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May 1 - 31, 2002 St. John’s Episcopal Church 404-761-8402 SPECIAL EVENTS
EACH WEEK WE OFFER
MAY BIRTHDAYS
HUSTLE FOR HOSPICE Southwest Christian Hospice sponsors "Hustle for Hospice," a 5K Run/Walk, Senior Stroll, Fun Run and Tot Trot on May 4th at 8:30 a.m. Registration on race day is $20. Call (770) 969-8354 for applications. ESCALERA ADOPTION In April, Jane’s employer, The Epstein School, held a huge garage sale to benefit the Escalera adoption fund. Jane and Emile recently returned from the first of two trips to Russia to meet their new son, Yuri. About all both of them could say was, "He is wonderful and we can’t wait to bring him home." Please keep them all in your prayers. We’ll keep you informed. FROM THE ESCALERAS "Deeds of kindness are equal in weight to all the commandments." TALMUD With much regret we cannot begin to thank each and every one of you individually who helped with the wonderful fund-raiser to benefit our family. If we tried I am afraid Yuri would be in college by the time we finished! So to all of those who contributed of your valuable time and energy in sorting, selling and moving; to all who donated the million and one items to sell; to all who made generous charitable contributions, and for all the kind words and well wishes we have received, we extend a most sincere THANK YOU! The love and support we have received from our Epstein School family, our St. John’s family, and our community have been unimaginable. Your kindness and generosity will help us to take part in one of the finest gifts of life, which is to make the difference in the life of a child. Yuri will soon know what it is to be really loved, and what it is to love. With our help and guidance he will learn the immeasurable power of human kindness. The story of how so many wonderful people came together to help bring him to our family will be his first lesson. A story we are so proud and thankful to tell, and a story we will never forget. Again, with most sincere gratitude we thank you. Love, Jane & Emile Escalera GOOD-BYE TO ANNE Anne Meroney, our seminarian, has been with us for three years and will be ordained to the deaconate on June 8 at the Cathedral (plan to attend). To show our love and appreciation for the time Anne has spent with us, we would like to give her a "good-bye from St. John’s" gift. If you would like to make a contribution, please give us your check marked "Meroney Fund," no later than May 26, or see Ernie Radaker . Thanks. CALLING ALL BRASS POLISHERS Did you notice how wonderful our brass looked on Easter? It was dazzling, thanks to the work of folks who polished it the day before. Bena Livsey has coordinated our brass polishing (and done a great deal of it herself) for many years. Bena will soon step down from that position with our thanks and gratitude. In response, the Worship Commission would like to create a Brass Polishers Guild which will keep our brass clean and sparkling. We will have a sign-up sheet in Bott Hall for anyone interested in becoming a part of this new and important guild. Thanks be to God, Bena has agreed to help train the members of this new guild. Please consider whether you can serve the church in this way. And please thank Bena for her years of behind-the-scenes service. Thanks. Jane Graham
OUTSIDE WORK DAY Let’s get the grounds looking great for Pentecost! On Saturday, May 18 from 8 until noon (or any part of that time you can come) we’ll gather to work on several projects around the church (mostly outside). WE NEED YOUR HELP! There will be something for every age and every physical capability. A lot of fellowship goes on while we work together, so we accomplish a lot and we get to know each other better. Also, if you have broad leaf monkey grass that needs thinning, we need it. Just bring it to the church and we’ll care for it until the Work Day. Bring your tools and join us as we care for our beautiful grounds.
UTO INGATHERING Dear St. John’s Family: As you may have heard by now, May 19, 2002 is the date that has been set aside for our United Thank Offering Spring Ingathering. At the service that morning the UTO will be collected by the ushers and presented at the altar to the glory of God with our loving thanks. Please consider this a special chance for you to say thank you for all the gifts poured into your life, and in turn you will be reaching out to many others in his love. Georgia White - UTO Coordinator The United Thank Offering funds worthwhile projects all over the world. When our group went to Haiti in October, we saw schools built by the UTO.
CONCERTS FOR PENTECOST Atlanta Schola Cantorum, under the direction of David Davies, will present a program of choral music for the Pentecost season. Performances are at 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 18, at Episcopal Church of the Epiphany and at 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 19, at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. A donation of $10 is requested. The program features the spectacular six-part Euge Bone Mass of Christopher Tye, one of the great masterpieces of English Renaissance music. With two bass lines and two tenor lines, the music has a rich sound, while a traditional Tudor high treble soars above. The program also includes motets by Victoria, Aichinger, and Tye's contemporary, Thomas Tallis. David Davies trained at Oxford and Yale and is the assistant organist at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip. Atlanta Schola Cantorum, an independent 30-voice chorus, has been performing throughout Atlanta since 1974.
FROM THE RECTOR Baptism, Babies, and Birthday Presents I’ve told you before how much I love to baptize. It is one of the great joys of being a priest. I was disappointed that we didn’t have anyone to baptize on Easter, but I’m delighted that we have a bunch of babies to baptize on Pentecost. I can’t wait! I know some folks stay away from baptismal services on the grounds that Holy Baptism "takes too long," but I have to tell you, those folks see it in an entirely different way than I do. It doesn’t really take very long, but that’s really beside the point. For me, Holy Baptism is an opportunity to do at least three very profound things. First, we welcome new sisters and brothers in Christ. With our guidance, these children’s entire worldview will be shaped and molded by the knowledge that the Creator of the Universe loves them enough to die for them, and that they are mysteriously bound together with us in that knowledge. Wow! What a joy! Secondly, we take a vow (all of us!) to do all in our power to "support these persons in their life in Christ." We are not a community of independent people, or co-dependent people; we are a community of interdependent children of God. We have a responsibility to these children and one another to train, equip, uphold, encourage and (yes, even) confront in the name of Christ . Wow! What a responsibility! Finally, we renew our own Baptismal Vows, those revolutionary words that frame our view of the universe and constantly challenge us to be people who "turn the world upside down" for Christ. We are to be God’s hands and feet and eyes and ears in the world. Wow! What a challenge! And we will do all that on Pentecost, the day we remember tongues of fire, the coming of the Holy Spirit, God’s presence with us always. Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. As I contemplate that birthday, I can’t help but think, "Wow! What a present!"
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Eagle Notes