| CLERGY
NEWS
Clergy escape to Sewanee
for weekend revels at Bishop's House Party
The Bishop’s House Party drew 40 or so folks ready to revel, relax and enjoy one another’s company, reports Annie vonRosenberg. She and Bishop Charles vonRosenberg host the annual 2-night event at Sewanee for East Tennessee clergy and their families. Russ and the Rev. Rob Henley, Pam and the Rev. David Bateman and Virginia and the Rev. David Garrett planned and prepared months ahead to be sure all the details were right.
“It’s always around the same time – the first or second weekend in June – and it’s always at Sewanee,” said Annie vonRosenberg. “But every year we have a different group. This year, new clergy in the diocese came; we had retired couples who don’t get to see people often and got to reconnect; we had families and extended multigenerational families; and we had single clergy.
“We got there Sunday afternoon after church and stayed at the Humphreys dorm. The school did a barbecue dinner for us Sunday night, and we did an ‘auction’ Sunday where you can pick a gift or take someone else’s and then they pick again.
“Monday, we had breakfast and lunch at McClurg Dining Hall, and the day was free. People played golf, went swimming, shopped at the bookstore, went into town.
“It had rained earlier in the day, but it cleared off beautifully at 6:00 – it was cool, and the bugs were gone. We had a fire dancer at the lake as part of the luau. A Bob Marley look-alike – a real tall, black guy with these wonderful dreadlocks – and Miles, his short Jewish sidekick, did the DJ thing.
“The Garretts made these piñatas – an adult one and one for the children that had candy and tops and whistles. The pinatas were so thick and well made that we finally had to take the blindfolds off and just smack them. The adult pinata had these hillbilly teeth in it and other small things.
“That last night, everyone got presents. The Batemans had gone around Chattanooga and the Henleys had gone around Sevierville and Pigeon Forge to get coupons from restaurants, canvas bags – there was a big toaster oven, crystal vases, all kinds of things.
“We have a great group of clergy; I wish we could do more for them. They do so much for other people, it’s good to do something for them. It’s a good time to reconnect, to make new friends, to relax, to talk within your profession, to get away. I love it.”
Newly ordained priest shares
goals, dreams for ministry
By the Rev. Mary Lee Bergeron
The emotions and awe of my ordination are still very close to me. They fill me with thanksgiving for those who prepared for and were a part of the service. I am especially grateful to my family, friends and the staff and parishioners of St. John’s Cathedral and the East Tennessee Diocese for their love and support.
I get excited when I think of the hopes and expectations I have for my new ministry at St. John’s Cathedral. It will be a privilege to work with the clergy and staff there. Starting in August I will be the Canon for Special Ministries. My vision is that in addition to the normal role of a priest, I will focus energy on the present programs and services that have to do with healing and spirituality. My job also will be to offer opportunities for the experience of God’s healing power in the lives of those who visit or are members.
It is my dream that the cathedral become known in our diocese and in the larger church as the cathedral that places special attention upon spiritual growth and healing ministry. We will continue to offer conferences, special courses and classes that focus on healing of mind, body and spirit. Some courses may deal with meditation on scripture, while others emphasize the use of art or music for healing. Personally I am interested in the spiritual aspect of healing of memories. These efforts will be ecumenical.
Many seminarians at Sewanee expressed interest in learning about healing, and while I was there a service was added to the weekly schedule. There is a hunger in our world and in our churches for information on how to ask for our own healings and how to pray for others. I saw that yearning during my years as a physical therapist and as a deacon. We in the church can respond to this need, for we have the model of Jesus who cared about people and their pain. We also can learn from the early church, the mystics and the vast amount of writing by those who have experienced healing in their Christian journey.
Bishop vonRosenberg continues to remind us of our diosesan vision “... to love in the name of Christ ... and to anticipate miracles as God works through us.” Those healing words challenge me as I start a new beginning at St. John’s. I will be looking for and open to miracles.
St. John Cathedral: 865-525-7347
Transitions
The Rev. Stephen Eichler, Diocese of Southeast Florida,
who has been serving as chaplain at Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga,
has been called to be rector of Christ Church, South Pittsburg. His first
Sunday was to be July 11.
The Rev. Barbara Kirk-Norris is in final negotiations
to serve as transitional deacon with Church of the Ascension, Bardstown,
Ky.
The Rev. Ben Nelson has been called by the Rev. Hunter
Huckabay Jr. from Good Shepherd, Corpus Christi, Texas, to be
assistant at St. Paul, Chattanooga, beginning in mid-September.
The Rev. Lou Parsons will serve as chaplain at Memorial
Hospital in Chattanooga until the fall, when she will become a chaplain
with Hospice of Chattanooga.
The Rev. Patricia Templeton has been called to be rector
of St. Dunstan Episcopal Church, Atlanta, Ga. |
