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Volume 5 Issue 8
August, 2014
St. Mary’s News
A Stranger Kind of Love
One of my favorite passages from the Gospel of Luke is when Jesus visits the
home of Mary and Martha. In Luke chapter 14, Jesus offers advice for those
attending parties and those hosting parties. Jesus sounds a bit like he’s writing
a Messianic Good Housekeeping column, or a divine version of Martha Stewart
Living.
But in reality Jesus’ teaching cuts through the niceties to the heart of the matter, the spirit rather than the letter of the law? Thinking about this, I was reminded of Martha’s Way vs. a more Laid Back Way, an email joke I ran across
some time back. Here are three examples comparing how Martha Stewart does
things with a much more Laid Back approach:
Contents
1 Rector’s Message
3 Daughters of King
Christian Education
4 Kairos
5 Outreach
Music Notes
6 Music Camp
7 Love One Another
8 Birthdays/
Anniversaries
Martha’s way: Stuff a miniature marshmallow in the bottom of a sugar
cone to prevent ice cream drips.
The Laid Back Way: Just suck the ice cream out of the bottom of the
cone, for Pete’s sake, you are probably laying on the couch with your
feet up eating it anyway.
Martha’s way: When a cake recipe calls for flouring the baking pan, use
a bit of the dry cake mix instead and there won’t be any white mess on
the outside of the cake.
Laid Back Way : Go to the bakery. That way no worries about the cake
pan, and they’ll even decorate the cake for you.
And finally:
Martha’s way: Now look what you can do with Alka Seltzer: Clean a toilet. Drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets, wait twenty minutes, brush and
flush. The citric acid and effervescent action clean vitreous China.
Clean a vase. To remove a stain from the bottom of a glass vase or cruet, fill with water and drop in two Alka-Seltzer tablets. Polish jewelry.
Drop two Alka-Seltzer tablets into a glass of water and immerse the
jewelry for two minutes. Clean a thermos bottle. Fill the bottle with
water, drop in four Alka-Seltzer tablets, and let soak for an hour (or
longer, if necessary).
Laid Back Way : Put your jewelry, vases, and thermos in the toilet. Add
some Alka-Seltzer and you have solved a whole bunch of problems at
once.
But we know Jesus is neither Martha Stewart, or Miss Manners. Jesus is teaching something much more important than rules for hosting banquets. After all,
Jesus knew all about being a stranger in need of hospitality. Look at the Gospel
of Luke, from which we get today’s Gospel reading.
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From Luke chapter 9:51 through the end of the book in chapter 24, Jesus is almost always on the road. Jesus
is continually the stranger to a new town in need of hospitality. Jesus also offered hospitality while on the
road. Jesus would find himself surrounded by a crowd made up of people come to check out the stranger in
the area who came with a new teaching and yet he would serve as the host, sitting them down and feeding
the multitudes. Jesus even serves as host in others’ houses. The Last Supper was served by Jesus in a home
where Jesus himself was a guest.
Alongside this Gospel reading when you get it church on a Sunday morning, the lectionary writers couple it
with a selection from Hebrews that sheds more light on what Jesus is teaching. The Hebrews reading says,
“Let mutual love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” The original Greek passage our translation comes from has an interesting turn of phrase. This verse from Hebrews says, “Let Philadelphia remain. Do not go on being unmindful of Philoxenia.” Philadelphia means brotherly love. Philoxenia means love of the stranger. It comes from
philos meaning love and xenos meaning stranger. Throughout the New Testament, the Greek philoxenia,
love of the stranger translates in hospitality in English. In the Bible, hospitality is not just something we offer friends and relatives (or even rich neighbors). The Bible tells us that hospitality is something extended
to strangers. The author of Hebrews tells us to continue with the brotherly love we have for one another,
but in doing so, we are not to neglect to love strangers.
The author of Hebrews connects love of stranger to another biblical story. We are told, “Do not neglect to
show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it.” This is a
clear reference to the story of Abraham and Sarah in the Old Testament book of Genesis for they entertained strangers who turned out to be more than they expected. Abraham saw three men approaching his
tents.
As any good Bedouin would do today, Abraham invited the strangers to rest and refreshment. But Abraham
really went out of his way, offering to wash the three strangers’ feet, and to have a meal prepared for them.
The three strangers blessed Abraham and promised the aged Abraham and Sarah that they would bear a
son within the year. Abraham offered hospitality to strangers, who turned out to be angels who brought
him God’s blessing.
How can we possibly live out love of the stranger in our day-to-day lives? Are we to really go riding around
in our cars, trolling for poor, crippled, and blind dinner guests? Certainly, Jesus did mean for the folks he
was talking with to do just that. But, inviting folks to a party because they can’t pay you back is just one dramatic way to show philoxenia, love of the stranger. Jesus didn’t say to share love with everyone you don’t
know. What he was really saying was to share love with the people no one else loves.
The reason why hospitality is so essential for a church as this is the one place where no one can ever be a
stranger. Sure, folks come who I don’t know, and may never have a chance to meet. But the table in our
midst is not my table. It is the Lord’s table. And there is no one who crosses our threshold who is not fully
known to the host. Whether we as a church are welcoming or not, everyone who shows up at St. Mary’s—all
sorts and conditions of people—are welcome.
Jesus is cutting through the letter of the law to its spirit. Through his life and ministry in which he loved the
unlovable and noticed the person others passed by, Jesus revealed that the term stranger is a temporary
one anyway in eternal terms. For in God’s time, there will be no strangers. All will know God and one another fully.
Today’s stranger is the person you may come to know for all eternity. This is the communion of the
saints—those of us in the here and now and the rest of the Body of Christ through time. To this communion, each stranger brings his or her own unique gifts. St. Mary’s Dade City will be made more fully
into the image of Christ through each newcomer we welcomed into the midst of our congregation.
Of course, showing love for the stranger is not confined to Sunday’s only or to church only. I’m not suggesting we butt in where we are not needed, but there are times when it is appropriate to reach out to
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someone we don’t know to share God’s love. These situations are hard to characterize this Sunday morning,
but we’ll know the chance when you see it.
I took a risk this month in writing about hospitality and you’ve taken a risk by reading. Keep your eyes open.
God is ready to show you that opportunities to show love to strangers are closer at hand than you think. They
may begin here at St. Mary’s as this church welcomes strangers, but this love from God will extend to every
area of your life. Amen.
The Rev. Dewey E. Brown, Jr.
Rector – St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
(352) 567-3888
www.stmdc.com
Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine: Glory to him from
generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:20, 21
Who Are We? And Who Are Our Neighbors?
Jesus did not mince words: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." A straightforward commandment (Mark 12:31) that nevertheless requires a good-sized
measure of what grandmothers used to call 'soul searching'. What do I love about
myself? How do I honor that love? And pass it on to my neighbor? Just who is my
neighbor? These are questions that the women of Martha Chapter (DOK)
will explore over the coming months, beginning Sunday, August 17th, when they
meet for lunch, and prayerful discussion in Lock-Evans after the 10
a.m. Service. All women of the parish are welcome, but if you're coming this
month, please bring a copy of your favorite hymn and be prepared to read or (sing!) it to the group.
Virginia Crippen
Christian Education
Although you may not see it, during the month of August your Christian Education team will be hard at work making preparations for the beginning of Sunday school. We will host our annual Back to School Game Night with Potluck Supper on September
14th from 5:00-7:00pm in Freeman Hall.
The first day of Sunday school, including our popular Parent's Class, will begin the following Sunday, September 21st. Sunday
school starts at 9:00am in Tanno Hall. I am looking forward to seeing all the wonderful kids and working with such a stellar group
of teachers!
For more information, contact Paige Wolfenden.
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Kairos
The upcoming Women’s Kairos #35 will be held at Hernando Correctional Institution in Brooksville Oct. 2-5.
Scripture tells us the desire of Christ is that people visit the prisoner. for most Christians that call is simply beyond them..
However, through the
Kairos weekend, people can indeed “visit” on behalf of Christ without even stepping foot in the prison. Each
Kairos weekend is surrounded by AGAPE - the unconditional love of Christ delivered by the people of Christ.
The following is a list of ways you can show agape love on Christ’s behalf.
1. You can help provide PRAYER for the 36 inmates and 36 lay women attending the weekend. Please look
for the ‘sign-up’ sheet in Freeman Hall. A paper chain is created with all the names of people who are praying and it hangs all around the room as a visible sign of agape that really touches the ladies.
2. You can sign the Kairos POSTER at coffee hour with a few words of prayerful encouragement. The ladies
Love reading your sentiments during their breaks.
3. You can donate packages of store bought COOKIES. A container will be provided in Freeman Hall. The ladies love snacking on a variety of cookies from containers on their tables which are constantly replenished
throughout the weekend.
4. You can perform a sacrificial; act of kindness by making a MONETARY CONTIRBUTION of any size towards
the cost of the weekend. A gift of $5.00 provides a meal for an inmate. Check can be made out to KAIROS
and donations are tax deductible.
**Many thanks to Paige Wolfenden and the church school children for decorating placemats used at every
meal. They are a much loved form of agape, and the children’s artwork is so revered by the inmates they save
then as souvenirs.
Please see Debi Brown, Monica Lehman or Nancy Meech with any questions about Kairos.
Last Sunday for Cookies or Checks is September 28th.
Thank You!!!
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Outreach
Please look at the weekly updates and information blurbs in the weekly bulletin on opportunities for outreach.
Food to Share Collection – Please continue to donate items so that they can be distributed to Daystar or Pastor May Ross as
well as Father Dewey’s food basket for those in need. Glen Thompson works with this ministry.
Knitty Gritty Group – starting back up on Wednesday, August 6th. Please join us when you can, leave when you have to, 3 pm
to 5 pm, each Wednesday.
Cox Elementary – Donations are still being collected and will be delivered to Cox Elementary School after August 11 th. All
types of school supplies plus tissues and hand sanitizer are needed.
Love One Another – Margaret Thompson is the contact person for this ministry. August 10th is the next dinner – look at the
bulletin and see how you can participate.
Kairos Team – Debi Brown and Nancy Meech are part of the team that goes to the women’s prison. Cookies are collected
and prayers are welcome. Please contact them if you would like to help on this project.
The above are some of our Outreach efforts. There are many other avenues of mission and service at St. Mary’s. If you have
a special one you would like to share, please talk to me or another member of the Outreach Committee.
Karen Patterson
Music Notes
As the hot and long summers days come to a close, all of us involved with St. Mary’s Music Ministries hope that you and your
loved ones have had a safe, enjoyable, and music-filled summer. I am going to make two short comments and then let Terry
McKienzie, our representative of this year’s music workshop/camp, give the bulk of our end of summer Music News.
First of all, I would like to invite you to attend the 2014 Pioneer Days Old Time Gospel Fest to be held on Saturday, August 30th at
the Dade City Pioneer Florida Museum and Village. The St. Mary’s singers and instrumentalists will be presenting an hour’s
worth of music between 10 and 11 am in the old Enterprise Church on the grounds (1 mile N of Dade City off Highway 301 N,
East on Pioneer Museum Road). We hope to see a big crowd there!
Secondly, on a personal note, I would like to sincerely thank each and every one of you for your prayers, support, and solid advice you have given me during my husband Ed’s recent hospitalization, diagnosis of CHF and diabetes, and now during his home
recuperation period. I honestly would not have made it through this stressful time without your love and concern. I praise God
each day for the miraculous progress that Ed has made, and I am eternally grateful for all that my St. Mary’s family has done to
help us adjust during this difficult time in our lives.
God’s Love and Peace to You,
Sharon Brant
(813)949-4184
[email protected]
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2014 FUMMWA Florida Music Workshop & Youth Camp Report
Denise and I would like to thank everyone who helped make our participation in the workshop possible. It was a
very rewarding experience and we hope to attend in 2015.
The workshop had multiple, parallel sessions each day and early evening so that participants could select those
classes and seminars that appealed to them the most.
For the adults, those daily training sessions included a Hymn Festival, Intermediate and Advanced Handbell
playing, Choral music reading sessions (We sang through newly published music), multiple “Teach the Teachers”
sessions such as “Developing Choral Techniques,” “Rehearsal Techniques”, and daily rehearsals to prepare for
the final celebration concert on Friday. The youth sessions included topics such as Sign Language, Art, Faith
Sharing, Drama, Dance, and Guitar, as well as rehearsals for the Friday concert and choral singing techniques.
The youth also had recreational time in their schedule, including an evening of bowling. The joint sessions included an Instrumental Ensemble, Street Drumming, Intermediate Handbells and noon worship services.
Denise was kept quite busy monitoring the youth activities, but did manage to squeeze in some of the adult sessions. I was also able to participate in some of the multimedia audio/video production activities that supported
the noon worship services. The seminars and concert rehearsals were conducted by nationally known music
clinicians including Dr. David Cherwein and Dr. Carol Krueger, as well as other experts.
The week finished with a talent show on Thursday evening and a 2 hour concert on Friday that included performances by the youth group, bell choir, adult singers and a joint performance. We were able to bring back at least
one copy of all the music that was sung and in many cases, several copies. We also brought back handouts from
the choral technique training sessions to share. Sharon has all the music and handouts if anyone wants to see
them.
If anyone would like additional information, I would be happy to meet with them. I would estimate that adult
attendee distribution was approximately 60 to 70 percent music directors and the remainder were choir members or others that just enjoy singing. Singing in concert with such a talented group of people was very exhilarating and unforgettable. A church from Clearwater actually sent a bus with their music minister and lots of choir
members! We hope that in 2015, we will have more attendees from St. Mary’s.
Again, thank you for the privilege of representing St. Mary’s church.
Respectfully submitted, Terry & Denise McKienzie
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Summertime Special
Our August 10th Love One Another meal is going to be special in several ways.
First of all our menu will be something special. We’ll be serving fried chicken from Steph’s restaurant along
with sides all supplied by Jack Cook. The living is easy; at least for those who usually do the cooking on
Saturday mornings. Of course there will be your boiled eggs and brownies to round out the menu.
Linda and Perry Cain will be playing music for all of us that afternoon. That always brings smiles and joy to
everyone in the room making for a special gathering.
St. Mary’s Love One Another effort received continued and generous support from two former parishioners
– Ruthann and Maynard Swanson. After being active members of St. Mary’s for many years they moved to
north Florida but they maintain several close connections with their former church home. Love One Another
is one of those special connections. It is with much appreciation that their kind and generous support is
acknowledged.
About thirteen volunteers will be needed Sunday afternoon (approximately 1:00 to 3:00 P.M.) about five to
man the dining room serving our guests and meeting their needs. Another crew of seven or eight to keep
the kitchen running; plating food, dishing deserts, buttering bread, keeping the beverages flowing, washing
up dirty dishes, making sense out of the orders. These are very special people who give up part of their
Sunday afternoon to make someone else’s afternoon enjoyable.
With Jack’s menu, the addition of your boiled eggs, and brownies, music by Linda and Perry, the Swanson’s
kind and generous support and the good work of many volunteers it is sure to be a summertime special.
If you want to join in contact Margaret Thompson
Telephone = (352) 567-7449 - e-mail = afoolforflavor @ iCloud.com
Our next Love One Another meal ! - We will do it again October 12, 2014.
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BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES
August Birthdays
3 Gail Grant
23 Christiana Swanson
5 Nancy Alfonso
24 Alan Teschner
Jean McNary
25 Maynard Swanson
6 Milt Larson
26 Henry Vogler
7 JoAnn Cook
28 Clay Jordan
Matthew Jennings
8 Cecil McGavern
11 Brian Rieger
D”Anne Bruen
12 Farley Phillips
Sheila Highsmith
29 Ed Brandt
Paul Proctor
Hunter Barnard
30 Karen Patterson
Mike Smith
Cassidy Watson
Jock Weightman
Sunny Barnard
Brian Teston
13 Jeff Phillips
August Anniversaries
Randy Phillips
3 Jim and Barbara Mattes
Bill Schnedler
4 Tom and Sue Szczerba
14 Bill Croteau
5 Michael and Teena Avadikian
15 Mary Lou Jordan
17 Jeff and Lois Ann Alston
16 Marge Moffett
22 William and Beverly Dennis
17 Jack Finnerty
31 Jim and Carol Barnett
Donna Messing
21 Shauna Hutsell
Irene Macomb
Marlene Snyder
22 Gordon Morson
Sandra Sartain
23 Diane Heiler
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St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
37637 Magnolia Avenue
Dade City, Florida 33523
352-567-3888
Check out our Website…
www.stmdc.com
Upcoming Events
Now - Sept. 28th - Kairos Cookie/$$ collection
August 10th - Love One Another
August 30th - Old Time Gospel Fest
September 21st - Sunday School Begins
October 12th - Love One Another
January 31 - February 5, 2015 - Parish Cruise