The Emmanuel Way A monthly publication of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Greenwood, Virginia September 2011
Rector’s Reflections
The Rev. Charles F. Mullaly, Jr.
Each month my goal is to write our entire congregation a Rector’s Reflection. But this month my goal is a little different. Today I want to speak with you as though we were meeting in person, as individuals, with me as your priest, as your friend, one on one. To begin with I must admit that I am so proud of you that I could burst. Leith and I have watched you grow from a little country church to a parish with close to 600 members. You haven’t grown for the purpose of growing. You have grown as a result of who you are and how you reach out to one another. There is no rector in this world who is more blessed than I am. I hope that you will take the time to read the letter that Bishop Shannon has written to you. You will find a
copy of it on the next page. He is so proud of you. At the Clergy Conference in May, he told Leith and me that his visit at Emmanuel last November was the “absolute highlight” of his year. We are blessed to have a bishop who knows us so intimately. The news in the media today is filled with anxiety and despair and certainly there is much to be concerned about. Economic worries plague us, so do personal crises of every sort. All around us people are in need. And we are in need of God’s love and purpose. So thanks be to God we have our Emmanuel Family, a family that wants to reach out and care for us, regardless of our situation. Our Emmanuel Family gives me hope in these very troubling times. In other words, you give me hope. Without you, the ranks of those who serve the world as God’s eyes, heart, hands, and feet would be severely diminished. Before the normal fall schedule smothers you in its clockwork cloud of chaos, please deliberately decide to “make a difference” via your Emmanuel Family. We need you! How might you be helpful through outreach, inreach, or the Christian formation of our children? Does our office have your name, address, phone number and other important information? Have you been officially Received into the Episcopal Church? Classes will be held on September 26, October 3 and October 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. for new members. What are you willing to do again and what are you willing to do that is new? Please sign up on September 11th at our Ministry Fair, or sign up by calling the office anytime (540-4566334) and we’ll get you connected with the right person. You may think of yourself as someone who only has a small ministry in the full context of our church, but please know that the small ministries of many are what makes Emmanuel such a healthy, vibrant parish. Without you there is no Emmanuel Family and no Emmanuel Way. So I am counting on each of you to keep our parish living as an
outward and visible example of God’s mercy, grace, and love. A Prayer for Our Emmanuel Family We pray for our parish family: That we may be Humble, Welcoming, and Caring to all; Tireless in our commitment; Loving in our communion; Open to your will for us; Imaginative about our future; Thankful for our blessings; And Daring in our faith. Amen. Leith and I send our love to you and all your loved ones. Chuck
Peter’s Message
The Rev. Peter M. Carey
An invitation to transformation From Christian Education through Christian Formation to Christian Transformation An often-used metaphor for education is of the pail that is filled; that we must fill the pail with knowledge of readin’, writin’ and ‘rithmatic, or in churchy terms – the Bible, liturgy, and tradition, perhaps. However, we probably know that God wants more from us than to be “full pails.” Rather, God wants us to be fully alive, living abundant lives and (Continued on Page 3)
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The Emmanuel Way
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September, September, 2011
3 seeking and serving Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves. Perhaps a better metaphor is being sculpted, or “formation.” It has become common in church to talk about “youth formation” and “adult formation” and “lifelong formation,” with the understanding that we are all works-in-progress. No matter how well we think we are doing, we can do better. No matter how proud of our efforts, God sees that we have more within us. The nice thing about this metaphor of being sculpted is that we recognize that God is the sculptor, and we are mere stones, and we are contingent upon God’s grace and God’s work in our lives. [You will notice that I am beginning to use the term “Christian Formation” and not “Christian Education” in our various publications and on our website.] However, I believe that God is looking even deeper. I believe that God is actually seeking “transformation,” for each of us. God is seeking that we don’t just become well-crafted statues, but that we are actually changed from the inside-out. God is seeking us to turn to God, and turn with compassion to one another. God, after all, sent his son to redeem us and to help us live abundant lives. “I have come so that you might have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10. It is this life of abundance that Jesus is calling us to, and moving us towards, always. This kind of transformation takes work on our part, work to consider the ways that our lives are closely linked with lives of people close by and far way. This kind of transformation calls us to not only recite the creeds and the baptismal covenant, but actually live them out in real ways each day. This kind of transformation will require more of us than we can possibly imagine. So, how might we engage with this kind of transformation? I would argue that there is an inward journey and an outward journey. The inward journey might include taking on a prayer and study discipline (even though is it not Lent) that would include reflecting on the Sunday lectionary readings. Our Sunday School will be studying the Sunday
The Emmanuel Way readings each week – could we each pledge to join in this effort? Could we step up and “read, mark, and inwardly digest” the scriptures in a deep and dedicated way ~ and then see what might emerge? The outward journey might include reflecting deeply on the places of dryness and hardness in our lives – those places where we’d rather not go. Those places may just be the places we actually ARE called to go! The admonition to “take up your cross and follow” might just include traveling that way that is most difficult. What work do you need to be doing? Who do you need to forgive (perhaps yourself!)? Where is there pain and heartache in your own circle of friends and family? Where is there pain and suffering in our community? This kind of transformation may indeed move us into the mission field in an even more engaged way. It may be that what we are each called to do is to delve deeply into our very souls, using prayer and scripture as a guide, and then find the outward pathway that might move us each in a new direction. Our transformation as children of God may just be moving us to a place where we haven’t been before, and to a way of life that we haven’t yet already lived. Do we have the courage to do it? It can be helpful to remember that God is guiding us and supporting us at all times. To what is God calling us? Transformation and a new abundant life await each of us! Blessings, Peter+
Youth Group report We are very excited about our Youth Group this year at Emmanuel. Ours is a developing program and we have several things already planned, and more that are being worked out and planned as this article goes to print. Stay tuned, and be in touch with Kathleen and Jess Haden or with the Rev. Peter Carey for more information. Youth Group began with a wonderful kick-off event at the home of Kathleen and Jess Haden, our Youth Group leaders and we look forward to more great events and more 3
September, September, 2011 good energy from our youth this year. Youth Group at Emmanuel is for young people from 6th-12th grades and we are working to have some balance of events which blend fellowship and fun, service and mission, and worship and prayer. Each month or so, parents have offered to host dinners on Sunday evenings from 5-7 in order to spend time together while breaking bread, and also having fun. Each session will end with the brief but rich service of Compline (from page 127 in the Book of Common Prayer). In addition, we are counting on our youth, and a few very interested parents, to brainstorm some service and mission opportunities for our youth – seeking ways to live out our faith in an active way. This Fall, opportunities abound for service and mission as we approach Thanksgiving and Christmas. In October, our youth will be traveling to Washington DC during Columbus Day weekend in an event co-sponsored by our Acolyte Directors as we plan to visit the National Cathedral for the International Acolyte Festival. We are also planning on attending some UVa athletic events together – stay tuned as we are getting these on the calendar! We are planning several occasions to share our poetry, music and other gifts with the larger Emmanuel Church community at Adult Forum. The first of these “Emmanuel Café” events will be on October 16th and will, in part, be a sharing from our trip up to the National Cathedral. These are but the beginning of what we have planned, stay tuned! Be in touch with Kathleen and Jess Haden
[email protected] or Peter Carey at
[email protected] for more information, or for your good ideas! Also, if you might be missing out on updates, let us know! We may not have your current information. Also, check back on our church website www.emmanuelgreenwood.org or our Facebook page located on the web at www.facebook.com/emmanuelgreenw ood for updates.
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Where and what is Tegucigalpa By Julie Shields Tegucigalpa has little in common with Greenwood, VA. One is almost impossible to spell and pronounce, one is easy. One is difficult for most of us to locate on a map, one is easy. One faces remarkable challenges to combat poverty; the other is an affluent community. One thing that ties these communities together is El Hogar Projects, a school and orphanage founded in 1979 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, a mission project of the same Episcopal Church with which Emmanuel, Greenwood is affiliated. The Executive Director of El Hogar Projects, the Rev. Matthew Engleby, spoke at Emmanuel on Memorial Day Sunday. He is the son of parishioners Jane and Denny Sigloh. As we shuffle from UVA games to Harry Potter movies, from soccer practice to ballet, it may be hard for us to imagine the poverty in Honduras. With families unable to care for them, many children live literally on the streets, surviving by begging and stealing or being lured into drug trafficking. Teenage gangs offer the only sense of belonging. Health, nutrition and education are not attended to. The mission of El Hogar Projects is to provide a loving home and education in a Christian environment for abandoned, orphaned and hopelessly poor children, enabling them to fulfill their ultimate potential as productive human beings in Honduras. Honduras is the poorest country of the Americas. With an illiteracy rate of 25%, an unemployment rate of about 30%, and more than half the population living below the poverty line, it is difficult for Hondurans to imagine a better life, much less create one. In an effort to break this cycle of poverty, El Hogar offers three homes and schools with three programs -Elementary School, Agricultural School, and Technical School --
The Emmanuel Way serving about 250 children from ages five to twenty. The children at El Hogar have a chance to transform their lives. In a community of God’s love, children receive an education and a marketable skill as well as a sense of pride and responsibility. This care costs money, and our parishioners can help. A donation of $1500 will sponsor a child for a year; a donation of $900 will provide housing, food, health care and clothing for a child for a year; a donation of $600 a year will provide an education. Any contribution will help these desperately poor children reach their potential. Contributions may be sent to El Hogar Ministries, 70 Church Street, Winchester, MA 01890. Further information is available from flyers in the Parish Hall and at www.elhogar.org. In spite of dramatic differences between Tegucigalpa and Greenwood, we have opportunities to reflect our belief that we are all children of God charged with caring for each other.
Adult Forum We have an exciting lineup of Adult Forum topics and speakers for the upcoming year. A goal for the year is to dive deeply into some interesting and controversial topics that will give us some interesting ideas to consider and wrestle with together as we strive to be continually formed and transformed as Christians. At the heart of our considerations is the notion that we are not merely being “educated” as Christians, but that we are striving to allow God to transform us into the new beings that God has promised we will be, through the Spirit. In the fall months of September through November we will consider the overarching topic, “The Church, what is it good for?” Subtopics and questions will consider “What is the church?” “”To what are we called?” “What is informing our faith?” “What is saving us now?” and “What is the role of the church in this post-modern, post-Constantinian, rapidly changing world?” As a part of these sessions 4
September, September, 2011 we will have a combination of speakers and discussions, as well as a reading list for those who want to delve deeper into these questions. September 11 – Ministry Fair September 18th – Introduction of topic and group discussion September 25th – Don Cady on the Tapestry of the institutional church October 2nd – “Are your Affairs in order” – presentation by Charley Chabot October 9th – Victoria Hobson October 16th – Presentation by Peter Carey, Kathleen Haden and the Youth Group October 23rd – The Rev. Jane Sigloh on the Church and the Creeds October 30th – Presentation/Discussion on “What is saving you now?” November 6th – Theology of AllSaints and All Souls and All Hallow’s Eve – Cemetery November 13th – No Adult Forum – Fellowship/Coffee Hour November 20th – Wrap up of “The Church, what is it good for?” November 27th – Advent 1 – Wreathmaking In Advent, our Associate Rector Peter Carey, will offer a three-part series on “The end of the world (as we know it)” through the eyes and thoughts of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. In this series, we will consider the ways that pastor, theologian, and Christian martyr, Dietrich Bonhoeffer thought of the world and the church, considering especially the notion of the “end times.” “How much we understand the ‘end times’ in the history of the world?” “How might Dietrich Bonhoeffer consider our times, today?” And, “to where might these considerations point us today” December 4th – The End of the World and Dietrich Bonhoeffer – The Rev. Peter Carey December 11th – The End of the World and Dietrich Bonhoeffer – The Rev. Peter Carey December 18th – The End of the World and Dietrich Bonhoeffer – The Rev. Peter Carey December 25th – Christmas – No Adult Forum January 1 – New Year’s Day – No Adult Forum In January, we will consider the theological and spiritual question of
5 “Heaven and Hell: who’s going where?” Recently, evangelical Rob Bell wrote a book in which he offered some thoughts about who might be going to heaven and who might be going to hell that were challenging to the larger evangelical community. A key point was how to understand where people such as Gandhi and other non Christians might be “going” and how we understand the Christian approach to this question. In two sessions in January, the Rev. Jane Sigloh will present on the key question of “Heaven and Hell: Who’s going where?” It will likely be a thought-provoking and wonderful series, and should engender more discussion and thought. January 8th – Heaven and Hell: who’s going where? – The Rev. Jane Sigloh January 15th – Heaven and Hell: who’s going where? – The Rev. Jane Sigloh January 22nd – Parish Meeting January 29th – Time with the Rector In February, we will consider the all-important commandment of “loving thy neighbor” while we consider especially all those who we consider “other.” “Who is our neighbor?” “Old Testament constructions of hospitality and the stranger,” “Jesus’ ethic of the stranger and hospitality,” “the other”. We also hope to have a guest speaker who will lead us to consider Christian-Muslim dialogue and relations in our world today. In Lent and Easter, we will examine the topics of repentance and reconciliation. “What might it mean to really forgive?” “”What would this really look like, feel like, be like?” “Are we ready for the transformation that God has in store for us?” We will then consider the work of Desmond Tutu in his theology of “Ubuntu” and the work on reconciliation that theologian Miroslav Volf has done.
Vestry Report By Laurel Farrell Senior Warden The vestry will reconvene on September 13th after a two month summer hiatus. The vestry meets in the parish hall at 7 p.m.
The Emmanuel Way
The Emmanuel Way Mission Statement The Emmanuel Way, the official newsletter of Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Greenwood Parish, will strive to communicate with, enlighten, and entertain the members of the parish in strict compliance with the official word of church doctrine as set forth by the rector utilizing the Style Sheet of the Diocese of Virginia. The newsletter shall be published monthly on or before the 1st day of the month of issue. The publication shall not be published during the month of July. The th deadline for submissions shall be the 15 of the month preceding the month of publication. The primary role of the publication shall be to promote upcoming activities, report past activities and accomplishments of the church and its members, and carry an official church calendar of the month, as well as, become a recorded history of the church by the archival of all past issues.
The Emmanuel Way 7599 Rockfish Gap Turnpike Post Office Box 38 Greenwood, Virginia 22943 Email:
[email protected] Website: emmanuelgreenwood.org Phone: 540-456-6334 James E. Crosby………….. Editor Julia Shields . . . . . Editor Emeritus
A first for our Shrine Mont Parish Retreat The 2011 Edition of the Parish Retreat at Shrine Mont will offer two new activities for even more fun and fellowship. Using the “America Has Talent” theme from the recent television show, the Shrine Mont Committee is planning a fun filled Saturday evening of discovering who has talent at Emmanuel Church. The second new adventure at Shrine Mont this year will be the Friday evening campfire. This will be a time to sit around the campfire listening to stories and music while toasting marshmallows and making Smores. All the fixings will be supplied for those warm treats of gooey goodness. In the event of rain, the 5
September, September, 2011 campfire will be moved into the ball room where an artificial campfire will be ignited. The campfire will end the Saturday evening events with Compline by flash and campfire light. If you have a talent you would like to showcase for your Emmanuel Family, contact Kathleen Haden to get listed on the program. You can reach her via telephone at 434-823-1230 or by email at this address:
[email protected].
The Annual Parish Picnic This year our Annual Parish Picnic will be held at the church on October 2 following the 11a.m. service. This will be the first time in many years that the picnic will be held at the church in recognition of our new landscaping and parking facilities. Of course this means we will not to have drive to a different location following church services. Kathleen Haden and Katherine Merhige would like to hear from anyone who might be willing to help with the event. Mrs. Haden can be reached by calling 434-823-1230 or Mrs. Merhige by calling 540-4566544. Dress for church is casual.
The Greenwood Grapevine reports Susie Hodgson has been selected to serve on the Board of Directors for Jefferson Elder Care, Inc. which is under the banner of Jefferson Area Board of the Aging. The Mountainside Senior Living facility in Crozet is a JABA Assisted Living Community and Emmanuel and our group of volunteers have been privileged to volunteer there for 23 years.
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Disciples Kitchen Report By Amanda Poor Disciples Kitchen will be serving breakfast at Basic United Methodist church on Saturday, September 17. Help is needed with food preparation and serving. Please contact Amanda Poor at
[email protected] or 804 200 3921. We served breakfast to 32 people in July.
Sunday School By The Rev. Peter M. Carey We are very excited about this year’s Sunday School at Emmanuel. We are growing in numbers and are glad to be making some good changes to our curriculum. First: We will continue to teach about the Bible stories, but will be using “Living the Good News” curriculum which will use the readings from the Sunday lectionary (the readings that we hear in church and in Children’s Worship). This may enable families to be in conversation about the readings after church, and even to help us all to become a bit more Biblically literate as we explore and develop our faith at Emmanuel. Second: We are also glad to be taking a look at the sacraments and the liturgical year every 5-6 weeks or so in detail. We are going to meet as an entire Sunday School briefly for “Sunday School Symposium” where we will all hear about some aspect of our faith and practice as Episcopalians. After hearing a short presentation, we will “break out” into groups to do activities based on the presentations. The hope is to augment the Biblical lessons with a focus on the broader aspects of our worship and our understanding of the way we pray and of our understanding of the liturgical church year. Third: We will be working to develop our young people’s understanding of and response to the needs of the greater world by connecting our young people with the
The Emmanuel Way program, “Carpenter’s Kids” which is a program administered by the Diocese of Virginia and the Diocese of Central Tanganika in Africa. “Carpenter’s Kids” reaches out to some of the poorest children in Africa and finds ways to support their education. We are very excited to be seeking ways to link up our Sunday School kids (and our adults, too!) with this valuable and essential program. If you are interested in helping with this initiative please contact Leigh Myers
[email protected] or Peter Carey at
[email protected]. We are expecting many students this year, and have a wonderful cohort of teachers, but we also need parents to help with our Sunday School from time to time. Please make it a habit of volunteering in your children’s classroom at least every month or so, and also considering becoming a teacher or substitute teacher. We are also challenged by limited space, so please bear with us as we strive to do the best with what we have. There will be registration forms both online and available in paper format in coming days. Yee haw for Emmanuel Sunday School! Y’all rock!
All acolytes and parents We are now beginning planning for Emmanuel's acolyte participation in the most exciting acolyte event of the year, the 32nd National Acolyte Festival at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 8, at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. If at all possible we want all acolytes to attend along with the 2000 or so other acolytes coming from all over the United States to participate in the spectacular procession down the main aisle in the beautiful National Cathedral. Our Emmanuel plan is to drive up early Saturday, October 8, to arrive at the Cathedral in time for the 10 Festival Processional, visit Washington in the afternoon, and possibly stay overnight as a group in a nearby hotel, or return home that evening. 6
September, September, 2011 Many more details will be coming to you in our weekly email updates between now and September 15. Please confirm your interest with Dan Butterfield or Kathleen Haden so a list of participants can be established.
The Cake Walk The Shrine Mont Cake Walk held on Sunday, August 14 after the 10 am service. It was a great success with over $400 raised It was also a great success for the participants as shouts of glee were heard all over the room as winners selected their prizes. The cake walk had lots of cakes, pies, garden vegetables, etc. donated to make it a success. Proceeds from the Cake Walk go to Shrine Mont Scholarships.
John Savage and his magic bell signaled the walk and stop for the cake walk that ended in identifying the winner of each round. (Photo by Elizabeth Cantrell)
Inquirer’s Class Would you like to be Received into the Episcopal Church when Bishop Gulick visits Emmanuel on November 13th? Then plan on joining us for our Inquirer’s Class in the Parish Hall at 6:30 pm on September 26th, October 3rd, and October 10th. Dinner will be served first. Fellowship and mutual learning will follow. Don’t miss the opportunity to make new friends and learn more about our church. Please contact our Parish Office at 540-456-6334 and let us know to expect you.
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September, September, 2011
Summer Combined Services At 10 a.m. which began June 5 will run through Labor Day Weekend
------------------------------Regular Sunday Services at 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. along with Sunday School and Adult Forum at 10 a.m. begin on September 11
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Emmanuel Way
First Class Postage
Post Office Box 38 Greenwood, Virginia 22943
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The deadline for articles for the October newsletter is September 15.
Please check the Sunday bulletin for changes and additions. If you would like to schedule an event, please call the office at 540540-456456-6334.
Special Events Friday, Sept. 9.—Newcomers Dinner Sunday, Sept. 11—Ministry Fair Begin Fall Schedule of services at 9 & 11 am Monday, Sept. 26—Inquirer’s Class, 6:30 pm, PH
Key HE—Holy Eucharist MP—Morning Prayer MLR—Marston/LaRue House PH—Parish Hall LH—Ledford House HC—Holy Cross, Batesville AA—Alcoholics Anonymous
9:00 HE & Children’s Worship 10:00 Sunday School & Adult Forum 11:00 HE Prayers for healing after each service on the 4th Sunday
Sunday Schedule
September 2011
25 See Sunday Schedule
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19 See Sunday Schedule Sunday School begins
26 Coffee Lectionary, 10:30 am, Crozet Mudhouse Inquirer’s Class, 6:30 pm, PH AA Meeting, 8 pm, MLR
AA Meeting, 8 pm, PH
12 Coffee Lectionary, 10:30 am, Crozet Mudhouse AA Meeting, 8 pm, PH
5 Labor Day AA Meeting, 8 pm, PH
Mon
11 Begin regular schedule of 2 services See Sunday Schedule Ministry Fair
4 Shrine Mont Combined Service at 10 am
Sun
27 Mountainside Tea Party, 3 pm
20 Men’s Bible Study, 8:30 am, PH American Guild of Organists Meeting, 7 pm
13 Mountainside Tea Party, 3 pm Vestry Meeting, 7 pm, PH
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Tue
28 Choir Rehearsal, 7 pm
21 Choir Rehearsal, 7 pm
14 Choir Rehearsal, 7 pm
7 Bread Fund Packing, 10 am, HC Choir Rehearsal, 7 pm
Wed
Contemplative Prayer, 5:30 pm,
29 Women’s Bible Study, 10:30 am, PH
22 Contemplative Prayer, 5:30 pm, church
Contemplative Prayer, 5:30 pm,
15 Women’s Bible Study, 10:30 pm, PH
8 Finance Committee, 5 pm, PH Contemplative Prayer, 5:30 pm, church
1 Women’s Bible Study, 10:30 am, PH
Thu
30 AA Meeting, 8 pm, PH
23 AA Meeting, 8 pm, PH
16 AA Meeting, 8 pm, PH
9 Newcomers Dinner, 6:30 pm, Mullaly’s house AA Meeting, 8 pm, PH
2 Shrine Mont Parish Weekend
Fri
24
17
10 Rojas wedding, 11 amm
3Shrine Mont Bread Fund Distribution, 8 am, Holy Cross, Batesville
Sat
