September | 2007

W.W.J.B. - What Would Jesus Blog?

           Have you seen our website lately? www.standrewseguin.org You should check it out. Our communications team, led by Kyle Yoemans, has worked hard updating our approach to sharing information. Revising the website has been part of that process. God called Cristin Ledbetter into web ministry. She now updates our website, adding new looks and features on a regular basis. It looks awesome! Ministry Leaders can now send her information for the website so you can log on and find out what’s happening. Very exciting stuff. There is nothing I love better in the world than watching people’s eyes light up as they discuss their ministry, which is exactly what I see when I talk to Kyle, Cristin and the rest of the team (Tracy Aubin, Geri Donegan, Judy McClendon).
          Their excitement about our website is contagious. I’ve caught a healthy dose of it myself. Which led me to the question which titles this article. You know what a BLOG is? Turns out it’s a web-log, which can be anything from a minute-by-minute diary of one’s summer trip to Modesto, to an online forum where the author posts his or her thoughts and musings. You certainly know the WWJD, What Would Jesus Do, bracelets, t-shirts, bumper stickers, etc.. So I wondered, what would Jesus BLOG? Would he give us a play-by-play of daily life with the disciples?

                                                             Messiah BLOG – Life with the Morons, Day 36
7:01 am – Fish for breakfast
7:07 am – These guys drive me crazy. Argue. Argue. Argue. Again with the dishes. Peter says, “Clean ‘em by miracle, JC.” Honestly, is that the reason for the Incarnation, that the Son of God becomes a kitchen appliance?

Let’s hope not. Theologians have often wondered why God chose the time and place He did to send Jesus into the world. Why not wait for CNN global live coverage? Why not wait for the internet, where Jesus would have unlimited opportunity to share His message with the world? Why not at least wait for video, so we could have documented proof of what he did, exact copies of what he said? Can you imagine?

                                                   Resurrection Ramblings – thoughts and teachings from the Son of God
-- To those who question the validity of our latest video release – NO, LAZARUS WASN’T JUST SLEEPING! Sure, he’s a friend of the program, but I’m telling you his resurrection was in no way staged. Experts have already validated the video content as genuine. He did not receive any payment for what some have called “an Oscar worthy performance reminiscent of Romero’s Night of the Living Dead”.
-- And yes, when I said “love your neighbors as yourselves” I meant your actual neighbors. Sheesh, this is not rocket science, people. Love each other.

              Jesus did get global live coverage. Mark 16:15.
“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation.”
He did have unlimited opportunity to share His message. Acts 12:24.
“But the word of God continued to increase and spread.”
He did leave documented proof. We read it each Sunday. It’s called the Bible.
Now we have access to all that and more! Bibles? Website. Daily reading plan? Website. Prayer request? Website. Calendars, updates, information? Website. Cool BLOGs from Fr. Jay and Tracy Aubin? You got it. Website. www.standrewseguin.org.
~Father Jay

Tomatoes on the Windowsill
         We recently pulled up our summer garden to get ready to plant for the fall. Some of the plants had gotten downright unruly after months of good rain and mild weather, and so it felt good to clean things up. But it hurt a little bit to uproot the summer tomato plants, because they were still heavy with loads green tomatoes. We decided to pick them, set them on a sunny windowsill, and see whether or not they could ripen on their own.
         As it turned out, many of them did ripen. There were reds and yellows, oranges….but among them, there were also lots of tomatoes that stayed green. And after waiting for a time, it became apparent that some of them, no matter how long they sat in the sun, would always be green. While others around them softened and colored, it somehow just wasn’t in them to be otherwise.
I felt a little disappointed about the green ones, and was ready to toss them when a good friend of mine pointed out that this was the perfect opportunity to cook some fried green tomatoes. And that was when I realized that, bar none, every one of those tomatoes had successfully reached a certain wonderful potential. Oh sure, by the grocery-store standards of the world, fat, red, shiny tomatoes are the rule. But sometimes a tomato that comes off the vine while it’s still green is actually at the peak of perfection, and we just don’t recognize it.
         Hopefully you know that I am not really talking about tomatoes.
         I have often wondered about my own potential. I am sure the Spirit leads me in a certain direction. I believe that I am supposed to try to do the right thing in any given situation—no matter how hard that may be. I have faith that there is a plan for me, and that by living into that plan, I’ll reach the potential that God has built into me.
The problem is, on a path that is sometimes shadowy at best, I can’t see very far up ahead. That’s the catch, isn’t it? We don’t know our own potential. I know where the path begins and ends, but I have no idea what lies in between now and then, nor do I know exactly what it is I’m supposed to accomplish in this life, or how my fleeting, vapor-in-the-wind existence plays into the whole big picture.
         In other words, I don’t know whether I’ll be one of those showy red tomatoes or one of the green ones. But here’s the wonderful bottom line: it doesn’t matter—not if I can just live into whatever it is that God wants me to be. How I go about doing that has little to do with identifying and understanding the whole big picture, and more to do with living one day at a time, one hour at a time…knowing what I am supposed to do by looking for guidance from God’s word, from the Holy Spirit, from creation, and from people wiser than I—and there are plenty of them around. If I can do that, then my feet are firmly on the path and I’m moving in the right direction. If I stumble or stray, I can still get back and try hard to stay the course.
        And that potential I worry so much about reaching? I think that staying on the path, whether every twist or turn or step makes perfect sense to me now, leads to living full-tilt into my God-given potential—without even meaning to; without even identifying or defining exactly what it will look like… Only living to hear God say “Well done” when I get to the end of this stretch of the road.
So I learned something from a tomato today. And frankly, I kind of hope I turn out to be on of the green ones. Green tomatoes may not be immediately recognizable to the world as the treasures that they are—you have to look a little deeper... But they are also not sold in stores. They’re harder to come by.
         So maybe my life won’t be exactly what I, or my parents, or society envisioned. But if I live into God’s potential for me, it will be far better.
~Tracy Donegan, Editor

ALPHA is Underway—come join us!
Still wondering what, exactly, is Alpha?
A – anyone interested in finding out more about the Christian faith. Adults of all ages are welcome
L – learning and laughter. It is possible to learn about the Christian faith and to have fun at the same time
P – People meeting together. An opportunity to know others and to make new friends.
H – Helping one another. The small groups give you a chance to discuss issues raised during the talks.
A – Ask anything! Alpha is a place where no question is seen as too simple or too hostile.
Who is Alpha for?
People interested in investigating Christianity, newcomers to the church, new Christians, couples preparing for marriage, Christians who want to brush up on the basics...Alpha is for YOU!
Where and when?
Show up at the church on Wednesday evenings, 6:15-8:30pm in McKeogh Hall. Childcare is provided and the children are fed. Alpha will continue through Wednesday, November 7th, and the Alpha retreat will be October 5th-7th at Slumber Falls Camp in New Braunfels, Texas.
Already joined Alpha?
Then here are the dates you need to know.
Wednesday, September 5, 6 p.m. Alpha 3
Wednesday, September 12, 6 p.m. Alpha 4
Wednesday, September 19, 6 p.m. Alpha 5
Wednesday, September 26, 6 p.m. Alpha 6
Wednesday, October 3, 6 p.m. Alpha 7
Friday/Saturday/Sunday October 5,6,7 - Retreat /Alpha 8, 9, 10
Wednesday, October 10, 6 p.m. Alpha 11
Wednesday, October 17, 6 p.m. Alpha 12
Wednesday, October 24, 6 p.m. Alpha 13
Wednesday, October 31 - No Alpha
Wednesday, November 7, 6 p.m. Alpha 14

Share that song in your heart!
Do you like to sing? Ever think about joining the choir? The rewards are many, and include fun and fellowship, lots of great music, and really good seats during Sunday services! If you’re interested, please join us on Wednesday nights from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the choir room. We are located upstairs behind the balcony. Thanks. ~Wendi Gustafson

Attention Parents: This class is for you!
Clark and Lori Niles will be leading a Focus on the Family parenting class during the Sunday School hour, 9:15-10:15 a.m., beginning September 9th. All parents—not to mention grandparents—are welcome to attend. So drop the kids off in their Sunday School rooms and head to the Youth Building, where we’ll discuss how to be the best parents we can be.

Family Movie Night
Load up the kids and head to the parish hall on Friday, September 14th for Family Movie Night! Bring your own dinner—we’ll eat together from 6-6:30, and then settle in with your favorite blanket, pillow, or beanbag while we watch “Everyone’s Hero” (rated G). The movie will end around 8:30 p.m., and your donation of $5 per family will be greatly appreciated. Popcorn and juice boxes will be provided. See you there!

Among Our Family
-Austin College recently honored six of its outstanding alumni for Distinguished Careers and Service, and among them was our own Bill Campaigne! (Okay, so they made the award back in March. But we just found out about it.) When he’s not working as a veterinarian-missionary in Honduras, you can find Bill taking care of the animals of our community at Seguin Animal Hospital. Congratulations Bill!
-Once a year, the Cargill Corporation and its local affiliate ACCO Feeds—a corporation with over 140,000 employees in more than 60 countries—awards 100 of its employees and retirees with the Cargill Cares Volunteer Award. Among the winners this year was Darrell Huck! Darrell, an exemplary volunteer in this community, is the chairperson for publicity with Guadalupe Valley Habitat for Humanity, an active member of Kiwanis Club, and a valuable volunteer here at St. A’s. As part of his award, $1,000 will be given to Habitat for Humanity in Darrell’s name. Way to go, Darrell!
-St. Andrew’s welcomes newcomers Shannon and Barry Benbow, along with children Brandon, Bailey, Blaine, and Brooke. We are thrilled to have you here in Seguin and at St. Andrew’s!

-St. Andrew’s welcomes newcomers Shannon and Barry Benbow, along with children Brandon, Bailey, Blaine, and Brooke. We are thrilled to have you here in Seguin and at St. Andrew’s!