Dear Friends in Christ -
Have you been watching the political debates? I have. And I've been trying to watch them prayerfully, carefully listening to what both sides have to say, listening for truth and justice and hope and strength.
One thing is clear: our country's in a whale of a mess at the moment. And political leaders are now beginning to say out loud what we've feared in our hearts - that we're likely headed into a recession.
We've sort of seen it coming, haven't we? Haven't we seen the handwriting on the wall?
This is what today's Old Testament lesson (from the Forward Day by Day readings) had to say (Hosea 10:1-15):
"Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased the more altars he built; as his country improved, he improved his pillars. Their heart is false [though]; now they must bear their guilt."
Hmmm . . . here's how I see that word applying to us today: Our country has been so blessed! But the more blessed we've been, the more we've spent. As we had more resources, we've focused on getting ahead for ourselves, on building our own things. This way of managing things reveals that our hearts are false, that we haven't been committed to God's agenda first. And now we've got to bear the consequences.
When I hear that, I feel . . . well, I feel convicted. I recognize that I, too, have had a hand in the mess. And that I've got to make some different choices if things are to move forward in a better way - for myself and for my nation.
Here's the remedy that Hosea suggests for healing the troubles:
"Sow for yourselves righteousness; reap steadfast love; break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek the Lord."
As we hear God's call and seek the Lord, God will "come and rain righteousness upon [us]." May it be so, Lord; may it be so.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
PS - Oh - about those debates. It's a great blessing to live in a democracy, so don't squander the good gift God has given to us. KNOW God's core values. LISTEN to the political process and consider how the candidate's positions align with God's values. PRAY for discernment in casting your ballot. And VOTE.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Taking a Walk
Dear Friends in Christ -
It's time for me to take the next step. The longest one, really. The one FROM thinking a thing is good to do TO doing it!
About 4 1/2 years ago (May 2004), I went to CREDO, which stands for Clergy Reflection Education Development Opportunity. CREDO is boot camp for clergy. An 8-day 30,000 mile tune-up, where experts from the Episcopal Church around the country bring together 25-30 clergy who sign up to review their health, finances, spiritual lives, and vocational skills.
By the end of the week, I felt nurtured - and I had a list of about 10 goals to work on over the next 5-6 years, before my next 30,000 mile tune-up (which is due in 2009-2010). Over the past 4 1/2 years, I've met or made great gains toward all but one goal: exercise. I do a little bit of yoga every morning, but I really need to do some cardio for my overall health.
The truth is, I've never really liked exercising much. Growing up on a farm, we didn't "exercise." We didn't really need to after doing chores every day! When I got into college, I tried exercising to combat weight gain. I enjoyed aerobics classes, but since college days I haven't really had the leisurely 2 hours I spent in the middle of the day getting ready to exercise, exercising and then showering before I was off to the next thing.
Now I'm going to exercise for a different reason: I want to be a good steward of my body. It's God's good gift to me, and like any of His gifts entrusted to me, I'm charged to take care of it. If the exercise means that I can eat a few more calories a day, double bonus!
So here goes . . . The next time you see me, tell me to take a hike. Oh. That's not quite right. :-) I meant: the next time you see me, ask me if I've taken a walk.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
It's time for me to take the next step. The longest one, really. The one FROM thinking a thing is good to do TO doing it!
About 4 1/2 years ago (May 2004), I went to CREDO, which stands for Clergy Reflection Education Development Opportunity. CREDO is boot camp for clergy. An 8-day 30,000 mile tune-up, where experts from the Episcopal Church around the country bring together 25-30 clergy who sign up to review their health, finances, spiritual lives, and vocational skills.
By the end of the week, I felt nurtured - and I had a list of about 10 goals to work on over the next 5-6 years, before my next 30,000 mile tune-up (which is due in 2009-2010). Over the past 4 1/2 years, I've met or made great gains toward all but one goal: exercise. I do a little bit of yoga every morning, but I really need to do some cardio for my overall health.
The truth is, I've never really liked exercising much. Growing up on a farm, we didn't "exercise." We didn't really need to after doing chores every day! When I got into college, I tried exercising to combat weight gain. I enjoyed aerobics classes, but since college days I haven't really had the leisurely 2 hours I spent in the middle of the day getting ready to exercise, exercising and then showering before I was off to the next thing.
Now I'm going to exercise for a different reason: I want to be a good steward of my body. It's God's good gift to me, and like any of His gifts entrusted to me, I'm charged to take care of it. If the exercise means that I can eat a few more calories a day, double bonus!
So here goes . . . The next time you see me, tell me to take a hike. Oh. That's not quite right. :-) I meant: the next time you see me, ask me if I've taken a walk.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
"Celebration" study is ON this evening
Dear Friends in Christ -
The "Celebration of Discipline" study continues this evening at 7:30 p.m. Early schedules for this series showed this week as an "off" week for the study, but due to other changes in the parish calendar, we are now free to proceed.
Tonight's topic will be "the Disciopline of Scripture Study."
Whether or not you've joined us in past weeks, I invite you to come join in the learning and the fun on this rainy Wednesday evening!
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
The "Celebration of Discipline" study continues this evening at 7:30 p.m. Early schedules for this series showed this week as an "off" week for the study, but due to other changes in the parish calendar, we are now free to proceed.
Tonight's topic will be "the Disciopline of Scripture Study."
Whether or not you've joined us in past weeks, I invite you to come join in the learning and the fun on this rainy Wednesday evening!
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
In Memoriam - Thomas J. Brown
Dear Friends in Christ -
Our community mourns this week over the loss of Army First Lieutenant Thomas J. Brown, a son of Shelton, beloved by so many in this community. We hold in our prayers his mother Carol Brown and his twin brother Timothy Brown. In Tom's honor, a memorial contribution has been made on behalf of the people of St. Paul's (from the Rector's Discretionary Fund) to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Brown's wake will take place at Riverview Funeral Home today from 3:00-8:00 p.m. His funeral will take place at St. Jude's Church, 707 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe. He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on December 11th. A tribute to Tom is available on-line at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tjbrown.htm.
May Tom's family - and all of us - know God's tender loving care as we mourn the loss of Tom and as we celebrate his life.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Our community mourns this week over the loss of Army First Lieutenant Thomas J. Brown, a son of Shelton, beloved by so many in this community. We hold in our prayers his mother Carol Brown and his twin brother Timothy Brown. In Tom's honor, a memorial contribution has been made on behalf of the people of St. Paul's (from the Rector's Discretionary Fund) to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Brown's wake will take place at Riverview Funeral Home today from 3:00-8:00 p.m. His funeral will take place at St. Jude's Church, 707 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe. He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on December 11th. A tribute to Tom is available on-line at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tjbrown.htm.
May Tom's family - and all of us - know God's tender loving care as we mourn the loss of Tom and as we celebrate his life.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Thursday, September 25, 2008
CHECK IT OUT!!
Dear Friends in Christ -
The Shelton community is celebrating the rededication of our historic Church with us. Check out the front page of the Huntington Herald! Also, you can go to the Huntington Herald website (www.huntingtonherald.com) for a lovely slideshow of photos of the event. Wow!
Our heartfelt thanks go to Fred Musante, editor, and Wayne Ratzenberger, photographer, for gracious, beautiful coverage of this celebration.
Blessings,
Janet+
The Shelton community is celebrating the rededication of our historic Church with us. Check out the front page of the Huntington Herald! Also, you can go to the Huntington Herald website (www.huntingtonherald.com) for a lovely slideshow of photos of the event. Wow!
Our heartfelt thanks go to Fred Musante, editor, and Wayne Ratzenberger, photographer, for gracious, beautiful coverage of this celebration.
Blessings,
Janet+
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
A Day or Two After . . . What's Next?
Dear Friends in Christ -
Well, it's over. Our glorious weekend of Rededication, our celebrations with many old, dear friends is past. Now what?
Now we pause and give thanks. Now we take a deep breath. Now we listen for the voice of God calling us on.
God's voice is designed in such a way that we hear it best when we're together. Even when God speaks a word first to just one person, His voice gets louder and clearer as that one person shares God's call with others.
GOD IS ALWAYS SPEAKING. TO YOU. Do you believe that?
God speaks to you and me all the time. It's God's very nature to do so. Remember He created us to be in relationship with him. So it makes sense that he would "stay in touch," doesn't it?? Too often, though, we don't hear God because
(1) we're too busy to listen
(2) we don't think the great big God of the universe would bother with little ol' us
or
(3) we're afraid that God will say something we don't want to hear
In order to hear God's voice, we have to choose to believe that God loves us and to trust that he wants the best for us. Our "never enough" world has conditioned us to believe that God's love can't be bigger than our faults and failings, that trusting in ourselves is a safer bet than trusting in God.
As we listen to God for "what's next", let's commit to believing together in God's love, to listening for His voice, and to following where He leads.
"O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who put their trust in him." - Ps. 34:8
Faithfully,
Janet+
Well, it's over. Our glorious weekend of Rededication, our celebrations with many old, dear friends is past. Now what?
Now we pause and give thanks. Now we take a deep breath. Now we listen for the voice of God calling us on.
God's voice is designed in such a way that we hear it best when we're together. Even when God speaks a word first to just one person, His voice gets louder and clearer as that one person shares God's call with others.
GOD IS ALWAYS SPEAKING. TO YOU. Do you believe that?
God speaks to you and me all the time. It's God's very nature to do so. Remember He created us to be in relationship with him. So it makes sense that he would "stay in touch," doesn't it?? Too often, though, we don't hear God because
(1) we're too busy to listen
(2) we don't think the great big God of the universe would bother with little ol' us
or
(3) we're afraid that God will say something we don't want to hear
In order to hear God's voice, we have to choose to believe that God loves us and to trust that he wants the best for us. Our "never enough" world has conditioned us to believe that God's love can't be bigger than our faults and failings, that trusting in ourselves is a safer bet than trusting in God.
As we listen to God for "what's next", let's commit to believing together in God's love, to listening for His voice, and to following where He leads.
"O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who put their trust in him." - Ps. 34:8
Faithfully,
Janet+
Thursday, September 18, 2008
AN INVITATION
Dear Friends in Christ -
This weekend will be a special one: a time to rejoice in the great things that God has given to us and a time to receive God's blessing to carry on into the future.
The schedule of events is posted in the left-hand column of this Blog, but in case you need a little more info., here's a detailed run-down:
FRIDAY - SEPTEMBER 19 - 7:00 p.m.
Circle of Prayer around the Old Church
People of all ages join together in a candle-light vigil around the church, to pray in God's presence as we gather together for this special weekend.
SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 20 - 10:00 a.m.
Children's Service
An opportunity for kids of all ages to participate in the church version of "touch-a-truck;" we'll say prayers together and everyone will get to ring the church bell!
SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 20 - 4:00 p.m.
Service of Rededication
The main event! In this service of rededication, we recommit this Old Church and our lives to God. Together, we will sing and pray and hear a wonderful homily by former Rector of St. Paul's, the Rev. Tom Furrer. Our honored guests will be two other former Rectors of St. Paul's, the Rev. Ralph Merrill and the Rev. David Reed.
Following the service there will be a community potluck at 5:30 p.m. and a panel discussion by the former Rectors at 7:00 p.m.
SUNDAY - SEPTEMBER 21 - 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Regular Sunday Worship Services BOTH in the Old Church
(At the 10:00 a.m. service, the children will participate in their own special worship service in the Chapel)
8:00 a.m. - The Rev. Ralph Merrill will preach
10:00 a.m. -The Rev. Dr. David Reed will preach
Following each service, there will be coffee hour in the Parish Hall
PLEASE JOIN IN THESE FESTIVITIES and HEAR THE VOICE OF OUR LIVING, LOVING LORD.
Faithfully,
Janet+
This weekend will be a special one: a time to rejoice in the great things that God has given to us and a time to receive God's blessing to carry on into the future.
The schedule of events is posted in the left-hand column of this Blog, but in case you need a little more info., here's a detailed run-down:
FRIDAY - SEPTEMBER 19 - 7:00 p.m.
Circle of Prayer around the Old Church
People of all ages join together in a candle-light vigil around the church, to pray in God's presence as we gather together for this special weekend.
SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 20 - 10:00 a.m.
Children's Service
An opportunity for kids of all ages to participate in the church version of "touch-a-truck;" we'll say prayers together and everyone will get to ring the church bell!
SATURDAY - SEPTEMBER 20 - 4:00 p.m.
Service of Rededication
The main event! In this service of rededication, we recommit this Old Church and our lives to God. Together, we will sing and pray and hear a wonderful homily by former Rector of St. Paul's, the Rev. Tom Furrer. Our honored guests will be two other former Rectors of St. Paul's, the Rev. Ralph Merrill and the Rev. David Reed.
Following the service there will be a community potluck at 5:30 p.m. and a panel discussion by the former Rectors at 7:00 p.m.
SUNDAY - SEPTEMBER 21 - 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.
Regular Sunday Worship Services BOTH in the Old Church
(At the 10:00 a.m. service, the children will participate in their own special worship service in the Chapel)
8:00 a.m. - The Rev. Ralph Merrill will preach
10:00 a.m. -The Rev. Dr. David Reed will preach
Following each service, there will be coffee hour in the Parish Hall
PLEASE JOIN IN THESE FESTIVITIES and HEAR THE VOICE OF OUR LIVING, LOVING LORD.
Faithfully,
Janet+
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