Published monthly (except July and August) by St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church

Washington and 11th Streets, Lockport, IL 60441 (815)834-1168 www.stjohns-lockport-il.org

Rector............. The Rev. Denzil Luckritz

Deacon.......... The Rev. Roberta Molony

Deacon............. The Rev. John Whennen

Director of Music............. Thomas Secor

Secretary.................... Melanie Anderson

Sexton............................ John Glasscock

 

Vestry

Sr. Warden.......................... John Larson

Jr. Warden......................... Tim Williams

Treasurer.......................... Jim McMillan

 

Vestry Members

Terry Arient, Sr.................... Clark Davis

Sue Drake....................... Mark Kowalski

Antonine Megger.................. Ken Porter

Mark Secor......................... Todd Sheetz

Pat Steiner............... Susan Meehan-clerk

 

Parish Ministry Contacts

 

Acolyte Warden........... Terry Arient, Sr.

Sacristan......................... Mark Kowalski

DOK............................... Wendy Stewart

Education............................ Susan Drake

............or........................... Lisa Luckritz

Episcopal Ch Women...... Susan Meehan

Lector Warden................. Chris Peterson

Helping Hands.................. Pamela Carter

Hospitality Guild............ Lillian Hensley

Membership........................... Patty Paris

Men’s Club.......................... Main Office

Newsletter........................... Main Office

Outreach................................ Patty Paris

New Building Project......... Todd Sheetz

Senior Choir..................... Thomas Secor

Dear Friends,

 

Webster’s Dictionary defines fatigue as “weariness from bodily labor or mental exertion” and its causes “labor or toil.” The end result is exhaustion of strength. The dictionary goes on to say, “It is typically the result of working, mental stress, jet lag or active recreation, but also from boredom or disease, or simply lack of sleep. It may also have chemical causes, such as poisoning or mineral or vitamin deficiencies.”

 

Most  languages have a word for fatigue. I personally like the Arabic, “frazzled.” Saying frazzled combines the Webster definition with several other languages that include emotional ideas of being frayed, stressed, and exhausted. Further, it can apply not just to the human condition, but also to the material world. Metal fatigues. Under unreasonable conditions bridges have been known to fail and collapse as in the Minneapolis I-90 disaster.

 

Thomas Carlylye (1795-1881), a Scottish writer, a contemporary of Charles Dickens, wrote, “One is hardly sensible of fatigue while he marches to music.” Unfortunately the very music itself can become tedious and cause fatigue.

 

The use of the concept in scripture can be found in both Hebrew; -!&; (exhaustion, weariness), 3*5&; (languishment, languor, lassitude, tiredness, weariness), 3*4 (exhausted, jaded, tired, washed out, weary), 35&* (weariness), %;*#3&; (becoming tired, weariness), %;3*5&; (becoming tired, weariness) and Greek; κόπpωσsη (tiredness, weariness), κούραaσsη (lassitude, tiredness, weariness, wearisomeness). The most familiar use of the term can be found in the comfortable words of our Savior Christ, (Rite I, the Book of Common Prayer, page 332) - “Come unto me, all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will refresh you.” Matthew 11:28. Our eight o’clock congregation hear these words each week.

 

It is here in this verse that the antonym “refresh” appears. Fatigue does not have to be a constant condition of life. There is hope. One can be refreshed and renewed. Our society is overwhelmed by fatigue. Fatigue is caused not only by lots of hard work, but lots of hard play, as well as boredom from over-exposure to many activities. It has been said more than once that “after watching TV with her husband she had a bad case of football fatigue." The American public experiences “scandal fatigue" and "political fatigue" to name just two. No doubt you can add to the list. Perhaps you even know personally what it means to be fatigued. Imagine for a moment what it must be like for the pour souls who have been diagnosed with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome!

 

Going to church should not be a cause, but rather a cure for fatigue. In the comfortable words, Jesus is telling us that in him we can find hope to overcome the stress and difficulties we face. In the message of God’s love and in the living out of the message within the Body of Christ, the Church, a new and refreshed tomorrow awaits us. We need only seek it and it will be found.

 

As the summer months with vacation and a “supposedly” less hectic schedule come upon us, don’t forget the fourth commandment to “keep holy the Sabbath day.” It isn’t where we hang the Ten Commandments, but rather how we live them. The church is open all summer. Come, find refreshment, and a little less fatigue.

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