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Word from the Rector
Jesus, Our One True King
This Sunday is the culmination of the Church Year. It focuses on the unique character of Christ as King. The Gospel speaks about Christ as King--but always undercuts this language, with its assumptions about earthly power and human glory, by showing how Jesus is a servant-king whose glory is mercy.
Christians before the Emperor Constantine were usually looked upon as traitors. By calling upon Jesus as "Lord" these early Christians rejected the claims of earthly sovereigns, tyrants, or generals to be honored above all--and were martyred for it. In every succeeding era something or someone has sought to displace Christ as the object of our greatest loyalty and true Christians have had to confront idolatry anew.
If we are going to confront the corrupt idols of our own day as Christians we must do so not in earthly rage or human strategems. Instead, we must meet the moment with the mercy, compassion, and singleminded-devotion to truth that characterized Christ's life. Only his kingship has the power to overcome death and sin. Only his lordship has the final victory. Let us have no other king but Jesus.
Healing and Return
I am continuing to recover from my sciatic flare, benefiting greatly from good medication and excellent therapy. I am returning to active ministry slowly, building up stamina and trying not to over-do, so I will not be as available as i would generally be over the next weeks.
Thanks go to our Parish Administrator and all those who have worked to make the disruption caused by my health crisis as smooth as possible--you are all fine parish leaders. Thanks also go to Mother Shana McCauley for subbing for me so powerfully last Sunday, and for all of you who are helping me to recover wisely. I am greatly moved by your care and support--and am listening to your advice.
In Christ,
Brandon+
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The Week Ahead...
Thursday, November 20: Edmund, King, 870
- 6 PM: Men's Group (more info)
- 7 PM: Women's Bible Study on Zoom
Friday, November 21: Mechthilde of Hackeborn & Gertrude the Great, Mystics, 1298 & 1302
- Fridays outside of Eastertide, Christmas, and Feasts of our Lord are marked by acts of discipline and self-denial. If you wish to know more about the meaning of this practice and its benefits, please enquire with Fr. Brandon.
- Prep / pre-packing for Healthy Hoover Kids (more info)
Saturday, November 22: Clive Staples Lewis, Apologist and spiritual writer, 1963
- 11 AM: Funeral for Barbara Watson
- 1:30 PM: Packing and distribution for Healthy Hoover Kids (more info)
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+ Sunday, November 23:
Last Sunday after Pentecost | Christ the King
+ 8 AM: Great Litany & Holy Eucharist (said). In-person
+ 9:50 AM: Godly Play and Nursery open
+ 10 AM: Great Litany in Procession & Holy Eucharist (sung).
In-person and online.
Following the 10 AM Liturgy:
+ Coffee Hour in the narthex
+ Youth Forum meets in the Godly Play room
+ The Poetry Group meets in the Adult Ed room. Bring some poetry, or come and listen to what others have to share. New faces are always welcome!
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Monday, November 24: Hugh of Lincoln, Bishop, 1200
- The Parish Office is closed on this day.
Tuesday, November 25: Hilda of Whitby, Abbess, 680
- The Parish Office is open until Noon - Emma will be out on vacation
Wednesday, November 26: Elizabeth of Hungary, Princess, 1231
- The Parish Office is open until Noon - Emma will be out on vacation
- 10 AM: Rite I Holy Eucharist
- 7 PM: Thanksgiving-Eve Service at St Paul’s
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Prayer Requests from this Parish: Liz McClure, Margaret McMurren+, Melinda Filbert, Juanita Rivera, Scott Kohl, Caroline Gilbert, the Teeters family, Jim Whitney, Rorey DeWitt, Stephen Harrison, Father Brandon, Adair Heard, Skip Padrick, Rich Zorko, Family Promise, Salem for Refugees, Mending Wings Youth Ministries. For peace and the many innocent souls caught up in armed conflict. For our nation and the cessation of political violence and partisan division.
For the Departed: Barbara Knighton
For Those who Mourn: The Knighton family
For Those with Birthdays Next Week: Tom Glennen
In the Diocese of Oregon: St. Alban, Tillamook
In the Anglican Communion: The Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
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Notice of the Funeral for Barbara Knighton
The Burial Liturgy for Barbara Knighton will be on Saturday, November 22 at 11 AM, with committal of ashes in the Memorial Garden, followed by a reception in the narthex.
Pray for the repose of the soul of this devoted and faithful servant, and for the family and friends who mourn her.
+ Rest eternal grant her, O Lord, and may light perpetual shine upon her.
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Word from the Pews
- Paula Hartwig
I've done a lot of failing lately. And in the course of that I've learned there are people with whom to fail, and there are people who will not tolerate your failure. Unfortunately, we sometimes pay attention to the latter group more than we should.
But all of this failing and learning has pushed me to pray and ponder the Biblical nature of failure. St. Paul, while he's in prison, speaks about this, I think, in his letter to the Philippians:
And this is my prayer, that your love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help you to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ you may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God.
Philippians 1: 9-11
Why would Paul be telling them this right at the opening of his letter to them? Well, I believe that Paul knew the Philippians, as new Christians, would think that everything would be hunky-dory after they became Christians. Now, the guy who had told them about Jesus was in prison! How could that be Good News? Then Paul goes on to say that, in fact, his imprisonment has helped in the spreading of the Good News to his captors. It wasn't failure, as the Philippians may have been thinking. And Paul certainly knew failure on the Road to Damascus. Paul had learned through awful failure about God's gracious and redeeming love through Christ, and he wanted the Philippians to fix their eyes on that right from the get-go.
Now, I don't know if my failures have helped spread the Good News, but they have certainly helped me, through prayer, to recognize the ordering of God's gifts and His strewing them out among His people in ways that I sometimes don't understand. In my failing, I have learned that I don't have some of the gifts, no matter how much I may want them. It is a hard lesson. And a disappointing one in that being as old as I am, I should know better. But, alas...
In the end, I am grateful (or at least working on it with the aid of our Lord) for failures so that "love may overflow more and more with knowledge and full insight to help me to determine what really matters, so that in the day of Christ I may be pure and blameless, having produced the harvest of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ for the glory and praise of God."
Blessings,
Paula Hartwig
Would you like to submit something to the e-Tidings? Perhaps you have a word of encouragement, or something you are learning that may be of help to others. Send your musings along to mail@sainttimothys.org
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Zoom Recording of Last Sunday's Sermon
Sunday, November 16
Passcode: $9%f%juB
Links will be valid for two weeks.
The Lectionary Readings for this past Sunday can be found here (Track 2).
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Quiet Day Reflections from Bishop Akiyama
At our recent Pre-Advent Quiet Day, the Bishop shared three powerful reflections with those in attendance. You are invited to read these reflections HERE as you prepare yourself for the Advent season.
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This Saturday November 22 will be our distribution day for the thanksgiving break food boxes for families in need at Hoover Elementary. We will be looking for volunteers to:
➢Shop ahead of time (you will have a specific list or item)
➢Set up organizing tables the day before (Friday Nov 21)
➢Prepackage produce the evening before (Friday Nov 21)
➢Pack boxes the day of (starting at 1:30 PM on Saturday)
➢Deliver boxes to families (Saturday afternoon)
We will be contacting people who have helped out in the past, but we also welcome new volunteers at any time. See Elizabeth Gaupo, or look for a sign-up in the narthex. If you can’t volunteer but want to help out, we will need donations of:
➢1-dozen size egg cartons (NOT 18-count)
➢Medium size cardboard boxes to pack food
Thank you! Elizabeth Gaupo | gaupos4@comcast.net | 503-798-8411
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Advent Pancake Brunch
First Sunday of Advent | November 30th
Join us for a time of fellowship as we enter the new liturgical year. This year we will be enjoying pancakes with fixings! This will be hosted in the narthex (hopefully the last event to be hosted here!) following the 10 AM liturgy. There is still a need for help providing some pancake fixings and with set-up / clean-up. Set-up will be There are sign-up sheets in the narthex. Contact A ngela Vecchi-Miller if you have any questions about volunteering. We will have greenery and candles available for advent wreath making, as well as some wreath forms. Please bring your own form if possible.
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Advent Gift / Toy Drive
 This year we are supporting families living at Church at the Park’s Family Shelter. We will be donating gifts for their Christmas Gift Pod—an on-site “shop” where parents and children can choose gifts for one another and have them wrapped ready to exchange at Christmas. This approach offers families a sense of dignity and agency, as well as adding some festive joy to the Family Shelter site. You will find a list of gift recommendations in the narthex to take home with you. We will be collecting gifts on Sunday, December 7 and 14, with a blessing of gifts at the 10 AM service on the 14. |
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Family Promise
Our next Family Promise rotation is the second week of December. St. Timothy’s is responsible for providing meals, evening hosts and overnight hosts on Tuesday December 9th and Wednesday December 10th. There will be a signup sheet is in the narthex. Please contact Steve Cowgill if you have any questions or would like to learn more about this ministry.
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This group will meet tomorrow, Thursday, November 20th at 6 PM. We usually share a meal together, followed by a time of discussion led by the host around a particular theme or topic, and ending with Compline. If you would like more information about the group please contact Ron DeWilde, Steve Cowgill or Chuck McFerron.
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Merriment at the Monastery
A festive offering at Mt Angel Abbey
Saturday, December 6th
Christmas Fair, 2 - 3:30 PM
Pipe Organ Concert, 4 PM
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From Your Parish Librarian
Come let us drift back into the 6th century in our traditional, leather coracle and ask Spirit to float us to new places of Christ, born anew in our lives as we pilgrimage with the Celtic Saint of this second week of Celts to the Creche . . . .
God be with us at each stop and each sea;
At each lying down and each rising up;
In the trough of the waves;
On the crest of the billows;
Each step of the journey we take.
St Columbanus (c543-November 21, 615) - not to be mistaken for St Columba, the Irish missionary who spread Christianity to Scotland. Indeed, this is St Columbanus who was an Irish missionary who spread Christianity to Western Europe, and he made friends with a bear—but the Librarian has jumped ahead of herself so forget that until the end of this article.
Columbanus’ mother, in a dream she had while she was pregnant with him, saw a light spread throughout the world, and she knew her baby was meant be a missionary of Christ.
Columbanus was relatively late to his vocation, 45; yet he still had 27 years to evangelize the unbelievers and founded monasteries in France, Switzerland and in Italy before he died at 72.
His monasteries followed strict rules that were were replaced by the less severe Rule of St Benedict after Columbanus died.
The Rule of Columbanus included:
—Immediate and absolute obedience to superiors.
—Eat what is prepared and do the work assigned without complaint or comment.
—No personal possessions and whether gifts might be received, were at the discretion of a senior monk or the Abbot.
—No talking except for business, and never any talk of worldly matters.
—Prayer is practiced continuously “until tears or perspiration come.”
St Francis of Assisi lived for awhile as a monk at Columbanus’ monastery in Italy. Perhaps this is when he developed his love for God’s creation: learning from a teacher who lived in harmony with nature and had his own furry fan base (referencing the bear story at the end that you haven’t yet read).
The Venerable Bede and Jonas, a monk at Columbanus’ monastery in Italy, Bobbio, wrote about his sense of humor and that he used puns and wordplay in his writings. In a letter he wrote to Pope Boniface IV, encouraging him to action: “Be vigilant, I beg you Pope, be vigilant, and again I say, be vigilant; since Vigilius [Boniface’s predecessor] was not very vigilant [the meaning of the name Vigilius].”
Columbanus’ writings express his Irish identity, but significantly, also his European self awareness. In a letter to Gaulish [French and Belgian] clerics on this theme of unity among the European Churches, Columbanus reminded them that in the Church, national allegiance and racial identity have been superseded, but not replaced, by spiritual identity, “for we are all joint members of one Body, whether Franks or Britons or Irish or whatever our races be.”
Leadership was a matter of service to others. Problems start, Columbanus taught, when leaders seek personal ambition instead of selflessly exercising their influence to guide those over whom they have been given authority. He instructed his students to see power as an opportunity for personal development. For this reason, Columbanus believed that monks make the best spiritual guides as they are detached from the world.
Now we close with the story about the bear:
From time to time St Columbanus would withdraw from the world by living in a cave. During one of his retreats, St Columbanus became aware that a bear was also dwelling in the same cave. By all reports, the two mutually respected each other’s personal space with St Columbanus living as he taught: “Christians must live in perpetual pilgrimage as guests of the world,” and the bear doing his thing which did not include eating St Columbanus.
Now it is time for use to drag our imaginary coracles onto the shore and rest from our pilgrimage until next week at this time.
—Bonnie Bonham—Parish Librarian—
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+ At the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Timothy our Patron, and all the Holy Saints of God, may you be strengthened for service, showing forth the glory of God in all you do, think, and say. Amen.
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