The fact that we are all different is a gift, a gift to each other. And a gift to ourselves. It’s important to realize that you are a gift of God to yourself; I am a gift of God to myself. With our various talents, abilities and gifts, with our unique beauty, with our various flaws – we are each a gift. Start by accepting the reality of you as you are, as a gift of God to yourself. I know what it’s like to be tempted to not love … Read more
We raise our “Voice” to make “a Joyful Noise” Capital Campaign:A letter was sent from Father John Thompson, the Wardens, the Vestry and the church community thanking Richard Koskey and the Rheinstrom Hill Community Foundation for the gift of $14,000 to complete the landscaping project at St. John in the Wilderness. Building and Grounds:There are three trees on Church property that have been assessed as diseased by three Tree Service Co. arborists. Each arborist examined the following trees and recommended that the trees be removed.A) large Oak in GraveyardB) Maple … Read more
Greetings, Friends! As we prepare diligently for the Harvest Festival September 9, there is music in the air, and in this issue. Fr. John cites “world” music as an example of our diversity and differences being expressed in song, offered up in response to our creation and Creator. All part of a larger message Rev. Gary Davis adapted from the Bible when he sang, “Just as long as I’m in this world, I am the Light of this World, I am the Light of this World!” In the Capital Campaign … Read more
Patricia and Jim are back in Columbia County and couldn’t be happier! It feels like we’re in tune with this issue’s theme, Renewal, wonderfully exemplified by Brian Boom’s photo of the benches for the new prayer circle, freshly displayed in the snow in Brian and Lucy Eldridge’s Capital Campaign Report; Fr. John’s essay on being in the present–a moment to moment renewal; and Judy Whitbeck’s report on returning to the Vestry as our new Sr. Warden. (Congratulations Judy!) The feature by Dale Peterson on the stone quarry outing is all … Read more
Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest in Los Angeles is inspiring. I’ve talked about him before, and now he’s just been celebrated for 50 years as a Jesuit with accolades from President Biden, Governor Gavin Newsom, labor movement icon Dolores Huerta and others. He works with gang members in Los Angeles. He doesn’t judge them; rather together he and the gang members/former gang members are bearing wonderful fruit. We might initially think, well God bless him, but I’m not inspired by that; gangs are too hard and too dangerous for me … Read more
I learned early on that there is no “I” in TEAM, yet if I’m to introduce myself to all of you, as this year’s (2023) Senior Warden of St. John in the Wilderness, I’ll just have to make an exception. I was born and raised in Copake on a dairy farm, the boundaries of which abut the Bash Bish Brook, the same brook that winds down off Mount Washington where I now live, and tumbles over BashBish Falls before running close to St John in the Wilderness. I lived in … Read more
Giving thanks so close to Thanksgiving seems natural, and the theme has brought out the best in our contributors to this issue of the Voice. Fr. John Thompson, Brian Boom, and Wendy Langlois have given us warm and articulate reports well worth reading. Check out Jane Peck’s Hike Report and the video interview of the late Dorothy Baker, too. We are thankful the Community Harvest Festival went so well! Everyone enjoyed the music, the food and drink, and the company, and thanks to stellar efforts by a host of parishioners … Read more
We all probably have a favorite season of the year. For me, it’s autumn. In our part of the world, there’s of course the beautiful foliage, but I also like the feel of the natural world slowing down – plants are becoming dormant, animals that don’t migrate are going into hibernation, storing food, or otherwise hunkering down for the coming cold weather. I feel the vibe of this slowing of nature and it puts me into a contemplative, introspective mood that evokes a feeling of gratitude for all the good … Read more
Thanksgiving is a good holiday, many people’s favorite. It’s a time to relax and to get together with loved ones. It’s a time for good food. And it’s a time to be thankful – especially if we have these things – time to relax, the presence of loved ones and delicious food. Yet as good as life can be, it’s short compared to eternity. And that’s okay, because we’re promised that too (eternity) by Jesus himself. This is a good thing, as some people don’t get much happiness on earth. … Read more
“This is a message of hope” began my previous article for A Voice in the Wilderness. Clearly we, I, this world, still needs hope. As I recently said via email to SJITW, “In the wake of another mass shooting, for which no words suffice, let us pray for all the victims, the wounded and their loved ones. And let us pray and act for sane gun control laws in this country.” The corrupt power of the gun manufacturers, the NRA and the politicians beholden to them continues nonetheless. The unnecessary … Read more