Loving our neighbors

An excerpt from our vicar's sermon, on Sunday August 21st (10th Sunday after Pentecost).

What does it look like for us to love our neighbors as ourselves?

These questions are difficult for any Christian community.

One of our callings at St. Joseph’s seems to be engaging the needs and lives of our homeless brothers and sisters in this neighborhood.

We share breakfast now Monday through Saturday with those who are hungry. This past week we averaged over 30 people at breakfast daily.

Two weeks ago one of our homeless neighbors who sleeps on our property because he feels safe being on the church grounds was hit in the head while he slept, and due to the care of another homeless man, he made it to the hospital in time to save his life.

How do we, as a community of faith –

a ragged bunch of rocks held together by God’s grace –

provide a welcoming place for all,

where people of all walks of life are honored as God’s children and not abused?

How do we create and promote a community in which all present our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, not marred by drugs and violence?

The answers to these questions are difficult.

Living in community is challenging as we try to honor one another.

Next Sunday, August 28^th, following fellowship time after church, whoever wishes will gather in the parish hall to have a conversation about what I have no other name for than “rules for behavior” for all who gather at St. Joseph’s in any capacity.

Your vestry has been having conversations with local social service agencies, our homeless neighbors, the Durham police department, local businesses and members of the congregation to try to come to understand ways we might be able to curb illegal and violent activities on our property. Next week we invite your insights, thoughts and conversation. Our discussions will be ongoing.

As rocks as jagged as Peter – one moment boldly proclaiming Jesus as Lord and the next denying him utterly – we will make mistakes but I hope that we will also hold each other accountable to the Kingdom, living into forgiveness and grace.

Karen+

Breakfast News

Fellowship at Saint Joseph's has always been an important part of our ministry. None more so than the Monday through Saturday breakfast fellowship following Morning Prayer.

Numbers have been steadily increasing, which in the current economic climate is not surprising. In addition, with the new academic year fast approaching, more Divinity School students are returning from internships and are joining and helping us on a daily basis. We have had to add to the size of our breakfast table. Some mornings, the chatter around the breakfast table is so intense that it's hard to focus on your personal conversation.

Gail is never happier than when she sees more joining us to share eggs 'n' cheese, cereals, toast, juice and coffee. "Miss Gail" has one rule and one rule only - no one is allowed to leave without a hug!

We certainly reap what we sow. Sowing the seed of community and friendship around a simple breakfast meal fills us all with a gift. We give and we receive - each and every one of us.

---Mick

Saturday fellowship

7:45 AM on Saturday saw the Rev. Joe Hensley, Associate Rector at St. Luke's, and a longtime friend of St. Joseph's, bring his youth catechesis class to Matins. Joe's idea was to give this great bunch of young people added experience of helping in the community as part of their weekend retreat.

What a success this turned out to be. After Gail explained where everything was kept, she left it to them to prepare breakfast.

After Morning Prayer it didn't take long for duties to be mutually allocated and agreed (with no adult interference). Cooking eggs, cheese and toast seemed to be enjoyed by those involved and we soon sat down to a hearty breakfast.

After breakfast, and the inevitable clearing up, we checked out the church who uses our upper room - St. Basil the Great Romanian Orthodox Church. Mick explained that was one way that St. Joseph's shared it's resources with the community at large and how a wonderful family spirit was being created between the two churches, despite the differing traditions.

Joe took some time to point out and explain those differences, especially the use of Icons. We all took time to study the many on display and to meditate on their meanings.

Joe, enjoying a well-earned mug of coffee, whilst Gail enjoys a rare "easy" morning. We thoroughly enjoyed their company.

Let it rain . . . please

Junior Warden Gary Pellom pictured yesterday installing our rain barrels. With the drought still continuing and the prospect of a dry summer, these are an important addition to our gardening efforts.

Much preparatory work has been done and a small band of willing members are enthusiastically working on making this project successful.

We've "plowed the fields and scattered," and now we will wait patiently for it to "be fed and watered, by God's almighty hand."

In the meantime, the Gardening Crew appreciate Gary's hard work, as do we all at St. Joe's.

---- Mick ----

Spring planting

Our 70 tulip bulbs have gone through a "winter" in the refrigerator (we bought them a tad late!) and have awoken to prepare for what we hope will be a vivid show of scarlet and yellow this spring.

Soon the gardening team will plant them along with some iris bulbs -- but first we’ve got some work to do. On Saturday morning we’ll spread around a truck load of soil and compost. Monty will till it into our long neglected (hard-as-brick) soil. If you’re interested in some sunshine and fellowship, please join us! And we could definitely use extra wheelbarrows and shovels.

In the fall we built four raised beds and planted azaleas, pansies, a date tree, crocuses and other greenery. This year we hope to landscape other parts of the back yard and grow sunflowers, zinnias, aster, butterfly weed, anise-hyssop, wildflowers and more. Many of these we’ve chosen to attract birds (including hummingbirds) and butterflies, as well as beneficial insects like ladybugs that will snack on the tiny pests around our flowers and vegetables.

We’ll keep adding to the grounds little by little. Our back yard soon will become a peaceful, pretty place where folks can meet for lunch or sit quietly. If you're interest in landscaping or caring for the plants, please e-mail Jamie.L.Kennedy@gmail.com.

With God's grace, and some hard work,our yard will be a peaceful enhancement to our community.

------ Jamie

Our new vicar

The vestry of Saint Joseph's is delighted to announce the appointment of the Rev. Karen C. Barfield as Vicar with effect from February 15th.

Karen, who needs no introduction to Saint Joseph's, celebrates her first Sunday Eucharist as vicar on February 20th.

Karen is married to Ray Barfield and has two children: Micah (15) and Alexandra (11). Karen has been ordained seven years and has served in a variety of settings: urban and suburban; Cathedral staff, campus ministry, and congregations of all sizes; as interim rector, associate rector and interim chaplain. Her greatest joys in ministry involve liturgy, prayer, pastoral care and issues of justice. She was born and raised in Memphis, TN where she served as priest until moving to Chapel Hill, NC two years ago with her family.

In her spare time Karen enjoys reading, gardening, travelling, and designing most anything, especially houses (kitchens and baths in particular). Ray, her husband of 20 years, is a pediatric oncologist at Duke and is Associate professor of Christian Philosophy in Duke’s Divinity School. Ray enjoys writing, playing classical guitar and running. Micah wrestles for Chapel Hill High School, and Alexandra enjoys everything artistic, especially singing and playing classical guitar. The whole family loves to cook together.

Prior to ordination Karen served on staff at St. Luke’s Community Kitchen in Atlanta, GA, and she was co-founder of a prison ministry there as well. In downtown Memphis she helped develop the Hospitality Hub, a non-profit organization which assists persons who are homeless connect with the resources they need. Karen has most recently been serving as Priest Associate and Administrative Assistant at the Episcopal Church of the Advocate in Carrboro.

Mick, Verger