The Sentinel

December 2006

FATHER DAVID’S MESSAGE  

ANNUAL REPORT  

            I do believe that it’s been a good year for St. Stephen’s.  We have continued the task entrusted to us by the Lord of sharing and celebrating God’s love and mercy with those with whom we come in to contact.        We are brought to Christ in a variety of ways but chiefly through our parish liturgies, social time, prayer, and outreach to the wider community – through every aspect of parish life.  This is what’s called “evangelization” and we do this well.  

            A vital element of successful evangelization is, of course, the willingness of those in community to offer their gifts and talents.  The old maxim:  “Believe that everything depends on God; act as if everything depends on you”, certainly applies to St. Stephen’s.  

            Examples abound such as the various activities of the ECW, Men’s Group, adult education, baby-sitting service, music ministry, liturgical ministries (chalicers, acolytes, readers, ushers), ministry of the vestry, those who help produce the weekly bulletin, work of finance committee and those myriad forms of ministry unseen and unknown.  For so few people it is indeed an impressive record and we are all grateful.  

            We are also grateful for the ministry of four (4) outgoing vestry members:  Bill Lanier, Lloyd Maynard, Susan Stephens and Peter Strickland.  Over the last three (3) years they have been models of evangelization.  A special thanks to Peter Strickland, who, in serving as senior warden for over two (2) years, went well beyond the call of duty.  

            Our Sunday Eucharist is at the heart of all evangelization.  The opening sentence of the Book of Common Prayer reminds us of this:  “The Holy Eucharist, the principle act of Christian worship on the Lord’s day….”  Yet, like most churches we are experiencing a decline in participants on Sunday Morning.  There are obviously legitimate reasons for this decline, such as work, necessary travel, family responsibility, etc.  It would be unrealistic to expect the cultural shift responsible for the decrease in Sunday church participation to change.  But we do need this time together, as God’s people.  We need the nourishment Jesus gives us here at his two (2) tables:  the table of the Word and the table of the Lord’s Body and Blood.  I don’t know what can be done to meet this challenge to our traditional observance of the Sabbath.  Maybe the Lord is calling some of us to make sacrifices!  Maybe the Lord is challenging some of us to re-evaluate our reasons, or at least some of our reasons, for absenting ourselves from Sunday Eucharist!  

            Nevertheless, our community remains strong in worship and outreach.  We have so much to be thankful for St. Stephen’s is blessed with so many generous people.  In fact, our accomplishments keep reminding me of the feeding of the multitude with only five loaves and a couple of fish.  The disciples were aghast at Jesus’ suggestion.  But Jesus wanted to teach them a lesson.  They must learn to trust not in their own resources, but in his power.  What they themselves have to give is pitifully inadequate.  When these meager resources are entrusted to Jesus, however, they are transformed beyond imagining.  And when everybody is fed the disciples are still able to fill a basket with the leftovers.  I believe that this same miracle is being performed right here at St. Stephen’s.  We are small in number, but our accomplishments are great due to entrusting our meager resourced to the power of God.

                                                                        Father David

ST. STEPHEN’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

ERWIN , NORTH CAROLINA

ANNUAL MEETING

December 3, 2006

AGENDA

WELCOME                                                                                        Peter Strickland  

OPENING PRAYER                                                                           David McGuinness  

SECRETARY’S REPORT                                                                   Pam Tuohey

            Minutes  

ELECTION OF NEW VESTRY MEMBERS                         Peter Strickland

            4 (3 for 3 years, 1 for 2 years)  

TREASURER’S REPORT                                                                   David Heinzman  

REPORTS OF EACH PARISH ORGANIZATION

            Senior Warden                                                             Peter Strickland

            Junior Warden                                                                          Lloyd Maynard

            Episcopal Church Women                                                        Kitty Heinzman

            Episcopal Young Church-members                                           Peter Strickland

            Men’s Fellowship                                                                     Lloyd Maynard

            Choir                                                                                        Kathy Tuttle

            Altar Guild                                                                                Nina Maynard

            Acolytes                                                                                   John Todd

            Lay Service Assistants                                                  Peter Strickland

            Church School                                                                           Sarah Wells

            Memorial Committee                                                                Diane Lanier

            Finance Committee                                                                   Bill Lanier

            Building & Grounds Committee                                     Lloyd Maynard

            Evangelism Committee                                                  John Todd

            Ushers Committee                                                                    Lloyd Maynard

            Track Rack Committee                           

 RECTOR’S REPORT                                                                          David McGuinness  

OLD BUSINESS

            Organ Repair                                                                            Michael Wimberly  

NEW BUSINESS

            Elevator/Lift                                                                              Lloyd Maynard  

ADJOURN  

CLOSING PRAYER                                                                           David McGuinness

The Sentinel

November 2006

FATHER DAVID’S MESSAGE  

JESUS AND THE SANCTITY OF MARRIAGE

            We live in times when marriage break-up is sadly all too common.  The ancient Jews had an extremely high ideal of marriage.  It was a special sign of the covenant between God and Israel .  But, by the time of Jesus, divorce had become easy to obtain.  Jesus challenged them on this issue and tried to raise the bar.  In Mark’s Gospel (10:5-9) Jesus makes it clear that divorce, allowed by Moses, was a concession to sinful weak human nature, but at the beginning of Creation God made it otherwise.  

          The church follows the tradition that what God unites we must not divide.  It compares a Christian marriage relationship to that of Christ and his Church.  But it is also important that we recognize that sometimes human sinfulness, as well as weaknesses in human nature, lead to marital failure.  Indeed, the high rate of marriage break-up may be a symptom of a greater breakdown in society.  

          The term the “lonely crowd” has been used to describe the alienation and loneliness so commonly felt by many, young and old, in our society.  This is a call to all Christians to be compassionate, caring and supportive of all who hurt, whether married or not married.  It is also a call to be challenging, in a Christ-like way, to those who do not take enough personal responsibility for their sinful ways and immature behavior.  

          As a church we have to make it our business to create a world of harmony and unity.  We must defend and pray for the sanctity of marriage and, at the same time, find ways of supporting relationship that are struggling.  

          Needless to say, those of us who care deeply about all this, and especially those of us who are married, can begin to address this issue by making sure our own personal relationships are alive and growing!

                                                                        Father David

VESTRY MEETING

            The Vestry meets Wednesday 15 November 2006 after the 6:30 PM Evening Prayer in the church office.

ACOLYTE TRAINING:

            John Todd will schedule.

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP

Thursday November 16, 2006 at place to be determined.  Please sign up if you are attending so there will be enough food.  Please pay Mike Wells $10.00 in advance for the meal.

FALL FESTIVALS

On Saturday November 4, 2006 we will need volunteers to help work the booth at the Cotton Festival in Dunn from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM . 

There is a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall

NOVEMBER BIRTHDAYS

3        Jay Elliott

5        Nina Maynard

6        Ammei Lee Merriott    

7        Sandra Ralph Joseph

Kim Lanier

11    Pauline Ralph

12    Karl Roth

14    Tom Lee

John Todd

15    Paul Wells

16    Kyle Pope

20    Eleanor Nicholl Willard

29    Michael Lee

Peter Strickland

NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARYS

9        Jenny & Greg Sills

11    Mary & Frank Speer

23    Sarah & Michael Wells

25    Cindy & Peter Strickland

27  Madlyn & David McGuiness

BAZAAR WORKSHOPS

Dear Friends,

    As the date of our Christmas Bazaar draws near, the message is clear, we must all put our best effort into this function.  The bazaar is the only fundraiser for St. Stephen’s and so much depends on the outcome.  We have several very important projects to fund over the next year, primarily the start of an elevator fund.  Let’s make the bazaar a priority.  

    The bazaar will be held on Saturday November 11, 2006 from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM , here at the church.  The weekend before ( Saturday November 4, 2006 ) will be the Cotton Festival in Dunn, where we will be selling raffle tickets on the various door prizes.  These ticket sales are so important as they usually result in fifty percent (50%) of the bazaar profits.  Please try to sell as many tickets as possible.  Tickets are in the kitchen with a signup sheet.  We need people to help with the booth at the Cotton Festival also – please signup.  

Since the bazaar is only a few weeks away I urge all who can attend our Wednesday night workshops.  We have made great progress, but we have a way to go.  There is a job for everyone.  The workshops begin after the prayer service and end at 9:00 PM .  On the Wednesday before the bazaar, November 8, we will be setting up tables and getting things into place.  On Friday night, November 109, people will be here to help with food and craft items being brought in.  Please try to price your items ahead of time.  The freezer will be placed in the kitchen before long and people with frozen food items may bring them at any time.  

Let me say that we need food, food and more food!  Our frozen items sell out so quickly, as do the baked goods.  Please try to contribute our favorite casserole, cake, pie, etc.  We will have a breakfast café again this year with biscuits and drinks.  Some individually wrapped brownies or cookies would do well there also.  

Once again I thank each one of you for your support and continued hard work to make this event a success.  It is a special blessing to me personally to be involved.

    Yours in Christ,

            Jenny Sills

,

Operation Christmas Child  

The Episcopal Church Women are again sponsoring Operation Christmas Child for St. Stephen’s Church.  Operation Christmas Child is a missions project that every member of the family can participate in by bringing a gift-filled shoe box to church on or before November 12.  On November 12, the children and entire congregation will present their shoeboxes during the Shoe Box Dedication Service.  These shoeboxes will be sent to children in 90 countries throughout the world by Samaritan’s Purse.  

          To Pack your shoebox gift:  

1.      Decide on your category:  Boy or Girl, Age in Years (2-4) (5-9) or (10-14).  

2.      Buy your gifts:  Toys such as small cars, dolls, harmonicas, yo-yos, toys that light up or make noise with extra batteries, Etch-A-Sketch, Slinky and stuffed animals; school supplies such as pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads, solar calculators; hygiene items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and comb; miscellaneous items such as hard candy, mints, gum, t-shirts, hairclips, small picture books, flashlights and batteries, ball caps, sunglasses.  Do not include liquids, toys of war, chocolate candy, used items, medicines (like cough drops) or vitamins, aerosol cans or breakable items.  

3.      Pack your gifts in a shoebox.  You may wrap the shoebox, but wrap the bottom and top separately.  Include seven dollars ($7.00) for handling in a envelope (a check is recommended payable to Samaritan’s Purse with a note on the memo line that the gift is for Operation Christmas Child).  Put the envelope inside the box on top of the toys.  

4.      Put a rubber band around the shoebox, and cut of the category label from your brochure and place on top of box (or write your own label, including boy or girl and age).  

5.      Bring the shoebox to church on or before November 12, 2006 .  

Operation Christmas Child is a way every member of our church, whatever the age, can share the gift of God’s Son, Jesus Christ, with needy children around the world.  Shopping for your child is heartwarming.  Please participate.

The Sentinel

October 2006

FATHER DAVID’S MESSAGE

OUR NEED FOR SABBATH TIME

The Sabbath is a gift from God.  It is a weekly reminder of God’s goodness, kindness, compassion and mercy.  On this day the productivity mentality is put aside, at the least for those who do not have to work.  On this day we are free to care for the eternal seeds planted in our minds, hearts and souls by an incredibly loving God.  We may not be able to shut distractions out completely, but we can slow things down.  We can try the Lord, not to Mammon.

It would be a pity, therefore, if we took this day for granted, if it became just like any other day.  For Christians, this day has a communal aspect because we believe that we are drawn to God’s love as a community gathered together.  This is the day we join the People of God and are reminded that life is a pilgrimage to our Father’s Kingdom.  We listen to the Word of God, which is “a lamp for our steps and a light for our path”.  And we celebrate and receive Eucharist, which is the food of our journey.  Christ, our light, who was raised from the dead by the Father on this day, has gone ahead of us.  He invites us all to follow.  

                                                                        Father David

ANNUAL PET BLESSING

            Sunday October 8, 2006 at 2:00 PM we will have our annual Community Pet Blessing in honor of St. Francis.  It will be held in the lot behind the church.  Snacks will be provided for all animals.  Bring your friends and their pets.

BAZAAR WORKSHOPS

Every Wednesday night after Evening Prayer in the Parish Hall there will be craft workshops preparing items for sale at our Bazaar in November.  We need anyone who is interested in helping out.  Thank you in advance for all your assistance.  Anyone who need to may contact me at (919) 894-2406.

ACOLYTE TRAINING:

            Sunday October 15, 2006 right after the 11:00 AM service for about 15-20 minutes, the acolytes who are present will have a training session.  Those who are in church please stay after for a few minutes and we will go through the training. Please take advantage of the opportunity.

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP

          Thursday, October 19, 2006, at Lloyd Maynard's "fellowshop".  Please sign up if you are attending so there will be enough food.  Please pay Mike Wells $10.00 in advance for the meal.

FALL FESTIVALS

On Saturday October 7, 2006 we will need volunteers to help work the booth at the Denim Days Festival in Erwin from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM .

Also on Saturday November 4, 2006 we will need volunteers to help work the booth at the Cotton Festival in Dunn from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM . 

There are sign-up sheets for all three festivals in the Parish Hall.

SENIOR WARDEN REPORT:

As I alluded to last month our annual meeting will be held during its regular canonical time on Sunday December 2, 2006 after the 11:00 AM Eucharist.  At that meeting we will be electing 4 new members to the Vestry.  Three of the new members will serve for three years and one will serve for two years.  Your church is in need of your leadership so please prayerfully consider whether you would be willing to serve on the Vestry. 

At the annual meeting we will also be presenting our annual proposed budget.  With that in mind we all will need to prayerfully consider our pledges for next year.  We have had a good year this year.  Our church would like to be able to afford a full-time rector.  To do that we would need to almost double our budget.  That is not feasible at this time, but we can begin saving up for that time by placing our extra revenues in reserve until the time we can pay a full-time rector. Therefore, please consider increasing your pledge for next year.

At the annual meeting the various organizations of the church will present their annual reports.  Those organizations are the ECW, EYC, Men’s Fellowship, Choir, Altar Guild, Acolytes, Lay Service Assistants, Finance Committee, Building and Grounds Committee, Memorials Committee, Evangelism Committee, Usher Committee, Tract Rack Committee, Christian Education Director, Rector, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Secretary and Treasurer.  Each organization will need to submit its report in writing to the Vestry no later than October 31, 2006 .

It is great to have Sandra Joseph back at home recuperating.  Please keep her in your prayers as she continues on her road to recovery. 

It is also good to have Peggy Royal back in church after her wreck.

            Yours in Christ,

The Sentinel

September 2006

FATHER DAVID’S MESSAGE

“By this will all know you are my disciples –

by the love you have for one another.”

(John 13:35)

The truth of the above quotation from St. John’s Gospel was given powerful witness by an atheist, no less, in the second century.  A man called Aristides, a non-Christian, when defending the Christians before the Emperor Hadrian made the following statement:

“Christians love one another. 

They never fail to help widows.

They save orphans from those who would hurt them.

If a man has something,

He gives freely to the man who has nothing.  

If they see a stranger

Christians take him into their homes,

And treat him like a brother.

Not that they consider themselves brothers

In the usual sense,

But brothers instead through the Spirit, in God.  

And if they hear that one of them is in jail,

Or persecuted for professing the name of their redeemer,

They all give him what he needs.

If it is possible, they bail him out.  

If one of them is poor

And there isn’t enough food to go around,

They fast several days to give him the food he needs.

We are dealing with a new kind of person.

There is something divine in them.”  

          Questions:  Would Aristides be equally impressed by Christians today?  What characteristics might he point out to impress Hadrian?

                                                                        Father David

BAZAAR WORKSHOPS

Dear Friends,

This summer has been a productive one for the ECW.  In June and July our pickle workshops yielded over 100 pints of cucumber and squash pickles.  The bi0monthly craft workshops allowed us to get a jump-start on several projects – some completed, some in progress.  I want to thank everyone who took part in these meetings, for their time and dedication.  Also thanks for the donations of supplies.

As September rolls around, we are about two months from the bazaar on November 11 2006 .  We will begin craft workshops every Wednesday immediately after evening Prayer.  We will meet in the parish hall upstairs.  These sessions will end at 9:00 PM .  We will not on the Wednesdays of the covered dish supper.  At these meetings we will do a variety of things and there is a job for everyone.  Please join us if possible.  We have a great time!

We will have raffle tickets by September 1, 2006 .  As usual we hope to sell as many tickets as possible.  These tickets are pure profit since the prizes are donated.  Our goal is 2000 tickets.  I believe this is possible because we have easily sold 1500.  However, this year we will be without Louis and Sandra Joseph.  These great folks have always been two of our main ticket sellers, so we will have to do a little more to make up.

Once again we need all the food we can get for sale art the bazaar.  We will have the frozen food section again this year, so plan to make your special casseroles, soups and of course, St. Stephen’s famous Brunswick Stew.  Anything that freezes well is desirable.  We will need baked goods – cakes, pies, cookies, etc.  Cookies and brownies may be individually wrapped for sale at the “Breakfast Café.”  All our food always sells out so we can never have too much.

Finally we need some supplies for bazaar projects.  We need 35 and 50 count clear lights – 35 count with white cords and 50 count with green cords.  We also need miniature Christmas decorations for topiary trees and wired ribbons.  If you are unable to shop for these things a cash donation would be appreciated.  The less money we take from our treasury, the more we will have for the large projects ahead.

I would encourage all members of our congregation – men women and children – to become involved in the bazaar effort.  This event is well known and highly anticipated in the community.  The Crepe Myrtle Festival in September, the Denim Days in October and the Cotton festival the week before the bazaar in November all give us a chance to present St. Stephen’s to the community as the working and dedicated church we all love.

Thank you in advance for all your assistance.  Anyone who need to may contact me at (919) 894-2406.

Yours in Christ,

Jenny Sills

FALL FESTIVALS

Saturday September 9, 2006 we will need volunteers to help work the booth at the Crepe Myrtle Festival in Angier from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM .  We also need help setting up and taking down.

On Saturday October 7, 2006 we will need volunteers to help work the booth at the Denim Days Festival in Erwin from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM .

Also on Saturday November 4, 2006 we will need volunteers to help work the booth at the Cotton Festival in Dunn from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM . 

There are sign-up sheets for all three festivals in the Parish Hall.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

            The ECW will begin its fall season with a “Salad Supper” meal and meeting at 6:30 PM Tuesday September 29, 2006 in the parish hall.  All are welcome to attend and bring a favorite bowl of salad to share with the group.  Pleas plan to be with us as we have many important issues to discuss.

Kitty Heinzman

SUNDAY SCHOOL

The Sentinel

Aug 2006

FATHER DAVID’S MESSAGE

“FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG.”

A RELECTION ON ST. PAUL (2 CORINTHIANS 12:7-10)

In this letter we find St. Paul reflecting on his contentment in finding strength in his weakness.  Like Jesus, St. Paul faced many obstacles in carrying out God’s will.  Yet, he finds that in being favored with the grace to accept his sufferings, including “the thorn in the flesh”, he now feels closer to God.  

At the center of Paul’s faith is his faith in the power of the cross.  For him, the Crucified Christ is the power and wisdom of God (1 Corinthians 1:23 -24).  In Christ’s display of weakness as he dies on the cross, the strength of God is displayed.  

As baptized Christians we are called to experience the value of weakness.  Like Paul we should always pray to overcome our shortcomings, failings and obstacles on our path of life.  Yet, like Paul, we should be prepared to accept in trust the answer he received:  “My grace is sufficient for you.  For power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9).

                                                                        Father David

FEAST OF ST. STEPHEN

            On Sunday August 13, 2006 we will celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen, the patron saint of our parish.  We will remember the anniversary of our parish that day, and will have a covered dish meal after the service.  Please come to the service and bring a covered dish for the meal.

BAZAAR WORKSHOPS

     Check the bulletin each week to find out when the next workshops are.

We are in need of pint jars, jelly jars, sugar and vinegar.  These items can be left in the parish hall kitchen.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

          Sunday September 10, 2006 we will start Sunday school classes at 10:00 AM .  Please come and register for your class and take part in the real learning of the Christian faith.  After the 11:00 Eucharist on September 10, 2006 the Men’s Fellowship of the church will provide a meal for the congregation.

Saturday September 9, 2006 we will need volunteers to help work the booth at the Crepe Myrtle Festival in Angier from 10:00 AM until 4:00 PM .  We also need help setting up and taking down.  

The Sentinel

July 2006

FATHER DAVID’S MESSAGE

REFLECTION ON THE HOLY TRINITY

In so many homes and businesses, people make personal contact through e-mail.  It’s become so pervasive that some mistake “virtual community” for genuine community.  While cellular telephones, e-mails, text messaging are wonderful life-enhancing inventions, the problem is that some actually prefer the antiseptic aspect of it all.  When this happens the importance of real community, which consists, at heart, of being physically present to each other, is down played if not lost completely.

          This development is of particular concern to our churches.  At one beach resort in this country you can actually go to Sunday services by simply going to an old drive-in movie theater, hook the speaker up to your car window, and never have to move form the comfort of your own vehicle.  While this may well be two or three gathered together it’s hardly the family of the church coming together to celebrate their faith.  Moreover, we find that families today seldom come together to share a meal.  The problem is that should a family see no point in sharing a meal around their own dining room table, they find it difficult in seeing the point in gathering around the table of the Lord with the church community on Sunday morning.

          A few Sundays ago we celebrated the Feast of the Holy Trinity.  In this central belief we find a perfect example of communion that our world and our church needs.  This is surely the antidote to those elements of our society (such as the loss of community life) that would bankrupt our souls.  In a famous icon of the Trinity, the three angelic beings are sitting at the table.  Not only are they represented as truly, personally present to one another, but their table fellowship leaves room for another to join.  It is a communion that invites company to share the feasting.  Love wants to draw in, to embrace to delight in others.

          This feast reminds us that we are all interrelated.  We are part of a much larger panorama of God’s handiwork.  Our Eucharistic gatherings on Sunday morning are a supreme witness to this basic truth of our faith.

                                                                        Father David

BAZAAR WORKSHOPS

     The next scheduled bazaar workshops will be July 11 and July 25 at the home of Susan Stephens.

We are in need of pint jars, jelly jars, sugar and vinegar.  These items can be left in the parish hall kitchen. 

The Sentinel

June 2006

FATHER DAVID’S MESSAGE

BEING FAITHFUL TO THE GOSPEL WILL SOMETIMES INVOLVE THE ACCEPTANCE OF PAINFUL CHANGE

When John the Baptist was in prison he became anxious and sent his friends to question Jesus as to who he was.  Jesus didn’t send back any kind of theological proof, but simply told them to go back to John and report what they had seen and heard and how it was affecting ordinary.people’s lives:  “The blind see, the lame walk, … and the good news is proclaimed to the poor” (Matthews 11:2-5).  After receiving this report it was up to John.

          This tells us something important about the nature and role of the church.  For us to be effective we must demonstrate with our lives that the Gospel Jesus preached is truly alive in each of us.  We must be a community where love, joy and peace preside and justice and mercy rule.  In particular, we must be a community where people are reconciled to God and each other, demonstrating to society and the world the power of the Gospel to heal bitter divisions and hatreds.  Where this is not, at least, seriously attempted, the declaration that “Christ is Risen” is empty, a sign signifying nothing (Corinthians 13:1).

          Being faithful to the Gospel has often required the acceptance of painful change.  This is seen in Peter’s reluctance to accept a mission to non-Jews.  He and Paul had an ugly face-to-face confrontation on this issue.  But in time Peter came to recognize its importance and accepted it.

          Such controversies will always be with us.  But it is the clear teaching of the New Testament that disputes will not be resolved by division and estrangement, but only by serious and humble pursuit o what the Episcopal Church professes to be a priority – the unity which is the explicit will and mind of Jesus:  “That they may be one” (John 17:21).

          Someone once compared seeking church unity with seeking peace:  we are all for it, but we are not always willing to pay the price.  A modern prophet put it this way:  “our divisions prevent our neighbors from hearing the Gospel as they should.”  And that would be a shame were it to happen to the Episcopal Church at the beginning of a New Century

                                                                        Father David

Dear Friends,

     On May 9^th, we began our bazaar workshops.  We had a production session at the home of Susan Stephens. These workshops will be held on the first (June 6) and fourth (June 27) Tuesday of June beginning at 7:00 PM and lasting two hours.  Susan has graciously opened her home to us.  We have some exciting projects for the bazaar and we welcome all who can attend.

     The pickle workshops will depend on when the produce is available.

     Please keep us in prayer and come join us for wonderful fellowship.  The women of the parish always go the extra mile to make this project a success.  I appreciate the efforts of each and everyone of you.

          Yours in Christ,

              Jenny Sills

The Sentinel

May 2006

FATHER DAVID’S MESSAGE

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE AN EPISCOPALIAN

First, being Episcopalian is to be a member of a family, whose members are to be found on every continent, and whose history stretches back many generations.  This, however, is not an ordinary family.  It is a family that did not come into existence in the normal way. Despite what Dab Brown of “The Da Vinci Code” fame would have us believe, the evidence is that its founder, Jesus, was celibate – that he did not marry and did not have children.  So the ties of blood that bind human families together are not central to this family.  The ties center around Jesus and his claim to be the Son of God, that he came that we should have life, and have it to the full.  And that to achieve that life, nothing in our lives could ever be the same.  

          Instead, our lives would never be settled because Jesus’ presence would always be unsettling.  One never knows what he might ask of us next.  From that first Easter morning until the day they died, the lived of the first Christians were never the same.  In following Jesus they were following someone who never stopped making demands.  Their one consolation was that along with the unsettling demands came the miraculous gifts of God’s love, compassion and strength.

          We Episcopalians should not expect anything different.

                                                                        Father David

CHURCH PICNIC

          Sunday May 21, 2006 at the Erwin Recreational Park beginning at 10:00 AM with the Eucharist.  Please bring lawn chairs, sports equipment, and a covered dish.  Please sign up in the parish hall if you are coming and what you are bringing.

LADIES BREAKFAST

     Sunday May 7, 2006 at 9:00 AM the men of the church will be providing breakfast for the women of the church.  Men call Lloyd Maynard to see what you can do to help out.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICES:

          Every Wednesday night services are held at 6:30 PM .  The second Wednesday of the month a meal follows the Eucharist.

CPC PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,

          We ask for your continuing guidance for the Church Periodical Club.

          Help us all to know your will in this ministry of the printed word.

          Help us all to see where there is need and to fill this need in the spirit of Christian People Caring, remembering always that our Lord Jesus Christ come not to be served, but to serve.

          Make us aware:  Help us to hear the voices of word – hungry people in you world and to respond.

          This we ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

CHURCH PERIODICAL CLUB

          The Church Periodical Club first sent the Word west in 1888 on Wells Fargo Stagecoaches.  Today it provides free literature – prayer books or textbooks, Bibles or periodicals – to deserving recipients throughout the Anglican Communion.  It is an affiliated organization of the Episcopal Church.

          Also, pleas do not forget to place your pennies in the Miles for Pennies jar in the church kitchen.  The pennies will go towards the CPC offering for 2006.

          Thank you for your continued support of the Church Periodical Club.  Needs are great.

                             Faye Brown

                             CPC Custodian

The Sentinel

April 2006

FATHER DAVID’S MESSAGE

LOUIS JOSEPH R.I.P.: A MEDITATION ON THE PASSION,

DEATH AND RESURRECTION

Louis Joseph died of cancer on March 16, the second week of the Lenten season.  Louis was a good man, a holy man and died too young.  He bore his sufferings uncomplainingly.  Right up to the very end he had a smile and a warm greeting for all who visited him.  Even on the afternoon before his death, although heavily sedated, Louis managed to make me feel most welcome, and appreciated, as I stood at his bedside at Rex Hospital .  This was Louis Joseph, a man who, during his life, gave so many gifts to his family, friends and community.  The way he died was his last and perhaps greatest gift. 

The fact that Louis died during the Lenten season is, in a way, significant.  Louis did not hesitate to follow in Jesus’ footsteps on the road to Calvary .  The road of suffering is a narrow and difficult one.  But it is a great consolation for us to know, as it was a tremendous source of consolation to Louis, that Jesus went down this road, and went down it to the very end.  But it did not end at Calvary .  It ended at Easter with the glory of the Resurrection.  And that road is not the same since He traveled it.  For those who, like Louis, believe in Him and follow Him, a bright light illuminates this road – the Light of Easter Hope.

                                                                        Father David

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER SERVICES

PALM SUNDAY                    April 9, 2006                8 AM and 11 AM Holy Eucharist

11 AM Eucharist begins with a procession     (weather permitting)                  

WEDNESDAY                       April 12, 2006              6:30 PM Stations of the Cross (No Meal)

MAUNDY THURSDAY        April 13, 2006              6:00 PM Seder Meal

                                                                                    8:00 PM Eucharist with Washing of the Feet

                                                                                                and Procession to the Altar of Repose

GOOD FRIDAY                    April 14, 2006              7:00 PM Good Friday Service

                                                                                    Reading of the Passion, Veneration of the

Cross, Holy Communion

HOLY SATURDAY               April 15, 2006              8:00 PM Great Easter Vigil

EASTER                                 April 16, 2006              11:00 AM Holy Eucharist (No 8 AM Service)

CHURCH PERIODICAL CLUB  

          The Church Periodical Club first sent the Word west in 1888 on Wells Fargo Stagecoaches.  Today it provides free literature – prayer books or textbooks, Bibles or periodicals – to deserving recipients throughout the Anglican Communion.  It is an affiliated organization of the Episcopal Church.

          The first Sunday in May has been set aside nationally to bring CPC o the attention of all Episcopalians.  We will observe CPC Sunday on May 7^th.  Offerings may also be given throughout the month of May.  Envelopes will be provided for CPC offerings.

          Also, pleas do not forget to place your pennies in the Miles for Pennies jar in the church kitchen.  The pennies will go towards the CPC offering for 2006.

          Thank you for your continued support of the Church Periodical Club.  Needs are great.

                             Faye Brown

                             CPC Custodian  

CPC PRAYER

Dear Heavenly Father,

          We ask for your continuing guidance for the Church Periodical Club.

          Help us all to know your will in this ministry of the printed word.

          Help us all to see where there is need and to fill this need in the spirit of Christian People Caring, remembering always that our Lord Jesus Christ come not to be served, but to serve.

          Make us aware:  Help us to hear the voices of word – hungry people in you world and to respond.

          This we ask in the name of your son, Jesus Christ.  Amen.

EYC NEWS & EVENTS:

If anyone is interested and leading the EYC (youth), please contact Fr. David or Peter Strickland.

            ACOLYTE TRAINING:

            Sunday February 19, 2006 right after the 11:00 AM service for about 15-20 minutes, the acolytes present will have a training session.  Those who are in church please stay after for a few minutes and we will go through the training. Please take advantage of the opportunity.

WEDNESDAY NIGHT SERVICES:

          We will continue to have Wednesday Night Services at 6:30 PM .  After the Eucharist on Wednesday February 8, 2006 we will have a covered dish meal. 

COFFEE HOUR/REFRESHMENT FELLOWSHIP TIME

     After the services on Sunday we have fellowship time, during which members and visitors drink coffee or other refreshments and have a snack while getting to know each other a little better.  We are in need of people to sign-up to volunteer to provide the snacks and drinks.

SENTINEL (newsletter) PUBLISHER

          As you can see from the past several newsletters, we are in desperate need of a volunteer to publish the Sentinel.  If you have creative publishing talents or just have time, please let Peter Strickland know so we can get a better product out.  

        VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL :

        If you would be interested in helping with a Vacation Bible School next summer, please let Peter Strickland or Fr. David McGuinness know.  Any help at all would be great.  If you just have ideas, we could use them.  Vacation Bible School is a great way to get families introduced and even involved in our parish.

MEN’S FELLOWSHIP

          Men’s Fellowship will continue on February 16, 2006 .  The Men of the church get together on the third Thursdays of the month to join in Fellowship.  They enjoy repast together and plan projects to do around the church.  If you are interested in joining the fellowship please contact Lloyd Maynard, Bill Lanier or Mike Wells.

VESTRY MEETING

            The Vestry meets Wednesday 15 February 2006 after the 6:30 PM Evening Prayer in the church office.

            Special thank you to Sarah Wells and Colon McLaurin for their three years of service on the Vestry.  

CELEBRATING THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS:  

            I sometimes think that, at Christmas, our Lord’s sudden arrival at our doorstep would be enough to spoil our celebrations.  The Gospel emphasizes the fact that Jesus can announce His presence in many ways, and in particular, in the form of a displaced person, a refugee, a juvenile delinquent, or an aged Aunt or Uncle with Alzheimer’s Disease and no money.  Were this to happen to any of us, Christmas might well be spoiled.  

            For the truth is that every time our Lord ever invaded a person’s life, He has shaken it from top to bottom.  For example, Zacchaeus, after the Lord’s visit to his house, was left, if not penniless, at least with his personal income seriously depleted.  (This does happen to many a household, but, alas, not always for religious reasons!)  Nevertheless, the Gospel tells us that Zacchaeus was overjoyed and was immensely satisfied despite his economic losses.  

            Or, think of Mary.  She can never have felt poorer, more destitute, more deprived, more abandoned than when she gave birth to Her Son.  She gave birth at the worst possible moment at the most awkward place.  She was a refugee, a displaced person and nobody wanted to take her under their roof.  But it was then that she knew Joy and the Gospel assures us that never in all the world was there a greater Joy felt.

To experience true Christmas Joy, therefore, we must be ready and willing, like Zacchaeus and Mary, to sacrifice, be generous and not count the personal cost.  For Jesus said, “Blessed Are They Who Are Not Scandalized or Put Off By The Way I Come To Them.”

            Have a Blessed and Joy-Filled Christmas Season!

The Sentinel

November 2005

FATHER DAVID’S MESSAGE

PASTOR’S ANNUAL REPORT

STEWARDSHIP: In Matthew’s Gospel we read:  “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s and give to God what is God’s”  (Matthews 22:20 -21).

            The emphasis is on the second part of Jesus’ answer, “Give to God what is God’s”.  This was Jesus’ constant message, “Seek first the Kingdom of God ” (Matthew 6:33 ).  That is the first priority, Jesus says.  If we do that everything else will fall into place.

            But what does it mean to “give God what is God’s”?  What is God’s? The answer is as obvious (or should be) as it is inescapable:  Everything!  From God we receive all we are and have, sin excepted.  God gives us the gift of life along with individual talents that make each of us unique and special. 

            God even gives us our possession and money.  True we work hard for that we have nonetheless, the truth is that even what we earn is only ours loan.  At bottom, even the things we own are gifts from the Creator of all:  God.

            If “giving to God what is God’s”, means anything, it must mean putting God first in our lives.  So does God come first in our life, or does God get the leavings?  Does God only get our spare time (if any)?  Does God get the gifts and talents left over when we’ve finished doing the things we want to do?  Does God get the loose change that remains after we have satisfied all our needs?

            Jesus would have been shocked at the idea of giving God leftovers.  His Jewish tradition taught the farmers and shepherds to offer God the first fruits of field and flock.  They were taught to realize that everything came from God and belonged to God.  So they gave the first fruits out of sheer gratitude. 

            If we truly want to “give God what is God’s”, then we must learn to put God first in our lives – in all areas.  There must be no fenced-off areas where God is second or third; or where God is not allowed to enter.

            When we begin to put God first in our lives we make a beautiful discovery.  What is left over is always enough, indeed more than enough.  We find that God never allows Himself to be outdone in generosity.  We discover that what Jesus says is really true: “there is more happiness in giving than receiving” (Acts 20:35 ).

            Those of us who have made these discoveries are truly blessed and rich in the sight of God.

            Reviewing this past year at St. Stephen’s I find lots of evidence that this is a community that has discovered this truth.  With so many blessings to count, these are just a few examples that come to mind:

            - A hugely successful Centennial Celebration.

            - Much maintenance work done on our buildings along with our beautifully restored floors, newly painted doors and kitchen tiles.

            - The gift of new tables for our hall, Stations of the Cross, and a votive light stand for our Church.

            - A Spirit filled Christmas, Holy Week and Easter celebrations with good attendance.

            - Well-attended and successful organ recitals.

            As always, so much of the work done is unseen:

-         Michael Wimberly and our small but dedicated choir.

-         The ECW’s many projects, far too many to begin to list.

-         The generous gifts of talent and time put into our finances by our accountant, Barbara Nicholl along with our treasurer, David Heinzman, and his able assistant, Bill Lanier.

-         The generous gift of time and talent given by Kathy Tuttle, Nancy Silvers and Kent Stone in preparing our bulletins.

-         The generosity of our Junior Warden, Colon McLaurin, ever on call – and usually called upon.

-         The overall contributions of our Vestry members.

-         Lloyd Maynard’s wonderful work in organizing our Men’s Group, that, like the ECW, not only gets together to eat and have fellowship, but also undertakes numerous work projects.

-         John Todd’s preparation and guidance in our celebration of a 1905 Eucharist as part of our Centennial celebrations along with helping us to celebrate the Feasts of St. Stephen and St. Michael the Archangel .

-         And lastly, a very special thanks goes to our hardworking Senior Warden, Peter Strickland, who wears far too many hats.  His leadership the last twelve months or so has been invaluable.

-         In addition, we have been blesses with three new members who have just been received into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Marble.

-         And we continue to be blessed with a number of newcomers.  I’m confident that there will be more.

For these reasons and more I consider it a great blessing to be your Rector.

                                                                        Father David  

     "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church".

     In reality, Peter was anything but rocklike.  On the night before Jesus died, Peter declared:  "Everyone else may fall away, but I will not (Mark 14:29).  We know what happened:  Within three hours Peter denied ever knowing Jesus.

    Why did Jesus choose Peter to play a leadership role?  It was hardly loyalty or dedication!  Indeed, to all appearances Peter was the one least likely to be chosen, with the possible exception of Judas.

     In fact Jesus gave a leadership role to Peter for the paradoxical reason that his love was imperfect.  Before he could make something of him, however, Peter had to become aware of his weakness, and be convinced that without a power greater than his own he could do nothing.  Then, and only then could Jesus use him.  Then Simon would indeed be "The Rock", because he would trust not in his strength but in the power of God.

     What was rocklike in Peter was not strength of character but his faith--Peter's trust in the One whose strength overcomes human weakness.

     Peter, therefore, is the model of faith in whose steps we must follow.  Like Peter we too must recognize our weakness, however painful that might be.  But once we learn to trust in God's strength rather than our won, God will fashion us into great disciples in the mold of Peter.

     In this way, we at St. Stephen's will become the rocklike church God intends us to be enabling us to be his faithful witnesses throughout this new century.

Fr. David

     We all know that a Christian must beat the cross, but, paradoxically, we must all learn how to detach ourselves from suffering.  We must, in a word, work loose from ourselves.  A Father of the Church used to say, "There is only one way of being cured of sadness, and that is to dislike being sad".  It is hard to believe this when we are suffering.  As if we has chosen to be hurt!  Of course not, but what is terrible is that we often choose to keep on suffering, to fan the flames of our pain, to inflame our wounds, to find our only comfort in our very discomfort.

     Failing to understand the true nature of carrying our cross leads to a twisted logic which reasons that if we keep our pain, then we can also keep our twisted logic which reasons that if we keep our pain, then we can also keep our right to complain, our right to withdraw into our own shell, our right to hurt others and to kill their joy and happiness, and when there is no joy in the world of those around us, then we are confirmed in our pain.

     So Lent calls us to let go of our pain, let go of a past hurt and the grudge we have carefully cultivated around it and let the joy of Easter healing bring joy into our lives and the lives of others.

Fr. David

     Saul of Tarsus had been raised in the purest Hebrew customs.  Very sure of himself, proud of his traditional religion, he detested all innovation or any new ideas.  Saul, you see, was convinced that he had the true faith in the true God, therefore, when the Son of God appeared, Saul was profoundly scandalized.

     Saul had his own ideas about God and Jesus did not fit in with them.  A man who toils with common laborers, who suffers and dies like a common criminal and who says he is the Messiah--that man could only be an impostor.  Jesus was unorthodox and Saul's religion was an orthodox religion.

     So thinking he knew the mind of God and exactly what God wanted, Saul felt fully justified in persecuting the Lord's disciples.  In taking this attitude Saul revealed a weakness that would prove his undoing, a weakness common to all religiously self-righteous people:  Saul felt that he knew the mind of God so well that he need no longer take the trouble to listen to him.  And when we recall that prayer is primarily us listening to God we can see why Saul became such a fanatic and bigot and why failure to attend to private and community prayer, that places the emphasis on prayer as listening, is so detrimental to our spiritual lives.

     Now the only way to change the minds of fanatics is to knock them off their tracks, to derail them.  And that's exactly what the Lord was forced to do to Saul as he set his face towards Damascus convinced that in destroying Christians he was doing God's work.

     Suddenly, in a vision of the Lord all this changed, and the first thin that the Lord did was to send Paul away on a three day retreat.  Then the Lord ordered Ananias,  a leader of a Christian community, to go and baptize Paul.  "Rise and go to the street called Straight and inquire in the house of Judas for a man of Tarsus named Saul; for behold, he is praying" (Acts 9:11).

     I believe we can all learn sobering lessons from the conversion of St. Paul:

          We should feel uncomfortable if we find, more often than not, that the Lord always agrees with us, even in the most controversial of issues.  If so might we have, like Paul, ceased to listen to the Holy Spirit and have overlooked the fact that our relationship with God is in process and that the Holy Spirit has a lot to teach us about being Christian?

          To have faith is to recognize the presence of the Lord in people we disagree with or dislike; it is to believe in the church even though there are things about the church which scandalize us, the road of faith is uncharitable, arduous and long.  Faith is a life spent in discovering god, a God who sometimes can only be encountered by listening prayerfully to what we do not want to hear.

Fr. David

     When someone we love is absent, especially over a long period of time, we experience pain.  This is only natural as the person we miss happens to be a source of joy and happiness in our lives.  There is a saying, "absence makes the heart grow fonder".  And it is true.  The absence is painful and is always an invitation to a deeper communion with God who is the source of all love and is at the heart of all loving relationships.  When we love a person it is always a love in god.  And the presence of God's love cannot but lead to a deeper love and longing for the beloved.

     Sadly, sometimes absence fails to bring about a deeper fondness but brings about worry and anxiety which are classical symptoms of brokenness and spiritual malaise.  And while a couple in such a marriage may need marriage counseling it must be stressed that their problem is an invitation to a deeper relationship with God and each other.

     The pain we experience from the death or absence of the person we love always calls us to a deeper knowledge of God's love.  Death or absence does not end or even diminish the love of God that led to the one we loved but instead, invites us to take a new step into the mystery of god's incredible love for each of us.  This journey we must all make is painful, very painful, but the more we are stripped of God-given support of the people we love the more we are called to love God for God's sake.  The saints and mystics call this an awesome and dreadful love, but it is the love that offers eternal life.  Saint Augustine put it this way, "Our hearts are restless, Lord, until they rest in thee".

     The New Testament makes it clear that Christianity is at heart a people affair.  We can call it church or a community of Christians, but it all comes down to being about people being together.  Unless we understand this, we understand nothing about Christianity--or nothing as ought to be understood.  There is a personal side to it too but the point is that this cannot be developed without active participation in the community life called church.  This means that I cannot be a Christian all by myself.  It means that I cannot retire into my own shell and live the Christian life there.

     That is why Saint Paul describes the church as Christ's "Mystical Body".  by this he means that as Christians, Jesus has no means of loving us unless we come together and be Jesus to one another.  Saint Paul means that as Christians we are Jesus' feet, hands, eyes, ears, and mouth through which he continues to do his work on earth (Romans 12:4-5).

     Jesus himself made clear that "Where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the their midst" (Matthew 18:20).  For Jesus to be present to an individual Christian, his presence can only be made possible through his presence in the community of believers called the church.  In other words, for Jesus' love to reach me personally it must come through others.

     The conclusion is that the promises of God are not given to those who think they can serve God in separation from  others, or try to love God without at the same time loving testy neighbors or fellow parishioners.  And it follows that there is no surer way of allowing our spiritual life to atrophy or turn morbid and destructive than by refusing to join with fellow Christians.  "They were all together in one place...and they were filled with the Holy Spirit"  (Acts of the apostles 2:1,4).

Fr. David

     Leaving your sister all alone in the kitchen while you sit and listen to  your guest talking seems terribly unfair, doesn't it?  Yet Jesus seems to not only condone this behavior but defends the seemingly idle Mary and scolds poor Martha who is only doing her best to get the meal on the table.  What can we make of all this?

     It is important to realize that Jesus is not criticizing Martha's hospitality.  The Bible views hospitality as one of the most important virtues and especially pleasing to God.  Rather, what Jesus is criticizing is Martha's attendance to hospitality without first attending to his words.  the story teaches the futility of action that is not based on attentive listening to God's Word.

     It's a simple story.  but we live in such an action oriented world that w3e have difficulty understanding it.  When we act without listening we are guilty of a subtle kind of pride.  We are assuming that we already know what must be done and need no guidance.  For example, some social activists bend on helping the poor sometimes embark on misguided programs that miss their target.  This happens when they first of all fail to listen to the poor themselves to find out their actual needs and wants.  Likewise, acting without first attending to God's word means doing what we want to do, not what God, or the situation, requires of us.  The remedy is to sit at the Lord's feet, like Mary, and listen to his word.

     As we read the story, we can almost hear Martha complaining to herself about her sister's lack of consideration and wishing that she would stop wasting time and join her in setting the table.  But it's precisely Mary's "wasting" time that the Lord appreciated.  

     We Marthas of the world are therefore invited by the Lord to attend to the following:

     --"waste" time with him each day by withdrawing to our room, closing the door, and opening our Bible

     --"waste" time in meditation and daily prayer

     --"waste" time participating in Sunday worship and weekday services

     All of us would do well to "waste" more of our time with the Lord.

     When reading the Word of God there are two attitudes to avoid.  The first is to say, "I can understand this completely!"  The second is to say "This is too difficult, I'll never understand it!"  Somewhere between these two extremes lies the only proper attitude toward every attempt made by the Holy Spirit to convey God's will for us through the Scriptures:  the attitude of the Virgin Mary.  She did not understand what the angel said to her but she pondered on what was said, and meditated on them in her heart.

     In other words, she asked questions, thought things over, sought advice, like every good Jew of her day, she read the Scriptures--or more likely, reflected on them from memory--she even demanded from the angel a sign.  All this took time.

     It's important to remember that waiting for God, along with a readiness or availability for God, will bring things out right in the end because, as exemplified by Mary, this is the way the will of God is made known and effective in our lives