PARISH CALL
A Source of Information and Inspiration from St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh
SEASON OF PENTECOST-SPRING 2020
Dear Beloved in Christ, I have always loved maps, paper maps. I’m old enough to remember when you could stop at a gas station and request a map; they were free. Half the excitement of taking a trip is in the planning and a map helps me to imagine where I’m headed and what I might anticipate. A few weeks ago, I was introduced to a resource from Episcopal Relief and Development: The Emotional Life Cycle of a Disaster (episcopalrelief.org/wpcontent/uploads/2019/07/emotional-lifecycle-of-a-disaster-copy.pdf ). I found it strangely comforting, not because it gave concrete answers of what’s next, but that it identified the emotional landscape we are traveling through at this time. The current pandemic is stretching over a longer period of time than other disasters of which we are familiar such as a storm or flood, but the pattern of experienced emotions from warnings to “the new normal” is the same. We heard the warnings; we are experiencing all sorts of heroic actions on the part of healthcare workers, first responders, grocery clerks, and teachers. In some areas there is tremendous community cohesion, people are united in a common cause to mitigate the effects of this virus. We are also entering a time of disillusionment and deep grief. We don’t know how long this pandemic will continue. People are grieving the loss of a love one, others are grieving the loss of senior prom or graduation, still others have lost their business or job. Confirmation, funerals, baptisms, and weddings are postponed. There is a general experience of loss on so many levels. I grieve not being able to see, in person, my adult children and grandchildren. How long this time of isolation and distancing continues is dependent on many factors including available treatments and the development and distribution of a vaccine. I wonder, where is God in all this? As I scan the stories of God’s people in scripture, I can’t help but conclude that God is with us in all of it: in the impact of disaster, the heroic efforts to fight it, in our disillusionment and great grief, and yes, even in the “new normal.” I think of the Hebrews being led to freedom and new life were often blind to God’s continual presence, especially in the wilderness. Might I have the eyes to see God’s leading more clearly? Jesus life is about coming along side us to love us in all of life’s circumstances. I believe that the words and actions of Jesus give a new reality to the presence of God which makes Christianity so personal and unique. The Incarnation is the way that the invisible God becomes visible and I wonder if I can see the Christ pointing me to the Divine each day? On the Day of Pentecost, we celebrate the reality of the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit within us and within the community of disciples, the church. It is the work of the Spirit within that brings us from doubt to faith, despair to hope, and from darkness to joy. Disaster recovery work is not easy or pleasant; it demands much of us. It is a time of strengthening the depth of our faith and relationships and a discovery of new ways of being disciples of Jesus Christ. Will you join me to point to God’s presence in all things, especially in these extraordinary times?
O God… Grant us, in all our doubts and uncertainties, the grace to ask what you would have us to do, that the Spirit of wisdom may save us from all false choices, and that in your light we may see light, and in your straight path may not stumble; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Prayer for Guidance, The Book of Common Prayer, page 832
Paul +
The Rev. Paul R. Briggs, II Interim Rector
Busted Halo: Pentecost in 2 Minutes youtu.be/J5tr4pqWIo4 The Bible Project: Holy Spirit youtu.be/oNNZO9i1Gjc Trinity Wall Street: Pentecost Explained youtu.be/AwC23vHvU5E God's Story: Pentecost (For Kids!) youtu.be/hKa9jqvJ378 DriveThru History: Pentecost youtu.be/Vwz4Dqtj69w The Bible Project: Acts 1-7 youtu.be/JQhkWmFJKnA
Pentecost
pen(t)əˌkôst pen.te.cost noun - meaning "the fiftieth day." The word "Pentecost" is used in both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Testament, it refers to Shavuot or the Feast of Weeks. It was an agricultural event, fifty days following Passover, that focused on the harvesting of first fruits. The term is used in the New Testament to refer to the coming of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1), shortly after Jesus' death, resurrection, and ascension. The Pentecost event was the fulfillment of a promise which Jesus gave concerning the return of the Holy Spirit. The speaking in tongues, is interpreted by some to symbolize the church's worldwide preaching. This is why the readings are often offered in multiple languages.
In the Christian tradition, Pentecost is now the seventh Sunday after Easter. It emphasizes that the church is understood as the body of Christ which is drawn together and given life by the Holy Spirit. Some understand Pentecost to be the origin and sending out of the church into the world or "the birthday of the church". The Day of Pentecost is one of the seven principal feasts of the church year in the Episcopal Church. The liturgical (church) color for the feast is red. Adapted from episcopalchurch.org
Celebrating Pentecost at Home Emily Given, Director of Engagement and Communications Pentecost was a pivotal moment in the life of the early church... and continues to be for us. Jesus made a promise that, while he could not always physically be with us, we would never be left alone. Those are important words to remember as we live in this season of separation and longing. The Holy Spirit who blew like wind and rested on the disciples like tongues of fire is the same Holy Spirit who blows in and through our lives each day. There is no such thing as "social isolation" for God. We are not alone. We will not be forgotten. Pentecost is considered the birth of the church. It was the beginning of countless generations of faithful people sharing the message of Jesus with others so that they might live and grow in the Spirit. It begs the question How are we called to spread the message and build a community of the faithful? Open ourselves to the Spirit. Share the story with others. Invite others to share in the joy and power that a community grounded in Christ can offer. Ideas on where to begin: If you are going to share a story, you need to KNOW the story. Spend time reading and meditating on the scripture - Acts of the Apostles 2:1-47 (New Testament) Stand in front of a fan. Allow the wind to blow your skin, hair, and clothing. Enjoy the rush of the wind and invite the Holy Spirit to enter your heart. Imagine the wind is blowing away your doubt, fears, and disbelief in order to make space for the Holy Spirit to fill you with goodness and grace. You may also chose to tie ribbons to the fan cage in order to see the "wind" or "flames". Create a sidewalk encouragement for your community. Write words of inspiration and then surround them with Pentecost images. A suggestion: "You are not alone." Painters' tape can help create crisp lines. Tie a red ribbon around your wrist. Keep a small reminder of the flames of the Holy Spirit with you through the season of Pentecost (May 31- November 28, 2020). It is also reminiscent of the Chinese tradition that an invisible red thread binds us together. Light a candle. The flames that rested on the head and shoulders of the disciples were not hot and did not hurt. They were warm with the peace of that comes from the knowledge and love of Jesus. Allow the light to illuminate the space and focus your attention. Sit quietly for just a few minutes. Reflect on the ways you have witnessed the moving of the Holy Spirit in your own life. Give thanks. This can also be done with others. Consider gathering around a fire pit to reflect and share with one another. Experiment with watercolors. Images of fire, wind, and water are relatively easy to create using a basic set of watercolors. Allow for the fluid motion of the brush to remind you the movement of the Holy Spirit. Another image for the Holy Spirit is a dove. Take a moment to watch from your window or porch. Do you seeing any birds? Take a few moments to watch them and appreciate their beauty.
Try your hand at paper folding. Make a simple airplane or an origami dove. Let the airplane glide through your space or hang your dove somewhere to catch the light or breeze. A simple origami pattern can be found here: youtu.be/QpwezRCO0d8 Wear something red. Embody the power of the spirit by wearing the color most associated with the Holy Spirit. Tag the church in a picture of yourself on social media. Consider adding the hashtags "Pentecost" or "Episcopal". Decorate with red flowers, napkins, tablecloth, candle, or another item you have around your home. Let the color remind you to pray for the Spirit to work in and through you during the season of Pentecost. Set your garden ablaze. The Season of Pentecost encompasses the whole summer. Consider planting red, yellow, and orange flowers in your garden (or on the windowsill) as a reminder that Pentecost is more than just one day. It is the "growing" season of the church. Hang a set of windchimes. Take time to stand near them at least once a day to hear how the wind makes them chime. If you do not have an outdoor space, hang a set anyway. Place them in a common space and brush them with your hand each time you pass. Don't have a set of windchimes? Create your own with household items such as silverware hanging from string or bottles hanging from twine on a branch of a tree. Learn a few new words. Consider searching the internet for the words "Jesus", Holy Spirit", "wind", "love", and "new life" in three other languages. Commit them to memory and use them as focusing words for prayer and meditation. Bake something. Pentecost is considered "the birthday of the church". Celebrate with something sweet - red velvet or strawberry shortcake. Fly a kite. Let it be a reminder of how the wind lifts it up. Reflect on the how the wind of the Holy Spirit is lifting you up in different areas of your life. Make a few changes. In the second chapter of Acts, Peter tells the assembly to "change your hearts and lives". What do you need to change? What are the intentions of your heart? How are you living your life? How might you grow deeper in your spiritual life? How might you improve your relationships? What might God to be calling you to do or be?
Dear St. Thomas' Church, We are delighted to announce that the meals from your Rise Against Hunger Experience have been shipped in a container totaling 285,120 meals from our Philadelphia warehouse. The meals will be received by our in-country partner Lift Up the Vulnerable in South Sudan. If you happen to receive more than one of these announcements, your meals have gone to impact multiple partners. Lift Up the Vulnerable is an organization that nourishes lives through food assistance and other services in South Sudan. To learn more, please visit our partner/country spotlight on the Impact Stories tab and click and drag on our World Aid Map at www.riseagainsthunger.org/global-impact/. Thank you for generously giving your time as a volunteer with Rise Against Hunger. We are sincerely grateful for your dedication and for sharing our vision of a world without hunger. Gratefully, Rise Against Hunger!
Many thanks to Kim Morris for her leadership and organization.
Be Not Afraid: Praying My Way Through Transitions Jane Hamilton, Pastoral Care Commission Chair Going through transition is wearing on me, how about you? The search process has been long! We’re waiting, hoping, and praying for a new rector to join us, sooner rather than later. And now, on top of the search we’re living through the upheaval of a global pandemic. The two events are both disruptive experiences of loss and change, transitions that touch all our lives. There’s no way out of these experiences except by going through them as best we can. It’s hard to be our best when the world news is frightening and the future is unsure. There is so much separation and a hug would feel awfully good right now. What we used to enjoy, take for granted, rely on for fun and encouragement has all been put on hold. My worst fears are that the singing, hugging, celebrating, and vacationing won’t come back. The worship, work, Barn, summer camp, Nursery School, sports, commission and social activities we love will never be the same. We’ll lose so much of what’s dear and meaningful, fulfilling and fun. I try not to focus on these thoughts, but they’re inside somewhere. As the months pass from March to April to May and on to June life as we’ve known it is lost. I’ve wondered, how can we live through these losses and come out the other side of the pandemic? I’m not sure, but live through it we must, and we will…with God’s help. In prayer, seeking God’s help, I’ve been reminded of the millions throughout history who have faced dire circumstances and cataclysmic change. Compared to others, my burden is light. As others have found their way, so will we…with God’s help. In prayer, I was reminded: Turn to the Lord. Trust in God’s faithful, loving care. In prayer today, I recalled a hymn from my youth: Be Not Afraid. It’s a very simple song that touches my heart. Listening to it today gave me strength. Seeing this YouTube video let me know that others are struggling through this pandemic. It’s great to know others are also finding hope in this song. www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMuhI7htOh0 In prayer, I heard: Be not afraid; I go before you always. In prayer, I remembered a beautiful book by clergyman and grief counselor, James E. Miller titled Change & Possibility: Discovering Hope in Life's Transitions. He reminds readers that change is constant and uncomfortable. But it needn’t be passively accepted; we can participate in life’s transitions and learn from them. We always have a choice about how to respond to change. It can be a friend or foe, a catastrophe or challenge. Miller encourages us to welcome change. Wisdom from others who have gone through transitions, tell us of three phases of the experience.
The beginning of transition is an ending. Picture autumn. Leaves are dying, warm days are fading away. Something has died, ended or been taken away. In this phase, the familiar is passing away and what will be has not yet arrived. We’re disengaging from the past, letting go. We may feel disenchantment, anger and loss. We need to grieve and let go of the past.
In the middle is emptiness…fertile emptiness. Picture winter. The landscape is barren; vegetation has gone dormant, the air is cold. Picture Moses wandering in the wilderness. He’s taken the people out of Egypt but it’s a long road to the Promised Land. Old ways and relationships have passed away but those to replace them have yet to appear. It’s a time of confusion, discouragement, anxiety, with anger often focused on leaders. Ideally, this phase also involves the excitement of developing new and better ways. We need to pray about what’s important; re-examine priorities, envision a desired future and stick together while in the wilderness. At the end is a new beginning. Picture spring. Trees and bushes are turning green with new life. Crocus poke through the last bit of snow. Days grow longer. New things are taking shape. Hope and possibility, energy and joy are re-emerging. We want to rush ahead. It is impossible to make this fresh start without first mourning Ending Phase losses, and experiencing the Middle Time’s uncertainty.
As we at St. Thomas’ eagerly await the new beginning with a new rector, and long for a new “post-COVID” world, we must first attend to the endings and uncertainties. There is no way forward except going through these experiences. We need to pace ourselves for it seems the journey will be long. But in prayer, I’m taking comfort in the Israelites’ 40 years of wandering. God was with them and will be with us, too. In prayer, I am reminded: The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. Be not afraid.
St. Thomas' Church has been involved with this confidential program for over 20 years. Stephen Ministers receive more than 50 hours of training that is ongoing and work to assist the clergy with being a pastoral presence to those in need of support. We meet the first Tuesday of the month at 7:00PM, recently via zoom. We thank the former Stephen Ministers who have come forward for our parishioners who are in need of support during a difficult time. I encourage former Stephen Ministers to "re-up." Many members of the church appear to have the standard reply, "I'm fine!" (It's okay to not be fine.) Those who have had a Stephen Minister have only accolades for the experience. We are great listeners! Please do not hesitate to call me - Debbie Buck 215.512.0435 or djbuckcrnp@aol.com
Are you experiencing an immediate need? Please contact the pastoral care number and a member of the clergy will return your call. 610.400.3250
Behind the Scenes of Holy Week Online
Thank you to the Flower and Altar Guilds. Holy Week and Easter were glorious - even on screen!
Loving Your Neighbor in an Age of Compassion Fatigue Reprinted from An Odd Work of Grace: The Blog of The Rt. Rev. Matt Gunter I’m tired. My heart hurts. My soul is weary. It has been a hard several months. Three major hurricanes in quick succession have left devastation in their wake. Deadly earthquakes in Mexico. Wild fires in California and other parts of the western United States have resulted in death and destruction. A gunman in Las Vegas shot more than 600 people leaving 59 dead. We have been reminded of how unacceptably common it is for women to be sexually harassed. And those are only some of the awful events that have happened or are happening near and far and have assaulted our sensibilities when we turn our televisions, radios, computers, and smartphones. I have not even experienced any of these things first hand, but my heart feels battered by it all. Add on the stories we each know of family, neighbors, friends, and fellow church members who are struggling with disease, family issues, work difficulties, etc. and it all starts to feel overwhelming. Even if you are not in the midst of such troubles yourself, knowing about them can become a cumulative burden on your spirit. On top of all that there is the venial, petty, divisive nature of our political discourse fueled by and exacerbating deep political and cultural polarization that make many of us wary of honest conversation with neighbors and family. I wonder if all of this contributes to the sense I get from talking to people that many of us feel harassed by life. I wonder if it contributes to the tense, polarization we see in our politics and society. Information technology and social networking mean we are more connected than ever to the rest of the world. This means we are aware of more pain, suffering, and disappointment than ever.
It takes a toll. I wonder if our whole society isn’t experiencing a mild (or not so mild) form of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Or more accurately, perhaps, the related condition of “compassion fatigue”. Compassion fatigue has traditionally been associated with people in the helping professions – doctors, nurses, therapists, police officers, social workers, etc. But, with the increased connectivity and access to images and information, I think it has become more generalized.
The symptoms are: disturbed sleep intrusive thoughts (unwelcome involuntary thoughts, images, or unpleasant ideas that may become obsessions, are upsetting or distressing, and can be difficult to manage or eliminate)
irritability outbursts of anger
impatience
hyper-vigilance (constant scanning of the environment for threats) desire to avoid people who we know are hurting or who you know will disturb your equilibrium.
Sound familiar? I suspect many of us have experienced several of these symptoms. They seem pervasive in our society. I suspect that this explains in part the increased polarization we see all around us. It also explains the pervasive cynicism, anger, and hopelessness. Some researchers have suggested that all of this leads to a sort of “psychic numbness” that diminishes our ability to engage those around us and the world with compassion. We are tempted to resort to a hunker down mentality and become insular. Or we throw up our hands in resignation that nothing can change for the good. Or we surrender to the comfort of an us vs them mentality that allows us to limit our true compassion and understanding to those who are like us. And yet, as Christians, we must resist this tendency even as we acknowledge its reality and power. In his summary of the Law, Jesus enjoins us to, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” That is a call to compassion, a call to care. How might we respond to that call while avoiding compassion fatigue? Let us first of all admit that loving our neighbor is not always easy. Not just because some neighbors are hard to love – which is true – but because of the nature of love itself. To love someone means to make ourselves available to them – available to their hopes and joys, their need and their fear. That also means we make ourselves vulnerable to their hurt and sorrow. That is the inevitable consequence of love. As C. S. Lewis wrote in The Four Loves: To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one. . . . It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. The alternative to tragedy, or at least the risk of tragedy, is damnation. The only place outside Heaven where you can be perfectly safe from all the dangers and perturbations of love is Hell. The cumulative effect of that vulnerability is what leads to compassion fatigue.
How do we avoid becoming weary or cynical or withdrawing into our own small private worlds? How do we continue to be available and vulnerable in love toward our neighbor in an age of compassion fatigue? I suggest it begins with the first commandment of Jesus’ summary of the Law – “Love the Lord your God with all your heart mind and soul.” When we orient everything in our heart, mind, and life toward God who is working all for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28) the hard realities in our lives and the world around us are put in perspective. We love God first of all because God is worthy of love. But, also because we are made for that love, orienting our lives toward the love at the heart of it all is the foundation of our health and strength and our own ability to persist in loving. Thus, it is good to make it a priority to carve out time each day for plant yourself next to streams of living water as the psalmist encourages in Psalm 1. That means pray. Certainly, pray about the things that concern you. Pray God to pour mercy on your own hurts and those of your neighbor. And, more challenging, pray God’s mercy on those neighbors who are hard for you to love. But, I encourage you also to practice the prayer of silence. Be still and know that the Lord is God (Psalm 46:10). Listen for the still small voice of God. Calm and quiet your soul, like a child quieted at its mother's breast (Psalm 131:2). Sink your heart into the heart-healing mercy of the Heart of God each day. And don’t just pray alone. “Do not neglect to meet together, as is the habit of some, but come to worship where we reorient ourselves toward God and encourage one another” (Hebrews 10:25). In worship we gather in solidarity with others to orient our imaginations toward the Love at the heart of everything. We encourage one another as together we are encouraged – inheartened – in the presence of God. Keep Sabbath. Take extended time to rest and focus your attention on God. Try this. On Sundays, do not watch the news, do not go on the internet, and rest from the worries of the world. God will continue to tend the world while you rest. Do something restorative – read, walk in the woods, exercise, knit, make something, etc. Some researchers suggest that our capacity for compassion is finite and will become depleted if not restored. Among other things, Sabbath is a means of restoring that capacity. Beyond that, it is good to ration your engagement with the news. Stay informed, but limit how much news and commentary you consume (or consumes you).
Acknowledge your own vulnerability. You are a limited, finite creature. You are not God. Only God, who is love, can be infinitely available and vulnerable in love. Our capacity for compassion is limited and can become drained. You cannot give all of yourself all the time to everyone and everything. And sometimes it is OK and necessary to step back for a time. Know when you’ve had enough. Remember that God bears it all and bears it with you. You are not alone. Jesus said, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light." The burden is lighter when we allow God to bear it with us. Do what you can and trust the rest to God. Focus your care. Again, this is part of accepting our creatureliness. We cannot do everything everywhere. But, we can do something. So, it helps to decide what we can do and focus on that. Are their particular people or situations that are on your heart? Address those. Perhaps there is one cause that animates your spirit. Contribute to that and get involved. You do not need to take on all the world’s woes and challenges. But, doing something allows us to trust God to raise up others to care for other things. Doing something somewhere also frees us from despairing or feeling helpless. This is true locally and personally as well. If we are careful not to take on more than we can manage, we can manage, with God’s help, what we are called to take on. In doing so, we can still remain open to people and situations that aren’t already on our radar while discerning what we are called to do and letting go of the rest. Find someone to talk to about the hard stuff who will encourage you rather than reinforce the things that agitate you. “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). “Bear one another’s burdens and thus fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:1). Don’t dwell on the negative. Don’t allow yourself to get in a rut of rehearsing all that is bad in the world or the wrongs that have been done to you. “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8). End each day naming the good and giving thanks – in your own life and in the world. Give thanks to God for at least three things. Notice simple pleasures with gratitude. “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) Jesus enjoins us to love our neighbor as ourselves. That is difficult and perilous thing as we make ourselves available and vulnerable to caring in a world full of tragedy and disappointment. But, by the grace of Christ’s Spirit working in us and through us, we can be refreshed, renewed, and empowered to love our neighbor even in an age of compassion fatigue.
Submitted by Michael Smith
Teachers and staff of St. Thomas’ Preschool have worked diligently to make sure the 125 students and their families feel connected and cared for during this difficult time. Teachers communicate each week with their students via packets sent home, videotaped lessons and story times, and even Zoom video sessions. “We want to make sure our children are still involved and engaged in the learning process, even if they’ve been unable to attend school in person. The skills, socialization and love the school provides these youngest learners is so important" stated Dana Toedtman, Chair of the Preschool’s Board of Trustees. According to Shari Petrakis, Director of the Preschool, “Our teachers are tremendously committed to their students, and they’ve learned and perfected new technologies and wonderful ways to interact with the students while we all stay at home. The transition has been challenging at times, but our teachers have really big hearts and they care deeply for the children.” As the school year winds down, the Board of Trustees’ special Covid 19 Task Force will continue to monitor the situation with Shari and our connections to local, state and national groups to discern the best and safest way moving forward. Thank you to St. Thomas’ teachers, staff, Board and Preschool Families for their flexibility and grace during this unprecedented time.
The parking lot parade was a fun way for teachers and students to safely see each other one more time before summer begins.
Outreach
Laura Thayer and Kathleen Schneer (Chair), Outreach Commission The Outreach program of Lenten donations was a big success and the commission would like to thank all those who participated. It enabled us to deliver food donations to Mattie Dixon Community Cupboard in Ambler weekly. The Outreach Commission continues to work toward helping those struggling during this time of pandemic. The commission voted last month to disburse funds from its emergency fund to struggling organizations as follows: $1000 to the St Thomas Rector's Discretionary Fund $1000 to the Interfaith Food Cupboard in Roslyn $500 to the Interfaith Housing's transitional housing program in Ambler $500 to Achieve-Ability $500 to Episcopal Community Service's emergency shelter, St Barnabas Mission $500 to Daily Bread Community Food Pantry in Collegeville $200 to Church of the Advocate Soup Kitchen
Thank you to Chris Russell and Lynne Englebreth for delivering Lenten donations to DePaul USA and Ready, Willing & Able. DePaul USA has five programs in Philadelphia that provide services for men and women who are homeless.
Reading, Willing, & Able works to break the cycles of homelessness, addiction and criminal recidivism by providing work-life experiences through occupational training, housing acquisition and comprehensive support services to homeless individuals.
What can you do locally? We are collecting food donations for St. James School and the Inter-faith Housing Alliance Food Cupboard in Roslyn, which we deliver weekly. Any donation, no matter how small, is much appreciated and needed. All the smalls add up to a lot, as the food cupboards are seeing new families each week who are now grappling with financial insecurity. Collection buckets are located on the front porch of the church office.
May Update from Debbie Carver Interim Manager, Interfaith Food Cupboard Thanks to the generosity of our community, we are happy to share that the food cupboard has been able to meet the continued demand for food. We continue to see new families who have lost work and now find themselves in financial difficulties. We're providing fresh dairy, meat, bread, fruits and vegetables, and pantry staples. And we're making sure to prioritize the safety of our clients, donors, and volunteers by using proper CDC procedures. Each volunteer wears a mask and gloves, and we are operating the food cupboard as a contactless drive-through. We are extremely proud that the cupboard has been able to remain open during this pandemic by moving swiftly to modify our operations.
A Message from Dave Kasievich Head of School, St. James School Your continuing generosity is one of the blessings that give us strength to meet the ongoing challenges of this time. And we still need you to help us feed our students, families, and neighbors for as long as the current health and economic crisis continues. Truly every little bit helps! Please consider making a donation of food or a monetary donation to St. James School. On campus, our 6 residential staff are providing compassionate care and critical supports for our community members facing extra anxiety and hardships – childcare challenges, unemployment, sick and hospitalized loved ones, increased neighborhood violence, and extra food costs with everyone at home day and night. With your help, we are providing up to 200 individual meals per day in our community. I give thanks in my prayers for you and your deep commitment to our work. Within the darkness of a difficult time, you are making the St. James light shine brightly.
One day's food donations shows the outpouring of generosity that is helping St. James School sustain its work in the community. Thank you for Kathleen Schneer and Laura Thayer for delivering weekly food donation to our feeding ministry partners.
BEVERAGES & HORS D'OEUVRES FEATURE FILM
Back by Popular Demand! Fall 2020
“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship. To the breaking of bread and to prayer.” – Acts 2:42 What’s the agenda? There is none! Just a time to get to know one another better and share food and fellowship.How does it work? Everyone who has signed up will be assigned to a Supper Club of 6-8 people. The goal is for each group to get together once a season, Each time, one individual or family agrees to host the group in their home and provide a main dish. The other members of the group contribute the rest of the meal – sale, sides, dessert, beverages, etc. More details to follow.
The church grounds are bursting with beauty. Thank you to the Landscape Committee in partnership with the facilities staff.
Photos by: Will Gillespie Emily Given Scout Given Aubree Phillips Brenda Sullivan
Pondering a Pandemic Pam Jameson, Adult Spiritual Formation Commission Member Over the past weeks I have heard several times that the pandemic has been somewhat of an emotional roller coaster. Here we are, white knuckled, hanging on to the safety bar of a scary, wild ride we didn’t agree to get on, with no clear safe riding rules posted, no way to know what twist or flip will come our way and no end in sight. It’s enough to give even the most stable minded person a case of emotional whiplash. We are all experiencing some type of grief and mourning for the way our lives used to be “pre-pandemic”. We’re on the same scary ride, but our feelings vary because of where we were in our lives when we got on the ride, what or who we brought with us on the ride, and where we sit on the ride. Are we in the front seat, seeing the road ahead of us taking a deep dive down to the far right? Or are we in the backseat, jaws clenched, with absolutely no view but the back of the head in front of us? There’s no telling when this ride will end, so how do we get to the point where we can sit on this rickety, unstable roller coaster ride – hear it creaking, feel all of its bumps, twists, and turns until we experience it as calm and steady passenger train, chugging along to its destination? By simply bringing awareness to what we’re feeling and resting in the pause, we allow ourselves to process what is going on long enough to work through it. Guidelines for supporting our emotional wellbeing tell us that self-care is crucial right now. This involves checking in and being kind to ourselves and others, replacing draining activity with practices that invigorate and energize us; sleeping well, eating well, practicing mindfulness, exercising and finding time to be in nature are all excellent ways to increase our resilience. Tapping into our own creativity is also an effective way to manage stress and difficult emotions. For those like me, that means “Make art; feel better.” For others it may be journaling, gardening, trying new recipes (and reviving old ones), dancing, singing, playing a musical instrument, carpentering, knitting, or writing poetry. All of these ways to express ourselves and create our own sense of calm are still within reach. It may be that the very experiences that startle and disrupt our lives will serve to strengthen our journey and challenge us to become the best versions of ourselves. Finding creative outlets to record and share these experiences gives us the opportunity gain new insights and from our own stories, as well as from the stories of others. It may be that in two months or in two years we may come back to reflect upon this point in our journey and recognize something significant –perhaps even profound – about where God is leading us in these moments that seem so bewildering. The Adult Spiritual Formation commission invites you to employ your creativity to mark this remarkable and peculiar moment in our history by sharing your stories, your reflections, your poetry, your artwork. How might we honor where we are at right now, and how might we spur one another on toward love and courageous living? Might we create a publication, a sort of parish journal to share now and to keep for future generations? Please contact Will Gillespie at gillespie_wm2@yahoo.com or Pam Jameson at pcjamie3@gmail.com to help us brainstorm how we may share our stories and thoughts and pictures with each other in a meaningful way, both for our benefit now and for generations to come.
Reflection Ben Linton Adult Spiritual Formation Committee My name is Ben Linton and you may know me from bringing my 87-year-old Mother, Pam Callanan, to church every Sunday for the 10:00 morning service and we always sit in the first pew to the right in the back pews at church. I have been a devout Christian practicing my faith in my attendance at church almost every Sunday for the past fifty years, at St. Thomas’s and other Episcopal Churches and other denominations, e.g., Presbyterian and Quaker Meeting during school at William Penn Charter School with I attended for 13 years, commonly called a “lifer.” Therefore, I feel that I live my faith but not only church but by taking the lessons I learn there and putting them into practice. During these COVID-19 times, I have been working as an essential worker in a hospital setting of an inpatient drug and alcohol treatment center owned by Main Line Health Services. I feel that I encounter God there in their shared stories of strength and resilience and just goodness nurturing the soul. After all as Hillary West, a previous minister at St. Thomas’s, would counsel “we are all broken,” and thus, I feel that I am sharing their journey with them to recovery. A journey that I set out on, and I celebrated 33 years of recovery from alcoholism on April 5th. I work every weekend, so I am the weekend guy, and I am also known as the poetry guy, because I read them a poem at the end of Goodnight Group after conducting a breathing meditation exercise. My captive audience regals some poems, but they especially remember me for Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Bells” (you may want to read it and consider the cadence and the meter chosen by the author who was addicted to morphine). I have been biding my time preparing meals for my mother and me e.g., roast pork and sauerkraut with mashed potatoes dinner for Mother’s Day and the traditional ham meal with string beans and yams for Easter and recently a stuffed turkey and then tacos for an easy meal made on the fly). I enjoy my four bird feeders that I keep stocked attracting sparrows, blue jays, gold finches and other red finches and Northern flickers and downy woodpeckers and the most spectacular red-breasted grosbeaks. I have three different feeder areas. I also have red fox that visit and flocks of deer that pass through the woods. I have also planted several gardens, flower beds and vegetable gardens. I am growing onions, sweet and red, and peas, green beans, beets, cucumbers, radishes, and mounded two potato cyclone wired cylinder beds. I hope to have a hardy crop! God bless all of you and I miss my St. Thomas family, but I know that we are keeping each other safe and well by maintaining our distance for now. I hope when we open the church, we celebrate with pageantry and Carillon bells ringing!
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7020 Camp Hill Road Fort Washington, PA 19034
Morning Prayer: Lord, open our lips! Michael Smith, Minister of Music Our Anglican tradition centers around two forms of worship: The Eucharist, or Holy Communion. and The Daily Office. For the season of Easter, we have been using a modified version of the Eucharist, called “Ante-communion” on Sunday mornings. This allowed us to use everything up to the actual communion itself, and is a valid form of worship. Beginning on June 14, we will switch to the service of Morning Prayer for Sunday mornings, live-streamed from the church. How is Morning Prayer different from the Eucharist? Morning Prayer (and Evening Prayer or Evensong) follow a basic pattern: Opening Sentences - these call us to center ourselves in the theme of the day. Confession of Sin - before we can praise God, we must re-align ourselves with God’s will. Invitatory - a “call to worship” Psalm(s)- Psalms are the heart of the daily office. It is the church’s first “hymnal.” They give voice to every emotion known, and strengthen or challenge us. First Reading- usually from the Old Testament or Epistles Canticle- a biblical “song” that is a response to the reading. Second Reading- usually from the Epistles or Gospels Canticle Apostles Creed - the Apostles Creed is used at the offices, and the Nicene Creed at the Eucharist. Prayers- a series of petitions and responses that traditionally end with three collects. The General Thanksgiving- a beautiful prayer that summarizes our thanks to God. The Grace - a dismissal Why are we making this change? As we are still unable to receive the Eucharist as a body, it makes sense to go deeper into an often neglected form of worship. Morning Prayer contains some real treasures: the beautiful canticles, the General Thanksgiving. All of these are words and phrases that can restore us and give us strength. How does live-streaming fit with the Bishop’s re-opening plan? The plan allows for live-streaming from the church with as few people as possible beginning on June 14. We will use a celebrant, a lay reader, and an organist/cantor, all staying six feet apart and wearing masks when not actively speaking. Where can I find Morning Prayer in the Prayer Book? Morning Prayer, Rite II, begins on page 75 of the Book of Common Prayer. If you don’t have a prayer book in your home, you can google “BCP Morning Prayer online” and it should be the first search result. Morning Prayer is currently being offered every morning on Zoom by parishioners! Feel free to join in and get some practice. See the “Staying Connected” emails or visit the homepage of the website for more information.
Walking the Labyrinth During a Pandemic Sarah Elliott, Labyrinth Guide and Formation Leader During this time of social-distancing, you may be wondering whether it is safe to walk the labyrinth at St. Thomas’. Scientists have said that being outdoors reduces the likelihood of transmission of the coronavirus because of the wide-open space, wind, sunlight, heat and humidity. Here are some suggestions about how to walk the labyrinth that will lower your risk of spreading or contracting the coronavirus. Walk alone. If you arrive and someone else is walking the labyrinth, wait for them to finish their walk before you enter the labyrinth. Use an antiviral wipe or a tissue to open the information box and touch anything inside the box. Walk with other members of your household. You won’t need to monitor how close you are to each other on the labyrinth. If you choose to walk with someone who is not quarantining with you: Walk with only one other person. Consider wearing a mask. Maintain a six-foot distance as much as possible. Give the first walker a good head start before you step into the labyrinth. You will need to be more aware of where the other person is at all times, which may or may not be distracting to you. When it appears that you and the other walker are getting too close to each other, you might choose to stop on the path and wait for the other person to pass by. You might choose to step away to let the other person pass by and then come back to where you left off. Consider doing a partner walk using a finger labyrinth: one person walks from the entrance to the center of the labyrinth while the second person sits on a bench nearby and follows the progress of the walker tracing the path on a finger labyrinth. After the walker has spent some time in the center of the labyrinth, the walker walks directly off the labyrinth to switch places. The second person then walks directly into the center of the labyrinth and then follows the path back out to the entrance, while the first person follows along using the finger labyrinth. Wipe down the finger labyrinth with an antiviral wipe or use hand sanitizer before switching places. Or bring two finger labyrinths so you don’t have to share.
Praying with a Finger Labyrinth Sarah Elliott If you can’t get out to a labyrinth, you can bring a labyrinth to you! A finger labyrinth is a version of the labyrinth pattern that is too small to be walked using your feet, so you trace the pattern with your finger or another small object. Finger labyrinths are made from a variety of materials – wood, metal, ceramic, plastic, yarn, etc. – but the simplest version is printed on paper. With your paper finger labyrinth, you can: Trace the path with your finger, using all the techniques you would use on a larger, walkable labyrinth. Try using the ring finger of your non-dominant hand. How does that change the experience? Trace the path by pushing a penny or another small, flat object with your finger. Color the entire labyrinth path with crayons or markers. Experiment with colors! Write along the labyrinth path. Use it like a journal to write what’s on your heart and mind. Write down a favorite prayer or create one along the way. For a more durable finger labyrinth, print it on heavy card stock or laminate it.
Choirs Staying Connected Our Parish Choir and Choristers have been having weekly Zoom meetings since the stay-athome orders went into effect. They socialize, do some musical work, have fun, and share in prayer. The adults have been closing each meeting with the office of Compline, or night prayer. Each group has a Google Classroom, where they can prepare for the weekly recordings of hymns or further their musical knowledge. I am so grateful for the care and love which these groups show towards each other. It is clear that “we are not alone.”
Hymn Requests Series
Sometimes a light surprises the Christian while he sings; It is the Lord, who rises with healing in his wings. When comforts are declining, He brings the soul again a season of clear shining, and soft refreshing rain. --William Cowper
One of my favorite parts of recording your hymn requests has been a chance to really pay attention to the texts in the editing process. The act of typing them into the software makes me see them in new ways, uncoupled from the music. I encourage you to “read” the hymn texts as devotional poetry- try to read them without hearing the tune in your head. The next time you sing it, you will be rewarded. Visit the St. Thomas Whitemarsh YouTube channel to enjoy the pipe organ hymn series.
Thank you to Ginny and Tom Benner for creating this tour. Larger copies are available in the wooden boxes throughout the cemetery.
On Saint Thomas' Lonely Hill F A Serra
Cold windy sadly gray Walked the church yard this crisis day Read the many stones aware Of other crises folks did bear Such is life t'was always so Wars and plagues and lesser foes Have taken these our human frames With no account for wealth or fame Thunder lightning sickness too Fire famine pox and flu Just the menu men have known Of trials and pain as time has flown But always since our Christ has died And his word has multiplied Peace and solace has been given By faith we'll move from here to heaven
St. Thomas' Episcopal Church 7020 Camp Hill Road Fort Washington, PA 19034 stthomaswhitemarsh.org