FROM
THE RECTOR
Last
month, I wrote about Easter as being a reality of Christ that can be lived into
and lived out by people of faith each day. Resurrection and new life are
ongoing experiences that we encounter in varying degrees at different moments
in our lives. A change in the position of rector can be one of these moments.
It
is probably no surprise to anyone reading this issue of the Connection
that I have announced my departure from Calvary, and have accepted a call to
serve as the rector at the Church of the Advent in Spartanburg, SC. Although my
last Sunday was May 31, my last day in the office will be July 3. Please keep
me, Ellen, and the children in your prayers, for you can be certain that you
will be in ours as we all encounter transition.
Any
transition involves change. Recently, I attended my last Fresh Start
meeting at All Saints Camp and Conference Center. The teaching portion of the
agenda featured a module titled Leading Planned Change. Participants
were asked to complete a Change-Readiness Assessment.
In the assessment, there were seven traits of change-readiness identified. They
are as follows: Resourcefulness, Optimism, Adventurousness, Passion / Drive,
Adaptability, Confidence and Tolerance for Ambiguity.
Each
of the above traits has its blind-spots if carried too far or is not kept in
balance, but if there is a low amount of any of them, change is going to be all
the more difficult to initiate or withstand, no matter how important the change
is. A quick description of the traits are offered so that you can make an
assessment of your own and Calvary's readiness for change.
Resourcefulness: Resourceful
people are effective at taking the most of any situation and utilizing whatever
resources are available to develop plans and contingencies. They see more than
one way to achieve a goal, and they're able to look in less obvious places to
find help.
Optimism: Is the glass half empty or half
full? Optimism is highly correlated with Change-Readiness, since the pessimist
observes only problems and obstacles while the optimist recognizes
opportunities and possibilities.
Adventurousness: Two ingredients
capture this adventurous spirit: the inclination to take risks and the desire
to pursue the unknown, to walk the path less taken. Since change always
involves both risk and the unknown, adventurous people usually perform well
during organizational shake-ups. They are the pro actors, the ones who initiate
and create change.
Passion / Drive: Passion is the
fuel that maximizes all the other traits. If you have passion, nothing appears
impossible. If you don't, change is exhausting. Passion is the individual's
level of personal dynamism. To make a new procedure work, to overcome the
myriad of problems that any plan for change unwittingly produces, you've got to
have passion and enthusiasm.
Adaptability: Adaptability
includes two elements: flexibility and resilience. Flexible people have goals
and dreams like everyone else, but they're not overly invested in them.
Resilience is the capacity to rebound from adversity quickly with a minimum of
trauma. If the situation changes, their expectations shift right along with it.
Confidence: If optimism is
the view that a situation will work out, confidence is the belief in your own
ability to handle it. Individuals with high self-confidence believe they can
make any situation work for them.
Tolerance for Ambiguity: The one certainty
surrounding change is that it spawns uncertainty. No matter how carefully you
plan it, there is always an element of indefiniteness or ambiguity. Without a
healthy tolerance for ambiguity, change is not only uncomfortable; it's
downright scary.
There
is one more trait that we, as people of God, can draw on.
Faith. Faith in God as the one who is
present with us through transition. God who is the great initiator, is also the
one who sees us through the challenges of change and is there waiting for us at
the end of change. Placing our trust in God at the beginning of any change will
help us to see that the Holy Spirit is active within the process of transition.
God loves us and will be with us.
I
would be remiss if I did not offer my heartfelt gratitude to all of you at
Calvary. You have been wonderful to all of us. Ellen and I are especially
grateful for the love you have shared with Halstead, William, Lou Lou and
Evelyn. Thank you again for being the great people of God that you are.
In
closing I offer two prayers that have been constant companions of mine along
the way through life. I love you all, and pray that the oneness that we share
in the body of Christ will be the oneness that draws us close even though we
are moving apart for now. Thank you and God bless you. Ned+
A
Prayer attributed to St. Francis
Lord, make us instruments of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair,
hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that
we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to
understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to
eternal life. Amen. (BCP, p. 833)
A Prayer of Thomas Merton
God, we have no idea where we
are going. We do not see the road ahead of us. We cannot know for certain where
it will end. Nor do we really know ourselves,
and the fact that we think we are following your will does not mean that we are
actually doing so. But we believe that the desire to please you does in fact
please you. And we hope we have that desire in all that we are doing. We hope
that we will never do anything apart from that desire. And we know that if we
do this you will lead us by the right road, though we may know nothing about
it. Therefore, we will trust you always though we may seem to be lost and in the
shadow of death. We will not fear, for you are ever with us, and you will never
leave us to face our perils alone. (Thoughts in Solitude, p. 83, adapted)
From web site for
leadership class taught by Associate Professor, T. J. Jenney at Purdue;
www.tech.purdue.edu/ols/courses/ols386/crispo/changereadinesstest.doc.
An
Invitation from the Senior Warden
Dear Calvary Friends:
As
our parish embarks on a time of change with the departure of Fr. Ned to the
Church of the Advent in Spartanburg, SC, we are confident that the resources we
need to ensure that we are up to the task are at hand. Many of you shared your
heartfelt thoughts and beliefs about what you want to see in a new rector and
about how to proceed with the search process (See article inside: “What Do
Parishioners Want?”). Similarly, Fr. Ned offered a collection of wise
change-readiness traits to consider in conjunction with two timeless prayers
for guidance (See “From the Rector”). These gifts remind us that we are indeed
a faith community, that we know our mission and that we have the ability to
accomplish what is needed.
On
behalf of the Calvary Vestry and as your Senior Warden, I want to invite you to
consider another opportunity for service in this time of transition. Formation
of the Rector Search Committee is now underway and we believe that it can move
with both purpose and expediency. It will involve both vestry and non-vestry
members. If you have an interest in serving on this committee, please let me
know. I can be reached by phone at 502-456-6943 and by email at larry.frederiksen@insightbb.com.
I’d like to hear from you by June 15, 2009 so that the vestry can select the
committee members and allow it to get to work.
Thanks
to the gifts we have received and your continuing support, your vestry is
optimistic and future-focused.
Larry Frederiksen, Senior Warden
WHAT
DO PARISHIONERS WANT?
Members of the Calvary community have
definite ideas about what they want and need in a rector and about calling him
or her—just ask them! That’s what Senior Warden, Larry Frederiksen, did in his
April 30 letter to Calvary members as a follow-up to Fr. Ned’s April 27 letter
announcing his departure.
The
invitation was to attend informal discussions with vestry members in Parker
Hall on Sunday, May 10. Some 80+ communicants from the 7:45, 9:00 and 11:00
services came in, sat down, and shared their views. By all accounts they were
engaged and ready to offer their thoughts about what they wanted to see in a
new rector and how they believed Calvary should move forward with the search
process. Vestry members took notes and recounted what they had heard/learned at
a special vestry meeting on Monday evening, May 11. Based on a summary report,
here’s what they learned from those who attended the sessions in Parker Hall.
Rector
Characteristics: What would you like
to see in a new rector?
- Strong
preaching in terms of sermons that are well-crafted, intellectually-challenging,
well-delivered, and open-minded.
- Commitment
to all three Sunday services using Rite I in the 7:45, Rite I and II alternating
in the 11:00, and exercising some flexibility in the 9:00.
- Capable
of being a pastor to the diverse needs of the Calvary members, e.g., downtown and suburban families, youth
and children, single, elderly, and visitors.
- Able
to bring energy, understanding and charisma to Calvary’s ministries:
worship and music, Christian
Formation, outreach and care; this may well call for a person in
middle age—30-50—whose retirement is not imminent and who can, hopefully,
commit to Calvary for at least 5-7 years.
- Capable
of formulating, communicating and implementing a vision for Calvary that
builds on the momentum of the past three years.
- Capable
of effectively managing a staff and of administering the business affairs
of the parish resulting in membership growth and increased financial
viability.
- Able
to bring a strong background with no impediments.
Rector
Search Process: What are your thoughts concerning the process?
- Move
forward deliberately to keep up the momentum but without rushing the
process resulting in a premature decision.
- Use
a search committee comprised of vestry and non-vestry members (Plan A),
but consider combining it with direct consultation with the Bishop (Plan
B), in order to expedite consideration of candidates; avoid the
Rector-in-Charge option (Plan C).
- Employ
a consultant who knows the protocols and the innovative possibilities of
the search process, e.g., the roles and functions of the search committee,
the vestry, the Bishop, the candidates, the interims, the interviews, the
background checks and the customary timelines.
- Use
the rector characteristics identified by the congregation in evaluating
candidates.
- Keep
the congregation informed of progress and search process activity.
- Consider
Interim priests who can maintain Calvary’s momentum.
Miscellaneous: What
are some additional relevant considerations?
- Support
Rev. Emily Schwartz in her role as Assistant to the Rector through clear
expectations and selection of an Interim priest who can continue her
training through the completion of her tenure.
- Monitor
carefully the Bishop’s role and the extent of his active interest in
Calvary in the time of transition.
- Use
Calvary’s mission statement and Long-Range Planning Committee documents to
communicate Calvary’s picture to the rector candidates.
- Have
the Search Committee consider candidate names identified by a variety of
sources, e.g., the Bishop, the vestry and others.
- Ensure
that the Calvary Rector vestments and other official accoutrements are
ready for the Interim’s use and for the new rector upon his/her arrival.
With
this information in hand, the vestry met on May 26 to consider its next moves.
As the results of those deliberations become clear, and in keeping with the
wishes of those who attended the discussion sessions, they will be shared with
the entire congregation. Look for updates in the Sunday bulletins, the posted
vestry minutes, the Calvary website and further Calvary Connection articles.
As
Larry’s letter put it: it is a time for Calvary to move forward and to remember
“…to make the most of the strengths we share to ensure that the church we love
continues its mission with vigor and commitment. In this spirit, let us go
forward together in the name of Christ.”
John
Bugbee
A Reminder from the Vestry
Please remember to keep your pledges up to date over
the summer months.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
and COMMUNITY
Congratulations to Calvary’s youth for an
outstanding Youth Sunday on Mother’s Day, May 10. With over 20 young people participating, they
did almost everything for the service except celebrate Holy Communion. We especially thank John MacLean for his
excellent sermon. And we also thank the
adults who helped make this possible with their guidance and leadership.
May
17 was the closing day for the 2008/2009 Church School year. The ceremony ended
with a wonderful rendition by the Godly
Play students of the Lord’s Prayer. Everyone received prayer bookmarks and
tomato plants. Hopefully a few tomatoes
will return to the Calvary Food Closet as well as bring families much joy and
nutrition. We offer special thanks to
all of the teachers who were so dedicated this year preparing lessons and projects,
and most importantly, providing a safe, caring, and welcoming place to learn
and continue our path of faith formation.We also are grateful for Emma Melo,
Christian Formation Chair. The Morris
family hosted a wonderful dinner on May 17 in appreciation for Calvary’s
teachers.
Though
the 08/09 regular season has ended, we are pleased to announce that there will
be a SUMMER SESSION beginning June
14 and lasting through August 13 (with the exception of July 5). Laura Blackburn and Jonathan Surrenti will offer Bible stories, beginning
with two favorites mentioned at the closing celebration, Jonah and the Whale and King
David. In addition, there will be
opportunities for responding to the stories, including drama, movement, art, and
music. There will also be time to enjoy the playground. Come at 10:00 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. in Parker
Hall for creative learning and summer fun.
Calvary’s youth are invited to participate and/or help.
Rooms
for Christian Formation at Calvary: We
are happy to announce that when the fall/spring Christian Formation program
resumes on August 30, the Tower will be ready for classes and youth group
events. Thanks to Noel Booker, Michael
Hensley, David, Sergei and Marshall Hess, and Will Cary, the Tower has been painted. We appreciate all those who have been
involved in helping to prepare this space for classroom use. Another need is for volunteers who can help
paint Room 203 sometime in June, so that it will be fresh and clean for Godly Play classes this fall. If you are interested in helping, including
moving furniture out of the way, please see me.
We look forward to seeing you throughout
the summer! Please contact me if you
have any ideas or suggestions.
Calvary
at the Bats
on August 27: Sign up now to enjoy the fun at Slugger Field on Thursday, August
27 at 7:05. This has become a Calvary
tradition that is fun – and fairly inexpensive.
Information is available on
the bulletin board in
the Parish Hall or please see me.
Callie Hausman
SENIOR
and JUNIOR WARDENWORDS
Please
see John Bugbee’s article about our preparation in calling of a new rector.
Larry
Frederiksen, Senior Warden
Molly Isaacs McLeod, Junior Warden
THE
CALVARY BOOK CLUB
The Calvary Book Club is not meeting in
June and July because co-chair Donna Coliz is taking a well deserved vacation
from some of her responsibilities and actually leaving town.
During this interim co-chair Sally Lambert is taking the opportunity to solicit
input from all those Calvary members who are interested in the book club,
but have suggestions for how it can be improved. This would include
suggestions for changing the date and time of meetings if the first Tuesday of
the month at 6:30 pm is not convenient, to changing the place for the meeting
from Calvary to another place, changing the format of the club discussions,
suggestions for books to be read in the future, and any other suggestion,
criticism, or comment any one would like to submit. Please contact me at shlnamaste@insightbb.com or 493-4874
with ideas or for discussion.
Peace and blessings,
Sally Lambert
THE CHURCH MOUSE offers
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE FOLLOWING GRADUATES:
- Lawrence Lewis
III, University of Connecticut (Barret Hill’s grandson
- Peyton
Luckett, Loyola University, Chicago
- Willis
Brangers, Male High School
- John MacLean,
Manual High School
- Jessica
Fentress, University of Dayton (McPhersons’ grandchild)
- Baylor
Brangers, Indiana University
- Sara Rudwell,
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University
- Wesley Lasu,
Nursing degree May 30 (Wesley was a Sudanese refugee who was helped by
Calvary, along with his family, especially by Jerry Lyndrup)
Please
let us know if we’ve missed anybody and we will publish their names in August.
CONGRATULATIONS to Ned Reiter upon the
birth of his grandson, Jack Edward Kavanagh Eriksen on January 29.
KUDOS to Sarah Redden, winner of an essay
contest by the American Federation of Music Clubs (Music, Poetry of the Heart).
JOYCE
TICHENOR
Joyce
Tichenor has been involved with Calvary since high school when she was a member
of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. At that
time St. Paul’s was located at Fourth and Magnolia, and the teenagers of both
congregations met one evening a week to socialize and dance. After living in San Francisco and Denver,
Joyce and her husband Stan moved to Belgravia Court in Louisville, and joined
Calvary. She, her mother, and daughter
sang in the choir.
When
her family moved from Old Louisville she attended St. Mark’s and sang with the
choir there. She and Stan moved to
Windsor Place, where they set aside one room for their extensive collection of
books. Although the house was quite
sturdy, they learned 17 years later that the corner of the house with the
library had sunk an inch.
Joyce’s
occupations have included converting currency for American Express, working on
a special project to assess Louisville schools, writing book reviews of
theatrical biographies and mysteries for the Courier-Journal, and serving as
secretary to the principal of Barrett Middle School.
From 1964 until 1971 Joyce worked for the
Kentucky Opera Association. She handled
memberships, mailed the season tickets, and ran the box office. The KOA was then located in the carriage
house of Garden Court. Neighbors across
the street kept a horse and a cow on their property. One pleasant day when the carriage doors were
wide open, the cow wandered very close to the road and let out a loud
“Moooo.” Joyce was on the phone with a
man from New York who expressed surprise at hearing what sounded like a
cow. Joyce told him the noise was from “friendly livestock”
in the neighborhood.
Joyce
has always been active in animal welfare and was one of the founders of the
Animal Care Society. She had been a
volunteer at the Humane Society and realized that not all of the animals she
was helping to exercise would be adopted.
She and others concerned with animal welfare wanted to start a no-kill
shelter. She says collecting cans has
always been part of the fund-raising for Animal Care.
Joyce’s
daughter Jennie shares her enthusiasm for animal care, recycling, and helping
neighbors. Jennie works in the
Anthropology Department at New York University and has started a program there
to recycle clothes, linens, even computers, that students discard at the end of
a school year. She works at a soup
kitchen and continues to bake brownies for the firemen who responded on
9/11. Jennie enjoys attending services
at Calvary when she is in Louisville.
Until late April, Joyce was one of the
weekday workers at Calvary. On
Wednesdays, she helped with the food and clothing distribution for Help
Ministries. She said her work was very
gratifying and the people were wonderful.
Joyce
is especially fond of the Rite I service because “the liturgy is so
graceful.” She appreciates Calvary’s
beautiful architecture and windows. She
also likes Calvary’s ambiance and people.
She believes a new rector will be coming into a well-established church
with an excellent music program, and hopes that we will have a smooth
transition.
Linda Klein
Joyce is pictured in the right foreground
as she helps prepare a Lenten lunch.
MEET
LAURA BLACKBURN AND GIONATAN SURRENTI
Laura Porter Blackburn was born and raised
in Louisville KY. She matriculated at Brown University in Providence, RI and
“eventually received a Master of Arts and Humanities in Dance and Theatre from SUNY
Buffalo, focusing primarily in Contact Improvisation and mixed media live art
installations.” Laura then attended and received a Pilates certification from
the Pilates Center in Boulder Colorado, a teacher training institution. (Note:
the Pilates Center program teaches a system of movement and therapeutic
exercise designed “to empower people to be in control of their own health
and well-being”). Laura notes that she is “a Pilates Instructor as well as
a Contact Improvisation Teacher.”
In January 2000, she left the US for Paris,
France, where she “opened Centre Pilates de Paris”, the second Pilates studio
in Paris in 2001. There she also met her husband Gionatan who also practices, performs
and teaches Contact Improvisation (a dance technique, one of the best-known
and most characteristic forms of postmodern dance, in which points of
physical contact provide the starting point for exploration through
movement/dance improvisation). “We danced together as friends and
colleagues for about 4 years, even coming to Louisville to do an artistic
residency with a French choreographer at the Mary Anderson Center in Indiana.
After that intensive project, we began to fall in love.” In September 2003,
they moved to Orvieto, Italy, where Laura “continued my own practice/opening a
little studio, called Core Fluency Pilates.” There she and Gionatan married and
had Maya Luella Maria Surrenti, on August 15, 2004 (the holiday of the
assumption of Mary, arguably the biggest holiday in all of Italy). “We had been
on a hunt for an Eagle's Nest in the mountains of central Italy! It is a great
story!” Joseph "Mattia" James Surrenti was added to the family on
April 25, 2007 (the Italian Independence Day). “I had two home births with a
very special Italian midwife (a career of well over 3000 home births, I am not
joking).Very special story there too.”
Currently she is teaching Pilates at Pilates
Bodies in Saint Matthews. Maya plays the
violin, and Mattia studies right alongside her. “We all sing a lot, and we do a
weekly
Music
Together Class. Maya is happily attending Hayfield Montessori School, and loves
fairy tales and fancy dresses, and Mattia has a passion for construction
vehicles, especially backhoes, and gelato. Maya
dances and studies Karate with her dad, and Mattia has brought us into the
weekly 'Music Together' Class as a family. They play 'Church' at home, passing out
"the holy cookie" and wine, and just today they played being acolytes
and lighting altar candles with large self-made Leggo candlelighters!!! Having
them has brought all the passion and joy of their fun, bursting, Italian
personalities into my life, lighting it up from the inside! Both of us feel so
blessed to have them.”
Gionatan Emiliano Surrenti was born in Milan
and raised in Rome, where he first attended a language high school and then got
his masters degree in film studies and literature. In 2006 he earned a bachelor
of arts degree in career counseling, while he was already working in the field
of career guidance and experiential counseling. Gionatan is teaching Italian,
and Contact Improvisation, while getting his Experiential Career Counseling
business off the ground here. He “combines knowledge of the body, movement, and
counseling together to provide exciting career counseling for people looking to
change jobs, start a new career or renew a career.”
“Our Church history is a great one because
we co/founded a little Episcopal parish in Orvieto. But that is a story for
another time.” When next you see Laura and/or Gionatan, ask them about the
search for the eagle’s nest and the midwife experience and the church in
Orvieto. They are very gracious and fascinating folk who add a great deal to
the Calvary Family. And please don’t forget to get to know Maya and Mattia as
well.
Jim Barnes
MUSIC
NOTES
Just a reminder that,
like Calvary, our music program is unique. The adult choir sings all summer
long, and may be the only choir in the city that does so. We laud our faithful
choir members, and invite you to come all summer as well!!!!
VESTRY
VENTURES
Minutes
of April 27, recessed and convened on May 11 (Please see other reports in this
issue pertaining to vestry business)
Special
Guest:
The Rt. Rev. Edwin F. Gulick, Jr.
(April 27 session).
The March 24 minutes were accepted.
Special Announcement: At the beginning of April 27 meeting, Bishop Gulick was welcomed. Fr.
Morris had asked the Bishop to be present as he announced that he will be
leaving Calvary to become rector of the Church of the Advent in Spartanburg,
South Carolina. May 31 is be his last service at Calvary. Bishop Gulick spoke
words of encouragement and support. Will Vail lead the Vestry in offering our
sincere congratulations to Fr. Ned. Rev. Emily Schwartz thanked the Vestry for
her ordination vestments. Fr. Morris yielded the chair to Senior Warden Larry
Frederiksen, and the vestry went into Executive Session.
Committee Reports
for Both Dates
Worship: Fr. Morris
reported on upcoming services including Confirmation on Trinity Sunday. Kudos
to the Calvary youth who participated in the May 10, 11:00 o’clock service.
Especially noteworthy were the sermons given by John McLean, the prayers
offered by Franklin Starks, and the music provided by the Elementary Choir and
the string ensemble.
Pastoral Care: Kit Llewellyn passed out copies of the goals for this committee.
Christian Formation: Franklin Starks said all, especially teachers, are honored in Parker Hall
at 10:00 on May 17 and for a dinner at the Morris home that evening.
Stewardship: Will Vail is meeting with John Bugbee and Larry Frederiksen.
Outreach: Larry Frederiksen referred to Margaret Dickinson’s April Outreach, Music
and Communications report. Communication: Dorn Crawford referred to Margaret Dickinson’s April Outreach, Music and
Communications report.
Property: Michael Hensley reported the South tower has been painted.
Finance: On April
27 before the meeting was recessed, two motions were passed. The first authorizes the
Treasurer to seek an outside auditor to complete an Audit Review of the 2008
financial accounts and that a review of 2008 internal financial procedures be
completed by an internal audit committee. The second involved membership in the
Calvary Endowment Advisory Committee. On
May 11, Jim Barnes presented the financial statements for the month ending
March, 2009. The Treasurer’s report was accepted.
Fundraising: Tom Fulton has been working with Ann Howell. The sale of art items would
go to the Dorothy Jones Food Closet.
Auctioned items would go to Calvary’s operating budget. The event is
planned for October 16 (a Friday).
Senior Warden: Larry Frederiksen reported on the Treasurers and Wardens Conference for
the diocese. Notable issues included stewardship, safeguarding children, and
audits and bookkeeping.
Old Business
Long-Range Planning: Dorn Crawford announced a meeting for May 20.
2010 Sesquicentennial Celebration: John Bugbee said plans for the celebrations will be presented at upcoming
vestry meetings.
New Business
Laura Hall will
offer her career counseling services.
Closing
The next
regularly scheduled meeting of the Vestry is May 26, 2009 @ 5:15 PM. Compline.
The
meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM
with Compline officiated by Ruth
Robins. Morris Belknap, Secretary
CONNECTION EDITORIAL BOARD:
Margaret Dickinson, Editor; Barret Hill,
the Rev. Ned Morris (Rector), James Barnes, Linda Klein, Sally Meigs, Callie
Hausman, and John Bugbee.
GENERAL E-MAIL:
calvarychurch@calvaryepiscopal.org
WEB:
http/www.calvaryepiscopal.org
FAX:
502-587-6012
TELEPHONE:
502-587-6011
OFFICE
HOURS: 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday
through Thursday;
9:00 – Noon Saturday; Closed Friday.
THE CALVARY CONNECTION