SUMMARY OF PARISH MEETING ON APRIL 13, 2008
I am pleased to present this summary of our meeting on April 13th where through interviews between parishioners, we heard of your assessment of life at St. Gregory’s as well as your hope for the future.
Many commented on the friendliness of parishioners, to new people and to other present members. People like the fellowship and the experience of the Episcopal worship service. As to what keeps people coming back to St. Gregory’s, liturgy, music and sense of community were highlighted. Also acceptance and the caring concern of fellow parishioners were mentioned.
There were a good many ideas for changes at St. Gregory’s: more people, mainly young. More parishioners volunteering and involved in leadership. A permanent priest living in Muskegon. Several spoke to the need for more unity between 8 and 10 o’clock services. A contemporary service—music and more free-flowing liturgy. Strive for tithing.
Likewise, parishioners had ideas for what a strong Episcopal presence would look like in Muskegon County: Articles and publicity and advertise collectively about the four churches. Visible enough that good works would make paper. Article or ad in college newspapers (Baker and MCC). When volunteering, letting others know that we volunteer as our Episcopal faith dictates. Education of the community to negate the negative national perception. More participation in ecumenical services, as Episcopalians. More open to community needs—true homegrown outreach. Real “church” cooperation and commitment on the part of parishioners.
Sue Wierengo
U.T.O.
Thank you to all of you at St. Gregory’s who gave so generously to our Spring 2008 United Thank Offering on our April 20 Ingathering. We have been able to send our check of $500.77 to support the grants that help so many all over the world. It is our way to “Expand the Circle of Thankful People” within the mission of the Episcopal Church.
Ann Craigie
We’re pleased to announce that $1,220.00 was raised from the Spaghetti Dinner Benefit for Tami David. Many, many thanks go to all of our volunteers who made this event such a success. A special note of recognition goes to Jone Benedict, chairperson, who did an excellent job in planning. Last, but not least, thanks to all who showed their support to Tami by attending. A great time was had by all!
Some very nice pictures of the event were taken and are posted on the Outreach bulletin board in the loggia. Please stop by and take a look if you haven’t yet done so.
We are collecting used books (fiction or novels) for the Community Mental Health Assertive Community Program. Donations can be brought and placed in the designated box.
Archbishop of Canterbury writes to the bishops of the Anglican Communion
May 12, 2008
[Episcopal News Service] The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, has sent an open letter to the bishops of the Anglican Communion in advance of the 2008 Lambeth Conference, set for July 16-August 4 at the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. The full text of the May 12 letter follows.
The Feast of Pentecost is a time when we give thanks that God, through the gift of the Holy Spirit, makes us able to speak to each other and to the whole world of the wonderful things done in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is a good moment to look forward prayerfully to the Lambeth Conference, asking God to pour out the Spirit on all of us as we make ready for this time together, so that we shall indeed be given grace to speak boldly in his Name.
I indicated in earlier letters that the shape of the Conference will be different from what many have been used to. We have listened carefully to those who have expressed their difficulties with Western and parliamentary styles of meeting, and the Design Group has tried to find a new style -- a style more reflective of that Pentecost moment when all received the gift of speaking freely about Christ.
At the heart of this will be the indaba groups. Indaba is a Zulu word describing a meeting for purposeful discussion among equals. Its aim is not to negotiate a formula that will keep everyone happy but to go to the heart of an issue and find what the true challenges are before seeking God's way forward. It is a method with parallels in many cultures, and it is close to what Benedictine monks and Quaker Meetings seek to achieve as they listen quietly together to God, in a community where all are committed to a fellowship of love and attention to each other and to the word of God.
Each day's work in this context will go forward with careful facilitation and preparation, to ensure that all voices are heard (and many languages also!). The hope is that over the two weeks we spend together, these groups will build a level of trust that will help us break down the walls we have so often built against each other in the Communion. And in combination with the intensive prayer and fellowship of the smaller Bible study groups, all this will result, by God's grace, in clearer vision and discernment of what needs to be done.
As I noted when I wrote to you in Advent, this makes it all the more essential that those who come to Lambeth will arrive genuinely willing to engage fully in that growth towards closer unity that the Windsor Report and the Covenant Process envisage. We hope that people will not come so wedded to their own agenda and their local priorities that they cannot listen to those from other cultural backgrounds. As you may have gathered, in circumstances where there has been divisive or controversial action, I have been discussing privately with some bishops the need to be wholeheartedly part of a shared vision and process in our time together.
Of course, as baptised Christians and pastors of Christ's flock, we are not just seeking some low-level consensus, or a simple agreement to disagree politely. We are asking for the fire of the Spirit to come upon us and deepen our sense that we are answerable to and for each other and answerable to God for the faithful proclamation of his grace uniquely offered in Jesus. That deepening may be painful in all kinds of ways. The Spirit does not show us a way to by-pass the Cross. But only in this way shall we truly appear in the world as Christ's Body as a sign of God's Kingdom which challenges a world scarred by poverty, violence and injustice.
The potential of our Conference is great. The focus of all we do is meant to be strengthening our Communion and equipping all bishops to engage more effectively in mission; only God the Holy Spirit can bind us together in lasting and Christ-centred way, and only God the Holy Spirit can give us the words we need to make Christ truly known in our world. So we must go on praying hard with our people that the Spirit will bring these possibilities to fruition as only he can. Those who have planned the Conference have felt truly touched by that Spirit as they have worked together, and I know that their only wish is that what they have outlined for us will enable others to experience the same renewal and delight in our fellowship.
This is an ambitious event -- ambitious for God and God's Kingdom, which is wholly appropriate for a Lambeth Conference. And our ambition is nothing less than renewal and revival for us all in the Name of Jesus and the power of his Spirit.
May that Spirit be with you daily in your preparation for our meeting. As Our Lord says, 'You know him, for he lives with and will be in you' (Jn 14.17).
+ Rowan Cantuar
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
St. Gregory’s has the opportunity to partner with the Muskegon Area Lutheran Churches, Valiant Finance, and the Doctor family to help build a Habitat Home on Sanford Street. The home will be a six-bedroom home as the Doctor family consists of seven children and two adults. Valiant Finance has donated 70% of the cost, a local affiliate has donated 20% of the cost, and the Lutheran churches have to come up with 10% or $6,400.00. Donations can come in the form of donated skilled labor at a reduced cost or through fundraising.
So far, the men’s group has expressed an interest in painting and fund raising. Members of the vestry have also offered to help. There will be a fundraiser in the next couple of weeks where for three dollars you can sign a two-by-four that will actually be built into the home.
For those participating, we will also be ordering shirts with St. Gregory’s name on it. If you are interested in donating your time or skill, please contact Rose. An application will need to be completed. Let’s show Muskegon what St. Gregory’s is all about!
Men’s Club meeting Saturday, June 7th from 8:00-9:30 AM.
Just a reminder: Articles for the Voice are due the 15th of the month.
Needed: volunteers willing to mow the lawn during the summer. If you can help, please sign up on the sheet posted on the bulletin board near the kitchen.
The Celebration of Faith Community Worship Service, during the Muskegon Summer Celebration, will be Sunday afternoon at 3 PM on June 29, in Hackley Park.
WORSHIP COMMISSION
May 20, 2008
Discussed possible use of Contemporary Music in our services.
A search for Contemporary Music Books will take place for consideration. Hope to enhance the guitar music, for the summer, with guest guitarists. Hope to have several special guest vocalists and musicians for services throughout the summer.
On June 29th we will have another combination service of the 8:00 and 10:00, at 9:00. Remember that is Potluck Sunday. It has been requested by some of the 8:00 people that we have an Old Hymn service. Slips are going to be provided, for you the congregation, to pick out the hymns for that service. Of course, the hymns have to be the ones in the hymnal. There are only so many that we can use and we will use what we can. Unfortunately, our hymnal doesn’t have some of the old, old familiar ones that we have known.
Starting June 1st, the 8:00 service will be the traditional Eucharist. The 10:00 service will start using an Alternative service and the use to be re-evaluated at the next Worship Commission meeting.
A discussion about the silence period before the Eucharist started was brought up. Also the concerns of the noisy visiting taking place in the Nave of the church before Eucharist. Coming together and visiting is great. We need to be aware that inside of the Nave should be a Quiet Area in respect for those who are trying to be in Prayer. So please do your visiting in the Narthex and not in the Nave before Eucharist.
The next scheduled meeting of the Worship Commission is August 12th at 7 PM.
Submitted by the Worship Commission
This is going to be a monthly feature in which parishioners will be invited to share their Stewardship story.
MY STEWARDSHIP
We have learned that Stewardship is giving of one’s time, talents, and at least 10% monetarily if at all possible and also whatever the case may be. 10% is that which we are asked to give to the church. I also look at Stewardship as a team effort.
In my own life, my God given motto has always been to give that extra mile whenever and wherever called. In my professional life as a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, my work came almost ahead of my family. As a Staff Anesthetist, as an Instructor in a School of Anesthesia and for several years as Head of a Department of Anesthesia. Total teamwork in a surgical and anesthesia department was absolutely necessary. I always made it a point in my life to go that extra mile as a team member.
To me, in my religious life, going that extra mile has never been a question. I have always tried to fulfill my obligation and/or any requests made of me for my Lord and church. I sometimes run into stumbling blocks and not able to fulfill whatever is at hand. When a door closes on me the Lord always seems to open another for me to fulfill. I use my time and talents for what God has given to me for my church. Working as, and in, a team for St. Gregory’s and to the greater glory of God, to me, is an absolute necessity.
Giving of that 10% monetarily is not always possible for everyone. Myself, I do what I can plus going that extra mile whenever. Sometimes that helps fill in for those that are unable to give.
Your Brother in Christ,
Stuart Smith