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For
the week leading up to Sunday, January 4, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome to the Twenty-second installment of a weekly
e-news bulletin for parishioners and friends of St.
Andrew's, Pickerington, leading up to Sunday, January
4, 2009. Sorry for the late and abbreviated edition.
A full edition will return next week.
Don't Forget…
…there are STILL 12 days in this Christmas season,
and they aren't over yet. This Sunday is the last Sunday
in the season of Christmas. Keep the love flowing!
Things you probably didn't know:
English tradition requires that all decorations such
as wreathes, trees, lights and mistletoe be removed
at the end of the twelfth night of Christmas (and often
called "Twelfth Night"). After celebrating
the 12 drummers drumming, decorations are to disappear!
No drooping lighted icicles are allowed to be hanging
on January 7th at good Anglican households.
Be sure and say thank you to…
… to the members of the Altar Guild for all their
work in preparing for this season, including polishing
brass!
What you can bring to church this Sunday:
…any last minute mittens, scarves, socks, and hats
before we take them all to Fairfield County services.
This is the last Sunday before we deliver them.
Why do we do that in church?
Why are there 12 days of Christmas, why not 10 or 14
or 40? Last week one theory was presented. Here's another:
there are 12 days in the season of Christmas to wed
the two opposing views that Christmas should be on December
25th (the western church) and that Christmas should
be on January 6th (the eastern church.)
Lay aside the disagreement in the early years of the
church that there should be NO celebration of Jesus'
birth at all (that's a pagan ritual of celebrating emperors'
births and has no business in the Christian faith—a
view still held by some such as Seventh Day Adventists
and Jehovah Witnesses). Also lay aside the debate as
when to celebrate it (many argued for mid-spring). Those
are discussions for another time.
If
observed at all in the early church, the celebration
of Christ's birth was usually lumped in with The Epiphany
(January 6th) and was one of the church's earliest established
feasts. But the eventual choice of December 25th was
probably made by the late 3rd century and it reflected
an attempt to "reframe" other celebrations
by the new power in town: imperial approval of the new
official imperial religion of Christianity. The pagans
had lots of feasts around the winter solstice in December:
natalis solis invicti the Roman "birth of the unconquered
sun"; and the birthday of Mithras, the Iranian
"Sun of Righteousness" whose worship was popular
with Roman soldiers. Those, combined with the many winter
solstice celebrations, were plump for the picking, and
the church sought to use them as ingredients to bake
a new Christmas pie. So they commandeered the date and
introduced a new festival.
But
while the western churches (singularly Rome at this
time) had pretty much settled on December 25th, eastern
churches (Greek, Russian, Syrian, Egyptian, etc.) held
on to January 6th as the date for Christ's birth and
his baptism. Incidentally, the western church also celebrated
January 6th, but as the arrival date of the Magi rather
than as the date of Christ's birth. As the centuries
moved on, both western and eastern churches began taking
on traditions from each other so December 25th and January
6th kept original customs but also added "imported"
ones. As one theory goes therefore, (a bit oversimplified,
nonetheless real) that the 12 days of Christmas morphed
from several centuries of attempts to bridge the two
traditions, churches, and dates.
I
wish I knew more about the Bible, so this week I
will work on memorizing from this Sunday's lectionary:
I will turn their mourning into joy, I will comfort
them, and give them gladness for sorrow. Jeremiah 31
Things I can pray for in traffic:
…as these holidays conclude, for the safe travels
and return of the people of St. Andrew's and all their
families and friends.
See you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, December 28, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome to the Twenty-first installment of a weekly
e-news bulletin for parishioners and friends of St.
Andrew's, Pickerington, leading up to Sunday, December
28, 2008.
Don't Forget…
…there are 12 days in this Christmas season. Keep
the love flowing!
Things you probably didn't know:
There's a debate about how the song "The Twelve
Days of Christmas" came about. We know it first
appeared in book form for children with the title "Mirth
without Mischief" in England all the way back in
1780. And it wasn't a song, but a poem as a memory game!
The first player recites the first verse, the second
player recites a new verse but also had to recite the
previous verse(s): quite a feat if you're hearing it
the first time.
Anyway,
some say it originated in France rather than England
(and a lot of the "days" have French origins).
The idea is that French Catholics brought it to England
when Roman Catholicism was banned in England in the
17th and 18th centuries. This version of history says
12 Days was written in as one of the "catechism
songs" to help young Catholics learn the tenets
of their faith. In those days you could hanged or "shortened
by a head" if you were caught with anything in
writing indicating adherence to the Catholic faith.
And
an extra factoid: Originally, it wasn't "four
calling birds" but "four colly birds."
A colly bird is a European black bird. (Colly means
black, probably from "coal-y" or coal-like
coloring.) So four colly birds were probably four black
birds or four Crows! But who'd want a crow for Christmas?
Medieval people did. They were considered a delicacy
and pies of such birds were often a sign of wealth and
social status.
Be
sure and say thank you to…
… Andy Taylor for his earnest work with the Christmas
pageant and Tina Trim and her earnest work with the
costumes!
What you can bring to church this Sunday:
…any last minute mittens, scarves, socks before
we take them all to Fairfield County services.
Why do we do that in church?
Why are there 12 days of Christmas, why not 10 or 14
or 40? Once again, we head back to the early church.
But like the song, there's disagreement about how it
actually happened. And I'll give you one version this
week and another version next week.
One version states that in the 4th century, at the time
when the church went from an underground religion to
the big lights and prominence of the official religion
of the Roman Empire, January 6 (Epiphany) was the most
important feast day beside Easter. It's the date the
church commemorated the baptism of Jesus. (Older traditions
stated that many believed that was the date of the birth
of Jesus' soul. Even though that belief was heretical,
it stuck in people's minds.) By the 6th century another
emperor Justinian proclaimed Christmas a public holiday
with 8 days of feasting. In the 9th century, King Alfred
of England lengthened it to 12 days and declared December
25th as the beginning of Christmas. So this version
states that the Christmas season did not start on December
25th and was extended to January 6th, rather it originated
as January 6, and was drawn back to December 25th.
I wish I knew more about the Bible, so this week
I will work on memorizing from this Sunday's lectionary:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God. John 1
Things I can pray for in traffic:
…for the safe travels of the people of St. Andrew's
and all their families and friends.
See you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, December 21, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome
to the Twentieth installment of a weekly e-news bulletin
for parishioners and friends of St. Andrew's, Pickerington,
leading up to Sunday, December 21, 2008.
Don't Forget…
…we're
Greening the Church after the 10:00 AM service
and setting up for Wednesday's Christmas Eve Pageant.
I mean, how much more fun can you have in one day?
Things
you probably didn't know:
Did
you know that technically, all of Santa's reindeer have
to be female?
According
to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both
male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer
each year (the only members of the deer family, Cervidae,
to have females do so), male reindeer drop their antlers
at the beginning of winter, usually late November to
mid December. Female reindeer retain their antlers till
after they give birth in the spring.
Therefore,
according to every historical rendition depicting Santa's
reindeer, every single one of them, from Rudolf to Blitzen
... had to be a female.
We
should've known that since they were able to find their
way without asking.
Be
sure and say thank you to…
…
all the busy cookiemakers who made it possible for over
$2600 be raised for the ministry of St. Andrew's!
What
you can bring to church this Sunday:
…a
hearty singing voice as we worship at the 10:00 AM service
with Advent Lessons and Carols.
Why
do we do that in church?
What
is the service of Advent Lessons and Carols and why
do we have it here?
This
service is exactly what it says it is: a series of lessons
from Scripture, each followed by the singing of a carol.
The purpose of this is to tell a story through Word
and song; and the main theme is the developing story
of the loving purposes of God. The story is developing
because we are remembering the history of God's saving
works while we're also expecting that story to keep
changing our own lives.
So,
why the singing of carols? Well, (as you've probably
started to anticipate each time I talk about the Church's
history) the origin of carol-singing is pagan. "Carol"
probably comes from the word koros, a circle of dancers
and singers. Singing and dancing go together well and
they're a great avenue for telling, remembering, and
celebrating stories, so it wasn't long before they were
combined for the Christian faith. Of course it was only
by the grudging consent of the medieval Church that
Christian carols actually took root in Europe. But take
root they did and by the beginning of the fifteenth
century (1400s), carol-singing was a hallmark of seasonal
worship. Carol singing hit a bit of a snag in seventeenth
century England when carols (AND CHRISTMAS ITSELF) were
banned in England by the Puritans and the Puritan regime
of Oliver Cromwell. (Yes, Christmas—and birthday—celebrations
were banned.) After Cromwell was run out of England,
Charles II was made king. And what did the son of the
decapitated Charles I do? He not only enacted anti-Puritan
laws (which is why so many of them fled to America…)
but he reestablished the Church of England and…carols
and Christmas were back!
With
carols back in style, traditions began forming. One
of the most famous is the "Festival of Nine Lessons
and Carols" established on Christmas Eve, 1918,
in the chapel of Kings College, Cambridge University.
A more gorgeous, solemn and joyful celebration is hard
to find. (You can catch a glimpse of the service's start
here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RC34N1TfCQ ) It
was first broadcast by radio in 1928; and, except in
1930, these annual broadcasts have continued to this
day. You can watch it each year on BBC America, buy
countless CD renditions of it or catch glimpses of it
online. And while this is the "mother" service,
Lessons and Carols grew in popularity around the globe
as it spread to English-speaking cathedrals and churches.
What makes it so appealing is its simplicity: telling
a story through word and song.
I
wish I knew more about the Bible, so this week I
will work on memorizing from this Sunday's lectionary:
Then
Mary (the mother of Jesus) said, "Here am I, the
servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to
your word." Luke 1
Things
I can pray for in traffic:
…those
for whom this season is a time of pain and despair and
not joy and community, in both our parish and our neighborhood.
Pray that the light of Christ will shine into their
darkness.
See
you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, December 14, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome to the Nineteenth installment of a weekly e-news
bulletin for parishioners and friends of St. Andrew's,
Pickerington, leading up to Sunday, December 14, 2008.
Don't Forget…
…to bring your Christmas cookies to the church!
…that all hands are on deck for the Christmas Pageant
practice after 10 AM worship this Sunday.
…and to come to the Vicar's Annual Holiday Open
House at 5857 Vandeleur Place in Dublin, this Sunday
from 4 – 7 PM.
Things you probably didn't know: While we're
all likely rushing around for shopping, parties, special
events and the like, how 'bout a few gasoline-saving
tips (on the unusual side)
When you buy gasoline, you might want to make your purchase
at night—it could be cheaper. Gasoline becomes
more dense in cooler temperatures, and gas pumps measure
gas by volume.
Also, tighten your gas cap. A leaking or missing cap
can release 30 gallons of fuel per year in the atmosphere.
In California alone, vapors from gas stations account
for enough gasoline to fill two tankers trucks EVERY
DAY.
OK, one really odd factoid about gasoline: In the United
States, when people first noticed oil, they didn't quite
grasp the energy angle. Instead they did what any industrious
American would do: They bottled it, slapped a label
on, and sold it as a health tonic. Several hundred thousand
bottles of the stuff are said to have been purchased
and perhaps (say it ain't so) consumed.
Be sure and say thank you to…
…to all the people who come to our church home
on Saturday morning to buy Christmas Cookies. Yes, we're
selling cookies, and we're also ambassadors for Christ.
Whatever we do, like it or not, our guests will associate
with the church and with God.
What you can bring to church this Sunday:
Food for our pantries. This is a critical time and the
need far surpasses previous Christmases. And consider
praying for the families who will receive your gifts.
Why do we do that in church? Well, this isn't
exactly what "we do in church" but it might
be interesting to know there's a long history and connection
between Christmas and cookies.
The origin of Christmas cookies lies all the way back
in Medieval European recipes. And it all begins with
ginger. Ginger was probably introduced to Europe in
the 1100s when Crusaders brought it back from their
travels and battles in the East. Not only was ginger
a delicious spice to add to food, but it has natural
preservative qualities, so it was wildly popular. As
time went on its preservative property moved from the
domain of necessity (preserving meat) to the domain
of festivity (preserving pastries).
As it would happen, this use of ginger in breads and
pastries became popular around the same time in which
town fairs were growing in popularity. Soon both ginger
(and its cookies and breads) and town fairs became intertwined
as they spread over Europe. If you lived in Nuremberg
Germany in the early 1600s, for example, your family
would have gone to the Christkindlmarkt (Christ Child
Market) in December. You would have bought carved Christmas
decorations made of pastries flavored and preserved
with ginger. And there arose the famous Nuremberg Lebkuchen
flavored with ginger, which you probably would have
thought was the best in the world. Every house made
or baked cookies in great amounts during the Christmas
season.
But it wasn't just Germany and it wasn't just ginger:
while ginger was the prominent flavor, other sugar and
spices were added or substituted as each family wanted
to outdo the other. As well, the people of Sweden preferred
Papparkakor (spicy ginger and black-pepper delights),
while the Norwegians took to the liking of Krumkake
(thin lemon and cardamom-scented wafers).
Well, as it would happen, the Dutch people brought this
idea of Christmas cookies, and Christmas, along with
them to America. (The English word "cookie"
comes from the Dutch word Koeptje [koekje], meaning
small cake.) But it was during the nineteenth century
that gingerbread and cookies were both modernized and
romanticized, implanting itself into the American psyche.
The Grimm brothers collected volumes of German fairy
tales and shared them with Americans.
One in particular they found was about Hansel and Gretel,
two children who, abandoned in the woods by destitute
parents, discovered a house made of bread, cake and
candies. By the end of the century the composer Englebert
Humperdink wrote an opera about the boy and girl and
the gingerbread house. The Christmas cookie and bread
became part of the holiday story and the rest, as they
say, is history.
I wish I knew more about the Bible, so this week
I will work on memorizing from this Sunday's lectionary:
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in
all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ
Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians
Things I can pray for in traffic:
For the guests from all over the community who will
come to St. Andrew's on Saturday. Pray for them and
their families and that the light of Christ will go
with them from this place.
See you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, December 7, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome
to the Eighteenth installment of a weekly e-news bulletin
for parishioners and friends of St. Andrew's, Pickerington,
leading up to Sunday, December 7, 2008.
Don't
Forget…
…to
get your cookies baked. The world's arriving at our
doors in a week.
Things
you probably didn't know:
sticking with the snow one more week…
…apparently
the idea of Inuit cultures having hundreds of words
for snow is an Urban Legend. (Can Arctic peoples have
"urban" legends?) It seems the truth is that
there are hundreds of Inuit dialects, each with their
own word for snow. Not hundreds of nuanced words, just
hundreds of regional dialects, each with their own way
of saying the same thing. In other words, saying the
Inuits have hundreds of words for snow is like saying
Europeans have hundreds of words for snow.
Did
you know snow can officially make you crazy? (Why is
that a surprise, have they never been cooped up for
4 days after a big storm?) But yes, too much snow can
cause Pibloktoq, a little-understood hysteria seen in
people living in the Arctic. It can cause a wide range
of symptoms, including echolalia (senseless repetition
of overheard words) and running around naked in the
snow.
And
something only Bing Crosby could love: According to
the "snowball Earth" theory, roughly 600 million
years ago our planet was entirely covered in snow and
ice. White Christmas's for everyone!
Be
sure and say thank you to…
…to
all those people listed on our Ministry Schedule. Who
are they? Take a look around at the greeters, ushers,
altar guild members, coffee hour families, nursery care
givers, acolytes, bread makers, lectors and chalicists,
and the stealth church closers. You can see their names
on the Ministry Schedule up on the bulletin board. Give
them a big thank you. Oh…and take a minute to be
one too.
What
you can bring to church this Sunday:
If
you haven't had a chance to finish up your pledge for
2008, and are able, boy would that'd be a huge help.
Why do we do that in church?
Why don't we have Christmas decorations up everywhere
like "all the other churches do"? Andy Williams
calls this "the hap-happiest season of all."
The malls have been decorated since before Halloween.
Why are we waiting so long?
Though
it may seem inconceivable, the time before Christmas
hasn't always been a celebration. Like the Lenten season
before Easter, Advent was once a solemn preparation
for Christmas. Well, actually, not Christmas exactly.
Originally it was a season preparing for Epiphany, January
6, the adoration of the Magi. (We Three Kings, and all
that.)
Some
people claim Advent was first celebrated by the apostle
Peter, but the exact starting date of the season was
long ago lost. Whenever it started, Advent originally
was a time of fasting and self-reflection (instead of
today's Christmas parties and "thinking about other
people for a change.") In the mid-300s, two events
changed that thinking: Constantine the Great built the
Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, declaring Jesus'
birthday a national holiday; and Julius, bishop of Rome,
set the date as December 25. Christmas took on a happier,
more celebratory feel and became a time of joyous anticipation.
By the mid-400s most of the Orthodox churches in the
east (you know, like Russian, Greek, Syrian, etc. Orthodox
churches) recognized December 25 as Christmas as well,
though Advent is still much more solemnly observed among
Orthodox Christians, and their season begins a couple
of weeks earlier than western churches!
As
Christmas grew in popularity and in celebratory energy,
there was a lessening of the required fasting during
Advent, though solemnity was still encouraged. (A vestige
of that to this day is our practice of using purple
rather than red and green for our season's colors, as
well as our more penitential nature of prayers and Scripture
readings.)
Another
significant change was the Reformation. Many in the
West had come to believe that the Church (Roman Catholic
at that time) had gone overboard with not only saints
and purgatory and indulgences, but also with an elaborate
calendar piling up too many holidays and days of fasting.
The "Reformed" churches saw Advent and Lent
and other seasons as not only unnecessary but obstructive,
burdening the people with embellishments and under serving
the Christ event itself. So while they destroyed statues
and removed stained glass windows, they also jettisoned
Advent, Lent and just about everything except Christmas
and Easter.
In
the Southern Baptist church I grew up in North Carolina
in the 60s, Advent was seen as "too Catholic"
or "Popish." While many non-denominational,
or charismatic/Pentecostal churches still hold that
view, interestingly there is a gradual, seismic shift
going on in mainstream protestant churches, where Lutheran,
Presbyterian, Congregational, and even some Baptist
churches are recognizing the benefit of preparing for
Christmas (and Easter) with the preparatory season of
Advent (and Lent).
I
wish I knew more about the Bible, so
this week I will work on memorizing from this Sunday's
lectionary:
Do
not ignore this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord
one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years
like one day. The Lord is not slow, but is patient with
you. 2 Peter 3
Things I can pray for in traffic:
For all the various Scout troops, the children and their
leaders and parents, who use our church most every week
and most every weekday evening. Pray for them, their
programs, and their time while in St. Andrew's.
See you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, November 30, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome to the Seventeenth installment of a weekly e-news
bulletin for parishioners and friends of St. Andrew's,
Pickerington, leading up to Sunday, November 30, 2008.
Don't Forget…
…to really, actually, thank God for the blessings
you know and the blessings you don't know about yet,
or won't know until we're all in heaven.
Things you probably didn't know: sticking with
the snow…
First? Snow can keep you warm. Yep, freshly fallen snow
is a fantastic thermal insulator. It's 90 to 95% air,
so essentially, it creates thousands of heat trapping
layers. Practical use? Build snow caves to stay warm.
. http://outdoorswithdave.com/camping/building_a_snow_cave.htm
Check it out.
Second? Snow has incredibly good acoustical properties.
It's said you can hear a normal human conversation across
a flat snowy surface over a mile away.
Bonus:
Largest recorded snowflake? 15 inches in Fort Keogh,
Montana sighted in 1887. That's a bit weird…..
Be sure and say thank you to…
…to all those people who are working on Thanksgiving
Day or "Black Friday" or this weekend who
are there to serve you. They are away from family and
friends for your convenience. You can tell them you
appreciate them.
What you can bring to church this Sunday:
No turkey sandwiches! No leftover stuffing! No green
bean casserole! But…don't forget to remember our
neighbors by bringing your gifts of scarves, hats, gloves
and socks for our Mitten Tree.
Why do we do that in church? This Sunday we begin
a new church year with the season of Advent. (Year B
as a matter of fact, out of three, A, B, C.) And we'll
be lighting an Advent Wreath each of the next four Sundays.
So, what's an Advent wreath? Why do we light it? What's
it doing in church?
I know it'll come as a shock that the actual origins
of Advent wreaths aren't really known. There's evidence
of pre-Christian Germanic peoples using wreathes with
lit candles during the cold and dark December days,
and that they symbolized a hope in future warmth and
increasing sunlight of spring.
Of course, by the Middle Ages, Christians adapted this
tradition as part of their spiritual preparation for
Christmas. After all, Christ is "the Light that
came into the world" to dispel the darkness of
sin and to radiate the truth and love of God (John 3:19-21)
so it was a perfect symbol. Why should the pagans have
all the good fun?
New traditions were added to the old ones so now there's
a lot more symbolism in the Advent wreath than might
meet the eye. And these symbols are the reason we have
Advent Wreaths in church.
The evergreens signify continuous life, even in the
midst of darkness and adversity. You'll often see Holly
in Advent wreaths for the same reason because the prickly
leaves are reminiscent of the crown of thorns, also
a sign of continuous life bearing witness against darkness
and hardship. The circle of the wreath, which has no
beginning or end, symbolizes the eternity of God, the
immortality of the soul, and the everlasting life found
in Christ. And any pine cones, nuts, or seedpods used
to decorate the wreath symbolize resurrection, life
from death.
Then there are the four candles surrounding a center
white candle. The four candles around the circle each
represent a week of Advent, a week of waiting for Christ
to come. Three of those candles are purple, one is rose
colored. Purple symbolizes royalty but it also represents
penance and preparatory sacrifice, making it perfect
for Advent. There is the royalty of the coming King
and there is penance and preparation as we wait. The
rose candle is lit on the third Sunday and that Sunday
is also known as Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is Latin for
rejoicing. As in Lent, the third Sunday in Advent is
a mid-point relaxing from the more somber nature of
the season, and the lectionary readings assigned for
the day have a more celebratory tone. Each week another
candle is lit, raising the hope and anticipation that
Christ, the Light of the World, is soon coming. And
at the celebration of Christmas, the center white candle
is lit. Christ is born.
I wish I knew more about the Bible, so this week
I will work on memorizing from this Sunday's lectionary:
From ages past no one has heard, no ear has perceived,
no eye has seen any God besides you, who works for those
who wait on him. Isaiah 64.
Things I can pray for in traffic:
…consider "praying the radio." It's a
cousin to the practice of "Praying the newspaper."
Praying the radio means lifting up in prayer people
and events you hear talked about on the radio. It can
mean asking God's blessings on the announcers, or people
in a particular story, or a world or local situation,
or something in your own life that the radio talk reminded
you of.
See you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, November 23, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome
to the Sixteenth installment of a weekly e-news bulletin
for parishioners and friends of St. Andrew's, Pickerington,
leading up to Sunday, November 23, 2008.
Don't Forget…
we're
starting up our Christmas Mitten Tree again this year
for Fairfield County Family Services. Please consider
donating new, hand-made, and/or used (but in excellent
condition) mittens, scarves, hats, and/or socks for
both adults and children. You'll find the Mitten Tree
in the Narthex as you enter the church. Just place the
items on the tree and each time the tree fills up, we'll
take them down to Family Services!
Things
you probably didn't know: Since we've already starting
seeing the white stuff outside, here are some factoids:
Did
you know that snow is a mineral, just like diamonds
and salt? Did you know that at the center of almost
every snow crystal is a tiny mote of dust, which can
be anything from volcanic ash to a particle from outer
space? Water crystals start growing around that speck
and the crystals are shaped by humidity, temperature,
wind and so forth, meaning the history of a flake's
fall to the ground is recorded in it!
Oh
and one last terrible factoid. (Those of you under 12
DO NOT READ FURTHER!) Most snowflakes don't look like
the lacy decorations kids cut from folded paper. They're
generally bunches of perfectly symmetrical crystals
stuck together, many of which are identical at first,
and some of the fully formed ones are pretty darned
similar. Each one unique? Well……..
Be
sure and say thank you to…
…to
Fifth-Third Bank and the Episcopal Diocese of Southern
Ohio! Fifth-Third Bank has chosen to forgive over $36,000
of our mortgage loan principal and the diocese is working
out a deal with us to make our total mortgage affordable!
In these difficult financial times, we are blessed.
What
you can bring to church this Sunday:
If
you're a teen, YOURSELF, if you're not, then your teenager(s)
or your friends' or children's teenagers. We want you/them
to meet our new diocesan youth director Rob Conkel and
we want to go for our next filming of our YouTube video.
Why
do we do that in church? This Sunday is (sort of)
New Year's Eve?
Yep,
that's true. As far as the Church is concerned, this
Sunday is (sort of) New Year's Eve. It's the last Sunday
of the church year. Particularly this is true in the
more liturgical denominations such as Episcopal, Lutheran,
and Roman Catholic ones where we divide the year into
seasons. But why do we do that? Why seasons?
There
are lots of reasons and one main one is that we learned
it from our spiritual ancestors, the Jews. They instituted
a yearly reminder of Passover, for example, God's saving
act while they were slaves in Egypt. It's good to be
regularly reminded what God has done for us because
we can, like they did, get busy, forget, and move on.
Forgetting means we have to learn our lessons all over
again, which is stupid when you think about it. Why
keep going back to Spirituality 101 every time when
you can move to 102, or 202 or Advanced Placement? Another
reason is that having yearly seasons makes it easier
for us to understand the big picture of how God works
in our lives. How? Because the church year is divided
into two parts: incarnation and resurrection, the two
most basic principles of Christianity. Jesus was made
human (cycle one: incarnation, or en-flesh-ment), so
that our separation from God could be healed (cycle
two: resurrection of Jesus and therefore our resurrection
to a new life).
The
incarnation cycle is the seasons of Advent (starting
Sunday week), Christmas, and Epiphany. These seasons
prepare us to welcome Jesus, celebrate the coming of
Jesus, and tell us how Jesus revealed himself to us.
They're all about Jesus coming into the world. Whereas
the resurrection cycle, Lent and Easter, is all about
what happened because he came into the world. Lent aids
us in preparing to receive, or continually receive,
the new life Christ makes available to us. Easter is
the celebration of that new life, what it means, and
what it does. While these explanations are a bit simplified,
their point is to say that the church year isn't a collection
of unrelated events/celebrations/notices, but a continuous
cycling of the salvation story.
But
what about the time after the Easter season, the time
we're in right now? It's called, unsurprisingly, "ordinary
time" from the Latin tempus ordinarii, "numbered
or ordinal time." You'll notice on the sheets with
our weekly Scripture passages that this summer and fall
each Sunday was numbered such as: "Fourth Sunday
after Pentecost" or "Twenty-Sixth Sunday after
Pentecost". Of course I tell you this for the Sunday
which will be the ONLY Sunday during this season when
that isn't true! You'll see it's called "Last Pentecost."
(Wouldn't you know.) But think of this ordinary time,
or numbered time, as the time of the year when we live
out the ordinariness of life, when all the principles
we learn in the incarnation and resurrection cycle are
put to practice.
BTW,
this Sunday coming up is also known as Christ the King
Sunday, the culmination of the year, the celebration
of our belief that Christ will be the final judge, final
ruler of all ages, and it's the last hurray before we
begin the year again.
I
wish I knew more about the Bible, so this week I
will work on memorizing from this Sunday's lectionary:
(It's a long one, but one of the most beautiful prayers
in Scripture.)
I
(St. Paul) pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom
and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with
the eyes of your heart enlightened, you may know what
is the hope to which he has called you, what are the
riches of his glorious inheritance among the saints,
and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power
for us who believe, according to the working of his
great power. Ephesians 1
Things
I can pray for in traffic:
…all
of those in our community who will be facing Thanksgiving
alone or in despair.
And
if you know of someone like that, consider inviting
them to your home for Thanksgiving.
See
you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, November 16, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome to the Fifteenth installment of a weekly e-news
bulletin for parishioners and friends of St. Andrew's,
Pickerington, leading up to Sunday, November 16, 2008.
Don't Forget… (and there's a whole bunch
to remember this week)
…Newcomer Breakfast at 9:00 AM. Great way to meet
our new folks and welcome them to the neighborhood,
good cookin' and eatin' sponsored by the Men's Group,
fun way to catch up with those people you sit with in
the pews, and of course, it's FREE!
…Youth Sunday at 10:00 AM. Each Sunday School class
has a part to play as they close out their first term,
including the Teens who are showing off their acting
and theological skills in Sunday's sermon.
…Acolyte training after the 10:00 service, those
in the know have received their invitation, but the
training is open to all, including adults.
…and Mission Council meeting after the service.
(Whew.)
Things you probably didn't know:
In honor of our Newcomer Breakfast this Sunday, let's
ask the question: Which came first, the chicken or the
egg ? Are you ready?
Apparently, the answer is "the egg". Why?
I have no idea, but some (evolutionary genetics) experts
from the University of Nothingham in England say that
"simply put" genetic material doesn't change
during an animal's life. (Have they not seen The Hulk?)
Therefore, the first bird that evolved into a chicken
must have existed as an embryo inside an egg and that
"the pecking order" is clear. (Even scientist
can have a [lame] sense of humor.) The living organism
inside the eggshell would have the same DNA as the chicken
it would develop into, so the egg would have to come
first. Apparently a bunch of "eggsperts" (is
there no end to this?) at King's College in London agree.
Well if the Brits agree, I guess we can all fall into
line.
Be sure and say thank you to…
…to the guys who bought their way through grocery
stores this week and cooked their way through Sunday's
breakfast,
…to the Sunday School teachers who made this first
term and this Sunday possible,
…to the kids and teens who have worked on their
presentations,
…to Kevin McCarty and his commitment to the acolytes,
…and to the Newcomers who bring so much to this
community!
What you can bring to church this Sunday:
…frankly, I'd say a lot of energy and a little
extra sleep, you'll need it thanking everyone.
Why
do we do that in church?
We've previously talked about where Sunday School came
from , let's talk about where acolytes came from. "Acolytes"
is a general term referring to servers at the altar,
as well as bearers of torches (torch bearers) crosses
(crucifers) incense containers (thurifers) and banners
(banner bearers.)
Believe it or not, acolytes are referred to in church
writings as far back as the 3rd century where it's told
they assisted the clergy in setting the Eucharist table.
Only later did their job description expand into carrying
torches (which in those days really were torches) crosses
and the like. By the Middle Ages, they were considered
a "minor" order, a prerequisite step that
led to the "major" orders of deacon, priest,
and bishop. (BTW, also included in that group of "minor"
orders: exorcists and lectors and doorkeepers. hmmmm.)
Here's something for your next party: Acolyte
comes from the Greek akolouthos: "a" meaning
association and "kolouthos" meaning road or
journey. Which explains why they're always in processions.
I wish I knew more about the Bible, so this week
I will work on memorizing from this Sunday's lectionary:
Therefore encourage one another and build up each other,
as indeed you are doing. I Thessalonians 5
Things I can pray for in traffic:
…for the life and health and abundance of this
congregation and our ministries to our neighbors.
See you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, November 9, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome to the Fourteenth installment of a weekly e-news
bulletin for parishioners and friends of St. Andrew's,
Pickerington, leading up to Sunday, November 9, 2008.
Don't Forget…
…(parents) that Youth Sunday rehearsals are this
Sunday after the 10:00 service. Make sure all Sunday
School kids and Teens are here for our practice.
…your Good Faith Effort and Pledge cards if you
haven't already offered them by mail or at the services
last Sunday. Our numbers are encouraging and the bishops
and trustees of the diocese are meeting this weekend
at Diocesan Convention to discuss our case, among several.
We have about 11 families who have not turned theirs
in yet, and we prayerfully need your support, if you
are able at this time. (We also have 14 new pledges!)
Things you probably didn't know:
With this historic election (no matter which side of
the aisle you're on, we can agree on historic), let's
have one more session on presidents. Just think how
much knowledge you'll be able to throw around at the
next office or holiday party.
Q1:
What does the letter S stand for in Harry S. Truman?
Q2: How long did George W. and Laura date before getting
married?
Q3: What is one food that Barack Obama really really
doesn't like?
A1: It stands for S. His full middle
name is S, believe it or not, in honor of his two grandfathers
who both had S in their names.(If both of his grandfathers
had been the II, would he had called himself the IV?)
A2: A grand total of 3 months. (Clearly, he's been "the
decider" for quite some time.)
A3: Ice cream. Ever since he worked as a teenager at
Baskins Robbins, he has wanted to swear off the stuff.
But since we've seen him on the campaign trail with
ice cream, obviously politics trumped taste buds.
Be sure and say thank you to…
…all the families who provide us coffee hour after
the 10:00 service. Our refreshment is their goal. Thank
you for going the extra mile for you and me.
What you can bring to church this Sunday:
…your tired paper, your poor mail flyers, your
huddled newspapers yearning to be breathe free (as something
else in their next—recycled—life). Apologizes
to Mr. Lazarus and the Statue of Liberty.
Why do we do that in church? This Sunday we will
baptize Isabella Leffler. Why do we baptize people?
OK, there are biblical and traditional reasons. First
of all, baptism is one of the few rites that the church
believes can be traced all the way back to Jesus. Baptism
developed as a rite in the early church following Jesus'
admonition that we must be born "of water and the
spirit" (John 3:5). Not only that, but after his
resurrection, Christians believe Jesus commanded us
to make disciples by baptizing in the name of the Trinity
(Father, Son and Holy Spirit) and then sending these
new disciples all out into the world while teaching
them to "obey everything I have commanded."
Matthew 28:19-20. You can see a pattern. Make disciples,
baptize them, send them, teach them. And it's a pattern
and job description for every congregation. Make, baptize,
send, teach.
It's probably easy to understand the need for making,
sending and teaching, but why baptize? Well, John the
Baptist baptized people (including Jesus) in a symbolic
washing away of sins. People confessed what they did
wrong, and the baptism was a symbol of that confession.
But Jesus and the church took it a step further. Not
only is there a need for us to confess our sins and
turn away from them (repentance) so that we can get
right with God, but we need help doing it. In baptism,
the church believes that there is an actually washing
away of sins. But wait, there's more. There's also a
gift of the Holy Spirit because we can't possibly live
the life God calls us to live, all on our own. We need
help. That help is the Holy Spirit and we believe at
baptism, God gives us that help. Somehow, in some way,
and through some method known only to God, we are changed
at baptism we're given power, we're given ability. Pay
attention to our baptismal service on Sunday and see
how it summarizes all of that for you. Watch how the
candidate (or in this case the parents and godparents,
in Isabella's stead) are asked if they are prepared
and ready to take on these new responsibilities. And
this is always a great time (as with weddings) to renew
your own promises with God.
I wish I knew more about the Bible, so this week
I will work on memorizing from this Sunday's lectionary:
Keep awake therefore, for you know neither the day nor
the hour. Matthew 25
Things I can pray for in traffic:
…for your own commitments you have made to God
in the past, that you can restore them, and your relationship
with God.
See you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, November 2, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome
to the Thirteenth installment of a weekly e-news bulletin
for parishioners and friends of St. Andrew's, Pickerington.
Don't
Forget…
…two
very important things: to bring your Good Faith Effort
and Pledge Cards, and to turn your clocks back on Saturday
night. There are hardly words to express how important
this Sunday will be in the life of this congregation.
Like it or not, it is make or break time. The confluence
of the last two years of struggles, along with the global
financial stresses, has brought us to a deciding point.
Do we continue our newly found growth, educate our children
in the faith, feed hungry families, share the good news
of Christ, provide a safe haven for all seekers of God
and seize our new energies, or do we continue our $2500/month
shortfall with its imminent consequences of loss of
staff or property? I really dislike sounding like those
dreadful and ubiquitous political ads controlling the
airwaves, striking fear with whatever decision is made.
Forgive me for doing so, but this weekend will either
be one of our finest hours or one of our more sad.
Things
you probably didn't know:
Still,
life goes on (You knew that.) The world remains and
we remain in it. (You knew that too.) So let's continue
commenting on this world of ours. In particular, here
are a few oddities surrounding this peculiar institution
of daylight savings time.
>
Benjamin Franklin ("Early to bed, and early
to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise"),
when he was an envoy to France, anonymously published
a letter suggesting that Parisians economize on candles
by rising earlier to use morning sunlight, tax window
shutters to encourage less use of them, ration candles,
and use the ringing of church bells and the firing of
cannons at sunrise to wake the public.
>
You would think the "Twin Cities" would
act a little more neighborly and I'm sure they now do.
But in the mid 1960s, St. Paul wanted to follow the
national trend in moving up the date for daylight savings
time, but Minneapolis wanted to follow state law. For
years they didn't agree and for years (at this time
of year) you could cross the street and change the time.
>
There hasn't always been a national consensus about
daylight savings time. Not too many years ago, at its
worst, 23 different pairs of daylight savings time start
and end dates were used in Iowa alone. During this period,
for five weeks each year, Boston, New York, and Philadelphia
were not on the same time as Washington D.C., Cleveland,
or Baltimore--but Chicago was. And, on one Ohio to West
Virginia bus route, passengers had to change their watches
seven times in 35 miles.
Be
sure and say thank you to…
…to
our teenagers for sticking with the program as we try
to figure out "who we are." (They'll know
what that means.)
What
you can bring to church this Sunday:
…stewardship
cards and a thankful spirit.
Why
do we do that in church?
This Sunday is All Saints' Sunday. It's when we remember
the lives of the faithful who have gone before us. Why
do we remember saints and do we ever pray to them?
Well,
the practice of respecting and remembering people who
have lived lives of devotion is as old as the church.
It's mostly because our faith teaches that the saints
are both close to God (because of their holiness) and
accessible to us (because they shared our human nature).
The New Testament book of Hebrews tells us of "a
cloud of witnesses" in heaven and our faith teaches
that they pray for us and forever witness the glory
of God. We're encouraged to imitate them, on the idea
that being close to God involves praying and caring
for others, and regularly witnessing to the glory of
God in our own lives and those around us. We can imitate
them because we can learn how they lived and by their
example find our own way. We don't have to make it up
from scratch.
In
the early church there grew a practice of remembering
the really really great saints, the towers of the church.
But as time went on, people wanted to remember the quieter,
less conspicuous saints who were their friends and family
members. Also there became too many towering saints
to remember by name! So the church, in its infinite
wisdom, decided on a "catch-all" day, when
all the saints, known and "those whom are known
to God alone" could be lifted up and for whom thanks
could be given.
Do
we pray to saints? The quick answer is, as Anglicans,
no. We hold them in high esteem; we follow their examples
and learn from their lives. We can even ask them to
pray with us to God, adding their intercessions to our
own. But only to God are prayers to be offered.
I
wish I knew more about the Bible,
so this week I will work on memorizing from this Sunday's
lectionary:
Blessed
are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom
of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they
will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they
will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger
and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive
mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will
see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will
be called children of God. Matthew 5
Things
I can pray for in traffic:
…those
saints in your life who are, or who have been along
the way, examples and encouragers for you.
See
you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, October 26, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome to the Twelfth installment of a weekly e-news
bulletin for parishioners and friends of St. Andrew's,
Pickerington.
Don't Forget…
…our Food Pantry Music Fest tomorrow (Saturday)
at 4:00 PM. Bring some food for our local pantries and
enjoy some homegrown music talent and performances.
Could there be the next American Idol or next America's
Got Talent superstar in our presence? What better way
to cap off your (rainy, dreary) Saturday afternoon than
to do a good deed and have some fun. We'll have light
refreshments to keep you pumped.
Things you probably didn't know: With the approaching
election—heck some of you have already voted or
will vote by absentee soon so it's approached and gone—let's
go back to some presidential factoids with wacky additions.
- The
6th president of the United States John Quincy Adams
spent 50 of his 81 years in public service as a diplomat,
senator, secretary of state, president, and then as
member of the U.S. House of Representatives. He witnessed
the signing of the peace that ended the American Revolution
as well as had his hand in the purchasing of Florida.
And in warm weather, he customarily went skinny-dipping
in the Potomac River before dawn.
-
Warren Harding, 29th U.S. president, was a well-liked,
easy going kind of guy who encouraged the country
in 1920 to return to "normalcy" a ward he
essentially made-up, er, invented. He did have some
problems with corruption in his administration so
I guess it won't come as a surprise to learn he played
poker at least twice a week and that he once gambled
away an entire set of White House china. His advisors
were nicknamed the "Poker Cabinet" because
their regular attendance at the president's extra-curricular
activities.
- The
26th U.S. president Theodore "Teddy" "Speak
softly and carry a big stick" Roosevelt is widely
considered one of the strongest and most vigorous
presidents with a list of achievements as long as
any. When William McKinley was assassinated, Roosevelt
became the youngest man ever to be president at the
age of 42. But to end on a touchy-feely note, the
teddy bear that is the favorite of children everywhere
is derived from Theodore ("Teddy") Roosevelt.
On a hunting trip in 1902 down in Mississippi, Roosevelt
famously refused to kill a captured black bear simply
for the sake of making a kill, and while her cub was
nearby. Bears and later bear cubs quickly became closely
associated with Roosevelt in political cartoons thereafter
and as with all success, they became a marketing boom.
Be
sure and say thank you to…
…Andy Taylor and all his helpers for our food pantry
Music Fest. As you can imagine, many hours and much
effort is going into this event.
What you can bring to church this Sunday:
…your pledge cards if you cannot be in church next
Sunday! On All Saints' Sunday, November 2nd we'll have
our Ingathering of good faith and effort pledge cards,
asking God's blessings on our gifts. (Or you can mail
them in if you can't be here this weekend either. Of
course, we'll miss you terribly if you can't join us
two weeks in a row!)
Why do we do that in church? So while we're on
the subject, how did churches raise money in the past?
For those of you unfamiliar with church history over
the last couple of hundred years (I realize there's
only a few) you might be surprised. Churches raised
money by renting pews. In essence, churches charged
for reserving a pew for you. In the 19th century a New
York Avenue Presbyterian Church family would pay a quarterly
rental fee for a pew in the sanctuary. Families who
sat closer to the front paid more, so it was clear to
everyone who were the most prominent givers. From their
bulletin on Easter Sunday, 1901: "Strangers are
cordially welcomed. Every family of this church should
have its own pew. Every regular attendant should have
a stated sitting in the church. Sittings in the gallery
from $4.00 to $13.00, on the main floor from $15.00
to $150.00." And later in 1927: "The Board
of Deacons have requested that the members of the church
plan to be in their pews not later than 11 o'clock in
order that it may be possible for them to seat the visitors
and strangers promptly as they come to the service.
The Board of Session has authorized the announcement
that on Easter Sunday no seats will be reserved after
10:45 o'clock. The membership of our church, we are
confident, will adjust ourselves to this request."
Churches down south were no different. At the Church
of the Good Shepherd in York, SC there were three classes
of pews established in 1855: First class (10 pews near
the front with the best views) was rented at $40 per
year. Unrented pews were left for "strangers"
and therefore called……….. "strangers
pews." And seats in the gallery (balcony) were
sometimes free or at very low cost. They were used by
the choir, by several slaves who became members, and
by some widows still in mourning. But that's not all.
Many southern churches had a bank of lights in the front
of the nave with a family's name beside each bulb. Every
Sunday the congregation's attendance was displayed as
those who had arrived trekked up front and screwed in
their light. (What a great idea!!) Around 1874, Good
Shepherd replaced pew rentals in part by the passing
of a collection plate every fourth Sunday. (Though you
can bet families stayed in "their pews" for
years afterwards.)
Remember last week's e-News and the mention of the (Episcopal)
Church of the Holy Communion that later became (to the
horror of the diocese) the infamous Limelight Club?
This parish was also famous because it was the first
church in New York City to be established as a Free
Pew church.
I wish I knew more about the Bible, so this week
I will work on memorizing from this Sunday's lectionary:
Jesus said to him, "'You shall love the Lord your
God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and
with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment.
And a second is like it: 'You shall love your neighbor
as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the
law and the prophets." Matthew 22
Things I can pray for in traffic:
For God's abundant blessings upon St. Andrew's and our
ministries.
See you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, October 19, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome to the Eleventh installment of a weekly e-news
bulletin for parishioners and friends of St. Andrew's,
Pickerington.
Don't Forget…
…to bring your paper recycling! De plane, de plane!!
It's here! The bin has already arrived! (Sorry for the
ancient reference to Fantasy Island.) Tell your friends.
Tell your neighbors. (Hopefully some of them will be
in both categories.) Tell your co-workers who live near
here. Believe it or not, our bin is already filling
up and it only arrived yesterday! Newspapers, mail of
any kind (except cardboard), office, copier and fax
papers, bring it all.
Things you probably didn't know about recycling:
Ok, so they aren't "crazy" things (well one
is), but since we're discussing recycling, consider
these recycling tips for the good of the environment
and us all:
CDs/DVDs/Game
Disks: Send scratched music or computer CDs, DVDs,
and PlayStation or Nintendo video game disks to AuralTech
for refinishing, and they'll work like new: 888/454-3223,
www.auraltech.com.
Rechargeable batteries: They are quite toxic
and most are just thrown away. Instead, take them to
the local Circuit City, Home Depot, Radio Shack, Best
Buy or electronics store. Call before you go, of course,
but most will take them for recycling.
Compact fluorescent bulbs: These new energy efficient
are great for saving electricity but they contain mercury
and need to handled carefully (just read any description
about how you're supposed to clean up after a broken
bulb!) Home Depot is starting a campaign or you can
check out Fairfield County's recycling website. Be warned:
tiny print and loads of info to pour through. http://www.fairfieldrecycles.org/
Computers and electronics: Find the most responsible
recyclers, local and national, at www.ban.org/pledge/Locations.html.
Locally? Contact Redemtech, 3650 Brookham Drive, Columbus
614-305-7102. Or look at the provided Fairfield County
recycling website above.
Exercise videos: Swap them with others at www.videofitness.com.
(Who knew?)
Eyeglasses: The local Lion's Club, LensCrafters
and other eye care chains collect these. Lenses are
reground and given to people in need.
Ink/toner cartridges: Recycle them at church!
We have the envelopes at church for you to mail them
in postage free and it's makes money for St. Andrew!
Be sure and say thank you to…
…to Tina Trim for setting up and managing the ink
cartridge recycling project, to Elaine Vaughn for helping
out with our new paper recycling project, and give yourselves
a pat on the back (if you bring your recycling to church.)
What you can bring to church this Sunday:
…well, another obvious answer week. If everybody
brings something each week, who knows, we might fill
this puppy up faster than planned.
Why
do we do that in church? What happens to items used
in church that the church no longer needs or wishes
to use?
In other words what does a church do if it no longer
needs or wishes to use vessels consecrated (blessed)
for the altar, or vestments used by the clergy or worship
leaders? There are three basic choices. One is that
the church may give those items "as is" to
another church so that they will continue to be used
in worship or spiritual practices. Many of the items
we use at St. Andrew came from that very source as a
matter of fact. Episcopal churches in our diocese, the
Diocese of Southern Ohio, gave us altar vessels (chalices,
patens, altar candlesticks for example) clergy vestments
(chalices, stoles, for example.) If this is done, no
further action is needed for the item to be used in
the next parish.
If
they are in poorer condition, another choice is to refurbish
them (restoring the fabric or re-plating the metal)
or give them to a ministry dedicated to that service.
Our parishioner Edith Carr is doing just that with old
choir robes and more. She is taking church items we
cannot or will not use any longer and sending them to
churches in Africa which will restore them and used
the items themselves or donate them to other local churches.
Another service is in New Jersey, call Vestment Exchange
and Sister Elias Freeman (at the Vestment Exchange,
732-636-5111) also performs that ministry.
A third choice is to deconsecrate the item so that it
may be disposed of properly. When items are dedicated
for holy use they are blessed by God through the intercessions
of the clergy and people.
We call that action "consecration." We did
such a thing recently with the acolyte crosses Kevin
McCarty made. But when the item cannot or will not be
used in the service of God at all, it is not appropriate
to merely throw it away. To "toss it" is disrespectful
of its service to God and to the people of God and is
akin to throwing God's blessings into the trash. Instead,
the items should be deconsecrated. Essentially, we ask
God to remove his blessings from it by declaring it
is no longer to be set apart for God's service and may
be used for "secular purposes" or for disposal.
This is appropriate for items used in church as well
as for church buildings themselves. The famous/infamous
NYC night club "The Limelight" was once the
Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion. When a real
estate deal went sour and the building "fell"
into the wrong hands, the bishops of New York quickly
arranged a deconsecration of the church before turning
over the property.
I wish I knew more about the Bible, so this week
I will work on memorizing from this Sunday's lectionary:
Then Jesus said to them, "Give therefore to the
emperor the things that are the emperor's, and to God
the things that are God's." Matthew 22
Things I can pray for in traffic:
For our environment, and for St. Andrew's use of it,
that we can be better caretakers of our blessings and
of our trash.
See you in church on Sunday.
For
the week leading up to Sunday, October 12, 2008.
Hello
Everybody:
Welcome to the Tenth (yes tenth, I jumped the gun last
week) installment of a weekly e-news bulletin for parishioners
and friends of St. Andrew's, Pickerington.
Don't Forget…
…to bring Fido, Kitty, Elmer the parakeet and all
those other little joys in your life to church on Sunday.
Pictures of pets and stuffed pet toys are welcome too.
With each and all we will ask God's blessing upon them
and upon those who care for them (which is why pictures
and stuffed toys are welcome). While it may get a bit
noisy at times, don't worry, it's just a reminder of
how wonderful even the untidiness of God's creation
can be.
Things you probably didn't know about dogs:
(We'll make it the top 5…)
· 87% of dog owners say their dog curls up beside
them or at their feet while they watch T.V.
· Number of dogs in the U.S. named as the primary
beneficiaries in their owner's will? Approximately 1
million.
· An American Animal Hospital Assoc. poll found
that 33% of dog owners admit to talking to their dogs
on the phone and leaving answering machine messages
for them while away.
· Bingo is the name of the dog on the side of
the Cracker Jack box. (Remember, There was a farmer
who had a dog and Bingo was his name o…B I N G
O……B I N G O………?)
· It is a myth that dogs are color blind. They
can actually see in color, just not as vividly as humans.
It's similar to our vision at dusk.
Be sure and say thank you to…
…those who contributed time and food and money
to our outreach at His Place this Wednesday at St. John's
Episcopal Church on W. Town Street. We served dinner
to over 80 people, met many folks at dinner and had
a great time doing it all.
What you can bring to church this Sunday:
…well, this one should be obvious. However, if
you don't have a pet but have family or friends who
do, come on up for the blessing too! Together we'll
ask God's blessing on them as well.
Why do we do that in church? Why do we have a
blessing of the animals in the Episcopal Church and
why is it in remembrance of St. Francis?
Well,
there are lots of reasons for each and they all center
on the saint himself. St Francis lived in Italy in the
1200s and was born into wealth. On a pilgrimage to Rome
he was struck by the terrible poverty he witnessed along
the way and in a moment of haste, emotion or pure religious
fervor, stripped himself of all his extraordinarily
expensive clothes, gave them away, and spent a day begging
with the beggars. The experience of being penniless
deeply affected |
