St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church A Spiritual Oasis Where Lives are Transformed
Volume 21; Issue 02	February 2004

"The glory of God is the human person fully alive!" (Irenaeus) What does it mean for us to be fully alive? In his book, The Purpose Driven Life, Rick Warren summarizes five purposes that God has for our lives: Discipleship, Ministry, Fellowship, Worship, and Evangelism. During five weeks in Epiphany, the preaching will focus on each of these purposes.

Although I have some problems with some of the author's theology, I do celebrate his main thesis: We were made by God and for God. And when we fully embrace this truth, life begins to take on more meaning and purpose. Some of the weaknesses of Warren's theology include:

a) A presentation of the Bible as having one systematic theology. (The Bible has multiple theologies.)
b) Focusing too much on life after death rather than the present physical world in which we find ourselves.
c) Engaging in Biblical proof- texting to make his point. (Biblical proof- texting is flipping through the Bible to find a passage to prove one's point of view.) d) He is more sure, than perhaps he ought to be, that his theology represents the mind of God. (Life is ambiguous and we can only see in a mirror dimly.)

However, given these criticisms, the book is filled with insights that are helpful, focused, and well articulated to assist us in making those life choices that are oriented toward God rather than simply satisfying our narcissistic egos. Christianity is not a philosophy of life or a self-help methodology. It is a relationship and a lifestyle. Christianity is a relationship with God in Christ and a lifestyle based on loving one's neighbor, striving for justice and peace, and respecting the dignity of every human being. A purposed driven life, driven by God, requires our commitment and an orientation of our mind, body, and soul toward God.

Please be sure to join us for this preaching series.

Jan. 11th: Discipleship (A Call to grow to spiritual maturity; to become like Christ.)

Jan. 18th: Ministry (By serving others with our gifts, talents, skill, and abilities, we share in what it means to be fully human.) Jan. 25th: Fellowship (Following Christ is not just a matter of believing, it also includes belonging and learning to love the family of God.)

Feb. 1st: Worship (We worship God by enjoying God.) On this day, we will have an instructed Eucharist.

Feb. 8th: Evangelism (Sharing the path of love that was shown to us by Jesus.)

Peace,

Did You Know?

• There will be one service on Sunday, January 25th at 9:15 am. A brunch and the annual meeting will follow in the parish hall. Your presence is requested. Please bring finger food to share.

• Marcus Johnson and Yvonne Shevnin recently returned from a mission trip to Tijuana Mexico. Yvonne was using her gifts as a web designer and Marcus was working on a construction project at the LaRoca Home for Children.

• Dave Knapp (who is also city manager of Cupertino) was featured on the cover story of the 1/14 Cupertino Courier.

• Shirley Burg's dog, McGregor, died last week.

• The Small family makes beautiful candles out of beeswax.

• Pastor Ward McCabe is recovering from a stroke and has returned home from the hospital where he will continue his physical therapy. Send him a greeting card.

• On February 1st, we will have an instructed Eucharist at both services. What does all that ritual mean during the Sunday Services? Come and find out.

• It's Scout Sunday: February 8 Please join us at the 10:30 service of worship, for Boy Scout Sunday.
  Scouts will help with greeting and ushering. During our church service, we will recognize the scouting organization throughout the nation. Pastor Mary Blessing has devoted much time with 3 members of our congregation, Caleb Disney, Wesley Pollek and Reilly Davis, to earn their scout worship pin based on the "God and Me" program. Pastor Mary and the scout leaders will present each boy with his pin.
  Join us for a special celebration in the Parish Hall following the service.

Activate Your Spiritual Gifts: Become a Spiritually Mature Person
The Rev. Mary B. Blessing

Rick Warren writes in The Purpose Driven Life that each one of us has five factors which uniquely combine to make us who we are. He calls this our SHAPE: S for Spiritual gifts; H for Heart; A for Abilities, P for Personality, and E for Experience. We activate our spiritual gifts as we offer our lives in service to others, for the common good. We become a spiritually mature person as we use our gifts to benefit others, not just to bring us satisfaction, not just to feed our own egos. Our Heart is the place where we find the things we care about the most. We can listen to promptings of our heart to find our passion - once we find our passion, we must ask, "If I act upon this passion, will it serve the common good? Will my pursuit of this goal help others achieve justice? Will my actions serve others, or simply satisfy me?" If following your passion serves the common good, if it brings truth, justice, goodness or beauty to the world, chances are, your passion is from God. If you love God with all your heart, then you will discover that your heart beats for God. When your heart beats for all that is good and true, then your passion has been placed in your heart by God.

Abilities are natural talents we are born able to do. Ability with words, with numbers, with music, with creating things, with building things, with fixing things, and many more things we can do are important talents. These are different from spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts are given as needed. We are not born with spiritual gifts. Our spiritual gifts help us align our abilities to serve. Again, to be a fully mature human being we use our abilities to benefit others, not ourselves. When we offer our abilities to the common good, we grow closer to God, we become a human being more fully alive.

Our unique Personality is part of what shapes us into a fully mature human being. Accepting the way we are different from others, and offering our different style to the mix of people who offer their personalities to the common good, helps activate our spiritual gifts. This is how we grow into a spiritually mature human being. In this way we accept ourselves, and accept others as unique personalities, each of whom has an aspect of God's goodness to offer the common good. This is, in part, what it means to love others as we love ourselves.

Finally, our Experience, whatever it is, good, bad or indifferent, helps to shape us into the mature human being we are becoming. When people recognize that life experiences are opportunities to learn more about God and the universe, about justice and righteousness, then people can more easily accept their varied experiences and offer wisdom learned to benefit the common order. Your life experience can reveal truths which you can pass along to the broader community of spiritual seekers. All you need to do is open yourself to sharing your story, and honoring the stories of others, realizing that each moment of sharing is another moment to expand your experiential influence.

You were shaped for serving God, the common good. Activating your spiritual gifts, listening to your heart, using your abilities, accepting your personality, and appreciating your experience will bring the unique SHAPE of who you are into full spiritual maturity. And remember, spiritual maturity is not an end in and of itself; rather an opportunity to grow up in order to give to others.

The Gospel in Action Through Social Justice/Outreach Ministries

Outreach Ministry at St. Jude's has always been characterized by a strong sense of compassion, presence, and action. In fact, at one time it was even called Matthew 25 (. . .I was hungry and you gave me food. . . ). One of the early stipulations of funding for an agency or program was that a St. Jude's parishioner be somehow connected to the recipients. That relationship could be as either as a volunteer, participant, or in some other capacity. In this way, we do not merely offer charitable gifts, but participate in justice ministry by walking in companionship with our brothers and sisters. We experience the power of Christ's transforming love by knowing each other face to face. Join us in the Parish Hall on Tuesday evening, January 27* as we consider the ways we live out our Baptismal Covenant to seek and serve all persons in Christ, to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.

*7:00 – Gather for soup and fellowship

7:30 – Social Justice/Outreach Committee meeting begins

See St. Jude's Social Justice/Outreach mission on the Social Justice Page at http://www.saintjudes.org/

For more information contact Mary Souza.

The editors would like to thank

Grace Schwartzfager, Janice McShurley, Ann Shephard, Sharon Lee and Kilcee Wood for their assistance with copying, folding and mailing The View.

New column coming in March, "Parishioner's Perspectives" Interviews with St. Jude's parishioners about their life, faith, and work. Volunteers welcome!

Adult Education
Bruce La Fetra

• Feb 1 - Update from Diocesan Convention Hear about the happenings at the recent Diocesan Convention, including the search for a new Bishop.

• Feb 8 - Celtic Spirituality To many Christians, Celtic spirituality beckons like cool water in a desert land, while to others, the term Celtic conjures up thoughts of pre-Christian paganism. In the centuries before Christ, the Celts inhabited a broad band across central Europe, extending into Spain and Turkey. Paul wrote the epistle of Galatians to a group of Celts in Asia Minor. Join the Rev. Linda Wood as she helps us explore the religious heritage that has come from our Celtic Christian ancestors.

• Feb 15 - Spirituality of the Desert Fathers & Mothers The Rev. Robert Seifert, one of our favorite theologians, returns to discuss the early church and the spirituality of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. The Desert Fathers And Mothers refers to some of the earliest Christian peoples who lived and survived in the desert as an act of Christian faith. Their exhortations, spiritual guidance, prayers, encounters with God, internal struggles, and testimonies have survived down the centuries, and have become the sources of wisdom and meditations to many.

• Feb 22 - Planned Giving Dale Brendan Simison from the Episcopal Church Foundation joins us to talk about important information regarding Planned Giving and how you can remember St. Jude's. You'll be surprised at the number and variety of ways you can make a Planned Gift and the impact it can have on St. Jude's.

• Feb 29 - Voices of Angels Foundation Vocal Artist Shannon White Eagle teaches us about song as prayer and all art forms as prayer in action. Child care is provided during Forums in Room 5

Did you miss Dr. Fred Luskin's presentation on Forgiveness & Trust? Pastor Karen called it one of the best ever! If you would like to hear it, listen to it on the Web or contact Bruce LaFetra for a copy of the CD.

Library Ministry Vacancy
Susan Witherspoon

Do you enjoy books or videos? Do you like to walk through bookstores or read book reviews? We are looking for a new librarian for St. Jude's. This does not take much time, approximately two hours per month. This ministry includes the purchase of materials that help us in our Godly walk, promotion through The View or signage, creation of book pockets and cards by computer or typewriter, and elimination of materials that are no longer useful. We have volunteers who will perform some of these tasks. If you are interested in some or all of these, contact Susan Witherspoon. I am currently reevaluating the way the library materials are catalogued and displayed. Let me know of your preferences or ideas.

First Thursday Hymn Sings - Schedule Change
Michael Morris

Due to a scheduling conflict, the premiere First Thursday Hymn Sing will be moved up a week to January 29. The singing will begin at 7:00 p.m. and last for about 40 minutes in the church. All parishioners are invited to attend, to learn some new hymns, sing your favorite hymns, and to raise your voices in worship to our Lord. If you have any questions, please call Michael or email him at music@saintjudes.org

Property Perspectives – 2003 Space Sponsors
Tom Dyer

Parish Hall Courtyard	Darlene and Don Nash with Connie Erickson
Church Entry	Peggy McNutt
Birch Tree Haven	Linda Iimura
Orchard View Gardens	Susan and Bryan Lanser
Serenity Corner	Lisa Carpenter
Memorial Garden	Jean Chandler with Peggy McNutt
Jim's Oasis	Jim Harrah
Rector's Retreat	Ward McCabe
Apricot Orchard	Larry Phillips and Nick Miljevich
McClellan Entry	Tom and Joan Dyer
Stelling Entry	Jovito and Evelyn Robledo
Church School Patio	CSDS
Signpost Corner	Susan and Bryan Lanser with Steve Andrews
Stelling Promenade	Yvonne Shevnin
McClellan Parkway	The Wagners, Mary Jo, Scott, & Mark
Space Irrigation	Syd Jacobsen

Upcoming Events: Dates to Remember

 

Date	Event	Where	Time
16-Feb	President's Day
19-Feb	View Articles Deadline	Farmhouse	Noon
23-Feb	View mailed	Farmhouse	9:30 am
24-Feb	Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper	Parish Hall	6:30 pm
25-Feb	Ash Wednesday	Church	Noon and 7:00 pm
29-Feb	First Sunday in Lent
3-Mar	First Lenten Soup Supper and Lecture Series	Parish Hall	6:30 pm
02/01/04	Faith Full Families	Parish Hall	5:00-8:00 pm
03/14/04	Faith Full Families	Parish Hall	5:00-8:00 pm
04/25/04	Faith Full Families	Parish Hall	5:00-8:00 pm
05/23/04	Faith Full Families	Parish Hall	5:00-8:00 pm
May 14-16	Women's Getaway Weekend	Arnold	Friday thru Sunday

Updated 2/21/2004

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