May 2007 Contents
At Christmas and Easter the past couple of years we have run ads in the local newspapers. The tag line in them reads “St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church: An intimate, inclusive community of faith.” An intimate, inclusive community of faith. Those six words say a lot about who we are. Intimate is a nice way of saying that we are not a megachurch, that this is not a place where you can remain anonymous for long. To quote from the Cheers theme song, this is a place “where everybody knows your name. And we’re always glad you came.” Inclusive means that we strive to welcome all people – regardless of their skin color, age, socioeconomic status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any of the other numerous ways our society classifies and divides people. Community means that this is a group of people who care about one another. This is a place where relationships are made, where we can ask for and offer help, where we can fill that yearning for belonging that all people have. And perhaps most important is that last word – faith. That’s what sets us apart from other groups like the PTA or the neighborhood association or the book club or country club. Community can happen in those groups, too. But this community is different because at its core is our Christian faith. As a community of faith we are bound together by prayer, by the sacraments, by our wrestling with God’s word, by our shared faith in a God of love and mercy and compassion. Tom Ehrich, an Episcopal priest in North Carolina, recently wrote an article about the importance of community in churches, noting that not all churches understand it. “The ones that get it,” he says, “make room for children, wear name tags, greet strangers, embrace diversity and always have time for the person who is suffering. The ones that don’t get it want children out of the way, encourage anonymity, freeze out the odd, rarely have time for human needs, and demand that people take sides in their endless squabbles.” I would definitely say that St. Dunstan’s is a church that gets it. But that doesn’t mean that we should be complacent. We need to be intentional about getting the word out about St. Dunstan’s. In a small parish like ours, having four or five families move away, as happened this year, has a tremendous impact – on our Sunday School classes, on our other programs, and on our budget. We need to grow. We need more children in our Sunday School classes, more teenagers in our youth group, more people available for outreach and Bible study and fellowship, and yes, more pledging units in our budget. Things have happened in the diocese this year that make growth more of a challenge for us. Last fall the bishop announced the start of a new congregation in the Smyrna/Vinings area. St. Benedict’s already has a priest and office space. They will most likely begin worshipping later this year, and are rumored to have an option on land in the Vinings area. This new congregation represents a significant challenge to us. About 20 percent of our congregation comes from the Vinings/Smyrna area. A significant number of our visitors come from those areas, and often they say they found St. Dunstan’s by looking on the diocesan website and seeing that we are the closest church to them. I am not concerned about losing current members to St. Benedict’s, but the vestry and I are concerned about what this means for our future growth. That is why looking at ways to be intentional about getting the word out about St. Dunstan’s – in other words, evangelizing – will be one of our top priorities in the coming year. But evangelism cannot just be a concern of mine or the vestry’s. It needs to be the concern of all of us. Recently, I was in correspondence with the dean of a seminary in Tanzania, Dickson Chilongani. He talked about the many ways the Diocese of Atlanta is helping the church in Tanzania, including our gift of mosquito nets. But he also wrote about what we could learn from the Church in Africa . The primary lesson, he said, is about church growth. His words have relevance for us at St. Dunstan’s. Here is what he said: “Because we do not have the resources, we have relied heavily on prayer, the Holy Spirit, and on the experiences of lay Christians for evangelism. In fact, the church in Africa grows not because it has highly educated clergy, for we probably have the most unlearned clergy on earth. Rather, it grows because we have committed Christians who are always open to share their experiences of the risen Christ with their neighbors. “Church growth is always in the hands of all Christians. When I worked at our Cathedral, on one occasion we baptized more than 70 people. We clergy did not know where most of these people had come from. It was ordinary Christians who had met these people and shared their simple faith and personal experiences with the risen Christ, i.e. their joy, their hope, and their assurance. By the power of the Holy Spirit these people became Christians. “Although we continue to invest heavily in theological education, we still believe that those who spread the Good News need not spend weeks, months, or years in a seminary.” Those are words of wisdom. In the coming year, I challenge all of us to spread the Good News about this intimate, inclusive, caring community of faith.
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Guest preacher: On May 6 we will have a guest preacher from the Diocese of Central Tanganyika in Tanzania, our companion diocese. The Rev. Moses Matonya is spending a year in this diocese, participating in a hospital chaplaincy program in Columbus . He has served in a variety of positions in Tanzania , including on the faculty Msalato Theological College and as subdean of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. He plans to teach full time in Msalato after he returns to Tanzania in September. Moses and his wife Ruth have four children.
The Bishop is coming! Bishop Neil Alexander will be at St. Dunstan’s for confirmation on Pentecost, May 27 th. We will only have one service that day at 10:30 a.m.
Village Supper: Our last Wednesday evening Eucharist and Village Supper for the season will be on May 23rd.
Table of Contents | Return to top Christian EducationThe End(of Sunday School, that is)Is Near!
And VBS is Around the Corner!If you haven’t already, please mark your calendars for Vacation Bible School that will take place the last week of June (25 th-29 th). It will be a chance for our kids to learn some great Bible stories through art with Jane Lamkin, music with Susan Elliot, and drama with GildaMorris. Snacks will be provided by Pat Berman. St. Dunstan’s is truly blessed to have such talented people to work with our children! There will be games and recreation in the Beech Grove every day as well as a special Water Day. Adults, please join the fun as volunteers; we can be flexible about the days and hours that you help out. Please pass the enclosed flyer on to your neighbors and friends; their children are welcome too! And please look for more information and a chance to sign up soon.
Attention Sunday School Teachers,
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Summer Schedule: Our summer schedule will begin June 4. Services will be at 8:30 and 10 a.m. 
Phew… time really does fly when you are having fun! I can’t believe that the Sunday School year is almost over!! May 20th is the last day of regular Sunday school for children and youth. (In the event that the Bishop conducts an adult Sunday school class when he visits on May 27th, childcare will be provided, as always, during the Sunday school hour.) On May 20th the whole Sunday school will participate in an impromptu dramatization of Pentecost (which is May 27th) and a Birthday Party for the Church. It will be a fun and festive way to end our year, and I hope your child will be able to make it! 
Also on May 20 th children in the All Things New class, and a few others, will be singing songs in the service that Jane Lamkin has taught them. Then, after the 10:30 service, there will be a reception in honor of the Sunday school teachers and other Christian educators that have served our children and youth this year. They have been wonderful…amazingly dedicated and creative! Please come and thank them! |
St. Dunstan’s offers two choirs for children and young adults, both of which have enjoyed another season of learning and praise, as exemplified by the Royal School of Church Music motto, “I will sing with the spirit and also with understanding.” The St. Cecilia Choir for young adults (ages 8 and up) meets to rehearse every Wednesday from 4:30-5:15PM during the school year. Our program is based upon the Chorister Training Program developed by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), founded in England by Sir Sydney Nicholson in 1927, with the goal of raising the quality of music in the local parish church. The plan combines musical training with Christian education to enable children to reach their full potential, offering their musical gifts in our regular Sunday worship services. It is not a graded choir program, but instead is a flexible plan based on incentive and achievement. |
The St. Cecilia Choristers will round out their 2006-2007 season on Sunday, May 13 (Mother’s Day), as part of the 10:30AM Holy Eucharist. This service will be a Chorister Recognition Sunday, with presentation of awards and ribbons based upon each Chorister’s individual levels of attainment. There are four attainment levels in the RSCM program, each of which includes extensive training in music, liturgy, and Christian education. Each Chorister has completed one of these four levels during our past several months of work together. These levels are signified by colored ribbons: Yellow (Level A), Light Blue (Level 1), Dark Blue (Level 2), and Red (Level 3). These will be presented along with RSCM Medallions and Certificates of Achievement during the Eucharist on May 13. The Choristers have accomplished much indeed!
It is my great pleasure to present the St. Cecilia Choristers Class of 2007: Peyton Ruhmkorff (Yellow); Piper Ruhmkorff (Red); Emma Hancock (Light Blue); Grace Hancock (Dark Blue); and Ethan Stansbury (Yellow). Congratulations to all!
| The St. Julian Choir for children (ages 4-7) also meets every Wednesday during the school year from 5:30-5:55PM . This season we have had a great time learning simple songs, dances, and games, all combined with music fundamentals. Rehearsals always include time for a little play and are followed at 6:00PM by our Wednesday evening Village Suppers. These talented young musicians will join the St. Cecilia Choristers for recognition at our Annual Chorister’s Pizza Party, later in May. |
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I am so proud of each of our Choristers, and I am sure you are as well. Please join me on Mother’s Day as together we celebrate their talent, hard work, and dedication—and, of course, their invaluable role in the Music Program of St. Dunstan’s.
Faithfully,
Steve
Sundays at Four continues. . . .
The Atlanta Concert Ringers THIS SUNDAY, 29 April 2007
Dr. Norma Raybon, director 4:00 P.M.
The Atlanta Concert Ringers is a community handbell organization founded to share the musical art of handbell ringing in high-quality professional performances, festivals, and workshops. The ACR has appeared as the special musical guest of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and was a featured performance group at the 2005 Area IV regional handbell festival of the American Guild of English Handbell Ringers.
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Community News
Minutes of the Annual Meeting of St. Dunstan’s Church
Sunday, 22 April 2007, at Noon
Opening
After a pot luck lunch, the Reverend Patricia Templeton called the meeting to order at 12:17 PM . Tricia opened the meeting with a Prayer for a Parish. Bruce Lafitte was appointed as clerk.
New Vestry Members
Tricia introduced three parishioners who agreed to serve on the Vestry: Craig Withers, Andy Delfino, and Ruth Roser. Craig has been at St. Dunstan’s for a little over a year, Andy for a year and a half, and Ruth for about six or seven. All three have been actively involved in the life of the parish. Tricia also announced that Paul Ruhmkorff will continue as Treasurer and Bruce Lafitte as Vestry Clerk. Bob Longino will be Junior Warden for the coming year and Nancy Dillon will serve as Senior Warden.
Rector’s Report
Tricia began her report by expanding on a tag line that was printed in some ads for St. Dunstan’s which described us as an intimate, inclusive community of faith. Her full report was printed in the Annual Meeting booklet and is available.
Senior Warden’s Report
Wayne Lord began his report by thanking Josh Taylor and Lee Morris for reminding him of our roots from time to time during his tenure as Senior Warden. He also recounted how Ann Reece, one of our founders, had nothing but positive things to say after it took longer than we anticipated to complete our kitchen. He thanked Peachy Horne for completing a smooth, clean path to the St. Francis garden. Wayne said that the Memorial Garden reminds him that those who came before us are still very much with us in spirit as we go forward. His full report was also printed in the booklet and is available.
Financial Report
Paul Ruhmkorff thanked Daria Jones for doing a “yeoman’s job” as treasurer before him. He said that we came in at 99.9% of our budget last year, which is remarkable. We had a challenge this year and had to reduce our commitment to the Diocese and to Outreach. Thankfully, we have received additional pledges and income that have increased the Outreach budget. As of the end of March, our pledge income is at 132% of budget, but Paul warned that pledges are usually ahead this time of year. Paul had a few printed copies of the budget, but pointed out that our budget is always open to anyone.
Other Business
Margaret Michaelides acknowledged the generous donations of equipment to our kitchen made by the Atlanta Bread Company. Tricia thanked Margaret for pursuing that lead for us.
Farewell and Thanks to Outgoing Vestry Members
Tricia thanked Wayne Lord, Tonia Hopkins, and Nancy Knight Latimore for their dedicated service on the Vestry with a promise of an anvil each once the nameplates are ready. Wayne then thanked Daria again for getting our finances well in hand.
Respectfully submitted,
Bruce Lafitte
Former Parishoner Honored
The Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Georgia is establishing an award for excellence in teaching in the name of Harold Davis and a classmate and close friend of his, Arthur Darwin. The Darwin-Davis Award of $1,000 will be given annually to a professor at the College. The first presentation will be May 4 at 2 p.m. at the Grady College .
Harold Davis, a Grady alumnus, was a member of this parish from 1990 until his death in 1997. He is interred in the Memorial Garden . Harold's career included serving as Washington correspondent and City Editor for the Atlanta Journal. He went to Georgia State University in 1965 as Director of Public Relations and went on to distinguished University service as chair of the Department of Communication and Vice President of the University. He taught courses in Propaganda, Public Relations, and History of Communication and outside the University conducted seminars in Clear Writing, Name Recognition and Body Language, and Conflict Resolution. He retired in 1988.
(Thanks to Harold’s wife, Priscilla Davis, for sharing this honor with us!)
United Thank Offering (UTO)
The 2007 UTO will be collected Sunday, May 20th
at the 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. services
This offering of giving and prayers is a way of thanking God for our many daily blessings and is sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) all over America each year.
Many Episcopalians know that the first official UTO was held in 1889. The money was used to send a woman missionary to Japan and to build a church in Anvik , Alaska . Many also know about the “Blue Box” airplane given to the Bishop of Alaska in the 1950s. From its inception, UTO has striven to “expand the mission and ministry of the church” and to “address compelling human need.”
The money collected in its entirety goes for grants. Every state in our country receives at least two grants. Other grants are given to many other countries for their church work. UTO is a way that each of us can give thanks through our gifts and prayers. The needs are great; so we ask that you be generous.
Our own Holy Comforter in Atlanta received a UTO grant a few years ago to build its elevator for the many handicapped whom they serve. It has been said that if each day we say “Thank You” to God, we have said prayer enough.
Passages
Our Sympathy to Deborah Reece on the death of her stepfather, Ralph Zimmerman.
Our Sympathy to Chris Smith on the death of her mother, Gayle Ruggles.
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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.
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Our Schedule, Until Pentecost
Sundays
Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.
Christian Education for all ages at 9:30 a.m.
Wednesdays
| 4:30 - 5:15 p.m. | St. Cecilia Choir (ages 8 and up) |
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| 5:30 - 5:55 p.m. | St. Julian Choir (ages 4-7) |
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| 6:00 p.m. | Holy Eucharist and Village Supper * | |
| 7:00 - 9:15 p.m. | St. Dunstan's Adult Choir |
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* Bring a dish to share, bought or homemade, to the Parish Hall at 6 p.m.
PENTECOST ~ The Bishop is coming! Bishop Neil Alexander will be at St. Dunstan’s for confirmation on Pentecost, May 27th. We will only have one service that day at 10:30 a.m.
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Nancy Dillon—Senior Warden |
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Bob Longino—Junior Warden |
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Andy Delfino |
Susan Elliott |
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Ruth Roser |
Richard Stansbury |
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Jeanne Taylor |
Craig Withers |
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Danny Woodard |
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Bruce Lafitte, Vestry Clerk |
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Paul Ruhmkorff, Treasurer |
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Our Staff
The Rev. Patricia Templeton, Rector
The Rev. Maggie Harney, Priest Associate
Ellen Gallow, Director of Christian Education
Stephen L. Furches, Organist-Choirmaster
Kim Branch, Parish Administrator
Paul Ruhmkorff, Treasurer
Bruce Lafitte, Vestry Clerk