St Michael and All Angels

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From the Rector…
January 2010

Third in a series on Prayer

“Most merciful God, we confess...” So begins the confession of sin in Holy Eucharist Rite II (page 360 of the Book of Common Prayer).

In the past two issues of the Trumpet, I have looked at three of the seven types of prayer listed in the catechism (BCP 856-857). With adoration, praise and thanksgiving behind us, we’ll look at penance this month, and the places it is found in the richness of our Prayer Book.

From a very early age, most all of us have been taught that there were acceptable and unacceptable ways to treat others. For some, “time outs” have replaced an open hand to the posterior when something was
deemed unacceptable, but either way there is usually also a demand of an “I’m sorry.”

As we grew, we learned that sometimes the things we thought, said or did were not what God expected of us, or that there were things that we didn’t do or say that we should have. Penance, confession or
reconciliation of a penitent, whatever name it is given, is our saying to God, “I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better. Forgive me.” It is living into the promises of our Baptismal Covenant, renewed at the Easter Vigil (p. 293), at confirmation (p. 417) or whenever another baptism (p. 304) occurs: “Will you...whenever you fall into sin, repent and
return to the Lord?”

Of course, this can happen immediately upon discovering our transgression, but it is also a part of many of the worship services
found in our Prayer Book. Morning Prayer (BCP pp. 41 and 70), Evening Prayer (pp. 62 and 116), and Compline (p. 127) all can begin with a general confession. Holy Eucharist Rite I (pp. 320 and 331) and Rite II
(pp. 352 and 360) each can either begin with confession or one follows the Prayers of the People.

On Ash Wednesday, part of the worship is a litany of penance (p. 267), and part of the even longer Great Litany (p. 148) is confessional. When a bishop or priest is present, absolution from God is announced; when a lay person leads Morning or Evening Prayer or Compline, an Assurance of
Pardon is read.

There is also, buried toward the back of the Prayer Book, beginning on page 447, two forms for private confession: just you and a priest. As I tell my Inquirer’s Classes, there is a little saying regarding this sacrament: “All can, some should, none must.” It is a part of some people’s regular discipline and not others. If you would like to “try it out,” all you need do is ask; if not, that’s okay too.

Plenty of opportunities as we approach God to say, “I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better. Forgive me.” And the best part of all, God does, each
time we truly ask.

Yours and His,

Father Bruce+

Congratulations to:
Marci and Adam Sacco, daughter and son-in-law of Brenda and R.D. Holman, on the birth of their son on Dec. 8 in Atlanta. Miller Douglas Sacco weighed 6 lbs. and was 19 in. long. All are well. In their note to Father Bruce about the birth, the Holmans note, “We look forward to being back in church very soon.”

Wendy and Jack Draper on the birth of their daughter Harper Lee Draper, born December 31. She weighed 7 lbs. 3 oz. and was 19 in. long. All are doing well.

Thanks from:
Donna Williams, who says, “Thank you for the prayers and cards. They were so appreciated.”

And thanks to:
Anne Cody (and Dick also) and their helpers for the lovely ECW Christmas Luncheon held at the Cody’s home on Dec. 15.

Gail Wilson, for your work in providing the children’s Christmas Party on Dec. 19.

All who so faithfully helped prepare our church on Dec 19th and 20th with the inside clean-up and the Greening of the Church.

Those who served at the Soup Bowl from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4. Thank you for giving of your time and yourselves.

All who contributed to make Thanksgiving and Christmas much happier for Sister Mary’s flock and our community neighbors. Deacon Bruce says St. Michael’s provided more than 75 Thanksgiving baskets and a total of
$1,346 for the Christmas gift cards.

Condolences to:
Sharon, Whitt, Reid and Evan Wilkins for the loss of husband and father Bobby.

Wes and Angie Baker, Calvin and Stewart for the loss of Wes’s mother Guyanna Baker.

Memorials
Contributions noted below have been made to St. Michael’s in memory of departed loved ones in December and January.

John Bray
Charlotte and Buddy Mullis
Ike Bridges
Charlotte and Buddy Mullis
Gail and Will Wilson
Jo Rhea and David Ford
Mary Chaney
Anne and Dick Cody
Jo Rhea and David Ford
Ken Chatman
Anne and Dick Cody
Brenda and Doug Ghee
Tom Freeman
Gail and Will Wilson
Mary Gentry
Dot and Chris Horsfield
Charlotte and Buddy Mullis
Jo Rhea and David Ford
Connie Holmes
Gail and Will Wilson
Rozelle Lentzes
Charlotte and Buddy Mullis
Gail and Will Wilson
Shirley Patterson
ECW
Audrey and Bill Vander Yacht
Bobby Wilkins
Gail and Will Wilson
Florence and Bryan Cuneo
Sandra and Bill Falkenberry
Charlotte and Jim McDaniel
Deb and Bob Pratt
Audrey and Bill Vander Yacht
Jo Rhea and David Ford
Rebecca and Mac Burt
Pat and Bill Ferguson
Sarah and Jimmy Sloan
Judith and Arthur Gould
Kathy and Eddie Gore
Patricia and Warner Kettles
Patrick and Sandra Bernardi
Ginny and Lenn Costner, Sr.
Anne and Dick Cody
Bodine McKay
Betty and Mike White
Terri and Van Dale Phillips
Thomas Coleman
Robert Stewart
June and Dennis Reaves
Melinda and Ronald Thomas
Marian Freeman
Keither and Roger Zeimet
Pat and Ed Dabbs
Jack Wilson
Brenda and Doug Ghee

Parish Meeting this Sunday

The Annual Parish Meeting will take place this Sunday (Jan 24) following church. A covered-dish lunch will precede annual reports to the parish and vestry elections. Join us to learn the “state of our church” and help elect those who will represent us on the vestry. And many thanks to outgoing members Kim Buckalew, Lenn Costner, Jr., Jo
Rhea Ford and Jerry Watson for your years of service.
At press time, those who are placing their names on the ballot, known as “standing for the vestry,” include Mack Burt, Lenn Costner, Sr., Bill Falkenberry, David Ford, Ed Fowler, Doug Ghee, Harry Long, Bob Pratt, Joellyn Sherrill, Jackie Terrell-White, and Cathy Coleman. Seven openings must be filled. Qualifications for vestry members have been
listed in recent bulletins.

Let us keep in our daily prayers:
Cissy Thompson, Donna Williams, Suzanne Allen, Trisha Fowler, Kay Kelly, Durrah Watson, Gene Desmarais, Dee Pugh, Dot Moffett, Kathi Harrelson, Ron Mason.
Family and friends: Shirley Stahl, Marie Traina, Megan Pratt (Pratt), Doug Ballantine (Fowler), Mike Bridges, Alma Allen (Bridges), Dotti Yourgalite, Geraldine Morris (Mason), Joan Grover Hudson (Hudson), Jean
Deeth (Dunlap), Cleve DeBardeleben (Pruett), Ryan Bracamonte (Bransom),
the Stevens Family (Thompson), Margaret Torell (Cody), Katie Miller (Roberts), Betty Smith, Michael Courtney (Wilson), John Schneider (Schneider), Joey and Tyler McCord, Craig Terrell, Yvonne Borcheldt
(Terrell-White), Mary Holder (Youngblood), Kenneth Allison (McDaniel), Joe Hubbard (Ghee), Geraldine Bryant, Sheron Cobb, John Lundy, Bobby Newman (Cuneo), Phyllis Pruitt, Betty Palacio, George Stevens (Emigh), Eric Marcum (Stirling), Paul Kelly (Drube), Willie Mae Comer (Costner,
Jr.), Anna O’Donnell (Vander Yacht), Clarence Paige, Krysmon Feazell (Costner), Janie Savoino, Ann Wallach (Parsons), Deena Smith, Jean Woodall, Diane Thompson (Cleghorn), Ron Clark (Wilson), Raymond
Rathburn, Hilda Paul, Sid Rathburn, Sandy Meier, Max White, Caitlyn Grace, Alicia and Brian White, Bev Rathburn, Cindy Evans, Sherry Bawcum (White), Jim Robinson, Carol Robinson, Lori Sheier (Lane), Peg, Gary,
Julia Laverack, Jeanette Holloway, JoAnne and Jack McKenna, John Plunkett, Jeffrey McCullough (Bradley), Elizabeth Pierce, Ruth Mason, Joyce Harrelson, Sharon Davis, Lois Cumb (Dunn), and Barbara Pitts. (Please contact the parish office for changes).

Happy birthdays and anniversaries!

January 20, Michael Hodge; 21 Kim Shives, 22, Dot Perry; 26, Buddy Canup; 28 Kim Buckalew. February 2, Joyce Watson, Geneva Telford; 3 Ed Dabbs; 6 Joellyn
Sherrill; 8 Denise Dodd; 9 Lenn Costner, Jr., Chloe Garcia; 14 Carley and Gene Knight, Brenda and Doug Ghee, Jackie and Ron White; 15 Buddy Mullis; 16 Charlotte McDaniel, Sharon Wilkins; 17 Bob Lokey; 19 Jerry Watson, Elizabeth Buckalew; 23 Jack Lentjes; 26 Bette and Mike White; 29 Wendy Draper.

Annual statements available
If you have not yet picked up your annual statement, please do so soon; they are located in the narthex on Sundays and in the church office on weekdays. Unclaimed statements will be mailed out, but every penny saved by eliminating postage costs will be most helpful.

Help wanted: PLEASE COMMUNICATE!
As an introvert, I realized long ago that one of my major failings is that I assume people either know everything (news, test answers,
falling sky) before I do, or else can read my mind about some job I’ve taken on. WRONG!
If you resemble that remark, and even if you don’t, please take the time to share any of your personal information with Father Bruce, the church office, or other church leaders when life happens. That way, hospital patients can be visited, happy and unhappy family events can be commemorated and prayed over, addresses and phone numbers can be updated in time for mailings (saving us 44 cents for the first mailing and 44 cents for postage when it’s returned undeliverable), and The Trumpet and/or Sunday bulletin can share appropriate information with others. Thanks for your help! -- your editor

E & O: Events and Opportunities
Inquirer’s Class begins in January

Father Bruce will start this weekly class at noon on Sunday, Jan. 31, for anyone new to the Episcopal Church who would like to learn more about the church. After completing the class, any who decide to continue with the process will be confirmed during the bishop’s annual visit in the fall; no further classes after this one would be required of those individuals. If you plan to participate, please contact the office so a booklet will be available for you. 237-4011.

“Sample the Arts” Jan 31-Feb 3.
This second annual arts workshop at Camp McDowell’s Alabama Folk School allows as many as four different classes from a variety of arts at this retreat. For more information, call Danielle at (205) 563-9990 or go to
www.campmcdowell.com/folkschool.

Women’s Night Out returns, Feb. 2
Just as we were getting started, the “cold snap” of the decade occurred to deter us. However, the monthly gathering returns (unless more really bad weather happens) on Tuesday, Feb. 2. We plan, once again, to gather at Los Mexicanos #3, 1936 Hwy 78 East, Oxford (just east of The Apple Barrel antique mall). Please RSVP to Kim at 237-4011 so we can alert the restaurant how many to expect.

Prayer workshop Feb. 13
Would you like a deeper prayer life? Come join us when Praying without Words: An Introduction to Centering Prayer is provided at St. Michael’s on this date from 9 a.m. till 2:30 p.m. The cost is $30, which includes
lunch. It will teach the method of Centering Prayer, a part of the Christian Contemplative tradition for hundreds of years. To register,
contact Charlotte Mullis at 256-237-3083 or
charlottemullis@bellsouth.net by Wed., Feb. 10.

Mardi Gras alert: Revelers (and cooks) needed on Feb. 16!
A festive evening is planned for this year’s Mardi Gras, and volunteers are being sought to provide some of the specialty dishes. Watch for more details in future church bulletins, but if you are willing to help
with the culinary chores, the cost of ingredients will be covered. Direct any questions to Father Bruce!

Lenten season programs planned
The Ash Wednesday service which heralds Lent will be held February 17 at 5:30, followed by a soup or covered-dish supper at 6:30. The subsequent weekly Wednesday night Lent services will also begin at 5:30, with a Eucharist service followed by a healing service, with a meal at 6:15 and program at 6:45. For more details, please watch the Sunday bulletin or check with the church office.

Daughters of the King begin new class
If you are interested in joining this order of women, a new members’ class begins on Sunday, Feb. 28. To sign up for the class, please call the church office (237-4011).

Serving on the front lines...
Ushers are still needed! If you would like to be “the face of St. Michael’s,” greeting and providing any necessary guidance for those who enter our doors on Sunday mornings, please sign up in the narthex. All are welcome; this is an “equal opportunity” opportunity. Training is provided. See Head Usher Jim McDaniel for more information.

Nursery volunteers also needed
For the time being, the Sunday nursery will be staffed by volunteers. If you can devote one Sunday (or more) to this calling, your commitment will be most appreciated. Sign up in the narthex.

Haiti earthquake relief
If you wish to contribute to the victims of the recent earthquake through the Episcopal Church, contributions may be made to the
Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, 521 North 20th St., Birmingham, 35203, or to Episcopal Relief and Development, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116. As you may recall, the Episcopal diocese in Haiti is our companion diocese. Checks made out to either of these may also be dropped in the offering plate and they will be forwarded to the appropriate address.

Coffee hour update
Although there has been some confusion lately about who’s recruiting for Sunday coffee hour chefs, the sign-up sheets in the parish hall were provided for those who like to plan well in advance and commit their culinary talents to one or more favorite dates in the coming year. For the rest of us, who are certainly willing to furnish the goodies,
but never plan that far in advance, Lucy Quinn will continue to be the coordinator/opportunity giver/scheduler/nag ;-) that some of us need. Many slots are still open for 2010, and the sign-up sheet will remain available in the kitchen. But, Lucy will continue to keep tabs and make calls to potential donors in plenty of time for them to prepare their offerings. (Personally, I’m lucky if I know a month in advance if I’ll be in town...and it takes me a long time to commit to cooking anything.)
While some of us see the Sunday coffee hour as a wonderful opportunity to relax and schmooze with our fellow parishioners after the morning’s service, for others including Lucy its smooth operation truly is (in my
opinion) a calling that they fulfill from behind the scenes each week, perking the coffee, setting out the contributor’s spread, and making sure every thing runs smoothly and not asking for credit. Sort of like the disciples feeding the five thousand who have gathered to hear The Word of the Lord, hmmm? Thank you to all of you.
And by the way, there’s also a sign-up sheet for altar flowers...

Sorry, folks, but no recipe this month (the recipe cupboard is bare). Watch for one in next month’s Trumpet, and don’t forget to make and/or meet your pledge so we can pay the bills, come to the annual parish
meeting (with or without covered dish; there’s always plenty), say your prayers, and thank you for reading The Trumpet!
Belated Happy New Year!

TRUMPET EDITOR: Cathy Coleman VESTRY MEMBERS: Terms ending …2010 Cathy Coleman, Bill Falkenberry, Jim McDanie-Sr. Wardenl, David Schneider.. ...2011 Florence Cuneo, Jim Stirling, Peg Tyler, Bette White - Clerk ...2012 Mack Burt-Jr. Warden, Lenn Costner, Sr., David Ford, Bob Pratt.

THE CHURCH OF ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS
1000 W. 18th St. (P.O. Box 1884) * Office 256-237-4011
Website: www.stmaaa.org email: stmaaa@cableone.net

The Church is open daily for visitation and prayer 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Office Hours: Monday – Friday 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM & 1:00PM - 4:00 PM