Holy Apostles - Announcements

ANNOUNCEMENTS & UPCOMING EVENTS

Scroll down for a complete listing of activities and news.

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 2010

Press Release
Children make a difference for Africa at Holy Apostles’ VBS

How can a child in east Shelby County change the life of a child in Africa? And how can a child’s life in Africa change the life of a child in east Shelby County? Throughout an African themed Vacation Bible School week in early June, participants who ranged from pre-kindergarten age to fifth grade at the Church of the Holy Apostles in Collierville, Tennessee, brought change, coins and dollars, nothing larger that five dollar bills and collected nearly $800. The collection will be sent to Nets for Life, a missionary effort in Africa. Nets for Life is a partnership ministry of the Episcopal Relief and Development, the humanitarian agency of the Episcopal Church.

Each day the children learned about an African animal, memorized a Bible verse, and participated in stories, games and crafts. Yet, perhaps the most energized time of the day was when the children came forward to drop their change in the collection bucket. One parent shared the experience that her children were asking her for odd jobs around the house in order to earn money to donate to the Nets for Life collection. The efforts of the children touched their parents and compelled many of them to donate as well. Another child innocently tore a dollar bill in half to share with one of her classmates.

“Malaria can infect nearly 3,000 children daily in Africa. This effort by these children remind us that we are all connected, and that our faith calls us to respond to the needs of others no matter where they may live. To see the excitement of the children when they made their donations each day was a beautiful experience,” said The Rev. John P. Leach, rector of Holy Apostles. “If one child forgot their change, others in their group shared coins, and in one case a dollar bill. Everyone participated, and most importantly they understand another way to express God’s love others, even as far away as Africa.”

Check out the Gallery Page for additional Vacation Bible School photos.

August 10 Deadline

EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY

We currently have four openings for First Year beginning students.

Education for Ministry, known as EfM, is a program of theological education-at-a-distance of the School of Theology of the University of the South. Students sign up one year at a time for this four-year program. It covers the basics of a theological education in the Old and New Testaments, church history, liturgy, and theology. Students meet regularly, usually once a week, in seminars under the guidance of trained mentors. The program grants a certificate at the completion of the four years and 18 Continuing Education Units for each year's work. For more details click here.

Contact Barry McCrory (366-7815) for more information about participating in EFM at Holy Apostles beginning in early September. The cost is $350 per year … full and partial scholarships are available. We currently meet on Thursdays from 6:00 PM to 9:00 p.m. at Emmanuel Methodist Church on Kirby Road. Deadline for enrollment is August 10, 2010.

WELCOME HELEN BEATY

We are very pleased to announce that Helen Webb Beaty has accepted our call to become the Assistant for Communications. Helen is a child of this diocese and spent her teen years at St. George’s Church. Helen is a professional copywriter, providing freelance work for local and national clients. She has a B.A. in Journalism from The University of Georgia and attended The Portfolio Center in Atlanta. Helen is married to James Beaty and has a 20-month-old daughter, Thatcher. Please join us in welcoming her to Holy Apostles.

NEW NURSERY STAFF MEMBERS

We welcome aboard two new employees to our staff. Debra Butler has been involved with the medical field for most of her adult life and she may be a familiar face to you if you have had lab work done at Collierville Family Medical Center. Christy Fontenot is a transplant from Louisiana and has devoted her life to helping children. She is currently employed as a social worker in the Shelby County School System. We are so excited to have both of these ladies on our staff and encourage you to stop by and get to know them.

HONORING BOB CAPRA

The Liturgy on the First Sunday after Pentecost honored Bob Capra, organist/choirmaster emeritus, for his 40 years of ministry and service to Holy Apostles. To hear the special musical selections shown below click here (MP3 format).

Holy, holy, holy!
Almighty God         L. Stanley Glarum
Gloria
Come, thou fount of every blessing
Psalm 23              Howard Goodall
Praise God, from whom all blessings flow
Sanctus
Sanctus               Charles Gounod
Guide me, O thou great Jehovah
Nunc dimittis         Joseph Barnby
God of Grace and God of Glory        Paul Manz
   ('God of Grace' was played as the parish members were leaving the church.)

Mondays in July at 6:30 p.m.

COLLIERVILLE VICTORY GARDEN

Come feed the hungry! Holy Apostles is staffing the Monday night harvest at the Garden. Join the group at 6:30 p.m. at Collierville Christian Church (corner of Byhalia and Gunnison) to harvest, help and learn more about gardening. All ages are welcome. Remember the harvest goes to feed many in our community. For more information, contact Jennifer Warrillow.

July 30 and 31

STOP HUNGER NOW

The West Tennessee Haiti Partnership’s ‘Stop Hunger Now’ meal packing event will be held on Saturday, July 31, at Church of the Holy Communion. Recipients will include the children of St. Vincent’s Center for Handicapped Children, as well as others in need within the Diocese of Haiti. This year’s event will be held in HC’s gym. The number of volunteers for each shift will be limited—register early to reserve your place. Help is also needed to unload supplies and set up for the event on Friday, July 30. Reservations for shifts and contributions toward the cost of the meals can be made online at www.stophungernow.org/memphisevent.

Saturday, July 31, 4:00 p.m.

POPCORN THEOLOGY

Popcorn Theology is venturing out to the movies on July 31. We are planning to attend a viewing of the movie, The Kids Are Alright. The movie is rated R for strong adult themes. After the movie we will reassemble at Holy Apostles to discuss the many theological issues, and there are many, raised in the movie. The discussion promises to be lively and entertaining and you won’t want to miss it.

For more information contact Curtis Finn.

Wednesday, August 4, 6:30 p.m.

SERENDIPITY SUPPER

The first Wednesday of each month we have an old-fashioned potluck supper at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Life Center. Bring a covered dish or a dessert and enjoy the fellowship and the serendipity of the bountiful meal. For more information, contact John Wasilik.

August 6 and 7

OPERATION BACKPACK

There are two beneficiaries of Operation Backpack this year: Collierville Elementary School and The Emmanuel Center. On August 6th and 7th, volunteers will be needed to sort, organize and distribute school supplies. The volunteer sign-up sheets, in addition to the list of CES’ needed items, can be found on the Outreach Bulletin Board. The Emmanuel Center has requested monetary donations (rather than supplies), which allows more to be purchased at bulk prices. Contact Tasha Kawell for more information.

Wednesday, August 18, 6:30 p.m.

BOOK CLUB

In August we will be reading .... (stay tuned). Come join us for a lively discussion! For more information, contact Paula Vaughan.

Sunday, August 22, 3:30 p.m.

MORE THAN A MEAL

On the fourth Sunday of each month Holy Apostles’ volunteers help prepare and serve a hot meal for More Than a Meal at Grace-St. Luke’s Church in Memphis. Additionally, we donate snack sized fruit cups and cheese sandwiches with butter for the estimated 1200 guests annually. If you would like to participate as a server, we will gather at Grace-St. Luke's at 3:30 p.m. Contact: Mary Ann Thompson.

August 27, 28, 29

EPISCOPAL CHURCHMEN OF TENNESSEE CONFERENCE

Come visit the Mountain. The 2010 Episcopal Churchmen of Tennessee Conference will be held August 27, 28, and 29, the weekend prior to Labor Day, beginning with dinner Friday evening and ending with breakfast Sunday morning after the concluding service at All Saint's Chapel, Sewanee.

A block of rooms for the men of Holy Apostles has been reserved at historic (and air conditioned!) Rebel’s Rest on the Sewanee campus.

The Rev. Dan Matthews (rector emeritus of historic Trinity Church, Wall Street) is among the speakers. Check out the other speakers and various conference activities at www.episcopalchurchmen.net or contact Holy Apostles’ Parish Keyman, Ted Raynor, at 603-7977 or traynor@bpjlaw.com.