St. Michael'sSt. Michael & All Angels
  Episcopal Church  

e-Noticias

              Weekly Newsletter, July 15, 2014
In This Issue
July 13 Sermon
Where God Is Working
Financial Update
Sound Panels
Youth and Children
Adult Forums
Casa San Miguel
Caring for the Caregivers
Bereavement Support Group
Retirement Party
Gallery St. Michael
Communications Specialist
Dinner 4 Eight
Stock Market
Camp Stoney Family Camp
Serenity Retreat

Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
July 13, 2014
Sermon
The Rev. Kristin Schultz
 
The other day I came across this short post by author and blogger Seth Godin,

 

Fast, easy, guaranteed.

Pick none.

That's the work worth doing.

 

I laughed at myself a bit, because at the time I was procrastinating -

checking my email again to put off the work of writing a sermon.

  
 
 Click here to continue reading this sermon!


* Readings for this coming
Sunday, July 20 are:
Isaiah 44:6-8
Psalm 86:11-17
Romans 8:12-25
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Weekly Calendar
 
Tuesday, July 15
* 8 am Morning Prayer
* 9 am Food Pantry Distribution

Wednesday, July 16
* 7 am Morning Yoga
* 8:10 am Morning Prayer
* 6 pm Divorce Care (off-site)
* 5:30 pm Evening Yoga 
* 7 pm "11:15 Choir" Rehearsal

Thursday, July 17
* 8 am Morning Prayer
* 9:30 am Morning Eucharist
* 10 am Book Group
* 5:30 pm Search Committee
* 6 pm Newcomers' Ministry Leaders' Potluck
* 7 pm "Loose at 9" Rehearsal

Friday, July 18
* 8 am Morning Prayer

 

Sunday, July 20
* 10:15 am Adult Formation: Farewell to Judith
* 10:15 am Bereavement Support Group
* 12 pm Vestry
* 4 pm Judith Retirement Party (off-site)
* 5 pm Live at Five Holy Eucharist
* 6:05 pm Youth Isotopes Game

Monday, July 21
* 8 am Morning Prayer 
*  7 pm Contemplative Prayer 
 
Tuesday, July 22
* 8 am Morning Prayer
* 9 am Food Pantry Distribution
* 11:30 am Pastoral Care Commission (PCC)

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Sermons

 


Sunday's Readings 

  

Dear Parishioners and friends of St. Michael's,
We hope that you will find this to be a useful tool in keeping in touch and involved in the St. Michael's community. To stop receiving this email, choose 'unsubscribe' at the bottom of this page. Thank you.
This Week at St. Michael's
How Have I Seen God Working in the Lives of People at St. Michael's?

 

 

People reaching out and sharing personal stories of family issues, celebrations, and grief.

 

The spirit of the community working together - healing each other, praying for each other, supporting each other

 

Support of people in need by members of the community

 

Going from shy and tentative to active and dynamic

 

 

These are responses of congregation members to questions printed on posters in the parish hall in preparation for our CLAD (Congregational Life and Development) retreat.

 

Financial Update 

 

Dear Parishioners,

 

In January at the annual parish meeting the Vestry presented an annual budget of $700,000 to the congregation. We knew that we would have to track the Budget very carefully and we promised to make a full report about the state of the budget to the congregation in July. That report was given on two occasions -July 6th and again from the pulpit on July 13th. The Live at Five Community will receive the report in person on July 20th during the service's announcements.

This is a written summary of those reports. There is also a link to the budget on the Vestry page http://www.all-angels.com/vestry.html and a copy of the current budget in the parish hall for all who would care to look at it in detail.

 

So far this year, parishioners have only pledged $558,277.27. To date we have received $288,919.05 in pledged and unpledged income for the church. For January, February, and March we were doing quite well and our target of making a balanced budget was looking possible. However in April and May we were down in both attendance and in pledges. So at the end of May we were down $24,000.00.

 

Moreover, we still owe $709,000.00 on the new building and have to pay the monthly interest on our loan. Also, our Capital Fund, the fund from which we draw money for building repairs and maintenance has fallen from $10,000.00 where we like it to be to just over $8,000.00.

So the Vestry, Finance Committee, and the Stewardship Committee decided to send out an appeal letter in June. The letter asked that parishioners pay ahead on their pledges if possible, pledge if they have not pledged already, and make their pledge current if they have fallen behind. Many parishioners complied with our requests and we made up $21,000.00 of the shortfall from May and April in June. We are now just $5,000, below our budgeted needs for 2014.

 

We are so grateful to all of you who have made pledges, paid ahead, or upped your pledges. Thank you!   We would like to encourage all of who have not pledged to pledge. It is never too late and if you can give more, please prayerfully consider raising your annual pledge. We would like to move into our active search process for our new Rector this fall as a strong, healthy, and financially stable church.

 

As many of you already know we at St. Michaels serve our community well. We are a place of deep empathy and compassion in a city where this is often lacking. As a place of light and hope, we offer many resources to our members inside the walls of our beautiful sanctuary. But we also provide our neighbors outside of its walls with vital services and connections to a faith community that lives into Christ's message of love to the world. Here is a very incomplete list of our ministries:

  • A full Lending Library
  • Homeless Ministry through St. Martins
  • Ministries to the Navajo community
  • Casa San Miguel
  • Adopting Neighborhood Schools
  • LGBT outreach
  • Education for children/youth/ and adults
  • AA meetings for addicts and alcoholics
  • 4 worship Sundays a week
  • Altar Guild
  • Aesthetics Guild
  • Newcomers
  • The Day School
  • Flowers/Music/ Art
  • The Pastoral Care Guild            
  • The Discernment Guild
  • Hospitality
  • Lay Eucharistic Ministers
  • And many others! 

The reality is that all of these ministries work within their budgets and are very frugal with the monies that they spend. The majority of our budget goes to pay our lay staff and Clergy. In order for our ministries to function well, we need lay and Clergy staff. We at St. Michaels are very fortunate to have such a dedicated group of people working for St. Michael's. They make all of these ministries possible.

 

As I said from the pulpit last Sunday, when PBS does a pledge drive and they do not make their budget they have to decide what programs to pull from the air. The Vestry does not want to have to decide whose ministry to pull or whose hours to cut. Our prayer is that all of us pitch in-jump in the water and support the community of Saint Michaels fully with your time, talent, and treasure. We need all of you to be a part of us. Jesus said "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." (Matthew 6:21)

 

For me St. Michael's is a beacon of light in sometimes very dark world. I would hate to see that beacon dimmed.

 

If you would like to raise your pledge for 2014, pay ahead, or pay your entire pledge for the year, please contact Kate Bradshaw at kate@all-angels.com or 345.8147 Ext. 116

 

Your Servant In Christ,

Cathy Bailey

Rector's Warden

Sound Panels in the Pavilion

 

Have you heard the new sound in the Pavilion? Good!! Because there is a lot less of it to be heard.

 

For the past 6 months a "sound team" has been looking at ways to absorb the echo and resonance that was present in this actively used meeting space due to the high ceiling and reflective walls. With the help of a sound specialist, Markus Adams, John Clauss, Don Noack, Ken Gilman and I researched an approach which utilized sound absorbing panels hung on the walls to keep the sound from bouncing around the space. After looking at the costs involved in purchasing prebuilt panels, we decided to order the materials and construct the panels ourselves.

 

With the help of Howard Tessler, Albert Gonzales, John Olson, Bill Everett, Randy Sommers, and my son, Luther Shelly, John Clauss and I led work crews in the construction and hanging of about 32 two by four foot rock wool panels just above the windows of the pavilion. All told we spent about 80 hours in the construction process. I am sure that we saved well over $7000 by doing this work ourselves. From my standpoint the process was very enjoyable. Working with these men was a treat. Each one brought a lively sense of humor, skill and great conversation to each workday.

 

The great thing is that this worked. Since the middle of June, when these were installed, I have been to a number of small and large meetings in the pavilion and the sound is significantly clearer and it is much easier to hear. Even the sound of the A/C is much quieter.

Part of the process was to test this approach in the pavilion to see if it might help with the sound in our sanctuary. In addition to an improved sound system, which is already in use, the idea is to apply a similar application to the walls of the sanctuary to help define the sound and spoken word in our very live space. Keep your ears and eyes open for the next phase.

 

It is a gift to be involved in such an active and caring community. Working together provides camaraderie and achieves a common goal. Thanks to each of you who gave Time, Talent and Treasure to this very successful venture.

 

All the best,

Steve Shelly

Youth and Children

 

Youth and Children are invited to join Kristin and Francesca for a cross-generational exploration of parables. Bring your parents and grandparents and friends to hear stories and do some creative response.

 

Isotopes Game! Join the Northwest Deanery for an Albuquerque Isotopes game versus Sacramento on Sunday, July 20. Game starts at 6:05pm. Middle and High School age youth seating on the grass berm; adults and younger children in seats nearby. If you would like a bus ride to the game, meet at St. Francis Episcopal by 4:30pm or St. John's Cathedral by 5:15. Game tickets $8.00 per person (middle and high school youth are free!). Please provide a count to Rev. Kristin by July 7 - TICKETS IN THE STANDS MUST BE RESERVED!!!

 

Children's Chapel, Godly Play, and youth classes are taking a break for the summer. Children are ALWAYS welcome in worship at any service - grab a children's worship packet on your way in for some activities to engage kids during the service.

Adult Forums

Sundays at 10:15 am

  

July 20

We will enjoy fellowship and cake in the parish hall to celebrate Judith's ministry at St. Michael's and see her off into a blessed retirement. 

 

July 27

Parables: A cross-generational exploration with Francesca and Kristin. We will hear a re-telling of the day's gospel lesson parable, and have an opportunity for discussion and response. Kids and grown-up of all ages and stages welcome!

 

August 3

Fellowship and Cake as we commission JP Arossa to preparation for the priesthood and send him with our blessings off to seminary. 

 

August 10

Vestry Update

 

August 17 and 24

Exploration of Centering Prayer with Jim Fitzpatrick

Casa San Miguel

 

APS classes begin on  Wednesday, August 13 and Casa San Miguel is collecting back-to-school supplies for food pantry children.  We need any of the following: #2 pencils, crayons (24-count), white glue, scissors, pink erasers, spiral notebooks, wide-lined paper, glue sticks, water-based markers, and inexpensive backpacks.  We will collect supplies three more times on Sunday July 15, 22, and 29 and distribute them starting on Tuesday, July 15. 

 

Also, we didn't expect to ask this again, but we need plastic disposable shopping bags.  We use them to bag produce so the reusable bags don't get soiled. 

 

Thank you for thinking of us and our many families who look to our church for support.

Caring for Caregivers

 

Are you being stretched beyond recognition by the demands of caring for a loved one? As much as we know we are blessed by heavenly rewards, we also need nourishment and support for our earthly journey. We gather on a monthly basis to share each others' stories, wisdom, and good humor. Most of all, we are ministered to by the Holy Spirit through one another in community. If you are interested in participating, please contact Denise Clauss at 505-697-7294 for more information.

Bereavement Support Group

 

Grieving is a natural expression of our human feelings. It is a long and slow journey toward acceptance and peace. Unfortunately, there is no way to detour around the pain; you must work through it. The bereavement support group is a safe place to explore feelings. We invite anyone who thinks this might help to join us. You may be suffering from a recent loss or something that happened years ago. We know this is a journey that can't be rushed but you don't have to do it alone. Our schedule for the next few months is to meet in the Library at 10:15 on Jun 22, Jul 6, Jul 20, Aug 3 and Aug 17. If you have any questions you may contact Kay Veal, 899-0299/kkveal@comcast.net or Mary Anne Flanagan, 266-9268/mflanaga@unm.edu

Retirement Party

Sunday, July 20 at 4:00 pm

 

Please join us this Sunday, July 20 between 4:00 and 7:00 pm at the Bosque Center for a celebration of Judith's ministry at St Michael's and in the Diocese of the Rio Grande. Appetizers, wine and soft drinks will be served. We are also inviting people to write and share a memory of Judith, which we will collect and read at the party. If you would like to make a donation to a retirement gift for Judith, please send a check payable to St Michael and All Angels and put "Judith's retirement" in the memo line. 

 

The Bosque center is tucked away on the east side of Coors Rd. Turn on Robertson Ln just north of Sagebrush church to get there. The address is 6400 Coors Blvd. NW.

Gallery St. Michael
 

The Celebrate St. Michael's Artisans exhibit is open in the Pavilion and runs through August 24. Gallery St. Michael will continue to accept work for the exhibit. Contact Sue Ellen Rael (898-0754 or srael32625@aol.com) if you want to show your work and to arrange a time to bring it to the Pavilion.

 

A Reminder: The deadline for notifying us that you want to participate in the Christmas in July Mercado, July 27 in the Pavilion is July 21. In addition to artists and craftspersons, we welcome participation of St. Michael's authors with books to sell. Contact Sue Ellen for info or to reserve a table.

Do You Have Communications Skills?

 

We are looking for somebody with web skills as well as electronic and print media expertise to fill our part-time (18 hr/week) Communications Specialist position. If this is you, please submit a resume to the Vestry!

Next Week and Beyond
Dinner 4 Eight

 

Dinner 4 Eight groups will be forming soon for the 2014 -2015 season.  This is a great way for the members of St. Michael's and All Angels Church to meet and get to know their fellow parishioners better.  The dinners are a purely social event with no agenda except for having fun.  The small groups meet at their host's home where the main dish is provided, everyone else provides the rest of the meal from appetizers to dessert.  The next dinner is at someone else's home, then another, then another with groups usually getting together 4 or 5 times through the year.  Contact Kevin or Kal at StM.dinners4eight@gmail.com or call 255-2822.

The Stock Market, St. Michael's, and You!

 

Markets are at all time highs. The Dow Jones, NASDAQ and S&P 500 are breaking records and the forecasts seem optimistic. Great! But what does this have to do with our beloved St Michael's?

Did you know you can increase your giving and possibly save money on taxes by donating appreciated stock to St Michael's? Here's how it works:

  • Suppose you bought shares of Google in 2012 when it was selling at approximately $300 per share. (This works with any appreciated stock owned more than 12 months)
  • If you sold that stock today, you would get about $550 per share. A gain of $250... great!
  • You could sell the Google stock, pay the capital gains tax*, and donate the difference to St Michael's.

Or you could donate the actual stock itself and possibly increase your gift!

  • Your donation would be the full $550 per share and you wouldn't have to pay the taxes.
  • Your actual out-of-pocket expense was $300 per share but your gift (and tax deduction) is $550!
  • It's a win-win!

Do you own appreciated stock, or other assets, that you would consider giving to St Michael's? It's a great idea at any time, but especially now during our transition and decreased giving is making it tough to keep our vital ministries moving forward.

 

For more information on gifts of stock, click here. Or for a confidential discussion of your charitable options, please email or call our legacy giving specialist and St. Michael's parishioner, Richard Lamport, at 505-508-1066. Please see our contact page for more information about Dick.

 

 

* Long-term capital gains tax rate ranges from 0% - 20% depending on your tax bracket. Please consult your tax advisor for more information.

Camp Stoney Family Camp

July 25-28

 

There is still space available for the Family Camp at Camp Stoney, July 25-28. Family camp is a great way to introduce young children to camp and still have the parents around. Camp Stoney is just outside of Santa Fe, about an hour and a half from Albuquerque, and the cost is only $125 per family. Registration forms can be found on the diocesan web site http://www.dioceserg.org/pages/view/camp_stoney. Questions? Ask Kristin 345-8147 x115 or kristins@all-angels.com 

Serenity Retreat

July 25-27

 

Recovery Ministry of the Diocese of the Rio Grande is pleased to sponsor the 2014 Serenity Retreat on July 25-27, 2014 at The Bosque Center. It is for those who are in or interested in 12 Step recovery programs for addiction and substance abuse. Speaker Fr. Bill Wigmore brings us Conscious Contact with  God, an 11th step workshop that traces the spiritual principles of Alcoholics Anonymous back to the Oxford Group roots: a life-changing program centered on a daily meditation practice they called Quiet Time. The Retreat will begin at 6:00p on Friday, July 25, and adjourn with a 12 Step Eucharist Sunday morning, July 27. Registration is $125 and includes lodging, or $85 for commuters. For more information or to register, visit www.dioceserg.org/events/display/58.

St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church
601 Montano Rd. NW, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87107
505.345.8147   office@all-angels.com   www.all-angels.com