Spirit of the Eagle – June 2017
Spiritual Tidbits for June from Father Tim
“All June I bound the rose in sheaves.
Now, rose by rose, I strip the leaves
And strew them where Pauline may pass.
She will not turn aside? Alas!
Let them lie. Suppose they die?
The chance was they might take her eye,
…wrote Robert Browning (1812-1889) in his poem One Way of Love. Look up the entire poem when you have the opportunity. The poem is about what a heartbroken suitor should do if he cannot get the person they want in terms of love – and how to cope with the rejection. Some analyze Browning to be saying that a person’s commitment to their Christian religion and their God will ensure that they win the most the most crucial and important prize of all — heaven. Browning uses beautiful gentle lyricism and imagery in each line to achieve this message. Thus we get a rhythmic quietness of the rhyme and metre which vividly projects the picture of a beautiful June rose. He shows how the suitor tries everything to get a girl to notice him, strewing the June rose petals, singing and so on — but nothing seems to work. One could also see the heartbroken suitor as God, strewing the petals of June roses along the pilgrimage of our earthly life, hoping that we will notice Him — if only for a brief moment. We could also see Mary as the beautiful June rose chosen by God the Father. Dante writes this message best when his guide, Beatrice, invites him to contemplate among the heavenly inhabitants the beauty of Mary, the Mother of God: “Why are you so enamored of my face that you do not turn your gaze to the beautiful garden which blossoms under the radiance of Christ? There is the Rose in which the Divine Word became flesh; here are the lilies whose perfume guides you in the right ways” (Paradiso, 23 71-75). For some the rose is a symbol of Christ, too, as we see in the German Christmas song from a poem by Goethe, Es ist ein’ Ros’entsprungen (Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming). Rose windows adorn Gothic churches (see the illustration). I hope and pray this June each of you take a moment to notice the beautiful and holy rose petals God has strewn along your path of life. And I promise there will be more along the way in the days to come.
~ Father Tim
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It is one thing merely to believe in a reality beyond the senses, and another to have experience of it also; it is one thing to have ideas of ‘the holy’ and another to become consciously aware of it. ~ Rudolf Otto, The Idea of the Holy
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Bible Study
The Spring/Summer Bible Study is under way and the church will once again open at 9:15 AM for the small group class (9:30- 10:15 AM). This is a wonderful opportunity to pray, learn more about the Bible, or both! Please come downstairs to the Parish Hall if you would like to attend the Bible Study. This group is learning much and having a wonderful time doing so! Please come and bring a friend!
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Parish Hall and Church Doors
It has been again lately discovered that the parish hall doors have not been securely closed. For those of you who have keys, please take the time not only to lock the doors, but to be sure they are closed tightly and the latches and locks securely fastened before leaving. ~ Father Tim
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June Spirituality Class
Please join us on after Holy Mass on the 18th of June as we discuss the Roots of Christian Mysticism. This month we will again attempt a look at the Victorines – Hugo and Richard of St Victor. All devout Christians must look into their own hearts and first determine who they are, and how their own identities relate to Jesus the Christ as Saviour, Messiah, Man and God. If Jesus were to ask you, “Who do you say I am?”, what would you answer? How seriously do you take this question? Your answer will bring forward how well you actually know yourself.
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The voice, the exceeding great cry, of that unquenchable passion, of the irrepressible aspiration, whereby the soul of man shows forth its truest dignity and highest virtue in seeking the better to know and love and serve its Highest and Invisible Object. ~ H.P. Liddon, The Idea of Religion
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Please take the time to welcome Micheal Fraser and Father Chris Harner, his wife Yaling, and daughters Linda and Isabella who were recently received at Saint John’s into the Anglican Catholic Church. Please take the time as well to congratulate Paige Smith and family as we celebrate the Holy Sacrament of Baptism to her beautiful daughter Coraline on Whitsunday. All these blessings add to the beauty of June! ~ Father Tim
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Psalm-Children
This summer the theme for Psalm Children will be “The Church”. June 4 the children will emphasize their membership in the church with a special service project. June 11 we will talk about “What is the Church?” and later in the month we will cover “Who was St. John the Evangelist and what’s in a name?” Parents should have gotten an e-mail to help with planning our summer field trip. If you have not responded please do so as soon as possible so we can make more definitive plans. We will continuing the Prayer Cross, so if you have intentions you’d like the children to pray for, please write them down and give them to one of the teachers or e-mail me. The Psalm Children Ministry aims to provide religious education and encourage service through a combination of lessons, crafts, and activities. All children ages 2-12 are encouraged to attend. ~ Mary Matias Akhtar
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Saint John “Shut-In” Saints
Steve & Juanita Marvin
The Plaza at Waikiki
1812 Kalakaua Ave
Honolulu, HI 96815
Trudy Baur
Carmel Manor
100 Carmel Manor Road (in Tower Park)
Ft. Thomas, KY 41075
Elsie Fowler
10496 HWY 159 N., Apt. 216B
Butler, KY 41006
John & Donna Lipscomb
3215 Ernies Drive
Pleasant Plains, OH 45162
John & Helena Fisher
18 Far Hills Drive
Cincinnati, OH 45208
Fr. Richard Bryant
678 Dave Court
Covington, KY 41015
Matthew 25:37-40 King James Version (AKJV)
37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?
38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?
39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?
40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
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June Birthdays & Anniversaries
Elyse Akhtar – Birthday – June 2
Rachel Barnett – Birthday – June 6
Peggy & Bill Minor – Anniversary – June 8
Rick Hanson – Birthday – June 9
Judy & Tom Hulsey – Anniversary – June 23
Bill Minor – Birthday – June 25
Rich Boughner – Birthday – June 29
Janet & +Fr. Tim Butler – Anniversary – June 30