St. Thomas' Tidings Newsletter; July 2001

CONTENTS:

THE RECTOR'S DESK

FINANCIAL NEWS & REPORTS

LITURGICAL NOTES

Healing Service
Thoughts on Stewardship
Tom Balsley

PARISH LIFE & NEWS

Ordination Service

OUTREACH

Third Sunday - Reidsville Outreach Center

YOUTH

Youth Mission Trip
Tiny Saints

THANK YOU NOTES

Thank You Notes

THIS & THAT

Camp Summit

NEWS FROM THE
EPISCOPAL DAY SCHOOL

Follow this link for the complete
July 2001 Calendar

July Special Services and Events at a Glance
July 1	Youth Mission Trip Returns
July 4	Independence Day (Office closed)
July 8	July 4th Celebration Rev. Bill Oldland & Family go on vacation
July 23	Rev. Bill Oldland & Family return from vacation

Flowers for July 2001
July 1	Tom & Martha Balsley
July 8	Howards & Grahams
July 15	Tom & Martha Balsley
July 22	Jan & Grace Moffitt
July 29	Laura Felts

July Greeter Schedule
July 1	Kris Rogers
July 8	Dot Ferneyhough
July 15	Pam Allen
July 22	Bill Sutton
July 29	Laura Felts

July Usher Schedule
July 1	John & Susan Bullock
July 8	Alan Campbell Family
July 15	Phillip & Susan Dalton
July 22	John & Susan Bullock
July 29	Alan Campbell Family

July Parish House Cleaning Committee
Marian Safriet

July Altar Care
Chairman	Suzanne Howard
	Grace Moffitt, Mary Jane Ham, Sandra Strader

THE RECTOR'S DESK - The Rev. William D. Oldland

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The Rev.William D. Oldland

This month marks our one year anniversary together. Isn't it amazing how quickly this year has passed? This year has been exciting and full of wonderful moments and activities. Some of these moments and activities have included worshipping together for the first time, the Shrimp Fest, the Thanksgiving Day activities, Christmas, Easter, the ordination and celebrating the Eucharist together just three weeks ago. Finally, as you read this letter the youth and I are on our first mission trip together. The year has been full of wonderful first events.

All of this activity has been wonderful. However, the amount of activity has made me aware of another aspect of our lives together, rest. Rest, for many of us, is probably something we do not do well. Rest in our society is seen as a waste of time. Why rest when I can be doing something? Even when we relax or go on vacation many people have to be doing things. I often hear people say they had a good time on vacation, but they are more tired returning than when they left. We just seem to get caught in a treadmill of doing things in order to rest whether at work or at play.

Actually, rest is important. We all know rest is important for our bodies in order for us to stay healthy. Rest is also important for us spiritually. We require time to reflect on who we are and what we are doing on a spiritual level. When we take time to rest spiritually we give ourselves time to reflect and review our actions. We give ourselves an opportunity to check on our relationship with God. We give our spirits an opportunity to recharge.

I though I'd give us a little checklist to see if we are resting spiritually.

1. Are we taking time (even five to ten minutes) to talk with God every day?
2. In our talking with God, are we taking some time to listen, as well as talk?
3. Are we reading something, a prayer guide, scriptures, the Bible, for a few minutes to help us reflect?
4. Most of all, are we taking any time during the day to sit and just be still? Nothing is required, no reading, no writing, no talking, just being still with God.

How did you do on this short checklist? I can see I have a few adjustments to make. I often find it difficult to just sit and be still. Yet, I know deep down I really could benefit from the rest. Sometimes, I forget that even God rests. In the first chapter of Genesis after creating the universe and the world, God rested. God gave us an incredible gift, the gift of rest!

Peace,

Bill

Income: May 2001

Expense: May 2001

Pledged	$ 0.00
Received	$ 0.00
Shortage	$ 0.00

Budgeted	$ 0.00
Spent	$ 0.00
Under spent	$ 0.00

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed...nothing will be impossible for you."

from Matthew 17:20

This year Habitat International is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Since its beginnings in 1976, over 100,000 homes have been built in more than 60 countries, including some 30,000 houses across the United States. These houses are built at the local level by some 1,900 affiliates (local chapters) worldwide. Some of you can remember in December 1989, when Reidsville's connection with Habitat started with meetings that were held at St. Thomas. Since that date, we have built ten houses in our community. The result of all of this is that simple, decent, affordable housing has been provided for more than 30 people in our town.

One of the reasons for the success of our local affiliate has been the incredible amount of time and energy that Bill Riggs has put into this work. Bill, who is one of my all-time heroes, was our construction coordinator for so many years. In fact, Bill's granddaughter, Susanna, is one of the volunteers making the trip with other young people and adults from St. Thomas to refurbish homes in the Charleston, SC area. As you can see, Bill's faith to commitment and charitable deeds are being passed on to another generation.

Recently, I spoke to one of our homeowners whose name is Donna. Donna and I worked together for the same company for about five years. Donna is an industrious, single mother of two. She has a son in high school and a daughter in the second grade. Donna told me several times that she is proud of her new home and the opportunity afforded her by Habitat. She says it has given her family "a new lease on life." Hers is just one of Habitat's many success stories.

Our most recent undertaking, House #11, is being paid for and built by the members of Woodmont Methodist Church. This is a most generous gift of time, money, talent and love. It is also the first time any church organization has built a Habitat house in Reidsville. In the future, it would be possible for St. Thomas to partner with one or maybe two other churches in town to construct a house.

When we hear Jesus talk about faith of a grain of mustard seed, we might wonder if our faith is strong enough to make a difference in the lives of others. Habitat's attempt to eliminate poverty housing is a perfect example of the power of such faithfulness. In spreading of the word about Habitat, founder Millard Fuller often talks about the "theology of the hammer." He says, "we may disagree on a lot of things... but we can agree on the idea of building homes with God's people in need, and in doing so using biblical economics: no profit and no interest."

We always begin our workdays by forming a prayer circle and asking God to bless our efforts. In a sense we are stepping outside our "circle" and into someone else's "circle." New friendships are made and in the process, houses are built. And most importantly, God's love is made visible.

Tom Balsley

September 12	Willie Adkins St. Paul
October 10	Marian Safriet St. Luke
November 14	Jeanne Horsley & Mavis Simon St. Mary & St. Teresa of Avila

Grades 9-12	June 17-22
Grades 3-5	June 24-29
Grades 5-7	July 1-6
Grades 7-9	July 8-13
Ages 6-25 (Special Campers)	July 16-21
Entering grades 7-12	July 15-21

Administrator's Report Angie Underwood

Preschool Report Carol Puryear	The Day School's Open House is scheduled for Sunday, August 19th. Please watch for the August edition for additional details for this special event.

Kindergarten Report Cori Anderson