Illuminare, May 12, 2016

Illuminare
Volume 34, Number 8
April 14, 2016
Holy Ground
by Alison Pelegrin
This weekend I had the pleasure of completing intensive coursework in The
Good Shepherding School for Lay Pastoral Ministry, an educational outreach
ministry of St. John’s Episcopal Church
of La Porte, TX. The course, held at our
Chapel, was developed and led by the
Rev. Viktoria Gotting, with John
Lothrop, Lay Director of Pastoral Care at
St. Christopher Episcopal Church of
League City, TX serving as assistant
lecturer. Our participation over the
weekend was in answer to the call vocalized by Mother Morgan for parishioners
to serve the clergy by acting as lay pastoral care providers to the adult members
of the parish and in support of the other
caring ministries that exist at Christ
Church.
John Lothrop, Deborah Tremont, Robin Barbier,
she serves. She blew the doors off of
my brain when she pointed out the
centrality of the pastoral call to all
members of the body of Christ. Again
and again she reminded us that we
would be serving as agents of Christ,
filled with the Holy Spirit, a “divinely
personal gift of God’s wisdom.”
God was among us throughout the
Experience. Each of us had been held
in prayer since first answering this
call to ministry. We prayed together
multiple times daily in a variety of
ways. We were nourished by members of the Caring Committee, on the
grounds of Christ Church, in the
splendor of three of the most beautiful
days I can remember.
Rosemary Replogle, the Rev. Morgan MacIntire,
second row Suzanne Duggan and the Rev. Viktoria
Gotting, back row Barbara Moffett, Richard
Cryar, Alison Pelegrin, Anne Blackmon, and Denise Baham.
It is a rare thing for me to be aware that I
am participating in sacred work, but I felt
it over the last few days. Just as Mother
Viktoria promised in her many lectures,
once we empty ourselves of distractions,
there is room for the Holy Spirit. And
once we were filled with the Holy Spirit, it
became possible for us to know the right
words to say or pray with one another, as
well as how to occupy the sacred space
where pastoral ministry occurs.
The Rev. Viktoria Gotting and John Lothrop
As one who just finished four years of
EfM and who loves to study and read, I
am still basking in the intense joy of this
learning experience. We worked through
course modules with titles such as
“Pastoral Theology 101,” and “Narratives
and Pain: Words, Deeds, Images, and
God.” The experience was framed in the
understanding of God as present, loving,
and healing, and a reminder to be open to
encountering God through the full spectrum of human experience.
The words “hospital” and “holy” don’t
normally connect in my mind. However, I
came to understand that a hospital is holy
ground, because it is a place where both
life and death hang in the balance. It is a
place consecrated by tears of shock, sorrow, joy, and grief. It is a place where
sorrow and simple presence can be sacred,
and a place where we can answer the call
to act as agents of the Holy Spirit.
Mother Viktoria does not mess around.
She is passionate, intense, and a spiritually
muscular advocate for the people whom
Alison Pelegrin and The Rev. Viktoria Gotting
The message is so simple, so profound.
“Love one another.” “Feed my sheep.”
“The Lord upholds all who are falling, and
raises up all who are bowed down.” The
Good Shepherding School for Lay Pastoral Ministry has shocked me into gladness with its reminder of that, truly, every
step is holy when we support each other as
we walk in the company of ever-present
God.
VESTRY NOMINATIONS
At the May 15, 2016, Annual Meeting of Christ
Episcopal Church, four vestry members will be
elected to serve a three-year term. The following
persons have graciously agreed to run for these positions:
John Newman
Randy Moffet
Philip James
Jay Gieger
Colin McComiskey
Laura Ahrons
The Nominating Committee thanks these candidates
for volunteering to embark on this journey. Biographical information on all candidates will be published later.
Further nominations may be made at this time upon
written petition of five or more qualified voters, one
of whom must be the nominee. This petition may be
acquired at the church office and must be submitted
to and received by Fr. Bill on or before May 1st. It
must include a brief biography of the nominee, stating qualifications and reasons for running.
MOLOKAI PILGRIMAGE OFFERS
SPIRITUAL RENEWAL TO PARISHIONERS
Please keep our 17 pilgrims in your
prayers as they travel to the island of Molokai to follow in the steps of Father Damien and Mother Marianne April 18-23.
The group will spend their time learning about Father
Damien's powerful and sacrificial ministry among
those suffering from leprosy in Kalaupapa. They will
hike to Kalaupapa, visit the churches Damien built by
hand, hear from Fr. Bill Petrie who worked with
Mother Teresa in India, and explore Hawaiian spirituality, culture and music by visiting the Halawa Valley
and attending a Kanikapila concert. The pilgrims for
2016 are: Anna Penton, Colin and Dottie McComiskey, Jason and Rachel Reina, Mary Gerry, Rosemary Replogle, Jean Meaux, Lloyd and Barbara
Magee, Diane Allen, Charlie and Jessica Cook, Judy
Shopf and her daughters Laurie Page and Kristin Helfand. The 2017 dates will be announced soon. A $500
nonrefundable deposit will secure your spot. Only two
more pilgrimages will be offered to Molokai, one in
2017 and another in 2018, and they will fill up quickly.
Consider Camp Hardtner
Are you a youth who is
still looking for something
fun to do this summer?
Then you might consider Camp
Hardtner in the Episcopal Diocese of Western Louisiana. Camp
Hardtner, being an Episcopal
summer program, creates an atmosphere of love and acceptance
for campers, counselors, and staff
to engage God's mission. This is
is accomplished each summer
with an organized program of
worship, music, and recreational
activities that encourage creativity and acceptance allowing God's
love to flow freely. Each summer, more than 600 young people
attend the camp sessions and continue a tradition that is nearly
seven decades old. Registration
is open now for summer 2016. Please visit its website at http://www.camphardtner.org/ to find out more about
particular sessions and how you might become part of this wonderful community this summer!
Youth Sunday Formation Cooking Day
If you walked into the parish hall Sunday, April 3rd, then you were probably overwhelmed with the delicious smell of chocolate
chip cookies. That tempting scent was due to our youth
group's outreach efforts. As you might remember from an
earlier Illuminare article, our 6th- 12th grade Sunday Formation
class wanted to do something to show their support for our
church community. They decided a useful and fun way to
support Christ Church's outreach programs would be to cook
freezable meals to donate to our early learning program, First
Love. This way on days when First Love does not have a
volunteer cooking lunch, they can pull out one of our easily re
-heatable frozen meals. Our latest culinary outreach menu
included: baked ziti, chicken noodle soup, brownies, and
chocolate chip cookies. Check out these images of the fun we
had in the kitchen!
Why have a Confirmation rite?
Almighty God, we thank you that by the death
and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ you
have overcome sin and brought us to yourself,
and that by the sealing of your Holy Spirit you
have bound us to your service. Renew in these
your servants the covenant you made with them
at their Baptism. Send them forth in the power
of that Spirit to perform the service you set
before them; through Jesus Christ your Son our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
(BCP p. 418)
With these words we pray for those who will
be confirmed in the Episcopal Church and who
have renewed their baptismal vows which
brought them into the body of Christ. In baptism, the person was washed with water,
anointed with chrism oil, given a lit candle signifying the light
of Christ, and encouraged to be the light of Christ in the world.
With all the bases covered, I would say (as does our Book of
Common Prayer), that baptism is a full initiation into the Body
of Christ.
So why have a confirmation rite? Well, you have to be confirmed to stand for Vestry, but there must be more to it than
that. Some might even suggest that is a great reason not to be
confirmed! Those who would say that have not served on a
Vestry under Deborah Gomila’s leadership I would hasten to
add.
Confirmation is a strengthening of that which was given at baptism. It is not necessary for salvation, but it is extremely important for those who want to take their baptismal vows seriously.
In baptism you cross the threshold into a new room, but you
have the rest of your life to explore the room, learn its contours,
understand how you live in this new room. In other words, you
have to explore and study and pray your way into this new life
in Christ. To take a break in this exploration, and to be able to
stand in front of your church community, (which is your companion on the way), and to make a statement of faith, is a strong
show of commitment to your vows and your life in Christ.
by The Reverend Anne M. Maxwell
Confirmation is a strengthening
of that which was given at
baptism. It is not necessary for
salvation, but it is extremely
important for those who want to
take their baptismal vows
seriously.
Confirmation is not to be taken lightly or
unprepared. We no longer expect the sixth
grade to be a laborious memorization of
scripture and creeds. We offer confirmation
to students beginning in the ninth grade and
we ask for a fuller experience of preparation.
It includes some classes, so you can learn what you are getting
into, but also includes fellowship with other confirmands, attendance at Sunday worship, Wednesday evenings, and mission
opportunities. These students sign a covenant in the beginning
of the year that they will make it a priority and complete the
training. They can not be confirmed without completing the
preparation. For adults we will offer a class beginning in the
fall in anticipation of the Bishop’s visit in November.
Last weekend Addie Carr and I took a small group of ninth
graders to Solomon Episcopal Conference Center for their confirmation retreat. The weather was spectacular so spending
time around the lake and gazing out of the chapel windows was
wonderful. We had an opportunity to discuss our history as a
church and how that effects how we function today. We spent
some quiet time contemplating all the Church’s sacraments
from a very personal standpoint. What are they? How do they
relate to me? How might they add grace to my life? I am appreciative of the students who attended and offered themselves
to this process. Please continue to pray for all those who are
engaged in this preparation that they may be renewed by the
Holy Spirit and empowered for Christ’s service. If you have
any questions regarding confirmation, please contact Addie
Carr, youth minister, at [email protected] or
Anne Maxwell, associate rector, amaxwell@christchurch covington.com or call the church office at 892-3177.
Star Power
by Alison Pelegrin
On April 10 Meredith Walker visited
Christ Church and gave a talk between
services in the chapel. Walker began her
television career producing Peabody and
Emmy award-winning Nick News with
Linda Ellerbee. Next, she served as head
of the Talent Department at Saturday
Night Live. Meredith now serves as Executive Director of the organization she co
-created, “Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls.” On
Sunday, however, her very presence was
more impressive than her credentials.
Meredith was funny, she was serious, and
at one point she brought me to tears. There
was a diverse audience in the chapel, and
her message contained wisdom that everyone needed to hear.
Meredith Walker (back row, center) with Addie Carr, youth minister, and members Smart Girls’ motto is “you change the
world by being yourself.” Doing so may
of our youth group on Sunday April 10 in the chapel.
mean that you turn your back on society’s
expectations and timetable, and Smart Girls is fine with that. It is your duty to show up and participate in the things that
bring you joy rather than creating a life that you think is the one you are
“supposed” to be living. In other words, be more curious about the world and the
Be open. Participate.
people you share it with. Be open. Participate. Get your hair wet. Say yes to
Get your hair wet. Say yes
things that scare you. Allow yourself to be easily amazed, even with the same
to things that scare you.
things you thought were awesome when you were a child: cotton candy, mud
puddles, and really long worms. Be unashamed in your pursuit for joy.
...Be unashamed in your
pursuit for joy.
Naturally, Meredith shared anecdotes about her time at Saturday Night Live. But
what I will most remember is not her behind-the-scenes story about the famous
“More Cowbell” skit, but the story of the time she spent in Jordan at a Syrian refugee camp. The story centered on a
particular girl in a purple hijab with a star necklace at her throat. For this girl, trauma meant that her home had been
erased by bombs. Trauma meant living in a refugee camp five miles from a war zone. Trauma meant a dusty limbo
with no possessions and nothing to look forward to--perhaps this is why she walked for two hours just to attend a workshop Meredith was teaching.
Meredith and this girl had very little in common--not even a
shared language--but they bonded over the creative experience of writing and drawing together. When it came time to
leave, they did not say goodbye, but thank you, in French.
And at the last instant, the girl, in whom Meredith had
opened something with her presence, handed over her one
adornment--a rhinestone-studded star necklace on a long silver chain. Thank you.
Meredith wore that necklace and told this story when she met
Meredith spoke to students at CES on Monday
President Obama, and she wore it on Sunday when she spoke
the story to us. In her life, she did not make the safe choice, or the choice that would have left her family at ease. Instead, she turned to that which she feared, the uncertainty of her safety in a warzone and foreign world. She relied on
mercy in a foreign place and that risk put her in a position to share a life-affirming experience with this refugee girl.
It is difficult to minister to each other in this broken world, but doing so unlocks grace. Doing so gives us stories that
ripple outward with gentle waves that tremble in the hearts and minds of people who would otherwise be oblivious to
the experience. Ministry is part action and part story, and those of us in the chapel on Sunday witnessed both.
s
Christ Church Connections
by Melinda Jones
Are you “Connected” at Christ Church?
Many of us know “the Greeters” who welcome newcomers
to our Sunday services. They want to make newcomers
feel welcome. They encourage them to sign the guestbook
so that the church will have a record of their visit and will
have a way to provide the newcomer with more information about Christ Church.
If you are a relative newcomer or you just attend sporadically, you may not know that we have church members
who live in your neighborhood. Aren’t you curious to
know who they are?
Now I know many of you have tried to limit access to your
contact information. However
there are some
advantages of
knowing who
your neighbors
are. The recent
flooding in our
communities led
the Connections
groups to reach
L to R: Vicki Traina-Dorge, Meagan Hefte, Denise Baham, and out to their
Fran Phares from the Covington East CCC at the home of
neighbors to ofValerie and JP Warner
fer help to those
in need. We were able to identify several families and connect them with important sources of help which will be
ongoing until these families can get back on their feet.
Connections offers more than just friendship. It is an opportunity to provide help to fellow members in times of
stress or crisis.
Connections offers more than just friendship. It is an opportunity to provide help to
fellow members in times of stress or crisis.
L to R: Tim Wolfe, Dylan and Caroline Langdon with the
Covington Country Club CCC at the home of Scott and
Anna Scheffy.
Mary Thomas Coady (L) and Lisa Ward met recently as
part of the Covington North CCC
You will see the CCC nine different neighborhoods
advertise their gatherings in our Sunday bulletin and
the Illuminaire. So if you live anywhere between
Hammond to Slidell or Mandeville to Abita and Folsom,
we invite you to join us.
For more information, contact the church office, Kathy Turner,
our Newcomer Coordinator, kturner@christchurchcovington.
com, or Melinda Jones, Christ Church Connections,
[email protected].
CHRIST CHURCH CONNECTIONS GROUPS
MEETING IN APRIL:
THE COVINGTON NORTH GROUP will meet on Sunday,
April 17 at 1:00pm for a brunch at the Money Hill Clubhouse. If you would like to attend, please RSVP to Jim
and Charlotte Conner by emailing jamespconner
@gmail.com, or calling 504-450-4701. The cost will be
$11.00 per person plus tax and tip. Please join us!
THE EAST ST. TAMMANY/ABITA SPRINGS "Y'ALL
COME" CHRIST CHURCH CONNECTIONS GROUP will
be gathering on April 26th - at the Abita Brew Pub in
Abita Springs. We meet at 7 pm and do self-pay for
food and/or beverages. All are welcome to join in and
help us build our Christ Church community.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR A FUN EVENING WITH
CHRIST CHURCH CONNECTIONS WEST COVINGTON
group! Rich and Molly Richardson have offered their
lovely new home for a potluck supper on Thursday,
April 21, at 6:30 pm. Their address is 349 Primrose
Lane. The Richardsons will provide a main dish and iced
tea/soft drinks. Please bring a salad, side dish or dessert
to share, as well any hard beverages of your choice.
Please RSVP to [email protected]
BRING YOUR SOMBREROS! FOLSOM CCC is having a
Cinque de mayo lunch on Sunday, May 1 at noon at Don
Juan, Highway 25, Folsom. Our Folsom friends and any
others are welcome to come. RSVP Sherry Beale at 985796-9851 and leave a message.
Judy and Jere Shopf Scholarship Fund
Youth Mission Trips Openings
Christ Church Youth have two amazing mission opportunities planned for summer 2016. Junior High Youth
(6th-8th grades) are going to Brownsville, TN and Senior High Youth (9th-12th grades) are headed to Savannah, GA. Both groups will be completing home repairs
for local families in need through the organization
Group. We still have a few spots on both trips available
and would love to include a couple more youth! Before
May 1st, please contact our Youth Minister, Addie Carr,
at [email protected] to find out how
you can join either trip.
Hope to see you at
ART AT THE PARK April 15 & 16
Celebrating its 30th anniversary, Art at the Park is a
treasured tradition at CES! While this is a fundraiser
our mission is to create memories and create art while
enjoying our gorgeous campus and each other. This
year our theme is On Safari. The children will enjoy
pony rides, feeding miniature donkeys, learning how
to be a vet for a day, climbing a rock wall, navigating
an obstacle course and so much more!!! In addition
to our Louisiana boiled crawfish, we have Isabella's
personal size pizzas, Coffee Rani food truck, hamburgers, hotdogs, snow-cones, smoothies, cotton
candy, and cupcakes!!! Children also have vast opportunities to create their very own works of art to
take home with them. AATP is truly our most exciting event of the year for the children and adults! It is
a great way to serve your school and our students.
Any Questions… want to help…? Please contact Beverly McQuaid at 985.246.9860 or [email protected]
As the result of a generous gift from Judy and Jere
Shopf, Christ Episcopal Church annually awards
need-based scholarship funds with the goal of advancing the education of students of faith enrolled in
kindergarten through college classes.
The scholarship is administered by Christ Episcopal
Church Vestry. Any individual awards are granted in
accordance with the following selection criteria:
Faith, Scholarship, Service, and demonstrated need.
For more information on the scholarship fund and
the application process, please contact Alison Pelegrin at 504-952-1745 or apelegrin@ selu.edu. Hard
copies of the application form and process may be
obtained in the church office.
MOMS, LOOKING FOR A CHANCE TO CONNECT
WITH EACH OTHER DURING THE WEEK?
Come join us for Bathtub Theology every
Wednesday night from 5:30-6:30pm in the Parish Hall. We’ll eat dinner at 5:00pm as well if
you don’t feel like cooking! Send your kids to
Blast Off, Slide-In, EYC or the nursery and your
hubbies to Taproom Theology with Father Bill.
Enjoy some free time and catch a break with
friends. Come as you are. Come when you can.
For more information, contact Morgan by email
at: [email protected]
We look forward to seeing you there!
Join us for TAP ROOM THEOLOGY
(A Gathering for Men)
Join Fr. Bill Miller every Wednesday evening from 5:30 - 6:30 at the Columbia Street Tap Room, 434 N. Columbia St. All men are invited and are encouraged to have dinner starting at 5:00 in the Parish Hall ($5.00 donation)
then walk to the Tap Room for a group reflection on the coming week's gospel reading. Order the beverage of
your choice at the bar and then join our discussion table for an informal application Bible study. Facilitators on
April 20 will be Richard Cryar and Jack Duke. Facilitator on April 27 and May 4 will be Fr. Bill. May 4th will be
our final gathering until the fall. Please join us!
For more information, email: fatherbill@ christchurchcovington.com
BON OPERATIT! CLASSICAL SINGERS
5TH ANNUAL DIOCESAN MEN’S RETREAT
th
We are pleased to announce the 5 annual Diocesan
Men’s Retreat at the Solomon Episcopal Conference
Center the weekend of June 3-5. Our own Father Bill
Miller has been selected by the Bishop as our feature
presenter. Father Bill will be sharing stories from the
Beer Drinker’s Guide to God. The retreat is open to all
men. The cost for the retreat is $230 for private room,
$180 for a shared room, and $70 for commuters. Your
$100 deposit (payable to Christ Church) will secure your
spot. Deposits can be turned in to the church office or by
mail. You can register with the church office. For more
information contact: Father Bill Miller at
([email protected]), Skip Scoggin
([email protected]) Bill Rhodes billgreerrhodes
@yahoo.com) or Bill Batson [email protected]).
CEEP Registration
Summer is just around the corner, and CEEP (Christ
Episcopal Enrichment Program) will be offered to 60 low
-income children entering grades 3-6 from June 6-July 1,
8:00 - 3:30 M-F. Early Registration: Thursday, April
28, 6-8 pm and Saturday, April 30, 10 am-1 pm at the
church office. Flyers and applications for both students
and volunteers are available on the church website (Go to
Our Ministries>Outreach>CEEP)
Faith Bible Church and Faith Bible’s Praise
Choir/Team present
Coquille Park in Covington
Friday, April 22, 2016
7:00 – 10:30 PM
This is a fundraiser to support Upward Community
Services, their summer and school-year programs for
children and youth. New Orleans Catering is supplying
the food to include: grilled tuna; petite ribeyes; Cajun
duck; zucchini beignets; gulf shrimp; seafood gumbo;
fried turkey; crawfish fettuccine; and catfish pecan.
Tickets are $75.00. However, reserved seating for 6 can
be purchased for $600.00 and for 4 for $400.00. The
Motown Sponsorship levels are as follows:
The Berry Gordy: $5,000.00 (16 tickets with reserved seating)
The Supreme: $2500.00 (12 tickets with reserved
seating)
The Smokey Robinson: $1750.00 (8 tickets with
reserved seating)
Please join Faith Bible Church for this worthy, fun event.
TO PERFORM
AT THE NEXT
THIRD SUNDAY CONCERT SERIES NEXT SUNDAY,
The Third Sunday Concert Series at Christ Episcopal
Church in Covington will present the classical ensemble Bon Operatit! on Sunday, April 17 at 5 p.m.
Bon Operatit! was formed in 2009 and is a wellseasoned ensemble of classical singers. They have
performed in and around the greater New Orleans
and Gulf South including the Diamondhead Performing Arts Series, the City Park Thursdays at Twilight Garden Concert Series, and French Quarter
Festival to name a few. In addition, the singers are
contracted every second Wednesday of the month at
the Four Points by Sheraton for the “Opera Returns
to Bourbon Street Series.” For our Third Sunday Series, they will perform familiar opera and musical
theatre hits from Phantom of the Operah more.
All concerts in the Third Sunday Concert Series are
free and open to the public. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
IT’S TIME TO UPDATE THE
CHURCH DIRECTORY!
If your address, email, or phone numbers have
changed, or you have been here a while and
wonder if we have all the correct information,
we invite you to update us with your contact information at this time. We are gearing up for
next fall and have noticed that we have received incomplete information from some of you. We would like to
have full names, especially your children’s names, ages,
birthdays, as well as full contact information so that we
ensure better communication. Children’s ages and birthdays are particularly important so that we can send age
based programming information to you for upcoming
months. Forms are at the church office, or can be emailed
to you. Send a request to Susan at: sgriffis@ christchurchcovington.com
Christ Church, Covington
NON-PROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
Covington, LA
70433
Permit No. 46
An Episcopal Church and School
in the Diocese of Louisiana
120 S. New Hampshire St.
Covington, Louisiana 70433
(985) 892-3177
fax - (985) 892-3187
Early Childhood Center - (985) 892-9156
Christwood Blvd. Campus - (985) 871-9902
www.christchurchcovington.com
The Rt. Rev’d Morris K. Thompson, Jr. Bishop of La.
The Rev’d William Miller, Rector
[email protected]
The Rev’d Anne M. Maxwell, Associate Rector
[email protected]
The Rev’d Morgan M. MacIntire, Associate Rector
[email protected]
Mr. John Morvant, Head of School
VESTRY
2013-2016 — Leslie Brown, Lloyd Magee, Ed Moore,
Peggy Stanford
2014-2017 — Denise Baham, Deborah Gordon, Alison Pelegrin,
Tim Wolfe
2015-2018 — Bob Brown, John Lindner, Ken Shell, Nicole
St. Paul
PREACHING SCHEDULE
April 17
April 24
May 1
May 8
May 15
May 22
May 29
The Reverend Anne M. Maxwell
The Reverend Morgan M. MacIntire
The Reverend Morgan M. MacIntire
The Reverend William B. Miller
The Reverend William B. Miller
The Reverend William B. Miller
The Reverend William B. Miller
Next Illuminare deadline:
April 22, 2016