Search committee
report
TALES FROM THE SEARCH
TRAIL
By
To protect the confidentiality of the candidates in our search process, we cannot share most of our stories with you. But this one is just too good to keep to ourselves.
Having reviewed candidates’ responses to essay questions and
phone interviews, the committee planned a visit to see if God was calling Pat (name changed to protect identity) to
St. Philip’s. So,
Standard practice for visiting search committees is to go under cover to avoid alarming the congregation. Thus the rector search process endorses, even requires, lying. To meet this requirement, we carefully concocted our cover stories.
Amanda stuck close to reality when she attended services and coffee hour alone, saying she picked this beautiful church as a stopping point on her way to visit her son before his wedding.
Dan and I stretched the truth a bit more, posing as an
engaged couple from NC visiting his parents for the first time. At the service,
we stayed in character when greeted by members and
let Dan do all the talking.
Then we went to coffee hour., where a church member invited us to answer the Question of the Week for the local newspaper. This is where the creepy horror movie music begins – you see the characters walking into danger, but no matter how loud you scream, they just keep going! “Sure,” we said, “what’s the question?”
“Are you more afraid to travel on bridges after the
“Huh” she said, “any further comment?” “No,” I replied, “just no.”
“Wow…my fiancé doesn’t give a very good interview, does she?” observed Dan. I quickly agreed, and said, “Scratch my answer, let Dan answer.” Which he did in a very articulate and thoughtful way.
All was well until she closed her notebook, looked up at us, and said, “Great, now I’ll take your picture, to go along with your quotes.”
And the horror movie music got louder! I’m pretty sure the protocol for going under cover counsels against putting your picture on the front page of the local newspaper.
Quick-thinking Dan said, “We’re really not very
photogenic. You don’t want us in
your newspaper.” Not to be
dissuaded, she said, “You’ll look great.”
Dan changed tactics, “Well, we’re not from here, we’re from
“
cont’d TALES
from the next town over!” And she crossed out our answers, snapped her notebook shut, and walked away.
The moral of the story is, you shouldn’t lie – even to find a
new rector. But, if you must, keep
your story simple, and for goodness sakes, don’t seek out the press. The
search committee has hosted the two candidates for visits here, and the process
is on track for a decisiont o be made at the September vestry meeting
CHILDREN &
YOUTH
By
As Interim Coordinator of Children and Youth Ministries, I
oversee the nursery, the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, the Journey to
Adulthood (J2A), and such special events for children as
My appointment is part-time under a one-year contract, with
the permanent position to be described and filled by the new rector next fall. I
could not administer these programs without the support of volunteers –
Here are a few things that parents need to know about the various children’s ministries:
Nursery (infants – 5 years old)
Nursery
care is available on Sundays from 9:00 am until 12:15. Please wash children’s hands before entering the nursery
(wipes are available). We provide
peanut-free snacks.
If you are using the nursery, we ask that you assist our
paid staff by taking a turn as a nursery volunteer once or twice per
quarter. Teens
and experienced pre-teens can also help. Please sign up in the nursery or e-mail
me (youth@stphilipsdurham.org).
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (Ages 2 ½ - 12)
Orientation –If your child is new to the atrium and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, please make an appointment with me for an orientation.
Schedule –Formation begins at 10:00 and ends at 10:50. We only have a short amount of time once a week for formation, so we appreciate it when you are on time. Catechists appreciate a timely and orderly departure before church. We will not dismiss young children to anyone but a family member or trusted adult.
Lead Catechists –
cont’d CHILDREN &
YOUTH
Atrium
Guild –Would you like to help the
Catechesis program, but don’t directly want to work during formation hour? We are forming an Atrium Guild, a group
that would help keep the atria neat and orderly on a monthly basis. It only takes about 10 minutes, but
makes all of the difference in our environment! Please
contact me if you would like to help care for the atria. Flower arranging is a very popular work in Level I and II, and we are also looking for flower donations each week. If you are able to bring them (garden or store, it doesn’t matter) you can let me know but feel free just to drop them off.
Teens
–
J2A (Ages 12-18) – Rite 13 and J2A will meet at Urban Ministries. The group with leaders will walk over together at 10:00 sharp. (Please be on time!) YAC will meet monthly at a location to be determined.
Confirmation classes will meet Mondays at 6:00 pm from
September 17 until Confirmation on October 14. Please register with
A new program year and two-year cycle will begin in January, after a parent orientation in December to introduce the program and leaders for each group. I supervise the calendar and communications for the program.
Office Hours – Do
contact me about your concerns or questions at youth@stphilipsdurham.org
or 682.5708. At present I am scheduled to be in the
office on Tuesday (9:15-12:15) and on Monday and Wednesday (1:15 – 3:15), and
once Sunday every month during the 10 am class hour.
Thanks – to all of our volunteers, catechists, and youth leaders who have cheerfully adapted to the physical and leadership transitions. They are great role models to our children, and have maintained our excellent children’s formation in trying times.
CARDS NEEDED Donate greeting cards to the Jail ministry. Along with
Bibles, cards are the items most requested by the inmates. Your card donations
let the ministry focus its limited funds on Bibles. Just leave cards in the jail
ministry’s box in the parish hall. To join the group’s Saturday visitations,
talk to Martin Fowler,
NEW
BOOK The 7:30 pm Wed. Night Book Discussion
will resume on Sept. 12 and continue for 6 weeks (through Oct.17). The book this time is
A
Life of Jesus
by Shusaku Endo, a well-known Christian author who has been called the Japanese
Graham Greene. Please let the office know if you plan to attend (682.5708) and
stop by the Regulator to pick up a copy for about $10.
LECTOR
TRAINING The next training sessions
for lectors will be in the church at 12:15 on 10/7 and at 6:30 on 10/10. Anyone
can serve who is 13 or older and has attended training for this parish’s
guidelines.
CONFIRMATION
CLASS BEGINS Interested
in being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church? Want to renew your
commitment to faith? Join us for
confirmation class and dinner on Mondays (Sept. 17, 24 & Oct. 1, 8) at 6:00
pm in preparation for Bishop Curry’s visit on Oct. 14. If you plan to participate in this
class, please let
VESTRY
NOMINATIONS The parish will elect 4 new members to
the vestry at the annual meeting in January. A challenge for St Philip’s is that
its vestry is not nearly as diverse as its congregation. The vestry would like to rectify this
but we need your help. If you know someone who would be a good candidate for
vestry, are interested in being a candidate for vestry yourself, or would just
like more information about what being a vestry member entails, please contact a
member of the nominating committee – Rich Ball-Damberg, Charlotte Hampton,
GARDENERS
NEEDED
The Garden Group that cares for our grounds and plants is
recruiting members, as well as a co-leader to share organizational duties with
CAN
YOU HELP?
Alicia Trejo and Ciro
Santos and their 3 children, Luis, Jonathan, and baby Alexander are moving out
of their apartment into a rental home this month. They need to buy a
refrigerator, stove, lawn mower, washer /dryer, window coverings, and air
conditioning units. If you have any of this to sell to them in good used
condition, please contact Alicia (599.6625) or
CALLING
ALL CHEFS!
St. Philip’s is hosting 20 catechists for Level III training over 9
weekends in the next year and a half. We provide lunch for them on training
Saturdays and hope to team up 2-3 parishioners each weekend to prepare.
Providing a meal is a wonderful gift to the catechists who are hard at work on
Friday, Saturday and Sunday each training weekend. If you can be part of a team
on one Saturday, please contact
· 2007: 9/15, 10/ 20, 12/ 8
· 2008: 1/12, 4/12
BOOK GROUP meets
on first Mondays at 7:00 pm. To
join the group’s listserve, just send an
e-mail to stphilipsbookgroup-subscribe@yahoogroups.com.
Sept.
10
Everything
Bad Is Good for You: How Today’s
Popular Culture is Actually Making Us Smarter
by Steven Johnson.
For
directions, contact hostess
October 8
Hostess Needed
Empire
by Orson Scott
Card
Nov.
12
Hostess
Sarah Johnson
The
Thirteenth Tale
by
Diane Setterfield
Dec.
10
Movie Night
Will we check out the last minute Academy Award worthy films or just pop in a DVD for a girls’ night in?
LUNCH
TEAM St.
Philippians founded the Community Kitchen in our Parish House in 1978. Now the Kitchen is part of Urban
Ministries, but we still go next door on the first Saturday of every month to
minister to our neighbors who need help with life's basic necessities. To sign up for a fall date (Sept. 1,
Sept. 29, Nov. 3, Dec. 1), contact
DIVORCE SUPPORT
GROUP
Again this fall,
WOMEN’S PRAYER GROUP The Women’s Prayer and
Meditation Group meets at 7:00 pm on first Thursdays, beginning with September
6. Meeting place will be decided and emailed each month. To join this
group, e-mail Susan Day Moore at wickerby@nc.rr.com
or call 38.-8430. The group shares the New Zealand Prayer Book version of
Compline, includes 20 minutes of silence and follows with sharing the joys and
trials of our Christian journeys.
ECW’s Fall Meetings
Episcopal
Churchwomen
All parish women are welcome –whether they come for
fellowship, inspiration, or the refreshments!
Monday,
September 10, 10:00 am
Colony Hills Clubhouse
off
Monday,
October 1, 10:00 am
Monday,
November 5
Field trip
–watch for later details.
Monday,
December 3
luncheon
at The Forest at
Duke
Don't forget
our box in the Parish Hall for donations to the Shelter and Urban Ministries to
ease the hardships of street life.
PANSIES FOR
A project of St. Philip’s
Churchwomen in support of outreach ministries
