Volume 4, Issue 7

July 2012

Nurturing the Fruit of the Spirit

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against these there is no law."

Galatians 5:22-23. It is the middle of Summer, and not a good time to be in Phoenix. We've already endured many weeks of intense heat, with many more to go. It is a time when I am least likely to exhibit the fruit of the Spirit, as my own patience and kindness can wear thin under the monsoon humidity, and relentless sun. I often encounter the same attitude in some of my neighbors, fellow drivers, and people I do business with. Sometimes even when I'm doing OK, my encounters with other surly people distressed by this weather will get to me in the end. The Apostle Paul, who wrote these words, was no stranger to hardships just like this. He had been imprisoned a number of times, exposed to the cold and heat of his cell. He had been hungry. He had been shipwrecked, and in situations of great uncertainty. He had personal enemies. He often saw the failures of the human beings and institutions around him. But he knew the importance of focusing on the Spirit in all situations. He realized that attitude is everything, and wouldn't let such things get him down. When we focus on the love of God, and place our worries, pains, and annoyances in God's hands, we can be victorious over our own negativity and selfishness. When God is ruling our hearts, we are no longer under the law, but under grace. Jesus taught us that loving God and our fellow man is all that is essentially required of us. When we do this, we allow our own hearts to be more receptive to God's ever present care and guidance in our lives. Father Rick +

From the Senior

Warden

It is amazing how life can instantly change

without warning. Sometimes these changes

unexpectedly and totally rearrange any

plans that we may have carefully laid out. I

started thinking about this after I read an

article about Stephan King, the author, and

the serious injuries he received when he

was hit by a car while riding his bicycle.

Stephan King was very eloquent in the way

he expressed his thoughts of others in need

and his not being able to take everything

with him while he was lying injured on the

side of the road. While visiting with a family

friend yesterday at her small business in

Ahwatukee, she suddenly felt ill. After

taking her to and waiting with her at urgent

care and then watching her be taken by

ambulance to the hospital I realized that we

said a lot in a short amount of time and this

thought was thrust upon me once again.

Life takes sudden detours. These detours

sometimes make us realize that our

carefully laid out plans do not really

include everything that is important to us.

Life is one big gift and for me it is important

that I am able to share this gift. Even if it

just through a smile to someone I do not

know.

Peace,

Bob Klassen

There are still spaces available in the preschool for the next

school year. The preschool is currently enrolling children ages 2

1/2 yrs - 5 yrs. If you, or anyone you know, is looking for a loving,

Christian, academic preschool please have them contact me at the

preschool, (480) 345-9417, for more information. Please tell your

friends and family to call me so I can give them a tour of our

wonderful school.

Blessings,

April Culbertson

June, July and August are typically

difficult months for St. James

financially. Attendance is down,

consequently contributions tend to

dip a little and the preschool is out

for the summer reducing revenues.

This year is no different. We had

some challenges but were able to

weather them with the reserves we

had saved for in the Building and

Maintenance fund. The major item was the

replacement of the kitchen air conditioning

unit in June.

We are moving forward with the replacement

of the playground fence. After considering

different possibilities we decided to use

standard aluminum pool fencing and install it

ourselves. We received one donation that

covers the five sections of fence on the

church side of the playground. The material

has been ordered and should arrive

before this newsletter is published.

We are still looking for donations

to cover the cost to replace the

rest of the fence later this year.

If you are planning to donate, please

mark your donation to be placed in

the building and maintenance fund/

fence. We need about $2,500 to

finish the project.

On a positive note, in July, instead of receiving

funds from the Diocese, we will be making a

payment to the Diocese as a portion of our

Mission Share and plan to continue

contributions every month for the rest of the

year if possible. This will be the first Mission

Share to the Diocese since May 2010.

- - Jim Disney

From the Junior Warden . . .From the Junior Warden . . .From the Junior Warden . . .From the Junior Warden . . . Soon the 1st section of fence will be replaced around the preschool. We have elected to use aluminum powder coated material as it will be more durable. The 1st sections have been delivered and will be installed soon. The current plan is to offset the Northern and Eastern sections of the fence so it can be replaced during the school year. This will enable us to get the fence installed before tearing down any of the existing fence. We continue having air conditioning problems. Some of you may have noticed the steady stream of water coming down from the ceiling on east wall of the church. Although it has yet to be determined it is believed the condenser drain is plugged; if this is the case we will have it repaired today. In the interim we need a substantial drop in the humidity so the drain doesn’t have to function.

Recognition CornerRecognition CornerRecognition CornerRecognition Corner:::: July 2012July 2012July 2012July 2012

This month we are recognizing Diana Chambers. Some time ago I asked Diana if she would fill a void by sending cards to the ill and homebound. She graciously accepted this important responsibility. Her dedication and prompt action in this regard is certainly appreciated. Keep up the good work Diana. - John Hermstein

A Word from Father Steve

Childlike Faith

In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus takes a child in his arms and says, "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me" (Mk 9:37). "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them,” he continues in Matthew’s Gospel, “for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs" (Mt 19:14). "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 18:3). Children, apparently, are incredibly powerful reflections of the nature of God. There’s a huge difference, however, between the childish faith of many would-be Christians around us and the child-like faith to which Jesus calls us. Back in February of 2004, Andy Rooney did a piece on 60 Minutes in which he took a popular TV preacher to task. Pat Robertson had just announced that God had told him to urge Christians to vote for then-President George W. Bush. Well, said Andy, "Pat Robertson isn't the only one who has heard from God. I heard from God just the other night. 'Andrew,' God said to me, 'you have the eyes and ears of a lot of people. I wish you'd tell your viewers that Pat Robertson strikes me as a wacko.'" God told me my politics are right. How childish can you get? A child’s nature is to struggle to make sense out of a puzzling world. And in that struggle for meaning, a

kid often goes way below the surface of things and stumbles on truth that doesn't occur to mere adults. A pompous priest (there's an oxymoron for ya'), decked out in black duds and a white collar, was in a children's Sunday school class, and asked the kids, "Why would people look at me and think I'm a Christian?" One small child looked up and answered, "Because they don't know you?" Or how about this?

Attending a wedding for the first time, a little girl whispered to her mother, "Why is the bride dressed in white?" "Because white is the color of happiness, and today is the happiest day of her life." The child thought about this for a moment, then said, "So why is the groom wearing black?" "Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” Jesus calls us not to be childish, wrapped up in our own fragile egos, but rather childlike. Kids are constantly inquisitive, looking below the surface

to find meaning in life and in faith. They're open to things like love and respect and self-giving and honor and dignity. They're blessed with “inquiring and discerning heart[s]... and the gift of joy and wonder in all [God’s] works” (BCP, p. 308). "Truly I tell you," says Jesus, "unless you change and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Father Steve +

Join Us for Lunch!! Thursday, July 26th at 11:30 am

Biscuits, 4623 E Elliott Rd, Phoenix AZ

Guild of St Homobonus

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

6:00 pm

FOUR DEACONS...

Deacons are all about service - to the church and to the world. So what ever do we do with four of us? Well, a couple

of thoughts:

⇒ Several of us are of (ahem) of a certain age! We have committed to serving the Episcopal Church - Diocese of

Arizona - St. James the Apostle in some form. As the years go by, some of the oomph and springiness has

diminished and led us to evaluate where we put our energies. There is always the pull between the church and the

world around us.

⇒ There is also the difference in length of ordained service among us. As time goes by we may become worn out in

one field of service and need to look for another avenue.

⇒ There are always differences in gifts and talents in our God-given individuality.

⇒ Lastly, our wonderful Creator may have something else entirely in mind!

Does this mean any of us are leaving/changing at this time? Not that I know of!! (Have I been surprised before? Oh

yes.) Today, all this means for me is that I love having other deacons to serve our altar in worship, more-or-less

according to a lovely schedule that Dn. Robin has worked out. That way we all have an opportunity. Pastoral care visits

can be met with geographic and time applicability. Service in the diocese, at least for me, is now on two committees

(Nets for Life and the Program Group on Disabilities). I have several persons that are

friends in Christ whom I have followed for years and plan to continue.

As the years go by for Fritz and myself, I am fairly clueless what a "retired deacon"

looks and acts like! For the moment I'm not going to worry about that.

We - each of us - are as different as deacons as we are as human beings.... and that is

good! Use us. Look to us for ideas. Share with us in our joy in service to our Lord!

Blessings,

Deacon Pat

We Need You in Sunday School!!We Need You in Sunday School!!We Need You in Sunday School!!We Need You in Sunday School!!

What, you have doubts about teaching kid's Sunday school? You do not know if you are cool enough or young enough for the kids to relate to you? You are not sure if you are old enough or wise enough to be able to teach kids effectively? It does not matter if you are twenty-two or sixty-seven, kids are not hung up by age. If you have a desire to teach children about God you are well on your way to becoming an effective Sunday school teacher. With a little practice and some planning you can create a Sunday school environment that will make a difference in a lot of children's lives. So, you want to be a Sunday school teacher, good for you! God has abundant blessings in store for both you and the children! See Diana in the office to learn more!