FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE Volume 65 Number 8
SEPTEMBER 2015
The Episcopal Church of Saint Michael & All Angels Pacific View Drive at Marguerite
Corona del Mar
California 92625
...From the Desk of the Rector
BELOVEDS IN CHRIST -
W
hat a summer we shared, and what a fall lies ahead of us!
At 9:00 a.m. on summer Sundays, those who otherwise worship at eight and ten o’clock have enjoyed and appreciated worshiping together. Our “Sundays-at-Ten ‘travels’” with beloved parishioners have taken us around the world without leaving our Davis Library. We have also had opportunities to learn about ministry through our Anglican Communion, our national church with General Convention in Salt Lake City in early July, and challenging developments in our own Diocese of Los Angeles. In June we celebrated the lives of five beloveds: Dr. John Johnson, Alix Perkins Magenheimer, Sally McCulloch, Professor Bob Hine, and Sue Ewers. Jazz Vespers with The Rev’d Norm Freeman on June 7 was wonderful, as always; it was a delight to be joined in our sanctuary by members of the World Vision Methodist Church who worshiped in Michael’s Room on summer Sunday afternoons. Independence weekend Sunday focused us on “humble patriotism,” which, in William Sloane Coffin’s words, “carries on a lover’s quarrel with our country, a reflection of God’s lover’s quarrel with the world.” On Friday evenings in July our Vacation Bible School had children and parishioners journey to the British Isles without leaving our campus. On July 19, we commissioned our new “Youth and Children Christian Education Committee” signifying effective growth with ministry among beloveds of all ages. On the first Sunday in August we pondered our campus anew, walking new paths, gawking as so many neighbors are doing and thanking Tom & Kati Mowat Nicholson and Don Henry, President of Village Green Landscape Management. We continue to support our Landscaping Project buying fruit trees, oak trees, Italian stone pine trees, rocks and lighting (but not the dog poop bag dispenser which I have given in thanksgiving for our golden retriever Luke!). We processed out of our sanctuary toward the corner of Pacific View Drive and Marguerite Avenue and thanked God for this planet, for our campus and its landscaping, for the water that will nourish it and the lifegiving water of baptism that nourishes us, for making us stewards of creation and examples of creative environmentalism for our community, for the grace and desire to use our abundance to the benefit of others, and for God’s gifts of wisdom, humor and love. Thanks to our Senior Ministry (Murry McClaren, Ruth Poole, Judy Brady, Lynne Ruedy and their team: Shanel and Sandi Ames, Corinne and Louise Stover, Norm Ewers, Sharon Ferguson, Frances Fukuda, Myrna Ireland, Monty Pentz and Judy Barnes) we did something very special participating in the National Celebration “Honoring Our Veterans” on August 9th thanking with words, music and prayer: Don Alser, Sy Black, Harry Bubb, Suzanne Egloff, Norm Ewers, Zil Groux, Jim Jackson, Ray Pentz, Olive & Victor Rumbellow, Harry Selling and Hunter Sheetz. Continued on page 3
949.644.0463
www.stmikescdm.org
ST. MIKE’S TO HOST CONCERT SUPPORTING MIDDLE EAST REFUGEE CHILDREN New York Times Calls Pianist Alice Burla “an extraordinary talent”
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n Sunday, September 13 at 7pm, Saint Michael & All Angels and MEDAIR, an international emergency relief and recovery organization, will present “Together for Hope” a concert featuring pianist Alice Burla playing works by Rachmaninoff, Scriabin, and Chopin. Our “youth” will read stories from children in Jordan, Iraq, and Lebanon. There is no admission charge, but donations will support MEDAIR’s work. A reception will follow the performance. Due to limited seating, please email events@medair.org or call Graham Smith at 949-228-4025 to RSVP. Alice Burla, 18, has been called an “extraordinary talent” by the New York Times. She made her orchestral debut at five and was one of the youngest students ever accepted to the Juilliard School in New York. Since the age of 10, she has performed internationally. MEDAIR is a humanitarian organization inspired by Christian faith to relieve human suffering in some of the world’s most remote and devastated places, bringing relief and recovery to people in crisis, regardless of race, creed or nationality. MEDAIR provides a range of emergency relief and recovery services: health care and nutrition, safe water, sanitation, and hygiene, shelter and infrastructure. As a signatory of the International Committee of the Red Cross Code of Conduct, MEDAIR believes that aid should be given to everyone who is in need, and not be used to further a particular political, Continued on page 3
BUILDING OUR F AITH: L OVING CHRIST AND SER VING OUR COMMUNITY FAITH: LO SERVING
FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE
OUR PARISH HISTORY NOW AVAILABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE PUBLISHER A paperback edition of our new parish history “A Celebration of 50 Years” is available for purchase directly from our publisher, Lulu Press, for $15; $3.13 of the purchase price is returned to Saint Michael's to supplement the income of the parish. If you have not yet acquired this colorful book (51 pages of text, photographs, and tables on premier quality paper), we urge and encourage you to go on line at http://goo.gl/VKgp4K and order one. Every Saint Michael's family should have a copy of our history. The volume also makes a splendid gift for relatives and close friends.
* * * THE SUMMARY OF ACTIONS of the 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church is now available at www.generalconvention.org.
* * * A REMINDER FROM YOUR SMAA COMMUNICATIONS TEAM. You have several options to publicize your ministry or event throughout the SMAA community: this newsletter, our Facebook Page (facebook.com/ SMAACDM) the weekly Sunday bulletin, the spoken word at announcement time, or even an email to our “digital parishioners.” Contact Norris Battin for the newsletter and Facebook, Susan Beechner for the bulletin and email, and Fr. Haynes for announcements (nbattin@gmail.com, sbeechner@stmikescdm.org; phaynes@stmikescdm.org.)
* * * MEN’S GROUP: Meets on Thursdays at 7:30am in the Davis Library to discuss questions relating to theology, science and philosophy. All men are welcome.
SEPTEMBER 2015
COMMUNICATIONS NOTES Database Expertise Needed – Peter Coppen has done a fabulous job developing the parish database, which is used to keep track of all sorts of facts about our parishioners. For years, though, his has been a solo effort. We’d like to involve a new person (or persons) in learning how the database is structured and used. If you have some background in computer use and would like to become a database trainee, please contact Susan Beechner in the Parish Office, or Clyde Dodge at clydedodge@cox.net. Social Media – Time to Branch Out? – Norris Battin and Kati Mowat Nicholson have carefully shepherded our page on Facebook, which has existed for several years. Is it time to branch out? Twitter? Instagram? If you would like to spearhead our movement into another sphere of Social Media influence, please contact Clyde Dodge at clydedodge@cox.net. Blessing of The Animals – Get the Word Out! – One of our most popular worship events is the annual Blessing of the Animals, which will be held at the 10am worship on Sunday, October 4th, this year. Do you have an animal-loving acquaintance? Pick up a couple of flyers from the Parish office or the rail at the back of the sanctuary, and distribute them to your friends and neighbors. Clyde Dodge, Communications Commissioner
* * * CHURCH NEXT: Our parish subscribes to the online learning program “Church Next” through our e-learning program “The Well.” If you are interested, please contact Kathleen Peterson at kathleenopeterson@gmail.com, or 949. 378.5002; or Susan Caldwell at scaldwell@stmikescdm.org.
THE VESTRY Senior Warden.............................Myrna Ireland mireland6@sbcglobal.net....................949.759.1509 Junior Warden.............................Donald Sheetz donald.sheetz@gmail.com..................949.720.0700 Christian Education.....................Barbara Black bbblack56@sroadrunner.com...............949.640.7989 Clerk of the Vestry........................Karlene Miller karlenemiller@gmail.com...................949.336.6215
Building and Grounds..............Tom Nicholson tom@nicholsoncompanies.com.........949.872.9067 Communications...........................Clyde Dodge [clydedodge@cox.net.......................949.375.1530 Evangelism.............................Anne Warmington amwarmington@hotmail.com...... ...202.550.4100 Fellowship............................................OPEN
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SEPTEMBER ADULT ANNIVERSARIES Birthdays 1st - Linda Robertson 2nd - Peggy Jordan 4th - Libby Wallace 7th - Esther McNamee 8th - Beth Bianchi 9th - Ray Pentz 11th - Michael Boor 15th - Lynn Headley 21st - Shirley Anderson 22nd - Anne Conover 23rd - Marguerite Jackson 25th - Rebecca Welch 30th - Susan Zevnik Baptisms 25th - Marguerite Jackson 25th - Jeff Stone 29th - Anne Logie Weddings 8th - Bob & Julie Jenkins 8th - Craig & Leslie Kennedy 9th - Marshall & Maria Solomon 18th - Richard & Susan Zevnik 25th - Jim & Lynn Headley
FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE is a publication of Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church, Corona del Mar, CA. Copy deadline is the second Wednesday of the month. We welcome letters and articles. Editor: Susan Beechner 949.644.0463
Finance......................................Julie Jenkins jdfritz@aol.com.............................949.640.0134 Mission...............................Barbara Stewart+ barbarastewart001@gmail.com.........714.979.7449 Stewardship.............................Matthew Shaw mattjshaw@yahoo.com..................949.645.4942 Ombudsperson..........................Louise Stover lstover@volt.com..........................714.432.7371 Worship...The Very Rev’d Canon Peter D. Haynes phaynes@stmikescdm.org...........949.644.0463x11
FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE
Rector’s Desk from page 1 We prayed, “God of love, peace and justice, it is your will for the world that we may live together in peace.You have promised prophetically (Isaiah 2:4) that one day swords will be beaten into ploughshares. Yet we live in a broken world, and there are times when war seems inevitable. Let us recognize with humility and sadness the tragic loss of life that comes with war; even so, as we gather here free from persecution, we give thanks for those who have served with courage and honor...” A reception followed in All Angels’ Court where we heard stories, viewed memorabilia brought by veterans, and enjoyed comraderie and brunch prepared by members of our Senior Ministry. On August 16, we welcomed new parishioners among us: Ben & Yordanka and Neil Carter Benjamin, Valerie & Larry Casey, Dale (& Joanne) Woolley. Thanks to Anne Warmington, our Evangelism Vestryperson, for making this happen so well! We look forward to returning to our 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. Sunday worship schedule on September 13. At 7:00 p.m. that evening, gifted pianist Alice Burla will offer a piano recital including Rachmaninoff, Scriabin and Chopin, with readings by our youth (Caddie Annerl, Crystal M i l l a r, Te s s N i c h o l s o n ) o f stories from children in Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon. This concert will benefit MEDAIR USA’s ministries among Syrian and Iraqi refugee children. Alice Burla benefitted from MEDAIR’s ministries; now she is giving back! Please come enjoy her gift of music. Our revitalized Friends of Music will begin their season with an elegant social event for their supporters on September 19 in a private home in Corona del Mar with music by talented young violinist Spencer Mangan and pianist Nathan Lewis and waters/ wines/savories; watch for invitations. During ten o’clock worship the next
SEPTEMBER 2015
morning we will celebrate Holy Baptism as well as Holy Eucharist. We will celebrate Saint Michael & All Angels Festival Day on Sunday, September 27, with The Rev’d Canon Ray Fleming. I will be in San Francisco to celebrate the installation of The Rev’d Dr. Malcolm Clemens Young as the 9th Dean or Grace Cathedral. Malcolm was a Berkeley Canterbury student during my campus ministry days. His middle name honors his heritage with Mark Twain! I was privileged to preach at Malcolm’s ordination and am looking forward to a once-in-a-lifetime experience of participating in a long-time friend becoming Dean of the Cathedral in which I was ordained priest on July 11, 1973. Of course we will honor all critters on the first Sunday in October observing the Festival Day of Saint Francis (and Saint Clare) of Assisi. Please bring your pets ... and friends and neighbors!
Yours, In Christ -
PHONE TREE MINISTRY: NEW MEMBERS NEEDED. Our goal is to contact every parishioner by phone once a month. This is a great opportunity to get to know others better and to share information, needs and suggestions about Saint Mike's. Please contact Ruth Poole at 949.644.9263.
* * * TIME AND TALENT If you are thinking about volunteering with one of our Commissions at St. Mike’s, please review the “Parish Life” booklet on the back rail of the sanctuary, which describes these activities. We need greeters, acolytes, coffee hosts, and ushers, and have other interesting assignments as well. Volunteering is a wonderful way to meet new people at St. Mike’s. Please call Anne Warmington with questions: 202.550.4100.
* * * REMINDER: Please wear your name badge on Sundays.
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MEDAIR Concert from page 1 social or religious viewpoint. They save lives in emergencies and then stay to help people recover from crisis with dignity—working side by side with communities to leave a lasting impact. While non-denominational, about 60% of MEDAIR’s internationally recruited staff is Anglican/ Episcopalian and its strongest relationships are within the Anglican communities. Most of MEDAIR’s prayer network and support comes from within the Anglican Diocese of Europe and UK congregations. MEDAIR is a Swissbased organization with offices in London, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Chicago. At the beginning of 2015, MEDAIR opened an office in Southern California. Our rector has met with MEDAIR and suggested Saint Mike’s as a venue for Ms. Burla’s concert. Since its foundation in 1989, MEDAIR has served in 32 countries and is currently operating in Afghanistan, DR Congo, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Nepal, Syria, South Sudan and Somalia. In 2014, MEDAIR served more than 1.5 million people with relief and recovery services. MEDAIR’s website, which can be followed on Twitter and Facebook, is www.medair.org. You can sign up for their prayer network here http://bit.ly/ 1Ks2yLo.
PLEASE REMEMBER . . . Saint Michael & All Angels has a Parish Emergency Fund, funded by parishioners and available to parishioners facing financial emergencies and needing economic assistance. Requests should be directed to our rector or any member of our Vestry. If you are able to contribute, all gifts are welcome!
FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE SAINT MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
SEPTEMBER 2015
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
Susan Caldwell
3233 Pacific View Drive Corona del Mar, CA 92625 949.644.0463 949.644.9247 FAX www.stmikescdm.org The Very Rev’d Canon
Peter D. Haynes, Rector [phaynes@stmikescdm.org] Susan Caldwell Director of Christian Education [scaldwell@stmikescdm.org] Ray Urwin, D.M.A. Minister of Music [rurwin@stmikescdm.org] The Rev’d Fennie Chang, Ph.D., Canterbury Irvine The Rev’d Canon Ray Flemming Assisting Priest The Rev’d Barbara Stewart, Ph.D., Assisting Priest Susan Beechner, Parish Secretary [sbeechner@stmikescdm.org] Marybeth Waniek, Bookkeeper [mwaniek@stmikescdm.org]
WORSHIP SCHEDULE (From September 13) Sunday Holy Eucharist at 8am & 10am Nursery Care 9:30 am -11:30am Sunday School 9:45am Adult Education 9am
Wednesday Holy Eucharist with Prayers for Healing-12 noon ABOUT SAINT MICHAEL & ALL ANGELS, CORONA DEL MAR We are a Christian Community of the Anglican Communion who come to hear God’s word and receive and share the Lord Jesus Christ. Our purpose is to have Christ live in us in order that in Christ we may live faithful and productive Christian lives. Our commitment to the Gospel is evangelical; our liturgical tradition, catholic; our theology orthodox but open to thought, reflection, and spiritual endeavor. We care about the world and strive to serve Christ in it.
PRAYERS HEALING
A CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY OF THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION
Our mission is to seek and share Jesus Christ as spiritual food for life’s journey.
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Vacation Bible School 2015 Journey with the Saints Part I: The British Isles
V
acation Bible School was a lot of fun this year! If you were able to make it to one of the four Friday nights in July, 10, 17, 24 and or 31, thank you for being part of the adventure. If you weren’t able to make it, then there is always next year, Journey with the Saints, Part II Italy, Spain and France. A big thank you to Anne Conover, Barbara Black, Murry McClaren, Clyde Dodge, Canon Haynes, Stacie Tibbetts, Myrna and John Ireland, Louise Stover, Corinne Stover, Lisa Dooley, Dale Wooley, Emily and Ries Faller, Elizabeth Henry, Michael and Matthew Kiper, Julie Sheffield, Matt and Danielle Shaw, Michele Duncan, Melinda Rader, Esther McNamee, Peggy Montgomery, Clare Wheatley, Mary Ellen Bowman, Norm Ewers, Rebecca Welch, Ann Watt and Sara Hyatt. Once again, Saint Michael and All Angels’ parish worked together to support, through, time, talent and treasure, Vacation Bible School, which not only reaches our parish children but touches the lives of the children in the community. Many VBS children brought their friends and family members. Thank you so much for all your support. On July 10, we began our series with “Journey with the Saints of Ireland.” John Ireland spoke about his childhood growing up in Ireland. He told how the whole Irish community worked to bring in the harvest for each farm. Myrna passed out potatoes so each child was able to experience the weight of carrying a potato in his or her knapsack. In the skit portion of the evening, Anne Conover became Saint Brigid and Michael Kiper became Saint Patrick. Michael told how God led Patrick to share the Gospel with the Irish people. As is our custom, history, culture and geography play a big part in the VBS teaching time. The children (continued on page 5)
Russ Brad Cathy Andrew Beth Marguerite Jim Teri Lucinda Karina GUIDANCE Julie & Bob Esther Jim Kathleen Cliff Whitney THANKSGIVING - in loving memory of Berdel Bubb, and Pat Schreiber; - for Susan’s health; - with the Zevniks, and with Lynne Ruedy for Jill & Ric; - in honor of the marriage of Ashley & Robert
Call Esther McNamee for prayer requests 949.640.1749
LOAVES & FISHES: In September we are collecting large boxes of kids’ favorite cereals (such as Cocoa Puffs, Frosted Flakes, Lucky Charms, etc.--Believe it or not, these days kids’ cereals aren’t all sugar!) Monetary donations are always welcome, too. Please make checks payable to Saint Michael’s, with Loaves & Fishes on the memo line. Tax ID #95-2123746). Attention Travelers: We are always collecting hotel/travel-size toiiletries for shower kits for the homeless patrons.
FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE
PLEASE CHECK THE FORWARD MOVEMENT DISPLAY RACK ON THE WALL IN MICHAEL’S ROOM. Pick up a pamphlet or two to share with family and friends. A donation box is provided. “Keeping Sabbath” by The Rev’d Dr. Donna Shaper is a helpful aid for all of us in the twenty-first century. “Sabbath keeping is a way for us to live more deeply, within the constraints that are clear in our lives. Those who observe a regular Sabbath say that it brings greater presence and depth to their work and the rest of their lives. Sabbath is an invitation to grace and peace, each with its source in God’s original time and ways.” The author offers ten options to guide us in fashioning our own Sabbaths. Here are a few:
SEPTEMBER 2015 5
Susan Caldwell continued from page 4
made jeweled swords during craft time and were able to enjoy the fun of bowling in All Angels’ Court. This game was a hit or should I say, “Strike!” Week Two on July 17, we had the guest bagpiper, Andrew Scott. Dressed in kilt and Clan Scott memorabilia, Andrew played several tunes on his bagpipes. He then took the time to take the instrument apart and explained the whys and wherefores of how the instrument is put together the way that it is. Did you know a reed, somewhat like that of an oboe, exists inside the pipes and casing? Andrew went ahead of our “pilgrims” and played a tune out on - Give yourself permission to take the “moors” near the east facing doors to All Angels’ Court, as Anne Conover some Sabbath time. - Tell yourself that you may keep led the group across the paths on our new landscape project. Upon passing Sabbath, not that you must. - Practice living intentionally in the the nursery playground, where the piper stood, the children stopped to present moment. - Empty the mind of its obligations watch and listen with respect until and let the non-obligated or seemingly Andrew had finished his song. I was very proud of our VBS children for useless flow in. - Turn off your cell phone and stay behaving so nicely! Elizabeth Henry gave a grand away from other technology while on performance as Saint Margaret of your custom-designed Sabbath(s). Scotland. She spoke to the children with a nice Scottish brogue and * * * answered rightly when an older and HELP FOR HUNGRY PEOPLE: We disbelieving VBS pilgrim asked, “If are once again in need of donations you lived so long ago, then why are for replenishing our food cupboard. you here?” And Elizabeth replied Please call Murry McClaren with any assuredly and without hesitation, questions or to learn what types of “Because I am a Saint. I was asleep food are currently needed; and and then woke up and here I am.” Our THANK YOU ALL for your help! very clever Elizabeth kept up the amusing banter throughout her * * * presentation. In Michael’s Room, Dale Wooley, FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE - ADS was ready and waiting to tell of his NEEDED: Our newsletter is printed life as Saint David of Wales. The grand by C & M Publications at no cost to miracle of the ground rising up beneath St. Mike’s, thanks to the support of him was reenacted in the imagination the local businesses whose ads are of all, and how the dove came to rest found on the back of the calendar each while Saint David was preaching. Dale month. If you or someone you know blessed the children as they ventured might like to become a sponsor, please onward to the Conference Room call Susan Beechner in the parish where they would meet The Venerable office for more information. Bede. 949.644.0463 x10. Matthew Shaw, dressed in black cassock, gave a strong and historical * * * presentation. Daughter, Ally looked on WE NEED Greeters, Ushers and Altar in admiration. Vacation Bible School Guilders. Please contact Canon parents have been amazing in their input, time and dedication to this Haynes if interested. program. Danielle and Matthew Shaw also helped with the cooking and clean up.
Week Three, July 24th, Barbara Black led with music. This thirty minute segment is a much loved activity each week. Barbara had brought out the Conga drums as well as her autoharp and allowed the children to experience playing these instruments. After this, in the North Wing, Lisa Dooley, a British citizen and native of Coventry, talked to the children about what it was like growing up in England. She told about English breakfast, and Bonfire Night, fish and chips with squishy peas, BH sauce and marmite. Second grader, Chapman Warmington, became very interested when she mentioned the British game of Cricket. The children were able to taste a bit of marmite if they wanted to. Canon Haynes talked to the children about the Island of Lindesfarne and how Frances, Don and he almost became caught on the outgoing bridge when the tide was coming in. We then ventured to All Angels’ Court to have a look at Lindisfarne. Louise Stover had become the Abbess of Lindesfarne. The Blue Room had been transformed into the tidal island. The pilgrims found themselves stranded for a time. Those children who had swim lessons or junior life guards volunteered to “swim” across to the shore. But they were stuck. Ries Faller, as Eadfirth, the illuminator of the Lindesfarne Gospels showed the children his latest works. The children set to work on a craft project of scraping off the black wax to reveal a cross or colorful angel below. Abbess Louise presented a real fish and crusty rye crackers as a snack. There were no takers! Week Four, on July 31st, Matthew Kiper, dressed in a Roman solider costume, spoke to children about Saint George and the dragon. He also talked to the children about Ephesians 6: 10 and the Armor of God. Following Matthew Kiper’s presentation, the children were given time to color on the 4th VBS banner, Journey with the Saints. After their final pilgrimage across the new landscape grounds with Anne Conover, the children enjoyed listening to Stacie Tibbets as Julian of Norwich. Dinner was an “English High Tea”, Myrna Ireland talked to the children about manners and how to go about holding a tea cup. Classical music played in the background until all eyes were transfixed by the surprise appearance of the Dragon in All Angels’ Court. Clyde Dodge, (in a most convincing dragon costume) made his way across the gym Continued on page 6
FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE
SAINT EPHREM THE SYRIAN (c.306-373) Harp of the Spirit, Deacon, Teacher, Confessor and Doctor of the Church
By Norm Ewers
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SEPTEMBER 2015
Nisibenes quickly repaired the walls while the Persian elephant cavalry bogged down in the wet ground. Ephrem celebrated what he saw as the miraculous salvation of the city in a hymn that portrayed Nisibis as being like Noah’s Ark, floating to safety on the flood. In 359 Shapur attacked again; the cities around Nisibis were destroyed one by one and their citizens killed or deported. Constantius was unable to respond to Shapur’s attack; Julian was killed in battle, and the Roman soldiers elected Jovian as the new emperor, who surrendered Nisibis to Persia in order to save his troops and to permit the expulsion of the entire Christian population. Ephrem, with the other Nicene Christians, eventually settled in Edessa (modern Sanliurfa) in 363. Ephrem, now in his late fifties, applied himself to a new ministry and continued his work as a teacher, perhaps in the School of Edessa, which had always been at the heart of the Syriac-speaking world. The city was full of rival philosophies and religions; Arians, Marcionites, Manichees, Bardaisanites and various gnostic sects who proclaimed themselves the “true” church. In this confusion, Ephrem wrote a great number of hymns defending the Nicene orthodoxy. After a ten-year residency in Edessa, Ephrem, now in his sixties, succumbed to the plague on June 9, 373, as he ministered to its victims. During his lifetime Ephrem wrote a wide variety of hymns, poems, and sermons in verse, as well as works of practical theology for the education of the church in troubled times. His works are hailed by Christians throughout the world, and many denominations hail him as a saint. He is venerated in the Eastern Orthodox Church, the Church of the East, the Oriental Orthodoxy, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Anglican Communion. His Feast Day in the Episcopal Church is June 10.
phrem was born around the year 306 in the city of Nisibis (now Nusaybin, Turkey) a busy commercial center on the border with Syria, in Roman Mesopotamia. Both his parents were part of the growing Christian community in that city. Numerous languages were spoken in . Nisibis of Ephrem’s day, mostly the dialects of Aramaic, the language Jesus spoke, The culture included pagan religions, Judaism and early Christian sects. Ephrem grew up under the leadership of Jacob, the second bishop of Nisibis and a recorded signatory of the First Council of Nicea. Ephrem was baptized as a youth, and almost certainly became a Son of the Covenant, an unusual form of Syrian proto-monasticism. Jacob made Ephrem a “Teacher,” a title that still carries great respect for Syriac Christians. He was ordained a Deacon and began to compose hymns and write biblical commentaries as part of his educational office. Ephrem is popularly credited as the founder of the School of Nisibis, which, in later centuries was the center of learning of the Syriac Orthodox Church. The Syriac Orthodox Church is part of the Oriental Orthodox group of churches that broke away following the controversy created by the Council of Chalcedon in 451. The Syriac Orthodox Church, itself, traces its beginning to the church in Antioch where its members, in AD 37, were the first outside Jerusalem to be known as “Christians.” In 337, Emperor Constantine I, who had legalized and promoted the practice of Christianity in the Roman Sources: “Lesser Feasts and Fasts,” 1997; Empire, died. Seizing on this Wikipedia Encyclopedia, 2015. opportunity, Shapur II of Persia * * * began a series of attacks into Roman North Mesopotamia. Nisibis was LEST WE FORGET: There have been besieged in 338, 346 and 350. In the 4,491 American military casualties in third siege Shapur rerouted the Iraq and 2,355 in Afghanistan and other Mygdonius River in an effort to locations. "Lord hear our prayers for undermine Nisibis’s walls. The those who are dead and for those who mourn."
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Vacation Bible School from page 6 floor. An alarmed princess scurried into our newly created “dinner theater” to tell of the dragon and the need for help. Emily Faller was herald of the possible calamity about to unfold. Saint George, the noble soldier (Matthew Kiper) appeared to fend off the fiend. Three swords snapped in two before Saint George was able to apprehend the Dragon. The Dragon was found to be most ticklish under the arm and was banished to the garden to be with the caterpillars. Hurray for Saint George! On this very fine note of victory, VBS 2015, Journey to the British Isles, Part I ended. All revenues from recycled water bottles and VBS UTO monies will go to Lynn Headley, UTO representative. Thanks again to all who participated and helped in this year’s VBS!
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United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through United Thank Offering, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity. United Thank Offering is entrusted to promote thank offerings, to receive the offerings, and to distribute the UTO monies to support mission and ministry throughout the Episcopal Church and in Provinces of the Anglican Communion in the developing world. So pick up a Blue Box in Michael’s Room and use it prayerfully every day!
Calendar of Ev ents At Saint Mic hael & All Ang els Events Michael Angels
Nursery Care from 8:30 a.m. (9/6 only) Holy Eucharist at 9:00 a.m. (9/6 only) Summer Sunday School at 9:00 a.m., Yellow Room (9/6 only) Sundays-at-Ten, 10:00 a.m., DL (9/6 only)
Basketball, 5:00-8:00 p.m., AAC
Tuesday
Yoga class, 9:00-10:00 a.m., NW AA meeting, 7:00-10:00 p.m., SW Truth Spiritual Study Group, 6:00-8:00 p.m., DL
Basketball, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m., AAC
Friday
Saturday
Meeting Rooms: AAC - All Angels’ Court MR - Michael’s Room CR - Conference Room
Men’s Group, 7:30-9:00 a.m., DL Basketball, 4:00-5:00, 5:00-8:00 p.m., AAC Parish Choir Rehearsal, 7:00-8:30 p.m., NW
Thursday
Wednesday AA meeting, 7:00-8:00 a.m., SW Yoga class, 9:00-10:00 a.m., NW Whiz Kids, 9:00-5:00 p.m., AAC Holy Eucharist with Prayers for Healing, Noon Basketball, 5:00-8:00 p.m., AAC SAA meeting, 7:30-9:00 p.m., SW Basketball, 8:00-10:00 p.m., AAC
Volleyball, 3:30-6:30 p.m., AAC St. Mike’s Basketball, 7:00-9:00 p.m., AAC
Monday
Holy Eucharist at 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. Sundays-at-Nine, 9:00 a.m., DL Nursery Care from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Sunday School, 9:45 a.m. Godly Play, children 4-11, Yellow Room Formation, 5th-8th grade, Green Room J2A, high school, 2nd & 4th Sundays, Corner Room
Beginning Sunday, September 13th
Sunday
EACH WEEK
SEPTEMBER 2015
SW - South Wing YR - Yellow Room, AAC RR - Red Room, AAC
Blessing of the Animals Honoring Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi Parents’ Meeting & Barbecue with Greg Richards+ 11:45 a.m. MR Parish Office closed for Columbus Day Newport Center Methodist Church Fall Festival Daylight Saving ends - Fall Back! Lifeline Screening, 8:15 a.m.-5:30 p.m., AAC (
IN THE COMING MONTHS
Staff meeting, 9:30 a.m., DL Sunday Worship at 9:00 a.m. Communications Committee, 10:20 a.m., CR Parish Office closed for Labor Day Holiday Hutchins Consort Board, 5:00 p.m., CR Senior Ministry, 2:00 p.m., CR Vestry Meeting, 5:00-7:00 p.m., CR Citizens’ Climate Lobby, 9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m., DL Sunday Worship returns to 8:00 & 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Registration Choir Returns Christian Education Commission, 1130 a.m., CR Medair Piano Recital/ Reception, 7:00 p.m., Sanctuary, MR Deadline for October For the Love of Mike, 5:00 p.m. Friends of Music Soiree 17 Pentecost, Holy Baptism at 10:00 a.m. Worship Commission, 11:30 a.m., CR Spyglass Hill Homeowners Board, 6:00-9:00 p.m., CR Women’s Fellowship, 7:00 p.m., Bianchi’s Home Saint Michael & All Angels’ Day observed The Bible Challenge, 7:30 a.m., DL Friends of Music Executive Committee, 11:15 a.m., CR
DL - Davis Library NW - North Wing GR - Blue Room, AAC
Mon. Oct. 12th Sat., Oct. 17th Sun., Nov. 1st Fri., Nov. 13th
Sun., Oct. 4th
Sun., Sept 27th Sun., Sept. 27th
Tues., Sept. 22nd
Wed., Sept. 16th Sat., Sept 19th Sun., Sept. 20th
Sat., Sept. 12th Sun., Sept. 13th
Mon., Sept. 7th Tues., Sept. 8th Wed., Sept. 9th
Thurs., Sept. 3rd Sun., Sept. 6th
IN THE COMING WEEKS
S T. M I C H A E L & A L L A N G E L S W O U L D L I K E T O T H A N K T H E S E B U S I N E S S E S F O R M A K I N G O U R N E W S L E T T E R P O S S I B L E
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FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE
SAINT MICHAEL’S FINANCIAL REPORT: Our Income through August 18, 2015, is $349,896. The Year to Date Expense is $363,268. Our Year- to-Date Budget for this same period is $365,272 in expenses, so we are staying on target. The pledge income is in line with the Budget also. Thank you for keeping your Pledges current. The Landscaping Project is nearing conclusion. To date, we have written checks to the landscaping company (Twin Oaks) for $57,600. Part of this was from the wonderful $25,000 donation, and the transfer of funds from the Memorial Fund and the Labyrinth Fund. A full accounting will be available soon. The rest of the Project, ie. orchard, vegetable garden, will be financed by donations. We have not had to pay our regular Garden Maintenance firm since the Project was started – this is a savings of over $2,000 a month. Our donations for the use of our parish facilities through August 18, are $31,020, which is ahead of budget by $8,910! We still need Tellers. Thank you for considering to help us out. It is for only one Sunday a month. Julie Jenkins, Finance Chairman
* * * ACOLYTES NEEDED: Do you have one hour to offer this parish each month? Would you like to participate in the worship service on Sundays by carrying the Cross or lighting the candles? Acolyting is a valuable ministry in the life of Saint Michael & All Angels. Please contact Susan Caldwell if you are interested in learning more about this ministry, or to volunteer! 949.644.0463 x 12.
* * * ADULT ACOLYTE CAPTAINS NEEDED: The ministry commitment is based on a rotation Sunday schedule and on an “as needed” basis depending upon the liturgical calendar year. Contact Susan Caldwell, Director of Christian Education 949.644.0463 Ext.12 if you would like to take part in the Acolyte Ministry at Saint Michael & All Angels.
* * * PLEASE CHECK the lost and found box in Michael’s Room.
SEPTEMBER 2015
Why I Am (Still) An Episcopalian I'm not Episcopalian because I think the Church needs me; I am Episcopalian because a faithful community from this tradition saved me. By Greg Garrett
7
the least of these. I discovered that I could be a faithful progressive Christian in this tradition where service was a necessary adjunct to faith. I am not Episcopalian because I imagine we're ever going to be on top of the culture again — but I am encouraged by the fact that the Episcopal Church has come out on the far side of many of the Culture War questions still dividing other Christian denominations and causing those outside the Church to consider Christians prejudiced, homophobic, paranoid, or fixated on morality at the expense of justice. The recent election of the dynamic preacher — and our first African-American presiding bishop — Michael Curry even makes me believe we might have a major role in addressing one of the crucial questions of our time, race in America. I'm not Episcopalian because I think the Church needs me — but I am Episcopalian because a faithful community from this tradition saved me, and I know many others could tell similar stories. God spoke to me in the words, love, and actions of Episcopalians when I had no hope and the future seemed, at best, impossible. As much as I love the great gifts of common worship, love of beauty, and thoughtful exploration handed down to us from the Anglican tradition, I am Episcopalian — still — because in the faces of other Episcopalians, I saw — and see — the Face of God. For that, for this life I did not expect to continue living, for the joy I find now, I thank God. And because of that, I will love and serve God through the Episcopal Church for as long as I am allowed to walk this planet.
I'm deeply committed to my faith, not because of what I imagine I can bring to it, but because of what it brings out in me. I am not Episcopalian because it seems to me be the only way to pursue a spiritual life, but because the Anglican tradition is the best way for a spiritual life to pursue me. I'm not Episcopalian because I think I'm a smart person — although this tradition, which values intellectual exploration and the asking of questions makes use of my reason in ways other traditions did not. Great thinkers from Thomas Cranmer to Rowan Williams offer encouragement that I too can know God in some fashion through the use of my intellect. I'm not Episcopalian because I'm an artistic person — although this tradition loves beauty, boasts such creators as C.S. Lewis, R.S. Thomas, Ralph Vaughn Williams, Barbara Brown Taylor, and P.D. James, and honors that side of me that creates as being a reflection of God's own creativity. I'm not seen as an anomaly in this tradition, but as someone in the mainstream of Christian imagination.I am not Episcopalian because I care about the Bible — but I value how every three years we do a grand tour of the scriptures, how scripture is read or sung in all of our services, and how our exposition of scripture is not centered on the favorite This article is from the July 15, 2015 passages of our preachers, but on the issue of Patheos (Progressive Christian) lectionary. Every week, God is allowed to www.patheos.com. speak into our lives through scripture that Greg Garrett is (according to BBC the Spirit has ordained we read, not through the strained vision of someone's pet Radio) one of America's leading voices on religion and culture. He is the author theological peeve. I am not Episcopalian because I strive or co-author of over twenty books of to be a compassionate person — although fiction, theology, cultural criticism, and I decided to be confirmed an Episcopalian spiritual autobiography. His most recent because I appreciated the brave early books are The Prodigal, written with stance Episcopalians took on the Brennan Manning, Entertaining inclusion of gay and lesbians in the life Judgment: The Afterlife in Popular of the Church, the powerful witness Imagination, and My Church Is Not for peace and justice of Episcopalians Dying: Episcopalians in the 21st Century. like Presiding Bishop John Hines in the A contributor to Patheos since 2010, Greg 1960s, and the many ways I saw also writes for the Huffington Post, Episcopalians involved in feeding the Salon.com, OnFaith, The Tablet, Reform, hungry, caring for the sick, and loving and other web and print publications in the US and UK
FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE
Site cleaning begins at Haiti’s Holy Trinity Cathedral [Episcopal News Service] More than five and a half years after a catastrophic earthquake destroyed Holy Trinity Cathedral in Port-au-Prince, workers have begun cleaning the site, sectioning off the work area, removing bricks, terracotta tiles, sections of the cathedral’s walls and other remnants that eventually will be incorporated into the construction of a new cathedral. “This is a great sign of hope for the Haitian people. I started to say for the Episcopalians of Haiti, but in truth, the significance of Holy Trinity Cathedral goes far beyond our own faith community to the larger society,” said Bishop Stacy Sauls, chief operating officer for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, the legal and canonical name under which The Episcopal Church is incorporated, conducts business, and carries out mission. The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is numerically the largest of The Episcopal
SEPTEMBER 2015 8
Church’s 109 dioceses. Almost immediately following the earthquake, the church began a fundraising campaign to rebuild Holy Trinity Cathedral, a major spiritual, educational and cultural center located in the heart of downtown Port-au-Prince. Architectural plans for the estimated $25-million project were released in 2013. “The cleaning-up process at the cathedral site is a pleasant first step in the building of the most important holy structure in the Diocese of Haiti,” said Haiti Bishop Jean Zaché Duracin, adding that he’s thankful for the generous donors who’ve supported the rebuilding effort over the last five years. “It is a big sigh of relief on my part and all of us involved in the rebuilding process, indeed, we are all involved.” The diocese moved an incomegenerating parking lot used weekdays by a bank opposite the cathedral complex to make way for the site clearing. On the first day of the 45-day project, workers built a redmetal fence to secure the work site and
began marking off sections of the old cathedral, making an inventory of remnants and their locations with the intention of restoring sections of standing walls, bricks and other surviving architectural details to their original places in the new design. Workers must also exhume bodies from crypts under the cathedral’s footprint for reburial within in the complex.. Long seen as “spiritual and cultural soul of Haiti,” the Holy Trinity Cathedral complex is home to a temporary worship space, a primary and secondary school, and a worldclass music school that now is operating out of what was the Convent of the Sisters of Saint Margaret. On Jan. 12, 2010, Haiti suffered a magnitude-7 earthquake that killed more than 300,000 people, left as many wounded, and displaced more than 1.5 million people in what was one of the world’s worst natural disasters in recent history. In a matter of seconds, the diocese lost 80 percent of its infrastructure in Port-au-Prince and Léogâne, the epicenter of the earthquake less than 20 miles west of the capital. It’s unclear when construction on the new cathedral will begin.
FOR THE LLO OVE OF MIKE Saint Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church A Christian Community of the Anglican Communion 3233 Pacific View Drive Corona del Mar, CA 92625
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Inside the September Issue: Page 1: Concert to Support Middle East R efugee Children Refugee Page 4: What a Great V acation Bible School! Vacation Page 7: Why I am (Still) an Episcopalian
Pray for and R emember our P und Remember Parish arish Emergency FFund