NEWSLETTER
The Fisher’s Net
Catch the Spirit!
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
North Lake, WI 53064
Dan Rosa, Sr. Warden E-Mail: drosa829@gmail.com
Peter Buerosse, Jr. Warden Phone: (262) 966-7312
Newsletter Editor: Mary Buerosse (262) 691-3549 E-Mail: Mbread@att.net
The Rev. David C. Couper, Vicar (608) 444-7207; davidccouper@gmail.com
September-October, 2022
Pastor’s Pen Fr. David Couper
Christianity: Remain or Leave?
For most of us, our faith isn’t something that gets tested on a daily or even yearly basis.
Yet those of us who express our faith by church attendance and following the Jesus Way may feel we are
being tested. This frequently happens when our friends, neighbors, co-workers, even children, look at us
as strange beings who pray, forgive, try to love and help others, and regularly show up at a church on
Sunday mornings.
Social activist and Christian author Brian McClaren’s new book, “Do I Stay Christian?” gives us
ten reasons to leave and ten reasons to stay in our faith. I love this book. It brings out some of the facts
and questions we all should ponder and put our faith in a proper perspective. I strongly recommend it be
discussed in our religious communities.
For example, the ten reasons McClaren gives to leave include antisemitism; the church’s habit of
crushing dissenters; a history of “Christian colonialism” that includes support of slavery, White
supremacy and White Christian nationalism; toxic institutionalism; financial greed; White patriarchy;
rigid theology; the failure of Christianity to transform lives; an anti-intellectual streak that rejects science
and encourages poisonous politics; and an aging demographic in the church that trends toward regressive
views. Whew!
But stay with him. As to why one should stay Christian, McClaren lays out ten reasons: To leave
hurts the people who are trying to transform Christianity into something better, (they need our help rather
than abandonment). If we stay, we can fight for a better faith from the inside, providing critique and
energy for reformation. Rather than going it alone, we need the help of others to make the world better.
And remember that Christianity is still a young faith among the world’s religions and needs more time to
mature and improve. We should stay because of our love for Jesus—and because all religions (like all
humans) are imperfect. Another reason is that Christianity can evolve into something far more beautiful
than it is. Those who remain can participate in that evolutionary movement toward a more enlightened
faith. And we should not forget the deeply felt human need we all have for the friendship, support, and
belonging to a Christian community (like St. Peter’s).
After laying out reasons to leave or stay, the final section of his book, begins by reframing the
central question: Will we stay Christian? For McClaren, this is a less important question than these:
1) How shall we humans survive and thrive?
2) What good future shall we strive for?
3) How can we align our energies with the divine energy at work in our universe?
The book ends by calling for a radical redefinition of Christianity: He writes, “I could not stay a
Christian if my only option was the old way, the old way of white Christianity, the old way of patriarchal
Christianity, the old way of Theo-Capitalistic Christianity, the old way of violent, exclusive, and
authoritarian Christianity with its suppressed but real history of cruelty.”
Lest the reader begin to lose hope at this point, McClaren moves forward into a more positive
vision for Christianity:
“I have found the permission and freedom to be a new kind of Christian, a progressive
Christian, a contemplative-activist Christian, a Christian humanist, or whatever you
want to call me. I am learning to be content whatever I am called, as long as I remain
passionately eager to embody a way of being human that is pro-justice, pro-kindness,
and pro-humility.” Amen!
This important book will no doubt be castigated as was Rob Bell’s challenge of the idea of
theological Hell in “Love Wins” (2011). Bell questioned whether a loving God would really create a
place like hell and standby while those God created and loved were tormented and punished there for
eternity. Could you or I do that to a wayward child of ours? Of course not. Sometimes our human need to
punish and seek revenge overlooks and disregards God’s true nature. Instead, we think God like we are
rather than aspire to be more like God is.
My reason to remain Christian? I am not a guy who easily gives up. I believe following
Jesus is the right thing for me to do. But the choice is yours. I believe trying to follow Jesus has made me
a better man, husband, father, and friend. (But that’s for those who walk with me to decide, right?) My
faith has worked for me in the darkest of times and during easier days. I will not be pushed out of my
faith by those who don’t believe in the Jesus I follow. Or because we Christians could have acted better in
the past. Call me obstinate! I hope you have found more reasons to stay Christian than to leave. May God
give us all strength in these years to come and to “embody a way of being human that is pro-justice, pro-
kindness, and pro-humility.” Hope to see you Sunday!
— And, for what it’s worth, the newly-released biography of yours truly by Madison journalist Rob Zaleski:
“David Couper: Beyond the Badge: Reflections of an Ex-cop.”
“Jesus never asked anyone to form a church, ordain priests, develop elaborate rituals and institutional
cultures, and splinter into denominations. His two great requests were that we ‘love one another as I have
loved you’ and that we share bread and wine together as an open channel of that inter-abiding love.”
―Cynthia Bourgeault, –The Wisdom Jesus: Transforming Heart and Mind,
Calendar and Times
Scheduled Reader
September 4, Sunday 9:30 am Holy Eucharist Andy Marks
September 11, Sunday 9:30 am Holy Eucharist Dan Schneider
September 18, Sunday 8:00 am Vestry Meeting
9:30 am Holy Eucharist Pete Buerosse
September 25, Sunday 9:30 am Holy Eucharist Susan Medd
Lessons for September
Date 1 Lesson Psalm 2nd Lesson Gospel
Sept. 4. Jeremiah 18:1-11 139:1-5, 12-17 Philemon 1-21 Luke 14:25-33
Sept. 11 Jeremiah 4:11-12, 22-28 14 1 Timothy 1:12-17 Luke 15:1-10
Sept. 18 Jeremiah 8:18—9:1 79:1-9 1 Timothy 2:1-7 Luke 16:1-13
Sept. 25 Jeremiah 32:1-3, 6-15 91:1-6, 14-16 1 Timothy 6:6-19 Luke 16:19-31
Remember in Your Prayers
“And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will,
he hears us: And if we know that he hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that
we have the petitions that we desired of Him” (1 John 5:14-15)
*Pray for the people of eastern Kentucky, Utah, Arizona, Texas and other areas of the south who have
experienced devastating flash floods and loss of property. Pray for those who have died in these floods.
*Pray for those who died in the Highland Park, Chicago shootings on July 4.
*As we celebrate Labor Day, let us pray for the many businesses hit hard by the COVID pandemic and
that are still in need of employees.
*Keep the students and instructors returning to elementary and high schools, colleges, technical schools
and other disciplines of higher education in your prayers. Pray for their health.
*Continue to pray for the Church and its members who continue the process of “Exploring deepening
Cooperation and Coordination of the three diocese of Wisconsin.
*Pray for the homeless and the hungry. Seek ways to reach out to them with assistance.
*Pray for peace and justice in all the world, especially in Ukraine. Pray for the peacemakers.
*Pray for our service men and women stationed around the world.
*Pray for our leaders, both national and local, to make good and just decisions. Pray for those running for
elected office that their campaigns are run with honesty and integrity. Pray for the health of our nation
and democracy.
*Remember the Prayer Circle in your prayers Your added prayers give strength to their theirs.
*Pray for St. Peter’s and its families, for the present and the future, that we may grow in
Christ and be His light to the world.
Let’s Celebrate September
Happy Birthday Happy Anniversary
Sept 1 Kathy Marks Sept. 1 Dan and Jan Schneider
Sept 4 Pete Buerosse
Sept 4 Jayne Smith
Sept 14 Randy Medd
The Spirit at Work!
*Thanks to Andy Marks and Dan Schneider for their efforts to clean-up the area around the Celtic Cross
and grave areas in the cemetery. It looks beautiful.
*Our thanks to Pete Buerosse and Andy Marks for providing guitar music during times when our
musician, Matt, is away.
*The sidewalks at St. Peter’s have been fixed! The areas where the sidewalks were uneven or raised,
posing a potential tripping or stumbling problem, were “shaved” flat by Safe Step LLC last month.
“Walk confidently in to worship!”
*Our Jr. Warden, Pete Buerosse, has been working around the church, fixing things! The Exit door in the
basement has been sticking for years due to moisture problems. Pete has it opening easily now. The stairs
and floor in the sacristy were in need of attention. They’ve been refinished. The chimney above the
fireplace in the sacristy has been plastered, primed and painted too. Thanks, Pete, for your loving care of
St. Peter’s!
*We have an acolyte in training! On any given Sunday, Benjamin Luther might be seen carrying the
cross into church or extinguishing the candles on the altar. Nice job, Benjamin!
*Sadly we report the death of Fr. Robert (Bob) Seay. A Memorial service was held July 3rd. Fr. Seay
supplied at St. Peter’s many years ago.
*Please review the Flower Chart in the Narthex. Sign up to put flowers on the retables behind the altar to
the glory of God. Thank you.
*Prayer Requests may be given to Mary Buerosse, placed in the offering plate or sent to mbread@att.net.
They will be shared with St. Peter’s faithful Prayer Circle and prayed on Sundays during the Prayers of
the People.
St. Peter’s Annual Picnic
Finally after two years of cancelled plans, St. Peter’s held its annual picnic at Bauers Bay in
Oconomowoc on Sunday, August 21st. While it was cool, cloudy and breezy (but not raining), the
weather did not dampen the enthusiasm to get together for food, games, and good conversations. We had
great attendance as 23 adults and 6 kids enjoyed the picnic festivities. And what better way to begin the
day than with a Children’s Sermon! So wonderful to see all the kids gathered around Fr. David as he
talked about “what the Spirit is saying to His people.”
The Refrigerator Pickle Recipe
One of the many foods brought to the Annual St. Peter’s Picnic was Refrigerator Pickles. Many
individuals asked for the recipe….
1 head of fresh dill plus cut dill stalks
1 Tbsp. salt In a clean quart jar put the salt, sugar, garlic, mustard
1 to 1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar seeds, peppercorns and white vinegar. Shake or stir to
1 Tbsp. chopped garlic mix. Add the dill & dill stalks. Pack the jar with plenty
1/4 tsp. mustard seeds of sliced pickles. Fill the jar with hot water, put on the
1/4 tsp. peppercorns lid and shake the jar to disperse the seasonings. Put the
1/2 cup white vinegar jar in the refrigerator for 24 hours. Enjoy these great
Sliced pickles 1/4 inch thick crunchy pickles. Get to them first…. They go fast!
Outreach
The Outreach Committee presented the following organizations to receive outreach donations at the July
17th Vestry Meeting and the Vestry passed their selections
Funds Available $4,095.93
Lake Area Free Clinic $500
Mr. Bob’s Under the Bridge $500
North Lake Food Pantry $500
Salvation Army $500
The Gathering $500
________
Total $2500
If you would like to present organizations for outreach in the future, please contact Rick Luedke, Jan
Schneider, or Kathy Marks.
North Lake Food Pantry
During the height of the pandemic, when St. Peter’s did not gather in the church, our contributions to the
North Lake Food Pantry began to diminish. In recent months we have not returned to the practice of
asking for donations on the last Sunday of the month. The Vestry decided that St. Peter’s would continue
to make donations to the North Lake Food Pantry through our Outreach Program. If you would like to
make individual contributions, please send them to North Lake Food Pantry, %St. Teresa of Calcutta,
P. O. Box 68, North Lake, WI 53064
St. Michael and All Angels—Feast September 29
Are Angels “really real” to us? They are spoken of in the Bible from the book of Genesis right on
through the book of Revelation. In the Bible, the word “angel” is translated from Hebrew and Greek
words which mean “messenger;” in English, the word usually denotes a supernatural being who is distinct
from God, an attendant upon Him, and His messenger.
A common title of God in the Old Testaments is “Lord of hosts”; the hosts are the holy angels. An Old
Testament lesson in II King 6 tells the story of Elisha, the man of God, who was in Dothan and the King
of Syria surrounded that city by night with his chariots and horses — “a great host.” Elisha’s servant saw
the great army, ran back to his master and cried, “Alas.. What shall we do?” The prophet told him not to
be afraid because “they that be with us are more than they that be with them.” “And the Lord opened the
eyes of the young man, and he saw; and behold the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire round
about Elisha.”
In the face of all that the Bible has to say about angels, may it not well be ourselves who are at fault if
they are not very real to us? The Sadducees did not believe in angels. Of that St. Paul said, “Let no man
deceive himself: if any man thinketh he is wise among you in this world, let him become a fool that he
may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God”.
The Collect for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels says that God “ordained the services of Angels
and men in a wonderful order.” We pray “that as the holy Angels always do thee service in heaven, so by
thy appointment they may succor and defend us on earth.” May the holy angels become more real to us
this Michaelmastide than they have ever been before, and may we be more aware of, and ever more
desirous of, the wonderful help and protection which God has ordained for us in and through the angels.
-Bishop of Delhi (The Church in India)
via The Anglican Digest, Autumn 2013 (edited & condensed)
Reflections By Andy Marks
Being Vulnerable
Lean on Me is a hit song written and recorded by Bill Withers in 1972. The song speaks to the ups and
downs we all experience on our life-long journeys and how we sometimes need help to get through the
tough times.
Lean on me
When you’re not strong
And I’ll be your friend,
I’ll help you to carry on…
For it won’t be long
Till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.
On August 6 th , my niece Jessica and I participated in the MS bike ride. We had done this together once
before two years ago. That year we completed 150 miles in the two-day ride. This year we planned on
only riding the first day of the event doing the 75 mile route. We had trained for the ride by riding
together for about 7 weeks prior and even though we only rode once a week we usually covered 25—30
miles. We both felt we were in good enough shape for the ride but hadn’t planned on a 90 plus degree
day. We joined on with a group of 5 other riders and stayed together as a team. At roughly the 30-mile
mark all was going well as we were riding on cool, mostly shaded roads. Soon, however, we found
ourselves out on the open roads with the hot sun beginning to crank up the temperature. Suddenly around
the 50-mile mark I began to wonder if I overestimated my capabilities. Besides feeling fatigued, I had a
new sensation I never felt before. Both of my big toes felt as if someone had hit them hard with a
hammer and every time I peddled, I felt a surge of pain in my toes. I was informed by a fellow rider and
friend that I was cramping up. By the time we arrived at the last rest stop I was done! After I got off my
bike, I was having difficulty standing up and walking the short distance to the refreshment area. One of
the volunteers saw me struggling and ran down the hill to give me a bottle of cold water. Another
volunteer came from behind and wrapped a cool wet towel around my neck. Soon I was able to make it
to the refreshment stand and began to rehydrate. After about 5 to 10 minutes, I was feeling much better
and much stronger. As our team regrouped and started off again, I felt confident that I could finish the 15
or so miles left to go. I was wrong. After climbing a very difficult hill with little energy left, I fell down
trying to cross the road. Jessica and other team members were quick to get to me and help me up and
repair my bike. I was hurting and uncertain if I could ride anymore. With the help and encouragement
from my team members I was able to continue. It was a very difficult day for me and not one I expected.
I have a deep appreciation for all the volunteers along the way especially those who worked the rest stops
many of whom have MS themselves. They helped me immensely. We never know when, as it says in
Bill Wither’s song, “For it won’t be long till I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.”
A Fly in the Ointment
The expression “a fly in the ointment” is used to refer to a person or thing that spoils a situation which is
perfect in every other way. The expression derives from Ecclesiastes 10:1 (KJV): “Dead flies cause the
ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour: so doth a little folly him that is in reputation
for wisdom and honour.” As dead flies give even sweet-smelling perfume a bad odor, so a little folly
spoils the virtues of wisdom and honor. The contemporary versions render the first part of Ecclesiastes
10:1 as:
(NIV) – “dead flies give perfume a bad smell”
(NKJV) – “Dead flies putrefy the perfumer’s ointment”
(NRSV) – “Dead flies make the perfumer’s ointment give off a foul odor”
(CEV) – “A few dead flies in perfume make all of it stink, and a little foolishness outweighs a lot of wisdom;”
(NLT) – “Dead flies will cause even a bottle of perfume to stink! Yes, an ounce of foolishness can
outweigh a pound of wisdom and honor.”
—I Never Knew THAT Was in the BIBLE!” Edited by Martin H. Manser
Chancel Flowers
Chancel flowers (also known as altar flowers) are flowers that are placed in the chancel of a Christian
Church. These chancel flowers are often paid for by members of a congregation as an offering of
thanksgiving to God. (Guidelines for Protestant Women of the Chapel, U.S. Dept. of Defense Armed
Forces Chaplains Board 1965, p. 17). Certain species of flowers are used during the various liturgical
seasons of the Christian Calendar, such as poinsettias during Christmastide (symbolic of the Star of
Bethlehem) and Easter lilies during Eastertide (symbolic of the resurrection of Jesus). Many historic
Christian denominations, such as the Methodist Church, only permit live flowers upon the chancel:
“Since flowers symbolize the resurrection, and in keeping with the principle of integrity, no type
of artificial flower of plant is appropriate to the environment of worship.” The “principle of integrity”
means that “everything should express to the worshiper the qualities of truth, integrity, simplicity, and
purity. Anything that expresses falseness or pretense, or that is gaudy or cheaply ornate, should be
avoided.” — United Methodist Altars: A guide for the Congregation.
The Catholic Church likewise teaches that “the use of living flowers and plants, rather than
artificial greens, serves as a reminder of the gift of life God has given to the human community.”
—en.wikipedia
Hapax Legomenon
This expression should be in the vocabulary of anyone who (a) wishes to impress people at cocktail
parties, or (b) is content to be a language nerd. Its plural is Hapax Legomena, and it is often shortened to
just Hapax (plural Hapaxes). It is a Greek phrase translated “said once.” A hapax legomenon is a word or
expression that is used only one time in an entire body of literature. For example, in the 256,052 words in
Moby Dick, Melville uses the word “matrimonial” only once. It is thus a Hapax Legomenon. This might
seem to be a rather arcane subject until we realize that there are 3465 hapaxes in the New Testament, and
about 1500 in the Old Testament, of which over 400 are words found nowhere else in any ancient Hebrew
literature. This can be a serious problem when it comes to translation. We can often figure out the
meaning of the word from its context or by analyzing its probably roots, but there are times when the best
we can do is guess. It is less of a problem in the New Testament because there is such a wealth of
contemporary Greek literature that it is easier to find the word in some other Greek work and thus
decipher its meaning. For example, in Romans 16:2, Paul refers to Phoebe as prostatis. That word is used
nowhere else in the New Testament. Here it is a noun, but it is found in verb form in other Greek
literature and means care for, aid, or preside over. Most scholars are content to translate it in Romans as
helper or (financial) benefactor. Shakespeare invented over 1700 new words, many of which are hapaxes.
Fortunately, their meaning is obvious in almost every case. In English literature he may well be the king
of the hapax legomenon. —The Rev’d Richard Losch, St. James’ Episcopal Church, Livingston, AL
via The Anglican Digest Autumn 2022
Calendar & Times Scheduled Reader
October 2, Sunday 9:30 am Holy Eucharist Dan Rosa
October 7-8, Fri-Sat. Annual Diocesan Convention
October 9, Sunday 9:30 am Morning Prayer Katy Luedke
October 16, Sunday 9:30 am Holy Eucharist Wanda Fobian
October 23, Sunday 9:30 am Morning Prayer Mary Buerosse
October 30, Sunday 9:30 am Holy Eucharist Christine Couper
Lessons for October
1 Lesson Psalm 2nd Lesson Gospel
Oct. 2 Lamentations 1:1-6 137 2 Timothy 1:1-14 Luke 17:5-10
Oct. 9 Jeremiah 29:1, 4-7 66:1-11 2 Timothy 2:8-15 Luke 17:11-19
Oct. 16 Jeremiah 31:27-34 119:97-104 2 Timothy 3:14—4:5 Luke 18:1-8
Oct. 23 Joel 2:23-32 65 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18 Luke 18:9-14
Oct. 30 Habakkuk 1:1-4; 2:1-4 119:137-144 2 Thessalonians 1:1-4,11-12 Luke 19:1-10
Let’s Celebrate October
Happy Anniversary
October 2 Randy & Susan Medd
October 13 Matt Luther & Chad Wege
October 20 Paul &Wanda Fobian
175th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee
The Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee will meet on Friday, October 7 at the
Westin Hotel and Saturday, October 8 at the Italian Community Center in Milwaukee. The Friday
evening Keynote speaker is Becca Stevens. She is a justice entrepreneur, author, priest and founder and
President of Thistle Farms. She has been featured on PBS NewsHour, The Today Show, CNN, ABC
World News, named a CNN Hero, and White House Champion of Change, holds five honorary
doctorates, and raised over $65M in funding for justice initiatives. Becca will reflect on how revival is the
soil to grow movements and encourage growth. Drawing on her twenty-five years of work as a priest and
founder of Thistle Farms, Becca will offer a time to think how all our offerings change the balance of love
in the world. She will share stories from her latest efforts in Poland, working with women knitters who
are refugees from Ukraine
Do You Recognize any of these Episcopalians?
Thurgood Marshall, Colin Powell, Eleanor Roosevelt, Sandra Day O’Connor, John Steinbeck, Madeline
L’Engle, William Faulkner, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Tennessee Williams, Robin Williams, Judy Garland,
Courtney Cox Arquette, Bono, Rosanne Cash, Sam Waterston, Fred Astaire, Judy Collins. Cecil B.
DeMille, David Hyde Pierce, Margaret Mead, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Donald W. Douglas, Sr.
This list came from The Episcopal Handbook. ©2008, Church Publishing Inc. The book has some very
interesting facts about the Episcopal Church: Church Stuff, Everyday Stuff, Bible Stuff, Maps, Diagrams,
Charts….. Just saying….
Via The Anglican Digest Autumn 2011
The Image of God
Rescued from Nothing
(Psalms 5 & 6)
Dear God, what is going on?
Do you see all that I suffer,
all that is going wrong?
I thought you would be my buffer.
You know the thoughts of my heart,
you see how my enemies act;
I’m trying to do my part,
but it’s so hard not to react.
I thought that you would rescue me,
but that is not how the promise reads;
you say you will always be with me,
wherever my life leads.
And I see that is the better way,
to trust you with all my heart;
it means I turn to you every day,
it means we are never apart. © By Holly Moseley
A wise and favorite saying comes from James Finley:
“God rescues us from nothing, and sustains us in everything!”
Jesus is The Way
“The fundamental flaw of the Christian religion is having made it about Jesus the person rather that the
truth Jesus demonstrated. Jesus said, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me.’ However, Jesus was not referring to himself as a person when he made this
statement. Jesus was not asking people to bow in allegiance to him personally or to create a religion in his
name. Jesus was saying, ‘Look at me — look at the truth I have lived, look at the reality I have expressed,
look at the way I have demonstrated—this is a universal truth, reality and way that applies to all human
beings.” You don’t have to become a “Christian” to embrace the significance of Jesus. Pop-Christianity is
an unfortunate case of worshipping the messenger but missing the message. –-Jim Palmer, Inner Anarchy
via St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, El Cajon, CA via The Internet
“It is hard for me to understand a culture that not only hates and fights his brothers but even attacks
Nature and abuses her. Man must love all creation or he will love none of it. Love is something you and I
must have. We must have it because our spirit feeds upon it. Without love our self-esteem weakens.
Without it our courage fails. Without love we can no longer look out confidently at the world. Instead we
turn inwardly and begin to feed upon our own personalities and little by little we destroy ourselves. –– Chief Dan George
Lambeth Conference
Note: Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry is among the bishops from around the Anglian
Communion attending the Lambeth Conference (July 27-August 7) in Canterbury, England, who have
thus far signed the following statement affirming and celebrating LBGTQ+ people. Additional signatures
are being added.
“So then, you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and also
members of the household of God.” Ephesians 2:19
“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should
love one another.” John 13:34
God is Love! This love revealed by Jesus, described in the Scriptures and proclaimed by the
Church, is Good News for all — without exception. That is why we believe that LGBT+ people are a
precious part of God’s creation — for each of us is ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ (Psalm 139:14), and
all are equally loved.
We recognize that many LGBT+ people have historically been wounded by the Church and
particularly hurt by the events of the last few weeks. We wish to affirm the holiness of their love
wherever it is found in committed relationships.
We therefore commit to working with our siblings across the Communion to listen to their stories
and understand their contexts, which vary greatly. However, we will never shy away from tackling
discrimination and prejudice against those of differing sexualities and gender identities.
Together, we will speak healing and hope to our broken world and look forward to the day when
all may feel truly welcomed, valued, and affirmed.
Signed by 11 archbishops and 164 bishops from across the Anglican Communion (as of 1300 BST on
August 7, 2022) including:
Most Rev’d Mark Strange, Primus of the Scottish Episcopal Church
Most Rev’d Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church of the United States
Most Rev’d Naudal Alves Gomes, Archbishop of Brazil
Most Rev’d Linda Nicholls, Archbishop of the Anglican Church of Canada
Most Rev’d Andy Johns, Archbishop of Wales
Most Rev’d Kay Goldsworthy AO, Archbishop of Perth, Australia
The Rt. Rev’d Dr. Vincentia Kgabe, Diocese of Lesotho, Southern Africa
—From The Office of Public Affairs
— reporting on the mission and ministries of The Episcopal Church
Test Your Ecclesiastical IQ
Ebionitism is …
A. An early Judaeo-Christian belief that held Christ to be a purely human figure
B. A heresy that denies the second coming of Christ
C. A doctrine of salvation that downplays the notion of diving grace and stresses the
importance of good works.
D. the belief that Christ has only one nature, divine, with no human counterpart
-Diana Swift, Anglican Journal, Anglican Church of Canada
**Stop the glorification of busy. Busy, in and of itself, is not a badge of honor. It is okay to not
be busy. Repeat this with me: It is okay to not be busy. —Joshua Becker
The Haiti Partnership
The Diocese of Milwaukee has been engaged in a lengthy review of the history of our partnership with
God’s people in Haiti at St. Marc’s, Jeanette. The goal was to determine the best way to honor the 40
years of dedication to this relationship and the best way to move forward. After a period of study and
analysis, the Diocese has made the decision to renew our commitment to this partnership and to invest in
developing a new model for its support. The Haiti Project becomes the Haiti Partnership. The Episcopal
Diocese of Milwaukee will continue to fund St. Marc’s School and Clinic while supporting initiatives
designed to improve local economic conditions by building on strengths within the community. The
Diocese has entered into an agreement with Action Pour Sauver Haiti (APSHA), the Haitian nonprofit
that has provided financial management of our funding of St. Marc School and Clinic staff since February
2018. The Executive Council unanimously decided to engage the services of APSHA for a
5-month period, during which they will engage all groups within the community to create a plan of action
based on their findings, and develop an appropriate budget. Catherine Parrill is acting as a consultant to
the Diocese in this effort. She has a lengthy history in Haiti, including as a volunteer coordinator for the
Haiti Project in the 1990s and has also lived in Haiti and is fluent in Haitian Kreyol. Watch for more
news!
Center for Action and Contemplation (cac.org)
God, Lord of all creation, lover of life and of everything, please help us to love in our very small way
what You love infinitely and everywhere. We thank You that we can offer just this one prayer and that
will be more than enough, because in reality every thing and every one is connected, and nothing stands
alone. To pray for one part is really to pray for the whole, and so we do. Help us each day to stand for
love, for healing, for the good, for the diverse unity of the Body of Christ and all creation, because we
know this is what You desire: as Jesus prayed, that all may be one. We offer our prayer together with all
the holy names of God, we offer our prayer together with Christ, our Lord. Amen.
—Fr. Richard Rohr
Quotes from Richard Rohr& Daily Meditations From the Center for Action and Contemplation
**The soul is not simply within the body, hidden somewhere within its recesses. The truth is rather the
converse. Your body is in the soul, and the soul suffuses you completely. —John O’Donohue
**The chasm between the spiritual and the physical is no greater than that between a thought and a word.
They cannot be disconnected. And it is difficult to tell where one ends and the other begins, perhaps
because there is no such place. —Cole Arthur Riley
**In terms of the spiritual journey, trying to find faith with the intellectual center is something like trying
to play a violin with a saw: it’s simply the wrong tool for the job. This is one reason why all religious
traditions have universally insisted that religious life cannot be done with the mind alone; that is the
biggest single impediment to spiritual becoming. —Cynthia Bourgeault
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[Ebionitism is … Test Answer: A. In this early Christological heresy, Christ was considered human, though with
charismatic gifts that distinguished him from other people.]
How about some Riddles?
Ever wonder why….
* the sun lightens our hair but darkens our skin?
* you never see the headline “Psychic Wins Lottery”?
* doctors call what they do “practice”?
* you have to click “Start” to stop Windows?
* packaged lemon juice is made with artificial flavor, while dishwashing liquid is made with real lemon
juice?
*the man who invests all your money is called a “broker”/
*an airplane is not made from the same material as the indestructible black box?
*they are called apartments when they are all stuck together?
– G. W. S., Marlborough, NH via The Old Farmer’s Almanac, 2022
AND HOW ABOUT THESE…
*I changed my iPod name to Titanic. It’s syncing now.
*No matter how much you push the envelope, it’ll still be stationery.
*Two hats were hanging on a hat rack in the hallway. One hat said to the other: “You stay here; I’ll go on
a head”
*There was the person who sent ten puns to friends, with the hope that at least one of the puns would
make them laugh. No pun in ten did!
*My teacher told me not to worry about spelling because in the future there will be autocorrect.
And for that I am eternally grapefruit.
We expect you to be fully vaccinated if you join us. If not, please wear a mask and keep social distance.
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Thanks to Mary Buerosse for her work compiling and editing our monthly newsletter!