St. Nicholas visits St. John’s again!

St. Nicholas visited St. John’s Church recently. With his long white beard, red robes and Bishop’s staff, he was a site indeed! He gathered the children around him and told us of his life. He was born during the third century in the village of Patara on the southern coast of Turkey. His wealthy parents, who raised him to be a devout Christian, died in an epidemic while Nicholas was still young. Obeying Jesus’ words to “sell what you own and give the money to the poor,” Nicholas used his whole inheritance to assist the needy, the sick, and the suffering.

One story he told was of a poor man with three daughters. In those days a young woman’s father had to offer prospective husbands something of value — a dowry. The larger the dowry, the better the chance that a young woman would find a good husband. Without a dowry, a woman was unlikely to marry. This poor man’s daughters, without dowries, were therefore destined to be sold into slavery. Mysteriously, on three different occasions, a bag of gold appeared in their home-providing the needed dowries. The bags of gold, which St. Nicholas had tossed through an open window after he learned of the poor man’s plight, landed in stockings and shoes left before the fire to dry. This led to the custom of children hanging stockings or putting out shoes, eagerly awaiting gifts from St. Nicholas. He said that sometimes the story is told with gold balls instead of bags of gold. That is why three gold balls, sometimes represented as oranges, are one of the symbols for St. Nicholas, the gift-giver.

St. Nicholas dedicated his life to serving God and was made Bishop of Myra while still a young man. Bishop Nicholas became known throughout the land for his generosity to those in need, his love for children, and his concern for sailors and ships. In fact he is the patron saint of sailors, merchants and children!

Before he left, he gave each of the children three gold coins, which tasted just like chocolate when unwrapped. The children had left their shoes in the back of the church before the service and when they retrieved them after the service, they were stuffed with gifts!

We look forward to St. Nicholas visiting us again next year.

St. Andrew Fishes at St. John’s

Recently, we had another visit from a saint; this time it was St. Andrew the Apostle.

Many consider St. Andrew the first Evangelist in the gospels, just by him doing what we so often do today. When we know of something good, of something really exciting, we tell our friends.  No one has to twist our arms to get us to speak up about things we are enthusiastic about. St. Andrew exemplifies this kind of evangelism. He tells his brother, Simon Peter and his friends, “You gotta come and see this. We have found the Messiah.” And they did and the circle of disciples grew.

He told his friends about Jesus and they saw for themselves what Andrew had told them.  This is the simplest form of evangelism.  People are excited by something and they tell someone else and sometimes bring them along to see for themselves.

In fact, all three times that St. Andrew is mentioned in the Bible, it’s because he’s bringing someone else to see Jesus. First, his brother; then a small boy who has offered to share his lunch of two fish and five loaves of bread with all the people gathered to hear Jesus; and finally, some Gentile visitors on Passover. He brought them all to Jesus, so that they could meet him, learn from him and become a part of his mission of love to the world.

When St. Andrew showed up at St. John’s during the 10:00 a.m. service, he had a fishing net with him, for he was a fisherman who became “a fisher of men.” In his net were some goldfish (the crackers, not live fish) and small crosses of St. Andrew, which helped keep anyone from slipping through his net as he fished for us.

The children of the church eagerly sat around him and listened to his stories. St. Andrew then had them pass the goldfish out among us in the congregation (I would have sworn that there was not nearly enough to go around!) along with the small crosses.

All in all, it was a very exciting visit. So exciting that I actually went out and told some friends that when the next saint, St. Nicholas, comes for a visit, they have to “come and see.”

The Importance of Caring for God’s Creation

Another one of God’s saints came to visit St. John’s Episcopal Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio during our Sunday services. This time, it was St. Francis of Assisi. He had some wonderful messages for us about loving, respecting and caring for all of God’s creations, including every living thing and the environment. Our Sexton is especially thankful that he left his birds outside that day!

St. Francis of Assisi symbolizes for many the heart of Christianity: a life of love and compassion towards not only mankind but also both the animal kingdom and the environment. However the contemplative lifestyle practiced by Francis as an adult was in contrast to his growing up as an affluent young man. Although Francis was a naturally kind, generous and fun-loving young man, several events in his life made him re-think his career ambitions. Realizing that the things that had previously given him happiness no longer did, he began to pray in lonely places, seeking God’s will for his life. While his conversion to living the life of Christ was not as dramatic as that of St. Paul’s (getting knocked off his horse while traveling to Damascus), it was still life altering.

God is constantly calling us forward, into an ever deeper relationship with Him and with each other. All Christians are called to imitate Christ, to continue His work in His world today, and to play our part in the life and witness of our faith. While reflecting on the work, life and faith of St. Francis what small efforts could you make to better express God’s love and compassion to others?

Francis once wrote, ”Blessed be that friar who loves his brother as much when he is sick and can be of no use to him, as when he is well and can be of use to him.” Francis presumed that all beings and the environment are entitled to encouragement, love and respect. How might you practice such unconditional love towards those you encounter day in and day out?

Another reflection on St. Francis illustrates the importance of both praise and being thankful. It is said that, one day, while Francis was traveling with some companions, they happened upon a place in the road where birds filled the trees on either side. Francis told his companions to ”wait for me while I go to preach to my sisters the birds.” Francis then said to them:

“My sister birds, you owe much to God, and you must always and in everyplace give praise to Him; for He has given you freedom to wing through the sky and He has clothed you… you neither sow nor reap, and God feeds you and gives you rivers and fountains for your thirst, and mountains and valleys for shelter, and tall trees for your nests. And although you neither know how to spin or weave, God dresses you and your children, for the Creator loves you greatly and He blesses you abundantly. Therefore… always seek to praise God.”

In what ways have you given thanks to God for all he has provided you with?

Steve Bremkamp, NCD Health Team Chair

St. Michael the Archangel came to visit

A couple of weeks ago, St. Michael the Archangel visited St. John’s during our 10:00 am Sunday service. (He looked curiously like a member of our congregation…) As expected, he was a fiery speaker — even though he didn’t bring his sword of fire with him. Afterwards, we had time to reflect on what he said and what he represents.

Thoughts for Reflection

St. Michael the Archangel exhibits a single-minded devotion to God, as do all of the Saints that we will explore in the coming months at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. We turn to these spiritual guides today to envision new realities and discover enduring links with God and our faith.

As you explore the portrayal of St. Michael in your own life, reflect on how you might use the two instruments depicted in the art associated with St. Michael, the sword and the scale.

What might be the nature of the evil that you look to vanquish with St. Michael’s sword?

What are those things that you must measure on the Christian scales of justice to assure that justice and fairness is a part of your dealing with yourself or others?

Taking a somewhat different direction in our reflection of St. Michael, it is important to remember that all of our Saints walk with us, guide us, befriend us and pray for us. We are never alone. We are never without the intercession of the saints in Christ. We are never without their company. We are continually within a reality in which the saints are close at hand. A strong web of relationships transcends the grave, linked by indissoluble bonds of Christ’s love.

The following is a prayer to St. Michael, when we seek his aid in defending us in our battles with sin and evil.

O glorious Archangel St. Michael, Prince of the heavenly host, defend us in battle, and in the struggle which is ours against the principalities and Powers, against the rulers of this world of darkness, against spirits of evil in high places. Eph 6:12

Oh, pray to the God of peace that He may put Satan under our feet, so far conquered that he may no longer be able to hold men in captivity and harm the Church. Offer our prayers in the sight of the Most High, so that they may quickly conciliate the mercies of the Lord; and beating down the dragon, the ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, do thou again make him captive in the abyss, that he may no longer seduce the nations.

Steve Bremkamp, NCD Health Team Chair