By George! Growing with You in God s Love and Service September 2017 Rule of Life for St George s By George! SEPTEMBER 2017 A monthly publication of Based on our spiritual values and practices, this is our commitment to each other. We:! Nurture ourselves with the Bible and spiritual books! Care deeply about each other, including in prayer.! Fellowship together and have fun.! Are grateful, glad and giving stewards of God s creation.! Reach out to the world, living and spreading the Word. St.George s Episcopal Church 5600 Winding Way Carmichael, CA 95608 (916) 487-5600 St. George s Episcopal Church 5600 Winding Way Carmichael, CA 95608 (916) 487-5600 barbara@sgec.us http://www.saintgeorgeca.com The Very Rev. Ray Hess, III Priest in Charge 916-753-9939 fatherray@frontiernet.net Sandra Crenshaw, Senior Warden 505-3875 sacren1960@gmail.com Rev. Robert Olsen, Deacon 916-729-1019 rolsen8070@gmail.com Tess Testeza, Organist/Choir Director 856-0519 tesstatiana@gmail.com Sandy Olsen, Editor sandyolsen8070@gmail.com Dolores O Brien, Deacon Bob and Carol Adkins, Circulation In this issue ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS................ 7 BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARYS................ 3 BOOK CORNER.............................. 2 BOUNTY BAG................................ 9 DEACON BOB................................ 5 DISCERNMENT WORKSHOP................... 8 efm......................................... 7 FROM OUR PIC............................... 1 HOSPITALITY................................ 2 HAPPENINGS................................ 6 ROSTER.................................... 4 SENIOR WARDEN............................ 2 SERVICES................................... 9 SOME LATE ARRIVALS....................... 9 WOMEN S GUILD............................ 3
Thoughts From Our PIC Fr Ray is taking a break from doing an article for this month s By George, rather he is putting his efforts into his recovery. I have been periodically sending out e-mails and including in the announcements each Sunday an update on Fr Ray, but thought I d say a bit for those who either don t have e-mail or missed some of those announcements. Back in July, Fr Ray was having some right side weakness and difficulty speaking, going to the ER it was discovered he had a small bleed in his brain. On July 11 th, he had brain surgery to correct that condition. Since that time, he has been in and out of the hospital a couple of times, as they adjusted his treatment and medications in his recovery process. He is wrapping up speech/physical and occupational therapy and this past week no longer needs to use a walker. He is still pretty much house bound for now and not given clearance to drive. At this point in his recovery he is working on getting back to something like a normal routine so could really use calls and visits. Please call his cell number 753-9939, if he doesn t answer please leave a message and he ll return your call. If you want to visit him, please call first to make sure he ll be there, as he does have medical appointments, but really would like to see folks. Having visited and talked with Fr Ray, I have confirmed he is not a day time TV fan and not someone to play computer games, so really misses talking with folks. In our latest conversation, Fr Ray is planning to return to leading services on Oct 15 th our annual Blessing of the Animals service. So mark your calendars for that date. Deacon Bob 1
Senior Warden Dear St George Parishioners, Wasn't it wonderful to see Father Ray on Sunday, August 20th at the 9:00 o'clock Service and before the 10:30 Service! I know we have all been praying vigilantly for his healing since he first fell ill and it felt like an answer to our prayers to have him back in our midst even for a short period! I know we will continue to pray for Father Ray s full recovery and return in the near future. This miracle started me thinking more deeply about prayers, both answered and unanswered prayers. We are filled with a heart of gratitude when God clearly answers our prayers. But what about the times our prayers are not answered or not answered completely? Gratitude should still be in our hearts, right? In Thessalonians 5:18, God clearly spelled out His perfect will for us when He inspired the Apostle Paul to write: "In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." In everything means in the good times, as well as the bad; in the joys of life, as well as in the pain. What if we were to thank God for all the times He has said "no, for all the ways He has worked in and through our lives, perhaps without us knowing, and for current unanswered prayers? Let's thank Him, regardless, and feel the benefits to our soul of an obedient heart. Yours in Christ, Sandra Crenshaw, Sr. Warden Hospitality Sunday will be the 1st Sunday of each month, special offering envelopes are included in the bulletin. These are used by the Women's Guild to provide weekly coffee hours, special receptions and other events for parish members. Please make checks payable to St. George's Church with a memo note in the left corner for HOSPITALITY. The women s Guild is happy to provide the book corner for your enjoyment. We appreciate the books you all donate. However, I would like to remind you to bring fiction, non-fiction, historical or humorous books. Please NO self-help or study books. Thanks for your attention to this matter. CDs...$1 BOOKS...$1 PAPERBACKS...50 Happy reading! Janet Jenkins 2
WOMEN S GUILD September beginning the final third of the calendar year. Time to shift gears from the lazy days of summer to the cooler weather and different activities. A Women s Guild meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, September 20 at 11:00AM in the parish hall. We hope many of the women of St. George s will attend and help plan activities for the coming months. If anyone has suggestions for Women s meetings, we are eager to hear them. Something in addition to the periodic lunches we have been having that all could enjoy. Perhaps there is a topic of interest that several may be interested in discussing and learning more about or perhaps we could visit a place of interest. Mark your calendars and attend our meeting with your ideas. Carol Adkins, President SEPTEMBER BIRTHDAYS 6 Angela Saunders 7 Bill Perparos 9 Courtney (Corrie) Freie-Cook 14 Sophia Saunders 19 Cruz Siaz 21 Wendy Danielson 22 Thomas John Jeske (2010) 23 Dennis Fazekas (If your name was not included, please let Sandy know so she can add your name.) SEPTEMBER ANNIVERSARIES 14 Bob & Sandy Olsen (`68) 3
September/October SEPTEMBER 3 rd 13 th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Exodus 3:1-15 Psalm 105: 1-6,23-26, 45c Romans 12:9 21 Matthew -16 :21-28 CELEBRANT: Anne McKeever EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Diana Perparos LECTORS: Aaron Adkins & Carol Adkins ALTAR GUILD: Angela Saunders & Wendy Nelson USHER: Cathy Crosby & friend SEPTEMBER 10 th 14 th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Exodus 12:1-14 Psalm 149 Romans 13:8 14 Matthew 18:15-20 CELEBRANT: Susan Plucker EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Aaron Adkins LECTORS: Karen Lolmaugh & Becky Freie ALTAR GUILD: Joy Allmuth & Wendy Nelson USHER: Cathy Crosby & friend SEPTEMBER 17 th 15 th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Exodus 14: 1-14 Psalm 114 Romans 14: 1-12 Matthew 18: 21-35 OFFICIANT: Bob Olsen WORSHIP LEADER: Becky Freie PREACHER: Mel Rose EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Ryan Saunders LECTORS: Randall Abbott & Aaron Adkins ALTAR GUILD: Vicki Karsten & Joy Allmuth USHER: Carol Adkins & friend SEPTEMBER 24 th 16 th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Exodus 16: 2-15 Psalm 105: 1-6, 37-45 Philippians 1: 21-30 Matthew 20:1-16 CELEBRANT: Bill Rontani EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Karen Lolmaugh LECTORS: Aaron Adkins & JoAnn Cookman ALTAR GUILD: Vicki Karsten & JoAnn Cookman USHER: Carol Adkins & friend OCTOBER 1 st 17 th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Exodus 17: 1-7 Psalm 78: 1-4, 12-16 Philippians 2: 1-13 Matthew 21: 23-32 CELEBRANT: Anne McKeever PREACHER: Bob Olsen EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Dave Allmuth LECTORS: Karen Lolmaugh & Becky Freie ALTAR GUILD: TBA USHER: Cathy Crosby & friend OCTOBER 8 th 18 th SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Exodus 20: 1-4, 7-9, 12-20 Psalm 19 Philippians 3:4b-14 Matthew 21:33-46 CELEBRANT: Bill Rontani EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Aaron Adkins LECTORS: JoAnn Cookman & Carol Adkins ALTAR GUILD: TBA USHER: Conrad Cookman & friend Lessons can be found on our website www.stgeorgeca.org 4
Transfiguration The first Sunday of last month fell on August 6 th, which happens to be the day each year we celebrate the Transfiguration. The last time this happened was 11 years ago (2006) and it won t happen again until 2023. So in the midst of our long green season of Pentecost we had a Holy Day, breaking the sequence of Gospels we have been hearing from Matthew. On that Sunday we heard Luke s version of the transfiguration. Now we hear these passages every year on the last Sunday of Epiphany, so it is a story we should know well. Reverend Susan s sermon got me to thinking. Jesus transformation in front of Peter, John and James, and hearing the voice of God from the cloud wasn t for Jesus, rather it was for them and us. Jesus knew who he was, Moses and Elijah knew and of course God knew it was the apostles who needed to know. They needed to know so they could be transformed and her question to those hearing her sermon that morning, how are we transformed? Her question reminded me of oneof the hymns we sing at the 9 a.m. service We are one in the Spirit which ends with the refrain And they ll know we are Christians by our love. For me that phrase seems to be the answer to Susan s+ question. Through God s love we are transformed and that love shines through us. Many years ago, when my new boss was briefing me on my new jobs, she spent some time giving me a run down on the various staff that I would be coming into contact with doing my job. For one of the individuals she concluded with something like you d never know he was a minister, from the way he acts. At that point I was just beginning my third year at the School for Deacon s and anticipating ordination as a deacon some nine or ten months later, so her remark struck me then and I still think that if someone I don t know on learning that I was a deacon, responds with you d never know it by his actions that would be the worst thing they could possibly say about me. If Jesus and his message is to have any meaning in our lives, than our lives should reflect that message of love. Our love of God and our neighbors should be so self-evident that it isn t a surprise to anyone, when they learn we are Christian. Their reply shouldn t be oh really! or worse a long pause because they remembered what their mother taught them about if you can t say something nice. Their immediate response should be well of course. Because we have been transfigured by the love and mercy of God and we reflect that love to the world brighter than the dazzling sun. Amen, Deacon Bob 5
The choir will now be meeting Saturdays @ noon Last Monday @ 11 a.m. Second Wednesday @ 6:45 pm 6
ARTISTIC ACCOMPLISHMENTS Our parish, St George Episcopal Church, is planning to publish a book about the artistic accomplishments of our parishioners and their families. Think about your artistic accomplishments that you would be willing to share in our book and let us know. Please look at the following list for ideas or add something you have created that is not on the list: Poetry or prose Art work of any kind. Stained glass Knitting or crocheting Quilting or other sewing projects Woodworking including carpentry Flower arranging Toy making Cooking specialty Photography Jewelry If you are willing to share your original creations with our parish, please e-mail Lani Hahn (songlani@aol.com) and give her your name and what you are willing to share. Mel Rose will give us directions on how to gather your information to put it in a book. Lani Hahn Education for Ministry (EfM) Time: 2:00-4:30 pm: Mondays in September (commitment to full school year) Place: Tognozi Room, St. Francis Episcopal Church, Fair Oaks. Tuition: $375 a year (books included) (Partial scholarships maybe available) Year one: The Hebrew Bible (Old Testament Year two: New Testament Year three: Church History Year four: Theology, Ethics and Interfaith Encounter 7
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Dear Friends, Thank you for all the cards, phone calls, and visits. They have meant so much to Deb and me! You have been fantastic! This is what Christian community is all about. Please keep the calls and visits coming. I will not be able to drive for quite a while and would appreciate contacts. You can do return calls and visits, too! Deb and I will be coming often as members of the congregation over the next weeks (we attended the 9 am service last Sunday). If my doctors give the green light, I plan to come back to preside at the service on October 15. Thanks again for all your caring over the past weeks! SOME LATE ARRIVALS In Christ, Fr. Ray An easy way to keep abreast of the news around the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California is to subscribe to its newsletter, the Diocesan e-news, which is delivered to your inbox on most Tuesday afternoons. You can subscribe on the diocese website, www.norcalepiscopal.org, by clicking on the button under CONNECT WITH US, and providing us with your name and email. We take your privacy seriously and do not share our lists with anyone; if you ask to be unsubscribed, by simply clicking on th unsubscribe link that is at the end of each newsletter, you will be taken off the list immediately. We love feedback and try our best to answer all concerns. If you access your email by phone, you can text EDNC to 28828 and sign up by replying with your email. Subscribe today! 9 BOUNTY BAG We re collecting dry goods, canned goods, dried cereals, soaps, toothpaste tooth brushes or any non-perishables, SUNDAY SERVICES Family Service 9 a.m. Sunday School 9 a.m. Traditional Service 10:30 a.m. We collect Bags ANYTIME!! NO TIME TO SHOP a check to St. Georges with memo to River city Food Bank (everything is welcome).