The Sunrise Previous Newsletters ...at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection Starkville, Mississippi December, 2002   Dear Brothers and Sisters of Church of the Resurrection, As I write this entry to you and consider that I will be addressing the issue of Advent and Christmas, it frightens me how quickly my time with you has passed. Even more frightening is that experience has taught me how quickly the time from Thanksgiving and Christmas passes. During the liturgical year that ends November 30 of this calendar year, our Sunday lectionary Gospel has primarily come from Matthew. I emphasize this fact because Matthew, more than the other Gospels, contrasts the differences between the Kingdom of Heaven and the earthly kingdoms. Similarly, this time of year provides us a contrast between the Kingdom of Heaven and the earthly kingdom more than any other time of year. The earthly kingdom began its Christmas hype before October - with Walmart shelving its seasonal section with Christmas decorations starting in late September and many other stores starting soon after and Christmas decorations becoming visible in front yards and store fronts in the middle of November. The earthly kingdom allows us just enough time to practice our consumerism on Halloween decorations, costumes, and treats before the consumer frenzy of Christmas. Thanksgiving now seems almost invisible in between these two consumption events. Both the rush to redirect our spending and the emphasis on consumption of the earthly kingdom are contradictions to the foci of Kingdom of Heaven. As we come to the end of this year's Gospel readings from Matthew, the author draws our attention on the now - the now of the already and the not yet. Our readings hold in tension the awareness of the already: all that God has done through love - creating, calling us, sending prophets to us, living among us to reveal both the loving nature of God and what it is to be human. Our readings also hold in tension the awareness of the not yet, that God seeks to bring to fruition through the second coming of Christ the redemption of creation and the time when the kingdom on earth is as the Kingdom of Heaven. By tension, I do not mean conflict but suspension - in which we, in the now, are suspended between these two natures of God's love. Rather than rushing through the times of the already and the not yet, as our culture rushes from Halloween and Christmas, the Gospel invites us to experience the now, to experience the present. While the earthly kingdom in which we live literally lives or dies based on personal consumption - the fact that more people saving money due to financial anxiety jeopardizes our economy's future emphasizes its dependence on ever growing consumption. However, as we move through Advent toward Christmas, we will be reminded of our unity with all humanity and our responsibility to be concerned about our brothers and sisters next door and around the world. We will be reminded that we worship one who lived in the simplest of conditions to reveal God to us. As the earthly kingdom rushes through its secular Christmas consumption frenzy and the Church completes its season of waiting and preparation, perhaps we, the Church, have no better opportunity to view the struggle of being in the world but not of the world. As we enter Advent, as we anticipate both Christmas and the Second Coming, please take time for the now. Take time for your spouse; take time for your children; take time for your parents; take time for your neighbor; take time for yourself. For most of those relationships, an hour of being present - listening, sharing, holding, caring - will be the best gift you could give. May the Light that came into the world some two thousand years ago shine brightly into your hearts! Christ's Peace, Fr. Bill   SUNRISE NEWS & EVENTS December, 2002 Newsletter WORSHIP SCHEDULE: SUNDAY: 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I (No nursery) 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II (Nursery) WEDNESDAY: Canterbury Dinner and HE on hiatus until January 8th. THURSDAY: 12:05 p.m. Healing & Holy Eucharist followed by "Dutch treat" lunch CHRISTMAS SERVICES December 24: 5:30 p.m. Family Eucharist 10:30 p.m. Special Music 11:00 p.m. Christmas Mass STEWARDSHIP - If you have not yet sent in a pledge card for 2003, it's not too late! If for any reason you need a new pledge card, call Marsha Williams at 323-2936, come by the church office, or pick up one on Sunday morning. To date pledges total $186,071 which is barely enough to meet our anticipated budget of $200,000. YOUTH NEWS - The Tombigbee EYC lock-in was a huge success. Of the 45 attending, nine were from Resurrection and our own Rachel Cox was elected Youth Delegate to Diocesan Council! T-shirts were made for the lock-in and are on sale for $10. In November, five of our seniors (Rachel Cox, Trevor Gore, Alli Noffsinger, Shane Sanders and Emmy Shuster) attended Happening #53. Finally, to get to know Bill and Diane better, the EYC will gather at their house on Sunday, December 1st for dinner and games. And to wrap up the semester with some fun and festivities, keep your eyes peeled for news of sneaky Santa pre-Christmas gathering! ST. MARTHA'S GUILD will meet Monday, December 2nd for fellowship and a brown bag lunch at 12:30 p.m. in the Student Center. Visitors are always welcome. CANTERBURY will gather at Bill and Diane's for dinner and a home Eucharist on Wednesday, December 4th at 6:00pm. To end the semester, Elizabeth will hold her annual Chaplain's Advent Open House at her home on Monday, December 9th from 6:00 until 10:00pm. Dinner and goodies will be provided. Come by for a bite to eat; Make an ornament; Do some decorating; Say Compline; and Wish everyone Happy Holidays! Students and parishioners of all ages are invited and welcome!! ORDINATION - The Rev. Lynn Barker will be ordained to the Priesthood on Saturday, December 7th at 11:00 a.m. at Holy Trinity in Hattiesburg. Bishop Gray will preside, and the Rev. David Johnson will be the preacher. SECOND SUNDAY SHARING is December 8th. Please be thinking about Christmas baskets as you bring non-perishable food items. ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS is December 8th at 5:00 p.m. in the nave. This beautiful service, with its readings concerning the coming of the messiah is complemented by music which amplifies the biblical texts. In addition to the choral music, there is opportunity for the congregation to sing some of the great Advent hymns. The parish musicians have been working hard preparing for this event. Please join us for this special celebration and bring a friend! A festive reception will follow in the Student Center. Babs Deas will be coordinating the reception, so if you have something special you would like to bring, please contact her. BELL RINGERS NEEDED! -Resurrection will be ringing the bells at the Salvation Army kettle in front of Food Max on Tuesday, December 10th. The Sign up sheet is in the narthex. (If history holds true, wear your mittens!) Thanks to Mary Frances Brady for setting this up for us. NEWSLETTER DEADLINE is December 16th. DIOCESAN COUNCIL - The 176th Annual Council of the Diocese is February 7th to 9th at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum in Biloxi. This year there will be no planned activity on Saturday evening, so we can all go out to dinner! There will be no business meeting on Sunday morning and the Right Rev. Duncan M. Gray III will be installed as Bishop of Mississippi at the Closing Eucharist. We have a block of rooms at the Biloxi Beachfront Hotel at $79 per night. Call the hotel at 1-800-441-0882 to make your reservation in the Resurrection, Starkville block. Ellen Newsom will handle Council Registrations. Please get your check to her by January 1st. Council registration fee is $60 per person with a special rate for students and youth. Watch for more information in the Mississippi Episcopalian or call Ellen for details. OUTREACH - The Outreach Committee is preparing the Angel Tree and would love your help! Here's the way it works! When the tree is put up, you choose as many "angels" as you would like. Buy the item listed on the angel, gift wrap it, tape the angel to the outside of the package, and return it to the church. Please call David Foote at 320-4777 to help with planning, shopping, delivering, or working with the Christmas Outreach. CHRISTMAS FLOWERS - There will soon be envelopes in the pews for memorial gifts to be used for Christmas flowers. Please make your contribution by December 18th. ANOTHER ORDINATION! Pending approval of the Diocesan Standing Committee, Saturday, January 4th, 11:00a.m., at St. Andrew's Cathedral in Jackson, Bishop Marble will ordain to the Sacred of Deacons those who have been enrolled in the Diocesean Deacon School for the last two years. Diane Livingston will be included in this group. All are invited and encouraged to attend! Please keep Diane in your prayers as she prepares to take this step in her ministry. ANNUAL PARISH MEETING - Mark your calendars and be thinking of names for new people to serve on the vestry. Are you called to serve? We will be electing new vestry members and two wardens. (Both Mary Lee Beal and Douglas Crawford are eligible for re-electio.) The Annual Meeting will be held Sunday, January 26th immediately following the 10:30 service. GOOD NEWS! - Watch for new parish directories in the narthex and take one home! PARISH LIFE COMMITTEE REPORT - Many hands make any job easier, and there are many to thank for all their help in making the Celebration of New Ministry, Potluck supper, and Pounding such a fun event. Many thanks to Mary Eleanor and Bob Anderson, Clark and Beth Callahan, Beth and Bill Batson, Jennifer Damms, Jay McCombs, Sherrie VanLandingham, John Beal, Debbie Nettles, Dwayne Myers, James McCormick, Susan Hill, Mary Frances Brady, Hellen Polk, Susie Owings, Donna Barnes Stark, and Ellen Newsom for all their help. ECW PLEDGE COFFEE - There was a good turnout for the ECW Pledge coffee and everyone enjoyed a chance to visit. Pledges and gifts of cash totaling $1012 were received in thanksgiving for not having a bake sale or bazaar! The treasurer, Melinda Myers, is still receiving contributions so it is not too late to participate in this fund raiser for ECW projects. THANKS from Bill and Diane Livingston: Thanks to all those who did so much to make the Celebration of a New Ministry and the dinner reception a success. We want to offer our heartfelt thanks. Because so many did so much, a great deal of which we are not aware, we are not able to thank each of you individually. However, please know that we thank all who helped plan the service, took part in the service, planned the dinner, helped set up and decorate, brought food, and helped clean up. And we thank you for all the "pounding" gifts. Once again, you have extended your open arms welcoming us into the community of Christ lived out through the Church of the Resurrection. Christ's Peace, Bill& Diane THANKS FROM CANTERBURY - Robert Cox has volunteered to coordinate Scales House/Canterbury Lodge renovations. Thanks, Robert, and thanks for all the painting and cleaning up you have done! Please call Robert at 324-3876 if you would like to help finish up this project. In addition, thanks to James McCormick, the mudmaster, David Lewis for his carpentry skills, and John Beal for enlightening the Scales House with new fixtures! FAITHLIFT 2003-A WOMEN'S RETREAT Grace & Gladness Ministries (Lee Ann Williamson and Lori Smith) of Kansas City, MO and Starkville First Methodist Church are co-sponsoring a women's retreat February 7-8. The retreat,"The Potter's Hand," features a pottery demonstration, moving worship music, and powerful teaching by Lee Ann and Lori. The early registration fee, due by January 15, is $30. More info on bulletin board. DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 4 Bob Anderson 4 Tom Cathcart 6 Kathy Harris 7 Sherrie VanLandingham 10 Anita George 11 Melanie Hollister 13 Jack Hollister 16 Dolton McAlpin 17 Jonathan Brandon 18 Ann McVey 21 Ian Hughlett 21 LaVora Williams 22 Mal Moore 23 Jeri Mangum 24 Idabelle Ables 24 Leanne Fazio 27 Steve Harris 27 Susan Hill 27 Elizabeth Smith 27 Mike Vance 29 Kelsey Damms 29 Bettye Hillen 29 Diane Livingston 31 David VanLandingham YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR.... Lorenzo Crowell and LaVora Williams as they undergo treatment, Rae Brandon as she recouperates from surgery, and Carolyn Crowder as she recovers from a broken arm. WELCOME to our newest member, Grayson Elizabeth Henry, daughter of Jim and Beth Henry, who was baptized on All Saints Day. CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY is extended to Mary Lynn Peyton on the death of her father, Percy Baker. "Rest eternal grant him, O Father, and let light perpetual shine upon him." MEMORIAL GIFTS have been received in the name of Jo Nelson, Audrey Van Skiver, Arthur Verrall, and William H. Ward. LOOKING AHEAD January 4 - Ordination of Diane Livingston, St. Andrews Cathedral in Jackson January 26- Annual Parish Meeting February 7-9 - Diocesan Council on the Gulf Coast February 9 - The retiring of Bishop Marble and Investiture of The Rt. Rev. Duncan M. Gray III as Diocesan Bishop of Mississippi February 28 - Retirement dinner for Bishop Marble March 2 - Seating of Bishop Gray at St. Andrew's Cathedral. April 27 - Mississippi Day at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. DIOCESAN NEWS AND EVENTS - For more information on the following six items see the Dio-Gram on the Student Center Bulletin Board. ADVENT RETREAT - Signs of Endings, An Advent Retreat for SrHi, December 6-8, Big House, Gray Center. VERGERS AND LAY READERS' CONFERENCE Saturday, December 7th, Church of the Epiphany, Tunica. Attendance will satisfy the annual continuing education requirement for lay readers. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR APPLICATIONS - Gray Center is accepting applications until December 31 for an executive director to oversee the camp, conference center, and educational environmental program. For more information call the Rev. Scott Lenoir at 228-497-9819. MISSISSIPPI DAY - Plans are under way for the celebration of Mississippi Day at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. on April 27th. Special travel packages have been arranged which include airfare, lodging, and charter bus transportation. MYSTICOS SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE - All current and rising college students are eligible. Applications must be postmarked by March 1st CAMP BRATTON-GREEN PERMANENT STAFF APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE and must be turned in by December 20th. A PLANNED GIFT is the Ultimate Gift, the once-in-a-lifetime gift. Speak to the rector or call Kathryn Weathersby toll free in the Diocesan office, 1-866-550-0872 for details on planned giving.