St. Peter’s

EPISTLE

   November 2006     

The Monthly Newsletter of St. Peter Episcopal Church in Ashtabula, Ohio

SEEKING GOD'S MERCY

Someone gave me a schedule that shows how you can read through the Bible in a year. I can't keep up, but its funny how what's there when I can make the time is - right on time. Awhile back, the assignment included Acts 4. In chapter 3, Peter and John meet a man at the Temple gate who is unable to walk. He's begging for money. It isn't realistic for him to expect anything else. But, Peter says he doesn't have any money. Instead, he and John pray for the man, and he is healed.

A huge crowd rushes toward them, and Peter and John take the opportunity to tell about Jesus. The authorities put them in jail and order them to stop teaching in Jesus' name. When they are released, they return to their friends. Here's where it gets interesting. Released from jail and reunited with those they love, the first thing they do is pray. And this is how they pray: it takes a long time for them to get around to asking anything for themselves. They begin with praise to God. They continue to give thanks to God for what Christ has done, acknowledging that he has fulfilled the promises of scripture in ways they never would have expected. When they do finally make their request, it isn't for revenge against Israel's leaders. They don't ask for protection or safety. They ask for boldness. They ask God to heal more people and to send signs and wonders to honor Jesus' name.

God answers immediately. He fills the disciples with the Holy Spirit (again) and shakes the house in which they are praying -and [all the disciples] spoke God's word with boldness! That's what verse 31 says. Perhaps this is a stewardship thing. We talk about time and talent and money. Let's talk about prayer. We seem to pray differently than those first disciples. We spend so much time asking for comfort, blessing, and unity. We keep asking for guidance, and healing, but in a sort of half-hearted way. We spend almost no effort at all reviewing what God has accomplished or might wish to accomplish through us. As a result, many of us have become quite
bold in getting our own way. It's all very realistic. We ask for what we expect. But no one rushes over to see what is going on with us. I'm for starting over.

What do you have for us, Lord? Boldness for your purposes? Signs and wonders? Healing? Can you set us about your business again? Shake the house? Fill us with your Holy Spirit? We are but one ordinary congregation among many, struggling to make ends meet. It is not realistic to expect that you will make us anything more. But if not us, who? If not now, when?

       

   

What’s Happenin’ in November?...

 1 – Prayer & Praise, 7:00 p.m.

 2 – Parenting Class, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

 5 - UTO Collections

 6 – Vestry-Consecration Team Dinner

       Geneva Lodge, 6:30 p.m.

 9 – Mary Margaret Guild, 11:00 a.m.

12 – New Consecration Sunday;

       Loose offering to Rector’s

       Discretionary Fund (RDF)

15 – St. Elizabeth Guild, 12:00 noon

20 – Renovation Committee, 6:00 p.m.

       Vestry Meeting, 7:00 p.m.

23 -24 – Office Closed (Happy

       Thanksgiving!)

28 – Evening Guild, 7:00 p.m. 

     Who’s Cookin’ Breakfast?...

Nov. 5 – Roger Smith Group

      12 – Grotto Group

      19 – Nelson/Clayman Group

      26 – The Youth Group

     Discovering New Flavors…

    ~ Jim Taylor, a freelance writer ~

Our minister told us that the season of Advent is not about waiting for something expected. When you know what to expect, you make lists of things to do. And we all make enough of those, as we prepare for Christmas.

Rather, she said, Advent is about being ready for the unexpected.

But how can you get ready for something you don’t expect.

Perhaps you can’t get ready. You can only be ready. You can be open to new possibilities.

In Montreal, last month, a couple took me to a neighborhood pub. The wife ordered a vodka and orange juice, with a little cranberry. The barkeeper, who was very busy filling orders, didn’t hear “a little” correctly. He thought the waitress had ordered Kahlua and cranberry. So that’s what he made.

The waitress brought the drink to the table apologetically.

“Before you throw it out,” said the husband, “let’s see what that mixture tastes like.” He took a sip through the straw. His eyes widened. He passed it to his wife. She took a sip. Her eyes widened. They passed it to me. I took a sip. It was delicious.

Only at that point did we say anything to the waitress, who had been watching with considerable bewilderment. She had a sip. “Wow,” she said, “That is smooth!”

We agreed. And I now mix Kahlua and cranberry for guests.

Three bartenders have told me they’ve never heard of any such drink. But they also agree that it is marvelous. The Kahlua takes the sour edge off the cranberry; the cranberry takes the cloying sweetness off the Kahlua.

Now I don’t want to suggest that Christ is a mixed drink. Although I think it might be argued that the harsh black-and-white of the crucifixion counteracts the pastel sweetness of the nativity stories, and vice versa. But let’s derail that train of thought.

The point is, we were able to recognize an unexpected benefit. We did not simply discard that drink because it didn’t fit our expectations.

In the same way, the shepherds and the Magi were able to recognize the worth of an unexpected birth. I’m sure they didn’t expect the same thing, and I’m sure they didn’t respond the same way. The Magi brought gifts and worshipped; in all probability, the shepherds brought beer breath, unwashed bodies, and fleas and caroused.

But they were open to the unexpected.

Herod was not. And so, the story goes, he slaughtered all the baby boys, to make sure that the unexpected didn’t happen.

As Christmas settles into a routine for most of us – trees to trim, gifts to buy, cards to send, meals to prepare – I wonder how open we are to hear and to celebrate the unexpected in our lives. 

 Have you noticed?...

Have you noticed the neat little bench in the vestibule of the Parish Hall? Do you think it looks like a pew?

That’s because it was once. It was originally in our “old” church.

Ernestine Bush donated it to the Parish Hall and Larry Kauffman did the refinishing.

Many thanks to both.   

Updates for your church Directory…

Frederick Schroeder

1001 S. Walts Avenue

Sioux Falls, SD 57105-0541

Steve & Stacey Cevera

2600 Brown Rd.

Ashtabula, OH 44004-8852

Don & Mary Kay Loose

1620 West 11^th Street, Apt. 2

Ashtabula, OH 44005-0733

440-964-5549

e-mail: mkwl2005@yahoo.com

Congratulations & Best Wishes…

                

                        It has come to our attention that Jay

 and Alma Otto have celebrated their

 65th Wedding Anniversary, and Jay

 has attained the wonderful age of 90

 years. Two great milestones.

 Congratulations and Best Wishes

 from the rest of your St. Peter’s

 family.

 Bakin’ &  Buyin’ & Plantin’…

Karen Flack would like to thank all those who contributed to the recent bake sale, by bringing baked goods and by buying baked goods.

Karen also wants to thank everyone who ordered Spring bulbs on the same day.

The total money earned that Sunday was $42 from the bake sale and $165 from the sale of the bulbs.

Karen is hoping to repeat next Fall with perhaps a few more items to sell in the baked goods department.

Thanks, Karen, for your ambitious endeavors.

  How can we help?...

On Sunday, November 12, boxes will appear in the Narthex of the church, along with gift lists and ages of the children who will probably be attending the Annual Neighborhood Christmas Party on December 9^th.

If you would like to help this ministry, please take a box or two, along with a list, and fill it accordingly. Your generosity will be much appreciated by the young people in the neighborhood who go to Chestnut School.

If you don’t feel you have money to help with, there will be another ministry that will cost you nothing – except maybe a little ink from your pen and a few minutes time.

Karen Flack is providing Christmas cards (again, in the Narthex) upon which we may write a short note to people in the services in Iraq. After writing your message simply return the cards to the boxes in the back of the church and they will be taken to Dasco Paper, whose project this is.

There is nothing like mail from someone who appreciates you, so I’m sure these cards will be warmly welcomed by our brave young people in harm’s way.

From the Renovation Committee…

A meeting was held on September 11.

In “Old Business” a discussion was held on the restroom work now in progress and future work on the auditorium and outside stairwell.

It was voted to allocate up to $100 for a quote on sound proofing the auditorium.

Next meeting, October 9^th.

      Something to think about…

          Cell phone vs Holy Bible

I wonder what would happen if we treated our Bibles like we treat our cell phones.

What if:

·      we carried it around in our purses?

·      we turned around to go back to get it if we forgot it?

·      we scrolled through it several times a day?

·      we used it to receive messages from its text?

·      we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?

·      we gave it to our kids as gifts?

·      we used it as we traveled?

·      we used it in case of emergency?

This is something to make you

go…hmmm…so…where is my Bible?

Oh, and one more thing. Unlike our cell phone, we don’t ever have to worry about our Bible being disconnected, because Jesus has already paid the bill!

         ~ author unknown ~

          Smiles from the Bible…

       ~ continued from last month ~

Q. What kind of motor vehicles are in the Bible?

A. Jehovah drove Adam & Eve out of the Garden in a Fury. David’s Triumph was heard throughout the land. Also, probably a Honda, because the apostles were all in one Accord.

Q. Who was the greatest comedian in the Bible?

A. Samson. He brought down the house.

          An important lesson:…

         The Cleaning Lady

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions until I read the last one:

“What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?”

Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50’s, but how would I know her name?

I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade.

“Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say ‘hello’.”

I’ve never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.

  Look up…

The substitute teacher was struggling to open a lock on the Sunday School supply cabinet. She’d been told the combination, but couldn’t quite  remember it. Finally she went to the Rector’s study and asked for help.

When the minister began to twist the dial, he paused after the first couple

of numbers and stared blankly. Finally he looked heavenward and his lips moved silently, then he looked back

at the lock, turned to the final numbers, and clicked open the hasp.

The teacher was amazed. “I’m in awe of your faith, Father.”

“It’s really nothing,” he responded.

“The numbers are on a piece of tape on the ceiling.”

  Thought for the month…

It’s a small world. I know – I

made it.

              ~ God ~

         The Wonderful Library…

I am the Bible, God’s wonderful library.

I am always – and above all – the truth.

    To the weary I am a strong staff.

    To the one who sits in darkness, I

     am glorious light.

    To those who stumble beneath

      heavy burdens, I am sweet rest.

    To him who has lost his way, I am

      a safe guide.

    To those who are sick in sin, I am

      healing strength and forgiveness.

    To the discouraged, I am a glad

      message of hope.

    To those who are distressed and

      tossed about by the storm of life,

      I am an anchor sure and steadfast.

    To those who search for salvation, I

      reveal the Savior of the world.

I am the Bible.

             ~ from Editor’s Clip Sheets ~

 The Carpenter’s Son…

One day Jesus was out for a walk, strolling near the walls surrounding heaven, when he heard an old man’s voice call from the other side.

“Hello? Hello?”

Jesus replied, “Who is it?”

“Just a poor old carpenter searching for his son,” the old man replied.

Jesus’ heart leapt with joy and he called out, “Joseph?”

The voice answered back, “Pinocchio?”

  A Wish for Closeness…

 A poem written by a father to his soldier son during WW II::

Dear Son,

I wish I had the power to write

The thoughts wedged in my heart tonight

As I sit watching that small star

And wondering where and how you are.

You know, Son, it’s a funny thing

How close a war can really bring

A father, who for years with pride,

Has kept emotions deep inside.

I’m sorry, Son, when you were small

I let reserve build up that wall;

I told you real men never cried.

And it was Mom who always dried

Your tears and smoothed the hurts away

So that you soon went back to play.

But, Son, deep down within my heart

I longed to have some little part

In drying that small tear-stained face.

But we were men- men don’t embrace.

And suddenly I found my son

A full-grown man, with childhood done.

Tonight you’re far across the sea,

Fighting a war for men like me.

Well, somehow pride and what is right

Have changed places here tonight.

I find my eyes won’t stay quite dry

And that men sometimes really cry.

And if we stood here, face to face,

I’m sure, my son, we would embace.

  ~ from Illustrations Unlimited,

 James Hewett, Editor, Tyndale Press

Snippets from the advice column…

1.   Give God what’s right – not what’s left.

2.    Man’s way leads to a hopeless end – God’s way leads to an endless hope.

3.    A lot of kneeling will keep you in good standing.

4.    In the sentence of life, the devil may be a comma, but never let him be the period.

5.    He who kneels before God can stand before anyone.

6.    Don’t put a question mark where God puts a period.