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Please note that past issues of the newsletter can be found on the bottom of this page in pdf October 2008 News from St. Alban's Episcopal Church Dear People of Saint Alban’s, Yesterday morning over breakfast vestry members Bob Webb and Laura
Miller and I began planning for three events in the life of Saint Alban’s:
a day of introduction to spiritual practices & deepening relationship
with God, a parish camp-out and a parish retreat. These events will
unfold over the next year and half and are in response to the parish’s
desire to grow in faith as expressed in the parish profile and the Vestry’s
commitment to provide opportunities for individual and communal spiritual
growth and development, one of the goals identified during their retreat
in late July. It’s Fall, possibly my favorite time of year; the time of year that my inner squirrel comes out, scurrying around in preparation for winter. Years ago, when I lived up at 4000 feet on Underwood Mountain near the hamlet of Burnt Ranch, this was an essential part of our seasonally-based life. We were only 1.5 hours away from Arcata, but as many of you know, that can still be way out in the boonies. And in our case, it sure was! So the summer garden was tended, harvested and whenever possible, ‘put by’ – mostly canned, sometimes dried, rarely frozen. Roads were graded, ditches cleared, and berms redefined to keep water flowing correctly, so as not to wash out our driveway. Caulking was checked and redone to keep out those fierce winds and rain, the tractor and other heavy equipment serviced in anticipation of snow moving. Animal feed was stored and heavy-duty tires put on the trucks. All summer, in the heat of the day when working in the sun was too much, we’d pack a picnic lunch and take off into the forest, permits in hand, to cut wood in the shade for winter. Each year that amounted to about 8 cords – all for heating and cooking. Yes, I cooked on a beautiful old wood cookstove. Now, here in Arcata, there’s nowhere near the same urgency, but I still feel the need to check things out, to be sure the supplies are in hand. Last year, at about his time, Judy Warren came and talked to us about being prepared for “Living on the Faultline.” Are you ready – am I? One annual event that must be tended at this time of year – flu shots. Please, please, please, get yours. The schedules and places they’ll be provided will be published soon. Keep an eye out for announcements in the local papers – but most importantly, get yours. Children, elders, and those with compromised health are the most in need. And those of us who are protected won’t be sharing the flu with anyone else either. Emily Arents, RN
Cooks for Arcata Endeavor October 15, 2008: (Taco Bake): October 6, 2008: Thank you to all who cooked for the Arcata Endeavor and Night Shelter
in September: Colleen Rodes, Alice Hackett, Merry Schellinger, Betty
Price, and Brenda Wood. Arcata Endeavor needs warm clothing and blankets, as well as non-perishable food. There is a basket in the Narthex for donations.
It is March of 2008 and I am puzzled. After twelve years without Bonnie ever failing to answer letters and e-mails, she is. The few phone call attempts I make fail to get an answer. Then a month later, Bonnie’s phone number is disconnected. I start to wonder and worry. Bonnie is in her 80’s and lives alone. Certainly if something had happened, someone would contact me. Then, finally, after two months of wondering and failed attempts at contact a letter arrives with Bonnie’s address on it. I open it, but it isn’t from Bonnie. The letter is penned by her daughter, Carol. Carol writes that Bonnie has fallen, broken her hip, has had surgery, and is now in hospice care. There are two phone numbers included (Carol’s and Bonnie’s), as well as a new address for Bonnie. Without a pause, I sit down to write Bonnie. Months pass. Bonnie mends. We speak on the phone, Bonnie always eager for me to come and see her. I try to explain I live over four hours away for Bonnie seems to have forgotten I no longer live in Sacramento, which I left three years ago. Finally summer arrives. I am free from teaching and start making plans to visit Bonnie, but then lightning strikes. Flames blaze all along Highway 299: my route to Highway 5 and Bonnie. Then the smoke blows in. Even when the Highway is open, the air is too toxic for travel, and all my pet sitters have either left the area or have asthma and can’t come to watch my animals. I am stuck. Transformations Art, it has been argued by Plato and others, is a powerful threat to a society. For any who have had the opportunity to see a major contemporary art show, that threatening power is apparent. Connie and I encountered this threat at the LAMCA in 1992 at the Helter Skelter exhibition. Whoa!! Society often responds to the threat by censorship, but has found a much more effective way to transform the threat of art. It does this by installing art in museums and often attaching a pedigree to it. I think of Van Gogh’s Irises at the Getty. The label next to it tells us how many millions of dollars the Getty paid to acquire the painting. Thus, Van Gogh’s Irises, which was once seen as a threat, is transformed into something of value - a dollar value. Marcel DuChamp’s Urinal was another threat which has been transformed and is now shown in major art museums around the world and is considered priceless. People (including Connie and me) pay to see it!! Jacque Ellul (1912-1994), a contemporary Christian philosopher, in his book Money & Power, writes that we are engaged in a contest of power over our lives. The contest is between God and wealth. In Matthew 6:24 Jesus seems to be suggesting that wealth/money is a threat to our relationship to God. Ellul writes how wealth dictates so much of what we do and how we act. We spend a major portion of our lives concerned with earning and safeguarding our wealth. It is, right now, a central issue in the presidential campaign; and today’s newspapers and e-newspapers are headlined with news about plunging stock values, financial market collapses, and tax-payer buyouts of big firms. I just viewed a poll where over 70% of the respondents expressed grave concern as to the adverse affects these things will have on their lives. Am I any different? I have often wondered what difference may stand between me and those who are “clearly” addicted to the pursuit of money. It seems clear to me that any difference is not to be found in the quantities of such money. Money is an obsession for poor and rich alike. I am wondering if the only difference is that I have become exhausted. Now, in the midst of all this financial and political turmoil, St. Alban’s is asking for each of us to pledge (i.e. “give”) some of our money to the work of the church. What a bother! This issue of our newsletter is full of “pledge drive” information. We often have made “light hearted jokes” about “pledge time again.” Why does St. Alban’s asking for me to give of my money rankle me? From where does this resistance originate? Is it the power of Mammon? This is frightening stuff! Is there some way to break the power of Mammon? Ellul writes that we can only break the power money holds over us by making it worthless. How does one make money worthless? Ellul writes that by giving it away we make it worthless, and in so doing we demonstrate its powerlessness over us. He writes that this is the transforming character of the tithe in church. The giving of our money in church has a sacramental element. It is not because somehow the money we give is going to some worthy use. It is not because the church somehow needs it. It certainly has nothing to do with getting more in return. Instead, it is because, in the giving of it, we have transformed the power of Mammon to no longer be a threat or obstacle to our relationship with God. Robert L. Webb As you can see, our newsletter is changing format slightly. We would like your input! Please submit possible names for the newsletter to Evaonne or Mtr. Sara. Some of the current suggestions are “The St. Alban’s Chimes” and “The Herald. There’s a secret prize, which will be announced later!
Outreach News Members celebrating birthdays or anniversaries receive a card from
St. Alban’s. They are signed at the coffee hour by members present.
7:00-9:00 p.m. PEASE NOTE Office hours for our Church Secretary, Connie Williams, are: Monday-Wednesday, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., noon. St. Alban's Spiritual Forum resumes in September with discussions held in the church library from 9:15 until 10:15 a.m. each Sunday between the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services. All are welcome and childcare is available. For October, the topics are: October 5: The Rev. Fred Moore on Gays and the Church (Note: Copies
of an article on the topic will be available in advance.) St. Francis Day, We will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis on Sunday, October 5th at
the 10:30 a.m. service. Don’t forget to bring your pets for the
annual blessing of the pets! Each Tuesday evening all are invited to meet for Evening Worship. Silent
devotion takes place from 5:00 P.M. to 5:30 P.M., during which one may
enter or leave at any time. This is followed by evening prayer from
5:30 P.M. until 6:00 P.M., which consists of a short healing service,
which often includes music and/or Eucharist. If you are interested, or know someone who might be, please contact
the Moores at (707) 826-1727. October’s book will be “Siddhartha” by Herman Hesse,
but we will also be reading Ken Follett’s book, “Pillars in
the Earth.” Both books can be found at North Town Books in Arcata.
Now that fall is here and we are back to our regular worship schedule,
the nursery is open on Sunday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
noon, so bring the kids! Altar flowers are $40.00 per Sunday (two vases of roses—a good
bargain). November 23rd is still open if you would like to sign up.
new choir director! We are pleased to announce that we have a new choir director, Jerilyn
Gashi. She is a senior music student at HSU. If you are interested in
joining our choir, please come to our rehearsals, Wednesdays at 6:15
p.m., or see her after church on Sunday. It is not too late to sign up for candles. Some dates remain open:
October 19; November 16 and 30; and December 7, 24, 25, and 28. Candles
cost $10.00. The URL is: caitlingoestoindia.blogspot.com You can leave comments on the site, which contains a journal, pictures,
and original poetry. As we all pray regarding our part in St. Alban’s fulfillment
of commitments made in its mission statement, vision statement and in
its parish profile, we should assess where we are today, then look at
where we want to be tomorrow. Win Shoemaker Coffee hour hosts (at least two individuals/families per Sunday) provide simple refreshments and juice, serve coffee and tea provided by the church, and clean up. Directions and guidelines will be provided. There are many ways to participate in the coffee hour ministry. Individuals are being invited to participate and there will be a calendar posted to sign-up in advance. Ask a friend to join you! If you are a new coffee hour host, we will try to pair you with someone who is familiar with hosting coffee hour. You may also wish to donate money to the coffee hour fund. Beginning in October, we plan to have a more substantial coffee hour on the last Sunday of the month. Food will be planned and sign-up sheets will be put up for specific food items. Mark the dates: October 26 – “Haystacks” ; November 30 – “Irish Sundaes” ; and December 28 – “Soup and Salad”. Watch for more information! We are grateful and thankful to those who have been steady in their
support of the coffee hour ministry. It is a wonderful way to meet new
people, make new friends, and welcome newcomers to St. Alban’s.
We want to continue the tradition and invite all who are interested
to participate. All ages and genders are welcome! Contact Jane Foster,
Jenni Simpson, or Merry Schellinger if you have questions. The Ladies group meets monthly to share stories, snack a little, and
generally to catch up on each other's lives. Snacks are pot luck, so
bring a friend. Snacks are appreciated, also.
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