December 2005 Contents
All it takes is one person to change another person’s life and send it in an entirely new direction. Imagine what an entire church can do? When St. Dunstan’s agreed to sponsor a family evacuated from the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans , our parish had the opportunity to set a new course for a family that had witnessed and lived through one of our country’s worst national disasters. Their story is quite unbelievable. Samantha, Charles, 3 children Giovanne, Ja’cobe, and Ja’Marea, along with their 16 year-old cousin Donald, rode out Hurricane Katrina in their apartment. They could not evacuate because they had no means of transportation and none was provided to them. After living in a flooded apartment for days the family finally decided they needed to escape. Carrying only a few items for each person, they found an abandoned vehicle, hotwired it and drove their family to Houston . After a few weeks in Houston , the family had finally secured housing when Hurricane Rita struck. Taking no chances the family fled Houston on a bus headed toward Atlanta . They arrived in the middle of the night with only a few small suitcases and absolutely nowhere to go and nowhere to turn. They spent the night at the bus station and started asking people where they could get help. Samantha learned that the Red Cross was putting families up at the Holiday Inn and immediately took her family there. For the next 2 months all 6 of them lived in a hotel room. They had no access to clothes, medical supplies, and many other basic necessities – food was provided by the Red Cross but that was coming to an end. Fast-forward 6 weeks. Charles and Samantha with the rest of their family are now settled in their new fully furnished 3-bedroom apartment in Decatur . St. Dunstan’s volunteers secured housing, food, furniture, household items, clothing, and much more. Our volunteers also helped get Giovanne and Donald enrolled in school. We helped connect the family to all of the appropriate social services to sustain them. We’ve also drafted resumes for Charles and Samantha and have been actively involved in finding them employment . Last report was that Samantha was very close to securing a job. St. Dunstan’s volunteers and parishioners have given this family a chance at an amazing new life. Everyone involved in this project not only gave their time and resources, but gave their hearts fully and without reservation. As Tricia noted in one of her recent sermons, God put us on this planet to do his work. As a new member of St. Dunstan’s, I feel blessed to know I belong to a church in which its members do God’s work so passionately. ~ Lori Asbury Table of Contents | Return to top Announcements
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Several people have asked recently how we decide which Eucharistic prayer and Prayers of the People to use each week. There is no right or wrong way to choose these prayers for Sunday mornings. Some churches rotate weekly through the four different Eucharistic prayers and six different forms of Prayers of the People. Others use the same prayers week in, week out, year after year. What I prefer is to change the prayers with the church seasons. Although any of these prayers can be used at any time, some seem to be particularly well suited for certain times of the year. For example, in Advent we have switched to Eucharistic Prayer B, which seems to have a special focus on the birth of Jesus. (“For in these last days you sent him to be incarnate from the Virgin Mary, to be the savior and redeemer of the world.”) Likewise, certain forms of the Prayers of the People seem more appropriate during certain seasons. My personal favorites are the more participatory forms, III and VI. But there are seasons when the more penitential flavor of Form I, with its response “Lord, have mercy,” and the contemplative Form II, with its periods of silence, are appropriate. Changing the prayers with the season is a good way of signaling through the liturgy that we are moving into a different time of the church year. The one exception is the long season of Pentecost (May or June through November). We will generally change both the Eucharistic prayer and the Prayers of the People then to offer a little variety. I am glad that St. Dunstan’s has a tradition of using all of the Eucharistic prayers. I’m sure that each of us has our favorite (mine is Prayer C). But using each form at sometime in the year adds to the richness and diversity of our worship.
"Thus Spoke the Prophet"Epiphany, the season after Christmas, is the time of the church year when we celebrate the light of God coming into the world. Appropriately, many of the scripture readings during this season are from the Old Testament prophets, who carried God’s light and spoke God’s word in times of darkness. During January and February, the Adult Christian Education class will focus on the role of the prophet – both in Biblical times and in our own day. Look for a weekly schedule of topics in the January issue of the Bellows. The first class will be on January 8th. January dates to put on your calendar January 16th: Youth and Family Trip to Hawks Thrashers Game We will be purchasing $10 group rate tickets (300 level) and sponsoring Emmaus House families and youth to watch two fabulous teams, plus get to see Gospel Singers Bebe and CeCe Winans in a post game concert! Part of the Philips Arena “Faith and Family Night” series, this will prove to be a fun-filled day. Please give Nanette checks for $10 per person payable to St. Dunstan’s by Sunday, December 11th. Let Nanette know if you would like to sponsor an Emmaus House Family or individual! ($10 per individual sponsored) Thank you in advance for your generosity! Sunday, January 29th 7 – 9 p.m.Youth and Parents Pilgrimage Dinner Youth will prepare and serve parents a gourmet dinner, and the Pilgrimage and related fundraising plans will be described. Please RSVP. St. Dunstan's to Host West Michigan University VolunteersSt. Dunstan's will be housing eight students and student leaders from December 11 – 16 th, 2005. These students are taking part in an Alternative Winter Experience. They will be volunteering at Chastain Stables, “…washing fences, possibly putting in a retaining wall (landscaping), and any other work they need”. They will be joining us for Wednesday Family Night Dinner, so come on out to say hello!
Year-end contributions
Contributions to St. Dunstan’s are, of course, tax-deductible gifts. IRS rules regarding the timing of tax-deductible contributions are very specific. Contributions made during 2005 will be tax-deductible on 2005 tax returns. In order to be included as a 2005 contribution on the final 2005 pledge statement, end-of-year contributions must be dated December 31 or before and postmarked or hand delivered by December 31. The same is true for gifts made to pre-pay all or part of a 2006 pledge. If you will be pre-paying any of your 2006 pledge, please be sure to make a note on your check saying “for 2006 pledge.” Gifts of stock St. Dunstan’s policy regarding the receipt of gifts of stock is that all such gifts are “sold on receipt.” As soon as stock is received in our brokerage account the stock is sold. The donor is credited with a gift in the amount of the gross sale price. St. Dunstan’s absorbs the costs of stock sales as an expense. It’s important to remember that since stock is traded in shares rather than in dollar amounts, when the stock is sold, the actual contribution may be slightly more or less than the intended gift on the day the transfer is made. The gross proceeds from the sale of the shares will be the amount that will appear on your pledge statement. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you need more information on end-of-the-year giving or donations of stock. ~Daria Jones
For Your InformationRick Beard passes along this tax tip concerning charitable donations, including your pledge to St. Dunstan's. Rick checked this out with his accountant. If you have questions, he suggests you talk to an accountant, too. This fall Congress passed special legislation regarding tax deductions in an effort to Due to "ease the burden on those affected by Hurricane Katrina." Any charitable donations made between August 28 and December 31 of this year can count as a FULL DEDUCTION from your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) for the tax year 2005. In other words, if you currently file a full 1040 and itemize deductions, those CHARITABLE deductions will not be subject to any further reduction in value due to levels of income or other tests. If you give $1000, then your AGI is reduced by $1000 for taxable income. Rick specifically asked if this counted for fulfillment of a church pledge for the balance of 2005 and, importantly, pre-paying any part of a 2006 pledge. He was told that it did count, as long as the CASH donation was made prior to 12/31/05 . These are CASH donations only, not stock/securities and are only to recognized charities (schools, churches, charities, etc.) and do not need to be earmarked for Hurricane Katrina relief and they only apply, as noted, for such donations made between August 28 and December 31.
From the Organist-ChoirmasterMusic and the Season of Advent
The Advent service in the old English liturgies made a vivid preparation for the coming of Our Lord to earth. Much of this carol service is drawn from these sources. The liturgical season of Advent is traditionally a time of preparation for Christmas, and its observance dates from the sixth century in Gaul . It stretched from St. Martin ’s Day (11 November) to Christmas Eve, and was known as “The Lent of St. Martin.” This title suggests the parallel between Advent and the Lenten fast, and meditations on the themes of judgment and the last things were developed for each of the four Sundays. The season suggests reflection on God’s kingdom from two standpoints: that of Jewish hopes for renewal, fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ; and that of the mission of the Church in the world today. The use from Scripture, Liturgy, and music of things both old and new expresses our sense of continuity with the past and our feeling for the new demands of the present. This service is constructed upon the themes indicated by the Collects (the “gathering prayers”) for the four Sundays of Advent. The first Sunday urges the people of God to put on “the armor of light,” after warning of God’s judgment. The second Sunday is concerned with the fulfillment of God’s Word in Scripture and the promise of eternal life in Christ. The third shows the service which God’s people are commissioned to give. On the fourth Sunday, we hear of the human condition of sin, forgiveness in Christ, and his coming again. In addition, each of the four Advent Collects is preceded and followed by verses of the seven Great “O” Antiphons, sung by the Choir. These ancient responses, dating from the sixth century, were traditionally said on successive days at Vespers before and after the Magnificat, or “Song of Mary,” from December 17th to 23rd inclusive. Each of the Antiphons salutes the coming Messiah, under one of the many titles ascribed to him in Holy Scripture, and closes with a petition based upon that salutation. The Procession, starting in darkness at the rear of the church and ending in brilliant light at the Altar, symbolizes the movement from a prophetic expectation of Christ to the very brink of Messianic fulfillment, both in the birth of the Son of God and in his final coming in judgment and glory. The service begins with the Advent Matins Responsory, followed by the great hymn, “Come, Thou Redeemer of the Earth.” As the procession moves forward “from darkness into light,” readings from the Prophets and Epistles alternate with carols and hymns, and the Light spreads symbolically to the four corners of the world. Finally, as the service nears its conclusion, the triumphant words of the Gospel boldly proclaim the Advent of Christ. Please take time during this busy season to attend this unique event and experience the beauty and stillness of God through the offerings of his servants. Faithfully, Welcome
Deaths
Transfers Out
Dearest St. Dunstan’s Friends: The family of Charlie Yates wants to thank all of you who made Charlie’s interment and visitation at St. Dunstan’s, and the Celebration of his Life at All Saints’ a most memorable time for us. Tricia was invaluable—she visited, brought communion, prayed with and was there for Charlie those difficult months. All comments about Charlie’s service include comments about the beautiful music—Steve and our choir were magnificent—Maggie, Rebecca Parker, the staff, and Vestry members, and many friends helped to make it complete. Thanks to all – with love,
NOTICE: A sturdy 3-step ladder newly purchased by Betty Whittier specifically for use in the sacristy to reach the high closet shelves is missing. If you have borrowed it, please return it to the sacristy. Thanks, ~Jane Lamkin
New Church Directory is available now. The new St. Dunstan’s Church Directory has been completed and is ready for distribution. Thanks to Nancy Elliott for her diligent work in gathering all the information, typing, proofing, folding and distributing the new directory. Thanks to Virginia Skinner and her sister Roberta for helping collate, fold and staple the directory. You can pick yours up at church on Sunday in the Narthex.
New St. Dunstan’s Name Tags: Thanks to Jim Ravenel for our new nametags and their wonderful home. If you need a nametag contact the church office.
Thanks to Keith Latimore for repairing the kneelers in the Nave.
Thanks to Sali Hagan for her donation of a complete kitchen play set and a construction set for the nursery.
Because of Kieran Cannistra’s wonderful work with our website, Tricia’s sermons are available in audio. One sermon was selected to be on Belief Net.
Weekly Diocesan Newsletter: If you are interested in receiving the weekly newsletter from the Diocese via email, please go to www.episcopalatlanta.org and click on “Join the Bishop’s Newsletter.” Most weeks this newsletter is also available on our web site. To view it, visit St. Dunstan's Home Page and click "Latest Weekly Bulletin from The Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta," found under "Sermons and Bulletins."
Congratulations to John Booth , who was the lay rector, or leader, of Happening, a weekend-long spiritual retreat for teen-agers. It is a great responsibility and honor to be chosen for this position. Congratulations also to Michael Hill, who was on the Happening staff, and Allie Summerville, who participated in the retreat.
Thanks to Bob Longino for leading another inspiring film series in November, and to Eleanor Ringell Gillespie for hosting us again. Watch upcoming Bellows for announcements about the spring series, which is already being planned.
Thank you to Tom Schneider for leading the three-week series on anger in Adult Christian Education in November.
Thank you to Wayne Lord and Richard Stansbury for representing St. Dunstan’s at the annual diocesan council, held this year at Holy Innocents.
Wondering when is the best time to catch someone on the staff during the week? Here are the staff’s work schedules:
Please note that these schedules are flexible and not set in stone. And Tricia adds that she expects to be called at home, at night, or on her days off in cases of a death, if someone is taken to the hospital, or in any other pastoral emergency.
Deadline for articles for the January Bellows is December 15. Please email your articles or leave them in Kim Branch’s mailbox in the church office.
Wednesdays
Our Staff The Rev. Patricia Templeton, Rector | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
St. Dunstan's
As we near the end of 2005, many people will be making plans to complete their pledges to the church for this year and some may pre-pay part of their pledge for next year. In January we will send each member of the church a final contributions statement for 2005, listing all contributions made during the year. This statement should be retained for use in preparing 2005 tax returns. 
A number of parishioners fulfill their pledges to the church by making gifts of appreciated stock, which can be electronically transferred from your brokerage account to the church’s account. All this requires is a letter from the owner of the stock to his or her broker, requesting that the stock be transferred to the St. Dunstan’s account. If you make a donation of stock, please 
The liturgical season of Advent has for centuries provided profound inspiration to composers of sacred music. The joyous anticipation of the coming of Christ has been translated innumerable times into musical compositions of great beauty. On Sunday, December 4 at 4:00 p.m. , the Choir will offer an Advent Procession with Carols. In this unique annual event, will have the opportunity to experience this ancient and beautiful candlelight liturgy. Throughout the Service, lessons from the Prophets and Gospels alternate with carols and hymns in a moving and dramatic portrayal of the world awaiting the Savior. 
John and Lucy Kaltenbach, Wallis and Jacquelyn