March 2015: The Chronicles of Canterbury

Chronicles of Canterbury

March 2015

From the Rector

Jesus Talks about the Kingdom of God

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ecause the Jews were very careful in not taking the Lord’s name in vain, there are many euphemisms for God in Jewish custom and throughout the Old Testament. The sacred name of God was rendered in the Hebrew scriptures with a four letter code, which in our alphabet is transliterated as YHWH. Faithful Jews would never utter the sacred name that those four letters represented. Some Jews would say adonai instead of (Jesus’) entire vision for the four letters.

God’s will is expounded in his teachings on the In time, Hebrew manuscripts kingdom. He talks about a began to insert the vowels place that is not just in the from adonai between the future, but is in the eternal consonants YHWH, and a present. It is now. It is at new code word was created: hand. It is a kingdom come.

YaHoWaiH or Yahweh. In English Bibles the name is usually rendered as Lord, which is English for adonai.

So to be sure, when we say “Lord,” even we are not saying God’s name. God’s name, as indicated in the story of Moses and the burning bush, is the Hebrew phrase which in English means: “I Am What I Am.”

what’s inside

It is valuable to remember that a lord is a noble, a master, an authority. A lord is someone vested with higher power. The Old Testament makes it very clear throughout that God is the creator of the universe,

2 A Lenten Spring

From the Senior Warden

3 The Music of Lent

Going Forth with God

4 OWLS 5 Global Missions 6 Back the (Back)pack 7 Men’s Retreat 2015 8 The Gathering 10 Briefly 11 Lifelong Disciple

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n a very cold and rainy Friday afternoon in January, 17 people traveled to Whispering Pines to participate in our 2015 Vestry Retreat. The outside elements delivered shivering conditions, but the fellowship shared within brought comforting warmth to each heart and our spirits were profoundly uplifted. Through comic laughter and earnest tears, the Holy Spirit bound our group together, allowing for a deeper trust and understanding of each fellow member. As a result, our gathering became more spirit-driven instead of just purpose-driven.

For most who attended, this was their first experience at a Vestry retreat, because it was canceled last year.

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and is therefore the most high power there ever was and ever will be. In the book of Job, for instance, there is a long discourse on the ultimate supremacy of God’s unfathomable power. Interestingly, in the Old Testament though God is frequently described as the most powerful and authoritative force in the cosmos, he is somewhat infrequently described as a king.

It’s there. But not that much. And just about all the passages in the Old Testament which say “YHWH is king” are in psalms or the hymnic verse of prophets.

Interestingly, while royal language for God is somewhat rare in the Old Testament, it seems to be all that Jesus wants to talk about. According to Mark, the first red letter words of Jesus are: “The time is now and the kingdom of God is at hand.” According to Luke, the man crucified next to him said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”

Yes, Jesus talks about the kingdom of God first and last. His entire vision for God’s will is expounded in his teachings on the kingdom. He talks about a place that is not just in the future, but is in the eternal present. It is now. It is at hand. It is a kingdom come.

It is a place where the poor in spirit, the powerless, the marginal, and small children are given high See RECTOR on page 3

In light of this, we thought it was appropriate that our agenda concentrate on the physical and spiritual responsibilities of a Vestry person. The Vestry is elected to lead in fiduciary decisions and procedures regarding the church. However, leadership involves more than representation and carrying out assigned duties. Careful attention to our spiritual life should make our time on the Vestry more than just a matter of maintaining buildings and overseeing finances.

We must keep our focus on the reason we came to St. Michael’s Church in the first place, to renew and deepen our relationship with Christ.

Jesus asked his disciples a very important question, “But what about you, who do you say I am?” Jesus also asks the same of us. As we consider our own faith, it is the inescapable question which requires

See WARDEN on page 7

Chronicles of Canterbury The People of St. Michael’s Church Phone: (919) 782-0731 All area codes are 919 unless otherwise noted.

CLERGY

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. Christopher W. Hogin Assistant Rector ext. 105 • hogin@holymichael.org (c) 999-6269 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 Frances Penick, Senior Warden • 676-2757 David Coe , Jr. Warden • 741-3827 Chris Carson, Clerk •786-4210 Debbie Reed Treasurer • 783-8978 Marilyn Budrow • 510-5080 Anthony Carlton • 395-4229 Mike Ferguson • 624-4048 LeeAnn Graham • 782-5919 | Jenny Haase • 460-1966 Jeff Hensley • 424-7951 | Todd Kasper • 784-8112 Will Lingo • 833-1358 | Michael Painter • 821-0126 John Merritt • 783-8792 | Dale Roane791-0168 | Marilyn Stevens • 782-8670 Valerie Jackson, Recorder • 917-5164 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 Abby 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 Jean Olson, Parish Secretary olson@holymichael.org • ext. 112 Susan Rountree, Director of Communications rountree@holymichael.org • ext.122 FACILITIES STAFF Buddy Stegall, Facility Project Leader Jesús Epigmenio, Groundskeeper Marcela de la Cruz, Housekeeper PARISH DAY SCHOOL 782-6430 Mandy Annunziata, Director annunziata@holymichael.org • ext. 110 Jennifer Elam, Asst. Director elam@holymichael.org • ext. 144

OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

From the Assistant to the Rector

A Lenten Spring

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s I write these words, a thick sheet of ice, dusted with a layer of snow, covers the parking lot at St. Michael’s. For a brief period of time, Raleigh has shut down. It is quiet at the moment. Occasionally I hear ice sliding off the roof and shattering onto the parking lot. All of this is happening on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent.

Not many people like Lent. For some it is a season endured. No more singing or proclaiming Alleluia during church. (Inevitably, someone forgets this prohibition. Usually it’s the clergy.) Many give up a vice, or assume a spiritual discipline as a way of participating in the season.

Lenten worship has a more somber tone. This somber tone weaves its way into sermons, adding additional discomfort to the season.

But what does all this mean? What exactly is the purpose of Lent, and why do we add yet another layer of complexity in our already complicated lives? Other faith traditions do not do this, why should we?

I like to think of Lent as a gift. Lent allows us to look inwardly at ourselves as we anticipate a change in the world from one season to the next. “Lent” derives from the Old English word “spring.” This is fitting, for Lent occurs during the final grasp of winter. We like to think of winter as the enemy with its bone-chilling cold, and constant threat of dangerous road conditions. Yet winter is not the enemy.

In winter we are forced to slow down, and prepare ourselves for the coming of a new season.

C.S. Lewis once said, “prayer does not change God, but it does change me.” Likewise, God is not the one who needs his children to sacrifice themselves with spiritual disciplines. In other words, giving up chocolate or praying the daily office three times a day does not enhance a person’s status in God’s eyes. But if giving up chocolate, or praying the daily office three times a day brings a person closer to God, and helps that person see and respond to the world the way in which God intends, then such disciplines delight God. What God wants is a committed relationship with God’s children. God wants us to be changed, transformed, and to grow in ways that even we do not think possible.

Lent offers us a space and a time to do that. It gives us an opportunity of looking within to see more clearly aspects of our lives that shroud God’s grace and glory. Are we withholding forgiveness? Are we selfish? Have we healed an old wound? Do we remain mired in the past? Are we struggling with an addiction great or small?

The season of Lent helps us intentionally connect with God. It helps us intertwine God in our daily lives. So if a person gives up dessert for Lent, the dessert itself is irrelevant.

What is relevant is proclaiming that God remains far more important than physical aspects of this world. Or as Jesus put it while tempted in the desert, “Man cannot live on bread alone.”

Despite the somber tone of Lent, remember it comes right before the spring. It happens at a time when you can outwardly see a change in the physical world, when the biting cold gives way to warm spring breezes, and when barren landscapes turn green. Use Lent as a time of participating with the rest of the physical world. As it changes and transitions, allow yourself to change and transition by thawing out the cold corners of your soul so that it can blossom and grow into a new creation intended by God.

— The Rev. Christopher Hogin

CANTERBURY SHOP HOURS Monday/Wednesday/Friday 10 a.m.-1 p.m.

Sundays 9-9:30a.m. & 10:30 a.m.-noon

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Chronicles of Canterbury

The Music of Lent — Minor Keys and Slower Tempos

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e are now in the midst of the most solemn season of the Christian liturgical year, and as always, our sacred music seeks to reflect and amplify the themes of each liturgy as presented by readings from the Old and New Testaments. The joyful word of praise, “Alleluia,” is absent from our liturgies during Lent. Instead of singing “Glory to God in the highest” as our song of praise, we sing the Kyrie eleison (Greek for “Lord, have mercy”). The hymns and anthems of Lent are more likely to be in minor keys with slower tempos. Some of the hymns seem less familiar to us because we sing them just once a year.

When the choir sings an anthem, it is never a performance. The choir sings on behalf of the gathered people, who meditate and enter into prayer through the words and music. The hymns we sing as a congregation give voice to our praise and prayer. Hymns 140-173 in The Hymnal 1982 are specifically for Lent and Holy Week. They are prayers of penitence, descriptions of Christ’s final days on earth, calls for self-discipline, and poignant portraits of the final sacrifice on the cross. All are sung, however, with the knowledge of the Easter joy to come.

On Ash Wednesday, the choir had planned to sing Maurice Greene’s “Lord, let me know mine end.” (Snow canceled the evening service.)

Based on Psalm 39, this anthem acknowledges life’s uncertainty and calls us to confront our sinful nature, while expressing a firm belief in God as our true hope. Lent calls us to introspection and renewal. It is a time to prepare for the resurrection by revealing the darkness in our lives, and praying that God will create in us clean hearts. The music of Lent can help us do that.

On March 8, the choir will sing Friedell’s “Jesus, so lowly.” This anthem is a prayer that Christ will bring us new birth, teach us the joy of love, and reveal his mighty triumph over sin and death. The 18th century text of the anthem for March 22 (“Jesu, grant me this, I pray”) reminds us that abiding in the heart and wounded side of Christ offers strength when faced with temptation, and rest in the presence of Christ at our end.

The music of Holy Week (encompassing Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday) is some of the most profound. Lotti’s Crucifixus (“He was crucified for us”), Paul Mealor’s strikingly beautiful Ubi caritas (a text traditionally sung for the washing of the feet on Maundy Thursday), and Chilcott’s arrangement of the spiritual “Were you there” (for Good Friday) will be sung during Holy Week. By journeying together with Christ through Lent, and Holy Week in particular, we can experience more fully the overwhelming joy of that first “Alleluia” on Easter Day. — Kevin Kerstetter, organist/choirmaster

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priority. It is a place where all kinds are included.

Where outsiders are in. It is a place like a banquet.

A place like a net filled with all kinds of creatures. A place like a lost son come home to a loving father.

Jesus tells us about the kingdom and his followers tell us Jesus is the king. Jesus is king, they said, because they saw him crowned with thorns. Jesus is king, they said, because he was lifted high over his people on a throne shaped like a cross. Jesus is lord of all, they said, because they saw him raised from the dead.

This Lent, may you prepare yourself for the coronation of Jesus which comes at Holy Week.

Contemplate his words. Consider the kingdom. And recommit yourself to its king.

— The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones

More than 30 children in the first grade class participated in the Communion Celebration Sunday held in February. They spent the past several months learning about their church community, and what taking the Eucharist means. During the service, each child held up a silhouette of themselves, and those were placed on the altar as a symbol of how we offer ourselves in service to God. Scott Jackson Photo.

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OWLS: March Brings a Recycling Trip & Scam Awareness Although the OWLS got iced out last month and our speaker had to cancel, we are undaunted as we march into March. We have two exciting activities for you this month – and I’ll bet you’ve never been on a tour like we have planned for you in a couple of weeks. On March 12, we will visit a world leader in recycling – Sonoco Recycling. We will meet in the church lobby at 11:30 a.m., go to lunch, then head to the Recycling Center for our 1:30 p.m. tour.

I am told that it is amazing how recycled products are sorted (something to do with a huge magnet that pulls all the metal out of the heap of rubbish.) It should be amazing to see this process. We should be back at the church by about 3 p.m.

will instruct us on what we need to know, and how we can protect ourselves. Handouts will be given to help us remember.

Although I don’t expect an ice/snow event to inflict itself upon us, please remember our church policy: If the Wake County Schools are closed, so are the church offices, and all OWLS events are canceled.

Sadly, the night before I wrote this, the priest from my presenting parish before I went to seminary, and who came up with the concept of OWLS died from ALS. Her name was Jennifer Durant, and some of you who went to St. Paul’s, Cary, may have remembered her. May her soul rest in peace.

— The Rev. Holly M. Gloff

On March 19, at 2 p.m. in the Convocation Room, we will host a lecture that many of you have been clamoring for. Representatives from the Better Business Bureau will speak about scams that are especially targeted toward the elderly, including identity theft. They Ash Wednesday Sermon

Formed from Dust, Made Special by God Alone Editor’s Note: Icy conditions kept many away from attending Ash Wednesday services at St. Michael’s. Below is the text of the sermon, delivered by the Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones.

“Your father who sees in secret…” Jesus says this three times in the Ash Wednesday Gospel. Isn’t this the true fear of God – the realization that we are always in the eye of God? Always seen. Always known. Always held close to the very ground upon which we exist. Held by virtue of the gravity of grace to the ground of being —God himself.

The imposition of ashes finds its grounding in Holy Scripture — Genesis 3.19: which says, “You are dust, and to dust you will return.” Humus is Latin for earth, and it is the root of the words “human” and “humility.”

Isn’t it fabulous poetry that humus, human, and humble sound so much alike? They sound alike, because they are alike. When we talk about humility we are referring to our very human nature. We are beings made of dust. We are dust people. Earth people. Beings wraught by a loving God from the very ground upon which we trod.

I think it’s one of God’s great metaphors in which he says, “I am the Ground upon which the Cosmos stands, I am the context in which it dwells, and from my holy stuff the universe is made. God says, “You — human beings — you stand upon the ground of Earth, and from Earth that you are made, atom by atom. Your bodies are formed from the dust upon which you walk, made special by my love for you alone.”

This is what human beings are…and this is why humility ought not merely be a characteristic of the wise and holy — but is in fact all that we can hope for, because it is all that we really are.

To be humble is not to adopt airs, or to act righteous. Indeed, it is little more than peeling away the residue of pride, attitude and selfconstruction, to reveal the basic person that God intended for us to

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become. To be humble is the greatest thing we can do as humans — and yet it involves adding nothing we do not already possess. It is instead the prayerful work of shedding the clothes of slavery, which we so readily adopt in this world of powers and principalities, and revealing the shining skin of who we were meant to be in the eyes of God. We seek to be humble, because that is the glorious “we” that God sees, the God who sees the secret we — the hidden we — the we that we really are beneath all the pride and foolishness — the we that God wants us to discover for ourselves. In that humility we will no longer pretend to be what we are not, and we will shed the scales from our eyes, and see beneath to the hearts of others.

In the paradoxically blinding light of God’s love – we can finally see each other, as God sees us. And then we will understand why God loves us so much. We will finally understand why Jesus died on the cross for us.

We will finally be free from that which keeps us bound.

We will finally know – in the fullness of humility – why we have been given the kingdom of God as sons and daughters of the One God. — The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones

Chronicles of Canterbury

St. Michael’s Global Missions Weekend: Coffeehouse, Stop Hunger Now On March 7 and 8, St. Michael’s Global Missions Committee will hold a weekend of activities to benefit our less fortunate brothers and sisters around the world. On Saturday, March 7, we will host our annual Coffeehouse for Belize, with doors opening at 7 p.m. Traditionally a diverse showcase of talent featuring parishioners and friends, this year’s Coffeehouse will be no different, but we’ve added flare of several varieties of typical Belizean foods in addition to coffees, teas and dessert items.

Have you ever eaten fried plantains? They are one of the delicacies of Belize. Miss Rosalia, the cook at Holy Cross Anglican School, fixes delicious meals for the students and the teams who come to work at the school. Her staples include beans and rice with stewed chicken.

Of course every meal includes bananas, pineapple, papayas or melon. There are also a number of fish dishes to enjoy. Ceviche, a cold dish with various types of seafood “cooked” in lime juice, is also very popular in San Pedro. Papusas, a fried pastry with filling is enjoyed at the vendors on the streets. Pork is also a mainstay of the island.

Miss Rosalia provides breakfast and lunches for the St. Michael’s teams. She also provides lunches and snacks for the students at the school. This service is critical for HCAS children who may not otherwise have a complete meal at home. The teams who eat there are well fed and appreciate hot meals fixed by her. When you are on a mission to Belize, you get to taste the variety of foods of the area — and this year the Coffeehouse will feature a delicious sampling! Tickets are $12 for adults and $8 for children through highschool. Tickets are available for purchase on Sunday, March 1, and at the door.

If you would like to be a performer or help with set up and/or food preparation, please contact John McHenry at john. mchenry@baronams.com (919-306-3659) or Nanci Atkeson natkeson@aol. com.

On Sunday, March 8, from 4 p.m.-6 p.m., St. Michael’s will participate in the Stop Hunger Now project in the Parish Hall. Working in assembly-like fashion, parishioners will pack and load nutritionally fortified, dehydrated meals for shipping to developing nations across the world. It’s a wonderful opportunity for incorporating a Lenten discipline of gaining a global perspective, and is ideal for families to work together to have an impact on world hunger. Cost of the event is covered by The Global Missions Committee, but donations will be accepted to help us meet and exceed our goal of feeding 20,000 families.

For questions about Stop Hunger Now, please contact the Rev. Christopher

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Miss Rosalia, in the center of the top photo, provides breakfast and lunch for the St. Michael’s Belize Mission Team. Below, Stop Hunger Now is an ideal mission opportunity for parishioners of all ages.

Hogin at hogin@holymichael.org. To RSVP for your family, contact Jean Olson, olson@ holymichael.org.

You are cordially invited to come take part in one or both of these events, and know that you will be living your Christian call to love our global neighbors.

—Nanci Atkeson, The Rev. Christopher Hogin, and John McHenry

Chronicles of Canterbury St. Michael’s ECW

BackPack Buddies and Its Impact on Elementary Kids Through St. Michael’s ECW’s partnership, the BackPack Buddies program at Washington Elementary currently serves 15 students. As Washington’s school counselor, I see the positive impact it has on our students’ sense of belonging and connection to our school community.

Learn More About BackPack Buddies Women of St. Michael’s are invited to learn more about the BackPack Buddies program at the ECW General Membership meeting and lunch, Monday, March 9, at 11 a.m. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle founder and CEO Jill Staton Bullard will speak about fighting hunger in Wake County through the BackPack Buddies program. St. Mary’s and St. Margaret’s ECW chapters will host a delicious lunch following the presentation ($5/person, pay at the door).

A couple of weeks after the school year began, we enrolled two brothers: Christopher, who is in the 5th grade, and Brandon, who is a kindergartener. They both seemed quiet and nervous about being at a new school. We assured them that Washington was an awesome place to learn and that we’d do our best to help them feel safe, happy and ready to do their best each day.

Make your reservation for the meeting and lunch by signing up at the front desk, calling the church at (919) 782-0731 or by emailing ecw@holymichael.org.

While showing Christopher around and helping him get settled, he mentioned to me that he always wanted to participate in the BackPack Buddies program, but never had. I assured him that I would touch base with his parents to see how we could support him and his family. When I called his mother to ask permission to include the boys, the line went silent. I worried that I had somehow offended her and that she was angry. To my surprise, she began crying and continued to express her gratitude for the offer of support.

Back the Pack

Their family was going through a particularly difficult time, she said, and she shared that she had been hospitalized for the last couple of weeks and was receiving intensive dialysis treatments.

While the boys lived at home with their father, she worried about their well-being and whether they were eating regular meals. I assured her that we would do everything we could to support her boys and their family.

ECW Spring Fundraiser supporting St . Micha el’ s Bac kPack Bud d ies Pr o gr am Friday, May 1 6-9 p.m.

Many months have gone by since that first meeting. It turns out that Christopher needed a behavior plan at his last school. He started fights with other students and required an adult to escort him from class to class.

Our $30K goal will fund 27children at Washington and Wiley Elementary Schools for three years. Our current funding for this program will run out at the end of this school year.

However, a lot has changed for Christopher since he became a student at Washington. He has a strong connection with his teachers and talks about how he feels supported by his teachers.

He has truly grown to be a model school citizen. He smiles, seeks out positive attention from both adults and peers, and demonstrates positive behaviors.

Live Auction & Limited Silent Auction

I believe that a large part of his progress is directly related to his sense of belonging and being cared for through the BackPack Buddies program. In fact, each Friday when Christopher comes down for his BackPack Buddies bag, he smiles, says “Thank you” and gives everyone a hug.

• Sunday reserved parking space for one year • catered dinner for 12 with Melanie and Greg Jones • front row reserved seating at all three Christmas Eve services

— Mary McDonough, school counselor Washington Gifted & Talented Magnet Elementary

Dinner by BB&Y Café and Catering Music, Beer and Wine $25/person

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Join Us for Faith & Fellowship 2015 Men’s Retreat Registration is now open for our second St. Michael’s Men’s Retreat, planned for April 24 - 25 at the Country Club of Whispering Pines. Our discussion leader is the Rev. Chip Edens, rector of Christ Church, Charlotte. His topic is “The Truth About Spiritual Health — Developing A Plan for A Deeper Life with God.” Chip is a dynamic speaker and the moderator of the Faith Forum – a conversation at Christ Church, Charlotte, about issues of faith and culture. He leads conversations with New York Times bestselling authors, theologians, artists, business leaders, and politicians – exploring subjects ranging from civic leadership, to health and wellness.

A Yale Divinity School graduate, he has studied organizational leadership at Harvard Business School, Stanford Graduate School of Business, and the Wharton School. He has also studied at the Duke Center for Reconciliation and Justice.

What are those elements to developing a closer relationship with God? Register for the retreat to find out!

Faith & Fellowship 2015 Country Club of Whispering Pines, April 24 & 25 Friday, April 24 Welcome Reception Dinner & Keynote by the Rev. Chip Edens Saturday, April 25 Activities, Lunch & Closing

“Most men and women think of their health or well being in terms of physical, financial, social, etc.,” says Chip.

The Rev. Chip Edens “Spiritual often doesn’t come up, yet it lies at the center of our well being. It shapes our outlook, our sense of resilience and hopefulness. It’s key to addressing all questions and challenges in life — it is the engine of our lives.”

$175 per person includes lodging & meals Activites: Golf & Sporting Clays Registration deadline: April 20

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an honest confession on our part. Our response to Him will determine not only our values and lifestyle, but our eternal destiny as well. As the opening devotional on Saturday morning, each person was asked to prepare a personal answer to that question. They could use meaningful scripture verses, excerpts from devotionals, thoughts from sermons, music or self-written expression. Indeed, we were humbled by each insightful response; Christ is the yes, He is gentle, a gift giver, He is accepting, an encourager, our foundation, a life transformer, He is a doer, a sacrifice, a communicator, He is present in our worship and in our liturgy, He is the bread of life and raises us up, He is a friend, He is our shepherd-king, protecting His flock while in His sovereignty.

newcomers and the needs of our fellow parishioners.

And finally, We are God’s Church – Called into Communion as One Body. When the Vestry gathers, they represent the fullness of the church…the body of Christ. It is important to remember the origin and purpose as a body. Despite any failed expectations or disappointments “the church is not what we organize, but what God gives; not the people we want to be with, but the people God gives us to be with — a community created by the descent of the Holy Spirit in which we submit ourselves to the Spirit’s affirmation, reformation, and motivation.” (The Living Message).

In St. Michael’s publications, we read the beautiful directive, After answering, “Who do you say I am?” we asked, “Who does “Go Forth with God.” But as we move forward together this coming year, the Vestry has changed the phrase slightly and God say we are both individually and collectively as a Vestry?”

First and foremost We are God’s Disciples – Called to be a Light to made it our commitment…we are “Going Forth with God.” We are learning that a growing, active prayer life is an essential Others. Vestry members are to be spiritual leaders in the parish. attribute of Vestry leadership. So, to reinforce the importance We must have our spirituality sustained by a relationship with of our pledge, every man, woman and child who are members of God, nurtured by prayer, framed by a sort of daily discipline St. Michael’s will be prayed for by name by your Vestry over the and anchored by weekly participation in corporate worship. next 10 months. We feel strongly that beyond the well-being Christian leaders are first followers; they are able to lead others because they themselves have a divine leader. We will radiate the of our facility, it is our responsibility to secure the welfare and protection of our fellow parishioners, staff and clergy through love of Christ because He is the Light. intercessory prayer.

Secondly, We are God’s Ambassadors – Called into Leadership.

As the Vestry assumes its role for 2015, it is a privilege to serve The Vestry represents the interests of all parishioners serving you, our brothers and sisters, as disciples, ambassadors and as as liaisons between the parish and clergy and staff. Their God’s church. leadership encompasses responsibilities to the Vestry through communication of various tasks, to the Church by our fiduciary God’s Peace and Blessings, decisions, and to each other as we support our clergy, staff, — Frances Penick, Sr. Warden

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GATHER

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ore than 200 women gathered on the weekend of Feb. 20 & 21, to hear author Kelly Corrigan and to come together to worship and listen to the myriad ways God talks to each of us. In song and prayer, in community and communion, attendees at this biennial event learned more about each other and their relationship with God. Above, the all-female acolyte team with the Rt. Rev. Anne HodgesCopple, wait for the healing service to begin. At right, keynote speaker Kelly Corrigan, speaking about her portrayal of her parents in The Middle Place and Glitter & Glue. (During her appearance, her father, Greenie Corrigan, lay gravely ill in Philadelphia. He died early on Feb 25.) Below, Kelly with fellow University of Richmond alumns Elizabeth Jordan, Sarah Mann and the Rev. Mary Davila; and the famous fig and goronzola torte from our welcome reception. Opposite page: Clockwise, from top: Kate Whitney’s healing yoga instruction; healing prayer; amazing flowers from Martha Mazur & Martha Crampton; glorious kites & more healing circles; and attendees tell their faith stories during a breakout.

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Keynote Kelly Corrigan

Chronicles of Canterbury

& HEAR

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briefly

Take a Hike on the Labyrinth for Lent Does giving up something really make you feel closer to God? If it does, please continue in that traditional Lenten practice. I don’t always find that giving up something makes me feel closer to God. It makes me cranky, yes, but more spiritual? I’m sorry. I failed that test. And having to admit it publicly, well, that’s my Lenten humiliation for today.

What I do find to be helpful to me for a Lenten discipline is to try a new way of being with God. When I was in seminary, my spiritual director used to say, “when you wake up in the morning, ask God how he wants to spend time with you today.” I loved that idea, because it kept my spiritual life fresh.

So I invite you to take a hike on the St. Michael’s labyrinth.

Lenten Study The Gift of Years

by Joan Chittister Tuesdays at noon through March 31

Walking the labyrinth is an ancient form of spiritual journey. People who could not afford the cost or take the time for a proper pilgrimage during the Middle Ages would take a shorter journey on a labyrinth and still get “credit” for their efforts.

Today, walking a labyrinth is more of an inward journey. As you s-l-ow-l-y walk the path, you’ll notice all the twists and turns, which provide a metaphor for the twists and turns of our lives. Just when you are moving through life happily, WHAM! A kink in your life happens, and you have to continue in a new direction.

Our own labyrinth was constructed several years ago with the help of students from N. C. State’s landscape architecture program. It’s cloistered in the “Secret Garden,” on the north side of our campus.

One gentleman who walked our labyrinth recently noticed the number of circuits, and while he walked, he thought about how each circuit represented to him, the various eras of his life.

There is no wrong way to walk a labyrinth. Sometimes people go walk the path so they can have a quiet place to remember a loved one who is gone. It’s a good place to cry. It’s a good place to be joyful, perhaps in anticipation of an upcoming festive occasion.

Men’s Breakfast Tuesday March 10 7 a.m.

Two St. Michael’s couples have married on that labyrinth. It’s a great place to talk to God. It’s an even better place to be quiet and listen to God’s still small voice.

If you walk as slowly as you can, it gives your body something to do, which allows your mind to be free and to quiet down. Sure, your mind may wander, but that’s OK. Remember, there’s no wrong way to walk a labyrinth, and God will be so delighted to spend time with you! Who knows, you may have a transformative time which will open up regular heart-to-heart chats with God. — The Rev. Holly M. Gloff

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The Meaning of the Cross with Thomas Sayre In 1968, a young Thomas Sayre had the privilege of meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at The National Cathedral in Washington, DC, a week before King was tragically gunned down in Memphis, Tenn. In the aftermath, Thomas stood on the balcony of the Cathedral and witnessed the riots igniting in our nation’s capitol.

The experience not only haunted him, but also confronted him with the meaning of the cross. Today as a world famous artist, he continues confronting the meaning and impact of the cross in his works, exploring the implications it has for the wider world.

On Palm Sunday, March 29, Sunday March 29, St. Michael’s will host Sayre, who lives in Raleigh, for a special evening of sharing and reflection about how art helps us make sense of the cross and the crucifixion.

The gathering begins at 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall, with dinner served at 6:30 p.m. Cost for this event $18 a person, which goes directly to covering the cost of food and beverages. Limited space is available, so please make your reservations early with Jean Olson at olson@holymichael.org Sayer is the creator of Clearscapes, a multi-disciplinary design firm in Raleigh involved with building design, product design,and both large- and small-scale artwork.

Words & Wisdom

People of the Way by Dwight Zscheile The Wednesday Words & Wisdom Book Club will read People of the Way by Dwight Zscheile, for its meeting March 11, at the home of Jane Gurry, 817 Rosemont Ave.

Chronicles of Canterbury

march Sundays March 1 Holy Grounds Stories of Lent The Writers of St. Michael’s share their Lenten musings

Special Lenten Series “Forgiveness” with Jeff Hensley March 8

lifelong disciple

Forgiveness and The Sunflower with Jeff Hensley You are a prisoner in a concentration camp. A dying Nazi soldier asks for your forgiveness. What do you do?

Using Simon Wiesenthal’s book The Sunflower as our point of departure, we will ask whether we are obligated to forgive.

Is forgiving forgetting? Does forgiveness “cheapen” grace?

If you can, please read The Sunflower before the forum on March 8. It is available for purchase at the Canterbury Shop or through various online vendors.

March 15 Contrition as a Pathway To Forgiveness with the Rev.

Christopher Hogin

What does it mean to be truly sorry for sins, and to ask forgiveness? What does contrition mean, and how do acts of contrition help us move along the pathway of forgiveness, not only with God, but also with ourselves and our community? Come join The Reverend Christopher Hogin

as he explores these questions by examining how the faith has historically viewed acts of contrition, and how such practices today can help us grow more fully as we seek a closer union with God.

March 22 Forgiveness and the Prodigal Son with Jeff Hensley We will continue our study of forgiveness by looking at the Parable of the Prodigal Son/Forgiving Father in Luke 15, arguably one of the most important texts about forgiveness in Scripture. We will discuss the meaning of the parable through the lenses of biblical interpretation and Rembrandt’s famous painting “The Return of the Prodigal Son.”

the challenges of attachment, sexuality, conflict resolution, financial planning, the family intimacy blueprint, and inlaw relations. Homework assignments for each class week. Through March 22.

Licensed marriage counselor, certified sex therapist, author Laurie Watson, directs the Awakenings Center and has been in practice for 25 years.

Her husband, Derek, works full time in finance and has facilitated hundreds of four-day personal growth trainings in a Christian ministry for 25 years.

Every Sunday Contemplative Prayer In Community

March 29 Will God forgive me and can I forgive myself? with Jeff

Hensley

We will conclude our Lenten study of forgiveness by looking to our Anglican tradition and specifically at two poems by 17th century metaphysical poets—John Donne (“A Hymn to God the Father”) and George Herbert (“Love”). Both poets wrestle with the questions “Will God forgive me?” and “Can I forgive myself?”

Through March 22 Becoming One with Laurie & Derek Watson Classes for engaged and newly married couples. Learn how to have a united purpose as a couple while respecting your individual callings and strengths. We will discuss: A Christian marriage,

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SAVE the Date!

Vacation Bible School June 21-25

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 monthly publication of St. Michael’s Episcopal Church Editor: Susan B. Rountree Phone: 919-782-0731, ext. 122 Email: rountree@holymichael.org

Easter Baskets & Easter Lilies Each Easter, our local missions team provides Easter baskets for children served by StepUp Ministries. This year, we are asking parishioners to donate 50 baskets. Sign up sheet is in the lobby. Please take a tag and return a filled basket with the tag attached by Sunday, March 22.

Also, help us decorate the church for Easter by donating a lily. Each lily is $15 and will be delivered to shut-ins, those in the hospital or the bereaved after Easter. Order forms are available in the lobby. Deadline is March 23.

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: 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: Wednesday, March 11

Lenten Mission Weekend Beliize Mission Coffeehouse Saturday, March 7 6:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m Variety of performers & food from Belize Tickets $12/adults & $8 for students Contact John McHenry, at john.mchenry@baronams.com

Stop Hunger Now Family In-Parish Mission Sunday, March 8 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

Donations accepted Please sign up by contacting Jean Olson at olson@holymichael.org