Trinity Tidings September 2017

Turning of the Gem: A Cursillo Reflection By Cathy Hopkins for the Mississippi Episcopalian

I have heard the God journey being equated to "a turning of the gem". Each time you turn the gem you see different colors from the light shining through the prism of the stone. I also feel life in general is an unfolding or a turning of the gem, ever evolving and transforming into interesting paths. This is how I found the unique but transforming movement called Cursillo; I went down an interesting path. I joined the Episcopal Church at 40-years-old. It was a good transitory move in my life. My new-found Church discovery was a "surprised by joy" moment – I discovered an organization that has room for both reason and faith. It took me a while to find my niche within my church and find where I could make the biggest impact with my time and talents, but I did.

After a year and a half, I became a chalice bearer and a verger. These roles allowed me to interact with the congregation and be in community. I also found a great union with our church book club, once more the turning of the gem allowed me to deepen my faith even further than I had ever expected. The ladies in the club spoke my language. We read thought provoking selections that benefited my walk with Christ in immeasurable ways. The gem is ever- turning. One night a book club friend came back from a weekend of Cursillo. She was glowing. The people she mentioned were wonderful and important to her faith. What she had I wanted. I immediately googled the date of the next MS Cursillo weekend and decided to attend the Spring session at the Gray Center. It was a momentous decision.

First of all, have you seen the Gray Center in Canton? I had not seen it, but I heard great things about it from friends. To see it was to immediately fall in love with it. It is a peaceful, ethereal place, and I felt the divine presence upon arrival, but there was more. A gradual and subtle shift was occurring in me throughout the weekend, something that I couldn't quite name, but it felt profound. Looking back, I realize it was

a culmination of many things that inspired me; the overwhelming love from the staff, the divine locale, and the fellowship with my fellow Cursillistas.

So many blessings took place during that weekend. I discovered a community that inspired a new path for me to follow. The local Cursillo group in my town has enriched my life thoroughly. Who knew there was such a great movement available through the Episcopal church? What a blessing the turning the gem has truly been for me.

Then I was asked to be on staff for Cursillo. I had no idea that being on staff was so much more rewarding than going through as a participant. But I should have known, for the Episcopal church is about serving Christ's Body and like the old adage goes it really is "better to give than to receive". Seeing the joy of the Cursillistas going through their Cursillo weekend was the icing on the cake. What a lovely thing to behold people receiving the same joy I received when I went through Cursillo #130 in 2016. The people I have met through this movement have become dear friends and are the kind of friends you keep for a lifetime.

Why am I telling you this? I want to spread the love! There will be another Cursillo September 21-23. I have the privilege of serving one more time and I can't wait to see what rays of light are uncovered by one more rotation of that shiny gem.

To find more information about Cursillo or to register for a weekend please see our webpage cursillo.dioms.org, or contact Cathy Hopkins at caw26@MSN.com

September Commission and Guild Meetings

Finance Committee September 18 5:15 p.m. Vestry Meeting September 20 5:15 p.m. Heavenly Hands Wednesdays 3:00 p.m. Daughters of the King September 17 3:00 p.m. Teach Them to Fish Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. EYC Sundays 4:30 p.m.

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Newcomer Tour

September 3, after the 10:30 a.m. service Newcomers and visitors are welcome to join the tour of the church the first Sunday of every month. After the 10:30 service, join us in the back of the

church in the area we call the narthex! ______________________________________________________

Trinity Work Day— September 23, 9am– 3pm

Continuing tornado relief efforts through work days every fourth Saturday. ___________________________________________________________

Upcoming Baptismal Dates

All Saints’ Day - November 5th The Baptism of our Lord - January 7th

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Christian Formation While Sunday School will begin September 17,

and the nursery is always available for the 10:30 service.

Nursery – Up to Age 3 Caroline Ratliff, Nursery Worker

Brooklyn Mills, Nursery Worker

Age 3 –7 Atrium, Jennifer Landry

Ages 8 & up Room 4, Ward Conville

Lectionary Class Library, Stan Hauer and Tom Fortner

Discovering The Psalms Room 2, Marian Fortner, Alex Allain, Jan Moore

OUTLOOK ON OUTREACH: Back to School Offerings By: Becky Montague

It’s back-to-school time, a perfect opportunity to reflect on the ways our outreach dollars assist deserving programs in the Forrest County and City of Hattiesburg public schools as well as at USM. You might already know which school programs we fund, but did you know that in addition to our financial support, these initiatives need our individual time and talents? Take a look at what Trinity Outreach has been doing to support our schools, and let Alex or Becky know if you’re interested in joining our efforts.

Earl Travillion Attendance Center, a K-8 Forrest County school in Palmers Crossing, serves about 300 children and has a 98.6% poverty rate. It has for some time been labeled a failing school. Two years ago, Kristina Pollard, a dynamic whirlwind of a principal, took the helm and attracted Trinity’s attention. We began collaborating with ETAC last year and are thrilled with the results we’re seeing. Last year our partnership with the Hattiesburg Arts Council provided weekly arts programming for fourth graders. Our College and Career Services program served fifth and sixth graders by hosting a motivational talk each month by a local, successful, minority business leader. We also provided uniforms for children who weren’t attending school because they couldn’t afford the clothing and nutritious snacks for students identified by their teachers as suffering from hunger. To close out the school year, we provided age-appropriate Field Day activities for the upper grades so that the older children could participate alongside the younger kids and purchased the required t-shirts for children who couldn’t afford them. All these initiatives were recognized and applauded by the Forrest County School Board in its summer meeting.

This school year we plan to continue these efforts and add a literacy component to assist the school in earning not just a passing grade, which it’s now on pace to achieve, but in striving for a B rating. To that end, we’d like to place a reading volunteer in each first grade and third grade classroom one morning per week from 8:30 to 10:00. If you have an hour or so to spare each week (or even every other week), please let us know! It’s a fun, fulfilling, and much needed service.

HPSD Strings serves over 300 orchestral students, from fifth grade through high school, in the Hattiesburg Public School District. Trinity’s benefit concert in December raised $5,000 which saved the program (arts programming having been slashed by 60% during the district’s financial crisis) and allowed its best students, those in the chamber orchestra, to attend a regional biennial competition in New Orleans.

This school year we will assist HPSD Strings by purchasing four desperately needed (and heavily discounted) cellos which will remain at Lillie Burney for the sixth graders’ use during school hours. We are also working closely with the program’s faculty and with the HPSD Foundation to solicit more funding from the school district for this flagship program.

Mary Bethune Alternative Center, the alternative school for the Hattiesburg Public School District, serves students in fifth through eleventh grades who, for various reasons (some behavioral, some educational) require a non-traditional pedagogical approach. After a lapse in our long-term partnership with Mary Bethune, brought on by changes in its administrative personnel, we were contacted recently about renewing our efforts. Currently we are providing small rewards for the “star students” designated as such by their teachers. We hope to increase our participation as we develop a relationship with the school’s new leadership.

ECUSM, the Episcopal Church at USM, is a joint ministry of both Trinity and Ascension. Throughout the school year, ECUSM offers a weekly Eucharist, which generally attracts 6 to 10 students, and dinner is served afterward. Monthly theological discussions are also held. Alex and other ECUSM volunteers recently spent a day helping students move into the dorms.

Thank you for allocating us the resources to do this good work. With your help, we’re making a difference!

This is the first in a series of monthly articles featuring the various outreach ministries that Trinity offers. See Rev. Alex Allain or Becky Montague if you’re interested in participating or learning more.

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We've hired a temp administrator To fill in when Kristin is on maternity leave.

Welcome Chris Hobdy!

He will work part time in the office mid-September through November. Please be patient with the office as we make this transition!

Check out our upcoming events this Fall!

Date Time Event Location

9.06.2017 6:00 p.m. Spiritual Gifts Workshop Parish Hall

9.10.2017 10:30 am Ministry Market Parish Hall

9.17.2017 10:30 am Blessing of the Backpacks & Commissioning of Teachers

Church

09.29.2017 6:00 pm Fall Frolic Fish Fry Trinity

10.01.2017 9:30 am World Communion Day - Blessing of Pets (joint service)

Town Square Park

11.05.2017 5:00 pm All Saints’ Evensong Parish Hall

11.05.2017

10:30 am Day Light Savings

All Saints’ Sunday/baptisms Church

11.10.2017 6:00 pm Steak & Wine/Ale Parish Hall

11.16.17 6:00 pm AIDS Coalition Dinner Parish Hall

11.19.2017 TBA (evening)

Ecumenical Thanksgiving Service

Church Hosting TBA

11.23.2017 11:00 am Thanksgiving Day Service and Potluck

Parish Hall

With Our Sympathy We extend our sympathy to Bill and Betty Denkler, on the death of Betty’s brother

Luther M. Holt.

We extend our sympathy to Huel and Lynn Harris and their children, on the death of

Lynn’s father Dr. D. B. Conerly.

We extend our sympathy to Tony and Cindy Doherty, on the death of Cindy’s

mother Doris Mae James.

We extend our sympathy to George and Barbara Carter, on the Death of George’s

sister, Nancy Jo Carter Murphy

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Walking the Mourner’s Path

September 20 - October 25

Wednesdays at 4:30 pm

Are you seeking comfort and healing after the death of a loved one? The ministry of

Walking the Mourner’s Path seeks to serve individuals who are in grief through a

series of Six Consecutive Weekly Workshops.

Together in the small group workshops individuals:

• Acknowledge the pain and brokenness

• Recognize that each journey through grief is unique

• Share stories

• Experience both tears and laughter

• Find Healing and Joy

“Together we do what I cannot do alone.”

Interested in attending the Eight-week workshops? Trinity Episcopal Church will soon

be hosting the workshops. Class size is limited to eight participants. If you have

questions about the program please contact Jan Moore (jmoore4293@gmail.com) or

Jan Housley (janvanavon@gmail.com).

We will help you determine if these workshops will be helpful to you at this time. Cost

is $75 for materials.

“Come to me all who are heavy laden and I will give you rest” Matthew 11:28-29

The Weekly Bulletin News

Our weekly announcements inserted in the Sunday Bulletin DEADLINE each week is Monday.

Email your announcements for “The Weekly News” to:

trinity.hburg@gmail.com __________________________________________________________

OFFICE HOURS: Monday – Thursday 8:30 to 4:30

Friday 8:30 to 12:30

Website: www.trinityhattiesburg.dioms.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/TrinityHattiesburg

NEW EMAIL: trinity.hburg@gmail.com

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The Monthly Tidings Newsletter

PLEASE NOTE: This September Tidings Newsletter will be a quarterly issue

instead of monthly, and we will send the next Tidings (December) the week

before Thanksgiving!

DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT NEWSLETTER:

DECEMBER TIDINGS

Tuesday, November 7 at Noon

We will fold the tidings Wednesday, November 15 ____________________________________________________________

Education for Ministry—EFM starts in September!

Year 1: September 12 | 5:30 pm | Location: TBD Leaders: The Rev. Marian and Ben Carmichael

Year 2: September 5 | 6 pm | Church Library

Leaders: Patty Bomboy and Tom Fortner

To join a class, call the church office!

Hymns for September and October

At this time of new beginnings, please consider joining our choir. The adult choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m., and on Sunday mornings at 9:15. Our children’s choir, the St. Cecilia choir, is looking for students from the 2nd grade through middle school. This choir meets every Wednesday from 4:45-5:30 p.m. This choir will kick off with an ice cream sundae party on Wednesday, Sept. 5 at 4:45. Parents and siblings are invited to stay and have ice cream, also. We will also have a brief rehearsal so that this choir can join with the adult choir on September 10 in singing for the 9:30 service prior to the Ministry Market. September 3 477 All praise to thee, for thou, O King divine 439 What wondrous love is this 675 Take up your cross, the Savior said 707 Take my life, and let it be 401 The God of Abraham praise September 10 400 All creatures of our God and King 376 Joyful, joyful, we adore thee 174 At the Lamb’s high feast we sing 407 Most High, omnipotent, good Lord 527 Singing songs of expectation September 17 390 Praise to the Lord, the Almighty 516 Come down, O Love divine 336 Come with us, O blessed Jesus 606 Where true charity and love dwell 347 Go forth for God September 24 9 Not here for high and holy things 551 Rise up, ye saints of God 309 O Food to pilgrims given 660 O Master, let me walk with thee 404 We will extol you, ever-blessed Lord

Oct. 1 Blessing of the Animals (outside) October 8 546 Awake, my soul, stretch every nerve 422 Not far beyond the sea 337 And now, O Father, mindful of the love 448 O love, how deep, how broad, how high 518 Christ is made the sure foundation October 15 556 Rejoice ye pure in heart 300 Glory, love, and praise, and honor 515 Holy Ghost, dispel our sadness 316 This is the hour of banquet and of song 569 God, the Omnipotent! October 22 362 Holy, holy, holy! Lord God Almighty 665 All my hope on God is founded 591 O God of earth and altar 596 Judge eternal, throned in splendor 423 Immortal, invisible, God only wise October 29 450 All hail the power of Jesus’ Name 505 O Spirit of Life, O Spirit of God 517 How lovely is thy dwelling-place 609 Where cross the crowded ways of life 680 O God, our help in ages past

Treasured Trinitarian: James McCormick

By Susan E. Steadman

The first few times I met James McCormick I was aware that he had a spark that was going to get people on board. Standing in the Narthex one Sunday as an usher, I was delighted to see our “serious” musicians getting lined up for a selfie. Then in an Outreach meeting his suggestions were BIG and passionate. The Scouts needed someone to help with a project, he said, “yes.” We have all seen his leadership with tornado relief. In my wildest dreams, I never thought we would gather together and spend part of our summer reading the Bible; the Bible Slam came true.

We have Beth and Clark Callahan to thank for the McCormicks finding Trinity back in 2015. His first memory of Trinity was the Callahans introducing him to so many people. “We had just moved to Hattiesburg in the summer of 2015. The Callahans were some of our first friends when we moved to Starkville in 1987.” Their friendship sparked the flame to get them here.

And here we go with the activities that have nurtured him spiritually since he has been at Trinity. “Singing in the choir is a joy and a challenge. Making music with a group of people is fun and spiritually rewarding. I grew up in a musical household and have enjoyed singing and playing instruments since childhood. Helping with storm recovery efforts has been amazing. The tornado devastated many homes and affected lives of many people. While helping with the initial clean-up efforts it was obvious that real storm recovery would be a long-term effort. Thankfully Hattiesburg is home to R3SM. Trinity’s once-a-month participation in recovery work is fun and challenging. I have come to know several fellow Trinitarians (and members of St. James in Jackson as well).”

He further adds the activities of being a part of EFM which “has challenged my assumptions and helped me to perceive new ideas.” He was excited that the idea of the Bible Slam came to life. This too gave him an opportunity to meet members that he had known before.

“Ultimately, being part of a worshiping community, like Trinity, is a nurturing experience. I enjoy being a part of this thriving parish.”

What makes Trinity special?

“The people.”

If you have one prayer for Trinity what would it be?

“That each member of Trinity can find their own way to love and serve the Lord with gladness and singleness of heart.”

What made Trinity your place to land?

“The music and the choir. Jane Butler is an excellent organist/choirmaster.”

Favorite hymns? “#653. The tune is ‘Repton.’ The text is excerpted from a poem by John Greenleaf Whittier. #490 – The tune is ‘Houston’ and the text is by Kathleen Thomerson.”

As we each look at ways we might better serve Trinity during Ministry Marketplace, we might use the energy of James McCormick as a barometer to use our own gifts. We are all treasures in our own way, We just have to say, yes.

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Congrats to Rebecca Turri and Stephen Kingsbury

On the birth of their son

Luke James Kingsbury

Born on August 24, 2017

PRAYER LIST REQUEST FORM Please add the following individual to the prayer list. Date_________________

Name_________________________________________________________________

Submitted, with permission from the above named person, by____________________________________________________________________

Brief explanation (family member, friend, military deployment, etc.) ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________

Please return this form to the church office or place in the Sunday collection bas-ket. Names will remain on the prayer list monthly. Those who continue to need our prayers may be resubmitted for one month from the date submitted.

Inside this issue:

• Outlook on Outreach by Becky Montague

• Treasured Trinitarians

• Upcoming Dates for Fall

• And More!

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