From the Pastor,
As a priest, I was greatly blessed to begin my ministry in a very small diocese of only thirty to forty churches.
Our bishop was intimately familiar not only with each of his churches, but also with nearly everyone within
those churches. It was not uncommon for the bishop to simply “show up” and be sitting in the pews on any
given Sunday. As a result, we priests also had a wonderfully close, spiritual relationship with our bishop in
whose stead we served week after week.
I will never forget a Christmas meditation our Bishop once shared concerning the value of the “misplaced
comma,” found in a traditional Christmas Carol.
God rest you merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay; remember Christ our Savior was born on
Christmas Day, to save us all from Satan’s power when we were gone astray.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!
He pointed out that as we sing this carol, we insert a pause (and an implied comma) after the first “you,”
which renders the opening line: “God rest you, merry gentlemen,” which completely changes the meaning.
“Merry gentlemen” puts the emphasis on how we feel. In other words, the gentlemen [us] are “merry/happy.”
It conjures up images of gift-surrounded trees, bright lights, office parties, family gatherings, and a church
filled with joyful worshippers on Christmas Eve, all reasons for “merriness” indeed. And of course, all of this
is good.
The problem is that the original [archaic] meaning of “merry” is not a “feeling.” It is something that causes
pleasure; “merry” is a transitive verb not an adjective. “God rest you merry, gentlemen,” (with the comma
between the words ‘merry’ and ‘gentlemen’ as the hymn-writer intended) tells the tale. Whatever we’re
feeling—and however the season and its bright lights touch us—we pray that God may cause us pleasure,
make us merry, for another reason. “Christ our Savior was born on Christmas Day.” Merriment or
“delightful pleasure” is not so much a seasonal sentiment as it is the settled conviction that God has done
something for us that is profound and utterly unexpected.
From God our heavenly Father a blessed angel came and unto certain shepherds brought tidings of
the same: how that in Bethlehem was born the Son of God by name.
Jesus is—as the Anglican writer J. B. Phillips so colorfully put it: the “focused God,” God slipping into the
world of time and space, form and matter, and being born as a human baby. “The Word became flesh and
lived among us” (John 1:14). When we look at Jesus, we see God himself.
The Builder
Making Disciples for Jesus Christ
St. Thomas’s Episcopal Church www.stthomasorange.org
(540) 672-3761 email: [email protected]
Rector: The Rev. Dr. Lin Hutton Editor: Marty Gray
Vol. XXXIV December 2016/January 2017 Issue No. 10
“Fear not then,” said the angel, “Let nothing you affright; this day is born a Savior of a pure virgin
bright, to free all those who trust in him from Satan’s power and might.”
In other words, Jesus changes everything. The universe is not a dark and empty place. At the very heart of the
cosmos is a God who loves us so much that he became one of us, a God who loves us so much that he has
broken the power of sin, Satan, and death through the life, death, and resurrection of his Son. Our best
response—not only at Christmas, but year round, is to worship and adore him:
Now to the Lord sing praises, all you within this place, and with true love and charity each other now
embrace; this holy tide of Christmas doth bring redeeming grace.
O tidings of comfort and joy, comfort and joy; O tidings of comfort and joy!
May the Joy, the Hope, and the Love of this Christmas Season surround you in Christ’s Peace.
Pastor Lin +
[and with grateful appreciation to my former bishop, + The Rt. Rev. Edward Stuart Little]
For All the Saints….
Karl Barth, Pastor and Theologian, ~ December 10
Born in Switzerland in 1886, Barth studied at several prestigious
universities, including Tubingen, and later served as a pastor in Geneva and
professor in Germany. The events of the First World War led Barth to
question the theology of the day, which Barth felt relied too heavily on a
theology blended too heavily with contemporary culture. Barth’s great
work, Commentary on Romans, published in 1918, reasserted doctrines
such as God’s sovereignty and human sin, essential ideas that Barth felt
were excluded and overshadowed in the overly nationalistic theological
discourse of the time.
With Hitler’s rise to power and the Nazi party’s use of German nationalistic theology to declare that “God was
on the side of Nazi Germany,” Barth joined the opposing German Confessional Church and wrote its
foundational document, the Barmen Declaration (1934). In it, Barth asserted that the Church’s allegiance to
God in Christ gave it the moral imperative to challenge the rule and violence of Hitler. Barth was himself
forced to resign his professorship at Bonn due to his outspoken statements that “God was not on the side of
Germany” (or any other country for that matter) and for his refusal to swear an oath to Hitler.
In addition to his close friendship with fellow theologian, professor, and pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Karl
Barth is best known for an extensive systematic theology found in his thirteen-volume opus, Church
Dogmatics. Barth laid out many of the theological notions that form the foundation of contemporary Christian
theology, including an understanding that God’s Word is the definitive source of revelation, the Incarnation as
the bridge between God’s revelation and human sin, and the election of the creation as God’s great end.
Karl Barth was one of the great thinkers and theologians of the twentieth century. Pope Pius XII regarded him
as the most important theologian since Thomas Aquinas. This assessment speaks to the respect Barth received
from both Protestant and Catholic theologians and to his influence within both theological communities.
Antony, Abbot in Egypt, 356 ~ January 17
In the third century, many young men turned away from the corrupt and decadent
society of the time, and went to live in deserts or mountains, solitude, fasting, and
prayer. Antony of Egypt was an outstanding example of this movement. But he
was not merely a recluse. He was a founder of monasticism, and wrote a rule for
anchorites. Antony’s parents were Christians, and he grew up to be quiet, devout,
and meditative. When his parents died, he and his younger sister were left to care
for a sizable estate. Six months later in church, he heard the reading about the rich
young ruler whom Christ advised to sell all he had and give to the poor, Antony at
once gave his land to the villagers, and sold most of his goods, fiving the proceeds
to the poor. Later after meditating on Christ’s bidding, “Do not be anxious about
tomorrow,” he sold what remained of his possessions, placed his sister in a “house
of maidens,” and became an anchorite or “solitary ascetic.”
Athanasius, the Bishop of Alexandria, who knew Antony personally, writes that Antony spent his days
praying, reading, and doing manual labor. Moving to the mountains across the Nile from his village, Antony
dwelt alone for twenty years. In 305, he left his cave and founded a “monastery,” a series of cells inhabited by
ascetics living under his rule. Athanasius writes of such colonies: “Their cells like tents were filled with
singing, fasting, praying, and working that they might give alms, and having love and peace with one
another.”
Antony visited Alexandria, first in 321, to encourage those suffering martyrdom under the Emperor
Maximinus; later, in 355, to combat the Arians by preaching, conversions, and the working of miracles. Most
of his days were spent on the mountain with his disciple Macarius.
Antony willed a goat-skin tunic and a cloak to Athanasius, who said of him: “He was like a physician given by
God to Egypt. For who met him grieving and did not go away rejoicing? Who came full of anger and was not
turned to kindness?....What monk who had grown slack was not strengthened by coming to him? Who came
troubled by doubts and failed to gain peace of mind?”
MORE, “101 Reasons to be an Episcopalian”—
Reason # 46: “Where God’s unconditional love for all of us is celebrated every day.” Sen
Marge Kilkelly, Diocese of Maine
Reason # 89: “I don’t know why anyone would become a member of a crazy church like
ours, but I am a Christian of a peculiarly sacramental sort because of something that
happened when I was thirteen. My parents sent me off to Christ School near Asheville, North Carolina, and on
the first Sunday the boys were lined up and marched into Chapel, which was quickly filling with smoke (under
the direction of a senior named Terry Holmes). Some of the new boys passed out and had to be dragged out
onto the lawn to recover, but I stayed, survived, and loved it!” Ormonde Plater, Diocese of Louisiana
Veterans’ Day Celebration
Third Annual Thanksgiving Feast with
Orange Presbyterian Preschool
Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old,
he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
Note of Appreciation
Thank you to so many of our parishioners who attended the funeral of our dear brother, Bill Newell. Although
it was Race Weekend and many had tents and parties planned for that day, so many of you still took the time to
attend and even participate in the service. It was both a gracious gift to the family and Bill’s memory, but also
a beautiful closing chapter on a dear friend in Christ.
Thank you to Dan Robinson for his creative idea for a “Veteran’s Movie Night” on Veteran’s Day. We started
the evening with the pledge of allegiance, patriotic music, singing of service hymns, beer, wine, coffee, and
cake. Many of our veterans brought in memorabilia from their service days. It was such a treasure to see
everyone when they were so much younger [and thinner!]. The first piece of cake went to the oldest veteran
present, Duff Green, USMC, and the second piece went to the youngest veteran present, Dan Robinson,
USMC. Afterward, we enjoyed the World War II themed movie, Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison.
Thank you Sarah Rogers and everyone who brought in supplies for the Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas
Child. We were able to compile 68 boxes for children around the world. To everyone who came to assemble
and sort, our undying gratitude!
Many thanks to Mr. Bill Drake, our Director of Music, and our outstanding choir for a superb performance
during Choral Evensong, on Sunday, November 13th. We had one of our largest turnouts for this beautiful
service. The potluck supper that followed was also fantastic. Thanks to everyone who brought dishes to share,
especially Dr. Randy Merrick, for his signature roasted pork loin.
Thank you to our Outreach Chairs, Betsy Amos and Ellen Otto, and everyone who helped with this year’s
Thanksgiving Baskets. We are grateful to everyone who so generously provided the food items for the many
food insecure families in our region and for enabling them to have a Thanksgiving Dinner as well!
Choosing a child from The Angel Tree program gives you an opportunity to share
God’s love by helping to meet the physical, emotional, and spiritual needs of the
families of prisoners. Look for the tree in Robertson Hall and please take an angel!
Contact Zan Thomas for details or questions 672-5942.
Christmas Bazaar
Saturday, December 3rd from 9 AM - 2 PM
Sunday December 4th after the 10:15 service.
In Robertson Hall
CRAFTS ~ BAKED GOOD ~ ANTIQUES
Contact Betsy Amos for details.
All proceeds to benefit the Orange Christian Emergency Council.
The Photo Gallery
January is “Feed My Sheep” Month!
We are continuing this very important outreach project throughout the month of January. Please bring your
donations of nonperishable, nourishing snacks for school children to the blue bucket in
Robertson hall. The children are carrying their bags of food home themselves, so please be
aware that the WEIGHT of items is an important factor. We can not take drinks of any kind
or multi-serve and large-sized items. Some suggested items include: granola bars, breakfast
bars, cheese crackers, jerky, single serve tuna cans, fruit cups, mac & cheese cups, etc.
Thank you for your continued support.
Congratulations to Claire Yowell and Ellie Robinson who
were inducted into the National Honor Society at a
candlelight ceremony on November 9th. They were selected
for their commitment to leadership, service, scholarship and
character. Claire and Ellie are both sophomores at Orange
County High School. Way to go Claire and Ellie!
Veteran’s Day
Movie Night
Thanksgiving Gift Baskets
Exploring
Buddhism
Class
Food Pantry
Special request for December is
tuna fish/canned chicken and
January is paper towels/toilet paper.
All food items and cash gifts are
always welcome and appreciated.
You can drop off donations at the Love Outreach
Food Pantry each Tuesday from 9:00-10:30 and on
Wednesday from 8:30-12:00. Their mailing
address is: Love Outreach Food Pantry, Inc., P.O.
Box 788, Orange, 22960. You may also bring any
donations to the church to be delivered.
Prayer List
We pray especially for our church’s leadership:
Michael, Presiding Bishop; Shannon, Susan & Ted,
bishops for this diocese
Our country: President Barack, Vice President Joe, &
Governor Terry
For the special needs and concerns of this
congregation:
For: Gil, Grace, Jack, Margaret, Raymond, Terrell, Tom and our men and women in our armed forces who are serving our nation around the world.
And Especially for: Brenda, Don, Ellen, Harr iet, Howard, James, John, Lois, Marcelline, Nadia, Palmer, and Richard; and the victims of religious oppression around the world, especially for those being affected by Isis
Please submit entries for the February issue of
The Builder
by January 24th to [email protected]
Friday, January 20th @ 7:00pm
in Robertson Hall
cost of admission: one nonperishable food item
Bring your favorite movie snack and drink and join
us for fun and fellowship!
1/01 Daniel Robinson
1/02 Graham Barton
1/02 Paul Williams IV
1/02 David Dulin
1/03 Andrew Garnett
1/04 Charles Seilheimer
1/07 Barbara Garnett
1/10 Bob Gausman
1/10 Catherine Gillespie
1/11 Kris Brockman
1/11 Ally Keating
1/12 Christopher Dulin
1/14 Philip Williams
1/15 Kenneth Taormina
1/20 Becca Amos
1/20 Randy Merrick
1/21 Royce Drake
1/24 Doc Garnett
1/29 Virginia Donnelly
1/29 Harold Faulconer
12/01 Robert Nigmond
12/02 Garnett Morton
12/03 Evan Wagner
12/09 Brandon Barfield
12/17 Kate Amos
12/17 Steve Cushman
12/19 Amelia Lee
12/24 Peter Amos
12/27 Will Likins
12/29 Harry Saxton