The Story of New Creation/New Community: Part 5 of "God's Five Act Play"  

By Judy Johnson 

 

Reflection on the Gospel of John 10:11-18

 

My mother was a very loving and generous person. I know there are many people who can say that. But considering how my mother's life began, one might expect a different outcome. At age 4 her mother died from illness, just before the depression. About a year later, her father dropped her off at the orphanage and told her he would come later to pick her up. He never returned. For years, the nuns would line up the children and tell them "Now behave and smile or no one will want you". Then prospective parents would walk down the line, looking everyone one over, maybe ask a few questions, and then choose the lucky boy or girl to keep. My mother, a Tom boy with skinned knees and a mischievous gleam in her eye, was finally chosen by an elderly couple when she was nine years old. Her new parents were a strict school teacher and shrewd business man. She learned to love them. She met my father, a wild farm boy who loved to dance and play football. They loved each other passionately for 65 years. They had six unruly, boisterous, creative children who tested my mother's patience and the ability to stretch a meal very far. We were loved unconditionally, as were our friends, teachers, spouses and children. If someone needed a place to stay, a kind word, some money in their pocket, my mother was there for them. We always had a stranger at the Thanksgiving table, a lost soul staying on the couch. They all knew my mother and knew she loved them.

 

My mother could have been bitter and angry her whole life. She always carried that fear of being abandoned...it never really left her. But she made sure no one else would feel that, experience that, learn that. If Jesus loves us like my mothered loved us, then we are in good hands. But if someone has not experienced that kind of love, felt that endless wave of welcome, they cannot imagine how Jesus could love them or care for them. What is there to worship if one does not understand love and know God as safe, as generous, as loving companion? We must experience love to know love. Our faith community has no higher calling then this. To love as Jesus loved, to know His voice, to be swept up into his embrace and know He will never let us go.
Norma Milburn: A Life Remembered

 

Matthew's has lost a beloved parishioner, Norma Milburn.  Norma died of natural causes at age 95 at Northern Lights Health Care Center, Washburn, Wisconsin, near her daughter, Sheri. She was preceded in death by Doc and Melody. 

 

A Funeral service will be held at St. Matthew's Saturday, May 9th at 2:00pm.  

 

Norma Josephine Milburn, also known as "Norma Nice," was raised in St. Paul. She attended St. Paul Central High School, followed by Business School. She began her work career at Grandview Lodge and then worked in the office at Camp Lincoln, where she met "Doc" Lyman Milburn, her future husband.  

Norma and "Doc" were married for 64 years. They had 4 children, Mike (Sandy), Melody (Tom), Sheri (Ric), Steve, and 11 grandchildren. For 54 years Norma & Doc raised this family in a house on Como & Commonwealth in St. Anthony Park. Many St. Matthew's parishioners enjoyed watching the 4th of July parade from their front lawn. The Milburns spent summers in Dent, MN where Doc and Norma ran Camp Aquila for boys. This was an amazing camp where "boys learned to do everything" from horseback riding to sailing to boxing to water skiing. Norma's interests included jazz music, archery (she was the St. Paul archery champion as a young woman), tennis, and bridge.  

Norma faithfully served as St. Matthew's church secretary from the late 1960's to 1985. Several St. Matthew's parishioners and friends shared their memories:

  • "I remember her warmth. She was a warm hearted person that gave you the feeling that not only was she listening to you, she cared about you. I think she had a good sense of humor too." (Megan Gangl)
  • "When I think of Norma Milburn, I remember her as a dependable and resourceful person to all ministers and parishioners at St. Matthew's. Since she lived in close proximity to the church, she ensured that the coffee pot was always started before the early Sunday morning service and that the heat was turned up in the church during the cold winter months. This was an act of kindness and comfort to many. Norma enjoyed a long life and left an admirable legacy to St. Matthew's and her family." (Jean Hanna)
  • "I remember Norma and Doc (and being able to watch the 4th of July parade from their front yard). They had a lovely garden on the side of their lot. And I remember Norma and Millie Kroona being such a fun twosome. And she was always so kind and happy. I went to early church and breakfast with them for quite a while ...they were lovely people and greatly missed when they left St. Matthew's and the Park." (Joan Abbas)
  • "What I remember is that she was always happy to see anyone who came in the office..and she always had Jazz playing on the radio (Norma and Doc had a Dixieland Jazz band for their 50th anniversary party). I also remember Norma as a snappy dresser - she was always elegantly turned out." (Mary Griffin)
  • "I'll always remember when I was a new bride (in the 1950's) and not knowing anyone in St. Paul. I'd pick up the phone and call Norma, who I'd not known very long. She would always talk to me like she didn't have anything else to do - even though she was running after 4 kids and helping to run Camp Aquila. Actually, those frequent phone calls persisted for many years and now wish there had been many more. Norma was a GREAT LADY." (Jean Brown)
Flutist to play at St. Matthew's this Sunday, April 26

Kristen Holritz, a nationally known flutist, will perform several selections at the 10:30am service on Sunday, April 26.  Kristen is the niece of St. Matthew's parishioners Mark and Elizabeth Vander Schaaf.   

 

Kristen is in the Twin Cities this week, performing as part of the Grieg Society Music Series at Mindekirken Lutheran Church, 924 E. 21st Street, Minneapolis. The Grieg Society concert is this Friday, April 24th at 7:30pm

 

Kristen and her husband, Josh Holritz, perform together as Schaafritz, a violin/flute duo. As you may have guessed, the name Schaafritz is a combination of their two last names. Both Kristen and Josh hold positions with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. Schaafritz has performed across the United States and went on tour to Japan twice with musicians from The Juilliard School. Josh also shares an ancestor with Edvard Grieg (1648).  More information about the Grieg Society music series can be found here.
Social Justice Advocacy JRLC Day on the Hill, Report  #1
By Tina Maynor

Several of us from St. Matthew's Episcopal participated in the Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) Day on the Hill last month. About 700 people from across Minnesota's faith-based communities following Christian, Jewish and Muslim traditions participated with us. The experience left me with a powerful sense of hope for all Minnesotans, and here's why:

  1. The JRLC is specifically non-partisan. The member organizations of the JRLC share faith traditions and a commitment to the common good, but they are diverse in every other way. The issues identified for JRLC focus each year have strong bi-partisan support.
  2. The process the JRLC uses for identifying issues to support relies on data.The JRLC bases its work on facts and evidence, careful research, and a willingness to listen to a variety of voices.
  3. The JRLC focuses on what brings us together. Through over 40 years of work together, the members of the JRLC have cultivated a powerful list of core values, including: Human Dignity, Justice, Democratic Participation, Spirituality of Dialogue, and Action, among others. To read more click here: http://www.jrlc.org/jrlc/mission-and-values
  4. The Participants' Diversity was Awe-Inspiring. It was amazing and humbling to meet other participants in the JRLC Day on the Hill, including: neighbors of mine who were victims of human trafficking working to make Minnesota safer for future generations, high school students learning how to bring faith and action together for the common good, people from the four corners of the globe who have dedicated their lives to serving the immediate needs of their neighbors AND advocating for a just society.

In the coming weeks, I will share links to the social justice issues the JRLC is supporting for the 2015 legislative session!

 

If you want to read more about what the Day on the Hill feels like to a new advocate, read on:http://www.jrlc.org/blog/625-seat-why-advocacy  
Children's Lives Matter...

 

The 2015 Minnesota Legislature will make major funding decisions in the coming weeks.  The Sheltering Arms Foundation (created by Episcopal women leaders a century ago) is advocating for budget changes - investments to help eliminate the opportunity gap for Minnesota's most vulnerable children.  Here are some important (and surprising) facts about Minnesota's children:

  • Nearly 50% of Minnesota's children are not ready for kindergarten
  • Nearly 200,000 Minnesota children 0-17 are living in poverty, a 60% increase since 2000.
  • On a given night in our state, almost 4,000 children are homeless.
  • 50% of Minnesota's low-income children do not have access to afterschool and learning opportunities that can make a significant difference in their academic and life success.

More information can be found at http://www.sheltering-arms.org/ 
Top 10 Reasons to attend the Women's Retreat 
  • This has been an early spring - the outdoor grounds at the retreat center are beautiful and should be in full bloom!
  • There is time and space for walking and meditating. 
  • Friday night we'll try something new...a bonfire as the sun goes down.
  • Riverwood staff prepares all the meals for you...and they are delicious.
  • The workshops and activities are always worthy - fun, interesting and helpful (see below for more information on what we'll be up to).
  • There is a good balance of structured and non-structured time.
  • Do you really need more reasons?  Alright, read on....
  • You know those women you say hi to every Sunday? Well, you can actually get to know them a bit more!
  • However, if you just want to get away and spend time alone, that is always an option. 
  • For 24 hours, you can leave all your home and work responsibilities behind....

This year our Women's Retreat will focus on the theme "Abundant Life." Beginning with a look at our childhood, continuing with Jesus' question to blind Bartimaeus (and us) "what do you want?" and finishing with an exploration of what brings us closer to God and moves us away from God, we will think and pray about how we can participate more fully in the abundant life God desires for us. This important time of reflection and co-learning will take place not only through prayer, conversation, and silence, but also in two optional workshops where participants will have the opportunity to journal and make a collage.  The deadline to sign up is Tuesday, April 28th!  -- and we hope you will join us. The retreat is being organized by Laura Bathke - lsbathke@gmail.com 
Looking Ahead: Calendar Highlights
  • April 24-25: Bil Gangl Memorial Relay Run, Mahtomedi High School
  • April 25: Free Children's Art Workshop with Courtney Oleen, 10:00am
  • April 26: Kristen Holritz, Flutist, at St. Matthew's 10:30am service
  • May 3: "Creations from Wonderland," Children's Art Show opening reception, 11:30am
  • May 9: Norma Milburn Funeral, 2:00pm
  • May 15-16: Women's Retreat at Riverwood Conference Center, Otsego, MN
  • May 24: Loaves and Fishes at the Dorothy Day Center in St. Paul
Calling All Graduates:
Do you have a graduate in your family this Spring? Send us a quick note (High School, College, Graduate School) including their plans for the future, and we will add them to our list of honorees next month.
 
Please share your news and photos with us: tidings@stmatthewsmn.org 

Visit our website for the prayer list, calendar and sermons