As the Delta heat wears on, many of us are preparing for the normal routines of life to begin afresh yet again.  Living with a teacher, I am well aware of the “countdown” that takes place at this time of the summer.  The same is true here at Calvary.  We are counting down to the re-commencement of the church year – Sunday School, Bible studies, regular committee meetings, worship planning, outreach development, and so on and so on.  On the surface, the church’s schedule seems to mirror our own lives in that all these things are designed simply to keep us busy.  I guess we need something to do to make sure people know that we are a church, don’t we?  On the other hand, if done well, all of these activities help provide us with something more than a routine.  They provide us with a structure, a framework, that allows us opportunities to push ourselves to become more involved in the community.  They allow us to become more connected with our neighbors in church and to learn to serve one another in our time of greatest need.  And they allow us to grow deeper into the realization of what it truly means to live as God’s very own, being made daily into the image of Christ (2 Cor. 5:17).  How do we get to this point instead of having it seem like appearances?

We have arrived at a wonderful opportunity for us to further grow in this regard as an authentic church.  Regardless of what you may think of him politically or theologically, noted pastor and author Rick Warren posits a very true axiom about church growth.  He says that the Church may only grow off the waves that God has sent; we cannot create our own waves to ride.  In other words, God initiates growth; we do not.  We simply are prepared to answer the opportunities God gives us as they present themselves.  As I have harped on before, Calvary is experiencing a period of growth in terms of numbers, physical plant, and most importantly, commitment from individuals.  Sara and I felt called by God to come here in large part because we saw God already moving here.  It makes ministry so much easier when you are acting upon something – the Spirit – that is already there.  We do not have to “create” ministry that can easily become man-made and, at the worst, idolatrous.

With our “superficial” growth (i.e., the new buildings and greater numbers), we have wonderful opportunities presenting themselves for greater authentic ministry.  The vestry has been working since our retreat in March to push forward in discerning not simply what we want to do, but what God is calling us to do.  Right now we are in a preparatory phase.  The first goal was construction of a new facility – underway.  Our second goal was to enhance and further organize our financial, administrative, and physical resources (e.g., staff, lay ministers, buildings, etc.) for optimal use in our ministry.  But the ultimate objective of this work that your vestry feels called to do is to enhance faith and community-building activities within the parish (i.e., Bible studies, fellowship groups, ministry training, enhanced children and youth programming) and to reach further out into the community (i.e., Delta State ministry, feeding ministry for the local homeless, service opportunities for our youth).  This is the authentic work we have been called to do – to live our lives before the cross of Christ by loving and serving each other through prayer and worship.

A cynical person such as myself would say, “Well, if this is truly God’s will, it will simply happen no matter what I do.”  Fortunately for me, my cynicism has been tempered by the realization that, for me to live in God’s unceasing love to the fullest extent possible, I must give ALL that I am and place myself in God’s hands.  It may happen regardless of my actions, but I’ll be left watching the train go down the tracks if I stand by as a spectator.  This is the same reality for Calvary and for any faith community.  God’s work will be fulfilled, but we must give ourselves to it to the point where we become the stewards, or caretakers, of God’s chosen works and chosen people.  This is the reality I want you to remember at this time of the year we like to call our “Stewardship” season.  On the one hand, we do a lousy job in the Church of allowing stewardship simply to be about money.  If you think about it, any institution can survive if it simply has the money.  But stewardship is not about surviving – it is about THRIVING.  The great irony of the Gospel is that, in giving his whole self, Christ received the whole world.  Christ now gives the whole world into our hands.  It takes much more than money for the world to thrive, or in our case, its little microcosm called the Church.  It takes the hearts and souls of the people who live in it.  Stewardship is about taking ownership of what does not belong to us – the kingdom of God – and giving so freely that it may be received more fully into our own hands.

From the financial standpoint, we have asked much of you already this year to fund the Rayner House addition.  And you responded so generously.  But we need YOU for our new facilities to be used for the glory of God instead of being admired for their appearances.  We need YOU to allow us to keep pushing through the threshold between “superficial” and “authentic”, Christ-centered service.  I ask and pray for each of you to make or renew your commitment to this parish, that in giving of yourselves, our programs and facilities may truly become a haven for others to find and explore God’s love for them.  Through your commitment, that same love will fill you and nourish you through the most unexpected of times and places.  May God continue to bless and sanctify us, that in our routines our lives may continually serve as a blessing to others and a means of glorifying the Name that gives all life.  Amen.

Call to the congregation, part II – Delta State ministry

A fairly large group of individuals at Calvary has felt called to renew ministry work with the students and faculty at Delta State.  But in order for this to happen, we need you – the whole congregation!  To reach out to college students, it takes a consistent effort that requires a great amount of patience and manpower.  We are currently working on getting a new evening service started that will be open to the whole parish, but geared specifically towards Delta State students.  Along with this, we will need volunteers to help prepare meals, potentially lead discussion groups, and simply be present and welcoming to them.  You will be hearing more information in the weeks to come, but please be thinking how you may help.

In the short-term, we are looking for volunteers to be present on Move-In Day on the campus, August 15.  We need strong bodies, but we also need anyone willing to greet students and say a little bit about what Calvary has meant to them when the opportunity presents itself.  You will be hearing more, but please contact Fr. Norman or Bob Wilbanks ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) if you are interested.

A call to the congregation – support our youth!!

Calvary has a small but dedicated group of young people, and we are always looking for more adults to help out!  If you are interested in working with our youth, whether in EYC or teaching Sunday School or participating in regular dinner meetings, please contact Fr. Norman or Mary Helen Varner at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR CHURCH?

     Whether you are a newcomer, someone wanting information about the Episcopal Church, or a longtime member wanting a refresher, first I want to say that it is a pleasure having you as part of our congregation!  The Church could not be what it is without God (of course!) and your presence and participation.

     Each of you is invited to participate in this year’s inquirers classes, which will begin on Wednesday, September 8 and run each Wednesday night from fall until the spring from 6-7 PM.  These classes are geared for three purposes: 1) to provide a substantive and comprehensive confirmation/reception curriculum for those of you interested in joining the church; 2) to promote fellowship and conversation among parishioners; and 3) to spur you into engagement (or further engagement) in the life of the church.

     The class will be loosely organized around our Catechism, or Outline of the Faith, beginning on page 845 in the Book of Common Prayer.  While we will discuss topics such as the Bible, church history, theology, etc., we will also focus greatly on the sacramental elements of the faith as expressed through our worship and music.  In addition, we will frame our discussions around common issues affecting the life of our church and our society today.  Several of our lessons will also discuss specifics about the history, ministry, and vision of Calvary Episcopal Church.  So this will not simply be “head-knowledge”!

     For those of you who simply want to come as a refresher or who simply want to come to “check us out”, you may come and go as you please.  I simply ask that you participate and be engaged in the classes whenever you are present.  Please be aware that there is a rite for reaffirmation of one’s faith in the Church (presuming you have already been confirmed).  If you are interested in this, please contact me.  This class will be a good discipline for this purpose.

     For those of you interested in joining the church through baptism, confirmation, or reception, there will be certain requirements asked of you.  First, if you do not already own one, please purchase (or, at the very least, borrow) a Book of Common Prayer (1979).  I would recommend purchasing these through St. Andrew’s Bookstore at the cathedral in Jackson.  You may contact them at 601-353-2021 or at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it   These will be absolutely essential every week.  Second, your attendance is needed and required.  You may have noticed my implication above that this is a year-round class.  While I do expect a level of commitment from you, you do not need to worry about coming every single week.  I will cover various topics that will be broken up into 2 and, on occasion, 3 consecutive sessions.  You are required to attend ONE session on each topic, although I encourage you to come to as many as you can since each class will be different.  Each session is reliant on discussion to make it effective, so your presence is invaluable in this regard!  I will send out a calendar within the next two weeks that will give you exact dates with the topics.  Third, I ask that you let me know for certain by Oct. 1 whether or not you are willing to make the commitment to join the church.  The bishop will be visiting Calvary on February 6, at which point our baptisms, confirmations, and receptions will take place.  There is a level of preparation beyond simply taking the classes that I will ask you to undergo before the bishop officially welcomes you into the Episcopal Church.

     If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to let me know.  Again, a more detailed schedule will be going out within the next two weeks.  Thanks!

God Bless,

Bailey  

2011 Stewardship Drive

The 2011 Calvary Stewardship Drive will begin on August 1, 2010, and will conclude on October 1, 2010.  Please keep the 2011 Calvary Stewardship Drive in your thoughts and prayers over the next couple of months.

Thank You, Zack Stewart

Children’s Christian Education

August 11—4:30-6:30—Children’s Sunday School Pool Party and dinner under the gazebo at the Cleveland Country Club for kids and their parents.  Please let Amanda Turner know if you/your kids are coming. 

RSVP via email at: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Adult Sunday Forum

On Sunday September 12th the Rev'd. Dr. Julia Moore will begin a series entitled "Anti-Judaism and the Gospels."  We will begin by examining the social, political, and cultural times in which our gospels were written.  With that as background and context we will move into a careful examination of the four evangelists' accounts of the Passion Narrative.  Our emphasis will be upon the language that makes them anti-Jewish.  The New Testament will serve as our springboard as we move from the text swiftly through the pages of Christian-Jewish history and arrive finally in Nazi Germany with its "final solution."           Julia

Episcopal Church Men

The Episcopal Church Men will meet August 19th at 6:00 pm.  The location and details will be announced later.

Episcopal Church Women

The ECW will again provide school supplies and bookbags to children in need at Pearman Elementary School.  Debbie Powell, a teacher at Pearman, sees children in need on a daily basis.  We are trying to help 30 children this year.  Please donate to this worthy outreach to help the children at Pearman.  Please make your check out to ECW and designate it for school supplies.  We will put the bags together after church on Sunday, August 1.  Thank you.  Jenny Lucas

The ECW will meet for lunch on August 17th at Crave.