2  Carolyn Pierce

    Chad Chamblee

7  Destiny Stegall

9  Veronica Stewart

10 Matthew Ehrensperger

Andrew Mitchell

11 Becky Lee

15 Charlotte Pritchett

    Hylan Scott

16 Matthew Duffie

18 Melinda Yvonne West

19 Elam Gillon

24 Elaine Wilson

Father Harold R. Bott will be our guest preacher at both services and will join us for our Second Sunday brunch on February 12, 2006. Father Bott was installed as rector of St. John’s by Bishop Claiborne on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1965. The service was held at 8:30 a.m., and 371 people attended! The first service at which he officiated and preached was the following Sunday, November 28, 1965. As was the custom of the day, at 7:30 a.m. there was a service of Holy Communion, and at 9:15 and 11:00, the parish said Morning Prayer. Total attendance for that Sunday was 541. (Those were the days!)

Father Bott served as rector until his retirement on November 15, 1990. His twenty-five years here coincided with one of the most tumultuous periods in the history of the United States, the Episcopal Church, and College Park. From a national perspective, Father Bott’s tenure saw the escalation and (unhappy) resolution of the Vietnam conflict; race riots in many American cities; the shootings at Kent State; the emergence of “Hippy” culture and rock-music; the assassination of Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King, Jr.; the resignation of Vice President Spiro Agnew in disgrace; the widespread use of hallucinogenic drugs; the emergence of the “Black Power” movement and the Women’s Liberation Movement; the Watergate scandal and resignation of President Nixon in disgrace; the emergence of AIDS; and the political swing from President Johnson’s “Great Society” to President Reagan’s “Supply Side” economics (with a President from Georgia thrown into the mix).

In the Episcopal Church, we went from being a communion in which the principle Sunday worship was Morning Prayer to one in which Holy Eucharist became the norm (big fight!); we endured lots of trial prayer books before adopting the 1979 Book of Common Prayer (big fight!), we recognized divorce (big fight!), we ordained women (big fight!), and we began discussing faithful responses to issues of sexual orientation (big fight!).

In the Tri-Cities area, we went from being 80% white and 20% black to being 90% black and 10% white. The airport expanded and took about half the homes in College Park and many homes in Hapeville. This both reduced the population and crippled the local economy. Many people who had lived within a mile of St. John’s moved many miles from the church. We still feel the effects of this “Diaspora.”

In addition to the havoc caused by the airport expansion, MARTA built train lines next to the freight lines going through the middle of College Park. The train tracks had been lined with dogwoods, and there were many surface crossings. One could stand on one side of the tracks and not only see the other side, but get to it! (Which explains our wooden sign facing the MARTA wall.) All that changed when MARTA cut down the trees and built a wall dissecting College Park with limited crossings.

Father Bott, whose wife, Ellie, was buried from St. John’s and whose sister (Udine Lowrey) is one of our most beloved members, served faithfully during a period of tremendous transition that would have been extremely challenging to any priest. Please join us as we welcome this friend back to the parish where his efforts changed so many lives.

Since I’m the rector of the parish, I hope you find it comforting to learn that I really am an Episcopalian. That, one would think, is obvious enough. After all, the canons of the Church require that one show proof of one’s confirmation (or reception) in the Episcopal Church before one can be ordained. But I’m not talking about technical membership or credentials; I’m talking about identity, about resonance in one’s soul with this particular (and perhaps peculiar) way of worshipping and being.

But therein lies the problem. I’ve had to ask myself whether being an Episcopalian is really who I am, or is just what I inherited. I’ve often been envious of people who came to us from other denominations. They made intentional choices; I just did what I was raised to do.

But I am very clear that, in my heart, I am a Christian of the Episcopalian persuasion. I really do not intend this as a knock against anyone, but I learned that from other worship traditions. I am very clear that one need not be an Episcopalian to be a good and faithful Christian. Different denominations have very different personalities, and other personalities may be just what God is calling someone else to. But I am clear that I most know where home is when I am away from it. I know that people from other denominations feel exactly the same way, but as for me, going somewhere else only this odd and personable old Church is my home.

So here’s my question for you: apart from membership and credentials, are you an Episcopalian at heart? Why? What does that mean to you? How would you describe the personality of the Episcopal Church? Where do you resonate with it? Where do you rub against it?

Jim will be at Perk Place in Hapeville on North Central, near Dogwood, on February 13 and March 13, from 4:30—5:30 p.m. Come enjoy a “cup of Joe” and an “open mike” discussion with Jim.

Ernie Radaker served faithfully and well for three years as our treasurer, often coming in on Saturdays and after hours to ensure that we exercised good stewardship (and accounting practices) of the parish’s resources. Ernie worked hard to get our finances more computerized and to train counters.

He has decided that it is time to step down. Please thank him for his service.

We have experienced staffing challenges recently that you might have detected. Ernie Radaker resigned as treasurer and Carol McGittigan has missed work due to illness and family issues. Although we have managed to get bulletins done for Sundays (thanks to lots of volunteer help), this publication is late, and you might call or come by only to find no one at the church office. We apologize for any inconvenience and encourage you to try, try again. Until we get this situation resolved (which we will!), please be patient. Be gentle!

In trying to understand the world around him, man has sought truth through two great traditions - science and religion.Sometimes they seem to go hand in hand for a while, but then conflicts arise.As people of faith, living in a world built largely on science and technology, what are we to make of this?What do we teach our kids?

We'll try to at least scratch the surface of these issues on Charles Darwin's birthday, Sunday, February 12.Tommy Ehrensperger, who teaches physics and is also a sponsor of the senior philosophy seminar at Woodward, will be here to share some thoughts, at 9:15 AM in the Parish Hall. This is one of the “hot button” issues of our time. Come learn and share.

The Daughters of the King will be available to pray with anyone with a special need (or any need!) in the chapel after the 10:30 service.

Holy Comforter is a parish in East Atlanta that serves mentally disabled adults, most of whom live in group homes in the area. We make dinner for their community, visit with them, and worship there about four times a year. Our next trip is Wednesday, February 22. We carpool from the “Horseshoe” parking lot at St. John’s at 5:30. Worship is at 6:30, with dinner to follow.

This is always a wonderful trip, but this time, we have a special treat! Fr. Bruno, our friend from Haiti, will join us. Please try to come. If you can’t be at St. John’s by 5:30, you can meet us there. The church is at 737 Woodland Avenue, Atlanta, Georgia 30316 (404.627.6510). You can check it out at: < www.holycomforter-atlanta.org>. Call for directions.

See you there! Note: there will be no Wednesday night programs on February 22^nd.

For those who do attend, we hope you will find the service (though different from what you are accustomed to) a new and beautiful way to add to your worship experience.

Each month, the Outreach Commission will provide paper sacks for your to pick up on the 4th Sunday and bring back on the 1st Sunday filled with food items for Family Life Ministries. A small sack will be available for children.

Camp registrations for summer camp at Camp Mikell are now being taken online at www.campmikell.com. If you would like more information about summer camps please call 706-886-7515 or go to Camp Mikell’s website at www.campmikell.com.

We ended 2005 with a deficit of about $15,000. Expenses were right on budget, but pledge income was below budget. If you did not complete your 2005 pledge, please make an effort to do so. Mark your check, “2005 pledge” so that it will not be confused with your payments toward your 2006 pledge.

If your circumstances change during the year and you will be unable to complete your pledge, we ask that you call one of the clergy or the Treasurer to inform us. This is important for two reasons: first, it helps us administer the parish efficiently and realistically. Second, and perhaps more importantly, it alerts us to the fact that you may be in a stressful situation. We want to know because we care!

We extend our sympathy to:

On February 27 at 7:00 p.m. The Rev. Professor Peter J. Gomes will speak on “Sense and Nonsense in American Religious Discourse”. How does religion both enhance and ruin our civic discourse?

Widely regarded as one of America’s most distinguished preachers, the Rev. Professor Peter John Gomes is Plummer Professor of Christian Morals and Pusey Minister in the Memorial Church at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass.

Gomes contends we are the most religious country on earth and yet the topic of religion is the most divisive topic imaginable. Join the Agnes Scott community as this well-known preacher and writer explores how we can reconcile conviction with diversity while maintaining tolerance.

This event is free but requires a ticket. The event will be held in Presser Hall, Gaines Chapel with a reception to follow in Rebekah Scott Hall, Katherine Woltz Reception Room. For more information or to order tickets, go to www.agnesscott.edu or call 404-471-6430.

Don’t forget to get your Centennial Celebration Gifts. We need the money to fund our activities, and you get a great value and wonderful way to participate in our year-long party.

We’ll be offering these items every Sunday. Yea! Layaways are now available; see Debbie Reeves or Al Dixon. Remember that all our items make great gifts (even for pampering yourself!). Thanks!