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SUMMER/FALL 2017

EPISTLEMagazine

THE

ST. PAUL’S SURE FOUNDATIONWe’re celebrating the 200th anniversary of the building of St. Paul’s! Learn more inside...

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ST. PAUL’S“LOST BOYS”

CONTENTS

Two hundred years ago, the building of St. Paul’s was constructed. Today, we’re building a bright future on the sure foundation of our past. Learn more about what we’re commemorating, why it’s important, and what’s coming next!

Though Travers Geoffray’s musical career has taken him from Alexandria to New Orleans, he still cites his St. Paul’s experiences as influences on his music today.

Northern Virginia’s South Sudanese community members strike a challenging balance, building a new community here while tending to family in crisis at home.

Regina Roman, a St. Paul’s parishioner and one of our spiritual directors, shares a powerful personal account of her recent pilgrimage to Egypt.

ST. PAUL’S SURE FOUNDATION

YEAR

HOLY CURIOSITYIN EGYPT

TRAVERS GEOFFRAY

PAGES 4, 10 & 30 PAGE 23

PAGE 27 PAGE 32

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4 Letter from the Rector

5 Summer at St. Paul’s: Photo Gallery

8 Swept Up by the Spirit: Meet Our New Curate, the Rev. Alyse E. Viggiano

9 Seminarian Updates (Worth Stuart, Charles Cowherd, and Introducing Elizabeth Henry McKeever)

10 St. Paul’s Sure Foundation

11 It’s Playtime! Playground/Courtyard Renovation Sure Foundation Vineyard Vines Merchandise

12 HVAC Renovation Project Altar Window Repair

13 St. Paul’s First Annual Friendraiser Farmers’ Market Gleaning

14 St. Paul’s Has Got Breakfast!

15 Alexandria’s Affordable Housing Crisis

16 Back to Belize

18 Vacation Bible School

19 Episcopal Youth Celebrate Path to Peace in Oklahoma

20 St. Paul’s Explorers Photos

22 Duncan Campbell to Serve in Costa Rica with YASC

23 Musician Travers Geoffray Takes St. Paul’s Roots to the Big Easy

24 Jim Bennett Leads Music at Shrine Mont Family Camp

25 St. Paul’s Music Ministries

26 Meet the Damascus Road Dogs: Jim Wallace Farewell, Jim Bennett

27 The Balancing Act: Northern Virginia’s South Sudanese “Lost Boys”

30 Adult Education This “Foundation” Year

31 Fall Programming from the St. Paul’s Center for Spiritual Direction

32 Pilgrimage to Egypt (with Spiritual Director Regina Roman)

35 Join St. Paul’s 2018 Holy Land Pilgrimage

C L E R G Y

The Rev. Oran E. Warder RectoR

The Rev. Gregory L. MillikinAssociAte RectoR

The Rev. Alyse E. ViggianocuRAte

Charles CowherdseminARiAn

Elizabeth Henry McKeeverseminARiAn

The Rev. Samuel A. Mason, ObJNARtist-in-Residence

S T A F F

Kelsey ParrishcommunicAtions diRectoR

Sue Setliff PARish AdministRAtoR

Mandy HodgesministeR to Youth, childRen & FAmilies

Larissa Beason childRen’s ministRY AssistAnt

Grant Hellmers oRgAnist-choiRmAsteR

Maria HalloranstewARdshiP diRectoR

Rees Kirkorian diRectoR oF st. PAul’s exPloReRs

Laura Simmons AdministRAtoR FoR lAzARus ministRY

Donna Lefeve sPeciAl PRojects cooRdinAtoR

All Building MaintenancemAintenAnce

weeSITchild cARe seRvice

Scott Mann & AssociatesLeigh Ann Gaskins

Accounting

V E S T R Y

Eleanor Long senioR wARden

Lisa Eskew junioR wARden

Janet Forsgren PARish tReAsuReR

(ex-oFFicio membeR)

Scott Broetzmann RegisteR

Jim Kahl At-lARge membeR

Julian BurkeJane Cole

Tara FoscatoJulia Hall

Chas HarrisGeoff Johnson

Meldie KishNicole Morrell

Katherine MurphyJim Norman

C.J. ReidJason SpenceLuke StrangeMatt Walsh

ContributionsThank you to all members who have made gifts to support the Epistle Magazine. Donations to the Epistle Magazine enable us to share the blessings of our ministry and mission with all members of our parish and the community. To contribute, please return the enclosed donation envelope, or contact Maria Halloran, Di-rector of Stewardship, at 703-549-3312 x21 or stewardship@stpaulsalexandria.com.

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LETTER FROM THE RECTOR

Through the ages, Almighty God has moved his people to build houses of prayer and praise, and to set apart places for the ministry of his holy Word and Sacraments. With gratitude for the building of this church, we are now gathered to dedicate and consecrate it in God’s Name.

And so begins the liturgy for the Dedication and Consecration of a Church. This year at St. Paul’s we celebrate our Sure Foundation Year. It was during this time, 200 years ago, that our beloved church was built. The laying of the cornerstone happened on June 21, 1817, and amazingly, the dedication and consecration of the completed church happened on May 18, 1818. The church went from design to completion in less than one year and at a cost of $29,000.

Our parish actually began eight years earlier in November of 1809 in a small brick building on South Fairfax Street between Prince and Duke Streets. It was under the able and charismatic leadership of William Holland Wilmer, our second rector, that the congregation quickly outgrew this space and plans began for a new church home. Dr. Wilmer engaged his friend, fellow church leader and renowned architect Benjamin Henry Latrobe, to design the new church building. Our proof that Latrobe designed St. Paul’s is not that we possess a set of drawings or a signed contract or a receipt of payment, but rather a series of terse and sometimes humorous letters

that passed back and forth between Latrobe and the Vestry, ironing out various disagreements with the implementation of his design. The result of their efforts have stood the test of time. Two hundred years later, this building is our spiritual home as well as an architectural treasure.

Through it all, this building has served as a house of prayer and praise, a place for the hearing and proclamation of God’s Word, and the center of our sacramental life. Through it all, this building has served as a resource for ministry, a place for the making of disciples, a center for gathering and being sent out into the world. Through it all, this building has served as a reminder that our sure foundation is in Christ Jesus, and our hope is in God alone.

The pages of this edition of the Epistle Magazine bear witness to this truth.

Faithfully,

Oran

WRITTEN BY THE REV. ORAN E. WARDER

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SUMMER AT ST. PAUL’S

Top to bottom (L to R): story time at Vacation Bible School; the blue icing aftermath of our Sure Foundation Sunday cake; holding up the foun-dations of St. Paul’s on Sure Foundation Sunday; local realtor Sue Goodhart leads a discussion on decluttering at an Aging Gracefully with Spirit lunch; acolyte commissioning; youth lead the 10 a.m. service on Youth Sunday, June 4

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Top to bottom (L to R): pilgrims visit the ancient site of Corinth in Greece; Eucharist at an olive tree farm in Greece; the start of our Got Breakfast? summer outreach campaign; getting into character for the Got Breakfast? campaign

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Top to bottom (L to R): Brian, Anna, Erik, and Adam Abram (clockwise from top left) relax at the parish picnic; the Rev. Dr. Ross Kane cuts his farewell cake at the picnic; snapshots amid the playground renovation this summer

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SWEPT UP BY THE SPIRIT Get to know our new Curate, the Rev. Alyse Viggiano, and how the spirit led her to St. Paul’s

If there were a verse of scripture tattooed on my heart, it would be John 3:8: “The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So, it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” It is both exciting and terrifying to be swept up, relocated, and then fixed by the gusts of the Holy Spirit, but that is exactly how I arrived here.

I originally hail from Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania, where my family still resides. My parents are happily retired teachers, and I have a sister and a brother. Interesting fact, we are a set of triplets. We are not identical, but we sure look like siblings. My sister is pursuing a career in public health, and my brother in speech pathology.

Following the Spirit has taken me to several cities. The first was Cleveland, Ohio, where I attended John Carroll University. I graduated with a degree in marketing and minors in philosophy and entrepreneurship. There, I discovered a passion for building communities, particularly through coffee shops. Upon graduation, I joined the Episcopal Service Corps. and traveled to Omaha, Nebraska, to partake in a program called Resurrection House. It was a year of intentional discernment, working for a non-profit, and serving in a church. There, with the help of others, I decided to pursue the call to ordained ministry. I started seminary the following fall at Virginia Theological Seminary.

In seminary, the Holy Spirit moved at tornado-like speeds. In a blink it started, and in a blink it was over. I learned that I love liturgy, preaching, and serving alongside other passionate people, and continued my passion for developing communities through coffee shops.

While some tattoos fade, the grace of God is marked on each of us, and will never fade away. My hope in this new position is that I serve by listening, seeking out, and pursuing where the Holy Spirit is working towards God’s mission for the world. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve at St. Paul’s, and I can’t wait to see what the Holy Spirit has in store.

WRITTEN BY THE REV. ALYSE E. VIGGIANO

Ordination photos by Dennis Brack

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SEMINARIAN UPDATES The latest from our seminarians Charles and Worth, and meet our new seminarian Elizabeth

Hello, good people of St. Paul’s! A lot of life has happened over the last couple of months. In May, I graduated from VTS and moved back to Alabama the very next day! I was ordained as a Transitional Deacon on June 3 at my home parish of St. John’s in Montgomery, and then began my work as Curate at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Apostles in Hoover, Alabama (suburb of Birmingham) on June 12. Here at Holy Apostles, my duties include Christian Education, preaching, teaching, pastoral care, and more. I have been humbled by my experiences over the last couple of months and I am excited to continue the work of the Gospel in my community here in Alabama. I miss St. Paul’s dearly, and will continue to carry the friendships and lessons I learned there into my ministry now and in the future.

Peace!- Worth Stuart (former St. Paul’s seminarian)

I have been serving at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Arlington, VA over the summer for my Mid-Atlantic Parish Training Program internship. It’s been a rewarding and valuable experience in my formation process.

My wife Michelle and I are looking forward to rejoining St. Paul’s in the fall, particularly as we welcome our first child into the family in November!- Charles Cowherd

Elizabeth Henry McKeever is a rising middler at Virginia Theological Seminary and will start as a seminarian at St. Paul’s in September. She is from Little Rock, Arkansas, and graduated from Davidson College in North Carolina. Before entering seminary, she managed online communications and fundraising at nonprofits in California and Arkansas. Her spouse, Alison, is a children’s librarian with the Alexandria Library and their son, James, is a wiggly 10-month-old.

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ST. PAUL’S SURE FOUNDATION

On Sunday, June 25, we began a year-long celebration of the building of St. Paul’s Church with a commemoration of the laying of the cornerstone. During the 10:00 service, Oran gave a brief history of the events leading up to the building of our current sanctuary. The ancient symbols of masons, a Bible, square, level, plumb, wine, oil, and corn were also presented. These elements would have been part of the ceremony on June 21, 1817. The service on June 25, 2017 included a procession by the Vestry and was also attended by the McLean and Hooff families, whose ancestors were among the very first parishioners at St. Paul’s. After the service, everyone celebrated with cake and ice cream on the bricks.

Celebrating our rich history is important as we strive to preserve this sacred space for generations to come. We are the beneficiaries of the wisdom and vision of early parishioners, and as such, we must follow their lead. Through our mission and ministries, St. Paul’s continues to grow, finding new ways to serve God and deepen our ties to one another and our community. Through the St. Paul’s Foundation, we are working to restore, preserve, and maintain the buildings and grounds of St. Paul’s.

Please be on the lookout for the many events that will be a part of the year-long Sure Foundation celebration. Throughout the year, we will celebrate our history and learn about ways we can secure the future of this parish for the next 200 years.

Celebrating the 200th anniversary of the building of our spiritual home

WRITTEN BY MARIA HALLORAN

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IT’S PLAYTIME! Welcome to the newly renovated playground/courtyard

Time to play! The renovation is complete and our beautiful new courtyard and playground is open for business. This newly improved space will allow St. Paul’s parishioners of all ages to gather together in a safer, more accessible environment. We are so grateful for the outpouring of support to fund this project and renew this beloved space. We raised 100% of the funds needed to complete the project through gifts made by parish families, the Washington Forrest Foundation, the St. Paul’s Explorers families, and the St. Paul’s Nursery and Day School. If you purchased a brick to support the project, please spend some time walking the courtyard to find your name. We’d love to see your pictures of your family next to their brick — show us on social media with the hashtag #bricksofstpauls!

@stpaulsalexandria @stpaulsoldtown

for St. Paul’s Be on the lookout for fabulous Vineyard Vines ties and tote bags coming this fall. The ties (available in men’s and boys’ sizes) and bags were created to help commemorate this historic year as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the building of St. Paul’s. Pricing and ordering information coming soon. Join us in the celebration of our Sure Foundation year and look good doing it!

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HVAC RESTORATION PROJECTIf you’ve worshipped at St. Paul’s over the summer, you likely noticed that the church continues to have trouble with its air conditioning. Throughout the summer, the church staff and leadership worked hard to ensure that the church could be at a reasonable — if not altogether comfortable — temperature. Unfortunately, this has become a regular occurrence during the summer months.

Over the past six months, volunteers and experts have taken a closer look at the church’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system to determine the full extent of its challenges. Several facts have quickly become apparent.

1. Our current HVAC system is overly complex. The HVAC system isn’t a single streamlined system, but actually a collection of diverse systems designed to cool and heat different parts of the church. Norton Hall and the Sanctuary alone have 8 major systems consisting of 16 major pieces of equipment. As you might imagine, more equipment means more opportunity for dysfunction and failure. There are areas of the campus that are no longer conditioned because pieces of the equipment have failed.

2. Our current HVAC system is old and outdated. The average age of the components in our HVAC systems is 21 years, well beyond the expected lifespan. Some components of the system, such as the piping, are over 60 years old. The refrigerant components of our system use R-22, a refrigerant that has been phased out of production due to concerns about its impact on ozone depletion. As a result, R-22 is getting more difficult to obtain and becoming more expensive.

3. Our current HVAC system is increasingly costly to maintain and highly unreliable. Over the past five years, the church has spent nearly $170,000 in unbudgeted and unanticipated expenses to keep the current systems operating. Last year alone, we spent more than $65,000 in repairs and maintenance. These repair costs are likely to continue increasing as the systems get older, and may not save us from a full system failure at some point in the future.

4. Our current HVAC system can no longer be easily modified or replaced. Much of the equipment in our current system is no longer capable of being replaced. Some of these components are 30-40 years old, and more modern components would not be compatible with our existing infrastructure. Also, our piping — some of which dates to the 1950s — is not up to current codes and standards. This also makes repairs or replacement work more difficult.

With these facts in mind, it has become apparent that St. Paul’s will need to examine a complete overhaul of our HVAC system. This will be a multi-year process that will allow us to look at the best options to address our HVAC needs over the long-term.

We are very fortunate that the St. Paul’s Foundation has chosen to take a leadership role in the funding of this effort, though it is too early in the process to estimate potential costs. In addition, the St. Paul’s staff and volunteers are examining various tax credits and grants that may help defray some of the cost.

In the months ahead, we will be keeping you apprised of this project and its latest developments. In the interim, please contact Sue Setliff at sue@stpaulsalexandria.com if you have any questions. We appreciate the congregation’s continued patience and understanding as we seek to address this ongoing challenge.

WRITTEN BY JIM MORRELL

In May, Raynal Studios removed the large windows on either side of the altar for repair. These pictures show the beginning stages of repair which will take months to complete. The St. Paul’s Foundation began the window restoration project in April 2010, and since then, 22 windows have been restored. The Foundation is grateful to all the families who have contributed to this effort over the years. If you would like more information on this project or on the work of the St. Paul’s Foundation, please contact Maria Halloran at stewardship@stpaulsalexandria.com.

ALTAR WINDOW REPAIR

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Friday, October 13, 2017 · 7–10 p.m.277 South Washington Street, Alexandria · (Atrium behind Society Fair)

Save the date for the magic of this inaugural event. Join the St. Paul’s community for a fun, casual evening of fellowship, food and drink, entertainment, and the opportunity to know

more about our Lazarus Ministry and how it serves our city.

To meet the people on both sides of the Lazarus Ministry, go to stpaulsalexandria.com/lazarus.

For volunteer and underwriting opportunities for the Friendraiser, email Laura Simmons and Kim Gallagher at lazarus@stpaulsalexandria.com.

FARMERS’ MARKET GLEANINGVolunteers from St. Paul’s continued our farmers’ market gleaning program this summer, taking produce and other foods leftover by vendors to donate to those in need. Pictured are 20 boxes of peaches and nectarines donated from just one vendor, Ashton Farms!

One of the most generous vendors to the program is the Farmstead of Charlotte Hall. The owner, Lori, lost her husband to cancer last year, but shows up every week to give three or four boxes of vegetables.

Our donations have been shared with our Lazarus Ministry clients, as well as Christ Church, Annie B. Rose House, Carpenter’s Shelter, Friends of Guest House, and Christ House.

Gleaning continues this fall; if you’re interested in getting involved, more volunteers are always welcome as our bounty just keeps growing! Contact Cindy Brack at ccampbellbrack@gmail.com.

Photo & details from Lisa DeVaughan

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ST. PAUL’S HAS GOT BREAKFAST!Summer outreach campaign collects breakfast items for Alexandria families in need

EDITED FROM ARTICLE BY KAT TURNER FOR CHURCH OF THE RESURRECTION’S SPIRE NEWSLETTER

The West End Lazarus Food Pantry, operating from the first floor of Church of the Resurrection, continues to be a wonderful example of community collaboration to address the pressing problems of hunger and food insecurity in Alexandria. This summer, St. Paul’s designated the food pantry as the recipient of its SOFA (Summer Outreach for All) project, through donations to Hunger Free Alexandria. Hunger Free Alexandria has a special place in St. Paul’s heart because of the involvement of our former senior associate rector the Rev. Ross Kane in that organization. Hunger Free Alexandria, in turn, has chosen to distribute the donations from this project through the WEL Food Pantry.

Each summer St. Paul’s selects a beneficiary for a special outreach project. According to Scott M. Broetzmann, a member of our vestry and lead for this effort, the summer project must meet three criteria. First, it must address an important community need; second, it must be something that everyone can contribute to in some way; and third, it must be something that can be FUN! Two years ago the congregation assembled laundry baskets of home goods on behalf of New Hope Housing for those who were transitioning to permanent homes. Last year local Head Start programs benefited from a cascade of learning and art supplies.

This year, playing on the national advertising campaign Got Milk?, St. Paul’s devoted the month of June to the Got Breakfast? campaign. We set as our target gathering enough donations to provide breakfast for 150 families. To urge participation, leaders of the outreach effort pitched the campaign each Sunday dressed in appropriate costumes such as bacon and eggs, bananas, and milk.

We even had a “high tech” dimension to this campaign, providing a link to a special Amazon site that featured the 11 products that had been identified for the Got Breakfast? campaign. Donors were able to fill their Amazon shopping cart and have the products sent directly to St. Paul’s collection site. Last year more than half of the donors participated in this way.

The campaign closed on July 2, and St. Paul is proud to report that it collected over 365 products (details at right) that have been given away through the West End Lazarus Food Pantry.

The WEL Food Pantry is very grateful for these donations, and we hope you had a lot of fun with this year’s campaign!

152 boxes of cereal73 boxes of oatmeal and grits44 boxes of pancake mix29 bottles of pancake syrup37 bottles of apple and grape juice18 boxes of shelf stable milk15 bottles of cooking oil

Above: Got milk? Lisa Eskew and William and Colin Morrell do!

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ALEXANDRIA’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS

In 2000, there were 18,218 residential properties in Alexandria designated as “affordable housing.” These units were not public housing, but subsidized units to be rented at below-market rates to low- and moderate-income families.

The goal has been to provide lower income housing so that families would not have to spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Even the Lazarus Ministry, St. Paul’s flagship outreach ministry, has seen an increase of 48% in rental assistance funding over the past year. Area median income (AMI) for Alexandria is currently in excess of $109,000. There are many families in this community whose annual household income falls far short of that number.

Today there are 4,956 “affordable” units in the city. That’s a drop of more than 13,000 units since 2000. This is a loss of housing units that would have accommodated moderate- and low-income professionals: police officers, firefighters, health and medical professionals, teachers, bank tellers, childcare workers, and more. As one example, over 80% of the Alexandria police force does not live in the City of Alexandria because they can’t afford the cost.

St. Paul’s has been affiliated with several affordable housing advocates fighting to improve current conditions and keep the community diverse. These groups include Housing Alexandria, ALIVE!, the Northern Virginia Affordable Housing Alliance, and VOICE. Practical efforts have included one-on-one meetings with city councilmen; attending meetings of city council, Alexandria Redevelopment & Housing Authority, Alexandria Office of Housing; and community organizing. And we are not alone. Other faith-based organizations include Church of the Resurrection, Grace Episcopal, and at least nine other influential congregations in the city, along with several property developers and non-profit social service entities.

If you would like to be involved in having an impact on housing in Alexandria, contact the Rev. Alyse Viggiano at alyse@stpaulsalexandria.com or Bob Steventon at steventon103@yahoo.com.

Rising housing costs in Alexandria outpace income, leaving low- and moderate-income residents in the lurch. St. Paul’s and other organizations are working to help.

WRITTEN BY BOB STEVENTON

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Top to bottom (L to R): lots of giggles with the kids at King’s Childrens Home; serving alongside the hilarious and spirited church elders at Roaring Creek Nazarene Church to deliver groceries to those in need in their community; exploring the Xunatunich Mayan ruins; taking in a sunrise so quiet and peaceful that you had to be there to believe it

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There’s something special about returning to a place. There is a little less stress in travel, a little more ease in adjusting to the things that are different from home. There’s also the opportunity for reunions and deepening relationships and experiences. Our youth team of both veteran and new mission trippers connected to the people of Belize in a lovely and sincere way and I couldn’t be prouder of how they served and engaged.

On behalf of the team, thank you for your support of this journey. Please join us in keeping our extended church family in Belize in your prayers.

Thanks to all of this year’s missionaries for your hard work: Abby Adams, Isabelle Brocato, Robbie Carter, Caroline Coburn, Pete Coburn, Claire D’Attoma, Mica DeSimone, Bateman Solms, Nora Stanko, Grace Steenstra, Sam Thomas, Andrew WebbPlus leaders Rees Kirkorian, Heidi Schneble, and Mandy Hodges

BACK TO BELIZE WRITTEN BY MANDY HODGES

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VACATION BIBLE SCHOOLWRITTEN BY MANDY HODGES

Vacation Bible School this summer was one amazing journey! The “Passport to Peru: Discovering God’s Good Gifts” program gave children the chance to learn about a new culture. Just like here, children in Peru can look to God for love, patience, comfort, peace, and joy.

The mornings were filled with singing songs, learning a little Spanish, trying some foods that are popular in Peru (avocado, cacao nibs, and plantain chips, just to name a few), and learning about faith through Godly Play storytelling each day!

St. Paul’s is blessed with a wonderfully energetic, bright, curious, and loving group of children. Here are a few snapshots of our week!

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Every three years, the National Episcopal Church celebrates the global Episcopal youth movement by gathering for EYE — Episcopal Youth Event. This year’s event was held at the University of Central Oklahoma from July 9-14. St. Paul’s own Rees Kirkorian helped lead the Virginia Diocese Youth Ambassadors, along with Bishop Shannon, and 1,400 youth from around the world in a week-long celebration and service program. The gathering focused on renewing the Episcopal Church’s global mission of building a path to peace through the service and leadership of our Episcopal youth. One of the highlights of the week was a candlelight service at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum, home of the first major domestic terrorist act on April 19, 1995. Youth ambassadors were honored to worship alongside survivors, family members, and emergency personnel whose lives were forever changed by this tragic event. The next Episcopal Youth Event will be held in the summer of 2020 in the western U.S.

EPISCOPAL YOUTH CELEBRATE PATH TO PEACE IN OKLAHOMA

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For most people, the decision to partake in a year of service out of the country would be difficult, but not for Duncan. It was basically a no-brainer. Starting September 5, Elea-nor “Duncan” Campbell will begin her year of service with the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) in San Jose, Costa Rica. The YASC website describes the program as “bring[ing] young adults into the life of the worldwide Anglican Communion and into the daily work of a local community. At the same time, it brings the gifts and resources of the church into the lives of young adults as they explore their own faith journeys.” This is exactly what Duncan is hoping to achieve while in Costa Rica.

Duncan recently graduated from Randolph-Macon College with a degree in communica-tions and a double minor in women’s studies and sociology. Her passion for serving others and communication skills will be highly intertwined during this experience, since she will be primarily building relationships with single mothers and caring for their children.

During her time in Costa Rica, Duncan hopes to improve her Spanish, as well as continue the hard work of discerning where she fits into God’s unfolding plan for the world. She appreciates and takes great comfort in knowing that her home parish of St. Paul’s is pray-ing for her while on this journey. She asks prayers specifically for a sense of guidance and support. Like Duncan, let us keep our hearts and minds centered on how we too can serve God, and say an extra prayer for her while she continues on this journey. Duncan, we wish you well!

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DUNCAN CAMPBELL TO SERVE IN COSTA RICA WITH YASC

WRITTEN BY THE REV. ALYSE VIGGIANO

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INTERVIEW BY CHARLES COWHERD

After growing up in Alexandria and attending St. Paul’s, Travers Geoffray attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. While still in college, he formed his first band, the Mississippi Rail Company, which quickly earned a reputation for its classic Crescent City sound, earning its way to stages such as New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival and Voodoo Fest. In 2017, after the band disbanded amicably, Geoffray released his first album, Highway Kings, as a solo artist.

What are some of your earliest memories of growing up at St. Paul’s and how they affected your music?As a kid, I remember dreading opening the hymnal to see how many verses we had to sing. I remember asking my Mom why there was a line after the third or fourth verse. She told me some churches (other denominations) only sing until that line. But even as a kid, I sang every verse.

I also fondly remember Easter Sundays and Christmas Eve midnight services. The church would hire horn players for Easter, and all the pews would be filled. I remember the power of the first hymn. On Christmas Eve, I remember the church cutting the lights, giving everyone their own candle to burn and singing “Silent Night.” I still go to that service when I’m home for Christmas, and look forward to that moment. When the whole church really knows the words and knows the melody, it’s as if you can feel everyone in the room as one spirit.

How does your faith life and music intersect?More and more, the music I feel connected to feels “spiritual.” I’ve always had an inclination towards folk music (blues, bluegrass, gospel), even before high school. All of that music is tremendously spiritual. I’m trying to chase that down more and access that in my writing now. I remember very specifically, Jazzfest 2015, we were playing “Oh, Alabama” (a track off of Highway Kings). When we got to the dirge section of the piece when the whole band comes in, I remember shaking, and felt something that I had ever felt before. It felt like a tremendous energy convulsing and reverberating inside of my body. That was the most intensely religious/spiritual experience I’ve ever had. I don’t think I will ever forget that. I think in every performance I’m trying to chase down that Easter Sunday/Christmas Eve feeling and give the audience that feeling too.

What are some of the performative aspects of a church service that carry over into your musical world?I’ve always admired Oran for preaching without notes. Memorizing requires an internalization of individual connection to the material. Obviously, great orators and performers use notes, sheet music, or lyrics, but the delivery of something memorized is innately personal. I always felt like Oran was just making it up on the spot, like the sermon was emanating from him. I felt like my connection to the sermon depended on his connection to the sermon. When I am memorizing music, whether it’s my own, or someone else’s, it’s that 50th or 100th time where I feel like it’s mine. I can control the dynamics, I can let go and allow myself to feel rather than think of the words, the melody, or the harmony. The practice of memorization helps me move beyond the music. When Oran preaches at the center of the floor, I believe him.

How have the cities you’ve lived in — Alexandria and New Orleans — informed your music?Alexandria gave me my foundation as almost all of my musical training took place there. Alexandria is also where all my nostalgia and innocence lives. When I’m searching for those elements I go there. New Orleans, I think, is where my musical soul lives. It’s a tremendously spiritual city, no matter your religion or beliefs. New Orleans is where my music matured and I started to come into my own as a piano player and songwriter. I think the city also helped develop the darker corners of my music.

(continued on next page)

MUSICIAN TRAVERS GEOFFRAY TAKES ST. PAUL’S ROOTS TO THE BIG EASY

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(Travers, cont’d)

How does that reveal itself on Highway Kings?I love road stories and I knew I wanted to write a lot of road stories for the album. However, I wanted to get beyond the physical. Some of the hardest traveling is alone and in your mind. Trying to navigate the path of becoming the person you want to be — even remaining the person you want to be — is life’s most difficult task. We can look to our family, religious texts, and human history, but ultimately we decide. I think I surprised myself how much religion, or at least, religious references came up while writing this record. But in retrospect, I think it gives an ancient and spiritual weight to the individual and collective human journey.

Literature informs so much of your music; could you speak to specific authors who have “journeyed” with you? And what are you reading right now?Literature takes me to another world and space, but it always helps me reckon with humanity. (John) Steinbeck and (Cormac) McCarthy are obviously great examples of authors that can do both. In my songwriting, sometimes I like to see if I can go where they took me, and enter that world with my words or song. Even just imagining the space I’m in when reading those novels helps create a

context for the song. Sometimes I imagine I’m writing the soundtrack for the novel.

Right now, I’m reading a lot of historical non-fiction, particularly about World War I, which is really just brain food — doesn’t compel to me write so much. I also just finished Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, a powerful book that can only induce silence.

Finally, what are your next steps? Now that Highway Kings is out, I’m looking forward to performing more. I’ll be doing a lot more performing with just me and my piano and one accompanist, which is a challenge I’m currently preparing for. As a songwriter, I want to search for more tools to add to my toolbox as I aspire to be a “master craftsman.” I’d like to simplify my writing more. For instance, Oran has the ability to take a complex and mystical idea and convey that idea to his audience with simplicity and brevity. His sermons are something that you can put in your pocket and take home with you. They’re tangible. I’ll be working my songs to bear the same quality.

More information about Travers (tour dates, merchandise, etc.) can be found on his website (traversgeoffray.com). His new album, Highway Kings, can be downloaded on iTunes.

JIM BENNETT LEADS MUSIC AT SHRINE MONT FAMILY CAMP

WRITTEN BY JIM BENNETT

This summer, I had the pleasure of leading music for the week of Shrine Mont’s 65th annual Family Camp. Bishop Suffragan Susan Goff was with us for the week and led the daily adult study and two services of Eucharist held in the outdoor chapel. Our theme was “The Art of Seeing.” This was my first time leading music for Family Camp. We gathered each day after breakfast in the old rec hall. After about 30 minutes of singing together (from good old camp songs to gospel and some brand new songs), we had Morning Prayer. Our chaplain for the week was the Rev. Harrison Higgins; the Rev. Rock Higgins (no relation to the chaplain) was the camp director. Along with several counselors and other staff, they did a marvelous job organizing a fun, family-friendly, meaningful, and joyful week. The children, teenagers, and adults all had separate activities in the morning; afternoons were a mix of free time, poetry/writing time led by the chaplain, hiking or visiting Shenandoah Caverns and other local areas of interest. Evenings were intergenerational activities, including a movie night, bingo (surprisingly silly and fun), and a talent show, which was also silly and fun! The photo of Bishop Susan gives a good indication of just how much.

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ST. PAUL’S MUSIC MINISTRIESWRITTEN BY GRANT HELLMERSAlthough we are still in summer mode –

vacation and relaxation time perhaps – it is time to start thinking about the choir program for the 2017-18 season. New singers and ringers are always needed and welcome to join in any of the four wonderful choirs we have here at St. Paul’s: Adult Choir, Angel Choir, St. Cecilia Choir, and Hand Bell Choir.

The Adult Choir will resume singing on Sunday, September 10 (Celebration Sunday. 10 a.m. service, 9 a.m. rehearsal) and from September 17 at the 11 a.m. services. Sunday rehearsals are at 10 a.m. Thursday rehearsals (7:30-9:30 p.m.) will resume on September 17. The choir sings also on Christmas Eve.

Special services at which the Adult Choir will be singing in the new season include Evensong services on Wednesday, November 1 (All Saints’ Day with lighting of candles in memory of loved ones); Saturday, January 6 (Epiphany); Sunday, February 25 (Evensong for Lent); and Thursday, May 10 (Ascension Day).

New Adult Choir members are always welcome to join us. Some music reading ability is desirable. A social time follows Thursday rehearsals for those who wish to stay and enjoy the cuisine choir members bring and the conversation. It’s a really enjoyable and collegial group of people. Come join us!

The Angel Choir (age 4 through 2nd grade) will begin rehearsals on Wednesday, September 13 at 4:45-5:15 p.m. in the choir room. This choir sings on the first Sunday of each month (starting on October 1) at the 9 a.m. family service, as well as on Easter

Day and Christmas Eve. They learn songs for these services and how to lead singing the psalm refrain. Basics of singing and music reading are part of their learning experience in rehearsals. Also included are Bible stories and illustrations related to the readings they hear on the Sundays they sing.

These young singers always sing with such enthusiasm. Come and join the Angel Choir and make a merry sound!

The St. Cecilia Choir (3rd grade and up) rehearses on Wednesdays, starting September 13, at 6-6:45 p.m. in the choir room. This choir mostly sings on the first and third Sundays of each month at the 9 a.m. family service, as well as on Easter Day and Christmas Eve. On some occasions the choir sings at the 11 a.m. Sunday service instead of 9 a.m. so that they can enjoy the experience of singing the treble line along with the Adult Choir lower voices.

St. Cecilia Choir uses the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM) in America program of music learning. Each level completed by each singer leads to the award of an RSCM medal with ribbon color recognizing the level they’ve completed. We’d love to have many more singers join, including more boys.

The Hand Bell Choir (adults and late teens rehearsing on Wednesdays, 7:45-9 p.m. in the church gallery) is always looking for additional ringers so that we can explore even more of the music in our library. No previous experience in hand bell choir ringing is necessary; we’ll teach you on the job. It’s also a really enjoyable group of people to make music with and get to know.

The Hand Bell Choir plays five times each year. For 2017-18 we will ring on November 5 (All Saints’ Sunday), December 17 (Advent Lessons and Carols), February 11 (Last Sunday of the Epiphany), Easter Day (April 1), and May 6 (Choir Recognition Sunday) at the 11 a.m. service.

Instrumentalists are invited to play at the 11 a.m. services at any time for the prelude or at the beginning of the communion.

Come and join us! To join any of these choirs or instrumental groups and offer your musical gifts in the worship of God at St. Paul’s, or for further information, please contact Grant Hellmers at grant@stpaulsalexandria.com.(Photo by Dennis Brack)

Our special Christmas/Easter music, from 2017 through 2019, is offered to the glory of God and in loving memory of JoAn Tackett, whose commitment to St. Paul’s and its music program made this gift possible.

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Jim Wallace is a founding member of the Damascus Road Dogs. He plays guitar primarily, but is skilled on a variety of other stringed instruments, including mandolin, fiddle, pennywhistle, and button accordion.

Jim was born in Dayton, OH, and moved to Alexandria in 1963. He grew up attending Christ Episcopal, was not a part of the church for some time, and then joined St. Paul’s in 2011. He answered organist/choirmaster Grant Hellmers’ invitation to sing in the choir for Easter. After initial panic over having to sight read music in bass clef (guitar music is written in treble clef), he managed to overcome that and is now an integral member of the bass section. In the fall of 2012, Jim joined with a few other musicians to play twice a month for the 9 a.m. family service. That ensemble took the name Damascus Road Dogs. Other than Jim, only one other member has been in the ensemble since its inception.

Jim’s musical endeavors began in 1968 while he was participating in a production of Oliver. One of the other actors was teaching guitar and Jim started taking lessons. He remembers that it took a few years before he started “playing for fun.” After that, he became “the kid that carried his guitar into the bathroom because I was hooked.” Up until high school, Jim had focused mostly on rock, pop, and folk music — bands like Simon and Garfunkel; the Rolling Stones; Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young; and the Beatles. During high school, he started to study classical guitar, and then began college as a classical guitar major. It was in college that he took an interest in jazz. With a stated career goal of becoming “a world famous rock star” a la Jimmy Page, reality stepped in and Jim switched gears (changed keys?) to recording engineer. He made his living in that profession until 2008.

Though he no longer played music to pay his bills, Jim was active for many years performing Irish music, playing in various bands at dances, festivals, and concerts. Jim continues to be involved in music through the St. Paul’s music ministry; he sings in the choir and plays for Faith@5 and Sunday mornings with the Damascus Road Dogs. He now pays his bills as a CPA. His company is called Digital Beans; he works as a QuickBooks consultant and accountant for several small businesses in the Alexandria and D.C. metro area. He describes this as his “first second career.”

When asked to name some of his favorite musicians and composers, Jim’s long list began, “Beatles are the source…” and included Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Pat Martino, Wes Montgomery, Mark O’Connor, Chris Thile, Yo Yo Ma, Joe Pass, Itzhak Perlman, and anyone who played at Woodstock. “Bach rocks” says Jim, and Tallis Scholars are a particular favorite.

MEET THE DAMASCUS ROAD DOGS

WRITTEN BY JIM BENNETT

Jim likes the people in the choir and the Damascus Road Dogs. He enjoys making music at St. Paul’s because he gets to play a wider variety of music than is typical of many church music programs. He appreciates the fellowship he shares with musicians and non-musicians in the community. And he really likes hearing Greg’s “theology of Star Wars” talks and sermon references.

With his quick wit and generous sense of humor, when asked to name two or three favorite hymns or songs, he replied, “Uh, you’ve got to be kidding. Remember, I’m in the choir…” And when we checked with him about hobbies and other activities in his life, it became even more apparent how important music is in his life — he responded that if he has a few spare minutes, he picks up and plays one of the many guitars or mandolins around his home.

Thanks be to God for the musical contributions of Jim Wallace to St. Paul’s.

Get to know guitarist Jim Wallace, and his lifelong calling to music

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FAREWELL, JIM BENNETTMinister of Music Jim Bennett has accepted a call to be a full-time music leader at St. John’s Episcopal Church on Church Hill in his hometown of Richmond, VA. Jim has faithfully served the two 5:00 p.m. services and the 9:00 a.m. Damascus Road Dogs for over three years here at St. Paul’s, and he will be sorely missed. Jim’s final weekend with us is September 9 & 10. Congratulations, Jim and we will miss you!

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19

The worshippers arrived in their Sunday best. Bibles were readied, children were shushed, and, with the beat of an African drum, Easter services began.

The congregation alternated easily between bowed prayer and risen song, as the sounds of Dinka — the language of South Sudan’s largest ethnic tribe — resonated in the eaves of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, where prayers had echoed in English just hours before.

The more than two-dozen South Sudanese seated among the church pews hold this time together sacred. They gather weekly at St. Paul’s. There, they reconnect to a place their hearts never left.

Just six years ago, South Sudan gained its independence. Many refugees here and across the U.S. believed a long-awaited return home was finally in reach.

“When you get that country you’ve been waiting for for years, it’s an unimaginable feeling,” said Chol Isaac Achuil, 36, one of the nearly 4,000 South Sudanese refugees resettled across the U.S. in the early 2000s. Known internationally as the “lost boys of Sudan,” many earned college degrees at American universities, intent on one day rebuilding their country.

But for many among the diaspora, the path back home has been complicated by a renewed civil war. That conflict, which began in 2013, has displaced 1.7 million South Sudanese from their homes, according to a 2017 congressional report. And in February, a famine affecting 100,000 people was declared by the United Nations.

Still, for South Sudanese resettled in the U.S., life goes on and obligations continue.

Lost boys are now grown men, saddled with responsibilities on two continents and caught in a constant balancing act — repaying their own student loan debt while financing a niece’s education, meeting their monthly rent while covering a sister’s medical expenses. And as the conflict

in South Sudan intensifies, the financial burden abroad has only grown heavier, local community members say.

“Everyone back home depends on us,” said Nathaniel Nyok, a former lost boy and one of several local South Sudanese driving for Uber or other ridesharing services as a second job.

Nyok, who lives in Alexandria with his wife, drives up to 60 hours per week for the national ride-share company. Part of those earnings go toward the $1,400 in school tuition he pays every semester for two nephews back in Africa.

“It’s demanding,” he said, “but you don’t have a choice.”

Politics and prayersFor Nyok, Sunday afternoons are the only time to rest and recharge after a grueling workweek. And for this small but tight-knit community, St. Paul’s has become a respite from life’s compounding pressures.

THE BALANCING ACTNorthern Virginia’s South Sudanese grapple with dual responsibilities

...for this small but tight-knit community, St. Paul’s has become a respite from life’s compounding pressures.

WRITTEN BY MANDY MCLAREN & SARA WISE (“D.C. INTERSECTIONS” IN AMERICAN UNIVERSITY’S AMERICAN OBSERVER)

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The Rev. Thon M. Chol leads services in Dinka, the native language of his nearly 40 congregants, while a church in nearby Annandale serves the area’s Arabic-speaking South Sudanese community.

Chol’s congregants come from across the D.C. Metro area, from Rockville, Md., to Fredericksburg, Va. On Easter, one man traveled all the way from Baltimore.

According to Chol, who has led services at St. Paul’s since 2008, many come to church for more than worship. They come for support.

And as conflict in South Sudan drags on, that support has become crucial — especially for those who have experienced the trauma of war themselves, Chol said.

“The current crisis has triggered a lot of old memories,” he said. “A lot of people are not in a good mental health state.”

According to the State Department, 110 South Sudanese refugees were resettled in the U.S. during the first half of fiscal year 2016 — a figure 40 percent higher than the total number resettled during the entire previous fiscal year.

For South Sudanese in the D.C. area anxious about their country’s fate — and the fates of relatives still living there — church is a chance to focus on their own needs.

“It’s like individual therapy. They share their pain and they comfort each other,” Rev. Chol said.

But for some South Sudanese communities in the U.S., this sanctuary is being threatened. Tribal divisions have begun to overspill South Sudan’s borders via social media, leading some pastors to mix politics with prayer, according to Chol. He is now joining with other community leaders to combat the problem.

Still, the Alexandria and Annandale congregations are separated by more than linguistics. Each church serves a different South Sudanese tribal group, a reflection of emerging divisions in diaspora communities nationwide.

“We are all victims here,” said John Leek, of Alexandria, who resettled in the U.S. as a teenager.

“This idea of you choosing whether you are with the government or with the rebels, is not serving us.”

At 36, Leek is now an American citizen. A financial auditor by day and Uber driver come weekend, he is also the elected leader of the local South Sudanese community.

“If anything happened to me — for god’s sake — tomorrow, it’s not who I’m supporting in South Sudan who would help me,” Leek said. “It’s who I’m living with here that will support me.”

Crossing tribal linesOn Easter, there was no sign of politics at St. Paul’s.

Beyond its role as a place of worship, the church acts as an ad-hoc community center. On this day, families lingered for hours after services to celebrate the first birthday of a family’s twins.

Children scampered about, giggling beneath colorful birthday hats. Their fathers – some former lost boys, others current embassy officials — sat together over a meal of traditional South Sudanese food, scooping up spinach stewed in peanut butter with spongy corn flatbread.

For Nyok, 37, the value of finding civility among differences is a lesson he still dreams of bringing back home.

“We came here with one goal, and one goal only, and that was to acquire knowledge, to give back to our community,” he said.

When he’s not driving for Uber, Nyok devotes his time to founding a school near where he grew up. Forced from his home by war as an 8-year-old boy, he returned to South Sudan for the first time in 2009.

Visit http://vimeo.com/215121012 to watch a video interview with Nathaniel Nyok.

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While there, Nyok saw a community eager to send its kids to school, but lacking the infrastructure and resources to do so. Classes, held under trees, were often canceled due to weather conditions, he said.

“When we were the lost boys, we came to know that education was the only way out of our suffering,” said Nyok, who earned both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree after being resettled in the U.S. at 22.

To Nyok, South Sudan’s worsening conflict – which displaced his own mother from her home three years ago – is added motivation to turn his dreams for a school into a reality.

“Without education, I cannot dialogue with my brothers in a peaceful way. I would always want to fight to get my interests,” Nyok said.

There are 64 different tribes in South Sudan, and, according to Nyok, the country’s civil strife can be traced back to its citizens prioritizing their tribal identity over a national one. His school, he said, will create an environment for students to form friendships across tribal lines, and to – eventually — transcend political divides.

“I just want them to succeed. I want them to give it all. I want them to know that it is not easy,” Nyok said. “I want them to be able to use that chance to change their families, change their lives and change the life of South Sudan.”

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ADULT EDUCATION THIS ‘FOUNDATION’ YEARWRITTEN BY THE REV. GREG MILLIKIN

Christ is made the sure foundation,Christ the head and cornerstone;chosen of the Lord and precious,binding all the church in one;holy Zion’s help forever,and her confidence alone.

– Translated from the Latin by John Mason Neale, 1851 (#518 in Hymnal 1982)

This program year is a special one, for we commemorate the building of this glorious church two hundred years ago. Dubbed our “Sure Foundation” Year – a nod to the classic hymn “Christ is Made the Sure Foundation” which picks up on Ephesians’ theme orienting us to Jesus as the cornerstone of our buildings and our faith – we are focusing on both the history of this building and the foundations of our faith all year long.

Look for “Sure Foundation”-themed adult forums with regularity beginning this fall. Following the dedication of our new courtyard, we begin our adult education series on Sunday, September 17 at 10 a.m. in Norton Hall. Oran will lead the discussion, introducing our look back at 200 years in this Benjamin Latrobe masterpiece structure. Later in the fall, Michael Pope will set us in context of the local history, and we will look at some tangible artifacts recently unearthed from our records and archives.

Other programming notes to watch for include a meet and greet with our new priest, the Rev. Alyse E. Viggiano (September 24) and the story of the Lost Boys of South Sudan with the

soon-to-be-priested Thon Moses Chol from our Sudanese Congregation (October 8). And the spring promises to be just as engaging as we welcome the Rev. Dr. A. Katherine Grieb for three weeks in Lent to usher us through the life and theology of our patron saint, Paul, who has been yet another foundation of our faith to this day.

The Adult Forums this fall are complemented by our evening flagship educational course — Faith Seeking Understanding. Each Wednesday evening from September 20 through October 25 we gather in Norton Hall for dinner together, a presentation, and small group discussion. This is our fourth year in a row offering this course designed specifically for St. Paul’s. We will journey together through broad theological discussions and specific ones about the Episcopal branch of the Christian faith. For more info on any of these programs or courses, please contact greg@stpaulsalexandria.com.

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St. Paul’s opened its Center for Spiritual Direction in 2016 to offer individual guidance with trained spiritual directors. In addition to this ministry, the Center also seeks to provide the parish with resources for spiritual refreshment and renewal. Under the leadership of parish associates Dr. Amy Dyer and the Rev. Sam Mason, we are pleased to offer these upcoming programs:

Silence, Meditation, and Contemplative Prayer. Every Sunday beginning September 10, all are welcome to enjoy a time of silence, mediation, and contemplative prayer in our chapel, the Chapel of the Good Shepherd, at 4:30 p.m., just prior to the Sunday 5 p.m. contemplative Eucharist service.

Sunday Morning Adult Forum. On Sunday, Oct/Nov ? at 10 a.m. in Norton Hall, the Adult Forum will focus on the St. Paul’s Center for Spiritual Direction. This forum will highlight the work of the Center and also provide an overview and experience of various spiritual practices.

Taizé Service. Praying the Songs of Taizé will be held in the church on Friday, September 29, at 6:30 p.m. This form of meditative common prayer comes from a tradition of

an ecumenical community in Taizé, France. Gathered in the presence of Christ, we sing short songs repeatedly, allowing the mystery of God to become tangible through the beauty of simplicity. A few words, sung over and over again, reinforce the meditative quality of prayer. Scripture readings, a period of silence, and singing these simple songs help to express a basic reality of faith that can quickly move beyond the intellect and gradually penetrate one’s whole being.

Quiet Day Retreat. Please save the date — Saturday, November 18 — for a Quiet Day Retreat. As one church year comes to a close and another is about to start, come explore this theme of ending and beginnings — in scripture, in our lives, and in the world.

Advent Cloister Nights. On Tuesdays in Advent (December 5, 12, and 19), step away from the rush of the holidays to focus on the meaning of this holy season. This time of devotion resembles the deep spiritual experiences of living in a monastery. Meeting from 6:30–8:30 p.m., the evening consists of Eucharist, a simple supper, prayerful silence, and ends with the service of Compline.

FALL PROGRAMMING FROM THE ST. PAUL’S CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

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Our vocation is not simply to be, but to work together with God in the creation of our own life, our own identity, our own destiny...to work out our identity in God.

- Thomas Merton

WRITTEN BY THE REV. ORAN WARDER

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PILGRIMAGE TO EGYPTCultivating holy curiosity in Egypt’s cities & desert

Each member of our international multi-faith group approached the journey through Egypt with a pure inquisitiveness. Asking thoughtful questions about the outer landscape opened our understanding of Mystery, of God. It was also an invitation to observe without judgement, the inner world of our body sensations, feelings and thoughts and the deeper connection between both worlds. How was the Holy communicating to and through us? How do we know, in the words of Luke, that the realm of God is within us?

Cultivating a holy curiosity is a gift of pilgrimage.

Our outer journey took us through the history laden mega city of Cairo, to the ancient monasteries of Wadi Natrun, into the silent Sinai Desert, up the Mount of Moses and swimming in the Red Sea. Like the practices of the early Christian desert tradition, the inner journey was simply to pay attention to our three centers of intelligence and cultivate a curiosity of “who am I?”

The ancient Egyptians, the 5th century Christian desert mothers and fathers, and the Islamic Sufi mystics all had one thing in common with the words of Socrates: “Know thyself.” Here is our most intimate understanding of the realm of God.

Cairo The journey began in the bustling vibrant city of Cairo, home to almost 10 million people. Daily life in Cairo can quickly overload the senses of sight, sound and smell. Car horns beeping, the call to prayer blaring from the many minarets and men yelling over the noise to come buy their goods presents a challenge to “listen to the still small voice of God.”

Our first invitation was to just pay attention to our body sensations and, whenever we were overwhelmed, to ask, “Where are my

feet?” This was also a call to prayer, a call to come back to the present moment of the here and now.

Huny and Ashraf, our Egyptologists, gave us an excellent overview of 5,000 years of Egyptian history and where the magnificent Giza pyramids fit into this grand timeline. After hearing more interesting stories of how and why they were built we climbed a few outside steps and entered a portal into the Great Pyramid of Khufu. The upward sloping narrow passageway led us into the middle of almost six million tons of limestone and granite, creating a sensation of density pressing into our skin.

The 15-square meter empty chamber was the holy of holies for the deceased pharaoh who would have been laid to rest in the unadorned granite sarcophagus located at the end of the room. Now, only memories lingered. We asked the guard to allow our group a few moments alone in the dimly lit chamber. Silence filled the room as the tourists exited and a hushed din rang in our ears. We were reminded to attend to our body sensations and remember our feet. Being fully present to the moment, we were invited to softly say the word “HU.”

The ancient Egyptians believed “HU” to be the very first sound or word uttered creating the heavens and earth. All proceeded from this word. In the beginning was the word and this was with the Supreme God, Amun, also known as Amen. Huuuuu…the sound of wind, the sound of birds flying, the sound of nature. Huuuu…the sound of electrons whirring, the sound of deep space, the sound of silence.

While we paid attention to our feet on this hallowed ground and heard the word “HU” spoken in community, we experienced something sacred. The extraordinary broke through into the ordinary. Without any attachment to stories or judgements, we began to expand our awareness

that God is made known at any time and in any place. Some in our group were moved to tears, tears of an unanticipated sense of union with the Divine Source.

A few moments seemed long enough to know we touched into a timeless quality. The abrupt sweeping motion of the guard’s arms also let us know it was time to leave.

The exit into the harsh, brilliant sunlight was almost blinding and disorienting. One pilgrim was grateful to be reminded to pay attention to “where are my feet” and come back into the present moment. She later commented how she would have surely tripped since her thoughts were still in the chamber.

“The task of the pilgrim is to deepen the mystery for oneself through the oldest form of self-remembering and rediscovery.” - Angeles Arrien

WRITTEN BY REGINA ROMANST. PAUL’S CENTER FOR SPIRITUAL DIRECTION

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Our days ended with a Noble Silence where, after a few moments of a group silence, anyone could share an essential moment for that day. Often, hearing a genuine observation was as meaningful as anything we experienced that day. To be a witness and receive a story with respectful listening creates intimacy as well as a beloved community.

For example, on another pilgrimage, a catholic priest told the story of what happened while sitting at an outdoor café at the bazaar. He was drinking mint tea and people watching when a local Muslim boy offered to polish his leather shoes. He did not realize the boy would take his shoes away to be cleaned. The priest was now concerned that the boy would sell his shoes and not return. He said he was very aware of where his feet were — barefoot and on the cold concrete floor.

However, when the young lad returned, not only were the shoes super polished but also new laces had replaced his torn ones. The boy proceeded to put his shoes on his feet with a big smile. The priest cried. All he could say was, “My feet were touched by the hands of Christ.”

His genuine desire of asking “where is God” in this cacophony of sights and sounds gave him an unforgettable moment of

experiencing the realm of God in a bustling narrow alleyway of a Middle Eastern bazaar. It was a good reminder to be open and available with a holy curiosity.

The next few days led us through the Egyptian Museum, Old Coptic Cairo, Islamic Cairo, and the world-famous Khan El-Khalili bazaar. Each day offered an opportunity to better understand “who am I” and the world we live in.

On Baptismal Sunday, the Sunday before the Coptic Palm Sunday, we went to visit the 5th century monasteries about two hours west of Cairo.

Wadi Natrun“Our first task in approaching another people, another culture, another religion, is to take off our shoes, for the place we are approaching is holy. Else we may find ourselves treading on someone’s dreams; more serious still, we may forget that God was there before our arrival.” - Max Warren, Maryknoll, 1987

We were invited to pay attention to our pure feelings, the ones that spontaneously arise with no stories attached, such as joy, wonder and compassion as well as repulsion, fear or sadness. This was in addition to our continual attention to our body sensations.

The monasteries at Wadi Natrun and the surrounding region constitute some of the earliest, if not the earliest, Christian monasteries in the world.

“In the fourth century CE, the deserts of Egypt were peopled by a race of men (and some women) …they sought a way to God that was uncharted and freely chosen, not inherited from others who had mapped it out beforehand. They sought a God whom they alone could find, not one who was “given” in a set stereotype form by somebody else.” - Thomas Merton

The desert mothers and fathers, Ammas and Abbas, wanted to know firsthand the experience and understanding of God. They especially paid attention to the intelligence of the heart and its purity of knowing.

Father Joakim of St. Bishoy’s Monastery wanted to explain the Coptic tradition, which is in direct lineage to the apostle Mark and one of the oldest forms of Christianity. However, he had a hard time gathering us together for we were welcomed with such joy as newly baptized babies were placed in our arms. The ancient sanctuary and all surrounding rooms were filled with families who had come to spend the day. Many were talking, a few teenagers

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were curled in the corners napping on the floor and some were praying as they touched the relics of saints. We quickly became part of the festivities.

My heart poured forth with such love as I held one of the newly baptized. The child was dressed in a bishop’s hat, typical for Coptic baptisms, and at that moment I realized this child was being honored as the guardian of the church, keeper of the faith.

We did learn about the beginnings of the monastic tradition and the Coptic Church. The Coptic language is the final stage of the ancient Egyptian language and used today as the liturgical language of the church. These ancient ties came alive during a Coptic mass, which I witnessed during Palm and Easter Sunday. Although I did not understand a word, all my senses and feelings came fully alive. I knew within the core of my being I was being touched by the wisdom and love of Christ.

At the monastery of St. Mercurius, my heart broke with grief upon learning of the recent unexpected death of Father Irenaus, a dear friend. I asked the same question the earliest Christians asked, how vast is this “heart” which simultaneously can hold feelings of such immense love and such deep sadness? I only momentarily touched upon a mere spot in the realm of God within.

The Sinai Desert “I will lure you into the desert and from thereSpeak from the depths of your heart.” - Hosea 14:2

We flew from Cairo to Sharm El-Sheikh and drove with jeeps deep into the desert. The stillness of the desert is a perfect place to watch our thoughts. What beliefs do we have; can we suspend them and make room for surprise and awe?

Our three days and nights gave us time to sink into the palpable silence and stillness. The first day was visiting with the Sheikh who told us about local traditions and the culture of the Bedouin. I knew Sheikh Suliman’s family and was happy to see his children and wife. On the second day, our camel trek through the desert led us to our new camp site for the next two nights. During our breakfast of freshly made daily bread, we learned that the Aramaic root word for bread is also the root for wisdom. Yes, give us this day our daily bread and wisdom, food for body and soul.

Our invitation on the third day was to observe how an intentional outer silence can form and inform a deeper inner silence.

One pilgrim, a highly successful entrepreneur, shared that in the beginning he was reluctant to be in this silence. He thought he would read a book or journal his thoughts but instead went to sit in the shade of a rock ledge. For hours, he thought about his daughter who was soon to be married. As he shared his story, his eyes filled with tears because he had never given himself this unstructured time with no agenda for God. He sensed, felt, and thought that his love for his daughter had deepened in a new way. This intentional silence was a gift beyond measure.

The men and women of the 4th and 5th centuries went into the desert to transform the “old” into the “new.” They wanted to see God, not as an image, object, or new perception. They wanted to see God in an intimate contemplative union, a moment-to-moment awareness of presence. Their courage and willingness to risk their ideas about God gave us the gift of spiritual direction, a holy curiosity of how the One is revealed in and through our daily lives.

Mt. Sinai and St. Catherine’s Monastery“Sensing fully, I am here now, Love lives in me, I live in LOVE. Feeling deeply, I am here now, Hope lives in me, I live in HOPE.Seeing clearly, I am here now, Faith lives in me, I live in FAITH.” - Integration by Donna Gruhlke

We stayed in the new pilgrims’ quarters of the 6th century monastery founded by Emperor Justinian. Within these walls are the burning bush, 1,500-year-old icons including the famous Sinai Christ, a library of ancient manuscripts second in volume to the Vatican, priceless treasures, pilgrims from around the world, and a few Greek Orthodox monks.

Here we were invited to integrate attention to all our senses, feelings and thoughts. Ascending and descending the Mountain of Moses can be dangerous and requires each pilgrim to be aware of his feet and where they are placed.

Beldan Lane, in his book Solace of Fierce Landscapes, best describes Mt. Sinai and its effect on pilgrims. “What is this need we humans have for the mountain seen within? This is the mountain of undiscovered self that Carl Jung described and the cosmic mountain found by Micea Eliade as a pattern in mythologies around the world…It is the mount of all transfigurations and the peak of Divine Love…a place to approach God.”

We began our ascent at 3 a.m. to see sunrise at the peak. We stopped for breakfast at a Bedouin tea hut and heard one of several biblical stories of Mt. Sinai. Although there were no appearances of burning bushes, tablets of commandments, or being in the stillness as God did to Elijah, each in his own way recognized we were on holy ground.

Red Sea – Palm SundayOur final gathering was on the beach under a palm tree at the edge of the Red Sea to celebrate Teihard De Chardin’s Mass on the World. There was no traditional wine or bread. We, as members of the body of Christ, were the bread and wine. We were called to remember in the words of Chardin:

“My chalice and my paten are the depths of a soul laid widely open to all the forces which in a moment will rise up from every corner of the earth and converge upon the Spirit. Grant me the remembrance and the mystic presence of all those whom the light is now awakening to a new day.”

Our outer journey ended where we began, in Cairo. However, this was only the beginning to an inner journey of a holy curiosity of self, God, and the world around us.

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JOIN US IN THE HOLY LAND IN 2018!Our 2018 parish pilgrimage will return to the Holy Land for the Palestine of Jesus course at St. George’s College in Jerusalem. In addition to the Jerusalem sites, the pilgrimage will include two nights in Galilee and a two-day visit to Petra, Jordan. The dates are June 18-30, 2018. The cost of the pilgrimage, not including airfare, is $3,200 per person (based on double occupancy, with a single supplement available). For more information, please contact Barbara Warder (barbaracwarder@gmail.com).

Photos from the 2017 Greece pilgrimage by Dennis Brack

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S E R V I C E S AT S T. PA U L’ SBeginning September 17Sunday7:45 a.m. Quiet Holy Eucharist (Rite I)9 a.m. Holy Eucharist Family Service with Children’s Choirs 11 a.m. Traditional Holy Eucharist (Rite II with Choir)5 p.m. Contemplative Holy Eucharist with Healing

Saturday5 p.m. Holy Eucharist - Faith@5 in Norton Hall

Monday–Friday9 a.m. Morning Prayer

Wednesday12 p.m. Holy Eucharist