Parish Lunch
Sunday, October 12
If you would like to help please call
Debbie (226-0306) or Dale (228-0249)

HOW TO CONCEDE AND WIN

 Every other year, the best golfers from the USA square off against the best in Europe in the Ryder Cup matches.  Having lost the last several of these hotly contested matches, this year the USA regained the title and coveted Ryder Cup, although it was not necessarily a pleasant experience to watch.  In the one professional game that has prided itself on good sportsmanship and manners (golf is the only sport where a player would call a penalty on himself), to watch the players from our country cheering their own shots, plus acting like football players trying to get the crowd to yell louder for themselves, and added to this the USA gallery cheering the unfortunate or bad shots by the Europeans, one could only lament how far removed we are from one of the truly great moments in Ryder Cup history and sport in general

 The year was 1969, and the US was defending its victory from 1967.  Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin were tied in their match and coming to the final hole.  To win for his team, Nicklaus had to win the hole.  A tie on 18 would mean a tie for the entire tournament, and the USA would (according to the rules of the tournament) retain the Ryder Cup.  Nicklaus made his par, leaving Jacklin about a two footer to tie the hole and tie the Ryder Cup for 1969.  As Jacklin approached his short but knee-knocking putt, Nicklaus conceded.  In other words, instead of giving his friend and opponent the opportunity to miss the putt and lose the entire tournament, Nicklaus eschewed potential victory, settling for an overall tie allowing the US to keep the Ryder Cup for another two years.

 The Golden Bear received all kinds of derogatory criticism for conceding that putt – and when queried as to why he didn’t give his team the chance for an out and out win Nicklaus replied, “Look, I know perfectly well that Tony would have made that putt, but never in that highly charged situation would I give him the opportunity to miss it.  Besides, we still retain the Cup.”  Such sportsmanship has pretty much gone by the wayside – even in golf.

 What sets Nicklaus apart from many of the current crop of professional sportsmen and their adulators is that he doesn’t let his “id” govern his behavior.  He doesn’t let his emotions get the better of him.  For Nicklaus that day, it meant making the conscious decision to consider the thoughts and feelings of someone else, in this case his opponent.  In the words of David Foster Wallace, “This is not a matter of virtue – it’s a matter of choosing (italics added) to do the work of somehow altering or getting free of one’s natural, hard-wired literally self-centered default-setting which interprets everything solely through this lens of the self.   People who can adjust their natural default-setting this way are often described as ‘well-adjusted,’ which I suggest is not an accidental term.”

 One recalls Shakespeare’s line about how showing mercy “blesses the giver as well as the receiver,” such blessing being the freedom and subsequent joy of not being tied and bound to our naturally selfish selves.  Wallace posits how genuinely happier we might be if we used our freedom for instance in the line at the grocery store, or in the bank; forcing ourselves to think that just maybe the supposedly clumsy check-out clerk or apparently dim-witted teller is in the midst of a family tragedy, or worrying to death about not being able to make the next tuition payment, rather than thinking as we often do that that person is purposely trying to ruin our day:

“’Learning how to think’ really means learning how to exercise some control over how and what you think.  It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience…It [can] actually be within your power to experience a crowded, loud, slow, consumer-hell-type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred, on fire with the same force that lit the stars because if you cannot exercise this kind of choice in adult life, you will be essentially miserable.”

 Wallace echoes Dante, who when asked why he wants to climb Mount Purgatory Virgil replies for him:  “He goes seeking freedom.”  The freedom to be the creature God intended us to be is the sole reason God became incarnate in Jesus.  No one was ever freer to concede, and as a consequence be truly Himself. No man has ever known the consequent joy as He, and His sole wish, purpose, and desire for us is that we share that freedom and joy.  When Dante finally does go through the fire and reach the top of Mount Purgatory, Virgil tells him:  “I crown and miter thee, ‘Lord over thyself.’”  Would it not be unspeakably wonderful to be able to say of ourselves, that we are truly Lord of ourselves?

 Once again from Wallace:  “This really important kind of freedom involves attention, and awareness, and discipline, and effort, and being able truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them, over and over, in myriad petty little unsexy ways, every day.”  As Jack Nicklaus knew that day in 1969, and as countless millions of Christians have known and know, it really is possible to concede – and to win big.  FAB

EYC NEWS

We had a very good month in September, and look forward to more fun in October.  Here is what we have planned for the month:

Saturday, October 4 – We will participate in the Hands On Thomas County Day working with Thomasville Landmarks.  Meet at 9:00 a.m. at First Missionary Baptist Church (Corner of W. Calhoun and N Madison).  Landmarks will then assign teams to work locations, and the day will conclude with a celebration luncheon at the Rose Garden at 12:00.  Please RSVP as soon as possible to reserve your slot.  Note: No EYC on Sunday evening.
Sunday, October 12 – Fun night at Granddaddy’s!  Meet for church, and then head to Granddaddy’s for supper and games.  Pick-up at restaurant.
Sunday, October 19 – Dinner and a movie.  Meet for church, then dinner and a movie.
Sunday, October 26 – Halloween Carnival.  Plan on staying after church to decorate for the Halloween carnival.  Lunch will be provided.  Carnival to begin at 4:00, and EYC will conclude after we clean up.
Be sure to bring a friend, and look forward to seeing you on the 4th for HOTC Day. WNM

 
ECW NEWS

ECW Book Club met on Wednesday,  September 10. We are off and running.!  Our first book was a biography of George Washington. Nancy McCollum was the leader. It was a great meeting with a large turnout, including a 10 year old young man and a visitor from St. Thomas. Always glad to have everyone. Thanks Nancy for getting this year off to a great start.

Our next Book Club meeting is Wednesday, Oct 8 at 11:50. The book is THE EIGHTH DAY, by Thornton Wilder. Our leader will be Philip Faulk. Please come and join this informal group. Lunch will be served and though reservations are not necessary they are greatly appreciated.  You need not have read the book.

The Fall of 2008 got started on Wednesday, Sept 10. We had a great turnout and a WONDERFUL presentation by Carol Singletary. Carol spoke on unexpected opportunities and the tremendous joy of taking them. There were tears of joy and laughter throughout the audience. THANK YOU Carol. We discussed our two fundraisers for this year. These events provide all the money for our many Outreach programs. The Auction and Dinner will be Wednesday, November 12. The Bazaar will be Wednesday, January 28, 2009. All the people (men and women) who work so hard on both these events deserve all of our thanks. Without their tremendous devotion and labor we would not be able to answer the many requests we receive for help. When you see the sign-up sheets please respond and volunteer to help in some way.

Our next ECW meeting is Wednesday, October 8, at 5 pm.  Please join us, even if you've never attended before.

Thanks.
Lee and Lee

VESTRY

The October meeting will be held Sunday, October 19 at 8:00 a.m. in the Parish Hall Library.

 
ADULT CONFIRMATION CLASS

Beginning Monday, October 13, Fr. McQueen will teach the Adult Enquirer’s/Confirmation Class.  We will meet in the Library at 7:30 and should conclude by 9:00.  Please bring a Bible and a Prayer Book to each class meeting.  Our bishop, The Rt. Rev. Henry Louttit, will visit All Saints’ for the Sacrament of Confirmation on Sunday, December 7, at the 10:30 Service.  If you have any questions regarding confirmation or joining the church, please feel free to contact me.         WNM

ST. CECILIA AND ST. DAVID CHOIRS

The choirs began rehearsals last month and sang on the feast day of St. Michael and All Angels. They will sing again on October 26. There will be no rehearsals on October 8, which is Fall Break for the city and county school systems. Members of the choirs are:
 
St. Cecilia Choir
Sam Bruhn
Hardy Davis
Olivia Enright
Lilly Jackson
Addison Kelley
Carsyn Kelley
Kinsey Kelley
Simms Ladson
Ethan Myers
Reid Myers
Elizabeth Rollins
Raleigh Rollins
Maryam Sibley
Ella Simmons
Parker Watt

St. David Choir
Curry Brinson
Madi Bruhn
Marley Davis
Ford Faulk
Meme Hand
Annalee Jackson
Virginia Jackson
Jackson Leverett
Joey Miller
Mariah Miller
Preston Young

EYC SPONSORED HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL
SUNDAY OCTOBER 26
4:00 P.M.  IN THE PARISH HALL

ALTAR GUILD

Anyone interested in serving the Lord as a member of the Altar Guild, please contact Nicki Sanders at 229-225-1581 or email cnlcsand@bellsouth.net.  The Altar Guild is divided up into 4 teams. Each team is assigned one week a month to be responsible for preparing the Church and Chapel for all services during the assigned week, including weddings and funerals.  It is a great group of ladies dedicated to this integral part of our church.  With everyone's busy schedule, we really need more loving hands to learn the traditions of service in our church. 

Nicki Sanders

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Convocation Picnic and Convocational Council
 Saturday, October 25 at All Saints’
11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Picnic
2:30 p.m. Council Meeting

ECW Community Outreach Auction
Wednesday, November 12

USHERS FOR OCTOBER

October 5     
Ben Grace     
C.B. Grubbs

October 12
Chip Hancock
Paul Gurley

October 21   
John Hand    
Doug Harper

October 28
John Kavouklis
Bob Jackson

TRANSITIONS:

Happy Birthday in the month of October to:

Elaina Kavouklis   10-5-94
Alisha Kavouklis   10-5-94
Caroline Penhallegon   10-16-93
Ali Hall    10-20-95
Eleanor Stubley   10-30-95

Happy birthday in November to:

Chip Sanders    11-2-89
David C. Chubb   11-5-93
Harrison Jackson   11-7-04
Preston Chubb    11-8-92
Reid Myers    11-9-00
Christopher Bragg   11-11-91
Wilson Young    11-14-05
Ethan Myers    11-20-02
Robert Taylor Bragg   11-20-93
Alex Carico    11-22-95
Hardy Davis    11-26-02
Lolo Mason    11-26-88
Addison Faith Kelley   11-29-02
Kinsey Grace Kelley   11-29-02
Carsyn Trace Kelley   11-29-02

Marriage:

Tyler Griffin Carroll and Lauren Elizabeth Grubbs
were united in Holy Matrimony on September 20, 2008.