|
|
|
|
|
|
| The NEWS . . .
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Our Sunday Schedule changes THIS SUNDAY - September 12th -- we celebrate the change with our St. Ann's Reunion and Fall-Kick-Off Potluck BRUNCH - after the 10:00 service on Sept. 12th. If you have not had the opportunity to sign up in the parish hall for the brunch, Click Here to RSVP for the Potluck Brunch, so we have some idea of how many to expect, and what "dish" you plan to bring.
See Sunday Schedule above, at our WEBSITE.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thoughts on the Role of the Christian Faith for Today's Youth It is early September and time, again, to explore the question, challenge, angst, joy, excitement of returning to a more active role at St. Ann's. The events with youth and families in our community motivates us consider some again the role of the Christian faith in the life of our youth as the year begins in earnest after Labor Day.
First: If you have children, bring them to Sunday School and/or to worship. Our youth need a firm foundation and faith is integral to that foundation. Faith invites our youth to believe in something greater than themselves, to believe in themselves and to learn to trust others. One of the greatest gifts we can teach our children is the gift of resilience; the ability to recover from events that lead to results which are not what they desire or want and often are accompanied by pain. The Christian faith teaches us that new life comes out of loss. Resilience teaches us that we can have the strength to endure pain until the path of new life presents itself.
Second: Remember that adults are in charge of the family. Parents this is for you: If you think it's important for your kids to have faith as a part of their foundation, then it's up to you to teach them and to get out of bed on Sunday morning and get to church and get them to church school. Of course they may not like it and will get upset with you; but liking it and making you feel good isn't the point; being their parent is the point. Your kids do lots of things they don't like and often discover how much fun they can have in spite of themselves. Laying solid foundations is no easy matter.
Third: No one gets everything they want all the time. The most prevalent and painful disease in our community is the disease of entitlement; we deserve whatever we think we deserve because of...fill in the blank. Life does not work that way. Painfully, we are entitled to nothing nor are our children. Sometimes that same spirit invades our feelings and thoughts about the church. Sometimes church does not "fit" or "stimulate" the way we wish or does not "meet needs" or have the right "music" for one's tastes.
The only request one can honestly make of our community is that we who have responsibility for the experiences of worship and education do the best we can to offer the best we can each and every day. Worship isn't always going to be what everyone likes. Education isn't always going to hit the mark. Your kids might not like being here some of the time. That isn't new, is it? We are a people who believe that progress is more important than perfection.
Fourth: Pick a pattern of faith expression and stick with it doing your best to not waver. Decide if you are going to pray together as a family; attend worship; say grace before meals; participate in outreach; seek to practice your faith; read the Bible. No performer, no athlete, no teacher becomes great by doing something just one time. They repeat the patterns over and over again until they are so ingrained in their psyche that they can do them without thinking about them. How beautiful it would be if our children saw their faith in God in just such a way! But not without repeated patterns of learning and practice in the faith!
Fifth:Youth need other trustworthy adults outside of their parents to help with their growth and development. Church provides one of those opportunities. Our youth need adults they can look up to and find strength, guidance and hope. Look around next time at worship; there are many here at St. Ann's.
Sixth: If not here, then somewhere. If this email prompts you to do a complete review of your family or households spiritual life and you just think that St. Ann's not the place for you, then find one that is right for you. Put your excuses aside and act out of your conviction. It would be disingenuous of me to encourage faith life and then suppose that such a path can only be followed at one Church. Not so! But once you find one, make the commitment and become as active in the faith life of your children and yourself as you are in their athletic or academic or artistic development.
There are so many things about kids that are a mystery to me. I love kids as you all know. Seeing the children, your children, on Sundays and at events around town is one of the strongest ways that God blesses my daily life. Thank you. Now take a moment and look at your children. Don't you want to give them every tool possible in order to live fully, resist temptation, become resilient in the face of pain, look in the mirror and love what they see, value their own lives, and so much more? There is no assurance that by developing a good faith life and a value based existence will prevent mental illness, depression, addiction and all, but the firmer the foundation the stronger the possibility and the greater the faith.
Love and Blessings, Rev. Pat + ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Don't forget all the ways to make our Lobster Fest successful again this year:
1. Pick up a "yard sign" at church - and put it in your front yard!
2. Pick up some order forms at church - and carry them with you for everyone!
3. Pick up a "flyer" at church - and post in your place of work, or elsewhere!
4. Forward the Lobster email to as many people as possible.
5. Order more lobsters this year than you ordered last year!
6. Tell people about the Lobster Fest, and ASK THEM if to order some!
8. Join the "calling night" on Wednesday Sept 8th or Wednesday Sept 15th. Contact Patrice Braun for calling night information and to indicate your interest in helping.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hold the Dates: Three Tuesdays at 7pm --
Three Nights of Contemplative Prayer, at St. Ann's . .
. . . more information to follow.
· October 5
· October 12
· October 19
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Opportunities:
Here is a quick list of opportunities for immediate service at St. Ann's -- it's not an all-inclusive list . . . just some special needs and opportunities that come to mind at this moment. (. . . some are brand new, and some are one-time-only opportunities:
1. Buildings & Grounds group is working on a new list of "to do" items, which includes a full parish inventory. If you can assist this team, please contact Bill Clow or Duane Lahti.
2. The Choir begins rehearsals soon . . . if you are interested in participating contact Terree Emrich. 3. The Lobster Fest is under way! Contact Holly Emrich and let her know how you might be able to help this year. [Sign up sheets are in the parish hall.]
4. We have an interesting file of "survey" reports that still needs to be put in electronic form . . . it's quite a bit of data entry and formatting. Someone comfortable with tables in Word would best handle this opportunity. Please, contact Rev. Pat if interested in this project. (Data entry could be done at the church, or at your home.)
5. If anyone(s) would like to take a trip up to Milwaukee and see about purchasing new acolyte vestments from the "back room" at Gaspards -- I'm thinking you might enjoy the outing. You just need to update our list of acolytes and sizes before your outing. If you are interested, contact me and I'll tell you more. (Rev. Pat)
6. The 2010 Outreach project involving our produce garden has been quite successful-- Contact Bruce Armstrong if you are available to help water, weed, or harvest.
If you'd like to be involved in preparing food/meals for the homeless in our community, please, contact Dinah Hoppe
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payment Envelopes: For your convenience, we are using some very multi-use payment envelopes at St. Ann's this year. They are in the Communication Corridor for you to pick up (take a supply of them with you the next time your are in church) -- or send me an e-mail and I'll be happy to mail some envelopes to you. You may use these envelopes for making any contribution or payment to St. Ann's . . . pledges, special gifts, purchases . . . anything and everything. And, these envelops are suitable for the US Postal Service (or drop them in the offering plate -- or the little "black box in the Communications Corridor.) Thank you , again.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Your replies, ideas, questions, and suggestions are always welcome!
|
|
|
