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PENTECOST / / 2022 / / ISSUE NUMBER 12

THE TRISAGION A JOINT NEWSLETTER OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCHES OF HUNTINGTON, WV Happy Birthday, Dear Church The Feast of Pentecost is taken from the Greek word πεντηκόστη which means “the 50th,” referring to the fiftieth day after Passover and Easter. In the Jewish calendar, this would coincide with the harvest festival Shavuot the “Feast of Weeks.” In the Christian calendar, Passover played a part in a number of visits Jesus made to Jerusalem. At his Last Supper, Jesus legendarily instructed his 12 disciples to go out into the world to minister and heal the sick on their own.

Hymn to the Holy Spirit Spirit, moving over chaos, Bringing light where there was none. Be to us a light, reveling Where the work is to be done. Praise to God, among us dwelling: Praise the Spirit giving light. Breath, instilling animation, Giving life, informing soul, Breathe into this congregation Life that makes the Body whole. Praise to God, among us dwelling: Praise the Spirit giving life.

As the New Testament tells us, Jesus remained with his Disciples for 40 days following his Resurrection and before his Ascension into heaven (which was celebrated on May 26th this year). The next major event we’re told of happened 10 days following the Ascension of Jesus — fifty days after Jesus’ death. As the story goes, the Holy Spirit descended onto the apostles, making them speak in foreign tongues. This event marked the coming of the Holy Spirit, as “tongues like as of fire” upon the Disciples of Jesus along with the sound of rushing wind, as told in Acts Chapter 2. This marked the beginning of the work of the Church following the Resurrection of Jesus, and is why this Feast has become commonly known as “The Birthday of the Church.” So what is the deal with “speaking in tongues?” In the story of Pentecost from the Book of Acts, “foreign tongues” referred to foreign languages (suggesting the apostles could now go into other parts of the world to preach their message.) Some religions today, however, believe that “speaking in tongues” sounds like a type of gibberish (although some say it’s God’s language) created when the Holy Spirit enters a person. Many followers of Pentecostalism — a protestant denomination that emphasizes a direct, personal experience with God — still speak in tongues when they are baptized or “born again” into the faith. They believe that, at the moment of this second baptism, the Holy Spirit fills them, which causes Continued on page 2

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PENTECOST / / 2022 / / ISSUE NUMBER 12

Around the Diocese Camping is Back in the Diocese! Peterkin at Spring Heights is a 3-day, 2-night youth event for youth entering 5th grade through recently graduated high school seniors (Class of 2022) hosted by the Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia at Spring Heights (UMC) Camp and Retreat Center in Spencer, WV from Thursday, June 23 - Saturday, June 25. We're excited to be together in person and for our youth to gather with their peers to pray and to play. The event will include Peterkin-style worship and other camp activities, including swimming, arts & crafts, and more. Spring Heights also offers activities including horseback riding and high and low ropes challenge courses. We’ll sing favorite songs, pray Compline, break bread together in the Eucharist, and enjoy a chance to gather with new and old friends. The fee for this event is $200. The Episcopal Diocese of West Virginia is committed to sharing this experience with any young person who wishes to attend, and scholarship money is available if the cost is prohibitive. Please contact your Parish Office or the Episcopal Diocese of WV for more information.

Hymn to the Holy Spirit Continued from page 1

Wind, inflaming fear-filled bodies, Sending them to tell the News, Fire anew your church’s spirit, Show the path we ought to choose. Praise to God, among us dwelling: Praise the Spirit giving fire.

Happy Birthday…

Continued from page 1

them to speak in tongues. It seems that speaking in languages that the native peoples of an area could understand would be much more handy for the disciples in their work of spreading the Good News! We’re told there were many visitors in Jerusalem at the time, who were likely there for the Feast of Passover, and they were curious about the meaning of the flames, wind, and foreign tongues — some of those languages familiar to them. Hearing the disciples speak in their own languages must have helped, too. The scriptures tell us that the Apostle Peter gave his first sermon and the Church in Jerusalem grew in size from 120 believers to 3,000. Now THAT is a powerful sermon that must have surely been inspired by the Holy Spirit!

Power, Life-force, Inspiration, Blowing, breathing, brooding here, Call, enliven and empower us For your work, both far and near. Praise to God, among us dwelling: Praise the spirit giving strength.

While Ascension — or even Ascension Sunday — aren’t celebrated much in the United States anymore, they are still major observances in Europe. Pentecost is, however, still celebrated in our churches. In the United Kingdom, it is Whitsun or Whitsun Day, meaning the Sunday when “whit” or “wisdom” was brought upon the disciples.

Ms. Patricia B. Clark This may also be sung to the tune Regent Square, Hymn 93 in The Hymnal 1982.

Pentecost isn’t generally associated with feasts or elaborate traditions but, locally, there are a number of traditions observed. Some of those include doves to represent the Holy Spirit, or red to represent the flames of fire, or even a birthday cake. So, Happy Birthday, Dear Church. Happy Birthday to you! 2

PENTECOST / / 2022 / / ISSUE NUMBER 12

THE TRISAGION

THE BIG FISHERMAN NEWS FROM ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH healing of memories. A holy place is being constructed of this process that is not entirely past.

Let Salvation Roll!

It would be just like God to pull something like C.S. Lewis proposed in THE GREAT DIVORCE, a place outside time in which salvation is still going on after we die. A few more chances…With all this mending going on, backwards and forwards, where will it stop?

THE REV. DEBORAH RANKIN “Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, "Who are these, robed in white, and where have they come from?" I said to him, "Sir, you are the one that knows." Then he said to me, "These are they who have come out of the great ordeal; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” Rev. 7:13f

Precisely! Why should it? Why would it? God has no need to stifle a great impulse. Let salvation roll! I have a feeling that on Judgment Day I will look back at what was and see it as nicely mended as what is on that day. God can do that, and I’m pretty sure God already is.

I have this friend who argues with me about time and about not being able to go back and correct the mistakes we’ve made. He’s got some significant pain behind his argument. I’ve been thinking for years now about how to respond to him because something in me perceives a way we do make corrections, but I haven’t had language for it. Sometimes it takes me decades to work up a good response. My response has to do with washing my garment of salvation in Jesus’ blood. You have to admit it is a disturbing image, and the very difficulty of washing something white in bloody water is arresting all by itself. Our basic work as disciples is to follow and imitate Jesus. Right? We will suffer. It’s not just his blood in that wash water. It’s ours too. As we wash our garments we are righting wrongs, maybe not those done in our past, though I would argue that God is not bounded by time like we are. I intuit that salvation may work backwards and forwards, in either time direction as God chooses. I’d rather not say he couldn’t do it, and the idea that he would is whimsical enough to be biblical. I’ll be searching for chapter and verse on it. I promise you. I’m not thinking of this washing as penance. I’m thinking of it as restitution, which is what I’ve been arguing with my friend about. He keeps saying we can’t go back, and I’m pretty sure we can. In a way of thinking, of course, and with God’s help.

Because I am walking with God I am leaving a mended track behind me in my mind, heart, spirit. That is not insignificant. I’m not entirely sure what it signifies in so-called “real time”, but I do know that on that mended track sin and death DO NOT RULE like they do everywhere else. God and me together have done a good work. We have washed experience in the blood of sacrifice. We are paying salvation backwards through 3

Mother Deborah Rankin +

ST. PETER’S SUMMER THEATRE CAMP It's that time of year again! The hills around St. Peter's Episcopal Church are alive with the sounds of children singing! It is time for St. Peter's Summer Theater Camp! After a two-year hiatus due to Covid, we are back again this summer to celebrate our 10th anniversary of Summer Theater Camp! The mission of St. Peter's Summer Theater Camp is to provide every child, those with a disability and those without, the opportunity to experience theater with the supports they need to be successful. Students will learn the beginning aspects of theater, including costume making, developing props and set, learning lines and choreography. St. Peter's will be providing two camping experiences: Camp Wonder for children ages 5-11 and Camp Hope for ages 11-18. Each camp runs Monday-Friday 9:00 am to noon for 3 weeks with performances on the last weekend. Camp Wonder begins June 6 and runs through June 24th with performances on June 24th and 25th. Camp Hope begins July 11 and runs through July 29th with performances July 29th and 30th. Continued on page 4

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THE BIG FISHERMAN CONTINUES

SPECO Community Update

panies those who serve in this way. I am reminded of Desmond Tutu's phrase about being a "prisoner of hope." Participating in SPECO on Sunday filled me with a living hope, even as we serve against almost impossible challenges. Thank you for sharing yourselves in Christ to make a difference.”

St. Peter’s Episcopal Community Outreach (SPECO) helped with a mini “Save-A-Life” Day April 2nd at Marshall University. Fiona Reynolds, church member and outreach volunteer, coordinated the event for her senior project with Kyleigh Hoey, another Huntington High student. The event brought volunteers and awareness to community members on drug overdoses and substance use disorder. More specifically, volunteers trained others on how to properly carry and administer naloxone.

For more information on our outreach opportunities at SPECO, please visit our website and social media pages that contain updated information on our weekly events. As SPECO has changed from winter care bags to summer care bags, we ask those reading to consider donating the following items: • • • •

Groups were set up in three stations in Huntington: Heritage Station, St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, and Marshall Student Center. At Marshall University, community volunteers from SPECO partnered with Marshall Collegiate Recovery Program and Marshall Medicine students to help train and administer Narcan Nasal Spray. According to Reynolds, the day consisted of distributing a total of 199 Narcan Nasal Spray Kits.

Sunscreen Bug Spray or repellant bands Fruit Cups Unscented Baby Wipes

Sequoia Ware; ware532marshall.edu

The location that distributed the most was the Marshall location, where nearly 100 kits were distributed to students on campus. Reynolds said she hoped to just have an educational element at Marshall, but it turned into so much more. She said, “I have some friends at Marshall and some at Huntington High. When talking to them, I don’t think they quite understood what Narcan was, so really, I was just looking for an educational element, and we got so much farther than that, because we had serval sororities and fraternities being trained, which was awesome.” The following day, April 3rd, SPECO had their monthly care-bag pack where Karl Colder, Huntington Chief of Police, and Matthew Cowden, WV Episcopal State Bishop Coadjutor, was in attendance. “There’s a story where Jesus heals the blind man,” said Rt. Rev. Cowden. “Many people he just touches, many people he says, ‘Your faith has healed you,’ but there’s this wonderful story of Jesus taking the mud and putting it on the man’s eyes and wiping it away to restore his site. We have evidence in the bible that Jesus uses the things that are at hand to bring about healing. So can we.”

Summer Theatre Camp Continued from page 3

Cost for the camp is $300. There is a nonrefundable $25 registration fee. Discounts will be provided with families enrolling 2 or more children. Some scholarships are available. Camp Wonder will be doing Disney's Aristocats,,Kids and Camp Wonder will be performing Peter Pan, Jr. Each participant will receive a script, Tshirt, and cast photo. We are very lucky to have three certified teachers in the area of Special Education to help us this summer along with several volunteers. Camp Staff include Eddie Harbert, Coni Anthony, Carol Scarberry, Ryan Scarberry, Jennifer Reynolds, Fiona Reynolds, Jame McCumbee and Peggy Walker. If you would like to be a volunteer or financially support us by providing a scholarship for a child, please contact Eddie Harbert at (304) 360-2749 or email at eddie_harbert@hotmail.com. If you would like to register a child for camp or receive more information, please contact Eddie using the contact information above. Please support us this summer with your presence, your prayers or your financial assistance. It is an exciting ministry that we are providing for people living with disabilities and their families in our area. Blessings and Peace! Eddie

Rt. Rev. Cowden joined SPECO for their care bag and then spent the day with SPECO touring their outreach program and opportunities. SPECO also took the Bishop Coadjutor to their distribution sites such as the mission and the floodwall. During this day, Reynolds distributed her 200th Narcan Nasal Kit to Rt. Rev. Cowden. Here is what he had to say after his time with SPECO: “St. Peter’s and your community partners are doing incredible things! My time with you on Sunday has been wonderful and a blessing, I am humbled at how you are being the hands and feet of Jesus in Huntington. You are a witness to how the Church can change lives by working together, and being grounded in Christ's call to love, serve, and offer healing. I was especially moved at how young people from the church were walking through the neighborhood with naloxone and care bags. The level of care and respect for the dignity of each child of God they came across was a witness and testimony to God's love for all of us. Like the disciples, they traveled in pairs and groups, none solo. And the courage and love and determination they showed in conversing with all those they walked up to was a particular ministry of presence that I have only seen a few other times, but most memorably, though, among Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity. Those doing this ministry, especially the young people, display a charism, a Spirit, that bears striking markers of the most dedicated servants of God, including the irrepressible joy that often accom-

UPCOMING EVENTS Each Sunday

In person service and 8 and 10:30 a.m. with children/youth Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Choir rehearsal at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, 6/5 Community Outreach: pack care bags in the undercroft after the service Sunday, 6/19 Vestry Meeting Sunday, 6/26 Serve a free meal to the West End community from 12-1 (every 4th Sunday). This is a preBoxed meal from a to-go table outside. Need help with set up and clean up. Camp Wonder 6/6—6/24 with performances 6/24 & 6/25 Camp Hope 6/11—7/29 with performances 6/29 & 6/30 VBS 6/26—6/30; 6 to 8 p.m. each evening Abundant Life Garden Project Curriculum (see page 5) 4

PENTECOST / / 2022 / / ISSUE NUMBER 12

THE TRISAGION THE BIG FISHERMAN CONTINUES

Vacation Bible School June 26th thru 30th at St. Peter’s

Join us for Songs, Games, Crafts, Bible Stories, Snacks and more!!! The Abundant Life Garden Project® program is an interactive, Scripture-based children’s faith formation program developed to share the work of Episcopal Relief & Development with elementary school-aged students.

Think Gardens, Water, Soil, Animals….all the good things that God provides in our world.

Watch our the St. Peter’s Facebook Page or contact Sue Williams at toobuzysue@yahoo.com for more information.

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PENTECOST / / 2022 / / ISSUE NUMBER 12

THE TRINITARIAN NEWS FROM TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Growing a Prayer Life DAVID JOHNSTON Jesus is a person of prayer. The Gospel of Luke in particular pays close attention to Jesus’ prayer from his baptism, to selecting the apostles, to his prayer on the Mount of Olives ahead of his crucifixion, and to his blessing of his disciples prior to his Ascension. Prayer saturates Jesus’ life. From Romans and Hebrews, we learn that Jesus is even now at the right hand of God, interceding for us! From Jesus’ own example and various encouragements in Scripture, we know we should pray regularly. Yet beginning and maintaining a prayer life can be so difficult. Any change of life can be difficult at first, such as lifestyle and exercise changes. So how can we begin and grow a prayer life that lasts? Perhaps first we must be convinced it is worthwhile. If we want to be healthy, we probably already know that things like adequate sleep, balanced diet, and regular exercise are key. If a friend or doctor commended setting aside 8 hours of sleep each night or 30 minutes of cardio, we would not find that strange or intrusive. Have we given thought to spiritual health? What would open our lives to being shaped by God in the best way possible? Here scripture and tradition has commended to us spiritual disciplines: prayer, reading the Bible, the sacraments, corporate worship (i.e., going to church on Sunday), and serving others. These practices round out sleep, diet, and exercise so that we are nourished body and soul. Prayer is key to this, as prayer is where we open our lives to God’s transforming power.

THANK YOU FOR HELPING PROVIDE NUTRITIOUS SNACKS FOR OUR NEIGHBORS!!! This picture shows a small portion of the protein bars donated to help our neighbors affected by homelessness. This drive was a collaboration between Harmony House and Trinity Episcopal Church .

If you want to begin a prayer life, two things will help it stick: incremental change and accountability. To run a marathon, one begins with shorter runs to build up strength and stamina. To work up to praying regularly and intentionally each day, one begins with a small change. Early Christians prayed 4 times a day, but if that is not yet your practice then begin once a day for a short amount of time. The Book of Common Prayer is a great place to begin, particularly the “Daily Devotionals” (page 136). They are the light, brisk walk of prayer and very accessible. There is one for morning, noon, evening, and compline, which is prayed at the end of the day. They are contained to one page and take 4-5 minutes. To grow toward a more robust prayer life, simply commit to setting aside 5 minutes everyday to pray one of the daily devotionals. Like physical exercise, it may take a few weeks or months to notice the change. Once the daily 5 minutes is routine, then move toward either adding another daily devotional or praying one of the daily offices (found on pages 35-135 of The Book of Common Prayer). The daily offices take more navigation, but there is also a helpful free app called Venite, which is also accessible via a web browser at www.venite.app . Instead of flipping pages, Venite will put everything together for you. Or if you have a daily commute, A Morning at the Office is a free podcast of the morning prayer office.

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THE TRISAGION THE ST. JOHN’S EAGLE CONTINUES

THE ST. JOHN’S EAGLE NEWS FROM ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Where do we go from here? I had a completely different article planned for this slot, but this question kept nagging at me, so here we go. This was the title of an article in our Holy Week 2021 issue. At the time, thE question was asked in the context of our recent return to in-person gatherings. Today, we may be asking ourselves “Where do we go from here?” for a very different set of reasons. These Great 50 Days of Easter have been marred by ongoing conflicts and traumas. This season of such hope and peace has been interrupted by the ongoing war in Ukraine, the anniversary of George Floyd’s murder and senseless mass shootings (of which I, sadly, have no doubt there will be another before you receive this newsletter). This Sunday, on the Feast of Pentecost, we will hear readings that draw our attention to the powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Being attuned to the Holy Spirit and recognizing her voice might require us to examine uncomfortable truths.

GABRIEL PROJECT FORMULA UPDATE If you’ve been to a grocery, pharmacy or other general merchandise retailer recently, you may have noticed shelves like these. As most of you know, there is a severe shortage of baby formula in the U.S., and that shortage is hitting lower income households the hardest. Gabriel Project is getting calls from parents and caregivers who normally receive their formula from WIC (the Women, Infants & Children program). This is because WIC has exclusive contracts with certain brands and their stocks have been depleted as well.

Leading up to this week, we’ve heard a number of readings from The Acts of the Apostles. In these readings, Jesus was laying out his plan for the disciples’ continued ministry after his ascension. He gave them a new commandment to love one another just as he had loved them. This time must have been a real rollercoaster for the disciples. First Jesus was crucified: then he wasn’t in the tomb; then he appeared to them; and then he ascended. But Jesus told the disciples that the Spirit would come to them after he departed. That must have seemed like a vague promise to them. The Spirit? What Spirit? How would they know the Spirit? Even with the questions they must have had, and even as they struggled with the reality of not having Jesus among them, they must have found some solace in knowing that they would not be left alone. In our first reading on Pentecost, the disciples gather together, and the Spirit appears above them as tongues of fire — probably not what they were expecting!

We have been fortunate so far in that we have seldom had to turn parents and caregivers away without formula, but keeping up stock has required much greater effort. We have to order small amounts often and sometimes go to 5 or 6 different locations to try to get what our families need. Even when we have not had a particular type of formula on our shelves when needed, we have been able to find some with a little legwork.

We are seeing a glimmer — a small ray — of hope that the formula crisis may be starting to ease, especially for the most common brands. But there’s still a long way to go before the Gabriel Project reaches our normal formula inventory.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus appears to his followers after the resurrection, offering them peace and giving the Spirit to them. “Receive the Holy Spirit.” This command is one that

We are ordering formulas up to 2 or 3 times a week for

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PENTECOST / / 2022 / / ISSUE NUMBER 12 Continued from page 7

Gabriel Project Continued from page 7

our site. Brands that are starting to appear for online ordering include: Similac Sensitive (orange label), Advance (blue label), Alimentum (dark purple), Soy Isomil (pink), Nutramigen (gold & white), and Neuropro Gentlease (lavender). All products are newly manufactured and not affected by the recall. Other brands, such as Enfamil AR and Similac Neosure are more rare and "catch as catch can". We can only order in small quantities right now, a maximum of 3-4 items per brand. And some formulas are only available in liquid form. But as long as we can get at least a small quantity, it will supply emergency assistance to a family when they need it most. Our families are very understanding of the issue and constantly work with each other to make sure everyone is covered. Diapers have also been in short supply for some sizes and are generally much slower to get in when we order online. So if a family needs a certain brand (due to sensitivities), those may not always be in stock right away. We are beginning to see some improvement in the supply chain on the diaper side as well and hope that we will have better news all around in our next update!

all of us must take to heart. The Spirit enables the community to find peace and comfort after loss and carry on the work of the Gospel. It is the Holy Spirit who can help us to get through this challenging time. The Revised Common Lectionary no longer has an option of 1 Corinthians 12:1-13 as the second reading for Pentecost Sunday, but some other Lectionaries do. In that text, Paul says there are many gifts from the Spirit, such as wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing and discernment. Everyone can receive these gifts, and they are “given for some benefit” (Gk. sumpheron). What some older translations refer to as “benefit” can also be translated as “the common good,” as it is in New Revised Standard Version we use here. Imagine if we faced the challenges of today with wisdom, knowledge, faith, healing and DISCERNMENT for the sake of the common good. What might that look like. To me, that sounds like real, boots on the ground, pen in hand, led by the Holy Spirit kind of work! What we’re talking about here is agapé love. It’s the “common good” and “as I have loved you” parts of New Testament wisdom.

Often our natural tendency when being nagged (er, I mean “led”) by the Spirit is to try to ignore it and get on with our lives without getting too far out of our comfort zone. So how soon will we forget the 21 students and teachers of Uvalde, TX who lost their lives in a senseless act of gun violence a week ago? Will it be in aother week? A month? Or will there be another shooting tomorrow that will demand our attention and take over the news cycle? Have we already forgotten that less than three weeks ago, ten grandmothers, fathers, sons and sisters lost their lives to a racist fueled episode of gun violence? Some were charity volunteers. Many had deep roots in their community, relied on by their families, but also by friends and strangers. Have we already forgotten that less than three weeks ago one Taiwanese church member died and five were injured in an act of gun violence driven by nationalism? And did we even take notice of the death of Sheila Eanes (less than 5 miles from St. John’s) last Wednesday evening? Ms. Eanes was killed, while relaxing in her own home, by a stray bullet intended for a passing car. Do the over 30,000 who lost their lives to gun related violence and suicides last year weigh on our hearts and our minds or do we just look at them as acceptable casualties of the quest for individual freedom no matter the cost? So while our hearts are broken with pain at the senseless deaths caused by gun violence, we must listen. Where is the Holy Spirit calling us? Are we ready to roll up our sleeves, get to work, and continue to pray and listen to the guidance the Spirit sends us? Where are you being led? On this Pentecost, let us pray that we truly listen to the Spirit, living, working and legislating for the common good. 8

At easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships So that we may live deep withing our hearts

At injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, So that we may tirelessly work for justice, freedom and peace.

To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war, Rejection, starvation or the loss of all that they cherish, So that we may reach out our hands to comfort them And transform their pain into joy.

To believe that we really can make a difference in this world, So that we are able, with God’s grace, To do what others claim cannot be done.

Be with us and remain with us this day and forevermore.

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The Sword of Peace

Kids Corner

Once upon a time there was a precious sword. Now, this sword belonged to a great King, and for as long as anyone could remember, the King spent all his time in his palace, enjoying his shows and parties. One day a great dispute broke out between this King and the King of a neighboring country. It ended with both declaring war.

The sword was greatly excited at the prospect of taking part in its first real battle. It would show everyone how truly brave and special it was, and would become renowned throughout the kingdom. On the way to the front line, the sword imagined itself the winner of many battles. However, when they arrived, the first battle had already taken place, and the sword got to see the results of war. What it saw had nothing in common with what the sword had imagined. No elegant shining knights, triumphant, with their weapons gleaming in the sunlight. Instead, all the sword saw was broken weapons, and hordes of hungry and thirsty men. There was hardly any food left. Everything was covered in dirt and shrouded in a disgusting smell. Many were half dead and scattered on the ground, bleeding from multiple wounds... That’s when the sword realized it liked neither wars nor battles. It decided it preferred to live in peace and spend its time taking part in tournaments and competitions. So, on the night before what was going to be the big final battle, the sword tried to find a way to prevent it from taking place. After a while, the sword started to vibrate. First it gave out a low buzz, but this gradually got louder, until it became an annoying metallic noise. The swords and armor of the other soldiers asked the King's sword what it was doing. It told them "I don't want there to be a battle tomorrow. I don't like war".

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Kids Corner,

continued

One answered, "No one likes it, but what can we do?" "Make yourself vibrate, just like I'm doing", said the King's sword. "If we make enough noise no one will sleep." So the weapons started vibrating, and the noise became deafening. It was so loud that it reached the enemy camp, and the weapons there, who were equally sick of the war, joined the protest. The next morning, when the battle should have begun, not a single soldier was ready to fight. No one had managed to get even a wink of sleep, not even the Kings or the Generals. So they spent the whole day catching up on sleep. During the evening they started to wake up, and decided to put off the battle for the next day. However, the weapons, led by the King's sword, spent the night repeating their peace song, and again no soldier could rest. The battle had to be postponed yet again, and this carried on for the next seven days.

On the evening of the seventh day, the Kings of the two armies met to see what they could do about the situation. Both were furious from their previous dispute, but after being together for a while they started to discuss their sleepless nights, the surprise on their soldier's faces, the confusion of day with night, and the amusing situations all this had created. It wasn't long before both were laughing, like friends, at these little stories. Fortunately, they forgot their old disputes and they put an end to the war, each returning to their own land with the double joy of not having had to fight, and having regained a friend. And from then on, from time to time the Kings would meet up to talk about their experiences as Kings.

They now understood that the things which united them were much more numerous than anything that set them apart from each other. Story br Pedro Pablo Sacristán Reprinted by permission 11

THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE

The Rt. Rev. W. Michie Klusmeyer, Bishop Diocesan The Rt. Rev. Matthew D. Cowden, Bishop Coadjuter The Rev. Canon Chad Slater, Canon to the Ordinary Phone: 304.344.3597 On the web: wvdiocese.org/ Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/EpisDioWV

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

ST. PETER’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The Rev. Raymond J. Hage Priest (Ret.) Vivian Kost, Parish Life Dir. Email: office@stjohnshuntingtonwv.org Office Phone: 304.525.9501 Cell: 304.633.1797 On the web: stjohnshuntingtonwv.org/ Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/stjohnshuntington

The Rev. Deborah Rankin Priest-in-Charge Cell: 330.671.6469 Email: Deb.rankin2013@gmail.com Lea Perkins Admin Phone: 304.546.1499 On the web: stpeterswv.com/ Follow us on Facebook: Facebook.com/St-Peters-EpiscopalChurch-578162662263293

The Rev. James Morgan Interim Priest Kristi Meadows, Admin. Email: admin@wvtrinitychurch.org Office Phone: 304.529.6084 On the web: wvtrinitychurch.org/ Follow us on Facebook: facebook.com/Trinity-EpiscopalChurch-Huntington-WV418519781555069