The Bell Tower The Church of the Holy Innocents Newsletter

Volume 5 — Number 9 September 2009

there was seminary and out again to Inside this Issue from the Rector serve the Episcopal Church as an ordained person. With Youth Groups The Rev. Donald Lowery and Sunday Schools, vacation times and From the Rector school breaks around which to adjust It Seems Like A New Year parish schedules, it sometimes feels as 1 though I have never left school. I think it is for that reason that late August and Parish News… early September, when school resumes 2 Adult Choir and so much around the parish begins Sunday School anew, feels like a new year to me. This Adult Christian Formation ―new year‖ offers many exciting Youth Group prospects for service and learning. I am Tabitha Guild going to write about several exciting Community News... things under the appropriate subtitles Homeless Men’s Shelter which begin on page two. †

Community News… cont. Education Prayer Day 3 Soup Kitchen Holy Trinity Homecoming Schedule Of Events... Capital Campaign Update… Planned Giving Info 4 Just For Kids… It Seems Like A New Year 5 Growing Up Fast Be Transformed My entire adult life has had some connection, direct or indirect, to the September Birthdays school year. My first year out of 6 And Anniversaries college, armed with my shiny new Remember in Your Prayers bachelor‘s degree, I taught school for a Special Dates year. It was a disaster. I discovered I Unified Serving Schedule loved children, but was utterly incapable of maintaining classroom discipline. Our Church History Promising God I would abandon From The Ashes—Part IV children and youth ministry forever, I 7 went to get a Master‘s degree in clinical psychology and what did I do? I went to The Church of the Holy Innocents work as a school guidance counselor and 210 South Chestnut Street discovered I am pretty good with kids in Henderson, North Carolina 27536 small groups. About this time I became Telephone: 252-492-0904 an Episcopalian and was asked to help with the youth group and discovered I E-mail: [email protected] REALLY liked youth work because I Church Web Site Address: really enjoyed being with youth. Then www.churchoftheholyinnocents.org SEPTEMBER 2009 Adult Christian Formation at the Old Place Restaurant in Parish News… Townsville. The meal afterward will be Father Donald Lowery Dr. and Mrs. Feduccia‘s treat for the Adult Christian Formation will youth group. The time of the service has Adult Parish Choir resume Sunday meetings on September not been set. I will e-mail with details. Henry Ross 13, at 9:35 in the Ingle Parlor in the Parish House. We are going to begin the On September 27, we will have a Rehearsals for the Adult Parish year with something different. The regular meeting, at church, at 4:45. Isn‘t Choir will resume on Thursday, Episcopal Church has asked those that a relief after a busy month!!!! † September 10th at 7:30 p.m. All persons congregations that predate the War (you, your neighbor, or friends) are Between the States, who numbered invited to participate! If you have any enslaved persons among their ante- questions, please contact Henry Ross at bellum members to reflect on that

438-3095 or 492-2964. † heritage. Holy Innocents numbered such folks amongst its first members. We will look at the oldest records of the church The Tabitha Guild Sunday School News on the first few weeks, then watch ―Traces of the Trade‖ which explores Betsy Catlett & Janet White Church Office how the DeWolfe Family, prominent Episcopalians from Rhode Island, were Tabitha Guild (Prayer Shawl DON'T FORGET!!! The Church involved in the slave trade as merchants Ministry) will begin its winter knitting of the Holy Innocents Children's Sunday supplying the needs of planters in the sessions in September. We meet in the School will resume September 14 (the Colonial era and Early Republic. Ladies' Parlor on the 2nd and 4th Sunday after Labor Day) at 9:30 in the Tuesdays of each month at 10:00 upstairs loft room (next to the robing o'clock. We welcome back each knitter, In October, we will also begin a room). The class is geared toward K-5 and we hope that anyone who can knit - book study, as requested by some grade, but all ages are welcome. See or who would like to learn to knit - will parishioners, on Wednesday nights. you there!! join us. We welcome, too, those who More details will follow in the October just enjoy chatting. We have fun!!! Any Anyone interested in helping Newsletter. † questions? Call Betsy Catlett (492- with Children's Sunday School please 8223) or Janet White (430-0187). † contact Father Don. † Youth Group The Youth Group will not meet Healing Service on September 6, as Father Don will be Father Donald Lowery away, God willing, visiting an uncle Community battling cancer in Florida. This could My schedule during change, and if it does, I will let folks News… S e p t e mb e r w i l l b e know by e-mail. disjointed because of family Emergency Shelter for Homeless commitments. For that On September 13, St. Cyprian‘s Men reason, the healing service Episcopal Church in Oxford will be Father Donald Lowery will not be held until September 16, but installing a new priest at 5:00 p.m.. I still in the Hughes‘ House at 7:00 p.m. in need to attend this service. I propose Henderson and Vance County the Parlor. † that we go as a group and then go out for have several options for sheltering pizza afterwards. This is chance to homeless women and children. At this support a sister church and then eat out point in time, we have no shelter that Time Away together. We need to leave from the will accept men, so we either cannot church promptly at 4:10 so that I can be shelter them, or send them to the Father Donald Lowery there in time to get vested up and march Durham Rescue Mission. In an effort to Father Lowery will be out of town in the procession. meet this need, the Ministers‘ from September 2 – September 9 with Community Partnership, working with his parents. God willing, we will be On September 20, Holy Trinity in the Five County Mental Health, will be visiting my uncle in Florida who is Townsville will hold its annual offering an emergency shelter for men battling cancer. The vestry members homecoming service. The Youth Group during the cold months. It will begin on will be able to reach me by cell phone if has been invited to attend by the November 1 and provide shelter through April 1 at the basement of the Parish there is an emergency. † Feduccia Family who care for the church and then join them for supper afterwards Continued page3 2 THE BELL TOWER Hall of First Presbyterian Church. Local churches are asked to recruit volunteers, four per night, who can work at the shelter. Two volunteers will register the men who come in for shelter while the September 2009 other two will stay overnight. The church is also asked to provide a simple Once a month Sunday Soup Kitchen Schedule of Events hot supper each night and a simple Father Donald Lowery breakfast of cereal, milk, juice or pastry. Choir Weekly Practice Schedule Poverty is the bane of our county. Children’s Choir — Wed. at 3:15 PM Five County Mental Health will ACTS (Area Christian Together in Hand Bell Choir — Wed. at 6:00 PM provide training for volunteers and this Service) provides a weekday soup kitchen Parish Choir — Thursday at 7:30 PM training is mandatory for any who are for those in need. There is no soup kitchen willing to serve. The Henderson City on the weekends. First Presbyterian and Daily Morning Prayer Police will also patrol the church at First United Methodist Church provide a Monday —Thursday (weekly) regular intervals to assure that there are Sunday Soup Kitchen one Sunday each per 7:30 AM, Hughes House no criminal incidents. If you can month. They have asked First Baptist and volunteer, I need to know by September Holy Innocents to join them in this 10, 2009. The first training event will be endeavor so that all the Sundays of the Sunday – September 6 held on September 21 at Five County month are covered and a simple, hot meal 8:00 AM, Holy Eucharist – Rite I Mental Health offices on Garnett of soup and sandwich can be had by folks 10:30 AM, Holy Eucharist – Rite II Street.† in need. If you can help with this, please contact Father Lowery. I am not sure 12:30 PM, La Misa Servicio – when we will begin, more information will Santa Eucharistia follow in the next month or so. Tuesday– September 8 10:00 AM, Tabitha Guild (Ladies Parlor) It is going to be a busy ―new year‖ and I am excited about the prospects. This congregation has a long history of serving Wednesday – September 9 others in the name of Jesus Christ. Our 3:00 PM, Nursing Home Ministry service makes his love real and tangible in Vance County Day of Prayer for our needy community. Please consider Sunday – September 13 Education how you can help as we do the work of the 8:00 AM, Holy Eucharist – Rite I Lord in Henderson and Vance County. † 10:30 AM, Holy Eucharist – Rite II Father Donald Lowery

On September 13 we will resume Wednesday – September 16 Sunday School for children through the 7:00 PM, Healing Service sixth grade. We will be having special Holy Trinity Townsville prayers for our schools, and, we will Homecoming Service Sunday – September 20 8:00 AM, Holy Eucharist – Rite I have a blessing of the Back Packs and Father Donald Lowery Book Bags. All children and youth are 10:30 AM, Holy Eucharist – Rite II asked to bring their back pack or book Holy Trinity Townsville will 12:30 PM, La Misa Servicio – bag to receive the blessing and ask celebrate its annual homecoming service Santa Eucharistia special prayers for a good school year. on September 13, 2009. The time of the service has not been set yet. When we Tuesday - September 22 We are also collecting books, new know, we will inform folks by 10:00 AM, ECW (Ladies Parlor) and used books in good condition, to be announcement and bulletin notice. Please Tabitha Guild distributed to families in Henderson and try to attend. Holy Trinity has been closed Wednesday– September 23 Vance County who have children in the for many years and has been lovingly cared 3:00 PM, Nursing Home Ministry home but do not have books. The goal is for by the Feduccia Family. While not as to encourage parents and children to read old as St. John‘s in Williamsborough, it is together. Books should be for children as perfect an example of Rural Vernacular Sunday – September 27 through grade five. There will be box in Carpenter‘s Gothic Architecture as any that 8:00 AM, Holy Eucharist – Rite I the Bell Tower where they may be has survived in North Carolina. The 10:30 AM, Holy Eucharist – Rite II dropped off. The youth group as agreed building is a treat. Our youth group has to sort books and help me deliver them. been invited by Dr. and Mrs. Feduccia to All services are conducted in the We will collect books through stay afterwards for supper as their treat. † Church, unless otherwise noted. September 15, 2009. †

3 SEPTEMBER 2009 parish leaders have resolved to move forward in faith. Our best days as a church are not tied to our history. They are tied to the actions we take now as a Capital Campaign congregation to recommit ourselves to Special the challenges at hand and utilize our

resources to assure a bright future for those that come after us. We believe that

God is calling us to a future of vibrant ministry even though the details of that future are still under construction.

Future church life is not likely to ATTENTION look like it did fifty years ago when many churches were full most Sundays. Nonetheless, people‘s lives, perhaps now The Planned Giving Committee more than ever, are still very much in need of God‘s love and the Holy Spirit‘s Craig Clodfelter guidance. So, now we are committing to a journey of faith together, to provide Planning ahead is an important for future parish ministry – both for next step in effective stewardship. We CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE year and for decades to come. We are encourage all members of ‗Holy Innocents to plan your will now. If you Rick Palamar, Chair planning and preparing for growing neglect to prepare a will, the state has a Campaign Steering Committee annual ministries, and we see positive signs in various church programs. We formula for distributing your assets

are planning to make our buildings as which may or may not reflect your personal situation and desires. If you The Capital Campaign serviceable as possible for ministry uses die without a will, no gifts can be made Committee has been hard at work this tomorrow. We are inviting parishioners to charities or to the church, and an summer and continues to develop and to consider legacy gifts to the parish in important opportunity to continue your refine the planning and research order to meet the needs of our sacred good works will be lost. While aspects of the project. By late spaces for generations to come. thoughtfully providing for your family September we will have some interesting and loved ones, please consider revised proposals for renovation work to We are heirs of a strong faith including a bequest to the church in your our church facilities to share with all tradition of liturgical worship and will. Use your ―will power‖. † parish members. However, our goals for community outreach in this parish. Now this initiative go well beyond the bricks is our time to strengthen the foundations and mortar of our buildings. that we have inherited and to give forward. This response could be a Our hope for a successful glorious witness to God‘s goodness and campaign goes beyond our common grace from generation to generation of desire to preserve the physical treasure our brothers and sisters in Christ who October that has been provided and preserved to gather together in our historic church in date by our many faithful members at future years. May God guide and empower us in this endeavor. † 'Holy Innocents and by those that have come before us. Upgrading our facilities and ultimately creating an endowment to assure their preservation will strengthen the foundation that will enable us to more fully focus on providing resources - September 20th - for the revitalization of parish ministry for the coming decades.

Even before the nerve rattling Please submit any economic news of this past year, we are newsletter items either to the church office or e-mail them to all aware that our local community has many challenges. At ‗Hol y [email protected] Innocents, we too have come to a critical fork in the road to our future. Your Thanks for your support!

4 THE BELL TOWER

5 SEPTEMBER 2009

Birthdays Remember In Special Dates

Your Prayers Sean Hartness ...... 9/01  Labor Day Kermit Ellis ...... 9/02 September 7, 2009 Blair & Josh Burke ...... 9/04 Pray for Healing and Comfort: Katherine Williamson...... 9/06 Dora Hunt ...... 9/10 Anne Currin, A.T. Lowery, Rusty  Patriot Day Jan Strause ...... 9/12 Blaylock, Deuce Slater, Jane Finch, September 11, 2009 Mary Mac Long ...... 9/12 Jewel Gore, Hut Wester, Gloria Marshall Cooper ...... 9/13 Granger, Wanda Boyette, Agnes Car-  National Grandparents Day Betsy Seifert ...... 9/14 roll, Alston Macon, Sally Sullivan, September 13, 2009 Chris St. Clair ...... 9/16 Jean Tilley, and Julia Horner. Bobby Hubbard ...... 9/17  Nat’l Hispanic Heritage Month Ivey Betts ...... 9/19 September 15-October 15, 2009 Barbara Parks ...... 9/21 Cliff Rogers ...... 9/23  First Day of Autumn Frank Madigan ...... 9/25 September 22, 2009 Scott Hartness ...... 9/28 Calendar of the Church Year According to the Episcopal Church

 Feast of the Holy Cross Anniversaries September 14, 2009 (Yr335)

 St. Mathew— Alston & Kiernan Shave…………..9/22 Nancy & Cole Whitt………………9/25 Apostle & Evangelist Mary Beth & Tim Seitzer………....9/27 September 21, 2009

 St. Michael & All Angels September 29, 2009

SEPTEMBER Unified Serving Schedule Lay Reader / Altar Lemonade/ Sept. Acolytes Crucifer Ushers Chalice Bearer Guild Coffee Hour

8:00am—Bennett H. Perry Kermit Ellis 10:30am—Lucy Gray Lemonade 6 Alexis Van Venrooy Anna Van Venrooy Steve Flannagan Mariana Davis Sean Hartness on the Lawn

Uriah Ford 8:00am—Tommy Roberson Kermit Ellis Lemonade 13 Garrett Powell Mariana Davis Lehman Ford 10:30am—Rick Palamar Steve Flannagan on the Lawn

William Parish 8:00am—Chip Hight Kermit Ellis Lemonade 20 Kathryn Blackburn Anora Rainey Matthew Williamson 10:30am—Nanacy Whitt Steve Flannagan on the Lawn

Parkins Davis 8:00am—Tom Church Kermit Ellis Lemonade 27 Ric Davis Anora Rainey Mason Stewardson 10:30am—Richard Davis Steve Flannagan on the Lawn

Submitted by: Lucy Gray

6

September Unified Serv- ing Schedule

September 6, 2009 – Morning Prayer 8:00 a.m. – Bennett Perry – Layreader 10:30 a.m. – Lucy Gray – Layreader Sean Hartness – Layreader Anna Van Venrooy – Crucifier Alexis Van Venrooy – Acolyte Altar Guild – Mariana Davis Ushers – Kermit Ellis, Steve Flannagan

September 13, 2009 8:00 a.m. – Tommy Roberson – Layreader 10:30 a.m. – Rick Palamar – Layreader/Chalice As- sistant Garrett Powell – Server/Psalmist Uriah Ford – Acolyte Lehman Ford – Acolyte Altar Guild – Mariana Davis Ushers – Kermit Ellis, Steve Flannagan

September 20, 2009 8:00 a.m. – Chip Hight – Layreader 10:30 a.m. – Nancy Whitt – Layreader/Chalice As- sistant Kathryn Blackburn – Server/Psalmist William Parish – Acolyte Matthew Williamson – Acolyte Altar Guild – Anora Rainey Ushers – Kermit Ellis, Steve Flannagan

September 27, 2009 8:00 a.m. – Tom Church – Layreader 10:30 a.m. – Richard Davis – Layreader/Chalice Assistant Ric Davis – Server/Psalmist Parkins Davis – Acolyte Mason Stewardson – Acolyte Altar Guild – Anora Rainey Ushers – Kermit Ellis, Steve Flannagan THE BELL TOWER the Diocese held the 1823 convention in Salisbury. The need for From a had become more and more pressing, and the delegates were determined to elect one. When the time came for the Epis- copal election, however, there was a pause of some length before The Ashes the Rev. (the newly ordained same former teacher and lay reader in Williamsboro) who was performing part ~Part IV~ time missionary work in the eastern part of the diocese, nomi- By: Walter Brodie Burwell nated the Rev. John Stark Ravenscroft of St. James Parish in the Diocese of Virginia. There were no other nominations, and Ravenscroft was unanimously elected by the clergy and by the (EDITOR’S NOTE: This is part four of a multi-part series on the history of the Episcopal Church in North Carolina and ‘Holy Inno- laity. Twelve days later, Green arrived at ―Makeshift,‖ Raven- cents. Previous parts may be viewed on our website newsletter link scroft‘s home near Boydton to inform the bishop-elect of what at www.churchoftheholyinnocents.org - May,June, August issues.) had taken place, and Ravenscroft accepted the following day. A few weeks later he traveled to the General Convention in Phila- Finally, two months after the last surviving clergy- delphia, and on 22 May 1823, he was consecrated in St. Paul‘s man‘s death, the renaissance of the Church in North Carolina Church. At long last, 29 years after a failed attempt, North Caro- began at last in November 1816, when the Rev. lina had a consecrated bishop of its own! from Long Island took charge of St. James Church in Wil- mington. Two months later, the Rev. Curtis Clay from Penn- The new bishop began his visitations in Williamsboro, sylvania became the rector of Christ Church, New Bern. The then traveled to Oxford, to Orange County and to Raleigh, where Rev. Bethel Judd from Connecticut joined Empie in Wil- he had been invited to serve as rector at Christ Church on a half- mington at about the same time but soon left for Fayetteville, time basis. After taking residence there in December, he resumed where on 1 May 1817, he organized a new church, St. his visitations and in his first year visited almost all of the con- John‘s, and became its rector. On 21 April 1817, these three gregations in the central and eastern parts of North Carolina. The clergymen (the only ones in the state at the time) and six 1824 Diocesan Convention was held in Williamsboro, and in his laymen representing New Bern, Wilmington, Fayetteville sermon on the first day, the bishop identified the Episcopal and Edenton, met in New Bern, prepared a constitution for Church in North Carolina as a ―branch of the true vine‖ and laid the church in North Carolina, and acceded to the Constitution down a five point plan for its revival. He promptly set about giv- of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the . They ing himself to the service of the church and his episcopate, weld- requested recognition from the General Convention, and on ing his clergymen into a united and harmonious team, leading 21 May the new Diocese was so recognized. Having no their parishioners toward exclusive and faithful commitment to bishop, however, they asked Bishop Moore of Virginia ―to the Episcopal Church. Ravenscroft proved to be a strong, defiant visit and perform the Episcopal offices in this state.‖ At the and firm leader, just what was needed during his episcopate. With next Diocesan Convention in 1818, it was reported that utmost humility, yet with the magnificent assurance to be intoler- Bishop Moore was agreeable to the request of the previous ant of other religious bodies he deemed less than apostolic, year and would be ready to make visitations in the summer Bishop Ravenscroft formed his flock into an intimate Christian or fall, and the delegates admitted St. Jude‘s Parish in minority fervently devoted to the Episcopal church. Orange County (now Alamance) into union with the diocese. By 1828, however, Ravenscroft‘s health and fortune were Bishop Moore presided over the 1819 Diocesan Con- declining, and he accepted a call to St. John‘s, Williamsboro, vention held in Wilmington, and on the way he stopped in believing it small enough to enable him to attend to its congrega- Fayetteville and confirmed 48 persons, the first ever re- tion while still administering Diocesan responsibilities. A year corded in North Carolina. At this convention, St. John‘s Par- later, the 1829 Diocesan Convention provided a stipend for its ish, Williamsboro, Trinity Parish, Tarboro and St. Mary‘s bishop so that he was able to relinquish his duties at Williams- Parish, Orange County were admitted into union with the boro and attend the General Convention in Philadelphia, where Diocese. Afterward, Bishop Moore also visited and preached he also underwent two surgical procedures. Planning to move to at New Bern, Washington, Greenville and Tarboro. Because Fayetteville, he returned to Williamsboro, but while visiting in the formation of a parish and the erection of a church in the Raleigh, he died on 5 March 1830. At the time of his death, there state capital was a major objective, the Diocese resolved to were 21 active congregations in the diocese, including, in the hold the 1821 Convention in Raleigh, even though that city central part of the state, Raleigh, Hillsborough, Fayetteville, Wil- had inherited no colonial church building. On his way to liamsboro and Warrenton. preside at this Convention, Bishop Moore visited and preached in Warrenton, confirming 10 persons, and a few The Rev. Levi Stillman Ives was the 53 year old rector of days later at the Convention Emmanuel Parish, Warrenton St. Luke‘s in New York when he was elected in May 1831 and was admitted into union. In August of the same year, Christ consecrated the new bishop of North Carolina on 22 September. Church, Raleigh was organized, and at the next Convention His first visitation was to Warrenton, where he preached and con- in 1822, when the it again met in Raleigh, Christ Church, firmed 19 persons. Raleigh was brought into union. Hoping to strengthen its influence west of Raleigh, Continued Next Month…. 7

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Grant us, Lord, the joy of your presence. May we sense your nearness and love as we worship you in spirit and truth at ‘Holy Innocents.

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