The Sunrise...
Starkville, Mississippi
August, 2002 Newsletter
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
It is with great joy that I announce the selection of our new rector for Church of the Resurrection: The Rev. William V. (Bill) Livingston has accepted the vestry's call to become our rector. He is presently rector of Christ Church in Vicksburg, MS. His first Sunday with us will be October 6, 2002. The vestry feels the Search Committee carried out its mission in an outstanding manner.
To fill you in on the process: On Wednesday, July 10th, the Search Committee met and, after some discussion, unanimously voted to recommend Bill to the vestry. The Senior Warden called a special meeting of the vestry on Thursday, July 11th. After hearing a presentation by John Beal, the Chair of the Search Committee, and information provided by vestry representatives on the Search Committee, the vestry had a question and answer period after which we unanimously supported the Search Committee's recommendation and decided to extend an invitation to Bill and his wife, Diane, to come for a visit.
The Livingstons spent Sunday afternoon, July 21, 2002 - July 23, 2002 in Starkville. During their time here, they toured our town, toured Resurrection (and the Scales House), and began searching for potential homes. Bill visited with Elizabeth, Nelda, Leanne, Babs and Ann and sat in on our staff meeting. On Monday night the vestry met in our home. From 6:00 - 7:00 pm we had a formal meeting with Bill and adjourned for a casual supper so all could get to know Diane as well. It was the consensus of the Vestry that I issue a call.
With the support of the Bishop, the call was issued on Monday evening. After further discussions on Tuesday morning, Bill said he would notify me the first of this week with his answer. After a period of discussion, thought and prayer, Bill and Diane discerned that God was calling them to join in the life and ministry of Resurrection.
Let me introduce Bill and Diane Livingston: Bill is 51 years old and a 1973 graduate of MSU (BA) and a 1975 graduate of Delta State (M.Ed.). From 1975 through 1992 he worked for the Mississippi Department of Mental Health as counselor, supervisor and director of mental health centers in several towns and cities in Mississippi. From 1992 through 1996 he served as the CEO of the Abilene Mental Health Center in Abilene, TX. Over the course of his career in Mental Health, Bill began to discern a called to the ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church. As a postulant of the Diocese of Northwest Texas (and with the previous support of the Diocese of Mississippi), Bill entered seminary at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas in the fall of 1996. In fact, Bill and Elizabeth were classmates. In May 1999, Bill graduated with a Masters of Divinity. Bill and Diane headed "home" to Mississippi upon graduation where Bill has served as the rector at Christ Church in Vicksburg. Having been ordained to the Holy Order of Deacons during seminary on January 21, 1999, Bill was ordained to the priesthood on October 2, 1999.
Diane, soon to be the Rev. Diane Livingston, is a longtime servant of the people having worked in the community and social services for many years. Currently, she is a Hospice Chaplain and will be ordained to the permanent Deaconate in January at Diocesan Council.
Bill and Diane have three grown sons: Chris (26) is a Navy Seal; Christopher (25) is a Fulbright Fellow studying in Berlin, Germany; and Lee (21) is a recent graduate of Southwestern University in Georgetown, TX and will be spending the next year in Prague, Czechoslovakia. So, it is likely that if our rector and his wife head off on vacation in the next year, they will be vacationing on foreign ground where their sons reside.
Again, it is which much joy and great excitement that I invite you to join me in welcoming Bill and Diane! We look forward to their arrival and Bill's first service of the Holy Eucharist at Resurrection on October 6, 2002.
Thanks be to God.
Mary
Lee Beal
Senior Warden
August 2002
WORSHIP SCHEDULE:
SUNDAY:
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite (No nursery)
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II (Nursery)
WEDNESDAY: Services will be on hiatus b/w summer school and the fall semester.
THURSDAY: 12:05 p.m. Healing & Holy Eucharist followed by "Dutch treat" lunch
BIRTHDAY SUNDAY - Would you like to bring back Birthday Sunday Celebrations? We need volunteers to make (or bring ) the cake and punch. Willing to help? See James McCormick! In the meantime, please remember those with August birthdays.
1
John Switzer 21
Lindy Rawlings 27
Dorothy Anderson
6 Clifford Anderson
8 Jeanne Ferris
26 Melinda Myers
26 Joey Hansford
28 Melinda Gwin
30 Tom Bell
MISSISSIPPI MUSIC & LITURGY CONFERENCE - Three
choir members are attending this conference in Vicksburg
July 30-August 4: Leanne Fazio, Mary Sears, and Barbara
McCain, the new Children's choir director. For the past
several years the conference has focused on a specific part
of the church year. The focus for 2002 is the Easter Vigil.
We look forward to new Easter Vigil music!
ST. MARTHA'S GUILD will meet August 5th at 12:30 pm in the Student Center for brown bag lunch and fellowship. Visitors and new members are always welcome.
SECOND SUNDAY SHARING is August 11th. Please bring school supplies...pencils, ball point pens, crayons, blunt scissors, tablets, paper, glue, backpacks, etc. and place items in the baskets at the entry ways to the church.
FALL ECW MEETING - The Episcopal Church Women's year will begin on Tuesday, August 13th at 10 am with Morning Prayer in the church followed by a business meeting and refreshments in the Student Center. All women of the church are invited!
CHILDREN'S MUSIC PROGRAM from Leanne Fazio: The Music Program is excited about offering our children a wonderful experience in music this year. Beginning in mid-August, children entering 1st through 6th grades are invited to join in music-making on Sunday afternoons from 3:45-4:45 in the Parish Hall. Singing together is a great way to build community while creating a lasting Christian foundation for our children. Children and parents are invited to a kick-off party at the church pool on August 18 at 3:45 to meet the new children's choir director, Barbara McCain, and get a buzz of what's in store for us.
ABOUT OUR CHILDREN'S CHOIR DIRECTOR - Barbara is a senior Music-Education major at MSU. Her extensive work with children includes 15 years at Galloway Methodist Church in Jackson, two years at St. Richard's Catholic Church in Jackson, one year at Annunciation Catholic School in Columbus, and two years at First Presbyterian Church in Starkville. Welcome, Barbara!
CALLING PARENTS & CHILDREN'S CHRISTIAN EDUCATION FOLKS! - On Sunday, August 18th at 4:00 pm, while the children meet their new choir director, parents of children up through 12th grade are invited to a children's Christian Education envisioning and planning session in the Student Center. Following the meeting we will join the children and choir folks for a cookout by the pool. For more information, please contact David Lewis at 323-3112 or dcl4040@aol.com.
ADULT CHOIR NEWS - Lift Every Voice and Sing! All interested in singing (9th grade in high school and on up through "senior citizens"!) Join us at 5:30 pm on Wednesday, August 21st in the Parish Hall for a brief meeting and a potluck. If you cannot come to this session, contact Leanne at 323-3451 or leannefazio@hotmail.com. The adult choir will robe and sing in the choir loft beginning Sunday, August 25th.
INQUIRER'S CLASS will be offered beginning Sunday, August 25th at 2:00 pm in the Student Center. People of all ages with inquiring minds, especially those interested in being confirmed or received, are invited to participate. The Rt. Rev. Alfred C. "Chip" Marble will visit on Wednesday, September 18th, at which time we will celebrate confirmations and receptions. At our initial meeting we will set dates and times of classes, some of which may meet after the Bishop's visit. Confirmands must attend all classes. Time is short, but we can do it! Another class will be offered in the spring. To participate in this crash course of inquiry, contact Elizabeth immediately.
LAY EUCHARISTIC MINISTRIES are booming at Resurrection. As of the end of June, we had welcomed three new LEMs: Pam Collins, Leigh Jensen Crawford, and Lynn Phillips. On Tuesday, August 6 at 5:30 pm, we will have another LEM training session. In addition, late in August, we will re-institute Lay Eucharistic Visitors to extend Sunday Eucharist to those who are unable to attend services. Linda Cox has offered to be the Coordinator of Lay Eucharistic Visitors. You do not have to serve as a liturgical LEM to participate in this vital ministry. If you are interested in being trained, contact Elizabeth.
WRAP IT UP WORKDAY - I know you have noticed the bright green erosion control blanket on the slope! But have you noticed the bulletin boards, the PVC pipe no longer outside the nursery, the weeded and deadheaded narthex garden, no more loose bricks around the Canterbury Lodge, clean windows, paint scraped off the etched glass, and file cabinets moved from Parish Hall large room to the closet? Many thanks to the 20 parishioners and students who did so many little finish-up jobs and then shared a delicious supper together.
TRANSFORMATION OF THE SCALES HOUSE is well underway thanks to David Lewis and his work crew, as well as many of our own, including James McCormick, Jessica Callahan, Tyler Finklea, Amanda Yates, Ginny Powell, Elizabeth Wheatley, Rachel Cox, Glenn Cook, Devon Brenner, Joey Hansford, Jan Wilson, Bryan Arnett, John Beal, and Douglas Crawford. The kitchen wall was removed; ceilings, patched; toilets, repaired; electrical fixtures and lights, reworked; carpeting, removed; and a great deal of primer and paint, slung on the walls and ceilings! There is still much to do, but most of you would not believe your eyes! Donations of time, talent, materials and financial abundance are welcome. We look forward to more workdays, beginning Sunday, August 4th at 2:00 pm!
UPDATE ON FRONT SLOPE PROJECT from Pam Collins: Thanks to many helpful hands, we have the front slope covered in erosion control material to reduce erosion while the plants get installed and established. Plants will start appearing as they are ready to go into the ground, and the weather cools enough for the young plants to survive. Thank you to all who have made donations and volunteered to provide plants and work on installation. To join in this effort, call Pam 338-9423 (w) or 323-0828 (h.)
SPECIAL THANKS again to Pam and Bob Collins for volunteering their time, talents and treasure in the restoration of the front slope.
NURSERY REMINDER - The nursery is open for the 10:30 am service only and is being staffed by parents and volunteers. Call Jay McCombs to volunteer.
BAPTISM DAY - In addition to the traditional baptismal days, during the long stretch between Pentecost and All Saints', we will celebrate Holy Baptism on Sunday, September 8th. If you or someone in your family would like to be baptized, please contact Elizabeth to schedule teaching sessions for candidates, parents and godparents.
JOB JAR REOPENED - Miss the work day? You can still help. Check the Job Jar on the bulletin board in the narthex. Choose a job. When the job is completed, cross the item off the list! Questions? Call Douglas Crawford.
OUTREACH NOTES - Ever wonder about the rest of the story with our outreach families? In Kay Frierson's case we have been fortunate to take part in a success story. Kay is a single mom with two teenagers. She had been a teacher's aid at Sudduth for many years when she decided to go to MSU to get a teaching degree. During her four calendar years of schooling we helped her pay the rent on occasion and since her graduation and subsequent hiring as a full time kindergarten teacher at Sudduth we have helped purchase classroom supplies. Several of our children have been in Kay's classes and can tell you what a good teacher she is. Money is still tight as Kay repays college loans, but she is on her way and she has expressed her thanks for our help many times. Keep her in your prayers as she helps prepare Starkville's kindergartners for a lifetime of learning. Now you know the ongoing story!
POOL NEWS from Jay McCombs: Please remember that All children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult, and adults accompanying children must know how to swim. The pool season is winding down...have you paid your share to help maintain the pool? Questions or concerns about the pool, contact the McCombs (323-8269) or the Damms (338-9022).
ANSWERS TO TEST YOUR BIBLE BRAIN: I once made a remark about the hidden books of the Bible. It was a lulu, kept people looking so hard for the facts and for others it was a revelation. Some were in a jam, especially since the names of the books were not capitalized. But the truth finally struck home to numbers of readers. To others, it was a real job. We want it to be a most satisfying few moments for you. Yes, there will be really easy ones to spot; others may require judges to help them. I will quickly admit, it usually takes a minister to find one of them, and there will be loud lamentations when it is found. A little lady says she brews a cup of tea, so she can concentrate better. See how well you can compete. Relax now for there are really sixteen names of books of the Bible in this story. One preacher found 15 books in 20 minutes, but it took him three weeks to find the sixteenth one. Good luck!
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE - Immediate openings, on the job training, lifetime commitment not necessary, rewards beyond expectation. Like to meet and greet people? Consider NEW MEMBER MINISTRY. (Contact James McCormick.) Like to coordinate monthly events and/or bake? Help resurrect BIRTHDAY SUNDAY. (Contact James McCormick.) Have concerns for the community-at-large? Join the OUTREACH COMMITTEE.(Contact Tom Cathcart.) Wonder about the future (and the present) status of our church and our children? Work with CHRISTIAN ED or the NURSERY. (Contact David Lewis.)
YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR... Walt Hillen, Lorenzo Crowell, LaVora Williams, and Sandra Clark as they undergo treatment.
CONGRATULATIONS to Jan and Melvin Rhodes on the birth of their granddaughter, Ashton Cecelia Herbert, daughter of Alyson and Arthur Herbert. And to Mary Frances Brady on the birth of her granddaughter, Mary Hannah Brady, daughter of Jennifer and John Brady.
A PLANNED GIFT is the Ultimate Gift. The once-in-a- lifetime gift. Planned gifts are given in response to an affection and concern for the future ministry of the Church. Is your will current? Have your remembered the Church?
LOOKING AHEAD...
- September 8 - Sunday School Kick Off
- September 8 - Celebration of Holy Baptism
- Sept. 8 & 15, 4 pm - Acolyte Training (4th-12th graders)
- September 18 - Bishop Visitation and Confirmations by The Rt. Rev. Alfred C. (Chip) Marble
- October 6 - Welcome the Rev. William V. (Bill) and Diane Livingston
- October 7-10 - Presbyters' Conference at Gray Center
- October 18-20 - Seeds of Faith Conference at Mediator, Meridian, featured speaker Marcus Borg
- February 7-9 - Diocesan Council on the coast