A Word from Jeff

The Parish Church of St. Helena
“Praise God
from Whom all
blessings flow”
H
is blessings came
in the form of three
saints who offered their
time and skills to meet
a critical need. Early last
fall, it became apparent
that our organizational
structure was not meeting
the immense needs of
this growing parish. Stu
Wagner, Fran Sanders,
and Bill Paddock took the
lead in instituting a new
structure that enables all of
our staff members to use
their specific gifts to the
glory of God.
This talented team started
with a blank board, looked
at St. Helena’s needs and
developed a new structure
that would effectively
carry out God’s vision for
this parish. God called an
amazing group of people
to this parish to serve as
our clergy and staff; Stuart,
Fran, and Bill were able
to determine, through
many interviews and
brainstorming sessions,
where each staff member
could best serve our Lord
and St. Helena’s.
see RESTRUCTURE page 15
Spring/Summer 2014
A Word from Jeff ...
to the Saints of St. Helena’s
O Almighty God, who hast knit together thine elect in one
communion and fellowship in the mystical body of thy Son Christ
our Lord: Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed saints in all
The Rev. Jeff Miller
virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable
joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the
same Jesus Christ our Lord, who with thee and the Holy Spirit liveth and reigneth, one
God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
– Collect for All Saints’ Day, Book of Common Prayer
O
n Sunday, April 27, a crowd
estimated at more than a
million people crowded into St.
Peter’s Square in Rome to witness the
canonization of two saints. It was an
event that the Italian press quickly
dubbed as the “Festival of Popes,”
since it was the first time in history
that two living Bishops of Rome joined
in honoring two of their deceased
predecessors in the same ceremony.
For those who witnessed it firsthand
or watched it on television, it was
an impressive and emotion-filled
ceremony – both John XXIII and John
Paul II were towering figures who
contributed greatly to the reform
movement in the Roman Catholic
Church and to the ultimate demise of
Communism in Europe. However, the
ceremony and the events that led up
to it do raise a number of questions
that beg for an honest answer –
questions like: “What does it take to
become a saint?” “Does the Church
have the power or authority to declare
individuals as saints?” “Is it appropriate
for the living to pray to, or invoke the
assistance of, the saints who have
died?”
To answer such questions, it needs
to be understood that the biblical
meaning of the word “saint” is very
different from what many Christians
and society in general have made it.
In the Roman Catholic tradition, for
instance, a “saint” is a particularly holy
person who has done great things for
God and as a consequence is granted
a privileged status. The process is
lengthy and complicated. A person
is first nominated for sainthood
and then a trial begins in which an
advocate pleads the virtue of the
nominee, presenting as evidence at
least one confirmed miracle. Then
another advocate, known as the “devil’s
advocate,” attempts to discredit the
individual. Finally, when the nominee’s
worthiness is properly established,
the process of beatification and
canonization begins. In the case of
see SAINTS page 3
The Rev. Matthew Rusch
“The Church exists by mission
as fire exists by burning.”
B
ishop of South Carolina Mark Lawrence began
his address at the 223rd Diocesan Convention
by using this famous Emil Brunner quote. Bishop
Lawrence was challenging his clergy to be missionoriented.
What does it mean to be mission-oriented and how can
we fulfill this charge here at St. Helena’s? In answering
these questions, we need look no further than the Great
Commission, the final charge Jesus gave His disciples
prior to His ascension, as recorded in Matthew 28:1620. Jesus instructed them to go and make disciples of
all nations and teach them to observe all that He had
commanded. Jesus did not say go and make converts, but
disciples, because He wanted people who would become
wholly devoted to Him and lead others to do the same.
It’s exciting to see that a fire has been lighted here at St.
Helena’s, and the desire to make disciples in Beaufort
is gaining momentum. This past year alone seven new
Life Groups have been established, with at least seven
more beginning within the next month. Life Groups
are composed of 8 to 12 men and women who meet
together regularly to study the Scriptures, pray for each
other, and actively seek to incorporate unbelievers and
the unchurched within their group. It is through these
groups that we will grow deeper in our knowledge and
love of God, and further reach the lost for Christ in our
community. In addition to these Life Groups, more than
200 parishioners have gone through the Alpha course, an
engaging and friendly evangelistic tool that they can use
in the coming year to reach out to non-believing family
members, neighbors, and friends.
The Great Commission is taking root not only in the
adults but in our children as well. Discipleship groups
have formed within the youth group, and Tim Edwards
has an exciting vision for reaching the youth of Beaufort
for Christ by following the discipleship model Jesus
established in His earthly ministry. While it has been a
year of assessment for the children’s ministry, even there
we are seeking to discern how we might instill a disciple’s
heart into each of the children God has entrusted to
us. Linda and Roz have put together several thoughtprovoking and heart-shaping events for our children that
have been a true blessing to my family and many others.
Two such events were the Family Advent Wreath-Making
Party in December and Walk with Jesus in April, both of
which provided countless teachable moments. It was a
treasure to see my boys go home (after participating in
Walk with Jesus) and act out the Stations of the Cross
as they begin to learn what it means to be a disciple of
Christ.
I am only finishing up my first year here, but I can see that
these are truly exciting times here at the Parish Church
of St. Helena. I believe we are in a season of planting
spiritual seeds, but a time is coming when God will reap
a great harvest here in Beaufort, and I am so thankful
to be a part of it. Though vacation time is approaching
for many of us, my prayer is that God will continue to
fan into flame the charge that was first given to us by
our Lord Jesus Christ and echoed most recently by our
Bishop – that we would become wholehearted disciples
of Christ and encourage others to do the same. If you are
interested in joining a Life Group or teaching our children
how to become disciples of Christ, please do not hesitate
to give me a call.
Emil Brunner’s powerful words remind us that fire exists
only as long as it burns, and our Church will exist only as
long it seeks to fulfill the Great Commission.
Lord, please come, by the power of your Holy Spirit, and enable us at St. Helena’s
to fulfill your Great Commission here in Beaufort today. Amen.
2
Staff and Clergy
Suggested
Summer
Reading
Men’s Summer
Bible & Breakfast
Chuck Pollak
Diane Hawkins
Matt Rusch
Jeff Miller
Tim Edwards
Pat Gould
Cynthia Thompson
Mark Warter
Mark Avera
SAINTS from page 1
John XXIII, it took more than five decades to complete
the process, whereas with John Paul II it took only a few
years. In fact, on the day of the latter’s death, the crowds
gathered beneath the papal palace could be heard
chanting: “Sainthood now! Sainthood now!”
The biblical idea of sainthood, however, is quite different.
In the Bible, the word “saint” means to be “set apart” or
“sanctified” for a purpose. It is something that God does
regardless of any human effort or merit whatsoever;
it is all of grace. Consequently, the New Testament
frequently uses the term “saint” as a description of ALL
believers. Since all Christians have been “set apart” for
a purpose – “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever” – all
Christians are therefore “saints.” This is a point that comes
through especially loud and clear in the writings of the
Apostle Paul. In his letter to the Ephesians, for example,
Paul addresses the believers in that city as “saints,” and
the same is true in the epistles to the Romans, the
Corinthians, and Philemon. To carry this line of thinking
further, this means that being a saint is not primarily a
matter of being holier or better than someone else – it
is simply a matter of being redeemed. As the Book of
Revelation indicates, the “saints” are those who have
“washed their robes and made them white in the blood
of the lamb” (Revelation 7:14). So while it may be true
that Popes John XXIII and John Paul II are “saints,” it is not
because any ecclesiastical authority has declared it, but
because like all other Christians, they have been “washed
in the blood of that immaculate lamb who was slain to
take away the sins of the world.” One of the popular songs
in our own hymnal puts it best:
They lived not only in ages past,
there are hundreds of thousands still;
the world is bright with the joyous saints
who love to do Jesus’ will.
You can meet them in school, or in lanes,
or at sea, in church, or in trains, or in shops, or at tea;
for the saints of God are just folk like me,
and I mean to be one too!
3
Spring
Cleaning
Along those lines, is it time to trim down and get in shape
for summer, spiritually speaking? Am I eating well by
feeding on the Bread of Heaven, the Word of God?
Am I sufficiently hydrated with the Living Waters
that Christ offers? How can I exercise my faith by
reaching out to those around me, offering love,
help, prayer or a word of truth timely spoken?
What clutter has accumulated that needs to go?
Are there things in my life that are crowding out
the most important things? Am I too busy? Is my stuff
owning me more than the other way around? Is there
room for Jesus in my daily life?
The Rev. Mark Avera
A
h, spring. The birds and bees do their thing.
The winter chill finally eases. Graduates plan
for the next chapter of their lives. Families look
for some new way to say “I love you” to the women who
gave them birth. And all manner of folk engage in the
annual rite of spring cleaning. We could
summarize all of that by saying that
spring is a time for taking stock and
planning for the future. New life and
more living.
Things are no different at St Helena’s.
We are currently planning for the
coming year; we will clean; we will
renovate; we are prayerfully taking
stock; and we will, with God’s help,
move forward into the next chapter
of His great adventure. Many of the
articles you will see here reflect both
a retrospective assessment and a
visionary anticipation of what is to
come.
By way of encouragement (at least that is how I mean
it), I can testify to how essential this sort of reflection
and self-examination is. During my
recent sabbatical, I went for a jog –
something I had not done in a couple
of years. While running I listened to
some praise music and found myself
experiencing the closeness of the
Lord and a sweet time of delighting
in Him. But then a part of me noted
that I hadn’t felt close to Him in far
too long. Somehow I had drifted from
home spiritually and lost my vital
connection with Christ. I prayed and
studied, but only for what needed to
be done in ministry. I was not enjoying
Him or cultivating a relationship with
Him. I was relating to Him more as
a demanding boss than as a loving
Father. My joy was dried up; worry and selfishness had
crept in; I was thinking in more worldly ways. Thankfully,
God turned on the light and showed me a picture of the
way things had become. The time away from ministry
enabled me to begin rebuilding that relationship with my
First Love. I am still not where I need or want to be, but
the movement is now mostly in the right direction.
Why not consider
some spiritual
housecleaning and
planning for the
future into which
God might have
you move.
But how about you? Why not consider some spiritual
housecleaning and planning for the future into which
God might have you move. To help you “take stock,”
here are some personal assessment questions to work
through:
Have I shaken off the winter slumber? Has my
discipleship become routine to the point where I am
just going through the motions? Am I in “maintenance
mode” just biding time, or am I still living and learning
and growing in Christ?
4
What’s broken? What sickness or disease needs radical
attention? Have any cancerous sins begun to grow in my
life? What might need immediate help or change to head
off spiritual decay or even a turning away from Christ?
Are there any relationships I have damaged that I need to
seek to mend?
How about you? As you plan for the summer or the next
chapter of your life, why not take stock spiritually.
Worship Flourishes at St. Helena’s and Beyond
G
od has blessed St. Helena’s
with incredible worship. Back
in the fall I challenged you
all to sing to God’s glory, to abandon
any inhibitions, and to give your
all in worship. You have responded
abundantly, providing exciting and
vibrant worship. Here on Sunday
Pat Gould
morning, in the Lenten lecture series,
and at Mere Anglicanism in Charleston,
you have sung gloriously to God’s glory. God has indeed
been glorified. As I write, I cannot wait to hear your
response on Easter Day. To God all praise and glory!
Choirs have grown while efforts have increased to provide
music that both glorifies God and leads you to a more
profound worship experience. The addition of a few
contemporary songs during Communion honors God but
also honors young people in our parish who enjoy that
style of worship music. Traditional music will never go
away – a promise from our rector and from me – but we
can allow the Holy Spirit to move in all forms of music. To
God all praise and glory!
In keeping with the vision of St. Helena’s, all in the Parish
Choir and RSCM Choir are given instruction to equip them
for their service; we pray together and I for each chorister,
old and young alike; we send choristers and their leaders
to summer training courses; and we go when called to go
– to Mere Anglicanism for the past three years. To God all
praise and glory!
Even the concert series is enjoying a rebirth! When I asked
for a concert manager in the fall, I got not only a great
concert manager in John Barber but also a team of men
who are determined to increase attendance at the free
Friday noon concerts. These men have blanketed the town
with posters, personally invited friends and neighbors to
concerts, and assisted in every way possible to make the
series a success. To God all praise and glory!
In the past few months, I have met several new
parishioners who came to St. Helena’s by way of the
concert series. I always knew the series to be a great
community outreach, but now I see it also as an
opportunity for building our church. If you have not
attended these concerts, you are missing a huge treat. Even
at concerts, we evangelize. To God all praise and glory!
We are awaiting arrival of a new music assistant who will
assist in making Sundays an even more powerful worship
experience. We hope to have the assistant in place before
the summer to provide continuity of worship even
during the summer months when I am often away. The
music assistant will help with office work, training choirs,
teaching music theory classes, and playing on Sundays. To
God all praise and glory!
During the summer months, while the choirs take a welldeserved break, join us in the choir loft to lead hymns and
service music in “summer choir,” beginning June 15. At
8 a.m., come help lead the congregation in singing. You
need not wait for summer. Or check out the Parish Choir
when we gather in July to learn music for Lessons and
Carols and Christmas Eve. Christmas in July rehearsals are
fun and extremely beneficial as we learn new music for
those important services. To God all praise and glory!
One of my favorite hymns (and Jeff’s) is Hymn 408 – “Sing
Praise to God Who Reigns Above.” The words, written in
the 17th century by Johann Jacob Schütz and set to the
tune Mit Freuden zart written in 1529, are powerful and
reflect my deep desire to lead you as a congregation to an
even more profound worship:
Sing praise to God who reigns above,
the God of all creation,
the God of power, the God of love,
the God of our salvation;
with healing balm my soul he fills,
and every faithless murmur stills:
To God all praise and glory!
What God’s almighty power hath made,
his gracious mercy keepeth;
my morning glow or evening shade
his watchful eye ne’er sleepeth.
Within the kingdom of his might, lo!
All is just and all is right:
To God all praise and glory!
Let all who name Christ’s holy Name
give God all praise and glory;
let all who know his power proclaim aloud
the wondrous story!
Cast each false idol from its throne,
the Lord is God, and he alone:
To God all praise and glory!
5
Where have we been?
A
A decade ago St. Helena’s missionaries
arrived in Santa Fe, a small village on
the southeast coast of the Dominican
Republic, with open hearts and a
project-oriented mindset -- armed
with Bibles, hammers, saws, and
paintbrushes. The community’s
economy had been decimated when
a hurricane ripped through the
sugar cane factory that provided the
livelihood for most families.
Two years ago, during the parish’s
tricentennial celebration, St. Helena’s
members prayed and fasted and
felt a call to Asia, following in the
footsteps of the Rt. Rev. William Jones
Boone, a parishioner who became
the first Episcopal missioner bishop of
Shanghai.
Today St. Helena’s is on the verge of a
major commitment to mission that is
more like the church in the first three
centuries of Christianity – missionoriented and committed for the long
term. The ancient church was about
normal people going among other
people and advancing the Kingdom.
The Holy Spirit had energized the
early church to spread the Gospel to
the world. We have the same Holy
Spirit today, but our sense of mission
has atrophied as our wealth and ease
of living have increased.
meager lot, in stark contrast to the
more immaculate Catholic Church
compound across the street.
So let us take an historical look at the
DR mission.
In the fall each year, a Diocese of
South Carolina medical mission
team would visit the area, but not
necessarily Santa Fe. St. Helena’s sent
its own medical mission for two years
to the area.
Dominican Republic mission teams
varying from 13 to 27 teens and adults
conducted Vacation Bible Schools,
sometimes two each day. In the early
years, teams improved the small,
rented building and compound that
housed the Parish of Santa Cruz,
Santa Fe. The small church sat in a
Soli Deo Gloria!
The Rev. Chad Lawrence
S
ummer is right around the corner! Count this
headmaster among those who are looking forward
to some time of R & R ‒ Rest and Recuperation!
Even still, as Holy Trinity finishes up her second year of
educating students in the classical Christian tradition,
we are given the opportunity to thank God for the many
blessings and gifts that He has poured out upon this
venture of faith. Overall, we have been blessed with a
tremendous school year over at 302 Burroughs Ave. The
6
Jim Cato
The volunteers replaced boards
and doors and painted the church.
Through the teams’ efforts, a school
emerged from the site of a community
dump. Today a two-story school with
basketball court and a two-story
vicarage stand inside a walled, multiacre compound.
Today the community is coming to
life, too. Roads have been paved, and
a water system has been installed.
The Parish of Santa Cruz has a new,
see M&O page 19
year kicked off with the addition of 50 new students,
a 6th-grade classroom, and several more outstanding
faculty members to help accommodate the growth. At
the very heart of Holy Trinity are enthusiastic, engaging
teachers who love the Lord, love children, love to learn,
and love to teach. The addition of Mrs. Ruth Booman, Mr.
Josiah Tobin, and Mrs. Hilary Tobin to an already stellar
group has created a core around which we can build for
years to come.
Under the tutelage of such highly qualified teachers
using a classical Christian curriculum, we find that our
students are flourishing. Our mornings start with a
brief chapel service for all the grammar school students
(grades K-6th). I wish you could see the enthusiasm the
students have for learning God’s Word. And I wish you
see Holy Trinity page 9
What does the future hold?
M
Mission and the Parish Church of St.
Helena go together, as Forrest Gump
would say, like peas and carrots:
it’s hard to imagine one without
the other. Going back to the Great
Beaufort Revival, our faith community
has sent mission teams around the
world to bring the good news to the
unreached and the non-believing, the
impoverished and the marginalized.
From Washington Street Park in
Beaufort to villages in the Dominican
Republic, China, and Uganda, our
parishioners have carried out the Great
Commission with joyful hearts and
soaring spirits.
Our Mission and Outreach leaders
have been working for two years to
develop a model that will help us
better equip our saints to proclaim,
pray, send and go. The model is based
on a series of steps starting with our
young children and progressing ad
infinitum to provide our parishioners
the background, experience, and
passion to become true missioners.
Not everyone will go on mission,
because not everyone will feel called,
but everyone can be a sender, a
supporter, or a praying member of the
missioners’ team. No one, and I mean
no one, should feel unable to take part
in spreading the good news because
of a lack of skills.
Spreading the good news requires
knowing it and living it, so our young
people will start their mission voyage
by receiving a solid grounding
in the faith. Then they will join in
missions to nursing homes and the
underprivileged in our local area,
learning how to share the Gospel
and how to work as a team. In
middle school they will begin to join
missions to cities such as Pittsburgh
and Birmingham to work and pray
with the less fortunate. They also will
have the opportunity to worship with
youth from other churches at large
gatherings such as Student Life at the
Beach in Daytona and Celebration at
Camp St. Christopher, along with the
other activities our Youth Ministry
provides.
Starting in high school our young
people will grow in faith by
undertaking missions within the
Western Hemisphere. It is here
that our congregation may see the
greatest change from the way we have
performed mission in the past. Starting
in 2015, we will put into action a new
philosophy called Triune Mission: one
God, one church, one village. Mission
trips traditionally have been one or
two weeks a year, often based on a
Vacation Bible School (VBS) project
or medical mission. These missions
have built upon our faith, fulfilling
some basic needs within a community
and bringing some to Jesus, but they
have been limited in duration and
mostly during the summer. With Triune
Mission, we hope to form a longterm covenant with a single village or
town, using the many talents in our
congregation to transform unreached
people into a faith community.
Think of it! Along with the VBS youth
teams we have today, we could have
teams of planners, prayer ministers,
The Rev. Mark Warter
doctors, EMS professionals, librarians,
clergy, designers, musicians, educators,
carpenters, farmers – you name it –
going to the village year-round, using
their expertise while spreading the
Gospel and demonstrating Christian
fellowship. Imagine sharing the living
waters while providing clean drinking
water! What an impact we could have
on the people – and they on us. The
villagers will become an extension
of our congregation. They will have
faces and histories. Families will
become our families. Can’t you see our
elderly members corresponding and
sharing their stories with the youth
of the village? Can’t you see bringing
villagers to Beaufort to worship and
share their stories with us? How better
to honor the Great Commission?
We have been working with the
Diocese of Belize, whose bishop has
two villages in mind for us to consider.
Our two mission trips to Belize this
summer will visit those villages to
discern God’s calling to us. Please keep
these teams in your prayers.
St. Helena’s will continue to support
teams and individuals who undertake
missions to other parts of the world, as
well as those missionaries who often
risk their lives to spread God’s Word.
In the comic strip, Pogo once said,
“What we are faced with is an
insurmountable opportunity!” It is
my fervent hope and prayer that we
at St. Helena’s will come together as
a community and join in making this
covenant our own.
May God bless you.
7
f
o
s
r
Rive
Diane Hawkins
A
s I step back into ministry after an absence, I am
surprised and pleased to trace the hand of the
Lord ordering my steps. I thought you might like to read
a bit of my story because in it I see some of the vision we
have for our new Newcomers and Volunteers Ministry.
My story begins years ago when St. Paul’s writings
began to fascinate and inspire me to steward my normal
everyday life with greater care and intentionality. His
words draw sharp contrasts, helping me see that what
we do or don’t do is important. In Ephesians 2:10, he
describes us as God’s workmanship created in Christ
Jesus to do good works, works which cause us to build
one another up in love.
When I discovered the word “workmanship” translated in
the original Greek was the word poema, my fascination
intensified. Poema translated into English is “poem.” Our
lives are a poem! God long ago designed them to bring
promise, purpose, and blessing to others ‒ to build up
the family of God and to give the watching world the
opportunity to taste and see His goodness!
I’ve been praying, reading, exploring as to how living life
well might be accomplished with such excellence and
intentionality that it becomes an offering of worship to
the Lord. Once, when reflecting on this, my meditations
brought before my heart a big, beautiful diamond,
each facet glimmering. I saw each facet as God’s poem;
worshiping, loving, serving uniquely in His Name yet
glimmering and made all the more beautiful due to their
reflection in and from one another.
“Whoever believes in me, out of
his innermost being
will flow rivers of living water.”—
-John 7:38
8
In 2010 as I entered a non-working season of life, I
thought I had the perfect opportunity to really explore
my thesis. For three years I sincerely tried to discern
avenues of good works where the “poema” of my life
might bring God’s blessing to others. My explorations
in serving were wide and varied both within the church
and in our community, yet I never discovered that “aha”
moment, that knowing I was born to do this! Then I
received this lovely invitation of renewed parish ministry.
In a matter of days after rejoining the staff, it was as
though I saw the poem of my life blossom into a facet of
the diamond I’d been seeing in my prayerful meditations.
Sparkly! And happy! There was a new spring in my step!
When asked if I was glad to be back, I found myself
responding over and over again, “I feel as though the Lord
has stuck a garden faucet into my tummy and turned the
spigot wide open.” Then I heard the whisper of the Holy
Spirit, “Whoever loves me, out of his innermost being will
come rivers of living water.”
Rivers of living water is a good metaphor to describe
our Newcomers and Volunteers Ministry. We want to
encourage and inspire one another to discover the
“poema” of who we are as new creations in Christ Jesus.
We want to facilitate the love of Christ, the River of Living
Water, flowing in, into, and through our lives so that each
of us is fully alive in our Lord Jesus, bearing much fruit.
I wonder, have you discovered a spigot in your tummy
– the uniqueness of you loving and serving – bringing
promise, purpose, and blessing to others? If so, we’d
love to hear your story, your testimony. If not, we’d be so
honored to help you discern it!
Summer Opportunities …
Let’s Entertain Angels Unaware
Hebrews 13:2
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some
have entertained angels unawares.”
Have you ever meditated on this verse from the Epistle to the
Hebrews? Hospitality to strangers? Entertaining angels? Imagine
hospitality communicating more than just a hello. Imagine it as
a celebration of joy and honor for heaven’s angels! Wouldn’t it
be fun to experiment this summer? I propose passing the peace
and chatting together as we leave Sunday morning worship with
a certain sparkle in our eyes, searching for angels in our midst.
Please let me know what you discover.
‒ Diane
Dedication
of Historical
Markers
N
ew to our Old Churchyard are two
markers honoring Confederate
heroes from the Civil War.
A marker for Brig. Gen. Stephen Elliott
Jr., CSA, was donated by the Stephen
Elliott Chapter, United Daughters of
the Confederacy in Beaufort. Elliott was
senior captain of the Beaufort Volunteer
Artillery at the outbreak of hostilities. He
was rewarded for his military service by a
series of promotions, finishing the war as
a Brigadier General. He died shortly after
the war as a result of wounds received in
battle.
A marker honoring Lt. Gen. Richard Heron Anderson, CSA, was
donated by the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Camp 47 in Beaufort.
A Sumter County native and West Point graduate, Anderson
commanded units that fought at Fort Sumter, Gettysburg,
Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania Courthouse, and Antietam among
other major battles. He died in Beaufort in 1879.
The new markers were to be dedicated following the 10:15 a.m.
service on Sunday, May 25, with the Rev. Jeffrey S. Miller officiating.
Holy Trinity from page 6
could help me field some of the
amazingly piercing questions that
come from the mouths and hearts
of grammar school students! I was
strangely gratified when several of
our 5th-graders asked renowned
New Testament scholar, Dr. Paul
Barnett, numerous questions that
caused him wonder during his
recent visit. Yet, side by side with
our study of Scripture is sound
learning and intellectual rigor in the
disciplines of human knowledge ‒
Latin, mathematics, phonics, Greek
mythology, European geography,
in-depth study of insects, American
history, and so on. We endeavor
to show this community that a
Christian education steeped in the
Holy Scriptures and the Gospel of
Jesus Christ can be intellectually
rigorous, preparing students to stand
as Christ’s ambassadors in the 21st
century wherever and in whatever
capacity He calls them to serve Him.
To that end, you might be interested
to learn of the achievements of
a few of our eldest students in
Mr. Tobin’s 6th-grade classroom
(their names may very likely be
familiar). Earlier this year, Ms.
Morgan Chumney (daughter of
Elinor and granddaughter of John
and Molly Gray) was the first student
in Holy Trinity’s history to earn the
prestigious Sir Winston Churchill
award for memorizing the entire 70stanza epic ode Horatius at the Bridge.
Over the course of 20 minutes, Ms.
Chumney recited the entire poem
nary missing a beat or word. In so
doing, she followed the footsteps
of the “British Bulldog,” who
accomplished the same undertaking
as a boy. Meanwhile, two other Holy
Trinity students/St. Helena’s children
made other news in the community.
Ms. Caroline O’Neal won not only
the local but also the statewide Sons
of the American Revolution poster
contest, and Ms. Sarah Lawrence
took first place in Daughters of the
American Revolution 6th-grade
essay contest. These are but a few
of the fruits that classical Christian
education is bearing.
As Holy Trinity’s second year
comes to a close, we have much
for which we can give thanks and
praise to God. We at the school are
particularly grateful for the support
and encouragement of so many of
the parishioners of the Parish Church
of St. Helena. Please do keep us in
your prayers as we seek to cultivate
the next generation of young people
who by God’s grace working in their
lives are marked by wisdom, virtue,
and eloquence.
9
The Parish Register
December 2012 - April 2014
— TRANSFERS IN —
Barbara Aimar Goodwin
First Presbyterian, Beaufort
Claudia Ann Carucci
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, Shelter Island, N.Y.
Donald and Donna Mulnix
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Winston-Salem, N.C.
Mae Martin Mitchell
Church of St. Andrew, Staten Island, N.Y.
Timothy Verlin Rusch and
John David Rusch
Cathedral Church of the Advent,
Birmingham, Ala.
Diane McDaniel Cade
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church,
San Antonio, Texas
Elizabeth Ann Earnhardt Pendarvis
St. Luke’s Church, Hilton Head
John and Arminda Castles
First Presbyterian, Beaufort
Paul and Lynda Jernigan
First Presbyterian, Beaufort
Paul and Dale Davies
Sea Island Presbyterian Church, Beaufort
Willard and Victoria Gersbacher
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Bluffton
Jim, Brooks, Kathryn and Amelia Thomas
St. Patrick’s Episcopal Church, Dublin, Ohio
Curtis and Kathryn Henry
Christ’s Church, Greensburg, Penn.
Maude Woodward Hornsby
St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Darien, Ga.
Susan Kay Thompson
St. Martin in the Fields Episcopal Church,
Atlanta, Ga.
John and Jane Bryan
Carbondale United Methodist,
Carbondale, Calif.
Matthew and Lauren Verdin
St. Philip’s Episcopal Church, Charleston
Audrey Ann Ammons
Church of the Holy Comforter, Vienna, Va.
Ellen de Guzman
St. Mark’s Episcopal, New Britain, Conn.
Kenneth and Suzanne Kohanski
St. Paul’s Episcopal, Southington, Conn.
Elizabeth Fulton Moore
Trinity Episcopal Church, Mobile, Ala.
Diana DeWitt
The Parish of Christ Church, Hyde Park, Mass.
Vera Gillum Holliday
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Elwood, Ind.
— TRANSFERS OUT —
Valerie Kichler
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Port Royal
Carolyn Bessinger
The Baptist Church of Beaufort
Paul Rudolph Bazemore Jr.
Old St. Andrew’s Parish Church, Charleston
Chad and Susanne Whiting
Community Presbyterian Church,
Pinehurst, N.C.
Edward, Mary Ruth and John Shafer
Old St. Andrew’s Parish Church, Charleston
Scott and Jane Fellows Shaffer
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Port Royal
Janet Carolyn Kuchler
St. Paul’s by the Sea, Jacksonville, Fla.
Jerome and Mary Frances Sonnabend
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Port Royal
Joseph Wood Rutter II
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Port Royal
William, Anita, Lucas and Matthew Hall
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church,
Winston-Salem, N.C.
10
Lawrence and Wilhelmina Gaenzle
Sea Island Presbyterian Church, Beaufort
Richard and Lora Childs
All Saints Episcopal Church, Hilton Head
Cassandra Conroy
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, Port Royal
Nichole Ray McGuire
Church of the Holy Cross,
Valle Crucis, N.C.
George, Rebecca, Elizabeth
and George Becker
St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church, Aiken
Robert Freeman Everett
St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, Walterboro
Susannah Specht Bender
Church of the Holy Comforter,
Crescent City, Fla.
Alison and Forrest Guilloud
First Presbyterian, Beaufort
Robert Stoothoff
Church of the Holy Family (Episcopal),
Chapel Hill, N.C.
Barbara Klein
St. John’s Lutheran Church, Beaufort
Christina Marie Mellott
St. Mary’s Church, Asheville, N.C.
Henry and Elaine Leander
Church of the Good Shepherd,
Austin, Texas
The Parish Register
December 2012 - April 2014
— BAPTISMS —
— CONFIRMATIONS —
Clara Jane Kelly
Sean Scott Tragord
Jacob Franklin Ward
Edward Graham Sanders III
Carol B. Washington
Baxter McLendon Marshall
Townsend Bowen Marshall
Eleanor Hollis Mitchell
Parker Gates Mitchell
Andreas Geoffrey O’Keeffe
Johanna Caeleigh O’Keeffe
James Yale Burrus
Savanna Grace Fripp
Kristina Marie Lyons Wyatt
John Knadler Wyatt III
Lincoln Alexander Dunlap
Anna Grace Dennis
Hadley Lynn Dennis
Elizabeth Parks Jones
Mia Lane Cordy
Kennedy Elizabeth DeLozier
Elizabeth James Johnson
Martha Emory Garbade
Bray Waring Hefner
Pierson Aimar Akers
Emmett MacLeod Dyson
Henry Robert Dyson
Peter Joseph Antinori
Milo Anderson Small
Henry Michael Loucks
Grace Anne Carter
Laura Joy Lawrence
Alexandra Grace Yerace
George Allen Pinckney
Peyton Melindyi de Treville
Starr Yi Matsatsos de Treville
Thomas Robert Saffold de Treville
Aurryana Janell Koch
Mackenzie Josephine Koch
Madeline Rose Pitts
Matthew Lynn Rusch
Catherine Stuart Lee Rusch
Sarah Faith Avera
Colin Hardy Barnum
Emma Dyan Hincher
Jacob Clyde Hincher
Hunter Woods Langehans
Russell Lawrence Lindsay
William Shannon Lindsay III
John Dixon Manos
Amanda Sistare Taylor
Jacqueline Rose Tisdale
Jane Harris Chakides
Dorothy Diane Culverhouse Escalante
Clara Sue Spangler Kemper
Kevin Wayne Pitts
Malinda Shayne Close Pitts
Robert Coleman Small Jr.
Laura Ann Richardson Williams
Charles Fain Williams
Priscilla Dowd Rhodes Mayers
Ollie Legree Langford
Margaret Louise Lachicotte Aimar
Nancy Kathryn Grabenbauer
Sydney Rose Maddox
Taylor Elizabeth Maddox
Caroline Mei O’Neal
Josephine Grace Quade
Harrison Paul Quade
Frederick William Scheper V
Rachael Marie Scheper
Julye Rebecca Scheper
Benjamin Terrell Coppage
Dale Galloway Davies
Daniel Ayres Lugar
Jenifer Ellen Lugar
Oliver Miller
Sally Jeanne Miller
Keith Tison O’Neal
Beverly Rae Ream
Robert Charles Ream
Anne Smith Sarber
Nancy Lee Sturgis
— RECEPTIONS —
Sarah Anne Kelleher
Selma Christine Dorion Lovett
Linda McCole Williamson
Carole Maher Fahey
Mary Ellen Foster O’Neal
Gwendolyn Ellen Sperhac
— DEATHS —
Mary Janet Martin
Christopher Nevill Jackson
Adelaide Glawson Quattlebaum
Jane Everett Knox
Harold Philip Cahill Jr.
Hildred Fern Collier
Ruth de Treville Spieler
Michael Weldon Coleman
Doward Matthew Sanders Sr.
Laura Robinson Van Wagner
Lucinda Lee Baird Boyd
Evelyn Murdaugh Mitchell
Fred McCauley Smith
Jeanne Bush Campbell
James Crawford Coulter
Eleanor (Sandy) Bergwall
Joseph B. Bergwall
Malcolm Hunter McMillan
Frances Bowman Cobb
Theodore Gaillard Pinckney Sr.
Walter Philip Carucci
Elizabeth Porter Fraser Krimminger
John Ellis Hryharrow
Lynne Cameron Jackson
Wren Gregorie Rawls
Pamela Joy Williams Graef
Alice Tucker Craig
David Pinckney Easterling
Vivian Jeanne Herring
Charles Echols Spragins
June Trumpore Hughes
Marion Patterson Bradbury
John Lee Bee
William Davis Trask Sr.
Arthur Prioleau Paul
Louise Blythe Jenkins
Chlotilde Martin Pinckney
Gladys Edna Woods
Cathleen Mary McLean
— MARRIAGES —
Laura Courtney Logsdon and
Craig Warren Teasley
Sarah Boykin Pate and
Edward Kirk Reynolds
Amanda Leigh Tisdale and
Timothy Paul Bump
Emily Jordan Kostylo and
William Peter Hengemuhle Jr.
Claire DeVeaux Evans and
John Rodney Parker Sr.
11
Mold Me
Into The Man
H
ave you ever knelt down to pray and
not known where to begin? The list is
too long or you may feel unworthy to
come before a holy God. Recently I have practiced (notice
the word “practiced”) being still before God. I simply begin
with, “I love You, Lord, and I praise Your most holy name” –
and then I wait.
So often we give God our “to-do lists” and then move on
without saying thank you or even waiting to hear if He
has something to say. I can guarantee that He does. A
Father always has words for His children.
Even when I don’t hear a “word” from the Lord, I am
showing Him that I am available and that our relationship
is the most important to me. It’s then that I open my Bible
and continue my daily studies (most days) and ask the
Holy Spirit to help me understand what I am reading, the
living Word of God.
Another simple prayer that my wife, Jeanne, prays for me
and I for her is this: “Father, mold me into the man You
desire me to be.” My wife prays that for me because she
says then everybody wins! If she gets the man that she
wants me to be then she’ll miss many of the blessings
God has for us both.
So we have learned to pray this
simple yet powerful prayer for one
another. Remember, the couple
who prays together stays together.
Michael McIntyre
12
Mission Treasure House
Needs YOU!
The Mission Treasure House is a relatively new
and exciting ministry of our church where one
can go for a comforting word and a prayer as well
as affordable, good-quality used clothing and
household items. Mission Treasure House is located
in the Belleview Business Park at 14A Marshellen
Drive, Port Royal. You can phone (843) 525-0058 for
donation information and opportunities to help
stage inventory, work in the store, or be a prayer
minister during open hours, or to help with pickup
and delivery of donations. The store and prayer
room are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursdays,
Fridays, and
Saturdays. Donations
of collectibles,
household goods,
and better clothing
are needed. When
you are spring
cleaning or cleaning
out anytime, please
remember Mission
Treasure House!
Mission Treasure House
Belleview Business Park
802/280
Mere Anglicanism Conference
Jan. 22-24, 2015
Charleston Music Hall, Charleston, South Carolina
“Salt & Light: The Christian Response to Secularism”
We are thrilled to announce the speakers who will guide us through this topic.
Bishop N.T. Wright is one of the world’s
foremost New Testament scholars and the leading
expert on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He
is the author of many books including an exhaustive
study of the Apostle Paul and many devotional and
academic works. Currently chair of New Testament
and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the
University of St. Andrews, he is the former Bishop of
Durham in the Church of England and a member of
the House of Lords. He is currently featured on the
front cover of Christianity Today.
Alister McGrath is Andreas Idreos Professor
of Science and Religion at the University of Oxford.
He holds a doctorate in molecular biophysics and
a doctorate in theology and divinity from Oxford
University. He is a leading Christian theologian
and apologist. In addition to his other posts, he
currently serves as Senior Research Fellow at Harris
Manchester College, Oxford, and President of the
Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics. Until 2008,
he was Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford
University and more recently chair in theology at
London University. He is the author of many books on
theology, science, and apologetics. A strong critic of
the New Atheism, McGrath has debated many of the
world’s leading skeptics including Richard Dawkins.
His most recent work is a biography of C.S. Lewis.
Os Guinness is an author, social critic, and
the great-great-grandson of Dublin brewer Arthur
Guinness. He completed his undergraduate degree
at the University of London and his PhD in the social
sciences from Oriel College, Oxford, and is founder
and former Senior Fellow of the Trinity Forum. He
currently serves as a fellow at the Oxford Centre for
Christian Apologetics and is a popular speaker on
university campuses. He has written several books.
Bishop Michael Nazir-Ali was the 106th
Bishop of Rochester for 15 years, until September
2009. Originally from Asia, he was the first nonwhite Diocesan Bishop in the Church of England. He
has both a Christian and Muslim family background
and is President of the Oxford Centre for Training,
Research, Advocacy and Dialogue (OXTRAD). Bishop
Nazir-Ali holds a PhD in theology and is senior
lecturer at Wycliffe Hall, Oxford.
Ross Douthat, a graduate of Harvard University,
is the youngest op-ed columnist in the history of
the New York Times and a former senior editor of
The Atlantic. He is the author of Privilege: Harvard
and the Education of the Ruling Class and Grand New
Party: How Republicans Can Win the Working Class
and Save the American Dream. His most recent book,
Bad Religion: How We Became a Nation of Heretics,
is a stinging critique of post-World War II American
Christianity and a call for believers to return to a
robust and intellectually satisfying faith.
Mary Eberstadt holds a PhD from Cornell
University and is a Senior Fellow of the Ethics and
Public Policy Center. She was also a Fellow of the
Hoover Institute at Stanford University. She has
authored several books and articles including
How the West Really Lost God: A New Theory of
Secularization. Her writings have appeared in both
popular and academic journals, and she is regarded
as one of nation’s most incisive appraisers of
American family life.
We are redesigning the website for
Mere Anglicanism, and it should be up and
running by July 1. However, you can register
early by contacting Stellena Mumma.
13
Nursery
Ministry
Rosalind Dixon
“A three ply cord is not quickly broken” Ecclesiastes 4:12
Let us equip, send, and go!
I
n fulfilling the vision for the Nursery Ministry, our staff hosted two
first-time family events this year: VeggieTales DVD premier, Merry
Larry and the True Light of Christmas, and our Lenten Walk with Jesus
for our church families. Let the true light shine!
The Christmas event offered a family fellowship dinner followed by the
Merry Larry and the True Light of Christmas DVD and creation of “Shoebox
Gifts” for distribution locally. Families worked together to pack the
shoeboxes with gift items appropriate for adults, teens, or young boys and
girls. Many volunteers came together to wrap the boxes in bright Christmas
paper denoting who they were for and preparing them for other volunteers
to distribute. In all, more than 130 boxes were delivered to those in need
in our community. Mary Hagy encountered two single moms with children
who needed a Christmas blessing and personally delivered boxes and clothing from
Mission Treasure House to them. They were tearfully appreciative, and Mary had the joy
of meeting their real needs.
The second original event was the Lenten family Walk with Jesus. Families gathered in
the Cranmer Room waiting to be grouped with their youthful “Bible times” costumed
guides. Ten of our youth donned costumes to help reenact the passion story as they led
family groups through the decorated rooms to listen to the storytellers bring the
events to life. The first stop was at the gate of the city. Brittany offered palms to
decorate while shouts of praise and hosanna and waving of decorated palms
preceded laying them on the “cobble street” before the coming of Jesus.
“Come let us follow Jesus!” preceded each move to the next station. On to the
Last Supper where Christine, a serving woman, told of the feast that had just taken
place and offered bread and juice with the invitation to come and follow Jesus. In
the Garden of Gethsemane, Sherry told of the prayers that had been offered there
and encouraged families to stop and pray at the same rock and sign their names as
a token to come and follow Jesus.
Next came Good Friday, all darkness and the shadow of the cross over the room.
A white cloth, hands dipped in paint soiling the cloth’s purity, seeing how what
we say and do makes us unclean. Needing a way to be made clean, we come and
follow Jesus. How can we receive cleansing? Into the glorious gateway opened
by Jesus, Teresa offers washing – making the cloth clean as we too are cleansed
by faith in Jesus. Neil and Debbie welcome all with joyful singing; John creates
balloon “crowns of righteousness” for each child, assuring them that we love
them and Jesus loves them. Matt gathers all for prayers of thanksgiving and
the blessing of our family-style dinner as fellowship and sharing continue. The
evening offered memories that can become teachable moments as families
share their experiences. This event could be offered to a wider audience in
future years.
see NURSERY page 15
14
About Acolytes . .
O
ur acolytes are an important
part of our worship at St.
Helena’s. This year we have
John Barber
28 acolytes, ranging in age from 11
years old through seniors in high school. They serve
at morning services on Sunday as well as in special
celebrations throughout the church year. New
acolytes learn to light the
altar candles, carry the
crosses and torches in
procession, and help with
the alms collection. High
school-age acolytes assist
the celebrant in preparing
the altar for the Eucharist.
When serving in church
and at the altar, an acolyte
is actively assisting the
celebrant in the worship
of God. Our young people
approach this ministry with
dignity, humility, and care.
Servers are well acquainted
with their responsibilities and perform their duties
with diligence and reverence. They are aware that
their purpose in serving at the altar is “that God may
be glorified.”
The patron of those who serve at the altar is Vincent,
Deacon and Martyr. He lived in the late third century,
was martyred in 304, and is commemorated in our
calendar on Jan. 22. Vincent is remembered for his
love of God, his faithfulness to his bishop, and his
unswerving loyalty to his responsibilities. These
traits – love, faithfulness, and loyalty – are virtues
cultivated by all who are
privileged to serve at the
altar. Our acolytes’ purpose
is rooted in their love of
God; their faithfulness is
seen in their willingness to
serve responsibly; and their
loyalty is demonstrated in
their devoted service. The
acolyte’s aim is to be as
steadfast as St. Vincent.
Some of the acolytes serving on Easter Sunday 2014:
From left, Paula Sommerville, Jeffrey Miller, Jackson Miller,
Harrison Quade, Josephine Quade.
The acolyte’s motto is from
the Rule of St. Benedict:
“That in all things God may
be glorified.”
Praise God for our acolytes!
NURSERY from page 14
RESTRUCTURE from page 1
The Family Ministries Commission has launched a complete overhaul of our outdoor
We are six months into
this new structure, and
every day we feel God’s
blessings. I personally
have never worked with
a more dedicated group
of people. If you would
like more information on
this subject, please visit
the website and click
on the “About Us” tab.
For a list of the staff and
responsibilities, follow the
“click HERE” link.
play space. Every aspect of our playground has been made new to provide a healthy
and safe outdoor recreation space for our children. The new play structure has a shade
canopy; an open metal fence provides airy security; toddler riding wobblers and a
poured bonded rubber surface make the space safe for wee ones through 5-year-olds.
The new rubber surface allows water to drain through, discourages weeds, and will be
splinter-free! It is the perfect surface for toddlers and trike-riders alike. Proceeds from
our annual Valentine Bridge Luncheon are being used to purchase outdoor riding toys.
We as a nursery ministry continue to send
out “cheer cards” through both Kairos ministry
teams and also through Mark Warter to shutins and hospitalized parishioners. The children
create this original art with the intention of
bringing cheer and connecting the recipients
to our family in Christ Jesus. It is part of our
children’s ongoing witness of pure and gentle
love and compassion expressed to others.
Great blessings abound to you and your family!
Praise God from whom all
blessings flow, and thanks
be to God for St. Helena’s!
—Stellena Mumma
15
“Now Jesus was praying ...”
Luke 11:1-4
The Rt. Rev. Alden Hathaway
A
We might rightly call it an icon
whereby we look through into the
heart of the God whom by prayer
we would address. Even by words
and thoughts, by anthems sung
and dramas enacted, our hearts are
inspired so that
as devoted
children of a
loving father,
our spirits are
bonded to the
Lord of the
universe: “Our
father who art
in Heaven.”
t Jerusalem, on the
slope of the Mount of
Olives, looking across
to the Temple Mount,
is the traditional site where so
long ago Jesus went to pray.
Today the Church of the Pater
Noster (Our Father) blesses that
spot. Displayed on plaques
covering its walls and cloister, in
languages from every corner of
the earth – Greek and Hebrew,
English and Mandarin Chinese,
Ojibwa and Hindi, even in Braille for the blind* – is the
text of this most universal prayer ever prayed.
It is the heart of ancient liturgy – rites of baptism and
the Lord’s Supper – the first prayer a bride and groom
pray together after their marriage is proclaimed – and in
thanksgiving for the birth of a child – the last prayer of
the faithful at time of death – and of the bereaved at the
graveside as they lay their loved one to rest.
It consecrates serious endeavors and solemnizes godly
events. It prepares men (and women) for battle, yet
invites God’s tender and abiding keeping as the children
are tucked into bed.
We call it the Lord’s Prayer. But it was not what Jesus
prayed. And perhaps it could even be said that it is not a
prayer at all – or at least that it was not intended to be so
by Him who was its author. Instead it was Jesus’ reply to
his disciple’s request, “Lord, teach us to pray.”
Rather what our Lord has given is an outline for the way
we should pray – whenever and however we would.
“When you pray,” He said, “pray like this.”
For it is He who
is the provider
of our earthly
need, “Our daily
bread,” and
the protector
against demonic forces in our own souls both individual
and corporate: “Deliver us from evil.”
Yet it is not so much a plea for comfort and consolation
in other-worldly escape as it is hope for the redemption
of this world – an enthusiastic vision of righteous rule
and holy peace: “Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on
earth as in heaven.”
And as we ask that our trespasses be forgiven, as we also
would forgive, it joins us with the multitudes and the
ages, Christ’s Body, the one holy catholic and apostolic
Church, which in heaven and on earth continually lifts
its cry, “For thine is the kingdom and the power and the
glory, forever and ever.”
Amen.
*The Braille version prepared and presented by Dr. Gideon Jones, Professor Emeritus of Educational Psychology,
Director, Program in Visual Impairments, Florida State University.
16
Stephen Ministry Training
Class in the Home Stretch
O
ur current class of 12 Stephen Ministers is
nearing completion, with two class sessions
left before the group is commissioned on
Sunday, June 1.
Our trainees have worked hard, and their dedication is
paying off. The course has involved pre-class reading
assignments and in-class lecture, discussion, and roleplaying. Our trainees are showing remarkable growth in
both knowledge and skills. They’ve taken their training
with the seriousness it requires to make them Stephen
Ministers.
“I've found the skill-practicing to be the most valuable
component,” says trainee Paula Elliott. “It takes what
you’re learning out of the realm of theory and turns it into
something you have to apply. It can be very challenging
to role-play, for instance, that you’re ministering to a
young mother whose husband has just died. It brings
out real emotions and tears. But it is extremely helpful
because it prepares you for actual caregiving situations.”
“During the skill-practicing there has been real ministry
going on, too,” says trainee Peter Payne. “When you
learn about and discuss grief, you can’t help but surface
genuine issues from your own life. When this happens, we
find ourselves ministering to each other. All of that will
help us be better caregivers later on.”
A recurring emphasis of Stephen Minister training has
been confidentiality. What a care receiver says to his
or her Stephen Minister is kept confidential from other
Stephen Ministers – and from everyone else.
The emphasis on confidentiality is important for potential
care receivers. Most people are reluctant to share their
problems and situations because they’re afraid of others’
finding out. The confidentiality of Stephen Ministry lets
people know they can discuss difficult concerns with
their Stephen Minister without concern.
Some of the training topics have included:
• Maintaining Boundaries in Caregiving
• Ministering to Those Experiencing Grief
• Dealing with Depression
When the training is finished, the trainees will be
commissioned as Stephen Ministers and will receive their
Ode to Summit Place
Up on Battery Creek
Bo Sandlapper AKA Heyward Bellamy
Summit Place
A place to eat
A place to sleep
Out of cold, away from heat
Long halls, therapy walks
Corners for talk and talk and talk
Home; not home
Family away
New friends from here and there
All who care
Akin; not kin
Here we live
Here we share
Here we age
In God’s loving care
Mr. Bellamy is a resident
who attends our services at Summit Place.
Submitted by the Rev. Mark Warter
first caregiving assignments. But even then their training
is far from over.
Continuing education is an important component of
Stephen Ministry training. Stephen Ministers will meet for
continuing education twice a month,
even after they begin meeting with
their care receivers. The goal is for
Stephen Ministers to enhance their
skills continually and learn new ways
to care. We want them to provide
the best care possible for their care
receivers.
The Rev. Mark Warter
17
What Are They Doing Up There?
D
o you drive by certain
stores or businesses on
your regular commute
and find yourself wondering,
“What do they actually do in
The gang ready to
there?” This same question
at
Camp St. Christopgo to Encounter
might come up at church.
her
Perhaps you find yourself asking,
“What’s really going on upstairs
with our youth at the Parish
Youth Suite
Church of St. Helena?”
Games in the
When I began working as a
youth director, the common view
are beginning to grasp basic truths
was that a youth program was a form
about His call to be salt and light in
of childcare – albeit for teenagers – at
our world.
church.
We’re exploring Scripture, and
Youth ministry is often permeated with we’re tackling deep questions: Is God
games, food, and loud music. A visitor
real? Does he really love me? Is the
might wander into a church gathering for Bible true?
teenagers and view the scene as chaotic
rtain
We’re addressing hot topics such
Helena’s enteat
uth from St. tr
ion.
Yo
– teenagers laughing and talking out of
br
le
Ce
at
as science vs. creation and the defense
the oak ee
r
de
un
turn, standing on benches and singing
of our faith. We’re listening to personal
at the tops of their lungs, tossing slices of
testimonies of well-known leaders,
bologna and shoveling cheese doodles
celebrities, and sports heroes. We’re
into friends’pockets, sprawled on the floor learning to share our own testimonies and schools. Many of our students volunteer
as staff for Celebration, Fellowship of
or on couches.
practicing them with one another.
Christian Athletes, and Young Life camps
But within the loud and lively chorus
One student recently shared the
and events.
of voices, youth leaders hear words like
Gospel with four of his friends. All four
This summer, we’ll continue to
these:
gave their lives to Christ.
gather and play and laugh and eat lots
Simultaneously, we’re developing
“I thought I was just going on a ski
of artery-clogging food. But we’ll also
trip. I didn’t know it was going to
deep and meaningful friendships. We’re
spend time outside the Youth Suite
change my life.” – 11th-grade girl
leaning on each other and living our lives
– taking the Gospel to Belize and the
together
–
rejoicing
with
and
praying
streets of Pittsburgh. We’ll return to
“…I got a taste of how powerful
for and supporting our peers. Most
God is and needs to be in my life.”
Daytona Beach for the encouraging and
important, our students are beginning
– 11th-grade boy
challenging Student Life Conference – a
to see the need and feel the desire for an
great opportunity to grow even more
“One night my friend and I Faceaudacious faith, a faith that really knows
in our personal relationships with Jesus
Timed until 1 a.m. and just read the
how to answer when asked,“Who do you Christ.
Bible together and talked about
say that I am?”
how awesome He is.”
What’s really happening upstairs in
Our teenagers also have served as
– 9th-grade girl
the Youth Suite? Great things! Please
missionaries in the Dominican Republic,
feel free to drop by
“I wish we could have youth group Belize, Uganda, China, Peru, Italy, and
anytime and see
every night.” – 6th-grade boy
New Zealand. We’ve been blessed by the
for yourself. You’ll
presence of some international
“Are there any mission trips that
probably leave with
exchange students in our
last longer than a week?”
a smile on your face
– 8th-grade girl
group – Thibeault from
and some cheese
Belgium and Nattya
doodles in your
Amid the fun and games and noise,
from Thailand. We have
pockets.
our teenagers are growing in their
served in our own
relationships with Jesus Christ, and they
backyard and in our
18
F
irst, we want to thank
Linda Tully for her six
years as Director of
Children’s Ministry. She has
been a wonderful leader and her students and teachers
will miss her greatly. The good news is she’s not going
far; Linda has accepted the position of Parish Assistant
and brings her great organizational skills and graphic
design experience to our administrative staff.
Under Linda’s leadership this year, we changed our
Sunday school curriculum and modified our W.A.S.H.
programming to accommodate two 10-week sessions
of Alpha. A new “look” emerged for Children’s Ministry
with the design of our new Kingdom Kids logo and
Facebook page. Linda called on the skills of Mary Ellen
O’Neal, mother of Elizabeth and Caroline (and designer
of our Herald), to help create the new image.
Going forward… We plan
to use the months of June,
July, and August to complete
some long-needed repairs
and maintenance, as well as planning for our Family
Ministry program. Therefore, we will not have any
weekday ministries this summer in Tyndale Hall and
the Parish Hall. We will take this time to plan for the
future of Family Ministry and to
discern God’s call for this ministry.
We also are looking for a leader for
Children’s Ministry and ask you all
to keep this search in your prayers.
Children’s programming will return
this fall with a fresh new look and
excitement in fulfilling our vision at
St. Helena’s.
Stellena Mumma
M&O from page 6
two-story church under construction
on the site of the old church. The
government-supported Catholic
Church across the street also has been
transformed with a new multi-story
building.
Halfway through the decade,
the Lord began to expand the St.
Helena’s-Santa Cruz experience.
The mission was transitioning from
project-oriented to evangelizing and
taking Jesus’ compassion into the
neighborhood.
The Rev. Felix Encarnacion, vicar of
Santa Cruz and two other parishes,
might have expressed it best in 2009.
“As Father Mark (Avera) preached
at church today, I saw something
important happening. The people of St.
Helena’s and the people of Santa Cruz
were one church worshiping God.”
The unity of worship and work for the
Dominicans and the 20-member St.
Helena’s team was evident during the
eight-day mission trip. As in previous
years, nearly 300 youth, ages 4 to
16, participated in projects and VBS.
But the big news that year was the
expansion of ministries by Santa Cruz
parishioners. They held the first-ever
retreat for in-depth Bible study.
Also that year two members of the
St. Helena’s team accompanied a
resident SAMS (Society of Anglican
Missionaries and Senders) missionary,
Cathy Donohoe, visiting shut-ins and
conducting a healing prayer session.
As for Asia, the church participated
in vacation language camps for two
seasons in Beijing, helping students
improve English language skills using
the Bible as text. These camps were
held in conjunction with four churches
of the Three Self Patriotic Movement,
the state-sanctioned Protestant church
in China. In 2012 and 2013, mission
trips were thwarted and St. Helena’s
missionaries sat home.
Today the church still feels called to
the mission field in Asia – among the
unreached people groups. In the fall
of 2013, a four-person team consisting
of the Rt. Rev. Alden Hathaway, Bill
Thompson, Melba Thomas, and
Maude Hornsby accompanied the
Rev. Julian Linnell, then executive
direct of Anglican Frontier Mission,
to remote villages in Asia. Just a few
weeks ago on May 12, a three-person
team traveled in Asia laying the
groundwork for future missions.
The goal today still is to form
long-term relationships with the
unreached people groups in various
countries, becoming like the early
Christian Church, following Jesus’
commandment in Matthew 28:19-20:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father and of the Son and of the
Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe
all that I have commanded you. And
behold, I am with you always, to the
end of the age.”
And in Luke 10:1-3: “Now after this
the Lord appointed seventy others,
and sent them in pairs ahead of Him
to every city and place where He
Himself was going to come. And He
was saying to them, ‘The harvest is
plentiful, but the laborers are few;
therefore beseech the Lord of the
harvest to send out laborers into His
harvest. Go; behold, I send you out as
lambs in the midst of wolves.’”
19
Father Jim Law – A Man for All People
T
he first pew
facing the
side altar at St.
Helena’s features a kneeler
that bears the Carne Cross
and these words: “Every
knee bow, every tongue
confess Jesus Christ is
Lord,” from Romans 14:11
and Philippians 2:10. The
kneeler is a memorial to
an extraordinary Christian
– Father Jim Law – who
firmly believed in the Christian tradition of
kneeling in the presence of the Lord.
It started one Sunday when Jim and Bette
Goettle, late getting to service, were directed
to a side pew of the church where one can sit
but not kneel. Having worked on kneelers for
other churches, Bette talked with St. Helena’s
rector, the Rev. Jeff Miller, and got his blessing
to create a kneeler for the front pew. She
dedicated the work to Father Law, who did his
counseling in that part of the church.
When Bette met with Jim Law’s widow, Nancy,
she learned Jim had a special fondness for the Carne
Cross from his service in the Korean War, where he was
twice wounded. The cross, which Jim saw on exhibit at
the Gloucester Cathedral, was carved by Lt. Col. J.P. Carne,
Commander of the 1st Battalion of the Gloucestershire
Regiment, while he was a prisoner of war in Pyu-Chong,
North Korea. Carne made the four-inch cross with two
nails and a primitive hammer, smoothing the sides against
a concrete step. The cross was first used at a communion
service in the POW camp on Christmas Day 1951.
Nancy also told Bette that Jim had
a favorite Bible quotation, which
combined Scripture from Romans
and Philippians. The idea was now
complete, and Bette started work on
the needlepoint cover for the kneeler. A Catherine Stewart
wooden kneeler was located, refinished,
and assembled in Savannah, and in November 2013, Father
Law’s kneeler was brought into the church. A dedication
took place on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, at the 8 a.m. service.
Conversations with St. Helena’s parishioners who knew Jim
Law quickly reveal that he was not a “typical” priest. In fact,
his unique personality was what brought him
and Nancy together in 1992. Jim was rector of
All Souls’ Episcopal Church in Oklahoma City at
the time, and a friend of Nancy’s called her to
recommend she go out with him. Nancy told
her she couldn’t possibly date a priest – what
would they talk about? Her friend persuaded
her to come to dinner and meet Jim, telling her
he was a “special priest.” And Nancy admits – it
was love at first sight.
Nancy soon learned Jim was not a “typical”
priest, especially when it came to expressing
his sentiments about some of life’s frustrations.
But Father Law is mainly remembered as a warm, caring
individual with a gift for pastoral care and the ability to
deliver marvelous homilies. He is especially well known
for the powerful sermon he delivered in April 1995, on
the Sunday following the
bombing at the Alfred P.
Murrah Federal Building in
Oklahoma City. Part of that
sermon was broadcast on
National Public Radio, and
it was named most effective
sermon in the Episcopal
Church for that year.
In addition to serving
as rector at All Souls’ from 1988-1996, Father Law was
rector at St. Martin’s in Chattanooga, Tenn., St. Luke’s in
Anchorage, Ky., and All Saints’ in Thomasville, Ga. He came
to St. Helena’s after his retirement in 1996, at the request
of then-rector the Rev. Frank Limehouse, and served until
2007. While here, Father Law also served as interim rector
at the Church of the Redeemer in Orangeburg, S.C. During
see KNEELER page 22
20
PRISON
The Rev. Chuck Pollak
“Above all, it is the plain fact of history that again and again
the power of God has made bad people good.”
T
– William Barclay, theologian, in The Gospel of John
he Pharisees were again
testing Jesus and trying to
trick him. “Teacher,” they asked, “What
is the great commandment in the
Law?” No doubt they expected him
to say “murder,” or perhaps “adultery,”
both of which were punishable by
death (at least if they were committed
by … women!). But Jesus answered
them in a far different way than they
had anticipated. “You shall love the
Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all
your mind. This is the great and first
commandment. And the second is like
it: Love your neighbor as yourself. On
these two commandments depend all
the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew
22:36-40, English Standard Version).
We struggle with these words of Jesus,
don’t we? And we struggle also with
the idea that all sins can be forgiven
by God. Those other people, those
terrible people who have committed
murder, or rape, or have molested little
children, surely can’t be forgiven their
sins! That’s simply not right, or just, or
fair. And besides, those kinds of people
will never change. Thank heavens, I am
not like them! Oooooooh, my.
“If we say we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If
we confess our sins, he is faithful and
just to forgive us our sins and cleanse
us from all unrighteousness” (1 John
1: 8-10, ESV). Again and again I hear
people express great skepticism about
the ability of those in prison to repent.
After all, they are really bad guys (or
gals) who have committed grievous
crimes. They will never change. Thank
heavens, I am not like them!
I can understand that kind of thinking.
I once felt the same way. But I cannot
begin to count the number of people
I have seen in prison who have
repented and changed in a profound
manner. They truly have been born
again – born of the Holy Spirit, become
new creatures in God.
And it seems to me that we fall short
in our understanding of Scripture and
of God Himself if we believe there are
those who can’t change. We greatly
lower the power of God in our minds
if we think the Holy Spirit is not alive
and well – if we believe that the Holy
Spirit is not capable of changing
hearts and minds and turning them
to God Almighty, if we think that God
is incapable of changing the hearts
of sinful men to hearts of love and
faithfulness.
Remember: Moses was a murderer
before God chose him to lead the
Jewish nation out of Egypt.
Remember: David was an adulterer
and a murderer, but he became one
of God’s chosen leaders, and a great
leader indeed.
Remember: Saul was a murderer who
became Paul, the great evangelist
to the Gentiles, and who suffered
incredible pain and suffering while
carrying out God’s commands to him.
I was reminded of all this a few days
ago when I visited South Carolina’s
death row at the Lieber prison. I
had been a weekly visitor there for
several years but had not visited in
about three years. I was affected to
the depths of my soul. Several of the
inmates were eager to tell me of their
spiritual growth since we last met. One
of them related that he had been just
one day from execution 18 months
ago: The warden had read him the
order of execution. But then the courts
intervened, and his case is (still) under
review. It seemed a terrible event. I
must have revealed my own agony, for
he reached out to comfort me: “Don’t
worry about me, Chaplain; I am in
God’s hands.”
As I drove home that night, I reflected
on what had happened. I had just
encountered men who had once been
lost but now are found, men who once
were blind but now can see – men
who were once the outcasts of society
and still are. But some of those men
have truly changed. They are now my
friends and my brothers in Christ.
My prayer is that everyone might
come to know the forgiveness
and love of God in the same
uncomplicated way as some of those
men on South Carolina’s death row. For
then the Peace of God, which passes
all understanding, will keep your
minds and hearts in the knowledge
and love of God, and of His Son, Jesus
Christ, and you will be truly blessed.
21
The Preservation Trust
T
for Historic St. Helena’s Church, Inc.
he Preservation Trust for
Historic St. Helena’s Church
was established in 1990 as
an endowment fund. Its purpose is
to accumulate and manage assets,
the income from which is used for
the restoration and preservation
of our historic church building
and supporting facilities. The trust
is a South Carolina non-profit
corporation with its own bylaws
and volunteer Board of Trustees.
There are no paid staff members or
administrators of the fund.
The church recognized in the early
1990’s that funds were not available
to cope with the preservation
demands of the historic structure,
which dates to 1724. Furthermore,
there was no reliable source of
funding to pay for preserving the
aging building and its supporting
facilities. As the trust became
established and funds began to
accumulate, it became apparent that
a complete restoration of the church
was a prerequisite before the trust
could begin funding normal ongoing
preservation.
Consequently, in the late 1990’s the
church was closed for 18 months
while a $3.6 million restoration was
undertaken, funded by the generous
KNEELER from page 20
his two years in that post, he met
with a parishioner who was in prison,
which led him to start the first prison
ministry at St. Helena’s, something
Nancy Law says he was very proud of.
He also was proud to be a founder of
the Prayer Book Society, which seeks
to preserve and promote the use of
the 1662 and 1928 Books of Common
Prayer, traditional service books of the
22
gifts of St. Helena’s parishioners and
friends. When the church reopened
on Palm Sunday 2000, it was
wonderful to see this magnificent
house of worship in refurbished
splendor.
With the restoration of our historic
church accomplished and with
continued financial support of the
trust by our parishioners and friends
of St. Helena’s, the trust now provides
sufficient funding on an annual basis
for preservation and restoration
work. Projects for the historic church
and all supporting facilities (parish
hall, classrooms, rectories, staff
offices, the historic graveyard and its
surrounding walls) are being funded.
This allows critical funds from our
parishioner stewardship pledges to
be released for appropriate church
programs and ministries. Best of all,
the church no longer foresees a need
for future capital fund drives.
Several types of gifts fund the trust.
One type takes the form of naming
the Preservation Trust in a donor’s
will or living trust. A second is a
memorial gift made in memory or
honor of a friend or relative. A gift
made in celebration of a birth, a
marriage, or other significant event
is another way to support the trust.
Church of England. Asked if there was
anything about Jim that people might
not be aware of, Nancy said that in
addition to having taught the classics
at St. Andrew’s school in Sewanee,
Tenn., he also was the football coach.
Father Jim Law – passionate golfer,
dedicated N.Y. Giants fan, opera buff
Charley Webb
Gifts of appreciated securities (which
preclude donors’ having to pay
capital gains tax) also are welcome.
Becoming a 1712er
As a way to recognize donors, the
Preservation Trust adopted the “1712”
lapel pin, named for the year in which
St. Helena’s Parish was established by
act of the Colonial Assembly. Donors
who pledge to include the trust in
their estate planning receive gold
1712 lapel pins. Those who choose
to support the trust by making
significant living gifts receive silver
1712 lapel pins. For living cash gifts,
checks should be made payable to
Preservation Trust for Historic St.
Helena’s Church.
A number of parishioners who are
attorneys have graciously offered to
draft codicils to wills or amendments
to living trusts free of charge for
parishioners who wish to leave a
bequest to the Preservation Trust. If
you would like the free service of an
attorney to prepare a codicil to your
will or living trust, please contact the
church office at (843) 522-1712. A
member of the church staff will put you
in touch with one of our trustees, who will
help you contact a pro bono attorney.
and connoisseur of the oldies, keen
sense of humor, fond of good cigars
– was loved and respected by all who
knew him. Chuck Dalvini calls him
“the epitome of the parish priest.” That
kneeler in our church pays homage
to a remarkable Christian. I wish I had
had the opportunity to know him.
Repairs to the
Old Churchyard Wall
W
hen St. Helena’s Vestry
first met after the
American Revolution
in the spring of 1784, the church
faced its greatest challenge since the
Yemassee Indian War of 1715, which
sent the early settlers of the parish
fleeing for their lives to the safety of
Charleston.
The church was vandalized during
the British occupation of Beaufort in
the summer of 1779. Although pews
remained, the windows were broken
out and doors were not secured,
leaving the church exposed to the
elements and open to horses, cattle,
and wild animals that roamed freely
through the area. There was also a
financial matter of great importance.
The Rev. Lewis Jones legacy, which in
1748 provided sufficient income for St.
Helena’s to establish and then sustain
the first free school in Beaufort, was
missing. Equivalent to $250,000 in
today’s currency, the money was not
recovered despite a decade-long search
with legal action threatened.
During this time, as parishioners
were coping with the aftermath of
the American Revolution, the Vestry
made a bold decision to enclose the
churchyard, and parishioners agreed
to pay for it. It was an ambitious
undertaking, as the “church square” as
it was known from the earliest map of
Beaufort comprised one and threequarter acres of land. Too ambitious, as
it turned out, for it was not until 1799
that an agreement was reached with
parishioner Thomas Tailbird to build a
tabby wall around the churchyard.
The tabby wall was eventually replaced
by a brick wall built on the original
tabby foundation. Herein lies a flaw
that has contributed to the instability of
the wall over the centuries. The tabby
foundation was designed to support a
tabby wall ‒ not the brick structure that
replaced it.
The wall itself reads like a parish history,
with repairs evident over the years by
various workmen and brick masons.
The hurricane of 1893 downed trees
that tore through a large section of the
wall on Newcastle Street, and numerous
support buttresses were installed in the
19th and 20th centuries to prevent the
wall from failing.
This past summer, movement was
detected along an 80-foot section of
the wall at the front of the church. It
was obvious that the buttress supports
were failing, and timbers were installed
to brace the wall and prevent it from
collapsing.
During the following months, a plan
to stabilize the wall was developed
using both engineering and historic
preservation methods. Ram Jack, a
commercial drilling company, drilled
to a depth of 15 feet to provide a solid
base for anchoring the new supports.
Frank Genello, a historic cemetery
conservator, prepared the buttress
footings and is constructing the new
buttress supports. This project is
scheduled for completion in May.
The Properties Committee and Historic
Properties Committee gratefully
acknowledge the Preservation Trust
for Historic St. Helena’s Church, which
funded this project.
Bob Barrett
23
The
The results are in …
Communications Survey 2014
Editor
Marge Barber
Design
Mary Ellen O’Neal
The Herald is published
semi-annually in the fall and in
the spring. The deadline for the
Fall/Winter 2014-15 edition is
Monday, Oct. 6, 2014. All copy
must be submitted by email
to Kelly Newnham, Director of
Communications, knewnham@
sthelenas1712.org. Please include
your name and phone number with
all submissions. Contact Marge
Barber at 525-1316 if you have
questions.
Kelly Newnham
Thank you to everyone who participated in our
Communications Survey. I think you will find the results very
interesting. We had 228 people complete the survey. Of that
number, 97 used the online survey found on our website and
131 completed a printed survey using the drop boxes around
campus. Going forward, these results will help us shape our
communications plans for the parish.
Many of you indicated that the website is one of your main sources for
information, so I hope you will be pleased to know that we are updating the
design. Our goal is to provide a website that is attractive as well as user-friendly
and functional. We realize that our current website is not easy to navigate ‒ so
stay tuned; we will have a new look this fall!
If you would like more information, or if you have questions, please contact me
at [email protected].
Communications Survey 2014 Results
HELENA
The Parish Church of
How can we best keep you informed?
505 Church Street
P.O. Box 1043
Beaufort, SC 29901
(843) 522-1712
Visit us on the web at:
StHelenas1712.org
The Rev. Jeffrey S. Miller
Rector
The Rev. Mark W. Avera
Senior Associate
The Rev. Matthew L. Rusch
Curate
The Rev. Mark W. Warter
Deacon
The Rev. Chad E. Lawrence
Priest Associate
The Rt. Rev. Alden M. Hathaway
Bishop in Residence
The Rev. Charles D. Pollak
Chaplain for Prison Ministry
HELENA
The Parish Church of
P.O. Box 1043 • Beaufort, SC 29901
Non-Profit
Organization
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Beaufort, SC
29901
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