The Song of Saint Francis

Transcription

1 The Song of Saint Francis Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church Salter Path, North Carolina December /5, 12/6 It s a Date! Carolina East Singers concert 12/6 Parish Annual Meeting and vestry election 12/9 Prayer Shawl ministry 12/12 Serving at Hope Mission 12/13 Celtic Christmas Concert 12/19 First Presbyterian carol sing and luncheon 12/20 Children s pageant 12/24 Christmas service 12/26 Messiah Sing-Along 1/6 Taizé service 1/27 ECW Bunco 2/9 Pancake supper Several of you have asked what it is like for me this Christmas, the second since I entered and, after a long while, exited the wilderness of bereavement. For a long time I talked often about what was going on with me. It is important to tell you that my experience of bereavement is personal to me alone. I have learned from this time that it is best to follow your nose, to be who you are, to let things develop naturally and to accept as things are they are now. This opens the door for you to learn a great deal about who you are and how you are put together. And it allows the creative forces within you to pull together and get you on down the path. Many of you know that I turned the TV off last November except for baseball and now football games. Otherwise I am in silence when I am home. I am still interested in getting in touch with my own deepest feelings and find that silence allows that to happen far easier. Evenso, I bought a better TV so that the games are in better focus. Go figure! I also bought a new Christmas tree, and that is a big clue to where I am right now. It is not a tree from my This Christmas, For Me past. It is one of those tall skinny trees like I hope to be one day. All the decorations are new except for a couple of ornaments that I painted decades ago and one shiny red apple that shouts New York. The theme is Irish, with mostly green ornaments and a few gold ones to make it pop. So far as I can tell there has never been a Christmas tree like this anywhere in my family. I have come to a place in this journey in which I celebrate new things, current experiences, people in my life now. I don t want to be awash in memories but aware of this very Christmas, this weather, leaves that are falling from the trees in my yard right now, the slope of the land, stars, the crook of the holly tree heavy with berries, awaking early in the morning collecting colors and sounds and sometimes conversations. With these raw materials I am making a new life, and it feels very good, absolutely right, and I am lucky beyond words. So the tree is decorated as Irish as can be, dripping green and a little gold (there is this thing about a pot of (Continued on page 2)

2 Page 2 gold) and underneath it is a Santa dressed in tartan, playing bag pipes and looking grand. Today I will find a wreath for the door. Christmas is coming to this quiet house. The tree is up but the aroma is not here yet. I remember the smells of Christmases past, the turkey and giblet gravy, the dressing and sweet potatoes with melted marshmallows, ambrosia and pecan pies. I remember brown paper bags filled with fruit and nuts and chocolate drops that we got from church. This Christmas most of those things will not be present in my house, and the people associated with them, grandparents, parents, Phyllis, many dogs, are dead now. I will have the children and grandchildren over for a Christmas meal, but the smells will most As we approach the winter holiday season, my thoughts turn to family. Spending time together and sharing meals, catching up with those we haven t seen in a while, enjoying casual conversations, a good laugh, food, and maybe watching some football. I find comfort being with close ones because you know if you need help, they will answer the call. Or if you just want someone to listen, there s a willing ear. Family to me means support will be there when I need it. The St. Francis family is all this. Those that were able to participate in this year s Lobster fest and all I ve been involved in were tired at the end of a long day, but there was a bonding; knowing together we had succeeded in a major event. Giving your time and talent gives much satisfaction. In our parish there are many people that do so much. Father Everett leads us all along with Deacon Carol, the choir that practices every week and are the first ones at church every Sunday, the altar guild preparing the elements and setting the altar, the lay ministry, vergers, vestry, sound board operators, arts committee, grounds and labyrinth, outreach, youth ministry, nursery and Sunday School volunteers, finance and endowment committees, communications, ECW, fundraising, hospitality, lobster fest, stewardship, weddings, and Family by Stover Morris likely come from Mindy s and maybe a honey baked ham. There will be laughter and joy, and getting to know the new edition of the dad sitting at the head of the table. Who knows, maybe there will be a brand new great granddaughter as well. There is an oratory in my house now. A small section of the sun porch has been designated for prayers. Most of the prayers that are offered in this space are prayers of gratitude, and they are about you, and what you have done for me to enable me to live again. You have not, even the first time, piled high expectations on me, or wanted me to be other than who I am. You have allowed me space and support in my journey. I hope to pass on to others the gift you have given me. Everett+ many more. And what some would call employees are just as much family as any other member, Sharon, Linda, and David. But even with all that it takes to run this spiritual center, I ask can we do more. There are those that are willing and want to serve and we need your help to grow our service. We live in a community whose members are predominately retired and aging, many with no family nearby. And some need our help. There is a need to extend meal delivery to the central part of the island. Could we be part of the solution? Can we become a community center for the aging by providing a place for meetings, a local source of cultural events such as our upcoming Celtic Christmas concert, and a church they can be comfortable attending? As we grow our services to the surrounding community, we will in turn grow ourselves. We are also adding a new Maintenance Committee that is open to all. Our building and campus is always in need of work: painting, landscaping, clean up, organizing, etc. Or maybe you would like to join one of the other groups listed above but never really knew how. Here s how, tell a vestry member you want to participate. We would love to have you and you will love doing it. What are your talents and can you spare some time? Time and talent are as important as contributing your treasure and we need all three to support the St. Francis family.

3 Page 3 Grace Notes by Linda Laughton, Music Director All are invited to the Carolina East Singers' Christmas Concert, 4pm Saturday and Sunday December 5 and 6 at First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City. John Rutter's MAGNIFICAT is featured along with Shaw's Many Moods of Christmas with live orchestral accompaniment. Meg Bradford, Craig Griffin, Libba Shelton, Robin Smith and I sing in the 65-member choir and the ensemble, and Robin is a soloist in the Magnificat. Tickets are $10 and are available at First Presbyterian, First Citizen's Bank Beaufort, Williams Hardware or from Craig Griffin. All are welcome to the second annual MESSIAH Sing-along, Saturday, December 26. Doors open at 4:00, the music starts at 5:00. Bring your own oratorio. Spectators welcome! Registration ($16) for all seats. Contact, Registrar, at ldavies@ec.rr.com or (910) Conducted Join us for the first by Lewis Moore with David Leahey, organist; ticketed concert event Chris Ellis and Dee Braxton-Pelligrino, violin; at St. Francis by the Heather Barlow, viola and Barbara Gates, cello. Sea, the Jennifer Licko Experience the splendor of Handel's MESSIAH in Carrere band featuring the magical acoustic space of St. Francis by the Patrick Mangum from Sea a gift to ourselves! RIVERDANCE The choir will present its lovely presents Celtic Taize service of Light and Christmas Concert, Silence on Wednesday, 3pm Sunday, January 6 at 6pm. Bring only December 13. your hearts and experience a Tickets ($15) are direct infusion of God's love available online at or contact Craig Griffin at through music, silence and prayer in the beautiful sanctuary (252) ; craigrgriffin@aol.com. of St. Francis by the Sea. All are All are invited for carolling with the choir at the welcome. annual Christmas Cheer Luncheon for the needy, On behalf of the choir, I wish you Merry Saturday, December 19 at First Presbyterian Church in Morehead City. We don our jingly Christmas and God's Peace --Linda reindeer antlers and Santa hats at noon and sing carols while lunch is being served. Then, after we all eat, we stay to help with clean-up. The singing begins at noon and we finish clean-up by 2pm. Come and experience carolling with the St. Francis by the Sea choir! The children celebrate the season on Sunday, December 20 with their annual nativity pageant. The 10 am service will include four readings by the youth, a Gospel reading, a beautiful choral anthem, communion and an assortment of Christmas hymns for all to sing. Parish in-gathering luncheon to celebrate the end of the pledge season.

4 Page 4 Reaffirmation by The Rev. Carol Eaton, Deacon Recently Bishop Skirving visited St. Francis by the Sea and St. Peter s bythe-sea, Swansboro, for Confirmation, Reception and Reaffirmation. It certainly was exciting for me to be a part of the education program for the confirmands and those being received into the Episcopal Church. I also was amazed and interested in the large number of people who came forward for reaffirmation in both churches. In the past I have observed only a few people coming for reaffirmation, usually a spouse of the one being confirmed. I took this to mean that they were giving support to their nervous spouse. But I have come to realize that reaffirmation is so much more. One dictionary defines reaffirmation as to make a renewed commitment to something, usually verbally. If you reaffirm something you are once again repeating your original belief. Many couples reaffirm their marriage vows stating again their love and repeating their original promises. During Holy Week Episcopal clergy and other denominations renew their ordination vows reaffirming their beliefs and their commitment to the church. During the Confirmation service those who come forward for reaffirmation are also renewing The Baptismal Covenant. The Bishop then declares, may the Holy Spirit, who has begun a good work 3 Andy Culpepper 9 Jesse Randall 9 Marilyn Smetana 10 Dee Fearrington 12 Sadie Pruitt 13 Ray Gouge in you, direct and uphold you in the service of Christ and his kingdom. (The Book of Common Prayer) As a deacon I am to encourage and assist those who are reaffirming their faith in works of mercy and justice. ( Deacons in the Liturgy by Ormande Plater ) It s that good work that has begun in you that I am called to direct and to uphold in you. It would be interesting to explore this together. What acts of mercy and justice are being accomplished at St. Francis? Is there a new ministry that might be bubbling in you? Is there something you have been doing that needs expansion? Every Sunday we profess the Nicene Creed that reaffirms our faith as a community and individually. Thus I invite anyone who would like to explore their ministry in a new way or begin a new ministry to speak to me and we can set up a time to gather together as a group or individually. December Birthdays 15 Tracy Pruitt 17 Braylen Venable 18 Ellen Marriott 18 Libba Shelton 18 Claudia Sulloway 25 Chris Walters Blessings, Carol Prayer Shawl...Plus! Endowment Fund Match $5,750 to go! 27 Nancy Carpenter 27 Debbie McLean 28 Matt Dressel 28 Rick VanBenthuysen 30 John Clarke 30 Lu Snipes The Prayer Shawl Ministry will gather on Wednesday, December 9 at 10:00 in the parish hall. Come and share your talent, whether or not your item is intended for the Prayer Shawl Ministry. All are welcome to join the gathering to knit one and pray too. Yarn is available free of charge. Beginners are always welcome!

5 Page 5 Thanks to Everyone Again by Everett Thomas We just had our first Celtic Evensong and Eucharist, an ambitious undertaking for a parish of our size. All the other parishes that I know that offer a service like this dwarf us in size but not in heart. I have wanted to do a service like this for many years and, because of so many of you, it finally happed. This is the morning after and I am thinking about all the people who I want to thank. The list is amazingly long. There was music, glorious music by the choir and piano solos by Linda Laughton. There was an incredible guitar solo by Charlie McCurry. Both of our vergers helped to set up the candles (which were everywhere) and the icons. There were acolytes, and presenters, and our deacon, Carol Eaton. The altar guild was at work, as were greeters and photographers and a poet who shows us the way. Behind the scenes the programs were created and the folding ministry (usually ) made gorgeous programs available for everyone. Also behind the scenes were those people who I knew would be present if they could but health or distance prevented their attendance. I felt their prayers. We all did. The Angel Tree is up and ready for you to choose your angels. This has been a very popular outreach project at St. Francis over the years, and I am so pleased at how eager our Parish is to participate again. Go ahead and pick up your angels from the tree and keep them in mind as you make your holiday plans & shopping! We will be cooking our annual Meatloaf Dinner at Hope Mission s Soup Kitchen on December12th. We need cooks, servers, clean up crew and dessert donations. There is a sign up sheet posted downstairs at St. Francis. It is so much fun and such a heart-warming experience to participate in, so please join us in supporting this event. Outreach by Amy Hahn In fact, I felt a lot of prayers in our church. There was plenty of silence, and the silence was not empty but full and muscular. The people who came seemed to need exactly what was being offered: a beautiful and quiet place in which to be with God and to be with each other. It took all of us to do this, and it is my pleasure to offer you praise and thanks. We did a new thing on this island, and we did it well. We can offer this again with slight changes since I learned a lot from our experience. It is an amazing fellowship that we share. I believe that we can do whatever is needed to follow our Lord in ministry and service. We can dream and imagine and create together. We have a new year ahead of us, and our experiences have taught us that we can do amazing things together. I look forward to this new beginning with you. I think we will be amazed at the gifts God is storing for us in the year With much love, Everett+ We are still collecting non-perishable food items for Martha s Mission Cupboard. Suggested items include: canned vegetables & fruits, peanut butter & jelly, cereal and granola bars, cooking oil, spaghetti & pasta sauce, macaroni & cheese, cake mix & frosting, popcorn, snack crackers & rice. Personal items such as shampoo, deodorant, baby diapers, soap, toothpaste, etc. are also needed. Cash donations are always welcome too. Winter Coats & Jackets are always needed this time of year and can be placed in the bin labeled Hope Mission, downstairs at the church. Hats, scarves & gloves are needed too. We will take those items to the Mission periodically for those in need. We will also be delivering 131 pairs of socks that were collected at St. Francis during Soctober. As always, thank you for all of your help! Amy Hahn

6 Page 6 For the Kids of St. Francis by Marian Goetzinger I recently came across a file folder labeled Children s Round Up. Going through that file was fun and affirming. It was dated April, 2012 when we had suddenly found ourselves with no Sunday School teachers. As the grandmother of three of St. Francis little ones, ages 7, 8 and 9, I was determined that we offer something for our youngsters. When Father Everett suggested we suspend youth services until the fall I reluctantly agreed to work with them for the summer just for three months. I asked Meredith Westbrook and Amy Hahn, my daughters and the mothers of the three children what they thought and together we devised a plan for the Round Up. We invited every child we knew between the ages of 4 and 12 and their parents. We met in the fellowship hall. There were 12 adults and 12 children present. We had an agenda of questions. We asked the children what would it take for them to want to participate. What would they like to do for Sunday School, our parish and the community. Their answers were surprising and beautiful. Their delightful answers are recorded in the notes from that meeting. They wanted more singing, dancing and painting in Sunday School; they wanted a Vacation Bible School; they wanted to clean up the path to the sound behind the church so they could do more things at the sittum. They wanted to help feed the hungry people in the community. They asked if we could have swim parties, sleep-overs and a children s choir. They got very specific. For example, one of the children suggested we make pinecone ornaments at Christmas time. The adults explained that there was no money in the budget for these things and asked the children how they thought we could pay for them. They said they would have a car wash and a yard sale. We asked them how we could bring in more children and the assured us they would bring their friends. We have done all those things and much more with one exception. We still have no children s choir but we are learning songs and singing and we have a youth leader who is working with them. Thanks Charlie McCurry. We have had three wonderful Vacation Bible Schools. Thanks Meredith. We have served several times at Hope Mission. We have cleared the path. We have had sleepovers, swim parties, yard sales and car washes. We discovered Godly Play for Sunday School and we sing, dance and paint a lot. This year we finally made pinecone ornaments. We have also trained and involved 12 acolytes and raised the money for new vestments; many parishioners have joined the parents as volunteers in the youth program; we have raised money for hungry people and for our schools; and we have brought our friends. Watch out 2016! We have big plans!

7 December 12/6 Annual Meeting Lay Ministry Schedule 12/13 12/20 12/14 5:00 Christmas Eve Page 7 12/27 Youth Sunday Vestry Terry Griffin Terry Griffin Terry Griffin Stover Morris Harold O Briant Lector Dan Riddle KIDS Mary Kurek KIDS Prayers Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Chalice Altar Guild Andy & Marilyn Smetana Bobbie Hill Mary Anne Ragland Pat Jones Meg Bradford Mary Anne Ragland Jolene McCann Marilyn Smetana Meg Bradford Phyllis Makuck Jolene McCann Marian Goetzinger Linda Seale Terry Griffin Tim Bradford Marian Goetzinger Betsy Randall Crucifer Pat Jones Scott Shelton Tim Bradford Scott Shelton KIDS Torch Bearers Tim Bradford Beth Beswick Jim Turner Beth Beswick Terry Griffin Marian Goetzinger Sound System John Marriott Kyle Venable Larry Castle Stover Morris John Clarke Nursery Bobbie hill Sam Baxter Barbara Bagby??? Bobbie Hill Children s Homily X X X X KIDS Meredith Westbrook Children's Class Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger X X Children s Class Assistant Amy Hahn Rita Roberts Meredith Westbrook X Meredith Westbrook Coffee Hour Carol McVitty Libba & Scott Shelton` Judi Matzke X Mary Beth Parker January 1/3 1/10 1/17 1/24 Youth Sunday Vestry Heather Pace Tim Bradford Larry Castle Harold O Briant Lector Romaine Riddle Prayers Chalice Altar Guild Bobbie Hill Andy & Marilyn Smetana Bobbie Hill Crucifer Pat Jones Beth Beswick Torch Bearers Sound System Nursery Bob Gallo Pat Jones 1/31 Children s Homily X X X Robin Smith X Children's Class Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger Children s Class Assistant Rita Roberts Meredith Westbrook Mary Kurek Amy Hahn Coffee Hour Marion & Stover Morris Betsy & Jay Randall Romaine & Dan Riddle Linda & Richard Seale Heather Pace & Kyle Venable

8 Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church PO Box 7 Salter Path, NC Save the dates! First Class Mail Buy a brick to commemorate something special to you! More info at or contact the church. Adult Forum at 9:00 am; Sunday Service and Children s Class for ages 4 and up at 10:00 am Wednesday Celtic Eucharist at 12:00 noon Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church is a parish in the Diocese of East Carolina The Right Reverend Robert Skirving, Bishop The Rev. Everett Thomas, Ph.D. Phone: (252) stfrancisbts@gmail.com Sharon Watling Parish Administrator Phone: (252) stfrancisbts@gmail.com Linda Laughton Music Director Vestry Class of 2015 Terry Griffin Robin Smith Tom Tempel Vestry Class of 2016 Tim Bradford Stover Morris, Senior Warden Heather Pace Vestry Class of 2017 Larry Castle, Junior Warden Harold O Briant Sharon Watling Clerk of the Vestry David Shapiro Sexton The Song of Saint Francis is a monthly publication of Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church. North side of NC 58 between Mile Marker 10 and 10½ PO Box Salter Path Road, Salter Path, North Carolina (252) All rights reserved stfrancisbts@gmail.com