NON PROFIT ORG. U. S. Postage Paid. Chattanooga, TN. Permit no. 144

Transcription

1 NON PROFIT ORG. U. S. Postage Paid Chattanooga, TN. Permit no. 144 Church Address: 848 Ashland Terrace, Chattanooga, TN Phone: Fax: School Phone: Church Website: SEEK PRAY LOVE

2 Staff THE REV. JOHN H. BONNER III Priest Associate THE REV. DR. VALERIE CARNES Priest Associate TIM HINCK Organist/Choirmaster LINDA COOPER Christian Ed Director JODY DAVIS Youth Minister TRACY BOOKER Sexton DONNA ALBRIGHT ASHLEY KLINE Nursery TINA CHAMBERS Parish Administrator Sundays 7:30 am Communion, Rite I Nave 9:00 am Family Service, Rite II Nave 10:00 am Christian Education Various 11:00 am Communion, Rite II Nave 12:00 pm Fellowship Bracewell Room Mondays 10:00 am Yoga Class Bracewell Room Tuesdays 9:30 am CREATE Connor Library 7:00 pm Centering Prayer Connor Library 7:00 pm College & Career Bracewell Room 8:00 pm AA Bracewell Room Wednesdays 10:00 am Communion, Rite I Chapel 10:45 am Lay Ministry Bracewell Room (9/7) 11:00 am Bible Study Conference Room 7:00 pm Youth Group Bracewell Room 8:00 pm ACOA Connor Library Thursdays 1:30 pm Caregivers Support 7:00 pm (9/8) Boy Scouts Bracewell Room Fridays 10:00 am Warden s Meeting Bracewell Room A Letter to St. Peter s Church from the Rev. George Choyce I am writing this letter to you, the People of St. Peter s, just minutes after returning from the 11 am Holy Eucharist on August 21. It is one of those moments that, to me right at this minute, is a defining time in a significant manner. When I reflect on our time together, the memories are always good, though that does not mean that the time was always easy. Seizures cause weakness; anti-seizure medications cause terrible side-effects. Those memories, however, were always meaningful, especially as you gave a priest with epilepsy the opportunity to be engaged in priestly ministry. Additionally, I write this because the issue of Clergy Disability remains, for the most part, an issue that is still kept in the closet. Most people do not want to talk about it, nor do they know how to talk about it. My disability of epilepsy, along with seizures, along with two surgeries, is something I have not hidden. How could I have done so? There are scars: physical, emotional, and spiritual. St. Peter s, however, has been a place of healing for me. To return to the matter of time, now is the time for me to move to another place. That place is the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd in Hayesville, North Carolina, which is just over the Tennessee border in an area close to Murphy. The Hayesville area is gradually growing due to an influx of retirees, yet it maintains most of those who grew up in the area. Talk about diversity! Now is the time for me to take up a call even as a non-stipendiary (unpaid) priest who lives daily with the medical condition of epilepsy. Let me be clear the seizures are always a threat. I am disabled. I never defeated epilepsy. But this weakness of mine will become a real strength as I seek to minister to those who are losing their health due to numerous issues, including disabilities. I did not want to simply leave St. Peter s and not return, nor did I want to make an attention-drawing announcement which would have disrupted the worship. So I wanted to put this in writing, along with my thanks for your pastoral and prayerful care for me and my family through our experiences with epilepsy. Thank you for this time. May God bless you all. George+

3 A Note from the Interim Rector CREATE began as a fellowship opportunity for people who wanted to gather and engage in, learn, or teach a favorite craft. Early conversations among group members often involved the needs of the underprivileged. The desire to help led to discussions about how they could make a difference. Two members joined the Board of the Community Kitchen, and the group began making things that would be useful to the homeless community. Those efforts led to a working relationship with Dennis Westmeier and participation in his ministry to the people on the Westside, holding a bazaar to raise money for service projects, and working with local inner city elementary schools. The group s ongoing service project is The Giving Pantry, which is supported by the generosity of St. Peter s Parish. Whether you a crafter or not, everyone is welcome to come and join the conversation each Tuesday at 9:30 am in the Connor Library. Becky, Debbie, Joani, June, Rena, Sara & Sarah Caregivers Support Group, Thursday, September 8, 1:30 to 3 pm, Connor Library. Special guest will be Beth Janney, RN, offering some tips on ambulating/transferring with a loved one living with dementia. Facilitators are Ann Lindsey of the Caregivers Coalition and the Rev. Valerie Carnes. Please come and bring a friend or family member all faith traditions are welcome. Hello all! I am pleased to accept the challenge of being your Interim Rector. After 29 years as Rector in three parishes, this seems like the proper place to utilize all of my learning about parish life and to help prepare you for the Rector who is coming. First, Pray and Pray often. You have a set prayer in your Bulletin each week and in the Friday Announcements: please say it each day. Your Vestry and Search Committee need to know that you are an active participant in this process. (You should also be in prayer for the Diocesan Search Committee that is seeking our new Bishop.) I have said to Search Committee Chair Susan Harris that the key for the Parish at this time is open communication about what is going on and where we are in this important work. Spotty communication leads to the feeling that something is being hidden and that is not the case, I assure you. I will be in the parish office each week Monday through Wednesday and at other times, if need be. You can trust me to hear what you say and work with you to build upon the strong foundation that makes St. Peter's Parish such a vibrant and faithful church community. My wife, Debbie, is with me in this work and will be a great help in providing parish leadership from a clergy family. Come by and visit with me any time and let s get to know each other so that we can serve Christ, St. Peter s, and this community in a faithful and loving manner. I feel called to this work and will serve you faithfully as God gives me the energy to do so. Let s make St. Peter's all that you want it to be. Faithfully, John Bonner

4 01 Billy Morris 01 Gail Pinchak 02 Corey Topping 02 Robert Schow 04 Tammy Garland 06 Dorothy Griggs 06 Barbara Sparks 06 Mary Ortwein 06 Adam Moser 07 Dennis Westmeier 07 Emily Wilson 08 Norma Mills 08 Alby Saunders 08 Janice Jones 12 John Andreae 12 Christy Cooper 12 Harriett Parker 13 Randy Topping 13 Kent Jones 15 Jenny Hannah 17 Fred Koch 18 Bruce Johnson 18 Haley Topping 21 Dylan Jones 26 Addison Baker 27 Evelyn Jonakin 30 Peggy Farr 30 Spencer Hunt News From the Search Committee Our St. Peter s Search Committee was commissioned during Sunday services on August 14 and then almost immediately met with our diocesan consultant for our first 10-hour retreat (Sunday afternoon and Monday). We have good information about the process as it will unfold from here and are excited to share what s next at our Rally Day celebration on Sunday, September 11. A big part of the process will be gathering input from the church and school communities, so we will be very busy throughout the fall. Make sure to come to Rally Day, as well as watch this space in the newsletter and your for more information. Most importantly, please continue to include the Search Committee in your prayers. We are honored to serve, and at once confident and humbled by the task before us as we work to identify the next Rector for our church and school. Susan Harris, Chair Rector Search Committee Almighty God, giver of every good gift: Look graciously on St. Peter s Church, and so guide the minds of those who shall choose a rector for this parish, that we may receive a faithful pastor, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. COLLEGE & CAREER Page 4

5 Rally Day! Hey, everybody! It's me, Jody, your friendly neighborhood Youth Leader! I hope that you all had a wonderful summer full of sunshine and good times. As many of you know, I spent my summer working as the staff leader at Grace Point Camp and Retreat Center. Although we had a summer full of wonderful campers and even better fellowship, I am ready to jump back into the St. Peter's community. This fall will be jam-packed with both fun and ministry with events such as cookouts, hiking, bowling, corn mazes, haunted houses, and even a youth retreat to Grace Point! In order to stay up-to-date with what is going on, please read your announcements and newsletters! You will not want to be left out of the loop! If you have any questions concerning the fall schedule or the Youth program as a whole, please feel free to contact me at jodydavis@stpeters.org. Peace! Please join us on Sunday, September 11, as we begin an exciting year at St. Peter s Church. Our theme this year is Seek Pray Love. We will seek to discover who we are as a parish as we begin the search process for a new priest. During this time we will pray for guidance and for our Search Committee while doing our best to love each other. There will be a combined service at 10:00 am, followed by a lunch in the Bracewell Room. During lunch we will hear from our Search Committee, Christian Education leaders, and the Rev. John Bonner, our Interim Rector. (There will be no Sunday school on this day.) Make plans now to be there! Blessing of the Animals We will celebrate the birthday of St. Francis on Sunday, October 9, with a blessing of the animals in the parking lot at the 9:00 am service. Bring your well-behaved pets on this special day as we remember a saint who valued all living things. (There will be no Sunday school on this day.) Page 8

6 St. Peter s ROTA Those Who Serve September 2016 SUNDAY September 4 September 11 September 18 September 25 7:30 9:07 Altar Guild Lay Eucharistic Minister Nancy Johnson, Joe Marland Deb Stephens, John Joralemon Carter Lynch Joe Marland Sound System Frank Pinchak Frank Pinchak Frank Pinchak Frank Pinchak Altar Guild Greeters Everyone Everyone Everyone Everyone Lay Eucharistic Minister Steve Hunt Cherie Adkins, Kristy Dalton, Jan Strunk, Nancy Johnson, Sarah Poole, Tony Burgess Rob Norred Sarah Poole Sound System Volunteer needed Volunteer needed Volunteer needed Volunteer needed Acolytes Tim Andrews, George Brant, Kendall Farr Duncan Harris, Ethan Steele, Grace Steele Tim Andrews, Connor Nelson, William Nelson Rowe Cooper, Jenny Hannah, McKenzie Topping Altar Guild Harriet Hamilton, Sadie Hannah, Jenny Hannah, Tilda Wall Kim Kilgore, Ann Swafford, Susan Harris, Susan Self,, Connie Trieber Linda Elkins, Susan Reid Element Bearers Norm & Linda Elkins Scott & Kim Steele Fonda & Patty Harwell Jaye & Susan Harris Fellowship James & Bylinda Bell Claire Brant Susan Crawford Nan Riefler 11:00 Greeters Everyone Everyone Everyone Everyone Lay Eucharistic Minister Lector/Intercessor Tony Burgess, Jacqueline Hoover Ellie Pickett/ James Bell Kim Kilgore, Joani Koch Anne Spratt/ Lauren Topping Sound System John Trieber Richard & Sam Weems John Trieber Richard & Sam Weems Tellers & Vestry Rep Ushers James Bell, Mary Alice Northern, Terri Williams Jerry Arnold, James Bell, Norm Elkins, Connor Roberts, Susan Self Susan Harris, Fonda Harwell, Scott Steele Ron Abston, Fonda Harwell, Mitch Harwell, Chip Stansbury, Scott Steele Tim Andrews, Bruce Johnson, Sr. Rardy Spratt/ Chip Stansbury Kim Steele, Charlie Willett, Terri Williams Fred Koch, Odell Leinart, Myron Rogers, Charlie Willett Christy Cooper, Claire Brant Rena Stansbury/ Connor Roberts Ron Abston, Bill James, Mary Alice Northern David Andreae, Tim Andrews, Bill James, Susan Reid SATURDAY September 3 September 10 September 17 September 24 Altar Guild Susan Self, Richard Smith, Deb Stephens, Cherie Adkins, Nancy Johnson, Linda Elkins, Susan Reid, If you cannot serve on your assigned day, please make arrangements for your own replacement.