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

November 2013

Windows into Our Past

Every Sunday, we worship while bathed in the light of thebeautiful stained glass windows in our sanctuary. They tell thestory of our faith, depicting many of the parables, several of thesaints, and most of the symbols we associate with Christianity.

As you look at this beautiful art that surrounds us eachweek, have you ever wondered how the stained glass wasmade? Perhaps you’ve wanted to know who the firm, MayerStudios, was. And, if you know who Mayer Studios is, you maywonder why we did not select an American firm, such as LouisComfort Tiffany’s, or why we did not contract with a distantrelative of our founding Tillinghast family, Mary ElizabethTillinghast, who was an award-winning stained glass artist withher own studio.

Join us for Wednesday evening supper on Wednesday,November 20, at 6 p.m., to hear parish member, AnnetteDunlap, answer some of these questions and talk about some ofthe story behind our windows.

About Annette: Annette is currently working on a book, LouisComfort Tiffany and the Business of Art, which will be publishedby State University of New York Press in 2016. She is the award-winning author of Frank: The Story of Frances Folsom Cleveland,America’s Youngest First Lady, and the memoir, The Gambler’sDaughter: A Personal & Social History. Annette has appearedtwice on the C-SPAN series, First Ladies: Influence and Image,to discuss both Mrs. Cleveland and Lou Henry Hoover, whosebiography she is writing.

Parishioner and author Annette Dunlaptalks about the story of our windows.6 p.m. November 20 in Hauser Hall

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 Novemberedition of The Epistle is October 15.

CLERGY, STAFF, & OFFICERSRector The Rev. Robert M. AlvesSr. Warden Hal Broadfoot Jr.Jr. Warden Dohn Broadwell Jr.Clerk of Vestry Lenora ChandlerTreasurer Walker Worth IIIChoirmaster Patrick M. O'BriantAdministrator Brant BrockCommunications Anthony RamosBookkeeper Sue StricklandPreschool Director Donnie WinstonSexton Donnell SimmonsSexton Lonnie PipkinSexton James HendersonTHE VESTRYHal Broadfoot Jr • Dohn Broadwell Jr •David Guzman • Paige Naylor • JeffBaker • John Holmes • Judy Klinck •Patsy Politowicz • Glenn Chandler •Ricky Evans • Jean Moore • Drew Young

THE EPISTLEMonthly Newsletter

INSPIRATION STATIONNovember 2013

Times are tough. At the moment I am writing this, the FederalGovernment is in shut down. National parks are closed, the commissaryis closed, and military bases will have the services cut drastically.Thousands and thousands of folks are not getting a pay check. ThisThanksgiving is going to be a lean one for many people. That is a fact,and not a pretty one. In fact, for many people this holiday season willnot be a mountain top experience what so ever. Where do we find Godin times like these? Do we find him only at the good times, themountain top times? And where does he find us? It’s easy to feel filledwith the Holy Spirit when things are sailing along smoothly. God isthere and He’s on your side. The fog is lifted and the sun is shiningbrightly.

But what about when we are living through difficult days? Dayswhen the mail brings nothing that resembles good news and the dailyminutiae just seems to drag on. Those are the valley times, and thoughit may not seem like it, God is there too. God is where ever we are. It’sgreat for us to be in those “transfiguration” moments seeing the worldin a white beaming light. But what about when we have come downfrom that glowing illusion? God is there too. Is God enough?

Perhaps it is the valley moments we should cherish most. It is whenGod sees us as we really are. Not just joyous and fulfilled with our stuff

LettingGodBeEnoughBY PATSY POLITOWICZ

Inspiration, continued on page 4

RECTOR'S CORNER

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Autumn festivals of thanksgiving and harvest–home have marked humanhistory since the beginning of our corporate memory. In ancient biblical timesthe tithe was adopted as a thank-offering to God and as an acknowledgementthat all of the blessings of this life, including life itself, come from God andultimately belong to God. God calls us to trust in His promise to provide for ourneeds. We respond by offering the first fruits, comprising ten percent of theharvest, back to God. The faithful throughout the centuries have discovered,and rediscovered, the ancient truth that counting our blessings offers a pathwayto a deeper spiritual journey.

There was a time when attendance at Thanksgiving Day worship was animportant part of the community’s observance of the holiday. In recent yearsattendance has declined to the point that the congregation consists of theministers of the day and a hand full of other worshipers. This year your vestryand I have decided to make the Community Service of Thanksgiving at 6 p.m.November 24 at First Baptist Church, 302 Moore St., our service of Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving has become a holiday for extended families to gather. Familymembers often travel great distances to reunite and a common meal is often partof the reunion. This year I encourage families to take time to offer thanks for theblessings of the past year as you gather for your Thanksgiving feast. I will missgathering in church and singing the hymn, “Now thank we all our God.” Thewords of this hymn, written by Martin Rinckart in Germany in 1630, havebecome an international hymn of Thanksgiving. Yet these words were originallywritten for children to sing as a table grace. In many ways Thanksgivingobservance has come full circle.

Rector, continued on page 4

By the time you receive the November Epistle, I hope that a member of thevestry has presented you with a packet that includes information about ourparish and a request that you consider prayerfully your pledge of time, talent

Offering the FirstFruits Back to

God

The Rev. Robert Alves

xx

Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our wayWith countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.O may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,With ever joyful hearts and blessèd peace to cheer us;And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;And free us from all ills, in this world and the next!All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

"...counting ourblessings offers apathway to a deeperspiritual journey."

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and treasure to the ministry of Christ in this place. If you havealready responded – THANKS. If not, please consider puttingSt. John’s first this year. The work that we do this year willplant the seeds necessary for future growth. Please start bycounting your blessings and then ask yourself the question,“How is God calling me to continue the ministry of Christ inthis place during the coming year?” The response to thisquestion is nothing less than our thank offering to God for allthe blessings of this life.

Rector, continued from page 3

Faithfully,Fr. Alves

We will open our facilities to CumberlandInterfaith Hospitality Network November 3-10.By providing beds, meals, activities for children,and a receptive ear, we are helping familiestransition out of homelessness. Please considergiving time for homeless advocacy: ourprogram coordinator, Melene Hatcher, needsvolunteers to prepare meals or be overnightstewards. Contact Melene,mghatcher@msn.com, to find out more aboutvolunteering.

Help Provide Shelter forHomeless Families

serving opportunities

Serve Breakfast with OperationInasmuchJoin St. John's volunteers Thursday, November7 and serve breakfast to our homelessneighbors. We serve from 7-9 a.m., but feel freeto jump in for any amount of time that you canhelp.

Serve at the Salvation ArmyLove LunchJoin our Love Lunch team at 11:30 a.m.November 18 and help our local SalvationArmy (220 East Russell St.) provide hot mealsto over 100 homeless citizens.

(success, power, things), but joyous and fulfilled without them.In times like these, it is easy to panic because we don’t knowwhat to expect or what will happen next. But God does. That iswhere the valley can be a good place to be. Is it difficult? Yes.But it is the place where we truly can find and walk with God,trusting that he knows the answers to the questions. It is thetime when we should stand, breathe, and float on what God’splan is, not ours. It is time to let God be enough. As Moses saidto the people, in Exodus 14:13, "Do not be afraid. Stand firm andyou will see the deliverance the LORD will bring you today."

This season we may have to live with less, be prudent withour finances, cherish moments instead of things. But it’s alsothe season where we can find a deeper and more meaningfulrelationship with God. It’s easy to love God and do his workwhile way up on the mountain. It is much harder to do it downhere in the valley where things aren’t so shiny and bright andclear. The fog rolls in, the clouds obscure the bright sun and ourvision may be dimmed. That is when our faith tells us that thepromises God makes in scripture are real. It is having the faithto say, “Yes, God is enough.”

Take time this November to be truly thankful and think ofall that has been given to you - health, food, clothing, a home,and try to think less of what you can’t have. God wants the bestfor his children. Know that your best interest is his business. LetGod be enough, and fulfillment will follow.1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Letnothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of theLord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Inspiration, continued from page 2

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EVENTS

the salon series

The Daughters of the King invite all women to exploreyour own rule of life. Led by Lisa Richey, Quiet Dayisn’t about silence; it offers fellowship, prayer, and ahaven from daily stresses, especially near the holidayseason. Join us from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday,November 23 at St. John's Episcopal Church. ContactJudy Klinck to register.

Explore Your Own Rule of Life

Thanksgivingservices and program schedule

Community Service of ThanksgivingThe downtown churches of Fayetteville join together at6 p.m. November 24 for a service of Thanksgiving asGod’s People from different traditions, yet one underthe Lordship of Jesus Christ. This year's service willtake place at First Baptist Church, 302 Moore Street. Theoffering will be given to the food pantry of FayettevilleUrban Ministry.

Programs Paused for ThanksgivingOur regularly scheduled Wednesday programs arecanceled for November 27 including worship,children's activities, handbells, and parish dinner. Wehave also decided not to hold a Thanksgiving service onThanksgiving Day, rather we will incorporate theCommunity Service of Thanksgving on November 24 asour space for worship. We wish everyone a very HappyThanksgiving holiday!

time travelsA chamber concert by the FayettevilleSymphony Woodwind QuintetAfter a successful and beautifully performed premierein September, we are eagerly anticipating theFayetteville Symphony's return to St. John's for theirsecond concert in the four-part Salon Series. At 7:30p.m. November 14, the Symphony's woodwind quintetperforms music arranged specifically for woodwindscollectively titled "Time Travels." Don't miss thisintrepid evening of fantastic chamber music! Ticketsmay be purchased at fayettevillesymphony.org or at thedoor if available. Doors open at 7 p.m.

EVENTS

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Our 2014 stewardship campaign has launched!To fully express how much the vitality of ourongoing ministries springs from your time,talent, and treasure, Vestry members arereaching out to parishioners individually andhand-delivering pledge packets. If you have notbeen visited by a Vestry member in the nextweek, please contact Brant in the parish office.You can also find Every-Member Canvas 2014materials on our website atstjohnsnc.org/stewardship.

How would you like to enjoy an elegant evening with eleven ofyour friends in the historic and beautiful Kyle House indowntown Fayetteville? The J2A youth group is sponsoring theCandlelight Dinner Raffle this year to help defray the cost oftheir pilgrimage in 2015. Tickets are $10 each or three for $25.

The winner and their eleven guests will be treated to agourmet, five-course dinner with appropriate wine pairings.You will dine by candlelight and be treated like royalty.Custom invitations will be provided for the winner to send toyour guests. The evening will be an elegant affair and yourguests should dress accordingly. Floral arrangements, music,menu cards, wine stewards, and wait staff will be provided.

The Honorable Beth Keever was the winner last year. Whenasked to comment about the evening, she said, “Good friends!Great food! Wonderful service! And lovely atmosphere! It wasa perfect night!” Here is a glimpse at last year’s exquisite menu.Wild Mushroom Soup with Vegetable Confetti; Jumbo Lump CrabCake with Tropical Salsa and Citrus Beurre Blanc; Organic FieldGreens with Gorgonzola, Pear d’Anjou, and Spiced Pecans withStrawberry Vinaigrette, Filet Mignon Mâitre d’ Hotel with MadeiraShallot Veal Jus; Haricots Verts and Blistered Tomatoes, SmokedGouda, and Peruvian Onion Gratin; Flourless Chocolate HazelnutCake and Vanilla Ice Cream with Raspberry Coulis and Peanut Brittle

The J2A youth will be selling tickets during the coffee hourfollowing the 10:30 service on Sundays or they can be purchasedin the church office. You may also contact Bill Jordan (910/286-8095) or Emily Schaefer (910/670-9007).

The drawing will be held during coffee hour on Sunday,November 17. The winner may select any date for the dinnerbefore October 31, 2014 except during Lent (March 5, 2014 –April 20, 2014).

Win a catered candlelightdinner in the Kyle House for 12and support the youth!

4th Annual Candlelight Dinner RaffleBY EMILY SCHAEFER

EVENTS

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The Episcopal congregations of Fayetteville, the UpperCape Fear Deanery, and Ft. Bragg warmly invite you toa Celebration of Homecoming and Healing in supportof our veterans, followed by dinner, at 5:30 p.m.Wednesday, November 13 at St. John’s EpiscopalChurch. Our priest liaison, Chaplain Jim Brisson, willpreach. Dinner is $7 per person. If you plan to attenddinner, please contact Brant Brock at 910.483.7405 oradministrator@stjohnsnc.org with your confirmationand the number attending.

A Celebration ofHomecoming andHealing

Young Adults in the Church (YAC) is the final phase ofthe Journey to Adulthood Youth Christian educationprogram. Our group has chosen an outreach missionproject to help provide winter clothing for needychildren at Walker Spivey Elementary School. Our planis to collect warm jackets, hats, and mittens duringNovember and December for distribution to childrenwho need warm outer clothing. We will displaysamples and size information of the items we're askingparishioners to donate and will provide envelopes forthose who prefer to contribute financial support insteadof an in-kind donation.

Please contact any member of the Young Adults inthe Church for more information or their advisors,Mary Holmes and Dick Kells

Cold Weather is Coming!BY DICK KELLS

Christmas Services and EventsAdvent is just a calendar page away! Go ahead andmark your calendars with our Christmas services andhelp us spread the word!

Dec 11Advent Music Program, 6pDec 18Rood Screen Greening, 9aDec 24Christmas Pageant, 4pHoly Eucharist Rite I, 7pHoly Eucharist Rite II and music, 10pDec 25Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10a

CALENDAR ROUNDUP

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November

1 Hampton Moore 3 Earl Horan III • Edith Mendelsohn• Jonathan Elliot Jr 4 Ethel Brewster • CharlotteMcBrayer 6 David Hedgecoe 7 Fran Elliot • LynleyNimocks 9 Peter Kershaw 10 Peter Kershaw • NitaReece • Larry Parsons • Madison Grimble 12 RuthDrymon 15 Lauren Merton 16 Kay Davidson 17 JimMcLean Jr • Mary Zahran • Paige Naylor 19 VirginiaYarborough • Catherine Moorman 20 Lucy Smith •Garrett Smith 21 Sweetie Stewart • Sybil Sasaki • RorieShort • Carrie Metz 23 Betty Neill Parsons • BurniePatterson 24 June Reichle • Martha Bock • BarbaraMullen • Nathan Farmer 25 Barbara Webb • ShannonCameron • Allie Haynes 27 Jane Thomason 28Charles Broadwell • Amanda Bullard 30 KeensCameron

anniversaries

birthdays

4 Lib & David Nimocks Jr 13 Ashton & Richard Fox II17 Jane & Weyher Dawson Jr • Dolores & Louis Metz Jr21 Nancy & Ron Bryant • Betsy & Charlie Halsey 24Carol & Vann Stephens 26 Janet & Fred Beyer • Marian& Chris Morgan 28 Carole & John Anderson • Denise& Richard Varela 29 Patsy & Greg Politowicz

celebrations

Episcopal Church Women invite all women totheir second meeting of the year at 10:30 a.m.November 4 in Hauser Hall. Annette Dunlap,noted author, will present "1st Ladies and thePolitics of Fashion." And the flag projectcontinues. Please join ECW for a fascinatingpresentation.

Author Annette DunlapPresents at ECW Meeting

St. Joseph's 140th AnniversaryService: Fr. Alves PreachingSt. Joseph's Episcopal Church invites you tocelebrate their 140th anniversary November 1-3. Friday begins with a reception at 6 p.m. in St.Joesph's parish hall. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.,features historical tours related to St. Joseph's.At 3 p.m. Sunday, St. Jospeh's will hold aspecial service, for which Fr. Alves will deliverthe sermon. Call 910.323.0161 for moreinformation.

November1 2

3See Sunday servicesUnited Thank OfferingCIHN hosting

4ECW mtg 10:30a

5 6See Wednesday services

7Op. Inasmuch Breakfast 7a

8 9

10See Sunday servicesCIHN hosting ends

11 12 13See Wednesday servicesVeterans Service 5:30p

14Salon Series: WoodwindQuintet 7:30p

15Newsletter deadline

16Saints & SinnersFarmhouse Cookout 4p

17See Sunday ServicesCandlelight Dinner Raffledrawing 12p

18Love Lunch 11:30aFinance meeting 5:30p

19Vestry meeting 6:30p

20See Wednesday ServicesStained­glass WindowsPresentation 6p

21 22 23DotK Quiet Day 9a

24See Sunday ServicesCommunity Thanksgivingservice 6p @ First Baptist302 Moore St.

25 26 27No programs and dinner

28THANKSGIVING DAYOffice closedNo service

29Office closed

30

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