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Living Out the Fourth Day

December 2011

Volume 27, Issue 6

A newsletter dedicated to nourishing and building our Cursillo community in the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama

2012 Cursillo

Calendar

Diocesan Ultreya….. Jan. 27-29 Cursillo 181………… March 8-11 Cursillo 182………… April 12-15 Cursillo 183………… June 7-10 Cursillo 184………… September 6-9 Cursillo 185………… October 11-14 Dene’ Huff A pilgrim at #177

I

was raised in a violent home and was alone most of the time. I never heard the words “I love you,” or “Grace.”

The first time I truly heard that little phrase was from my husband while we were dating. I never once said it back. I didn’t trust it. Then after being married for nearly 10 years I got curious about his “faith” and the peace in his eyes. Still not truly trusting of this “Christian love,” I gave it a try. I liked it, not as scary as I had been taught. No one sacri-ficed a child or danced naked under the full moon.

When I attended an Episcopal service on a Christmas Eve I finally knew I was home.

Skip forward six years and I find Holy Cross in Trussville. And there, the bot-tom dropped out…I was approached to go to a weekend “leadership conference” by some really close friends at our church. I was given VERY little intel, I was told I could not WEAR MY WATCH, NO PHONES, AND WORSE… TRUST COMPLETE STRANGERS!

I

looked at my husband and said, “I am not so sure about this.”

I had been raised as an atheist (and still get a bit leery of Bible thumpers) and am a Marine (no longer active), so that kind of talk does not go over too well. So I went to Cursillo nervous, unset-tled, distrusting, and completely

appre-(See Grace, continued on page 2)

Grace: ‘Here it was in front of me…

and I had NO IDEA how to accept it.’

Dear Santa…

Jim Noles

Head Cha, # 181

S

anta, I do not know if it was because I am on the naughty or nice list but, for whatever reason, I have been tabbed to be the Head Cha for Cursillo 181 in

March. And, no, I can’t promise that it will be the Cursillo of St. Nicholas. Nev-ertheless, I’ll do what I can do in that re-gard.

Anyway, as you know, I have not writ-ten you since the winter of 1977, when you declined to give me the official Red Ryder carbine-action two-hundred-shot range model air rifle that I had so modestly re-quested. Nevertheless, in the Cursillo spirit, I hope that you and I can let bygones be bygones. Therefore, with the Christmas season approaching, here’s my Christmas wish list for 2011:

1. Please help people remember that there is, in fact, a Cursillo in March – and

that it would be a great Cursillo for which to sponsor a pilgrim who is ready for the Cursillo experience.

2. Please encourage those sponsors to tell their pilgrims beforehand (i.e., not at the gates to Camp McDowell) that, during the Cursillo weekend, they will be sharing a room with a stranger and not their spouse and that they will have to give up their cell phones, iPhones, Blackberries, and watches for the weekend. Doing so will lessen the chance of gunplay and fisticuffs on the porch of Pradat Hall.

3. Please remind those sponsors to let those of us on staff know if their pilgrims have any particular physical or special needs. After all, the pilgrims will be sit-ting for prolonged periods of time, travel-ing back and forth between Miller Com-mons and the chapel, existing on less sleep to which they are accustomed, and maybe even clapping.

4. Speaking of clapping, please give me

(See Dear Santa, continued on page 5) Diocesan Ultreya!

Last minute reminders:

If you have already signed up, you are in!

Check in at Stough Lodge when you arrive for room assignment. Bring your checkbook for the Silent Art Auction and Camp McDowell T shirts. Remember: No dinner is served on Friday night.

You haven’t signed up? A handful of rooms

MAY BE left, so contact me (Dorothy Dixon) to find out. For more information and the registration form, see the October Vivencia. See you at Camp McDowell!

peace and love, Dorothy

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hensive. My running shoes were on from the get go.

W

hen I arrived at Camp McDowell I saw all of the people with grins from ear to ear. I had someone approach me who already knew my name. I thought “Holy *&*^%, I am stuck in the *&^%%$ woods with folks drinking the Kool-Aid! Worse they have enacted the military tactic of divide and conquer, separating me from my husband.”

The first night went by in sheer silence; and that was a welcome moment for me. I could sit back and size up these folks I was “stuck with.”

Then day came, the music with it, and these huge packages

re-ferred to as Palanca. Our Rooster (I still don’t get the rooster mascot) and our loving Cha’s came dancing through the “classroom” singing this little ditty, with loads of bags in their hands.

When the bags started to pile up for me at my table, I thought there had been some mistake.

I looked down to read my name la-beled on each bag. I watched as every-one opened their letters and gifts from the outside world. But I left mine at my feet. I could not fathom what or why someone would care to send me any-thing.

I was encouraged to take my bags of Palanca and be alone, but I was not ready for what that bag had to offer. In my world nothing comes to you for free, there will always be strings attached.

T

he Rollo’s started… Oh Lord, those talks!… I never knew others were like me. I connected to each one. I grew a little more trusting. Then the talk-of-all-talks came and it was about Grace. As I sit here typing my eyes are swelling with tears and my hands are shaking. That little word can bring me to my knees. I finally had my “Aha! moment.” I heard “I love you Dene’ and there is nothing you can do about it.” For the first time in my life I believed them when they said it to me.

That was something amazing to feel. Because from the time I was 5 or 6 the

only word I heard from my mother was, “If abortion was legal I would have done away with you a long time ago.” Now I had strangers telling me that they loved me, hugging me, sharing their stories of hope with me.

But when Saturday night came, the whole world came crashing down around me.

When I walked into that room full of

doves hanging from the ceiling and our Cha’s said, “Welcome to your Agape, ” I was overwhelmed with anger and resent-ment.

This is what I had been longing for my whole life and here it was in front of me and I had NO IDEA how to accept it.

S

o I ran. I got out of there as fast as my feet could take me.

Our Head Cha Jay Jones and his won-derful sidekick Matt Doss chased me down. That night they didn’t allow me to keep running. It was their words that made me hang up my running shoes. It was their words that told me, “You are worthy and it’s your time to be happy.” I let the tears flow and the emotions were raw.

Where I come from tears are a form of weakness, but at that moment I didn’t give a rip. I can’t remember the last time or if ever I cried that hard. For the first time that weekend I went back to my cabin and read my Palanca. I cried through every letter and laughed at every silly hat that was tucked into those bags. The next day they told us we were go-ing to have a parade, wear as much Pal-anca as you can. When we got outside the chapel, my friend Elizabeth started breaking down. I thought, “Finally, someone else gets it and I am not the only idiot bawling her eyes out!” In an instant the doors to the church flew open and the singing was so loud

you could not hear yourself think.

T

he love that poured out from that building was enough to blow down a 400-pound gorilla. I know, because he no longer sits on my shoulders! Through the tears I struggled to take in every face, and before I knew it, I saw “my family.” We sat down and listened to everyone give their 30 seconds of what the week-end meant to them. We sang. Then it

was time to go before Bishop Sloan and receive our crosses. My knees were shaking so bad, my heart was racing, tears were rolling down my cheeks, and it was my turn. I looked up and noticed the look on Kee’s face. I had so many Mardi Gras masks and hats on, he could not figure out how to put my cross over my head.

The only thing I could think to do was shrug, and say, “Sorry, I didn’t know you were coming.” We all laughed so hard our stomachs hurt.

Looking back, the decision I made to become a Christian came with a great price. I lost the only thing I knew as a family unit. Dysfunctional as they were, it was all I ever knew. I chose my God and they chose to close the door. Going to Cursillo is what saved me. I had felt completely alone and orphaned due to my decision to become an Episco-palian. I had no idea I would gain a huge family full of acceptance and un-derstanding, but most importantly love.

N

ow I am chasing my dreams and living my fourth day as one grand com-ing out party! I owe my laughter, my love, and my happiness to Camp McDowell and Cursillo #177. I had a great friendship with Christ when I left for my weekend; now I have begun my love affair with my faith.

Thank you for saving me from me, and teaching me that it is Grace that makes us better Christians – not a book! I even on a rare occasion sing to my children “Rise and Shine,” just to watch their faces.

They are not quite sure what happened at Cursillo, but my daughters can’t wait till it is their turn!

De Colores, Dene’

(Grace, continued from page 1)

This is what I had been longing

for my whole life ...

but I had NO IDEA how to

accept it ...

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Rev. Matt Doss St. Thomas, Huntsville

C

ursillo in Alabama is about as big and loud as Episcopali-ans get when it comes to church related activities. When we gather at Camp McDowell for a Cursillo weekend, we sing, laugh, dance and comport our-selves in ways that would make a 19th century Virginia

blue-blood shudder. But there is good reason for the fervor and zeal as we celebrate our Baptis-mal covenant in the proclama-tion of the Good News and ser-vice of Christ in all persons. We’ve been to that mountain-top and quenched our thirst with the waters that leave us longing for water no more, and we want to share it.

Yet, for me the most beautiful

facets of Cursillo are not those

places where we are big and loud, the most dramatic or filled with hilarity

(notwithstanding a cow cos-tume with a curiously if not suggestively positioned udder). No, the most beautiful and brilliant glints of heaven I see at Cursillo happen in the quiet still moments; the moments such as those that didn’t make the Gospels because they went unnoticed or were deemed in-consequential by most.

I

’ve seen a person’s entire physical countenance transform to the point that it took the other clergy and me several minutes to recognize them. I’ve listened to a pilgrim thank me for a nice yet spiritu-ally ineffectual weekend in the afternoon and come to me in tears that evening having been

released from a prison of self-doubt and fear.

W

e could have a team of psychiatrists tell us why the vulnerability of walking into the unknown, the up-beat mu-sic, lack of sleep and overabun-dance of M&Ms converge to produce giddy and euphoric effects. Yet there’s not one bishop, priest or deacon, nor one single mental health profes-sional that can explain what happens when the still small voice of the Holy Spirit begins speaking in wave after wave of indescribable beauty into our souls.

I can’t tell you either, but I can tell you when it happened to me the first time. I can tell you every time it has happened since and I know it when I see

it in others. It is indeed the peace that surpasses all under-standing. It is the highly per-sonal and private moment when our hearts are renewed by the life and love of Christ as we are surrounded by the gift of his real presence in the community of followers.

T

he other stuff is terrific fun and I wouldn’t change a thing about it, but it’s that quiet mo-ment of transformation that keeps us coming back and pushes us to continue sharing those living waters where they are needed most in our homes, parishes, and communities. I don’t know what the first century Palestinian version of a praise song, chicken suit and a sombrero might have been, but I know this…the transformative moment of Grace that recon-ciled heaven and earth 2,000 years ago is precisely the same today.

DeColores! Matt

Rev. Steve DeGweck Cursillo Secretariat

A

t the end of this calendar year our

Ala-bama Cursillo Secretariat will lose the ser-vices of one of the most capable servants of Christ that this priest has known in re-cent years. John Paul Mussleman has served his Lord, his church, and his Cur-sillo brothers and sisters as president of the Secretariat in a way that is surely a model for Christians of all stripes, clergy and lay.

I’m sure that for most folks involved with

Cursillo, the Secretariat must seem like a remote, faceless entity, one given little thought or attention outside the scheduled presentations at Clausuras and R & Rs. Who knows what “they” do, and who really cares? In fact, an efficient, dedi-cated, and hard-working Secretariat is vital to the health and success of the Cursillo movement in this or any diocese.

At the helm of the Alabama Secretariat, John Paul has demonstrated skill, humility, wisdom, and courage in ways that have won the admiration of all of us who have served with him. Like every important job, this one has its difficult moments, times when problems need to be addressed,

criti-cal questions dealt with, and

tough calls made. Any of you who have ever served in a leadership capacity of any kind know well that such positions invaria-bly bring us to places where we have to put self aside, endure criticism and second-guessing, and make the best decisions we can for the sake of the greater good of the organization.

Over and over, I have watched John Paul

tackle thorny issues, encourage and affirm the contributions of others, work tirelessly

to keep the Cursillo movement in Alabama strong and on track, and do it all with grace, good humor, and a genuineness that comes from a servant’s heart. Every one of you who has had the pleasure of hearing John Paul speak on behalf of Cursillo in whatever setting knows exactly what I mean.

I

recall being struck last summer when I walked into the reception hall following Bishop Kee’s election. There, Cursillo apron snugly tied, was the Secretariat president, bustling about with trays of food and drink, entirely focused upon taking a servant’s role on that great occasion. More recently, I think of the moving tribute of palanca presented to our retiring Bishop Henry, the wonderful gifts and the touch-ing words of thanks to Henry for his sup-port of Cursillo – all orchestrated and car-ried off under the direction of John Paul. It was truly “the best closing ever,” a day to be proud of our community and grateful for supportive bishops and faithful leaders like John Paul.

So thank you, my friend.

De Colores! Steve

Cursillo: The most beautiful glints of

heaven happen in the quiet still moments

A thank you to John Paul, outgoing Secretariat president

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In Memory of…

...Diana Osborn given by James and Judy Thomason ...Jane Pradat given by Bill and Bunny Gamble ...Jane Pradat given by Mrs. Charles Webb

...Margaret Stough given by Bill and Bunny Gamble ...Tripp Head given by Amanda and Bobby LeMay ...Tripp Head given by Emily and Joel Branum ...Tripp Head given by Margaret and Greg Ellis ...Tripp Head given by Neillie and Tom Butler ...Tripp Head given by Susan and Mark Waggoner

Jn Honor of...

...Henry Parsley given by Janie Webb

...John Paul and Margaret Mussleman given by Nancy and Ricky Bromberg

...Natalie and Ken Sansom given by Carol and William Nicrosi

...Our God-filled #180 pilgrims, thanks for blessing us so richly! given by the staff of #180

In Thanksgiving for…

...Amy and Rick Passey given by Susan Davis

...Amy Jay Boddie, Betty Scroggins and Diana Osborn given by Ray and Andrea Peacock

...Conductor Patrick Toomey from the staff of #179… FTOG, Baby!

...Cursillos #126, 135, 147, 158, 163 and 180 given by Maggie and Mike Springer

...Cursillos #126, 135, 147, 158, and 163 given by Maggie and Mike Springer

...Elisebeth Bashinsky given by Susan and Joseph Palmer

...Jason & Rhonda Nabors given by Vicki and Hank Poellnitz

...Sharon and Jarrod Massey given by Anita Wilmoth ...Sharon and Larry Kiker given by Susan Davis

...The staff and pilgrims of Cursillo #180 given by Alpha and Hubert Goings

And...

...A gift has been made for the Deb Braden Memorial Trail in thanksgiving for Amy Passey, Brian Savage and Timmy Sims given by the St. Stephen’s ECW

...In appreciation for the Rev. Catherine Collier given by Libby and Bob Shaw

Thanksgivings and memorials…

Eddie Finn

Secretariat music director

I

have a friend who was once a

baseball coach, and before that a player with considerable skill in high school and college.

One day, I asked him what he did in the offseason to stay in shape, expect-ing that he'd tell me about his runnexpect-ing, stretching, weightlifting, and other ac-tivities. To my surprise, he described an offseason routine that included none of the exercises I expected. There were no sprints, no 5 mile runs, no weights in the sweaty gym.

"I just swing the bat", he said. One hundred times, every morning and every evening, he would swing a base-ball bat. One hundred swings, imagin-ing a pitch comimagin-ing in at 90 miles an hour, imagining making contact, until his muscles memorized all of the

con-certed movements required of his head, shoulders, arms, elbows, wrists, hands, and fingers, the swing of his hips, the placement of his feet.

And so, in this "Cursillo Offseason," i.e. the time between the final Cursillo of 2011 and the beginning of the 2012 Cursillo Season, I'm asking all of you Cursillo musicians to swing your bats - figuratively, not literally.

If you play an instrument, remember that if you play every day until the Clausura of Cursillo 181, you'll be a much more accomplished and confi-dent player. Learn some of the songs in Alleluia III that are unfamiliar to you — hey, it's not a paperweight, it's a songbook! If you are a singer, make a joyful noise at every opportunity.

M

aybe you could find ways to

in-corporate your talents into Apostolic

Action — I've never met an unappre-ciative audience at a nursing home, and the rewards far exceed the effort.

H

ospitals often welcome Christmas

Carolers during the Holiday season — and you can bring smiles to those who are suffering with something as simple as a song. And, one of the most re-warding things you can do is to sing one of our Christian brothers or sisters home — singing for those who are close to the end of their journey here on earth can be a wonderful ministry. Musicians: Find ways to keep the fire burning — Christ is depending on You!

I

wish all of you a Merry Christmas,

a Happy and Prosperous New Year, and hope that I see you at the Diocesan Ultreya in January.

De Colores, Eddie

Music and apostolic action:

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the gift of rhythm — if only for the three short days of Cursillo. 5. Please intercede with the Pope and convince the Holy Father to modify our contract with the Roman Catholic

Church in order to replace the song "De Colores" with a tune that, unlike "De Colores," I can actually carry in a bucket — perhaps Robert Earl Keen's "The Road Goes On Forever"? 6. Please remind everyone to

send Palanca to our pilgrims, and remind them that hand-written notes are most appropri-ate; bottles of vodka and te-quila are not (unless we do de-cide to replace "De Colores" with "The Road Goes On For-ever").

7. Please encourage every-one to mark their calendars for Sunday afternoon, March 11, to attend the closing of what promises to be – dare I say it? – the best Cursillo ever.

Most sincerely, Jim

(Dear Santa, continued from page 1)

Go palanca the world!” — Bishop Henry Parsley

Grady Smith Lay rector # 177

A

close moment for me came about as a result of Valerie Chittom’s Rollo song — “Go Light Your World.” I encour-age you to download it from iTunes or somewhere and listen to the words.

The song starts with, “There is a candle in every soul, some brightly burning, some dark and cold.” The refrain challenges us to “carry your candle run to the darkness…and go light your world.” Sounds like a “palanca the world” challenge to me.

F

or a tune hardly

any of us knew

prior to Cursillo #177, we ended up singing this song several times during the weekend. Every time I play it on my guitar or listen to it at my office or in my car, I’m taken back to the Cursillo #177 weekend….

De Colores, Grady

Natalie Sansom

St. Luke’s Birmingham, and staff member # 180

(tells how the pilgrims used the brand new Deb Braden Trail – lit by

200 luminaries – for the first time in the #180 walk to the Agape:)

A

s (fellow staffer) Richard Norris and I left Randall Hall Saturday evening, scooting to Pradat Hall to be there upon arrival of the Pilgrims, the Agape team had finished its prepara-tions. The crisp wind was blowing, the stars were out, and we were laughing with nervous, kid-like laughter.

W

e glanced down to-ward the woods, and there it was—the lovely glow through the trees of all the Agape lanterns along the trail.

My eyes filled with tears because I knew how special the walk was going to

be. Singing “Sons of God” as each pilgrim emerged from the woods on the lit path was truly a sign that God’s love comes shining through from dark paths….

De Colores, Natalie

There is a candle in every soul

Some brightly burning, some dark and cold

There is a Spirit who brings fire

Ignites a candle and makes His home

Carry your candle, run to the darkness

Seek out the hopeless, confused and torn

Hold out your candle for all to see it

Take your candle, and go light your world

Take your candle, and go light your world

Photo / Wilson Webb

The Clausura for #180 included thanks and appreciation for our Bishop. Blessings for Henry, and also (left) John Paul

Some memories of the 2011 Cursillos:

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The Episcopal Church in the Diocese of Alabama 521 North 20th Street

Birmingham, AL 35203-2682

Non-Profit Organization

U.S. POSTAGE PAID

Permit # 8

Gordo, AL 35466

Living Out the Fourth Day

Donations to Cursillo

In Memory of / in Thanksgiving for:

_____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________

Send notification of this gift to:

Name:____________________________________________________ Address:__________________________________________________ Enclosed is my check payable to: Alabama Cursillo for $____________

Please mail contributions to: Patrick Toomey P.O. Box 530484 Birmingham, AL 35253

Home: 205-802-5522 Cell: 205-218-5145 Email: ptoomey@toomeycpa.com

Changing Your Address?

Don’t forget to contact:

Terri Elder 1926 Creek Trace Hoover 35244 Home: 205.497.4152 Office: 205.231.6822 Cell: 205.862.8571 Email: teelder@bellsouth.net

Cursillo Applications

Parish Lay Rectors should e-mail the applications to Nancy Bromberg: cursilloapps@hotmail.com Or snail-mail at, 4209 Old Brook Trail Birmingham, AL 35243

Vivencia Articles

I would love to hear from you, fellow Cursil-listas. As you palanca the world, don’t forget the Vivencia with possible articles to share. Jeff Hansen

3869 Glencoe Drive Birmingham, AL 35213 Home: 205.870.7639

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