The Sunrise ...at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection Starkville, Mississippi October, 2005 Dear Brothers and Sisters, I encourage all of us, but particularly parents, to teach children about stewardship - not about the parish budget but how our use of money and possessions reflects our relationship with God - and to help our children grow grateful, generous hearts. Those attending Wednesday Agape Meals know we have asked children and youth to bring offerings each week to be placed in the beautiful "church" handcrafted by Cindy Villavaso and Barbara McCain. On Sundays one of the children will present this offering, along with ushers and oblation bearers and our other gifts, at the Altar. By doing so, we teach our children about generosity and also include their offerings in our liturgy. During stewardship discussion groups in previous years, I asked folks why they gave to this church. Almost all responded because they were taught as children to bring their nickels, dimes, quarters, even dollars for the "Sunday School offering," to share, to give to others in need and to practice generosity. However, as a society, we no longer teach such values, and I fear we, the church, are falling abysmally short in helping our children and helping parents teach children to grow grateful, generous hearts. In our 21st century Western culture, children are bombarded from every direction by messages encouraging them to consume and seek self-gratification. Children's television is merely non-stop advertising, with marketing subliminally implanted within the programs. Movies and other media targeted toward children and youth offer a world in which one's worth is determined by the clothes one wears and the gadgets one carries. Happiness, satisfaction, acceptance, meaning, love, etc. come only in acquisitions. Peer pressure only reinforces these values. We live in a world of abundance which history has never known, but we live our lives based on the myth of scarcity that only having more will make life make sense. Only in the home and in church will children develop an appreciation for and practice of generosity. A child will develop generosity only if encouraged, nurtured and taught, and this is a community responsibility. In our intensely individualistic culture, building a life around the notion that all that we are and all that we have are gifts from God is about as counter-cultural as you can get. Therefore, one of the delights of church and of parents is helping children discover their own giftedness, seeing themselves as persons to whom God has given a unique assortment of gifts. An even greater joy is encouraging their discernment of the ways that God hopes they will use these gifts. Simply stated, stewardship is using the gifts God has given us, to do the things God asks us to do, and it begins with a joyous awareness of God's great love for us and gratitude for the abundance of God's gifts and the wonder of Creation. Parents help children grow a generous, grateful heart by helping them to see God's great generosity and love talking about money: what it is, what it means to them, how it can do good and harm helping others and including children so they see the act and understand the good done talking with their children about the parents' gift to the church: why they give and how they decide how much to give encouraging your child to make (and honor) a pledge to the church. We have a young child who has pledged a dollar a week for the last two years. In response, I send her a "thank you" note for her pledge, and we provide her giving envelopes and send her giving statements quarterly. Is all this worth $52 a year? If it's about the budget, no, it's not. If it's about a child growing a grateful, generous heart, it's priceless.   Christ's Peace, NEWS & EVENTS October, 2005 Newsletter   The Columbarium: Phase 2 - the Garden! Our Columbarium was completed and blessed in a beautiful and meaningful ceremony by the Bishop in September 2004. Five inurnments have occurred in just the past few months. David Lewis and his many helpers have worked hard on building our Labyrinth. Soon it will be finished, making it possible to go to Phase 2 of our plan. We are ready to finish our planting design. Please help us make this dream come true by buying a bush or two or maybe a tree. We also have listed two crosses and two granite benches that would make wonderful memorial donations as part of our needs. Plantings needed: 12 Winter Gem Boxwoods at $20 each; 2 Bloodgood Japanese Maples at $225 each,; 5 winter jasmine at $35 each; 2 Japanese Cleyera at $50 each; 2 Royal Star Magnolia at $60 each; and 13 nandinas at $35 each. Suggested memorial items: 1 bronze Celtic (27"x47") to stand in the garden, $2,000; 1 bronze cross (48" tall) to be attached to Columbarium wall $1,600; 2 granite garden benches at $900 each. Please mail your donations or contributions to the church office at P.O. Box 1566, Starkville, MS 39760-1566.     Our Servant Ministry Pantry & Shelter Items Breakfast foods - grits, oatmeal, cereal bars, and such - and shampoo are the October pantry and shelter shopping list items. Thank you for sharing with so many through your contributions to Peter's Rock Food Panty and Safe Haven's Shelter. Plans and Projects The committee has several projects they are currently working on: Thanksgiving and Christmas with our adopted families The El Salvador mission trip Exploring the possibilities of a project with the Boys & Girls Club For more information on these and other projects, watch for details in the newsletter and Sunday announcements, contact a committee member, or join the committee at their next meeting! Next Meeting The committee meets on the third Wednesday of each month. The next committee meeting is Wednesday, October 20, at noon in the Student Center. Bring a lunch and join the group - all are welcome!     Stewardship In-Gathering Please turn in your completed pledge card. You can place in the Sunday Offering or bring or mail it to the Parish Office. At the Holy Eucharist on Sunday, October 23, all pledge cards received will be presented at the Altar to be blessed, as a sign of our offering our gifts back to God from our abundance in thanksgiving for our blessings and for God to bless and use in bringing about the kingdom of God in this community.   A big THANK YOU! to our Blood Donors Good news! Thanks to the generosity of the following folks, Resurrrection is covered for blood needs for another 6 months. Glen Cook Thomas Coleman Grace Piper Larry Oldham Rae Wilkinson Brian Arnett Bill Harden Ian Smithson Lois Connington Claire Fellman Deborah Nettles Russell Gaines Betty Rawlings Carlton Polk David Vanlandingham Should the need arise, call United Blood Services at the number listed in the Church directory after you have received the blood and they will tell you how to proceed. to our Christian Educators A BIG THANK YOU to all who are teaching our youth this year on Wednesday evenings: Marianne Crowell & Beath Lane (kindergarten); Emily Easterling & Rowena Kelley (first thru third grades); Nancy & David Christiansen (fourth thru sixth grades); and Paul Martin & James McCormick (junior/senior high)! Thanks for your commitment to our children and youth education/formation programming. Thanks for your leadership! for our Wednesday Agape Meals Thank you, Beth Batson, for getting us off to such a wonderful start. to our Discernment Process Leaders Thank you Mary Lee Beal and Leigh Jensen Crawford for coordinating this process, our history tellers (Betsy Stark, Rae Brandon, Steven Brandon, Frank Switzer), John Beal for the lunch setup and cleanup, and our group facilitators (Clarissa Balbalian, Bill Batson, Glen Cook, Susan Cook, Mary Hermann, Jim Jones, Rowena Kelley, Dolton McAlpin, Melinda Myers, Debbie Nettles, Ginny Powell, Carey Price, Beatrice Tatem, and Rae Wilkinson. and to our Silent Auction Volunteers Thank you to Karen Koch and all the Silent Auction helpers! It was a wonderful event, enjoyed by many.   Discernment Small Groups Meet in October Our Discernment Process continues. The small groups will be meeting in the month of October. When you are called, please plan to attend. If you have a scheduling conflict, you can be assigned to another group. This is a very important part of our process. This is your opportunity to have anonymous input into how you perceive our church and what you wish for our future. Please say "yes" when called.   Wednesday Agape Meals & Christian Formation 5:15-6:15 PM Dinner 6:15-7:15 PMChristian formation: Children and Adult Canterbury Fellowship   Music Notes Adult Choir We honor long-time and faithful choir member Don Emerich who is retiring from the choir. His joyful countenance and his talent have added vibrancy and beauty to the choir. We thank him and wish him Godspeed. We welcome Ginny Dearman and her son Christopher Dearman to the choir. Members of the Adult Choir journeyed to Gray Center in August for "Troubling the Waters" music on Friday and spent the night in Jackson in order to attend the Tent Meeting on Saturday. We made much music, some of it pretty energetic and all of it an inspiration to us. Some of the music we will bring to our worship at Resurrection, but all of the inspiration we want to share. Your Organist/choirmaster was honored to have carried the water from our Parish to the Tent Meeting in the beautiful vessel which Dixie McMillen made of Mississippi clays. Children's Choir The children have begun their singing and their learning as of September 21. All children entering first through sixth grades are welcome to join us! Face to Face Holy Eucharist This Sunday evening service offers an opportunity to worship and meditate, some of this time with music from the Taizé tradition. The underlying aim of the Taizé music is to enter together into the mystery of God's presence. The short songs which are repeated again and again give the music a meditative character. As the words are sung over and over, the reality of faith penetrates the whole being. These simple songs enable us to keep on praying, when we are alone, by day, by night, and sometimes in the silence of our hearts when we are at work. Singing the Creed on All Saints' Day As a part of feast celebrations during the Church Year, we will sing the Nicene Creed. The next feast day is All Saints' Day and will be celebrated on November 6. You are invited to join us in song or to read the words aloud or silently as we sing.   The Choir Chairs The beautiful new choir chairs were blessed at the 10:30 service on September 11. In the bulletin that day was included a list of donors. Here is a reprinting (with corrections) of that list: Choir chairs have been given to the Glory of God by… Mary Eleanor and Bob Anderson Clarissa Balbalian Beth and Bill Batson Mary Lee and John Beal Sue and Tom Bell Rae and Leonard Brandon Frances and Jim Carson Pam and Bob Collins Lois Connington Leigh and Douglas Crawford and Claire Babs Deas Jan Evers Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Leanne and Michael Fazio Lynn and Russell Gaines Nancy and Guy Hargrove Eileen Hayes and Joel VanDerWeele Brenda and Charles Jackson, Will, Claire and Carol Alice and Jim Jones Jean and Charles Little Martha and Dolton McAlpin Sylvia Milosh Lu and Frank Switzer Sherrie and David VanLandingham Rae Wilkinson and Larry Oldham Jerry Williams Jude and Alan Wood …and in loving memory of… Frances Batson Mr. And Mrs. John Aaron Beal, Sr. Evelyn Hargrove Louise Hayes Melanie Hollister Katharine Hollister Gertrude Carpenter Jackson Benjamin A. Little and Eunice L. Little Mr. And Mrs. William Henry Nelson Susie Owings Mary Christine Gregory Reese John H. Shamburger Walker Sisk Robert VanDerWeele Lavora Williams  …and in honor of … Bob Collins, as mentor of EFM The marriage of Lynn and Russell Gaines Music The ordination of Brian Ponder The three altos who sang for the wedding ceremony of Lynn and Russell Gaines: Clarissa Balbalian, Pam Collins, and Rachel McCann Please help us if we have left any names off the above list: call Leanne at 312-1481 or call the church office.   October Birthdays 1 Walt Hillen 1 Karen Koch 7 Rick Noffsinger 8 Marilyn Boy 8 Carlton Polk 10 Sam Polk 11 Arleen Clapp 11 Roger Clapp 14 Hannah McCormick 16 Sidney McDaniel 16 Carol Jackson 17 Michael Fazio 20 Ginny Powell 21 Joshua Andrews 22 John Beal 23 Steven Brandon 24 Tommie Zacharias 26 James McCormick 27 Bob Collins 27 Mark Bullman 28 David Lewis 29 Russell Gaines 29 Kim Noffsinger 29 Greg Schuster 30 Pam Kilby 31 Clyde Williams   From the Vestry The vestry of the Church of the Resurrection met at 7:00 PM on September 19, 2005. The meeting began with a Bible Study and discussion. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved, and the financial report was accepted. David McMillen reported on the Silent Auction with a very special thank-you going to Karen Koch for the delicious food. The auction took in about $2,500.00 which, after expenses, will go to hurricane relief. Bill updated the vestry on the hurricane relief efforts. Not counting money from the Silent Auction, Resurrection has raised $10,000.00, a remarkable amount for a Parish this size. We have an amazingly generous membership. The money is being used here in Starkville to assist evacuees and assist the Red Cross shelter. What is not spent here will go to the Diocese for the coast. The Parish Discernment process kicks off on September 25th with one service at 9:30 am to 11:30 am and lunch following. Vestry members and greeters will call church members to remind them and encourage them to come. The Wednesday night Agape Dinners begin this Wednesday September 21st. Beth Batson reported that all was ready. Established groups within the Parish will assist with set-up, money taking, serving and clean-up. Since Tom Coleman was out of town, Bill reported the nominating committee has two nominees and is working on the third. Please be receptive to these folks (Tom Coleman, Michael Fazio, and Beth Batson) if approached. Rachel McCann is working to produce a pictorial directory. Using digital cameras and a computer program to scan photos in, she hopes to have a directory out by mid-November that is easy to update. Since both Christmas Day and New Year's Day fall on a Sunday this year, the vestry voted to have one service at 9:30 am on these two days. Following prayer the meeting was adjourned. Babs Deas, Senior Warden   Canterbury Heads to the Coast Canterbury Fellowship is planning a trip to the MS Gulf Coast to assist in relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina. Work will be based out of Coast Episcopal School (Long Beach). This facility is a distribution center for Lutheran Episcopal Services of Mississippi (LESM), a joint ministry of the MS ELCA and Episcopal churches, and coordinates supply distribution to the Coast and surrounding regions. Coast Episcopal also serves several thousands of meals per day to workers and those affected by Katrina. Canterbury is planning to work on the Coast during a portion or all of Fall Break, October 14-18. This opportunity is open to students and parishioners. For more information about participating, Please contact Brian in the church office or by email at msu_canterbury@bellsouth.net.   New Meal Deal for Canterbury With the new Christian Formation format beginning this fall, Canterbury will be joining the parish for dinner on Wednesday evenings. Over the years, a provided meal has been an important draw for our students, and we'd like to continue that practice in a different way. If you'd like to make a donation to help defray, or, better yet, cover the cost of student meals for Wednesday evenings, please contact Ginny Powell at 312-1990 or Brian Ponder at 323-3483 about doing so. We'd like to keep meals free or low-cost to students and hope that by doing so we encourage their participating more actively in the life of the parish.   Tailgating Time! Canterbury and the parish Young Adults and Families committee announce plans for fall tailgating! EVERYONE'S invited! Please join us for tailgating on each of the home football game days (except for the Egg Bowl) under the Episcopal Tent! Watch for our tent outside the stadium between Darden and Creelman. Paper products, cups and dinner ware, a hot grill and lots of lemonade will be provided. Bring something to throw on the grill and a side item or appetizer to share (with serving utensil if necessary)! Plan on joining us at least a couple of hours before kickoff. Come show your team (and church) spirit! Go Dawgs! Tailgate Schedule October 1 MSU v. LSU, game time 1:30 pm October 22 MSU v. Houston, game time 1:30 p.m. November 5 MSU v. Alabama, TBA   YAYFC October Events The Young Adults and Families committee has several activities planned for October. The month starts and ends with tailgating (see story above) on Saturday, October 1, and Saturday, October 22.. The third Saturday playgroup meets on October 15 at 9:00 a.m. in McKee Park. A wine tasting is planned for Friday, October 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the Canterbury Lodge. The nursery will be open that evening. For more information about these events or YAYFC, please contact Emily Easterling at 418-5421 or by email at emily.easterling@gmail.com.   Fall Youth & Young Adult Activities Announced The following events are a great way for youth to get connected with others from around the diocese, to make new friends and to deepen their own understanding of a personal and corporate faith within the life of the church! Each includes lots of singing, games, activities and formational teachings. From DOY to Happening and Vocare and everything in between, the diocese offers a wide variety of opportunities for spiritual growth for our youth. If you have questions, please address them to Brian Ponder, chaplain, or Carey Price, our EYC coordinator, for more information. Applications are available in the parish office and in the Canterbury Lodge. Descriptions and dates for each event are listed below. Fuller descriptions as well as applications can also be found on the diocesan youth website at: http://www.dioms.org/episcoyouth.htm. Cost for each event includes all meals, lodging, t-shirt and picture. Some scholarship assistance is available through the parish office. See Brian for details. Unless otherwise indicated, all events take place at Camp Bratton-Green in Canton. For Jr. High Students Jr. DOY--October 28-30--a weekend of fun, games and programming geared for jr. high students. DOY (Division of Youth) is like a mini-camp session held over the weekends twice a year (once in the fall and again in the spring.) Programming/theme is different each time. New Beginnings--November 18-20--a renewal weekend for jr. high students. NB #12 offers times for small group discussions, reflection and listening to one another. There are games and singing, and the format is very much like Happening, Vocare, Cursillo and other renewal movements within the church. For Sr. High Students Sr. DOY--was September 23-25. Happening in MS--November 11-13 at Redeemer, Brookhaven--Happening #62 offers a series of talks and small group reflections and is a long-standing renewal movement within the church and diocese. Lots of music, games and also time for worship and prayer. Happening focuses on the person of Jesus Christ and our personal response to Christ in our everyday lives. Happening Reunion--November 11-13--is similar in format to Happening, and offers an opportunity to support Happening weekends that are held simultaneously. This weekend is geared to folks to have already attended Happening. Location TBA. Signs of Endings--December 2-4--held at the Big House at camp, Signs of Endings #4 is an Advent Retreat for youth and often focuses on bridging the gap between high school and college. It focuses on the transition, how to stay involved, how to keep connected and how to maintain one's spirituality and prayer life during this time. Winter Solstice--December 27-January 1--offers a "summer" camp experience at the end of the year. Since the summer schedule cannot accommodate a senior high session, Winter Solstice affords folks a chance to "live it up" over the holiday season. Lots of fun. Great program! The Coffee House Talent Show always ROCKS! Always a formal dinner and dance on New Year's Eve. For College Students & Young Adults VOCARE in MS--October 21-23--a renewal weekend for folks aged 19-29, Vocare offers a series of talks and reflections geared towards discerning life's vocation. Vocare promotes the idea that each and every person is issued a "call" in life and helps pilgrims to begin to discern just what that call may be. CBG Permanent Staff--December 15--deadline to apply for Camp Bratton-Green Permanent Staff for summer 2006. Applications are available by calling Gray Center at 601.859.1556.   Acolyte Congratulations Congratulations to Matthew Christiansen, who won the Acolyte Scavenger Hunt. Following annual acolyte training on September 11, acolytes were given the chance to become more familiar with the church's interior, furnishings and architecture by participating in this scavenger hunt and locating/identifying Alphas and Omegas, the seal of the diocese, similar crosses, the apostles' shields, Chi Rhos, mitres and croziers, and other interesting details in the "story" that our church building tells. Matthew was the first to correctly fill out the scavenger hunt "entry form" and submit it to the parish office. A prize is now awaiting you in the parish office, Matthew!   St. Francis Day & Blessing of the Animals: Oct. 2 The annual St. Francis Day celebration with Blessing of the Animals will take place at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 2, in the church parking lot. Whether your pet be hoofed or winged, pawed, clawed or even bipedal, join us for this yearly celebration of God's creation and those who bring our lives so much joy. Treats for humans and their owners will be served!   The Brotherhood of St. Andrew The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is an organization of men in local faith communities, committed to prayer, service and learning. It is quite similar to our newly formed chapter of Daughters of the King and is open to all men of the parish and college students. On October 8 a representative will be at Resurrection to talk about the Brotherhood of St. Andrew and to look at forming a chapter here. The session will begin with a continental breakfast at 9:30 a.m. and program will follow from 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Anyone interested in attending should sign up on the sheet in the Narthex or call Brian for more information.   Christian sympathy is extended to Margaret Mosley on the death of her brother, Clyde Brooks. "Rest eternal grant him O Father, and let light perpetual shine upon him."