Father Boase's Monthly Message

Father's Monthly Message

July 2009

Dear Friends,

I love Monday mornings! OK, so now you’re thinking that Fr. David is a little odd? Well, no, you must have thought that plenty of times in the past few years. Let’s not go there, please …...

I suppose, for many working people, a Monday morning is not exactly the favorite time of the week, after a relaxing weekend that is. Yes, I know as a Christian, that Sunday is the first day of the week, and that Sunday is a special day when we celebrate the Resurrection of Our Lord, when we worship and join together in fellowship. But why do I hold Monday mornings so dear? Quite simply because:

Monday mornings at 9 o’clock in the Upstairs Parlor at St. Paul’s, a group of us meet for prayer. For me it’s a valuable time. A couple of folks act as “leaders” and the rest of us sit quietly and join in the prayers. There’s no need for us, apart from the leaders, to say anything (usually I don’t), but simply soak up, and be in, the prayer that is offered. And what do we pray for?

Well, we pray – to paraphrase the Book of Common Prayer – for all sorts and conditions of people. We include peoples and nations, the world in which we live and our responsibilities as stewards of the mysteries of God’s good creation. All sorts of things really. Quite a chunk of our prayer is for our parish members, especially those known to be in need, and for our parish. Right now our parish is in need. Let me explain.

In may be difficult at this time of the year to concentrate our thoughts on heating the church building, but your Vestry has been doing just that. To be more precise, St. Paul’s needs new boilers. The old ones are on their last legs and Rod Derricott (to whom go many thanks) spent hours and hours last winter just keeping the system working. His ingenuity over the years has saved the church so much money. Now, however, it’s time to bite the bullet as we realize this can’t go on any longer and that we need to invest in new boilers.

Rather than go for a capital campaign, your Vestry has decided to take the money – up to $60,000 – from principal. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, now is a good time of the year to have this work done asap instead of waiting till funds can be raised. Secondly, the longer we delay the more the price will increase - strike while the iron is hot, so to speak. Thirdly, and most importantly, it’s a rough time economically and financially for many people. There’s a limit!

The people of our Parish have made huge strides towards a balanced budget in the last few years. So many people have all worked so hard and given so sacrificially that I am amazed at the love and devotion, the dedication and application of parishioners. It has produced fruit: the fruits of the Spirit and the fruits of our labors.

So why am I writing like this if I’m not, on behalf of your church, asking you for money. Ah, well now, speaking of that ………

I guess I am asking for money, but over a period of time. The aim is to pay back, over a two-year period, the money we’re going to use. In this sense we’re not robbing from past givers and investors. We’re simply trying to act as responsible householders.

In my own case, there’s a limit to what I can contribute to what we’ll call The Boiler Fund. At least there’s a limit now. I know I can give a certain amount now. I can guess that later on I’ll be able to give a little more. I think that applies to most people, yes? If you can give $10 (or whatever amount) every now and then, for example, then I know we’ll reach our goal together. That’s the key: Together. We are called to be Together; we worship Together; we play Together; we belong Together; we will work Together. And if we work Together, then by God’s grace we’ll succeed. I know we will.

For now, if you’d like more information on the Boiler project, then please get in touch with Jeff Dunnagan and Diana Enloe who are the Property & Maintenance Commissioners, or contact any Vestry member, whose names appear on the front of the Angelus.

If and when you are able to make a contribution, please address your check to The Episcopal Parish of Alton and memo it The Boiler Fund.

As I write, we’re baking in the heat of the last days of June and the cold of winter seems a long way off, but you know what they say - as one gets older, the quicker the time goes. For me, winter doesn’t seem all that far away, really … ! As I wrote at the outset, let’s not go there, please!

God bless you all.

Yours sincerely,

Fr. David