The Lion's Pause

WE SEEK TO UNITE ALL PEOPLE WITH GOD AND EACH OTHER IN CHRIST THROUGH WORSHIP, FELLOWSHIP, EDUCATION, AND SERVICE

Rector's Ramblings

Yesterday, September 14, was the Feast of the Holy Cross. Lucius Lactantius, an early Christian author wrote that prior to the conversion of Constantine I, Constantine had a vision of the cross. He was not sure what it meant. Eusebius of Caesarea, a bishop and historian, wrote that Jesus appeared to Constantine in a dream and told him that he should use the sign of the cross against his enemies. Constantine had the cross added to his battle standards and was victorious at the battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312. Some historians doubt the accuracy of these accounts. We do know that Constantine was victorious at the Battle of the Milvian Bridge, and that Constantine did convert to Christianity.

The more important question is what would it look like to use the sign of the cross against our enemies? Jesus instructed us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. That is what Jesus did from the cross. He invited one revolutionary crucified next to him to join him in paradise that day. He prayed, “Father, forgive them.”

Jesus also commended himself to the care of his Father. That is another part of the cross. Rather than taking matters into our own hands, we entrust ourselves to God. That makes is possible to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. If we entrust our destiny and their destiny to the hands of God, we have no need to fight against them.

Perhaps Jesus did appear to Constantine and instruct him to fight his enemies with the cross. Perhaps Constantine misunderstood. How would the world be different if we all fought our enemies with the cross, loving them, and praying for them?

Fr. RJ+

Sunday, September 17

Holy Eucharist at 8 and 10 a.m.

Lessons

Bulletin

Live Stream

Wednesday, September 20

Evening Prayer, 4 p.m.

Zoom Bulletin

MOD Squad, Kozmos Grill (Contact Joe Hoot to attend)

Sunday, September 24

Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m.

Morning Prayer Outside at 10 a.m.

New Members' Class between Services at 9 a.m.

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NOTABLE - Bob Morrison

A dream come true: an organ in my home! And I could practice anytime day or night without bothering a soul (except possibly St. Cecilia.) I was surprised to find that the sound didn't travel well throughout the house. Friends were saying that I shouldn't play late at night for fear of irritating the neighbors - but this just didn't happen. For some reason, the sound was pretty well confined to the music room.

Over the years, I had an annual program for Akron Friends of Music; an insurance group sponsored by the late Margaret Papas; a "Brahms sing" when we did the Liebeslieder Waltzes with Joyce Corbett at the piano; and an AGO affair, and other private events - plus some teaching. Don Ackerman, pastor at my former church (now called Crossroads UMC) was a gifted pupil until the pandemic.

Hector Olivera played a monumental recital at St. Mark's in 2012 and while he was in town he played my organ. (He most recently dedicated the massive organ in Garden Grove CA at the former Schuller Crystal Cathedral, now an RC cathedral.) And "Two Men and a Bench" (a name I gave them) not only played a fine program at St. Mark's but also in my music room (and National Cathedral and Methuen - Chad Pittman and Mark Alan Thewes). So these keys were blessed by many virtuosi, including Heather Janney Cooper who, with husband, Britt, has a full-scale program at Christ Presby downtown.

But, with increasing age (well into my 90s). I wasn't practicing as much as I should, and began to think about what to do with such a valued and unusual asset.

Then came a request from a former choir member, Dr. Daniel Keith Church, who was now the University President of Bastyr in Seattle, the leading alternative medicine school. They occupied a campus that had formerly been dedicated to St. Thomas with a gorgeous chapel, great acoustics (the Seattle Symphony recorded there) but - alas - no organ!

So Dan sent me an e-mail in which he said, as "chief fundraiser": would I consider donating my organ to this exquisite venue?

September Birthdays

3 Ashley Hostetter, Ronald Rupp

7 Linda Deuble

14 Maxine Kit

16 Bruce Hixon

17 Wayne Paradis

23 Christopher Smith

29 Emily Gordon

September Anniversaries

2 Tom and Sandy Turner

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Prayer Concerns

Vonda Temelkoff, Henry Aegerter, Jim Weaver, Jane Schutrum, & Ron Brookes

Family and Friends: Bill Schumacher; Don Siegfried, Darin Hill (friend of Derek & Emily Gordon); Elaine Campbell (friend of the Turners); Lori, Mike, & Chase (friends of Leslie Redmon); Deacon Gretchen Platt, & Lisa (acquaintances & wife of Father RJ); Bob Rownd (friend of John Werren & Anne Coen); Judy Heisser-Turner (sister of Bert Heisser); Trish (friend of Paulette Frech); Broden Burt (Son of Ben and grandson of Chris & Carol Burt); Bill Allen (Friend of the Mulls); Pat Walter & family (friend of Barb Whitehouse); Don Martin & Mark Osterhage (Classmate & neighbor of the Watters); Alycia Geis (Karen Violand’s friend’s daughter); Jacinta Decker (co-worker of Mandy Pelger); Michelle Graber (Bobbi Gordon family/friend); Janet Sheatzley-Morgan (sister of Barb Siegfried); DaNay Jackson (friend of Ron Brookes); Allison Cornell-Hood, Bob Patterson, & Anne Higgins (daughter & friends of Diane Cornell); Finnigan Savage (friend of Pam McCarthy); Gail (sister-in-law to the Rands); Lynnda Hoefler & Jimmy Little (friend & son of Sue Little); Theresa & Addelyn (friends of the Hixons); Yanette Pysher (Vonda Temelkoff’s cousin); Tony Donahue (friend of the Boyds); Marc Hostetler (brother of Susan Hostetler); Baby David (acquaintance of the Nadels); Johnny Willoughby (grandson of the Willoughbys).

For those who have died.

Ray Slinger

For those in the armed forces.

PRAYER CHAIN:

St. Mark's has a group of prayer warriors who pray for the specific needs of those on the prayer chain. If you would like to place yourself or a loved one on the prayer chain, please contact Bobbi Gordon at ggordon24@sbcglobal.net

Prayer requests may be placed on the private Prayer Chain or on the Prayer Concerns list appearing in The Lion's Pause and Sunday bulletin or in both places. Please let Bobbi know your preference. Unless otherwise instructed, names will be listed as we receive them. Please update Bobbi or Katie on the status of your friends or family members as to when they may be removed from the prayer lists.