Spirit of the Eagle – September 2017
Spiritual Tidbits for September from Father Tim
The final days of summer arrive with September. The sunny days begin to become shorter and the shadows begin to become longer. Children return to their education and vacation time comes to an end. Summer departs and the Autumn season arrives on the 22nd of September. C.S. Lewis once wrote, “I would like everything to be immemorial — to have the same old horizons, the same garden, the same smells and sounds, always there, changeless. Autumn is really the best of the seasons: and I’m not sure that old age isn’t the best part of life. But of course, like autumn, it doesn’t last.” So the seasons in our life come — and then they go. However, always remember God gives us what is best. Consider this beautiful passage from an unknown author, “So easily do we pray for the wrong things: For strength that we may achieve, and God gives us weakness that we may be humble; For health that we may do great things, and God gives us infirmity that we may do better things; For riches that we may be happy, and God gives us poverty that we may be wise; For power that we may have the praise of men, and God gives us weakness that we may feel the need of Him; For all things that we may enjoy life, and God gives us life that we may enjoy all things. And so having received nothing that we have ask for, but all things that we have genuinely hoped for, our prayer has been answered, and we have been blessed.” I pray your September will be full of genuine blessings. ~ Father Tim
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We need our churches to become the kind of places to which we could gladly take a friend who is a complete outsider to the Church, because the kind of welcome they would receive and the kind of worship they would experience would have a depth and genuineness and openness that could truly constitute a kind of homecoming. Here would be some kind of anticipation of the goal towards which humanity itself is struggling. A church rooted and grounded in prayer and in the hidden contemplation of the presence of Christ would have a powerful attraction to it. ~ Brother Ramon and Simon Barrington-Ward, Praying the Jesus Prayer Together
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Bible Study
The 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. Free coffee! This group is learning much and having a wonderful time doing so! Please come and bring a friend!
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Organist – Choir – Cantor – Music
Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes (yes the late David Bowie knew much about changes). Savannah will be studying abroad in Paris, France and will not return to Saint John’s until the 3rd of December. This will bring some changes to our normal service. Reza will graciously fill in as Organist. Obviously every Organist has a different style and sound. Thus you will notice some changes in melody, harmony, rhythm, tempo, and texture. Same goes for the Choir. They (and those we hope will soon join) will begin meeting on Sunday mornings before Holy Mass to sharpen their skills. While Reza is focusing on the Organ and Choir the Cantor duties will be picked up by Mary Akhtar (and by Robert Klevin as his schedule permits). As usual there will be very little chant on Father Neuroth’s Sundays so we can maintain a somewhat lower Mass for those who desire the lower service, and a little more chant on my Sunday’s for those who like a higher Mass. Thus you will notice Cantor changes. There could be Sundays if Reza, Mary, and Robert are absent because of work, travel, or illness there will be little or no chant or music at all. Reza is also familiar with a different collection of hymns than Savannah so you will notice some changes in 1940 hymnal selections. All of us directly involved in the music during our liturgy promise to continually strive for improvement for the glory of God. Not only do we desire this but are required by ACC Canon Law (Canon 20.1). Hymnody, Plainsong, and Anglican Chant are strongly encouraged. ~ Father Tim
September Coffee Hour
The Barnett family will sponsor the coffee hour on the 10th of September. Many thanks to the Jim, Joanna, and Rachel! Please stay after Holy Mass for fellowship, fun, and bring a friend!
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September Spirituality Class
Please join us after Holy Mass on the 17th of September as we begin a discussion on Prayer and our Prayer Life. “Prayer, says Evelyn Underhill, will include many different kinds of spiritual work; and also—what is too often forgotten—the priceless gift of spiritual rest. It will include many kinds of intercourse with Reality—adoration, petition, meditation, contemplation—and all the shades and varieties of these which religious writers have named and classified.” Have you thought about your own prayer life lately? Would you enjoy learning ways to deepen your prayer life? If so please come to the class and bring a friend!
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They forget that it is not the initial crisis, but the steady continuous feeding of the soul on God, which alone makes those conversions bear their wondrous fruits. The life of communion which the conversion sets going, the humble and arduous year by year acceptance and using of every experience in supernatural regard: this it is which gradually converts the penitent into the saint, as a real garden is made, not by sticking in plants, but by long and unremitting cultivation of the soil. ~ Evelyn Underhill, Man And The Supernatural
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St. John’s Choir
Starting in September, the choir will start rehearsing again, from 9:15 AM till 10:15 AM every Sunday in the choir room. Several parishioners have already expressed interest in joining, but we are in need of more still! The only prerequisites for joining the choir are weekly attendance at Mass and an ability to sing in tune. You do not need to have any musical experience or even know how to read music. However, because music in the church is not an adornment but rather a ministry, we will take our role seriously. We will learn about proper vocal technique and diction. We will sing simple music (at least at the beginning), but we will strive to do it well and serve as leaders of the congregation in this aspect of our worship. If you are at all interested in joining the choir, please talk to Reza or e-mail reza.akhtar@gmail.com.
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Psalm-Children
Our September lessons will fall under the category of “What do we believe?” During the course of the month we will cover Prayer and our Relationship with God, The Creeds of the Church, The Bible-The Word of God, and The Sacraments-Confirmation. In addition, we will be resuming our Prayer Cross prayers, so please write down any intentions you would like the children to include in addition to their own. We invite all children ages 2-12 to join us as we learn through lessons, activities, and fellowship. ~ Mary Matias Akhtar
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Anglican Church Women News
We have had a great response with the Coffee Hour Sponsorship! We have volunteers now for the following times:
September 10th: Joann and Jim Barnett
October 8th: Heather and Tim Grothaus
January 14th: Adam and Jenn Cook
February 11th: Mary and Reza Akhtar
March 11th: Rick and Eileen Hanson
November is traditionally covered by Vestry members and in December we will be asking all ACW Members for help with the St. Nicholas celebration.
In April we will have our annual ACW fundraiser, in May we’ll have the Mother’s Day Celebration and June will be Father’s Day so we are covered through next summer!
Thank you so much to everyone who volunteered to help and we’ll keep you posted on more ACW news throughout the year. Thank you! ~Jenn Cook
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Just a quick note that Savannah has made it safely to Paris. She is unpacked and has been going through some rigorous orientation at the monastery of St. Vincent de Paul. All of the Asbury students are now settled in and ready to learn. I have attached the only photo I have thus far. It shows Savannah sitting in the open window of her dorm room. Many thanks to all of you who remembered her in your prayers last night. Please keep her in your ongoing prayers for a safe and happy semester which contain special memories for a lifetime. ~Father Tim & Janet
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Birthdays & Anniversaries
Jenn & Adam Cook – Anniversary – September 3
Joanna & Jim Barnett – Anniversary – September 5
Robert Kleven – Birthday – September 12
Gary Blade – Birthday – September 14
Rich Seyberth – Birthday – September 16
Lori Seyberth – Birthday – September 20
Liz & Michael Robbins – Anniversary – September 24
Micheal Fraser – Birthday – September 26
John Lipscomb – Birthday – September 26
Joyce & Jack Murray – Anniversary – September 29