Newsletter 9-1 : March 2014

8/12/2019 Newsletter 9-1 : March 2014

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March, 2014 Volume 9, Issue 1 - “mystery”

The St Paul ’s Circular From the esk of the ean . . .

Mystery

Worship at St Paul’s Cathedral

Chapel Sunday 8:00 a.m. - Holy Communion Cathedral Sunday 10:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist

Chapel Wednesday 10:00 a.m. - Holy Communion

“Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep,but, we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twin-kling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpetwill sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable,

and we shall be changed.” (1 Corinthians 15:51-52)

I remember hearing these words spoken at a funeralwhen I was a very young teenager. The priest spokethe first sentence of this passage with such depth ofconviction, with such intrigue and satisfaction, that Icould not help but be drawn into the invitation to listen.I was spell bound by the words. I wanted to know thismystery. I wanted this change promised. I wantedmore of this unexplainable mystery of resurrection,of change. But mostly, I remember the experience ofthe compelling thrill of heeding the invitation to listen

and by that, entering into the very mystery itself andexperiencing change, resurrection in the act of listen-ing to his words. I wanted more of this invitation tolisten to the secret: I wanted to enter this mysteriousholiness and be part of it. It was indeed a mysteryand a mystical moment for me.

God is Holy Mystery. The Great Unknowable whoknows us. God is the Great Unknowable whom weseek to know more fully. On those blessed occasionalholy moments in our lives when we are awake andpaying attention, this Holy Mystery, this God, sweepsus up into the vortex of wonder and we get a glimpse

of our deeper, truer selves: we see how God sees us.It may happen when we receive the Blessed Sacra-ment at the table of Jesus, or at the bedside of lovedone who is ill, playing with our children, in the gaze ofsomeone who loves us, in a moment of deep prayer,

in the sacredness and beauty of creation. HolyMystery is all around us. When we touch thisMystery and are touched by it, we are indeedchanged – finite and infinite at the same time:

part of something beyond ourselves, yet whichalso dwells at the core of our being.

And then it passes.

We cannot always live there. As much as wemight want to, there is work to be done, peopleto look after, tasks to be accomplished, practicalearthly obligations for which we have responsibility.But our incarnational life, our “return to earth,” soto speak, is made holy by this mystical encounterwith God. We return to the mundane day-to-dayexistence, changed and expanded, more alive,

more gracious, more true. We live out our earthlyobligations as ones changed by the God who hasmet us in the Mystery. We also live out our dayto day existence with openness and hope andintentional seeking that we might encounter thisMystery again, and again, and be blessed againand be “lost in wonder, awe and praise” asCharles Wesley wrote in his magnificent hymn:“Love Divine All Love’s Excelling.”

After a person is baptized we pray a beautifulprayer. “Give them an inquiring and discerningheart and the gift of joy and wonder in all your

works.” This is a prayer that asks that the newChristian may live a life of seeking, searching andquestioning faith and may experience the gift ofencountering the Holy Mystery which is God.

(See page 2.)



December

A Cathedral Committee potluck supper was heldat the home of Jim and Margaret Mitchell. A shortmeeting followed. Thank you to the Mitchells fortheir warm hospitality.

The Warren Atkinson Society, our tenants at 566 - 4th Avenue, have given notice to terminate rentalas of February 28, 2014.

January

Discussion ensued regarding our Youth MinistryTrust account, established in 2012 with a generousdonation from a parishioner. The funds have beenused to support our youth and youth leaders to at-tend the Canadian Lutheran and Anglican Youth

Conference and other conferences, retreats and ed-ucational opportunities. The account is low in fundsand needs to be increased to continue this ministry.

Motion: That Cathedral Committee continue to affirmits support of youth ministry, and specifically supportyouth fundraising initiatives in 2014. Carried.

Volume 9, Issue 1 - “mystery”

The St. Paul's Circular is the parish newsletter of St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral, Kamloops, BC. Four issues arepublished annually: Lent/Easter; Pentecost; Fall; Advent/Christmas. Our aim is to glorify God by sharing stories aboutthe ministries of our parish, both within and beyond our physical boundaries. The editorial board currently includes TheVery Rev. Louise Peters, Miriam Baskin, Ray Beal, Mary Dove, Claire Tosoff and Chuck Kalnin.

Mystery (cont’d.):

It is a lovely prayer to say again for each other as weenter into the Lenten Season and as we prepare to bewith Jesus in the great Paschal Mystery of his living,dying and rising. We will indeed be changed.

“Open us O holy One to your joy and wonder – envelop

us in your Great Mystery that we may have Life in greatabundance.” Amen.

Mysterious and Holy blessings to all,

Your Dean and Rector,

from Cathedral Committee . . .

With the Warren Atkinson Society terminating its rent-al of 566 4th Avenue, a new group, the Blue HouseSociety, is being formed to continue a men’s recoveryprogram at that location. (Please see page 5 formore information regarding this property.)

Motion: The Cathedral Committee approves theBlue House Society renting the property at 566 4th

Avenue, providing they have adequate funds to doso, for a maximum of three (3) years. Carried.

Motion: Before the expiry of the three year rental asoutlined in the previous motion, the following optionsbe explored, as outlined in the January 2014 TaskForce Report (See page 5.): 1) demolish the house;2) develop a parking lot; 3) consolidate the lots;4) upgrade the house; 5) develop the property;6) rent the house. Carried.

Motion: The options in the previous motion be ex-plored immediately should the Blue House Societybe unable to find adequate funding.. Carried.

Lady WisdomFeminine Face of the Divine

On February 23rd, thirty-nine people listened toa lecture about the ‘feminine face of the divine.’Dr. Patricia Dutcher -Walls, Professor of HebrewBible at the Vancouver School of Theology,

gave an engaging, informative and thoughtprovoking talk about the wisdom tradition ofancient Israel.

Being told that wisdom is ‘reflection on experi-ence,’ we were invited to write and share aproverb and to explain what is wise about it.Patricia explained that “as a human being, wehave the capacity to reflect on our experienceand learn.”

Using passages from Proverbs, Sirach, Wis-dom of Solomon, and other books, Patricia de-

scribed how wisdom came to be seen as femi-nine. God created wisdom; lady wisdom was“there before the rest of creation” and came tobe seen in the post exile times as a “very wiseand respected female character.”

People usually consider walking on water or in thin air amiracle. But I think the real miracle is not to walk either

on water or in thin air, but to walk on earth. Every day weare engaged in a miracle which we don't even recognize:a blue sky, white clouds, green leaves, the black, curiouseyes of a child - our own two eyes. All is a miracle.

Thich Nhat Hanh, Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk.




Annual Vestry Meeting

After the 10:00 a.m. service on February 16th, wegathered in the parish hall for a light lunch, followedby St. Paul’s Annual Vestry Meeting. Dean Louisebegan the meeting with prayer and with insightsinto our future together over the next ten years, or

so. “The Christian Church, the Christian experi-ence, is going through an empirical change.” Thisempirical change is what theologian Phyllis Ticklecalls a ‘500 -year change’ .

After we watched national church’s video aboutresponding to the current changes, Dean Louiseshared facts as to how St. Paul’s and the AnglicanParishes of the Central Interior both differ from howthey were ten years ago, summarizing her reflec-tions by saying that we need courage and faith torealize that we have “an opportunity to do what

God is calling us to do, from a position of strength.”

All of the reports were received. The financialstatement for 2013 were approved. Dean Louisemade appointments to Cathedral Committee, whileother members were elected. (Please see the cur-rent committee members listed at the left.) Threemotions dealing our property at 566 4th Avenue,forwarded from Cathedral Committee, were pre-sented and approved. (Please see page 2 for thewording of these motions.) Our treasurer, GordonDove, presented a deficit budget for 2014. It wasapproved.

The following motion was also presented and ap-proved: “Be it resolved that a committee be formedto explore the future of the Cathedral propertiesand report back to this vestry no later than 2016with recommended directions.”

Dean Louise thanked all who attended this vestrymeeting and to those who prepared, set up andhelped, including Claire Tosoff, Elaine Parkes,Melissa Green and Hannah Chalmers.

She also thanked folk who assisted with variousministries at St. Paul’s during 2013, beginning with‘two fine, fine women who are great wardens’

-

Alison McKinnon and Verna Albright Also thankedwere Gordon Dove, Trish Waldie, Ron Sugiyama,Viki Engdahl, Elaine Parkes, Norris & HeatherBerg, Jim Waldie, Sandra and Tom Sugden,Melissa Green, Pat King and Anne Goodall.

Greetings were sent to Bishop Barbara Andrews. Alison McKinnon expressed thanks to Louise forher leadership, mentorship and care. Louise wasgiven a standing ovation.

Cathedral Committee2014-2015

“O God, grant us understanding that we mayknow your will and follow you in service and love.”

Clergy: The Very Rev. Louise Peters

Appointments:

Treasurer: Gordon Dove

Secretary: Margaret Mitchell Rector’s Warden: Alison McKinnon

Envelope Secretary: Trish Waldie

People’s Warden: Verna Albright

Members at Large (terms end February, 2015): Kathryn Briscoe

Chuck Kalnin

John Ronald

Members at Large (terms end February, 2016): D. J. Clarke

Marg Holley

Elaine Parkes

Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior: Delegates: Melissa Green

Islay Oatway

Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior: Alternate Delegates: Jim Waldie

Lynn Watrich

Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior:

Youth Delegates: Peter Chalmers

Jennifer Ellis

Lay Ministers of Word Sacrament

Lay Ministers of Word & Sacrament were approved byvestry and are to be licensed by Bishop Barbara:

Verna Albright Ray Beal Bud Forbes

Alan Leake

Margaret Mitchell

Christmas Worship Services

Four worship services were held at Christmas. Ourannual Children’s Pageant was held at 4:00 p.m.,Christmas Eve, with 168 in attendance. The candle-light Eucharist service with the choir, at the 7:00 p.m.,had in attendance. Bishop Barbara participated withDean Louise at the 11:00 p.m. service, with 57 in at-tendance. Sandra and Tom Sugden led the Christmasmorning Eucharist with 9 in attendance.




Buddhist Water Blessing Ceremonyby Alison McKinnon

My husband Dave and I recently travelled to Vietnamand Cambodia. It was a fascinating experience. InCambodia which is 95% Buddhist, we attended aBuddhist Water Blessing Ceremony in the largest pa-

goda of the temple complex in Wat Hanchey, highabove the Mekong River. The oldest part of the com-plex was built in the 8th century, but as a Hindu tem-ple. Water blessing ceremonies date back to ancienttimes. Pagodas are very colorful, almost garish byour standards. The walls and ceilings are painted inbright colours showing scenes from the Buddha's life.There are many shrines in each pagoda, each show-ing the Buddha in one of many classic poses.

People pray at the shrines, offering gifts of money,food or other things. We were given some instruc-tions before going to this pagoda, though all are not

as strict. Everyone, men and women, had to haveshoulders and knees covered, and were required toremove hats and shoes. We were requested to sitcross-legged, but if that was impossible, to make surethat toes did not point towards the monks. It is abso-lutely taboo for a female to touch a monk. A monkmay not even touch a baby girl.

Three young monks, wearing the traditional saffronrobes, conducted the ceremony. They chanted for

about 15 minutes, taking turns leading the chants.They use an ancient religious language called Pali,which the monks study when they attend religiousschool in the afternoons, and Khmer, the language of

Cambodia. Several times during the ceremony, oneof the monks sprinkled us with water, just as in our

Anglican tradition of asperging. The blessings includeprayers for long life, safe travel and good luck. Alt-hough we could not understand the words, there wasa wonderful feeling of calm, serenity and harmony.

Monks have no possessions, and it is traditional totake gifts, which can be purchased in the local mar-kets. The packages are brightly wrapped in gold, andeach of the three contained a robe, sandals, rice andother foods and toiletries. The monks then offeredanother prayer of thanks to us for the gifts, and we

were encouraged to pose for photos with them.

As we climbed the hill to the temple complex, oneof the first sights was of saffron robes hanging to dryover the staircases and balconies of the many housesoccupied by the monks. Men and boys can becomemonks for short or long periods of time - for life or theymay leave the monastery and then return later in life.Monks are revered in Cambodia, and it is an honor forthe family if one of its members becomes a monk.

We have the most spectacular group of teachers,helping hands and children here at the Cathedral.They gather and create together, chat together,cook together, give together and share together!

In November, Tammy Davis helped the children tomake soup. They washed, chopped and stirred theirwonderful creations into life - 27 containers ofchicken barley and vegetable soups.

Advent packages containing prayers and candleswere assembled by Tricia Steenson and DeanLouise and these were distributed in early Advent.

The ‘giving tree’ was again decorated with socks,hats and mitts to be shared with the folks at the Outof the Cold shelter. Thanks to the whole communityfor providing items that kept the tree giving to others.

Eighteen ‘Christmas shoeboxes’ were decoratedand filled with goodies for pre-teen girls and boys.They were distributed by the Kamloops Boys andGirls Club.

Wasn’t the Nativity Play on Christmas Eve service AMAZING ! ! ! It’s always a highlight of the Christ-mas season and this year was no exception. A hugethank-you to Joan Lukow and everyone who helped –especially to every sheep, angel, shepherd, twinklingstar, plus the wise men, Mary and Joseph.

With the New Year, our teen Sunday School is be-ing taught by Denise Anderson and Kathryn Brisco.The class is “Creating with the Creator” - lots of jour-naling, creating, drawing Celtic knots - exploring

scripture with hands on art! What fun!

Tricia Steenson and Tammy Davis are alternatingSundays, teaching our younger group, and our‘helping hands’ are scheduled for each Sunday.

Adapted from a report by Melissa Green, presented to CathedralCommittee on January 28, 2014.

Sunday School Update

Let the rain kiss you. Let the rain beat upon yourhead with silver liquid drops. Let the rain sing youa lullaby. Langston Hughes, American poet, 1902-1967.




New Hangings for the ChapelOver the last few months, the Altar Guild has beenlooking at the white hangings in the Chapel which aregetting worn along the top and cannot be repaired.Fabrics have been viewed and one has been chosen.The frontal, lectern hanging and new burse and veilhave been ordered. Donations to cover costs will beaccepted with additional funds, if required, comingfrom the Bequest & Memorial Trust Fund.

Adapted from a report by Elaine Parkes to Cathedral Committee,November 24, 2013.

Claire Tosoff began as our Office Coordinator at the beginning of January.

Welcome to our St. Paul’s family, Claire. Photo: Chuck Kalnin.

Meet Claire

New Office Hours

Wednesday to Friday 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Please leave a message at: 250-372-3912, during theoff -hours. The answering machine will be monitoredon a regular basis.

566 Task Force Report

The 566 4 th Avenue Property

On December 1, 2013, the Warren Atkinson Socie-ty, who had been running the men's recovery pro-gram at 566 4th Avenue, informed us that they

were ending its support of the program and gavenotice of terminating rental of our property effectiveFebruary 28, 2014.

Since then, two major initiatives have begun.

The Chief Financial Officer, caretaker, and aformer graduate of the recovery program, whofeel passionately that the program should continue,are forming the Blue House Society. The programat 566 is a total abstinence program, and fundingfor such programs has been cut drastically. TheBlue House Society is forming a board of directors

and exploring funding and partnership options.The Dean and Wardens have had several meet-ings with them, and are offering support for theirventure.

The second major initiative was the creation of a566 Task Force to explore future options for thehouse and property at 566 4th Avenue. The houseis listed on its title as having Heritage Recognition.,which carries no legal restrictions, nor providesfinancial incentives to the owner. This is not thesame as Heritage Designation, which has strictguidelines. Listed below are some of the options

researched.

1. Demolish the house. 2. Develop a parking lot on the site. 3. Consolidation of the lots. 4. Upgrade the house. 5. Develop the property. 6. Rent the house.

The Task Force recommended to CathedralCommittee that: a) we allow the Blue House Socie-ty to rent the house, provided that they have ade-quate funds to do so, for a maximum of 3 years;

b) before the end of the 3 years, we explore theoptions from the Task Force as listed above; andc) the above options be explored immediately ifthe Blue House Society is unable to find adequatefunding. (Please see page 2 for the motions whichwere passed at the Cathedral Committee meetingon January 28, 2014.)

Adapted from a report from the 566 Task Force, written by AlisonMcKinnon and submitted to Cathedral Committee on January 28,2014.

Altar Guild 2014 Executive

Coordinator Elaine Parkes

Co-coordinator Miriam Baskin

Secretary Pat King

Treasurer Mary Rolston

Flowers Joy Fudge

Sunshine Miriam Baskin




Life isn’t about how to survive the storm, but ratherhow to dance in the rain. Author unknown.

Coming to Kamloops - August, 2014Canadian Lutheran-Anglican Youth (CLAY)

Every two years, nearly 1000 Anglican and Lutheranyouth travel from across Canada to the CLAY gath-ering, which gives the youth the chance to meet oth-er young Christians while learning, worshipping andstudying the bible together. This year’s gatheringwill be on the campus of Thompson Rivers Universi-ty in Kamloops, August 14th to 17th.

CLAY 2014 will offer participants events similar to

those at previous gatherings, including outreach, ed-ucational workshops, and late-night social events.

This year’s new feature is the ‘Ministry Project’ .Groups will spend time exploring a particular interestin depth, such as art, drama or social justice. At theend of the gathering, each group will present a finalproject or performance. The ministry project experi-ence is designed to inspire and empower youth “toexpress their faith using their gifts,” and make CLAY“more engaging, relevant and accessible for all.”

CLAY 2014’s keynote speaker will be Irish bloggerand author Scott Evans. Evans is known for hisfrank presentation of his own struggles with finding aplace in the church, and organizers hope his experi-ence will resonate with attendees. His blog ‘Fallingfrom the Front’ examines pop culture from a Chris-tian perspective.

This year’s event in Kamloops will be the third to

include Anglican youth. Organizers are keen to pointout that all aspects of CLAY reflect Lutheran-

Anglican full communion partnership, and hope Anglican attendance will continue to grow in 2014.To register or to learn more, please visit the website:http://claygathering.ca/

Adapted from a press lease from General Synod, distributed by the Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior, January 16, 2014.

Primate’s World Relief Development Fund (PWRDF)

The Food Security Campaignby Joy Gothard

“Feed your Soul

while you Fast during Lent”

PWRDF invites you to take a few moments eachday during Lent to reflect on the meaning behindyour fast. PWRDF encourages you to slow downand enter into a prayerful consideration of the physi-cal and spiritual benefits of fasting, with the Lentenmeditations.

Copies of the reflections will be available at theservices on March 2nd and on Ash Wednesday.They may also be downloaded online at:http:pwrdf.org/uploads/222/.

PWRDF at Sorrento Centre

This summer, PWRDF will partner with Sorrento Cen-tre to offer the course “Sharing Bread - Food Security

Learning Exchange” It will be led by two PWRDF staffmembers, Suzanne Rumsey and Sheilagh McGlynn.

I encourage everyone to attend this course if possi-ble. Sorrento Centre offers bursaries as well as "fivefor the price of four" rates to encourage parishparticipation.

The Anglican Parishes of the Central Interior (APCI)will be assisting PWRDF parish reps to attend and tolearn more about food security and the work of thePWRDF.

“Fred Says” is the title of a three-year campaignPWRDF is undertaking to help people understandfood security and the PWRDF mission. Every two

months, the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz, Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada and President ofPWRDF, offers a ‘Fredism” - a unique saying deal-ing with food security, to be reflect and meditate on.

Food security is an increasingly common term, butnot well understood by some. Food security refersto the availability of food and one’s access to it.

There is much to learn and ways to be active re-garding food security issues both locally and interna-tionally. Monthly updates from PWRDF are posted

on the Peace & Justice bulletin board. In February,we introduced four organizations concerned with foodsecurity issues: Farmland Protection Coalition; FoodSecure Canada; National Farmers Union; and ViaCampesina. (Please see page 12 for the web ad-dresses.) The Peace & Justice group invites youto be informed and to take action.




Out of the Cold

Since last November, Out of the Cold has providedshelter for the homeless in Kamloops on over 30nights. The St. Vincent de Paul Society began theprogram in 2006. Due to a lack of space, they ap-

proached St. Paul's the following year and CathedralCommittee approved their request to use our base-ment as the shelter.

Previous to this year, the shelter opened two nightsweekly, regardless of temperature. Due to the availa-bility of more housing, this has been changed to onceweekly. However, the shelter does open on thosenights when it falls below an ‘extreme temperature’ of

–7°C. As of the end of January, the shelter has beenopen on 20 nights with 394 guests staying overnight.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society provide and fund

three ‘shift captains’ for each night of operation. Vol-unteers assist these ‘captains’ during night. Othersoperate the kitchen, providing a light supper in theevening and a light breakfast in the morning.

If you wish to volunteer, please contact the volun-teer coordinator, Christine Jeffrey, at 250-318-0236.

Another way of supporting this ministry is by providingwarm gloves, socks, toques, sweaters and jacketsthat can be provided to those in need.

Adapted from a pew bulletin insert for Sunday, January 26th.

Pit Stop

The objective of Pit Stop is “to provide nourishmentand outreach to people in our community.” It’s a hotmeal program held every Sunday afternoon through-out the year at the Kamloops United Church (KUC).

The dinners are served by various volunteer teamscoordinated by KUC. Teams have represented KUCitself, other churches, service clubs, businesses, theUniversity, and groups of families and friends, etc.

On December 8th, a team from St. Paul’s hostedPit Stop for a second time, at the Cathedral. Ourhall filled with guests and volunteers. This will nowto be an annual event at St. Paul’s, on the secondor third Sunday of December.

In recent years, unused Christmas cards havebeen collected and handed to guests “so that they

can give them to their families and friends.” Thisyear stamps were also provided. On December 8th,volunteers were present, assisting those who needhelp writing and addressing cards.

We extend heartfelt thanks to Kathy Moore for co-ordinating and organizing the Pit Stop at St. Paul’s,and the numerous awesome volunteers who madethe day a great success.

Adapted from information on the Pit Stop website and from discussionsof volunteers at the dinner at St. Paul’s.

Outreach Designations for 2014

Each year Cathedral Committee in partnership with the recommendations of the Peace and Justice groupidentify six local outreach ministries to support through prayer, education and the donations of our member-ship. These local outreach groups are complemented by the global focus of outreach through the PrimatesWorld Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF) which supports and

engages in Anglican global mission. We strive for a balance betweenlocal and global ministries.

To the right are the Outreach Designations for 2014. When donorsidentify where they would like their Outreach to go, the funds aredirected according to their instruction. When the Outreach donationis “unidentified”, or given without instruction, it is sent to the Outreachministry for the month in which the donation is received, according tothe pattern outlined on the list.

Information about each of these outreach ministries is shared eachmonth in the bulletin.

Thank you for your generous support of the needs of the communityboth locally and globally. In 2013, St. Paul’s membership supportedlocal and global outreach with $25,214.55.

Month Outreach Fund

January Out of the Cold

February PWRDF

March YMCAWomen’s Y Shelter

April PWRDF

May Boys and Girls Club

June PWRDF

July PWRDF

August SHOP Program ASK Wellness

September

PWRDF

October Elizabeth Fry Society

November PWRDF

December Clergy Discretionary




Travels in the USA - Some Churches Visitedby Margaret Mitchell

Maybe we could say the Birthday blessing prayertogether at St. Paul’s as we gather around the birth-day cake in the hall! Just a thought.

In Benson, Arizona, we attended St. Raphael inthe Valley for five consecutive Sundays and cameto know the priest and congregation quite well. At t he close of the service, just prior to the dismissal, thecongregation recited their mission statement together

– we found this to be very affirming.

At one church that we attended regularly in BajaCalifornia for two consecutive winters, each memberof the congregation turned and faced another personto recite the Apostle’s Creed. Standing face to facewith another person and sharing what “I believe . . .”was extraordinarily powerful. Try it one Sunday!

There are lots of various little traditions, but theunderlying foundation is the same. It’s comfortingto know that when we travel outside of St. Paul’s wecan be certain to find other communities of faith whowelcome us in.

When Jim and I were travelling in the US during pastwinters, we were in a different city or town everyweek or two, and would usually arrive on a Thursdayor Friday. We would take a trip into town in the car,

explore the community and find an Episcopal orLutheran church to attend on the Sunday. For themost part we worshipped in the Episcopal churchwhere their Common Prayer Book is very similar toour Book of Alternative Services, but with more ofthe Book of Common Prayer language.

In every church visited, we were welcomed bythe greeters just as we are at St. Paul’s. However,at the beginning of the service, the priest would asknewcomers or visitors to stand, say their name andwhere they were from. Each person was welcomed

and a small gift was given to them-

a bookmark, apen, a church mug - just a small token of remem-brance from that particular community. It was agood opportunity for the congregation to be madeaware of who the visitors were; and we were alwaysapproached at the end of the service by members ofthe congregation. We were never alone at coffeehour, but usually found ourselves in a small grouptalking about the commonalities and differences ofour respective communities. We learned a lot!

One Sunday we were at a church in Arizona, new-comers and visitors stood and introduced them-

selves, including Jim and me. A lady from Manitobaintroduced herself, and among other things saidshe’d driven 30 miles to this church, as the commu-nity she was staying in had no church at all! Afterthe service, this lady approached Jim and me andasked us to say again where in BC we were from;she couldn’t remember if it was Kelowna or Kam-loops. When we said Kamloops, she said, “Thenyou must know Gordon and Mary Dove.” To whichI responded, “Then you must be from Brandon,Manitoba!” This lady and her husband had befriend-ed Gordon and Mary after they had moved from

Kamloops to Brandon and knew them very well,especially as Gordon and Mary had developed theResource Centre in Brandon. Small world indeed!

Another tradition we encountered in most churcheswas for people in the congregation celebrating abirthday or anniversary during the coming week, tobe called to the front of the church where the priestprayed a blessing over them. Sometimes the con-gregation would join in with the Birthday or Anniver-sary prayer from the prayer book. I liked that.

Dancing with God

When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing‘dance’ at the end of the word. I remember readingthat doing God’s will is a lot like dancing. When twopeople try to lead, nothing feels right. The movementdoesn’t flow with the music, and everything is quiteuncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizesthat, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flowwith the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with anudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direc-tion or another. It’s as if two become one body, mov-ing beautifully.

Dance takes surrender, willingness and attentivenessfrom one person and gentle guidance and skill fromthe other.

My eyes drew back to the word, Guidance. When Isaw the “G”, I thought of God, followed by “u” and “I”.God, you and I dance.

As I lowered my head, I became willing to trust that Iwould get guidance about my life, once I was willing tolet God lead.

May God’s blessings and mercies be with you on thisday and every day. May you abide in God as Godabides in you. Dance with God, trusting God to leadand guide you. Author unknown.




Reboot, Refresh, Revision - Day 2

Saturday, February 1st

.

Forty-sevenparishioners

gathered Febru-ary 1st, as weheld the secondday in our vision-ing process. Wewere welcomedby our facilitator,Peter Mutrie,who told us theagenda for theday. He said thatthis gatheringwas to be a dayof collective wisdom and sharing.

Dean Louise shared a sentence that was draftedafter the first day of visioning to capture the essenceof our eight words: “St. Paul’s Cathedral is a Spiritfilled and Inclusive place of Worship with Relevantofferings for Youth and the wider community includ-ing pro-active Outreach programs and Sustainable

plans that are facilitated by a bold and flexibleLeadership.”

Dean Louise led prayers asking for guidance in de-termining our hopes and vision for the Cathedral inthe future.

Bud Forbes briefly recapped what had happenedon our first visioning day when we had identified eightministry themes that St. Paul’s is and hopes to be.These themes became the basis for developing thisday’s agenda.

This sentence was compared to our existingvision statement: “St. Paul’s is a joyful communityof Christians who are rooted in the best of the Angli-can tradition, hospitable and welcoming to seekers,and responsive as a Christian community to the

needs of others and those who come to us.”

Louise shared a mission statement that is in pro-gress, which reflect our eight words: “St. Paul’s isan inclusive, diverse community of Anglican Chris-tians who worship God, follow Christ, and are ledby the Spirit. As loving, committed, caring, curious,reconciling, generous, hopeful people, we strive tointentionally follow Jesus, and honour the mysteryof Christ in all. We welcome all to join us on theWay.”

Peter asked, “At St. Paul’s what do you hope to

see in the future in the area of . . .” Each personwas asked to discuss their thoughts at three ofeight tables representing the eight ministry words:outreach, sustainability, youth, relevance, worship,leadership, spirituality, and inclusiveness.

After the allotted time, the table facilitators report-ed back to the plenary session. Peter closed thissession by sharing four words: dream, believe, dare,

do. He said that it takes courage to dare and to doin order to make our dreams a reality, but that as agroup we have the collective power to affectchange. We have only to have faith and believe.

Giving thanks for this day and for what we wereabout to receive, we enjoyed a lunch provided byJo-Lynn Forbes and Reid Albright - deliciousborscht and pea soup, wonderful open-face sand-wiches, raw veggies and an array of delectablegoodies. (See page 10.)

Verna Albright and Alison McKinnongreet Barry Baskins as he arrives.

David Lidster, Bob Hunter, Jim Freathy and TriciaSteenson visited the ‘Relevance’ station facilitatedby Richard Cane.

Our facilitator, Peter Mutrie, welcomes us and describes

the agenda for the day.




The feeling remains that God is on a journey too. Teresa of Avila, Spanish mystic, 1515-1582.

After lunch, we gathered in the Cathedral where

the pillars were adorned with eight large red hearts,each with one of our eight words. Peter began byasking, “What did our morning’s work tell us aboutwhere God is calling us to go? As a congregation,where are we to use our time, talent and treasure?” Louise then led us in a meditation based onMatthew 6:19-21.

“Do not store up for yourselves treasure on earth,where moth and rust consume and where thievesbreak in and steal; but store up for yourselves treas-ures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust con-sumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.

For where your treasure is there your heart will bealso.” (Matthew 6: 19-21 NRSV)

We were invited to select a gemstone from a col-lection contained in the font and to reflect silently onwhere St. Paul’s treasure should be placed. After atime, we placed our gem on the heart of our choos-ing, then visited each heart to see the results: out-reach (8); sustainability (7); youth (6); relevance (4);worship (3); leadership (3); spirituality (3); inclusive-ness (0).

For some the choice was easy; for others not so

much. For some, the morning discussion had influ-enced their decision. For some the space, music,silence and scripture helped with discerning whereto place their ‘gem’.

Back in plenary, Peter asked us to comment on theday’s events. What do we see? Where is God call-ing us? What needs to be let go? Lively discussionensued; many insights were shared. Peter explainedthat our current ‘tool box’ (our ministry pamphlet)contained the ministry tools we currently have.

What else do we need? Among the numerous re-sponses were many of the challenges that face usand the need for a clear plan as we journey into thefuture.

As the day wound down, thanks were extended:

to Peter Mutrie for facilitating this day;

to the table facilitators for their work before andduring this day;

to Margaret Mitchell for recording the wordsfrom this day;

to Jo-Lynn Forbes and Reid Albright for lunch; to Denise Anderson for caring for the children.

Nancy Mutrie and Jon Buckle were acknowledgedfor the tremendous amount of work they have doneon our behalf.

Louise thanked all in attendance for the hard work

we had done; and closed, saying, “We are nowready to ask some serious, important and difficultquestions for our faith to continue in the future.”The day ended in prayer.

Reboot, Refresh, Revision (cont’d):

The afternoon plenary session offered deep and heart -felt discussion led by Dean Louise and Peter Mutrie.

Jo-Lynn Forbes and Reid Albright looked after ournourishment needs for the day.

Photos: Chuck Kalnin.

A Prayer for St. Paul’s by Joan Newman

O Lord, who taught us to pray, “Thy KingdomCome”. We thank you for your presence among us.

Help us to so maintain the life and witness of ourCathedral Church, that it may be a light to the wayfor us and our families, and a beacon to all those inthis city and beyond, who would worship with us;

To your honour and glory. Amen.

Editor’s note: Joan Newman was a long time parish-ioner and leader at St. Paul’s and a Lay Canon in theDiocese of Cariboo, Her prayer of several years agoseems quite relevant to our current visioning process.




Opportunities for Ministry

Altar Guild: This wonderful group quietly andfaithfully work to prepare the altar and worship spacesfor all regular and special services, including weddingsand funerals. If you are interested in helping to do

this, please speak to Elaine Parkes or any othermember of the Guild.

Garden Project: Do you like to have your hands inthe earth? Join the ‘Hands in the Dirt Gang’ and growveggies to share with parish members, local agencies& groups, those in need, our own ministry programsand others. Please speak with Miriam Baskins,Jo-Lynn Forbes or Chuck Kalnin.

Photo Contest: Someone is required to organizeand run our annual photo contest. For informationabout what is involved, please talk to Chuck Kalnin.

Thrift Shop: There is a need for assistance withputting away the display racks on Friday afternoons,from 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. Please call 250-852-3852 forinformation.

I do not at all understand the mystery of grace - onlythat it meets us where we are but does not leave uswhere it found us. Anne Lamott, American writer.

I love a good mystery! Give me a good mysterynovel and you can keep me quiet for hours! Mys-tery movies and detective TV series are my favour-ite genre; you may not want to watch with me, as

I do tend to voice my opinions on whodunit as theprogram progresses! And what about jigsaw puz-zles - especially the ones where the picture on thebox isn’t the same as the completed puzzle - orcrossword puzzles? It’s so much fun to fit all thelittle pieces together until the big picture is revealedand to enjoy great satisfaction from solving theclues.

Maybe that’s why I’m a Christian because God isa great mystery to me! God keeps me guessingand keeps me on my toes. Just when I think I have

something figured out, it gets turned on it’s head,and there I am re-thinking, questioning and tryingto fit the pieces together again. There is no teamof sleuths tracking down the clues, helping me toreach a conclusion. The good guys don’t alwayswin, nor the bad guys always get what’s coming tothem. I can’t turn to the back of my Bible to find theanswers to the puzzle. Sometimes, the little piecesdon’t fit together as I think they should and the bigpicture isn’t revealed.

You know how frustrating it is to have pieces ofthe jigsaw puzzle missing, not to be able to solve

the clue in the crossword, to miss the end of thewhodunit, or to have the end of the book revealedbefore you’ve made the journey through all thePages. As much as I love to solve mysteries, noneof that is important in my Christian faith. I don’tneed to have all the answers. Being a part of themystery of God is different for me on a physical,mental and spiritual level. It’s okay not to have themystery revealed - not yet.

So I keep at it daily: reading The Book, watchingout for clues, trying to solve the cryptic messages,

gathering together with other like minded individualson a weekly basis, my faith team, as together wesearch for answers to the greatest mystery of all.

And I know in my heart, one day the mystery will berevealed.

Thanks be to God.

Whodunnit??by Margaret Mitchell

The Mystery of God

Throughout my journey, I have, at times been sus-tained by “the still small voice of God.” Sometimes,when my life is in turmoil and I am spinning out of con-trol, whether in the quiet of the night or in the crowdedmall, I have experienced that surprisingly calm assur-

ance of God’s faithful love and protection. I know thatsuch a feeling was not created by me and I see it as“the peace that passes all understanding.” I amgrateful for God’s mystery in my life. Anonymous.

Sorrento Centre

Sorrento Centre has celebrated 50 years; and haveinitiated a capital campaign in order to renovate andreplace buildings and to establish endowments that

will ensure their existence for another 50 years.

Recently many St. Paul’s parishioners attended apresentation to hear more about this campaign. Weheard Bishop Gordon Light, Bishop David Crawley,Josh Keller, Melissa Green and David Wyse describethe various plans for the facility and programs on theCentre.

For more information about the capital campaign orthis year’s programs, please visit Sorrento Centre’swebsite. (See page 13 for the link to their website.)




The Stewardship Page

From the Treasurer’s Desk

Summary of Revenue and ExpenseFor the Twelve Months Ending December 31, 2013

Actual

Budget

Revenue

Offering $231,922 $246,600

Rental Income 47,074 43,596

Other Income 36,036 36,964

Total Revenue $315,032 $327,160

Expense

Salaries & Benefits $144,880 $153,490

Premises & Office 35,138 34,436

Programs & Other 46,662 49,758

Christian Sharing 66,737 72,000

Total Expenses $293,417 $309,684

Operating Surplus $ 21,615 $ 17,476.

Learning as I Goby Miriam Baskin

As an active participating person of faith, I amcalled to be a steward of the life that God has given

to me- all that makes me fully alive in Christ. We

weave God into all that we are. When I was five Iwas baptized. I remember the cross being tracedonto my forehead by the priest. What a simple pro-found act of love, yet so full of responsibility fromthen onward.

I am a slow learner, not academically, but forsure in fully trusting that God always has my bestinterest at the forefront. It is good that hind sight is20/20 and I am able to look back, shaking my headin humility at how I questioned, voicing my dislikeat what was unfolding. I see the mosaic of my lifelaid out, how God intervenes, how often I havebeen picked up after stumbling. God puts me backon the path, wipes the dirt from my knees and saysokay away you go let’s try again. Thank God forforgiveness, for looking beyond my unbelief, foropening my eyes, helping me to see that all I haveis of God. I will never go without what I need.There is a sense of freedom that comes with thatawareness, a sense of abundance for what I dohave, and to give what I have away is all right tooas there is always more.

Once I was in need of a swim suit. It was for mywork and I had no money. I did what I needed todo. I prayed and not long afterwards a bag ofclothing was left at our door, including a swim suitthat fit me just right. It was not exactly my style asI was quite round at the time and the print was thatof a leopard! Since then I have been more specificin my prayers.

I am not a perfect specimen, but that’s okay withGod because with all my mistakes and struggles,God loves me still. I continue to practice my faithwith the Grace of God, learning as I go.

Written and read by Miriam Baskin as part of the presentationon Stewardship Sunday, November 17, 2013. Questions to Ponder

During a sermon on September 29, 2012, Dean Louiseposed these questions for reflection: “Am I doing all Ican for God? Am I doing all that I am for God?”

What’s the difference between these two questions?What do they mean for you?

Adapted from the workshop “Chant Chart Converse: Know Yourself - KnowYour Gifts” , October 27, 2012, led by David Lidster, Jennifer Betuzzi andDavid Darwin.

Our reliance on our homeland’s bounty is not simp-ly about taking what we need to sustain ourselves.It is about a debt to the lands and water that havenurtured our peoples since time immemorial - andabout a promise to future generations that we willhand down the same bounty to them and theirchildren. Jessie Housty, Heiltsuk First Nation in Bella Bella.

What’s Important?

Take time to get relaxed and centered. Prayerfully fo-cus on this question: “What is most important in yourlife?” Write down your thoughts: family, garden, work-ing in a room with a window, having free time, myhealth, my relationship with God, etc. Keep the listso you can reflect on it and add to it in the future.

How honest have you been with yourself?

What things can you get by giving or sharing?

What things can you have through self -discipline?

Which things on your list do you have to buy?

Do you arrange your life so that you give time to themost important things?

Nancy Roth, adapted from “Organic Prayer: A Spiritual Gardening Compan-ion” , 1993, 2007, Seabury Books.




Interesting InternetCLAY 2014: information and registration for t he Cana-dian Lutheran- Anglican Youth (CLAY) gathering in Kam-loops, August 14 - 17, 2014. http://claygathering.ca/

Farmland Protection Coalition: support of farmersand food systems in BC. http://farmlandprotection.ca/

Food Secure Canada: news and information aboutfood issues. http://foodsecurecanada.org/

National Farmers Union: information & actions sup-porting famers in Canada. www.nfu.ca/

Pit Stop: news and information about Kamloops Unit-

ed Church’s hot meal program.http://kamloopsunited.ca/pit-stop/

PWRDF: information and news about the Primate’sWorld Relief and Development Fund. www.pwrdf.org/

Sorrento Centre: information on events, programmingand the facilities. www.sorrento-centre.bc.ca/.

Via Campesina: news and updates regarding interna-tional food issues. http://viacampesina.org/

World Day of Prayer: information and news for the 2014World Day of Prayer. www.worlddayofprayer.net/

World Day of Prayer

March 7t, 2014

“Streams in the Desert” Each year, Christian women of many cultures andtraditions around the world observe a common dayof prayer. This year’s worship service was writtenby women from Egypt.

Egypt is a place where history flows across its eve-ry aspect as the Nile River flows through its land - a

place of both exile and of refuge, where history callsus to remember our past. It’s where streams filledwith nutrients flow through desert lands. Streamsare not only the physical rivers. We are invited toseek the streams of living water which Jesus offers.

In Kamloops services will be:

Kamloops United Church at 1:30 p.m. 429 St. Paul Street

Mount Paul United Church at 7:00 p.m. 140 Laburam Street

All are welcome to come and support these effortstowards justice, peace, healing and wholeness.

Adapted from the website of the World Day of Prayer InternationalCommittee.

Glancing Back at St. Paul’s

Winter Social Gatherings

In the late 1970s and early 80s, St. Paul’s held somewinter social gatherings. Among the events werea night of tobogganing and cross-country skiing at

the old Kamloops Ski Hill, located near where Cost-co is now. On a sunny afternoon, several parishion-ers gathered with their families at Lac le Jeune to

enjoy a wiener roast andsome skating, snowshoe-ing and skiing on thefrozen lake.

At left: Terry Watkins,Lorna Turnbull and theRev. Harvey Carmichael(St. Paul’s parishioners

and clergy at that time)were among those whogathered in 1980 at theKalnin residence in Brock-lehurst, for a wonderfulevening of cross-countryskiing at the nearbyKamloops Golf & CountryClub. The mulled winewas great too!

Photo: Chuck Kalnin.

St. Paul’s Circular

Newsletter Distribution Policy

Due to increasing postal costs and current fiscal re-straints, a new policy has been implemented for thedistribution of the St. Paul’s Circular. For those whohave requested electronic copies, distribution will

remain the same.

For those who have received hard copies in thepast, hard copies will continue to be available forpickup for a two week period after publication. Ifthey are not picked up in that time, they will beemailed if possible. Please let us know your emailaddress if we do not already have it.

Hard copies of each issue will continue to be avail-able in the hall foyer and near the Cathedral Office.Each issue will also continue to be posted on ourblog site, with a link to it on our Facebook page.

Chant - Chart - Converse

Another half -day experiential workshop

in this series is being planned for Pentecost.

Please watch for dates and details.




2 14 Lenten Lectures

Haloes and Hidden ThingsExploring the Light & Shadow

of the Spiritual Life Thursdays during Lent

Lectures at 12:15 p.m. in the Cathedral. A light lunch follows in the Parish Hall.

March 6 Bruce Chalmers

March 13 Bruce Comrie

March 20 Ivy Thomas

March 27 Brian Krushel April 3 Dan Hines

April 10 Jennifer Betuzzi & David Lidster

April 17

Carolyn Ronald

Triduum Easter Services

Maundy Thursday, April 17 th

7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist Cathedral Foot Washing

Stripping of the Altar

Good Friday, April 18 th

11:00 a.m. Meditation on the Cross and Cathedral Passion of Our Lord

Easter Sunday, April 20 st

5:00 a.m. Sunrise Eucharist beach offSchubert Dr.

8:00 a.m. Holy Communion Chapel 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Cathedral

Lent Easter at St. Paul’s Cathedral

Annual Men’s Dinner March 15th - 5:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall

It’s a western theme! Dig out those jeans, dust off yourole cowboy hat, and join us for a really great time.

Proceeds will be designated to the Youth Trust Fundwhich is used to send youth and youth leaders to re-treats, conferences, educational courses, etc.

More Dates

Shrove Tuesday

Tuesday, March 4th @ 5:00 pm

Pancakes in the Parish Hall

Ash Wednesday

Wednesday, March 5th @ 10:00 am

Imposition of Ashes in the Chapel

Wednesday, March 5th @ 7:00 pm

Imposition of Ashes in the Cathedral

Palm Sunday

Sunday, April 13th @ 8:00 am

Holy Communion in the Chapel

Sunday, April 13th @ 10:00 am

Liturgy of the Palms, Eucharist Baptism and Confirmation

in the Cathedral

St. Paul’s Annual Parish Picnic

June 9th

after the service at Prince Charles Park

watch for details

We have to stop and be humble enough to un-derstand that there is something called mystery.

Paulo Coelho, Brazilian novelist.

St Paul’s Thrift Shop

Fridays: 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Come Visit - Fill a Need - Find a Treasure

CLOTHING - SHOES - LINENS

TOYS - MUSIC - BOOKS - MAGAZINES

YARN - MATERIAL - CRAFT SUPPLIES

KITCHENWARE - CHINA - POTTERY

PICTURES - JEWELRY - KNICK -KNACKS

GAMES - JIGSAW PUZZLES - GREETING CARDS

Your donations are appreciated and may be leftin the foyer of the upper parish hall during officehours.

Please take the time to toss clothing in yourwasher and dryer and please wash up the pots,pans and dishes.




Upcoming Special Dates

March 4 Tuesday 5:00 p.m. Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner Parish Hall 5 Wednesday 10:00 a.m. Imposition of Ashes Chapel5 Wednesday 7:00 p.m. Imposition of Ashes Cathedral 6 Thursday 12:15 p.m. Lenten Lecture: Bruce Chalmers Cathedral 7 Friday 1:30 p.m. World Day of Prayer Service United Church

13 Thursday 12:15 p.m. Lenten Lecture: Bruce Comrie Cathedral 15 Saturday 5:00 p.m. Men’s Dinner Parish Hall 20 Thursday 12:15 p.m. Lenten Lecture: Ivy Thomas Cathedral 27 Thursday 12:15 p.m. Lenten Lecture: Brian Krushel Cathedral

April 3 Thursday 12:15 p.m. Lenten Lecture: Dan Hines Cathedral 10 Thursday 12:15 p.m. Lenten Lecture: Jennifer Betuzzi Cathedral

& David Lidster 13 Sunday 10:00 a.m. Liturgy of the Palms, Holy Eucharist Cathedral

& Confirmation

17 Thursday 12:15 p.m. Lenten Lecture: Carolyn Ronald Cathedral 17 Thursday 7:30 p.m. Maundy Thursday Eucharist Cathedral 18 Friday 11:00 a.m. Meditation on the Cross and the Cathedral

Passion of our Lord 20 Sunday 5:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Sunrise Eucharist Schubert Drive

20 Sunday 8:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Holy Communion Chapel 20 Sunday 10:00 a.m. Easter Sunday Holy Eucharist Cathedral

May 14 Wednesday 5:00 p.m. “Momma Mia” Spaghetti Dinner Parish Hall 23- 24- 25 Fr - Sa- Su ------------ Equip 2014 Williams Lake

June 15 Sunday after service Parish Picnic Pr. Charles Park

Dates and times may change.

We would be open to mystery:

the mystery of God whom we can never fully de-fine

the wonder and joy of love expressed in poetryand metaphor

the strength and beauty of the Bible along with itshuman frailties and error

the mystery of scientific exploration and all othersearch for knowledge

the mystery and beauty of human beings in ourproper interdependent place in the whole naturalorder.

All of nature and continuing evolution we would seeas wonder and delight, learning from the Divine Loverto dance and celebrate life.

Rev. Bob Purdy, retired Anglican Priest, in “Without Guarantee: In Searchof a Vulnerable God”.

Share your Faith Journey

We invite you to write a few words about your faith journey, near or far. How does your faith interactwith your job and other parts of your life? Could youshare a spiritual experience or moment? Whatsights and experiences have been God moments?What was the church you grew up in like? Or anychurch, worship space or spiritual location that youvisited?

Though it appears to be un- Anglican to witness,we would very much welcome such articles, or any

other items that glorify God.

On the back page of each issue of the Circular,we list a theme for our next issue, loose guidelinesused to help plan and organize. You might usethese themes as points on which to reflect aboutyour own faith journey.

The theme for our Pentecost issue will be healing .Where has God’s grace and healing presence beenpresent for you?

May the God who dances in creation, who embracesus with human love, who shakes our lives like thun-der, bless us and drive us out with power to fill theworld with her justice. Amen.

Janet Morley, British writer and trainer.



St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral Parish Founded 1884

360 Nicola Street, Kamloops, B.C. V2C 2P5 phone: 250 372 3912

e-mail: [email protected]

joyful - rooted - responsive - hospitable

Chuck’s Chatter

Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Barbara Andrews

Rector & Dean: The Very Rev. Louise Peters

Honourary Assistant: The Rev. Sandra Sugden

Honourary Assistant: The Rev. Tom Sugden

Honourary Assistant: The Rev. Viktor Gundel Rector’s Warden: Alison McKinnon

People’s Warden: Verna Albright Youth Coordinator: Melissa Green

Music Directors: Heather & Norris Berg

Office Coordinator: Claire Tosoff

visit our blog

stpaulscathedral.blogspot.com/

follow us on Facebook

next issue submission deadline

May 28, 2014

theme for the next issue: healing

In the early 1960s, Harry Belafonte recorded thesong, “Why ‘n Why” , in which a daughter asks somequestions that her father tries to answer:

Why ‘n why ‘n why/Because, because, because.

Why can’t a mouse eat a streetcar/Because amouse’s stomach is too small to hold a streetcar.

Why can’t a cow have kittens/ Because a cow haslittle calves and a cat has kittens/And besides it’s

easier that way.

Why don’t you answer my questions/Cause I don’tknow the answers/ Goodnight, goodnight.

As a teenager, I too had my own set of ‘why’questions that I seemed to dwell on a lot. Whyis there life? Why am I here? What’s it all about?Indeed, for me, existence was and remains mysteri-ous and I am inquisitive! Celtic spirituality writer,J. Phillip Newell, suggests that we search for an-swers to such questions because, “the grace ofwonderment has been planted deep within us.”

The Oxford Dictionary of English tells us thatmystery is something that is “difficult or impossibleto understand” and that within Christian theology,mystery is seen as “a religious belief based ondivine revelation, especially one regarded asbeyond human understanding.”

Mystery is a word that Anglicans seem to usefreely and often. Each week in our liturgy, “we

proclaim the mystery of faith.” At St. Paul’s, weinvite all who seek Jesus to the table, noting,

“this mystery is available to all.” The New Westmin-ster Dictionary of Liturgy & Worship notes that, sincethe earliest of times, there has been a search for themeaning of mystery: “Major scholars have studied themystery: of the divine, of God, of the transcendent, ofthe universe, of life.”

Mark McIntosh, in his book “Mysteries of Faith” , seesmystery not as a puzzle or problem to be solved, butrather as “the deep dimension of life where meaningdwells.” He adds, “Most of the time we walk along thesurface of things happily enough. But every once in awhile there is a bend in the path and we find ourselvesat the edge of a vast dimension of meaning, hope,

pain, courage or love. Mystery is what beckons andspeaks to us at such moments. It is not something dif-ferent from our everyday lives; it is the real meaning ofour lives, the secret truth of them.”

Many feel that life has at least some kind of meaning,which we might realize through Newell’s ‘grace of won-derment’ . However, he also asks, “How do we reclaim

[the sense of wonder] and learn again to gaze at thelight of the Mystery that dapples through creation andthrough our lives?” In answer, he suggests we are to“become like a child” and that we “move more deeplyinto who we have been created to be as we go forwardon our journey.” Amen.

The real mystery of life is not a problem to be solved.It is a reality to be experienced.

J.J. van der Leeuw, Dutch philosopher, 1890-1950.

Mystery creates wonder and wonder is the basis of our desireto understand. Neil Armstrong, American astronaut, 1930-2012.

Newsletter 9-1 : March 2014

Documents

Transcript of Newsletter 9-1 : March 2014