Volume 7 Number 8 September 2017

e d i t i o n o f

More coverage online atwww.TheRedeemer.orgDo we have your email address?

If not, go to the above address and “NEWSLETTER SIGNUP”

What’s InsIde

WorshIpSunday Worship ............................A2Church School News .....................A2Youth Confirmation ....................A2September Forums .......................A3Healing Services Coming ............A3Adult Confirmation .....................A3

outreachDiorio Summer Studies ...............A4RYG Work Trip ............................A5From The Rector..........................A6Window Work ...............................A6Mother’s Memoirs ........................A6The Bazaar’s Coming ...................A7New Curriculum ...........................A7

FelloWshIpMeet the Nortons .........................A8Come and Sing .............................A8

Organized around our principle themes of:

Worship - outreach - FelloWshipThese themes are an outgrowth of the goals in our most recent strategic plan “Spiritual Center” (Worship); “Outreach Within and Beyond Our Campus” (Outreach) and “Parish Vitality” (Fellowship).

The RedeemerWorship-Outreach-Fellowship of the people of the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr, PA

oice ofV Episcopal Church of

continued inside on page A4

VOICE of The Redeemer www.TheRedeemer.org

WelcomIng a neW assocIate rectorthe rev. Jo ann Bradley Jones

IntervIewed by Ken Garner

Welcome to The Redeemer, we’re glad you’re here. Let’s take an opportunity for our parishioners to get to know a bit more about you.You’re newly ordained, tell us a little about your calling and discernment to the priesthood.“As a child I loved being in church, hearing the richness of the language of the 1928 Prayer Book and sitting still in the reverence of worship. I also wanted either to talk back to the preacher or ask questions, and later often did so. When I was a young adult, I visited an Episcopal convent outside of Baltimore

which caused me to consider seriously becoming a religious. When I mentioned my desire to my rector, he said, “I think that would be a terrible waste of your life.” Strike 1. I was so taken aback, I didn’t respond and took it as a sign from God that I should be an attorney. Of course, the call doesn’t stop. I was living in Washington, D.C., married to an Episcopal priest, and very active at the Washington National Cathedral when I felt the call again. Bishop John Walker said, “As long as you are married to him, I will not ordain you.” Strike 2. We divorced and I returned to Philadelphia. I became very active at the African Episcopal Church of Saint Thomas, in the Diocese, and in the Episcopal Church. A number of laypeople would often ask if I had considered becoming an Episcopal priest, but at that point I was reluctant to pursue it. Finally, in 2010 I had a health crisis that prompted me to surrender completely to God. The experience was such a positive one, and I was so grateful for the outcome, that I promised God that whatever He asked of me I would do, as long as He helped me. Then I realized that I could not put off answering the call any longer.”What do you anticipate being the biggest difference between working in lay ministry vs. ordained ministry? “I believe that ordained ministry requires being open to and valuing equally the gifts of all God’s people, without any partiality. While I could have favorites in

lay ministry, this is no longer the case.”What areas of ordained ministry do you find most appealing? And, what gifts do you feel you bring to them?“My church school teachers early on identified one of my gifts—my delivery. I read and preach well and I have a presence that people find appealing and moving. I have been told that my delivery is a gift and that my sermons are thoughtful and stirring. I also have the gift of teaching, presenting a great deal of material clearly and concisely. Finally, I dearly love process and have always taken the governance of the Church seriously, and yet lightly. I think the democratic process of the Episcopal Church is a great gift, messy, yes, but respectful of all views.”What areas has the Rector talked to you about focusing your ministry with us?“The Rector and I have discussed focusing on overseeing the administration and advancement of formation programs for children and youth in collaboration with the Director of Children’s Ministries and youth group leaders; and developing peer and intergenerational opportunities in outreach. In addition, I believe he wants me to engage in those areas of ministry in which I have a deep interest, especially liturgy and preaching.”

Sunday, September 3 Last summer schedule Worship at 8 & 10 9:20am Church Sch.Open House Parish Picnic Week of September 4 all choir rehearsals beginSunday, September 10 Three service schedule returns Worship at 7:45, 9 and 11:15 Church School begins

Fall Start-Up Dates

sundays

The Rev. Peter T. Vanderveen Rector ext. 17 pvanderveen@theredeemer.org

The Rev. David F. Romanik Associate Rector ext. 13 dromanik@theredeemer.org

The Rev. Jo Ann B. Jones Associate Rector ext. 16 jjones@theredeemer.org

Adrian Binkley Michael Stairs Ogan Scholar ext. 22 abinkley@theredeemer.org

Michael Diorio, DMA Organist & Director of Music ext. 22 mdiorio@theredeemer.org (M, T & W office hours)

Tory Kline Dunkle, MTS Director of Children’s Ministries ext. 20 tdunkle@theredeemer.org (Wednesday office hours)

Jay Einspanier Parish Administrator ext. 21 jay@theredeemer.org

Ken Garner Director of Communications & Stewardship ext. 19 ken@theredeemer.org

Francesca (Fran) Merritt Program Assistant ext. 14

fmerritt@theredeemer.org (M,T,W,Th 9-2 office hours)

Paulo Reyes Sexton ext. 18 paulo@theredeemer.org

Betsy Wolford Parish Accountant ext. 11 bwolford@theredeemer.org (M & W office hours)

staFF contact InFormatIon

Lectionary readings available on The Lectionary Page accessible from TheRedeemer.org/links

Managing Editor: Ken GarnerContributors this issuE: Jo Ann Jones, Tory Dunkle, David Romanik, Michael Diorio,Bailey Sperry, Rebecca Northington, Carter Williams, Jay Einspanier, Bea Durham Blackman, Bob Mikrut,Susan Van Allen, Michael & Julie Norton, Ken Garner

Deadline for the October issue: September 4, 2017

Church of the Redeemer 230 Pennswood Road Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

610-525-2486 Fax 610-525-8547www.TheRedeemer.org

Facebook: RedeemerBrynMawrTwitter: @TheRedeemerPA

Submission guidelines are available at www.TheRedeemer.org/voice or by contacting Ken Garner.

All submissions are subject to editing for grammar, content clarity,

and space limitations.Trish Bennett, Copy Editor pro bono

Episcopal Journal is published monthly by the Episcopal Journal. POSTMASTER: Send change of address to Episcopal Journal, PO Box 937, Bellmawr NJ 08099-0937

Back issues available at: www.TheRedeemer.org/voice

WorshipA 2 Voice of The Redeemer September 2017

Voice of The Redeemer

church school neWsstart-up actIvItIesby tory dunKle

SEPTEMBER 3THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Last Sunday on Summer Schedule 8 & 10 am

Picnic follows the 10am service

SEPTEMBER 10THE FOURTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST Three Service Schedule Returns: 7:45, 9 & 11:15am

MUSIC: Schola & Redeemer ChoirDraw us in the spirit’s tether H. FriedellAve Verum C. Mawby

SEPTEMBER 17THE FIFTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

MUSIC: Choristers & Redeemer ChoirLet all the world in every corner sing G. DysonAve Verum W. A. Mozart

SEPTEMBER 24THE SIXTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST

MUSIC: Schola & Redeemer ChoirTeach Me, O Lord P. StopfordI sat down under his shadow E. Bairstow

7:45 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I

9:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II

11:15am Choral Matins

youth conFIrmatIon

Church School Registration Re-minder: The classrooms are set and our teachers are ready. We are gearing up for the fast-approaching start of the Church School year. If you haven’t already reg-istered your child or youth for Church School, please take a moment to do so. By providing us with your child or youth’s current information you are also helping to ensure the Church School teachers know who to expect this year. Registra-tion forms can be found in the Narthex, Parish House or on our website: www.theredeemer.org. Church School Open House and Orientation: Whether your child is new to the Atrium, changing classes, or return-ing for another year, first-day jitters are to be expected. In an effort to alleviate any fears and allow both children and parents to gain a familiarity with new spaces and faces, there will be a Church School Open House and Orientation from 9:15 to 9:50 am on Sunday, September 3. Catechists and teachers will be on hand to welcome children and families and invite them to explore the space before the first day of Church School. Our Catechesis classes meet on the second floor of the Parish House. Level I (potty trained children ages 3 through Kindergarten) meets in

Important Church School Dates 2017-2018As Church School year gets underway, please mark your calendars with these

noteworthy dates for 2017-2018.

the Level I Atrium (Room 201 above the staff offices). Level II (Grades 1 through 3) meets in the Level II Atrium and Annex

(Rooms 209 and 212 directly above the kitchen). Our Good Shepherd 4 and 5 class will meet upstairs in Room 206.

BIshop gutIerrez to vIsIt January 14by davId romanIK

Nearly twenty centuries ago, the apostles laid hands on those who chose to become followers of Jesus Christ and prayed that the Holy Spirit would empower them for Christ’s service. The Church continues that tradition through the sacramental rite of Confirmation. In Confirmation, a bishop lays hands on believers and prays that they might receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.The Bishop of Pennsylvania will visit The Redeemer in January to administer the Rite of Confirmation. Confirmation pro-vides young people an opportunity to re-affirm their baptismal covenant and make

a mature commitment to the Church. It is also a way of way of connecting to the ancient heritage of the Church and the earliest apostles. Bishop Gutierrez will join us for worship and Confirmation on January 14, 2018. Confirmation classes will meet beginning in October. Any per-son in eighth grade or above is welcome to participate. More details about the schedule will be released in the coming weeks. In the meantime, please feel free to contact the Rev. Jo Ann B. Jones with any questions about youth confirmation. Register for the class online at The-Redeemer.org/sacraments.

WorshipSeptember 2017 Voice of The Redeemer A 3

sunday adult ForumsTruly and Devoutly Serving:

Adventures in Christian Vocation

There was a time in the Episcopal Church when the word “minister” was only applied to those who had been ordained. The 1979 Book of Common Prayer, however, made it clear that “the ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons.” Every baptized Christian, in other words, is called to be a minister of the gospel. In the almost 40 years since the “new” prayer book was approved, the Episcopal Church has struggled to figure out what this means. Is our ministry the work that we do on behalf of the Church? Is it just the way we make a living? Or is it something else entirely? Part of the reason for this confusion is that we’ve forgotten what it means to have a vocation. We generally use the word “vocation” as a synonym for “career.” Our Christian vocation, however, is, at the same time, much simpler and much more demanding than establishing a career. Put simply, our Christian vocation is to allow our lives to be shaped by the grace of God made known in Jesus Christ. It is to embrace a perspective informed by a deep awareness of God’s grace and love. For this reason, ministry is less about what we do and more about who we are. It is an attitude, a posture towards the world, as much as anything else. As we begin the program year at The Redeemer, our Adult Forums consider the various ways people from The Redeemer exercise their ministries and put their vocations into practice. Join on Sunday mornings at 10:30 in Room 1-2-3 as we hear from members of our parish community who, in the words of the Book of Common Prayer, are “truly and devoutly serving” the Church of God.

by davId romanIK

September 10Meet the New AssociateIn August, Church of the Redeemer welcomed the Reverend Jo Ann Jones as the newest addition to our staff. Ordained to the diaconate earlier this year, Jo Ann has been actively involved in church life on both a parish and diocesan level for many years, and brings a wealth of experience to her work at The Redeemer. Join Jo Ann as she shares the story of her faith journey and an-swers questions.September 17Perfecting God’s PraisesToward the end of the Book of Common Prayer, there is a prayer for church musicians that asks God to be present with those “who seek through art and music to perfect the praises” offered by God’s people. It is notable that this prayer assumes we are meant to grow in our ability to give praise to God. This summer, The Redeemer’s intrepid music director Dr. Michael Diorio traveled to Oxford to study at the prestigious Choral Institute. While it was a time of professional development, it was also a time when Michael grew in his understanding of his vocation as

a church musician and his ability to give praise to God. Join Michael as he reflects on his experience in Oxford.

September 24Saint James SchoolWith one of the largest and most impoverished school districts in the country, Philadelphia has a significant need for quality educational institutions. St. James School is an Episcopal middle school committed to educating traditionally under-resourced students in a nurturing environment. The school provides a challenging academic program and encourages the development of the moral, spiritual, intellectual, physical, and creative gifts in its students. Since the school’s founding, many members of The Redeemer have offered their gifts of time and talent to the

students of Saint James. Join Head of School David Kasievich and several of these volunteers as they discuss the ways they are involved in the mission and ministry of this vital institution.

October 1Youth Mission Trip RetrospectiveIn June, an enthusiastic group of youth and adults from The Redeemer traveled to Kentucky to repair homes with the Ap-palachia Service Project. During their weeklong mission, those who participated learned the benefits of hard work, camaraderie, and putting one’s faith into practice. Join those who participated in the mission trip as they share stories and reflect on their ex-perience in Kentucky.

healIng servIce to BegInby davId romaInK

“Are any among you suffering? They should pray. Are any cheerful? They should sing songs of praise. Are any among you sick? They should call for the elders of the church and have them pray over them, anointing them with oil in the name of the Lord.” James 5:13-14

adult conFIrmatIon classby davId romaInK

It is hard to overstate how revolutionary the gospel was in the first century. By proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ, the earliest Chris-tians made the startling claim that sin had been overcome and death had been defeated. Those who became Christians knew they were em-bracing a creed that fundamentally challenged the status quo. As such, the Church’s rites of initiation, like Baptism and Confirmation, were pivotal moments in believers’ lives. They were opportunities for Christians to state unequivo-cally that they had reoriented their perspective on the world.In the intervening years, as Christianity became more ingrained in the wider culture, people began to lose sight the gospel’s revolutionary quality. Instead of the vanguard of the kingdom of God, the Church gradually came to be seen as an institution that ordered people’s lives. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the rites of Christian initiation also became divorced from their original meaning.It is for this reason that we often see Baptism and Confirmation as pro forma rites of passage. Confirmation, in particular, is just something teenagers who are in-volved in a church community have to do when they reach a certain age. Con-firmation, however, is much more than a mere rite of passage. While it is indeed an opportunity to make a mature commitment to the Christian faith, Confirma-tion is one of the ways we connect to the ancient heritage of the Church and the earliest apostles. It is our way of acknowledging that we are part of a larger story, one that encompasses Christians from around the world. It is our way of participating in the communion of the saints, that great cloud of witnesses that has borne witness to the transforming power of God’s love throughout history. With all of this in mind, we will be holding an Adult Confirmation class at The Re-deemer in the coming months. When the bishop visits in January, he will confirm not only our younger members, but all of those who wish to reaffirm their commitment to Christ and share in the revolutionary story of redemption. If you are interested in being confirmed or received into this communion, please consider joining the Adult Confirmation class. This class is especially appropriate for those who are new to this community. Please contact David Romanik if you have any questions about adult confirmation.

This passage from the Letter of James reveals how different life was in the early days of the Church. Of course, the idea that those who are sick should call the elders of the church before calling a doctor is somewhat shocking in our scientific age. More intriguing, however, is the fact that the author assumes that those who are suffering would bring their complaints to the church elders at all: that they would lay before God and the church community everything that was troubling them. In many ways, this is utterly foreign to our experience. Many of us retreat from the public eye when we are grieving or dealing with signifi-cant illnesses. We are loath to betray any appearance of vulnerability or weakness, even among those who are closest to us.In the face of this cultural aversion to confessing our weaknesses, the Church continues to recognize the importance of bringing our troubles to God. Indeed, as Christians, we affirm that are called to acknowledge our vulnerabilities and admit our dependence on God’s grace. One of the most dramatic and powerful

ways we do this is through the sacramen-tal rite of healing. In this rite, which is also known as “unction,” representatives of the Church pray for God’s grace to be given for the healing of spirit, mind, body through the laying on of hands. This can take place in private or in the context of a more public service of healing. To be clear, public services of healing are not about discovering the intimate details of other people’s lives. In fact, I have been to very few healing services where I knew specifically what was troubling the other worshippers. Healing services are about seeking God’s grace and acknowledging the support of the Christian community that surrounds us.The sacramental rite of healing has been part of the liturgical life at Redeemer for a number of years, but for the most part, it has taken place on the sidelines. Begin-ning in October, we will offer a monthly service of healing with Holy Eucharist in the chapel. We hope you will join us as we acknowledge our dependence on God’s grace. Watch News from The Redeemer and the website for the specific time to be announced.

A 4 Voice of The Redeemer September 2017

WorshipWelcomIng a neW assocIate rector, continued from the front page

Share with us what attracted your interest in coming here.“The Redeemer is a vibrant, growing and healthy congregation. I am excited about the upcoming capital campaign and the vision of The Redeemer being a part of the community in which it is set. I like the Anglican view that the members of the parish are all those who live within the parish. It establishes the church as a part of the community and open to all. Finally, Peter stressed to me how closely the staff works, and how much each member values the others. When I met the staff I found a group of people that is talented, congenial—a team of which I want to be a part.”Do you have personal goals for your ministry or are you waiting for where the Spirit will lead?“I want to become a priest whose ministry is most pleasing to God. Since the Spirit has never failed me, I am open to where the Spirit leads.”You were a very active layperson in the diocese before becoming ordained. Tell us a bit about those activities.“My most enduring lay activity was being a member of an Altar Guild. Second to that was serving as a Vestry member and eventually Rector’s Warden. While on the Vestry I also chaired the Stewardship and Christian Formation committees and organized Vestry retreats. I chaired the Search Committee for the current rector, the Reverend Canon Martini Shaw. I was a member of the Chancel Choir and Daughters of the King. I have served on the Standing and Finance Committees of the Diocese and was once the Church Attorney. I have been a Lay Deputy to General Convention from 2000 to 2015, and chaired two Legislative Committees in 2006 and 2015. I also was a member of the Standing Commission of the Structure of the Church 2003-2009.”

You’ve had a full life and career previous to ordination. Tell us a little bit about that.“I was a practicing attorney for over 20 years. I began my professional life as a staff attorney in the Philadelphia office of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. I went into private practice representing lenders to multifamily housing developments with the firm of Pohoryles and Greenstein in Washington, D.C. When the firm dissolved, I returned to Philadelphia and to public service in the City Solicitor’s Office, continuing to work in real estate practices and expanding my area of expertise to include regulation of the Philadelphia Gas Works as Counsel to the Philadelphia Gas Commission. John White asked me to be the General Counsel of the Philadelphia Housing Authority from 1993 to 1998. Shortly thereafter I served as General Counsel of the D. C. Housing Authority. I left the public sector to work in the Office of General Counsel of Drexel University. I also counseled Hahnemann Hospital in that capacity. Because of my service on the boards of two non-profits, Episcopal Community Services and Planned Parenthood of Southeastern Pennsylvania, I realized that while my heart was with non-profits, it was time for my feet to be there, also, so I became the Executive Director of MANNA, a provider of food delivery and nutritional services for people living with HIV/AIDS. After I left MANNA I worked as a consultant and then joined the campaign of Michael Nutter. After his election as Mayor of Philadelphia, I returned to public service as the Deputy Director of the Office of Housing and Community Development. I have been on the PHS Flower Show Committee for a number of years, and participated in the Flower Show as an exhibitor. I too believe that all these life experiences will serve me in my ministry. I count all of them as gain.”

Bishop Gutierrez presents the Bible to Jo Ann: “Receive this Bible as the sign of your authority to proclaim God’s Word and to assist in the

ministration of his holy Sacraments. BCP page 545”Photo by Henry Carnes-Diocese of PA

the archItecture oF Internal spacedIorIo In oxFordby mIchael dIorIo

This summer at St. Stephen’s House, Oxford University, I studied with amazing inspirers of beauty. Among these were Williamson Voices, a Grammy-nominated choir from Westminster Choir College; James Whitbourn, a research fellow at Oxford as well as a renowned composer and producer for the BBC; and James Jordan, a senior professor of choral conducting at Westminster Choir College, an author of countless textbooks on choirs and conducting, and one of the world’s leading choral technicians. These were my teachers at the Choral Institute of Oxford (CIO). These were the people who encouraged me to be a mirror of my better self. The CIO teaches conducting students to sense how they communicate their desire for musical expression and interpretation to the choir, eliminating unnecessary body language or gestures that hinder sound, while encouraging song. Refracting the sound, not impersonating it, became a watchword.The course encourages self-awareness, an enhanced appreciation of silence (external and internal), and an open, rather than a dictatorial approach with singers. This final bit was the hardest, and underscored the importance of being gracious with the choir, generous with the music, while staying genuine to yourself. For me, the course became an immersive and reflective experience of my own psychology as a choral director and, frankly, as a human being. Surrounded and inspired by great architecture that releases light, I realized that we, as conductors must do the same. During the course, I better understood the value of stillness: how it enables us to hear better, both as conductors and singers. Stillness invites deeper perception of sound, which in turn, enhances our perception of beauty. How we listen determines what we hear. My goal this season will be to encourage listening at a deeper level so that we may hear ourselves and reflect in the sound the released light of our own internal space. I am deeply grateful to Peter Vanderveen

and The Redeemer for providing me this opportunity, because Oxford has reinvigorated and reshaped my idea of choral pedagogy. After the first week I felt a surrender of sorts when I decided that it was not only OK but, in fact, necessary to both accept and reveal myself in my own basic humanness within the process of music making, rather than just being the manipulator of sound. Dr. Jordan, who has known me for 20 years, would say, “Let go, let go, so that both breath and music can be honest.” I believe “moral acoustics” was the term that was used. Once I tapped into this, the sound of the choir totally changed—as we were able to begin at a common core of truth, which influenced breath, eye contact, and overall emotional and intellectual engagement. Essentially this release of external control made room for an internal connection. This was a revelatory moment, one that invited grace into the experience, and one that, I hope, will transfer to my work with the youth and adults at The Redeemer. Peter’s sermon on grace was constantly on my mind, and a quote from Sarah Kaufmann resonated with my experience: “…once grace enters the room, our cold, hard, tottering world becomes a better place to live. Grace doesn’t make a fuss about itself, but it subtly warms and transforms the atmosphere.”

Institute participants sang evensong at Christ Church Cathedral. Note the alto third from the right in the back row.

“Stillness is our most intense mode of action” — Leonard Bernstein

September 2017 Voice of The Redeemer A 5

outreachlove In actIon

ryg’s Work trIp to kentuckyby baIley Sperry

On June 18, 2017, the Redeemer Youth Group embarked on its annual work trip. This year, 14 youth and four leaders made the trek down to Boyd County, KY, to spend a week working with the Appalachia Service Project (ASP). This was our second year working with ASP, a “Christian ministry … that inspires hope and service through volunteer home repair in Central Appalachia.” ASP runs 26 locations in the region during the summer, and its theme for this year was “Love in Action” (from 1 John 3:18). Though this was only ASP’s first time in Boyd County, they had eleven different projects for the summer and, in addition to RYG, there were three other church groups (two from Western PA and one from NC) at the center with us, totaling over 80 volunteers for that week.RYG was assigned two different worksites, “Home Boyd” and “Boyd Oh Boyd.” ASP’s mission is to make homes “Warmer. Safer. Drier.®”, and both of our teams were engaged in similar home repair projects, installing underpinning, insulation, and new siding on homes in the area. We also got to spend time with the two families whose homes we were working on, enjoying lunch with them each day, and learning a bit about their lives and experiences. Each worksite had its own unique challenges and learning opportunities for the youth, but from the first day on the sites, we could really see the difference this work would make in the lives of the families we served. During the evenings, we enjoyed some free time for prayer, chatting, playing cards, basketball, and enjoying time together as a group. Though the center provided meals for us each evening, we took one night to go and explore downtown Ashland, KY, for burgers and bowling. The ASP staff also organized some activities for all the volunteers at the center after dinner each night, including ASP/Boyd County Jeopardy on Monday (Did you know? 20% of Boyd County lives below the poverty line, and more than 11,000 volunteers will come through the 26 ASP centers in KY, NC, TN, WV, and VA this summer), and a fundraising basketball tournament on Friday night, to raise money for termite extermination work, in which RYG sponsored two teams of youth to compete (with one getting second place!). It was a fantastic and rewarding week, but before we packed the vans to head back to The Redeemer, we gathered to reflect as a group on our time together. There were plenty of laughs to be shared, but one of the most moving experiences we had was getting to meet not only the families we served, but also their neighbors. At both of our worksites, one of the neighbors made a point of coming over to tell us how much it meant to them that we were there in their community to share our time and talents, and to help these families. Though we could only do so much in terms

of physical labor during our time in Kentucky, the work we did had an impact far beyond the houses we helped to repair. Our trip was a profoundly rewarding and humbling experience, which gave us a better understanding of the power of Love in Action and the potential of hands and spirit at work.

Many more photos available at: www.TheRedeemer.org/photos

A 6 Voice of The Redeemer September 2017

outreachparIsh BusIness

by Jay eInSpanIer

let the sunshIne In

JoIn the acolyte mInIstryBoys and girls, ages 10 and up; youth, teens, Rite 13 class, and recent confir-mands are encouraged to participate in The Redeemer Acolyte Ministry. Adults are also welcome to participate. Servers are needed for the 9:00 am, 11:15 am ser-vices and occasional Evensongs. Commit-ment involves, at the most, one Sunday a month plus major holidays. Recruiting will continue throughout September. Contact our Verger, Bob Mikrut at vergerbob@comcast.net if you are interested in joining this parish ministry.

For those of you, of a certain age, the above headline may bring back memo-ries. I will not venture as to good or bad, and will leave it at just memories. “Let the Sunshine In” was written for the 1967 musical Hair by James Rado & Gerome Ragni (lyrics), and Galt MacDermot (music). Many of us remember it simply as a single by American R&B group The 5th Dimension. Feeling a bit old?Certainly interesting detail but you may be wondering why is it in The Voice and what does it have to do with The Redeemer?Thanks for asking, and let me refer you to last fall when we undertook significant repairs to the rose window at the west end of the church. Those repairs not only stabilized the window but, because we replaced the old, clouded protective covering with a new cover made of tem-pered glass, the incoming light during the day improved, as well as the appearance of the window from the outside at night.While not anticipating the same extent of major repair and stabilization work for

the window above the altar at the east side of the church, we will address any issues once the old protective covering is removed and the glass cleaned. Our expectation is that the final result will reflect the same opening to sunshine as the rose window.

parIshIoner Bea durham Blackman puBlIshes mother’s memoIrs

Outskirts Press, Inc. has published There Was A Little Girl: Memoirs of Growing Up in Victorian Brooklyn by Edith Foote Carpenter. The book is available worldwide on book retailer websites such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. The webpage at www.outskirtspress.com/therewasalittlegirl was launched simultaneously with the publication of this long-forgotten manuscript. The author’s daughter and parishioner, Bea Durham Blackman wrote the preface to the book and managed its publication. Written in the style employed by the author’s favorite mid-19th century authors, Louisa May Alcott and the Bronte sisters, it is a wonderful glimpse into life at the dawn of the 20th century. Born three days after the death of her father in 1896, and the youngest of six surviving siblings, Edith shares with the

reader her wonderful reminiscences of growing up in a loving Victorian household, illustrated by charming photographs of this close-knit family.ISBN: 9781478781912, Publication Date: October 26, 2017

one true thIng

by peter vanderveen

From the rector

“Our Father, who art in heaven…”The opening line of the Lord’s Prayer seems simple enough. Most of us know it by heart and can recite it without the application of real thought. We tend to assume that it is prefatory—like a salutation in a letter that merely identifies the one who is being addressed. But I found myself this summer dwelling at length on just this one phrase, almost as if—if it were truly understood—the rest of the prayer really didn’t need to be spoken. For it is included in what has been already said. The mistake we are naturally inclined to make is to imagine that the words “in heaven” refer to the place where God is. God is somewhere out there, far distant. Heaven drifts mysteriously and inapproachably above us, and, at very least, it is not part of our world or, stretching our perception, our cosmos. If we take this opening line as a declaration of God’s location, it inevitably becomes a mark of sepa-ration, and prayer becomes a long distance projection, throwing our thoughts out into the void. The issue named by this line, however, is not one of place; it is rather an acknowledgement of God’s context, describing how God is rather than where. Heaven is not a place, it is the condition of God’s will and purpose being fulfilled. In prayer we are addressing the one for whom, as Isaiah noted, words “do not return empty.” They “accomplish that for which they were purposed.” This singular line reminds us ahead of time—ahead of the naming of our particular concerns and petitions—that God is the one who in creation and redemption is bringing all things into fulfillment. This doesn’t put God at a distance; it draws us within God’s providence. Heaven isn’t impossibly far from us; it is the inherent promise of our lives, by God’s intention. And to

name God apart from this confidence is to pray, then, to another idol, a god who is not God. In our desire to get to our own condition and to see to our own general welfare, we often skip by this more fundamental confidence of recognizing God as God for us. But if we reorient our understanding of what this line states, then the whole nature of our prayer is changed. Our focus shifts from anxiety and fear—whether this is the lack of food or the lack of the generosity of forgiveness—to the assurance of God’s blessing, as we say every Sunday, “at all times and in all places.”It always seems odd to me that the practice of worship is routinely lumped together with the work of being serious about the business of life, and thus, the leisure of summer also means for many a leisurely break away from a conscious engagement of faith and

prayer. We still tend to think of church participation as more a discipline than a celebration. But there is also, always too, the starting again of the program year in September and the joy that comes

in reunion and that beginning of new things. As this issue of The Voice highlights, there is much here at The Redeemer that is our expression of bringing heaven close and rejoicing in the promise of God that holds eternally. It is part of our legacy, which we are maintaining and developing. It is part of our witness, both in fellowship and outreach. It is part of the deep commitment to life that we nurture through the educational opportunities for children, youth, and adults. It can be seen and experienced in the way that all of these together set us in within the trajectory of hope, the one true thing—which is now in many important ways a counter-cultural movement for—as heaven indicates—the good of all.

...the starting again of the program year in September and the joy that comes in

reunion and that beginning of new things.

September 2017 Voice of The Redeemer A 7

FelloWshipchrIstmas Bazaar and dInner

by SuSan van allen, chaIrperSon

novemBer 17 & 18

It’s the beginning of fall and The Redeemer’s Outreach Dinner and Bazaar Com-mittee is thick in the planning of our annual Christmas Bazaar Weekend (November 17th and 18th). We are getting excited about this year’s events and wanted to share some important information with you.Friday’s Christmas Outreach Dinner Party will again be held at Philadelphia Country Club. The Committee struggled with this decision, knowing the love ev-eryone feels for traditional host club Merion Cricket Club. Both clubs offer excellent hospitality and are conveniently located within a short distance from the Church, however, the ease in setting up at PCC won the day. With the location set we are working with PCC to create a new and exciting menu for 2017! Additionally we are starting to put together the Outreach Dinner Silent and Live Auctions. If you have an item or service that you would like to donate, please contact Beth Ganss (bganss108@gmail.com) or Susan Van Allen (scvanallen01@comcast.net, 610-585-5822). For at least 2017 (November 18th), the Saturday Christmas Bazaar will continue to be held at the Parish House. In addition to our traditional events (including At-tic Treasures, Breakfast/Lunch, Books, Toys, Children’s Activities, Vintage, Silent Auction, Breakfast/Lunch, Christmas Shop, Candles and Plants), we are exploring several new ideas! I will share these with you next month.You may start dropping off items any time but first check with the committee chairs listed below or with the office. In addition there are four Drop Off Sundays: October 15, 2017, 8am-noon October 22, 2017, 8am-noon October 29, 2017, 8am-noon November 5, 2017, 8am-noon

Volunteers: Please consider helping with any of the committees or events such as Lunch, Breakfast & Coffee, Attic Treasures, Toys, Children’s Activities, Christmas Shop & Plants, or with set-up or clean-up

General:Susan Van Allen, scvanallen01@comcast.net, 610-585-5822Carol Chew, cchew206@comcast.net, 610-484-434-8970african children’s Mission: Prill Bradshaw, Prillbrad@verizon.net

attic treasures: gently used or new items that you would be glad to give to a friend – including furniture!

Melanie LeBoeuf, melanieleboeuf@comcast.net, 610-745-8435Lauren McKinney, LHMCK1@gmail.com , 610-316-7800

Books: new and used books, DVDs, CDsDeann Mills, deann.mills@verizon.net, 610-551-5336

children’s actiVities:Andrea Cayley, Andcay@yahoo.com, 610-755-2299Tory Dunkle, tdunkle@theredeemer.org, 610-525-2486

contact InFormatIon For the Bazaar

Here’s what we’re looking for:Silent & Live Auctions: Small antiques, Sterling silver, China, Art, Unusual “smalls”, small furniture, antiques, family heirlooms, paintings, furnishings; also do-nations of vacation homes, sports tickets, airline tickets, babysitting, spa treatments, dermatologist service, orthodontist service, teeth whitening, restaurant certificates, ski tickets, special parties, fine wine, limo rides, etc.Vintage Boutique: Antique Jewelry & Accessories - Gold, Silver, Precious Gems, Tortoise Shell & vintage pieces. Finer Designer clothes (dresses, slacks, skirts and blouses), Cashmere Sweaters, Jackets, Coats & Furs. Designer handbags and clutches.

Wish List For the Gents: Wish List For the Ladies:Bowties, Ascots Pearls, Beads, Pins & PendantsPocket Watches & Fobs Bangles, Rhinestones, Leather GlovesCuff Links, Canes, Top Hats Evening Bags, Pocket Books & PursesPipe & Cigar Collectibles Silk Scarves, Perfume Bottles, Hand Mirro

Brush & Comb Sets, Hair AccessoriesRegular Committee meetings will begin in the fall—it is not too late to join us! We hope you’ll consider joining us or providing help over the Event weekend. Your questions, comments and advice are invaluable and everyone is welcome to help us make our major outreach fundraiser a success. Remember, the more funds we raise, the more support we can provide to the many organizations that have asked us for help. Our meeting dates are as follows:

September 11 6:30pm (Monday)September 25 6:30pm (Monday)October 16 6:30pm (Monday)October 30 9:00am (Monday)November 6 6:30pm (Monday)November 13 9:00am (Monday)

crafts: Old Christmas ornaments (all shapes and sizes), glue sticks (for glue guns), arti-ficial wreaths (all sizes, shapes and materials), felt (especially green and red), foam cones/wreaths, jingle bells, pine cones (large and small)

Caroline Manogue, cbmanogue@yahoo.com, 610-642-7580Jennifer Vollmer, jvollmer@ymail.com, 610-896-1712

luncheon:Ann Strong, ann.strong@Cencer.com

saturday silent auction:Carolyn Morris, missc@comcast.net, 610-525-5240Carolyn Bennett, cfb_farm@hotmail.com, 610-527-8654Jane Hastings, jcmh1066@gmail.com , 610-645-8798

toys: clean toys and children’s items, unbroken and with all pieces, pleaseTBD

VintaGe:Pam McMullin, pmcmullin@comcast.net, 610-525-1808Karen Nagel, lightloops@comcast.net , 610-649-5508Kristen Cahn von Seelen, kristinevs@gmail.com, 610-525-2684Lisa Davis, lgd564@verizon.net, 610-733-0095

Over the course of the last Church School year, the Children and Youth Committee dedicated itself to the contin-ued work of program evaluation. After a survey of our Good Shepherd programs in 2014 and a program-wide evaluation in 2015, we turned our attention to our Level II program which serves our chil-dren in first through third grades. Our goal was to identify the core strengths of our program while also hearing from parents and children as to how we could better serve their needs.With over half of our regular families responding, our two month long survey revealed several consistent themes. Our parents were quick to affirm the hands-on nature of the program while also emphasizing how much their children enjoy fellowship with their peers. On the flip-side, parents expressed a firm desire to see the program focus more attention on laying a strong foundation in Biblical literacy and for there to be a greater variety in the style and approach

of instruction to better meet the learning needs of all children.In reviewing feedback, it became clear that while the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd curriculum had served our first, second and third graders well for many years, it was no longer meeting the expressed needs and desires of our families. Knowing this, the Committee set about to find a curriculum that took the parts of Catechesis that families loved but that made room for what they desired most for their children. After months of consideration and exploration, Jerome Berryman’s “Godly Play” curriculum rose to the top as the curriculum that best fit our children’s needs while also retaining the hands-on aspects of Catechesis so en-joyed by our families. The draw to “Godly Play” came out of the Montessori-based curriculum’s commitment to engaging children in faith through Biblical story-telling and creative activities.So, this year our first, second and third

grade class will make the shift to “Godly Play.” We will spend two weeks ex-ploring a Bible story. The first week we will focus on getting familiar with the story itself, and the second week we will fo-cus on creative activities that reinforce the nar-rative while inviting the children to wonder about its meaning in their own lives. Over the course of the Fall we will cover key narratives from Genesis: Creation, Adam and Eve, The Flood, Abraham, etc. Our hope is that by exploring these key narratives in an imaginative and creative way, our children will not learn these stories, but more importantly that through these sto-ries they will come to know God better.Prototyping, evaluation and feedback are a vital part of any curriculum change.

Input from our parents, children and teachers will be instrumental as we move throughout the year and the Com-mittee continues to evaluate this new curriculum. Please feel free to contact Tory Dunkle at tdunkle@theredeemer.org or 610-525-2486, ext.20 with any suggestions or comment.

neW FIrst, second and thIrd grade currIculumby tory dunKle

VOICE of The Redeemer www.TheRedeemer.org 610-525-2486

FelloWshipA8 Voice of The Redeemer September 2017

neWcomer proFIlepeople makIng the redeemer theIr FaIth communItyIntervIewed by Ken Garner

This month we welcome the Nor-ton family and, as you can see, a recent newborn addition graces their family and was inserted into this photo. Thank you very much for sharing your story with us about your entry into The Re-deemer community.How long have you been attending services here?We began attending service at The Re-deemer in fall 2015. Are you life-long Episcopalians? No. Julie grew up in a Catholic house-hold in St. Paul, MN and attended pa-rochial schools throughout her primary and secondary education. She attended St. Thomas University in St. Paul where she studied Ancient and Thomistic philosophy and taught Catholic Social Thought for many years. Michael grew up in a Methodist family in Cincinnati, OH, and attended Jesuit institutions for his undergraduate and graduate training. How did you find The Redeemer?Our friends, Daniel and Kristen Wesley, suggested we attend as they had found The Redeemer to be a welcoming place for their young family.What inspired you to attend?Having moved from the mid-west a de-cade ago we had attended a number of local Catholic parishes, which we never felt quite comfortable as our family grew. With four young girls, it’s wonderful for us to be in a community where our girls can see themselves involved and

contributing at every level of the institution. The conscientiousness of the ministry, and the warmth of the community to young families immediately signaled to us we were in the right place. What would you want to tell others about The Redeemer to encourage them to come and explore our parish?The Redeemer is a wonderful par-ish for young families and provides a welcoming atmosphere for new parishioners. The ministry provides thoughtful guidance though the lit-urgy that respects your intelligence and challenges you to recognize and

confront the spirit in the world. Tell us a bit about yourself outside of The Redeemer—your job, your family, your hobbies.Julie and Michael are both from the Mid-West—St. Paul and Cincinnati, respectively. We met in Milwaukee at Marquette University and moved to Bryn Mawr in 2006 when Julie took a position at the American College in Bryn Mawr. Today, Julie serves as Director of the Center for Ethics in the Financial Services and teaches all the ethics cur-riculum across the institution’s degree programs. She also teaches accounting ethics at Villanova University. She is an avid student of Tudor English history. Michael serves as Chief Policy Analyst at a Reinvestment Fund, a Community Investment Financial Institution in Phila-delphia. In this role, Michael assess the impact of the institution’s investments, and consults with cities across the coun-try to support the strategic deployment of public investments to support histori-cally underserved communities. Michael is a life-long soccer player and continues to enjoy running, and playing when the opportunities arise. Julie and Michael have four children – Katharine (5.5), Isabella (3.5), Annabelle (1.5) and Hannah-Claire (2 months). Katharine (kindergarten) and Isabella (nursery) attend Friends Central and both adore children’s chapel and Cat-echesis at The Redeemer. They also re-ally enjoy receiving their blessing every Sunday.

open house month For adult and youth choIrsby mIchael dIorIo

As we venture into a new program year I’d like to encourage consideration of your own, or your child’s, participation in our choral program at The Redeemer. We have many wonderful activities planned for the new choral season and it might be a great experience for your or your child to be a part of it. The mission of the children’s choral program is to enable all participants to support the liturgy through music, bring a heightened sense of awareness and understanding of liturgical concepts (meanings and symbolism) to our choristers, and provide a solid foundation in music theory and music history to all involved. Last January we restructured our choir options, with the inclusion of a new weekly choir supper prepared by a rotation of volunteers that takes place in between rehearsals, and is offered to all our choirs. We offer the Cherub Choir (K-3rd) and the Redeemer Choristers (4th-8th) group, and Schola (9th-12th, and for boys who have experienced voice change). The Redeemer Choristers learn the more intermediate aspects of music, song, and liturgical meaning of what we do. They learn what it means to be responsible for yourself and responsible to others as part of a group. They also assume a greater leadership role within the liturgies for which they sing. All of this activity prepares them for the Schola group, which is the youth choir that traditionally goes on tour every other year.To be a part of a choral ensemble at The Redeemer means to develop a sense of community, responsibility, and leadership qualities at an early age. These qualities and understandings transcend the Church and are brought into situations that our children experience and can process on a daily basis.For your consideration, we offer September as an open house month for any child or adult who is considering involvement in our choral program. Choir is a dynamic, formative and rewarding program for both child and adult, alike. As you think about what sporting events or school activities you would like your child to be a part of, please keep the music program at The Redeemer on your list of options — your child just might surprise you, and you might surprise yourself.

ALL rehearsals are open during the month of September. Come join us!

Choir Supper takes place every Wednesday from 6:05-6:45

Cherub Choir: Wednesday, 5:00-6:00(Parish House with Katy Hutchings)

Redeemer Choristers: Tuesday, 5:00-6:30 & Wednesday 5:00-6:00

Schola Cantorum: Wednesday, 6:50-8:05 (Choir Room) Redeemer Choir: Wednesday, 6:50-8:30 (Choir Room)

and Sunday, 8amChancel Choir: Sunday, 10:20-11:05 (Choir Room)