I n S p i re
Newsletter July 2011
Christ Church Staff
Charlie Caskey From Charlie+
Interim Rector
Allene Wright
As we prepare for this journey together for the next three years, will we find
Senior Warden the faith in one another to ―walk on water‖ bringing with us all of our hopes
Jim Vega and fears? Will we muster faith in one another quickly? Will we hear each
Junior Warden others dreams and concerns?
Jim Sauls
Administrative Assistant Everyone in this community of faith knows that Christ Church is a sturdy and
David Bennett resilient ―ship‖ that has been anchored here for well over a century. We are
Organist/Choirmaster the crew of this stalwart ship and together we will seek the next right course
Cosette Hardwick for Christ Church. In that spirit, I invite you to simply call me Charlie as we
College Coordinator
Melissa Robinson engage in this important work.
Youth Group In the course of my reading, I have encountered these reflections of Will
Kathy Kapp
Sexton
Willimon, a Methodist Bishop of Alabama. Will directs his writing to all
Tim Swinchoski churches. Let us consider the relevance of these words as we begin our
Clerk journey:
Joanne Phillips
Treasurer “The majority of our congregations, like the one where I‟m the visiting
Church Office Hours preacher today, are located where they were planted a century ago. In every
Mon. & Tues. 9 am-1 pm case, the community that gave them birth has relocated. Though the people
Wed., Thurs. Fri. 9 am-4 pm around the congregation have changed, the congregation has remained fixed
July Events on the same land where it was established and, in many cases, fixed in the
Friday, July 1 same rhythms of congregational life that worked for them decades ago, but no
10:30 am Staff Meeting longer work today.
Sunday, July 3 That‟s one of the things people love about a church – it doesn‟t move. It
3 Pentecost blooms where planted and, long after it has ceased to be fruitful, stays planted.
Fr. Charles Caskey, Celebrant
8:00 am Holy Communion
We build our churches to look at least two hundred years older than they
9-9:45 am Breakfast actually are. Inside, we bolt down the pews and make the furniture heavy and
10:00 am Holy Eucharist substantial. That the world around the church is chaotic and instable is a
Sign Up Sunday ODFK further justification for the church to be fixed and final.
Monday, July 4
One of my younger churches worships in the “contemporary worship” idiom.
Independence Day
Office Closed The pastor complained to me of boredom: “We are singing the same songs,
using the same pattern of worship that we‟ve been stuck with for the past
Sunday, July 10
4 Pentecost twenty years. Worst of all, we call it „contemporary‟!”
Amma Susan Marie Smith, “Why not change?” I asked naively.
Presider
8:00 am Holy Communion “This is a highly mobile suburban neighborhood,” he explained. “Only a
10:00 am Holy Eucharist couple of my members have been here longer than I. The last thing my people
Transporters at Living Community
Donation Sunday ODFK
In the ♥ of St. Joseph since 1851
Thursday, July 14 want is for church to force even more change. Contemporary has become our
No Vestry Meeting in July hallowed, immutable tradition.”
6:30 pm St. Fursey Men’s Group in
Undercroft In a time when many feel overwhelmed by change… the church is tapped to
Sunday, July 17 play the role of island of stability amid a sea of change. What is
5 Pentecost incomprehensible is that we call this stability-protecting, past-perpetuating
Amma Susan Marie Smith, institution “the Body of Christ.” All the gospels present Jesus as a ceaseless
Presider
peripatetic. Never once did he say, “Settle down with me.” No, with vagabond
8:00 am Holy Communion
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Jesus it was always, “Follow me!”
Monday, July 18 We at Christ Church are called to follow Christ. I invite us to move forward
12:00 pm Endowment Committee prayerfully while:
Meeting
Sunday, July 24 Honoring tradition and the wisdom and experience we have received
6 Pentecost Working for new vision in mission and Christian formation
Fr. Charles Caskey, Celebrant
8:00 am Holy Communion Valuing disagreement as part of a discernment process
10:00 am Holy Eucharist
Sunday, July 31
7 Pentecost
Fr. Charles Caskey, Celebrant Celebrating the Great 50 Days Liturgically in 2011
8:00 am Holy Communion
10:00 am Holy Eucharist Dear People of Christ Church,
It has been such an honor for me to walk with you through the liturgies of
The next scheduled meeting Lent and Easter, and now during the Great 50 Days of Easter, culminating in
of the Brotherhood of St. Pentecost. I’ll be able to spill over with you into the season after Pentecost
Fursey Men’s Group will be when your interim, Fr. Caskey, will arrive from California.
held on Thursday, July 14, We have lived the contrast between Lent and Easter in several adaptations
beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the we have made in Sunday liturgy. Now that we are on the eve of returning to
undercroft. We are meeting ―Ordinary Time,‖ let me share with you (what I probably should have shared
on the second Thursday due before) the rationale behind the changes.
to conflicts in summer The Godly Play lesson on the Church Year explains, ―It takes time to get
schedules. All men of the ready for a Great Day. The time to get ready to come close to the mystery of
Parish, and yes you can bring Easter is called Lent. Easter is so great a mystery it spills over into a whole
a friend, are always welcome season! And the season of Easter is the time to get ready to come close to the
to attend this monthly dinner mystery of Pentecost.‖ Pentecost (you recognize pente, 50) was the Jewish
meeting. If you will be in celebration 50 days after the giving of the Decalogue. Christians celebrate it as
attendance, please sign up on the 50th day after Easter when the Spirit descended, created unity out of
the sheet located on the diversity, and gave birth to the Church.
bulletin board across from the So here is how we honored the dramatic contrast between Lent and Easter
church office or phone or season this year:
email Jim Sauls in the church ALLELUIAs. In Lent, it is traditional to put away the Alleluias. At the
office. first Eucharist of Easter, people would (and still do) bring bells to church. Oh,
The Vestry will not meet in the joy the first time ALLELUIA! is shouted! People ring bells during every
the month of July. The next Alleluia (or shake their car keys is no bell)! You’ll hear this through Pentecost
scheduled meeting of the at Rivendell Community retreat house 3 hours south of you.
Vestry will be on Thursday, The opening acclamation and the dismissal have Alleluias!
August 11. There will be a SINGING MORE. Singing is so festive! So this season we have sung the
staff meeting at 10:30 a.m. response to the Prayers of the People (and sometimes all the prayers, too) and
on Friday, July 1. the Easter dismissal.
NO CONFESSION. In the early Church, it was forbidden to kneel during
the Great 50 Days. Christ’s resurrection has made us worthy to stand before
God. We are still sinners. But during this time, when the bridegroom is among us, we feast!
DIFFERENT EUCHARISTIC PRAYER. There are four approved Eucharistic prayers in the BCP, and two
others in the supplemental liturgies booklet. Some give abundant thanks for Creation (like Prayers C and D).
Some do not mention Creation at all (Prayer A) or just barely (Prayer B), except that God is Creator. I chose
Prayer D for Easter season, partly for its thanks for Creation, and also because it is both ancient and ecumenical:
even Roman Catholics can use this prayer, adapted from the Prayer of St. Basil. Many Protestants have this
prayer in their worship books now.
CREED. Early Christians baptized on Easter day or during Easter season because of the obvious symbolism:
we are baptized into Christ’s death and resurrection. You can’t miss the import when you’re baptized when
Christ rose from the dead! So the baptismal covenant is especially appropriate during the Easter season: that is,
the Apostles‟ Creed. After Pentecost, we return to the Nicene Creed (also ancient, approved over two
Ecumenical Councils, 325 and 380).
Your response is most welcome! I am grateful for your openness in celebrating the dramatic difference
between the season of penitence and the season of Resurrection. It seems so important to live, to enact, this
utter contrast, which mirrors the contrast between life without God and new life with God in Christ by the
Spirit. Some of these adaptations may have been ―first times‖ for you. In June-July, perhaps you’ll share your
experience of the contrast. I and the vestry look forward to hearing your responses.
Amma Susan Marie Smith
Easter 7, 2011
Our Presiding Bishop has written a powerfully intense book, worth a thorough reading by all people of faith.
Katharine Jefferts Schori's, The Heartbeat of God, published in late 2010, is available at Solomon's Porch
locally. The volume can be ordered by an inter-library loan, if you want to use the Rolling Hills Library or the
Saint Joseph Public Library.
Bishop Schori's text might best be read in small portions, since the subjects include her provocative views on
hunger, homelessness, racism, poverty, education, oil spills, health care, earthquakes, AIDS epidemic,
immigration, climate change and social justice. Her prose is beautifully composed and almost commands us to
peruse each chapter a second time, as soon as the reader has finished with it.
She is clear that the roles accepted by our Protestant Episcopal Church must be comprehensively global.
Schori supports, for example, the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. She mandates that we are,
from now on, a part of a world-wide community of faithful and those seeking a spiritual life. We are not, if ever
we were, a communion of churchgoers, individually seeking our own redemption and salvation.
With a hint of a smile, our Presiding Bishop paraphrases the Franciscans, when she reminds us to - show up,
pay attention, tell the truth, and leave the rest up to God.
Pithy, inspirational, and life-affirming in all respects! Submitted by Michael Shaw.
There was a Service of Word and Table, and celebration of the Confirmation of
Marta Brown at East Ridge Apartments at 2:30 PM, Pentecost, June 12, 2011.
The people of Christ Episcopal Church were honored to participate in the
confirmation of Marta Brown by our new bishop, the Rt. Rev. Martin Scott Field.
For those who do not know, our wonderful Eucharist Visitors led by Drew
Brown, Cosette Hardwick and Paul and Carolyn Johnson, have been visiting and
helping Marta to complete her spiritual journey culminating with
confirmation for the past several months. We welcome her into the household of our Christian Community here
at Christ Church. Marta is unable to ride in a vehicle and our new Bishop graciously offered to visit her and
conduct the service at East Ridge Apartments. Our Eucharist Visitors and Clergy leaders should be
congratulated and thanked for spreading the Word among the community in which we live.
We are pleased to announce that Fr. Charles (Charlie) Caskey has signed a Letter of Agreement to serve Christ
Episcopal as Interim Rector effective July 1st. He has extensive experience in interim work in a variety of
situations. He and his wife, Thayer, are moving from Fullerton, California, where he has served as interim priest
since December 2009 at St. Andrew’s. Although originally from North Carolina, most of Fr. Charlie’s interim
experience has taken place in churches in the upper Midwest - Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. Fr. Charlie
also has experience serving as a rector in several locations in the same area as well as New England. We look
forward to welcoming Fr. Caskey and Thayer on July 3. To honor and welcome Fr. Caskey and Thayer, we will
have a parish breakfast on this Sunday, July 3. If you can help by preparing a dish, by serving or help with
the clean up, please contact Sue Means at 387-8715. We know Fr. Caskey will be charmed by life here in
historic St. Joseph. He is looking forward to getting to know our wonderful parish and help us do the hard work
of healing and preparing for a new search process.
Vacation Bible School: We had a great time at the "Shake It Up Cafe" for Vacation Bible
School this year. Abby Caldwell, Angel Swinchoski, and David Caldwell were eager
participants. Ben Caldwell amazed the kids again this year with Discovery Time science
projects. Many thanks to Allene Wright, Terzah Wright, and (our visiting nephew) Carson
Gaines for their help with the crafts projects. --Cathy Caldwell
When your church participates in the St. Joseph CROP Walk, 25% of the funds stay local to support the Open
Door Food Kitchen and InterServ's Mobile Meals program. The other 75% goes to support Church World
Service (CWS). Mark your calendar and plan to attend this year's CROP Walk on Sunday, September 25 at 1:30
p.m. at Hyde Park. For more information, contact Dave Berger at 279-0210.
Meals on Wheels for July. Allene Wright will deliver each Wednesday of July. Thanks to all who volunteer for
this ministry. If you would like to become a member of this worthwhile ministry please contact our ministry
coordinator, Ginny McLaughlin.
If you begin Summer Cleaning and wonder what to do with the items you might want to dispose of please
consider donating them to the church. Cathy Caldwell is planning another garage sale for late summer or early
fall and would love to have the things you might want to part with. You can give Kathy Kapp a call here at the
church, 279-6351, and make arrangements to drop them off during the week.
Prayers will be offered for those sick or recovering from an illness: Clark, Bill, Winston, Ruby, Ted, Leroy,
Tom, Carroll, Terry, Helen, John,, Karen, Bette, Julia, Pat, Nichole, and Deborah.
I would like to thank all who prayed for me and called to inquire how I was doing after laser surgery for a torn
retina. I have been released from the doctor, and he assures me it will heal. I have been driving, and my distance
judgment is improving. It is comforting to know Jim and I have so many church friends who care about us!
Judy Bush
Thank you for your prayers, kind thoughts and condolences after the loss of my dad, Doug Thieleke. As hard as
this was on me and my family, it is good to feel wrapped in love from the people of Christ Church. I appreciate
all that you do for us. Melissa A. Robinson
Our sincere condolences are extended to the family and friends of Doug Thieleke, father of Melissa Robinson,
and Christopher Breese Young, cousin of Sid Breese, who died recently. May the peace of God’s love be with
all during this time of loss.
JULY ANNIVERSARY: Jeremy and Jordan Teeple 3, Jonathan and Sabrinia Vega 14, George and Joan
Govea 16, Ben and Cathy Caldwell 18, Jim and June Potts 19, Jim and Rene Roth 23.
"We thank you, most gracious God, for consecrating and sustaining these marriages in Christ's name. Lead them now and forever in
love and companionship with each other and with you. And July the Spirit of Christ's peace which passes all understanding be with
them now and forever." Amen.
JULY BIRTHDAYS: Terzah Wright 1, Virginia McLaughlin 4, Jordan Bram Teeple 4, Barbara Saunders 5,
Roseanne Mytton 7, Catherine Hayward Taylor 9, Ben Caldwell 10, Madeline Burright 13, Allene Wright 15,
Linda Justin 16, Kay Tootle 16, Zachary Vega 17, Wade Lauhaurn 18, Donald Sherwood 19, Mike Bozarth 20,
Savannah Robinson 22, Harvey DuPree 25, Ron Hardwick 25, Joanne Phillips 28, Zaylin Vega 28, Cosette
Hardwick 30, Dana Walling 31.
"O God, our times are in your hand; Look with favor, we pray, on your servants as they begin another year. Grant that they July grow
in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives, through Jesus Christ our Lord." Amen
Memorial and Thanksgiving Flowers
Altar Flowers Needed - We have two Sundays open for Altar flowers; August 21 and August 28. Please notify
either Kay Temps (816-233-8179) or Ginny McLaughlin (816-901-0254) if you are interested. Thank you.
July 3 The flowers at the Altar are given to the Glory of God and in memory of loved ones by Jane and
Peter Bram.
July 10 The flowers at the Altar and cascade are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Jame
and Emmeline Riney by Rob and Brenda Houp.
July 17 The flowers at the Altar are given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Melissa’s father,
Doug Thieleke,by the Robinson Family.
July 24 The cascade at the Altar is given to the Glory of God and in memory of loved ones by
Barbara Saunders.
July 31 The flowers at the Altar are given to the Glory of God and in thanksgiving for our children by
Greg and Melissa Robinson.
If you would like to donate altar flowers or a cascade in Thanksgiving or Remembrance please contact one of
our Flower Ministry coordinators, Kay Temps (233-8179) or Ginny McLaughlin (901-0254) or sign up on the
flower schedule posted in the front hallway across from the youth bulletin board on the office door and fill out
one of the attached donation forms. The cost is $25.00 per vase and $25.00 for a cascade.
Christ Church PARISH SURVEY, June, 2011
Please circle the most appropriate number to the right of each question, and add your comments below.
We would appreciate your responses no later than July 10, 2011.
It would help us to know: are you on Vestry? Altar guild? A youth? etc.: _________________________
Strongly Disagree Neutral or Agree Strongly
Disagree Don‟t Know Agree
1. I was surprised by the experience of communion bread vs. wafers. 1 2 3 4 5
2. The biggest difference to me was: the taste. 1 2 3 4 5
the texture. 1 2 3 4 5
the sound when it’s broken. 1 2 3 4 5
the strange unfamiliarity of bread. 1 2 3 4 5
3. I prefer wafers. 1 2 3 4 5
4. I appreciate the bishop caring about bread—―one loaf‖—as a symbol of
our unity in Christ. 1 2 3 4 5
5. I prefer real bread. 1 2 3 4 5
6. I appreciate the home-made bread by a member of our parish. 1 2 3 4 5
7. I’m comfortable with either bread or wafers. 1 2 3 4 5
8. I could imagine using real bread almost all the time. 1 2 3 4 5
9. I would prefer using wafers during Lent. 1 2 3 4 5
10. The symbolism that we who are many are one body, for we all
share one loaf, is important to me. 1 2 3 4 5
Comments:
Real Bread?
“Though we are many, we are one body, for we all share one bread...”
When I was in seminary, my liturgy professor Louis Weil made us laugh with a story he told about a presbyter from another tradition
who, in the course of becoming Episcopalian, came across Communion wafers for the first time. One day he held up a white disk of
―fish food‖ and said, ―Louis, I have no trouble believing that this is the Body of Christ. –But bread?!‖
At the diocesan clericus gathering this past April 4-5, Bishop Marty Field went over his guidelines for Episcopal visitation (available
on the website at http://diowestmo.org/parish_resources0.aspx). One of his requests is that congregations use real bread, and he
suggests pita or flat bread, since unleavened bread reduces crumbs for those who prefer intinction. He writes, ―The symbolism of one
body is most evident in a single loaf.‖
I remember an account of the Greek origin of the word symbol: A group of friends would gather together for an extended joyful
evening around a table with a clay bowl in the middle. At the end of the meal, the bowl would be broken into as many pieces as there
were friends, and each would take a piece home. The bowl could only be made whole again when that particular group of friends were
all together. The word ―symbol‖ means ―thrown together.‖ The bowl is a symbol of the unity of that group, since literally the bowl can
only be thrown together when the friends are again united.
In the same way, when a whole loaf is broken and we each eat a piece, the loaf can only be ―whole‖ again when we are together. The
loaf is a symbol of our unity. Not only that, but in order for the bread to be eaten and shared by us, it has to be broken, like Christ’s
body was broken. The seed dies, breaks apart, in order for the shoot to spring up out of the ground. The body of Christ dies in order
for the resurrection, ascension, and descent of the Spirit to occur so that we might live as the body of Christ. The loaf is broken and
―dies‖ as a loaf in order for us all to be fed. One loaf is a symbol of our unity in Christ. What a powerful symbol!
Wafers have come down to us from the Middle Ages. They don’t mold and so keep for a long time. Many of our patens have been
sized around the wafers. We’re used to them. There are times when they serve more efficiently. Change is always uncomfortable.
But the power and drama of our central service, in which we pray our Great Thanksgiving (Eucharist) and become one in Christ (Holy
Communion), deserves the most powerful symbol we have been given. The opposite of symbol (thrown together) is diabol (thrown
apart). The symbolic gives us integrity; the diabolic disintegrates us. At a Vestry retreat one year, the lay people setting up for the
closing Eucharist took a loaf of Hawaiian bread out of the wrapper and began to tear it apart. When I saw them, I asked them to leave
the rest of it whole, since the priest would break the bread as part of the Eucharistic action (like Jesus who took the bread, blessed,
broke, and gave it).
But why didn’t these long-time Episcopalians know that the priest broke the bread, or that the breaking (fraction) is a central part of
Holy Communion? I think it’s because they had never seen anything but individual wafers. The movement of oneness (loaf),
brokenness, and new oneness (communion) was meaningless to them—and yet this is the primary theology of our relationship with
Christ.
It will be a pleasure to honor our new bishop’s preferences for his visitation with us on June 12. But he offers his preference as an
opportunity to re-examine our liturgical practice. Because bread—real bread—one loaf—is the symbol of our very identity in Christ, it
is my hope that we will enjoy the symbolism of one loaf of real bread during Easter season. And who knows--perhaps we will enjoy
its meaning and power enough to use it during other seasons, as well.
Amma Susan+
Easter season, 2011
For Christ Episcopal Church, St. Joseph, Missouri
Fall and Winter
8:00 AM-Holy Communion & Homily
9:00 AM-Church School
10:00 AM-Holy Eucharist & Sermon
Christ Episcopal Church
207 North Seventh Street
St. Joseph, Missouri 64501
Parish Office: (816)279-6351
Fax: (816)279-9258
Email christchurchsj@sbcglobal.net
Web page: http://www.episcopalstjosephmo.org