St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church
A Spiritual Oasis Where Lives are Transformed
January 2006
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St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal ChurchA Spiritual Oasis Where Lives are Transformed |
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| Volume 22; Issue 12 |
January 2006
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From the Rector
Each year during the Advent/Christmas season, I look forward to receiving Christmas cards, photos, and newsletters from friends, family, and parishioners. Yesterday, I received one such newsletter with the title: “I Want to Follow Jesus - Merry Christmas.” In his letter, my friend asks the question: “What would Jesus do when it comes to making decisions about going to war, killing, and torture? For him, being a follower of Jesus means taking care of the poor and needy, providing homes for the homeless, fighting against capital punishment and for the rights of gays, lesbians, women, and those under the heel of the powerful. “Being a follower of Jesus often means flying in the face of the rules of church and society; it means being unpopular and notorious. It means to be active in healing the brokenness of the world.” [RC]
As we approach the holy day of Christmas, I also encourage you to follow Jesus. Take your baptismal covenant seriously and put the Christ back into Christmas. I encourage you to be politically incorrect and wish others a merry and blessed Christmas. When we wish each other a merry and blessed Christmas, we are pointing to a way of life where justice, peace, and the dignity of every human being become the operating principles. On the other hand, when we wish each other a happy holiday, we fall short of hope, and point instead to frosty the snowman, Rudolf the reindeer, and a commercialism that is killing people’s souls.
“Almighty God, who has poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.” [BCP 213]
Have a Merry and Blessed ChristmasPeace,
Did You Know?
Lu Munoz was the focus of a San Jose Mercury News article on 12/10. Lu is a volunteer for Homeless Connect, a national program that provides social and medical services to chronically homeless people.
A memorial service was held for the Rev. Mary “Mitzi” Ackerman who died this month at the age of eighty-one. R.I. P.
The vestry is still seeking volunteers to be part of the property management team. If you feel so moved, please call the office or let a vestry person know of your interest.
“Love Thy Neighbor”: Join your fellow parishioners on Saturday, January 21 for a 3-hour intercultural communication workshop. Children as well as adults will learn skills that we can all use to love our neighbors. Bring a brown bag lunch and perhaps swap with a neighbor!
The Annual Meeting will be held on January 29 th. There will be one service at 9:15 am followed by the meeting in the parish hall.
After three years of leading the stewardship committee, Don Disney is passing the baton onto Jeffrey Pugh. After five years of preparing the “harvest dinner” Libby Varty is passing the baton onto? (maybe you?). We give thanks for their many years of service.
House Blessing: All are invited to attend an open house and house blessing ceremony at the Disney's home on Sunday, January 8th. The open house will be from 2:00 - 5:00, and the ceremony will start at 2:30. Please join us for this celebration, and please do not bring any gifts.
Kris and Rick Austin just adopted a baby boy. His name is Mateo. Please call them and see if they need any help.
Greg Harrah, son of Betty and Jim, died in an automobile accident. Betty was injured in the accident, but she is recuperating nicely at Valley Medical Center. A memorial will be held at St. Jude’s Tuesday afternoon, December 27 th at 3:00.
“Dreaming of a White Christmas, Living in a Gray World”
The Rev. Mary B. Blessing
A young girl is startled by the news, “You will conceive in your womb and bear a son,” but she is a virgin. How can this be? “You will name him Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High….” Is this right? Can a lowly virgin teenager bear the Son of God? This sounds wrong. There must be a mistake.
A gang war leader, accused of murder, becomes an icon of hope. A man who once terrorized neighborhoods with violence, writes children books to keep kids from making his fatal mistakes. Is this right? Can a murderer save lives? Nobel Prize nominee, death row inmate, Tookie Williams waited 25 years in the “gray area” of life.
A hero to many, a criminal to most—is there a “right” or “wrong” answer to this dilemma? Maintaining innocence, he cannot overcome his conviction, but this prisoner does what he can to overcome the evil he once knew. His memoir, Blue Rage, Black Redemption, describes his life and the evil he faced. It is an effort to redeem himself, to make something good out of the bad, and to save others if not himself. Is he “right”? Is he “wrong”?
Capital punishment, society’s way of ridding the world of those who take the lives of others: is it “right” or is it “wrong”? When is it “right”? When is it “wrong”? We live in the gray area between right and wrong
Hope dangled before Stanley “Tookie” Williams as the world expressed outrage—for and against his death. In the end, one person decides if another will live or die. Voices of many are muted. I drive to San Quentin to hear those voices first hand, to offer my prayer, in person. But police, guards, crowds, overwhelm. Am I “right”? Am I “wrong”? Should I stay? Should I go? Will my presence make a difference? I say my prayer, and turn away. A decision is made, I cannot stop it; the execution takes place. Was it “right”? Was it “wrong”?
We live with ambiguity. There seems to be no clear “black” or “white”, definitive answer. We yearn for peace in the world. Leaders say we must have a war to gain peace. We live with ambiguity, while others take definitive action that affects our lives.
We go to church to find hope. Sometimes we find despair. We live with ambiguity. But we come back to the church community in the belief that hope is just around the corner. Maybe today someone will offer a story of healing, a glimmer of hope. St. Jude, our “icon of hope” awaits, offering hope even to those with the most desperate of causes.
Church may not have “the answer” about what is “right” and what is “wrong”, but here we gather to pray, to listen, to encourage one another—to develop a relationship with God, the One who has the answer.
Finally, the young girl cries out in pain, the baby is born. Angels sing, shepherds quake, animals bleat, kings bow--hope is renewed. “For nothing will be impossible with God.”
Diocesan Communications
Linda Morris
Attendance for November
Ned Snow
Attendance and pledge numbers look positive compared with the national trend
Average attendance in November increased 3% over the same period last year. This compares with a downward trend for all Episcopal churches that over the last three years accelerated to an annual decrease from 2003 to 2004 of 3%. From an article in The Living Church magazine, there are many reasons for this, including some of the controversial decisions made at Convention, with which some people have disagreed, which in turn affected attendance. St. Jude's is bucking the trend, and joining the one-third of Episcopal congregations that are in a growth mode.
The article went on to say that the average pledge for all Episcopal churches increased approximately 5% per year over the recent past. St. Jude's has exceeded those numbers in recent years, and with your continued pledge support, that trend will continue. As of this writing, the average pledge for 2006 at St. Jude's is running a little over 5%. Way to go, St. Jude's...growing attendance, growing average pledge!
. . . just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.
Matthew 25:40
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, either as a volunteer, participant, or in some other manner. 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 3rd* as we consider the ways in the New Year we will 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
Music of the Spirit
Linda Morris
Music of the Spirit band and singers will rehearse on January 15th from 2-3:30 pm in the Parish Hall. The band recently accompanied the choir's Christmas Concert and the December 18th service and will be preparing music for services in 2006. If you are interested in participating with this contemporary music band, please contact Michael Morris at music@saintjudes.org .
Stephen Ministry Training Class, a multi-parish project, begins in mid January. Please consider if you are called to this ministry, pray for our new trainees, and consider who might need a Stephen Minister. While being a Stephen Minister requires commitment of time and effort, it also brings joy and fulfillment. It may be one of the most rewarding challenges you will ever embrace. In addition, you will use the skills you learn not only in your caring ministry, but also in your everyday relationships with family, friends, neighbors and coworkers. Think and pray about this opportunity. If you decide you would like to be a Stephen Minister, please contact Betsy Fox Fisher, Diane Snow or Jerry Witherspoon as soon as possible so we can talk about how you can get started. If we agree that you would be well suited to be a Stephen Minister, you will then begin training in January 2006. The first class is scheduled for Tuesday night, January 10, 2006, at St. Jude’s. PS. You will also grow spiritually when you serve as a Stephen Minister. When God calls you to serve, you are also given the faith and the gifts you need to do God's will.
Women’s Getaway at Pajaro Dunes – February 10 – 13, 2006
Pat Coles
Save the date! St Jude’s women will return to Pajaro Dunes this year. We have House 39 and House 52 for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. There will be accommodations for 19 women so early sign-ups are suggested. Since we have 3 nights perhaps some timesharing would be in order for those who can’t stay the entire weekend. The cost is $175.00/person. Would someone be willing to volunteer to handle publicity, sign-ups and logistics for the weekend…I would love to share the task! Contact Pat Coles.
Volunteering for Live Oak Senior Day Care
Susan Stanley
Live Oak Senior Day Services could use a few more good volunteers. So you ask what that might involve. Let me first tell you about some of my experiences there while I’ve volunteered with them during the last 16 years.
First I was dragged along behind a corgi who was eager to socialize and show off. We went for about an hour one morning each week and took part in whatever was going on.
My corgi, Fancy , fell in love with the seniors and they with her. Soon I was helping staff lead a current events discussion while Fancy made the rounds of her friends. Later I began picking up lunches at the senior nutrition center at West Valley Presbyterian Church on Bollinger, then helping serve plates and clean up after lunch, and returning the insulated food containers to the nutrition center. Later I sat in the office answering phones or filing when staff were meeting or ill. Somewhere along the way, I spent 6 years on the Board of Directors, met a number of members of St. Jude’s who helped there, and eventually switched my church membership to St. Jude’s. Today I continue to volunteer by reading and discussing the news with the seniors one morning a week while Fancy’s great-granddaughter makes friends with them. After this socialization, we get the lunches from the senior nutrition center, then head for home and our lunch.
From my experience , you can see that volunteers have a choice of jobs. You can choose whether or not to interact directly with the senior clients of the center. But many hands are needed to give the seniors a good experience. Some volunteers come once a month to perform or lead a program, others come more frequently. Site director Karen Lorenz says that current volunteer needs include helpers with lunch, food pick up and lunchroom cleanup, entertainers such as musicians, storytellers, pets, and clowns. Teachers and sharers of crafters and talents would also be appreciated. Come join in the work of this warm, caring, dedicated community with a quirky sense of humor.
For those of us blessed with family, health, adequate financial resources and Christian faith, the Christmas season is indeed a joyous time of year. In addition to participating in traditional festivities such as gathering around the tree to exchange gifts with our loved ones and sitting down together for a sumptuous feast, we are also presented with opportunities for spiritual reflection and renewal. As we celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus, we embrace a hope for humanity that his life and death represent for us.
Many of us are moved to reach out to those whose circumstances are more difficult than our own at this time of year, either through financial contributions or by offering our time and talents. These acts enrich us as much or even more than they do the recipients of generosity, because there are so many lessons we can take away, depending upon our individual experiences. The lesson I learn in almost every instance is that my involvement really does make a difference, no matter how little I may feel I’m contributing in the face of sometimes daunting need. Perhaps the need to learn and relearn this lesson is the reason that the classic holiday film, It’s a Wonderful Life, remains a favorite year after year. I’m struck, though, by the fact that I very often hear both myself and others downplay the impact we think we can have in the world. Think how different the world would be if we all allowed ourselves to be overwhelmed and decided to do nothing at all instead.
Christmas is the perfect time of the year to consider making a gift that will last beyond your lifetime. The possibilities are many, including a bequest in your will, an immediate gift to the Endowment Fund, or purchase of an annuity paying you an income for life. Please contact Nancy Symons or Dale Simison of the Episcopal Church Foundation at 1-888-552-4483. We can answer whatever technical questions you might have and help you give a Christmas gift that will not be forgotten.
The following people are candidates to represent St. Jude's in the diocese at conventions and deanery meetings: Pat Coles (1 year), Connie Erickson, Margot Jacobsen, and Dave Sena. The term is for 2 years, the 1st year as an Alternate and the 2nd year as a Delegate. The election will take place during the Annual Meeting on Sunday, January 29th.
Candidate statements :
Connie Erickson ...I have been a deanery representative for a number of years now. I would like to continue until the new bishop is elected. Our diocese is going though a transitional time now and I believe continuity in representation is important. I will be pleased to represent St. Jude’s.
Look for additional candidate statements in the Bulletin.
Candidates for Vestry
The following people have agreed to support St. Jude's Church by running for the Vestry for 3 year terms: Steve Andrews, Gordon Mullin, Linda Schonk and Dianne Rhudy. We appreciate their prayerful and thoughtful commitments to our church and its community.
Look for candidate statements in the Bulletin.
Adult Education in January
Bruce La Fetra
January 1 - The first Sunday in January has become a tradition where you get to Ask the Rector whatever you would like about theology and the Episcopal Church. This is a great opportunity for everyone, but especially kids. Last year, our youth asked some very interesting questions.
January 8 - Site Plan Update: The Site Plan Process Team will report the results of the recent "Site Plan Idea Survey" and offer an opportunity to continue the dialogue.
January 15 - SOS: Stressed Out Students
`In the past ten years we have seen an alarming increase in academic stress in students of all ages. The SOS-Stressed Out Students project examines the sources of this stress and works with students, parents, teachers and school communities to devise site-specific strategies to foster student health, integrity, and school engagement.`
Denise Clark Pope, Stressed Out Students Founder
Recent scholarship has found that adolescents are often compromising their mental and physical health, personal values, and commitment to learning as they try to cope with growing pressure to achieve in schools. In a survey released last year, local parents cited school-related stress among their top concerns for their children.
Join Dr. Mollie Galloway from the Stanford University School of Education (SUSE) as she discusses the work begun at SUSE by Denise Clark Pope, author of Doing School: How We Are Creating a Generation of Stressed Out, Materialistic, and Miseducated Students (2001), developed the SOS program. While much research on school achievement, motivation, and stress has been conducted, few studies examine the students’ perspectives on these issues, and even fewer address the school communities’ experiences as they attempt to enact change on issues of academic stress. SUSE researchers are particularly interested in these issues, especially school reform efforts, where students work closely with parents, teachers, counselors, and administrators to foster change. The researchers also hope to create some specific tools that schools can use to address the problem of academic stress and increase student engagement in school.
January 22 - Noted author Dr. Fred Luskin returns to talk about STRESS and FORGIVENESS. Dr. Luskin is always one of our most popular speakers, so this is a great time to invite a friend or colleague. Check the Sunday bulletin or saintjudes.org for more details.
January 29 - No Forum
The editors, Nancy and Allan Chapman, would like to thank the production staff and all of this month’s contributors. Next month, Pat Coles will again be the guest editor. Thank you so much Pat! |
| Updated 12/28/2005 |
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