January Chronicles of Canterbury by St. Michael's Episcopal Church

Chronicles of Canterbury

the

Chronicles of Canterbury january 2020

From the Rector

Don’t Go Back To Herod This Epiphany

nly two of the four gospels — Matthew and Luke — talk about the events surrounding the birth of Jesus.Luke talks about angels and shepherds and all of what happened regarding an inn and a manger, etc. Matthew skips all of that and talks about the arrival of the three wise men from the east — following a star — and bearing gifts. Contrary to legend, we don’t know where the wise men came from, what their names were, or how many of them there were. Only tradition tells us these things. And tradition varies. In the West, their names are Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar. In the Ethiopian Church they call them Hor, Karsudan, and Basanater. In Armenia, its Kagbha, Badadakharida and Badadilma. Syrian Christians call them Larvandad, Gushnasaph and Hormisdas.

Chinese Christians believe that one of the wise men was from China – perhaps his name was Liu Shang, chief astrologer in the Han dynasty, from the time Jesus was born. Liu Shang discovered a new star the Chinese call the “King Star.” Notably, Liu Shang disappeared from the emperor’s court for two years after he discovered the King Star. Chinese Christians argue that he took the Silk Road west to Bethlehem. Marco Polo claims to have seen the tomb of the magi in the Persian city of Saba in 1270. Who knows? But the Epiphany Gospel story is not so much about the Magi as it is about all seekers after God from everywhere on Earth. We don’t know who the Magi really were, but we know who they represent is you and me. We are seekers after God, too, right? And I believe that like them, you and I have been made to know by Grace where the King of Love is – and he’s in our See RECTOR on page 12

what’s inside 2 The Beloved Community 3 Children’s Ministry Update 4 Annual Fund

St. Michael’s Provides Respite from the Real World

hat brought you to St. Michael’s? What brought you here the first time you came?

9 OWLS

This morning, what brought you here? It’s cold, almost certainly you or someone in your household considered staying home. Or, if your house is like mine, someone misplaced their shoes, or had outgrown them in a week, making it hard to get out the door.

10 Briefly

What brought you here, anyway?

5 Deborah from the Bible 7 From the Jr. Warden 8 Belize Mission 2020

11 Lifelong Disciple

It has been one of the great privileges of my life to serve as your senior warden. I am here to update you on the state of the church in 2019. To do that, I’d like to start by telling you what brings me to St. Michael’s week after week. You don’t need me to tell you that the world is broken.

You see it every day and you feel it, too. But I’m a journalist, and it’s sort of an occupational hazard, so I’m going to tell you. The world is broken. I mean, I feel like it’s a full-time job just to keep up with the news, and I get paid to keep up with the news. I work for The Wall Street Journal as a national reporter. I cover the South, or, as I tell everyone in New York, “the real world.” I cover economics and politics, and a lot of breaking news. Which means I end up covering a lot of disasters, natural and man-made. The natural ones are easier. At least they make sense. See SENIOR WARDEN 6 on page

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. Dr. James Pahl Jr., Vicar ext. 105 •fpahl@holymichael.org (c) 475-0082 Anna Page, Cleric page@holymichael.org Marion B. “Chip” Chase, Verger (h) 851-9576 VESTRY Kristen Lingo, Recording Secretary John Connell, Sr. Warden Ashleigh Black, Jr. Warden Marti Munt, Clerk Class of 2020 Ashleigh Black •789-8284 John Connell • 336-407-891 | Rob Griffin• 510-9982 Marty Munt • 847-6780 | Karen Wagoner• 601-2881. Class of 2021 Liz Driscoll • 886-3424 | Matt Marchione • 426-8504 Katherine Poole • 623-3498 Logan Price • 270-3700 Melissa Raley • 219-2746 Class of 2022 Amanda Carson • 961-4952 Claren Englebreth • 252-205-4126 Robert Marshall • 260-4363 Sam Taylor • 908-339-5566 Rose Vaughn Williams • 922-0386

STAFF Stella Attaway, Director of Early Childhood 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, Director of Primary Christian Education & Assit. to 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, Assistant Director • ext.114

CANTERBURY SHOP HOURS Monday - Friday 10 am -1 pm Sundays 9 am – 9:30 am & 10:30 am-noon

Lifelong Disciple

The Beloved Community

we enter the year 2020, there are so many things to look forward to in regard to ministries and activities at St. Michael’s. I’m excited, because I believe the Lord is at work, moving and touching lives here in this wonderful place. One of the areas where this is most evident is found in the long-standing, successful Newcomer Ministry, under the leadership of Lee Hayden. When a visitor comes to St. Michael’s, it is not too difficult to understand why folks would want to be a part of this church family. Yes, it’s a big family; but a family that has so much to offer in the way of opportunities and support. Each of us brings unique talents and gifts to the family, and we not only bless others in our presence and giving, but ultimately, we are blessed; because the Lord is in the midst of it all. And when someone decides they want to officially join the church, there is a well thought-out process in place which leads to a wonderful welcoming by Lee, the clergy and staff, the Vestry, and numerous parishioners and volunteers. It is a special privilege to welcome someone to the church in the name of Christ! So, too, in other ministry opportunities at St. Michael’s! Looking at the upcoming Adult Formation opportunities throughout January and February (during the season of Epiphany), I see the same spirit of belonging and homecoming that is found in the Newcomer Ministry. Over the course of the next few months, the Adult Formation Forums on Sundays at 10:45 a.m. will focus on living into and becoming “The Beloved Community.” With so many wonderful speakers and deeply enriching topics, we will spend just a few moments each Sunday morning growing deeper into the loving presence of Jesus Christ and each other! And at other times during the week (morning and evening), there will be small group facilitation, where folks will read and discuss Henri Nouwen’s book, Life of the Beloved. This will allow for deeper discussions coming out of the Adult Forums (see the details in the newsletters and bulletins). Please, if you have young children, give them the “gift and blessing” of Christian formation downstairs with the Children’s Ministry on Sunday mornings, while you immerse yourself in the life-changing aspects of beloved community upstairs in the forums. It is only a fraction of your time and you won’t be disappointed! And high school students are encouraged to attend as well. What is Beloved Community? Well, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. speaks about “The Beloved Community” he was reaching for in his book, Stride Toward Freedom. He believed this is a community which forms out of truth and love. This is a community where the faithful and secular come together to jointly build the Kingdom of Heaven on earth — to be co-creators with our God. This is a dream and reality that ultimately intersects in Jesus Christ.

Dr. King says, “A religion true to its nature must also be concerned about man’s social conditions. Religion deals with both earth and heaven, both time and eternity … Any religion that professes to be concerned with the souls of men and is not concerned with the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them, and the social conditions that cripple them is a dry-as-dust religion. Such a religion is the kind the Marxists like to see – an opiate of the people.”

I believe the Adult Formation Forums on Sunday mornings, the Small Group

Continued on the next page

Chronicles of Canterbury

Children and Youth Ministries Update

f all the important ministries at St. Michael’s, among the most special and crucial to our future are the Children’s and Youth Ministries. We are blessed to have such a vibrant ministry focused on the young people of the parish; because, this is not the case in most churches today. Amazingly, it has only grown and expanded because of loving folks who give of their time and gifts to teach and assist in the classrooms, chapels and other activities, week after week! Thank you for all you do!

some responsibilities, because of the growth and size of our Children’s Ministry. In November, we informed parents, teachers and volunteers, and the response has been very positive. We will now have two Directors of Children’s Ministry — Stella Attaway, director of Early Childhood: Babies to Kindergarten, and Carolyn L’Italien, Director of Primary Grades: 1st to 5th Grade. Both Stella and Carolyn understand that primary to their leadership and presence is engendering a spirit of Christian welcome and care for the children and their parents,making sure everyone feels a part of the family in all we do.

I am a product of this ministry at St. Michael’s going back to the early 1970s. And I have to say, my heart is moved to see this same ministry successfully working Our vibrant Children’s Ministry Leadership has new responsibilities effective this And this is a spirit that today as it was decades month. (File photo) carries over to the teachers ago! Truly, the Lord has and volunteers as they help and continues to bless St. Michael’s. shape and form these young lives in the way of the Gospel. First and foremost, the ministry we have with our children and youth (babies to high school) is the most important offering to this church and Our Director of Youth Ministry, Abby Van Noppen, our faith; because they are the future and we are planting the seeds of faith will continue her leadership and oversight of our 6th in them – our future generations. As with any organization or ministry, – 12th grades. In addition, her responsibilities will there is always the need to evaluate what is or is not working, and where now include 6th grade Confirmation and Sunday we can make adjustments. And we are doing just that. school opportunities for middle and high school For at least eight months, there has been a Children’s Ministry Committee students. And Abby is overseeing our “Safe Church” training and compliance, making sure we are putting (Valerie Jackson, Karen Wagoner, and Mary Snow Crowley) charged by the Rector and Vestry to take a closer look at the details of the ministry. In in place best practices that are in accord with the coming to St. Michael’s, I also knew this would be an area of my focus and diocese and national church. leadership. Therefore, we have had numerous meetings and will continue We are going to have an exciting year with this to do so in our efforts to make sure we are giving our children and parents reorganization in place and the exploration of new the best Christian formation possible. We also want to make sure that our curricula and ways of operating. Obviously, the longteachers and volunteers know the gifts and talents they are giving to St. standing aspects of the children’s ministry such as, Michael’s are much appreciated! All Angels’ and Beckwith Chapels, pageants, First Communion and Confirmation will continue as In October, the committee made the decision to reorganize staff and shift strong as ever. We must continue working together, loving each other, and supporting our children and youth as they grow and form into young women Continued from page 2 and men for Christ! It is one of the most important ministries we do! opportunities during the week, and the Children’s and Youth ministries

VICAR

over the next few months will give us an opportunity to explore and experience just this sort of community … a dream of what can be, and not simply what is! Please make plans to join us as God moves within and about us!

— The Rev. Dr. James L. Pahl Jr., Vicar

We will likely have a survey for you to complete in early 2020, to get your thoughts and ideas. Please keep the Children and Youth Ministries in your prayers, and consider giving of your time to help in the formation process if you feel so called!

— The Rev. Dr. James L. Pahl Jr., Vicar

Chronicles of Canterbury Be Doers of the Word

Resolve Something New This Year

If you haven’t pledged yet, please do so. Pull out that booklet gathering dust and reflect on its contents. Being doers of the word not only applies during the Annual Fund campaign, but all year long. Make your first New Year’s resolution one to support your church financially.

Confession: After about two months into the Annual Fund campaign, I often find my focus shifting from the spiritual meaning of giving to focusing solely on the budget for the coming year. Of course, meeting our budget needs is very important, but as I become wrapped up in meeting goals — counting pledges, totaling pledged dollars — I lose sight of the meaning of pledging.

To date, we’ve received 465 pledges totaling more than $1.6 million. These parishioners have embraced the theme of the 2020 Annual Fund as doers of God’s word to love, give and serve. At the beginning of the Annual Fund campaign, Greg said about pledging, “Being a disciple of Jesus means doing the Word and not hearing it only. There are other ways we are called to give back to God, but giving to our home congregation and church family is where we feel led to do them most.”

When this happened in December, I acknowledged it and purposefully tried to refocus. I pulled out the booklet that was enclosed in your pledge packet and read it again. Here are the bits that jumped out at me.

We have enough pledges to fund our clergy and staff compensation, office expenses, operations and maintenance, building and grounds, and a portion of our Diocesan asking. We do not have yet have the funds for our programs, including our adult and children’s education, global missions, mission trips, parish life, the nursery, stewardship, newcomer program, OWLS — and publications like Arcangel. You can pledge by submitting your pledge card to St. Michael’s, pledge online www.holymichael.org/give, or email your pledge to Charlotte Griffin, griffin@holymichael.org. All pledges are confidential.

“God gives us everything and asks us to be righteous with it in return.” “St. Michael’s is an important part of my life and making a pledge is one way to enhance my spiritual growth. I am committed to helping St. Michael’s grow.” “Giving means giving for God, and our neighbors, not just for ourselves. Our gifts affect more than our church. They flow to others for the good of God’s kingdom.” “We cannot possibly be doers if we can’t find a way to listen (to God’s word).”

Let’s be hearers and doers of God’s word!

“Give to the Most High as He has given you, and as generously as you can afford.” – Sirach 35:12

— Charlotte Griffin, Director of Development

Newcomer Program: A Counter-cultural Welcome for All In his Annual Meeting sermon in December, Greg Jones, spoke about how St. Michael’s is counter-cultural these days, growing significantly over the last decade and a half, while Christianity in general and the Episcopal Church in Intro. To St. Michael’s particular see their numbers in steady Wednesdays decline. 6:15 p.m. A significant reason for that is St. Jan. 8,15, 22 & 29 Michael’s Newcomer Ministry. Our parish decided long ago that welcoming The Christian Faith people would be an integral part of Wednesdays our makeup as a congregation, and 6:15 p.m. it’s something that new parishioners Feb. 5, 12 & 19 consistently mention.

newcomers. People who are new to the Episcopal faith attend three additional classes that focus specifically on the traditions and tenets of the Episcopal church. Lee Hayden, who is St. Michael’s director of operations as well as Newcomer Ministry, brings it all together, and Greg Jones leads all the classes. The lay members of the Newcomer Committee are all longtime parishioners who have occupied all kinds of roles within the church, and they lead smaller group discussions during each class, when people can ask questions, learn more about other newcomers or just tell the story of what brought them to St. Michael’s. That St. Michael’s dedicates such resources to the program just reinforces the emphasis we place on welcoming the new. And that we ask new members to dedicate time to integrating themselves into the parish illustrates how much we want them to be part of everything.

It starts from the first time someone walks up the steps to a service, with greeters and the familiar red bags. And it usually continues with all of us as members making people feel like we’re glad to have them in the St. Michael’s family.

The latest round of Newcomer Classes begins January 15, at 6:15 p.m. Whether you’re a newcomer or know someone who is, it’s a great way to start 2020 off right.

But the heartbeat of our newcomers program comes twice a year with our Newcomer Classes. They begin with four sessions designed to introduce people to what St. Michael’s is, from the people to the programs. Just as important, it also gives people a chance to get to know existing members and fellow

To sign up, just reach out to Lee Hayden (hayden@holymichael. org or 919.782.0731 ext. 108) Child care is available. — Will Lingo, Newcomer Committee

Chronicles of Canterbury Women in Faith:

Deborah: Prophetess, Judge, Mother, Warrior

uite regularly, we hear about how God often turns the expected on its head. Where we expect one thing to happen, God quite often challenges us with something entirely different, as he does with Deborah in the Old Testament.

So Barak wisely told Deborah that he would obey God’s command and do it only if she came along. He was treating her as if she was a good luck charm or rabbit’s foot. Deborah informed Barak that because of his lack of trust in God, Sisera would be handed over to her, a woman instead of to him; thus, she and God would get the credit and Barak would get nothing.

Deborah, whose name means “honey bee,” lived a life that was not so much shaped by the politics which surrounded her, but by her relationship with God. This is a challenge for all of us. It’s difficult to listen to two people speaking at the same time (consider the cable news programs where two or more people shout at each other at the same time vying to be the one heard.)

Sisera learned of the plot and charged up to the Kishon Wadi (a wadi is a usually dry riverbed which, when it rains, becomes a torrential river). Sadly for him, it began to rain, and the rivers flooded. Suddenly his iron-clad chariots became a massive liability, and no matter how hard the drivers urged their horses on, the mud acted like quicksand, stalling the heavy chariots. They became easy targets for Barak’s troops who swept down from Mount Tabor, killing every man except Sisera, whose fate was sealed by yet another woman, not long after. After Sisera was defeated, Deborah and Barak sang a song celebrating her victory. The story can be found in Judges Chapter 5.

Deborah managed to keep her mind focused only on God, letting Him lead her. But she was a focused woman who knew her own mind, and did not bend Like a precurser to Joan of Arc, Deborah led a with every wind of change. I large group of men into battle to defeat Sisera, admire her single-mindedness leading them out of idolatry and turned them and self-confidence. I once again to God, making them again God’s Deborah, the judge. Painting by Francesco Solimena especially envy her ability to chosen people. She became known not just ignore all the competing noise as a mother of her own children, but also as a around her and focus all of her attention on God. mother to the children of Israel. Her people had sunk into despair because they had ceased following God and had turned to idolatry, completely forgetting God’s promises to them. Completely forgetting the faith of their ancestors. This was her greatest sorrow in life.

So what can we learn from this remarkable woman? Not all of us are people of authority, like she was, but you can still be a mother (or father) of people around you who need a good strong Christian influence around them. We can all be mentors to those who have less insight into the world around them. We can all lead by example, offering to help those who are poor, or immigrants for example. One can help a child learn to read. Or just set an example of how to treat others with dignity and respect.

Deborah’s greatest joy, on the other hand, came when God turned the strength of the Canaanite chief Sisera and his 900 iron-plated chariots on their heads. He bestowed power to the weak and blessed the land of the ancient Hebrews for 40 years. But allow me to back up a bit and explain. Deborah, according to Traditional Jewish Chronology, lived from c 1107-1067. She lived close to Jericho, which is where God told Joshua to blow his trumpet, and the walls surrounding the city “came a-tumblin’ down.” This constant reminder of God’s faithfulness was always before Deborah’s eyes.

Fortunately, everything that Deborah had in her personal arsenal is available to us today! She had Scriptures as her guide and inspiration. Her inner strength and her calm central core are characteristic not just of her personally, but they are also the result of a willingness to be used by God. Our Scriptures and Book of Common Prayer are a treasury of resources that we can use and build upon every day.

One day, Deborah summoned Barak, who was a Hebrew from the north. Being a judge as well as a prophet, she had tremendous authority and she used it to contact Barak and inform him that God wanted him to take 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun and head up to Mount Tabor. Deborah said she’d lure Sisera to the Kishon River and give him into Barak’s hands. Barak was understandably quaking in his boots because he had heard about those iron-plated chariots, and Sisera’s nasty temper.

“Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.” Psalm 20:7

— The Rev. Holly M. Gloff

Chronicles of Canterbury

SENIOR WARDEN

Continued from page 1

The man-made ones are hard.

You reach out to our community through Gifts of Grace, the ECW spring fundraiser, the Canterbury shop, and dozens of hands-on ministries, including our new ministry to refugees. Our Holy Michael Foundation is on the cusp, thanks to you, of making annual grants to ministries of this church. Thank you.

I have covered 11 mass shootings, from Virginia Tech to El Paso. It never gets easier. After one particularly hard week, the Parkland shootings, we were wrapping up coverage late on a Friday. I was talking with my boss and she said, “Well, at least you get to plug back into the source on Sunday.”

And lastly, I said that St. Michael’s is strong because it is a place of connection. We connect with each other at the Newcomers’ table, the coffee line, shaking hands in the pew. We connect with the Scriptures and our traditions during the service. Even on the Sundays when my mind is a little all over the place, there is always something that happens during the service that helps me connect.

I was stunned. I know I’ve tended to wear my heart on my sleeve as I’ve gotten older. But I was stunned that she noticed and even more stunned that she was right. I have come to understand that I could not be a witness to what is going on out in the world if I did not have a place of wholeness to come home to. I get to come home each week to God’s house, and be with you, the people who make it so. So my message to you today is: the state of St. Michael’s is strong.

A highlight of 2019 was the St. Michael’s Window Project to repair and renovate our unique stained glass windows to their original luster.

Greg has said that Sundays are no longer sacred in our culture. I admit, I regularly forward him alarming articles about the state of the Church, something he may not miss next year.

But one recent study by The Pew Research Center blew my mind. The percentage of Americans who identify as Christians has dropped 12 percent in 10 years. Ten years. The most growth had been in people who identify as “nothing in particular.”

Your church is a place of deep calm in a chaotic world. It is a place of healing in a broken world. And it is a place of connection in a disconnected world. Why do I say all that?

That’s one reason why I am such a champion of our children’s ministry. Roughly a quarter of our members are downstairs on Sundays, and I am so thankful for the staff, teachers and volunteers who make sure that they are wrapped in God’s love every Sunday. Learning the Lord’s Prayer, singing “God is so good,” those things become muscle memory.

Let’s talk first about calm. St. Michael’s is a place of deep calm, the one place I consistently unplug from my iPhone and plug back into what really matters.

It’s true that it is natural to wander from the church. But a friend recently said, “What brings people back is their memories.” So making connections at every stage of life is vital for the future of Jesus’ church.

There’s the music, which every week is stunning. Sometimes I sit way back there in the corner just so I can be surrounded by the choir during the closing hymn. You can find quiet beauty everywhere you look at St. Michael’s. You can look at the stained glass, so lovingly restored this year with the help of so many of you. Our small groups and Bible studies are islands of calm, and wonderful ways to slow down and be with each other and with God.

St. Michael’s is alive, and like any dynamic organization, it changes all the time. We welcomed Jamie Pahl and Anna Page this year, and said goodbye to Robert Fruehwirth, who was installed as rector of his new church a few weeks ago.

Now, I’m the first to admit, there’s not a lot of good stuff on Twitter, but again, it’s an occupational hazard, so I’m on there. And it sounds funny to say, but the Pope had a great tweet this week. He said, “Prayer is the door of faith.”

At our Annual Meeting, you chose new members of the Vestry. Thank you to all 10, for standing for election. It is hard to put yourself out there, but I’m so glad you did. Serving on the Vestry gives you a special view of the place, inside and out.

St. Michael’s offers us so many ways to stop what we’re doing and reach out to Jesus, who is always trying to reach us through the door of faith. We are a place of healing in a world that can feel broken. True story: I came to get an angel off the tree the other day, and they were all gone.

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You will come to realize, even more than you already do, that we have the best clergy and staff in the business. We truly do. I will miss being on the Vestry.

Chronicles of Canterbury From the Outgoing Jr. Warden

St. Michael’s Thrives and Grows, Without Debt No one should have to follow an award-winning Wall Street Journal reporter in making a speech.

celebrate the success of the Holy Michael Foundation in 2020 in conjunction with our 70th anniversary.

I am honored to have had the opportunity to serve as your junior warden this past year. Thank you to Valerie and Greg for your confidence in me.

Our Annual Fund is what keeps us going. Thank you to all who have pledged. We have hit 75 percent of our pledging goal, — 461 pledges totaling close to $1.6 million. This amount will allow us to fund clergy and staff compensation, office expenses, buildings and grounds and one-third of our diocesan asking. We need everyone’s participation so we can meet our diocesan contribution and fund the programs and outreach that are an integral part of what we do here.

The role of the junior warden is to oversee the finances of the church. For 2019, I was the numbers guy. It was a good year for your church. The financial health of your church is sound. As Greg reminds us, in a time where church attendance is declining, St. Michael’s is thriving and growing. We are able to operate a beautiful facility on a gorgeous campus. We have strong outreach to support our larger community. We offer enriching programs and ministries.

Our beautiful stained glass windows are a successful highlight for 2019. We are grateful for Tim Berry’s leadership on this project. Thanks to the generosity and response of this parish, we successfully undertook the meticulous and time-consuming project of repairing and refurbishing these jewels. We are truly blessed and grateful for the leadership, teaching and counsel of Greg, Holly and Jamie. Welcome to Anna and thank her for her service to our country as well as our parish.

We are able to do all of this because of each one of you. You, me and us. We keep this place alive and going. Unlike many other organizations, we do all of these wonderful things with no debt. We currently have no debt. Also unusual in the life of a church, we don’t live off an endowment.

What a gift we have in St. Michael’s. What a wonderful faith community we have assembled. And it is made up of you and me. We are a group of people, as Greg often reminds us, to learn about the Gospel and follow Jesus. That’s it. That’s who we are, but what a gift this place is.

Sincere thanks to those who help manage the church’s finance. Thank you Susan Little, our financial administrator, for making complex numbers so simple and for making me look smarter than I am at Vestry meetings. Susan does a great job of keeping a tight rein on our finances. Thank you to Debbie Reed, who ended her tenure as our treasurer after many years. We are grateful to Bryan Bickley for answering the call and picking up where Debbie left off. We appreciate and thank Charlotte Griffin, our director of development, for her hard work and leadership but in particular with the Annual Fund and Holy Michael Foundation. Thank you to all of the parishioners who helped lead the Annual Fund and the Holy Michael Foundation in 2019.

Sure, this is a great church with wonderful preaching and music, but it is more than what we do on Sunday. It is a feeling of belonging. It is the feeling that folks who used to be strangers truly care about you. Have you ever walked out of this place without a hug, smile or heartfelt handshake? Even though my family is relatively new to the church, my service on the Vestry has given me 25 close friendships in my fellow Vestry members. Service on the Vestry has given me a sense of ownership and, of course, leadership. I know my fellow Vestry members better for having served with them. That is a gift.

And what a year it was for our Holy Michael Foundation! This year we hit the milestone of holding $1 million in assets for two years, which will allow us to start making grants to better our community. We should all take a moment to give thanks for the gift and love that Bob Slaughter gave to our church to act as the seed and catalyst, to create a foundation that today can now start doing good works for our community. We will

SENIOR WARDEN

— Dan Cahill, Outgoing Jr. Warden

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I was the recorder for three years before I ran, so Vestry has been a thing in our house for six years. At one point, my son said, “Mom, will I ever be on Bestry?” And I said, “I sure hope so.”

Thank you, all of you, for being part of St. Michael’s. Thank you for making our church the place where we can connect, so that with one voice, in harmony, we can glorify God. — Valerie Bauerlain Jackson, Outgoing Senior Warden

St. Paul wrote about his hope for the church in Rome in the letter we read today. He said, “May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another … so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Chronicles of Canterbury Belize Mission 2020:

Supporting Parish Development at Holy Cross School It’s amazing to look back on more than a decade of St. Michael’s commitment supporting the development of an indigenous Anglican school in Belize. Together with many other Episcopal and Anglican churches from the US and Canada, and even some as far away as Australia, Holy Cross Anglican School has been established and is now a thriving, though fragile, pre-K through 8th grade facility that serves nearly 500 children on the island of Ambergris Caye. Tucked away from the main traffic areas, the school is virtually impossible to see. But it sits on the edge of a local neighborhood where many of the island’s most impoverished children live. About a year and a half ago, under the leadership of The Rt. Rev. Philip Wright (Anglican Diocese of Belize, Province of the West Indies), a call was put forth to both grow the school and plant an Anglican parish on school grounds. The motivation has been multifaceted, including the need for a lasting Our Belize Mission 2020 Team will continue work on establishing a new chapel complex sacramental and pastoral presence; the need for six for Holy Cross Anglican School. Above, file photo of priest’s house, completed in 2019. new classrooms, a vocational training center, and of course a chapel; all built to Belizean hurricane BELIZE Team 2020 DATES TO REMEMBER shelter standards. And, with the growth of a permanent congregation comes the opportunity to follow Christ in Sunday, Jan. 19 spreading God’s love on the island. 11:35 a.m. Belize Informational Meeting Last April, St. Michael’s played a leading role through our two weeks in mission at the school. Many of you donated Sunday, Feb. 23 to Robert’s run, which raised over $12,000 to help pay Youth Applications Due construction costs for House of Grace, now almost ready Sunday, March 1 for priestly occupancy. And so many others helped prepare Commitment Deadline the team and make additional donations through our Coffeehouse. And our unbelievable group of missioners Sunday, March 1 — starting from just posts in the ground —– was able to 11:35 a.m. Coffeehouse Planning Meeting complete all of the framing, interior studding and roofing needed to fully flesh out the basic structure of the home. Sunday, March 8 Our work enabled seven more follow-up summer 2019 11:35 a.m. volunteer teams to complete the remaining tasks needed to Team Orientation Meeting ready the house for occupancy. Saturday, March 21 This year, we will be sponsoring two more weeks of mission 7 p.m. Coffeehouse — Holy Week, and the week following. Holy week will Sunday, March 29 be our “traditional” week, which includes Vacation Bible 11:35 a.m. School, maintenance work and construction. The second Final Preparation Meeting/Forms Due week will be focused on site-preparation and/or initial construction of the new chapel complex.

Travel plans are in place for the first week, but similar to last year, the second week will be scheduled as missioner’s travel needs require. And remember, you don’t have to be a missioner to make a difference in Belize. In praying and planning, see our key dates coming up soon. — John McHenry, Belize Team Leader

Saturday, April 4 Team 1 Departure Saturday, April 11 Team 1 Return

Week of April 13 Team 2 Departure and Return: Details TBD

Chronicles of Canterbury Hurricane Florence Relief

Mission Team Heads to Pamlico to Spread Hope Mary and Isiah Grice are an elderly couple who have lived in the Pamlico region all their lives. Their home is a double-wide, right off Highway 55, a few miles out of Oriental. As Mr. Grice showed me how high the water got, I knelt down and put my eye at that level and tried to imagine how much water it took to flood that much land that high. Couldn’t. Hurricane Florence was a Category 1 storm when it hit, but it wouldn’t go away, and the winds pushed storm surges as high as 11 feet. The damage in Pamlico County was bad, but not bad enough to qualify for disaster relief, and hundreds of folks like the Grices are left to rebuild on their own. Working through Joy Baker, the volunteer chairperson for Pamlico County Disaster Relief Coalition, 10 hardy souls from St. Michael’s spent parts of Friday through Sunday, Nov. 22-24, working on the Grices’ house — tearing out and replacing damaged subflooring, insulating, hanging sheetrock and making plumbing repairs. We also started finishing the sheetrock in the home of Patricia Ison. She had been waiting for months.

The Pamlico Mission Team included two father-son teams: Miles & Anthony Carlton and Matthew and Eric Schoenagel, pictured with team leader Vaughn Wagoner. The team also included Stephanie and David Jeffers, Phil Lambe, Jeff McLamb and Alan Sibert. Photo by Jeff McLamb.

We had a great team, and got a lot of work done. Especially exciting was the presence of two father-son team members — Miles and Anthony Carlton, and Matthew and Eric Schoenagel. Besides the repairs, the team also provided some hope to two families who so desperately needed some. Ms. Baker says they have over 400 sites requesting assistance, but have only had

resources to work on about 40 so far. And it’s already been more than a year. We will go back. Please consider joining the next group. — Vaughn Wagoner

Older, Wiser, Learning, Sharing

Bob Orr Talks Redistricting, then It’s a Visit with the Orchids Greenhouses in Morrisville, on Thursday, Jan 16.

A new year is upon us, and the OWLS are not afraid of a little cold weather!

The Orchid Trail Greenhouses were founded by a passionate gardener named John Stanton who has created an experience for every orchid lover, or for those who just want to look at amazing hybridized orchids. The Greenhouses’ private collection contains more than 2,500 orchids from a wide range of genera, likely among the largest private collections in North Carolina.

Our first offering will be on Thursday, Jan 9, when longtime parishioner Bob Orr will be speaking to us. Bob and his wife, Louise have been members of our parish for more than 25 years, Bob spent eight years on the NC Court of Appeals and 10 years on the NC Supreme Court. He is a board member of NC Citizens for Redistricting Reform and a graduate of UNC undergraduate and law schools. He will speak on “Redistricting Reform in NC - Can Gerrymandering Finally be Stopped?” Join us at 2 p.m. in the Convocation Room for this event.

We may even get a demonstration of John’s potting techniques! Visiting orchids will add a spot of color and hope for springtime during the bleak mid-winter! We will meet at St. Michael’s at 10 a.m. and drive to Morrisville. We will have lunch afterward, returning to the church well before 3 p.m. The tour is free, and lunch will be on your own. Location of lunch has yet to be determined. If you have a suggestion in the Morrisville area, please let me know!

And on Saturday, Jan. 11, we’ll join our Young Adult Ministry for the annual OWLS/YAMS brunch. That’s from 10 a.m. -noon.

— Holly Gloff

Our outing for January will be to tour the Orchid Trail

briefly

Chronicles of Canterbury

New Vestry Members Elected

On Dec. 8, the following parishioners were elected for a three-year Vestry term: Amanda Carson, Claren Englebreth, Robert Marshall, Sam Taylor & Rose Williams. We thank our outgoing Vestry members for their faithful service: Tim Berry, Dan Cahill, Valerie Jackson, Robin Kennedy & Lee Walker.

Words & Wisdom Book Group Jan. 8 • 6:30 p.m. Our Wednesday Words & Wisdom Book Group starts off 2020 with the Bard himself. We will read Shakespeare’s “Much ado about Nothing.” Dave Sendal will facilitate the discussion. Ron & Gregoria Smith will host (4004 Grayson Ridge Ct 27613.) RSVP to Gregoria (gregoria@identitywork.net.) If you’re new to our parish, joining the book group is a terrific way to get to know a small number of people and engage in lively discussion about a variety of topics.

Young Adults Meet in January Words & Wisdom Jan. 8 “Much Ado About Nothing” 4004 Grayson Ridge Ct.

Our Young Adult Ministry has had an exciting restart with Anna Page at the lead. The coming of the new year means new programs, starting with a brunch with our older parishioners, Saturday, Jan. 11 at 10 a.m. in the Convocation Room. Other events include a weekly Bible Study beginning Wednesday, Jan. 15 at 7 p.m. at the church. Join Anna for Pub Theology on Thursday, Jan. 23 at The Point in Five Points at 7 p.m. Anna will host a monthly service of Evening Prayer and dinner beginning Sunday, Jan. 26 at her home, 7231 Corvette Place in Raleigh. Dinners will rotate between homes each month.

Belize Mission Information Session with John McHenry Sunday, Jan. 19 11:45 a.m. Adult Education Room

If you are in your 20s or 30s, single or married, with kids or without, contact Anna to learn more about our offerings for Young Adults, at page@holymichael.org.

Might You Be Called to Serve? Mission to Belize 2020 is now in the planning stage! The dates are April 4 – 11; April 12 or 13 – 17 (2nd week). If you are considering the possibility of joining this year’s team -- please mark your calendars for the Information Meeting to be held Sunday, Jan. 19, following the Adult Sunday Forum. For more information,please contact John McHenry (john.mchenry@ baronams.com). See a full story on page 8 of this newsletter about the exciting work planned.

Episcopal Church Women January Events ECW Board Meeting Monday, Jan. 13, 9:15 a.m. Convocation Room St. Mary Monday, Jan. 6 | 10 a.m. Parlor pprathernc@gmail.com St. Margaret Wednesday, Jan. 15 5:30 p.m. Lower level commons area stmargaretschapter@gmail.com St. Madeleine North Hills Club (Not date set at press time.) stmadeleinechair@gmail.com St. Elizabeth Wednesday, Jan. 27 | 6:30 p.m. Convocation Room stliz@holymichael.org

Men’s Ministry Events Men’s Bible Study Thursdays | 7 a.m. Wall Conference Room

Men’s Prayer Breakfast Tuesday, Jan. 14 | 7 a.m. Convocation Room Band of Brothers Lunch Monday, Jan. 20 | Noon Sawmill Tap Room, 7701 Lead Mine Road, 27615

St. Michael’s E-Mail Subscriptions We hope you are receiving our weekly emails that keep you informed about all that’s happening in our parish. We offer e-mail subscriptions to three groups: • St. Michael’s —This Week at St. Michael’s, Rectors Weekly Epistle, Passages, News Alerts and special reflections, like our recent Advent Words project • Men’s Ministry • Young Adult Ministry Need to subscribe or unsubscribe? Manage your profile by copying the link below: https://app.icontact.com/icp/mmail-mprofile.php ?r=1048458486&l=35557&s=UIU3&m=5134751 &c=26136

Chronicles of Canterbury

january lifelong disciple Beloved Community Series January 12 “Defending the Undefendable” with Joseph Cheshire, defense attorney Joe will speak about the role faith has played in his prolific career in defending some of the most dangerous criminals. He will also share his experience with Martin Luther King, Jr.

lifelong disciple

January 19 “Deliver us from Evil” Panel Discussion with Jeff Hensley Evil can be both individual and systemic (i.e. racism, etc.). How do we find the hope amongst the great evils of our time, and what does the life and ministry of Jesus Christ have to teach us in addressing and overcoming these evils? January 26 “Ecumenical Partnerships Working & Serving Together” with Pastor Ronnie Morton, The Greater Joy Baptist Church, Oxford Pastor Morton will share his practical experiences in working together across the many divides. He will speak to us about his dream, theologically grounded in the prophetic vision of Ezekiel 47, where the water flows from the Temple bringing new life to its surrounding community. Morton will also touch upon the racial events in Oxford, NC and the dream of becoming a “Beloved Community”. February 2-23 “Faithful Generations” with the Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones, the Rev. Dr. James L. Pahl Jr., Richard Moore and Sharon Curry Feb. 2 — Greg Jones: Old Testament Prophets What was significant about their faith? Who was the God they worshipped, and how they instilled the faith in future generations? Feb. 9 — Former State Treasurer Richard Moore Feb. 16 — Sharon Curry, noted organist and musician and wife of the Most Rev. Michael Curry Feb. 23 — Jamie Pahl: Early Christian Followers A four-week series on the Faith passed down to us through the prophets of old, early Christians, and leaders of our time. Who was the God they worshipped, and what did they instill in future generations? And how does faith guide our leaders today in decision-making? Richard Moore & Sharon Curry — interview-style — will be our guests as they share their faith journey.

Small Groups Meet for Epiphany Sessions The St. Michael’s small group spirituality facilitators are pleased to offer a series of sessions during Epiphany. The groups will begin during the week of Jan. 12, and continue for seven consecutive weeks, concluding the week of Feb .23. All sessions will be facilitated, and will reflect on issues raised during the Sunday Adult Forum series on “Becoming the Beloved Community.” We also will discuss Henri Nouwen’s book Life of the Beloved, as it relates to the foundations of Beloved Community. Currently, the small group sessions are scheduled for Tuesdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. If there is demand, we will offer additional days / times during the week. Please contact Sam Taylor at samuel.o.taylor@gmail.com or 908-399-5566 to sign up for one of the sessions, or to let us know if you are interested, but need a different day or time.

St. Michael’s Episcopal Church 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 Winter Archangel will be published in February March Chronicles of Canterbury Wednesday, Feb. 12

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midst. Christ is born by all who bear him – and Christ is within us as we are within him. Which is why once we’ve been led to Christ, we just can’t go back to the same old ways. We just can’t go back to Herod. Just as Herod represents the vile, the corrupt and the captive to sin and its power — let us not go back to him once we’ve had a glimpse of Jesus. Let’s not say our prayers, worship, receive communion, enjoy Christian fellowship — all means of Grace — all ways to connect with the eternal plan of God, and then, go back to Herod. In the earliest days of the Church, there was a common way of teaching seekers about holiness. They used an approach called “‘the Two Ways.” One was the Way of Light. The other — the Way of Darkness. And I believe we do have to choose as best we can between those ways in this life. For I believe with the wise ones who first saw Christ that in this World there is an eternal plan – and that God is working toward the healing and unity of all in Christ. I believe this is the free, gracious and expansive plan of God, which seeks to include all people in the Kindgom. I believe with the wise ones who first saw Christ that in this world there is another plan too. That plan is about conquest, ownership, worldly power – and finally – the annihilation of creation by the One who loves it NOT.

The powers and principalities of this world, according to Paul, don’t love God or His Creation and they seek to ruin it. And friends, that is what Herod represents. And that Herod — that power and principality — is not just a long ago character out of the Bible. That Herod is a part of our lives even now. For the light has come into the darkness, and in Him God was pleased to dwell. If you call Jesus Lord, then the Grace of God is also in your life, even now. If Jesus is in your life — even now — then don’t go back to Herod. This year, I invite you to examine in what ways you are “going back to Herod” on a seven-day-a-week, real-life in-the-world kind of way, and how you can find a new road home, to the Kingdom. — The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones