February 2005 Rector's Message Taking Time Out for Lent Several years ago it was my job to explain Lent to the children who attended preschool at St. Timothy's. I thought and thought about how to explain this rather abstract liturgical season to a group of three- and four-year-olds. And then, it hit me. Lent is like time out. "Have any of you ever been in time out?" I asked. They all said no, but quickly added that their brothers and sisters and friends had, so they knew what time out was. And they liked the idea of God putting people, especially grownups, in time out every year. The analogy seems silly, but it actually is true. In theory, at least, time out is a time apart, a time to reflect on what one has done wrong, a time to express regret for one's actions. And in theory, when time out is over, forgiveness is granted, and relationships are restored and begin anew. That really is not a bad description of Lent, the 40 days before Easter. Lent began as a time of penitence and fasting in preparation for the joy of the resurrection. The Book of Common Prayer describes it this way: Lent "was also a time when those who, because of notorious sins, had been separated from the body of the faithful were reconciled by penitence and forgiveness, and restored to the fellowship of the Church." We may not all be "notorious" sinners, but certainly all of us can benefit from a period of time out, a period of reflection, a time to take stock and ask forgiveness and seek reconciliation - from others or from God. The prayer book offers guidance in how to observe a "holy" Lent - by self-examination and repentance, by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. Another way to observe a holy Lent is to be more intentional about your participation in church during this season. Begin Lent by attending the Ash Wednesday services on Feb. 9. Make an extra effort to come to Eucharist midweek at the Wednesday Lenten Lunches or Village Supper. Come to the Adult Christian Education classes on forgiveness. All of these are designed to help us stay on track during this holy season. Join us in the observance of a holy Lent.
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Farewell from Jane It was Labor Day weekend of 1993. David and I went 21 miles down to a little Episcopal Church on Garmon Road for me to be a substitute organist for only one Sunday. Over eleven years later, we now bid this wonderful parish farewell. After the service on that long-ago Sunday of 1993, David and I knew that St. Dunstan's would become our new home parish, whether I became the organist or not. The feeling of family, the love and friendliness, drew us in immediately, as it has so many other people. As the years have gone by, and so quickly, many changes and experiences have enabled me to grow in my vocation. The acquisition of a pipe organ, a new piano and the Yates Room required so much work, dedication, faith and financial support-and this parish was always there to make all of this possible. For all of you who have participated in the choirs, your time, talent, love and support have been incredible and have made St. Dunstan's so rich in its worship and liturgy. And I am so thankful for this wonderful congregation, which has become our family. You are the most wonderful people in the world, and we will miss you so much. ~Jane Butler
Speaking Out for Outreach St. Dunstan's is serving dinner at The Church of the Holy Comforter
Within Our Walls Save the Date: It was 40 years ago that nine pilgrim families from St. Anne's Episcopal Church came together to found St. Dunstan's. The first services were held at Tuxedo School on Northside Drive in January 1965. Mark your calendars now for the 40th Anniversary Celebration on Pentecost Sunday, May 15. Pentecost is traditionally thought of as the birthday of the universal church, and this year it falls the same week as St. Dunstan's Day on May 19.Bill Boyd and Jane Hill have agreed to chair the anniversary committee, assisted by Ann and Roy Reece, Helen Branch, Dottie Albright, Priscilla Davis, Bill Pruett, Bruce Lafitte, Jeanne Taylor and Maggie Harney. The committee will do the over-all organizing, but every member of the parish is encouraged to get involved in what promises to be a glorious event. Watch the Bellows and Sunday bulletins for more details. Swing into Spring: At its January meeting, the vestry approved going ahead with plans for a playground for St. Dunstan's. A playground committee, led by Cassie Templeton, and including Helen Branch, Helen Keaten, Jane Blount, Susan Hauser and Kieran Cannistra, is currently looking at different sites and meeting with representatives from playground equipment companies. No decisions have been made yet. The committee will soon post two or three proposals in the parish hall for feedback from the entire congregation. The vestry will make the final decision. Our hope is to have the new playground erected in time to be dedicated at the 40th anniversary celebration. Deadline for articles for the March Bellows is February 15. Please email your articles to St. Dunstan's or leave them in Kim Branch's mailbox in the church office. Holy Comforter Christmas Party—A great success: The Outreach Committee of Church of the Atonement thanks St. Dunstan's for their contribution of Christmas gift bags for the parishioners of Holy Comforter. St. Dunstan's filled 20 bags! The party was a huge success. Welcome to our Interim Choir Director: I am happy to welcome Bert Landman as our interim choir director and organist. He will begin at St. Dunstan's on Ash Wednesday, Feb. 9, and will be with us through Easter Sunday. Bert and I worked together for five years at St. Timothy's on Signal Mountain, Tennessee. He has also served as organist/choir director at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Dalton and at Trinity Lutheran Church in Chattanooga. Bert is an excellent musician, well grounded in the Episcopal liturgy and tradition, and well respected and loved by the choirs with whom he has worked. I am delighted that he is available to be our interim. He will be commuting from his home in Dalton, and be with us for Wednesday evening choir rehearsals and on Sunday mornings. ~Tricia Diocesan Ministry Fair: March 5, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Philip. Workshops on every aspect of church life! Only $20 - an incredible price for this conference. Info Packet on all workshops on information table in parish hall. Adult Education in Lent Sunday Mornings promptly at 9:30 a.m. in the Founders Room Our Adult Christian Education classes during Lent are designed to help us all observe this holy season. Make coming to Adult Education part of your Lenten discipline. Our series on "Politics and Christian Values: Liberal Alternatives," led by Joe Monti, continues the first two Sundays in February with these topics:
"Conversation with the Bishop"
"Forgive Us as We Forgive Others"
A Look Ahead Lenten Film Series Starting March 6, we will begin a new, three-week film and discussion series from 2 - 5 p.m. Sunday afternoons, led by parishioner and Atlanta Journal-Constitution film writer Bob Longino and Tricia. Screenings will be held at the home of AJC film critic Eleanor Ringel Gillespie, who lives near the Atlanta History Center. Eleanor has a big-screen theater, complete with theater chairs with cup holders. And don't worry, she has a popcorn machine. Space will be limited, so reservations will be required. Look for sign-up sheets in the church later in February. Childcare will be available at the church. Here's the schedule:
Christian Formation for Youth and Children
(Information on these youth events will be mailed and/or handed out in Sunday school.) Rotations Dates The Lord's Prayer Rotations Teacher Meeting Family Puppetry Workshop - children PreK-5th grade will make puppets with parents' supervision to be used in Children's Chapel Wed. Feb. 16th 4:30 - 6 p.m. Puppetry Theatre Making Workshop I - parents will make puppet theatre to be used in Children's Chapel - Saturday Feb. 19th 10 a.m. Atlanta Rocks Excursion - (April Date to be determined) Pre-K Dates Family Puppetry Workshop Dates above apply to you, too! (4 year olds with parents' supervision) Sunday School Teachers needed: Parents will be contacted to set up rotation of teachers to assist once a month or so to assist current teacher. Choice of lesson plans will be made available (Godly Play or traditional).
Mary & Martha's Place Simplicity as a Spiritual Practice Mary & Martha's Place will hold a day-long retreat on Saturday, February 26. Our facilitator will be Sandra Smith, M Div, co-founder and director of Holy Ground, a retreat center in Asheville, NC. Her talk will focus on simplicity in the home, environment and money. There will be five workshops related to the theme of simplicity. Dottie Albright will lead one of the workshops and offer practical suggestions for simplifying our homes and possessions. For more information, pick-up a brochure from the information table in the Parish Hall or talk to Maggie Harney. Special Concert Coming Maiko Mueller, a concert pianist and harpsichordist from Tokyo, Japan, will be returning to Atlanta as the guest of Jane Lamkin. She will perform on Sunday, March 6th at the Northside Drive Baptist Church at the 11:00 a.m. service, and she will give a concert on the harpsichord doing Bach's famous number, Goldberg Variations, and some early French pieces at 4:00 p.m. on March 6th. She is playing in memory of Bill Lamkin a second time. All are welcome at the recital at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 6th at the Northside Drive Baptist Church. Bill's nephew, James Lamkin, is Senior Pastor there. Directory Changes Please make the following changes and additions to the November 2004 St. Dunstan's Directory: Change: Jane and David Butler will reside in Hattiesburg, Mississippi as of February 7. Their new address and phone number is in the mail-home Bellows. SPECIAL NOTE: The Vestry has contracted with a computer telephone service, CALLINGPOST.ORG. This service will replace the current telephone tree in most cases where we need to get the word out quickly about a special event. The contact list matches the November 2004 Directory. The service will call you directly and an announcement from St. Dunstan's will follow. The service will leave a message if you have an answering machine or service. Any questions please call Kim Branch in the church office. (404-266-1018) This Just In Carol Sue Ravenel, St. Dunstan's Parishioner, will be signing her newest novel, For the Love of Jekyll, at Jekyll Books on Jekyll Island, February 12th from 1-5 p.m. Third in the Kersey Cottage series, this new book tells the story of friends form Jekyll Island, who as B-17 pilots and mechanics, are based in Suffolk, England. Their lives intertwine with other characters from The Kersey Cottage and Finding CYN. Table of Contents | TopThe Flower Calendar We are hoping that many families will sign the flower calendar to contribute flowers for the Sunday services this church year. You may sign up, notify the committee and send money to the church. Flowers will be ordered from a florist for that Sunday. You may arrange flowers you select in the many vases at the church. Also, if you would like Jane Lamkin to help you with arranging, simply schedule a time to work together. Looking forward to our work on this ministry, Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday Services Service times are 12:00 Noon and 6:30 p.m. No Village Supper
Deadline for articles for the February Bellows is January 15th. Our Schedule, Most Always Church Office Hours Sundays Wednesdays
Our Vestry
Geoff Walker, Senior Warden Our Staff
The Rev. Patricia Templeton, Rector ptempleton(at)earthlink.net
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St. Dunstan's