July 2015

FROM FATHER ROBERT Grace, peace and many blessings to you and your families in these summer months!

In the space of a news sound bite I

offer a few words on the challenges that

the world is providing these days.

Following patterns, it would seem that

something new will befall us shortly so

let me address the issue at hand.

Violence and violence in places of

worship are topics I never would have

thought I’d have to write about. It

doesn’t make sense. There are no

answers. Simply questions. At the end

of all the speculation, made-up answers

and firm resolutions to change laws,

we’ve missed the boat, it seems. Until

we confront the reality of evil and sin,

we miss the boat. If we acknowledge

the reality of evil and sin in some parts

of our shared life but refuse to do it

across the board in every other social

ill, be prepared for things to go on as

normal—a “new” normal. In the

meanwhile, we are left, not to live as

those with no hope, but to lament to

the Lord with those who have gone

before us.

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.

“How long, O Lord, must I cry for

help and you do not listen? Or cry out

to you, ‘Violence!’ and you do not

intervene? Why do you let me see

iniquity? Why do you simply gaze at

evil? Destruction and violence are

before me; there is strife and discord.

This is why the law is numb and

justice never comes, for the wicked

surround the just; this is why justice

comes forth perverted.”

The truth of Charleston is that evil

finds its way in, no matter what. Even

in the places we thought could be safe.

Even in the spaces we thought we were

safe.

But our truth is that God found

God’s way out. God ripped apart the

heavens. God slashed to shreds the

temple curtain. Why? So that even

those places and spaces we assumed

were safe would actually be so—

because of the promise of God’s

presence. In and through everything,

we are never alone.

Never being alone is a good segue

into our reflection on community life.

We are never without the presence of

God and we are never without the

presence of one another as well. Each of

us is an important part of the body of

Christ. Each of us has a particular gift to

bring forth. All of us are uniquely

different with distinct perspectives. The

miracle of true community is that each

perspective is valid. Each contains truth.

The beauty of Christian community is

that we can take all of those unique

pieces and forge them into some kind of

a reality that will be used for service:

worship, mission, ministry.

Emmanuel offers a unique

perspective to the community at large in

each of those areas. Our responsibility as

Christians is to keep before us the idea

that the structures of Emmanuel are not

in fact Emmanuel—but tools to serve the

community of the church, the people of

God which is Emmanuel. People are

drawn to us not by what we look like,

News from the narthex

An Opportunity for

Willing Hearts to Serve

Emmanuel has committed to make 400

lunches for the Smart Kids, Smart Lunch

program for the first week in August. We

will be assembling lunch bags on Sunday,

August 2 at 9:30 am and will complete

the bags by assembling turkey and cheese

wraps on Tuesday, August 4 at 9:30

am. Questions? Just ask

either Nancy Walton at

nwalton213@icloud.com or

Jan Neubauer at

janmarie@mindspring.com).

Please join us in the Emmanuel kitchen to

help! No special skills required, just a

willing heart!

The Adult Faith Formation Committee offers programs that explore Holy Scripture,

Anglican tradition, and Church history to deepen personal faith, strengthen community, and share the Gospel. Adult Formation meets in the Westminster room, downstairs in the Formation Building. Please join us for these offerings in July. June 28, July 5 and July 12: DVD Presentation: In an engaging documentary, David Suchet sets off in search of Saint Paul the Apostle, one the great figures of the Bible. Controversial in his own time, Saint Paul remains so today. He was a remarkable man of contrasts and confusions, a persecutor of Christians who experienced a miraculous conversion and an all-consuming drive to spread the faith. Saint Paul helped transformed Christianity from a small Jewish sect into the largest religion on earth. Long fascinated by

the apostle, Suchet takes a very personal quest, retracing the steps of a man believed to have traveled some 10,000 miles by foot, and many more by sea, across the lands of the Roman Empire. Along the way, Suchet talks to archaeologists, scholars, clerics and locals, each of whom sheds light on an individual who did so much to shape the history of Western civilization. Facilitated by Br. Brian Paul Freese, OP. July 19, July 26: Discussion: The church is about the people of God on pilgrimage together restoring unity with God and one another in Christ. This can be tough to grasp. What happens though when you reach a place where a comfortable narrative and familiar community are no longer enough? What happens when you are confronted with situations or problems that are never quite satisfactorily resolved? Join this conversation as we look at stages of faith development and the journey to live out what we profess to believe. Led by Fr. Christopher Cole.

but for who we are and for how we serve

God and God’s poor. People come to us

because they find good and authentic

worship and individuals who are trying to

be faithful in living out the demands of the

gospel. Over the past few weeks I have

heard often that “these are exciting times

for Emmanuel.” Indeed they are because

even in the midst of a world that is more

than confused and troubled, we are looking

forward and anticipating growth and life

and hope and the joy that comes not from

worshipping ICONS or things, but the

living God whose presence is known to us

in Word, Sacrament and one another. We

are the Church, uniquely brought together

in this time and in this place to do the work

God calls us to do. May we join hands and

hearts and move towards our tomorrow

with confidence.

In his love, Robert +

Adult Formation for July

The Emmanuel Thrift House is currently selling shorts and sandals,

bathing suits and cover-ups, kids games, art (ceramics, paintings, glass) and DVDs. Most welcome are donations of small furniture items, baby and toddler clothes, small tables and shelves

for use in the Thrift House. Thanks! Leah Goodwin 706-395-6468 thrifthouse@emmanuelathens.org

3

Life brings lots of surprises! Happy events (weddings, a new baby, a new job) can sometimes be as stressful as the sadder times (illness, loss of a loved one, financial struggles, being forced to move or downsize). At all these challenging times, a Stephen Minister can offer the listening attention, care and support that makes all the difference.

Stephen Ministry has been an active part of Pastoral Care at Emmanuel for over 30 years. Stephen Ministers are fellow Christians who are trained and supervised in confidential, one-to-one care. The Stephen Minister meets with his/her Care Receiver on a regular schedule, usually once a week, as long as there is a need. The identity of those receiving

Emmanuel Episcopal Day School

Some highlights from the 2014-2015 school year include:

Jennifer Taylor was the recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award from the Georgia Preschool Association. Jennifer has been teaching three-year-olds for six years at Emmanuel.

We mentored five UGA interns in the Birth-to-5 Program. Each intern was assigned a classroom for a semester where they receive hands on training.

The school was featured in a video for the Nancy Travis House Childcare Project. We were the example of a program of excellence in early childhood.

Pascale Riley, who has taught the four-year-olds since 1993, and school director Amy Wraga were interviewed by a Ph.D. student from UGA doing a study of longevity in early childhood careers.

We had 92 wonderful children enjoy a year of learning, and we celebrated 24 four-year-olds at our graduation ceremony in May.

We are looking forward to another wonderful year beginning in August. Our creative half-day program has current openings for children who are or will 3 or 4 years old by Sept. 1st. Please email dayschool@emmanuelathens.org to set up a tour. Visit the day school section of the Emmanuel website for more information about our program.

Amy Wraga, Director

Catechesis Training, Summer 2015 Anna Hurdle of Charlotte, NC, will lead

us in a Level I training Monday, July 6 - Saturday, July 11

9am - 4pm “The beauty of seeing a child work with the Good Shepard material, and seeing the realization in their eyes that they are the sheep, and God is the Shepard is amazing. The purity of a child's realization of God and the love they feel is so powerful. Our children are the future of Emmanuel, they need us, but more importantly, we need them. We need them to remind us through their first realizations that there is something out there more powerful and glorious.” Erika Greene The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children. It is rooted in the Bible, the liturgy of the church, and the educational principles of Maria Montessori. Catechesis should be a religious experience shared by adults and children. The catechist and the child will listen and wonder God’s word together. We invite you to learn more about our foundational program for our children and to take a part, even just a small part, in the Catechesis training. If you are unable to commit to the entire week, just come for one session. Your understanding of the program is the best way to support Emmanuel’s Children’s Formation. The training opportunity is also a wonderful approach to expanding your own spiritual formation. For information, please contact: Georgia Collier, 706.540.8237 Georgiacollier50@yahoo.com, Father Robert, or any practicing Catechist or Shepherd: Peg Wood, Ellen Dolphus, Kerry Hogan, Erika Greene, Bobbi Brandenburg, Sara Baldwin, Mary Eberhard, Tiffany Greene, Mary Morgan Collier, Cindy Sullivan, Brooke Stortz, Janet Robertson, Descygna Templeton or Ralph Stephens. We look forward to talking with you about joining our fold!

care and what takes place in each caring relationship remain private. Care receivers don’t have to be members of Emmanuel.

A new Stephen Ministry training class is planned for Fall 2015. Anyone interested in serving as a Stephen Minister can get more information by talking to Sue Holt or Polly Connerat, or current Stephen Ministers, LaBau Bryan, Jan Wheeler, Sondra Lange, or Scott Shaw.

If you would like to consider having a Stephen Minister meet with you, contact one of the leaders.

Sue Holt (706-248-0517, sholt721@gmail.com)

Polly Connerat (706-296-0693, pollybil@bellsouth.net)

WHAT IS STEPHEN MINISTRY?

News from the narthex

Over fifty children, twenty youth members and twenty adults enjoyed a wonderful week at Emmanuel's Vacation Bible School! We celebrated with music & movement, enjoyed games, crafts and snacks, and took some time out to give to others. Our kids put together a few hundred Craft Kits to share with children who are in need of enrichment projects this summer. It was a week of service and sharing God's love.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL

Brightest Blessings!

MICHAEL CURRY WILL BE OUR NEXT PRESIDING BISHOP

The Episcopal Church’s General Convention made history June 27 when it chose Diocese of North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry to be its 27th presiding bishop. Curry, 62, was elected by the House of Bishops from a slate of four nominees on the first ballot. He becomes the church’s first African-American presiding bishop. His election was confirmed an hour later by the House of Deputies, as outlined in the church’s canons, by a vote of 800 to 12.

Talking from Salt Lake City immediately after the election, Bishop Rob Wright of the Diocese of Atlanta said, “I had prayed the bishops would have a clear mind, and it is now clear: Michael Curry is our presiding bishop for this time, and the vote totals show we were strongly behind him by electing him on the first ballot.”

Bishop Wright said that during the moments after the bishops’ votes were tallied and announced, “There was such excitement in the room; it was really a Spirit-filled moment. While we waited (for the House of Deputies to confirm the vote), we prayed with Michael, sang hymns, and even took selfies with him.” After clergy and lay deputies voted to confirm Curry's election by the bishops, Wright said he found it wonderful to hear Curry tell the full assembly that it was the Episcopal Church that taught him about Jesus.

Wright acknowledged that electing the church’s first black presiding bishop is historic. “That matters, but what trumps that is Michael is someone who is committed to sharing the gospel in the 21st century, and that’s what the bishops see in him. We are very clear we have a good message and now is the time for it.” (adapted from story by Nan Ross on the Diocese’s webpage)

5

News from the narthex

July Birthdays

2: Anne Thompson 3: Jon Carlson, Sandra Tuck-Poss, Suresh Alexander, Emma Neil 4: Mike Chalker 5: Ahmaud Templeton 6: James Reynolds, Crysty Odom, Tracie McGhee, Allison Clements, Melanie Rowell 7: McKay Brown, Will Herrin 9: Ann Bretscher, William

Russell, Judith Wettstaed, Josh Thames 10: Gaby Keen, Ryan Kleiber, Whitney Swann, Byron Norris, Alex McQueen 11: Ellen Dolphus 13: Stacy Mallet, Weyman Johnson 14: Maresi Ann Berry-Stoelzle, Tee Noland, Amy Hoyt, Clayton Dodson 15: Donald McAlister, Al

Clarke, Oliver Woodruff, William Murphy 16: Michael Murray 17: Frances Doherty, Melissa Ann Kinney 18: CL Ygartua, John Albright, Adelaide Ellis, Walker Gray 19: James Davis, Ellisa Garrett, Abigail Pylant 20: Christie Bettendorf, Max Ruston 21: Sue Holt, William

McLanahan 22: Charles Bullock, Cuppy Roberts, Sam Polk 23: Kirsten Walters, Sally Swann 25: Emily Luken, Jason Tiller 26: Chris Blount, Amrey Harden 27: Lucas Donnelly 30: Kathryn Crump 31: Jenny Ford, Bill Fox

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist is a Christian feast day

celebrating the birth of John the Baptist, a prophet who foretold

the coming of the Messiah in the person of Jesus, whom he later

baptized. Christians have long interpreted the life of John the

Baptist as a preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. The

circumstances of his birth, as recorded in the New Testament,

are miraculous. John’s pivotal place in the gospel is seen in the

emphasis Luke gives to the announcement of his birth and the

event itself—both made prominently parallel to the same

occurrences in the life of Jesus.

The sole Biblical account of the birth of John the Baptist

comes from the Gospel of Luke. John’s parents, Zechariah and

Elizabeth, were without children and both were beyond the age

of child-bearing. During Zechariah's rotation to serve in the

Temple in Jerusalem, he was chosen by lot to offer incense at

the Golden Altar in the Holy Place. The Archangel Gabriel

appeared to him and announced that he and his wife would give

birth to a child, and that they should name him John. However,

because Zechariah did not believe the message of Gabriel, he

was rendered speechless until the time of John’s birth. At that

The Feast of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist: June 24

time, his relatives wanted to name the child after his father,

and Zechariah wrote, “His name is John,” whereupon he

recovered his ability to speak. Thereafter he was given the

gift of prophecy and foretold the future ministry of John, this

prophecy forming the text of the Benedictus canticle.

The Nativity of St. John the Baptist on June 24 comes

three months after the celebration on March 25 of the

Annunciation, when the Archangel Gabriel told Mary that

her cousin Elizabeth was six months pregnant, and six

months before the Christmas celebration of the birth of

Jesus. The purpose of these festivals is not to celebrate the

exact dates of these events, but simply to commemorate

them in an interlinking way. The Nativity of St. John the

Baptist anticipates the feast of Christmas. The Nativity of St.

John the Baptist is one of the oldest festivals of the Christian

church, being listed by the Council of Agde in 506 as one of

that region’s principal festivals, where it was a day of rest

and, like Christmas, was celebrated with three services: a

vigil, at dawn, and at midday.

Lemonade on the Terrace Please volunteer to serve lemonade on the terrace this summer after the 10:30 service. It is a fun and easy way to meet people. Melissa has the lemonade and cups in the kitchen; there is a card table by the kitchen door to use; we usually make 6 to 8 pitchers depending on the crowd. The available Sundays are July, 5th; July, 12th; July, 19th; and July, 26th August, 2nd; August, 9th; August, 23rd and August, 30th Meredith Kahlstorf, Mkahlstorf@yahoo.com, 706-255-2042

7

Emmanuel’s Service & Faith Formation schedule is as follows; only exceptions are listed on the calendar below:

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, and 10:30 am Holy Eucharist Rite II, Church

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 2 3 4 3:30: Yoga “Old

Music Suite”

Church office closed

4:45 Daughters of the King

5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Noon: Natural Spirituality, Library

Catechesis Training

Catechesis Training 10:00: Natural Spirituality, Library 7:30 Al-Anon, old music suite

Catechesis Training 3:30: Yoga “Old Music Suite”

Catechesis Training 6:30: Stephen Ministry, old music suite

Catechesis Training

Catechesis Training

12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Noon: Phase II, The Preservation, Restoration and Renewal of the Church-CR Nat. Spirit - Lib

10:00 Natural Spirituality, Library 7:30 Al-Anon, old music suite

11:00 Eucharist at Lanier Gardens

4:45 Daughters of the King

19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Noon Natural Spirituality, Library

10:00 Natural Spirituality, Library 7:30 Al-Anon

7 :00 Vestry Meeting

3:00 Elder Connection Meeting, Library

26 27 28 29 30 31 10:30 Baptism noon: Natural Spirituality, Library

10:00 Natural Spirituality, Library 7:30 Al-Anon, old music suite

Prayer Shawl Ministry The making of a prayer shawl is a meditative practice that embodies our thoughts and prayers for the receiver. We knit, crochet or weave God’s love into shawls for people who need healing, who are grieving or who are going on a journey. We also knit small baby squares for infants in the ARMC Neonatal

unit. Our meetings are opened and closed with prayer, and our shawls are blessed by our members before they are given out. A prayer that fits the need is always attached to the shawl. It is so rewarding to be able to give these “wearable prayers.” Our ministry started in 2007. We meet on Sunday afternoons, once a month, from September through June in the old music building. Upcoming meetings are announced in the E-letter and the bulletin. We would love to have anyone join us. Come and we will help you get started! If you know of anyone who might need a shawl, please contact Pat Hall (706-548-7600, patpathall@yahoo.com) or Melissa in the church office.

News from the narthex July 2015

498 Prince Avenue

Athens, GA 30606

NON-PROFIT

ORGANIZATION

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

ATHENS, GA

PERMIT NO. 231

The interior of Emmanuel circa 1899

The 2015 Vestry

Shooter Roberts, Senior

Warden

Sarah Ehlers, Junior Warden

Phil Bettendorf

Brian Freese

Clara Herrin

Weyman Johnson

Roger Lange

Naomi Norman

Crysty Odom

Brooke Stortz

Diane Wahlers

Erik Wells

Emmanuel Episcopal Church