June 2017 Trinity Tribune

In This Issue:
To Everything There is a Season 
The Rev. Paul Nancarrow
Later this fall, I will be on sabbatical leave from Trinity. Beginning on August 15, and returning on December 15, I will take four months away from the daily duties of parish life. During the calendar months of September, October, and November, Lee and I will be away from Staunton; the other four weeks (two at the end of August and two at the beginning of December) we will be in residence, but I will not be keeping regular office hours.
 
Sabbatical time is an important time in the life of the clergy, and of the parish as well. Sabbaticals are perhaps more familiar in academic life than in church life; but the idea of sabbatical is deeply biblical. The ancient law of Israel prescribed a day of rest every seven days; and every seven years came a time when farmers were to let their fields lie fallow, and vintners were to allow the poor and landless to come gather from their vineyards. Sabbatical was seen as a time of refreshment and regeneration, and also a time to allow people to share in the wealth of the land.
 
For me, this sabbatical will be a time to write. I have always loved writing, and I do a fair amount of it in my regular ministry. But most of the writing I do today - and in fact most of the writing I've done for the last thirty years! - has been for some ulterior purpose. I've written to be persuasive, or to satisfy assignments, or to try to impress professors, or to make sure I don't bumble around in the pulpit. I have seldom had the opportunity to take an interesting idea and run with it, write it out and explore it, not because of the use it will serve but just because it's an interesting idea. I have recently become especially interested in the personal essay as a vehicle for imaginative and theological reflection on life; I hope in these three months away to maintain a regular discipline of writing every day and letting my spiritual imagination roam. I may even come home with something worth publishing!
 
But parish sabbaticals are not only about rest and refreshment. One of the most important spiritual components of the sabbath is the recognition that God is in charge. The biblical prohibition on work on the seventh day is a reminder that human effort only goes so far; that, try as hard as we might, we just can't control everything; that we are not in the end defined by our work but by our relationship with God and with each other. Taking time not to work is a way of remembering that only God endures through all.
 
That sense of letting go and letting be is also part of the seventh-year sabbatical process. For a rector to step away from a parish for a season is a way of reminding everyone - rector and parish alike - that no one is indispensable. No single priest defines a parish; and there is no parish job that cannot be filled by a variety of people using a variety of their talents. Part of the challenge of sabbatical is for me to give up some of my control fixations (control fixations? me?) and trust that things will be just fine without me. Part of the challenge of sabbatical is for the parish to rise up and remember that the church is the people, not the priests or the buildings or the budgets, but the people. And the people can do what the church needs done, and all with God's help.
 
Before I step away on August 15, I will be working with the Wardens, the Vestry, the staff, Rev. Becky, Bishop Mark, and others, to make sure that there will be adequate and enthusiastic leadership in all areas of parish life. Sunday services will go on. Administration and finance will go on. The pledge drive will go on. Choir and concerts and music will go on. Sunday school will go on. Pastoral care will go on. Events and celebrations will go on. You'll hardly notice any difference! And you will enjoy as always the vibrant life and care of this parish community.
 
And in December, when I come back, we will get together like kids after summer camp and say "What did you do? What did you do?" and catch up like old friends. And we'll celebrate the Feast of the Nativity as a celebration of the renewal of our parish life and pastoral relationship.
 
Thanks be to God! 

Graduates
  • Mary Brown graduates from Vanderbilt University with a BS in Mechanical Engineering
  • Brodie Chittum graduates from the University of Virginia, McIntire School of Commerce with a M.S. in Commerce
  • Tonya Cramer graduates from the University of Maryland with a MA in Public Health. She will also finish her residency there in General and Preventive Medicine.
  • Molly Diment graduates from Buffalo Gap High School and will attend Emory & Henry to study music education
  • Jonathan Brett Goodloe graduates from the Medical College of Virginia. He will begin five years of Residency at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston, SC as an orthopedic surgeon.
  • Beverly Hollberg graduates from RE Lee High School and will attend Christopher Newport University
  • Coalter Hollberg graduates from the University of Mary Washington with a BS in Environmental Science (cum laude)
  • Richard McPherson graduates from the University of Texas at Austin with a PhD in Computer Science
  • Chuck Richards graduates from Eastern Mennonite University with a MA in Counseling.
  • Nora Oechslin graduates from Lee High School and will attend Agnes Scott College in Decatur, GA.
  • Hunter Otteni graduates from RE Lee High School and will attend the University of Virginia.

Administrator Notes
Laurie Clements, Parish Administrator
Gifts
  • This month I received a little contribution from one of our past visitors that came in to see our church. We get a lot of feedback from visitors, and it is nice to pass this on to share with you how Trinity makes an impression on others.
 
"Thank you for sending me your self-guided tour brochure and booklet about the Church and the stained glass windows. I stopped in 3-4 years ago and was impressed with the tour we got from one of your parishioners. (Thank you Thurston Robinson!)  We at St. Paul's in Connecticut are keeping our church open several days per week and I remembered seeing your self-guided tour, so I have decided to do the same for our church. Thank you!" -George Richardson, St Paul's in Wallingford, CT
  • Thank you to everyone that gave generously to SACRA and Noon Lunch this past month. In addition, a special contribution was given to the Noon Lunch program by Marcy  & Thurston Robinson in honor of their friends Pat & Carl Henderson.
Summer Nursery Hours As we approach summer, and the worship hours change to two services, parents are reminded that our Church Nursery times will be from 9:00 to 11:30 am. 

Novel Theology
Novel Theology meets throughout the year on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Foster Room. Everyone and anyone is invited to attend. The only rule is you must read the book for that month. Come and bring your friends and acquaintances. We have lively discussions.
 
June 27 -  Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Things Fall Apart  tells two intertwining stories, both centering on Okonkwo, a "strong man" of an Ibo village in Nigeria. The first, a powerful fable of the immemorial conflict between the individual and society, traces Okonkwo's fall from grace within the tribal world. The second, as modern as the first is ancient, concerns the clash of cultures and the destruction of Okonkwo's world with the arrival of aggressive European missionaries. These perfectly harmonized twin dramas are informed by an awareness capable of encompassing at once the life of nature, human history, and the mysterious compulsions of the soul.  Led by John Lane.
 
July 25 -  The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson The Haunting of Hill House has unnerved readers since its original publication in 1959. A tale of subtle, psychological terror, it has earned its place as one of the significant haunted house stories of the ages. Led by Michael Cuevas.


A Honduran Graduation
Julian Hickman
In 2011, while mixing cement for the new church at Nueva Esperanza, some of the Staunton Trinity mission group needed an extra interpreter.  Ever, an 11 year old boy, stepped up to translate and quickly enchanted everyone.  His father is the lay leader of the church.  We quickly found out that Ever had been attending the Mayatan Bilingual School but the family just couldn't afford the tuition.  Someone in the group suggested we also help his sister.  For the past five years we have been collecting money and sending it to this family for Ever, Karen as well as Helmy, the youngest, to attend Mayatan.

Ever will graduate this June.  Part of his senior year is in an internship program at one of the nicest hotels in town.  He loves the work.  That is not surprising since Ever has outstanding social skills.  We can all feel proud of this success.
 
It is always a gamble, wanting to help people.  This is a very hard working, warm and loving family.  Their children often talk of how much their parents have sacrificed for them.  Karen will be going into 10th grade this fall.  She continues her outstanding academic performance.  Below is a recent note (without correction - I wish my Spanish was this good) from Karen, thanking all who have helped:
 
Hello! How are you?  I want to thank you for the help you are giving us. I am doing my best so I can have good grades. I really like school. I enjoy a lot being with my friends and learning new things in school. I like knowing a new language. Thanks for letting me the opportunity of study in a bilingual school. I will continue giving my best. In school my favorite subject is algebra and computers; I like social studies too, because in social studies we learned about places all around the world.  I am not shore what I want to be when I grow but the only thing I am shore is that I want to help kids just like you help us. The things I like to do is taking photos and traveling, I like to go and visit new places and knowing more about them. I wish I could have the opportunity to go to a university too. I really like studying. My family is very happy because you are giving us a big opportunity. They always tell us to give our best and we are giving it, but I know that we can do better so we are working in that. Now in school we are having a lot of projects because we are in the last months, and some of those projects are hard but they are fun. I like having big projects and do things in groups where we can help each other and work as a group with my classmates. I am happy that we are having vacations soon, but I will miss school a lot. So thanks you for all the help you are giving us I am so thankful with you guys. I promise I will continue giving my best and every time do better. Thanks for your help.     - Karen Noelia Leon
 
We hope you are encouraged by Ever, Karen, and Helmy's progress and will continue your support.  If you would like more information, grade reports etc, contact Julian (also known as Pete) Hickman at 540-241-3753.  If you would like to help, send your check to Trinity Church, marked Karen and Helmy Scholarship Fund.


Promises and Vows
The Rev. Paul Nancarrow
In the summer of 2012, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church allowed experimental rites for the blessing of same-gender unions. At that time I wrote to the parish of Trinity Church, knowing this might be a controversial issue, and said that I, as a person and as a priest, believed this was the right thing for the Church to do. I said then that I believed we should judge relationships by their fruits, and that we could only know this is a movement of the Holy Spirit by trying it and seeing what fruit it would bear (Matthew 7:16, Acts 5:34). I also said that I would not hold such a blessing at Trinity Church without first telling the congregation.
 
A lot has happened since then. The General Convention of 2015 changed the marriage canon, using the word "marriage" for all couples, and ending separate language of "blessing" for same-gender couples. Marriage equality has become the law of the land. For many people - though certainly not for all - this has become a less controversial issue in every respect. This is now part of how we live together as a Church community.
 
Yet I am still conscious of my promise to this parish. And I wish now to fulfill that promise by making public that a same-gender wedding will take place at Trinity in September.
 
I have known this couple almost as long as I've been at Trinity. They have family here; their son was baptized here; they are "ours" in every sense; and now that they can, they wish to celebrate their marriage here. I, with the Vestry's full support, look forward to hosting their celebration.
 
I want especially to make this announcement now, well ahead of the event, because I will be on sabbatical in September and will not actually be here for the wedding. The Rev. Shelby Ochs Owen will prepare the couple and officiate at the ceremony. She does this with my complete support and gratitude. And though I will not be here in person, I will certainly be here in spirit and prayer.
 
As always, I ask your prayers for our church, for our parishioners, for all those who strive to make a place for love in life, and for our world. 

Trinity Historical Highlight
Lilchy Huffman
The Easter Morn Windows
 
Col. Richard Henry Catlett, born April 6, 1828 in Catlett, Fauquier County VA., served as Quartermaster at Virginia Military Institute 1850-1858, where he was allowed to study law. He resigned his position as Treasurer in 1861 to join the Army of the Confederacy. Catlett was aid to Governor John Letcher in Richmond and served under General John Echols of Staunton as did Maj. Henderson M. Bell. On April 16, 1864, he married Mary Mercer Patton, daughter of William Fairlie Patton, M.D., USN and later Confederate Navy. After the war, Richard and Mary moved to Staunton, so he could enter into a partnership with John and Henderson to form the law firm of Echols, Bell & Catlett. They were known for their fine character in legal dealings during the Reconstruction period. Catlett later had lucrative real estate and mining interests, was a member of the Board of Visitors at VMI, and served on the vestry of Trinity for many years.
 
Richard and Mary had two sons who survived infancy - Charles, born August 18, 1865 and Richard Henry, Jr, born November 27, 1868. In mid-August, 1871, a third son, William Fairlie was born. Mary died a month later on September 21, 1871 and William died the following year.
 
Richard married Frances "Fannie" Bolling Gay on May 24, 1876. She was a descendant of John Rolfe and Pocahontas as well as John Lewis, founder of Augusta Co. and Staunton. They had 6 daughters between 1878 and 1889, however, only 4 are listed. Katherine, born in 1880, and Agatha, born in 1889, died in infancy. Margaret Erskine, born in 1878, married Lawrence Washington Howe Peyton, a grandson of John Howe Peyton (builder of Montgomery Hall), at Catlett House in December, 1905. Both were descendants of John Lewis, he through William Lewis, and she through Thomas Lewis. Fannie Gay, born in 1879, married Livingston Waddell Smith, a professor at Washington & Lee University, at 303 Berkeley Place in November, 1908.
 
In 1896, Richard built Catlett House, 303 Berkeley Place, and hired William Larner, great-grandfather of Susanna Larner, to do the stone work. Richard died March 21, 1898 of Bright's disease. Catlett House remained in the family until 1972; it is now the Berkeley Place Bed and Breakfast.



"Ye seek Jesus of Nazareth which was crucified: He is risen, He is not here." Mark 16:6
In memory in of Richard H. Catlett (1829-1898)
Tiffany Studios, New York (signed)

A Note of Thanks
Beverly Stone
I would like to thank everyone who attended the ECW tea on May 11. I was greatly honored to receive the Mary Artis Dennis award and by your presence and support at the tea. Thank you again.


Calendar
If you open the following link, you will see our current Trinity Church calendar. You may wish to bookmark this page as it will automatically update with any changes.
Birthdays
When we switched database systems, the new system did not keep on file anyone's birthday that lacked the year. Therefore, if your birthday is not listed below please contact the office with your birth month, day, and year to be added into our system. Thank you.

1
Jennifer Campfield
Evie Stisser
 
2
Elizabeth Baxley
Yulia Buchanan
James Dungan
 
3
J. Ferguson
 
6
George Redden
 
8
Beate Harnad
Erika Peterson
 
10
Price Kathryn Parkhurst
 
11
Susan Christopher
Judy Mosedale
Susan Read
Shirley Ruedy
 
 
12
Harri Wallace
 
13
Jane Walsh
 
14
Sara Hollberg
Simon Willard
 
15
Michael Bird
Theresa Jackson
Nora Oechslin
Karen Tate
 
16
Molly Brown
Beverly Frank
 
17
Willson Baxley
Mackenzie Deitz
 
18
Don Fowler
Jeanne Klein
Rosalie Mahler
Tricia Opie
 
 
19
Janet Ferguson
 
21
Dudley Mayson
Heidi Smoot
 
24
Clair Bell
Ivan Einselen
Owen Edwards
Joan Wray
 
25
Jim Cramer
Emily Laser
 
26
Jeannie Lee
 
28
Sally James
 
29
Caitlin Bugas