|
|
|
The Ambassador
The Newsletter of
St. Matthias'
Episcopal Church
Minocqua, Wisconsin
Whoever you are, wherever you find yourself on the journey
of faith, we welcome you.
|
| |  |
JUNE
2014
| | |
|
| |
|
Mark Your Calendars
|
| |
June 19 - 6:00 pm
3rd Thursday
Evensong & Potluck
(at Fr. Wallace's residence)
June 28 - 11:00 am
Annual Eucharistic Festival
(at St. Paul's Cathedral,
Fond du Lac)
|
| |
|
Serving?
|
| |
Please remember to check the server list on the bulletin board at church (or click here to see the latest monthly schedule online).
Also, if you are going to switch dates with someone, please inform either Bill Kane or Michael Tautges at the church office. Thank you!
|
| |
|
Trig's Receipts
23 B
|
|
 Total amount raised January-March: $181.22 Thank you for continuing to support our church by saving your Trig's receipts!
|
| |
|
Ambassador Archives
|
| |
Want to read a recent issue of the Ambassador? Just click on the links below. (older archives can be found on our website)
|
| |
|
The Clarion
|
| |
Curious to see what else is going on in the Diocese of Fond du Lac? Click the logo below to view the most recent Diocesan newsletter.
|
|
|
|
From the Rector
Summer has finally arrived in the Northwoods, heralded by great swarms of mosquitoes. On their heels however, have come the dragonflies, and we may actually find ourselves able to enjoy the outdoors of this wonderful part of the world.
This month's 3rd Thursday Evensong & Potluck supper will take place at my house: 8780 West Minch Drive (6.5 miles west of Hwy 51 on Hwy 70, turn right on West Minch, to first house on the right). I hope you can join us this Thursday evening, June 19 at 6:00 pm.
Bob and Marcia Holt have been asked by Bishop Matt to be the music leaders for this year's annual Eucharistic Festival, Saturday, June 28 at the Cathedral in Fond du Lac. A number of our congregation and choir members will be going to this event, to be part of the service and choir. This festival was begun by Bishop Brady in 1960 to celebrate the Eucharist as a diocesan family. The Mass is followed by an outdoor procession with the service of Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament, and a picnic on the Cathedral grounds. It is a wonderful opportunity to get to know other Episcopalians from around the diocese.
Rehearsals are now underway for the annual Northwoods Hymn Festival which will take place July 12 and 13 at Ascension Lutheran Church in Minocqua. Singers from St. Matthias' as well as many other churches, make up this year's Festival Choir directed by Ben Westphal. The concert "Sommar Psalm" will include numerous works from Scandinavian composers and traditions.
Don't forget that the Summer weekend schedule is now in effect:
Saturday
5:30 pm: Holy Eucharist at the Community Church in Manitowish Waters
Sunday
8:00 am: Holy Eucharist at St. Matthias'
10:00 am: Sung Holy Eucharist at St. Matthias'
Recently, I have enjoyed watching the irises bloom in the Memorial Garden as well as other gardens around the area, a bit later than usual, but beautiful none the less. Irises have always been my favorite flower. Their period of blooming is all too short, but always a sure sign that Spring is definitely giving way to Summer. With that in mind, I include this marvelous poem by Mary Oliver:
Praying
It doesn't have to be
the blue iris, it could be
weeds in a vacant lot, or a few
small stones; just
pay attention, then patch
a few words together and don't try
to make them elaborate, this isn't
a contest but the doorway
into thanks, and a silence in which
another voice may speak.
~ Mary Oliver ~
Have a wonderful Summer. Take time to enjoy the flowers (and the weeds), pay attention, pray. Relish the wonder of the world and the people all around you. Remember God is in every moment.
|
|
Your Favorite Fr. Wallace Stories
Please start thinking about your favorite stories about Fr. Wallace that you would like to share. I will be compiling these into some type of booklet that we will present to him at his party on September 7th.
Time permitting, some of your stories may be read aloud at his party.
Start thinking... and reminiscing. I will be setting a deadline of around July 1st; I want to have plenty of time to compile them into a memorable gift.
Your stories will be a gift that he can cherish well into retirement.
Randy Bates
Email: [email protected]
Cell: (715) 490-2479
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
A Message from the New Sr. Warden
I am very much looking forward to serving as Senior Warden of this wonderful church and would like to thank the congregation for giving me this privilege; I am also very grateful to Father, Randy, Barb, Gordon and Michael for their assistance in helping me move into this new role. Am finding there is a great deal to learn and I am so fortunate to work with people who are both willing and able to help.
Despite the heat and lack of wind, everyone had a wonderful time being together, trying to catch a breeze, and worshipping on the grass as we celebrated Ascension Thursday with our annual afternoon of kite flying. Afterwards, over 40 attended the delicious lasagna dinner sponsored by our EFM group. We are very grateful to Bill Kane for organizing the event/loaning his kites and to Kathy Knobel and the entire EFM group for hosting the dinner. Traditions are an important part of St. Matthias' - thanks to Bill and Kathy's leadership, we have been celebrating Ascension Thursday in this manner for the past 6 years.
To celebrate the first anniversary of our beautiful Susan B. Smith Memorial Organ, we invited John Linker from Lexington, Kentucky to present his second concert at St. Matthias'; he played to a full house. (We even needed to bring in folding chairs to accommodate the crowd!) He is an amazing talent, truly passionate about his music ... and he loved playing our organ! Many thanks to all who brought desserts and helped with the reception after the concert - this provided the perfect time to speak with John and compliment him on his outstanding performance.
This is the time of year when we welcome back our 'snowbirds'; there were lots of times this winter when those of us here wished we were elsewhere! We are delighted to have everyone back with us and hope you all enjoy a beautiful summer.
Chris Clark
|
|
|
|
Jr. Warden's Report: Getting the Lay of the Land
In the last few weeks, there has been a lot of action on the church grounds: volunteer work crews have cleaned up the yard and gardens. Carpenters have built a lychgate, and roofers and chimney repairmen have fixed the roof of the Outreach Center.
After a winter that seemed like it would never end, we were finally were able to tackle some of the projects that needed attention. The Outreach Center's roof and chimney was in rough shape. It now has a roof that matches the rest of our buildings. As for our gardens, they were full of leaves and weeds. Luckily, warm weather finally arrived and the weeds have been temporarily held at bay. Thanks to all of you who came and helped us that day! (click here for some fantastic photos of our dedicated volunteers) If you are interested in helping out with the grounds one or two times this summer, let me know.
Our lychgate has been a beautiful addition to the courtyard and columbarium area. Rock work that will compliment the stone of our church, will be completed on the bases of the pillars once we have collected enough donations to finish the project. Please speak to me, Chris Clark, Bill Kane or Gordon Hermanson if you would like to donate to the project. 
|
|
|
|
|
In Other News...
Sunday, September 7, 4:00pm
- Retirement Party for Fr. Wallace
Please save the date -- Sunday, September 7 -- to commemorate Father's 25 amazing years at St. Matthias'. As difficult as it is to think of him leaving, we have 25 years of memories to celebrate, and no one celebrates quite like the people of St. Matthias'! More information will follow, but do mark your calendar for Reulands, 4:00 - 7:00 on September 7!
|
|
|
|
|
Know Your Vestry: Cheryl Gramins
Cheryl Gramins was elected to the St. Matthias' Vestry May 2013 and her term will be completed the middle of May of 2016. She is a wonderful member of the team.
Cheryl and her husband, Dennis, moved to Eagle River the fall of 2010. St. Matthias' was the third Episcopal church they visited in the Northwoods and although it was the furthest away, they found themselves heading back to Minocqua each Sunday. They appreciated the fact that the members sincerely welcomed them into the community, and they loved the wonderful music, something they had missed at their last church. Cheryl said, "I thought there were angels singing." When the Gramins were invited to the Thanksgiving Evensong, they felt they had never experienced such a lovely service in the 40 plus years they'd been Episcopalians.
Cheryl and Dennis have two children and five grandchildren. Their son's family lives in Brunswick, Maine, and their daughter's family is in Oshkosh. Cheryl was a "stay at home" mom until her children were in high school, at which time she went back to school to pursue a career in early childhood education.
Cheryl taught four-year-old classes in Christian preschools in Green Bay and Twin Lakes, Wisconsin and received training in Holland, Michigan, from Sonja Stewart, co-author of "Young Children and Worship," a Montessori-based worship center for children. She used this program at Messiah Christian Preschool in Twin Lakes, St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in Burlington, and on a mission trip at a reservation in South Dakota prior to moving to Eagle River.
Cheryl enjoys silent sports: cross country skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, biking, and fishing (especially musky) in the summer, and has started kayaking. She has walked the Journey's Half Marathon (13.1 miles) Power Walk in Eagle River the last three springs, improving her time each year placing third, second, and second respectively in her age group. Cheryl enjoys watching the birds and wildlife in our backyard. She's happiest when she's with her grandchildren. Someday, she would like to be matched with a "Little" with Big Brothers/Big Sisters.
She also knits, has started a beginning quilting class, belongs to the Northwood's Needleworkers, and likes to travel. She volunteers at the Thrift Shop, participates in the Prayer Shawl Ministry, and is a member of the Finance Team at St. Matthias'.
In the past, Cheryl served on two Vestries at St. John the Divine and was involved in Safe Church. She taught "Alleluia Amen", a first communion class for children and, along with her husband, lead a "Marriage Journey" class at St. John the Divine.
Cheryl likes being on the Vestry and enjoys the opportunity to work with dedicated people. She hopes that having experienced the coming and going of priests at her past church, that she will be a positive asset for the Vestry when they make the final selection of a new priest for St. Matthias' after Father Wallace's retirement.
|
|
|
|
Touchstones: Triumphant Marriage (Part II)
Written by Diane Diederich
Wow! It's nice to get feedback about a topic that touches folks. Evidently it was helpful to have some tips to perk our imagination and stimulate our relationships. Here are some other tips that I promised.
- Whenever possible, continue to keep planning the future of our marriage. Some tell us we help create the future we imagine or plan. By planning together we establish priorities and can count on the cooperation of the "other" in meeting goals. Try to imagine where you want to be in 10 years from now. Even us "oldsters" could have a plan especially in our 60's and beyond. Yes, that's a long time, but it roots both of us in the future and helps us to "be equally yoked", pulling together. It might have saved us considerable stress and pressure if we had been better about planning for the future.
- If we go through suffering together, it can create wonderful possibilities for our relationships - sounds paradoxical, but often we rise to the occasion and at our best in times of stress/suffering. "The pain now is part of the joy then," said C.S. Lewis after the death of his wife. The pain of loss often gives us a richer appreciation of each day being together. We don't take each other for granted and are aware of our grander plan, as difficult it may be.
- Renew your commitment - especially when the going gets hard. Bob and I will be renewing our vows at the end of July for our celebrating 50 years together. WHEW!! And the opportunity to renew our commitment can occur not only at milestones. It might be words like this: "I'm here with you," or "I wouldn't want to go through this with anyone else."
- Most of us rely on relatives and/or friends to offer a helpful hand when we hit a bump in the road. Every morning, we discuss challenges for the coming day, and we think of each other throughout the day! And we never forget the silent-partner in our holy marriage - the Spirit of God.
TTFN, Diane
|
|
|
|
|
