To My Church Family...

The Search Committee has continued to work diligently and prayerfully on finding a rector for our parish. With the help of parishioners who participated by filling out surveys, individuals who have helped organize meetings, Search Committee members who have met regularly with our search consultant, and members of the parish who have volunteered to work on the Parish Profile, we are making progress quickly. Below is an outline of the search process.

We will continue to meet over the next several weeks to process the applications received from the Parish, the Bishop, and the national Church Deployment Office. This screening process is very intensive, and we ask that you keep the Search Committee in your prayers. We will begin contacting applicants to see if they want to be included in our process and set up interviews with those that we, as a committee, select as the best fit for our congregation.

Leigh Jensen Crawford
Search Committee Chair

The Resurrection Search Process:
Updated October 9, 2006

Who’s on the Search Committee?

Mary Lee Beal Rae Brandon
David Christiansen
Glen Cook
Babs Deas (Senior
Warden, ex officio)
Leigh Jensen Crawford(chair)
Martha McAlpin
Dwayne Myers
Carey Price (Canterbury, ex officio)
Beatrice Tatem

Resurrection/Canterbury Delegation to Attend Presiding Bishop’s Investiture

Four representatives from the Canterbury Fellowship at MSU and Church of the Resurrection will be in attendance as the 26th Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church in the USA is invested for office at Washington National Cathedral on Saturday, November 4. Merry Barnes, Becca Horton, Carey Price and Fr. Brian Ponder will represent us amongst others from the larger national Church and the worldwide Anglican Communion. The four will witness an historical moment in the life of our Church as the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori is installed as the head of the Episcopal Church, the first female to lead this Church and any of the Anglican Communion’s member Churches and Provinces. General admission passes to the Investiture were allotted to requestors from around the country, though only 25% of all requests could be honored. Resurrection and Canterbury, thus, are both blessed by and honored at having received an allotment of four passes.

The four will travel to Washington from Thursday, November 2 to Sunday, November 5. In addition to participating in this celebration of a new ministry for the whole Church, our delegation will take in some of the historical sights and venues around D.C. As the invitation to attend the service was received rather last minute, our Canterbury students are seeking assistance to help defray the costs associated with travel, room and board. If you would like to help, please drop an earmarked check in any Sunday offering, or send a check to the parish office, earmarked “PB Investiture Trip.” Your prayers are asked for Merry, Becca, Carey and Brian as they travel and for our Church as we welcome our new Presiding Bishop.

for Those Not Able to Attend in Person ...

The Investiture of the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori as Presiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church will be webcast, beginning at 11:00 a.m. EST (that’s 10:00 a.m. our time!) on Saturday, November 4. Log on to the Episcopal Church’s homepage at www.episcopalchurch.org, where a direct link to the webcast will be posted. The liturgy’s order of service will also be posted online. Additionally, the service will be uplinked, and tunable satellite receivers may be tuned in for viewing. Coordinates will be posted online when they become available.

FOR THOSE WISHING TO GATHER WITH OTHERS for the occasion, Gray Center in Canton will be an official satellite downlink location. Call 601.859.1556 for more information on this gathering.

Thanks from VOCARE!!

Thanks to all who cooked and/or provided goodies, paper products, drinks, ice, etc. for the Vocare staff training that took place at Resurrection October 20-21. Nancy Christiansen coordinated efforts, and Dolton McAlpin stood ready to assist. Thanks to Merry Barnes, Matthew Christiansen, Will Christiansen and Carey Price who helped in the kitchen and with preparation and cleanup. Thanks to the many others who “hath filled us with good things”: Clarissa Balbalian, Sue Bell, Kathy Brandon, Rae Brandon, Tom Cathcart, Bob & Pam Collins, Susan Cook, Lois Connington, Leanne Fazio, Sally Hester, Jean Little, Martha & Dolton McAlpin, Gretchen & Peyton Passons, Hellen & Carlton Polk, Sandra Sistrunk and Sherrie Van Landingham.

A nice thank-you card from Vocare staff members is posted on the Narthex bulletin board. Please check it out!!

Stewardship Reception & Drawdown

The stewardship kickoff reception and drawdown were great fun for all who attended. Steven Brandon and family did a great job with the drawdown. Dolton McAlpin played the piano, which added so much fun to the game. Michael and Leanne Fazio were the winners of the draw down prize. They are going to donate their prize to the church for a special project.

The food was wonderful, and I think most folks had a nice evening. It was wonderful to get one or two of Margaret Moslely's little tomato sandwiches! Babs Deas made Susie Owing’s cheese straws and said Susie was sitting on her shoulder, 'cause Happy said they were as good as Susie's!!

We enjoyed smoked salmon, tenderloin, great sandwiches and fantastic sweets. Juawice McCormick, the dessert queen, made champagne truffles! What fun. Thank you, Bob and Pam Collins, for the wine. Hope all had as much fun as I did.

Many thanks go to all who pitched in to decorate the Parrish Hall, clean up and made the evening move along so nicely. Sherrie and David VanLandingham were there for all tasks and made my work much easier. Special thanks to Bill Batson who puts up with all my antics.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

~ Beth Batson
Coordinator

A Special Thank You to Beth Batson for coordinating the reception!!

EYC News

EYC continues to meet on Sunday afternoons at 4:00 p.m. in the Canterbury Lodge. All in grades 7-12 are welcome!!! Tuesday morning breakfast are also a big hit and a great way to get your day started! Contact Carey Price for more info: cdanprice@yahoo.com.

REMINDER: NO EYC on November 5 and November 26!

UPCOMING DIOCESAN YOUTH EVENTS …

Applications for all of these events are available in the Canterbury Lodge, in the parish office, or from the Episcoyouth link at the diocesan website: www.dioms.org.

Fees vary per event, though all include program, lodging and meals. Some scholarship monies are available through the parish office for those in need of them, though a portion of the registration fee should be paid by each participant/family.

Blood Drive Results: We’re Covered!!

Good news! Thanks to those who answered the call, our entire parish family is once again covered for blood needs. Should the need arise, after the patient has received the needed units, call United Blood Services at 1800-880-2482. This number is also in the church office, and in the inside cover of the parish directory. Remember…any time you give blood at a UBS Drive, ask them to credit the church and tell Ellen Newsom so she can make sure we get the credit!

This is our 12th year of hosting blood drives and providing coverage for our parish family!

Thank a donor:
Russell Gaines, Debbie Nettles, Mike Vance, David Callahan, Claire Fellman, Leonard Brandon, Rae Brandon, Dolton McAlpin, Joe Bright, Lauri Mitchell, Carlton Polk, Greg Little, Mary Lee Beal, David VanLandingham and Lois Connington.

Servant Ministry

The Servant Ministry Committee continues to meet every third Wednesday at noon in the Student Center. Our next meeting will be November 15, and anyone interested in this outreach program is invited to bring a sack lunch and join us.

Committee member Holly Potts is joining the Board of Habitat For Humanity, and Habitat will continue to be a focus of our parish outreach.

Holiday Plans Outlined

Once again Tom Cathcart will be soliciting members of the parish as bell ringers for the Salvation Army Kettle during the Christmas season.

We have kept in contact with and have assisted our adopted families during the course of this year, and the Committee is preparing to provide them with Thanksgiving meals. Then the cycle will begin again with the selection of new families and putting up the Angel Tree during Advent.

For more information about the work of the Servant Ministry Committee call Martha or Dolton McAlpin at 323-7206.

~ Martha & Dolton McAlpin
for the Servant Ministry Committee

Vestry Notes

The vestry of the Church of the Resurrection met at 7:00 PM on October 16, 2006. The Senior Warden, Babs Deas, opened the meeting with prayer. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and approved, and the financial report was accepted.

Jim Jones, vestry person for Parish Life, indicated via e-mail that he would like to put into motion the plans for a Parents' Night Out to begin in November. More details to be forthcoming.

The vestry discussed and voted on several money related issues. The Voluntary Proportionate Giving to the diocese is presently at 15%, and the vestry voted to continue that percentage through 2007. A proposal by Dwayne Myers, President of Merchants & Farmers Bank, to move the church's checking account to M&F was voted upon and passed.

Council Reminder

The delegates for annual council to be held in February in Vicksburg are: Leonard Brandon, Clarissa Balbalian and Martha McAlpin. The alternates for council are: Emily Schuster, Jim Jones and Kathy Dooley. These people are reminded there are registration forms in the office and the sooner the registration, the cheaper the price. Of course, anyone is welcome to attend council.

Pastoral Care: Information, Please

Each vestry person reported on their particular ministry. Martha McAlpin, Pastoral Care, urged everyone to please let her know when there was a need in the church. She has been particularly frustrated at the lack of communication and asked for help in remedying this situation. She also reminded everyone that there was a need to relay information concerning joyful and happy times in the parish so we could celebrate with parishioners.

Clarissa Balbalian, Junior Warden, reported that renovations, proposed at last month’s vestry meeting, will get underway as soon as estimates are in.

Rachel McCann, Adult Christian Formation, stated that adult Sunday school was well received and attendance was good. She is busy planning for the spring session.

Pledge Cards due November 1

On a personal note, I would like to urge everyone to return your pledge cards by November 1. Time and again people have indicated to me that we can't expect much since we don't have a rector at the present time. I really think we can do better than most people think and would love to prove to one and all that we have a dynamic, inspiring, and committed group of parishioners here at Resurrection.

The meeting concluded with the Lord's Prayer.

~ Babs Deas
Senior Warden

Want to attend Council?

Annual Council of the Diocese of Mississippi is in Vicksburg, February 2-4. We are in the process of booking rooms at a hotel with Elizabeth Wheatley and her contingent so we can share a hospitality room.

Mark your calendars and watch for details!!

INSTITUTE OF INTERFAITH DIALOG DINNER

On the evening of September 26, several members of Resurrection and Canterbury gathered with campus, local and statewide religious leaders and people of faith on the MSU campus to celebrate the evening’s breaking of the Ramadan fast (Iftar) with a dinner as part of an annual event sponsored by the Institute of Interfaith Dialog (IID) and the Interfaith Dialog Student Association at MSU. Merry Barnes, Becca Horton, Watson Lamb, Dorothy Porcello, Chris Price and Fr. Brian Ponder represented the interests of Canterbury and the parish at the festive event, which had earlier sought and gained the endorsement of Church of the Resurrection, the Episcopal Canterbury Fellowship at MSU, the Diocese of Mississippi, several campus academic departments and other communities of faith in the greater Starkville area and from around the State.

Following the dinner, several individuals spoke on the importance of interfaith dialog amongst various communities of faith. Indeed, the national Episcopal Church has for decades been involved in well-thought and -intentioned interfaith and ecumenical conversations. This was the second year for the dinner and the second year for the Episcopal Church to be represented at it.

IID Formed After 09/11

The IID was founded in 2002, following the attacks in New York and Washington D.C., with the purpose of addressing the question: “How can citizens of the world live in peace and harmony?” Its primary mission is “to help bring together the communities of faith in order to promote compassion, cooperation, partnership and community service through interfaith dialog and conversation.”

The IID has been particularly focused on establishing itself on the campuses of universities throughout the US, and we are pleased that the persons named above were able to represent us on this occasion. We hope for more opportunities for conversation in the future.

If you’re interested in finding out more, please contact Fr. Brian for further information.

Canterbury Notes

PEWS, VIEWS & BREWS
November 7 & 28, 6:00 p.m.

Join us as we continue reading Peter Gomes’s The Good Book on Tuesday, November 7 & 28. On the 7th we’ll meet at Dave’s Darkhorse Tavern for food, drinks and discussion. The 28th meeting location is TBA, so please be on the lookout for more details. On the 28th we’ll also consider readings for the spring semester.
PV&B is open to all Canterbury students, parishioners and friends (especially those in their 20s and 30s). If you have questions, want more information, need a reading outline, or want all your questions in life answered (or a couple of them, anyway), contact Fr. Brian in the parish office.

DINNER & a MOVIE & COMPLINE, TOO!
November 12, 6:30 p.m.

Canterbury students are invited to DMC2 to share/make a meal in the Lodge, watch a movie, have discussion and end with a brief worship service on November 12. This month’s movie: Peace One Day. Bring a dish to share or cook and a hungry appetite for cinematic, theological inquiry (and fun, too!)

CANTERBURY SCHEDULING

Canterbury continues throughout the semester on Wednesday evenings, beginning with dinner at 5:30 in the Canterbury Lodge. ALL are WELCOME!

Please note that there will be NO Canterbury on November 22 due to Thanksgiving. The final Canterbury of the semester will be November 29.

The Chaplain’s Study Break/Advent Open House will be held one evening during exam week, so please be on the lookout for further details.

TAILS & TELLS

Thanks to Merry Barnes and Becca Horton for coordinating this year’s Canterbury Tails! tailgating party for Homecoming weekend and to the many others who helped get things set up and cleared.

A great time was had by a number of MSU students, Resurrection parishioners, family and friends—lots of great food and fellowship, too!

To be added to a general Canterbury Tails! email list so that you can receive information about future events, please contact Fr. Brian at msu_canterbury@bellsouth.net.

Vocare Weekend: November 10-12

Vocare, a weekend renewal experience for those aged 19-29, will be held November 10-12 at Camp Bratton-Green in Canton. The retreat is similar in format to Happening, New Beginnings and Cursillo and is focused on vocation and “calling” as a response to Christ in our day to day lives.

Students, professionals, seekers, singles, married couples—everyone!—is encouraged to attend. There’s always lots of fun, singing and even reflection during the weekends.

For more information or for a brochure/application, please contact Fr. Brian at msu_canterbury@bellsouth.net or 323.3483. Fee for the program is $40 and includes all meals, lodging, t-shirt and picture. Some scholarship monies are available through the Chaplain’s office, though a portion of the expenses should be paid by each participant.

Lessons & Carols: December 3

Gather with us on Sunday, December 3, at 5:30 p.m. for the service of Lessons and Carols. Our annual service of Lessons and Carols serves to introduce the season of Advent and prepare us for Christmas celebration.

Some History

The service is based on the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at King’s College, Cambridge, England. Their first service was held on Christmas Eve 1918 and was adapted from a service that dates to the 1880s. It has been an annual service ever since, even during WWII.

About Our Service

Our service, which is based on King College’s traditional Anglican service, consists of seven Scripture lessons alternating with carols of a similar theme. The lessons are read by readers of all ages from the congregation. The carols include Advent hymns, canticles, and anthems.

Both the Children’s and Adult Choirs will participate, and guest instrumental musicians Dr. Lana Johns, flute, Dr. Robert Damm, percussion, and Bonnie Oppenheimer,oboe, will be joining us. Congregational hymns are also a very important part of this service.

Morning Service Changes

Please note on your calendars that there will be only one morning service on December 3. That service will be at 9:30 a.m.

Lessons & Carols

December 3, 5:30 p.m.
A Festive Reception will follow in the Student Center!!
The nursery will be available.

Music Notes

Children’s Choir welcomes new member Abby Alford who sang with the Choir at the 10:30 Eucharist in October. The Choir sang the John Rutter anthem “All Things Bright and Beautiful” with the Adult Choir on that Sunday and is now preparing music they will sing throughout the 5:30 Christmas Eve Eucharist.

The Choir continues to meet from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. in the Student Center and welcomes children in grades 1-6 to consider a commitment to this ministry. The Adult Choir is percolating along, rehearsing for ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS. (See related article above.)

Need a Gift?
Try Bishop’s Blend Coffee

Need a gift suggestion for someone special? Bishop's Blend coffee makes a great gift AND provides good "fair trade" coffee at a reasonable price. Your gift will also help with Episcopal Church outreach, both locally and at the "Episcopal Relief & Development" level. Choose from these 5 flavors:

The 12 oz bags are $10 each.

If you would like to order BB coffee, let Tom Cathcart know (preferably via kkoch1@bellsouth.net) how much of each kind, ground or whole bean, by the 30th of each month, or watch for our email reminders. He will let you know when they can be picked up at the church.

~ Tom Cathcart

Sunday School Sundries

Sunday school for all ages continues throughout the academic year beginning at 9:15 a.m. In NOVEMBER and early DECEMBER, please be aware of two changes to the regular meeting schedule. There will be NO Sunday school on November 26 due to the Thanksgiving break. On December 3, Sunday school will follow the one 9:30 a.m. service scheduled for the day. Classes run through Sunday, December 17, then will resume in January.

Join ECW’s Cooking Divas: November 8!!

ECW will be making cheese balls and logs, the first project of ECW’s Cooking Divas, on Wednesday, November 8 in the Parish Hall. All of the money earned from this project will go towards the service projects of the ECW!

Anyone (that includes the men of the parish!) can be a diva - just sign up in the Narthex to help with the following in the assembly of the Episcopal Cheese Balls on Wednesday November 8.  Each activity has a separate starting time... 

6:30  Choppers
Bring your sharp knife and cutting board to prepare veggies.

7:00  Mixers & Molders
These cooking divas (and friends) will be those assembling ingredients and forming the cheese balls.  Please let Lynn Gaines know if you have a heavy-duty mixer you would be willing to bring for the evening.  We need at least four (4).

7:30 Decorating & Packaging
For those who don't cook, but who can help make tags, bows and wrap, sign up for this activity.  

Most of all, prepare to have fun! 

To Order Cheese Balls

Cheese balls are $10 and cheese logs $4. If you’ve missed tasting these at coffee hour, both are delicious!! You can order cheese balls or logs from Kim Noffsinger, Lynn Gaines, or any other ECW member.

THANKSGIVING OFFICE CLOSURE

The parish office will be closed in observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday beginning Wednesday, November 22 and will resume regular office hours Monday, November 27.

Advent Wreath Workshop Announced

An Advent Wreath workshop will be held in conjunction with Sunday school for all parish children following the 9:30 a.m. service on Sunday, December 3.

Advent candles and wreath forms will be provided, and all children are asked to bring fresh cut greenery from home in order to create their wreaths. Parental supervision/assistance would be helpful, especially for little hands.

Ellen Newsom is coordinating the workshop supplies, though a workshop leader is being sought for this event. If you are willing to lead or assist, please contact the parish office as soon as possible.

Annual Almost Advent Event

AKA ECW Pledge Tea

The ECW pledge tea is Wednesday, November 29, from 3:00-6:00 p.m. at the home of Ellen Newsom, 113 Grandridge.

Come see Ellen’s crèche collection, visit with friends old and new, have a snack before dinner, and make a contribution (optional) to the ECW fund in thanksgiving for not having to do a bake sale or bazaar!

Bring a friend!!

Offer a ride to someone who doesn’t drive after dark!!

Other Coming Events

November

December

January

February