FOR THE LOVE OF MIKE Volume 65 Number 9
OCTOBER 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 Our worship on the first Sunday in October is one of my very favorites every year because we bless critters, all animals, honoring Saints Francis and Clare of Assisi, patron saints of pets. We have blessed a horse, a turtle, an iguana, a tarantula, snakes, ant farms, fish in bowls, hamsters, rabbits, bunnies, chickens, stuffed (toy) animals, pictures of pets, cats and dogs. Dogs! My favorite, from the dachshund of my childhood named “Ginger” who my Dad buried at the Los Angeles Pet Cemetery in Calabasas ...to my fraternity’s golden labrador mix dog “Sally’ who had all three of her litters in the closet in my room and her puppy “Sol” (for “Solomon”) who went with me to seminary in Cambridge ...to “Harvey” (A.K.C. name: “Happy Hairy Harvey Haynes”), a golden retriever who returned with me from Cambridge to California and whose ashes are on my desk at home awaiting burial mixed with my own ...to “Luke,” our ten-year old golden retriever who I rejoice that our staff encourages me to bring to our Parish Office on most days. Question: Why do I so love dogs? Answer: It’s impossible for me not to feel this way. The bond between humans and dogs is more intense than our bond with any other species; is there even a close second? Dogs were the first domesticated animals, the ones that made domestication of all others possible. Scientists can’t agree whether it was 10,000 or 100,000 years ago, but it’s inarguable that dogs evolved from wolves because of human beings. We selected and honed them to be our companions — to help us hunt, to guard our homes, to look after our livestock and even our children, and, over time, to do so many useful and wonderful things that it boggles the mind. For all the talk about wheels and metal and gunpowder, we often overlook what most importantly helped lead us out of caves and into societies: our dogs! We have dogs that serve in combat (a Navy SEAL-trained canine famously assisted in the capture of Osama bin Laden), dogs that detect bugs, dogs that defend sheep from wolves (and cattle from cheetahs), in processes protecting wild animals from illegal hunting, dog lifeguards, dogs that guide the blind and allow the disabled to live better lives, dogs that sniff our cancer and drugs and invasive species. There seems to be no job dogs have been asked to do that they haven’t figured out how to do capably; if only they had thumbs we’d probably have taught them to drive us around by now. And dogs that simply provide companionship, making millions of lives around the globe much, much happier. Every day our scientific knowledge about these amazing animals increases, enabling us to better understand the very magic that dogs have over most Continued on page 3
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www.stmikescdm.org
“GOD THE GIVER” STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF BEGINS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4TH!
O
ver the next six weeks, we will explore together how acknowledging God’s generosity to us can unleash greater generosity in ourselves. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, in his book, “In God’s Hands,” says, “This is a God who intervenes on our behalf, not because we deserve it, but because God’s love is freely given. It is grace. It is not earned; it cannot be earned. It does not need to be earned.” God is the Giver, the Ultimate lover of all God has created. Your generosity, in response to all God has given you, generates mission and changes lives. You will receive your pledge card in the mail. Pray over what your pledge will be over the next six weeks. Send in your pledge card or bring your pledge card to worship on or before Sunday, November 8th. Beginning on Sunday, October 4, and continuing through Sunday, November 8, you will find reflections written by Episcopal stewardship leaders across the country, covering stewardship and faithful giving in connection with the Gospel reading of the day in your worship bulletin. We have set a goal of receiving 100% of pledge commitments from our worshipping community! Thank you for joining me as we consider God’s gifts to each of us. May our exploration open us to a deeper gratitude. Matt Shaw, Stewardship Commissioner
BUILDING OUR F AITH: L OVING CHRIST AND SER VING OUR COMMUNITY FAITH: LO SERVING