THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE of ALABAMA November/December 2015 • Vol
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THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF ALABAMA November/December 2015 • Vol. 100, No. 5 Photo by Donovan Marks, C. 2015 Washington National Cathedral 2 • THE ALABAMA EPISCOPALIAN Around Our Diocese St. Thomas Huntsville groups complete Living Compass program session wo groups of parishioners and clergy at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Huntsville support to individuals, families, and congregations as they seek to live the abundant life recently completed a six-week session of the Living Compass wellness and whole- God intends for them,” according to its website. Tness program. The program was facilitated at St. Thomas by Jeff Akamatsu. Participants were: Each small group completed an individual self-assessment and an achievable weekly Michael Jones, Pat Johnson, Gus Davis, the Rev. Mary Catherine Akamatsu, Jenna goal in an area of mind, heart, soul, or strength, during the six week session. Pirani, Lloyd Cook, Frances Steel. and Mona Parker. “Living Compass, grounded in scripture and the tradition of the church, is a faith- Additional information on Living Compass is available at: http://www.livingcom- based wellness ministry that provides resources, coaching, education, training, and pass.org. Group participants are, from left, Michael Jones, Pat Johnson, Gus Davis, and the Rev. Mary Catherine Group participants are, from left, Jenna Pirani, Lloyd Cook, Frances Steel, Mona Parker, and facilitator Jeff Akamatsu. Akamatsu. Commission on Spirituality For additional information contact Cathy Williams, program, which includes making musical selections for Parish Administrator, [email protected], the liturgy in consultation with the rector, directing and seeks information on practicing 256-864-0788. rehearsing the choir, collaborating with the children’s spiritual directors choir director, and leading the congregation on the organ St. Thomas Birmingham seeks or piano on Sunday mornings at the 10:30 a.m. service The Commission on Spirituality is seeking to iden- and on Holy Days and special services. The church is tify practicing spiritual directors, both lay and ordained, part-time organist/choir director. looking for someone who is proficient on the organ/ within the Diocese of Alabama. Practicing spiritual piano, comfortable playing different musical styles, and St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Birmingham has a directors are asked to complete the form at: http://bit. experienced in conducting a choir. salaried position available for a part-time Organist/Choir ly/1Wu1HjC. If you are interested, please send resume to Ben Paulk Director (8 – 10 hours per week.) For additional information contact the Rev. Mary at [email protected] by Dec. 31. Catherine Akamatsu, 256-880-0247, akamamc0@se- This person will be responsible for leading the music wanee.edu. St. Matthew’s Madison seeks THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH In the Diocese of Alabama In the United States The Anglican Communion part-time music director and organist About 34,000 baptized members in 92 parishes A community of about An 80-million-member and worshiping communities and 8 college 2.4 million members in 119 dioceses worldwide community of St. Matthews Episcopal Church in Madison is seeking campus ministries. Established in 1830. in the Americas and abroad. Established 38 provinces. in 1789. a part-time music director and a part-time organist. The Bishop Archbishop of Canterbury The Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan Presiding Bishop The Most Rev. Justin Welby parish is prepared to hire one person to fill both positions Assistant Bishop The Most Rev. Michael Curry Lambeth Palace, London or to fill the positions separately. The Rt. Rev. Santosh K. Marray Episcopal Church Center England SE17JU Carpenter House 815 Second Avenue Visit http://bit.ly/1GzLBmL to download the posi- 521 North 20th Street New York, NY 10017 tion descriptions. Birmingham, AL 35203 212/867-8400 205/715-2060 The Alabama Episcopalian is published 6 times per year (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, September/October, and Novem- The Alabama Episcopalian ber/December) by the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama. Previous names for this publication include The Diocese of Alabama (1892), The Church Record Dave Drachlis, Editor ON THE COVER (1893–1922), The Alabama Churchman (1923–1987), The Apostle (1988–1997 and 1999–2009), and The Alabama Apostle (1998). Periodicals rate Miles G. Parsons, Art Director postage paid at Birmingham, Alabama. Denise Servant, Circulation Secretary Michael Curry is installed as 27th Presiding Bishop of the All editorial submissions should be sent to Dave Drachlis at [email protected]. The deadline for each issue is the first day of the Volume 100, Number 6 month of publication. Episcopal Church during a service at the National Cathe- November/December 2015 dral in Washington D.C. Nov. 1. USPS 070-910 All address corrections or additions should be sent to Denise Servant at [email protected] or Carpenter House, 521 North 20th Street, ISSN 1041-3316 Birmingham, AL 35203–2682. Photo by Donovan Marks, C. 2015 Washington National Cathedral POSTMASTER: Please send address corrections to Denise Servant, Circulation Secretary, The Alabama Episcopalian, 521 North 20th Street, Birmingham, AL 35203–2682. November/December 2015 From Bishop Marray THE ALABAMA EPISCOPALIAN • 3 Poustinia ‘Pilgrims are Tough’ with me, and be risen with me reborn in spirit and truth. was born) in the Church of the Nativity, or to renew my The more we journey into the desert the more likely are baptismal vows through full immersion in the River Jordan, we to get ‘lost’ in the quest for discovery. What is dramatically or violently strike my head on the wall to the entrance of poignant is that we find how much we are forced to lean Lazarus’ tomb - pilgrims are tough. on him in new ways. And emerge from the experience with The pilgrim church is defined by this type of mentality; newer, fresher and clearer insights of personal identity - cre- a mentality that has the capacity, and discipline to transition ated for good, albeit, from the natural elements of the world. from what’s in it for me to ask the overarching question, how The scripture reminds us to be still and know that God is can my contribution make it better, or how may I recommit God. my life more devoutly to God and God’s mission? Jesus, the Recently, I had the opportunity to experience the pil- pilgrim Savior, is pointing us to this place. A place that draws grim’s life in the Holy Land, the land of our Savior’s earthly the best from within us, that is, the place of the ‘interior life’, life. One discovery that I very quickly made was that pilgrim which is the place of transformation. The deeper life is in fact life is ‘tough’; both in its physical requirements, and mental a deepening of our own relationship with God. One would fortitude, and emotional stability. The quality of persever- hope that in truth this is the quest of every soul! Poustinia – ance, determination, and ability to adjust to surprises become desert may be the place where God may be drawing us to so t is typical for a person to display fear when entering remarkably formidable characteristics in the life of pilgrim. that, Jesus the Christ in the power of the Spirit may redeem the place of the unknown. The Russian word Poustinia As I journeyed with other pilgrims through this experi- his church from its self-serving attitude and fatalistic mentality means ‘desert’; a place noted for its aridity, yet its ability I ence, and reflected deeply on the sacrifice of Jesus who chose that the church is dying. Many have often heard me say – ‘a to stimulate deep sense of reflection; a desire to plumb the to come among us, I grieved for our church that seems to risen Savior is incompatible with a dying church’, “for the depths of the soul discovering, what might God be up to have abandon the art of, and call to be ‘pilgrim church’- gates of hell shall not prevail against it…” and/or what might God be calling me to? The Celtic com- ‘tough church’, that doesn’t give up, or relinquish her call to As we enter into the Advent season, one of the two of- munity embraces this spiritual phenomenon regularly in be the ever living presence of a reconciling loving Christ in ficial penitential seasons in our liturgical calendar (Lent is the their spiritual pilgrimage. a broken and hurting world. The church should be readily other), there isn’t a more appropriate time to ponder poustinia. One of the mysteries of our faith is the ready acknowl- accepting of new surprises in so far as God through grace With all the many festive activities associated with this time edgement that Jesus’ call is to follow in his footsteps, ironically, continues to draw the marginalized, outcasts, and the ‘holy of the year a period of poustinia may offer some leaven in the without much clarity associated with the call. I am fully other’ into the sacred community of faith in fresh encoun- dough. aware of this motif because so much of my own vocation has ters with the Spirit. What I discovered very early in the life Thank you St. Mary-on-the-Highlands and Reverend been served through “blind”, or as I may be more inclined of a pilgrim is to accept the reality on the ground without Huey Gardner for giving us this opportunity to be pilgrims, to say “reckless abandonment” grounded in obedience and complaint! Poustinia – desert is unforgiving, draws the best or and walk in the footsteps of Jesus. self-sacrifice. This level of trust is undergirded by the reality worst out of you, and quickly separates you from touristic A reflective, sacrificial, renewed and holy Advent my faith- of where God has brought us from.