song of saint francis april 2016 -...

St. Francis and the Live OaksSt. Francis and the Live OaksSt. Francis and the Live OaksSt. Francis and the Live Oaks

The Song of Saint FrancisThe Song of Saint FrancisThe Song of Saint FrancisThe Song of Saint Francis

It’s a Date!It’s a Date!It’s a Date!It’s a Date!

4/6 Art gallery opening

4/13 Prayer Shawl

ministry

4/27 Prayer Shawl

ministry

4/27 Diocese ECW

annual meeting

6/3 Summer Concert 1



10/8 Lobster Fest

10/16 The Three Tenors

5/11 St. Francis ECW

It started as a walk to prepare for walking the Camino beginning in September. I wanted to walk regularly on a path with uneven terrain, on a trail that would be beautiful enough to keep me interested, in a place accessible enough to fit well into my daily schedule. Betsy told me about the nature trail at Fort Macon. It was perfect: beautiful, manageable, through pristine maritime forest, and right here on the island. It was perfect for my needs.

I calculated how fast I needed to walk it, on how many days each week, and which days with loaded backpack. It was a training walk! It was about the Camino in Spain.

After the first month a problem developed. I expected my time to get faster, and it did at first. But then it began to lengthen. Some days the time was worse than on the first day. There was a reason for this: I could no longer hurry through the maritime forest. Some of the trees became so familiar that it seemed discourteous to jog past without pausing to notice. Some deserved a greeting. "It is good to see you today." And it really was.

The live oaks along that trail are magnificent. None are very tall but

they are wonderfully spread out and full of personality. They always seem playful to me, their spirals acrobatic. The true twisted sisters, they maintain a better sense of balance than I do at the gym.

My companionship with the live oaks, the tall sea grasses and the colonies of lichens is deeper. I am in awe of them not simply for their

beauty and athleticism, but also for their endurance. They have adapted to a rigorous and harsh coastal environment and over the centuries have learned how to endure and, as Faulkner said, to prevail. That interests me. We at St. Francis have a similar challenge. We can never be like our

inland brothers and sisters. Our reality is different, our environment is ravishingly beautiful and at the same time requiring. There is constant movement in and out, and there is a plethora of needs.

Our resident forester, Richard Seale, discussed the predicament of the live oaks with me in a recent letter. He pointed out that the gnarling of branches and even main stems is not what the oaks "prefer." The crowding and competition, the winds and blowing sands, sculpt our trees into

Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church ● Salter Path, North Carolina April 2016

forms able to survive the pretty savage conditions of this island."

I am learning from the live oaks that we must keep the center of gravity low, and be willing to do the unexpected. We can't dance to expected beats, but rather dance and sing and pray in ways that are as refreshing as the swirling, cavorting live oaks. Their forms are fascinating to us, but for them they are necessary adaptations in order to sustain life

We must go with who we are, in the place where we are, in ways that are fun and surprising. And we must hang together. I have noticed that in their low swirling and hunkering down, the live oaks are tightly together, a resilient community, reaching toward each other and reaching for the sun. Richard reminds me that there is also a bit of competition.

So I walk through the maritime forest more slowly now, in gratitude for the trees, grasses, lichens, mosses that line the trail. And I am having the same response to St. Francis by the Sea. What an unlikely place we are! Like the local live oaks, we have found many ways to survive and thrive.

Who would expect that one of the very best worship spaces in the diocese, with amazing music and liturgy, and now incredible ministry to

children and youth, would develop on this island? Who would expect that a labyrinth and art gallery that appeals to people everywhere, would come to life under these live oaks?

We learned some of the answers during Lent, from Libba and Scott, Grace and Skip, and from Bob Gallo. From the beginning we have been accompanied by the best of friends and the nourishing Spirit of God. From the beginning we have been supported financially by people far and near who believed in what God was calling us to do and be, and who wanted to be part of the response. So the Community of St. Francis was conceived and grew. I believe that the presence we now have on this island is what God has called us to be, and that we have much yet in store.

As I explored the trails at Fort Macon, and found the high dunes overlooking the sound, I loved the wildness and beauty of nature. But I was not the first person in our parish to enjoy this beauty. Many of you have walked those trails and climbed those dunes. Scott Shelton grew up playing on those dunes. The trails that later developed were trails through his playground.

Scott is home here, and so is the church that he helped to found. It is your home, too, your family. Welcome to the wild beauty of it.

Everett+

New in The Song of St. Francis by Everett ThomasNew in The Song of St. Francis by Everett ThomasNew in The Song of St. Francis by Everett ThomasNew in The Song of St. Francis by Everett Thomas

We are expanding The Song of St. Francis with something new: articles written by parishioners.

Each month we will ask you to share your thoughts on a different theme for use in the newsletter. For May our theme will be “My Favorite Spot to Walk in the Area.” Tell us where and why! If you have pictures, share them!

Not a writer? Give Sharon a call and set up a time to share your thoughts with her. She will turn them into an article.

To start us off, in this issue we have included the letter that Richard Seale wrote to me about oaks, Barbara McCreary's experience walking the entire length of the island, and information about some local hiking trails.

Please let us know if you like this idea and if you have recommendations for topics for future editions. Let’s make The Song of St. Francis about all of us!

This is an early version of the story that became known as The Little Engine That Could, published in Wellspring for Young People. 1906)

A little railroad engine was employed about a station yard for such work as it was built for, pulling a few cars on and off the switches. One morning it was waiting for the next call when a long train of freight-cars asked a large engine in the roundhouse to take it over the hill.

"I can't; that is too much a pull for me," said the great engine built for hard work. Then the train asked another engine, and another, only to hear excuses and be refused. At last in desperation the train asked the little switch engine to draw it up the grade and down on the other side.

"I think I can," puffed the little locomotive, and put itself in front of the great heavy train. As is went on the little engine kept bravely puffing faster and faster, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." Then as it near the top of the grade, that had so discouraged the larger engines, it went more slowly, but still kept saying, "I—think—I—can, I—think—I—can."

It reached the top by dint of brave effort and then went on down the grade, congratulating itself, "I thought I could, I thought I could.”

Two recent Lenten dinners have told the story of SFBTS. Thank God these founders kept saying I think I can. Twenty years into the journey of this church the congregation can say we thought we could. But we can’t rest on past accomplishments because God continues to call us. There is so much opportunity. Bob Gallo, as he shared about the vision that guided the construction of our

building, noted that parishioners wanted a facility that would be used widely and often, and we continue to seek ways to meet that goal as we serve our community.

Of course, our church is more than a building. The founders knew that, and the congregation has lived that. There are so many opportunities for sharing and serving in our community. For St. Francis to have a robust future, we must serve younger families, children, adults and seniors in various states of transition. This may seem like a huge challenge, but with God’s help, we have an unlimited ability to meet these opportunities. How do you envision the future of St. Francis? Let your thoughts, visions, and offers of service be heard and be done.

To think of hard things and say, "I can't" is sure to mean "Nothing done." To refuse to be daunted and insist on saying, "I think I can," is to make sure of being able to say triumphantly by and by, "I thought I could, I thought I could."

—From Unapologetically Episcopalian Palm Sunday Morning Prayer (Facebook)

For Mission:

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Prayer Shawl...Plus!Prayer Shawl...Plus!Prayer Shawl...Plus!Prayer Shawl...Plus! The Prayer Shawl Ministry will gather on Wednesday, April 13 and 27 Wednesday, April 13 and 27 Wednesday, April 13 and 27 Wednesday, April 13 and 27 at 10:00 in the

parish hall. Come and share your talent, whether or not your item is intended for the

Prayer Shawl Ministry. All are welcome to join the gathering to “knit one and pray too.”

Yarn is available free of charge. Beginners are always welcome!Yarn is available free of charge. Beginners are always welcome!Yarn is available free of charge. Beginners are always welcome!Yarn is available free of charge. Beginners are always welcome!

The Little Church that Could by Terry SmithThe Little Church that Could by Terry SmithThe Little Church that Could by Terry SmithThe Little Church that Could by Terry Smith

9—Tommy Jenkins 10—Shannon Kemp

12—Linda Seale 12—Peter Wilson

19—Everett Thomas 20—Linda Davies

21—Denny Lawrence 24—Colton Ellis

5—Dan Riddle 6—Marshall Horton

8—Pat Dressel 8—Roger Jennings

April BirthdaysApril BirthdaysApril BirthdaysApril Birthdays

Grace Notes by Linda Laughton, Music DirectorGrace Notes by Linda Laughton, Music DirectorGrace Notes by Linda Laughton, Music DirectorGrace Notes by Linda Laughton, Music Director

If you have attended a Celtic Eucharist lately, you have seen the beautiful Icon of St. Clare keeping watch over the newly named “St. Clare Chapel.” You have also learned a bit more about Clare's life as Everett shared some of her history.

And, if the spirit was willing during your visit, we may have sung (chanted) one of the Clarian mantras. To date, we have prepared eight Clarian chants for use in the chapel.

We found these chants in “Love Holding Love,” the collection of twenty-six mantras taken directly from the writings of St. Francis of Assisi and St. Clare. These were compiled and the music written by Josef Raischl, Konrad Raischl and David Dargie, members of the Franciscan brotherhood in Assisi. On their website, http://assisijourney.com they explain how pilgrims come to visit the tombs of St. Francis and St. Clare which are located within the ancient city walls of Assisi, and then become excited to be “exposed to the spirituality of these two saints who had a burning love for God, for Jesus Christ. Their spirituality – what we today call Franciscan spirituality – is predominantly an affective spirituality, a spirituality of the heart, a spirituality that is primarily experiential.” The brothers of Assisi took fragments from Francis' and Clare's actual writings and composed the

mantras to celebrate the wisdom of their spirituality, and to help each of us experience that same burning love for God, for Jesus Christ. The mantras are designed for personal prayer leading to contemplation, to enhance communal prayer, and for public liturgy where responsorial

antiphons are used. We use the mantras with English text; the remainder of the twenty-six mantras are sung in Francis' and Clare's languages: Latin, Italian, and Umbrian dialect.

Through our congregation's experience with Taizé, and its rhythmic, repetitive chants, we have learned that these simple songs allow our community to sing together, to pray together. I share this quote from Brother Roger of Taizé:

Gospel realities can penetrate you through simple chants, sung over and over again: 'Jesus, your light is shining

within us; let my heart always welcome your love.' When you work, when you rest, these realities keep echoing within you. Sometimes prayer is an inner struggle, and sometimes it means surrendering one's whole being. At a given moment, it becomes simply resting in God in silence. That is perhaps one of the high points of prayer.

You are cordially invited to join us on Wednesday for Celtic Eucharist to experience this style of music meditation. Stay tuned! -Linda

ECW Events by Bobbie HillECW Events by Bobbie HillECW Events by Bobbie HillECW Events by Bobbie Hill

The 128th annual meeting of the ECW for our diocese is at St. John's, Fayetteville, on April 27, starting at 9:00 am, and includes a luncheon. The cost is $15.

The guest speaker will be the Rev. Lauren Winner, an Episcopal priest, vicar, teacher, lecturer, and author. In 2012 she was selected by Christianity Today as one of the “50 Women That You Should Know.” She will speak on “Metaphors for God—Looking at the Many Ways God Speaks in our Lives.”

For registration information, please see the notice and sign-up sheet in the parish office window. Please register by April 24.

There will be an ECW Meeting for St. Francis women on Wednesday, May 11, at 6:00 pm, at Trish Randall's home, 103 Yucca Court, Pine Knoll Shores. We will have our traditional build-a-salad dinner: salad greens, tea, and water provided, please bring a salad topping and, if desired, a beverage of your choice.

Every woman in our Parish is a member of ECW. Please come to the meeting. We will be discussing an idea I have expressed to many—a cookbook of nothing but hors d'oeuvres in honor of our Art Openings and our Labyrinth. We will need volunteers to make this happen. It would be fabulous to have this ECW effort in time for Christmas 2016 purchases.

For the Kids of St. Francis by Marian GoetzingerFor the Kids of St. Francis by Marian GoetzingerFor the Kids of St. Francis by Marian GoetzingerFor the Kids of St. Francis by Marian Goetzinger What a glorious Easter we just celebrated! It is always so inspiring to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord with so many of our family and friends around us. The atmosphere at St. Francis, with our beautiful building, the labyrinth, the flowers for the Cross, the music and our beloved Father Everett make it even more special. It is always so obvious that “All are welcome here.” and “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this Place.”

For me, the most won-derful part of our time to-gether is the children. They are scattered all among us. They put flowers on the cross, they par-ticipate in all aspects of the service and they SMILE. This Easter Sunday, I could see four of our regular Kids of St. Francis sitting two rows in front of me. I could observe how the older boys, Jackson, Tanner and Tyler looked after Andi and shushed her when she giggled and I was proud of all of them. Andi was visibly thrilled to be able to sit with the big boys. Ainsley and Marshall stopped to say hello on their way to sit up front with their family. Camila grinned and waved at me from the other side of the sanctuary. My heart was full of joy and blessings.

Because we had two packed services I couldn’t see anymore of our regulars, but I later saw on Face-book that others were there, either for the first ser-vice which I attended or at the later service. But I couldn’t begin to count the number of children I didn’t know and imagined how wonderful it would be to have them all in our program. I know many of them come from “off” but I want to be sure they all know that except for Easter and maybe one other Sunday each year, we have Sunday School. On the fourth Sunday of each month we have YOUTH SUNDAY. The children serve as acolytes, lectors, and many other lay ministry positions. Charlie McCurry leads them in a couple of songs during the service. We encourage visiting children to come to

Sunday School for Godly Play and to participate in Youth Sunday with us any time they come to the beach.

We don’t do traditional Sunday School. We have “Godly Play” and they actually enjoy it. We have scavenger hunts and games. We do short skits and we spend as much time as possible outdoors. We sing and color and go down to the water and say our prayers as loudly as we can when we’re outside. We don’t always have to whisper. We walk (or run or skip) the labyrinth and stop to pray. Sometimes I

have a lesson prepared that includes a skit and only one child comes that day. Then I improvise like crazy and somehow learning always happens.

We work with children ages 4 through 12 so we offer an experience that has turned out to

be extra special. The older chil-dren just naturally evolve into

assistant teachers and they look after the younger ones. The younger ones work hard to please their older “buddies.” It has turned out to be fantastic. In most of the activities our children participate in, they are separated into age groups. Many do not live near extended family and rarely interact with such a broad age group. They thrive on it here. Since we don’t have a teen

group, our teenagers are filling an incredible need to be assistants and acolytes.

We are committed to serve to our own parish and to community outreach. Our children frequently participate in outreach projects at the senior center, Hope Mission and of course, our own church fund-raisers. Please let me know when your children will be here and let them be involved with us.

They are not just our future, they are our presents for today.

Oaks: A note to Everett Thomas from Richard SealeOaks: A note to Everett Thomas from Richard SealeOaks: A note to Everett Thomas from Richard SealeOaks: A note to Everett Thomas from Richard Seale

Dear Everett,

As you can see, trees mean something to the forester me. This is a photo I took during our recent Costa Rica birding trip! Look at how small the humans are in relation to the trees. These oaks are mostly Quercus costaricensis and grow to more 150 feet in height in the Talamancan montane rain forests, above the 3000 meter altitude line. They are beautiful, huge and full of wonderfully artistic branches that twist and turn or just plain gnarled. Mosses, lichens and bromeliads adorn their stems and branches. They are homes for many birds and animals.

In this respect they resemble our local Live Oaks (Quercus virginiana). Our local oaks are often pretty dwarfed due to the impacts of salt, wind, crowding, and poor soils. There are huge examples of Live Oaks, such as the Middleton Oak in SC and the Angel Oak. These huge trees have good well drained soils and open areas in which to grow without much competition. They are worth looking up on the internet.

Live oaks are durable and long lived trees with large root systems. The gnarling of branches and even main stems is not what live oaks really “prefer.” The crowding and competition, the winds and blowing sands, sculpt our trees into forms able to survive the pretty savage elements of this island. As you can see on the internet, some of the trees growing in better conditions have huge crowns that cover up to half an acre! I have been to several and they are quite awe inspiring. They are THE shade tree of the American South. These trees are probably some of the oldest living things east of the Mississippi River. These are not tall trunked trees but rather trees of many branches. In fact, most of the wood in a live ok tree is in the branches, not the stem. The wood is tough. Old Ironsides was built of live oak and it actually had

cannonballs bounce off of it!

As I have travelled the world, Mother Nature has always pointed out to me how truly great the gifts of God are. Yes, the moon, the sun, the stars and dawn and dusk are every day companions. But also, it is remarkable how many birds and trees seem to be “old familiar friends.” On every continent except Antarctica, I have found king fishers, wood peckers, and hummingbirds that

are immediately recognizable because they are much like the birds of home. Since trees cannot move like birds, they are more limited due to life zone adaptations, but there still are “old friend” oaks and conifers. I never feel far from home since I can start a day with a dawn and a sunrise, fill the daylight hours with the songs of birds sights of trees and contours and colors of the earth, and end a day with sunset and dusk and a sky filled with stars, planets, and “our moon.” Add in the winds that have circumnavigated our earth, so at some point actually blew over my home, and our earth is a cozy, welcoming place to me and that is even before you add in humans, the vast majority of whom are good, kind, friendly,

helpful and generous!

I have been blessed to have interacted with many wonderful humans on all the continents of earth. We have been able to smile, even laugh, felt happy, shared meals and learned from each other. Many times we have done this though not knowing how to speak each other’s language!

In short, life is good and I feel very comfortable saying, “Thanks Be To God!” And on Sunday we can again say, Alleluia!

Happy Easter! And may God’s Peace beyond human understanding, and the Love of Jesus, be with you always.

Richard

The Other Way by Barbara McCrearyThe Other Way by Barbara McCrearyThe Other Way by Barbara McCrearyThe Other Way by Barbara McCreary

I don’t make typical New Year’s resolutions. Maybe it’s because I know my diet willpower lasts only as long as one flip of a page-a-day calendar. Maybe it’s because I know a gym membership card would only get lost between my more frequently used Panera and Barnes & Noble cards. Instead my resolutions are a bit more... interesting. For example, my 1985 resolution was to keep a reading record, as I have now done for 31 years. My 2013 resolution involved opening a Little Free Library in my front yard.

So what was this year’s resolution? To walk the length of the island. My daughter Adele and I moved to Pine Knoll Shores this past June, and though we had vacationed in Emerald Isle for years, there was still so much I wanted to explore and to learn about the Crystal Coast. I wanted to find a way to make the island “my own” and to change my status from “tourist” to “local.”

My resolution was inspired by Everett’s announcement that he plans to walk the Camino de Santiago this fall. I noted his sense of quiet purpose and resolve as he gave voice to his calling. As intriguing as it sounded, I wasn’t being called to walk “the Way,” but I was being called to walk (as Andrew from the Bogue Banks library named it when I told him about my plan) “the Other Way.”

On the first warm day in February, Adele dropped me off at the western most point of the beach in Emerald Isle and I began my trek. Sometimes I walk along the shore. Other times I walk along the bike paths or sidewalks on NC58. I’ve heard the whoosh of waves and the whoosh of cars. I have felt both sand and asphalt under my tennis shoes. Picking up exactly where I left off previously, I average about two miles at a time. My goal was never to break speed records or to see how quickly I could get from one end to the other. My goal was simply to take the time to

notice things that I wouldn’t normally notice when driving in a car.

I’d love to say that I think deep thoughts as I go. It’s more about putting one foot in front of the other and being present in each moment. I marvel at the wind-driven tree trunks that extend farther horizontally than they do vertically in wonderful twisty, hag hair ways. I like to imagine the little fairies that I know must dart among

those trees. I enjoy both the tropical colors and the names people have chosen to make their beach homes unique.

My path is not always a straight line. As J.R. R. Tolkien wrote, "Not all those who wander are lost,” and I will admit to meandering quite a bit. When I reached St. Francis, I stopped to walk the labyrinth, and as I did, I prayed for my family and a friend’s family. The day I dedicated my walk in memory of parishioner Carol McVitty, I explored Trinity Retreat Center. I purposely looked for signs of new life and found a hillside of beautiful springtime jonquils.

When I drive the length of the island now, it looks different. I have “muscle” memories:

particular places I took photos, shaded paths I chose, seagulls I watched, feathers and seashells I collected. I see the spot where two teen-aged boys skateboarding by checked to see if I was all right. How kind of them!

I recently walked into the heart of Atlantic Beach. I will reach my destination, Fort Macon’s tip, in just a few more outings. Every time I walk I feel physically stronger and more appreciative of and grateful for my surroundings. I will celebrate the accomplishment of my New Year’s resolution, but even more, I will celebrate the gift of living here. I feel blessed to call this island home. I am surrounded by God’s beauty every step of the way again!

Christ’s Body on EarthChrist’s Body on EarthChrist’s Body on EarthChrist’s Body on Earth————YOU AND ME by Carol EatonYOU AND ME by Carol EatonYOU AND ME by Carol EatonYOU AND ME by Carol Eaton

“Christ has no body now but yours.

No hands, no feet on earth but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which he looks compassion on this world.

Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good.

Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world.

Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body.

Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”

Teresa of Avila wrote this poem over 400 years ago, reminding me today that we are to be Christ in the world and to do the work he has given us to do: feed the hun-gry, cloth the poor, visit the sick, the lonely, and those in prison. In other words we are to do works of service with a servant’s heart.

What does it mean to have a servant’s heart? Beth Ariel in her article “Possessing a Servant’s Heart” listed five qualities that spoke to me about having the heart of a servant:

• First, true servants make themselves available and are looking for the opportunity to serve even when it is inconvenient.

• Second, servants pay attention to the needs of others, being ready to assist those in need.

• Third, servants do their utmost with all the re-sources that are available including their time and talents.

• Fourth, servants perform every task with equal dedication. No task is too small or unim-portant.

• Finally, servants maintain a low profile, not calling attention to themselves or boasting of their own accomplish-ments.

As Beach Towel Ministry grows in this diocese I think it is impera-tive to keep these five qualities in mind. Two Beach Towel Ministry camps will be held this summer: St. James the Fisherman in Shal-lotte from June 25 - July 1 and St. Peter’s by the Sea in Swansboro, July 16 - 23 .

While youth groups come togeth-er to repair and refurbish homes, the central act of servanthood for Beach Towel is the friendship the youth develop with the homeown-

er, combating loneliness and feelings of unim-portance. For the hosting parish it is the radical hospitality that the parishioners offer their guests.

St. Francis can be part of this ministry this sum-mer at either hosting church. As time grows clos-er to the dates of the two Beach Towel Camps, more information and suggestions for help will be available in the May issue of The Song of St. Francis.

Walking in Carteret County by Everett ThomasWalking in Carteret County by Everett ThomasWalking in Carteret County by Everett ThomasWalking in Carteret County by Everett Thomas

I’ve been doing a lot of walking lately, both for pleasure and to get ready for my up-coming walk of the Camino de Santiago in September. On the next few pages I share some descriptions, impressions, and pictures of trails I’ve re-cently discovered. No doubt many of you have walked these trails many times, and for some this will be new information. There’s so much to see of the hand of God in our island home. I hope this sharing will inspire you to go outside and explore.

As many of you know, I have been walking the Elliott Coues Nature Trail at Fort Macon State Park. The phase of the nature trail currently open is 1.7 miles long, from the parking lot of the visitor's center to the parking lot of

(Continued on page 9)

the picnic area. If you walk the entire trail out and back, you will cover 3.4 miles. The second phase is scheduled to open in late April. It will then be a 3 mile loop. It is named for Dr. Elliott Coues, a sur-geon and natu-ralist stationed at the fort dur-ing the Civil War.

The trail goes west from the visitor's center through the maritime forest and along the sound side of Fort Macon Road. It ends at the picnic area next to the main beach. You’ll be treated to pro-tected walks un-der the tree can-opy, and wide open ocean vis-tas with the sun and a gentle sea breeze in your face.

Another de-lightful trail I’ve only just discov-ered is the Cedar Point Tideland Trail in the Croatan Na-tional Forest in Cedar Point. It is located a short distance from the Emerald Isle bridge off NC58. The trail is an easy 1.4 mile loop that takes you through maritime forest and tidal marsh, and finally to the White Oak River. The birdwatching is amazing!

On that same day I visited the Patsy Pond Nature Trail, also in the Croatan National Forest, off NC24 in Ocean. The trailhead is directly across the highway from the North Carolina Coastal Federation. This is another gentle trail, the longest loop of which is 1.9 miles. The trail is sandy, fairly level and winds through a forest of pine trees and around Patsy Pond. If you visit this site, be

mindful of hunting season. Hunting is permitted in parts of the Croatan!

At the NC Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores, the Alice Hoffman Trail is delightful. It is a half mile loop that is accessed through the aquarium, s0 there is an entrance fee. The Roosevelt Trail, 1.25 miles long, is accessed from the parking lot so there is no fee. Lots of information is posted along

both trails.

Hoop Pole Creek Nature Trail is a short trail that starts just behind Bojangle’s in Atlantic Station shop-ping center in Atlantic Beach. I won-dered how I could have lived here nearly 8 years, and parked in the Food Lion park-ing lot hundreds of times and had never walked this trail. It is a jewel: gorgeous, gentle (more than half of it is paved), and historical. It is a half mile one way, so a mile if you walk the whole thing. Sights of interest are labeled and there is a small

side trail that leads to one of the last remaining and highest natural dunes left on the island. The trail emerges at the salt marsh, but you can continue on to “land’s end” with view across the sound to Morehead City. I highly recommend it.

I have been amazed at the discoveries I’ve made, both of the availability of these “pocket” walks themselves, and the beautiful sights they afford. I hope this inspires you to go out and explore some new places, or revisit old favorites. Everett

(Continued from page 8)

EASTER 2016

Lay Ministry ScheduleLay Ministry ScheduleLay Ministry ScheduleLay Ministry Schedule

April 4/3 4/10 4/17 4/24

Youth Sunday

Vestry Larry Castle Beth Beswick Stover Morris Larry Castle

Lector Meg Bradford George Hirasawa Terry Smith KIDS

Prayers Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Pat Jones

Chalice Marian Goetzinger

Rim Bradford Marilyn Smetana

Andy Smetana Jolene McCann Tim Bradford

Marian Goetzinger Pat Jones

Altar Guild Meg Bradford Betsy Randall

Linda Davies Phyllis Makuck

Betsy Randall Bobbie Hill

Meg Bradford Linda Seale

Crucifer Pat Jones Tim Bradford Beth Beswick KIDS

Torch Bearers Linda Davies

Sharon Watling Martha Edwards Clark Edwards

Tim Bradford Scott Shelton

KIDS

Sound System John Marriott John Clarke Kyle Venable Stover Morris

Nursery Beth Beswick Jeannie Baxter Sam Baxter Sue Ingram

Children’s Homily X X X Amy Hahn

Children's Class Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger X

Children’s Class Assistant

Sandy Giovannini Meredith Westbrook Amy Hahn Ainsley Horton

Coffee Hour Korin Gagnon & Beth

Parker Linda Davies & Mary Jo

Jennings Marion & Stover Morris

Martha & Clarke Edwards

May 5/1 5/8 5/15 5/22

Youth Sunday

Vestry Tim Bradford Terry Smith Heather Pace Terry Smith

Lector KIDS

Prayers Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Carol Eaton Carol Eaton

Chalice Marilyn & Andy

Smetana

Pat Jones Marian Goetzinger

Altar Guild Meg Bradford

Bobbie Hill Betsy Randall

Crucifer Pat Jones KIDS

Torch Bearers KIDS

Sound System

Nursery Beth Beswick

Children’s Homily X X X Marilyn Smetana

Children's Class Mary Kurek Marian Goetzinger Marian Goetzinger X

Children’s Class Assistant

Meredith

Westbrook Amy Hahn Ainsley Horton

Coffee Hour Anne & John

Clarke Terry & Craig

Griffin Judy & Steve

Gould Geraline & Larry

Castle

5/29

Pat Jones

Carol Eaton

Meg Bradford

Beth Beswick

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Marian Goetzinger

Marian & Ted Goetzinger

The Song of St. Francis is a monthly publication of

St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church.

Sound side of NC 58 between Mile Marker 10 and 10½

PO Box 7 ● 920 Salter Path Road ● Salter Path, North Carolina ● 28575

(252) 240-2388 ● © 2016 All rights reserved

[email protected] ● www.stfrancisbythesea.org

Saint Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church

PO Box 7

Salter Path, NC 28575

The Rev. Everett Thomas, Ph.D. Phone: (252) 240-2388 Email: [email protected] Sharon Watling—Parish Administrator Phone: (252) 240-2388 Email: [email protected] Linda Laughton—Music Director

Vestry Class of 2016 Tim Bradford

Stover Morris, Senior Warden Heather Pace

Vestry Class of 2017 Larry Castle, Junior Warden

Romaine Riddle

Class of 2018 Beth Beswick

Pat Jones Terry Smith

Sharon Watling—Clerk of the Vestry

David Shapiro—Sexton

Sunday Schedule:

9:00 am — Adult Forum

10:00 am —Eucharist Service and Children’s Class for ages 4 and up

Nursery available; casual dress welcome

12:00 noon on Wednesdays — Celtic Eucharist

St. Francis by the Sea Episcopal Church is a parish in the Diocese of East Carolina

The Right Reverend Robert Skirving, Bishop

First Class Mail Save the dates!

Buy an engraved brick paver to honor or

commemorate someone or something special to you!

Now on sale! See page 6 more info!

song of saint francis april 2016 -...

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