October 2007
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"A River Runs
Through It"

A friend of mine who visited the Holy Land brought back this image, which has stayed with me for a long time.

During her visit she saw two bodies of water, the Dead Sea and the Jordan River. The Jordan begins in Northern Israel, where four tributaries merge into a single river. As it runs south through the country, it is replenished by other streams and tributaries. It passes through lakes and meanders through mountains until it ends in the south at the Dead Sea.

From scripture, we know the Jordan River as the place where Jesus was baptized. King Naaman was healed from leprosy after washing in the Jordan at the prophet Elisha’s orders. The waters of the Jordan are fresh and full of life as it flows across Israel.

The Dead Sea is another story.

From a distance it looks beautiful, aquamarine blue water with shimmering whitecaps. But up close, one discovers that the whitecaps are salt formations, and the water is greasy with minerals.

The Dead Sea is just that – dead. Minerals are harvested from its waters, but it supports no life.

One reason why the Dead Sea cannot support life is that it has no outlets. It receives water, but does not pass it on. Water doesn’t flow through the Dead Sea; the sea is the final destination.

These images of the two bodies of water – one flowing and rich with life; one dead with no outlets, seems to me an apt metaphor to reflect on as we begin our annual stewardship season at St. Dunstan’s.

As individuals and as a community we have received many gifts and blessings. But how do we use them?

Do we let them flow through us, passing on the blessings we have received to others? Or do we hoard them and try to keep them for ourselves?

Most of us have known people who are hoarders, who try to hold on to all that they have. And ironically, these people often end up much like the Dead Sea, with no life to speak of, while those who let the richness of their blessings flow through them both create and sustain life.

St. Francis, whose feast day we celebrate the first Sunday of October, put it this way in a prayer: “It is in giving that we receive.”

The same holds true for communities. A portion of the monetary gifts we receive at St. Dunstan’s are passed on to others – to the diocese, to Emmaus House, Holy Comforter, and other worthy ministries. We also share our time with those outside our church walls.

Elsewhere in this Bellows is an article from our stewardship chair Richard Stansbury giving details of our stewardship campaign that begins this month.

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Announcements

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Meet Tim Black

From Your Friendly Neighborhood Seminarian

As I sit, knee-deep in Hebrew flashcards and an Old Testament textbook that could choke an elephant, I think about the past five or so years and how I got to this present moment. I made a series of choices, many might say, and others might say that I was "called by God" to be where I am today. Right now, as I wonder how I am ever going to learn or understand the mysterious workings of God's chosen peoples' language, I see how this MUST be a calling. Who would volunteer for Ancient Hebrew? (As the t-shirt says, "I am learning Hebrew so You don't have to!!")

During the 8:30 a.m. service I noticed that "Tim Black-Seminarian," had made it on the cover of your service bulletin. I have been called many things in my life, but this is the first time I have been officially called "Seminarian" within a church. Sure, many people within the offices of the Diocese of Atlanta and Candler School of Theology have been calling me a "seminarian" for a few months now. Sunday morning, the new moniker became something more than a description of how I spend most of my time and mental energy right now. It became a description of who I am to you, St. Dunstan's. I am not only a seminarian anymore. I am your seminarian, and in the coming months I hope we can figure out what it means for me to be your seminarian.

This journey began for me many years ago. My entire life I have felt what Bishop Alexander once described as an "itch" for ministry. I grew up Southern Baptist and was brought up in a nurturing community of faith that taught me much of what I still remember about scripture. Even as a young boy, I was told by others that I needed to consider "full time Christian Ministry" as a possible vocation. 30 years (and a few careers later), I wound up in discernment in the Episcopal Church and, with God's help, last December 15, I was granted "postulancy" (which is a fancy way of saying I can think and learn about becoming a priest and might even be able to be ordained someday).

I am the parent of three of the most intelligent, beautiful children I know. Madeline is 13, a soccer player, fashionista and budding artist. Olivia is 9 (almost 10) and loves animals and singing (sometimes with me). Aidan is 5 years old, all boy, and the sweetest, huggiest person I know. I have been married to Patricia Babuka for 16 years this October. She owns an advertising agency called "Point B," enjoys keeping fit by going to Boot Camp and is a knitter, incredible mom and my best friend. Our home church is St. Luke's Episcopal here in Atlanta where Patricia and the children will remain fairly active in choir and acolyting. They will be coming to St. Dunstan's as their commitments at St. Luke's permit in the future.

I am originally from Gainesville, GA, and up until this year was a teacher/tutor at the Community School, a small school for adolescent, teenaged children with Autism disorders that I helped found two years ago in Decatur. I love playing guitar and mandolin, cooking, doing yoga, eating good food, watching movies and (of course) reading. I am a big "Simpsons" (d'oh!) fan and love movies by the Coen brothers. I am also a former movie and TV actor in the Atlanta area. (In fact, some of you might have seen me as "Jeff Braswell, the Photographer" in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.") I am really happy to be here with you now at St. Dunstan's!

During my time with you, I hope to be able to contribute in a tangible way to make your church an even more welcoming, vibrant place for God's people to gather. Tricia and I are working closely to figure out the best way for me to help around here. (In the immediate future, I will be playing at the Blessing of the Animals and pitching in on Sunday mornings). I am going to set up an email through St. Dunstan's in the near future. If you have any sudden ideas about how I can help you (or would just like to get some coffee and chat), please drop me a line. I am looking forward to becoming your Seminarian during the time we will have together.

~ Tim Black

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For Youth and Children

Children (of both "inner" and "outer" varieties) are invited to create

This summer at VBS the children and teachers had a lot of fun putting together a ‘stained glass window’ of Jesus walking on the water and saving Peter. This fall all members of our community are invited to help create a window that depicts the first creation story in Genesis. Watch the window directly across from the entrance to the parish hall as it begins its transformation on 30 September and 7 October, thanks to the efforts of our middle schoolers. Then, during coffee hour on Sundays 14, 21, and 28 October and 4 November, it will be your turn to add plants, stars, fish, birds, humans … even sea monsters ... to the window. Materials will be available for you in the parish hall. This is a great activity for parents to do with their children, but everyone is invited to join the fun!

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This and That

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From the Organist and Choirmaster

St. Dunstan's Choirs for Children and Young Adults

Parents, do your children love to sing? Did they love singing during Vacation Bible School? Do your children love to make up songs? Really? All right, then! Let’s talk about getting them into one of St. Dunstan’s choirs for children or young adults!

 

Now is the perfect time to begin working choir time into your fall schedule. The St. Cecilia Choir for young adults (ages 8 and up) meets to rehearse every Wednesday during the school year from 4:30-5:15. They also get to robe up and sing with the adults several times a year!

The St. Julian Choir for children (ages 4-7) also meets every Wednesday from 5:30-5:55. Rehearsals include time for a little play and are followed at 6:00 by our Wednesday evening Village Suppers.

Both groups will learn songs, which we’ll offer during our Sunday Services, and we’ll spend lots of time learning how music works on the page, how to use our voices well, and singing hymns and service music. We’ll also get to see how all of this ties in with our Liturgical Year. (Do you know who ACELEP is? Wednesdays in the Choir Room is the place to find out!)
Who knows? We might even dance a little!

Rehearsals are now underway. Please feel free to contact Steve Furches soon to talk about all the good stuff to come in kid’s music at St. Dunstan’s!

Faithfully,
Steve

Fall Chorister Schedule has begun!

Please consider joining one of the St. Dunstan Choirs.
New members are always welcome in all groups.

Wednesdays, September through May

	4:30- 5:15 PM	St. Cecilia Choir (ages 8 and up)
	5:30- 5:55 PM	St. Julian Choir (ages 4-7)
	6:00- 7:00 PM	Village Supper
	7:00- 9:15 PM	St. Dunstan Adult Choir (childcare available)

Please feel free to contact me at any time.

STEVE FURCHES
Organist and Choirmaster
404-266-1018

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Speaking Out for Outreach

ABLE Survey Results

Here's a report on the ABLE survey inserted in our bulletins early in September. There were 36 participants at St Dunstan’s who identified the following “top 3” issues for ABLE planning:

Health care reform	27
Quality public education	17
Good jobs for families	14
Environmental sustainability	13
Accessible affordable transportation	12
Immigration reform	11
Affordable housing	11
Beltline development	5

Health care reform was the overwhelming need identified, followed by quality public education. Other issues mentioned include Grady (tied to health care reform); better treatment of prisoners; food; and economic development.

Thanks to all who participated.

~ Priscilla Davis

 

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Within Our Walls

Inviting Growth

I am sure that many Stewardship programs have been kicked-off with the declaration that “Fall is in the air…” or that “As the seasons change, we enter into a time of reflection and preparation ….” So, I am resisting the urge to tie this annual church period of requesting pledges and determining the allowable operating budget for the next year to the seasonal change.

But it is appropriate as Fall is certainly preparation for nature’s renewal and sustainability of life --- stewardship in its most basic form.

The 2007 Stewardship program is indeed upon us. This article will give you a brief overview of the calendar and events so that you may begin to consider how you can monetarily pledge support to our collective mission at St. Dunstan’s.

To commit to that pledge with your heart and mind, you will need to know what you expect of your church. Please think about that expectation -- as I am sure we all do on a fairly regular basis. Perhaps now, however, is a good time to attempt to solidify any thoughts, suggestions, concerns and also appreciation you have for our parish community.

The vestry and Rector will benefit from the most current thinking and input by St. Dunstan’s individuals and families. For many years in the past, this information was gathered as anecdotal or informal perspectives – and that served parish development very well. Last year a somewhat more deliberate effort was made to reach out to individuals and families on a one-on-one basis. That too proved very successful.

This year the process will be refined in an effort to gather and share information and perspectives more effectively.

Here is the basic format for 2007:

• We will arrange for small groups to meet in geographically convenient locations to your home.
• We will attempt to find time and place that ensures everyone can reasonably participate.
  The meetings will last about 90 minutes; light refreshments will be available.
• Tricia will begin the meetings with a Eucharist.
• Following will be a gentle hour of conversation about the parish and its various needs for 2008.
• A vestry member or Stewardship Committee member will facilitate the conversation to be sure we cover the same topics in all groups.
• Topics will include:
  • What can you offer to the community of St. Dunstan’s
  • What does St. Dunstan’s mean to you?
  • Why are you at St. Dunstan’s?
  • How does the church benefit you?
  • What can you offer to the church
  • Inviting Growth – how do we do it properly?
  • What needs attention?
  • Where do we spend our dollars each year?

You will soon be receiving an invitation to attend one of these gatherings.

This is an exciting and key period for St. Dunstan’s growth and development. What we have is widely acclaimed as “special” – because many of us and many before us as good stewards nurtured a vision. In one way or another that vision and its future is why you are a member of St. Dunstan’s parish.

My honest belief and expectation is that the community of St. Dunstan’s already harbors the ideas, energy, wisdom and resources to make 2008 a banner growth year. We just have to uncover the path – together.

As good stewards, let’s figure out how exactly we accomplish that while simultaneously making a positive impact on each other and our families!

Thanks – stay tuned - more details to come shortly!

Stewardship Chair – Richard Stansbury

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Fall Film Series

Mary & Martha's Place

October
Thursday, 11:30 a.m. classes at Mary & Martha's Place:

• 4 October - Seeking Wisdom: The Resilience of the Human Spirit
  Special Guest: Barbara Findeisen, founder of Pocket Sanctuary in Arizona and a psychotherapist.
• 18 October - Action and Contemplation: Living the Paradox
  Rebecca Parker and Maggie Harney will lead a discussion on Parker Palmer's book, The Active Life.

And our evening class with Jack Graham:

• 11 October - The Path to Seeing with Wisdom's Eyes: Its History in the Christian Church, 7:00 p.m.

See www.maryandmarthasplace.com for details on these classes.

And don't forget:

Women, Chocolate & The Arts
November 1
Dessert Buffet & Artists' Market opens at 5:30 pm
Entertainment starts at 7:00 pm

And *NEW* this year, an extra day of shopping!
Artists' Market Open on November 2,
9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Tell your friends! No charge to shop!

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