Spirit of the Eagle – April 2015

Spiritual Tidbits for April from Fr. Butler

He is risen! Eastertide has arrived! Spring is here and one tends to think of erupting gardens, flowering beauty, and new life. But we sense something else to when we stop in the garden to admire the new flowers, we sense it in the deep center of our existence, our joy is not solely in the spring time, for spring always comes to an end. What is it then we sense that is causing such joy? There is somebody or something walking there. It is the Eternal Gardener. And the joy is His proclamation of the resurrection of the dead, and life everlasting. I pray you have a glorious spring and a joyful Eastertide. God bless you.

April Spirituality Class

In March we began a journey. We will continue to utilize two resources: The Ways and Teachings of the Church and The Way of a Pilgrim. Pertaining to the first resource, if a Little Learning is a dangerous thing, it is also true that dense ignorance is a calamity. No one should willingly be ignorant concerning a great institution with which he is connected, or with reference to matters by which he is surrounded. The Historic Church is without doubt the greatest institution ever established on the earth — Divine, Universal, and Permanent. Everything connected with it is important: its foundation, its history, its buildings, its customs, its precepts and laws, its ministry, its ordinances and ceremonies, its worship, its missionary work at home and abroad. No intelligent member of God’s Church should disdain — rather should he fervently desire — to be well instructed in all these things with which his life is brought in contact over and over again all through the year. The second resource was written by an unknown nineteenth-century Russian peasant and tells of his constant wrestling with the problem of “how to pray without ceasing.” Through his journeys and travels, and under the tutelage of a spiritual father, he becomes gradually more open to the promptings of God. The reader is enriched as he shares these religious experiences in a most humble, simple, and beautiful narrative. Please join me after Mass the 26th of April on a winding, joyful path to both physical and spiritual enlightenment. We will discuss the first three chapters in this class. ~Father Tim
Truth sees God, and wisdom beholds God, and of these two comes the third: that is, a holy marvelous delight in God, which is love. For where truth and wisdom truly are, there too is love flowing from them both, and all is of God’s making; for He is the endless sovereign truth, endless sovereign wisdom, endless sovereign love — unmade. And the soul is a creature in God, that has the same properties though they be made. And so now and evermore it does what it was made for: it sees God, it beholds God, and it loves God. ~ Lady Julian of Norwich, 14th Century Christian English Mystic, Revelation of Love

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Please remember to advertise and support the ACW Spaghetti Dinner on the 18th of April. Please reach out to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers like never before. Contact all the usual and commit to contacting at least three people you have never reached out before. Pray for the success of this wonderful and traditional Saint John event as well. Volunteers to help prepare are needed as well! ~Father Tim

Children’s Ministry and Coffee Hour

The monthly Children’s Ministry will once again be after Mass (during the Coffee Hour – all children should attend the Mass) on the 12th of April. It is designed for age 2 through 12 years. Please commit to bringing all related children in your family for this once a month fun and educational class. While you enjoy fellowship during the Coffee Hour, the children will participate, enjoy, and learn the foundation and building blocks of the Christian faith through bible stories and created crafts.

Katie Longshore – David Schmidt Wedding

Katie Longshore and David Schmidt would like to invite you to their service of Holy Matrimony, and Nuptial Mass, on the 11th of April at 2:30 PM here at Saint John’s. Please come and join this wonderful celebration!

April Birthdays & Anniversaries

Brittany Sams – Birthday – April 13
Ethan Whalen – Birthday – April 15
Carol Petrie – Birthday – April 22
Robert Hooks – Birthday – April 22
Wilma Herklotz – Birthday – April 25
Julie & Mike Murray – Anniversary – April 28

Confess and Be Blessed

Our neighbor who resides at 107 Eighth Street called our Sr. Warden Rich Seyberth last Sunday afternoon and he is not too happy. His wife left for her church at 10:15 (I recall seeing the spot as I was running late, but opted for Riverside’s parking lot) and he says someone from our church hit the left rear corner of his bumper, leaving deep white scratches while parking there. He has asked that whoever did this to please contact him.

Unlocked doors and lights left on

Last Sunday afternoon, our parish hall door was left unlocked and then I found lights left on in the choir room. The Vestry asks that the last person out do a walk through to make sure lights are out and to push the door hard when locking, then double check the door handle. Thank you………Mike Lenz