From the Pastor,

As a priest, I was greatly blessed to begin my ministry in a very small diocese of only thirty to forty churches.

Our bishop was intimately familiar not only with each of his churches, but also with nearly everyone within

those churches. It was not uncommon for the bishop to simply “show up” and be sitting in the pews on any

given Sunday. As a result, we priests also had a wonderfully close, spiritual relationship with our bishop in

whose stead we served week after week.

I will never forget a Christmas meditation our Bishop once shared concerning the value of the “misplaced

comma,” found in a traditional Christmas Carol.

God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay; remember Christ our Savior was born on

Christmas Day, to save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!

He pointed out that as we sing this carol, we insert a pause (and an implied comma) after the first “you,”

which renders the opening line: “God rest you, merry gentlemen,” which completely changes the meaning.

“Merry gentlemen” puts the emphasis on how we feel. In other words, the gentlemen [us] are “merry/happy.”

It conjures up images of gift-surrounded trees, bright lights, office parties, family gatherings, and a church

filled with joyful worshippers on Christmas Eve, all reasons for “merriness” indeed. And of course, all of this

is good.

The problem is that the original [archaic] meaning of “merry” is not a “feeling.” It is something that causes

pleasure; “merry” is a transitive verb not an adjective. “God rest you merry, gentlemen,” (with the comma

between the words ‘merry’ and ‘gentlemen’ as the hymn-writer intended) tells the tale. Whatever we’re

feeling—and however the season and its bright lights touch us—we pray that God may cause us pleasure,

make us merry, for another reason. “Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day.” Merriment or

“delightful pleasure” is not so much a seasonal sentiment as it is the settled conviction that God has done

something for us that is profound and utterly unexpected.

From God our heavenly Father a blessed angel came and unto certain shepherds brought tidings of

the same: how that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.

Jesus is—as the Anglican writer J. B. Phillips so colorfully put it: the “focused God,” God slipping into the

world of time and space, form and matter, and being born as a human baby. “The Word became flesh and

lived among us” (John 1:14). When we look at Jesus, we see God himself.

The Builder

Making Disciples for Jesus Christ

St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church www.stthomasorange.org

(540) 672-3761 email: stthomas3@verizon.net

Rector: The Rev. Dr. Lin Hutton Editor: Marty Gray

Vol. XXXIV December 2016/January 2017 Issue No. 10

“Fear not then,” said the angel, “Let nothing you affright; this day is born a Savior of a pure virgin

bright, to free all those who trust in him from Satan’s power and might.”

In other words, Jesus changes everything. The universe is not a dark and empty place. At the very heart of the

cosmos is a God who loves us so much that he became one of us, a God who loves us so much that he has

broken the power of sin, Satan, and death through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son. Our best

response—not only at Christmas, but year round, is to worship and adore him:

Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place, and with true love and charity each other now

embrace; this holy tide of Christmas doth bring redeeming grace.

O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!

May the Joy, the Hope, and the Love of this Christmas Season surround you in Christ’s Peace.

Pastor Lin +

[and with grateful appreciation to my former bishop, + The Rt. Rev. Edward Stuart Little]

For All the Saints….

Karl Barth, Pastor and Theologian, ~ December 10

Born in Switzerland in 1886, Barth studied at several prestigious

universities, including Tubingen, and later served as a pastor in Geneva and

professor in Germany. The events of the First World War led Barth to

question the theology of the day, which Barth felt relied too heavily on a

theology blended too heavily with contemporary culture. Barth’s great

work, Commentary on Romans, published in 1918, reasserted doctrines

such as God’s sovereignty and human sin, essential ideas that Barth felt

were excluded and overshadowed in the overly nationalistic theological

discourse of the time.

With Hitler’s rise to power and the Nazi party’s use of German nationalistic theology to declare that “God was

on the side of Nazi Germany,” Barth joined the opposing German Confessional Church and wrote its

foundational document, the Barmen Declaration (1934). In it, Barth asserted that the Church’s allegiance to

God in Christ gave it the moral imperative to challenge the rule and violence of Hitler. Barth was himself

forced to resign his professorship at Bonn due to his outspoken statements that “God was not on the side of

Germany” (or any other country for that matter) and for his refusal to swear an oath to Hitler.

In addition to his close friendship with fellow theologian, professor, and pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Karl

Barth is best known for an extensive systematic theology found in his thirteen-volume opus, Church

Dogmatics. Barth laid out many of the theological notions that form the foundation of contemporary Christian

theology, including an understanding that God’s Word is the definitive source of revelation, the Incarnation as

the bridge between God’s revelation and human sin, and the election of the creation as God’s great end.

Karl Barth was one of the great thinkers and theologians of the twentieth century. Pope Pius XII regarded him

as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas. This assessment speaks to the respect Barth received

from both Protestant and Catholic theologians and to his influence within both theological communities.

Antony, Abbot in Egypt, 356 ~ January 17

In the third century, many young men turned away from the corrupt and decadent

society of the time, and went to live in deserts or mountains, solitude, fasting, and

prayer. Antony of Egypt was an outstanding example of this movement. But he

was not merely a recluse. He was a founder of monasticism, and wrote a rule for

anchorites. Antony’s parents were Christians, and he grew up to be quiet, devout,

and meditative. When his parents died, he and his younger sister were left to care

for a sizable estate. Six months later in church, he heard the reading about the rich

young ruler whom Christ advised to sell all he had and give to the poor, Antony at

once gave his land to the villagers, and sold most of his goods, fiving the proceeds

to the poor. Later after meditating on Christ’s bidding, “Do not be anxious about

tomorrow,” he sold what remained of his possessions, placed his sister in a “house

of maidens,” and became an anchorite or “solitary ascetic.”

Athanasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, who knew Antony personally, writes that Antony spent his days

praying, reading, and doing manual labor. Moving to the mountains across the Nile from his village, Antony

dwelt alone for twenty years. In 305, he left his cave and founded a “monastery,” a series of cells inhabited by

ascetics living under his rule. Athanasius writes of such colonies: “Their cells like tents were filled with

singing, fasting, praying, and working that they might give alms, and having love and peace with one

another.”

Antony visited Alexandria, first in 321, to encourage those suffering martyrdom under the Emperor

Maximinus; later, in 355, to combat the Arians by preaching, conversions, and the working of miracles. Most

of his days were spent on the mountain with his disciple Macarius.

Antony willed a goat-skin tunic and a cloak to Athanasius, who said of him: “He was like a physician given by

God to Egypt. For who met him grieving and did not go away rejoicing? Who came full of anger and was not

turned to kindness?....What monk who had grown slack was not strengthened by coming to him? Who came

troubled by doubts and failed to gain peace of mind?”

MORE, “101 Reasons to be an Episcopalian”—

Reason # 46: “Where God’s unconditional love for all of us is celebrated every day.” Sen

Marge Kilkelly, Diocese of Maine

Reason # 89: “I don’t know why anyone would become a member of a crazy church like

ours, but I am a Christian of a peculiarly sacramental sort because of something that

happened when I was thirteen. My parents sent me off to Christ School near Asheville, North Carolina, and on

the first Sunday the boys were lined up and marched into Chapel, which was quickly filling with smoke (under

the direction of a senior named Terry Holmes). Some of the new boys passed out and had to be dragged out

onto the lawn to recover, but I stayed, survived, and loved it!” Ormonde Plater, Diocese of Louisiana

Preschool News

Sarah’s Pumpkin Patch

Halloween at St. Thomas Preschool!

Morning Explorations

Veterans’ Day Celebration

Third Annual Thanksgiving Feast with

Orange Presbyterian Preschool

Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old,

he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

Note of Appreciation

Thank you to so many of our parishioners who attended the funeral of our dear brother, Bill Newell. Although

it was Race Weekend and many had tents and parties planned for that day, so many of you still took the time to

attend and even participate in the service. It was both a gracious gift to the family and Bill’s memory, but also

a beautiful closing chapter on a dear friend in Christ.

Thank you to Dan Robinson for his creative idea for a “Veteran’s Movie Night” on Veteran’s Day. We started

the evening with the pledge of allegiance, patriotic music, singing of service hymns, beer, wine, coffee, and

cake. Many of our veterans brought in memorabilia from their service days. It was such a treasure to see

everyone when they were so much younger [and thinner!]. The first piece of cake went to the oldest veteran

present, Duff Green, USMC, and the second piece went to the youngest veteran present, Dan Robinson,

USMC. Afterward, we enjoyed the World War II themed movie, Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison.

Thank you Sarah Rogers and everyone who brought in supplies for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas

Child. We were able to compile 68 boxes for children around the world. To everyone who came to assemble

and sort, our undying gratitude!

Many thanks to Mr. Bill Drake, our Director of Music, and our outstanding choir for a superb performance

during Choral Evensong, on Sunday, November 13th. We had one of our largest turnouts for this beautiful

service. The potluck supper that followed was also fantastic. Thanks to everyone who brought dishes to share,

especially Dr. Randy Merrick, for his signature roasted pork loin.

Thank you to our Outreach Chairs, Betsy Amos and Ellen Otto, and everyone who helped with this year’s

Thanksgiving Baskets. We are grateful to everyone who so generously provided the food items for the many

food insecure families in our region and for enabling them to have a Thanksgiving Dinner as well!

Choosing a child from The Angel Tree program gives you an opportunity to share

God’s love by helping to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the

families of prisoners. Look for the tree in Robertson Hall and please take an angel!

Contact Zan Thomas for details or questions 672-5942.

Christmas Bazaar

Saturday, December 3rd from 9 AM - 2 PM

Sunday December 4th after the 10:15 service.

In Robertson Hall

CRAFTS ~ BAKED GOOD ~ ANTIQUES

Contact Betsy Amos for details.

All proceeds to benefit the Orange Christian Emergency Council.

The Photo Gallery

January is “Feed My Sheep” Month!

We are continuing this very important outreach project throughout the month of January. Please bring your

donations of nonperishable, nourishing snacks for school children to the blue bucket in

Robertson hall. The children are carrying their bags of food home themselves, so please be

aware that the WEIGHT of items is an important factor. We can not take drinks of any kind

or multi-serve and large-sized items. Some suggested items include: granola bars, breakfast

bars, cheese crackers, jerky, single serve tuna cans, fruit cups, mac & cheese cups, etc.

Thank you for your continued support.

Congratulations to Claire Yowell and Ellie Robinson who

were inducted into the National Honor Society at a

candlelight ceremony on November 9th. They were selected

for their commitment to leadership, service, scholarship and

character. Claire and Ellie are both sophomores at Orange

County High School. Way to go Claire and Ellie!

Veteran’s Day

Movie Night

Thanksgiving Gift Baskets

Exploring

Buddhism

Class

Food Pantry

Special request for December is

tuna fish/canned chicken and

January is paper towels/toilet paper.

All food items and cash gifts are

always welcome and appreciated.

You can drop off donations at the Love Outreach

Food Pantry each Tuesday from 9:00-10:30 and on

Wednesday from 8:30-12:00. Their mailing

address is: Love Outreach Food Pantry, Inc., P.O.

Box 788, Orange, 22960. You may also bring any

donations to the church to be delivered.

Prayer List

We pray especially for our church’s leadership:

Michael, Presiding Bishop; Shannon, Susan & Ted,

bishops for this diocese

Our country: President Barack, Vice President Joe, &

Governor Terry

For the special needs and concerns of this

congregation:

For: Gil, Grace, Jack, Margaret, Raymond, Terrell, Tom and our men and women in our armed forces who are serving our nation around the world.

And Especially for: Brenda, Don, Ellen, Harr iet, Howard, James, John, Lois, Marcelline, Nadia, Palmer, and Richard; and the victims of religious oppression around the world, especially for those being affected by Isis

Please submit entries for the February issue of

The Builder

by January 24th to martygray60@gmail.com

Friday, January 20th @ 7:00pm

in Robertson Hall

cost of admission: one nonperishable food item

Bring your favorite movie snack and drink and join

us for fun and fellowship!

1/01 Daniel Robinson

1/02 Graham Barton

1/02 Paul Williams IV

1/02 David Dulin

1/03 Andrew Garnett

1/04 Charles Seilheimer

1/07 Barbara Garnett

1/10 Bob Gausman

1/10 Catherine Gillespie

1/11 Kris Brockman

1/11 Ally Keating

1/12 Christopher Dulin

1/14 Philip Williams

1/15 Kenneth Taormina

1/20 Becca Amos

1/20 Randy Merrick

1/21 Royce Drake

1/24 Doc Garnett

1/29 Virginia Donnelly

1/29 Harold Faulconer

12/01 Robert Nigmond

12/02 Garnett Morton

12/03 Evan Wagner

12/09 Brandon Barfield

12/17 Kate Amos

12/17 Steve Cushman

12/19 Amelia Lee

12/24 Peter Amos

12/27 Will Likins

12/29 Harry Saxton