The Sunrise ...at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection Starkville, Mississippi March, 2005 Dear Brothers and Sisters, Our Lenten journey together has begun. Following a wonderful and joy-filled celebration on Shrove Tuesday evening complete with red beans and rice in the parish hall, Lent was ushered in with our keeping of annual Ash Wednesday services both in our nave and on the MSU campus. Lent has come to mean several things for each and every one of us: a time of fasting and prayer; a time for scaling back; a time for reflection and repentance; maybe even a time for taking on some kind of discipline in certain areas of our lives. The way we live out our piety in this season of Lent will look very different amongst us, but the root, if done in genuineness and as a response of gratefulness for the measure of God's love, will be tended in sincerity and reverence, however our practices may take shape. This journey is a long one. Lent takes us through the story of the life of Jesus. It pulls us into his story as we mark Jesus' ministry through its various stages. It takes us to moments of extreme joy-filled celebration within his ministry, and then it thrusts us in darkness into the tomb-the grave itself. Then, we hear again the Easter story. But I suggest that it's too quick for us to make that leap just yet. As Bill stated in this column last month, to understand the richness of Easter we must journey through Lent-this holy, hallowed Lent. To understand Easter more fully, I invite your participation in our Lenten offerings, especially our Holy Week liturgies. Easter is best experienced through this lens. For me, it's all too easy to want to quickly look beyond the desperation and tragedy at the end of Holy Week, making a quick bridge to Easter and its season of joy. As a community of faith, though, we are invited, called into the full experience of Jesus' life even, and especially, at his darkest hours. Watching and waiting throughout this journey helps us to know more clearly the work of salvation accomplished for us and this world on the cross and in Jesus' bursting forth from the tomb. Understanding the story more fully helps us to know more clearly and authentically our place within the story. In other words, our Lenten journey is about being real. It's about being raw. It's about waiting, eyes-wide-open. It's about listening and discerning the movement of Jesus in our own lives and in our own day. It's about finding ourselves within the story of salvation. This movement through Lent helps us to understand ourselves as part of the Paschal Mystery. We are the Paschal Mystery. We are an Easter people, and in order to live our lives as the people of God and the Body of Christ, we must be willing to share in the story and understand our role in that same Mystery of faith. We journey through Lent to recall our story, to retell it, in order to be remembered and made whole. There is no Good News if the grave is it. There is no rejoicing or redemption if the story ends with Good Friday, but we all must face Good Friday and its horrible realities. Good Fridays are part of our story. The Paschal Mystery we celebrate at the Easter Vigil, on Easter Day, and indeed every Sunday, calls us into relationship, making our stories one. Through these celebrations, we rejoice in a oneness with Jesus, a relationship with Other, communion with God. In light of this, maybe this process of Lenten journeying can be a time for us to reflect upon those things that would hinder us from relationship, those things that become obstacles in our experience of the Other. What are the desperations that are debilitating us or parts of our lives? Our families? Our relationships? Our workplaces or classrooms? Our cities and towns? Our world? Our Church? Maybe-just maybe-Lent, within the context of the approaching celebration of Easter, offers us a hope to live beyond the tensions, realizing just what it is in our several lives that might compel us to take a chance and embolden us to face our fears and obstacles and claim Jesus as all we ever need or needed. We may want to segue straightway into Easter, but that doesn't mean that we can or should overlook the dark places in which we may find ourselves; rather it means that there is light at the end of the tunnel-that there is joy on the other side of the fear and hopelessness of the grave. Sometimes it takes Maundy Thursdays, Good Fridays and Holy Saturdays to realize the fuller joys of Easter. May we all find joy and peace in what lies ahead. May we await again this story of salvation-our story of salvation. Christ's Peace, NEWS & EVENTS March, 2005 Newsletter   Music Notes Face to Face Thanks to Rachel McCann, who is leading the music, and to Dolton McAlpin, who is accompanying with percussion for the Face to Face Sunday evening service. We all enjoyed singing with Fran McKendree on February 20th. Children's Choir The children are preparing to sing for a Sunday in Lent, on Palm Sunday, and to ring bells on Easter Sunday. They are also working on reading musical notation. Adult Choir Instead of Wednesdays at 5:30, the choir is rehearsing Sunday mornings at 9:00 in the Parish Hall until Easter Sunday. This allows choir members to attend the Wednesday evening Lenten study. Leigh Jensen Crawford and Leanne Fazio attended and sang in the choir at Annual Council in Vicksburg. On February 27, choir members Pam Collins, Clarissa Balbalian, and Leanne Fazio sang in the choir at St. Joseph's Catholic Church for a celebration of African music for Black History Month.   Mississippi Conference on Music & Liturgy Convenes at 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 2 and concludes after Lunch on Sunday, August 7, 2005 JOIN US AS WE RETURN HOME TO GRAY CENTER Visit www.mississippiconference.org for details on faculty and registration or contact conference director via email, ellenj95@bellsouth.net HOPE WE SEE YOU THERE !!!   Thanks! Our sincere thanks go to Arlene and Roger Clapp (for coordinating), Michael Fazio (for doing all the cooking) and all those who helped set up, serve and cleanup at the Shrove Tuesday Red Beans and Rice celebration. As always, Michael's Red Beans and Rice were tres bien! The Mardi Gras decorations added to the festive mood. The serving and cleanup went off without a glitch. Good food and good time were had by all.   EYC News Diocesan Youth Event Applications Available As foretold in last month's newsletter, applications for diocesan youth events are now available. You may pick them up in the Canterbury Lodge or the church office, or you may check online at www.dioms.org, going to the Episcoyouth page. We have forms available for: Happening, Happening Reunion, New Beginnings, and DOY events. Staff applications are also available. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate contacting Fr. Brian. Annual Council Participation Church of the Resurrection was represented by three high school youth at Annual Council and Youth Council, both held in Natchez in January! Thank you, Kate Boihem (Tombigbee Convocation alternate); Emily Brandon and Hannah McCormick! As mentioned elsewhere in this newsletter Canterbury students and EYC coordinators, Jessica Callahan and Carey Price, also attended. You represented us well Camp Bratton-Green Applications Accepted Please don't forget that applications for summer sessions at Camp Bratton-Green are available in both the church office and the narthex. Applications will be accepted beginning no earlier than March 1. If you have questions, please contact Fr. Brian. Staff applications are also now being accepted!   Servant Ministry Another Apostles House! Habitat for Humanity is beginning another Apostles House which is a house sponsored by churches. 308 West Main will become the home of LaToya Weaver and her three children. A blessing was held on Wednesday, February 16 and much of the beginning work will be done by teams of college students who will come to Starkville on their spring breaks. The family is very excited and will be participating in some of the work. The mother began work at Kentucky Fried Chicken her junior year in high school and is now serving as manager. She is delightful and very willing to share her story as well as her appreciation for being selected as a Habitat family. All churches are asked to pray for this venture, to contribute funds, to serve as middle managers to help supervise student workers during March (there is a sign-up sheet for this in the narthex) and to prepare an evening meal for the student workers from out of state. Our parish will do this on Monday, March 14. The Apostles House is truly a community response to helping a family obtain better housing. Food Pantry & Safe Haven The focus items for March to help the Salvation Army Pantry and Safe Haven Shelter are TUNA and DEODORANT. Whenever you come to church during March, please drop off these needed items in the basket in the narthex. Thanks to everyone for helping with this project! Adopted Families - Staying in Touch The Servant Ministry Committee is calling our Christmas adopted families each month to stay in touch with them. Besides the assistance at Christmas, the committee has decided to remember the families at Easter, in August for Back-to-School, at Thanksgiving, and with birthday cards. One family is in need of a set of twin sheets, full/double sheets, and pots and pans to cook with. Any of these can be used if still in good condition. Please let Diane know if you may have these items to share (615-0956). Please keep Lataraisha in your prayers. She is the mom in one family who is battling lupus and is having very serious consequences that affect her kidneys. She has 2 very young children and is remarkable in her efforts to care for them and deal with her own medical problems. Also, our bed-bound Mellie wants you to pray for her. She also reminds us that she is praying for us and is very serious about this.   March Birthdays 1 Nina Chatham 2 Jan Rhodes 3 Douglas Crawford 4 Keith Baca 5 Tracy Stebbins 6 Young Kerby 7 Reed Green 8 Jonathon Wray 24 Caroline Brandon 24 Marsha Williams 24 Gretchen Simmons 26 Mary Switzer 30 Claire Potts Do you know someone who needs a part-time employee? Martin Noah, our MSU student from Sudan, is still seeking part-time employment. He has transportation and references. If you have any leads for Martin, please see Diane Livingston.     The Dio Gram The Diocese of Mississippi: March 2005   2005 Pioneer Camp & Camp Bratton-Green Applications must be postmarked on or after March 1 and are available through your local church office or from Gray Center. But don't delay - all sessions typically fill up prior to their scheduled dates! Also remember that Pioneer Camps have EARLIER and VARIED DEADLINES for each session. For more information on how to scholarship or sponsor a camper, contact your local clergy or call Gray Center 601-859-1556. Save the Date August 19-20 have been set aside for an event to revive all Mississippi Episcopalians and to give Bishop Gray an opportunity to further detail the vision he has developed for his episcopacy. A location and more details will soon be announced, but Dr. Horace Boyer and Fran McKendree are the first two special guests on board to make this an event to remember !!! DOK Annual DOK Spring Retreat at Gray Center, April 8-9. The Rt. Rev. Duncan M. Gray, III will lead the participants in "Praying With the People of God." The cost is $85 and includes accommodations, 3 meals and all retreat materials. The registration deadline is March 5. For information and to register, contact Pamela Leonard, DOK president, 601-352-8971. Camp Caritas of Mississippi The Diocesan Committee on Prison Ministry needs YOUR HELP in making the second annual Camp Caritas, June 19-24 at Gray Center, a success. There is a need for Staff Members and House Parents (some staff positions do not require the full week's commitment). Financial support is needed to sponsor the 24 children who will attend the camp. This event helps to change the lives of children who have one or both parents incarcerated. For more information, contact Gay Yerger, 601-856-1776, byerger@jam.rr.com. Send contributions made out to "Diocese of Mississippi," earmarked "Camp Caritas" to P.O. Box 23107, Jackson, 39225-3107. Spring Silent Retreat The 2005 Spring Silent Retreat will feature the Rev. John Staggs, President of the MS Chapter of the Thomas Merton Society, and the theme "Thomas Merton and the Contemplative Life." Topics will include "Why I became interested in Thomas Merton," "The value of silence" and "Contemplation." Reservations are limited to 16 single rooms at Gray Center and are made on the basis of fees received. The cost for the weekend is $150. For more information contact the Rev. Alston Johnson, 601-354-1535 or email. ECW Spring Conference The Annual ECW Spring Conference is April 15 & 16 at Gray Center. The speaker is Celeste Zepponi, an artist and musician. Her program is entitled Using Creativity to Pray. Brochures will go out around March 1st. Registration is $25.00 plus room and board at Gray Center. For more information, contact Lollie Everett by phone at 601-824-0791 or by email at lollieeverett@suscom.net.   Congratulations! At the Annual Conference, Anita George was elected as a delegate to General Convention in 2006.   Young Adult Summer Internships College aged students are encouraged to apply for the 2005 Young Adult Summer Internships. This group assists the Rev. Canon Yamily Bass-Choate with the growing number of annual "DeColores" Vacation Bible Schools at smaller churches in our diocese. Each year, over 200 children are impacted by this positive and loving community which shares a summer message of God's love in places were there are otherwise, few or no Vacation Bible School opportunities. Contact Yamily (601-969-9461) or the Rev. Canon Chuck Culpepper (601-948-5954) for more information or for an application.   Canterbury Notes MUCH THANKS! Thank You! Thank You! Thank You … to all who have provided us wonderful meals so far this semester: Sandra Sistrunk & Wayne Wilkerson; Nancy & Guy Hargrove; Ellen & Walt Newsom; Gretchen & Peyton Passons; Beth & Bill Batson; Sherrie & David VanLandingham; and Nancy & David Christiansen. Thanks for keeping us wonderfully fed!! We really appreciate it! Canterbury Lenten Schedule Wednesdays we will gather at 5:30 pm in the parish hall to join in the Lenten Study on the Lord's Prayer, followed by dinner in the Canterbury Lodge at 6:30 pm. Canterbury hopes that anyone and everyone from the study group will plan to join us for dinner during Lent! While the Lenten Study continues throughout Lent, please note that there will be no dinner on Wednesday, March 16, because of the Spring Break schedule. On Sundays we will gather in the Student Center for dinner, beginning at 6:00 pm, followed by the usual Face to Face Eucharist in the Nave! Hope you can join us!! Annual Council Representation & "BIG Cheese" Raffle Canterbury Fellowship was blessed to have had several representatives participate in Annual Council in Natchez at the end of January, both as official visitors and by working the MSU Canterbury booth in the Council display hall. Ginny Powell, Jessica Callahan, Emily Schuster and Carey Price represented us very well! Most joined with others from the Episcopal Churches at Ole Miss and USM on Saturday for an evening of fun and fellowship at Biscuits & Blues, a local restaurant, once Council business had ceased for the day. We are pleased to announce that $84.00 was raised to support ERD (Episcopal Relief and Development) in their efforts to support those in need following the recent tsunami by holding our first annual Mississippi State "Big Cheese" Raffle. Tickets were sold, two for a dollar, by booth workers, and winners were announced at the close of the business day on Saturday. Thanks again for all your hard work! VOCARE #34 at Bratton-Green Vocare in Mississippi held is 34th weekend renewal experience on February 18-20 at our diocesan camp in Canton. Three folks from Resurrection/Canterbury attended. Watson Lamb was a pilgrim; Jessica Callahan served as observing head deacon and will serve as head deacon at Vocare in November; and Brian Ponder served as spiritual director. Thirteen pilgrims and 22 staff participated, assisted by the support of Cornerstone, a reunion group that meets concurrently with each Vocare weekend.   Council Delegates and Alternates At its March 21 meeting, the Vestry will elect Diocese Council Delegates and Alternates. The elections this year are very important because the delegates will attend the 2006 Council (Feb. 3-5, Southhaven) and the council meeting (Oct. 1, Vicksburg) which will act on resolutions relating to the Windsor Report. Because delegates will need to be fully informed for such representation, the Vestry has approved the following criteria for the delegates/alternates: (1) Must attend as many as possible of the Windsor Report parish education sessions (approximately 6-8 sessions, Sundays, 9:15 - 10:10, dates TBA after the Inquirers Class concludes); (2) participate in delegates/alternates and clergy discussion(s) of special council resolutions; (3) attend the pre-2006 Council Convocation (Tupelo, 10:00 - noon, a Saturday in Jan., date TBA); (4) attend 2006 Council (6:00 p.m. Feb. - noon Feb. ). Anyone interested serving as a delegate or alternate, please express your interest to Fr. Bill or to one of your Vestry members.   Brotherhood of St. Andrew Jim Blauvelt, a representative of the Brotherhood will be here on Saturday, March 5 to discuss forming a chapter here at Resurrection or in the Golden Triangle. The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is an organization for men within the Episcopal Church, focusing on the disciplines of: daily prayer; study of the Holy Scriptures and church teachings; and service. All men of the parish and Canterbury students are invited and encouraged to participate! Continental breakfast will be provided beginning at 9:30 a.m., with program following from 10:00-11:00 a.m. Please indicate your interest in participating by calling Brian in the church office.   Your prayers are asked for…... those with child, especially Emily, Julia Silverman, Laura Livingston, Holly Potts, Casey Cole, Kathleen Thomas, Claire van Ogtrop, Dorothy Coleman-Self….…those who suffer in mind, body or spirit, especially Margie, Jeanne, Melanie, Lorenzo, Dee, Edna, Don, Oma Lee, Ophelia, Nel, Becky Seago Simrall, Donald Mosley, Mike Stanton, Charlie Jackson, Teresa & Gene Phillips, Jim Little, Charles Finane, Madeline, Jimmy Lorimer, Wendy & Steve VanLandingham and Brett & Brody VanLandingham, Elise, Adrian Lewis, Jeff, Zachary, Jack Moore...those who serve in the military, especially Steve, David, Chris, Justin, Fran, Bob, Banks, Richard, Keith Harris, Adam Pastor, T. J. , Eric Kennington, Tim McKay…….and those in harm's way.   Christian Sympathy is extended to the family of Susie Owings, who died February 21, 2005. "Rest eternal grant her O Father, and let light perpetual shine upon her."   Other Coming Events and Important Dates March 1 APPLICATIONS DUE into the Diocesan Office for the annual Capers, Okolona and Warren Trust Scholarships. Applications for the Misticos Scholarships are due on this date to Pamela Prather, c/o St. Andrew's Cathedral. For applications, contact Catherine Johns at 601-948-5954 x110 2 Lenten Study, 5:30 p.m. 3 Healing & Holy Eucharist, Soup & Bread Lunch 3-5 Happening #60, St. Philip's, Jackson 5 Brotherhood of St. Andrew, 9:30-11:00 a.m. 8 Home Communion, 7:00 p.m. (Newsoms) 9 Lenten Study, 5:30 p.m. 10 Healing & Holy Eucharist, Soup & Bread Lunch 11-13 New Beginnings, Camp Bratton-Green 15 Home Communion, 7:00 p.m. (Myers) 16 Lenten Study, 5:30 p.m. 17 Healing & Holy Eucharist, Soup & Bread Lunch 19 Palm Cross Workshop, 10:00 a.m. 20 Palm Sunday 21 Compline, 5:30 p.m. 22 Healing & Holy Eucharist, 5:30 p.m. 23 Evening Prayer, 5:30 p.m. 24 Maundy Thursday, 5:30 p.m. 25 Good Friday Liturgy, 12:00 noon Station of the Cross, 5:30 p.m. 25-28 Diocesan Office closed in observance of Easter Easter Egg Hunt-plans to be announced 26 Easter Vigil, 7:00 p.m., followed by party 27 Easter Sunday April 1-2 Wardens' Conference, Gray Center 1-3 SR High DOY Weekend, Camp Bratton-Green 6-9 Women's Kairos, CMCF 10 Bishop's Visit, 5:30 p.m. 15-16 ECW Spring Conference, Gray Center 29-1 JR High DOY, Camp Bratton-Green May 5 National Day of Prayer 15 Pentecost July 21-24 Cursillo #107, Gray Center   Schedule for Holy Week Sunday, March 20 Palm Sunday, 8:00 am*, 10:30 am*, 7:00 pm Monday, March 21 Compline, 5:30 pm Tuesday, March 22 Healing & Holy Eucharist, 5:30 pm Wednesday, March 23 Evening Prayer, 5:30 pm Thursday, March 24, Maundy Thursday*, 5:30 pm Friday, March 25 Good Friday Liturgy, 12:00 noon Stations of the Cross, 5:30 pm Saturday, March 26 Easter Vigil*, 7:00 pm (Easter Vigil party after) Easter Egg Hunt, plans to be announced Sunday, March 27 Easter Sunday, 8:00 am*, 10:30 am*, 7:00 pm * Nursery is open   Palm Cross Workshop The annual Palm Cross workshop will take place on Saturday, March 19, at 10:00 am. Jennifer Damms and others will help teach how to form palm fronds into crosses in preparation for Palm Sunday the following day. Come one and all to help make crosses for our Palm Sunday celebration!