July, 2004 Calendar In This Issue: Men's Retreat Reflections Surviving Spouses Need Support and Friendship, Not Advice Let's Put a Little Magic Back Into Our Lives The Historic First St. A's Rummage Sale St. A's Goes to the Beach on the 4th of July! Columbarium Construction Begins St. A's Goes to the Mountains October 1-3, 2004 The Energy of Money … and People! "I Believe in the Communion of Saints…"

by The Rev. Hartshorn Murphy

The establishment of a Columbarium in the Sanctuary symbolizes for us the "Communion of the Saints," the theological proposition that all the saints of God - living and dead - are connected through worship. That our worship has echoes in heaven and the perfect praise of the heavenly hosts is reflected in our imperfect praise on earth.

George MacLeod, founder of the modern Iona Community, died in 1991 at the age of 96. His final prayer, written to be read at his funeral, was entitled "A Veil Thin as Gossamer." It reads: "Be thou, triune God, in the midst of us as we give thanks for those who have gone from the sight of earthly eyes. They, in thy nearer presence, still worship with us in the mystery of the one family in heaven and on earth … If it be thy holy will, tell them how much we love them, and how we miss them, and how we long for the day when we shall meet with them again … strengthen us to go on in loving service of all thy children. Thus shall we have communion with thee, and, in thee, with our beloved ones. Thus shall we come to know within ourselves that there is no death and that only a veil divides, thin as Gossamer."

Copyright © 2004 St. Augustine by-the-Sea