The MinistryVolume 1, Issue 4 July 2017

Sundays 8:00 am Holy Eucharist 9:15 am Coffee Hour 9:30 am Adult Choir Rehearsal 10:30 am Holy Eucharist

Mondays 5:30 pm Centering Prayer 5:30 pm Prayer Shawl Knitters

Tuesdays 7:30 am New Centering Prayer 6:00 pm Education for Ministry

Wednesdays 12:45 pm Prayer Shawl Knitters Thursdays 8:30 am Bible Study

Office HoursMonday - Thursday

9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Friday

9:00 am - 12:00 pm

Clergy & Staff The Rev. Morris Thompson, Pastor The Rev. Steve Owen, Deacon Lora Tucker, Organist/Choirmaster Paige Brooks, Parish Administrator Michael Barney, Sexton

I’ve often been told how churches slow down for the summer, allowing for the church to take a vacation as the families take vacation. As I sit in the office and reflect on this past month and look forward to July, I see this is not true for us. Our summer is packed with parish outings, vacation bible school, baptisms, book clubs, Bible studies, knitting, centering prayer, mission trips, pilgrimages, and countless capital improvements to our facilities! Our Sunday attendance has grown in the month June, something atypical for the summer months. The Church of the Mediator can’t stop, won’t stop!

I am excited to be a part of such a vibrant and growing church! In addition to our exciting summer schedule, we have also been working hard on our facilities. The second floor of the Education Building continues to transform into a fabulous space for our

youth. We have begun shifting offices and classrooms to make way for dedicated acolyte and choir practice rooms. Soon, we will introduce our multipurpose mission house, out of which our Deacon Steve will coordinate many of our various ministries with our community. And, finally, I’m excited to announce by Sunday, July 9, we will have an entirely new sound system to enhance our beautiful worship.

These commitments your vestry has made are only the beginning of our plans to enrich life here at the Mediator. There is so much more the Vestry and I can’t wait to present to you! These dedicated acts are signs of vitality: continual growth, facility preservation and improvement, and abundant stewardship. Thank you for your nonstop commitment!

Morris+

Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop

Haiti Stuff the SuitcaseIt’s that time again! We are off to Haiti! This year the Haiti VBS is scheduled for July 14-20. Robert Covington and Vicky Hayes will be representing Mediator; and Josh Messick will be joining them all the way from Maryland. Items needed for the “Stuff the Suitcase”: Ivory Soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, stickers, pencils, pens, erasers, soccer balls, candy, jump ropes, and deodorants. This year due to concerns for their fragile environment we will not take hotel toiletries due to the amount of trash they make for the island. Items are due Sunday, July 9.

Wayfarer's to MoundvilleOn July 27 the Wayfarer's will head to Northport, AL to visit the Moundville Indian Mounds and have lunch in the Northport Arts District. If you are interested in the trip please contact Steve Owen or call the office for more details.

Priest’s Wednesday Night Book ClubThe final meeting for Just Mercy is Wednesday, July 5, in the Parlor at 6:00 PM. The book club will meet to discuss our next book, When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi, on July 26 at 6:00 PM in the Parlor Room. Contact the bookstore if you are interested in purchasing this book.

The Mediator Bus: Fulfilling a Big Dreamand Spreading Community Wings!

Highlighting outreach and in-reach ministries would be incomplete if I didn’t remind us of the importance of our 25-passenger bus. The purchase of our bus asked our church to dream

big and reach out beyond our financial comfort zone. So, has the bus met our dreams and expectations? Perhaps the best way to answer this question is to show the stats.

Obviously, dreaming big and daring to step out on faith has paid off. By purchasing the bus, we have added new dimensions to the Mediator’s possibilities. The Wayfarer and Lunch Bunch ministries are directly reliant on the bus for their existence. Often visitors join us on trips. The bus is one more reason why Mediator is known as an actively

open church in our community. I close with this theological appeal. Church is all about community. Bus rides by their very nature put us up close and personal in community with one another. The bus gives us a wonderful way to guarantee we can spread our wings into a greater community far beyond our bright red door!

ECW trips to Alice James’ Lake House ................................ 2 Estimated Youth trips including airport trips for Taizé pilgrimage, Camp Bratton-Green, EYC & other youth trips .................................................... 8Lunch Bunch Outings ........................................................ 10

Rainbow Connection Transportation to Local Events ........ 3Special Olympics Bocce Team to Summer Games at Keesler AF Base ................................ 1

Wayfarer Trips ..................................................................... 8

BUS USE TOTAL in 2017 ......................................... 32

Why don’t we just get together and ride in comfortable cars?It is more comfortable to ride in automobiles, but keep our purpose in mind. A bus trip offers a person with limited driving abilities a chance travel and socialize. Also, the bus helps us build community.

Why is the bus bumpy at times?For practical and economic reasons, our bus is not a luxury model. Basically, it is a farm truck with a bus body. It has standard rather than air shocks. It’s fine for day trips.

Why do we charge for riding on the bus? Isn’t it paid for?Although the bus is paid for, when loaded it gets approximately 12 miles to the gallon. Also, there are other expenses such as maintenance, insurance, etc. To meet these expenses, the Vestry worked out a formula to charge each passenger so longer bus trips will pay for themselves .

I’ve thought about going on trips that interest me, but what if I don’t want to be expected to go on every trip? The answer is an emphatic sign up only for what you have an interest in! Trips are suggested by members with a wide variety of interests.

I am often asked questions about the bus. Although I’ve included these questions and answersin letters to the Wayfarers and Lunch Bunch groups, the information is worth repeating:

Deacon Steve

Outreach News

Vestry HighlightsMembers

Sr. Warden, 2018Michael VanVeckhoven

Jr. Warden, 2019Ray Martin

Class of 2018 Class of 2019 Class of 2020

Alice James, Treasurer Paige Brooks, Clerk

Susan KirchheferCarolyn MitchellDaniel Wile

Ann GlazarGayle Gray

Clifton Quinn

Beth CalderonPat Downey

James Weems

To all of the members of the Mediator family,Thank you for opening your hearts and your homes to us almost 40 years ago! And thanks again for opening the parish doors to the wider church for Chip's Memorial Service. We are grateful to all of you for your time, effort, energy, skill, and talent in making the service and reception a wonderful occasion. We must also thank you for nurturing the Marble crew through the years despite the miles you have helped to make the more difficult parts of the journey more bearable for us all. In gratitude, peace, love, and JOY!

Diene, Matt, and Jonathan

Lunch BunchThe Lunch Bunch will head to Mimmo's Ristorante Pizzeria in Quitman, MS on Tuesday, July 18. Contact the office if you would like to sign up.

Prayer Shawl KnittersAll are invited to experience the prayer, fellowship, and joy of knitting at our weekly prayer shawl knitters group. The groups meet twice a week, Mondays at 5:30 PM and Wednesdays at 12:30 PM in the parlor room. Beginners welcome!

Bible StudyCome join our Thursday morning Bible study in the EfM room. This faithful group meets every Thursday morning from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM to read through and discuss certain passages of scripture. All are welcome to join!

Note to the Parish

BBQ Save the Date!This year we're trying something new, BBQ on Sunday, October 29. That's right, SUNDAY! Your Vestry and BBQ chairs are excited to announce this change in an effort to incorporate those whose schedules often conflict, such as our young athletes and SEC Football fanatics! Much more information coming next newsletter!

July Food Pantry ItemsJuly 5- canned yellow

vegetables

July 12-package dry spaghetti or rice

July 19- canned or boxed kits or sauces sauces such as spaghetti, chili, Manwich, etc.

July 26- boxed macaroni & cheese mix

The prepration has been done and the fundraising is completed. The pilgrims are headed to Taizé, France on July 13 and returning July 24. Please keep them in your prayers on this spiritual journey. The pilgrims are Michaiah Bolar, Sonya Carrier, Anna Katherine Carrier, Albree Florey, Addie Florey, Jill Johnson, Emma Grace Johnson, Chloe Johnson, Eddy O’Connor, Eugene Perry, Reid Perry, Scottland Sanders, Sarah Page Shirley, Hayley Shirley, Will Simmons, Cate Simmons, Ambreah Waters, and Katy Watkins.

Taizé Bound

• New sound system to be installed in the church.

• Inspect and prioritize maintenance for all campus roofs.

• Wednesday Night Healing Eucharist on hold for summer and will resume in the Fall along with Wednesday Parish Suppers.

• Project List: An approved project list should be created for parishioners to make monetary donations as requested.

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Mediator Environmental Stewardship Initiative

The Genesis Covenant

The Right Rev. Steven Charleston initiated the Genesis Covenant which the Episcopal Church adopted at the 76th General Convention in July 2009. Simply stated, the GENESIS COVENANT is a way to honor the sacredness of creation as embraced by all religions. In Genesis Ch. 1 God gave humans dominion over Earth. In Genesis Ch. 2 humans are told to till and keep the Garden. The word "till" in Hebrew is abad which literally means "to serve". This fragile earth, our island home is not ours; it is God’s.

At Mediator we want to address environmental stewardship through a process which not only conserves our financial resources and helps preserve the earth for future generations, but also shows our gratitude and compassion for all God's creation. The Environmental Stewardship Committee invites all members of the church to participate in this discussion on Wednesday, July 12, 6:00 pm in the parish hall.

MediatorSustainability