February

Tidings
St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church
PO Box 7416 • Salem, OR 97303
503-363-0601
•
[email protected]
•
www.sainttimothys.org
FEBRUARY 2016
Lost & Found: Lent, Zacchaeus, Humility, and Freedom
He entered Jericho and was passing through it. A man
was there named Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax-collector
and was rich. He was trying to see who Jesus was, but
on account of the crowd he could not, because he was
short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore
tree to see him, because he was going to pass that way.
When Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry
and come down; for I must stay at your house today.’ So he hurried down and
was happy to welcome him. All who saw it began to grumble and said, ‘He has
gone to be the guest of one who is a sinner.’ Zacchaeus stood there and said to
the Lord, ‘Look, half of my possessions, Lord, I will give to the poor; and if I have
defrauded anyone of anything, I will pay back four times as much.’ Then Jesus
said to him, ‘Today salvation has come to this house, because he too is a son of
Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek out and to save the lost.’ (Luke 19:110, NRSV)
One of my sons told me recently of hearing an acquaintance at college say: “Well,
I’ll forgive you, but it won’t change how I feel about you.” This was a very significant
window into the very difficult challenge of living as Christians in this era.
Our day is full of people and movements that emphasize being right above all
else. In a sense, we are all told to become Pharisees & moral scolds now. Social
media and Internet campaigns frequently shame others who transgress various
(and rapidly-shifting) codes of conduct or thought. The goal, it seems, is to
(Continued)
(Continued)
appear ethically or socially blameless and to call out and condemn others in their
ignorance, backwardness, or difference from our “enlightened” opinions. When
someone else says or does something that violates these opinions (now deemed
facts or laws) not only may we attack that person (or group) with impunity, but
we have no obligation to forgive them unless they relent and become like us. This
is what “religion” always becomes when detached from humility.
The story of Zacchaeus recorded by St. Luke is one of the most radiant and joyful in the Gospels. It holds out hope for each of us
as we look at the ways we have lived distorted, diminished lives before God. Zacchaeus (whose name in Hebrew means “pure”)
had long lived a life of impurity—colluding with the Roman occu-
pation in the brutal, greedy business of oppressing the ordinary people through excessive taxation.
As with other tax collectors, Zacchaeus was so shamed and condemned in the
era’s “social media” that ordinary, “good” people wouldn’t think of giving him a
break. When Jesus comes into Jericho (a city made wealthy by the production
of balsam perfume), Zacchaeus, a short man, couldn’t get a glimpse of this rural
rabbi who made friends with outcasts of all levels in society. Then, as now, even
curiosity about forgiveness and a new start meets stiff opposition from “good”
people who know they are “right.”
But Zacchaeus, who has always had ample drive, is
persistent. Running ahead of Jesus, he climbs a tree to
look at this curious purveyor of mercy. His persistence
and desire—like so many times in his life—pays off, but
now in spiritual and not material ways. Jesus looks up
from the crowd of “good” but spiritually boring people to
the “bad” but truly engaging little man up in a tree. In that
split-second, something beautiful and joyous occurs.
Jesus recognizes the potential, the love, the desire in
Zacchaeus, as he does in all of us; and, when we show
any sign of desire for love, healing, freedom, forgiveness—he seizes it.
“Hurry up and come down, Zacchaeus—for I must stay with you today!” I MUST
stay with YOU—TODAY!” These are the most unexpected words imaginable from
(Continued)
(Continued)
Jesus’ lips…for the crowd in Jericho and for us today. Everyone witnessing this event was from the “right” background it
seems; they knew who this short tax collector was, and they
knew he was an outcast. How could Jesus engage him?
How could he stoop so low? Zacchaeus, however, isn’t
worried about this. He scrambles—the text is clear—down
from the tree and comes to Jesus.
There they stand: Jesus the lover of souls and Zacchaeus, the unloved soul who
is bursting with hope and potential. Out of the abundance of his desire for no
more shame, no more cruelty, he leaps at the one chance given him by Jesus.
All the years of “good” people giving no chances to him had tired Zacchaeus of
mere human goodness. He knew all of the Facebook campaigns and the Internet
memes, and he knew he was never going to be accepted by the people whose
forgiveness was measured in their equivalent of “likes” and “clicks” and approximation to themselves.
Looking at Jesus, his heart melted, all of a sudden. His short frame would hide
the truth of his moral and spiritual capacity no more. Knowing that true forgiveness was at hand, and that Jesus already “felt differently” about Zacchaeus than
the “righteous” people around him, the tax-collector put down the wealth he had
long used to defend himself. In a moment, he had yielded up the very security
that he once prized: he realized then and there he no longer needed it. Jesus
had accomplished what a city full of “good” people could never do.
And here is the point. Until we understand that our desire must be to join Zacchaeus in climbing down from our tree of smugness, certainty, self-righteous-
ness— we will never receive the personal invitation by
Christ Jesus to dwell with us. This is the message of Ash Wednesday and Lent: humility is the gateway to
faith. If we desire Christ more than anything else we also receive that invitation, that assurance that “salva
tion has come to this house.” Jesus will indeed dwell with us—not because we have become one of the
“good” folks in town, but because we have been found to be “children of Abraham” through our faith in Christ, who “seeks out and saves the lost.”
(Continued)
(Continued)
In a sense, we must learn to “get lost” before we can be found. Our current preoccupation with being seen to be on the right side of every issue, every
question, gets in our way. We think we are “found” when we are really profoundly
lost. When we accept our lost-ness, then we can experience the humbling joy of
truly being found. It is far more important to climb down from whatever tree we
personally are in than to point out the error of a thousand other Zacchaeuses.
Only this way will we finally be truly “good.”
The Lenten Fast awaits us. As we prepare for it, we each must get to some quiet, off-line place and ask Jesus what we must do to be worthy disciples. It may mean forgiving
someone we have long held in contempt. It may mean run-
ning ahead of Christ and making the effort to recognize how perilous is our self-righteousness and how little we have
really loved God, our neighbor, or the child of God within us. It most certainly means we will have to climb down from
whatever arrogance or hypocrisy we are sitting in today and stop wasting precious time. We are all impure, all in need of forgiveness; God alone—and not our self-righteousness—can restore us to our
pure selves and unlock the springs of generosity within us.
This we know: however far we have drifted from our promised inheritance as
children of Abraham, Jesus Christ still “seeks out and saves the lost.” He is
ready and willing to come to our home, wherever it is and whatever its condition,
and dwell with us forever. He stares up at us, suspended in the tree our lostyet-longing-to-be-forgiven condition and yearns for us to be free. Hurry up and
come down!
Faithfully in Christ,
The Kalendar for February
February brings to an end one cycle in the Liturgical Year (the Incarnation) and
sees the start of another (the Paschal Cycle), with Lent beginning on the tenth
(Continued)
with Ash Wednesday. (Kalendar with a “K” is an older English way of spelling it,
used today to denote the Liturgical—as opposed to the secular—Year.)
February 2: The Feast of the Presentation
of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple.
This Holy Day recalls the story in Luke,
Chapter 2, of Jesus’ Presentation in the
Temple at Jerusalem, with Simeon taking
the infant Savior in his arms and uttering
the Nunc dimittis (“Lord, you now have set
your servant free…”), and Anna the Prophetess sharing the good news that the Messiah has come. This is a day of great tenderness. We will commemorate it at the Tuesday 10 AM Eucharist in the Chapel.
February 2-4: Fr. Brandon on retreat
Most years, Fr. Brandon makes a retreat in Advent and just before Lent. He plans
to do so this year from Noon 2/7 through the evening of 2/4, going to Mt. Angel
Abbey for a time of silence, prayer, study, and rest. While on retreat, he does not
receive telephone calls or e-mail.
Shrove Sunday, February 7: The Last Sunday after the Epiphany
The final Sunday before Lent always has the account of Christ’s Transfiguration
as its Gospel lesson, remembering that this revelation to chosen witnesses of
Christ’s Divine Nature occurred just prior to his “setting his face toward Jerusalem” and what he must accomplish there. This Sunday sees us join Our Lord in
looking toward the Cross by committing to a Lenten Rule for spiritual renewal
during the Great Fast as well as say farewell to “Alleluia” before the upcoming
season. This poignant celebration concludes with a special Pancake Brunch to
help ring out Shrovetide. [Note: In an effort to put more emphasis on the Ash
Wednesday liturgies, we will not hold a Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper this
year; come to the Sunday brunch instead.]
February 10: Ash Wednesday [Fast Day]
Ash Wednesday marks the start of Holy Lent and is (for those able to do so) a
complete fast day. If you are unable to make a complete fast, you are asked to
reduce food intake to whatever minimum you are able. This day emphasizes
contrition for sin and our complete dependence upon God by acknowledging
(Continued after calendar page)
Diocesan Convention Report
Pat Eder, Leanna Shippy and I attended the
Diocesan Convention that was held in Ashland
on November 13-14, 2015, as your delegates.
The theme of this year’s Convention was “The
Beauty of Holiness” and Bishop Michael opened the day with a slide show from
his sabbatical to Cuernavaca, Mexico. He shared with us the warmth of hospitality
he received and how this trip provided him with the opportunity to rest, study and
learn which gave him the chance to enrich his prayer life and return home with a
renewed sense of purpose. Bishop Michael encouraged all of us to look for ways
in which we all could do something like this in order to deepen our own spiritual life
so we might serve Christ in our own journey as members of His church.
The day moved forward with convention business and several resolutions related to Socially Responsible Investment Funding which were passed by convention and resulted in the development of an advisory committee that is in place to
study any issues or concerns regarding Socially Responsible Investing. There
were 2 resolutions related to Palestine and the Holy Land that were referred to
this new committee for further research on how best to support the people living
in this part of the world. The last 2 resolutions that were passed by the Convention were related to supporting licensing of handgun purchasers and laws aimed
at decreasing gun violence—both of these resolutions were initiated at this
year’s General convention.
The keynote speaker was the Rev. Anthony Guillen who is the officer for Latino/
Hispanic Ministries for the Episcopal Church and much of his talk was about
Congregational Vitality. He described Vitality as the difference between a passionate, joyful community where people’s lives are changed through an encounter with Jesus Christ and a place marked by lethargy and apathy.
Pamela Lyons-Nelson traveled down with us and brought the basket you put together as St. Timothy’s contribution toward the raffle to support the Commission
on Poverty and Homelessness. This raffle raised $3000 and the Commission
thanked all who brought baskets.
It was a privilege to serve as one of your delegates, and remains a privilege to
serve as one of your Vestry members. Thank you for your continued support
and all that each of you bring to the life we share here at St. Timothy’s.
In Christ, Sandy Noble
Vestry Notes
Vestry recently completed St. Timothy’s budget for 2016.
Our financial decision making was made easier by Treasurer
David Tatman’s well constructed proposed budget. Thanks
to your response to the pledge drive, we were able to fully
fund the budget as developed.
Much of the Vestry’s work might be thought of as administrative, as is developing
and approving our annual budget and making other financial decisions. Good
stewardship of St Timothy’s financial resources assure that we have a sanctuary
from the cares of the world. I know what St. Timothy’s means to me and why I
came here 20 years ago. It was then, and is now, for me a place of safety, comfort, friendship, rest and peace. It’s where I feel God’s presence. Thank you for
all the ways in which you contribute to making St. Timothy’s a blessing.
I am glad to have the opportunity to serve on the Vestry,
Susan Hawkins
From the Newcomers Commission:
OK, so let’s face it—some of us are better at talking to newcomers than others. Spending coffee hour after church
talking to strangers feels like a pleasant time to some of
us; it strikes terror in the hearts of others.
When Mary and I were in Scotland, we walked to St. Anne’s Church in Dunbar
one Sunday. Putting myself in the place of a visitor, I was struck by how welcomed I felt by a number of people simply smiling and saying hello even if they
didn’t stop to talk. For those of us ill at ease with striking up a conversation with
someone we don’t know, I suggest simply being brave enough to smile and say
hello without needing to stop and talk. This small kindness multiplied over and
over can be heartening to newcomers and cause them to feel “this is a friendly
place.”
Jesus said, “Anyone who offers even a cup of water to the least of my little ones
has given it to me.” Let’s all remember to give a smile and a welcome to the visitor we meet because we give it to the Lord.
Mike McFetridge
February
1
Presentation 2 Anskar of 3
Scandinavia
of Our Lord
(Candlemas)
Crafts 10
10 am HE
Epi. Last
8 am HE
9 am CS
10 am HE
Pancakes
Choir
7 Newcomers
6:30
8
Lent II
21
8 am HE
9 am CS
10 am HE
Choir
Lent III
28
8 am HE
9 am CS
10 am HE
Choir
3 Barbara Watson
7 Susan Hawkins
Fr. Brandon
16
Ash
10 Wednesday
6:00 pm Choir
7:00 pm HE
17
Crafts 10
Diocesan
Meeting
1:30 pm
Martin
Luther
Catech. 7 pm
22 Polycarp 23
of Smyrna
10 am HE
Saint
24
Matthias
Crafts 10
Catech. 7 pm
Guild 4:30
29
February Birthdays
1 Russ Raney
9
11
Noon HE
10 am HE
5
6
Missions 7
Catech. 7 pm
10 am HE
15
Lent I
14 Thomas
Bray
8 am HE
President’s Day
9 am CS
10 am HE
Adult Study Coffee Hour
Choir
Cornelius 4 Martyrs of
the Centurion Japan
12 Absalom 13
Jones
Art Fair
7 pm
Set-Up 9-11
Meditation
Confessions
Stations
11-3
Benediction
19
20
7 pm
Meditation
Stations
Benediction
25
26
27
18
7 pm
Meditation
Stations
Benediction
All weekdays in Lent are days of special devotion.
9 Howard Klopfenstein
Coralie Peterson
Amy Divelbiss
16 Bill Kramer
17 Mary Lou Craig
13 Mindy Padrick
24 Pat Klopfenstein
15 Peggy Weeks
27 Paul Dakopolos
Calendar Notes for February
Tuesday, Feb. 2: Newcomers Commission, 6:30 PM
Wednesday, Feb. 3: Missions Commission, 7 PM
Sunday, Feb. 7: Shrovetide Pancake Brunch, after the 10:00 Liturgy
Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10: Imposition of Ashes and Holy Eucharist, Noon
Choir Rehearsal, 6 PM
Imposition of Ashes and Holy Eucharist, sung,
with Bishop Michael, 7 PM
Friday, Feb. 12 and every Friday in Lent: Meditation, Stations of the Cross,
and Benediction, 7 PM
Sunday, Feb. 14: Adult Study Art Fair, after the 10:00 Liturgy
Artistic and crafty parishioners will show their work.
Tuesday, Feb. 16: Diocesan Meeting, 1:30 PM
Thursday, Feb. 25: Guild of Sts. Anna and Simeon, 4:30 PM
Ash Wednesday
Feb. 10
Imposition of Ashes and
Holy Eucharist
Noon
Imposition of Ashes and
Holy Eucharist
7 PM
(Kalendar, continued)
our mortality (ashes placed on the forehead is the sign for this). This service is
the very definition, in our tradition, of solemnity. It contains a powerful “Litany of
Penitence” wherein we speak with deep honesty about our transgressions—both
individual and corporate—and God’s mercy. All Episcopalians are bidden to come
to church on this day to begin the Royal Road to Holy Week and Easter. Services
are at Noon (spoken) and 7 PM (sung) with Bishop Michael.
Lenten Fridays: 7 PM Meditation/Stations of
the Cross/Benediction, beginning 2/12
Anglicanism does not restrict corporate worship to Sunday
mornings; important opportunities for spiritual growth and
renewal are offered at various times other than Sunday
throughout the year. An example is the Fridays of Lent.
Each week, we gather for a time of quiet reflection on a
theme (this year, a Lenten Journey through the Gospels),
then make the Stations of the Cross around the church—a kind of mini-pilgrimage
with Christ in the events of his Passion. After the Stations, we praise God for his
assured presence in the Most Holy Sacrament in the short service of Benediction—with time for silent prayer, the singing of hymns, and being blessed before
leaving the church for home. The whole evening forms a kind of short “retreat” from
the world and its “tyranny of the urgent.” All members of the parish—new and
long-term—are asked attend at least one of these Friday evenings in Lent,
and perhaps make it a part of your Lenten Rule for prayer.
February 13, 11 AM-3 PM: Lenten Confessions
Begin the Lenten season by joining Zacchaeus in “coming down” to be with
Christ in joy through repentance! Make your confession and receive absolution
as you begin Holy Lent. If you have never experienced the grace, peace, and
renewal that comes from sacramental confession, perhaps it is time to do so. The
prayers are in the BCP pp. 446-451; you may choose which form you would like
to use. Confessions are heard in the chapel; another formal opportunity to make
confession will be offered closer to Easter; you may schedule a confession with
Fr. Brandon (or any other priest) by private arrangement at other times.
February 14: First Sunday in Lent
On this Sunday we begin the Eucharist with the Great Litany—the richest and
(Continued)
(Continued)
most solemn form of intercession and pleading before God in our tradition. At
the 10 AM service this prayer is chanted in procession. (The Great Litany may be
used at the noon hour in your private prayers during Lenten Wednesdays and
Fridays.) The Eucharist in Lent has a certain tonality, a joy in rediscovering what
is real in life. There is less music, a greater simplicity in adornment, and a clarity of focus that draws us toward the events of Holy Week. The altar is swathed
in a deep purple—the “royal” color—reminding us that the royal road to God is
through repentance.
February 24: St. Matthias Day.
This is the Holy Day celebrating the Apostle elected to fill the space left by Judas
Iscariot’s death. It is a day to recall the criteria used to elect an Apostle, found in
Acts 1: “So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the
Lord Jesus went in and out among us, beginning from the baptism of John until
the day when he was taken up from us — one of these must become a witness
with us to his resurrection.” Thus, we see the significance of faithfulness, commitment, and experiencing the sacred mysteries of Life in Christ through the sacraments in our discipleship. This is very much connected to our Lenten journey,
and for this we give thanks to God and his Apostle, Matthias.
Getting Ready for Holy Week and Easter
Easter comes early this year! Holy Week begins with Palm
Sunday on March 20 and culminates with Easter Vigil/Day.
Each day services are offered, with the Triduum (the one
liturgical “Great Day” in three parts celebrating the Paschal
Mystery) of Maundy Thursday-Good Friday-Holy Saturday/
Easter being the most important. This is heart-and-soul of our Christian faith
and communal worship life. You are asked to be present for the liturgies of Holy
Week, especially the Triduum, suspending other activities even at personal cost,
so that we may enter into the Mystery of Salvation together as members of
Christ’s Risen Body, the Church. A special mailing as well as other notices of the
Holy Week liturgies will be forthcoming.
Making a Sacramental Confession: A Primer
The ministry of reconciliation, which has been committed by Christ to his Church,
(Continued)
(Continued)
is exercised through the care each Christian has for others, through the common
prayer of Christians assembled for public worship, and through the priesthood of
the Church and its ministers declaring absolution. (From The Book of Common
Prayer, service of the Reconciliation of a Penitent, p. 446)
St. Timothy’s is a parish in the catholic stream of the Anglican tradition. As such,
we put a great emphasis on the sacramental life being woven into all aspects of
our existence. For us, prayer/scripture/worship/sacraments are one with even
the most ordinary actions, from the way we vote to peeling potatoes. There is no
dimension of our life that is “private” or disconnected from our faith in and experience of God the Holy Trinity.
One of the most powerful—and moving—ways to experience this deep unity of
faith and life in the Anglican tradition is “The Reconciliation of a Penitent,” also
known as sacramental confession. In carefully considering, confessing, and receiving absolution and spiritual counsel for our sins, we experience Christ’s direct
and person healing work in our life and faith.
The Reconciliation of a Penitent is available for all who desire it.
It is not restricted to times of sickness. Confessions may be heard
anytime and anywhere. (From the Book of Common Prayer)
In the Episcopal Church, no one is required to make a sacramental confession;
this is a matter of personal conscience and freedom. But freedom must be used
with wisdom for it to be truly “free.” While the opportunity to make a general confession is offered at most Eucharists, all of us have times in life when we must
reach out beyond ourselves in order to see the truth of our life. Some people
feel called to make a sacramental confession once or more a year; others only
at some significant juncture in life; yet others feel moved to do so by a nagging
awareness that something is not right in their faith and life.
Knowing what to confess is sometimes a question people have. Usually, a first
confession will include things from earlier in life that we want to “get off our chest”
and have done with. Often, as we prepare to make a confession, we know well
that there are certain events and actions in our life that rise to the surface of our
conscience each time we consider the state of our soul: these are the things we
need to confess.
(Continued)
(Continued)
It is also important to bring to God the times we have acted upon those sinful patterns and tendencies we have long struggled with (our “besetting sins”); we may
do so again and again, and may even think we are making no progress (“Surely,
God is tired of hearing about this?” we might say to ourselves). But each time we
confess them in penitence and contrition—no matter how many times we do so—
we are receiving both forgiveness and the personal experience of God’s love,
strengthening us to keep up the struggle and “take up our cross” yet again so as
to follow Christ. It is often true a person needs to hear the words of Christ (“Your
sins are forgiven you”) again and again to grasp their significance, to truly come
to believe in them and (finally) act upon them. This is one of the most beautiful
and ongoing gifts of sacramental confession.
When we make a confession of sin to God in the presence of a priest of the Church,
we are putting our trust in Christ to speak to us through a fellow-Christian consecrated to the work of reconciliation and immersed in the wisdom of Christ through
training, study, prayer, and the grace of ordination. This is a potent way to renew
our baptismal commitment and to experience actual spiritual healing.
When a confession is heard in a church building, the confessor may sit inside the
altar rails or in a place set aside to give greater privacy, and the penitent kneels
[or is seated, if unable to kneel] nearby.
This is how Confessions are heard at St. Timothy’s in our parish chapel. The setting is quiet and private. The person making the confession (the “penitent”) faces
the altar and an icon of Christ, keeping clear that the
confession is being made to God, not the priest. Since
a confession is a liturgy of the Church, it is a communal
experience (in the ancient Church—and some traditions
still—confession is made to the whole assembly). The priest is the representative
of the wider Church and the one who declares God’s forgiveness, not the object
of the confession.
When the penitent has confessed all serious sins troubling the conscience and
has given evidence of due contrition, the priest gives such counsel and encouragement as are needed and pronounces absolution. Before giving absolution,
the priest may assign to the penitent a psalm, prayer, or hymn to be said, or
something to be done, as a sign of penitence and act of thanksgiving.
(Continued)
(Continued)
The true sacramental power of confession is in the grace given at absolution;
indeed, this is one of the most significant experiences of Christ’s redeeming work
most of us will have in church. It is usually prefaced by a time of spiritual counsel
addressing what the Holy Spirit is leading the penitent to do and become through
reconciliation and New Life in Christ. This usually includes a small act or response to this offer of New Life, called penance. A penance is a sign of our desire
to take up the gift offered to us, perhaps becoming a treasured resource in the
future for recollecting this new beginning we have received.
The content of a confession is not normally a matter of subsequent discussion.
The secrecy of a confession is morally absolute for the confessor, and must under no circumstances be broken.
You may wonder if the priest hearing your confession will feel any different about
you afterwards. The answer is “no.” A seasoned priest is deeply aware that we are
all in need of God’s forgiveness and does not allow the confession to color pastoral
judgment afterwards. The prayers clergy traditionally say before and after confession are full of this awareness, and God’s grace to priests includes the gift of commending what was heard in confession to God and then getting on with life.
What is said in confession stays there. If you want to talk about it in the future,
you must bring it up yourself—the confessor may not.
Confessions at St. Timothy’s are normally made available prior to Principal Feasts
such as Christmas and Easter, and may be scheduled anytime in between. You
may choose to make your confession at another parish, if this helps, or (by mutual
agreement) with one of the retired priests who worship here at St. Timothy’s.
May this little primer on sacramental confession encourage you to participate in
this part of the Church healing ministry when and however you are called to do
so by God!
Treasures New and Old
Spiritual texts for home reading & reflection
Advice on setting up a Rule of Life from Christ is in our Midst, by Fr. John
A 20th century Russian monk writes to a person seeking to set up a
Rule of Life…
(Continued)
(Continued)
You ask me to give you instructions or set up a rule for you and put your life on
the right path. This request of yours exceeds my understanding and my spiritual
capacity, but for the sake of obedience, forgetting my weakness and inability, I
write what the Lord lays on my heart.
•
Try not to condemn anyone for anything.
•
Whatever you do not want done to you, do not do to others either.
•
Remember that for each idle word we are to answer before God at the Dread Judgment.
•
One cannot serve two masters.
•
Be reconciled with your adversary, lest he put you into prison. [Matt. 5:25]
•
Beware of enmity with anyone, otherwise your prayer will not be pleasing to God, but will even count as sin. How will God forgive our sins
when we ourselves do not forgive?
These are the basic instructions on which our salvation is founded. Of course it is
easy to say and easy to wish, but to carry it out is very difficult, and we are weak.
Our powers alone are not enough — we have to ask God’s help, that in his mercy
He would help us sinners. Thus the Holy Fathers chose the Jesus Prayer [“Lord
Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy”] unceasingly. For you, living in the world,
it is very difficult to maintain unceasing prayer, but realize that the Holy Fathers
counted every good deed as prayer: good conversations, remembrance of God,
patience in the face of slander, reproach, scorn, ridicule, and so on.
You want to have a definite rule of prayer. St. Isaac the Syrian advises us not to
burden ourselves with a great number of psalms to be read and thus to be slaves
to the rule. For, there is not peace in slavish reading. In the morning and evening
you can read a few prayers, decide for yourself how many, to
fit with the time available. But do not waste it in inattention,
for attention is the soul of prayer. Every day you should
read a chapter of the Gospel and a chapter of the Epistles.
I have written what was on my heart by God’s mercy; take it not as a law or command but as advice. See for yourself what fits with the conditions of your life.
Copies of materials for making your Lenten Rule will be available on the Narthex table.
St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church
PO Box 7416
Salem, OR 97303
503-363-0601
www.sainttimothys.org
Return
Service
Requested
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
SALEM, OR
PERMIT NO. 409
Regarding the Food Bank
Between May and November my husband and I packed up and delivered to the
Marion Polk Food bank almost 400 pounds of food generously contributed by
members of St. Timothy’s!! We would appreciate it when you make a contribution (particularly
if you are taking an item from your own pantry) please take a moment to check the expiration
date on cans and boxes. Please do not contribute partially used or opened containers. Seriously
outdated items must be discarded so this will save us time when we are making a delivery. Food
Share staff are always very appreciative of our contribution. Thanks so much and keep it coming!!
Susan Hawkins
Adult Study for Epiphany and Beyond
Adult Study has chosen the theme of “Art, Creativity, and Faith” for Epiphany, Lent,
and Eastertide. For Epiphany, we’re focused on “Faith and Inspiration in Art Making,”
which will overlap some with what we’ll be doing in Lent. On February 14, the first Sunday in Lent,
we plan to put together a St. Timothy’s Art Fair, featuring the artists in our community and some of
their artworks. We are also hoping to start up again a video and discussion group once a month
on Sunday afternoons (the first was shown January 17), and a once a season pilgrimage (the first
tentatively on Saturday, January 30) coordinated with our theme.
—Dale Cannon, Charlean Clemmons, Carole Ann Crateau,
and Donald Twist, Adult Study Coordinators