November 2013
St. Mark’s News Volume 16/Issue10
From the Rector The Gospel reading for October 13 was the account of Jesus healing ten lepers – only one of whom returned to give praise to God and to thank Jesus for healing him. That evening we were having dinner with friends from All Saints, during which the question was asked if gratitude and thankfulness are synonymous. Initially, our answer was “yes” but then it was suggested that gratitude has an object (God/the one who gives), whereas thankfulness has a subject (that for which we are thankful). In the weeks since I have found myself thinking about both gratitude and thankfulness. A dictionary definition of gratitude is “a feeling of thankfulness or appreciation, as for gifts or favors.” A dictionary definition of thankfulness is “Aware and appreciative of a benefit; expressive of gratitude.” So, according to these two definitions, gratitude is the feeling of appreciation, and thankfulness is its expression. November is a good month for considering those things for which we are grateful, and for expressing our gratitude by being thankful. November is also a good month for considering the source of those people and things for which we are grateful and for taking the time to offer thanks and praise. The month of November begins with our ingathering of pledge/commitment cards for the Mission and In this Issue Ministry of St. Mark’s, and concludes with our national holiday, Thanksgiving. From the Rector ................. 1 While it is true that the Mission and Ministry of St. Mark’s is the recipient of our Vestry Highlights ................ 2 pledges, they are meant to be an expression of both gratitude and thankfulness; Outreach ............................ 4 an expression of thankfulness for those benefits bestowed on us by God. Our Parish Life .......................... 4 pledges are both gifts and obligations: the obligation of giving back to God 10% Music Notes ....................... 6 of what God has given us. And then there is that Thanksgiving feast at the end of Christian Formation ............ 7 the month – a feast that calls to mind pilgrims, Native Americans, and harvest. Parishioner Highlights ........ 9 Caffeine Ministry .............. 10
It may be the case that there is only a small distinction between gratitude and Celebrations ..................... 11 thankfulness, but upon reflection I would argue that we can have an “attitude of ROTA ............................... 12 gratitude” even if we may not be thankful for all of our current circumstances. Gratitude requires attention and cultivation. Melanie Greenberg, a clinical psychologist says, “Experiencing and expressing gratitude is an important part of any spiritual practice. It opens the heart and activates positive emotion centers in the brain. Regular practice of gratitude can change the way our brain neurons fire into more positive automatic patterns. The positive emotions we evoke can soothe distress and broaden our thinking patterns so we develop a larger and more expansive view of our lives. To begin bringing gratitude into your life, you can deliberately meditate on all the things in your own life that help you or give you pleasure. You can write a gratitude diary, posting pictures and writing about the things you feel grateful for each day.” Gratitude has both psychological and spiritual benefits. Here are a few quotes about gratitude:
“Gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not in the mind.” (Lionel Hampton)