Spirit of The Eagle – June 2016
Spiritual Tidbits for June from Father Tim
We are well into Trinity Season and summer is right around the corner. Summer vacations arrive and summer travel begins with enthusiasm. For those of you who thrive on punctuality the June Solstice in northern KY is on Monday, June 20, 2016 at 6:34 PM EDT. Most of us like to be a little laid back in the summer, and we should enjoy this special time of summer given, but we cannot allow this to negatively affect our spiritual life. There may be occasions with genuine reasons why parishioners cannot attend our once per week Holy Mass, but we need to be sure the reason is truly genuine; the same for being punctual when we do attend. Being late for Holy Mass should not be a habit we fall into. Unforeseen events aside, we should always allow some extra time to be punctual. Parishioners should arrive early to Holy Church, and spend 15 to 20 minutes of quiet time with God. While one could argue it is “better late than never”, I could argue it is even better to be never late. If we have our priorities straight, Holy Mass should be more important than our work, our social calendar, and other aspects of our life where we do manage our best to be punctual. Consider the following which rings true for any Parish:
First, as mentioned above, arriving early allows us quiet time with God. It gives us opportunity to leave our hectic schedules and worldly preoccupations at the door. What we have been doing that morning, or what we have planned in the afternoon, only serve to distract us and have no place in the Holy Eucharist. Arriving plenty of time ahead of the church bell aids us in gathering our thoughts properly, and helps us prepare for Holy Communion and worshiping God Almighty. This is our purpose for being there. This do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 1 Corinthians 11:25.
Second, Holy Communion is not just another thing “to do” in our weekly schedule. It is the spiritual and mystical reception of the Real Presence of our Lord and Saviour Jesus the Christ. It is a direct commandment from Him. It is a holy and solemn Sacrament. Arriving late not only disrupts the focus of those who arrive early, but also is a sure sign Holy Communion and worshiping God does not command the high respect in our life it deserves. Arriving early is evidence of the opposite. But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth [and the person who arrives early] keep silence before him. Habakkuk 2:20
Thirdly, missing Holy Mass for lax reasons, or arriving late, is hypocritical. If the Priest had the habit of absenteeism, or constantly arriving late for the service, the parishioners would quickly become critical of his priorities would they not? How then can parishioners not see the problem in themselves if doing the same? Do not place yourself in a hypocritical position. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! St. Matthew 23:13
Fourthly, attending Holy Mass regularly, and arriving on time, indicates to the Priest parishioners have a true and holy desire to worship God and receive His Sacraments. The Priest is inspired by parishioners who attend as much as he does, and by those who process down the aisle before him, not vice versa 5 minutes later. O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. Psalm 95:6
And finally, how will visitors view our parish if they attend; for the first time on a pretty day, only to discover low attendance or parishioners arriving after the service has begun? What if they do not know Christ and are seeking Him for the first time? Would they leave with a good impression of St. John’s? On the other hand, how will they view St. John’s if the pews are full, and parishioners have arrived early, and are already steeped in reverence? Would this increase the potential of a visitors return? Absolutely. I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD. Psalm 122:1
There is a “tongue-in-cheek” joke that goes something like this: Parishioners who attend occasionally love the beautiful liturgy. Parishioners who arrive late love a short meaningful service. Parishioners who attend regular, and arrive early at every service, love God. See you Sunday. ~ Father Tim
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Don’t forget our St. John’s Father’s Day celebration will be honored Sunday, the 12th of June. Please stay after Mass and celebrate with all of the Father’s at Saint John’s. The ladies will serve this day!
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4 years: My Daddy can do anything! 
7 years: My Dad knows a lot…a whole lot.
8 years: My father does not know quite everything.
12 years: Oh well, naturally Father does not know that either.
14 years: Oh, Father? He is hopelessly old-fashioned.
21 years: Oh, that man-he is out of date!
25 years: He knows a little bit about it, but not much.
30 years: I must find out what Dad thinks about it.
35 years: Before we decide, we will get Dad’s idea first.
50 years: What would Dad have thought about that?
60 years: My Dad knew literally everything!
65 years: I wish I could talk it over with Dad once more.
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June Spirituality Class
Please join us on the 19th of June after Holy Communion as we conclude our in depth study of The Revelation of St. John The Divine. Many people today regard Revelation as the hardest book in the New Testament. It is full of strange, lurid and sometimes bizarre and violent imagery. As a result, many people who are quite at home in the Gospels, Acts and Paul find themselves tiptoeing around Revelation with a sense that they don’t really belong there. But they do! In fact, Revelation offers one of the clearest and sharpest visions of God’s ultimate purpose for the whole creation, and of the way in which the powerful forces of evil, at work in a thousand ways, can be and are being overthrown through the victory of Jesus the Messiah and the consequent costly victory of his followers. Please come and bring a friend to visit our parish!
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Psalm-Children
There will be two Psalm-Children classes this month. The 12th (taught by Mary Akhtar) and the 19th (taught by Savannah) of June after Holy Communion. It is designed for age 2 through 12 years. We have purchased new Sunday School curriculum that flows with the church year and the 1928 BCP. Please make every effort to bring all related children in your family for these fun and educational classes. The children will participate, enjoy, and learn the foundation and building blocks of the Christian faith through bible stories and created crafts. Crafts and refreshments are provided, and we still need a couple more volunteers who have a desire to teach children the foundation of our faith to step forward and help!
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St. John 2016 Mid-Year Review
Please be sure the attend our St. John Mid-Year Review in the Parish Hall after Mass on the 12th of June. The Vestry will give updates on the status of our parish at the halfway mark of 2016 during the ACW Father’s Day Coffee Hour. This is an important parish opportunity to recommend adjustments if needed, a reminder session for goals we need to achieve, and a great time to make suggestions for improvements. Everything we do should be for the glory of Almighty God, thus it is very important we remain dedicated to doing so. Please plan to attend. ~ Father Tim
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June Birthdays & Anniversaries
Elyse Akhtar – Birthday – June 2
Kathy & Fr. Al Hougham – Anniversary – June 5
Rachel Barnett – Birthday – June 6
Peggy & Bill Minor – Anniversary – June 8
Rick Hanson – Birthday – June 9
Michael Robbins – Birthday – June 10
Judy and Tom Hulsey – Anniversary – June 23
Brenda Strong – Birthday – June 24
Bill Minor – Birthday – June 25
Rich Boughner – Birthday – June 29
Janet & Fr. Timothy Butler – Anniversary – June 30
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Happy Retirement to Sally Whalen!
After serving as an instructional assistant at Lincoln Elementary School for 24 years, Sally Whalen is now officially retired. Sally was honored by LES teachers and staff for her dedication on May 31st with a retirement sendoff party and a rocking chair. Congratulations and best wishes, Sally!