Thoughts from Lori+
I’ve been a priest far too long to hold onto the illusion that there is any such thing as a perfect family. Not only have I never found one – not one – but I’ve come to realize that there simply is no such thing. Every family has its secrets, its lost sheep, its brokenness of one sort or another, its downright craziness! But Lord, how we work to hide it! How we try to compensate or cover it! Years ago on the TV show called Designing Women, the main character, Julia, went on a rant about “crazy people.” She says, “…this is the South. And we’re proud of our crazy people. We don’t hide them up in the attic. We bring ’em right down to the living room and show ’em off. See… no one in the South ever asks if you have crazy people in your family. They just ask what side they’re on.” And when she’s asked, rather arrogantly, “And which side are yours on, Mrs. Sugarbaker?” Julia says with some pride, “Both.” (It’s amazing what you can find in the Internet!) Now, using the term “crazy people” might not make the last draft anymore, and that’s probably a good thing. But let’s overlook that for the moment, if you will. There are a lot of ways to be crazy in that manner of speaking, most of them in the category of eccentricities. What is more important and what I love about that dialogue is that suggestion that we don’t have to hide them or hide from them. But being open about our families and their, shall we say, eccentricities, is easier said than done. For one thing, sometimes – many times – it is not our information to share. Sometimes it’s a matter of some distress. Sometimes it is a matter that – rightly or wrongly – causes us some shame or embarrassment. And there is the privacy of all parties to be considered. But here’s the thing: let’s stop pretending. Let’s be real about the fact that all of us and all of our families are to one extent or another, broken. Wounded. Different. Whatever you want to call it; whatever describes our various conditions. None of us is perfect. None of our families are perfect. The one thing we all have in common is the need for healing and wholeness, and thanks be to God, we have the promise of that in the Kingdom. But rather than end on what could be construed as a saccharine note, let me close with a personal story. The first person I told that I thought I was being called to “the ministry” (I couldn’t bring myself to say “the priesthood” – it was the late ’70s, after all) responded by saying, “Well, you have to be a little crazy to think that, let alone do it. But I think you qualify.” And he was right. But here’s the last thing: offering our craziness and our brokenness to God is to be on the path of that healing and wholeness for which we all long. As for me, I’m still on that path. Faithfully, Lori +
MEN’S BREAKFAST RESUMES
All men of the parish (and their friends) are welcome to share breakfast and conversation at 8am on Saturday, August 2nd, at Kim & Patty’s.
WOMEN’S WEDNESDAY RETURNS!
The first Wednesday in August, the 6th, at 7pm all women of the parish (and friends) are invited to meet for wine, refreshments, and conversation.
BLUES, BREWS & BARBEQUE
The Rotary Club of McHenry is hosting its third annual BB&B August 1 – 3 at Petersen Park. Rotary has been a frequent benefactor to our Diaper Bank and of other worthy local and international good works. Both Lori and Bill are members of this club and have tickets available.
Quarterly Statements
Your quarterly pledge statement is available on the table in the narthex. Please pick it up on Sunday. If you have any questions, please contact Dan Jannotta, our treasurer, at idocdan@yahoo.com.
Fiesta Days!
by Pam Dietmeyer After our last Thrive workshop, the team began debating the meaning and purpose of “church”. We finally agreed that it was the same purpose that Christ defined for his disciples: To spread the Good News. In that light, we figured we needed to get out of our pews and into the community. The first opportunity we saw was Fiesta Days. So we put together a quick plan to participate in the Children’s Ice Cream Social last Friday. What a great success! We met around 600 children and 200 parents. We distributed information about St. Paul’s and the Episcopal Church as well as a personal invitation to every family. And we had so much fun! I want to express special thanks to everyone who helped: Bobbi Fiali, Carol Toft, Nicole Toft, Debbie Zamost, Patrice Braun, Deb Lang, Diana Brown, Ann Byers, and Lisa Strandberg. Thanks to Betty Ann Waddington for not only providing the tent but for setting it up and breaking it down. What a great group of “disciples”!
July 27 Servants:
Ushers: Jim and Beth Lukas Lector: Jim Lukas Intercessor: Pam Dietmeyer Eucharistic Ministers: Jill Harrison, Charlie Boak Vestry Person of the Day: Beth LukasLessons and Hymns
for July 27th, Pentecost VII – Proper 12A by the Rev. William P. McLemoreTHE SCRIPTURE LESSONS: The First Reading: Again, the first readings have choices for this Sunday. The first choice is Genesis 29:15-28 and Psalm 105:1-11,45B or Psalm 128; the second choice is I Kings 3:5-12 and Psalm 119:129-136. Genesis tells the story of Jacob serving Rachel’s father, Laban, for seven years to win her hand, only to be presented her sister, Leah. Jacob relents and lets Jacob marry Rachel. The reading from Kings relates Solomon’s request of God for wisdom as king of Israel. The Epistle: Romans 8:26-39. This is Paul’s wonderful affirmation that nothing can separate us from the “love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” The Gospel: Matthew 13:31-33, 44-52. Jesus tells several parables that are images of the Kingdom of Heaven. THE HYMNS: PROCESSIONAL HYMN: No. 388. “O Worship The King.” This hymn is based on Psalm 104 and reputedly written by a Scottish priest, William Kethe, who with other biblical scholars in Geneva sought to render the Hebrew psalms into English meter and prose. His original first stanza included, “My soule praise the Lord, speake good of his Name, O Lord our great God how dost thou appeare, So passing in glorie, that great is thy fame, Honor and majestie in thee shine most cleare.” Like the psalm, the hymn rejoices in all aspects of God’s creation. The tune ‘Hanover’ has been erroneously attributed to Handel but nevertheless is an easy to sing hymn tune. THE SEQUENCE HYMN: No. 676. “There Is A Balm in Gilead.” This is a well-known traditional American spiritual. The “balm in Gilead” is a reference from the Old Testament taken almost directly from Jeremiah chapter 8 v. 22: “Is there no balm in Gilead? Is there no physician there?” But the lyrics also refer to the New Testament concept of salvation through Jesus Christ. The Balm of Gilead is interpreted as a spiritual medicine that is able to heal Israel (and sinners in general). PRESENTATION HYMN: No. 665. “All My Hope On Thee Is Founded.” The original German language version of this hymn was written by Joachim Neander around 1680. In 1899 it was translated into English by Robert Bridges, who later became the British Poet Laureate. As choir master for the parish church in a Berkshire village, he was so disappointed with the range of hymns available, he created his own collection; and this particular hymn includes a verse of God’s abiding love: “Daily doth the almighty Giver bounteous gifts on us bestow; his desire our souls delighteth, pleasure leads us where we go. Love doth stand at his hand; joy doth wait on his command.” COMMUNION HYMN: No. 671. “Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound.” “Amazing Grace” is a hymn written by the English poet and clergyman John Newton (1725-1807), published in 1779. It is one of the most recognizable songs in the English-speaking world. Newton grew up without any particular religious conviction. He was pressed into the Royal Navy, and after leaving the service became involved in the Atlantic slave trade. In 1748, a violent storm battered his vessel so severely that he called out to God for mercy, a moment that marked his spiritual conversion. “Amazing Grace” was written to illustrate a sermon on New Year’s Day of 1773. The tune “New Britain” has been traced back to “Southern Harmony,” a shaped note hymnbook published in 1847 published by William Walker which sold 600,000 copies. RECESSIONAL HYMN: No. 616. “Hail to the Lord’s Anointed.” This hymn was written in 1821 by James Montgomery to be used by a Moravian Settlement during the Christmas season. It is based upon Psalm 72 and reflects many sentiments in today’s reading from Isaiah. “He comes with succor speedy, to those who suffer wrong, to help the poor and needy, and bid the weak be strong.” The tune is an adaptation of a German folk song and should be sung happily with hearts of joy!
ALTAR FLOWERS
Please contribute to the beauty of our worship by dedicating the altar flowers. The suggested donation is $35, and your dedication may be “in memorial for…” or “in thanksgiving for…” There is a calendar of Sundays on the bulletin board in the narthex where you can sign up. Your dedication will be listed in the Sunday service bulletin on the appropriate date. Thank you so much for adding to our worship in this way.
Don’t forget! Summer Diaper Drive
The summer months are vacation months for many of us, including schools, organizations, and charities. Consequently, there is little activity for donations and diaper drives. But as you know, baby’s bottoms don’t take vacations EVER. St. Paul’s Diaper Bank is in need of children’s diapers, especially size 5’s. Here’s the great news! St. Paul’s Church will be conducting a diaper drive on behalf of the Diaper Bank in June, July, and August. Please help us by bringing your diaper donations to church on Sunday mornings. We will also accept monetary donations. Checks should be made out to the “St. Paul’s Diaper Bank.” Let’s make this a huge success! Remember, every little bottom counts.
June Collection = 619 July (as of 7/20) = 484From the cartoons created by the Rev. William P. McLemore 1965 – 2014.
101 Reasons to be Episcopal
Reason 1
“When Anglicanism is at its best, its liturgy, its poetry, its music and its life can create a world of wonder in which it is very easy to fall in love with God.”Urban T. Holmes, III
