The Sunrise ...at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection Starkville, Mississippi September, 2004 Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ…. Starting Sunday, September 12, at 7:00 pm, Resurrection will offer a third eucharistic service on Sundays, followed by light refreshments and discussion. This service has the potential of attracting new persons to the Church of the Resurrection, the Episcopal Church, and into the Body of Christ. While a eucharistic service, the Face to Face service will vary from both our Rite I and Rite II Holy Eucharists. Despite its beauty, nurturing and experience of the Holy, the Episcopal eucharistic liturgy can be both blessing and curse. Through the Eucharist many feel the presence of the Holy and fed and sustained by God. However, our formal liturgy - with its use of service leaflets, inserts, Prayer Books and hymnals and unwritten norms for postures and gestures - proves daunting to many non-Episcopalians. Also, while many welcome the formal and familiar language of our rites, some are unable to connect with the Holy in the worship experience or have found the current liturgies so familiar they are no longer stirred by them. The Church's mission is always to be taking the Good News of Christ to those who have not experienced it. However, at times this mission and serving current members come into conflict. Any variation in our order of worship probably stirs this conflict more than any other issue. For this reason, rather than make any modifications in our current worship services, we further our mission of bringing outsiders to Christ with this new service. We offer Face to Face to better attract and welcome MSU students, persons who have never attended church or are dissatisfied with their current church affiliation and may be drawn to sacramental worship, and Episcopalians desiring a more varied eucharistic experience. The service is also designed to be as accessible (easy to follow and participate) as possible to those who have never experienced an Episcopal service and to maximize congregational participation. The sacramental nature of the liturgy seeks to have participants feel the presence of God, nurtured and called to carry the light of Christ into the world. Those who have participated in this service a few times should then feel very comfortable in a Rite I or II Eucharist. All are invited to participate in the Face to Face service. However, please be aware that while many who attend our 10:30 a.m. service prefer formal hymns and organ music, the music for Face to Face may include Taizé, spiritual, gospel, Celtic and other music types. Instruments will primarily include guitar but may include wind and percussion instruments. None of this will change our current 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. worship services. However, to assist our non-Episcopalian guests who may have difficulty maneuvering multiple books and inserts, for the 10:30 a.m. service, we will be printing complete eucharistic service leaflets (with hymns, BCP text, and readings) in the near future. Please keep this service in your prayers. Pray that our mission of taking the light of Christ into the world be enhanced by this new service. If you know of anyone who may be interested in this service, encourage them to attend. Please promote it wherever you can. Christ's Peace,   NEWS & EVENTS September, 2004   Congratulations Dr. Brandon! Our own Dr. Leonard Brandon was named Mississippi Family Physician of the Year. This annual award is presented by the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians. Congratulations! Music Notes Children's Choir Children's Choir will begin rehearsals on WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 1. The rehearsals will run from 3:30-4:30 and will include after-school snacks. All children in grades 1-6 are invited. Summer Choir Summer choir was a success! Dynamic leadership was provided for the 10:30 service. Thank all of you who gave your talent, your interest, and your spirit. Adults' Choir Adult Choir resumed regular rehearsals on Wednesday, August 18. On August 25, the choir hosted a supper with barbecue cooked on the grill by Michael Fazio. Canterbury students were the choir's guests. The annual choir retreat will be the weekend of September 24-26. Elizabeth Wheatley will return to lead our retreat ,which will focus on the relationship of music to liturgy. Bill, Diane, and Brian will be with us as we work. Bob Damm will be our guest musician! It's Not Too Late to Join…... It's not too late to join a choir - please let us know if you need questions answered or if you need a nudge! Fish Tale Group: New Series for Adult Christian Ed Come and join in an exciting journey through three parables that John Maxwell brings into contemporary focus through a new video/DVD series by his Fish Tale Group. Many of us are familiar with John Maxwell from his one-man show, Oh Mr. Faulkner, Do You Write? He is also the founder of Fish Tale Group, a group whose mission is to energize and revitalize the scri scripture through drama. Fish Tale Group grew from a request by The St. Andrew's Cathedral to Mr. Maxwell in 1990 to write a series of dramatic monologues to be used their Palm Sunday service. Adult Christian Education begins on September 19 and will meet between services from 9:15-10:10 in the Student Center. Sunday School Starts September 19 Sunday, September 19th at 10:15 marks the kick-off for a new year of Sunday School. All children through the twelfth grade are welcome to join the fun. For children through grade 5, the first series of lessons will focus on Genesis. The Christian Education committee has been busy creating plans that include crafts, games, music, stories, drama, snacks, and fun. Each Sunday School lesson will begin with a brief gathering in the Canterbury Lodge. Grades 6-12 have their own groups and will provide occasional assistance with the younger children's classes. Nancy Christiansen leads this group. Make plans now to bring your kids and/or to help with the program. EYC Off to Great Start! EYC has gotten off to a great start for the Fall Semester. We have a great schedule of fun and games planned for this fall. Anyone in grades 6-12 is welcome to come and join in. Also, anyone interested in DOY, Happening or other youth events, see Jessica for more information. POD ….. coming September 12 Inside Resurrection's "POD" are many peas of opportunity waiting to be discovered. On Sunday September 12th in the Student Center we invite you to open the POD and see what peas of interest emerge. Between 9:00 and 10:30AM and 11:30 till 11:45 AM representatives of the different ministries and services will be present to display ,explain, and discuss the many opportunities and needs. Please come by the Student Center on September 12th and open the POD to see what may be of interest to you. Our parish leaders and ministry representatives welcome your presence, curiosity and questions. This will be a fun and festive time. There will be refreshments, activities for the children, and plenty of fellowship. Join us! St. Joseph's Guild's Has Busy Summer Saint Joseph's Guild has been busy over the summer. Bill and Anne Cooke, Peyton Passons, and Michael Fazio have mowed grass and done related work. Pam Collins has continued her development and maintenance of the front bank and the courtyard planting. David Lewis and James McCormick have worked most mornings lately on laying tile at the labyrinth. Clarrisa Balbalian installed irrigation hosing at the bed outside the nursery. Bill Hardin weeded flower beds and did edging. Chris Horton took on painting the Canterbury Lodge after James McCormick pressure-washed all the exterior walls. Diane Livingston joined in as did Brian Ponder when he arrived. Canterbury students worked as well-Corey, Michael, Ginny, Angela, David, Stephen, Watson, Joshua, Emily, Jessica and Shane. Douglas Crawford, who began the project by removing the old gutters, returned to install a new light fixture at the front door and remove other obsolete electrical stuff from the front wall. He also did some locksmith work on the parish hall doors. Melanie Hollister brought up her own bush-hog and cleared all the property north of the lodge in preparation for bible school; a special thanks to her for this. John Beal, as usual, did a little of everything, including light-bulb changing, tending to the mechanical units, and repairing the damage in a Sunday School room caused by a stopped-up drain line-a big and unpleasant task. Sherri VanLandingham and Beth Batson purchased and David VanLandingham and Bill Batson installed Venetian blinds in the nursery. Keep your eyes open for the return of the altar and its ornamental panels and new signage across the property.   September Birthdays 2 Jerry Williams 3 David McMillen 3 Allison Noffisinger 3 Glenda Baswell 3 John Baswell 8 Sally Hester 9 Charles Hester 9 Edna Earle Wilkerson 10 Jim Lane 11 Graham Dewey 12 Pam Collins 13 Dixie McMillen 13 Devyn Green 16 Adrian Lewis 17 Juawice McCormick 18 Bill Tennyson 20 Bill Boyd 20 Glenda Wadsworth 20 Jean Newman 23 Holly Potts 23 Richard Damms 27 Bob Magnum 28 Lorene Martin 28 Don Zacharias 28 Rachael Damms 29 Henry Zimmerman Seeking Silent Auction Items! This year's Stewardship Silent Auction will be Thursday, October 21, beginning at 6:00 p.m. This event culminates our annual Stewardship Pledge collection, with your pledge card serving as your admission. The evening will include a catered hors d'oeuvres and wine and non-alcoholic beverages and opportunities to bid on unique services, art, and collectibles. Watch for more details in the October Sunrise. Right now, we need your donated items for the auction. Items can include art work (both personal art or collected art), antiques, collectibles, wines, vacation getaways and services (gourmet meals or food, professional services, babysitting, etc.). Please, no garage sale type items. The funds raised from the Auction cover the cost of the evening's food, with the remainder appropriated by the Vestry to special Parish needs or Outreach. Please contact David McMillen (324-3141), Beth Batson (323-6525), or Sandra Sistrunk (at the parish office, 323-3483) to donate items. Christmas in the Country This year treat your group (or your staff) to a holiday feast and atmosphere they will not soon forget! Chef Brian Huckaby, Gray Center's culinary master, wants to share the Gray Center experience with you. Space is limited-reserve your party or gathering today. Call 601-859-1556 or email grayctr@netdoor.com for a complete menu, party rates and available dates. Needed: ELFs The Earth Lab at Gray Center needs volunteers-retired teachers, self-employed individuals, or other interested people-to assist the Earth Lab staff in their mission to educate students regarding the wonders and beauties of Earth. All Earth Lab Fellows (ELFs) must meet minimum qualifications of experience and be dependable. Volunteers will participate in training before serving and must agree to work a minimum number of hours per month under staff supervision. Where is Your Passion? Vocation is where our greatest pleasure meets the world's greatest needs (Buechner). You have gifts and talents unique to you that will assist Resurrection in bringing glimpses of the Kingdom of God into this community and the world. That is why God has called you here. Please offer your gifts. Do not assume someone else will do it. Do not wait to be asked. Being asked risks taking on a task that does not fit your gifts. Where is your passion? There is a need at Resurrection that can put your passion to service. The Church of the Resurrection is what is known as a "transition size" parish - meaning we are too large to function depending on clergy to get everything done and not large enough to have staff and programs to provide all our ministries. This makes your (every member of Resurrection regardless of how young or old or how new or long a member) help essential. Elsewhere in this newsletter there is information about Parish Opportunities Day (POD). At POD we will present information about our various ministries that you might like to take advantage of and have sign-up sheets for you to offer your gifts. As examples, we need your help with teaching Sunday School classes, helping with pastoral meals, putting on one of our special parish events, welcoming our guests. We need leaders. Our Outreach Committee Chair is vacant, and we will be electing two new Vestry members and Senior Warden in January. Please sign up at POD or let Fr. Bill know ministry areas you'd like to offer your gifts. From the Vestry The Vestry resumed its normal schedule meeting Monday, August 16 at 7:00pm in the Student Center. Bill opened the meeting by reading a passage from Luke with who would be allowed into Heaven. Our discussion questions were: Where did those who were denied admission, fail? Using our mission statement as our guiding point: What is Resurrection's calling with regard to this scripture? The minutes from our June 21 meeting were approved and the financial statements for July were accepted. Bill announced that our Stewardship Ingathering Silent Auction will be on Thursday, October 21, 2004 and that Brian's Ordination is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, January 12, 2005 at 7:00pm. He also reported on the August cookout and the Face To Face Eucharist which will begin at 7:00 pm on Sunday, September 12. This service, while liturgically correct, will be more contemporary. In addition to being a Eucharist for our Canterbury students, Resurrection's goal is to offer a place of worship for the unchurched and those not pleased with their current situations. It is an additional service and will not replace our regular 8:00 and 10:30 services on Sunday morning. We are trying to live out our mission and reach out to all. The Stewardship Committee has been formed. The format will be slightly different from last year but the message is the same. With all the blessings God has given to each of us, how do we say thank-you? Brian gave a Chaplain's report. He publicly thanked Diane Livingston for all she had done to keep the Canterbury program going, especially over the summer. School has started and he is expecting an exciting fall for our Canterbury students. Dolton McAlpin agreed to serve as Chairman of the Annual Audit Committee. Mary Herman and David VanLandingham have agreed to serve with him. To have some carryover from one year to the next, Mary agreed to serving for two years. She will be the chairman next year. Michael Fazio gave a brief report on the Nave air conditioner. Unfortunately, James McCormick was unable to be present, so our main topic (Christian Ed) was not discussed. Christian Ed is to begin Sunday 19. Peyton Passions reported that POD (Parrish Opportunity Day) will be on Sunday, September 12. The Vestry is hopeful that parishioners will be active participants and agree to use their talents in the way God is leading them. Our next meeting will be Monday, September 20. It will be time for our brief quarterly social. We will meet at James McCormick's, beginning at 6:30pm. Know Someone Who's Interested in Being a Member of the Vestry? The Vestry has decided to begin seeking nominations now for the January 2005 elections. If you'd like to nominate someone, please call the parish office, let Fr. Bill know, or turn in a Vestry nomination form. If you would be willing to serve on the Vestry or as Senior Warden and would like to know more about what is involved, please talk with Fr. Bill or one the Vestry members. O Donors, where art thou? Resurrection's fall blood drive is Sunday, September 19. All blood types, especially type O, are needed. Most of us know O negative is the universal donor but probably were not as aware that the most used and most needed blood type is O positive. United Blood Services Bloodmobile will be in Merchants & Farmers Bank's parking lot from 10:30-2:00 on the 19th. Sign up sheets and qualifications are posted in the Narthex. Bring ID and a list of medications taken in the last month - help us meet our quota and insure our parish family is covered! ECW Meet & Greet Brian Ponder Episcopal Church Women are invited to visit with Brian Ponder, our new Chaplain, on Thursday, September 16 in the Student Center. There will be a short business meeting beginning at 10:30 a.m., followed by time with Brian at 11:00 a.m., and the healing service at 12:00 noon. Please join ECW in welcoming Brian to Resurrection, even if you can only visit for a few minutes. Thank You, Kathy! Our thanks to Kathy Brandon for coordinating our August 6 cookout. Great food and great fun was had by all! Your prayers are asked for... those with child, especially Rachel, Maribel, and Emily…..those who suffer in mind, body or spirit, especially A. C., Margie, LaVora, Jeanne, Melanie, Lorenzo, Dee, Edna, Don, Nora, Jan, Oma Lee, Ophelia, Nel, Bill Boyd, Becky Seago Simrall, Tommy Greer, Michelle, Donald Mosley, Charlie Jackson, Larry Heath, Marian, Banks Waldrop, Mary Frances Mansfield, Charles Gunnell, Judy Kirkpatrick, Susie Owings, Tom Roberson, Melinda Gwin, Marlo Lemke, the Billiots, the Colemans, Jim LeBatard, and the victims of Hurricane Charley.....those who serve in the military, especially Steve, David, Chris, Justin, Fran, Bob, Banks, Richard, Andrew, Andy Hyde, and Steve Carmichael…..and those in harm's way. Other Coming Events and Important Dates SEPTEMBER 10 Budget packets to committee chairs 12 Resurrection Parish Opportunity Day 12 Face to Face (see insert) 15 Budget packets to congregations 15-16 "The Challenge in the 21st Century", St. James, Jackson (details in September issue, The Missis- sippi Episcopalian) 18 Day on the Diaconate, Gray Center 19 Resurrection's Fall Blood Drive 24-26 Resurrection Choir Retreat 24-26 Senior DOY, grades 9-12, Camp Bratton-Green OCTOBER 4-7 Presbyters' Conference 14-15 "The Challenge in the 21st Century", St. Peter's, Oxford 18 MDC budgets due to commissioners; budget requests for supported missions & institutional minis tries due to diocesan office 19-20 "The Challenge in the 21st Century", Nativity, Greenwood 21 Resurrection's Silent Auction 26-27 "The Challenge in the 21st Century", Resurrec tion, Starkville 21-24 Cursillo #105, Gray Center 29-31 Junior DOY, grades 6-8, Camp Bratton-Green 31 VPG% report due to diocesan office NOVEMBER 1 2005 budget requests due to diocesan office; deadline for all reports for publication in Council edition of The Mississippi Episcopalian 2 Budget hearings 5-7 New Beginnings #10, Camp Bratton-Green 12-13 ECW Fall Conference and Annual Meeting 12-14 Vocare #33 and Deacons' Winter Retreat 28-31 Cursillo #105, Gray Center and Men's Kairos #11, CMCF, Pearl 29-31 Junior DOY, grades 6-8, Camp Bratton-Green DECEMBER 3-5 Signs of Endings, Big House 10 VPG $ estimate due to diocesan office 13 Finance Committee meeting 15 Pre-filed resolutions & nominations due to the Secretary of Council 20 Executive Committee Meeting 27 Winter Solstice, Gray Center JANUARY 10 Registration deadline for Annual Council 28-30 The 178th ANNUAL COUNCIL, NATCHEZ New Sunday School Program Structure Announced The Christian Education Committee is proud to announce major changes in the Sunday School program at Resurrection. The new plan is designed to provide each age group with a series of exciting activities while enabling the adult volunteers to focus on using their personal talents in creating the lesson plans. A major advantage of this new structure is that adult volunteers can participate for brief stints (rather than committing for several months of service). Also, each volunteer can focus on helping with just one aspect of the overall lesson plan (rather than trying to 'do it all'). The goal for this new structure is to broaden the pool of adults who can (and will) assist with this important mission of our church. For example, if somebody loves to "do crafts", they can team up with another craft person or two and help for 2 to 4 weeks. Or, if somebody wants to "just do music", they can pitch in along with other musical types and help with the music for a few Sundays. This new scheme is intended to avoid 'teacher burn-out' by allowing people to share the fun while avoiding the fate of becoming a long-serving, bitter, unsung hero. The younger Sunday School students will be divided into three age groups: Kindergarten and Younger, First thru Third grade, and Fourth and Fifth grade. Sixth thru Twelfth graders will also have their own group(s) and will provide occasional assistance to the younger children's classes. Each of the age groups will rotate from week to week between different activities that include crafts, music, drama, storytelling, games, and snack making. Each activity will relate somehow to the theme for each series of classes. The first series will focus on Genesis and it is expected to last about 5 or 6 weeks. The second series will focus on Exodus. Plans for these first two series are still underway, so if you have an idea or suggestion, please share your idea. An information booth at the Parish Opportunity Day will provide additional information for parents, children, and volunteers. Old Neckties Needed for Crafts Project Our Sunday Schoolers will be using old neckties for a craft project in September. Please bring any unneeded ties to church and place them into the specially marked box in the Student Center. Outdated, faded, stained, frayed, or just plain old ugly ties are welcomed. This is a great opportunity to clean out your closet and help our new Christian Education program.