God’s gift of healing takes many forms, each distinct to the people involved and the healing they need. My experience of healing right now is centered in my wife Amy’s recovery from a badly-broken leg suffered in a bicycle-car accident in Manhattan in December. This has been an opportunity to deepen my patience and trust—a hard-earned lesson whether I like it or not!

God has blessed the human body with the ability to recover from many injuries and illnesses. While modern medical technology has made more and more interventions possible, many of those inter-ventions consist of setting the best possible condi-tions for the body to exercise its own healing abili-ties. Immediately after Amy’s accident, she had surgery not to set her broken leg, but just to immo-bilize it for two weeks. Only when the immobiliza-tion allowed the swelling to go down enough could there be a second, definitive surgery to set the bones with plates and screws.

Even this “definitive” surgery doesn’t itself heal the leg, but puts the bones in the proper position to grow and knit back together. Slowly increasing exercise of her leg over time as her surgeon directs and with the help of physical and occupational ther-apists is Amy’s biggest part in this long process of healing. Day after day she chooses to see the glass as half-full rather than half-empty.

Our physical health affects our relationships, and any serious illness or injury tends to isolate the pa-tient. In some ways this isolation is beneficial, al-lowing for the great healers of rest and sleep to do their work. In other ways the isolation can take on a life of its own. So many times when Jesus heals someone, it restores them to community; it re-moves an impediment to human connection that frees the healed person to live fully not just physi-cally but relationally.

While overall I am deeply satisfied with the care I am giving my family and the love it expresses, there are times when I fall short. Only God’s strength can carry me through when my own is not adequate to such continuous responsibilities. Nor have we been able to settle into an unchanging “new-normal” routine, since Amy’s progress means we have to keep adapting. For love to be constant it has to be expressed in ways that are responsive to the other person’s needs as they are right now, not as they once were.

For years I have helped parishioners walk the path of caring for disabled loved ones, whether recovering from accident or illness, or in long-term decline. While I have always been able to bring the resources of the Bible, prayer, and mu-tual support to these holy and difficult times, having “been there” myself adds another layer to my pastoral care. Of course it is important not to turn the attention to myself, saying to a hospital-ized parishioner or the caregiver: “Well, we were almost 3 weeks in the hospital, etc., etc.” But it is of great benefit to be able to say, “I’ve been there too,” or “I’m there now, and I’ve found praying in this way helps me with the fatigue and worry.” Being there myself helps me know what unhelpful questions not to ask, and what spiritual and more mundane questions will help the per-son experience God’s loving presence. And being there myself has deepened my experience of God’s loving presence through the care of family, friends, and the people of St. Luke’s.

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Healing 1

Mike Watson 2

Quotes 2

Healing

Through Tears

3

My Burden is

Light

3

Grapevine 4

Warden’s Re-

port

5

Journey Home 5

Christmas

Pageant 2013

6

Cornerstone M A R C H 2 0 1 4

V O L U M E 4 I S S U E 1

ST. LUKE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, KATONAH

The Rev. Robert Lamborn

Healing

TO CONSOLE DOES NOT MEAN

TO TAKE AWAY THE PAIN BUT RATHER TO BE

THERE AND SAY, "YOU ARE NOT ALONE, I AM WITH YOU.

TOGETHER WE CAN CARRY THE BURDEN. DON'T BE AFRAID. I AM HERE." THAT IS CONSOLATION.

Healing appears in so many different forms, because pain comes in so many different forms. Yet, regardless of the type of pain we experi-ence, one necessary element of our healing is to have someone that

can walk with us through and beyond the painful journey. That someone can be a spouse or part-ner, a friend, a parent or child, a pastor, or some-times even a perfect stranger. When we witness another who is in pain, a natu-ral, human, God-given response is to try to offer consolation. "Consolation" literally means "to be" (con-) "with the lonely one" (solus). To offer consolation is one of the most important ways to care. Life is so full of pain, sadness, and loneliness that we often wonder what we can do to alleviate the immense suffering we see. We can and must offer consolation to the mother who lost her child, the young person with a deadly disease, the family whose house burned down or was washed away in a storm or flood, the soldier who was wounded, the teenager who contemplates suicide, the old man who wonders why he should stay alive. To console does not mean to take away the pain but rather to be there and say, "You are not alone, I am with you. Together we can carry the burden.

Don't be afraid. I am here." That is consolation. But it is not only others who heal when we offer consolation; we often obtain healing for our-selves when we offer it to others. When we witness others in the healing process, and offer them the lightening of their load, it somehow miraculously helps us find ways to lighten our own burdens. It gives us that necessary "oomph" to understand for ourselves, as Jesus sometimes said when he healed someone, "your faith has made you well." Walking with others on their painful journey helps pave the rut-filled roads of our own journeys. One of the most beautiful and meaningful un-derstandings I have obtained in ministering to others is that the need for healing is the great equalizer of all humanity. Regardless of any differences we may have with other humans, whether those differences are sociological, bio-logical, economic, or any other form of differ-ence, none of us can escape the fact that we need healing from something. We all need it, and we all can help others obtain it. Healing is like bread for our souls. Like bread, it takes time to rise, sweeten, form, and emerge from the combination of its elements. Also, like bread, healing always tastes better when we share it with others.

Mike Watson

The Great Human Equalizer

P A G E 2

C O R N E R S T O N E

St Luke's are very precious to me, in the essential con-text of worship and outreach.

In the first decade the fellowship at St Luke's helped me find my vocation as a social worker and to re-establish my avocation as a writer. In the second dec-ade it helped me find my evolving identity after my nest emptied. And in the third decade there has been the joy of giving and receiving after my parents deaths, when I embarked on another phase of life. This is an ongoing, joyful process.

Quotes

Mary Zipkin: "Church and healing go hand in hand for me. Healing isn't just recovering...it's a process of feeling better. When I enter a church, I feel better. I am healed of selfishness, of thinking only about my own problems, and of feeling that I'm in this life and and the next, alone. " Susan Walton: St Luke's has been a healing communi-ty and source of ongoing inspiration, fellowship, and courage for me for three decades!!

The spiritual friendships I have made and fostered at

V O L U M E 4 I S S U E 1 P A G E 3

She knew that prayer by heart— her family overseas, losing five ba-bies after me, battling moves and precarious health, then my father dying first. But through her last days, that lifelong faith brought her surely to a place of healing, from which she reached to everyone she met in joyful radiance. Waving my tears away, wagging her finger: “Fear not,” she’d say— “in my Father’s house are

many mansions.” Susan V. Walton, 2/1/14

My Anglican mum “spouted” Shakespeare, Kipling , Rupert Brooke, and limericks— yet in domestic emergencies she’d as-sume a Scottish burr, and quote her trusty Red Cross instructor from London’s Blitz: “ Wha’ is a wound? ‘Tis a break… in the continuity… of the skin!” Winking at me, she would apply Peroxide to my latest scrape, quickly blow away the sting, hug me tight, then send me off, with a prayer. I “knew” it was all about the hug—the love that kept me safe… her faith that I’d be “all better.” She’d wave my fears away, whisper: “Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”

Healing Through Tears

C O R N E R S T O N E

My Burden is Light

How often do we pray for others or ourselves? It is a basic hu-man instinct for each of us to be productive members of socie-ty. Throughout human history, we have sought healing in mysti-cal ways; the use of shamans, or offerings in holy places such as springs, places of the gods. It was a time when all people had was the mystic.

It is no wonder that so many of the stories in the Bible are of heal-ing, both Old and New Testament. Today our stories are of medi-cal science. Our doctors have replaced the shaman and medicine has replaced incantations but there are times when all we have is faith. As Jesus said: “You’re faith has made you whole.” What does this mean? First we must ask.

Healing is of mind body and soul. The blow of illness disintegrates mind, body and soul. It separates us from the whole we find in God. It makes us feel that God is far away and out of reach. When we ask for God’s help, we must have patience. It takes time to reintegrate. As the prayer says: “Sanctify…this trial that weakness may be added to faith.” As God reaches out, we must be ready to receive.

We must be open to God’s healing and grace in quiet comfort, knowing always that: “My burden is light. Take up the Cross”. It leads to a union of mind, body and soul formed in faith to the glory of God.

Bernie Roberts

There are many different ways we can share our gifts with the church. Dominick Disanzo was able to fix that listing white rocker in the parish house that we liked, and he used his own tools to do the job. It’s now good as new. There are all kinds of healing!

It’s such a big help to have someone else vacuum after Coffee Hour on Sunday. So a big thank you to Henry Skill-man who for years has stayed until the rug and its crumbs are ready for his ministrations. He also provided the much-needed shelves over the piano to hold the choir music and Mark Schmid put in the braces to hold them up.

Thanks to Mark not just for all the carpentry work he does but also for his helping out Lori from Quality Time feed the group’s pet snake. He has removed and frozen the 7 mice he found scurrying around the parish house. The snake is so happy to get a deli-cious meal and Lori saves

money – otherwise she has to buy them. Donations ac-cepted. Maybe. Hugs and a huge thanks to Jack-ie Marcy for her 18 years of being our faithful and delicious chef at Clean-Up Days. I have pictures of her ringing that lunch bell and her young, now grown helpers in their aprons ready to serve under her tutelage. Multi talented Carollynn Becker has volunteered to be the new Clean-Up cook for spring and fall. Many thanks!

Hugs also to 92 year old Thelma Greene who returned in full spirit to church after a serious operation. I want to know your secret! Love your red hat and scarf and jaunty spirit.

In our Community suppers and brunches Carollynn Beck-er and I hoped you would sign up for a good meal and meet some of your fellow parishioners in a small congen-ial atmosphere. About 50 people have signed up and

we’re nearing the end of our project – two to go. So, thank you to all the hosts who volunteered to open their homes: Jackie Marcy, Tess Dennis, Vickie Hall, Marge Piker, Susan Walton, the VanDemarks, the Saxtons, the Grahams. And we have to insert here a thank you to Joe Graham for the smooth running ESP program again this year. He kept com-munication flowing and we all appreciated that. And thanks to all those who brought meals and those who stayed over-night. That’s the loving spirit of St. Luke’s and a source of healing for all.

Susan Walton, our St. Luke’s poet as well as social worker, will lead a group for our parish called “Writing as a Compan-ion in Times of Transition and Loss.” You do not have to have any writing expertise to join up. For more info, email or call Susan or check with her in church.

The next Book Club meets Monday March 10 at 1pm in the parish house. In keeping with our theme of biographies we’re reading Desert Queen by Janet Wallach, the biography of amazing Gertrude Bell. Maureen Hattasch put a flier up in the Katonah Library inviting people to this event.

Another amazing woman right here at St. Luke’s is Mary Zipkin and she is once again in charge of Pancake Supper Tuesday March 4th. It will be a delicious, fun filled night and she’ll need help for food, serving, cleaning up and items for her auction.

And speaking of talented people, Stephen Herman has been accepted in a PHD program in Political Philosophy at the U of Missouri and will make a decision soon. His proud mom, Margie, moved to Heritage Hills, which she just loves. It was such a treat to hear the musical duet by our Priest, Rob, on trombone, and Graham Ash-ton on trumpet. They were out-standing and we look forward to another musical interlude.

And finally, in the pastoral outreach that Rob has empha-sized, who is willing to pick up the occasional person in need of a ride to and/or from church? There are three people who are called on all the time and they need help. This is a real healing and pastoral gift.

Betty Wald

Grapevine

C O R N E R S T O N E

P A G E 4

Warden’s Report

P A G E 5

C O R N E R S T O N E

Have you had enough of the white stuff? Are you ready to grab your snow shovel again? Again?! As Rob pointed out during the Annual Meeting in Janu-ary, sometimes it is very hard to continue doing the same thing – such as shoveling the front steps, walk, and driveway or clearing off the car – over and over again. Continue on, as Rob told us, since in doing so you never know what might happen.

My husband lost his voice first. Usually with ALS, speech is the last to go, the use of your legs goes first. For Arnold, he was able to walk slowly in the house until near the end.

He began to write me notes – questions, statements. “Where are you going this morning?” “I am not hungry, maybe later.” “Can you get me the Tylenol? I have a headache.”

One day we or rather I began to speak of hard things and he was quiet, holding my hand as we sat on the couch. He asked for his pad and a pencil and I watched eagerly as he wrote. “Will you mail out the income tax return? It’s upstairs.”

But every now and then I’d tear off a sheet to keep. He kept thinking he’d get better in spite of all the evidence

to the contrary and one day wrote, “I meant well. I’ve been in denial. No more.” And from then on he accepted that he had ALS and there was no getting better. Later, I read on the back of the page, “I can still hold you in the morning.”

This paper has been tucked away in my journal. No longer true, it remains with me, a beautiful memory. I still remem-ber the feeling of his hand reaching for mine in the night, on a bad night, and I would grasp it tight as if to say I am here with you.

I kept his voice on my cell phone and every now and then I listen. It’s so good to hear him speak after so much silence and I listen as he tells me he’s on his way home.

He is home now. Betty Wald

Like the moment when, looking up from shoveling, one notices that the day following the snowfall is a blue sky – a beautiful blue sky made even more beautiful when viewed through snow-covered branches. Although we are ones who love the snow, we are still looking forward to the days of seeing the blue sky through branches filled with buds that will burst into green leaves.

Until the green leaves arrive, there will be many tra-ditional volunteer activities of St. Luke’s. Make plans to again be a part of the Pancake Supper in March by setting the tables, flipping pancakes, or cleaning up. The church also needs your help during the clean up day in April and the plant sale in May. In being a part of these activities yet another time, you might be surprised at a connection you make with a fellow parishioner or community member, or a tidbit of information your hear that improves your garden. Come along and be a part of the activity. Hey, you never know what will happen . Peace

Sally and Pat

SOMETIMES IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTINUE

DOING THE SAME THING – SUCH AS SHOV-

ELING THE FRONT STEPS,

WALK, AND DRIVEWAY OR CLEARING OFF

THE CAR – OVER AND

OVER AGAIN. CONTINUE ON, AS ROB TOLD US, SINCE IN

DOING SO YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT MIGHT

HAPPEN.

Journey Home

Office Address: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

68 Bedford Road

Katonah, NY 10536

Phone: 914 232 5220

E-mail: parish@stlukeskatonah.org

Web Site www.stlukeskatonah.org

St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

Mailing Address: St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

PO Box 602

Katonah, NY 10536

Christmas Pageant 2013