It’s the canned meats, soups, a wide variety of vegetables, fruits, sauces, etc. that are very much needed in the community.  Along with the dried beans, cereals, macaroni & cheese, etc., we delivered 300 lbs. of food in support of the Helping Hands food program.

To all of you . . . Thank You!!
Lee Clark & Jerry Smith

What we choose, changes us.
What we love, transforms us.

As I was planning my recent vacation, I selected several books to read that would help me review and revise my personal mission plan that I created at the CREDO conference last fall.  One of the books I took with me was Conquering Fear:  Living Boldly in an Uncertain World by Harold Kushner.  I was deeply moved by this book and have used parts of it in recent sermons.  I will also be using it as a foundation for my fall teaching series on Sunday mornings.  For me, especially because of the calculated divisiveness of the current political season and other national and world events, this book not only brought rays of sunshine into the darkness of fear, but it also offered a direction away from the uncertainty we are all experiencing.  This book was obviously written with a great deal of love for all human beings who have been created in the image of God.  It was a transformative experience for me.

Kushner quoted three recommendations for loving boldly in an uncertain world as written by his mentor, Milton Steinberg.  I found each one a valuable challenge for we who are St. Theodore’s.

First, we are called to face life without illusions.  Only a small percentage of Americans have current wills, burial plans, or any type of long term financial plans.  We make all kinds of resolutions to make changes in our lives but cannot seem to follow through and don’t do what we know we want and need to do!  It is more than procrastination.  It’s a life long habit that is a part of our way of life.  Rather than face reality, we avoid it and are shocked when reality comes calling.  ‘How can I possibly be overdrawn?!’ we wonder.

Second, live into your sense of “duty.”  We must all do certain things as our duty to our families, friends, community, and our church.  We must renew our driver’s license, pay our bills, and come to church and actively participate as members of the Body of Christ!

Third, we must embrace in our hearts the Gospel truth that we don’t have to do everything by ourselves.  We have a divine helpmate who will walk with us and open our eyes to the resources God has given to us as a gift: Hope and Courage.  With God’s help we can live boldly in an uncertain world, conquering our fears.

Fr. Ken †

There are a variety of gifts but the same Spirit . . .and to each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
1st Corinthians 12:4ff

President John F. Kennedy challenged the nation to “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country.” He was able to rekindle the flame of volunteerism all across the country. It is this spirit of volunteerism that is so strong here in Northwest Arkansas, and yet we still hear and read about the need for more volunteers such as at the Literacy Council, in our Public Schools, with our Boy and Girl Scouts, at the Children’s Shelter, the hospitals, Girls on the Run, and the critical need for foster parents, plus other programs. I believe that a part of our civic duty is to be volunteers to serve our community and in so doing we will be serving our beloved country.

The health of any church can be measured in the way we are “volunteering” to serve our church family and our community, only we don’t call it being a volunteer. Our language begins with a process of prayer and discernment, for we speak of being called by Jesus Christ to use our God given gifts. Jesus chose us to be here in community with one another and to serve here as God’s People. There are many needs for “hands” to serve in any church, but our concern must not be in filling a vacancy or a liturgical schedule, but to enable people to truly use their gifts in creative and Godly ways.

On August 15th, we will experience a Rally Day which is a time to sign up and then be committed for the coming year to a ministry or ministries of this congregation. Between now and then look over the list of ministry opportunities in this Messenger and then pray about how and where you can use your gifts. Also be aware that our church leaders are also praying, and you may receive a call from one of them encouraging you to consider a particular ministry. Please pray about their discernment to call you before you make a decision. We also need to expand our ministries in many areas, and if you sense a need for something new to be started please let me know! I have a long list of ideas and things I would like to see happening here at St. Theodore’s, but it is only my list and really needs to be OUR list. That doesn’t stop me from hinting, but forced programs always fail because they are more often than not forgetting to discern that God needs to be a part of OUR congregation today.

We are a congregation with many gifts and many talents that God has called to be together in this place at this time. Let us pray for discernment and then let each and every one of us make a commitment to be servants of God at St. Theodore’s.

Fr. Ken †

P.S. If you are out of town on the 15th of August, not to worry. We will continue to sign up people for several Sundays or just drop us an e-mail.

“Rejoice always, pray constantly, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” – 1st Thessalonians 5:16-18 RSV

St. Paul’s advice in his first letter to the Thessalonians sounds to me like very good advice for all Christians. I have heard many people say to me that they are “feeling spiritually off track” or they say, “I feel spiritually dry.” My first question to them is “Tell me about your prayer life.“ My spiritual prescription for myself and for you when we fall into those times of feeling off track and spiritually dry, which often occur after a crisis has passed and we experience a let down, is to turn to St. Paul’s advice and be intentional in looking for opportunities to rejoice and to give thanks to God, and to be in a constant state of prayer. Over the years I have greatly benefited from this discipline.

I always use as a beginning to my morning prayers The Lord’s Prayer because it reminds me in so many ways that prayer and living the Christian life is about relationships, and the opportunities we have to be united as one. Even if the people in our prayers are many miles away, God brings them close to our hearts when we pray for them. The phrase “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us,” reminds me to love others in the exact same way God has chosen to love me – UNCONDITIONALLY. I am blessed by God with an abundance of mercy and grace. It is that same posture I must take with those whose relationship with me through my own fault or theirs or OURS has been broken in some way. It is the love of Christ for both of us that can heal our wounds and reconcile us to one another and to God. I truly believe that with Christ and the gift of prayer we could always live healthy and therefore whole lives.

I also turn to the “Prayers of the People” in The Book of Common Prayer in order to help me focus in a disciplined way on those other people in our lives that need our prayers. I take home with me the prayer list from our Sunday worship and insert those names into my own personal list. As I live into the gift of my day with God and with all of God’s creation, as I read the newspaper or watch a news broadcast or just see people wherever I go, I discover myself in prayer for those things that just naturally bubble up and I sense a need to seek God’s help.

Each of us has developed ways to pray, but when we do feel a bit off track or sense we are on our way to becoming spiritually dry, remember St. Paul’s words and then live into the vision he casts.

Fr. Ken †

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GO GREEN!

Last month I talked about running out of water.  Did you know that it takes 1,857 gallons of water to produce 1 lb. of beef, or 2,900 gallons to make a pair of jeans?  Fruits and vegetables take less than 100 gallons, even less if we grow them ourselves.  One cup of tea takes only 9 gallons to produce.  No wonder I love tea!!  We can and will one day run out of food.  We need to start learning to be more self sufficient starting in small ways.

The Biblical wisdom in both the Old and New Testaments teaches us the love of land, reaping what we sow, the joy of physical labor  Planting a small garden, and time spent outdoors using your body, soul and spirit can enrich your prayer life.  As one of my favorite Irish sayings goes “The kiss of the sun for pardon, the song of the birds for mirth, one is nearer God’s heart in a garden than anywhere else on earth”.

Gwen Rakes

Think about it, nothing to drink, no way to wash your clothes.  It can and probably will happen one day if we continue to pollute all the land with garbage and waste.  Mother Earth has always done a remarkable job of filtering our water, but how many more years can it be sustained.

We are told by God to take care of this earth he has given us, how many people are really observing this order?  While we are on the subject of water, how many people buy bottled water?  We are being told that the plastic bottles give off chemicals that are harmful to us.  I recently bought a ZERO water filter from Target.  It even has a meter to tell you how pure your water is.  We tested our own well water and also some purchased Culligan water, then ran it through the filter and re-tested it.  I was pleased with the results.  You should try it and then carry your own filtered water.  No more throwing away plastic bottles!!!  ~Gwen Rakes

The Green Team of St Theodore’s is pleased to promote the use of RAIN BARRELS.  Sharing information on why we should use rain barrels is very important to us.  The intention is to “Harvest the God-given rain”.  Collecting rain water is fast becoming as typical as recycling our cans, bottles and newspapers.  Everyone can do it!  This water is free that we collect from our roof.  Instructions for making a rain barrel  are convenient and easy to find.

Beginning in May, you can buy a rain barrel at the Rogers Farmers Market for $60, complete with spigot, overflow, and mesh opening.  It should fit in the trunk of your car.

You will need two cinder blocks and one elbow to place it on and attach to your existing rain gutter.  After removing the bottom piece of your rain gutter, simply attach the elbow to the gutter and direct it toward the opening of the barrel. You will place a hose to the spigot on the bottom and wait for the rain.

A 50 gallon drum will fill up with only a 1/4 inch of rain. Make sure to have your spigot turned to the off position until you are ready to wash your car or water your grass, shrubs and plants.

Another water hose can be attached to the overflow opening  that has been attached near the top, to add to your accumulations of rain water.  You will reap the benefits of your water harvest many times over.  We are so blessed to receive the rainfall we do.

LET’S NOT WASTE IT.  RAIN WATER IS FREE.

For more elaborate rain barrels, you may access numerous web-sites via the internet.

Susan Coley

About 15 years ago, we made new raised flower beds; filled them with good top soil; and each year I add compost, organic fertilizer and mulch. I have had years of beautiful flowers, with hardly any weeding necessary.

So this year we are going to make raised vegetable beds, hopefully with the same results. I am hoping to be able to grow a lot more; a better selection of vegetables in a smaller space; and with less watering.

If you have bought any tomatoes at the grocery store in the past months, you know how sorry they have been with little taste, more like pink cardboard!!

So I challenge everyone to grow one tomato plant, at least, this year, it can be in a pot, or a sunny spot in the garden, and if this is not possible try one of the new topsy turvy ones, grown upside down and hung on a porch, patio or wherever.

Let me know later in the summer of your successes.

Gwen Rakes

How do we relate these circumstances to our “green initiative”?  Well, when we wake up alive in the morning, thank God for it. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn or in some instances re-learn. We are never too old to change to green living. With that in mind, the February Messenger article that was going to be on “Green Diet” has been replaced with “Love Notes to a Valentine”.

Remember the little Valentine candy hearts we use to love to read?  Let’s tweak that idea. Everyone has at least one special person to send a heart to - spouse, children, friend, neighbor, etc. No one should be left out on Valentine’s Day. How you send your wishes is up to you and your surprise method of sharing. Have fun and make a statement using the following examples.

WISHING YOU A HAPPY GREEN  VALENTINE’S DAY WITH . . .

1. More Organic and Less Toxic
2. More Fruit and Vegetables – Less Sugar, Wheat,  and Corn
3. More Recycling, Less Waste
4. More Exercise, Less TV
5. More Sleep, Less Worry
6. More Play, Less Serious
7. More Smiles, Less Anger
8. More Outdoors, Less Indoors
9. More Calm, Less Chaos
10. More LOVE, LESS……  you fill in the blank!

Susan Coley for St. Theodore’s Green Team