This Month I Begin Sharing with You Articles for Congregations From

Life Together

St Paul’s Episcopal Church

16457 Old Frederick Road,

Mt. Airy, MD 21771

410-489-4411 February2015

Mark Your Calendars
Feb 17, 5-7 p.m. Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
Feb 18, Noon & 7:00 p.m. Ash Wednesday Services
Feb 25, 6:30 p.m. Soup Dinner and Lenten Study

This month I begin sharing with you Articles for Congregations from:

Episcopal Church Foundation: Vital Congregationsecfvp.org

Leadership in Community: A Dance of Mutual Love

By Geoffrey Tristram, SSJE, part of the Vestry Papers issue (January 2015)

In the fourth chapter of the Rule of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, we express how and why we understand that all human beings are called to live together in community: “In community we bear witness to the social nature of human life as willed by our Creator. Human beings bear the image of the triune God and are not meant to be separate and isolated.” All of us, as human beings, are called to share in communities of one kind or another, because we have all been made in the image and likeness of God. And God is community: “The very being of God is community; the Father, Son and Spirit are One in reciprocal self-giving and love."
The theology used to express and explain God’s divine, relational community actually has fascinating implications for [all] our human communities. The Greek word “Perichoresis,” which has been used in the Orthodox tradition to capture the dynamic relationship of love that is God’s very essence, is theologically defined as the “co-indwelling” or “mutual interpenetration” of the three persons of the Trinity. It’s often been understood imaginatively as a kind of divine dance: three persons moving rhythmically and dynamically, distinct and yet united in a shared dance of love.

An Invitation from God
This dynamic dance does not exist independently of our lives, a theological mystery we can simply ponder. No, Jesus came to invite us into that loving dance of Father, Son, and Spirit. In John 17, Jesus prays: “As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us.” We are drawn into the dynamic relationship that the members of the Trinity share. “I in them and you in me,” Jesus weaves us together, “that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” The instruction Jesus leaves us with is quite clear: the more we get drawn into God’s very being and are swept into its dance of love, the more we are called to share that same kind of dance with one another as members of the Body of Christ.
The model of Perichoresis opens up a wonderful freedom for how exactly we are invited to be with one another in our Christian communities. Surprisingly enough, it also offers a helpful answer to some of the discord and strife that such communities inevitably encounter. For whilst the three persons of the Trinity are united in a relationship of love, each person nevertheless remains quite distinct.

Learning to Value Difference
We invite you to consider this model. As a community of monks, we Brothers at SSJE try to apply this model directly to our shared life – its rewards as well as its challenges. In the case of one such reward, we recognize that SSJE’s ministry does not come just from the Brothers, but it emerges out the community’s relationships with friends and advisors, with whom we share in a dance of mutual love. And for challenges within our community, we follow the model of Perichoresis as we strive to honor the distinctness of each Brother, as well as to appreciate one another’s individual gifts, an ideal that is not always met without difficulty. Our Rule again guides us: “We are given to one another by Christ,” we read, “and he calls us to accept one another as we are. By abiding in him we can unite in a mutual love that goes deeper than personal attraction.” When we understand every member as being called by Christ and formed by Christ, we can begin to relish those personal differences that might otherwise snag us as we struggle to work and live together. As the Rule puts it, “Mutual acceptance and love call us to value our differences of background, temperament, gifts, personality and style. Only when we recognize them as sources of vitality are we able to let go of competitiveness and jealousy.” As we abide in Christ, we begin to see those who are different from us through the eyes of love. And we recognize what others are contributing to the whole of the group, even (or perhaps especially!) if they have different gifts from us, because we know that we are part of a body with them, made richer by their presence alongside us. The good and the bad affect all of us, because we’re bound together in this mutual love, one for the other, as Christ has called us to be.

Defining and Affirming Common Values
One practice that has helped our community as we strive, day by day, to meet this call, might have helpful implications for community leaders in other contexts: Every morning, we read a chapter of the Rule of Life aloud together. As we hear it afresh, we say, “Yes” again to how we want to live in community, which this shared document articulates for us. Reading it, we reaffirm our desire to live in the intentional community that it describes and helps to order. This Rule means that our common life is not just dependent on our moods and feelings. Instead, we have an external document that incarnates for us how we desire to live together.
For us Brothers, the Rule and the perichoretic dance are quite closely related. You might say that our Rule describes the steps of the dance we hope to share, and that, as we live by it and refer back to it, we become more adept at dancing together. At the very least, we become less likely to stand on each other’s toes! Without such a common understanding, there will always be the risk that everyone is doing a different dance, which can only lead to a lot of bumping into one another, treading on toes, and falling over. The question every community needs to ask, then, is: How do we want to dance together? By laying down, as a community, the framework we mutually agree upon, we open up the freedom to love.

Try This
Does your congregation or vestry have a shared document in which you’ve outlined the heart of how you want to live and love and work together? This document would be not as legalistic as “by-laws,” nor as practical as a meeting agenda. A Rule is the place where we can clarify our deepest values, our most important relationships, our most authentic hopes and dreams, our most meaningful work, our highest priorities. By outlining these priorities and setting concrete goals for meeting them, it allows us to live with intention and purpose in the present moment.
You might find it helpful, in your church leadership groups, to set down the common values that draw you together, as well as the hopes for how you will live and work together in that community. Remember, a Rule is not a series of rules that must be followed. Rather, it is descriptive: It articulates our intentions for the way we would like to live.
Once you have a Rule in place, you might see how reading and returning to it together, at set intervals, helps to shape your community life. Does it accurately reflect the way you live, as well as the struggles you face? We Brothers know firsthand that the process of revising a Rule, after some distance, can be just as useful as having one in the first place.

Br. Geoffrey Tristram, SSJE, is the superior of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE), ( )an Episcopal religious community in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Brother Geoffrey was born in Wales and studied theology at Cambridge University before training to be a priest at Westcott House theological college. He came to the United States fifteen years ago to join SSJE and has pursued a ministry of teaching, spiritual direction, and retreat leading, and for three years he served as chaplain to the House of Bishops. Before coming to SSJE he served as a parish priest in the diocese of St. Albans, as well as the head of the department of theology at Oundle School, a large Anglican high school in the English Midlands.

Grace and Peace to You
Susan S. Keller+

New Vestry Members Bios

Dick Wilcher grew up outside of Philadelphia and attended St. Paul’s in Chestnut Hill. The road to Maryland and Mount Airy travelled through Virginia, Ohio, North Carolina, and Indiana. Dick’s wife, Doris, just completed her vestry term and now Dick has elected to serve. Together they have six children and eight grandchildren. Dick has volunteered with a number of the activities at St. Paul’s including helping the Jr. Warden a number of times, working on Come and See, helping with the Saturday evening services, and served on the committee during the pastoral search. Dick and Doris have been attending St. Paul’s since 2007.

Maija Kropp
I was born in and call South Baltimorehome; even though I never actually lived in Federal Hill, my grandparents did, and growing up as a child of multiple divorces, was where I spent practically every weekend. Fast forward a few marriages, moves, languages & religions later to high school, where I spent all four years of high school studying at an American School in Santiago, Chile. Iam grateful for the experience, andgrew immensely asa person, however, the day after I graduated, I left immediately, moved back to the United States on my own, and almost as swiftly met and moved in with my now husband of almost 30 years. I either owned or co-owned several successful businesses in the construction industry, with my primary function as Chief Financial and/or Operational Manager until I made the choice to walk away from it all to "finish" raising the two daughters that I had and barely knew.Those beautiful young ladies are now 21 and 15, and my youngest is a freshman at Glenelg High School.

I was baptized as a Catholic at St. Mary's Star of the Sea in South Baltimore, and somewhere along the way attended both Methodist and Episcopalian Churches until we moved to Chile, at which point we stopped attending Church altogether.After leaving the corporate world, I suffered severe financial hardshipand continue to do so to this day,yet my largest debt owed is that of gratitude toMr. Pete and Mrs. Nancy McIntosh, as it is solely due to their unwavering kindness, generosity and love at quite frankly themost difficult timein my life, that I finally feel solid ground beneath my feet and am surrounded bya warm and welcoming church along withthis wonderfulcongregation of amazing people that I am honored to call friends as I serve and continue on my faith journey.

St. Paul’s Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper(all you can eat) will be on Tuesday, February 17th, 5:00-7:00 p.m. The menu is pancakes, (regular, chocolate chip, pecan) sausage, applesauce, orange juice, dessert, coffee, tea and milk. No charge – it is a FREE WILL offering. Sign-up sheets for needed food items and help can be found on the parish hall table. Take a look at the sheets and sign-up where you can help. Please tell your neighbors, friends and relatives about our supper – bring them with you when you come to eat your pancakes on “Fat Tuesday”. Take-out available.

Ash WednesdayFebruary 18thWorship at Noon and 7 pm ~ with Eucharist and imposition of ashes.

Lenten Study ~ February 25th – March 25th
The Sayings of Jesus on the cross (also called the Seven Last Words from the Cross) are seven expressions traditionally attributed to Jesus during his crucifixion, gathered from the four Gospels. In Mark and Matthew, Jesus cries out to God. In Luke, he forgives his killers, reassures the good thief, and commends his spirit to the Father. In John, he speaks to his mother, says he thirsts, and declares the end of his earthly life.
These seven sayings have been interpreted as having special meaning since the 16th century. They have been widely used in sermons on Good Friday, and entire books have been written on theological analysis of them.

The Seven Sayings:

Father, forgive them for they do not know what they do
Today you will be with me in paradise
Behold your son: behold your mother
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
I thirst
It is finished
Father, into your hands I commit my spirit

We will have a light meal of Soup & Dessert followed by our Lenten Study Program Final Words From the Cross by Adam Hamilton, a minister, teacher and author. This study (a book and DVD) focuses on the seven statements of Jesus from the cross and how they may inform our lives today. Please join us; we guarantee that you will be glad you did.

Congregational MeetingOur Annual congregational meeting was held on Sunday, January 25, following the 9:00 a.m. service. Everyone attending enjoyed the covered dish brunch, and the fellowship. Many thanks to all who brought a food dish.

Meeting Highlights:

Retiring members, Dana Fritzges, Doris Wilcher and Irene Hillen were thanked for their service on the Vestry.
Greg Prentice, Maija Kropp and Dick Wilcher were elected to the Vestry
Phyllis Heffner and Steven Jones will be the lay delegates to Diocesan Convention
The treasurer’s report was approved and we are in the black
All committees had written reports detailing their work for the common good of St. Paul’s life together and each chair highlighted specific services, activities, accomplishments and/or futurepossibilities
The Wardens and the Rector addressed the overall Church life, service and ministries
Special Thanks to: Pete McIntosh and Jeff Spaulding and helpers for their talent and hard work; Linda Sharp, Treasure par excellence; Linda Barnes and her hospitality/fundraising hands; Lynda Sheckels, above and beyond the call of job administrator; Rev Susan and Lee Hajek for their creative development of new ministry; the faithful and efficient Altar Guild; Phyllis Weston and the Thrift Shop Elves; the Reeves and Chapel Valley for tending our grounds; Brian Kneeland and choir for enhancing our worship; St. Paul’s very generous anonymous donors.

All significantly contributed to the welfare and progress of the church.

In summary, the state of St. Paul’s is very good. We are a caring parish that continues to build up the body of Christ, adds to its ministries (Come and See and Stephen Ministry) and gets spiritual and physical work done.

O God, the preaching of your apostle Paul, for whom our parish is named, caused the light of the Gospel to shine throughout the world. Grant that through the gift of Paul and his letters we learn how to see you more clearly, love you more dearly and follow you more nearly, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and forever. AMEN.

The Vestry met on January 25th and approved the appointment of officers and to affirm or reaffirm their commitment to service. The 2015 Vestry: Jeff Spaulding, Senior Warden; Pete McIntosh, Junior Warden; Linda Sharp, Treasurer; Al Yeater, Registrar; Charles Samuel, Barb Campion, Carrie Brown, Phyllis Heffner, Dorothy Kitt, Stephen Jones, Miaja Kropp, Greg Prentice and Dick Wilcher.

St. Paul --- It was altogether fitting (however coincidental) that we held our annual meeting on January 25th, the date of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle as memorialized in the Calendar of Saints, Holy Women, Holy Men Celebrating The Saints. Just to refresh our memories: Saul (Paul) described himself as, “an Israelite, a descendant of Abraham, a member of the tribe of Benjamin.” He was a Roman citizen, born in Tarsus (Turkey) and an orthodox Jew who studied under the famous Rabbi Gamaliel. A few years after the death of Jesus, he learned of this sect of persons who were followers of a man referred to as Jesus of Nazareth, called the Christ. Saul became one of the most fanatical of those determined to stamp out this “dangerous heresy.” The Bible and other historical records do not say that he participated in the stoning of Stephen, however they agree that Saul witnessed this execution. Sometime after this event, Saul was on his way to Damascus to lead in further persecution of “Jesus followers” when his dramatic conversion took place. After a period of soul-searching and discernment, Saul devoted his life totally to Christ and especially to the conversion of Gentiles who lived in areas that boarded the eastern Mediterranean. Because of his letters, the earliest of Christian writings, some scholars have named Paul as the founder of Christian theology.

Polar Bear Plunge A big thank you to all who contributed to the yearly Polar Bear Plunge that took place on Saturday, January 24that Sandy Point State Park in the chilly waters of the Chesapeake Bay. St. Paul’s sponsorship of Jeff Spaulding netted $300 for the Maryland Special Olympics.