Connections&
September 3, 2000
22nd  Sunday of the Year

• "Nothing that enters from outside can defile a person; but the things that came out from within are what defile."     Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23
  

This past summer's epic film The Patriot is not a textbook retelling of America's war of independence from Great Britian.  The heroes here are often not very heroic--the firm starkly portrays the small-mindedness of many of the combatants and their real, less-than-honorable reasons for taking up arms.  And The Patriot doesn't flinch at reminding us of the horrific costs of this war or any war.
     In the film, Mel Gibson portrays Benjamin Martin, a widowed farmer in South Carolina with seven children.  His oldest son Gabriel is determined to enlist in the action against the British, but his father is determined to keep his boy out of the fighting and stay out of it himself.
     Benjamin Martin is a man with a past.  He has renounced violence because he knows he's good at it.  Fighting in the French and Indian War, Martin discovered his own capacity for violence--and it terrifies him.  When the conflict with the British literally spills on to his front lawn and Martin has no choice but to take up arms, his weapon of choice turns out to be the tomahawk--and we're not surprised by his proficiency with it or by the frequency with which he's drenched in his enemies' blood.
     As the reluctant Patriot says at the beginning of the film, "I have long feared that my sins will come to visit me and the costs will be more than I can bear."
CONNECTION:  As Jesus makes clear in today's Gospel and Benjamin Martin knows too well, we possess within ourselves the potential for great good and monstrous evil.  Who we are, what we believe, how we respond to life's challenges begin within our hearts--the place where God dwells within us; but the evil we are capable of, the hurt we inflict on others, the degrading of the world that God created also begins within our hearts--when  God is displaced by selfishness, anger, greed, hatred.  May God open our spirits and consciences to listen to the voice God speaking to us in our hearts, calling us to compassion instead of judgment, forgiveness instead of vengeance, joy instead of fear, reconciliation instead of prejudice.n

This past week Anne Marie Bartlett joined the staff at   St. John's as our Pastoral Minister.  She will coordinate parish ministry to nursing home residents in our parish boundaries; work with Befrienders; assist in ministry to our shut-ins; share in bereavement ministry; a first-call for those experiencing different kinds of loss (death-illness-separation, etc.)  We interviewed several   candidates for this position.  We believe Ann Marie is the right person to serve at St. John's.  Make her feel at home. 

We also welcome Kari Gill as our new Nursery            Coordinator.  The nursery will now be staffed during the 9:30 & 11:00 am liturgies.  Stop by and welcome Kari !

Thank you to Mike Mezzenga and the Fallfest Parade Committee for the float that took 2nd place(!!!) for Community floats at the New Brighton Stockyard Days parade.  Thank you also to Tom Houck for the great signs that were on the float and are now on the school fence (10th street & 2nd Ave NW).

Ring-A-Pop is among the most popular of the games at St. John's Fall Festival.  Once again we are looking for your donations of 2 liter bottles of pop.  Any kind will do.  There will be collection boxes at the entrances of church beginning next weekend and continuing through Fall Fest weekend.