June 8, 2023

Dear Friends in Christ:

As we head into the summer months, the flowers around the church grounds are really coming into their own. And I'm noticing how every year they become stronger and more lush, as they establish themselves, and make claim to their own little postage stamp.

I'm particularly fond of the clematis that we planted along the fence by the massive AC units. Each year these plants get bigger and more full, and one day--God willing--they will largely obscure the necessary but unsightly AC condensers.

Most inspiring of all, though, is the third one down. When the HVAC workers curled back the fence last fall to install a new unit, it looked like they had pretty much ripped that one out by the roots. And yet . . .

Here it comes again, undaunted by their carelessness. This third plant has lots of buds, but no flowers yet. So, its delayed blossoms will actually end up prolonging the season of beauty.

And, man, there's a great metaphor in there, I tell you!

On to the updates . . .

WORSHIP

Sunday 6/11, Pentecost 2

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

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

Wednesday 6/14

12:10pm Our mid-week service of Holy Eucharist, includes anointing with oil for healing. In person only.

7pm Contemplative service led by the band, Lost And Found. In person and streamed at our website, on youtube and on our Facebook page.

Sunday, 6/18, Pentecost 3

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 6/21

12:10pm Our mid-week service of Holy Eucharist, includes anointing with oil for healing. In person only.

UPCOMING DATES OF NOTE

June 11 Founders' Day Luncheon, 11:15am

June 14 Contemplative Service, 7pm

June 17 Outgoing Bishops Celebration, Shaker Heights, 2pm-6pm

June 22 Listening Session with Bishop Jolly, 6:30pm-8:30pm

June 24 Great Grooming of the Grounds #2

FOUNDERS' DAY LUNCHEON, June 11th

St. Timothy's was officially founded on June 6th, 1836, and we always host a festive luncheon on the Sunday following. So please plan to join us this Sunday around 11:15am for our annual Founders Day Luncheon. The food is always great, the trivia is a hoot, and the company cannot be beat.

Plenty of food for all, so please come, even if you didn't make a reservation.

IMPACT MASSILLON SUCCESS

Thanks to all the hardworking volunteers who showed up on a toasty Saturday to help with Impact Massillon. State Avenue is looking lovely indeed! Special thanks to Danielle for all her organizational skills, and to Sarah for her delicious food options. More information about Impact Massillon can be found HERE.

CONTEMPLATIVE WORSHIP, June 14th

Since my musical partner Michael Bridges will be in town for a couple of days, I've decided to put him to work. We're trying out a new kind of worship experience, where we play some of our more reflective songs, along with the scriptures that inspired them, and some prayers. It will look a little like Taize', but with Lost And found providing the music.

June 14th at 7pm, in person and streamed online in the usual places.

THE CHOIR HAS LEFT THE BUILDING

This past Sunday, St. Timothy's Chancel Choir sang their final service of the season, and followed it up with a delightful afternoon concert. Thanks to Andrew, Jim, and Jay for offering their skills and talents toward perfecting the praises offered by God's people on earth.

And thanks to all our singers who put in so much time and effort to beautify our worship.

We'll have a couple musical surprises over the summer, including a bona fide opera singer on July 23rd! More info to follow.

EPISCOPAL TRANSITION IS OFFICIAL

This week, Bishop Hollingsworth sent out his official letter of resignation as the 11th Bishop of Ohio, which you can find HERE. (Ask me some time about Philander Chase being the reason the Bishops have to ask permission to resign.)

Since Bishop Hollingsworth is the one who sent me off to seminary back in 2004, he is the only Bishop I've ever served with. Above all the many things he has done for our Diocese, I am deeply appreciative of his pastoral spirit toward the clergy and people. His care and concern have been a true blessing to so many of us.

As he steps away on July 1st, Canon Percy Grant also will step aside as the Transition Officer, which leads me to this . . .

OUTGOING BISHOPS CELEBRATION, June 17

On Saturday, June 17th, the Diocese will gather together to pay tribute to Bishops Hollingsworth, Williams, and Persell, from 2pm to 6pm at Hathaway Brown School in Shaker Heights.

I hope you will take the opportunity to contribute to a very worthwhile fund in their honor, about which you can find more information HERE.

I have been asked to deliver the farewell remarks for the Rev. Percy Grant, and--to be honest--I think I might become a bit verklempt. So that in itself should be worth the trip.

More information can be found HERE.

And speaking of Bishops . . .

BISHOP'S LISTENING SESSION, June 22nd

Bishop Jolly has scheduled a series of Listening Sessions throughout the Diocese over the summer, and St. Timothy's gets to host one on June 22nd from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

I hope you are able to join us so that you can both listen and be heard. If you can't be at St. Tim's that evening, consider attending one of the sessions at another congregation if possible.

The full list of dates and locations can be found HERE.

And speaking of listening . . .

FALL FORMATION PLANS

While we didn't exactly have a ton of votes in the previous email about Fall Formation options, the two clear favorites are looking at the Prayer Book, and what we might call Episcopal Church 101, both of which topics are near and dear to my heart. So, sometime in September/October, we'll gather for four evenings or so and jump on into one (or both) of these topics.

GREAT GROOMING OF THE GROUNDS, June 24th

Our second gardening day is upon us. Time to clean things up and encourage the lovely flowers that will continue to bloom around our lovely building.

Saturday, June 24th, 9am to noon, whatever chunk of time you might have to spare.

We will provide coffee, donuts, water, and many thanks. Please bring your own tools for weeding, raking, digging, and mulching.

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 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 & Russia, that they would be kept safe and live in peace and safety. 

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

✥Priya Kurian ✥Chuck Tilley ✥Liz Frank  ✥Mike Requa ✥Toni Contini ✥Brian Dorosch

✥Bob Daane  ✥Noble Carpenter ✥Gail Moss ✥Greg Rush ✥Tony Donahue ✥Ruth Lash

✥Gayle McHenry ✥Dylan Miller  ✥Eamonn Hunter ✥Sarah Kouri ✥Marilyn ✥Thomas Haidet ✥Bill Mayer ✥Andrew DeBroeck ✥Leah ✥Trisha Rusford ✥Gabriella Santos ✥Steve Deuble ✥Dan Kloock ✥Jennifer Baer ✥Ian Long ✥Ann Renkert ✥James Hutzell ✥Carson Hutzell ✥Carolyn Flamm ✥Jennifer Moyer ✥Linda Schmidt ✥Sheila ✥Ray Anderson ✥Stephanie Morrow ✥Tiffany Thornton ✥Robin Murray ✥Laurie Salopek ✥Roger & Gloria Campbell

✥Eve Bonk ✥Karen Fox ✥Steve Huba ✥Doris Shoup ✥Cathy Tilley ✥Crystal Riggleman

✥Joan ✥John Petty ✥Chris Streb ✥John & Bobbie Muhlbach

BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES

Those celebrating birthdays over the next two weeks include David Ehmer (6/13), Wendy Little (6/15), Betty Jarvis (6/17), Mike Burns (6/20), Mackenzie Susor (6/22), and Jameelah Young (6/24).

David & Jackie Regula will celebrate their anniversary on June 16th, John & Linet King will celebrate theirs on June 22nd, and David & Jill Strodtbeck will celebrate theirs on June 24th.

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

PERIODIC PUZZLE

I warned you that you'd be getting flower puzzles, and I am here to provide one. The roses we planted two years ago around the historical marker out front are a splashy little delight, and I thought they'd make a fun puzzle, which you can find 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.

I'm sure I've told you this before, but where I grew up (in New York State), we did not get out of school until mid-June. (Though we also did not start school until after Labor Day.) Point being, I will never not be shocked that kids have been out of school for weeks already.

What this means, of course, is that folks are planning their summer travels, and summer camps, and sleeping in on weekends. Out of an abundance of grace, I want to tell you that St. Timothy's will still be here over the summer, and will be waiting for you in the fall. Whatever your plans are for the next couple months, I hope that you remember God goes with you, whether that is on a big adventure, or sleeping in your big bed on a Sunday morning.

Take some time to refresh and recharge. But, of course, know you are always missed when we don't see you Sunday morning.

Faithfully,

Fr. George