I had a few requests to see my presentation to my congregation regarding stewardship. It is a little lengthy but I am happy to share so here it is:
My name is Peter Bourey and I’ve been a member of St Timothy’s for over 20 years now. You have been treated to a couple of speakers before me who have done a wonderful job talking about what St. Timothy’s has meant to them and why it’s an important part of their lives.
So let me give you a short story about my history here at this place. When my previous wife Karen and I moved to Raleigh we shopped for a church that represented our Christian roots and beliefs. St Timothy’s was a natural and easy choice for us. The rector at that time, Fr. Hale was gracious and welcoming to us and we knew we were home.
We had a little baby, Marlee who also eventually fell in love with this church. Quite honestly, I was not regularly attending at the start. This changed for me with the introduction of our new incoming rector, Fr. James. I quickly grew to learn that he and I were lock-step in our faith. I knew I was home and I knew I wanted to do more. I really didn’t wait to be asked to get involved. It just seemed natural for me.
I went through a pretty horrific event with the death of my wife Karen but all the while St. Timothy’s was right there with me helping me in many ways. Instead of asking questions about the whys, my faith grew, and grew because of this magnificent church family. I have since been blessed to get remarried here to a wonderful woman, Linda and watched my baby girl become a woman who now, incidentally, teaches other children in Wake County!
In November of 2007, my wife Linda was given the news that she had cancer. It was another daunting test of my faith. Frankly my wife handled the whole thing better than I. In the end however, our faith, a faith which has been nurtured here at St Timothy’s saw us through it all. Frankly there is no way to attach a value to all the support both Linda and I received during that difficult time.
One of the attributes of this great church is that its parishioners have always shown an incredible generosity. Some parishioner’s generosity doesn’t end even after their death. A recent example of this is a gift given by Alice Levoff, a portion of which went to repair and restore our chalices. I know you’re listening Alice and thank you! Check out our angel tree at Christmas and see how long those little angels hang on the tree. We, as your Vestry, are constantly reminded of just how generous you can be. That being said, we are in unchartered territory when it comes to this economy. It has affected us all. I would just encourage you to consider St Timothy’s as one of your priorities.
I have been serving on the Vestry a number of years now and also am privileged to be your current Senior Warden. I have tried to be as active in the many church groups as possible which has enriched my life. Why bore you with my life’s story here you may ask? Quite simply I am trying to convey to you how I have received much more from this church than I will ever be able to repay. This church should be your companion for life to get you through the hard times and to help you celebrate the good times. St Timothy’s has been just that for me and my family.
This whole series of talks will hopefully stir you all to understand that this church is more than 4 walls with electric bills, water bills, payrolls to meet and all of the other practical necessities. It is your Christian partner for life. With this partnership comes a certain responsibility on everyone’s part. Stewardship is more than just writing a check. It is, of course, that! But it is a great deal more. You all enrich this church by participating. You just have to be present at an Italian Dinner put on by our youth group or a golf tournament sponsored by our Men’s fellowship to be exposed to the full joy of participation. You are a good steward by giving of not just your treasure but your time and talent as well. Please consider this carefully when deciding about your pledge.
Stewardship can make even the boldest and committed Episcopalians run for cover. I invite you to think of stewardship here as a privilege. The check writing part may not seem that way at the time but think of it this way. What you are willing and able to give is the very best way you can honor your God. You all have a direct impact on the level of ministry this church can provide. While that thought may be a bit frightening to grasp it is also a most wonderful representation of your love of God by supporting his house to continue on, grow and flourish, for you, your children and your children’s children.
Thank you and God bless you all us much as he has blessed me!
Monday, October 26, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Thoughts On Air Travel
So my wife and I recently took a trip to Michigan to visit our Grand kids. I thought I would notate a few observations regarding air travel.
My first observation has to do with luggage. It is absolutely amazing to me to see how many people carry on these huge bags that can barely be stuffed in the overhead compartments. I understand, in my flight's case, saving the $15.00 fee for a piece of luggage and how that would motivate someone to move there house in a carry on. I guess it's another case of how things these days are "all about me" in so many people's view. So I would expect with these multitude of overstuffed bags being herded on the plane that my wife and I would be alone at the luggage pick-up carousel. I would expect it, but I would be wrong. There are as many people as ever jockeying for position to be the very first to grab their luggage as it careens off the conveyor belt. If these mammothed sized bags being rolled into the cabin weren't large enough the one's coming off the carousel could be a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment. So people and their luggage habits puzzle me a bit.
About that guy who always shows up just as the door hatch is to be locked; they always seem to look the same and act as if the plane had no business leaving without them. The other interesting thing is they have the largest carry on of anyone which always is a hassle as the luggage compartments in the overhead bins already have no vacancy and the next challenge is to make a 3x3 ft piece of luggage fill a 2x2 ft space. I just know someones potato chips are now just fragments of their original selves.
Why is the flight attendant that gives the mundane safety lecture, that no one listens to and obviously tries to ignore, the only one that can not speak something that closely resembles English? I thought I was being retroed back to a famous Cheech & Chong skit at a fast food drive thru. God help us if we ever had an actual in-flight emergency. And what is it about these oxygen masks that look like a plastic specimen cup with a rubber band threaded through? Does anyone actually believe that this device really even works at all with the exception of being perhaps an effective sling shot? It has always concerned me that what looks like the cheapest piece of junk on the plane is what could keep me alive should a sudden decompressive event befall me. Let's not even discuss how the seat would be my floatation device!
I remember when I was young(er) how airports were such an exciting place to visit. You could walk all the way to the gate with your party and see them off and watch their plane disappear. That was a very exciting thing for a kid. It's now a distant memory. These days you stop at the curb and hastily push off your flying friend or relative with a very abrupt goodbye so as to not be towed away to oblivion.
One thing about the Detroit Metro Airport; if you have any question as to whether or not to ride the tram....do it! Any airport that offers a tram....do it! I'm sure I'll have more thoughts about my trip but as for now I need to rest my weary self.
My first observation has to do with luggage. It is absolutely amazing to me to see how many people carry on these huge bags that can barely be stuffed in the overhead compartments. I understand, in my flight's case, saving the $15.00 fee for a piece of luggage and how that would motivate someone to move there house in a carry on. I guess it's another case of how things these days are "all about me" in so many people's view. So I would expect with these multitude of overstuffed bags being herded on the plane that my wife and I would be alone at the luggage pick-up carousel. I would expect it, but I would be wrong. There are as many people as ever jockeying for position to be the very first to grab their luggage as it careens off the conveyor belt. If these mammothed sized bags being rolled into the cabin weren't large enough the one's coming off the carousel could be a 2 or 3 bedroom apartment. So people and their luggage habits puzzle me a bit.
About that guy who always shows up just as the door hatch is to be locked; they always seem to look the same and act as if the plane had no business leaving without them. The other interesting thing is they have the largest carry on of anyone which always is a hassle as the luggage compartments in the overhead bins already have no vacancy and the next challenge is to make a 3x3 ft piece of luggage fill a 2x2 ft space. I just know someones potato chips are now just fragments of their original selves.
Why is the flight attendant that gives the mundane safety lecture, that no one listens to and obviously tries to ignore, the only one that can not speak something that closely resembles English? I thought I was being retroed back to a famous Cheech & Chong skit at a fast food drive thru. God help us if we ever had an actual in-flight emergency. And what is it about these oxygen masks that look like a plastic specimen cup with a rubber band threaded through? Does anyone actually believe that this device really even works at all with the exception of being perhaps an effective sling shot? It has always concerned me that what looks like the cheapest piece of junk on the plane is what could keep me alive should a sudden decompressive event befall me. Let's not even discuss how the seat would be my floatation device!
I remember when I was young(er) how airports were such an exciting place to visit. You could walk all the way to the gate with your party and see them off and watch their plane disappear. That was a very exciting thing for a kid. It's now a distant memory. These days you stop at the curb and hastily push off your flying friend or relative with a very abrupt goodbye so as to not be towed away to oblivion.
One thing about the Detroit Metro Airport; if you have any question as to whether or not to ride the tram....do it! Any airport that offers a tram....do it! I'm sure I'll have more thoughts about my trip but as for now I need to rest my weary self.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
Men Vs Women
On the surface this may seem a rather obvious and almost unnecessary issue to address. I assure you it is one of the most important things you will need to learn in life as a man. The saddest part of this is you will indeed never learn this as a man and I count myself most definitely among you.
Women are incredibly the most gifted multitaskers you will ever know. They can successfully navigate through numerous tasks simultaneously with not so much as a flinch. Men are not. Simply put the very best thing a man can do dealing with most any task is doing it from beg ginning to end and then moving on to the next task. I think I've mentioned this before but the best analogy I can use is that a man is like a dog. You throw the stick and the dog forgets all else in his path even to the danger of it's own health and seeks out the stick and nothing you do or say can stop the dog. That analogy does break down with me in that I may stop and attempt to do something other than get the stick, in fact may attempt several tasks and when I do not finish any of those added tasks I forget not only where the stick went but most times I forget about the stick entirely. Morale of this story: men should not multitask period. Now I know you men out there are saying I can multitask and I would submit to you that you are in serious denial.
The next point to consider about our differences is quite simple as well: men could not survive without women. You may not be married in which case I would tell you there is a woman out there in your life that keeps you from hurting yourself. How many times have you heard of an elderly man's wife passing away and the man could not even open a soup can? There are some exceptional men out there that are capable of opening their own can of soup but most probably shouldn't be trusted with the lid of the can after it's removed. As men we like to think we are invincible and "the man of the house" and everything does and must pass through our authorization before it is official. We are morons if we think that. So to sum up this issue, we are morons.
I look at my desk and see a huge pile of unnecessary crap that not only is of no use to me but really is of no use to anyone and therefore I hang onto it. If you asked me to locate a particular document, I would suggest you pack a lunch if you are going to stand by after said request. I wander into my wife's office and am amazed how you could actually eat off her desk. If I make a request for a document, it will be in my hands, in most cases, before I finish the question. So women are organized and men are pigs. Again there are exceptions to this but I think any man who has an inkling of organization has an extra Y chromosome.
There is one area of life that men excel above women. Men are better drivers. That is, of course, until the man gets a speeding ticket or has an accident and you may then throw that entire mistaken premise out the window. Men are not better drivers we just think we are.
Back to one of my previous premises about women being organized and men being pigs, I invite you to inspect how a man cleans a room and how a woman cleans a room. Basically if only two legged creatures are the only apparent life forms a man thinks the room is clean. However, the woman will start at the top and work her way to the bottom not missing anything in between. My wife can turn a kitchen into an FDA clean room. I can turn a kitchen into a laboratory as well but for different and very disturbing reasons. So to sum it up men are pigs.
So to close this entry, I will repeat my previous assertion. The basic difference between men and woman is women could rule this planet without men but the reverse would be a major catastrophe so whenever you look into your wife's eyes or your mother's eye's you had better understand that without those wonderful people you simply would not exist.
Women are incredibly the most gifted multitaskers you will ever know. They can successfully navigate through numerous tasks simultaneously with not so much as a flinch. Men are not. Simply put the very best thing a man can do dealing with most any task is doing it from beg ginning to end and then moving on to the next task. I think I've mentioned this before but the best analogy I can use is that a man is like a dog. You throw the stick and the dog forgets all else in his path even to the danger of it's own health and seeks out the stick and nothing you do or say can stop the dog. That analogy does break down with me in that I may stop and attempt to do something other than get the stick, in fact may attempt several tasks and when I do not finish any of those added tasks I forget not only where the stick went but most times I forget about the stick entirely. Morale of this story: men should not multitask period. Now I know you men out there are saying I can multitask and I would submit to you that you are in serious denial.
The next point to consider about our differences is quite simple as well: men could not survive without women. You may not be married in which case I would tell you there is a woman out there in your life that keeps you from hurting yourself. How many times have you heard of an elderly man's wife passing away and the man could not even open a soup can? There are some exceptional men out there that are capable of opening their own can of soup but most probably shouldn't be trusted with the lid of the can after it's removed. As men we like to think we are invincible and "the man of the house" and everything does and must pass through our authorization before it is official. We are morons if we think that. So to sum up this issue, we are morons.
I look at my desk and see a huge pile of unnecessary crap that not only is of no use to me but really is of no use to anyone and therefore I hang onto it. If you asked me to locate a particular document, I would suggest you pack a lunch if you are going to stand by after said request. I wander into my wife's office and am amazed how you could actually eat off her desk. If I make a request for a document, it will be in my hands, in most cases, before I finish the question. So women are organized and men are pigs. Again there are exceptions to this but I think any man who has an inkling of organization has an extra Y chromosome.
There is one area of life that men excel above women. Men are better drivers. That is, of course, until the man gets a speeding ticket or has an accident and you may then throw that entire mistaken premise out the window. Men are not better drivers we just think we are.
Back to one of my previous premises about women being organized and men being pigs, I invite you to inspect how a man cleans a room and how a woman cleans a room. Basically if only two legged creatures are the only apparent life forms a man thinks the room is clean. However, the woman will start at the top and work her way to the bottom not missing anything in between. My wife can turn a kitchen into an FDA clean room. I can turn a kitchen into a laboratory as well but for different and very disturbing reasons. So to sum it up men are pigs.
So to close this entry, I will repeat my previous assertion. The basic difference between men and woman is women could rule this planet without men but the reverse would be a major catastrophe so whenever you look into your wife's eyes or your mother's eye's you had better understand that without those wonderful people you simply would not exist.
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