May 3, 2009

Dear friends in life and in ministry . . .

After eleven weeks, the Magic FM Weight Loss Challenge will come to an end next Friday evening with a final weigh in at the Corning Country Club. I've been on a three person team sponsored by the Corning YMCA. My teammates (Catrina Valania, Tim Gibson) and I have been truly blessed by this experience which included a Y membership and twelve weeks of personal training with our coach Sandie Buto. We've had daily exercise, twice weekly personal training session and group training sessions at least once a week. We've also had diet counseling and for many weeks kept a daily journal to help us become more attuned to the foods that can help us stay healthy

Because the Weight Loss Challenge was sponsored by a local radio station, part of the process has included being interviewed by the station's DJs and having our progress announced on the radio. The very public nature of the
Challenge has brought us great support from many people. People have been very aware of our efforts and have been encouraging in many ways. At my weekly Rotary Club meeting for instance, Denise Crossett, a parishioner who runs the Bath County Club's Restaurant has been preparing special lunches for me. And, Mary Faucett, the parishioner who prepares the food for parish events and our bereavement luncheons, always makes a special salad for me.

One special help to our team (and I believe the other teams at ProCare Health Club in Athens, PA and HealthWorks in Painted Post) has been Magic FM DJ Al Chan who actually exercises with us and leads our group sessions when Sandie has other duties. Al is enthusiastic about our progress . He and Sandie work hard to make our exercise routines fun.

Speaking of fun, on Monday Wednesday and Friday mornings I've enjoyed the enthusiasm and energy of Jill Agosta who leads the Y's morning Cardio-kickboxing sessions. Yep. I've been doing kick-boxing with a bunch of 30ish women and one 30ish man for eleven weeks now and can almost keep up. I think that I amuse them.

Anyway, the results of all this activity have been very impressive. As of last Wednesday my personal weight loss is 38 pounds and my team has lost over 90 pounds to date. This loss has taken two waist sizes off my middle and I'm into XL shirts for the first time in at least ten years.

Can I keep it going? I think I can. I've really enjoyed the comradery of the folks I've met at the Y and have found exercise, even kick boxing a lot of fun. I also like the way I look and feel and the extra energy I have now that I'm not carrying a 38 pound sack around my waist.

Now that the Group Challenge is ending, I have a ways to go (at least 12 more pounds) on my personal challenge to lose 50 pounds before my retirement on June 30. You can help by inviting me to exercise with you or, if your new to it, asking to join me at the Y. I've already received an invite to join the parishes softball team which competes against other Bath
area church teams. Sounds like a fun thing to do and hope my schedule allows it.

First Communion
Four children made their First Communion this morning at St. Mary's, Bath. Congratulations to Marshall Dixon, Jourdan Machuga, Hannah Makitra, Alec Sestak and their families on this very special day.

May God's great love embrace you and all you love during the Easter season.
Deacon Ray

Some Good Advice from Ann Landers
As we continue to rejoice in the Easter Season consider the following wisdom which I unashamedly pass on from Ann Landers. It reflects what we believe as followers of the Risen One.

· Keep skid chains on your tongue; always say less than you think. Cultivate a low, persuasive voice. How you say it counts more than what you say.

· Make promises sparingly, and keep them faithfully, no matter what it costs.

· Never let an opportunity pass to say a kind and encouraging word to or about somebody. Praise good work, regardless of who did it. If criticism is needed, criticize helpfully, never spitefully.

· Be interested in others, their pursuits, their work, their homes and families. Make merry with those who rejoice; with those who weep, mourn. Let everyone you meet, however humble, feel that you regard him or her as a person of importance.

· Be cheerful. Don't burden or depress those around you by dwelling on your minor aches and pains and small disappointments. Remember, everyone is carrying some kind of a load.

· Keep an open mind. Discuss but don't argue. It is a mark of high character to be able to disagree without being disagreeable.

· Let your virtues speak for themselves. Refuse to talk of another's vices. Discourage gossip; it is a waste of valuable time and can be extremely destructive.

· Be careful of another's feelings. Wit and humor at the other person's expense are rarely worth it and may hurt when least expected. Pay no attention to ill-natured remarks about you. Remember, the person who carried the message may not be the most accurate reporter in the world. Live in such a that nobody will believe anything bad about you. Disordered nerves and bad digestion are a common cause of backbiting

· Don't be too anxious about the credit due you. Do your best, and be patient. Forget about yourself, and let others "remember." Success is much sweeter that way.

Wow. Talk about an examination of conscience. I confess to being guilty of several of the offenses listed above. Apologies to any of you who have had to bear with me when I didn’t measure up.

First Eucharist
Congratulations to Marshall Dixon, Jourdan Machuga, Hannah Makitra and Alec Sestak who are joining us this morning for the first time at the Lord’s table. Congratulations also to your families who have helped to prepare you for this most special day. We’ll be taking some photos of you this morning. Watch for them in next week’s bulletin.

Transition Team Meets
The second meeting of the Transition Team that will assist St. Mary’s and St. Gabriel’s begin the process that will lead to the clustering of the parishes under a single pastoral leader in July 2010 took place on Thursday, April 30. Representing St. Mary’s are Patty Baroody, Ginny Gallagher, Al Hanning, Bill MacNamara, Mary McConnell, Barb Perry, Stan Skolny and Deacon Ray Defendorf. Also attending was Deacon David LaFortune who in July will succeed Deacon Ray as pastoral administrator of St. Mary’s.

Have a good week. Serve one another well!

Deacon Ray

Lands of the Bible Cruise

On November 11, 2009, you are invited to join Deacon Ray and Pat Defendorf and pastoral leaders from throughout the Diocese on a twelve-day Cruise to the “Lands of the Bible”.

Our itinerary includes an over-night flight to Athens where we will visit the Acropolis and the biblical city of Corinth before boarding the mv Cristal, a new 471 passenger cruise ship. We’ll dock at Port Said for a visit to Cairo (the Egyptian Museum and the Pyramids at Giza) then on to the port of Ashod in Israel. For two days we’ll visit sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem returning to the ship each evening for dinner and overnight.

Our next port is Haifa where we’ll disembark to tour the Galilee with stops at the Mount of the Beatitudes, Tabgha (the site of the miracle of the loaves and fish), a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and renew our baptismal vows at the Jordan River.

After a day at sea we’ll visit the Isle of Patmos where John wrote Revelations and then to Ephesus, Turkey where St. Paul established a Christian community on his first missionary journey. After a visit to Piraeus we’ll return to Athens for our return trip home.

The price of this journey of a lifetime(including roundtrip airfare, chartered cruise ship, guided shore excursions, daily breakfast, lunch and dinner while aboard ship, study guide, entrance fees and deluxe motorcoaches), starts at $2398 plus taxes, tips and fees.

Follow this link to download our itinerary:
http://www.deaconray.com/travel.htm

This cruise is expected to sell out so early reservations are very important. For more information and a brochure, please contact me by email or phone (607-426-1100).

Serve one another well!

(Click Here For Sent To Serve Archives)

Bulletin: May 10, 2009