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

I was recently speaking with a friend who teaches at the Institute of Linguistics for Wycliffe Bible translators. We were discussing cultural trends in the United States, and he cited a study conducted by the American Bible Society that found that scripture engagement in the United States had dropped precipitously in 2022 and 2023. For decades, the percentage of Americans who regularly read the Bible had been around 50 percent. In 2022 and 2023, the percentage had dropped to 39 percent.

When people who do not regularly read the scripture were asked why they do not read the Bible, the most common answer was they did not have time. The second most common reason was they did not know where to start.

One of the most beneficial activities for our spiritual life is reading scripture. We do not read simply to gain knowledge. We read to allow God to say something to us. When we say that the Bible is inspired, we do not only mean that the authors were inspired, though that is part of what we mean. The Bible is also inspired in the sense that, when we read it, it acts on us. The Prophet Isaiah, speaking for God, wrote, “So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” The Letter to the Hebrews states, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Scripture acts on us when we read it.

If you currently have a regular pattern for reading the Bible, please stay with it. If you are one of those who don’t know where to start, the Daily Office Lectionary is a great tool to get started. It will only take about ten minutes a day, which answers the other problem of not having enough time. If you follow the Daily Office Lectionary, you will read most of the Bible every two years. The reading for the lectionary can be found in the Forward Day By Day devotional booklets. They are at the top of the page. Or, you can find the readings at http://satucket.com/lectionary/ .

Fr. RJ+

Sunday, September 24

Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m.

New Members' Class at 9 a.m.

Morning Prayer at 10 a.m. in the Betty Fortney Sanctuary

Lessons

Bulletin

Live Stream

Monday, September 25

Knitting, 1 p.m.

Tuesday, September 26

Lunch Bunch, El Rincon, 1 p.m.

Wednesday, September 27

Evening Prayer, 4 p.m.

Zoom Bulletin

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NOTABLE - Bob Morrison

My former choir member Dr. Daniel Keith Church became president of Seattle's Bastyr University some years ago and was in that office for ten years during which the school's debt was retired and a new campus opened in San Diego. His dream was to have an organ in the lovely chapel on that property and to that end he invited me to play a rented Allen organ for a ceremony and then do a demo, hoping it would spark interest in the project.

A fund was started but things were moving slowly. After Dan's retirement, he kept hoping his dream would come true, and I decided to donate my organ to them. Arrangements were made for shipping and installation, but at the last moment, I got an e-mail saying that the school was not doing well and the organ project was canceled.

Meanwhile, I had been talking with one of my star pupils, Jean Pritchard, who, when substituting at various churches, was told that the congregations didn't realize all the organ sounds that she uncovered - a great innovator. And Jean told me that a Lutheran Church where she had subbed did not have an organ and would I consider donating mine? I talked with Bob DeMass, Pellegrino Music's Allen dealer who knew the church well. He said my organ, with some additional speakers, would be ideal - and it came to pass. A pleasure to meet husband and wife Pastors Johnson, Council head Jeffery Kish, and Jack and Cindy Gardner who have unlocked the building for me to practice and lent their ears for a sound check. Newspaper columnist Charita Goshay wrote a most kind article about this event. This item said that Chad Pittman and Mark Thewes would also play. Not so - but I'll do two pieces that Mark dedicated to Kathleen and me.

This Sunday I will play a dedicatory recital on my organ now in its new home - and what a difference from my small music room to a lovely sacred space. DeMass mounted my speakers on the back wall for the main division and installed new ones at the front for an antiphonal effect. Now we'd have sound coming from all directions with the opportunity for stereo effects. The church organist, Jared Goldinger, presides at two Lutheran churches: Faith and Holy Trinity with different time schedules. He's won several prizes awarded by the Theatre Organ Society and, at age 24, is quite accomplished. My recital will end with Jared at their Baldwin piano for a duet on "Amazing Grace" after which I'll do some improvising from congregational requests.

The date is this Sunday, Sept. 24 at 3:00 pm (I'll start at 2:45 with bells and chimes like I do at St. Mark's) and there will be a rather complete reception following. Holy Trinity Lutheran is in West Massillon at 4275 Lincoln Way W across from the former highway patrol barracks.

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

*Please note: Your birthday/anniversary will only show up if you've completed your profile on Instant Church Directory.

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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.