AWARDS SUNDAY AND
RECOGNITION OF HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE GRADUATES

will take place on
The Feast of Pentecost (Mother's Day)
Sunday, May 11

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ANNUAL PARISH PICNIC
TRINITY SUNDAY

Sunday, May 18
10:30 a.m.  HOLY EUCHARIST

THE PARISH PICNIC FOLLOWS
(Please bring a salad, vegetable, casserole, etc.  --  Church will provide the chicken, bread and dessert.)

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TALK AND CONVERSATION

The Yale Club in New York City must be one of many which post notices throughout their premises that cell phone usage is strictly prohibited in all of the public rooms, including the locker rooms.  Employees are instructed to enforce these restrictions, something which a recent visitor never believed he would witness.  He was wrong.

One morning last month in the very large main reading room where guests were either digesting the newspapers or conversing quietly in the corners, one lady got up to answer her cell phone and rather than leaving the room to take the call, she proceeded to walk throughout the room speaking loudly enough for all to hear, gesticulating, and generally making a nuisance of herself.  When an employee finally arrived to inform her of the club rules, she ignored him.  When he persisted, she acted as if he and the rest of those in the room were the offenders, and then walked out of the room continuing her conversation at the same decibel level as before.

The above helps one appreciate another incident referenced in a recent book review by Christine Rosen, that in 2007 a retired police officer riding on the Long Island Rail Road, yelled at a man for talking on his cell phone and struck the hand of a woman who had offered her business card in an effort to intercede.  "For his uncivil efforts to bring civility to commuter travel, the officer was arrested on misdemeanor charges of assault, harassment and disorderly conduct. Two weeks ago, a New York City judge acquitted him of all charges.  When asked outside the courtroom what he regretted about his own conduct.  He answered:  'Nothing.'"

As Ms. Rosen continues, "It is not hard to understand the officer's point of view even if we do not condone his actions, [because] the overheard conversation of others -- especially in loud, cell phone form -- is one of the ordeals of modern life."

In 2004, Ms. Rosen wrote a very fine essay for the journal The New Atlantis titled "Our Cell Phones, Ourselves" in which she addressed the question:  "...Has the wireless telephone encouraged us to connect individually but disconnect socially, ceding, in the process, much that was civil and civilized about the use of public space...eroding the spontaneous encounters and everyday decencies that make society both civilized and tolerable?"  Regarding ones experience at the Yale Club, the answer would seem to be a resounding "Yes."  At the core of her essay, Ms. Rosen suspects that "...cell phone users harbor illusions about being alone or assume a degree of privacy that the circumstances don't actually allow.  Because cell phone talkers are not interacting with the world around them, they come to believe that the world around them isn't really there and surely shouldn't intrude.  And when the cell phone user commanders the space by talking, he or she sends a very clear message to others that they are powerless to insist on their own use of the space.  It is a passive-aggressive but extremely effective tactic."

Despite the very positive roles they play in terms of convenience and security, etc., this author reminds us that there really is a moral dimension to our use -- or overuse -- of these devices.  Most of us have no trouble making a distinction between noise and music, and we can see the analogy with talk and conversation, and that increasingly we find ourselves subjected to behavior that doctors used to witness "only among the denizens of the asylum:  the disembodied talk that renders all of us unwilling listeners."

When St. John in his first epistle decries the sin which he calls the "Pride of Life", he means in part our excessive yearning for information solely for the sake of information.  A recent episode on South Park poked more than just fun at  such quests, and our conniptions and convulsions when we can't "get online" right when we want.  I’m as guilty as anyone, spending most of my time on the WWW not in search of potentially useful knowledge, but attempting to find another turntable or preamplifier which I don't need at a bargain price I don't need to pay.  How much of our information gleaned from the web or elsewhere do we convert to knowledge which might be used to further the Kingdom of Heaven?  We become guilty of the Pride of Life when we stockpile information, failing to use it to the enrichment of society.

Likewise, Ms. Rosen argues that too much cell phone chatter is in effect not conversation, but talk if not noise, and that we posses the gift of speech not primarily to talk, but to converse - to bring society closer together.  While cell phone time might help strengthen our bonds with the people we know, many of those "conversations" are simply talk, and take place at the expense of those we don't know.  Who among us has not attempted to read a book while sitting at the gate waiting for one's flight to be called, and not been subjected to someone talking away loud enough for the entire concourse to hear:  talking solely for the sake of hearing one talk, without a clue that he or she is not only disturbing others, but doesn't give a hoot or have a clue that there might even be others present.  It's too bad that airport personnel cannot banish these persons to the designated smoking area.

What Ms. Rosen's essay helps us appreciate then is the very powerful analogy between talk and conversation, and information and knowledge.  Just as there is a moral dimension to our use of information, there is and remains a moral dimension to our use of words.  To be guilty of the "Pride of Life" means to court and amass information solely for the sake of hoarding information, failing to convert it to useable knowledge in order to further the Kingdom of Heaven.  Likewise when we use our cell phone only to talk to the point that we would ignore those around us -- with whom we might possibly discover we could have an enlightening conversation (for instance the stranger we're sandwiched next to on an airplane), we also become guilty not only of the sin of the Pride of Life, but of elementary manners and basic civility as well.  FAB

DR. PETER TOON TO RETIRE

As many of you know, Dr. Peter Toon is the President of the Prayer Book Society (PBS), editor of Mandate -- the bi-monthly magazine of the PBS, and frequent contributor to many online forums.  He has been diagnosed with Amyloidosis, an abnormal protein condition which affects different organs in the body.  As a result, Dr. Toon recently announced his retirement, and additional information can be found at the PBS website http://pbs1928.blogspot.com under the article "No more tracts from Dr. Toon to read!"

Dr. Toon has been a friend of All Saints' Church, having visited and preached here several years ago.  We are going to miss his faithful writing, sound arguments, and ardent defense of the "Faith once delivered to the Saints" as expressed in the historic liturgy of the classic Book of Common Prayer.   Many of us have enjoyed reading Mandate, and his articles, tracts, e-mails, pamphlets, and books have not only encouraged, but have helped us articulate the beliefs that we hold as a parish.

Please remember Dr. Toon in your personal prayers as he struggles with this debilitating disease.  May God continue to bless him this day, and all the days to come.   WNM

ASCENSION, PENTECOST, AND TRINITY

As we conclude our celebration of Easter, we encounter three consecutive Sundays of special significance.  Eastertide is the celebration of our Lord's Resurrection, and His forty days on Earth from Easter Sunday until Ascension Day.  The fortieth day following any Sunday is a Thursday, meaning that Ascension Day always falls on a weekday, and therefore, most parishes do not have a big celebration that day.  Many parishes which do celebrate the Feast of the Ascension, also celebrate the following Sunday as Ascension Sunday. 

On Ascension Sunday at All Saints' we extinguish the Paschal Candle following the reading of the Gospel.  We do so because the light of the Paschal Candle, kindled from the New Fire of Easter Eve, signifies that the Light of Christ has broken the bonds of darkness and death.  This Light (which spreads throughout the nave on Easter Eve) illuminates the world and symbolizes the New Creation in Jesus' death and Resurrection.  The Paschal Candle serves as a reminder during Eastertide of Jesus’ presence with his disciples following the Resurrection before His Ascension to the Father.  Extinguishing the Paschal Candle signifies that Jesus' body (as well as our humanity) is now in heaven.  We maintain white as the color of the season.

The Sunday following, known as Pentecost (meaning fiftieth day) is one of the few days of the year that red is the appointed color. Red symbolizes the fire of the Holy Spirit descending upon the Apostles.  The readings from Acts 2 and John 14 remind us that the coming of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, will equip the Apostles and us as well, for our work as Christ's followers and disciples.  Even more important, the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus Himself, making it possible for Him to be not just with us but in us.  Wear your red on Pentecost Sunday, May 11.

For Trinity Sunday (May 18), we revert to white, then back to green for the long Trinity Season.  Many refer to this time of the church year as Ordinary Time.  Ordinary not in a commonplace sense, but from the word ordinal meaning numbered or ordered.  Because of the early date of Easter, this Trinity Season is the longest length of Ordinary Time possible.  Our readings for Trinity Sunday direct us toward the Triune nature of the Godhead.  We do not worship three gods, but One God in three Persons: the Father who creates, the Son who redeems, and the Spirit which sanctifies. The Proper Preface for Trinity Sunday reads, "For that which we believe of thy glory O Father, the same we believe of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, without any difference in equality" (BCP, p. 79).  The word Trinity does not occur within the pages of Scripture, but the theology surrounding the Trinity abounds.  As Fr. Buechner's seminary professor spoke of the Godhead - "The Trinity is not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be adored."  The early Church spent centuries hammering out the theology surrounding the Trinity, and it is "meet and right" that we ponder this great mystery as well.

These magnificent Sundays at the conclusion of the Easter Season mark three of the High Feasts of the Church Year.  Let us all take the opportunity to prepare our hearts and minds to celebrate them once again.  WNM

CLERGY CONFERENCE

Frs. Buechner and McQueen will be out of the office May 5-6 attending the semi-annual clergy conference at Honey Creek.

FROM THE VESTRY:  LILIES AND POINSETTIAS

At its April meeting, the Vestry discussed the way the parish publishes the booklets containing the memorials and thanksgivings.  The cost and time involved to prepare these has risen to the point that we have decided to accomplish this with bulletin inserts which would contain the same information, using smaller fonts but no where near as much paper.  These sheets could easily be mailed to the parish (in addition to being distributed at the services) for those who for any reason may not be able to be present at Christmas or Easter services.

HAIL AND FAREWELL

Congratulations to our graduating seniors: 

From Brookwood:
 Catie Hancock - Furman University
 Jonathan Wood - Vassar University
 Thomas Muller - Georgia Tech
 Robby Stubley - University of Georgia

From Thomasville County Central
 Chip Sanders - Davidson College

From Rhodes College
 Sara Beeson

From Sweetbriar College
 Laurel Sanders (Phi Beta Kappa) - Going to FSU School of Medicine

From Mercer University
 Mary Lawrence Lilly

From Columbus State University
 Will Buechner

From Furman University
 Stephen Shea

ATTENTION VESTRYMEN

The Vestry will have its regular monthly meeting in the Parish Hall Library at 8:00 A.M. on May 18.

THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION

We will observe this day with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the church at 12:10 PM on Thursday May 1.  Please note that this is a major holy day and all who find it possible are urged to attend.

OFFICE CLOSING

The parish office will be closed May 1 in observance of the Feast of the Ascension.

PARISH PICNIC

Our annual picnic will be held on Sunday, May 18.  The church will supply chicken, bread and dessert!  Please join us and bring a salad or vegetable that will feed 15.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN NEWS

Everyone is invited to the book club meeting on Wednesday, May 14th at 11:50.  We have a guest speaker, Ann Larson from Brookwood School.  She will be leading the discussion on the book "Purple Hibiscus" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

The final ECW meeting of the year will be on the Wednesday, May 14th at 5:00 in the parish hall.  We are planning next year and celebrating a successful year just completed. Come have tea and cookies with us and meet the ladies of the Church.

Lee Mitchell and Lee Chubb

 
ST. CECILIA AND ST. DAVID CHOIRS

The final rehearsal of the year is Wednesday, May 7. Both choirs will sing Sunday, May 11. On that day these choristers will be recognized for their dedication and achievement this past year.

St. Cecilia Choir

Curry Brinson
Sam Bruhn
Hardy Davis*
Marley Davis*
Olivia Enright*
Lilly Jackson*
Simms Ladson*
Jackson Leverett*
Ethan Myers*
Reid Myers
Lewis Patton*
Eliza Parvey
Raleigh Rollins
Ella Simmons
Maryam Sibley*
Parker Watt
Preston Young
 

These choristers* will receive gold crosses for completing their first year in choir. Curry Brinson, Jackson Leverett, Eliza Parvey, Preston Young and Marley Davis will move to the St. David Choir next year.

St. David Choir

Jack Brinson
Jacob Bruhn
Madi Bruhn
Ford Faulk
Neel Gurley
Ali Hall
Meme Hand
Annalee Jackson
Virginia Jackson
Will Ladson
Mariah Miller
Max Patton*
Caroline Sewell
Christopher Watt
 

Annalee Jackson, Ali Hall, Meme Hand, and Caroline Sewell will receive hymnals in honor of their Confirmation and in appreciation of their service to the St. David Choir.

EYC NEWS

Sunday, May 4 --  EYC following Evening Prayaer

Sunday, May 11 --  No EYC (take care of Mom that day!)

Sunday, May 18 -- Take a break from studying for exams, and have Ice Cream Sundaes after church.  No dinner, no program, just desert to         help you in
your last minute cramming.  After Evening        Prayer.

Sunday, May 25-- End-of-year party.  We're looking to do this event at           Vashti with the First UMC youth group.  Be on the look        out for more details soon. 

We will have some events during the summer, so be sure to read the June, July, and August newsletters for details.

USHERS FOR MAY

May 4      May 11
Richard Parvey     
Clayton Penhallegon    

May 11
Raleigh Rollins

May 18      
Mike Shea     
Tom Simmons     

May 25
Philip Watt
Charlie Whitney
 
TRANSITIONS:

Happy Birthday in May to:

Ella Simmons    5-18-01
Samuel Sewell    5-18-94
Della Patton    5-19-05
Audrey Simmons   5-22-95
Christopher C. Watt   5-27-99
Samuel Bruhn    5-28-01
Savannah Singletary   5-29-96
Max Patton    5-31-99

Happy Birthday in June to:

John Brigham Daniel   6-1-07
Russell Therrien    6-1-88
Branden Therrien   6-5-92
Christopher Sanford   6-12-88
Henry Leverett    6-30-01
Anna Kelly    6-18-97
Nicholas Hagan Womble  6-21-07
DJ Grooms    6-27-90
Olivia Kavouklis   6-27-92
Eliza Parvey    6-30-00

FOR THE FEAST OF THE ASCENSION:

At a Solemn Music

Blest pair of Sirens, pledges of heaven's joy,
Sphere-born harmonious sisters, Voice and Verse,
Wed your divine sounds, and mixed power employ
Dead things with inbreathed sense able to pierce,
And to our high-raised phantasy  present
That undisturbed song of pure concent,
Aye sung before the sapphire-coloured throne
To him that sits thereon,
With saintly shout and solemn jubilee,
Where the bright Seraphim in burning row
Their loud uplifted angel-trumpets blow,
And the Cherubic host in thousand quires
Touch their immortal harps of golden wires,
With those just spirits that wear victorious palms,
Hymns devout and holy psalms
Singing everlastingly;
That we on earth with undiscording voice
May rightly answer that melodious noise;
As once we did, till disproportioned sin
Jarred against Nature's chime, and with harsh din
Broke the fair music that all creatures made
To their great Lord, whose love their motion swayed
In perfect diapason, whilst they stood
In first obedience and their state of good.
O may we soon again renew that song,
And keep in tune with heaven, till God ere long
To his celestial consort us unite,
To live with him, and sing in endless morn of light.

     John Milton