Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church Clarkesville, Georgia MMUSTARD SEED Grace-Calvary Church is open to all people for communion with God and each other in Christ. Within and beyond this historic Church we strive to do God’s work: nurturing our spirits, reaching out to those in need, valuing and caring for the diversity of God’s creation.
CONTENTS Assisting Priest Committees & Happenings Mark Your Calendars Christmas Pageant Altar Flowers Birthdays & Anniversaries In Our Community Calendar	Greetings From the Rector The Reverend Dena S. Bearl † God Among Us Christmas Message 2006 By Katharine Jefferts Schori Beloved, The Presiding Bishop’s Christmas Message. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
God loved us so much that he came to dwell among us, to tent among us in human flesh… There is a wonderful echo there of God’s presence in the tent while Israel wandered in the wilderness. The gift of the Incarnation says that God is willing to take on the human tent of flesh and be one with us and among us. That frail tent of flesh proves capable of holding divinity, but also capable of yielding up its spirit. Irenaeus and Athanasius insisted that the gift of Incarnation was that “God became human, that we might be divine.” You and I are bearers of the image of God, and you and I share in Incarnation, for Jesus has walked this way before us. God is born in us as well. The vulnerability of being born in obscurity, to a peasant refugee couple, in an out of the way place, says to us that God is with us in the smallest parts of life – perhaps a reminder that we, too, may discover God in those humble and unexpected places if we are willing to go in search. Matthew’s story of the wise ones from the east who come searching for this new thing, this remarkable child, is equally a reminder that God’s love extends to all, that God comes among us in human form for all humanity, not just for our co-religionists, not just for those who expect God’s appearing in the same way we do, and not just in predictable ways at the altar. Recently I watched and listened to a woman on a bus as she engaged in conversation with a three-year-old boy. The woman asked the child what happens at Christmas, but the boy, though highly verbal, wasn’t able to say much. With his parents’ apparent agreement, she asked him about Santa Claus, and began to tell him all about waking up on Christmas Day and finding presents. She didn’t talk about St. Nicholas on his feast day, or about Jesus and his birth, but she did convey a sense of the wonder and love connected to Christmas. That is an opening for those of us who claim to be followers of Jesus. It is the kind of invitation heard by the wise ones from the east. Even Santa Claus – far removed thought today’s version of the story may be from the holy faithfulness of St. Nicholas – can be another kind of leading others to the humble stable where God comes among us. God continues to come among us in humility, God continues to be birthed in fragile opportunities that will need to be nourished and tended by others. The little boy on the bus had had his mind and heart opened to hear the bigger story about Christmas. Now, who will tell the old, old story of God’s love to those so ready and eager to hear?

SUNDAY LECTIONS for December 2006

1-7-2007	Isaiah 43:1-7,Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17,21-22
1-14-2007	Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
1-21-2007	Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
1-28-2007	Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

1-7-2007	Isaiah 43:1-7,Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17,21-22
1-14-2007	Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
1-21-2007	Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
1-28-2007	Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

1-7-2007	Isaiah 43:1-7,Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17,21-22
1-14-2007	Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
1-21-2007	Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
1-28-2007	Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

1-7-2007	Isaiah 43:1-7,Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17,21-22
1-14-2007	Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
1-21-2007	Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
1-28-2007	Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

1-7-2007	Isaiah 43:1-7,Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17,21-22
1-14-2007	Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
1-21-2007	Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
1-28-2007	Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

1-7-2007	Isaiah 43:1-7,Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17,21-22
1-14-2007	Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
1-21-2007	Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
1-28-2007	Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

1-7-2007	Isaiah 43:1-7,Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17,21-22
1-14-2007	Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
1-21-2007	Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
1-28-2007	Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

1-7-2007	Isaiah 43:1-7,Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17,21-22
1-14-2007	Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
1-21-2007	Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
1-28-2007	Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

1-7-2007	Isaiah 43:1-7,Psalm 29, Acts 8:14-17, Luke 3:15-17,21-22
1-14-2007	Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11
1-21-2007	Nehemiah 8:1-3,5-6,8-10, Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, Luke 4:14-21
1-28-2007	Jeremiah 1:4-10, Psalm 71:1-6, 1 Corinthians 13:1-13, Luke 4:21-30

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK – If you have questions or suggestions regarding the Mustard Seed please contact us at! 706-754-2451 or email chancegc@alltel.net

Grace-Calvary Episcopal Church

P.O. Box 490

Corner of Wilson & Green

Clarkesville, Georgia 30523

(706) 754-2451

(706) 754-5621 (fax)

www.grace-calvary.org

gcalvary@alltel.net

Bishop – The Rt. Rev. J. Neil Alexander

Rector – The Rev. Dena S. Bearl

Assistant Priest – The Rev. Don Harrison

Parish Administrator – Mrs. Jean Chance

Organist – Mr. Anthony Woronowski

Choir Director – Dr. Edwin Calloway

Vestry

Sr. Warden – Mr. Ray Rowell ‘07

Jr. Warden – Mr. Ray Bass ‘08

Mr. Carlton Adams ‘07

Mr. David Greene ‘07

Mr. Jimie Yearwood ‘08

Ms. Pat Statler ‘08

Mrs. Susan Smith ‘09

Mr. Clair Langmaid ‘09

Ms. Kathy O’Keefe ‘09

HOW DO YOU RAISE YOUR CHILD TO HAVE FAITH?

Periodically a distraught parent will call or drop by the office and say, “Our dog got hit by a car and died and our four-year old wants to know if his dog is in heaven. What do I tell him?” Or, there was the mother who

related the story of teaching her child the Lord’s Prayer so she could say it at bed time. The child, after pondering the question for some time, asked, “How does God go to the bathroom?” Again, the parental question, “What do I say?”

All of us parents can relate our own stories of kid’s questions about God and our own feelings of nadequacy. How do you raise your child to have faith when, often, you’re not so sure of your own faith? For the last six years I have been trying to address that question and collect resources that would be helpful to parents. One of the best resources is the care and support of other parents who find themselves in the same situation. It is our plan to bring together the parents of young children to socialize and learn how to raise children to have faith. It is my plan to gather the parents with young children (PWYC) for a light lunch after church on a Sunday later this month. We will provide child care and food for the children and parents and I will share with you some resources that should be helpful in raising your child to have faith. We will send out information with all o0f the particulars.

Don Harrison +

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COMMITTEES AND HAPPENINGS

BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

Buildings and Grounds would like to thank the following people who helped on Saturday 12/16/06 to spread 32 bales of pine straw, trim trees and bushes and cut out unwanted growth outside all of the buildings – Frank McCann, Charlė Statler, Pat Statler, Richard Webb, John Moss, Jack Grimes, Ray Rowell, Al Mason, Ron House, Clair Langmaid, Jack Johnston, and Bob Parker

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All Altar Guild Members

There will be a mandatory meeting in the Church on 1/14/07, at noon, after the second service.

Please plan to attend this meeting.

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Chalice Bearers, Lectors, and Acolytes

There will be a training session for all new Chalice Bearers, Lectors, and Acolytes on 1/28/07 at 12:15pm in the Church. Anyone interested in this ministry, or anyone desiring a refresher course, is invited to attend.

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UTO Fall Ingathering

Thank you, Grace-Calvary, for your generous contributions for our UTO Ingathering. A total of $338.77 has been forwarded to the fund to help support the many worthy causes. If you need a new “blue box” for your offerings this next year, you can pick one up in the church office or St. Julian Hall.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Feast of the Epiphany – Saturday January 6

We will continue our tradition of inviting the Church of the Resurrection to join us for this special feast day. After our Epiphany worship service at 7 p.m., we will process with our lit candles to St. Julian Hall to enjoy “Chocolates by Candlelight”. Please mark your calendars. Nursery will be provided for young children.

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ECW 3^RD ANNUAL WOMEN’S RETREAT

MARCH 23-25, 2007

LAKE LOGAN EPISCOPAL CENTER

Waynesville, NC

WOMAN TO WOMAN…

…sister to sister, mother to daughter, older to younger…there are so many ways that women relate to each other and depend on each other. Our speaker this year is The Rev. Tricia Templeton, rector of St. Dunston’s in Atlanta. In addition to serving as a parish priest and a hospice chaplain, she has enjoyed a career in journalism, has worked in a rural village in Thailand teaching English and has worked in a refugee camp for Save the Children. She and her husband, Joe Monti, have a son, Joseph Henry, who is in kindergarten. Please plan to come away for this time of intentional retreat in this beautiful area. We have limited our number of participants this year to fifty on a FIRST COME basis. If you plan to come, it is important that you mail the reservation with your $50 deposit by January 15th so that we will have a bed reserved for you. Registration forms can be picked up at the Church Office or St. Julian Hall. Mail your deposit and form to Becky Jackson, 2281 Bear Gap Road, Lakemont, GA 30552.

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Children’s Christmas Pageant a Success!!!

The Children’s Christmas Pageant was a huge hit! The children did an outstanding job and the beautiful voices brought tears to many eyes. If you missed it, you missed a wonderful Christmas experince! We’d like to thank the many people who were instrumental in making it such a wonderful event – Fran Dundore, Our Director; Eph Davis, Music Director; Brandy Aycock, Joely Mixon, Margaret Parsons, Charlé and Pat Statler, who made 22 costumes and donated most of the material; Tommy Walker, who made our stage and manger; Jennifer Tench, who provided our scroll; the leaders of Workshop Cycles, J2A and Godly Play; and the children who, in addition to doing a great job, also decorated their own wings, crowns, and the guiding star.

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All About Flowers at the Altar…

Flowers speak of festivity, of celebration. We gather around the altar to celebrate our life in Christ. Every Holy Eucharist is an occasion of celebration as are special occasions such as weddings, anniversaries, births, etc.

Flowers express our thanksgiving. We adorn the altar and church with flowers in a sacramental way – as an outward and visible sign of our love and gratitude to God for the many blessings we receive.

Flowers express our love. They express our loving memory of those who have died and to continue to give thanks for their lives.

Flowers extend the church’s care to those who are unable to be at the altar on Sundays. They are made into smaller arrangements and taken to those in the hospital, in nursing homes, homebound, when a baby is born and other pastoral occasions.

How to contribute to the ministry of the flower guild…

There is a new flower chart near the coffee station in St. Julian Hall. Under it are envelopes. These same envelopes are also available in the pews.

The chart can help you select which Sunday you would like your thanksgiving or memorial to be named in the bulletin. When the office receives your envelope, they will put your name on the chart on the date requested. There is no limit as to how many thanksgivings and memorials can be named in the bulletin.

We ask for a donation of $20 to the Flower Guild so that they may provide arrangements that will be beautiful offerings of celebration, thanksgiving, love, and care. If you wish to offer a thanksgiving or memorial and are unable to donate $20, you may give what you are able. We don’t want anyone to be prohibited from naming their thanksgiving and love.

Dena +

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS		JANUARY ANNIVERSARIES
7	David Lewis	12	Wally & Dellie Wenn
8	Anne Short	14	Fred & Karen Luckfield
9	Alex White	24	Roy & Becky Bruner
13	Pat Williams	28	Warner & Leslie Hunnicutt
15	Christopher Calloway
17	Sharon Smessaert
23	Camille Gussetta
24	Barbara Jones
27	Sherry Donnelly
29	Clayton Hunnicutt

IN OUR COMMUNITY

SHARING & CARING

This year’s Sharing and Caring Food Basket Giveaway to our residents of Habersham County was a great success due to you volunteering your time and effort to serve the less fortunate in our community. In the true Spirit of Christmas about 200 plus volunteers came to the Baldwin School over the three days of our unloading, bagging and giving out of food. None of this would have been possible without you. Sharing and Caring would never have been able to survive all these years without people such as yourself. Merry Christmas and may God continue to bless you and your family, and the Sharing and Caring Places of Habersham County. Gratefully, Jack Reeves, Chairman

Grace-Calvary helps with Sharing & Caring Christmas Giveaway

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The Soup Kitchen gets help from Grace-Calvary with their Christmas Dinner

YOUTH