All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head Island, SC

PelicaNews
PelicaNews items are excerpted from the All Saints monthly magazine, The Pelican's Bill.

In this month's issue (click on any title):


Apr, 2008

Mar

Index

May

 

THOUGHTS AND REFLECTIONS from the Rector

Easter Stewardship

In this season of resurrection, there is lots of good news that points to the reality that we are “Resurrection people.”  A reality about ourselves that says we are people who see life beyond the empty tomb and Cross…that our faith and lives have moved on from the Cross that held Jesus and the tomb that contained him.  The fifty days after Easter represent a time to sense and see possibilities that we might give definition to what we profess by faith. 

Here is an example of what I am getting at. A present member of the parish has spent months discerning what was in store for him beyond his professional responsibilities, what was out there that would honor a need to be in touch with God’s will and his own spiritual journey.  At the pinnacle of his career as a university professor and administrator, this parishioner has asked tough questions, probed his heart, and spent enormous time in prayer wrestling with God in a Jacob-like manner.

Enter Bishop Gumbs from the Diocese of the Virgin Islands. (Think beyond clear blue waters, fine sand beaches, and abundant sunshine to a diocese in desperate need to intersect with people’s lives beyond the walls of the local Episcopal Church and a desire to connect fourteen parishes over five islands into a focused and mission-driven diocese.)  The bishop is seeking many to help in his quest to bring his diocese to a new level of understanding of ministry and mission.  One person in particular he was searching for: a person of faith who possessed the skills to begin the process of developing communication between the diocese and the several parishes…a person to promote, encourage, and teach teachers how to share Christian Education…and a person to bring into the 21st century diocesan administration.  A tall order for one person seemingly buried in a haystack.

And yet, Bishop Gumbs’ search and Rayburn Barton’s discernment brought them together during Lent.  Imagine all the little things that needed to be connected: two people seeking the will of God and discernment in their search processes, one in the Virgin Islands and another in the Lowcountry of South Carolina.  Imagine that in due time these find common ground.  Rayburn begins his missionary work in the Diocese of the Virgin Islands on June 1st.  All the details are yet to be worked out, but at the heart of this there is a desire to share a common faith and a common mission in that part of the world between these two individuals.

Isn’t it amazing how God works, even in the humor of God?  Rayburn had no idea his discernment process would lead to the Virgin Islands.  Bishop Gumbs was convinced he would be led by the Spirit to the “right” person for this important ministry.  Bishop Gumbs is on the cusp of something new and exciting in his diocese.  His faith was the one thing he could rely on.  He is a “Resurrection person,” willing to stake his life and that of the diocese on the will of God. 

Easter is dawning in that part of Christ’s world.  For Rayburn, this is absolutely the right ministry for the next turn in his life.

Easter meets personal stewardship.

Rick Lindsey

Index of all 'Thoughts and Reflections'

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THE ASSOCIATE’S CORNER

Dear Friends,

The season between Easter Sunday and Pentecost Sunday has traditionally been a cheerful time for Christians.  As we continue to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus during these “great 50 days of Easter,” we anticipate the gift of the Spirit.

Every Eastertide there are azaleas and irises, the Bradford pear trees begin to flower, beaches get busier, and there are increasing hours of daylight after dinner.  It’s a time to celebrate the earth and remind ourselves to respect the environment.  In that regard, F.P. Green wrote the following hymn:

God in his love for us lent us this planet,
Gave it a purpose in time and in space;
Small as a spark from the fires of creation,
Cradle of life and the home of our race.

Thanks be to God for its bounty and beauty,
Life that sustains us in body and mind:
Plenty for all, if we learn how to share it,
Riches undreamed of to fathom and find.

Long have our human wars ruined its harvest;
Long has the earth bowed to the terror of force;
Long have we wasted what others have need of,
Poisoned the fountain of life at its source.

Earth is the Lord’s! It is ours to enjoy it,
Ours as God’s stewards to farm and defend.
From its pollution, misuse and destruction,
Good Lord, deliver us world without end!

Eastertide blessings,

Mark

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A WORD FROM THE SENIOR WARDEN

The Vestry began developing this year’s objectives during the Vestry Retreat and completed the process via email following our regular February monthly meeting.  Considerable thought has gone into focusing the energy of the Vestry.  The five goals are:

 Four of these goals originate directly from the long-range plan developed last year and the long-range plan resolutions adopted by the Vestry. The fifth goal may be necessary to achieve our growth and stewardship goals and is closely related to a key point in the long-range plan.  All church programs require four things: clergy support, volunteer leaders, participants, and funding.  The congregational development process should help us develop our volunteer leaders to better support the desired activities at All Saints.

So, we believe this is the right focus for this year’s Vestry. We invite your comments and prayers to help guide us along this journey.  Your input is always welcome. To that end, we have included in this month’s Pelican’s Bill the names and addresses of members of the Vestry.

--Fred Hill, Senior Warden

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CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday Mornings for Adults

April   6 Discovering the Diaconate, Sandy Grant†
April 13 Are there poor people on Hilton Head Island, Sandy Grant†
April 20 Risking your life for the poor- a true story from the Dominican Republic, Sandy Grant†
April 27 A look at Baptism and Ministry, Mark Brinkmann†
May  4 Envisioning a Ministry of Music, Steven Branyon

April’s Wednesday Evening At All Saints (normally held on the first Wednesday of the month) will be held instead on April 9 beginning at 5:15 pm with Liturgy in the sanctuary, followed by dinner in the parish hall at 5:45 and at 6:30 pm The Rev. Donald McPhail, retired rector of Grace Church, Charleston, will be the evening’s guest presenter.  He will be speaking on the Trinity Foundation topic of ‘being an open and welcoming church’.  The dinner sign up sheet is located on the parish hall bulletin board.

Children

Sunday April 6 through May 4 Father Rick will present to his Sunday School class ‘The Joy and Wonder of Easter!” upstairs in the children’s room at 9 a.m.  This class is open to all children ages 3 through 5th grade and parents are encouraged to have their children attend!

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GARDEN TOUR UPDATE

We have some great news to share! Susan Beaver has graciously agreed to be our new Historian for the Garden Tour.  That position has been unfilled ever since Barbara Stubbs moved away.  We are so thrilled to have someone in this very important position.  Have you visited the All Saints library to reminisce about our early Garden Tour days? There is so much history to peruse.

Wow, now that’s it’s April, we look on our calendars and see that the Garden Tour is next month!  Will we be ready? Of course we will be with so many hard-working team players here at all Saints.

Sara Dodenhoff and Joe Bell will be ready for ticket sales on Sunday, April 13th, for the lovely Premier Party.  The Premier Party will be held on Sunday, May 4th, at the beautiful home of Margaret and Ken Collins on the banks of the May River.  This party honors the generous garden owners and will also be the site for the auction of the winning art entry, “Pink Beauties” by Evelyn Kowtko.  There will only be a limited number of tickets for sale, so please think about bringing along an extra check on that Sunday for tickets.  You won’t want to miss this event!

Preparations are already in place for Kick Off Sunday on April 20th, the day Garden Tour ticket sales begin.  At the same time, sign-ups will be available for the many strategic jobs that need to be filled.  THAT’S WHEN WE NEED YOU! Betty Tufts and Judy Russert will be seeking to gather in 60 hostesses for the day of the tour. Bob O’Flaherty and Ron Fialkowski will need 60 parkers for Tour day.  Lillian Hill and Gerry Foss will need bakers and candy makers ready to fill the Heavenly Confections Shop to the brim!  Helen Hamilton and Muffy Schulze will be ready to fill their arms with articles those of you with special talents have crafted for the Boutique.

What a wonderful time for all the “Saints” to come together!

But wait…beginning Saturday, April 26th, art work from those artists who exhibited in the library will be available for purchase.  The silent auction will be held in Gordon Mann Hall with 50% of the proceeds added to the Garden Tour funds to be distributed among the six recipient organizations: All Saints Preschool, Bluffton Self-Help, Children’s Relief Fund, Citizens Opposed to Domestic Abuse (CODA), Hospice Care of the Lowcountry, and Programs for Exceptional People (PEP).

Again, we cannot say this enough: WE NEED YOU, each and every one of you, to be part of All Saints’ wonderful gift to the community through the beauty of a garden.

Garden Tour Needs Easels

As mentioned above, there will be a silent auction of the art work beginning in Gordon Mann Hall on April 26th.  However, the Garden Tour art committee needs easels for this event, which will run through May 17th.  The drop-off date is April 26th between 10 a.m. and noon.  If you have an easel you would like to loan, please call Shirley Pearse at 342-5119.

--Rosalie VanDam, Chair 

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LOCAL MISSION AND OUTREACH UPDATE

Family Promise – All Saints will be the first to host Beaufort County homeless families as the day center opens in Bluffton and the position of Director is filled.  It is expected that the first family/families will arrive in the event on Sunday, May 4th, and spend each night with us until May 11 when they will move to another church.

Grant Allocation – The committee of volunteers who reviewed and evaluated the three grant applications met and discussed their opinions and knowledge of the applicants.  Each of the applicants will receive an award, as follows:

The committee will meet again in August to evaluate grant requests received by August 1.  If you are involved with or know of a Beaufort County organization not currently receiving funds from All Saints which could benefit from additional funding, please let Ginny Trolley or Marilyn Adams know so that an application can be sent to the organization.

--Ginny Trolley, Chair

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INTERNATIONAL OUTREACH UPDATE

Dominican Republic – The 2008 survey trip was exciting and fruitful.  The team met with Bishops Holguin and Skilton, visited sites in and around Santo Domingo, spent time in Barahona attending two services and planning for the construction team’s visit later in the spring, and saw the nave and three classrooms of La Redencion where Vacation Bible School will be held in late June.

One of the trip participants, Fred Gebler, shares this impression:  “I anticipated meeting with individuals in the DR who were quite burdened by their most challenging difficult day-to-day existence.  Instead, I found a people that are extremely happy and are being helped to a large extend by their respective churches which are assisting so much with their education, medical, sustenance (purified water and food), as well as their spiritual needs.  In sum, the folks I met exhibited an abundance of hope and grace. All of those who have ever participated in an All Saints mission trip have the challenge of relating their various experiences to their fellow parishioners so they see how they can help these needy people in their own way. In the worlds of a familiar song, ‘That’s how it is with God’s love, you want to pass it on!’.”

The 2008 construction trip will be April 26-May 3.  The work has been defined, the tickets purchased, and supplies ordered.

Dale Finn will again participate in the 2008 diocesan medical team trip June 4-14, visiting the same places in San Francisco and Santiago in the DR as last year. 

The VBS team will travel from June 21 to 28, led again by Soozie Williams. The team expects 65-70 children to participate, and this team continues to seek volunteer participants from All Saints.

Student scholarships will be gradually shifted to the K-8 school in La Redencion in Barahona.

Hilton Head Ecumenical International Mission Group – Representatives of several churches, including All Saints, are meeting monthly to share and discuss their international mission endeavors. John and Bonnie Gruetzmacher have agreed to represent All Saints, are happy to have help, and will keep us informed.

--Ginny Trolley, Bonnie Gruetzmacher

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A GRATEFUL THANK YOU

Many thanks to Marge Padget, Rick Weed, and Gary VanDam to their contribution of time and talent to aid in the finishing of the Hay Chapel.  Marge purchased and sewed the linens for the Altar, Rick had the Cross reworked so it could be hung on the cord he provided, and Gary gold-leafed the inscription on the Altar. Your efforts are a very important part of the new Chapel.

--Sue Senden

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ANNOUNCING THE MLK FILM FESTIVAL

The MLK, Jr. Celebration Planning Committee will offer the inaugural MLK Film Festival the first weekend in April.  It will span three days: Saturday afternoon, April 5, Sunday evening, April 6, and Monday evening, April 7.  April 4, 2008, marks the 40th anniversary of the assassination of Dr. King. Thus, the MLK Committee felt it would be fitting to screen several films that could serve as educational tools or reminders about Dr. King’s leadership and the conditions and situations against which he struggled.  These events will be free and open to the public.  The films will be offered in different locations and at different times, as follows:

--Jenifer Gajdalo

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ECW TO MEET

The next meeting of the Episcopal Church Women will be Tuesday, April 8, beginning at 6 p.m. with a social time.  The evening’s guest speaker will be Elizabeth Loda, a member of ECW and All Saints and a financial advisor, who will speak on women’s finance, especially as it relates to the current financial environment and its effect on pre- and post-retired women.

All women of All Saints are members of ECW and all are urged to attend.  There is a sign-up sheet located on the parish hall bulletin board.

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INTRODUCING STEVEN BRANYON

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Steven Branyon as Organist/Choirmaster of All Saints. 

Steven is a native of York, SC, and received his education from North Greenville College, Winthrop University, and Westminster Choir College.  He has served parishes in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Washington D.C., Pennsylvania, and most recently in Savannah.  He has recorded professionally with the choirs of St. Peter’s, Morristown, NJ, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Christ Church, and St. John’s Church, Savannah, and has played at Bristol, Salisbury, Truro, and Lichfield Cathedrals in England.

Steven will begin his duties at All Saints on April 6 and will initiate a lasting tradition of high Anglican music for all ages (children and adults) starting in the fall of 2008.  Anyone who wishes to be a part of this exciting ministry is encouraged to call the church office for details (681-8333).

Steven also teaches music appreciation for Elderhostel classes at Mercer University at the Jekyll Island, GA, campus, and accompanies various schools in Chatham and Effingham Counties in Georgia.

--Sarah Eliasoph

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EVENTS TO NOTE

--Loni Saunders

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A STEWARDSHIP MINUTE

This spring, it is interesting to think about how birds build their nests and prepare for the next generation.  The mother bird lays her eggs in the next, sits on them until they hatch, and then feeds, nurtures and teaches them until the younglings are ready to fly on their own.  We, as Christians, must do the same for our family:  build and maintain a place for our children to be nurtured and grow as Christians.  Our children certainly are the future and the church will continue to be a place for their spiritual nurturing.  We need to do our best to be stewards of our time, talents and resources to provide that environment.  Just as we attend to our won “nests” at home, we must also attend to maintaining the spiritual nest necessary for the next generation of Christians to grow and flourish.  The lead article in this month’s issue of Stewardship points out that when we volunteer our time, or give contributions and offerings to the church to fund programs and buildings, like Mother Bird, we are providing for our little ones, sustaining and nurturing the next generation of Christians.

 

Prayer:  Thank you Lord for our church and our church family.  Stir us up always to do your will and be good stewards of all that we have.  Amen.

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SEASIDE RETREAT AT SAINT CHRISTOPHER

From Sunday, June 1 through Wednesday, June 4, Saint Christopher will hold a Seaside Retreat for seniors.  The Rev. Bob Ott (Holy Cross, Sullivan’s Island) will lead this year’s Seaside Retreat and bring his wonderful teaching gift to bless this year’s participants.  Each June this gathering of seniors attracts individuals from within the diocese and from states as far away as New Jersey and Minnesota.  It’s a joyful week of fellowship, teaching, and various activities that showcase the beauty of St. Christopher and its 300 acres of maritime forest, beaches, and marsh land.

The theme for this year’s retreat is “Spirituality in Your Senior Years.”  There will be lots of free time for walking on the beach, sitting on the porch with a good book, sitting on Crab Dock at sunset and catching up with old friends or making new ones.  Space is limited, so register soon.  The cost of the entire program is $349/person for a single occupancy and $295/person for a double occupancy for three nights.  The fee includes all meals and activities.

To register, go online at www.stchristopher.org or by picking up a 2008 Seaside Retreat brochure in the church office and completing the registration form.  Payment in full is required at the time of registration.  For more information, please contact Elizabeth at ebumpas@stchristopher.org or phone 843-768-0429.

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THE LIFEBUILDER’S CREED

(Editor’s note: the following, which appeared on my desk, seemed valuable to pass along.)

The Lifebuilder’s Creed

Today is the most important day in my life.
Yesterday with its successes and victories, struggles and failure, is gone forever.
The past is past.
Done.
Finished.
I cannot relive it. I cannot go back and change it.
But I will learn from it and improve my Today.

Today.  This moment. NOW.
It is God’s gift to me and it is all I have.
Tomorrow with all its joys and sorrows, triumph and troubles, isn’t here yet.
Indeed, tomorrow may never come.
Therefore, I will not worry about tomorrow.

Today is what God has entrusted to me.
It is all I have. I will do my best in it.
I will demonstrate the best of me in it: my character, giftedness, and abilities…to my family and friends, clients, and associates.

I will identify those things that are most important to do today
And those things I will do until they are done.
And when this day is done
I will look back with satisfaction
At that which I have accomplished.
Then, and only then, will I plan my tomorrow,
Looking to improve upon today, with God’s help.

Then I shall go to sleep in peace…
Content.

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