June 2013 - Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee
Transcription
June 2013 - Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee
June 2013 Bishop’s Notebook page 3 Feature Story page 4 Diocesan News page 6 From the Field page 8 Around the Diocese back cover Connections: home… parish… diocese Taizé… in song and silence The Mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee is to encourage and equip one another as baptized people of God, to witness to the transforming and reconciling power of Jesus Christ. The Episcopal Church In the Anglican Communion A global communion of 70 million Anglicans in 38 member provinces Archbishop of Canterbury The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby Anglican Consultative Council Partnership House 157 Waterloo Road London, England Episcopal Seat: Canterbury Cathedral In the United States A communion of 2.5 million members in 110 dioceses in the Americas and abroad Established 1789 Presiding Bishop The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori Episcopal Church Center 815 Second Avenue New York NY 10017 800-334-7626 Episcopal Seat: Washington National Cathedral Mount St. Albans Washington DC 20016 Welcome to the June 2013 issue of Connections: home… parish… diocese. We will accept submissions for Connections from throughout the diocese. As space permits, we will use as much content as possible, subject to editorial revision. Short announcements of 100 words or less may be sent via email to [email protected]. For feature-length stories, contact us in the diocesan office at 615-251-3322. Digital photos can be submitted as above and must include activity, date and identities of everyone in the photo. Submissions are accepted until 12:00 Noon on the 10th of the month prior to the upcoming issue and will be given consideration on a first come/first served basis. Safeguarding God’s Children Protecting children from sexual abuse. Preventing adult sexual misconduct. A diocesan workshop for vestries,* nursery workers, Sunday school teachers, volunteer youth leaders and employees, part‐time and full‐time, anywhere in the diocese. No workshops are scheduled at this time; watch this space for dates. To schedule a session at your parish, contact Bonnie Lloyd at 615-771-6322. Please call the diocesan office at 615‐251‐3322 to sign up. *Newly elected vestry members should attend. Safeguarding God’s People is a curriculum provided by the Church Pension Group. Receiving Connections - three ways, your choice. In the Diocese of Tennessee A communion of 16,250 Episcopalians in 45 congregations in Middle Tennessee Established 1828 Online Edition: Connections is posted on the diocesan website for viewing, reading or printing! Visit www.edtn.org for the Online Edition of Connections. Past issues are archived. Bishop The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt Episcopal Diocese of Tennessee 50 Vantage Way, Suite 107 Nashville TN 37228 615-251-3322 Print Subscription: If you do not have Internet capabilities, or you simply prefer the Print Edition of Connections, call the diocesan office at 615-251-3322 to subscribe. Connections will be mailed to your home 6 times a year. Episcopal Seat: Christ Church Cathedral Published by the Diocese of Tennessee. Publisher: The Rt. Rev. John C. Bauerschmidt Editor: Cathy Hendrix Email Updates: If you would like to be added to the diocesan Email Distribution List, visit the diocesan website and subscribe. A reminder will be sent to you when the latest Connections is posted. Connections: home… parish… diocese Communion Cues There are some basic “cues” to receiving Holy Communion in the Episcopal Church, a tradition to “how we do things” that varies from place to place in its details but which still bears a family resemblance no matter what parish we belong to. Practice differs in different places as to whether communion is received kneeling or standing, but a reverent and humble approach to the Blessed Sacrament is common to both. It is an old tradition dating back at least to the fourth century to distribute the consecrated bread into the hands, one placed under the other in order to make a throne for Christ. In any case, the hands should be held level as the www.edtn.org laws of gravity still prevail in spite of the sacramental presence. Some communicants prefer to receive the consecrated bread directly on their tongues. The consecrated wine is received in a variety of ways in Episcopal parishes. The most common way, and the most traditionally Anglican, is for each communicant to drink directly from the chalice. Others practice intinction, dipping the consecrated bread in the chalice, done either by the minister of communion or by the communicant. Policies for this are set by parishes, not individuals, and approved by the bishop, but everyone should have a chance to drink from the chalice. Communicants should bear in mind that the Eucharistic bread is to be dipped, not dunked, in the chalice: communicants who want more wine than that will need to drink from the cup! Questions are sometimes raised about the hygiene of communion practices. It is an old custom of the church for the clergy to be involved in the reverent disposal of the consecrated bread and wine, which in the Episcopal Church means eating and drinking what is left over. Clergy in modern times have been known to be plagued by stress but very rarely by communicable disease, which would seem to undercut fears about hygiene. Finally, it is an important cue if receiving at an altar rail to remain where you are until the next communicant has received from the cup. Communion is something we do together without rushing off or jostling at the rail. It’s also an old custom to make the sign of the cross before and after receiving communion. “Amen” is also appropriate after the minister of communion says the words of administration to each communicant: the Christian’s “so be it” in the face of the real presence of Christ. — Bishop John Connections June 2013 3 Peace and Tranquility Through Song & Prayer In 1966, the first international meeting was organized with 1400 young adults from thirty countries in attendance. An ecumenical monastic order, the Taizé Community was founded by Roger Louis Schütz-Marsauche, a protestant pastor from Switzerland. In 1940, during WWII, he rode a bicycle from Geneva to Taizé, a small town in unoccupied France, about 240 miles southeast of Paris. A Belgian doctor became the first Catholic brother in 1969, and more Reformed, Anglican and Roman Catholics joined the community. Brother Roger purchased a small house that became a sanctuary to Jewish refugees but was he forced to leave Taizé. When he returned in 1944 after France was liberated, he formed the Taizé Community which, at that time, was comprised of a small group of men living together in poverty and obedience. On Easter day, 1949, seven men committed themselves to following a life of simplicity, celibacy and community. Since 1951, brothers have lived among the poor in India, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Algeria, Brazil, Kenya, Senegal and the United States. As the whole world was changing, and in response to student protests in Europe and elsewhere, Brother Roger established the “Council of Youth” which met in 1974. Time Magazine reported on the event, stating that 20,000 people had registered in the tent bearing the sign “Taizé Community Welcome Bureau.” By the late ‘70s, these events were referred to as “Pilgrimage of Trust on Earth.” These Pilgrimages continue to this day. Each year around New Year’s Day, in a large European city, tens of thousands of young adults gather, staying with local families or camping nearby. They participate in programs and workshops on faith, art, politics and social concerns. In 2005, Brother Roger was murdered in a knife attack by a mentally ill woman. He was 90 years old. His funeral was attended by over 10,000 people. In his “Unfinished Letter” published following his death, Brother Roger wrote of widen ing the “Pilgrimage of Trust.” Today, the Taizé Community is composed of more than 100 brothers in approximately thirty countries around the world, led by Brother Alois, a German- 4 Connections June 2013 Worship traditions include prayers and silence, songs and chants. The music uses simple phrases such as lines from the Psalms or other scripture repeated and sung in canon in a meditative fashion. Early Taizé music was conceived by Jacques Bertier; later Joseph Gelineau became a major contributor. The times of silence are meant for each person to reach their own peaceful communion with God. Though it can be difficult to quiet the mind of the day-today worries, silence allows God’s word to reach the heart. Churches in the United States have, for many years, incorporated elements of Taizé style of worship, and in 2012, for the first time, the brothers of the Taizé community, brought the conference to the US. DePaul University in Chicago was host to several thousand young adults seeking answers to questions of life and faith. In an article for Huffington Post, Brother Emile was quoted, saying, “Young people, I think, feel respected at Taizé. They’re welcome to come with their questions and their doubts. And they’re very relieved sometimes to feel that there's a place for them as they are.” Guidelines for the community were written by Brother Roger in the “Rule of Taizé,” published in French in 1954 and still in print in many languages. In the 1960s, the Taizé Community became a point of pilgrimage for young people. It wasn’t long before the village church became too small to accommodate all the visitors. Church of the Reconciliation was built and has been expanded a number of times in the following years. born Catholic. More than 100,000 people make the trek to Taizé from all around the world each year for prayers, Bible study and communal work, encouraged to live in kindness, simplicity of reconciliation. Some choose to attend in silence. Some church leaders feel that the Taizé movement is attracting young Christians, possibly reversing that generation’s falling attendance. The relaxed worship style, not following any particular denomination’s rote service, is very appealing to those looking for spiritual nourishment. In October 2010, smaller gatherings were assembled in Brooklyn and Baltimore as well as different universities in Massachusetts. The brothers facilitating these visits then headed west to South Dakota. They must have made quite an www.edtn.org impact because just recently, May 2427, 2013, in Red Shirt, SD, a small village on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, another USA “Pilgrimage of Trust on Earth” was held. The gathering included meditative prayer three times a day, Bible study, workshops, small group sharing and meals together, provided by the local Lakota people. The strong relationship between Taizé and South Dakota began in 2009 when a group of students, including two Lakota men, visited France. When the brothers visited Pine Ridge in 2010 and again in 2011, a friendship was formed. A large group of Lakota and Ojibwa young people visited the Taizé Community in 2011 and 2012. Their desire to host a pilgrimage was, in part, to show the world the gifts of their way of life as well as the struggles in adapting to contemporary life while also letting others know that in their Christian faith, there is peace and joy. The Huffington Post reporter spoke with the Rev. Rita Powell of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Vermillion, SD, who has been to the Taizé Community in France several times. She says, “Ideally, what sticks ultimately is that sense that you already knew something.” She continues, “If you can create the space for people of any age to really feel that source of faith, then the style of prayer is really secondary.” Here in Middle Tennessee, the Taizé movement is growing with participation from a number of Nashville churches. Since it is nondenominational, people tend to follow the scheduled services, regardless of the church. According to their website, www.nashville-taize.org, there is www.edtn.org a weekly Taizé service at Downtown Presbyterian in Nashville on Tuesdays at 4:45 PM. Bi-weekly, Vanderbilt Divinity School offers a service on Tuesdays in All Faiths Chapel at 6:30 PM. On the second Sunday of the month, Christ Church Cathedral has an evening service at 6:00 PM and on the third Sunday of the month, at 5:00 PM, West End United Methodist Church has a Taizé service, with anointing. Quarterly, the Second Presbyterian Church on Belmont Blvd. turns their 8:30 AM worship over to the Taizé style. Jon Johnson, the associate organist/ choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral Nashville leads the music for their Taizé-based service. More than 15 years ago, the Rev. Anne Stevenson, then at Christ Church, was tasked with incorporating a meditative aspect to the Sunday Evening Prayer service. Begun in 2004, the monthly liturgy with Taizé music was a collaborative effort of Anne, the Rev. Alice Nichols and Marjorie Proctor who had been meeting and working on a format to create a liturgy that would be ecumenical, welcoming of all sorts of people, inclusive and peaceful. Anne says, “We decided on a once a month format, calling it Prayers for Peace in the Taizé Tradition. Marjorie organized musicians and chants, generally including one or two singers, piano, violin, cello and other instruments. Alice and I chose the readings, generally from the Hebrew Scriptures, and the writings of saints and peacemakers of all traditions.” They consulted with other churches in the Nashville area who had a tradition of Taizé services, and planned that there would be a Taizé service somewhere in the area almost every week. The liturgy was designed to allow each participant to enter into the peace and beauty of the evening. Worshipers entered and left in silence. Anne adds, “I always found the liturgies inspiring and sustaining.” Now, in an atmosphere of dimmed lights and candles, those attending the service are seated in the chancel, facing the reredos. Incense burns during the service though it is not censed by a thurifer. The service begins with chants to prepare the participants. Jon says, “The chants are a unifying device. The beauty of the simplicity is a way to center yourself.” An icon of the 16th century “Christ Pantocrator” from Crete is visible for participants to focus their mediation on during the silent portion of the service. The Rev. Joshua Calor, curate and coordinator of the young adult ministry at the Cathedral, and some of the participants do the readings. Along with prayer intentions that have been requested, there are prayers for the people of the world. People say they leave the service centered, refreshed and filled with peace. The group at the Cathedral is about 30 strong and consists of college-aged young adults through the over 60 set. For more information on Taizé services at the Cathedral, call Jon Johnson or Fr. Joshua at 615-255-7729. Other churches in the Diocese of Tennessee have adapted elements of the Taizé service to suit their needs. Grace Church Spring Hill has a Sunday evening service once a month drawing from Taizé. St. Bartholomew’s hold a Lenten quietude and an Advent quietude using parts of Taizé worship. Seminarians at The School of Theology, University of the South in Sewanee have held a Taizé service at All Saints’ Chapel once a month for the last several years. To learn more about the Taizé tradition or to make plans to visit the community in France, visit http:// www.taize.fr/en. Connections June 2013 5 Parish News Recent confirmations: Philip Pratt, Dave Christensen, Leslie Humphreys, Betsy Sloan, Salee Wise, Mary Hill, Timothy Armstrong, St. Paul’s Church Franklin; Anna Shackelford, Nancy Hawkins, Mike Northington, John Davis, Trinity Church Clarksville; Megan Adams, Emily Adams, Ben Rice, Charles Broderick Jr., Rebecca Broderick, Ryan Adams, Danny Ramsey, Tracy Cullen, Savannah Ramsey, Gray Richards, Robert Hagans, Sarah Hagans, St. Philip’s Church Nashville; Blair Carnell, Porter Meadors, Graham Meadors, Sheppard Anderson, Joann Aron, Brandon Bannock, Martin Blakely, Laura Blakely, Windi Bowman, Lisa Cheek, Merrie Cheek, Andrew Dale, Blair Darnell, Allison Elkins, Joy Fauntleroy, Staci Glover, William Greathouse, Camellia Howorth, Hillary Howorth, Lisa Johnson, Mark Johnson, Elliott Kyle, Frank Kyle, Jennifer Kyle, Craig Laine, Rebecca Laine, Scott Langerak, Doris Matthews, Laura McGirt, Bruce Newland, Eunice Park, Carolyn Platt, Danny Terry, Robert Walker, Everett Aguirre, Benjamin Ambrose, Gage Anderson, Harrison Avery, Matthew Bulow, Kate Bulow, Marguerite Coombs, Emma Downey, Hunter Dunn, Frances Garrard, Clay Garstin, Grace Gerenday, Maggie Greiner, Bradford Harrington, Jackson Jeansonne, Oliver Kacki, William Kinard III, Joey King IV, Clayton Ladd, Catherine LeMaster, Jackson Long, Powell Lowe, Hannah Lutz, Kate Mabry, Ruff Maddux, Lanier Mason, James McKnight Jr., Arianna Murphy, Kathleen Norton, Eliza Ossolinski, Audrey Overholt, Gray Patterson II, Ford Ray, Brawner Smith, Lisa Sweeting, Avery Taylor, Hudson Walker, Reed Williams, Robert Willingham, St. George’s Church Nashville. Recent baptisms: Austin Bright, Raymond Pratt, Whitfield Spain, Caroline Saye, St. Paul’s Church Franklin; Darcy Grimenstein, Grayson Ochoa, St. David’s Church Nashville; Laylah Zelaya, St. Paul’s Church Murfreesboro; Mercedes Thornton, Terry Mack, St. Andrew’s Church New Johnsonville; Emma Perez, Valor Moore, St. Mark’s Church Antioch. Recent receptions: Brian Grant, Elizabeth Grant, Anthony Lepetic, Brandy Lepetic, Amy McManus, St. Paul’s Church Franklin; Michelle Rice, Jeanty Cader, Erna Cader, St. Philip’s Church Nashville; Jennifer Thornton, St. Andrew’s Church New Johnsonville, Frank Aguirre, Mary Aguirre, Shaila Bannock, Christina Jarman, Cynthia Sites, Zaida Wallace, St. George’s Church Nashville. Recent reaffirmations: Jerry Brock, John Bull Jr., James Cheek IV, DeWitt Dawkins, Lauren Dawkins, Kimberly Dougherty, Douglas Elkins, Thomas Jarman, Catherine Jeffords, Daniel Lucas, St. George’s Church Nashville. St. Ann’s Church Nashville hosted students from St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church in Ann Arbor, MI and a Fordham University service organization for Alternative Spring Break. The groups spent a week in Nashville, volunteering at Nashville Cares, Second Harvest Food Bank and Catholic Social Services Refugee Program. On Thursday, June 13, St. Paul’s Church Franklin will host a luncheon presentation by Paul Gaddis on the preservation of Franklin Civil War battlefield sites. Lunch is at 11:30 AM with the program to follow. For more details, call the church office at 615-790-0527. Are You A Mitre Sighter? The youth of St. Paul’s Church Franklin have come up with a neat way to track Bishop Bauerschmidt’s weekly visitations. Using his schedule and a map of middle Tennessee, they note which church he will be visiting and make a point to include that church and its congregants in the Prayers of the People. The Rev. Monna Mayhall helped them put the display together. She says, “At the recent Clergy Colloquium, the Bishop informed us that our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer was in the process of being revised to be in sync with the parish that he is visiting on that particular Sunday or weekday. I saw this as a great opportunity for the children to learn about our diocese and to think about the people in other parishes besides our own. We have encouraged them to be “Mitre Sighters” in the Diocese, determining where the Bishop is each week by listening to the prayers and looking at the map. Some of the children were really surprised 6 Connections June 2013 when they realized how much the Bishop travels, going to a different church each Sunday rather than sleeping late.” www.edtn.org Living In Leadership: Susan Allen Huggins After the election of Bishop Gene Robinson in 2003, the Diocese of Tennessee experienced a huge divide, as did many other dioceses across the nation. As Senior Warden of St. David’s, I attended my first Diocesan Convention in 2005. During that Convention, I was astounded by the hostile way people on different sides of the issues were treating one another. Being a “cradle” Episcopalian, I have always believed that we come together by “agreeing to disagree” at times. This is not what I saw at that Convention. Because of that experience, I vowed to get involved in the Diocese and do what I could to help bring us back together. Living In Leadership includes 15 years as a marketing executive at Jack Daniel Distillery and 24 years as owner of a fullservice direct mail company. In 2011, she became the first Executive Director of CABLE, a 600+ membership organization whose mission is “Connecting Women and Opportunity.” Since that time, I have been a delegate to Convention each year, served two terms on Bishop and Council, am finishing the last year of my term as a member of the Standing Committee and co-chairing the hospitality events for the September visit of the House of Bishops. I believe through the years, especially with the leadership of Bishop John, we have come back together… even though we still have many different points of view on a variety of topics. Her volunteer work includes board leadership of the Rotary Club of Nashville, the Nashville Sports Council, the TN Chapter of the International Women’s Forum, St. Mary’s Sewanee, St. Luke’s Community House, CABLE, YWCA of Nashville and many other nonprofit groups. When people ask me why I continue to stay involved, I simply explain what a wonderful sense of community this work gives me… and not just community among those individuals who hold the same views as I do. I think it is so important for the leadership of our Diocese to reflect the wide range of personalities and beliefs within our congregations. The Rev. Richard Zalesak I would like to encourage all of you to step up and become more involved in our leadership. We need everybody represented, and who better to do that than you. ******************************* Susan Allen Huggins is an eighth generation Nashvillian who has worshiped her entire life in the Diocese of Tennessee. Her professional background www.edtn.org She has been married to her husband, Bill, since 1977 and has two grown children, Ruth and Allen, daughter-inlaw, Maggie and grandson, Emory. In addition to being the rector of St. Peter’s in Columbia, I have the distinct pleasure to chair the diocesan Evangelism and Congregational Development Committee (ECDC). These are both ministries for which I have a great passion and enjoy doing them very much. Knowing my interest in evangelism, the Rev. John Bender invited me to join him on ECDC when I first came to the Diocese of Tennessee. Two years ago Bishop Bauerschmidt asked me to chair the committee. The Rev. Cynthia Seifert had ably led ECDC for a few years and the committee was quite healthy. It has been a joy chairing a committee which has gone from strength to strength. ECDC is intentionally composed of a diverse membership. We come from urban, suburban and rural parishes, big and little churches. Everyone has talents and experience in the ministries of evangelism and congregational development. The exciting events we host - Back to Church Sunday and The Small Church Conference - create a great deal of synergy during our meetings. We have a sense that we are really helping the Diocese of Tennessee and its members. This gives us a real sense of pride and accomplishment. To anyone interested in helping or leading on the diocesan level, please let Bishop Bauerschmidt, Canon Snare, or one of the diocesan committee chairs know. One lady currently on ECDC mentioned to Bishop John during his annual visitation to her parish that she has an interest in evangelism. Not long thereafter the bishop told me about her and she has been a wonderful addition ******************************* Fr. Richard was ordained in 1989 and served churches in Texas and Virginia before coming to St. Peter's in 2009. He holds a Master of Divinity degree from Virginia Theological Seminary and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. In addition to serving on various diocesan committees Richard is active in Kiwanis and the United Way. He is married and has two children. He likes to exercise and read. The July issue of Connections will feature more Living in Leadership. Connections June 2013 7 Fish Fry Times Two In June, two Nashville churches will host fish fry fundraisers. St. Anselm’s Church will have their Annual Fish Fry and Bake Sale on June 1. It’s the single fundraising event they do for the year… and what a tasty way to support all they do. Rutherford County Churches Get Together On Pentecost Sunday at Old Fort Park in Murfreesboro, the Episcopal Churches in Rutherford County got together to celebrate with a joint Eucharist and picnic. Pictured below are the Rev. Colin Ambrose (St. Paul’s Church Murfreesboro), the Rev. Randy Hoover-Dempsey (All Saints’ Church Smyrna), the Rev. Carolyn Coleman (Church of the Holy Cross Murfreesboro), Fr. Bu Christ (All Saints’ Church) and the Rev. Polk Van Zandt (St. Paul’s Church). There will be no cost for the class and St. Thomas will supply all the training materials. Stephen Ministers are a significant spiritual presence, confident in our skill to be present to God, to the patient, and to each other. To learn more about Stephen Ministries or the classes offered, contact Gail Logan at St. Thomas Hospital, 615-222-6402. The Rev. Kempton Baldrige Presents Video At Clericus Martha and Larry Tolbert, off on a tandem-bicycle trip across the country, were sent with a prayer and a blessing. There were also baptisms in the park. Fr. Polk says, “Three adult baptisms on one day!” Stephen Ministry Workshop Offered A new class of Stephen Ministers begins training on July 9, 2013 at St. Thomas Hospital. Classes meet once a week for 2 hours for 17 or 18 weeks. 8 Connections June 2013 At a recent Clericus meeting - that is, a luncheon for the clergy in the Diocese of Tennessee, the Rev. Kempton Baldridge, chaplain for the Seamen’s Church Institute and Licensed to Officiate here in the diocese, presented a short film on the mariners he serves. On June 29, St. Philip’s Church will hold their event: a fish fry and yard sale on the grounds of the church in the Donelson area. Hosted by the Men’s Club of St. Philip’s, take a second chance to support another local church - get your fill of fish and side items. And who doesn’t like a good yard sale bargain? Produced in connection with Trinity Wall Street, it can be viewed on their website, http://smschur.ch/T3ItRl. If you are interested in having Fr. Kempton speak to your church or group, contact the diocesan office at 615-251-3322 and we will put you in touch with him. www.edtn.org St. Mary’s Center Summer Programs In June, July and August, St. Mary’s Sewanee continues to offer the wonderful programming they do the rest of the year. Some highlights are: June 7-9: Multiple Religious Identity and Participation - What is Religion Anyway? Professor John J. Thatamanil, associate professor of theology and world religions at Union Theological Seminary in New York, explores whether it is possible to be more than one religion at a time? July 28-August 4: Eight-Day Intensive and Post-Intensive Centering Prayer Retreat. Presented by the Rev. Tom Ward, this retreat is an opportunity for practitioners of Centering Prayer to deepen their contemplative journey in the contemporary world. A week long experience of integrating contemplation and action through silence, solitude and community, the retreat offers daily experiences of silence, solitude, walking, hiking, yoga and spiritual companionship. August 23-25: One River Wisdom School. A retreat based program supplemented by online gatherings and co-mentoring opportunities presented by the Rev. Dr. Gordon Peerman, therapist, mindfulness teacher and author; Kathy Woods, teacher of Mindfulness Meditation and Qigong; Rabbi Dr. Rami Shapiro, Ph.D., author and Adjunct Professor at Middle Tennessee State University. For more event listings or to register for these retreats and workshops, visit www.stmaryssewanee.org. God’s Green Earth American Hiking Society’s National Trails Day® is slated for June 1, 2013. And while thousands of activities are happening all over the United States such as hikes, biking, paddling trips, demonstrations and more, showing appreciation for the nation’s trails doesn’t have to be limited to one day of the year. Celebrating America’s trails on the first Saturday in June evolved in the late ’80s and early ’90s among trail advocates, the outdoor gear industry and political bodies who wanted to transport the country’s hikes and hikers into a true network of interconnected trails and trail organizations. This collective came up with the idea of a singular day to bring attention to the National Trail System. In 1968, President Lyndon Johnson signed into law the National Trails System Act, establishing recreation, scenic and historic trails. In 1976, the American Hiking Society formed and receive its 501(c)(3) designation. President Ronald Reagan signed executive order 12563 in 1985 which ordered a bipartisan commission, led by Tennessee’s Lamar Alexander, to conduct a review of America’s outdoor recreation resources. The commission was renamed President’s Commission on Americans Outdoors in 1985, and in 1987, it published a report with recommendations based on analysis of testimonies and contributions from thousands of experts. They reported that there was a need for strong commitment to safeguard the environment and expand recreational opportunities on federal land. The National Trails Agenda Project initiated a cooperative venture between the National Park Service and American Trails in 1988 to look at trail issues and develop recommendations to satisfy future needs. By 1990, they issued their report and the following year, the American Hiking Society responded to report recommendations. They conceive a program to highlight the importance of the National Trails System and advocate for increased use and stewardship. They came up with a name for it and on June 5, 1993, the first National Trails Day® was observed. Hundreds of organizations participated. In 2012, an estimated 157,000 people took part in that year’s more than 2,000 events. Today, there are 200,000 miles of trails for recreation, education, solitude or fellowship. Fresh air and exercise have long been linked to good physical and mental health. And while the trails are a part of God’s green earth, a lot of work goes into planning and maintenance. National Trails Day® highlights the work thousands of volunteers do each year to take care of them. In Tennessee alone, there are hundreds of events scheduled - organized hikes, work days and litter pick-ups, planting projects and so many more. To finds a National Trails Day® event near you, visit www.americanhiking.org/events and enter your location. And if you’re busy on Saturday, don’t worry… the trails will be there waiting for you all summer. And fall, winter and next spring too. www.edtn.org Connections June 2013 9 St. B’s Bids Farewell To Eric Wyse After 19 years, first as Organist then as Director of Music at St. Bartholomew’s Church Nashville, Eric Wyse has accepted the call to become Organist/Director of Music at St. Michael’s Church, Charleston, SC. He will begin his ministry there on Sunday, September 1 and will be responsible for all music at St. Michael’s including choirs and bands. A native of Brattleboro, VT, Eric is an accomplished organist, songwriter, church musician and record producer. As a pianist, Eric has recorded the best -selling “Reflections” series of solo piano music for Christian Book Distributors, with sales in excess of 200,000 units. His organ work was featured on the worship project “City on a Hill – Sing Alleluia.” He has written a great deal of liturgical music, much of which serves as standard music in many churches across the country, including “Lamb of God (Agnus Dei)” and a setting of the Lord’s Prayer, “Our Father in Heaven.” Eric is the co-writer for the modern hymn, “Wonderful, Merciful Savior,” penned in 1989 with his wife, Dawn Rodgers. An award-winning producer and consultant, Eric has worked with artists, Back To Church Sunday - Plan Now We at St. Peter’s Church Columbia were very pleased to have participated in the first annual Back to Church Sunday for the Diocese of Tennessee on January 20, 2013. Our parish evangelism committee took charge of the event. To let the community know about Back to Church Sunday, we placed ads in the Columbia newspaper, on Facebook, on the air of a local “oldies“ radio station and on a large banner in front of the church. including Keith and Kristyn Getty, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, Cece Winans and Amy Grant. In 2007, he produced a critically acclaimed full-length London recording of Handel’s Messiah with British conductor John Rutter, featuring The Cambridge Singers & Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. On Sunday, June 23 at 6:00 PM, Te Deum: You Are The One That We Praise, a Festal Evensong followed by a reception will honor Eric’s time at St. Bartholomew’s. The churches of the Diocese of Tennessee are asked to participate in Back To Church Sunday on September 15. This free, collaborative effort is a nationwide outreach to welcome back those individuals and families who may have, for one reason or another, gotten out of the habit of going to church. For more information for participating within the Diocese of Tennessee, contact the Rev. Richard Zalesak via email at [email protected]. For details on the program and access to resources (invitations, banners and more), visit http://backtochurch.com/. Beginning before Christmas we urged parishioners to consider who in their lives might be looking for a church home. This could be a friend or family member. We also urged parishioners to ask lapsed members they know. Sometimes people just need a gentle nudge from a friend to return to church and re-establish the holy habit of Sunday attendance. Parishioners found that the invitation cards worked well for prospective guests. We had approximately twelve people visit on Sunday, January 20. A cake and punch reception was held after the main service in the parish hall as a thank you for those that attended as guests. It gave us a good time to get to know each other a little better. We are glad that the second Back To Church Sunday hosted by the diocese will be in September rather than January. September is the back to school time of year and Back to Church Sunday fits better with that timing. — The Rev. Richard Zalesak, Rector, St. Peter’s Church Columbia. 10 Connections June 2013 www.edtn.org The Diocese of Tennessee presents The Second Annual Vestries’, Wardens’ and Treasurers’ Day with Bishop Bauerschmidt St. David’s Church 6501 Pennywell Drive, Nashville Saturday, August 24, 2013 9:00 AM - 1:30 PM Bishop Bauerschmidt will open this second annual gathering of senior lay leaders of the diocese with a Eucharist. He will speak about the diocesan vision and strategic situation, entertain questions and close with a Bible study. The concurrent afternoon workshops will be: Lunch will be provided. To attend, rsvp by Tuesday, August 20 via email: [email protected] “Clergy and Church Relations” Presenters: The Rt. Rev. John Bauerschmidt and the Rev. Canon Pamela Snare “What is Income and What is Not” Presenter: Jan Pate “Planned Giving to Benefit Your Congregation” Presenter: Seawell Brandau Diocese of Tennessee 50 Vantage Way, Suite 107 Nashville, Tennessee 37228 Members of parish vestries or mission councils, clergy and other interested parties are www.edtn.org also invited to attend. 615-251-3322 [email protected] Connections June 2013 11 50 Vantage Way, Suite 107 Nashville Tennessee 37228 Non-Profit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Nashville, Tennessee Permit No. 431 June 2013 2 2-6 6-9 9 15 16 16 13 24-28 30 Bishop’s Visitation, St. Bartholomew’s Church Nashville Mountain T.O.P. Ministry, Grundy/Marion Counties Camp Gailor-Maxon Pre-Camp, DuBose Conference Center Monteagle Bishop’s Visitation, St. Paul’s Church Murfreesboro Ordination of Margaret Peel, Christ Church Cathedral Nashville Bishop’s Visitation, Church of the Holy Spirit Nashville Jazz On The Triangle, Church of the Holy Trinity Nashville Bishop’s Visitation, St. Luke’s Church Springfield Urban Mission: Nashville, Christ Church Cathedral Nashville Bishop’s Visitation, Church of St. James the Less Madison Italics denote Bishop Bauerschmidt’s visitations This is a sampling of events in the Diocese of Tennessee. For a complete listing of events throughout the diocese, see the Calendar of Events at www.edtn.org