Ice Cream Social Thank You
A big thank you to everyone who participated in the Ice Cream Social by scooping ice cream, cutting watermelon, setting up tents and tables, arranging flowers, pouring lemonade and iced tea, serving ice cream, lemonade and iced tea, grilling hot dogs, selling food, helping the balloon ladies, greeting the community, attending, cleaning up, donating to the entertainment, and most importantly, praying for good weather. The weather was glorious and attendance was good. This event would not work as well if all of you didn’t support it. THANK YOU!!!
Wednesday Healing Service
For the next three Wednesdays, the Wednesday morning healing service will be Morning Prayer with special prayers for healing. The Holy Eucharist will resume August 6.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Reflection for July 13
A Hard Silence
Arvo Pärt is an Estonian composer known for writing contemplative music and for his love of bells and silence. In an interview, Pärt said that “silence must be approached with a feeling of awe. And when we speak about silence, we must keep in mind that it has two different wings, so to speak. Silence can be both that which is outside of us and that which is inside a person. The silence of our soul, which isn’t even affected by external distractions, is actually more crucial but more difficult to achieve” (NPR, June 2; Christian Century, July 9, 2014).
Arvo Pärt is an Estonian composer known for writing contemplative music and for his love of bells and silence. In an interview, Pärt said that “silence must be approached with a feeling of awe. And when we speak about silence, we must keep in mind that it has two different wings, so to speak. Silence can be both that which is outside of us and that which is inside a person. The silence of our soul, which isn’t even affected by external distractions, is actually more crucial but more difficult to achieve” (NPR, June 2; Christian Century, July 9, 2014).
Friday, July 4, 2014
Announcements for July 6
Storm Update
St. John’s did not lose power for any extended period of time, nor was there any wind-related damage on the church property. Phone service and internet were out Tuesday and Wednesday. Everything is now again up and running.
The Fourth of July Ice Cream Social
More next week, but thank you to everyone who has helped out with the ice cream social.
Addressing Gun Violence
The National Council of Jewish Women presents “Do Not Stand Idly By – Make all communities safer from gun violence.” The event will be at B’Nai Yehuda Beth Sholom Congregation Am Echad, 1424 West 183rd in Homewood, at 7:30 p.m. on July 9. The presenter is Rabbi Joel Mosbacher. Pastor Orr will also be participating. For more information look for the poster in the undercroft.
St. John’s did not lose power for any extended period of time, nor was there any wind-related damage on the church property. Phone service and internet were out Tuesday and Wednesday. Everything is now again up and running.
The Fourth of July Ice Cream Social
More next week, but thank you to everyone who has helped out with the ice cream social.
Addressing Gun Violence
The National Council of Jewish Women presents “Do Not Stand Idly By – Make all communities safer from gun violence.” The event will be at B’Nai Yehuda Beth Sholom Congregation Am Echad, 1424 West 183rd in Homewood, at 7:30 p.m. on July 9. The presenter is Rabbi Joel Mosbacher. Pastor Orr will also be participating. For more information look for the poster in the undercroft.
Reflection for July 6
Declaration of Dependence
One of the things that I am always reminded of when I read the Declaration of Independence is that the title of this document reveals only half of the story. Independence from Britain is clearly asserted, but the writing goes further, spelling out exactly what this new experiment in democracy would be dependent upon. This document is also a "declaration of dependence" in that it clearly states its reliance on certain core beliefs and values… The writers make it clear throughout the document that freedom is dependent upon equality and the right to create a fulfilling life.
I find this assertion of core beliefs and values inspiring, because we live in a time when it seems many people can tell you more easily what they don't believe in than what they do believe in. We live in a time when people define themselves more by what they are independent from than what they are dependent upon. This, of course, is natural when a person is questioning beliefs they have held and are in a period of transition, but I sense that many people end up getting stuck in this ‘in between’ stage, thus having a hard time articulating the core beliefs and values that their lives are built upon (The Rev. Dr. Scott Stoner, The Living Compass Wellness Initiative, July 4, 2014).
One of the things that I am always reminded of when I read the Declaration of Independence is that the title of this document reveals only half of the story. Independence from Britain is clearly asserted, but the writing goes further, spelling out exactly what this new experiment in democracy would be dependent upon. This document is also a "declaration of dependence" in that it clearly states its reliance on certain core beliefs and values… The writers make it clear throughout the document that freedom is dependent upon equality and the right to create a fulfilling life.
I find this assertion of core beliefs and values inspiring, because we live in a time when it seems many people can tell you more easily what they don't believe in than what they do believe in. We live in a time when people define themselves more by what they are independent from than what they are dependent upon. This, of course, is natural when a person is questioning beliefs they have held and are in a period of transition, but I sense that many people end up getting stuck in this ‘in between’ stage, thus having a hard time articulating the core beliefs and values that their lives are built upon (The Rev. Dr. Scott Stoner, The Living Compass Wellness Initiative, July 4, 2014).
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