The Evangel September 2018

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church 212 N. Tulane Avenue Oak Ridge, TN 37830

Tel: 865/483-8497

The Rev. Larry C. Minter INTERIM RECTOR

larry@ststephensor.org

The Rev. Dr. G. David Lovett ASSOCIATE RECTOR

associaterector@ststephensor.org

The Rev. Dr. Stephen Damos PASTORAL ASSOCIATE

pastoralassociate@ststephensor.org

Simon Hogg ORGANIST/CHOIRMASTER

choir@ststephensor.org

Cameron Ellis TREASURER

treasurer@ststephensor.org

Vicki Hancock PARISH SECRETARY

secretary@ststephensor.org

Courtney Manrod CHRISTIAN FORMATION CECoord@ststephensor.org

Caroline Wood Youth Minister

Youth Minister@ststephensor.org

Craig Brent, Adam Boggs, Mary Petersen

EPISCOPAL YOUTH FELLOWSHIP (EYF)

EYF@ststephensor.org

Jim Ball WEBMASTER

webmaster@ststephensor.org

Larry Hopson SEXTON

Sharon Thomas NURSERY SUPERVISOR

Dan DiGregorio SENIOR WARDEN

seniorwarden@ststephensor.org

Barbara Steele JUNIOR WARDEN

juniorwarden@ststephensor.org

It’s almost Fall, y’all!! And that means the start of our Sunday

Christian Ed programming is just around the corner! A lot of folks

have been working behind the scenes to make this year special.

We have programs for every age and stage, all are designed to

nourish the spirit and strengthen our community through love. It all kicks off with

Rally Day at 10:00 a.m. on September 9. Join us in the Parish Hall to speak with lay

ministers and learn first hand their experiences gained from such a wide array of

service. Be sure to take advantage of this special opportunity to introduce yourself to

Caroline Wood, St. Stephen’s new Youth Minister! She is a recent graduate of

Eckerd College in St Petersburg, FL. While there she led peer spiritual groups and

served as President and Founder of the National Communication Honor Society.

Caroline has served on staff at Grace Point, including training staff members, the last

four summers. She is now teaching pre-K class at the Episcopal School of Knoxville

and is excited to be that special someone mentoring and guiding our middle and high

school students.WE ARE THRILLED SHE ACCEPTED THIS CALL TO

MINISTRY AT ST STEPHEN’S!

All in all it is shaping up to be an exceptional and exciting year. It won’t be the same

without your participation!! You and your family are vital members of our parish

family. Consider being a part of one of our Christian Formation Programs. There is

something for everyone.

With Christ’s love,

Courtney Manrod, Director

St Stephen’s Christian Education

News From The Interim Rector Rev. Larry C. Minter

News From The Associate Rector, Rev. G. David Lovett...

Adult Forum

We are ready for a new church year of adult education. We will begin on September 9, with an old-fashioned Rally Day. Then the regular programming will begin on September 16, with Michael and Lissie Beehan. They will lead us in a look at the current status of immigration policies and potential for our possible involvement in ministry to some of “the least of these.” Later we will begin a study following Parker Palmer’s book, Let Your Life Speak. It will give us opportunity to hear God’s call for the next phase of our life and ministry. Please contact the office to get your copy of the book ordered. As in the past, our Outreach Committee will welcome agencies to come on the first Sunday of the month to give emphasis for our prayers and ministry for that month.

EYF Needs Your Help

The EYF will be gearing back up for the school year. The pattern has been that they meet on Sundays after the late service, have a lunch together and then have activities. Even though we have asked in the past, often the preparing and serving of the lunches has fallen on the leaders who are busy trying to offer a meaningful program/activity. By the time they get their meal served the energy level is already being drained. If we could get a family each week to provide a nice lunch, then the EYF leaders can have their energies for the important parts. Please call the church office to take a week.

Sabbatical

Genesis 2:2. And on the seventh day God finished the work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all the work that he had done.

Our Diocesan policy states, “If God thought it was good for God, surely God thinks it is good for God's people. In this regard (as in others) Clergy are to be models of God to God's people. It is, therefore, incumbent on them to be deliberate in taking regular times for the rest which allows for the replenishment of the body and the spirit. . . . it is Diocesan Policy that any person taking Sabbatical leave will continue in his/her current position for at least one year after completion of the Sabbatical leave.” With all that said, I am so thankful to this parish and to the vestry for approving a sabbatical rest for me. Fr. Minter and I have had several conversations about how difficult it will be for me to not be involved in the workings of the church while I am to be away. However, if sabbatical is to truly be rest and refreshment it must require separation from the normal routines. I can’t imagine the people I love having new babies and grandbabies and me not being able to celebrate with them. I can’t imagine those who I love having surgeries that I cannot attend. I can’t imagine one of those whom I love, God forbid, to even die during this time when I am away. But, these things will certainly happen. As difficult as it will be, for my own health and healing during this time of sabbatical I will have to draw those lines. I honestly can’t wait to get the time off. I honestly can’t wait to get back to the parish with renewed vision and energy and ideas. It will take a full team effort for all this to happen. Thank you for being an essential part of that team. i http://dioet.org/For%20Clergy/sabbatical-leave-policy.html

Fall Sabbatical for Fr. David Lovett

It was a privilege to write last month, describing Fr. David’s sabbatical which begins on September 1. Now it is time to give Fr. David a send-off with prayer and our best wishes for the three months he will be away. Sabbatical is a time of refreshment, rest, and renewal for clergy, and at the same time, there is a special role for the congregation to play. In order for sabbatical to work as it is designed, it is necessary that clergy not return for pastoral or liturgical responsibilities. Please join me in taking our part in order to make the sabbatical a holy time for Fr. David, a time that is set apart for him, and also a time set apart for us as we offer the sabbatical to God for the Spirit to be at work. It follows that, except for one wedding already scheduled before the Sabbatical was planned, Fr. David will not be available for funerals, other weddings, baptisms, or any other pastoral or liturgical responsibilities. Please look further in this issue of The Evangel to read Fr. David’s notes about his upcoming time away, and to hear his thanks for all of you.

Caroline Wood Begins Youth Ministry I was happy to announce in church on August 19th that St. Stephen’s has called Caroline Wood to serve as Youth Minister beginning in September. Caroline, who teaches at the Knoxville Episcopal School, will serve as a part time staff member at St. Stephens, leading our Middle School and High School youth ministry. Along with teaching the Middle School Class on Sunday mornings, Caroline will lead EYF and partner with staff and lay volunteers to plan program and foster the growth of our Youth Ministry. The scope of her ministry also includes promoting participation in Diocese of East Tennessee youth events. Please join me in welcoming Caroline on September 9, her first day at St. Stephen’s.

AUGUST ACTIVITIES

Church Women United (CWU) Church Women United invites the public to a presentation on essential oils at noon on Friday, September 7. Nadine Valentino of Batino Valley Salon Services is the featured speaker. The presentation will be held in Room F-110 of the main (Coffey-McNally) building at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge. Meet-and-greet at 11:30. For further information, call 483-7940.

Annual Meeting The annual meeting for St. Stephen's is scheduled for Sunday, October 21, 2018. At that time, among other agenda items, the parish will elect four (4) new members to the Vestry. Please consider standing for this election. If you nominate someone, please get his/her permission before you do so. Four seats will need to be filled. Submit names to the outgoing Vestry Members, Dean Hartley, Brian Bovee, or Dan DiGregorio. Additionally, Nancy Anderson is filling an unexpired term, and is eligible to stand for election. Nominees may also be submitted to Vicki Hancock, Nominations close two weeks before the annual meeting (midnight, October 7, 2018). Please review the Bylaws. http://www.ststephensor.com/Bylaws/Bylaws_2016.pdf as to the requirements.

Banns of Marriage I publish the banns of marriage between Adam Lee Boggs and Simon Norman Hogg of St. Stephen’s parish. This is the second time of asking. If any of you know any reason in law why they may not marry each other you are to declare it.

Birthdays Anniversaries September Birthdays 1 Charles Kirk 2 Jeanne Kring, Gabe Ledford 3 Jonah Majors 4 Melisha Willis 5 Elissa Aaron, Jack Pennoyer 8 Kathy Moore 9 Roger Derby, Carole Akers 12 Mitchell Gibbons 14 Elizabeth Stickle 17 Richard Neill, Will Mauk-Olson 18 Harold David, Matt Berven 19 Marilyn Davis, Nancy Caldwell, Jacob Anthony 20 Mark Henry 24 Elizabeth Shane 25 Christine Walberg 28 Chap Toomer, II, Serge Fournier, Peggy Volk, Tom Clary

September Anniversaries 1 Roger & Deb Johnson Ken & Katie Kendall 5 Andrew Payzant & Linda Towhig 14 Jim & Audrey Henry 15 Chuck & Lola Estes 25 Jeff & Mary Cooper

PLANNING OUR FUTURE TOGETHER! As part of our search for a new rector, we invite you to complete the Church Assessment Tool (CAT), an on-line questionnaire.

Follow the link on our website (www.ststephensor.org). If you need a paper copy, please come to the office, and we will provide one for you.

All answers are strictly anonymous, so please feel free to candidly share your perceptions, opinions and experiences.

We Need Your Voice!

Deadline for the On-line

Survey is Tuesday, Sept. 4.

Printed Surveys must be turned in Sunday, Sept. 2.

HERE!

Food Baskets The Food Basket Ministry has been a strong and vibrant ministry of St. Stephen’s for many years. Many thanks to all of you who have participated through shopping, packing boxes, distributing boxes, making monetary donations, and praying for our families. The Outreach Committee has decided to move the distribution of the baskets to a quarterly basis based on the breaks in the school schedule. This will mean that our families have food when their children are not at school to receive meals. The next food baskets will go out on September 29 at 9:00. Packing of the boxes will be on September 28 at 9:00. So please, start shopping, writing checks, and praying for our families.

Food Basket Items: Cornmeal mix, stuffing mix, flour, sugar, rice, beans, spaghetti, spaghetti sauce, macaroni & cheese, boxed cereal, peanut butter, jam/jelly, apple sauce, apple juice, granola bars, crackers, graham crackers, cake mix, cake icing, oatmeal, instant pudding, raisins

Canned Items: spaghettios, fruit, greenbeans, corn, peas, mixed vegetables, pumpkin, cranberry sauce, tuna, chicken, soup/stew

Non-food items: toothpaste, bath soap, laundry detergent, paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant

Nine O‘Clock Service Returns to the Chapel

At the beginning of the Program Year on September 9th, the Nine o’clock service will be scheduled in the Chapel. In previous years the service was moved to the parish hall due to attendance issues relating to fire code. Last year, however, though well attended, the attendance was within the parameters of the fire code. As we progressed through the year, there were times when the Liturgics Committee recommended that the nine o’clock meet in the chapel on occasions when the parish hall was taken for parish events. As I continued to discuss scheduling, the committee eventually recommended moving the service back to the chapel on a regular basis, believing that our friends who worship at nine would welcome returning to the chapel, where the service was born and had long taken place. In fact, we worshipped in the Chapel on Sunday May 13, and everyone loved the occasion. Our musicians have been rehearsing there and arranging for the space they need. So please help me spread the word, as we return to the Nine o’clock’s home.

Outdoor Service - Sunday, September 2 The 10:00 a.m. service will be held in the Grove. Bring a chair and join us for this end of summer service.

The 8:00 a.m. service will be in the Nave.

EMERGENCY!

If there is an emergency, please call Fr. Minter at 502-432-2819. Fr. Lovett is on Sabbatical until December.

Do not leave a message on the church phone. Phones are not checked except during regular business hours - not on evenings or weekends.

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd We are about to begin our 18th year of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd classes at St. Stephen’s. WOW! Hard to believe it has been that many years… As we continue to share information about the program, including its history here at St. Stephen’s, read some words written by Sophia Cavaletti who, along with Gianna Gobbi, started Catechesis of the Good Shepherd with children in Rome, Italy in 1954. Since that time it has become both international and ecumenical in scope. “The center of catechesis (the atrium) is a place of celebrating the word of God, for listening, praying and reflecting together, for meditating and working. It is a place where the child is able to do everything at his/her own rhythm, which is slower than the adult’s; this is how the child can prepare herself/himself to participate more consciously in the community life of the adults.” In her book The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd in a Parish Setting, Tina Lillig explains that the suitability of Catechesis for children of diverse cultures is evidenced by its spread from Europe to North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia. She further writes that although the atria in different parts of the world vary according to the characteristics and conditions of the particular places/cultures and the differing economic capacities of the parishes, all carry a common vision—that of the child’s dignity and the child’s desire to come closer to God. With that vision before us and with the loving support and participation of many members of our parish (too many to list here… ), The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd began as and continues to be a “church—wide project” at St. Stephen’s. We give thanks to God for guidance throughout these years of spending time with, learning, praying, singing and worshipping with your children. As a way of welcoming the children and their families, as well as all members of St. Stephen’s, back to another year of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, we will have an Open House in each atrium in the fall. The date and times to be announced later. This will be a time of fellowship, a time of learning and a time of celebrating how God is “at work” among us and our children. As in past years, Catechesis I will meet in Room 102 and is for children 3 years old through kindergarten. Catechesis II will meet in Room 108 and is for children 1st grade through 4th grade. Linda Twohig, Peggy DeVan and Jo Kelley will be guiding and worshipping with our children on Sunday mornings from 10:00-11:30 a.m.

EVANGEL’S EDITORIAL POLICY We welcome articles of interest to the congregation. Publication is always subject to space constraints; articles may be shortened or edited if necessary. Deadline for the following

month’s Evangel is the 15th of the current month. Send to: secretary@ststephensor.org.

NEW FALL DIRECTORIES New parish directories are in the Mail Room, Parish Hall and Hospitality Area. The directory has also been emailed to the parish.