Serving Sundays

July 1 – 6th Sunday after Pentecost

Vestry: Barbara Kiffmeyer; Chalice: Dave Alcorn; Lessons: Richard

Dickie; Prayers: Jacquie Grimes; Greeters: Pam Jones & Cindy

Armstrong

July 8 – 7th Sunday after Pentecost

Guest Celebrant: The Rev. Tim Hallett; Vestry: Pam Jones; Chalice:

Matt Vosmeier; Lessons: Bill Marvell; Prayers: Carolyn Gunter;

Greeters: Richard & Karen Dickie

July 15 – 8th Sunday after Pentecost

Guest Celebrant: The Rev. Tim Hallett; Vestry: Karen Scroggin;

Chalice: Allen Watson; Lessons: Ted Todd; Prayers: Barbara

Kiffmeyer; Greeters: Jan Campbell & Fred Scroggin

July 22 – 9th Sunday after Pentecost

Vestry: Roger Williams; Chalice: Jim Schell; Lessons: Barbara

Kiffmeyer; Prayers: Peggy Hans; Greeters: Cindy Armstrong & Jan

Campbell

Altar Guild in July: Cindy Armstrong, Brenda Dietrich, Kathy Williams

The Lectionary

July 1: 2 Samuel 1:1, 17-27; Psalm 130; 2 Corinthians 8:7-15; Mark 5:21-43

July 8: 2 Samuel 5:1-5, 9-10; Psalm 48; 2 Corinthians 12:2-10; Mark 6:1-13

July 15: 2 Samuel 6:1-4, 12b-19; Psalm 24; Ephesians 1:3-14; Mark 6:14-29

July 22: 2 Samuel 7:1-14a; Psalm 89:20-37; Ephesians 2:11-22; Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

Upcoming Events

Please add to your calendars:

July 1: Donations for the Rector’s Discretionary Fund

July 2-14: Mother Evelyn will attend General Convention in

Austin, TX.

July 4: Office closed. NO EVENSONG.

July 8 & 15: Father Tim Hallett will be our guest celebrant and

preacher.

July 12: Prayers and Squares at 10; Ladies Lunch Bunch at 11.

July 18: Ulster Evensong and Picnic.

July 22: Guest Speaker at both services from Big Brothers/Big Sisters

Also see Christ Church Events on page 3, and Community Events on page 4.

June 28 – July 17, 2018

UPCOMING

EVENTS

AT CHRIST CHURCH

Servers & Lectionary (pg 1)

Upcoming Events (pg 1)

Rector’s Blog (pg 2)

Events and Things to Note (pg 3)

IN THE DIOCESE

Diocesan Events (pg 3)

IN OUR COMMUNITY

(pg 4)

AND BEYOND

The Wider Church (pg 5)

For a Laugh (pg 6)

OFFICE HOURS

Monday-Thursday: 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM.

In case of a pastoral emergency, please contact

your vestry rep and/or Mother Evelyn.

Our website: http://cecmadison.org Office Phone: 812-265-2158

Make a gift to Christ Church!

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The Rector’s Blog

This issue of the Epistle covers three weeks, as I will be away to attend General Convention until July 15. That week, Karen Ricketts will be on vacation, plus we will have our annual Ulster Choral Evensong, so life is likely to be a bit chaotic when I get back. Maybe chaos is good, yes?

So, what shall we talk about this week?

I’ve been poking around in a book on spiritual practice (Strength for the Journey, by Reneé Miller). In the introductory section she writes about what spirituality is and is not. So, she says, spirituality is not practice; that is, it is not what we do (although we may do any number of practices such as prayer or meditation, worship or study, ministry or movement). She also says spirituality should not be confused with the fruits, such as peace, and inner calmness, an alertness, or a sense of connection with the universe.

Funny, I thought that was what spirituality is!

No, she says, spirituality is about relationship. The practices and the fruits are the method and the byproduct, but the core of spirituality is to be in relationship with God.

If we look at the three synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), we will see Jesus telling the disciples, “Come, follow me. Come and see.” Miller says, “He didn’t demand moral perfection or theological certainty. He wanted people to be in relationship with him. In relationship, they would hear him, watch him in action, be questioned by him, and come to know his love for them.”

Miller writes that we might “be in relationship … mystically, intellecturally, sacramentally, or companionably.” We shouldn't expect that relationship to be static; we should expect change and growth.

When I was in seminary, we were taught that every time we worship, every time we do liturgy, even if all the words are the same, it will always be different. That’s because we are not the same today as we were yesterday, and today we may hear something in the liturgy we have never heard in quite the same way before.

We all know that friendships we had as children may have been lost – people grow up, they change, they move, they switch jobs, they develop new interests, they marry and have kids or they become ill and struggle to survive. But we also gain new friendships and relationships – with neighbors, co-workers, lovers, spouses, and children. All these relationships undergo change, even massive changes.

Thus we can conclude that, despite appearances, even despite times of dullness and boredom, today is never quite the same as yesterday. And the same is true of our relationship with God.

It is not a substitute. Doing practice doesn’t automatically make us better Christians, any more than feeling that inner calm and sense of connection will.

Spiritual practices, and even the fruits of those practices, help us to maintain our awareness of our always-evolving relationship with the Divine.

Living out that relationship is how we participate in the incarnation.

Mother Teresa once wrote: “I always begin my prayer in silence, for it is in the silence of the heart that God speaks. God is the friend of silence – we need to listen to God because it’s not what we say but what he says to us and through us that matters. Prayer feeds the soul – as blood is to the body, prayer is to the soul – and it brings you closer to God. It also gives you a clean and pure heart. A clean heart can see God, can speak to God, and can see the love of God in others.”

If you didn’t begin your day with prayer today, pray now. Sit in silence for the space of a few minutes, breathe with attention, listen for the small sounds of life around you, give thanks for your presence on this good earth, and for the presence of those whom you love. Then just let stillness be. Just for this space of time. Just for right now.

Blessings to all! Evelyn+

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CHRIST CHURCH EVENTS AND INFORMATION The Choir will practice weekly on Sundays, July 1-15, at 11:45 a.m., and sing at the Ulster Choral

Evensong Service on July 18 at 6:00 p.m. Beginning in August, the choir will be singing at the last

Evensong service each month.

The Prayers and Squares Ministry will meet Thursday, July 12 at 10:00 AM. If you are

interested in this ministry, please speak with Pam Jones (812) 265-6364 (or just show

up!).

Ladies’ Lunch Bunch The next meeting of the CEC Lunch Bunch will be Thursday,

July 12, at 11:00 AM.

There will be NO EVENSONG on July 4.

The July meetings of Prayers and Squares and the Lunch Bunch are pushed

back a week due to the federal holiday on July 4.

Happy Independence Day!

THE DIOCESE OF INDIANAPOLIS

A LETTER FROM BISHOP JENNIFER

June 20, 2018

Wade in the water, wade in the water children

Wade in the water. God’s gonna trouble the water

I can’t even count how many times I’ve joyfully sung this spiritual while processing to the font to

baptize someone into the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The lyrics came to mind again last

week when I joined a couple of our congregations on a visit to the Underground Railroad and Freedom

Center museum in Cincinnati. The story of the Ohio River and the history of Indiana and Ohio as

border states speaks to our current moment. It was impossible for those of us visiting the museum to

ignore the parallels between enslaved people crossing the shallow depths of the Ohio River seeking

freedom and those seeking refuge on the southern border of the United States. Indeed, seeing images

of enslaved children being separated from parents reminded us that much of what horrifies us today is

deeply part of the history of our country. I must confess to you that I’m moving through these days

feeling at turns angry, sad, and grasping for hope as I watch a policy of “zero tolerance,” unequally

distributed, compound the trauma of society’s most vulnerable—our children.

Beloved, I used the word, “our” quite intentionally because there is no way for us to disentangle

ourselves from the people who come to the United States seeking refuge and asylum. They are our

children too. When we marched in the Indianapolis Pride Parade earlier this month, proclaiming,

“God loves you, no exceptions!” we really meant, “no exceptions.” And so we must ask—how is

God’s love shown in policies that forcibly separate children from parents? How is God’s love shown

in “zero tolerance” policies? Those who seek to cross our border have myriad reasons for doing so.

Our baptismal covenant commits us to respecting the dignity of every human being and our faith

demands that we advocate for immigration policies that balance justice with compassion.

It is sobering to realize that what we are witnessing is not new. You can no doubt comb the pages of

our holy Scriptures and find instances of children being separated from parents and families. However,

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the overwhelming message of God’s interaction with all creation—humanity especially—is one of

love and reconciliation.

We often say that “God makes a way out of no way.” As part of the Jesus Movement, we know God

to be loving, liberating and life-affirming. That same God is calling us to wade in the water, to stand

with the vulnerable and marginalized and work to transform systems of injustice.

Our diocese will be participating in a number actions: a virtual vigil [took] place [on June 21] on

Facebook and you are also invited to join me, our Faith in Indiana partners, and others at the U.S.

Federal Building on Saturday, June 30. Details are still coming together but watch our diocesan

Facebook page for updates. Deacon Fatima Yakubu-Madus, our missioner for community

engagement, will be coordinating our participation and you can reach her at Fatima@indydio.org for

more information. To attend a rally closer to you, search here. I also commend those who are seeking

refuge in our country and those who govern and make our immigration policies to your individual and

corporate prayers.

Faithfully,

Bishop Jennifer

EPISCOPAL WOMEN'S COUNCIL TO MEET AUGUST 25

All women of the diocese are invited to attend the Episcopal Women's Council on August 25 and to

join the group. The meeting will be held from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. at 4000 N. Meridian Street in

Indianapolis. To learn more or RSVP, email Amy Paget or Burnie Wilkins, or respond on Facebook.

WAYCROSS SUMMER CAMP REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

Registration is now open for 2018 Waycross summer camp programs and other upcoming 2018

events. Registration and more information is available on the Waycross website. Questions? Call the

Waycross office at 812-597-4241.

IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY

KEEPING FAMILIES TOGETHER

On Saturday, June 30, at 12:30 PM starting at the Madison Public Library and walking to Lytle Park

(West Street and West Third), Ohio Indivisible is sponsoring advocacy with presentations on the issue

of family separations at the Mexican border.

THE ULSTER TEENS ARE COMING!

Welcome Ulster Teens: Thursday, June 28th

, at St Patrick’s Church (by Pope John and Shaw schools

on West State Street): Welcome the Ulster teens and host families to this year’s Ulster Project at 5:30

p.m.

The Ulster Project Annual Choral Evensong and Picnic: Wednesday, July 18th

, at Christ Episcopal

Church, 506 Mulberry St. Madison, IN. Doors open at 5:45 p.m. for Evensong, followed by a picnic.

The Ulster Project Dinner Auction: Saturday, July 21st, at Red Bicycle Hall, 125 E. Main St.

Madison, IN. Doors open at 6 p.m., buffet dinner, cash bar, Silent Auction featuring items from

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Ireland, hand crafted items by the Ulster teens and donations from local merchants and organizations.

Talent Show with the Ulster teens. Tickets $15 in advance, or $20 at the door. To make a reservation

by July 13th or to donate to the auction, please contact (812)801-5059 or president@madisonulster.org

.

The Madison Ulster Project Closing Ceremony: Thursday, July 26th

, 5:30 p.m., at First Christian

Church, 512 W. Main St. Madison, IN. Please come and wish the Northern Ireland Teens farewell. For

additional information call (812) 801-5059.

THE WIDER CHURCH

GENERAL CONVENTION MEETS JULY 3-13 IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

“The pressing areas of social justice, multiculturalism and ethnic ministries” were examined by the

House of Deputy Committee on the State of the Church in a three-year study of how the Episcopal

Church can better equip itself and minister effectively in multiple social contexts in “these deeply

troubled and divisive times.” For more information see the news item.1

Also on the agenda: Whether and how to update the Hymnal 1982; whether to make any adjustments

to marriage liturgies; and issues related to racial discrimination and reconciliation, among others.

There will also be a Bishops’ listening session on sexual harassment in the church.

See the new Diocesan website (same address: https://indydio.org) for updates from the delegation

MISSION DEVELOPERS SPREAD THE GOSPEL AND EPISCOPAL CHURCH’S REACH INTO

THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS

The current versions of new church starts in the Episcopal Church don’t all look like the ones that

were formed during the last big push Episcopalians made 60 years ago. Read a continuing series of

ways in which individual churches are creating new expressions and opportunities in mission work,

and you can read these stories on the Episcopal News Service.2

EPISCOPALIANS JOIN THE POOR PEOPLE’S CAMPAIGN RALLY, MARCH ON

WASHINGTON: ‘NATIONAL CALL FOR MORAL REVIVAL’

Excerpted from an article in Episcopal News Services:

“Fifty years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. led a Poor People’s Campaign. As part of that

campaign, during an April 1968 trip to Memphis, Tennessee, in support of African-American

sanitation workers striking for higher wages, King was shot dead. Today, a new Poor People’s

Campaign is under way and Episcopalians are getting involved. …

“Thousands of people, including at least 100 Episcopalians, from across the country representing

social justice organizations, churches and faith-based initiatives gathered on June 23 in Washington,

D.C., for the Poor People’s Campaign rally and march. For three-and-a-half hours on the National

Mall, speakers — the majority of them living on the front lines of poverty — shared their personal

stories relating to systemic racism, environmental degradation and other poverty indicators. Following

1 https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2018/06/26/convention-to-face-tough-societal-questions-confronting-the-episcopal-church/

2 https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2018/05/31/mission-developers-spread-the-gospel-and-episcopal-churchs-reach-into-their-

neighborhoods/

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the rally, attendees took to the street and marched to the Capitol chanting slogans like, ‘This Is What

Democracy Looks Like’ and ‘The People United Will Not Be Divided.’”

“‘America is great because she is good,’ said Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, referencing Alexis de

Tocqueville in a video address broadcast on the big screen to the crowd gathered on the mall.

“‘We must make America great again, not by force, not by power, not by might, but by goodness.

Make America great by justice, make America great by freedom, make America great by equality. The

Poor People’s Campaign doesn’t simply celebrate the past, though it remembers the past. It remembers

the courage of Dr. King and others who carried on the first Poor People’s Campaign,’ said Curry.

See and/or read ++Michael Curry’s speech.3

FOR A LAUGH

When your faith is truly a transformative experience:

3 https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/2018/06/25/episcopalians-join-the-poor-peoples-campaign-rally-march-on-washington/