"Good News in Tough Times"
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—
I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people” (Luke 2:10, NRSV)

Sometimes it's hard to find any "good news" in tough times. We live fast-paced lives in a world replete with wars, rumors of war, political agendas, celebrity failures, earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, oil spills that threaten natural habitats, and ...the list seems endless. Yes, oftentimes it's hard to find any "good news" in the midst of such disaster ...but the good news is ...there is always some "good news" to discover. Sometimes, like a "needle in a haystack" we (like the lady in Scripture who lost the coin) we, too, must diligently seek to find such good news - or perhaps – we simply become the good news.
In May 2010, I flew to Colorado, to visit my daughter (Ashley's) who was attending college at the University of Colorado (Boulder). I boarded an American Airlines jet and found my way to my assigned exit row seat (aisle). Awaiting takeoff - I thought of and reflected on many things:
· The past 4 years of paying my daughter’s college education – and soon she will be on her own.
· The past 22+ years serving as an Army/Air Force chaplain.
· The past 4 years serving as the Wing Chaplain assigned to the Air Force Special Operations Command.
· The past 50+ years seeking to discover and enjoy life and live it to the fullest.
I glanced out the window and noticed my exit row companion (a woman in her mid-40s) occupying the window seat. She had pressed her face against the window pane (obviously engrossed in the endless trail of bags being loaded on the plane from a conveyor belt). As she turned toward me, I detected a few tears rolling down her cheek and then landing on her University of Colorado sweater.
She observed I was dressed in priestly garb and through her tears she struggled to offer greetings: "Good morning, Father! Do you have a word of "good news" for a broken spirit?" In the minutes that followed before takeoff – she relayed that she was headed to Denver to attend the funerals of (3) family members killed in a tragic car accident. She confided and confessed her heartache, her sense of guilt and failure, her estrangement from family, her spiritual void, and her fear that she might never again experience any "good news."
We engaged in conversation a little while longer until the roar of the plane speeding down the runway drowned out our voices. When the plane leveled off - my new friend asked me to offer a prayer for her and her family. I was privileged to do so.
In the midst of this woman's personal struggle and tragedy - she was desperately seeking some logical explanation to help solve her pain. She confessed to feeling as though she was operating in the dark and felt all alone. Certainly, we’ve all been there at some point in life. In her struggles she groaned - desperate for some/any "good news." She longed to experience what the writer of Proverbs described: "Good news ...is like cold water to the thirsty" (Prov. 25:25).
And though I couldn't give her any tangible "good news"; still, I was able to point her to the God who loved her and had promised to walk with her through the dark night of the soul; the God who would rescue her and bring her out of darkness into the light and Good News of His eternal presence.
And though my prayer wasn't flowery, or amazing, or filled with dynamic language - it did contain the "good news" we all long to hear from God: "I came that you might have life, and have life abundantly." (John 10:10).

WORDS TO LIVE BY: I like what Rabbi Hillel Silver says: "Beyond all horizons there is God."
THE GOOD NEWS is simply this:
· Beyond all horizons there is God!
· No matter what our circumstances - God loves us!
· God will walk with us until our journey is complete: He will be with us -- whether in light or darkness; in trials and temptations; when life is good and not so good; in sickness and health; in joy and sadness; wherever we are -- there will be the Lord God!

PRAYER FOR TODAY: Lord, when all else fails - we've discovered that still - you are God. We have learned that beyond "all horizons" – there is the Lord. Instill in us your love and presence and remind us each and every day how "wonderful" and "amazing" this thing called life. Inspire us also to live each day to the fullest and as we journey through life - to inspire this hope in our service to others. Now, bless us - our families and loved ones. Amen.


ON A LIGHT NOTE: [Great truths about growing old]

1. Growing up is mandatory -- growing old is optional.
2. Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.
3. When you fall down, you wonder what else you can do while you're down there.
4. You're getting old when you get the same sensation from a rocking chair that you once got from a roller coaster
5. It's frustrating when you know all the answers but nobody bothers to ask you the questions.
6. Time may be a great healer -- but it's a lousy beautician.
7. Wisdom comes with age, but sometimes age comes alone.

Have a great week,

Fr. Mike+

St. George’s e-tidings
511 Main Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96717
March 21, 2012
(808) 423-0154

OUR MISSION AT ST. GEORGE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH
We, the members of St. George’s Episcopal Church, are a Christian family, united by our common faith in Christ. We strive to love God with our whole hearts and to love our neighbors as ourselves. We seek God’s kingdom in our everyday lives so that we may bring Christ to our world, and our world to Christ.
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CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR NEW BABY
Congratulations to the Jones family on the birth of their new baby boy, Owen Clifton Jones. Owen was born on March 19 and weighed 8.9 pounds and he was 21 inches long. It was a double celebration because baby Owen arrived on Lisa’s birthday too! We are planning to bring meals to the new mom. Please contact Pastor Becky at 808-679-9129 if you would like to participate.

LENTEN MADNESS – Message from the Bishop
Aloha,
I lived too long in Indiana not to know that March is tournament time. I want to call your attention to "Lent Madness": http://www.lentmadness.org/. This is a playful Lenten practice. Yesterday, our own Queen Emma moved past Catherine of Siena in the "saintly sixteen." I think it a source of honor and pride that we help the Queen move along to the Golden Halo. Please follow along through Lent with all the saints -- but particularly for our most beneficent benefactress. Vote blessed Queen Emma of Hawai'i. Please pass the word along in our congregations. It seem fitting that the Golden Halo be passed this year to a Polynesian Lay Woman Saint, the foundress of a hospital, schools and a cathedral (not to mention a diocese), and an advocate for her people in the face of oppression.
For more information on Lent Madness see below from the website: http://www.lentmadness.org/
Mahalo,
Bishop +Bob

REGIONAL CONFIRMATION
Confirmation strengthens us in our commitment to the faith. Adults and youth from age 16 and above are encouraged to be confirmed (if not baptized, they are baptized at the same time). At a confirmation service, other individuals may also be received into the Church (if confirmed in other traditions), and it is quite moving and appropriate for any and all to renew their Baptismal vows.

We will have a 2nd Regional Confirmation opportunity this year to have confirmations, receptions, reaffirmations, and renewal of vows. We have offered to host the regional confirmation on April 22, 2012 @ 6pm. Again, please contact Father Mike or Pastor Becky if you would like to be a part of this important rite in our lives as Christians
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EASTER EGG HUNT NEEDS DONATIONS
Easter is April 8th and we are having an egg hunt that day following the 10:00 service. We would appreciate donations of plastic eggs and Easter treats! Please bring them to church or to the office. Thanks!


JOINT HOLY WEEK – SCHEDULE OF SERVICES (HELD AT ST. TIMOTHY’S)
• Maundy Thursday: 7:00 p.m.
• Good Friday: Noon and 7:00 p.m.
• The Great Easter Vigil: Saturday at 7:00 p.m.


EASTER SUNDAY SERVICE WILL BE HELD HERE AT 10:00 A.M.

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STEWARDSHIP – TWO DIFFERENT OUTLOOKS
“I’ve just been a machine for making money. I seem to have spent my life in a golden tunnel looking for the outlet which would lead to happiness. But the tunnel kept going on. After my death there will be nothing left.”
— Aristotle Onassis (1906-75), Greek shipowner and financier

“I never would have been able to tithe the first million dollars I ever made if I had not tithed my first salary, which was $1.50 per week.”
— John D. Rockefeller, Sr. (1839-1937), American industrialist and philanthropist
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LENTEN SERIES CONTINUES TONIGHT!
Wednesday night Lenten series continues tonight at 6:00 pm. This program is a collaborative effort among the (3) churches: St. Tim’s, St. George’s and Joy of Christ Lutheran. The services begin each Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. with a simple meal of soup and salad, followed by educational activities for all ages.
THERE WILL BE A CLASS FOR OUR CHILDREN AS WELL AS NURSERY
The program concludes with compline at 7:15 p.m. and the dismissal at 7:30 p.m. Please prioritize the following dates: March 28.
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LENT TO LENT: READ THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
Join the Bishop in reading the Bible through in a year. The Center for Biblical Studies has designed a one year reading schedule to help those who commit to read successfully through the entire Bible in a year’s time. View the schedule in the back of the sanctuary or view it online at:
http://thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org/pdf/Lent_to_Lent_Read_the_Bible_in_a_Year.pdf.
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HOLISTIC STEWARDSHIP IN 2012
As we continue to move forward in 2012 – it becomes critical that “ALL” of God’s children exercise the spiritual discipline of giving time, talent and treasure. The reality is simply this: “The modern church can no longer achieve success nor impact its world – if stewardship (giving our time, talent and treasure) does not become a holistic effort.” Every single person – laity and clergy – must be engaged – or the church as we know it will cease to exist and have influence. Therefore, it is my prayer that we will all purpose to share our resources in the building of the Kingdom: Giving our Time – our Talent – and our Treasure. If we do this – we will not be able to contain the dynamic growth that will occur. God bless you as you contribute…remembering that “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord.”
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PRE-SCHOOL UPDATE
Registration is now open for the 2012-13 School Year. If you are interested in becoming part of our preschool please make sure to visit our website or call our office for a tour.
Our Preschool is also working on new renovations! We have plans to work on our Sea Star playground this year by adding new equipment. We are also preparing to have the kitchen renovated. These are new and exciting additions we look forward to sharing with you.
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DONATIONS NEEDED
Please remember to bring your donations for Hawaii Food Bank. They are in tremendous need---canned vegetables, canned meats, and small bags of rice are best.
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CALENDAR & WEBSITE
Please visit our website www.stgeorgeshawaii.org for upcoming events and to check the calendar for openings for your events! If you have an event you would like to schedule, please stop by the Church Business Office and complete a Room Request sheet so that we can get you “setup.”
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SUBSCRIBE TO ST. GEORGE’S e-Tidings
If you would like to subscribe to receive e-Tidings, please contact Ms. Mula at stgeorges@stgeorgeshawaii.org to ensure we have your correct email address. We will then include you on the weekly e-mailings of this important “church news” related resource. Please be assured we will not share your information with anyone. You can also access this document on our church’s website at: www.stgeorgeshawaii.org.  E-Tidings updates are due no later than Tuesdays at 10:00 a.m.
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Sunday Service
EUCHARISTIC LECTIONARY READINGS

March 4 – Second Sunday in Lent
Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16, Psalm 22:22-30, Romans 4:13-25, Mark 8:31-38

March 11 – Third Sunday in Lent
Exodus 20:1-17, Psalm 191, Corinthians 1:18-25, John 2:13-22

March 18– Fourth Sunday in Lent
Numbers 21:4-9, Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22, Ephesians 2:1-10, John 3:14-21

March 25- Fifth Sunday in Lent
Jeremiah 31:31-34, Psalm 51:1-13 or Psalm 119:9-16, Hebrews 5:5-10, John 12:20-33

For these, future, or past lectionary readings at: www.lectionarypage.net


Server Schedule for the Month of March
VOLUNTEERS March please sign up at coffee hour!
March 25, 2012 April 1, 2012
Verger-Skardon Verger-Lockwood
Acolyte-Norman Acolyte-Skardon
Gift Bearers-Marlow Gift Bearers-Bransfield
Vestry-Myers Vestry- Myers
Altar Guild-Jones Altar Guild-Norman
Counters-Cole Counters-Bessman
Children’s Chapel-Veggie Tales Children’s Chapel- Myers/Norman
Music-Skardon Music-Skardon
Coffee Hour-Cole Coffee Hour-Bransfield
Communion Breads-Cole Communion Breads- Bransfield


THOSE WE LIFT IN OUR PRAYERS
For Healing we pray for: Priest-in-Charge at Trinity BTS, Maui, Reverend John Bedingfield, Charlie, Harriet, Keith, Mike Mula, Daniel and Gladys Yoon, Edith, Riley Steele, Sam, Joe, Betty, Beth, Rachel and Jackson.

For Guidance and Strength we pray for: Rev. Austin Murray and his family, Matthew Mula, the Steele Family, Taylor and Nancy Skardon, Gladys and Daniel Yoon.

For The Concerns for this community, the nations, and the world we pray for: We pray for Individual Augmentees and their families; Joe Bransfield, Cleve Rodriguez, Doug Jones and Andy Matthews who are deployed and away from their loved ones, and all service members and civilians deployed throughout the world in the global war on terror.


CONTACT INFORMATION FOR ST. GEORGE’S
511 Main Street
Honolulu, HI 96818
Office hours: Monday – Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Telephone: (808) 423-0154 Fax: (808) 421-1511
Church email: stgeorges@stgeorgeshawaii.org
Clergy: The Reverends Michael and Becky Tinnon
Email: fathermiketinnon@gmail.com; Cell: (808) 679-1068
Email: revbeckytinnon@gmail.com; (808) 679-9129
Parish Administrator: Ms. Cheri Mula
And keep up to date with what’s happening, via our website or on facebook:
www.stgeorgeshawaii.org

Church newsletter article: March 2012

From: Father Mike

“The Dispensable Home: Here Today, Junk Tomorrow”

 The September 1987 issue of The Futurist magazine had an article entitled, The Dispensable Home: Here Today, Junk Tomorrow. I was so struck by the article’s truth that I saved its penetrating message. This article contains excerpts from the Futurist magazine article as well as some of my own thoughts and comments.

 The article speaks about manufactured homes of the future that will be inexpensive enough that when you tire of the house, you simply throw it away and buy another. We live in a world of disposable things: ideas, spouses, gadgets, parts of the body, and now homes. Almost everything is a throwaway. So much so that junkyards, courts, and institutions are bursting at the seams.

 Yesterday’s junk has a way of becoming today’s treasures. The problem most have is deciding what’s junk and what really has value. Unfortunately, not all of us are successful at this task. Some of us keep the junk and throw away the treasure; some keep both the junk and the treasure; and a few might even trash the junk and keep the treasure.

 Sometimes in our rush to be “modern”, we’re tempted to clean house and throw out the old simply because it is no longer popular. Old, however, is not necessarily synonymous with useless. My wife’s picture is more important to me today than it was fifteen years ago. The Statue of Liberty still symbolizes hope and freedom for millions of people and the Constitution of the United States is as important today as it was when it was written in Philadelphia over 200 years ago. The God who spoke in ages past still speaks to listening hearts today.

 In many ways, priests should be the keepers of the ancient traditions. Our message is about something old, but also something new. It is based on faith in a changeless God. We all need this message because it is what gives us purpose – it fulfills our deepest needs and it helps us to walk with confidence into a new millennial future. It is the message that God is changeless that supports us in times of joy, struggle, and sorrow. In times of crises, we look not for what is new and disposable, but what has endured through the ages and still satisfies the needs of every soul.

 It is the responsibility of all of us to help the homeless, the broken, and the disenfranchised to center their lives on what endures. We have been charged by God to offer a way of life that leads to meaning, fulfillment and peace, not a “quick fix” for the moment. 

 May God enable us to distinguish “trash” from “treasure” so that we can offer ourselves as spiritual gems that do not tarnish or lose their value with time.

God Bless You,

Fr. Mike

 February 29, 2012

A Message from the Bishop:

Aloha:

I invite the Diocese to join me in reading the Bible through in a year and beginning on Ash Wednesday. Will you join me in taking The Bible Challenge?

Many vibrant churches share one thing in common – they have a strong commitment to teaching and reading the Bible. There is a vast difference between attending church and listening to a portion of the Bible being read aloud and actually reading the Bible on your own. Understanding how the entire Word of God coheres and what God is saying to you daily through Holy Scripture can be a transformational experience. It also makes worship come more alive. It is like the difference between riding a car as a passenger and not paying close attention to the route being taken versus driving the car and learning the roads that get you to your destination.

In The Bible Challenge, I encourage participants to go directly to the source of the Christian faith and see how the Bible coheres. Reading the Bible on a daily basis can inspire people to start new ministries, make important decisions and significant changes in their lives. It will give them strength and comfort as they face major life challenges and allow them to feel truly alive in Christ.

I hope the following pdf can to be shared throughout the Diocese:

http://thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org/pdf/Lent_to_Lent_Read_the_Bible_in_a_Year.pdf

It is from The Center for Biblical Studies (see: http://thecenterforbiblicalstudies.org/) and this handout offers a plan to read the Bible through in one year. I commit myself to the project beginning on Ash Wednesday, and I particularly ask the clergy and wardens to join me. I will keep the Diocese informed of my progress and my reflections.

Mahalo,

+Bob

The Right Reverend Robert L. Fitzpatrick