Chronicles of Canterbury
the
Chronicles of Canterbury february 2018
From the Rector
Trust God, Praise God, Be Like Jesus
A
lot of years have passed since Jesus’ time. More than 2,000. But for we who are part of the Body of Christ, who share in the apostolic ministry of those Jesus called to go out into the world, I am not sure the times are so different than ever. What this means is that we Christians today, even here at St. Michael’s, are called to the same life in Christ as his first disciples were. We have the same vocation as Paul did. God’s call to us is the same as ever. According to the apostles’ lead, we too are expected to follow Jesus, in thought, word and deed. And we are expected to live Christian lives. As I said in a sermon a few weeks ago, the apostolic ministry was created and appointed and anointed by God in Jesus. When we were baptized into Christ, we were given a piece of the apostolic ministry. And in a nutshell that ministry says this: “Get up and go
where God calls you – to spread his message – to heal sickness in the world around you – and to cast out sin and evil.” In order to be able to do apostolic ministry, there are some things we already do and need to keep doing. Above all, we need to trust God with all we have, surrendering our lives to God’s power. This means showing up for Christ, in the form of worship, work, prayer and leading humble lives. Accordingly, we need to worship the Lord in the power of holiness, by singing, praying and communing together with real commitment and energy. In these ways we will continue to form ourselves into the likeness of Jesus. In forming ourselves into Jesus’ likeness, will be prepared to get up and go out to proclaim, heal and reconcile the world, and that is where we need to keep aiming. This parish is not here for itself. We See RECTOR on page 3
From the New Senior Warden
Servant Leadership Continues with New Vestry what’s inside 2 Lent at St. Michael’s 4 Gifts of Grace 5 Missional Communties 6 Annual Fund 7 Mountaintop Moment 8 For all the Saints 9 OWLS 9 ECW 10 Briefly 11 Lifelong Disciple
SERVICE. Service is one of the things that defines us as Christians. Two Bible verses make this fact very clear. In Mark 10:45, we read, “For the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many”. In 1Peter 4:10, we are instructed, “Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” A discussion of service is a very logical starting point for a St. Michael’s Vestry Retreat. Other vestries do not typically unlock doors, turn on lights, make coffee, light candles, usher at two services per Sunday, and clean the kitchen of the Church. The Vestry of St. Michael’s performs all these services and more. The currently accepted manual of Vestry service in the Episcopal Church is entitled “The Vestry Handbook” by Christopher Webber. It was written in 1988 and is
1
in its third edition and eighth printing. It covers the financial, spiritual, planning and governance functions common to all vestries, but “service” does not appear in the Table of Contents or in the Index. There is nothing about alarms, locks, candles, coffee or ushering in its 125 pages. This is not a criticism of the author, or by extension other Episcopal vestries. But it is an interesting difference in the culture of Vestry service at St. Michael’s. Greg Jones reminds us that the “Founder’s Ethos” of St. Michael’s still influences much of what we do today. The “roll up your sleeves and get the job done” approach of the families who established the “Little Red Church” in 1950, is why we are a service Vestry. We serve one another with the gifts that we have received.
See WARDEN. on page 3
Chronicles of Canterbury The People of St. Michael’s Church Phone: (919) 782-0731 All area codes are 919 unless otherwise noted.
The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones, Rector ext. 117 • jones@holymichael.org (c) 559-2004 The Rev. Holly Gloff, Associate Rector ext. 127 • gloff@holymichael.org (c) 612-7228 The Rev. Robert Fruehwirth Associate Rector ext. 105 • fruehwirth@holymichael.org (c) 475-0082 The Rev. Meta Ellington, Deacon ellington@holymichael.org (c) 210-9123 The Rev. David Crabtree, Deacon (c) 614-2164 Marion B. “Chip” Chase, Verger (h) 851-9576 VESTRY John Constance, Senior Warden • 332-2258 Anna McLamb, Jr. Warden • 848- 9012 Debbie Reed Treasurer • 783-8978 Joe Warenda, Clerk • 602-0839 Class of 2018 David Bull • 785-9860 | John Constance • 332-2258 Anna McLamb • 848- 9012 | Allen Marshall • 720-4236 Joe Warenda • 602-0839 Class of 2019 Tim Berry • 785-9573 | Dan Cahill • 785-1610 Valerie Jackson• 917-5164 Robin Kennedy • 571-3633 | Lee Walker • 232-7726 Class of 2020 Ashleigh Black •789-8284 John Connell • 336-407-891 | Rob Griffin• 510-9982 Marty Munt • 847-6780 | Karen Wagoner• 601-2881 STAFF Stella Attaway, Director of Christian Education attaway@holymichael.org • ext. 106 Ann Garey, Publications garey@holymichael.org • ext. 103 Charlotte Griffin, Director of Development griffin@holymichael.org • ext. 121 Lee Hayden, Director of Operations & Newcomer Ministry hayden@holymichael.org • ext.108 A bby Van Noppen, Director of Youth Ministry vannoppen@holymichael.org • ext. 115 Kevin Kerstetter, Director of Music kerstetter@holymichael.org • ext. 101 Susan Little, Financial Administrator little@holymichael.org • ext. 113 Carolyn L’Italien, Assitant to Children’s Ministres & Operations litalien@holymichael.org Jean Olson, Parish Secretary olson@holymichael.org • ext. 112 Susan Rountree, Director of Communications rountree@holymichael.org • ext.122 FACILITIES STAFF Jesús Epigmenio, Groundskeeper Marcela de la Cruz, Housekeeper PARISH DAY SCHOOL 782-6430 Mandy Annunziata, Director annunziata@holymichael.org • ext. 110 Cason Maddison, Assitant Director • ext.114
OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday, 9 am-5 pm CANTERBURY SHOP HOURS Monday-Friday 10 am-1 pm Sunday 9 am – 9:30 am & 10:30 am-noon
Lifelong Disciple
I Have Called You Friends: Lent & Easter 2018
In
John 15, Jesus tells his disciples: “I do not call you servants any longer because the servant does not know what the master is doing; I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father.” He says this in the context of urging us to abide in his love, and to know ourselves as chosen by God and destined for fulfillment in joy. Taken from this passage, our Lent-Easter theme for 2018 is “I have called you friends.” The program’s aim will be to take us into deeper friendship with the Lord, through knowing what God, the Master is about, not only in general, but in the particular situation of our lives. Knowing what the Master is about, the purpose for which God is acting, allows us to cooperate with God in God’s own action in our lives, and thus develop a close friendship with the Lord. Everyone at St. Michael’s is heartily invited into this program, of which there are three pillars: 1) A Lent Rule of Life At the heart of every authentic Christian life is a commitment to regular spiritual and religious practices, somewhat austerely called “A Rule of Life.” If any friendship is to flourish, if we are to share in our friend’s life, his heart and life, we need to give consistent space and time to open ourselves to this Friend. This is a work of love, it is a gift of the Spirit. It is our joy. Starting at the Sunday Forum on Feb. 4, and following on our recent Forums on keeping the Sabbath, I will offer tools for crafting a wholesome, practicable rule for growing into deeper knowledge of God and friendship with the Lord this Lent. 2.) Sunday Forum: Four Gospels, Four Passions, One Lord The Sunday forum program in Lent will explore the four unique ways of depicting Jesus that are found in the four Gospels. Each forum will tackle one Gospel, and show how it’s unique themes and ways of depicting Jesus are seen, in particular in its treatment of Jesus’ Passion and Resurrection, the culmination of Lent. The gift of this program will be to help us recognize how Jesus is active in our lives in four different ways, related to the different ways he is depicted in each Gospel. For instance: Mark shows us our Lord as a strange and unsettling presence, breaking suddenly into our lives, while Matthew shows Jesus as enacting and realizing the promised Kingdom of God. From Mark’s emphasis we can ask, how is God breaking into my life, unsettling and disturbing me? Following Matthew we ask: what is God doing now to establish His Kingdom in my life, making my life an embassy of Heaven in the here and now? We will extend our questioning further in the fifth week of Lent to explore how God is active in what seems wrong in life, in suffering and through sin. We get to know what the Master is about, his redemptive work of Love, even in suffering. On Palm Sunday, the Rev. Greg Jones will reflect with us on the meaning of the great services of Holy Week: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter, in order to help us enter these meaningfully. 3. Lenten Dinner and Discussion Like last year, St. Michael’s will host a parish dinner every Tuesday night, in which we will enjoy prayer, a catered meal, and discussion that follows on and explores the Sunday Forum from the proceding Sunday. Cost will be $12 per person per dinner, or $60 for the continued on the next page
2
Rector
continued from the previous page
whole series of five dinners. People may sign up either at the front desk, or by emailing Sally Duff at sallycat@ gmail.com. Payment can be left at the front desk or made at the door. Facilitators for the evenings will be members of the St. Michael’s team of small group facilitators and I will be facilitators for the evening. John 15: 9-17 “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete. This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. “I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.”
Chronicles of Canterbury continued from page 1
are here to bear witness to the Gospel, in church and out of church. To ourselves and to our neighbors. We cannot hide the Gospel and call ourselves Christians. As well, we are called to serve God’s creation and everybody in it. In outreach and mission. If we’re not having a healing effect on the world around us, then we are not doing our calling. If we are a faithful parish, and I think we are, it’s because we trust God, we praise God, we seek to be like Jesus, we witness to the Gospel, and we are serving the world around us. But as always, there is so much more to do. One of the ways we are exploring to become ever more capable in our apostolic ministry is the creation of missional communities. These are intentional small groups of parishioners, who by their prayer, commitment and work together, seek to fulfill God’s call. Please stay tuned to this and keep your hearts open. — The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones Learn more about missional communities in Robert Fruehwirth’s article on Page 5. And if you’d like to stay informed about our plans, contact Robert at fruehwirth@ holymichael.org
— The Rev. Robert Fruehwirth Lenten Suppers — Tuesdays, Feb. 20-March 20, 6 pm, $12 per person (or $60 for all five dinners. )
WARDEN
from page 1
Our retreat used this fact as a jumping off point to discuss how we can do even more as servant leaders to use our hands to help the parish, the community and the world. St. Michael’s is a servant parish and continues to grow in its commitment to outreach and mission. The current parish and clergy leadership is exemplary in planning and guiding this effort. We have broken all records in recent years in fundraising and participation in these ministries and we have faith that this year will be even better.
Our mutual trust and faith will prepare us to serve and to lead this year. Our prayer is that you will walk with Jesus and us on that journey. — John Constance, Senior Warden
The Vestry formed a small planning group of our members to direct our participation in the hands-on ministry of service this year. Whether attempting 100 percent Vestry participation in future planned outreach events of the parish, or planning a short-term project of our own, watch this space for future developments. Joe Warenda, our new Vestry Clerk, covered all the administrative tasks associated with Vestry service and Anna McLamb, Junior Warden, reviewed the draft year-end financial statements and the budget process for 2018. Remembering our role in spiritual leadership and keeping Christ forward in all we do, we finished Friday evening being led in Compline by the Rev. Robert Fruehwirth. As with all vestries that have served God in this place, we reserved an adequate amount of time to talk, laugh and get to know each other better.
3
John & Greg at the Vestry Retreat.
Chronicles of Canterbury 2017 Gifts of Grace
Full of Grace and Gratitude for All God’s Gifts
T
he bustle of Christmas is long over and the new year has begun. But, there is one piece of Christmas that still needs closure — Gifts of Grace. First of all, the Gifts of Grace Committee would like to thank all who attended Gifts of Grace and contributed to the many worthwhile agencies represented there. Because of your generosity and compassion, St. Michael’s was able to distribute nearly $44,000 to these groups. The committee would like to share how much money each agency received, from direct contributions and from equal distribution of money donated to Gifts of Grace and sales of ECW goods and salad dressing. One of our longtime participants in Gifts of Grace is Hilltop Home, a private non-profit intermediate care facility that provides comprehensive, individualized services for medically-fragile children.
contributions. They will use these funds for basic supplies, such as diapers, toilet paper and toys and educational tools. St. Michael’s youngest members are learning about giving to others through Gifts of Grace. Several children accompanied by their parents visited the booths asking questions about the groups represented. They chose the charities they wanted to support and donated their own money. What a wonderful way to teach children to be generous donors and to be discriminating in their choices of what charities they wish to support. “Gifts of Grace was an awesome success,” says Michele Murphy, event chair. “Successful as a result of the joint effort of so many people including the GOG committee, who do an amazing job of pulling all the many parts of this event together, the staff, the clergy and all the generous people of St. Michael’s Church. Praise be to God.”
More than 50 years ago, the Junior League of Raleigh had a vision for creating a place for medically fragile children with Art by a Hilltop Home resident. (Courtesy Hilltop Home) severe/profound developmental disabilities, that would provide the care they needed in an intimate, — Ginny Zehr and Karen Wagoner homelike setting. With the generous support of the Civitan Club, the Kiwanis Club and many concerned citizens, the doors to Hilltop Home officially opened in 1960. Today, 22 children (the number determined by Health and Human Services Department), from birth to age 18, live at Gifts of Grace Distributions 2018 Hilltop Home. Hilltop Home offers the following specialized services including: • Around-the-clock nursing care by licensed nurses experienced in seizure control, respiratory complications, oral-motor disfunction and neuromuscular impairments • Quality educational services in their certified, non-public school setting • Physical, occupational, speech, feeding, and respiratory therapy to maximize the potential of their children St. Michael’s has supported Hilltop Home since it began. In the late 1980s, our first rector, Jim Beckwith, asked parishioner Audrey Black to join the board of directors. She had observed Hilltop in 1974 as a part of her provisional year at the Junior League of Raleigh and was eager to serve Hilltop’s mission as a board member. Audrey served as president of the board and chair of the capital campaign that raised funds for the current facility. The new facility is more homelike than the original facility, with separate rooms for each child. Audrey attributes her long years of service to the loving care given to resident children. “It’s a small place of love,” she says, “and that’s because of Ethylene Pearce,”a nurse and first long-time executive director. This year, Hilltop Home received more than $1,800 in Gifts of Grace
4
Alliance Medical Missions $2,025 Community Music School $3,260 Cheshire House $1,105 Episcopal Farmworker Ministry $1,885 Family Promise $1,795 Filling in Gaps $2,485 Healing Transitions $1,660 Hilltop Home $1,840 InterAct $3,240 Interfaith Food Shuttle $2,365 Loaves & Fishes $2,220 MATCH of NC $1,510 Meals on Wheels $1,875 Oak Ranch $3,030 PLM Families Together $1,150 SAFEChild $1,780 St. Saviour’s Center $2,510 StepUP Ministry $3,025 Urban Ministries $1,795 Wake Relief $1,985 Wheels 4 Hope $1,295 Total
$43,835
Chronicles of Canterbury
Missional Communities: God at Work within Our Parish
I
t is common in the church to hear the terms “mission-driven” and “maintenance-minded.” They are used to described fundamentally different orientations in a group, and the meanings seem obvious from the terms. While maintenance-minded groups preserve the status quo, the mission-driven group, inspired with purpose, takes on new challenges, gets creative, grows and succeeds. In one of the original books on these different mindsets, however, the author defined the basic attitude of mission versus maintenance quite differently. He said that the difference of whether we are mission- or maintenance-minded was not about whether we were doing lots of creative missions or maintaining a status quo. No, going deeper, he said the fundamental difference between being mission or maintenance minded was what we had at the center: do we have ourselves or God at the center? Maintenance-minded churches focus on all the things they are currently doing, or have to do, or want to do. Maintenance-minded sermons tell people what they should be doing for God. Church is a duty, a burden, one more thing to do in order to be “good.” By contrast, mission-minded churches tell stories and give thanks for what God is doing among them. Mission-minded sermons celebrate and explore God’s presence and agency in the community. Church is vital; coming to church is giving ourselves to an energy and life that transcends us. On January 7, we held a Sunday forum exploring how God’s spirit was driving St. Michael’s into new outreach and mission in the world. Because of my firm belief in trying to hold a true “mission mindset,” I approached the forum less as a chance to tell people what they should be doing and more as a chance to discern what God was doing among us. After I shared my sense that God was rooting us more deeply in Christ, so that our outreach would flow from a new life in Him. Mary Currin shared her sense that God was making people uncomfortable and even angry with the injustices, cruelties and suffering in the world. Anna McLamb shared her sense that God’s spirit was stirring in the parish, creating an excitement about something called missional communities, a whole new area of life and growth for St. Michael’s. (See sidebar for what missional communities are.) Following these three brief statements of vision, people shared with each other what breaks their heart about the world and what they could see as the next big thing for St. Michael’s. From that discussion, and from collating the dozens of responses on the feedback cards, we saw an immediate circling of interest around two things: 1) the three traditional mission areas for St. Michael’s — feeding, housing, employment— and 2) the possibility of missional communities. We want to feed the hungry (especially children), we want to find better ways of serving the homeless, and we want to work with people to help them find work. There was interest in doing these things both long-term, building relationships with the economically deprived neighborhoods in Raleigh, and offering short-term infusions of funds and service.
5
People also began to sense that missional communities might be a new, less centralized, extension of our traditional outreach. Deep fellowship would grow; people could talk and share about their faith. People were struck by Anna McLamb’s insistence that the best way to teach our children about the Christian faith was to do that faith with them, something uniquely supported by the Missional Community framework. God is good. God is doing great things in the hearts and minds of the people of St. Michael’s. God is making us more generous, more deeply invested in our city of Raleigh, more fascinated with the person of Jesus and what happens when we open our lives to his Spirit. We in the Outreach and Mission Committee will take the results of the January forum and pour them into our discernment about how to bring missional communities alive at St. Michael’s. Stay tuned for news of this new opportunity in the months to come. We will be reaching out to you as we wonder together what God is going to do with us next. Blessed be God who shares with us His life. — The Rev. Robert Fruewirth
What is a Missional Community? A missional community is a group of 30 tp 40 people, adults and children, who meet, usually twice a month outside of the church, at people’s homes and on a mission project. Meetings are not churchy; in fact all church-talk is forbidden. They are casual gatherings of people committed to doing Christian Life together. There is a potluck or catered meal. There is wine. While the children are cared for by professional baby sitters, the adults, after the meal, talk about what is going on in their lives and their faith, simply and honestly, and the group prays for whatever people bring forth. The group engages in one self-selected mission. Most important of all: the groups exist for the people who are not there yet. Every attendee is challenged to bring a friend to the meeting, one who normally does not come to church. Members don’t have to belong to St. Michael’s or even be Christians. And the guests who come are the most important people on that night. If you’d like to learn more about missional communities and how they might take shape at St. Michael’s, contact Robert at fruehwirth@holymichael. org to join the mailing list.
Chronicles of Canterbury Annual Fund 2018
Thank You for Sharing All That Comes From God who work passionately on behalf of St. Michael’s to secure funding for St. Michael’s budget. Their work on behalf of our church is very important. I thank them immensely and urge you to do the same when you seem them around St. Michael’s.
THANK YOU to the generous 497 households who have pledged $1,578,757 to St. Michael’s 2018 Annual Fund! We are very grateful to the donors who pledge each year and those who have pledged this year for the first time. Your participation is vital to the work of our parish.
Your pledge to the Annual Fund is indeed from God. While we have not met our $1.6 million goal yet, we are very hopeful we can.
Your pledges have enabled the Vestry and Finance Committee to begin the budget process in earnest. They have begun allocation discussions for our children’s programs, Adult Formation, building and grounds maintenance, our music program, clergy and staff compensation, and more. Pledges made to the Annual Fund are critical to life at St. Michael’s. Thank you for helping St. Michael’s meet its needs.
If you have not pledged, please know we are thankful you are a member of St. Michael’s family! We would appreciate whatever you can pledge to the Annual Fund to ensure St. Michael’s thrives in 2018! You may submit your pledge via pledge card (if you have misplaced yours, there are extras in the pews or I can provide one for you); by emailing me at griffin@ holymichael.org, or by pledging online at www.holymichael. org/annualfund/. Questions? I can be reached via email or at church, 919-782-0731, ext. 121. — Charlotte Griffin Director of Development
Many thanks, also, to the 2018 Annual Fund Co-Chairs Michelle and John Connell for leading this year’s campaign. Their prayerful commitment, ideas, and messaging have impacted its success.
2018 Women’s Retreat: Appreciating Your Inner Mary and Martha
As with any church endeavor, dedicated volunteers working behind the scenes affect greatly its outcome. I am grateful for the members of the Stewardship and Calling Committees
On April 27-29, join a small group of women at Topsail Island for fellowship, rest and contemplation. In our rushed world of work and activity, are we making time for contemplation?
Stewardship & Calling Committee Members
Linda and Tim Berry John Constance Mike Ferguson Robin Kennedy Kay and Dan Walker Harry Walker, III Nat Walker Kathy & Don Oschwald Ashley & Sterling Perkinson Marilyn & Jack Budrow Sallie and Dan Cahill Zack Griffin Rick Guirlinger Ann and Harold Hall Tommy Malone Clair Marshall Elizabeth & John Matthews Rosemary & Smedes York Margaret & Gilliam Nicholson
Audrey & Jimmy Black Sally Duff David Hayden Sandy & Winston Page Harry Walker, Jr. Lee Walker Richard Bethune Nancy and Bo Bromhal
On the other hand, do we feel that our time in worship and prayer leads us to concrete action? Just as faith without works is dead, and works without faith is dead, so must we find a balance between our inner contemplative Mary and our inner housekeeper Martha.
Rick Rountree Diana and Dave Sendall Bettie & David Sousa Judy & Bob Spaziano Stephanie & Craig Stone Lauren Stump Bonnie & Leon Woodruff
Location: Meta Ellington’s beach house Price: $100 Registration forms available at the front desk. Make checks payable to Meta Ellington. For questions email Elaine Bayless at ev3177@mindspring.com
6
Chronicles of Canterbury Mission To Belize
Easter in Belize becomes a Mountaintop Moment
H
ave you ever had the feeling that your heart must burst? It might burst from the love and joy you feel. You wish you could capture the feeling and recreate it and relive it again for just a moment.
Each time I go to serve on our mission team in Belize, I am struck by the simple and holy experiences God puts forth to create this moment of joy in my heart. Maybe I can spread that joy to your heart as well. Since the kids who attend Holy Cross Anglican School are usually on spring break during our trip, we host a morning Vacation Bible School filled with crafts, songs, Bible stories and games. On the first day, 35 kids came, but as each day passed, a few more kids trickled in — but never more than 45. We knew we needed to get out in the community to speak with the kids personally and invite them to come.
As the stampede of children, their baskets full of eggs, charged in from the playground looking to cash in on their candy bag, I turned to Bryan Bickley and said, “Start making more bags!” Bryan quickly began dividing the candy in the pre-made bags to make more. As the pandemonium died down, we realized we had just one bag of candy left. That’s when one more child ran in to say he had never gotten one. Bryan and I looked at each other in awe—that last bag was meant for that last child. I felt very much like Jesus feeding the multitude with the loaves of bread and fish. Surely, this was a God moment!
The children of Holy Cross are the heartbeat of the community, full of life and ready to give and receive God’s love. They love to ride bikes, play tag and Cross the Ocean. They love to watch the Disney movie Moana and sing songs. They like to eat rice and beans and never turn Paige Madtes, center, with the kids of Holy Cross Anglican School down sweets (candy). They are just Each year, we take a like your son or daughter, grandchild, tour of the surrounding niece or nephew. neighborhood, but I had never ventured beyond the main path. As we got further into the community, we began to see the true face of San Mateo. I have only been a part of their lives for three weeks Tattered houses, gravel roads replaced with narrow suspended walkways, over the course of three years, yet just as they haven’t and trash piled up everywhere (to be used for landfill) — so different from forgotten me, I haven’t forgotten them. This past year my Raleigh home. We could hear girls playing, but we were nervous to the kids taught me a song that has changed the way I walk on the wooden planks ourselves, so we called to them. With much view simple, mundane experiences in my life: practice and ease, three sisters in French-braided hair scampered over to say hello. My chest tightened, as I realized these girls had been attending “It’s raining all around me. I can feel it; Rain on Jesus. Bible school, and this was their home. Please send more rain - Until we are wet, until we are soaked in a lot of rain.” We spent two hours that day walking through the community, and while it was certainly very different from what I know, I realized a couple of They are so grateful for a gift from God that we rarely things: give thanks for. First, the people in the streets and in their homes were smiling and waved to say hello, some even eager to speak with us and learn how we were working at the school. The kids played and rode their bikes in the streets. And, the community may lack material goods, but there was no shortage of support, love and joy in their lives. Do you feel the same as you reflect on your own community? I know it makes me take a second look at my own life and values. The last day of Bible school, we hosted an Easter egg hunt. As the organizer, I became overwhelmed as more and more children piled in to the school — even kids who did not attend Holy Cross. I counted multiple times — 85 kids wanted to come to our Bible school? There is no way we had enough bags of candy for everyone, realizing we never counted.
7
Beyond painting walls and roofs, fixing ceilings and planning VBS, the families of San Mateo touch your heart to its core. Belize is a mountaintop moment. It fills your heart with the joy you crave and the joy God wants you to feel in your life. Where will you find your mountain-top moment? — Paige Madtes Belize Mission Team
Would you like to join our Belize mission team? The mission is from March 31-April 7. Commitment deadline is Feb. 28. Contact John McHenry for more information.
Chronicles of Canterbury For All the Saints
Freedom Fighters: Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson
I
n school when I was growing up in New England, every fall, we would have to pick a prominent historical figure and dress up as that person. I was Anne Hutchinson. She and Roger Williams (who had an elementary school named after him in our town in Connecticut) were two popular choices. While they are not officially “saints,” they are holy people who are honored on Feb. 5. More about Anne in a minute. Roger was born in 1603, in London, attended Cambridge University and became a priest. While at Cambridge, he became a Puritan, and as such his chances for preferment in the Anglican church were greatly diminished. He married and stayed in England until he discovered that he could no longer abide by the harsh policies required of priests under Archbishop William Laud’s administration. So in 1631, he set sail for New England, having heard about the freedom of religion in the New World. He could foresee no such openness in England’s future. He arrived on Feb. 5, 1631. He arrived in Boston, but to his great disappointment, he found that there were unexpected obstacles to religious freedom there as well. He discovered that there was still too much power on the part of the civil authorities to punish those who committed religious offenses. So he advocated for a “wall of separation” between the religious and civil powers.
men. She taught classes in her house where she provided commentaries on the Bible and recent sermons. This was a huge challenge to the contemporary Puritans of the day, and they did not appreciate her forward thinking. Her teachings did not always coincide with the strict orthodox Puritan theology, nor were the state civil authorities impressed with her. In fact, she had angered so many people in authority both in civil government as well as in the religious sphere, the General Court of Mass., tried her in 1638, and she was branded as a “dangerous dissenter” and was banished from the colony. With encouragement from Williams, she and her supporters founded the colony of Portsmouth, where she remaind until her husband’s death. She then fled to the part of New York that is now referred to as the Bronx. She and her family (except for one daughter) were murdered by a group of Siwanoy Indians in 1643. We who live in the modern era of religious freedom have much to be thankful for, being especially grateful to those who fought for the freedoms we enjoy today. But we need to be mindful that the fight is not over, and we need to continue the fight for those whose beliefs are not as readily accepted and who are bullied and treated unfairly for their beliefs.
Roger believed strongly in the right of all people to follow their consciences as far as their religious beliefs were concerned. He considered this to be a fundamental right of all people. Since this was clearly not going to be possible in the Boston area, he established a settlement at the junction of two rivers near Narragansett Bay and called it Providence, believing that God was calling him to this new land.
It has been well over 400 years since the battles that Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson fought have been “settled” – but sadly, they have not been settled for everyone. Many African Americans, Hispanic, Native Americans, women and Muslims continue to be treated as second-class citizens. But our Baptism covenant asks, “Will you respect the dignity of every human being?”
He was granted a charter to found the colony of Rhode Island, and its constitution granted a much wider religious opportunity for all people. He founded the first Baptist church (Reformed) in Providence; however he would not be tied to the tenets of any established church. He was a student of Native American languages, and he fought for fair dealings with the American Indians. He worked to prohibit slavery in the British colonies.
Anne Hutchinson also immigrated to Massachusetts in hope of finding more religious freedom than she had in England. She was a determined woman — and mother to 15 children — who felt strongly that women should have rights and be equal to
8
— The Rev. Holly M. Gloff
Chronicles of Canterbury Older, Wiser, Learning, Sharing
A Play and Learning To Protect Yourself: The OWLS in February We OWLS are not to be trifled with during the “bleak” midwinter! Despite the cold, the OWLS will be traveling to Sanford to the always popular Temple Theatre on Thursday, Feb. 8 to see the play, “The Odd Couple.” Many of you remember the TV show with Jack Klugman and Tony Randall. Well, the play is every bit as funny, and I guarantee we will enjoy what has become an annual OWLS trip.We have now attended four plays at the Temple Theatre, and each one has been a hit. The cost for this event is $22, not including lunch.
p.m. You’ll be home before dark! On Thursday, Feb. 22, we will learn about how people are targeted (especially those of OWLS age) and how we can be on the lookout for fraud. Parishioner Tim Whitney, who works for Wells Fargo and often talks about this topic with older people, will be our speaker. Older Americans especially, are defrauded out of millions of dollars of their savings annually, and no one will protect us from fraud except ourselves. A personal action plan will be created during the talk. Please come and hear this important talk and learn how to protect yourself. — The Rev. Holly Gloff
We will once again eat lunch at Mrs. Lacy’s Tea House in Sanford, then wander around the antiques gallery in downtown Sanford before the 2 p.m. matinee. We will depart from St Michael’s promptly at 10 a.m. Please arrive by 9:45 a.m. We should arrive back at the church at approximately 5
2018 ECW: Friendship + Fellowship, Faith + Service Which Chapter Is For You?
I sit at my desk with the winter sunshine dancing across my computer and my heart is warmed by this tangible presence of God and thoughts of another exciting and meaningful year together as St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Women. The ECW is a wildly vibrant and enthusiastic band of women who gather in friendship and fellowship to deepen their faith and serve others. Our work is grounded in supporting the ministries that make a difference in the lives of so many in our community. We are committed to serving the Helen Wright Center, Cheshire House, Meals on Wheels and Backpack Buddies, and to enhancing outreach of the entire St. Michael’s community.
St. Elizabeth Women of all ages who prefer to meet at night. Chairs: Katharine Davies, katharinedavies@bellsouth.net and Jessica Schindler, jescanick@gmail. com St. Madeleine Women of all ages who prefer a lunchtime meeting. Chairs: Mary Beth Ginn, marybethginn@ gmail.com and Michelle Connell, MConnell@wyrick.com
We also remain constant in our commitment to encourage each other along the way, through regular gatherings throughout the year of our four individual ECW chapters. St. Michael’s is a large and busy parish and for many, the ECW has become a central part of their parish community. The ECW is open to all women, of all ages and stages of life, and we warmly invite you to consider joining in the laughter and prayer at each chapter meeting.
St. Margaret Mothers with young children who meet during choir practice. Chair: Meghan Stark, meghanstark81@gmail.com St. Mary Empty nesters and older women who meet on the first Monday of the month at church. Chairs: Linda Berry, lindabberry@ gmail.com
In all that we do as the ECW, we hope to bring a quiet, persistent focus to open ourselves to God, to each other, to shed the trappings that mire us and draw light to places in our community that need it the most. -Liz Driscoll, ECW President
9
Chronicles of Canterbury
Duke Chapel Organist in Concert at St. Michael’s
briefly
Winter Words & Wisdom
The Christian Faith Classes Feb. 21, 28 & March 7 6:15 p.m. hayden@ holymichael. org for reservations Child care is available with reservation.
Words & Wisdom 7 p.m Feb. 14 Just Mercy Home of the Crawfords
Christopher Jacobson, a fellow of the Royal College of Organists and Duke University Chapel Organist and Organist at Duke Divinity School, will perform at St. Michael’s March 9. At Duke he instituted and oversees the Chapel Organ Scholar Program and directs the Evensong Singers in weekly Sunday afternoon Choral Evensong in Duke Chapel. Before assuming his position, Jacobson was associate organist at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, S.C. and assistant organist at Washington National Cathedral where Christopher he assisted in training the cathedral choirs Jacobson and playing the organ for over 200 choral In Concert services annually. Friday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. As a soloist, Mr. Jacobson has presented Admission is free. organ recitals across North America, Europe, and Australia. He has won top prizes in numerous organ competitions including the National Young Artist Competition of the American Guild of Organists, the Miami International Organ Competition, and the John R. Rodland Competition in sacred music.
St. Michael’s Missions: Go and Do
Sunday, Feb. 4: Souper Bowl Sunday It’s time to Fill the Truck for Wake Relief. We are collecting healthy canned goods. Please place them in the red collection cart in the Parish Hall by Feb. 4 — the day we will “Fill the Truck.” Matthew Relief, Saturday, March 3 — Diocesan-wide work day in Lumberton, N.C. to help with recovery efforts from Hurricane Matthew flooding of 2016. Many are still unable to live in their homes. We will be working in partnership with BaptistOnMission, who will provide the tools and materials needed, and specific work assignments. This opportunity is open to adults and youth in 7th grade or above. Pre-registration no later than Feb 23 is required. Please contact Vaughn Wagoner at fixit4you@bellsouth.net, or 919-601-2880, for more information, or to register for this event. Harvey Relief Week, April 29-May 5—A mission team is headed to Houston this spring to help with Hurricane Harvey relief work. The team will assist in rebuilding and housing rehab efforts in partnership with the Texas Baptist Men. All skill levels are needed and welcome. The cost of the trip is expected to be $450 and includes airfare, ground transportation, lodging and food. TBM is providing lodging, tools and the work site. Contact the Rev. John Gibson and register by Feb. 18.
10
Our Wednesday Words & Wisdom book group has a varied reading list this winter and spring. Join us for lively discussion on the second Wednesday of each month. Feb. 14: Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson, at the home of Ann and Dave Crawford, 9008 Morden Ct., 27615. Discussion led by Pat Prather. March 14: The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore at the home of Diana and Dave Sendall’ 4822 Ludwell Branch Ct., 27612. Discussion leader to be announced. April 11: The Meaning of It All by Richard Feynman, at the home of Pat Matusiack, 4428 Touchstone Forest Rd., 27612. Discussion led by Dave Crawford. May 9: Hillbilly Elegy by JD Vance. Location and discussion leader to be announced. Newcomers are always welcome. Contact Lisa Williamson at lisa@dtssoftware.com to learn more.
Dates Set for St. Michael’s 2018 Men’s Retreat The men of St. Michael’s will again gather at the Country Club of Whispering Pines on April 20 and 21, for the fifth annual men’s retreat. Greg Jones and Robert Fruehwirth will lead our program, this year called PURPOSE, once again. We hope all the men of the parish will join us. Sporting options will be the same as last year: golf and sporting clays. We are researching a third option to be announced soon. The retreat will start at 5:30 p.m. on April 20 and end before lunch on Saturday, April 22. This year we will register and pay for the retreat online. Instructions for the online registration will be sent by Feb. 5 to the Men’s Ministry email list. If you are not on the list, please contact Susan Rountree. As always, please join us for our regular Men’s Events each month:
• Men’s Prayer Breakfast: Tuesday, Feb. 13 at 7 a.m. • Band of Brothers Lunch, Monday Feb. 19 at noon, Sawmill Tap Room • Brothers on Tap: To Be Announced Contact: Tim Berry at tberry56@gmail.com
Chronicles of Canterbury
february
lifelong disciple
February 4 I Have Called You Friends with the Rev. Robert Fruehwirth Robert will introduce our Lent and Easter program for 2018, reflecting on how we can take our beliefs about what God is doing, in general, for the saving of the world, and apply them to better see how God is active in our particular lives. Such knowledge of what God is about opens the possibility of sharing in God’s life, becoming God’s friend and releasing ourselves to share in God’s movement through our world. The presentation will be include a strong practical element, offering tools for how we can explore this in Lent. February 11 The Alto Does Wear Tweed with author Mark Schweizer Mark Schweizer, much loved musician and author of the Episcipalian-themed, murder mystery/comdey series of books that started with The Alto Wore Tweed, will join us to share his experience of faith and the church, humor and creative writing. February18 Four Gospels, Four Passions, One Lord I: Mark and the In-breaking of God with the Rev. Robert Fruehwirth Kicking off our Lenten program, Robert will reflect on the unique themes and ways of depicting Jesus that are peculiar to Mark’s Gospels and Mark’s Passion, and lead us in a group reflection exploring how this Markan Jesus may be active in our lives now, breaking in unexpectedly and sharttering our expectations for what God is like.
February 25 Four Gospels, Four Passions, One Lord II: Matthew and God’s Kingdom Come with the Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones Greg will teach about the uniqueness of Matthew’s Gospel, in general and in Matthew’s portrayal of Jesus’ Passion. As in the Lent Program as a whole, we will be challenged to see how the particular portrayal of Jesus as Israel’s long awaited king reveals how God is working now to establish His Kingdom in our lives. Women’s Bible Study Tuesday Evenings Only: Feb. 27 – April 24, 7 p.m. until 8:30 p.m Seamless: Understanding the Bible as One Complete Story Whether you’ve grown up hearing Bible stories or you’re exploring Scripture for the first time, the full story of the Bible can be overwhelming. Written by 40 authors over 1,600 years, the 66 books may seem disconnected at first glance. In this 7-week study, Angie Smith will show us how the whole Bible– from Genesis through Revelation- connects as one beautiful, seamless thread. Workbook Cost: $13 Contact: Frances Penick, fhpenick@nc.rr.com Classes for Those Seeking Membership If you are new to the Episcopal Church and are seeking membership, we invite you to join our clergy for three classes on “The Christian Faith, “required of all who are seeking to join our parish who have not been confirmed or received in an Episcopal Church. The class is also required for parents seeking baptism for their children. Wednesdays, Feb. 21, 28 & March 7 6:15 p.m. Child care is available with advance reservations. Contact Lee Hayden, director of operations and newcomer ministry at hayden@holymichael.org.
11
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church
NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID Raleigh, NC PERMIT NO. 696
1520 Canterbury Rd. Raleigh NC 27608-1106 Phone: 919-782-0731 Fax: 919-782-5085 www.holymichael.org
Chronicles of Canterbury is a publication of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Editor: Susan B. Rountree Phone: 919-782-0731, ext. 122 Email: rountree@holymichael.org
Questions? Story Ideas? Susan Rountree, Director of Communications rountree@holymichael.org • 919-782-0731, ext. 122 www.holymichael.org, Chronicles of Canterbury, ThisWeek@St. Michael’s & Rector’s Weekly Epistle & Archangel Susan Rountree, Editor rountree@holymichael.org Canterbury Tales/brochures/bulletins: Ann Garey, Publications Coordinator garey@holymichael.org
Deadlines: • Canterbury Tales: noon Wednesday before Sunday publication • Chronicles of Canterbury: Monday, Feb. 12
Join the Episcopal Build 2018 St. Michael’s will be participating in the Episcopal Build 2018, along with 11 churches and other organizations. The Habitat house is at 3057 Camden Creek Drive in the Crosstowne subdivision in Raleigh. Register at http://vhub.at/EpiscopalBuild •Wall-Raising Ceremony: Saturday, Feb. 10, at 11:45 a.m. at the construction site. • St. Michael’s Work Days: Saturday, March 10 & Saturday, April 14 (lunch will be provided!) St. Michael’s Contact: Dale Bayless, Volunteer Coordinator (919)455-4456 or dbayless09@gmail.com