St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral

 

A Note from the Senior Warden

By Melanie Woodward

 

God has chosen you and made you his holy people.  He loves you.  So you should always clothe yourselves with mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other, and forgive each other.  If someone does wrong to you, forgive that person because the Lord forgave you.  Even more than all this, clothe yourself in love.  Love is what holds you all together in perfect unity.  Let the peace that Christ gives control your thinking, because you were all called together in one body to have peace.  Always be thankful.                                                                                 

                                                                                                Colossians 3: 12-15

 

Fr. Brian’s sermon from today (April 13, 2008) really hit home for me.  Do you remember it?  He talked about factions, and grievances, old wounds that have not healed and grudges.  He and Terry went up to Wausau for a Bi-Diocesan conference, and some people there spoke harshly of us….remember?

 

I’ll admit I have had the same thing happen to me.  Once, Carey and I went on a weekend outing with our old church from Madison.  One lady, whom I knew only just vaguely, wanted to know where we were and what we were doing.  We told her where we went, and we no more than got the Cathedral of St…..out of our mouths and this lady was off and running!  She went on a scathing diatribe – and I finally wound up turning my back on her and walking away because, it was obvious to me, that she was building up a good head of steam and was liable to keep me there the rest of the night!

 

So, what’s the deal?  I got the impression that Fr. Brian and Terry have felt welcomed here. We seem to be doing right by them, or so he tells me.  I can tell you from my personal experience that I have always felt welcomed here and loved.  This is my home, and you know how eager and enthusiastic I am about our Cathedral.  I always have been, ever since the first time I set foot in that building.  Does everybody love me there and agree with me 100%?  Well, no – and to tell you the truth, I’d wonder about our mental state if this were the case.  We all have ideas and opinions, and just because they might not mesh with mine – let’s share them.  Talk to me; come to me if you have an idea.  I’ll always try to listen fairly.

 

What are we going to do?  How can we fix our reputation?  Maybe some self examination is in order.  For the next two months, think of lefse.  That’s right: lefse.  Norwegian flat stuff made out of potatoes.  No, please don’t think of one of your less than favorite Cathedral people with a piece of lefse over their heads smothering, and struggling to free themselves.  Let’s use it as an acronym.  Let’s Eliminate Further Senseless Emotions. Lefse.

 

Bear with each other, and try to be humble and patient.  Try to eliminate the senseless emotions of negative thinking and territorial attitudes.  If you find yourself in a discussion or starting to talk about something that might hurt someone else, or some other group or ministry – stop and pull yourself away – have a piece of lefse and let the rest of them hash it out, but don’t be a party to it yourself.

 

Love is what will hold us and our Cathedral family together.

 

In Christ,

 

Mel