The Angelus. January 2017

Transcription

1 The Angelus Monthly Publication of the Church of Our Saviour January 2017 Dear friends of the Church of Our Saviour, Merry Christmas! I hope your Feast celebrating God in the flesh is meaningful and joyful. I give thanks to God to serve in his Church with you in this wonderful pocket of Atlanta. We are a parish committed to serving the God who took on our humanity in Jesus Israel s Christ who is the firstborn of all creation, the head of the Church, and the author of our salvation. As followers of Jesus Christ we share our life with one another in the body, the Church, and we invite all people to be reconciled with God and with each other, and to live lives grounded in holiness, kindness, charity, and truth. As I sit to write to you I have just returned from the WSB TV and Radio offices on West Peachtree in Midtown. I was invited, along with a priest from All Saints Episcopal Church, to discuss the facts of Christmas. The show aired on Christmas Eve, but I understand that it will be available on the website should you want to give it a listen. News outlets want to know who, what, where, when, how? I was not surprised when the conversation got started in a way that picked up a couple of discrepancies in the Gospel accounts and challenged the over simplification of children s bibles. All well and good read the synoptic gospel accounts and compare them, ask questions, wonder about when the Magi turned up to see Jesus, what Mary and Joseph did the day after, and all the rest; but, I am afraid the Biblical accounts of Jesus birth are not exactly like a headline newspaper article. So I subtly tried to shift the focus and back up a bit. I wanted to explore the meaning of Christmas and to give the listeners the chance to hear for the first time the astonishing news that God has taken on our flesh, or, more likely, for people who know the story to hear it afresh and think about it from a different angle. Early Christian writers worked very hard in trying to figure how to say that God has taken on our flesh and become human and that this does not change God. They used language, especially in the fourth century, such as this: God from God, or Light from Light, to get at the mystery of who Jesus is. In him the fullness of God was pleased to dwell; he is the icon or image of the invisible God. Not God as such, but God from God. Christmas, the celebration of Jesus of Nazareth s birth, is about God. The central meaning of the season is that God saw it fitting to dwell among us, as one of us, as the Son of Man. God from God, Light from Light, begotten not made, of one being with the Father. Jesus is the miracle, God in the flesh is the grace, and Christmas made the dream come true. Wishing you every blessing this Christmastide, Father Zachary Thompson

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3 Other Events and Feast Days in January The Feast of The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ Friday, January 6, 2017 The Feast of The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ Sunday, January 1, 2017 January 6, 2017, is the Feast of the Epiphany or the Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. Join us at 7:30 pm as we celebrate this Holy Festival. The Feast of the Holy Name of Our Lord will be celebrated on January 1, 2017, at 8:30 and at 11:00 am. We will celebrate the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus instead of our usual Christmas Lessons and Carols as the feast takes precedence. Our regular monthly parish luncheon will follow the 11:00 am service. The Baptism of Our Lord January 8, 2017 On the first Sunday after Epiphany, the Western Church celebrates the Baptism of Our Lord. Please join us for this service. Parish Luncheon January 1, 2017 Our regular First Sunday luncheon will be after the 11:00 Eucharist on Sunday, January 1, Those with last names beginning in A-H are asked to bring a dessert, I-R a main dish, and S-Z a vegetable or side dish. Annual Meeting January 22, 2017 The 93rd Annual Meeting of the Church of Our Saviour will be held after the 11:00 am Solemn Eucharist on Sunday, January 22, Elections will be held for new vestry members and each guild will report. Brunch will be coordinated by the Henry VIII Guild. More information is available on page 4. January 2017 Page 3

4 Annual Parish Meeting January 22, 2017 On January 22, 2017, we will have our annual parish meeting as required by the canons of the church. The only business absolutely required is the election of vestry members. We will meet after the 11:00 mass downstairs for a lunch with the meeting immediately afterwards. Nominations Nominations have been made by the vestry and members of the congregation. We will be electing two people to one-year terms and three people to three-year terms. Forms for this were available in Pettway Hall. Consent of the nominated person was required. In accordance with our By-Laws, all nominations were submitted at least thirty days in advance of the meeting this year, on or before December 23, The nominations were given to Vestry members. Reports Every recognized parish organization is asked to submit an oral report of its activities. If it holds funds which are not under the Treasurer s control, it must include a financial summary. If you have a written copy of your report, please have a copy for the secretary. Who may vote Every person who worships at Our Saviour is encouraged to attend the Annual Meeting and to take a full part in its discussions, asking questions and speaking. Voting members of the parish are those who are baptized, 18 years of age or older, attend the church and receive communion regularly, and who contribute to the mission and ministry of the parish. A preliminary list of qualified voters was posted in Pettway Hall by Sunday, December 25, Please check it, and speak with the rector if you believe your name was wrongly omitted. On the day of the Meeting, the tellers will refer to the Chairman/Rector any person who believes himself or herself eligible to vote whose name does not appear on the final list. We thank those vestry members who have completed their terms for their service to the church. Dowman Wilson, Parish Registrar Birthdays and Anniversaries Birthdays: Jan. 2: Martha Pettway Guillerault 5: Cameron England 7: Father John Bolton Ephraim McLean 9: Sandra Richardson 10: Alison Kay Jarvis 12: Ian James Hagerty Ava Louise Battaglia 19: Rebecca Earnshaw Hudson 23: Roger Davis 24: Father Thee Smith Anniversaries: Jan. 2: Rich & Caroline Nuckolls 24: Steve & Kathy Jaggers Page 4 January 2017

5 A Bit of History: Our Baptismal Font By Oreta Hinamon Campbell January being the month we celebrate Jesus baptism it seems appropriate to say a few words about the baptismal font which stands at the back of Our Saviour under the statue of Our Lady. To start with, our baptismal font is 149 years old. It is made of Caen Stone, a form of fine-grained limestone imported from France and used primarily in churches. Our font was made in It was originally given to Saint Peter s Church in Rome, Georgia, by Trinity Church in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, to replace the one destroyed by occupying Union forces in 1864 and as a gesture of healing and unity after the Recent Unpleasantness of the War Between the States. When Saint Peter s Church remodeled their Baptistery in the early 1900s a new font was donated to them and Saint Peter s gave the Caen Stone font to the Church of Our Saviour to help out what was then a newly founded church. We are grateful and honored to have it in our Church. Morning Hymn by John Keble ( ) New every morning is the love Our wakening and uprising prove, Through sleep and darkness safely brought, Restored to life, and power, and thought. New mercies, each returning day, Hover around us while we pray; New perils past, new sins forgiven, New thoughts of God, new hopes of heaven. If, on our daily course, our mind Be set to hallow all we find, New treasures still, of countless price, God will provide for sacrifice. The trivial round, the common task, Will furnish all we ought to ask; Room to deny ourselves, a road To bring us daily nearer God. Only, O Lord, in thy dear love Fit us for perfect rest above; And help us this and every day To live more nearly as we pray. January 2017 Page 5

6 Epiphany and the Season After Epiphany By Oreta Hinamon Campbell January 6, the Feast of the Epiphany, is the day on which the Western Church ends the Christmas season by remembering the coming of the Magi, the Wise Men, to the infant Jesus. On this day the church celebrates God s manifestation to the world, and specifically, his inclusion of non-jews Gentiles in the salvation He planned for it. Over the years many legends have sprung up about these Wise Men: that there were three of them; that one was Black, one Oriental and one Caucasian; that their names were Balthasar, Caspar and Melchior. But we don t really know much about them. The word Epiphany comes from the Greek epiphaneia, meaning a showing, appearance, or revelation. The Eastern church understood this showing to mean not only Jesus s birth, but His manifestation to the Wise Men, His Baptism and the first miracle at Cana as well. At first, the Eastern Churches celebration on January 6 focused on Christ s birth; this was their celebration of Christmas, and the day is sometimes referred to as Olde Christmas. When the Eastern church (following the Roman example) moved its Christmas celebration to December 25, its liturgy on the Epiphany came to focus primarily on the Baptism of Jesus, celebrated with a solemn blessing of the waters. The West celebrates the Baptism of Jesus on the Sunday following the Feast of the Epiphany. Roman Catholics call the time between the Feast of the Epiphany and Ash Wednesday Ordinary Time, that is, time that does not belong to a specific season. Episcopalians celebrate the Epiphany as the beginning of a pseudoseason: The Book of Common Prayer lists Epiphany as a season, but the Sundays are not called Sundays in or of Epiphany, but rather Sundays after the Epiphany. The unifying theme during this period is the showing forth of Jesus and the readings during the period focus on Jesus s ministry and miracles. The First Sunday after the Epiphany specifically celebrates Jesus s baptism and the readings for the other Sundays tell of the miraculous works which manifest that He is God-made-man, such as the first miracle at Cana. During this time we also celebrate, on February 2, another showing forth, The Presentation of the Lord Jesus in the Temple, formerly called The Feast of the Purification of Mary, and commonly called Candlemas ; it is also called Hypapante in Greek. Forty days after the birth of Jesus his parents took him to the temple to be consecrated to the Lord, in accordance with Jewish tradition. Also in accordance with Jewish tradition, Mary would have undergone a ritual purification after childbirth at this time. It was during this visit that Jesus was seen and recognized as the Messiah by first Simeon and then Anna. These events have been celebrated by the church from at least the fourth century. Sometime in the eighth century, a candlelight procession and blessing of candles were added to the service for the feast to celebrate Saint Simeon s acclamation of the infant Christ as the Light to lighten the Gentiles. Simeon s prayer, the Nunc Dimittis (Luke 2: 29-32), has become part of the Church s Daily Office, used as a canticle at the close of the day. In the Episcopal church the last Sunday of this period celebrates the Transfiguration of Jesus. On this Sunday, we recall how Jesus and three of his apostles, Peter, James and John went to a mountain to pray. As Jesus prays, he begins to shine with a heavenly light and the prophets Moses and Elijah appear with him. God s voice is heard, saying that Jesus is his Son. The last day of Epiphany is Mardi Gras, a grand celebration. The season following Epiphany is Lent. Page 6 January 2017

7 Then we came to a tavern with vine-leaves over the lintel, Six hands at an open door dicing for pieces of silver, And feet kicking the empty wine-skins, But there was no information, and so we continued And arrived at evening, not a moment too soon Finding the place; it was (you may say) Satisfactory. The Journey of the Magi by T. S. Eliot ( ) A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For the journey, and such a long journey: The ways deep and the weather sharp, The very dead of winter. And the camels galled, sore-footed, refractory, Lying down in the melting snow. There were times we regretted The summer palaces on slopes, the terraces, And the silken girls bringing sherbet. Then the camel men cursing and grumbling And running away, and wanting their liquor and women, And the night fires going out, and the lack of shelters, And the cities hostile and the towns unfriendly And the villages dirty and charging high prices: A hard time we had of it. At the end we preferred to travel all night, Sleeping in snatches, With the voices singing in our ears, saying That this was all folly. All this was a long time ago, I remember, And I would do it again, but set down This set down This: were we led all that way for Birth or Death? There was a Birth, certainly, We had evidence and no doubt. I had seen birth and death, But had thought they were different; this Birth was Hard and bitter agony for us, like Death, our death, We returned to our places, these Kingdoms, But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation, With an alien people clutching their gods. I should be glad of another death. Then at dawn we came down to a temperate valley, Wet, below the snow line, smelling of vegetation; With a running stream and a water-mill beating the darkness, And three trees on the low sky, And an old white horse galloped away in the meadow. January 2017 Page 7

8 Budgeting is the allocation of the church s resources, in accordance with a plan, for the achievement of its objectives and goals. The church budget is one of the most effective tools available for the proper stewardship of the church s assets (The Episcopal Church: Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs, I-1). The Church of Our Saviour operates with an annually adopted budget in which resources are carefully and conscientiously allocated to support the needs of our clergy and staff, our worship and programs, our physical plant, and our outreach. The Every Member Canvass and pledges received inform the Treasurer, Finance Committee, and Vestry what level of revenue the parish can anticipate for the coming year. Recent expense levels, along with input gathered from the rector and others responsible for church administration and programs, provide a framework for allocating that revenue through the framework of a budget. The Treasurer and Finance Committee worked diligently this year to draft an operating budget for the coming year. As Treasurer, I want to express my gratitude for the Finance Committee s work to consider and complete the draft budget. In a busy time of the year, the committee met twice: to receive instruction, then to give input and direction, considering anticipated resources and needs the budget represents in the time in between. The Vestry received and adopted the proposed budget as proposed for 2017 at its last meeting of the year. The budget that was adopted was based on Trailing 12-month (T-12) information through October 2016, along with the pledges and other input that had been received to date. (Final accounting for the current year is not typically available until after the end of January.) The Committee made the following observations and notes: Revenue Revenue for the Church of Our Saviour is comprised of pledge income and freewill offerings. The parish does not have endowment as a source of funding. The Every Member Canvass for 2017, at the time of budget preparation, indicated 42 pledges totaling $158,940. This was the same number of pledging households as in 2016, but approximately $6,000 more. Non-pledged income increased significantly in 2016, and 2017 was budgeted at just slightly less than the T-12 indication for the current year. Over the past decade and through 2016, the parish received financial support from the diocesan bishop; this support ended December We are fortunate to continue to receive a supplement of $22,500 from the diocese for Father Thompson s work as chaplain at Emory; however, there is no indication this will continue beyond the current year. Expenses Generally, expenses are based on recent history, along with gathered input from the rector and others responsible for church administration and programs. A number of expenses are fixed or contractual in nature, for example: insurance, employee benefits and taxes, mortgage interest, etc. Staff expense (about 53% of budgeted expense) includes the salary and benefits for our rector, organist/choirmaster, and parttime administrative support. No salary increases were incorporated for Program expenses (3% of budget) support our proclamation of the Good News and Page 8 January 2017

9 include worship supplies, the Sunday school program, and music. The 2017 budgeted expense in this category remains unchanged from Administration (7% of budget) includes office equipment and supplies, postage, and telephone. This category remains largely unchanged from Review for opportunities to save on these costs is ongoing. Property costs (27% of budget) include utilities, insurance, mortgage interest, and maintenance of our church buildings and rectory. Our property is utilized every day of the week: in worship and in ministries like Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous. For 2017, this category reflects slightly higher utility costs and costs to upkeep aging facilities and systems. We continue to look for opportunities to save on these costs where we can. The 2017 budget maintains a provision of 3% of operating revenue for capital reserves, which are transferred to the Permanent Maintenance Fund in anticipation of future major repairs. Outreach (10% of budget) includes our diocesan assessment, which supports missions in Operating Fund Revenue 2016 Budget 2017 Budget Contribution Income $ 221,790 $ 236,887 Non-Contribution Income 46,375 31,000 Total, Operating Revenue $ 268,165 $ 267,887 Expenses Personnel $ 148,285 $ 149,915 Programs 8,750 8,750 Administration 20,088 20,200 Physical Plant 74,058 76,712 Outreach 26,309 27,269 Total, Operating Expenses $ 277,490 $ 282,846 Net Revenue (Expense) $ (9,325) $ (14,959) our diocese and the world, as well as community ministries. This item increased slightly for the coming year, as our diocesan assessment increased. The budget adopted shows a net deficit of just under $15,000 for the coming year. While the parish does not have the resources to engage in deficit spending on a continuing basis, the Finance Committee and Vestry chose to adopt this budget noting the following: The initial indications (T-12) for the current year (2016) are that despite a budget that was adopted with a deficit, the year will end at break-even or at a small surplus. We must deal with the realities of maintaining the facilities that house our worship and outreach programs. We are committed to maintaining the programs and ministries we have and to supporting growing priorities such as Christian education. With the growth in attendance that we are continuing to experience, there is the hope that we will see giving increase. It is my hope as Treasurer that sharing the budget and a brief account of its formation will give confidence to the parish that its resources are being conscientiously directed and managed. As the year goes on, the Treasurer, Finance Committee, and Vestry will maintain its focus on how the budget compares with our actual experience and will respond as needed. We are committed to balancing practices that are sound for our current and future financially stability with the work and goals of the parish s mission and ministry. January 2017 Page 9

10 Monthly Duties and Regular Meetings... Subdeacons and Chalice-Bearers Jan. 1: Amy Dills-Moore, liturgical deacon Eric Strange, subdeacon 8: Amy Dills-Moore, liturgical deacon Dowman Wilson, subdeacon 15: David Stabler, subdeacon Edgar Randolph, chalice-bearer Michael Miller, crucifer 22: Amy Dills-Moore, liturgical deacon Eric Strange, subdeacon 29: Amy Dills-Moore, liturgical deacon Dowman Wilson, subdeacon Michael Miller, crucifer St. Bernadette's Flower Guild Jan. 1 Julie Roberts & Kerry L.Henderson Jan. 8 Soojeong Herring Jan. 15 Mary Hallenberg Jan. 22 Chris McGehee & Melissa Hamid Jan. 29 TBA Coordinator: Mary Hallenberg Coordinator: Dowman Wilson Hosting After 11:00 Service January 1 Covered Dish Luncheon January 8 Stephanie Fox and Charla Allen January 15 Catherine Hunt and Jim Hamilton January 22 Annual meeting Coordinator: Kathy Davis Saint Anne s Altar Guild January 7 James Carvalho & Dan Grossman January 14 Julie Roberts January 21 William Gatlin & K. L. Henderson January 28 Donald Hinamon & Meg Richardson Coordinators: Chris McGehee and Alex Smith Saint Fiacre s Garden Guild The Guild gathers on the second Saturday of each month to work on the grounds and garden of the parish. So, please come by between 9:30 am and noon on Saturday, January 14, 2017, and offer your skills for as much time as you can spare. Coordinator: Kathie Spotts Page 10 January 2017

11 January 2017 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY 1 HOLY NAME 8:30 Said Mass 9:45 Adult & Children s Education 11 am High Mass followed by luncheon 2 3 Christmas Feria 7 pm Healing Mass 4 Christmas Feria 7 am Mass 5 Christmas Feria 6 FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY 7:30 pm Solemn Mass 7 John of Beverly, EPIPHANY I 8:30 Said Mass 9:45 Adult & Children s Education 11 am High Mass 9 Julia Chester Emery, William Laud, pm Healing Mass 11 Of the Octave 7 am Mass 12 Aelred, Hilary of Poitiers, Kentigern, 612 9:30 am Garden Guild 15 EPIPHANY II 8:30 Said Mass 9:45 Adult & Children s Education 11 am High Mass 6 pm Sacred Harp Sing in Garrison Hall Antony of Egypt, pm Healing Mass 18 Confession of Saint Peter 7 am Mass 19 Wulfstan, Fabian, Agnes, EPIPHANY III 8:30 Said Mass 9:45 Adult & Children s Education 11 am High Mass followed by ANNUAL MEETING 23 Phillips Brooks, Francis DeSales, pm Healing Mass 25 Conversion of Saint Paul 7 am Mass 26 Timothy & Titus 27 John Chrysostom, Thomas Aquinas 1274 Vestry Retreat 29 EPIPHANY IV 8:30 Said Mass 9:45 Adult & Children s Education 11 am High Mass 30 Charles Stuart, Feria 7 pm Healing Mass

12 The Church of Our Saviour 1068 North Highland Avenue Atlanta, GA (404) Address Service Requested Father Zachary Thompson, Rector The Angelus DATED MATERIAL PLEASE DO NOT DELAY January 2017 Oreta Hinamon Campbell, Editor Pg 1 Pg 2 Pg 3 Pg 4 Pg 4 Pg 5 Pg 6 Pg 6 Pg 7 Pg 8 Pg 10 Pg 11 Table of Contents From Father Thompson Dinner at Holy Comforter January Events Annual Parish Meeting Birthdays and Anniversaries Our Baptismal Font Epiphany, O. Campbell Readings for December Journey of the Magi, T. S. Eliot Living Generously, B. Mullaney Monthly Duties and Regular Meetings Calendar Church of Our Saviour The Rev. Zachary Thompson (Rector) <rector@coos.atl.org> Dr. Daniel Pyle (Organist and Choir Director) Suzanne Ries (Director of GAP) <suzanneries@yahoo.com> Tiffany McGehee (Parish Administrator) <admin@coosatl.org> Mary Burgess (Nursery Attendant) Ellen Hopkins (Bookkeeper) Vestry Bert Smith (Senior Warden) <trebsmith@gmail.com> Eric Henken (Junior Warden) <ehenken7@gmail.com> Brian Mullaney (Treasurer) <treasurer@coosatl.org> Claude Chattin (Sexton) <cchattin@gmail.com> Rich Nuckolls <Rich@bluestonebranch.com> Roger Press <p.is.roger@gmail.com> Jim Gerhart <jgerhart53@gmail.com> Dowman Wilson (Registrar) <dowmanwil@yahoo.com> Alexis Leifermann <aalmann@bellsouth.net>