NEWS FROM THE NARTHEX

Transcription

1 June 2018 NEWS FROM THE NARTHEX At Emmanuel Episcopal Church, we strive to provide people the opportunity for growth in their faith through our mutual love, respect and acceptance of one another. From father Robert AN INVITATION TO GROW IN SPIRITUALITY THIS SUMMER. ALLELUIA! Dear sisters and brothers, Spirituality in the good ol Summer time! I think this might be an interesting concept to reflect on today and in the weeks to come. Perhaps, each of us may be thinking that, since things have slowed down quite a bit, we might be able to sneak some time in for meditation, reflection and prayer. I m not convinced it automatically happens that way. Longer days don t necessarily mean more time, right? And maybe the less structured days with more activities for the family or even the humid weather put a crimp to summer spiritual disciplines! Who knows? What I think I know is that there is always the possibility to do small things with great fervor of the heart and that these may help us see some growth, some change, some hope. So, what might we do? Here are five suggestions. Commit some time, even 5 minutes, to daily prayer. Grab one of the Day by Day booklets and read each day s meditation. Find one line in just one of the 150 Psalms that speaks to your heart and reflect on why that touches you so. How is God speaking to you through those words. It all can be simple and short. The purpose, I think, is to inspire not to overwhelm. Be Grateful! Maybe the longer days of summer afford us the opportunity to notice things that we might not notice during the other seasons. As we are absorbed into the beauty of nature, we have a lot to be thankful for, really. Even with all of the rain of late (perhaps with the exception of western NC), we can still be grateful as new and vibrant colors take over, along with fresh smells and a rainbow or two. God s faithfulness to us can be remembered even in the midst of storms, and we can be grateful. There is so much that we can overlook but, on the other hand, so much that is so clearly a blessing for us. Exercising is a good time for prayer and reflection. So often when walking Jerry (our Wiemaraner) around Veterans Park, we come across walkers and runners wearing earplugs (I don t think they call them that anymore) and listening to music or self help streaming things. Walking or running with God as a companion on our journey might be a way for us to focus on God s presence in our lives and to be open to God in ways we might not be able to otherwise. We have those few moments alone how might we use them for our spiritual well being as much as for our physical health? Reading for many of us is a favorite summer activity. This year try matching the thrillers you love with something uplifting and spiritually challenging that speaks to your soul. Try developing a habit of reading that will bring you into the Fall season as well. These are just some thoughts that I am sure most of you dabble in here and there. I guess I want to hold up for you the intentionality of starting some spiritual practices or disciplines that will allow each of us to be more deeply rooted in our relationship with Christ. I know you can all add on your own favorites. The bottom line is whatever works for you is a good thing so grab aholt of it. In his love, Robert +

2 Performance by the Emmanuel Choir in News from the narthex Emmanuel Episcopal Church Serving the People of God in the name of Bishop Rob Wright of the Diocese of Atlanta and the Vestry Anna Alexander, Pastoral Care Katherine Alexander, Youth Ministry & Day School Liaison Bob Davis, Stewardship & Cornerstone Martha Facemire, Parish Life Randy Forrester, Thrift House Bill Fox, Facilities & Holy Helpers Kerry Hogan, Communications Rob Hoyt, Stewardship Kelli Neil, Parish Life Terrie Seward, Senior Warden Carter Stanfield, MEMC Jan Wheeler, Pastoral Care and supported by the Staff Michael Brewer Georgia Collier Melissa Fulcher Leah Goodwin Clayton Herrington Karen Holland Sam Polk Denise Thomas Amy Wraga and assisted by the Clergy Fr. Robert Salamone, Rector Fr. Samuel Porras, Assoc. Rector 498 Prince Avenue, Athens GA Clayton Herrington is our new associate for youth & Young adult ministries Dear Youth, Parents, and Parishioners of Emmanuel, Grace and peace to you in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord! My name is Clayton Harrington, and I have been called to serve as the Rector s Associate for Youth and Young Adult Ministries, beginning July 1 st. I write this to introduce myself to you and to share my joyful anticipation to get to know you all and to serve, learn, and worship with you. I come to you having previously served as Program Coordinator for Youth Ministry at the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta. Prior to coming on staff at the Cathedral, I was the seminarian there for two years, from August 2015 to May Before moving to Atlanta in August of 2014, I earned a B.A. in History and Religion from Campbell University in North Carolina (May 2014). I am a graduate of Candler School of Theology, having earned a Master of Divinity with a Certificate in Episcopal Studies (May 2017). At Candler, I worked for the Office of Student Programming as a Community and Spiritual Life Coordinator and as a summer Communications Coordinator. I also am an aspirant in the process of discernment for ordained ministry in the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Atlanta. I am excited to continue working with young people. I believe in the potential of Christian community to empower youth and young adults to grow into the people that God has made them to be. Effective youth ministries create spaces where youth can ask tough questions and come to understand for themselves how they will live into the faith that has been handed down to them. Effective youth ministries are also spaces where we can have lots of fun, remembering that our God is a God of joy, laughter, and fun. In addition to my work at Emmanuel, I will also serve as the Episcopal Campus Missioner at UGA. (GO DAWGS!) I look forward to meeting you all very soon! In Christ, Clayton Harrington April to celebrate Emmanuel s 175 th Anniversary

3 3 Our History is Our Story As 2018 marks the 175 th of Emmanuel parts of our story for future generations. Thanks to technology we can now digitize records, etc. and store in an way boxes and files that make them hard to find. To create a digital visual history of Emmanuel, we are looking for photos (like this), confirmations, photos from other events at church over the years. We will scan these and then return them to you. Many of us have forgotten the many changes in our church buildings and its campus. Similarly, styles of clothing, flowers, Sunday school rooms and many other things have changed over time. It will be interesting to see the differences. If you are downsizing and find photos of Emmanuel, don t just discard them. Instead share them with us! If Emmanuel is in the picture, we want to see it. How this project goes will depend on you and your interest. Bring you have to the church office, and we will see what happens! With love & thanks, Helen & Mark Emmanuel Connections The Emmanuel Connection Committee plans six gatherings each calendar year to foster fellowship and learning. This year opened with a January program by Sam Carleton on several of the stained glass windows in the sanctuary. In April a group attended a play at the University Performing Arts Center. Most recently a group of 23 Emmanuelites visited the Hindu Temple in Lilburn to learn about Hindu beliefs and practices. The Mandir is more than a place of worship; it s also a center for social, cultural and spiritual activities. The Lilburn temple, which is one of five centers in the U.S., emphasizes the importance of family harmony, community service, and spiritual progress. It is an architectural wonder built with three types of stone and more than 34,000 individual pieces carved by hand and assembled like a puzzle. Future events are planned for July 12 th, September, and November and anyone interested is encouraged to attend. Watch the Sunday bulletin and e- letters for more information as it becomes available. Vacation Bible School Take a break from the heat and join us for the coolest fun around! Mark your Calendars and Register Today Emmanuel Vacation Bible School Tuesday - Thursday, June :30pm - 8:00pm The Common Room What's in store? Community Evening Meal Music & Movement Arts & Crafts Mission Project supporting our 175th Anniversary Games Galore Snowball Fights! Who can Participate? Intergenerational Fun! Children of all ages with parents, grandparents, sitters or guardians Youth & Adult Volunteers How to Register? Fill out the Registration Form inserted in this issue or on our website or contact Georgia at georgiacollier50@yahoo.com for our online option. We hope you will join us!

4 News from the narthex Let the Children Come... Catechesis of the good shepherd news It is with great joy that the Children s Ministry Team announces that Katherine Barrow and Caroline Clancy have earned their Level I Catechesis of the Good Shepherd certificates.this significant accomplishment requires at least 90 hours of training, thorough knowledge of over 50 presentations, and hands-on experience within the Atrium. This occasion also marks the completion of Bobbi Brandenburg s first course as a Level I Formation Leader. Bobbi is Emmanuel s first catechist to become certified to train other adults to work in the Atrium of the Good Shepherd. Her journey to this point involves more than ten years of training, formation, reflection, and working with children. Please join me in congratulating all three for this wonderful accomplishment as well as their significant contributions to our ministry at Emmanuel! Heavenly Father, We ask you to bless the children who come to our Atria. Help them to understand the depth of Your love. Fill them with Your grace and wisdom. Protect them and keep them under the wings of Your care. May your Holy Spirit be among us, the Catechists, and strengthen us as we feed our lambs. We thank you for the many blessings you have showered upon us, and we pray that Your Spirit may continue to work to nourish our children. We pray that we may glorify you through Emmanuel's Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. Amen. Georgia Collier Come to the Catechesis summer retreat The week of June will be a very special one at Emmanuel as we are hosting a Catechesis Summer Retreat. Please consider taking part and learning more about the spiritual formation programming that our children receive. For this retreat, Emmanuel is bringing a certified trainer to our very own campus to facilitate a course for adults. This training will offer you the chance to consider making a commitment to support the children s formation programs at Emmanuel. It will also give you the tools to discuss God s presence in your own lives and will, I know, nurture your own spiritual growth. In fact, according to the official curriculum, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is also concerned with helping adults open their eyes to the hidden riches of the child, especially to the child s spiritual wealth, so that adults will be drawn to learn from the child and to serve him/her. Every moment with a child offers each of us a learning experience, if we are open. So join me and your fellow Emmanuel Catechists for the retreat. We would love to have as many parishioners as possible participate, whether it is for the full week or just for an afternoon. For childcare, just give me one day s notice. Sunday, June 24th: 1:00-4:00 pm: Orientation to the Work Monday - Friday, June 25-29: 9:00 am 4:00 pm: Level II Training Saturday, June 30: 9:00 am - noon For more information or a personal testimony, please contact Georgia at georgiacollier50@yahoo.com, Father Robert, or any of our recently trained and active Catechists: Bobbi Brandenburg, Ellen Dolphus, Katherine Barrow, Caroline Clancy, and Kerry Hogan. Georgia Collier

5 Emmanuel is 175 years old it s time to celebrate! In 1843 a small group of people came together to grow in spirituality and to provide a place for others to worship, to grow, to give, to serve, and to love. In 2018, 175 years later, Emmanuel continues to grow and serve the needs of Episcopalians in Athens and the surrounding counties. It s time to celebrate this milestone! In the coming months we will have a variety of ways that we can come together to celebrate the 175th Anniversary of the founding of our church. Our first event is the Make Your Mark Potluck on Sunday June 3 rd after the 10:30 service. We invite you to this event and to literally leave your mark on the Common Room. Draw or write on the walls to express your feelings about Emmanuel before the Common Room is renovated this summer, thanks for a large gift to the parish. Bring a side dish and your loved ones to celebrate. Emmanuel will provide fried chicken, the markers and fun. Start thinking about what you want to say to Emmanuel. Details about other events will be forthcoming. In the meantime, save these celebration dates. Sunday, September 22nd: Happy Birthday Emmanuel! Family Celebration October: Commemorative Tree We will plant a commemorative tree at Emmanuel and give seedlings to 175 members of the parish. Thursday, November 15th: 175th Anniversary Fundraising Gala at The Georgian! Celebrate through giving In honor of Emmanuel s 175th Birthday, we are celebrating our mission to give and receive Christ s love with intention by serving the poor, the hungry, the sick, the marginalized, the oppressed, and the outcast within our community, the nation, and the world. Between June and December we will distribute 175 cans of food in June 175 pairs of socks in July 175 bottles of shampoo, combs/hair brushes, tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes, bars of soap, bottles of lotions, and razors in August 175 giving tree gifts for kids in December Celebrate through learning From June through December, each issue of this newsletter will include a short article about some part of Emmanuel. In this issue, the spotlight is on our credence table. Do you want to know more about Emmanuel? Copies of the History of Emmanuel, Part I and Part II are available from the church office for only $ They cover the years up through our 150 th anniversay. Do you want to help research and write the history of the past 25 years? If so, please contact Naomi Norman at nnorman@uga.edu. 5

6 News from the narthex Mrs. Moore s Parlor table: 175 years serving Emmanuel Emmanuel Parish came into being, under providence, as the result of the mutual influence of two great men, and perhaps of one devoted Christian woman. These are Stephen Elliott, William Bacon Stevens, and Elizabeth Stockton Moore. Dr. John H.T. McPherson, 1943 The story begins in 1842 when Bishop Stephen Elliott travelled to Athens. Earlier that year, Governor McDonald appointed him to the Board of Visitors of the University of Georgia, a group of influential men who met each year to gather information about the university and report back to the Governor. The following year, the Bishop s protégé, William Bacon Stevens, newly ordained and appointed as Missionary, accompanied him on a second journey from Savannah. When they arrived in Athens, they found a small but devoted group of worshippers, including Elizabeth Stockton Moore and her husband, Dr. R. D. Moore. Much has been written about these two influential churchmen, both having played important roles in the history not only of the Episcopal Church but also of the state of Georgia. What about that devoted Christian woman, Mrs. Moore? We know that she was the daughter of the governor of Delaware and granddaughter of a signer of the Declaration of Independence and that she arrived in Athens in 1835 with her husband who would become a prominent physician. When she arrived as a new bride, Mrs. Moore found no Episcopal church (or even a chapel) and very few Episcopalians (in Athens itself and even throughout the entire state). Mrs. Moore s table What few Episcopalians there were in Athens at the time came together for worship and fellowship, according to the story, in Mrs. Moore s parlor where she had a very fine American, Empire-style console table in crotched mahogany veneer with pine interior wood. It was a popular style in the 1840s when those few Episcopalians gathered around it in her parlor. A few months after the Bishop s first trip to Athens in 1842, he met with 10 local Athenians to discuss founding an Episcopal church here. They were Mr. R. L. Bloomfield, Mr. W. P. Saye, Dr. James Camak, Mrs. Jane Carr, Mr. E. W. Clark, Mrs. Mary Ann Veitch, Mr. and Mrs. E. P. Clayton, Dr. R. D. Moore, and Mrs. Elizabeth Stanton Moore. In accordance with her wishes, they decided to name the church Emanuel (note the single m ) after her home church in New Castle Delaware. On March 17, 1843, Bishop Elliott arrived in Athens with Deacon Stevens (who had been ordained Deacon in late February). That same night, the group held a service in the Baptist Church; Bishop Elliott read the service and Deacon Stevens preached his very first sermon. And so our church was founded. Through many twists and turns, successes and failures, the small congregation grew and moved from one building to another. Through it all, Mrs. Moore s table had a place in our church. It became known as the church s first altar. More recently it served as the altar in the Founder s Chapel in the north transept. When the church was reconfigured in 2016, the chapel was removed, but the table remained. It now holds pride of place each Sunday as our credence table on which the wine and wafers are placed. Mrs. Moore s parlor table continues to play an important role in the history of our church, from the time when only a dozen or so Episcopalians worshipped in the parlor to the present day when over 300 families call Emmanuel home. For 175 years, the table has served Emmanuel. May it serve another 175 years. Naomi Norman bronze plaque on Mrs. Moore s table that calls it the first altar of Emanuel, 1842

7 Do you know what the MEMC is and what it does? 7 You might have heard the not so catchy acronym MEMC and wondered what it was. It is not a secret society, at least not on purpose. MEMC stands for the Missions and Extended Ministries Committee. We use the proceeds from trust funds and endowments to fund good works. We have long-term commitments that we fund on a recurring basis, including the St. Etienne School in Haiti, the ARK, and Our Daily Bread. In addition, four times a year we fund other charitable enterprises based on need and availability of funds. Any organization can apply by downloading and submitting the application on our church website. The last several grant cycles we have had more requests than we can honor, but we are still making a significant impact in our community. How are we supporting our community and our world through our giving? Here are some examples: We are keeping a school in Haiti operating which is educating around 140 children and feeding them several times a week. Through the YMCA and YWCO we are providing summer camp experiences for children who would not otherwise be able to go to camp. Through Our Daily Bread and the ARK we are feeding less fortunate Athenians who are hungry. Through the Downtown Academy we are supporting inner city education right here in Athens. At Bigger Vision we are providing food, shelter and drug cessation programs to the most needy in our city. Through Interfaith Hospitality Network we are helping temporary homeless working families get a leg up and put their lives on a firm footing, and in so doing, help them avoid becoming street people. We are helping refugees through Jubilee Partners. We are providing safe, structured activities for young people at Stonehenge. With the exception of the school in Haiti, we provide only a small part of the operating cost of these partners, but our contributions do change lives and help those served by our many partners, including those not on this list. We do a lot. We could do more. If you are interested in learning more about what we do or in getting involved, please contact the MEMC committee chair, Brooke Stortz at Brookebstortz@gmail.com. June Birthdays 1 Claire Gaus, Duncan Krause 2 Andrew Herrin, Sarah Ehlers, Mary Abbott Noland, Caroline Noland 3 Samuel Porras, Isabelle York, Zoe Wells, Ellen Bartlett 4 Jennifer Kolodsick 5 Emily Murray, Brody Barnes 6 David Woodruff, Melvina Nimely 7 Jean Carr, Lauren Koch, Lucy Hicks 8 Shooter Roberts 9 Cathi Shinn 10 John Vogt, Fran Thomas, Julie Miller 11 Louis Duhe, Brooke Stortz, Laura Kraus, Jarrett Kemp 12 Mary-Jeanne Bouton, Carol Malcolm, Mark Dunlap 13 John Ledford, Kingsley Strong, Helen Terrell 14 Collin Pannell 15 Kay Hoyt, Carolyn Becker, Nicolas Kraus, Thomas Ball 16 Amber Hawkins, Declan Hawkins 18 Tim Moore 20 Isabel Marks 22 Ruth Anne Hancock, Britton Richardson, Rachel Wells 23 June McCann, Nancy Jacobson, Amburn Power, Ian J. W. Firth, Sarah Ellis, Tamara Tillman 24 Jeanette Bowers 25 David Mullis, Lisa Townsley, Waverly Lovelind, Stella Nesmith 26 Linda Dodson, Charles Strong 27 Tucker Blount, Trey Niolon, Gretchen Koch, Jack Ford 28 Robert Bottoms, John Becker, Wesley Cline 30 Jean Channell, Barbara Kall, Jason Thrasher

8 News from the narthex CELEBRATION 175 TH WITH A POTLUCK AND MAKING YOUR MARK A GREAT TIME HAD BY ALL AND WELL ATTENDED

9 Emmanuel s Service & Faith Formation schedule is as follows; only exceptions are listed on the calendar below: 9 Wednesdays: 5:30 pm Healing Service & Eucharist, Chapel Saturdays: 5:30 pm Holy Eucharist Rite II, Chapel Sundays: 8:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite I, Church; 9:15 am Faith Formation for Children & Youth; 9:30 am Adult Formation, Westminster; 10:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite II, Church; and 12:30 pm Spanish Holy Eucharist, Church Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday 1 2 4:45: Daughters of the King :30: ESL class Noon: Natural Noon: Homeless Day Center Lunch Preparation, Common Room Emmanuel Day School Camp Week June 4-8 8:00 am: Men s Spirituality Group, 10:00: Natural 7:30: Al-Anon, Old Music Suite 7:15: Choir Rehearsal 11:30: ESL class Noon: Natural Noon: Wedding Comm. Mtg., Canterbury 1:30: Prayer Shawl Ministry, Old Music Suite 11:30: ESL class Noon: Natural 4:00: PCOM, 11:30: ESL class Noon: Natural 4:00: PCOM, Emmanuel Day VBS Clean-Up Day 4:45: Daughters School Camp of the King Week June VBS Work Day 8:00 am: Men s Spirituality Group, 10:00: Natural 5:00: VBS 7:30: Al-Anon, Old Music Suite 5:00: VBS 11:00: Eucharist at Lanier Gardens 5:00: VBS :00 am: Men s 6:15 Vestry Spirituality Meeting Group, 10:00: Natural 7:30: Al-Anon, Old Music Suite Catechesis Training Week June :00: Natural 7:30: Al-Anon, Old Music Suite

10 News from the narthex june 2018 Transfer to Emmanuel Sharon Moore Lloyd Edward Jenkins from Church of the Redeemer Cincinnati, OH Baptisms Benjamin Joseph Barnes son of Bryan and Jaime Dodge Barnes Harmon Elliott Neil son of Christopher Lee and Kelli Davis Neil Emmanuel episcopal church 498 Prince Avenue Athens, GA NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID ATHENS, GA PERMIT NO. 231