Grains of Sand January 14, 2010
GRAINS OF SAND January 14, 2010
VICAR’S MESSAGE
Just like when the Tsunami hit in Southeast Asia and Hurricane Katrina created such devastation in our own country, millions of people are now reeling from the effects of the earthquake in Haiti. Haiti is the most impoverished country in the western hemisphere. As one headline said, ‘there is an atmosphere of overwhelming despair’. Haiti may seem far away — and yet the effects of this hurricane even touches our city of Duluth. Many of us are buffered from the grinding poverty and despair, but locally, two Lutheran pastors lost a son. Ben Larson, a fourth year student at Wartburg Seminary, was killed when he was trapped in an orphanage building. He and several other students had gone to Haiti to help with a new Haiti Lutheran Church.
The images on TV are overwhelming. What can we do? We are immediately sending our MDG funds ($1200) to Episcopal Relief and Development. ERD has had a long presence in Haiti - and has many connections and are in the forefront of relief - as you receive this. As you recall, the Millennium Development Goals were developed to help eradicate extreme poverty and hunger. What better ways to use our funds. These are our 2009 funds, which had not yet been designated. Each year we give 1% of our operating budget to MDG goals.
Our Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefforts Schori has asked Episcopalians in the U.S. to offer immediate and concrete prayers in the form of contributions to Episcopal Relief and Development. This Sunday you will be invited to participate in a special collection during the offertory. If you would like to give, please bring your check made out to St. Andrew’s by the Lake - with ERD on the memo line.There will be other ways to give listed in the bulletin. There are many other worthy organizations out there that can make good use of whatever we offer as well - one that comes to mind is Doctors without Borders.
Please keep the people of Haiti in your prayers — but most of all — put flesh to your prayers by offering resources out of your own abundance. Epiphany is the season of the Light of Christ. This is one way to bring some light to people who are living in the darkness of despair right now.
Peace to you, Cindy
THANK YOU to Mike and Sharon Oliver and Bob Anderson for organizing the ’sack lunch’ for CHUM outreach last Sunday. People gathered in the kitchen and before you knew it - 80 bag lunches had been made and delivered to the drop in center. We will do this once a month. You may contribute in several ways:
Donate money to buy food (bread, bologna and cheese, mayonaise, fruit).
Donate the lunch bags and sandwich wrappings for a month - or several months.
Offer your time to help assemble the lunches - right after worship, during coffee hour.
Speak to Mike, Sharon or Bob if you have resources to offer.
COMING EVENTS
Bible Study on Job - January 20 and 27th
We continue with our second meeting on the 20th, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. We’ll read JB by Archibald MacLeish this next time.
Senior High Lock In - January 22/23.
All youth participating are asked to bring snacks and beverages to share. Pizza will be provided. Lock In events include - team building, games, move, Bible study and community activity. Please RSVP by Sunday, January 17th to Brian Lundberg (218-591-2583) or bllund@msn.com.
January 24 and 31 - Instructed Eucharist
This is an opportunity to reflect on what we are doing when we worship. We will cover one half of the service each Sunday. The commentary will be the homily.
Pancake Breakfast - February 7th
This is a fund raiser for the Teen Pilgrimage. If you can stay for lunch, your generosity would be
appreciated. Help is needed from ALL the senior high youth and all planning on going on the Pilgrimage.
Night of Norwegian Music - February 12, 7:00 p.m.
Music provided by Arna Rennan and Brian Dack - local Norwegian folk musicians. Tickets are available now from Kris Rauschenfels (on Sunday). Invite friends! The tickets are free - but we will take a free-will offering for the CHUM Food Shelf. Refreshments will be served.
Consecration and Ordination of the IX Bishop of Minnesota - Saturday, Feb. 13th, 11:00 a.m.
The Rev. Brian Prior will be ordained as the Bishop of Minnesota at the Minneapolis Convention Center. There will be a bus leaving from St. Paul’s Church at 7:00 a.m. and returning around 5:30 p.m. Cost is $22 per person (non-refundable). Payment is to be made at the time of reservation at St. Paul’s office. The phone there is 724-3535.
Annual Meeting - Sunday, February 14th
We gather after worship to conduct our annual meeting. The new slate for Bishop’s Committee will be voted on. The St. Andrew’s medal will be awarded (2). The 2010 budget will be presented. Refreshments will be served and there will be childcare in the P/K Room and Memorial Room.
Pilgrimage Meeting - Sunday, February 28th
Teens planning to go on the Pilgrimage this summer (July 10-19), chaperones and parents are invited to attend an informational meeting after worship on February 28th. We’ll go over the itinerary and other information you might need to know at this time. Bring questions you have.
