ARCHANGEL
A Publication of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, Raleigh, NC • Vol. 5, Issue 3, Summer 2022
GOD’S HELPING HANDS
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Table of Contents 4
Vessels for God
We are meant to be vessels for God’s work in the world, not merely his benign presence. The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones explores how God’s fingerprints on us lead us to work in the world.
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The Pilgrim’s Way
The Rev. Jamie Pahl led a pilgrimage to the Holy Land during Lent, and he came home filled with the warmth of God’s grace.
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This Holy Land
Parishioner Mike Raley recounts his first visit to the Holy Land as he finds his faith renewed. Mike and two others share their experiences in this historic and holy place.
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Flipping the Switch
Two southeast Raleigh organizations find that investing in children helps realign their hopes for the future. In our cover story, we take a look at how each is transforming the neighborhoods they serve and how St. Michael’s is helping.
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Who’s Who at St. Michael’s Church Phone: (919) 782-0731
FEATURES 11 12 23
In Shepherds’ Fields
Frances Penick offers a little known story about how the shepherds knew where to find Jesus on the night of his birth.
A Night in the Holy Sepulchur
Leon Woodruff’s second visit to the Holy Land was life-changing, as he spent the night in the church built on top of Jesus’ tomb.
New & Renewed at Holy Cross
A trip back to Belize shows Meg McHenry how St. Michael’s teams have helped transform this impoverished school and town.
THE GOOD NEWS Art of Transformation 13 The The Rev. Holly Gloff finds painting the
icon of Lydia gives her unexpected peace.
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Home at Last
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Christ’s Reality for our Times
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Bob Orr updates us on a family of Rwandan refugees finding their way in their new world.
David Nichols ponders what’s real in the metaverse versus what’s real with God.
We Remember
A bright spirit and a gentle giant.
Who We Are/What We Do
Though we closed the building for almost two years, we didn’t close our heart for the work of God. Take a look at what we did.
The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones, Rector ext. 117 The Rev. James L. Pahl, Jr., Vicar ext. 105 The Rev. Holly Gloff, Associate Rector ext. 127 VESTRY
Class of 2022 Liz Driscoll | Matt Marchione | Katherine Poole Logan Price | Melissa Raley Class of 2023 Amanda Carson | Claren Englebreth Robert Marshall | Sam Taylor | Rose Vaughn Williams Class of 2024 Hayden Constance | Leslie De Haven | Sally Duff Tommy Malone | Steve Rolander STAFF Stella Attaway, Coordinator of Nursery Ministry • ext. 106 Catherine Fain, Director of Development • ext. 121 Ann Garey, Publications • ext. 103 Lee Hayden, Director of Operations & Newcomer Ministry • ext.108 Kevin Kerstetter, Director of Music • ext. 101 Susan Little, Financial Administrator • ext. 113 Carolyn L’Italien, Coordinator of Children’s Ministry • ext .130 Jean Olson, Parish Secretary • ext. 112 Susan Rountree, Director of Communications • ext.122 Abby Van Noppen, Director of Fam ily & Youth Ministries • ext. 115 FACILITIES STAFF Jesús Epigmenio, Groundskeeper Marcela de la Cruz, Housekeeper
On the Cover Children at The Daniel Center for Science & Math create with a robotics kit funded by a grant from the Holy Michael Foundation.
PARISH DAY SCHOOL 782-6430 Mandy Annunziata, Director • ext. 110
Courtney Alford, Assistant Director • ext.114
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Vessels for God Words: The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones, Rector
Photo: Charlotte Griffin
GOD THEN BLEW LIKE A WIND OF FIERY INSPIRATION UPON THE APOSTLES AND DISCIPLES AT PENTECOST, AND GOD STILL DWELLS WITHIN THE CHURCH TO THIS DAY, IN THE PERSON OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. IT’S THROUGH THE GIFT OF ALL OF THIS THAT WE ARE WHO WE ARE AS THE CHURCH. WE ARE A PEOPLE BORN OF GOD, REDEEMED OF GOD, RAISED UP BY GOD AND INSPIRED AND INDWELT BY GOD AS THE LIVING AND ACTIVE BODY OF CHRIST.
When children
are born into a family, parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts and uncles all get to experience the miracle of life at close hand again. I certainly believe the birth of a child is one of the great signs of God’s marvelous handiwork in creation. Seeing the hand of God in the miraculous course of nature is hardly some new-fangled thing. Many of us who love the outdoors will immediately say that we are drawn to being outside because we feel a spiritual connection to it. And why wouldn’t we? Why wouldn’t the God who created nature dwell within it? Our faith tradition certainly affirms this. For centuries, Christians around the world have found a deep connection to the God of nature in nature. And this is rooted in the Jewish traditions before us. Notably, the Bible itself says so. The Bible tells us God’s fingerprints are all over the creation. As the Psalmist says, “The heavens are telling the glory of God.” Paul writes, “Since the creation of the world His eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things he has made.” Of course, we don’t just believe that God is the author and creator of the world who made it and let it go. We do not believe that God made the universe and wound it up and put it down and let it tick away. No, we have no distant watchmaker God. We believe in an immanent God
who is in and around the creation. In God’s presence we live and move and have our being. The Spirit of God may be felt blowing around in the world, so to speak. But even more than that, we also believe in a God who so loves the world that He gave His only begotten son to become part of the world. In the incarnation of God’s eternal Word in the person of Jesus Christ, we believe God actually became a part of His own creation and took part in it — from the inside. Amazingly, God didn’t merely make human beings to bear His image, He came to be one of them Himself. And thus, we have a God who has become one with Creation through His incarnation, and who has faced all we face as mortal beings in His passion. And of course it didn’t end on that horrible Friday. In rising from death, Jesus took on the fullest possible kind of life in his glorious resurrection. And the story goes even further, for God didn’t only create us. He didn’t only tell us about Himself through the people of Israel, in their prophets and Scriptures. He didn’t only come to be born as one of us in Christ, to die and then rise. No, God then blew like a wind of fiery inspiration upon the apostles and disciples at Pentecost. And God still dwells within the Church to this day, in the person of the Holy Spirit. It’s through the gift of all of
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this that we are who we are as the Church. We are a people born of God, redeemed of God, raised up by God and inspired and indwelt by God as the living and active Body of Christ. This is the nature of the life we are called to share as the Church. When we died with Him in our baptism, we have been given that kind of life to put on — from now on and forever. And it is in this created, redeemed, risen and inspired life that we bear God’s hands in this world. We are meant to be vessels for God’s work in the world, not merely his benign presence. This is how the beloved community of God is built. And this all goes to say, mission and outreach at St. Michael’s are the purpose for which we exist as the people of God. We are not merely here for ourselves. For our own good. For our own wellness and spiritual solace. We are here to do what God needs and wants done in this world. And in the witness of Jesus and the ongoing call of the prophets, that work looks like feeding, housing, educating, healing, and putting to rights unjust systems and structures. In this issue of Archangel, we explore some of the very ways we are helping build the beloved community. In the name and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, I invite you to open your heart to God’s call to build a beloved community, not only within our parish, but in the world around it. Photo: Planting the seeds for the new community for the homeless — King’s Ridge — at the March groundbreaking near the Wake Med campus.
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The Pilgrim’s Way Words & Photo: The Rev. James L. Pahl Jr., D. Min., Vicar
IT WOULD BE SO EASY TO HAVE RELEGATED OUR VISIT TO HISTORIC SITES, TO SIMPLY SAY, “THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED HERE LONG AGO.” RATHER, WE INTENTIONALY SOUGHT TO CONNECT MOST OF THE VISITS AND OUR FELLOWSHIP WITH THE PRESENT AS WELL — TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL CHRISTIANS, JEWS AND MUSLIMS IN THE HOLY LAND.
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es, it was record-breaking cold. The first time in 100 years temperatures were so low in
March, all accompanied by heavy winds, rain, snow and sleet. But there we were, standing in Jerusalem as any pilgrim would. Frances Penick and I had just picked up some beautiful, hand-painted ceramic tiles, and we made our way in the dark through the old city, braving the weather. Thankfully avoiding the crowds. As we entered the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the most holy of sites in Christendom, the glow of candle light litup inside with the warmth of God’s grace — a fitting vigil for this site of the crucifixion and resurrection.
Out of that grace, the Holy Spirit moved us, so we followed its nudging, leading us to the “empty tomb” — the very tomb where Jesus was resurrected. Kneeling down, we placed our arms and hands on the bedrock where Jesus once laid, giving praise to God for this gift of amazing grace, praying over the ceramic tiles, and offering prayers for our fellow pilgrims walking in the footsteps of Jesus. The solitude of the moment was eternal. No one was there, as the tomb and church were quiet on this particular evening. Is this the awe-inspiring moment of a pilgrimage? Yes, but it is so much more in the context and relationship with others, and not just visiting ancient sites. In the course of the days to follow, there were many more encounters of this “amazing grace” — rare opportunities to visit the most holy of sites in the quiet solitude of early mornings and peaceful evenings. Oh, what a blessing to walk on the same stones in which Jesus stood, to touch the same waters of the Galilee where he walked, taught, and healed, to touch the waters of the Jordan where he was baptized, to stand atop the “valley of the shadow of death” (Psalm 23) where Jesus passed.
And to read, pray and sing at the very spot where Jesus, the Word, became flesh on that first Christmas — to tangibly mark the place of the crucifixion and resurrection and to celebrate the Holy Eucharist in Emmaus where Cleopas and his friend discovered the Lord! Yes, we followed the “pilgrim-way,” the way Christian pilgrims have experienced the Holy Land since the first century. And this is why we intended this to be a pilgrimage and not a tour. As the 4th century Christian pilgrim, Egeria, wrote in her diary as she journeyed the pilgrimage tradition in the late 300s: “And after the reading, prayer was again made, and giving thanks to God, we moved on from there. For it was always our custom that whenever we were about to visit places we desired, first prayer was made there, then the reading was read from the codex, also one psalm relevant to the matter was recited and prayer was made there again. So, by God’s will we have always kept this custom whenever we have been able to arrive at places we desired.” As one of the pilgrims said to France and me after our return, “I appreciated your messages, discussions and leadership. You helped us stay focused on a pilgrimage, as opposed to being a group of tourists visiting historic sites, and the fellowship that grew among our group was special as we journeyed together.” It would be so easy to have relegated our visit to historic sites, to simply say, “This is what happened here long ago.” Rather, we intentionality sought to connect most of the visits and our fellowship with the present as well — to engage with local Christians, Jews and Muslims in the Holy Land.
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A colonnaded street in Sepphoris/Zippori. Nazareth is nearby, and some scholars believe Jesus may have helped build the road.
As a part of the experience, we visited three main charities/outreach ministries along the way as time permitted. The first visit was on our way south from the Galilee as we made our way through Samaria into Nablus (formerly Shechem) — one of the oldest cities in the world. Visiting Jacob’s Well was a top priority, as its biblical significance cannot be understated. It’s the same well from Jacob’s time, and the same well where Jesus encountered the Samaritan woman. We were also there to see St. Luke’s Hospital to visit with the staff and patients. The hospital consistently struggles to meet its mission in caring for the poor, the sick and the needy — they are in need of the latest medical equipment, personnel, etc. And yet, St. Luke’s brings a presence of hope in Samaria, and as Christians we want to do what we can to connect with and support the many efforts of hope. To this end, we also visited with the local minister of the Anglican Church to offer our support and affection for their ministry in connection with St. Luke’s. A visit to the St. Vincent Creche Orphanage in Bethlehem proved to be the most moving and emotional. Yes, we visited the oldest church in Christendom — The Church of the Nativity where Jesus was born. And we celebrated the Eucharist in a cave (grotto) where the angelic announcement of the birth was made to the shepherds. We also visited Herod the Great’s country palace on the edge of the desert, looking out over Bethlehem — the location where he likely met with the Magi and ordered the slaughter of the holy innocents. Juxtapose the awe of that visit alongside our engagement at the Creche with infants, toddlers and children who are the absolute outcasts of society.
These unwanted lives are considered abominations — more than 65 percent are a result of incest and unwanted pregnancies. And in great sadness, Sharia Law dictates these children can never be adopted (not even by their own mother) and many have significant health issues. Just days before that week, the orphanage received four unwanted babies, left in a dumpster to die. This is in Bethlehem, right down the road from the site where Mary birthed the Christ, the Lamb of God into this world, an innocent baby, born in a cave and placed in a manger. In all of these visits, we left monetary gifts in hopes of assisting the ministry on some small level, although the biggest impact was our personal connection with the staff, patients, leadership, and children and to channel God’s grace in those brief moments, praying for everyone that the Holy Spirit would move, act, and restore us all! Since returning, Frances and I have been asked on a number of occasions if the journey was successful and worth the effort. My answer is truthfully simple: If someone had their eyes opened to new realities, and their life changed because of this experience, then of course, it was hugely successful. And you know what? Many did.
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This Holy Land
The Church of the Transfiguration, Mount Tabor, Israel.
Words & Photos: Mike Raley
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n Genesis 12, Abram leaves his home in search of a land which God promises to show
him, becoming a pilgrim or sojourner, whose willingness to obey God makes him a model of faith. To be pilgrims should be the mission of all of us.
And it served as our mission during Lent as a small group of pilgrims walked in the footsteps of Jesus and his disciples. We gained first-hand knowledge of his short life on earth, the miracles he performed, his death and life everlasting. From the first day’s gaze of the Sea of Galilee to our last site at the ruins of Herod’s palace on the beach in Tel Aviv, I kept asking myself: “Is this real, the places I’ve read about all of my life?” It is real, and throughout my journey I felt the spirit. It talks to you as you walk through history and as you sleep through the night. I have felt the Lord’s presence many times in my life. Marrying Melissa, bringing life to our children, serving the public through my profession, and being part of St. Michael’s all have God’s imprint on them. All of us need spiritual nourishment. I’ve found through the years that I need a lot. Now, a group of us has followed the footsteps of Jesus, finding ourselves lost in the time of Christ. From the literal lowest place on earth — the Dead Sea — to Mount Arbel on the edge of the Sea of Galilee, site of some of the holiest places in His kingdom — we saw it all. Our pilgrimage led
us to some of the most historic and religious places in all of history, and we experienced them through the words of our guide, Hani, through Scripture and song, and from simply being there. Events important in the history of the world, let alone the history of Christianity. We began at the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus of Nazareth grew into a man. For centuries, this green, lush area in the north has attracted pilgrims from all over the world. A vital place for ancient fishermen, it was the location of many of the major events in the life of Jesus, including his Sermon on the Mount — during which he delivered the blessings of the Beatitudes and first taught the Lord’s Prayer. It is also a place of miracles: where Christians believe Jesus walked on the water, changed water to wine, healed the sick and stilled the storm, and where he fed the masses from a few loaves and fishes. This region is near the Golan Heights and the Syrian border. Late at night, I could hear military jets circling. Security is tight and comprehensive throughout Israel, Palestinian territory and bordering countries since the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948 and the 1967 Arab-Israeli War. This six-day conflict established some of today’s borders after Israel captured the Sinai Peninsula, Golan Heights, the Gaza Strip and the West Bank — including the Old City of Jerusalem. We spent much of our pilgrimage in Jerusalem, home to the Temple Mount, the holiest site in Judaism and Islam, the Western Wall and the Western Wall Tunnels. The Via Dolorosa, the path that represents the path Jesus walked to Continued on page 10
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The remains of an aqueduct built by King Herod in Jesus’ day frame the Sea of Gallilee.
Ninety percent of The Dead Sea Scrolls, which included complete books in the biblical canon, were found in Qumran Cave 4 (pictured at right). At 1,412 feet below sea level, it is the lowest place on earth.
A longtime parishioner, Mike Raley is Senior Anchor-Correspondent for WPTF, WQDR, WKIX and the North Carolina News Network and the host of WPTF Weekend Gardener.
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From Page 8 his crucifixion, includes the 14 stations of the cross, ending inside the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Mount of Olives with the Garden of Gethsemane, Mount Zion and more. We traveled through most of the places where biblical history was made — no longer reading about it but experiencing it. We visited surreal sites — a few that were all too real. A hospital in the Palestinian town of Nablus where there is never enough money or physicians or nurses or medicine. But, there is always the need. We toured the Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Center vast and overwhelming. The most emotional experience for me was a visit to a Creche, a Palestinian orphanage run by nuns from the Daughters of Charity of St Vincent de Paul. Psalm 68:5 says: “A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.” These children were products of incestuous relationships or born out of wedlock, rejected because of beliefs in the region. The restrictions on adoption are many. They are truly loved by their caretakers. The children played and ran among us like our own children and grandchildren. Back at the hotel I cried. I still cry for them in my heart. We may have been lost in this world for a week but our souls were not lost, nor was our faith, as we followed many paths of Jesus’ disciples. I think we, each in his or her own way, were in search of our true beliefs. We were curious. We wanted answers. Why else would we make such a commitment? The roots of our faith can be found there, and I found mine. I hope we all did. Our trip fell during Lent, a time of repentance and reflection. Everyone in our group spent time in repentance and reflection. John 15:4 says, “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.” Traveling to the Holy Land awakened my faith and renewed my Christian spirit. Friendship and fellowship. Fait accompli.
Grotto of the Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, believed to be built over the cave where Jesus was born.
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In Shepherds’ Field
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Words & Photo: Frances Penick
Luke 2:8-20 8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”
One of
our stops on the Holy Land Pilgrimage was at the Shepherds’ Field and we actually celebrated the Eucharist in a grotto. A shepherd’s cave. It was a profound moment being in that cave, partaking of the sacrifice of Jesus, the Lamb of God while reflecting on the significance of the shepherds recognizing the baby Jesus as the Messiah. Who were these shepherds and what were the signs they were told to look for? In understanding these questions, we must look at the Jewish context of the Scripture. On the surface, it is normal to think the shepherds were just dirty common men doing a job. However, these weren’t some random shepherds chosen by Gabriel but educated men of high standing. They were Levitical priests in service to the Temple trained and tasked with tending particular flocks. Great skill and devotion were necessary in guarding them because from these sheep were chosen the unblemished males used in the sacrifices at the Temple, mainly for Passover. The location where they found Jesus was not in a barn, but in a cave. When it was time to give birth, the sheep were taken to one of the special birthing caves surrounding Bethlehem. These caves were kept in a state of ritual purity since the lambs must be flawless to be used for sacrifice. It was a significant sign to the shepherds that the birth of Jesus in this place was meant only for a holy sacrificial lamb used to atone for sin. They also observed that the baby was wrapped in swaddling cloths. Baby lambs were quite clumsy, so to protect them from any defect, spot or blemish, the shepherds wrapped or swaddled them. The garments they used were made from the priest’s tunics that were tattered and no longer wearable. In essence, Jesus was wrapped in a priest’s clothes of royal color.
Pilgrimage leader Frances Penick hugs a lamb next to a shepherd at Shepherds’ Field, Bethlehem. Frances leads the Women’s Bible Study at St. Michael’s.
These old tunics were also torn into strips and used as wicks to light the Menorah in the Temple. The menorah was an important fixture used in the Temple as a symbol of bringing God’s glory, truth and light into the world. So where could Mary have gotten such a priestly garment to swaddle her baby? Perhaps, knowing the One Mary was carrying in her womb, it was a gift from her cousin Elizabeth who was married to Zacharias, a priest. As a practical custom, Joseph would have washed and scrubbed baby Jesus with salt water to kill any bacteria found on his little body during birth. But this “salting” was also recognized to be symbolic of friendship and loyalty as well as a sign of a covenant. The Levitical shepherds would have known that God made a Salt Covenant with David of eternal friendship, and more importantly eternal kingship of his heirs. And lastly, why were the shepherds the first to be told of this “good news that will cause great joy for all the people”? The angel Gabriel’s message to them was that the time for animal sacrifices was nearly over. Their discovery of the baby Jesus, born as a sacrificial lamb in a sacred cave, swaddled in priestly garments, pointing to God’s glory, truth and light to the world, “salted” in royal covenant as an heir of King David, all proved the ultimate Passover Lamb was among them. The Messiah had come!
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A Night in the Holy Sepulcher
Recently I
Words: Leon Woodruff
Photo: Jamie Pahl
traveled with a group of St. Michael’s folks on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Our fearless leaders, Frances Penick and Jamie Pahl, did a masterful job planning our itinerary with appropriate Scripture readings and hymns at many of the sites, as well as several Eucharistic services. I want to relate one special experience in Jerusalem.
Because of Covid restrictions, there weren’t many tourists yet, but crowds increased dramatically by the time we reached Jerusalem as Easter approached. This was especially true the day we entered the Old City to walk the Via Dolorosa and read the Stations of the Cross, ending in the 4th century Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The church was crowded and noisy, so it was hard to complete our readings, and we had to wait a considerable time just to get a few moments in the shrine over Jesus’ tomb. After dinner, Jamie, Frances, Michele Murphy and I had the privilege of returning to the church for a threehour vigil, and even though Jamie had tried to prepare us, it was quite eerie as the monks shut and locked the large doors, leaving only our group and another small family from Eastern Europe in one of the most holy sites in Christianity. We really had not discussed how we would spend our time, so we explored as many of the areas as we could, taking extra time in St. Helena’s Chapel downstairs (commemorating where she found the original cross in 336 AD) and the Greek Orthodox Chapel upstairs, where the altar stands over the rock of Calvary. Then we separated for some private time, which I chose to spend reading the Gospel of Mark in the Roman Catholic Chapel of Apparition adjacent to the tomb shrine. It was quiet and somewhat mysterious. Eventually, the others wandered back, and we had valuable time with each other sharing our own spiritual journeys and the role St. Michael’s has played in each. We then had considerable time at the small Aedicula shrine built over Jesus’ tomb, sitting silently in this sacred place. There was no need for words, as we absorbed this sacred place and its meaning for us. Finally, we made our way back to the entrance and awaited the ritual of the doors being unlocked. It was an impressive experience and was so good getting out, but it was also sad to realize our vigil was ending. We wandered
Leon Woodruff touches the tomb of Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Jerusalem. Leon is a retired OBGYN and small group leader at St. Michael’s.
the dark streets of Old Jerusalem to our hotel in silence, honoring what had just happened. As I reflect on this unique experience, I realize the contrast between this visit and my first one as a college student in 1967. Then I was a teenager taking two courses in Jerusalem and working on an archeological dig, so visiting the holy sites was of much less importance to me. I thought the church was overly ornate, almost gaudy, and even doubted if it was the real spot it was reported to be. As an adult this time, however, none of that mattered. The important thing is simply what this shrine represents — a place where all can come to remember and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus more than 2,000 years ago. I would like to tell you that something miraculous happened and that I had some great revelation or burning bush experience that changed my life. But I cannot report that. For I have found that most of my spiritual growth comes in what has been called the educational variety, because it develops slowly over a period of time. Yet I am sure that this vigil in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher will be a significant one of those growth experiences for me for truly, God was in this place. As I contemplated death and new life in this sacred place, I left with a sense of serenity and peace, knowing that whatever I will face in life, God will be with me, and it will be all right.
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The Art of Transformation Words & Icon: The Rev. Holly M. Gloff
In January,
I spent a week painting an icon at St. Francis Springs Prayer Center in the small town of Stoneville, N.C. I’ve done this before, so as usual, I packed my bags and drove in silence to prepare myself spiritually. At this holy place where some 25 people gather, we pray and prepare to paint an icon with our beloved Father Damien, a Ukrainian abbot who lives in California and comes annually to teach us. We paint icons because we use a brush, but some prefer to use the word “write” instead. The word Greek word graphos is the same for writing and drawing. Father Damian is also a renowned iconographer, and his sense of humor, joy and gentleness permeates the week.
After our arrival at the Prayer Center, we retreat to our rooms to unpack, and anxiously await the time when we will gather in a large, sunny room to meet our fellow iconographers. Only after everyone has arrived and we have unpacked all our personal tools — lamps, favorite brushes, incising tool, water and paper cups for essential snacks like peanut butter M&M’s — do we discover the saint or holy person we will be painting! “We’ll be painting Saint Lydia, from the Book of Acts,” Father Damien said, and I felt the color drain from my face. I felt faint and grabbed my water bottle and chugged as much water as I could. I was familiar with a woman named Lydia — the woman my father left our family for back in 1971. We woke up one morning to find a note on the kitchen table from my dad, saying, “I’m gone.” Nothing more. It was two mornings after my parents’ 25th wedding anniversary. Secretly, he had arranged for his sister and brother-in-law to come over in the middle of the night, take all of his best paintings — he was an illustrator — off the walls, pack up all his art tools, paper, clothes and drafting table and stealthily whisk them out to my aunt and uncle’s waiting cars, without any of us waking up! (And this was a tiny Cape Cod house in Connecticut.) It was also the day of my All-State band audition. I couldn’t fully maintain my focus and didn’t get in that year. It was a shattering time, which left us penniless. My father met her in the Society of Illustrators in New York. They married as soon as they could.
I was never fond of Lydia. She was hyper-critical and would say things like, “Oh, I see you’ve gained weight!” or introduce me to her friends at the retirement center where they lived in Carmel, California, as “my daughter” — which infuriated me because she is NOT my mother — or “she is the one who has no sense of humor.” You can perhaps understand why I blanched when Father Damian mentioned Lydia. “Can I paint someone else?” I asked. He looked at me and said, “No, I think you need to do this one.” Deep, deep down I knew he was right. I sat, facing the blank board on which I’d be painting and began my week of prayer, explaining to God that I didn’t want to do this. Could I please just go home? But no escape route presented itself to me, so I prayed a lot for courage to get through a week with Lydia (thinking about Lydia-the Awful, not Lydia of Thyatira, a dealer of very fine purple cloth). As the week progressed, I began to focus on Lydia the Wonderful, and as her face began to emerge, her story began to take precedence in my thinking. I relaxed and actually enjoyed working “with” Lydia. We even had some lovely conversations, she and I. God (or was it Lydia?) gave me courage to keep plowing on. I began each day before picking up a brush praying for courage and coordination and the ability to do honor to this Lydia, remembering that iconography is not about me. It’s about icons being windows into heaven and how we become friends with those we meet in our time together, as we reflect on the lives of the saints and holy people of God. We learn so much from them as they point us to God. I felt a lot of healing that week, and I no longer feel quite as hurt and angry as I once did about my father’s wife. We’ll never be friends, but at least when I read about Lydia in the Book of Acts, I can look at her with fondness, admiration and thankfulness.
Flipping the Switch
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AS PASTOR OF WILLIAMS GROVE BAPTIST CHURCH IN SOUTHEAST RALEIGH, THE REV. KIRBY JONES SAW YOUNG TEENS IN HIS CONGREGATION DROPPING OUT OF SCHOOL, JOINING GANGS AND EXPERIMENTING WITH DRUGS. SO HE DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.
But as they grew, too many chose a different path.
Cover Story & Photo: Susan Rountree
Williams Grove
Baptist Church sits on a corner lot on Rock Quarry Road across the street from a sweepstakes shop. Next door is a car wash, and down the street cars line up for gas at Zee’s Food Mart. This might seem an unlikely place of transformation, but Paster Kirby Jones knows better. He came to Williams Grove in 2001, and in pastoring his new congregation, he saw firsthand the problems inherint in this southeast Raleigh Community: drugs, violence, poverty, gangs. “I had met these beautiful children. I was somewhat naive. They were brilliant, dynamic, normal children, and I had an expectation that they would do well in life.”
“It was the same movie over and over,” he says, “dropping out of school, getting in trouble, gang and drug involvement. You have to ask yourself what happened?” he says. “I was burdened with wanting to do something to change the trajectory of children in this community.” So Pastor Kirby did what every minister does: He prayed. “It came to me that there is no silver bullet to fix the problem, but education is as close to a silver bullet as anything in helping to ensure children didn’t go down the path of so many I was seeing.” Pastor Kirby is not an educator, but he knew poverty. Raised by his grandparents on the outskirts of the small town of Scotland Neck in northeastern North Carolina, he was poor, though he didn’t know it. “I didn’t realize I was poor. My grandparents had eight kids and raised six grandchildren. I was the last.” His grandparents owned their own home, and his grandfather was custodian of the local Chevrolet dealer in town. “There is poverty with hope and poverty with no hope. I grew up in poverty, but we were going to take on the world.
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“How is it that I could have such great hope and positivity, and young people I see today with so much more materially and so much more in the way of opportunity in a place like Raleigh don’t have that hope. For so many that opportunity may as well be on the other side of the moon.” “I struggle sometimes to understand that difference, which is very complex. “
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The robotics kits are expensive — the more advanced kits costing around $1,000. “There are a lot of educational benefits to them,” he says. The program combines programming, engineering, math and computer skills. “We are very grateful for the grant to help us (replace old kits). “What I keep finding over and over again,” Pastor Kirby says, “is if the switch is ever flipped in the child, they do the rest. They will do those things necessary to become successful when they understand the path is accessible to them, and they have what is necessary to be successful in life.”
So 12 years ago, he set out to change that. He established The Daniel Center for Math and Science, renting space from Williams Grove Baptist, to provide a five-star child Part of the method has been to bring students in the development center, and after school and summer programs centered on math and science learning. The STEM Honors Village at State to serve as mentors. “We knew it program is designed to enhance education for students as was important that these children be around young people doing what we want them to do. young as 3 years old and That’s a powerful subliminal tool. continues until they enroll We have a two-pronged goal: academYou can’t be what you never see.” in college. ically sound, well-versed in all knowlPastor Kirby learned quickly that edge and understanding and be able to “Our goal is to give young creating a high-quality program like people academic tools stand before the king. That’s what we The Daniel Center is particularly they’ll need to be sucneed for our children. They need those difficult for people of color. “Nocessful. An even greater non-cognitive social graces [when] they body knew Kirby Jones,” he says, part of what we are trying sit in a board room, they are able to “And you have to know somebody.” to do is what I call ‘flip successfully negotiate for their culture. He did connect with the Burroughs the switch.’ To motivate That’s part of what we have to teach, Welcome Foundation, which grantthem by being their lead too.” ed the center $50,000 in startup cheerleaders, by approachfunds. ing them with the ideas of —The Rev. Kirby Jones, The Daniel Center ‘when you’ go to college, “I gave them a sales pitch and they get a good job, do well for said yes,” he recalls. Board members yourself. We use the power now include Sam Houston, presiof WHEN, not IF. It’s an dent and CEO of the NC Science, approach of expectation. Mathematics, and Technology Education Center; Steve You are not permitted to be less than your potential. Norwood, founder and CEO of Consolidated Asset Recovery System; and Margaret Chadwick, senior vice “It does not matter how bright or intelligent you are,” he president, Human Resources/Chief HR officer for says, “or your IQ. If a child grows up wondering if they will even graduate from high school, that’s a whole differ- Cree|Wolfspeed, and many other science and technology professionals. ent default setting. We have to change that.” In 2021, St. Michael’s became part of empowering that expectation. The Missions Grants Committee awarded The Daniel Center $10,000 to replace and update the center’s Lego Robotics program. The wildly popular Lego Robotics program — part of the overall STEM focus of the center — is only one way the Daniel Center is making an impact in the community. The center provides SAT/ACT prep assistance and tutoring, partnering with Wake County Public Schools, the YMCA of Southeast Raleigh, the N.C. State University Honors Village and companies from the STEM sector.
Pastor Kirby chose the name The Daniel Center specifically for its biblical reference. In the first chapter of Daniel, King Nebuchadnezzar rules Jerusalem. Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, chief of his court officials, to bring into the king’s service some of the Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— young men without any physical defect, handsome, showing aptitude for every kind of learning, well informed, quick to understand, and qualified to serve in the king’s palace. He was to teach them the language and literature of the Babylonians. “They were a group of young people who were 12, 13, 14 probably. Well-versed in all knowledge and understandContinued on the next page
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ing in science. Were able to stand before the King. “We have a two-pronged goal: academically sound, well-versed in all knowledge and understanding and be able to stand before the king. That’s what we need for our children. They need those non-cognitive social graces so they can sit in a board room, so that they are able to successfully negotiate for their culture. That’s part of what we have to teach, too.” Pastor Kirby’s grandparents were not well educated, he says, but they insisted he learn the language properly. “One of the greatest scoldings I got from my grandmother was a time she caught me talking the jive of that day. We were not from the upper crust. So why was that important to her, someone who was not well educated? She understood that if I was going to be successful and do well in life, there were certain normatives I had to be able to master. And if I didn’t I would not be able to get very far. “ The work of this former Marine and police officer is paying off. The first student to graduate from college earned his diploma from Pembroke University in December. “He is the first kid I ever wrote a college entrance recommendation for. I didn’t even realize it until I started writing it, but I had to stop and take a moment. I wouldn’t have missed that graduation for anything.”
A Life Redirected Braxton May-Nicholson
Braxton MayNicholson, far left, at his college graduation in December 2021 from Pembroke University with the Rev. Kirby Jones of The Daniel Center. Photo courtesy Kirby Jones.
was walking down a street in southeast Raleigh when a car pulled up beside him and stopped. When he looked inside the car, the man sitting there caught him by surprise. It was Pastor Kirby Jones from The Daniel Center. Braxton knew The Daniel Center well. He’d been spending days after school there in middle school, going on college visits and studying, but he had recently stopped going. It was more fun for him to play basketball with his high school buddies or watch tv, than having to spend time studying subjects he might never understand. “What are you doing, Braxton?” Pastor Kirby asked. “It was a surprise,” Braxton recalls now. “It made me think: ‘This guy actually cares about me.’ Not everyone would stop you like that and question what you had been doing. It had me thinking. Life is deeper than playing basketball all day.” A class clown who loved to wrestle, Braxton was popular at N.B. Broughton High School. But his father was in prison and his mother worked, so he wasn’t focused on school. “I was a great athlete in high school,” he says. He wrestled, played football and lacrosse. “I had potential to wrestle at a Division One school, but I lacked focus and the grades. I didn’t realize college was possible until my junior year.” By then, his mother had moved him to another high school in southern Wake County, and he wasn’t allowed to wrestle. Living with her became difficult. With the help of his coach and another wrestler’s family, Braxton moved in with the family and came back to wrestle with Broughton. And he also went back to The Daniel Center. “My husband has a heart for anybody,” says Caroline Philbeck, who brought Braxton into her home. “He knew the potential and the heart Braxton had. He called me and said: ‘I think we’re going to have another son.’ Braxton was declared homeless using the McKinney-Vento Act, she adds. “This protected him and allowed him access to services and scholarships and grants. It provided a lot of opportunities that were instrumental in his success.” See BRAXTON page 28
It’s in there ...
The GiftedArts Explores the Creative in Every Child
Students at The GiftedArts program perform in the 2022 PreEminent Showcase. Photo: C.J. Morgan
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ne thing
C.J. Morgan wants you to know is that all kids are amazing. And he wants them to know it, too. As a guidance counselor at East Garner Middle School, he invited his 8th graders to join him in the gym as they climbed off the bus and talk about how amazing they are. “I started asking them: ‘Tell me something great about you.’ Ninety percent of them struggled. And not just the black kids. It was all kids.” But it’s in there, that amazing thing, and C.J. and his wife, Nicholé launched a program to help them find it. “It’s there in them,” C.J. says. “They just need people to support them and encourage them until they believe it themselves. When they do, they start the training. You may have a gift,” he says, for athleticism. “But there are a lot of phenomenal athletes who aren’t doing anything with their athleticism. “
“It teaches them professionalism. We want them to be part of the program for many years. We’ve learned that in the fourth year, what we’ve planted starts to take root. After awhile they are leading.” They’ve recently hired three of their high schoolers for the after-school program. “It’s come full circle.” The dance program includes elements of ballet and modern and jazz. “We also help them understand that Step was a communication tool in Africa. European, African, Latin arts are all important. Most arts programs in school focus on European arts,” he says, “a barrier for our students.” “You can come with nothing. We’re going to teach you everything. Most have no training, no exposure, no arts programming — we give them that exposure.”
The GiftedArts, which celebrates its 10th year this year — it’s actually 11, but COVID delayed celebrating — provides after-school and summer performance arts programs at four Wake County Schools, including Exploris. Most students are African American and LatinX. The programs reflect the diversity of the population, celebrating cultures, with dance and spoken word, drama and fashion design.
The GiftedArts students produce a play that they work on from August through January. C.J., who has his master’s degree from Hampton, serves as playwright, director, sound and lighting engineer — “I wear all the hats. Getting kids to dance or into music is easy. But to get them to act, you have to know what this character is feeling. If you’re not there, it doesn’t come off as genuine. We spend a lot of time working with them so they can actually attach themselves to the character.”
In 2021, St. Michael’s Missions Grants Committee awarded The GiftedArts $10,000 to support after-school programs, providing instruction, snacks and t-shirts to 50 participants. “The kids wear the t-shirt (which reads ‘To Be Gifted’) all the time,” he says. “They earned that shirt.”
In the beginning, C.J. and Nicholé — C.J. a middle school counselor and Nicholé a recruitment director for a national non-profit — ran the program on weekends, starting with five kids. This year they funded their own salaries, and The Gifted Arts now serves more than 200.
Earned is right. Participating in The Gifted Arts means you’re held accountable for your efforts, and failure is just part of the process. “The program allows kids to set goals and understand the process to meet those goals,” C.J. says.
Both C.J. and Nicole attended Hampton University, a historically black university in Hampton, Virginia. C.J. grew up in Raleigh and graduated from Sanderson High School, working at the Central YMCA (now the Alexander Y) after Continued on the next page
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school with kids from southeast Raleigh neighborhoods Nicholé grew up in the foster care system. Together they wanted to “create a place where any kid who comes in will be able to distance himself from the noise, in a space where they are going to be poured into and empowered to change a small pocket of where they are,” he says. Some programs do cost money, and some parents aren’t willing to pay the $60 fee for the summer program, for example. “Parents don’t always understand the transformative nature of the program,” he says. The kids do. “The more impoverished a group of people, the less the intentional support,” he says. Yet, “these individuals have the same desires and passion about their kids as higher income families. But those with higher incomes know what programs to put you in and can pay for it. “But if you’re trying to survive, survival is first. At the top of Maslow’s Heirarchy of Needs is self-actualization — where you can live out your passions and your purpose — which is where we want our kids to get to. At the bottom is safety and shelter and food. Students served by TheGifted Arts will have the opportunity to tap into their purpose no matter where they start on the hierarchy,” he says. Finding grants is not easy for an organization run by people of color and benefitting people of color to secure needed grants he says. “We sit in board rooms with organizations that have half a million dollar budgets. They have four grants and we have 11. Eleven grants means we spend a lot of hours simply applying for grants we aren’t awarded. I’m grateful
that organizations like St. Michael’s are taking the time to look into organizations like ours trying to make an impact.” Finding organizations like The GiftedArts was intentional. Last year, The St. Michael’s Grants Committee sought to identify organizations led by people of color in historically underfunded neighborhoods. C.J. knows that providing his students the opportunity to experience the arts does make an impact. “In the moment, they are living that dream. You don’t see the meltdown, the tears — the fact that they didn’t participate because they didn’t have shoes. We aren’t going to highlight those things because I don’t want to perpetuate an image. Our kids are as great as anyone else, if you give them the opportunity. “It’s a calling,” adds C.J., himself a gifted musician and the father to two toddlers. “It’s something that has been put into my heart. You rely on the prayers and you rely on the last dollar that you have, and every time there is something that comes through. “We are all created for a purpose,”he adds. “You’re not going to be happy until you figure out what that is and live in that. We all get to benefit when we invest in everyone. If you’re looking for the brightest scientists, they may be in that poor neighborhood of Halifax. They may not, but when we invest in local students, we all benefit.”
Susan Rountree is director of communications for St. Michael’s. Students perform at The GiftedArts 2022 PreEminent Showcase at PreEminent Charter School in Raleigh. Photo: C.J. Morgan
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Pitie, Franky and Cedric enjoying a meal in their new hometown.
A RWANDAN REFUGEE FAMILY FINDS CARE AND SUPPORT FROM MEMBERS OF OUR CONGREGATION, AND NOW THEY ARE:
Home at Last
Words & Photos: Robert F. Orr, Jr.
Through daily small miracles and the commitment of a core group of volunteers who made the decision to stick with the family regardless of the challenges, the refugee family thrives in its new home.
On a
typical March day in the Triangle in 2019, a weary, uncertain mother and her three young boys ages 3, 9 and 12, slowly walked off a plane at RDU airport. Dusabe Nyirazana, who as a teenager had fled the violence of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and spent virtually the past 20 years in a refugee camp in Rwanda, had somehow managed to bring her children to America and a new life. Facilitated by Lutheran Immigration Services, the family was to be sponsored in Raleigh by a newly-formed Refugee Ministry at St. Michael’s. A small group of parishioners greeted Dusabe and Franky, Cedric and Pitie, with signs in Kinyarwanda, their native language, a group just as uncertain as the refugee family about how this would all work out. St. Michael’s commitment supported the Refugee Ministry with funds to cover the family’s rent for a full year. While facilitating the family’s self-sufficiency was the stated objective of Lutheran Services, and St. Michael’s commitment was considered essentially temporary, the challenges to obtain such a goal were quickly understood by the volunteers tasked with helping the family. No one in the family spoke any English. Dusabe’s educational level was minimal as was the boys’. Their health status reflected the experiences of lifelong refugee status. Housing provided them, while obviously better than in the refugee camp, would be substandard by conventional perspectives. Within a few weeks, Cedric and Pitie were “mainstreamed” into the public school system complete with a 45-minute bus ride each way. The school provided only an hour of ESL assistance, and the boys felt enormous frustration at being Continued on the next page
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unable to understand what was going on in class due to their language and educational deficiencies. Dusabe began the challenge of figuring out bus transportation, shopping, financial management, trying to learn English and looking for work. Her husband, unable to obtain a visa to come with them to the U.S., was left behind in Rwanda, as was Dusabe’s mother. And then the real challenges began. Through the efforts of the Refugee Committee and the church (and a generous property owner near the former Cameron Village area), a new home for the family was found, far superior to the initial housing, in a much safer area with better and more convenient schools and closer to the volunteers. But then Covid hit, and the St. Michael’s initial commitment to the family came to an end. (The Refugee Committee program was ultimately not renewed). In addition, Lutheran Services suffered major staffing cutbacks and services provided to the family became increasingly less reliable.
A job opportunity for Dusabe had materialized at Carol’s Kitchen in downtown Raleigh, but Franky needed child care. It wasn’t long before schools were shut down and the boys were at their new home, attempting to figure out school work on a computer. (The schools and volunteers made sure that they had computers and Internet services.) Through efforts by parishioners, Franky secured a space at First Presbyterian Pre-school downtown, but the challenge of getting him there and back home had to be addressed. Roughly 18 months after coming to Raleigh, the family was at a crossroad. Covid was wreaking havoc on all our lives, but particularly on families like Dusabe’s with such limited resources. We’ll call it daily small miracles and the commitment of a core group of volunteers who made the decision to stick with the family regardless of the challenges. Kathy Crawford and her husband, Bob Perry, spent countless hours in the day-to day-activities of getting Continued on page 22
Cedric’s Story Cedric wrote this story for a class project.
Hi. My
name is Cedric Iranzi. I am 12 years old and live in Raleigh, N.C. This is my story of immigration. I used to live in Rwanda, Africa, with my grandparents, my dad and mom and my two brothers. We lived in a mud and wood house. We did not have a TV or air conditioning. It was very hot there. My family speaks Kinyarwanda. When I was 8 my mom, my brothers and I came to the US. We left my family and my friends behind. I flew over the ocean and my stomach was full of butterflies. I was scared because it was my first time in a plane. It was a really long time. I did not speak any English. I looked down and I saw all the small houses. I was hungry. I left my friends behind and I didn’t know if I was going to make friends. I thought the people in the US were going to be different but I didn’t expect they would be happy and excited to see us. Two of my American friends were at the airport, both named Bob. They gave me food. They taught me to read and they helped teach me their language. One of the first things I noticed was that there were a lot of lights and the food was different. Of course, pizza is now one of my favorite foods. The foods that I ate in Africa were rice and potatoes. The teachers are very different in Africa. They will hit you if you don’t do the right things. I am glad my teachers don’t do that in the US. I miss my friends and family but I have made a lot of new friends here.
In Africa, I played soccer but we had to make our own soccer balls. We used clothing, balloons and yarn. My English gets better every day, and my next language will be Spanish. One day I will go back and visit but I do not want to live there again. My favorite thing about the United States is that there are a lot of interesting things to do and you can be whatever you want to be. — Cedric Iranzi
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Christ’s Reality for Our Times Words: David Nichols, Graduate, Duke University Divinity School Photo illustration: Susan Rountree
A
sreachIoutthink about the ways we Christians might to others in our time, many helpful
elements that the Christian tradition has to offer a hurting and broken world come to mind. Among the most compelling, it seems to me, is our grasp as Christians on the nature of reality itself. We live in a world where the notion of a shared sense of reality seems to be wobbling beneath our feet a little more every day. We curate alternate “selves” for social media, creating a deeply warped sense of online reality in which we spend a great deal of time. It is likely that in this alternate reality online we experience jealousy, inadequacy, and anger over what we encounter, sucked in for hours by algorithms designed not to bring us enjoyment or flourishing, but to keep us on our screens as long as possible and to generate as much data as possible to sell about us. Soon we will have a whole metaverse available in which to dive even further into a false reality, driven by algorithms with anything but our best interests in mind.
media source but this one! Watch this Youtube video; it explains everything!” I am not suggesting that we Christians have an easy escape button with which to extract ourselves from the many problems that this crumbling of shared reality causes in our society, or that we should just detach ourselves from these problems. But, in a world of deep uncertainty and increasing distrust, Christians have a rock to which we can cling. Because, thanks to the millennia-old witness of Scripture and the faith of the apostles handed down all these long years by their direct successors(bishops) and by faithful everyday Christians like you and me, we know the Lord Jesus Christ. The Word made Flesh, St. John calls him ( John 1:14). The person of the Trinity through whom the world and all that is true was made ( John 1:3-4). We have the gift of knowing the God who made all things, incarnate in a flesh and blood man, who walked the paths of our very earth. We have the gift of the Holy Spirit who meets us in our worship and in our prayer. If we can trust in anything, we can trust in this God whom we meet in Scripture and in the Church He founded.
As if this online maze weren’t enough, performative politics and media polarization increasingly seek to turn our common life as embodied people into a bewildering tumult of terrifying narratives, alternate truths, and deep uncertainty as well. Whereas for decades shared cultural institutions gave most people a common sense of what is true, the breakdown in trust and ideological dispersion of many of those institutions now makes it harder every day to discern what is going on.
So, what does this knowledge have to do with the problems I described? And what does it have to do with Christian outreach? I submit that to know Jesus Christ, the ultimate truth of the universe, is to have an anchor in the wild storm of the world, amongst its narratives and skewed conceptions of reality. In an online world that tells you that you are not good enough, you have the knowledge that you are loved to the core of your being by the God who made the heavens and the earth.
All around us, the powers and principalities of the world peddle narratives to explain all our problems in this vacuum created by the lack of truth. “You suffer because of this conspiracy, that cabal, or this societal trend! We are all living in a computer simulation! You can’t trust any
When you are tempted to believe in a curated self that really is as perfect as you pretend, you are reminded that you are a sinner saved not by your own goodness but by a merciful God. In a culture that would fixate on the worst thing you have ever done, you know the Lord who died See TIMES on the next page
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for you so that your sins might be forgiven, even the ones of which you are most ashamed. In a culture that looks for its sources of meaning and truth in self-righteous ideological narratives, conspiracies, or in a desperate search for physical immortality, you take refuge in the One who created and loves all things at the Eucharistic feast each week with your fellow Christians and the saints.
Dusabe to work, Franky to pre-school and the boys at least making rudimentary progress in their school work. Charlotte Campbell, her daughter Anne Robbins and Katharine Davies handled health care issues, which were many and varied. Susan Emmerson worked on finances, Terri Haywood took the boys to the beach and tutored them.
I believe that this blessed assurance of Christians might be a balm to the world around us by the ways that we live our lives. Through the distinctiveness of our lives in Christ, we will be given opportunities to tell others about Jesus. Ponder, after all, how different our lives ought to look, knowing and being loved by the source of all truth in God. We ought surely to resist polarizing forces of hate, gifted with this knowledge of love and truth. We might think hard about the ways of love and charity that our Lord taught before firing off that pithy tweet or Facebook post that only further divides people into us and them. We might choose to detach from the false, curated online personas that we and others adopt, instead seeking the rich communion of wholesome and embodied living among one another in the good world that God has made. Friends, if our lives began to take on this character in the world today through the grace we are given and the truth offered us in Jesus Christ, we would be sources of curiosity and hope for those around us. Our lives, lived in resistance to the false realities that the world offers, would inspire others to seek the foundation of truth and hope that we possess. And yes, we must be ready to boldly proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ as the incarnate Word, the son of God, when the opportunity arises. Pray that we might never be ashamed of the God who made us and who saved us. The world stands in desperate need and we, inhabitants of the deepest realities in the universe in Christ, have a blessed assurance and a mighty fortress. Because we know Him who is the way, the truth, and the life.
David Nichols, a recent graduate of the Duke University Divinity School, will become St. Michael’s new curate in July.
Even though the Refugee Committee and the St. Michael’s program were discontinued, the church made critical contributions during this time to help meet housing costs. Parishioners used their connections to Catholic Charities to play a critical role in securing adequate long-term assistance for housing; and former Senior Warden John Connell helped get Cedric and Pitie to a wonderful science camp last summer. When you hear the phrase “it takes a village,” take it as gospel. That’s how it worked. Dusabe in now working at Chick-fil-A in the Village District and studying English online at night. Franky flourished in pre-school and is now in kindergarten at Olds Elementary. (He recently was explaining to me about how meteors had struck the earth and all the dinosaurs had been killed.) Cedric, a 5th grader at Olds just got back from a week in Florida with wonderful neighbors whose son is Cedric’s best friend. Pitie is an 8th grader at Martin Middle, taking music, serving as manager for the soccer team and hoping to work this summer at a golf course. Challenges remain, but the family is thriving and thankful for the blessings they have received. And we are thankful for the blessings of being a part of their lives. Help is always needed, so if you want to join this “unofficial” ministry, please let us know.
Bob Orr is a retired attorney and a former state supreme court justice.
New & Renewed at Holy Cross
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Words: Meg McHenry
Photos by John McHenry, Jeff McLamb and Ben Hopkins
Missioner Ben Hopkins paints The House of Grace at Holy Cross School in Belize. At right, Anson McLamb refurbishes a favorite mural at the school.
“Peace, patience,
kindness, goodness, gentleness, self control, love, joy, faithfulness.” These faded words painted on a mural in an outdoor hallway at Holy Cross Anglican School, needed a fresh coat. Years of salty, humid weather had dimmed their brilliance. As Anson McLamb and I spent a little time with our paint brushes renewing this message, we thought about the students whose lives had been impacted by these words as they walked by them every day on their way to class. Words of inspiration, guidance for living, inspiration for all of us, really, whether we are students or volunteers. The “new and renewed” were evident all over campus that week as our team took on a variety of tasks. Some replaced a rusty, leaky roof over the computer lab. Others dug a ditch to lay new pipe that would carry purified water from the newly installed cistern to the school. Filters, housing, electronics and PVC water lines for this important project funded by St. Michael’s, are now 90 percent installed. Some painted murals and school signs, replaced traditional fluorescent lights with energy efficient LEDs, hung new classroom doors, chopped down mangrove trees to clear additional space for future use. We continued work on the House of Grace, future home of a priest who will pastor the church to be built on site within the next few years. And the once vibrant but now inactive sewing center, received a thorough cleaning, with 15 crates of usable notions, fabric and
machines packed up to be sent to the Word at Work, a partner mission agency on mainland Belize, for re-use in similar centers. This space will now be used as a much needed school storage area. Every day, delicious meals breakfasts and lunches were provided for our team at the school cafeteria, skillfully and lovingly prepared by Ms. Rosalea and her daughter, Dora. Dora and her husband live in San Mateo the impoverished area where most of the students live. Rosalea and her husband, Freddy Trejo (Dora’s father) live on site. Freddy is the glue that holds Holy Cross together, providing maintenance and oversight year round, and working with the Board of Directors and volunteer teams, to implement plans and carry out the vision for the school and its mission. Most years, we have conducted a Vacation Bible School, since the students are on break the week before Easter, but Covid restrictions prohibited implementation this time. However, we were blessed with several other wonderful moments of spiritual significance, including our evening group meetings where we read Scripture, sang songs and reflected on the day. We watched the St. Michael’s livestream Holy Thursday service on a laptop poolside, conducting our own foot washing service concurrent with our parish home back in Raleigh. The highlight of the week, though, was participating in the local Catholic Church’s Good Friday procession, where we walked with Mr. Freddy and hundreds Continued on the next page
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Clockwise from top right: Jeff McLamb hangs new lighting in the school; Mr. Freddy grills some chicken for the team; team leader John McHenry, Jeff McLamb and Ben Hopkins watch the Palm Sunday service online; and Meg McHenry cleans up the inactive sewing center. Fifteen crates of fabric, notions and machines were sent to mainland Belize for reuse in similar centers.
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of local Belizeans through the streets of downtown San Pedro, singing “Were You There,” commemorating the Stations of the Cross, sharing our common faith in the death and resurrection of our Lord. Since 2007, in every year except 2020, St. Michael’s has sent a mission team to Holy Cross. The eventual goal of establishing a church home for the local community, which hopefully can help the school become financially independent, is within reach. We are getting close, but there’s still work to be done. As Greg said in his Easter sermon, “Following Jesus is about waking up in this world as servants of the God who came here to heal it when it was sick, and raise it when it was dead.” We would love to have you join us on a future team!
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We Remember
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Stories: Susan Rountree Photos: Family archives
Jane Piggot Henderson june 29, 1951-April 17, 2022
pews of All Angels Chapel, teaching Sunday School to 4-year-olds as the gentlest of giants.
Longtime parishioner Jane Henderson was a talented gardener, art collector and gracious cook of renowned chocolate chip cookies. Jane’s friends cherished their time with her in their Thursday morning Bible Study, founded more than 30 years ago by a group of St. Michael’s women, all around the same age. An Iowa girl by birth, she graduated from The University of the South, Sewannee, where she was a member of the first class to include women. She also met her husband, Dick, there, and they moved to Raleigh after graduation. A member of the Raleigh Fine Arts Society, she loved to visit artists studios and galleries, particularly in the Penland area of North Carolina. “She enjoyed participating in the many programs they offer to our community,” her obituary reads, “including her “Puppet Troupe” years ago and the RFAS Choral Celebration. She volunteered for Meals on Wheels, Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen and served on a St. Michael’s team for the Helen Wright Center for Homeless Women.
At his memorial service, the congregation sang “Jesus Loves Me” in remembrance of him and how often he sang it with the children of St. Michael’s.
“Beautiful inside and out, Jane was a vivacious woman whose lovely smile, infectious laugh, and overflowing joy filled whatever room she occupied,” her obituary reads. Candied orange slices were a special treat.
“In my 20 some years of priesthood I’ve never mentioned the Jacksons, Ramones, Clash, Doobie Brothers, Heart or Golden Earring in a sermon, but I’m talking about a man who had a turntable next to his Hospice bed — on whose last day had it spun all the way down on the last record — Side One, Led Zeppelin Two.”
After a five-year battle with multiple myeloma, she died on Easter Sunday morning. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Dick, and her children: son, Will (Christian) of Richmond; and daughter Katie (Rob) Bundy of Brooklyn, New York; and three grandchildren. Richard Kennedy March 31, 1960 – April 27, 2022 Richard was a tower of a man, both in statue and in personality. Standing 6’6” tall, he was nicknamed “Big Rich” and filled the space of his life with love for family and friends. At St. Michael’s, you could find him ushering during services, but more often than not, he folded himself into the tiny
Music was a passion for Richard, and in his homily, Greg Jones recalled this about his friend. “What a guy,” Greg said. “An Upstate New York kid who loved rock music, remote islands, cold lakes, and sleeping under porches when the last ferry’d gone. A gentle man who was a giant in his heart and in his mind. A guy who to me was not a big talker, never a talk-too-much-guy, but one who had plenty to say, always thoughtful, always kind – and sometimes, with humor — a little subversive.” When he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in January, he and Greg had a conversation about all the bands Richard loved.
“When Robert Plant sings the words, ‘If the sun refuse to shine, I will still be loving you…when mountains crumble to the sea, there will still be you and me…’ — I hear Richard’s voice. I hear Richard saying Thank You for being the loves of his life – and I hear God assuring us of What Is and What Will Always Be. “Only Richard Kennedy can turn Led Zeppelin II into a Christian record. But he did it.” Richard is survived by his wife, Robin, his daughter, Carlyle and his son, Richard, III. He leaves a towering hole in the sky where he once stood.
W H O
W E
welcoming all REGISTERED VISITORS
89
IN 2020-21
89 NEWCOMER CLASS PARTICIPANTS
18 NEW BABY HOME VISITS
59 TRANSFERS
AVG. SUNDAY ATTENDANCE
2020: 665 (pre-covid)
695 V
irtual christmas attendance in 2022
2,206 active members in
2021
minding the message
7
300+
EDITIONS OF ARCHANGEL EPISTLES & THIS WEEK@ DURING THE PANDEMIC SM EMAILS
ON THE WEB — 2020-DEC 2021
98K VISITS TO HOLYMICHAEL.ORG 173,209 PAGEVIEWS 900 SEARCH ENGINE QUERIES PER MONTH
KEYWORDS: LABYRINTH, SERMONS,MEMORIAL GARDEN, SUNDAY SERVICE, ARCHANGEL
1,226 FACEBOOK FOLLOWERS 410 INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
A R E raising lifelong disciples in 2022 BAPTISMS
34children 75
AVG. SUNDAY ATTENDANCE AGES BABIES-5TH GRADE IN 2022
35
SUNDAY SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS
50 AVG. SUNDAY ATTENDANCE FOR ADULT PROGRAMS
44 YOUNG CHORISTERS 41 ADULT CHORISTERS DOWN FROM MORE THAN 150 SINGERS BEFORE THE PANDEMIC
42 VIRTUAL ANTHEMS 66 VIRTUAL HYMNS 48 VIRTUAL PSALMS 108 ORGAN VOLUNTARIES 11,428 VIEWS ON YOUTUBE OF OUR HYMN SING
paying our way
2020: $1,806 MILLION ANNUAL BUDGET
2021: $1.759 MILLION 503 PLEDGES FOR 2022
$1.375 MILLION+ HOLY MICHAEL FOUNDATION
W H AT W E D O
going forth with God ordinary people in 2020/2021 YOU HELPED US RAISE:
+ + $29,000 IN SPECIAL COLLECTIONS + $109,849 FOR GIFTS OF GRACE + $34,910 FOR BELIZE MISSION FROM CANTERBURY + $38,500 SHOP FOR GRANTS $9,500 FOR EPISCOPAL BUILD
$94,000 IN GRANTS AWARDED TO + WAKE CO. ORGANIZATIONS
= $315,759
FOR FUNDING EXTRAORDINARY WORK IN THE WORLD
DAILY
PHONE CALLS/VISITS BY CLERGY AND STAFF TO MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION
when two or three gather on ZOOM STAFF •VESTRY •ECW, • INTERCESSORY PRAYER • EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY WORDS & WISDOM • REFLECTION CIRCLES •EPISCOPAL YOUTH COMMUNITY • HOLY MICHAEL FOUNDATION
13 FULL-TIME + 15 PART-TIME EMPLOYEES 29 PARISH DAY TEACHERS & STAFF, PLUS 1 FULL-TIME DIRECTOR
keeping the lights on •CLOSET RENOVATION FOR CANTERBURY SHOP
4,000 DIAPERS FOR DIAPER TRAIN 2,011 POUNDS OF FOOD FOR URBAN MINSTRIES CHRISTMAS GIFTS & GIFT CARDS FOR 10 FAMILIES
MEN’S CLOTHING AND STORE ITEMS FOR EPISCOPAL FARMERWORK MINISTRY 10 BAGS OF HOME ITEMS FOR SAINT SAVIOUR MINISTRY 62 EASTER BASKETS FOR STEPUP MINISTRY WOMEN’S CLOTHING, SHOES AND FOOD SUPPLIES FOR WOMEN’S CENTER OF WAKE CO. 800 THANK YOU BAGS FOR POLICE $17,000 & SUPPLIES FOR FOR FAMILY PROMISE 190 GIFTS FOR PRIDE FOR PARENTS CHRISTMAS MARKET ANGEL TREE GIFTS FOR 10 FAMILIES 18 BAGS OF CLOTHING FOR NOTE IN THE POCKET
•EXTERIOR DOOR & LOCKSET REPLACEMENTS — BOILER ROOM AND REAR KITCHEN ENTRY •REPLACEMENT OF FIRE DROP DOORS — UPPER & LOWER LEVELS •REMOVAL & REPLACEMENT OF KNEELERS IN THE NAVE SMEDES CHAPEL • UPDATING OF PARLOR • UPDATE OF WALL CONFERENCE ROOM • INSTALLATION OF AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM (GPS IONIZATION SYSTEM) REPLACEMENT OF BELL TOWER ROOF INCLUSIVE OF BELL TOWER CEILING REPAIR • REPAIR OF IRRIGATION SYSTEM • TREE REMOVAL • SIDEWALK REPAIRS
47 VENDORS KEEP OUR FACILITY IN GOOD REPAIR
ARCHANGEL
A PUBLICATION OF ST. MICHAEL’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH 1520 Canterbury Rd. Raleigh NC 27608-1106 919.782.0731 holymichael.org
NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID Raleigh, NC PERMIT NO. 696
EDITOR: SUSAN B. ROUNTREE STORY IDEAS? ROUNTREE@HOLYMICHAEL.ORG
BRAXTON, from page 16 Braxton lived with the Philbecks, working with tutors at The Daniel Center for the first time. His adoptive parents saw the difference The Daniel Center made in Braxton. While on the wrestling team, he spent a lot of time in the Philbeck home. “Having [the McKinney-Vento Act] took away a bad situation,” says Caroline. “We’ve been blessed. “I saw a big difference when I actually started studying.” Braxton says. “I turned into a test person. It made a big difference.” He graduated from Broughton and went on to wrestle at Pembroke, and in December 2021, he graduated with the intention of becoming a U.S. Marshal. This career path would have been unthinkable for the young man walking down the street that day with his friends. But Pastor Kirby convinced him that with hard work, it was indeed feasible. “Thanks to Pastor Kirby, teachers, coaches and the Philbecks, I went from having no options to having three, four, five smart options,” he says.
Today he’s back at Pembroke, working on a master’s degree in criminal justice. He also serves as a clerk at the Wake County Courthouse, filing for the judges who work there. He’s asking lawyers and judges for coffee, chatting with them about how they became successful. Braxton volunteers as a tutor at The Daniel Center, giving back to the community who helped him. He’s also a volunteer wrestling coach at Broughton. “We can put a lot of people on the path to success,” he says. “The center provides stability to a lot of children and good examples for what kids from the area can do. You can be successful … that’s a big goal for kids growing up in southeast Raleigh.” “Stability is a powerful influence,” says Caroline. “The Daniel Center was always a good Christian influence. It gave him a moral compass and a joyful heart, the inspiration of what kind of person he could be.” “When you have the help and influences around you, it makes a difference,” Braxton says. “I wish there were more places like that in southeast Raleigh. It could change a lot of lives.”