News from St. Helena's 10-13-19

News from St. Helena's

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost

October 13, 2019

Return and Give Praise to God

Human beings are quick to call upon God when things are going badly in life. We cry out for help we're in pain and distress, pleading with God to offer us relief. When our prayers are answered, how many of us remember to take a moment to express our gratitude for whatever mercy we've received? Perhaps it's a clean bill of health from the doctor, or an end to money troubles, or a resolution to some family problem.

This Sunday's Gospel reading recounts a short story of ten lepers who plead with Jesus to cure their affliction. When their prayer is answered, but only one of them, an doubly outcast Samaritan, returns to give thanks to God, our Lord expresses his disappointment in the other nine. Not that Jesus needs the credit; after all, he is very clear that God is the source of the healing, not himself. I've often wondered about this. I think his disappointment probably stems from a lack of mindfulness on the part of the lepers. It is important for us to give thanks for the mercies we receive, not to placate the ego of the one who provides it, but to show that we appreciate the value of the gift.

We have no idea what was going through the lepers' minds following their healing. Perhaps they meant no ingratitude, but were simply following Jesus's direction, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." Maybe they were just caught up in the excitement of it all and let themselves get carried away. Perhaps they were planning on going back later to give praise to God like the Samaritan. Or maybe, they were just ignorant of the importance of showing their gratitude to God. God does not have a jealous ego that needs constant stroking; but I believe that God is pleased when we reach out to him to offer thanks, as a sign that we value our relationship with him and are aware of the magnitude of the mercies he provides. God doesn't need the accolades; but God knows that it's good for us to show gratitude, because it keeps us from taking things for granted. In a world full of so many struggles (as our Lord knew from his own painful experience), showing gratitude keeps us mindful of the joys and comforts of life that make it worth living. It shields us from an arrogant posture of entitlement, on the one hand, and on the other, attunes our hearts to savor and take joy in the good stuff of life.

Abundant blessings,

Fr. Ethan+

Grocery Bag Collection This Sunday, October 13.

This Sunday after Christian formation, we will be collecting the grocery bags that we left last week at our neighbors' doors to stock the parish's Blessing Pantry. If you distributed them in your neighborhood last week, please remember to collect the filled bags and bring them back by next Sunday, October 20, when we will do an in-gathering and bless the bags at the altar during the Eucharist.

"Picking Up the Prayer Book" Adult Formation

On October 13 and 27, Fr. Ethan will be offering a workshop called, "Picking Up the Prayer Book." This practical and hands-on workshop will help people learn to navigate the Book of Common Prayer in Sunday worship, as well as to raise awareness about many of the less familiar parts of the Prayer Book that can enrich one's personal prayer life.

Photos from Last Sunday's Pet Blessing

Check out the pics from last Sunday's Pet Blessing on our Facebook page. Many thanks, as always, to Eileen Robinson for her fabulous photos.

Pastoral Care Update

Our music director, Frank Showers, has been diagnosed with central nervous system lymphoma, for which he has been undergoing chemotheraphy.

He is finishing his chemotherapy, and says that he is feeling great. He would still love to have your prayers, phone calls, and text messages. His cell phone number is (708) 990-8877.

Thank you,

Fr. Ethan+

2019-2020 Stewardship Campaign "Shining Our Light"

This year's stewardship theme from the Episcopal Church is "Shining Our Light." This campaign will run from Sunday, October 6 through Sunday, November 17, when we will do an in-gathering of all the pledge forms. During this time, there will be a weekly bulletin insert about some aspect of stewardship; and each week, a different person will offer a few words during the announcements to express what St. Helena's means to them, as a way of making our practice of generous stewardship personal.

Diocesan Survey for Bishop Search

Search & Nomination Committee seeks input from diocese

The Search & Nomination Committee has launched an online survey to collect data about what qualities and characteristics the people of the diocese seek in the next bishop. Take the survey online.

Data from the survey will supplement the input the committee is receiving during a series of listening sessions that will continue through early October. Once the data collection is complete, the committee will use what it has collected to prepare the diocesan profile, a detailed description of the Diocese of Chicago that will help those who may be discerning a call to be bishop learn more about the diocese and its people.

The survey will take about ten minutes to complete and asks questions about the diocese and characteristics to seek in the next bishop. The survey is anonymous, and demographic questions are optional.

Take the survey online by October 13. Contact the Search & Nomination Committee with questions via email and learn more on the bishop search and transition website.

Vestry Meeting, Sunday, October 20, at 10:45 am.

All are encouraged to attend.

October Prayer List

Birthdays/Anniversaries

10/8 Alex Rigley

The Grieving

The Rev'd Daryce Hoff Nolan and the Nolan Family

The Bansley Family

The Sick

Frank Showers

David Oommen

Leeann Plikuhn

The Homebound

Ruth Hanna

The Departed

10/5/83 Bohumsl Sykora

10/5/83 Alvin Wood

10/9/78 Myrtle Sturtz

10/10/78 Marie Harris

10/11/82 Robert Kingsfield

10/12/86 Kurt Paulius

10/15/60 Corey Willott

10/15/82 John Anderson

10/18/72 Kathryn Forsythe

10/19/60 Mary Allen

10/22/89 Arlington "Bud" LaBarge

10/29/83 William Roberts

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer

The WEEK of October 6, 2019

Bishop’s Staff at St. James Commons: Office of the Bishop; Offices of Operations, Networking and Ministries;

And staff of our Companion Dioceses of SE Mexico and Renk

The WEEK of October 13, 2019

Diocesan Task Forces, Committees and Ministries

And for our Companion Dioceses of SE Mexico and the Diocese of Renk

The WEEK of October 20, 2019

For all retired clergy in our diocese, and for surviving spouses of clergy.

And for ministries in our Companion Dioceses of SE Mexico and the Mothers’ Union in the Diocese of Renk

The WEEK of October 27, 2019

For the growth and vitality of our congregations;

And for ministries in our Companion Dioceses of SE Mexico and Renk

Don't see your name or need to make a correction? Send us an email and let us know . Access the full monthly Prayer List here.

October Sundays

October 6 - Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Pet Blessing, Beginning of Stewardship Campaign, Blessing Pantry Grocery Bag Drop

October 13 - Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Christian Formation: "Picking Up the Prayer Book 1," Blessing Pantry Grocery Bag Collection

October 20 - Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost: Vestry Meeting

October 27 - Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost: Christian Formation: Picking Up the Prayer Book 2"

Weekly events

Wednesday "Soul Kitchen" faith discussion group @ 6:30 pm.

Sunday Holy Eucharist with music and homily, 9:30 am

Parish Website

Visit our website to learn about the parish's events and the programs for children and adults.

www.sthelenaschurch.org