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Interim's Report for June
"
Now Jesus was praying in a certain place, and when he finished, one of his disciples said to him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples." (Luke 11:1)
Dear friends,
We are blessed that there is a group of faith who engage in contemplative prayer weekly at Trinity. Prayer groups seek a glimpse of the holy. Even though they meet as a group, each person is on their own spiritual journey.
I have tried contemplative prayer and found it spiritually refreshing. Afterward, I felt calm and centered. Of course, centering is part of contemplative prayer. However, it was not a method of prayer that felt like it was something I would build my spiritual life around.
Prayer varies from person to person. Just as people have different personality types, people have different prayer types. I haven't read anything about this but I wouldn't be surprised that personality helps determine preference to a particular prayer style. I am more attracted to the daily offices or lectio divina. These are more monastic type practices.
I was intrigued by something I just found out about. I was aware of Buddhist and Hindu prayer wheels. However, prayer wheels were fairly common in medieval Europe. They seem to be born in monastic communities, but have a basis in the writings of Augustine of Hippo. The Liesborn Prayer Wheel was discovered in a medieval book of the gospels recently. Three writers took on the task on how to use the thing and published a book, The Prayer Wheel: A Daily Guide to Renewing Your Faith with a Rediscovered Spiritual Practice.
I have not read or practiced the prayer wheel as I only discovered this myself as I was writing this article. As much as I can discover about it is that there are seven concentric circles with seven spokes. The circles and spokes have divisions of the Lord's Prayer, the Beatitudes, Isaiah's seven gifts of the Spirit, and seven of the key events in the life of Christ. The center is God. How one approaches the wheel determines the path of a prayer. Even a well-worn path can result in a different spiritual experience.
There are many forms and ways of praying. Whether we pray communally or individually, prayer leads us to commune with God. Prayer is more than talking to God. It is also includes listening to God. God has much to say to us if we have the discipline and practice of listening. May we listen and reflect on what God will have us do.
Fr. Craig Kuehn+
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Did You Know?
-June 8th is GAME NIGHT in Jane's Hall at 6:30pm. Everyone is invited for fun and fellowship! Bring your family! Invite your friends! Bring your favorite game or come to learn a new one that's someone else's favorite. Popcorn and drinks will be provided. If you'd like to share a favorite popcorn topping, please feel free.
-June 14th is an outing for lunch at the Pickle Patch in San Andreas. Meet at 11am in the church parking lot to carpool. For information call either Shirley Tscharner 296-4946 or Mary Mahoney 256-8120
-Bible Study continues the first and third Sunday of each month. This month it's on the 3rd & 17th at 9:35am (between services) in the undercroft. Everyone is invited to join in.
-The Centering Prayer group meets each Wednesday at 9:30-10:30am in Jane's Hall. Everyone is welcome to join this meditative practice. If you have questions about Centering Prayer, contact Martha Robbins, 296-7842.
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Junior Warden's Report
Trinity Family:
Last month we had a very successful work-day and Trinity is all looking spic and span. I appreciate everyone's help, but if you find something that needs repair or other attention, please let me (or Sheilah in the Office or any member of the Vestry) know as soon as possible. Unless it is an emergency, please don't try to fix it yourself even if you do know what you are doing.
I have also been asked about our narrow parking spots and although I don't have the ability to stretch them wider, there are two things you can do to help. First, please try to park as straight as possible in the spot and if you drive a large vehicle, please try not to park on the corners where they might block visibility or stick-out. If we try to do this, the lot might just seem a little larger.
Thank-you,
Martin Hopper
Junior Warden
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Break Bread With Friends
Responding to people's needs to have enough to eat, a small cadre representing the Methodist, Episcopal, and Catholic churches met 7 years ago and planned to serve a hearty Saturday breakfast with a bag lunch "to go" to anyone who came. The Methodist church in Jackson, being centrally located especially to those on foot, offered the use of its hall and kitchen. Soon not only parishioners from these churches, but community members at large volunteered assistance in the form of providing funds, being there to cook, serve, clean, and welcome guests. Dedicated people have physically kept the service continuing with the help of generous community members and individuals and groups in these 3 churches. At times the bank account has become worryingly low, but at each of these times, funds have come "out of the blue".
In 2017, the Jackson and Sutter Creek Methodist parishes combined, and the Jackson Methodist church building became The Rock church- which graciously kept the building available to Break Bread with Friends. After some time, kitchen equipment problems arose, and Fr. Colin of St. Katherine Drexel parish generously opened St. Patrick Church's parish hall to Break Bread with Friends. The move was less than a block, so people have found the new location without difficulty.
Break Bread with Friends exists to warmly welcome all who come, to provide a place for them to eat, to visit, to feel respected. There are often free food items available to take also. Breakfast is served every Saturday of the year with very few exceptions. The volunteers are very happy to be able to continue serving others!
We can always use help in the form of homemade cookies and money with which to buy supplies for cooking breakfast and packing lunches. Just now, we have enough volunteer workers, but if you are interested, please let Nancy know. Donations to Break Bread with Friends can be sent to the treasurer, Pat Fossen: P.O. Box 1416, Sutter Creek, CA 95685
Questions? Ask Steve Christensen or myself. Thank you, Nancy Moore
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Food Bank Donations
Food gifts for May totaled 78 pounds. The total for 2018 is at 479 pounds.
Thank you for your generous support of this special ministry.
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Trinity Singers Rehearsals
All are invited to join the Trinity Singers/Worship Team! Rehearsals are Wednesdays at 5pm.
Bring your voices, your instruments, and a heart for worship and praise! For more information, please contact Deena Holland at 209-296-6616 or email [email protected]
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June Birthdays
The following members of our church family are celebrating birthdays in June!
1st- Katie Christensen
6th- Jo Foote
10th- David Hennings
12th- Lila Jean Regan
15th- Janet Kendig
17th- Glenda McClenahan
18th- Paul Dinger
22nd- Carol Holt
28th- Rouze Foote
If you are celebrating a birthday in June, but you don't see your name listed here, please contact our Parish Administrative Asst.
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Would You Like to Contribute to the Newsletter?
If you have an article of interest to the congregation that you would like included in the newsletter, please email it to the office,
[email protected] by the
20th of the month. It will be included in the next month's newsletter.
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