A Prayer for All of Us

In recent days and weeks, as our national discourse has continued to erode, I keep thinking about how important it is for us to remember who we are and whose we are:  children of God, all of us.  I offer this prayer in the hopes that it will help us to be mindful of the promises we make in our baptismal covenant.  May God bless us and help us to be blessings. 

Anne+

Dear God,

In our baptismal vows,

we promise to respect the dignity of every human being.

Help us to honor that promise,

in our individual lives and in our communal life;

in our private interactions and in the public sphere.

You created everything there is; you created every person who exists.

Citizen, immigrant, refugee;

border agents and border residents;

persons of every color, age, size, religion, gender,

sexual orientation, and political party:

all of us are your beloved children, all of us made in your own image.

As Christians,

we have been baptized into your death and resurrection

and anointed with your Holy Spirit.

Please give us the grace and courage to walk your way of love,

especially in the midst of these contentious times.

You are gracious, O lover of souls.

May we be the same.

Amen

Locks changing August 20

The Episcopal Church’s Safe Church program for the prevention of sexual misconduct is grounded in our Baptismal Covenant - our call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and to respect the dignity of every human being. One needs to look no further than the current newsfeed to understand that abuse is widespread in our society, and happening all too often in the very places that should be safest. Safe Church policies and training provide education and best practices that can help us to respond to and prevent abuse in our church and community.

The 2015 General Convention passed new, expanded Safe Church policies and required all dioceses adopt them no later than January 2019. Our Diocese has done so and requires that all churches adopt the new diocesan “Policy for the Protection of Children, Youth and Vulnerable Adults.” (available at www.bit.ly/diosovasafechurch) At our June 18, 2019 meeting, St. Andrew’s Vestry voted unanimously to adopt this new Safe Church policy.

This new policy brings some inconvenient but necessary changes that, in the long run, will make St. Andrew’s a safer place for everyone. The new policy requires more parishioners to take some level of Safe Church training, including everyone who has a key to the building. Key holders who have a current Safe Church certificate need not take training until that certificate expires. If you are not currently certified, then you will need to take the Universal Safe Church Training. This is a 90-minute class and is offered in various locations around the Diocese. You can also complete this training online. You can find a list of currently scheduled Universal Training classes and information about online training at www.diosova.org/safe_church.

The locks to all exterior doors of St. Andrew's will be changed on Tuesday, August 20. Current keys will no longer function after August 19. You are welcome to pick up a new key prior to August 20 as long as we have received your Safe Church certification. Please Rachel Roby at saec0371@gmail.com to obtain a new key. Lorna Williams has been appointed as the Safe Church Contact person for our parish. While she is away in August, if you have previously taken the training and need to know if you are still certified, please contact Rachel.

Please be patient as we move through these necessary changes. We all love St. Andrew’s and want it to always be a safe place for everyone. Safe Church policies and training are important and meaningful ways we can do that.

On behalf of the vestry, 

John Whitley

Senior Warden

Freedom anyone?

Every year I get to celebrate Independence Day two times. As an American citizen, I join with other Americans celebrating the independence of my adopted country on the 4^th of July. But also as a person born on the island of Jamaica, I celebrate with other Jamaicans the independence from Britain on the 6^th of August. Therefore, at least twice a year I am reminded of the price of freedom, which was paid by the blood of both my American and Jamaican forebears.

Freedom is not free, as many people have stated, and that is true. But what is freedom, really? Let’s think first about what freedom is not. Freedom is not being allowed to do whatever I want to do. Freedom is not the same as “anything goes” either.

Freedom is strongly tied, in my opinion, to relationship. It is the freedom to be who God created you to be, connected to other people. We are not created to be lone wolves, because even wolves need connection with others from time to time. We are born to live in community.

God created us to live in freedom, where we are affirmed for the persons we are as God made us. We are also to ensure that others live with the same freedom to love, live in peace and safety, and have the opportunities to use their God-given talents and gifts. I am free because you are free.

So wherever and whenever we celebrate independence, let us keep in mind that God seeks for us to show love, engage compassionately and raise up and encourage each other.

Peace,

The Rev. Lorna H. Williams

The Rector's Discretionary Fund: How does it work?

Where Does the Money Come From?

According to our Canons (church laws), every parish is to set aside money for “such pious and charitable uses as the Rector… shall determine”.  St. Andrew’s budgets $900 per year for the Rector’s Discretionary Fund.  If I receive a check for conducting a funeral or baptism, I put that money into the discretionary fund.  Couples getting married at St. Andrew’s are encouraged to make a gift to the discretionary fund as an act of gratitude to God for the blessing of their mutual joy.  Parishioners occasionally make individual gifts to the discretionary fund, as well.

Where Does the Money Go?

Discretionary funds may only be spent to help people experiencing financial hardship.  Sometimes the money helps parishioners; other times it helps community members or folks in other parts of the world.  Thus far in 2019, I have allocated discretionary money for Food Lion gift cards for a family whose primary breadwinner was injured and unable to work; for travel assistance for stranded asylum seekers in California; for transportation and housing for victims of a violent crime; for Bibles; and for assistance with utility bills.  I also contributed to the discretionary fund of a sister priest on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota when her people were overwhelmed by floods, and I donated to the newly-formed pension fund for Cuban Episcopal priests, who make about $50 per month and have no other retirement plan.

Every time I authorize a disbursement from the discretionary fund, I am reminded of the communal nature of ministry.  The only way that I am able to assist people in such difficult circumstances is through the generosity of this parish and the individuals who contribute to the fund.  In God’s name and with each other’s collaboration, we are able to make a tangible difference in the lives of many people in some of their darkest hours.  It is a joy and a privilege, as well as a holy responsibility, to be in charge of the Rector’s Discretionary Fund.

Anne+

Parish Life update

Bob Wharton and I are the vestry liaisons for Parish Life here at St. Andrew’s.  Parish Life includes many sub-committees and probably affects just about every church member.  Since this is our 100^th year anniversary, there has been a lot going on…and there have been a large number of volunteers who have put in many hours to help make the anniversary celebrations as well as Parish Life in general a success!  Our sub-committees include:  fellowship/social activities, book groups, parish meals, Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, the summertime lemonade and cookies volunteers, the outdoor service, Fishermen, hospitality, and the Easter Egg Hunt. If you would like to become more involved in Parish Life at St. Andrew’s and make new friends, these groups are always looking for new members so please volunteer!  Thank you to all who continue to make these groups so successful.      

Betsy Jones