The Builder Making Disciples for Jesus Christ

The Builder Making Disciples for Jesus Christ St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church (540) 672-3761 Rector: The Rev. Dr. Lin Hutton Vol. XXXIV www.stthomasora...
Author: Ashlie Morton
2 downloads 2 Views 4MB Size
The Builder Making Disciples for Jesus Christ St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church (540) 672-3761 Rector: The Rev. Dr. Lin Hutton Vol. XXXIV

www.stthomasorange.org email: [email protected] Editor: Marty Gray

December 2015/January 2016

Issue No. 10

From the Rector, The central mystery of the Christian faith is the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. This mystery of mysteries speaks to the life-long pattern we all experience of how, out of suffering and loss comes transformation. It is the great paradox of our lives that “we find, by losing…we hold fast, by letting go…out of nothing, God creates something…out of the end, God creates the Beginning” (Frederick Buechner). God, the source of light and life, is always creating and transforming. We encounter it in our personal lives and in the common life of our families, communities, and church. We are, all of us, continually evolving into that which God is calling us to be. Christmas and the preparation for it that Advent brings, is one type of “beginning.” Christmas is not just the celebration of the Nativity of our Lord, but is also the herald of our salvation. Christmas is not just an historical place-marker in the life of Jesus, but can also be a spiritual place-marker in our lives. What new beginnings are you looking for…. or are you? There is a wise old saying that goes: “When you think you’re ripe, you’re rotten; when you think you’re green, you’ll grow.” Christmas is a time for growth and transformation. Will the gifts you choose to give encourage or recognize continued growth in the lives of those who will receive them? Will your gifts in some way reflect your own growth in the knowledge of yourself as well as your knowledge of the recipient? Have you spent any time reflecting on growth in your own life, asking: How can I be a better friend, spouse, parent, child, or neighbor? How can I grow more deeply in my relationship with Jesus? Christmastide is a time for celebrating and gift-giving, remembering the greatest gift of all—eternal love and forgiveness. I encourage each of you this blessed season to include a prayer and a part of your heart in every gift. Do not consider your gifts obligations, but rather a reflection of God’s love in the smile of the infant King of King and Lord of Lords. For unto us this day is born, in the city of David, a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord.[Luke 2:11] May the Peace, the Shalom* [healing Wholeness], that our Lord Christ brought into the world on that most holy night so long ago, be yours this joyful Christmas season as you continue to grow in your knowledge and love of Him. [* Shalom may be translated as: Peace = Wholeness = Completeness….or, “as it was intended by God to be”] Christmas Blessings, Pastor Lin +

For All the Saints St. John, the Apostle (and Evangelist), ~ December 27 John, the son of Zebedee, with his brother James, was called from being a fisherman to be a disciples and “fisher of men.” With Peter and James, he became one of the inner group of three disciples Jesus chose to accompany him at the raising of Jairus’ daughter, at the Transfiguration, and in the Garden of Gethsemane. John and his brother James are recorded in the Gospel as being so hotheaded and impetuous that Jesus nicknamed them “Boanerges,” which means, “sons of thunder.” They also appear ambitious, in that they sought seats of honor at the right and left of Jesus when he should come into his kingdom. When the other disciples responded in anger to the audacity of the brothers in asking for this honor, Jesus explained that in his kingdom leadership and rule takes the form of being a servant to all. The Acts of the Apostles records John’s presence with Peter on several occasions: the healing of the lame man at the Temple, standing before the Sanhedrin, in prison, and on the mission to Samaria to lay hands upon the new converts that they might receive the Holy Spirit. The early church believed that John Zebedee wrote the fourth gospel and was “the disciple whom Jesus loved” mentioned in that gospel. “The Revelation to John” was also originally attributed to John Zebedee, although there is actually no biblical testimony or support for any of these suppositions. Regardless, John clearly enjoyed a special relationship with Jesus. He alone of the Twelve is said to have lived to extreme old age and to have been spared a martyr’s death. Agnes, Martyr at Rome, 304 ~ January 21 As a child of twelve years, Agnes suffered for her faith, in Rome, during the cruel persecution of the Emperor Diocletian. After rejecting blandishments and withstanding threats and tortures by her executioners, she remained firm in refusal to offer worship to the heathen gods, and was burned at the stake— or, according to another early tradition, was beheaded with the sword. The early Fathers of the Church praised her courage and chastity, and remarked upon her name, which means “pure” in Greek and “lamb” in Latin. Pilgrims still visit Agnes’ tomb and the catacomb surrounding it, beneath the basilica of her name on the Via Nomentana in Rome that Pope Honorious the First (625-638) built in her honor to replace an older shrine erected by the Emperor Constantine. On her feast day at the basilica, two lambs are blessed, whose wool is woven into a scarf called the pallium, with which the Pope invests archbishops. Pope Gregory the Great sent such a pallium in 601 to Augustine, the first Archbishop of Canterbury. A representation of the pall appears on the coat of arms of Archbishops of Canterbury to this day.

Note of Appreciation Many thanks to all those who gave their time to make this year’s Halloween Book Give Away a success ~ Kris and Bob Brockman, Barbara Collins, Pat Drake, Shirley Hunt, Richard, Griffin, Edwin, and Daisy Floyd, Mrs. Robinson, Dan, Ellie, and Lily Robinson, Malaika and Lexie Rogers, Pam, Ken, and Lauren Crawford, Ellen Otto, Betsy Amos, Zan Thomas, Tristan Torrico, Virginia Donnelly, Keith Frick and Amelia, Kirsten Samuels and “Elvis.” This year we were able to send forth a RECORD BREAKING number of 74 Christmas Shoeboxes to needy children around the world supported by Operation Christmas Child. This was only made possible by the amazing generosity of you, our members, who brought in items to fill those boxes. Whether you actually packed a box or donated items to fill a box, as a result of your kindness, children who may never receive any other gift in their entire life, will have a gift from you. Once again, the members of our St. Thomas Parish family came through with all of the necessary food items required to fill Thanksgiving Baskets for families in need right here in our own Orange County. As in the past, the church bought the 20 pound turkeys and the laundry hampers to hold them. Thanks solely to the amazing generosity of our members, we filled those hampers with boxes of mashed potatoes, dressing, cans of green beans, cream of mushroom soup, French fried onions, yams, cranberry sauce, gravy packets, bags of noodles, rolls, pies, and whipped cream. Because of you, twenty local families who would not otherwise have a Thanksgiving holiday or much to be thankful for, were able to celebrate and provide quality food for their children. Grateful appreciation is offered to those who give to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund (RDF). This past month we were able to help a homeless woman and her infant get into affordable housing. Ms. E had successfully completed a Department of Social Services training program and acquired a job, but still needed funds to qualify for an apartment. Without a stable living environment, the Department of Child Protective Services was going to take her child and place it into the foster care system. Ms. E. needed funds for both the first month’s rent and the security deposit. The Christian Emergency Council was able to provide some assistance, but it was not nearly enough. Thanks to the generosity of so many members to the RDF, St. Thomas was able to provide the other 80% allowing this young woman to keep her child and begin a productive work life. As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace 1 Peter 4:10

MORE, “101 Reasons to be an Episcopalian”— Reason # 29: “The signs that say, “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You” mean it.” Nick Humez, Diocese of Newark Reason # 39: “From Miami to Manchester, from Lima to London, from Brisbane to Birmingham, Singapore to San Francisco, I can go to church and fit right in.” John F. Schwaller, Diocese of Minnesota

Preschool News

Halloween at St. Thomas’

Kyra uses the Word Wall to spell fall words

Henry tests his gross motor skills navigating

Fun with Fall Leaves

Veterans’ Day Celebration at Taylor Park

Morning Explorations

Our Native American preschoolers welcomed the Orange Presbyterian pilgrims to our second annual Thanksgiving Feast.

Countries and Cultures Music of the World: Tim Stakem came to play the bagpipes for the preschoolers

The Photo Gallery

Santa’s elves at work

Thank you Sarah Rogers ~ Operation Christmas Child, Shoebox Coordinator. A Record 74 boxes!

Thank you to everyone who contributed and helped to fill Thanksgiving Baskets!

Christmas Bazaar Saturday, December 5th, 9am—3pm Sunday, December 6th between services In Robertson Hall

Collectibles

And More! Take the stress out of your holiday shopping! Proceeds to benefit the Christian Emergency Council

Friday, January 22nd

@ 7:00 pm in Robertson Hall cost of admission ~One nonperishable food item~

12/01 12/02 12/03 12/09 12/17

Robert Nigmond Garnett Morton Evan Wagner Brandon Barfield Steve Cushman

12/19 12/24 12/27 12/28 12/29

Amelia Lee Peter Amos Will Likins David Smith Harry Saxton

1/01 1/02 1/03 1/03 1/04 1/04 1/07 1/10 1/11 1/11

Daniel Robinson Paul Williams IV David Dulin Andrew Garnett Robert Lee Charles Seilheimer Barbara Garnett Catherine Gillespie Kris Brockman Ally Keating

1/12 1/13 1/14 1/17 1/20 1/20 1/21 1/24 1/29 1/29

Christopher Dulin Sam Cushman Philip Williams Caryll Hanbury Randy Merrick Becca Amos Royce Drake Doc Garnett Harold Faulconer Virginia Donnelly

Prayer List Food Pantry Special request for December is tuna/canned chicken and for January, toilet paper/paper towels. All food items and cash gifts are always welcome and appreciated. You can drop off donations at the Love Outreach Food Pantry each Tuesday from 9:00-10:30 and on Wednesday from 8:30-12:00. Their mailing address is: Love Outreach Food Pantry, Inc..P.O. Box 788, Orange, 22960. You may also bring any donations to the church to be delivered.

Please submit entries for the February issue of The Builder by January 26th to [email protected] or to the church office.

We pray especially for our church’s leadership: Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop; Shannon, Susan & Ted, bishops for this diocese Our country: President Barack, Vice President Joe, & Governor Terry For the special needs and concerns of this congregation: For: Bob, David, Gladys, Gr ace, J ack, Libba, Margaret, Raymond, Tom and our men and women in our armed forces who are serving our nation around the world. And Especially for: Anthony, Betty, Bill, Charlene, Charles, Cheryl, David, Edward, Ellen, Gil, Hazel, Irvin, Jessica, Nadia, Palmer, Patricia, Pattie and Rachel; George Colby upon the death of his father, Kenneth; and the victims of religious oppression around the world, especially for those being affected by Isis