July 2009
“June is busting out all over . . .”
One of the memorable songs from the musical Oklahoma, was “June is Busting Out All Over.” The song title accurately describes our life as a Christian Community this past month. We were “busting out” all over our community and the diocese as we celebrate our life together.
We began the month with the Feast of Pentecost and a fabulous pot-luck lunch as we brought to a close our Christian Education school year. Our 2008-2009 Sunday Classes were the best attended and the best in spirit ever. Our Christian Education Director, Amy Guess, was able to rotate teachers in every class and in our Children’s chapel program.
Our E.Y.C. continued to grow in numbers and activities including attending the diocesan sponsored Winter Star retreats. They too were directed by several people under the leadership of Terry and Rosemary McCormack. The adult program also continued to grow, especially our new Wednesday noon Women’s Bible Study directed by Bette Schernikau. We also celebrated the completion of our playground fundraiser. The conclusion of our day was a celebration of the gifts of many different people of a variety of ages during our in-house music recital.
Ten of our parishioners participated in the Diocesan Robert R. Brown Camp I, which also reached a new level of excellence. A lot of time and energy went into making the camp a success!
Meanwhile back home, the Youth Mission Project had started under the direction of Lisa Leak. This camp was a vision come true for many of the adults who had sought a means of educating and supporting our children and youth in their mission to the community. It concluded with the long time dream of Al Addington - a parish canoe trip.
The bishop’s visit was the next day, and he confirmed TEN of our youth. (An additional member of the class could not be present but will be confirmed later in the year.) Again the community came together as M.O.S.T. set up the tables and chairs and prepared the ham while the Daughters of the King decorated the tables AND afterwards did the dishes! It was a day of many new beginnings, including the new prayer books each of those newly confirmed received from St. Anne’s Guild.
We ended the month with another wonderful parish picnic hosted by St. Anne’s Guild. It was a nice number of people who all enjoyed one another’s company and had fun.
All of these events are not the result of any single individual but were the good work and ministry of the people known as St. Theodore’s. At the General Convention in a few weeks, there is a South African term which will be the theme of the convention. It speaks to each and every one of us as exemplified by our month of June. That word is “ubuntu” (oo-boon-too.) It can be translated as “I in you and you in me.”
That is a core theological statement that reflects our Christian theology of personhood with Christ. We grow and effectively reflect the love of Christ when we seek to be in full and healthy relationships with one another. No single person has all the answers or executes all the ministry. We grow when we are humble and listen and learn from one another. We become one in Christ when we live an ubuntu life.
Fr. Ken †
