The Church of St Jude - Wantagh, New York

   …a time to shine a spotlight on a seriousdisease that leads to potentially life-threatening complications such as heartdisease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and amputation.  Consider that: 24 million children and adultsin the US live with diabetes, 57 million more are at risk for type 2 diabetes,1 out of 3 children born today will face a future with diabetes if currenttrends continue. Diabetes is not merely a condition, but an epidemic disease.Drastic action is needed, and the ADA is taking a bolder approach in theirmovement to Stop Diabetes.  Visit www.diabetes.org or call1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383) for more information. Here’s what you can do:

·   Share. Inspire others tojoin the movement by sharing your personal story. Beginning November 2, visit stopdiabetes.com and join ADA on Facebookand Twitter to learn about all the exciting ways to be a part of the Stop Diabetesmovement. Invite your family, friends, and co-workers to join this effort aswell.

·   Act. Whether you wantto walk, bike or simply tell a friend, there will be many ways to help buildmomentum for the Stop Diabetes movement.

·   Learn. The ADA has manyresources to help Stop Diabetes. If you, or a loved one, already havediabetes or are at risk for developing it, they can provide medical, lifestyleand motivational information to prevent this disease from taking control ofyour life and the lives of those around you.

   You also can jointhe movement now by texting JOIN to69866. The ADA will text you with simple actions you can take that will make areal difference. Tounsubscribe, text STOP. Note charges may apply.

   Events around the Wantagh area include:

·   Visit any Rite AidPharmacy to receive a free 2009 Diabetes Guide, available in English andbi-lingual versions. Also, purchase a Stop Diabetes Pin-Up for $1 and support the ADA. Pin-Upincludes $8 worth of coupon savings at Rite Aid.

·   Walgreens, 4120Hempstead Tpke, Bethpage (520-8809) will be hosting a Diabetes testing event onTue. 11/10/09 1-7:00PM.  Get free bloodglucose and A1C testing plus pharmacist consultation – and Walgreens willdonate $1 to the ADA for every test performed.

   Please join me in spreading the word. I’veseen diabetic complications first-hand, from family members to hospital andnursing home patients. Let’s all Stop Diabetes!

   MeredithCummings, RD

   The H1N1 flu virus (aka “swine flu”-althoughnot spread by consuming pork) is spreading worldwide. It is very different fromthe seasonal flu and many people will not have protective immunity against it,nor will the seasonal flu vaccine protect against it.

   Both H1N1 flu and seasonal flu spread mostlyfrom person to person through the coughs and sneezes of those infected. Peoplealso may get sick by touching something with flu viruses on it, and thentouching their mouth or nose. H1N1 flu illness ranges from mild to severe. Mosthealthy people who have been sick with it have recovered without needingmedical treatment, however, hospitalizations and deaths from it have occurred(typically those with previous medical conditions-but not always).  Most cases of H1N1 have occurred in peopleyounger than 25 years of age. At this time, there are relatively few cases ofH1N1 in people 65 or older, which is unusual when compared with seasonal flu.

   The CDC recommends a three-step approach tofighting the flu: vaccination, everyday preventive actions including frequenthand washing and staying home when sick, and the correct use of antiviral drugsif your doctor recommends them.  Avaccine against H1N1 flu is being produced. To protect those at greatest riskof H1N1, CDC recommends that certain people get the H1N1 flu vaccine first whenit becomes available: pregnant women, people who live with or provide care forchildren younger than 6 months of age, health care and emergency medicalservice personnel, people 6 months to 24 years of age, and people 25 to 64years of age who are at higher risk for H1N1 flu complications because of anunderlying health condition or compromised immune systems.

   Everyday actions can help prevent the spreadof germs that cause respiratory illnesses like influenza: cover your nose andmouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue in the trashafter you use it; wash your hands often with soap and water, especially afteryou cough or sneeze; alcohol-based hand cleaners are also effective; avoidtouching your eyes, nose or mouth- germs spread this way; try to avoid closecontact with sick people.

   If you become ill with flu-like symptoms(high fever, headache, fatigue, dry cough, muscle aches, runny/stuffy nose,sore throat, vomiting, sometimes diarrhea) you should stay home for at least 24hours after your fever is gone and avoid contact with other people except toseek medical care. As with seasonal flu, most people will be able to recover athome from H1N1 without needing medical care. However, some people are at highrisk of serious flu-related complications, including those above recommended toget the vaccine and those with chronic diseases such as cancer, blooddisorders, asthma or COPD, diabetes, heart disease, and kidney/liver/neurological disorders.

   There are “emergency warning signs” thatshould signal anyone to seek medical care urgently- for children: fastbreathing or trouble breathing, bluish skin color, not drinking enough fluids,not waking up or not interacting, being so irritable that the child does notwant to be held, flu-like symptoms improve but then return with fever and worsecough, fever with a rash; for adults: difficulty breathing or shortness ofbreath, pain or pressure in the chest or abdomen, sudden dizziness, confusion,severe or persistent vomiting.

   Please staywell this flu season! Meredith Cummings, RD

“Last one to leave, please turn out the light” - Anonymous

     The phrase, “buildings and grounds” is traditional shorthand for the church’s property which needs to be landscaped and kept in good enough condition to enable its appropriate use as well as the main church building, its rectory and other structures that the parish uses for its worship and related activities. No surprises there. A portion of the annual operating budget covers such common items as maintenance, repairs, landscaping, snow removal, insurance, heating and air conditioning, sexton’s salary and benefits, and so on.    

     The Vestry of St. Jude’s maintains several standing committees, one of which is the Buildings & Grounds Committee whose official members are John Stone and Christopher Wright. Now the temptation is to think that these two gentlemen are the ones responsible for all the items and areas listed in the first paragraph. Since we are all well aware of the many fine skills and abilities of these two, we can all stop worrying and just leave matters in their capable hands, right?

     Wrong.

     Adds Chris Wright: “B&G volunteers are able to . . .  "give back", principally with stewardship of Time and Talent, saving the parish much Treasure.” A perfect example of Chris’ words may be found in the example of Peter Corabi. He recently did the installation of the new dishwasher in the parish kitchen, saving St. Jude’s $135 which we would have paid otherwise. Another instance is when we have parishioner volunteers gather on a Saturday morning to trim the hedges, Those two hours generally save us about $200.  Volunteers painting a long hall or some rooms in the Sunday School wing? That’s several hundred more dollars an outside contractor doesn’t earn. As this money adds up, for instance, we soon have the extra funding we need for the rest of the year to provide for our ever-growing Sunday School program.

     Other benefits ensure as Chris also notes: “B&G volunteers are able to meet and interact with other parishioners on a different level, which helps to build the parish community. . . .  In the midst of exercising good stewardship, they may get some exercise, work off some calories, make new friends, and even learn some new skills which they are able to use at home or at the home of their in-laws.”  (Work off some calories? Sounds like a natural for anyone participating in the ongoing “Slim Down for Mission” program.) 

     When it comes to the physical plant at St. Jude’s, we’re all accountable as stewards. Just think – if the phrase, “many hands make less work” had not already existed, one of us would surely have come up with by now.  I wonder what else, by thinking and working and praying together might be our next inspiration?

     Every three years, all bishops of the Episcopal Church (the House of Bishops), and eight deputies (the House of Deputies), consisting of four lay persons and four priests and/or deacons from each of the Episcopal Church’s dioceses, attend one of the largest legislative conventions in the United States. From July 8 – 17, these individuals will be meeting in Anaheim, California, for the 76^th General Convention of the Episcopal Church.

     The diocesan deputies are themselves elected representatives from local parishes. Deputies are not delegates; that is, they are not elected to represent the electing dioceses. At the 2007 Diocesan Convention, the delegates elected its lay and clergy deputies to this year’s Convention. Of the eight deputies elected to represent Long Island two are from St. Jude’s including June Gerbracht (a longtime General Convention Deputy) and Fr. Christopher. Additionally, Warden Jan Commentz, also from St. Jude, was elected as the first alternate and, due to that role, will also be attending the General Convention.

     Deputies vote their conscience for the good of the church. They cannot be instructed to vote one way or another, for to do so would preclude godly debate and preempt the work of the Holy Spirit. Deputies are expected to serve on committees, if appointed, to attend forums and hearings, to read the reports to the church from its commissions, committees, agencies and boards, to listen to, and if so moved, to respond to resolutions on the floor of the house.

      The House of Bishops and House of Deputies meet, deliberate and vote separately. To be enacted resolutions must pass both houses in the same language. Both houses have the right to amend legislation, but the amendment must be accepted by the other house. Resolutions presented to convention come from four sources: committees, commissions, agencies and boards of the church; bishops; dioceses and provinces; and deputies.

     The House of Bishops is chaired by the Primate of the Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, and, in her absence, by the Vice Chair, Bishop Richard S. O. Chang. The House of Deputies is chaired by the President of the House, Bonnie Anderson, and, in her absence, by the Vice President, The Rev. Brian Prior.

     General Convention meets prayerfully. Each day bishops, deputies, registered alternates and delegates to the ECW Triennial gather for Bible study and Holy Eucharist. At this year’s General Convention the themes for these gatherings will reflect the theme of General Convention: Ubuntu – “I in you and you in me.”

     Many church-related organizations hold meetings in conjunction with convention, and there are lunches and dinners hosted by seminaries, provinces, societies, boards and staff offices of the church. One additional huge gathering is the triennial meeting of the Episcopal Church Women.

     Also attending this year’s General Convention from St. Jude’s are Ted Gerbracht, Treasurer of the General Theological Seminary, who will be volunteering with the Seminary, and Kerry Brady, who works in the Controller’s Office at the Episcopal Church Center in Manhattan and will be working at the Convention.

     Please keep all five of St. Jude’s parishioners in your prayers. To follow the proceedings of General Convention, go to the Episcopal Church’s website (www.epsicopalchurch.org) or follow Fr. Christopher’s Blog (www.thechurchofstjude.org/blog) as he will be blogging from the Convention.