Saintly News SEPTEMBER 2015 Finalb
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Crazy Altar Bells A Chrisans @ E More than D Coffee & an aenon installed at Conversaon geer? All Saints ② ③ ④ HELLO ALL SAINTS… GOODBYE SUMMER Summer is almost over. The schools are open, the temperatures are dropping, and I am writing this letter from the beach. We always go af- ter school starts to avoid the crowds and time it to match our son’s vaca- tion time. But All Saints never takes a vacation. We are currently moving quickly toward the annual Rummage Sale fol- lowed by the “LobstahRama”. The Rummage Sale is a win-win in that it enables people to purchase items that they need at prices they can afford and the proceeds go directly to Urban Ministry. The LobstahRama, while providing the community with fresh caught lobster, supports the Servant Center, an organization that focuses on aiding disabled home- less veterans. I believe that this is who All Saints is, a church community dedicated to following Jesus’ command to love thy neighbor. We do this through hard work that is coupled with a wonderful fellowship that makes it en- joyable and worthwhile. It provides to those involved a very pleasant sense of accomplishment, while helping those less fortunate. Unfortunately, it is often the same individuals that contribute their time and talents to these projects. I invite you to consider participating in one or more of our outreach events each year and I am sure that you will be glad that you did. We can always find a spot that can use your talents. Thank you, Ron Alexander Senior Warden SEPTEMBER Published by All Saints Episcopal Church 2015 “…to spread the love of God to all by what we do and say” Wayne Road at Groometown Road, Greensboro, North Carolina www.allsaintsgreensboro.org Page 2 www.allsaintsgreensboro.org Join us for... School is back in session this fall at All Saints, not just for children, but for adults who want to keep on learning. Whether you’re in your teens or in your 90’s or somewhere in between, we welcome you to parci- pate in Coffee and Conversaon. from the Rector… Somemes it helps to put things in perspecve…especially during mes September Cursillo Weekend of change. Cancelled All Saints Episcopal Church is undergoing a pivotal period of change. We The Cursillo weekend scheduled for are undertaking the search for a new rector. Everyone will be looking to Thursday evening September 17, 2015 her or him with eager ancipaon and hope. If we are honest, we will – Sunday aernoon September 20, acknowledge that the gaze will be returned because the vitality and the 2015 at St. Clements Episcopal Church survival of All Saints is a mix of leadership and discipleship. in Clemmons, NC (just west of Winston -Salem) has been . The Episcopal Church, all 109 dioceses and three regional areas in 17 na- Check this space for future Cursillo ons, recently elected OUR own Michael Curry to weekends. be the next Presiding Bishop. We propose to take Cursillo is a successful three day pro- advantage of this me of transion for the naon- gram consisng of talks, discussion and al church and the Diocese of North Carolina to acvies. It is a presentaon and expe- read Bishop Curry’s book, Crazy ChrisƟans: A Call rience of Christ’s love for each of us. to Follow Jesus. Cursillo has been a part of the Episco- Bishop Curry, as the first African-American to serve pal Church in North Carolina since 1976 in that capacity in NC and the first to lead the na- and is supported by the Bishop. onal church, obviously is no stranger to the issue of change. Here’s an excerpt from the concluding chapter that talks about change, a topic that we at All Saints might ponder as we move through our search, as we await the arrival of the next bishop of our diocese, and as we seek to honor the leadership of our new Presiding Bishop: “[the change] I’m talking about has nothing to do with liberal church or conservave church. It’s affecng mainline churches, mega-churches, all for your generosity religious instuons. The cultural landscape of America is changing…And the quesƟon we face is: What can we as the Church do—for the sake of Thanks to your giving spirit and the gospel of Jesus—to engage this moment? support, we were able to collect a lile over $1,110 for Starng September 13th join us during Coffee & Conversaon for some Hunter Elementary School soul searching in this shiing landscape with Bishop Curry. We’ll meet in and help the Hunter students, the Parish Hall from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. each Sunday this fall. families and community go back You can order the book by Sunday, August 30th, by calling Faith Hawes at to school prepared for success! 272-4818 or sending an email to [email protected]. By going Alison Mercier through Sacred Garden Bookstore in Greensboro, we will receive a 20 — • — percent discount. A $15 donaon will cover the cost of the book. If that Please send Thank Yous to Anne King at presents a hardship, the church will cover the cost. [email protected] Faith Hawes, Vestry Missioner, Adult FormaƟon by the middle of the month. and Stephen McCollum www.allsaintsgreensboro.org Page 3 The History of Altar Bells In the Lan Rite of the Catholic Church, in Lutheranism, in Methodism, and in the Anglican Communion, an altar or sanctus bell is typically a small hand-held bell or set of bells. The primary reason for the use of sanctus/altar bell(s) is to create a joyful noise to the Lord as a way to give thanks for the miracle taking place atop the Altar of Sacrifice. An ancillary funcon of the bell(s) is to focus the aenon of those aending the Mass that a supernatural event is taking place on the altar. Such bells are also commonly referred to as the Mass bell, sacring bell, Sacryn bell, saints' bell, sance-bell, or sanctus bell (or "bells", The Altar Bells of All Saints when there are three) and are kept on the credence table or some other convenient locaon within the sanc- tuary. Anglican parishes use the altar bell, which is rung to signify the Real Presence of Christ in the sacred Elements. During the Eucharist, it is usually rung three mes – once before the Words of Instuon, and once at each elevaon of the Host and of the Chalice. It may also be rung to indicate the me that the faithful may come forward to receive Communion. Father Ken adds…“To put this into perspecve, imagine you are aending a large church during the middle ages. There is a crowd of people (probably standing), a man stands at the altar with his back to you, he speaks soly in a language you do not understand (Lan), and does things you cannot see. You would need some indi- caon of when something special was occurring, especially if you were expected to say Amen.” How Do We Get a New Bishop? One of the major differences between the Episcopal Church and the Roman Catholic Church is in the selecon of Bishops. Our Bishops are elected by representaves of the people whereas the Roman Catholic bishops are appointed by the Pope. During a Diocesan conven- on votes are taken. The winning candidate must receive a majority of the votes by the clergy, and separately by the lay delegates. This must happen on the same ballot. Tak- ing it back a step, your Vestry elects lay delegates to represent you at the convenon. (For history buffs, noce the similarity with the original process of state legislatures elecng US Senators). Non-delegates sll have the right to be part of the process. The informaon Next about the candidates and a meet-and-greet will be available to anyone. A non- delegate could then express their opinions to the delegates. ? It is possible for a Diocese to call (hire) a person already elected as a Bishop. Usu- ally this is to fill a posion such as assisng Bishop. We likely will do that unl a Bishop new Bishop is elected (most likely late in 2016). The Rev. Ken Kroohs Page 4 www.allsaintsgreensboro.org Book Review: I suspect there are many of you out there like me who have wanted to find a list of books that is the definive guide to spiritual knowledge and growth. I used to think that I could find this worthwhile list if I only knew the right person or source. I hope I have outgrown that desire for a quick fix. WHAT THE MYSTICS KNOW is Richard Rohr’s latest book. Rohr is a Franciscan priest who has wrien many books about our inner spiritual journey. This book is only 143 pages long, but it a compact exploraon of wrings and beliefs from ancient and modern myscs. What is a mysc in our present world? Rohr suggests that “Myscs have plumbed the depths of both suffering and love and emerged with depths of compassion for the world, and a learned capacity to recognize God within themselves, in others, and in all things.” West from driveway entrance parallel to Wayne Road I recently studied this book with a group where we explored the seven paths in small doses as the book presents them. Each of the seven secons from A Celebraon of Paradox to Contemplaon Means Praccing Heaven Now offers bits from myscs and modern writers. One of my favorite aspects of this book besides the immeasurable depth of knowledge is that each secon is brief.