April, 2012 • Volume 137, Issue No. 4 Which type of disasters are most likely to affect Mississippi?

By Carol Borne Spencer along the Mississippi River and creating a “Go To” document for wide distribu - The Diocesan Disaster Preparedness tion throughout the diocese. and Response Team (DP&RT) is receiv - Also, the team will work to define a ing the PINK SHEETS slowly from con - chain of command (starting with the gregations, and has begun cataloguing bishop and including the DP&RT) for our assets by convocations, by talents, use in all the convocations and congre - and resources from those congregations gations in Mississippi. that have responded. It is vitally important that parishes We continue to await responses and missions turn in pink sheets from from all congregations and hope the the Disaster Preparedness and Response work is in progress at this time. booklets that have been handed out. The team is also launching our Those who have returned these sheets Save the second stage of preparedness. We have with congregational contact information Date evaluated a five-year trend and believe and resources have been plugged in to there five top disasters likely hit or affect Advanced planning makes relief and recovery from a disaster such as a the chain of command throughout the And join us for: our state of Mississippi. Those disasters tornado a much easier task. Many Disaster Preparation and Response blue diocese. are: book pink sheets are still out. The bishop urges all parishes and missions The more data we have, the easier 1. Tornadoes to respond. it is to respond when a crisis occurs. 2. Hurricanes Parishes that do not fill out the data gathering sheets create a hole making it more 3. Floods difficult for our relief team to act quickly and efficiently. 4. Ice Storms Please send your pink sheets to the diocesan office. If you’ve lost your book - 5. Hazardous materials spills/explosions let, a PDF file has been uploaded on the diocesan website: www.dioms.org. Click (Running six and seven are Thunder/Lightening Storms and Energy Blackouts on the “Mission and Outreach” tab and find “Emergency Preparedness and due to technological and fuel failures.) Response.” The entire booklet is found on the top of the left side bar of the Emergency Preparedness and Response page. The team will be studying the top five most likely disasters, for now, with May 25-27, 2012 plans to eventually address all possible disasters. We will be taking what we The Rev. Deacon Carol Borne Spencer is the coordinator of the Diocesan learned from Hurricane Katrina, the tornadoes in Smithville and the recent floods Preparedness and Response Team. Renewal of a familiar initiative: wellness By Kyle Dice Seage Like it or not, however, the issue is here to stay, especially as we continue to hear more and more about the “expansiveness” of Americans. The statistics continue to be very frightening and most A few weeks ago, I attended a Wellness Conference at Mississippians know that we are #1 on the list for the states with the largest number of obese persons. Kanuga Conference Center, representing our diocese. Every It’s not the #1 designation anyone wants and there are many in the church who are doing what they morning (beginning at 7:00 a.m.!) there were different exercise can to try and move us beyond that list. opportunities offered to the participants, with repeat offerings Just like my experience on the climbing wall, making a choice for wellness has to made by each in the afternoon. In between were meetings on topics sur - individual and done in his or her own time. No one forced or coerced me into climbing the wall; I rounding wellness in the church. decided on my own that I was willing to try. One afternoon, the conference staff offered the “opportu - Additionally, there were lots of people encouraging me (well, they were laughing at my rapid nity” to try a 50-ft climbing wall for anyone willing to give it a climb, but there were cheers as well), and when we have support of family, friends, parishioners and chance. I did — and earned a lot of laughs from those watch - the like, we’re much more inclined to stick with the changes or challenges that we set for ourselves. ing, at the record time I achieved going UP the wall. At the In my own journey toward a better understanding of wellness, particularly getting in better physi - time, only I knew just how hard my heart was pounding; all I cal shape, I discovered that setting a realistic goal worked for me. For instance, I thought last summer was thinking about was getting to top as fast as I could just so I that I would try to run (or at least finish) one 5K last. And I did. Crossing the finish line and seeing could say I’d done it. Kyle Dice Seage others around me finish spurred me on and I signed up for another one. For me, it wasn’t so much Unfortunately, that was as far as my thought process went. how fast I was, it was simply that I did it. I didn’t focus on who was ahead or who was behind, I just As I clung to the ledge at the top, it quickly became apparent to me that it was going to be a lot harder loved having the souvenir t-shirt at the end. In six months, I ran my first (and likely, only) half- coming down. Going up, I was in charge (sort of); coming down, I had to rely on the man on the marathon just to see if I could do it. But again, like climbing that wall, I had to be the one to decide ground who controlled the ropes. and I had to decide that all I really had to do was get to the top. In the end, that wasn’t as realistic a It took a lot of persuasion and cajoling, but I finally let go of the ledge; leaned back into the goal as I’d imagined since I forgot about the part about coming down, but for me, it was another small belayed rope and began inching my way down. When I reached the ground, I realized I’d been holding step. my breath. Last, wellness in the every sense of the word, from physical to spiritual to emotional, involves let - There are a lot of sermons in that experience. But for me, there’s also a message inherent in that ting go of the notion that one can do it all on one’s own. When I leaned back away from that wall, I climb about taking chances, taking risks, goal setting/achieving and ultimately, relying on someone put my life in the hands of someone else. As Christians, we will never fully become who God intends besides yourself to accomplish what you believe to be impossible. us to be if we’re determined to do it on our own. Placing our lives, our trust, and our faith in God, in We are responsible for our own bodies, physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The the assurance that God’s love and care for us is enough to sustain, change and fill us. We will be well term used a lot these days to signify the way that we keep all of these components in tune is Wellness. when we lean back, give up our own desire for control and allow God to give us health. We hear about it on the news, in magazines at the doctor’s office, in television and increasingly in everyday conversation. It’s a topic some take up enthusiastically while others more willingly dismiss The Rev. Kyle Dice Seage is the rector of St. Philip’s/Jackson and the chair of the diocesan wellness “those” types of conversations. committee. NEWS FROM THE PEWS

St.Philip’s will also sponsor Steak Night on Cinco Inn and a tour of the Tuscaloosa Museum of Art is a troupe of volunteer actors from the Jackson Notes & Quotes de Mayo (May 5) at cinco cinco cinco (5:55 p.m.) featuring the Westervelt Collection of Art. area who perform skits made famous by Andy in the parish hall. Mediator will also participate in a Junior Griffith and Don Knotts on the “Andy Griffith By Jim Carrington Yoga for Life, which meets in the St. Philip’s High/Senior High Retreat on April 20-21 at Lake Show.” Two performances will be held on “The birds and the parish hall each Tuesday morning at 9:00 a.m., Wanita. Saturday, April 28, in the nave of St. John’s. The butterflies have been blaz - celebrated its 5th anniversary in February. In Advent/Sumner will be distributing packets matinee will be held at 2:00 p.m. The evening ing their welcome; the appreciation for the use of the facilities the of garden seeds to approximately 150 families performance will begin with dinner at 5:30 p.m. trees have gone from pin group presented a love offering of $1170.00 to living in close proximity to the church. Each followed by a 6:30 performance. feathers to full dress, and the parish. packet will contain enough seed to plant a small, St. Paul’s/Columbus will prepare a meal it is brilliant color every - St. Peter’s/Oxford : A congregational swap family-sized garden. Seeds included are okra, for the Father’s Child Ministry . This program where!” This quote from will be held between St. Peter’s and the Second sweet corn, bell peppers, pinkeye purple hull works with children who live in fatherless Redeemer/Biloxi pretty Missionary Baptist Church on April 22, with peas, butter beans, squash, collards and water - homes. The Saturday morning programs con - much expresses what we are seeing around us as parishioners going to Second Baptist to enjoy an melons. clude with a donated lunch, which St. Paul’s will we enter into spring and move toward summer. inspiring Christian worship service — while St. Peter’s by-the-Sea/Gulfport will host provide on April 21. For more information on Freshness is all around us and I thank God for members of Second Baptist participate in a tradi - the Challenge By-the-Sea Barbecue, April 28, The Father’s Child Ministry visit their website, the glory and beauty of His world. tional Episcopal service at St. Peter’s. This helps 4:30 - 6:30. This annual barbeque competition www.fatherschild.com. As we enter the Great Fifty Days of Easter us better understand each other’s spiritual with other churches for bragging rights to the St. Paul’s EYC has been working on updat - 2012, I want to give a “Tip O’ the Biretta,” as the upbringings and become closer as we worship best barbeque around will provide delicious ing the existing EYC room and giving the new Rev. Jeff Reich from St. John’s/Laurel says, to all God through our Lord Jesus Christ. food, terrific music and a great time to be had by multi-purpose room a new closet and new a/c our lay leaders across the Diocese of Mississippi St. John’s/Ocean Springs continues to uti - all. See page 10 of this issue of the MSE for and heating unit, which is now enclosed. They for their valuable leadership and contributions to lize its new parish hall with its video projection more details. have painted, scrubbed, nailed, built and raised our parishes and their many accomplishments, system and the renewed sound system, sponsor - St. John’s/Pascagoula announces its partic - walls, hung doors, cleaned and swept floors, and both past, present and future. As noted in this ing a “soup supper” on April 19, followed by the ipation in a new mission project, “Changing the scraped windows. Their goal is to finish before month’s column, there are a wealth of activities screening of “Wings of Desire,” staring Nicholas World: Two by Two.” St. John’s will purchase a the April 20 Lock-in with Tupelo/Starkville/West being planned for the coming weeks and Cage as an angel who leaves the celestial realm GIFT ARK through Heifer International. The Point youth. months. It is exciting to see how our parishes are for love. Also, St. John’s Religious Book Group is $5000.00 cost of the Gift Ark will provide the fol - St. James’/Greenville is preparing for sev - contributing to their parishioners and their com - reading The Great Emergence - How Christianity lowing animals: 2 cows to bring milk and income eral musical events in the coming months. The munities. Is Changing and Why by Phyllis Tickle. The to a village in Armenia; 2 sheep to help families 2012 Concert Series will feature James Martin, All Saints’/Tupelo will present Culinary group shares a potluck meal and discussion of in Arizona produce wool; 2 camels to help fami - baritone, along with Tessika McClendon, sopra - Escape: A Cooking Class hosted by chef Mitchell the monthly selection, with the next meeting lies in Tanzania earn income by transporting no, and David O’Steen, pianist. The perform - McCamey, April 26 at 6:30 p.m., in the All Saints’ being Thursday, April 26, at 6:00 p.m. agricultural and industrial materials; 2 oxen to ance will be held on April 29, at 3:00 p.m. kitchen/parish hall. Those attending will learn St. John’s/Ocean Springs and pull plows and carts in Uganda; 2 water buffalo Work has begun on organizing and promot - how to make simple, modern, tantalizing dishes Trinity/Hattiesburg EYC groups will bike the to help families in Thailand increase rice produc - ing the delta storytelling festival, a celebration of that can be made and enjoyed in your home. The Longleaf Trace on Saturday, April 21. tion; 2 pigs to enable families in Arkansas to the literary heritage of Greenville and the Delta. class is sponsored by the Home Chef Market of St. Mark’s/Gulfport - Prior to Hurricane attain greater self-reliance; 2 beehives to help The first ever event on Oct. 13, will be headlined Tupelo. Katrina a small statue of the Mother Mary and families in Albania earn money through the sale by David Holt, who Vogue magazine calls the All Saints’ ECW will host Cooking with the Child graced a rear corner of St. Mark’s next to of honey and beeswax; 2 goats to help families in “best minstrel and storyteller.” Recto,” April 18, 5:15 p.m. in the Kitchen/Parish the candle stand. Since that time a quest has El Salvador provide milk for their children and Hall. Fr. Paul will be demonstrating and serving been ongoing to find a similar statue to replace extra income; 2 donkeys to supply animal draft Quotes from around the diocese: up a series of appetizers and main courses for that memorial. One has been found and will power for farmers in Kenya; 2 trios of ducks to St. Matthew’s/Kosciusko - “Nothing is sampling. take its place soon with appropriate memorial help families in Ghana generate income through wasted when you pray to God. Sometimes we St. Philip’s/Jackson : With their Spaghetti information. the sale of eggs and birds; 2 trios of rabbits to find we are praying for something that has Bingo evening such a smashing success, the Mediator/Meridian will host a “spring provide food and income to families in occurred or passed without knowing, but that is parish life committee decided to sponsor a Hot fling” day of activity to Tuscaloosa on Thursday, Guatemala; 2 trios of guinea pigs to help families okay because God takes the intention of our Dog Bingo evening featuring hot dogs and gour - April 19. The itinerary features a tour of the in Ecuador increase income; 2 flocks of geese to heart - given in prayer - and puts it to good use. met trimmings for dinner, followed by bingo. Mercedes Plant, lunch at the popular Cypress help families in Georgia better their nutrition Prayer is never wasted. At the very least, it through production of eggs and meat; 2 flocks of means we are spending time focused on God chickens to help families in China improve nutri - and being in His presence.” The Rev. Mary Berry Continually published for 132 years in the Diocese of Mississippi tion and income through the sale of eggs; and 2 Also found in the St. Matthew’s newsletter: llamas to improve livestock bloodlines and pro - “Your beliefs become your thoughts. duce wool and income for Peruvian families. Your thoughts become your words. Each family completes training and has Your words become your actions. appropriate facilities for caring for the animals. Your actions become your values. An important aspect of this program is that the Your values become your destiny.” receiving family agrees to pass the offspring to Mahatma Gandhi another family in need. In this way, every gift All Saints’/Tupelo - “Do not think that love Official news organ of the Bishop and the Diocese of Mississippi will multiply for years to come. An outreach in order to be genuine has to be extraordinary. 118 N. Congress Street - P.O. Box 23107 rummage sale will be held on April 28 with pro - What we need is to love without getting tired. Jackson, Mississippi 39225-3107 ceeds going to help fund the “Ark of Animals” Be faithful in small things because it is in them mission project. that your strength lies.” Mother Teresa Nativity/Greenwood will be the site of an I close with a request for our parishes to The Rt. Rev. Duncan M. Gray III Antique Show and Sale on April 20, 10:00 a.m. support Cursillo 122 with their prayers and with Ninth Bishop of Mississippi until 5:00 p.m. It is an invitational show featur - participants. This Cursillo Weekend will be held ing dealers from throughout the South. It will at Gray Center, May 3 - 6. My request may seem The Rev. Scott Lenoir feature European, French and American furni - a little personal as I am privileged to serve on Editor ture, silver, glass, porcelain, linens, rugs, estate the staff, and it is a privilege to be called by God jewelry, oils and prints, lamps, and antique tools. for service to His church through Cursillo. The Mississippi Episcopalian (USPS 024755) is published monthly by the Episcopal Diocese of A special preview party will be held on April 19, Please pray for the staff and participants. Please Mississippi, 118 N. Congress St., Jackson, MS 39201. Periodical postage paid at Jackson, MS. 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. For more information call consider sponsoring a participant or even being POSTMASTER: Send change of address to the Mississippi Episcopalian, P.O. Box 23107, 662-453-3607. a participant. I assure you that as a sponsor or Jackson, MS 39225-3107. In giving changes of address send the old address as well as the St. John’s/Laurel will conduct a fund raiser as a participant this will be a very uplifting event. new. We cannot be responsible for the return of manuscripts or photographs. to benefit the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi’s Honduras Medical Mission. Mayberry Ministries Christ’s loving peace be with you all. 2 The Mississippi Episcopalian April 2012 ORDINARY CONCERNS The Bishop’s Journal March 6 - Staff meetings through the morning. related to the College for Bishops. been remarkable gifts to me this spring. I am Drive to Ocean Springs in the afternoon for a Meet with the Deacons’ Council over lunch and March 13 - Staff meetings throughout the morn - deeply grateful to the designers of this year’s for - late afternoon service at St. John’s. I preach, cele - into the afternoon. ing. Annual consultation with the Rev. Carol mat. brate, confirm nine and reaffirm one in this addi - Drive to Hattiesburg in the late afternoon for Mead in the afternoon. Travel to St. Catherine’s Afternoon business session addresses several tional visit made necessary by increasing interest a visit with leaders and participants in the cam - Village late in the afternoon to join my father for matters that will come before us at General in confirmation in this congregation. What a pus ministry program at the University of a memorial service for all the residents in St. Convention. good problem to have! Southern Mississippi. I preach and celebrate at Catherine’s who had died in the past three Closing Eucharist late afternoon followed by After visiting with many of the newly con - the chapel on campus then enjoy good food and months. a special banquet dinner. firmed at a reception, I meet with an aspirant for conversation with a number of students and fac - March 14 - Up very early to catch a flight to March 21 - Leave Camp Allen in the morning for holy orders. ulty who are finding a way to build a very special Houston in preparation for our Spring meeting the Houston airport. Lengthy delays in my flight Finishing my day on the Coast, I drive to New program at USM. of the House of Bishops. I meet up with Bishop keeps me stranded for hours. Finally arrive in Orleans for an overnight visit with son Peter, his March 7 - Morning appointment with an aspirant Clay Matthews (Office of the Presiding Bishop) Jackson in a driving rainstorm. wife Giulianna and grandson, Joseph. Arrive late for holy orders. Later a visit with the Rev. Dennis and Tom Ely (Vermont) at a pre-arranged golf It’s good to be home! so my playtime with Joseph will have to wait Ryan. Good session with Dean O’Connor and lay course in order to prepare our minds for the March 22 - Appointment with Bryan McDonald until tomorrow. leadership at St. Andrew’s to talk about creative coming week! in the morning. Lunch with Chancellor Granville March 26 - Up early with Joseph. Have a very ways that the canonically required Cathedral Some preliminary planning sessions in the Tate and Canons Johnson and McCormick. special morning with Joseph as his parents try to Chapter could be reorganized. evening at Camp Allen. Annual consultation with the Rev. Sylvia get some work done while I babysit. Leave early afternoon to drive to Olive March 15 - All day is spent with training sessions Czarnetzky. Later Canon Johnson joins us to talk Lunch with the family, then return to Jackson Branch to meet with the congregation of Holy with peer coaches, an important component of about the Iona School and plans for its develop - March 27 - In office all day. Cross and talk about the new model of shared our College for Bishops program. ment. Staff meetings through the morning. Afternoon clergy leadership in DeSoto County. Good visit Most of the other bishops arrive in the evening. In the evening I participate in an inter-faith panel appointment with an aspirant for holy orders. with the mission committee. Later I preach, cele - March 16 - First full day of House of Bishops discussion entitled “Resolving Disputes in the March 28 - In office all day still catching up on brate and confirm one in an evening Eucharist. meeting. We have returned to an earlier format Abraham Traditions” hosted by the International matters that have stacked up during my absence Reception follows, then drive as far as Batesville of these spring meetings that provides a retreat Inter-faith Dialog. due to the meeting of the House of Bishops. where I stop for the night. type experience woven into the business aspects March 23 - Spend all of today at Gray Center. Morning appointment with the Rev. John March 8 - Up early to return to Jackson in time of our gathering. Much of the day serves as our executive staff Gibson. for a meeting with the Executive Committee of Each morning, one of the bishops will offer a work retreat. Late in the day I meet with the Rev. March 29 - Work at home in the morning trying the diocese. We have been able to find some meditation on one or two of the vows that we David Knight. The Commission on Ministry to meet certain publication dates that I have com - additional funds to work into our diocesan budg - took when we were ordained as bishops. Today’s begins its meeting at dinner. Later I meet with mitted to. et and I was able to share my priorities for going meditation is on prayer and is offered by Bishop several of the new postulants. Beginning at lunch I met with the deans of forward. Thus, we emerged from this meeting Tom Shaw (Massachusetts). An extended period March 24 - At Gray Center for meetings with the our several convocations. These deans are an with an almost balanced budget. of silence is offered after each meditation before Commission on Ministry and the Standing important link in the communication network of Annual consultation with the Rev. Ann Harris we re-gather for lunch. Committee. Return home to Jackson mid after - this diocese. later in the afternoon. Work on a variety of matters in the afternoon. noon. Afternoon appointment with Ms. Kathryn March 9 - Drive out to Gray Center to lead a “Opening” Eucharist in the evening. March 25 - Up early to drive to Pascagoula for Zubin, a health care chaplain from New York. quiet day sponsored jointly by the Center of March 17 - House of Bishops - Camp Allen, my visitation to St. John’s. I preach, celebrate, Formation and Mission and the Center for Texas. baptize one and confirm five during the Ministry at Millsaps. A good group of us became Bishop Michael Curry (North Carolina) offers Eucharist. Very large crowd. Wonderful lunch intentional about setting this day apart for still - the meditation on the bishop’s role in the procla - afterwards that includes my favorite, shrimp and ness and quiet — a radical, countercultural con - mation of the gospel. This one is particularly grits. Following lunch I have a good session with cept! Linda Nelson from Advent House in New moving to me. the vestry of St. John’s. Orleans joins me for spiritual direction. Afternoon business and discussion on a vari - Serious business takes place in the evening as ety of matters including the proposed liturgy for a participant in my first-ever player draft of a fan - blessing of same gender unions that will be pro - tasy baseball team. It’s been a long time since I posed at this summer’s General Convention. was that nervous! Calm and respectful conversation even as there is March 10 - Spend most of the day at home. no consensus on how to proceed. Today is my mother’s birthday. She would have March 18 - House of Bishops - Camp Allen. been 84 today. Kathy and I take my father out to Sunday Eucharist includes a meditation on dinner and toast her life. the bishop as pastor given by Bishop Porter March 11 - Daylight savings time makes getting Taylor (Western North Carolina). up early more difficult! I drive to St. Alban’s in Afternoon is free so I join about a dozen col - Bovina for a conversation with the congregation leagues for golf. on a variety of matters. At the Eucharist I preach, March 19 - House of Bishops — Camp Allen. celebrate, confirm six and reaffirm two. Signature Morning meditation of the bishop as source luncheon afterwards reflective of the rural boun - of unity is given by our Presiding Bishop. Again, a ty of St. Alban’s afterwards in the rectory. Pleased very powerful presentation. I do lots of thinking with what I see going on here. and writing in the quiet space that follows. Drive to Bolton for my first visit to the revital - Afternoon is spent in special interest groups. ized St. Mary’s. Meet with those who have helped Following dinner we have our “fireside chat” restart this mission station to share my vision of with the Presiding Bishop where any question this ministry. Afterwards I preach, celebrate and about any topic is allowed. This is a private ses - confirm one as many from St. Alban’s join the sion - staff excuses themselves to other parts of worship (the renewal of St. Mary’s is directly the camp - and it has always been very meaning - related to the efforts of many from St. Alban’s). ful to me. Reception and wonderful conversation after - March 20 - House of Bishops-Camp Allen. wards. Morning meditation on the bishop as chief Home to Jackson tired, but full. missioner is given by Bishop Julio Holguin March 12 - Day off. Take one conference call (Dominican Republic). These meditations have

April 2012 The Mississippi Episcopalian 3 PERSPECTIVES Reflections from the Road By Duncan M. Gray, III, Bishop of Mississippi

“An army travels on its stomach,” is an old adage that reflects the value of cooks in the military. I have discovered in twelve years as your bishop that my mode of transportation is quite similar. I know where all the McDonald’s restaurants are located to serve my breakfast travel needs: two egg and sausage biscuits with hot sauce and a cup of cof - fee. I can tell you within a quarter of a mile where the gas stations are that serve the best and most varied fried food. I so look forward to lunch and dinners on Sunday visitations that are filled with the warmth, joy and Paula Dean-type caloric foods that are unique characteristics of my home state. And when the day is well past and the need to keep awake as I return home is critical, a knowledge of where I can find a 16 ounce diet Mountain Dew becomes very important. My doctor tells me that my diet, coupled with the stress of my job, is the reason my blood sugar keeps rising to pre-diabetic levels over these past twelve years. He also tells me that a group of researchers years ago set out to discover what was the diet of the Amish people that kept them, as a group, remarkably healthy. What they found was a diet very high in carbohydrates and calories. They were at a dead end in their project until they attached pedometers to the community and discovered that, on average, the Amish walked over 20,000 steps per day - almost 10 times the national average! Those who have ears to hear, he admonishes. If you’re at all like me, you also know the truth of another old saying: “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” At this point in my life I know the data. Education is not necessarily going to be my motivation. I know that I feel better when I exercise more and watch what I eat. I know that I work better and play better and sleep better when my life is more balanced. If I know these things and have experienced their truth, why do I continue in my self-destructive behavior, all excuses to the contrary notwithstanding? Is this realm, St. Paul’s words in Romans 7 are quite understandable: “I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. . . I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do to close. (v. 15, 18-19) This matter of wellness is at its heart a spiritual issue. Our twelve-step friends have much to teach us, in this regard, about being out of control and needing a power greater than ourselves to save us from ourselves. I think it’s time for me to start listening again to their wisdom. +Duncan

Editor’s note: A part of wellness includes attention to one’s mental health. Below is a reflection of a recovering perfectionist. A date to remember: The perils of perfectionism, May 26, 2012 why it’s okay to be first loser Bishop’s Hog Jog - 7:30 a.m. By Jessica Dunnavant I am a recovering perfectionist. When I was younger — a teenager, and later a college student — I was sunk deep in my perfectionist disorder. At 17, I remember winning second chair at a regional BISHOP’S BARBEQUE - 10:00 a.m. band festival and calling my mother in tears. Second chair? That’s first loser! Mom listened for about five minutes and then hung up on me. I’m surprised that she made it five minutes! Fast-forward 18 years. In January, several of my flute students participated in a flute day competi - tion. One won 3rd place, and another got an honorable mention. I was far beyond proud of them — so proud! They looked at me glumly and sighed. Apparently...3rd place is 2nd loser? And Honorable Mention? She might as well sell her flute! Despite my protests that no one ever HAS to give anyone an Honorable Mention, that the competition was very fierce, it took a little while that afternoon for those girls to get their groove back. And I (heaving sigh) understood perfectly. Perfectionists are misunderstood. People who don’t suffer from this particular affliction always take it personally, but I’ve never known a perfectionist who wanted to win in order to beat other peo - ple or to make anyone else look bad. Instead, it’s almost always about besting self, climbing farther toward a personal goal, or just a need not to mess up — in other words, I find it’s almost always more tied up in self-esteem than anything else. There are definite pros to being a perfectionist: high levels of self-motivation, poise and polish, and usually a good amount of success; however, people who are focused on the product, the ending, the blue ribbon — these people often miss the journey and thousands of blue ribbon moments that come along the way. When we are focused on the post-recital congratulations, on the right-note count that comes at the end, we deny ourselves the chance to play for the pure pleasure of doing it. It wasn’t until I decided to enjoy performing while it was happening to me (instead of later, while I remem - bered how it went) that I finally began to shift the perfectionism monkey off my back. It wasn’t until I gave myself permission to be imperfect, and promised to love me anyway, that the process became more important than the end result. There are so many things about my little perfectionists that I would never change — how quickly they learn the basics of any piece of music, for example. When the student comes to the second lesson on a piece of repertoire with the notes learned, we get to talk about all kinds of awesome things like musicality, developing a message, history and theory in the piece — all important things! Still, they lose the pleasure of letting it develop over time, coming to know the composition as one comes to know a friend, whose face will change in your eyes over time as you come to know it better. They’ll keep pushing for more, faster, first! (I am sure of this.) But I’ll keep pushing for deeper understanding, enjoyment of the journey, and more patience as we walk along the path. Who knows who’ll win — and does it really matter? Jessica Dunnavant is a flutist and on the faculty at Middle Tennessee State University. She is also a communicant at Good Shepherd Episcopal Church in Brentwood, Tennessee. 4 The Mississippi Episcopalian April 2012 GOOD READING Forsaking Mimosa: a review

By Scott Lenoir The nuns of St. Agnes are a delight. The reader gets an excellent view of the world within the Catholic convent. The doubts, the hopes and dreams of the nuns are revealed Mississippi in the 1930s was a hard place to live. My father and as they strive to teach and care for the students often while struggling with their own call mother lived through it. They tried to pass on the lessons they to serve Christ. learned to their children who lacked nothing. It was difficult to imag - As Max is supported by his friends, cared for by the nuns of St. Agnes’, moved by his ine such a time of scarcity and suffering, but the way my parents, and compassionate mother, and torn by his emotionally absent father, the reader is taken on an entire generation, lived their lives after the fact was testament to the journey that leads to manhood. Through laughter and tragedy, Max Brinkmann dis - the indelible stamp of the depression. covers his place in life. In her first novel, Forsaking Mimosa (Dogwood Press, 2012), Winn says she hopes readers “will walk away knowing that the concept of family and Valerie Winn captures the depression era through a host of well-drawn home can be found in the most unexpected characters whose lives are turned upside down for a variety of reasons places. I hope readers will identify with these including the economic disaster that plagued a nation. fragile characters as they question God and Winn’s main character is 14 year old Max Brinkmann whose life learn to reach out to one another.” takes an unexpected turn when his father decides to leave the city of Val Winn, who grew up in the Catholic Mimosa when the local Catholic school closes. The father, a truly tor - church, is a communicant at St. John's tured soul, moves his family to a remote, broken-down farm with no Episcopal Church in Ocean Springs and a electricity and no indoor plumbing. The father’s aim was that his chil - newly elected member of the vestry. She has dren receive their educations at a nearby all-girls Catholic boarding taught journalism and worked as a journalist school — a place Max and his brothers are admitted thereby making for the last 20 years. She and her husband, history. The stage is set for a different life. Frank, live in Gautier. Forsaking Mimosa is a poignant coming-of- age tale about Max and how his life recovers from what Forsaking Mimosa is available now at he believed was an impossible situation. With moving dialogue and a lively pace that keeps one turning bookstores in your area. Winn says her sec - the pages, Max and the people who influence his life is revealed with well-developed scenes which lead ond novel is already underway. If the first the teenager to maturity. book is any indicator, the second will also be The friendship Max builds with the only neighbor his age, Lazarus Lewis, bridges the racial divide a well-written treat. between white and black as well as exploring the stigma often felt by Catholics in a largely protestant society. The Rev. Scott Lenoir is the editor of The The students at St. Agnes Academy who become friends with Max face their own difficulties with Valerie Winn Mississippi Episcopalian. family situations that ring true today, especially to those who attend boarding schools. Take this Bread: a book review

By Janet Nail The St. Gregory Food Pantry was not an immediate success. The long-time mem - bers of the congregation were not too thrilled about having all those poor people com - How can anyone tell that you are a Christian? ing around; in fact, they blamed her for every broken soul they encountered in their Sara Miles was raised an atheist by parents who had rejected the faith of part of the city. And the poor were suspicious; what did this white/Anglo woman their own missionary parents. They espoused a world of experience and sensa - want from them? Chasing down food, getting the word to parts of the city that white tion, and they encouraged their children to do the same. people NEVER entered, teaching people who lived on cheap high-fat, high-sugar In the revolutions in Central America and Southeast Asia, Sara learned to processed food how to prepare, and yes, eat fresh vegetables was an uphill battle. organize people. She returned to the States, and, like many of her generation, she Yet she and her friends persevered. In the end, her food pantries opened in worked in food service, learning about cooking for crowds and especially about several locations. organizing a kitchen. She tells her story in TAKE THIS BREAD (Ballantine Books, Sara Miles tells the story of a volunteer who came to the pantry with her leg 2007). in a cast; her boyfriend had beaten her. As they worked, the young woman After a kitchen accident left her badly burned, she left the restaurant business pulled out a paper bag. “Will you keep this for me,” she asked, as she pulled and moved to San Francisco, where curiosity (or something) drew her into St. out a .357 Magnum. “I’m afraid he will use it on me.” When Sara took it to the Gregory’s Episcopal Church. Her first thought was, “These people are totally weird!”, rector, he recoiled, then laughed. “What is church for if it isn’t to take all the but she followed the congregation up to the altar (it looked like a table to her). When dangerous, violent, ugly parts of our lives and keep us safe?” the priest gave her the bread — real bread — and intoned the words “This is the body of Feeding the sheep wasn’t a safe and easy road for Peter; it wasn’t easy for Sara Christ, which is given for you,” she burst into tears. As she said, meeting Jesus is one Miles, either. But she heard a voice that said, “Feed my sheep.” And she listened. thing; eating Jesus is another! Despite the skepticism of her friends, who could not believe she could believe in “all that,” she Janet Nail is a librarian and long-time reviewer for the MSE. kept coming back, kept receiving communion, kept bursting into tears. She got very little support from her family and friends; even the few who were religious were cautious about sharing anything about their faith. And Sara kept learning. She recognized intuitively that the heart of Christianity and the church is not politics, it is communion. And the heart of communion is hunger. She had listened to Philippine poet Ed de la Torre explain that the rice cakes of their communion were broken so that there would be enough to go around, so that all could be fed. She had read the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who said that “It’s the really hungry who can smell fresh bread a mile away. For those who know their need, God is immediate — not an idea, not a theory, but life, food, air for the stifled spirit and the beaten, despised, exploited body.” In communion, we eat together, and, she says, in the liber - al, horrible Episcopal church, she was glad to know she would eat with sinners. Communion. Bread. Wine. Figs. Fish on the lakeshore after the Resurrection. A command to Peter: Do you love me? Feed my sheep. And, Sara reasoned, if she wanted to see God, she must feed the hungry. She saw the Altar, the Table filled with food for those who had nothing.

April 2012 The Mississippi Episcopalian 5 OUR DIOCESE

St. Andrew’s master BBQ grill team, The Holy Smokers, were presented with two awards by the Trinity Church in Hattiesburg hosted their 20th annual crawfish festival March 31st. Pictured is a Rev. Frank Spencer at the annual Taste of Mississippi fund raiser: Best Entree and Best Arrangement. huge mess of mudbugs coming out of the cooker tended by event chairman Keith Montgomery left and co-chairman Clark Callahan. The cook team prepared 1,250 pounds of crawfish. A Taste of Mississippi nets big money for Stewpot and big fun for Stewpot supporters By Scott Lenoir Over forty vendors and two thousand people came to support Stewpot Community Services on March 26th at High Village in Jackson. The annual event raises critically needed funds to support the various ministries of Stewpot. The ticket sales usually amount to $100,000. “This annual event is not only a lot of fun, but it is critical to assist in funding the Stewpot min - istries. Our annual budget is $1.7 million a year, so you can see the amount funds almost a full month of our work to the 650 people Stewpot assists each day,” said the Rev. Deacon Frank Spencer, Stewpot’s chief executive officer. All of the money raised at Taste of Mississippi goes into the Stewpot General Fund. The Rev. Van Bankston , Gretchen Grimsley and Jan Van Nostrand helped with the serving line This year, the St. Andrew’s Cathedral Holy Smokers raked up awards at the event. Trinity’s Crawfish Festival. Redeemer Brookhaven’s Trinity Park to be Dedicated April 29 By Anne Matthews After the 10 AM Holy Eucharist on April 29th, Bishop Gray and the congregation will process into the Everyone is invited to join Bishop Gray, the Rev. park for its dedication, then enjoy a picnic on the Anne Matthews and members and friends of Redeemer grounds organized by the Trinity Park Committee to celebrate and dedicate a beautiful park located just which has shepherded the realization of Mr. Urban’s north of the church on Sunday, April 29th. The vision vision from the beginning. for the park as well as the land and design was a gift of “Bud Urban was one of the most sincere, helpful the late M.C. “Bud” Urban, Jr., longtime member of friends Redeemer has ever had,” says Dorothy Benson, Redeemer who would have been 83 on this date. a close friend of Bud and member of the committee. For many years this city lot was the home to a gas “He was a dear soul; he cared so much.” Trinity Park station which became an increasing eye sore. Mr. was actually part of Bud’s larger vision for the church Urban saw a green space, a park setting for the church, to own the whole city block; his gift gives them the and paid to have all signs of the gas station removed entire Monticello Street side. The park Bud envi - and grass planted to begin the transformation. The sioned for the church’s use is also a beautiful and park has been completed in less than four years; the serene space for the whole community, always funds have been raised in large part by the sale of Parishioners at open for visitors. brick columns and iron fence sections which enclose Redeemer/Brookhaven gather Join us for the dedication! If you plan to the park on three sides. Dedicated columns and fence in the new Trinity Park on come, please RSVP to the church office: 601-833- sections have plaques naming donors and those hon - Palm Sunday. 7399. Questions? Please email: redeemer - ored and/or remembered. [email protected]. If you are not able to The entrance to Trinity Park is a brick and iron come April 29th please drop by and see Trinity archway set inside a bank of azaleas on the south side of the park. Visitors enter via a Park whenever you are in the Brookhaven area. sidewalk which curves into a cross shape around a fountain and is set with stainless steel Anticipation and excitement are running emblems of the Trinity. Beautifully landscaped beds contain roses, azaleas, and daylilies. high! The Episcopal Church of the Redeemer s o

Trees and shrubs provide interest and shade. Benches are available for those who want t gives thanks to God, to Bud-and to the many o h p

to enter and rest. Stately lampposts provide nighttime lighting. / hearts and hands that have created Trinity Park. e d i E

In the center of the park is Trinity Fountain, a gift of Tracy Hale Bell, Michael Hale, l e a and church members in honor and memory of the late Rev. and Mrs. Edward S.T. Hale. h The Rev. Anne Matthews is the rector of c a Rev. Hale was vicar of Redeemer from 1967 to 1977. He, and his wife, Mickey, retired R Redeemer/Brookhaven. and spent their last years in Brookhaven. The three-sided brick fountain is set on a con - Trinity Park shown above will be dedicated crete pad of trefoil design. In the center is a small single jet, inviting the visitor to contemplate the April 29 at Redeemer/Brookhaven. unity of God in the Trinity.

6 The Mississippi Episcopalian April 2012 OUR DIOCESE

Deacon Lynn Hough and the Rev. David Knight stand in the community garden which bears Lynn's name at St. Patrick's/Long Beach. Resurrection/Starkville sponsored an event to shred old documents as a way to highlight the Community garden church’s location. named after Coast deacon Shredding event highlights By David Knight

On Palm Sunday the St. Patrick’s community garden was officially named the Reverend Lynne church location Hough Community Garden. St. Patrick’s honored their deacon for her outstanding service to the parish [MSE] Parishioners might think that everyone knows where our church is located, but the truth is and to the entire Gulf Coast community. that many people may not be aware of the presence of the Episcopal Church in a city, especially new - Deacon Lynne was one of the inspirations in establishing the garden, which was started last year comers. That’s why the evangelism committee at Resurrection/Starkville sponsored a shredding event with the help of a Pepsi community grant. Lynne’s 16 years of ordained ministry in the Diocese of for the community on St. Patrick’s day. Mississippi and particularly to St. Patrick’s, and her many years of wonderful work as chaplain at Why the Evangelism Committee, one might ask? “Part of my mission is to have people know where Memorial Hospital, exemplify, in every way, the role of the deacon. the Episcopal church is and the shredding event accomplished that,” said Resurrection parishioner Ellen We are so blessed to have her prayerful presence and her unceasing work in service to the com - Newsome. munity. A ShredMan truck parked in front of the church offices on University Drive, and the shredding The Reverend Lynne Hough Community Garden is on the grounds of St. Patrick’s, 310 N. machine stayed busy as folks brought sensitive documents to be shredded. Cleveland Ave. in Long Beach. Plots are available for individuals, families, and community groups. All In the promotion preceeding the event that was held on St. Patrick’s Day, participants were asked we ask for is a tithe of the produce to be given to our local food bank and to some of our senior mem - to bring a donation of canned goods. Newsome said that the parish food pantry received a van load of bers. food. Another shredding event is planned for the fall. With the same purpose of creating a greater awareness of the church, Newsome said the parish The Rev. David Knight is the rector of St. Patrick’s/Long Beach. serves hot chocolate at Starkville’s annual Christmas parade.

Children in Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Levels 2 and 3 at Chapel of the Cross in Madison reenact - ed the Last Supper on Sunday April 1 with the help of parishioner Craig Carter who portrayed Jesus. Some parishes are able to schedule two confirmation times during the year, one at the regular annual The washing of feet visit of Bishop Gray, and another when he is in the area. Running two Inquirer’s Classes has been a ritual was observed successful move at St. John’s/Ocean Springs. Pictured above (front l.tor.) are Beau Dukes, at the event. Abb Oglesby, Bishop Gray, David Pritchett, Jr.; (back l.tor.) Angela Alston-Ross, Tristan Armer, Stacie Zorn-Armer, Fr. Wayne Ray, David Grigsby and Jeanne Grigsby. Not pictured is Denise Smith.

April 2012 The Mississippi Episcopalian 7 MISSION St. Andrew’s Cathedral and New Hancock County Alliance for Health Horizon International Church share now a mission of and listen to stories and concerns Christ Episcopal Church By Scott Bagley By Carol Bourne Spencer The Hancock County Alliance for Health, an organiza - tion established to provide medical prescription assistance On March 22, 2012 two churches, sharing stories to qualifying patients in Hancock County, is now part of the and a passion for their city of Jackson, Misissisippi, set the community outreach mission of Christ Episcopal Church. foundation for a new sister church relationship on which Long known for its active support of organizations like the great hopes and vision will rest. These two churches are Hancock Food Pantry, primarily through funds raised by its part of a larger organization, Working Together Jackson annual Harvest Dinner, Christ Episcopal Church recently (WTJ), which is made up of almost 35 institutions, mostly decided to incorporate the Alliance for Health into its com - religious, who want to work to improve our city, physical - munity outreach and assume responsibility for the manage - ly, emotionally and spiritually. Similar relational meetings ment and administration of this important county wide are happening all over the metro area between institu - assistance program. tions belonging to WTJ. As part of the church’s mission, the organization will now be known as the Alliance for Health, A Over 120 people representing both churches gath - Mission of Christ Episcopal Church. Under the program, qualified individuals can apply for assistance ered at St. Andrew’s Cathedral to hear a vision from Dean in obtaining non-narcotic Edward O’Connor and Bishop Ronnie Crudup for what prescriptions. If assis - we want to build in metro Jackson. Both churches share tance is approved, local a love of the city and want to make a difference and “mat - pharmacies fill the pre - ter” in all of our actions and mission ministries. Working St. Andrew’s and New Horizon scription and bill the together will increase all of our efforts, creating a large Church in Jackson meet to find Alliance for Health. voice for change and a wealth of people to accomplish common ground for mission. Funding for this that change. Pictured are The Very Rev. Edward important program is pro - Those gathered broke into small groups of 10+ peo - O’Connor Dean of St. Andrew’s and vided through fundraising ple, each group lead by facilitators from both congrega - Bishop Ronnie Crudup, Sr. Pastor of and voluntary donations tions. Stories were shared from each person’s history. New Horizon Church International. from individuals, church - Learning to listen and value each experience was also part es, civic organizations and of the expectations for the night. businesses. As an out - The two churches will meet again on May 3, 2012, at New Horizon International Church to con - reach program of Christ tinue these conversations. The next meeting will focus on the issues facing the metro area and atten - Episcopal Church, all dees will express to which areas they are willing to give their time and energy. donations made to the After these meetings, St. Andrew’s Cathedral and New Horizon International Church, will explore Alliance for Health are tax other areas, such are youth meetings, worship experiences, and pulpit swapping to deepen our new deductible and funds sister church relationship. donated support the financial assistance. Last The Rev. Carol Bourne Spenser is the Deacon for Outreach and Mission at St. Andrew’s year alone the Alliance for Cathedral/Jackson. Health filled almost 400 prescriptions for 138 patients in Hancock County, ranging in ages from 1 to 86. For more informa - tion about this important program, please contact Gretchen Thorp, Chairman, Alliance for Health, c/o Christ Church, 228-467-7757.

Scott Bagley is an Alliance for Health board member.

8 The Mississippi Episcopalian April 2012 OUR DIOCESE Ring Around the Collar Deployment Report By Denny Allman For the Mississippi Episcopalian April, 2012

New Calls/Appointments It is always very difficult for me to give up the “alleluias” during Stanford Adams, from the School of Theology, Sewanee, to be Curate , All Saints’, Tupelo Lent. “ Alleluia!” is such a strong pronouncement of our faith. Its John Kellogg, from General Theological Seminary , New York, to be Deacon-in-Charge, Incarnation, absence in our liturgy really reminds me that we are in Lent. Then West Point that first “Alleluia!” at the Vigil always leaps forth in great joy. The The Reverend David Knight, to be Interim Rector , St. James’, Jackson new birth of our Lord coincides with the new birth of nature. The The Reverend Scott Lenoir, to be Assisting Priest , St. John’s, Ocean Springs signs of resurrection are all around us. The blossoms and the many The Reverend Kyle Dice Seage, to be Rector , St. Philip’s, Jackson shades of green that are spring in Mississippi help us in our celebra - tion of God’s great miracle. A few years ago the Rev. Matt Rowe, Upcoming Ordinations rector of Nativity, Greenwood, had these words about the The Reverend Van Bankston, to be ordained Priest , June 2, Trinity, Hattiesburg magnificent season. John Kellogg, to be ordained Deacon , June 9, St. James’, Jackson Resignations/Retirements ALLELUIA. CHRIST IS RISEN. The Reverend Jud Meaders, announced retirement , Grace, Canton THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED. ALLELUIA. The Reverend Bailey Norman, announced resignation , Calvary, Cleveland The Reverend Kathleen Potts, announced retirement , St. Paul’s, Picayune The joyful acclamation of Easter will be on our lips at every celebration of the Holy Eucharist dur - The Very Reverend Christopher Powell, resigned , St. James’, Jackson ing the Great Fifty days. Eastertide is a season packed with ‘Alleluias.’ The word that was set aside The Reverend Matt Rowe, announced resignation , Nativity, Greenwood during Lent bursts forth in jubilation as we rejoice in the light of our Lord’s “mighty resurrection and glorious ascension.” (BCP p. 335) In Transition All creation joins in the delight of Eastertide. The new life that Christ brings out of Good Friday’s Creator, Clinton tomb is not just for humanity, but for all creation. St. Paul writes of creation as groaning in travail, St. Elizabeth’s, Collins awaiting its redemption. (Romans 8: 18-25) The signs are everywhere that creation knows this is Redeemer, Greenville Easter Week, the first week of Eastertide, the season to rejoice in hope that Christ truly is risen, that St. Mark’s, Gulfport Christ truly brings new life, that groaning in travail is but a “slight momentary affliction.” (2 St. Paul’s, Hollandale Corinthians 4:17) St. James’, Jackson Creation celebrates by coming to life in the beautiful bloom of spring flowers, new shoots of St. John’s, Leland grass, new leaves on trees. Is there anything more delicately beautiful than that new green of spring’s St. Patrick’s, Long Beach first appearance? Creation celebrates in the song of the birds. In the very early hours of the morning St. Mary’s, Lexington the birds outside the study at the rectory begin to awaken to their day. I don’t know exactly how Holy Cross, Olive Branch many different types of birds are outside the window, but they all pitch in to sing a morning hymn. St. Paul’s, Picayune One variety provides a sort of continuo of three evenly spaced notes, and I hear in them, “He is risen. Chapel of the Cross, Rolling Fork He is risen.” Another kind sings a lovely interlude in between, and then another breaks into that pat - Advent, Sumner tern after it is repeated five or so times with a sharp chattering that I hear as the gleeful “Alleluia.” Epiphany, Tunica The new life that is the fruit of God’s redeeming work in Christ is for humanity, for you and me, Holy Trinity, Vicksburg as well. In baptism we die to the old life and are raised in the new life of Christ. This is a season to celebrate the new life that is already yours in Christ. In Transition Soon All around us creation celebrates. Now we join in with “alleluia” on our lips, the promise of Grace, Canton Christ in our minds, the love of Christ in our hearts, the risen Christ alive in us. Calvary, Cleveland Nativity, Greenwood ALLELUIA. CHRIST IS RISEN. THE LORD IS RISEN INDEED. ALLELUIA. FAITHFUL DEPARTED A date to remember: Cheryl Ann Olsen , 63, communicant of St. John’s, Ocean Springs, died March 5, 2012. May 27, 2012 Florence Hales Laird , 90, communicant of St. John’s, Ocean Springs, died March 9, 2012. Bishop Gray at Gray Center, Bishop’s BBQ- 10:00 a.m Dorothy Anne Harvey Landrum , 70, communicant of St. Paul’s, Meridian, died March 15, 2012.

Frances Trull Fowler , 92, communicant of St. James’, Jackson, died March 18, 2012.

Robert L. Thomsen , 85, communicant of St. James’, Jackson, died March 23,. 2012.

William Lytle McKee III , 73, communicant of St. George’s, Clarksdale, died March 25, 2012.

A date to remember: May 25-27, 2012 Bishop’s BBQ - Gray Center

April 2012 The Mississippi Episcopalian 9 EVENTS Life events need to be observed with intention: make Gray Center Sunday count this year By Bill Horne Traditions are simply traditional, don’t you think? I mean, it seems that we have to have occasions and celebrations. I actually heard a young lady say last week that she was celebrating her “half-birth - day!” More serious are those that call to us to slow down and reflect, savor, and commemorate the greatness, the uniqueness, the truly pricelessness of people and things in our lives. Gray Center Sunday is just such an event and it is coming up on May 6th. One Sunday in the year to reflect upon the amazing prize our diocese has in this wonderful place - a pearl of great value, for sure. Please bring this special occasion to your congregation’s attention and give the uncommitted plate offering on this Sunday, May 6th, to support Gray Center. You’ll read more about the continuing mission and ministry of Gray Center in various inserts in your local bulletins and newsletters. For those of you who have been to Gray Center or Camp Bratton-Green, we hope to see you again soon. For those who haven’t been to our conference center and camp, please visit. Our facilities are a great gift and have been the place for spiritual formation has touched the lives of thousands of people. Charlie Cole, a member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Jackson, found “golden chalices” and other Send a child to camp this year (applications are being accepted now!). Attend a Center for treasures at St. Alexis’ 2011 Circulation Day. Formation and Ministry program or a fun outing like the Bishop’s BBQ or New Year’s party. Gray Center Camp and Conference Center needs your support. Celebrate with us what has been Circulation Day set: called “the heart of the diocese” on Sunday, May 6th: Gray Center Sunday. The work and the money that go into keeping this most holy space viable is enormous, but yields enormous blessings which is in great part fueled by the contributions of your churches. everything is free! If you’d like a presentation on the Gray Center in your parish, please give me a call. I enjoy visit - ing parishes and missions bringing the good news about our priceless asset that is Gray Center. By Judy Barnes May the Great Fifty Days of Easter fill your congregations with the joy of the risen Christ. The fourth annual Circulation Day at St. Alexis Episcopal Church in Jackson is set for Saturday Bill Horne is the executive director of Gray Center and a member of Chapel of the Cross, Madison. May 12, 7-11am. It looks like a church rummage sale, except everything is free. The idea is “If you haven’t worn it, played with it, used it in a year; put it back in circulation for someone else.” Members are already spring cleaning and collecting gently used: clothes, baby gear, toys, books, furniture, household items, linens, small appliances, etc. We consider Circulation Day sort of a recycling project. Also, The MS Blood Services’ donation bus will be on site during Circulation Day and will be handing out “Pints for Pints” coupons from Hal and Mal’s - a pint of beer for a pint of blood. Everyone in the community is welcome and invited to bring stuff and/or take stuff. If your youth group or another ministry in your church wants to bring things and share in the fun of giving stuff away, let us know. You will need to provide your own tables and crew for set up and “customer serv - ice” on Saturday. Drop off and set up will be Friday May 11 after 5pm. At the end of the day all the left - over items are donated to a local nonprofit for distribution. Please tell your friends, neighbors, family and coworkers about Circulation Day. For information call Judy Barnes 601.668.9319 or Ann Rabalais 318.426.8844. Barbeque by-the-Sea challenge [MSE] St. Peter’s by-the-Sea/Gulfport has thrown down the gauntlet once again in an upcoming barbeque competition on the coast. Gray Center food and beverage director Grae Dickson (in back) oversees CREDO participants at an The date is Saturday, April 28, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Tickets will be available soon by calling St. outdoor BBQ spread at the conference center. Peter’s/Gulfport at 228-863-2611. Adults and children over 12 pay $20.00. Children under 12 are free. Those who have answered the challenge include St. Pierre’s in Gautier and St. Andrew’s Cathedral in Jackson. The grilling teams will prepare mouth-watering barbeque for judging as well as plenty of bar - beque for eating! There will also be original artwork by local artists available for sale. Imagine sitting outside and savoring a delicious meal while enjoying a cool breeze from the gulf and wonderful live music. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate, but if not, there will be tables inside to accommodate our guests. Food, fellowship, music and art — a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon! Y’all come!

A date to remember: May 18-19, 2012 BASS (Bishop’s Annual Stewardship Summit) - Gray Center Girls at the Camp Bratton-Green craft shack wait to create a work with many painted hands.

10 The Mississippi Episcopalian April 2012 EVENTS DIOCESAN CALENDAR Camp Bob at Kanuga chosen to APRIL host National Military Family • 6 & 9: Allin House closed for Easter • 7: Bishop Gray visits St. Philip’s, Jackson - 7:00 p.m. • 11: Diocesan Scholarship Committee - St. Andrew’s - 1:00 p.m. Association’s popular • 12: Diocesan Trustees Meeting - Allin House - 2:00 p.m. • 15: Bishop Gray visits Redeemer, Biloxi - 10:15 a.m. Operation Purple ® summer camp • 15 - 17: Presbyter POC - Gray Center • 18: Bishop Gray visits St. Matthew’s, Forest - 6:00 p.m. • 21: Worship Leaders’ Conference - St. Timothy’s, Southaven - 8:00 a.m. Free July 8-13 camp session the only • 22: Bishop Gray visits St. Peter’s by the Lake, Brandon - 10:30 a.m. one of its kind in North Carolina • 25: Wellness Committee Meeting - Allin House - 11:00 a.m. • 25: Bishop Gray visits Calvary, Cleveland - Time TBD By Harmony Johnson • 26: General Convention Deputation Meeting - St. Andrew’s - 10:00 a.m. The National Military Family Association recently announced that Camp Bob at Kanuga • 27: Racial Reconciliation Committee Meeting - St. Andrew’s - 11:00 a.m. Conferences in Hendersonville, N.C., was chosen to host their popular Operation Purple summer • 28: Diocesan Altar Guild Meeting - Nativity, Greenwood - 9:00 a.m. camp in 2012. • 29: Bishop Gray visits Redeemer, Brookhaven - 10:00 a.m. The association developed this free summer camp program to support military children, ages Bishop Gray visits St. Mary’s, Lexington - 5:00 p.m. 7-17, dealing with the stress of war. Camps are free to military families. Funds from the association, contributions from each host MAY camp and foundation support make up for the lack of a national corporate sponsor. Programs that • 1: AmeriCorps at All Saints’ School Graduation support military families dealing with the effects of more than 10 years at war are important now more • 1: Deadline for The Mississippi Episcopalian than ever. • 3: Celebration of a New Ministry - St. Philip’s, Jackson - 6:00 p.m. “Our mission is to empower military children — our youngest heroes — who have shared their • 3 - 6: Cursillo #122 - Gray Center parents’s commitment to our country,” said Mary Scott, the association’s chairman of the board. “We • 5: Gray Center Board Meeting - Gray Center - 9:00 a.m. have a dedicated group of host camps this year, who recognize the importance of programs for mili- • 6: Bishop Gray visits St. James’, Jackson - 8:40 & 11:00 a.m. tary kids. So much so that each host camp has made a financial commitment to their week of Bishop Gray at Clausura - Gray Center - 2:30 p.m. Operation Purple camp. The National Military Family Association is grateful to work with Camp Bob • 8: Fresh Start - Trinity, Hattiesburg - 10:00 a.m. on this very worthwhile program.” • 10 - 12: Deacon’s Retreat - Gray Center • The Operation Purple session at Camp Bob, an outreach program of Kanuga Conferences, will be • 11: A Day Apart: Day of Silence & Prayer - Gray Center - 9:00 a.m. held July 8-13 and can accommodate 100 campers. It is the only camp of its kind offered in North • 13: Bishop visits St. Andrew’s, Jackson - 8:45 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Carolina this year. • 16: Finance Conference Call - 11:00 a.m. • “I’m very excited that Operation Purple is returning for a fifth summer,” said Gary Woodhurst, Camp • 17: Fresh Start - All Saints’, Grenada - 10:00 a.m. Bob program director. “It’s one of the most energetic weeks of the year. The campers really benefit • 17: Standing Committee Meeting - Allin House - 11:30 a.m. from being in community with other children in similar circumstances. It’s a well-deserved break from • 17: Bishop Gray visits Ascension, Hattiesburg - 6:00 p.m. the stresses of having a parent at war and a chance for them to simply be a kid.” • 18 - 19: BASS (Bishop’s Annual Stewardship Summit) - Gray Center • Applications will be accepted for Operation Purple camp from March 19 through April 19. • 20: Bishop Gray visits St. Paul’s, Meridian - 10:30 a.m. Applications will be accepted online only at www.militaryfamily.org/op. Bishop Gray visits St. Mary’s, Enterprise - 4:00 p.m. • Each camp is “purple” and open to children of active duty, National Guard or Reserve service mem- • 21 - 22: Iona Mentor Meeting bers from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard or the Commissioned Corps of the • 25 - 27: Bishop’s BBQ - Gray Center U.S. Public Health Service and NOAA. • 26: Bishop’s Hog Jog - 7:30 a.m. • To learn more, visit campbob.kanuga.org. BISHOP’S BARBEQUE - 10:00 a.m. • 27: Bishop Gray at Gray Center, Bishop’s BBQ- 10:00 a.m. Harmony Johnson is the communications director at Kanuga. • 28: Allin House closed for Memorial Day • 30: Seminarian Orientation - St. Andrew’s - 10:00 a.m. • 31: Executive Committee Meeting - St. Andrew’s - 11:30 a.m. JUNE • 1: Mentor Training - Allin House - 10:00 a.m. • 2: Ordination, The Rev. Van Bankston - Trinity, Hattiesburg • 2: Cursillo Fourth Day Workshop - Location TBD, Jackson area • 3: Bishop Gray visits Trinity, Hattiesburg - 10:30 a.m. Bishop Gray visits Christ Church and St. Mary’s, Vicksburg - 6:00 p.m. • 5: Deadline for The Mississippi Episcopalian • 5 - 6: House of Bishops • 6 - 8: Province IV Synod - Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC • 9: Ordination, John Kellogg - St. James, Jackson - 10:30 a.m. • 10: Bishop Gray visits St. Elizabeth’s, Collins - 10:00 a.m. Bishop Gray at Methodist Consecration - 3:00 p.m. The Center for Formation and Mission • 12: Deacons’ Council - Allin House - 12:00 p.m. of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi offers • 23: Cursillo Leadership Training Workshop - Location TBD, Jackson area • 24 - July 1: CCCD West - Gray Center, Canton A Pilgrimage to Israel and Jordan A date to remember: February 18 - March 1, 2013 May 5, 2012 Hosted by the Reverend Canon David H. Johnson Gray Center Board Meeting - Gray Center - 9:00 a.m. For more information, contact [email protected]

April 2012 The Mississippi Episcopalian 11 WORLDWIDE Archbishop of Canterbury to step down at year’s end Rowan Williams to become Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge “His leadership of that reconciling work through indaba and ubuntu is bearing remarkable fruit, and I believe this will be his most important legacy. I give thanks that his spiritual and intellectual gifts By ACNS/ENS staff will continue to bless the larger world, albeit from a different vantage point. May the coming months bring well-deserved peace to him and his family, and may we join in blessing his ministry. ‘Well done, [Anglican Communion and Episcopal news services] Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams good and faithful servant!’” on March 16 revealed that he is to step down from his role at the end of the year. The Archbishop is the focus of unity for the Anglican Communion. He is con - His decision comes after 10 years in the post and after accepting the position vener and host of the Lambeth Conference, President of the Anglican Consultative of Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge. The college said that Williams “has the Council (ACC), and Chair of the Primates’ meeting. In these roles he travels exten - capacity and vision to guide the College in a time of unprecedented change in high - sively throughout the Anglican Communion, visiting provinces and dioceses, and er education.” supporting and encouraging the witness of the Church in very diverse contexts. As In a statement issued from Lambeth Palace, the Primate of All England said: “It primus inter pares (first among equals) among the bishops, he has a special con - has been an immense privilege to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury over the past cern for those in Episcopal ministry. decade, and moving on has not been an easy decision. During the time remaining Following the announcement, the Rev. Canon Kenneth Kearon, secretary gen - there is much to do, and I ask your prayers and support in this period and beyond. eral of the Anglican Communion, wrote to members of the Standing Committee “I am abidingly grateful to all those friends and colleagues who have so gener - informing them of the decision. ously supported Jane and myself in these years, and all the many diverse parishes He asked them to remember Williams and his family during this time of transi - and communities in the Church of England and the wider Anglican Communion tion and reflected on the primate’s time in office saying it had “coincided with a that have brought vision, hope and excitement to my own ministry. I look forward, Archbishop Williams period of turmoil, change and development in the Anglican Communion, and his with that same support and inspiration, to continuing to serve the Church’s mission careful leadership, deeply rooted in spirituality and theology, has strengthened and and witness as best I can in the years ahead.” inspired us all in the Communion during this time.” Williams’ term has been marked by increased tension over the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisex - Williams’ announcement means that the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in New Zealand ual and transgendered people in the life of the church, the ordination of women and overarching during the last quarter of this year will be his last as its president. questions of biblical authority and orthodoxy. During an interview with the Press Association after his Archbishop of York John Sentamu said he was saddened to hear the news: “Our partnership in announcement, Williams said that “the worst aspects of the job, I think, have been the sense that there the gospel over the past six years has been the most creative period of my ministry. It has been life-giv - are some conflicts that won’t go away, however long you struggle with them.” ing to have led missions together, gone on retreats and prayed together. In his company I have drunk Following the announcement, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori issued a statement from deeply from the wells of God’s mercy and love and it has all been joyful. He is a real brother to me in Camp Allen in Texas, where the spring meeting of the Episcopal Church’s House of Bishops is getting Christ. underway. “The last decade has been a challenging time for the Church of England and the Anglican “I am grateful for Rowan Williams’ service as archbishop of Canterbury during an exceedingly Communion. Thankfully, Archbishop Rowan is a remarkable and gifted leader who has strengthened challenging season. We can all give thanks for his erudition and persistence in seeking reconciliation the bonds of affection.” across a rapidly changing Anglican Communion,” she said. U2’s music + Holy Eucharist = U2charist at ECUSM By Elizabeth Lentz Mississippi’s “Covenant of Common Life” with the Methodists, ECUSM approached USM’s Wesley Take the band U2’s music, feed it into a serv - Foundation about co-hosting. ice of Holy Eucharist, and what do you get? A Patrick Hutto, a deacon in the Methodist “U2charist”. The Episcopal Church at University of Church and leader of USM’s Wesley Foundation, Southern Mississippi (ECUSM) joined with USM’s said, “It was really great to see students from dif - Wesley Foundation to co-host a U2charist on ferent denominations worship unhindered . . . Tuesday, March 27. About 40 Methodist and I think that it is good to reinforce our relation - Episcopalian students heard a live student band ships with the ‘church worldwide’, and it was evi - play U2’s songs and worshipped God while wear - dent on Tuesday night that we are headed in the ing glow sticks. The Rev. Susan Bear from Church right direction for what Christ is calling the of the Ascension/Hattiesburg preached, while Rev. churches to do.” McClendon added, “The interde - Amy Roller of Richton United Methodist celebrat - nominational unity was excellent, and we need to ed the Eucharist. emphasize that more in the worldwide Christian U2charists started in the mid-2000s, when Church. Unity in our goals is so much more U2 began advocating for the United Nation’s important than division in our practices.” Nearly Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The Students line up to receive communion from Rev Amy Roller of Richton United Methodist Church and $50 was collected to be given to a Methodist char - MDG’s give a systematic way to reduce global ECUSM member Marie Baker. Caitlin Jackson/photo ity organization serving Hatttiesburg-a significant poverty, specifically addressing the areas of outpouring from cash-strapped college students extreme poverty and hunger, universal education, gender equality, child health, maternal health, com - not used to being asked for a offering during campus ministry events. bating HIV/AIDS, environmental sustainability, and global partnership. U2’s music often addresses For those planning a U2charist, Baker said, “Start planning early. Four to five months ahead themes of peace and aiding fellow humans who are in need. Many Episcopal churches began using would be best so the musicians have time to practice, clergy have time to talk to each other, and the U2’s music (with the band’s permission) in a Holy Eucharist service to get high school students, col - liturgy can get worked out.” lege students, and young adults engaged in worship and in social justice issues. These services became Strait, tasked with choosing songs and rehearsing the band suggested, “meditate on the lyrics known as “U2charists”. before choosing the songs to be sure the lyrics are appropriate for you. Also, be ready to WORK on the At USM’s U2charist, the student band played “Vertigo” as an opener, “Forty” and “One” during music! It’s deceptively simple.” And the last but vital step, McClendon said, is to “Advertise, advertise, Communion, and ended with “Pride (In the Name of Love).” USM student Olivia Feeney said, “I loved advertise! I think ours went so well because we had great people involved in planning, music, and the phrase Susan picked out for the sermon, ‘We’re one, but we’re not the same. We GET to carry each liturgy. Make sure you have people involved who really understand the importance of a service like other’ [from “One”]. That really stuck with me for the rest of the week.” this and who will really get excited about it!” Elena Stater, another USM student, also agreed that her favorite thing about the U2charist was USM’s joint-ECUSM/Wesley Foundation U2charist will definitely become an annual event. Baker “the music and how it relates to the liturgy... specifically the message of getting to help each other.” loved “seeing people come out of their ‘worship shells’... the new music made the liturgy we all love to Planning for the U2charist began 3 months before the service. ECUSMers Barbara McClendon much come alive again. It would be an excellent thing to do at Diocesan Council.” (student), Cody Strait (student) and Marie Baker (staff) took charge of the liturgy, music, and overall planning, respectively. In order to bring this service to more people and to build on the Diocese of Elizabeth Lentz is the faculty advisor for ECUSM in Hattiesburg. 12 The Mississippi Episcopalian April 2012