THE WEEKLY WORD EPIPHANY PARISH OF SEATTLE . JUNE 23, 2014

TheTrinityandtheFalseGreatParadigm(WhatIstheGoodLife?)

DearEpiphany,

LastSundaywasPentecost,andIpreachedasermononEpiphanyasaShame‐FreeZone.Theinfrastructureofshameisconstructedonthemisconceptionthatthereisa“correct”waytolivethatresultsin“thegoodlife.”These“greatparadigms”functionasoverarchingideasun‐derwhichthesmalldetailsofourlivesaretobelivedout.Ifwecanconformtothegreatparadigm,wewillachieve“thegoodlife.”Nowhereisthequandary:wechooseourowngreatparadigm.Sometryprivateproperty,otherseducation,democracy,marriage,religion,healthcare,racism,business,psychotherapy,or itness.Nexttimeyou’reatacocktailparty,go ishingforgreatparadigms.Asksomequestions,pushbackalittle,andtheirgreatparadigmwillquicklyre‐vealitself.Noneofthesegreatparadigmsarebadinandofthemselves;theyonlybecomedeadweightwhentheyarehonoredasthegreatestgoodinlife.

Foralongtimethechurchhassoughttogarnercomplianceandcon‐formitythroughshamewith,itappears,morestayingpowerthanpo‐liticalparties,dietplans,workoutfads,fashiontrends,educationalstrategies,oreveninternationaltreaties.Butthegoalofthechurchshouldnotbetoholdontopowerbyshaming.InsteadchurchmaywanttoconsidertheTrinityandgrace.

AtEpiphany,asapracticalmatter,weconsidertheTrinitybylearningaboutGod.Thishappensthrougheducationandthroughthespiritualpractices,bothsoughtincommunity.Inaway,churchcanbethoughtofasaschoolwherewelearnaboutourspirituallife,andagymwhereweworkourspiritout.

ThespiritualpracticestaughtatEpiphanyaredailyprayer,weeklyworship,weeklySabbath,liturgicalseasons,pilgrimage,fasting,andtithing.Wetalkaboutthesealot.First,theyaretheuniversalexercisesproclaimedandtaughtwithineveryreligioustradition.Why?Becauseeveryenduringreligioustraditionhasfoundthatwhenpeopleexercisetheirspirit,itgetsstronger.Andsecond,itisimportanttokeepinmindthatthespiritualpracticesareforyouandme,notforGod.Goddoesnotloveusanymoreifweparticipateinthespiritualpractices,butifwedoparticipateinthem,wewillinevitablybespendingmoretime

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consideringGod.AndwhenwespendmoretimeconsideringGod,thereismorejoyinlife.I’dlikethatforeachoneofus,butGod’sloveisnotconditional.Wecallthisgrace.

Thereisnoperson,anywhereonthisearththatdoesnothaveGod’sgraceperpetuallyinfrontofthem.GracecomesfromGodandGodalone.ThetheologyofgracebeginswiththeTrinity—Father,SonandHolySpirit.TheTrinitarianmodelofGodisuniquetoChristians.ThefoundationofTrinitarianthinkingisbasedontheideathatthereisnosubordinationwithintheTrinity,notbecauseofsomeprofoundmeta‐physicaltruth,butbecausethemembersoftheTrinitywillnothaveit.Inotherwords,themembersoftheTrinitywillneversay,“Dothisforme!”Theyonlysay,“WhatcanIdoforyou?”InasensetheTrinityisaracetothebottomoverwhocanout‐servetheother.Inaclosedsys‐temthiswouldbedestructive,soenterhumanity,stageright.WearetheoutletsfortheTrinity’simpulsetoserve,whichisreallyanimpulsetolove.

IspeakoftenofGod’sdivineeconomy,andthecurrencyofthisecono‐myislove.ThisloveisproducedwhenthemembersoftheTrinityre‐spondtootherswith“WhatcanIdoforyou?”Loveisproducedinquantitiesthatover lowfromtheTrinity,andsoanewmarketwasopenedforthecurrencyoflovetobetradedin.Thatmarketishumani‐ty.TheTrinityisanopensystem,becauseloveandservicerequireit.

HereisawayforustoimaginetheTrinitarianserviceoflove.GodtheFatherasks,“WhatcanIdoforyou?”TowhichJesusandtheHolySpir‐itrespond,“Makeaplacewherewecansharetheexcesslovewehaveforeachother.”TheFathercreatesheavenandearth.ThenGodtheSonaskstheFatherandtheHolySpirit,“WhatcanIdoforyou?”Towhichtheyreply,“goloveonhumanityinawaythatispersonalandrelatableandparticular.”TheSoncomesasJesus.ThentheHolySpiritaskstheFatherandJesus,“WhatcanIdoforyou?”Andtheysay,“Goinspireallofhumanity,andsharewiththemthegracetheyhaveper‐petuallyavailabletothem.”TheHolySpiritstartsand illsthechurch.Creation,incarnation,inspiration:thisisthestuffofthekingdomofGod.Thisisnotthechurch’sgreatparadigm,itisjustthewaylovemovesandgraceworks,andthechurch’sroleistosharethejoyofcre‐ation,incarnation,andinspirationwithwhoeverwecan.

Grace,notshame,isourpurpose.Servicethepoint;itisourresponsetograce.

Doyt+

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DearEpiphany,

Werecentlylearnedthat,duetothevolumeofbuildingpermitsbeingsubmittedtothecity,thereviewprocessforourpermitistakinglong‐erthan irstpromised.Originally,wethoughtwe’dbeabletobeginworkingontheParishHallatthebeginningofJuly,butthedelaysinthepermittingprocesshavepushedthestartdateback,probablyintothemiddleorendofSeptember.

Thereisgoodnewsinthis,however,becausethedelaywillensureourabilitytoarriveataGuaranteedMaximumConstructionCostbe‐forerenovationbegins.Also,weexpectthattherewillbemeaningfulcostsavingsduetogainsinconstructionef iciencyfromnottakingasigni icantbreakbetween inishingtheParishHallandstartingontheChurch&Chapel.OurpriorityremainstherenovationoftheChurch&Chapel,andtheseeffortswillfurtherensureourabilitytocommittothatworkandmaximizetheimprovementswecanmaketotheParishHall.

Asaresultofthesenewdevelopments,wehaverecommendedtotheVestry,andtheVestryhasapproved,thatwestartconstructioninJan‐uary.WewillstilldotheworkontheParishHall irst,andfollowthatwiththerenovationstotheChapelandChurch.Westillexpecttowrapuptheprojectinthefallof2015.

WeareawarethatthisnewschedulecreatesinconveniencesfortheParishandthatmanyfolkshavebeenworkingquitehardtomakesurewewerereadyforasummerstarttoconstruction.Toeveryonewhohashelpedwiththoseefforts,thankyouverymuch.PleaseknowthatyourworkwillstillpaydividendswhentheprojectstartsinJanu‐ary.

DoytwillbewritinganarticleforthenextWeeklyWordgoingintogreaterdetailabouthowworshipscheduleswillbeaffectedandothermatters.

Ifyouhavequestionsorcomments,pleasedon’thesitatetocontactus.

—BenBradstreet

TheNext100YearsBuildingTeamEdEmerson.LauraBlackmore.BobBarnes

JimMarlow.BenBradstreet

ContacttheBuildingTeamat100yearproject@epiphanyseattle.org

AnUpdatefromtheBuildingTeam

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ExhibitDatesandTimes

Monday,June23,1–4pmTuesday,June24,1–4pm

Wednesday,June25,1–4pmThursday,June26,1–7pmFriday,June27,1–4pm

Saturday,June28,10am–3pm

AnpublicexhibitionfeaturingquiltsfromSacredThreadsWest,twovolumesofTheSaintJohn’sBible,and“JoyfulArt”from

Epiphany’schildrenandyouth.

DetailofPromiseofSpringbyVikkiPignatelli,Columbus,OH

TheArtoftheSacred

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Achancebeyondcoffeehourforchildrenandparentstogather.JoinEpiphanyfamiliesattheEpiphanySchool“Chips”Playground

foranunrushedandinformalplaytime.NoneedtoRSVP;justcome!

SummerPlayDates:July12&26,August9&23.

SummerSundaySchool

WearecurrentlyfollowingourSummerSundaySchoolSchedule.Check‐inforchildrenwillbeginat10:15ameachSundayattheEELPPlaygroundorintheNursery.SummerSundaySchoolstartsat10:30am.Pick‐upwillbeafterchurchinthesamelocationassign‐in.Oursummerprogram’sobjectiveistobuildrelationshipsandcommunityamongchildrenatEpiphanythroughactivities,includingart,music,movement,education,andoutreach.

—ElizabethWalker,Children’sMinistryConvener 

EpiphanySummerPlayDates

August2&3atBelfairStatePark

Everyone’sinvitedtotheEpiphanyParishCampingTripontheHoodCanal.Enjoyswimminginawarmsaltwaterbay,kite‐ lying,andexcursionswithyourchurchfamily!Saturdaydinneranda

Sundaypancakebreakfastwillbeprovided.

EmailEricArtzttoRSVPandgetdetailsanddirections:ericartzt@gmail.com

2014EpiphanyParishCampingTrip

July7&21August4&18September1

SubmissiondeadlinesareMondaystwoweekspriortotheissuedate

WeeklyWordIssues—SummerSchedule

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  TheScribe:IgnitingCreativity

ThemostrecentissueofTheScribe,IgnitingCreativity,featuresEpiphanyParish.WepublishedthetextwrittenbyTheRev.DoytConninanearlierissueoftheWeeklyWord:(http://www.epiphanyseattle.org/wp‐content/uploads/2014/04/WW‐2014_04_21.pdf). 

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SeveralcopiesofIgnitingCreativityareavailableforthetakingonthetableinthebackofthechurchandintheChristieHouseLibrary.AdigitalversionofIgnitingCreativityisalsoavailableonourwebsiteat:http://www.epiphanyseattle.org/the‐scribe‐featuring‐the‐saint‐johns‐bible‐at‐epiphany/

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TheVestrymetonTuesday,June10,2014.TheopeningprayerwasledbyClydeSummerville.

TheVestryre lecteduponthemeaningandhistoricalunderpiningsofActs4:5‐12andPeter’stransformationovertimeintoanindivid‐ualcapableofrecognizingJesusasthe“cornerstone.”Severaldiffer‐entbibleversionsofthispassagewerecompared.

TheminutesoftheMay13,2014VestryMeetingwereapprovedbyunanimousvoteaswritten.

TheVestryreviewedwithjoyapostcardfromPeteMelincon irmingthathisbicyclegrouphassuccessfullynavigatedtheRockies,andhewillbeheadinghomeshortly.

TreasurerGarySundemgaveabrief inancialreport.Hecon irmedthatrevenuefrompledges,whichhadbeenlaggingsomeinthe irstmonthsoftheyear,arenowontrack,andweareperformingtobudget.Garywillpresentamoredetailedsix‐monthreportattheJulyVestrymeeting.

Thebalanceofthemeetingwasdevotedtoadetailedpresentationandreviewofthecurrentscopeandbudgetforthe100‐YearEpipha‐nyRenovationProject(the“Project”).ThemembersoftheProjectBuildingCommittee(BobBarnes,LauraBlackmore,EdEmersonandBenBradstreet)gaveanupdateonthecurrentstatusofpermittinganddesignforthetwoplannedphasesoftheProject.Alsoinattend‐anceweretheProjectarchitect(JohnNesholm),LeaseCrutcherLew‐isProjectleaders(JimCrutcherandDaiGorman)andtheProjectes‐timatorforEpiphany(KirkRobinson).

FollowinganupdatebyDoytConnregardingcampaignpledgereve‐nues,JohnNesholmgaveadetailedpresentationoftheconstructiontimelineandthevariousProjectelements.JohnpresenteddesignlayoutsforbothlevelsoftheParishHall,theChurchandtheChapel,notingthatdesignforthe irstphase(ParishHall)issubstantiallycompleteanddesignforthesecondphase(ChapelandChurch)ispresentlyataboutthe50%completionstage.HereviewedfortheVestrythevarioussolutionsconsideredinaddressingacousticalandotherchallengesintheChurchandParishHallinparticular,andbudgetconsiderationsassociatedwithpotentialsolutions.Johnalsonotedthatwiththecurrent“buildingboom”goingoninourregion,theCitypermitreviewandapprovalprocesshasslowedmarkedly.

VestryNotes—June2014

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KirkRobinsonfollowedwithaspreadsheetdetailingaphase‐by‐phasecostanalysisoftheProject.

FollowingthepresentationbytheProjectconsultants,theVestrydiscussedatlengththeimportanceofensuringthatasweproceedto inalizeplansandpermittingforallphasesoftheProject,thattheProjectBuildingCommitteeandtheVestryworktogethertoensurethatthe inalscopeandbudgetfortheentireProjectareconsistentwithEpiphany’sobjectivesand inancialresources,andthatwestrivetoavoidthepotentialforchangeordersand“scopecreep”thatincreaseProjectcosts.TheVestrydiscussedvariousavenuesofproceedingwithProjectpermittingandconstructionsoastoeliminateasmuchriskofchangeordersandscopecreepaspossi‐ble.

TheVestrynotedaspecialmeetingforSunday,June15,2014,fol‐lowingthe10:30amservicetocontinuediscussionsandgivefeed‐backanddirectiontotheProjectBuildingCommittee.

ClosingprayerwasledbyDoytConn

—BethClark,Vestrymember

June29,2014ThirdSundayAfterPentecost

Jeremiah28:5–9

Psalm89:1–4,15–18Romans6:12–23Matthew10:40–42

SundayLectionaryCorner

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  AnAngelintheMusicDepartmentSorting,punching,numbering,counting, iling…andalwayssmiling.

Ourangel'snameisMaryAnneHoward,andsheappearsweeklyinthechoirroomtoassistintheongoingoperationofthemusicde‐partment.Weeklytimespenttherecanvaryfromonetoseveralhours,andourAngelisalwaysequaltothetask.

MaryAnne'sbackgroundinmusicisadistinctadvantage,anditmustbesaidthatthegratitudeofthedirectorofmusicisexceededonlybyhisappreciationofMaryAnne'sgenerousspirit.

‐TomFoster

FreetoGoodHomes!GetyoursummerreadingfromtheFiresideRoom

Hardcovers, irsteditions,paperbacks.

ThebooksintheFiresideRoomneednewhomesbeforetheendofJune.ThenewFiresideRoomwillnothaveasmanyshelves,sothecurrentbookshavetogo–andtheycan’tcomeback!

StopintotheFiresideRoomthissummerandclaimsomeofthesebooksasyourown.Bringabag,orjustcarryoutanarmful.Comeafterchurchorafterameeting.

We’veorganizedthembycategoryforeaseofselection.

Mostlymysteries&thrillers.Somewonderfulnovels.Alittlenon‐ iction(memoirs,history,travel,cookbooks,gardening,sport,selfhelp)

Afteryou’veenjoyedthebooks,passthemontoanotherreader.Leavethemonaparkbench,orinoneofthoselittlelibraries.SellthematThirdPlaceBooksanddonatethemoneytoEpiphany.

Dowhateveryoulike,butsendthemintotheworldwiththeir“PropertyofEpiphanyParishSeattle”stampontheinside.Whoknowswhatmighttranspire!

YourLibraryvolunteers,

LizSundemLibbyGoldsteinAnnLockhart

Free!Free!Free!

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Occasionallywereviewandrevisetheprayerlist.Ifwehaveremovedsome‐oneinerrororyouwouldliketohavesomeoneremovedoraddedpleasecontacttheParishOf ice.Thesameinvitationappliesforbirthdays. 206-324-2573 or epiphanyparish@epiphanyseattle.org. 

ParishPrayerListWEPRAYFORTHOSEWHOSEBIRTHDAYSFALLBETWEENJUNE22and28:KaidenDavies,PhilFrinkJr.,CorneliaHayes,CeciliaMoure,HopeGould,SusanPhinney,DavidWiley,BrettBisyak,SteveClemons,andLilaHutcheson.AndBETWEENJUNE29andJULY5:FurmanMoseley,SallyAmey,CharissaBradstreet,JamesRagsdale,DanaSkotdal,ChristopherAlviar,DougBevis,JoanMelin,JackWebb,TomHolford,JohnNesholm,LauraBethel,andMikaronFortier.WEPRAYFORTHOSEONOURCYCLEOFPRAYER:SaraandMaritPerkins;SherilynPeterson&RichardCoyle;JenniferPeyton;Tamara&Don,MariaPhilip;andGenellePhillips.AndSusanPhinney;JudithandEmilyPierce;DanaandRosePietromonaco;Kelley&Terry,SamPillow;andDinny&AlexPolson.WeprayfortheministriesoftheRefugeeReset‐tlementMinistryandAllCommissions,Committees,andProgramsoftheDiocese.WeprayfortheministriesoftheChurchoftheApostles(Fremont)andtheEpiscopalMissiontoSeafarers.YOURPRAYERSAREASKEDFORCONTINUEDHEALINGANDSTRENGTHFORTHOSE INOURPARISHWHOAREILLORGRIEVING:Paul,CoralieSwanson,ConnieGaines,BarbaraHimmelman,NaraineBaker,Ginger,KaySchack,PiperSimmons,YamyXolocotzi,Bon‐nie,RoyEnriquez,WillGluck,Ruth,Silas,TJJohnson&family,Bill,Su‐san,Debbie,Megan,CarlPutnam,GeorgeFisher,Rosalie,Malina,Matt,Nancy,IslaJude,Alice,Susan,HankSchilling,EmilyCoyle,Noreen,JeanneEdwards,Sandra,Bill&MillieGrayson,LarryMayer,GeraldSwymeler,GeorgeHarrington&family,GaryWest,DavidMattson,LizSwift,RobertHawking,Heather,Chance,&ZaneGehring,HoldenHughes,Rollie&Josie,Olivia,RayBrownfield&family,Laura,David,Eric,EileenRiley,StuMcGee,ChrisWolf,Lauren,Cork,Henk&HelenSimons,David,Joyce,Mark,,Amille,FannieLofton,KatiePutnamKidd,SarahQuinn,Christian,DoloresMaxson,LaurenRiker,LynnManley,DorothyHemstreet,DianeFrawert,JaniSpencer,JudyRohrbeck,Mi‐chaelJerry,Laura,CarlaSargent,CharlesFulkerson,Liz,KarenKershaw,TeresaDavisandfamily,DavidOlsen,BrooksHawkes,LeonardYerkes,CarolineNormann,GinnyKitchell,friendsandfamilyofMartha,JoeBlayner,andSusieStoller.

WEPRAYFORTHOSEWHOHAVEDIED:BarbaraWardandRuthSchold.