It's A Reminder To Be Green

In the Book of Revelation, we read that the leaves of the tree of life are given for the healing of the nations. We have a tree. It was drawn on a sheet of brown paper imitating the sassafrass tree which has leaves that are hand-shaped and mitten-shaped.



People have written their commitments to “being green” on the leaves. The leaves have been taped to the tree. The tree grows as our awareness of the ways we can meet the challenge of climate change grows.


To paraphrase Joyce Kilmer....

I think that I shall never read a blog as lovely as this tree.

Here are some of the leaves:

• Turn off the light when going out of the room.
• Hang clothes outside.
• Use cloth napkins.
• I will use the t.v. guide and not channel surf looking forthe least objectional show.
• Drive more efficiently.
• Hang up towels into of throwing them in the wash.
• Cold water wash.
• I will leave the car at home when I can walk.
• Take cloth bags to grocery store.
• Change the light bulbs to the squiggly new kind.
• Use less paper.
• Save water.
• Use paper bags instead of plastic bags.

Trees have hundreds of leaves.... What would you write on one?


As the leaves were handed in and taped up, each person was given a green button to wear. A small, plain bright yellow green button.

It was to remind us to be green.

And subversively, we hoped people would ask us about our buttons. There was no text, no image on the buttons.


We wanted to say, “It is a reminder to me to be green. My church gave it to me.”


At St. Margaret’s we understand that we are stewards of God’s good creation and ambassadors for Christ.


We are on a journey.

Life is an adventure.

We are following as the Holy Spirit leads.

A New Bishop

The Diocese of Northwest Pennsylvania has chosen the Rev. Sean W. Rowe as their new Bishop. Our prayers go out to the Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Rev. Rowe. He is a priest in that diocese and active as a Standing Committee member and in diocesan youth ministry.


Canon Shallcross expresses her deep thanks to all the people who joined in the prayers and support that she, her family and St. Margaret's experienced during this period of discernment and anticipation. "It has been a priviledge and honor to be a nominee for the eighth bishop of NW PA," she said.


What are her plans post-election?


"I will be at ‘preaching camp’ this next week in Nashville, TN. Some of the best preachers in the country will be there: preaching and teaching. When I return to Emmaus, it seems I will be sorting my books and making soup for the Saturday, June 2nd Soup and Book Sale sponsored by the Women of St. Margaret’s."


And when she looks beyond the next few weeks?


"The parish begins a year long celebration of our 100th Anniversary on St. Margaret’s Day on November 18, 2007," she notes, "So we get to raise a little H- - - - -****!"


***Heaven!!!!


P.S. Sign up to get your picture taken for our 100th Anniversary photo directory. Photographers will be at St. Margaret's on Friday, June 1st and June 2. Avoid playing phone tag--time sheets will be at Church on Sunday morning.


The Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania

Search for a new Bishop page (election results)

Mother's Day Sayings for J. R.

As she left church this morning, J. R. asked that I put the Mother's Day sayings on our blog so she could read them.
So, here they are....

Proverbs tells us not to reject our mother’s teaching. And in Ecclesiasticus, we read:
...those who honor their mother obey the Lord.
Some manuscripts say:
...those who comfort their mother obey the Lord.
Honor. Comfort. Both sound good to me.

There are many sayings about Mothers.
"God could not be everywhere and therefore he made mothers."
- Jewish proverb
"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom."
- Henry Ward Beecher
"All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother." -
- Abraham Lincoln
And one of my favorites:
An ounce of Mothers is worth a pound of preachers.