The Sunrise Newsletter

In the parish discernment we completed this past year, you clearly indicated children’s Christian formation is our most important ministry, but we can provide this only if we have teachers. On Sunday, April 23 Vestry members began announcing the desperate need for teachers. For the fall of 2005, we made verbal and written public pleas for teachers and individually approached over 80 members before we had a commitment to teach from 8 individuals. Without teachers for the fall of 2006, your Vestry may have to make the decision for Resurrection to no longer offer Christian education.

These requests have generated conversations as to who is responsible for assuring we offer children’s Christian education. Our Sunday announcements do not allow enough time for this reflection, and so I use this apace to address this.

Several members have stated, “I taught Sunday school when my children were young, it’s the parents’ responsibility to serve as teachers.” For those who have previously taught, your past support is greatly appreciated and this belief that the parents should be the teachers is understandable. However, we must also be aware we live in a much different world. First, young adults are far less likely to be “joiners” today. This is evident as we look around the church at the age of those who are present. It is not only true of church. The same is true of civic clubs or other institutions which one “joins.” Second, in almost all families both parents have full time jobs – usually far exceeding a 40 hour work week. Young parents stressed by work and family demands often seek out church as a respite, do not have time to prepare teaching lessons and need to be spiritually fed in an adult class rather than teaching a class. Third, whereas in the past, a family attending an Episcopal parish in one community would attend an Episcopal parish in a new community, that is no longer the norm. Young adults choose churches which are most welcoming and have adequate resources for their children. Young parents have told me they no longer worship at Resurrection because they found Christian education for their child elsewhere, and it did not require them to teach.

Young adults have stated, “We’re just too busy to be able to teach and to get our children to Christian education.” Yes, we live in a fast paced world. School, homework, youth sports, art and music lessons all demand so much of us. It is, therefore, more important that we take advantage of the respite – the sabbath time – the church offers. Rather than seeing church as another burden, church is what grounds us, shapes us, and lets us know there is an alternative to the frenetic pace we keep. Some teachers have given up teaching when week after week they prepared lessons only to have no students because they had slept in or were involved in other activities. Parents have to decide whether they want their children shaped by the world or shaped spiritually.

The bottom line is that all of us are responsible in assuring our children grow up being shaped as Christians. Except in emergencies and special circumstances, the Episcopal Church no longer offers private baptism. Holy Baptism is the incorporation of the newly baptized into the Body of Christ, with the Body of Christ present. In Holy Baptism, the celebrant addresses you and asks, “Will you who witness these vows do all in your power to support this person in his/her life in Christ?” To which you respond, “We will.”

We all have a responsibility, and we all vow there will be Christian education available for that child every time we participate in a Baptism – even if we have taught in the past, even if we are a young parent and feel we don’t have time. We have the responsibility to bring that child to church and to Christian education and to talk with that child about our personal faith journeys and about the Christian stories.

Very briefly, we are seeking at least two teachers for each age group: pre-K, kindergarten - 3rd, 4th - 6th and 7th - 12th. We want two so that no one is committed to having to teach every class and automatically has a substitute. We are asking for a commitment from September until December. The Vestry has decided that Christian education will be offered whenever the most teachers are available, and this will determine whether Christian education will be on Sunday mornings or Wednesday evenings.

It is all of our responsibilities. Please prayerfully consider how you can honor the vow you take each time we baptize a child in your parish.

Our spring blood drive has been rescheduled for Sunday, May 7. It will start at 9:30 a.m. Watch for new sign up sheets in the narthex. Thank you for signing up for the original date….sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused!!!

We have begun the work necessary to complete the second phase of the Columbarium.

Thanks go to St. Joseph’s Guild, who helped spread out the 24 yards of topsoil that was brought in to fill and level that area. It has been planted with grass seed and covered with pine straw to help hold the soil until the grass comes up. Within the next few weeks the final planting will be done, and the crosses and benches will be ordered at that time. Thanks to everyone who has helped to make this very special Columbarium, Labyrinth, and garden area for our church possible!

Labyrinth
David VanLandingham has spearheaded the preliminary phase of the labyrinth landscaping project by bringing in topsoil, supervising the grading process and planting grass seed. Folks who assisted with clearing the site and grading include Happy Deas, James McCormick, David Lewis, Bill Batson, Joshua Easterling, Eric Linder and Martin Noah. Installation of plants into the landscape should begin in about 3-4 weeks with benches and the crosses to follow soon after.

Spring Spruce Up
Much effort has gone into the annual springtime ritual of sprucing up the grounds. Pam Collins and Martin Noah pruned the shrubs. Other projects including painting the new bell tower cap, mulching, mowing, leaf removal and tree removal have been accomplished by David Lewis, Michael and Leanne Fazio, Leonard Brandon, Douglas Crawford, Bill Batson and James McCormick.

Workday: May 20
The next workday will be May 20 from 8:00 a.m. to noon. Projects will include weeding and mulching the flower beds around the swimming pool, pressure washing the barbeque pit, digging bulbs, edging, bamboo removal and pruning the privet hedge along the drive. Other projects may be determined closer to the workday. Workdays are open to anyone, so please join us.

We invite anyone who enjoys third and fourth grade students to join some of us from the Servant Ministry Committee at the Boys and Girls Club on Wednesday, May 10 from 3:30 until 4:45 p.m. for a fun and relationship building occasion. Please contact Emily Schuster (662-341-9699 or eqs@muw.edu) if you would like to participate.

One of our adopted families, Theresa Bradford and her three young children, will soon move into the Apostles House currently being built by Habitat for Humanity.

The Servant Ministry Committee has decided to sponsor a housewarming type of event to help them get settled when it is time to move. In lieu of sharing a food or hygiene item in May, stop by the Student Center and select a housewarming item of your liking to shop for.

Please include your children when you shop and say a prayer of thanksgiving that this family will soon have a safe and new place in which to live.

There is no need to wrap your item. If you want to help deliver, please call Diane Livingston (615-0956).

Your Servant Ministry Committee has given $1000 to Helping Hands Ministry and $1000 to Habitat for Humanity this spring for their ongoing ministries.

We continue to stay in touch with the four families that we adopted at Christmas. They have asked that we tell all of you of their appreciation for the ways that they are remembered. We send birthday cards to each family member and delivered Kroger gift cards during Holy Week for special shopping needs for Easter.

We are preparing to send some children from these families to Camp Bratton-Green this summer as encouraged by our Diocesan Vision to make camp more reflective of all children in Mississippi. Watch for a special way that you can help us make this happen in the June newsletter.

The next meeting will be Wednesday, May 10 at noon in the Student Center. Please note that this will be a change from the norm (we will meet the second Wednesday rather than the third due to the El Salvador mission trip.)

We are blessed to have an outstanding group of youth in our parish. Recently several of our youth have received recognition for accomplishments in academics, community service, performing arts and athletics.

VBS will be held on Monday through Thursday evenings, June 19 - June 22, 5:30 until 7:30 p.m. for 4 year olds through those completing 5th grade. Please mark the dates for your children, grandchildren and friends; all are invited. Youth 6th grade and older are encouraged to be helpers. Please contact Diane Livingston (615-0956) if you can help one or more evenings. There are jobs to be done ahead of time as well as during the week of VBS.

To register your child and any friends or family, please call Diane Livingston at 615-0956, or complete a registration form in the narthex.

If you’re headed to Camp this summer, please drop us a note or an email, or phone us to let us know. Include your name, session and camp dates. We’d like to remember you in our thoughts and prayers during your time away!

Sunday, May 7 will be the last official EYC gathering of the 2005-06 school year.

Be on the lookout for announcements concerning a number of special gatherings during the summer months. Hope you have a great rest of the school year and a fantastic summer! See you in the fall!

The vestry of the Church of the Resurrection met at 7:00 p.m. on April 17, 2006. 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.

The Warden's Conference is April 21st and 22nd at Gray Center. Since neither the Senior Warden nor the Junior Warden is able to attend, Fr. Livingston asked if anyone from the vestry would like to go.

The vestry will serve the Agape Meals on April 26th, May 3rd, May 10th, and May 17th. Volunteers were requested and all positions filled.

Fr. Livingston suggested to the vestry that the sermon on Pentecost be replaced with the video "Wading in New Water" just received from the diocese. This video includes scenes from the Tent Meeting last August and scenes from the Coast after Hurricane Katrina. The vestry felt this was very appropriate for the day and recommended using it. Also, the dates of the May and June vestry meetings were changed to May 8th and June 12th. The vestry does not meet in July.

The vestry, during the planning meeting and at the vestry retreat, identified Christian Education as our highest priority for the coming year. Guy Hargrove, vestry person for Youth Formation and Rachel McCann, vestry person for Adult Formation, along with the clergy, have worked hard to provide the youth and adults of Resurrection with Christian Education. The move to Wednesday was an attempt to breathe some life into a pretty sad situation and because many parents have indicated difficulty getting their children to Christian education on Sundays. The vestry has made calls to parishioners discussing this issue, and the only consensus was that no one wants to teach Christian Education. It was decided that various members of the vestry would announce at church services that we are in danger of not having Christian Education for the children at all if we cannot arouse some interest.

Fr. Livingston asked everyone to keep the General Convention and the Deputies in their prayers as they prepare to meet this June.

for lawn mowing teams! Interested? Contact Clarissa Balbalian at 615-1291 or cbalbali@ext.msstate.edu.

As part of the time he will be spending in the Tombigbee Convocation, Bishop Gray will offer a teaching at Resurrection on Wednesday, May 17, from noon until 1:30 p.m. His teaching will be "Seeing the Eucharist Again for the First Time" in which he will talk about the Eucharist as a key element in our spiritual journeys.

This will be an excellent time to meet with Bishop Gray and take advantage of this teaching. This will be a brown bag event. Please bring your own lunch, and join with the Bishop and other Resurrection members in the Student Center for this teaching.

Bishop Gray is available for appointments that day from 1:30 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. Please call the parish office to schedule an appointment.

He will also be available for appointment times in West Point. Please call DeLane Patrick at 662-842-4386 to schedule an appointment in West Point.

A new class of Daughters of the King will be inducted on May 7th at the 10:30 service. Kathy Dooley, Mary Lee Beal, and Melinda Myers have completed a 12-week course of study and preparation.

The Daughters of the King, founded in 1885, is an order for women in the Episcopal Church dedicated to prayer and service--For Christ's Sake. Members undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service. By reaffirmation of the promises made at Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a lifelong program of prayer, service, and evangelism, dedicated to the spread of Christ's Kingdom and the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish.

Our Resurrection Chapter is new, with studying begun last summer and the charter being granted December 4th, 2005. Inducted at that time were Beth Batson, Ellen Newsom, Juawice McCormick, Kim Noffsinger, Lynn Phillips-Gaines, Sherry VanLandingham, Susan Cook, and Gretchen Passons. Daughters are committed to prayer, study, and service. They assist with special needs in the parish and will sponsor "Quiet Days" for the benefit of spiritual growth. Recently they have undertaken the sponsorship and overseeing of Baptisms. They meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month.

If there are any questions or for more information, call Gretchen Passons at 323-0445.

The Motto of the Order

I am but one, but I am one.
I cannot do everything;but I can do something.
What I can do,I ought to do.
What I ought to do,by the grace of God I will do.
Lord, what will you have me do?

Can you help us solve the mysterious case of the missing tablecloths? We’re trying to find the nice, heavy white tablecloths used for receptions and celebrations. We’ve located four, but several of these are still missing. If you have seen them or have any ideas about where they may be stored, please give us a call at the parish office.

Canterbury Fellowship continues over the summer months anytime MSU is in session. Though May 3 is our final gathering of the 2005-06 year, we will start meeting MAY 31 and continue meeting on Wednesdays in June, July and early August for worship, fellowship and fun this summer!!!

If you are planning to be in the Starkville area for any or part of the summer, please email Brian so that your name can be added to a summer email list. You’ll receive announcements about gatherings and such! Be sure to spread the word about Canterbury to those you know who may be coming to MSU over the summer or in the fall!

ALSO … Best wishes to those of our MSU students who will be graduating this May or August! Congratulations on this milestone in your life, and wishing Godspeed as you transition into the next phase of life. We’ll miss you!

A study by MIT Jonathan Gruber concludes that doubling church attendance raises income by 10%. Possible reasons:

(1) church-goers generate social capital by schmoozing,
(2) church-goers assist one another in recovering from setbacks, and
(3) church-goers are less stressed by everyday worries.

Bill Cooke performed in concert on Saturday, April 29 on the church grounds. The concert helped raise funds for the El Salvador Mission trip through Episcopal Relief and Development.

The music was great; laughter abounded; the cool temps felt exhilarating; and money earned will help support our mission team on their trip May 13-20 to help rebuild villages in El Salvador after several earthquakes.

Thanks for your generous offer, Bill! Even the rain cooperated by not starting until Bill's final song. Also, many thanks to Becca Horton, one of our Canterbury students and mission team member, for coordinating the event.

An order of Bishops Blend Coffee will be made on Monday, May 22. Bishops Blend Coffee is fair trade, organic, shade grown and benefits Episcopal Relief and Development and local outreach. To order, please leave an order form and check in the basket in the narthex or call Diane Livingston (615-0956) to place an order.

… to all who made the Annual Parish Easter Egg Hunt such a wonderful success: Kim Noffsinger who made wonderful treats, provided a host of prizes and stuffed many-an-egg; to Becca “BB” Horton who hippity-hoppitied around and made the day so special as the Easter Bunny; to the EYC who helped provide Easter joy by hiding eggs and helping in the hunt; and to Guy Hargrove who helped in coordination efforts;

… to Hellen Polk and Marsha Williams, who did a nice job of assisting with the Flowering of the Cross at Easter Sunday’s 10:30 service;

… to Ellen Newsom who coordinated the efforts of the Guild of the Palm Cross and to Arleen Clapp and Shelby Wiedrich for leading the workshop the Saturday before Palm Sunday;

… to our wonderful parish choir, acolytes, LEMs, vergers, servers, ushers, altar guild and other participants who made Holy Week, the Triduum and our Easter celebrations so wonderful;

… to Hellen Polk, who coordinated, and to all those who made the reception for the Bishop’s visit festive and fun. The Parish Hall was beautiful and great food was had by all.

… to Arleen Clapp and all those who helped make the Easter Vigil Reception such a festive event. The Easter Vigil is a major celebration of the Church occurring anytime after sunset on the Saturday night before Easter Day. It is when we celebrate the end of Lent, and tell the story of redemption from creation through the Resurrection and often includes Holy Baptism. Therefore it is fitting that the Vigil be followed by a very festive party; and

… to Diane Livingston and Juawice McCormick, who helped honor our high school and university students with a reception following the April 23rd 10:30 service.

David Christiansen
Nancy Christiansen
Marianne Crowell
Emily Easterling
Rowena Kelley
Beath Lane
James McCormick
Caroline Lambert, sub
Emily Schuster, sub

Carey Price
Merry Barnes
ADULT EDUCATION
Kathy Dooley
Joshua Easterling
Mary Hermann
Rachel McCann
Sylvia Milosh
Dolton McAlpin, sub

This is a third of a series of responses to feedback received during the fall parish discernment process, with this response focusing primarily on feedback about the building and grounds.

Several recommended completing the labyrinth and the landscaping around the labyrinth and columbarium. David Lewis and James McCormick have recently begun the final steps of installing the outer border of the labyrinth (the only remaining task). On May 17 Rachel McCann will offer a teaching on the labyrinth and its use as part of one’s spiritual practices. Recently soil preparation and pine straw mulch have been added to the area around the labyrinth and between the labyrinth and the columbarium. Donations for plants have been received, with planting to occur as appropriate to the planting season.

Many complimented the landscaping and building repairs and improvements over the last few years. Several recommended professional grounds maintenance. Having professional crews to cut the grass is one item the Vestry eliminated due to the cost and the limit of the parish budget. During Michael Fazio’s tenure as Junior Warden, the St. Joseph’s Guild was established. This group of men and women volunteers perform needed repairs and improvements and do regular and ongoing yard maintenance. Some of our volunteers have moved away, and Clarissa Balbalian (our current Junior Warden) is currently recruiting for additional volunteers for yard maintenance and work crews (see St. Joseph’s article on page 4).

Several offered recommendations for additional building space: a new parish hall, a building specifically for the youth, a building specifically for very young children, a larger area for funeral visitations. These all require funds that far exceed our annual budget. These recommendations will need to be considered if/when a next capital improvement campaign is implemented.

Joining us during Easter and Bishop’s Sunday services were guest musicians Dr. Lana Johns, Virginia Huff, Michael Huff, Dr. Robert Damm, and Dr. Richard Human. From our own congregation, Adrian Lewis and Abbie Cathcart played cello, and Rachel McCann played guitar. Abbie, Rachel, Pam Collins, and Anita George used their individual voices in solo song.

...both Adult and Children’s Choirs for the burst of energy and their continual commitment to music for the Palm Sunday, Holy Week, Easter Vigil, Easter Sunday, Youth Sunday and the Bishop’s Sunday services.

Both choirs will be honored and thanked on May 17 at a picnic by the pool from 5:00-6:15, ending just in time for children to attend formation classes and for the adults to attend the lecture by Rachel McCann about the labyrinth

All those attending the final Agape dinner of the year on May 17, will be treated to this special dinner provided for the choirs. AND it will be FREE! It will help the cooks to know if you plan to attend … please send confirmation to leannefazio@hotmail.com.

The doors of the church are thrown open wide and the church bell in the tower is rung for two minutes before the 10:30 service, inviting all to join us. After the service, the bell is rung again for an extended time. The hands that are ringing the bell have been those of the CHILDREN’S CHOIR. If you have a child in first grade or older who would like to participate in this ministry, please sign up on the sheet in the narthex, or e-mail leannefazio@hotmail.com.

Have a favorite hymn? Want to sing it this summer? Enter the hymn lottery! Stop by the fishbowl in the narthex and submit your request by dropping a completed form into the fishbowl. Each Sunday, beginning the Sunday after Pentecost, June 11, the congregation will sing a hymn drawn from the fishbowl as a prelude. Enter as often as you like, and increase your chance of winning.

EDUCATION FOR A SAFE CHURCH,
FOR THE PREVENTION OF CHILD ABUSE,
EXPLOITATION AND HARASSMENT

8:30 a.m. Welcome and sign-in
9:00 a.m. Training begins
12:00 p.m. Training concludes**

To register, call 601-982-4880 or
email: jyoung@st-james.org
Workshop fee is $5 per person,
payable at the workshop
**IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THE TRAINING,
YOU MUST STAY FOR THE ENTIRE SESSION

The Diocesan Committee on Prison Ministry needs YOUR HELP in making the third annual Camp Caritas, June 24-30 at Gray Center, a success. Your support is needed to sponsor children and/or staff the session. This event helps to change the lives of children who have one or both parents incarcerated. Contact Gay Yerger, byerger@jam.rr.com, 601-856-1776. Send contributions made out to “Diocese of Mississippi,” earmarked “Camp Caritas” to P.O. Box 23107, Jackson, MS 39225.

775 N. President St.
Jackson, MS 39201
Phone: 601.352.7125 Fax: 601.352.7520
www.lesm.org

DIO-GRAM May ‘06
The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi Phone: (601) 948-5954
P.O. Box 23107 Fax: (601) 354-3401
Jackson, MS 39225-3107 Toll Free: 866-550-0872

Bishop Gray has designated the first Sunday in May as Gray Center Sunday. Designated offerings will be used to fund projects at Gray Center. This is also an excellent opportunity to sponsor, wholly or in part, a camper for the upcoming Special Sessions. Information about Gray Center Sunday has been mailed out to all churches. Ask your rector or vicar how your church will support Gray Center Sunday in 2006.

Help make the next 100 years a reality! Visit www.allsaintsweb.com or call 601-636-5266 to find out how you can be a part of the Spring 2006 fundraiser which offers a $25,000 grand-prize drawing!

Installment two, excerpted from a three-part series of articles appearing in the April-June issues of the Mississippi Episcopalian, by the Rev. Canon David H. Johnson.

At the 75th General Convention in Columbus, Ohio, bishops and deputies from 111 jurisdictions will participate in a remarkable legislative process. The work of convention is enveloped in prayer and worship as participants seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Following is a description of the work of General Convention by the Reverend Gregory Straub, Executive Officer and Secretary of the House of Deputies:

Deputies vote their conscience for the good of the church. They cannot be instructed to vote one way or another, for to do so would preclude godly debate and preempt the work of the Holy Spirit. Deputies are expected to serve on committees, if appointed, to attend forums and hearings, to read the reports to the church from its commissions, committees and appointed boards, to listen to, and if so moved, to respond to resolutions on the Floor of the house.

The House of Bishops and House of Deputies meet, deliberate and vote separately. To be enacted resolutions must pass both houses in the same language. Both houses have the right to amend legislation, but the amendment must be accepted by the other house.

In the House of Deputies three lay or clerical deputations from different dioceses may request a vote by orders. In a vote by orders each diocesan deputation has two votes: one lay vote and one clerical vote. To cast that vote the deputation is polled. If a majority of a deputation is in favor, the diocesan lay or clerical vote is cast as a “yes.” If a majority of a deputation is opposed, the vote is cast as a “no.” Tied deputations count as “divided” and, in effect, as additional “no” votes.

The House of Bishops is chaired by the Primate of the Episcopal Church, Presiding Bishop Frank T. Griswold. At this General Convention the House of Bishops will elect a new Presiding Bishop, whose election must be confirmed by the House of Deputies. The 26th Presiding Bishop will take office on November 4, 2006, at a service at the Washington National Cathedral.

The House of Deputies is chaired by the President of the House, Dean George Werner, and, in his absence, by the Vice President, Bonnie Anderson. This General Convention will elect a new President and Vice President of the House, who will take office at the close of General Convention.

Much of the work of convention is carried out by legislative committees. The Presiding Bishop and the President of the House of Deputies determine the number of committees, the number of persons who serve on them and their composition.

Resolutions proposed for discussion at convention are referred to committees, which consider before presenting them on the floor of convention. Legislative committees hold hearings on legislation.

General Convention meets prayerfully. Each morning bishops, deputies, registered alternates and delegates to the ECW Triennial gather for Bible study and Holy Eucharist. Both the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops have chaplains, who lead their houses in regular prayer at the beginning and end of sessions and daily at noon. Chaplains are also asked to pray before the enactment of important legislation. Volunteers staff a prayer room in which there is continual intercession for the work of convention.

A highlight of every General Convention is its festival Eucharist at which the United Thank Offering is presented.

Debate on the floor is governed by the Constitution and Canons of the church, Rules of Order for each house, Joint Rules of Order (that apply to both houses) and Roberts’ Rules of Order. Deputies are expected to listen respectfully to the views of others and to adhere to the rules, which require, for example, that persons of different points of view alternate at microphones.

Convention is more than legislation. One of the most interesting parts of convention is the Exhibit Hall. The Exhibit Hall reminds me of an oriental souk: it is a marketplace of goods and ideas in which the organizations and interest groups within the church present their wares, recruit members and do their best to influence legislation. It is a colorful part of convention, and it would not be General Convention without it.

General Convention is a combination of legislative assembly, bazaar of goods and services and family reunion. It is one of the most exciting and, truth be told, one of the most awe-inspiring gatherings in the world.

Province IV Altar Guild will host its annual meeting from Sunday, June 4 through Wednesday June 7, 2006, at the Kanuga Episcopal Conference Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina. The featured keynote speaker will be the Reverend Dr. James B. Lemler, Director of Mission for the Episcopal Church and a member of the Management Team of the Episcopal Church Center in New York City. Dr. Lemeler’s keynote address will be “Changed from Glory into Glory...Spiritual Transformation.”

Afternoon workshops will be offered on Monday and Tuesday. Dianne Walters, President of the Altar Guild Association of the Central Gulf Coast and treasurer of Province IV Altar Guild, will share with us her tips on making Baptismal banners for the newly baptized.

Joyce Edwards of Gallatin, Tennessee will teach the second workshop. Joyce is a Stillpoint trained spiritual director and has been an active member of the altar guild for more than 20 years; her workshop will focus on praying with the Anglican Rosary. Both are hands-on workshops, and those who wish may purchase a kit for making a baptismal banner and an Anglican Rosary.

John Shannon, a retired music professor emeritus from Sweet Briar College, will present an organ concert Monday evening in the Chapel of the Transfiguration. John presented short preludes last year prior to the evening services and has enriched our worship services by serving as organist.

For more information, please contact Jan B. Smith, 423 Cheyenne Lane, Madison, MS 39110, (601) 856-1847 or janbollssmith@yahoo.com.

Center for formation & missionat gray center
www.graycenter.com

Upcoming Programs

July 7, 8
Spirituality & Art: Stories of Our Faith Through
Sacred Art with Jackie Tatum & Anne Perry

Sept. 29, 30
A Crozier Look At The Bishop - A Way Cool
Bishop Day for ages 4-11 with The Rt. Rev.
Duncan M. Gray, III

For more information, contact the Rev. Debo Dykes, Program Director, 601-948-5954 x106 or debo@dioms.org.

6 Safeguarding God’s Children
7 Gray Center Sunday
7-9 Presbyter POC/Fresh Start
8 Vestry Meeting
10 Servant Ministry Committee
13-21 Bishop Gray's extended visit to the Tombigbee Convocation
17 Brown Bag Lunch with Bishop Gray
20 St. Joseph’s Guild: Work Day
24 Trustees, 2:00 p.m., Allin House
24 Ordination to the Transitional Diaconate, Patrick Sanders, St. Patrick’s, Long Beach
25 Convocation Deans, Allin House
29 RESURRECTION CLOSED IN OBSERVANCE OF MEMORIAL DAY; Allin House also closed
30-31 Annual Retiree Retreat, Gray Center
31 Canterbury Resumes for Summer

1 Standing Committee, Allin House
2 General Convention Deputies, St. Andrew’s, Jackson
3-11 Bishop Gray’s extended visit to the Coast Convocation
9-10 Gray Center Board Meeting, Gray Center
12 Vestry Meeting
12-21 175th General Convention, Columbus, OH
14-18 Cursillo # 110, Gray Center
19-24 Vacation Bible School
24-30 Camp Caritas, Gray Center

Dixie Boswel,l Becca Horton, Hal Rowland, Matthew Tolbert, Caroline Brandon, Gavin Olsen, and John Switzer

Kate Boihem, Dixie Boswell, Joshua Easterling, Jennifer Hanks, Joey Hansford, Caroline Lambert, Ginny Powell, and Merrick Wiedrich

Dorothy Anderson, on the death of her husband, Cliff
Teresa Kennard, on the death of her grandfather, John Patton
Rae Wilkinson, on the death of her uncle, Bruce Gilbert
Marsha Williams, on the death of her mother, Mona Terry
Clyde Williams, on the death of his aunt

YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR...those with child, especially Kristen, Wendy VanLandingham, Alice Bennett, Stephanie Nettles....those who suffer in mind, body or spirit, especially Jeanne, Lorenzo, Edna, Don, Oma Lee, Ophelia, Donald Mosley, Madeline, Jim Little, Janet Mason, Jonathon Sobley, Brooke Schnitman, Grace Jones, Bridget Burdan, Hunter Maye, Lisa Dickey, Frances Finane, Patience Rall, Chad Green, Noah David, Marianne, Chris Pearce, Johnny Hennessey, Charlie Little, Walt Hillen, George Hester, Richard Christiansen, Melinda Jones, Caroline Cunningham, Warnie Kennington, Martha Ruth Parvin, Charlotte Webb, Rhonda Bond, Joan Hill, Dorothy Anderson, Betsy Stark, Sally Hester, Murray Bullock....those who serve in the military, especially Steve, David, Chris, Fran, Tim McKay, Justin, John Burdan, Rob Kennington....and those in harm’s way.

2 David Callahan
3 Cullom McCormick
4 Gretchen Passons
5 Nancy Christiansen
6 Mark Bullman
14 Tom Coleman
14 Anna Potts

15 Brenda Jackson
16 Craig Piper
19 Guy Hargrove
20 Rowena Kelley
21 Alice Jones
27 Mary Sears

If you haven’t enjoyed the pool in the past, consider signing up this year as a way to cool off from the summer heat!

The pool is only 3’ deep at the shallow end and 8’ deep at the deepest point.
Guests are welcome as long as they are accompanied by a member.
There is a grill for your grilling enjoyment . . . Make it a party!

Speaking of parties. . . .The pool area can be reserved for parties if arranged through the church office in advance.

Pool Opens May 13
Those who use the pool are requested to help cover the maintenance costs.

Note: Donations can be negotiated. If you need to discuss this, contact Dolton McAlpin. Registration and donations can be made at the church office.