Women of the Word, Sept. 30

Today’s class started on a high note when Marty Hallas brought in a pan of fresh, hot beignets. We enjoyed them mightily as the Canterbury students in the Parish Hall were learning about healthy living. After beignets, we worked through Genesis 5 and part of 6. We continued to emphasize that Genesis is a book of theology written in ancient Mesopotamia. It is not a “history” as defined by contemporary standards.

Genesis 5 is mostly the work of the Priestly writer. The writer briefly retells the creation of “humankind” in the likeness of God. However, when Adam has a son, Seth, the son is only in the likeness of his human father, not God. (Cain and Abel are missing from this genealogy.) Mankind has fallen from its original state. Most of Genesis 5 is a genealogy showing the importance of the first born, even though much of the book of Genesis will deal with the preference of the younger over the older.

Genesis 6 introduces some surprises, particularly the “sons of God” who take wives from the daughters of men, who bore children to them. It also tells that “Nephilim” lived on the earth in those days. There is no clear explanation of these creatures, but perhaps the non-Priestly writers were trying to say corruption had reached beyond all bounds.

The non-Priestly writer then goes on to make an important statement. God was sorry that he had made mankind, as the evil of mankind “grieved him to his heart”. Unlike the Mesopotamian gods, humans matter to the God of Genesis. Good or bad, God cares about his creation.

Noah is introduced as a righteous man. This concept of righteousness had to do with correct actions. Noah lived in such a way as to “fit” into the order of God’s creation. He does not break relationships between God and neighbor so as to disrupt God’s intended order.

We also looked at an interesting comparison of the Genesis flood story and the flood story from the Mesopotamian Gilgamesh epic.

Submitted by Barbara Suhar

From the men's bible study, Sept. 29

Lamentations 1:1-6. The beginning of the lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of thousands of the leading citizens of Judah. "Her foes have become her masters because the Lord has made her suffer for the multitude of her transgressions."
-Lamentations contains songs or poems helping to bring healing to a people whose city, Jerusalem, was utterly destroyed as if hundreds of bombs had exploded inside it. The five poems in Lamentations sought to help the people cope with the pain of what had happened. Just as we have hymns, other acts of worship, 9/11 memorials, and even crying at funerals in order to get the grief out, so these laments served as a kind of catharsis or cleansing

2 Timothy 1:1-14. Paul's greeting and opening exhortation in the second letter: Remember who you are, rekindle the gift in you, don't be afraid. There is no shame in suffering when it comes from trusting the Lord.

Luke 17:5-10. Jesus teaches on faith and authority. The disciples ask for more faith; Jesus says they need a different kind. They appear to want power; Jesus tells them to act as slaves.

-But the required faith is faith in God -- not faith in self or money or weapons or raw power or people. The power behind the faith that Jesus mentions here is God's power, and it is faith in God that allows us to appropriate that power.

-Matthew's version, the more familiar one, speaks of moving a mountain instead of uprooting a tree. In Luke's version, Jesus speaks of uprooting a mulberry tree -- and planting it in the sea. The point is that faith, even in small quantities, has great power. The person of faith taps into God's power, which makes all things possible -- even moving trees (difficult) and causing them to grow in saltwater (impossible). It is not our faith that works these wonders, but the God who stands behind our faith.
Submitted by Dick Nelson

From the Outreach Committee

FOOD FOR FAMILIES

The response to St. Thomas’ new Outreach ministry FOOD FOR FAMILIES has been impressive in the first few weeks since its introduction. Hundreds and hundreds of food items have been collected and the goal set by the Outreach Committee of 1000 items per month certainly seems achievable. The Outreach Committee has pledged to keep in close touch with food bank operators so that St. Thomas members can be regularly informed about which food items are most needed. Please know that food items like rice and beans, pasta, pizza and baby food are always appropriate and remember to bring your items to any of our five weekend services as part of our offering of thanksgiving to God.

It's Gospel, starting Sunday Oct. 3 at 9 am

IT’S GOSPEL
(OR NOT)
AND OTHER MUSINGS
A voyage through the four primary gospels, with a discussion of who, what, why and when they were composed and published, along with an examination of the principal differences and divergences of each.

Presented by (in alphabetical order):
Walter Jaap, Dick Nelson, C.O. Ritch, Bill Thomas and Liz Stiles have agreed to lead a Sunday morning education hour beginning Oct. 3 and continuing through Nov. 28. Walt, Dick, C.O., Bill and Liz had considerable success in years past leading Bible discussions at St. Thomas and they have all graciously agreed to resume leadership in this important ministry. Their tentative plan is to study those stories, parables and sayings that are common to the 3 synoptic gospels and make comparisons and point out distinctions.
Presenter, Oct.3: C.O. Ritch

Altar flowers September 2010

Sunday, Sept.26
The Altar Flowers were given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Dorothy Layton and Richard C. and Vivian Davis by Rene Clark and Richard Davis. Flower Guild designers: Pam Holley and Susan Lahey.




Sunday, Sept.19
The Altar Flowers were given to the Glory of God and in thanksgiving for Bettina Schuller by Chris Schuller. Flower Guild designers:Barby Field and Teri Coryell.



Sunday, Sept.12
The Altar Flowers were given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Robert Park, Jr., M.D. by Elizabeth P. Walters-Alison and In loving memory of Peg Green by Her Family. Flower Guild designer: Keith Tulloch.



Sunday, Sept.5
The Altar Flowers were given to the Glory of God and in loving memory of Nina and Eugene L. Williams, Sr. by Miriam and Gene Williams. Flower Guild designers: Ellie Frazier and Marilyn Lanctot.



Photographed and submitted by Elizabeth Walters-Alison, Flower Guild Chair

Women of the Word, Sept. 23

We began our study of Genesis 4 with the word Separation. The disobedience to God's command in the Garden of Eden was the beginning of the separation between man and God. That also resulted in the separation of Male and Female when they realized they were naked and they were clothed in different ways by themselves and God. They were created male and female, but were both in the image of God and had a relationship with God as individuals. After the Fall the separation of the sexes widened as God and they dealt with their disobedience.

Genesis 4 is the story of Adam and Eve's first children Cain and Abel, and many other separations occurred as their story unfolded. The most obvious is Brother against Brother. Though Cain was born first, Abel was favored by God which led to the separation of Younger over Older. Abel kept flocks and Cain worked the soil. Religion entered in verse 3 when Cain the farmer brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. This is the first ritual recorded in the Genesis story. Abel the shepherd brought fat portions from some of the first-born of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering and not on Cain and his offering. Cain was very angry. God confronted him regarding his anger and said that sin was crouching at his door, but he must master it. Instead he invited Abel out to the field where he killed him.

The Lord knew that Cain had killed Abel but, when asked where Abel was Cain responded with the question we well know, "Am I my brother's keeper?" Abel's blood called out to the Lord from the ground from which man was created, and the Lord cursed Cain and drove him from the ground. No longer would the ground yield its crops for him and he would be a restless wanderer on the earth. He never said he was sorry but feared that someone would kill him. The Lord put a mark on Cain (was this a tattoo?) so that no one who found him would kill him, and he went out from the Lord's presence. Another Separation between Any Man and All Men. In that day in Mesopotamia there was rampart killing between men and tribes. Vengeance was the rule of the day.

In the land of Nod, east of Eden, Cain went to build a city which he named after his son Enoch. Among his descendants, all of which I won't name, were Jabal who was the father of those who live in tents and raise livestock, Jubal was the father of all who play the harp and flute and Tubal-Cain who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron. Their father Lamech bragged about the vengeance he would show to other men and, as the world was becoming more populated, it was NOT becoming more civilized, at least not by the descendants of Cain.

Meantime, Adam and Eve had another son Seth, and Adam said, "God has granted me another child in place of Abel, since Cain killed him". Seth also had a son he named Enosh. At that time men began to call on the name of the Lord. We look ahead to Genesis 5, From Adam to Noah and Genesis 6, The Flood.
submitted by Marty Hallas

Octoberfest at St Thomas

pictures submitted by Elizabeth Walters

From the men's bible study, Sept.22

Jeremiah 32:1-3a, 6-15.
Jeremiah buys land in Jerusalem during the siege while he was imprisoned as a pledge and prophetic sign that "Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land."

1 Timothy 6:6-19.
Paul calls on Timothy not to pursue riches but to be content with the abundant grace and supply of God, whatever that may be. What he should pursue is "righteouness, godliness, endurance, faith, love and gentleness," and to teach the rich in the Christian communities around Ephesus to do likewise.

Luke 16:19-31.
The rich man and Lazarus.

Jeremiah has taken us all over the map emotionally: Two weeks ago, winds of destruction. Last week, tears of grief and pain. This week, we watch him make a property transaction in an already besieged land doomed to conquest as a sign of hope for a resettlement some day. He hears about a property transaction that is available to him. He hears about it first from God. Then his cousin shows up offering the transaction, exactly as the voice of God had said. What else can he do but purchase the title? After he purchases it, he seems to understand the meaning of it. This was no random act, no simple bizarre investment in a market about to bottom out completely. Jeremiah was not being conned by God or his cousin. This purchase was a sign of something else: That this land would be inhabited by descendents of its current inhabitants some day.

We've reached the end of the first of the two letters addressed to Timothy with this week's reading. Mission in the world requires that we deal with money. Mission in the world but not of it requires that our disciplines with money reflect the priorities of the kingdom of God rather than the kingdoms of the world. Paul reminds Timothy and through him the Christians living around Ephesus. We have a charge to keep, a calling to fulfill regarding money. That others do not know this charge or follow this calling doesn't excuse us from doing so ourselves. Having wealth for Paul was not a moral problem, per se. In the culture he inhabited, wealth most generally simply happened, either through inheritance or luck. That is very different than in much of the current scene and capitalist economics, where the vast majority of wealth is obtained and built through individuals and the companies pursuing it. So Paul has nothing bad to say about wealthy people per se in his time. Instead, Paul admonishes Timothy to guide wealthy disciples of Jesus to "do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share."

Today's story from Luke, "Lazarus and the Rich Man," is probably a familiar one, even to persons with only marginal associations with the Christian faith or the Bible. The rich man (who goes unnamed!) tries to tell Abraham to tell Lazarus (a poor man who HAS a name!) to get him some water. Some folks think they run the world! The voice of Abraham is also ironic when he responds to the rich man with perhaps the very same kinds of justifications for not helping him that the rich man used to justify not helping Lazarus. The finale isn't a blow simply to the rich, however. It strikes against any who read Scripture to privilege themselves above others. In God's kingdom, as even Moses and the prophets were saying to those who had ears to hear, the poor are blessed, the hungry are fed, the naked are clothed, the sick are cared for and healed. If you're not doing that, and thinking you can justify yourself by your social standing or theological knowledge, you must be in some other kingdom. Even someone rising from the dead might not be able to convince you otherwise.
submitted by Dick Nelson

Octoberfest, Friday, Sept.24

Oktoberfest 2010
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Join us for a Grande Celebration
Friday, September 24th
6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Authentic German Buffet* Band
*Crafters* Children’s Activities
Prices: $8 per adult
$5 per child (11 years & older)
with a maximum of $25 per family







Confirmation class continues, Sept. 26 at 9am in the Guild room




If you...
• wish to be confirmed;
• have come to the Episcopal Church from another
Christian tradition and want to be received into the
Episcopal Church;
• have already been confirmed but would like to reaffirm your faith;
• would simply like to learn more about the Christian faith and the Episcopal
Church;
Then consider joining us for an 8-week confirmation class on Sunday mornings from
9-9:45 a.m. in the Guild Room for both adults and youth. We will meet each Sunday
morning from September 19th-October 24th. Those who wish may be confirmed,
received, or can reaffirm their faith in a special service on Sunday, October 24th at
4 p.m. when Bishop Smith will make his annual visit to St. Thomas.

Women of the Word, Sept. 16

This week we explored Genesis 3. Building on the lessons of the first two chapters which are that God created everything and it was good, we now come to the fall of mankind and the strained relationships that endures to this day between snakes and women. Or at least, this particular woman.

Things were good. Things were very, very good in the Garden of Eden. But the snake, God’s most cunning creature, decided to stir up the pot as it were and told Eve that if she ate the fruit from the one tree that God asked her not to that not only would she and Adam NOT die, but they would become God-like and know good from evil. Stopping right there for a moment it is clear that Eve DIDN’T know good from evil or else she would have known the snake was evil. It was a no win situation. As we know, Eve ate and also offered a bite to Adam who, even though it would seem he was standing right there while the snake pulled a fast one, ate anyhow.

Then God showed up. Like a benevolent but disappointed parent who knows their kid has been under-age drinking, God gives the couple a chance to come clean. Adam confesses but like many a teenage boy he blames others (God and Eve) for his bad choices. “The woman you put here with me gave me the fruit, and I ate.” Eve immediately blames the snake. It was all very finger pointy and very little maturity.

Justice was swift. God pronounced that the snake would forever crawl on it's belly and eat dust. Which made us all wonder did the snake start out with legs and God took them back for what he had done? To the woman God said “I will increase your trouble in pregnancy and your pain in giving birth” which I read it to mean that we were already going to have pain. This parts company with many an argument I have had in bars at 3am that blame the fall of mankind on Eve and point erroneously to the idea that before the apple childbirth was going to be pain free and after the apple, misery. Oh and Adam got to name Eve and be the boss of her and the only consequence of his actions was he was going to have to work the land hard and not expect much in the way of harvest.

Adam and Eve had tried to hide their fruit eating escapades by sewing fig leaves together which I can only imagine Eve did most of the work or at least sewed all the buttons on. God, because he loved them even in their error of judgment, gave them fur skins to wear. And then escorted them out of the Garden of Eden and placed angels with flaming swords at the entrance so that they would be unable to return thus creating the earth’s first gated community.

The most important thing to remember is that "God is good". Evil occurs in the absence of God. It is us who leave God. He will never leave us. He loves us always.

submitted by Diana Lucas Leavengood

From the men's bible study, Sept 15.

Men’s Bible Study Group: Jeremiah 8:18-9:1; 1 Timothy 2: 1-7; Luke 16:1-13

Thanks to all for some lively mind stimulation.

We explored the parable of the unjust steward, or the dishonest manger or, as William Barkley calls it, “the bad man’s good example from Luke. The players in the story include the steward, managing an estate of an absentee landlord; a not so honest landlord; the group of folks that rented and tilled the estate. The steward was shrewd and impressed the landlord by discounting. Some of the things that we pondered over included:

Why do we put so much time and effort into securing worldly goods that ultimately are extra baggage that we leave behind? From Barkley’s commentary, “A man’s true wealth consists not in what he acquires, but what he gives away.”
Possessions are a great responsibility, how we use them unselfishly or selfishly say much about whom we are and our priorities.
We are stewards over the things of earth; we can use them wisely and benefit others.
Serving God is not part-time work; the analogy of trying to serve two masters emphasizes the difficulty that talking the talk, but not walking the walk brings to bear.

Our Bible study group meets on Wed., 7:00 - 8:00 AM, Guild Room, coffee and Danish are provided. (Thanks Don Saunders for all the weeekly goodies from Panera.) Come and join in.
submitted by Walt Jaap

Acolyte training and All Youth pool party

Come join us on Sunday September 19th for Acolyte training. We will meet in the Sanctuary at 11:30AM. Being an acolyte can be rewarding & a great way to make new friends. After training, we will go to the All Youth Pool party at the rectory for some fellowship & fun in the sun.
submitted by Jennifer Rogers

From the Outreach Committee

The Outreach Committee met on Tuesday evening and acknowledged the donations of $500 to help Resurrection House with roof repairs and $500 to assist the St. Petersburg Free Clinic in purchase of Diabetic Test Strips. These monies came from funds generated by last April's Golf Tournament. Bill Thomas is investigating the involvement of the Committee in this year's Tournament on April 14th.

Marla Hicks reported that 246 items have been collected in August for Food for Families for the St. Petersburg Free Clinic Food Bank but stressed that we need to bring in more food to achieve the 1000 item challenge set by the committee. We all appreciate her willingness to deliver these goods to the Free Clinic and Bill Thomas has offered to help with this project. Hardy Bryan continues to provide publicity for Pam to insert into Tidings and St. Thomas Scoop.

All members are actively involved in projects to better the community in the name of St. Thomas' parishioners. If you have suggestions or questions, please see one of the members of the committee or stop by our table at the Ministry Fair on September 26th.
submitted by Toni Calabrese

U2CHARIST, Sept 12

See how much fun it was for church members and visitors of all ages and read what Gina White experienced during the U2CHARIST:





















This Sunday in the Parish Hall we were able to commune with each other and celebrate Grace during the special U2charist service. U2 has an abundance of popular songs that many of us are familiar with or of which we know the lyrics. Instead of singing alone in our cars, today we sang together as a congregation - really listening to the words, and allowing the Spirit to help us come to a deeper understanding of Him. We heard: With or Without You, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Pride, and Elevation, after which we watched a video of the song Grace. Father Chris acknowledged that much "ink has been spilled" in an attempt to define Grace, but, he posed that it may be an easier task to accomplish in song:

Grace
She takes the blame
She covers the shame
Removes the stain
It could be her name

Grace
It's a name for a girl
It's also a thought that changed the world
And when she walks on the street
You can hear the strings
Grace finds goodness in everything

Grace, she's got the walk
Not on a ramp or on chalk
She's got the time to talk
She travels outside of karma
She travels outside of karma
When she goes to work
You can hear her strings
Grace finds beauty in everything

Grace, she carries a world on her hips
No champagne flute for her lips
No twirls or skips between her fingertips
She carries a pearl in perfect condition

What once was hurt
What once was friction
What left a mark
No longer stings
Because grace makes beauty
Out of ugly things

Grace makes beauty out of ugly things

Crucifixion was an ugly thing, but God turned it into beauty with the Resurrection. We may have pain and brokenness now in our personal lives, our communities, nations, and the world, but each of these things will eventually become whole again through Grace.

Women of the Word, Sept. 9

Although Genesis 2 is the second part of this book, it is the earlier version. The Jews in Mesopotamia where all creation stories emanate. The Jews were tolerant of each others' views as to the creation story, which was good because, being in fairly close quarters, they needed to get along. This feeling is not exactly rampant today.
This version of creation is the "J" version, the writer having an anthropomorphic point of view wherein God walks and talks and is a friend to the writer. There are clues as to the author of each version. The "P" or priestly writer of Genesis 1, which includes all of 4 A is a very orderly writer, with Day one, Day two, etc. His mention of the word "generations" is a sign of his hand at work. Clues to the writings of "J" are his use of upper case letters for "LORD" and the word "Elohim" for the plural of God. This is the only place in scripture that the two words are used together.
The Garden of Eden, surprisingly, was probably in Iraq. Cush was Arabia or Ethiopia. In this version, God creates order out of chaos. He brings water to the desert, the opposite of the "A" version of creation. This God creates Man first, whereby in the priestly or "P" version, Mankind is the last to be created, and his sex is not mentioned. "J"' Man, called "Ish," created from the mud, is given hand in everything. God lets him name the animals, thereby giving him dominion over them. He is master of the garden, created to till it. When God decides man needs a partner, He creates Woman, or "Ish Shah" from Adam's rib, thereby giving him dominion over her.
This is a story of need: The soil needs a garden; the garden needs tilling; man needs a helper.
The two creation stories are contradictory, but they had two themes in common :
God made everything.
Creation is good.
Stay tuned. It gets even better. And especially when Barbara tells it.
submitted by Deenie Miller

Comparing Creation Stories from Women of the Word, Sept. 2 and 9

P – Genesis 1 JE – Genesis 2
Where is the “place” of creation?
What is the “duration” of creation?
By what “means” does God do the creating?
What is the sequence in which God does the creating?
When is the male created? Of what substance?
When is the female created? Of what “substance”?
What is the relationship between male and female?
What is the relationship between God and human beings?

From the men's bible study, Sept.8

Great leadership and steering by John Suhar- thanks to all those in attendance for their thoughts and discussion. We welcome men to join us in this interesting review and discussion on Sunday’s Old Testament, New Testament, and Gospel readings; we also offer up prayers for those in need. We meet Wednesday, 7 AM in the Guild Room, coffee & great Danish are provided.



Luke’s story (Luke 15:1-15)includes a much beloved parable: The Lost Sheep and the Sheppard’s Joy. Jesus used this story to explain his ultimate position to the Pharisees that he came to save the sinners not the righteous. At a dinner with tax collectors (a despised group) and local religious leaders Jesus warns the Pharisees that a good Sheppard will do whatever it takes to find a lost sheep and finds great joy in finding the missing. Where are our lost sheep? What must we do to find them?



Most of our discussion focused on the harsh prophesies of Jeremiah (4:11-12, 22-28). The Prophet remained in Judah while the Judeans were captives in Babylon. His words speak to the unrepentant. The dry wind may be a reference to the Chaldean army which invaded and destroyed vast regions of Judea. In the context of today and current events the message has relevance; the unrepentant continue in their ways, oblivious to their failings. “I looked, and lo, the fruitful land was a desert and all the cities were laid in ruins before the Lord.” There is a possibility for the repentant, but the words indicate difficult times.



Timothy brings a message of encouragement “Christ came to save sinners.” Paul is preaching to Timotheus of Lystra and Bercea, one of Paul’s converts. He accompanied Paul on several missionary journeys. At the time Paul was giving Timothy instruction on avoiding heretics and to promote love, purity, uprightness, and faith. Paul is grateful to Christ for all he has done to save him in spite of his shortcomings and sins. The repentant are welcome. Are we open to receive those who repent and want to lead a new life in Christ?
submitted by Walt Jaap

Saturday night service ,Sept. 4

The Cost of Discipleship

In Saturday evening’s service, Father John and the congregation discussed the difficult Gospel passage from Luke 14:25-33. There was general agreement that at least superficially, if not more fundamentally, it is hard to reconcile Jesus’ message of love with his words directing us to hate our family and ourselves.

Father John acknowledged the challenges this passage represents for us, but framed Jesus’ surprising words in the context of Matthew 10:37, reading this as more of a warning from Jesus regarding the cost of discipleship that our devotion to God must surpass the love of even those we love most. His planning metaphors reflect his desire for our appreciation of this cost before we just “mindlessly” follow as we might assume many in the large crowd to whom he was speaking at the time might have been doing. His allusion to the cross not only foreshadowed his own fate, but that of those who follow him as his disciples. It is a challenging passage, but clearly Jesus wants all of his followers to understand the cost of discipleship before we undertake our journey with him.
submitted by Mike White

Women of the word

The Women of the Word gathered together on Thursday morning to begin our study of Genesis. Barbara Suhar, our Bible study leader, described the need for us to view the Old Testament with the culture, history, and traditions of the ancient Hebrew in mind.

Genesis Chapter 1, the account of Creation, can be described as more than a biological description of our universe, moreover, it, along with the rest of the book of Genesis, is a beautiful promise of our future. Chapter 1 is laid out symmetrically, which is typical in Hebrew writings:

"building the house"
Day 1: light
Day 2: sky and sea
Day 3: land

"decorating the house"
Day 4: celestial bodies
Day 5: sea creatures & birds
Day 6: land animals & people

Days 1, 2 and 3 are those during which God "built the house," and Days 4, 5, and 6 are those during which God "decorated it." The end of each of the 6 days is concluded with the recurring sentence "and there was evening, and there was morning - the (x) day." There is one significant omission where this phrase was not used - the 7th day, which God blessed, made holy, and on which He rested. It could be said that this day has not been "completed," which begs the question - could our present time be the "7th day?" Given our understanding of God's relative treatment of time (e.g., "a day is like a thousand years and a thousand years are like a day"), if this interpretation holds, then we might still be living the Genesis story, an extension of God's promise for His creation. It's a thought-provoking way to look at Genesis. Come join us on Thursdays at 9 am to learn more about God's exciting Word.
submitted by Gina White

Tammy Zybura joins the staff of St. Thomas!

The Rector and Vestry of St. Thomas are pleased to announce that Ms. Tammy Zybura has joined our staff on a part-time basis. Although her title is still under consideration, Tammy was already hard at work today, bringing order, joy and enthusiasm to everything she touched. Please be intentional about welcoming Tammy and supporting her in all her new tasks that she will be doing in addition to her volunteer work with our youth. We are truly blessed to have Tammy on staff!