By the time this newsletter reaches you, I will, God willing, have the blessing of celebrating another birthday. So, I offer this to you as a gift from the recent clergy conference.
These are the lyrics to a song by John Bell. With the traditional Scottish tune behind it, it has even more power.
Will you come and follow me if I but call your name?
Will you go where you donÕt know and never be the same?
Will you let my love be shown, will you let my name be known,
Will you let my life be grown in you and you and you in me?
Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?
Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?
Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?
Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?
Will you let the blinded see if I but call your name?
Will you set the prisoners free and never be the same?
Will you kiss the leper clean, and do such as this unseen,
And admit to what I mean in you and you in me?
Will you love the ÒyouÓ you hide if I but call your name?
Will you quell the fear inside and never be the same?
Will you use the faith youÕve found to reshape the world around,
Through my sight and touch and sound in you and you in me?
If you were thinking of a gift for the occasion, I have this suggestion. Far sweeter than candy, far richer than chocolate would be your ÒyesÓ to this invitation from our Lord.
Lord, your summons echoes true when you but call my name.
Let me turn and follow you and never be the same.
In your company IÕll go where your love and footsteps show.
Thus, IÕll move and live and grow in you and you in me.
When the two of you have a quiet moment together, ask him to be more specific.
All Rights Reserved CCLI License 1873319
MBJ+
June 2007
WhatÕs HappeninÕ in June?...
6 – Vestry meeting, 7:00 p.m.
7 Purpose Driven Life, 6:00 &
7:00 p.m.
8 – Church nite at Captains Game
10 –Loose offering to go RectorÕs
Discretionary Fund
Two-cents-a-meal collection
10-15 – Mother Barbara on retreat
14 – Mary Margaret Guild, 11:00 a.m.
20 – St. Elizabeth Guild, 12:00 noon
OpportunitiesÉ
Lake Region Deanery Meeting
June 12th – 6:30 P.M.
Agenda:
á To determine the schedule for
coming together as a Deanery for
the purpose of mission and fellow-
ship.
á To settle upon a schedule for the
autumn meetings of a proposed
study group for interested people
from all parishes in the Deanery, and to
be held at Cedar Hills Camp.
Supper will be pot luck with a suggestion
of salads and cold cuts. Beverages will be
provided by St. Luke Church.
(If you would like to take part in this get-
together please call St. Peter Church
office [992-8100] or email
Banquet a Huge Success!...
If measured by numbers, laughter, great
food, prizes and fun, the Mother/Daugh-
ter/Friend Banquet was really a huge
success.
Before the fact work was very evident in
the plethora of prizes for the Chinese
Auction,the table decorations with the
clever angel favors, and of course the hot
chicken salad that has become a staple of
our St. Peter meals.
Many thanks to all who worked so hard to
accomplish this success – both the ladies
and the mostly male kitchen crew!
Untitled PleaÉ
Lord, I know you love the small things –
The insignificant, the lowly,
The sparrow, the flower in the field,
the little child.
And when it was time,
You took unto yourself, to be your-self,
Only two ordinary little things – a piece of bread, a cup of wine.
And so, because you love the humble things,
I ask you now,
Remember me.
~ Janet Green ~
The Geese
I went out just now to walk in the
evening
Which is when I prefer to go.
And I saw a flock of wild geese,
Calling loud, flying low,
Their line like the string of a kite tail whipping
And straightening into a thin black banner
Against the glow
Where the sun had been,
Striking north over the lake,
Towards Canadian snow.
And I thought, ÒWhy do they entrance
us so?
They sound as if theyÕre in pain,
So it isnÕt the sound, I know.Ó
Maybe itÕs that they call something in
us to grow, Some promise, some hope, some direction
We have forgotten to go.
~ Janet Green ~
The above are just a sample of what several of us were treated to on Saturday, April 28th in the Guild Room at St. PeterÕs.
Janet read to us – sharing her diversity of poems – and we all came away feeling enriched.
Thank you, Janet, for sharing your considerable abilities with us and inviting us to share in conversation about your poems and poetry in general. It was interesting and motivational
History of FatherÕs DayÉ
~ gleaned from fathers.net, etc. ~
FatherÕs Day was first observed on
June 19, 1910 in Spokane Washington.
Sonora Smart Dodd (Mrs. John B. Dodd)
of Washington state proposed the idea
in 1909 after she had attended a MotherÕs
Day service. Mrs. Dodd wanted to honor
her own father, William Smart, who had
been a Civil War veteran, who raised six
children after his wife died in childbirth.
President Calvin Coolidge supported the
idea of a national FatherÕs Day in 1924.
It took until 1966 when President Lyndon
Johnson declared the 3rd Sunday in June
FatherÕs Day officially in the United States
of America, but this was only for one year.
On April 24, 1972, FatherÕs Day was
assured annual recognition by Presidential
Proclamation. In Australia, FatherÕs Day
is celebrated on the first Sunday in
September.
Fathers Are Wonderful People
~ Helen Steiner Rice ~
Fathers are wonderful people
too little understood,
And we do not sing their praises
as often as we shouldÉ
For, somehow, Father seems to be
the man who pays the bills,
While Mother binds up little hurts
and nurses all the illsÉ
And Father struggles daily
to live up to ÒHis imageÓ
As protector and provider
and Òhero of the scrimmageÓÉ
And perhaps that is the reason
we sometimes get the notion
That Fathers are not subject to the
thing we call emotion,
But if you look inside DadÕs heart
where no one else can see,
YouÕll find heÕs sentimental
And as ÒsoftÓ as he can beÉ
But heÕs so busy every day
in the grueling race of life,
He leaves the sentimental stuff
to his partner and his wifeÉ
But Fathers are just WONDERFUL
in a million different ways
And they merit loving compliments
and accolades of praise,
For the only reason Dad aspires
to fortune and success
Is to make the family proud of him
and bring them happiness
And like our Heavenly Father,
HeÕs a guardian and a guide,
Someone that we can count on
To be always on our side.
Letters, we getÉ
From the family of Iris Coy:
The family of Iris Coy thanks you for your kind expression of sympathy.
If there was anyone that was overlooked being sent a Thank You card, I am very sorry and wish to do so now.
Thank you!
Liz
From Christ Church Geneva:
Dear Mother Barbara,
The vestry and congregation of Christ Church wish to extend our heartfelt thanks for your willingness to assist us in times of need.
I personally hope for a time to get to know you better and perhaps to cooperate in other ways. Again, thank you.
Mary Cozad
[Included was a check for $150.]
Please keep the following people in your prayers:
Liz Lago and her family; LizÕs father died on May 20th.
Ryan alt and his family. Ryan is the 6-yr. old boy who fell into a ravine in Cleveland and remains hospitalized and in a coma, fighting to get better.
Thank youÉ
Thanks to those who purchased spring bulbs. There was a profit of $90 which was given to the church.
One of my neighbors bought some of
the bulbs. When I gave her the bulbs I offered to plant them for her.
ÒI can do that,Ó she said; then, ÒAre there any worms back there?Ó
I hesitated, then replied that I hoped
so.
ÒIÕll get my mother to plant them for me.Ó
ItÕs good that the bees wonÕt be out just yet. Her mother is afraid of them.
~ Karen Flack ~
Church BellsÉ
Long ago, church bells were rung far more often than today. They indicated the time, warned of fire or other dangers, and even announced whether the baby just born to the queen was a boy or a girl. (A different number of rings was used.) Of course, they also called the congregation to church, and thatÕs often the only purpose they are used for today.
One thing that is the same for bells of any time is that someone must ring them. As loud as a bell can be, it will not be heard unless someone takes the time to pull its rope.
In the same way, as powerful as is the BibleÕs message, it will not be heard unless people take the time to teach it (in Sunday school and elsewhere), sing it (in choir and elsewhere) and live it (everywhere)!
So somewhere in your schedule, find time to bring GodÕs message of hope to those who need it.
~ P. Love, in Stewardship, Parish
Publishing, LLC
July 2007
WhatÕs HappeninÕ in July?...
8 – Loose offering to RectorÕs
Discretionary Fund
14 - Cari Baker/Ed Dubiel wedding
15 – Deadline for August Epistle news
18 – St. Elizabeth Guild, 12:00 noon
26 – Foundation Meeting
OpportunitiesÉ
Old Fashioned Summer Picnic
A Lake Regional Deanery get-together
on July 21, 20007 at Cedar Hills Camp.
Time is 10-5 pm.
There will be worship, barbeque, swimming, hiking and fellowship.
Burgers and hotdogs will be provided & parishes are invited to bring salads and desserts to be contributed to the common salad & dessert tables.
Again, if youÕd like to be a part of this please call or e-mail the church office
(see above in June section).
Numbers DonÕt LieÉ
What equals 100%? What does it mean to give more than 100%? Ever wonder about those people who say they are giving more than 100%? We have all been in situations where someone wants you to give over 100%. How about achieving 101%?
What equals 100% in life?
HereÕs a little mathematical formula that might help you answer these questions:
If:
ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ
Is represented as:
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Then:
H-A-R-D-W-O-R-K
8+1+18+4+23+15+18+11= 98%
And
K-N-O-W-L-E-D-G-E
11+14+15+23+12+5+4+7+5= 96%
But,
A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E
1+20+20+9+20+21-4-5= 100%
And, look how far the love of God will take you:
L-O-V-E-0-F-G-O-D
12+15+22+5+15+6+7+15+4=101%
Therefore, one can conclude with mathematical certainty that:
While hard work and knowledge will get you close, and attitude will get you there, itÕs the love of God that will put you over the top!
Mother Teresa said itÉ
The biggest disease today is not
diabetes or cancer. ItÕs the feeling of
being uncared for, unwanted – of
being deserted and alone. The great-
est evil is the lack of love and charity,
and an indifference towards oneÕs
neighbor who may be a victim of
poverty or disease, or exploited and
at the end of their life, left by the
roadside.