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lighthouseThe beacon is a monthly publication of church-related topics and news. If you have newsworthy or spiritual material you wish to contribute please contact the editor, Fred Philcox for publication assistance.

Father George's Message

Pot Luck Dinner

Editor's Desk

Someone once said...

Prayerful Notes

Dad's and Grads

Miscellaneous

Announcements


The Beacon, June 2011

June 2011 Church Calendar

Father George's Message

Dear Friends,
            Please note that there will be a special “Pot Luck” dinner here at St. Stephen’s on Wednesday, June 22nd, beginning at 6:00 PM.  This will be a time for us to share our thoughts and questions regarding the coming of a new Rector.  As we look with anticipation for such an important and joyous event in the “Spirit” for St. Stephen’s we also look ahead with both excitement and anxiety.  The excitement of “new and future” journeys always carries with them the unknown.  Here is where we pray and seek the Lord’s wisdom and guidance in all things.  Questions such as “What do we do in preparation?” “What kind of questions do we ask in getting to know one another?” and “What kinds of wisdom and talents do we all bring forward for the sake of the times to come?”  Let us join together to share this excitement and anxiety as the Lord will indeed provide us with all the tools we need to journey ahead.

       Faithfully yours in Christ,
       The Rev. George H. Warren
       Interim Rector

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From the Editor's Desk

Someone once said – or maybe I read it – that life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer you get to the end, the faster it goes. Some days I really believe that, but then I have to remember that Jesus said that we don’t know about the end of time. Only God knows that.

Appropriate, since we all are still here, in spite of the prediction that the world would end on May 22. Now the man who predicted, supposedly based on a rather bizarre interpretation of scripture, the Apocalypse says that May 22 was sort of address rehearsal; the new date is some time in October.

To get back to the TP analogy, a recent entry in The Fisch Tank, a daily meditation written by, not surprisingly, John Fisch, said this: There is one thing about being 64, however, that is different from the rest. It seems like my life has been compressed to where I feel closer to any part of it than I have ever been. My childhood is more accessible to me now than it was 30 years ago. It's like my life has been squeezed together tightly from beginning to end so that just the significant moments stand out. All the more reason to make more of those moments - to live life significantly. Make every day a stand out day. God is over it all; he gives it all meaning.

This entry was especially appropriate for me. I have, more frequently than I’d like, have been having recollections of much earlier days in my life.

For some strange reason, I was thinking about telephone numbers. I recalled that when my family and I first moved to Northborough, our phone number had only 5 digits. It was 3-8287, that’s all. And if we were dialing someone in town, we had to dial only the last 4 numbers. Then 39 was added to the number and we had to dial 7 numbers, and with the advent of area codes, we now have to dial 10 numbers. Isn’t progress wonderful?

I also recalled our phone number when we lived in Worcester – 2-3176. I have no idea where that thought came from. I recalled that my grandmother had one of those phones that was in two pieces, the earphone apart from the microphone. It was a heavy, black Bakelite thing and if I remember correctly, it was a single-party line, a relative rarity in those days, hence the TP analogy.

My memory strayed to other things from my childhood, but I’ll leave these for another time. There are a lot of recollections involving church – Sunday school, youth group, going down to Tech Pharmacy instead of going into church, and having to fib when I was asked what I thought of the sermon.

But enough for now. I thank God that I’m still here, looking forward to the start of another camping season. Hope you have a pleasant summer.

Peace,
                        frp


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Prayerful Notes

   It seems we have had quite a few Baptisms lately, most recently, two precious baby boys; Timothy Leedberg and Liam Adderly.  I see this as a hopeful sign, especially  in the light of all that we hear about decline in church membership these days.  
What a privilege it was to witness these infants, so fresh from God, begin their spiritual journeys.  I couldn't help but wonder just what they would encounter on their journeys, for it is never really a straight path.                
There will be valleys for sure but also those mountaintop experiences in their faith.  A wise spiritual mentor once told me, God gives us those mountaintop experiences, to enable us to make it through the valleys.  
   
As I reflect back on my own journey of faith, which began at my Baptism, at the age of 3, I am so grateful for the steadfast love of God and the spiritual mentors that He put into my life, to guide me on my way.  
   I grew up on the North Shore, in a small family style church, much like St. Stephen's.  It was there, through our loving and nurturing priest and his wife, that I came to know my loving God.  I looked up to and loved my Sunday School teachers.  They were powerful Christian influences in my life.  At the age of 12, I was confirmed, certain that nothing could ever shake my faith.  "Ah, the wisdom and certainty of a 12 year old!"  
   
Just a year later however, that loving clergy couple retired.  I was devastated!   A new priest, who I judged to be overly pious, arrived.  That, coupled with the fact that I was now a rebellious teenager, changed the whole spiritual equation of my life.  I left the church and did not return until many years later, when I took my own daughter to be baptized.  
   
During those "wilderness years" of my life, I was self -focused and self- serving.  While I turned away from the church, I never turned away from God.  Prayer has always been an important part of my life.  Admittedly, most of my prayers back then were of the "give me this or get me out of that" variety, but still the connection remained.  In the "turbulent seas of teenage temptations," those core Christian values, instilled in my childhood, became like a "spiritual life jacket" that kept me afloat.
   
That seed of faith, planted in me at Baptism, finally matured and God led me back to my beloved community of faith.  How grateful I am for the patience of God and for the Christian community, who supported me in my young life in Christ.  Now I have the opportunity to do the same for little Timothy and Liam and all the children of St. Stephen's.  Thank you God.
Matthew 18 : 3 - And He said, " I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of God."

   Congratulations to all our Dads and Grads!!

Blessings Always,

Phyl Endicott

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Announcements

The next Vestry Meeting will be held on Monday, June 20. All vestry meetings are open to the entire parish. Parishioners wishing to include items on the agenda are asked to contact one of the wardens or the rector no later than two (2) weeks before the meeting. Vestry meeting agendas and minutes will be regularly posted on the bulletin board between Fay Hall and the narthex.

We welcome into the family of God Liam Findlay Adderley son of Christopher and Erin Adderly. Also Timothy Ryan Leedberg, son of Gregory and Leslie Leedberg. Both boys were baptized on Sunday, May 22.

Pot Luck Supper and discussion group – Wednesday, June 22nd (NOTE DATE CHANGE), at 6:00 PM in Fay Hall. The subjects of the discussions will be “What are our expectations of our new rector?” and “What should our new rector expect from us?”  A sign up sheet for the pot luck supper is in the works and will be available soon.

Bob Williams will be ordained as deacon on Saturday, June 11th, at 10:00 AM at the cathedral in Springfield. We hope that as many of his friends from St. Stephen’s as possible will be able to be present. We will try to set up car pools. Please contact the church office to let Nancy know if you plan to attend and if you would like to drive or go in a car pool. We understand the Fr. Bill and Gail will also be attending.

It is tradition for the home parish (St. Stephen’s) to present a stole as part of the ordination ceremony and we have ordered one for Bob.  If you would like to contribute to this purchase please indicate that this is the purpose of your contribution (cash or check) so that we can give Bob a list of those who contributed.

Our current mission donations are for the victims of the tornados and floods in the South. These donations will be sent to the Episcopal World Relief Fund designated for that purpose. It would be helpful to send cheques vi a St. Stephen’s
We are really in need of a few more people to serve as readers. If we have a few more then no one will have to read more than once a month!

Clipping Coupons? Don't forget the young mothers with babies and young children at the Frances Perkins House in Worcester. Include coupons for cleaning products for the home itself. Give any that you have to Liz Moss who will get them to the people at Frances Perkins House. Thanks.

Michele Mongeon is handling all aspects of the altar flowers. Please record your information on the flower chart on the bulletin board in the narthex. Then put the envelope with the date you have chosen, the dedication, and your check for the flowers in Michele’s in-box which is just outside the church office. Please make sure Nancy Harris also has the information including the correct spelling of the names to go in the Sunday bulletin. If you have questions about the flowers, please call Michele at 508‑366-3985.

That time of year is here again!  The church lawn now needs to be mowed into submission.  A sign-up sheet is on the table in the narthex for families to sign up to do the weekly lawn mowing.  Please help to keep the church lawn looking neat and tidy.

Please check to make sure your e‑mail address(es) and phone number(s) are correct in the Parish Directories.  If you find errors or omissions, please let Nancy Harris know.  If you have an old directory, please return it to the office so the paper can be recycled and the spine reused.  Thank you.

Summer Camps for Kids 


There will be only one issue of the Beacon this summer, covering the months of July and August. Deadline for this issue is July 11.

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