Dr. Baron Mullis Pastor, 404.876.7396 ext. 11 baron.mullis@morningsidepc.org Rev. Joanna Adams Pastor Emerita Rev. Drew Stockstill Minister of Young Adults & Adult Education 404.876.7396 ext. 14 dstockstill@morningsidepc.org Dana Hughes Affiliate Minister Robert Gray Assistant to the Minister rwgray26@gmail.com Robert Bolyard Interim Choirmaster, 404.876.7396 robertbolyard@gmail.com Melinda Sandkam Program Director, 404.876.7396 ext. 15 msandkam@morningsidepc.org Anna Best Office Administrator, 404.876.7396 ext. 10 office@morningsidepc.org Randy Young Facilities Manager, 404.876.7396 ext. 13 randyyoung@morningsidepc.org Sarah Tomaka Preschool Director, 404.685.8758 mpp@morningsidepc.org Chris Peters Director of Youth Ministry chrispeters@morningsidepc.org Rebecca Shipley Director of Children’s Choirs rebeccashipley@mindspring.com

JoAnn Kearns Accountant kearnsja@gmail.com

Victor Carballosa, Sexton 404.242.0749

1 Worship

2 From the Pastor’s Desk

3 Inside Morningside

4 Connect!

5 Calendar

6 Calendar Close Ups

7 Session News

8 BackWords

May 2014 Worship at Morningside

May 4, 2014

Baron Mullis preaching "On The Road To Emmaus"

Texts: Luke 24:13-15; Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 The sacrament of communion will be celebrated.

May 11, 2014

Baron Mullis preaching "The Good Shepherd and The Black Sheep"

Texts: Psalm 23; John 10:1-10 The sacrament of baptism will be celebrated.

May 18, 2014

Baron Mullis preaching "His Marvelous Light"

Texts: 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:8-14 Cherub Choir Sings

Congregational Lunch Farewell to Robert Bolyard and Sarah Martin

May 25, 2014

Landon Dillard preaching "Always Be Ready"

Texts: 1 Peter 3:13-22; Psalm 66:8-20

From the Pastor’s Desk PAGE 2

Dear friends,

Preachers joke about the relentless return of the Sabbath. For those of us who preach each week, there is the constant generation of ser-mons. For those who teach each week, again, the same constant

generation – and of course, for those who sing/play/manage children’s ministries – the same.

It has been my custom since I have been at Morningside to take the week following Easter off – I’m actually not very good at it – frankly, I flunk Sabbath-keeping. In fact, I’m writing this during my vacation, which is really not a good testimonial to my practice of taking time off. I’m pretty good about balancing my workday so that I’m not at the church from sun-up to sun-down, but actually disengaging for a week? That’s not my strong suit.

However, with that confession made, there is tremendous value in slowing down from time to time. There is some-thing to be said for backing off, letting the e-mails pile up for a day or two, and only responding to emergencies. It’s re-storative.

The fourth commandment is that we should honor the Sab-bath day and keep it holy.

Do you know what that means? It does mean that we wor-ship, to be sure –God delights in our praises – but it means taking a break too. I hope that you think of worship in two ways – first, and foremost, that which we do for God. We’re not the audience of worship, God is. We’re doing this for God’s enjoyment. Seriously. And the second way that I hope you think of worship is as a moment – an hour – of Sabbath, in which e-mails are ignored, texts go unan-swered, and we sit still and breathe in the divine rhythms of worship and Sabbath. It is not accidental that God com-manded that we should take a break from the maddening world at least once every seven days.

A seminary classmate and I once noted that if God’s people were breaking the commandments about adultery, theft, murder and lying with the same impunity with which we obliterate the fourth commandment, you can be sure preach-ers would be hollering about it all day long.

And on that cheery note, this preacher is signing off and en-joying some Sabbath. Thanks for reading!

Baron

Elder on Call Bobbie McCrackin May 4-10

Duncan Spears May 11-17 Peter Cobb May 18-24 Leslie Prince May 25-31

Deacon on Call Nathan Zook May 4-10

Anthony Owens May 11-17 Robin Hackney May 18-24 Faye McKay-Clegg May 25-31

Zombie Invasion in Room 201? ‘Living Dead’ vs. Easter Resurrection Engages Adult Learners

If the idea of having a fish barbecue on the beach with the resurrected Jesus, as described in Drew Stockstill’s Apr. 27 sermon, intrigued you, you’ll really ‘come alive’ to the discussion in Room 201 at 9:45 a.m. Sunday morn-ings.

The title of Drew’s series “Life after Easter: A Look at Resurrection Theology” may sound forbidding, but where else can you compare a Bible passage with a clip from “The Night of the Living Dead”? All are welcome to come join other adults in exploring what ‘the resurrec-tion of the body and the life everlasting’ means to us in the 21st Century.

Inside Morningside PAGE 3

Morningside Milestones

• We have a tradition of four special collections per year. The One Great Hour of Sharing, collected on Easter Sunday, raised $2,701 to benefit disaster response, refugees and community development.

• Graduation Day is just a moment away, as Elisabeth McClure and Jessica Coons complete their studies at Emory Uni-versity and Chris Peters receives his M. Div. from Columbia Theological Seminary. Congratulations to all these fine young scholars!

• Thanks to Rhodes Bakery for donating delicious Easter cookies for our Egg Hunt. Many volunteers ably led by co-chairs Julie Brow and Mary Hardy Holaway created another fantastic “running of the eggs”.

• New and newer! In April, our church family grew with the addition of Anthony and Caitlin Fox and their infant son Liam, Ame and Matthew Frease, and Allison and Stephen Roach - who added to their family on Apr. 13 with the birth of their first child, Grace Catherine. And Matt, an ordained Presbyterian teaching elder who has affiliated with us and soon beginning his doctoral studies at Columbia, joined Drew in leading worship Apr. 27. Welcome, y’all!

• Not only is it always time to take up a service challenge at MPC, the final official Season of Service project - the HOMES workday for senior citizens - found seven members plus the project supervisor filling 41 tall yard-waste bags, plus building a brush pile, in a yard clean-up deferred to Apr. 26 due to the bad February weather.

• Family and friends of Dr. Leslie Brenner said goodbye on Sunday, Apr. 13 with a memorial service in our Sanctuary. Leslie passed into the Church Triumphant on Tuesday, Apr. 1.

MPC’s Summer Intern Is Familiar Face to Youth Group Our church has a long and happy relationship with Co-lumbia Theological Seminary and a track record for wel-coming students to serve as interns as they get hands-on practical experience and mentoring in various pastoral roles.

This summer we’re ‘keeping’ Assistant Youth Director Landon Dillard as she takes on additional roles as our pas-toral intern. In fact, she’ll be preaching her first sermon in our pulpit on May 25. Members and friends are en-couraged to be with us that Sunday and welcome Landon in her new assignment. She will continue to work with

our kids during her internship, providing transition for the time when Youth Director Chris Peters receives his first pastoral call after completing his seminary studies.

Landon attends Columbia Theological Seminary and holds a bachelor's degree from Furman University. She is from Charlotte, NC and brought to our youth group three years of experience in youth ministry from First Presbyterian Church in Charlotte where she is a lifelong member. She likes to cook, garden and read.

Salute Musicians Sarah, Robert While Munching on Maggiano’s Meal

May 18 Morningside will say goodbye and a heartfelt thank you to Robert Bolyard and Sarah Martin for their approximately eight months of service as interim choir-master and organist, respectively. They stepped in and carried on the tradition of MPC’s exceptional music pro-gram - especially through the Christmas and Easter sea-sons. Our new Choirmaster/Organist Mason Copeland will begin becoming a familiar face in our halls starting this month.

We’ll celebrate Sarah and Robert during our next quar-terly Congregational Lunch after worship in Fellowship

Hall. Catering this time will be Maggiano’s, with a menu highlighting chicken, spaghetti and salad. Reservations are a great help in keeping our food orders reasonable - although we always have enough for those who make a last-minute decision or accept your invite - so if you plan to come, use the RSVP card in the Sunday bulletins or email office@morningsidepc.org. Suggested donations are $10 adults, $5 children.

Connect! PAGE 4

Will Meditation Help You Be a Better Christian? May Offers Two Opportunities to Find Out

“Listen! A sower went out to sow, and as he sowed, some seed fell on the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Other seed fell on rocky ground, where it did not have much soil, and it sprang up quickly, since it had no depth of soil. And when the sun rose, it was scorched; and since it had no root, it withered away. Other seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no grain. Other seed fell into good soil and brought forth grain, growing up and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundred-fold. Let anyone with ears to hear listen!” - Mark 4:3-9

This well-known parable is usually interpreted to mean that different people respond to the Word in different ways, that some people “get it” while others not so much. An alternative interpretation, however, would be that each person has different states of mind that receive – or are unable to receive – the Word. In that case, this is not a parable about the sower or the seed, but rather the type of ground that allows the seed to flourish.

How do we develop the “good soil” in our minds? That’s the topic Ken Sharpe will explore in his upcoming Chris-tian Meditation workshop. Ken became interested in meditation while a student at Emory College in the early 1970’s, and 20 years later he began a formal practice of Zen in which he has been involved ever since. Then two years ago there was an advertisement in "Presbyterians Today" magazine about the World Community for Chris-tian Meditation. Ken attended one of their conferences in Chicago and, with Baron's concurrence, started a weekly meditation group here at Morningside.

While we tend to think that meditation is an Eastern tra-dition transplanted to the West, the practice is actually deep in the roots of Christianity. Since apostolic times Christians have used meditation to calm the mind and allow the Holy Spirit to expand in our hearts. It is a prac-tice that has stood the test of time with untold numbers of meditators from all religions.

You can experience this ancient Christian tradition at a workshop on Saturday, May 17, beginning at 11 a.m. During this hour-and-a-half workshop Ken will delve more deeply into the practice of meditation: what medi-tation is, why it is effective, and how to practice it your-self. RSVP to Ken at kensharpe@bellsouth.net so that he will know how many handouts to prepare. Snacks and coffee will be provided. There is no fee for the workshop but putting something in the collection basket will help defray office expenses.

Another opportunity to hear Ken will be at the One Gray Hair lunch that meets on Wednesday, May 14, at noon in Fellowship Hall. His program will be “Christian Medita-tion: How We Prepare Our Hearts and Minds.” Please join us for this enlightening (pun intended!) program as we explore what meditation is, how we practice it, and what effects it can have on our life in Christ. Let Sarah Brownlee (rsbrownlee1046@att.net) know if you plan to attend the lunch and discussion.

Art, Food, May Afternoon - Who Could Ask for Anything More? Sunday, May 4, Intown Collaborative Ministries, which Baron Mullis serves as chair, holds its annual fund-raising event, Arts and Eats. The Hellenic Center on Clairmont Rd., hosts the event, beginning at 4 p.m., featuring food, live music, auction items, wall of wine, and other kinds of fun which supports the ICM Food Pantry and Snack in a Backpack programs. Get your $100 ticket now! Go to tickets@intownicm.org. You can contact Heather Regnault (hpregnault@yahoo.com) for more info.

Food Trucks Will Come Back Every Fourth Thursday Quickly becoming a tradition at MPC and the Morningside neighborhood, we’ll once again host a variety of food trucks in our parking lot, Thursday, May 22, 5-8 p.m. Plan to grab dinner here while getting yourself out of the kitchen and into conversation with our neighbors and church friends.

In March, the trucks served 350 meals. If you haven’t experienced the fun of al fresco dining a la food truck, come check it out.

PAGE 5

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 9 a.m. MPP 1 p.m. Playball 6:30 p.m. Prayer Group 7:30 p.m. MLPA Public Safety

2 8:15 a.m. Creative Movement 9 a.m. MPP 1 p.m. KidzTennis 7 p.m. Jerome Kern Dress Rehearsal

3 9 a.m. AA Meeting 7:30 p.m. Jerome Kern Bene-fit Performance; reception follows

4 9:30 a.m. Coffee & Con-versation 9:45 a.m. Church School 11 a.m. Worship with Communion 12 noon Fellowship 4 p.m. ICM Arts & Eats Fundraiser 5 p.m. Youth Group

5 9 a.m. MPP 1 p.m. Ballet/Tap 7 p.m. Mandolin Soci-ety

6 9 a.m. MPP 11 a.m. Yoga 1 p.m. Mini Monets Art Class; Playball 2:15 p.m. Parkinson Tai Chi 4:30 p.m. Tai Chi 6:30 p.m. Weight Watchers 7 p.m. Theology on Tap 7:30 p.m. MLPA Zoning; Troop 455

7 8:15 a.m. MPP Yoga 9 a.m. MPP 9 a.m. - 12 noon VBS Workday 1 p.m. MusiCanopy 6 p.m. Cherub Choir 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir

8 9 a.m. MPP 1 p.m. Playball 6:30 p.m. Prayer Group 7:30 p.m. Handbell Choir

9 8:15 a.m. Creative Movement 9 a.m. MPP 1 p.m. KidzTennis 7 p.m. Couples Group

10 9 a.m. AA Meeting

11 9:30 a.m. Coffee & Con-versation 9:45 a.m. Church School 11 a.m. Worship with Baptism 12 noon Fellowship 12:15 p.m. Deacons 6 p.m. Journey

12 9 a.m. MPP 1 p.m. Ballet/Tap 6 p.m. Ballet Recital 7 p.m. Ballet Recital 7 p.m. Mandolin Soci-ety 7:30 p.m. MLPA

13 9 a.m. MPP 11 a.m Yoga 1 p.m. Mini Monets Art Class; Playball 2:15 p.m. Parkinson Tai Chi 4:30 p.m. Tai Chi 6:30 p.m. Weight Watchers 7 p.m. Preschool Committee

14 8:15 a.m. MPP Yoga 9 a.m. MPP 12 noon One Gray Hair Luncheon 6 p.m. Cherub Choir 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir

15 9 a.m. MPP 11 a.m. Yoga/Zen 12 noon 3rd Thurs-day Theology 1 p.m. Playball 6:30 p.m. Prayer Group 7:30 p.m. Handbell Choir

16 9 a.m. MPP 1 p.m. KidzTennis

17 9 a.m. AA Meeting 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. Meditation Workshop

18 9:30 a.m. Coffee & Con-versation 9:45 a.m. Church School 11 a.m. Worship/Cherub Choir Singing 12 noon Congregational Lunch/Farewell to Robert Bolyard and Sarah Martin 1 p.m. RHO Readers 1:30 p.m. Small Group Meeting 5 p.m. Youth End of the Year Party

19 9 a.m. MPP 1 p.m. Ballet/Tap 7 p.m. Session; Mando-lin Society

20 9 a.m. MPP 11 a.m Yoga 2:15 p.m. Parkinson Tai Chi 4:30 p.m. Tai Chi 6:30 p.m. Weight Watchers 7 p.m. LGBT & Friends

21 8:15 a.m. MPP Yoga 9 a.m. MPP 1 p.m. Preschool and Church Staff Lunch-eon 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir

22 9 a.m. MPP 11 a.m. Yoga/Zen 11 a.m. Pre-K Cele-bration 5 p.m. Food Trucks 6:30 p.m. Prayer Group 7:30 p.m. Handbell Choir

23 MPP Last Day of School

24 9 a.m. AA Meeting 5:30 p.m. Clifton Sanctuary

25 9:30 a.m. Coffee & Con-versation 9:45 a.m. Church School 11 a.m. Worship 12 noon Fellowship

26 Church Office closed in observance of Memorial Day

27 2:15 p.m. Parkinson Tai Chi 4:30 p.m. Tai Chi 6:30 p.m. Weight Watchers

28 7:30 p.m. Chancel Choir

29 6:30 p.m. Prayer Group 7:30 p.m. Handbell Choir

30 31 9 a.m. AA Meeting

May 2014

Calvin Court Collection

Calvin Court Collection

Calvin Court Collection

Calendar Close Ups Page 6

‘May’ Becomes ‘Must’ for Summer Activities Why are the deadlines for Vacation Bible School “All Aboard the Ark” and Mission Camp “It’s Not All About Me” this month? In order to plan activities, order supplies and t-shirts and recruit enough volunteers for each of these endeavors, we NEED you to register your child by the stated deadline: Sunday, May 25, for VBS and Sunday, June 1, for Mission Camp. Pick up the registration forms at church or download them from our website.

Session approved construction of an ark play structure in Fellowship Hall for VBS and beyond.

That ark needs animals! If you have some stuffed pets as found in nature (no pink elephants!) to give or loan for VBS, bring them to Program Director Melinda Sandkam. She’ll keep a list and return loaners after June 20. Items needed for Mis-sion Camp include newspapers to shred for puppies at the Atlanta Humane So-ciety and plastic grocery bags for the food pantry at Intown Collaborative Ministries. We’ll collect these items over the next few months. Drop off donations in Room 001.

Favorite Songs from Stage, Film Highlight Kern Concert

May Birthdays 1 Linda Johnson 2 Rachel Spears 4 Jennifer James 5 Tish Craddock 6 Shannon Pengelly 6 Brian Rouse 6 Ian Bresnahan 6 Jennifer Pittman-Sanders 7 Hollis Holmes 7 Fred Schreiber 8 Emmerson Millard

9 Daniel Easton 9 Ward Howell 10 Brent Drone 10 JoAnn Kearns 10 Sheryl Wingert 11 Trent Kean 11 Bob Wells 12 Haden Holaway 12 Laura Edgerton 14 Jay Myers 14 Mardee Rightmyer 14 Sarah Beth Gehl

15 Ian Irwin 15 Harrison James 15 Gavin Embrick 15 Nancy Frampton 16 Bryan Smith 17 Clay Haskins 17 Sam Tomaka 19 Ame Frease 20 Anthony Cochran 21 Lauren Fairleigh 22 Jeff Hackney 22 Pearl Weathers

23 Oliver Loring 24 Madelyn Millard 25 Alexander Holland 25 Van Jensen 26 Breck Kean 27 Cliff Burt 27 Nathan Zook 27 Alan Penrod 28 Daisy Ottmann 31 Kate Parrish 31 Thomas Jackson

You won’t need a top hat and tails but you may feel like dancing in the aisles as more than two dozen Morningside musicians present “The Way You Look Tonight, Morn-ingside Sings Jerome Kern” Saturday, May 3, at 7:30 p.m. in our Sanctuary.

You don’t need a ticket to attend this concert of Ameri-can standards from the award-winning composer, but voluntary donations will benefit MPC’s community ser-

vice and outreach programs. The show is produced by Jeff Peters, with choral direction by Robert Bolyard and musical direction by Derek Matthews. Bring your friends for a great introduction to the Morningside musical tradi-tion.

Details, Details: What’s Coming Up Next? • In May we think of seniors, as we collect non-perishable groceries for elderly residents at Calvin Court who may

have difficulty affording food toward the end of the month. Baskets in Welcome Center May 11-25. • Bill Means will host Theology on Tap on Tuesday, May 6, at 7 p.m., at 1071 McLynn Ave.,30306. RSVP to the

church office (office@morningsidepc.org) for this men’s dinner and discussion. • Members of Lydia's Circle will serve dinner for the men at Journey on May 11. • RHO Readers welcome everyone to talk with author Matthew Guinn about his novel The Resurrectionist via Skype on

May 18 in Room 201 at 1 p.m. The Southern novel describes early effects to obtain cadavers for medical research. • Sign up on the mission bulletin board to provide a dish and/or serve a meal to men at Clifton Sanctuary Ministries on

Saturday, May 24.

Your Session at Work: April 21 Meeting

Session News Page 7

(Find a complete list of our church officers and staff at http://www.morningsidepc.org/leaders)

• Are you curious about what really goes on during Session meetings? Our Book of Order states that these meetings are actually worship services, opening and closing with prayer and incorporating a devo-tional led by an elder. Minutes are reviewed and cor-rected if necessary before approval. Because MPC’s committees undertake most of the work of the church, most of the meeting consist of ‘for informa-tion only’ reports from each of the ministry teams. Motions coming from committees are discussed and voted upon—coming from committees that have done the homework, they are almost always unani-mously approved. Sometimes an item concerning the whole church comes before Session. We pray for those among us needing special prayers. We review correspondence and meeting schedules. Most meet-ings conclude within an hour. Approved minutes of every regular monthly (‘stated’), specially called and congregational meetings for the past few years are available for review in the church office. Meetings are open to members, with the caveat that any busi-ness a member might want to bring before Session should be referred to the relevant committee (see the Leaders page on our website—link above—to find the ministry team chairs). It’s the committee’s job to address the issue and if Session action is required to bring it forward. Refer any questions about whole-church issues to the Clerk of Session or to Baron.

• Laura Fillyaw, Children’s Education chair, noted that beginning May 25, as usual our three elementary classes become two, led this year by Debbie Loo-mis and Sally Horne. While Sally moves on to Law School in the Fall, 2nd-3rd grade leader Jessica Coons will return. Youth are continuing to sell Stock Certificates to fund summer projects through May 25—if you’d like to be part of this effort, collar any of our youth. They’ll be happy to help you sign up. Our preschool is moving the FUN-Raiser to the fall this year (Nov. 14 at Paris on Ponce) with Jungle Jam continuing in the spring.

• Facilities Chair Duncan Spears announced that the computer and door security software has been un-graded and installed.

• Plans are in place for Chris Peters’ inevitable re-placement as Youth Director as he finishes his degree at Columbia Theological Seminary and awaits a pas-toral call leading to his ordination. Incidentally, it took both Chris’ and his fiancée Lauren Van Wick-len’s cars to carry home shower gifts from our church family on Apr. 27—for which they are both very grateful.

• As our church’s small groups continue to flourish, Discipleship Chair Bonnie Daneker told Session that her committee is seeking interest from members of our congregation in forming a Small Business Owners Group. Anyone interested should be on the alert for information about a “Lunch Then Learn” meeting after the Congregational Lunch on May 18.

• Mission Ministries Team Leader Eleanor Attwood led us in congratulating Elder Hillery McNeill upon being named to the Habitat for Humanity Cen-tury Club for 100 hours of service in 2013.

• For Worship and the Arts, Jennye Guy noted that our dedicated bunch of flower managers are now known as The Flower Ministry. Chair Georgia Marshall encourages new members and is especially looking for more drivers to deliver flowers to shut-ins and others receiving bouquets from our Sanctuary arrangements.

• Our diaconate has reorganized its functions. See the story on Page 8.

• Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations are still adjusting to the so-called New Form of Government adopted three years ago. Morningside is no excep-tion. Consequently, Session has drawn up and ap-proved a draft set of church bylaws, which will be distributed to the members and voted upon at the next congregational meeting.

Daisy Ottmann Clerk of Session

BackWords PAGE 8

1411 N. Morningside Dr., NE

Atlanta, Georgia 30306

telephone 404.876.7396; fax 404.876.2494

www.morningsidepc.org

Morningside Diaconate Embraces Enhanced Roles Annually our church invites you to nominate and elect church officers: elders and deacons. Over the past 10 years or so, the role of the Board of Deacons, or diacon-ate, has undergone a long evolution. At one point, MPC dissolved the diaconate; later, we missed the service of these dedicated members and reinstated the board. Now our deacons have redefined their roles yet again. Here’s a guide to the current role of our deacons. The 12 deacons, led by moderator Katherine Johnston and advised by Rev. Drew Stockstill, have organized into three groups. One group has a special concern for new members, including helping them become familiar with and use our technology including the on-line directory and Using Your Gifts volunteer forms. This group will also take over planning and hosting Morningside Mingles, where members can get better acquainted in a social set-ting.

A second group provides outreach and care for home-bound members and those on the list of prayer concerns, watching out for those who seem to be missing from regular worship and delivering flower arrangements pre-pared by the Flower Ministry. The third group sees to our current members and will help with contacting mem-bers to RSVP for lunches and other church events. All deacons rotate to be the on-call person on every Sun-day of the year, host our after-worship social time, give devotionals at their meetings. The deacons recently held their first retreat, at the Monastery of the Holy Spirit in Conyers, which they found enriching as a group and per-sonally. The deacons welcome your comments and con-cerns. Follow the link on Page 7 to reacquaint yourself with these elected officers of our church.