Sunday School News 6 Round-up with Deacon Phil 5 Mark Your Calendar 4 The Treasurer s Vault 3 From the Rector s Pen 2 Inside this issue: Visit us on the web www.st-albans-church.org Email: generalbusiness@stalbanschurch.info Phone: 619-444-8212 El Cajon, CA 92020 490 Farragut Circle Celebrating and Sharing God s Love July 2017 The Almanac 12
From the Rector s Pen - Act Justly, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly One of my favorite passages in the Bible is found in the prophetic book of Micah. If you re looking for a rule of life, this one is perfect for the taking. And, like all things of great value, a rule of life requires honest effort to maintain. He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God. (Micah 6:8 NIV) What does the prophet mean with the words justice, mercy and humility? We can see these words echoed in the words and teachings of Jesus in the Gospels. Concerning justice: In everything, do to others what you would want them to do to you. This is what is written in the Law and in the Prophets. (Matthew 7:12 NIRV) Justice issues begin with the way we live our personal lives, specifically in the way we relate to and treat others. But it does not stop there. The desire for justice in the world will enable us to confront unjust social practices that affect the poor and marginalized, the way we interact with environmental issues, and to stand up against injustice wherever and whenever we have opportunity to do so, with wisdom and humility. I am humbled by the mercy that God has had in my life, and I am called to show mercy to others, just as God has shown mercy to me. Righteousness and mercy seem to go hand in hand in this rule of life, as reflected from the psalmist: Righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you. (Psalm 89:14) Love and faithfulness meet; righteousness and peace kiss each other. (Psalm 85:10) Love mercy contains the Hebrew word hesed, which means loyal love or loving-kindness. Along with justice, we are expected to provide mercy. Both justice and mercy are foundational to this rule of life. Walking humbly before God is a recognition that you are you and God is God. You are not God, and God is not you. Humility gives us pause. We recognize that our love for God is reciprocal, shared and felt by both God and us. It is within this hallowed place that we can begin to comprehend the connection between justice, mercy and humility. Why is it important to understand the trilogy of justice, mercy and humility? Today our political viewpoints are dangerously polarized. Jesus did say you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free. (John 8:32) But, when adults of equal intelligence disagree on current issues, it muddies everything else that they might have in common. Issues set them apart. Issues divide relatives, friends, churches, nations and the world. I m reminded of that Christmas song that begins with these words: Let there be peace on earth, and let it begin with me. Let there be peace on earth, the peace that was meant to be. With God as our father, brothers (and sisters) all are we. Let me walk with my bother and sister, in perfect harmony. A good rule of life is to start with these words from Micah, and have hope that God will help us to make a difference in the world in which we live, to do justice, to love mercy and to walk humbly with our God. 2 Father Dave Staff Father Dave Madsen ~ Rector 619-444-8212, padredavid1@gmail.com Office hours: T-F, 9am-1pm, afternoons by appt. only Denise Cote~ Assistant to Rector/Office Manager; 619-444-8212, dcote@stalbanschurch.info Office hours: T-F, 9am-1pm Renee Brown ~ Music Director/ Organist Caroline Mahon-Hurd~ Sunday School Director Brad Cook ~ Communication Director Victoria Mayor ~ Social Media Director Penny Park~ Bookkeeper Judy Brown Treasurer Betty Johnsen Altar Guild, Refugee Food Pantry St Alban s Leadership Worship & Learn With Us: Wardens & Vestry Mike Park ~ Sr. Warden Sandy Parks ~ Jr. Warden Carly Montagne ~ Secretary Sharon Laraene ~ Vestry Member Mary Zori ~ Vestry Member David Ellis ~ Vestry Member Betty Johnsen ~ Vestry Member Sharon Hathaway ~ Vestry Member Judy Setford ~ Vestry Member Judy Brown ~ Vestry Member Sunday 9:30 am Worship Service with Holy Eucharist & Sunday School 11
From the treasurer s Vault Vaya Con Dios This month the focus of our diocese is upon saying Vaya Con Dios to Bishop and Terri Mathes. Your standing committee is busy multi-tasking, however, to assure a smooth transition. Standing committee teams are working on: 1) coordinating farewell events, 2) preparing to select a consultant who will guide us through the process and an assisting bishop who will share leadership with the standing committee during the transition, 3) assembling a team of chaplains, and 4) assuring good communications. Monthly updates are planned. By one month from now, there should be significant news to report, including a draft timetable for the process and information about how the search and nominations committee will be selected. While we need to bring our consultant on board before moving forward very far, we can assure you now of two key rules of life that will guide all our work: we will listen for the voice of the Spirit in your voices, assuring clear channels for communication both ways in all we do; and we will ground our work in prayer. In support of both, please continue to pray regularly for our community in Christ to be strengthened through the selection of our next bishop. 10 3
July 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 1 ~ continued from page 8 ~ The Welcome Church is available to honor those that pass from this life to the next with memorial services. Right now, all those services are held at St. Alban s Episcopal Church in El Cajon, but that does not mean they cannot be held in other indoor churches. The Welcome Church is an Ecumenical group of pastors and laity from various denominations that meet at and hold a Eucharist Service in Wells Park. We also have leaders, myself included, that walk through the park and get to know the homeless, to listen to their narratives their needs and opportunities. Most appreciate the visits. We do our best to hook people up with services, at least the ones we are familiar with. I can t say that everybody is responsive to us, but most of the older homeless population are. Some of the younger ones are not in a place to listen to us all the time, and that is unfortunate. 2 9 16 23 Welcome Church Wells Park 3-4pm 30 3 St Thomas 10 VBS BEGINS 5pm-8pm thru 7/14 4 MASS Food Pantry Ministry 10am Office Closed 11 MASS Followed by. Coffee Hour Parish Hall 17 18 MASS Food Pantry Ministry 10am 24 25 MASS Followed by. Coffee Hour Parish Hall 31 5 6 12 13 19 20 26 27 Canada Day 7 8 14 15 VBS PICNIC 21 22 St Mary Magdalene 28 29 Mark Hargelroad died on May 8 from a heart attack. Mark was a member of the Welcome Church, and he also joined St. Alban s Episcopal Church. We first met Mark and his wife Patricia at Wells Park. Patricia was later diagnosed with cancer and died a few weeks later. Mark was forced to move from the mobile home they rented because the trailer court was a 55 yrs. old or older community, and Mark who was younger than Patricia, did not qualify. He moved into his van. He later moved into a room with kitchen privileges, but when they raised his rent he had to choose between car payments or rent. He chose his car. Mark and his service dog Minnie were welcome sights both at the Welcome Church and St. Alban s. Last year Marks father passed away, a retired Presbyterian minister in the Wheaton area near Chicago. His mother passed away three months later. Mark was a sweet man with problems. He suffered from some mental disorders, but always tried to keep up on his medication. The Memorial Service for Mark was held on Saturday, June 10 at 11 AM, at St. Alban s Episcopal Church, 490 Farragut Circle, El Cajon. It was followed by a lunch in the Parish Hall. In my past ten years of working with homeless people, both in El Cajon, Philadelphia and New York City, I have appreciated the services, agencies and non-profits, but what I really appreciate is the volunteers that give up of their time, resources and talents to do what they can to listen, to care for and to walk with people, even in limited ways. We are all on a journey, and may the Golden Rule that is relevant in all major faith traditions be our axiom: Do unto others as you would have others do unto you or do not do to others what you would not like done to you. Blessings, Father Dave The Welcome Ministry of El Cajon The Welcome Church of El Cajon 4 9
8 News from the Welcome Church of El Cajon The Chamber of Commerce of East County has formed a Homeless Task Force that has been meeting for several months. The task force includes social service agencies, non-profit organizations, church pastors and lay leaders, and concerned individuals from various walks of life. From this group of volunteers, we have broken our teams into smaller task force groups. There are 10 groups that meet once or twice a month. We also call all the groups together for an All Hands Homeless Task Force Meeting. Our next combined meeting will be on June 28, 2017 at the La Mesa Community Center located at 4975 Memorial Drive, La Mesa, CA, 91942. Everyone is invited to join us for this combined meeting. The groups are broken up into the following areas: Team 1: Building a communication and marketing program for business and community. Team 2: Data benchmarking needed to measure effectiveness Team 3: Organizing, training for volunteers, contact teams, coordination Team 4: Solving the homeless services access confusion Team 5: Reunification, development of a program Team 6: Shelters, temporary and long-range housing, day centers Team 7: Mental illness, addiction issues Team 8: Crime and legal issues Team 9: Dealing with homeless youth and families Team 10: East County Task Force Leadership Model I have been involved in two of these teams, and would like to be involved in more. I appreciate the involvement and interest of those in our communities of East County. As a pastor, I do not have the time required to spend on all the many areas that affect homelessness. But, the issues come up many times every week, and it is going to be a real help to know where to turn with needy people at our doors asking for assistance. I know there are other areas in San Diego County that are addressing homeless issues from a cadre of volunteers working together in their local communities. The Welcome Ministry of El Cajon is taking our cues from places like the Episcopal Church Showers of Blessing, showers on wheels and Pacific Beach Homeless Coalition who contracts with a local laundromat to provide the homeless a place to do their laundry. Our Welcome Ministry Board has agreed to pursue these two ministry opportunities for El Cajon. ~ continued on pg 9 ~ Round Up Time Deacon s Random Thoughts Last Sunday I met with the children for their Sunday school time. Our topic was spreading the good news. We made headlines and talked about how to spread the good news. But first we had to answer the question, What is the good news? Some said that the good news was that Christ was coming back, and many other ideas. But we settled on the idea that we can tell other people about Jesus. Just telling someone about Jesus is part of the good news. They all seemed to like this headline. Tell everyone about Jesus I don t think that spreading the Gospel is as easy as telling someone about Jesus. I know that from being in a parish that performs much hard work in the name of the Gospel. It takes dedicated people that have experienced Jesus in their lives and are willing to tell about it. Also they put their experience to work so that the community is an expression of the love of God. Simple works, I am told, will always show the way to Jesus. I hope that is true as sometimes that is all I have to give. I am assured this is true, but sometimes I doubt. Is Christ calling all of us to live a different life, a life of sacrifice, giving up our selves in order to put on Christ? Must we give up family and friends? Or are we being called to live Christ-like lives. These are my random thoughts and I have no firm answer! Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up the cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Those who find their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. Mathew 10:39 Deacon Phil 5
Sunday School News By Caroline Mahon-Hurd More pictures of the games that were part of the St Alban s Sunday School Movie Day June 17 St. Alban s Sunday School had a wonderful time in fellowship with Iglesia de Jesucristo Dios es Amor church during our 3rd annual Veggie Tales movie event on June 17. We had 30 children at the event and around 20 adults. I would like to thank all of our adult and teen mentor volunteers, your effort made this event fun and successful. I appreciate all your dedication and hard work. Below are some pictures from this event. Our next event is our Vacation Bible School with our friends across the street at First Presbyterian Church. Vacation Bible School will be held in the First Presbyterian Church s Richardson Hall on July 10-14 from 5pm-8pm. At the end of the week a family picnic is planned for July 15. The cost is $15.00 and includes dinners, snacks, tee shirt, and music CD. We still need sponsors and volunteers, so please let me know if you can help. 6 7