|
+ Blessed be God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
|
|
Word from the Rector…
Grumpiness and the Altar of Faith
I never grow tired of the surprises in Scripture, including a frank exploration of grumpiness.
Next Sunday’s lessons in the Eucharist include a passage from the Book of Jonah in which the prophet throws something very like a tantrum. His grumpiness rises to the point that, when asked by God if it is advisable to be so angry, Jonah replies: “Yes! Angry enough to die!”
This book is one of the most clearly humorous things in the Holy Scriptures. It includes the grumpy prophet not wanting to do God’s bidding so much that he is willing to be thrown into the sea rather than head to Nineveh and having to be vomited up by a fish on the shore in order to be transported to his destination. Jonah half-heartedly proclaims God’s judgement on a people he likely despises, and then (miracle of miracles) the entire nation, from king to lowest beggar (and even the cattle) don the garments of repentance and turn to God immediately. That’s what really ticks Jonah off. He was waiting to see God smite the unbelievers, and instead, he had to endure the hot sun and wind on his bald pate. Worse yet, the leafy gourd plant God made grow to shade the prophet was felled in one day by a very hungry worm (are you seeing the humor yet?).
The theme of resistance to God’s gracious purposes for all humanity forms the foundation of this text, and that resistance is manifested by a sullen, grumpy, and hard-hearted attitude, often insisting on retribution and denying even the possibility of something new, radical, and revolutionary happening.
The Gospel lesson, from Matthew Chapter 20, is another text which deals with grumpiness. Often called the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, the grumpiness in this case is in the text and the reaction it often provokes in the hearer. The landowner hires people to work in the vineyard at various times in the day and then ends up paying them all the same wage. The hostile morning hires voice their frustration and are met with an equally brusque response: You received your wage; what business is it of yours how I pay my workers? Or, are you envious because I am generous? Ouch.
Being grumpy can be a very reasonable response to such things as deep disappointment, illness, loss, or just plain fatigue. But, when it becomes a way of life it closes the soul off from transformation and genuine spiritual wonder. The often insane and dispiriting news we hear today, coupled with our own struggles, can lead to a predilection toward a Jonah-like grumpiness. When we have an engrained “confirmation bias” towards cynicism, the possibility of anything truly new happening is blocked, whether that be the conversion of an empire or experiencing something as pure, unmerited, “11th hour” gift.
We all fall into grumpiness from time to time. That is human and typical. What is extraordinary and divine is to place that impulse on the altar of God’s generosity and allow it to be melted into desire—moving from Jonah’s “angry enough to die!” to being grateful enough to live. That’s the freedom we are given, if we have courage to take it up.
In Christ,
Brandon+
|
|
|
This Week…
Thursday, September 17: Hildegard of Bingen, Mystic and Scholar, 1179
- Men’s Group, 6 PM
- Women’s Bible Study, 7 PM
Friday, September 18: Edward Bouverie Pusey, Priest, 1882
- Fridays are marked by acts of discipline and self-denial. If you wish to know more about the meaning of this practice and its benefits, please enquire with Fr. Brandon.
Saturday, September 19: Theodore of Tarsus, Archbishop of Canterbury, 690
|
|
+ 8 AM: Holy Eucharist (said) with Blessing of Crosses. In-person.
+ 9:50 AM: Nursery and Godly Play open.
+ 10 AM: Holy Eucharist (sung) with Blessing of Crosses. In-person and online.
Following the 10 AM Liturgy:
+ Coffee Hour
+ After Ten Forum with Church at the Park, hosted in the narthex. (More info below)
|
|
|
The Week Ahead…
Monday, September 21: St. Matthew the Apostle
- The parish office is closed on Monday.
- 1 PM: Memorial Eucharist for Coralie Peterson
- 7 PM: Fall Bible Study on the Book of John, in the Fireside room of the Parish Hall.
Tuesday, September 22: Philander Chase, Bishop, 1852
Wednesday, September 23: Thecla of Iconium, Proto-Martyr Among Women, c. 70
- 10 AM: Rite I Holy Eucharist
|
|
|
Notice of the Memorial Liturgy for Coralie Peterson
+ + +
The Memorial Eucharist for Coralie Peterson will be at 1 PM on Monday, September 21st at St. Timothy’s, Salem. A reception will follow.
Father of all, we pray to you for those we love, but see no longer: Grant them your peace; let light perpetual shine upon them; and, in your loving wisdom and almighty power, work in them the good purpose of your perfect will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
|
|
|
|
Prayer Requests from this Parish: Dale & Jeanné, Caroline, Mike, Patt, Beth & Jim, Juanita, Bill, Mary, Julia, Br. Matthew nOGS, Marilyn & Andreas, Patti, Rich, Family Promise, Salem for Refugees, Mending Wings Youth Ministries. For peace; for those who serve in the Armed Forces and their families. For the right use of civil authority, the maintenance of our Civil Rights, for the electorate, that they may choose wisely.
For Those with Birthdays Next Week: Alice Wilkinson, Bev Brylski, Chuck McFerron
For the Departed: Coralie Peterson
For those who Mourn: The Peterson Family
In the Diocese of Oregon: St George, Roseburg
In the Anglican Communion: The Anglican Church of Australia
|
|
|
Zoom Recording of Last Week’s Sermon
There is no Zoom recording this week. Check back next week!
|
|
After Ten Forum with Church at the Park
This Sunday, September 20 following the 10 AM Liturgy
Since 2007, Church at the Park has been creating a table of love and acceptance for those who need it most and empowering people to change their lives and exit poverty by providing vital low barrier shelter and employment services. Church at the Park seeks the mutual transformation of unsheltered people, our staff, and our volunteers through relationships, agency partnerships, and tangible resources.
Church at the Park focuses on providing four things for our unsheltered neighbors: collaborative outreach and navigation, housing-focused sheltering, workforce development, and permanent supportive housing.
Come and hear from DJ Vincent, the Founder of Church at the Park about the most recent work they are doing in Salem, and the gospel-centered approach they take to serving unsheltered neighbors throughout our city. There will be time for questions and discussion.
|
|
|
|
|
Church at the Park’s Story: Battlegrounds to Playgrounds
|
|
|
Fall Scripture Study
The Gospel of John
Mondays at 7 PM in the Fireside Room of the Parish Hall
 Our Fall Scripture Study continues on Monday nights in the Parish Hall’s Fireside Room. This is a thematic study, looking for key themes in the Gospel account from John and developing insights about how it teaches us to live as disciples and know the meaning of Christ and life in Him.
Assignment for September 21: Please read chapters 1 & 2. What are the key themes you find in your reading?
|
|
|
Parish Life Lite Brunch
Saturday, October 3, 10:00 AM–Noon | Fireside Room
Are you currently involved in or interested in helping with Parish Life events (such as the Advent Brunch, Shrove Sunday Pancake Brunch, Agape Feast, and other fellowship gatherings)? We’d love to hear from you! Join us on October 3rd for a lite brunch and time to discuss the coming year’s event schedule, identify leaders and volunteers for each event, and share ideas for continuing our community hospitality and love in action.
|
|
|
Church at the Park | Welcome to the Table
Thursday, October 15, 2026 – Mission Mill, Spinning Room
Lunch – 12:00pm, Dinner – 7:00pm
Your presence helps us continue creating spaces where everyone is seen, valued, and welcomed. Together we will share stories that remind us that transformation is possible when we show up for one another.
We invite you to take your seat at the table to listen, to share, and to be part of a community working for a future where everyone belongs. We connect isolated people on sidewalks and in parks to needed resources and services. We create safe and supported shelter spaces leading to stability and positive transitions. We support the formation of people, jobs, and housing.
————————————————
In addition to hearing from Church at the Park during our After Ten Forum, consider supporting their work (and hearing more stories of hope and transformation!) through this fundraiser event. Tickets are $25 per person. I am hoping to fill a table for the 7 PM dinner, so please let know if you would like to attend! -– Emma Glennen.
|
|
|
Men’s Group
The Third Thursday of each month at 6 PM
This group next meets on Thursday, September 17th at 6 PM. We usually share a meal together, followed by a time of discussion led by the host around a particular theme or topic, and ending with Compline. If you would like more information about the group please contact Ron DeWilde, Steve Cowgill or Chuck McFerron.
|
|
Poetry Group
The Fourth Sunday Thursday of each month
following the 10 AM Liturgy
The Poetry Group meets on Sunday, September 27 in the Adult Ed room following the 10 AM liturgy. All are welcome! Bring some poetry, or come along and listen to what others have to share.
|
|
|
Salem EFN – Creation Care
The Salem EFN is an ecumenical interfaith network of faith communities of individuals who care for Creation in Salem.
We find that joining together with other local faith communities, our capacity to care for creation expands. We better steward our own resources as we work on practical projects to care for Creation. We are more effective and sustainable as we work together.
We meet at the IKE Box in one of the side rooms on the second Tuesday of the month at 10 AM. We hope to transition to a Zoom this winter to include more people.
Projects for the fall include:
- SOLVE on Oct. 3, meeting at United Methodist Church on State at 9:30
- Student art display at the IKE Box Earth month
- Supporting legislation and meeting with legislators to support the environment
- Resilience training at different faith centers
- Green Certification and Green Biz completion in December
We always need input and support and more hands. And the people in the group are so very nice.
Questions? Contact Pattie Sloane: peachsloan918@gmail.com
|
|
|
|
From Your Parish Librarian
While people were still in bed and before businesses and workshops opened in 1869, New York City, municipal workers would walk the alleys of the city collecting the bodies of abandoned infants. Their mothers were widowed by the Civil War, deserted by their men chasing California gold or too poor to feed another mouth.
They had no alternative for if they surrendered a child to the almshouse, the city would require their names, addresses and proof of their destitution. Sister Irene FitzGibbon had watched women choose death in a hospital, charity ward over documentation.
On an early October morning Sister Irene and two other nuns placed a wicker cradle in the vestibule of a newly rented brownstone and left the door open an inviting crack.
No questions. No names. No witnesses. No humiliation from the sad circumstance.
Institutions demanded accountability, the law required paperwork, the police warned her about housing codes, bureaucrats argued she was encouraging sin.
Sister Irene believed that mercy must always take precedence over rigid bureaucratic laws.
The first night the door was left open, a baby girl wrapped in a torn shawl was safely laid in the cradle. Within four weeks, there were more than 40 infants in that brownstone. Dresser drawers were used when they ran out of cradles.
Sister Irene visited the offices of merchants and politicians to present them with the physical reality of dozens of living children occupying a building that her five-dollar budget could not pay the rent, and what about the blankets she ordered on credit.
You don’t ask permission to save lives; you save lives first, then make the bureaucracy catch up. The city surrendered–they issued her a charter.
In the 30 years before she died, Sister Irene’s New York City Foundling Hospital took in over 27,000 babies who would have otherwise died in alleys. Today, New York Foundling is a major child-welfare and community services organization.
Sister Irene FitzGibbon didn’t wait for the system to change, she just left the door open.
— —
::Library News::
A few books donated to the Library are actually tracts or so thin they get lost among the other hardbound books on the shelf. You will find a basket holding these books, tucked in their own cradle. These books are cataloged and in the St Timothy’s Parish Library Book Database, and ready for Check Out.
Newly Shelved Books at St Timothy’s Parish Library:
The Problem of Pain by C S Lewis
U
FavAuth
CSL-pro
The Parting of Friends: The Wilberforces and Henry Manning by David Newsome
O
Anglcan
Leaders
New-par
A Dazzling Darkness: An anthology of Western Mysticism Ed Patrick Grant
V
Lit
Gra-daz
Dust Bunnies in the Basket: Finding God in Lent and Easter by Tim Schenck
V
Lit
Humor
Sch-dus
Grand Miracle: Devotions for the Days of Advent based on Thoughts of C S Lewis
Q
Worship
ChYear
Advent
Hec-gra
The Desert of the Heart: Daily readings with the Desert Fathers Ed Benedicta Ward
R
Prayer
Meditat
War-des
A Guide to Pronouncing Biblical Names by T S K Scott-Craig
B
BibStdy
Sco-gui
—Bonnie Bonham—Parish Librarian—
—Bonnie Bonham—Parish Librarian—
|
|
|
|
|
|
O God, your unfailing providence sustains the world we live
in and the life we live: Watch over those, both night and day,
who work while others sleep, and grant that we may never
forget that our common life depends upon each other’s toil;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
(From An Order for Compline, BCP p. 134)
|
|
|
|
|
