FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE Volume 63 Number 1
JANUARY 2013
The Episcopal Church of Saint Michael Pacific View Drive at Marguerite
Corona del Mar
California 92625
& All Angels 949.644.0463
www.stmikescdm.org
...From the Desk of the Rector
BELOVEDS IN CHRIST,
PARISH NEWS AND NOTES
I
n the first frame, Snoopy looks quizzically at one of his little bird friends and asks, “It is New Year’s Eve already?” In the next picture his eyes narrow to slits and he gasps, “I can’t believe it!” In the third square Snoopy turns his back to his friend and forlornly thinks to himself “My life is going too fast.” In the final frame he is lying on his back atop the doghouse with the little bird perched on his feet and Snoopy says, “My only hope is that we go into overtime.” As Bill Cosby laments, “time flies!” The realities of our mortality, the fact that this is not our abiding home, that our bodies are frail and fragile are truths that our old texts never tire of pressing upon us: “Our days are like the grass; we flourish like a flower of the field; When the wind goes over it, it is gone, and its place shall know it no more.” (Psalm 103: 15-16, BCP 734) Perhaps you were like me when younger and didn’t believe this, thinking yourself indestructible singing those lyrics from Fame: “I’m gonna live forever...”. Now older, when we deny brevity of body-boundness, as I’ve learned to do, we miss some of life’s best gifts. A sociologists’ study asked fifty people over the age of ninety-five one question: “If you could live your life over again, what would you do differently?” Three answers dominated the results: (1) I would reflect more; (2) I would risk more; (3) I would do more things that would live on after I am gone. The press of time passing can lead to decisive living, life with less drift or devotion to trivia and delay. But we live in a culture which discourages intentional living with its smorgasbord of diversions and plethora of options; this can lead to confusion and immobility. Too many New Year’s resolutions sound to me like sportscaster Harry Kalas’ introduction of Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Gary Maddox: “Gary has turned his life around. He used to be depressed and miserable; now he’s miserable and depressed.” Real life, life of vitality and purpose, life by the will of God comes only as we become intentional about what is essential to us. Another pastor, John Maxwell, declares, “You cannot overestimate the unimportance of practically everything.” We should stick that on our bathroom mirror! Intentional decisions about what is and what is not important give our lives power and direction, and enables us to make contributions.
Our worship schedule for Tuesdays at 7:30am this month is: January 1 – The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ will be celebrated with The Holy Eucharist. Our rector will preside. January 8 – Morning Prayer will be said. Herb Hoffman will officiate. January 15 – The Holy Eucharist will be celebrated. Fr. Jeff Hulet will preside. January 22 – Morning Prayer will be said. Michael Strong will officiate . January 29 – Morning Prayer will be said. Harry Selling will officiate. Please join us!
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.
Continued on page 3
Remember Parish Pray for and R emember our P arish Emergency FFund und
(More News and Notes on pages 2 & 7)
FAITH: LO SERVING BUILDING OUR F AITH: L OVING CHRIST AND SER VING OUR COMMUNITY