THIS MONTH'S COLUMNS

From The Assistant's Desk
Hospitality

Christian Education
September Activities

FROM THE ARCHIVES
Easter Challanges Us to Be Easter People

FEATURED ARTICLES:

SAINT MICHAEL'S AND THE RECESSION

By Norm Ewers

It is clear that the current economic recession has come to Saint Michael and All Angels when the vestry asks the parish staff to take a (hopefully temporary) three percent cut in pay.

The recession has also hit individual members of this congregation and their loved ones. Some, after years of service with the same company have lost their jobs; some have been reduced to part-time work, and young men and women just entering the work force have been unable to find employment.

What has happened to these unfortunate few could happen to anyone. So, what can those of us who have not been infected by the recession virus do to help those who have? Three things we can do is make ourselves aware of the plight of these our fellow parishioners; keep our eyes and ears open, and when we hear of a job opportunity make sure our unemployed fellow parishioners find out about it.

I am now offering to be the coordinator of this project. If anyone seeking employment for himself/herself or a family member will contact me, I will check my sources and those of other members of the congregation to see what we might discover.

Right now, one parish family is seeking help finding employment for an adult child who is a trained nurse. Let me know if you have a lead. And, if you or a member of our family is facing a similar problem, let me know. Who knows what one phone call may produce.

This program may or may not succeed, but we will never know if we don't try. As Christians and Episcopalians I think we should give it our best effort. My contact information is: 949.786.7104, byrdktchr@earthlink.

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SUNDAY'S AT NINE THIS FALL

by Michael Strong

Starting in October, Sundays-At-Nine will feature “From Jesus to Christ: The First Christians,” a four part video series, presents a provocative, intriguing, and surprising story about the religion that has dominated Western culture for nearly 2,000 years
.
This work draws upon historical evidence, especially archeological finds, which has created a revolution in scholarship over the past twenty-five years.

The series challenges familiar assumptions and conventional notions of Christian origins. Through engaging, on-camera interviews with twelve scholars-archaeologists, historians, and New Testament scholars, the series presents their contributions to this intellectual revolution

Together they represent a range of viewpoints, a diversity of faiths, and a shared commitment to bring new ways of thinking about Christianity to a public audience.
“From Jesus to Christ” reveals that Christianity did not develop as a single, uniform and coherent movement, but as one marked by diversity of opinion, practice, and belief.
From the beginning, it was forged by conflict as the early Christians wrestled with Judaism, collided with paganism, challenged the authority of the Roman Empire, and struggled with each other.

The series conveys the early Christians’ attempt to understand Jesus and the meaning of his message and suggests that their ancient world of 2,000 years ago may not be so very different from our own.

The four parts:
1. Jesus in Galilee, John the Baptist, Herod and Pilate
2. From the Crucifixion to the Destruction of the Temple
3. The writing of the Gospels to the 2nd Jewish War 132CE
4. Events up to Nicea 325CE

Join us each Sunday from (date) to (date) as we view this series and discuss.We meet in the Davis Library at 9am each Sunday. All are welcome!

 

 

 

 

 

PARISH NEWS AND NOTES:

CONTRIBUTIONS WERE MADE TO THE THE RECTOR'S DISCRETIONARY FUND by Terry Lynberg, by Ben Card and Corinne Stover and by Marilyn& Bob Whiton in thanksgiving for Michelle, Mitch and Kylie. These funds extends our parish's mission of outreach, providing for such needs as can be helped by financial assistance.

BIBLE STUDY ON ST. PAUL'S LETTER TO THE ROMANS will begin on Wednesday evening, September 15, and continue for fourteen sessions through December 15. We will meet in our Davis Library beginning promptly at 7pm and ending no later than 8:30pm.

We will be using material from the Kerygma program; resource books titled “Romans: A Letter for Today” ($20) are available from Peter
.
The first session is titled “Who was Paul?” Come share who you think Paul was/is and learn what others think based on “Romans: A Letter for Today”!


ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 26TH we will celebrate Saint Michael’s Day with a Ministry Fair on the patio after each service. Please bring a friend to church and share with them all the wonderful things we do at St. Mike’s. This will be an opportunity for you to explore the many commissions at our church and a time to talk to some of the members. Please join us in the celebration.

ON OCTOBER 24, SENIOR MINISTRY PRESENTS a seminar titled Health Care Reform & Medicare led by a speaker from HICAP (Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program)

This in a return engagement of a program held two years ago. HICAP is part of The Council on Aging of Orange County. The Council does not sell, recommend or endorse any insurance product. The volunteers and staff act as impartial educators
We look forward to becoming more enlightened about the changes in Medicare: Sunday, October 24th in All Angels Court at 11:30 A.M. A light lunch will be served.

JAZZ VESPERS, the wonderful first-Sunday-at-four worship program our Friends of Music bring to us every June, is now available on a compact disc. This CD was recorded April 18, 2010, and features the familiar and talented quartet of Putter Smith on bass, Theo Saunders on piano, Kendall Kay on drums, and Fr. Norm Freeman on vibes. They perform “Teach me tonight,” “Someone to watch over me,” “You’ll never walk alone,” “Too marvelous for words,” “Sunny” and more . . . all for only $15 in our Parish Office.

DUTY DRIVERS CORPS The Senior Ministry is looking for a few good men and a few good women to join its elite Duty Drivers Corps.The Corp’s current members are now able to handle the occasional call for a ride to church or a special event. Parishioners who, if they are to attend church regularly, need a ride every Sunday are pretty much on their own.
If Senior Ministry can recruit ten or twelve new DDC members it should be possible to have one or two drivers available for both the 8 and 10 o’clock Sunday worship services.
If you are interested in learning more about this transportation ministry, contact Norm Ewers, Recruiter in Chief, at 949.786.7104 oremail here.

Sundays-at-Nine Between Worship Services In the Davis Library Sept. 5th: No Class (Enjoy Labor Day Weekend) Sept. 12th: A visit with the Holy Adoption & Foster Care Agency—come here about their ministry and the ways in which God’s love is shared in this unique way Sept. 19th: A Look at Saints Michael, Francis, and Claire—who are the saints? Why do we celebrate them? Come learn about our patron, Michael, and our beloveds, Francis & Claire, whom we celebrate on October 3rd. Sept. 26th: No class (Enjoy the Saint Michael’s Day celebration and Ministry Fair!)

SIGN UP FOR ESCRIP at www.escrip,com and designate Saint Michael & All Angels as a group you want to support. Make your everyday purcheses create rewards for our church.Contact Teri Corbet with questions.

BASKETBALL: Available to all in All Angels' Court on Mondays,7-9pm. All are welcome! ...pick-up games ...bring friends! Basketball court footwear only, please. Spread the word!

St. Michael & All Angels First (Annual) Golf Tournament We will be playing a best ball format at Mile Square Golf Course on September 24th with a dinner to follow at the church with our own “Phil at the Grill” Sign ups will begin in June. We are looking for players, hole sponsors, raffle donations and volunteers. Proceeds support the parish So get your golf buddies and get ready for fun, food and fellowship.

SAINT MICHAEL’S NEIGHBORS: We are looking for volunteers for the Senior Ministry group. The requirements are to make a few calls to homebound parishioners, send a few cards and give support to those who need some cheer. We meet on the first Wednesday of each month at 2pm. If interested, please contact Murry McClaren at 714.979.6978 or murrymcclarren@comcast.net..

ACOLYTES NEEDED! Being an Acolyte is a fun and rewarding ministry. And it’s amazing how much you can learn about church! We are currently looking for new adult and youth acolytes; trainings can happen anytime. If you are interested in being an acolyte, please see Fr. Haynes.

NOW THAT OUR NEWSLETTER FOR THE lOVE OF MIKE is only availble at the parish and no longer mailed to you home, you may want to reconsider a subscription to the online version to insure you see all the parish news each month. If so, please send your email address to Susan Beechner

ALL PARISH RETREAT Friday, July 23 - Sunday, July 25, 2010 Hosted by the Brothers of the Order of the Holy Cross at Saint Mary’s Retreat Centerin Santa Barbara. Please see Martha+ for more information or to sign-up.

NEED A RIDE TO CHURCH? Call Norm Ewers (949.786.7104).

BASKETBALL: Available to all in All Angels' Court on Mondays, 7-9pm All are welcome! ...pick-up games ...bring friends! Basketball court footware only, please. Spread the word!

The Men’s Group, READERS AND SEEKERS, meets on Thursdays at 7:30am in the Davis Library to discuss classical and contemporary thought in theology, science and philosophy. All men are invited.

NURSERY CARE for infants through 2 years of age is available in the Parish Center beginning at 9:30 a.m., and Sunday School is available for children from 3 to 13 years.