The Monthly Newsletter of St. John's Episcopal Church302 Green Street • Fayetteville, NC 28301 • 910.483.7405 • www.stjohnsnc.org

Vol. IV, May 2014

At 7 p.m. May 5, Bishop Michael Curry reads and discusses his best-selling book “Crazy Christians,” based on a homily of his that wentviral.

In 2012, Curry delivered a sensational homily at the EpiscopalChurch’s General Convention, in which he charged Christians to becrazy enough to love and forgive and dare to change the world. Holdinghonorary degrees from Yale and Sewanee, Curry is the bishop of theDiocese of North Carolina and one of the Episcopal Church's mostrenowned speakers and preachers.

Bishop Curry will also deliver the homily for Evening Prayer at 5:30p.m. Refreshments and conversation following Prayer and before thebook reading. Book available at St. John's Gift Shop.

Book Reading with Bishop and Authorof "Crazy Christians"

Walk-about Q-and-A7 p.m. May 2Meet the four nominees for theVIII Bishop of East Carolina!The nominees will concludetheir tour of the diocese at St.John's Friday, May 2. This isyour last chance to hear themspeak before the election onMay 17.

Senior SundayMay 4Honoring our graduating seniors –Mary Kate Morgan, James MacRae III,and Elizabeth Chandler – we will havethe privilege to hear about theirexperiences growing up at St. John'sand their plans for the future!

Join us in Hauser Hall for lunch andhelp Vestry formulate plans for the nextprogram-year: help discern whatshould be on our plate of programs andidentify leadership and volunteeropportunities.

Parish Planning Meeting12 p.m. May 4

It's an exciting time to be at St.John's and in the Diocese of EastCarolina. This month, we launchinto a rapid succession of high-profile events at St. John's, lookexpectantly toward the May 17election day, and close out theprogram-year with the annualEnd-of-Year Picnic on May 28.

Salon Series Finale7:30 p.m. May 8Don't miss the final concert, ABrass Spectacular, featuringBaroque music for two trumpets,strings and harpsichord! Ticketsavailable at the door orfayettevillesymphony.org.

ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH302 Green St • Fayetteville, NC 28301

Founded in 1817 in Fayetteville, NCand today a worshipping community ofmore than 700 parishioners.

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SUBMISSIONS AND DEADLINESWe rely on our parishioners fornewsletter content. If you have news orevents relevant to parish life, pleasecontact the appropriate Vestryrepresentative or the parish office. Thesubmission deadline for the Summeredition of The Epistle is May 15.

CLERGY, STAFF, & OFFICERSRector The Rev. Robert M. AlvesSr. Warden John HolmesJr. Warden Drew YoungClerk of Vestry Lenora ChandlerTreasurer Dohn Broadwell JrChoirmaster Patrick M. O'BriantAdministrator Brant BrockCommunications Anthony RamosBookkeeper Sue StricklandPreschool Director Donnie WinstonParish Cook Bob JenkinsSexton Donnell SimmonsSexton Lonnie PipkinSexton James Henderson

THE VESTRYJeff Baker • John Holmes • Judy Klinck •Patsy Politowicz • Glenn Chandler •Ricky Evans • Jean Moore • Drew Young• Dick Kells • Deborah Greene • ChristelHaworth • Robin Kelly

THE EPISTLEMonthly Newsletter

UPCOMING PROGRAMSMay 2014

ECW PICNIC12 p.m. May 5Come enjoy food andfellowship at the home of BeeGee Caviness, 3489 WilmingtonHighway. Call Sally Reardon,910.485.2538, if you can come.

EASTER & PENTECOSTFORUMS6:45 p.m. May 7Concluding the ExploringWorship at St. John’s forums,Fr. Alves will discuss the Easterand Pentecost seasons inaddition to the Holy Baptismand the dismissal.

CONVERSATION WITHYOUR DELEGATES6 p.m. May 14Before they depart for theElecting Convention on May 17,have a conversation and prayerwith your delegates at dinner.

RECTOR'S CORNER

THE EPISTLE 3

Abundant signs of new life abound as a spectacular spring unfolds before oureyes following a harsh winter in Eastern North Carolina. This spring, we arepresented with rich opportunities to rekindle our spirits and to focus on newgrowth in our parish and in the Diocese of East Carolina. It is an extraordinaryblessing to welcome two of The Episcopal Church’s most gifted bishops to St.John’s this month! Bishop Michael Curry will be with us on Monday, May 5 andour own Bishop Provisional Peter Lee will join us on the evening of Wednesday,May 21. At 7 p.m. Friday, May 2, St. John’s will host a Q-and-A session with ourfour nominees for the VIII Bishop of East Carolina. On Sunday, May 4, allmembers of the parish are encouraged to attend a luncheon to help Vestry cast avision for the future of St. John’s. This sounds like a lofty goal! The practicalreality is that we are asking you to help your Vestry plan the activities that willembody our ministry next year. We need your ideas, thoughts, and support aswe prepare for a new year.

On Monday, May 5, Bishop Michael Curry will preach at a service ofEvening Prayer at 5:30 p.m., and he will lead a discussion of his book "CrazyChristians" beginning at 7 p.m. It is with great pleasure that I welcome BishopMichael Curry to St. John’s. I served as Chair of the Transition Committee whenhe was elected Bishop of North Carolina. Bishop Curry is known throughout theEpiscopal Church for his excellence in preaching. I encourage you to invite yourfriends to join you at 5:30 p.m. to hear the sermon and to stay for the bookdiscussion at 7 p.m..

On Wednesday, May 21, Bishop Peter Lee, our Bishop Provisional, willcelebrate Holy Eucharist at 5:15 p.m. We will welcome Bishop Lee with one ofhis favorite meals: North Carolina barbecue. After dinner, Bishop Lee will helplead a discussion of a liturgy called The Witnessing and Blessing of a LifelongCovenant. In the Warden’s Letter, John Holmes elaborates on the process ofdiscussion and discernment which the Vestry and I have begun, regarding theblessing of same-sex unions. This discussion does not take place in a vacuum.The conversation has been going on for decades in the greater church and peopleof deep faith strongly disagree with one another. As we engage in theconversation at St. John’s, I hope that we do so with an attitude of deep respectfor one another and with the hope that God will lead our community inconversation. We are blessed to have Bishop Lee with us to offer his wisdom andinsights.

I believe that the Holy Spirit is moving in the life of our parish and ourdiocese. This year has been a year marked by discernment and preparation forthe future. As we approach Pentecost, may the Holy Spirit set our hearts on fireand guide us to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to life in the world.

May: the Monthof Bishops

The Rev. Robert Alves

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"It is an extraordinaryblessing to welcome twoof the EpiscopalChurch's most giftedbishops to John's."

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VOLUNTEERSalvation Army Love Lunch11:30 a.m. May 19Join our Love Lunch team this month and helpour local Salvation Army (220 East Russell St.)provide hot meals to over 100 homelesscitizens.

Vacation Bible School9 a.m. to noon Jun 23-26We are looking for VOLUNTEERS to help usmake this wonderful week a success for thechildren. There are a multitude of opportunitiesto volunteer with VBS that will fit yourschedule and talents. Sign up on the bulletinboards or contact Claire Hedgecoe if you arewilling to be a part of this ministry:chedgecoe@gmail.com.

NCMOM Dental ClinicJul 31 to Aug 2Dental and non-dental volunteers needed!North Carolina Missions of Mercy is preparingfor this year's adult dental clinic at the CharlieRose Agri-Expo Center. Help them providedental services to adults in need. To sign up oorfor more information, go to ncmom.info. Select"Volunteer" from the top of the page and chooseyour volunteer category from the drop downmenu.

Meet the Nominees!Q-and-A 7 p.m. May 2 St. John's

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WARDEN'S NOTES

Following the General Conventionof 2012, in accordance withResolution 2012-A049, BishopDaniel Clifton began to permit theuse of liturgies for the blessing ofsame-sex relationships in theDiocese of East Carolina. Hisapproval to permit this ministrycame with one stipulation: boththe priest and vestry must be inagreement before proceeding.

Bishop Peter Lee hascontinued this policy in his tenureas Bishop Provisional. All four ofthe candidates for the VIII Bishopof the Diocese have indicated intheir written responses that theywould continue with this policy ifelected. Several churches in EastCarolina have already embarkedon this ministry.

It should be emphasized that

under the current policy no priestor vestry will be mandated toundertake the Blessing of aConvenanted Union within theirparish. “All may, some should,none must.”

At our annual retreat this year,the vestry discussed the currentpolicy and agreed that it would beprudent to enter into a dialogue tofamiliarize ourselves with thecurrent positions of The EpiscopalChurch and our own Diocese. Inorder to facilitate this discussion,we have invited Bishop Lee to helpus guide a discussion on this topicon Wednesday, May 21. BishopLee will help celebrate Eucharistwith us at 5:15 p.m. followed by aspecial dinner and conversationon the ministry of blessingcovenanted unions. We hope to

have a good turnout for this eventas we all seek a broaderunderstanding of this topic.

Your vestry feels that thetiming is right to collectively andprayerfully begin a process ofdiscussion and discernment.There is no hidden agenda or pre-determined course of action byeither your priest or your vestry onthis matter. All voices shall beheard and respected. Bishop Lee iswell-qualified to help lead us inthis discussion. We look forwardto welcoming him on May 21 andinvite everyone to participate inthe service, the dinner and thediscussion to follow.

A Matter forPrayerful DiscussionBY JOHN HOLMES

There are two documents available tohelp you become conversant about theresolution and liturgy for the blessingof same-sex relationships

THE RESOLUTIONstjohnsnc.org/s/A049.pdfTHE LITURGYstjohnsnc.org/s/Blessing.pdf

RESOURCESA Matter for Prayerful DiscussionEVENT RUNDOWN5:15 p.m. May 21at St. John'sThe Rt. Rev. Peter LeeCelebrates Eucharist with usFollowed by dinner and conversationto help develop a broader understanding of the resolution andliturgy for the blessing of same-sex relationships

CALENDAR ROUNDUP

May

1 Sally Reardon • Joyce Chandler • Kate Naylor 3Sandy Edge • Jim Kyle III • Sarah Britton • SimonDahlman 4 Mindy Vickers • Laura Hatcher 6 LoganDooley 7 Ramon Yarborough III 8 Frank Stout 9 DonUffinger Sr • Dick Kells 10 Jane Schaefer 11 GertEyman • Walker Haigh • Marian Morgan 12 LenaPrivette • Courtney Smedick • Jack Davidson 13 FredKlinck • Hillary McKeown 14 John Dickson 15 ClaireHedgecoe 16 Bill Jones III 17 Etta Thetford 18 MaryWright • Kate dePrater 19 Bill Byrd Jr • Molly Haigh •Stephen Privette 20 Mary Flagg Haugh • De De Zellner21 Kensley Edge 22 Madison Gradnigo 23 BobWilson 25 Mac McHenry • Barbara Richardson • OwenShearer 26 David Vroom 27 Tom Brown • SpencerHarris • Charles Moorman 28 George Chandler •Carolyn Stout • Elizabeth Chandler 29 WalterMoorman • Elizabeth Wooten • Mary Holmes 31 MaryAngelicchio • Don Koonce • David Stewart • TerryDawson • Cameron Flowers

anniversaries

birthdays

2 Wendy & John Nikolassy 6 Carolyn & Ken LancasterJr. 12 Carol & Bill Orr 14 Lenora & Glenn Chandler26 Mary & John Holmes 27 Dee Dee & Dick Kells 28Margaret Ann & Richard Alligood • Shannon Bailey &Robert Bloodworth 29 Sweetie & Hank Stewart 30Karen & Tony Rand 31 Edwina & Jim Kyle III • Martha& David Bock Sr.

celebrations

Connect with us on Facebook! facebook.com/saintjohnsncfE Download The Epistle! stjohnsnc.org/epistle

Lib Wilson, Sally Reardon, and Marilyn Ellerbe attendedthe 126th Annual ECW Meeting on the Diocese of EastCarolina on April 24 at St. James in Wilmington.

hold the date

4 p.m. Jun 1Fayetteville Cantate performs

ACOLYTE RECOGNITION10:30 a.m. Jun 1Thank our acolytes for their service

CELTIC CANTANTE

May1

Inasmuch Breakfast 7­9a2

Walk­about Q­and­A 7p3

4See Sunday servicesParish planning 12pSENIOR SUNDAY

5ECW Picnic 12pEvening Prayer 5:30pBook signing 7p

6VBS planning 5:30p

7See Wednesday servicesEaster/Pentecost 6:45p

8Salon Series 7:30p

9 10

11See Sunday servicesUTO

12 13Finance meeting 5:30p

14See Wednesday servicesDelegates Prayer 6p

15 16J2A Urban Adventure

17BISHOP ELECTION

18J2A Urban AdventureSee Sunday Services

19Love Lunch 11:30a

20Vestry meeting 6:30p

21See Wednesday servicesEucharist w/ Bp. Lee 5:15pDinner & Discussion 6p

22 23 24

25See Sunday Services.

26Office ClosedMEMORIAL DAY

27 28Worship 5:15pEnd­of­Year Picnic 6p

29 30 31

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite I8:15 a.m. Parish Family Breakfast9:15 a.m. Christian Formation

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II10:30 a.m. Children's Chapel

5:00 p.m. Children's Choir5:15 p.m. Worship5:15 p.m. Handbells practice5:30 p.m. Bible Adventures6:00 p.m. Parish Dinner

ProgramCalendarSundayServices WednesdayServices

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

Jun 1Acolyte RecognitionCeltic Cantante 4p