ST. ANDREW, MARYVILLE
A Celtic prayer seen in a recent parish newsletter: “Before me in the planned shape of the day, I look for unexpected surges of new life. Around me in the people whom I know and love, I look for unopened gifts of promise. Within me in the familiar sanctuary of my own soul, I look for shinings of the everlasting life. Before me, around me, within me I look for your life-giving mystery, O God. Before me, around me, within me: Be still and be aware of God’s presence within and all around.”
THANKFUL MEMORIAL, CHATTANOOGA
Seen in a recent parish newsletter:
Robin Williams’ Top 10 Reasons to be an Episcopalian: 10) No snake handling.
9) You can believe in dinosaurs. 8) Male and female God created them;
male and female we ordain them. 7) You don’t have to check your brain
at the door. 6) Pew aerobics (That’s kneeling ...). 5) The church year
is color-coded. 4) Free wine on Sunday. 3) All of the pageantry, none
of the guilt. 2) You don’t have to know how to swim to be baptized. And
1) No matter what you believe, there’s bound to be at least one other
Episcopalian who agrees with you.
ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI, OOLTEWAH
Seen in a recent parish newsletter, a reminder from the Rev. Buckley Robbins, rector: “As a part of new federal privacy regulations (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – HIPAA for short) you will be asked upon admission to the hospital if you want to be included in the hospital directory. You will need to be listed in the directory for the hospital to release your name, room number and general condition to clergy, friends or in some cases even family members. You also will need to give us permission to share information about you with the congregation. Like so many other things in life, HIPAA calls on us to work together for the welfare and benefit of all.”
VALLE CRUCIS CONFERENCE CENTER
This N.C. retreat center’s newletter published a quote by the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, Archbishop of Canterbury: “Know there is something beyond anxiety and fear. God is to be trusted: You don’t have to struggle endlessly in order to be loved.”
ST. MATTHEW, DAYTON
Seen in a recent parish newsletter: “I knelt to pray, but not for long; I had too much to do. I had to hurry and get to work, for bills would soon be due. So I knelt and said a hurried prayer and jumped up off my knees. My Christian duty was now done; my soul could rest at ease. All day long, I had no time to spread a word of cheer; no time to speak of Christ to friends – they’d laugh at me, I feared. No time, no time, too much to do – that was my constant cry. No time to give to souls in need, but at last the time to die. I went before the Lord; I came, I stood with downcast eyes. For in His hands, God held a book; it was the Book of Life. God looked into his book and said, “Your name I cannot find. I once was going to write it down … but never found the time.”
ST. COLUMBA, BRISTOL
Seen in a recent parish newsletter: Do you ever wonder why the sun lightens hair but darkens skin? Why you never see the headline, “Psychic Wins Lottery”? Why Noah didn’t swat those two mosquitoes?
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