May/June/July - Calvary Episcopal Church

New Curate p. 3 • Summer Formation p. 6
May/June/July 2016
CHRONICLE
The Newsletter of Calvary Episcopal Church
making God’s love visible in downtown Memphis
calvarymemphis.org
Let your light shine
by The Rev. Christopher D. Girata, Rector
I
n the past few months, I have been as proud of Calvary
Church as I have ever been. Although there are so many
reasons to be proud of what we are doing, such as our
beautiful worship, our excellent formation offerings, and our
community events, what has risen to the top for me has been
our civic presence. We continue to take steps toward a public
witness of faith, and that is critical to our calling as disciples
of Jesus.
The Rev. Chris Girata with the Rev. Kenneth
Robinson, President & CEO of United Way of
the Mid-South
In the fifth chapter of Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus delivers perhaps
the greatest of all teachings in the Sermon on the Mount. As I
reflected on the public work that Calvary has been doing in the
LIGHT continuted on page 12
Contents
Sabbath
• Eyleen Farmer Sabbatical........ 2
by The Ven. Mimsy Jones, Archdeacon
• Easter in Action Summary.. 4-5
A
good friend recently said that she telephoned a priest in our diocese,
only to hear his recorded message: "Today is my Sabbath; please leave a
message; I will return your call tomorrow."
“What does that mean?” she asked. “I thought we were always supposed to be
doing the Lord’s work? I never take a ‘day off.’”
Fortunately (for her) we were exercising together when she said this, because
she had hit a sore spot with me, and the intermittent leg lifts and weight-bearing
arm exercises tempered my outburst, a bit.
“Taking a Sabbath is biblical!” I almost shouted. “Not just in Genesis, where
God, for God’s sake, rested, but also in Exodus where it is a commandment to
SABBATH continued on page 11
• G2H Update................................. 7
• Community Choir Begins........ 8
• Choir Cabaret.............................. 8
• Parishioner Spotlight................ 9
• Willing to Work.........................10
• Affinity Groups..........................14
• Summer Art Camp...................16
• Wish List......................................18
Calvary Episcopal Church Calvary Episcopal
Church
making God’s love visible
in downtown Memphis
102 N. Second St. • Memphis, TN • 38103
901-525-6602 • 901-525-5156, fax
www.calvarymemphis.org
Parish Offices open
Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Sunday Worship: 8 and 10 a.m.
E-mail clergy and staff with initial of first name
followed by full last name@calvarymemphis.org
Example: cgirata@calvarymemphis.org
CLERGY
The Rev. Christopher D. Girata
Rector
The Rev. Eyleen Farmer
Assoc. Rector
The Rev. Audrey Gonzalez
Asst. Priest
The Rev. Paul McLain
Assoc. Rector
The Rev. Neil Raman
Curate
ASSISTING CLERGY
The Rev. Senter Crook
The Venerable Mimsy Jones
The Rev. Canon Bill Kolb
901-324-3607
901-685-6916
901-438-0751
VESTRY
Warden’s Committee: Terre Sullivant, Sr. Warden (3)
• Fred Piper, Jr. Warden (2) • Julie Bethell, At Large
(2) • Hall Gardner, Treasurer • Hank Word, Clerk
Chris Bird (1) • Margaret Craddock (1) • Tony
Graves (1) • Jan Gwin (2) • Celeste Herburger (3) •
Claudia Haltom (2) • Nicky Hitching (3) • Palmer
Jones (1) • David Leigh (3) • Donovan Smith (2) •
Raymond Spence (3) • Sarah Squire (1)
PARISH STAFF
Robyn Banks (312-5207) Dir. of Communications
Kayla Bartosch (312-5206)
Minister to Youth
Liz Browne (312-5210) Adult Ministries Coord.
Issiah Carroll (525-6602)
Kitchen Assistant
Hilary Chipley (312-5203) Dir. of Children’s Min.
Lynda Gayle Deacon (312-5208) Music Admin &
Event Coordinator
Fred Goldsmith (525-6602) Information Officer
Jason Kindel (312-5212) St. Cecilia Choir Director
Kristin Lensch (312-5212) Organist-Choirmaster
Mary O’Brien (312-5211)
Parish Chef
Katie Owen (312-5205)
Parish Administrator
John Palmer (312-5208)Asst. Organist-Choirmaster
Ebet Peeples (312-5201)
Assistant to the Rector
Helario Reyna (312-5202)
Facilities Manager
Gary Thompson (525-6602)
Sexton
Christine Todd (312-5214) Comm. Ministries Coord.
Cindy2 Yeager (312-5204)
Financial Assistant
2
Come away with me
by Eyleen Farmer, Associate Rector
I
love the lilting melody of the Norah Jones ballad, Come Away
with Me. The opening lines—Come away with me in the night/
Come away with me/And I will write you a song—evoke a
sense of longing for being alone with the beloved, untethered by
the demands of ordinary life. Jones' lyrics speak, of course, of the
longing of human lovers to spend time together. But regardless
of the circumstances of our lives—single, partnered, married,
widowed, whatever—the ache for connection is, I believe, universal.
Even Jesus required time away to stay connected to the One he called
Father, the source of all his strength, wisdom, and compassion. That
connection made it possible for him to heal the sick and feed the
hungry. It was the energy that animated his capacity for forgiveness
and made him unafraid to challenge the cruel and inhuman powers
of his day.
The gospel writers don't tell us what Jesus was thinking or how he
felt when he withdrew from the crowds, only that he did. When there
were so many people around the disciples didn't even have time to
eat, "(Jesus) said to them, 'Come with me by yourselves to a quiet
place and get some rest.' So they went away by themselves in a boat
to a solitary place." (Mark 6:30-32) Matthew and Luke also record
instances when Jesus went off by himself. He got tired. He knew what
it was like to be troubled, confused, afraid. There were even times
when he tried to hide! (Mark 7:24) But he knew, and teaches us by
example, what to do when he got to the end of his tether.
Now, after 22 years of active ministry, and through the generosity
of this place I love so dearly, I am going to withdraw for a season.
Calvary is giving me the gift of a sabbatical, to begin July 11 and
extending through October 9. I will use these three months to rest
and reconnect. I will spend time alone at a retreat center in West
Virginia. I have family in Louisiana I haven't seen in a decade.
There are friendships that have suffered from neglect. I have five
grandchildren who are growing up fast. I have a husband who still
finds it agreeable to be with me. This spacious time away will make
it possible for me to tend these important relationships. And to pay
attention to what the Spirit may be trying to say to me.
I will be absent from Calvary for three months, but of course I will
have you—all of you—close by in my heart and in my prayers. And
when I step into the church on Sunday, October 9, I won't sing you
a Norah Jones style song (for this you should be grateful!), but I will
rejoice to see you. You, the people of Calvary, have become a part of
who I am, and I will always love you.
May/June/July 2016 Chronicle
Welcoming the Rev. Neil K. Raman
by Chris Girata, Rector
I
am so pleased to announce that Bishop Johnson
has appointed the Rev. Neil K. Raman to serve as
curate at Calvary Episcopal Church, beginning
this summer. Neil will come to us from the Diocese
of Long Island, where he has already been ordained
to the transitional diaconate, and we anticipate that
he will be ordained to the priesthood later in the
summer. He graduated from the School of Theology at
the University of the South in early May, and we will
welcome Neil to Calvary on Sunday, May 29, with a
special reception for him in the Great Hall following
the 10 a.m. worship service.
to play a vital role in
Neil’s life as he begins
his ordained ministry.
Please join me in
praying for Neil as he
finishes seminary and
prepares to move to
Memphis, and please
make sure to join
us on Sunday, May
29, for his welcome
party!
During his time in seminary, Neil served as
seminarian and deacon at St. James Episcopal Church
in Midway, Tennessee. A native of East Islip, New
York, Neil received a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics
from the University of Chicago. After college, Neil
worked as a private tutor in the Long Island area and
planted a campus ministry. Prior to seminary, he was
a member of St. Hilda’s House, an Episcopal Service
Corps site in New Haven, Connecticut, and served as
parish administrator at Christ Church in New Haven.
Neil has a love for teaching, church history, and the
liturgy. He is an avid reader, a double bassist, and
loves to cook.
From Neil:
Sisters and brothers
in Christ at Calvary:
The Rev. Neil K. Raman
Easter greetings
from the Holy
Mountain. As three years of seminary and formation
for ordained ministry come to a close, the excitement
and anticipation of beginning life in ordained ministry
are palpable. I am excited to be moving to Memphis
and joining Calvary as your curate this June. In
discerning a call to serve here, it has become clear to
me that Calvary is a vibrant and dynamic parish. I look
forward to getting to know each of you and living and
working with you in service of Jesus Christ and the
community.
Neil is engaged to Elizabeth Gassler; they plan to
marry in early 2017. Elizabeth serves on Bishop
Johnson’s staff at the diocesan office. She is also
pursuing a graduate degree in musicology at the
University of Memphis and maintains a private cello
studio. Elizabeth is a member of Grace-St. Luke’s
Episcopal Church.
Neil will serve as a curate at Calvary for two years. The
term "curate" is one of those great Anglican words that
is simply the title given to a priest in their first position
out of seminary. One’s curacy is meant to be a broad
exposure to the complexity of the priesthood. Neil is a
gifted teacher and pastor and among his many duties,
he will focus much of his efforts on our formation and
education ministries. We have the great opportunity
With Easter joy,
The Rev. Neil K. Raman
Join us for a welcome reception for the
Rev. Neil K. Raman after the 10 a.m.
worship service on Sunday, May 29.
3
Calvary Episcopal Church Calvary Works: Easter in Action
by Christine Todd, Community Ministries Coordinator
T
his Easter season brought a unique opportunity
to be Easter people. Easter in Action’s mission
was for each parishioner to find a spot to serve
and for us to help every parishioner engage with
those in need. This project provided parishioners
an opportunity to do a “quick and good”—a service
project that only took one hour on Sunday mornings.
Over 500 parishioners listened and learned about our
neighbors, completed significant service projects, and
celebrated together with a parish picnic on Pentecost.
Hal & Lucia Crenshaw worked with other parishioners,
Bill Craddock, Susan Mallory, and Suzanne Henley,
to prepare daily meditations of poems and quotes to
inspire our work. Hal said that finding these favorites
helped him with his own focus this season. Many
parishioners looked forward to these inspirational
words each day.
In addition to reading meditations throughout the
season, parishioners enjoyed hearing from Linda
Marks with MIFA talk about Meals on Wheels while
planting Lantana and Philodendron and decorating
hundreds of terra-cotta pots for the Meals on Wheels
program. Linda said, “I wanted you to know that
we decided to give them to our Meals on Wheels
volunteers
instead of the
clients. This was
perfect, because
it was National
Volunteer
Week. Many
of the clients
might have been
unable to take care of the plants. The volunteers were
delighted! Thanks again for this lovely project and for
inviting me to speak at Easter in Action!”
Participants made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
to freeze for guests at the Hospitality HUB or homeless
people who stop by Calvary and are hungry during
the week. On another Sunday parishioners worked
together, supported by Memphis City Beautiful,
to clean the space we love. One Sunday morning
parishioners wrote hundreds of encouraging letters
to our neighbors and listened to our friends here
at Calvary speak about the ministries that need us,
too. Elizabeth Crosby, who teaches at Memphis
University School, taught participants to write strong,
encouraging letters to our neighbors in need. She said
that the work of the Rev. Becca Stevens with Thistle
Peg Wahl and Claudia Haltom worked to make
Memphis sparkle at Easter in Action!
4
Parishioners worked together to
decorate and plant flower pots for
MIFA volunteers.
May/June/July 2016 Chronicle
Farms gave her the bones of her presentation. One
week families stuffed backpacks with Vienna sausages,
washcloths, toothpaste, razors, and Kleenexes, and
more. Parishioner Brooks Terry arranged for Hilton to
supply much of the contents and Peg Wahl arranged
for water bottles from Mid-America Apartments.
Hundreds of canned goods were collected for GraceSt. Luke’s food pantry. By voting with their beans and
tomato sauces, parishioners were able to choose either
the Rev. Paul McLain, the Rev. Eyleen Farmer, the Rev.
Chris Girata, Mr. John Palmer, Ms. Kristin Lensch,
or Mrs. Hilary Chipley to kiss a pig at the Pentecost
picnic! As of this writing, we don’t know who will
pucker up. Look for a photo of the lucky winner in the
next Chronicle.
Brett & Leslie Norman and Helen Bird wrote letters of
encouragement to put in backpacks for our homeless
neighbors. God loves you, no exceptions.
I hope Easter in Action was a transformational
time for you and gave you an opportunity to help
our neighbors. Community ministries at Calvary
involve our time, our talent, and our treasure. To
be Easter people all year, it’s our commitment to be
inconvenienced by our gifts. Easter in Action this
year was a time we considered a commitment to
our neighbors and to God. It was the beginning of
the time we celebrate, serve, and transform our lives
through the power of God’s grace. It was quick and
good. It’s not too late to find a place to serve. If you are
interested to learn more about how you can help with
community ministries, contact me at 901-312-5214 or
ctodd@calvarymemphis.org.
Kelly Harrison, Leslie Smith, and Nicky Hitching
listened to fellow parishioners talk about the
ministries we share while writing notes of
encouragement.
5
Calvary Episcopal Church Summer Formation:
Think Deeply, Be inspired, Play Well
JUNE 5 - JULY 31
On Sunday mornings this summer, Calvary invites you
to “think deeply, be inspired, and play well.” Following
the 10 a.m. worship service on Sundays, June 5-July 31,
we will offer formation classes for all ages. Adults will
think deeply as they listen to parishioners introduce
their favorite TED talks; youth will be inspired as they
see the imaginative ways God works in the world by
watching and discussing the NOOMA video series by
the Rev. Rob Bell; and children will play well as they
explore their creative spirit by building with LEGOs.
Adults:
Youth:
NOOMA
The Summer of Nooma will provide discussion groups
and hands-on activities as our youth look at how
God is present in their everyday lives, in and out of
church. We will look at topics such as the environment,
happiness, friendships, forgiveness, the personal
journey of faith, self-confidence, and many more. It is
a great opportunity for the students to step back, ask,
and recognize where God is working through their
day-to-day activities.
Children:
Adults will follow up the popular series from last year
as a different Calvary parishioner will facilitate his or
her favorite TED talk each week. TED is an acronym
for “Technology, Entertainment, and Design,” but
these podcasts have become so popular that TED talks
now incorporate all aspects of our lives including our
spiritual journeys. The facilitator will explain why the
talk spoke to them and will lead us in a discussion
based on the talk. This series will take place in the
Great Hall.
6
It’s the summer of LEGO for rising kindergartners to
fifth graders! We will build faith one block at a time
as we learn a lesson each week with prayer time and
specific building projects with LEGOs!
®
May/June/July 2016 Chronicle
G2H ministry: an interview with Brennan Seltzer
by Hilary Chipley, Director of Children Ministries
Since February 2015, Calvary’s children and youth
have packaged and distributed to parishioners over
1,300 G2H (Give to Hungry) bags. This program,
created by Calvary youth, continues to flourish. Bags of
food are packaged and distributed by Calvary children
and youth each month. Recently, a fellow parent
asked me if I knew of Brennan Seltzer’s personal G2H
program. I asked Brennan and her parents about this
and learned that Brennan used her birthday money to
make G2H-type bags for her mom and dad to carry in
their cars to distribute to neighbors in need. Brennan’s
bags not only included food, but also personal hygiene
products, socks, and other items. Brennan created
specific bags for men and women (color-coded of
course). I spoke to Brennan about her own G2H bags.
It took a few conversations with Brennan to get details,
as she is incredibly humble.
Hilary: What inspired you to create your own G2H
bags?
Brennan: It was around Christmastime and I was
making trail mix with my grandmother. We had a
bunch left over. I thought, why don’t we pass it out like
we do G2H bags? So I decided to make some bags. My
mom took me to Target to buy stuff to put in them.
Hilary: How did you fund your G2H bags?
Brennan: My birthday is around Christmastime
and I got some money as gifts. I really did not want
anything, I just wanted my friends to come to my
party. I got everything that I wanted for my birthday at
Christmas, so I decided to use my birthday money to
make G2H bags. I just thought it would be a nice thing
to do.
Brennan:
The bags that
I made have
perishable
food in
them—like
the trail mix
that I made
with my
grandmother,
and oranges.
I put
perishable
food in them
because I
Brennan Seltzer with one of her
knew that
homemade G2H bags.
we would
pass them out right away. I also put personal hygiene
products in my bags.
Hilary: How many bags have you made?
Brennan: I’ve made six bags for females and seven for
males.
Hilary: Have you passed your bags out?
Brennan: My mom usually passes them out, but I
have passed them out to people on my way home from
school or on my way downtown to church.
Hilary: Will you continue to make your own G2H
bags?
Brennan: Yes, definitely.
Hilary: What do you put in your G2H bags that
are different from the G2H bags that we make and
distribute at Calvary?
7
Calvary Episcopal Church Community Choir returns
by Kristin Lensch, Organist-Choirmaster
M
any of you have expressed interest in
singing but can’t commit to the semiweekly
schedule. Community Choir is the answer
to your dilemma. The choir meets at 9 a.m. on
Sunday to rehearse and learn the anthem to sing at
the 10 a.m. worship service. No Wednesday night
rehearsals. Adults, teenagers, and Boys and Girls Choir
members—all are welcome. There's no need to read
music, but carrying a tune is definitely to everyone’s
advantage! Please contact Kristin Lensch, klensch@
calvarymemphis.org, or Lynda Gayle Deacon, ldeacon@
calvarymemphis.org, so that we can have a vestment
ready for you. Community Choir will meet every
Sunday this summer, June 5 through August 14. Give
it a try!
Feast and Follies
by Kristin Lensch, Organist-Choirmaster
O
n Friday, April 15, Feast and Follies proved
to be exactly that—a night of delicious food
and great entertainment which wrapped up a
successful first year of events sponsored by Friends of
Music at Calvary.
8
Funds raised with auction items and tickets to
the sold-out show will be used toward next year's
programming, which will include a concert by the
GRAMMY award-winning men's choir, Chanticleer.
May/June/July 2016 Chronicle
Parishioner Spotlight: Alicia Anderson
by Ebet Peeples, Assistant to the Rector
A
licia Anderson’s family started attending
Calvary when she was about five years old.
A few years later she was baptized and
then confirmed. In high school she became heavily
involved in parish life: she served as an acolyte, was
active in EYC, traveled to Honduras with Calvary
twice, and during her 12th-grade year helped with
programming for middle school youth.
She says of her Calvary upbringing, “I am immensely
grateful for the religious education and positive social
experiences I got from Calvary, particularly in my
teenage years. I have so many friends who grew up
in other churches and became disenchanted with
Christianity during college and have not attended
church since. Sunday school classes at Calvary forced
me to question my faith in that wonderful Episcopal
tradition, so when I went off to a liberal arts college
and took philosophy classes I did not have the
common experience of losing my faith, because it had
already been shaped into maturity and complexity.
Because of my values and passions, I have to attend
an urban church, one that is focused on social justice,
and one that encourages the marriage of faith with
logic and reason. I thank God I have all this in the
church I grew up in and did not have to go searching
once I reached adulthood.”
After college, Alicia returned to Calvary and quickly
became involved again. In the last few years, she has
taught Sunday school for middle school where she
“hopes to make a positive impact on Calvary’s kids
during their formative years.” She also sings in the
Community Choir and, more recently, was part of the
capital campaign discernment group.
Alicia is a passionate supporter of Lives Worth Saving,
Calvary’s ministry of love and support to survivors
of sex trafficking. She says about the ministry,
“The women who participate in the program have
experienced suffering most of us could never imagine.
I am often reminded of our baptismal covenant—to
strive for justice and peace among all people and
respect the dignity of
every human being.
It bothers me greatly
that these women
are not respected
in society when the
vast majority of the
time they are in
this situation out of
desperation or force,
or because they are
victims of abuse.
They are worthy of
great respect, as they
have seen the worst
of humanity and are
still survivors.”
Alicia Anderson
Since graduating from college in 2012, she has worked
for A Step Ahead Foundation, an organization
familiar to many at Calvary. In organizing their
community outreach, research, and social media,
Alicia is able “to combine my loves of social justice,
poverty alleviation, and realizing the potential of
women.” When not working, Alicia sings with the
Memphis Women’s Chorale, volunteers through the
Junior League, experiments with new recipes, runs or
walks along the river on Mud Island, spends time with
family and friends, and dreams big dreams.
When asked what feeds her soul, Alicia listed, “music,
both singing and listening; being in nature; being
with people I love; traveling; being removed from my
comfort zone; receiving communion, stillness and
silence; and reading about theology and other people’s
faith journeys. Right now she is reading The Kingdom
Within: The Inner Meaning of Jesus’ Sayings by John A.
Sanford, which she describes as “very enlightening.”
Recently she really enjoyed Parker Palmer’s Let Your
Life Speak, and credits the classic Mere Christianity by
C.S. Lewis with “helping shape my faith.”
9
Calvary Episcopal Church Willing to Work
by Christine Todd, Community Ministries Coordinator
E
ach Sunday at
Community Breakfast
in the Mural Room,
homeless and poor people
ask our priests to pray with
them to find work. Each
week we hear their prayers.
In February, we invited
many local decision makers
to Calvary to brainstorm
Christine Todd
about ways to eradicate
panhandling in Memphis,
to provide opportunities for successful work, and to
clean up blight.
Because we believe Calvary Episcopal Church is
uniquely situated to help the city in the area of
homelessness and panhandling, we want to initiate
a way for homeless and poor people to find a
temporary, hourly, living wage. The reason people
panhandle is that they need money—$6 to stay in
a mission, money for bus passes, and more. With
mental illness, no housing, no teeth, no alarm clock
or shower, no prospects, and no incentive, it is
virtually impossible for them to find work. The rare
day-labor opportunities go to healthy, young men.
If every person has a chance to earn a few dollars a
day, they may not be incentivized to panhandle. They
could, instead, use these positive opportunities as a
stepping stone out of poverty. Many panhandlers and
homeless people have addiction issues, and the abiding
philosophy has been to assure someone maintains
sobriety before he or she is invited to work. This model
has not worked for everyone in the past, so we looked
for an alternative.
We invited both mayors Jim Strickland and Mark
Luttrell; Terence Patterson, Downtown Memphis
Commission President; Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson,
President/CEO of United Way of the Mid-South; Sally
Jones Heinz, Executive Director, MIFA; Shea Wellford,
president of the Memphis Bar Assoc.; Scott Bjork,
CEO, Memphis Union Mission; Will Haley, board
10
chair of the Hospitality HUB; Kevin Kane, Memphis
Convention and Visitors Bureau; Claudia Haltom, and
more. Media representatives from WREG, Memphis
Flyer, and more were present.
Rector Chris Girata explained how the city would
be thrilled to have a compassionate spin for dealing
with panhandlers. The program for panhandlers in
Albuquerque, N.M., could be a model for Memphis. If
you have not seen the information about Albuquerque’s
model, you can see it here: abqjournal.com/637298/
news/new-outreach-set-for-panhandlers.html
In March, Associate Rector Eyleen Farmer
brainstormed again with the mayor and many other
participants. At this meeting, decisions were made. The
Hospitality HUB will take the lead and with Calvary’s
help will host the Willing to Work program. Our city’s
Public Works department, mayors, nonprofits, and
businesses are coming together to secure a van, wrap
it with a graphic designed by Chuck Mitchell, hire a
driver/organizer/supervisor to drive around twice a
week to pick up those who wish to make $9/hour in
cash. The 12 participants will have lunch provided,
work cleaning blight for 5 hours, have housing
provided, and earn a day’s wage. The Hospitality HUB
will encourage participants to pursue further case
management to find regular employment, behavioral
health treatment, housing, or whatever they need.
The Hospitality HUB has many volunteers from
Calvary including Weezie Calandruccio, Susanne
Darnell, Fred Arnold, and their board chair, Will
Hayley. The Rev. Jarad Bingham, husband of our past
assisting clergy, the Rev. Ellen Roberds, will lead the
Hospitality HUB’s efforts. The work they do is good,
and they plan to roll out Willing to Work this July.
Please pray for them and support them as they begin
this exciting new endeavor. If you would like to get
involved in the work of the Hospitality HUB, contact
me at ctodd@calvarymemphis.org or 901-312-5211.
June 1, 2015 Chronicle
May/June/July 2016 Chronicle
SABBATH continued from page 1
observe the Sabbath. We should all do what that priest
does: stop once at least once a week, and rest.”
5. The big one: a real
Sabbath. I know this seems
impossible to many of
“That would kill me,” she said—and I don’t think she
us, but try to consciously
was talking about the next set of exercises our trainer
plan ahead so that one
told us to get ready for. My friend speaks for so many
day each week you do not
people, though most of us are not as honest as she
have to use things like
is. And there are very real, practical issues that make
a dishwasher, washing
taking a full day "off " to rest and restore ourselves, a
machine, vacuum. The
luxury few can afford.
Bible decrees that work
The Ven. Mimsy Jones
animals (the ancient
‘‘That sounds great for a priest, but tell it to my boss!
appliances) be given a day
Take a day off from carpools? Give me a break! I live
of rest, so let’s be Biblical! Ideally, we stay home
alone; that’s enough Sabbath time
to have a real Sabbath; I do that
for me!” Fill in the blanks for
as much as possible, but am not
But as a recovering
yourself.
about to miss one of my grandson’s
workaholic and
Saturday baseball games.
perfectionist, I have learned, 6. For women: try a half-day silent
There is truth in each of those
statements; we have full-time
retreat the first Friday of every
one tiny stop at a time,
jobs—at home and at the office;
month at St. Columba Conference
that allowing ourselves to
our families and friends depend on
and Retreat Center. Many of us
rest
and
feel
restored
is
an
us; our church depends on us (!).
find this a rare and precious time
invaluable gift. No one can to get away, be still, and allow the
But as a recovering workaholic and
give it to us; we must give it peace and quiet, in community, to
perfectionist, I have learned, one
calm and restore us. I wish I knew
to ourselves.
tiny stop at a time, that allowing
a similar resource for men.
ourselves to rest and feel restored
is an invaluable gift. No one can give it to us; we must
Finally, if the very idea of Sabbath makes us want to
give it to ourselves.
tear out our hair, please bear with those of us who try
to observe it. I understand Eyleen Farmer is taking a
Here are some concrete steps I have used to live a more Sabbatical soon. I applaud and cheer her example!
Sabbath-oriented life:
1. Look at your daily calendar; try to never schedule
As Eyleen knows, the purpose of resting and being
more than three activities in one day—that
restored is so that when we return to do the work that
includes lunch meetings.
God has given us to do, we do so with more clarity,
2. Stay put. Unless you are an Uber driver, cut back
commitment, and compassion.
on time behind the wheel.
3. If you must drive, turn off the radio. I gave up
Give it a try: kick back, say no to a few things, leave
listening to the car radio for Lent one year—a
a message on your voice mail that you’re taking a
Godsend. I noticed streets I didn’t know existed; I
Sabbath, and when someone asks you where you got
saw gorgeous trees. I actually enjoyed driving!
the crazy idea to do a thing like that, just say, "The
4. I’m not going to mention technology, except to say Bible told me so!"
that we all use it too much.
11
Calvary Episcopal Church LIGHT continued from page 1
city, this passage, a portion of that sermon, jumped to
my mind:
You are the light of the world... No one after lighting
a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the
lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the
same way, let your light shine before others so that they
may see your good works and give glory to your Father
in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)
I am sure most of us recall that passage in no small
part because of the childhood song we all sang, “This
little light of mine.” As children, we learned that we
have a light inside us, the light of Christ, and we are
called by God to let that light shine all around us so
that others might see the love of God through us. It is
a beautiful message, a true message, but unfortunately,
we don’t see that light shine in our world often enough.
Perhaps put another way, we often shine a bit of light in
the world in small acts. We talk about random acts of
kindness, small moments when, because we know God
loves us, we might surprise others with a little extra
love. Those random acts can be beautiful moments,
made holy because we intend them to be signs of God’s
presence in the world. However, if we only do small
acts, only share little flashes of the light inside us, can
we really claim to be shining?
holding the tension are too
great. However, at Calvary,
we have a renewed sense of
courage and vision, and that
has been on display in these
past few months.
As the season of Lent
drew to a close at the end
of March, our signature
The Rev. Chris Girata
gift to the city, the Lenten
Preaching Series and Waffle
Shop, closed another phenomenal season. Attendance
was up across the board, especially at Waffle Shop
where the year-over-year increase was just shy of
30% — talk about shining our light! Moreover, in the
middle of all that, we hosted the first-ever Mayor’s
Prayer Breakfast to celebrate and pray for our newly
elected mayor, Jim Strickland. Joined by faith leaders
from around the Memphis metropolitan area, the
lunch was a poignant display of unity among faith
leaders at a time when our city government was
transitioning into new leadership. But the energy did
not stop there.
When Jesus said those words, he was holding two ideas
in tension: the fulfillment of everything Israel was
promised and a new way of living. That is a difficult
path to walk. At once, Jesus was speaking to the hopes
and dreams of the Jewish people, deeply rooted in their
own tradition, while encouraging them to see God
with fresh eyes and to live in the world in new ways
that may not look like what they had been taught.
On Palm Sunday, we held the first full Sunday morning
ecumenical service in downtown Memphis, joined by
many of our neighbor churches in the amphitheater
of City Hall. This service, attended by more people
than ever, was designed to take the bright lights that
are typically contained in our sanctuaries out into the
streets of the city, and shine we did. Joined by choirs of
voices, handbells, and brass, along with the Wolf River
Bagpipe and Drum Corps, passersby couldn’t help
but see and hear us shining all over downtown. The
witness we made to the hopefulness of a united Body
of Christ in the world was palpable and inspirational.
That challenge is as fresh today as it was 2,000 years
ago. We are part of a church that is well established, a
church that has a deep and profound tradition, and we
love that tradition. Yet we are called every day to see
with fresh eyes, to hope with renewed energy, to shine
a new light into the world so that God may be known
more and more. That tension is hard to hold in our
modern world of constant stimulation. That tension
is even more difficult to hold when we sense fear that
we may not be doing the right thing or that the risks of
We have made great strides in partnerships with
groups from around the city. We are beginning to
see the manifestation of a jobs program for our
homeless neighbors, one that we are now calling
Willing to Work. This program will be housed at the
Hospitality HUB in partnership with Calvary and
many other community agencies, including the city
and county governments. Our relationship with the
legal community continues to grow, as we hosted the
Memphis Area Legal Services annual lunch and the
12
June 1, 2015 Chronicle
Memphis Bar Association’s annual memorial service,
as well as continuing to host Lives Worth Saving in
partnership with the District Attorney’s office. And
Grizzlies Prep, the charter school on our block, has
had more events here in the past few months than they
have since their founding.
May/June/July 2016 Chronicle
everyone can see, we are playing a vital role in the
great story of God’s kingdom. God is at work, the Spirit
moves around us every day, but God’s kingdom relies
on each one of us. God’s love and grace are freely given
to everyone, but it is up to us to return that love.
As we move into the season of Pentecost, I hope we
Our leadership footprint in the city also has grown.
can all find new inspiration in the story of the first
It has been an honor to represent Calvary Episcopal
disciples. They lived in a dangerous, unpredictable
Church in quite a few capacities over the past few
world that they could not control. They knew
weeks. Some of these include a leadership role in the
heartbreak and stress; they knew pain and fear. Yet
April 4th Commemoration Service held at the National they found hope in Jesus, just as we have. Moreover,
Civil Rights Museum where I joined the Revs. Jesse
when all seemed lost and fear might get the best of
Jackson and Alvin O’Neal Jackson to remember the
them, God’s Spirit ignited a fire in their souls that
legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. I served as the
could not be extinguished! That fire compelled them
chaplain of the day for the Memphis City Council, as
out into the world to let their lights shine brighter
well as being elected one of the new board members
than ever so that everyone knew that they were loved
of the United Way of the Mid-South. In each of these
beyond anything they could ever hope or imagine.
capacities, Calvary is seen and recognized as a leader
in the city and as a witness to the hopefulness of Christ We are as vital to God’s work as any disciples in
in a hurting world.
history, and what a gift it is to be doing that work
together at Calvary Church. The future is filled with
This is just the tip of the iceberg. We are Calvary, and
hope, and the fire is being ignited here; now is the time
when we bear witness to our Christian identity in
to let our light shine!
the world, when we shine the light of Christ so that
The Rev. Christopher Girata joined the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the Rev. Alvin O’Neal Jackson, and Bishop
Jerry Wayne Taylor at the April 4 Commemoration service at the National Civil Rights Museum.
13
Calvary Episcopal Church Building community
by Liz Browne, Adult Ministries Coordinator
W
hen I was
growing up, I
would frequently
ask my parents why we drove
all the way downtown to
Calvary when we passed four
other Episcopal Churches
along the way that would
have allowed me to stay in
bed a few minutes longer.
Liz Browne
The answer was always
the same: “Quit whining,
Elizabeth, we are part of Calvary. We are too involved
ever to think of switching. It is about the Church, not
the location.” It did seem true; so many of our family
friends and relatives were there every week, and many
of our activities involved the Church.
I look back on that time and realize how special it
was. There were so many small groups that together
made up the wonderful community known as Calvary.
The Church was structured in a way that there were
many opportunities for people to get to know one
another, share common interests, and develop lifelong
friendships. As society has changed and become more
mobile, people are no longer surrounded by large
extended families as they once were. While the latter
has changed, people's desire to belong to, to still be
part of a community has not.
Rector Chris Girata said something last year that
resonated with me and is so instrumental in his vision
for Calvary: “Come, be a part of our community, let us
lift you up, and see the positive difference in your life.”
This sentiment is exactly the reason my parents drove
the three of us all the way downtown every week.
Calvary was not just a church; it was an extended
family to which we happily belonged.
As a history major, I can always say, "look to the past
for answers to the present." As we strive to build
small groups here at Calvary—now known as affinity
groups—the basics are the same. Every single person
here is God’s child and has a place. Many affinity
groups are formed, forming, or are yet to be formed.
There is a place for everyone here, and we want to
help you find your place. Whether it is a running
group, sewing group, movie or theater group, the
possibilities are endless. The bottom line is that
because relationships and friendships are important,
the sense of closeness in an affinity group helps keep
the personal touch within the larger community alive.
Rick Warren said it perfectly in his book The Purpose
Driven Church: “The whole Church is like a large ship
and the small groups are like the lifeboats.”
If you have an idea for an affinity group, or you
would like to discuss options with me, contact me at
lbrowne@calvarymemphis.org or 901-312-5210. I can
help you get a group started, or put you in touch with
someone who leads an existing group you might enjoy.
Get Involved: Affinity Groups
20 to mid-30s:
Jessica Simmons, jessicasimmons11@gmail.com
Mid-30s to 50:
Sarah Squire, sarahsquire@yahoo.com
Contemplative Prayer:
Susan Waits, susanwaits@gmail.com
Knitting for Beginners:
Betty Anderson, rgandbj@bellsouth.net
Parents of 1-3 year olds:
Melissa Gwin, melissa.gwin@stjude.org
Parents of 4-7 year olds:
Nina Sublette, nsublette@uthsc.edu
Senior Strengthening Exercise:
Lisa Buckner, lisabucko@aol.com
14
June 1, 2015 Chronicle
May/June/July 2016 Chronicle
Generous tips from Waffle Shop feed the hungry
by Christine Todd, Community Ministries Coordinator
E
ach year during Waffle Shop, glass jars have
been placed by each cash register labeled
Pennies for Hunger. Monies collected supported
Calvary's Community Breakfast. This year signs were
added to the jars explaining where, exactly, the money
goes and encouraging patrons to leave generous tips.
At the end of Lent, cash contributions totaled $4,532
and credit card contributions totaled $1,291. This total
of $5,823 is more than double the 2015 contributions
of $2,190!
Community Breakfast at Calvary, led by parishioners
Mary Nease and David Balling, serves about 200
homeless and poor neighbors each Sunday morning.
The cost for serving fresh eggs, coffee, bacon, cheese
grits, orange juice, and a homemade biscuit with
condiments is about $2.50 per person. $2.50 x 200
guests x 52 weeks = $26,000. All those who pray, clean,
prepare, and serve each week are volunteers, so there
is no employee cost. We ask for Community Breakfast
"angels" monthly who contribute $500/month to offset
the cost of our Community Breakfast. These angels
add $6,000 each year. Their gifts still leave a shortfall
of about $20,000 that we make up in many ways such
as the proceeds from the parish breakfast each Sunday
morning, proceeds from Soup Sunday, led by David
Balling, Waffle Shop tips, and your coins from Calvary's
Coke machine.
We give thanks for the volunteers, patrons, and staff
of Waffle Shop’s remarkable kitchen, dessert room,
salad room, dining room, waffle station, cashiers, and
the Lenten Preaching Series volunteers. Through their
efforts, Waffle Shop contributed about 20% of the
yearly cost of Community Breakfast.
If you would like to support Community Breakfast,
please send your gifts to Cindy Yeager in the finance
office and be sure to thank our Waffle Shop volunteers
when you see them. Thank you, all!
Jo Speak (left) and
Leslie Atwood Smith
(right) were two of the
many cashiers who
volunteered during
Waffle Shop this year.
15
Calvary Episcopal Church Calvary Kids Art Camp
Calvary
August 1 - 5
ART
CAMP
2016
Rising K-5th Grades
Home is where your story begins.
Calvary's Children's Ministry will hold an art camp this summer. Join us as
we create individual arts and crafts projects, play games, exercise, and learn
stories from the Bible. A community art project will be created for Le Bonheur
Children’s Hospital.
Contact Hilary Chipley to register: hchipley@calvarymemphis.org or 901-312-5203.
Time:
Ages: Cost: Lunch: 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
5 – 11
$100
$25 for the week
Before/After Care (8:30-9 a.m. & 4-5 p.m.): $25 for the week
Sample Daily Schedule
8:30 – 9 a.m.
Before care
12:15 – 1 p.m.
Exercise and Yoga
9 - 9:30 a.m. Check-in
1 – 3 p.m.
Art with Liz Browne
Crafts with Hilary Chipley
9:45 – 10 a.m.
Morning chapel
3 – 3:15 p.m.
Snack
10 – 11 a.m.
Art with Liz Browne
11 – 11:30 a.m.
Game break
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.Lunch
16
3:15 – 4:00 p.m.
Game or art work
(kid’s choice)
4 – 5 p.m.
After care movie time
June 1, 2015 Chronicle
May/June/July 2016 Chronicle
Kelly Harrison, Pat Robison, and Cash Shields greeted many visitors
and friends for the Lenten Preaching Series.
Melinda Lewis and Kim Jasper
expertly coordinated this year's
dining room for the Waffle Shop.
Dessert room volunteers Marie
Madden Dowling, Jerry Stiles,
Elizabeth Madden, and Wendy
Stiles
Calvary hosted a prayer
breakfast for Mayor Strickland
on Monday, February 22.
Some of the youngest
volunteers for Room in the Inn
The gospel procession on Easter Day at Calvary
Barbara Etheridge
Andrew, Laura, William, and
Abby Trott
Calvary parishioner Al Gamble
gives a piggy-back ride to
this smiling girl during the
Emmanuel Center Carnival.
17
Calvary Episcopal Church Vestry update: leadership at Calvary
by Chris Girata, Rector
L
eadership is not a given. Institutions often seek
individuals to lead, individuals to take the wheel
and steer the ship. Business books abound on
ways to identify and train-up people to be strong,
effective, and successful leaders. In churches, we have
taken some of those ideas and applied them to our own
structure, but I’m not so sure direct application is the
best for us. We are a community, a group of Christian
disciples seeking the truth of God, and we are all called
to take part in a culture of leadership that helps realize
the kingdom of God on earth.
A culture of leadership is much harder to create. It’s
often easier to identify or rely on an individual to
take responsibility and much harder to rely on the
leadership of a group. Yet I contend that a culture of
leadership, a group that works hard to move together, is
the most faithful way to define a Christian community.
It is a great pleasure for me to report that your vestry
has owned this identity and has been working together
to advance the high vision of our church.
This is the third year in which the vestry has followed
an annual rhythm of activity. As you heard from the
wardens in the previous Chronicle, January is when we
welcome our new members during a retreat weekend.
At the retreat, actionable goals are identified for each
of the three working groups into which the vestry is
divided. These past few months have been focused on
working toward those goals, and this month we revisit
the work that has been done.
In May, the vestry and I participate in a Mutual
Ministry Review (MMR). The MMR is an opportunity
to critically reflect on what we have done and how we
have done it, as well as imagine how we might proceed
in the future with even greater intentionality. In other
words, we will evaluate the goals we set in January and
make sure they are still the best goals for us this year.
Our vision for Calvary is clearly growth-oriented. Over
the years, I have been so pleased to see that the focus of
our efforts has gone from looking back (and cleaning
up!) to imagining the amazing opportunities ahead
of us. We are certainly in that visionary period and
the dreams that we have for Calvary are significant. I
will be discussing those dreams in more detail at the
rector’s forum following the 10 a.m. worship service on
Sunday, May 22. Until then, I encourage you to hold all
the leaders of Calvary, and the burgeoning culture of
leadership we are raising, in your prayers. Our future
is bright, and by working together, we will continue to
shine the light of Christ in the city we love!
Calvary's Wish List
•
•
•
•
•
Sponsor year of flowers for Lives Worth Saving: $400
Sponsor Liz Browne's Art Class: $500
Sponsor children's Summer Art Camp: $500
Sponsor outdoor banner for a season: $410
Provide mosquito repellent for homeless neighbors:
$250
• Donate a microwave oven for youth room: $50
18
• Sponsor 400 concrete blocks @ $1.20 = $480
• Sponsor 2 yard carts @ $110 = $220.00
• Sponsor 50 bags (50 lbs) compost @ $5 = $250
(Concrete blocks and compost are for the MIFA
garden; the yard carts are for the apiaries at St.
Columba and Annunciation)
May/June/July 2016 Chronicle
Calendar of Events
May 22
Sunday
Give to Hungry (G2H)
G2H bags, prepared by Calvary’s children
and youth, will be available from 8:30
a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 22,
near Crump Parlor on the 2nd floor. A
$5 donation is requested. The bags are
filled with nutritious, nonperishable
food that can be kept in your car and
given to anyone in need.
Rector’s Forum
Join Rector Chris Girata for the final
forum of the academic year. He will
discuss the results of the Light and Life
capital listening sessions and the plans
for our capital campaign process. He will
also take a look ahead at what is planned
for the coming year.
May 29
Sunday
Welcoming the Rev. Neil Raman
Join us for a festive reception in the
Great Hall following the 10 a.m. worship
service as we celebrate the Rev. Neil
Raman’s first Sunday with us! Neil is
Calvary’s new curate who comes to
us from the University of the South at
Sewanee.
June 5
Summer Formation Begins
See p. 6 to learn more.
Sunday
Collide Theology Together
Pray for our EYC and their adult
chaperones as they travel to Nashville,
Tennessee.
June 19
Sunday
Seersucker Sunday
Long-time and well-dressed Calvary
parishioner Bill Haltom will speak
on “Faith, Hope, and Seersucker”
following the 10 a.m. worship service
on Seersucker Sunday, June 19. Bill is
the author of six books. His most recent,
Milk and Sugar: The Complete Book
of Seersucker, celebrates the iconic
Southern fabric, its history, and why, in
his opinion, seersucker matters. Bill has
donated 20 copies of his new book to
Calvary Community Ministries. Bill has
pledged a minimum donation of $500.
If we buy more than 20 copies, Bill will
donate more! He will sign copies of his
book (available for purchase for $24.95)
following formation. Don't forget to
wear your finest seersucker!
July 4
Monday
Calvary Offices Closed
Calvary offices will be closed in
observance of Independence Day.
July 9-16
Saturday-Saturday
Honduras Mission Trip
Pray for our EYC and their adult
chaperones as they travel to the LAMB
Institute in Honduras.
July 13
Wednesday
Bingo and Ice Cream
Parishioners and friends of all ages are
invited to Calvary to enjoy rousing rounds
of bingo and ice cream with almost every
topping you can imagine. The cost of $5
for adults and $3 for children includes ice
cream and two bingo cards. Contact Ebet
Peeples at epeeples@calvarymemphis.
org or 901-312-5201 by Thursday, July 7,
to RSVP and to donate a $5 or $10 gift
card for prizes.
Saints Departed
Dorothy Arata, friend of Susanne Darnell
June Mann Averyt
Earl Crafton Beck, former husband of Tommie Saxon
Rev. C. Allen Cooke, former rector of St. George's G'town
Michael Cooley, friend of Liz Browne
Carol Cratin, friend of Martin Jellinek
Susan Dalhoff, friend of Matt Seltzer
Jim Gates, friend of Frank Colvett
Dodie B. Goldsmith, wife of Fred Goldsmith
Mary Bliss Hickey, friend of Betsy Kelly
Terry Hillman, friend of Rosemary Clark
Charlie Hood, friend of Len & Nina Grice
Evelyn Jones, friend of Martin Jellinek & Bill Branch
Gene Michelli, uncle of Michelle Wren
C. Ben Norris, brother of Louis Polatty
Penn Owen Jr., father of Penn Owen III
Margaret Peyton, mother of Beau Peyton
Virginia Self Rainer, friend of Anne Connell
James Stephen Rush, cousin of Len Grice
Bill Simmons, friend of Kendra Martin
Claude Swafford, mother of Claudia Haltom
Adolph Tatevossian, father of Ruth Tatevossian
Hulon Warlick, friend of Stella & Vinks Blocker
Betty Sue Michael White, grandmother of Tara Barton
Peggy St. John White , sister-in-law of Anne Connell
Sara Margaret White, mother of Harris White
Great Expectations
Eleanore & Barry Maynard
New Life
Anna Evangeline (Evie),
daughter of Anna Kathryn & Hank Word
on April 7
Wedding Bells
Ginger Wolfe & Jan Gwin on February 27
Jerdan Robbins & Patrick Barratt on April 2
Cat Cocke & Thomas O'Donohue on April 9
19
Chronicle
Calvary Episcopal Church
102 N. Second St.
Memphis, TN 38103-2203
901-525-6602 • Fax 901-525-5156
www.calvarymemphis.org
The Calvary Church Chronicle (USPS 085-900) is published
six times a year by Calvary Episcopal Church, 102 N.
Second St., Memphis, TN 38103. Periodicals postage paid
at Memphis, TN. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to
Calvary Church Chronicle, 102 N. Second St., Memphis, TN
38103, (901) 525-6602, e-mail rbanks@calvarymemphis.org.
Robyn Banks, editor.
©2016 Calvary Episcopal Church
DATED MATERIAL DELIVERED TO POST OFFICE ON May 12, 2016
Calvary Episcopal Church • making God’s love visible in downtown Memphis
1
2
1. Elaine Marie, daughter of Catie & DJ Thacker, was baptized at Calvary on Sunday, January 10. 2. Earl Jack,
son of Liza & Jack Wohrman, was baptized at Calvary on Sunday, January 10. 3. Members of the Boys and Girls
Choir traveled to Nashville in March for the Nashville Diocesan Youth Choral Festival. Pictured, l-r: Brayden Girata,
Ella Chipley, Charlie Huebner, Will Dulaney, Nonie Leopard, Organist-Choirmaster Kristin Lensch, and Ella Peeples.
4. Emma Diane, daughter of Robyn & Bill Banks, was baptized at Calvary on Sunday, April 17. She is pictured with
parents and godparents Noelle Banks, Sarah Squire, Bonnie Binkley, and Rob Waldo.
3
4