May 2007 Epistle

So Do You?

My favorite story of Jesus appearing to the disciples after the Resurrection is one we never hear on Sunday, at least as the Book of Common Prayer sets the course of readings. Right after the marvelous breakfast with Jesus in John 21, Jesus is talking to Peter. Remember? The disciples fish all night and catch nothing until Jesus tells them where to put the net. Then it takes everything they have to haul it to shore because there are so many fish.

After that, our Lord asks Peter three times, “Simon, do you love me?” The one who denied him three times and then ran for his life, is personally addressed. I’ve noticed some things considering that story, and I like it even more.

It is not Peter who apologizes first. Jesus is the one who takes the initiative. He is not sullen or withdrawn or punitive. Love is patient and kind. Love is not arrogant. It does not keep a record of wrongs, says 1st Corinthians 13, in part. Here is what it looks like – Jesus. That oh-so-familiar text chosen for lots and lots of weddings, even says “If I offer up my own body, but do not have love, I gain nothing.” Here is love from the one who gave everything in devotion to the Father: an invitation to relationship. “Do you love me?”

Not, “What were you thinking?” Not, “Are you going to do better in the future?” Just, “Simon, do you love me?” And, I note that Jesus uses the name that belonged to him before he heard the call to follow. “Simon”. See the freedom implied? “You can go back now to the simpler life you knew if you want.” Jesus makes no claim as to how much this man owes him. And the question that follows insists that relationship is hoped for. Were we the Lord’s advisors; would there be any other possibility except sending Peter away?

And Jesus asks the same question three times. “Do you love me?” “Do you love me?” “Do you love me?” Yes it matches each of the denials. But it is also cumulative. Like when we say God is holy, holy, holy, it is the same as saying that He is holy multiplied by holy multiplied by holy. There is not even the possibility that anything is holier because we can’t get to the end of this holy, ever. So Jesus asks the same question but the commitment it invites is more profound with each repetition. “Do you love me so much that there is no love beyond this?”

Peter answers yes, emphatically each time, and even names Jesus himself as his witness. “Yes, Lord, you know that I love, love, love you!” Jesus response is a command, “Feed my sheep – all of them – even the smallest, the weakest, the neediest, the least valuable – the lambs.
So there is really only one question for those who have heard the Lord’s call and chosen to follow. It doesn’t matter how many times we have failed him, or how profoundly, or how publicly. Jesus takes the initiative. He comes looking for us. He asks, “Do you love me?” And we answer, not with what we feel or out of the failures we might predict, but from what we mean to be true.

If the answer is no, we are free to go. If the answer is yes, it is our obligation, not our hobby, to feed his sheep -- even those who will demand from us the most effort. As Jesus says, up to the time we answer, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you,” we are free to fasten our own belts and do what we like. Now we do what we are told, his way, for Love alone.

MBJ+

May 2007

What’s happenin’ in May?...

2 – Prayer & Praise, 7:00 p.m.

6 – United Thank Offering

8-10- Mother Barbara at Clergy

Conference

9 – Vestry Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

10 – Mary Margaret Guild, 11:00 am

Mother/Daughter/Friends, 6:00 pm

16 – St. Elizabeth Guild, 12:00 noon

20 – Sunday School recognition

22- Evening Guild, 7:00 p.m.

27 – Begin Summer worship

Schedule: 9:00 a.m. only

* Please note that beginning on

May 27 the Sunday Eucharist

Service will be held at 9:00 am

only. Breakfast, Adult and

Children’s Christian Ed. will

not be available. On September

9^th, everything will return to

normal (using the term loosely).

Who’s cookin’ breakfast in

May?...

6 Roger Smith Group

13 Grotto Group

20 Nelson/Clayman Group

27 No Breakfast ‘til Sept. 9

Oops!...

In last month’s Epistle, in the bit

about the program of slides

presented by Elaine Swanson it was

stated that “Coffee and cookies by

Karen Flack, Zelda Altman and

Elaine Swanson were offered”

following the presentation. While we

all know that Elaine makes delectable

treats, the information should have

read Ellen Shuffle instead. We’re

really sorry about that Ellen, and

reports are that your cookies were

delectable too.

Thought for the Month…

Lord, walk beside me with your arm

on my shoulder and your hand on

my mouth.

What makes a good Mother,

anyway?...

Is it patience? Compassion? Broad

hips? The ability to nurse a baby, cook

dinner, and sew a button on a shirt all

at the same time?

Or is it her heart? Is it the ache you

feel when you watch your son or

daughter disappear down the street,

walking to school alone for the very

first time?

The jolt that takes you from sleep to

dread, from bed to crib at 2:00 a.m.

to put your hand on the back of a

sleeping baby?

The panic, years later, that comes

again at 2:00 a.m. when you just

want to hear their key in the door

and know they are safe again in

your home?

Or the need to flee from wherever

you are and hug your child when

you hear news of a fire, a car

accident, a child dying?

The emotions of motherhood are

universal and so our thoughts are

for young mothers stumbling

through diaper changes and sleep deprivation…

And mature mothers learning to

let go.

For working mothers and stay-at-

home mothers. Mothers with money,

mothers without.

This is for all of you. For all of us.

Hang in there. In the end we can

only do the best we can; tell them

every day that we love them - and

pray.

Thank you, St. Peter Church…

Dear Friends,

I want very much to tell you how very

grateful we are for your gift. So much

can be done because of your support.

….we can provide food, health care,

clean water and sanitation to people

who struggle just to survive. With

your help, we can assist thousands of

refugees, build schools and support

literacy programs. We also support

relief and recovery efforts following a

disaster.

Because of your gift, Church World

Service (our Blanket Sunday

recipient) brings hope to thousands

of people around the world each day.

May God bless you for your heart-felt

generosity.

Faithfully yours,

Rev. John L. McCullough

Executive Director and CEO

Dear Mother Barbara,

I would like to thank you again

for the wonderful meal provided to

the Celebrate students by the kind

people at St. Peter’s. The students

were very appreciative of the

experience and enjoyed making a

connection with your church members.

In recent conversation with Celebrate

board members, Martha Shippy and

Roger Smith, it was mentioned that

your church members may be able to

help us once again.

At this time Celebrate students are

learning to crochet and we are in

need of yarn (4-ply acrylic) in any

amount or color. We could also use

the expertise of a person who crochets

with their left hand to come to school

and assist the lefties. The children are

excited to learn a new skill and they

take pride in their crocheted projects.

Another project for Celebrate students

involves cooking. We are putting

together a cooking cart for each of

the Celebrate sites and will need small

kitchen appliances (blender, electric

frying pan, toaster oven, etc.). Perhaps

your church members would like to

make a donation for this project.

As a non-profit organization we are

always pleased with the generous

support from local churches such as

St. Peter’s. Your donations contribute

to the success of the Celebrate program.

Thank you for being our partner.

Sincerely,

Martha Banks, Celebrate Program

Director, After School Discovery

I knew that…

Before Christ comes it is useless to

expect to see a perfect church.

~ J.C.Ryle, “Practical Religion” ~

A note from the treasurer…

Dear Parishioners,

The Vestry adopted a new Memorial

Contribution Envelope for St. Peters.

You may make contributions to a

specific fund. If no specific fund is

designated, the money will be put

into the general fund. If you do not

use the envelope, please designate

on your check where your gift is to go.

~ David Huyck, treasurer ~

Say it isn’t so…

The minister instructed the sexton to

put the sermon topic for the coming

Sunday on the notice board: “Are

ministers cracking up?” The sexton

looked puzzled but did as he was

asked. The board read: “Our Minister’s

Cracking Up.”

Goin’ Home…

Last week while traveling to Chicago on

business, I noticed a Marine sergeant

traveling with a folded flag, but did

not put two and two together. After

we’d boarded our flight , I turned to

the sergeant, who’d been invited to sit

in First Class (and was seated across

from me), and inquired if he was

heading home.

“No,” he responded.

“Heading out?” I asked.

“No, I’m escorting a soldier home.”

“Going to pick him up?”

“No. He is with me right now. He was

killed in Iraq. I’m taking him home to

his family.”

The realization of what he had been

Asked to do hit me like a punch to the

gut. It was an honor for him. He told me

that although he didn’t know the soldier,

he had delivered the news of his passing to the

soldier’s family and felt as if he did know

them after so many conversations in so

few days. I turned back to him, extended

my hand, and said, “Thank you. Thank you

for doing what you do so my family and I

can do what we do.”

Upon landing in Chicago the pilot stopped

short of the gate and made the following

announcement over the intercom:

“Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to note

that we have had the honor of having

Sergeant Steeley of the United States

Marine Corps join us on this flight. He is

escorting a fallen comrade back home to his

family. I ask that you please remain in your

seats when we open the forward door to

allow Sergeant Steeley to deplane and

receive his fellow soldier. We will then turn

off the seat belt sign.”

Without a sound, all went as requested. I

noticed the sergeant saluting the casket as

it was brought off the plane, and his action

made me realize that I am proud to be an American.

So here’s a public thank-you to

our military for doing what you do so we

can live the way we do.

~ Stuart Margel, Washington, D.C. ~

Mothers, daughters,friends...

May and Mothers’ Day every year

brings the always fun banquet at St.

Peter Church!

This year the festivities begin with a

social hour at 6:00 pm on Thursday,

May 10^th. Dinner will be at 6:30.

But that’s not all! The famous Chinese

Auction will also be a part of the

evening. So bring your gal pals and

come along for the fun.

Remember…

We remember the following friends

and loved ones who have recently

died:

Iris Coy, passed away on March 30.

Her funeral was April 3 at St. Peter

Church, officiated by Mother Barbara.

Duane Dickson (Jayne Shaffer’s dad),

died on March 30. His funeral was on

April 7 at the Chapel in Greenlawn

Memory Gardens, officiated by

Mother Barbara.

Jeanette Marteeny (Hazel Phillip’s

mom), passed away on March 31.

Her funeral was on April 5 at the

Marcy Funeral Home in Conneaut,

officiated by Bishop Rodney Rodriguez,

Church of The Latter Day Saints.

Lorraine Snitcher died on April 4. Her

memorial service was on April 11 at

St. Peter Church, officiated by

Mother Barbara.

Please keep them and their families

in your thoughts and prayers.

When will we ever learn?...

When we watch the news on television,

or read it in our papers, there seems to

be an abundance of violence and death.

This is very disturbing to us, but may be

even disabling to our children.

How do we cope with their disbelief and

fears?

On the website for the Diocese of Ohio

there is a letter from Sharon Ely Pearson, Children’s Ministries & Christian Education,

for the Diocese of Connecticut. In it she

discusses this very thing and gives pertinent

ideas for help.

Ms. Pearson has also listed many resources, both book and internet, for parents to access for

help.

To get to the Diocesan website use the

following address: dohio.org.

Russell Payson said it…

What if God should place a diamond in

your hand and tell you to inscribe on it a

sentence, which should be read at the Last

Day, and shown there an index of your

thoughts and feelings! What care, what

caution would you exercise in the selection.

(The diamond is your child.)

A word to the wise…

The magician who saws a woman in

two is not nearly as marvelous as the

husband who keeps one from flying to

pieces.

Letters, we get…

(Excerpts from a note from Helen)

Dear St. Peter’s – Sad news has come

about Iris Coy and Lorraine Snitcher. I

have some beautiful memories of those

two – and I will never forget them.

….Thanks always for sending the Epistle –

every word and every name is carefully

noted – can’t say that about Time or

Newsweek.

….Can’t resist putting this in – it came

from a long ago sermon at St. Peter’s:

A very cynical caterpillar was resting on

a twig, and noticed a beautiful butterfly

flitting about in the sunshine.

The caterpillar was not impressed.

“You’ll never get me up in one of those

things!”

I love it – surely God will have His way

with us!

God’s Peace.

Lovingly, Helen Mc Daniel

The next Epistle news deadline…

Sunday, May 20^th will be the last day

to turn in news for the July Epistle.

Put news in Epistle box in office, or

email to: maryloou_tfclu@yahoo.com