St. Peter’s

EPISTLE

October 2006

 

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

Making our Boast of God’s Mercy

            It seems to be the Episcopal way to hang on to strange words or grammar or pronunciation. I guess it makes us feel smart. Episcopalian, for example, looks like an adjective, but it is a noun. Episcopal looks like a noun, but functions as an adjective. Someone is an Episcopalian. I am an Episcopal priest.

             We have a prayer at the beginning of worship (otherwise called the Liturgy or the Eucharist or the Mass or Communion) that is meant to gather: themes of the day and the season; each person from their various concerns and distractions to focus on the glory of God; and all the people together into a community of worship. In other words, it is supposed to collect us. We call it a Collect and pronounce it like no one else would.

         The opening Collect for our first Sunday of Church School and Choir and Breakfast and Coffee Hour reads this way:

Grant us, O Lord, to trust in you with all our hearts; for, as, you always resist the proud who confide in their own strength,

so you never forsake those who boast of your mercy…

and it continues to speak to me. This is the starting point for our regular life together as a congregation because this is the starting point for being a real follower of Jesus, no matter how peculiar the person or the language or the congregation. This prayer frames the key issue of walking behind our Lord as a petition: Are you focused on the agenda of the Kingdom and doing things God’s way, with his strength? The death-dealing alternative is to strive to do the things you want to do, your way.

I wonder what they would say if I asked the Vestry that question? What I did ask them at our last regular meeting was to boast of God’s mercy with some specific example from their own life. They did. Here are some examples as I remember them

   Nature

  The relative freedom and safety we enjoy in this country

   The Lord always seems to send the right people to us at the right time

   God has always been there for [our family] even/ especially in the hard times

   God has in some way always prepared me ahead of time for the big things I’ve had to face

   Suffering has a way of teaching me patience, and there’s more time to pray and read Scripture when I can’t do as much

   I try always to pray, “Thy will be done.” The bad things often could have been much, much worse. That’s mercy. That’s time to say thank you.

   Very often someone is kind beyond anything you would ask of them, let alone expect. Most of the time it isn’t because life is easy for them either

Continue to pray for the leaders of this parish, including me. Pray that when we make decisions on behalf of the Church collected by Christ, we continue to confide in his mercy and rejoice in his kindness.

MBJ

  

What’s Happenin’ in October…

 3^rd – Executive meeting, 7:00 p.m.

 4^th-  Prayer & Praise, 7:00 p.m.

5^th -  Parenting class, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

        Choir Practice, 7:00 p.m.

 8^th – Loose offering to Rector’s

        Discretionary Fund

 9^th – Renovation meeting, 6:00 p.m.

        Vestry meeting, 7:00 p.m.

10^th – Game night, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

11^th – Potluck & Parish meeting,6:00 pm

12^th – Mary Margaret Guild, 11:00 a.m.

         Parenting class, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

         Choir practice, 7:00 p.m.

18^th – St. Elizabeth Guild, noon

         Evening Eucharist, 7:00 p.m.

         (3^rd Wednesday each month)

19^th -  Parenting Class, 6:30- 8:00 p.m.

         Choir practice, 7:00 p.m.

22^nd – Bookstore African Team Ministries

         Sale

24^th – Evening Guild, 7:00 p.m.

26^th-  Foundation meeting,

         Parenting class, 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.

         Choir practice, 7:00 p.m.

27^th & 28^th – Annual Convention at

         Trinity Commons

29^th -  Bookstore African Team Ministries

         Sale

     Who’s fixin’ Breakfast?...

1st – Smith Group

8^th -  Grotto Group

      15^th – Nelson/Clayman Group

22^nd - Youth Group

29^th -  Girl Scout Group

Are you busy,busy,busy?...

It seems so easy to get caught up in this fast-paced, rapid-fire world and forget the peace that passeth all understanding; the love that casts out all fear. So slow me down Lord, steady me, infuse my life with harmony, and calm and refresh my soul in You.

Parish Directory Corrections…

Vi Kunkle

6026 NRW

Ashtabula, OH 44004

964-7372

Dorothy Dingledine

Country Club Center 111

925 East 26^th Street Rm. 426

Ashtabula, OH 44004

Peter & Pam Bean

Phone # 992 – 0128

Ginny Feigh

131 Hautz Way

Yorktown, VA 23693

757 – 643 – 8826

 Deanna Mae Balog was born on

 Tuesday, September 5^th, to

 Danielle and Bill Balog. The

 beautiful baby girl weighed 8 lb.

 9 oz. and was 22 inches tall.

 It’s reported that, while extremely

 proud and happy, Mom & Dad

 are just a little tired!

 The grandparents are all doing well.

 Congratulations to the adults, and

 a warm welcome to little Deanna.

Come for a Potluck and Parish Meeting,

Wednesday, October 11. The dinner is

at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Meat & drinks will be provided.

Please bring something to share and your own place settings.

A Parish Meeting follows and will adjourn no later than 8:30 p.m. We will discuss where we are as a parish, relative to finances.

Mother Barbara may briefly address recent events in the national church if time permits.

     A Letter from Ginny…

Just a line to let you all know I’m alive and well and in my new condo. My address is: ( see item in Directory Corrections).

Have a lot of people to get in touch with, but will try soon. Hope you are all well and happy.

Love,

Ginny

We will have a guest preacher on Sunday, October 8 at the later service. The Rev. Gordon Densmore is a retired Methodist Pastor who grew up in the area, but winters in Texas. He is a dynamic speaker. He led the workshop recently at St. Anne’s and has convened a group of ministers who gather regularly to pray for revival in northeast Ohio.

What a great way for us to take hold of the permission given at the last General Convention for shared communion with United Methodists!

On the road, Pastor Densmore represents PastorCare, an organi-

zation dedicated to supporting

pastors in spiritual, financial, physical or legal need. He is 89 years of age.

Our little ones, and their teachers,

are in need of some materials for

their Sunday classes.

Diane Podgorny and Eric Johnson

have expressed a need for:

Colored markers, fine & broad tip

Rubber erasers

#2 pencils with erasers

Rulers

Chalk, white

Construction paper, mixed colors

White paper for drawing & writing

    (not white construction paper)

Scissors

Paper clips – large size

Glue sticks

Attendance charts

Bulk washable kids paints

If you can help, it would be much

appreciated.

                       

Dear St. Peter Family & Prayer Chains,

Thank you for all your expressions of

love and concern, and especially the

prayers, when Martha & I were in a

car crash on Aug. 24.

What a peace there is in knowing we

were being held up in prayer!

May God continue to bless you

richly.

          In His love,

         Pat Hazeltine

To the members of St. Peter’s:

Thank you for the beautiful Bible

presented to me in celebration of my

graduation from High School. I will

treasure it always.

          Sincerely,

          Chris Shippy

Many thanks for your generosity to

the Rector’s Discretionary Fund on

the special Sunday collection. The

Foundation had offered to match up

to $1000, to help members of our

congregation in need. The special

collection raised $2460.

Mother Barbara+

                Aaachooo!!...

The flu is both affirmative and nega-

tive, says William Lyon Phelps. Why?

Because sometimes the eyes have it

and sometimes the nose.

               So long Freddie!...

This comes from Vi Kunkle, but I think

we all would agree.

Recently Freddie Schroeder told us of

the many times and ways he had been

blessed – well, I want to say we at

St. Peter’s were blessed many times

over by the services and gift of having

Fred back in our congregation.

Never say “Good-bye”, Freddie – just

“So long” until you spend time with us

again.

Best wishes to you in your service to

the community you now serve.

                   

                 A Reminder…

Our Food Pantry collection, through

October 29, will be for Share – A – Home,

Our neighbors across the street.

Jill Jenner, the manager has provided a list of things that are needed. So that we can buy

wisely, that list is produced below.

Dry Food:

Powdered milk; noodles; spaghetti; Mac &

Cheese; assorted pastas; rice; sugar; flour;

navy beans; split peas; assorted spices;

sugar-free hot chocolate; Kool-Aid types;

Fresh Food:

Bread; meats/chicken; cookies; cold cuts;

cheeses; vegetables; fruit;

Canned Foods:

Vegetables; fruit; milk; spaghetti sauce;

apple sauce; soups; mustard & ketchup;

decaf coffee; pickles;

Frozen Foods:

Vegetables; stuffed shells; ice cream;

fish;

Boxed Foods:

Assorted cereals; puddings; Jello; cake

mixes; oatmeal/cream of wheat; decaf

tea; bread and roll mixes.

             

FLOWERS : “In loving Memory

                       Of…”

The list of names you see weekly in

the bulletin following “the arrange-

ment on the Altar is given to the Glory

of God and in Loving Memory of…”

is administered by the Head of the

Altar Guild.

During this year 2006 I (Ann Balog)

have officially taken over that job. I

am valiantly trying to fill the shoes of

Lorraine Snitcher, who did it so well for

oh – so – many years.

   BUT I NEED YOUR HELP!!!

I am following an old list and I would

like to update it. I need you to tell me

if there are any specific dates (such as

closest to..or always the third Sundayk

etc.) that you prefer. Also, correct any

misspellings.

This list is made on a yearly basis. So,

I would need your corrections, updates

by Dec. 15, 2006 so that the 2007

calendar can be made. CAN things be

changed after Dec. 15^th, 2006 and into

2007? YES, definitely. It will just be

easier on the secretary and myself to

have the master list prepared before

2007.

The Altar Guild asks for a $10 donation

for each Sunday’s listing. If you have

asked for family members or friends

to be listed, you should be receiving

a “bill” following the Sunday your

listing appears.

There are a few listings I have NO

family contact for, so if your family or

friends are listed on a Sunday and you

are not receiving a bill, and you wish to

donate, please let me know. You can

see me personally on Sundays or

contact me at: St. Peter Episcopal Church

                      Attn: Ann Balog

                      P. O. Box 357

                     Ashtabula, OH 44005-0357

        Hooray, Again…

Congratulations to our own World Olympic

medal-winning skier, Jim Flower, for his

participation in the State Softball Special

Olympics Tournament in Troy, Ohio on

September 8 & 9. Jim was a player on the

Ashtabula County team. The team

finished second in the state. Way to go,

team!

Our neighbor, Will Jenner, a resident of

Share-A-Home – was also on the team.

By the way, Jim and his dad Dick Flower

got home after 2 a.m. Sunday morning

and were at church bright and early that

morning to wash breakfast dishes. What

a living example of good and faithful

servants.

Congratulations and thanks, guys.

A Few Smiles from the Bible…

       ~  From Mary Kay Loose  ~

Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he

    Married Ruth?

A.   Ruthless

Q. What do they call pastors in Germany?

A. German Shepherds

Q. Who was the greatest financier in the

    Bible?

A.   Noah. He was floating stock while

Everyone else was in liquidation.

Q. Who was the greatest female financier

     in the Bible?

A.   Pharoah’s daughter. She went down

 to the bank of the Nile and drew out a

little prophet. (More at a later date!)

     A New Look for an Old Psalm…

The Lord is my Shepherd

        That’s Leadership!

I shall not want

   That’s Supply!

He maketh me to lie down in green pastures

   That’s Rest

He leadeth me beside the still waters

   That’s Refreshment

He restoreth my soul

    That’s healing!

He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness

     That’s Guidance!

For His name’s sake

     That’s Purpose!

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil.

      That’s Protection

For Thou art with me

      That’s Faithfulness!

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me

      That’s Discipline!

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies

      That’s Hope!

Thou annointest my head with oil

      That’s Consecration!

My cup runneth over

      That’s Abundance!

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

      That’s Blessing!

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord

       That’s Security!

Forever.

       That’s Eternity!

Face it, the Lord is crazy about you.

               Say what?...

Satan has his favorite sentences, too.

Among them: “I’ll start tomorrow,”

“Just this once won’t hurt,” “It’s too

late now,” “Let’s refer that to a

committee,”  and “There’s no such

thing as Satan.”

         

REMEMBER: Fall back on October 29!

   Reset your clocks back an hour!!!!!