February 2006 Contents
I remember growing up and reading about the Scopes trial in Dayton , Tennessee , and marveling, even as a child, that there were people who believed that you could not be a Christian and believe in evolution. As an adult, I am even more amazed and distressed that modern-day Scopes trials are popping up all over the country, as school boards, under pressure from the religious right, mandate the teaching of creationism or “intelligent design” in science classrooms. In response to one such effort in Wisconsin , Michael Zimmerman, a college dean at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh , rallied local clergy to sign a statement in support of teaching evolution. The local school board withdrew its efforts to pass anti-evolution policies. Zimmerman then decided to begin a national clergy campaign. Last year he drafted an “Open Letter Concerning Religion and Science,” with the goal of gathering 10,000 signatures from clergy across the country. That goal has been surpassed. Maggie and I are among those clergy who signed the statement. On February 12 (the 197th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth), St. Dunstan’s, along with hundreds of other churches across the country, will participate in a day devoted to the topic of “Faith and Science.” Our adult Christian Education class that day will be devoted to modern-day prophets for the environment. Our hymns, prayers and sermon will focus on the relationship between faith and science. And we will give thanks to God for the gift of intelligence and scientific discovery. Following is the statement signed by more than 10,000 clergy from many denominations: “Within the community of Christian believers there are areas of dispute and disagreement, including the proper way to interpret Holy Scripture. While virtually all Christians take the Bible seriously and hold it to be authoritative in matters of faith and practice, the overwhelming majority do not read the Bible literally, as they would a science textbook. Many of the beloved stories found in the Bible – the Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and the ark – convey timeless truths about God, human beings, and the proper relationship between Creator and creation, expressed in the only form capable of transmitting these truths from generation to generation. Religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information but to transform hearts. “We the undersigned, Christian clergy from many different traditions, believe that the timeless truths of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist. We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests. To reject this truth or to treat it as “one theory among others” is to deliberately embrace scientific ignorance and transmit such ignorance to our children. “We believe that among God’s good gifts are human minds capable of critical thought and that the failure to fully employ this gift is a rejection of the will of our Creator. To argue that God’s loving plan of salvation for humanity precludes the full employment of the God-given faculty of reason is to attempt to limit God, an act of hubris. “We urge school board members to preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge. We ask that science remain science and that religion remain religion, two very different, but complementary, forms of truth.”
Table of Contents | Return to top Announcements
Table of Contents | Return to top Our Epiphany series on modern-day prophets will continue throughout February. The class meets at 9:30 a.m. Sundays in the Founders’ Room. The schedule for the coming weeks is: February 5 – Jonathan Kozol, a prophet for children living in poverty.February 12 – Rachel Carson and Barbara Kingsolver, prophets for the environment. February 19 – Prophets of peace February 26 – Bill and Melinda Gates, prophets for Africa .
Looking Ahead in Christian EducationDuring the season of Lent, which begins March 1, we will have several opportunities for adult Christian Education. Look for more details in the March issue of The Bellows.
Village Supper
Christian and Youth Ministry TeamsOne of my goals is to create Christian Formation Ministry Teams for three age groups: Pre-K/Rotations, Junior High Pre-Rite 13, and Senior High J2A. I know from experience that the best decisions are made and the best programs designed when done collaboratively. When we all bring our gifts to the table the results are amazing!
These teams will logically be comprised of teachers and parents of each age group. However there are other parishioners who have much to offer and are invited to join a team. Pre-K/K, Rotations, Pre-Rite 13 and J2A Committees will meet in the coming months to review the year and recruit leaders for upcoming excursions. Thank you in advance for your commitment to Christian Formation for Children and Youth at St. Dunstan’s! Upcoming Events to place on your Calendars!Sat. Feb. 4th - 10 a.m. – Hubcap Peace Mandala Workshop Friday Feb. 10th - 7-11 p.m. Valentine’s Parents’ Night Out Sunday Feb. 26th - 9:30 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. World Missions Sunday Peace Village Feb. 28th Pancake Supper ~ 6 –8 p.m. in the Parish Hall Looking Ahead to MarchMarch 4th Diocesan Ministry Fair “Connecting in Mission ” Sunday March 12th Hunger Walk and Run (intergenerational)
From the Organist-ChoirmasterA Candlemas Procession At the time of Christ’s Nativity, Jewish families observed several ceremonies following the birth of a son, including Circumcision, Purification of the mother, and Redemption of the firstborn (or “Presentation”). According to Mosaic Law, a woman was required to offer two turtledoves or pigeons in a purification ceremony at the Temple forty days after the birth of a son. One month after birth, a firstborn son was presented at the Temple in a ceremony which included buying back—“redeeming”—the child through an offering. Thus the parents acknowledged that the child belonged to God, who alone has the power to give life. Jesus was God’s Son, and his family carried out these ceremonies according to God’s Law. He was not above the Law, but instead fulfilled it. When Mary and Joseph brought Jesus to the Temple for his Presentation, the elderly prophet Simeon took the infant in his arms, offering a blessing and a prophecy. Described by St. Luke as “righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel ” ( St. Luke 2:25 ), Simeon was the first to recognize Jesus as Israel ’s Messiah and the Savior of the Gentiles as well. The Holy Spirit had promised Simeon that he would not die without seeing “the Lord’s Christ” ( St. Luke 2:26 ). In thanksgiving for this revelation, he offered a prayerful song that has come to be called the Nunc dimittis (from the first two words in Latin): “Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word. For mine eyes have seen thy salvation which thou hast prepared before the face of all people. To be a light to lighten the Gentiles; and to be the glory of thy people Israel .” (St. Luke 2:29-32) In the early Christian Church, this designation of Christ as “a light to lighten the Gentiles” led to the rite of blessing candles on the Feast of the Presentation (hence the name “Candlemas”), including a procession with lighted candles. This observance was kept locally at Jerusalem on 14 February from approximately 350and was later moved to its present date of 2 February. In 542, the Emperor Justinian ordered its observance at Constantinople as a thanksgiving for the cessation of a plague, and it then spread throughout the Eastern Church, where it was called “The Meeting” (i.e., of Christ with Simeon). Somewhat later it began to be widely observed in the West. Please join us for this unique event of the Epiphany season—the Season of Light—as together we celebrate the beauty and stillness of God through the offerings of his servants. Faithfully, Within Our Walls
Kitchen Notice : As Fellowship Chair, it was brought to my attention that certain areas of the kitchen had become untidy. Whether we use it for Village Suppers or hosting “outside” groups, let’s be mindful of the need for thorough clean-ups, as in the stove, oven, counters, floor, etc. Let’s think of it as practice for loving our new kitchen which is in the wings. If you have coffee duty coming up, there are now small packets of ½ & ½ available, as well as coffee stirrers to use instead of spoons. Also, whenever it seems we are out of a particular supply, check the shelves in the adjacent storage room. Likely there is a back-up there. If not, please make a note on the “things needed” list and I will re-stock. ~ Thank you, Nancy Knight Latimore
Thank you to all parishioners who contributed to the Emmaus House Christmas gifts for 600 Children project. It turns out 692 children were actually served! Thank you to Mary Kay Kohles-Baker and her husband Buck for organizing this and other Christmas giving opportunities that provide so much for Atlanta families who have the least. If you would like to be involved in a more significant organizational way next year feel free to contact Mary. (Contact information is listed in your printed Bellows.)
Congratulations to Bishop Alexander Congratulations to our bishop, the Rt. Rev. Neil Alexander, one of four nominees for presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church. The other nominees are the Rt. Rev. Edwin Gulick, bishop of Kentucky ; the Rt. Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, bishop of Nevada ; and the Rt. Rev. Henry Parsley, bishop of Alabama . The duties of the presiding bishop are to preside at meetings of the House of Bishops (gatherings of all the bishops in the Episcopal Church), to be the chief officiant at ordinations of bishops, to oversee the entire program of the national church, and to represent the Episcopal Church to other member churches of the Anglican Communion. The presiding bishop’s office is at the national church headquarters in New York City . The presiding bishop will be elected on June 19, at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in Columbus , Ohio . The new bishop will be installed November 4 at the National Cathedral in Washington D.C. Bishop Alexander said he was “deeply honored” to be nominated for this position, and asked for prayers for him and his wife, Lynn. “We deeply covet your prayers in these days,” he said. “Pray, however, not only for us, but for our beloved church. Pray that the church’s discernment will be animated by the transforming power of the Holy Spirit and that when all is accomplished, the will of God will have been faithfully discovered yet again.” "BEEP, BEEP, BEEP...." Were it not for that unfamiliar triple beep the night of December 29th, I would not be writing this note to you today. That morning we had some maintenance work done on our heating system. That evening, as we were sitting down to dinner with a neighbor, the "beep, beep, beep" sound came from upstairs. I asked Jim what it was...did not sound like a smoke alarm in need of a new battery. He went upstairs, found it was the carbon monoxide alarm and immediately called 911. The fire deparment...all suited up ... responded in minutes and used their meters to measure the amount of CO in each room. "Ma'am, if you had gone upstairs to bed tonight you would not have awakened tomorrow had it not been for your alarm," he announced, as I sat stunned, trying to comprehend what he was saying. "The highest amount of CO is in your bedroom." They turned off the gas, told us to open all windows and doors possible and "sleep under the covers!". In the meantime, the HVAC company soon arrived and checked their work. Seems the switch on the motor which removes the CO from the system was not working. Apparently it was not tripping as it was supposed to under normal conditions. We almost died because of a faulty switch ... and you could, too. We had one detector outside our bedroom door ... now we have two more in the house.
Interesting to note that with today's concern for conserving energy, we make our homes as airtight as possible with improved insulation and double glazed windows, when in fact we need some ventilation to aid in the expulsion of these fumes. Our airtight endeavors also trap mold, mildew, and fungus. The only way to alert you to dangerous levels of CO is to install a good CO detector ... get one that is electric with battery backup and has a digital readout of CO levels. Taking a deep breath and thanking God for another day,
Deadline for articles for the March Bellows is February 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 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shrove Tuesday
Epiphany (Greek epiphaneia, “appearance”) is the feast celebrated on January 6 by the Anglican, Eastern, and Roman Catholic churches. The feast originated, and is still recognized in the Eastern Church , as the anniversary of the baptism of Christ. In the Western churches, Epiphany commemorates principally the revelation to the Gentiles of Jesus Christ as the Savior, as portrayed by the coming of the three wise men (see Matthew 2:1-12). 
Looking for a mid-week break and chance to get together with old and new friends from St. Dunstan’s? Come to our weekly Wednesday night Village Suppers. We begin each week with an informal Eucharist in the parish hall, followed by a potluck supper. Childcare is provided during the Eucharist, but children are also welcome to participate. We have about 25 regulars at this service, but there is always room for more. Come join us! 
Remember, we do not so much volunteer in church, as we serve. When we do ministry together, pray together and grow together as we nurture our children, we are acting from our heart in Christ Jesus and we are living out our baptismal vows. We are sent into the world to witness to God’s love. We are brought to fullness through servanthood within community. (BCP 306) 
So if you receive a phone call from me to consider teaching or leading excursions or being on a planning committee, please be open, search your heart, and take seriously your call to serve in a way particular to your gifts. Over the next few months, I encourage you to reflect how you might live out this message at St. Dunstan’s through serving in our Christian Formation Program for Youth and Children. 
On Sunday, February 5 at 4:30 p.m. the St. Dunstan Choir will offer a Candlemas Procession with Choral Evensong. In this unique service, the congregation of St. Dunstan’s and the community of Atlanta will have the opportunity to experience an ancient and beautiful candlelight liturgy. (An organ recital presented by David Houston, Organist-Choirmaster of 
Much of our Candlemas observance is drawn from these ancient sources. We begin with the customary greeting used for Evening Prayer, after which the Choir sings the 