Men’s Breakfast
Saturday, September 6 at 8:00 a.m.
All men of the parish (and their friends) are invited to share breakfast and conversation at Kim & Patty’s.
Thoughts from Lori +
It’s September! And even if we hit 90° this week, it already feels like fall to me, my favorite season. When I was a girl, I was horse-crazy, and nothing was better than riding during the fall. The air was crisp, the trees were turning, and my horse was frisky. It was great! Those memories are part of why I love this time of year so much.
Memories are such an important part of our lives. On the one hand, I look back on parts of my life – like the years I was having babies, like that period in my life when I loved playing tennis, my seminary years, even the hard times – and those times seem so distant. I can hardly remember what it was like to be that person. On the other hand, as my body frequently reminds me of my age and the things I can no longer do, I don’t feel any different inside. It’s almost as if we both change and stay the same, as if there is something about our lives that is both temporary and timeless. Time is such a mystery!
Memories are such an important part of our lives. On the one hand, I look back on parts of my life – like the years I was having babies, like that period in my life when I loved playing tennis, my seminary years, even the hard times – and those times seem so distant. I can hardly remember what it was like to be that person. On the other hand, as my body frequently reminds me of my age and the things I can no longer do, I don’t feel any different inside. It’s almost as if we both change and stay the same, as if there is something about our lives that is both temporary and timeless. Time is such a mystery!
In a recent post on Facebook, one of my very favorite authors, Frederick Buechner, wrote this:
Inhabitants of time that we are, we stand … with one foot in eternity. God, as Isaiah says (57:15), “inhabiteth eternity,” but stands with one foot in time. The part of time where he stands most particularly is Christ, and thus in Christ we catch a glimpse of what eternity is all about, what God is all about, and what we ourselves are all about too.~originally published in Wishful Thinking and later in Beyond Words
One foot here, constrained by time, one foot in the mystery of eternity. I wonder if memories are what we take with us; the good ones to enjoy and the bad ones to be healed by the mercy of God.
Well! All that stirred up just thinking about pleasant memories of fall. May this time of year be a blessing to us all.
Peace and blessings,
Lori +
A Note from Bill McLemore, Retired Priest Associate
To my friends and members of St. Paul’s,
This past June, the Senior Warden at the request of the Vestry of the Holy Communion Episcopal Church, Lake Geneva, asked me to be their regular supply for the rest of this calendar year and perhaps into early next year. They are in a search process and currently without regular priestly help. They also want me to spend a few hours during the week in the office and making pastoral calls. I have chosen Wednesdays from 11 AM to 2 PM.
I will miss seeing all of you on a regular basis on Sunday mornings, but hope from time to time that I can come with Lori to other parish functions.
I am thankful to God that I am able to continue my priestly ministry and help a congregation in need of such. Please keep me and the good people of our Episcopal Church in Lake Geneva in your prayers.
May God bless us all in the Lord’s service, worship, and fellowship.
Faithfully,
Bill McLemore
This Sunday is Fall Kick-off!
During the service, we will bless the new children’s area on the left side of the nave. Any suggestions for a name for the area? “Children’s Corner” and “St. Nicholas’ Nook” have been suggested. What’s your idea? Let’s mark the occasion with a special Coffee Hour: bring a small coffee cake/donut/finger food plate to share. If you’ve been traveling or visiting, welcome home!
September 7 Servants:
Ushers: Bob Backer, Terry Jaworski Lector: Rick Carlstedt Intercessor: Judy Robel Eucharistic Ministers: Nancy Backer, Al Robel Vestry Person of the Day: Bob BackerNew Mother’s Class
The St. Paul Diaper Bank is holding classes for new mothers on Thursdays from 1:00-2:30 p.m. at the McHenry Chamber Office. Classes are free and attendees will receive a package of diapers and the book, What to Expect When You’re Expecting or What to Expect the First Year. Donations for these books, new (approx. $10) or used, will be greatly appreciated. Questions? Please call the church office at 815-385-0390.
Diaper Awareness Week…
is the week of September 7th, as proclaimed by the McHenry County Board. Please help us by bringing your diaper donations to church. We will also accept monetary donations. Checks should be made out to “St. Paul’s Diaper Bank.”
Total for June, July and August: 2,001 !!
Lessons and Hymns Sunday, September 7th
(Pentecost XIII – Proper 18 A)
by the Rev. William P. McLemore
THE SCRIPTURE LESSONS:
The First Reading: The Track I readings are Exodus 12:1-14 and Psalm 149; the Track II readings are Ezekiel 33:7-11 and Psalm 119:33-40. Exodus tells the story of the ‘passover’ and ends by saying, “you shall celebrate it as a festival of the Lord.” The reading from Ezekiel relates the importance of repentance and confession. The Track I Psalm reads “the Lord takes pleasure in his people” and the Track II Psalm tells the importance of God’s law and commandments.
The Epistle: Romans 13:8-14. Here, St. Paul summarizes the law of God adding, “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh.”
The Gospel: Matthew 18:15-20. In this portion of Matthew, Jesus gives instructions on dealing with dissension among the faithful and encourages the community by saying “for where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.”
THE HYMNS:
PROCESSIONAL HYMN: No. 400. This hymn which praises nature and God’s creation is based on a poem of St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226). The Italian text was translated into English by the Rev. William H. Draper (1855-1933) an Anglican priest and musician. The tune, “Lasst Uns Efreuen,” is taken from a Jesuit hymnal of 1623. The words of this hymn reflect the extreme piety of St. Francis who is famous for his love of animals and nature. The gentle monk even speaks tenderly of death, “And even you, most gentle death, waiting to hush our final breath, O praise him, Alleluia! You lead back home the child of God, for Christ Our Lord that way has trod.”
THE SEQUENCE HYMN: No. 440. “Blessed Jesus at Thy Word.” This hymn was written in German by Tobias Clausnitzer (1619-1684) and translated by Catherine Winkworth who was a very notable English song writer and translator. She is also known for her passionate and ardent support of women in higher education. The tune, Leibster Jesu” is a melody by Johann Rudolph Ahle (1625-1673) and later harmonized by George Herbert Palmer in the early 20th century. This hymn is especially appropriate before the Gospel reading with its very first line: “Blessed Jesus, at thy word we are gathered to hear thee.”
PRESENTATION HYMN: No. 302. “Father, We Thank Thee Who Hast Planted.” This hymn was written by Francis Bland Tucker (1895-1984) and is based on an important teaching manual for the Early Christian Church, “Teaching of the Twelve Apostles.” The prayers used in this hymn are considered much older that the “Teaching” and may very well date back to the 1st century and the formation of the Gospels. Dr. Tucker was born in Norfolk, Virginia, the son of a bishop and brother of a former presiding bishop. He was ordained a priest in 1920 and served as Rector of Christ Church, Savannah, for 22 years.
COMMUNION HYMN: No. 602. “Jesu, Jesu, Fill Us With Your Love.” This is a folk song from Ghana which has been adapted for this Hymnal by Thomas Stevenson Colvin, a minister of the Church of Scotland. Colvin was a missionary in Africa for 26 years, including the nation of Ghana. Throughout his ministry, he had a deep interest in helping the African Church to fully utilize their own musical heritage in worship and to write hymns appropriate to and arising from the African context. Dr. Colvin died at 75 in 2000. One phrase in the chorus is very important as we receive Holy Communion, “Fill us with your love.”
RECESSIONAL HYMN: No. 376. “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee.” This popular hymn is based upon a poem written by Henry van Dyke (1892-1933) in 1907 while visiting his friend, Harry Augustus Garfield, president of Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts. He told Dr. Garfield that the Berkshire Mountains near the school was the inspiration for the poem. He later set his words to the “Ode to Joy” melody of the final movement of Ludwig van Beethoven’s (1770-1827) Symphony No. 9. Henry van Dyke said of this hymn:
“These verses are simple expressions of common Christian feelings and desires in this present time-hymns of today that may be sung together by people who know the thought of the age, and are not afraid that any truth of science will destroy religion, or any revolution on earth overthrow the kingdom of heaven. Therefore this is a hymn of trust and joy and hope.”
101 Reasons to be Episcopal
Reason 62
“Despite or perhaps even precisely because of our present disagreements in the Episcopal Church I am reminded that God calls us all together because we aren’t whole without each other.” Nancy A. G Vogele. Diocese of Vermont
From the cartoons created by the Rev. William P. McLemore
1965 – 2014.
