The Sword of The SpiritThe Sword of The Spirit Sword of The SpiritThe Sword of The Spirit September 2013 Saint Paul’s Church (203) 775-9587 Happy Easter Transforming Lives Through

The Sword of The SpiritThe Sword of The Spirit Saint Paul’s Church www.saintpaulsbrookfield.com (203) 775-9587 September 2013

Happy Easter

Transforming Lives Through Jesus

Anticipate What God Anticipate What God Anticipate What God

Is About to DoIs About to DoIs About to Do

2

Vol. LIX-No. 9

The Sword of the Spirit was started

in 1954 by the Rev. A. Pierce Middleton

“Wow. Thank you, God!” “Wow. Thank you, God!”

Dear Friends,

O ur mission statement is “Transforming Lives Through Jesus Christ.” And

within that mission I have a specific purpose on Sunday mornings as your

Rector. It is not to pontificate on political matters. It is not to guilt you into doing

more. And it is not to entertain you. My singular purpose is to lead you in worshipping

God and in lifting up our Savior Jesus Christ through the faithful preaching and

teaching of the Gospel, through prayer, and through the administration of the

sacraments of Baptism and the Lord’s Supper. The joy that this brings me is like no

other, and it matches the joy that I see in you as God is enthroned upon our common

praise (Psalm 22:3). I believe this is why we are flourishing at St. Paul’s.

We are beginning our fifth September together. So

much has happened, and there is so much more to

come. This month we have Sunday School and our

weekly children’s sermon starting up again, the

Rector’s Forum where we will begin the Gospel of

Matthew, and many other exciting offerings will

emerge as we celebrate God’s love among us. You

will also hear more soon about “Growing God’s

Kingdom,” our capital campaign supporting our vision

for Crocker Hall.

Each Sunday as I park at the library (to free up one

more space for a newcomer) and make that walk along

the gravel road to our church, I take in the tranquility

of daybreak and anticipate what God is about to do in

our worship together. There is not a single Sunday that goes by that I do not get back in

my car six hours later and say, “Wow. Thank you, God!” May we approach God’s

throne of grace with increased anticipation, for as Christ is lifted up among us, the love

that God pours into our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5) will continue to

transform us, making us one with God and one another.

Worship is our chief purpose. Everything

else flows from this sacred encounter with

the living God. As we begin a new season,

may God be praised.

Faithfully,

St. Paul’s Church 174 Whisconier Road

Brookfield, Connecticut 06804

(203) 775-9587

www.saintpaulsbrookfield.com

The Rev. Joseph Shepley, Rector

Beth Miller, Parish Office Coordinator

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself”

(John 12:32).

3

† God’s Assurance

"He Himself has said . . . . So we may boldly say . . ." —Hebrews 13:5-6

by Oswald Chambers, My Utmost for His Highest

M y assurance is to be built upon God’s assurance to me. God says, “I will never leave you,” so that then I “may boldly say, ’The Lord is

my helper; I will not fear’ ” (Hebrews 13:5-6). In other words, I will not be obsessed with apprehension. This does not mean that I will not be tempted to fear, but I will remember God’s words of assurance. I will be full of courage, like a child who strives to reach the standard his father has set for him. The faith of many people begins to falter when apprehensions enter their thinking, and they forget the meaning of God’s assurance - they forget to take a deep spiritual breath. The only way to remove the fear from our lives is to listen to God’s assurance to us.

What are you fearing? Whatever it may be, you are not a coward about it - you are determined to face it, yet you still have a feeling of fear. When it seems that there is nothing and no one to help you, say to yourself, “But ’The Lord is my helper’ this very moment, even in my present circumstance.” Are you learning to listen to God before you speak, or are you saying things and then trying to make God’s Word fit what you have said? Take hold of the Father’s assurance, and then say with strong courage, “I will not fear.” It does not matter what evil or wrong may be in our way, because “He Himself has said, ’I will never leave you . . . .’ ”

Human frailty is another thing that gets between God’s words of assurance and our own words and thoughts. When we realize how feeble we are in facing difficulties, the difficulties become like giants, we become like grasshoppers, and God seems to be nonexistent. But remember God’s assurance to us - “I will never. . . forsake you.” Have we learned to sing after hearing God’s keynote? Are we continually filled with enough courage to say, “The Lord is my helper,” or are we yielding to fear?

† This Week at St. Paul’s

Sat, Aug 31 - 7:30 am - Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Parish Hall

Sun, Sep 1 - Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost 8:00 am - Traditional Eucharist

9:30 am - Rector’s Forum, Guild Room

10:30 am - Contemporary Eucharist

Mon, Sep 2 - Labor Day (Parish Office Closed)

Tue, Sep 3 - 9:15 am - Ladies Bible Study, Guild Room

Wed, Sep 4 -10:00 am - Holy Eucharist and Healing

Thu, Sep 5 - 1:00 pm - Dorothy Day Ministry, Danbury

7:30 pm - Property Committee, Upper Classroom

7:30 pm - Mission Committee, Guild Room

7:30 pm - Music Night, Sanctuary

Sat, Sep 7 - 7:30 am - Men’s Prayer Breakfast, Parish Hall

Sun, Sep 8 - Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost 8:00 am - Traditional Eucharist

9:15 am - Young Adult Bible Study

9:30 am - Rector’s Forum, Guild Room

10:30 am - Sunday School

10:30 am - Contemporary Eucharist

3:30 pm - Youth Group Kick-off

4

OOO utwardlyutwardlyutwardly

WWW itnessingitnessingitnessing

thethethe

NNN ewsewsews!

S chool is back in session, and that means that Youth Group is gearing up to get started for another great year. Join us on the 8th for some awesome games, food, and a look

ahead at what amazing things are going to happen this year!!

O ur annual tag sale is coming up in just a few weeks! We’re looking for donations of gently used items, but please no clothing, broken electronics or tube TV’s. If you

have large item you would like to donate, please contact Patrick and we can make arrange-ments to have it picked up. We’ll begin accepting donations starting this Sunday, September 1st. You can contact us at [email protected]

5

T he Ladies Tuesday AM Bible Study will be studying Exodus starting September 3rd at 9:15 am. Exodus is the story of humanity's redemption. It tells how God brought

Israel up out of slavery to men, and allowed them to become His servants. Through miraculous deliverance and covenant law, the Redeemer is revealed. Exodus contains many valuable insights for us today, including God's methods for dealing with rebellion, His shaping of Moses into a servant leader, governing principles for the just treatment of others, and guidelines for pure and wholehearted worship.

Come study with us and become more enlightened, Tuesdays from 9:15 - 11:00 am. To register please call or email Debbi Pomeroy at (203) 312-6992 or [email protected]. Workbooks are $8.

† Transforming Saints of God

August 29th

John Bunyan Writer, 1688

J ohn Bunyan was born in 1628 at Elstow in Bedfordshire England. Little is known about his

early life. His parents were poor; his father was a brazier, a trade that Bunyan also followed for a time. Bunyan had little to no formal education, and he may have learned to read English from reading the Bible. He served as a soldier in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War, after which he married. His wife introduced him to Arthur Dent’s Plain Man’s Pathway to Heaven and Bishop Lewis Bayly’s Practice of Piety, devotional books that set him on the religious path.

In 1653 he was baptized into the Bedford Baptist (Independent) Church, and was soon thereafter recognized as a preacher, a vocation at which he excelled. He claimed

to have had visions similar to those of Teresa of Avila. After the Restoration of the monarchy in 1660, Bunyan was targeted and slandered by the new royalist government along with many others who had supported the revolutionary cause during the Civil War. Under the laws of the restored Stuart regime, congregational meeting houses were closed and citizens were required to attend their Anglican parishes. It was punishable by law for anyone, except those who had been ordained according to Episcopal orders, to conduct services or preach. Bunyan was arrested while preaching in 1660 and spent most of the next twelve years imprisoned in Bedford.

While imprisoned, Bunyan wrote the first part of his most famous work, The Pilgrim’s Progress, an allegorical story that was completed in 1684. The Pilgrim’s Progress tells the story of Christian, a lonely pilgrim who must cross such treacherous terrain as the Slough of Despond and the River of Death before finally reaching the Land of Beulah. Along with John Milton’s Paradise Lost, it was one of the most influential works of the seventeenth century, and retained its influence for several centuries thereafter.

6

† We Are Stronger Together

St. Paul’s / Jericho - Day of Service

O n Saturday, October 5 join Fr. Joe and our Parish family as we will have the opportunity to participate in a Day of

Service. This is a day of volunteerism to support our ministry partner, Jericho. Jim Wiley, Ministry Coordinator for Jericho, is organizing our day of service. Jim works with the seasonal homeless shelter operations and Jericho’s renewal efforts along Spring Street in Danbury. You can sign up at the table in the rear of the church. Please

add your name to the list and include your email address and t-shirt size when you sign up.

This is a parish-wide event and we encourage everyone to be a part of this day of fellowship and outreach.

“Let’s not merely say that we love each other, let us show the truth by our actions.”

1 John 3:18

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, October 5

Parish Day of Service

St. Paul’s & Jericho

OUTREACH

7

† Choir Practice for Sword Points Readers (click on the red links below to begin your personal practice)

Opening Hymn Immortal, Invisible, God Only Wise Gospel Response Father All Loving, Who Rulest in Majesty Offertory Tell Out, My Soul, the Greatness of the Lord Closing Hymn Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee

Joyful, Joyful

May the glory of the LORD endure forever;

may the LORD rejoice in his works (Psalm 104:31)

H enry Van Dyke was inspired when he was 59 years old,

although what caused his inspiration was probably not unlike

what he had probably seen many times before. The hymn’s genesis was

over 100 years old already, a timespan that the timeless God might call young, really. Three

artists contributed to the hymn “Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee” over the 125 years of its

birth, development, and complete fruition. There was a fourth - he was actually the first -

whose original imagination connected in a unique way with the last of these artists.

Henry Van Dyke apparently saw something in the Berkshire Mountains in western

Massachusetts that year of 1911, something that motivated him in an artistic way, similar to

his two German predecessors who wrote about their emotions in a compelling way.

Friedrich Schiller wrote “Ode to Joy” in 1785, nearly 40 years before his compatriot Ludwig

Van Beethoven borrowed its theme and many of its words to compose his choral-orchestral

Ninth Symphony in 1824. Some 87 years later on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, Van

Dyke was visiting a college to preach a message, and wrote the poem that called out to the

same sensation that had motivated his ancestors. It’s said he immediately directed the (Continued on page 13)

Directions: Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Prepare 12 muffin cups with liners. Mix 6 tablespoons flour and brown sugar together in a bowl; cut butter into the flour mixture until you have pea-sized crumbs. Beat margarine and white sugar with an electric mixer in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat egg and vanilla into the butter mixture. Mix 1 1/2 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together in a separate bowl; gradually beat into the butter mixture. Fold zucchini, cranberries, and walnuts into the mixture; spoon into prepared muffin cups, filling nearly to the top. Sprinkle topping mixture onto the batter. Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted

into the center comes out clean, about 25 minutes.

Ingredients: 1/2 cup margarine,

softened 1 cup white sugar 1 egg 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

extract 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 1/2 teaspoons baking

powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1 cup grated zucchini 1 cup cranberries 1/2 cup walnut pieces

Topping: 6 tablespoons all-purpose

flour 1/4 cup brown sugar 2 tablespoons butter

† Farm Fresh Zucchini Cranberry

Nut Muffins V

an

Dyke

8

† The Holy Land Inspires Everyone

† Are You Listening?

And seven priests bearing seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark of the Lord went on continually. Joshua 6:13

W hen traveling in the Holy Land, sooner or later you will encounter a shofar, typically in the

many souvenir shops or in the Old City of Jerusalem. The shofar, or ram’s horn, is a unique instrument.

Although individual notes on a scale cannot be played on it, the combination of long and short blasts can form a melody. No two shofars are alike In Biblical times, the shofar was used to announce the onset of the beginning of the Sabbath and holidays. This was in pre-calendar days when people couldn’t always be sure when the festival would begin. Click here to listen to a shofar.

Nowadays, the most important time of the year to use the shofar is at the New Year, Rosh Hashanah. In fact, one name for Rosh Hashanah is the “Day of the Blowing of the Shofar.” On this day it is blown 100 times! By tradition, a person who has not listened to the shofar has not observed the day.

The shofar is mentioned seventy two times in the Bible and was connected to other events: coronations, festivals, worship and as a sound to rally to battle, including the conquests of Joshua and the people of Israel to bring the walls of Jericho down.

The first reference of the use of the shofar in Scriptures is when God called Moses to the summit of Mt. Sinai. The role of the Shofar in the receiving of the Torah at Mount Sinai had a tremendous impact on the people through the ages. “And when the voice of the trumpet sounded long, and waxed louder and louder, Moses spoke, and God answered him by a voice”. In various places in the Bible, the shofar is conceived as an instrument used by God himself.

After the destruction of the Second Temple and in the Diaspora, the Shofar lost its’ public and strategic meaning, but retained its’ ritual role, particularly on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

We had several occasions to hear the sound of the shofar on our journeys throughout Israel. First upon our entrance to Jerusalem atop Mount Scopus, during our shopping excursions and in the Old City during the Thursday Bar Mitzvah celebrations! In Temple days, the horn would be sounded from the mount.

The shofar evokes many Biblical themes, not the least of which is the ram caught in the thicket which Abraham used as a sacrifice in place of his son, Isaac.

Plans are already underway for another pilgrimage with Fr.

Joe to the Holy Land on March 26 - April 4, 2014. Click here

for more info and details.

New video

each week

9

† Transforming Stewardship

“Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor,

the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you

be because of their inability to repay you." Luke 14:14

W e have a difficult time with the concept of

giving without expecting something in return.

Even when we give to charity we often want something

in return - a raffle ticket, a dinner, or a chance to play

golf. Yet, as Christian stewards we need to remember

that the true reward for our giving awaits us in heaven.

10

† Scholarly Speaking

Some Notes on Church Buildings III

P reviously we discussed the basic outline of the typical Church building, and considered the Basilican, Romanesque, and Gothic styles. New styles began to

develop under the Tudors (1485-1603) but church (and collegiate) buildings usually continued to use variants of the Perpendicular.

The next major development, which appeared in Italy with the complete rebuilding of St. Peter’s at the Vatican (1508-1626), and came to England with Sir Christopher Wren’s rebuilding of St. Paul’s in London (1675-1720), was the baroque. The style is marked by complex forms, extensive ornamentation, and the use of contrasting styles. Baroque churches retained the classical floor plan, and tended to draw more on Romanesque than Gothic forms but overlaid with various forms of decoration. Large domes were not unknown in earlier periods, but were frequently seen on this style. The baroque style became very common in European churches and other structures, but less so in England* where, however, there are some parish churches that display baroque features. Another development of that period, also championed by Wren in his rebuilding of many London churches after the great fire, was the auditory church. As the name suggests the design was intended to allow the worshipper to hear (and see)

the preacher and the whole service. The building would be a single room with the Altar and pulpit at one end, and with galleries so that as many people as possible would be close to the action. Many American churches of the colonial period and into the 19th century (both Anglican and more reformed groups) were built in this style. The 1790 St. Paul’s building almost certainly was (perhaps without galleries) and an excellent example can be found at Immanuel-St. James in Derby, CT. Our cathedral in Hartford was also of this type, but has been expanded by the addition of a chancel at the east end.

By the middle of the 19th century the Romantic movement led to a Gothic revival that was adopted by Anglicans, many other mainstream denominations, and Roman Catholics. Even churches, such as our own, that did not really adopt the distinguishing feature of the Gothic arch still tend to present a Gothic flavor (our only use of the arch is for our large windows).

After World War II there has been a tendency to introduce various types of modern design. Coventry cathedral, built to replace the bombed out mediaeval building, is perhaps the best known example, but there is no one modern style. Such churches tend to sparing of structural decoration and to use a variety of shapes. St. Gregory’s RC Church in Danbury and St. Francis’ RC in New Milford both illustrate this style, and both are shaped to suggest a dove with its wings spread.

Let me conclude with a brief glossary of terms as applied to our own church building.

East always refers to the Altar end of the building, even when by the compass it is

(Continued on page 11)

St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. James, Piccadilly - Wren

Coventry Cathedral

11

† The Rector’s Forum

Alpha Express is Here! If you missed Alpha before, this is your chance!

T he Alpha Express Course runs each Sunday thru September 8th during the Rectors Forum 9:30-10:15am each Sunday. All are welcome for as many

sessions as you can make. Questions? See Tara Shepley [email protected]

† Happy Birthday to You!

G regory Mable & Alex Green celebrate today! Friday is the big

day for Analee Kirner, Jeanne Hill & Shannon Palmer. Vianna

Schappach will be expecting your card on Sunday. Jacquelyn

Letizia & Linda Volpe will be opening presents on Monday.

Alice Keller & Richard Baldelli will be blowing out candles

on Tuesday. Rachel Chaleski will be another year older and

wiser on Wednesday. Have a blessed day each one of you!

another direction (North at St. Paul’s).

Church when applied to a building describes the whole worship space.

Narthex or porch is the entryway found in many but not all churches; ours is near the West end but on the South side.

Nave is the main body of the Church.

Aisles are extensions on either side of the nave and usually separated from it by rows of columns, and marked by a lower roof. There are none at St. Paul’s; some churches have only one aisle and others may have double aisles.

Alleys the preferred term for passageways between pews or other seating, commonly, but confusingly, known as aisles.

Chancel refers to the area east of the nave, and usually contains both the choir and the sanctuary.

Choir refers to the section of the chancel with seats for the singers and any clergy who are not ministering at the Altar. It is usually in the part of the chancel adjoining the nave as ours was originally, but ours is now at the far east end. In many cases the singers are placed elsewhere and the choir in this sense may be attenuated to a few seats for clergy and assistants or eliminated altogether.

Sanctuary is the area surrounding the Altar itself. It is usually defined by altar rails. Ours was moved several years ago from the far east end to the center of the chancel (the former choir area).

Mensa is the surface of the Altar or Holy Table where the Eucharist is celebrated.

Transepts are extensions to the north and south of the church, representing the beam of a cross. Usually placed where the chancel abuts the nave, ours extend from the sanctuary area with the organ in one and the other walled off to create a sacristy area. Some very large churches have two transepts.

Crossing is the area where the transepts intersect the nave (or in our case the chancel). - Fr. Bill Loring, Scholar in Residence

______________________________________

* Only four English cathedrals have been built since St. Paul’s, three are Gothic revival (though two have some distinctly modern features) and the fourth is the very modern Coventry cathedral.

(Continued from page 10)

D o you have a question you

would like answered by our

Scholar-in-Residence? Send your

ecclesiastical, liturgical, doctrinal,

historical or other inquiries to:

[email protected].

Church Buildings III

12

† Jesus Got It Covered

by Mari-Anna Stålnacke @flowingfaith

D o you worry about how your life is going to turn out?

Or do you worry about how your life is going to end?

If you are a friend of Jesus, there’s no need to worry.

Whatever it is, Jesus got it covered.

If you live with God, there’s no need to stress.

Whatever it is, Jesus got it covered.

Behold, I am with you all the days (perpetually, uniformly,

and on every occasion), to the [very] close and consummation

of the age. Amen (so let it be). (Matthew 28:20, AMP)

Jesus is behind us.

Jesus is beside us.

Jesus is before us.

Whatever it is, Jesus got it covered.

For He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail

you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not,

[I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor

forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly

not!]

So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently

and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized

with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can

man do to me? (Hebrews 13:5a-6, AMP)

If you are a friend of grace, you are always ready to enter the eternity.

Jesus got it covered.

If you are a friend of grace, Jesus is already waiting for you there.

Jesus got it covered.

So rest assured, all is well. Not necessarily the way you’d like it. But all is well.

Jesus got it covered.

So be bold. Live courageously. Love much. Pray without ceasing. Praise always.

Rejoice along the way.

Jesus got it covered.

Gracious God,

Thank you for Jesus.

Thank you for loving us

and never letting go.

Thank you for always being with us.

Thank you for waiting for us at the end of time.

Thank you for having everything covered.

May only Your will happen in our lives.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Q4U: How does knowing that Jesus got everything covered change your view of life?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, on your faith journey! Jesus got it covered! Image courtesy of Andrea La Valleur-Purvis, design Mari-Anna Stålnacke.

Since my money is God’s money, every spending decision I make is a spiritual decision.

John Hagee

13

† Where We Went to Church Last Sunday

This Sunday I attended St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Denver, Colorado. It is a small but very active church that is very well-attended. We were warmly greeted by the female priest, the youth minister, and several enthusiastic

members of the congregation. There was a huge choir, and much of the service was sung by the priest, the choir, and/or the congregation. Although we missed being at St. Paul's, we felt right at home at St. Andrew's.

- Sandy Chaleski

college’s president to use Beethoven’s music in concert with the poem. So, could that have

been the hymn’s premier? What were Van Dyke’s sermons like during that visit? Perhaps

someone remembers and has recorded them, but nevertheless this joyful hymn is a sermon

all by itself, and one that is well-known both inside and outside of the church. One wonders

if Van Dyke insisted on the Schiller/Beethoven connection with his poem in order to appeal

to the secular world, as well as to those of Godly faith. To whom was Van Dyke writing in

his hymn?

The easy answer, looking at his own words, is that he’s addressing God. ‘Thou’ and

‘thee’, the poetic equivalents of ‘you’, are used liberally by Van Dyke as he lauds Him.

Consider the first few words he composed. Is ‘Joyful’ a name for God, according to Van

Dyke? ‘Joyful, joyful, we adore thee’ - it sounds like an

address. If that’s what Van Dyke intended, he indeed created

something unique, for God is not addressed this way biblically,

at least not directly. Did the composer see something in the

Berkshire Mountains that drew him nearer to God’s creative

genius? Undoubtedly, Genesis tells us that God saw it was good

to create, so He must have felt some emotion, a divine

satisfaction. Is it joy when a mood takes me to

another plane, next to Him, even? That’s what He

does for me, especially those days when I’ve had

enough of the ‘here below’. The Creator-Joyful’s

mountains communicate volumes, lifting the human spirit. Schiller and

Beethoven, though most often considered gifted secularists, also reflect Him.

Look at Schiller’s Ode to Joy. He knew joy’s author. Maybe a more perfect joy

was what the stone deaf Beethoven - by the time he wrote his Ninth Symphony -

was reaching for too, when he composed. Joy. It’s Him, and it’s our way to Him.

Information on the song was obtained from the books “Amazing Grace - 366

Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions”, by Kenneth W. Osbeck, 1990; and

“The Complete Book of Hymns - Inspiring Stories About 600 Hymns and Praise Songs”, by

William J. and Ardythe Petersen, 2006.

Also see the following websites for information on the hymn’s tune, which was set to

music by Beethoven in ‘Ode to Joy’. Ode to Joy was also a poem written by Friedrich

Schiller in 1785…see the link to it here: http://www.raptusassociation.org/ode1785.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ode_to_joy

(Continued from page 7)

Sch

iller

Beeth

oven

Joyful, Joyful

14

† Walk By Faith

By Bishop Dan Edwards

If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil,

if you offer your food to the hungry and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

then your light shall rise in the darkness and your gloom be like the noonday.

I saiah 58: 9-14 is an Old Testament lesson about Jerusalem after the

Babylonian Exile. After 40 years of captivity, the Jews had returned to find the walls of the city torn down, which made them afraid the same way we might be if we lived in a bad neighborhood and the door was missing.

The Temple was destroyed.

So they had a major problem with their worship space. It was rubble. If they didn’t worship in the Temple, they did not think they could flourish or succeed agriculturally, economically, or militarily.

So they set out to rebuild the City but it wasn’t going well. The capital fund drive flopped. People were squabbling with each other, blaming and blame shifting, left and right.

They felt poor - and the poorest among them, the am ha-aretz, the people of the land, were a burden on the better off folks. It wasn’t that the better off folks were stingy or greedy. They were just afraid. They were financially, militarily, and spiritually insecure. They didn’t have enough army, enough police, enough wall, enough Temple, enough anything.

Scarcity and fear were the hallmarks of the day. So they hunkered down. They pinched their pennies. They adopted a fortress mentality -- suspicious of outsiders and even of each other.

Then along came a prophet with this surprising message from God. “If you want to restore your City, you gotta do it different. You are going about it all wrong. Here’s how it’s done: If you remove the yoke from among you . . .if you offer your food to the hungry, and satisfy the needs of the afflicted,

then your light will rise in the darkness and your gloom be like noonday.”

They were looking at the construction costs and seeing there just wasn’t enough

money in the building fund. So God said, “Not a problem. Here’s

what you do. Take some of that money in your building fund and put it in outreach. You don’t have enough construction workers

on the wall project? Send a few of them over to tutor the children of the am ha-aretz, the poor folk.” “Just do it,” God said, “and watch what happens. Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt, you shall raise up the foundation of many generations, you shall be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of streets to live in.” God is saying something completely counter-intuitive. He is saying when you feel like you don’t have enough, take some of what you’ve got and give it away. Poverty is the occasion for

generosity. It doesn’t make any sense at all does it?

That’s because God doesn’t play by our rules. God also said through Isaiah, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways. As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my thoughts higher than your thoughts and my ways higher than your ways.”

God says that at the deep down core of things, when you get to realest possible level of real, the take it to the bank truth of life, everything we think we know is wrong. It’s wrong because everything we think we know is based on fear and scarcity. Our basic assumption is that life is a zero sum game. There isn’t enough of it to go around.

But God says “not so.” “I came that you might have life and that you might have it abundantly,” Jesus told us.

Life isn’t something to be seized by fang and claw. It’s a gift to be received in faith, and the test of faith is generosity, the courage, when we don’t have enough, to give away some of what we have.

(Continued on page 15)

15

Our Daily Bread

O ur Daily Bread

for September,

October & November is

now available on the

table in the back of the

church. Our Daily

Bread contains a scrip-

ture verse and medita-

tion for each day.

Crazy, of course. In some spiritual traditions, they call it “crazy wisdom.” There are churches that live like that. Last year as I was at the budget meeting of a congregation. They adopted a deficit budget without blinking an eye. Then they began expressing their concerns. They had heard some other congregations were struggling and they wanted to help.

They got an unexpected gift and they sent it to a local ministry. We sent them their assessment rebate. They gave it to St. Jude’s Ranch For Children. You just can’t help some people.

It is a leap into the dark, an exercise in faith. It is a leap into God’s ways, a trusting in God’s gift. It’s like exhaling in the faith that the air will still be there so we can inhale again. Crazy like that. But you know that crazy congregation somehow manages to pay the light bill, and they just bought some additional land. How do they do it? They don’t. It’s a God thing. It’s exciting to see congregations walk by faith because that’s the only way we can walk into the Kingdom Mission; and the Kingdom Mission is the only thing that makes life count. So in itself the faithfulness of a church is a good thing. It gives God a chance to demonstrate God’s faithfulness.

But the best thing about it is a faithful congregation teaches its people how to live faithfully. It doesn’t just talk about faith and trust. It shows us what they look like. Such congregations teach the art of breathing. You have to breathe out all the way so you

can breathe back in. One basic thing I’ve noticed about living churches and living people: They breathe - in and out. The heart of being a Christian is living by faith instead of fear, by God’s ways instead of human ways. When we are baptized or confirmed or received, we make a life commitment. We take our stand on this earth as believers.

To believe means to invest our trust. We don’t just say, “I believe that God exists.” That’s just an opinion. An opinion and $1.85 will get you a tall coffee at Starbucks. We say “I believe in God the Father. I believe in Jesus. I believe in the Holy Spirit.” I jump

out of this burning building of mortal life because I believe they are holding the net. I know a young man in another of our churches, a financially prosperous young man, who carefully calculates the

church’s value to him -- it’s the difference between his kids’ tuition at our camp and the tuition at a comparable private camp - then he gives that amount to the church at the end of the year after he makes sure all his other obligations are paid first.

And God says, “My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor your ways my ways. My measures of worth are not your measures of worth, nor your calculations my calculations.”

Brothers and sisters, you are in a time of discernment. You are discerning who you are called to be, what part you are called to play in the Kingdom Mission, and who will best provide the leadership for that calling.

I cannot answer any of those questions. But God can and God will. “The Lord will guide you continually and satisfy your needs in parched places and you shall be like a watered garden, like a water spring whose waters never fail.”

(Continued from page 14) Walk By Faith

The Rt. Rev. Dan

Edwards is Bishop

of Nevada

Sacristans for September are Mary Allen and Gayle Baldelli.

16

WALK IN JESUS’ FOOTSTEPS

Next March, just before Holy Week, Fr. Joe is joining

us on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land where we will

discover the roots of our Christian faith.

On Saturday, September 21st we are having an

informational meeting to learn more about this life

changing journey to the Holy Land. Past travelers

will share their unforgettable and faith growing

experience of their Christian pilgrimages to the Holy

Land. They will share stories from their recent trips to

Israel and their faith building experiences. These tours

are truly an inspirational and spiritually enriching time

of renewal and reflection, walking in Jesus's footsteps.

Information and insight into these journeys and

opportunities for others to join in as St. Paul’s plans for

a trip again in the Spring of 2014. If this is a journey

that you have contemplated yourself, or would just like

to learn more about, please join us in the Guild Room

on Saturday, September 21st at 10:00 am. You may also contact Pam

Szen at [email protected].

We wish you many prayers for Shalom.

http://www.saintpaulsbrookfield.com/

http://www.pilgrimtours.com/groups/stpaulisrael.htm

"Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem."

Psalms 122:2

17

† This Sunday’s Readings

Take the Lower Place

Jeremiah 2:4-13

I n our Hebrew scripture lesson the prophet gives voice to the Lord’s bafflement with the families of Israel, who have strayed far and no longer seek for God. The people

seem to have forgotten their deliverance from Egypt and God’s providential care in giving them the promised land. All have forgotten the Lord; priests, rulers, prophets, and people alike, pursuing gods which are no gods, and worthless ways. The very heavens are appalled that the people have turned from God, the fountain of living water.

Psalm 81:1, 10-16 A psalm of festival praise and an exhortation to worship the Lord alone. Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 In this reading Christians are urged to live moral, hospitable, and

charitable lives, recalling the faith and examples of their leaders, but especially the unchanging Jesus. The leaders referred to are the founders of this church who have now died. Jesus Christ, however, remains with his person, in the past, present, and future. Scripture says that God will never forsake us, and , with the Lord as our helper, there is no need to be afraid. Therefore one should be swift to worship, both in the praise of one’s lips and by sharing and striving to do good to others.

Luke 14:1, 7-14 In the gospel Jesus tells a parable about humility and teaches his host that he should

invite the poor and infirm to his feasts. Both the parable and the teaching have a still deeper significance. The reign of God is the Lord’s gift, which comes to those who do not presume their place in it. By his actions as well as his words Jesus’ ministry shows that the kingdom is open to those who are considered by others to be outcasts. People who share in God’s ruling love and justice are to have a transformed attitude toward the poor and needy.

† Pick Up Your Copy Today!

Synthesis CE Study Guides for each weeks readings will

be available at the back of the church.

Psalm 81:13

Oh, that my people

would listen to me! *

that Israel would walk in

my ways!

† Sermon ShortsSermon ShortsSermon Shorts

T o work on the Sabbath or not to work on the Sabbath, that is the question. Fr. Bill unties a

knotty problem in this sermon.. To replay all our sermons, audio and videos follow this link for The Sunday Sermons.

18

† Your Prayers Are Requested For…

I t is such an intimate time when praying for the health and well being of others and such a privilege. The people that we lift up to The Lord are part of our hearts for all

time. Please pray for… …..Dot Blake, Cy Dennerlein, Alice Keller, Tom Balash and other parishioners convalescing in extended care facilities. …..Kent School; South Kent School; Pomfret School; Salisbury School; Wooster School; Rectory School; St. Thomas Day School, New Haven; Trinity School on the Hill, Hartford; the Episcopal Church at Yale; the Episcopal Church at UCONN, Storrs; Trinity College chapel, Hartford; Berkeley Divinity School, New Haven. …..Peace in Israel, Jerusalem, and the Middle East. …..Brenda Darling, recovering from a fall. …..Revival at St. Paul’s and the greater Danbury area. …..Barbara Kast, continued healing of her back. …..the people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. …..A job for Mary Ellen. …..Authentic ways to bring our ancient spiritual practices into our digital culture. …..Ginny Beck for healing for bulging neck disc and relief from pain. …..relief from the forest fires in California. …..Stu Terrill, recovering from a mild stroke. …..Joe Hock, as he rehabs after his recent knee replacement surgery. …..peace in Syrian Civil War; Yemen; Egypt; and Pakistan. …..Bill Mayers, for continued recovery from his heart surgery. …..David Palmer for continued healing. …..Bill Mayers’ daughter Kathleen, for recovery from a heart condition. …..Michael for protection with the UN peacekeeping service.

Jeremiah 30:17 "But I will restore you to health and heal your wounds, declares the Lord."

† Announcement Deadlines

F or the Sunday bulletins please submit your information by the preceding Monday to [email protected]. For Sword Points please submit it by Wednesday

afternoon each week to [email protected].

† Christian Caring Committee

T he Christian Caring Committee will hold their monthly meeting in the Guild Room on Monday, September

9th, at 4:30 pm. The Christian Caring Committee provides parishioners with transportation to doctors' appointments, pharmacies, grocery stores, etc. The

committee's greeting card ministry remembers parishioners on birthdays, graduations, anniversaries, illness, sympathy,

"thinking of you," and other special occasions and holidays. Visits are made regularly to local hospitals, nursing homes, private homes, and

frequent telephone calls are intended to "keep in touch." Meals are also provided for parishioners in a time of need after surgery and/or a hospital stay.

It is the intention of the committee to remember our family in Christ in times of sunshine and sorrow. The committee is always open to new ways of assisting parishioners with their personal needs and connecting them with the appropriate source of help.

Anyone wishing to share in this important ministry, please contact Gail Winkley, Coordinator, at 203-775-3343 or [email protected]. New members are always welcome so that this ministry may continue to grow by sharing and using our personal involvement to nurture the people of faith at Saint Paul's Church.

19

September Lay Schedule 2013 Lectors, Intercessors, and Lay readers, please remember to

check in before the service in the Vesting Room. Thank You!

September 1, 2013

8:00 AM Welcoming: Vinnie & Barbara Cappiello Acolytes: O’Hara Girls Lector: Jeremiah 2:4-13 Ray Ferro Intercessor: Mike Kirner Lay Reader: David Baskett Lay Reader: Pam Szen Psalm 81:1, 10-16 Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16 10:30 AM Welcoming: Denise McCormack/Vito Barbieri Acolytes: Stephanie Bernardo Lector: Jeremiah 2:4-13 Phil Hannah Intercessor: Betty Gardner Lay Reader: Jay Trott Lay Reader: Joe Bernardo Psalm 81:1, 10-16 Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16

September 8, 2013 8:00 AM Welcoming: Pat Brought / Doug Melody Acolytes: Sarah Shepley Lector: Jeremiah 18:1-11 Ingrid Pruss Intercessor: Ray Ferro Lay Reader: Patricia Jennings Lay Reader: Don Winkley Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17 Philemon 1-21 10:30 AM Welcoming: Eric & Sandra Visser-Sampson Acolytes: Ryan Sampson Lector: Jeremiah 18:1-11 Rose Barrett Intercessor: Phil Hannah Lay Reader: Mike Chengeri Lay Reader: Harlan Jessup Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17 Philemon 1-21

September15, 2013

10:30 AM Welcoming: Eric & Sandra Visser-Sampson Acolytes: Ryan Sampson Lector: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 Phil Hannah Intercessor: Betty Gardner Lay Reader: Joe Bernardo Lay Reader: Jim Castronova Psalm 14 1 Timothy 1:12-17

September 22, 2013 Healing Sunday

8:00 AM Welcoming: Mike Kirner/ Doug Melody Acolytes: Rachel & Lauren Melody Lector: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 Sandy Chaleski Intercessor: Ray Ferro Lay Reader: Don Winkley Lay Reader: David Baskett Psalm 79:1-9 1 Timothy 2:1-7 10:30 AM Welcoming: Denise McCormack/Vito Barbieri Acolytes: Audrey Powell Lector: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 Betty Gardner Intercessor: Phil Hannah Lay Reader: Jay Trott Lay Reader: Mike Chengeri Psalm 79:1-9 1 Timothy 2:1-7

September 29, 2013

8:00 AM Welcoming: John and Joyce Sarver Acolytes: O’Hara Girls Lector: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 Pam Szen Intercessor: Mike Kirner Lay Reader: Ray Ferro Lay Reader: Lois Hunt Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 1 Timothy 6:6-19 10:30 AM Welcoming: Denise McCormack/Vito Barbieri Acolytes: Mike Chengeri Lector: Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15 Phil Hannah Intercessor: Betty Gardner Lay Reader: Jim Castronova Lay Reader: Patricia Jennings Psalm 91:1-6, 14-16 1 Timothy 6:6-19

September 15, 2013

8:00 AM Welcoming: Pam Szen/Pat Brought Acolytes: O’Hara Girls Lector: Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 Ray Ferro Intercessor: Mike Kirner Lay Reader: Lois Hunt Lay Reader: Harlan Jessup Psalm 14 1 Timothy 1:12-17

20

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 15 Pentecost 8:00 AM Traditional Eucharist 9:30 AM. Rector’s Forum 10:30 AM Contemporary Eucharist

2 Labor Day Parish Office Closed

3 9:15 AM Ladies Bible Study

4 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist and Healing

5 1:00 PM Dorothy Day Ministry 7:30 PM Mission Committee 7:30 PM Property Committee 7:30 PM Music Night

6 7 7:30 AM Men’s Prayer Breakfast

8 16 Pentecost 8:00 AM Traditional Eucharist 9:15 AM Young Adult Bible Study 9:30 AM. Rector’s Forum 10:30 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Contemporary Eucharist 3:30 PM Youth Group Kick-off

9 5:30 PM Christian Caring

10 9:15 AM Ladies Bible Study 7:00 PM Grief Group

11 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist and Healing 6:30 PM Staff Meeting 7:30 PM Vestry Meeting

12 7:30 PM Music Night

13 14 7:30 AM Men’s Prayer Breakfast

15 17 Pentecost 8:00 AM Traditional Eucharist 9:15 AM Young Adult Bible Study 9:30 AM. Rector’s Forum 10:30 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Contemporary Eucharist 3:30 PM M.S. Youth Group 4:30 PM H.S. Youth Group

16 7:00 PM Stephen Ministry

17 9:15 AM Ladies Bible Study

18 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist and Healing

19 7:00 PM Healing Team 7:30 PM Music Night

20 21 7:30 AM Men’s Prayer Breakfast 8:00 AM YG Tag Sale 10:00 AM Israel Informational Meeting 10:00 AM St. Paul’s Quilters 2:00 PM House of Prayer

22 18 Pentecost Healing Sunday

8:00 AM Traditional Eucharist 9:15 AM Young Adult Bible Study 9:30 AM. Rector’s Forum 10:30 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Contemporary Eucharist 3:30 PM M.S. Youth Group 4:30 PM H.S. Youth Group

23 24 9:15 AM Ladies Bible Study 7:00 PM Grief Group

25 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist and Healing

26 7:30 PM Music Night

27 28 7:30 AM Men’s Prayer Breakfast

29 19 Pentecost 8:00 AM Traditional Eucharist 9:15 AM Young Adult Bible Study 9:30 AM. Rector’s Forum 10:30 AM Sunday School 10:30 AM Contemporary Eucharist 3:30 PM M.S. Youth Group 4:30 PM H.S. Youth Group

30

21

Just For Fun !Just For Fun !Just For Fun ! (And Christian Fellowship)

Fr. Crocker enjoyed our picture of his twins Drew and Darin. Fr. George calls them, “Two for the price of one. The best bargain I ever had.”

† It Takes An Editorial Board

Contributors to this Weeks

Sword Points:

Chris Barrett, Sandy Chaleski, Drew Crocker,

Lynne Donnelly, Bill Loring,

Diane Loring, Beth Miller, Patrick

O’Connors, Linda Pendergast, Ken

Perry, Kirsten Peterson, Debbi Pomeroy, Joe

Shepley, David Szen, Pam Szen & Gail Winkley.

Alright, we had several captions submitted for our contest and you can vote for your favorite on the “home” page of our website.