St. Andrew’s NET

September, 2007

 

PASTORAL LETTER by Robin Bergman

 Ah, September!  New beginnings!  School starts and very often church “programs” start.  Our summer vacations are over and now we can really get started on all the issues we need to address.  For me the real start of this time of new beginnings is September 14 - Holy Cross Day.

Years ago, I belonged to an Episcopal church that had a parish school.  Every morning the teachers and students began their day with Morning Prayer and once a week a school mass was celebrated.  Holy Days were always celebrated with a school mass.  Holy Cross was the first Holy Day of the school year and it, like all the other Holy Days, was quite a celebration.  Preparations began during the first week of school. The story of St. Helena’s find of a piece of the true cross was told in many different ways (appropriate to all the grades Nursery through eight). I taught the Nursery and as best as I can remember this is how our story went.

Once upon a time, a very long time ago, the great Roman Emperor Constantine (who was the first Christian emperor!) decided to build a huge shrine in Jerusalem. This amazing shrine was to stand on the place where our dear Jesus’ resurrection happened.  Constantine asked his mother, Helena, to supervise all the work that was to be done.  So Helena set out with many, many workers and she watched while the workers dug and dug.  The work took days... weeks… months… a very long time.  One day the workers found a piece a wood, a very special piece of wood.  It was so special that we call it a relic.  It was part of the cross Jesus was crucified on!  Imagine… a part of the true cross!  And do you know what happened when Helena held it?  It started to sprout a few green leaves. Helena said “now I know that the cross of Jesus is the true tree of Life!”  Well the shrine was finally built and it was dedicated on September 14, 335 and many people were able to worship in that very special place.

I have often returned to this simple story and pondered what it might mean, for me, to “find the true cross”. What does the cross mean to me?  Is it a symbol of God’s desire to “draw the whole world” to God’s self?  Is it a symbol of sacrifice - bearing some burden you’d rather not carry, but you do because you know you must? Is it the ultimate symbol of love?   What rich ponderings for a time of “new beginnings.” I suspect  that it is in the pondering, the holding of the questions, that the cross becomes our “tree of Life”

Blessed Holy Cross Day!

Almighty God, who’s Son our Savior Jesus Christ was lifted high upon the cross that he might draw the whole world to himself.  Mercifully grant that we, who glory in the mystery of our redemption, may have grace to take up our cross and follow him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen (BCP 244)

  

VESTRY NOTES

The vestry welcomes new member, Sarah Maynard.  Lin Hill is our representative to Kingdom Community Services. Diane Montague is our Interim Senior Warden.  Blessing to all of them!

 St. Andrew's is in the process of searching for a Priest-in-Partnership.  The Discernment Committee (Michael Counter, Sybil Hazen, Diane Montague, Julie Nicknair-Keon and Marion Parks) is asking for your commitment to pray for them and for the process.  You may want to use the following: 

"Almighty God, giver of every good gift:  Look graciously on your Church and so guide our minds as we search for a priest for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord.  Amen."

The vestry is actively searching for a child care provider to hire on a steady basis to stay with the youngest children for Sunday mornings.  If anyone has suggestions beyond advertising at Lyndon State College
please contact Diane Montague.

There will be a meeting of everyone interested in participating in Christian Ed programs for the children and youth at St. Andrew's on the second Sunday in September after worship.  It is church policy to always
have two adults present downstairs; we need folks willing to teach as well as folks willing to "hang out" with the children.  The goal is to provide Church School for early primary age children two Sundays a month, and for the older primary students on alternating Sundays, as well as continue to offer something suitable for teens.

  

PASTORAL CARE

If you are looking for pastoral care please don’t hesitate to contact someone on the Pastoral Care Team:
Sybil Hazen 626-8678, Marion Parks 748-3083, Lisa Norsworthy 695-1408, Jocelyn Burrell 748-5247, Lin Hill 467-3308, and Robin Bergman 633-2871. (Sybil and Marion head up this group.)

Pastoral care is the work of the congregation – this is our group of facilitators -- all of us should feel encouraged to send notes or make phone calls when we see the need, particularly as we are currently without a priest.  We also must remind ourselves to reach out for help when we need it.

Phil Lavoie will appreciate our prayers as he goes into hospital on Sept.5 for serious surgery.

 

ODDS AND ENDS

Nicky Stevens has agreed to represent us and this area on the Diocesan Council.  This will also involve her attending the Annual Convention.  Thank you, Nicky. We look forward to hearing reports from you from time to time.

We are looking for people to share in the ministry of the Sunday morning Coffee Hour.  If you'd like to be a part of this, please contact Nicky Stevens 626-3096/email dietzel01@gmail.com.  She or others will be glad to help you if you've never done this before.

Many of us enjoyed worshiping with our fellow-believers at St. Peter's on Sunday, August 26.  We thank them for their welcome and hospitality.  We look forward to their visit to us on Sunday, September 23.  We hope that this will be a monthly event, alternating between the churches.

Please read the article about Kids4 Peace on the bulletin board in the church hall.  Libby has just returned from a Kids4Peace camp, and recommends articles in the latest Mountain Echo.

Karen Cheney is hoping to start a children's choir.  If you are interested, contact her at 748-1447 or oscarslady@mindspring.com.

We are grateful to Betty Maynard for stepping into Ann Knox-Whitehill's ministry of preparing the Sunday bulletin. Thanks, also, to Ann Hockridge for being willing to continue in this ministry.

 

HUMOR

A Jewish businessman in Chicago sent his son to Israel for a year to absorb the culture. When the son returned, he said - "Papa, I had a great time in Israel.  By the way, I converted to Christianity."

"Oy vey," said the father, "what have I done!"  He took his problem to his best friend. "Ike," he said, "I sent my son to Israel, and he came home a Christian. What can I do?"

"Funny you should ask," said Ike. "I, too, sent my son to Israel, and he also came home a Christian. Perhaps we should go see the Rabbi."

They explained their problem to the rabbi. "Funny you should ask" said the Rabbi.  "I, too sent my son to Israel, and he also came home a Christian. What is happening to our young people?"

Then they prayed, telling God about their sons, and asked Him what they should do. As they finished their prayers, a voice came booming from the heavens: "Funny you should ask," said the voice. "I, too, sent my son to Israel.... "

  

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!

-Vestry Meeting, September 13th, 5:30pm

-St. Peter's folk will be worshiping with us on Sunday, Sept. 23.



WORSHIP MINISTER SCHEDULE

 

RETURN

Updated 9/1/07