St. Patrick - Rector's Rambling for March 23, 2025

     
Thank you for everyone’s kind notes, emails, and texts of condolences on the death of my father in law Jim Cook.  It was shocking to discover him deceased in his workshop a week ago Saturday shortly before a family gathering.  His Requiem Mass and Interment was last Friday at St. John’s Church in Sturgis, Michigan, where he served regularly as Junior Warden, Vestryman, and volunteer there and in the community.  I am grateful to have had him as a father in law. 

Today we have our annual St. Patrick’s Day Potluck.  Corned Beef is one of my favorite dishes, and of course it is made even better by the good company of the people of St. John’s.  Thank you to everyone who brought a dish to pass, and to Chris Golembiewski for picking up the corned beef and all those who pitched in to cook it. 

As a guy who is ‘mostly Irish’ in heritage, I love the hagiography and lore surrounding the life of St. Patrick, and the effect of his evangelism in Ireland.  Originally brought there as a slave from northwest Brittan, he escaped and then was later ordained and returned as a missionary, converting his former captives and later many great Irish Kings to faith in Jesus Christ. 

Thomas Cahil, in his book, How the Irish Saved Civilization had this to say

“In becoming an Irishman, Patrick wedded his world to theirs, his faith to their life…Patrick found a way of swimming down to the depths of the Irish psyche and warming and transforming Irish imagination – making it more humane and more noble while keeping it Irish.” (p. 161)”

Today on the ministry center flag pole flies the Saltire of St. Patrick, the flag of the Church of Ireland.