The Sunrise Newsletter

Recently, I overheard one of our youth comment what I hear many Episcopalians say: “I don’t know what I’m going to give up this Lent.” Yes, our Ash Wednesday invites us to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word (BCP, 265).

However, to only give up something for Lent reminds me of when one of our sons was a kicker for his high school football team. He and the other kicker realized the best players were those with helmets with scuff marks created by two heads banging together. As both were really soccer players who knew how to kick a football through the uprights but otherwise knew nothing about football, their helmets looked as if they had just come out of the box. To look like the admired players, as they carried bags of balls to the opposite end of the field to practice kicking, each would drag his helmet along the fence. That is what we do if we only “give up something for Lent.”

Sure, “giving up” chocolate, alcohol or whatever may be a form of self-denial and may improve our health, but the holy Lent into which we are invited is far more than giving up something for Lent. Lent is an invitation to accompany Jesus into the wilderness, not as a modern day Boy Scout or well-equipped back-packer, but barefoot and naked – or just enough covering for modesty. You see, our lives are too crowded. We are being strangled by the living things we have planted, fed, and watered. Every available inch, every crevice, every breath we take has already been filled and obligated. Few of us can become hermits and leave the way of the world, but Lent invites us to go far enough into the wilderness to see what in our lives is essential, what is superfluous and what we drag around with us that may be sucking our very life – both physical and spiritual – from us.

Lent is an invitation to slow down enough to listen for the still, quiet voice of God, to see the face of Christ in the face of a suffering brother or sister, to feel the beat of the Holy Spirit within us. Sure, skip a meal occasionally during Lent, but use that meal time to be quiet and listen to God rather than talking at God. Give up that chocolate or desert, but think about the most suffering person you have encountered that day and ask God to show you how to best use what you would have spent on that chocolate or desert to best relieve that suffering. Forgo that evening glass of wine, and read Scripture or a lenten meditation, preferably as a family, to listen to the beat of the Holy Spirit as the air you breathe progressively becomes the breath of God.

It’s not about scraping our helmets against the fence. It’s not an invitation to give up something for Lent. It is an invitation to go barefoot and naked into the wilderness. A journey into the lenten wilderness allows us to know that very few of the things we spend our lives acquiring and dragging around with us are necessary and may simply load us down or suck the breath of life out of us. A journey into the wilderness of Lent offers us an opportunity to glimpse how much of real life we may be missing.

For the next several months, in this space, we will consider feedback given during the recent parish discernment process. Thank you for sharing your thoughts, comments and suggestions.

Children and youth formation probably generated more comments than any other area of our shared parish life. Comments ranged from the importance of spiritually shaping our children and youth to specific suggestions, criticisms and accolades regarding how we influence the spiritual lives of our children and youth.

Your Vestry was not surprised by this. For the past three years, the Vestry has sought to improve this ministry. First, various small changes were made in how we offer children’s Christian education but resulted in no improved participation. Second, attempts were made to improve the curriculum and recruit additional teachers, again, with no improved participation. Last year, the Vestry set improving participation in children and youth Christian formation as the most important goal for the year.

Essentials identified for this improvement included having an established curriculum, having at least two teachers for each class and having Christian education available for adults at the same time because parents would more likely bring their children to Christian education if the parents were also coming.

As various options were considered, the idea of the Wednesday Agape Meals followed by Christian education was proposed. Parent and teacher feedback was solicited both in groups and individually. For either choice – Sunday morning or Wednesday evening, we found some who preferred one over the other but would get their child to whatever was offered, some who could only get their child to one or the other, some who would only get their child to the one they preferred and some who preferred one or the other but probably would not get their child to Christian education very often regardless of when it was offered. Reasons for opposing Wednesday evening included: parent work schedules, child with other custodial parent, interference with family meal time and children wanted to go to other churches on Wednesday. Reasons for opposing Sunday morning included: parent work schedules, child with other custodial parent, youth athletic events, interference with family sleeping in and difficult to get child ready on time. Reasons for supporting Wednesday evening included: having a parish meal brought more of the parish together, more teachers consistently available, could be offered in conjunction with the youth choir practices and more adults would probably participate in Christian education (and bring their children with them). Reasons for supporting Sunday morning included being the more traditional time, and it got children to church on Sunday who might otherwise not come.

We began the Wednesday Agape Meal/Christian Education knowing it would please some and displease others. Some have participated who could not have on Sundays. Some parents have brought their children on Wednesday even though they preferred Sundays. Some cannot get their children here on Wednesdays. Some will not bring their children here on Wednesdays. Some very rarely bring their children on Wednesdays and would do the same if it was on Sundays.

From September through December, while the number of children who came at least once was less than it had been on Sundays, the average weekly attendance for the children was substantially higher than it had been on Sundays – particularly in some age groups. The number of adults attending was about 5 times what it has been on Sundays. However, since January, the number of children has decreased and the adults has decreased almost 60%.

At our one day planning retreat of the Vestry and committee chairs, children and youth Christian formation was identified as the most important ministry area to be addressed during 2006, but no specific program nor activity was identified to accomplish this. Therefore, at the March 3 - 4 Vestry retreat, it will be the ministry area first addressed. We will seek ways to spiritually nourish our youth of all ages, from toddlers through high school, and for more inclusion in Christian education, EYC and worship. Nothing selected will please all. Because we will be unable to offer Christian education on Sunday and a week night, whenever Christian education is offered, some will prefer a different time. Some will be glad to have worship more accessible to children and some will not. Still, we will seek to better serve and nourish our youth to become imitators of Christ.

Your Vestry will be able to accomplish only what you support. A successful youth program will happen only if older youth participate whenever possible and if parents have their younger children participate whenever possible, if parishioners volunteer as teachers and for Vacation Bible School, and if parents come to parent meetings to offer suggestions and support the Christian education teachers and EYC coordinators.

John Maxwell returns to Resurrection on Wednesday, April 12 at 6:15 p.m. Mr. Maxwell, as Judas Iscariot , will tell the story of what happened the night Jesus died and why Judas decided to betray the one he loved.
Mark your calendar now for this special performance ~ watch for more information in next month’s Sunrise!

Christian singer and songwriter Fran McKendree is returning to Starkville for a Concert and Coffeehouse, offering a sampling of songs old and new! Many will remember Fran’s innovative and creative abilities of blending music from around the world into easily sing-able and engaging songs of worship, praise and journeying which he has shared with us during several previous trips to Starkville and the Diocese of Mississippi. His music involves the whole of the congregation or audience. Fran was with us for the Bishop’s Tent Meeting and the “Troubling the Waters” concert as part of the tent meeting festivities last August. Before that, Fran led us in a very successful Lenten worship experience at Resurrection last year, and was here in concert in previous years.

The Concert and Coffeehouse will be held in the parish hall Thursday, March 23, beginning at 6:30 p.m. and is FREE. Donations will be accepted to support Resurrection’s outreach and servant ministries with a particular emphasis on fostering realization of the Bishop’s call to diversify diocesan camping experiences. Also, coffeehouse goodies will be sold during the concert with all monies raised being earmarked for sending local kids in need to Camp Bratton-Green. ALL are WELCOME! The event is co-sponsored by the EYC and the Canterbury Fellowship at MSU.

On Thursday, March 2, at 7:30 p.m. in the nave, a recital will be presented by Quatuor du Sud (Quartet of the South), a trombone quartet made up of faculty from various universities. The concert is free and open to the public.

Mississippi offers a wonderful camping program through CBG in Canton with regular sessions for those who have completed grades 1-9, special sessions for those living with physical, mental and emotional disabilities, and another for those in grades 7-12 who want an off-site “pioneer” experience.

Pick up applications in the parish office or narthex or visit www.graycenter.dioms.org. Those who have completed grades 9 and above (YOUTH & ADULTS) are encouraged to apply for cabin leader positions!

The ECW met February 16 with Rae Brandon, 2004-2005 president, conducting the meeting. The 2006-2007 officers were elected and include: Kim Noffsinger, president; Jean Little, second vice-president; Melinda Myers, treasurer; Dot Anderson, secretary; and Gretchen Simmons; United Thank Offering chairman. The position of first-vice president is open. Anyone interested please call the church office or Kim Noffsinger (312-7763).

In an effort to in include more church women in the organization, it was decided the next meeting would be a wine and cheese pledge party, “Refresh the ECW”. The pledge party will be held Thursday, May 4 between 6:00 and 8:00 p.m. at the home of Sherrie VanLandingham. Babs Deas has agreed to co-host the event. All church women are urged to attend. There will be an informal discussion of the revised ECW prayer, meeting times, dates and future projects. Please mark your calendars now and plan to attend for great fun, fellowship and continuing plans to “Refresh the ECW”.

Babs Deas and Beth Batson have agreed to explore the possibility of refurbishing the restrooms located in the main office building.

Lenten Lunches will begin Thursday, March 9 and run through April 6. Jean and Charles Little will be overseeing the luncheons with help from Leonard and Rae Brandon and Dwayne and Melinda Myers. A sign up sheet for soup and bread will be placed in the church.

For more information about ECW, check out the national web site at www.episcopalchurch.org/ecw.

Canned Beans and Hand Lotions are needed this month for the Food Pantry and Safe Haven, respectively. Please, help get these items to those who need them. Any non-perishable or toiletry item is, of course, welcomed. The donation basket is located in the narthex for your convenience. Thank you for your participation in this ministry!

The Servant Ministry Committee will feed 25 college students from Truman State in Missouri when they come to Starkville to participate in the collegiate building blitz through Habitat for Humanity. The team will be fed on Thursday evening, March 23 after their work day, and then they will attend the Fran McKendree concert in the parish hall. If you are interested in helping with this activity, please call Diane Livingston (615-0956).

Habitat urges all area churches to support the building of the Apostles' House by prayer, funds to help build the house, volunteer labor who can serve as middle managers leading those who want to help and by feeding a college team during the building blitz. If you are one who has building skills, please contact Habitat to offer your help as a middle manager.

The Apostles’ House this year will be for Theresa Bradford and her three children. They happen to be one of our new adopted families! Theresa is very excited about being selected as the family for the Apostles’ House and is very touched that our church supports this.

All of the families who were assisted through the Angel Tree at Christmas have expressed their sincere thanks to the church for making their holidays very special. MANY THANKS to all of you who made the Angel Tree a success.

The next meeting of the Servant Ministry Committee is Wednesday, March 15, at noon in the Student Center. Bring a lunch and become part of the committee - all are welcome!

Father Bill will lead the Lenten Adult Christian Ed class, starting on March 8, in a study of Joan Chittister’s In Search of Belief. This thoughtful book examines the Apostles’ Creed phrase-by-phrase, offering insights into the creed’s meaning in early church society and in Christian life today.

Instead of reciting the whole creed by rote, imagine stopping after each phrase to dwell in its meaning for Christianity and its meaning for your own life. The class will enable this powerful experience.

The class will meet Wednesdays at 6:15 in the Student Center, immediately following the 5:15 Agape Wednesday meal in the Parish Hall. In Search of Belief is available online and by order through local bookstores.

The 4th, 5th and 6th grade Christian Education Class will be studying "The Heart of Narnia" along with our study of the Gospel reading for the Sunday to follow our class time. "The Heart of Narnia" is a book that discusses the biblical references in C S Lewis's "Chronicles of Narnia" series.

We hope to start "Narnia" the Wednesday after Ash Wednesday. For more information, please contact Nancy Christiansen.

We continue our Lenten tradition of soup and bread lunches after Thursday’s noon Healing Eucharist. The first lunch will be on Thursday, March 9.

Watch for sign up sheets to volunteer to provide soup, bread, or soup and bread. For more information, please contact Jean Little.

The Guild of the Palm Cross will meet Saturday, April 8th at 10:00 a.m. in the Student Center to make palm crosses for use on Palm Sunday. With lots of hands, we can make 200 crosses in an hour.

We provide the palm fronds and on the spot training! So simple, anyone can do it - bring a friend. Showing up constitutes membership - join the Guild on April 8th!

Mark your calendar! Our Spring Blood Drive will be Sunday, April 23. If you give blood at another location with United Blood Services before our blood drive, please be sure to ask them to credit Resurrection and let Ellen Newsom know so she can make sure we get the credit.

Dates set for diocesan youth and young adult activities for spring 2006 include:

3-5 Happening Staff Training
10-12 Jr. High DOY, CBG
24-26 Vocare in MS, CBG
31-Apr 2Happening in MS #6

Applications for these events are available through the parish office, the Canterbury Lodge, and/or the EpiscoYouth link at www.dioms.org. For more information, please contact Carey Price (cdanprice@yahoo.com) or Brian Ponder (msu_canterbury@bellsouth.net or 323.3483 ext. 102)

1 Ash Wednesday (see p. 5)
1 DEADLINE For the receipt of applications for annual diocesan scholarships
2 Brass Ensemble (Nave) (see p.3)
3-4Vestry Retreat
3-4COM, Gray Center and Diocesan Altar Guild, Meridian
4 Standing Committee
5 Bratton-Green Eggs & Ham Breakfast (see p.7)
5-7 Presbyter POC/Fresh Start, Gray Center
7 Home Communion (Newsom)
8 Lenten Study
9 Healing & Holy Eucharist, Soup & Bread Lunch
10 Stations of the Cross
10 All Saints' Board Meeting, Vicksburg
10-12 Junior High DOY Weekend @ CBG
13 Home Communion (TBA)
15 Deacons' Council, 11- 2, Allin House
15 Lenten Study
16 Healing & Holy Eucharist, Soup & Bread Lunch
16-22 Cursillo #109, Gray Center
17-18 Deacons’ POC
17-22 House of Bishops, Kanuga
17 Stations of the Cross
21 Home Communion (TBA)
22 Lenten Study
23 Healing & Holy Eucharist, Soup & Bread Lunch
23 Habitat Meal
23 Fran McKendree Concert(see p. 3)
24 Stations of the Cross
24-25 Annual Seeds of Faith Conference, Mediator, Meridian
24-26 Vocare @ CBG
25 Gray Center Board, 9:00 a.m., Allin House
26 Home Communion (McCann, Lewis)
28-30National Fresh Start Facilitators Training, Gray Center
29 Lenten Study
30 Healing & Holy Eucharist, Soup & Bread Lunch
31 Stations of the Cross
31-Apr 1New Vestry Members Retreat, Gray Center
31-Apr 2Happening #62, St. Paul's & Happening Reunion, Mediator (both Meridian)

2 Daylight Savings Time Change
5 Lenten Study
6 Healing & Holy Eucharist, Soup & Bread Lunch
6 Executive Committee, St. Andrew’s
7 Stations of the Cross
8 Palm Cross Workshop (see p. 5)
9 Palm Sunday
10 Evening Prayer
11 HE/HU
12 John Maxwell Performance
13 Maundy Thursday
14 Good Friday
14-17 Resurrection & Allin House closed in observance of Easter
15 Easter Vigil
16 Easter Sunday
21-22 Wardens' Conference, Gray Center
23 Youth Sunday & Senior Recognition Day
25-26 Province IV House of Bishops
26 Hospice Board
26-28 Province IV Synod
29 Diocesan Confirmations, St. Andrew's Cathedral, 10:30 a.m.
30 Bishop Gray visit to Resurrection

Christopher Aaron Duncan, son of Chad & Jennifer Duncan, brother of Will, and grandson o f John & Mary Lee Beal

YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR….those with child, especially Kristen, Jennifer Beal Duncan, Wendy VanLandingham, Paige Simmons...those who suffer in mind, body or spirit, especially Margie, Jeanne, Lorenzo, Edna, Don, Oma Lee, Ophelia, Donald Mosley, Madeline, Tom Bell, Jim Little, Jimmy Lorimer, Janet Mason, Jonathon Sobley, Brooke Schnitman, Mona Terry, Lorene Martin, Grace Jones, Bridget Burdan, Alexandria Lorimer, Amber McNider, Hunter Maye, Tommy Prince, Frank, Lisa Dickey, Frances Finane, Chad Green....those who serve in the military, especially Steve, David, Chris, Fran, Tim McKay, Justin, John Burdan, Rob Kennington, Cedric....and those in harm’s way.

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
26 Marsha Williams
28 Gretchen Simmons
29 Mary Switzer
30 Claire Potts

Bring your favorite book(s) and meet us in the church nursery on Saturday, March 25th at 9:30 a.m. for Storytime! We'll read, share, and play together for about an hour.

Please, call (662-418-5421) or e-mail (emily.easterling@gmail.com) Emily Easterling if you plan to participate.