May 2005 A sermon by the Rev. Patricia Templeton about the tragedy at Tri-State Crematory in Noble is included in a recently published collection, "Preaching as Pastoral Caring." Tricia was interim rector of St. Timothy's on Signal Mountain when she wrote and delivered the sermon. The bodies of four of her parishioners were among the more than 300 uncremated bodies discovered at the crematory. The sermon was preached at a special service of healing and remembrance for those affected by the atrocities. "We gather to show our love and respect for these sacred bodies that have suffered such great indignity and desecration," she said. "We come to reclaim them, to bless and sanctify them. We come because we know that God makes holy that which has been profaned. We come to ask God to do that tonight, to bless them and to bring home again those who have been lost. We also come to begin the healing of our anguished spirits because the desecration of these holy bodies is a desecration of us all." "Preaching as Pastoral Caring" is the 13th volume in the series Sermons that Work, published by Morehouse. Clergy from around the country are invited to submit sermons for consideration. Another of Tricia's sermons will be included in the next volume of the series, which will be published next spring. That volume will focus on preaching on psalms and parables. Tricia's sermon is "The Runaway Bunny," which she preached at St. Dunstan's in January.
St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church
Last Village Supper until Fall: May 18th
If you or someone in your family is graduating this May, please call Welcome to our new vestry members—Susan Elliott, Richard Stansbury and Matt Taylor, and to new Senior Warden Wayne Lord and Junior Warden Bruce Lafitte. Episcopal Church Women, ECW: St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church Women will meet at 10:30 a.m. - Wednesday, May 18 in the church. Susan Hauser, soprano soloist, will present a program of music. Please join us for inspiration, fellowship and lunch. This is a wonderful opportunity to meet other women of the church and learn more about ECW. Questions? Please call Caroline Dandridge, 404-261-2392. In Memory of Former Parishioner Susan Hyde: Gilda Morris is participating in a 10 week in-door cycle program culminating in a long 6 hour endurance ride (the approximate time it takes to complete a century).on May 14. Gilda is riding in memory of Susan Hyde who died of ovarian cancer. Please go online and support this effort to find an early diagnosis for this deadly cancer. www.ovariancycle.org If you do not feel comfortable donating on line, you may make a check out to Ovarian Cycle and mail to The Ovarian Cycle, 5881 Glenridge Dr. Suite 140 , Atlanta , GA 30328. FOR SALE: Arlington Memorial Park — 2 burial plots, Pinecrest section, view of lake. Value $13,000. Will sell for $8,500. Call: Jim or Carol Sue Ravenel at 770-992-1515. Issues of Death and Dying As we have seen in the recent case of Terri Schiavo, the natural process of death can raise enormous legal, ethical, and theological issues. During the month of May we will be addressing these questions in Adult Christian Education. May 8th and 22nd: "The Christian Ethics of Death and Dying" No Sunday School on May 15th or May 29th Thursday, May 5th / Free of charge - Eucharist and Picnic Coming in June ... SUMMER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION Christian Formation for Youth and Children Dates to Remember for Christian Formation May 4th ~ 6:30 p.m. — Spaghetti Dinner #1 to support Youth Mission Trip to Ecuador ~ please do not bring potluck ~ all will be provided! May 15th ~ Activities for Children at St. Dunstan's 40th Anniversary Celebration will include a magician at 1:30 p.m. May 18th ~ 6:30 p.m. — Spaghetti Dinner #2to support Youth Mission Trip to Ecuador ~ please do not bring potluck ~ all will be provided! May 22nd ~ Teacher Recognition Sunday, Last Day of Sunday School, Youth Car Wash during Education Hour and after church to support the Youth Mission Trip to Ecuador June 1st ~ 5 p.m. Vacation Bible School Teacher/Volunteer Meeting in the Parish Hall June 13-17th ~ Nanette will attend the Adults who work with Youth — Leaders Conference at Kanuga Episcopal Conference Center in Hendersonville, NC June 27th ~ July 1st Vacation Bible School Congratulations to John Booth and Michael Hill for completing Happening #43 at Camp Mikell on April 15-17, 2005. Deep thanks to Beverly and Lamar Booth for their attendance and involvement as well. Special thanks to Michelle Searcy and Gilda Morris for their leadership in Youth Fellowship and Education this year! Special thanks to the following teachers for helping out with the Feeding of the 5000 Rotation: Ginnie Ruhmkorff, Sue Huff, Mary Summerville, and Karen Rolader. Special thanks to Jesse Morris for teaching Godly Play Curriculum to our Pre-K class. Good luck to Michael Hill, Roy Reece, Allie Summerville, and chaperone Michelle Searcy who will attend the Diocesan Youth Mission Trip to Ecuador the week of June 9 - 11, 2005. Let us keep all the travelers in our prayers for a meaningful journey and safe return.
Have a safe and happy summer!
The Best Artist Ever
Recently he achieved another triumph. Rosalyn Carter, who is one of his biggest fans, asked him to donate some art for a silent auction being held at the Carter Center. The next day she called him to say that his piece had gone for $4500, and that friends of hers who were outbid wished to buy art directly from him. This news came to him at Camp Mikell in Toccoa, where he was teaching Landscape Painting at the annual Folk Art Weekend. The Rev. Frank Allan, retired Bishop of Atlanta, told the crowd "You'd better buy Jerome's art now while you can still afford it." A few years ago Jerome became the proud owner of a Habitat home, the first one to be built for a mentally ill person. Jerome suffers from schizophrenia, an affliction which did not appear until his early 20's, after he graduated from Georgia State. He lived on disability for about ten years until medications became available to enable him to become the gifted painter that he is. He now supports himself by the sale of his art and by a part time job at a non-profit. It was Mrs. Carter who organized the building of Jerome's Habitat home. Holy Comforter's financial contribution to the house was pegged at $3,000. Because Holy Comforter operates on a tight budget, St. Dunstan's used some money pegged for Outreach to pick up the obligation. We also supplied workers. The most work was done by Jerome himself, who was out there banging nails every Saturday. Jerome has a DVD available telling about his life and work. He has been featured in several news items and also in an Eli Lilly promotional piece. To contact him, use e-mail address: bestartistever@bellsouth.net. One of Jerome’s early paintings hangs in the church office. A committee formed by ECW spent several weeks time going down “Memory Lane” as they sorted all photos and memorabilia of St. Dunstan’s that had been collected for several years. There will be lots of photos available for the taking at our 40th anniversary celebration. All others have been sorted by year and all memorabilia labeled and boxed. The committee was Helen Branch, Ann Reece, Mary Linss, Sheila Woodward, Caroline Dandridge and Jane Lamkin. There will be a green, labeled box on a shelf in the office conference area next to Kim Branch's office for adding future photos and memorabilia. A Day in the Life of Barbara Bradshaw as a Volunteer at Holy Comforter Holy Comforter Episcopal Church is a very special community. Handicapped and disabled persons gather each Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. for "The Friendship Center." On Wednesdays evenings dinner is served by neighboring Episcopal Churches and all attend church. St Dunstan’s has participated in these events on a rotating basis for years. Sunday is regular church services but with a most irregular community. Singing is most enjoyed, but praise, communion, and a brief sermon are always a part of their rituals. The Friendship Center has volunteer persons cooking lunch in the kitchen. Art, gardening and woodworking programs are ongoing during these hours. Many volunteers facilitate these activities. My function on Tuesdays is primarily to drive Holy Comforter's big bus and pick people up at their group homes. I pick up about 30 people each day and take them home after lunch. We listen to music and talk during these rides. Sometimes I hear intimate details of their lives and other needs during these rides. Ms. Winn, who is responsible for most of the Holy Comforter meals, is a Volunteer who does above and beyond. Her family cooked Thanksgiving dinner for all at the church. I understand she has done this for years and several parishioners that don't always get rides to the church were particularly pleased to get a special ride that night. Others have plans soon to go to Callaway Gardens with Ms. Lee (St. Anne's member) for a drive through the gardens. Charlotte our art teacher has lots of "sales" going on for the artists, Emmaus house is always a good place to sell plants and artwork but plants are on sale at Holy Comforter always. I buy most my plants from Macy at H.C. now! Thursdays I have been extending my help at Holy Comforter by taking folks to get glasses and eye exams as well as going to Grady for medical care. It is very difficult for these persons to navigate through the Grady system for medical care as well to pay for any of their needs. Most these persons are on disability; some are fully paid while most get half benefits, which is very difficult to live on (approximately $500, less if you have medical coverage). All this money goes to their group home for food and shelter. I have found my last year at Holy Comforter to be very rewarding, stimulating and much different from what I expected. The other volunteers are simply the nicest people I have ever met, and our parishioners are a wonderful group as well. Having money to pay for eyeglasses and whatever needs to be paid for at Holy Comforter is a stretch and the Diocese has cut their budget a lot. I cannot emphasize to St Dunstan's community how much the slightest gifts would mean to all these people.
Deadline for articles for the June Bellows is May 15. Please email your articles or leave them in Kim Branch’s mailbox in the church office. Our Schedule Changes on May 29th Sundays through May 22: Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Wednesdays
Our Staff The Rev. Patricia Templeton, Rector | |||||||||||||||||||||
Summer Schedule begins May 29th
Calling All 2005 Graduates
Congratulations to Mimi and Titu Doctor on the birth of their granddaughter, Amily Sabina Nicole Woods, February 24, 2005.