Chronicles of Canterbury
the
Chronicles of Canterbury november 2017
From the Rector
Plan for Some To Have Too Little
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esus looked up at his disciples and said:
“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude you, revile you, and defame you on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for surely your reward is great in heaven; for that is what their ancestors did to the prophets. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. Woe to you who are full now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who are laughing now, for you will mourn and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for that is what their ancestors did to the false prophets.” Friends, if we are disciples of Jesus Christ, then this passage from the Gospel of Luke is addressed to us. It really is as simple as that.
This passage is noteworthy because it does not say: “blessed are you who are poor in spirit.” It simply says, “poor.” Luke’s Gospel is focused on God’s special attention and care for the poor, the downtrodden, the oppressed and the forgotten by the world. Luke’s focus represents a trend found throughout all of Scripture, in fact, the so-called “prophetic“ tradition which is very much addressed to questions of social inequity and social justice. This trend is so strong in all of Scripture that many theologians speak of God’s preference for the poor and the oppressed. Why would God pay special attention to the poor and oppressed of this world? Because it is not God’s plan that some have too much and some too little. It is not God’s plan that some starve while others get fat. It is not God’s plan that some die of preventable causes while others live to extreme old age for their own sake. It is God’s plan for all people that we live together in peace, loving God and neighbor, and
See RECTOR on page 11
Camden St.
Partnership with Garden Flourishes
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uring the spring and summer, the partnership between St. Michael’s and Camden Street 2 Advent & God’s Coming Learning Garden — a seedling last year — 4 Ben’s House took root and flourished. In May, more than 150 people attended the St. Michael’s ECW Garden 5 OWLS Party which raised $56,500 for the construction of 6 Annual Fund an outdoor teaching kitchen at the Inter-Faith Food 7 America’s First Bishop Shuttle’s Camden Street Learning Garden. The kitchen construction will allow IFFS to expand its 8 Vestry Candidates programming to teach adults, children and families 10 Briefly how to grow and prepare their own produce. what’s inside
11 Lifelong Disciple
Staff at IFFS and the Camden Street Garden are working with an architectural firm to finalize the design for the teaching space. Interviews with community gardeners and staff members, as well as observations of the garden and current classroom, have been undertaken to assure that the new structure suits the varied needs of the gardeners it will serve.
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Approval and construction are scheduled for early 2018 — and for those with building skills, there will be opportunities to volunteer. Monetary contributions haven’t been the only way St. Michael’s has supported the Camden Street Garden. Parishioners put on their gardening gloves, rolled up their sleeves and spent countless hours this summer enthusiastically mulching, watering, and weeding. Even the smaller members of St. Michael’s got into the action with age-appropriate jobs, such as weeding, deadheading and topping the blooms from herbs. Steve Rolander was a regular in the garden this summer and described his experience. “The staff of the IFFS-Camden Street Garden were a joy to work with. They welcomed me on each visit with open arms, and it was easy to see that they took great pride in their expanding garden. I saw first-hand how they
See CAMDEN ST. 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 Dale Roane, Senior Warden • 791-0168 John Merritt, Jr. Warden • 783-8792 Debbie Reed Treasurer • 783-8978 Jessica Widener, Clerk 803-4840 Class of 2017 LeeAnn Graham • 782-5919 | Jeff Hensley • 424-7951 Todd Kasper • 784-8112 | John Merritt • 783-8792 Dale Roane • 791-0168 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 • 896-8766 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 p.m. CANTERBURY SHOP HOURS Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday 9:30 – 10 am & 11:15 am - Noon
Lifelong Disciple
Advent and God’s New Coming into our Lives
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t St. Michael’s, as in the whole of the Episcopal Church, we follow something called the Liturgical Calendar. Since “liturgical” refers to our worship, the Liturgical Calendar determines different seasons in our worshipping life, each season having different themes and its own particular color. Lent (purple) lasts a little over six weeks and is a time of self-reflection and prayer culminating in our journey with Jesus to the Cross on Good Friday. Easter (white and gold) celebrates resurrection, Jesus’ and ours. It lasts seven weeks and is capped by the one day feast of Pentecost (red) which celebrates the giving of God’s Holy Spirit. And every year in late fall, shortly after Thanksgiving and running until Christmas, we have the season of Advent (royal purple or blue) in which we prepare for a new coming of Jesus the Messiah. The Sunday Readings in Advent are carefully chosen and of ancient origin. They present us with John the Baptist, bidding us to prepare the Way for the Lord along with prophecies of the Second Coming of Jesus. The church also presents us with the mystery of Saint Mary, pregnant with Jesus, bearing into the world God’s Son, the Incarnate Word. All these images say to us, “God is coming, coming soon and coming in a new way. God is coming in a way you least expect. Prepare the way, prepare the manger, prepare your hearts!” For myself, I have always understood Advent as a chance to start my Christian life all over again – to be born again, again. During Advent, I go back, at least in my imagination, to a life and self before Christ. In that self that is before Christ, I wait for our God to come, claim, and redeem me, all over again. I wait for God to come with redeeming power into my family and friendships, my work, my community. I wait in the unfulfilled longing of all earthly life to discover Jesus again as the joy of our desiring. The power of approaching Advent this way is that all the tired, “bleared and smeared” ways in which we have been practicing our Christianity get swept away. Our implicit domestication of God and the revolutionary power of Jesus to fit our lives is set aside. We become pre-Christian, and God can thus speak to us in a radically new and powerful way. What Advent invites us to do in this pre-Christian space is two-fold. First, we take a fearless and searching inventory of our lives as they are. We make space to see ourselves as we really are, our families as they are, our communities as they are. (And what are the holidays but a chance to see our families as they really are, across the wine glasses and roast turkey?) Having made this inventory, we then hold our lives consciously in our two hands. We have all of our selves and our lives right there in front of us. Our kids are there, our parents are there, our jobs are there, our retirement is there. Our feelings of joy, loneliness, frustration, compassion, hope, and worry: all this we hold in our hands. It’s all there. And once we have this conscious possession of our lives, we can hear the word of God anew, speaking into these lives. We see Jesus doing shocking things. He heals with his touch. The blind see, the lame walk. He forgives sins and he feeds everyone. He eats (and thus enacts God’s Kingdom) with tax-collectors and prostitutes. He proclaims that God is in fact here in himself. The Kingdom is realized. The Banquet, the Judgment, and his Calling of us are all now. continued on the next page
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Chronicles of Canterbury continued from the previous page
What would it be like for us to follow this Jesus in our lives? To be devoted to him, in truth holding him in reverence in our hearts as Lord — really as the Lord of all times and all places and people? What would it be like to follow him in our work, and our families and our relationship with ourselves? What would it be like to offer up to him our many responsibilities or, oppositely, our sense of emptiness and loneliness? How could he use these for his purposes? What would it be like to surrender just a little bit more to his desire for our lives? The first Sunday of Advent is Dec. 3. Christmas is, of course, on the 25th. I invite you this year to the observance of a Holy Advent. As this is a notoriously busy time, I invite you to schedule time now to take an inventory of your life. Get out your calendars now, before the holiday rush, and block out an hour here, an afternoon there, for reflection. Make time to talk with your spouse and children and parents about your families. Make a lunch date with a spiritual friend to talk about what has happened with your faith over the past year. Make time in the morning for prayer and keeping a journal. And as you are doing this, think of yourself as not yet a Christian, still at the beginning point, still waiting for God’s word of love and saving power coming into your life. Come to church, come to Bible Study, come to small groups, come to Scripture in the privacy of your home, expecting to encounter God anew. My brothers and sisters, if we give God this kind of space and we offer it faithfully, God will come. This I guarantee. Saint Francis de Sales, the great 17th century bishop of Geneva, took great pains in his Introduction to a Devout Life to explain to his mainly aristocratic and secular audience that an authentically devout life does not make us eccentric and annoying to our families, friends, and employers. It makes us rather more precious and life-giving to them, because we bear in ourselves the mystery of what we Christians call grace. This is God’s wisdom, delight and compassion all at play in our features, our words, in how we live.
This Christmas, amid all the wrapping paper, the roast beef and tinkling lights, give your family and friends the best gift of all: yourself, newly alive with the mystery of God. — The Rev. Robert Fruehwirth
Three Great Daily Readings Books for Advent and Christmas Watch for the Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas. Daily readings from the best Christian spiritual and theological writers. Advent and Christmas Wisdom from Henri J.M. Nouwen: Daily Scripture and Prayers together with Nouwen’s Own Words. Henri Nouwen was a 20th century spiritual master beloved by many. This book combines scripture and prayers with selections from his writings. Sacred Reading for Advent and Christmas 2017–2018. A wonderful little book from the Catholic church with readings and short prompts to reflection on passages from Scripture.
CAMDEN ST. from page 1 worked closely with the gardeners to help them maintain their individual garden plots. It was a pleasure to see first-hand how excited they were with their accomplishments and how they looked forward to the fruits of their labor.” If you are interested in helping in the garden there are still opportunities before things break for the winter. There will be a family fun day Saturday, Nov. 11, 9 a.m.-noon and two volunteer work days: Tuesday, Nov. 7 and Thursday, Nov. 16 from 4 p.m-6 p.m. Work – and fellowship – in the garden will resume in the spring. Karen Wagoner is the contact for volunteers. She can be reached at kewagoner@bellsouth.net. — Anna Tilghman, ECW A couple of junior gardeners stand in front of the row they helped create. (Anna Tilghman photo)
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Chronicles of Canterbury
Gifts of Grace: Ben’s House Heals, Offers Hope It was May 12, Mother’s Day, 1996. Graduation day at the University of North Carolina, where Ben Woodruff, our son, and four other students died in an early morning fire at the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity house. We have never experienced anything more painful than the grief — physically, spiritually and emotionally — of losing Ben. Truly, without our family and friends, and especially our St. Michael’s church family, I don’t know how we could have survived. I prayed for help with my overwhelming grief and that I would be open to anything that God wanted me to do. I was given the opportunity to be involved with the building process of Oak Ranch, with a Christ-centered group that was trying to build residential homes for troubled children. I treated the Oak Ranch project as God answering my prayer. It gave me a focus of helping kids. The 755-acre property on the Cape Fear River south of Raleigh would be home for at-risk boys and girls between 8 and 17 years old.
things together.” At Oak Ranch, there are horses who need care, too. “The children loved the horses and I’ve always loved animals,” she remembers. The time they spent together caring for the horses strengthened their relationship during tough times. She and her family are back on their own. What was a healing time with horses has turned into a possible career and she has a job caring for horses at a farm. “I’m so thankful,” she says. “It’s better now and I have hope again.” Today Oak Ranch has two residential homes, an office, a school house, and a horse barn. Leon and I are so thankful that we had, and still have, the opportunity to be a part of Oak Ranch.
Ben’s House will never bring Ben back, but it’s a source of great comfort to know that even after 21 years, he is remembered and honored, and we are helping other families to put their lives back together.
We, along with many friends, raised $250,000 needed to build one of the houses, which gave us naming rights. The groundbreaking for Ben’s House took place on April 29, 2001. Ben’s House, like the rest of the campus, started out housing boys. in 2004. The Baptist Children’s Home took over the property in 2007, and the first female resident arrived in Jan. 2008. From Jan. 2008-March 2012 Ben’s House was home to many female children.
— Bonnie and Leon Woodruff
Then in March 2012, Oak Ranch started a program called Family Care which is a program designed to help single moms and their children. The goal is to keep the family together and help children when they are young so as they age they don’t need residential care as teenagers. It lets mothers catch their breath, set new goals, and to experience the support they need to transition to a successful, independent living situation. Family Care is a successful program that allows families to stay at the Ranch for nine months. After that time and the mother reaching certain goals, she is allowed to apply for extensions every three months for up to two years. Family Care teaches moms budgeting, parenting skills, cooking skills, helps them get jobs, a car if needed, and to save money. The Equine Program at Oak Ranch has been extremely helpful with the success of the residents. The horses, goats, cows and cats at the Leon Woodruff, left, walks with his mother, Melba, at the barn set up a therapeutic environment and allow healing to take place. dedication of Ben’s House, at Oak Ranch in 2004. (News & The barn manager teaches the adults and children how to ride and Observer photo.) how to take care of the horses. The school house at Oak Ranch, which is no longer used because the children now attend public school, has just recently started to house a day program for the mentally disabled Join us for Gifts of Grace on Sunday, Nov. 12. The adults in the care of Baptist Children’s Homes of NC. These residents EYC will offer Moravian Pot Pies again this year. get to spend time at the barn riding as well. St. Elizabeth’s yeast rolls, St. Mary’s soup mix, St. One resident stated, “After I learned about Oak Ranch, I knew we were moving there and we immediately felt loved.” She continued “I began to work on our future. My kids and I were able to work on
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Margaret’s cookie jars and St. Madeleine’s pimento cheese will also be available. Lou’s Gorgonzola Dressing is a yearly treat.
Chronicles of Canterbury Older, Wiser, Learning, Sharing
A Little Art, a Little Science for the OWLS in November
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any of you remember Nancy Gregg, a parishioner at St Michael’s for many years. The former Visual Arts Center Museum at NC State was renamed the Gregg Museum to honor Nancy and her husband John Gregg, who were two of the great supporters of the arts in Raleigh. The museum is located on Hillsborough Street, where it has space to preserve a “collection relevant to the university and the state,” as well as space for teaching, research, and rotating exhibitions.
with stuff found around the house. As a beneficiary of both of these teachers, David will engage the audience in some less shocking experiments and relate his adventures in demonstrating science in schools — and sometimes on TV or in the newspaper sports page.
Join the OWLS for a special museum tour, Thursday, Nov. 2 at 1:30 p.m. We’ll depart by van at 11:45 a.m. from St. Michael’s, and enjoy lunch at Player’s Retreat on Oberlin Road, before our tour. We will return to the church by 3:30 pm. Please sign up at the front desk so we know how many vans to rent.
His research effort involved designing and building cryogenic equipment used in neutron physics experiments. He collaborated in projects at the Triangle Universities Nuclear Laboratory, Los Alamos and Oak Ridge National Labs, and the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research in Russia.
On Thursday, Nov. 16, Dr. David Haase, retired physics professor at NC State, will present “Science for the People: Ben Franklin, Mr. Wizard and the Physics of Sports.” David and his wife, Jenny, are longtime St. Michael’s members. Ben Franklin, America’s first rock-star physicist, and his friends often gathered to devise and demonstrate experiments in the new science of electricity. (He shocked himself senseless during one such experiment.) To Franklin, doing science was also about sharing science. In the 60s, Don Herbert, TV’s Mr. Wizard, similarly inspired a generation of young people with science demonstrations made
How Does Our Garden Grow?
In mid-October, a group of volunteers spend a drizzly Saturday planting and weeding our grounds. Our garden grows because of the many volunteers who work there each week. Thank you, lay weeders for helping beautify our campus. (Jeff McLamb photos)
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The Haases have been members of St. Michael’s since 1976. As a physics professor at NC State, David was active in teaching future scientists and engineers, as well as in outreach to K-12 science teachers and students. He visited many school classrooms from Asheville to the coast, doing science demonstrations or teacher training sessions.
David retired in 2016 as an Alumni Distinguished Undergraduate Professor of Physics at NC State University. He received the UNC Board of Governors Teaching Award. David will be speaking to us on Nov 16, at 2 p.m. in the Convocation Room. Light refreshments will be available. — The Rev. Holly M. Gloff
Chronicles of Canterbury Annual Fund 2018
What Kind of Giver are You? About the time Greg called to ask John about serving as chair, I had just resigned from all boards, committees, and councils with the complete determination that I would take a few years off from any boards, committees or councils. (Word to the Young – “No” is a perfectly fine answer to almost any request.) So when I heard John speaking with Greg and using my keen wife/ mother instincts to gather what was being discussed, I started mouthing to John, “Yes – say yes!” My immediate reaction was based upon the fact that after 15 plus years of serving in many positions that did not yield much benefit to anyone, THIS was the cause that meant something. THIS mattered. As background, prior to meeting the fabulous John Connell, life circumstances had taken me to a point that I was sort of done with organized religion. Let me be clear – I was never done with God or His promises. I was never done with my faith. But after being a Sunday School teacher for 15 years, being a teaching director of a 200-woman Bible study, and volunteering many hours at the church, I was just done with the humans who espoused their version on God. After John and I married, it was his initiative that led us to begin looking for a church home. We visited multiple churches that did not much change my feelings on the church as an organization — until that fateful Christmas Eve that we wandered into St. Michael’s. Now here we are, out of our depth as chairs.
give something, I wrestled with theoretical questions such as: “Where on the spectrum of giving does this organization fall?” “What will people on the Board think about me if I don’t give the ‘correct’ amount?” “What is the average amount given for these types of campaigns by people in my situation?” Ultimately, the Frozen-Giver realizes that most organizations would prefer any type of contribution rather than no contribution at all – and that there is no judgment on the amount of his pledge. • The Guilt-Giver. I suppose that from a fundraiser’s point of view, a Giver is a Giver. The driving force is irrelevant. But it strikes me that giving out of guilt to the St. Michael’s Annual Fund is a problem. Giving is not penance. It should be done with a joyful heart. Give because you love St. Michael’s – its people and its mission. If you are giving out of guilt, reach out to someone in the church. Something is missing.
Looking back on my experiences as a board member, an executive director of a non-profit organization, and an individual asked to give to various organizations, it strikes me that there are different types of “givers.” Any person could fit the description of any type of giver depending upon his/her stage of life. I can tell you that at one time or another, I fit each of these molds. • The Auto-Giver. This person gives automatically to any organization she sees fit. The amount varies, but the process of whether or not to give is reflexive. Once committed to giving, the Auto-Giver renews his contribution each year and tries to increase the contribution if possible. • The Procrastinating-Giver. This type of giver has good intentions and will ultimately give, but it takes a little reminding and prodding before she will pull out the pledge card and send it along to its final destination. I’ve been a Procrastinating-Giver. All procrastinators know that our best ally is the kitchen drawer. We seem to believe that the kitchen drawer is a magical place that holds all the answers to such questions as: What is my budget? How much can I afford to give? How am I going to contribute – monthly or lump sum? When is the best time to give? Ultimately, the Procrastinating Giver comes to understand that it is easier to pledge and forget it rather than take the chance of forgetting to pledge. • The Frozen Giver (aka the “I would give but I have no idea how much to giveGiver”). I recall being asked to give to a capital campaign for a local theater. I loved the theater and sincerely wanted to contribute – but I did not know how much to give. I was completely stymied by the prospect of coming up with a pledge amount. My solution at the time: Give nothing. Rather than
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• The Gracious, Non-Committal Giver. I was this giver for years. Happy to give whatever cash is in my purse or write a check whenever I attended church, but would not actually pledge. Obviously, all donations are greatly appreciated so this is not meant to sound ungrateful. But I personally did not understand that without pledges the church cannot determine whether or not it can meet its yearly budget. It is important for St. Michael’s to have an accounting of what is coming in so we can determine if we can cover what is going out. The Gracious, Non-Committal Giver ultimately realizes that it is better to figure out how much she gives a year anyway and pledge that amount (and you don’t have to worry about writing a check during the sermon!) Thank you for your generous support in the past. Thank you for considering your pledge to St. Michael’s Annual Fund. — John & Michelle Connell, 2018 Annual Fund Chairs
Chronicles of Canterbury Annual Fund 2018
A Happy Reminder of God’s Good Gifts
One recent Monday morning, my co-worker Carolyn L’Italien handed me an offering envelope saying, “I thought you’d like to see this.” My chuckle at the number of zeroes wrapping around the edge of the envelope quickly changed to “Wow,” whispered in awe. Awe that an 8-year-old wants to give until she runs out of room on the paper. Awe that her church means that much to her, that she’d give to infinity if she could. She is being fed. Clearly, neither she nor her family is going to give that amount (if that amount of money even exists!), but the deeper meaning made me pause. “Wow,” I thought again. “She gets it.” During Annual Fund campaigns, it is sometimes easy for my focus to slip solely on raising money. Occasionally, I get mired in concentrating more about St. Michael’s budgetary needs, veering away from the essential spiritual nature of pledging. Thankfully, the campaign themes make me refocus. This year’s, “All This Is From God,” again reminds me God provides all we ever need. In our relationship with Him, He hopes we feel the desire to return a portion of His blessings to His church, for St. Michael’s work in His kingdom.
Of course, money to fund our budget is necessary to the life of our church. Yet equally important is that you and your family experience a spiritual and emotional connection to your church home, which may prompt you to give of your time, talent and yes, your treasure. We’d like to help you on your path of pledge discernment. Do you feel a connection to St. Michael’s? Please honor that connection and pledge to support your church. Is St. Michael’s nurturing you and your family on your spiritual journey? I sincerely hope that is so. However, if you feel you’re not being fed, please tell us. Your church home is here to help you along your journey. We want all who call St. Michael’s home to “get it.” I welcome your pledges, questions and comments. Please contact me at church via phone or email. Thank you for supporting our beautiful church! — Charlotte Griffin, Director of Development griffin@holymichael.org
For All the Saints
Samuel Seabury, the First American Bishop
This month we honor the first American bishop (and second Presiding Bishop), Samuel Seabury. He was not ordained a priest in the US, but was instead assigned as a missionary to a church in New Jersey. He had been assigned by the famous Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in England, which appointed clergy to needy churches throughout the world. He graduated from Yale and held churches in Groton and New London in Conn. and Hempstead, New York.
During the American Revolution, he was loyal to Britain, and served as a chaplain to their army. He was known to be a rival of Alexander Hamilton and he wrote “Free Thoughts on the Proceedings of the Continental Congress” in 1774. He used the name A. W. Farmer, which stood for “A Westchester farmer.” Hamilton responded to them, and he wrote three letters which were forceful presentations of the loyalist claim. He is even mentioned in the popular musical “Hamilton.”. His written style was much more accessible to readers than was that of other ecclesiastical types, and this set him apart from his colleagues. He was encouraged by clergymen in Connecticut to seek consecration as a bishop in England, but found that he was, as an American citizen, not able to swear allegiance to the British crown. (At the end of the war, he stayed in the United States and was loyal to the new government.) He turned to the Episcopal Church in Scotland, where he was consecrated
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in Aberdeen as a bishop in 1784, but under the condition that he study the Scottish Rite of Holy Communion as opposed to the Rite used in the Book of Common Prayer of 1662. The differences between the two were not hugely theological in manner, but used more “oblationary” (our offering of gifts to God) language and the words used for the “epiclesis” or invocation of the Holy Spirit in the Prayer of Consecration. The English Rites focused more on the Eucharist as a memorial, almost to the exclusion of the sacrificial language used in the Prayer of Consecration. Later, the American BCP combined both portions adding the words “with these thy holy gifts which we now offer unto thee” to “the memorial thy Son hath commanded us to make,” thus restoring the connection between the two. Seabury also argued for the restoration of the weekly celebration of the Eucharist, which had fallen by the wayside after the Reformation. He was a bit ahead of his time, but within a century, the 8 a.m. weekly Eucharist was a part of the Episcopal Church culture. Seabury’s sermons were extremely popular due to his masterly style, and were read regularly even after his death. — The Rev. Holly Gloff
Chronicles of Canterbury
Vestry Nominees Bring Experience, Ideas To 2018 Slate The 9 members of the congregation running for Vestry class of 2021 include former members of our Vestry and longtime members. The congregation will elect five new members on Sunday, Dec. 3, at our annual meeting. We will have only one service that day, at 9:30 a.m. Former Senior Warden Will Lingo acquaints us with the candidates. Bryan Bickley Outreach is always top of mind for Bryan, whether in his work at St. Michael’s or in the community, where he has been active in the schools his children have attended and with other community groups. “Acts of service are my language, whether at home or my spiritual life,” he said. “It’s where I’ve found myself closest to God. I think it’s one of our main purposes as humans and as a church.” Bryan has taught Sunday School and been active in men’s ministries as well as outreach, and he has served on the Finance Committee for the last three years. He has learned that with our aging infrastructure is an important issue to focus on going forward.
employee benefits consultant, helping mid-sized employers recruit and retain their employees. Ashleigh Black Growing up in Kinston, Ashleigh considered her church a second family, and she is happy to have found another one at St. Michael’s. She has been a member since 2007, when she married Peyton Black, who grew up in this parish. Ashleigh has been active in a variety of ministries at St. Michael’s, including work with the Sunday School and Youth Christian Education programs, and a number of roles with the ECW. Her work with the Blessings ministry, which prepares casseroles for people who need them, inspired her to take a knife class so she could chop onions more efficiently. “I am most interested in making sure both newcomers and established members feel that St. Michael’s is their church family and home, a place where they can deepen their faith, seek refuge and comfort, and work together to be an example of our faith,” she said. Ashleigh is a partner with Ragsdale Liggett and practices residential real estate law. She and Peyton have two sons, Peyt, 7, and Turner, 5.
Bryan and his wife Paula have been married for 23 years and have two children, Anna, 17, and Will, 15. He works as an
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John Connell
Dave Crawford
John and his wife Michelle came to St. Michael’s for the Christmas Eve service in 2012, and quickly decided to make it their church home. They haven’t wavered in that decision, quickly immersing themselves in the life of the parish and even serving as co-chairs of the Annual Fund campaign this fall.
Dave was raised in the Episcopal Church and has served as a Vestry member and senior warden at his previous church, St. Paul’s in Des Moines, Iowa.
In addition to his work at St. Michael’s, John serves on the board of the Episcopal Housing Ministry and is interested in housing for lowincome families and programs to address issues of poverty and ameliorating its effects. “Michelle and I are so honored and humbled to have been entrusted with chairing the campaign this year,” he said. “It has been a true joy to meet and work with members of the stewardship and calling committees, rewarding to gain insight into the tireless work of our dedicated clergy and staff and uplifting to see firsthand the goodness and generosity of our fellow parishioners.” John recently retired after spending 30 years at the North Carolina Court of Appeals, the last 24 as Clerk of Court. He is the father of three sons (24, 21 and 18) and two stepsons (25 and 22).
Since coming to St. Michael’s in 2013, he has been active with the Newcomers Dinner, the Men’s Prayer Breakfast served on a discernment committee. As a potential Vestry member, he said he would be interested in working with the Youth ministry and Newcomer ministry, as well as promoting support and participation in StepUp Ministry. “The biggest challenge faced by our parish in the near future is remaining a welcoming and vibrant congregation while maintaining our tradition for keeping all points of view within our church family respected, valued and embraced,” he said. Dave is a retired supply chain consultant, distribution executive and past franchised restaurant owner. He has been married to his wife Anne for 50 years, and they have three grown children and three grandchildren.
Rob Griffin If there’s a job that can be done at St. Michael’s, Rob has probably done it during his 24 years at the parish, including serving on the Vestry. The most important to him, though, has been serving on the Newcomer Committee, which he has done almost since the time he and his wife, Charlotte, joined St. Michael’s.
opportunities, and for the last year she and a group of other parishioners have been doing something about it.
“St. Michael’s has truly been a blessing for me and my family,” she said. “As we continue to grow, however, we have to find ways to make people feel connected so they don’t get lost in the crowd.”
Rob said going forward he would like to see the Holy Michael Foundation endowment continue to grow so that it can be used to benefit new ministries at St. Michael’s and in the community.
Kristen is assistant general counsel for FHI 360, a global development organization based in Durham. She and her husband Will came to St. Michael’s in 2007 and have two children, Joe, 16, and Kate, 14.
(Rob’s wife, Charlotte, serves as St. Michael’s Director of Development.) Kristen Lingo Kristen has long believed that a parish of St. Michael’s size would benefit from more smallgroup worship
“We have a large congregation and it is quite a challenge for us to get to know each other,” she said. “We have many wonderful programs in place already, but I feel that we need to work to help all our members continue on their faith journeys and feel that St. Michael’s is their church home.”
Kristen is one of the leaders of the God in the Ordinary small groups initiated by Associate Rector Robert Fruehwirth, designed to introduce participants to contemplative spirituality and to explore how to respond to God in ordinary life. Kristen has also worked with the Youth Christian Education committee and with the parish’s Helen Wright Center ministry.
“I think one of our biggest challenges is to sustain and build our enthusiasm and commitment to serving Jesus and others, and continuing to grow our parish, while living in an increasingly secular world,” he said.
Rob and Charlotte, who is the Director of Development at St. Michael’s, have been married for 28 years and have three sons who are now in their 20s. He’s a partner at the law firm Cranfill, Sumner & Hartzog, where he has practiced for almost 30 years.
on helping members of all ages feel comfortable and involved.
Marty’s husband Bob is a pediatrician, and they have three children and four grandchildren. She has been teaching 2-year-olds at Hayes Barton Methodist preschool for 22 years. Chris Turner Chris and his wife and daughter represent the generation of young families who have driven much of St. Michael’s growth over the last decade, and now he wants to continue and plan for that growth.
Marty Munt
He said that while St. Michael’s growth is healthy, it does create challenges. “It’s been my experience that St. Michael’s has a phenomenal reputation, and I certainly hear that from visitors all the time,” he said. “With increased membership comes facility challenges, staffing challenges and overall growth challenges associated with ‘the way it used to be’ and staying relevant.”
In a parish with a continual influx of new members, Marty has been an active part of St. Michael’s since 1983. In fact, she has participated in a Bible study with other St. Michael’s members for the last 27 years. Marty has worked in all sorts of ministries at St. Michael’s, including serving multiple terms on the Parish Day School board. While growth and change make for a vital and thriving parish, she said it’s important to focus
Chris and his wife Laura joined St. Michael’s 12 years ago, and he said he would be most interested in youth ministry if elected to the Vestry, as his daughter Eleanor is about to enter
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Chronicles of Canterbury middle school. He said it’s important to keep church relevant to youth so they remain excited to attend and be a part of a church family. Chris is general manager of CMS Controls, a specialty contractor focused on commercial building automation. Karen Wagoner Most members of St. Michael’s recognize Karen’s amazing voice as an integral part of our outstanding choir, but music is only one of the many ways she has contributed to the life of the parish over the years. She and her husband Vaughn came to St. Michael’s in 1991, and in addition to her time with the choir, she has served on many of the parish’s committees, with community outreach being particularly close to her heart. She currently is St. Michael’s volunteer coordinator for the Camden Street Learning Garden, for example. “Any ministry that brings people together for peace is of interest to me,” she said. Karen served on the Vestry from 2000-03 (She was senior warden), and if elected to the Vestry again, she said the biggest challenge would be working to make the parish more diverse Karen is a retired teacher. She and Vaughn have been married for 44 years. They have two grown daughters, both of whom attend St. Michael’s, and four grandchildren. — Will Lingo
Chronicles of Canterbury
briefly
Men’s Ministry Events for Fall The St. Michael’s Men’s Ministry is growing, with events each month offering opportunities to grow spiritually and in relationship with others. Events are open to every man in the parish. • Thursday Men’s Bible Study weekly, 7 a.m., in the Conference Room • Brothers On Tap — Thursday, Nov. 16, 5:30 p.m. Nickel Point Brewing—Come enjoy a pint and fellowship! 506 Pershing Rd, Raleigh, NC 27608 • Band of Brothers Lunch—Monday, Nov. 20 at noon Sawmill Taproom, 7701 Lead Mine Rd, Raleigh, 27615
Men’s Ministry Contact: Joe Warenda, joe@millsconstructionco. com.
Tuesday Nov. 14 6 p.m. Contact Lee Hayden hayden@ holymichael. org for reservations
Words & Wisdom Wednesday Nov. 8 7 p.m.
If you are new to St. Michael’s or a visitor, we’d love to have you join us at our Fall Newcomer Dinner, Tuesday, Nov. 14, 6-8 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Childcare is available with advance reservations (pizza for the children). Please email your reservations to Lee Hayden, Director of Newcomer Ministry, Hayden@ holymichael.org.
EYC Sells Pot Pies The EYC will be selling Mrs. Pumpkin’s pot pies and baked goods at Gifts of Grace, Sunday, Nov. 12. This is the EYC’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Choose from Moravian chicken pies & pot pies, baked spaghetti and cream cheese brownies at $13-$16 per item or three for $36. Checks, cash or credit cards are accepted. Delivery date: Sunday, Nov. 19, after the 9:30 a.m. service. Proceeds will support the Summer 2018 youth missions.
Tar Heel Traveler Visits ECW
Newcomer Dinner
Newcomer Dinner Tuesday, Nov. 14
Scott Mason, WRAL-TV’s Tar Heel Traveler, will speak at the ECW’s General Membership Meeting, Monday, Nov. 6 at 6 p.m. Scott will share some fun and inspirational stories. He will discuss his new book, Faith and Air, and he will have copies for sigining. Reserve your spot by calling the front desk, 919-782-0731.
Book Group Reads Orphan Train
November Local Missions Volunteer Opportunities Join us in the Camden St. Learning Garden to prepare the garden for winter. • Tues., Nov. 7 (4 p.m.-6 p.m.) • Sat., Nov. 11 (1 p.m.-4 p.m.) •Thurs., Nov.16 (4 p.m.-6 p.m.) Sign up at foodshuttle. volunteermatrix.com. Our access code is SMEC. Contact: Karen Wagoner (kegwagoner@ bellsouth.net) Bring the whole family to the Yam Jam, Saturday, Nov. 4 — We’ll meet at the Chick-fil-A at Lake Boone Trail and I-440 at 8:30 a.m. for fellowship, coffee, biscuits and conversation. We’ll depart at 9 a.m. and head out to Yam Jam, Saturday, Nov. 4. glean sweet potatoes from 9:30 Bring the kids! Scott Jackson file a.m.-11 a.m. Wear clothes that photo can get dirty and bring gloves. Sign up at holymichael.org. Contact: David Bull (919-696-6293 or david@sterlingtitlenc. com)
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Join our monthly book group and discuss Orphan Train by Christian Baker Cline, Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. We will meet at the home of Ralph and Nina Yeager (1812 Park Dr., 27605). All are welcome to join this group at any time. Contact: Lisa Williamson (lisa@dtssoftware.com)
Words & Wisdom Books for 2017-18 Orphan Train: A Novel by Christina Baker Kline (2013) Formed by Love by Scott Bader Saye (2017) Hallelujah Anyway: Rediscovering Mercy by Anne Lamott (2017) The Other Wes Moore: One Name, Two Fates by Wes Moore (2010) Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson (2014) The Meaning of It All: Thoughts of a Citizen Scientist by Richard Feynman (2005 edition) Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance (2016)
Chronicles of Canterbury
november November 4 Christian Identity III: Becoming Christian with the
Rev. Robert Fruehwirth
The Rev. Robert Fruehwirth will draw on St. Paul and Julian of Norwich to explore the process by which we become Christian, shedding old identities and growing into new ones: loved at our core and empowered for the world. November 11 Gifts of Grace, no Sunday Forum
lifelong disciple
November 18 Making Way for the Lord with Elaine Bayless Advent is the church season in which we prepare for the coming of the Lord into our lives in a new way, but too often it is just a season of busily running errands and buying gifts. Elaine Bayless will talk about how we can slow down and experience Advent as a season of wonder and deepening joy. November 25 Thanksgiving Weekend, no Sunday Forum December 3 Annual Meeting, 9:30 a.m. service only No Sunday Forum December 10 Creative Writing Coffee House with St. Michael’s writers December 17 Carol Sing Our traditional parish carol sing, this year with musicians from Kidznotes, [http://www.kidznotes. org] a local program that engages children in intense, integrated, musical study and orchestral performance.
Save the Date! Silence for the Word: A Parish Quiet Day Preparing for God’s Advent Saturday, Nov. 4, 10 a. m.-1 p.m. Elaine Bayless and Robert Fruehwirth will lead a pre-Advent quiet day at St. Michael’s, focused on how we make space and silence and stillness in our lives, so that we can receive God’s Word when it comes. The day will combine corporate prayer, plenary presentations, and optional, smaller discussions. Ample room will be made for silence and prayer, reflection and reading. We will celebrate the Eucharist together and lunch will be provided. Cost: $20 Time: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information and registration to follow. Pre-register your interest to fruehwirth@holymichael.org.
RECTOR continued from page 1 enjoying God’s creation. Those who believe in Jesus Christ are called to be a part of that plan. It is for this reason that our parish has spent many years and lots of time and effort in our Gospel-based efforts to help the poor and suffering of this world. This is not some kind of wacky left-wing utopian fantasy here. This is about feeding the poor, teaching the children, offering healing services, and bringing freedom to all people. Melanie and I served Christ in Honduras as missionaries directly in country between 1994-1997. We spent many years afterwards returning on yearly mission trips. People there in incredible numbers suffer from hunger, thirst, ignorance, preventable disease, outright abuse and human trafficking. We also know such horrors happen even right here at home. Christians who believe that we are called to not just believe in Christ but do what he said, know we need to help people. This basic conviction of Christianity is why St. Michael’s has been ramping up its mission and outreach work, and why we hope to continue to do so. For 15 years now, our annual Gifts of Grace has been a signature event in our work to make a difference in God’s world. Please come! — The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones
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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
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, Nov. 13
15th Annual Gifts of Grace Sunday, Nov. 12 8:30 a.m.-noon in the Parish Hall
Join us for this annual in-parish market and browse among two dozen local organizations working to change our community. Donate in honor of family and friends! All donations go directly to the local organization. You’ll receive attractive gift cards to announce your gift during the holidays. Pay by cash, check, debit or credit. Participating Agencies Alliance Medical Ministry Community Music School Episcopal Campus Ministry (Cheshire House) Episcopal Farmworker Ministry Family Promise(formerly WIHN) Families Together(Formerly PLM Families Together) FIGS (Filling in Gaps) Healing Transitions Hilltop Home InterAct Inter-Faith Food Shuttle
Loaves & Fishes MATCH of NC (Mothers And Their Children) Meals on Wheels of Wake County Oak Ranch/Children’s Homes of NC SAFEchild Saint Saviour’s Center StepUp Ministry Urban Ministries of Wake County Wake Relief Wheels for Hope