christ church september-october chronicle 2015
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Christ Church September-October Chronicle 2015TRANSCRIPT
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Mission Statement of Christ Church To the glory of God, the mission of Christ Church Parish is to serve Jesus Christ and all the people of God; to encourage and facilitate spiritual development for people of all ages; to grow as Christians in a loving and forgiving fellowship, thereby confirming, witnessing, and leading others to the faith by the power of the Holy Spirit.
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September is a time for beginnings of all kinds! At Christ Church
we are beginning a new service, to be offered the first Sunday of each
month on a trial basis. Four Vestry members have pioneered this idea:
the late Peter Hannaford, Gail Freeman, Bob Rex, and Lin Chase.
The services are intended for those wondering about what the
Church might have to offer, as well as for those whose schedules make
it difficult to attend on Sunday mornings. Childcare will be offered for
young children.
The first service will be Oct. 4, at 4:00 p.m. in the Chapel. (It will
be preceded by the 2:00 p.m. Animal Blessing, in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.) The service will be
a service of light, with candles, a bit of music, and a bite of food.
Nov. 1 at 4:00 p.m. will follow, and then Dec. 6, and Jan. 3. In January we will decide whether
to continue, based on the interest shown by those attending.
The Choir returned on September 13. Its wonderful to hear the beauty and joy their voices to the
service! In addition, several wonderful concerts are scheduled for the fall. Please check your
bulletin for details.
Gracious God, be with us each hour of each day.
In Christ,
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Recently there was a "My Word" article in the Times-Standard
(August 7, 2015) by Norm Shockley called "Who are these Godless
'Nones'?" They are people who are "unaffiliated" (non-religious,
freethinkers, agnostic, atheists) and the article says "are the fastest
growing segment of our nation's religious life: 23 percent are
'Nones'."
Mr. Shockley says "there is no god "up there" who cares for us.
Nature, the world, and any god (if there is one) are all completely in-
different to us." He also says that most religions devalue our pre-
sent life by placing a greater value on a "future life" in order to avoid
the finality of death. "The early Christians, following Jesus' teachings, most certainly devalued
this life to prepare for a promised, greater life after death." 'Nones' place a higher value on this life
than Christians do because present life is what matters most to 'Nones'.
'Nones' believe that religions introduce "revealed" morality to tell us what is right and what is
wrong. "This imposed morality is not a part of mankind's natural morality, so religions must in-
troduce unnatural motivational inducement ... including rewards and punishments with such un-
natural concepts as heaven and hell. .. Most 'Nones' believe that a morality that devalues this life
that is based on imposed rules and motivated by fear or reward, is not the best way to live this one
life we have."
Even for those who are not 'Nones', there are times when we fmd ourselves dissatisfied with
our church. I am sure this happens in all faiths. I have heard many reasons: you do not relate to
the priest; the sermons are not to your liking, too many clergy; too little clergy; do not like the lit-
urgy, music, coffee hour; resent being asked to pledge each year or contribute to ministry pro-
grams, are some of the reasons people use to stop coming to church on a weekly basis. I'm not
happy so I'm not going. Of course, there is also that people are too busy with work, sports and
other commitments to find time for worship on Sundays.
I have to ask myself, what if when Jesus became dissatisfied, disillusioned, or too busy, he did
not continue to follow God's will?
The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's do-
ing, and it is amazing in our eyes. Mark 12:10-11.
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September:
"Summer is over! Do we hear that because school has started?
But this year is going to be different. We have already had a sunny
summer, now we are having a Humboldt foggy bit of summer, and
next we will have another bunch of sunny days. All the better to
work on our garden before the promised rainy El Nio shows up.
All this leads to cleaning up and pruning bushes and trees around the
campus. Should we set a specific date to garden together or just
coming on your own time?
Please look at the third bulletin board in Lewis Hall. I have
renewed the list for projects that need to be done. Also many on the list are mentioned as WISH
LIST items and there is also a request for VOLUNTEERS. (There are sticky notes on the bulletin
board please leave messages or requests if you cannot contact me.)
Updates:
1. The ADA compliant toilets are coming along. We have gotten a clear asbestos test. The con-
tractor and draft person have received copies of the report. The draft person will be working on the
final drawings that will be taken for the County Building Committees approval.
2. I hope that by the time you receive this newsletter the new section of the iron fence will be in
place between the chapel and Zander Building. We still need two new gates in the courtyard. They
are on the WISH LIST!
Thank you Gwen, Elizabeth and John. Lewis Hall is looking better all the time. Thank everyone
else for your help.
October:
And now Fall weather has come. It is cooler in the mornings with warm sunny days. Now we
can only hope that El Nio arrives and we have lots of rain. Therefore it is time for a garden clean-
up day before the big rains come. I hope that you can set aside October 17, a Saturday starting at
9:30 a.m. We need to work on the parking lot and along G Street, cutting back trees and brush.
Could someone bring a pick-up so we can get rid of the big stuff?
Come help and join the fun with your community. Refreshments and lunch supplies will be pro-
vided. Call me if you have any questions, 442-4471.
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Our fence between the chapel and Zander Building is done! It looks so nice with part of the
fence replace and all painted. Go have a look.
The ADA compliant restroom plans are at the planning commission waiting for approval. John
Hammond is working on the downstairs "little" girls room. Gwen Connell will be working on the
window trim in the Heritage Room. We are going to look so good when the Bishop comes in No-
vember!
Beth Powell, Jr. Warden
Why do we say Amen?
I went through a recent Sunday service booklet and counted the
Amens. On that particular day, the word was there 14 times. (Used 13
times if there was no birthday, anniversary or travel blessing, 12 if no
Eucharistic Visitors were sent out from that service.) It is a word that
gets a lot of use. But what do we mean when we say Amen? What
are the depths and complexities of this seemingly simple word?
It is a word of agreement. When we say Amen at the end of a
prayer, were agreeing with the intent of the prayer. When we say
Amen at the end of a blessing, were accepting the gift of that bless-
ing for ourselves or affirming the blessing of an item or other person. Were saying Yes! Let it be
so!
Similarly, it is a word signifying unity of heart and soul in the congregation. When the priest or
the intercessor is leading prayers, we dont just listen in silence. We are joining our hearts and minds
to those prayers. We are one with the person who is offering the words, a profoundly important spir-
itual fact which we affirm with our vocal Amen. When we offer our Amen at the end of the
Creed, we are making ourselves one with all who have made themselves vulnerable to God by being
willing to wrestle with the great story that the Creed tells. We may not be able intellectually to affirm
every single word, but we are affirming that we receive the gift of Gods love through Jesus Christ.
It is also is a word of thanksgiving. When the priest or Eucharistic Minister tells us that we are be-
ing offered The Body of Christ, the bread of heaven, or The Blood of Christ, the cup of salva-
tion, we respond with our trusting affirmation that, in the great mystery of the Holy Eucharist, Christ
is present, feeding and nourishing us with the divine essence. We agree, with gratitude, to receive that
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wonder into ourselves. Thus we say Amen before eating and Amen before drinking in grateful
affirmation of the gift we are given.
The word Amen has deep significance for us. It emphasizes that we are not a bunch of people
watching someone else perform religious acts on our behalf, but that we are part of every prayer,
every action intimately, deliberately, and hopefully.
Can I get an Amen on that?
Sister Diana Doncaster
Saints Martha and Mary: Gifts of Love
Each year since Christ Churchs first Music & Arts Camp in 2010, the
parishioners at Sts. Martha and Mary Mission in Trinidad have partnered
with our camp team in a beautiful ministry that provides $100 Target gift
cards to selected children who attend camp for their back-to-school needs.
The mission raises money for their ministry through rummage sales held
at the church during the Trinidad Fish Festival in June. The gift cards are
then purchased and delivered personally to the children and their families
after Music & Arts Camp is held in early August. This year, ten (10) chil-
dren received gift cards!
Lee Albright, a member of Sts. Martha and Mary, has served as a shep-
herd at the camp for most of its six seasons and says, From that first year, we at M&M felt a great
desire to help some of the campers who were in need prepare for school. One grateful parent told me
what a wonderful experience camp had been for her children and that they are already looking for-
ward to next year's camp. Our project has certain-
ly been inspired all along by the Music & Arts
Camp. The parishioners at M&M love the project
and are very supportive. It has been a joy for me
to be a small part of the camp.
Sts. Martha and Mary is the parochial mission
of Christ Church. The camp leadership team at
Christ Church is grateful for Lees active partici-
pation in the camp and for the parishioners at Sts.
M&Ms, whose gift card ministry brings love and
joy to our campers each year.
The Rev. Nancy Streufert Lee Albright
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The Choirs Return!
On Sunday, September 13, we welcomed the choir back to the 10:30
service! The choir is open to all who love to sing and offer praise to
God through music, and who can carry a tune! If you are interested in
joining the choir, please contact Merry Phillips (445-0940 or
[email protected]). The choir rehearses on Wednesday
evenings from 5:30-7:00 p.m. and at 9:30 a.m. in the Chancel on
Sunday mornings.
Mother Nancy shared an interesting article recently titled Ode to
Joy: Join a choir, Science shows itll make you feel better (http://
www.slate.com/articles/life/culturebox/2013/07/
singing_in_a_choir_research_shows_it_increases_happiness.html). The essay is adapted from a
new book called, Imperfect Harmony: Finding Happiness While Singing With Others, by Stacy
Horn. Much of what it says comes as no surprise to singers. Like runners and other enthusiasts for
any kind of physical activity, singing provides neurochemical rewards; singing might be our most
perfect drug; the ultimate mood regulator, lowering rates of anxiety, depression and loneliness, while
at the same time amplifying happiness and joy, with no discernible, unpleasant side effects. Come
join us and find out.
In addition to rehearsing and performing together, choir members also enjoy socializing together.
Many thanks to Denise Braflaadt who welcomed us to her home for the annual choir potluck. It was
a delightful evening! (see photo on page 13)
Thank you to Guest Musicians
During the summer we have had several guest musicians play for our church services, and I
would like to say a special thank you to all of them: Earl Morgan, Peg Molloy, Marty Van Zandt
and Betty Burton, Jeanne Fish and Helen Winfrey, and Nancy Streufert. Thank you for sharing your
time and talent and enhancing our worship services with your fine music. We will continue to have
special music with instrumentalists throughout the year. If you play an instrument and are interested
in playing for a Sunday service, please contact Merry Phillips.
I would also like to thank Helen Hui for her service as the organist at the 8:00 a.m. service on
Sunday mornings. Beyond playing for the service, an organist chooses and prepares music for the
service, and it is a commitment of time and service to the church. Thank you Helen!
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We invite you to
Come and See
On Sunday October 4 at four oclock in the afternoon
in the Chapel of Our Merciful Savior, we will be hold-
ing the first of a new series of services. Titled, Come
and See, these informal services will be of light,
some scripture, some silence, prayer and simple
music.
Please join us as we explore different ways of making
time for God in our busy lives.
The Christ Church campus once again came alive with the sound of childrens singing and laugh-
ter during the recent music and arts camp held August 10 14. Our theme this year was "This Land
Is Our Land," with a focus on all things Americana. Pam and Paul Gossard taught the children the
theme song along with "America the Beautiful" and "When the Saints Go Marching In" (with kazoo
chorus!) as the core songs for the opening and closing gatherings. Paul accompanied the group on
the banjo and worked in a nature/environment theme with Pete Seeger and the Hudson River cleanup
project he spearheaded. Also incorporated were some gospel songs like "Every Time I Feel the Spir-
it."
The theme of Americana ran through the other classes too: Marita Musantes art class, with paint-
ing and collage projects inspired by
artists like Grant Wood and Ed
Emberley; the singing class with
Nan Voss Herlihy whose campers
learned Big Rock Candy Moun-
tain and a round on America;
and the keyboard class co-led by
Merry Phillips and Wally Cooper as
violinist Caitlin Wheetley accompa-
nied the children in singing Holy
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Manna from the Southern Harmony hymnbook.
Christ Church is in its sixth year of this childrens outreach ministry
that offers a morning summer day camp for children in the community
entering the first through sixth grades. Its mission is to facilitate the pro-
cess of awakening the creative spirit in the children of our community
in a safe and loving Christian environment. The children are divided in-
to three groups and rotate daily through classes taught by professional,
experienced childrens music and art teachers in keyboards and other
instruments, drawing and painting, and group singing. On the final day
of camp, families of the campers are invited to an open house to experi-
ence some of the childrens accomplishments, including a showing of
their art work and a choral concert in the nave of the church, followed
by a festive picnic lunch to celebrate the joy of the childrens creativity.
Among the 30 campers enrolled this year, many were from Betty
Chinns after-school program and from the foster care community.
Please see the poster in the Heritage Room for pictures and a list of all
the generous people from the congregations of Christ Church and St. Albans who gave of their time,
talent and treasure! All funding this year came from the generous donations from our congregations.
We are already planning next years camp with a working theme title Great Adventures. If you are
feeling called to this joyful ministry, please talk to anyone on our leadership team: Peg Gardner, Pam
Gossard, Paul Gossard, Marita Musante, Merry Phillips, or myself.
Camp Leadership Team
Peg Gardner, Pam Gossard, Paul Gossard, Marita Musante, Merry Phillips, Nancy Streufert+
Activity Leaders/Teachers
Wally Cooper, Pam Gossard, Paul Gossard, Nanette Voss Herlihy, Marita Musante, Merry Phillips
Adult Shepherds
Lee Albright, Shirley Curtis, Spen-
ser Erickson, Peg Gardner, Pam
Gossard, Paul Gossard, Elizabeth
Harper-Lawson, Vickie Patton,
Stephanie Schultz, Joan Stewart
Teen Shepherds
Ian Curtis, Sally Endsley, Emily
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Hines, Chloe Robnett, Isabel Robnett, Caitlin Wheetley
Luncheon
Lyn Klay, Fiona Grant-Endsley, Sara Hines, Susan Whaley
Snack Mavens
Sara Hines, Fiona Grant-Endsley, Elizabeth Harper-Lawson,
Vickie Patton
Quiet Room Staffing
Fiona Grant-Endsley, Elizabeth Harper-Lawson, Vickie Patton
Church Support
Susan Armstrong+, Kathy Clague, John Hammond, Barry Ross
Parish Campers
Christ Church: Angus Endsley, Finnbar Endsley
St. Albans: Lily Bowman, Lotus Bowman, Timber Bowman,
Lily Herlihy, Jonah Hohl, Miriam Hohl, Elizabeth Curtis, Sarah
Curtis
Cash Donations
Anonymous, Anita Alexander, Lynne Bean, Kathy Clague, Byrd
Lochtie, Anna Klay, Lyn Klay, Bev Olson, Helen Person, Bob
and Judy Rex, Helen Taylor, Susan Whaley
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Lay Ministries
Think for a moment about attending Sunday services. What is your favorite part of the day being
greeted as you enter? Receiving the Eucharist? Hearing the lessons? Perhaps your favorite is after
each service - the coffee hours with wonderful, tasty goodies? Or could it be the Adult Forum
between services with its in-depth studies and lively conversation?
Now think about developing your own active role in your personal favorite part of the worship
experience. Right now, while we enjoy the final slow summer and beginning of fall, would be the
perfect time to try your hand at one of the following join in the fun!
In-Kind Donations
Peg Gardner (Keyboards, Office Supplies); Pam and Paul Gossard (T-Shirts, Keyboard Accessories);
Fiona Grant-Endsley (Snacks); Sara Hines (Snacks); Marita Musante (Art Supplies); Nancy
Streufert+ (Gifts, Office Supplies)
Announcers
Lectors and Intercessors
Acolytes and Eucharistic Ministers
Ushers and Greeters
Eucharistic Visitors
Coffee Hour Hosts
Contribution Counters
Please contact Marty Vega at 443-9782 or send an email to [email protected].
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Brief Notes
Food for People and St. Vincents Dining Room
Thank you one and all for the
wonderful increase in donations
during September. On the twenty
third there were fifty pounds of food
to take to the food bank . On fresh
produce Sunday there was a bounty
of produce for St. Vincents. St
Vincents feeds between 350-400
people every weekday and they
deeply appreciate Christ Churchs
contributions.
Thank you,
Beverly Olson and Rene Ross
Fresh produce for St. Vincents gathered on Sunday, September 27
All Saints Day is coming up Sunday, November 1
There will be a table in front of the Altar for pictures of family and friends who have departed.
Please bring your labeled pictures to the office starting Monday, October 12. Make sure to hand
them to Barry directly for safe keeping. Photographs will also be collected on Sunday, October 25 in
Lewis Hall.
This year there will also be a separate section for departed pets. Please bring labeled photographs
in the manner mentioned above.
For an excellent article about the observance of All Saints Day, please see Fr. Leos article on our
Diocesan website: http://www.norcalepiscopal.org/celebrating-all-saints-and-all-souls-day
Rest eternal, grant unto them, O Lord;
and let light perpetual shine upon them.
Elizabeth Harper-Lawson
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John and Vickie Patton September 2 Richard Whaley September 26
Lynn and Greg Bean September 8 Peg Gardner September 26
Marcia Marling September 15 Fred and Jacqueline Moore
October 1
Eris McCarthy September 16 Catherine Mace October 2
David Toy September 21 Barrett Mace October 15
David Moore September 23 Sharon Dircks October 23
The Rev. Nancy and Richard Streufert
September 25 Robert Hines October 28
2015 Choir Potluck
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Fun Shopping for Foster Kids Christmas Party
Here's a great reason to go shopping! The TFI (The Forgotten Initiative) will be holding their an-
nual Christmas party just after Thanksgiving for Foster Kids in Humboldt County. Last year Christ
Church parishioners helped provide a wonderful collection of small toys and gifts for the children.
The gifts are spread out on tables and the children are given tickets to select something to put in their
gift stockings.
During October and up until November 22, the Sunday before Thanksgiving, we will collect gifts
which will then be blessed at our Thanksgiving Eve Chapel service, Wednesday, November 25. Have
fun scouting for gifts in the $1.00-10.00 range that would suitable for ages newborns through high
school. Look for the collection table in the Heritage Room. Questions? Call Peg, 443-9627.
Peg Gardner
From Linda Benko: Thank you for helping me find a home. I am now living in McKinleyville, and
would still love to come to church. Please let me know if you are able to give me the occasional ride
to church. Tel: 267-5918.
Quilters...Plus!
Meet with the Quilters...Plus! parishioners on Wednesday morning, October 7, in Lewis Hall. Come
at 9:30 a.m., or a little later if that works better for you. We are working on a very easy project - mak-
ing fleece blankets for Foster Children in our community. No sewing skills are needed. The most dif-
ficult part is choosing a colorful and fun piece of fleece with which to work. Coffee, goodies, and
friendly conversation are a bonus.
The Forgotten Initiative (TFI) Foster Kids resource room/clothes closet for foster families will be
moved in several weeks from the First Nazarene Church to a much-needed larger space near the old
post office on H Street. As soon as the space has been painted and shelves and rods added, we will be
delivering frogs, rockets, dinosaurs, basketballs, music symbols, trains, dogs, flowers, sharks, trucks,
kites and more - all on brightly colored fleece blankets. Take Questions? Contact Joan Stewart, 443-
9637, or Peg Gardner, 443-9627.
On September 13, Mother Susan blessed 60 additional quilts which Peg Gardner has delivered to the
Foster Kids Resource Center at its new location across from the downtown H Street Post Office.
This will be our completion workday on the fleece blankets gven our current supply of fleece. Take
note of the bulletin board in Lewis Hall where a list of all of the quilters who worked on this project
can be found.
Joan Stewart and Peg Gardner
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ECW October
At the ECW meeting on October 14 at noon, JoAnn Schuch and
Betsy Hubbard from Redwood Coast Village will talk about the
organization and its opportunities.
Redwood Coast Village (RCV) is a new membership organization
that encourages older adults living in Humboldt County to be part of
a network of volunteers and business referrals so that they may re-
main in their own homes as they age. Central to the organization are
methods to encourage neighbors to help each other and especially to
support seniors to continue being active, independent, and socially
connected to their communities.
Villages like Redwood Coast Village are a grassroots effort to
address the current and unfolding challenges of an older America.
Originally started in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston, Mas-
sachusetts in 2002, the Village concept arose out of community mem-
bers desire to reside in their own homes while being able to access
services that address their changing lifestyles as they aged. At its
core, the Village movement is consumer- and customer-driven.
This exciting and innovative organization is currently in develop-
ment in Humboldt County. Come hear about RCV's initial plans for
services or how to be a volunteer.
www.redwoodcoastvillage.org for more information.
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Baptism at Saints Martha and Mary
On September 13, the Rev. Nancy Streufert presided over the baptism of Zach Rotwein in Trinidad.
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In August Sister Diana delivered the following sermon on the Feast of the Transfiguration, August 6. Because it was at a mid-week service, not so many of us were able to be there and hear it.
Transfiguration sermon, 2015
In the Collect for the Transfiguration we pray, Grant that we, being delivered from the
disquietude of this world, may by faith behold the King in his beauty . . . Its tempting to interpret
this as only about the glories of the life to come after our deaths. But Jesus was so emphatic about
the reign of God also being in the here and now among and within us that it seems reasonable to
look for that holy presence without waiting until we die especially in the midst of what the prayer
so aptly calls disquietude in the midst of the everyday joys and challenges of life.
Heres one small example. One of the core practices of living the religious life is the Divine
Office. Day in and day out, morning, noon, evening and night, the community comes together to
worship mostly through praying and singing Psalms and reading other Scripture. It creates a
rhythm to the day. Its a regular reminder of Gods presence; of love, of our responsibilities and
privileges as Christians. It helps us to put down the merely urgent for a few minutes to try to be
attentive to what is truly important.
As you can imagine, however, sometimes it gets old. Sometimes the last thing you want to do is
stop what you are doing to go recite those same Psalms and say those same prayers and sing those
same hymns one more time. Sometimes you just drift through it, barely awake or you indulge in
annoyance at the way someone else is saying it. And sometimes God surprises you with
deliverance from disquietude. Sometimes that Transfiguring light sneaks up on you.
Sr. Alice shared an experience she had when, one day, she dragged herself reluctantly to whatever
the next Office was. In the midst of it, a verse shed read a thousand times took hold of her and
opened her to insights and peace that she badly needed in a situation with which she was dealing.
She said, What if I hadnt been there? I wouldnt have heard what I needed. Id have missed Gods
touch.
When the three disciples later looked back on their experience with Jesus, Moses and Elijah on
the mountain, I wonder if they thought about how close they came to missing that holy moment.
Luke tells us Now Peter and his companions were weighed down with sleep; but since they had
stayed awake, they saw his glory and the two men who stood with him. Since they had stayed
awake they were witnesses to one of the great mysteries of Jesus life. They were awake enough to
see when the division between Earth and Heaven became so thin that the Reality of Jesus the
Christ the Messiah God Incarnate was briefly visible.
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I am so grateful to Luke for putting that bit about struggling to stay awake in the story. Aside
from reassuring me once again that even those closest to Jesus were just as human and flawed as I
am, it is another reminder that it is Gods love, not what I deserve, that matters. It is also a reminder
to grow prayerfully more attentive to how the King in his beauty is present in any situation, no
matter how unlikely it seems.
Sometimes I dont want to be where I am. Sometimes Im only physically there hardly awake.
Sometimes Im distracted, thinking so much about what I need to do next that I can barely manage to
pay attention to the needs of the person Im with. Sometimes Im so annoyed by or bored with
whats happening in a meeting that I dont even want to think that God might have something to
teach me about love. Sometimes I think Im too busy to rejoice in the beauty around me.
Sometimes I think Im doing something too important to stop and attend to the Office or even to be
still in the presence of God.
And oh, those arrogant times when I think Ive heard it all before!
Sister Alice and Saint Luke remind me to stop and at least be willing to try to be awake in the
moment, in prayer, in worship, in whatever work is before me, in the person I am privileged to be
with, in the dishes and laundry and dusting, in meetings and bill paying, because the Transfigured
Christ is present and has something to teach, and love to convey even when it seems least likely.
Of course Alices experience is a reminder that it can be enough if you simply show up. The God
who can break through to three groggy disciples can and does break through to us in all kinds of
ways. But, I suspect, God prefers a little more active cooperation from us. Perhaps God would
prefer that we ask for help regularly as well as work at paying attention at staying awake. The
disciples couldnt do it on their own, and neither can we.
Transfiguration moments are offered to us all the time. We may not have the privilege of spotting
Jesus, Moses and Elijah in conversation, but the event of the Transfiguration on the mountain is a
reminder that the barrier between us and eternal reality aka the reign of God With Us is very thin,
indeed. As we continue to show up as we stay faithful to the practices of prayer, worship, study of
Scripture, coming together, sharing Holy Eucharist, sharing our lives, sharing ourselves and
substance in ministry we will grow in our wakefulness and attentiveness. As we continue to ask
God to show us what we need, and as we practice expectant attentiveness, we will become
increasingly aware. We will glimpse Christ alive in the interruptions, in the seemingly mundane, in
that which frustrates and wearies us, in the needs of those around us, in grief and in joy, in hope and
despair, as well as in those rare and wonderful mountaintop moments.
Lord, in the midst of the disquietude of our daily lives, help us to keep awake . . . really, really wide awake; attentive, open and responsive to you in every possible moment.
The Rev. Sister Diana Doncaster
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Partnership Brings Relief to Fire Victims
by The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California is partnering with
Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) to assist Northern
California communities suffering due to fires. Financial support
from ERD brings additional resources to the local level, expanding
the ministry of our congregations. With these donations, we will
help provide increased bilingual communication resources,
pastoral care and increased support for ministry outreach
initiatives, such as local food closets and thrift stores.
Katie Mears, Director of US Disaster Preparedness and Response for Episcopal Relief &
Development, has been assisting our diocese with outreach to lay and clergy leaders working on the
ground near the fires, and assessing the needs in these areas. Elaine Clements, Diocesan Disaster
Coordinator for The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana and a member of Episcopal Relief &
Development's Partners in Response Team, has contacted clergy and lay leaders from each
congregation working in evacuation centers and high-risk areas. Elaine is an experienced disaster
coordinator who has worked on relief efforts in response to Hurricane Katrina for the last 10 years.
"The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California has been a strong supporter of Episcopal Relief &
Development for a long time," shares Bishop Barry Beisner. "We have celebrated its wonderful
worldwide work. Now, in our time of need, we have become the beneficiaries of that work. We now
see ERD's legendary effectiveness first-hand. This assistance enables us to respond with more
effective compassion and generosity. ERD equips our prayers for action, and we are deeply grateful."
An outpouring of support, prayers and funds are being showered on our diocese from across the
state, country and the world. We are so grateful. This recovery will take a long time. To continue to
contribute to these efforts, please consider a donation to the Bishop's Discretionary Fund or to
Episcopal Relief & Development.
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To donate to the Bishop's Discretionary Fund, please make checks payable to:
Episcopal Diocese of Northern California or EDNC
Important: Please include "Bishop's Discretionary Fund - Fire"in the memo line
Please Mail Checks to:
The Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
c/o Accounts Receivable
350 University Avenue, Suite 280
Sacramento, CA 95825
Compassionate God... Draw near to us in this time of sorrow and anguish, comfort those who mourn, strengthen those who are weary, encourage those in despair, and lead us all to fullness of life; through the same Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, who liveth and reigneth with
thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. Holy Women, Holy Men: Celebrating the Saints
Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe
the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen. BCP, pg 124
Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our supplications and prayers, and dispose the way of thy servants towards the attainment of everlasting salvation; that, among all the
changes and chances of this mortal life, they may ever be defended by thy gracious and ready help; through Jesus
Christ our Lord. Amen. BCP, pg 832
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The Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner Bishop, Diocese of Northern California
Staff
The Rev. Dr. Susan J. Armstrong
Priest in Charge
The Rev. Lesley McCloghrie
Resident Associate Priest
The Rev. Nancy Streufert
Associate Priest
The Rev. Sister Diana Doncaster
Associate Priest
Merry Phillips
Organist and Music Director
John Hammond, Sexton
Barry Ross, Administrative Assistant
Vestry
Lyn Klay, Senior Warden
Beth Powell, Junior Warden
Bob Rex, Barry Ross, Lynne Bean, Lin Chase,
Helen Taylor, Elizabeth Harper-Lawson, Belinda Zander,
Rex White, Katherine Clague, Gail Freeman
Bob Hines, Treasurer, Peg Gardner, Clerk
625 15th Street P.O. Box 861
Eureka, California 95502 Phone (707) 442-1797 Fax (707) 442-5647