SUMMER DAY CAMP GOING WELL
The ambitious four-week academic summer day camp at St Cyprian’s is going very well. Twenty-three students, fourteen of them elementary school age and nine middle school age, attend. Dr Helen Othow is both the director and the teacher of reading and comprehension on the middle school level. Dr Mary Ann Johnson and her assistant, Shae Smith, are the two certified teachers teaching reading on the elementary level, with Seminarian Adrienne Koch as group leader and Kenyatta Gabriel assisting. Carolyn Thorpe is the group leader of the middle school children; Portia Greene the director of recreation; and Paula Jones the all-important director of food services. In other words, the Day Camp is in good hands!
The children of the Day Camp and their families are invited to attend St Cyprian’s on “Day Camp Sunday,” July 25, when the children will demonstrate what they know about the Old Testament and sing some of their songs. On Friday, July 30, the congregation and families are invited to come together at 6:00 PM for a gala Closing Program.
Thanks to some $460 given in scholarships, $5l6 given by Holy Innocents Episcopal Church, Henderson, $500 given by John and Linda Sigmon, $300 given by members of the Oxford Rotary Club, $300 given by an anonymous donor from St Cyprian’s, tuition payments from the parents, the proceeds from the June 26 yard sale, and over $2,000 from St Cyprian’s Church, the Day Camp is “in the black!” Thanks be to God!
‘SUMMER PRAISE’ OPENS SUMMER WORSHIP
During July and August we begin worship at St Cyprian’s in a less formal style, with praise music and informal prayer and readings from the Prayer Book’s Catechism. The choir has adapted into a fine “praise team” to lead the music. Randolph Lockett has been a tremendous help, playing the organ alongside Diana Morgan’s piano. On Sunday, July 25, the “Four Gabriel’s,” Katelyn, Kenyatta, Jacob and Joshua—all piano students of Mr Lockett—will add musical selections to the Offertory. And attendance at Worship is holding strong, showing none of the customary “summer dip.” Rejoice!
WHAT DOES A ‘CRY ROOM’ MEAN?
Recently St Cyprian’s installed a sliding glass partition between the small room off the narthex and the sanctuary. It is a room, now fitted out with rocking chair, rug, toys, etc, where mothers or fathers can go with little children who get weary during the Service. That is a fine addition, but it has a larger meaning: For some years St Cyprian’s had almost no children either within the congregation or at Worship. Now we do! The Sunday School recently had to move over to the Fellowship Hall to accommodate all the children now in the Sunday School. Now the congregation’s response to “The Lord be with you” is LED by the children in Worship. Now the “Childrens’ Message” has the whole congregation getting a preview into what’s coming in the sermon. Now the future of St Cyprian’s is looking much better. Yes, a cry room! Yes, children, even crying infants, in Worship! Of such is the Kingdom of God!
CONFIRMATION INSTRUCTION COMING
Beginning Sunday, September 19, Rector Jamie Pahl of St Stephen’s Episcopal Church and Vicar Heinemeier will team teach an eight week preparation for Holy Confirmation for both congregations’ adolescents (starting with 7th graders). We will alternate between St Stephen’s and St Cyprian’s Sunday by Sunday, with the classes starting at 12:30. Bishop Curry will visit St Stephen’s on Sunday, November 14 for Confirmation and Bishop Gregg will be at St Cyprian’s (his first time) on Sunday, December 19 (Vestry, get ready to meet with Bishop Gregg for dinner on Saturday, Dec 18 to review our ministry, and then for his preaching and presiding the next day!)
OCTOBER REVIVAL NOW SET
It is now official! The Rev Willie Darby, the well known pastor of Penn Avenue Baptist Church, Oxford will be the preacher for the October 10, 11 and 12 Fall Revival, and Mr William Hamilton, of Baltimore, Maryland will be the guest musician. Choirs for each evening are now being invited, with the Penn Avenue Baptist Choir already promised to come on the final evening, Tuesday, October 12. The St Cyprian’s Choir will sing each evening as hosts. The Vestry is talking about an outdoor meal the final evening of the Revival, maybe a fish fry. Get ready to be refreshed!
ST CYPRIAN’S HELPS WITH HOME IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
A family in the community wanted to move into a somewhat dilapidated residence recently, but needed help to “fix it up.” Under the leadership of Junior Warden Harry Mills, St Cyprian’s stepped forward and supplied all of the paint to paint the entire house. The congregation now stands ready to work on other small home improvement efforts into the future. Thanks, Harry, and all who contributed for the paint, including Ace Hardware.
NEW OXFORD FIRE CHIEF INVITED TO BE AUGUST ‘OXFORD SUNDAY’ GUEST
Oxford, North Carolina, now has its first African American Fire Chief, Mr Earnest Bess, from Newport News, VA! He was chosen out of over one hundred applicants for the position. Congratulations, Mr Bess!
Mr Bess begins his work in Oxford on August 2, and St Cyprian’s will try to get him to come over on Sunday, August 15, for an “Oxford Sunday” welcome.
FOOD FOR BODY AND SOUL
The Men’s Fellowship is scheduled to offer good fixin’s for breakfast and then some men-centered Bible study afterwards on Saturday, July 31, at 9:00 AM. This event is designed to be a gathering place for member as well as non-member young men and men from the community, taking inspiration from the male gatherings that happen every weekday morning at the Sunshine Bisquit Company downtown. Men, come on over for some good food and discussion!
WEDNESDAY BIBLE STUDY AND NEW MEMBERS CLASS COMING SEPTEMBER
The extraordinarily well- attended Wednesday Evening Dinner and Bible Study will resume at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, September 8, probably studying one of the Old Testament books. A new New Members Class will also begin about that same time, on Tuesday evenings, at 7:00 o’clock. Also, the Sunday Morning Adult Bible Study Group will resume its 10:00 AM studies on Sunday, September 12, studying the Book of Exodus. It has been said that a congregation will be as strong as the percentage of its adult members who are in regular Bible study. This is happening at St Cyprian’s!
AUGUST BREATHING SPACE
Let’s face it: We’ve been hitting it pretty hard at St Cyprian’s the past eleven months! And there is a lot to show for it! But every person and every group also needs some time to just relax, to have some breathing space. So most of our programming will take a break during the month of August. That is, most of our programming, with the strong exception of Sunday Morning Worship! On THAT day we come together every week of the year, rain or shine, 100 degrees or snow on the ground, because every Sunday is a little Resurrection Day, and we need to celebrate and gather around our Risen Lord.
So, put up your feet, people of God, and relax a little during this month ahead. Enjoy each other, enjoy God’s creation, enjoy those gardens, and just bask away in God’s grace and goodness! (There will be no August Newsletter, as a part of this backing off mood.)
AND, come to Tyler and Kelly Lester’s 4th Anniversary of Marriage on Saturday, August 7, anytime after 2:00 PM (421 Goshen). It will be buffalo chicken sandwiches, hotdogs, all kinds of side dishes, and soft drinks. You are asked to bring a dessert or side dish to share and possibly a folding chair. The Lester’s need a RSVP at 203 843-6907 to know how many dogs to put on the grill.
GRANVILLE COUNTY MINISTERS CONFERENCE AT ST CYPRIAN’S NOV 17
St Cyprian’s will host the Fall Gathering of the Granville County Ministers Conference on Wednesday, Nov 17, at 7:00 PM. This Conference of mainly African American clergy, of which Vicar Heinemeier is a member, brings its congregations together twice a year, once in the Spring and once in the Fall. It should be a packed house on November 17!
Vicar H will be the preacher for the service, and guest choirs will join our choir in leading the praise.
WOMENS DAY PROPOSED FOR SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
Last year we missed our annual Womens Day around St Cyprian’s Day (September 13) because of the Installation of our new Vicar. But the Episcopal Church Women of St Cyprian’s want to get back on track this year, with a festive Womens Day Program. The date that is being proposed is Sunday, Septmber 12. A special guest speaker will be invited and choirs. Stay tuned for more information.
BOOKSTORE BUYS
Have you been over to the College Street Bookstore yet for their Going Out of Business Sale? It’s 50% off on most items now and it might even get better, as they prepare to close their doors in September. This Bookstore has served the community and the North Carolina Diocese so very well over the years. Now’s the time to help them close up shop and say Thank You for their ministry!
JULY AND AUGUST PRESENCE CANDLES
Francis Powell has contributed the Presence Candles for July in memory of Clara Powell and Winifred Powell. In August Harriet Thorpe will contribute the candles in memory of Elizabeth Gabriel.
Soon there will be a signup sheet for supplying the Presence Candles in 2011. Look for it.
THANK YOU’S
The congregation thanks Kelly Barber Lester for directing the Tutoring Program this past season, and Kayla Mills and Katelyn Gabriel for doing the tutoring. Also, we thank Ruby Burleson and Geraldine Green for providing transportation for the tutors.
St Cyprian’s also thanks the Mills Family and Francine Chavis for providing such extraordinary food for the Fellowship Hours during May and June. This was not a treat; this was not lunch; this was Dinner!
We also thank Harry and Kyla Mills and other members who have been helping out with the ministry of Area Congregations in Ministry (ACIM). Anyone else who can help out?
OCTOBER PICNIC AT OLD ST JOHN’S, WILLIAMSBORO
The congregation is invited to fellowship with St Stephen’s, Oxford and Holy Innocents and St John’s, Henderson at a picnic lunch after Worship on Sunday October 10, on the grounds of the old St John’s Episcopal Church, Williamsboro. While we will not be dropping worship that morning at St Cyprian’s, we hope that we can carpool out to old St John’s for some good food and fellowship afterwards.
Also at old St John’s there is a Clean Up Day on Sunday, September 26, at 2:30 PM for those who can make it.
VICAR HEINEMEIER TO TRAVEL TO PALESTINE/ISRAEL IN OCTOBER
Vicar H has long desired to visit the troubled area of Palestine/Israel and to converse with Palestinian Christians and Muslims, along with justice and peace seeking Israeli’s. He now has a chance to make such a trip this October 13-23, in a visit to the Sabeel Center for Liberation Theology, operated by Palestinian Christians, in Jerusalem. He will become part of a trip put together by Episcopalians in this country and headed by old Epscopal friends from Boston, Bob and Maurin Tobin. Vicar H will thus leave the day after our Fall Revival, miss leading Worship here on October 10, but be back for Worship on October 24. The Vestry will meet a week earlier therefore in October, and our October “Oxford Sunday” will be a week later, with Kathy May, Director of Granville Senior Services, as our “Oxford Sunday” Guest.