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The Sunrise |
...at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection
Starkville, Mississippi
December, 2003
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Probably no other season of the Church year is as emotionally complicated as the Advent/Christmas Seasons, and probably in no other season is the secular kingdom and God's kingdom at such polar extremes.
Christmas brings with it memories: families gathered around the Christmas tree or dinner table, a special gift, homes decorated to their festive finest, smells of fresh cedar and holiday delicacies, and sounds of favorite carols. At the same time, Christmas can intensify the grief of missing a child who has moved away or a parent or other loved one who has died, can make the pain of divorce more acute, can cause existing feelings of loneliness to seem overwhelming.
Advent, the beginning of our Church year, offers us a time of preparation: for the coming of Christ - both as a humble infant and in glory at the "end time." In the season of Christmas we celebrate that God loved humanity enough to take on our flesh to live among us, as one of us: not as an earthly king, not in grandeur, but in the humblest of circumstances.
The secular kingdom has totally eliminated Advent, with just enough of a pause between the Halloween costume and decoration consumerism and the Christmas shopping frenzy for a brief dietary overindulgence on Thanksgiving. How ironic that the season we set aside to celebrate that God was born among us in the humblest of circumstances, we exhaust ourselves in the most extreme opulence in history. By the time we get through Advent and get to Christmas, we, too often, are physically exhausted from our shopping and social schedule, emotionally drained because nothing could ever fulfill the fantasies we had created, and financially depleted or in debt because of our inability to resist marketing ploys or our inability to distinguish between expressing love and buying another's affection.
While we may be liturgical purists in our corporate worship, few of us are able to totally inoculate ourselves from the secular practice of listening to Christmas carols and putting up holiday decorations before Christmas Eve. I am not foolish enough to advocate otherwise. However, I do encourage us to be intentional about preparing for the birth of Jesus and preparing ourselves as co-creators with God for transforming the earthly kingdom into the kingdom of God. I encourage us to remember that love is shown in far more meaningful and needed ways than in the number or cost of gifts under the Christmas tree. Use this time to do things together as family. My children remember very few of their Christmas gifts, but they have fond memories of us decorating the Christmas tree together each year as we recalled which child had made the various ornaments, listened to carols, and ended the evening with all the lights off except the lights on the tree, all of us snuggled together on the sofa, sipping cups of hot chocolate. Consider giving to those to whom Jesus gave: the sick, the suffering, the marginalized. Purchase a gift for someone on the adopt-a-family tree we as a parish will be assisting. Give a gift such as a goat to a loved one - give a goat to a third world community in a loved one's name through the Heifer Project. Remember the words of the hymn, "'Tis a gift to be simple, 'tis a gift to be free."
Seldom will our fantasies of a perfect Christmas, a perfect family gathering, come true. Keep your expectations realistic. Enjoy the memories of the past, including the loved ones no longer with you, but also see face of Christ in those with you today. Know that I as your priest and Diane as your deacon and chaplain are available to listen for those times when the emotions of Christmas overwhelm rather than elate.
Christ's Peace,
NEWS & EVENTS
December, 2003 Newsletter
Worship
Schedules:
Sunday
8:00
a.m. Holy Eucharist
9:15
a.m. Sunday School**
10:30
a.m. Holy Eucharist
Wednesday
12:05
p.m. Holy Eucharist*
at
MSU Chapel of Memories
Thursday
12:05
p.m. Holy Eucharist and Holy Unction
Christmas
Services:
December 24, 2003:
5:30 p.m. Family Eucharist
10:30 p.m. Special Music
11:00 p.m. Christmas Mass
**During School Year
EYC News
Another busy month for the EYC! with carving utensils and paint brushes in hand, the EYC got creative with their pumpkins for some Halloween fun. We delivered these to local nursing homes to help decorate. The EYC also pitched in, and cut down all the landscaping in front of the Canterbury lodge. Finally, we had a VERY successful convocational lock-in, and elected Hannah McCormick to represent our convocation as our youth delegate for the 2004 Annual Council.
Inquirer's Class
Beginning January 11, 2004, from 9:15 - 10:10, Fr. Bill will offer an Inquirer's Class. Using The Discovery Series: A Christian Journey, we will explore our Episcopal origins and what it means to be Christian. This series will include a combination of video presentations and question and answer discussions. Anyone who wishes to be confirmed during Bishop Gray's visitation to Resurrection on March 28, must first attend inquirer's classes. This series is also appropriate for Episcopalians who would like to learn more about Christianity and about the Episcopal Church and for those who are exploring the Episcopal Church but have not decided whether they wish to be confirmed. Anyone interested in being confirmed, please notify Fr. Bill.
Silent Auction and Stewardship Dinner
- Special Thanks go to many people for a very successful Stewardship Silent Auction and Dinner:
- For the Silent Auction -- Mary Lee & John Beal, Dwayne & Melinda Myers, Margaret King
- For everyone that made donations for the silent auction and all those who purchased those items
- For the Appetizers --Karen Koch and Kim Noffsinger
- For the Wine -- Stuart and Mike Vance
- For the Decorations -- Beth Batson and Jeanne Wakeman
- For the Coffee and Tea -- Debbie Nettles
- For the Set up and Cleanup -- James McCormick, Diane Livingston and many other helpers
Our thanks go to all who have pledged to give of your money to enable the Church of the Resurrection to offer our ministries and to be a part of transforming our community into the image of God's kingdom.
Your Prayers are Asked For…
...Expectant Mothers: Paige Passons Simmons, Robin Passons Bryan, and Kathleen Batson
...Those serving in the military: Steve VanLandingham, David Callahan, Chris Livingston, Justin Van den Berg, Fran Miller, Bob Tipton, and Banks Waldrop
...Those serving as missionaries: Bob and Amy Little
...Special needs within the Church of the Resurrection: Katherine Hollister, Sally Stetson, Jeanne Ferris, LaVora Williams, Don Emerich, Edna Wilkerson, Jan Handy, Susie Owings, Lorenzo Crowell, Guy Hargrove, Chris Brown
...Relatives and friends of the Church of the Resurrection: Luella Brand, Johathan Franks, Ophelia Luntrell, Robert McClain, A.C., Margie Cook, Melanie Pharo, Jay Keehley, Nora Ware, Stella Madar, Oma Lee Pierce, Kathy Harris, Ron Newell, and Kate Hummel
...The departed: Dee Dee Pepper, mother of William Pepper
About Making Prayer Requests
To include names for prayer requests in the newsletter or in Prayers of the People, you may make an entry in the "Prayer Requests Notebook" on the shelves in the side narthex or entry into the church, call the parish office, or tell Bill or Diane. While your clergy regularly pray for individuals within the parish, as well as for special requests, they consider information and prayer requests confidential. If you want clergy to include your requests in the corporate prayer requests, please let them know. In addition, if you are adding someone to the list, please have the person's permission and let us know how to list their name, first and last names or only first name.
To keep our prayer lists current, names of persons outside the parish will be included in the newsletter only once and in the Prayers of the People for only one month. Please re-submit prayer requests monthly to have them remain on the list. (Again, this is only for those who are not members of the parish).
December Birthdays
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4
Bob Anderson |
17
Jonathan Brandon |
27
Susan Hill |
Christmas Flower Donations
Donating to the fund to make our church ready for the celebration of the birth of Christ is a wonderful way to honor or remember someone at this special time of the year. You will find the forms to include with your donation in the pews. Please return these before December 22.
Thank You Resurrection
Below are three thank you notes received by Resurrection:
Dear Friends:
Your $300.00 donation to All Saints' Episcopal School has been gratefully received. As we work to enhance our ability to affect the intellectual, physical, and spiritual formation of our students, your gift of love and support is especially appreciated, and your donation is greatly needed.
Please pray for All Saints' as we seek to serve our students faithfully.
Sincerely,
The
Reverend William V. Martin
Rector and Head
Dear Bill,
As a member of the Broad of Trustees of the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest, I want to thank the Church of the Resurrection for your financial support of the seminary. As a new donor, you have joined hundreds of others who support the vision of the seminary and its work in the formation of leaders for the church.
Please stay close to the seminary-visit the web site, come to campus when you can, but mainly keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Faithfully,
Jackie
Batjer
Trustee
Dear Episcopal Church of the Resurrection,
The Oktibbeha County Humane Society sincerely thanks you for the Blessing of the Animals ceremony and the generous donation received of ninety dollars (plus an additional twenty dollars that was given to the society directly). These funds were deposited into the account for funding the new Animal Shelter Building. The plans are nearly completed and we hope to get started soon on the construction.
We pledge to you that we will always spend funds thoughtfully in our efforts to make life better for homeless animals in our community.
Millie
Sellars,
Treasurer for the Society
November 17 Vestry Summary
The Vestry's November meeting opened with a brief presentation from Leanne Fazio, organist/choirmaster, about the music program at Resurrection. Her comments included not only what is currently happening with our music program but the direction she envisions for the future. Many thanks for making music such an integral part of our worship experience.
Our devotional consisted of a scripture reading by Bill and then a group discussion concerning the passage. What are we, Resurrection, called to do as a church? Who are we?
The Audit Committee formed at last month's meeting has not me. Recommendations will be presented at our December meeting.
Bill gave a brief overview of our recent Stewardship campaign. A full accounting will be presented next month. He appointed a Budget Committee consisting of Beal, Fazio, Williams and himself to prepare our 2004 budget. The new budget will be presented for Vestry approval in December.
Two bids have been received for the new telephone system for our office. Bill is going to do some further study before he makes a decision. Thankfully, two anonymous donors have agreed to cover the costs. The Vestry is extremely grateful for this support of a much needed project.
Diane gave a brief report about upcoming events for Canterbury. She has also been permanently assigned as Deacon to Resurrection. The Vestry gladly welcomed her to this position.
Resurrection has begun to advertise for the proposed Parish Office Administrator Position.
The minutes were approved and the financial statement accepted for October.
A lengthy discussion was held concerning "our" evaluation of the Rector and Parish. Several topics will be continued at the new Vestry's retreat in 2004. This topic will also be continued at our December meeting.
The meeting adjourned with prayer. The December meeting will be held December 15 at the home of Beth Batson.
Vestry/Warden Nominations
Please prayerfully consider those whom you would like to nominate as new vestry members and wardens. Those rotating off are Mary Eleanor Anderson, David Lewis, and Marsha Williams and are not eligible for re-election. Mary Lee Beal is eligible to serve as one more year as Senior Warden, and Michael Fazio is eligible to serve two more years as junior warden. Nomination forms and criteria for vestry membership are available in the narthex and in the parish office.
Appointment of the Rev. Diane Livingston as MSU Canterbury Chaplain and Deacon to Resurrection
We have received approval of the Vestry's request to have Diane serve as Part-time Interim Chaplain to MSU Canterbury. Diane has assumed this position on a half-time basis to assure that the Episcopal presence on the MSU campus continues, to serve the pastoral needs of the MSU students, and to continue to incorporate the MSU students into the life of our parish. Along with the Canterbury Advisory Committee, Diane will continue to work to assure that the efforts begun by Elizabeth Wheatley to maximize the shared ministry of the Church of the Resurrection and MSU Canterbury. Diane will serve in this capacity until a full time Chaplain can be recruited. Most likely, this will be a 2004 seminary graduate approved by the Diocese for ordination as transitional deacon and then as priest. As half-time Chaplain, Diane will receive half the compensation approved for the Chaplain.
With Diane's placement as the Chaplain to MSU Canterbury, Bishop Gray is also appointing Diane to serve as deacon at Resurrection. Unlike those who graduate from a seminary and are ordained as a transitional deacon, Diane is a "permanent" or "vocational deacon." This is an excellent opportunity to educate ourselves about the ministry of deacons of the Episcopal Church. "The ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests and deacons" (BCP, pg. 855).
In the Church's beginning, all ministers were laity and all laity were ministers. The same is true today. We are so commissioned in our baptisms. Baptismal grace empowers all ministries: lay and ordained. However, as the Church grew, a need developed for specialized ministries and oversight. Over time the Church developed and set aside specific ministries: bishops, priests, and deacons. Specifically, "the ministry of a deacon is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as a servant of those in need, and to assist bishops and priests in the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments" (BCP, 856).
These ordained ministries have resulted in confusion because some interpret it to mean only the ordained are called to ministry. Instead, baptism confers our authority to be ministers of the Church. Ordination confers authority to act on behalf of the Church. The Church sends these ordained ministers to serve on behalf of the Church. William Temple (past Archbishop of Canterbury) said, "The Church exists for those who are not its members." That is the role and responsibility of the Church. Because so much of our parish activities can become preoccupied with caring for and shaping those within the Church, having an order to focus on ministries to those "who are not its members" becomes apparent. That is the role of the deacon. The deacon serves as the embodiment of one sent to serve those outside the institution of the Church.
Both the canons of the Episcopal Church and the rubrics of the Book of Common Prayer establish specific duties of deacons. Deacons assist with pastoral care directed to those within and charitable care to those outside the Church. At the Eucharist, the deacon reads the Gospel - a symbol of the connection of the ministry of Christ to the oppressed - places the bread and wine on the altar - a symbol of the deacon's role as servant, and dismisses the gathered congregation - a symbol that we are called to serve in the world.
St. Joseph's Guild News
If you realize that you have more sunlight when you enter the church driveway, it is because St. Joseph's Guild cleared out the wisteria jungle. On hand for a morning of hard work were Glenn Cook, David Lewis, Bill Batson, David Foote, Rob King, and David Christiansen.
The Canterbury Fellowship has turned its attention to the outside of the Canterbury Lodge. James McCormick purchased and installed a keypad lock for the front door, and Jessica Callahan, David Callahan, and Ginny Powell cut down unruly trees and shrubs and hauled off two big loads of trash. Jack Hollister brought in his bushhog and cleared all the property to the south. Robert Cox is in the process of cutting up and removing the big limb that fell behind the lodge. Take a look at the results.
John Beal saw to the SED's installation of a new light for the Canterbury Lodge driveway and relocation of the light in the church parking lot. Once the new phone system is in, the ugly leaning pole and all of its wiring will be removed.
Pam Collins continues her work on the front bank and lawn with new plantings and protection of the sprinkler system.
Work proceeds on the labyrinth, with the usual cast of characters, and the end is in sight.
Be on the lookout for the repainting of all of the white trim on the church, including the tower. This should begin in a couple of weeks, with the work being done by James Harris, a professional painter.
Music Notes
The Lessons and Carols service will be on December 7 at 5:00 p.m. followed by a reception in the Student Center. The Congregation will have many opportunities to sing in this service, so come sing!
If you are interested in joining us for Christmas Caroling, meet in the Student Center on Thursday, December 18 at 5:30. We will visit some of the nursing homes as well as some church members.
A soup dinner will follow at the home of Mary Lee and John Beal. It will help us plan for transportation and soup if you will let us know if you can join in. Call the church office 323-3483.
Diocesan Council is February 6 - 8, 2004
Council is in Hattiesburg this year, so it is not as far away as some years. If you can't attend all three days, consider going to the Closing Eucharist Sunday morning. Watch for details in the Ms Episcopalian.
Ellen Newsom will collect registration checks and send them in together. Price is $65 per person before January 10 and $85 after that date. (Canterbury folks ask Diane about student rates.)
Resurrection folks will be staying in two different hotels . Canterbury and the Hospitality room will be in the Hawthorne Suites across the street from the Convention Center. Call 601-296-0302 and ask for a reservation in the Episcopal Diocese block, Group number G51681. Guarantee your room with your credit card. Rates are $99 and includes a full kitchen and hot breakfast. (The breakfast is in the lobby, not your room!) The manager is Garrett Bruce if the front desk people don't understand. (This has been a problem.)
The Comfort Suites is at the next exit, and we have reserved a block of 10 rooms under the name Church of the Resurrection. Ask for Roquele if you have problems. 601-261-5555. All rooms are $79 per night with continental breakfast available.
Please let Ellen Newsom or Ann McVey know where you will be staying so we can release the extra rooms.
Book Club Discussion
Until the Inquirer's Class begins January 11, those interested will be gathering in the Student Center on Sundays at 9:15 a.m. to discuss Marcus Borg's new book: The Heart of Christianity. If interested please joining in this discussion.