Grains Of Sand Early Summer 2008
GRAINS OF SAND
EARLY SUMMER 2008
FROM THE VICAR…
In 1992 Bill Boyce was the treasurer of St. Andrew’s by the Lake. Those of you who were present in this community at that time had the joy of knowing Bill and Joan Boyce – two very wonderful people who were deeply involved in the life of our faith community. The clerk on our Bishop’s Committee is the one in charge of putting together our Annual Meeting Report (our present clerk is Liz Benson Johnson). When Bill was treasurer – he did it. In 1992 we were on the edge of a building campaign. Plans had been made for the new education wing and finances were being arranged. Lindsay Raulo Costello had recently left us $40,000 in her estate – and the rest we borrowed from the Diocesan Loan Fund, plus gifts and pledges from the then current members. What would we have done these past sixteen years without that addition? I can’t even begin to number the countless uses it has been put to – benefiting us and the larger Park Point Community.
But, back to the Annual Report. Bill Boyce chose a graphic for the front page that was an architectural drawing of the existing church elevation and the new wing elevation. But even more importantly, he chose a scriptural verse: “In Christ the whole structure is closely fitted together and grows into a temple holy in the Lord.” (Ephesians 2:21)
I have always been glad that Bill chose that verse because it speaks deeply to our life together. He wasn’t referring to the building – he chose that verse because it is foundational to our spiritual lives together as a community.
This current building process we have been involved in since last August has, at times, seemed slow and cumbersome. There were moments I thought we were ready to pull the trucks up and begin building – only to have to wait to put one more thing in place (usually finances). Actually, this process goes way back before August of 2007. If you recall, we began our visioning process about two years ago when we invited everyone into groups to vision how we could best live out our mission as a Christian community. A major piece of the visioning feedback was the need to increase seating in the church and better use of our building. We stood on the edge of our 100th anniversary, realizing the building needed some updating and more ‘green’ features. This follows closely with our environmental concerns to be conscious of how we use and steward this gift of land God has given us to care for.
One of the gifts of a longer process is that I think we have been able to move forward together (mostly) so that we are ‘knit together’ as a community. I know that there are still differences of opinion about the extent of the project, and those differences need to be recognized and honored as valid. One of my concerns as we moved into this process was that the community would come out whole and healthy on the other side. I hope we have done that. Even though there are a few who would disagree with the extent of the project, there is always a valued place for those voices. On Sunday, June 8th, those gathered for the parish meeting voted 51-2 to move ahead with the recommendation of the Bishop’s Committee – to add a small addition to the Mission Hall with a sprinkler system throughout the building, as well as other plans for renovation and fixing the roof.
‘Growing into a temple holy in the Lord’ is being a community that can differ in opinion and even beliefs yet, at the same time, still gather to worship God who for us is centered in Jesus the Christ. We can disagree at times, and yet still gather together in prayer and remain ‘closely fitted together’ in community to move forward into mission.
When Greg Mortenson was in Duluth in March he talked about the village community in Pakistan where he helped build a school. That village had never had a school. Children met outside and drew their lessons in the dust with sticks. At times he was impatient when the process met great challenges and took much longer than he expected. One of the elders of the village said to him, ‘Don’t worry, Mr. Greg, we have waited 5000 years to have a school. Another year or two won’t make a difference.’ I guess in that contest – we have moved quickly, haven’t we?
And while speaking of mission – it is about time for us to turn ourselves outward. In another article in this newsletter you will read about an Anniversary Outreach project called “100 Gifts” that we are undertaking this summer. And, as the Fall approaches, our deacon, Sue Deetz, is organizing an outreach project that will immerse us in the Millennium Development Goal of trying to offer elementary education to children in another part of the world. Perhaps we can be the ones to build a school – while we build something for ourselves. Something to ponder and think about. The next newsletter will have more on that! There is always more to do to be the hands, eyes, heart and feet of God.
Summer Blessings, Cindy P-W
Never doubt that a small group of committed persons can change the world;
in fact that is all that ever has. Margaret Mead
SUMMER EVENTS
St. Andrew’s Stitchers will meet on Thursday, July 10th, from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at the home of Nan Stubenvoll. Seating is limited, so sign up in the undercroft to reserve your spot. Contact Nan Stubenvoll or Joan Hunn for more information.
Senior High Camping Trip to Madeline Island – Tuesday, June 17th through Thursday, June 19th. Gather at our Lakeside location by 9:00 a.m. Tuesday morning. Bring your permission slips. Have your money ($75 each) in by Sunday, June 15th. This cost will cover everything. A letter was sent to parents and teens with information of what to bring.
Junior High Camping Trip to Moose Lake State Park – Sunday, July 27th through Tuesday, July 29th. We’ll leave after church, so bring your stuff with you. Cost is $50. A letter was sent to parents and Junior Highers with more information. RSVP by July 6th; money is due by July 20th.
Art Fair Popcorn Stand – The youth groups will be having a popcorn stand during the Park Point Art Fair (Saturday & Sunday, June 28th-29th). If you come down to the art fair, stop by for a bag of popcorn or something to drink. If you can, sign up with Brian Lundberg to help in two-hour shifts.
Third Thursday Group – June 19th, 11:30 a.m., at Top of the Harbor (Radisson). Call Ginny Berger if you can drive others or if you need a ride.
Art Tour of Temple Israel – While we are under construction, everything has been taken off the walls at St. Andrew’s. When we return, we would like to be very intentional about what goes back up. A group has formed to look at what other faith traditions have done in the use of art, and to draw up guidelines of how we will make decisions about what goes on the walls (or what doesn’t). Arlene Renken is gathering this group. If you would like to be part of it, speak to her. In the meantime, our first tour is at Temple Israel. We will meet there at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 24th. All are welcome.
Bridge to Peace – 5K Walk/Run – We are back on the calendar for Saturday, December 6th, at Fitger’s. Mike Cheslak and Donna Elsbury are involved in the preliminary planning and will be asking for other volunteers to help in a variety of ways in the coming months. You will notice the change in name, from “Bridge to the Gulf” to “Bridge to Peace”. This is to allow us to reach out in a wider way (locally, nationally or worldwide). This event will be one of our major fundraisers for our upcoming Millennium Development Goal project. It’s a great event to do together!
The Progressive Dinner scheduled for late July has been postponed. We will probably try to have one in the Fall. However, we are offering a Parish Picnic at Bob and Mary Ellen Owens’ home (date to be determined, but it will be after worship on a Sunday). They live just above our Lakeside location on Skyline Parkway (Hawk Ridge). Thank you Bob and Mary Ellen for opening your home to all of us!
UPCOMING MEETINGS
June 16, 23, 30 – My Faith, My Life (Sr High
book discussion), 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
June 22 – Grant Formation Planning
(after worship)
July 14 – Bishop’s Committee (5:30 p.m.)
August 18 – Bishop’s Committee (5:30 p.m.)
CONFIRMITZVAH (Confirmation)
On July 19th and 20th (Saturday-Sunday), The Rt. Rev. Daniel Swenson will be with us to celebrate confirmation, reception, and renewal of baptismal vows. A number of our teens have been preparing to make a mature faith commitment – as a way of accepting the gift and promises made by their parents at their baptisms. At that time many of them were infants and now is the time when they will be invited to stand and claim those baptismal promises for themselves. This is, in many ways, like the Jewish Bar mitzvah or Bat mitzvah – when a young adult comes of age spiritually and is asked to make an adult commitment to the faith journey. That is why we call it a ‘confirmitzvah’ (same thing as confirmation). Two years ago we entered a pilot program called “Confirm not Conform”. A spiritual commitment should never be conforming to something because of others’ expectations. It is a personal commitment because a person wants to and feels called in that direction at this time in his/her life. We are now offering the opportunity to confirm the gift that was given to them in their baptism.
On July 19th there will be a special dinner and program for the teens who have traveled this journey together, along with their parents, godparents and mentors. On July 20th we will have the service of Confirmation at 9:45 a.m. At that time the Bishop will confirm those who choose to be confirmed. ALSO, this is an appropriate time for those who come from other traditions to be RECEIVED into the Episcopal Church. If you have been attending St. Andrew’s and would like to become a part of this faith tradition, please speak to Cindy so preparations can be made. This is also and appropriate time for ANYONE to RENEW his/her BAPTISMAL VOWS before the Bishop.
We have all known the long loneliness;
the only solution is love and love comes with community. Dorothy Day
SUMMER NURSERY CARE
During the summer months we will have the nursery staffed with teenagers. There will be three locations for nursery care to happen. The first is in the back of the church where there will be a box of ‘soft, quiet toys’ for infants and toddlers to play with. In the lobby there will be a small table for coloring and clay (play dough). Downstairs, the nursery will be moved into the Godly Play room for the summer, so we can clean that corner and make it more inviting in the Fall. The teen in charge of a specific Sunday morning will be moving between those three locations, taking the children where it seems to fit best for them.
SOFTBALL SCHEDULE
The Beachcombers are up and running – literally! We won our first game 15-3 and our second, 15-11. This is the schedule for the remaining games (Tuesday evenings at UMD, # = field number). Come on out and support your team! Bring a lawn chair and enjoy a nice summer event (when the weather is nice).
June 17 – 7 p.m., #2
June 24 – 8 p.m., #2
July 1 – 9 p.m., #2
July 8 – 9 p.m., #2
July 15 – 8 p.m., #2
July 22 – 7 p.m., #2
July 29 – 6 p.m., #2
Aug. 5 – 9 p.m., #1
100 GIFTS – 100th Anniversary Project
To celebrate our 100th Anniversary at St. Andrew’s by the Lake, you are invited to be part of an outreach project to our local community. Over the summer, we are going to collect 100 Items for Women in Transition Housing. The items do not need to be new, but they do need to be clean, in good condition, and very useable. JoAnne Axtell, who is the interim director of Women in Transition, has come up with a list of about 30 items that can be used by women and their families as they transition into new housing situations. We would like to collect at least 100 items to celebrate our 100 years of presence in the Duluth community. Over the summer, as you either purchase an item or come across a very good used item, bring it into the church and we will have a space to store it. On September 7th we will have an ingathering during worship and a potluck lunch celebration afterwards. The items are:
5 sets of flatware (service for 4)
5 twin size blankets
5 pillows (new)
3 sets of queen sheets
5 sets of twin sheets
5 sets of bathroom cleaning supplies
5 sets of personal hygiene products
(shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrush,
woman’s shaver, soap)
2 dressers (gently used)
10 storage bins
3 sets of bath towels
5 sets of kitchen towels
5 saucepans
5 frying pans
3 throw rugs for entry
10 items of winter clothing (mittens,
scarves, jackets)
2 crock pots
5 can openers
5 strainers for pasta
2 DTA bus passes
1 cribbage board
3 family board games (Scrabble,
Monopoly, etc.)
Craft items, esp. for jewelry making
Gift cards for Super One
1 TV stand
2 end tables
3 dolls
5 small toy cars or trucks
5 NERF toys
2 baseball mitts
2 basketballs
1 soccer ball
soccer shin pads
safety gear sets for roller blades,
skateboards
bicycle helmets
3 coffee pots
3 alarm clocks
Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to do it. Proverbs 3:27
THE ROVING REPORTER by Traci Reynolds
In the spirit of Mother’s Day, I’m writing this article. Mary Shaw, husband Dan, and her three children have been in our community for roughly eight years. Julia, Max and Piper are Mary’s three children. I asked their Dad to pose the question, “What nice thing has your Mom done for you this week?” The kids had very touching responses. Julia’s was “Mom let me push the cart while grocery shopping and she let me have a snack before dinner.” Max told his Dad, “Mom drove me to karate class and she read me a story before bedtime.” Last but not least, Piper said, “Mom made me cookies – even though she was tired.” I feel that being a good parent is a wonderful way to teach kids stewardship. My husband Darrel and I have had the joy of seeing Mary and Dan’s three children grow in our church and it’s been amazing to watch.
Editor’s note: Traci Reynolds is collecting human interest stories about people in our church family. If she approaches you for a story, I hope you can offer one.
A NOTE FROM BISHOP JELINEK
The devastation that has resulted from
Cyclone Nargis in Myanmar (Burma) and the earthquake in China is overwhelming. Most recent reports estimate up to 150,000 people dead with entire villages destroyed and thousands still missing. In addition, about 3 million survivors are facing what some have deemed a ‘massive public health catastrophe’ due to inadequate water, food and health supplies.
Fortunately, Episcopal Relief and Development has an established presence in both countries through a network of affiliated and local contacts. As a result, ERD is uniquely positioned to rely on these relationships to address the immediate needs of victims – providing basics like food, water and shelter.
There are two things you can do:
1) Pray for the victims of the cyclone in Myanmar and the earthquake in China. Pray for their families. Pray for the people who are working tirelessly to locate the missing, feed the hungry, and care for the injured.
2) Donate online to Episcopal Relief and Development: http://www.servicenetwork.com/Org/ERD/Donate.asp OR…you can mail donations to:
Episcopal Relief and Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058. To donate by phone, call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129.
THANK YOU!
Did you notice the stunning decorations we had over the Easter Season and Pentecost Sunday? How could we not?! Thank you to Stacy Nagel and Bob Anderson for all the time and effort they put into creating such a wonderful worship environment on Pentecost Sunday and for all those coffee hours during Easter Season.
Thank you to Kris Rauschenfels, Fern Penick, Liz Maeshima, Liz Johnson and Stacy Nagel for making the stoles for the Confirmitzvah.
Thank you to Joan Hunn and Helen Hanten for organizing our parish list and getting the emails added. This list will be updated yearly. If you have a change in phone, address, or email would you please send them to Helen Hanten – hhanten@aol.com.
TRANSITIONS
Congratulations to Jaina Thompson and John Brakke on their graduations from Central High School! They both gave very thoughtful reflections on June 1st as we honored their achievements during our worship and afterwards at a reception. John will be attending the Carlson School of Business at the University of Minnesota (Minneapolis) and Jaina will be attending St. Scholastica for a nursing degree.
Congratulations to J Laundergan upon his retirement from UMD. J has been a sociology professor for 42 years, focusing especially in the area of addictions and how they impact the community and what can be done to help those who struggle with addictions to alcohol, drugs, and gambling.
A STORY
The Pastor was preoccupied with the thoughts of how he was going to ask the congregation to come up with more money than they were expecting for repairs to the church building. Therefore, he was annoyed to find that the regular organist was sick and a substitute had been brought in at the last minute. The substitute wanted to know what to play. “Here’s a copy of the service,” he said impatiently. “But you’ll have to think of something to play after I make the announcement about finances.”
During the service the Pastor paused and said, “Brothers and Sisters, we are in great difficulty. The roof needs repairs and costs twice as much as we expected and we need $4000 more. Any of you who can pledge $100 or more, please stand up.” At that moment the substitute organist played “The Star Spangled Banner”. And that is how the substitute became the regular organist – and how they raised enough money to fix the roof.
BUILDING & CAPITAL CAMPAIGN REPORT
The Bishop’s Committee (B.C.) held a special meeting on June 2nd to review three options for our construction project. The first option includes the planned renovation with a sprinkler system and an addition to the Mission Hall. The second option included the sprinkler system but not the addition. The third option was for the renovation only with no sprinkler system and no addition. After discussion, the B.C.’s vote was 11 in favor of the first option and one vote for one of the other options. The first option was presented at a meeting of the St. Andrew’s community following the worship service on Sunday, June 8th. Following a brief presentation and a question and answer period a printed ballot vote was taken with the result being 51 to 2 in favor of the B.C.’s recommendation to proceed with Option #1 which has a price tag of $707,000. Michael Bolen reported that mortgage funding is secured for the $410,000 we need to borrow. The Capital Campaign has raised $71,676.18; insurance received total $51,800.57. Pending/Promised = $131,874.44 + an insurance settlement of $17,323.53 expected upon completion of the project. More than 46 building pledges (green forms) have been received which total nearly $41,000 per year, an average of approx. $3400/month. Thank you! A contract will be signed with our contractor, Krause-Anderson, after a July 10th meeting of the Diocese Trustees. Plans for the renovation can be found at:
www.wagnerzaun.com/projects/commercial/st-andrew’s-by-the-lake-episcopal-church
A Prayer for Today:
Thank you, Great Mystery, for all the friends in my life. Thank you for their love and honesty. May I become a more committed and generous friend in all my relations. Amen.
Remember those who are in care facilities or recovering from illness at home:
Doris Johnson (Bayshore)
Margaret Potter (Bayshore)
Louise Mackay (Bayshore)
Bob Snow (Benedictine)
Nancy Snow (Pines)
Nancy Fitzgerald (Cloquet)
Jane Ryckman (home)
Gladys Nelson (home)
Bill Sharp (home)
Lorraine Mau (home)
Awareness of the presence of God is the stuff of the daily – the everywhere, the always, the everyone – and undergirds every major spiritual path. Sr. Joan Chittister
