The Ministry, June, 2013 - St. Paul`s Episcopal Church

From the Rector
A Celebration of Ministry . . . and a Couple of Other Things
The Book of Common Prayer (BCP) reminds us on page 855 that the ministers of the church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons. And that the duty of all Christians is to follow Christ; to come together week by week for corporate worship; and to work, pray, and give for the spread of the kingdom
of God. We are all in this together.
In the course of our mutual ministry, there are times when you just have to celebrate. Saturday, June 29, at 3 p.m. is one of those times. It will be a time to
celebrate the calling of a new Rector and a new Curate, to celebrate the ministry
of all people, and in particular to celebrate and to offer thanks for the ministry
of Deacon Jim Purks, who retires that very day.
Jim has served not only this parish but others in the area faithfully and well.
Bishop Benhase will be here, along with parishioners and clergy from our
neighboring parishes, and well-wishers from our area. After our Celebration of
Ministry in the church, we will have a wonderful reception, with a catered
table that many of us would call supper. This will be a milestone in the life of
St. Paul’s Church. Please make plans to be here at this time of celebration and
thanksgiving.
It is a pleasure to continue to get to know more of you and to put more and
more names with faces. Please help your new curate, Mollie, and me, to continue to learn who you are. You can help us do this in several ways. Drop by
the office to visit, attend one of our planning meetings, participate in one of our
hospitality ministries, and join us for breakfast on Sunday morning, and when
the fall comes, join us in one of our Christian education classes.
Speaking of Mollie, I do hope a number of us can be in Savannah on Saturday morning, June 22, for her ordination to the Diaconate; then, approximately six months after she has served as a deacon, Mollie will be ordinated a
priest. We expect that ordination to be here at St. Paul’s. The ordination on the
22nd will be at St. Paul’s the Apostle, and Mollie will be one of four ordinands.
If you are planning to go to Savannah, let me or someone in the office know.
Maybe we can help with some carpooling.
I will always be most thankful for sharing ministry with Deacon Jim Purks. In
these first several weeks of my being at St. Paul’s, Jim has continued to do the
lion’s share of pastoral care. Mollie and I are committed to maintaining high
-quality pastoral care after Jim’s retirement. Please do not hesitate to go ahead and call if you would
like for one of us to visit you or some parishioner who you think would benefit from our presence.
As we continue to streamline our administrative procedures—and look for operational savings wherever
we can find them—we would like to deliver more of our communications electronically. We have
280 e-mail addresses. We print 300 copies of The Ministry each month. That is a lot of paper and a lot
of costly ink. We’d like to cut the 300 number to 50. Parishioners who do not have access to a computer, however—or simply prefer to receive a printed copy in the mail—we certainly will continue to mail
The Ministry to those folks. Also, printed copies will continue to be available at the church for picking
up.
Deacon Jim Purks To Retire June 29
At the end of June, Deacon Jim Purks will retire as an active liturgical
deacon—and his faithful and caring service as a Deacon at St. Paul’s
will be recognized Saturday, June 29, at the “Celebration of Ministry.”
I loved Chicago—and became deeply involved there with church planting/building. I became senior warden at Grace Episcopal Church. God
put me there; I am convinced to this day. When I began with Grace, it
had 15 members meeting on an upper floor in an office building.
Recently, preparing for an interview, Jim wrote an autobiographical
sketch that is simply too good not to share. The sketch is being present- But it had a super endowment. We envisioned building in the Dearborn
ed in two parts: Part I is in the May issue of The Ministry; Part II, in this,
Park area, which we did;
the June issue.
and the building won all
kinds of architectural
Jim Purks on Jim Purks, Part II
awards. We called it
I left the Associated Press (AP) to become press secretary to Florida
“Grace Place,” made it a
Secretary of State Richard (Dick) Stone. My father died on the day
community center, invited
Stone was sworn into office—a heart attack at age 68. After 2 ½ years,
a small Lutheran congreStone resigned to run for the U. S. Senate, and I left my cushy state job
gation to worship there
to be a press aide in his campaign. It was great adventure. Stone won
with us, and they acceptand I became an executive assistant in his Senate office in Tallahassee
ed. So, now I am a big(disappointed at the time not to be going to Washington…). I later retime Episcopalian and
turned to state government, becoming executive assistant to Florida
servant.
Secretary of State Bruce Smathers.
Meanwhile, I am still
Meanwhile, Jimmy Carter is running for president. Senator Stone recworking for Quaker
ommends me to the Carter people to be his press secretary for the FloriOats…but it was hard for
da general campaign. So, I leave a comfortable job again and go to
me to learn about and
work in the Carter campaign in Florida. I liked what Carter said about
write about (and care
our nation addressing the energy crisis and, of course, his courage in
about) products, profit
speaking out on human rights. He won, and took Florida, and I was
margins, and shareholder
Jim Purks with his Martin Luther King, Jr.
asked to go to Washington with the Carter Administration. Yes! I serve
Dream Award that he received in 2011.
value. I wind up working
as assistant press secretary in the White House Press Office, under Jody
for United Way of ChicaPowell, until our defeat and the Reagan inauguration day.
go and that was better. The non-profit world suits me better!
During the White House years, I continued to wander church wise, attending various Episcopal churches. I definitely was inspired by the
Carters’ faith through all the adversity and trials. My most vivid
memory is being the press aide to accompany the Carters to Camp David during the Easter weekend of 1979. I attended the Easter Day service in the Camp David chapel and sat one pew behind the President of
the United States and First Lady. Sitting next to me was his physician,
who went with him everywhere, and the Navy officer with the famous
“black box.” We were the only ones in the chapel, and the pastor!
Then, goodness what an adventure, just the five of us returning in the
Marine One helicopter and landing on the South Lawn of the White
House. ME!!! Couldn’t believe I was experiencing that….Thank you,
God.
Despite my loving Chicago, the winters there were not for me. In 1988, I
apply and am accepted to be a press secretary/media person with Habitat for Humanity International back in my home state of Georgia. I
wanted to return to the red clay of Georgia, and I was very impressed to
see that President and Mrs. Carter supported Habitat and actually
worked on Habitat homes. I worked in Americus with founder Millard
Fuller, collaborated with him on two books, and co-edited a photo book.
I went to Jimmy Carter Work Projects in Miami, Washington-Baltimore,
San Diego-Tijuana, the Philippines; also, I went on a Habitat blitz build
in New Zealand. I worked for Habitat for 12 years. Meanwhile, I am a
very committed member of Calvary Episcopal Church, Americus, and I
begin to study to be a Deacon for four years (interrupted by open heart
surgery in 1996), and I am ordained Dec. 7, 1999. I serve as Deacon
1981-1986. These years are a little fuzzy, sort of a bittersweet time. I
with the Rev. Reginald Gunn (to this day, my earthly hero, mentor, and
got a job with Ford Motor Company as a writer and moved to Detroit.
friend) for eight to nine years. An important moment during these
My mother had just died (also a heart attack) in November 1981. I went Americus years was being inducted as a chaplain in the Order of St.
to the corporate headquarters in Dearborn, MI every day. Not an uplift- Luke, a healing order.
ing experience, although instructional to see how the automobile indusOn March l, 2007, a tornado rendered my cabin in Americus uninhabittry functioned, the high salaries, the ivory towers, etc. I was not happy
able and with the arrival of a new Rector at Calvary, as is diocesan
and they were not happy, either. It just didn’t work. From Ford, I went
policy, I depart as Deacon there and, after a period, am assigned to St.
to Bendix and made some great friends there, but this was the era of
Paul’s, serving there nearly two years before Bishop Benhase assigns
takeovers. Bendix attempted to take over Allied, but Allied wound up
me to St. Patrick’s—and I absolutely love both parishes and their peoconsuming Bendix. My job was gone. I wind up in Chicago with Beple. Then, back to St. Paul’s, where happily I am today—and hope to
atrice, fabulous salary but, again, corporate takeovers.
stay in some capacity, God willing and the parish willing.
29 Pets Now Rest in Barney’s Corner; Fourth Service June 1
The ashes of six pets were scattered in Barney’s Corner Saturday afternoon, June 1, during the fourth liturgy since the space in the
Lucy Walters Memorial Garden was dedicated
in October 2011. Thirty people and one dog,
Dewar Gray, attended the service and reception on the terrace.
The six pets: Perth and Maggie, Nancy and
Tommy Chambless; Ed, Gennie and Scott
Marcus; Lucy, Ashley and Will Miles; Sweet
Pea, Jim Purks; and Aggie, Jon and Tracy
Woodcock.
Fr. Lee Lowery and Mollie Roberts, the
parish’s new curate (this was the first service
of her ministry, having graduated Sewanee on
May 10 and having joined the staff of St.
Paul’s on June 1), led the Liturgy for the Loss
of a Pet, assisted by Deacon Jim Purks.
Sara Lowery, Missionary for a Year—With Our Help
Sara Lowery, Fr. Lee and Linda Lowery’s oldest
daughter, who graduated last month from the University of the South, Sewanee, TN, with a bachelor’s degree in International and Global Studies
and a minor in Women’s and Gender Studies,
leaves in August for a year-long mission in Hong
Kong—and she needs some help; but first, Sara’s
story:
life, often face legal, sexual, and financial abuses. I feel particularly called to this
ministry because of my passion for
women’s advocacy, and I know that
I am being called to the right place
at the right time,” Sara said.
In order to do this, Sara needs an
enormous amount of emotional,
“I have been called to the Young Adult Service
financial, and spiritual support. The
Corps of the Episcopal Church, and I am about to cost of a YASC year is around
embark on a year-long mission to Hong
$22,000; the Global Mission Service
Kong. YASC is a division of Global Partnerships asks that each YASCer raise
with the national Episcopal Church and focuses on $10,000 to support their misconnecting people through the Anglican Commun- sion. This helps cover training, airion by sending young people to serve as mission- fare, visas, housing, medical insuraries in foreign dioceses.
ance, and a food stipend. While the
amount may seem high, it breaks
“Mission in the Episcopal Church means ‘to be
down to around $30 a day—or 334
sent out’ and is rooted in building transnational
donations of $30, or 200 donations
relationships and learning from one another. I
of $50, or 100 donations of $100.
have been fortunate enough to be placed at the
Mission for Migrant Workers, a ministry of the
The Diocese of Alabama is collect- Sara receives her diploma from Sewanee ViceChancellor John McCardell.
Diocese of Hong Kong, which works with migrant ing the funds, and checks can be
women from the Philippines and Indonesia who
made out to Episcopal Diocese of
work as Foreign Domestic Workers (maids) in
Alabama and mailed—ATTN: Rob Morpeth, 521
Hong Kong. The MfMW provides both a physical N. 20th St., Birmingham, AL 35203. Please note
shelter and legal advocacy for women who, after
that the gift is for Sara Lowery.
leaving their families behind to give them a better
Legacy Ministers Celebrated at Supper Party
These 11 men and women were honored recently at a supper party at Lisa and Walter Kelley’s home. They were among 22 guests,
including Rector Lee Lowery and his wife Linda, Curate Mollie Roberts, and Deacon Jim Purks. In the photo are, seated, from left,
Jay Reynolds, Dianne Hall, Jo Jones, and Dwayne Summar; standing, from left, Jay Ventulett, Lisa Kelley, Dunn Stapleton, Nealy
Stapleton, Walter Kelley, Kari Middleton, and Faison Middleton. Members of St. Paul’s Legacy Ministry who were unable to attend
are: Phyllis and Seaborn Curry, Tim Davis, Caroline and Bill Greenwald, Carol Ann Ham, Marilyn Hedrick, Mark Ingram, Willa
and John Inman, Polly Jones, Pam Reynolds, Kay and Ralph Rodgers, and Bev and Terry Trojan.
san program has been revitalized as part of the Campaign for
Congregational Development. The current goal if to establish a
planned giving program in all 70 churches and missions.
Dwayne Summar is a member of the diocese’s Legacy Society
Committee and will be working with churches in the Albany
Convocation. St. Paul’s is the only church in the convocation
that has a planned giving program and one of a handful in the
The Legacy Society of the Diocese of Georgia was formed in
entire diocese. By making a gift to your parish, to the diocese, or
2005 to assure the future of God’s mission throughout the Dioto an Episcopal organization within the diocese—and making it
cese of Georgia and to honor the extension of holy stewardship
within a program of planned giving. Planned gifts are really the known to the diocese—one is becomes a member of the Legacy
Society. There are Legacy Society folders in the Parish House,
ultimate demonstration of our stewardship commitment; they
symbolize our desire to respond with gratitude to God’s grace in and the last page is a form that can be completed by members of
our lives and to return what God has given us to use. The dioce- our Legacy Ministry and mailed to Diocesan House in Savannah.
Legacy Society of the
Diocese of Georgia
Prayerfully Consider Joining New EfM Group
In September, St. Paul’s will kick off a new Education for Minis- of us in our daily lives.
try (EfM) group. The deadline for registering is August 16.
Our group (it must number six but not be more than 12 particiEfM is a program developed by and coordinated through the
pants) will meet once a week for a nine-month academic year.
University of the South, Sewanee, TN. It is different from most
Our meetings will be from approximately 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. (day
Bible studies in that it is both academic and theological in nature
of the week to be determined). Because of the intimate size of
and reaches beyond the Bible to the church, theology, and indithe group, we will come to know each other very well and will
vidual ministries. The focus of the program is to use the acabe resource to one another as we grow in our personal faith and
demic material as a lens through which an individual may view
ministries.
their own call to ministry as a member of the Body of Christ.
Our Diocese values this program so highly that it sponsors the
This is accomplished through a variety of theological reflection
program reducing the student cost significantly, from $460 to
methods.
$350 per student per year which includes all course materials.
Although EfM is a four-year-long program of study (see http://
Please prayerfully consider whether this is a program of study to
www.sewanee.edu/EfM), one commits to only one “year” at a
which you are called, and remember it is not limited to members
time. The four years cover the Old Testament, the New Testaof S. Paul’s or even to Episcopalians, so bring a friend!
ment, Church History, and Theology. Participants read the
week’s assignments and come to the weekly meeting prepared to Telephone Mollie at the church if you would like to talk about
discuss the lessons in order to reflect upon the meaning for each the program and get answers to any questions that you may have.
Ryan Durden, who completed a three-year
term on St. Paul’s Vestry this past January,
received in late May a diploma from the
School of Theology, University of the South,
Sewanee, for completing all four years of
Education for Ministry. Ryan and his wife
Jennifer attend the 8 o’clock worship service,
and they are the parents of a young son named
Wyatt.
July Anniversaries
July 1
Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Colby
July 1
Dr. and Mrs. Joseph W. Stubbs
July 13 Mr. and Mrs. Todd Rowand
July 19 Mr. and Mrs. Craig Moye
July Birthdays
July 1
Maggie DuVall
Charles Smith
July 2 Ken Eder
Joe Girone
July 5 Rob Leach
July 6 Brenda Duffy
July 7 Liz Knight
Jacob Seymour
Quin Wright, III
July 8 Win Bell
Nealy Stapleton
July 9 Vicki Inman
Sarah Morrissey
Casey Wesselman
July 10 Finley Davis
Katie Gatewood
Rust Hendley
July 12 Deirdre Allegood
Sidney Bush
Crisp Gatewood
Sherry Parr
July 15 Pam Reynolds
LeConte Talley III
Tard Wright
July 17 Ryan Durden
Ellie Morgan
July 18 Patrick Bass, Jr.
July 19 J. Chris Anderson
Wyatt Durden
Tripp Morgan
Matthew Rodieck
July 20 William Hedrick
Mary Newcomb
July 21 Beverly Barber
Anita Hudgens
July 24 Rosemary Barber
Lisa Kelley
July 25 Elaine Mercer
July 26 Mary Bullion
Huddy Hudgens
Lisa Seymour
July 27 Brent Jarzen
July 28 Eric Belusko
July 29 Jann Lockhart
Anne Stokes
July 30 Pat Jackson
July 31 Kari Middleton
Bubba Mitchell
Daughters of the King Host Fr. Lowery
Seated, from left, Debbie Richardson, Gail Phillips, Joyce Wetherbee, Virginia Reynolds, and Jolee Dorsey.
Standing, from left, Barbara Bell, Lillian Parkman, Pat Burger, Sammie Harewood, Fr. Lowery, Dolly Robinson, Margaret Whiting, Susan Harris, and Willa Inman. The party was at the home of Pat and Joe Burger.
St. Paul’s Children Enjoy the Tripp Morgans’ Pool and Pizza
Non-Profit Org. U. S. Postage Paid
Albany,
GA
Permit No. 147
212 N. Jefferson Street * Albany, Georgia 31701
Forwarding Service Requested
The Parish Staff
The Reverend Jim Bullion, Interim Rector
The Reverend Jim Purks, Deacon
Mollie Roberts, Curate
Schedule of Regular Worship Services
Marcia Hood, D.M.A., Director of Music
Kenneth Williams, Organist
Debbie Godwin, Interim Parish Administrator
Sunday
Mary Herndon, Financial Secretary
Rite I Eucharist at 8:00 am
Velma McClary, Housekeeper
Rite II Eucharist at 10:30 am
Robert Clay, Sexton
Wednesday
Holy Eucharist & Healing Service at 12:00 noon
Vestry
Terms ending in 2014
Terms ending in 2015
Terms ending in2016
Dave Davies
Walter Kelley
Tony Blakey
John Dixon
Lillian Parkman
Virginia Gray
Billy Mayher, Sr Warden
Fred Sharpe
Liza Pickett
Tripp Morgan11
Ed Dozier
Dwayne Summar, Jr Warden