Newsletter
Church of the Advent in Walnut Hills
March 2016
• From the Desk of Rev. Stacy
What has come into being in Him was life, and the
life was the light of all people. The light shines in
the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome
it. (John 1:3b-5)
One day sitting the officers’ desk in the
segregation unit of the women’s prison, the
officers found time to give their opinion about
what God’s judgement or Hell might look like.
While listening God gave me this story and I
shared it with them.
A man finds himself sitting alone in
a dark theatre. The stage curtains
open revealing a movie screen. In a
short while the man comprehends that
he is watching a movie about himself.
It begins with his young years. At
first he is amused, but as he watches
himself age he becomes aware that he
doesn’t like what he sees. He views
all the hurt he has received and all
the hurt he has heaped on others. The
self-denial that he used to be able
to surround himself could not be to
be summoned. He tries to close his
eyes, but he cannot resist the drama.
The lie that was his life is playing
out before him. The man becomes aware
of his anguishing guilt and shame. As
the movie ends the man sits in the
absence of love, crying and gnashing
his teeth.
With a flashlight in hand an usher
moves toward the sobbing figure. With
an ever peaceful presence the usher
sits with the man, offering tissues
to catch all the tears. When the man
can cry no longer the usher offers a
warm and gentle hand. The man takes
the usher’s hand. They stand up
together and using the flashlight
they walk up the aisle and out into
the brilliant sunlight.
I will never forget the silence around the
officers’ desk after telling that story or the look
on the faces of my co-workers. Finally someone
broke the silence saying, “That would be Hell.”
Someone else murmured a thoughtful, “Wow!”
The way they began to move into their next
tasks seemed more thoughtful than usual. I still
wonder if anyone caught the end of the story.
The usher that gives unconditional love and
guides the wounded soul into the healing light.
Like many of you I have experienced darkness
and light and have been darkness and light in
this small and temporary world of ours. I have
also experienced God’s amazing presence in my
life. I cannot help but believe that God is with
each one of us, offering us a hand when we are
down, ready to walk us through the darkness
into hope.
May each of you have a happy season of
Resurrection, Light, and Love.
Lenten Program-Reflections on Gospel readings in Mark and John
We continue to reflect on some passages from the Gospels of Mark and John. We will discover what these readings
mean for us today, right this moment. There will be laughter and joy of the Holy Spirit, some creative activity, and
serious discussion as we explore our lives in connection with the Good News of Christ.
Join us each Wednesday in our parish hall beginning February 17 through March 15 at 6:00 pm for a simple meal and
bible study at 6:30 pm.
The Ways of Stewardship: Financial
As the Vestry reads the book “Holy Currencies: Six Blessings
for Sustainable Missional Ministries” I will be adding an
article each month about how each of us can be good
stewards of all that God has given us. This month we begin
with the subject that most of us roll our eyes at or get
tongue tied about – Financial giving.
Jesus talks about stewardship all the time and has no
problem using money or possessions as the main image for
the lesson.
Most of us are familiar with Jesus’ story about the owner of
some property leaving three of his stewards in charge of his
money. He gave each a portion for them to invest. The first
increased the investment five-fold, the second increased it
two-fold, and the third buried it because he was afraid to
invest what did not belong to him. Yes, I know that many of
you think it’s a metaphor for spiritual investment, but part
of spiritual discipline is being able to give freely to God, and
that includes money.
The history of stewardship
Christians have been investing in their particular
communities since Jesus started his ministry. One only
needs to read the book of Acts to see stewardship of time,
talent, and money (that dreaded word) were just some of
the ways that people gave to their faith communities.
Stewardship exercise with the Vestry
At our last meeting I decided to take our Vestry on a little
financial stewardship experiment. Passing out little post-anotes I asked them to write down 10% of their net monthly
income (that’s after taxes). We then passed those to the
treasurer who added them up. The notes were anonymous
because we have economic diversity in our vestry.
Why 10%? It is the formula for giving that God gave
to the Hebrew people and it’s an easy number to
work with.
Surprise!
Imagine the surprise of the Vestry when they found
that among them, nine people, giving 10% of their
take-home pay would give Advent about $3000
each month. I pointed out that even if we knocked
our giving down to 5% that would still be $1500
each month just from 9 people. We usually pull in
less than that each Sunday even though our
congregation is growing.
The response from most of the vestry was basically,
“I need to rethink my giving.” This sentiment was
based on the notion that we love God and we
recognize that everything we have and everything
we are belongs to God. We say it every Sunday at
the Eucharist. Yet a simple financial sacrifice of
thanksgiving is the hardest thing for us to do.
Stewardship in your own Home
Stewardship isn’t just about what you give to the
church, but how you take care of your own
financial blessings from God. Are you being wise
with what you have?
A wise person I knew gave 10% to their church,
10% to their savings account, which left 80% for
bills and entertainment. They didn’t have a big
income and sometimes they had to focus on the
things they needed rather than the things they
wanted, but they found that sometimes that was a
good discipline to go through.
I can’t tell you how to be a good financial Steward.
All I can do is challenge everyone, including myself,
to really take a look at whether our financial giving
to God celebrates all that God does for us.
Rev. Stacy
Lenten Bible Study Programs
See page 2 of this Newsletter for more details. We hope you’ll join us for the last few sessions.
A Raisin in the Sun
“What happens to a dream deferred? Does it dry up like a raisin in he sun?” (Langston Hughes). Come and see
this wonderful play about a family living in a small apartment and their struggles as they struggle with their own
particular dreams in a world that would like to squash those dreams. The play is free, but you still need a ticket. If
you’d like tickets please call Cathy Maret at Advent, 513-961-2100. The play is at Miami University (Oxford OH)
March 9-12, 7:30 pm and March 13 (Sunday) at 2 pm, Studio 88 Theater. If you can, get a group and pool
together.
Upcoming Events at a Glance
• March 2, 9, and16, (Wednesdays) Lenten program, meal at 6 pm and program at 6:30 pm
• VESTRY MEETING March 15 (Tuesday) at 6 pm in the parish hall. Guests are welcome.
• March 10 (Thursday) at 6:30 pm, the Walnut Hills Neighborhood Organization meets at the Bush
Recreation Center.
• March 11 (Friday) Legal Aid meets with Advent III residents at 3 pm in the parish hall.
• March 19 (Saturday) Walnut Hills Neighborhood Beautification team meets in the parish hall at 10 am.
• ALTAR GUILD March 19 (Saturday) meets in parish lounge at 10 am to make palm crosses. Guests
welcome to help make crosses. Instructions are offered.
• PALM SUNDAY, March 20
• MAUNDY THURSDAY, March 24 – 6 pm meal, 6:30 worship service
• GOOD FRIDAY, March 25 – Noon service, and a 6:30 pm service
• EASTER SUNDAY, March 27 – 9:30 worship service, followed by Potluck and scavenger hunt for children.
• Sunday Services are 8 am and 10 am
• Each Tuesday at 10:00 am. you can join the stitchery
• Choir Practice happens each Thursday at 6 pm and Sunday at 9 am.
Serving Schedule for March
Date
Acolyte/EM
Lay Reader/EM
Altar Guild
Usher
Snack
Lock-up
3/6
Marx B
Paul J
Ginger &
Shari
Jim H
Barb & Carol
Tom C
3/13
Lucy L
Johnetta S
Carol & Sally
Tom C
Paul J.
Ken W
3/20
Marx B
Johnetta S
Cathy &
Beth
Beth
Meredith &
Marx
Ed S
3/27
Lucy L
Paul L.
Lucy &
Johnetta
Marx
Easter
Potluck
Rick B
Staff at Advent
Priest in Charge – Rev. Stacy Salles
Administrative Assistant – Cathy Maret
Open Door – Evie Foulkes
Music Director – Taylor Brown
Organist – Brad
Senior Warden – Paul Lefler
Junior Warden – Tom Cunningham
Treasurer- Paul Keller
Church Phone: 513-961-2100
Pastoral Emergencies: 734-649-7726
Email address: [email protected]
Mailing Address
2366 Kemper Ln.
Cincinnati, OH 45206