Volume 46, Issue 2 February, 2013 Emmanuel Episcopal Church 498 Prince Avenue Athens GA 30601 (706) 543-1294 Fax (706) 208-3790 www.emmanuelathens.org THE TOWER EMMANUEL EPISCOPAL CHURCH FROM FATHER ROBERT Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord, Peace and all Good to you! February seems to be a month of change for us. We are happy yet saddened to see Edwin move on to the next chapter of his life in service to the Lord. So many of you have written and spoken so well of his presence and impact on the parish. I am grateful for his service and glad that he is able to know of your affirmation for his ministry with us. For the most part, that particular “change” affects us communally. The season of Lent begins in just two weeks though, and we are once again afforded the wonderful opportunity to look inside and see ourselves as we are. Then as this season unfolds we will be given the grace to ask who do I want to become? Who of us has not asked, “who am I” or “what am I all about”? It’s as if we were all a big secret to ourselves and must search for the clues, however hidden they seem to be. It sounds funny, but you know I’m right. Yet, the search never stops fascinating us. We are affirmed by our family or at work for something and perhaps we say, yeah, that’s me all right! Little children love to hear about what they were like as babies. It’s fascinating for them to hear the stories. They also love to hear about what they might be when they grow up. We all want to know our potential; we all want to know our true selves. Sometimes we need the help of others to lift the layers of our masks in order to find it. Sometimes we just intuitively know. I’m reminded of a story (true) I heard a long time ago, one which I recently found again. It’s about a couple who were putting their newborn in the nursery for the night. Their four year old son said to them: I want to talk to the baby. Sure, you can talk to him as much as you’d like. He pressed on saying, well I want to talk to him now and by (Continued on page 2)
Transcript
Volume 46, Issue 2
February, 2013
Emmanuel Episcopal Church
498 Prince Avenue
Athens GA 30601
(706) 543-1294 Fax (706) 208-3790
www.emmanuelathens.org TH
E TOW
ER
EM
MA
NU
EL EPISC
OPA
L C
HU
RC
H
FROM FATHER ROBERT
Dear Sisters and Brothers in the Lord,
Peace and all Good to you!
February seems to be a month of change for us. We are happy yet saddened to see Edwin move on to the next chapter of his life in service to the Lord. So many of you have written and spoken so well of his presence and impact on the
parish. I am grateful for his service and glad that he is able to know of your
affirmation for his ministry with us.
For the most part, that particular “change” affects us communally. The season of Lent begins in just two weeks though, and we are once again afforded the wonderful opportunity to look inside and see ourselves as we are. Then as this
season unfolds we will be given the grace to ask who do I want to become?
Who of us has not asked, “who am I” or “what am I all about”? It’s as if we were all a big secret to ourselves and must search for the clues, however hidden they seem to be. It sounds funny, but you know I’m right. Yet, the search never stops fascinating us. We are affirmed by our family or at work for something and perhaps we say, yeah, that’s me all right! Little children love to hear about what they were like as babies. It’s fascinating for them to hear the stories. They also love to hear about what they might be when they grow up. We all want to
know our potential; we all want to know our true selves.
Sometimes we need the help of others to lift the layers of our masks in order to find it. Sometimes we just intuitively know. I’m reminded of a story (true) I heard a long time ago, one which I recently found again. It’s about a couple who were putting their newborn in the nursery for the night. Their four year old son said to them: I want to talk to the baby. Sure, you can talk to him as much
as you’d like. He pressed on saying, well I want to talk to him now and by
myself. Surprised and curious themselves, they let the young boy into the nursery and cupped their ears to the door wondering what he might be saying! This is what they heard their older son say to his younger brother: “Quick tell me where you came from. Quick, tell me who made you? I
am beginning to forget!”
Could that be true? Have most of us forgotten? Is this why Jesus was so very clear in his many teachings about the role of children in the kingdom? Do we have to become like little children in order to “get it”? In order to remember? Most spirituality has said, in one way or another, that we have all indeed begun to forget, if not fully forgotten who we are, where we have come from and
where we are going.
My brothers and my sisters, I invite you to a holy Lent. I also invite you to remember one thing for your journey. The emptiness of an open heart creates a cavity for God to fill, but a closed mind and a closed heart can never receive anything from God. Change of heart, metanoia, conversion – are the gifts of the season. May we remember to ask for those gifts, and follow where they will bring
us.
Till next time and in His love,
Robert
(Continued from page 1)
PAGE 3 THE TOWER
or directly to Blue Wood at
MMANUEL: FROM EPIPHANY TO LENT
VESTRY RETREAT
From January 4th to 6th the vestry gathered at Kanuga, an Episcopal conference center North Carolina since 1928. The facilities are surrounded by mountains, a lake, and beautiful terrain for chilly walks. Here new and retiring vestry members met for a memorable weekend that included fellowship and planning as well as a visit to St. James Episcopal Church in Hendersonville, the former parish of Fr. Robert. The annual vestry appointments to Emmanuel ministries follow.
John Albright, Communications
Carol Bowles, Pastoral Care
Rob Byrne, Stewardship
Sarah Ehlers, Missions & Extended Ministries
Debra Harden, SENIOR WARDEN & Thrift House
Clara Herrin, Worship & Liturgy
Kim Ripps, Vestry Administration & Emmanuel Day
School
Shooter Roberts, Faith Formation
Beverly Sligh, JUNIOR WARDEN & Parish Life
Jeff Stephens, Evangelization
Allen Stovall, Facilities
Erik Wells, Faith Formation
Assisting Administrative Support and Finance
will be Phil Bettendorf, who will chair the
the Finance Committee
At St. James, Hendersonville
Kanuga Logo
PAGE 4 VOLUME 46, ISSUE 2 VOLUME 46, ISSUE 2
AROUND THE PARISH
EMMANUEL CONTINUES TO SUPPORT OUR NEIGHBORS THROUGH THE ARK
As one of the driving forces in founding The Ark in January 1989, Emmanuel Church has continued to provide significant support through this united ministry of Athens area religious congregations, now 29 members strong, who combine their resources to carry out God’s mandate to serve His children in need. The vision was to create a single ministry outreach center for those who lack the basic necessities of life through a sudden loss of income. It is staffed almost totally by volunteers working in consultation with the director. In 2012, fourteen volunteers gave 1874 hours of service. Especially in these difficult fiscal times, one illness, accident, loss of job, or cut back of hours can push a family over the edge financially. The “fiscal cliff” is real for them. Most are searching for a way to return to being self-supporting. The Ark’s volunteers and its director utilize all available community resources for which a “neighbor” (the name The Ark uses for clients) qualifies. It makes and receives referrals from government and private social agencies and also gives direct financial aid for housing, utilities, prescriptions and medical supplies. Food needs are met through referrals to the Athens Area Emergency Food Bank which is housed in the same building on Barber Street. Lucy Hudgens, The Ark’s director and member of Emmanuel, was instrumental in establishing and electronic network of social agencies and churches called Charity Tracker. Through this network, all members can determine if other agencies can offer services that they cannot provide as well as what services the person in need has already received from the different sources. The Ark’s mission is to offer care, concern, and continued support for as long as a neighbor needs these things to find hope and confidence in the future. The Ark offers several services that are available through partnerships to assist neighbors with their finan-cial issues. For instance, an Ark volunteer is providing financial counseling courses, and hopes to partner with the Athens Area Homeless Shelter to continue this service on a permanent basis. Georgia United Credit Union has for several years, along with the UGA Aspire Clinic, offered the VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program to help prepare income tax returns through The Ark and other agencies each tax season. Georgia United also partnered with The Ark to establish the Jubilee Fund, a short-term interest-free loan program (usually less than $1,000) so that neighbors who qualify can establish a banking relationship, build a credit history, receive free check cashing, have manageable monthly payments, and receive bonus/incentives for on-time payments. To be eligible, applicants must be residents of Clarke County, be currently employed and have a verifiable, temporary loss of income or a necessary, unexpected expense.
(Continued on page 9)
PAGE 5 THE TOWER
YOU ARE THE SANDWICH GENERATION! All parishioners are encouraged to come Sunday, February 3 at 9:30 am to the Common Room. Find out more about which layer of this sandwich you are! Don't let the name "Sandwich Generation" fool you. Whether you are a parent of a child or teenager, an adult who is caring for an aging parent (or adult child, or grandchild), OR you are the one who is being cared for, we all have much to learn about how we can gracefully cope and manage all these phases of life and do it with love and spiritual groundedness. This kickoff roundtable general session will be based on The Spirituality of Caregiving by Henri Nouwen. We all go through these phases of life and sometimes feel pulled or "sandwiched" by the challenges they bring, so we will also have an overview of stress reduction to be sure we take care of ourselves. The Health Ministries Committee will use feedback and suggestions from these roundtables to formulate our break out sessions for the upcoming months. Questions? Want to lend a hand or your expertise? Contact Katherine Byrne at [email protected].
THRIFT HOUSE ON THE MOVE...
In preparation for vacating the Thrift House building by March 31, we will cease taking donations of goods on Friday February 15. Watch for updates as we proceed with plans to renovate "540" Prince into the best little thrift shop in town. We'll need your first class donations to get us off to a great start when we reopen in early summer. Janet Griffeth
BENEFIT CONCERT Glee-Off, a fundraiser for our neighbor Children First, Inc., features high school choruses from North Georgia competing with "Glee"-type performances for people's choice and judge's awards. It takes place Saturday February 2nd at 6 pm in UGA's Hugh Hodgson Hall. Tickets are only $10, and all proceeds benefit Children First's programs to promote safe and stable families.
Ralph Stephens
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
1 Chandler Shields
Courtland Alexander
2 Mark Wheeler
3 Jane Smith
Taylor Crump
Jack Byrne
4 John Byrne
5 Gary Shattuck
Kelly Grow
Kristi Farner
Lucy Niolon
6 Bobby Gibson
Terri Brewer
Trey Bliss
Andy Zenere
Maggie Sligh
8 Walter Jarrett
9 Nancy McDuff
Mimsie Roberts
Maya Osborn
10 Janet Robertson
Molly Lloyd
James Thomas Simmons V
11 Barbara Maddox
Amy Kias
12 Betsy Ferguson
Agnes Parker
R Robert Leventry
Debora Permar
David Brown
Mary Morgan Collier
13 William Jones
Tommie Elaine Shattuck
Simon Beckham
14 Jean Hunnicutt
Kathy Dean
Hannah Baker
15 Ellen Cowne
16 Judy Jay Masters
19 Antonio Zenere
19 Tom McDonald
Leslie Dailey
Brandon Phillips
Frances Thrasher
Grace Green
20 Alex Hinson
21 Philip Berry-Stoelzle
22 Jean Jordan
Todd Baker
Betsy Respess
Stephen Tonge
23 Katherine Buckner
Tiffany Greene
Harper Cline
26 Georgia Collier
27 Doug Yarn
Clara Herrin
Elise White
28 Hudson Whitley
Ralph Stephens
Alex Greene
Joseph Becker
29 Vince Masters
FEBRUARY 2013 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY
:00 – 8:0
1
1:00 Natural Spirituality 540 Prince
2
9:00 Stephen Ministry Prince Ave.
4:45 DOK Prayer Group
5:30
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
3 EPIPHANY V
8:30 Holy Eucharist, I
9:30 Faith Formation Adult Forum: Spirituality of Caregiving
10:30 Holy Eucharist, II
12:00 Natural Spirituality
540 Prince Avenue
4
10:00
Bible Study 540 Prince Avenue
5
10:00 Natural Spirituality 540 Prince Ave.
7:00 Young Adult Brew
7:30 Al-Anon 540 Prince Ave.
6
5:30 Healing Service with Holy Eucharist
7:15 Choir Rehearsal
7
.6:00 Stephen Ministry at 540 Prince
8
Youth Lock-in at The Catacombs
9
5:30
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
10 EPIPHANY VI
8:30 Holy Eucharist, I
9:30 Faith Formation
10:30 Holy Eucharist, II
12:00 Natural Spirituality 1:30 Prayer Shawl Ministry at Catacombs
11
10:00
Bible Study 540 Prince Avenue
12 10:00 Natural Spirituality 540 Prince Ave.
6:00 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 7:30 Al-Anon 540 Prince Ave
13 ASH
WEDNESDAY
7:30 Holy Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes
12:00 Holy Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes
5:30 Holy Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes
7:15 Choir Rehearsal
14
6:00
Stephen Ministry at 540 Prince
15
1:00 Natural Spirituality 540 Prince 4:00 Yoga in the Common Room
March Tower
Deadline
16
4:45 DOK Prayer Group
5:30
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
17 LENT I
8:30 Holy Eucharist, I
9:30 Faith Formation
10:30 Holy Eucharist, II 12:00 Natural Spirituality Young Adult Brunch
18
Church Office/ Day School Closed
19 10:00 Natural Spirituality 540 Prince Ave.
7:30 Al-Anon 540 Prince Ave.
20
5:30 Healing Service with Holy Eucharist
6:00 Lenten Soup & Salad 7:15 Choir Rehearsal
21
11:00
Eucharist at Lanier Gardens
6:00 Stephen Ministry at 540 Prince
22
1:00 Natural Spirituality 540 Prince 4:00 Yoga in the Common Room
23
5:30
Holy Eucharist, Rite II
24 LENT II 8:30 Holy Eucharist, I
9:30 Faith Formation
10:30 Holy Eucharist, II 12:00 Natural Spirituality 7:00 Brotherhood of St. Andrew 540 Prince Ave
25
10:00
Bible Study 540 Prince Avenue
26
10:00 Natural Spirituality 540 Prince Ave.
7:30 Al-Anon 540 Prince Ave
27
10:00 Thrift House Committee at 540
5:30 Healing Service with Holy Eucharist
6:00 Lenten Soup & Salad
7:00 Vestry Meeting 540 Prince Ave
7:15 Choir Rehearsal
28
PAGE 8 VOLUME 46, ISSUE 2 VOLUME 46, ISSUE 2
More Vestry Retreat Pictures
Kanuga Cabins
Photo: Matt Humphrey
At Eagle Rock
Back:
Erik Wells, Sarah Ehlers,
and Clara Herrin
Front:
Matt Humphrey and
Bev Sligh
Photo: Clara Herrin
Shooter Roberts
looking out over
Eagle Rock
Photo: Erik Wells
PAGE 9 THE TOWER
MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW
FOR SUMMER!
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Training for Adults: June 9 - 15 The children need loving adults to mentor them during their Formation hour. This training provides adults with the skills and tools to share their love of God and church with the youngest members of our parish.
'Catechesis Camp' for the children of parents in training: June 9 - 15 Childcare, and FUN, is provided for the children and grandchildren of adults participating in the Catechesis training.
Vacation Bible School ~ Kingdom Rock! June 17 - 21 We'll be looking for adult and youth volunteers, and plenty of excited children to join us for our annual celebration of God's love! This year, we'll focus on standing strong for God. If you have questions about any of these programs, please contact Georgia Collier at 706.540.8237 or [email protected]
THE ARK
A recent case of neighbors served by The Ark is the story of a family of four. The father had been working at an Athens plant for eight years. He had a sudden stroke in December with one result being that that in the intake interview at The Ark his wife had to speak for him. They have two boys. The youngest has a heart condition requiring the mother to stay home with him. The Ark helped them pay the rent and utilities for the month, provided diapers, and gave them a referral to the Emergency Food Bank. This family had never asked for assistance before so The Ark was there to help them navigate the social services system. The father continues to look for work, but there is little he can do right now. Emmanuel’s support of The Ark and other grants through the MEMC makes a tremendous contribution to the recipients in our community. Lee Albright Emmanuel Delegate to The Ark
(Continued from page 4)
FOR THE FAMILY
PAGE 10 VOLUME 46, ISSUE 2
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
ARCHBISHOP ROWAN WILLIAMS'
NEW YEAR MESSAGE 1st January 2013
Whenever I make a broadcast like this one, I’m acutely aware of the gap between what I’m seeing here and what you’re looking at, at home. You see me now sitting quietly in my study. What I’m seeing is a small crowd of wonderfully expert and efficient technicians doing the filming, meticulously checking the pictures and the sound. What we see happening is only a small part of what’s going on in order to make it happen.
And this last year we had a chance to notice this, for once, in a very vivid way. The extraordinary events of the Olympics and Paralympics last summer provided an unforgettable spectacle. But everyone who visited the Olympic site or watched the broadcasts will have been made aware of the army of volunteers who cheerfully gave up their free time and worked away, without complaint, all hours of the day and night to make these great events happen.
(Continued on page 11)
EMMANUEL CHURCH
Analysis of Revenues & Expenses - Summary
Month-to-date, through December, 2012
Accounts MTD Actual MTD Budget YTD Actual YTD Budget Annual Budget
The Rev. M. Edwin Beckham Associate Rector associaterector
@emmanuelathens.org
They were the key people who translated the Olympic vision into reality for the rest of us.
It ought to make us think a bit harder about all the other folk who quietly, often invisibly, turn vision into reality and just make things happen – especially volunteers. Here at the Robes project, over twenty local
churches are combining to offer food and shelter to homeless people in London. Religion here isn’t a
social problem or an old-fashioned embarrassment, it’s a wellspring of energy and a source of life-giving vision for how people should be regarded and treated. So let’s recognise this steady current of generosity
that underlies so much of our life together in this country and indeed worldwide.
It’s all based on one vision – to make our society, our whole world, work for everyone, not just the
comfortable and well off. And it’s a vision that sometimes seems to need Olympic levels of patient hard
work and dedication. If you have the good fortune to live in a community where things seem to be
working well, the chances are that if you slip backstage you’ll find an army of cheerful people making the wheels go round – and don’t forget just what a huge percentage of them come from the churches and other
faith groups.
How very good that people like that are there for us, we can say – but as soon as we’ve said that, we
should be prompted to ask the tougher question: what can I do to join this silent conspiracy of generous
dedication? There’ll be those who have time and skill and strength to offer; there’ll be those who have
less of these, but can support in prayer and goodwill.
And as we think about this silent groundswell, perhaps our minds can begin to open up to the deepest secret of all – the trust that the entire universe is held together by the quiet, unfailing generosity of God. What we see and grasp isn’t the whole story – but just occasionally we can get a glimpse. I hope there will be lots of joyful glimpses like that for you in the year ahead.
