AMAZING GROUP, GREAT CONVERSATION

Dear Friends in Christ -
I spent yesterday (Wed.) evening with a most amazing group of people: over 50 Confirmands, sponsors and adults from St. Paul's.

For three consecutive weeks (last week, this week, next week), we're talking about things that we can do as Christians to get closer to God. Traditionally, these good spiritual habits have been called "spiritual disciplines," a label which makes them sound really boring, like homework one would want to avoid! What these good spiritual habits really are is LIFELINES that God throws out to us as we bob along in the stormy seas of life.

The habit we talked about last night was SOLITUDE - getting quiet and still to make space to listen to God.

I was really saddened (though not surprised!) to hear from the Confirmands that it's their perception that their parents basically NEVER get any solitude, any quiet time. Sadder still is that I bet their perception is pretty accurate.

I came away from the discussion feeling challenged to new adventures, to:
1. Say no a little more often, so that I'm getting more solitude.
2. Model for my kids what it looks like to "be still," so they know how to do it.
I'm NOT talking here about adding these things to my list of "TO DO"s, I'm just going to open myself to the ideas and listen for God's voice prompting me about when and how to follow through.

The Confirmands and adults at last night's session were brave: they told the truth. Our lives don't have much stillness in them. Do you believe that God can help you/me/us out with that?

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

THANK YOU

Dear Friends in Christ -

Ed and I are so grateful to all of you for giving us time away this past weekend to celebrate our anniversary. The responsibilities of the work we do (and love!) and the responsibilities of having kids make it hard to find time to get away. But it's essential for the well-being of our marriage and our souls! We played and prayed and rested and renewed. My soul breathed a huge sigh - and then started receiving fresh strength for the next leg of the journey.

We are especially grateful to the friends who loaned us their home on Nantucket - and to my parents, who lovingly "sat on" our kids - and to Dave Nash for dropping everything on Sunday afternoon to fix the phones in our house so that we could talk to our kids (little Ben had shut them off on accident!!). I also have to say how thankful I am for Deacon Dee's presence and work; with her leading worship here, I could completely relax and know that things would great here at St. Paul's.

It was good to be away, but it's good to be home, too. Now, it's onward and upward!
With appreciation and affection,
Janet+

A loving word of encouragement . . .

. . . from St. Teresa of Avila on this, her feast day:

Christ has no body but yours.
No hands, no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world.
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

"So let us not grow weary in doing what is right . . ." - Galatians 6:9a

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Antidote for Anxiety

Dear Friends in Christ -
Following is an excerpt of the outline from my sermon yesterday. May it nourish and encourage you throughout the coming week.
Faithfully,
Janet+

SCRIPTURES FOR THE DAY: Philippians 4:4-9 and Matthew 22:1-14
Joy is the serious business of heaven – C. S. Lewis

How to we put on this wedding robe of JOY that God is asking us to put on? The apostle Paul gives us specific instruction, in the reading we have today from his letter to the church in Phillipi.

Four steps to finding and keeping joy in our lives. Not a Pollyanna perspective, but grounding in the reality of God’s kingdom.

REJOICE
In anything and everything? Yes. In anything and everything. No matter what our troubles are, Paul speaks to us here. This is a man who knew what it was to suffer - he was beaten, imprisoned, shipwrecked, you name it. And it is this man who bears witness to us that we can be unafraid and gentle because the God of the universe is near to us, is on our side.

PRAY
Tempted to worry? Talk to God. Tell him what you’re scared of. Tell him what you need. As you do this, God’s peace becomes yours – in ways you don’t expect, couldn’t anticipate, might not even understand.

THINK ON THESE THINGS
Choose to focus on the good, the beautiful, things that are pleasing. This isn’t a “nice” idea, anesthesia for what’s going on all around us, it’s connection with the deepest realities.
And, as it turns out, this is also sound financial advice. Suze Orman, the financial guru who shows up on Oprah and on the morning talk shows was giving advice this past week on dealing with the financial crisis on the stock market. Her advice was this: turn off the TV. Stop looking at the little line going down down down. Watching that stuff only gives you agita. Go for a walk, she said, take some deep breaths. Enjoy the beauty around you. Sounds a lot like the wisdom we’re hearing straight from Scripture, doesn’t it?

REJOICE. PRAY. THINK ON THESE THINGS.

And finally KEEP ON DOING.
Don’t let worry or depression become an excuse to stay in bed and pull the covers up over your head. Do what God has put in front of you, what God is calling you to do each day. Do it even if it’s difficult. Remember the Dolly Parton song . . . “I stumble out of bed and I stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition . . .” One step leads to another, leads to another. Just take the next step.

As you REJOICE, PRAY, THINK on these things, and KEEP ON DOING, the God of peace will be with you. That's God's promise.

Even in the midst of difficult, tumultuous times, as we do these things, we will know God's peace. Amen.

Unexpected Answers

Dear Friends in Christ -

I had an interesting experience at the Children's Moment in the 10:00 a.m. worship service on Sunday. Those amazing kids caught me off guard. It's caused me to think more deeply about money, about giving.

The scenario was this: I gave several kids $1.00. Ten dimes representing a week's allowance. And I set out some toys that I told them they could "purchase" for $1.00. But then I reminded them that Jesus asks us to give a tithe (10%) to him in gratitude for what he has given to us.

I asked them what they would do with their money, reminding them that they would get another $1.00 next week. One kid said he would give 10% to the church even if it meant that he would have to wait until next week to buy a toy. Two other kids said that they would give the full amount, the whole $1.00 to God - and skip buying something altogether. I was surprised by this unexpected answer. How generous (even if the response was motivated by the desire to give the right answer)!

But as we moved on from the Children's Moment into the rest of the service, something disturbed me. ARE WE REALLY MEANT TO GIVE EVERYTHING BACK TO GOD? IF SO, HOW?

So here are some fledgling thoughts on the matter:
1. Though on the one hand, it's incredibly generous to say that God can have all our money, it really already is his. He's entrusting it to us.
2. Only children whose parents provide them with everything they need could really give all their cash to God!
3. What God really wants is for us to live in a state of grace, gratitude, and generosity. GRACE: knowing that all we have and all we ARE (loved, redeemed children of God) is from God. GRATITUDE: giving God thanks and praise for all that He has done for us. GENEROSITY: giving a portion of what's been entrusted to us directly back to God (to the church, to others) as a sign of our gratitude and as an acknowledgement of our continued dependence on God and interdependence with others.

WHAT GOD MOST WANTS IS FOR US TO LIVE IN RIGHT RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM AND WITH OTHERS - RECOGNIZING OUR DEPENDENCE ON GOD AND OUR INTERDEPENDENCE WITH EACH OTHER.

Giving generously isn't so much about the money you give, it's about the attitude of your heart when you do it. Giving off the top - the first-fruits - at the beginning of the month, rather than giving the dregs at the end of the month - is an act of faithfulness though which you recognize God's true place in your life: the One who loved you from the beginning, the One who saves you day by day, the One who will be with you through eternity.

The gifts God has entrusted to you aren't loans to be paid back, they're gifts to be used. The reason you give a portion directly back to God is not because God needs it, but to keep you in right relationship with Him. The rest of what you're entrusted with - the other 90% is to go toward meeting your own basic needs and then to helping you fulfill your calling in the world.

Hmmm . . . . so much to be learned in conversation with the littlest ones in our parish family . . . don't hesitate to share your thoughts with me, too . . . I'm listening . . .
Blessings,
Janet+

Feast of St. Francis

Dear Friends in Christ -

Today is the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, a humble man who was known to be a friend of all creation. Francis was born the son of a wealthy merchant, who was on the road travelling for his business when Francis was born. His mother named Francis "Giovanni" (in Italian, "John") and wanted him to have a life of service to the church. When his father came home and found out about this, he was furious. He wanted Francis to follow in his own footsteps, and he renamed his son "Francis" after France, the beautiful, luxurious country in which he traded.

Francis tried to please his father, by working for him in the marketplace. But it never really worked out. His heart wasn't in it. On at least one occasion when Francis was tending his father's shop, a beggar came to him. At first, Francis turned the beggar away. But he felt so guilty about it that he caught up with him and gave him all the money he had with him - his father's money from the store.

Francis tried to split the difference between his own desire to serve and his father's desire for a noble place in society by becoming a soldier. That didn't work out too well, either. He was captured by the enemy army and forced to live in captivity for about a year before being returned to his own country in a prisoner exchange.

Eventually, Francis just did what he loved: he moved into the forest. He convinced some friends to form a monastery with him. As their leader, he was encouraged to be ordained, but Francis refused, saying that he didn't need such trappings to fulfill his calling.

The true gift of Francis' life to us is that he knew how to live in harmony - in harmony with is God, in harmony with his brothers, in harmony with the world, in harmony with himself. The knowing of ones own place in the world - identifying and using ones own gifts - is the first step to real Life, the first step to lasting peace. Peace that pervades not just our own lives, but also the world.

May God bless you this day by drawing you closer to what he has created you to be.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+

PS - Here, for your praying enjoyment, is the famous prayer attributed to St. Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.Where there is hatred, let me sow love;where there is injury,pardon;where there is doubt, faith;where there is despair, hope;where there is darkness, light;and where there is sadness, joy.O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seekto 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. Amen.

"It is time to seek the Lord"

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.

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+

"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+

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+

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+

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+

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+

Michelle

Dear Friends in Christ -

Following is the obituary for our beloved Michelle Lauria. Thank you for your prayers for her family and friends during this sad time. And a special "thank you" to all those who are helping with the reception in the parish hall following the services tomorrow (WED.).
Faithfully yours,
Janet+


Michelle R. Lauria, age 45, of Hickory Lane, Shelton, entered into her eternal rest on Saturday, September 13, 2008 in Lord Chamberlain Nursing Center in Stratford. She was the wife of David Lauria. Mrs. Lauria was born in Olathe, Kansas on October 4, 1962, daughter of the late William Keith Bohon and the late Alice Jane Terry Bohon. She received her BA in Engineering from Oklahoma State University, and was self-employed as an Interior Decorator. She was an active parishioner at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, an active member of the Elizabeth Shelton PTA, the Newcomers and Neighborhood Club of Shelton, a volunteer for the Monroe Food Bank, and an advocate of the American Cancer Society for Breast Cancer Awareness. She was the mother of Michael and Jessica Lauria and sister of Marsha Hawkins. She is also survived by a niece and a nephew. Michelle will be missed a great deal by many friends who showed her years of love and kindness during her illness. Friends may greet the family on Tuesday (TODAY) from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Riverview Funeral Home, 390 River Road, Shelton. On Wednesday, a funeral service will be held at 1p.m. in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 25 Church Street, Shelton. Burial will follow in Lawn Cemetery, Shelton. At the request of the family memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church or The American Cancer Society, Southern New England Region, 372 Danbury Road, Wilton, CT 06897.

Michelle Lauria - Rest in Peace

Dear Friends in Christ -

On Saturday, Michelle Lauria passed away, after a valiant 10-year fight against cancer.
Calling hours will be at Riverview Funeral Home on Tuesday, September 16, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. A Liturgy of the Resurrection and Celebration of Michelle's life will be held at St. Paul's on Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. in the Old Church, immediately followed by interment at Lawn Cemetery. After the interment, family and friends are invited back to the Parish Hall at St. Paul's for an informal reception.
If you have questions or need additional information, please contact the parish office - 929-1722.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+

A Prayer of Rememberance and Hope

Dear Friends in Christ -
Today is the 7th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon and the heroic struggle on Flight 93, which prevented another attack. As each of us remembers where we were and what we were doing on that sunny, almost-fall day, may the remembrance not cause us to dispair but, rather, call us to entrust ourselves and our world to the only One who can save us, our living, loving Lord.

The following prayer was posted by Global Ministries of the United Methodist Church. It's a beautiful prayer, and I invite you to pray it with me on this solemn day.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+


Eternal God, amidst all the turmoil and changes of our world, we know that you are constant, our firm foundation in the midst of every storm and upheaval.

We pray for people who live in fear-- for Israelis and Palestinians alike who risk their lives merely going about their daily business. We pray for all who live in fear of terrorism-- in the Middle East, in Northern Ireland, the Philippines, Colombia, Sri Lanka, and the United States. Whether we worship you as Christian, Jew, or Muslim, give us courage. When fear threatens to paralyze us, embolden our hearts that we may continue to live active, faithful lives.

We pray for people oppressed by poverty, political and military force, or lack of education and opportunity. Give them hope, strength, and a constructive way to break the cycle of poverty. Give us who have so much the will and the drive to fight against oppression of every kind.

We pray for all who have lost their lives in the events of seven years ago, and for those they love who are left to mourn and carry on. We hold in our hearts the victims and survivors of September 11, and those who have died in the violence and war that has erupted since then in Afghanistan, Liberia, the Philippines, Iraq, and the Middle East. Bless those who have been lost, that their souls may live on in your love and presence. Bless those who mourn, may they find comfort, strength, and hope in your presence and our compassion.

We pray for our world leaders and for all people who are in a position to negotiate, to stop the escalating violence, to work for peace, and to choose a path of reconciliation. Give them wisdom in perilous situations and the will to make sacrifices for the common good, to enter into dialogue, to compromise, and to reconcile.

We pray for those who have lost their jobs. Give them hope, guide them in their search, and strengthen them in their efforts to make ends meet. Keep us mindful of those who are struggling that we may reach out with the support and resources they need in this challenging time.

Ever present God, calm our fears. Guide us as we struggle to live in this rapidly changing world. We pray that we may remain loving, kind, and open to your presence in our lives, in our neighbors, and in the world around us.

AMEN.

The Question

Dear Friends in Christ -

After my sermon on Sunday (in case you weren't there, it was based on the Gospel lesson for the day, Matthew 18:15-20, about what to do if a member of the church sins against you), someone quietly asked, "So, is there a problem?"

What the person was discreetly asking was whether I was talking about some specific problem, something a particular person had done that was injurious to me or someone else. In case you're wondering the same thing, but didn't want to ask, here's the answer: No. I wasn't talking about some particular problem.

Right now, here at St. Paul's, I'm aware of the occasional disagreement or frustration over something or another. "Kurfuffles" happen all the time in Christian families (churches), just as they happen all the time in our at-home families. But I didn't preach the sermon because of any of those things. I preached the sermon because the Scripture came up in the lectionary, and because when the tough Scriptures come up, I try not to dodge them. I very much appreciate following the lectionary, because it calls me to use the pulpit to talk about tough things because Jesus said to, not to "straighten someone out."

No matter when this Scripture comes up, it's always fitting. In families and communities, there are always little disagreements here and there. Sometimes there are even big ones. But if we're living out Jesus' instruction to his disciples - to speak up directly when someone hurts you, and to take others with you to try to get resolution if you're not listened to the first time (this is, by the way, as someone pointed out to me during Coffee Hour, the counseling model for an intervention) - then we'll avoid the huge relational disasters that happen when people don't talk about their hurts with the person(s) who hurt them.

This model for living is not easy. But, like anything else, it gets easier with practice. Today or tomorrow, when someone upsets you, try just saying how you feel. Say it first two yourself, then, if you can, say it out loud. Don't be surprised if the person you're talking to looks stunned or acts defensive. Most of us are so unaccustomed to hearing the truth that it catches us off guard when we hear it. But don't let that keep you from doing what your loving Lord asks you to do. The reward for following Jesus is - always - that we get closer to heaven, even when the road is rough going.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

The Blessing

Dear Friends in Christ -
Several of you have asked for the blessing we used at the end of the 10:00 a.m. Sunday worship services. Here it is . . . may you feel this blessing on yourself and your family again this day.
Faithfully,
Janet+

God give you grace never to sell yourself short,
grace to risk something big for something good,
grade to remember that this world is now
too dangerous for anything but truth, and
too small for anything but love.

Dying Together, Living Forever

Dear Friends in Christ -

In late August of 1878, a nun named Constance did a brave thing. She stayed in Memphis to help those who were dying in the midst of an epidemic of yellow fever. As the whole city basically evacuated to higher ground (safer ground, away from the deadly mosquitos causing the plague), Constance and a couple dozen of her fellow nuns stayed behind. Before the plague was over, Constance and her sisters caught the disease, and they, too, died.

Their sacrifice reminds me of the sacrifice of the fire-fighters September 11. They went to do what they could to help, thinking not of themselves, but of the thousands of people who needed their help.

Twice this week, this passage of Scripture has surfaced; once in Sunday's lectionary, and once in today's readings honoring Constance and her companions. "For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it."

There's a common thread in the story we heard on Sunday - Jesus and his disciples wrestling with Jesus' prediction of his own death - and the story of Constance and her companions. The common thread is this: even the fear of death can be overcome if we band together as a community. Coming together as a community enables us to stay true to our highest calling - to love God and to love one another - even in the midst of death.

Last night at our Deanery meeting, we were honored to hear a presentation by Jean Morris, a nurse with the Visiting Nurses Association. She has a great passion for teaching church communities like ours how to accompany those who are dying. A key theme of her presentation: we do this work together.

In courageously facing death together, we come to know and love each other in ways deeper than words. Experiencing this love is a foretaste of the Love that is deeper than oceans and broader than heavens, Love that's for eternity. In dying together, we learn to live in Love forever.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Back-to-School Preparations

Dear Friends in Christ -

I've been feeling a little anxious, a little edgy the past couple of days. And I've been wondering why. There's no burning reason why I should. Things are going well with my family and at the church. Our extended family is doing fine, and we've been spending some good time with friends. So what's the trouble?

As I was buzzing around yesterday doing errands, I figured it out. This is a time of transition: summer ending, the kids going back to school, a shift into the rhythms of "school year" mode. Whenever I - or any of us - go through transition, there's a lot of emotional stuff in the mix: grief over what didn't happen - things we didn't get to do, people we didn't get to see; frustration over the bumps in beginning new things; anxiety over whether or not this new season will meet our needs and be satisfying.

Yesterday, as I was running errands, I stopped by Walmart to pick up some household cleaning supplies. And suddenly I found myself in the kids' clothing section. "What am I doing here?," I thought, shaking myself, "Wynne and Ben have all the clothes they need, and we bought her new school shoes weeks ago."

And then it hit me. A huge part of the shopping and fussing and running around that happens as we prepare for "back-to-school" comes from our tension, anxiety and fear of new things. Our culture has taught us to manage those emotions by buying stuff. Kids don their brand spanking new first-day-of-school outfit as if it's armor that will shield them in the new arena they're entering. It won't. As adults we know that, but we're afraid to admit it to ourselves. We want them to have armor, for their sakes and for ours.

Want to really be prepared for the new school year? Spend a little extra one-on-one time with your kids over the next couple of days - and I'm not talking about time rushing around at the mall! Linger over dinner at home and talk about your hopes and dreams for the year. Go for a long walk together. Anything that allows you to talk and share together. (Wynne and I are going paint our toenails tonight!) Say extra bedtime prayers together.

The best way we can prepare our kids for going back to school is to live what we know to be true: the strength and safety we need to face a new day is not found in "stuff" but in God, the One who loves us and who is already making a way for us in the days and weeks and months ahead.

Faithfully,
Janet+

The gift of a poem . . .

. . . that was shared with me, I share with you. (Thank you, Mary!)

IMMANENCE By Evalyn Underhill

I come in the little things,
Saith the Lord:
Not borne on morning wings
Of majesty, but I have set My Feet
Amidst the delicate and bladed wheat
That springs triumphant in the furrowed sod.
There do I dwell, in weakness and in power;
Not broken or divided, saith our God!
In your strait garden plot I come to flower;
About your porch My Vine
Meek, fruitful, doth entwine;
Waits, at the threshold, love's appointed hour.

I come in the little things,
Saith the Lord:
Yea! on the glancing wings
Of eager birds, the softly pattering feet
Of furred and gentle beasts, I come to meet
Your hard and wayward heart. In brown eyes
That peep from out the brake, I stand confest.
On every nest
Where feathery Patience is content to brood
And leaves her pleasure for the high emprize
Of motherhood--
Where doth My Godhead rest.

I come in the little things,
Saith the Lord:
My starry wings
I do forsake,
Love's highway of humility to take:
Meekly I fit My stature to your need.
In beggar's part
About your gates I shall not cease to plead--
As man, to speak with man--
Till by such art
I shall achieve My Immemorial Plan,
Pass the low lintel of the human heart.

A Change in Plans

Dear Friends in Christ -

So . . . Ed and I are not going to Turkey this Fall. While we would have loved to go, things just didn't fall into place easily, and we took that as a sign that this is just not the time. While we will miss having this adventure with our friends Jim and Anne, we look forward to the new possibilities and opportunities that unscheduled vacation time offers. I don't know about you, but for us an unscheduled week (with my parents here to watch the kids!) is almost too amazing to believe.

The temptation, of course, is to fill up the time. Already, we can think of 10 things that we could do and 10 things that we "should" do. But Ed and I have pledged to each other to listen and wait.

Now I'm off to my retreat, a weeklong meeting with God. I'm sure He'll have some things to say, and I can't wait to hear them - and to come home and share them with you.
Please pray for me as I pray blessings upon you.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Angels

Dear Friends in Christ -

Whenever I come across the word "angel," one general image springs to mind: glorious, winged man-like creature, daunting. It's a picture that's an amalgam of images painted by Raphael and Fra Angelico - the kind of creature that is so beautiful that it takes your breath away, the kind of creature that emmates such power that it needs to say "Fear not!" so you don't follow your natural instincts and run in the other direction.

But today's reading from Judges (13:15-24) and the meditation in "Forward Day by Day" remind us that there's another kind of angel. This kind of angel comes so unassumingly that, at first, we may not even realize there's anything special going on. Then, often after the encounter itself, we realize that this one - this friend, child, spouse, acquainance or stranger - comes with a word or presence or gift from God.

Many of us have had encounters with these kinds of angels. God sends them to us as messengers and healers. Some of us would tend to dismiss these angels with a sigh - "what a nice kid" or a frown - "what business does that jerk have in signalling for me to slow down." But the Spirit whispers to us insistently, "look! listen! It's me."

The power and grace in these encounters multiplies when we acknowledge that it's not an accident, it's not happen-stance, it's G0d himself reaching out to us.

May you (and I!) be blessed this day with an uncommonly common encounter with an angel of the Lord.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Book Group "SPECIAL SESSION"

Dear Friends in Christ -
On Friday, August 22nd, I'll be hosting an impromptu Book Group meeting at the Rectory, by special request. We'll be discussing the current NYTimes bestseller "The Shack." It's a short and very intriguing book (God has a starring role!). So please pick up a copy, give it a read on the beach or in a local coffee shop over the next couple of weeks, and join us on Friday, 8/22, at 7:00 p.m.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Blessings,
Janet+

POWER-LAB Vacation Bible School is a BLAST!

Dear Friends in Christ -
I 've been so busy this week learning about what Jesus has the POWER to do that I haven't had time to give you the play by play. But please know that 60 kids, 45 teen helpers, 13 full-time adult helpers and 14 part-time adult helpers have - among other things - experienced a bit of what it's like to be blind - and healed!, made incredible crafts, played awesome games, eaten great food, lifted their hands in praise, seen great intriguing shows about science and even - are you ready for this - walked on water!
Through it all, Jesus has given us the POWER to grow together in his love - and I'm so grateful!
Blessings,
Janet+

The First Day Back

Dear Friends in Christ -

I'm ba-a-a-a-ck! And I began work today as I do every day - with my "devo" (a youth-speak abbreviation for "devotions", not a reference to the band from the late "70s!) and writing.

The first day back always feels a little breathless in the transition - turning my energy and attention from some things I love (wonderful extended rambling time with family and friends - hiking, beach, zoo) to other things I love (work at the church, volunteering, purposeful time with the kids [VBS, swim lessons, summer reading with Wynne, etc.]).

Today's readings from the Daily Office/Forward Day by Day were striking to me because they had that breathless feeling in them, too: the stories of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-21) and the Resurrection of Jesus (Matthew 28:1-10) back to back. Zowwie! All the power and new-ness reflected in these stories couldn't be more fitting and energizing as we head into a new month and a new season in our parish life together.

The thing that really jumped out to me from these texts was the first phrase, "After the sabbath." The resurrection of Jesus happened after the Jewish sabbath (Saturday). After the Jews had time to pray and rest, then they were ready for Jesus to appear to them. We usually expect Jesus to show up on the Sabbath (ours is Sunday). But do we expect him to show up on Monday or Friday - in the middle of our "regular schedule"? At the tomb, Mary Mag. and "the other" Mary were given a job to do. It was as they went to do that job that Jesus appeared to them.

May we see Jesus today as we go about doing the things we're called to do.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+

On Vacation

Dear Friends in Christ -
I won't be blogging for the next week, because I'll be on vacation with my family.
But I won't stop praying for you. I'm not taking a vacation FROM you. I'm taking a vacation FOR myself and my family - and for you. It's that whole "put your own oxygen mask on before you try to help the person next to you" thing.
Please keep praying for me! When I see you again I look forward to swapping stories of what God has done with you and with me "on vacation."
Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Failure, compassion and prayer

Dear Friends in Christ -
For the past four days, I've been trying to write a post about Lambeth Conference. It's important for us to think, pray and talk about what's going on there. The relationships between our bishops and the decisions they make together will affect churches like ours around the world.

The issues they're talking about - unity, Scripture and human sexuality - are deep and difficult. As I've tried to articulate ideas and concerns on these topics, I've discovered just how hard it is to be clear about the issues and helpful to everyone involved. My failure has made me more compassionate toward our bishops - and more prayerful.

As we all listen to reports from Lambeth Conference on the web and in the news, may God give us compassion and deepen our faithfulness in our worship of him and in our care for one another.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

BOOK GROUP TOMORROW NIGHT

Dear Friends in Christ -

The Parish Book Group will meet tomorrow night (July 18 - 7:00 p.m. - Rectory) to discuss what we've been reading in "JOHN," the Daily Bible Commentary on - you guessed it! - John.

This commentary has proven VERY thought-provoking and faith-stirring for me. If you're curious, but haven't read anything, you can join in, too. Enthusiasm for God's word is catching, so come along!

Two people have submitted questions/reflections for consideration in our discussion. If you would like to submit something in advance, please email me at revjanet@stpaulsct.org.

I look forward to seeing you there!
Blessings,
Janet+
PS - The rectory is AIR CONDITIONED! :-)

Prayers for Independence Day

Dear Friends in Christ -
On this day as we celebrate our freedom in this country, may we also celebrate our freedom in Christ, offering to our Lord a sacrifice of praise and interceding in prayer . . . (all from the Book of Common Prayer)

Lord God Almighty, in whose Name the founders of this country won liberty for themselves and for us, and lit the torch of freedom for nations then unborn: Grant, we pray, that we and all the peoples of this land may have grace to maintain these liberties in righteousness and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Almighty God, who have given us this good land for our heritage: Grant that we may always show ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought here out of many kindreds and tongues. Fill with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in your Name we entrust the authority of government, that there may be justice and peace at home, and that, through obedience to your law, we may show forth your praise among the nations of the earth. In the time of prosperity, fill our hearts with thankfulness, and in the day of trouble, permit not our trust in you to fail; all which we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart and especially the hearts of the people of this land, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Praying for you and with you this day . . .
Faithfully,
Janet+

Awe and Wonder

Dear Friends in Christ -
Want to experience joy? See fireworks with a thrillseeking 3-year-old.

Last night, Ed and I and Wynne and Ben went down to the Riverwalk to see fireworks with our friends. It was a perfect summer evening. The weather was glorious, the food was delicious, and the company was delightful. We ate and talked as the kids snacked off our plates, listened to the band, had a gross-out adventure using the port-a-potties, and then settled in to watch the fireworks.

Ben sat next to me in the umbrella stroller, with a dazzling smile on his face as the first firework burst, lighting up the sky and pouring light down on us. After the second and third fireworks popped open like umbrellas of colored stars, he turned to me, poked my arm with his little finger and said with an awe-filled voice, "Thaaaat's greaaaat!"

Time ceased to exist as we reveled in the bursts exploding endlessly overhead; we aaahhed and gasped and clapped, exclaiming over our favorite ones. Mid-way through the show, Wynne climbed into Ed's lap and Ben climbed into mine. Ben, in full-blown amazement that the brilliant explosions kept coming, felt words insufficient to express his wonder, so he simply started yelling, "YEEEAAAHHH!" as loud and long as he could. Our joy rolled in waves together as we all started yelling together each time he initiated the call, "YEEEAAAHHH!" "YEEEAAAHHH!" "YEEEAAAHHH!

Wonder-full, simply wonder-full. Thank you, Lord, for the gift of joy and wonder in all your works - this night, in fireworks. Amen.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

July 2 - Choosing Independence

Dear Friends in Christ -

Today is July 2nd. It's not the day that Canada celebrates Independence Day - that's July 1st. It's not the day that the US celebrates Independence Day - that's July 4th. But July 2nd is a special day - it's the day that our Founding Fathers in the Continental Congress voted that the "united States of America" would be independent from the British Crown. July 2nd is a day that marks our choice as a people "under God" to live in a way that reflects our rights ("Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness") and values ("all men are created equal").

So how are we managing this heritage of independence? As I read through the Declaration of Independence this week, I noticed one of the grievances the Founding Fathers had against the Brits: the Crown obstructed immigration. Of course, the States needed immigrants to help fight the British and build a nation. The Founding Fathers were angry that the Crown was standing in the way of freedom - the freedom of the immigrants to go where they desired to go, the freedom of the States to become all that they could be.

Ironically, we now fight among ourselves about the issue of immigration: do "we" (those of us whose ancestors immigrated decades or centuries ago) need help from immigrants? How should "we" treat those who cross the borders of our country to work, to live, to help our farms and industries, to help themselves?

The Gospel lesson appointed for this day (Matthew 5:43-48) asks us hard questions and reminds us of Christ's call to us, his followers: "For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

As Christians, we are called to do more than argue points and take sides in legal debates over immigration law and walls at the border. We are called to love everyone and to help create not only a land, but also a world, in which there is freedom and justice for all. Whether or not this sounds utopian to our ears, it's what our Lord asks of us - and what we committed to doing in our baptismal vows when we said that we would "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the diginity of every human being."

When our Founding Fathers chose independence, it brought freedom to us. May our choosing independence bring freedom in this generation, and in generations to come.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Dynamic Times

Dear Friends in Christ -
As is the case almost every day, there were many articles in today's NYTimes that touched me deeply - stories of local and international loss and love, desperation and determination. Today there were also two articles that touched me personally.

The first article that touched me was about our Church. It was entitled "Anglican Conservatives, Rebelling on Gays, Will Form New Power Bloc." Our Anglican Communion has been struggling mightily over issues of Biblical interpretation for the past 30 years. Among the key questions: Should women be allowed to be priests? Should gay and lesbian folks be allowed to be priests or bishops? The leaders of the Anglican Communion have tried, and failed, and are still trying, to come to singular agreement on Biblical interpretation and how that interpretation impacts the way we deal with these issues. Meanwhile, the Episcopal Church and other Anglican provinces have enacted various positions on these issues - some ordaining women, some not; some ordaining people who are gay or lesbian, some not.

I feel tremendously sad and somewhat angry that some of the Bishops of our Communion can't or won't do what I see the people in our pews doing: struggling with the issues - and hanging together while we do it. Like so many, I do feel impatient for resolution regarding specific issues, but a look at history has sobered me and has tempered my impatience. In the past, it has often taken the Church decades or even centuries to get theologically clear on an important issue. I'm not sure this process can be rushed. Christ-centered unity (which is what we're supposed to be trying to achieve, not just decisions on who's right and who's wrong, who's in and who's out) requires great compassion gained through deep listening to the words and lives and cultures of all God's people.

The second article that touched me personally was about a woman's achievement: Lt. Gen. Ann Dunwoody's nomination for promotion to four star general. I'm not one to groan and moan about "glass ceilings" or "brass ceilings" but, believe me, I notice when they're there. I've experienced the spine-jangling pain of running headlong into a few. In reading this article, I felt joyful and celebratory to see Dunwoody recognized for her great accomplishments and supported for promotion in a system that clearly is far from gender-blind. This news also helps me dare to hope that my daughter will have one less glass ceiling to bump her head on as she rises to be whatever she's called to be.

We live in dynamic times, times so full of choices and changes that I'm always checking to see if I've got my Foundation under me. As I read these articles today, words from last week's women's Bible study echoed in my mind: ". . . good news to the poor . . . release to the captives . . . sight to the blind . . . the oppressed go free . . . the year of the Lord's favor." (Isaiah 61:1-2) Jesus' life, death and resurrection make these ideas more than just words printed on dusty pages. Good news and release and sight and freedom and favor are for me - for us - now. The places in our Church and in our world that aren't marked by these things need Spirit-powered renewal.

Why do I even bother to be concerned about these things when my own life is so busy and full? Because Spirit-powered renewal happens when we care and listen and learn and get involved. What's in it for you and me personally? The fear that comes with risk. The confusion that comes with change. The frustration that comes with waiting. The pain that comes with growth. The dazzling joy that comes with new Life.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Blind Men

Dear Friends in Christ -

Two men cry out to Jesus, "Lord, have mercy on us, Son of David."
The men around them say, "Shut up! Quit yelling and disrupting things!"
In that brief, intense exchange, we are invited to see who's really blind and to let Jesus' compassion open our eyes, too.

Faithfully,
Janet+

Faith-full . . . and blessed . . .

Dear Friends in Christ -

At the last Vestry meeting, I was a little nervous when we started talking about another repair needed on the Old Church. Our contractor told us that he couldn't guarantee the paint job on the inside of the windows unless we repaired the outside, because water's coming in. The glazing is shot.

Our contractor quoted us a very reasonable price on the repair of all 27 windows. But still, it was a lot of money - $8100, - and our cupboard for our capital maintenance funds was getting bare! The Vestry did the bold and right thing, the faith-full thing. They voted (unanimously) to expend most of the remaining funds on hand to do the needed repairs.

I was thrilled, but still nervous. I had confidence that we were being faith-full, but felt anxious about the increasing echo in our cupboard.

The next morning, the blessings rained down. $6,000 right there on my desk - contributions from people (parishioners and non-parishioners) who just wanted to help out with the continuing good work on the Old Church.

"Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear?' For it is the Gentiles who strive for all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Isn't God good?

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Progress Report

Dear Friends in Christ -

It's been a month now since I returned from the "preaching camp" experience where I heard God's call (again) to put first things first. That means putting my connection with God first: literally and figuratively at the beginning of my day.

I've been trying to think of a name for this time that is set aside for praying and studying and writing. The name I've come to is "great work," a name that expresses both the wonder and the difficulty of the opening of the soul.

I had to make a mid-course correction in the middle of the month. After two weeks of setting aside time five days a week for "great work," I felt restless. I wasn't quite getting to the bottom of things, so I started setting aside time seven days a week.

The impact of this deeper connection with God has been profound. I feel better - body, mind and spirit - than I have in years. I feel clearer and happier and more present. My writing process is more enjoyable. And the fragrance of the blooming in my interior garden is beginning to flow out into my family life and into my work (sermons, etc.).

This whole process is not without tensions, though. I've basically doubled my prayer/study/writing time, which means that I'm not doing some things that I used to do. A look at my in-box provides ample evidence of what's not getting done. As does a look through my house. A bit of a mess.

I'm a pretty tidy person. I don't really like mess. But I'm striving to live in the center of God's will for me. Since I'm finite, that means giving up less important things so that I can focus on the more important things. Notice I didn't say giving up "unimportant" things. I don't consider the things that were filling my time "unimportant" - just less important than the most important things. Does that make sense?

What this means, of course, is that I've got some cleaning up to do. Some simplifying, some streamlining. At work, this means delegating some things and saying "no" to others. At home, it means planning ahead (unplanned things usually cost more money and energy) and simplifying (getting rid of unnecessary stuff - tripping over it and maintaining it consumes time I need for "great work").

Is this process easy? No. Am I self-conscious about things misplaced, disheveled, undone in the process? You bet. But I have confidence that, if I stick with it, "great work" will overflow into "great Life," for me and for those around me.

Here's to "great Life" for all of us!
Blessings,
Janet+

A conversation

Child: Please tell me I can have what I want.
Father: You can have what is best; will you take it?

The wolf and the pack

Dear Friends in Christ -
I'm a student of excellence. I so enjoy seeing and hearing and tasting and touching and smelling things that are beautiful and delicious and delightful and good.
I love watching sports played at the highest levels to not only enjoy the sweetness of the perfect shot, but also to listen to the players and coaches bear witness to how it's done. There's skill, yes, but there's also practice and determination, the honing of desire into will.
In team sports, the most important thing always turns out to be how the chemistry of the team, how the team learns to work together to get the job done. Phil Jackson, coach of the L.A. Lakers, knows the importance of teamwork. He started learning what he knows when he was a player himself, and now he has coached teams to 9 NBA championships.
Phil already knows which team will win this year's championship: the team that plays best together. Phil has won a lot of rings, and he'd like to win another (a 10th ring would mean that he's coached more teams in winning it all than any other coach in the history of the NBA). But Phil can't do it without his team. As Phil says (quoting a Zen master): "The wolf is for the pack, and the pack is for the wolf."
May such excellence be ours in the work we do together for God's kingdom!
Faithfully,
Janet+

Struggling with God

Dear Friends in Christ -

Here's a little thought for the day . . . something written by R.W. Kennedy, a fellow preacher. This reframes my thinking about struggling with God . . . how about you?
Blessings,
Janet+

"In Nikos Kazantzakis' novel Report to Graeco, a young truth-seeker travels to a monastic community off the coast of Greece to visit with the hermits there in an attempt to discover their way to God. one day the young man talks with an elderly hermit who has lived alone for 40 years. 'Tell me father,' the young man says, 'Do you struggle with the devil?' 'Oh, no my son,' the old man responded, 'My flesh is too old for that. I struggle now with God.' In astonishment the young man exclaimed, 'With God, father? Do you hope to win?' 'Oh, no, my son,' the aged hermit replied, [in all of my struggles with God] ' I hope to lose.'"

The wonder of silence . . .

is that, in it, I find treasures. Treasures hidden in plain sight, but which I would pass by in a blur without this silence. I would like to share with you this treasure that was unearthed in my silence today.
Blessings,
Janet+

The Summer Day
by Mary Oliver

Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?

Be Brave - Crack the Book

Dear Friends in Christ -

Here's a beginning-of-summer invitation: Come "crack the Book" here at the Rectory this Friday evening (June 13) at 7:00 p.m.

Reading the Bible isn't easy, but the effort to open and understand the Book is worth it. In our gathering this Friday, we'll take a look at the Gospel of John - and at a book to help us understand the Book, entitled "JOHN" from the Daily Bible Commentary series (copies are available at the Written Word bookstore). Don't let the word "commentary" scare you away. Just read the first 40 pages for our discussion; you'll find it's not too bad!

Our discussion will be informative - and FUN!
Blessings,
Janet+
PS - As always, there will be treats!

Put Your Faith to Work

Dear Friends in Christ -

Highlighting community outreach across the Episcopal Church and the theme "Put Your Faith to Work," new print and video advertisements for the Episcopal Church debuted May 22 for a summer run in public media: USA Today on May 22-23; CNN Headline News/Airport Channel during peak holiday travel times, including the Memorial Day weekend.

There's an affiliated website, where you can see both the print and video ads: www.PutYourFaithToWork.org.

These ads might cause you to ponder what you're up to this summer . . . and whether or not what you're doing is changing your life and the lives of others.

Faithfully,
Janet+

DANCE DANCE DANCE

Dear Friends in Christ -

Come join the fun tomorrow night at 7:30 p.m. A wonderful dance instructor is going to come and teach us a few steps, and we'll dance the night away - well, at least until 9:30 or so!

Come with a partner or come on your own. Kids are welcome, too.
I look forward to seeing you there!
Blessings,
Janet+

A good reminder

Dear Friends in Christ -
I was uplifted and encouraged by this morning's reading from "Forward Day by Day," so I'm sharing it with you. I hope it lifts and encourages you, too.
Blessings,
Janet+

The meditation is based on Matthew 13:24-30:
He put before them another parable: ‘The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field; but while everybody was asleep, an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, and then went away. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. And the slaves of the householder came and said to him, “Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?” He answered, “An enemy has done this.” The slaves said to him, “Then do you want us to go and gather them?” But he replied, “No; for in gathering the weeds you would uproot the wheat along with them. Let both of them grow together until the harvest; and at harvest time I will tell the reapers, Collect the weeds first and bind them in bundles to be burned, but gather the wheat into my barn.” ’
The meditation offered in "Forward Day By Day" . . .
The kingdom of heaven is the rule of God whose name and nature is love. It is the experience of God's love, loving relationships with others, and self acceptance. It exists here and now. But it exists in a world where people estranged from God use and abuse one another. We know moments of wholeness, but we also know horrible loss from violence, illness, and untimely death. We experience reconciliation and healing, but we also suffer from conflict, coercion, and destruction. The kingdom of God exists in a world filled with sinful people. In the words of the parable, it is the wheat in the midst of weeds.
The tendency, especially among religious folk, is to seek a perfect world by getting rid of all the weeds. Even in church the desire by conservative and liberal alike is to be rid of those who oppose them. Imperfect people are a poor instrument for purging the world of evil; they become oppressors themselves. Pulling the weeds also destroys the wheat. We are not to judge because judging destroys ourselves as well as the other.
Let us nurture the rule of God through forgiveness, understanding, loving confrontation, and encouragement. Then the wheat will crowd out the weeds.

Our Beloved Lois

Dear Friends in Christ -

Today we offer prayers for Lois Wilson, who passed away on Wednesday, May 21st.
The Liturgy of Thanksgiving for Lois' Life and our Lord's Resurrection will be at 10:00 a.m. today (May 28th) at St. Paul's. A Committal Service will follow at Riverside Cemetery.

Lois' family invites everyone to a reception at Brownson Country Club following the interment at Riverside.

We pray that Lois will rest in peace and rise in glory. And we pray for comfort for her family and friends.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

In case you didn't get a chance to see it, here's a copy of Lois' obituary:
Lois I. Booth Wilson, 82, of Shelton, wife of the late Frederick J. Wilson Jr., entered into peaceful rest on May 21, 2008 at the Hospital of St. Raphael in New Haven.
Mrs. Wilson was born in Naugatuck on March 4, 1926 daughter of the late Winfred and Albertina Zehnder Booth. A resident of Shelton since 1967, she prior lived in Naugatuck. Lois was employed as a secretary in the banking industry in New Haven for many years. She was an active member of the St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Huntington serving on the Altar Guild for 35 years, former Treasurer, and longtime volunteer of the Family Table Outreach Program. She was also a member of the Mothers of Twins Assoc. in New Haven for 44 years, Derby Senior Center, A.A.R.P., and a volunteer at the Shelton Food Bank and the Spooner House in Derby. She enjoyed traveling, theater, fine dining, and most importantly her grandchildren.
She is survived by a son Frederick J. Wilson III, a daughter Wendy L. Hadden, and 2 cherished grandchildren, Amanda and Timothy Hadden all of Shelton as well as several nieces and nephews and dear friends. She was predeceased by 3 brothers and 2 sisters.
Friends and relatives are invited to attend visiting hours on Tuesday May 27, 2008 from 4-7 pm in the chapel of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 25 Church Street, in the Huntington section of Shelton. On Wednesday May 28, 2008 at 10:00 am a Liturgy of the Resurrection and of Thanksgiving for the life of Lois I. Wilson will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Janet C. Waggoner officiating. Burial will follow in Riverside Cemetery in Shelton. Contributions in memory of Lois may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 25 Church St., Shelton, CT 06484. The SPINELLI-MALERBA-RICCIUTI FUNERAL HOME, 62 Beaver St. in Ansonia has been privileged to assist the family. To send a condolence, please visit www.spinellifuneralhome.com.

HAIR

Dear Friends in Christ (kak-kak-kak)

It is with some trepidation (kak-kak-kak) that I share with you that my hair will become a different color on Saturday (tomorrow) at 3:00 p.m. Leslie's revelling in her role as "colorista" . . .; she's got her station at The Hair After all set up and ready to go! (kak-kak-kak - is that my knees knocking??)

Dave and his hair will be there at 3:00 along with me. Mark will wander in about 3:30 or so . . .

You're welcome to come on down to the Hair After - or wait until Sunday morning to see "the hair." Leslie has volunteer to fix it up right for the morning. She says I can't wear it in my regular "boring" style if it's a funky color! (kak-kak-kak)

All this is in good fun, and in honor of the work our parish has done together toward our two big goals this year: to fix up the old church and to balance our budget - and all for the Glory of God and the advance of His kingdom. Onward and upward!

Faithfully . . . (kak-kak-kak)
Janet+

TALENT SHOW SOLD OUT!

Dear Friends in Christ -
Here's the "411" from our beloved Karen Nash . . .

Hi Gang:

Once again we have a sold out dinner and talent show. :) This year the tickets went in record breaking time!! God has really blessed our show!

I will start a waiting list in case any tickets become available, let me know if you are need any more. If you have tickets or tickets on "reserve" and are not going to use them, (even right up until showtime) please let me know....ASAP. I would be happy to sell your unused tickets to others on the waiting list.

Thanks,

Karen Nash<><
386-9432
kmnash@sbcglobal.net

10th Day of 10 Days of Prayer

Dear Friends in Christ -

To all of you who have been praying for our parish over these past 10 days, THANK YOU.

To all of you who haven't been praying, we missed you! And the sad thing is that you won't have that sense of faithful partnership shared by those who joined in. But the good news is that GOD IS GOING TO BLESS US ALL as a result of the faithfulness of those who have prayed.

Come on Sunday and experience at least a part of that blessing . . . !

Here's a prayer for this final day . . . and for the days and weeks and years to come!!

O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Serenity Prayer

Dear Friends in Christ -

In my sermon on Sunday, I read this famous prayer. Many folks are familiar with the first sentence, but the prayer in its entirety is even more powerful . . .

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and the wisdom to know the difference.
Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.
Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,
not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life,
and supremely happy with him forever in the next.
- Reinhold Niebuhr

Faithfully,
Janet+

Day #9

Dear Friends in Christ -
Tomorrow is the last day of our 10 days of prayer for our parish.
On this next-to-last day, I invite you to "beat the bounds" with me - this morning and this evening. That's an old expression that means walking around ones property for the purpose of securing it. On this rainy day, when we're all going about doing the things that God has called us to do, I invite you to walk the grounds of the church in your imagination. Bless each classroom, our sanctuaries, our offices, the parking lots, the rental house and Christian Counseling Center and rectory. Ask God to make His presence known, to protect, to guide, to encourage, to bless.
With you in prayer,
Janet+

Saturday evening . . . another prayer . . .

Dear Friends in Christ -
As many of you know, this is one of my favorite prayers . . . it speaks so much of the hope we have in our Lord . . .
O God of unchangeable power and eternal light: Look favorably on your whole Church, that wonderful and sacred mystery; by the effectual working of your providence, carry out in tranquility the plan of salvation; let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by him through whom all things were made, your Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
See you in church tomorrow!
Blessings,
Janet+

Praying for Provision

Dear Friends in Christ -

Can you believe that we've been praying together almost a week? As I've prayed and as I've spent time at the church this week, I've sensed God moving among us in new ways. I feel moved today to pray specifically about finances - for our households and for our church.

God, you taught us to pray "Give us this day our daily bread." Please God, do give us all that we need. And help us to have enough confidence in You and your loving provision for us that we can share. Give us a firy passion for the things that are important to you - love, justice, mercy - that your Kingdom may break forth in our midst. Amen.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Praying . . .

. . . still . . . for our church and our ministries together . . . :

Heavenly Father, look with favor upon our community of faith. Help us to witness to Christ's love by loving all our fellow creatures without exception. Keep us faithful to Christ's mission of calling all men and women to You, that they may know your goodness and faithfulness. May St. Paul's be a beacon of light and love, reaching out in our community. Amen.

A prayer for the evening:

Keep your light burning in and through us, Lord, that every darkness may be pierced by the fire of your love. Amen.

Faithfully,
Janet+

Prayers for another day . . .

. . . of praying at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. As we pray today for the mission and ministry of our church, I invite you to think about what this church community means to you. I invite you to think, too, of what it is that you long for in connection with God and in our church.

At 7:00 a.m. - Give thanks to God for St. Paul's and for the blessings you have received in this parish community.

At 7:00 p.m. - Offer to God your longings for what you need in church and for what the church could be. And pray this prayer:
Gracious Father, we pray for thy holy Church. - for St. Paul's and for the Church throughout the world. Fit it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Saviour. Amen.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Prayers for today at 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Dear Friends in Christ -

We had a blessed and productive time together at our Ministry Team meetings last night.
As we gathered, we prayed this prayer - which I'm praying again at 7:00 a.m. this morning . . .
Direct us, O Lord, in all our doings with your most gracious favor, and further us with your continual help; that in all our works begun, continued, and ended in you, we may glorify your holy Name, and finally, by your mercy, obtain everlasting life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, p. 832)

And here's a prayer for this evening at 7:00 p.m., too:
Almighty and eternal God, so draw our hearts to you, so guide our minds, so fill our imaginations, so control our wills, that we may be wholly yours, utterly dedicated to you; and then use us, we pray you, as you will, and always to your glory and the welfare of your people; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, p. 832)

Blessings be upon you this day!
Faithfully yours,
Janet+

10 DAYS OF PRAYER FOR OUR CHURCH - 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.

Dear Friends in Christ -

So many full-of-wonder things are happening at St. Paul's!
Three new Christians were baptized at Easter.
Five adults were confirmed/received on April 12th.
Ministry Teams have started to meet together on the 4th Tuesday of the month.
Our parish budget is nearly balanced for the first time in over 10 years.
The interior repairs and painting/carpeting of the Old Church will begin in May.
HALLELUJAH!

In these last 10 days of April, I have asked the whole parish to join me for 10 DAYS of PRAYER FOR OUR CHURCH. Our parish leadership retreat in February identified "fiscal confidence" as a key part of our vision. We really do need to raise the final $15,000 to close our budget gap. And the 30th of April is our deadline for doing so. Why? Because we need to know how our budget is shaping up for the year so that we can turn our attention to other things . . .

PLEASE PRAY WITH ME AT 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. EACH DAY. From here on out, I'll try to post the prayer that I'm praying in advance of the prayer time so that you can pray it with me if you like.

HERE is the prayer that I prayed this morning (BCP p. 818, adapted):
Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with all of your people at St. Paul's as we pray together for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

HERE is the prayer that I'll pray this evening (BCP p. 818, adapted):
Gracious and loving God: Give us grace to seriously desire unity with one another and to lay aside any hurtful divisions or prejudices. Take away whatever may hinder us from godly union and accord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

May God teach us the way to step fully into His light!
Faithfully yours,
Janet+

BUILDING "PROGRESS REPORT"

Dear Friends in Christ -

What an exciting time it is for our parish!

TODAY (SUNDAY, APRIL 20) we will have a "Progress Report" on the fixing-up of the Old Church.

We'll have this progress report after the 8:00 a.m. worship service in the Old Church AND after the 10:00 a.m. worship service in the Parish Hall.

Please come to hear the updates, get your questions answered, and see photos of the repairs to be done!!

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Favorite Part of the Day

Dear Friends in Christ -

It's part of our family dinner ritual. Each night we go around the table and share our answers to the question, "What was your favorite part of the day?"

Of course, the kids love it when my favorite part of the day includes one or both of them. And often it does.

But then there are days like today, when my favorite part of the day happened here at St. Paul's. Today, my favorite thing was seeing the expressions on the faces of our elderly guests at the Family Table luncheon as they listened to the Pitchpipers women's chorus singing "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend." What a joy to share a little fun together in God's house on this lovely spring day. Thanks be to God!

Faithfully,
Janet+

BONHOEFFER AND LAW

Dear Friends in Christ -
Today and tomorrow, we celebrate the lives of two men - Dietrich Bonhoeffer and William Law. William Law lived in the mid 1700s. Bonhoeffer lived in the mid 1900s. The thing these men had in common was that they had some tough choices to make.

Law was a theologian and teacher who lived in England in a time when the British crown changed hands. When the new regime came into power, all scholars were required to pledge allegiance to the new regime. When Law refused, he lost not just his job, but his career.

Bonhoeffer was a theologian and teacher who lived in Germany at the time of Hitler's rise to power. Bonhoeffer saw what Hitler and his Nazi regime were doing to the Jews, and they stood up against it. After it was clear that Hitler was annihilating Jews by the millions, Bonhoeffer participated in a plot to try to assassinate Hilter; he was caught and killed by the Nazis a week before the Allied troops liberated the death camp in which he died.

Unlike these men, we don't face the loss of our career or the loss of our life for standing up for what we believe. But the lives of these men challenge us not to shy away from the tough moral issues we face in day to day living. Stand up for what you believe. It's not easy, but it's right - and it's the way to LIFE - now and evermore.
Faithfully,
Janet+

SPIRITUAL BEINGS

Dear Friends in Christ -

We just got done with the most amazing Vestry Meeting. Bishop Laura Ahrens was here for her annual visitation. How wonderful to be able to share with her the exciting things that are happening in our parish!

In addition to getting some business accomplished (we voted to move forward with renovations of the Old Church!!), we had some time to reflect together on Scripture and on our mission and goals.

One person summed it all up with this important reminder about having all things in the right perspective: "We are not really just human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a human experience."

That quote explained to me at a profound level why the work we're preparing to do on the Old Church is so vital - and so energizing. That Old Church reminds us that it's the spiritual things that are most important. When we keep God in the center of our lives, then we have hope, we have security, we are aware of our connection with the One who loves us, the One who holds eternity in his hands.
Faithfully,
Janet+

BLOGGING . . . for togetherness . . .

Dear Friends in Christ -

I never imagined how challenging it would be to keep up with this blogging thing. The truth is, I enjoy doing it, but it takes time. And that's the commodity I have least of in my life.

But the thing that keeps drawing me back to this form of communication is connecting with YOU. Your life is just as busy as mine, and if I can help you by putting out thoughts and prayers through this medium - things you can read at your convenience - then I want to help you get closer to God by "blogging" for you.

So here's what struck me from my conversation with God today . . . from today's meditation in Forward Day by Day . . . the Scripture (from Exodus 18:13-27) - "You will surely wear yourself out." . . . and this reminder from the anonymous author: "God commands us to stop thinking we are called - or allowed - to bear our burdens alone."

When I was a kid in church we sang this song "I'm so glad I'm a part of the family of God." Even on the toughest days, I feel uplifted by your support and encouragement - your prayers and your practical help (I'm especially grateful for the delivery of soup when I was sick last week!).

I know it's not a very "Yankee" thing to do, but please speak up when you need help. God commands us not to bear our burdens alone.
Faithfully,
Janet+

THE RECTOR'S CHALLENGE

Dear Friends in Christ -

CONGRATULATIONS!!! and THANK YOU!!! to all who have given and prayed and helped . . .
Together, we've matched the $40,000!! That means we have the money we need to fix up the interior of the Old Church. AND we're 2/3 of the way to balancing our operating budget.

Now, for the final piece . . . we need another $19,000 to balance our 2008 operating budget . . . this is DOABLE. If every family gave 10% of the money they're getting from the US government in May, that would COMPLETELY close our budget gap. Will you help?

I'm offering an added incentive. (GULP) If we raise the $19,000 by April 30th, I will let the youth of the church choose a color for my hair . . . oh, boy! So far, the suggestions are blue, purple, pink, orange, lavender, and green . . .

This is an exciting time. I'm so looking forward to fixing up the Old Church. AND I'm looking forward to NOT talking about fundraising for the budget for the next 6 months!

THANK YOU for all your FAITHFULNESS . . . it changes lives, from the inside out!
Blessings,
Janet+

Daily Resolve

Dear Friends in Christ -
Some days are better than others. Some weeks are better than others. This week was not one of my best. I spent 90% of it in bed with the flu. The up side: lots of time to pray in between naps. In those prayers, I was reminded of the "daily resolve" prayer that has been special to me over the years. I cherish this prayer because it reminds me of the "basics" in Christian living, the things that are most important. When you first read it, the prayer may strike you (as it did me) as a bit "Pollyanna." But its call to simple goodness and basic faithfulness rings true. As you pray this prayer, may it be a blessing and inspiration to you.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+

A Morning Resolve
I will try this day to live a simple, sincere, and serene life, repelling promptly every thought of discontent, anxiety, discouragement, impurity, and self-seeking: cultivating cheerfulness, magnanimity, charity, and the habit of holy silence; exercising economy in expenditure, generosity in giving, carefulness in conversation, diligence in appointed service, fidelity to every trust, and a childlike faith in God.
In particular I will try to be faithful to those habits of prayer, work, study, physical exercise, eating, and sleep which I believe the Holy Spirit has shown me to be right.
And as I cannot in my own strength do this, nor even with a hope of success attempt it, I look to thee, O Lord God my Father, in Jesus my Savior, and ask for the gift of the Holy Spirit.

(For those of you who read the Forward Day by Day devotional, it's on the inside cover.)

Happy Easter!!

Dear Friends in Christ -

Alleluia! Christ is risen!!

Though the skies today are gray, we continue to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord - the one who conquered sin and death for us.

In this joyful time, I offer you a bit of laughter which, I believe, is the best medicine for a gloomy day.

Wishing you joy and felicity,
Janet+

Two boys were walking home from Sunday school after hearing a strong preaching on the devil. One said to the other, 'What do you think about all this Satan stuff?' The other boy replied, 'Well, you know how Santa Claus turned out. It's probably just your Dad.'

Palm Sunday Procession begins in the Parish Hall

Dear Friends in Christ -

Well, Easter is VERY early this year, which means Palm Sunday is VERY early this year. And the predictable is happening - rain and snow! Soooooooo, we're going to do what the people have done from the beginning of time - adapt!

This year's procession for the 10:00 a.m. service will begin in the PARISH HALL, instead of the green.

Come join in - the tradition will continue - just indoors instead of outside!
Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Don Slater, may he rest in peace

Dear Friends in Christ -

Yesterday (Wed., 3/5), Don Slater, a beloved member of our parish family, passed on to heaven. Don was 89. He leaves behind his wife of 64 years, Grace, and two sons, John and Jim.

Don's family will receive your condolences at calling hours from 4:00-8:00 p.m. at Mullins Funeral Home (399 White Plains Road, Trumbull). A liturgy of the Resurrection and of the celebration of Don's life will be held at St. Paul's (Old Church) at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 8th. Following the service, all are welcome to a luncheon reception in the parish hall.

Please keep Grace, John, Jim and their extended family in your prayers. Please pray for the repose of Don's soul. May he rest in peace and rise in glory.

Faithfully yours,
Janet+

Ski Trip!!!

Dear Friends in Christ -
In noodling back through the past group of blog posts, I notice a SNOW theme. 'Tis the season!!

Following is a note from Leslie for any/all who are interested. This is an "ALL CALL" - families, friends and neighbors, people of all ages are welcome to come along.
Enjoy!
Blessings,
Janet+

HELLO EVERYONE -
I spoke with the manager at Sundown today; she is very sorry that we did not get
our packet of information, but we do have space reserved, and they're ready for us.
So what do I need from all of you who want to go?

Email or call me NO LATER than Wednesday if you are planning on
attending. Tell me exactly what you and your family will need (equipment, etc.).
Here are the prices (because we are a group we get an 8hour pass only)
Prices for the ski/snowboard:
1st time ski 69.00, includes 8 hour lift, 1-1/2hour group lesson, and rentals
1st time snowboarder includes 8 hour lift, 1-1/2 hour group lessson and rentals
if you want just a group lesson 1-1/2 hour 35.00
if you want just passes ski 36.00 8 hour pass
if you want just passes snowboarding 40.00 8 hour pass
if you need rentals
ski,boots,poles 8hour 36.00
snowboard, boots 8 hour 40.00

I must call Sundown and give a 20% deposit by Thursday morning (the Drop Dead date).

On Saturday (3/1), we will leave the parish parking lot @ 8am.
This is a great family outing so if you would like to attend and you have no one
in the youth programs please contact me asap. lbeard91782@yahoo.com. or 929-4558.
Please note: if we have 10-14 people we get 10% off
if we have 15-24 people we get 15% off
So the more the merrier!

These are the people who have signed up already.
If you cannot come and your name is listed, please let me know as soon as possible.
W. Dwinells
K. Floberg
C. Rennie
K. Rennie
A. Walker
E. DeAngelis
J. Kaesmann
M. Messer
R. DiMauro
L. Beard
E. Griffin
R. Griffin
J. Tallo
T. Tallo

SEE YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN!!!
Leslie

SNOW DAY!! - Lenten Supper and Study cancelled

Dear Friends in Christ -

The weather outside is frightful
And the fire is so delightful . . .

All things for tonight are cancelled so . . .

Since we've no place to go,
Let it snow let it snow let is snow!!!

May the beauty of this mid-Lenten day refresh your spirit.
Blessings,
Janet+

A letter from the Rev. Eric Turner regarding his father

Dear Friends,

Please forgive the mass email, but it's the easiest way.

Many of you know that my Dad, the Rev. Russell Turner, has been living
with us for a little over three years. Last night, about midnight, my
Dad quietly went home to be with the Lord. He had become very weak and
was nearly bedridden, but he was comfortable and we were able to care
for him here. He didn't suffer, no long hospital stays, no interminable
tests, no nursing homes and he died at home, in his own bed, with family
around.

For the rest of the information, let me just include the obituary we
have prepared:
The Rev. Russell Wood Turner, 89, died quietly at home with family in
West Melbourne on Thursday, February 14. He was born April 1, 1918 in
Terre Haute, Indiana. He attended Sewanee Military Academy where he
received a degree in metallurgical engineering. After serving for a time
as an instructor at Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh PA, he accepted a call
to ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church. He served various churches
in the Diocese of Pittsburgh for over fifty years. His beloved wife,
Frances, passed away on October 1, 2003. He is survived by a son, Eric
W. Turner of West Melbourne and his wife Charlene, and a daughter,
Marian T. Campbell of Birmingham AL, and her husband Glenn, along with
five grandchildren, Emily, Grant and Katie Campbell, and Elizabeth and
Woody Turner. He was predeceased by a brother, Marshall S. Turner of
Baltimore MD. A Funeral service will be held at St. John's Episcopal
Church, 610 Young St., Melbourne FL on Sunday, February 24 at 3 p.m. In
lieu of flowers, Memorial gifts may be sent to Trinity School for
Ministry, 311 Eleventh St., Ambridge PA 15003 or Anglican Frontier
Missions, 1004 North Thompson Street, #201, Richmond, VA 23230.

Yours in Christ,
Eric

May Russell rest in peace and rise in glory.
Blessings,
Janet+

Ministry Team Meetings CANCELLED

Dear Friends in Christ -
Our ministry team meetings for tonight are cancelled due to the snow.
We are rescheduling these meetings for Tuesday, February 26th (7:30-9:30pm).
Get home safe and stay warm!
Blessings,
Janet+

In case of snow, ice, freezing rain . . .

Dear Friends in Christ -

I am so looking forward to our Ministry Team meetings. Months of preparation have brought us to this important night. And now the weather forecasters are predicting nasty weather. I sense God smiling and shaking his head right along with me!

As is our parish policy, we'll have the meeting if folks can get there (and return home) safely. If not, we'll cancel. If we need to cancel the meeting, that decision will be made at least 2 hours prior to the event. Notice will be posted on this blog and recorded on the parish answering machine.

Stay tuned!
If we have to cancel, we'll reschedule. You'll be able to find that information here or in the parish office within 24 hours of a cancellation.

Blessings,
Janet+

Ed Terew, may he rest in peace

Dear Friends in Christ -
Ed was a beacon of light. In spite of physical limitations that caused him to need to reside at Gardner Heights Care Center for 26 years, he always had a smile on his face and helped anyone he could. For his memorial service, Ed chose the Scripture passage "let the children come to me." Ed greeted life each day with childlike grace and joy. He loved all those he knew and welcomed even strangers as friends. We loved him, and he is sorely missed.

On Tuesday, February 5, at 10:30 a.m., there will be a Memorial Service for Ed at Gardner Heights. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Faithfully yours,
Rev. Janet+

Ed's obituary:
Edward N. Terew, age 80, of Shelton, passed away on Thursday, January 31, 2008 at Gardner Heights Health Care. Born in Bridgeport, he was the son of the late Paul and Verna Lisbona. He is survived by nephews, William Terew of Indiana, and Leonard and Christopher Terew of Milford. Cousins, Pauline Young of Trumbull , Martha Burgess and Sylvia Shadoin of Florida. He was predeceased by his brother, Vincent Terew Sr. and his nephew, Vincent Terew Jr. Friends are invited to attend graveside services on Monday, February 4, 2008 at 1 p.m. in Lakeview Cemetery, 885 Boston Ave, Bridgeport, with Rev. Janet Waggoner of the St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Huntington officiating. (Please follow funeral directional signs to the gravesite from the Main entrance.) Arrangements in care of the Dennis & D'Arcy Funeral Home, 2611 Main St. Stratford.

The Rev. Bill Padgett, may he rest in peace

Dear Friends in Christ -
Our beloved Bill Padgett died yesterday morning (Tuesday) at 10:20 a.m. Please pray for the repose of his soul and for his dear Martha. With Martha, we celebrate Bill's life and mourn his loss. The Right Rev. Andrew Smith will preside at Bill's Requiem Eucharist, which will be held here at St. Paul's on Saturday (1/26) at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel. A lovely reception will follow in the parish hall.

It is Martha's ardent wish that, in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be given to St. Paul's (25 Church Street, Shelton - 06484).

Thank you for your faithful prayers for Martha and for all of us who loved Bill.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+

PS - following is Bill's obituary, which will appear in the Connecticut Post on Thursday morning:

Rev. William Henry Padgett Jr.
PADGETT Rev. William Henry Padgett, Jr., age 83, of Shelton, died Tuesday, January 22, 2008 at St. Joseph's Manor, Trumbull. He was the husband of Martha (Mudge) Padgett. Father Padgett was born in Holland, Mich., April 7, 1924, a son of the late William H. Padgett, Sr. and the late Eulala (Davis) Padgett and had resided in Shelton since 1998, moving here from Waterbury. He was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps, serving as a pilot of a B-29. He graduated from Michigan College of Mining and Technology in 1948 and spent more than 35 years working for the DuPont Co. as manager of engineering, working mostly in Europe and South America. Following his retirement, he entered the seminary at Yale Divinity School and received his MS degree from Berkley in 1985. He was ordained to the Episcopal Priesthood in 1988. In his first assignment, he was sent to Waterbury serving first at two churches and then eventually included serving at four churches, Trinity in downtown Waterbury and St. Mark's on Hewlett St. and St. George's in Middlebury and All Saints in Wolcott. Following his retirement, Father Padgett took a temporary assignment at St. John's Church in Sandy Hook to fill in until the appointment of a permanent Rector, but continued there as Rector until 2001. He also had served as Assistant to the Rector of Christ Church, Stratford from 1998 to the fall of 1999. While serving in the Waterbury area, he served as a member of the Board of the Children's Community School in Waterbury. He was a communicant of St. Paul Episcopal Church of Huntington, and was a member of the Order of St. Luke, serving as Chaplain. His hobbies included, golf, bowling, snowshoeing, skiing, and traveling. Besides his wife of 59 years, he leaves a brother, Rev. John F. Padgett of Jenison, Mich. and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother and sister, James A. Padgett and Myrtle E. Kalkman. A Requiem Eucharist will be held on Saturday, January 26, 2008 at 11 a.m. in St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 25 Church Street, Huntington with the Rt. Rev. Andrew D. Smith, Bishop of the Diocese of Connecticut as principal con-celebrant, assisted by the Rev. Janet C. Wagoner, Rector of St. Paul's. There are no calling hours. The Alderson Funeral Home of Naugatuck, 201 Meadow Street is in charge of arrangements. Friends are asked to omit flowers. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 25 Church Street, Huntington, CT 06484.