A Story for All Hallows Eve

by Sarah Nyhan

Many years ago, there lived people who believed that there were spirits everywhere.  There were spirits in every rock and tree, in the sky and in the earth.  The people thought that some of these spirits were kind and generous, and some could be mean and hurtful  As the people moved through each year, they would offer their thanks to these spirits when things went well, and would perform special ceremonies to keep spirits happy so they would not do them harm

In the fall of the year, people would harvest their crops and prepare for the long winter ahead.  They knew they were passing from the time of light and long days that was the summer to the time of darkness and long nights in the winter

This was a time to celebrate the coming of a new year, to give thanks for the harvest, and also to remember all of their ancestors who had died.  Some believed the spirits might show themselves during harvest celebrations, so they would build bonfires and light lanterns to frighten any mischievous spirits away.  Some of these lanterns were made from turnips and gourds that had been a part of the harvest.  Some people wore masks and costumes so that naughty spirits would not recognize them and play tricks on them.  Sometimes these traditions were fun and sometimes they were scary.

When the church began, its followers set out to spread the word of God to people everywhere.  The church wanted to show people that there was only ONE God for them to worship, one God everywhere and in everything. 

Just as those early people had done, the church had set aside a day to remember all of our ancestors who had died, and they set the date of their celebration to fall at the end of the harvest.  The church called this All Saint’s Day – a time to remember all the special believers who came so close to God – those whose names we know and those whose names we don’t.  Some continued to dress up on the night before All Saint’s or All Hallows Day - called All Hallows Eve - and they might go to their neighbors’ houses.  They began a practice of collecting treats called “soul cakes” and would say a prayer for the ancestors of those who gave them the treats. 

As time passed, many people traveled from countries in Europe to live in what is now the United States – where we live.  They brought many traditions with them, which then changed over time.  All Hallows Eve we now call Halloween.  The gourd lanterns are now Jack o’Lanterns, made from the plentiful pumpkins that grow here.  Dressing up and collecting soul cakes is now a time for children to dress up in costumes and collect candy – what we call trick or treating.

Mostly people think all of this is just for fun – though people still might find parts of it a little scary.

We don’t need to be afraid though, for God is with us, and all of the celebrating should really be for God, and for all of the heroes and saints of the church who have come before us.

God watches over us every night of the year – including the night of Halloween..

Dear God

Thank you God for all of the good food that you provide for us, and for all of those who work to harvest it.

We give you thanks for all those who have come before us, for all those who walk beside us, and all those who will follow in our footsteps as we try our best to come close to God and listen for his directions.

AMEN

Why we sing - reflections from the St. Paul's Choir

When choir members were asked why they sing in the choir, their responses reflect their diverse experiences and overwhelming joy at sharing their gifts and love of music.

Many people spoke of the joy and the peace that singing brings them – a sense of being closer to God. Others shared their love of the fellowship in the choir – a sense of belonging.  And many feel that their singing is the best way for them to be a part of the worship service – a sense of purpose.

We offer here their testimonies, and thank them for the blessing of their service to St. Paul’s.

“We sang around a piano after dinner my last three years in college, and I've loved it since then. For days after my mother died I listened to the phrase from Handel, "My yoke is easy, my burden is light."  Now every anthem I sing reminds me of that healing experience. A choir is little foretaste of being in heaven.” - Chris Dornin

I can give you a quick reason why I sing in the choir.  It feeds my soul.  Plain and simple, but it also allows me an opportunity to be surrounded by a wonderful group people who share a faith and love of God and music. - Sarah Dickinson

People worship in many ways, mine is singing in the choir.  It brings me a sense of enjoyment, peace and pride to know that we are an integral part of the worship service at St. Paul’s

 – Jean Barnes

For me the choir is a chance to work with my family of Christian brothers and sisters to create something beautiful to honor God each Sunday. Whenever I play or sing I try to think of it as giving a Concert for God! - Catharine Dornin

I sing in the choir because I feel God when I sing. …any challenges in my life seem to melt away-I'm at peace. … I also feel a sense of community with the choir. Whenever I have been in the congregation, I don't feel the belonging that I do sitting up in the choir loft. Besides, we get a really good view of everyone and what they are doing! - Catherine Denoncourt

I joined the choir because my sister and I use to sing together in a choir when we were kids. She died 8 yrs ago. It makes me feel close to her when I sing in the choir. The people in the choir at St. Paul's are friendly and welcoming. And Mark, of course, is great, especially when he praises us after singing well. I love that. Singing brings joy to my heart. - Stacey Baston

I listen carefully to the words of the prayers and the readings; I try to hear what the Spirit is saying.  When I hear the music, I listen with my heart to feel what the Spirit is saying.  My church has recently given me the gift of being welcomed into our choir.  Even though I am a pew songster never learning to read notes or schooled in music, I have been given more than enough help and encouragement to raise my tenor voice in praise on Sunday morning.  Mark has kindly made a cd of the tenor parts for ALL of the music we will sing!  And, I stand next to wonderful men and women who lead me in the melody. 

Most of all, being new in the choir, I watch those who have been here for years, the bonds and love that has grown between them.  I know that together we raise a precious sound that God hears, a sound grounded in exquisite harmony and beautiful tone.  Given the love that flows between us, the music that gently moves the hearts of those who hear us, and the prayers that we sing to God to bless us, how can I keep from singing?  - Carol Flavin-Veenstra

I joined the choir after my children went to college and I had to sit alone in church and felt very lonely. I joined the choir after having not sung for over 25 years. Now I have a family of people who welcome me, right notes or wrong notes, and support me in more ways than I could have ever imagined. CHOIR IS FAMILY!  - Edie Perkins

One does not have to have perfect tone or pitch to be in the choir. If that was the case, I wouldn't be there.  As we sing those notes, and the music swells I just have this overwhelming sensation of excitement & peace.  I am not singing to the congregation or to Mark; it's God I see, and I know He is smiling down on us.  Even when the notes come out wrong, it's the peace I feel… it's the music I love.   -  Debbie Spencer

..As a new choir member, I'd like to say how much I appreciate the welcome and helpfulness of the choir and the wonderful MARK!  What joy it is to sing with you all and learn so much from the experience. -  Peg Aldrich.  

I heartily agree with St. Augustine who said, "He [she] who sings prays twice." When I sing with the choir, I use words and breath in a deeper way. Most importantly, I harmonize with those around me; I do my part to mesh with the voices of others -- I'm a unique part of the Body -- and Breath -- of Christ.  Also, singing with the choir reduces my pain from arthritis! No joke!

- Gail Schilling

For me music both makes and enhances the service.  I started choir around the age of 11 or 12, and have always enjoyed being one of the people who happily sang my way through the service. … I am particularly happy to sing in St. Paul's choir. The acoustics help me feel like I really can sing!  Something we're very fortunate to have.  To sing under Mark's skilled and lively directorship is exciting and enlivening.  I am privileged to be singing in such a beautiful choir. - Nicki Bourne

I love to sing in the choir because when I sing my emotions overcome my senses and I feel closer to God. It's like I am singing to Him. It is indeed a privilege to sing with a wonderful group of people who enjoy singing together. We are so lucky to have Mark as our director and friend.

-Ranee Washburn

Comments collected by Jean Gillespie

In God We Trust

by the Rev. Kate Atkinson

There’s an old Arab saying: “Loving money is like inviting a camel into your tent.”  If you’ve ever been a tourist in the Middle East, and had your picture taken sitting on a camel, you’ll know that camels stink!  They’re notorious for it.  So the nomads of the desert don’t want their camels anywhere near their tents when they camp for the night.  But they can’t tether them too far away because they might be stolen.  Well, Camels may be smelly but they are not stupid!  Escaping their tether, or stretching it to its limit, they have a habit of creeping up on their owners’ tents and pushing their nose under the tent flap.  If nobody notices, they push the rest of their head through, then their neck, and finally their whole body.  By this time the camel’s owner would be aware of his unwanted guest, but it’s too late!  Camels are smelly, smart and stubborn.  There’s no room for anyone or anything else once a camel has moved in.

The Arab saying tells us that the love of money is equally all-consuming.  In the worst cases our bank accounts, our investments, even visible evidence of our wealth, become the most important thing in our lives – to the extent that there’s no room for anything, or even anyone, else.

Jesus came to live among human beings, knowing all our flaws and failings, to teach us that the most important thing is the love of God and of one another.  And he uses our obsession with money to help us discover that alternative.

Jesus never speaks about wealth as something to strive for.  Rather he urges us to turn away from the temptations and preoccupations of money and to depend on God for the abundant life God longs for us to experience.  And he encourages us to be similarly inspired when we make choices about how we spend our money.

“Give … to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, “Jesus says, “and to God the things that are God’s.” (Matthew 22:21)  As long as we inhabit this land, we’ll be required to give to the emperor – or, in our case, Uncle Sam – a portion of our wealth.  As long as we keep the camel out of our tent, God will inspire every other decision we make about how we use our money, and how we share all our gifts that come from God.

A Fall Poem - to celebrate the season

By Cherie Greene

October Present

And should I expect,

in this ripe, gathering-in time,

in this stately harvest age, after

the lush summer has fallen to fading,

when it's too late to cultivate

an unripe rhyme or to conjure a wet

spring sprout--

Might I expect--I did not, nor sought--

this astonishing green branch,

this fresh shoot?

Yet still, there you surge,

unanticipated grace, singing

Now!

now, color into my reaping feast.

                                                                     Concord grown Chioggia Beet

Angels Watching Over Me (and you too!)

A Sermon preached at Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Weare for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels (edited for the blog)

October 2014

By the Rev. Keith Patterson

I first learned about angels as a first grader at Our Lady of Lourdes School in Buffalo, New York.  We began each day of school at 8:00 AM in church.  The Sisters would give “the evil eye” to latecomers signaled by the creaking of the big oak swinging doors.  Mass was still said in Latin.  Churches back then smelled like churches.  They smelled of beeswax, incense, and Murphy’s oil soap.  

When we returned to our classrooms, the first subject taught was religion.  It was probably on the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels that I heard a story about a war in heaven.  I learned that there was a very important angel - an archangel whose name was Michael.  Michael the Archangel was dressed like a knight with shining armor and a sharp sword.  St. Michael the archangel and all the other angels in heaven were fighting a dragon.  The dragon I was told was Satan, the devil.

Sister Mary of the Passion (yes that was her religious name) showed the double first and second grade class a picture of St. Michael standing over a dragon that was a scary shade of green.  The dragon did not have a dragon’s face but that of a man with horns.  Now that I think of it, the picture might have been of a devil with wings.

Then I learned that God gave each of us an angel.  That was certainly news to me!  I was not sure that I could believe this.  This sounded like one of those fairy tales that was read to me at bedtime.  Sister showed the class another picture - this one of two small children, a boy and a girl.  They were out picking flowers near the edge of a cliff.  Behind them was a large lady with wings.  The “lady” was an angel.  The angel was reaching out to the little girl near the edge of the cliff to keep her from falling.  I was afraid of heights back then.  Who would want to pick flowers next to a cliff?  The story half scared me and half-filled me with wonder.  Sister told us that there was a guardian angel watching over each of us right at that moment.  The guardian angel was to protect us from the devil and keep us from doing things that might hurt us.  Even though I had questions about this being real or not part of me wanted to believe.

The six year old child buried somewhere inside of the 57 year old man still wants to believe in angels too.  He needs to believe in angels.  Part of him, and I think part of you, wants to believe that God loves his creation so much that he can spare a few of the angels that sing praises to him all the time to watch over us. 

I need to believe the fantastic story about Jacob having a dream of angels going up and down a ladder between heaven and earth.  I want to believe that there is always a part of heaven here on earth because of angels.  I want to believe that heaven is to be found in a flower, or the face of a smiling child.  I need to believe those chance encounters with strangers are really angels in disguise.  I want to believe in angels like the ones in “Touched by An Angel.”  I want an angel, like Monica who can show up and tell me not to be afraid and God loves you.  An angel loving and tough like Della Reese’s Tess telling me to get off my butt and back to God’s work.

I need to believe that God would care enough to send angels to watch over Jesus when he spent forty days and nights in the desert.  That angels were with Jesus right up to his death on the cross; that angels were present on Easter morning. 

If I can imagine the world in all its greatness surely I, surely you, can believe in angels.  I need to know in the words of an African-American Christmas song that:

All night, all day

Angels watching over me, my Lord

All night, all day

Angels watching over me.

Amen.

A passion for music that progresses day by day

by Minister of Music Mark Pace

I have often been asked, “How many instruments do you play?”  The real question should be “How many instruments do you play well?”  I do love to learn to play different musical instruments.  Through out my life I have learned or studied: piano, organ, flute cello, oboe, harp, classical guitar, and alto recorder.  The instruments that I play now are organ, piano, harp and I have brought back my study of the flute which I have not studied seriously in over 15 years. 

Many people ask me “Why do you like to play so many musical instruments?”  I think the answer stems from the fact that I did not get the opportunity to study music as a child.  I would have loved to study the piano but the financial implications for my family made this impossible.  I remember in seventh grade when kids were signing up for band, I did not even take the letter home because I knew that it would be impossible for my parents to do this financially for me. 

Music has always been in my bones.  I remember vividly sitting at a desk and pretending to play the piano.  I only began music study at the age of sixteen when I bought a piano with money that I made picking beans and doing farm labor in rural North Carolina.  I was able to audition only a year later on piano for college.  However, I must say with almost all musicians having started music at a very young age it has always made me feel somewhat inadequate and “a day late and a dollar short.”   Nevertheless, I continue to study and to really practice.  I know so many church musicians who rarely practice, however, though it may not always sound like it on Sunday, but I do try to rehearse and know the music that I will be playing.  I also try to find new things to play and to continue to grow as a musician. 

For over two years I have been recording everything that I play here at St. Paul’s and posting it on YouTube as a kind of video diary. All of my videos may not be perfect, but it is the best that I could do.  I figure if I am going to play it for church it should be ready to record.  One nice outcome of this is that I have had several composers thank me for recording their music and have them send  me music and CDs.

I practice my flute every day at home and get ready; after I get my good flute back from being serviced and re-padded you will be hearing that in church. 

Blessing of the Animals - On the State House Lawn Saturday October 4th, 2014

St. Francis Day 2014

This year we took our annual celebration of St. Francis and added to it with an outdoor blessing held on the State House Lawn.  Despite some persistent drizzle, the animals and their people came! Smiles and laughs were shared, and the friendly beasts all remained friendly!  What a joy to see the diversity of creation in one place.  Our great thanks to Grace East Concord and the Rev. Jason Wells for joining us.  And thanks to our sexton Andrew Brundrett for sharing these wonderful pictures!

Mark and Tracy came to provide music

Robbie the rabbit

Charlie

Mickey

Emie

Moonbeam the Nubian doe

Waiting patiently for a blessing

Hazel

Rory

Reina and Emie (jumping for joy)

Shelby receives her blessing

THE BLESSING PRAYER

Most high, almighty Lord, our Creator, yours are the praise, the glory, the honour and all

blessings! To you alone do all things belong. Be praised for giving us the animals, birds and fish

which fill your world. May we think of you and thank you when we play with and care for our pets.

Be praised for making us so happy to have our pets and to have them to play with. We ask you,

Lord, that we may be good to our pets always, so that they may be happy also. Help us always to

take care of them so that they will be healthy. O God, your world is wonderful. May we all come

into your even greater world of the kingdom of heaven where we shall see even more wonderful

things and where we shall live and love for ever. This we ask to your eternal praise, and to our

blessing. Amen.

Adapted from http://www.liturgies.net/saints/francis/animalblessing.htm

Rev. Jason Wells and Juice

Moonbeam and Starlight are blessed by Rev. Kate Atkinson

The Feast of St. Francis

by Sarah Nyhan

This weekend we will celebrate the Feast of St. Francis.  At all of our services we will invite the animals to come in (most of them arrive on leashes or in carriers, but hopefully they will feel a special sense of welcome).  We will experience services that may be punctuated with a bark or a yowl.   We are inviting in those who are different.

We celebrate the Feast of St. Francis with animal blessings because St. Francis loved all animals.  We know this because he wrote prayers about the beauty of God’s creation, and people shared stories of Francis preaching to the birds.   Francis cared for not only the lovely songbirds, but creatures that others might consider “unlovable”, and that love extended not only to wild animals, but groups of people others might believe to be unlovable too.  Francis left a life of wealth to live in poverty, and preached and converted many of the downtrodden.

This special caring Francis exhibited is clear in a famous story about St. Francis, a wolf and a town in Italy called Gubbio.  Even if you are not familiar with the story, you can probably make a guess about the issues a 12^th century villager might have with a wolf.

Having a reputation as one who had a special connection with animals, Francis was called upon by the Mayor of Gubbio to help.  Upon his arrival, Francis could sense the fear of the people, but he believed in the power of God, and with God’s help he knew he could meet with the wolf and solve the problem.

Francis did something a little unusual and special in Gubbio, as it is said he did not go and tell the wolf to behave.  Instead, he actually listened to the wolf to hear what his concerns were.  Francis cared about the wolf enough to talk WITH him, so that he would be able to understand and help resolve a dangerous situation.

St. Francis brought the wolf and the people of the village together, and a happy ending ensued.  In several versions of the story that I read, it was stated that the people who had experienced fear and loss because of the wolf felt a burden lifted when they were able to forgive him and move forward with a new relationship based on kindness and understanding.

Clearly the story is much more than a medieval fairy tale. What can we learn from it?  Do we sometimes decide WHY someone did something, without really knowing WHY?  Do we let the fur and the fangs scare us away from someone who might need our help?  Are we judging based on assumptions alone?  Are we hearing but not listening, turning away those we should really let in?  With Francis as our example, maybe we can all approach strangers with a kinder eye, a listening ear, and a gentle heart, no matter how shaggy their coat.  Happy Feast of St. Francis!