Dear Brothers & Sisters in Christ...

Since the departure of the Rev. Diane Livingston, we have been privileged to co-chair the Servant Ministry Committee. During the first month we became acutely aware of how much effort and how many hours Diane had contributed to this work! The key characteristic of the diaconate is service – taking the church into the world, and Diane clearly modeled for us the ministry Christ has given to his church.

The Servant Ministry Committee strives to expand the Church of the Resurrection’s presence in the community while responding to the traditional and new outreach concerns brought to the group by members of the parish. God bids us to care for the bodies, minds, and souls of our fellow pilgrims — especially those who are most fragile and marginalized. Our Baptismal Covenant directs us “to seek and serve Christ in all people, loving our neighbor as our self.” The Servant Ministry Committee seeks ways to help us live out the promises of our Baptismal Covenant.

The Servant Ministry Committee is most visible at this time of the year because of the Angel Tree. Every year our parish adopts four families, and we provide them with some things which they need as well as a Christmas dinner. Committee members follow these families during the rest of the year, calling to check on them and providing them with an Easter basket and a Thanksgiving meal. Last summer we were able to send one of the children to Camp Bratton-Green in response to Bishop Gray’s call for more diversity among the campers. In the fall we helped last year’s adopted families with school clothes and school supplies.

Among our families adopted this year we have one mother, age 36, who has a serious neuromuscular disorder; she has one son and two teenage girls, and there are two infants in the family. This family’s house burned to the ground and they were homeless until recently. Another family includes an 89 year-old wheelchair-bound woman, the sole caregiver for her profoundly challenged 59 year-old daughter - and Cinnamon, the cat! The other two families are made up of mothers and numerous children in extreme circumstances, with no fathers in the picture.

In addition to the Angel Tree, the committee has made contributions to Habitat For Humanity, we have solicited and delivered supplies to Safe Haven as well as food items for the Peter’s Rock food pantry, we have organized the bell-ringers from our parish to the Salvation Army during the Christmas season, we have provided enriching activities for children at the Starkville Boys’ and Girls’ Club, and we have contributed to and worked with the Helping Hands program. Diane also increased our awareness of and encouraged our participation in the work of Episcopal Relief and Development in serving the needs of the poor and oppressed at home and in over 100 countries abroad.

The Committee continues to find that the more it does, the more it becomes blessed with increased energy and resources from the parish. While we have a budget from the parish, it is never sufficient to cover the needs that we find all around us, and members of the parish have made generous contributions to the outreach work of the Committee. If you would like to make a contribution to the outreach program, you can make a check payable to the church and mark on it “Servant Ministry” and the money will go to toward the work of the Committee.

Every Servant Ministry Committee meeting begins with a prayer that includes these lines: “O Lord, open our eyes that we may see the needs of others. Open our ears that we may hear their cries. Open our hearts that they need not be without succor. Let us not be afraid to defend the weak because of the anger of strong, nor afraid to defend the poor because of the anger of the rich. Show us where love and hope and faith are needed, and use us to bring them to those places. And so open our eyes and ears that we may this day be able to do some work of peace for Thee.” Our goal is to extend Christ’s presence beyond the parish. Please join us at noon on the third Wednesday of each month and energize us for our ministry in the world, as we seek to live into the prayer Jesus taught us — “Thy Kingdom come, Thy Will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Martha and Dolton McAlpin
for the Servant Ministry Committee

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

Holy Eucharist and Parish Meeting
January 28 at 9:30 a.m.
One Service ONLY!
No Sunday School this day.

180TH ANNUAL COUNCIL

NOTICE: The 180th Annual Council of the Diocese of Mississippi is appointed to convene on February 2-4, 2007 in the city of Vicksburg at the Convention Center.

Delegates and alternates to Council from the Church of the Resurrection were appointed last year at a duly convened gathering of the Vestry. Our 2007 delegates are: Leonard Brandon, Martha McAlpin, and Jim Jones. Our alternates are: Clarissa Balbalian, Emily Schuster, and Kathy Dooley. In addition to their representing us at Council, each is expected to attend the Convocational Caucus, scheduled for Saturday, January 13, in Tupelo to learn about all things “Council.

Registering for Council

A Registration Form is included on page 3 of this newsletter. Any and all members of the diocese are encouraged to attend. If you want to include your registration with the parish submission, please complete a registration form and return it, along with a check for $85 made payable to 180th Annual Council, to the parish office no later than Thursday, January 4th. Those forms and checks will be mailed in time to receive the early registration discount.

Please be aware of the cost savings before January 8. Individual registrations are $85/person on or before that date. Afterwards, registration jumps to $100/person. Please take advantage of the early registration savings, and let us know in the parish office of your intentions to attend.

Places to Stay at Council

Rooms are available in Vicksburg for those from Resurrection wanting to attend Annual Council. We are holding a block of 15 rooms at the Quality Inn and Suites, 3332 Clay Street, Vicksburg. Prices for these rooms are as follows: double: $62; king: $67; suite: $89. Rates include a continental breakfast. To reserve your room, please call the hotel directly at 601-636-0804 and ask for a room in the Resurrection, Starkville block. The hotel will need your credit card number to guarantee the room. If there are any problems, ask for Stephanie, who coordinated our block of rooms.

Information on other hotels offering a group rate for council can be found at www.dioms.org/council/hotels. Group rates at those hotels are available until January 2, 2007.

Let Us Know!!

The parish will host a hospitality room for fellowship throughout Council, and we will plan on sharing a meal together at a local restaurant. Again, please notify the parish office of your intentions to attend so that we can include all from Starkville in our plans.

CRAWFORD CHOSEN YOUTH DELEGATE

Resurrection’s Claire Crawford has been selected a delegate by the dean of the Tombigbee convocation, the Very Rev. Shannon Johnston, to represent the youth of the convocation and diocese at the 180th Annual Council of the Diocese of Mississippi in February. Claire and Mary Gray (convocational alternate from All Saints’, Tupelo) will be seated with other youth from around the diocese to take part in the legislation, work and business of the Church as we convene upon Vicksburg for our annual diocesan meeting.

Each convocation elects or has appointed one delegate with seat, voice and vote, in addition to an alternate. As will all parish and mission delegates and alternates, Claire will be concerned with the various resolutions to Council, the diocesan budget and other items of business that come before the larger body for its consideration.

Congratulations, Claire! We know you will represent our youth well!

SEARCH NEWS

Advent is a time to look toward "the coming" of Christ. Please pray for the Search Committee as we continue to discern and look forward. The search process continues to be a busy and rewarding time.

We are at the point of interviews--both by telephone and in person. Due to Advent and Christmas, visits have to be delayed until after the New Year. Clergy are very busy, as are Search Committee members. Please keep us in your prayers as we begin the process of discernment in our visits with clergy, that we will find the one that God is forming for us at Church of the Resurrection.

Leigh Jensen Crawford
Chair, Search Committee

THANKS, BELL RINGERS!!

The Annual Salvation Army Kettle Drive effort at Resurrection Church was a great success! We worked 2 days, December 7 and December 21, ringing the bell and collecting much needed money at Wal-Mart.

Special thanks go to everyone who made this possible, including Claire Fellman, Glenn Cook, Tom Bell, Clarissa Balbalian, Babs Deas, Gretchen Passons, Peyton Passons, Leigh Jensen Crawford, Claire Crawford, Julia Heard, Lori Mitchell, Ren Crowell, Mary Sears, Marsha Williams, Dwayne Myers, Julia Cathcart, Martha McAlpin, Lois Connington, Keith Caprio, and Claire Caprio.

Tom Cathcart

ANGEL FOOD

Faith Baptist Church has begun a new Angel Food outreach ministry that is offered to Starkville and surrounding communities. This is a non-profit program designed for anyone who has a need or would like to save money on groceries.

There are no applications and no qualifications for taking part in this ministry. To participate, simply pay $27 for approximately $50-60 of fresh and frozen meats, fruits, and vegetables from that month’s menu. Payment in full is required when the units are ordered and must be made in person at the church office (no phone call orders) with cash, money orders, or food stamps (EBT CARDS).

Faith Baptist Church is located at 1804 South Montgomery Street, approximately 3 miles from Hwy 12, near the Starkville Country Club. For more information on the program, including January’s menu and how to order, please see the flyer in the narthex, call their church office at 323-9333, or visit their website at www.faithstarkville.org.

DOK Announces New Class

Beginning in January, there will be a new class for prospective members of Daughters of the King. Call Gretchen Passons at 323-0445 or email at grpassons@bellsouth.net for more information.

YOUTH NEWS

EYC RESUMES …

Sunday, January 14 at 4:00 p.m. in the Canterbury Lodge. All parish junior and senior high youth are encouraged to attend.

DIOCESAN YOUTH EVENTS ANNOUNCED

The Diocese of Mississippi announces the following dates for Spring youth programming:

February
2-4 9th Youth Council, Vicksburg
16-18 Senior High DOY, Camp Bratton-Green

March
23-25 Junior High DOY, Camp Bratton-Green

Be on the lookout for Spring Happening and Happening Reunion dates!

PUB QUIZ THANK-YOU!

A BIG thank you to those who made the Pub Quiz fundraiser such a huge success!

Thanks to all who bought tickets and especially to those who attended the PQ event on December 15. Our trivia thinking-caps were definitely a necessary accessory that evening!

Your generous support—and your purchasing of lots of goodies and snacks—helped us raise about $400 towards the EYC spring trip! A special thank-you to the “Hannah’s Table” team players who donated the evening’s winnings back to the EYC.

Look for more details about our trip in the coming weeks and months … and maybe even another shot at Pub Quiz!

HEADS UP!!
College Students & Parish 20- & 30-Somethings

PEWS, VIEWS & BREWS SPRING PLANS ANNOUNCED

PVB will resume as the Spring semester begins. If you’ve been seeking an opportunity to discuss things theological in a relaxed, informal setting and to explore the Scriptures in a safe, inviting environment with others, then PVB might be for you!

Over the course of the Spring term, we’ll be reading Frederick Buechner’s Peculiar Treasures: A Biblical Who’s Who along with a number of stories from the Scriptures. This book offers often-humorous vignettes about the many personalities from within Holy Scripture, and we’ll be reading correlating passages along with each person’s “biography.”

For more details including book specifics and ordering information, please contact Fr. Brian at 662.323.3483 or at msu_canterbury@bellsouth.net. Books can be ordered from the parish office through January 8, or you can pick up your own copy. Please contact Fr. Brian for a reading outline.

DINNER & A MOVIE & COMPLINE, TOO! CONTINUES …

DMC2 will continue in the Spring semester on the second Sunday of each month. Join us for dinner, a flick, conversation and worship … a great way to start your week, or end your weekend! For more information, please contact Fr. Brian as noted above.

BISHOP’S MISSION CORPS—TAKE TWO

The Bishop is currently seeking young adults to spend a summer in community, adopting a Benedictine pattern of life in worship, study, training and work. The second corps group will share a 40-day-long experience together, and this opportunity is open to selected adults in their 20s. The program will be based out of the Gray Center in Canton and offers a wonderful occasion to become prepared theologically and spiritually for life in the emerging, mission-oriented church and world. For further information, visit: www.bmc.dioms.org, or contact Fr. Brian for an informational postcard.

INVESTITURE SERVICE DVD

We now have a DVD of the investiture of presiding bishop Katharine. If you want to check it out, please call the parish office (323-3483).

MUSIC NOTES

Children’s Choir

The Children sang throughout the Lessons and Carols service and sat in the choir loft by themselves to sing special music and lead the hymns at the 5:30 p.m. Christmas Eve service.

They continued to rehearse on Wednesday afternoons up until the Christmas Eve service in preparation.

Lessons & Carols: Glorious!!

The Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols service was gloriously read, sung, and played on December 3.

The Congregation, the Adult and Children’s Choirs were joined by Bonnie Oppenheimer, oboist; Dr. Lana Johns, flutist, and Dr. Robert Damm, percussionist. Soloists from the Adult Choir were Pam Collins, Rachel McCann, Dr. Eleanor McClellan, and Dr. Iwao Asakura.

We were sorry that James McCormick was unable to sing his solo because of illness, and grateful that Rachel was willing and able to sing.

We thank the readers for their careful preparation and for their enormous contribution to the Festival: Marsha Williams, Babs Deas, Bob Collins, Magdalen Dobson, Mary Lee Beal, Carey Price, and Martha McAlpin.

Behind the scenes at Lessons and Carols were Marsha Williams of the Altar Guild and John Beal, verger.

Gratitude to all of the above as well as to Sandra Sistrunk for the service booklet and to Father Brian for liturgical and musical guidance and for the art work in the service booklet.

Following the service, a huge and tasty spread was provided by many parishioners and organized by Lois Connington. Helping Lois decorate and set the tables beautifully were Claire Connington, Julia Heard and Clarissa Balbalian, Helping Lois clean up after the event were Lori Mitchell. Jo Bright, and Glen Cook.

Adult Choir

On December 17 the choirs had lunch together, each bringing a dish to share, at Leanne’s house. Michael Fazio smoked turkeys fro the lunch, and all enjoyed the lunch and especially the company.

The choirs wish to thank Tom Cathcart for delivering the items they collected for the city’s food pantries.

Leanne Fazio
Organist & Choirmaster

FROM THE VESTRY

The vestry of the Church of the Resurrection met at 6:30 PM on December 11, 2006 at the home of Babs Deas. Following a social time and dinner, the meeting was called to order, and the minutes of the previous meeting were approved, and the financial report was accepted.

The main purpose of this vestry meeting was to approve the proposed budget for 2007. The Senior Warden, Babs Deas, presented copies of the proposed budget to the vestry members. Pledges, as expected without a rector, have been down a little bit this year and this was reflected in the proposed budget. It was suggested instead of cutting items, we would use our savings to make up the budget deficit. Following discussion and a few questions, the vestry voted to accept the budget as presented.

Clarissa Balbalian, Junior Warden, reported on plans to replace wood on the outside of the church and paint. She also reported the effort to replace the cap on the church was not successful since the new cap did not fit.

Martha McAlpin reported she has been receiving pastoral care notification and is delighted to be working hard once again.

The Rev. Brian Ponder closed the meeting with the prayer for the search of a new rector.

Babs Deas
Senior Warden

CANTERBURY TELLS …

CANTERBURY RESUMES …

Wednesday, January 10 at 5:30 p.m. in the Canterbury Lodge. All college students are invited to join us for food, fellowship, worship and fun! Come one & all!

CANTERBURY COOKS NEEDED…and MANY THANKS!

A HUGE thank-you to all who helped keep us wonderfully fed during the Fall semester: Nancy Christiansen & family; Julia Heard; Susan Cook & family; Rae & Leonard Brandon; Nancy & Guy Hargrove; Grace Strahan & Craig Piper; Holly Potts & family; and Sykes Zimmerman & family. Everything was absolutely delicious!!
Parishioners providing meals continues to be an integral part of our programming and weekly fellowship at Canterbury, and we’re now seeking volunteers/chefs for the Spring semester. Please add your name to the sign-up sheet in the Narthex the next time you’re at church. Merry Barnes, Canterbury assistant, will contact you with details as your date approaches. Thanks in advance for your support of Canterbury!

CANTERBURY AND ANNUAL COUNCIL REGISTRATION

A couple of rooms have been reserved for Canterbury students wishing to attend Annual Council in Vicksburg, February 2-4. Registration for Council is $50/student, and Canterbury can help defray the cost of attendance.

The deadline to register at the $50 rate is in early January, so please let Brian know of your interest in attending and whether or not you’ll need lodging no later than January 8! Registration doubles after that date! Limited registration fee assistance is available through the chaplain’s office so don’t hesitate making your financial needs known.

We’ll be planning a “Dutch treat” meal—either with parishioners from Resurrection or with others from the Episcopal Church at Ole Miss and the Canterbury Fellowship at USM—on Saturday evening. Hope you can make it! Look for more information through emails.

DIOCESAN SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE

Applications for three diocesan undergraduate scholarships are now available!

Misticos Scholarships are awarded annually to three young men and one young woman who are active members of the Mississippi Episcopal or Greek Orthodox Churches. These scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need, academic achievement, accomplishments and leadership.

The Charlotte Capers Scholarship is awarded each year to (an) Episcopal college student(s) from Mississippi who is/are receiving an education with an emphasis in the liberal arts. One or two Capers scholarships are awarded each year with those in financial need given preference.

Several Okolona Scholarships are also granted annually and are awarded “for the education of black youths.”

The DEADLINE for each of these applications is MARCH 1, and prior recipients may reapply. For more information or to obtain an application, contact Fr. Brian in the parish office.

ATTENTION ALL VESTRY MEMBERS & COMMITTEE CHAIRS!

REPORT DEADLINE IS JANUARY 10

Ministry area reports are due from each vestry member and his/her committee chairpersons by January 10 to Babs Deas, Senior Warden. All reports must be submitted by that date for inclusion in the parish report.

The annual report is a valuable resource for parishioners, and it will be particularly important to our new rector as s/he begins his/her duties in 2007. To find previous years’ reports, visit: http://www.resurrectionchurch.com/resources/reports/.

Please make sure your ministry area is included!

JANUARY SCHEDULING NOTES

OFFICE REOPENS JANUARY 2
The parish office will reopen for regular business hours beginning Tuesday, January 2, following the Christmas and New Year’s break.

REGULAR PROGRAMMING including SUNDAY SCHOOL RESUMES beginning January 7!
(Note: EYC & Canterbury resume the following week!)

OFFICE CLOSES JANUARY 15
Please be aware that the office (and the diocesan offices) will again be closed Monday, January 15 in observance of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Resurrection’s annual parish meeting is Sunday, January 28. There will be only one service at 9:30 a.m., followed by the parish meeting and a parish lunch. There is no Sunday School that morning.

BAPTISMAL DATES 2007

In addition to the occasion of the bishop’s visitation, the above dates are proscribed by Prayer Book rubric as the appropriate days for Holy Baptism and/or the renewal of Baptismal vows in this Church.

If you wish to receive the sacrament of Baptism, or if you wish for your child to do so, please contact Fr. Brian at the parish office for more information.

Please be aware that there will be no official visitation by Bishop Gray in 2007.

CONFIRMATION CLASSES

Confirmation classes will begin in January and will meet most Sundays until mid-May. These classes involve video presentations and group discussions and are intended for anyone who would like to learn more about our Christian faith and Episcopal tradition (many long-time Episcopalians have found them informative and enjoyable).

Participation is required for those wishing to be confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church, though participation does not commit one to being confirmed. This is also an excellent way of learning more about the Episcopal Church and/or to decide about confirmation.

For more information, please contact Fr. Brian in the parish office.

LENT’S-A-COMIN’! ASH WEDNESDAY

As usual, two Ash Wednesday services of Holy Eucharist with the Imposition of Ashes will be offered this year on Wednesday, February 21. Please make plans to attend one or both of these services as we begin our annual Lenten pilgrimage: 12:05 p.m.—MSU Chapel of Memories and 5:30 p.m.—Church of the Resurrection.

NEW YEARS’ EVE SCHEDULE

One Service ONLY on December 31 at 9:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist

Other Coming Events and Important Dates

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

WE WELCOME THE NEWLY BAPTIZED:
We welcome the newly baptized into the Body of Christ, the Church: Brett Madison VanLandingham, Vincent Broadus VanLandingham, and Orion James VanLandingham. All were baptized on the Feast of St. Thomas the Apostle, December 21.

WE PRAY FOR THOSE TO BE BAPTIZED:
Pray for those to be baptized on the Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord, January 7: Christopher Shane Williams, fiancé of Ginny Powell, and Chandler Makenzie Nettles, daughter of Stephanie & Jerome Nettles.

CHRISTIAN SYMPATHY IS EXTENDED TO:
Jeri (Mrs. Peyton) Williams on the death of her daughter, Susan Williams Estava Nora Johnson on the death of her mother, Oma Lee Pierce, Gretchen Simmons on the death of her father, Paul HorschRest eternal grant to them, O Lord; And let light perpetual shine upon them.

YOUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR...
those with child, especially Jennifer Reed Kouns, Rachel Price Flum, Whitney Hilton.... those who suffer in mind, body or spirit, especially Jeanne, Lorenzo, Edna, Don, Ophelia, Donald Mosley, Madeline, Bridget Burdan, Hunter Maye, Lisa Dickey, Chad Green, Marianne, Chris Pearce, Walt Hillen, George Hester, Richard Christiansen, Rhonda Bond, Joan Hill, Murray Bullock, Betty Woods, Cecelia Robson, Jan Handy, Melinda Jones, Faye Jordan, Marion Kennair, Mollye Callahan, Gene, Hattie Shelley, Roy Povall, Robin Vinson, Liam Livingston, Dick Shattuck, Tonya Cruta, Rozella, George Harrison, Justin Brown, Chip Barker, Jane Polk, Melinda Gwin....those who serve in the military, especially Steve, David, Chris, Fran, Tim McKay, Justin, John Burdan, Rob Kennington, David McCaffree.... and those in harm’s way.

January Birthdays

TO MY PARISH FAMILY

Please know that your kindness is both very much appreciated and, at the same time, overwhelming. Thanks to each of you for the generous monetary Christmas gift, all the wonderful goodies and the nice cards with which you presented me over the holiday season. I continue to be richly blessed by your presence and witness in this place and by your support. Resurrection continues to be a place of great growth for me, and I thank you for allowing me to minister amongst you as a people of God. It is both an honor and a privilege to serve alongside you, and I look forward to what is ahead for us as a parish family.

Know that you are held close in my daily thoughts and prayers. Your encouragement and cheerfulness during this transition time, in particular, have been such a wonderful experience for me. I thank you for your friendship and faithfulness, as well as the ways you give and give over and again through your service to Resurrection and the larger Church and community. Thanks for all the ways you support our common ministries. Thanks for the ways in which you allow us to grow together in this place.

Wishing you all the best in this New Year, I remain yours faithfully,

Brian

VESTRY NOMINATIONS

At the January parish meeting, we will elect two new Vestry members: a Vestry member for Celebrations and Festivals and a Vestry member for Evangelism. The retiring members in these positions are, respectively, David McMillen and Peyton Passons.

To date, the Vestry nominating committee has nominated Holly Potts as Vestry member for Celebrations and Festivals and Debbie Nettles as Vestry member for Evangelism. The committee also encourages members of our church to nominate others for these vestry positions.

The committee suggests that a church member who wishes to nominate someone first obtain the permission of the nominee to nominate the member. Potential nominees may wish to confer with either David or Peyton or with Babs Deas, Senior Warden, about the duties of serving on the Vestry before they consent to their nominations being submitted.

NOMINATION FORMS WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE NARTHEX IN JANUARY!!

Mississippi State University invites you to share the events of the 2007 Martin Luther King Day Unity Breakfast. Sponsored annually by Mississippi State and the community to honor the dream of Dr. King, the Unity Breakfast will be Monday, January 15, 2007 at the Bost Extension Center Auditorium. The breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m.