Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 33

RELIGION January 28, 1995 Albuquerque Journal Page 9, Section Serving Americans Seek By David Briggs THE ASSOCIATED PRESS NEW YORK Jesus said no one can serve the dual masters of God and money, but he has not convinced a majority of well-off Americans. In a national survey on faith and finances, nearly two-thirds of lowerincome Americans agreed with Jesus' admonition, but less than half of the respondents earning more than $50,000 agreed. Meanwhile, poorer Americans were most likely to count their financial blessings, ask God for guidance on financial affairs and believe their financial situation is a reflection of God's regard for them. The findings show that while church leaders are often stereotyped as being preoccupied with money, in practice many clergy are uncomfortable with the topic and avoid it, said a leading researcher on religious giving. "I think basically, in our society, the church has not provided a constructive agenda, or even a theological context, for money," said Sylvia Ronsvalle of the Champaign, Ill.based research organization Empty Tomb Inc.

"People don't know what a biblical approach to money is." A random sample of 1,000 people were interviewed by telephone in the faith and money survey conducted last fall by Louis Harris Associates for the Minneapolisbased Lutheran Brotherhood, a nonprofit insurance and financial services company. The survey had a margin of error of plus or minus three points. Louise Thoreson, vice president of the Brotherhood's charitable programs, said the survey showed faith influences the way many Americans approach their finances. "In the daily grind of money management, many people both seek God's guidance and thank God for Joyce Elaine Rogers Died Christmas Eve JOURNAL STAFF REPORT A local memorial service will be held next week for Joyce Elaine Rogers, a popular, much-loved teacher in the University of New Mexico Religious Studies Program, who died Christmas Eve at a local hospital several days after suffering an asthma attack. She was 62.

She was buried Dec. 29 after funeral services in her native Fort Worth, Texas. The local service will be at noon Friday in UNM's Alumni Memorial Chapel. "She was very peaceful at the end," said her friend and colleague, Dr. Andrew Burgess, chairman of the UNM Religious Studies Program.

Another friend, UNM English professor Mary Bess Whidden, who knew her since their undere with Rogers her final graduate days, in Texas, also was days. "She lived so much on the spiritual plane, there was very little change; when she moved on, there was not that much of a difference," said Whidden. "And I don't ordinarily think that way." Helen Damico, who teaches medieval studies and is a professor in UNM's English Department which Rogers was to join full-time next fall, called her friend of more than a decade "a pure spirit." "Whoever she met, when she talked to you, she was really with you," Damico said. "Whenever she met somebody, she looked at them as a representative of God." One of her students at UNM, Ray Vargas, a neighbor who'd known Rogers since he was a child, credited her with "keeping me on the right path in school, and I've since met a lot of students who've told me the same Another student, Pauline wrote in a paper in appreciation of Rogers, "I feel that I have met a truly spiritual holy person who is a living saint." At the same time, Rogers' friend Mary Bess Whidden recalled, "She was a lot of fun. There was a mischievous side to Joyce." Rogers, she said, "always seemed to be apologizing for taking up space, but at the same time she was very Whidden added: "If this were Austin or Fort Worth, she'd be Two Gods Spiritual Guidance their financial well being," she said.

The poll found 81 percent of Americans, including 86 percent with incomes of $25,000 and less, have thanked God for their financial well being. Seventy percent of the respondents, including three-quarters of those in the lowest income group, said their own financial situation reflected God's regard for them either a great deal or somewhat. The positive response does not mean lowerincome people think God Guidance in a Consumer-Oriented Society 'YOU CANNOT SERVE GOD AND MONEY' In a 1994 telephone survey 1,000 heads of households were asked whether they agreed with this statement. The results, by income level: Agree I I Not sure $25,000 50,000 "No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

Jesus in the Gospel of Luke 16:13 holds them in low regard, Thoreson said. Source: Rather, she said, "I think they do feel God is taking care of them, and they are grateful." In findings resonant of Scriptural passages, a substantial gulf emerged between richer and poorer Americans in their attitudes toward money. Numerous passages in the Bible warn against placing too much emphasis on possessions. In a famous saying in the Gospel of Mark, at the end of a parable in which a rich man rejects the faith rather than give his money to the poor, Jesus says "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God." In the Gospels of Luke and Matthew, Jesus says pointedly that no one can serve two masters: "You cannot serve God and wealth." In response to a survey question framed in the biblical language, 65 percent of both the lower-income and middle-income respondents agreed with the statement "You cannot serve both God and money." -seven percent of the respondents earning more than $50,000 Louis Harris Associates agreed. More than three-quarters of the lower-income respondents also agreed that the love money is the root of all evil.

Half of the highincome respondents disagreed. Who has prayed for guidance in how to manage their finances? Sixty percent of people with incomes of $25,000 or less, compared to 40 percent of people making more than $50,000, according to the survey. Ronsvalle said the survey results show that despite some 2,000 biblical verses about the relationships between people and possessions, many clergy "have abandoned their members to a secular mindset about a very important topic." But her research indicates there is hope, she said. "One thing we have heard from various individuals is that they wished the church talked more about money, and helped them make sense of it," she said. "There is a real hunger for some type of spiritual guidance in this very consumer-oriented society." Set for UNM "People don't know what a biblical approach to money is." Sylvia Ronsvalle, researcher on religious giving "She (Joyce Elaine Rogers) lived so much on the spiritual plane, there was very little change; when she moved on, there was not that much of a difference.

And I don't ordinarily think that way." Friend Mary Bess Whidden described as a 'good ol' girl." Born Aug. 5, 1933, in Fort Worth, Rogers grew up in a close-knit but not overtly religious family that included Southern Baptists and Roman Rogers: Catholics. Taught EngShe earned lish, religious her bachelor's studies degree (magna cum laude) in English in 1953 from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, went on for graduate studies in American literature at Columbia University, returning for a master's degree in English at TCU in 1957. It was at TCU that her lifelong mentor and I friend, Professor Lorraine Shirley, introduced her to the writings of C.S. Lewis, the celebrated author, scholar and Christian apologist who died in 1963.

Rogers earned her doctorate at UNM in 1969 with a dissertation on the anonymous medieval English poem a thesis she was revising and readying for publication as a book. She did post-doctoral work in 1984 at Oxford University's Centre for Medieval a and Renaissance Studies, and returned to England in 1990 for a year as scholar-in-residence at C.S. Lewis' home, The Kilns. An English instructor at the University of Texas at Arlington and Southern Methodist University during the '50s and '60s, she served in the English Department and University Scholars Program at the now-defunct University of Albuquerque from 1978 to 1983. She was also a lecturer at UNM from 1979 to 1982, an assistant professor at UNM's University College from 1982 to 1989 where she AP Tonia Cowan and the Shakespeare Association of America.

An active Roman Catholic, Rogers volunteered for many years as an organist at San Felipe Church, took part in many interdenominational groups and was a leader in state and national associations of the Third Order (Secular) Carmelites. She is survived by two sons, Creagan Alan Shrake of Los Angeles and Ben Martin Shrake of Fort Worth; four grandchildren; her mother, Mildred Rogers Smith of Fort Worth, and a brother, Martin Frank Rogers of Carlinville, Ill. Memorial contributions may be made to the Joyce Rogers Religious Studies Scholarship, Dr. Andrew Burgess, Religious Studies Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM, 87131-1151. Picture the Seven Dwarfs without a forest.

Only You Can Prevent Forest Fires. For all the scores. The Journal. 821-1800 CALENDAR National Catholic Schools Week song. begins Sunday with Masses and Admission is free, although an planned activities throughout the offering will be taken.

week at numerous parishes Church Women United will' throughout the Archdiocese of San- have a forum on Peace Craft at 9:30 ta Fe. Children studying New Mexi- a.m. Friday at the Church of the co history at Roman Catholic Risen Savior, 7701 Wyoming NE. schools throughout the archdiocese Peace Craft is an organization that will visit the state Capitol in Santa promotes products made by Fe on Wednesday, "National women of Third World countries. Catholic Schools Appreciation elementary children at Day," for a rally, proclamation and Martineztown House of Neighborly students' visits to their senators Service will be accepted at the proand representatives.

gram. The theme for the 1994-95 school La Vida Mission Navajo Indian year is "Catholic Schools: Schools Choir 11 Feb. 4 You Can Believe In." performs at a.m. at Heights Seventh-day Adventist Annual Clergy Day Program Church, 4920 Wyoming NE. sponsored by the Jewish Communi- The choir traditional of Albuquerque will be held performs and contemporary hymns in ty Thursday at Congregation B'nai EngIsrael, 4401 Indian School NE.

Rab- lish and Navajo. A short slide program will be about the mission in bi Isaac Celnik will speak on remote areas in northwestern New "Prayer and Faith." Fellowship Mexico of the Four at 9:30 near the edge begins a.m., presentation Corners Reservation. and discussion begins at 10 a.m., Admission to the performance is followed by a complimentary lunch at noon. To reserve a place, call free. 266-0155.

The Rev. John Walsh, a Robert Solomon from Mission knoll priest and internationally of Mercy will sing at the 10:30 a.m. known speaker, author and and 6 p.m. Sunday services at Cen- teacher, will present a program tral Assembly of God, 124 Texas titled "Changing Peoples ChangNE. ing Structures: Modeling After the 1 Jonathan Settel a Messianic Life of Jesus" from 9 a.m.

to 3:30 Jewish vocal artist from Jerusalem p.m. Feb. 4 at Sangre de Cristo will bring a program of music Catholic Community, 8901 Cande- and message inspired by today's laria NE. A missionary to Japan for fulfillment of Bible prophecies 13 years, author of 10 books, feaconcerning Israel to several local tured speaker on six continents, in coming days. Set- Walsh will speak on the "quantum tel, who has ministered in Israel, leap" taking place in today's congregations Paris, Warsaw, Russia, and how the "real church church Australia, Switzerland and the is inside of people." There will be a Germany, United States, will be at Harvest $3.50 per person charge, with bevChapel, 1103 Texas NE, at 7 erages and snacks provided.

Bring p.m. Adat Yeshua, 1021 a sack lunch. Call in 293-2328 Thursday; at Carlisle NE, at 7:30 p.m. Friday; at advance for free baby-sitting. Calvary Chapel of Albuquerque, The Rev.

Charles Hackett will 4001 Osuna NE, at 10:30 a.m. and 7 speak at the 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Feb. at Bethel Fellowship, Sunday services at Central Assemp.m.

7501 Trumbull SE, at 10 a.m. Feb. bly of God, 124 Texas NE. He is at Glory Hall, 2417 Wyoming NE, executive director of Home Misat 6 p.m. Feb.

5,7 p.m. Feb. 7 (all- sions Department for the AssemSpanish presentation) and at 10 blies of God. a.m. Feb.

8. He will also be at The Kosher Awareness Week Way, the Truth and the Life Min- designed to show how easy it is to istries in Grants at 7 p.m. Feb. 8. "keep kosher" and how many Admission is free, but offerings kosher products are already availwill be taken.

able in supermarkets will be put Annual Southwest Region on from noon to 7 p.m. Sunday Jewish Choral Music Workshop through Thursday by Chabad of will be held from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. New Mexico, an Orthodox Jewish Sunday at Congregation Albert, outreach of the Lubavitcher 3800 Louisiana NE. All musicians, Hasidic movement. There will be Jewish or not, are invited to work- information tables with displays of shops in choral singing, pronuncia- kosher products, booklets explaintion of Hebrew in song, beginning ing kosher laws, recipes, free samand advanced vocal technique, ples and raffles at the following beginning and advanced music the- Jewel Osco supermarkets: on Sunory.

Presenters include Roger Mel- day, Monday and Tuesday at San Mexico Symphony Mateo and Montgomery NE in Orchestra associate conductor and Albuquerque; Wednesday on Cerconductor of the NMSO Chorus; rillos Road in Santa Fe, and Thursmezzo-soprano and vocal technique day at the Alameda West Shopping teacher Kathleen Clawson; Carol Center, serving Albuquerque's Golden, director of the Congrega- West Side, Corrales and Rio Rantion B'nai Israel Choir, and Cantor cho. Don A. Croll of Congregation Albert. Cost is $10 a person, and scholarships are available. Call Leslee Richards at 243-4242 for information.

A sacred music concert with Herman and Sonnie Harp is at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Heights Seventhday Adventist Church, 4920 The deadline for submission of items for the religion calendar is noon on Tuesday for publication the following Saturday. Notices will be published only once. Items should include the name of a contact person and a telephone number. Religion briefs should be subin developed materials for the academics and writing program, and from 1989 was associate professor the Religious Studies Program.

Last fall, she was unanimously accepted into UNM's English Department and would have continued teaching as part of the English faculty in September. Among the courses she taught were C.S. Lewis, Spanish Mysticism, Religion and the Arts, Religion and Literature, Writing and Religion, and Continental Women Theological Writers. She had published books including "Louis Martin, Father of a Saint" and "The Second Best Bed: Shakespeare's Will in a New Light" as well as numerous articles, poems and reviews. She had several other books in preparation.

She had recently completed a 12- year "labor of love" cataloguing some 1,732 books found at San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town, and was working on a videotaped series of New Mexico artists as part of a $3,000 Public Service Company of New Mexico Distinguished Educator Grant. Among her many academic awards and honors were the Burlington Northern Faculty Achievement Award (1989-90) and the Phi Beta Kappa Alumni Membership Award from TCU in 1982. During the 1970s, she worked with DARE, a Christian rehabilitation program in Albuquerque's South Valley, was involved in counseling women in prison, and for five years was writer and producer of "The Glory of Man," a radio show for women on KLYT-FM. She also served on the board of the New Mexico Endowment for the Humanities and the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Rogers also was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the Modern Language Association, the Medieval Academy of America, the Conference on Christianity and Literature, the Renaissance Society of American Wyoming NE.

mitted to Religion Calendar, P.O, The program blends sacred clas- Drawer Albuquerque 87103. Call sical, traditional hymns and gospel Jennifer West, 823-3840. Leaders Vow Iowa Death Sentence Fight sanctioned killing only escalates THE ASSOCIATED PRESS the climate of violence in our sociDES MOINES, Iowa Mainline ety." church leaders are vowing to ener- The Iowa Catholic Conference gize their congregations to head off was not part of the recent news efforts to reinstate Iowa's death conference, but that group also sentence. opposes the death sentence. Tim Despite polls showing an over- McCarthy, a lobbyist for the whelming majority in favor of the Roman Catholic conference, said death sentence, Iowa church lead- bishops would issue a similar stateers said they can persuade legislament.

to resist. Though Iowa has not had the tors At a Statehouse news conference, death sentence since 1965, there churches that belong to Ecumeni- has been political pressure to reincal Ministries of Iowa released a state capital punishment. Gov. life is ry Branstad made his support for statement declaring sacred" and "intentional, state- that step a centerpiece of his suecessful election campaign. WORSHIP, Assembly of God Lutheran You're Welcome to Join Our Family Caring and Sharing; FIRST FAMILY CHURCH Laughing and Loving; 4701 Wyoming NE 299-7202 Living and Giving; Sun 10am 6pm, Wed 7pm Are the Many Blessings BETHESDA FELLOWSHIP of God's Family.

Where Hurts cre Headed and Dreams Live CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH 2418 Miles Rad SE 242-4434 7701 Candelaria Rd NE Sunday (at Pennsylvania) Phone 884-3876 Presbyterian Sunday Worship 8:15 11:00 am. Las Placitas Presbyterian Church Redeemer Lutheran Church: P.O. Box 768 Placitas 87043 867-5718 210 Alvarado SE Worship 10am Church School A Stephen Ministry Congregation Sermon "Famous Last Words" Lyle Stuehrenberg, Pastor Beautiful Weddings in the Mountains Sunday Service: All Faiths Wedding Center Phone: 256-9881 Sunday School: Rev. Jim Anderson 867-5718 Dial-A-Devotion: 266-5718 XL.