Chronicles of Canterbury
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Chronicles of Canterbury october 2017
From the Rector
Grateful To Spread God’s Love and Mercy Around
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re you glad to be here? I am. I am glad to be at St. Michael’s, where amazingly enough, I have spent more than a quarter of my life as rector. I am so glad to be at this church with you, the people of God, who come together each week — and many days between — for the spiritual growth offered by prayer, sacrament, song, fellowship, and missionary outreach. I am glad to be at St. Michael’s where God abides, in the Scriptures we see with our eyes and hear with our ears, in the music that moves the air we breathe, and in the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood touched and consumed. I am glad, but better than glad, I am grateful to be at St. Michael’s where we are befriended, inspired and shaped by the Spirit of God. I am grateful for what we receive from God in this place, and I hope you are too, because our gratefulness is the key to our mission as Christians. For, if we are grateful for the love and mercy we have received, we will by God’s grace spread love and mercy to those around us.
For the Christian life begins with the profound awareness of the cosmic score which accounts for what God has given, and what we have received. As I’ve come to see, in all due humility, the cosmic score in my life is pretty lopsided. God has given everything good, every blessing, every mercy, every beauty, every truth, every second chance — and I’ve given, well, very much less. Indeed, I am profoundly aware of how little I have done for God when I consider what my God has done for me. I am humbled and grateful. It is from this place of gratitude that I have over the years felt the clear need to not only serve God with my professional life as a priest and pastor, but also to serve God in my private life, as an active giver to the financial life of this parish. Our family makes an annual pledge to this parish, a promise, so that it may create a budget. We then fulfill that pledge so that the church may meet its budget. Over the years, our family’s annual pledge has always been something of
See RECTOR on page 3
Missions Grants Awards $32K to Local Groups
what’s inside 2 The Ebb & Flow 4 Vital Connections 5 A Yellow Daffodil 6 Annual Fund 7 Why I Pledge 8 For All the Saints 9 Cups of Joy 10 Briefly 11 Lifelong Disciple
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he Missions Grants Committee in September awarded $32,000 to 14 local agencies. Funding came in part from the Missions budget and $20,000 in proceeds from The Canterbury Shop. Seven agencies that received funding last year each received $3,000. Though St. Saviour’s Center and the Episcopal Farmworkers Ministry did not apply during this cycle, they were awarded $3,000 each because of St. Michael’s ongoing relationship with these ministries. This year, we also awarded smaller amounts to five agencies that have not traditionally received support from Missions Grants. They include the familiar — Helen Wright Center and Family Promise of Wake County — and a few not so familiar, “leap of faith” recipients — Haven House and TentMaker Ministries. As in past years, the committee also voted to hold back some funds ($3,000) for Gifts of Grace Committee, to be used at their discretion.
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The following organizations received grants of $3,000 each: Interact — Advancing the Episcopal Church’s Millennium Development goals of empowering women and working to eradicate hunger and poverty right here in our own community by providing food, shelter, counseling, case management and support services to empower victims of domestic and sexual violence Triangle Family Services — Supporting the Emergency Housing Assistance program Episcopal Campus Ministry — Funding needs in addition to overhead (heat, light, water, building and grounds maintenance) are for worship and programming, Christian education and fellowship, which include Wednesday night Bible Study, programs on History and Formation of the Episcopal
See GRANTS 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
An Ebb and Flow: Moved by God’s Spirit
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hen Greg first asked me to serve as an associate rector at St. Michael’s, with special duties around spiritual formation, I confessed my unease with the word “spirituality.” Greg found this odd, as almost anybody would, given that I’d spent my entire adult life doing apparently spiritual things: first as a monk in a monastery devoted to the reclaiming of the Christian spiritual traditions, then as director of a spirituality center next to an international pilgrimage site in England. My problem with the word “spirituality” and with the assertion (heard so often) that we need “to get more spiritual” stemmed from my sense that not many people know what this means, actually. The word served only to point at something they apparently were not doing and about which they felt vaguely guilty. It conjured an uneasy sense that we should be more deep, more real, more connected, more faithful, but had no idea how to do this. More problematic still is the common assumption that being spiritual is somehow opposed to being practical or productive. It is also not clear for most people how “being spiritual” connects with faith in Jesus. What I am interested in at St. Michael’s is the opening of people’s lives to the Gospel of Christ and God’s desire to make out of us a new creation. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he or she is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation. [2 Corinthians 5] We are not just passive receivers of God’s love and grace, but active participants in God’s work of reconciliation in the world. Key to this is building up a community of people who hold the vision of God’s reconciled kingdom, and hold themselves accountable to it. I want to facilitate the growth of a community with this kind of vision, filled with informed, praying, highly invested disciples. If that is the goal, then being spiritual might be understood as being moved by God’s Holy Spirit to yield our lives to God and, having received God’s word to us, to get about the work of building up God’s kingdom in the community around us. Inwardly we reckon with the truth of our selves and lives. We also listen to God’s Word. Coming out of that, we are engaged, creative, active in the world for God’s Kingdom. In both the inward and the outward movement, the ebb and flow, we are carried along by the impulse of God’s Holy Spirit. Practically, to nurture this kind of spirituality, I return to a framework I have honed, tested and refined over two decades of working with clergy and laity, monastics and secular people, seeking to live open to God. I have jumped up and down on it like a carpenter testing his work on a flight of stairs, and it has always held solid and true. In this framework, the Christian spiritual life has four necessary and irreducible ingredients: Listening to oneself and one’s world, so that we know what is actually going on in us below the constant Twitter stream of anxieties and compulsions. It is breathtaking how much comes out when we actually pay attention to what is there. The most frequent problem in living open to God is not the absence of God, but the absence of us. continued on the next page
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continued from the previous page
Learning how to let go of ourselves, and doing this regularly. We wear our selves and our lives lightly so that, like loose clothes, we can take these off and offer them to God. This gesture of surrender to God of all that we have been, are and will be, is like an exhalation. It is like death, it is letting go, and it’s at the heart of every spiritual tradition, from AA to Zen. “Take my heart and let it be.” In the Christian tradition, it is the great contemplatives who teach us how to practice surrender, day in and day out, and in sustained moments of letting go in prayer. This is not esoteric stuff. It is standard outfitting for a Christian life. Listening to God as revealed in Jesus. Just as we pay attention to ourselves, so we pay attention to God. Stay with the scriptural word until the Living Word of God, Jesus, breaks through. We let our lives speak. We let the world speak. And then we let God speak, touch our lives, and direct us. When we see how our lives, our world, and God come together, then we act. And we watch the results. And we go back into prayer and start over again. — The Rev. Robert Fruehwirth
RECTOR continued from page 1 a stretch for us, but we were raised by parents who taught us this is what Christians do, and so we do it. It may mean we drive old cars with a lot of miles and dings. It may mean we can’t always do what we would like to do around the house. But we know that these are tiny sacrifices compared to those made by so many faithful people around the world, let alone compared to the gifts we’ve received from God. We are so glad to be at St. Michael’s, and above all, we are so grateful to God. Our giving to St. Michael’s is one important way that we show a bit of our gratitude to God. — The Rev. Samuel Gregory Jones
GRANTS from page 1
Chronicles of Canterbury
Church, environmental issues, improving interfaith relationships, mission trips, retreats, outreach in the Raleigh community and, at times, student assistance. Green Chair Project — Enabling several families to transition to stability after experiencing homelessness, crisis or disaster by fully equipping them with the comforts of home Alliance Medical Ministry — Supporting the medical clinic and core programming, including their pastoral care and counseling program Wake Relief — Currently, fresh produce is purchased from the Interfaith Food Shuttle for 6 cents per pound. Funds provided would cover approximately the entire year’s worth of fresh produce for Wake Relief clients in crisis. StepUp — Supporting StepUp programs including Job Training & Placement, Life Skills Training, Children’s Program, and Alumni Program St. Saviour’s Center — Directly supporting the outreach programs at the Center including the Diaper Train and Healthy Living for Seniors, as well as our resident programs Community Music School, Meals on Wheels and Wake Relief Episcopal Farmworker Ministry —Supporting EFwM’s Transportation Program to cover costs incurred when driving farmworkers to medical appointments and church services at La Sagrada Familia Episcopal Mission on Sundays, and when conducting outreach to the 47 work camps in Johnston, Harnett and Sampson Counties The following organizations received grants of $1,000 each: Tentmaker Ministries — Purchasing food to provide breakfast and lunch to 100 students and 16 staff members on a daily basis. Family Promise of Wake County — Funding will be used in operational costs including provision of the day facility, emergency shelter, transitional housing, meals, transportation, professional case management, and educational services Haven House — Helping youth who are homeless or in crisis stay at the Wrenn House shelter Urban Ministries Helen Wright Center — Providing basic needs, infrastructural support, and assistance including, casework and job readiness, empowering the women at the Helen Wright Center to get back on their feet. Wheels for Hope — Helping subsidize the repair costs of additional program cars Committee members are: Chris Mann (Chair), Karen Waddell (Secretary/ Treasurer), Rob Murphy, Lisa Carlton, Jenny Vevurka, Gilliam Nicholson and Dale Roane (Vestry). Chris and Karen roll off the committee this year, so the Vestry will appoint two new members for the 2018 grants cycle, along with a new Vestry liaison. It has been an honor and privilege to serve St. Michael’s via the Missions Grants Committee, and we trust the Parish will be pleased with the decisions made. — Chris Mann Mission Grants Committee Chair Each year, St. Michael’s Missions Grants Committee awards grants to community organizations. The committee’s focus is on organizations that provide for food, housing and employment-goals that are related to the Millennium Development Goals for the World Wide Episcopal Church. Deadline for grant applications is August 1 of each year. Grant funding comes from the Missions Grants budget and from proceeds from the Canterbury Shop.
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Chronicles of Canterbury
Gifts of Grace: Vital Connections for Our Neighbors’ Health
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Many of the agencies represented at Gifts of Grace are interconnected with one another. An example of this relationship is Urban Ministries of Wake and FIGs (Filling in the Gaps). The mission of Urban Ministries is, to engage the community to serve and advocate on behalf of those affected by poverty by providing food and nutrition, by promoting health and wellness and by laying the foundations of home. Renewed emphasis at UM is being placed on looking beyond the moment – helping clients to build a higher quality of life. UM clients come for help with necessities that many of us take for granted. They come when food and funds have run out, when untreated illness threatens their family stability and their life. They come when “home” has slipped away. Nearly 2,000 patients call the Open Door Clinic their medical home. Patients are referred to specialists at no charge and inhouse mental health counseling is provided. This is where the Gifts of Grace agency, FIGS enters the scene. The FIGS mission is to “provide prescription medications for the uninsured and under-insured citizens of Wake County. FIGS provides a portion of the funding to purchase bulk prescription medications from the large pharmaceutical companies. These medications are dispensed through the UM Open Door Clinic to patients with chronic illnesses, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, thus allowing clients to take control of their health.
Gifts of Grace
health care to working, uninsured Wake County adults. AMM clients are able to access FIGS vouchers to pay for their medication needs. Homelessness is no longer considered hopeless. There is always the opportunity to find a home. Rather than portray homelessness in a negative way, the situation is turned into the positive aspect of hope. Homelessness can bring guidance and structure into one’s life in the pursuit of finding a home. Urban Ministry is a fine example of helping their clients work towards, and achieving, the goal of finding a home.
What? Our Alternative Gift Market
When? Sunday, Nov. 12, 8:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Where? In the Parish Hall How does it work? Parishioners are given clipboards as they enter the Parish Hall, where they browse among two-dozen organizations that serve the needy in our community. Donate in honor of friends and family, and take the guesswork out of giving this holiday. Cash/Checks/Credit cards are accepted. Donations are tax deductable.
Another UM/FIGS collaboration is the Crisis Support program. A person visits UM with a prescription but cannot afford to pay for the medication. The client is interviewed in order to meet the qualifications, and a voucher is given to the client who then takes the prescription to a Wake County pharmacy. FIGS pays the pharmacy bill. This can mean keeping their job, their home and family together. Alliance Medical Ministry partners with both UM and with FIGS. AMM is a medical clinic providing comprehensive, affordable primary
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The Helen Wright Center is a familiar place to St. Michael’s ECW. Volunteers provide meals and donate simple amenities. While the crisis is the lack of a home for these women, the opportunity is for life-changing counseling, gainful employment and finding a pathway home. Residents have access to the FIGS voucher program for prescription medications.Close to 400 women were sheltered at the Helen Wright Center last year. The relationship of Urban Ministries of Wake, Alliance Medical Ministry, FIGS (Filling in the Gaps) and St. Michael’s ECW is a vital part of this collaboration and make Wake County a better home for all of us.
Scotty Steele, Gifts of Grace Committee
Gifts of Grace will also include various groups within the church. The EYC will offer Moravian Pot Pies again this year. St. Elizabeth ECW’s yeast rolls, St. Mary’s soup mix, St. 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
Love, Like a Yellow Daffodil: Meta Ellington Gives Thanks In the 1960s and 70s, I spent time in workshops with author Madeleine L’Engle. She was one of the kindest, gentlest persons I’ve ever known, and I treasure the time I spent with her. She was one of the first to ask if she could pray with me about my first heart surgery, and I think that connected us in a way that was different. I have read every book she has ever written and have come away with a new understanding with each. I felt honored to know her. She was Author Madeleine L’Engle truly an amazing woman and she touched me deeply. During what was one of my last times with Madeleine L’Engle, she taught me a song about the words of Julian of Norwich. Part of it goes like this: Love like a yellow daffodil is blooming in the snow. Love like a yellow daffodil is Lord of all I know. Ring out the bells of Norwich, let the winds begin to blow. All shall be well again, I know. All shall be well again, I’m telling you. Let the winds begin to blow. All shall be well again, I know. Loud are the bells of Norwich and the people come and go. Here by the Tower of Julian I tell them what I know. All will be well again, l know. These words have been on my lips and in my heart this last year. Sometimes I didn’t believe them. Sometimes I thought Julian had gotten it wrong. It was a long time before I could sing these words. It was long time before I could say them. But they kept coming back to me in my
mind at random times, as if a little earworm would not let me forget that I was going to be okay. I am unable to adequately thank all the people who helped me through this past year, and I will never be able to repay them for their kindness to me and to my family. Their love was a living, breathing thing that showed me the face of a daffodil blooming in the snow, helping me face the winter winds. This love was a living, breathing spirit that has woven itself into my very being. Now I’m not saying that everything is exactly the same as it was before. Things have changed. I have changed. But it is well again. I am well again. I have prayed that all of you who read this — and those who don’t have the blessing of this kind of earworm in your life — know that God is always working with you, changing what needs to be changed and getting rid of that which does not belong. She often sends mysterious little gifts that you discover in the oddest times. That wouldn’t have happened had you not gone through the times of darkness. Thank you Julian and Madeline. Yours in the spirit, — The Rev. Meta Ellington
Older, Wiser, Learning, Sharing
Searching for All Things Old at Replacements, Archives It’s all in the Os this month! October brings us one speaker and one adventure. Our Oct. 12, lecturers will be members of the St. Michael’s archive. You cannot imagine how many articles, photographs and artifacts the folks who work in the archives have to file each year! The dedicated workers are emerging from their archives deep in the heart of St Michael’s for this one day, to reveal all kinds of interesting treats for you to see and hear about.
quite as careful packing fine china as they are today! What a crushing blow (literally) that must have been. It would cost a small fortune to replace all the china that broke in order to put this set back together, but it could be done! I’ve found the missing Spode sugar bowl to go with my grandmother’s creamer at Replacements. It’s a fun place to poke around to find bits and pieces of your own history!
The lecture begins at 2 p.m., with cookies and coffee provided. We meet as usual in the Convocation Room. This month, we’ll visit Replacements, Ltd. Many of you have passed by Replacements as you have travelled westward on I-40. Simply put, if you are missing a piece of china from your collection, Replacements can probably find it. I have only a couple of pieces from my mother’s china, much of which was destroyed on the way over on a ship when she emigrated to America from England in the late 40s. Movers apparently were not
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Their website tells the story: “Founded by Bob Page in 1981, Replacements, Ltd., has dedicated the past 36 years to helping people reconnect with their favorite memories. Bob’s part-time hobby ... grew until he became the world’s largest supplier of vintage and current dinnerware, crystal, silver and collectibles.” We’ll visit on Thursday, Oct. 26. Meet at the church at 9:30 a.m. The tour is at 11 a.m. Lunch is not yet confirmed, but it will probably be at the highly recommended “Ciao.” We will return to St Michael’s by 3 p.m. — The Rev. Holly M. Gloff
Chronicles of Canterbury Annual Fund 2018
The Church Might Sell Itself, but It Doesn’t Pay Its Own Way
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riters block. You may know the feeling. One of sheer horror and utter intimidation at the hands of one of life’s most terrifying sights— the blank page! Our collective writer’s block began as soon as we received the following marching orders: “And as Chairs of the St. Michael’s Annual Fund Campaign, you’ll write a message for the October Chronicles of Canterbury.” *Click* Both John’s and my brains simultaneously shut down. So there we were, blinking much like Cindy Lou Who staring at the Grinch, trying to understand why he was stuffing her Christmas tree up into the chimney. After several weeks of futile attempts to draft a compelling message, one evening John said, “Here’s the thing. St. Michael’s is an engaged and generous congregation. Our church sells itself.” *Click* After all of our hand-wringing, we realized that the Annual Fund Campaign is not about us, it’s about our home. Our spiritual home. But while the virtues of St. Michael’s may sell our parish, the church does not pay for itself. We became reconciled to the fact that we are just messengers blessed with a compelling message and a receptive audience. “And this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation.” 2 Corinthians 5:18 The theme of this year’s campaign is “Reconciliation.” Being reconciled with our God. A quick “right click” on the word “reconciled” yields a dozen synonyms: submissive, resigned, prepared to accept, reunited, resolved, settled. Webster’s Dictionary defines reconciliation as “the action of making financial accounts consistent.” Just as St. Michael’s must set an annual budget that allows us to fulfill our mission — then live within the constraints of that budget —we, too, are called to harmonize our personal finances with our priorities, by pledging to this place that means so much to us. This campaign is our opportunity to account for the value that St. Michael’s brings to each of us and to act in accordance with that accounting. We can cite a stronger authority for our pitch than Mr. Webster. Jesus tells us, “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) And in a passage from the Old Testament that should speak directly to good Episcopalians, it is written, “Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the first fruits of all your produce; then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.” (Cheers!) Another way of reading 2 Corinthians 5:18 is simply: All of this is from God. So how should we as Christians show our gratitude for His many blessings? Michelle and I humbly recognize that our good fortune is no more warranted than the misfortune endured by too many others. For us, showing our gratitude means returning thanks by giving of our time and treasure, both of which are limited. Our schedules are full and we spend a lot of that time collecting superfluous stuff with our treasure. By supporting St. Michael’s, we are supporting Him, His house and the good works of St. Michael’s. The mission of St. Michael’s extends far beyond our parish and touches many
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other lives. But in order to reach others, we must stabilize His house with dedicated employees, routine maintenance, utilities and supplies. We invite you to join in this vital mission to support the financial life of our church. Our goal this year of $1.6 million is needed to meet our annual budget. Throughout the campaign we will give more details about our budget, how funds will be used to support our mission, and status updates on reaching our goal. The Annual Fund Campaign officially begins on Stewardship Sunday, Oct. 1. Please plan to join us that day at our Parish Picnic. Pledge Sunday is Oct. 15. Beginning Oct. 25, the wonderful members of our calling committee will begin calling parishioners who have not pledged. Spoiler Alert: the Committee does not call anyone who has pledged by mail, in person or online prior to Oct. 25. As we have said, we are truly humbled to be serving as chairs of the Annual Fund Campaign. We are so looking forward to meeting our fellow parishioners and working with the incredible people of St. Michael’s. Please do not hesitate to contact us with any concerns or ideas. We welcome all input! (919) 865-1110. — John & Michelle Connell, 2018 Annual Fund Chairs
2018 Annual Fund ‘All This Is from God’ Sunday, Oct. 1 Annual Fund Launch Sunday, Oct. 15 Pledge Sunday
Chronicles of Canterbury
Why Do I Pledge? All This IS From God
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y husband, Rob, is better at remembering and demonstrating this year’s Annual Fund theme, “All This is From God,”than I am. Every dinner blessing, every prayer offered as a family in challenging times, begins with acknowledging that all we have comes from God and thanking God for all the ways He blesses us. No intercessions are spoken before offering thanksgiving. During the first Annual Fund campaign after we became members of St. Michael’s, I remember receiving the packet. It sat, languishing on the kitchen counter, until Saturday morning during our reading of the morning paper, chasing 16-monthold twins and sorting through the mail. As I was about to toss it, Rob asked me what it was. I remember saying, as my arm moved the packet towards the trash can, “The church is asking for money, and we don’t need to give any,” as if that was selfexplanatory.
It doesn’t matter the day, the month or the year. All we have does come from God. And it is our honor and responsibility to return a portion of those gifts to support His church. Our church. (And yes, I’m admitting my husband was right. This time.) St. Michael’s thrives through the grace of God. He has blessed our church with parishioners who support it financially and through good works. We are fortunate to call it our church home and support it. St. Michael’s continues to need our support to function and to give back to the Kingdom of God.
How was your pledge allocated in 2017? The pie chart illustrates St. Michael’s 2017 budget allocations. Note: St. Michael’s is considered a corporate church. A corporate church does not mean we are a corporation. A corporate church designation recognizes the size of a parish and the professional level of its clergy and staff. Please contact me should you have any questions about the Annual Fund, griffin@holymichael.org, 919-782-0731, ext. 121.
He told me to wait. “Oh yes we do. It’s what you do when you belong to a church,” he said. He proceeded to remind me everything we had was by the grace of God and it was our duty – no, our honor – to give a portion of those blessings back to His church. Plus, he added, it is our responsibility to help support St. Michael’s, our new church home. He had learned pledging by example – he grew up observing his parents contributing to their church. I had not. That was the fall of 1993, yet I remember it like it was yesterday. Truth be told, I’m still a bit disappointed in myself for my cavalier and somewhat selfish attitude. However, I quickly got on board. We pledged that year and have done so every year since. Like some families, there have been years when it was more painful financially to pledge, but we took many leaps of faith and did so anyway. I’m so glad we did. Fast forward 24 years. It’s 2017, and it has been my privilege to work for St. Michael’s for the last four years supporting the Annual Fund campaign and the Holy Michael Foundation. A little ironic too, wouldn’t you say, given my rocky start as a parishioner?
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St. Michael’s offers children’s and EYC programs shaping our youth, education opportunities enriching adults, lovely sacred music to enjoy, and a beautiful space in which to worship, led by fabulous clergy. We have a thriving ECW for fellowship and fundraising, as well as dedicated missions and outreach to benefit our local and global communities. Our babies are cared for in the nursery until they are old enough for chapel and Sunday School. Our publications are informative and professional grade. (Have you seen Archangel?)
Our buildings, the Gray Lady herself, may be getting a little long in the tooth, and require more maintenance, just as your home does as it ages. New carpet in the Parish Hall is not the only upgrade we’ve done in our building. Plus, there are electric bills and trash and recycle services and technology to pay for. And St. Michael’s staff is second to none. I know this because I’m fortunate to work with them every day. Of course, none of this occurs without YOU. Each year, St. Michael’s parishioners demonstrate their support for our church home by pledging to the Annual Fund. This is in addition to your volunteer hours contributed on behalf of God’s Kingdom at St. Michael’s and beyond. I cannot thank you enough for all you do for St. Michael’s. I ask you to do so again. This Annual Fund season, I ask, first, that you not toss the Annual Fund packet you receive in October. Then, I encourage you to consider, with faith and thanksgiving, all God has given you. Ask yourself, what do I, then, give to God? — Charlotte Griffin, Director of Development
Chronicles of Canterbury For All the Saints
Tyndale & Cloverdale: Translating the Bible & Psalter into English
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wonder how many of you would bother to read the Bible, or come to church every Sunday if the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer were not in English. It’s a big ask, I admit. But thanks to the two men whose lives we celebrate this month, we can worship in our own language. William Tyndale was born around 1495, shortly after Columbus “sailed the ocean blue.” He was born near the Welsh border. He studied at Cambridge and Oxford and was ordained and served as a chaplain and tutor in both Gloucestershire and London.
and was ordained. Like Tyndale, he was absolutely passionate about translating the Bible into English. It is believed that he assisted Tyndale in his translations. At Tyndale’s death, Cloverdale continued to translate the Bible, which he completed in 1535. It is known as the “Great Bible.” It was the first Bible to be printed in English.
Many people have asked me whose Tyndale’s greatest translation passion was that he of the Psalter wanted to translate is used in the Scriptures into our Book English. At that time, of Common this was an unheard of Miles Cloverdale Prayer. It was William Tyndale thing to even consider! Cloverdale, Henry VIII was on the and it came from his Great Bible. As well as throne, and it was best not to upset him or disagree with him in any way, translating the Bible, he served as a Lutheran pastor, so William departed for Germany, where he could work without threat became Bishop of Exeter. (That office was taken from to his life. him when Queen Mary ascended the throne – she was Roman Catholic and Coverdale was Protestant. We can thank Tyndale for Tyndale’s translation was the first Therefore it was illegal to be a Protestant in England.) English Bible to draw directly from some of the more familiar Hebrew and Greek texts, the first He escaped to the Continent until religious times phrases from the Bible: “my changed with the accession of Queen Elizabeth, who English translation to take advantage of brother’s keeper,” “knock the printing press, and first of the new was Protestant. English Bibles of the Reformation. and it shall be opened unto Cloverdale is remembered as a gifted preacher, He drew the wrath of Henry VIII when you,” “a moment in time,” linguist and translator as well as being a leader in the he opposed Henry’s annulment from Puritan wing of the Church of England. “seek and ye shall find,” Catherine of Aragon to marry Ann “ask and it shall be given We celebrate the ministries of both men on Friday, Boleyn, but he remained in Europe. Oct. 6. you,” “judge not that ye be Betrayed by a friend, he was eventually arrested and charged with heresy. He — The Rev. Holly Gloff not judged,” “let there be was not only strangled, but burned at *from Wikipedia light,” the stake in 1536 in Brussels. By the time he was killed, he had translated the New Testament and parts of the Old Testament. Almost 80 percent of the Authorized Version (King James) is Tyndale’s work. We can thank Tyndale for some of the more familiar phrases from the Bible: my brother’s keeper, knock and it shall be opened unto you, a moment in time, seek and ye shall find, ask and it shall be given you, let there be light, the salt of the earth, a law unto themselves, it came to pass, and many more.* The other person whose life we celebrate is Miles Cloverdale. Also English, he was born in Yorkshire around 1488. He attended Cambridge
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Chronicles of Canterbury
On Sunday, Sept. 17, more than 70 guests of all ages attended “Cups of Joy,” hosted by the St. Michael’s ECW. Event co-chairs Elaine Bayless and Elizabeth Walker oversaw the transformation of the Parish Hall into a tea room, complete with beautiful place settings and flower arrangements. Guests were served high tea by the Bow Tie Brigade, under the direction of kitchen guru Bo Bromhal. The delicious menu included a selection of tea sandwiches, crudités, ham biscuits and sweet treats. The Canterbury Girls Choir, conducted by Katie Miller and accompanied by Marilyn Budrow, entertained everyone. Photos by Anna Tilghman, Lee Hayden & Anna McLamb
A highlight for the younger guests was the decoration and consumption of sugar cookies. It was a wonderful celebration of all of the ladies of St. Michael’s, and a reminder that we all have many Cups of Joy from which to drink. — Anna Tilghman, ECW
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Chronicles of Canterbury
briefly
The Christian Faith — Three sessions If you are new to the Episcopal Church and interested in joining our parish. we offer a series of required classes to acquaint you with our denomination. Wednesdays, Oct.25, Nov. 1 & Nov. 8 • 6:15 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Incontri Musicali Chamber Music Concert St. Michael’s is in for a treat when Incotri Musicali Chamber group visits us in late October. Motivated by the idea that music is a transformational force, Incontri Musicali engages its audiences in world-class chamber Thursday, Oct. 26 music performances that inspire exploration and camaraderie. Through 7:30 p.m. Tickets: Incontri Musicali’s Community $10 for adults Engagement program, young Free for children & musicians who are playing on the students world’s greatest stages bring the Purchase tickets here, concert experience into schools, or at the door. hospitals, shelters, and retirement communities.
Oyster Roast Friday, Nov. 3 6:30 p.m. $40 per person Tickets on sale on Sundays in October
Incontri’s brilliant young musicians will perform at St. Michael’s on Thursday, Oct. 26 at 7:30 p.m. Under the artistic direction of Niccoló Muti, the ensemble will include clarinet, violin, viola, cello and piano, playing works by Penderecki, Brustad and others.
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 7 a.m., in the Conference Room • Band of Brother’s Lunch Noon, third Monday of the month, Sawmill Tap Room • Brothers on Tap Thursday, Oct. 19 – 5:30 p.m., Nickel Point Brewing 506 Pershing Road in Raleigh.
Words & Wisdom Wednesday, Oct. 10 Home of Amanda Martin
Also, plan now to join us on Friday, Nov. 3, for our second annual Oyster Roast (women of the parish are invited too.) We’ll have steamed oysters, shrimp and side dishes. Wine, beer, soft drinks and water are included in your ticket. Reservations are required. Tickets are $40 per person. Sign up at the front desk on Sundays in October. Parish-wide Oyster Roast Friday, Nov. 3, 6:30 p.m. Mills Construction, 1627 Navaho Drive in Raleigh. Contact: Joe Warenda, joe@millsconstructionco.com.
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These classes are required for all seeking membership who have not been confirmed or received in an Episcopal Church, and for parents seeking baptism for their children. Contact: Lee Hayden to register. Child care is provided with advance reservation. If you are undecided about membership, please come learn more about our parish and the Episcopal Church during your time of discernment.
Christian/Muslim Divide Thursday, Oct. 12, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. in the Parish Hall
Hear former Congressman and U. N. Ambassador Mark Siljander speak on the Christian/Muslim divide and how to bridge it. His work has taken him across America and to more than 145 countries, spreading the word on the misunderstandings we have about each other’s faiths and change them. It will be an enlightening evening and one you don’t want to miss!
Words & Wisdom Books for 2017-18 The Collected Stories of Eudora Welty by Eudora Welty (1982) 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 JD Vance (2016)
Chronicles of Canterbury
october October 8 Reconciliation and Scripture IV Strange Ambassadors: St. Paul and the Shape of Reconciled Community with the Rev. Robert Fruehwirth Associate Rector Robert Fruehwirth will use the letters of St. Paul to explore the shape and work of Christian community. What kind of community do we need to be if God’s work of reconciliation is to flourish among us and out from us into the world? What is the essence of our new communal life in Christ?
lifelong disciple
October 15 Sharing Life With Melvin Breedon Melvin Breedon from StepUp will reflect on the experience of poverty, its intersection with race, and our relationship with those we try to help.
Coffee and the Word for Parents Starting Sunday October 22, Parents of children aged 0-15 are invited to an informal coffee hour discussion of the gospel and the sermon of the day. This will take place following the 9:30 service at the same time as the Sunday Forum. It will be held in the Convocation Room and child care will be provided as always on Sunday.
Mark These dates for our Young Adult Minsitry October 8 OKTOBERFEST: Beer, brats and polka (not really) at St. Michael’s at 5 p.m. Everyone welcome October 24: Theology on Tap. 7pm. A drink and conversation about Christian community. Location TBD.
October 22 Christian Identity I With Stanley Hauerwas Recognized by Time Magazine as America’s best theologian and considered one of the most seminal and influential Christian writers of the past 60 years, Stanely Hauerwas will explore the nature of Christian Identity and it’s relation to the identities the non-Christian world offers to us.
Save the Date! Silence for the Word: A Parish Quiet Day Preparing for God’s Advent
October 29 Christian Identity II: Becoming Christian With the Rev. Robert Fruehwirth
We will celebrate the Eucharist together and lunch will be provided.
Robert 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 to the core and empowered for the world.
Time: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. More information and registration to follow. Pre-register your interest to fruehwirth@holymichael.org.
Saturday ,Nov. 4, 10 a. m.-1 p.m. Elaine Bayless and Associate Rector 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.
Cost: $20
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St. Michael’s Episcopal Church 1520 Canterbury Rd. Raleigh NC 27608-1106 Phone: 919-782-0731 Fax: 919-782-5085 www.holymichael.org
NON-PROFIT ORG. US POSTAGE PAID Raleigh, NC PERMIT NO. 696
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: Wednesday, Oct. 11
The ladies of St. Michael’s gathered for tea and refreshments on Sunday, Sept. 17, at an event sponsored by the Episcopal Chuch Women. See p. 9 for details! (Photo: Anna McLamb)