Table Rock Talk:
Lawrencefield Parish Church's Newsletter

Grubby Sunday, May 6

Don't let our Junior Warden "come to the garden alone"

Our first Churchyard Clean-Up of the year is scheduled for May 6, after the 10:00 service. Parishioners are encouraged to come to church in work clothes and stay to spruce up the parish grounds.

Although the winter was mild and not too destructive, there is much work to be done in the churchyard and surrounding property. The more people stay to help that day, the more quickly the work will go. Please bring rakes and other tools, leaf bags, etc. Gloves and/ or long sleeves are recommended for moving debris.

Please also bring a dish to share for a potluck lunch so that we may both enjoy a little fellowship and receive a little sustenance before our labors.

And, on the same note...

Adopt-A-Highway clean-up set for May 27

Junior Warden David Duymich has announced May 27, after the 10:00 service, as the next date for our periodic Adopt-A-Highway Clean-Up along Table Rock Lane. Lawrencefield Parish Church takes responsibility for the length of the entire road, from GC&P Road to Cherry Hill Road, a length of slightly less than two miles. Crews are issued bags and collect visible trash within reach of the verges and gullies. Participants should be at least 18 years of age. Sturdy shoes and gloves are required. Time commitment is about an hour, depending on how many volunteers we have.

Polling and Prayer

Worship space opened for meditation on Election Day, May 8

At the recommendation of the Stewardship Committee, the Vestry has voted to make the nave available on polling day to members of the public who come to Lawrencefield Parish Church to vote.

For some years the church building has been open on Election Days as a polling place. Our undercroft provides a roomy and accessible venue for the use of the Ohio County Commission in setting up voting machines. Until now, voters have been restricted to the narthex, stairs, elevator, and fellowship room below the nave on polling day.

The Vestry agreed with the Stewardship Committee's assessment that making the worship space available to voters would be both an act of hospitality, and a way of supporting the community in prayer.

Vestry members have signed up for 2-hour shifts during voting hours (6:30am-7:00pm) to be present in the nave as hosts. Printed information about the church will be available to those interested.

Pentecost Season nears

Major feast marks return to "Ordinary Time"

Pentecost, a major church holiday, occurs this year on May 27. The readings for this day always describe how the disciples spontaneously began to speak in many languages, as a sign that they were to spread the Gospel throughout the world. The feast of Pentecost begins the longest season of the church year, lasting until the beginning of Advent in December. Because no major Holy Days occur during this period, it is referred to as "Ordinary Time." The theological emphasis is on living out the Christian Faith in our ordinary lives.

The Rector's Study

Getting on with our lives           The Very Rev. Cynthia Byers Walter

In an obscure comic strip that I follow online, a grumpy character called "The Toad" has decided to run for president on the Pessimist ticket. "I'm the real alternative to conservatism and liberalism," he says, "Yes, it's pessimism! Let's just admit that nothing will ever change and get on with our lives, people!!"

If pessimism is defined as admitting that nothing will ever change and getting on with our lives, the idea has a lot of merit. Jesus even said something that sounded like "Nothing will ever change" when he said, "The poor you have always with you." (Mk 14:7)

Actually, pessimism as defined by The Toad has it all over what sometimes seems to be the prevailing philosophy in this country, namely, bitterness.

Bitterness also believes that nothing will ever change, but adds the blame factor: "Nothing ever changes and it's the ___________'s fault" [fill in the blank—Republicans, Democrats, gays, illegal immigrants, big business, unions, welfare queens, 1%, secular humanists, fundamentalist Christians, etc.]. I think bitterness is a seductive way to think because it places responsibility for making things right again solely on someone else (and away from oneself.) This sentiment is hardly ever articulated openly, but it clearly underlies a lot of public, and private, comment. I admit I've thought this way from time to time.

If pessimism is about getting on with our lives, it's superior to bitterness and blaming, because it at least assumes some personal responsibility. But as a Christian I can hardly espouse pessimism. Christians are people of faith, hope, and love.

We are people of hope. Things may not seem to ever change, but we believe they will, in the fullness of time. We look to the time when God's plan to redeem the cosmos is consummated. We believe that goodness and love are the strongest forces in the universe and that they will ultimately prevail. That is what Easter is all about.

We are people of faith. That means that even when it seems nothing will ever change, we do our bit for goodness and love. The fact that the poor will always be here does not exonerate us from serving them, or working in other ways for God's kingdom. We also accept responsibility for when we fall short of goodness and love. We do not just blame others, as bitterness would have it. Instead we accept God's forgiveness and try again.

We are people of love and forgiveness. We are not people of blame. We recognize that we are in this work of redemption together.

Bitterness is not the answer. Pessimism is better than bitterness, because at least it involves taking some responsibility, but it's not the answer either. The best and truest way to "get on with our lives" is hope, faith, and love.

A Liturgy Moment

It's been awhile since I shared one of these with you – a periodic bit of instruction into the lore of Episcopal worship. This time I want to share the vocabulary word: anamnesis. This is one of those 25-cent seminary words, but its meaning is not just interesting to academics but also applicable to daily Christian living. The word is from the Greek, and pronounced exactly as spelled: an-am-NEE-sis.

The last three syllables may remind you of the word amnesia, which is a disease of forgetting. The "an-" prefix is kind of a shorthand for "anti." So an-amnesis means anti-forgetting, or in more colloquial terms: "Lest we forget."

The so-called "Prayer of Anamnesis" is the part of the Communion Prayers where we specifically remember that Christ's self-giving death, resurrection, ascension and expected return are the means of our salvation. In Rite 1 these words are: "having in remembrance his blessed passion and precious death…." The Rite 2 equivalent is "We remember his death, we proclaim his resurrection…."

Anamnesis is to remember who and whose we are, and to intentionally recall why we celebrate the Eucharist. Even if we celebrate Eucharist but once a week, we can practice anamnesis every moment of every day.

Vestry Vibes

Report of the April 15 Vestry Meeting:

Rector's Report – Lawrencefield Bed & Breakfast has requested the use of our parking lot for events they have scheduled for May 19 and July 21. They understand that if an unscheduled service like a funeral takes place that church business takes precedence, and they have provided us with a copy of their insurance rider covering our property on those dates, as requested. The fire extinquishers have been inspected and found wanting. To bring all of them up to code will cost $346.81. Fire extinguishers for the Narthex ($68.50) and elevator ($48.50) are recommended but optional. Vestry voted to pay for the total service and optional equipment for a total of $463.81 to come out of the building fund. An internal audit for 2010 and 2011 should take place shortly. Carlyle Farnsworth and Jaci Neer will be asked to serve as they have in the past. We will ask Michelle Beihl to serve as well. Mary Frohme will serve ex officio. As a vestry member she is ineligible to serve but as an experienced auditor can provide valued guidance.

The Vestry moved that the budget provide $2,000 for the music budget, for monthly soloists or other worship support as may be deemed appropriate by music director Marty McDonald. This amount will be prorated for the remainder of 2012. We will invite Marty to the next vestry meeting to discuss a vision for a music program. A budget committee will be appointed at the conclusion of the follow-up effort of the Stewardship Committee to contact people who have not yet pledged.

Stewardship--Randy Russell reported that the Committee met last month and plans to send out a letter to people from whom we have not received pledge cards. Vestry members were asked to take 2-hour shifts to sit in the nave as hosts. Mary Frohme reported that as of last week, 22 pledge cards have been received for a total of $101,000.

Junior Warden's Report—Dave Duymich reported that he and Jennifer mulched the front of the property. He will submit the receipts for the cost of the mulch to the parish office for reimbursement from the building fund. Dave proposes replacing the three remaining windows in the nursery for better insulation. He can install them at no cost, and will research the costs of buying the windows.

Minutes and Financial Report -- Approved and received.

Welcome!

Preparations afoot for Holy Week, Bishop's Visit and Easter

The busiest week of the church year begins Palm Sunday, April 1, with the Liturgy of the Palms and the reading of the Passion Narrative. The distribution of palms and congregational procession are intended to reenact Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem the week of his death and subsequent resurrection. The lengthy and dramatic Passion Narrative takes the place of the usual brief Gospel reading, telling the story of how Jesus went from his joyful reception in Jerusalem to being condemned by an angry mob.

Thursday of that week brings Maundy Thursday, and a commemoration of Jesus' Last Supper before his death, at which he instituted the practice of communion, and offered his disciples the "New Commandment" of loving one another. Maundy Thursday gets its name the root of the Latin word for "commandment".

Good Friday follows, which Lawrencefield will observe by walking the Stations of the Cross at noon, and by a service of communion at 7:00pm. The Stations of the Cross "follow" Jesus from his trial to his execution and entombment. The communion service that evening will use consecrated bread and wine saved from the previous night, since the blessing of fresh elements is not practiced on Good Friday.

The Rt. Rev. W. Michie Klusmeyer, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia, comes to Wheeling over Easter weekend. His official duties will begin with an Easter Egg Hunt at Sandscrest on Saturday, April 7, beginning at 1pm and lasting until all the eggs are found. Juice and cookies will be served. The event is free and open to the public. Reservations are not necessary.

Bishop Mike will preside that evening at Lawrencefield's celebration of the Easter Vigil, which actually is the first service of Easter. This service takes place after sunset, when the "light of Christ", signifying Jesus' rising from the dead, is kindled on the porch of the church and taken inside to bring the darkness of Lent to a joyous end.

The Bishop will also preach and preside at Easter Day services on Sunday, April 8. An Easter brunch will take place between the services at 9:00 in the undercroft, to honor both the bishop and the day.

The festal shout Alleluia, whose jubilant sounds have not been heard during the whole solemn season of Lent, reappears in the Sunday liturgy. To show our joy at Christ's resurrection, some of the more penitential prayers are omitted, and the congregation is invited to remain standing through communion prayers, if that is not the usual practice. Easter Season lasts until the Feast of Pentecost on May 27.

For a full schedule of Holy Week and Easter services, please see the Calendar.

Lawrencefield news briefs

MUSIC — The rector has paid for the tuning of the piano in the nave out of her discretionary fund. Those interested in contributing toward the cost ($90) are invited to make contributions to reimburse this expenditure. Additional donations toward the music program, including support for the costs of soloists, is also gratefully accepted. Please make checks payable to Lawrencefield Parish Church with "Music" on the memo line.

PLEDGE CARDS — Many thanks to those of you who have returned pledge cards. If you have not returned yours, please do so. Replacement cards are available in the Narthex or call the Parish Office.

WINDOWS — Fundraising for the replacement of windows in the education has topped $19,653.70, leaving a balance to be raised of only $422.30.

The Rector's Study

Renovation           The Very Rev. Cynthia Byers Walter

Rich and I are in the process of a bathroom renovation. After several weeks, we are still waiting for a toilet. Don't worry, we have other intact bathrooms in the house, but it's frustrating not to be able to bring this project to a close. I'm sure most home-owners will identify.

To have a home-improvement project drag on is certainly a high-class problem, considering the number of homeless people in the world, and the still greater number of those living in substandard housing. Still, the sense of dislocation that attends home renovation is real.

Perhaps this is because our homes are, psychologically speaking, extensions of ourselves. Dream analysts generally say that your house, when it figures in a dream, is a subconscious symbol for yourself. Dream of a home renovation, and your subconscious may be dealing with a change in your life. Dream of intruders in your house, and your dream-life may be expressing subconscious fears of people messing with you.

One aspect of home improvement that seems to be particularly applicable to selves as well is its continuous quality. Re-roof, and the furnace goes. Wallpaper the bedroom, and discover that the carpeting needs replacing. Move the furniture, and discover you need rewiring for an additional electrical outlet. Home maintenance really never ends.

Soul maintenance doesn't either.

Faithful people often discover that when they reach a sustainable place in their prayer life, or in their walk with God, something happens that throws them off-kilter again, requiring more soul-searching just as they were looking forward to resting a bit. Someone gets sick, a schedule changes, or a tried-and-true spiritual discipline just doesn't offer the comforts it used to. It's amazing how often people can jump to the erroneous conclusion, under these circumstances, that they have "lost their faith."

Why should people be any more stable than houses? Houses need maintenance, so do souls. Even when nothing breaks down, updating is regularly called for.

Our church year humanely recognizes these cycles. And so Easter comes around every year, just in time. Resurrection is the ultimate renovation.

Just as in home renovation, soul renovation can be frustratingly slow. Tear a wall down, and discover termite damage. Shed a bad habit, and discover the root insecurity that gave rise to it. Fortunately God is patient. May we, in turn, be patient with God's renovation efforts on us.

The Twelve Steps

Several of you expressed interest in my recent sermon that referenced Alcoholics Anonymous, where I suggested that the 12 Steps form an excellent pattern for penitence. As Lent precedes Easter, penitence precedes resurrection (or renovation.) By popular request, I am reprinting the 12 Steps here. To emphasize my thesis in the above commentary, I will point out that when people in recovery from addiction complete the 12 Steps, they start again from Step 1. Some recovering alcoholics have been through the steps 6 or 7 times, and they learn something new each time. Just like I said, soul renovation is a continuous action!

1. We admitted we were powerless over [alcohol] – that our lives had become unmanageable.
2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed, and became willing to make amends to them all.
9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to [alcoholics] and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

Vestry Vibes

Report of the March 18 Vestry Meeting:

Rector's Report — Vestry Declaration was signed by new member Randy Russell.

The Vestry voted to appropriate $ 98 for a 2" ad to run on a special Easter Service page in the Intelligencer on March 25, to publicize the Easter Vigil, Bishop's visit and special music.

Vestry voted to make funds from the Organ Maintenance Fund available in future for piano tuning and to rename the fund Organ/ Piano Maintenance Fund.

The Vestry voted to make a church key temporarily available to Michele Beihl so that she can serve as Event Manager for the Civic League meeting already approved on April 28.

The Rector will be absent on Sunday April 22 to attend a professional conference. The Rev. Dr. Jim Farwell has agreed to supply that day.

The Vestry approved a request from Marsha Klusmeyer of Charleston (the Bishop's wife) to use the building on August 25 for rehearsing with a choral group that is on retreat at Sandscrest that weekend.

The Vestry discussed Sue Farnsworth's suggestion that Marty McDonald be reimbursed for the special soloists on Palm Sunday and Easter, deciding to take up Sue's offer to raise the money while hoping to budget more money for music once all pledges are received.

Stewardship — Mary Frohme reported that as of last week, 16 pledge cards have been received for a total of $86,680. Compared with last year, this is fewer pledges but more money.

Senior Warden's Report — Karen Dalby said Doug Molnar has spoken to Dr. Lough about his donating the triangle of property by the driveway. Dr. Lough is recovering from surgery and will get back to us on the issue.

Soup Kitchen — We still don't have anyone signed up for April 8 (Easter). Several people offered to supply ham, vegetables and dessert if someone else will serve it. Janine Reddy said her family can serve food that day.

Coffee Hour — Fran Schoolcraft asked how the Coffee Hour sign-up can get greater circulation. The rector said she would pass it around during Announcement Time on Sunday.

Minutes and Financial Report — Approved and received.

Lenten observance in and outside the parish

The observant worshiper will notice certain changes to our liturgy during the month of Lent. We precede our Eucharistic service with the Penitential Order to mark the theme of repentance during the Lent season. The service is marked by a greater solemnity in several ways. We omit the festal acclamation "Alleluia!" from the Fraction and Dismissal Responses. The display of Altar Flowers is also suspended during Lent. At the 10:00 service, the opening and closing processions take place in silence, instead of during the singing of a hymn.

As a special opportunity for Lenten study, the Episcopal Churches of Wheeling are joining together at St. Matthew's downtown on Wednesday evenings to learn about "Saints in the Episcopal Church." The host congregation will be offering soup and beverage. Participants may bring their own sandwich to supplement. Supper will be from 6:00 to 6:30 and the program from 6:30 to 7:30.

Highlights of 2011 Parochial Report

Episcopal parishes are canonically required to submit annual reports of attendance, membership and finances to the national church and to the diocese. The 2011 report for Lawrencefield Parish Church has been recently compiled and submitted. While certain statistics show decline since 2010, the numbers show significant growth in several areas. Here are a few key figures, with comparisons to the previous two years:

Window update

The new windows in the education wing have been in place for some months, and it's time for an update on the fund-raising. In the last two months, generous donations have brought the total raised for windows to $19,353.70! Another $722.30 will mean the windows are totally paid for! Act now for your chance to have a role in this important project. And, as the Bartles & James guys used to say, "Thanks for your support!"

The Rector's Study

Situation critical           The Very Rev. Cynthia Byers Walter

This month I offer a meditation on the word "critical." The word "critical" has different connotations.

When I was growing up I can remember my mother saying, "Must you be so critical?" She meant critical in the sense of finding fault. She was right to admonish me and my siblings for being critical in this sense. Constantly finding fault is very unattractive. It's not nice. And constantly finding fault is not very appropriate behavior for Christians, who believe in a gospel of forgiveness and redemption.

But there are other uses for the word "critical." There are ways that being critical is quite consistent with Christian teaching and behavior. Being critical can in fact can support the Christian life.

There's a sense in which being critical is to use the best the best of one's knowledge, powers of observation and reason to determine how certain things are alike and dissimilar. Being critical in this sense makes it possible to apply learning gained in one instance to another situation. In other words, being critical in this sense can make you smarter!

This kind of criticism can be profitably applied to studying the Bible. Literary criticism comes in when you learn to recognize typical literary forms and patterns, and know what associations these had for the people who wrote, and heard, the original writings. Source criticism is the comparative study of characteristic themes, styles and vocabularies of particular authors. Historical criticism is the study of the culture in which the writings first appeared. Knowing how ancient audiences heard the scriptures is fundamental to understanding how we can apply them to our own lives.

There are some who believe that this type of "book-larning" should not be applied to Bible study. There are some whose faith is shaken by the idea that God did not dictate every letter of the Bible. However, most mainstream Anglicans believe (and I agree!) that the pursuit for wisdom and truth, wherever they are to be found, is a godly pursuit.

Another way that "critical" is used is in the phrase "critical mass." Critical mass is the tipping point at which one thing becomes another.

Christianity is a religion that holds that in Christ, all things are becoming new. We also believe that God ordains that human beings participate in the process of all things becoming new. One of us acting alone may have small effect on making all things new, but working with God and with each other, we can hope to reach critical mass. God knows why, but God has chosen human beings as critical components of God's plan.

"Critical" can also mean one step beyond "serious." In this sense "critical" shows its relationship to its cousin "crisis." The Creation experiment is critically important to God, and we have a part in it. In short, what we do matters.

Finally, to be critical, in the Christian sense, is simply to be discerning. Our daily lives are more full of decision points than we may sometimes assume. The critical Christian does not take things for granted, but asks questions like, "Does this action serve God's glory?" "Which way does love lie?" "Can I trust what this cultural message tells me?" "Is this a righteous or self-serving emotion?" "Are there other ways of looking at this situation that are more creative and healing?"

This Lent, I pray to be a critical Christian. In all the best senses of the word.

Vestry Vibes

Report of the February 19 Vestry Meeting:

Rector's Report — Vestry Declarations were signed by new member Nancy Paulovicks.

Fran Schoolcraft was appointed Secretary of the Vestry.

The Annual Parochial Report to the Episcopal Church (TEC) and the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia was certified by the vestry and signed by Secretary Fran Schoolcraft, Treasurer Tom Farnsworth, and Rector Cynthia Walter.

The Ash Wednesday ad appeared in Faith section of the Intelligencer yesterday morning.

The Vestry voted to make the church available as a polling place for the May 8 primary election.

The vestry responded to the five recommendations that came out of our periodic risk assessment, recently conducted by a diocesan representative of the Church Insurance Company: (1) We already have a digital still-photo inventory of which one copy is kept in the safe and another in the safe deposit box. (2) The rector will inquire at St. Matthew's about relocating to St. John's Heiskell Ave in case of emergency. (3) Same day deposit is impractical for us with our volunteer staff; we will attempt to address the liability issue through other procedures. (4) The rector will ask Emily Fisher, a CPA, if she would audit the books at a reduced fee. In the meantime Carlyle Farnsworth and Jaci Neer will be asked to do the 2011 audit. (5) Dave Duymich will take care of any combustibles.

Several parishioners have mentioned the need for piano tuning. Although Organist Marty McDonald says that temperature changes between now and the Spring may affect the tuning, the vestry voted to accept an anonymous offer to pay for the tuning immanently.

Stewardship — The vestry voted to send out the rector's draft of a pledge letter over her signature and listing the members of the Stewardship Committee.

Senior Warden's Report — Karen Dalby asked whether anything further has been learned about gas drilling rights on the church property. Trustees George Weaver and Doug Molnar are attending a meeting Monday night to learn more. So far as Karen knows, Doug has not yet spoken to Dr. Lough about his donating the triangle of property by the driveway. Either she or the rector will remind him.