St. Hugh’s News & Views November, 2012 280 E Wheelwright St. S./ P. O. Box 156 Allyn, WA 98524-0156 Phone: 360-275-8450 Email: [email protected]Web Page: www.sthughchurch.org A California Homily from Christie Luke 6:43-45 “No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit; for each tree is known by its own fruit. Figs are not gathered from thorns, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the treasure of their heart produces good, and the evil person out of the evil treasure produces evil; for it is out of the of the heart the mouth speaks.” This is the scripture that spoke to me in morning prayer this morning and I thought “gosh, if I were writing the homily this week these are a couple of verses I’d like to reference. As I thought about this I thought, why not write a homily and put it in the newsletter? That’s what I’m doing this morning as Garby is out in the backyard tending to the “fig tree” and the other plants before the sun gets too hot. It is supposed to reach 97 degrees today, following yesterday’s 94. Our venture in California this time has been fairly uneventful other than many hours of gardening and replacing the plants that were lost in summer’s unusually high temps. I haven’t been much help, as the day we left I started coming down with a cold, and by the time we got here it turned into a raging sinus infection, which thankfully is now on the mend. Sunday we went to All Saints for worship and the rector’s forum. This is always a treat for us and we often come back chewing on the things we’ve heard and experienced. Bestselling author Marianne Williamson was this Sunday’s forum presenter. She is the author of ILLUMINATA, A RETURN TO LOVE. She concludes her book with a prayer asking God to, “Help us find our way home, from pain to peace, from fear to love, from hell to heaven.” Her presentation title was Politics from the Inside Out: New Consciousness, New Politics in it she challenged us, especially women, to a bold new vision asking us to join her in a new conversation about American politics-- a conversation that leads to a new foundation for political involvement based on principles of higher consciousness. Marianne was inspired by Martin Luther King, Jr.’s quote… “Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a qualitative change in our lives.” She is convinced (and I share her conviction) that people on a spiritual path are the very people who should be engaging the great social and political issues of today. “There is,” she said, “nothing spiritual about complacency, what we don’t engage, we can’t transform.” In November Marianne is inviting those who are concerned about the over-influence of moneyed interests on American democracy, the high rate of child poverty in the US and throughout the world, the high rate of incarceration in America and the underrepresentation of women in our political leadership, to participate in the SISTER GIANT EVENT, NEW CONSCIOIUSNESS, NEW POLITICS. It is an invitation calling all Americans who are interested in starting a new, non-violent political conversation to help create a politics that honors the heart rather than betraying it -- a politics that people on a spiritual path would see as a vessel for, not an impediment to, our search for a higher consciousness of love over fear. More information is available on the website; WWW.SISTERGIANT.COM. I am reminded of my own commitment to a personal creed that I have shared with you and you will undoubtedly hear from me until you will be ready to pull out your hair, or possibly mine, which I picked up from Ed Bacon, the Rector at All Saints, “God only requires 4 things of us: to show up, to speak up, to tell the truth, and to not be attached to the consequences.” (Continued on page 2)
evil person out of the evil treasure produces evil;
for it is out of the of the heart the mouth speaks.”
This is the scripture that spoke to me in morning
prayer this morning and I thought “gosh, if I were
writing the homily this week these are a couple of
verses I’d like to reference. As I thought about
this I thought, why not write a homily and put it
in the newsletter? That’s what I’m doing this
morning as Garby is out in the backyard tending
to the “fig tree” and the other plants before the
sun gets too hot. It is supposed to reach 97
degrees today, following yesterday’s 94. Our
venture in California this time has been fairly
uneventful other than many hours of gardening
and replacing the plants that were lost in
summer’s unusually high temps. I haven’t been
much help, as the day we left I started coming
down with a cold, and by the time we got here it
turned into a raging sinus infection, which
thankfully is now on the mend.
Sunday we went to All Saints for worship and the
rector’s forum. This is always a treat for us and
we often come back chewing on the things we’ve
heard and experienced. Bestselling author
Marianne Williamson was this Sunday’s forum
presenter. She is the author of ILLUMINATA, A
RETURN TO LOVE. She concludes her book with a
prayer asking God to, “Help us find our way
home, from pain to peace, from fear to love, from
hell to heaven.” Her presentation title was
Politics from the Inside Out: New
Consciousness, New Politics in it she
challenged us, especially women, to a bold new
vision asking us to join her in a new conversation
about American politics-- a conversation that
leads to a new foundation for political
involvement based on principles of higher
consciousness. Marianne was inspired by Martin
Luther King, Jr.’s quote… “Our goal is to create a
beloved community and this will require a
qualitative change in our souls as well as a
qualitative change in our lives.” She is convinced
(and I share her conviction) that people on a
spiritual path are the very people who should be
engaging the great social and political issues of
today. “There is,” she said, “nothing spiritual
about complacency, what we don’t engage, we
can’t transform.”
In November Marianne is inviting those who are
concerned about the over-influence of moneyed
interests on American democracy, the high rate
of child poverty in the US and throughout the
world, the high rate of incarceration in America
and the underrepresentation of women in our
political leadership, to participate in the SISTER
GIANT EVENT, NEW CONSCIOIUSNESS, NEW
POLITICS. It is an invitation calling all Americans
who are interested in starting a new, non-violent
political conversation to help create a politics that
honors the heart rather than betraying it -- a
politics that people on a spiritual path would see
as a vessel for, not an impediment to, our search
for a higher consciousness of love over fear. More
information is available on the website;
WWW.SISTERGIANT.COM.
I am reminded of my own commitment to a
personal creed that I have shared with you and
you will undoubtedly hear from me until you will
be ready to pull out your hair, or possibly mine,
which I picked up from Ed Bacon, the Rector at
All Saints, “God only requires 4 things of us: to
show up, to speak up, to tell the truth, and to not
be attached to the consequences.” (Continued on page 2)
2
That was Sunday, and the events of that day
have bled significantly over into the rest of the
week. Monday, tired of my hacking, and blowing
and complaining, Garby announced that I was
going to the doctor. Well, that didn’t turn out be
as easy as it sounds. Making the connection with
California’s Kaiser Permanente system through
Washington’s Group Health system involved two
and half hours, and something like 12 or 13
telephone calls before I had an appointment. I did
get a same day appointment which is a bit of
miracle in itself. I must have sounded really
miserable and pathetic.
We discovered that we are only about a half hour
away from the clinic. When we got there the
place was huge, and there were people in long
lines waiting to be served. Much of the
information I had given over the phone had not
reached its destination so we wound up being
there a good three hours. Now I know that this
could seem like a nightmare, but it wasn’t. No
matter how complicated things were at each step
of the process, and it was complicated, everyone
I dealt with: from checking in at the clinic,
checking in to see the doctor, doing a history with
the nurse, seeing the doctor, then on to the
pharmacy, to a person was friendly, kind, and
eager to help me. When we left I mentioned to
Garby that as chaotic, busy and crowded as
things were, people, whether waiting in line or
being served, seemed to emanate a sense of
patience, good will and even a feeling of
community. Staff members worked together
helping each other and helping those they were
serving. Smiles and laughter were evident
everywhere. A normally trying situation left me
feeling like I mattered and was cared for, even
blessed.
Why, you must be wondering am I going on
about all of this? Well last night we planned our
dinner around watching the election debate, just
has we have the previous two. And as it has in
nearly every news story and in the preceding
debates, the question of the 47% came up and it
struck me how really important an issue this is in
this election. I lay in bed this morning thinking
about it for a long time, because I realized that
nearly all of those people, the staff, the nurses,
the doctors and the patients, would fall into the
category of “the 47%”. They were hard working,
caring people of many different ethnic
backgrounds, and they were doing their part to
make things better for those they served. They
were serving our commons, making our
community a better place to live and work, and
helping all pursue the American Dream.
The more I thought about this the more I was
offended by what is happening in our political
system. I realized that I was part of at least four
generations of family that would be included in
that 47%. From my grandparents to my children
and grandchildren, we have lived and worked and
taken care of one another, served this country in
the military, held blue collar and service jobs,
struggled to get an education, voted in elections,
paid our taxes, and to the best of our ability
served our neighbors, friends, churches and
community, without ever considering ourselves to
be victims or takers. I’ve heard my parents and
grandparents tell stories of living through the
depression and three wars. I’ve faced challenges
of my own and accepted help when it was
necessary, but never have I felt that I wasn’t
pulling my weight and doing the best I could for
my family, my community and my country.
Circumstances have changed in my life now, and
I have the opportunity of seeing things from a
different perspective. We are not takers or
makers, we’re Americans and more than that we
are citizens of the world, children of a loving
Creator. We are gifted in many different and
important ways, related to one another, and all
deserving of love, honor and respect. We can
assume no less for those who are struggling and
those who will come after us.
Peace be with you all My Friends, Let us pray.
Unbroken Wholeness, Help us to open our hearts
to you and to all beings.
Dispel the illusion of celebration.
Teach us to perceive your presence.
Through our actions and our thought,
We carry out the work of eternity.
Assist us to make this world a world of
compassion.
Awake the Spirit of Christ is us.
And thereby grant us the power of fearless
existence.
(from PRAYERS OF THE 21ST CENTURY, by John
McQuiston II)
(Continued from page 1)
3
2013 Budget
It is that time again – the dreaded BUDGET!!!!!!!
I would like for each member of St. Hugh to participate in identifying the financial requirements for 2013. Some of the categories that always require lots of thought
are Building Repairs, Yard/Parking Lot Repairs, Education (Circle and Congregation), Outreach and Hospitality.
Following are the budget contacts. Any input you can provide will be greatly
appreciated.
Dick Moore/Chuck Huff Building Repairs, Utilities
Dick Moore/Barry Betsinger Yard/Parking Lot Repairs
Jim Neal/Christie Logan Education, Liturgy
Vicki Betsinger Outreach
Carol Robinson Kitchen Keeper
Wilma Neal Administrative, Music
Donna Fisher Altar Guild
Roy Ferguson Evangelism/Advertising
Linda Niles Assessment, Loans, Gifts,
Insurance, Taxes
Please have all budget input to Linda Niles by December 10th so that the Bishop's Committee can review at the December 13th meeting. Reports detailing year-to-date
expenses will be provided after the November reports are posted.
Respectfully Submitted,
Linda Niles
Sunday, November 4
Thursday,
Nov. 22
4
Silence
One physician of the soul, Georges Vernanos, has described sin as that patterned way of being in
which we remain living at the surface. It is the conventional way of life in our culture to scurry along
the top layer of each day, conscious only of our list of things to do, places to go, fulfilling the routine of
our lives. But living the life of a Christian calls for much more than checking off our “to do” lists. Being
a Christian calls for us to move into unexplored depths, into uncomfortable soul rooms which are not
under the control of our egos. Our call is not to align with the world and its values but to return again
and again to take on the mind of Christ.
Conscious entrance into a state of Silence is a powerful way to encounter the God who is beyond
words, beyond images, beyond our own descriptors. Meister Eckhart, the great Christian mystic of the
14th century writes: Silence is the purest element of the soul, the soul’s most exalted place,
the core, the essence of soul.
Entering into silence takes us into a realm of Being which invites us into an experience of knowing with
the heart. The detritus of our minds is just the ego doing its job of ordering, listing, defining “stuff.”
When we first enter into Silence it is often this flurry of thinking which distracts us, seduces us out of
our true selves. Settling into Silence, we are met with the unknowable divine and embraced into a
consciousness far beyond that of our ego.
The presence of Silence in our worship is a profound way to learn to by-pass the scurrying of the mind
in order to drop down into the wisdom of the heart. It helps to tune into your breathing as the Silence
begins, allowing yourself to let go with each exhale, settling down into your Christ self, watching your
breath each time your mind wanders from heeding your heart. There is no judgment in being restless.
The transformation point is the release, the discipline of letting go, letting go, each exhale making
space for God in your heart.
To encourage a deepening in our worship, the bell for worship will be run at 9:50, reminding you to
enter the nave in silence so the preparation for worship will begin in conscious attention to God. There
will be periods of silence after the gospel and sermon and before the confession which will allow us to
surrender to the great mystery of Silence in the united Body of Christ.
Faithfully, Robin+
Silent Vigil Day
Please join us for a day of quiet, reflection and just "being". On 1 November, actual All Saint's Day,
we will have a silent vigil day. The day will begin with the Thursday mid-week worship service and
then the sanctuary will be open until 4:00 pm for people to spend whatever time they wish in quiet
reflection. Some people may want to read and reflect on a theological or spiritual book or article,
some may want to light a candle and kneel at the prie dieu in quiet prayer, some may want to just
close their eyes and meditate, some may have a litany of prayers that they want to keep repeating,
similar to praying the rosary. However you choose to spend the quiet time, it will refresh you.
The labyrinth will also be available for reflective walks and just being in the natural beauty and
solitude of our holy space. Perhaps you will be fortunate enough to have a deer wander through the
yard or see an eagle soaring overhead.
From personal experience, I can honestly say that these quiet reflective days feed my soul in a way
that nothing else does. In our fast-paced and busy lives and schedules, let us take time for this
nourishing, quiet time and pray for those in our hearts and on our minds.
Faithfully, Vicki
5
Let’s Keep Talking…
Sheriff Salisburry Says Keep
Your Guns Locked Up, Safe
By The Rev. Kim Forman
Let’s keep talking about gun violence, with each other, with Mason County Sheriff Casey Salisbury and others – even if talking is all
we can do at this time.
We started a conversation after Sunday services at St. Hugh a few weeks ago with 21
people eager to learn more about existing gun laws and how we might set up a non-partisan forum to educate ourselves and
others on this controversial issue. Our first decision was to postpone any public meetings
until after the November elections.
The second decision was to avoid debate while encouraging a broad, calm discernment of facts. We want to include law
enforcement, mental health services, the National Rifle Association and perhaps
others, asking them to provide background information. This might, then, entail three or four meetings. Those attending could decide
what action, if any, they might want to
pursue, individually or together.
With that in mind, I visited Sheriff Salisbury
in his office in Shelton on Friday, Oct. 12 to tell him about our plans. George Albertson, a
chaplain with the sheriff’s office, joined us. Both of them recognize the seriousness of gun violence but said they could not
advocate a political position.
One message Sheriff Salisbury said he would offer is for owners to keep guns locked
securely to avoid theft from homes or vehicles. He said too often gun owners are
shot or killed with their own, stolen weapon.
Our Episcopal General Convention in July
adopted a resolution asking us to post our churches and offices as “Gun Free Zones” but
even that mild suggestion drew debate. Some said it might encourage vandalism and
thefts.
It’s easy to over-simplify this issue with half
measures and slogans. For example: “Guns
don’t kill people; people do.” Or “People
don’t kill people; bullets do.” But the one
slogan that seems to be true is: “To do
nothing is the wrong thing to do.” So, let’s
keep talking, listen with respect and stay
focused.
A note from the C. C. C.
Greetings!
Wow this has been a busy week -- Harvest
delivery on Friday, great fun and fundraiser on
Monday and now I am involved with the Friends
of the Library Fall Book Sale this week.
1) Thanks to all for the many many things you
do to keep our projects rolling. So many kids
are being helped with your efforts.
2) (free lunch BCBC) Jolene had a tasty Salmon
Chowder, today Val served Split Pea and Ham
soup with Toasted Sandwiches and next week
we will have Spaghetti on curly whole wheat
noodles.
3) Thanks to the large crew of Friday
volunteers who came to off load our Harvest
bounty.
4) Thanks to the apple pickers, who spent the
weekend in Eastern Washington gleaning
apples for our backpack kids and community
meals.
5) Thanks for ALL the help in making the
Spaghetti Feed so successful. Linda was a
great leader, the decorations and set up were
awesome, the servers were very busy, yet
happy and helpful, the raffle items, the food,
the friendly location, the clean up crew and all
the participation -- yes, a wonderful time was
had by all.
Thanks so much! ! ! !
Have a great weekend, stop by the book sale and
rest a bit if possible.
Lynn Coffman
6
Barry and Vicki's Big Adventure
30 September. We woke up this morning at the Best Western in Tessera just outside Venice. After
a nice breakfast at the hotel, we caught a bus that took us to the waterfront where we bought all day
passes for the vaporetto (water transportation). These water taxis run all around Venice picking up
and dropping off passengers at various spots including some of the islands such as Murano where the
lovely glass pieces are produced. We rode the vaporetto to the stop at San Marco.... St. Mark's
Square. What an unbelievably gorgeous structure. So many tiny mosaics, many of them gold made
the place gleam and sparkle. Upon entering the church, Barry had to buy a plastic skirt for a Euro to
put on because he was wearing shorts. They are quite strict; no sleeveless blouses or shorts. My big
regret was that I didn't get the camera from him and take a picture for posterity! We walked through
the church and then around the square, which is huge. It was a very warm day, about 90
degrees. We noticed that there was a lot of standing water in the square in places and also when we
entered St. Mark's we had to walk on raised wooden walkways due to the water. The land there is
slowly sinking so they have an elaborate plan to correct the situation. The square is bordered by
lovely shops and restaurants. There was a small band playing music for people to enjoy as they had
their meal outside. The only hazard is the pigeons which are everywhere and continually are begging
for food. We stopped at a sidewalk cafe for lunch on a side street away from the square. Then we
continued walking around, just taking in the beauty of the place. We walked on the raised bridges
over the canals, which are so reminiscent of scenes of Venice. We decided we were going to take a
gondola ride...it is quite expensive, but was so lovely. We traveled in and out of canals for about 1/2
hour and then went out in the Grand Canal for a tour of the city. Our gondolier was 23 and was
delightful; he was born and raised in Venice and gave a lot of information about the history of the
city and pointed out the points of interest. His father is a gondolier also and we passed him in one of
the canals. He called me "Mama" and called Barry "Mister". After the ride, he took our picture in the
gondola and then Barry took a picture of me with him. After our ride, we walked to the famous Bridge
of Sighs which is between the Doge's Palace and the prison. We stopped at a lovely little shop and
Barry bought me a beautiful scarf. They had the scarf in so many colors it was difficult to choose one,
but I decided on a warm brown scarf. Later in the afternoon, we stopped at an outdoor cafe for a dish
of gelato. While we were sitting there we spotted a church with a steeple that looked like it was
leaning, so after our snack, we took off to find the church. We had a hard time finding it down some
narrow dark alleys, but finally came to the Church of St. George....a Greek Orthodox Church. We
went inside and the iconostasis was beautiful, but we were not allowed to take pictures, so it just
remains a beautiful memory. We kept walking and came to another church that didn't open until 4:00
pm, so we sat in the sunshine and waited. This church, St. Zaccarias, had domes that were painted in
bright colors and was very lovely. After a little more walking, gawking and window shopping, we
stopped at a sidewalk cafe for dinner. The waiter was quite snooty, but we didn't let that spoil the
lovely view and our meal. Barry had spaghetti carbonara and I had the spaghetti vongole
(clams). We then caught the vaporetto back to the mainland to catch our bus back to the hotel. A
thoroughly wonderful day! Riding in the gondola was a dream come true for me. I can now cross that
off my bucket list. Tomorrow is Barry's birthday and we are off to Tuscany.
1 October. Happy Birthday to Barry! We left Tessera after breakfast, around 9:30 am and headed
to Cortona. We arrived around 2:00 pm and are staying in a lovely old B and B called the Locando
della Luna run by a mother and her son, Maria and Gabriel. Our room is on the second floor and poor
Barry had to lug the suitcases up some crude stairs. The structure is an 18th century farmhouse, so it
is rustic but lovely. We just lazed around the afternoon soaking up the Tuscan sun. At 7:00 Doumina
(woman who arranged our Tuscany portion of our trip) walked over to our B and B and we drove to
pick up two other women clients of hers and we all went for a fabulous meal in Cortona. There was a
lovely sunset as we were driving to the restaurant and Doumina directed us to an active
archaeological site where they are unearthing some Etruscan stairs. We arrived at the restaurant and
the place was packed and after we ate I could understand why. The meal was fabulous. I think the
best I've had since we've been in Europe. I had spaghetti vongole again and it was easily the best
I've ever had......EVER! After dinner, the wait staff brought Barry a birthday cake and we all sang
"Happy Birthday" The cake was a 2-layer light chocolate with coconut filling. Delicious! Back to the
B and B to read and a good night's sleep! Very quiet out here in the country, but very beautiful.
7
Animal Blessing Sunday at St. Hugh
Arlene
Pritchard
and her
daughter
also paid
St. Hugh a
visit.
A note from Virginia Thompson
Dear St. Hugh Friends,
All those wonderful cards and
prayers must have come on
healing winds. Thank you for
such thoughtfulness.
I miss you all. A walker is my
close companion as are my
children who take turns
watching over me. Slowly I am
improving, and learning
patience.
One of these days I hope to see
you in Church!
Love in Christ,
Virginia
A note from Adopt-A-Pet
Just a few lines to thank you from all
the dogs at the Adopt-A-Pet kennels
for your donation to them, for your
thoughtfulness of the great
volunteers who help care for these
great dogs while the wait for their
forever homes.
Your kind words mean so much!
J. Anderson, President
8
Jerry & Sandra, Mike Will, Gil Ellingson, Don Lippincott
Leo, Steve Weidmier (Linda), Charlie DeBerry & Family, Joseph Lindhartsen &
Family
For the poor, the neglected, & oppressed
The victims of discord & violence around
the world.
Formation Circle 2010, especially those called to Holy Orders Kim, Vicki, Karen &
Chuck
those in service to our Country
Tony, Malcolm McDonald, Mark Bjorgen, Brendan Whyte, Todd Turner, Anne
McClain, USS John C. Stennis
those who have died
James Taylor
Those who mourn
Sharyl Taylor & Family
Prayer List Names requested to be shown in the Prayer List will be shown for 30 days, then removed. They may be resubmitted for an additional 30 days.
