Voice of The Redeemer April 2010

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oice of The Redeemer April 2010 Ministries of the people of Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr, PA e d i t i o n o f Volume 1 Number 3 WORSHIP ........................... A2 EDUCATION UPDATES .............. A2 STEWARDSHIP ...................... A3 MAKING THE BEST OF IT .......... A3 Inside this issue Inside this issue Inside this issue Inside this issue Inside this issue VOICE of The Redeemer www.TheRedeemer.org 610-525-2486 v CALENDAR ........................... A3 THANK YOU JOHN .................. A4 CONFIRMATION ..................... A4 NIGHT WATCH ...................... A4 F ROM T HE RECTOR BY PETER VANDERVEEN HOLY WEEK AND EASTER WORSHIP Maundy Thursday, April 1 6:00pm, Pot-luck Supper, Parish House Culmination of Community Lenten Study Groups 7:30pm, Maundy Thursday Liturgy including Footwashing An All-Night Prayer Vigil will take place thoughout the night to the beginning of the Good Friday service. Good Friday, April 2 Noon, The Good Friday Liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer The Church will remain open until 3:00pm for meditation and prayer Holy Saturday, April 3 4:00pm Easter Vigil (for all ages) Easter Sunday, April 4 7:45, Holy Eucharist, Rite I (spoken) 9:00, Festive Holy Eucharist, Rite II Children’s Chapel during this service Egg Hunt follows this service 11:15, Festive Holy Eucharist, Rite II NO Church School or Adult Education Child care will be provided Thursday 6-9pm Friday 11:45am-1:15pm Easter Day 8:45am-12:30pm Dear Friends: Easter is a long time in coming, but then we move on too quickly. Seven weeks of Lent lead us to one exuberant Sunday, which, after just a few hours becomes a day like any other. Only seven days later, we reach Low Sunday, renowned as one of the least observed days of worship in the yearly calendar. It’s as if all is forgotten: all the discipline of Lent, perhaps the abstaining from things we enjoy, and the fresh breaking in of life into life. Regular time takes over again. Monday means returning to work and school and the usual routines of the week, unchanged. And within a few weeks the activities of the final press of the academic year crowds our schedules. Easter, however, is not meant to be a momentary occasion, a quick nod in the direction of God with the tacit acknowledgement that maybe there’s something in store for us after our death... whenever, in the far distant future, that may come. At very least, Easter is its own season, extending forty days from our celebration of the event of Jesus’ resurrection to our observance of the ascension. This time is intended to be as rich in revelation and discovery as Lent, but now focused in a more joyous direction. It’s a period of reflection on what resurrection means, not just at the singular point of our dying, but as the root principle of our living now. If properly understood, Easter changes everything about our every day. It’s a whole new lens through which we perceive our time and our world. It leaves nothing untouched. I keep framed in my office a poem by John Updike, entitled Se v en Stanzas a t Easter. It serves as a constant reminder of what our proclamation truly is. Updike wrote it when he was young, 28 years old, and it exudes a youthful combination of brashness and innocence. Aging had not yet tempered him, making him timid or skeptical. He was still willing to be bold in God’s name. Its freshness and courage is exhilarating. The opening lines unflinchingly announce what is at stake: Make no mistake: if He rose at all it was as His body; if the cells’ dissolution did not reverse, the molecules reknit, the amino acids rekindle, the Church will fall. And several stanzas later he urges us all to hold to the most demanding and stupendous vision of what resurrection means: Let us not mock God with metaphor, analogy, sidestepping transcendence; making of the event a parable, a sign painted in the faded credulity of earlier ages: let us walk through the door. (emphasis mine) Forty eight years later, as he was dying from cancer, Updike composed something of a final testimony in a poem called Endpoint. Much of what he thought had changed throughout the decades. Experience tends to soften many edges and round out our perceptions. Yet here, in his last words, he once again touched upon Easter— with less thunder, but more depth and more embrace of humanity. There is the same boldness, but now it’s more embedded in our present time and the life we already have: Dear friends of childhood, classmates, thank you, scant hundred of you, for providing a sufficiency of human types: beauty, bully, hanger-on, natural, twin, fatso — all a writer needs... continued on page A2 E ASTER VIGIL FOR ALL GENERATIONS A unique worship service for children, youth, their parents and friends will take place at 4:00 pm on April 3, Holy Satur- day, the day before Easter. This service, The Great Vigil of Easter, is one of the most moving and engaging liturgies of the year. Part of the ritual of the church since the second century, The Great Vigil of Eas- ter is considered the first official celebra- tion of the resurrection of Jesus. We be- gin outside by lighting the Paschal Candle from the New Fire. We follow this light into the darkened church chanting, “The light of Christ. Thanks be to God.” We hear the Exsultet. We experience in a new way Old Testament salvation sto- ries about the Creation and the Exodus that have helped to form our faith and bridge us to the main events—the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. We cel- ebrate baptisms and renew our own bap- tismal promises. As the service progresses, we move into the full light of Christ. We declare that Lent has passed, and Easter has come, ringing bells and singing Alleluias with joyful hearts. We light candles to symbolize that the light of Christ has come into our hearts and into the world. The Great Vigil of Easter is designed to incorporate children and youth as well as adults. Because this is a family- friendly liturgy, the entire service should take about an hour. Children and youth have been preparing for the past few weeks, and they will participate by reading, dramatizing lessons, and singing. In addition, children will have the opportunity to gather around the altar for a modified Eucharist, join clergy for baptisms, present Bibles to the newly baptized and ring bells.While we provide bells for children and youth, we encourage adults to bring their own so that they can fully participate. If there are baptized children who have not yet taken communion, this may be a meaningful time for them to begin experiencing the bread and wine. Experiential and filled with mystery and symbolism, The Great Vigil of Easter is a liturgy not to be missed! BY BARBARA BILLINGS

description

Monthly Newsletter of Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr, PA Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania

Transcript of Voice of The Redeemer April 2010

oiceof The Redeemer April 2010

Ministries of the people of Church of the Redeemer, Bryn Mawr, PA

e d i t i o n o f

Volume 1 Number 3

WORSHIP ........................... A2

EDUCATION UPDATES .............. A2

STEWARDSHIP ...................... A3

MAKING THE BEST OF IT .......... A3

Inside this issueInside this issueInside this issueInside this issueInside this issue

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

v

CALENDAR ........................... A3

THANK YOU JOHN .................. A4

CONFIRMATION ..................... A4

NIGHT WATCH ...................... A4

FROM THE RECTORBY PETER VANDERVEEN

HOLY WEEK AND EASTER WORSHIPMaundy Thursday, April 1

6:00pm, Pot-luck Supper, Parish HouseCulmination of Community Lenten Study Groups

7:30pm, Maundy Thursday Liturgy including FootwashingAn All-Night Prayer Vigil will take place thoughout the night to the beginning

of the Good Friday service.Good Friday, April 2

Noon, The Good Friday Liturgy from the Book of Common PrayerThe Church will remain open until 3:00pm for meditation and prayer

Holy Saturday, April 34:00pm Easter Vigil (for all ages)

Easter Sunday, April 47:45, Holy Eucharist, Rite I (spoken)9:00, Festive Holy Eucharist, Rite II Children’s Chapel during this service Egg Hunt follows this service11:15, Festive Holy Eucharist, Rite IINO Church School or Adult Education

Child care will be providedThursday 6-9pm

Friday 11:45am-1:15pmEaster Day 8:45am-12:30pm

Dear Friends:Easter is a long time in coming, but then we move on tooquickly. Seven weeks of Lent lead us to one exuberant Sunday,which, after just a few hours becomes a day like any other.Only seven days later, we reach Low Sunday, renowned asone of the least observed days of worship in the yearlycalendar. It’s as if all is forgotten: all the discipline of Lent,perhaps the abstaining from things we enjoy, and the fresh

breaking in of life into life. Regular time takes over again. Monday means returningto work and school and the usual routines of the week, unchanged. And within afew weeks the activities of the final press of the academic year crowds our schedules.Easter, however, is not meant to be a momentary occasion, a quick nod in thedirection of God with the tacit acknowledgement that maybe there’s somethingin store for us after our death... whenever, in the far distant future, that maycome. At very least, Easter is its own season, extending forty days from ourcelebration of the event of Jesus’ resurrection to our observance of the ascension.This time is intended to be as rich in revelation and discovery as Lent, but nowfocused in a more joyous direction. It’s a period of reflection on what resurrectionmeans, not just at the singular point of our dying, but as the root principle of ourliving now. If properly understood, Easter changes everything about our everyday. It’s a whole new lens through which we perceive our time and our world. Itleaves nothing untouched.I keep framed in my office a poem by John Updike, entitled Seven Stanzas atEaster. It serves as a constant reminder of what our proclamation truly is. Updikewrote it when he was young, 28 years old, and it exudes a youthful combination ofbrashness and innocence. Aging had not yet tempered him, making him timid orskeptical. He was still willing to be bold in God’s name. Its freshness and courageis exhilarating. The opening lines unflinchingly announce what is at stake:

Make no mistake: if He rose at allit was as His body;if the cells’ dissolution did not reverse, the molecules reknit, the amino acids rekindle,the Church will fall.

And several stanzas later he urges us all to hold to the most demanding andstupendous vision of what resurrection means:

Let us not mock God with metaphor,analogy, sidestepping transcendence;making of the event a parable, a sign painted in the faded credulity of earlier ages:let us walk through the door. (emphasis mine)

Forty eight years later, as he was dying from cancer, Updike composed somethingof a final testimony in a poem called Endpoint. Much of what he thought hadchanged throughout the decades. Experience tends to soften many edges and roundout our perceptions. Yet here, in his last words, he once again touched upon Easter—with less thunder, but more depth and more embrace of humanity. There is thesame boldness, but now it’s more embedded in our present time and the life wealready have:

Dear friends of childhood, classmates, thank you,scant hundred of you, for providing asufficiency of human types: beauty,bully, hanger-on, natural,twin, fatso — all a writer needs... continued on page A2

EASTER VIGIL FORALL GENERATIONS

A unique worship service for children,youth, their parents and friends will takeplace at 4:00 pm on April 3, Holy Satur-day, the day before Easter. This service,The Great Vigil of Easter, is one of themost moving and engaging liturgies ofthe year.Part of the ritual of the church since thesecond century, The Great Vigil of Eas-ter is considered the first official celebra-tion of the resurrection of Jesus. We be-gin outside by lighting the Paschal Candlefrom the New Fire. We follow this lightinto the darkened church chanting, “Thelight of Christ. Thanks be to God.” Wehear the Exsultet. We experience in anew way Old Testament salvation sto-ries about the Creation and the Exodusthat have helped to form our faith andbridge us to the main events—the life,death and resurrection of Jesus. We cel-ebrate baptisms and renew our own bap-tismal promises. As the serviceprogresses, we move into the full lightof Christ. We declare that Lent haspassed, and Easter has come, ringing bellsand singing Alleluias with joyful hearts.

We light candles to symbolize that thelight of Christ has come into our heartsand into the world.The Great Vigil of Easter is designedto incorporate children and youth aswell as adults. Because this is a family-friendly liturgy, the entire serviceshould take about an hour. Children andyouth have been preparing for the pastfew weeks, and they will participateby reading, dramatizing lessons, andsinging. In addition, children will havethe opportunity to gather around thealtar for a modified Eucharist, joinclergy for baptisms, present Bibles tothe newly baptized and ring bells. Whilewe provide bells for children and youth,we encourage adults to bring their ownso that they can fully participate. Ifthere are baptized children who havenot yet taken communion, this may bea meaningful time for them to beginexperiencing the bread and wine.Experiential and filled with mystery andsymbolism, The Great Vigil of Easter isa liturgy not to be missed!

BY BARBARA BILLINGS

worshipSUNDAYS

A2 VOICE of The Redeemer www.TheRedeemer.org April 2010

MANAGING EDITOR: Ken GarnerCONTRIBUTORS THIS ISSUE:Peter Vanderveen, Barbara Billings,Judith Sullivan, Michael Diorio,Andrew Butler, Music DiscernmentCommittee, Peter Sipple, Ken Garner

Deadline for next issue: April 6, 2010

Church of the Redeemer 230 Pennswood RoadBryn Mawr, PA 19010

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

Articles may be left in Ken’s mailbox inParish Office, faxed to 610-525-8547 or

e-mailed to [email protected] submissions are subject to editing.

VVVVVoiceoiceoiceoiceoice of The Redeemer

WEDNESDAYS

APRIL 4 EASTER DAY

Peter Vanderveen, preacherIsaiah 65:17-25, Psalm 118:1-2, 14-24, 1 Corinthians 15:19-26, Luke 24:1-12MUSIC All ChoirsIntroit: Christus Vincit by G. HancockGradual: Rise Heart by R. Vaughan WilliamsOffertory: Sing Ye to the Lord by E. BairstowMotet: Dic nobis Maria by BassanoPost-Communion Anthem: Hallelujah! from Messiah by G.F. Handel

APRIL 11 THE SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

Peter Vanderveen, preacherActs 5:27-32, Psalm 118:14-29 or Psalm 150, Revelation 1:4-8, John 20:19-31MUSIC Soloists – Katy Gentry, Hope Knight, Steve Van Name, Karl HeinI know that my Redeemer liveth from Messiah by G.F. HandelBut thanks be to God from Messiah by G.F. Handel

APRIL 18 THE THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Andrew Butler, preacherActs 9:1-6, (7-20), Psalm 30, Revelation 5:11-14, John 21:1-19MUSIC Children’s Choir and Redeemer ChoirAnthem: Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace by S.S. WesleyMotet: Ave Verum by M. Diorio

APRIL 25 THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Judith Sullivan, preacherActs 9:36-43, Psalm 23, Revelation 7:9-17, John 10:22-30MUSIC Schola Cantorum and Redeemer ChoirAnthem: Most Glorious Lord of Life by W. HarrisMotet: The Lord is My Shepherd by F. Schubert

12:15 pm Holy Eucharist, Church Chapel

7:45 am Holy Eucharist, Rite I9:00 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II11:15 am Holy Eucharist, Rite II 1st Sunday Morning Prayer with Communion9:00 pm Episcopal Campus Ministry Worship

FROM THE RECTOR, continued from the front page

SPIRITUAL BOOK GROUP

To think of you brings tears less causticthan those the thought of death brings. Perhapswe meet our heaven at the start and notthe end of life.

And in the last lines of the last stanza, Updike resorts to an authority not his own.No longer depending on his own understanding, his own discernment of whatmust be the case, he turns to quoting the 23rd Psalm:

The tongue reposes in papyrus pleas,saying, Surely—magnificent, that “surely”—goodness and mercy shall follow me allthe days of my life, my life, forever.

Eastertide is a season appointed for the exploration of the space between thesetwo expressions of the resurrection, when we take the time to imagine how, inthe midst of our rather pedestrian busyness, the grace of God’s eternity is presentto and within us. It’s worth our time and, really, our diligence. And if we say withintegrity that we believe the resurrection to be true, then no other disciplineshould make the same claim on our time.

Spiritual Book Group will take both the months of Apriland May for its next read. The first session will be Mon-day, April 26, at 4:00 pm, in the Parish House Library.The next book is The Evolution of God by Robert Wright- Little, Brown (2009) - Hardback - 567 pages - ISBN0316734918.[From the book jacket] In this sweeping narrative thattakes us from the Stone Age to the Information Age,Robert Wright unveils an astonishing discovery: thereis a hidden pattern that the great monotheistic faithshave followed as they have evolved. Through the prismsof archaeology, theology, and evolutionary psychology,Wright’s findings overturn basic assumptions about Ju-daism, Christianity, and Islam, and are sure to causecontroversy. He explains why spirituality has a role to-day, and why science, contrary to conventional wisdom, affirms the validity ofthe religious quest. And this previously unrecognized evolutionary logic pointsnot toward continued religious extremism, but future harmony. Nearly a decadein the making, The Evolution of God is a breathtaking re-examination of the past,and a visionary look forward.An excerpt from Paul Bloom’s review of The Evolution of God,” entitled “NoSmiting,” in The New York Times Book Review: In his brilliant new book, TheEvolution of God, Robert Wright tells the story of how God grew up. He startswith the deities of hunter-gatherer tribes, moves to those of chiefdoms and na-tions, then on to the polytheism of the early Israelites and the monotheism thatfollowed, and then to the New Testament and the Koran, before finishing off withthe modern multinational Gods of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Wright’s toneis reasoned and careful, even hesitant, throughout, and it is nice to read aboutissues like the morality of Christ and the meaning of jihad without getting thefeeling that you are being shouted at. His views, though, are provocative andcontroversial. There is something here to annoy almost everyone.

Exploring Together: God, Reality, OurselvesTuesdays, April 6 and 20

7:00 pm in the Parish House LibraryContinues with the lectures of Philip Cary

See the front page for MaundyThursday through Easter Day

worship times.

VVVVVoice of The Redeemeroice of The Redeemeroice of The Redeemeroice of The Redeemeroice of The Redeemer

ADULT FORUMSSunday Mornings at 10:15am in the Parish House Assembly Room

April 4Easter, NO ForumApril 11A Conversation on theStatus of the Capital Campaign

April 18A Conversation with theMusic Discernment CommitteeApril 25Report from the2009 Malawi Travel Team

REMEMBER: Each month, the Outreach Mission Committee publishes aone-page newsletter featuring one of our hands-on outreach opportunities. Thenewsletter is distributed in church on a Sunday early in the month, emailed to allon our email list and available on www.TheRedeemer.org. Recent issues included:February—African Children’s Mission; March—The Blankenburg School.

7:00 pm April 20 Meditation

with Dom Roberti,Professor Emeritus

of Chemistry,St. Joseph’s University,

expert in meditationand a cancer survivor.

Witherspoon ParlorBryn Mawr Presbyterian Church

Facilitated by Barbara Foxman,a licensed social worker who isliving with cancer, and Judith

Sullivan, an Episcopal priest anda caregiver to a loved one living

with cancer.

Take note of

our new address.

Tools for Livingwith Cancer

VOICE of The Redeemer www.TheRedeemer.org April 2010 A3

VVVVVoice of The Redeemeroice of The Redeemeroice of The Redeemeroice of The Redeemeroice of The Redeemer

THANK YOUTO THESE PARISHIONERS WHO HAVE

MADE A PLEDGE FOR 2010Pledges received between February 10 and March 9 = New or Returned = Increase

This list is not cumulative. It includes those pledges received each month since the previous listing.

Mr. & Mrs. Lewin BarringerMrs. Bryan Bostwick Mr. & Mrs. Frederick BradleyMrs. Richard C. BullMr. & Mrs. Charles BurkhartMr. Stephen Cadwalader &

Ms. Monica Hackett Mr. & Mrs. Andrew CamerotaMr. William ChewMrs. Jeanne ClassenMrs. Susanne Coffin

Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Comai Mr. & Mrs. Brad Conger Mr. Peter Cooke, Jr.Mr. & Mrs. David Copas Mr. & Mrs. Gerard de LisserMr. & Mrs. Christopher FeareyMr. David B. FordMr. Frank Goodyear Mr. & Mrs. Frederick L. Haack, IIIMr. & Mrs. James B. Haley, Jr. Mr. & Mrs. Christopher Hanley Charles Hillis & Sylvia Lee

Mr. & Mrs. Gavin Kahn Ms. Barbara KipMr. & Mrs. William Kraft, IIIMr. & Mrs. Derek Luther Kyle & Emily Martin Mr. & Mrs. Philip Nord Mr. Ernest RamirezMr. Karl Richter &

Dr. Susan RushingMrs. Nancy SellersMrs. Pauline Toland

MAKING THE BEST OF ITBY MICHAEL DIORIO

When we stray from the normalboundaries of our habitual practices it isnormally due, in part, to preparationfor something better that is yet to comeor because of a lack of necessaryrequirements. When this happens, andif mentalities are aligned and forward-minded, the common mindset is “we’remaking the best of it.” And though thereare many occasions during a waitingperiod where the best sometimes feelslike the worst, the final outcomenormally proves to be prevailinglypositive.In my short time at Redeemer, I havecome to find that the congregation,staff, choirs, and clergy truly haveproven to be people who know how tomake the best of it. As I look at thecompleted organ, restored to thecompleted church, I realize that theefforts, physical and emotional energies,and patience of the entire Redeemercommunity have carried them throughto the renewed place where they aretoday.The music program, too, has had a placein making the best of it. I have tomention how proud and appreciative Iam of everyone in the choir programs;the participants and the parents. Eventhough we had to make beautiful musicin the assembly room for a few months,offer a Christmas concert in aneighboring church, sing for monthswith a piano instead of an organ, anduse a digital organ until our pipe wascompleted, and all of this with a newinterim director, I would say that thechoirs have been amazingly flexible.Throughout everything we have enjoyedhigh spirited rehearsals, welcomed manynewcomers to the various choral groups,and have maintained consistency andexhibited advancement throughout.

The banners outside of the main entryway to the church read “RedeemerRenewed.” At first glance the generalinterpretation that might come to one’smind is that of the renewed structure;the construction work, the additionalbathrooms, a centrally placed altar, orother physical properties that have beenaddressed during the constructionproject. The larger picture here isactually much more global. What is trulyrenewed is the spirit of the people onthis campus; their generosity of timeand resources, their perspectives, andtheir dedication to this their parishhome. This place has been renewed inalmost every sense of the word. All hastaken place just in time for the renewedlife that spring brings to us throughcolorful blossoms, fresh green blades ofgrass, spots of shade generously offeredby the leafy trees on our campus and,especially, just in time for the renewedcelebration of the Resurrection.My deep gratitude is extended to thiscongregation for the words of kindnessand welcome that they have extendedto me. The expressions of encourage-ment, gratitude, and support have notbeen taken lightly. Rather, yourkindness has helped to inspire thecreativity, excitement, and enjoymentfor everyone involved in the musicprogram. It is because of the choirs whosing in the Liturgy every week, that thisprogram is respected, encouraged, andsupported. The history of great musicat Redeemer is irrefutable. I amconfident that through the work of theMusic Discernment Committee andparticipation of the parishioners in theimportant survey on music, that historywill repeat itself year after year; greatmusic, wonderful choirs, and meaningfulLiturgical participation and outreachofferings.

April calendar

Special events and dates are in bold-face.

4/18–11:30pm, Senior Luncheon, Parish House8:30–12:30am, Child Care, Nursery, 2nd fl. Parish House9:00–11:00am (except first Sunday of the month 10:15–11:00am)

3 years old thru grade K-Catechesis of the Good Shepherd,Parish House 2nd fl.Level I Atrium

10:15–11:00amGrades 1, 2, 3-Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, Parish House 2nd fl.

Level II AtriumGrade 4-Good Shepherd-4, Parish House Lower Level, Room 12Grade 5-Good Shepherd-5, Parish House Lower Level, Room 2-3Grade 6-Good Shepherd-6, Parish House Lower Level, Room 11Grades 7 & 8-Rite 13, Parish House Lower Level, Room 6Grades 9 & 10-J2A, Parish House Lower Level, Room 5Grades 11& 12, YAR, The CottageAdult Forums, Assembly Room

8:00pm, Episcopal Campus Ministry fellowship, Parish House

M O N D A Y S

S U N D A Y S

T U E S D A Y S

W E D N E S D A Y S

T H U R S D A Y S

4/5–Easter Monday-Parish Offices Closed4/12–7:00pm, Diocesan Commission on Ministry, Shortridge Room4/26–9:00am, Junior League of Phila. Garden Club, Parish House7:15pm, Naranon, Rooms 206 & 2078:00pm, Narcotics Anonymous, Lower Level Room 1-2-3

4/6–7:00pm, Vestry Meeting, Shortridge Room4/6 & 20–7:30pm, Exploring Together, Library4/13–8:30am, Gardener’s Garden Club Meeting/Flower Show4/20–8:30am, Garden Workers, Parish House

7:00pm, NEW Committee, Shortridge Room7:00am, Gathering of Men, Library9:00am, Painting with Friends, Lower Level Room 1-2-310:00am-2:00pm, hours at The Shop3:00pm, Liturgy Planning, Shortridge Room4:00pm, Centering Prayer, Associate Rector’s Office5:00pm, Cherub Choir, Choir Room6:30pm, Children’s Choir, Choir Room8:00pm, St. Augustine Group, Lower Level Room 206

4/7 & 21–1:00pm, Food for Friends, Kitchen4/14 & 28–4:00pm, Greek Class, Library11:00am, Meet the Propers, Conference Room

Retirement Community Visitation1st Beaumont, 2nd Dunwoody, 3rd Quadrangle, 4th Waverly

1:00pm, Staff Meeting, Shortridge Room6:15pm, Children’s Choir, Choir Room7:30pm, Redeemer Choir, Choir Room8:30pm, Narcotics Anonymous, Lower Level Room 1-2-3

4/15–9:00am, Pastoral Care Committee, Library9:30am, Yoga, Room 20910:00am-2:00pm, hours at The Shop12:00pm, Men’s Brown Bag Bible Study, Conference Room7:00pm, Schola Cantorum, Choir Room8:00pm, St. Augustine Group, Room 58:30pm, Alcoholics Anonymous,Lower Level, Room 1-2-3

S A T U R D A Y S4/3-9:30am, Praying our Goodbyes, Parish House4/10–Lammers Wedding, Church4/24–Snyder Wedding, Church

Our Annual 2010 Pledge Campaign THANK YOU!As of March 9, these were the number of pledges and amounts: 433 TOTAL = $1,006,476.55180 Increased = $501,101.99 31 New/Returned = $29,960.00 159 No Change = $288,229.00 63 Decreased = $187,185.56

If you have not already done so, please return your pledge card ASAP.As of now, there are 67 households that made pledges last year and have yet to do so

for 2010. If we hear from you, we will achieve our goal of $1.1M.

Faith is living ad-venturam, towards-the future

COLLECTION CENTER OPEN FOR BUSINESSThings we often throw away or collect can be a treasure for someone else. Clean-ing supplies may seem like a necessity for some but are a luxury for others. Pleaselook around your house for these items and deposit them in the collection binsunder the Outreach table in the Parish House hallway.

Canned goods for local food pantriesEyeglasses of all typesOld cell phones

Cleaning supplies for IHNChildren’s booksSchool supplies for our trip to the

Dominican Republic

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A4 VOICE of The Redeemer www.TheRedeemer.org April 2010

THANK YOU JOHN!Some words are worth repeating. Some deserveas wide an audience as possible. Some should bepublished as a permanent record. And some per-sons give so much to the church that the wordswritten about them fit all these categories. Be-low is a tribute to John Wallingford that was sentto us by the Rev. Peter Sipple. It was read at theAnnual Meeting, and we’re glad to include it inVoice of The Redeemer.

When John and I discussed his servingas Rector’s Warden at the Redeemer,he was typically introspective, asking fortime to consider the assignment fromall angles. By the time he accepted theinvitation he’d anticipated most of theangles, but neither of us could foreseehow many degrees they would ulti-mately contain. For every idea, initia-tive, controversy and confab we thoughtthe job might entail, the number wastripled. Each anticipated phone conver-sation and email exchange got multipliedby some exponent. For every issue de-manding a decision, the number in-creased fivefold. No amount of prayer-ful consideration at the outset wouldhave provided John with an accurateestimate of what was in store for him.Two of John’s many qualities remain vividas I think back on our four years to-gether: the first, of course, is just howmuch the man can accomplish. By dintof his phenomenal energy, spurred onby a clever use of technology, he comesas close as humanly possible to being intwo places at the same time. Is he inSingapore today? Bangkok? Sydney? No,he’s coming through the door now toattend a Project Management Commit-tee! It’s tomorrow he leaves at 5 am tofly to Australia! Today we have himagain! And when we have him, all of

him is engaged—his attention, imagi-nation, wit, and faith.The second trait is closely linked: onenever knows just how much John hasgoing. Most of us will, albeit subtly, hintat how much the world is impinging onus. We never knew that John was tired,or overstretched, or out of sorts. Henever let on that his job was unfailinglydemanding, that there was too much onhis plate, that if he took on one morething he’d pop. He just took it on, andin his own quiet way expected and in-spired others to do the same. And heachieved—all the while keeping spiritshigh, moving the conversation forward,helping to prepare for the next positivestep. When John worked for the church,it was like he had nothing else going.No matter that his employer was ac-quired by another company, or that heand Karen were selling their house, buy-ing a new one, and undertaking a move,which in the lightest of times can beonerous.To what do we attribute John’s capacityfor good works and the ebullient spiritthat fuels it? Surely it’s his faith in theGood News of Jesus and his desire tolive into that faith. We have all beenblessed by his leadership, example andfaith.

BY PETER SIPPLE

March 5 was a specialnight for some of ourJ2A youth and theirfriends. We partici-pated in the NightWatch program led byour diocesan youthminister, AndrewKellner. Andrew pro-vided over 25 youthwith the opportunityto get to know eachother, have fun, pray,and connect with Godin a holy place. Prayerstations were set up in

the four corners of the cathedral with activities including sand, art, and medita-tion. The presbyterium, which is the old chancel area was set up with hundreds oftea light candles arranged in a labrynth. It was heartening to see youth take timeout of their busy schedules to be still and listen to what God might be saying tothem. Some of us were able to listen for God’s voice all night since the army cotswe were sleeping on were not conducive to sleep. We are grateful for the Dioceseof Pennsylvania for supporting youth ministry and providing Andrew Kellner as avaluable resource.

PHILADELPHIA CATHEDRAL

NIGHT WATCH

BY ANDREW BUTLER

CONFIRM NOT CONFORM

BY ANDREW BUTLER

This year’s confirmation group involved 19 youth who made the decision to offera public affirmation of the baptismal vows made on their behalf as infants. One ofour youth was baptized at the service and because she was able to make her ownbaptismal vows, that was her confirmation. We gathered for a one day retreat theweek before to discuss what confirmation means and to spend time togethertalking about issues of faith and what we, as individuals, believe.The theme for the day, “Confirm not Conform,” is the title of a new confirmationcurriculum that helps young people distinguish between what they have been toldto believe and what they have come to believe through their own experience.One of the most telling signs of the prevalence of conformity in this age groupwas the answer to the first question posed to them. “Why are you being con-firmed?” For most, the answer was, “Because everyone else is.”While some of this can be traced to where youth are in their faith development,I believe it is also telling of how much work we as a parish have to do to help ouryoung people determine what they believe. It is not enough that they know howto acolyte, recognize the liturgical colors appropriate for the season, can findtheir way around the Prayer Book, or translate the Latin in the Mozart Requiem.We fail our youth when we don’t give them opportunities and space to developtheir beliefs and when we don’t require them to articulate those beliefs. I believethis is one of the major reasons why so many young people walk away from thechurch when they are no longer living at home. The pressure to conform is nolonger a driving factor.I wish for all our newly confirmed and baptized youth a life of faith and we as aparish must continue to encourage them. Our responsibility is not over. As par-ents, we have a responsibility to minister to our own children and to share whatour faith means to us…even our own lack of faith. When you see one of theseyoung people in church, let them know you are praying for them and wish forthem all of God’s blessings in their life ahead.Nora BuckMarina ButlerChristopher CamerotaClaire ComaiJack DordelmanLucas ElekLauren Johnson

Meg LeBoeufMia LeylandKelsey LindAriana MacKenzie-LoCastroMario MaggioMichael Maggio, Jr.

Courtney McCauleySarah NeilsonIsabel Post SperryPaige SusskindDavid YaoChristopher YaoCatherine Yao

Over the course of the next two months, theMusic Discernment Committee (MDC) willbe providing many insights into the music min-istry of Church of the Redeemer by means ofprinted reports. Hardcopies will be availableat church and they will be emailed to the en-tire parish list and available onwww.TheRedeemer.org. These reports aremeant to give a clearer and more completepicture of the current and ongoing music pro-grams. Throughout this time we would alsolike to hear from parishioners and gain yourperceptions. Members of the MDC will beavailable every Sunday in the Library, simplyto listen to your hopes, your questions, yourconcerns. In early April, a survey will be dis-tributed to the parish, and from this wholeprocess, the MDC will provide the vestry areport with a view toward obtaining spiritualdirection and understanding.