Parson's Ponderings.......mmmmm 

"These are the times that try men's soul." In Tom Paine's day, it seems the women were not included in trying times and, of course, that was not true then, just as it is not true now. Paine was talking about the events of 1776, the revolution against a foreign power in the new land and the fight for independence from that power. We too are in trying times once again, perhaps perennially. Even this political season seems more trying than in times before...maybe I'm just getting older and have less tolerance for all the rhetoric which thinking people know does not hold much water on either side of the aisle.Yet wa continue to move ahead with our lives, as life does go on in spite of ourselves and the idiocy of the world.

So we might ask ourselves, where in the midst of all this does one go for solace? Like a lot of the guest chefs on Good Morning America, who are preparing menus that get back to basics, save money and are still tasty, so too we have to regroup and ask ourselveswhat it is that gets us through trying times, through those tough times? How do we get back to basics? And like millions before us down through the centuris, we may turn to our faith for direction. Now I don't want to suggest that we only turn to the church when times are tough, but it is a place I believe to which we turn to find the strength, renewal, perspective and yes, prayer, to find our souls in the midst of all that goes on in this life. The church is that great mystry that has endured over the centuries of human triumph and tragedy which has offered to its people solace and pardon as well as grace, strength and renewal.

Thinking avbout that, I want to encourage each one of St. Andrew's Church to take a moment or two to consider what belonging to this particular part of God's Vinyard means to you.  Has it been perhaps a source of comfort, a windbreak from the chills of the world's winds or maybe something as simple as that time of communion with fellow parishoners, as we share bread and wine at the Lord's table. Whatever this church means to you, it is up to everyone to help support its place in the community of McCall and the Diocese of Idaho. We need each member to pledge what they feel they can toward this communal effort, whether it is in the pledging of physical prescence in volunteer support of activities, or resources beyound monetary support ormoney for expenses of running the church. It is important that we all pledge our support, whatever it is, because it shows the intentions of the community. That way we can work together to plan for the years ahead and your vestry can make budgets to accomplish those plans.

To celebrate this intentional direction of our congregation, I want to invite and encourage everyone to a Harvest Ingathering Celebration Lunch following our service on Nov. 16. I would like everyone to place their pledges in the offering plates at the service if not already sent in to the Stewardship committee. This will be a continued celebration of the presence of St. Andrew's in the community for so many years and our common life together. Join with me, your vestry which is planning and putting on the meal, and each other and make this a truly great way to offer our thanksgivings for all that God continually provides for us.

Friar Brown +