The Sunrise ...at Episcopal Church of the Resurrection Starkville, Mississippi   June, 2005 Dear Brothers and Sisters, These are exciting times for the Church of the Resurrection. New members - new families moving in and transferring letters of membership, families returning to Starkville and to Resurrection, nine persons recently confirmed. New life - a total of ten baptisms and reception of baptized children for All Saints' Sunday and the Feast of the Baptism of Jesus and two new births in the last month and two expectant mothers. New ministries and new ministry coordinators - Martha McAlpin will coordinate Caregivers assisting Tom Coleman with Pastoral Care. David VanLandingham (New Members), Emily Easterling (Young Adults) and numerous newly trained greeters will assist Peyton Passons with Evangelism. Susan Cook will assist Babs Deas (Senior Warden) coordinating the Nursery Committee. Christian Formation - Gretchen Passons has begun steps to develop a chapter of the Daughters of the King. A chapter of Brotherhood of Saint Andrew is being considered. Jennifer Damms (Children's Christian Education), Guy Hargrove (Children and Youth Christian Formation), Rachel McCann (Adult Christian Formation), Carey Price (EYC), Brian Ponder and I will be working this summer to meet with parents and teachers to seek to improve and expand our Christian formation. The Diocese Vision - These were things we had already begun but which will also enable Resurrection to take a leadership role as the Diocese begins its new vision implementation. A parish cannot bring in numerous members and take on new ministries without creating some sense of instability among its members - "I don't know all these new faces." "Why can't we just do it the way we've always done it?" Therefore, as we continue to invite, welcome, and incorporate folks into our parish family, add new ministries or modify how we do things, it is important that all of us feel we are part of the process and our input valued. With that goal in mind, this coming fall, Leigh Jensen Crawford and Mary Lee Beal will coordinate a process for discerning our parish's future. In full parish and small group gatherings we will meet to tell our story - have our longer term members inform us of the broader and more interesting points of our corporate history; assess our parish life - ways we are and are not welcoming, identify ministries we may need to add, improve, no longer offer; discern our calling - assess what God calls us to be in this community and how we best do it; take the journey together - solicit everyone's support and seek each person's gifts and talents. As we go through this discernment process, Leigh and Mary Lee may be calling on you to assist. If you know our common story, you may be asked to help tell our story to our newer members. Both longer term members and newer members may be asked to host or facilitate small groups in which we discern what God is calling us to be as a parish and identify those with the gifts and talents to help us become that parish. If you are asked to perform one of these tasks, they will guide you on your role and the process. I hope, if they call on you, you will offer your time, gifts and energies. God has a vision and mission for us and has equipped us to do miracles. I hope all of the Resurrection family will take this journey together of discerning how we best become the parish God desires for us to be, offering your input and suggestions, and giving of your time, energy and talents. Christ's Peace, NEWS & EVENTS June, 2005 Newsletter Music Notes Hymn Lottery Well Underway Bill Batson (aka Vanna) plucks an entry from the fishbowl in the narthex each week, and - voilá - the congregation sings the hymn as a prelude the next Sunday. Enter as many times as you wish. Don't miss this opportunity. Choir Chair Project Thank you for your enthusiastic, generous response to this project! Eighteen chairs have been paid for! The twenty-two chairs which have been ordered should arrive in late summer or early fall. Even if you have already made a donation to the Choir Chair Project, you may designate your gift "in memory of" or "in honor of" and have this included in the Memorial Book the church is establishing. Please let the parish office know your wishes. Choir Appreciation Picnic Thanks to Babs Deas and Leigh Jensen Crawford for the scrumptious desserts and to Michael Fazio for baking the chickens for our feast. Singing the Service Thanks to the congregation for participating in and supporting me as celebrant when we sing the Eucharistic services. This is an important part of my on-going education and adds a different experience to our worship from time to time. Thanks, Brian Summer Choir To be part of the summer choir, join Leanne and others in the Parish Hall at 10:00 any Sunday morning that you can to go over the service music for that day. For more information, contact Leanne by phone at 312-1481 or 323-3451 or by email at leannefazio@hotmail.com. Tent Meeting The choir plans to carpool to Gray Center for the singing on Friday, August 19 and to stay over for the experience on Saturday. We hope many from Resurrection will join us!   Mississippi Conference on Church Music and 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 at ellenj95@bellsouth.net or call 662-842-4386. We Hope to See You There!!!   June Birthdays Jim Jones 4 Rachel McCann 4 Marianne Crowell 9 Ethan Baca 10 Jason Noffsinger 10 Stan Wiginton 18 Betsy Stark 19 Glenn Cook 20 Julia Cathcart 20 Margaret Mosley 21 Debbie Nettles 22 Emily Schuster 23 Ren Crowell 24 LaDonna Bullman 27 Beath Lane 27 Hellen Polk 27 Paddi Tranchina 27 Alex Lewis 30 Servant Ministry News El Salvador Trip Planned The Servant Ministry Committee is investigating the possibility of gathering a group to make a mission trip to El Salvador through the leadership of Episcopal Relief and Development. For a long time now ERD has been working with the people of El Salvador to rebuild their country after terrible earthquakes and war. ERD pledges not only emergency relief after a disaster but also commits to working with communities for whatever time it takes for redevelopment to be completed. The space for work teams accommodates a maximum of 12 persons and, depending on the response of the parish, we are TENTATIVELY looking at the dates of Saturday, May 13 - Saturday, May 20, 2006. Cost runs about $1000 per person. Since we will have a year's notice, there will be time to save for this and also to ask the parish to help raise funds to offer scholarship assistance. Anyone who has completed high school is eligible to participate. If you would like more information and have an interest in participating, please pick up a flyer in the narthex and sign the list. For questions, please see Diane or call her at 615-0956. June Shopping List Items for our parish to bring during June are powdered milk for the pantry and toothpaste and toothbrushes for the shelter. Many have been doing a great job of regularly shopping for these needed items each month, and many appreciate the things you share. Please continue the good work because summer is a busy time at pantries with children out of school. Servant Ministry Committee The Servant Ministry Committee will meet again on WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 2005 at noon in the Student Center. The meeting is open to anyone interested in servant ministry. Please join us. (No June meeting.) For questions or more information, please talk with Diane Livingston, our parish deacon. Her number is 615-0956 or dianelivingston@hotmail.com.   Letters to the Church Thank you for coordinating the 4/24/05 blood drive. We were very pleased with the drive overall, and the willingness of the donors to share this life saving gift. The efforts of the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection have always been greatly appreciated and their support of the community blood program will go a long way toward replenishing blood supplies and ultimately saving lives. In addition, we very much appreciate your efforts during this crucial time. You may be interested to know that 13 units were collected at your drive. Again, thank you for your contribution and ongoing support of this important community program. I look forward to working with you again on an upcoming blood drive. Sincerely, Elizabeth Fair United Blood Services   I want to thank you for helping me to get to Greenwood for the M.R.I. that I needed to find out what is wrong with my back. I appreciate it so much. Just to know that you and your church cared enough for me, someone that you have never met, to help me when I needed it. Once again thank you so very much. Sincerely, Charlene I am so grateful to have found this church and the precious people who make it so special! Thank you so much for the Book of Common Prayer. I have already looked to it to learn more about the Episcopalian church, and its insights are invaluable. I have found the prayers to be not only beautiful and simple, but exactly what my heart wants to say. I will treasure it always. With love, Emily Easterling   Daughters of the King DAUGHTERS OF THE KING is an order of service and prayer which strengthens your own spiritual life and that of the parish. For those interested in forming a chapter here, there will be an information meeting with Pamela Leonard, state president, at 9:30 a.m. on Sunday, June 12. For more information, please contact Gretchen Passons at 323-0445.n our churches, it speaks--sings, plays--over centuries the timelessness of our beliefs, whether the music be ancient or new as tomorrow.   Canterbury Notes CANTERBURY CONTINUES... during both summer sessions at MSU. Our first meeting of the summer will be on Wednesday, June 1 at 5:00 p.m. for a pool party and cookout at the Church. Bring a friend, your swimsuit, towel, sunscreen and your appetite! PLEASE NOTE that summer Canterbury will meet at 5:00 p.m. weekly on Wednesdays except for June 8, when we will meet at 6:00 p.m. TROUBLING THE WATERS & TENT EVENT Mark your calendars NOW! A delegation from Canterbury is planning to attend the Tent Event in August at Gray Center in support of Bishop Gray's vision for the diocese. Canterbury will head down on Friday, August 19 for Troubling the Waters, a kickoff concert with music by Fran McKendree, Dr. Horace Boyer and others in celebration of the weekend's activities. Cost will be about $15/person with lodging and meals available for young adults and youth at Camp Bratton-Green. Some scholarship monies will be available to defray participation costs. Please make plans to attend by expressing your interest to Brian. Canterbury will also be present for the actual Event on August 20 before returning to Starkville later that day. MSU SUMMER ORIENTATION Canterbury Fellowship will be present for each of the summer Freshman Orientation Days on Campus: June 10, 16, 24 and 27. We'll have a booth with materials a picture board and goodies to give away to incoming students for the fall. If you can assist us with this endeavor, please call Brian in the parish office at 323.3483. Thanks! A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who provided meals for Canterbury in the Month of April: Happy & Babs Deas, Dolton & Martha McAlpin and Pat & John Powell! THANK YOU for keeping us wonderfully fed!!!   CAMP CARITAS NEEDS STAFFERS! The second annual Camp Caritas, a session for children and youth of incarcerated parents, will be held at Gray Center on June 18-23. The camp is sponsored by the Prison Ministries Committee of the diocese along with other ecumenical partners. Gay Yerger, camp coordinator, has put out the call for young adult staff persons, particularly males, to serve as counselors, role models, and guides through the usual camp experiences that Camp Caritas has to offer: games, sports, arts & crafts, etc. If you would like to volunteer your time and energies to this worthy cause and have a lot of fun, too, please contact Gay at 601.856.1776. Thanks!   EYC Summer Break EYC will be resting from its regular schedule for the summer months. It will crank back up once school has begun on August 11 with Carey Price leading the troops! Do be on the lookout for some occasional gatherings over the summer! Remember, anyone in grades 6th-12th is welcome to be part of EYC. If you have any questions or need information please contact Carey Price or Brian Ponder.   Canterbury Rummage Sale Set For June 4 Canterbury's rummage sale is Saturday, June 4th. Drop off any items in saleable condition by Thursday, June 2nd. Please let us know if you need assistance in moving items, and we can arrange for pick up. Any unsold items will be donated to appropriate charities. For more information, contact Ginny Powell at the parish office.   ATTENTION YOUNG ADULTS & FAMILIES with YOUNG CHILDREN A newsletter with the headline "Live, Love, Laugh" went out last week to the young adults. It highlights a newly formed Young Adults and Families with Young Children Committee. Limited copies of the newsletter are available in the Narthex if you or someone you know might be interested. We are planning activities to nurture growth and camaraderie amongst this population of our church! If you are interested in helping plan or otherwise facilitate activities, we welcome your generosity. We need a name for the group (for now we will call ourselves "Y.A.F.Y.C.") as well, so put on your thinking caps. There will be a play group for our children every 3rd Saturday of the month at McKee Park (unless advised otherwise) from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. Also, an Awareness meeting is scheduled for Saturday, July 2 at the Cold Stone Creamery at 4 p.m. This is just a friendly gathering so that we can catch up on the latest news, issues, happenings, etc. We hope you'll be there! Contact Emily Easterling (662-418-5421) with any questions or concerns.   Thank You!!! There seemed to be a busy and fun atmosphere at the Pentecost Pool Party. Thank you one and all for all the help and donations that you put into the event. Special thanks to Michael Fazio, Lois Connington, Jessica Callahan, Arleen Clapp, Rowena Kelley, Kyle Touchtone, Emily & Joshua Easterling, Alyson Hardin, Glenn Cook, Jim Parsons, John Beal, and Ellen Newsom. Thanks, Mary Eleanor Thank you to Donna Stark and Meloney Linder for co-coordinating the great reception for our 2005 high school and college graduates. Also, thank you to Mary Eleanor Anderson and her legion of assistants for making the Pentecost Picnic enjoyable for all.   -David McMillen Vestry Person for Special Events   Vacation Bible School 2005 That joyous four weeks of summer is fast approaching - Vacation Bible School. It's fun for the kids because of all the activities and camaraderie involved; and it's REALLY fun for the parents for obvious reasons.   VBS dates are June 22 and 29 and July 6 and 13; times will be announced. The curriculum has been ordered, and the two churches, Resurrection and Trinity, are ready to go. All we need is lots and lots of children to share in the joy of summer Christian education, food, fun, and, on the last Wednesday, a great combination of all of the above plus a pool party. Hooray, Halleluiah, and praise the Lord for summertime! - Guy Hargrove Vestry Person for Children's Christian Education   Congratulations Brian Arnett recently graduated from the Mississippi Fire Academy in Jackson, Mississippi. Anna Leslie Potts was born Saturday, May 14. She is the daughter of Les and Holly Potts and has a big sister, Claire.   From the Vestry The vestry of the Church of the Resurrection met at 7:00 PM on May 9th. 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. We reviewed the Letter of Agreement between the Rev. Bill Livingston and the Church of the Resurrection, established when Bill began as our Rector. There were no questions. Susan Cook has agreed to chair the Nursery Committee. We are very grateful to her for taking this on and offer her all our support. Mention was made of the Tent Meeting to be held at Gray Center on August 20, 2005. The Bishop wants a good turn out and the vestry was encouraged to urge Parishioners to attend. Vestry members were reminded that when Vestry on Duty they should refer to their "list of things to do" so that nothing is overlooked. After discussion about the cost and benefits of the pool, the vestry made recommendations to the Pool Committee (Dolton McAlpin and James McCormick) regarding membership fees. Each vestry member reported as coordinator for their specific areas of ministry. Guy Hargrove, coordinator for Children and Youth Formation, reported on plans for Vacation Bible School and Sunday school. There was a great deal of discussion about how to invigorate the Christian Education Program. Peyton Passons, coordinator for Evangelism and also chairman of the Greeters, reported there was a meeting for the Greeters scheduled for the next week. - Babs Deas, Senior Warden   Other Coming Events & Important Dates June 4 Canterbury Garage Sale 4 Tent Meeting Water Bearers, Gray Center 7-8 Province IV House of Bishops, Kanuga 8-10 Province IV Synod, Kanuga 12 Daughters of the King Information Meeting 18 YAFYC Playgroup, McKee Park (9:00 a.m.) 18-23 Camp Caritas, Gray Center. For more information on this extraordinary ministry to children with a parent or with both parents in prison, contact Gay Yerger, 601-856-1776 or email byerger@jam.rr.com. 22 Vacation Bible School 29 Vacation Bible School July 2 YAFYC Gathering, Cold Stone Creamery (4:00 p.m.) 4 Office Closed - Independence Day 6 Vacation Bible School 13 Vacation Bible School 15-17 Happening #61, St. Timothy's, Southaven & Happening Reunion, Location TBA 16 YAFYC Playgroup, McKee Park (9:00 a.m.) 20 Servant Ministry Committee Meets 21-24 Cursillo #107, Gray Center August 5 Deacon's Council, All Saints' School, V'burg 6 Deacon's Summer Conf. All Saints', V'burg 9-11 Transition Conference, Gray Center 10-12 Commission on Ministry, Gray Center 12 Standing Committee, Gray Center 15 Deadline for Resolutions for Special Council 19 Troubling the Waters: a concert for Youth & Young Adults, Gray Center 20 BISHOP'S TENT EVENT, Gray Center 20 YAYFC Playgroup, McKee Park (9:00 a.m.) 26-28 Fifth Annual AWWY Conference, Gray Center September 5 Office Closed - Labor Day 13 Executive Committee, St. Andrew's, Jackson 15-16 Deacons' POC, Gray Center 16-17 A Conference for Understanding & Managing Church Conflict. For more information, contact the Rev. Canon David Johnson, 601-948-5954 17 Day on the Diaconate, Gray Center 17 YAYFC Playgroup, McKee Park (9:00 a.m.) 18 Bishop Gray visits St. John's, Aberdeen, 10:30 a.m. & St. Bernard's (Okolona), 5:30 p.m. 18-20 Presbyter POC & Fresh Start, Gray Center 22-27 House of Bishops   CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY is extended to Mary Frances Brady on the death of her cousin, Perk Perkins, in Baton Rouge and to Rowena Kelley, on the death of her aunt, Meleiah Kelley, in New Jersey. "Rest eternal grant them O Father, and let light perpetual shine upon them."   Your prayers are asked for...those with child, especially Laura Livingston, Kathleen Thomas, Claire van Ogtrop, Meg Hargrove Miller, Jamie Perry...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, Jim Little, Charles Finane, Madeline, Jimmy Lorimer, Steve & Wendy VanLandingham, Brett & Brody VanLandingham, Jack Moore, Roy, Billy Godman, Warnie Kennington, Melinda Jones, Mary Lou Hansford, Katherine Hollister, Tom Bell, Mack Rutledge, Laura Kitchens, Shelly....those who serve in the military, especially Steve, David, Chris, Justin, Fran, Bob, Banks, Richard, Keith Harris, Tim McKay, Mike Kirklin....and those in harm's way.