The MinistryVolume 1, Issue 5 August 2017

Sundays 8:00 am Holy Eucharist 9:15 am Coffee Hour 9:30 am Adult Choir Rehearsal 10:30 am Holy Eucharist

Mondays 5:30 pm Centering Prayer 5:30 pm Prayer Shawl Knitters

Tuesdays 7:30 am Centering Prayer 6:00 pm Education for Ministry

Wednesday beginning Aug 16 12:45 pm Prayer Shawl Knitters 5:30 pm Healing Eucharist 6:00 pm Parish Supper 7:00 pm Adult Choir Rehearsal Thursdays 8:30 am Bible Study

Friday 10:00 am Busy Bees Playgroup

Office HoursMonday - Thursday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Friday9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Clergy & Staff The Rev. Morris Thompson, Pastor The Rev. Steve Owen, Deacon Lora Tucker, Organist/Choirmaster Paige Brooks, Parish Administrator Michael Barney, Sexton

Every so often it’s nice to get away, remove yourself from the day-to-day distractions, and place yourself in an unfamiliar environment and irregular schedule. That has been my pastime this past month, and I’m sure many of you have engaged in the same. I am thankful for the time to get outside my norm and relax with only the worries of a toddler, a six-month-old, and the choice of which book to read. I am thankful for family time.

Yet, as all seasons come to an end, so too we must return from our summer detachment to our daily work and ministry. But, as I return to the church and look ahead, I am filled with anticipation! It is an exciting time to be an Episcopalian in Meridian. I am thrilled for St. Paul’s call to Father Austin McGehee and his family. I look forward to our churches’ shared ministry as we both settle into Meridian.

Have you found your ministry at Mediator? Have you invited a friend to join you in your favorite ministry at Mediator? The energy flowing through the veins of this church is palpable, and I want everyone to feel it. From the reclaiming and redesigning of our Christian Education building, the home-grown idea for a Parish Retreat at Bratton Green, and the Mediator BBQ, to the weekly ministries of Parish Suppers, Knitting, Busy Bees Playgroup, EYC, Centering Prayer, Bible Study, and of course Worship, we have so much to offer.

Fall promises to be a magnificent time at Mediator. Prioritize spending time with our wonderful community. Please look through this newsletter, reading through all Mediator’s offerings, and plan for an exhilarating ride! Morris+

Finding Ministry

2017 Youth Pilgrimage to Taizé, Franceth Pilg

Rally DayYou don't want to miss our Fall kick-off on Sunday, August 13! With the Blessing of the Backpacks at the 10:30 service followed by a cookout and game-filled afternoon, there is sure to be something for everyone! Everyone is also invited to tour our redesigned Education Building, meet your Sunday school teachers, and sign up for our exciting ministries offered this Fall. We look forward to seeing you!

Busy Bees PlaygroupBeginning Friday, August 4, the Busy Bees Playgroup will meet every Friday morning from 10:00-11:30 AM at the church playground. Infants through preschoolers and their caregivers are invited. Join us, rain or shine!

Parish Retreat at Bratton GreenSeptember 8-10 Mediator will host a parish retreat at Bratton Green! There will be games and activities for both adults and children. We will have full use of the camp's pool, lake, hiking trails, disk golf course, and of course rocking chairs! It will be a fun and relaxing weekend. Call the office for more information and to sign up.

Choir Practice ResumesWeekly choir practice will resume Wednesday, August 16, at 7:00pm. The Choir will meet in the newly refinished choir room in the Education Building! Come join our wonderful Singers. Contact Lora at 601-693-7086 if you are interested.

Sunday School ResumesWeekly children's and youth Sunday School will resume August 23. Adult Sunday School will resume September 17 with a class on environmental theology and stewardship. If you or your child is interested in confirmation, please contact Morris.

Freezer/bake sale pansIn an effort to standardize sizes for the freezer/bake sale, pans are available in the office for you to fill with your favorite casseroles and frozen desserts.

Mediator BBQ BringsBack the Good Old Days

This past year, we (your BBQ chairs) opened dialogue with the church through paper surveys, open mic meetings, and individual conversations with many of you. We are grateful for all the input and passion you have for this great event! Your input generated conversation between us and the vestry on how to create the community building experience the BBQ has long represented. We are excited to announce, in response to your feedback, we will be shaking things up this year!

We no longer live in a world where kid’s extra-curricular activities are mainly summer ventures and Saturdays are blank days on the calendar. It was virtually impossible to find an October or November Saturday that was not combatting college football games, school fall festivals, craft fairs, other church fundraisers, just to name a few. This led us to look at Sunday, October 29. Imagine this, our church campus packed on a Sunday, beginning with a Eucharist at the pits, followed by a morning of all hands-on deck; pulling pork, preparing sides, working together in the sense of community and unity. Sunday is a perfect day for lunch out after church, and Mediator will be the perfect spot to dine. We will even serve until 5:00 in effort to give those church goers who dismiss later in the afternoon an opportunity to come as well.

Another disappointment for many has been our reliance on outsourcing our plates. The Boston Butt preparation keeps our pits at full capacity which made preparation of our own pulled pork impossible. Our local community seems to love our butts and we don’t want to let that

go. Therefore, we have decided to exclusively sell butts on Super Bowl Sunday weekend which will give us an additional fund raising activity and the ability to cook our own pork, hence taking away the need to outsource. We will also prepare all our sides and sauce, bringing this back to a truly 100% Mediator BBQ.

Saturday will be the perfect work day. It will require fewer people to take off from work to pitch in. We want this day of work and fun to continue into the evening in an effort to bring life back to the traditions of the pit parties of years past. We are sure there are some skits, talents, etc. that need to find their way back to the spotlight.

The freezer/bake sale will be highly advertised to be up and running on Saturday for those who want to hurry in for best selection. This will give us an additional day of sales on Sunday to ensure that all of the fabulous dishes lovingly prepared by our members sell at full price.

The late October date also has motivated us to bring back the Pumpkin Patch and plenty of children’s activities on Saturday and Sunday. We hope to provide that atmosphere like the old days when church was the center of family and community activities.

We hope that you join us in our excitement for this year’s BBQ! We need your support! Together we will make this BBQ a great success to benefit many of our local community organizations, while at the same time focusing on the premise that a church that bakes, pulls, serves, cleans and chops together, stays together! That is our community!

Peace, Love and BBQ,Katy and Beth

Vestry HighlightsMembers

Sr. Warden, 2018Michael VanVeckhoven

Jr. Warden, 2019Ray Martin

Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2020

Alice James, Treasurer Paige Brooks, Clerk

Susan KirchheferCarolyn MitchellDaniel Wile

Ann GlazarGayle Gray

Clifton Quinn

Beth CalderonPat Downey

James Weems

• Fall Kick-Off scheduled for August 13.

• Environmental Stewardship Committee request for energy audit with Mississippi Power Company.

• Wednesday Evening Eucharists and Suppers will resume August 16.

• Annual Finances remain firmly in the black through-out the summer.

Calling all Mediator CooksIt’s that time again, to get your team together and pick out your preferred Wednesday night to prepare a meal. Remember to keep your receipts to turn in to the office for reimbursement. Below are dates available for August, September, and October: August 16, or 23; September 13, 20, or 27; October 11, 18, or 25. Call the office if you are interested in signing up.

BBQ Sign-upYour BBQ chairs have been working hard to assemble the Mediator Dream Team! Thank you to Pit-Master Michael VanVeckhoven, Bean Queen Sarah Mutziger, Bake Sale co-chairs Ben Box and Robert Covington, Pull Master Ashley Brooks, Kitchen Chair Brandon Downing, Slaw Chair Brenda Easterwood, Advertising Guru Leslie Lee Priester, and Children's Activities Chair Emily Thompson. To complete this Dream Team we still need our Clean Up Chair, Delivery Chair, and Ticket Chair. Contact the office if you're interested!

Prayer Shawl KnittersAll are invited to experience the prayer, fellowship, and joy of knitting at our weekly prayer shawl knitters' group. The groups meet twice a week; Mondays at 5:30 PM and Wednesdays at 12:30 PM in the parlor room. Beginners welcome!

Priest’s Wednesday Night Book ClubOur next book for book club is Dispatches from Pluto by Richard Grant, a British born travel writer who, along with his girlfriend, decided to leave it all behind and move to "The Most American Place on Earth," the Mississippi Delta. If you are interested in purchasing this book, sign-up in the Sunday Bulletin or contact the office. The discussion for this book is Wednesday, August 23, in the Parlor at 6:00.

Episcopal Youth Community's Fall ScheduleAug. 13 Kick-off at Father Morris' HouseAug. 20 EYC @ St. Paul'sAug. 27 EYC @ MediatorSept. 3 No EYC (Labor Day)Sept. 10 EYC & PreEYC @ St. Paul's Sept. 17 EYC @ MediatorSept. 24 Jr. High DOY (No EYC)Oct. 1 EYC @ St. Paul'sOct. 8 No EYC (Columbus Day)Oct. 15 EYC @ St. Paul'sOct. 22 EYC & PreEYC @ MediatorOct. 28-29 EYC Lock-in @ MediatorNov. 5 EYC@ St. Paul'sNov. 12 EYC & PreEYC @ MediatorNov. 17-19 Happening @ St. Paul'sNov. 19 EYC @ St. Paul'sNov. 26 EYC @ MediatorDec. 3 Care Lodge Christmas Shopping (Meet at Mediator)Dec. 10 Christmas Caroling (Meet @ Mediator)Dec. 17 EYC @ Mediator

Lunch BunchOn Sunday, August 20, Lunch Bunch is headed to Long’s Fish Camp following the 10:30 service. Contact the office, or you may fill out the insert on Sunday's bulletin if you would like to sign up.

Bible StudyCome join our Thursday morning Bible study in the EfM room. This faithful group meets every Thursday morning from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM to read through and discuss certain passages of scripture.

August Food Pantry ItemsAug. 2 - canned tomatoesAug. 9 - any type of boxed or

bagged dry cerealAug. 16 - canned or powdered

milkAug. 23 - cornbread mix or

cake/ muffin mix Aug. 30 - oatmeal or grits

Episcopal Church WomenECW will meet on Monday, September 25. Alice James will graciously host our meeting at her home. This will be a potluck. Vicky Hayes and Robert Covington will present stories from their recent Mission trip to Haiti. The Mediator bus will leave the church parking lot at 5:45 pm. We will start at 6:00. Due to limited parking at Alice's house, you are encouraged to carpool or ride the bus. All women of the church are invited to join in the night of fun!

The Ministry (USPS) 984580 Periodical Postage Paid at Meridian, MS 39301 Published by Church of the Mediator PO Box 3400 Meridian, MS 39303 Monthly Postmaster: Send address changes to: The Ministry PO Box 3400 Meridian, MS 39303 Volume 1 No. 5 Issue Date August 2017

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3831 35th Avenue · Meridian, MS 39305 · 601.483.3959

Food Pantry News

When you are out shopping for back to school supplies, please remember the Mediator Food Pantry. We have been giving multiple bags a week, therefore funds are running low. If you would like to make a donation, please note in the memo section that it is for the Food Pantry. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.

1 Jar peanut butter1 plastic squeeze jar of jelly1 package rice (1-3 pounds)1 package dried beans1 can chicken1 can roast beef with gravy2 cans tuna1 can green beans1 can corn1 starchy bean1 can English peas1 can pork and beans1 large can of greens1 can diced tomatoes1 can evaporated milk

1 can tomato soup1 can cream of chicken soup1 can peach1 can pear1 package chili mix2 boxes mac and cheese1 hamburger helper1 box spaghetti or pasta1 can spaghetti sauce1 box dry cereal or oatmeal1 box pudding1 box Jello1 box Jiffy cornbread mix1 box mashed potatoes1 can of chicken & dumplings

Contents of Food Pantry Bags

Spiritual Renewal RetreatThe Diocesan Committee on Ministry with LGBT Persons and The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi present The Twelfth Annual Spiritual Renewal Retreat on August 25-27, 2017 at Gray Center in Canton, MS led by The Rev. Gwen Fry, of the Episcopal Diocese in Little Rock, Arkansas, presenting "Telling Our Stories." Call the office to register or visit the diocesan website.

www.dioms.org

Liturgical Arts ConferenceCome away to relax and renew at Gray Center in November while taking a class in Iconography, Vestment Making, Praying the Rosary, Mandalas, Walking the Labyrinth, Labyrinth Facilitator Training, Needlepoint, Cantoring and Congregational Song, Flowers, Children in Worship, Prayer Shawls, and Stations of the Cross. Brochures are available in the Narthex and in the Parish Hall.

www.liturgicalartsconference.com

Gray Center Events

MARK YOUR CALENDARSAugust 13 Rally DaySeptember 8-10 Parish RetreatOctober 7 Haiti FundraiserOctober 15 The EventOctober 29 Mediator BBQDecember 10 Bishop Seage Visit