The Beacon, June 2008

Summer Reading

I thought that I'd use this forum to repeat what was stated in church on Sunday, May 18th, namely that we are instituting a new church school policy, effective immediately. This new policy concerns discipline within the individual classes: if a child is reprimanded three times by the teacher or door person during a class session, that child will be taken back upstairs to sit with his/her parents. If the child refuses to leave the classroom when asked, the door person will then walk upstairs to get the parents to come down and remove their child from the class. Many thanks to all of you parents for your understanding in this matter. The teachers are trying to impart aspects of the Christian faith to your children; they are not substitute babysitters. When a child "acts out", he or she disrupts the lesson for the day and prevents the other children from learning. Why are we implementing this policy now rather than next September? The answer is that we will be having a summer-long church school camp on The Ten Commandments, beginning on June 22nd. This will be a single class with all of the children of every age in it. Therefore, there has to be real cooperation for the class to work. Again, I thank you all for your understanding.

I've had a couple of adults come up to me over the last couple of weeks to ask if I would recommend some summer reading "for the soul" for both adults and children. I'll mention two, the first just for adults, and the second for both children and adults.

1. "In the Eye of the Storm" by Bishop Gene Robinson. Nothing in recent years has been more controversial with the Anglican Communion than the issue of ordination of homosexuals. Gene Robinson, of course, has been the focal point of the controversy. I would recommend his book, not to influence you for or against, but to educate you as to what it means to be gay and Christian in the church and in society. I found it to be very informative.
2. "The Singer Trilogy" by Calvin Miller, Miller, an ordained Baptist minister, "re-writes" the New Testament in the poetic style of Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings. The first book in the trilogy, The Singer, is the story of Jesus in the four gospels. The second book, The Song, is a re-telling of The Book of Acts, the spreading of the gospel throughout the known world. The last book, The Finale, is a re-telling of The Book of Revelation and the final battle between "the singer" (Jesus) and the world-hater (Satan). It is very readable for both adults and children, and the latter will enjoy it while at the same time learning about the Christian faith.

Faithfully, Fr Bill

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Cycle of Life

I guess every writer who writes a column on a regular basis writes a "cycle of life" column or two in their careers. I know I've written a couple over the almost fifteen years I have been doing the Beacon. It's time for another. This column has been prompted by a recent visit Sharyn and I made to Tallahassee to visit Tammy and David and the kids and a recent visit I made to my friend Charlie in the Marlboro Hills Nursing Home.

While we were in Tallahassee we had a delightful time with everyone, but especially our granddaughter Leah who has recently turned two. Like most grandchildren, she is quick and a joy to be around (except for bedtime which she resists with great fervor). I was particularly happy to see that she has finally come to accept "Bappa" as part of her life. Until this visit, most of my communication with Leah has been her saying, "Bye-bye" to me as she went to someone else. That has changed. Now she'll come to me for stories, songs, and to tell me what's going on in her young life. Mind you, I don't always understand what she's saying and turn to Sharyn to interpret, but to be more a part of her life is a wonderful thing. In fact, on Memorial Day, everyone else went to St George's Island to spend the day at the beach. I stayed at home as I don't do well in the sun any more.

About 20 minutes after everyone had left, I got a call from David. He said, "Someone wants to talk to you." Yes, it was Leah. She had been crying and asking for "Bappa" We spoke for maybe 30 seconds. It seems she needed reassurance that I was still around.

We returned to Northborough, happy in the knowledge that we had such a joy in our lives, a life just beginning with all the happiness and heartache that surely will come her way.

A few days later, I went to Marlboro Hills to see Charlie. He was asleep when I got there, but he soon woke up and we began to talk. Charlie told me all about what was going on in his life: the poor quality of the meals, the fact that nobody seemed to be paying attention to him, the complexities of the TV remote and other things. But then he asked me who the young woman was who played flute with me when Cam Sowa and I went to entertain at the home. I explained who she was and that we had been playing together for almost 20 years. He commented on some of the song we played, particularly "Charlie on the MTA" which he remembered from years ago.

I was heartened by the fact that he remembered that we had been there and had remembered the song. Our conversation continued when suddenly he asked me if I was still single. "Oh", I said. "Sharyn and I have been married for 39 years and you were my best man. Don't you remember?" "Oh," he responded with a puzzled look on his face.

About that time, lunch came and I left, feeling just a bit guilty that I was free to leave and Charlie had to stay, but knowing deep down that it had to be that way.

That's when then thoughts of the "cycle of life" sprang into my mind. Here were Leah, just beginning her life and Charlie, close to the end of his. Leah not knowing what life had in store for her, and Charlie unable to remember most of what had gone on in his. And I wondered what God made of all this. Surely he was all-knowing; he knew from time immemorial what would transpire in their lives and, indeed in all of our lives while we mortals often puzzled over just what life was all about. Certainly a puzzle that I nor any other mortal can solve in this lifetime. But I am sure that with God's grace at some time all will be revealed. I can't wait.

Peace, Fred Philcox

Addendum

This morning I took our cat Zachary to the vet's for the last time. We've had Zack for 23+ years and have enjoyed his companionship (most of the time). I have particularly enjoyed our lunch times together. Zack would sit patiently watching me eat. As soon as I took my dishes out to the kitchen, he would go to the sofa and wait expectantly for my return. Then the two of us would take our afternoon nap, Zack curled up on my chest.

But we knew he was getting frail. He was profoundly deaf. He spent most of his time sleeping, either in the house or curled up by the foundation in the sun in the front of the house. We also knew the time was coming when we had to decide whether to have him euthanized. (A horrible word-so clinical and cold).

The time came this week. Zack stopped eating and drinking; He lost a lot of weight; he took to lying in the driveway on the warm pavement. We were afraid that we would inadvertently run over him.

So this morning I took Zack to the vet and told her it was time. She had cared for Zack for many years and knew his history well. A quick injection and it was done. For the first time since Sharyn and I were married, almost 39 years, we are without a pet. We look forward to being able to leave the house without having to make arrangements for Zack's care. (Ironically, the young woman who has cared for Zach while we were gone, is graduating from high school next week.) So for Zachary the cycle of has come to a close. We will miss him, but we thank God for the years of pleasure he gave us. Rest in peace, good buddy.

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Old Friends

I love this time of year! The grass is green again, the flowers are in bloom and the birds have all returned from their winter hiatus. It is also a time of joyous celebrations, especially weddings and graduations. In the words of the Bertucci's commercial: "What's not to love?"

Last weekend, I attended a graduation party for one of our St Stephen's college grads. Festive graduation balloons bobbed in the breeze, as my friend and I followed the walkway to the clubhouse, where we could hear the sound of the party in progress. Upon entering the room, we were pleased to see many familiar faces from our St Stephen's family. We were gathered together to celebrate the joy of this milestone in Amelia's life. Many were friends that I see each week at church.

It was however an added blessing to see familiar faces from the past, friends who while they have left St Stephen's, always return to share with us in our times of joy or sorrow. That is what family is all about. It was a family reunion of sorts, catching up on what everyone had been doing and sharing pictures of grandchildren.

I have been blessed to be a member of this parish for about 30 years now. I have seen our young people grow up through baptism, confirmation, graduation, etc. I have watched as they have developed their ministries within the church and within their communities. Like all families, we have our differences, but we remain united in God's love. It is fertile soil here, it is holy ground.

I grew up in a small church, much like St Stephen's. The firm foundation of faith that I developed there formed my Christian values and has given me the strength to weather the storms that I have encountered in my life. None of us get through life without some sort of trials.

In a day when job relocations often find people far away from their biological families, the bonds that we form within our faith communities are more important than ever. We need family to share our joys and sorrows with and strengthen our faith. Our children need good Christian role models to look up to. In this ever changing, fast paced world that we live in, how blessed we are to have this wonderful faith community.

Congratulations to all our graduates!

Happy Spring!!, Phyl Endicott

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Stewardship

Please don't abandon ship! As we thankfully approach summer, our lifestyles are subject to change. Days are longer and warmer, inviting us to recreation and relaxation, and a whole new level of activities spring forth. Many of us take vacations and get away from home to (for some) more exciting or (for others) more relaxing activities. Church life changes, too. We condense to one Sunday service, and many of our internal organizations and activities relax their schedules.

Through all this, however, one thing does not change, and that is the financial responsibility of St. Stephen's. Salaries, utilities, building maintenance, and mission programs do not take a holiday, and therefore, it is very important that our pledge receipts do not take a holiday as well. Please make every effort to keep your pledge current during the summer months. Whether you choose to prepay for a few months, mail your pledge, or electronically transfer funds (see office for details), you will be greatly contributing to the financial well-being of St Stephen's as well as reducing the stress for those who have volunteered to pilot and crew the financial ship.

Please don't abandon us! Thank you all and have a safe and enjoyable summer.

Geoff Underwood

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Other Announcements

Thank you to this wonderful parish family for all your prayers, wishes and donations for my success in completing the Boston Marathon and raising almost $13,000 for Children's Hospital. - Wendy Scharen

Thank you to all who supported the youth mission trip car wash. Total raised was $536.00 which will help defray the cost of the trip to Portland, ME, in July. - Wendy Scharen

And thanks to those who donated to the Mothers' Day Collection for the Frances Perkins House in Worcester. They were delighted to receive the donations as they have 15 mothers currently in residence.

Congratulations to the following St. Stephen's parishioners who graduated from high school this month. We wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

• Matthew Reilly
• Ross Scharen
• Colby Schultz
• Andrew Askew

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