Season of Dazzling Darkness

A Prayer in Time of Conflict

By the Rev. Dr. Paul S. Nancarrow

O God, you have bound us together in a common life. Help us, in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 824).

As I sit down to write this article, I’ve just been reading headlines and news items about Iraq. By the time you read this article, of course, the news and headlines may be very different; things can happen very quickly on the international scene. But today: U.N. arms inspectors in Iraq say it may take many more months to complete their search for banned weapons. Secretary of State Colin Powell has warned the U.N. that time is running out, and it must take action and do its duty to enforce its resolutions on Iraqi weapons. Tens of thousands of protestors in the U.S. and abroad are speaking against the threat of war, taking up the slogan, “No war for oil.” President Bush is reported to be getting impatient with allied nations that are reluctant to push a military campaign. Germany is saying it won’t vote for a war resolution in the Security Council, and France is saying it might veto any such resolution. Russian diplomats say that their military intelligence sources say that the U.S. has already decided to go to war, and the invasion is to begin in mid-February. U.S. military sources will not comment on what Russian military sources do

or do not know. Iraq says that any attempt to attack its sovereignty will end in the attackers “committing suicide before the gates of Baghdad.” Some people say it’s all about terrorism; some people say it’s all about security; some people say it’s all about oil. No one claims to want violence and destruction; but no one seems to know how to make the peace.

In this situation, I find that the words from the prayer “In Times of Conflict,” from the Prayers and Thanksgiving section at the back of the Prayer Book, speak to me with a certain power. The prayer reminds us that what is most important, what is our most central value, what God in fact calls us to, is the struggle for justice and truth. The evils of terrorism and the dangers of weapons of mass destruction are real, and they are unjust, and they must be dealt with. That much is clear. But the way we deal with them must grow out of a genuine struggle to be just and truthful, and not from the desire for revenge, or the desire to prove our dominance in the world, or the desire to control resources that will make our own consumerist lifestyles more comfortable. There are times in politics, as there are times in personal life, when conflict is unavoidable; but our Christian tradition says that the conflict must always be engaged as a struggle toward justice and truth.

And committing ourselves to justice and truth implies some things about how we wage our conflicts. It implies that we must never forget the human value and dignity of the ones with whom we are in conflict; while we may oppose them, we strive to treat them without hatred or bitterness, without demonizing them in our minds or dehumanizing them in our propaganda. And it implies that we must always remember that purpose of our conflict is to be constructive rather than destructive; although there may be loss and destruction along the way, the end result is to be a situation where enemies and allies alike can work together, with mutual forbearance and respect, to build a reality where that conflict will never be necessary again

These are unsettled and conflicted times. As citizens and as Christians we may find ourselves tugged in different directions, by different opinions, with different thoughts of what we should accomplish and how we should accomplish it. In this time of conflict, I commend to you this prayer to be freed from hatred and bitterness, this prayer to be freed for mutual forbearance and respect. I invite you to join with me in praying it daily. I urge you to find ways to live it in your civic and personal life.

Mardi Gras Event on March 2

Tickets go on sale on February 16 and 23 for our Dimanche Gras (Mardi Gras)on Sunday) Celebration event March 2.

Tickets are: Adults, $2, Children $1 ($10 limit per family.)

Lunch will be served starting at noon and will continue till all the food is gone.

Bring your favorite board game for all ages. Got a cue stick you can spare? - join in a game of pool. Videos will be available for the kids. Wear your favorite hat and best beads. Put on a skit. Sing a song. Have a good time!

The Sunday, February 9 Parish Open House Presents

The “Dragon Stitchers”! By Jan Hagerman

Take this opportunity to come and find out what the Quilters are up to!

This is a wonderful ministry in which you can let your talents grow—or be discovered. In addition to making quilts for ECS and our own baptisms, in the near future we will be creating some wonderful pieces for the Sanctuary.

We have a good time when we are together as well as enjoying the opportunity to grow friendships while doing something good for the world.

Evensong and Concert for Candlemas

The Gregorian singers and the Bel Canto Voices sing an Evensong and concert for Candlemas on Sunday, February 2 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church near lake of the Isles at 1917 Logan Avenue South in Minneapolis.

Candlemas is a day when candles are blessed as symbols of light in the world. Whatever people’s tradition, they are invited to bring a candle from home and have it blessed for special domestic observances later.

A co-sponsored event, music presented to be sung is by Andrew Lloyd Weber, K. Allman, Monte Mason, William Byrd, Healey Willan and others. The Gregorian Singers are led by Monte Mason and the Bel Canto voices by Janice Kimes.

Pulpit Exchange on February 9

The Rev. Dr. Anne Miner-Pearson will be our guest preacher and presider at the Eucharist on Sunday, February 9 at both the 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. services. Anne is the vicar at the Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Burnsville, a congregation that is doing some exciting things with mission growth and shaping Episcopal liturgy to the particular needs of people who are new to the Episcopal tradition. On that same Sunday, Fr. Paul will be the guest preacher at Nativity, and will speak at their Adult Forum on the topic of Anglican theology.

Please be sure to welcome Ann on Sunday morning, February 9: give her a warm St. George’s welcome, hear her proclamation of the Gospel, and share with her in the communion of our Savior!

The University Episcopal Center

Remember us?

For 95 years we’ve been your presence at the University of Minnesota. We offer hospitality, prayer, study, worship, and lasting friendships for college students on metro campuses.

Now we’re building an exciting new center that will expand our ministries to include a residential faith community for students discerning their calling to ministry in the Episcopal Church.

We’re your University Episcopal Center. Please support us with your prayer, time, talent and treasure!

Housing Needed for General Convention 2003

General Convention Volunteers are signing up from throughout the United States and the need for housing is growing. We are in need of housing in the Twin Cities during General Convention—July 30 through August 8 for volunteers from greater Minnesota and out of state. If you live near the Convention Center (Minneapolis, St. Paul, or the western suburbs) or a bus line and have a room available, please consider hosting a volunteer during the Convention.

If you have space available, you can go to the Volunteer Recruitment website and indicate that you have room by checking the “I can provide housing” box. Or send an email to Rex McKee at rmckee@pclink.com.

Used Greeting Cards by Marjorie Paulsen

St. Jude’s Ranch for children in Boulder City, Nevada, accepts all cards for any occasion for its card-recycling program.

The used cards are cut, trimmed and pasted to make new cards, and then they are sold.

Children at the Ranch earn pocket money or money for trips, and learn the value of the dollar and work ethics.

Please bring YOUR used cards and place them in the box in the narthex. We’ll see that they get tender-loving care and forward them to St. Jude’s.

Kitchen Coordinator Needed

With Joan Kimble “retiring” from the position, the opportunity arises for someone new to take on this ministry that contributes so much to the life of our parish.

The position takes about 2 hours each week and involves making sure that provisions (such as coffee) are available and that the utensils, dishes, coffee makers and servers are clean and ready for the next event. Please take the time to consider this opportunity to serve your parish family. For more information, contact Joan Kimble or a member of the Women’s and Men’s Board to discuss this paid position.

Little Flowers Montessori

Little Flowers has been our tenant for over 10 years, and has offered a 10% discount on monthly tuition to any member of St. George’s who wishes to send their child to preschool. There are currently openings in the class for ages 3-6. Call Preethy at 763-559-5843 to ask for more information about this offer.

Sunday School Scoop by Kitty Reese

We are growing! Two more children have now joined the Sunday school classes. Priscilla Hagerman and Charlie D’Amico have “graduated” from the nursery and are now in the preschool/kindergarten class. Welcome, Priscilla and Charlie.

We have been busy learning about some of the parables in the New Testament during the month of January. In February we will begin studying about Sacraments in the Episcopal church, specifically Eucharist.

We had fun during a bowling event on January 18. A group of us met at Park Tavern and enjoyed bowling with the bumper guards in place. We also had pizza and pop.

On February 9, all of the children are invited to stay after church to make valentines. There will be a table set up in the Parish Hall with materials to make valentines. Please join us!

Thanks to . . .

All who stayed and helped take down the Christmas decorations in the church. Many hands made quick

work.

Ev and Evie Sherman, John and Ruth Mangold for putting the annual Report together for mailing.

Alan Poulsen for making “lockers” for the Toddler Room upstairs in the Montessori Classroom. The kids think they are really “big” kids now!

Rosie Michelich for coming in and putting the pink music sheets together for Sunday worship and also for coming in to take them apart. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Al Kotula, Heather Whitesell, Annette Keppel, and the Youth Group for doing a fantastic job providing the meal at the Pancake Breakfast at the Annual meeting. Great job!!!

Gordy Justus for all his hard work in exploring options for better use of our space at St. George’s.

Carole Leonard for her dedication to Buildings and Grounds the last few years. Her leadership has been invaluable.

Leon Vann for coming in and painting the “lockers” for the Montessori classroom.