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+
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
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+
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+
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
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+
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+
Monday, October 13, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
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+
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+
Saturday, October 4, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, October 3, 2008
"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.
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.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Taking a Walk
Dear Friends in Christ -
It's time for me to take the next step. The longest one, really. The one FROM thinking a thing is good to do TO doing it!
About 4 1/2 years ago (May 2004), I went to CREDO, which stands for Clergy Reflection Education Development Opportunity. CREDO is boot camp for clergy. An 8-day 30,000 mile tune-up, where experts from the Episcopal Church around the country bring together 25-30 clergy who sign up to review their health, finances, spiritual lives, and vocational skills.
By the end of the week, I felt nurtured - and I had a list of about 10 goals to work on over the next 5-6 years, before my next 30,000 mile tune-up (which is due in 2009-2010). Over the past 4 1/2 years, I've met or made great gains toward all but one goal: exercise. I do a little bit of yoga every morning, but I really need to do some cardio for my overall health.
The truth is, I've never really liked exercising much. Growing up on a farm, we didn't "exercise." We didn't really need to after doing chores every day! When I got into college, I tried exercising to combat weight gain. I enjoyed aerobics classes, but since college days I haven't really had the leisurely 2 hours I spent in the middle of the day getting ready to exercise, exercising and then showering before I was off to the next thing.
Now I'm going to exercise for a different reason: I want to be a good steward of my body. It's God's good gift to me, and like any of His gifts entrusted to me, I'm charged to take care of it. If the exercise means that I can eat a few more calories a day, double bonus!
So here goes . . . The next time you see me, tell me to take a hike. Oh. That's not quite right. :-) I meant: the next time you see me, ask me if I've taken a walk.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
It's time for me to take the next step. The longest one, really. The one FROM thinking a thing is good to do TO doing it!
About 4 1/2 years ago (May 2004), I went to CREDO, which stands for Clergy Reflection Education Development Opportunity. CREDO is boot camp for clergy. An 8-day 30,000 mile tune-up, where experts from the Episcopal Church around the country bring together 25-30 clergy who sign up to review their health, finances, spiritual lives, and vocational skills.
By the end of the week, I felt nurtured - and I had a list of about 10 goals to work on over the next 5-6 years, before my next 30,000 mile tune-up (which is due in 2009-2010). Over the past 4 1/2 years, I've met or made great gains toward all but one goal: exercise. I do a little bit of yoga every morning, but I really need to do some cardio for my overall health.
The truth is, I've never really liked exercising much. Growing up on a farm, we didn't "exercise." We didn't really need to after doing chores every day! When I got into college, I tried exercising to combat weight gain. I enjoyed aerobics classes, but since college days I haven't really had the leisurely 2 hours I spent in the middle of the day getting ready to exercise, exercising and then showering before I was off to the next thing.
Now I'm going to exercise for a different reason: I want to be a good steward of my body. It's God's good gift to me, and like any of His gifts entrusted to me, I'm charged to take care of it. If the exercise means that I can eat a few more calories a day, double bonus!
So here goes . . . The next time you see me, tell me to take a hike. Oh. That's not quite right. :-) I meant: the next time you see me, ask me if I've taken a walk.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
"Celebration" study is ON this evening
Dear Friends in Christ -
The "Celebration of Discipline" study continues this evening at 7:30 p.m. Early schedules for this series showed this week as an "off" week for the study, but due to other changes in the parish calendar, we are now free to proceed.
Tonight's topic will be "the Disciopline of Scripture Study."
Whether or not you've joined us in past weeks, I invite you to come join in the learning and the fun on this rainy Wednesday evening!
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
The "Celebration of Discipline" study continues this evening at 7:30 p.m. Early schedules for this series showed this week as an "off" week for the study, but due to other changes in the parish calendar, we are now free to proceed.
Tonight's topic will be "the Disciopline of Scripture Study."
Whether or not you've joined us in past weeks, I invite you to come join in the learning and the fun on this rainy Wednesday evening!
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
In Memoriam - Thomas J. Brown
Dear Friends in Christ -
Our community mourns this week over the loss of Army First Lieutenant Thomas J. Brown, a son of Shelton, beloved by so many in this community. We hold in our prayers his mother Carol Brown and his twin brother Timothy Brown. In Tom's honor, a memorial contribution has been made on behalf of the people of St. Paul's (from the Rector's Discretionary Fund) to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Brown's wake will take place at Riverview Funeral Home today from 3:00-8:00 p.m. His funeral will take place at St. Jude's Church, 707 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe. He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on December 11th. A tribute to Tom is available on-line at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tjbrown.htm.
May Tom's family - and all of us - know God's tender loving care as we mourn the loss of Tom and as we celebrate his life.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
Our community mourns this week over the loss of Army First Lieutenant Thomas J. Brown, a son of Shelton, beloved by so many in this community. We hold in our prayers his mother Carol Brown and his twin brother Timothy Brown. In Tom's honor, a memorial contribution has been made on behalf of the people of St. Paul's (from the Rector's Discretionary Fund) to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
Brown's wake will take place at Riverview Funeral Home today from 3:00-8:00 p.m. His funeral will take place at St. Jude's Church, 707 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe. He will be buried with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery on December 11th. A tribute to Tom is available on-line at http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/tjbrown.htm.
May Tom's family - and all of us - know God's tender loving care as we mourn the loss of Tom and as we celebrate his life.
Faithfully yours,
Janet+
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