The Lion's Pause

WE SEEK TO UNITE ALL PEOPLE WITH GOD AND EACH OTHER IN CHRIST THROUGH WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, EDUCATION, AND SERVICE

Rector's Ramblings

In the course Freedom, Evil, and the Interpretation of Scripture, that I took a couple of weeks ago, the professor asked us to fill in the blank to this statement. “If it’s not ____ it’s not God.” He said we could only use one word and told us that that one word determined how we interpreted the scriptures. Different people in the class used different words. The most common response was, “Love.” A couple of people said, “Justice.” Others said, “Inclusive.” One person said, “Active.”

Fortunately, he stopped before he came to me. I could not pick one word. Justice, mercy, active, love, inclusive, are all good words. So are holy, omnipotent, creator, and redeemer. The list could go on. It occurred to me that if we try to pick one word to define God, what we have is an idol. If we can distill God into one characteristic, we might find that God is who we need God to be for us. But other people may need a different characteristic. The person who says God is just may not like the God who shows mercy.

When Moses asked for God’s name, God responded, I am who I am. In using this formula, God resisted a specific definition or characteristic. God resisted being turned into an idol. We must resist the temptation to make God what we want Him to be. Instead, we must allow God to make us who He wants us to be.

Fr. RJ+

Sunday, January 28:

One Service at 9 a.m.

Annual Meeting to Follow

Lessons

Bulletin

Live Stream

Wednesday, January 31:

Evening Prayer, 4 p.m. on Zoom

Bulletin Zoom

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Newsletter Additions

If you are adding something to the Lion's Pause, please submit it here by the Monday prior to Friday publication.

January Anniversaries

16 Mark and Kim Nadel

24 Fred and Roberta Zollinger

January Birthdays

3 Sara Strattan

4 Livvy Mull

6 John Willoughby

8 Rick Crowl

10 Debbie Shellhammer

18 Julie Werren

25 Barrie Thorp, Ten Gall

*Please note: Your birthday/anniversary will only show up if you've completed your profile on Instant Church Directory.

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Bob's Music Notes

Clara Gravis was the long-time secretary at Canton's downtown First Methodist Church and the owner of a Mason & Hamlin grand piano. When I came upon the scene, she was a gold mine of information about my predecessor, Don Farley, who had served fifteen years as musician and youth director, with distinction. He founded a women's chorus and regularly took choir members to Cleveland for Met Opera performances. He kept saying to me, "A new broom sweeps clean!" I told him I was not about to change any of his programs. (Note: the fellow who followed me at Methodist announced to the choir that he was changing everything Bob Morrison did. By contrast, when Rabbi Spitzer took over from Paul Goren at Temple Israel, he treated his predecessor like his father, whereupon the congregation embraced Spitzer all the more.)

When Clara died, my new bride Kathleen and I bought our first home - Clara's abode, but, alas, her piano did not come with the deal. Her nephew got it, so, no piano.

But a phone call changed all that. The nephew said the piano was just too big for his apartment, and he would sell it to me for $300. He might as well have asked for $30,000. What to do?

Prayer Concerns

*This list will be one week behind due to Katie's vacation week.

Pat Julian, Ten Gall, Vonda Temelkoff, Henry Aegerter, Jim Weaver, Jane Schutrum, & Ron Brookes

Family and Friends: Father Amjad & Molly Samuel (acquaintance of friends of Father RJ); Dr. Mallamaci (acquaintance of Bobbi Zollinger); Jeanette Moore (Louise Moore’s daughter); Jolanda Mull, Dr. Sandy Lopater, Kirk Schuring, Pam Lagodich, & Bill Allen (sister-in-law & friends of the Mulls); Earl Hoot (father of Joe Hoot); Chuck Boone (cousin of Bruce Hixon), Ashley Stockman (friend of Katie & Ryan Kuceyeski); Tim Swihart & Michelle Graber (friends of the Gordons); Larry Aclaska & Judy Heisser-Turner (acquaintence & sister of Bert Heisser); Lee, Theresa, & Addelyn, and Chuck Boone (friends & cousin of the Hixons); Nori Shawk (friend of Brynn Pelger); Alison & Johnny Willoughby (friend & grandson of the Willoughbys); Middle East & Heather Armington (request & friend of the Watters); Jane King; Elaine Campbell (friend of the Turners); Sammy (friend of Leslie Redmon); Bob Rownd (friend of John Werren & Anne Coen); Melanie & Trish (friends of Paulette Frech); Pat Walter & family (friend of Barb Whitehouse); Don Martin & Mark Osterhage (classmate & neighbor of the Watters); Alycia Geis (Karen Violand’s friend’s daughter); Don & Janet Sheatzley-Morgan (husband & sister of Barb Siegfried); DaNay Jackson (friend of Ron Brookes); Allison Cornell-Hood, Jody Serentsis, & Anne Higgins (daughter & friends of Diane Cornell); Finnigan Savage (friend of Pam McCarthy); Jimmy Little (son of Sue Little); Yanette Pysher (Vonda Temelkoff’s cousin); Tony Donahue (friend of the Boyds); Marc Hostetler (brother of Susan Hostetler); David (acquaintance of the Nadels).

For those who have died.

For those in the armed forces.

PRAYER CHAIN:

St. Mark's has a group of prayer warriors who pray for the specific needs of those on the prayer chain. If you would like to place yourself or a loved one on the prayer chain, please contact Bobbi Gordon at ggordon24@sbcglobal.net

Prayer requests may be placed on the private Prayer Chain or on the Prayer Concerns list appearing in The Lion's Pause and Sunday bulletin or in both places. Please let Bobbi know your preference. Unless otherwise instructed, names will be listed as we receive them. Please update Bobbi or Katie on the status of your friends or family members as to when they may be removed from the prayer lists.