News

Ending the Summer with a bang

Lawrencefield offers special August events

As September swiftly approaches, Lawrencefield Parish Church plans a couple of events to complement God’s gifts of warm weather and leisure.

On Saturday, August 9, we again celebrate our patronal feast, St. Lawrence Day, with several events. A five-kilometer footrace originating at Lawrencefield is being offered for the first time. The course extends to Sandscrest Conference Center on GC&P Road. Registration begins at 8:00am and costs $15. The race itself begins at 9:00am. Every participant will receive a handsome 3-color tee shirt, and male and female winners in each age category will receive trophies. Volunteers are needed to help with registration and to man the race course. To volunteer, please call Marc Seamon at (304) 552-8150.

The evening of August 9, festivities continue at 5:30pm, with Evensong in the Nave, led by Rector Cynthia Walter and accompanied by organist Richard Lewis. At 6:15pm, a potluck dinner will be served on the Patio. Attendees are invited to return to the nave for our second annual “Bach & Barbecue” organ concert from Maestro Lewis. All evening events are open to the public at no charge, though a collection will be taken to benefit the Organ Fund.

Another very special event is being planned for August in conjunction with the Wheeling Cluster of Episcopal Churches. The John Louis On the Edge of Illusion Gospel Variety Show explodes on the stage at St. John’s, Heiskell Avenue on Sunday evening, August 17 at 5:00pm. A potluck supper will follow.

The John Louis Gospel Variety Show is an exciting full-stage program that uses comedy music, juggling, live animals and illusions to deliver an inspirational message. John Louis is one of the country’s top Christian variety artists. He has been a featured entertainer at the Cincinnati Zoo, and has performed at over a thousand churches throughout the country, as well as appearing on radio and television.

The Wheeling Cluster includes Lawrencefield; St. Matthew’s, downtown; St. Luke’s on the Island; and St. Paul’s, Elm Grove; as well as St. John’s, which is operated as a chapel of St. Matthew’s. The John Louis Gospel Variety Show and fellowship dinner afterwards are being offered in lieu of the joint Cluster Sunday service that has taken place in August in years past. The show promises to be a don’t-miss occasion for children of all ages.

Lawrencefield goes green(er)

No, we’re not repainting the church building an unseemly color. Thanks to the initiative of parishioner Marc Seamon, Lawrencefield has begun an effort to recycle paper materials.

Recycling bins have been placed in the narthex and in the parish office. When they are full, Marc will collect the contents and take them to the nearest recycling center.

This effort was inspired when Marc came to the church office to get a church graphic for the 5K race tee shirts, and discovered how much paper was being discarded.

Recycling supports our stewardship of God’s creation. Parishioners are urged to cooperate with the recycling effort, and place their used Sunday bulletins in the bright blue containers after worship, unless they are taking the bulletins home.

The Faithful Reader by Barb Hinkle, Parish Librarian

God Is Not Reasonable and Other Tales of Mother Macrina by Irma Zaleski

I pick up books for many reasons – the dust cover is attractive, the title intriguing, or the author is familiar. This was a first for me, though – the author, not of the book, but of the forward is well known to me. I have read many essays and other writings by David Steindl-Rast, O.S.B., and find his spirituality to be genuine. He introduces this book in such a way that I had to read it.

First, who is Mother Macrina? She is an imaginary desert mother, a contemporary holy woman who lives a quiet life in a small town. Zaleski says Mother Macrina just seemed to have come to her one day and became a part of the lives of Irma and her family and friends with one of them occasionally asking, “What has Mother had to say recently?” In the book Mother has friends who come to her with questions or for advice. This is the format.

Each 1-2 page story has a message, but I found one thread running through the stories. Mother Macrina is a woman who I strive to be – a woman who lives fully in the Now. As we seem bent on living through yesterday time and again and projecting about tomorrow endlessly, Mother’s message is clear – the anxiety about tomorrow and regret about yesterday is a “call to seek again and again the presence of God in the moment.”

There are 88 vignettes in this 139 page paperback. The titles range from “A Sinner’s Peace” to “What is Faith?” I have selected to do a brief synopsis of two others to give you a flavor of Mother Macrina.

Dealing with Guilt

In this story, Mother Macrina tells of a man tormented by guilt about who he is and the things he has done. He has been in therapy for years but doesn’t think he can rid himself of this horrible guilt. He tells Mother to please refrain from lecturing him about praying for healing. He has tried that and at times it seemed to work, but the guilt always returned. Mother replies that she would not expect his guilt to disappear.

At this the man is furious. He had expected a formula that would take the guilt away forever! Mother Macrina continues in her quiet way: there is a way to deal with guilt, a way of facing it and refusing to let it control us. The man calms down but is still very doubtful. “How? How can we face guilt and not be overwhelmed?” She replies, “I don’t know of any single way of doing it. I can only tell you the way I have learned. It is this: I try to be aware of it as soon as it appears, and I say, ‘Lord Have Mercy!’ and walk away. Except, I most often run!”

A Better Choice

A woman comes to Mother Macrina and tells her that she has been fervently praying for a word from God to tell her which path to take but that she has heard nothing! She is quite upset that God has not spoken to her or given her obvious signs. Mother listens patiently to the distraught woman and finally responds, “I am glad to hear you have received no majestic signs; perhaps now you will try listening to God’s silence.”

Though these stories seem very simplistic, they are not. They are seeds of wisdom that make the reader sincerely ponder. I hope you will pick up this little book and get to know Mother Macrina. Since reading this book, I find myself sometimes thinking, “I wonder what advice Mother Macrina would give me.”

Vestry Vibes

Report of the July 15 meeting

Churchyard Clean-ups for August 16 and Sept. 20, and Adopt-A-Highways dates for August 2 and October 25 will meet at about 5:00pm or shortly thereafter, when the Duymiches get off work.

The firemen did their walk-through last week and noticed nothing out-of-turn. Brian Beckett has offered the use of his dump truck on clean-up days for the cost of his mileage. Mark Seamon suggested debris be dumped on his burn pile to avoid tipping fees at the dump. Mark Seamon has raised $850 in sponsorships, and donations toward trophies, t-shirts and refreshments for the 5K Race, August 9, and has arranged for a professional timing service. Help is requested from the congregation on race day for registration, t-shirt distribution, and manning the course, beginning at 8pm. In addition to acquiring recycling bins for discarded paper, Marc Seamon also proposes using reclaimed and recyclable paper products instead of Styrofoam for church dinners and will research purchasing the first round. Besides the race, other St. Lawrence Day plans include Evensong, dinner, and an organ concert. There will not be a Rummage Sale this year because of a competing event in Warwood. The vestry voted to approve Churchyard Chair Bill Neer’s proposal to open a new checking account for the purposes of churchyard maintenance.

There is no more information at this point about the Cub Scout Pack. Diocesan Convention is October 24-26. Our delegates are Barb Hinkle and Karen Dalby and our alternate is Michelle Beihl. Information about diocesan positions to be filled was circulated. The Bishop has scheduled his visitation for Easter Sunday, which accommodates his plan to hold the Easter Vigil at Sandscrest. In unrelated news, Sandscrest is soliciting donations for patio umbrellas at $200 each. Vestry Report for June 17 was received without corrections. At a point about halfway through the year we have received only 40% of our pledged income for the year. Rector will continue to put notices in the bulletin about keeping pledges current during the Summer. There was discussion about simplifying the financial reports to make them easier to understand. Tom Farnsworth will look into this.

Lawrencefield bids farewell to a faithful servant

Parish Secretary Lori Johnstone responds to a new calling in Oregon

Lori Johnstone, who has served as secretary to Lawrencefield Parish Church for the last two years, resigned effective June 26 to start a new chapter of her life in Oregon. During her tenure here Lori and her youngest three children have lived in Wheeling while her husband Mike has lived and worked in Alaska. Mike has recently accepted a position with WorldView Center of Portland, Oregon, creating the opportunity for the family to be united.

Rector Cynthia Walter expresses her deep gratitude for the good-humor, flexibility and creativity Lori brought to the job of secretary. “Whatever she was asked to do, she did cheerfully and well,” Walter says, “When we added bookkeeping duties, she never complained, even though that was not part of the original job description. She took on doing our “God’s Music” bulletin inserts, showing a talent for research and written expression, and maintained the most attractive church bulletin boards I’ve seen in a while. It was always a joy when she brought her children Jamison, Addison and Karissa to our Halloween and fireworks parties. She will be dearly missed.”

Lori has asked that the following message be conveyed to the membership of Lawrencefield Parish:

I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to the congregation of Lawrencefield Parish Church. It has been a great joy and privilege to get to know some of you as well as to serve as your parish secretary. I have never enjoyed a ‘job’ more. Cynthia is a wonderful person as well as a loving, caring minister.

As I leave for Oregon and am reunited with my husband and family, I shall take with me many fond memories of Lawrencefield Parish Church. May God’s grace and peace be with you all.

Lori and her family will certainly be in the grateful memories and prayers of Lawrencefield parishioners as she and her family effect their transition to the West Coast.

If it’s important, it’s got a funny name

Episcopal terminology explained

If you are a “cradle Episcopalian”, you may never have noticed that the names we have for things are somewhat arcane. Even that expression, “cradle Episcopalian”, is not readily transferable outside the Episcopal Church. One doesn’t hear “cradle Methodist” very often, for example. Obviously the definition of a “cradle Episcopalian” is someone born and raised in the Episcopal Church.

The names we use for church parts are particularly weird. The “nave” refers to the worship space where the people sit. The name derives from the Latin word for “ship,” (think “naval”), and remembers traditional vaulted church architecture where the ceiling resembles an inverted ship. The “sanctuary,” a word that in some other church organizations refers to the worship space, in the Episcopal Church is restricted to the area within the altar rail.

The “sacristy,” deriving from the Latin word for “holy,” is the small room adjoining the worship space where vestments, linens and altar vessels are kept.

The vestibule of the church building is known as the “narthex.” This is derived from a Greek word meaning “small case.”

Where most structures have basements, Episcopal Church buildings have “undercrofts.” This is an English word. If you are going to use strange words, you may as well be inconsistent in their provenance.

In the context of odd terminology like this, it may come as a relief that we don’t have obscure names for everything. In addition to the rooms mentioned above, we also have “offices,” “classrooms,” and “restrooms.” In future issues, Table Rock Talk will explain more “Episcopalese.” Please let the rector know if there is term you would like to see featured.

Publication in the pews

Vestry approves “FAQ” document

At the May meeting, the Lawrencefield Vestry approved Rector Cynthia Walter’s suggestion to place a laminated card in the pews explaining the practice of Holy Communion in the Episcopal Church, and at Lawrencefield Parish in particular. The cards are expected to be of greatest use at weddings and funerals, when there may be a number of people present unfamiliar with Eucharistic conventions. It is hoped the cards will also assist visitors and newcomers who may happen to attend ordinary Sunday services, as well as celebrations which traditionally attract a large congregation, like Christmas and Easter.

Taking care to explain church practice that regular members take for granted is a recommendation of the Magnetic Church curriculum, as reported in a previous issue of Table Rock Talk. Three members of Lawrencefield attended a Magnetic Church Conference in April. A major tenet of Magnetic Church is to be welcoming to visitors, rather than presenting the aspect of a private club with lots of obscure “inside” knowledge.

The laminated pew cards are entitled “FAQs about Holy Communion.” “FAQs” is an acronym for “Frequently Asked Questions.” The information on the cards is presented in a readable question-and-answer format. The Rector prepared the text, but welcomes input as to format and content. The finished cards should appear in the pews sometime in August.

The following are excerpts from the cards, which also include information about intincting (the practice of dipping the communion wafer in the chalice), hygiene issues related to sharing a common cup, and the Laying on of Hands for healing.

What is Holy Communion?
Holy Communion is one of the two preeminent sacraments of the Christian Church (the other being Baptism, or initiation). A sacrament is a ritual by which God imparts grace through outward and visible signs. The Holy Eucharist, as our Prayer Book says, is the sacrament commanded by Jesus Christ for the continual remembrance of his life, death, and resurrection.

Can children take Communion?
All baptized persons may take Communion. You do not have to be confirmed or have reached a certain age. We encourage parents whose children have expressed interest in receiving Communion to allow their children to take Communion if they are capable of treating the bread and wine respectfully. The rector is delighted to provide guidance on Communion readiness, or instruction on receiving Communion.

Vestry Vibes

Report of the June 17 meeting

Junior Warden Dave Duymich has scheduled Churchyard Clean-up for July 12, August 16, Sept. 20, and possibly one more date in October. Adopt-A-Highway dates are August 2 and October 25.

Parish Secretary Lori Johnstone’s last day is July 1. Rector is interviewing two candidates and will make a decision by June 20 so that the new secretary can be trained by Lori. Rector proposes paying new secretary during this training period (which makes paying two secretaries for one week). The new secretary will be hired at the same pay scale as we pay now ($8-10/hour).

Rector will be out July 6 and 20. Since Vestry has approved a budget allowing for supply clergy, rector does not need approval to engage a priest, however July is a hard time to find supply and we may end up with Lay Readers and Morning Prayer anyway.

Churchyard chair Bill Neer has drafted a letter to send to owners of plots and families of individuals buried here asking donations solely for the purpose of remedial grading and seeding.

We have been approached about sponsoring a Cub Scout Pack. They have the required insurance. Rector is in favor. The only question is building access – will they have a key or will someone have to let them in? Will a church representative have to be present during meetings? Dave and Tom, living close by, would be willing to unlock and lock the church. Rector does not think a representative would have to stay. She will clarify this with the Scout folks and verify proof of insurance needs with our agent.

This raises the question of building use policy. We should have something in print and draft an agreement to be signed by outside groups using the building. Rector will inquire of other clergy in the area and diocese about their policies. One of our lawyers should look over anything we come up with.

Rector drew attention to the special Cluster Program on August 17 at St. John’s with a potluck and a magician.

Treasurer Tom Farnsworth reported that the checking account balance after paying taxes is at $14,000, which is a little low. On the other hand we expect our quarterly distribution from the Endowment Fund on July 1. Rector will issue reminders for parishioners to keep up their pledges through the summer, traditionally a low income period.

Lawrencefield welcomes Father Barry Thiering

Guest preacher represents Food for the Poor

On Sunday, June 8, Father Barry Thiering will preach at both the 8:00 and 10:00 services. He will also offer Adult Education between the services. Father Barry comes to us from the Food for the Poor organization, which is based in Florida.

Food for the Poor (FFP) ministers to impoverished people throughout Latin American and the Caribbean. Their goals are to improve the health, economic, social and spiritual conditions of the people they serve. In the words of their website, Food for the Poor “raises funds and provides direct relief assistance to the poor, usually by purchasing specifically requested materials and distributing them through the churches and charity organizations already operating in areas of need …. In this way, the organization serves the poor with dignity and ensures the most appropriate use of donors’ funds.”

FFP regards their ministry as a reflection of “God’s unconditional love, which surrenders all, inspires trust and faith, and embraces all people regardless of race, status or creed.” Their assistance to those in greatest need is seen as an extension of belief in the risen Christ. Service to the needy in this context becomes service to Christ himself. One of the pillars of their operation is prayer, “to guide and maintain the purity of our mission.”

Sending guest preachers to individual parishes is one way FFP publicizes their work and mission. Rector Cynthia Walter first heard an FFP guest preacher six years ago at a church in Northern Virginia, and has since supported FFP in all three of the dioceses in which she has worked. “This organization has an excellent reputation for delivering an unusually high percentage of received donations to the people who need them. Their overhead is relatively low,” Walter said. “Best of all, their operation is thoroughly rooted in scripture and in prayer. Supporting Food for the Poor has been to me a way to live into my calling as a Christian to work for the Kingdom of God.”

Father Barry is originally from Brisbane, Australia. He has served the Anglican Church on three continents as a school chaplain, a seminary professor and a rector. In “retirement” since 2000, he now travels extensively in the US for Food for the Poor.

Sources for this article included www.foodforthepoor.org and www.stthomasdiamondhead.org.

Fire up the grill!

St. Lawrence Day enters planning phase -- Ideas actively sought

Last year’s St. Lawrence Day celebration was such a hit with parishioners and neighbors that the vestry has voted to do it again on Saturday, August 9, 2008.

Discussion is forthcoming as to the exact nature of the celebration. The biggest event on St. Lawrence Day last year was a Rummage Sale, which raised money for the Organ Fund and provided the base inventory for the Lawrencefield Clothes Closet. In the evening we capped the day with a “Bach and Barbecue” organ concert featuring Richard Lewis, a service of Evening Prayer, and a potluck dinner.

This year’s celebration may offer the same features, depending on interest and volunteers. At least one new event will definitely be offered: a 5K footrace between Lawrencefield and Sandscrest. Vestry member Marc Seamon is in charge of those arrangements.

Other suggestions include children’s activities like face painting and inflatables. Parishioners with ideas, particularly about events they personally would like to chair, are strongly urged to speak to the rector or to a vestry member. “The sky’s the limit!” says rector Cynthia Walter.

The Christian church has long celebrated St. Lawrence on the presumed anniversary of his martyrdom, August 10. However, when so-called “lesser feasts” like this fall on Sundays, as in 2008, they are usually transferred. Lawrencefield Parish will transfer St. Lawrence Day to August 9 because Saturdays provide more opportunities for most people to participate.

St. Lawrence, a deacon of the early church, was martyred by the Roman Emperor Valerian in 258 by being roasted on a grill.

Rector ruminations: What are we anyway?

The Rev. Cynthia Byers Walter

I once belonged to a church called St. Paul’s. There was at one point a discussion about how we should refer to ourselves. St. Paulites? Paulians? There was a strong faction that favored “St. Pauli Girls” (guess we know what they drank!) but that obviously was sexist. I do not remember how the issue resolved if it did at all.

Just for fun, consider for a moment how we should refer to ourselves at Lawrencefield. On the theory that everything sounds better in Italian, I personally like “Lorenzoni” (meaning BIG Lawrences.) On the other hand, if your taste runs to the Gallic, we could of course be “Laurentians.”

There may be some among us who would prefer to stick to Anglo-Saxon terminology. In this case, “Fielders” may be the best choice. Then, those worker bees around the church who always volunteer when you need something could be “Utility In-Fielders”. Unless of course they do most of their work outside the church, in which case they would be … well, you get the idea.

Just thought I’d pass this on in case church is getting too serious for you.

Hankering to help?

Here are a few non-routine ways you can serve your parish:

• Do you have a video camera? See the rector about assisting with a video inventory for insurance purposes
• Do you know someone who could provide an estimate about grading and reseeding the churchyard?
• Got an idea that will make St. Lawrence Day unforgettable? Talk to a vestry member.
• Be an unpaid advertiser! Put a Lawrencefield “Mountaintop Experience” bumper sticker on your car! (Only $2!)

Vestry Vibes

Report of the May 20 meeting

Adopt-a-Highway and Churchyard Clean-ups will be scheduled shortly, on Wednesdays or Saturday evenings. Youth will be invited to participate in the Churchyard Clean-ups. The retaining wall will be completed as soon as the ground dries out. Vestry voted to recommend adoption of the Bylaws. Copies will be mailed out to all congregants in advance of the Annual Congregational Meeting at which the parish will vote on the Vestry’s recommendation. Financial Secretary Mary Frohme has reported that pledged donations are on target for this point in the year. Vestry voted to adopt the Budget proposed by the Budget Committee. Vestry voted to accept the change to Churchyard Rules recommended by the Churchyard Committee: Provision 6 now calls for permanent grave markers to be placed within a year of interment. Rector reported that the Sanctuary Lamp, which has been installed, will be dedicated at the 10:00 service June 1 to the Glory of God and in Honor of Moe Sauder by her daughters. A commemorative plaque has been ordered. Bumper Stickers and large Magnetic Signs have been ordered in fulfillment of some of the Magnetic Church Recommendations discussed last month. Rector has prepared a card explaining Frequently Asked Questions about Communion, which can be laminated and placed in pews for the information of visitors. Various placements were suggested; the vestry agreed to try leaving one at the end of each pew. Rector is working on preparing a Visitor Brochure and Business Cards which members can leave at businesses and waiting rooms. A diocesan representative has interviewed the rector and done a walk-through of the premises to conduct a Risk Assessment. He recommends both a written and a video inventory. Vestry suggested asking for a volunteer with a video camera to do the video. Shirley Weaver volunteered to help rector with the written checklist. Dave Duymich had already arranged a walk-through with the local firefighters and will find out if they have any informal recommendations about Exit Signs, etc. All but one emergency light is already installed. Paint in the Boiler Room is not really a hazard because it is all water-based. St. Lawrence Day celebrations are scheduled for August 9. These will be more thoroughly planned at our next meeting.

Conferees return “magnetized”

Church members share what they learned at Magnetic Church Conference

Three parish members came back from a diocesan-sponsored evangelism workshop bursting with practical ideas for church growth at Lawrencefield Parish Church.

The conference, entitled “The Magnetic Church”, was held April 4-5, 2008, at the Memorial Church of the Good Shepherd in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Barb Hinkle, Rich Walter, and the Rev. Cynthia Walter represented Lawrencefield at this event.

Magnetic Church is a curriculum designed by self-described “lay evangelist” Andrew Weeks, of North Smithfield, Rhode Island. The April conference was sponsored by the Commission on Evangelism of the Diocese of West Virginia, of which rector Cynthia Walter is chair. This is the second time the conference has been offered in West Virginia, the first being about two years ago. The response to the first conference was so positive that the Evangelism Commission wanted more people and churches to have the opportunity to attend.

With his trademark earthy humor, Mr. Weeks invited those in attendance to explore any negative associations with the concept of evangelism. Mr. Weeks said that evangelism is “spiritual generosity,” and begins by moving non-believers and non-participants from the loneliness of Psalm 22 (My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?) to the certainty of Psalm 23 (The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.) Evangelism, in short, is love.

Mr. Weeks claimed that people outside the church want what the church offers, yet there is little contact between the churched and the non-churched. Much of evangelism is based on the simple practice of hospitality. Mr. Weeks then offered specific, proven ideas for practicing hospitality in the fields of marketing, greeting, communications and management of growth.

Barb Hinkle, Rich Walter and Cynthia Walter were very favorably impressed by the conference and returned with pages of ideas for what might work at Lawrencefield (see box.) They hope to offer a presentation in the coming weeks to share their gleanings from this conference with the rest of the congregation. Stay tuned!

Ideas for Growth

The Lawrencefield contingent returned from the Magnetic Church Conference with many ideas for growth that could be implemented immediately at small cost. Here are some representative suggestions:

• Create welcome brochures for visitors; leave them around town
• Personalize bumper stickers, travel mugs, apparel, pens, notepads so that members become walking advertisements
• Magnetic Car signs
• Exterior signs with the Episcopal Church logo
• Interior signs to the Undercroft and restrooms, etc.
• Market our beautiful setting
• Make sermons accessible from our website
• Form a greeter committee
• Have small gifts for visitors
• Plan “Open to the Public” events
• Dedicate parking for visitors and disabled people
• Incorporate prayer for specific occupations in the Prayers of the People
• Spread the Magnetic Church message through adult ed, media

What are your ideas? Please feel to communicate your own suggestions as well as your reactions to the above to the rector or any vestry member.

The Faithful Reader: Book review by Barb Hinkle, Parish Librarian

Sabbath by Wayne Muller

My friend Mary, who is a Sister of Saint Joseph, loaned me the book Sabbath by Wayne Muller. Even though I am “retired,” my days and weeks fill up so fast that I often wonder how I had time to work. I was having a particularly busy week and my friend simply handed me the book and said, “Read this.” I aways read what Sister Mary suggests and am always glad. In this case I’m particularly pleased because Sabbath has turned out to be a helpful, mind-expanding book that I recommend to anyone who feels over-scheduled and harried in his/her daily life.

Muller takes the spiritual tradition of “Sabbath” and expands it beyond “a day of rest.” Ancient rabbis taught that on the seventh day, God created “menuha” – tranquility, serenity, peace and repose – healing stillness. Jews believe that on Sabbath we are given an extra soul, the “Neshemal Yeterah” or “Sabbath Soul,” which enables us to more fully appreciate and enjoy the blessings of life. Everyone has the desire for this inner peace. In Muller’s book each chapter ends with a suggested practice to help the reader.

One of the practices I have tried to include in my daily life is based on a ritual in the Buddhist community of Plum Village. The Vietnamese monk Thich Nhat Hanh began ringing a Mindfulness Bell. Upon hearing the bell, the residents stop and take three silent, mindful breaths. They then go about their day, awakened by the Sabbath pause of mindfulness. Muller suggests we select a repetitive activity in our daily lives such as touching a doorknob or stopping at a traffic light and use it as a signal to stop, take three mindful breaths and then go on our way. I’m trying to do this each time I go up and down my stairs. It seems I’m having dozens of mini-Sabbaths each day. Am I having deep, insightful thoughts each time I stop and breathe? No, but I am finding it amazingly calming.

Another practice is that of giving blessings to others. Our priest blesses us each Sunday, but we can offer blessings to others. A person can place his/her hand on a child’s head, the head of a spouse or friend and offer a prayer for his/her well being. But my favorite is the “silent blessings” on the people we see on the streets, those in ambulances that pass by, or strangers in the market. We can silently offer them a blessing of health, peace and happiness. When I sneeze and people automatically say “God Bless You,” I always answer, “I can use all the blessings I can get.” It’s true, we can all use as many blessings as are bestowed upon us.

The other practices are equally simple to employ. After choosing just a few of these to incorporate into our busy daily lives, Mueller insures us that our lives will change. We will become more aware and relaxed, worry less, and delight in the goodness of creation. It seems that basically his message is: “Let Go, Let God”… not a bad premise by which to live.

Vestry Vibes

Report of the April 22 meeting

Bylaws — The Rev. Donald Vinson, Canon for Congregational Development from the Diocese of West Virginia, walked the vestry through the creation of parish bylaws. The rector will prepare a draft based on our discussions to present to the vestry at the May meeting. The congregation will vote on the vestry recommendations at the next annual meeting. Rev. Vinson also offered to return to Lawrencefield to lead workshops on congregational life cycles and on how church size affects how churches operate. Vestry would like to call Rev. Vinson back to Lawrencefield for a workshop in August or September and open it to the whole parish.

Budget Report — The Budget Committee has met and has submitted their recommendations for 2008. Rector summarized significant differences from 2007. Vestry members will study the draft budget and vote on it at the May vestry meeting.

Junior Warden Report — Mr. Duymich has acquired an appropriate fixture for the sanctuary light and will install it. Because the wall is solid block he will have to run a wire through the attic. Mr. Duymich also suggested that the Mold Committee conduct a “walk-through” before the check is paid to Panhandle for the mold clean-up.

Rector’s Report — Rector presented summaries from the three people who had attended the Magnetic Church conference. There are many low-cost ideas that can be implemented immediately. The vestry was asked to review the lists and come to the next vestry meeting with ideas about how to proceed. Vestry and Treasurer Reports were submitted. Because of the late hour, vestry agreed to study both reports and vote on them at the May meeting. Mr. Farnsworth explained that the changes in the value of our investments are shown as “Unrealized (Gain) Loss” on our Chart of Accounts. This reflects market fluctuations and does not represent money actually going out.

New Business — Mr. Duymich voiced concerns about deposits not being made in a timely matter. Rector will investigate.

Lifelong learners sought

Fulfilling our mission of “commitment to continuous Christian education”

Sunday adult education returns to Lawrencefield Parish Church on April 20 at 9:00am with a simple Bible Study based on the Gospel Lesson for the following Sunday. Following the study, attendees will be encouraged to offer their ideas about format, content and scheduling for adult education in the future. The April 20 meeting will take place in the Rector’s office and last about 40 minutes.

The timing of the sessions is intended to allow members of the 8:00 congregation to stay after church, and 10:00 worshipers to come early.

In the past, adult education has been offered on Sunday evenings and has featured Bible-based curricula. Lawrencefield has also participated in Lenten Study offerings co-sponsored by the Wheeling Cluster of Episcopal Churches.

Rector Cynthia Walter is grateful for the opportunity to finally turn her attention to the Christian education of adults, as lifelong Christian education is a priority in our mission statement, mentioned twice in the statement’s forty-eight words. (For the full text of our mission statement, see Vestry Vibes below.) The mention of “continuous Christian education” in the mission statement expresses the parish’s belief that learning about the Christian faith does not end with Confirmation Class but continues through life.

All adults are welcome, including youth graduates of Confirmation Class. The rector also welcomes all suggestions.

Lawrencefield hosts child safety seminar

On Saturday, April 19, from 9:00am to 3:00pm, Lawrencefield Parish Church will host a program called Safeguarding God’s Children. Lunch will be provided, and the $15 registration fee will be covered for anyone attending from Lawrencefield.

The material presented has been prepared by the National Episcopal Church for the prevention of sexual abuse in the church. The Diocese of West Virginia has endorsed this program as a way of addressing our baptismal call to “strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being.” (Book of Common Prayer, page 305).

This training includes two parts. The morning portion is based on the Church Pension Fund’s video program and focuses on child abuse prevention and awareness training. The afternoon portion uses a video entitled Not in My Church (Faith Trust Institute) to address issues of sexual harassment and abuse prevention, both in adult and youth populations.

Education in sexual misconduct prevention is required for all clergy, paid employees, and volunteers working closely with children and youth, or shut-in and disabled persons. Those in these categories who have not had training in the last five years are expected to renew their awareness.

This is the first time the training has been offered in the Wheeling area in two years.

For more information, or to register, call the diocese at 1-866-549-8346, or visit http://wvdiocese.org/pages/safeguarding.html.

The Kingdom of God in Wheeling?

Local organization seeks demonstration of faith values in public life

As a member church of the Hopeful City organization, Lawrencefield Parish Church is one of many congregations seeking to bring the Wheeling area into closer conformity with the Kingdom of God.

Hopeful City is an organization of faith-based communities dedicated to equipping people with the tools to fight for positive, systemic change in the Wheeling metropolitan area, according to their mission statement.

The faith-based communities that comprise Hopeful City believe that promoting justice, working toward the prosperity of the region, and improving the general welfare of the citizenry fulfills God’s direction to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).

Hopeful City is planning two public events in the near future. All are welcome at both events.

With Ogden Newspapers, Hopeful City is co-sponsoring a Municipal Forum on April 17, at 6:00pm in the Troy Theater at Wheeling Jesuit University. Candidates for City Council and for Mayor in the upcoming election will have the opportunity to address questions of general interest to the community.

Then on May 4, beginning at 2:30pm at St. Joseph’s Cathedral downtown, Hopeful City will celebrate the resolution of an issue involving a destroyed and dangerous sidewalk outside the Church of God and Saints in Christ on Jacob Street. Several church choirs and a dedication of the new sidewalk will be featured.

For more information about Hopeful City, please see their website at http://www.hopefulcity.org/esther.cfm.

Sing to the Lord a new song

Music enhances liturgy, spirituality, health

Did you know that “Sing!” is one of the most common imperatives in the Bible? For those who take the Bible seriously, singing to the Lord is simply not optional.

For all Lawrencefield’s many virtues and accomplishments, congregational singing has not historically ranked high in our distinguishing characteristics. Rector Cynthia Walter and organist Richard Lewis would love to see this change.

The rector and organist together carefully select hymns each week to reinforce the themes of the appointed readings and the sermon. To not even read the words of the selected hymns is to miss part of what church offers on Sundays.

Although conscientious worship planning requires that hymns match the season and day’s themes, there is considerable latitude in hymn choice. Lawrencefield parishioners are encouraged to ask the rector or organist to incorporate their favorite hymns into worship planning.

Because music involves a different part of the brain from that required for linear thought, singing is an opportunity to worship the Lord with all of one’s being, not just the rational part.

Aside from supporting theological themes and spirituality, singing is good for you. Studies among school-age children and young people have shown that studying and practicing music enhances academic performance in all subjects of study. In older adults, participating in music activities supports brain function and physical health.

So, sing in church! If you won’t do it for God, do it for yourself!

Vestry Vibes

Report of the March 11 meeting

General discussion was invited about fulfillments and frustrations at LPC. The recent stewardship drive is a cause for celebration. Frustration was expressed over lack of visitors, low participation in events and the lack of coordination with Sandscrest. Advertising options were discussed and it was generally thought that advertising would be most effective if connected with a special event that would attract people outside the current congregation. Marc Seamon proposed a footrace linking Sandscrest with Lawrencefield. We will investigate coordinating this with St. Lawrence Day in August.

Articles from the Alban Institute were handed out to foster future discussion about growth at Lawrencefield.

Junior Warden Report -- Mr. Duymich has the globe for the sanctuary light and will see if a suitable fixture is available where he works.

Rector’s Report--The pictorial directory project is underway. Pictures will be taken Mar. 28-April 2 at St. Matthew’s. Members are urged to sign up for a slot promptly as we do not have many slots.

The $5,000 legacy check has arrived from the Russell estate. Vestry affirmed an online vote to accept the trustees’ recommendation to deposit this amount to the endowment fund.

The Bishop’s visitation cannot be Oct. 26, as the Diocesan Convention has been moved to that weekend. Of the options available, vestry approved Sept. 28, because otherwise we are looking at 2009.

Recommended procedures arising from the Money Trail meeting Feb. 27 were circulated for the Vestry’s information.

It has been suggested to convert our donor records from the Servant Keeper program to the QuickBook program where our accounting is. This would be a huge data transfer and might be best left to 2009, but the subject remains under research.

• Stewardship chair Bill Neer reports that we are within $5,000 of our goal for pledges for 2008. For more details, please see Vestry Vibes, below.
• Michelle Bell, granddaughter of parishioner Albert “King” Campbell was safely delivered of an 8-pound, 10-ounce daughter named Winnie. Michelle has been on our prayer list for several months.
• Easter is almost here! For dates and times of Holy Week and Easter services, please see the Calendar.

What’s this in my Prayers of the People?

Lawrencefield liturgy reaches out to include Millennium Development Goals

Regulars at the 10:00 Sunday Eucharist know that we make use of the different forms of the Prayers of the People provided in our Prayer Book, and that we personalize these prayers with specific prayers for our country, our community, our parish and those among us who have special needs for prayer. Alert worshippers will have noticed that, in the context of praying for the needs of the world, we have added prayer for Millennium Development Goals.

What are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and why should we care? The MDGs were developed to respond to the world’s main development challenges and derive from the Millennium Declaration that was adopted by 189 nations and signed by 147 heads of state and governments in September 2000. The Episcopal Church voted at General Convention 2006 to make the Millennium Development Goals a mission priority throughout the church. The eight goals to be achieved by 2015 are: (1) to eradicate extreme poverty and hunger; (2) to achieve universal primary education; (3) to promote gender equality and empower women; (4) to reduce child mortality; (5) to improve maternal health; (6) to combat HIV/AIDS, malaria & other diseases; (7) to ensure environmental sustainability; (8) to create a global partnership for development with targets for aid, trade and debt relief.

For more information about Millennium Development Goals, please visit this website: http://wvdiocese.org/pages/millennium.html.

The Faithful Reader: Book Review by Barb Hinkle, Parish Librarian

The Faith Club by Ranya Idliby, Suzanne Oliver, and Priscilla Warner

We live in a time when religion is in the news on a daily basis. Presidential candidates discuss religion, news magazines feature religious stories on their covers, and a listener cannot turn on talk radio without the subject of religion being discussed and often argued.

I want to understand Islam as a religion, not believing that all Muslims are hate-filled terrorists. I strive to sort out the Israeli-Palestinian situation given that I have an American Jewish friend whose son elected to fight in the Israeli army; and I am an Episcopalian who seriously worries about the differences that threaten to fracture our national church. So when I was browsing through the religion section of the public library and spotted The Faith Club, I checked it out and read an extremely interesting and inspiring book.

Three women, a Muslim, a Jew, and a Christian, embarked on a project to write a picture book for children that would highlight the connections among the three religions. However, the book that emerged was not a children’s book, but an eloquent adult book that helps the reader better understand all three religions. Perhaps more importantly, the book invites readers to examine their own individual beliefs and their own religions. The dialogues that took place among the three were sometimes painful, sometimes anger-filled, sometimes joyful and always enlightening. Their “Faith Club” seemed to have only one constant rule – Honesty.

The women dealt with stereotypes of the three religions: “the overbearing, money-hungry Jews,” “the Muslim fat oil sheiks with camels and harems who abuse women,” and “the smug, closed-minded Christian zealots who think they have a lock on morality.” In addition, the discussions on God, heaven, and mortality were fascinating. But the most thought-provoking conversations among the three dealt with the questioning of their own religious and spiritual beliefs. It was a tremendous growing experience for each of them.

From the conversations, the reader will learn much about each of the three religions. When reading this book, I found myself wishing that I could be a part of such a wonderful, spiritually expanding discussion group. As an answer to my wish, at the end of the book are instructions for starting a “Faith Club” in your own community. “The aim is to open your mind and heart to other faiths, religious practices, and prayers. That is how you will learn what is sacred to you.” If anyone is interested in forming such a group in Wheeling, please let Cynthia or me know.

Vestry Vibes

Report of the February 19 meeting

• Vestry members suggested that the red globe for the sanctuary light be ordered separately and cheaply from the church supply catalogue and then be fitted to a commercial wall sconce. Rector will order the globe.
• Stewardship Committee chair Bill Neer reports 34 signed pledge cards received for a total of $90,740. In addition he has $14,000 in verbal pledges and estimates an additional $16,000 from people who don’t pledge but have given at that level for the past three years. This places us only $5,000 from our goal of $125,000.
• Budget Committee has not yet met but will soon.
• A guest preacher from Food for the Poor will be here June 8. The Walters will pick him up at the airport and host him for the weekend.
• Vestry members present were undecided as to a date for Bishop’s visitation in the coming year, noting only that it should not fall too close to the annual meeting. Rector will research and propose dates for the next vestry meeting.
• At the trustees’ request Costanzo & Associates has offered a proposal to review our accounts at a cost of $400 per quarter. Vestry members present felt this was high and accepted treasurer Tom Farnsworth’s suggestion that the accounts be reviewed annually at most. Also this year we will need a formal audit anyway.
• Rector and Treasurer presented the 2007 Annual Report that we are required to submit to the diocese and to the national church. Vestry members present approved the report.
• A diocesan consultant will come Tuesday April 22 to go over bylaws with us. This meeting will take the place of the vestry meeting originally scheduled for April 8.
• Rector again encouraged vestry participation in the Magnetic Church Conference on April 4-5 in Parkersburg.

Reaching out, reaching in

Second in a series about opportunities for service at LPC

Last month’s issue of Table Rock Talk introduced the topic of using gifts for ministry, to which all Christians are called by virtue of their baptism. Discerning what one’s own gifts are is a first step toward fulfilling the ministry to which every Christian is called.

Opportunities for exercising gifts in ministry abound at Lawrencefield Parish Church, and help us fulfill our mission, with its emphasis on education, worship and outreach (or TEACH, PREACH, and REACH, for easy recall!) In last month’s issue, opportunities to teach and preach (support worship) were detailed.

This month, we turn to the fields of outreach, and the supporting ministries that keep the church going. As in the January issue, an asterisk marks the summaries that follow to indicate where help is particularly invited.

One of our most visible outreach ministries is the Soup Kitchen. As part of the Wheeling Cluster (Local association of Episcopal parishes) Lawrencefield supports the Soup Kitchen at St. Luke’s on Wheeling Island. St. Luke’s Soup Kitchen operates on Sundays when other soup kitchens are closed. Lawrencefield is responsible for providing food and serving lunch the second Sunday of each month. Parishioners take turns providing this ministry, which is chaired by Janine Reddy.*

Other Lawrencefield ministries focus on food. Each holiday season, Lawrencefield takes up special collections of food and cash for the preparation of meal baskets for area residents in need. Baskets are custom-prepared by Lawrencefield parishioners according to the number of children and adults in the household. Jennifer Duymich chairs this effort.*

Several parishioners are active in a local organization called Faith in Action Caregivers supports the independent living of older adults and people with disabilities through the shared ministry of faith communities in Ohio, Marshall and Belmont Counties. Shirley Weaver serves on the Advisory Council and the rector serves on the Board of FIA.*

Four times a year, a Lawrencefield work force picks up trash along the entire length of Table Rock Lane in cooperation with the West Virginia Department of Transportation's Adopt-a-Highway program. Junior Warden Dave Duymich organizes these clean-ups.*

Our outreach efforts extend to offering the building for civic use. Lawrencefield Parish Church makes our undercroft available to Ohio County for use as a polling station on Election Day.

From the Rector’s Discretionary Fund, pledges are made to utility companies on behalf of Ohio County residents who have received shut-off notices for their gas, electricity, or water accounts. A special collection is taken at church once a month for this account, but parishioners may contribute at any time.*

In support of the local Meals on Wheels organization, Lawrencefield parishioners provide cookies to accompany meals delivered. Our specialty is providing Hot Cross Buns during Holy Week. Adelaide Luchetti and Moe Sauder coordinate cookies and donations for buns.*

Lawrencefield Parish Church is an active participant in Hopeful City, an organization of faith-based institutions united for community action in Wheeling and Ohio County. Current initiatives include fostering discussion on Unified Government and revitalization in the East Wheeling area. The rector serves on the Executive Board of Hopeful City, which is always looking for new members who care about Wheeling and its future.*

In addition to the visible TEACH, PREACH, and REACH ministries at LPC, several people work behind the scenes to make sure everything runs smoothly. In addition to the rector, the church has three paid employees, Richard Lewis, our organist; Lori Johnstone, our parish secretary; and David Nickerson, who tends to the housekeeping.

There are several volunteer ministries related to money-management. Tom Farnsworth keeps the accounts as Treasurer, while our three trustees, Ogden Nutting, Lee Paull III, and George Weaver oversee our investments. The weekly collection is counted and prepared for deposit by Dave and Jennifer Duymich. Those interested in observing how this happens are encouraged to speak to Dave and Jennifer.* Mary Frohme, as Financial Secretary, prepares quarterly statements so that parishioners can track their donations to the church. Bill Neer coordinates the annual Stewardship Drive, to raise money so that we can do everything we do! New members of the Stewardship Committee are welcome!* (Bill also serves as chair of the Cemetery Committee.*)

Where ministry at Lawrencefield Parish Church is concerned, there truly is something for everyone! Be sure to speak to one of the people mentioned if you are interested in their field of ministry!

Celebrating the lengthening of days

Wheeling Cluster of Episcopal Churches offers Lenten Series

Did you know that the word “Lent” is derived from the same root as the word “length”? “Lent” refers to the time of year in which this season falls, during which the hours of daylight increase.

Most of us know Lent as the period of self-examination and renewal of commitment to God that falls during the forty days preceding Easter. Spiritual reading and reflection are especially appropriate during Lent.

In support of this Lenten emphasis, the Wheeling Cluster of Episcopal Churches (which comprises Lawrencefield Parish Church, St. Matthew’s - Wheeling, St. Luke’s on the Island, and St. Paul’s – Elm Grove) sponsors an educational series on Wednesday evenings beginning February 13. The topic will be a discussion of C.S. Lewis’ novel The Screwtape Letters. Screwtape concerns the training of a novice devil by his uncle, a senior tempter. Funny and insightful, the book is sure to provoke some interesting conversations. Copies of the book will be available to purchase at cost.

Each evening will begin with a light supper at 6:00pm in the undercroft at St. Matthew’s. Soup and drinks will be provided, and participants are encouraged to bring a sandwich or other accompaniment, if desired. The program follows at 6:30pm.

Lawrencefield Parish has been asked to host (provide soup and refreshments) on February 20. A sign-up sheet will be posted as the date approaches.

Vestry Vibes

Report of the January 22 meeting

• Barb Hinkle has made inquiries about taking over the book sale formerly run by St. Matthew’s, and will continue research after she returns from Florida.
• Lisa Martin has made inquiries about a sanctuary lamp, but we need further information.
• St. Luke’s Soup Kitchen needs volunteers for March 9.
• The vestry ratified an email vote in favor of engaging our consulting accountant to prepare W-2’s for our employees at a cost of $200, for which a donation will be sought.
• The vestry approved the use of the church as a polling place for the primary election on Tuesday May 13. Dave Duymich will open the church at 5:30am.
• As of two weeks ago we had received 22 pledges for a total of $71,600 plus $4,000 for the organ. Vestry members are asked to follow up with the people on their call lists who have not yet pledged. Bill Neer will provide names and call the people on the call lists of vestry members who have retired.
• In preparing the Annual Parochial Report, the rector noted that average Sunday attendance dropped from 61 in 2006 to 56 in 2007. The rector handed out a graph showing decline in membership and attendance and an increase in giving. Attached were suggestions from a national church website for a community like ours where the population is declining. Vestry members are asked to read the handout and come to the February meeting with reflections.
• Vestry members are strongly encouraged to attend the Magnetic Church Conference in Parkersburg April 4-5.
• A guest preacher from Food for the Poor will preach on June 8. He will need lodging on the night of June 7.
• Plans for Lent include a Mardi Gras potluck supper on Shrove Tuesday, February 5 at 6:30pm, Ash Wednesday services on February 6 at noon and 7:30pm, and the Lenten Series co-sponsored by the churches in the Wheeling Cluster on Wednesdays beginning February 13 (dinner at 6:00pm and education at 6:30pm.) Lawrencefield has been asked to host (provide soup and drinks) on February 20.
• Mr. Lewis will present an organ concert for Lent. The evening of Sunday March 2 was suggested, as was Sunday afternoon or Friday evening. There are issues with each time, so rector will consult with Mr. Lewis to set a date and time.
• The rector has yet to contact the diocesan staff to advise us in the development of vestry bylaws.

Happy New Year!

Advent liturgy evolves with turn of church year

Although Western culture generally celebrates the New Year on January 1, the church year is ahead of the curve. Our new year begins with Advent, which this year begins on December 2.

Advent consists of the four Sundays preceding Christmas, and marks a period of spiritual preparation for the coming of Christ in two ways: as a human infant over two thousand years ago, and in our hearts as we are continually converted, and reconverted, to the Way of Christ.

Churches observe Christmas by using seasonal altar hangings of clear blue, or purple. In addition, an Advent Wreath is added to the decorations in the church. An Advent wreath is a wreath of evergreen surrounding four candles. One candle is lit for each Sunday of Advent. The practice of keeping an Advent wreath transfers well to the home, where children enjoy lighting an increasing number of candles as Christmas approaches Advent wreath liturgies for families the are available from the rector.

At Lawrencefield, we also continue our tradition of slightly varying the liturgy at the 10:00 service to mark the changing of the church season, exercising options of prayer and service music provided in the Prayer Book and Hymnal.

Best of both worlds

Advent concert offers both organ music and carolling

On December 9, at 5:00pm, parishioners and friends will have an opporunity to both hear and create holiday muusic.

Organist Richard Lewis will present a program of French music on our 2002 Schantz pipe organ. French music for the organ from the Romantic Period has been called the pinnacle of organ composition. The preeminence of French Romantic organ music is widely attributed to the efforts of nineteenth century organ-builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll, who endeavored to build organs with enough sound to rival that of a full symphony orchestra.

Following the recital, attendees will be called upon to raise their own voices in singing Christmas carols.

Though the popular culture rolls out Christmas carols right after Halloween, the church has traditionally discouraged the singing of Christmas carols during regular worship until Christmas Eve, in order to preserve the integrity of Christmas and its religious significance, as well as to observe an appropriate season of preparation, which we call Advent. This carol sing, permissable because it does not form part of a worship service, will give participants a chance to practice their favorites in advance of Christmas.

The holiday atmosphere will be enhanced by the serving of hot cocoa and cookies following the carol sing.

Money donations will be accepted at the concert to benefit the Organ Fund.

Give a Book!

by Barbara Hinkle, Parish Librarian

If you have bibliophiles on your Christmas list, I have some suggestions for you.

There are so many daily meditation books that one is at a loss as to which ones are the most thought provoking and meaningful. I have two suggestions. The first is entitled Grace Notes by Alexandra Stoddard. I love this little book because at the top of each page is a quote, then two bulleted thoughts or meditations; and finally, at the bottom of each page is a place for the reader to write his/her own “grace notes.” The second is a 30 day meditation book by the 14th century mystic, Julian of Norwich. In All Will be Well the mystic’s feminine images of God and the assurance that God is endlessly loving is the essence of this meditation book that helps guide the reader on his/her spiritual journey.

Beautiful Necessity by Kay Turner is a truly unique book for women. The subtitle is “The Art and Meaning of Women’s Altars.” The author explores these altars in various cultures and encourages the reader to create her own personal altar. The photos are interesting and serve as inspiration.

Another extraordinary and beautiful book is Jim Forest’s Praying with Icons. Many people are fascinated by icons and this book leads the reader to see icons not as “art”, but as aids to prayer. Forest also gives the reader a comprehensive history of iconology. There are 16 pages of full color icons.

A gift for a special friend could be Carl Koch’s Journalkeeping...exploring a great spiritual practice. This little book is filled with exercises to aid in spiritual growth. When I give this book, I include a journal. It makes a meaningful gift.

Many of you are familiar with the writings of Bonnie Thurston. One of my favorites is her tiny book, To Everything a Season, A Spirituality of Time. This is ideal for the person who is in a constant time crunch. It gives the reader insight into God’s sacred gift to us – time.

If you have someone on your list who loves poetry, Love Poems from God, Twelve Sacred Voices for the East and West compiled by Daniel Ladinsky is unusual and enjoyable. The verses are from eastern and western spiritual traditions including those of St. Francis of Assisi, Rumi, and St. John of the Cross. Also, because she is my favorite poet, I encourage reading the 19th century poetry of Christina Rossetti, a devout and pious Anglican. There are many inexpensive books of her poetry available.

Finally, a wonderful book for all ages is I Heard the Owl Call My Name by Margaret Craven. The story’s main character is an Anglican priest, who is sent to minister to the Indians of the Northwest. What he learns from them is a beautiful journey.

In addition to our local bookstores and Amazon.com, I buy books from half.com where I can often get new books at a very good price.

Vestry Vibes

At the November 11 meeting:

The Rev. Mark Seitz, who serves on the diocesan Commission on Stewardship, gave a Stewardship Presentation. He shared a chart listing conditions which work against effective stewardship education, and conditions which support effective stewardship education. Clergy and vestry commitment to proportionate giving are the most important of these conditions. The Rev. Seitz stressed that having a budget which provides for outreach, even if it is only a nominal amount, is crucial in inspiring givers.

All-Parish Calls should be completed by vestry members by November 20, and findings conveyed to the rector.

The following actions were taken by Vestry members present and later ratified by email by vestry members who were not present:

Retiring Vestry members Jennifer Duymich Barb Hinkle, and Moe Sauder will serve as a Nominating Committee for a new vestry person, and nominated Jessica Duymich.

The vestry approved this nomination. Barb Hinkle and Karen Dalby were renominated as Delegates to Convention. Rector will find a person to serve as alternate from among the names suggested.

Ogden Nutting, Karen Dalby and Mary Frohme were nominated to serve as Budget Committee, tasked with going over our expenses for the last year and coming up with a budget for 2008 to present to the congregation.

Based on schedules of vestry members present, January 13 was put forward as the date for the Vestry – Spouse Dinner at Sandscrest.

Vestry approved Christmas Bonuses to the secretary, organist and custodian each. ECW will contribute half.

Calling All Lawrencefielders

Parish plans annual Congregational Meeting

All members of Lawrencefield Parish Church, as well as those who attend regularly, whether or not they consider themselves members, should expect a call in the next few weeks.

As has been the custom at Lawrencefield for the past couple of years, vestry members will collectively attempt to contact every member or friend of the parish by telephone.

These phone calls are intended to promote community in our parish. The vestry’s primary objective is to touch base with every member and promote participation in the life of the church, especially encouraging attendance at the annual Congregational Meeting on December 2, following the 10:00 service.

The annual Congregational Meeting will include a potluck luncheon. Each family is asked to bring a dish to share. A sign-up sheet will be posted shortly in the Narthex.

The meeting is basically a celebration of our common life at Lawrencefield. We will hear reports about what the church has been up to in the last year, elect a new vestry member (see box), and have a first look at the 2008 budget.

In addition to the Annual Meeting invitation, vestry phone calls provide individual parish members an opportunity to communicate how the church could better serve their needs, especially as we go into the budgeting process.

Perfecting the fit

Vestry votes to reduce from 12 to 9 members

At the October 23 meeting, the 12-member Lawrencefield Parish Church vestry voted to reduce its size by 25%, effective at the beginning of the 2008 term.

The rector and vestry have been concerned by the vestry’s inability to raise a quorum at some recent meetings. A quorum has been a simple majority, or seven vestry members.

Since the average Sunday attendance at Lawrencefield is around sixty persons, the vestry has been considering whether expecting one in five attendees to serve on vestry is perhaps unrealistic. Consultation with Canon Debbie Short confirmed that twelve is an unusually large vestry for a parish our size, and that a vestry of six to nine would be more workable for us. Ms Short is the Canon for Congregational Development in the Diocese of West Virginia.

The vestry decided to reduce to nine members, reasoning that there are advantages in having an odd number of members in the event of a tie vote, but considering that reducing to seven members might constitute too drastic a change.

Canonically, a simple vestry vote is all that is required to reduce vestry size, in the absence of vestry bylaws specifying otherwise.

The vestry considered how to effect the reduction. They decided that at the 2007 Annual Congregational Meeting, one new vestry member will be elected instead of four, as has been the case in the past, to serve a three-year term. When the four vestry members whose terms expire in 2007 rotate off, a vestry of nine will result. We thus will have both continuity and new participation.

In subsequent years, length of vestry terms will be adjusted so that no more than one-third of the vestry will rotate off in any one year. For example, in 2008, when four more terms expire, we will elect three members for the usual three-year term and one member for a two-year term. In 2009, we will elect three members for three-year-terms and one member for one year.

Sharing the blessings of Thanksgiving

This holiday season, Lawrencefield Parish Church continues its tradition of providing Thanksgiving meals to those in need. Historically, this has been a major outreach of the parish, and has evinced much generosity on the part of parishioners.

At their October 23 meeting, the Lawrencefield vestry voted to continue this ministry for the first thirty families who call. Calls have been coming in since mid-October, and as of this writing the quota has already been reached.

Jennifer Duymich will again chair the Thanksgiving Basket effort, assisted by Michelle Beihl. Parishioners may donate money toward this project, or bring in non-perishable food items. Checks should be made out to “Lawrencefield Parish Church” and marked “Thanksgiving Baskets.” Food items can be left in the white plastic hamper that stands in the Narthex near the steps. Jennifer said that lists of helpful items are handed out to Sunday School children, who enjoy participating by bringing canned goods to church.

Baskets are assembled by Lawrencefield volunteers and are customized according to the number of adults and children in the household, and their ages.

Although several Wheeling charities provide meal baskets at Christmas, Lawrencefield is one of very few who provide baskets at Thanksgiving.

Vestry Vibes

At the October 23 meeting:

• The Vestry ratified two votes taken by email acting on recommendations from the trustees to (a) increase the quarterly income from our investments from 5 to 6% and (b) engage a professional accountant to review our accounting procedures (at trustee expense.) The latter review may obviate the need for an Internal Controls review.
• Emily Fisher is not able at this time to succeed Chris Riley as treasurer. Other names were discussed. The vestry also discussed candidates for a successor to Moe Sauder as Altar Guild Chair.
• West Virginia Day at the Washington National Cathedral will take place the weekend of January 27, 2008. Lawrencefield has no plans at present to participate, but if anyone is motivated to pursue a field trip they have clergy support.
• The rector has obtained information about interest-free loans from the Diocese of West Viriginia of up to $10,000. The vestry voted to apply for such a loan to pay off part of our organ loan with WesBanco.
• The vestry voted to reduce the size of the vestry from 12 to 9 members, a number more appropriate to a parish our size. To accomplish this, one vestry member will be elected for a three-year term at this year’s congregational meeting, while four members will rotate off as usual. In later years, length of terms will be adjusted so eventually no more than one-third of the vestry will rotate off in one year.
• The vestry voted to hold the Annual Congregational Meeting on December 2 after the 10:00 service. Anyone who chairs a committee or ministry should submit a report to the rector by November 20.
• The vestry discussed this year’s Stewardship Drive. As in years past, we will kick off the drive with vestry members calling every member of the parish to touch base, verify records and invite people to the Annual Meeting. The Diocesan Commission on Stewardship has requested time with the Vestry and Trustees. Mark Seitz, who represents the Commission in this area will be invited to the November 13 vestry meeting.
• The Vestry voted to continue our past practice of collecting money and non-perishables for Thanksgiving baskets. We will hold the number of baskets this year to thirty. Jennifer Duymich will coordinate the collection.

Visions of Growth

Parishioners share ideas about the future of LPC

Two cottage meetings were held in June and July to enjoy fellowship and vision for the future of Lawrencefield Parish Church.

Discussion tended to fall into two categories: first, what can we do to encourage growth? And second, what do we particularly value about Lawrencefield Parish Church that we (a) want to preserve no matter what we undertake, and (b) should play up in publicity about the church?

Many ideas for growth programs involved the expansion of existing efforts, especially in the areas of fellowship; music; outreach; publicity in the newspaper, cluster, and surrounding neighborhood; and participation in current programs. Ideas for new or renewed projects included Adult Education, a Legacy Society, a Prayer Team, opening the church building for use by community groups, and “Bring-a-friend-to-church Day.” There was a further suggestion to make the Rummage Sale an annual affair where neighbors are invited to sell their own stuff in their own stalls and keep their proceeds.

Features we particularly value about Lawrencefield are our beautiful building in its beautiful setting, our Sunday School (which joins the adults for communion), our recognizably Episcopal worship style (which honors both Rite I and Rite II), and the representation of more than one generation on vestry.

The vestry will take these suggestions into account in planning for the future. Additional cottage meetings will be scheduled if there is interest in the congregation.

Undercroft repairs nearing completion

Despite fears that the restoration to the undercroft, where harmful mold samples were taken in the spring, would assume a similar time schedule to that of Wheeling Tunnel repairs, progress toward completion of the undercroft work is much in evidence.

Panhandle Cleaning and Restoration of Wheeling is undertaking the repairs, which include removing the mold, repainting, and replacing rotted moldings. The removal of the mold is the most problematic step, and that is completed. Testing done after the cleaning showed that the mold has been successfully eradicated.

Costs for the repairs were covered by Church Insurance Corporation, supplemented by anonymous donations.

During the cleaning, the elevator and front stairs were swathed in protective plastic and inaccessible to the congregation. As a result, Sunday Coffee Hour was held on the front porch of the church for over a month. While this practice was a charming summertime break to our usual Coffee Hour in the undercroft, it involved considerable extra work for Coffee Hour volunteers. The Parish extends special thanks to these volunteers for their extra effort during the restoration.

BOOK REVIEWS FOR ALL AGES

Barb Hinkle, Parish Librarian

Life Lessons by Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and David Kessler

Life Lessons is a book everyone should read. Both authors are end-of-life specialists and leaders in the field of hospice care. However, this book is about living life to the fullest.

Life Lessons is very readable. It is divided into 14 chapters including lessons on Love, Guilt, Fear, Anger, Patience, Forgiveness, and Happiness. The book is filled with short narratives from people who have learned how to live life on life’s terms.

The lessons in this book revolve around ideas we know but have not internalized. It is good to be reminded of these concepts at various stages of our lives.

There is a quote from the chapter entitled "Forgiveness" that is particularly poignant. If a person has hurt you, try thinking, “You’ve made mistakes and so have I. Who hasn’t? But I no longer want to define you by your mistakes or have me defined by mine.” We need to remember that forgiving is not condoning the behavior that hurts us; it’s that we let the hurt go for our own sakes. Do we know this? Yes. Is it good to be reminded? Yes.

So many people believe “if only this or that would change, I would be happy.” The authors point out that we tend to think of happiness as a reaction to an event, but it is actually a state of mind that has very little to do with what is going on around us. Happiness depends not on what happens, but how we handle what happens.

The authors end the book by saying, “We wrote this book to take the lessons from the edge and give them to people who still have time to make changes and to enjoy the results.”

I have found myself reflecting on the lessons in this book and trying to take them to heart. Life Lessons is well worth your time. Check it out in our library!

Learning About Prayer by Lois Rock and Maureen Galvani

Hey Parents, here is a great book for you and your young children to read together!

The book is divided into 12 good questions that children may ask about prayer. The questions range from “Do people have to learn prayers or can they make them up” to “If God knows everything, why do people need to pray at all?” The questions are those that a child would ask, and the answers are complete but understandable for young children.

It is a great book to discuss with your child. You will both enjoy discussing the questions.

Learning About Prayer is in our library now.

Vestry Vibes

The July meeting was cancelled owing to anticipated Rector absence and the lack of business requiring action.

The Vestry continues to work on the following pending matters of interest:

Plans are firming up for the St. Lawrence Day celebration on August 11. Jane Mumper and Dee Martin will co-chair the Rummage Sale which will run from 8:00 to 1:00. Vestry members should plan to support this effort by signing up to help with donating rummage, picking-up rummage if requested, set up, baked goods, selling, clean-up or publicity calls. We will have a sung Evening Prayer at 5:00 or so followed by a grilled dinner of some sort and then the organ concert at 7:30 or so, taking a collection for the organ fund.

The Diocese is offering a “Bishop’s Ball” on Friday Oct. 12 at the Stonewall Resort in Roanoke. They are looking for a representative from each parish to sell tickets.

The Committee on Internal Controls will report at the August 19 meeting.

Rector asked Jody Wharton to research costs for a Pirates game field trip. In the past money was lost on renting a bus, so Jody has obtained permission to use the St. Matthew’s van, which seats 15. Her own van seats 5, and she figures if someone else with a standard van volunteers, we can take a group of 25. Possible dates will be researched.

The Vestry plans a day-long retreat at Sandscrest or other off-site location on a Saturday in September to take stock and do long-term planning.

Celebrating St. Lawrence

Lawrencefield adopts patronal feast

At the May vestry meeting, the Lawrencefield vestry accepted Rector Cynthia Walter’s proposal to adopt St. Lawrence Day as the parish’s patronal feast.

Many churches celebrate patronal feasts. Churches called St. Matthew’s celebrate their saint’s day on September 21. Churches called Christ Church particularly observe the Feast of Christ the King on the last Sunday before Advent. But since Lawrencefield was named for a farm instead of a saint, we have been missing out.

Until now.

The Rev. Cynthia Walter says that adopting St. Lawrence Day is a natural choice. “Although we’re not technically named for him, I don’t think he’d mind,” Walter said.

There is at least one activity that suggests itself for St. Lawrence Day, which the church calendar designates as August 10: a barbecue. St. Lawrence was martyred in the third century by being roasted alive on a grill. Though the association may seem grim, the saint himself would probably find it amusing, Walter said. Lawrence reportedly had a great sense of humor, and observing his day has historically lent itself to the macabre. (See next article.)

This year, Lawrencefield will probably transfer the observance of St. Lawrence Day to August 11, a Saturday, to make celebration easier. Among the activities suggested, besides the barbecue, are a rummage sale and a service of Evening Prayer. In addition, organist Richard Lewis has offered to prepare an organ concert entitled “Bach and Barbecue.”

Other ideas from parishioners about activities are welcome. Those interested in spearheading activities for St. Lawrence Day are urged to speak to the Rector.

St. Lawrence – Deacon, Martyr, Humorist

St. Lawrence was born about 225 AD in what is now Spain, a protégé of Sixtus of Rome, who became Pope in 257. As a deacon Lawrence was charged with care for the poor, and was also custodian of the church’s treasures, including the the chalice Jesus supposedly shared with the apostles at the Last Supper.

Legend has it that during the persecution of Christians under Emperor Valerian in 258, Lawrence sent the holy chalice to his family in Spain for safekeeping. Lawrence’s family in turn entrusted the chalice to a monastery. A chalice still venerated in a special chapel in the Catholic Cathedral of Valencia, Spain, is held to be this same cup, the Holy Grail itself!

A story attributed to St. Lawrence parallels the Roman legend of the matron Cordelia, who presented her children as her “jewels.” Before Lawrence was arrested, Roman authorities demanded that he turn over the church treasures in his charge. Lawrence’s request that he be given three days to deliver the treasure was granted, whereupon Lawrence secretly and hastily liquidated the treasury, distributing the proceeds to the poor. When the three days were up and Lawrence was summoned to present the treasure, he introduced a large group of poor people and announced, “Here is the church’s treasure!” This insolence earned him a death sentence.

Lawrence was martyred by being roasted alive over a grill. Maintaining his legendary humor till the end, he reportedly told his torturers, “Turn me over! I’m done on this side!”

Lawrence is one of the patron saints of Rome, where many churches named for him, including San Lorenzo in Panisperma, the reputed site of his martyrdom. Librarians, cooks, students, tanners and comedians (!) also claim St. Lawrence as patron.

There are several practices observed on August 10, Lawrence’s feast day, that many modern Christians might find grisly. In the Vatican on that day, a reliquary containing Lawrence’s burnt skull is displayed for veneration. In addition, the saint’s dried blood, contained in a vial preserved in a church outside Rome, is said to liquify miraculously on August 10, returning to a dessicated state on August 11.

Lesser Feasts and Fasts, the guide to saints’ days for the Episcopal Church, assigns the following Collect for the Feast Day of St. Lawrence on August 10:

Almighty God, you called your deacon Laurence to serve you with deeds of love, and gave him the crown of martyrdom; Grant that we, following his example, may fulfill your commandments by defending and supporting the poor, and by loving you with all our hearts; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Sources: Lesser Feasts and Fasts; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Lawrence

Vestry Vibes

The following topics were covered at the June 17 meeting:

Coming Events

• Flyers were distributed to publicize the Fireworks Party July 3.
• Suggestions for celebrating our name day, St. Lawrence Day, on August 10: Transfer it to Saturday, August 11. Schedule the Rummage Sale for this day. Mr. Lewis has offered to do a Bach and Barbecue concert – that would be a good climax for the day. We can also have children’s activities, Evening Prayer, and a dinner leading up to the concert.
• The bishop can be here for both services Oct. 28, but likes to meet also with the vestry. The vestry can meet with the bishop at 9:00 between services for juice and muffins, and we can plan a more elaborate reception for the confirmands and the whole parish after the 10:00 service

Other Agenda

• Mold Restoration has begun. Should take less than two weeks.
• Stewardship We are still $17,000 short of goal. The Stewardship Committee invites suggestions and requests that the vestry and congregation be kept informed.
• Spring Rummage Sale No action yet taken.
• Visioning for Growth – Cottage Meetings Response has been slow. Vestry is urged to sign up.
• Internal Controls The vestry feels the guidelines should be revised. A committee consisting of Lee Paull IV, Emily Fisher, and Chris Riley will review the guidelines and report back at the next vestry meeting with recommendations.
• Check signing We have incurred a couple of late fees because of checks printed but not signed in time. The vestry moved and voted to add rector’s name to signature list. She will not sign checks made out to herself.
• Montessori School Lawrencefield has been contacted by a Montessori School interested in leasing our building. We need more information before we are able to discuss the matter, but do not object on principle.
• Churchyard The Churchyard Committee requests permission to increase the cost of plots from $100 to $200 for communicants in good standing and from $150 to $350 for others. The vestry approved this change.
• Fire extinguishers Dave Nickerson will add upkeep to his list of duties.
• Camp Peterkin’s Intermediate Camp may need another clergy the last week in July. Rector asked permission to inquire about serving at Peterkin this week, since it would take her away from the parish. Vestry had no objection.
• Baseball trip Rector asked for input about reviving the practice of renting a bus for a parish trip to PNC Park to see a Pirates game.

Visioning for Growth

Lawrencefield takes an intentional look at the next step in our common life

The Vestry of Lawrencefield Parish Church has approved a plan to have a series of cottage meetings to discuss growth at Lawrencefield Parish. According to Rector Cynthia Walter, church growth is always problematic, because it involves change, and growth is especially challenging in a community that is not growing in population. Therefore, Walter says, the “buy-in” of everyone in the congregation is necessary. However, as Walter continues, “Growth in the Lord is our calling and our joy. The cottage meetings will be a chance for us to inspire and encourage each other.”

Growth has occupied the minds of many at Lawrencefield at least since the most recent rector search. A survey taken before the 2003-2006 search listed “Growth in Membership” as a prime goal (along with maintaining Episcopal worship, stewardship awareness and education, and expanding and supporting Christian education.) Growth in membership was not the only priority. The parish profile created by the Search Committee explicitly stated that the new rector should support the “spiritual growth of members.”

All three scheduled cottage meetings involve a meal. All parishioners are urged to attend at least one meeting, or sign up to have another meeting scheduled. Meetings are scheduled at:

• 6:30pm, Wednesday, June 13 – Dinner at Barb Hinkle’s, 2208 Richland Avenue, Warwood
• 6:30pm, Saturday, June 30 – Dinner at Rich Walter’s, 10 Walnut Avenue, Woodsdale
• 12:30pm, Wednesday, July 11 – Luncheon at Shirley Weaver’s, “Virginia Hurst,” Rt. 88N

Lawrencefield goes virtual

Website launched

Lawrencefield Parish Church has a new website, created on a pro bono basis by Ben Walter of Riovia Communications Group of Charlottesville, Virginia. Designed with the church-shopper in mind, the website contains information about our history, worship, outreach and education programs. New information will be added as available. Input is particularly invited from church members. One particular goal for the site is to “liven it up” with photographs. To this end parishioners are urged to bring their digital cameras to all church events and submit pictures to .

Web wisdom

Gleaned from the internet by Stewardship Chair Bill Neer

Hebrews 6:1: “So let us go on to grown-up teaching. Let us not go back over the beginning lessons we learned about Christ.”

When his Mom asked the little boy who fell out of bed what happened, he answered, “I don’t know. I guess I stayed too close to where I got in.”

Easy to do the same with our faith. It’s tempting just to stay where we got in and never move.

Pick a time in the not-too-distant past. A year or two ago. Now ask yourself a few questions. How does your prayer life today compare with then? How about your giving? Have both the amount and the joy increased? What about your church loyalty? Can you tell you’ve grown? Bible study? Are learning to learn”

Don’t make the mistake of the little boy. Don’t stay too close to where you got in. It’s risky resting on the edge.

The Faithful Reader

Book Review by Barb Hinkle, Parish Librarian

Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott

What a delightful book! Even though Anne Lamott writes about the serious issues of life - Single Parenthood, Alcoholism, Eating Disorders, and Faith, to name a few, her self-effacing humor and clean narrative style make this book very readable.

In Traveling Mercies, an autobiographical series of essays, we learn of her life before she opened the door to faith and the love of Jesus Christ and of her life after that door was opened. Lamott was a successful writer who had suffered the deaths of her father and her best friend from cancer, was an active alcoholic, bulimic, and was sexually promiscuous. Her life was careening out of control.

What happened to Anne Lamott is nothing short of a miracle. When she allowed Jesus to enter her life, things changed. That is not to say that her life became perfect, but that her life became more manageable, more meaningful and more joyous.

In her conversational style, Lamott takes us into her life and introduces us to not only herself, but a plethora of other interesting people and situations. She writes about the challenges of being a single parent to Sam as well as the rewards of motherhood. She exposes the readers to the congregation of her spiritual haven - St. Andrew Presbyterian, an impoverished, homely little church. And she writes of her ascension from the depths of alcoholism and drug abuse into a love-filled life.

Traveling Mercies is not a book about religion, but rather a book about faith and spirituality. Never does she preach or espouse particular religious beliefs. She simply tells the story of her spiritual awakening. One of my favorite quotes from the book is when she begins to accept the love of God. “I had no big theological thoughts but had discovered that if I said, ‘Hello?’, to God, I could feel God say, ‘Hello,’ back.” I also love her two favorite prayers: “Help me, help me, help me,” and “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

In an interview, Lamott was quoted as saying, “I started to realize that there was a great hunger and thirst for regular, cynical, ragbag people to talk about God in a tone that didn’t frighten or upset.” That is exactly what she has done in Traveling Mercies.

Vestry Vibes

The following topics were covered at the May 20 meeting:

Coming Events

• We will reprise our Fireworks Party with a cook-out on July 3.
• The vestry decided to schedule Morning Prayer for the Sunday in July that the rector is on vacation rather than paying for supply clergy.
• The closest thing Lawrencefield has to a name day is St. Lawrence Day on August 10. This is a good excuse for a party. We’ll work out details at the June meeting.
• The Sunday School Picnic is Sept. 9.
• Cynthia will call the diocese and find out when the bishop will be here Oct. 28, so that we can plan an appropriate celebration
• The vestry believes it’s a good idea to have another benefit organ concert in November.
• The vestry discussed stuffing neighborhood mailboxes with notices about coming events and our worship schedule. Cynthia will create flyers if volunteers will stuff mailboxes. A number of vestry volunteered.

Other Agenda

• Mold The insurance company sent a check to cover the cost of Panhandle’s repair estimate, less a $500 deductible which a parishioner has volunteered to cover. Cynthia is trying to coordinate with Panhandle to schedule the work.
• Ministry Review Rector has contacted Bill Neer to reassemble the Search Committee as a Review Committee to meet with Rector. A draft agenda has been prepared and was circulated.
• Diocesan Convention Three rooms have been reserved for Diocesan Convention Sept. 27-29 for delegates and alternate.
• Internal Controls Copies of the Internal Controls policy were distributed. The vestry is asked to review them and come to the next vestry meeting prepared to affirm or change them.
• Youth The Rector alerted the vestry that she is thinking about taking the youth on a mission trip in Spring 2008.
• Clean-ups Vestry members were urged, as parish leaders, to participate in Cemetery clean-up and Adopt-A-Highway so the burden does not always fall on the Duymiches.

The Lawrencefield Vestry meets the third Sunday of the month at 11:15am in the rector’s office to discuss the business of the church. The next meeting is June 17.