EASTER LILIES IN JULY

There is was.  It had poked through all the mulch that we laid to keep the weeds down.  It probably looked like a weed until a few days ago.  But now it was unmistakable.  It was an Easter lily.

There it was in the courtyard at St. Stephen’s.  Who planted it?  I have no idea.  I have planted many of these in my own backyard, leftovers from Easters at St. Stephen’s.  None have ever bloomed.  But this one was white and full and pointed toward Woodruff Avenue looking like a trumpet about to blast out a note.

I caught a glimpse of it and stopped, but not for too long.  There was a meeting.  It was the end of the day.  Yet the sight of that lily gave me hope, hope that I needed.

It was not like I had not received a lot of hope up to that point.  I had.  But it was at that moment that the hope sunk in and became real.  The words, hugs, expressions of hope had come from many places in response to the announcement I had made about my wife Pam’s breast cancer.  Pam and I had spent one day pretty much in stunned silence.  We did not go out of the house.  We did not talk to any one.  We let the reality of the diagnosis set in.  By the next day, we began to talk to others.

And the reasons to hope so outweigh all other considerations.  It was caught early.  Pam is a very health-conscious person. She has great doctors.  The medical advances in terms of breast cancer are absolutely amazing.  Yet, there is something about the “C” word that simply takes your breath away.

And so it did for me - until I saw the lily.

Easter is not just a season of the church year that falls in the spring.  We do not just celebrate it and move to other more important facets of the church.  The church, the community of resurrection, sprang from the Easter event.  Always we celebrate new life coming from death, healing coming from sickness, love springing up in desolate places, the lost being found, the excluded being included, and on and on and on.  Underneath most of our individual stories there is an Easter story.  Can you tell yours?  Are you surprised to find that others have stories of new life similar and yet different from yours?  Is this aspect of the work of the Holy Spirit really that surprising? Though I preached six times during the Easter season on what it meant to be a community of resurrection during the days of the early Church and what it means now, I can still be surprised by a lily in July.  Yet I think the grace of God - no matter how much we know of it, hope in it, depend on it - is always surprising and part of the surprise is the hope that springs up in our hearts.  Our catechism (Yes, Virginia, the Episcopal Church has a catechism which is in the Book of Common Prayer ...we can use it but we don’t force anybody to memorize it) says that “the Christian hope is to live with confidence in newness and fullness of life . . . (p. 861)”  It is the grace of God revealed in the Easter event that keeps bringing us back confidently to this newness and fullness.  This is where I want to live and move and have my being in the days ahead.

-                     George Glazier

Friday Matins . . . is a centering prayer group that has started meeting at St. Stephen’s on Friday mornings.  It is similar to the centering prayer group that met during Lent except that in addition to long periods of reflective silence there is a short liturgy of psalms and readings.

Friday Matins meets from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m. Fridays in Hobson Hall.  Bring something comfortable to sit on or kneel on during the prayer time.  For more information contact Justin Lanier at justinraylanier@yahoo.com

Wedding of Nicole Welsh and Jay Kelly

Nicole Welsh, our former seminarian, will be married in Chicago this summer.  She is marrying Jay Patrick Kelly at Zion Lutheran Church in Tinley Park, Illinois on July 29 at 2:30 p.m.  We ask God’s blessing on their wedding day and on all the days of their married life.

Grant that their wills may be so knit together in God’s will ...

that they may grow in love and peace ...

Wedding of Chris Manion and Katie Braun

Chris Manion and Katie Braun were married by the Rector on July 1 in the gazebo in Goodale Park.  Chris is a member of our choir, former Vestry member, and is frequently our trumpeter on Sunday mornings.

Make their life together a sign of Christ’s love . . .

JUNE GRADUATES

June saw several graduations of people at St. Stephen’s: David McNaughton, son of Jeff and Janet McNaughton; Sally Polk, daughter if Walter and Stephanie Polk; and Rick Bowen, son of Kelley Bowen.

Update your address and other information

Summer is a time when Kelley seeks to update our parish directory.

Please pass on any changes in address, phone or e-mail.

Especially e-mail . . . our hope is to have such an up to date e-mail list that by early fall we can begin distributing our newsletter via e-mail to all those who wish to receive in that manner.  We will still be printing the newsletter and mailing it to those who would rather have it in that form but an e-mail newsletter has the following pluses:

              +            It can be very timely . . . at some times in the year we could use a newsletter more frequently than                                    once a month - particularly September-October, February, Lent-Easter.

              +            The cost of such an E-newsletter is small in comparison with one that totally relies on postage.

Each Sunday in Hobson Hall there will be a legal pad on which you can update your information for the parish directory.  Or you may e-mail it directly to Kelley Bowen at kelley_bowen@ststephens-columbus.org

THE DEACON’S OFFICE

Recently, I was asked about my office.  Here’s where it stands, as of the end of June.

              DESK: It’s actually a long table from Hobson Hall. Some folks in the congregation are watching for a used desk that might fit the space, and I’m also shopping used office furniture stores. We’re looking for something that is sturdy enough, fits the space and ambiance of the front office, and is at the “right price”.

              RUG:  It’s polypropylene, from Old Time Pottery, cost $33.50. It fits the space, and looks nice with the brick walls and tile floor.

              DESK CHAIR: A nice gift from a member of the congregation.

              COMPUTER & FLAT SCREEN:  A nice gift from a member of the congregation who moved to another city.

              DESK LAMP:  It used to be on the organ.  Works well in the Deacon’s Office.

              BOOKSHELVES:  Another nice gift from a member of the congregation who moved.

              TELEPHONE: An instrument and line that have not been used for some years, but still works!

              CEILING LIGHT FIXTURES:  Joe Rutter and Walter Polk have replaced the original can light fixtures with fluorescent ones similar to what

they installed in the Men’s Restroom.  Definitely an improvement!

              About what’s still to be done, or needed.  An internet connection is in process, and a printer has been identified. I anticipate that these items will be in place shortly.

              WINDOW TREATMENT:  The mini-blinds have to go, but no decision has been made about what to do.  Removing them without any other action would not be a good idea.  The windows are single pane glass, facing south, floor to ceiling.  Several ideas have been floated, but the truth is that this is a major challenge. The Junior Warden and some other folks are thinking about what to do. Whatever is done will have a cost that is not currently budgeted.   In the short term, the mini-blinds will stay, but that is Not a Permanent Option. 

              GUEST CHAIRS:  We’d like to have two comfortable chairs for visitors, and maybe a small end table to place between them. 

              FILING DRAWERS: A filing cabinet, in good condition, would be welcome, especially one that will fit the small space. 

              Thank You to all who have contributed items and ideas for the office!  Making this space functional as the Deacon’s Office is truly a collaborative effort.

                                                        -- Pam Elwell

MUSICAL NOTES

Judy Willour attended the National American Guild of Organists Conference in Chicago from July 2-7. It was a great opportunity to attend music seminars on various topics such as choral techniques and new church music repertoire. Twice daily recitals offered opportunities to hear America’s top organists as well.

Football Parking for OSU Home Games

              One of our most lucrative and convenient fund-raisers is providing parking for OSU home football games. We have a cadre of loyal parkers who come early as well as others seeking a place close to the stadium. We charge $20 per car and can park between 35 and 40 cars in our lot (you do the math!!!). 

              Joe Fowler, our Sr. Warden, has been coordinating volunteers for this. We need about two people each Saturday. One person takes the money and one shows people where to park. And then when the lot is full, you go home. The dates for the home games are:

September 2, 16, 23         October 7, 21, 28             November 18 (Michigan game)

Please call or e-mail Joe Fowler is you can help. 

263-4404 or josewolf@msn.com

Please join Tracy Wimberly and Andy Workum for an “Introduction to Nonviolent Communication, A Language of Life” session. This presentation and dialogue will be held at St. Stephen’s on Thursday, July 13, and repeated on Tuesday, August 1, 2006 from 7P to 8:30P.  Tracy and Andy are part of a group, Compassionate Communication of Central Ohio, that is dedicated to bringing the work of Dr. Marshall Rosenberg to Central Ohio. The “NVC” work has been important to them individually and as a couple. They are excited to share this opportunity with others!

NSI NEWS

Since school is out, many children no longer get meals from school programs. Neighborhood Services, Inc. is asking you to help by donating “kid-friendly” foods such as:

                            Cereal                   Peanut Butter

                            Crackers             Jelly

                            Sphagettio’s         Mac & Cheese

                            Juice boxes         Noodles

Beginning August 14 NSI will be handing out new school supplies. The next time you shop think of NSI and pick up such items as:

Pencils       notebooks         glue        Crayons              pens       paper           Scissors         rulers                                 

Bring the supplies to church by Sunday, August 6 and put them in the red NSI boxes in Hobson Hall. Or you may drop off donations at NSI, 1950 North Front Street, Suite E, between 10 am and 3 pm, Monday through Thursday.

NSI will also be outfitting children with new school clothes. Once we get the information, a congregational e-mail will be sent.

ST. CYPRIAN OF CARTHAGE EPISCOPAL CHURCH: A new church in our Diocese and city opened on June 4. St. Cyprian’s will be located in what was St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at 787 E. Broad Street and is intended as a new ministry for Africans as well as the local community. For more information you can go to their website: www.stcyprianofcarthage.org.

     Edward Lense, who begins his 2nd year in Deacon’s School will be the Deacon in Training at St. Cyprian.

CARE TEAM

              Recently, Don Farrow and Pam Elwell agreed to become the Care Team Coordinators. One or both of us are available to receive calls for Care Team assistance.

When we receive a call, we contact those people on the Care Team who have indicated that they can provide the help that is needed.

              What help can Care Team provide? Sometimes, we provide meals when an emergency or unexpected event occurs. Sometimes, we provide a ride to a doctor’s appointment or a medical treatment of some kind.

Sometimes, we send cards and notes on an occasion such as a birthday, anniversary, death of a loved one, graduation, marriage, birth of a child, etc. Sometimes we ask for help with driving someone to church or on the handicap bus. People on the Care Team – and in the parish – respond as they are able to do so. This ministry of caring for one another in specific, usually short-term ways reaches many people.

              Another way Care Team helps is through prayer.

Sometimes, people ask for prayers for themselves or those who are dear to them. A small group of Care Team practices the discipline of daily prayers for those on the Confidential Prayer List. Don and Pam are contact people for the Confidential Prayer List as well as the Care Team.

              If you are interested in helping with Care Team responses, please contact Don or Pam.

              Don Farrow can be reached at 614-890-6906 or

dfar555@aol.com. Pam Elwell can be reached at

614-294-3749 (church voice mail), 614-418-0231 (home),

614-736-1204 (cell), or

CampusMinistry@StStephens-Columbus.org.

BOOK CLUB:

Since the book we were planning to read and discuss in July is not yet available, we are moving plans to discuss that book to September. So, here are the plans for July-September:

              July: “The Tender Bar: a memoir “ by  J.R. Moehringer. CML has many copies of this 2005 publication available.  We'll be meeting at Jerrie Cribb's home (4270 Kendale Rd.) at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, July 25.  We'll follow our normal format with dinner and main dish provided.  Please bring beverage, side dish or dessert to share.

                    August:  “Flush” by Carl Hiaasen.  CML has over 50 copies of the book and a number of audio copies as well.  All of them have a reserve list, so you may want to get on the list now.  We're meeting on Sunday, August 13 after the second morning service in the Chapel.  Linda Tiffany will be hosting. We'll share lunch at the church; Book Club will be providing a light lunch for all attending.  Note that the August meeting is a special event where all church members, especially middle school age children and above are invited to read and attend.

              September:  “Leaving Church: A Memoir of Faith” by Barbara Brown Taylor.  CML has it on order as of this writing. 

              Kindly let Jerrie (451-4053) or Linda (846-8387) know if you plan to attend the event they are hosting, so that they may plan for the right number of people.  Everyone is invited!                                    ----Cynthia

BOOKWORM NEWS:

              What do you do on a hot or rainy summer day? Read, read, read! There is some entertaining and informative summer reading in the Bookworm at low cost. Bookworm Sundays in July are the 9th and the 23rd. Y’all come down.

              And in August…Time to get religion! We have it for you in the Bookworm and are featuring a variety of religious materials – books, tapes, etc. Bookworm Sundays are August 6th and 20th. Support your local Bookstore—we need help!

KENYON SUMMER CONFERENCE will be held on Sunday, July 23 through Friday, July 28 at Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio. The keynote speaker is Dr. Horace Boyer. The theme of the conference is I will with God’s Help. Dr. Boyer will speak on the history, spiritual basis and cultural foundations of African American Music. He has published over 40 articles and contributed to various gospel anthologies such as How Sweet the Sound: The Golden Age of Gospel and Lift Every Voice and Sing.

              Kenyon is a conference for the whole family. There are offerings for all ages. For more information go to www.kenyonconference.org.

FRIENDS’ UPDATE

Karen Sept and Gina French’s new address & phone:

47-431 Hui Nene Street

Kaneohe, HI 96744

808-239-6519

CAN YOU NAME …

This is a little exercise you can do while relaxing this summer: How many of St. Stephen’s outreach programs or missions can you name? Hints can be found at: www.ststephens-columbus.org.

.

QUESTIONS FROM THE LAST OFFERING PLATE SERMON

(Often the questions not answered are as important as the ones that are answered.  Below are the ones that did not get chosen.  I will not offer a short answer because all of them deserve a longer response ... so please ask again.  Yet, just as the questions themselves, they show a depth of faith, of struggle, of authentic religious seeking that reveals so much about the community of St. Stephen’s.  So I recommend them to you - each one can open to you a new road on spiritual journey)         - George Glazier

1.  What does it mean to be “rejected” by the Lord, like Saul, or “not chosen” like David’s brothers?  Does God still “reject” and “not choose.”

2.  Is it important to be a Christian or a follower of Christ?

3.  What does a belief in Jesus as Messiah add to one’s faith?  If a man lives an unqualifiedly good life but does not believe Jesus is the Son of God, why will he not get to heaven?

4.  What is a Christian/Biblical way to work through a divorce and remarriage with children?  How to pray and work through the situation?

5.  What is purity of heart and how do I (we) attain it?

6.  You frequently preach a type of universal salvation.  How do you square this with sin, personal responsibility and the theological concept of righteousness.

7.  If God is in all of us how can there be evil?

8.  Tell us a story about a time you saw the hand of God at work in the world (vs. all those times we rely on skimpy faith).

9.  Are there situations in which there is no “right” answer?  What do we do?

10.  Why do bad things happen to good people?  Or, why does God allow evil?

     A few questions revolved around the General Convention

11.  John Danforth said this week that the Episcopal Church has a particular calling to reconciliation.  How do you think St. Stephen’s can respond to this, if reconciliation is in fact a central role for the Episcopal Church in the U.S.?

12.  How can we, as progressive Christians at St. Stephen’s, do our part to be a source of healing within the greater Anglican Communion at this time?

13.  Do you think if Jesus Christ came back, he would gather Bishop Duncan, the Bishop of York, and Bishop Robinson to say: “Since you couldn’t play nice on earth, you shall spend eternity together!”  Do you think we all will spend eternity with those we can’t be in community with on earth?

     Questions answered at 8:30

1.  Should we be interpreting the Bible literally or is there a place for books like The DaVinci Code in our lives?

2.  “There but for the grace of God, go I.”  What is the grace of God?

     Questions answered at 10:30

1.  Please share with us one bad thing and one good thing you’ve learned at the General Convention?

2.  Is it more important to be like Jesus or to believe in him?

3.  Although I am an agnostic, I find great inspiration in the teachings of Jesus and this community of progressive Christians.  If I share the hopes and values of this community, does this make me a “Christian?”  What is a “Christian” anyway?

4.  What do you think of Kierkegaard’s statements “Truth is subjectivity?”

“Some Thoughts On…”

                                                        By Rawleigh Emmons

“If the only prayer you say in your entire life is ‘Thank You’ that will suffice”                        Meister Eckert

     Thank you. So small; so great, what if we were to just meditate on these two words for a little?

     What begins to appear? What Images? Thoughts! Thoughts!!

     Thoughts of past healings of spirit or body. Surprise gifts of money that seemed to have appeared out of nowhere, just when we needed it. Tender moments of Relationships healed or the time your mom made you your favorite meal for your birthday.

     I believe that the essence of a joyful heart, even left unspoken is “Thank You”, is prayer. Prayer is so much more than Petition or confessing Perdition. Prayer, I think, is also a daily frame of mind that carries with it am appreciation for living and life’s often overlooked gifts.

     Although prayer can take many forms that include physical posturing such as kneeling or head bowing, I believe that these actions are only a form so that we may begin to learn where we might find humility.

     Mind you, humility is not to be confused with humiliation. To this writer, the meaning of the two come down to this: humility is the ability to come to our parent God and talk with honesty about anything or anyone by which we have been affected. Being able to confess and cry, laugh and be angry, offer thanks and be loved. Yes to be simply and honorably loved.

    Humiliation on the other hand, well…this is filled with shame, embarrassment and ridicule, which is never healthy. So many times we do “this” to ourselves or allow others to make us feel as though we are no good at all. Remember family, God’s Grace through Christ’s sacrifice covers this aspect of our Christian lives. We are sons and daughters with Christ and stand, by His work, Atoned before our heavenly Father.

     I enjoy being awed while out walking by swaths of colors blossoming or by the beautiful light displays of stars. The light of the full moon on new fallen snow sparkles like millions of diamonds. This is one of my favorite sights in all the world. Even the way that shafts of sunlight cut through the clouds after a rainstorm or at sunset, showcasing a single circle of earth, causes my breath to draw up and a quiets “Thanks” to escape.

     I have discovered that this “Thank you” can flow into the gratitude that I feel for my family, vocation, friends, dealing with neighbors, all living, really.

     Plainly and simply, I want to be O.K. with God!

     Having an attitude of humility and thankfulness before God, the ability to be honest with God and possessing the trust in God to come to Him when in everyday we do the good work of serving Him is another step to coming to He who loves us most of all.

     Psalm 92 states, “It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord.”

     When we become discourages in life it is a good Praise Practice to “Encourage ourselves in the Lord”.

     By this I mean  going back through and remembering all the good things that God has done for us; a Gratitude List, say. In doing this we are refreshing our faith and encouraging our spirits, minds and souls to remember that today’s troubles or joys are sufficient for Today. Tomorrow is a new day filled with new adventure, growth and learning.

     To say “Thank you God” and realize that God knows exactly why we are thankful without another spoken word  is having an attitude of prayer, praise  and gratitude; an intimacy that instantly reaches beyond the moment into the timeless person of our Creator. This is the heart speaking directly. This humble attitude escorts us directly to the throne of God. We experience without a shadow of doubt that we are loved and that there is a plan at work. A plan to guide us to our fullest potential as followers of Christ.

                                                                                                                                              Having an attitude of hum

LAY MINISTERS FOR JULY

Sunday, July 16 – 6 Pentecost, Proper 10

Greeters/Ushers: Louise Bishop

Readers at 8:30: Laura MacDonald (OT), Eben Kent (LR) Readers at 9:45: Rae Fellows (OT), Craig McVay (LR)

Prayers: Ralph Richter

Chalice: Nancy Buehler, Bill Elwell, Norm Wernet,

              Matt Yates

Altar Guild: Bill Elwell

Counters: Eben Kent

Collect Writer: Joel Flint

Liturgical Reading Selector: Edward Lense

Bread Baker: Anne Tipton

Care Team: Don Farrow or Pam Elwell

Sunday, July 23 – 7 Pentecost, Proper 11

Greeters/Ushers: Fil Freccia, Ralph Richter

Readers at 8:30: Charles Cummings (OT),

              Eben Kent (LR)

Readers at 9:45: Yasue Sakaoka (OT),

              Ralph Richter(LR)

Prayers: Brian Turner

Chalice: Bill Elwell, Norm Wernet, Mike Wernick,

              Matt Yates

Altar Guild: Bill Elwell

Counters: Richard Arnold, Fil Freccia

Collect Writer: Rawleigh Emmons

Liturgical Reading Selector: Joe Fowler

Bread Baker: Anne Tipton

Kitchen:

Pam Elwell or Don Farrow

Sunday, July 30 – 8 Pentecost, Proper 12

Greeters/Ushers: Louise Bishop, Ron Lieser

Readers at 8:30: Charles Cummings (OT),

              Laura MacDonald (LR)

Readers at 9:45: Eric Peters (OT), Craig McVay (LR)

Prayers: Kaitlin Raver

Chalice: Bill Elwell, Norm Wernet, Mike Wernick,

              Cynthia Whitacre

Altar Guild: Mignonne Whitlow

Counters: Eben Kent, Ron Lieser

Collect Writer: Ann Twiggs

Liturgical Reading Selector: Edward Lense

Bread Baker:

Kitchen: Rae Fellows, Jay Fellows

Care Team: Don Farrow or Pam Elwell

Sunday, August 6 – 9 Pentecost, Proper 13

Greeters/Ushers: Joan Haskell, Beth Moore

Readers at 8:30: Laura MacDonald (OT), Eben Kent (LR) Readers at 9:45: Ralph Richter (OT), Brian Turner (LR)

Prayers: Kaitlin Raver

Chalice: Nancy Buehler, Bill Elwell, Mike Wernick, Cynthia Whitacre

Altar Guild: Janet McNaughton

Counters: Mikaline Guiser, Norm Wernet

Collect Writer: Cynthia Whitacre

Liturgical Reading Selector: Joe Rutter

Bread Baker:

Kitchen: Mignonne Whitlow

Care Team: Pam Elwell or Don Farrow