July 7, 2022

Dear Friends in Christ:

I don't need to tell you what happened in Highland Park, Illinois during their Independence Day parade. There's no point in giving you the tragic anecdotes about specific widows and orphans whose lives will never be the same. There's no benefit in telling you again what I said in my sermon after the elementary school deaths in Uvalde,Texas. No matter what I say as a fellow citizen of this country, the people are already dug in on their positions and platitudes about gun deaths, as we are after every mass shooting. Nothing is going to change, no matter what the rector of St. Timothy's says. So there's no point in saying anything to try to make anything change.

That said, I still must say things. Because we really can't go on like this. When everyone's response to this kind of tragedy is to once more dust off the talking points and scream them at each other . . . well, we will need to press a reset button some day.  By sheer numbers, at some point, enough of us will know one of the victims and something will change. We're not there yet, clearly. 

But if people being gunned down during a parade on the 4th of July doesn't do it . . . I tremble to imagine what it will finally take. We'll get there one day, but there's a lot more suffering we'll have to endure before that day arrives.

In the meantime, please pray for these latest victims, and their families, and all those who just wanted to celebrate something fun without . . . all this. We will figure out a way to live without so much killing. And God willing, you and I will be here to see that day.

On to the updates . . .

WORSHIP

St. Timothy's current policy is that face coverings are suggested, though not required inside our building. You can always find the most-current updates on all our services by checking the calendar page of our website.

Sunday 7/10, Pentecost 5

8:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite I. In person only. 

10:00 am Rite II Holy Eucharist. In person and streamed at our website, on youtube and on our Facebook page. This week's bulletin is HERE. 

Wednesday 7/13

12:10pm Our mid-week service of Holy Eucharist. In person only.

Sunday 7/17, Pentecost 6

8:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite I. In person only. Seminarian Melissa Allison is preaching.

10:00 am Rite II Holy Eucharist. In person and streamed at our website, on youtube and on our Facebook page. This week's bulletin is HERE. Seminarian Melissa Allison is preaching.

Wednesday 7/20

12:10pm Our mid-week service of Holy Eucharist. In person only.

PRAYERS REQUESTED

When you ask for someone to be added to the prayers, they will stay on our list for four weeks unless we hear from you. We will maintain a continuing prayer list for those with ongoing needs. The email list below merges both lists.

Please be sure to let us know if someone should be taken off this list so we can focus on those in need.

Please pray for the people of Ukraine, that they would be kept safe from violence and harm.

Please pray for the people of Highland Park, IL, and all victims of gun violence.

And please also keep these friends and parishioners in your prayers:

✥Bob Meyer ✥Chris Lane ✥Priya Kurian ✥Mike Ziegelhofer ✥Chuck Tilley

✥Michael Flamm  ✥Liz Frank ✥Bobbie Muhlbach ✥John Muhlbach ✥Mike Requa

✥Toni Contini ✥Brian Dorosch ✥Beth Conley ✥Bob Daane ✥Patty Ann

✥Noble Carpenter  ✥Roger Walters  ✥Gail Moss  ✥Stephen Huba  ✥Roy Schoenfeld

✥Fred Gibbs  ✥Betsy Lloyd  ✥Greg Rush  ✥Eamonn Hunter ✥Tony Donahue 

✥Carla McCartney  ✥Linda Boyer  ✥Tina Gottshall  ✥Ruth Lash  ✥Roberta Ott

✥Steve Deuble ✥Gayle McHenry  ✥Hanna Davydov  ✥Dave Coltrin  ✥Zachary Miller

✥Peter Baum  ✥Rhea Hollar  ✥Savanna Dissette

BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES

It appears that half the parish was born in July!  Celebrating birthdays over the next two weeks are Norma Jeen Hupp (7/11), Ruth Lash (7/11), Lawrence Hann (7/12), Matt Susor (7/13), Dave Coltrin (7/16), Nancy Kerr (7/16), Bryan Ehmer (7/16), John Meyer (7/18), Barb Muschkat (7/20), Larry Muschkat (7/22), Cameron Higgins (7/22), and Laurie Bomze (7/23).

No anniversaries of which I'm aware for the rest of the month.

Be sure to send good wishes and thoughts to all who celebrate in the coming weeks!

NANCY BROOKS MEMORIAL SERVICE

Candy's beloved sister Nancy will be remembered at a service on Saturday, July 16th, 11am at Faith Community Fellowship.  You can find more details at this LINK.  Please keep Candy and the family in your prayers.

ORGANIST POSITION AT ST. TIM'S

With the passing of our dear Organist and parishioner David Sparkes, we are once again seeking someone to take on the role on permanent Organist here at St. Timothy's.  Jay Spencer has generously offered to fill in as much as he can, and we're hoping Mark Thewes will do so as well.  But having someone on staff as a salaried employee brings a much-needed stability to our very important musical ministry.  

So, if you know someone who might be looking for this kind of position, please alert them of the opening.  You can find a description of the position HERE or at our website.

DISHES TO  STOVE FUNDRAISER

As part of last week’s pantry cleanup, we are planning to donate the flower pattern dishes to help local folks moving into transitional housing.  Also, at some point, we’d like to replace the ovens and burners in the kitchen. So, before we donate those many boxes of dishes, we’re going to offer some for sale to those who might be interested. We have loads of plates, and can bring up bowls from the basement as well. We’re asking for a donation of $1 per plate, and encourage you to buy as many as you like--for they are legion--and we'll still have plenty to give away.

PERIODIC PUZZLE

This week's puzzle takes us back to the cycles of the Church year. A couple weeks after Easter each year, parishioners have planted unclaimed lilies around the grounds. And, like clockwork, those lilies bloom a few weeks after Pentecost. They go from beautifying our Altar, proclaiming the Resurrection, and then out into the world. Perfect.

You will find the puzzle by clicking HERE. 

As always, you can choose your background color, number of puzzle pieces, and even set it to display just the edge pieces. Plus, you get a very affirming crowd reaction once you have completed it!

Also, if you want to take a trip down puzzle memory lane, you can go back and find the whole collection on our website at this LINK.

TWO WAYS TO HELP

As we move through the summer, there are two concrete ways you can help serve our neighbors.

1.  Our food pantry at church is getting a little bare, while the need for help is increasing, due to government cutbacks in aid and services.  As always, the items that are most helpful are protein foods (peanut butter, canned meats and fish) and grains (pasta, cereals, rice).  More folks will be needing help over time, and if you're moved to contribute, anything extra you can put in your cart and bring to church is greatly appreciated
2. In our partnership with Massillon Schools' Care Team project, we are collecting toiletries and hygiene products to distribute to students in our area. If you would like to help with this, please bring any items to church and leave them on the table in the parish hall. We'll arrange to get them to the schools, who will then get them to the students.

I began this note sounding a bit hopeless, I know.  And that's not what you expect from your priest.  Priests are supposed to offer hope, or at least remind you of hope.  Because hope is the essential thing that you and I cling to.  The crazy belief that there is always more, there is always forgiveness, there is always redemption.

That sense that the story isn't over yet is the singular mark of the Christian faith.  Renewal.  A new day.  Second chances.  Resurrection.  No matter the circumstances we face in this life, we can trust that God is with us, we can hope that things will change, and we can join together to make things change.

That is my solemn belief, and I am sticking to it..

Faithfully,

Fr. George