eUpdate, September 17, 2014

EXPERIENCE EPISCOPAL

September 17, 2014Spiritual Formation

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PreK-3 through Grade 12College Preparatory

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2 eupdate September 17, 2014

or more than forty years, the The Lewis Family Memorial Chapel of the Good Shepherd has provided

our Episcopal school community both symbol and space to inspire and encourage our better selves. Unlike other settings on campus where our minds and bodies are comparing, contrasting and competing for distinctions, here we seek communion, our likeness with another, and we consider the greater good we might contribute in the world.

While many Episcopal graduates have been involved as lay leaders in their respective religious communities, two are now known to be Episcopal priests, and a third is scheduled for ordination this December. With pleasure, I recently spoke with these three alums. Each has grounded memories of our school’s chapel on their spiritual formation. They expressed sincere gratitude for the generosity of the A. C. Lewis family and the vision of Mr. Allen Penniman, who, among others, made the Chapel of the

Good Shepherd a reality on our campus.

The Rev. Melissa Zuber Hollerith, ’80, was ordained on October 14, 1992 and currently serves at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, Virginia as Upper School Chaplain, Religion Department Chair, Director of Community Service and Community Assistance. As a student at Episcopal, Melissa participated in chapel services, read lessons and was “challenged to be my best self.” Her belief that chapel is the place on campus “where we are one with each other” was observed as a student here, and is being modeled through her role at St. Christopher’s. I commend to you the video of her chapel talk on January 21, 2011 in which servant leadership is illustrated through stories of some of America’s founding historical figures, which can be located on her school’s website: www.stchristophers.com. A watercolor of our chapel, a gift from her mother, hangs in Melissa’s office at St. Christopher’s.

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The Lewis Family Memorial Chapel of the Good Shepherd

“...where we are one with each

other.”

http://www.stchristophers.com/

readings offered great latitude in response and repetitive and productive practice at reflection, interpretation, and articulation of meaning. Thus, David arrived at Sewanee well-prepared for college. Bishop Brown was helpful in guiding David’s pursuit of a teaching certificate, as this would prepare him for work in church schools. Following two years of teaching in the gifted and talented program at McKinley Senior High and seminary, Bishop

Brown placed David at Christ School in Covington, Louisiana as Chaplain. David also served at Dean of Students at All Saints in Vicksburg, Mississippi prior to his current role at Trinity Episcopal.

space, which every kid needs,” valued by Nikki.

The Rev. David Dearman, ’78, serves as Head of School at Trinity Episcopal, a PK2 through 8 school in Galveston, Texas. He celebrated his 25th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood on April 28, 2013. David’s memories of worship on our campus include sitting on the floor of our ‘cafetorium,’ known as Webster Refectory, our daily well-used and loved dining hall,

which many Episcopal students recall prior to the completion of the chapel. Father Webster, Episcopal’s founding Headmaster, was responsive to David’s early inquiry into ordained ministry. Fr. Webster shared information about the process to become a priest. As a member of St. James Episcopal Church, then rector Fr. Jim Coleman, was a prominent mentor for David. His senior Bible class was led by Chaplain David Seger whose writing assignments on Bible

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Emerging into her fourth career, Curate of St. Michael’s the Archangel in Lansing, Michigan, Nikki Seger, ’80 will be ordained an Episcopal priest in December of this year. This calling has been long in the making and is a natural progression for her early formation in Episcopal schools and churches throughout her life. Nikki recalls her time at Episcopal with great fondness. She values the spiritual discipline a school’s chapel program provides. She

treasures the time she spent in Episcopal’s chapel with her father, Canon David Seger, who served as our school chaplain during her Episcopal school years. In part, the delay of her priesthood is related to the more recent ordination of women by the Episcopal Church. Nikki observes that the pressures for students at Episcopal are great. Our community offers rigorous academics and highly-competitive sport opportunities. Chapel offers a “spiritual time out, breathing

The Rev. Nikki Seger ‘80The Rev. Melissa Zuber Hollerith ‘80 The Rev. David Dearman ‘78

continued on page 4

Though, now I have a deepened perspective for the offering of liminal space the Lewis Chapel provides each Episcopal student and graduate. As we enter the chapel for regularly scheduled service, we cross the threshold into sacred space. The Reverend Dr. Lauren Artress suggests that sacred space is where “we can let down our guard and remember who we are…we walk from chronos time to kairos time, as we allow our intuitive self to emerge.” We listen to stories of old from the Bible and hear guidance from our spiritual leaders as to how to productively apply these lessons along our life journey, growing in compassion and being responsive to needs in the world with openness, generosity, clarity and wisdom. And, as we exit the chapel annually as graduates, we once again move through this liminal space, crossing the threshold, transitioning with optimistic possibility, onward, toward our purpose-filled lives. For, as the song goes, we’ve only just begun!

continued from page 3Construction on our Chapel began in the early days of the school’s presence on Woodland Ridge, but was completed in time for graduation of EHS’s Class of 1974. My classmates and I in the fifth graduating class at Episcopal processed with great excitement through our family and friends seated in metal chairs, as pews, along with stained glass windows, were later appointments provided by families who cared about this sacred space.

Graduation traditions now known and treasured have emerged over time. In 1974, neither “For The Splendor of Creation” or “Pray for Me” were a part of our ceremony. Our class, led by Ms. Portia Loper, choir director, sang a contemporary, well-loved pop song from The Carpenters – “We’ve Only Just Begun”. I’ve chosen to process in academic regalia with my colleagues at graduation each year since I have been on staff. Without fail each of these six past May evenings, I recalled the anticipation and expectation of that evening in 1974.


The Lewis Family Memorial Chapel of the Good Shepherd

As Episcopal moves into its fifth decade and beyond, renovations and expansions are envisaged for the Lewis Chapel. Jahncke & Burns Architects, L.L.C. is

working with our Chaplains, board leaders and administrators to design improvements. These enhancements will include more seating, better lighting, improved acoustics, audio/visual technology, a priest’s office, a classroom/meeting space, and restrooms.

by Noël Babers Parnell ‘74 Director of Advancement [email protected]

Efforts to financially support the Chapel renovation are underway. Construction will begin in the summer following graduation when the funds are in hand. You

are invited to join in making this a reality in the near term. Please be in touch with our Development Office at 225-755-2714 to indicate your interest in supporting this most worthy endeavor.

Chapel... then and now

“...onward, toward our purpose-filled lives.”

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f you want a glimpse of what “spirituality” looks like in the Lower School, a good place to begin is Morning Meeting.

When the bell rings at 7:45 a.m., two-hundred-fifty students file into the Greer Center, looking for their “buddies.” Each older student pairs with a younger one for the school year, and it’s not always easy to tell which is the more excited to greet the other. The little ones look up to their big buddies with something like adoration. The older students, even the “toughest” boys, are protective and take pride in mentoring and modeling to their little buddies what it means to be a good participant.

Mrs. Deloney and our music team, Nola Swanson and Paul Taranto, have the kids singing out. The energy and purity of their little voices, coupled with the spiritual messages in the lyrics, take us all to heaven. Our Lower School chaplain, Deacon Charlie deGravelles, leads prayers and

shares a short lesson from the Bible. Mrs. Henderson gives us announcements and reminders. Through Morning Meeting, students also learn about the needs of our community and the world, and are given a chance to support a number of worthy causes throughout the school year. Morning Meeting is a small period of time but a soul-expanding way to start every day.

Lower School students get to spend time with our Senior Chaplain, Father Skully Knight, every week in Chapel. Our spacious sanctuary with its vaulted ceiling, beautiful stained glass windows, and resonant acoustics, add a solemnity and grace to our worship.

Another place to look for Lower School spirituality is in the classroom. Laura Portwood teaches Bible and spiritual values to the younger students, Chaplain Charlie teaches the older. Students not only learn the stories of the Bible, the heart of the Western

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canon, but the timeless moral lessons embedded in them: respect, forgiveness, courage, faith, love.

Chaplain Charlie leads a fifth grade course in social responsibility, giving students a chance to “practice what we preach.”

Lower School teachers and coaches all reinforce our spiritual values in so many ways throughout the day as they explore the main academic subjects, like math and English, a wide variety of enrichment courses, and physical education. Our counselor, Sara LeBlanc, works with individuals and groups of students. Our Lower School teachers’ passion for their work and their care and concern for every student reflect the spiritual values at the core of our mission.

by Rev. Charlie DeGravelles Lower School Chaplain [email protected]

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Have

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piscopal has always had a strong presence of religion and faith on its campus, but in recent years this presence

has become more meaningful and influential on students. Part of this has to do with the student vestry, an organization comprised of students elected by their peers to cultivate spiritual life on campus and organize chapel services that are meaningful to the student body. Both Middle School and Upper School student vestry provide leadership in the spiritual life of each division.

Throughout my four years on the student vestry, I have seen the organization grow, in turn helping to make changes within the spiritual life of students. Each year, we find ways to involve the students through music, readings, and interesting prayers in chapel as well as activities outside of chapel.

This year specifically, Fr. Skully has brought a new attitude to chapel that Upper School students are

excited about. Participation in chapel has improved, particularly in the music. The choir and praise band have stepped up their game and have been leading songs that students enjoy singing. Hearing the voices of the entire Upper School creates a unity within our division that is not just present in chapel, but is carried with us throughout our day and school year.

Also, a new feature is TGIF, or thank God it’s Friday. In this portion of chapel, everyone shouts out something they’re thankful for and then Fr. Skully offers a prayer of thanksgiving. This, combined with a more relaxed environment in chapel has sparked the interest of students and made them enjoy chapel more, in turn helping them to develop a bigger appreciation of their faith. Students now feel more encouraged to make chapel their own and use it as a time for prayer or reflection.

The student vestry hopes to continue using our own ideas,

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by Dru

Episcopal Junior

Student Vestryalong with suggestions from the student body, to create a more engaging and relevant chapel. Through all these experiences, Episcopal’s value of faith will continue to influence the daily life of students.

t is truly a wonderful thing to be part of the life of middle school students. They are in such a wonderful period

of growth and discovery, and here at Episcopal we take the responsibility of nurturing spiritual growth during this time very seriously.

In all our Religious Education, whether it is in sixth grade with Ms. Smith and Ms. Kelly or the seventh and eighth grade classes with me, we explore what it is like to live as a child of God in today’s world. We explore decision making, character development, and spiritual growth using the scriptures as a taking off and landing point. Using the stories of the Old and New Testaments, we seek to make them relevant and meaningful to students from all faith backgrounds so that every student in the class will have an enriching experience.


I In our Monday and Thursday chapel services, we use themes that make God’s love come alive in ways that middle school students can connect with and understand. We delve into the richness of the Episcopal liturgy in The Book of Common Prayer but we use all sorts of approaches to get messages of community, compassion and faith across to our students. Through students led worship, from the music to the reading to speaking in chapel, our worship is truly the work of the people.

The Middle School Student Vestry plays a significant role in planning, preparing and leading our chapel services. They are also leaders in the spiritual life of the Middle School. It is one of many opportunities for our middle school students to show their leadership in service to their classmates.

MIDDLE SCHOOLSpirituality

Middle School is a time of exploration and discovery, and that is true in our spiritual life as much as it is in any aspect of middle school life. Whether in class or chapel or any other part of their day, our students are encouraged to ask questions, seek answers and know that there are people at Episcopal who are interested in helping them find out who God is calling them to be and to help them become that person.

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by The Rev. Skully Knight Associate Head of School and Senior Chaplain [email protected]

Middle School is a time of

exploration and discovery, and

that is true in our spiritual life as much as it is

in any aspect of middle

school life.

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t has been put many different ways by many different people, but it was Socrates that said “the unexamined

life is not worth living.” I don’t know if I would go that far, but to lead an examined life is certainly worthwhile. At Episcopal, as it says in our mission statement, we want our students to lead purposeful lives—not starting at graduation, but now. And the only way to find purpose, is to examine your life—constantly and thoroughly. In the Upper School at Episcopal, every student is invited and challenged to examine who they are who they are being called to be.

Our Upper School Student Vestry is made up of leaders who help keep our chapel services relevant to what is going on in the lives of our students and in the life of our school. Students, as well as faculty and staff are all involved in the services we have each week. We know that the people that come to Episcopal who are engaged in the work of education are coming from all faith backgrounds. Our services and the spiritual life of

our school finds ways to keep the focus on those common ideas that bring us all together, rather than those things that divide us. To learn to look at what brings us together as human beings is a valuable part of what we do.

The classes we offer in our Upper School create opportunities for our students to examine their spiritual lives with different teachers in different ways. Students are required to take a semester class where they are introduced to the Judeo/Christian canon of scripture. There are classes that explore the religious history of America, an ethics class that explores ways to find peace in a world that seems increasingly violent, and even classes that explore music across many different faiths. There are many quality options for our students to learn about themselves and the world in which they live.

When Jesus was asked to say what part of the law he felt was most important, he said to love God and love your neighbor. That was true in the Old Testament,


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the New Testament and today. That is what we strive to have our kids understand and live out, every day. To be on the campus of Episcopal is to see the glory of God’s creation, to see teaching and learning, succeeding and failing, admonition and grace. We are not perfect, but we are a place where people come to examine who they are, to know the love of God and how to share that with others.

by The Rev. Skully Knight Associate Head of School and Senior Chaplain [email protected]

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The unexamined

life is not worth living.

-Socrates

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love Lower School Morning Meeting. It made me cry every single time I attended with my own children …. and it still

does. The joy and possibility that fill the room as our little ones begin their day together is palpable and inspiring … and demonstrates everything that is good and beautiful about our school community. For the Posner family, Morning Meeting was also a very Jewish experience. Let me explain.

In the years before Mark and I had children, we could not imagine why some of our Jewish siblings sent their Jewish children to Episcopal schools. Wasn’t it challenging enough to raise knowledgeable and committed Jewish children in a small community in the deep south? Why add to that the confusion of being taught a different religion at school?

But when it came time for us to consider schools for our own children, we looked at them all … and it didn’t take us long to realize that a school that honored religion — even if based on a religion different from our own — might

actually be the best place for them. Many of our Jewish values, it turned out, were also values upon which Episcopal operated.

Morning Meeting was our first, and best, example. Jewish tradition requires us to begin each day with this prayer. It is to be recited upon opening one’s eyes, even before rising from bed:

Modeh ani le-fa-necha, melech chai ve-kayyam, she-he-che-zarta be nishmati be-chem-la, rabba eh-mu-na-techa. (“I am grateful to You, living and eternal King, for returning my soul to me with compassion. You are faithful beyond measure.”)

Thus, in our first conscious moments, each and every day, we thank God for the gift of life.

I would love to tell you that everyone in our household remembers to recite Modeh Ani every morning. I hope that most of us do most mornings. But, as Joshua, then Aaron and finally Rachel began their “big school” experience at Episcopal, Morning Meeting gave them a second

Episcopal as a Jewish Experience


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chance to start their day out right. What I feared would be confusing was, in fact, an affirmation of their own religious tradition. We must begin each day in gratitude for the blessing of our lives.

Many other shared values have been reinforced during our children’s years at Episcopal. V’’Ahavta l’reyecha c’mocha, the command to “love your neighbor as yourself” compels both self-respect and a commensurate care and respect for others. Surely our children gain an even deeper appreciation of their own faith as they teach their classmates about Jewish holidays, or explain why they will be missing several days of school each fall for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. And they return that interest and respect as they experience Religion classes and chapel services with the Episcopal community.

As each of our children reached Jewish adulthood and celebrated becoming a bar or bat mitzvah, they did so surrounded by friends and teachers from Episcopal. We took Joshua’s bar mitzvah on the

road to Utica, Mississippi, because our synagogue had been severely damaged during Hurricane Rita … and every one of his Lower School teachers, many of his Middle School teachers and a bus full of seventh grade students prayed and celebrated with us. From that, our children were reminded of the value of community … and, more than ever, came to appreciate the very special community that is Episcopal.

by Linda Posner Episcopal Parent and Annual Fund Chair

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“Many of our Jewish values, it

turned out, were also values upon which Episcopal

operated.”

PreK-3 through grade 12www.ehsbr.org

3200 Woodland Ridge BLvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70816 / 225.755.2684College Preparatory / Nondiscriminatory Admissions / Tuition Assistance ProgramEPISCOPAL

The e-Update is a publication ofThe Communication Department

of Episcopal School of Baton Rouge

Jason Hubbard, Associate Head of School

Shandi Fazely, Admission and Communication Coordinator

Dianne Madden,Marketing and Public Relations Coordinator

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eUpdate, September 17, 2014