The Big Red Door
OF THE “NORTHERN KINGDOM” OF CHENANGO COUNTY
The Monthly Newsletter of St. Andrew’s, St. Matthew’s, and Emmanuel Episcopal Churches — June 2018
In this Issue
The Rector’s Desk ................1
Nave Gazing........................ 2
Ask a Priest ..........................3
Serving Schedules
for June. ...............................4
News Around the
Kingdom .......................... 5-9
Food and Fellowship ............7
Food Pantries .......................7
Pastoral Needs and Prayer
Requests .........................9
June Birthdays/
Anniversaries .......................9
Our “Creed” .......................10
St. Andrew’s,
St. Matthew’s,
and Emmanuel
faithfully serve God’s
Kingdom in the
Diocese of Central
New York
Busy Summer, Y’all
So, there’s going to be a lot of stuff
happening around the Northern Kingdom
this summer.
To begin, there’s going to be con-
struction or major work at each of the
churches. St. Matthew’s is going to be get-
ting a new parking lot. St. Andrew’s is re-
constructing all of its access points with
new walkways, handicapped parking, and a
new entrance ramp. And Emmanuel is go-
ing to have a new security system installed.
Each of these projects will improve
our lives in the long run, but there will be
some inconveniences in the meantime.
Parking may be limited at St. Matthew’s and
St. Andrew’s, and building access at Em-
manuel will be different (the new alarm sys-
tem will require codes, etc. for those enter-
ing the building outside normal business
hours). This is all part of the growing pains
that we can expect, and I hope y’all will be
patient.
Sometime this summer, we plan to
open up the St. Andrew’s chapel for visi-
tors, prayers, and meditation on a 24-hour
basis. During discussions with vestry mem-
bers, we’ve decided that what this world
needs now is more prayer. We understand
that prayer must be followed up with ac-
tion, but it must always begin with prayer.
Accordingly, we are going to be placing
boxes in strategic locations in the commu-
nity where people can drop in messages
containing their hopes and concerns. And
we, as a church, will take those requests and
sit in the chapel and pray for them.
Also, we will be beginning a new
class offering later this June at St. Mat-
thew’s. These classes will be on Tuesdays
at 10:00 a.m. (there is more information
about the first class elsewhere in the news-
letter). While I’ll be leading the first class (a
study of the Book of Esther), we are hoping
that this turns into something more long
term with other people suggesting books,
Bible studies, discussions, each of us taking
a leadership role in furthering our journey
with Christ here on earth. So, please attend,
but be thinking how each of us can contrib-
ute.
And there’s going to be Soul Food
hot dogs at Wednesday lunches, ice cream
socials, craft fairs, ball games, vacations,
fishing, hiking, visiting families. Births,
weddings, life going on. Visiting friends and
neighbors and fellow parishioners. So, don’t
go thinking that summer is going to be lazy
and hazy.
Finally, I want to say that I’ve been
here almost a year. And I’ve come to abso-
lutely love this place and its people. . . and
especially all of you. You’ve been so warm
and welcoming that I look back at my initial
nervousness of moving up with Yankees
and laugh.
This land and all that lives in it are a
blessing to this country of ours. I watch
new crops being put in, calves and sheep
taking their first steps, folks venturing out
into the sunshine, and I thank God for let-
ting me be a part of it.
So, to each of you, let’s get the sum-
mer activities underway, and get our church
work done, and go out and enjoy the bless-
ings God has given us. And while we’re at
it, let’s share some of that, too.
— Fr. Steve
Page 2 The Big Red Door

NAVE GAZING

Make a Joyful Noise

The people of God sing. After escaping
from the Egyptians and crossing the Red Sea, the
people of Israel sang a song to the Lord. In fact
this song, the Song of Miriam, is the oldest piece of
Hebrew scripture in existence. Singing was part of
Israel's formal worship in both tabernacle and tem-
ple. Then the Psalms bear rich testimony that in
joy and sorrow, in praise and lament, the faithful
raise their voices in song to God. Hymn singing
also was practiced by Jesus and his disciples (Matt.
26:30). The Apostle Paul instructed the Colossians,
"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; teach
and admonish one another in all wisdom; and with
gratitude in your hearts sing psalms, hymns, and
spiritual songs to God. (Col. 3: 16-17).

Yet today so many of us treat hymns as

"background" rather than as an opportunity for serious listening, much less participation. So many folks will
just stand and stare stoned-faced as others try their best to raise their voices almost alone when the hymns
are sung. But this is not supposed to be the case.

Of all the musical instruments that may be employed in the praise of God, the human voice has priori-
ty. Other instruments are to be used primarily in the service of the singing of God's people. Reformed theo-
logian Karl Barth points out that singing is not an option for the people of God; it is one of the essential
ministries of the church:

The Christian church sings. It is not a choral society. Its singing is not a concert. But from a soulful re-
sponse to God’s amazing power and love it sings. Singing is the highest form of human expression. What
we believe is that the church which does not sing is not the church. And where it does not really sing but
sighs and mumbles and mutters, shamefacedly and with an ill grace, it can be at best only as a group of peo-
ple which is not sure of its cause, whose ministry and witness is tepid at best. Just imagine being a visitor
wandering in, looking for fellowship and meaning for life, only to find a bunch of people looking like they
hate part of the soul of our very worship experience. Will they want to come back and be part of that?

No, the praise of God which finds its concrete culmination in the singing of the parish is one of the indis-
pensable forms of the ministry of the church. Sure, sometimes it’s not easy; sometimes the hymns are unfa-
miliar, but within a verse we can all get the hang of the melody. And you know what? Bad singing is much
more joyous and fun than no singing. You ought to hear me in the car!

In Tennessee, I had a congregation that had some problems deciding how they wanted to tackle a certain
issue. They were going at it tooth and nail. But every Sunday, they would all get together, young and old,
left and right, high church and low, and they would sing those hymns at the top of their lungs, knowing
there were a few clunkers here and there, a few notes that got abused, and a few ear drums that were insult-
ed. And they relished in that! We would all smile when those hymns were over because they did that work
together. And it was fun!!!

So, folks — well, let’s face it — GUYS, when the bishop comes on June 24th, I want us to sing. As un-
trained as our voices are, as grumbly as they are, sing! I promise you, your neighbor in the pew may look
like you’ve gone nuts, but God will be smiling.
The Big Red Door Page 3

ASK A PRIEST

This is the second in what we hope will be an ongoing series of questions posed to priests around the diocese. If you have a question you’d
like answered, please contact Fr. Steve at fatherstevecny@gmail.com.

Fr. Steve: Welcome, Rev. Elizabeth Gillett to this month’s question. St. Andrew’s in New
Berlin has been given a generous financial gift that can be used for spiritual retreats. You
have mentioned before how much you get from going on retreats. Can you explain what hap-
pens at them?

Mtr. Elizabeth’s Response:

When I moved to Central New York, I obtained my water from a well, rather
than a municipal water system. I quickly learned that wells need to be taken care
of. One day, my late husband and I planned a day of hiking in the Adirondacks.
When we arrived home that evening, we discovered that the toilet tank had
been running all day in our absence and that it had almost depleted the well.
When we turned on the kitchen faucet, expecting clear, cold water, all we got
was mud. It took three days for the well to recover and for us to get the mud out of the pipes.

It was a lesson that I have never forgotten. I still get my water from a well, but now, when I use a
large quantity of water, such as a major watering of my lawn and garden, I give it time to recover and
fill up again before making more demands upon it.

We people of faith are busy people. Many of us hold full time jobs, or several part time ones, have
families to care for, houses and yards to maintain, parishes which need leadership and volunteers,
and communities with civic activities which require volunteers too. These days, even retired people
are busy, many of whom seem to be more busy than when they had nine-to-five jobs and were rais-
ing families.

We people of faith also are trying to practice a tough religion. Being a good Christian is not easy. We
believe that Jesus' way is the way of perfect freedom, wholeness, and eternal life, but actually trying
to live his values and model our behavior on his is a never-ending challenge. For instance, every
Sunday we begin the Creed by saying, "I believe in God... ." Is that obvious from our lives? The
words of the Lord's Prayer roll smoothly off our tongues every every time we say it, but do we truly
try to live "Your kingdom come, your will be done," or "Forgive us our sins as we forgive those
who sin against us"? St. Francis reputedly urged his monks to "Preach the Gospel at all times, and if
necessary, use words." Does the way we live our lives preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ? For most
of us, it is a never-ending struggle.

The good news is that there is support available for our efforts! In addition to the more obvious
support, such as regular church attendance and reception of the Eucharist, prayer and Bible study
groups, and the spiritual growth and adult education offerings of our clergy, there also are spiritual
guides, quiet days, and retreats.

In my own efforts to follow Jesus, I find a spiritual guide, quiet days, and retreats invaluable. A spir-
itual guide is someone who, ideally, is further along on his or her spiritual journey than you are, and
who has the wisdom and experience to accompany you on yours. A spiritual guide can help you
work through questions of faith, support you in your prayer life, and help you discern the will of
God which you are trying to follow.

Quiet days and retreats are periods of time during which one withdraws temporarily from the de-
mands and stress of our surface lives to try to focus upon God's presence with us in the depths of
Cont. on p. 9
Page 4 The Big Red Door

SERVING SCHEDULES FOR JUNE

St. Andrews Serving Schedule: June 3, 2018 – June 24, 2018

Usher Lector Chalice Acolyte Hospitality Altar
Guild
6/3/2018 Dick Robin Ralph Maria Lynne Wendy
11:00 AM Gestwick Cotter Malloch Ackerman Walton Rifanburg

6/10/2018 Terry Renee Carl Charlie Colleen Wendy

11:00 AM Thomsen Collum Berdzinski Ackerman Ackerman Rifanburg

6/17/2018 Don Morning Prayer Barb Wendy

11:00 AM Anderson Joan Axtell Berdzinski Rifanburg

6/24/2018 Emmanuel Church Joint Service with Bishop DeDe Duncan-Probe

9:30 AM

Emmanuel Serving Schedule: June 3 – June 24, 2018

Date Usher Lector Eucharistic Acolyte Chalice Altar Guild
Minister

06/3/2018 Fred & Laurel Russell Pete Bernie Nancy

Sally Miers Wiltbank Ketch Smith Dye Dye

06/10/2018 Dave & Kai Tony Officiant Sally Miers

Loomis Giglio Kisten
Giglio
06/17/2018 Jim & Sally Miers Kisten Matthew Kisten Sharon
Sharon Giglio Giglio Giglio Everard
Everard
6/24/2018 Gary & Gary Nancy Bernie Dye Bernie Dye Sally Miers
Joint Ser- Barb Tompkins Dye
vice Tompkins

St. Matthew's Serving Schedule: June 3, 2018 – June 24, 2018

Usher Chalice/Lector Officiant Altar Duty Coffee hour

06/3/2018 Harmon Ten- Cheryl Ten- Teresa Clarke Pat Lindau Helen North
Wolde Wolde
06/10/201 Peter North Pat Lindau Fr. Steve Pat Lindau Cheryl TenWolde
8
06/17/201 Paul Lindau Bonnie Friedel Fr. Steve Pat Lindau Liz Vermeulen
8
6/24/2018 Joint service at Emmanuel with Bishop Duncan-Probe
9:30 AM
The Big Red Door Page 5

NEWS AROUND THE KINGDOM

The Chenango Episcopal District of the Diocese of Central New York will sponsor
Summer Work Days on July 2nd, 3rd, and 21st, Monday, Tuesday and a Saturday this
year. Volunteers will please meet at the Unadilla Valley Central School on Route 8 in
New Berlin, in the south side parking lot at 12:00 Noon on July 2, 2018. We will be hav-
ing a 'tail-gait' lunch together for fellowship as we wait for the trucks to arrive for the
Reach Mission Project.

Our work will be to assist the Reach Mission Team as they unload the trucks and start
prepping the school rooms for the camp to be set up. Each classroom has to be
mapped as to the location of all items (desks, chairs, tables, etc.) before the items are cleared out. The teenagers coming to
the work camp for the next two weeks will be living in these rooms. Cathy Smith is our contact for what tasks we are to do.
On Tuesday, July 3, 2018, volunteers are asked to show up at 9:00 AM to continue the preparation work.

Cathy has asked that all volunteers please consider returning to the UVCS building on Saturday, July 21, 2018 at 9:00 AM to
help with the final steps to restage the classrooms according to the maps. The Reach Mission Teams are going to work on
about 100 homesites within 20 miles of the school, to help clear yards, paint, do minor repairs, and assist families in improv-
ing their homes. These kids are providing two weeks of free labor and the Reach Mission Program provides them with
Christian camp activities at the school in the evenings.

All Chenango District Episcopalians, their families and friends are invited to show up for the work days to help in this pro-
ject to show God's love in action. Call 607-334-8803 or 607-334-8801 for any questions or more information.

As part of our tradition, the Chenango District also has a family fun trip to Water Safari in Old Forge. This year the outing is
scheduled for July 11th, Wednesday. The cost is $5 per person for all Episcopal parishioners and their families, and $20 per
person for friends. This includes admission and lunch which is normally $28+. Please call 607-334-8801 to sign up for the
Water Safari event, providing names, parish, contact number, and child/adult status for each ticket. There will not be a bus
for transportation this year, but please indicate if you are interested in car-pooling when calling in for reservations.

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖

Episcopal Chenango
Church District Trip

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Meet at Water Safari between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. Pick up your
tickets from Lynne Walton at the entrance

Includes Lunch for the bunch: Pizza, chips and soft drink
Contact Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Norwich, NY for more information and to sign-up!

RSVP by June 29, 2018 by calling (607) 334-8801

Only $5.00 per person for church members, $20.00 for guests
Page 6 The Big Red Door

NEWS CONT.

New Bible/Book Study!

Father Steve is starting a new Bible/Book Study in June. This class will be driven by
choices of the participants (and occasionally priest). We will begin by Fr. Steve lead-
ing a multi-week study of the Book of Esther. As he says, “Esther is a story about
exactly all the things you don’t think it’s about. It’s like reading an Agatha Christie
mystery. What is really going on here, and who are these people.” All you will need
is a Bible — preferably an NRSV version (or King James). As we come nearer to
the end of this first go-round, we will pick the next topic and leader. Let’s gather
and have fun learning what God is teaching us and where the Holy Spirit is leading
us.

Classes will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesdays at St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church in
South New Berlin.

Class begins June 26th! (This is a change from the original June 12th date.)

Come join us and bring a friend!

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
Flower Angels Needed!
Hey, Emmanuel folks! We need your help!

Fr. Steve is looking for a crew of folks who would

be willing to take the altar flowers over to Che-
nango Valley Home and Apartments once church
is over each Sunday.

Each person would be responsible for transfer-

ring the flowers into a couple of our “to-go” vas-
es, driving them over to the home, and
picking up and returning the previous week’s vas-
es.

We also would like someone to step up and be the scheduler (with office assistance).

If you are interested, please give the office a call at (607) 334-8801.

This is an easy way to bring a lot of joy to a lot of people’s lives.

The Big Red Door Page 7

FOOD AND FELLOWSHIP

Soul Kitchen Lunch (Emmanuel, Norwich) — Wednesdays in June, July & August
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Good Free Meal for Body and Mind Emmanuel Soul Kitchen Lunch All are welcome to
come Eat-Talk-Make Friends MENU: Grilled Hot Dog on a Bun, Chips, and Water

Pot Luck Thursdays— Come join your friends at St. Matthew’s for their monthly pot luck supper. Pot
lucks are held on the fourth Thursday of the month. And the food is always good...so is the company.

FOOD PANTRIES
Our Food Pantry Outreach Hours
Emmanuel, Norwich: M-W-F, 10:00 a.m.—Noon; M & W, 3:30 p.m.– 5:00 p.m.
St. Andrew’s (at First United Methodist), New Berlin: M, 3:00 p.m.– 5:00 p.m.
St. Matthew’s (at First Baptist), South New Berlin: M, 1:00 p.m.– 4:00 p.m., W, 2:00 p.m.

NEWS CONT.

Fresh Veggies Needed at Emmanuel!!!!!

Spring is here Would all of the gardeners out there please plant
an extra row, so the clients at Our Daily Bread Food Pantry
could have some fresh, local produce?

—Barb & Gary Tompkins,

Food Pantry Volunteer Coordinators

A Message from Our Friends at Broad Street UMC —

Spaghetti Supper to Benefit Natalie Stone

As Natalie continues her chemo journey, our church continues to pray for
her and her family. Natalie’s favorite food is spaghetti and meatballs, so we
are having a spaghetti supper fundraiser to help her family out.

When: Friday, June 29th

Time: 6 – 8 pm
Where: Broad Street UMC

If you’d like to help, sign up at: www.signupschedule.com/DinnerAt74NorthBroad or use the paper sign
up at the church. Can’t come to the dinner but want to help the Stone family out? You can write your check
to Broad Street UMC and put ‘Benefit: Natalie Stone’ in the memo line. Every dollar you donate will go to
the Stone family.
Page 8 The Big Red Door

NEWS CONT.

Pig Roast!
The Annual Northern Kingdom Pig Roast
will be
August 5th @ St. Andrew’s New Berlin

Worship Service will be at 11:00 a.m. with the

Blessing of the Pig soon after!!

Invite your friends — and bring a dish to pass!

❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖❖
The Big Red Door Page 9
(Ask a Priest cont. from p. 3)

our lives. Instead of incessantly talking to -- or at -- God, we make time to try to be still and to listen to God re-
sponding to us. God is there in the depths of our selves. We need relief from our crazy busyness in order to be
open to God's presence, which in reality is closer to us than we are to ourselves.

Why does this matter? Because we are like wells. The demands of our lives drain us of love and patience, energy
and discernment, just like life-giving water being drained from a well. If we don't have time to re-fill with God's
divine energy, when our "water level" gets too low, our response to a demand or someone's need is "mud." When
we are full of mud, so to speak, rather than clear water, we become blocked from God loving us, just as mud
blocks a pipe. We can't love God in ourselves or love God in others. A retreat can clear out the mud and allow
your well to fill up again or prevent it from getting too low in the first place.
(We will continue the Rev. Gillett’s answer next month.)

PASTORAL NEEDS & PRAYER REQUESTS

Please pray for these people as you say your daily prayers: Immediate Please pray for these peo-
ple as you say your daily prayers: Immediate Needs: Katherine Mandaro, George Dickinson,
Brenda, Carole Carpenter, Christopher Widmark, Alice Angle, Sally Supensky, Cynthia Yerman,
Susan Adkinson, Florence Hand, Mariba Chmielewski, Frank Giglio, Sharon Fox, Nancy Nolan
Gibbon, Mila Lent, Rebecca Bliss, Betsy Somers, Jean McDowell, Elaine Sharki, Miley Parker,
Sharon D, Joyce Lawrence, Mary Alice Whitney, Laura Chapin, Lex Supensky, Charlie McMul-
len, John MacRabie, Marcia, Kay Nearing, Janice Coleman, Fiare Jenkins, Ah-mig Jenkins. Con-
tinued Prayers: Jax, Amy, Janet Kenyon Burrell. Those in Nursing Homes or Homebound:
Mariba Chmielewski, Jim Haynes, Helen Donahe, Caroline Mason, Sally Lidell.

JUNE BIRTHDAYS/ANNIVERSARIES

1 James Everard, Carl & Barb Berdzinski, 16 Sharon Everard; Shaylee Horton, Lynne
Dick Horton Walton
2 Nathan Quinn Beardslee 17 Maxwell Morris, William & Gloria
3 Heather Lewis “Scottie” Decker, Kaylee Hovick
4 George Clum 18 Dottie Mattice; Ryan Loeffler
5 Tom & Colleen Ackerman 20 Frank Johnson, Tom & Lorraine Moore
6 Carter David McGrain, Althea Eholzer, 21 Debra Bramer Zampetti; Michael
Karen & Sarah Malloch Charles, Barton Gibbon
Snedaker 22 Stephen Spittler; Carlie Thompson;
7 Pierce Smith Melinda Cole, Bill Beckwith
8 Victoria Kappel 23 Stephanie Button
9 William Lindner, Jamie Robinson, Cyn- 24 Linda Stiess; Joan Lorincz
thia Lewis 25 Mark Grainger
11 Alexandria Fink; Gary Woodard; Jordan 26 Jordan Murphy; Bridget Murphy;
Smith, James & Wendy Rifanburg Nicholas Murphy, Timothy Lidell, Michelle
12 Jonathan Austin, Charles Ackerman Joanis
13Tim & Ricie Mayne 28 Rev. Steve White
14 Susan Lidell Klim 29 John & Sandra Shepler
15 Patti Ann Gladstone, Taylor Anderson 30 Margaret Kriener
Page 10 The Big Red Door

OUR “CREED”
Whatever brought you to experience worship with us, welcome.
If you’ve come searching for a Christian community that manages to be both
joyful and reverent, welcome.
If you’re hoping to find a church that is grounded in tradition but
engaged in the present and open to the future, welcome.
If you’ve been looking for a place where your doubts and questions can be as at home as your
hopes and certainties, welcome.
If you’ve been wondering whether there’s a place for you at all in the Christian church, you are
welcome here. You really are.

IMPORTANT NOTICE!!!!

EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH’S ADDRESS

IS CHANGED!!!!
Please make the following change in your address books!!!

Emmanuel Episcopal Church now receives mail at its

street address:

37 West Main Street, Norwich, NY 13815

The Big Red Door Page 11

Newsletter offices are located at:

EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH

37 WEST MAIN ST.
NORWICH, NY 13815

If you have news you would like to share, contact us at:

(607) 334-8801

E-mail: emmanuelchurch@frontiernet.net
web site: emmanuelnorwich.org

Follow us on Facebook, Emmanuel Episcopal Church

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