MARCH 2009 | ADVENT THE BRANCH The Newsletter of St. Bartholomew’s Church March 2009 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.” John 15:5,8 NIV Our Mission We are a family of believers (kingdom community), on a journey to the fulfillment of our Top: New Vestry Members !from left" # Adam Wirdzek, Vanessa Hardy, Carmen Hall and Dorman Burtch. God-given purpose. Photos by Katherine Bomboy Our mission is: St. B’s 55th Annual Meeting: An Invitation to Be a Part of The Story 1) To bring people to know Jesus Christ; by Pam White, Director of Operations 2) To provide clear and life-changing n Sunday, February 8th, St. B’s area. Each of the 32 eating tables was discipleship training; held our 55th Annual Meeting. decorated di$erently to represent the 3) To help people discern their life’s OWe had 350 people !children ministries and missions of St. B’s. A purpose and provide and adults" in attendance who enjoyed a prize !a %10 St. B’s bookstore gift opportunities for them to fulfill delicious potluck supper made by certificate" was awarded to each that purpose in ministry and members of St. B’s. member of the “table” who could mission. The fruit of our endeavor correctly identify the most number of The gymnasium was decorated in a is that God be glorified in all the ministries as represented by the world (worship). storybook theme with lights, ivy and various tables. candles interspersed throughout the Continued on page 4 The Branch # Sept 2008 # Page 1 St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church INSIDE 4800 Belmont Park Terrace Nashville, TN 37215 Kingdom Talk # Fr. Jerry Smith&&& 3 Phone: 615.377.4750 Email: churcho'[email protected] The Warden’s Report # Andy Valentine&& 5 Staff A Missional Life # Fr. Dixon Kinser&& 6 You Doing OK? # Fr. Randy Hoover#Dempsey& 7 Clergy: The Rev. Dr. Jerry Smith, Rector Annual Meeting Photos&&&& 8#9 The Rev. Randy Hoover Dempsey, Ruminations # Marjie Smith&& & & 10 ! Assistant Rector for Pastoral Care The Rev. Dixon Kinser, Assistant Rector for The Wonder of it All # Carla Schober&& 12 ! Youth & Young Adult Formation The Rev. John Awan, Sudanese ministry 10 at 10 # Carla Schober&&&& 13 The Rev. Albino Gur Maror, Sudanese ministry The Rev. David Wilson, Pastoral Associate A Family Example&&&&& 15#16 Maggie Ward Remembered&&&& 17 Office: Pam White, Director of Operations Live Green &&&&&& 18 Jane Long, Office Manager Annie Heyward, administrative assistant Everyday Heroes # Carmen Hall&&& 21 Erin Somerville, Director of Communications Becky Hornsby, Childcare Coordinator Beyond the Numbers # Pam White&&& 21#22 From Glory to Glory&& & & & 23 Parish Ministry: Carla Schober, ! Director of Family and Children's Formation Aaron Mayo, Children’s Ministry Assistant Carmen Hall, Preschool Coordinator Meredith Flynn, Nursery Director Kristin Kinser, Elementary Coordinator Shelby Haggard, Sunday morning leader Steve Lefebvre, Assistant Director for ! Youth & College Formation St. B’s Bookstore: Allison Hardwick, Manager Preschool & Mother’s Day Out: Suzy Floyd, preschool director Mary Ellen Ratcliffe, preschool exec. assistant Music: Eric Wyse, Director of Music Tom Howard, Associate Music Director Teresa Robinson, Administrative Assistant Mimi Heldman & Donna Easter at the Annual Meeting. Henry Martin, Sound Engineer Photo by Katherine Bomboy. Vestry Members Articles and photos for the Easter Branch Andy Valentine, senior warden must be submitted no later than April 10 Charlie Reasor, junior warden !Good Friday". Greg Daniel, Dick Jewell, Vanessa Hardy, Adam Wirdzek, Carmen Hall, Dorman Burtch, Denise Articles can be sent to: Kemp, Jud Laughter, Ashley MacLachlan, Paul Miller, Charlie Reasor. (Officers: Steve Thorne, interim [email protected] treasurer and Gary Mumme, vestry clerk) Please recycle. The Branch can also be read online at www.stbs.net The Branch # March 2009 # Page 2 Make Lent a Season of Surrender am writing this while in the Instead, I have middle of a week#long pre# been coming to I Lenten retreat. realize just how KINGDOM TALK much I have by Fr. Jerry Smith As well as reading both Scripture and been projecting some good devotional books, I have Rector, to God my own St. Bartholomew’s been spending a lot of time reflecting human heart. on one particular prayer in the Book of Anne Lamott is Common Prayer. If Lent is to be a credited with season of self#evaluation and increased saying that we know how much we All of the above made me wonder just devotion then this prayer has been the have made God in our own image how much I really want to be wholly perfect springboard for me this week. when He hates all the same things and His, utterly dedicated to Him. Almighty and eternal God, so people we do. If I really care for those for whom God draw our hearts to you, so Lent is a season to allow God to be cares then there is no option but to guide our minds, so fill our God and allow His heart to consume make Lent a season of relinquishment imaginations, so control our our own. and surrender. On the other hand, I wills, that we may be wholly can so easily develop a theology that yours, utterly dedicated unto While away I had to own the truth allows me to hold on to my life. Our you; and then use us, we pray, that more often that I want to culture tells me I am entitled to that, as You will, and always acknowledge, I am the master of my although in the depths of my heart I to you glory and the welfare of own mind. I read what supports what I know better. I know that I am not my your people; through our Lord already believe; I think in pretty much own, as I have been purchased by and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. the same way that I have for years; and Jesus’ free will o$ering of his life on !BCP page 832" as much as I like to think I challenge my behalf. In the recesses of my heart, my intellect it is very easy for me to I was taken back by the implication I know that all that I think is live in the same comfort zones, seldom that God wants all of us to be living for important in this life is fleeting and venturing out to new places. his glory and for the welfare of his illusionary. I know that which the people. None of us seems to be The realm of my own imagination has world o$ers is pale in comparison to immune from this. But what does it challenged me. How very gripping it what God provides. But the voices of take to be living this kind of life? can be and so deceptive! Our culture is this world are so strong! built on the capturing of our The “purifier’s fire” began to burn Lent is to be a time of quieting those imaginations and making us believe in around my toes when I went back and voices by providing space for God’s a reality that is often counterfeit. We began to seriously reflect on the voice to break through in our lives. It allow television and other media to answer to that question: “Draw our is to be our “retreat” to see what the create an unrealistic world, airbrushed hearts to you, so guide our minds, so nature of our hearts, minds, and beautiful, which makes this actual fill our imaginations, so control our imaginations and wills are really like. If world pale and unappealing. wills, that we may be wholly yours, we dare take up the challenge of Lent Consequently, we are tempted to be utterly dedicated unto you.” we are assured of an enlightening, voyeurs rather than participants in the demanding and yet refreshing time as I found myself realizing how much I unfolding of God’s story, because the Father of all Creation stirs new life want to protect my heart rather than participation demands we face the in us this season. As Lent does fall in allowing it to be consumed by devotion truth about the false paradigms we the spring season so may this be a to God. You see, He wants that we love have been living in. what he loves and He wants us to season of spring to our souls. I have realized how much I cling to my forgive as His heart is willing to will. I like to be self#determining. God forgive. He wants that we be grieved wants me to relinquish my will to Him by what grieves Him. He wants that You may contact but this means I give up control. Being our heart become as much like His as Jerry Smith at: human, I like the power of control. Jesus’ heart was like His. [email protected] Please recycle. The Branch can also be read online at www.stbs.net The Branch # March 2009 # Page 3 55th Annual Meeting !continued from page 1" TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS Maureen Smith, by Pam White Malcolm Director of Operations White, Jackson The theme of the evening was “Be a White, Beth Ramsay, Brea Part of the Story” ( the St. B’s Story. Cox, Ann Denson, Fr. Jerry urged people to partner with Katherine Bomboy, Erin him in ministry through giving of their Somerville, Annie time, talents and treasurers.