The Sunrise ...at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection Starkville, Mississippi April, 2004 Dear Brothers and Sisters, We Episcopalians are sacramental people - meaning that our lives and experience with the Holy are shaped by the sacraments and signs, symbols, rituals and rhythms of our shared tradition. As we culminate Lent in Holy Week, we enter a significant period of our sacramental life. In our annual corporate rhythm we call the "Church Year" we are invited to allow this rhythm to reveal different natures of Christ to us and to shape our experience with the Holy and our call to be imitators of Christ. In Advent we acknowledge our lives in between the "already" and the "not yet" - the already of Jesus as God incarnate and the not yet of Christ restoring creation into the image of God. Christmas offers us the comfort and peace of the Christ Child. Epiphany offers the transfigured Christ revealed not only to Israel but to the whole world. Lent invites us to look inward to experience the obedient Christ more intensely so that in Easter, we are better prepared to understand and appreciate the gift of the Resurrection. In Pentecost we acknowledge the gift and indwelling of the Holy Spirit. On Ash Wednesday, in the name of the Church, I invited you to the observance of a holy Lent. Now, as this Lent concludes, I invite you to more deeply experience the Holy through our Holy Week offerings. While we will begin our Palm Sunday liturgy gathered around the cedar tree at the base of the Narthex steps celebrating Jesus' jubilant entry into Jerusalem, we will leave in silence having experienced the passion narrative. Throughout Holy Week we will offer you worship opportunities meant to draw you into the significance of the Passion. On Monday we will end our day corporately with Compline and on Wednesday with Evening Prayer. On Tuesday, we will share Christ's healing and nurturing power through Unction and Holy Eucharist. On Thursday, we will seek to understand Jesus' radical call to obedience, humility and love in the Maundy Thursday service of Holy Eucharist and foot-washing. On Good Friday, we will be invited to stand at the foot of the cross in our Good Friday liturgy and Stations of the Cross. Throughout the week, we will be invited to stand at the foot of Jesus' cross. Our rhythm must include this standing at the foot of the cross looking up at the crucified Christ, not as a form of voyeurism that draws many to stare at a fatal highway crash, but to see what we must see. God and those who established the rhythms of our church year understand we cannot stand their too long looking upon the suffering. However, we must stand at the foot of the cross to confront our own brokenness. It is standing at the foot of the cross that we can face our brokenness - our pains, our losses, our guilt, our suffering. It is standing at the foot of the cross that we confront the brokenness that we don't recognize - our alienation from others, our inability to forgive, our failure to see the suffering of those around us. It is standing at the foot of the cross that we understand our unity with Jesus who suffers the way we suffer and who suffers with and in our brokenness. As you can during Holy Week I invite you to participate in these worship opportunities and to more deeply experience the Holy Week and your call to be an imitator of Christ. Christ's Peace, NEWS & EVENTS April, 2004 Newsletter Thanks Thanks to all the wonderful folks who contributed food for March 14's reception for the Bishop and the cofirmands.   Dear Resurrection Family, Many thanks for the delicious bar-b-que provided to the Rockford College group. We at Habitat appreciate all you do for Habitat!  Sincerely, Donna Stark Starkville Area Habitat for Humanity   Resurrections's Annual Easter Egg Hunt Resurrections's annual Easter Egg Hunt is Saturday, April 10, at 10:00 a.m. The Easter Egg Hunt is for all children in the parish and any guests or visitors who are in the parish on that Saturday. Parents or grandparents of all participating children should deliver one dozen eggs per child to the Student Center kitchen by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 9. The eggs can be plastic (filled with treats) or hard-boiled eggs. Please place hard-boiled eggs in the refrigerator. On the day of the hunt, children should bring their Easter Basket. There will be refreshments after the Egg Hunt. Canterbury News Canterbury will sponsor the Labyrinth on Monday, April 5 and Tuesday, April 6 in the YMCA Auditorium on the Mississippi State University campus. Come by and walk the path as a way to reflect and meditate and use this ancient spiritual aid to enrich your Holy Week. Hours on Monday are from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and on Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Indian Art Work Success - Canterbury thanks all who purchased the Argentine Indian wood pieces. With the parish sales and their booth at Council in Hattiesburg, Canterbury has contributed $1,368 to the Siwok Argentine Indians and has earned $864 to help with a mission trip next year. Welcome Brian Ponder, New Canterbury Chaplain and Curate Bishop Gray has announced his appointment of Brian Ponder as new MSU Canterbury Chaplain. Brian will assume his duties July 1. Brian was born and raised in Jackson, though he spent the first seven years of his life in Madison. He was baptized in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) before joining the Episcopal Church in 1985. Since that time, he has been a parishioner of St. Philip's in Jackson. A pupil of the Jackson Public School District, he graduated from Murrah High School in 1993. He received a B.A. in religious studies from Millsaps College in 1997, minoring in history. The summer before his senior year, Brian began working for the Diocese of Mississippi, employed as office assistant and support staff. Upon graduation from Millsaps, he worked another five years as a full-time employee in the diocesan offices.  Brian is certain that in addition to being nurtured within a loving and caring community of faith at St. Philip's, ministries offered on the diocesan level played a major role in his formation over the years. As a camper, counselor and cabin dad at Camp Bratton-Green, Brian came to know more fully the love of Christ and became rooted in just what we mean when we say that with God's help we will "respect the dignity of every human being." His involvement with Happening, Vocare, accolyting and EYC, as well as the guidance and leadership of several key spiritual mentors, all facilitated the process of his faith formation. In 2001, Brian served as a co-mentor on the MS-York Exchange, traveling to York, England with a group of college-aged participants from all over the diocese. The year before, Brian chaired the diocese's committee for the High School Youth Summer Servant Internship Program, also serving as the interns' facilitator. Since the fall of 2001, Brian has been an M.Div. student at The General Theological Seminary in New York and will graduate in May. In addition to coursework, Brian has interned with Episcopal Charities of the Diocese of New York and has exercised his seminarian field placement ministries with the Congregation of St. Saviour at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. His particular areas of interest are in pastoral theology, homiletics and liturgics. Brian enjoys all kinds of music, watching movies, and he can't wait to have a car again so that he can explore small towns and the MS countryside. He's very excited about his call to the Church of the Resurrection and Mississippi State!  Speak Another Language? ¿Usted habla español? Sprechen Sie Deutsches? Parlez-vous français? Parlate italiano? If you can speak a language other than English, will be at the 10:30 a.m., Pentecost Sunday Service (May 30), and would be willing to read a portion of the Acts reading in that language, we'd like your help making the Pentecost Sunday liturgy more significant.  If you would like (be willing) to participate, please let Fr.Bill know. Music Notes Children's Choir - The children's choir's musical, Oh Jonah!, was a resounding success - the children did an excellent job and the audience filled the Parish Hall to capacity! The children sang beautifully at the Communion for the Bishop's March 14 visit.  Adults Choir - The adult choir is busy preparing for services for Holy Week for Maundy Thursday and Easter Vigil. Guest musicians Ellen Goodman, flute, and Bob Damm, timpani, will be joining our choir for Palm Sunday and for Easter. Thanks! - Thanks to guitarists Frank Switzer, Rachel McCann, and William Pepper for leading singing for the home communions. Notes from the Vestry The Vestry met on the fourth Monday, March 22, because Spring Holidays occurred on the normal meeting night. New member David McMillan was welcomed aboard. Unfortunately, our other new member, Peyton Passons was absent because of his recent surgery.  The meeting opened with Father Bill reading a parable from Luke. The discussion that followed dealt with how our Parish can be the Parish that fulfills its mission by turning ourselves outward rather than just focusing on "us."  Old Business consisted of report concerning our nursery worker, telephone system update and the swimming pool. It's that time of the year again!!  For New Business a review of our February Retreat and reports on the new chaplain appointment, the election of Council Delegates and a review of the Parish Administrator and office equipment were given. Our elected delegates include Leonard Brandon, Alyson Hardin and James McCormick. Our alternates are Joshua Andrews, Beth Batson and Tom Cathcart. The Vestry also agreed to keep our meeting date the third Monday of the month and continue our 7:00 pm starting time. The minutes for the December 15, 2003 meeting were approved and the February Financial Report was accepted. Following a report on Holy Week activities at Resurrection, we were dismissed with a prayer and blessing. Our next meeting will be on Monday April 19, 2004. Pool Plans! The weather is warming up, and it will soon be time to open the church swimming pool. We anticipate opening the swimming pool at the Pentecost Pool Party after church on Pentecost Sunday. Because the pool area is now so visible to persons using the parking lot, the vestry is interested in your input concerning constructing or placing an esthetically pleasing permanent shelter by the pool. This shelter would provide shade during those hot, sunny days of summer.  Please direct your comments and suggestions to Dolton McAlpin, 323-7206 (home) or 323-9743 (work). You may also contact him by email at doltonmc1@bellsouth.net. Statement from the House of Bishops: Caring For All The Churches - A Response of the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church to an expressed need of the Church  The church is the Body of Christ. Our life in this Body is a continuing action of God's grace among us, by whose power alone we are "joined together" in Christ and grow "into a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph. 2:21). Through the church's common life in Christ, God intends to signify to the world the beginning of a new and reconciled creation. We know the unity with God that Christ has won for humanity, he won through the victory of his passion. We are mindful of the suffering of Jesus who, on the Cross and through his resurrection, reaches into every corner of alienated human life, reconciling and restoring to the household of God all who come to him in faith. By God's grace the church is continually called, in repentance and hope, to be a trustworthy sign to the world of this costly reconciling power of God. We understand that, in obedience to Christ and putting our whole trust in him, we may share in his unity with the Father through the Holy Spirit. Communion in the Trinity is the salvation of the world. The church, thus, exists for the sake of the world. Therefore, for the sake of the world, we have been called "to serve before God day and night in the ministry of reconciliation", (BCP, p.521) which is to be carried out "with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing one another in love, making every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Eph. 4:2-3) We as bishops are not of a common mind about issues concerning human sexuality. Different points of view on these matters also exist within our dioceses and congregations. In some instances there are significant differences between congregation(s) and the bishop and few of our congregations are themselves of one mind. As we exercise pastoral leadership in our dioceses, we pledge ourselves to work always towards the fullest relationship, seeking, as the Archbishop of Canterbury has said, "the highest degree of communion." We are grateful for his leadership and share the pastoral concerns expressed by the Primates of the Anglican Communion in their statement of October 2003, "for those who in all conscience feel bound to dissent from the teaching and practice of their province in such matters." We have committed ourselves to living through this time of disagreement in love and charity and with sensitivity to the pastoral needs of all members of our church. In the circumstance of disagreement regarding the actions of the 74th General Convention on issues of human sexuality, we commit ourselves to providing and to making provision for pastoral care for dissenting congregations, and we recognize that there may be a need for a bishop todelegate some pastoral oversight. Oversight means the episcopal act performed as part of a diocesan bishop's ministry either by the diocesanbishop or by another bishop to whom such responsibility has been delegated by the diocesan bishop. In other Anglican Provinces, the term "pastoraloversight" signifies what we mean by "pastoral care." In our Episcopal Church polity, "oversight" does not confer "jurisdiction." We are aware of current examples of the delegation of pastoral oversight in the gracious accommodations which have occurred in some dioceses.  As we together commit to a process for Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight, we also recognize the constitutional and canonical authority of bishops and the integrity of diocesan boundaries. We are in accord with the statement of the primates: "Whilst we affirm the teaching of successive Lambeth Conferences that bishops must respect the autonomy and territorial integrity of dioceses and provinces other than their own, we call on the provinces concerned to make adequate provision for episcopal oversight of dissenting minorities within their own area of pastoral care in consultation with the Archbishop of Canterbury on behalf of the Primates."  Sensitive pastoral care does not presuppose like-mindedness. Bishops and congregations have frequently disagreed about particular articulations and interpretations of scripture and the Creeds while being able to transcend their differences through common prayer and celebration of the sacraments of the new covenant. The notion that the bishop's views must be in accord with those of a particular rector or congregation for the bishop to be received as chief pastor opens the way to undermining the bishop's pastoral ministry, which must embrace all and "support all baptized people in their gifts and ministries." Our theology and practice hold that ordination and consecration provide the gifts and grace necessary for the sacramental acts of a bishop to be effectual. (See article XXVI of the Articles of Religion: Of the Unworthiness of the Ministers, which hinders not the effect of the Sacraments.) As bishops we share a ministry of episcopé as stewards of the mystery offaith that none of us possesses alone. We believe it is our particular charge to nourish, guard and represent in the church this "unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." We understand this to be for the sake of the world and in fidelity to our Lord who gave his life to restore all to unity with God. We recognize and repent of our failures of charity towards one another in this shared ministry of episcopé, and we pledge ourselves to a sacrificial ministry with one another, valuing in each the presence of the Crucified and Risen Christ. While our unity may be strained, we continue to strive for godly union and concord. Our task requires humility, charity, mutual respect and a willingness to make every effort to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. In March of 2002 the House of Bishops adopted the following covenant: "We believe that the present Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church are sufficient for dealing with questions of episcopal oversight, supplemental episcopal pastoral care, and disputes that may arise between the bishop and a congregation. We encourage that their provisions be used wisely and in the spirit of charity.  "The provision of supplemental episcopal pastoral care shall be under the direction of the bishop of the diocese, who shall invite the visitor and remain in pastoral contact with the congregation. This is to be understood as a temporary arrangement, the ultimate goal of which is the full restoration of the relationship between the congregation and their bishop."  Expanding on this previous agreement, and working always towards "the highest degree of communion," we offer the following recommendations in order to provide Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight. We expect that the first priority in a relationship between a diocesan bishop and congregation is a striving for unity. As such, it is incumbent upon both the bishop and the rector/congregation to meet together, with a consultant, if needed, to find ways to work together. If for serious cause in the light of our current disagreements on issues of human sexuality, the bishop and rector/congregation cannot work together, we propose the following processfor Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight.  1) In the spirit of openness, the rector and vestry, or the canonically designated lay leadership shall meet with the bishop to seek reconciliation. After such a meeting, it is our hope that in most instances a mutually agreeable way forward will be found.  2) If reconciliation does not occur, then the rector and two-thirds of the vestry, or in the absence of a rector, two-thirds of the canonically designated lay leadership, after fully engaging the congregation, may seek from their diocesan bishop, (or the diocesan bishop may suggest) a conference regarding the appropriateness and conditions for Delegated Episcopal Pastoral Oversight. 3) After such a conference the bishop may appoint another bishop to provide pastoral oversight. 4) If no reconciliation is achieved, there may then be an appeal to the bishop who is president or vice-president of the ECUSA province in which the congregation is geographically located, for help in seeking a resolution. Those making such an appeal must inform the other party of their decision to appeal. 5) When such an appeal has been made, the provincial bishop may request two other bishops, representative of the divergent views in this church, to join with the provincial bishop to review the situation, to consider the appeal, and to make recommendations to all parties. If an episcopal visitor is to be invited, that bishop shall be a member in good standing in this Church. 6) When an agreement is reached with respect to a plan, it shall be for the purpose of reconciliation. The plan shall include expectations of all parties, especially mutual accountability. The plan shall be for a stated period of time with regular reviews. The provincial bishop shall periodically inform the Presiding Bishop, the Presiding Bishop's Council of Advice, and the House of Bishops at its regular meetings of the progress and results of this process.  As bishops of this church, we pledge ourselves to pray and work for patience and the generosity of spirit that can enable a pastoral resolution as we live with our differences. As well, we will strive for Godly union and concord as together we seek to be led by the Spirit of truth who, as Jesus tells us, "will guide us into all the truth." (John 16:13) The House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church, 23 March 2004 Join the Guild of the Palm Cross! People of all ages - children, youths, and adults - are invited to join the Guild of the Palm Cross. To join, meet at the Church on Saturday, April 3, at 10:30 a.m. Jennifer Damms will lead the group and provide on the job training in making palm crosses. These crosses will be used in Palm Sunday's procession. This is a fun, easy, and quick project. The Guild of the Palm Cross has made as many as 200 crosses in an hour. Come join the fellowship! EYC Adventure The EYC will be traveling to Bryson City, N.C. April 16-19 to have a weekend of camping, white water rafting, a ropes course challenge, and a ducky trip on the Nantahala River. The church was given a donation specifically for youth camping events. EYC is excited to be able to take advantage of this gift for a weekend of fun and fellowship. If anyone is interested in donating snacks for our road trip and outdoor excursions or other camping supplies, please contact Jessica Callahan at msu_jessica@yahoo.com or Carey Price at cdanprice@yahoo.com. Lenten and Holy Week Events April 1 12:05 p.m. Holy Eucharist & Unction / soup & bread lunch  April 2 5:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross April 3 10:30 a.m. Meet to Make Palm Crosses April 4 8:00 a.m. Palm Sunday 10:30 a.m. Palm Sunday (gather at Narthex steps) April 5 Labyrinth - MSU YMCA Building 5:30 p.m. Compline April 6 Labyrinth - MSU YMCA Building 5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist & Unction April 7 12:05 p.m. Stations of the Cross - MSU Chapel 5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer April 8 7:00 p.m. Maundy Thursday April 9 12:05 p.m. Liturgy for Good Friday 5:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross April 10 10:00 a.m. Easter Egg Hunt 7:30 p.m. Easter Vigil ECW Lunch Resurrection's ECW will have their annual salad lunch on Tuesday, April 20 here in the Student Center. For additional information, please contact Rae Brandon. Blood Drive April 25 Don't forget the United Blood Services Bloodmobile will be in the Merchants & Farmers Bank's parking lot from 11:00 - 2:00 on the April 25. If we meet our quota, the entire parish family will be covered for blood needs for 6 months. Watch for sign up sheets in the Narthex. And don't forget ID! We ask your prayers for... those with child, especially Kathleen Rachel, and Colton...those who suffer in mind, body or spirit, especially A. C., Margie, LaVora, Jeanne, Melanie, Lorenzo, Betsy, Dee, Edna, Don, Nora, Stella, Jan, Oma Lee, Wangua, Luella, Ophelia, Robert, George Ann, Annie, Brenda, Marilyn, Clifford, Dorothy, Rae, Nel, Lee, Jonathon, Bill, Steve, Allison Russell, Becky Sego Simrall, Mary Frances, Tommy Greer, John Luttrel, Peyton Passons, Virginia, Laura, and Kate Hummell....those who serve in the military, especially Steve, David, Chris, Justin, Fran, Bob, Banks, Richard, Andrew and Andy Hyde....and those in harm's way. April Birthdays Jennifer Damms 1 Fred Hansford 2 Mary Claire Jackson 2 Grace Strahan-Piper 2 Bill Batson 3 Tiffany Evans 3 Peyton Passons 4 JB VanLandingham 4 Elizabeth Yarbrough 4 Katie Bullman 6 David Christiansen 7 Tim Cook 8 Ellen Newsom 8 Bill Hardin 9 V VanLandingham 13 Ernie Russell 16 Rae Wilkinson 18 Warnie Kennington 20 Harry (Tres) Tipton 20