Part I: "Ask Bishop Todd"

Interview Series with Bishop Todd Hunter
(Led by Fr. Kevin Miller)

Part 1 of 5:

Q: You frequently talk about being a “non-anxious presence” in the world. What are your recommendations for people in this time of heightened anxiety?

Bishop Todd Hunter:
The unknown is a heavy weight that is a constant part of human life. One study from last week showed that:

·      100% of surveyed Americans agree they’ll snap if stay-at-home orders last longer than six months. 

·      1 in 4 adults have already reached their wits’ end.

·      Top breaking point issues are loneliness, frequent arguments with loved ones, constant anxiety.

Regarding anxiety, the first consideration for many Christians is this: Try not to compound anxiety with guilt or shame or hiding/isolating. Most experiences of anxiety are not sinful. They are simply human reactions to life that we bring to our wise, gracious, loving Father as we seek to cultivate an inner self in which anxiety doesn’t rule us. What we do want to shoot for is not being controlled by anxiety. This is possible because as human beings we are not merely our emotions. Our thoughts, wills and soul can be brought to bear in helping us deal maturely with feelings such as anxiety. I am aware that there are cases in which anxiety has underlying causes that require medication and therapy, but that cannot be tackled in this space.

The better path to peace is simple to ask, with a faith-filled, child-like attitude: “God, why am I feeling this way?” Then gently begin to pull things back until you get to the underlying cause. When you do, you will find God waiting there with a smile, and with deliverance little-by-little, day-by-day.

It is astounding to me that some of the best biblical advice on dealing with anxiety comes from Peter. Peter who:

·      Was filled with so much anxiety he denied knowing the Lord;

·      Whose anxiety overflowed in odd ways on the Mount of Transfiguration

·      Who in the midst of a storm, joined the other disciples in anxiously accusing Jesus: “Lord, don’t you care that we are about to drown?” 

 “Don’t you care…” Think about those words again. Consider that they came from very same person who wrote: Cast all your anxiety on Jesus because he cares for you… (1 Peter 5.7) Apparently, the three occasions listed above, along with being forgiven and redeployed in the famous beach scene in John 21, taught Peter something about what one does in the grip of serious anxiety: cast it upon Jesus. 

Peter’s thought seems to be: take any affliction, difficulty, hardship, misfortune, trouble, or complicated circumstance and toss it out of your hands and on to Jesus. Let it go!

Why? Because Jesus has the characteristic strength and wisdom to be completely competent love for us. “He cares” means that he takes an interest in us. Jesus is attentive. He has regard for us. Peter seems to think that anxiety is banished in favor of a revelation into the reality of being cared for--and an invitation to a new kind of life in which worry is unnecessary…the knowing that it does not add anything good to life (Matthew 6).

Lastly, the notion that “he cares for you” is crucial. Jesus’ care is not an abstract notion. It is a deeply personal experience of knowing a specific, personal kind of care.  This is why Peter, apparently an expert on anxiety, does not tell us to stuff anxious feelings, and just get on with life. He knows such an approach to anxiety will pop out in behaviors that make life even harder. Instead, Peter is inviting us to notice what we are going through, and to peacefully and faithfully name the anxiety associated with it in the midst of Jesus, who cares for us.

One last thing—and I can’t say much about it, but: commonly, we cannot get at anxiety directly. We also must train other aspects of our being through the wise, grace-based use of appropriately chosen spiritual disciplines and with the help of a spiritual director or a mature spiritual friend. 

If you find yourself struggling in these days of uncertainty, perhaps we could begin with contemplating a simple thought: God is here with us. He is not surprised by what is happening in the world. He created and sustains the whole cosmos. This means he has shoulders and a heart big enough that you can cast your cares/anxieties upon him. He is utterly capable love. He is able and ready to help…thus the invitation to let our worries and fears go. 

Now, before you set this article down, simply rest a moment in God’s presence. Let his grace settle and strengthen you - let Him give you what you need today to non-anxiously be and do in the manner of Jesus.

Photo Credit: c4so.org

Join Savior in our Mission to Support Others

I am continually struck by the powerful experience that I receive when I help others. Yes - it takes discipline. Yes - it takes energy to prioritize others above yourself. Yes - it takes financial sacrifice to give outwardly. But the reward is greater than you can imagine.

“Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.” 2 Corinthians 9:6-8

Dear friends of the Savior, we have the opportunity to support those around us that are experiencing need. I encourage you to visit the Giving page of our website, and prayerfully consider giving in this challenging season of the Coronavirus.

Welcome Whitney Burns, Director of Communications

In mid-March, Savior welcomed Whitney Burns as the new Director of Communications. Get to know her a little better in the interview below!

Whitney, RW, Flora and Birdie

What is your role at Church of the Savior?

I am the Communications Director! My main focus each week is to produce the weekly Order of Service, newsletter, and update our website. It is my goal for friends of the Savior to feel well equipped through these various channels of communication, so we all can engage and live in the church’s beautiful community.

Where are you from, and where do you live now?

I’m a Wheaton native, living here since birth; I live with my husband (RW) and our three delightful daughters (Flora, Birdie, and Dorothy (“Dot”)).

What do you do when you’re not working for Savior?

I am a mom, birth doula and lover of nature. I absolutely love working in my garden, growing flowers from seed and fighting against weeds that never stop sprouting.

What is a piece of interesting trivia about you?

I have a blackbelt in Tae Kwon Do!

The Artistic Journey of Creating Holy Week Banners & Altar Cloth - by JoAnn McNeely

Several months ago, I was asked to make some new banners that could be used during Holy Week. I normally start the process of making banners with some brainstorming. I look at the colors used during that liturgical season and then research any symbols that might be associated with it. Then I begin to sketch ideas. 

This time the process was a bit different. I started by considering the color. Though at Savior we begin Holy Week in purple, we soon switch to red, as red is the appropriate color to use

This next step is where everything changed! Before I even began to think about images or to brainstorm, a fully formed design came to mind. I was given a design complete with color that symbolically depicted Jesus’ crucifixion on Calvary. The image was of three crosses. The middle panel of the banners had a larger cross representing Jesus on the cross and the two side panels had crosses representing where the two thieves hung. The side panel crosses were smaller in scale, only showing the outside crossbars. I was amazed and grateful to receive this image that was simple but so suited to Passion week.

This image is a simplified depiction of the Holy Week banners, showing the three panels with crosses.

The Baptismal Font cloth follows the focus on the crucifixion. The image on the cloth is called a “staurogram”. It is an ancient symbol used by early Christians when writing about the crucifixion or cross of Christ. The staurogram, a combination of the Greek letters tau and rho, looks like a human figure hanging on a cross.  The symbol was used in many of the oldest manuscripts of the New Testament where the noun “cross” or the verb “crucify” ought to appear.

The image on the cloth is created out of beads to symbolize the light of Christ – “a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel” Luke 2:32

Much more can be said about the “staurogram” symbol. For those that would like to dive deeper, here are two reference articles to explore - The First Image of Christ on the Cross and The Staurogram.

This photograph is a real image of the Baptismal Cloth. Look at the beautiful handcrafted beading that displays the Staurogram cross image!

Meet Savior's Newest Vestry Members

At Savior’s annual meeting last week, the congregation voted to elect Ellen Hsu, Erika Olsen, and Nadine Rorem to the Vestry. Get to know these new Vestry members — and learn a little bit more about the Vestry! — below:

Ellen Hsu: Ellen serves on the Prayer and Communion Ministry Team and as a Scripture reader; her gifts include administration and leadership. She is senior rights and contracts manager at IVP. She has attended Church of the Savior since 2005 with her husband (Al) and sons ( Josiah and Elijah).

Erika Olsen: Erika serves on the Welcome Team and with VBS. She has gifts in mercy, hospitality, shepherding and leadership, which give her a heart to see the church care for people and the community well; she has a particular passion for building relationships in cross-cultural contexts. Erika is a stay-at-home mom and works part-time for Peoples Resource Center as the Food Pantry Coordinator for a school based food pantry. Erika lives in West Chicago with her husband Andy with their three children.

Nadine Rorem: Nadine currently serves at Savior as a Prayer and Communion minister, and she has gifts of hospitality, prayer and discernment; she is also a spiritual director. Nadine works at Wheaton College as a professor in the Biology Department enjoying the beauty and wonder of God’s amazing creation. She has a passion for cultivating spiritual growth in those with whom she interacts.

In addition to these new members, we thank Al Hsu, Janis Hultgren, Steve McNeely, and Deb Nickerson — the Vestry members rotating off this year — for their service to Savior.

---

Ever wonder about what the vestry is? The following questions and answers should give you a better sense of how the Vestry serves the congregation here at Savior.

What exactly is the Vestry and what does it do?

The vestry is the governing board of our church. It has two main functions: first, it oversees the finances and property of the church; the Vestry are the legal representatives of Church of the Savior. Second, it provides big-picture discernment and direction. As a group, we try to discern what God is doing in our midst and walk in step with that (Exodus 13:21).

Why does it have such a funny name?

In English churches, hundreds of years ago, the best place for a church’s leaders to meet was in the “vestry,” the room where clergy put on their vestments before services. The group took on the name of the place, much as we say, “The White House,” (a place) to mean the leaders who work there.

Who is on our Vestry and who leads it?

From 5 to 15 members, elected by the church, who serve 3-year terms. The Vestry also includes the Rector (Kevin), Associate Rector (non-voting, Karen), and Senior Deacon (Sandy Oyler). The Rector and Wardens lead the vestry. The Rector leads the meetings; the Senior Warden reviews and helps shape the agenda; and the Junior Warden oversees bylaws revisions.