June 20-23: Sixth Annual Belvedere Chamber Music Festival

Luna Nova Music (www.lunanova.org) is producing the Sixth Annual Belvedere Chamber Music Festival (www.belvederefestival.org) to be held at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church Wednesday, June 20, through Saturday, June 23. The festival features masterworks of the 20th century as well as exciting new works by emerging faculty and student composers from around the country. Some representative works on this years festival are: Messiaen’s Quartet for the End of Time (violin, clarinet, cello, piano); David Crumb’s Improvisations on an English Folk Song (clarinet, violin, cello, flute, piano); Schnittke’s Suite in the Old Style (violin, piano); Phillip Glass’ Mad Rush (piano); Debussy’s Syrinx (flute); Lazarescou’s Two Songs on Poems by Lewis Carroll (soprano, piano); and the Bach Chaconne (violin). All concerts are at Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and are free and open to the public.

Festival Artists• John McMurtery, flute• Gregory Maytan, violin• Nobuko Igarashi, clarinet• Adam Bowles, piano• Craig Hultgren, cello• Robert Patterson, horn/composition• Mark Volker, guitar/composition• Andrew Drannon, composer, piano• Esther Gray Lemus, soprano• David Carlisle, percussion

For more information about the artists, visit http://www.gracestlukes.org/events/belvedere-chamber-music-festival/

The MessengerGrace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church

Volume 59, No. 6 June 2012

InsIde ThIs Issue20-30@GSL ..........................................239’ers ....................................................2Altar Flowers.........................................3Athletics ................................................5Baptism Dates ......................................7Belvedere Festival ................................1Bygone Days ........................................7Christian Education ..............................4EYC News ............................................7Fr. Joseph Welcome .............................2From the Rector....................................8From your Vestry ..................................7GSL Night at the Shell ..........................2Hospitality Policy ..................................7Lay Schedule ........................................7Looking Towards Sunday .....................7Member News ......................................7Memorials/Honoraria ............................4Men’s Conference ................................3Outreach Ministries...............................6Parents’ Day Out News ........................4Pastoral Care Corner............................6St. Columba Dinner ..............................2School News.........................................5Staff Member of the Month ...................3Summer Choir ......................................4Weekend Exodus .................................3

Download the June Calendar atwww.gracestlukes.org/events/calendar/

Belvedere Chamber Music Festival

2012 Student Composition Contest

In conjunction with the festival, The Beethoven Club of Memphis sponsors a student composition contest that is open to academic composers worldwide up to the age of 30. Winners receive a performance at the festival and a recording of the work made by members of the Luna Nova Ensemble.

Winners of the 2012 contest:• 1st Place: Kyle Vanderburg www.kylevanderburg.net• 2nd Place: Joshua Fishbein www.fishbeinmusic.com

They will be attending the festival to hear the premiere of their works.

FesTIval scheduleWed., June 20: 12:10-1 pm

WKNO Live Lunch BroadcastWed., June 22: 7:30 pm Opening concert followed by reception in Trezevant HallThurs., June 23: Concert at 7:30 pm

Fri., June 24: Concerts at 3:30 pm & 7:30 pm

Sat., June 25: Concerts at 3:30 pm & 7:30 pm

BCMF Artists

sunday servIce TImes8:00 am Holy Eucharist8:45 am Breakfast9:30 am Christian Education 10:30 am Holy Eucharist5:30 pm Holy EucharistNursery available for all services except the

5:30 pm service.

OFFIce hOurs8:30 am to 4:30 pm Monday–Friday

sTaFFThe Rev. Richard Lawson, RectorThe Rev. Gayle McCarty, Associate RectorChristi Authement, Activities & Athletics Dir.Beulah Boone, SextonBeth Claybrook, Financial AssistantWesley Emerson, Organist/ChoirmasterHolly Hawkins, Parents’ Day Out DirectorConnie Johns, Membership & NewcomersEva Loftin, Nursery CoordinatorLucy Owens, Communications DirectorPatrick Payne, Maintenance SupervisorHarriet Roberts, Christian Education DirectorLinda Stine, Financial Officer

2012 vesTry Sandy Baker, John Baur, Antoinette Cheney, Ginger Collier, Jim Greer, Sidney Hickey, Steven Hoover, Candy Jefcoat, Bheki Khum-alo, Allison King, Stinson Liles, Lucius McGe-hee, Catherine Morehead, Linda Niell, Pete Shearon, Doug Smith, Nicki Soulé, Bruce Williams, and Hal Wright.

vesTry and execuTIve cOmmITTee The vestry meets the third Tuesday of each month in Trezevant Hall. The Executive Com-mittee meets the Thursday before vestry at 5:30 pm in the old school science lab on the 3rd floor of the Evans Building. These meetings are open to the parish. Vestry members are also available to convey matters of importance from parishioners to the vestry. Watch your eNews and eMessenger for the links to the vestry minutes. To be added to the eNews/eMessenger distribution lists, contact Lucy Owens, lucy@gracestlukes.org. Vestry email: vestry@gracestlukes.org

messenger deadlIne/OnlIneThe deadline for the July issue of The Messenger is 9 am, June 15! Contact Lucy at 272-7425 or lucy@gracestlukes.org with any questions.

Volume 59, No. 6 Page 2 June 2012

ThOughTs On gIvIng

“Never measure your generosity by what you give, but rather by what you have left.” —Bishop Fulton J. sheen

June 8: Fellowship and Lunch with the GSL 39’ers

The 39’ers are wrapping up the 2011-2012 year on Friday, June 8, with wine and cheese at 11:30 am and a light lunch at noon for $6. Make reservations to Lucy by noon on Wednesday, June 6 (lucy@gracestlukes.org or 227-7425). All are invited to come and enjoy the fellowship and great conversation. We will return starting the second Friday in September. Mary Virginia Rogers

Connecting for Food · Fun · Fellowship

At the Levitt ShellAll young adults are invited to join 20-30@GSL in hosting GSL Night at the Levitt Shell on Saturday, June 9. As hosts we will welcome fellow GSL members and their guests as they stop by the hospitality tent for food and beverages. We will gather at 6:45 at the Levitt Shell and all are invited to stay for the concert beginning at 7:30. Food and drink are also provided, so please join us on June 9 for a little service and fellowship with 20-30@GSL and GSL Night at the Levitt Shell. If you haven’t joined us yet and would like to be included on the Evite list for 20-30@GSL, please email lucy@gracestlukes.org to be added.

20-30@GSL

Let’s Welcome Fr. Joseph Wallace-Williams!We are collecting items to help introduce Joseph to Memphis and our church. It is time to share your favorite things about Memphis. We will combine all the donations and give them to Joseph when he arrives. You can provide gift cards to your favorite restaurants, tickets and schedules for your favorite events, books, maps, fa-vorite Memphis subscriptions, etc. Take this opportunty to share your excitement with Joseph. Please bring your gifts to church and leave them with Lucy or bring them to Sunday church. Please have your donations to the church by June 10. Please contact Katherine Lawson at l2awson@gmail.com or 634-6466 with your questions.

GSL Night @ the Levitt Shell-June 9Please join us for this free concert, as well as a free meal and beverages, hosted by the 20’s and 30’s group in the hospitality area of the Levitt Shell. Mia Borders will be the entertainment of the night. Mia has a New Orleans funk style. The concert begins at 7:30. It promises to be a fun way to get to know your parish family. Please bring friends and family to share in this great night!

The Feast of St. Columba: Dinner by the Lake Join with friends on June 2 at 6 pm for an elegant outdoor dinner to celebrate and support t h e c a m p i n g a n d hospitality ministries of St. Columba. Host Thomas Robinson, writer of the Eat Local Memphis

Blog, will join us for a dinner featuring locally grown and produced foods. Celebrate Local...Celebrate Summer...Celebrate with St. Columba! Send email to paula.sappington@hilton.com to reserve your tickets today. $75 per person.

Volume 59, No. 6 Page 3 June 2012

The Altar Gifts in June are offered in Loving Memory of

June 3 openJune 10 Elizabeth Kelly Jones and Virginia Watts ClarksonJune 17 David Brents Talley, Delia Tate McSpadden, Gilbert R.

McSpadden, Mary Nuckolls McSpadden, John Scott McSpadden, Joseph Clay Tate, Martha Hillsman Tate, Clay Tate Hust, Harry Hust, Jane Ridens McSpadden, Charles M. Ozier, Jr., John August Inderitzen, Sr., Lorenz Joseph Inderbitzen, James Austin Taylor and James Oliver Taylor

June 24 The Rev. John Patterson

Staff Member of the Month

Harriet RobertsDirector of Christian Education

What do I do? I help plan and imple-ment the Christian education offerings for both adults and children at Grace-St. Luke’s. This involves curricula review, volunteer recruiting, and event planning.

What I love most about my job? Everything: I love everything and everyone. But, I especially love the things I get to think about. I have particularly enjoyed manning the Christian Education Table which is set up on Sunday mornings during the year in Trezevant Hall. I love seeing everyone and being available to welcome and help and visit and laugh. I have also really enjoyed implementing the Children’s Activity Table which occupies the younger crowd so parents can visit during coffee hour. We have made really fun things this year, and it has been a special opportunity to get to know the exceptionally fun children in our parish. Well, and I get to wear bunny ears to work for about two weeks a year.

When I am not at Grace-St. Luke’s: You can usually find me doing some type of needlework. Jacobean crewel embroidery is my current passion and I have had a number of amazing trips to England to work with a very talented tutor there. My trips have involved looking at exquisite Jacobean, Elizabethan and Victorian pieces behind the velvet ropes in enormous castles in both the Lake District and on the Scottish border.

Little known facts: Before being sidelined by an injury, I com-pleted 16 marathons all over the United States with a PR of 3:51. Though I can no longer run at all, I do love talking about marathons and have very definite opinions about which are worth doing and which are not (loved Boston; did not love New York). When I left Cambridge, Massachusetts, and moved to Jackson, Mississippi. with my husband, Stephen, in the late 80’s, I scheduled for sitting governor, Ray Mabus. At that time I knew bizarre facts about most of the airports in Mississippi, like which airports needed somebody to make a special trip to flip on the ‘ee-lectric’ runway lights before a plane could land at night.

Contact Information: 272-7425 x 12, harriet@gracestlukes.org

Sign up Now for the Laymen’s Conference

“Run With Endurance the Race Set Before You” is the theme for this years Layman’s Conference at DuBose on August 17-19.

The speakers are: Coach Philip Fulmer- UT VOLS 1998 National Champion (and two SEC Championships) Head Coach

Rev. Colenzo Hubbard- Player on the 1973 National Championship (and three SEC Championship) Alabama Crimson Tide teams under legendary Coach Paul “Bear” BryantRudy Kalis- Sports Director at WSMV-TV in Nashville and has been a sports reporter and anchor at WSMV since August 1974

This year’s conference is sure to be well attended and I am committed to having 20 men from GSL attend. To date, we have 6 men committed. Registration is available online, and I urge you to register soon and avoid a haranguing phone call from me.The conference is always fun and the fellowship is exceptional. Golf, tennis, hiking, fishing and white water activities are just a few of the events for Saturday afternoon. Please do not hesitate to call me with questions at 901-355-4904. -Jim Beaty

Memorials and Honoraria

Given in Thanksgiving forMike Jones from Happy Jones

Given in Memory ofMary West Hammond from Lee N. LaceyWilliam O. Plyler from Zachary H. Street, Sr. and Candice & Marty

CarrJimmy Tual from Sharon Prewitt, Parrish & Lorraine Taylor, and

Warren & Jimpsie AyresJean Preston Pond from Mary & Louis Charles Stagg

save The daTe FOr The 2012 grace-sT. luke’s Weekend exOdus

Summer is here but it is not too early to start making plans to attend the 3rd Annual Grace-St. Luke’s Weekend Exodus on September 21–September 23. Come spend a weekend of fun and fellowship with your GSL family.

The retreat will be held at the Duncan M. Gray Episcopal Camp & Conference Center aka Camp Bratton Green near Canton, Mississippi. Be on the look out for registra-tion information in mid-July.

If you have any questions, need more information or are even interested in helping with the retreat, please email the co-chairs Antoinette Cheney at abc@spicerfirm.com or Nicki Soule at nicholesoule@yahoo.com. (Please note the date change from what was originally published at the 2011 Weekend Exodus).

Volume 59, No. 6 Page 4 June 2012

From the Dir.of Christian Education Harriet Roberts

Needlework GuildDo you enjoy needlework or would you like to learn? Is your passion knitting, cross-stitch, embroidery, crewel embroidery, needlpoint, quilting, smocking or tatting? If

it is, grab your sewing things, or pick out a project and make plans to join other ladies (and ladies in training) on Saturday, June 2, from 4–8 pm. Please bring a sack supper.

You need to be 10 or older and want to spend some time visit-ing and stitching. There will be plenty of opportunity to share what you have made and admire what others have created. We will share skills and enjoy being together in Trezevant Hall. If you need help selecting a project, with knowing what to bring, or if you would like to reserve a table for your larger project, please contact Harriet Roberts, harriet@gracestlukes.org, or Kim White, kwhite@gslschool.org. Beginners are welcome!

What Movie Would You Un-Watch?

I was reading something the other day from a website that sends me periodic emails about media as they relate to children. I am fasci-nated by how media affects us all, but par-ticularly how it affects young children.

And, on this website it posed the question, what movie would you ‘un-watch’ if you could?

Continued at www.gracestlukes.org/harriet/what-movie/

A Special Thank You to Our Teachers and Catechists

Almighty God, you have given to our Teachers and Catechists a special gift of grace to understand and teach the truth as it is in Christ Jesus: Grant that through this teaching we may know you, the one true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

This year, it has been my privilege to work with an outstanding group of talented, energetic and enthusiastic volunteers. Please join me in thanking the following people for their commitment to our children. Those who taught on a regular basis:

Jennifer Balink Level 1 & Level 2 AtriaElizabeth Brewer All Things NewSteve Brewer All Things NewJim Greer J2AJohn Huber All Things NewKatherine Lawson All Things NewAmanda Robbins Level 1 AtriumDonna Sanders Rite13Jerry Sanders Rite13Pete Shearon Level 2 AtriumAllison Simonton Level 2 AtriumWhitney Vineyard J2AKen Woodmansee All Things NewMarci Woodmansee All Things New

Those who taught on an as needed basis: Laura Bolding, Karen Clark, David Rhea, Jennie Van Deveer, and Kathy Stubblefield.

Also, please join me in congratulating Allison Simonton and Jennifer Balink who have just completed their Level 2 training for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

Laura Bolding is due our thanks as well. This year she has made or repaired some of the lovely materials for our Level 2 Atrium.

And finally, I am delighted to report that Sally Clark, Sharon Campbell and Eva Loftin have just started the year-long Level 1 training for Catechesis of the Good Shepherd.

It has been a wonderful year!

Summer is in full swing at Parents’ Day Out! We are almost full with 78 children enrolled for an exciting summer program that runs June 5th through August 3rd. Our summer session is an extension of our school year program for our infants, toddlers, twos, and threes to develop and grow with friends. Parents can choose the entire eight weeks or choose specific weeks to accommodate summer travel.

This summer, we’ve been learning all about summer fun with activities related to bugs, sea life, and hot weather! We’re staying cool with water days on the playground and refreshing popsicles, too.

Are you interested in PDO for your child? At GSL PDO we offer a safe and nurturing environment that fosters social, cognitive, and physical development through play for our youngest learners. We welcome children ages 3 months to 3 years for a one or two day weekly pro-gram. We play with a purpose at PDO! We are registering now for the 2012-2013 Fall-Spring Session, and spots are already filling up. For more information, please contact Holly at 278-2244 or go to www.gracestlukes.org/parents-day-out.

Parents’ Day Out News Holly Hawkins, Director

COME SING WITH US!

Wesley Emerson,Director of Music

Summer Choir is a great time to sing if you don’t have time during the year.

We rehearse on Sunday mornings at 9:30, beginning June 3.

If you’re interested, please contact Wesley at 272-7425 x 16 or wesley@gracestlukes.org.

We’d love to have you!

Volume 59, No. 6 Page 5 June 2012

G S LChurch Athleticsby Christi Authement, Director

Mandatory Fall Soccer Evaluation at the GSL Field, July 28

To ensure our younger teams are well balanced, each player in the rising 1st through rising 4th grade will need to attend a skills assess-ment. Players MUST be assessed prior to being assigned to a team.

Rising 1st & 2nd Boys- 9-10 am

Rising 1st & 2nd Girls- 10:15-11:15 am

Rising 3rd & 4th Boys- 11:30 am-12:30 pm

Rising 3rd & 4th Girls- 12:45-1:45 pm

Players should come dressed, ready to play, and arrive 15 minutes prior to their scheduled time to get signed in and warmed up. Players will be assessed on dribbling, passing and finishing. Players should wear their shin guards and cleats because each session will end with a scrimmage.

Questions? Contact Christi Authement, GSL Church athletic director (272-7425, christi@gracestlukes.org), or a committee member: Todd Brown, Kellie Lacy, Jon Lakey, James Overstreet, Paula Sappington, Bruce Williams, and Katherine Lawson.

While it may seem a lot quieter on this side of the campus these days, rest assured the administrative staff is here working away! This is when we put plans into place for the coming school year, so it is truly an exciting time for those of us who are still on campus. I am also pleased to introduce the slate of new members who are joining the 2012-13 Board of Trustees. At our closing meeting in May we welcomed parishioners Debbie McCanless and Maura Black Sullivan to our Board, along with Allison Cates, Bubba Halliday (son of parishioner Dot Halliday), and Katie Kitchin. We also recognized our retiring Board members Buddy Adams, Holley McGehee, Anne Waring, Amy James, Trish Pontius, and Clarence Wilbon. We sincerely thank these individuals for the countless hours they dedicated to the work of the school in recent years; their efforts were invaluable in furthering the mission of the school and in helping us grow and expand through the construction of the Anchor Center!

I will announce special Graduation awards and new teacher ap-pointments in next month’s issue. In the meantime, please know that we still have spaces in selected grade levels for the 2012-13 school year, so we appreciate your help in spreading the word about our great program here at GSL. You may even know of families who are relocating to Memphis this summer; we’d love to show them the school! Encourage prospective families to call us today (278-0200) or visit our website (www.gslschool.org) for admis-sions information.

We also still have openings in GSL’s SummerFest 2012, which runs June 4-29 and July 9-Aug. 3. Our weekly day camps are open to all children ages 4-13, regardless of school affiliation, and there’s a link to our summer camp booklet and online registration on our home page (www.gslschool.org). Choose from sports, arts, dance, theatre, sewing, cooking, reading, games, LEGOs, Hogwarts, and much more; there is something for everyone to enjoy!

GSL’s Thespian Society (pictured below) recently inducted new 6th, 7th, and 8th grade members at a special Friday chapel ceremony. Current and new members are as follows: (Front row) Emma, Livia, Ella, Lil, Mary, Evie; (middle) Sydney, Tomas, Reed, Maggie, Olivia, Katie; (back) Katie Fisher, Molly, Aynsley, Tucker, Cole, Elizabeth, Grace, Whitney, and Virginia.

News From GSLSchool by Thor Kvande

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GSL Thespian Society

The GSL 3rd and 4th Grade Boys team, coached by Bruce Williams and Todd Brown (pictured above), had an undefeated season in the Parochial Athletic Association (PAA) league and won the league tournament held at Holy Rosary Church, on May 5, 2012. Go team!

3rd/4th Grade Boys Basketball

Volume 59, No. 6 Page 6 June 2012

Have you ever read the soul bearing words of a poet and imme-diately recognized them as your own? Poetry often gives voice to our own unarticulated feelings, needs and experiences.

A poem can be a grace-filled gift bearing comfort, validation or even revelation. Poetry can be pastoral care.

I offer the poem, We Wear the Mask, as one such example and invite you to email me at gayle@gracestlukes.org and share a poem that has personally helped you cope, grieve or heal. Let’s see where the borrowed words of others might lead us . . .

Pastoral Care CornerThe Rev. Gayle McCarty,Associate Rector

We Wear the Mask

We wear the mask that grins and lies, It hides our cheeks and shades our eyes, --

This debt we pay to human guile; With torn and bleeding hearts we smile,

And mouth with myriad subtleties.

Why should the world be overwise, In counting all our tears and sighs?

Nay, let them only see us, while We wear the mask.

We smile, but, O great Christ, our cries To thee from tortured souls arise. We sing, but oh the clay is vile

Beneath our feet, and long the mile; But let the world dream otherwise,

We wear the mask!Poet, Paul Laurence Dunbar

Wonder what to give to the father who has everything!?

Remember your father this Father’s Day with a Net or Nets for Life donation.

Please pick up a NetsforLife form on Sunday or go to www.gracestlukes.org/netsforlife/ to make this life saving gift in honor or memory of a special man in your life.

Outreach UpdateThe Rev. Gayle McCarty, Associate Rector

Net's for Life at the May 6 Rector's Forum.

neWs OF BygOne days50 years ago (1962): Vacation Time- It is a good and necessary rule (God’s rule, as a matter of fact) for us to have a part of our weekly schedule attendance at Sunday worship service in the Church. This should be a rule that is kept inviolate, which is to say that neither vacation, nor laziness, nor anything short of illness be allowed to interfere with being in Church.

25 years ago (1987): Home for the Summer- Our two seminarians, Carolyn Howard and Whitney Jones, will be serving in our liturgy each Sunday and preaching once during the summer months. This fall each will begin her senior year of seminary: Carolyn at Sewanee and Whitney at Virginia Seminary. We welcome them home for a while.

Volume 59, No. 6 Page 7 June 2012

Membership News

Marriage Whitney Suzanne Henderson and Timothy Martin Harrington,

May 5, 2012 Hannah Elizabeth Newsom and Wesley Scott Phillips, May 19, 2012Transfer Out Imogene Falls Erb to Immanuel Episcopal Church, LaGrangeTransfers In Lee Anne Ramsdell and Pauline “Polly” Anne Ramsdell from

Annunciation, CordovaNew Baptized Member Linda Rae Hall

Hospitality Policy

The clergy want parishioners to be aware of Grace-St. Luke’s Hospitality policy regarding Sunday morning requests by individuals for breakfast and/or monetary assistance. First, all are welcome to breakfast at Grace-St. Luke’s, regardless of ability to pay. The clergy give a portion of their discretionary funds each month to the Crossmen, who offer breakfast without charge to anyone who cannot pay. Second, individuals requesting monetary assistance on Sundays should be encouraged to return to the church office during weekday work hours for screening for assistance.

Looking Towards Sunday

Go to the link below to access Sunday lectionary readings online at your convenience, and then reflect and pray over them at any time. Also offered is an overview, scripture backgrounds, a re-flection and prayer starter to enhance your worship experience.

http://www.gracestlukes.org/spirituality-and-worship/preparing-for-sunday/

Holy Baptism Scheduled

Baptism is the entry point for The Episcopal Church for adults, children and infants. If you have not been baptized or would like to schedule a baptism, we are happy to make arrangements for you. The next dates for baptism will be: • August 12• November 4 (All Saints’)For more information and to schedule a baptism, contact Connie Johns, 272-7425, ext. 15, or connie@gracestlukes.org.

From Your Vestry

It’s nearing the midpoint of the year. Now’s a great time to provide feedback to your Vestry. Don’t know who they are? Your Vestry members are listed on page 2 of your Messenger and at http://www.gracestlukes.org/vestry/.

The April minutes of the Vestry are now online and can be down-loaded by following this link: www.gracestlukes.org/uploads/files/vestry/VestryMinutes2012April.pdf.

Lay Service Schedule for June

Go to http://www.gracestlukes.org/weeklyteams/ to download and view the weekly lay service teams.Congratulations,

Ann Burruss

Ann Burruss, our part-time youth minister, has been appointed as a second grade lead teacher at the Bodine School in Memphis, which is an exciting development in her teaching career. This transition means that she will step down as our youth minister.

Please join me in congratulating and thanking Ann. She has served faithfully and creatively as our youth minister for two years, overseeing an important transition in the parish youth programs. Ann’s love and wisdom has made a big difference in the lives of our youth and EYC.

The good news is that Ann will continue to be with us at GSL on Sundays as a parishioner. A search process for Ann’s successor will take place this summer.

The Reverend Richard Lawson

• Come join Father Richard and Father Joseph and all your EYC friends for a weekly lunch out.

• Lunches are for youth in rising 6th–12th grades. Lunches will begin July 10 and continue every Tuesday through August 7. (7/10, 7/17, 7/24, 7/31, 8/7)

• Meet at 11:30 at Stone Soup (993 South Cooper).• Bring $5 and we will cover the rest. For more information, about summer lunches please contact Harriet Roberts at harriet@gracestlukes.org or 272-7425.

EYCSummerLunches

EYC End of the Year Party

Grace-St. Luke’S epiScopaL church

1720 Peabody avenue

MeMPhis, Tennessee 38104-6124901-272-7425, 901-272-9833 (fax)gsl@gracestlukes.org www.gracestlukes.org

The Messenger of Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (USPS 778-900)-published monthly by Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1720 Peabody Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee 38104. Periodicals postage paid at Memphis, TN. POSTMASTER: send address changes to Grace-St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, 1720 Peabody Avenue, Memphis, TN 38104, (901) 272-7425, email gsl@gracestlukes.org. Lucy Owens, Editor.

Volume 59, No. 6 Page 8 June 2012

At GSL, there are many different aspects of what is called “Youth Ministry.” In order to grasp what this parish and the Episcopal faith mean to our youth, one has to keep in mind the differing ways in which youth par-ticipate. On Youth Sunday, for example, the parish heard a very meaningful sermon on friendship preached by one of our graduating seniors, Hannah Morehead. Hannah spoke thoughtfully about the image of friendship in John’s Gospel, which is summarized by that beautiful line of Jesus, “I no longer call you servants, but friends.” Hannah also serves faithfully as an acolyte at the altar. We are also very proud that we have trained six new Eucharistic ministers (EMs or chalice bearers) who are in high school and who will begin serving regularly on Sunday mornings. Serving at the altar under the direction of our acolyte master, Grant Adams, and our vergers is one of the most important ways youth participate. The young people are also lay readers, choir members, Vacation Bible School volunteers, and Sally Clark is participating in a year-long training course to become a level 1 Catechist in our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program for our 3–6 year-olds.

Our Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) group meets on Sunday evenings, August through May. During July—and for part of August—the EYC will continue the tradi-tion of summer lunches. Father Joseph and I will host these each Tuesday at 11:30 am at Stone Soup on Cooper Avenue. Our EYC is

From the Rector: Youth Ministry at Homeone very important way that our youth gather for community, prayer, reflection and fun. As has been announced, Ann Burruss, our part-time youth minister, is leaving to assume a lead teacher position at The Bodine School in Memphis. This is an exciting opportunity for Ann, but we will miss her. This summer a search will begin to find a new youth minister for EYC and other youth programing.

Our Sunday mornings for youth continue to be guided by the principles of Journey to Adulthood, the program we use for 6th-12th grade classes. Harriet Roberts, our Director of Christian Education, oversees this program. On Sunday mornings, September through May, there are two leaders of our 6th-8th graders (called the Rite 13 group) and two leaders of our 9th-12th grade group (called J2A). This program is faithful, creative, and well organized, and is another fine example of youth ministry at GSL.

These are but only a few examples of youth ministry at GSL, and I have not even men-tioned GSL School (and chapel), scouts, athletics, VBS, and a host of annual programs that are often well attended by GSL’s youth. As important as all of these programs and activities are, however, I want to highlight a very different, sometimes neglected area of youth ministry: the conversations that occur between parents and children at home. One of the youth ministers I respect most says that she is convinced that conversations about faith that occur at home have as much of an effect—if not an even greater effect—than

parish programming on the faith development of young people. Interestingly, when asked what the most important thing parents can do, this talented youth minister replied “just get them to church.” We live in an age in which youth long to witness the authenticity and integrity of faith in people they know well and love. With that in mind, if you have children or if you find yourself around the youth of our parish, remember the positive affects you might have. Our youth are watch-ing and listening. And when I say talk about faith, I do not mean that one has to proceed to ‘explain’ everything one believes. The point is to talk with authenticity about faith and doubt, successes and failures, hopes and fears. And ask questions. Then listen. These interactions are significant.

With this in mind, I commend to the parish one of the great prayers of the BCP, a prayer for the care of children that applies to youth of any age: Almighty God, heavenly Father, you have blessed us with the joy and care of children: Give us calm strength and patient wisdom as we bring them up, that we may teach them to love whatever is just and true and good, following the example of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. As we seek to raise up the faith of the next generations, let us remember that we cannot offer what we do not possess. May God first grant us justice and truth and goodness before we seek to instill it in others.

The Reverend Richard Lawson