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Church of the Advent, Nashville, Tennessee August 2016 Volume 5, Issue 9
The Fountains Ministry Inside this issue: Christian Ed. Parenting Forum Healing Services
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Men’s News T.G.I.F. Holy Spirit Update Sunday Lunch Bunch
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Sr. Warden’s Message 4 Women’s Fall Retreat Episcopal School
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Men’s Conference
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EFM Forming 7 Questions or Doubts? Hurricane Force Rally Day Highlights
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Outreach
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Racism & Violence
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Ministry Opportunity
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EYC Update School Supply Drive Just A Note Dedicate Flowers
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Odds & Ends Birthdays Anniversaries
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A few weeks ago Advent was invited to hold periodic worship services for the residents of The Fountains, a retirement complex in Franklin. Father Brian agreed to lead the service and six Lay Eucharistic Ministers and numerous parishioners volunteered to assist. The first service was held Sunday , July 3 and was a great success, with
13 residents and 6 Advent members participating. Future services will be the first Sunday of each month at 1:30 p.m. with the next opportunity on Sunday, August 7. If you have an interest in helping with this new ministry, contact the church office or Ron Taylor.
Ministry Sunday/Rally Day Cook-out Join us for Ministry Sunday/ Rally Day Sunday, August 28! We will have only one service at 9:30 a.m. Following worship, leaders and members of the various ministry opportunities at Church of the Advent will be available in the Moss Room to explain their ministry, how you can serve, and help sign you up! This year there will be some great door prizes!
All who visit one or more of the ministry displays will be eligible to win. Ministry Sunday will then be followed by a cookout/potluck around noon -ish. The Men’s Club will serve hot dogs and hamburgers with all the trimmings and tea and lemonade. Parishioners are asked to bring a side dish (hot & cold sides, salads, baked beans, etc.) &/or dessert. Further details on pages 8—9.
Christian Formation Opportunities Adult Bible Study While the youth are in school, we adults should be, too! Church of the Advent currently has three adult Bible studies each week. Between the services on Sunday mornings, Tom Jurka and Larry Douglass lead a class that is nearing the end of its study of the Letter to the Hebrews. Brian† leads a class on Monday mornings at 10:30 a.m. that studies the Psalms, and he leads a class on Tuesday evenings at 7:00 p.m. that is working its way through the book of Genesis. All of the classes are always open. No prior experience or level of study is required. If you have found yourself fascinated by some of the details discussed in sermons, feeling that the distance between you and God has grown, or that you need to be prepared better to share your faith with those whom you encounter in your daily life and work, please consider joining us for one or more of the classes! Better still, if you can think of a class that would serve Advent well, speak to Brian† or a Vestry member! Sunday, August 7 at 9:15 a.m. there will be a demonstration of the children’s Christian education program, Godly Play, instead of the adult Bible study. All are welcome. Sunday Bible Study at 9:15 a.m. The Bible study group is studying the Letter to the Hebrews. They gather in the library. All are welcome!
Sunday Lectio Divina Contemplative Prayer at 9:15 a.m. Lectio Divina meets in the Bride’s Room. All Adventers are invited. Whether your prayer life is incredibly rich or you have a hard time articulating your thoughts, Lectio Divina can be a powerful way to allow yourself to be opened to the Holy Spirit in Scripture and to magnify your prayer life. Please join us! Midweek Eucharist Mondays at 10:00 a.m., Wednesdays at noon, and Tuesday evenings at 6:30 p.m. All are invited to attend. These services generally last 20-25 minutes. Wednesday Lectio Divina The Wednesday evening Lectio Divina class continues to meet throughout the summer at 6:00 p.m. However, due to everyone’s variable schedules at this time of year, please call, text, or email Judy Dudley by noon on Wednesday if you DO plan to attend that evening. Lectio is a contemplative method for studying Scripture using silence, meditation, and prayer. No experience is necessary and the sessions do not build on each other, so feel free to come once, occasionally, or often. Please contact Judy for more information. Please contact Judy Dudley, Donna Scott, or the church office for more information.
The Parenting Adult Children forum will gather Tuesday, August 16 at 7:00 p.m. in the library. Everyone is invited and welcome to attend.
On Sunday, August 7 and repeating every three months, Church of the Advent will celebrate a Healing Eucharist at both the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services. The service is identical to the Rite 1 and Rite 2 Eucharist, except for the Prayers of the People and the Sacrament of Healing.
Everyone is invited to partake of the sacrament, but none are required. Those not seeking healing will have the opportunity for some private prayer or meditation as the anointing occurs. 2
All men are invited to attend the Advent Men's Club dinner Tuesday, August 9 for a cook-out in Advent’s Parish Hall. Refreshments will be served 6-6:45 p.m. followed by a delicious meal. Won't you consider taking time to join us for an evening of fellowship and food. You will have a good time and meet some wonderful men in our church family. This is a free event! Advent’s Men's Club met for our bi-monthly breakfast meeting Saturday, July 9. In addition to having a country breakfast, several important business items were discussed. The Men's Club has worked hard this past year to build a savings account that can help worthy causes both outside and inside our church. The central heat and air in the lower level of the Parish Hall has died and must be replaced at a cost of approximately $5,000. The main unit for the Moss Room also has been malfunctioning, and at first was thought to need replacing also. Fortunately, George Kelly, former Junior Warden, was aware of prior repair issues and determined the problem was a faulty thermostat rather than the more expensive alternative of replacing the entire unit. The cost for the new thermostat will be
Everyone is invited to our next T.G.I.F. Friday, August 12, 6:30—9:00 p.m. It is summer and everyone's thoughts turn to the beach. So join your fellow Adventers for a summertime Beach Party in the
less than$1000. Since there were insufficient funds in the main budget to pay these costs, the Men's Club approved the funds to pay for both of these needs. This is only one of the many ways the Men's Club is contributing to our church and community outreach programs during the year. Without the valuable support of Advent’s Men’s Club many services would be lost. This is why we need more men stepping forward to get involved in Men's Club activities to keep our numbers growing and sharing the load for our church needs. On September 24 we will be sponsoring our annual Fall Festival which includes our BBQ meal and Silent Auction. This is our biggest fund raiser for the year and with the support of all the members of our church family we can have additional resources to help wherever needed during the year ahead. We urge your prayerful and active support in this event in the coming two months so we can have another successful event. God Bless, Jerry Rice, Team Leader
Moss Room. Bring your favorite beverage and appetizer to share and join your Advent church family as we celebrate Summer.
Chapter Of The Holy Spirit Update The Chapter of the Holy Spirit will gather Thursday, August 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Library. They are reading The Helper by Catherine Marshall. Please read part 5, chapters 7-8 for the meeting.
Holy Spirit is a relaxed book club that (usually) meets on the third Thursday of every month. Visitors are always welcome and you need not commit to attend every meeting. For further information contact the church office.
The Sunday Lunch Bunch will gather again Sunday, August 14 after the 10:30 a.m. service at Newk’s Eatery, 7020 Executive Center Dr, Brentwood. No RSVP necessary! Everyone is invited to join! 3
Senior Warden’s Report We have just completed the first half of the year and it is a perfect time to reflect briefly on the previous six months and to also look forward to upcoming months. First in reviewing our financials for the first half, we find that our Total Income is $179,529.08 and our Total Expenses were $158,931.01 for a positive balance of $20,598.07. We still anticipate a very tight budget this year as we hope to complete the employment of a Youth Director sometime in the fall.
I encourage our members to attend. The evening begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends by 9:00 p.m. It is a great time to socialize and get to better know members of the congregation. Our Ministry Fair/Rally day is fast approaching on Sunday, August 28 with the same format as in the past year with a combined service at 9:30 a.m. followed by the Ministry Fair. The Fair allows each of our ministry leaders the opportunity to highlight their work and answer questions, as well as recruit interested members. The morning is capped off by a cookout for the entire parish. This is the traditional kickoff event to our fall season.
Recently we had some unplanned expenses with our HVAC system that controls the space below the Moss Room. The unit in that area is to be replaced and I certainly appreciate the Men’s Club stepping up to help fund the replacement. In addition, they also offered to cover the repair of the valve on the upstairs unit if needed. We all realize that taking care of an aging property is costly and the related buildings will require maintenance from time to time. Mark Markham, our Junior Warden, has a created a comprehensive list of various items that are either in need of repair or that we anticipate will need attention in the not too distant future. If you are interested in helping in any way, please contact Mark.
Our big annual event is the Fall BarB-Que and Silent Auction, which is scheduled for Saturday, September 24 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We are hoping for a good turnout from members, but also from the community. Jerry Rice has been in the planning stages for months in preparation for this very important event. You can support the event not only by your presence, but also by contributing to the Silent Auction and purchasing tickets. It is really a wonderful tradition that we have maintained. We need to get the word out and make this year’s our biggest and best!
The Outreach Committee has designated one Sunday a month from August through May for a non-profit group to speak during the Sunday School hour. The first of these will be on August 14 and the organization will be St. Luke’s Community House. I think this is a great way for our members to learn more about possible opportunities for community outreach. The committee is also asking for members to suggest other groups to speak through this program.
Jumping ahead the women of the church have their Advent Women’s Retreat scheduled for October 29 – 30 at the Scarritt-Bennett Center located in Nashville. This is always a great time for the women of Advent to grow in the spirit and enjoy a time of fellowship. It is great to see the group picture that is taken each year.
The fellowship committee has planned another T.G.I.F. for Friday, August 12 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The past events have seen very good attendance, and
Needless to say, we have a very busy fall planned at Church of the Advent. There should be something for everyone. 4
Sign Up Now for the Fall Women’s Retreat All women are invited pose. It is a great opto the Church of Adportunity to help us vent Women's Retreat discern and equip us on held at Scarritt-Bennett how we can best serve Center near the Vanin our community, as derbilt campus to be well as gather in supheld Friday, October port and fellowship 28, 7:00 p.m.— with the wonderful Sunday, October 30, women of Church of 11:00 a.m. Since it is the Advent. Pink forms Photo: the 2009 Women’s Retreat. closer to home, we hope that you can join us for the for registering are available in the wall mounted, sessions even though you may not be able to spend wooden literature rack in the Narthex. Please contact the night. Single rooms are available for $50 a person Tina Tsui or the church office if you have any quesper night. This year, we are going to create our own tions. To find out more about IF:GATHERING please IF:GATHERING to empower us to live out our purvisit: https://ifgathering.com.
New Logo & Mascot Did you notice that our new logo features the Purple Martin? The Purple Martin, the largest swallow in North America, arrives in Nashville in the spring and departs in early September to winter in South America. While here, adults and fledglings form a large communal roost in East Nashville as soon as the chicks leave the nest. The roost is estimated to number 50,000 or more and is located very near the Episcopal School of Nashville campus. The Board of Trustees feels the Purple Martin is a great symbol for our school. It's a symbol of the children we will raise up (through love, learning, and spiritual cultivation) and teach to fly (succeed, be leaders, and serve others). Pre-Opening Open House Want a sneak peak at our new school? Still looking for a school home for your children? Attend our final open house before the school year begins Sunday, August 14, 4:30-6:30 p.m. at the Episcopal School of Nashville, 413 Woodland Street. We're Still Accepting Applications Applications for Pre-Kindergarten, Kindergarten, First
and Second grades are still being accepted for the 2016-2017 school year. Need based financial aid is still available, though limited, and will be administered on a first-come, first-served basis. For more information about the admissions process visit: http://esnashville.org/inquire/?mc_cid =c678bad191&mc_eid=9678ef3cfa To begin the application visit http://esnashville. org/apply-now/?mc_cid=c678bad191&mc_eid =9678ef3cfa Other Needs Although we are grateful for the financial gifts we have received and continue to receive, we are also happy to accept other forms of donations, particularly items needed for school operations. To view a list of items and supplies visit: http://us8.campaign-archive1.com/? u=275c5d80f6458c27c60d46cdd&id=c678bad191&e=9 678ef3cfa and scroll down. If you have additional ideas or questions, contact Harrison Stuart, 615-512-3668 or Seawell Brandau, 615-352-4824. They can determine if the proposed gift is suitable. Although we will provide contribution receipts, you will need to determine the value of the gift for the receipt. 5
It’s Not Too Late To Register For the 70th Men’s Conference, August 19-21 The culmination of the weekend comes Sunday morning when All Saints Chapel at Sewanee welcomes the Laymen for a special service. Yet another message delivered by one of our Bishops caps off a wonderful experience.
The 2016 Conference theme is: “Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth” (Ps. 96:1). Every year since 1947, laymen of the Episcopal Churches in Tennessee have gathered at DuBose Conference Center in Monteagle, TN. The Annual Conference of Tennessee Churchmen is the oldest gathering of lay people in the Episcopal Church. We invite you to join in this wonderful tradition of worship and fellowship.
This year’s speakers are: Gary Morris Morris’ voice is the only instrument needed to move the listener’s heart and soul. He is probably best known for his original recording of “Wind Beneath My Wings,” which won both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music Song of the Year Awards.
Conference Details As you arrive at the conference, parish barbecue teams from around the state will greet you with some of the best ribs around. After you check-in, you can take a stab at choosing the best ribs from the bunch. Don’t get too full however, we eat well at this conference. The amazing DuBose staff prepares home -cooked meals for us and we eat buffet style under a giant tent erected outside. You will be able to choose lodging in one of the many facilities at DuBose, single or double rooms, new or rustic cabins, tent camping, or off-site. The majority of time is spent gathered at the outdoor pavilion. Each conference invites three speakers to present to the men on the chosen theme for the year. The group also sings hymns and conducts any business as is necessary as a group. Every night ends with a service of Compline.
Phil Madeira Phil Madeira is a Nashville-based musician, artist, songwriter, and producer. Phil has been a behind-thescenes shaker and mover as a band member and session musician/songwriter. The Reverend Geoffrey Butcher The Rev. Geoffrey Butcher is currently Priest-inCharge of Trinity Episcopal Church in Russellville, KY. He came to Trinity Church after serving at Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville, where he was Canon Pastor. From 1980-1986, he was a member of the Episcopal Church’s Standing Commission on Church Music, which was responsible for the production of the Hymnal 1982. He has written numerous short sacred musical works, most notably the Rio Grande Mass.
Saturday starts with a sunrise service led by one of the Bishops in Tennessee. After a powerful message and breakfast, we join together for another speaker before splitting into groups for Diocesan meetings with the Bishops. At lunch, the men split up for activities throughout the area. Popular choices are golfing, hiking, tennis, fly fishing, skeet shooting, a bluegrass jam, and, of course, competitive napping. Only golf and skeet shooting have any additional costs and you can select your activities at registration or check-in.
A schedule of the weekend is available here: https:// tnchurchmen.org/schedule/ Registration forms are available in the Moss Room Media center or you may register online at: https://tnchurchmen.org/register/ 6
Education for Ministry Class forming at St. Paul’s Are you interested in taking Education For Ministry (EFM)? Should you be? Are you ready to change your spiritual life? Do you have some hard questions you want to ask about God? Are you looking for deeper grounding in your faith? Are you looking for a small group? A learning community that will support you on your spiritual journey? If you answered yes to any of these questions, EFM might be a resource and experience for you! St. Paul’s in Franklin is organizing a group to
begin EFM later this year and is opening the class to the diocese. More information is available at http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/ index.htm. In addition, several Adventers have completed some or all of the EFM coursework, including Mary-Clyde Sparks, Gregg Conroy, and Hilda Hunter and can speak to its impact on their spiritual and intellectual life as a Christian. Or, if you prefer, you can speak with Burns Rogers at 615-424-1453 or with Elizabeth Morrow at 615-330-8920.
Do you have Questions? Doubts? Do you doubt that God can use imaginary cartoons to reach people? Do you find yourself thinking the violence around us is too far gone even for God? Why does God allow evil to go unpunished? Do you wonder whether our politicians are correct wrapping God in the Stars and Stripes? How do we know Jesus was really raised from the dead? Do you wonder where God is in the midst of your spiritual journey or a specific tragedy? There is a new group at Advent in the formation stage that wants to provide a safe place for asking
tough questions, for expressing doubts, and for those struggling with their life and faith. The details are ambiguous at this time because the leaders, Robert McMillan and Jim Martin, are trying to discern Adventers’ interests, need, best days and times to gather, and other important questions. We have not even come up with a good name for the group at this time! But we are committed, with the support and help of Brian† and of the Vestry, of carving out a safe space for us to wrestle with the tough questions of faith! If you have an interest, a suggestion, a doubt, or a struggle, please contact Jim or Robert.
“Hurricane Force” by Cornelia Hollister, A poem describing Alquist’s painting “Windstarke 10-11” Arising with a mountainous wave, Then poised above its crest, A gull swoops down in search of fish And skims it with his breast.
With grace and rhythm mastering The power flowing free. The awesomeness and mystery Is far too great to tell; The ocean grasps the heart of man And deeply casts its spell.
The sea is stormy, clouds are dark, The heaving waves loom high, And spume blows wild and cold and wet Against the chilly sky.
And yet it gives no secrets up, It claims but sets not free-To none but God accountable, The untamed restless sea.
Majestically the waves roll on And claim the open sea; 7
Rally Day Highlights Serving in a ministry is about helping us connect with God, whether by serving as an usher, acolyte, in the flower guild, teaching, or serving at Room in the Inn, or in the nursery. Ministry is about empowering us to respond to God’s love in whatever way God calls us to use our gifts, resources, and lives. Ministry is not about equipping us to serve the church. Serving God, yes; carrying out church chores, NO!
tunity to serve the clergy and be a leader in the worship. It also gives them the opportunity to have an active role in the church service. They get to learn firsthand and participate in the customs and traditions of the Episcopal Church, which can help in their spiritual development. It helps to develop a closer relationship with the priest(s) (and the chalice bearers). In some families, serving as an a acolyte continues a tradition set by grandparents, parents or brothers and sisters who have also served as an Acolyte. Acolytes receive complete training and begin serving in some of the simpler areas and then advance as experience is gained. Crucifers carry the Cross in the procession. Servers light and extinguish candles and assist at the altar during the Holy Eucharist. Torchbearers “light the way” for the procession with their torches.
Join us Sunday, August 28 after the single, combined 9:30 a.m. service for Rally Day/Ministry Sunday. Leaders and members of the various ministry opportunities will be available in the Moss Room to explain their ministry, how you can serve, and sign you up! The following is a glimpse of some of the ministry opportunities you will be able to sign up for. These are very brief descriptions. The ministry leaders will be available to answer all your questions. You will also be able to sign up for the Men’s Club and the EYC for youth rising sixth through twelfth grades.
Altar Guild Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity at church that is small on time commitment, but big on spiritual value? Consider joining the Altar Guild. Members of the Altar Guild care for the altar, vessels, linens, and vestments, and prepare for each service. All members commit to approximately two hours one weekend a month: time on Saturday morning and after one of the services on Sunday. When needed, we also assist in marriages, funerals, and seasonal services. Members of the Altar Guild perform a special ministry. If you would like to help prepare the altar for worship, the Altar Guild welcomes you.
Acolyte We love our Acolyte volunteers; they are so important to our worship and that’s why we want every baptized child at Advent, ages 8 18, to be a part of this ministry. If you, or your child, fit the criteria and are able, and willing, please volunteer. We always want to have enough volunteers to allow flexibility and to prevent overscheduling. Here are a few things you or your child(ren) may not know about serving as an acolyte: Young people who are faithful to the ministry realize it is a way to serve their Lord and church. Being an Acolyte gives Young people an oppor-
Children’s Chapel/Liturgist Children’s Chapel is held during the 10:30 a.m. service on Sundays. Currently volunteers serve once every 4-6 weeks. The children are led by the liturgist down to children’s chapel where they share in an age appropriate reading, singing and prayers. (Continued on page 9)
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Prayer Team The Prayer Team consists of at least two people intentionally praying for the needs of Advent, it's members, friends, and family Monday through Saturday. Each week they are provided with updated prayer requests. Those with email are also notified as unexpected or urgent needs are made known. Prayer team members identify and commit to a time of prayer on a day that is compatible with their schedule. All that is required is a sincere and prayerful heart.
Flower Guild Members prepare floral arrangements for Sunday’s services; usually on Saturday. Flower guild can be seen as a way to serve in the background—letting the beauty enhance our worship and remind of God’s creation. You do NOT need experience; only a love of flowers and a willingness to learn. Greeter It is difficult to exaggerate the importance of this ministry. We want a visitor to leave Advent with someone having extended a good-bye to them, thanking them for attending the service and inviting them to visit again. As a Greeter we hope to meet and greet the visitor and demonstrate by our actions they are important, answer their questions and invite them to attend another church service or coffee minutes.
Room in the Inn Room in the Inn provides overnight shelter during the cold months of November thru March. On the first Saturday night of each of these months, Advent parishioners host eleven homeless men in Advent’s parish hall. The men are carefully selected by Nashville's Campus for Human Development. Adventers prepare, serve, and share dinner and fellowship with our guests. We also furnish the next day's breakfast and a sack lunch for the men to take with them. While men, women, and children are invited to share in the fellowship and help with dinner, men are always needed to spend the night with our guests.
Music
Advent’s Music Ministry runs September thru May. We have adult choirs for both singing and ringing. They generally meet once a week for rehearsals. Previous musical experience is not required. All that is needed is the desire to “make a joyful noise unto the Lord.”
Usher Ushers are the first impression worshippers obtain about Advent. Some obvious duties include directing visitors as they enter and exit the Sanctuary, direct people to come forward during communion, passing out the bulletin and passing the offering plates. Some hidden duties include checking pews for Prayer Books, hymnals, welcome cards; ensuring kneelers are up; and taking an attendance count. Ushers may sign up to serve at the 8 a.m. service, the 10:30 a.m. service or both.
Nursery The nursery scheduling is changing! Volunteers will now be assigned on a specific rotation, and if a volunteer is unable to serve on an assigned Sunday, it will be that volunteer’s responsibility to secure a replacement from the rotation. However, in case of emergency, Jane Simmons will be available to help. 9
Reaching our Community through OUTREACH When the Holy Cow survey was completed by Church of the Advent parishioners, it showed a large percentage of Advent members wanted Advent to do more in OUTREACH. While our OUTREACH committee oversees the distribution of funds to ministries, many of our parishioners work tirelessly in the area volunteering their time with Second Harvest Food Bank, This ‘n That thrift shop, St. Luke’s Community House, and Room in the Inn, to name a few. For many years, we have supported OUTREACH through designated funds in our budget and now plan to increase awareness of OUTREACH opportunities by focusing on OUTREACH at one designated Sunday morning each month. Our Parish budget at Advent has a line-item designated for OUTREACH and another specified to support St. Luke’s. Last year, the OUTREACH funds were distributed both to our missionaries and to eight local charities, many of which have connections with our Parish and/or the Diocese, as follows: Thistle Farms, Room in the Inn, Summer Tutoring Program at the East Nashville Hope Exchange, St. Luke’s Community House, RoofTop Ministries, Nashville Rescue Mission (Family Assistance/ Women's Program), Friends of Radnor Lake, and Family & Children’s Services. In 2014, we had also donated to five other programs: three international programs (Children’s Medical Mission of Haiti, Food for the
Poor, and Plan International) and two local ministries (Siloam Health and Second Harvest Food Bank). To extend our support of OUTREACH, Advent will now designate one Sunday a month from August - May for a non-profit to speak at Advent to raise awareness of the services they perform in our community. We hope to have many of the ministries that we support and/or possible new ministries speak at our Sunday morning OUTREACH speaker program during the year. Our first OUTREACH speaker will be Penny Anderson, Development Director for St. Luke’s Community House. She will speak on Sunday, August 14 during the Sunday School hour. At her visit, you will be able to donate school supplies or make a donation to make sure all the children that come through St. Luke’s will go to school with new school supplies. Wouldn’t you love to see those smiling faces as they receive their new supplies! Do you have a favorite non-profit or ministry that you would like to see invited to speak at Advent on an OUTREACH Sunday? If so, please contact the church office with the name of the ministry, contact person and phone number. Please give your name as well so we can tell the Ministry who recommended them. Raising the awareness of community needs, one Ministry at a time!
Sound System Several Adventers have noticed the improved sound in the sanctuary during worship. The Vestry tasked Shane Hamill with updating and improving our system and allocated some funds to accomplish the task. That the service sounds better to many Adventers is testimony to the quality of Shane’s work! As a bonus, Shane modernized our equipment. That means that
no one can accidentally bump a button while reading from the lectern or adjust the sound to suit their own ears. All of it is controlled through an i-Pad and is, according to Shane, idiot-proof. No doubt Brian† will put that claim to the test if he ever opens the app! If you find yourself enjoying the sound, please make sure to thank Shane for his work! 10
Some Thoughts on Racism and Violence I shared with those in church and Bible studies the last couple weeks parts of a letter from Percy Ballard, son of Billy Ballard, a practicing psychiatrist, and Adventer (In truth, he no longer attends Advent, but everyone is quick to remind me that there are no ex-Adventers, especially among our children!). Percy obviously has some professional training to go along with his personal experiences as a black man, both in our community and other communities around the country. As we try to discern a role for the Church in this mess and for Church of the Advent and its members, I was particularly drawn to Percy’s observation that we are not allowing ourselves or others the opportunity to mourn. Our news cycle moves from tragedy to tragedy, sometimes reporting guesses as facts, and seldom ever giving the consumer to deal with the events covered in an emotionally healthy manner. In Percy’s words, our anger and fear are not tempered by our contemplation or discernment. The resulting anger building upon anger results in a cycle of even greater violence and even greater anger. Once again, the Church has a counter cultural voice. We have experienced that voice at Advent as we have prayed for the victims of violence in Orlando, Minneapolis, Baton Rouge, Dallas, Baton Rouge, Nice, and other places just this summer during our Prayers of the Peo-
ple. We should not be surprised. We serve a God who wept at the death of His friend Lazarus, knowing that this was not what He intended for us when He created us. We serve a God who gave us psalms of laments (sad songs to use the modern language) that encouraged His people to acknowledge and face the tragedies of their lives, to rightfully mourn, and to cast their hope on Him. We serve a God who inspired an entire book about dealing with sadness to be read, learned, and inwardly digested by His people. Maybe Percy has identified a role for us? I share the note from Percy partly out of discernment, partly out of thankfulness for Percy’s willingness to speak into the tragedies and his training to help us discern how we should face these tragedies meaningfully, and conscious of the fact that we Adventers minister to a world around us that is impacted by violence and institutional and personal evils such as racism that need the Light of Christ shined upon them, and that you and I are called to equip ourselves for carrying His love, His healing, and His offer of reconciliation into that world that often rejects Him.
Seeing the events of the past week (deadly shootings in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Dallas), I experienced along with fellow therapists, loved ones and clients, the urge to connect with people and reflect, in hopes of making meaning of what we’ve witnessed, so that we will know why and how to move forward differently.
sometimes occurred alongside unintended consequences.
I say move forward differently, because the way that we as a society have addressed issues such as racial injustice (along with injustice based upon gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, relationship structure, weight, ability, etc.) has led to some progress, yet has also left much change to be desired,
In Christ’s Peace, Brian†
Looking at these events leads me back to what I know best. The very motivator of these actions is something we all share—natural human emotion. Fear. Police officers kill black men and treat them more harshly, because they are more afraid of black men (sometimes to the point of being angry and contemptuous). They are afraid of black men because they have been conditioned to be afraid of black men. Conditioned by the society we all live in and are (Continued on page 12) 11
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part of. Fear has one purpose, to keep one safe. If we understand our fear and are willing to work with it to discern the safest way to proceed, it can actually help to keep us safe. But when our fear acts without our acknowledgement of it and therefore without our discernment, it will often jeopardize safety and lead to tragedy, much like we have seen. If we are not careful, fear can interfere with our perception of common humanity in people, motivating us to cast the one we fear as “the other,” less human than ourselves and those who we do not fear. In a position of authority, the more fear we harbor for our subordinates, especially unconsciously, the more likely we are to harm them, and incite retaliation against us—the very opposite of safety. Therefore, the problem is not the people in authority. The problem is in their conditioning to be more afraid of black men, and the unawareness of that conditioning that leaves them vulnerable to acting upon it. Anger. This was acknowledged as the primary emotion that motivated the assassination of five Dallas police officers. Anger has a purpose as well—to denote that a meaningful boundary has been crossed and to reset that boundary so that it does not get crossed again. Police officers have been killing unarmed black men. Anger is a natural response to this fact, along with sadness. However without awareness and discernment, anger can bring about more of what we are seeking to end. When boundaries are crossed out of anger, we usually precipitate more fear and anger directed at ourselves. In other words, anger directed at police officers (rather than at their conditioning) will make them more fearful, more angry, and more likely to assault and/or murder me as a black man. Putting these together, without the acknowledgement, discerned response and resolution of these two emotions, fear leads to anger, which leads to more fear, which leads to more anger and so on. And in this chain reaction, there is something missing.
Sadness. Sadness is the body’s natural biological response to loss. Its purpose is to help us learn from loss, so that we will know how to move forward differently. It does this firstly by lowering our energy, so that we do not continue to act as we did before (perhaps reflexively out of fear and anger). Secondly, it activates a region of our brain that is responsible for rumination so that we may contemplate what we have lost, understand why it happened and figure out what changes we should make. Thirdly and perhaps most importantly, it brings people around us (e.g. crying is the body’s natural way of asking for help) so that we may have different perspectives reflected back to us, as often these situations are too complex to gain meaning and understanding from just our own one perspective. It is worth saying here that when any of the above three functions of sadness are prevented, it prevents sadness from accomplishing its biological purpose, and leaves us vulnerable to failing into depression, chronically unresolved sadness. It is the emotion of sadness that helps temper anger and fear with greater contemplation and discernment, so that we may gain wisdom from loss before we continue acting as we have before. Sadness can only resolve once we have made meaning out of a situation such that we know how to move forward differently, and do so. I must say that we have lost a lot here, and we continue to lose until we reach an important shift that sadness is intended to bring about. With that, I give my condolences to all people who have lost loved ones due to societal injustices and to undiscerned anger driven retaliation for that injustice. I give my condolences to all of us, who continue to lose a crucial sense of safety, common humanity and agency when these events come occur. I am moved by sadness to make meaning from these events in the best way that I personally can understand: these events are human tragedies that have occurred due to unresolved fear from our societal conditioning, and unresolved anger (Continued on page 13) 12
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from the boundaries crossed. At this point I see the most productive way that we can respond is sadness, coming together with people, gaining perspective, and making meaning of these events, so that we may each learn to move forward differently in our own way. So knowing this, how do l believe we can move forward differently to bring about positive change? Sure, we can organize and form groups of justifiably fearful and angry human beings. This has both worked and failed in the past. Thankfully, in most cases of activism, that fear and anger has been guided with discernment. Greater awareness and more discernment could never hurt our cause, though. To this point, we have been focusing on, and debating about and reacting to the external events and have all but ignored the driving emotions behind such events. Such events will continue to happen until the emotions are acknowledged and addressed. Two words: acknowledge emotions. In all that we do, including in
our work with this issue. This means to speak for the emotions in ourselves, and be curious about the emotions in others. This makes us and others less likely to act blindly out of emotion, and more likely to help these emotions resolve by completing their intended effect (to create safety in the case of fear, to set an effective boundary in case of anger, and to learn and change in the case of sadness). My hope is that each of us will find a way to connect with others around these troublesome issues, acknowledge whatever emotions surface in ourselves, inquire about the emotions surfacing in others, and use these various and hopefully diverse perspectives to learn, find a meaning that feels healthy to us, and find a productive means to respond and engage differently in the world. Thank you for reading, and my best wishes to all of us, Percy
Ministry Opportunity Global Teams, a missionary support network that has 23 worldwide bases for training and sending 574 field partners from 25 different nations to work within 165 unreached people groups where 32 self-propagating Movements of Christ have emerged among Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, and others will be having their annual training meeting and Board Meeting in Nashville from October 20 through noon of October 29. They have asked Church of the Advent and St. Bartholomew’s to co-host the meetings, the missionary careproviders, and to help feed those attending the meeting. The training meeting will end October 27, and the Board Meeting will run from 29-29. How can you help? We are looking for Adventers who can provide a bed for 5-7 attendees during the training period. Depending on Visas issued, 10-14 trainers are expected to be present at the event. Since we are partnering with St. B’s, we are hoping
they will host some as we host some. We are also looking for individuals who would like to feed the group. Meals can be either home-cooked or purchased and delivered. We may also need some drivers. Depending on the schedules of the host families and the timing of the conference at Advent, there may a be a need for some shuttling between Advent and the host-families’ homes. Some attendees will be Americans and will bring their cars, but others will be coming from Asia, Africa, South and Central America, and Europe and be unable to drive in the United States. If you find yourself able to help, even if only for a period of the conference, please let Brian† know. If you are interested in learning more about Global Teams and their work, check out their website at http://www.global-teams.net/ or make sure to be in church in October as they share how God is working in the world among the unchurched people groups. 13
EYC Update EYC will kick off the 2016-2017 year on the second Sunday of September, September 11. We will begin the year with 16 teens in the parish, all of whom are encouraged to come when work and study schedules permit. God willing, we may pick up a few more teens that have been invited by Brian† or the teens themselves. A number of Adventers have asked over the last few months how they can better support the youth that are part of EYC. The first answer is, of course, to treat them like they are part of the Church of today and not the Church of tomorrow. Take an interest in them like Adventers took an interest in you when you first arrived. Who knows? You may find a teen incredibly interested in your faith journey and your story, as you get to know each other. The second answer is a bit easier for some. There will be some exciting changes coming in the next few
Last year, St. Luke’s provided school supplies for 150 neighborhood students. This year, their goal is 200. Suggested items arranged by greatest need: Backpacks • 3-Ring Binders • Pencil Boxes/Pouches Highlighters • Colored Pencils • Dry Erase Markers • Composition Books • Washable Markers • Pens • 2-Pocket folders • Wide-Ruled & College-
weeks. Those changes will involve spending money on the items for which they were set aside rather than just for dinners and games and crazy prizes. Those who are interested or feel so called can contribute to the youth dinners by writing “EYC dinner”. Of our 16 teens, 13 are boys. Those of us who have raised teenage boys (or were once one ourselves) understand they can pack away the food. As the year went along and more teens joined us, our food costs went up. An easy way to help is to contribute to the purchase of groceries. Brian† tries to keep the meals varied and filling and tasting good, and the youth seem to think he does a better than passable job. For those a little more adventurous, and who have a particular meal that they are proud of, maybe you could speak to Brian† about joining the youth and preparing that meal for them!
Ruled Paper • Spiral Notebooks • Glue Sticks • Scissors • Crayons • No. 2 Pencils • Erasers • Monetary donations and gift cards are also welcome. Please take your donations directly to St. Luke’s Community House, 5601 New York Avenue, Nashville. They will accept donations now through August 5.
I want to thank my many friends at Advent for the love, prayers, and random acts of kindness during this difficult time after my grandson Dylan’s horrific motorcycle accident. Love, Andrea Parsons We welcome Dylan's daughter, (Andrea's grandson) who was born Monday, July 25. Ally Quin was 6 lbs., 2 oz., 19 inches long.
Dedicate Altar Flowers Today! The 2016 Flower Chart is on the wall in the narthex. Write your name next to the Sunday you want to dedicate flowers and the reason (in memory of...in thanksgiving for.., etc.). There may be multiple dedications on a given Sunday since it may have importance
to multiple people. The donation to dedicate altar flowers is $35 (checks made out to Advent with “Altar Flowers” in the memo line). These funds offset the cost of flowers. The following Sundays currently have no dedications: August 28; September 4, 11, 25; October 9, 16; November 13, 20. 14
Last month Advent donated 50 Adventers may send a card in honor of someone's birthday, a promotion at work, or just because as the pounds to St. Luke’s Food Pantry! perfect way to remember someone by making a doThanks Advent! nation to Church of the Advent. Upon receipt of your Convenient, pre-addressed, datdonation plus name and address of recipient, the ed 2016 offering envelopes are available in the card will be mailed notifying the recipient of your gift Narthex. If you place cash in the envelope rememin their honor. Memorials may also be made. Be sure ber to put your name on the envelope so we to also give the name of the person for whom the know it is from you. memorial is being made. Another great idea is giving After the 8 & 10:30 a.m. services Adventers gathprayer books and/or hymnals to replace the worn er in the Moss Room to share fellowship, coffee, ones. If you would like to give in memory or thanksand a snack. If you would like to help provide a giving for a loved one, please complete the blue form snack (donuts, cookies, cake, etc.) for a special found in the narthex metal literature rack and place it occasion (baptism, birthday, or just for fun) or in the offering plate. A commemorative bookplate will would like to simply offer to help with hospitality, be placed inside the front cover. Donation is $10.00. please notify the Vestry member in charge of the Coffee Minute for that day. The Vestry member responsible for each week’s Coffee Minute is available each month in the server schedule and at the bottom of each month’s calendar. If you would like to make a last minute addition of prayers for healing, for those who have died, for thanksgivings, or guidance during the prayers of the people on Sundays, there is a prayer request sheet in the Narthex. The sheet will be taken to Are you telling me some the lector during the Nicene Creed each Sunday. people haven’t helped in The Diocesan newsletter Connections is available the nursery yet ? online at http://edtn.org/category/connections/ Have they seen how cute For a current listing of the volunteer opportunities I am ! ? ! available through St. Luke’s Community House visit stlukescommunityhouse.org/volunteer. Get Forward Day by Day on your Kindle or Nook, via email. Details at the Forward Day by Day website: forwardmovement.org
1 2 2 3 3 3
Avery Simpson Sara Nau Noelle Prince Joanne Martin June Post Ron Taylor
4 7 7 8 8 10 10 10 11 15
William Aaron Carol Lynn McCarty Landy Norris Betsy Dozier Betsy Gregory Ellen DiLorenzo David Kline Tori Ross Barbara Jones Billy Ballard
16 17 17 22 23 24 25 26 27 29
Bobbie Krieger Shane Hamill Sue Higgins Melissa Boaz David Cañas Alex Hess Sydney Bland Jane Simmons Lehman Hailey Muriel DiNella 15
2 Shane & Sara Hamill 3 Mark & Vicki Markham 5 Carey & Delaniah Bringle 11 Brian & Karen McVey 12 Oliver & Pauline McIntyre 14 Joe & Janice Collins 16 Hunter & Carol Lynn McCarty 23 Ralph & Carol LaNeve 25 Jim & Joanne Martin
SERVICES Sunday 8:00 a.m. – Rite I 9:15 a.m. – Christian Formation 10:30 a.m. – Rite II MONDAY 10:00 a.m.—Eucharist 10:30 a.m.—Bible Study TUESDAY 6:30 p.m.—Eucharist 7:00 p.m.—Bible Study WEDNESDAY 12:00 p.m.—Holy Communion CONTACT 5501 Franklin Road, Nashville, TN 37220 Phone: 615-373-5630 Fax: 615-377-3600
[email protected] www.adventnashville.org
OFFICE HOURS Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Rector The Reverend Brian McVey Officers Senior Warden—Hunter McCarty Junior Warden—Mark Markham Treasurer—Gregg Conroy Clerk—Pat Grace Vestry Candida Bannister, Donna Barr, Leslie DiNella, Judy Dudley, Christian Niemeyer, Mary Clyde Sparks, Ron Taylor, Tina Tsui, Gina Wey 16
Men’s Club Leadership Team Leadership Team—Jerry Rice, Rick Wey, Larry Douglas, Landy Norris Treasurer—Gregg Conroy Secretary—Dale Watney ECW Leadership Council Bishop’s Guild—Vickie Markham Outreach—Lynn Conroy Parish Meals—Joan Vollmer Prayer Ministry—Anoosh Howser Treasurer—Betty Douglass Staff Bookkeeper—Lisa Gaines Music Director— Waldemar Wensell Office Administrator—Tina Cozby
