The Beacon, February 2008

A sense of peace

I had an MRI on Friday, January 18th. As I was lying in the "tube" wondering whether or not I should be panicking from such an enclosed space, I decided to have a conversation with myself about irrational fear.

What exactly was I reacting to? Did I think that suddenly this solid ceramic/metal tube was going to shrink, thereby crushing me, or did I think that a hidden door near my feet was going to come crashing down, entombing me? Did I believe that somehow the bad, evil technician or doctor was going to pump all of the oxygen out of the tube, thereby suffocating me?

It was laughable when I thought it through. Yet, we are all subject to irrational fears. For example, I know for a fact that some of you won't give the church office your e-mail addresses. Why? Do you fear that we'll sell those addresses to some advertising company so that you'll get constant spam? Do you fear that I or the parish secretary or one of the wardens will ourselves harass you with irrelevant e-mails? Do you really believe that we'll misuse your addresses like this?

And yet, you're not alone. I hear from fellow clergy that their parishioners feel the same way and do the same thing that you do. In a sense, we all have irrational fears of one kind or another. Some days the ringing of the telephone or the doorbell buzzing fills us with fear. Some days we anticipate the worst, but the worst never happens, and even if it did, life goes on and tomorrow dawns. Nevertheless, there are days when all of us are so filled with dread that we'd like to just run away. But where would we run? The only place I know worthwhile is to the Lord's presence.

It's in these moments that we ask God to allow the Holy Spirit to enter our lives and calm our minds, and fill us with a sense of peace. It's during these times that we open ourselves to those things of God which lift up our troubled spirits and give us joy - a new snowfall, the warmth of the sun even on a winter's day, the chirping of birds, etc. But the most wonderful "thing" the Lord has given to uplift us, other than Himself, is the love of family and friends.

Their words and actions do more to calm our terrors than just about anything. Isn't it ironic that though we are subject to irrational fears, we help calm such fears in others?

I'm really trying to be optimistic in my "old age" (this from a pessimist!). Every day I'm trying to be intentional in praying that God will move me to be thankful for yesterday, and to measure today by what goes right, and not by its difficulties. And in the fears and doubts that do come to me, I'm trying constantly to affirm the last couple of sentences from Romans, Chapter 8: "nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord". I pray that you all will try doing the same.

Faithfully, Fr Bill - who can be reached via email at frbilmrtn@aol.com

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Realizing our limits

I spent some time a week or so ago straightening out my study, not that it was time to do so, you understand. I mean, everything was in its place, and I knew where that place was, most of the time. Music was here; books were there; computer stuff was near the computer, mostly. The closet? Well, that was something else again. I knew there were some things in there, extra music, my amplifier and microphone, some games that we hadn't played in years. When you live in a one-story house with no cellar, there just isn't room for a lot of stuff, so things get placed where they'll fit, with no recognizable organization; although I suspect that if we had a cellar it would probably look like my study.

Anyway, in the closet I discovered a bag containing some material from when I was involved in Stephen Ministry here at St Stephen's. Stephen Ministry was confusing to many people. Because of the name Stephen, people thought Stephen Ministry was a program run by our church. However, Stephen Ministry was part of a nation-wide program designed to train people to give one-on-one pastoral care to those in need. Stephen Ministers met twice a month for supervision to discuss the current situations we were involved in (in strictest confidence; no names were ever mentioned.) We were not counselors, but we were trained to listen and to help people work through their own situations. Many people here at St Stephen's have been involved with Stephen Ministry over the years which, like many programs, had its own life cycle and gradually faded away.

This has been a long way to get to my column. As I was going through the Stephen Ministry material, I discovered a couple of prayers that we used as part of our meetings. One is a prayer by Bishop Oscar Romero of San Salvador. I did a little research on the bishop and found out that he was martyred in the 80's for standing up to the government and was a staunch advocate of the poor. He was assassinated by the government for his stand. We Stephen Ministers often used this prayer at the close of our meetings.

• It helps now and then to step back and take the long view.
• The Kingdom is not only beyond our efforts, it is even beyond our vision.
• We accomplish in our lifetime only a tiny fraction of the magnificent enterprise that is God's work.
• Nothing we do is complete, which is another way of saying that the Kingdom always lies beyond us.
• No statement says all that should be said. No prayer fully expresses our faith.
• No confession brings perfection. No pastoral visit brings wholeness.
• No program accomplishes the church's missions. No set of goals and objectives includes everything.
• This is what we are about. We plant the seeds that one day will grow.
• We water seeds already planted, knowing that they hold future promise.
• We lay foundations that will need further development.
• We promise yeast that produces effects far beyond our capabilities.
• We cannot do everything, and there is a sense of liberation in realizing that.
• This enables us to do something and to do it very well.
• It may be incomplete, but it is a beginning, a step along the way, an opportunity for God's grace to enter and do the rest.
• We may never see the end result, but that is the difference between the master builder and the worker.
• We are workers, not master builders; ministers not messiahs.
• We are prophetesses and prophets of a future that is not our own - Amen.
• Bishop Oscar Romero

As I read and reread this prayer/poem, I thought about its appropriateness for Lent. As we enter this season of penitence, I think that sometimes we berate ourselves unnecessarily and assume guilt that is beyond our ability to endure in our attempts to be repentant. Romero's words remind us that we all are able to do something, but that none of us can do it all. So let us use Lent as a time for quiet reflection, for doing that which we can, thanking God for his great generosity in all things as we await the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

Peace, Fred Philcox

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Finding the signs

I recently bought a Birthday card for a young child. Inside, it had a colorful scene comprised of a variety of different animals. It was noted, however, that there were special Birthday items hidden in the picture. They included balloons, presents, a birthday cake and a party hat. The child was supposed to find the hidden items. This is a familiar game, which we often see in children's books.

I think life can be a lot like that. In the busy world we live in, our vision is often clouded. We see the general big picture but we often miss the many signs of God all around us. Jesus said : "The Kingdom of God is among you." - Luke 17:21 The signs of God really are all around us but like the hidden pictures in the birthday card, we have to slow down a little and be open to see them.

Just as eye glasses aid us in our physical vision, I have found ways that have enhanced my spiritual vision of life. I start each morning with prayer and reading scripture. Jesus said: "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you shall find." Matthew 7:7 I ask God to open my eyes to see the "holy moments" in my day. My one time sighting of the wild turkeys was one such awesome moment!

Another thing that has given me more of an openness and awareness of God is writing him a thank you note for the blessings of each day. I have done this for many years now. When I look back through these little notebooks, I am just in awe of God's blessings in my life. A good walk is a wonderful visual aid. We miss so much in life, as we rush about in our cars. Granted, they are a necessary part of our busy lives but take time to savor the beauty of our world with a good walk. Gaze at the sky, breathe in the cool air, listen to the birds, take in a sunset and look for even more signs of God.

The very young and the very old have brightened my vision of the world. They have taught me much about patience, contentment and joy. Uncover the special hidden joys in every day. God planned them just for you. Enjoy!

Blessings Always, Phyl Endicott

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Mission and Outreach

In conjunction with the Westborough Interfaith Association, M&O will be collecting new and gently used books as part of Project Classroom. The books will be sent to Gregory Elementary School in New Orleans. Picture, coloring, chapter, and young reader books for grades Kindergarten through Grade 8 should be left in the collection bin in Fay Hall.

Sssshh — It's a surprise! On Saturday February 10th, starting at 11:00am, teen and adult volunteers will be baking cookies and sweet treats to send in Valentine's Care Packages to our college students and to parishioners no longer able to get to Church. Included in each Care Package will be a selection of prayers, notes of encouragement and good wishes. Please stop by in Fay Hall to add your prayers, notes of encouragement and/or personal greetings (Warm Fuzzy!) to be sent with the goodie packages. If you would like to help with the baking just come in on Saturday morning February 10th; all are welcome.

We know that these expressions of love and support are extremely welcome, particularly as the students tackle their mid term exams. Please let Fr. Bill or one of the undersigned know if you have a college student or shut in so that no one is left out.

Many thanks - Anne Deysher, Yvette Kite, Helen Panas

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Episcopal Relief and Development

When disaster strikes we typically think of organizations like the Red Cross and the Salvation Army, but did you know that our own Episcopal Church is also actively involved in disaster relief? For decades, Episcopal Relief and Development (formerly the Presiding Bishop's Fund) has helped dioceses and churches respond to the needs of their communities in the aftermath of disasters. The Domestic Disaster Response and Preparedness Program equips and trains our parishes at the local level through two goals:

1. Training our parish members to protect their families so that they can be ready to act in their communities when disasters hit.
2. Training our dioceses and parishes to effectively deliver relief (food, water and shelter) in the immediate aftermath of a disaster and provide long-term recovery assistance in cooperation with other local agencies.

An example of long-term relief is the project our parish members assisted with this summer in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

Episcopal Relief and Development also assists internationally addressing the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals by focusing on: A food security program to ensure families have the means to access and secure health food sources Primary health care programs to help children and families access preventive education and to assist the vulnerable. Comprehensive HIV/AIDS care programs provide prevention education, care for people suffering from the disease and support for children left behind. The emergency relief and rebuilding program (International and in the U.S.) provides critical assistance after man-made and natural disasters. Currently, these programs are active in thirty-nine countries and the U.S. Episcopal Relief and Development Sunday Our Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori, has declared the first Sunday in Lent, February 10, Episcopal Relief and Development Sunday, a celebration of Episcopal Relief and Development's role in our mission to seek and serve Christ in all persons.

Please support ERD's lifesaving work with a special designated gift on February 10. Just note on your check "Relief & Development" and place it in the collection plate or mail to St Stephen's. Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori concluded her declaration by writing, "This Lent, I pray all Episcopalians will embrace Episcopal Relief and Development Sunday as one way to challenge the reality of a world that sees 30,000 of God's precious people die each day, simply because they were too poor to continue living." Let us together at St Stephen's take one small step toward changing that reality!

Ed Robertson

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