"But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may become sons and daughters of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil." - Matthew 5:44-45
Jesus taught us to love our enemies because, more than anyone else, they teach us how to love God. In fact, in a strange sort of way, we more often find God peering out at us through the eyes of our enemies than our friends. For who are our "enemies," really, but those people upon whom we project those hidden parts of ourselves that we loathe? Let us consider carefully why we detest certain people, so that we may bring to light dark corners of our hearts that need to be dealt with.
And does not God do for us the same exalted service as our enemies? Whoever seeks God must be prepared to confront herself, because knowing God better always means that we learn to see ourselves as clearly as he does.
It is unfortunate that the warmth we experience in the company of spiritual friends is thoughtlessly equated with the love of God flowing through them to us. If we spend time only with our friends, these people who like us, agree with us, say what we want most to hear and who will not confront us with the less savory aspects of our character - we become smug and complacent. We do not grow. God is interested in our growth, our perfection. For spiritual beings the absence of growth means death. Therefore God gives us enemies.
Like God, our enemies challenge us; confront us with precisely those flaws in our character that successfully keep us at a safe distance from our truest selves (and from our Maker). Enemies enable us to become the best that we can be. They wear away our rough edges; they make us strong (or kill us trying). And they make us humble.
More than anything else, learning to love and be grateful for our enemies is the fastest way to learn to love God (and we Americans prefer everything done in a hurry). Because God is hidden. We cannot see him, and we cannot apprehend him with our minds alone. He is not the fulfillment of our earthly desires for pleasure, success, happiness and health. And he does not always do what we want him to do or what we expect him to do. "For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil." God is not "nice," nor can we be "fond" of him. We must love him because nothing else in this world that we love can give us any peace. And this is what our enemies give us; the opportunity to learn to love what is humanly impossible to love.
God bless our enemies.
Peace,
Randy
From the Senior Warden
Homeless people living on the grounds, the down and out eating in the parish hall, drug addicts meeting in the building, OUTKitsap renting office space,a day caretheformerlysacrosanctSunday School.are just a few of the more visible ways we've stretchedand our ministriesthe last few years.
this "reaching out"hasn't beeneasy transition for our members.we were a church, likeothers,worshipped together on Sundays, collectedfood at Thanksgiving,an Angelat Christmas, and provided back to school supplies to children.Noware a church that is stretching itselfbeyond where we thought we could go.We are athatthe lives of literally hundreds of people every week.And now, we have faces and names for some of those formerly anonymous souls.They walkus on life's journey.'sa lot less comfortable thanold ways of doing outreach.And thosecontinue to be tested nearly everydayand neither the journeythe conversationsfinished!
As part of this outreachwe decided to give up exclusive use ofbuilding.We often have atimea roommeet together outside of worship, because on any given night our building iswith the comings and goings of the folks with whomshare this space.These ministries haveus money,the increasedwear and tear on our building, repairs, security,utilities.Fortunately, we receive money for rent, grants and giftsoffsetmost of those costs, butstill struggle to make ends meet while endeavoring to provide ahaven forwho seek shelter here.
So why are we traveling togetheralong this more difficult path?Weren't we more comfortablewe started moving indirection?'t we go back toway it used to be?
I'm thinking about my own life.thankful I am to have a lovinga secure job,warm, safe home, childrenare strong and sure of themselves'm thankful forfamilySt. Paul's. Thiscommunityhaswith me through bothand darkestin my life!You've held mewhen I was weak, prayed with mebelieved in me when I wasn't sure Ianymore and you rejoiced with me'smoments.'m a richer personhaving journeyed with you for the better part of twenty years.
Is it our simplefor the blessingsall enjoy that compels us to reach out to others in need?We often struggle to discern what is right for us to doany given situation.We are not afraid to voice ouror share our understanding with each other.And,we decide to shareabundance with the people around us.People who arepain,who are hungry,who have been cast offthe greater community,people who have no "place"toown.
As we serve the least among us, so we serve our Lord.
God's peace,
Myra
From the Junior Warden
I have been sitting here trying to think of a spiritual message to share with you. However the more practical aspects of this job title seem to intrude. So... I will share with you what is troubling me.
As you know, we have had a series of problems with our physical plant, ranging from the leaking pipes which flooded the Olympic College Early Head Start area, the leaking dishwasher which caused mold damage to the Youth Room, to the more recent leaks in the roof which damaged the mail room and the ceiling in the Narthex. Repairs are under way for some of these and others are being begun. These are all just problems with "things" and can be dealt with .
The other troubling thing involves the spiritual demands on our physical plant and on our larger community. There are several homeless people, and/or families who have been living on our campus for several months. For the most part, they have been somewhat unobtrusive. The question arises as to whether we have, as a Christian Community, an obligation to allow them to continue to use our facilities, and to what extent we should accommodate their needs?
We scheduled a meeting with the Jubilee Council on the 17th of December at which the ramifications of this were discussed in preparation for the following day’s vestry meeting. Because this affects the entire congregation, as well as Canterbury Manor, the Lord's Neighborhood Diner and various of our neighbors, may I suggest that you all express your concerns, approvals, disapprovals, etc. to Myra Battin (myrabattin@msn.com) or myself (donvanlue@hotmail.com) so that our ongoing discernment can reflect the will of the congregation.
Yours in Faith,
Don Vanlue
JOYFUL NOISE
My heartfelt thanks to Gayla Elverson who has helped so much with bell choir. The St. Paul’s Vocal Choir has outdone themselves as have the special soloists and instrumentalists.
I thank you all for giving so generously of your time, energy and talents through the holiday season. Each of you have been a gift to all those who’ve attended services. I trust each of you have been blessed by being a part of His work and that your Epiphany will be a wonderful time to reflect upon the “light” that has been given to each of us.
I invite you to continue “making a joyful noise” as the New Year progresses. You’re invited to join the vocal choir, hand bell choir or play your instrument for God’s service.
Prayerfully consider joining us as you make your Epiphany journey.
Cindy Holland
Epiphany Celebration!
Come and join the fun on January 11 as we celebrate the Feast of the Magi and help with the “de-greening” of the church following the Christmas celebrations.
Laura and Judy Wilkin baked last year's Epiphany cake. It was chocked full of traditional tokens for all to munch on during coffee hour. Angie Holland found the "peanut" in her slice of cake and will have the honor of being the baker for this year's celebration.
Angie, Cindy and Rusty's 12 year old daughter, has been searching for just the right recipe for the perfect cake. We are all in for a special treat from this dynamic Daddy/Mother/Daughter trio.
If you find a charm in your piece of cake be sure and let the church office know- we want to let you know the meaning of the token and to keep a list of other "winners".
Following the celebration, everyone will have an opportunity to help with "de-greening" the church.
Church Quiz
The Season after the Epiphany begins this month. Epiphany is always January 6th and has been called the "Twelfth Day" for obvious reasons. The Feast of the Epiphany commemorates the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles
1. What is the color for the Season after the Epiphany?
a. Purple
b. White
c. Green
2. What season is Epiphany in the Church year?
a. First
b. Second
c. Third
3. When does the Season After the Epiphany end?
a. Ash Wednesday
b. Shrove Tuesday
c. Ember Day
4. The Feast of the Epiphany always falls on January 6. Is it considered one of the five immovable feasts?
5. What does The Feast of the Epiphany commemorate?
a. The Baptism of Our Lord Jesus Christ
b. The Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple
c. The visit of the Magi
Quiz Answers: 1c, 2c, 3b, 4b, 5c
“Cookies for Kairos”
On March 18-21, 2004 I will be head clergy for another Kairos weekend at Washington Correctional Center for Women at Purdy. I will again be asking my St. Paul family to help me provide 100 dozen homemade cookies for the ladies at the institution. During the weekend the prison is flooded with home-baked, prayed-over cookies. Each lady who resides within the prison walls (there are about 900 residents at this writing) receives a dozen cookies each day during the three day weekend.
Let me tell you a bit about Kairos Prison Ministry.....Kairos is an ecumenical prison ministry, made up of those who have attended a similar three day weekend on the "outside" (Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus and others.) During this special weekend at the prison, the ladies learn about the love that God has for them.
Now, you might ask what do cookies have to do with learning about God's love? Some of these women have never experienced unconditional love. A lot of them are incarcerated because they have been neglected/abused. Being given a dozen cookies each day from people who don't even know them really impresses them! God takes these home-baked cookies and uses the cookies to bring them to Him; some inmates come to Kairos "just for the cookies," and as they sit and munch, they not only hear about the love of God, but they experience it too!
After the first of the year I will be handing out gallon-sized zip-lock bags with recipes and specific instructions about what ingredients may not be included in the cookies. If someone would like to hold a cookie baking party in their home (I have a real small oven or we could do it in my home) I would gladly accept the offer!
If you want to hear more about Kairos I would be very happy to sit down with you and tell you how rewarding this ministry has been for me. Perhaps I could even talk you into becoming eligible to "work" a Kairos!
Meet Sue Stroup
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sue Stroup (pronounced 'strop') and I have graciously been invited to serve here at St. Paul's for my field education as a Candidate for the Diaconate in the Diocese of Olympia. I am very excited about this development as I have found a great deal of warmth and hospitality here.
One of the possibilities Randy and I are discussing is an adult faith study that is a broad based curriculum spanning topics such as myth and literary genre paralleled with liturgy and spiritual mechanics. How do these call to us thought the Book of common Prayer? Last, but not least, how can these affect social change?
This field work is being hammered out as we speak and is indeed a very exciting prospect for me. Your input is appreciated, so when you see me at coffee hour please share your thoughts about your spiritual needs and interests for an adult/young adult curriculum.
I will be serving with you for a nine month period and I am delighted about the prospect of sharing our journeys.
Valentine Gala Event 2004
It's time to block your calendar for Friday, February 13th for the annual Valentine Gala and Hand-bell Fund Raiser!
You'll be able to skip the line at the restaurant, dress up and have a night out. The evening will include sumptuous hors d'oeuvres, dazzling entertainment and beautiful décor! An array of beverages (not included) will be available throughout the evening.
So support the new hand-bell choir, bring a friend and enjoy hors d'oeuvres and music, for less than you'd pay at a restaurant - without the wait!
If you’ve attended this event before you know you won’t want to miss this Friday Night Celebration! Tickets will be available on Sunday, February 1st. We sold out last year and expect to do so this year.
Doors open at 7 p.m. for beverages, Hors d’oeuvre Presentation begins at 7:15 by St. Paul’s Youth group and the Valentine Concert begins at 8 p.m. Tickets are $15 per person for adults, $10 for studets.
Please contact the church office (377-0106 in advance if you need transportation or childcare. Contact Cindy Holland for more information.
Robert Burns Night
Come join us for a fun evening celebrating the life and works of the great Scottish bard, Robert Burns, that will be held at the “Eagle’s Nest Hall” at the Kitsap county fairgrounds on Fairgrounds Road. The event is Friday, January 23 starting at 7:00 PM.
A traditional Scottish supper will be catered by “An Elegant Affair” (clan Gordon). There also will be the ceremonial presentation of the haggis with pipers, other Scottish entertainment and a no-host pub.
The ticket price per person is $25 due to the recent increased price of beef. Space for this event is limited, so make your reservations now. Contact John or Rosemary Allen for more information.
Jubilee Council Update
Here is a summary of decisions and recommendations of the Jubilee Council at its meeting on Wednesday, November 12, 2003.
Present were: Randy Lord-Wilkinson, Rector, St. Paul’s; Ann Horn, Office Coordinator, St. Paul’s; Deborah Grice, Sexton, St. Paul’s; Delsie Peebles, Director and Lissa Jennings, Lord’s Neighborhood Diner; Myra Battin, Sr. Warden, St. Paul’s; Donna Galano, Director, Olympic College Early Headstart; Melanie Tennis, Director and Kay Wright, Activities Director of Canterbury Manor; Don Vanlue, Jr. Warden, St. Paul’s; Rhonda Boothe, Office Administrator, OUTKitsap; Michael Goodnow, President of the Board of OUTKitsap; and Stanley Hess and Larry Dugan, St. Paul’s.
Concerning homeless folk camping on the premises, those present agreed upon the following guidelines:
1. No trailers.
2. One vehicle per family.
3. Park at the (upper) Hemlock entrance to the parking lot.
In addition, Don Vanlue will reroute the power cables to avoid the entrance to the day care, or speak with those who use them to unplug and stow them during the daylight hours.
Randy, Delsie and Don went to speak to the staffs of Olympic Optical and Dr. Stephen Habener, whose properties are across the street from the church campus, to gauge the impact of homeless people living in the neighborhood.
Delsie Peebles will contact the owner of the vacant lot across from the church to inquire about putting a portable “Honey Bucket” on the property.
Don Vanlue will inquire about the expense of a “Honey Bucket” installation and ongoing maintenance and the prospect that the company or the city of Bremerton might underwrite the expense. Several members of the Council offered to help underwrite the costs incurred by the portable latrine.
Kay Wright of Canterbury Manor will craft a petition to the local governing bodies to urge more support for the construction of a facility for homeless people in Kitsap County, and to be more proactive about addressing the problem. Randy will also invite the Rev. Dr. Peter Strimer, Jubilee Officer of the Diocese of Olympia, and Sr. Pat Millen of Catholic Community Services, to the next Council meeting for consultation.
The next meeting will be at 8:30 on Wednesday, December 17th.
Vestry Notes from the November Meeting
Mutual Ministry Review:
Myra reported that she has spoken with two possible facilitators: Marcia in Port Orchard, who is available as of January, and a couple from Port Townsend who is available in January, but is not willing to travel frequently. Marcia will be invited to join us at the Jan. 15 vestry meeting, and to attend the vestry retreat (Feb 6-8).
Finance Committee/Treasurer’s Report:
a.)John reported that $5000 was drawn from reserve fund to cover medical insurance payment Approximately $14,000 is left in reserve fund, some of which will be used to cover cost of recent repairs. Finance committee and vestry will need to discuss plan for when/if reserve is gone. Medical insurance will increase 26% next year.
Committee feels that new accounting program is worthy of continuing. Second person is needed to help Sharon and be familiar with system. They recommend that we purchase tech. support for Windows ($325 yearly).
“Give a Bell” Campaign:
Cindy Holland joined us to discuss a campaign to raise money for the purchase of a set of hand bells. Donations will be asked for from the congregation, and inscriptions may be made on the bells. Bells are $300 apiece, with the entire set including accessories being $7200. She reports that many parishioners have expressed interest in joining a hand bell choir. Cindy has already purchased the set at her own expense. Arvelle Carey will purchase the remainder if enough bells are not sold.
It was moved to set up a fund for bell gifts in February. The motion passed with one abstention.
Respectfully submitted,
Ingrid McGinley
Clerk Pro Tem
