“Heaven-Encompassed World.”i
In times of challenge and pressure there is still this potential for the miracle of actually experiencing God, the sacredness of life, and our true nature of which Christ spoke. Within all life currents there is this stillness and fullness completing us. With all the enormous crosscurrents of our shared and vast web of relationships, we can become lost without clear bearings. There is a prayer: “…we have erred and strayed from thy ways like lost sheep, we have followed too much the devices and desires of our own hearts…” Without bearings and a sense of what’s truly essential in our lives, we do things, say things about others, and cultivate & harbor tendencies that distance us even further from what’s redeeming.
We do live in a “Heaven-encompassed World,” yet in so many ways so often we are in need of becoming reacquainted with this Holy Trinity of actually experiencing God, the sacredness of life, and our true nature of which Christ spoke. When the challenges and pressures are great, these are the circumstances in which we have the opportunity to actively bear witness to what God hopes we individually and communally manifest: love that matters. What is this love’s source and miracle?
There is a person who had just experienced the crushing tragic suffering of his nation, people, and culture. He shared the following words of hope and redemption. “I saw more than I can tell and I understood more than I saw; for I was seeing in a sacred manner the shapes of all things in the spirit, and the shape of all shapes as they must live together like one being. And I saw that the sacred hoop of my people was one of many hoops that made one circle, wide as daylight and as starlight, and in the center grew one mighty flowering tree to shelter all the children of one mother and one father. And I saw that it was holy.”ii A woman dying of cancer taught me about Black Elk. We held hands, exchanged stories, read together, and sat in silence over the course of the months in her time of suffering. Under such pressure, she was so utterly connected to this living presence of the holy. Her hair gone and her body slowly wasting away, she vibrantly reflected spirit. Within all the currents of our lives, there is this stillness and fullness.
We live in challenging times. Let us be the church at its best: healers and ones witnessing to this Holy Trinity of actually experiencing God, the sacredness of life, and our true nature of which Christ spoke. Every moment, every interaction, every circumstance be this light. The fibers of life, in this miraculous web, brighten in every instance of us manifesting this love. Other will see and respond. This is redemption and the reign of God. Life is both tenacious and delicate. What a wonder and marvel! Harshness, brittleness, reactive impulses, biases that alienate, assumptions that set others into a supposed mold we presume to control for our own ends, and a host of other human tendencies can and often do front for what underlies all things: miraculous love binding, healing, redeeming, uplifting, and drawing all to a banqueting table of inclusion. Simplicity and transparency of Spirit. God-laced stillness. Christ beckoning. Amazing grace!
God bless us all and may we be the church at its best so that others may see and feel what’s truly redeeming in our “heaven encompassed world.” Be this soul-fullness that blesses.
Pastor Curt
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Thomas Carlyle, Sartor Resartus (NY: Harper & Brothers, 1862), 151.
2 Black Elk, As told through John G. Neihardt (Flaming Rainbow), Black Elk Speaks (Lincoln, NB: University of Nebraska, 1988), 43.
Hot Stuff Offering
The temperature is rising, so it’s time for our Faith In Action Hot Stuff offering. We usually do a noisy offering collection each week in July, but this summer we decided to change things up, so to speak! From July 18 through August 29, there will be a collection container for your loose change donations on the table in the narthex. Our goal is to
collect at least $250 for the Faith in Action winter heating fund. You’ll be able to keep track of our progress via our Hot Stuff Thermometer, which will be updated weekly in the narthex. Thanks in advance for your support!
Compassionate Services Ministry
Stewardship Participants Needed
Soon, we will start working on our 2011 operating budget, and an integral part of that process is stewardship. Council is looking for 3-5 people to help coordinate next year’s stewardship drive. We are looking to repeat last year’s timing, with discussions starting in August and the campaign starting in September. If you are interested in
serving on the 2011 Stewardship Committee, please contact Dan Kruse.
Church Council
Thank You!!
St. Paul Members,
We would like to express our appreciation for St. Paul members wrapping the Gentz family in your arms over the last few weeks. Your support, prayers, and help with Joel’s memorial service has been overwhelming for us. So many offered prayers, called on us, brought us food, hugged us, helped to clean and set up the church, prepared food, coordinated communication between people in the community, participated in the service, carried chairs/ tables, sang in the service, made contributions, set up the sound system and on and on… We cannot list names because there are too many here! Mostly the membership was present for us at a time of grief and loss. There are no words that can thank you for this support. As we said to many community friends, Joel’s military buddies, and Kathryn and her family; St. Paul is home for us. God Bless each and every one of you for your acts of kindness. This was truly a demonstration of Christian Love.
Steve, Judy, Rachel, and Jared.
To the staff and members of St. Paul,
Thank you for the many ways in which you have given your love and support to our family in this difficult time. You coordinated meals, offered housing, provided food at both the calling hours and memorial service, and worked diligently to help everything run smoothly. More importantly, you were there for all of us with comforting words and loving arms. Through you, we sensed God’s presence in our midst.
Our sincere gratitude to everyone!
Barbara Gentz and Jeanne Rowe (Joel’s grandmothers).
The Church Council would like to thank everyone that helped with the funeral preparations for Joel Gentz. All of our members really came through when needed, whether cleaning up the church grounds, prepping and cleaning the building, moving furniture, setting up and taking down chairs, baking cookies, serving food and drinks, coordinating or supplying materials. It is truly gratifying to know that our St. Paul family will pull together to provide comfort and support in a time of need. Our continued prayers of love and support go out to the entire Gentz Family.
Church Council
Dear St. Paul Friends,
Thank you for making the celebration of my graduation complete! You surprised me on Sunday with your festivities and recognition. I am grateful for all your love and support during my near never-ending journey at Ecumenical Theological Seminary. I now have the Master of Arts in Pastoral Ministry, and I credit St. Paul with a major role in making that possible. I hope you will share a fond connection with ETS in Detroit and share a sense of accomplishment because you have nurtured yet another student on a journey of formation for ministry.
I have no plans to “go” anywhere – I love my church office work, and love the occasions to do “pulpit supply.”
I’ll let you know what God surprises me with next!
Thank you, again, for the recognition, for your gift, and for journeying with me.
Blessings,
Diane Locker
Thank you to the members of St. Paul who helped celebrate my 100th birthday.
I appreciated all the good wishes and beautiful cards. A special thank you to those who attended my party and shared their time with me as I reached this special milestone in my life, with God by my side!
Henry Buss and Family.
From the Teaching Ministry
My thanks goes out to everyone who helped with the end-of-the-school-year pancake breakfast and teacher recognition this year. Those people include: Dan & Johanna Kruse, Erma O’Connor, Laura and Mike VanGoor, Kristin & Willem van Reesema, Diane & Donald Locker, Dan & Karen Cooperrider, Nicole & Caz Rogozinski, Steve & Amy Whitesall, Leslee Brockett, Terry Peyton, Judy Gentz, Norma Kumbier, and Michelle Paris.
Have you noticed the kids with one-time-use cameras in their hands? They’ve been given a special summer project this year. Whenever they see a glimpse of God and God’s love, they’re going to take a picture of it. In the fall, we’re planning to create a collage of their result. I don’t know if we’ll simply display those images in the youth room–or the fellowship hall–or even present it to the congregation, but I am certain that I’m looking forward to seeing what they come up with. (If anyone still needs a camera, please contact me.)
As of the courier deadline, plans have not been finalized for a Vacation Bible School(VBS) this year. VBS has usually been a late summer event, so we’ll try to get the details ironed out in July.
Wishing you peace,
Scott
Save the Date
Don’t forget to mark your calendar for the St. Paul Fall Open House (formerly known as Rally Day) on Sept.19.
July Lectionary Readings
July 4: Luke 10:1-11, 16-20
July 11: Luke 10:25-37
July 18: Luke 10:38-42
July 25: Luke 11:1-13
August Lectionary Readings
August 1: Luke 12:13-21
August 8: Heb 11:1-3, 8-16/Luke 12:32-40
August 15: Heb 11:29-12:2/Luke 12:49-56
August 22: Luke 13:10-17
August 29: Heb 13:1-8, 15-16/Luke 14:1, 7-14
Jackson shelter
St. Paul serves the lunch at Jackson Interfaith Shelter on the 2nd Sunday of every other month starting in March. Upcoming serving dates include July 11 and Sept. 12.
It’s easy and immensely rewarding. Meet at St. Paul at 10 a.m. for commissioning at the opening of worship. Jackson by 10:30. Plan to be back to Chelsea by 1:00 p.m.
Please contact the church office — 475-2545 or Diane — 475-5909 if you’d like to participate.
Important Dates To Remember
July: Faith-In-Action Hot Stuff Offering.
No Ministry Meeting.
No Council Meeting.
August 10: All Church Ministry Meeting.
August 17: Council Meeting.
Sept. 19: Fall Open House (Rally Day)
Keep us in the loop
If you or a family member has moved recently, please be sure the church office has an updated address.
Newsletter deadline: The deadline for September, 2010 newsletter is Monday, August 16, 2010, and will be mailed
on September 2, 2010. Thanks.
How We Spent the Money We Received May, 2010
The following are some of the bills we paid with the money received in May, 2010
Salaries:
Pastor (salary, housing, mileage,insurance/pension) 4,605.09
Staff 2,855.70
941 Tax 218.24
Improvements 370.26
Utilities 1,269.83
Lawn Care 345.00
Phone & E-mail 119.69
Mailing & Postage 88.00
Advertising & Website 41.95
Equipment Maintenance 301.24
Conference Delegate 120.00
Bulletins 78.57
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Total: $10,413.57
Our income for May was $12,161.59
applied to above expenses.
Designated Funds Income = $ 855.00
Designated Funds Expenses = $ 1,337.00
Submitted by Kathy Young
July Duty Roster
Greeters
4 Rusty & Kay LeFurge
11 Ruth Guenther/Helen Lancaster
18 Dean & Barb Alseth
25 Dave & Jean Bust
Ushers
4 Church Council
11 Team #6, Pete Flintoft, Capt.
18 Team #1, Lynette Hand, Capt.
25 Team #2, Roger Wildey, Capt.
Liturgists
4 Janet Kemp
11 Norma Kumbier
18 Erma O’Connor
25 Mike VanGoor
Bulletins
4 Scott Mullison
11 Judy & Steve Gentz
18 Meena Bhattacharya/Cathy Marks
25 Anna L. Knickerbocker
Flowers
4 Margaret Kuhl
11 June Burghardt
18 Cathy Marks
25 Marian Pierson
Music Sponsor
11 Diane & Donald Locker
18 Carole & Gary Zenz
Wear your name proudly!
Please remember to wear you name tag on Sundays. This small act makes a big difference to our visitors and fellow members. If you have no name tags, lost it, please let the office know, and we will get you a new one in 24 hours.
Duty Roster
August Servers
Communion Preparation: John & Lynette Hand
Greeters
1 Tim & Pat Whitesall
8 Gary & Carole Zenz
15 Norm & Erma O’Connor
22 Cathy Marks Family
29 Janet Kemp/Kathy Young
Ushers
1 Church Council
8 Team #3, Cathy Marks, Capt.
15 Team #4, Dan Cooperrider, Capt.
22 Team #5, Gary Zenz, Capt.
29 Team #6, Pete Flintoft, Capt.
Liturgist
1 Johanna Kruse
8 Diane Locker
15 Erma O’Connor
22 John Hand
29 Kristin van Reesema
Bulletins
1 Judy Irwin
8 Meena Bhattacharya
15 Steve & Amy Whitesall
22 Judy & Steve Gentz
29 Henry Buss, Anna L. Knickerbocker/Ray & Rita Parsons
Flowers
1 John & Lynette Hand
8 Gary & Carole Zenz
15 John & Lynette Hand
22 Scott Mullison
29 Sue Keezer
Please Pray For:
Strength, Healing and Comfort for:
Judy Gentz recovering at home.
Gail Bauer recovering at home.
Wendy Johnson (Pastor Curt’s sister-in-law) at home recovering well with her repaired heart.
David Dietle.
Shirley Goodman (Jean Bust’s sister) undergoing chemo treatment for breast cancer.
Tom Bust in home hospice care.
Roberta Cobb diagnosed with colon cancer.
Veryl Steinaway recovering from a stroke.
Chris Strahler (Judy Gentz’s friend) as he fights Hogkins Lymphoma.
Virginia Webster (Judy Gentz’s friend) significant health problems.
Jim Barth (Jeannette Schleede’s nephew) recovering slowly.
Well-being for:
Henry Buss, Baby Sierra, Betty Bust, Cathy Callery, John Cooperrider, Ralph Edwards, Don Keezer, Jeremiah Kruse, Pam Kuhl, Louise Kusterer, and Marcella Wojtas (Marilyn Haug’s friend).
Those in the Armed Services:
Cliff Salvetore, Clint Wall, Larry Wall (Billie Zenz’s grandsons), Nick Locker (Donald and Diane Locker’s nephew), Jack “Bub” Rowe III (Nancy Burgett’s grandson). and Evan Wahl.
Active duty overseas:
Michael Schroen (Arlene Schroen’s Grandson).
Free Summer Concert
(Food Pantry Donations Welcome!)
Enjoy the musical ministry of Bryan Sirchio, award-winning Christian singer/songwriter and recording artist.
Saturday, Aug. 21, 6-8 p.m.
First Congregational UCC, 410 N. Broadway, Union City, MI
Free popcorn and ice cream/B.Y.O.P. (bring your own picnic) on the lawn.
In case of inclement weather, concert will be held indoors.