"The Bells of St.
Mary's"
"The Bells of St.
Mary's"
July 2003
The church is open daily for meditation.
The Rt. Rev. Philip M.
Duncan, II Bishop
Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast
The Rev. Robert J. Randall, Vicar St. Mary’s Episcopal Church Andalusia, Al.
he Voice of the Vicar 
It is TIME! God’s TIME!Time for us to stop and give thanks for all God has been doing in our lives and specifically for new places of worship, formation, fellowship, and service.
Consecration—is the separation of a thing or person for Divine service. That is, setting someone or something apart from the ordinary secular use, to be used for God’s purposes. In our Church, we consecrate and dedicate church buildings and the specific furnishings that are used for holy purposes. For us it is the culmination of over three years of discussions, planning, being amazed at the fundraising miracles, working hard to get it all done, (and the work hasn’t ended!)
This is one of the grandest and most meaningful worship services in the Episcopal Church, and one that many people never experience, unless they build a new church! You have it all! It is truly celebration. And we do know how to celebrate...
Bishop Duncan will lead us and Kathy Grieb (from Virginia Seminary) will be our preacher. The reception will be in our new Parish Hall (still underway, but with air conditioning). Everyone is getting involved and it will be a day you will not want to miss. (If you haven’t yet volunteered, call Jan Derrick or Terry Kyzar and they will put you to work.)
One other important note: Donna Lockett will be joining us for the next three or four months as deacon-in-training. She is here to see what it is that God is doing with St. Mary’s, which may be helpful as she works with other congregations that wish to grow. Her introduction is in this month’s Bells. Donna will be serving at the altar, including leading Morning Prayer and preaching two of the weeks while I am gone, and helping in many other ways. Please make her a welcomed member of our community.
Chris and I will be leaving for three weeks of vacation at the beginning of August. We will be retreating into the cool of New England (can’t afford to go to Ireland or England every year!). I pray for your own consecration—that is– that God sets you aside for holy work. I offer thanks to God for all you are and do! Fr. Bob+
NOTE FROM DONNA LOCKETT
Dear St. Mary’s family,
Fr. Bob has asked me to write a short note to all of you to introduce myself. It
is with great joy and gratitude that I will be serving as a Deacon at St. Mary’s
for the next four months.
My name is Donna Lockett. Originally from Pennsylvania, my husband, Tom, and I
have made our home in Alabama for over thirty years, living in Dothan for 14
years and Troy for the past 21 years. We have two grown children and one
grandson. Our daughter, Tina, is an Episcopal priest serving in the Diocese of
Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania. Our son, Tommy, who is a CPA and grandson, William,
are in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
I have served the church as a layperson in many capacities: Vestry, Senior
Warden, Treasurer, Altar Guild, Choir, ECW diocesan president, Sunday school
teacher, Standing Committee and other diocesan commissions. I am a graduate of
Sewanee’s Education for Ministry program and the Spiritual Director’s
Program of the Diocese of South Carolina.
Several years ago, at a time when most people are considering retirement, I
realized that God was calling me to serve Him in the ordained ministry. After
much prayer and discernment, I answered that call and set out to prepare to
serve God as a priest in His church.
In preparation for serving in the ordained ministry of our diocese, I have spent
the last year at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest in Austin, Texas. My
training will continue here at St. Mary’s where as a Deacon I will assist Fr.
Bob with the worship service on Sundays, preach, teach Sunday school classes and
get some hands-on experience at working in a parish.
I look forward to getting to know everyone at St. Mary’s and serving God in this community. Faithfully yours, Donna Lockett
Jonathan Myrick Daniels
martyr of Hayneville, was born in Kenne, New Hampshire in 1939.
He was shot and killed by an unemployed highway worker who had been “deputized”
in Hayneville, Al on August 20,1965.
From high school in Keene to graduate school in Harvard, Jonathan wrestled with
the meaning of life, death and vocation. His search was resolved by a profound
conversion experience Easter Day, 1962, in the Church of the Advent, Boston. He
then entered the Episcopal Theological School in Cambridge. In March 1965, the
televised appeal of Martin Luther King, Jr., to come to Selma to secure for all
citizens the right to vote placed Jonathan there.
He was arrested in Ft. Deposit on August 14 for joining a picket line. On
August, 20th, he and his companions were unexpectedly released. Sensing that
they were in danger and thirsty from the scorching heat, four of them walked to
Cash’s small store nearby. As sixteen year old Ruby Sales reached the top step
of the entrance, a man with a gun appeared, cursing her. Jonathan pulled her in
front of him and turned around to shield her from the unexpected threats. As a
result he was killed by a blast from the 12 gauge gun into his back. It took
over an hour for medical help to arrive. No airline would fly his body back
home. It had to be shipped first by train to D.C. The General Convention of the
Episcopal Church placed Jonathan Myrick Daniels on the calendar of martyrs in
1991.
Fr. Bob will be leading a group from St. Mary’s to this annual service of
remembering and committing to change in our world. Come and join in the
pilgrimage on Sat. Aug. 23rd in Hayneville from 11:00 to 1:00 PM. Bishops
Duncan, (CGC) Parsley and Andrus (AL.) will be officiating. Bring bells to ring
in the procession! Lunch will be served
New Sunday School Plan
Willie Mack Pate, member of the
vestry in charge of Christian Education, is excited about introducing a new SS
program for St. Mary’s. It is based on the Workshop Rotation Model (WoRM) that
other churches have introduced and boasted success. Several members of his team
visited St. Thomas’ in Greenville where they have used this program for the
last 2 years very successfully and the team is really energized to get it
started at St. Mary’s. They have already started creating the FROG (Faithfully
Relying on God) that will be the theme for St. Mary’s. Come see the (old)
Parish Hall which is being transformed into the FROG….thanks to Margo Russell
who drew the designs and to Claudette Pate. Jonathan Coleman, Brian Johnson and
Willie Mack who have gotten the painting started! It is really exciting so come
help and join in the fun! To help get this program under way Willie Mack has
listed below some of the things needed immediately. If you can help with any of
these please contact Willie Mack Pate, Marla Weaver, Debbie Grimes or Heather
Coleman. .
A list of needs/request needed ASAP.
1. Teachers, assistants and greeters. (All instructions will be provided by the
writing/organizing team so don’t be shy!)
2. Carpenters, painters & woodworkers for remodeling of parish hall (Margo
has done the drawing...all we have to do is fill in the color!)
3. People to do art work, crafts and decorating. (If this is your “gift”
please share it with us!)
4. Anybody to help with re-modeling. (Can you nail shelves to-gether or help
build a stage?)
List of materials needed for donation to Sunday School Project
Building materials & Paint – boards for shelving,
plywood & etc., benches, stools and chairs
Costumes
Fabrics for decorating
Adopt a Puppet (these cost about $20.00 each and for those of you who cannot
work here is your opportunity to help!)
Computers (do you have an old one you are not using any longer...does not have
to be internet accessible)
Art Supplies
Music supplies (do you have any instruments that the children might enjoy?)
Visit the web site if you want to know more about this program…… http://www.rotation.org/
Thoughts after last Pentecost
Sunday service and picnic.:
E-Church
E-piscopal? Well, we still got bishops.
E-xperimental? Hey, we try things. We succeed sometimes. We may even get it
where everyone can hear both the guitar and the singers.
E-xistential? Some may feel we bordered on the "church of what's happenin'
now" (as Josephine likes to say, being old enough to remember Flip Wilson.)
E-ssential? Where would we be without it?
E-ducational? 4 languages. Besides E-nglish.
E-verybody? Yes, all kinds of backgrounds.
E-nthusiastic? Anthems alive!
E-xciting? Balloons in church!
E-nriching? Feasting on the blessings.
E-lectronic? From sound system to computers, communication helps keep community
in communion.
E-xclusive? Only of those who refuse God's grace and the free gift--
E-verlasting life. Brian Powell
WOMEN OF VISION
………..is again being offered in our Diocese. It is a time of affirming, a time for sorting out beliefs and actions, a time for nurturing of self and others, and an opportunity to make choices that are right for your particular calling. We will learn how to translate our Christian beliefs into the world to make a difference and to recognize and affirm our skills and gifts to prepare leaders for the 21st century! It promises to be a “full week-end” with 7 sessions. Joy Tway, our own, and Cecil Williamson, from the diocese of Alabama, will be the leaders. It will be held at Beckwith beginning on Friday afternoon with dinner at 6:00 and ending with the Eucharist on Sunday afternoon at 3:00. If you are interested talk to Joy or Fr. Bob and they will get you registered! Phone # 222-0289 or email joyhtway@alaweb.com
Pumpkin Patch
is right around the corner. We will start to build up steam once we have the church consecrated. Please ask those interested in donating time/help/talents to contact me. Also we are interested in any artist or craftsperson wanting to set up a booth. The date is set for October 11 (the 2nd Saturday in October). I need people to organize, assist, set up, take down, sell pumpkins, etc. Many Thanks! Kathy Kyzar Phone # 388-4440
Remember This . . . HUMOR FROM BENTON
God won't ask what kind of car you drove, but He'll ask how
many people you drove who didn't have transportation.
God won't ask the square footage of your house, but He'll ask how many people
you welcomed into your home.
God won't ask about the clothes you had in your closet, but He'll ask how many
you helped to clothe.
God won't ask what your highest salary was, but He'll ask if you compromised
your character to obtain it.
God won't ask what your job title was, but He'll ask if you performed your job
to the best of our ability.
God won't ask how many friends you had, but He'll ask how many people to whom
you were a friend.
God won't ask in what neighborhood you lived, but He'll ask how you treated your
neighbors.
God won't ask about the color of your skin, but He'll ask about the content of
your character.
God won't ask why it took you so long to seek Salvation, but He'll lovingly take
you to your mansion in heaven, and not to the gates of Hell.
MUSINGS
Never have the folks at St. Mary’s been so busy with activity. Everyone is scurrying around getting ready for the consecration/dedication of the new building that will be on Saturday, July 19th at 11:00AM with a reception to follow. Sister Barnes and Kim Johnson are organizing the flowers and Jan Derrick is getting the reception planned. The entire Altar Guild is polishing, ironing, and preparing everything to look its best. And boy are we proud! The buildings look so beautiful with the shrubbery to add the final touch and the parish hall will be finished enough to hold the reception. We are all indebted to George Barnes for the work he has done in making all of this happen. As head of the Building Committee we owe him a big thank you! And thank goodness we won’t have to have a tent! Hundreds of sandwiches, brownies, sugar cookies etc. are in the making plus gallons of wonderful fruit punch! We are expecting a big crowd and we hope that the sun will shine that day! It will be a day that St. Mary’s will make history! † Plans for the new Sunday School program for this fall are madly underway also! The theme of the WoRM (Workshop Rotation Model) for St. Mary’s will be FROG (“faithfully relying on God!”) and Willie Mack Pate and his team of teachers are thrilled to offer this for the children beginning in September. Everyone who wishes to be included will be! There are jobs and assignments for all! It is really exciting and the Christian Education Ministry Team is proud to get this underway! † To top off all that the thrift shop that St. Mary’s sponsors, called Second Blessings, is taking a leap of faith and moving the store this month. They will be located across the street from St. Mary’s on the property of Wesley Day Care Center and will occupy the house and the covered shed in the back next to the large parking lot. This will give them more space, they will have air-conditioning, and be able to offer the customers a much nicer atmosphere to shop! ….Margaret Goodspeed is the one to thank for her tireless effort in making this project such a success. She reports over $5,000.00 in the bank as of the end of June. This money will be sent on to do mission work. And to put the icing on the cake.. The choir is also growing ! We welcome Jim and Martha Goodlet and Connie Anderson. That space is really filling up and we thank John Beasley for his wonderful interest and leadership! † Many of us have enjoyed summer vacations. Debbie and Jimmy Grimes took a trip to the mountains, Debbie’s first and she loved it! Jan and Furman Derrick reported a great time in Tallahassee for their grandson's high school graduation and they brought their grand daughter, Brittany home to stay with them for almost a month. It was wonderful, according to Jan as she says, “Grandchildren are God's gift to us for letting our own children grow up!!” Andrea and Woody Woodham enjoyed a visit from Andrea’s sister, Elizabeth Knox and Don’s brother, Don Woodham earlier this month. Now they are planning a RV trip to North Carolina at the end of this month and Gaye Arnett and the children are excited they are going too! Tom and Margaret Goodspeed had a LONG drive to Idaho to take their daughter Raine back to work. They loved the climate and Tom is already planning another trip out but this time he fully intends to fly! We are saddened to lose Gail Adams, who has moved back to Birmingham to be closer to her daughter and her family, but we know the Episcopalians there will welcome her into her new church home, and Pat Aughtman who has moved to New Jersey live with her sister. † It appears that St. Mary’s is the place to be! †
Pray for those who are expecting a child: Kim McKinnis, Lynn Starnes, Lora Payne and Emily Reidel. We give thanks for the arrival of Thomas Duffy, son of Chrissie and Duffie who was born on Thursday, July 3rd. Logan Taylor wishes to thank all members for their support and interest during this difficult time. He says that “You are truly a loving community and he gives thanks for all of you.” Pray for relatives and friends in the Armed Forces: Chad Edler, Vincent Kucala, David Preston, Scott Cooper, Andrew Everitt, Wyatt Reaves, the Rev. Ken Cumbie, the Rev. Chris Coats, Paul Mullins, Gray Rider, Rachael Neely, Chris Motley, Jeffery Zamjahn, John Arnett, Tommy Taylor, Roger Hogan, Shaney Robinson, Jimmy Mott, Brian Powers, Erika Powers, Eloise Stallworth, Chris Mullins, Billy Piggott, Dee Dee Smith, Lew Lewis, Ben Profilet, Chad Wardlaw, and Chris Giles. Pray for the family of Morgan Prestwood who died on Tuesday, July 1st. We pray that God will grant comfort, strength and courage to his friends and family.
Prayers of Intercession
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Joanne Boswell
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Ashford Broughton
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Carolyn Weed
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