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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.
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SEPTEMBER
2014
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Mark Your Calendars
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October 4 - 5:00 pm
St. Francis Day Blessing of the Animals October 12 - 10:00 am
Dedication Festival October 16 - 6:00 pm
Third Thursday
Evensong & Potluck
October 24 & 25
Diocesan Convention
October 26 - 2:00 pm
Fall Recital
November 2 - 10:00 am
All Saints' Sunday
November 9 - 10:00 am
Native American Eucharist
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Serving?
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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!
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Trig's Receipts
23 B
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 Total amount raised April-June: $233.91 Thank you for continuing to support our church by saving your Trig's receipts!
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Ambassador Archives
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Want to read a recent issue of the Ambassador? Just click on the links below. (older archives can be found on our website)
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The Clarion
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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.
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From the Rector
Dear Friends,
Thank you.
Wow! What a wonderful party you all threw for me on September 7. I was completely overwhelmed to see so many coming to celebrate my 25 years at this amazing parish and wish me well as I move into retirement at the end of the year. Your kind wishes, the touching and humorous stories, and the beautiful tribute by the choir, all made me feel so very honored and humbled and, above all, grateful for all of you and the years I have had here. I constantly ponder, how I could be so fortunate to be called by God to serve such loving, faithful, and fun people.
As the days grow shorter, I feel both a mix of excitement about the future and of sadness about leaving what has been my home much longer than anywhere else. As I said at the party, I feel in many ways like St. Matthias' church and I have grown up together. I was 31 and just 5 years out of seminary when you called me to be your priest, and St. Matthias' was just a 16 year old mission. We've come a long way together. Thank you all.
Autumn is an amazing time in the Northwoods. As the seasons change, there is always a bit of sadness, letting go of Summer: the warm days, the long hours of evening light, Summer visitors and outings. But, with the change comes beauty: the vibrant reds and yellows of maples and aspens that give way to the bronzes and maroons of the oaks, and the deep gold of the tamaracks, clear crisp skies, migrating birds flying overhead. I hope you find time to enjoy this beautiful season. I include this lovely poem by Wendell Barry:
The Wild Geese
Horseback on Sunday morning,
harvest over, we taste persimmon
and wild grape, sharp sweet
of summer's end. In time's maze
over fall fields, we name names
that went west from here, names
that rest on graves. We open
a persimmon seed to find the tree
that stands in promise,
pale, in the seed's marrow.
Geese appear high over us,
pass, and the sky closes. Abandon,
as in love or sleep, holds
them to their way, clear,
in the ancient faith: what we need
is here. And we pray, not
for new earth or heaven, but to be
quiet in heart, and in eye
clear. What we need is here.
- Wendell Barry
God bless you all.
Fr. Edgar Wallace
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Fr. Wallace's Telephone
As of this past week Fr. Wallace no longer has the home telephone number listed in the directory. To get in touch with him, you can use his cellphone number:
(715) 892-8286
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Your Favorite Fr. Wallace Stories
I am still collecting your favorite stories about Edgar. This can be a favorite memory, an anecdote or anything you would like to share.
I was hoping to have these ready for his anniversary open house celebration in September but have moved the deadline to late this year. Your stories will be compiled and presented to him as a nice retirement gift.
Please email them to me at: [email protected] or mail them to me at: 7539 Timber Lake Road, Rhinelander 54501. If you have any questions, please call me or see me at church.
Thank you,
Randy Bates
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A Reflection from the Sr. Warden
In the last couple of weeks, three different friends, on three different occasions, have spoken to me about how very grateful they are for their many blessings; what surprised me wasn't so much that three people were grateful ... but that all three of these individuals are going through huge crises in their lives. Then I began thinking about myself, wondering if it would take some major set-back in my life to really be aware of and grateful for all that God has given me?
Awhile back, I decided to write down every day, for an entire year, three things I was grateful for; at the time I remember thinking ... if I actually complete this, that's over 1000 things - I'll never come up with that many! But I did ... and it was easy. And, I also began to feel that as we deepen our own sense of thankfulness, we are able to share it with others - it just happens naturally. We really can decide to see the glass as half-full, instead of half-empty - and that our 'attitude of gratitude' will deeply effect not only our lives, but the lives of others.
Chris Clark
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Upcoming Events
Saturday, October 4
- St. Francis Day Blessing of the Animals
Once again this year, on St. Francis Day (Saturday, October 4), we will hold the Blessing of the Animals at St. Matthias' at 5pm. All are welcome. Weather permitting, the blessing will be held outside, but if it is rainy we will move it inside as we did last year. Also, again this year, the St. Francis Project is hosting a pet food drive in conjunction with the blessing. Pet food collected will be given to the Lakeland Pantry for distribution to those in need.
Sunday, October 12
Be sure to join us on Sunday, October 12 as we celebrate the 41st anniversary of St. Matthias' Episcopal Church! St. Matthias' was consecrated by Bishop William Brady on October 14, 1973. We will give thanks for our history and look forward to the future as we celebrate this wonderful parish community and the mission we share.
Friday & Saturday, October 24 & 25
The 140th Convention of the Diocese of Fond du Lac will be held on Friday & Saturday, October 24 & 25 in Fond du Lac. Delegates from St. Matthias' are: Isaiah Brokenleg, Gordon Hermanson, Kay Lee, and Michael Tautges.
Sunday, October 26
Le Ganschow and Edgar Wallace will give a piano and voice recital at St. Matthias' on Sunday, October 26 at 2pm. Refreshments will follow in the Parish Hall.
Sunday, November 2 On All Saints' Sunday, November 2, we will celebrate the Communion of Saints and remember the beloved saints of our own lives. Please have the names of departed that you with to have remember that day to the church office by October 27. Sunday, November 9
- Native American Eucharist
Once again this year, we will observe Native American Heritage Month on Sunday, November 9 at the 10am Eucharist. As in the past, the liturgy will be inculturated with Native American music, drum, and prayers. Ministerial student Isaiah Brokenleg will preach. Traditional fry bread and soup will be served following the service.
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Know Your Vestry: Isaiah Brokenleg
Isaiah Brokenleg was elected to the St. Matthias' Vestry in June 2012. His term will be up in May 2015. While his name is Isaiah Brokenleg in his hometown, Isaiah is known as Zeke and in some other communities as Shaneequa. Isaiah's Lakota name is the same as his grandfather's, "Tokala Ehake" which means "Last Warrior." In traditional Lakota culture that was the person who stayed behind in a battle so that others can get away to safety. Isaiah is as his name implies, watching out for others and helping them find safety, social justice, or a way to a better life.
Isaiah came to St. Matthias' when he moved here from Minnesota after completing his Master's degree in Public Health. St. Matthias' was quite a change from his mostly Indian church and he didn't come regularly at first but, over time, St. Matthias' drew Isaiah in. Isaiah loves that members are active in their community and that they lead by example. Rather than just complaining or talking about how things need to change, members actually go out and create those changes.
Isaiah is an epidemiologist and program director for the Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Council. He serves the Tribes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan with their health and health data. Although Isaiah travels a lot for work, he finds time to work on some of this other passions such as: beadwork, photography, sewing, and other forms of creative expression.
Isaiah is an enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe. He is also a member of the American Public Health Association and he serves on the National Tribal Environmental Health Think Tank for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In addition, Isaiah serves on the Wisconsin Statewide HIV/Hepatitis C planning group. Isaiah has served the International Episcopal Church in several capacities including a two-triennium term on the Anti-Racism Committee and a two-triennium term on the Standing Commission on Health. Recently, at a gathering called "new communities," Isaiah preached at the opening Eucharist where the presiding bishop was the celebrant. This was an awesome experience for him.
Isaiah is currently discerning a call to ordained ministry and recently began the Indigenous Ministry MDiv program through the Vancouver School of Theology. Recently, Isaiah was hired as a Chaplain Associate at Howard Young Medical Center and will work to fill in chaplain shifts as needed there.
Isaiah is passionate about social justice, equity, and "being the change we wish to see in the world." He is happy to serve on the St. Matthias' Vestry and feels he brings a unique perspective and voice to the table.
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Music Ministry Team Update
Submitted by Le Ganschow
Items of business during the monthly Music Ministry Team meeting included the following:
- Our annual Advent Lessons & Carols service date has been set for Sunday, December 14.
- The choir will celebrate Edgar's retirement with a "potluck" at Le's house on Sunday, November 9.
- We planned a proposed music budget for 2015, to be approved by the Vestry. Monies are used to purchase anthems and anthem books, robes, and miscellaneous choir supplies.
- The Team is hoping to continue the community concert series the church initiated this past year with one organ concert and a "sing-along" Messiah. The Team will ask the Vestry for partial expenditures, the remaining costs to be obtained from fund-raising initiatives.
- We made a number of decisions involving choir practice routines. Among other things we discussed the noise levels outside the sanctuary before services. To reduce congestion and noise levels, the choir will form in or near the Parish Hall. We also discussed various ways to enhance the music of the church.
- Le reported that a subcommittee will continue to support the Aurora Borealis concert series that Edgar initiated a number of years ago. Janet Talliaferro and Le Ganschow will serve on this committee and work with the Campanile Center to plan next year's program.
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Touchstones: How Do You "Do" a "Don't" (cont'd.)
Written by Diane Diederich
I hope that you have read the first 5 Commandments; if not, they were in last months' Ambassador. We've had some discussion about the title but came to the agreement that the title fits. How many times do we say "Don't" ....when we really could tell little/grownup folks exactly what we DO want precisely! So, I'll give you some more suggestions...
Commandment 6
Look at God's gift of human sexuality in light of the dignity and respect due all of creation. The law of love demands that human sexuality encompass the emotional, biological, psychological and social dimensions of being fully human. Human sexuality is a mirror of the God in whose image we are made.
Commandment 7
Respect the name, reputation and property of all people. Give back to anyone what has been taken from them. Make restitution for what has been damaged. Consider the physical, emotional and psychological ramifications of taking what is not yours to take. Issues stemming from prejudice and abuse are especially important.
Commandment 8
Let your "yes" mean yes and your "no" mean no. Make sure you share the truth as you know it. Keep in mind that there are many ways to see events but be true to what you have experienced. Issues of self-awareness and authenticity are important. Confrontation and developing personal boundaries are necessary skills.
Commandment 9
Use the gifts of this earth justly. Know when enough is enough. "To those whom much is given, much will be expected" is a way of life. The issues that must be addressed are jealousy, envy, and greed. Develop an attitude of gratitude for the abundance of God's gifts that you have been given.
Commandment 10
God gave us free will so that we might develop responsibility by making choices that have consequences. We do a terrible disservice to humanity if we diminish the consequences for choice. The moral morass in which this country finds itself may be the direct result of 50+ years of growing moral relativism and decisions made by the law of "expediency". Changing this direction is what "doing the right thing" is all about.
TTFN, Diane
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