I like the theme of Always we begin again from the pledge cards that the vestry sent out last month. I am your new supply priest at All Saints’ Episcopal Church. For those of you who do not know me, please give a call to the church office where you can easily obtain my phone numbers.

Michael Curry, the Bishop of North Carolina has endorsed me to be your priest for the next few months. I will be with you until a new priest is called to All Saints. A new priest could be invited to serve All Saints’ as soon as April, 2007. As you may or may not know, I am a prison chaplain serving the Department of Corrections in the Diocese of Southern Virginia. I am still affiliated in that Diocese, but reside here in North Carolina.

In any case, I would like to talk about change. Change is taking place everywhere. Change is the epiphany of our lives. Most of us look at change as something that we lose.

Recently, the new, retired, and permanent interim Bishop of Southern Virginia, John Buchanan, held a clergy conference in the Diocese of Southern Virginia. For us, the Diocese of Southern Virginia has undergone tremendous change. It has been a most painful and difficult time for not only the clergy, but the laity as well.

When we met in the first clergy conference that Bishop Buchanan offered in our diocese, he directly addressed the issue of change. He asked us to look at the person next to us and make a change within a couple of minutes. All of us took something off. We took away from either who we were or who we would become.

It struck me as odd that the only way we could see change was through removing something. Then it occurred to me, change does not always mean taking something away. Change can also mean adding things to our lives.

That is how I would like to address the change that has occurred at All Saints. Let us look at the epiphanies of our lives… Let us look at: Always, we begin again.

Yep, we are who we are. We begin again, as God calls us. Let us not look at things as a sense of loss. We can look at change the same way I did, or we can peek at change as a way of embracing the future. We can look at change as adding things to our daily lives and our community life together.

Always, we begin again… We are not beginning with nothing. We are beginning anew with a great foundation, a great community of faith, and a community focused on Christ. Those are the blessings that we are called to build upon. Serving All Saints’ for just a few weeks, I can see that there are more resources than we realize. The limits that we have are usually placed not on us, but by us. Barriers are things that we create…

How many of us embrace change as embracing the future? Most of us, like me, see change as giving up something.

This is all new to me. You are all new to me. Like you, I struggle with our faith journey as a community of faith. However, we are called to remember that it is not faith and works; it is not faith or works; it is faith that works. I have no doubt that we are a community of faith that works for the good of God.

I look forward to this time with you. I hope this will be a time of discovery and change for each of us. This will be a time of theological significance as we discover not only each other, but a new journey as we uncover who we are and to whom we belong.

May the Lord be with you,

Alaska’s Little Chief
Traditional Chief David Salmon and the Fur-Bearers of Alaska
By Judy Ferguson. Glas Publishing, 2005.

This illustrated children’s book tells the story of David Salmon, an Episcopal priest and the Traditional Chief of Alaska’s Interior First Nations (American Indian) people. The book covers the beginnings of Fr. Salmon’s fascinating 93 year journey through life and God’s work. Brightly colored paintings depict the times and places experienced by Fr. Salmon when he was young, including his tribal village, the tuberculosis outbreak of the 1920’s, and the Episcopal mission-hospital where he learned the faith. This look into Anglican and Alaskan history is a wonderful insight into an interesting life and the great diversity of the Episcopal Church.

I Have Called You Friends
Reflections on Reconciliation
Edited by Barbara Braver, Cowley, 2006

This book tells about the rich and diverse tenure of our retired Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold. The book opens with a piece from Desmond Tutu, who knows a thing or two about the struggles that we as humans face with the dynamics of reconciliation. It also includes a poetic entry by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, who shares the burdens and pain of a conflicted church and divided world. There are excellent essays from leading theologians, lay and ordained. Each piece offers a wealth of knowledge of the best our church has to offer.

An Innocent Man
by John Grisham. Doubleday, 2006

Grisham’s latest best-seller is another great read which will keep you riveted from beginning to end. The story takes place in a small town and unravels a true tale about the justice system in a small town in Oklahoma. It is about a mentally ill minor league ball player who downward spirals into the abyss of a corrupt legal system. This novel is not only informative, but frightening. It will definitely help you to re-examine your feelings on capital punishment.
 

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Sunday, January 28, 2007
One Service only

Once a year the entire congregation meets to hear about "The State of the Parish". This meeting will be on Sunday, January 28 at 10 AM within the context of our Sunday worship. We will hear reports from the officers of the parish, as well as elect the new vestry members. Nominations are still being taken for the vestry. Please submit your recommendations to a member of the nominating committee, Jack Barber, Scott Harris, Julie Rountree or Liz Thiele. Following this service, we will move to the parish house for a covered dish luncheon. Please bring your favorite dish.
 

Thanks to our new webmaster, Bob Pearce, our website (ww.w.allsaintsrr.org) has been updated. This monthly newsletter, The Messenger, can now be found on our website or can be emailed to you. If you would prefer to receive this newsletter via the internet and not receive it thru the U.S. Mail, please email the parish office at allsaintsrr@earthlink.net.

Be sure to go online and check out our new website and give any suggestions or feedback to our new webmaster.
 

The Angel Tree was a total success because all Angels were taken from the tree and many wonderful gifts were purchased for our foster children in the area. In the book of James in a verse that instructs us to be “doers of the words” and your response to this need was a wonderful display of your love for others. Thanks!

Advent Wreath Creation Sunday was so much fun and the Advent Café offerings were delicious. The evening was filled with much laughter and joy as children and adults made their family advent wreath. There was enough greens to create a mixture of wreaths, all shapes and sizes. Great cooks! Good eating! We extend our gratitude to Patricia Barnes, Jean Carter, Sally Hardison, Betty Harris, Ann Hines, Susan and Bill Hodge, Mildred Moncure, and Joanne Parrott for preparation and the delectable menu.

Advent Sunday/Christmas Eve, WOW! What a combination. Nothing is more thrilling and chilling to the soul than to ask for help and your church family is enthusiastic to answer the request. We are deeply grateful to those who remained after Lessons and Carols to help prepare for the birthday of Jesus/Christmas. Hanging the garlands, placing the wreaths, changing the bows, moving poinsettias, and re-cleaning the church went extremely smooth, all because you cared. We are so fortunate to have each other.

The altar guild members for December and the Chairman and Co-chairman of Altar Guild, send a big thanks of appreciation to each of you.

The Good Samaritan Ministries which is sponsored by Church Women United, gratefully acknowledged the gifts of food given regularly by All Saints’. The contribution and continued support is deeply appreciated by the volunteer staff and those that are in need who benefit from the gifts of food.
 

Samuel and Hillman Homewood have the most alumni in their family
Manish Patel
(This article was posted online 9-13-06 at the www.technicianonline.com, the NC State Student Newspaper)

Most N.C. State students could probably count on one hand the number of alumni in their family, but brothers Samuel and Hillman Homewood would have to hold up both hands each. The family tree of Samuel Sholes Homewood III and Hillman "Hill" Collins Homewood boasts 19 alumni, spanning four generations, which includes their great-grandfather, grandfather and father, along with a host of various aunts, uncles and cousins. "I can't even name them all," Sholes said jokingly.

The legacy began with their great-grandfather Solomon Linn Homewood, who received a degree in agriculture in 1922 and a master's in animal husbandry in 1924. He was captain of the football team in 1917 and the captain of the track team in 1919. "Once he got there he set the basis for what he wanted from the rest of the family," said Sholes, a junior in sports management. "Every direct Homewood since him has gone to N.C. State following in his footsteps." NCSU has also been home to their grandfather, Samuel Homewood, who majored in textiles in 1950 and their father, Samuel Homewood Jr., who majored in U.S. history in 1977. The brothers said they have "definitely" felt pressure to attend the university. "N.C. State's been in our blood since we were born. Our dad raised us as N.C. State sports fans, and my grandfather raised us as State sports fans," Sholes said. "As soon as we got here we were comfortable with it, we knew this is where we wanted to be. It's always been a lifelong goal for me to come to State." Both Sholes and Hill started off at other schools before attending NCSU. Sholes attended Auburn during his freshman year and Hill, a sophomore in parks, recreation and tourism, attended Barton College in Wilson during his freshman year. Hill got his grades up at Barton with the continuing hope of making it to NCSU. He jokes that if he still didn't make it, he "probably would've gone to Wake Tech." After transferring to the University, Hill was honored at the Legacy Luncheon on August 19 for having the most alumni in his family. The Alumni Association invites incoming students, who have an alumnus parent or grandparent, to lunch and to have a pin put on them by a family member. "We had a lot of speakers," Hill said. "The Chancellor spoke; he told us to raise our hands to how many family members we had come to State and I kept raising my hand until the highest was the person with 11. And then I went up there and spoke about it." Sholes attended the luncheon and said his grandfather, Samuel Homewood, was proud to place the pin on Hill. He said he knew then how much it meant to his entire family. Sholes said he always went to State games. He and his family would "pile into a van" and come to watch every game. "It's not just sports, but that's the way our passion got started. We'd always have a great time," Sholes said. "It's a great family time and I've never been ashamed of hanging out with my family members. I love that they mean a lot to me because without family who else do you have?"

Hill remembers his exact feelings when he first learned that he would come to NCSU.
"I looked in the mail, and I started shaking because it was a big envelope. I was just very proud of myself," Hill said. Shole said his mom was "so proud" she called him "bawling on the phone." The brothers agree that going to school together has brought them closer. "Hill would do anything for me, and likewise I'd do anything for him," Sholes said.

Sholes hopes to be the 20th Homewood to graduate from the University, and Hill hopes to be the 21st. They said they have an earnest desire to keep the tradition alive within the family. "I want my family line to come to N.C. State and to keep on coming as long as they possibly can," Hill said. "It's in my blood," Sholes said. "And I'm going to hopefully instill it in their blood." Tradition is of the utmost importance to the Homewoods, according to Hill and Sholes. They maintain a tightly-knit unit who continually offer each other advice and support. "I am definitely proud of my heritage here at N.C. State," Sholes said. "There's no doubt about it. I've always wanted to live in my father's shoes and so far I've been able to do that; and just hearing how proud he was of me and Hill was worth every bit of studying."
 

As I write this it is Christmas Eve, and I am waiting for the arrival of the choir and then the congregation to celebrate the midnight service. I am waiting for the carols, the stories (for that’s what carols are by definition) of the birth of the Christ child. In the meantime, I have spent part of the time between the family service and preparations for the late service contemplating music for the Sundays of Epiphany and looking at the readings we will hear in January.

We have been waiting for so much during Advent. For Christmas to come, for families and friends to visit, for Santa to leave his presents for us, for the gift of the Christ child. It’s all here now or in some cases come and gone. But look at the readings for Epiphany and see what we have been waiting for: A sign from God that his grown Son is ready to begin his ministry, miracles that show that the Son knows his mission and his destiny.

What is our mission now that the hubbub of Christmas is past? Our mission, our destiny is to do the work of God every day. Listen to the carols of Epiphany as they show forth the work we are given in the world by telling of the work Christ was given to do. We don’t even have to spend every waking hour doing the work; we just have to show the love of God in our lives.

Now that Christmas has past, let’s rededicate ourselves to living the lives that God has given us.