The St. PeterÕs

EPISTLE

November 2007

 

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

CONSECRATION SUNDAY IS COMING

Congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their churchÕs mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes.

The Vestry has selected the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program as a way to teach the biblical and spiritual principles of generous giving in our stewardship education emphasis again this year.

New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather that on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, "What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?" During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, November 18, we will ask our attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our churchÕs benevolent and educational ministries in this community and beyond.

Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday. We urge people to attend, even those who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card.

 We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. During morning worship our guest leader will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship.

We will encourage participation in Consecration Sunday events through Vestry members. Since we will make no follow-up visits to ask people to complete their card, we will make every effort to inform, inspire and commit everyone to attend worship on Consecration Sunday, November 18th.

Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events.

George Ducro, Sr. Warden

 

 

 

 

                    

 

                     

 

                

 

WhatÕs HappeninÕ in November?...

                 

                                 

 4 – UTO collection; clocks go back 1 hr.

 6 – Be sure to vote!

 8 – Mary Margaret Guild, 11:00 a.m.

11 – VeteransÕ Day

13 – Regional Council in Geneva, 6:30 pot-

       luck and meeting

14 – St. Elizabeth Guild, 12:00 noon

18 – Consecration Sunday

       Food Pantry collection

       Deadline for Epistle news items

       for December & January

22 – Thanksgiving Dinner, 1:00-3:00 pm

       Office closed, also on 23rd

25 – Joseph Petro Concert, 2:00 p.m.

27 – Evening Guild, 7:00 p.m.

 

WhoÕs CookinÕ Breakfast?...

 

 4 – Diane PodgornyÕs Group

11 - Grotto Group

18 – Clayman Group

25 – Youth Group

 

                            

 

           Thanks, and Good-byeÉ   

 

The gathering of our St. Peter family to bid our Johnson family farewell was most heartwarming and touching.

A huge thanks to all who managed to

pull off that fabulous farewell dinner.

Thanks, especially, to those who cooked and/or smoked turkey and those who served and cleaned up afterwards.

It was such a pleasure to have pictures taken with so many. Thank you so much, Don Thomas for doing the honors.

We have loved the time with you; the laughing, the crying – all of it!

We bid you farewell; please know that

we shall miss you and pray for you all.

If you want to keep in touch, here again are the pertinent numbers:

Address: 99748 Arrowhead Drive Boulder Junction, WI 54512

e-mail: gumtreeseed@gmail.com Cell phone, for a while: 440-567-2254.

Faithfully,

Mother Barbara

 

           Giving and KeepingÉ     

 

When I was in my early twenties and

just married, I still believed that I could  do anything. We had an old washing machine that broke down. It needed a new motor. With great verve and energy

I tore that washing machine apart, removed the old motor, installed the new motor, and proudly invited my spouse to bring down the first load of clothes to be washed. We filled the machine with clothes, flipped on the switch, and I puffed up with masculine joy as the machine went smoothly through the wash cycle. The water drained out just like it was supposed to and the spin cycle began. I was in ÒI can do anything heavenÓ until the moment when the machine started to make screeching sounds followed by the agitator flying out the top of the washer like a missile.

Apparently I had crossed a couple wires when I reconnected everything. This caused the agitator and the washtub to spin in opposite directions during the spin cycle. Within moments the clothes were wrapped tighter than a drum around the agitator, ultimately unscrewing it from its base and catapulting it through the top.

If you get your giving wire and your keeping wire crossed, the same will happen to you. Before long you will feel all bound up – wrapped up inside tighter than a knot. The unavoidable result will be catastrophe – a sort of strangulation followed by some form of meltdown or blow up. It doesnÕt have to be that way.

ItÕs important to have oneÕs lifestyle and commitment to giving traveling in the same direction. Remember that it all comes from God. Remember that your decisions about what to keep and what

to give away really stem from a single question – ÒHow is God leading me to

use what God has given me?Ó

Keep those giving and keeping wires straight, and you will live the life of an effective Christian steward. Check your-self out. Are you spinning freely? Or are you feeling all tied up in knots?

  ~ Pete Velander, President of Logos

      Publications Inc. ~

 

        A Thought to PonderÉ

 

   The nature of God is a circle of which the center is everywhere and the circumference is nowhere.

  ~ Empedocles, 490 – 430 BCE

 

                    

                  

     Mmm! Thanksgiving DinnerÉ

 

Once again, this year, St. Peter Church

will be hosting its annual Thanksgiving Day dinner!(On Thanksgiving, of

course!)

Diane says it will be served from 1:00

Ôtil 3:00 p.m., following the delivery of

the carry-out meals.

As usual, many volunteers are needed

to help with this outstanding production. Also, desserts are being requested.

If you can help in any way at all, please let Diane Podgorny know at 440-997-5533.

You will also find a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board to indicate if you are coming to eat, need a take out or delivery, or will be a volunteer. Or call the church office at 992-8100.

DonÕt miss this opportunity to feel the satisfaction that comes from really helping those who need you.

Again, DianeÕs number: 997-5533.

 

         Information of interest...

 

For those who know and love Ginny Feigh, here is a website to visit her church:

http://www.christthekingtabb.org/

Go ahead and Google it up. ThereÕs lots of information.

 

             

 

 

           Where do we send it?...

 

                  

 

If you know of anyone who would like to be on our mailing list, please call Lois in the church office with the name and address.

We need at least 200 names to do a bulk mailing, which saves the church about $30, so it would help us out very much.

    ~ Lois, Secretary ~

 

 

 

          ÉAnd, where do we find it?

 

It has been mandated that we use the new Revised Common Lectionary which gives the appointed lessons for Sundays and Holy Days.

There is now a link on the St. PeterÕs website to this lectionary, which replaces the list of Sunday readings in the back of the Prayer Book, starting December 2. If you cannot access it this way and would like a paper copy, please pick one up at the back of the church or check with the Church Office.

If you are looking for a way to read the Bible on-line, check out crosswalk.com.

It is a very useful and interesting web-

site.

 

            Mathematics for LifeÉ

 

ÒSeek first the kingdom of GodÉ and all these things shall be added to you.Ó

   ~ Matthew 6:34 ~

 

You can explode with achievement if you have God-power within you. This is absolutely true. It can be reduced to a simple lesson in what I call religious mathematics, or the mathematics of

faith. Faith is a mathematical power! It

subtracts weakness; adds power;

divides difficulties; multiplies possibilities!

What a way to live!

   ~ Robert Schuler ~

 

 

             True EvangelismÉ

 

Ten little Christians standing in a line,

One disliked the preacher, then there were nine.

Nine little Christians stayed up very late. One overslept Sunday, then there were eight.

Eight little Christians on their way to heaven.

One took the low road, and then there were seven.

Seven little Christians chirping like chicks. One disliked the music, then there were six.

Six little Christians seemed very much alive, but one lost his interest, then there were five.

Five little Christians pulling for heavenÕs shore, but one stopped to rest, then there were four.

Four little Christians, each busy as a bee. One got his feelings hurt, then there were three.

Three little Christians knew not what to do. One joined the sporty crowd, then there were two.

Two little Christians, our rhyme is nearly done, differed with each other, then there was one.

One little Christian canÕt do much Ôtis true, brought his friend to Bible study, then there were two.

Two earnest Christians, each won one more. That doubled the number, then there were four.

 

Four sincere Christians worked early and late. Each won another, then there were eight.

Eight splendid Christians if they doubled as before, in just seven Sundays weÕd have 1,024.

In this little jingle there is a lesson true.

You belong to one of the two – either

the BUILDING or the WRECKING CREW.

 

               Now, I ask you!...

 

At Twenty-third Avenue Christian Church

Charles Smith finished his Sunday School

lesson. It was time for Questions and

Answers. Up shot little TonyÕs hand.

ÒAccording to the Bible, Mr. Smith, the

children of Israel crossed the Red Sea.

Right?Ó

ÒRight.Ó

ÒAnÕ the children of Israel clobbered the

Phillistines, right?Ó

ÒThatÕs right, Tony.Ó

ÒAnÕ the children of Israel built the

Temple, right?Ó

ÒRight again.Ó

ÒAnÕ the children of Israel fought

the Ôgyptians, anÕ the children of

Israel fought the Romans, and

the children of Israel wuz

always doinÕ somehthinÕ im-

portent, right?Ó

ÒAll thatÕs right, too,Ó agreed

Smith. ÒSo whatÕs your question?Ó

ÒWhat I wanna know is this,Ó

demanded Tony. ÒWhat wuz all the grown-ups doinÕ?Ó

 ~ WorldÕs Greatest Collection of

    Church Jokes ~

 

Garrison Keillor, on Episcopalians:

The following is said to be adapted from an essay by Garrison Keillor.

 

We make fun of Episcopalians for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense, their lack of speed and also for their secret fondness for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings like them. If you were to ask an audience in Des Moines, a relatively Episcopalianless place, to sing along on the chorus of Michael Row the Boat Ashore, they will look daggers at you as if you had asked them to strip to their underwear. But if you do this among Episcopalians, theyÕd smile and row that boat ashore and up on the beach!...And down the road!

Many Episcopalians are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony, a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic intervals by putting your little head against that personÕs rib cage. ItÕs natural for Episcopalians to sing in harmony. We are too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. When youÕre singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7TH and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, itÕs an emotionally fulfilling moment. By our joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other.

I do believe this, people: Episcopalians, who love to sing in four-part harmony

are the sort of people you could call up when youÕre in deep distress. If you are dying, they will comfort you. If you are lonely, theyÕll talk to you. And if you are hungry, theyÕll give you tuna salad!

Episcopalians believe in prayer, but

would practically die if asked to pray out loud; like to sing, except when

confronted with a new hymn or a hymn with more than four stanzas.

Episcopalians believe their rectors will

visit them in the hospital, even if they donÕt notify them that they are there.

They usually follow the official liturgy

and will feel it is their way of suffering

for their sins.

Episcopalians believe in miracles and

even expect miracles, especially during their stewardship visitation programs or when passing the plate.

Episcopalians feel that applauding for

their childrenÕs choirs will not make the kids too proud and conceited.

Episcopalians feel guilty for not staying

to clean up after their own wedding reception in the Fellowship Hall.

Episcopalians are willing to pay up to

one dollar for a meal at church; they

still serve Jell-O in the proper liturgical color of the season.

And, Episcopalians believe that it is OK

to poke fun at themselves and never

take themselves too seriously.