence. If there is anything that is universally ordinary, it is preparing daily meals. Brother Lawrence, who lived in the 1600s, made the work of preparing meals his spiritual discipline. We wouldn t know about him except that an aide to cardinal of Paris, M. de Beaufort, retold his conversations with Brother Lawrence in The Practice of the Presence of God. Beaufort wrote that Brother Lawrence described humble kitchen work as an opportunity to be deeply aware of God s loving presence: The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees at the Blessed Sacrament. With this focus, Brother Lawrence changed that which is ordinary into that which is sacred. Or perhaps we could say this: Brother Lawrence realized that what is ordinary is sacred, that everything is imbued with the grace and love and presence of the Holy One. This is a deep spiritual wisdom that we can find throughout the world s religions. Jews cultivate JULY 2017 Table of Contents Spotlight: EFM (page 2) Pilgrimage 2017 (page 3) Adult Christian Formation (page 4) National Veteran s Wheelchair Games (page 6) Vacation Bible School (page 8) Men s Book Group (page 9) Deadline for August Epistle: July 26 Continued page 2. YOU ARE INVITED.TO JOIN THE PILGRIMS! July 16 th, in the Community Room after the late service Enjoy a German Breakfast (similar to ones they ate in the Youth Hostels) See a slide show of their Pilgrimage to Germany

2 Ordinary Time Continued from page 1 an awareness of God s blessings by the small prayers and rituals for mundane acts such as entering rooms; dressing, eating and drinking; and using the toilet the last a low and simple act upon which our very health and life depend. Hindus practice karmayoga, which means purifying the mind by not being attached to the results of one s work, but just doing that work for love and dedication to the Divine. Muslims stop whatever they are doing five times a day for prayer that reminds that that no matter how insignificant or important they are, God is the center, and God comes first. Buddhists talk about mindfulness, paying close attention to the moment at hand, for despite our long memories of the past and elaborate plans for the future, the moment of now is, paradoxically, the only space we have for abundant living. The beauty of the Christian tradition and its particular contribution to the art of the ordinary is awareness of God s deep love and desire for connection with humankind. This is available to us at every moment of every day if we learn how to open our eyes to see God s hand at work in the world around us and practice how to give God ourselves, our souls and bodies so that we dedicate all we do to the Holy One. Brother Lawrence reminds us that our ordinary lives, always at hand, are profound opportunities to grow closer to God and to bask in God s loving presence. Rev. Jennifer + Find more of Brother Lawrence s thoughts on prayer and faith here. St. Anne spotlight... Exploring EfM EfM has given me a fuller and deeper understanding of my relationship with God, and how I can use that relationship to serve others. I loved my time in EfM! I loved sharing stories with everyone in the class. I am amazed what we can learn if we really listen to what is in someone else s heart. -- Recent EfM Participants So, what exactly IS EfM? For starters, the letters stand for Education for Ministry. And while it is a four-year program, it is not simply a bible-study - although our participants do study scripture as part of the lesson plan. At its heart, EfM is an academic program sponsored by the School of Theology at the University of the South in Sewanee, TN. EfM participants learn to study, reflect, and pray and most importantly, grow as a fullyequipped lay minister. (Don t let that minister term scare you after all, are we not all called as followers of Christ to be ministers to one another?) As any EfM participant can tell you, we gather together as a disparate group of pilgrims who want to more earnestly explore our faith and what it means to us individually. We begin to think theologically about God and about the world at large. It may sound unsettling to a degree, but EfM can sometimes startle or shake us awake to our faith and to the possibilities it gives us. Beyond the scripture study of the first two years, we also study Church History and then General Theology through the final two years together. Yet much more importantly, we reflect, discuss, and listen to one another s viewpoints. With the wonderful presence of our trained facilitator / mentor, Hawley Todd, we dig deep into the mystery of our Christian faith and heritage. Let s say you might like a faith-based roller coaster ride and you want to learn more about Education for Ministry to determine your own level of interest in joining the EfM group hosted by St. Anne every Tuesday night during the academic year (September through May). In that case, contact Hawley Todd. Hawley serves as the EfM Coordinator for the Diocese of Southern Ohio, and can be reached by phone at: (Mobile Phone) or via at: todd@episcopalhealing.org. 2 `

3 Tales From a Pilgrim Even though we ve been home for over a week, the pilgrimage experience crosses my mind many times each day. I find myself looking through the pictures on my phone, reflecting on funny (eating gelato every chance we got) or beautiful moments (the church in Dresden), times when we were very sad (at Buchenwald), anxious (watching four of our pilgrims swim across a small lake), full of wonder (at the national park in Saxon Switzerland, exuberant (our Eucharist on the mountain) just plain happy (shopping the few opportunities we had) or very full (our last very German meal in Berlin)! Ask any of the 21 pilgrims that took the journey and you will get different answers of what moved us or gave us pause! Traveling to Germany with the 16 young pilgrims was a privilege; watching them grow and mature the last two years and then being with them for 10 days in such a variety of situations gave me much hope for the future. These are bright and reflective young people who care about each other, their families and their faith. Each day a different small group was responsible for reflections. It was an especially special and proud moment when one wise pilgrim posed the question: If you live a Christ like life, but don t know Christ, will you still be welcomed by Him? Wow! As we discussed this the day after Buchenwald it hit many of us hard that this is a universal and ageless question. Of course, the simple answer is Yes, but what are the deeper implications for marginalized people on the fringe of society as we witnessed in Buchenwald. Some of my favorite travel moments were simply watching the youth be together: on the bus, at meals, playing soccer, see sawing on the playground, swimming in the lake, buying Birkenstocks in Dresden, praying spontaneously in restaurants, singing and sharing music. They were kind and respectful to each other, helped the leaders and were often open about sharing their thoughts and concerns. For the leaders, guides and Phyllis it was a joy working and traveling together! We talked endlessly and grew to love and care for each other as well. We had as many tears, laughs and moving moments as the youth! Families and Prayer Partners know that we all missed you, thought of you, took great care in selecting gifts for you and are grateful to you and all of St. Anne this experience. Please join us after the 9:30 service on Sunday, July 16 in the community room for a German breakfast (similar to what we had in the hostels each morning) and share pictures from our wonderful journey.- Susie Rutkowski ` 3

4 St. Anne currently has several options for adult learning. For example, Adult Forum meets during the Sunday School hour during the program year, and will continue in the fall as usual. Education for Ministry (EFM) is an intense four-year program with a group that meets at St. Anne; this will continue in the fall also. However, there is more we could do to offer a variety of adult learning options. A brainstorming session in May generated quite a list of ideas things like Bible studies, book groups, retreats, and field trips. The potential for options at various times in the week also emerged. We are forming a new Adult Christian Formation Team to look at these options and choose a few to launch in the program year. The team may also offer help to Phyllis for programs she is leading, such as for Lent, Advent, Enquirers, etc. If you are interested in finding out more about this team and maybe getting involved, come to our first meeting at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, July 11, in the Education Building in the Bethlehem Room. Mark your calendars! If you are unable to attend, contact Patty Cargill at gcargill@cinci.rr.com or Suzanne Masterson at suzanne.masterson@uc.edu. Many hands make light work and we welcome your input! In addition, the Sunday morning Adult Forum Team will have a planning meeting to lay out the year at 7:00 Thursday on July 20 in the Education Building in the Bethlehem Room. New members are welcome! People contribute to the level they like, sometimes just one topic a year, or sharing a topic with a few others. Look for announcements of offerings in the next few months in the Epistle or TWASA, our weekly newsletter. St. Anne is now hiring a part-time (18 hours) Parish Missioner. The Parish Missioner is a new position created to assist with developing connections in the parish between existing ministries and lay leaders. Long Range Planning Congregational Meeting June 24, 2017 The candidate for this position should have a diversity of parish experience, as a layperson or staff. Experience with a liturgical style of worship (Episcopal, Lutheran, Catholic, etc.) is preferred but can be taught. If you know someone who would be great in this position, have them beth@saintannewc.org for a job description and an application! 4 `

5 Guess Who Went to Dinner? A few of us went to dinner on a recent Tuesday. Here's what was on the menu: Lentil stew infused with herbs over long grain rice, fresh greens garnished with nasturtium flowers and a light vinegarette dressing, French bread slices, crisp on the outside, light soft and buttery on the inside, an assortment of chocolate cakes and fruit pies, and mint iced tea. The restaurant? No, not a restaurant but Gabriel's Place where Head Chef Mike (a recent culinary arts graduate) prepares amazing delicious meals every other Tuesday for those in Avondale. Gabriel's Place is the former St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church that closed in Bishop Breidenthal committed to continue a ministry presence in the Avondale community after the church ceased to operate. Today Gabriel's Place provides a range of services to local residents with an emphasis on Food Education from Seed to Table. The gardens are extensive featuring herbs, root vegetables and greens. St. Anne volunteers Berni Murray, Dennis Murray, Meg Chamberlain, Nicki Turley, Rob Turley, Bill Balmos and Fran Sweeney helped to cook and serve this meal (as well as enjoy some leftovers). Moreover, all left feeling that small things done with love and concern do make a difference. ST. ANNE VOLUNTEERS WITH CHEF MIKE New to St Anne? Stop by the table marked reserved for newcomers and clergy the first Sunday of every month after the late service to ask questions, or just get to know us! We are glad you are here! Backpack Ministry MARK YOUR CALENDAR! July 13: Vestry Meeting July 16: Praise Service (9:30) (Pilgrim Breakfast and Presentation to follow) July 23 rd : St. Anne Day August 13: Ministry Fair The Reach Out Lakota back to school Backpack Drive starts in July! This annual drive supports needy families prepare their children for school by helping to furnish school supplies. 50 sponsorship cards with varying levels of support are available to St. Anne Parishioners. Look for the board in the Community Room! ` 5

6 St. Anne Day Outreach Week Reaching Out Beyond our Walls THE NATIONAL VETERANS WHEELCHAIR GAMES are an outgrowth of the Department of Veterans Affairs historic involvement in wheelchair sports. Wheelchair sports had their beginning in the aftermath of World War II, when young disabled Veterans began playing wheelchair basketball in VA hospitals throughout the United States. Interest in wheelchair basketball soon spread to other sports such as track and field, bowling, swimming, and archery, spawning the formation of several associations devoted to new and innovative wheelchair sports. While the participation of paralyzed and other disabled Veterans continued to flourish during the intervening years, it was not until 1980, when VA established a Recreation Therapy Service, that VA s efforts brought about an enhanced awareness of the rehabilitative value of wheelchair athletics. Since then, VA therapists have used wheelchair sports as a therapeutic tool for treating Veterans with disabilities. The first National Veterans Wheelchair Games were held in 1981, the International Year of Disabled Persons, at the VA Medical Center in Richmond, Va. That year, 74 veterans from 14 states competed in sports ranging from table tennis and billiards, to swimming and weightlifting. Those first Games established an enduring trait that has characterized the event ever since a strong sense of common identity and camaraderie among the participants. The hundreds of Veterans who choose to compete in the Games each year demonstrate their continuing popularity. By 1985, the growing size, complexity, and resources needed for the Games presented a daunting challenge to VA medical centers hosting the program. Recognizing that most of the athletes were paralyzed Veterans, the Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA) offered to become a co-sponsor. To help obtain resources needed to host this national event, PVA recruited corporations to join in support of the Games. Since 1985, PVA s corporate sponsor program has helped the Games grow, both in number of competitors as well as variety of sports offered. This Year s games run from July 16 th (arrival) to July 23 rd (departure) and there are over 3,000 volunteer opportunities available! These opportunities range from light duty to physically demanding. St. Anne is working on organizing a group volunteer opportunity (more information to come). To volunteer individually, go to There is also a binder located in the Narthex with a description of all the volunteer opportunities. 6 `

7 July 2017 HE Rite 1 Independence Praise Rehears HE Rite II Day Yoga Newcomer Sund Juggling Doverwood HE Rite 1 Craft Group Praise Rehears Vestry Meeting HE Rite II Stepping Fwd. LRP Meeting Doverwood Adult For. Pln Yoga Healthy Flock HE Rite 1 Craft Group Yoga Adult For. Mtg Praise Service Prayer Team Juggling Pilgrim Brunch Doverwood St. Anne Day VBS Craft Group LRP Meet HE Rite 1 VBS Yoga HE Rite 2 Juggling VBS HE Rite 1 HE Rite II Doverwood Calendar Please note this calendar is a snapshot of the full calendar from the St. Anne website. For more detailed information, go the website and click on the item listed. To include your event on the calendar, contact the parish office. ` 7

8 June 2017 July Feeding Ministry Volunteer Opportunities ASLAN IS ON THE MOVE COME WITH US TO NARNIA DURING Stepping Forward is a program overseen by the Faith Alliance of West Chester and Liberty Township. On the second Tuesday of each month, they oversee the Stepping Forward dinner at Faith Community Methodist Church - a meal outreach initiative. This month s dinner takes place on July 11 th and St. Anne is the meal provider. If you would like to contribute to this month s dinner, please mark your donations Stepping Forward and have them to St. Anne by 2 p.m. on the 11 th. Family Promise of Butler County needs 4 helpers on July 22 nd from 4 to 7 p.m. to help feed homeless families that are staying at Crestview Presbyterian church while they work towards getting housing. This is a good project for a family! July 23-25th Open to children ages 3 years to 6 th grade. All volunteers (high school or older) are welcome! Great for High School Service hours! July 23-VBS begins after the St. Anne Day Pot luck, ends at 3 p.m. July 24,25 - Bring a packed dinner at 5:15 p.m., program will run from 5:45 to 8:45 p.m. Sign-up/register in the Community Room. Questions? Contact Rhonda Hamall West Chester Presbyterian Community Meal: help is needed for food prep on Sunday July 30 th, and then serving a meal in the afternoon on Monday, July 31 st. Sign-up for all of these opportunities in the Community Room. If you would like more information about these volunteer opportunities, please contact Kathy Tracy at katracy 1955@yahoo.com. 8 `

9 Men s Book Group / July 23 The July book selection is Neil degrasse Tyson s Astrophyics for People in a Hurry. This is a short (208 pages) book that explains some very complicated topics by stripping them down to their nuts and bolts, padding them with colorful allegories and dorky jokes, and making them accessible to the layperson. The Men s Book Group will next meet on Sunday July 23rd at 6:00 p.m. at the Liberty Center Rusty Bucket. All men of all ages who are interested in books and good conversation are always welcome! For more information, please contact Bill Pearce, labpearce67@gmail.com, Rob Turley, rsturley@mac.com, or Baker Meyer at bakermeyer@mac.com About St. Anne Parish Office: info@saintanne-wc.org Website: Office Hours: Mon: 8:30 am- 2:30 pm Tues to Thur: 8am-4pm Friday: 9 am-2 pm In case of an emergency, contact Rev. Phyllis Spiegel at The Epistle is a publication of St. Anne Episcopal Church of West Chester, Ohio Please feel free to contact us regarding any of the information in this publication. Call or us at info@saintanne-wc.org The Epistle St. Anne Episcopal Church 6461 Tylersville Road West Chester, OH 45069