Dearly Beloved,
Our Companion Parish and "The Scandal of Particularity"
The "Scandal of Particularity" is one of the most intriguing notions I learned in seminary. It is the "scandal" that the One who created the universe was born to a Jewish mother betrothed to a carpenter in the Palestinian backwater of the Roman Empire during the reign of Caesar Augustus. These "particularities" of God's human career are all the more scandalous because Jesus is the Crucified Creator. Here's how St. Paul puts it in his First Letter to the Church in Corinth: "We preach Christ crucified, a stumbling-block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God" [1:23-24]. The Greek word translated "stumbling block" is scandalon, from which we get the word "scandal."
Although Jesus' life and death is the exemplary "Scandal of Particularity," there is a profound sense in which all of our lives are lesser "scandals of particularity." How is it that any of us happened to be born into our particular families, or happened to find our particular partner (or happened not to find a particular partner), or made the particular friends we did, or attended the particular school we did, or ended up in our particular career or life's calling? Or end up worshiping together as members of this particular parish in this particular denomination of Christ's One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church?
And, how did St. Gregory's Episcopal Church in Deerfield, Illinois, USA, end up in a Companion Relationship with a fledgling Eklesia Episkopaly Malagasy congregation in Tolagnaro (Fort Dauphin), Madagascar? This particular "scandal of particularity" began in 1991 when the Missions Board made its first decision to support two lay missionaries, Todd and Patsy McGregor, and their two young daughters, Corbi and Charese. Eventually Todd and Patsy were ordained as priests, and in 2006 Todd was consecrated as the Assistant Bishop for the Diocese of Antananarivo, with the intention of his becoming the Bishop of a future Diocese of Toliara (Tuléar).
Working with the Sabbatical Committee, I wrote this in our application to the Lilly Endowment: ". . . one of my first initiatives as Rector was the establishment of a Parish Tithe to support missionaries, missions, and ministries beyond our parish boundaries. Over the years we have provided money and other kinds of material assistance to a wide variety of international, national, and local ministries and organizations. In most cases these have not included building the kind of long-term personal or congregation-to-congregation relationships which bring mutual enrichment. The opportunity to forge a companion relationship with a parish at its founding will build such relationships and re-energize our commitment to the Parish Tithe as a key element in our stewardship of God's abundance."
During my Sabbatical in Madagascar I attended the Synod (Diocesan Convention) that finally created Todd's new Diocese of Toliara; led a three-day training session for Todd's clergy, evangelists, and lay leaders, including Deacon Donné; and joined Todd for his first Episcopal Visitation of our companion parish, assisting in the baptism of over forty adults, children, and infants. You can see photographs from our time in Toliara on the Missions Board bulletin board between my office and the library, and in two weeks I'll begin a Newsletter series reproducing my Blog posts as a continuing introduction to our new companion parish.
Because Madagascar's poverty is so severe (per capita income is 88 cents a day, the highest denomination is worth about $5, and only 5% of Malagasies have bank accounts), we can do so much to assist them. We have already covered tuition for Donné's children and initial building costs thanks to many parishioners' generosity; through our Missions Board we can do spectacular things to support our Companion Parish's mission and ministry in Fort Dauphin. In the days to come we will also continue forging the personal relationships which Ingrid and I began with our sisters and brothers in Christ crucified.
Faithfully yours,
FALL BACK INTO FALL CLEAN-UP!
This Sunday – November 1st – is the end of time as we have known it! Daylight Savings Time, that is. Make sure that you arrive at the church service of your choice that day by turning back your clocks one hour when you go to bed on Saturday night. Then, bring the extra energy resulting from your additional sleep to St. Gregory's Fall Clean-Up, beginning after the 9:00 service on Sunday. We'll remove the air conditioners, store screens, wash windows, dust furniture, vacuum, clean the restrooms and finish other tasks needed to ready our facility for the winter months. And, at the end of our hard work, we'll enjoy a delicious lunch together!
After church, check the "Job Board" in Founder's Hall for a list of tasks to complete, and the equipment or tools you need to do it will be in the Hall. Team up with friends or family members to accomplish your job, and the time will fly.
Buildings and Grounds is providing the main dish for lunch, but would appreciate additional salads or side dishes like chips, dips, pickles, veggies, beverages and desserts. Please leave any such donations in the kitchen and the kitchen crew will take it from there! Thank you in advance for any contributions to our lunch, which will be served when our clean-up is done.
CALLING ALL ACOLYTES!
Sunday, November 1st, is Acolyte Recognition Sunday. All acolytes are invited to be in Founder's Hall at 8:45 a.m. to vest and make a special procession into the church at 9:00 a.m. All will be inducted by Father Roberts during the service, and Ellie Christenson and Dimitri Sinnaduray will be inducted as the 2009-2010 Archacolytes.
PUMPKIN NEWS
Yes, we are still selling them! And volunteers are urgently needed for most shifts this Friday and Saturday – please call the church office or stop by to sign up to help. We will be selling on Friday night up to the start of the Troop 50 Haunted House, so we expect extra visitors to the Pumpkin Patch in connection with that. And, amazingly, many people like to buy pumpkins on Halloween itself, so that means Saturday will also be busy.
All leftover pumpkins will be gathered up by the Youth Groups on Sunday and either disposed of or used/abused in the ever-popular Pumpkin Olympics, taking place during the Joint Youth Group on November 1st. Junior High Youth Group starts at 5:00 and includes dinner and pumpkin games. Christ United Methodist's youth may join us and bring dessert!
TROOP SUPPORT WELCOMES SURPRISE VISITORS
When the Troop Support Ministry met on October 20th, there was a wonderfully large turnout of parishioners and community members, including two teachers from Shepard Middle School and several of their students. The Deerfield school has taken a special interest both in assembling the care packages and in corresponding with the troops, particularly those from Deerfield. It's always nice to have young people involved in the care package ministry.
Additionally, two Deerfield soldiers – Chris Kelly and Nathan Stopps – surprised the group by dropping by. Both young men have recently returned safely from Iraq and had even run into each other once in a shared mess hall there, but neither knew the other was planning on visiting the care package assembly that night. Chris presented the group with a framed Guidon from his Company, which is now hanging in Founders' Hall. He also relayed how much the care packages meant to his unit, and he stayed to help pack boxes for others. Nathan, who stopped by later, also told the group how much the deployed troops appreciate the generosity shown by the Troop Support Ministry and shared stories about the excitement in their mail center on delivery days. Nuala Kurokawa and Cissy Singleton write: "We were thrilled to have these two special young men come visit us and thank us in person for their care packages. … It was one of the most special and rewarding of evenings for Troop Support. … With Veteran's Day almost here, it was an up-close reminder of how much we owe to these young men and women in our Armed Forces."
CHRISTMAS BASKETS FOR CATHEDRAL SHELTER
Eight families on our Christmas Basket like are still awaiting sponsors. Can you provide them with the means to create a special holiday meal and to give at least one gift to each member of their household? Please check the sponsor list in the hallway or call the parish office to sign up. Without this program through the Cathedral Shelter, many families would have no Christmas at all, so please give this prayerful consideration.
You will receive a letter explaining how to create a basket and suggesting gift items for the members of your sponsored household. After you have completed your purchases, pack the items in small to medium boxes labeled with your household number and bring the boxes to Founder's Hall on the Wednesday after Thanksgiving, December 3rd.
Volunteers will also be needed the next day to help load the truck that carries all our boxes into Chicago. Many hands make light work in this case! Look at a later date for more information about loading.
Thank You from B'Nai Tikvah
Dear Father Roberts,
Once again, we are grateful to you and your congregation for allowing us the use of your parking lot on our High Holy Days. Please accept this donation to the church in appreciation for your graciousness.
Best wishes for a beautiful and spiritual holiday season.
Sincerely, Edgardo Imar, Director of Operations, B'Nai Tikvah.
FREE PERFORMANCE
"Easing the Distance", a 90-minute free performance, will be held at the College of Lake County on Thursday, November 5th. This performance, cast by professional actors, shares the stories of five adults impacted by mental illness and it sheds light on the illness in society. CLC's Counseling, Advising and Training Center and the Lake County Center for Independent Living are co-sponsoring the play. CLC is located at 19351 West Washington Street in Grayslake.
In your prayers this week, please remember our companion parish in Fort Dauphin, Madagascar, and its leaders, Deacon Donné and Evangelist Tomboasy; the sick, particularly Mason Burd (father of Rick Burd/surgery), Don Caldwell (surgery/head injury), Beverly Falbe (surgery) and Earl Schaper (illness); and for the men and women serving in our armed forces and for their families, especially Robb Dunlap, Greg Hirsch, Jamie Mitchell, Brian Adamson, Daniel Fitzpatrick, Hunter Levine, Owen Leewis, Chad Field, Cary Clark, Richard Hayward and Alex Koltanowski.
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