Of Vapor, Vanity, and Impermanence

Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity…

What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity. (The Book of Ecclesiastes)

This Sunday we will be treated to the richness of that famous reading from Ecclesiastes. This unusual Wisdom literature from the Bible reminds us that as we grow older in this life we go through many changes. And, if we are lucky, we begin to understand that life is mix of things we call both good and bad and that finally we come to a point where it is hard to separate our life experiences into such neat categories.

Our presumably grumpy writer, also known as the Teacher or Koheleth, depending on which translation one prefers, is most famous for the lines immortalized in the song Turn, Turn, Turn: “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.”

One of my Old Testament professors in Seminary once said that you shouldn’t even try to read or understand this scripture if you were under 40. The seeming futility and repeating phrase “all is vanity” can make our friend the Teacher sound like a depressed curmudgeon. But, if we have lived through some of the vagaries and vicissitudes of life we have indeed discovered that life holds many realities and events that, as I said above, can be called both good and bad, but in the end we discover that the things we thought were “bad” become things for which we are very grateful and things which we thought were “good” might not be all we thought they were cracked up to be. It is in fact impossible to unravel the threads of our lives into events we would deem either good or bad because we often discover it takes the balance of many good and challenging events in our lives to help us become wise and whole.

One of my favorite translations of this little book is by Rabbi Rami Shapiro. I tend to favor the more Hebraic translation because the word “hevel” which we have come to translate as “vanity” is, according to Rabbi Shapiro, more of an interpretive reading than a translation of “hevel” which in Hebrew (not the Greek or Latin which we have received) is best translated as breath or vapor. Rabbi Shapiro says in this wonderful piece of scripture, our wise teacher is talking more about the impermanence of life and the continual emptying of life one moment to the next.[1] He suggests that a better, but not yet deep enough understanding of this phrase would be translated, “Breath upon breath, everything is mere vapor.”

Vanity upon Vanity would suggest that all of life is futile, but breath is in fact the basis for our very existence, the very genesis of our sentient lives.

In the end, if we encounter this inscrutable teaching with less of an eye toward cynicism, and more of a sense of how we might live in this impermanent, chaotic world with grace, love, dignity, and joy, what we receive is indeed worthy of being called Wisdom literature.

The book is still not an easy teaching to hear, but the Book of Ecclesiastes is designed to shatter the illusions of certainty and control, which we so desperately seek, and leave us “naked before the wilderness of reality.”[2] Our wise teacher is not trying to offer us a way out of life’s difficulties, but a way in; a way to live fully and well in the midst of the impermanence and chaos of the world that is the only world we have…there is indeed a purpose for every season under heaven…

Grace and Peace,

Mother Stephanie

[1] Rabi Rami Shapiro in Ecclesiastes Annotated and Explained, Skylight Paths Publishing, 2010.

[2] The Rev. Barbara Crafton

Parish Gardeners were recently gifted with 46 yellow daylilies of the Happy Returns species, which is a rebloomer. They were planted along the rock wall on Cowles St. so each summer they will appear as a sunny drift of blooms. The daylilies were given by the Ogilvie family in memory of their mother Irma Katherine Ogilvie and father Gordon Ogilvie

The Assisting Bishop is Coming!

August 28, 2022

A Brief Guide to Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation

Assisting Bishop, Jay Magness is coming for a visit on Sunday, August 28th. This is a wonderful opportunity for you and/or your family to receive Confirmation, Reception, or to Reaffirm your faith in an intentional way. These acts are reserved strictly for the Bishop and it is always a day of joy when we gather and celebrate these wonderful Rites.

On that day we will have our One Service, One Body Celebration and I hope that we will turn out in great numbers to show our hope and excitement for our future.

REMINDER!  This is a brief outline of what each of these acts entails so that you might begin to discern your participation! Please notify Becky in the next week at office@stpaulwilkesboro.org and sign up to participate!

Confirmation

Confirmation in the Episcopal Church is a sacramental rite in which a baptized person makes a mature and public affirmation of the promises that are usually made at baptism by parents and godparents. After making these affirmations, a bishop lays hands on the candidate and prays a prayer of confirmation. (See the Book of Common Prayer for the promises made at Holy Baptism, pp. 299-308, and for the proceedings at the service of Confirmation, pp. 413-419.)

Adults and Young people can be Confirmed, and it is simply that moment, when you publicly say once again, “I still want to belong to God” and live my life accordingly!

Reception

In some dioceses, reception is reserved for those who have already been confirmed in another denomination by a bishop in apostolic succession. Apostolic succession means our bishop’s follow in a direct, unbroken line with the first Apostles whom Jesus chose to lead his Church (such as Roman Catholics or Orthodox). A more widely accepted understanding of reception is that it is a way of honoring anyone who has made a mature confession of faith in any other denomination by saying, in effect, we recognize and honor your spiritual journey in another fellowship, and we welcome you into the fellowship of the Episcopal Church, as you continue that journey. The bishop lays hands on the person being received and says, “We recognize you as a member of the one holy catholic and apostolic Church, and we receive you into the fellowship of this Communion” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 418). So, if you have not been confirmed or received by a bishop in apostolic succession, you may choose either confirmation or reception.

Reaffirmation

It is my hope that many of you will explore Reaffirmation! Reaffirmation is for people who have already been confirmed in the Episcopal Church. Some people presented to the bishop during the service of Confirmation are there to “reaffirm” their Christian vows. These might be people who have been away from the church for a period of time and want to make a new beginning. Others might be people who sense that they are at a new stage in their spiritual life and want to affirm this in ritual. Periodically, a spouse, fiancé or parent who is already a confirmed Episcopalian will go through reaffirmation as a way of honoring his or her family member's decision to become a confirmed Episcopalian, saying in effect, “We are in this together.” We all go through many changes in our life’s journey, and reaffirmation provides a rite for those who want to take stock of their religious and spiritual life anew. It is my hope that among those who will be Confirmed and Received that many of you will also seek Reaffirmation.

If you are interested in exploring any of these sacramental paths, please contact me and I would love to speak with you about it. It is my hope, in preparation for the bishop's visit, that we will have a number of you who seek to celebrate these wonderful rites. 

After I hear from those who might want to pursue this path, I want to offer a multi-generational exploration and study before and after in preparation for the bishop's visit. 

This will be a wonderful event for our community and an excellent way to share fellowship! For those interested please be prepared to stay after the 10:30 service on August 14^th and 21^st.

 It will be a fun and informative experience even for those who will not be participating in any of the Rites.

Grace and Peace,

Mother Stephanie

Choir Room - Don't you love the soothing blue color!

Adjacent additional space for the Choir's use. Warm neutral beige coordinates with back hallway and meeting room/youth room

Back Hallway

Meeting Room/Youth Room

Upon entering from the exterior downstairs entrance, Mother Stephanie's office will be on the left. The wall has been re-located to allow for a larger (wider) entry way. Also, note the large opening which will be glassed in to provide safety for staff and visitors. Another glassed opening will be installed directly across on the other wall which will be the administrative office. Having both glassed openings will allow for a direct line of vision between the two offices.

Beginning demo of NEW All Purpose Meeting Room/Youth Room

New All Purpose Meeting Room/Youth Room after new wall installed.

Stay tuned for more photos as the construction progresses!

Commemorative Bricks!

UPDATE! 07/28/2022

Order deadline for Bricks has been extended to August 31, 2022

Did you know?

• The second order for bricks has been placed with

   Tri-County Monuments

• 74 Bricks have been purchased and approximately $21,320.00 collected

All Brick Orders Must Be Processed by

JULY 31st!

Some of you have asked, "where are the bricks going to go?"

The Commemorative bricks will be placed on the first level of the Gathering Plaza replacing the ones that are currently there

(See above photo)

Summer Sundays

One Body

One Service

9:30 AM

August 28, 2022

With Confirmations, Receptions and Reaffirmations with the Assisting Bishop!

Scripture for the upcoming Sunday Service

First Reading    Ecclesiastes 1:2, 12-14; 2:18-23 

Vanity of vanities, says the Teacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity.

I, the Teacher, when king over Israel in Jerusalem, applied my mind to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven; it is an unhappy business that God has given to human beings to be busy with. I saw all the deeds that are done

under the sun; and see, all is vanity and a chasing after wind.

I hated all my toil in which I had toiled under the sun, seeing that I must leave it to those who come after me -- and who knows whether they will be wise or foolish? Yet they will be master of all for which I toiled and used my wisdom under the sun. This also is vanity. So I turned and gave my heart up to despair concerning all the toil of my labors under the sun, because sometimes one who has toiled with wisdom and knowledge and skill must leave all to be enjoyed by another who did not toil for it. This also is vanity and a great evil. What do mortals get from all the toil and strain with which they toil under the sun? For all their days are full of pain, and their work is a vexation; even at night their minds do not rest. This also is vanity.

The Response                               Psalm 49:1-11  

Audite haec, omnes

Hear this, all you peoples;

hearken, all you who dwell in the world, *

you of high degree and low, rich and poor together.

My mouth shall speak of wisdom, *

and my heart shall meditate on understanding.

I will incline my ear to a proverb *

and set forth my riddle upon the harp.

Why should I be afraid in evil days, *

when the wickedness of those at my heels surrounds me,

The wickedness of those who put their trust in their goods, *

and boast of their great riches?

We can never ransom ourselves, *

or deliver to God the price of our life;

For the ransom of our life is so great, *

that we should never have enough to pay it,

In order to live for ever and ever, *

and never see the grave.

For we see that the wise die also;

like the dull and stupid they perish *

and leave their wealth to those who come after them.

Their graves shall be their homes for ever,

their dwelling places from generation to generation, *

though they call the lands after their own names.

Even though honored, they cannot live for ever; *

they are like the beasts that perish.

Second Reading              Colossians 3:1-11              

If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.

Put to death, therefore, whatever in you is earthly: fornication, impurity, passion, evil desire, and greed (which is idolatry). On account of these the wrath of God is coming on those who are disobedient. These are the ways you also once followed, when you were living that life. But now you must get rid of all such things-- anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive language from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have stripped off the old self with its practices and have clothed yourselves with the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge according to the image of its creator. In that renewal there is no longer Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and free; but Christ is all and in all!

The Gospel                                  Luke 12: 13-21             

   Someone in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me." But he said to him, "Friend, who set me to be a judge or arbitrator over you?" And he said to them, "Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one's life does not consist in the abundance of possessions." Then he told them a parable: "The land of a rich man produced abundantly. And he thought to himself, `What should I do, for I have no place to store my crops?' Then he said, `I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, `Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.' But God said to him, `You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?' So, it is with those who store up treasures for themselves but are not rich toward God." 

MASKS ARE OPTIONAL IN WORSHIP



Masks are optional for inside worship and other inside activities for the foreseeable future.

Please help us put an end to this Pandemic by getting vaccinated.

Love yourself, love your neighbor, get vaccinated!

Please remember in your prayers: All who are ill or unemployed and those who are on our prayer list.

Short-term

Bonita Stewart, Kenneth Canter, Julian Family, Jackie Foster, Estelle Gille, Juanita Phillips, Rebecca Carroll, Althea Johnson

Long-term

Lisa Wingler, Dot Beamon, Joyce Wheeling, David Temple, Ken Asel, Doug Merritt, Julius Parks & Family, Esther Eller

Armed Forces

Let us pray for the safety of all our troops, especially Micha Duerk, Faith Lankford, Cole Griffith, Zach Necessary, Walker Pardue, Philip Southwell, Mark Stone, Jason Westmeyer, and all others who serve throughout the world.

Please send to the church office the addresses of troops with connections to

office@stpaulwilkesboro.org, especially those abroad.

Prayer Requests

Prayer requests can be made by using the app under "contact us" and then the "prayer request" tab, by emailing the office at office@stpaulwilkesboro.org, or calling the office during regular office hours.

Bulletins are printed on Thursday mornings and requests submitted after that time will not be in the printed bulletin for that week, but may still be spoken. Prayer requests received by noon on Wednesday will be included in the weekly e-newsletter.

Serving in July

The August/September/October issues of Forward Day by Day are in the mailbox by the front door of the office.

LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR

AND

YOURSELF!

GET VACCINATED AND BOOSTED!!!

PROTECT YOUR COMMUNITY!