O U T R E A C H I W O R L D W I D E I O F F E R I N G I C AT H E D R A L K I D Z
Prayer & Action
Christ Church Cathedral 覺 Lexington, Kentucky
www.ccclex.org
THE COST OF HUNGER
LEAVING A BLESSING Marc Mathews explains his view of the Legacy Society
Youth Chanel Lufkin recaps the 30 Hour Famine.
Reflections from a
Holy Week APRIL/13
A People of
Sanctuary
Prayer & Action Prayer & Action I April 2013
Beginning April 28!
Dean & Rector ɪ The Very Rev. Carol L. Wade > cwade@ccclex.org Associate Dean ɪ The Rev. Brent Owens > bowens@ccclex.org Curate ɪ The Rev. Joe Mitchell > jmitchell@ccclex.org Deacon ɪ The Rev. Paula L. Ott > paula@ccclex.org Canon Musician ɪ Canon Erich Balling > eballing@ccclex.org Music Assistant ɪ Kathleen Balling > kballing@ccclex.org Assistant Organist ɪ Lisa Hall > lhall@ccclex.org Minister of Christian Formation ɪ Dr. Elizabeth Conrad > elizabeth@ccclex.org Youth Ministry Coordinator ɪ Amanda Musterman-Kiser > amusterman@ccclex.org Nursery Coordinator ɪ Michelle Dunlap > mdunlap@ccclex.org Parish Administrator ɪ Lesa Schoner Wehrle > lschoner@ccclex.org Parish Secretary ɪ Margaret Christensen > mchristensen@ccclex.org Publications Coordinator & Webmaster ɪ Ashley Goodrich > agoodrich@ccclex.org Financial Assistant ɪ Linda Critchfield > lcritchfield@ccclex.org Facilities Manager ɪ John Hodgman > jhodgman@ccclex.org Sexton ɪ Brownell Haddix Vestry Chuck Baldecchi, Senior Warden ɪ John Brice, Junior Warden ɪ C.B. Baize ɪ Nancy Bogue ɪ Cissy Collins ɪ Lance Churchill ɪ Sherry Ferguson ɪ Robert Fugate ɪ Ann-Whitney Garner ɪ Tom Howard ɪ Tracey Meyers ɪ Gary Stewart ɪ Marc Mathews, Treasurer WANT TO WRITE FOR US? GREAT! Prayer & Action is published by Christ Church Cathedral seasonally throughout the year. DEADLINES: For the May issue, the deadline for announcements, photos and articles is April 12 at noon. Email is preferred.
Sundays 6:00pm Followed by a simple meal.
Sanctuary is a place and time of deep peace, heartwarming music of the Celtic tradition, votive candles, contemplation, worship and Holy Eucharist.
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APRIL PRAYER Almighty God, we praise you that the light of our risen Savior shines in our darkness and is never overcome; show us the way we must go to eternal day, through Jesus Christ our Lord. NEED PRAYER? Contact Margaret Christensen, Parish Secretary, at the church if you or a family member is admitted to the hospital or in need of congregational care. For the Prayer Chain, call Loys Mather, 299-8569, or the church office. ABOUT THE COVER The Palm crosses are ready for the Palm Sunday liturgy!
THE MISSION OF CHRIST CHURCH CATHEDRAL To restore all persons to unity with God and one another in Christ Jesus, through prayer, worship, proclamation of the Gospel, and the promotion of Justice, Peace and Love.
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166 Market Street Lexington, Kentucky 40507 www.ccclex.org 859-254-4497
CONTENTS
April 13 / ccclex.org
Reflections from a Holy Week
4
Leaving a Blessing
12
New Chairpersons for Angel Tree Needed
12
Catching Up with the Kogers
13
The Cost of Hunger
14
Sortons Pour Servir
16
Ambassadors for the Anglican Communion
17
Bulletin Board
18
Birthdays
19
Reflections from a
Holy Week New Lights By The Very Rev. Carol Wade
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Receive the light of Christ that your life may be a light to the world.” With those words, proclaimed at Saturday’s Easter Vigil, three newly baptized adults made their first steps as God’s new creation. Rising from the waters of baptism, anointed by the Holy Spirit, and dressed in white vestments, symbolic of being clothed in Christ, the three carried candles set aglow from the first fire kindled at the Easter Vigil. They made their way from font to table amid pealing bells, a showering of light and loud shouts of Alleluia! As their procession stirred up among us the enlivening presence of sweet-smelling beeswax, scented oil of chrism, perfumed lilies, frankincense, myrrh and great mirth, these three became not only a fragrant offering of the risen Christ among us, but also light bearing sacraments of Christ’s healing presence in the world. In the ancient language of the church, the newly baptized are called neophytes, literally, new lights, for they are the new light of Christ given for the world. The three individuals we baptized committed themselves to being the light of Christ in the world, and so did all those among us who renewed their baptismal vows at the Vigil. Indeed, the Vigil becomes an opportunity for us all to rekindle the light in our hearts that transforms us to
be God's hands in the world. Recalling the words of the prophet Malachi 4:2, the church proclaims “the Sun of Justice will rise with healing on his wings.” In the resurrection, Christ triumphs over evil and death as he rises from the darkness of the grave, and we, bowed down in sin and brokenness, now, by virtue of our baptism, seek to rise in that power and walk in his light. Beginning Sunday, April 7, class offerings such as God in International Politics, Adult Children Caring for Their Parents, and the newcomers class, Cathedral 101, are helpful ways to grow in knowledge as we rise in healing and justice. Participating in the new Habitat fundraiser and build is another tangible step. As we step together into The Great Fifty Days of Easter, how will you carry the light of God’s justice and healing in the world? Ϯ
... an opportunity for us all to rekindle the light in our hearts that transforms us to be God's hands in the world. CCCLEX.ORG / 5
Like a Bell By The Rev. Brent Owens
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s Lent approached, I cast about for my Lenten discipline. I tried some on, but none seemed to fit. Some told me of their Lenten discipline and its effect: one gave up coffee, another sweets, another started working out. I remained conspicuously quiet. Well into Lent my prayers for a discipline were answered. Like a bell, a phrase from a pastoral conversation rang in my ears: “The beauty of death.” I resisted the pairing of these words. To me, they didn’t seem to belong together. Shortly before this, my wife, Malinda, told me I needed to read Proof of Heaven: a Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife, by Eben Alexander, M.D. Prayers answered, it was clear that my Lenten discipline was to wrestle with this phrase and read this book. The Resurrection is the point of view from which I see the world. I perceive that God is making all things new, and that the inherent goodness in all of creation is being restored and reconciled to God through the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Each day I am excited to see what new thing God is doing. But there is a shadow side to this perspective: it fails to account for the hard wood of the cross and that Jesus died a very real death. If I skip over the Crucifixion and jump straight to the Resurrection, then I may also skip over injustice, suffering, death, and cruelty. If I don’t wait with Christ in his suffering and death, how can I be in solidarity with those who also suffer? But beauty is the more difficult idea in this pairing. Where is beauty 6 / PRAYER AND ACTION_APRIL 13
in death? Is it in reconciliation? How about new birth in God? Is it in the mystery – only in death do we become one with God again? Is it in the beauty of heaven, the peace that passes all understanding, and the deep connection and communion with God? Is it in the end to suffering and pain? Is it in new life that springs forth? Yes, yes to all of these and more. This is what we do as Episcopalians on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and until sundown on Holy Saturday. We walk with Jesus in his final days, all the way to the hard wood of the cross. Then we wait at the tomb. Along this journey our Lenten disciplines connect us to the Easter Resurrection. I am convinced that our spiritual life is far more about the journey than the destination. If we only focus on a church full of flowers and alleluias, then we may have missed something important. I am still struggling with the pairing of beauty and death. But the journey taken is perhaps more important than any revelation. It is on the journey that our hearts are broken open, we are transformed, made new and reconciled to God. Ϯ
Sharing a Meal, Sharing Love, Sharing Jesus By The Rev. Joe Mitchell
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n Maundy Thursday we gathered to remember Jesus sitting at table with his friends. What a beautiful image this is! Not only does Jesus institute the Sacrament of Holy Communion at this meal, but this meal also reminds us of a fundamental truth that the early Church knew: Jesus is always present in the sharing of a meal. This meal does not necessarily have to be Communion; in fact, many worship services in the early days of the Church consisted of table fellowship, a reading of Scripture, and then Holy Communion. Early scribes like Justin Martyr have left us with writings that affirm this belief that Jesus is present in the sharing, in the conversation, in the love that is poured out in a meal. With that in mind the 20s and 30s group tried something new this Lent: Sushi Fridays. On top of our regular Monday Theology on Tap gatherings, Sushi Fridays allowed us to gather around for a meal, rather than simple appetizers and drinks, and to be fed in body and spirit. In body we were fed by the delicious sushi served at the many Japanese restaurants around Lexington (Sugano, Yamamoto, and Miyako to name a few). In spirit we were fed by the lively conversations about new opportunities facing us, about the deep theological complexities of Lent and Holy Week, and about who we thought would win the NCAA Tournament (I foolishly picked Miami). The love of Christ was very present in those meals. Likewise, the Episcopal Campus Ministry (ECM) at UK gathered for something new during Holy Week: an Agape Meal. The tradition of the Agape Meal goes back centuries, when Christians would gather on Maundy Thursday to share in a sparse meal of water, fruits, olives, breads, and cheeses. The ECM shared that meal with our brothers and sisters in the Ignite Lutheran Campus Ministry, and at the end of the meal The Rev. Barry Neese and I washed the feet of the students, a tradition that honors our Lord and is in keeping with the Agape Meals of early Christians. The love shared in the laughter, stories, and tears of that night was palpable. Jesus was most certainly there. For me Holy Week has always been about one thing: love. It is about the extraordinary love Jesus shows his disciples by washing their feet on Maundy Thursday and calling them (and us) to do the same. It is about the love Jesus pours out for the whole world on the hard wood of the cross on Good Friday. And it is about the love of God breaking through our dark world by raising Jesus to new life on Easter Sunday. The Cathedral Young Adults have experienced that love. We have shared it this Lent and Holy Week, and we will continue to do so as we move deeper into our love of God and neighbor. ĎŽ
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Seeing Palm Sunday in an Entirely New Light By The Rev. Paula Ott
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f I am counting correctly, I recently attended a Palm Sunday service for the 35th year. While I admit it took me a few years to fully comprehend the nature of the service, no other Palm Sunday service ever came close in leaving such an impression upon me as did the one celebrated here at Christ Church Cathedral on March 24. The nuance, as we processed with palms held high swaying from side to side, brought to my mind the joyous and excited adoration of Jesus as he made his way into Jerusalem 2,000 years ago. I could imagine myself a part of that crowd, laying down my cloak as Jesus passed by. But, by the end of the Passion and our procession into the world with empty arms, save for our palm crosses, the tenor of the day had changed and brought me headlong into Holy Week. Gone was my joy, replaced with the acknowledgement of the solemnity of the week to come. With their inflections and their gestures, the readers of the Passion Play brought the story of Jesus’ arrest alive. The sound of the tympani added to the rising sense of tension and dread I felt as I listened to the story I have heard so many times, but never heard quite the same. 8 / PRAYER AND ACTION_APRIL 13
The music from that Sunday still whirls about in my head. I am so blessed to take part in worship that includes the likes of the Men and Boys and the Girls choirs when they offer up the gift of their incredible combined voices to the Glory of God. On that Palm Sunday, that glorious Palm Sunday, their contribution to our worship was over the top! Add to those voices the likes of the tympani during the Procession and the Passion as well as the mystical bells that softly rang so reverently during the Psalm. Last, but certainly not least, was the Offertory, a piece that has mesmerized me each time I have heard it. From the bottom of my heart and the innermost places of my soul, I give each and every one of you who participated in our Palm Sun-
day Service my humble thanks. To the Altar Guild and the Vergers, my thanks for your work in making sure all was present for such a powerful service, one we do but once a year. Erich, Kathleen, Lisa and all of you in the choirs, I am surely one of your biggest fans. Dean Carol, I thank you for your vision and leadership that fashioned and set the tone for the service. Above all, dear God, I thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus and for his precious body, the Church. ĎŽ
Of Brokenness and Divinity By Dr. Elizabeth Conrad
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oly Week was completed for me on Easter Sunday afternoon, watching the University of Louisville and Duke basketball game, a very unlikely place for me to find a spiritual "Aha!". It happened in the blink of an eye. Kevin Ware (UL) was trying to block a 3-point shot by Duke's Tyler Thornton. He simply landed wrong, resulting in a gruesome break which extended his bone from his leg 6 inches. Fellow players began dropping to the floor in agony and prayer. Players from the other team and both coaches continued to wipe tears from their eyes, trying to gather some guidance and meaning. Fans bowed their heads and many cried. At home, all of us were trans-
Humanity is a beautiful lot with such a mixture of brokenness and divinity.
fixed in horror. There was silence in the arena. In some sense there was a glimpse of the holy as we were united in the suffering of Kevin. There was also a hint of the indwelling presence of love that unites all people. It took Kevin's pain for us to see this. As I sat in the pew on Good Friday witnessing and experiencing the suffering and death of Jesus, I sit and absorb the horror. I am transposed to some of the places within me that I do not like to go. I go deeper into the soil of my own wounding and suffering. The lives of many others cross my screen. Tears for all of us begin to run down my face. Our pain is tied together with his and I know in my bones that this is pointing to Resurrection. Humanity is a beautiful lot with such a mixture of brokenness and divinity. Suffering and joy go together, just as there can be no Easter without Good Friday. The church is the container that helps us to make meaning of all of it. The divine spark is present with or without the church, as was witnessed on that basketball floor Sunday afternoon. Having the container of our story of Holy Week gives us the perspective and knowing that Resurrection follows suffering. We have walked these weeks together. We have
suffered together and imagined the world with no Christ. We have said prayers, preparing ourselves for new life. We anticipated the Resurrection as we hunted for Easter eggs on Saturday morning, and we experienced
the first of the new life at the Easter Vigil and renewal of our baptismal vows. I pray that we now move expectantly into these next 50 days of Easter knowing that we will experience Jesus in new ways. Alleluia, the Lord is risen indeed! ĎŽ
CCCLEX.ORG / 9
“Where charity and love are, God is there.” By Alex Clay, 20-year member, Cathedral Men's Choir
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good friend of mine in the choir likes to say Holy Week is his favorite time at the Cathedral, outweighing Christmas Eve, Messiah, and even Lessons and Carols. In the past, I’ve neither agreed nor disagreed with him and saw Holy Week like the Christmas season or a notable Evensong — it was another time to step up our game, sing excellent music, and help lead the church into our Easter celebration. But this year, as I moved from the joyous shouts of Palm Sunday into cries of “Crucify Him!” to asking God for forgiveness and mercy, and finally into the exuberant Alleluias of Easter morning, I felt something deeper than the call to step up my game and sing great music. I was caught up in the experience of the Resurrection story, and Holy Week became something more powerful and moving than before. I’ve been trying to discern why this year felt different. Why, when I’ve sung Holy Week services for 20 10 / PRAYER AND ACTION_APRIL 13
years, did this week connect with me more deeply than in years past? The best answer I can offer is that each service took the music I help make and built something greater out of it. Palm Sunday began with Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem and twisted our joy into malice with demands to crucify him. That morning’s music echoed this distortion with the chaotic cries of Haydn’s Insanae et vanae curae: “Vain and raging cares invade our minds, madness often fills the heart, robbed of hope.” Maundy Thursday reminded us of Jesus’ call to service and his love for us, so it was fitting to sing two settings of the text “Ubi caritas et amor, Deus ibi est,” which means “Where charity and love are, God is there.” Good Friday’s noon service interspersed the Passion Gospel with two pieces — one a setting of two lines from the Nicene Creed, “For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suffered death and was buried,” and, once Jesus was crucified, a setting of Psalm
51, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your loving-kindness; in your great compassion blot out my offenses.” What began with demands for murder turned to cries of regret and shame. This betrayal left me feeling cold and distant. But that evening, when we gathered as a community to watch and wait, I felt comforted by the love and closeness of those around me. “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” we sang. Regret and shame became a plea for forgiveness and mercy. As we kept our vigil into Saturday, we began in darkness, recalling God’s saving deeds toward humankind. The text of Psalm 143 continued our supplication to God: “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and consider my desire.” Light broke through the darkness, and Baptism carried us into the celebration of Easter. “Triumphant in his glory now; To him all power is given!” we sang Easter morning as the church was filled with Alleluias. For me, Holy Week became an emotional journey through Jesus’ passion and the Resurrection that followed. I felt each Holy Week service joined music, prayer, liturgy, and the arrangement of our worship space to create a powerful experience that touched everyone present. Throughout the rest of the year, our music will continue to offer praise and glory to God, and I will look forward to festive Evensongs and the Christmas season. But as a Christian and as a musician, I now say that Holy Week is my favorite time of the year, too, and I look forward to walking and singing the Resurrection story again and again. Ϯ
Wonderfully Made By Amanda Musterman-Kiser
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do to her body, Jesus loved her. Jesus' love and care for us is as intimate and real as it was on the last night with his Disciples, and as such, Jesus loves us -- all of us, including our bodies. All of us at some point in our lives do something that does not honor our own body. Some of us struggle with weight others with the desire to look perfect, others with to whom and what we will give our bodies. As a youth minister I see this struggle not only in our adult
aster afternoon, long after the bells and ribbons had been put away, I joined my family for our Easter feast. The table was beautifully set. There image of God was a bountiful amount of born of God's breath food to be tasted. Family and vessel of divine Love friends sat in mismatched after his likeness chairs and huddled around dwelling of God two differently sized tables capacity for the infinite pushed together. There eternally known we were - close, crowded, chosen of God enjoying one another, passhome of the Infinite Majesty ing my 4-month-old nephew abiding in the Son around, and catching up with called from eternity people we deeply love. life in the Lord This is why I love Maundy temple of the Holy Spirit Thursday. It is real. It is heartbranch of Christ felt. It is an experience we all receptacle of the Most High know -- sitting and dining in wellspring of Living Water celebration with our closest heir of the kingdom family and friends, enjoying the glory of God their presence, and deeply abode of the Trinity. listening to them because life God sings this litany is short and we do not have eternally in his Word. much time. In his sermon on This is who you are. Maundy Thursday, Bishop a litany of the person - anonymous Trappist monk Hahn reminded us of how Abbey of Gethsemani profoundly Jesus loved his Disciples as he dined with population but over and over in our them knowing that it was their last young people. It is always good to be meal before his death. As Jesus respected them as individuals he not reminded that Jesus loves us in our entirety. A little overweight, frizzy only conversed with them, but also haired, addicted, six-packless, wrinhonored their bodies by washing their feet and serving them. To honor kled, and pimply as we may be, God loves each one of us as much as he a person is to honor their body. On Easter, Bishop Hahn further reflected loved his Disciples, on that Maundy on Mary Magdalene. He reminded us Thursday night. He loves us as God's that despite what Mary did or did not beautiful and precious creation. And in those eyes we are perfect just as
we are. On April 28 at 11:00am we will celebrate the 13th birthdays of youth in our Cathedral. As we participate in the Celebration of Manhood and Womanhood, we will recite Psalm 139 with the participants. We will once again be reminded that God searches us and knows us, that God made us in the womb, that there is nowhere we can escape God's presence with us. It is a time when we remind our young folk that they are loved by God and that they are wonderfully made. In this Easter season let us all remember that Christ honors us, bodies and all. "Creator God, you made all things. You made us in your image and blessed us. Help me to see that you bless me too. Bless my hand and foot, finger and toe, chest and head, eyes and hair, height and weight. You made every part of me and I am beautiful. Help me to turn away from things and people that tell me that I'm ugly, that I don't fit in. I am awesome and wonderfully made. Help me believe this." - Prayer for Body Image from Call on Me: A Prayer Book for Young People ĎŽ
CCCLEX.ORG / 11
Connecting the Pieces of Our Lives
PIECES
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THE LEGACY SOCIETY: LEAVING A BLESSING
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NEW CHAIRPERSONS FOR ANGEL TREE NEEDED
By Marc Mathews
hen I was a Vestry member, I became familiar with the Thurman Fund, which provides annual operating support to Christ Church. Now as Treasurer, I am fully versed in the importance of the Thurman Fund, which provides over $100,000 per year to Christ Church. That’s quite a legacy! When Lida Thurman set up a trust as part of her will to benefit Christ Church in the amount of $250,000 in the 1960s, I wonder if she could have envisioned that this bequest would grow to over $2 million in value and provide over 7 percent of the church’s annual revenue. Mrs. Thurman is no longer with us in body, but I can assure you that many of us think of her spirit with love and respect several times each year. To me, this is what the Legacy Society is all about -- continuing to provide for this
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church that we love even when we are no longer here to make annual gifts. That’s the reason that Gwen and I wanted to become members of the Legacy Society, even at a time when our contribution was relatively small. I had a life insurance policy that I had purchased in college. It was fully paid up. It was also an amount that wouldn’t do my estate much good. So we decided that donating this little-used asset would be a way we could join the Legacy Society now, in case something happened to either of us. Then, as our children grow and are educated and we have the opportunity to consider a more substantial bequest to Christ Church, we can do so. But in the meantime, we’ve made the statement that leaving a legacy to Christ Church is important to us. Please consider making this statement in your own way now. And please think of Mrs. Thurman fondly when you do. Ϯ
ould you like to help ensure that a child and family have a special Christmas next December? A few people are needed to coordinate our Angel Tree program at Harrison School. Marc and Gwen Mathews, with the help of Renee and Greg Mullins, have done an outstanding job working with the school and CCC congregation to help produce a meaningful and fulfilling Christmas celebration for families referred by the school. The Harrison School Family Resource Center is very helpful and supportive of the Angel Tree. After five years the Mathewses and Mullinses are ready to relinquish the chairmanship but will be available to advise. We would like to recruit at least three or four people to take charge of this program, so that the workload can be distributed several ways. If you have any interest in or would like more information about the Angel Tree program, please contact Martha Park (263-5878) or the Rev. Brent Owens (2544497). Ϯ
C AT H E D R A L K I D Z
CATCHING UP WITH THE KOGERS
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ntering the playroom of the Koger girls, daughters of Melissa and Matt, is like seeing a dream room full of dollhouses, princess tents, easels, paints, puzzles, stuffed bunnies and bears and lots of dolls -- just about all the fun things children love to play with. And Kailey, (almost) 8 years old, and Emery, 4, are delighted with it all. Emery had her favorite day at preschool today because, she tells us, this is the day she gets her hair “fixed.” Sporting three braids, she knows she looks quite good! Big sister Kailey tells us that she really loves school, especially reading and science. The family lives in Versailles and Kailey attends the Emma B. Ward School. As CCC Minister of Christian Formation Elizabeth Conrad chats with the girls, Emery tells us that she likes “table work” at her preschool -- to color, trace, and also, of course, to have them fix her hair. Emery also shows us how “I can spell my name -- even with my eyes closed!” And she did. At church, both girls enjoy Godly Play and Kailey particularly likes the parables that are kept in the gold box. Children’s Chapel is another activity that Kailey enjoys, and she tells us a little about the story that was read to the children there recently -- about a parrot in a forest in India rescuing all the other forest animals from a huge fire. The stories at
By Susan H. Stempel
Children’s Chapel CHILDREN'S CHAPEL are a favorite for OFFERING >>> her. Send an offering to Children’s Both girls are Chapel every Sunday with your taking gymnastics children. This will go to help get and demonstrate clean water for the people of Haiti. their talents -somersaulting, cartwheeling and handstands. And both are beginning piano lessons and practice at home on a keyboard. Kailey is also playing soccer and her mother tells us that she made a team this year -- the white team. The girls also love to play outside and have a yard with swings, a slide and monkey bars, so, weather permitting, they enjoy playing on those. As we get ready to leave, both girls are excited about their upcoming birthdays -- Kailey will turn 8 before this interview appears and is going to have her first slumber party. It’s quite a big event for the Koger household, to be followed in April by Emery’s fourth birthday party. Big times for Emery and Kailey and their parents as these two active, enthusiastic little girls delight in living and learning. Ϯ
CCCLEX.ORG / 13
YOUTH
THE COST OF HUNGER By Chanel Lufkin, Youth Member
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arch 1-3, 50 youth and 10 adults from the Diocese of Lexington participated in a 30 hour juice fast. During the fast they prayed for an end to world hunger, studied the causes of hunger in Africa, and participated in community service projects throughout Lexington. I did 30 Hour Famine because it sounded like it would be fun. It was a lot of fun! I kind of knew what I was getting myself into when I signed up, but I did not think it would be nearly as eye-opening as it turned out to be. I learned how children, younger than I ever would have thought, die daily from hunger. I heard some of their stories. I knew that poverty was a big problem worldwide, but I did not know it is as serious as I do now. The world food crisis is costing the lives of children and their families across the globe and forcing them to work long, hard days to only eat one meal every few days. The Famine transformed tremendously. It opened 14 / PRAYER AND ACTION_APRIL 13
my eyes to what really is going on in the world and how many people are running out of food or cannot access food. People are going hungry here in America as well as in other countries. Doing the Famine made me realize how blessed I am to have all the luxuries that I have, clean water, plenty of food, a place to call home, etc. Never forget how blessed you are to have what you have others don’t even have the essentials. Many thanks to all our supporters! In addition to community service hours in Lexington, with your support, youth in our Diocese were able to raise $5186.90. With a federal grant, that money is multiplied four times to a current total of $20,747.60. Our 30 Hour Famine will feed 57 children for a year. Funds are donated to World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families, and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. World Vision works in over 100 countries, including the Appalachian region. ώ
WORLDWIDE
SORTONS POUR SERVIR
By Dale Chapman
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he rumble in the church grew like approaching thunder. Hundreds of worshipers around us each added their prayers to those voiced by the minister. The Caribbean rhythms of the choir and band made standing still impossible; the music insisted on movement. Holy Eucharist came in the form of bean-sized pieces of bread and tiny individual cups passed from row to row. And I was struck by the words painted in large letters over each exit: “Sortons pour Servir,” We Depart to Serve. Thus 12 of us from the Diocese of Lexington, began our time in Haiti by worshiping at the Community Christian Church in City Soleil, the massive slum of Port-auPrince. Our work took us to the community of Blanchard. As 400 children arrived early each morning for classes 16 / PRAYER AND ACTION_APRIL 13
at the elementary school next to our guesthouse, our group parted ways, some to work with a Haitian construction team building a two-room, concrete-block house for a family of five and others to work at the medical clinic run by our longtime partners, Family Health Ministries. The work at the building site was physically demanding and the heat made it more so. The absence of a translator added to the challenge, as did the lack of proper tools. Laboring side-by-side with the Haitian workers, we had the house ready to roof in four days. The Haitian couple and their three children looked typically somber in posed photos, but their eyes sparkled as they walked excitedly about their wonderful new home. At the clinic we cared for over 150 patients each day. Many of those who came to us described maladies which
at home we would treat with a quick trip to the local drugstore. Others suffered from more serious ailments and some had to be referred for ongoing care. We were saddened by those who were very ill and rejoiced with mothers-to-be when pregnancy tests were positive. In Haiti much of the population lives in unimaginable poverty. Daily life is for many a struggle to meet basic human needs, an experience year-round of the dust and ashes of Lent. Yet each day brought glimpses of Resurrection: a hug in apology from a woman who had accidentally stepped on my foot; a laugh with my translator who joked that I no longer needed him when I picked up a few words of kreyòl; a kiss on the cheek from a young girl whose face was badly misshapen by what the doctors thought was likely a tumor. The house we built and the medical care we dispensed were important, but being there made all the difference. Ours was a ministry of presence and because we were truly there in relationship with our Haitian brothers and sisters, Christ was present in our midst. Surely there are many in our community, in our elementary schools, in our nursing homes, in our prisons, who need this kind of presence. Perhaps presence is our first calling as "Sortons pour Servir" in the name of Christ. Ϯ
OFFERING
AMBASSADORS FOR THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION
T
he United Thank Offering (UTO) is an international outreach ministry which has been managed by the women of the Episcopal Church for 142 years. Monetary grants awarded by UTO reach mission ministries throughout our country and in the far reaches of the world. Last year 46 grants amounting to $1,505,322.06 were awarded, and we at Christ Church Cathedral are an important part of UTO ministry. As we place our coins of thanksgiving for our blessings in the UTO coin boxes and our dollars in the UTO envelopes during ingatherings at Christ Church Cathedral, we are “Ambassadors for the Anglican Communion.” You will find UTO coin boxes in the pews on April 7, as well as at the Welcome Center. On April 21 you will have the opportunity to place your filled coin boxes as well as your dollars (in UTO envelopes, found in the pews), in baskets at the time of our offering for the UTO Spring Ingathering. Last Year Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori reaffirmed her support of UTO by participating in a special UTO ingathering during Eucharist at the Episcopal Church
By Barbara Hodgman
General Convention. Those attending the convention were treated to a dynamic presentation by The Rev.Canon Petero Sabune, Program Officer for Africa in the Missions Department of the Episcopal Church Center. He said that people even in very small African villages know the letters UTO because many people have attended a school or visited a clinic that was founded by UTO. “We are ambassadors for the Anglican Communion,” he said. One of the grants awarded last year was to the Diocese of Kentucky for a Youth Project in Louisville. Our own Diocese of Lexington has received many grants throughout the years. Other grants last year helped Episcopal Camps and Conference centers in our country, Overseas Missionary Personnel, 32 other grants throughout the United States and 11 grants to other countries throughout the world. As we count our blessings through our gifts of money to UTO we are blessing others throughout the world in many ways we cannot imagine. Ϯ
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BULLETIN BOARD
EVENTS /// CHRIST CHURCH APARTMENTS PICNIC The Christ Church Apartments Picnic is going to be Saturday, April 13, beginning at 10:00am for volunteers to help set up; the actual meal begins at noon. We are usually finished by 2:00pm. If you can help, please contact David Aiken at 335-6170, 948-9013 or dsaiken@hotmail.com. OLD EPISCOPAL BURYING GROUND CLEANUP DAY Please help us beautify the Old Episcopal Burying Ground (OEBG) on April 14, 1:003:00pm. Bring any tools or just yourself! Contact Ann Whitney Garner at 264-1165 or annwhitney_garner@yahoo.com for more information. GALLERY HOP April’s Art at the Cathedral exhibit will consist of art responding to the theme “New Life, as Seen in Contrast.” The intent is to showcase artwork highlighting newness by exposing its opposite. Duality is alive in our universe in many forms and forces. This is perhaps never more obvious than during Easter with the theme of life and death, or good and evil, heaven and earth. We are pleased to showcase entertainment from students at SCAPA at the gallery hop on April 19. ST. GEORGE’S DAY AT CATHEDRAL DOMAIN Saturday April 20th will be a grand day of celebration, marking the 100th anniversary of diocesan ministry at Cathedral Domain and the 50th anniversary of St. George the Martyr Church. A youth retreat will be held on Friday night. All are invited on Saturday. Lunch will be sold for $6 with Eucharist to follow. For more information visit www. diolex.org or call Cindy Sigmon (252-6527).
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UPCOMING MUSIC EVENTS April 21 - 3:30pm Organ Recital by Robert Bozeman 4:00pm Evensong sung by the Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Louisville May 19 - 3:30pm Organ Recital by Erich Balling and Lisa Hall 4:00pm Evensong sung by the Cathedral Choir SANCTUARY: A NEW WORSHIP SERVICE Find Sanctuary at 6:00 Sunday evenings at Christ Church Cathedral beginning April 28. Sanctuary is a place and time of deep peace, heartwarming music of the Celtic tradition, votive candles, contemplation and worship. Sanctuary is where you can feel close to God, find peace of mind and heart, and bring into focus your purpose and place in the world. Sanctuary is worship that gives both solace and strength in the joy of Holy Eucharist. Sanctuary is followed by a simple meal. Please join us in Sanctuary. WE ARE BUILDING A HABITAT HOUSE! In partnership with St. Andrew’s, Second Presbyterian, First Presbyterian, and Good Shepherd to build a Habitat for Humanity house, only nine-tenths of mile from the Cathedral. Construction will begin in early July. Everyone is invited to help! Christ Church Cathedral has pledged $10,000 toward the build. How will we raise $10,000? Through a fun ride, walk or run event, called “The Ride Home,” on Saturday, May 25, on the Legacy Trail starting at Coldstream Park. Mark your calendars, because it will be a day of celebration, fun, family, fellowship, food, music, a bounce house, and riding our bikes, trikes, walking, and running. How will it work? It is open to anyone of any age to ride, walk, or run any distance. The entry fee for adults is $25, and children $10. We can then pledge to support our favorite riders, walkers and runners. Sign up to ride, walk or run by calling the Rev. Brent Owens 859-254-4497 or email bowens@ccclex.org, or sign up at the Welcome Desk.
NOTICES /// DRIVERS NEEDED Come be part of a team to deliver meals to Hospice Care and HIV patients once a month for Moveable Feast. One person drives and another takes the food to the patient. Hours are 5:00-7:00/7:30pm. Contact Cissy Collins, 255-9535, or at ksc5567@hotmail.com if interested or with questions. GREETERS & WELCOME HOSTS NEEDED Anyone interested in greeting at the 8:30 or 11:00 services can contact Dana Harvey at dana.a.harvey@gmail.com. Those who would like to volunteer to host the welcome table at breakfast or the reception following the late service can contact RD Hall at rdhall2@mac.com. VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED Vacation Bible School: Marketplace 29 AD will take place June 10-13 at the Garners’ farm. This amazing VBS program requires many volunteers both to help prepare costumes, supplies and activities as well as to help lead the program. Please consider how you can help. Sign-up sheets are at the Welcome Center or you may contact Beth Headley at 859-333-1786 or headleys@insightbb.com for more information. Also, if you can donate sheets, pillowcases and shells, our VBS program needs lots of these! Donations may be left in the red VBS barrel at the Welcome Center.
THANK YOU /// A special thank you to Melissa Bright, Sarah Combs, Renee Mullins, Susan McLaughlin, and Beth Mitchell for orchestrating a fabulous Lenten Activity Day! CROSS Ministries helped 36 families with 68 children stay warm and have lights and water in January and February. Please keep giving so we can continue to help those truly in need. Thank you! Ϯ
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Annie Sorenson
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Emily Koenig
15 Kristen Dieruf
22 Laine Geddes
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Dwight Dunlap
8
Larry Hacker
15 Leoma Lewallen
22 Claire Rose
2
Eleanor Barr
8
Nancy White
15 David Neal
23 Olivia Seale
2
Emily Trammell
8
Billy Van Pelt
16 Bill Combs
24 Bishop Doug Hahn
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Greg Milward
8
Michael Goodin
16 Larry Froelich
24 Maner Ferguson
3
John Milward
9
Chris Crumrine
16 Louis Brock
24 Edward Trammell
3
Keith Bohart
9
Elisabeth Churchill
17 Buddy Bryant
25 Guy Jones
4
Joan Brown
9
Natalie Trammell
17 Jack Clements
25 Eleanor Withrow
4
Patrick Garner
10 Allen Garner
17 Nathan Churchill
26 Andra Gyor
4
Rachael Anderson
10 Jenny Wood
17 Fiona Noe
26 Casie Clements
4
Diane Clements
10 Lexi Shull
17 Kathleen Balling
26 Judd Barnes
5
Margaret Slagel
10 Olivia Howard
18 Diane Hall
26 Wende Bell
5
Mary-Kate Jacobs
10 Ondie Vinson
18 Ken Kikuchi
26 Michelle Catlin
5
William Slagel
10 Sarah Ferguson
19 Aaron Lucas
27 Catherine Clifton
5
Angela Hammond
10 Owen Pollard
19 Alden Beers
27 Jim Clifton
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Lillie Crowley
11 Ann Demaree
19 Jo Geddes
27 Lisa Harris
6
Matthew Szappan
11 David Tufts
19 Julie Tudor
27 Reid Freeman
6
Olivia Geddes
11 Jacob Ferguson
20 Alexandra McLellan
27 Val Getchell
6
Sharon Hill
11 Kit McKinley
20 Evan-Arthur Sloan
28 Gretchen Bryant
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Chloe Beers
11 Allison Stewart
20 Greg Springer
28 Laura Parrish
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Brenda Dennis
11 Coleman Slone
20 Leslie McConnell
28 Mary Rollins Mathews
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Sandra Barnes
12 Sam Ware
20 Tina Jacobs
28 Maryann Hammonds
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Caroline Chapman
12 Molly Anderson
21 Dorothy Grosshans
29 Dianne Kearns
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Chanel Lufkin
13 Patty Ranft
21 Emery Koger
30 Mary Mc Lisle
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Cindy Ware
14 Clarke Wood
22 David Garrett
30 William Woodward
HAPPY BIRTHDAY APRIL
166 Market Street Lexington, KY 40507 www.ccclex.org
SUNDAYS 7:30am 8:30am 9:30am 10:00am 11:00am 12:15pm 6:00pm
Holy Eucharist Rite I • Chapel Holy Eucharist Rite II • Church Breakfast • Great Hall Sunday School Holy Eucharist Rite II • Church Welcome Reception • Great Hall Youth Groups • Basement Activities Room Sanctuary • Church
WEDNESDAYS 12:05pm Healing Service • Chapel WEEKDAYS 8:00am
50 Days of Easter Morning Prayer • Chapel
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UPCOMING SERVICES & EVENTS April 7 The Bishop's Bowl April 9 ECW Luncheon Lafayette Place Legacy Society Meeting April 10 Richmond Place Legacy Society Meeting April 13 Christ Church Apartments Picnic April 14 OEBG Clean Up Day April 19 Gallery Hop April 20 St. George's Day April 21 Organ Recital & Evensong April 25 CCC Legacy Society Meeting April 28 Celebration of Manhood & Womanhood Diocesan DOK Tea First Sanctuary Service May 1 Prayer Shawl Knitters May 3 Commodores May 5 Confirmation