Saint Monica's Episcopal Church
Messenger
July 2015
From the Rector’s desk by The Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie, II
Greetings! At the writing of this article, the 78th General Convention of the Episcopal Church has just concluded. This triennial meeting of delegates from our diocese as well as every other diocese in the Episcopal Church has concluded its work on our behalf and behest, and with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. The chief issue before them was the election of a new Presiding Bishop of our Church. From a slate of four excellent and well qualified candidates our new Presiding Bishop is Bishop Michael Curry from North Carolina! I am so excited by what this historic election means for our church, or more specifically, what *I* think this means. The Right Reverend Curry, soon to be The Most Reverend Curry, is the first black presiding bishop that our church has ever elected. In this time of division, both racial and otherwise, that we as a body, guided by the Holy Spirit, have elected an African-American to our highest office in a body that is vastly majority white is hugely promising, indeed! On top of that, Bishop Curry has shown himself, time and time again, to be a unifying and dynamic preacher and leader. At a rally in Utah decrying gun violence, Bishop Curry was quoted as saying “Black live matter because ALL lives matter! People in blue uniform’s lives matter because ALL lives matter!” In a news conference at the General Convention Bishop Curry said, “We are part of the Jesus movement, and nothing can stop the movement of God’s love in this world.” I am excited for what this means for our church because I think it means that the National Church has turned a corner, just like our church here in Cantonment has. We have come back around to the idea that evangelism is doing the work of Jesus Christ in the world. We have come to the realization that our church grows when we grow in Christ,
Our Staff & Vestry The Rev, Anthony MacWhinnie, II, Rector Vestry: Chuck Barnett - Senior Warden Dan Ferguson- Junior Warden/Co-Treasurer Linda Aligood —Treasurer Susan Early, Frank Murphy, Ann Philen & John Velaski Viv Welch—Clerk of the Vestry Brenda Ferguson—Church Secretary Twinette McDonald - Music Director Sally Putters - Parish Nurse
when we do the things that Christ told us to do, loving our neighbors as ourselves. It’s a pretty simple equation, really. It is good to see positive change in our Church and I’m excited for our future. As always, keep your church in your prayers. Keep the national church in your prayers as well, and say and extra prayer for Bishop Curry. Help us to be a blessing to him as he has already been a blessing to us. Peace, Anthony+
FavorHouse of Northwest Florida, Inc. is a domestic violence center serving Escambia and Santa Rosa Counties. FavorHouse shelters and crisis lines are staffed 24 hours a day, year round. FavorHouse utilizes donations to assist residents/clients in need. Needs include: • Household linens (new or gently used towels, twin blankets, sheets, etc.) • Personal hygiene products (shampoo, toothbrushes, deodorant, etc.) • Feminine hygiene products • Diapers, wet wipes • Used cell phones • Children’s clothing • Kitchen items (pots and pans, dinnerware, etc.) • Office and school supplies • Paper Products, toilet paper , paper towels, Kleenex, napkins • New underwear women and children
A complete list of items needed is available on the table in the narthex
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
Bishop Duncan’s last visit
In Celebration of New Ministry during his last official visit as Bishop of the Central Gulf Coast on June 10, Bishop Duncan installed Fr. Anthony as Rector of St. Monica’s. In addition, one person was confirmed, and ten were accepted or reaffirmed.
Diocesan Youth Weekend Youth in 6-12th grade are invited to Diocesan Youth Weekend at Camp Beckwith as they gather to enjoy a time of service, fellowship and celebration! Transportation is being provided at no charge from three pick up locations along I-10 (Hwy 231, Hwy 331, and I110). On Friday, July Fran McKendree 24th the event will get started midmorning by donating the items collected to the Wilmer Hall Thrift Shop, taking a picture with Bishop-Elect Rev. Russell Kendrick and then having lunch at Wilmer Hall. Following this event youth will be driven back to Beckwith where they will move into cabins for the evening. Afternoon camp activities include games, canoeing, kayaking, and swimming. In the evening, there will be a concert with Fran McKendree in the Chapel of the Resurrection followed by a campfire with s'mores. Activities continue Saturday morning, then lunch. After lunch everyone will drive to the Mobile Civic Center Expo Hall for the Bishop Consecration at 2:00 pm. Transportation back to their drop-off destinations will be provided for all who were picked up.
It’s hot, hot, hot! By Nurse Sally Summer is here and many of us will be spending time outdoors now. Your first thought should be sunscreen! Use a broad spectrum that protects against UVA and UVB rays. Another consideration is the heat and humidity especially for those 50 years or older. Our bodies are programmed to maintain a temperature of about 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit. If this is exceeded, our bodies try to cool themselves by bringing heat from the body core to the skin through perspiration. The evaporating sweat cools the body. As we age, this built in cooling mechanism becomes less efficient. We sweat less and are not likely to feel as thirsty, which increases the risk of becoming dehydrated. Certain medications used to treat heart problems, like diuretics and beta blockers, may increase the effects of heat by interfering with our cooling mechanism. Antihistamines, used to treat allergies, can also reduce the production of sweat. All of these factors mean it is vital for you to recognize the signs that you may be too hot. Signs of heat exhaustion include headaches, dehydration, weakness, dizziness, fainting, and muscle cramps. If you experience these symptoms in hot weather, seek medical advice, particularly if you have heart problems or high blood pressure, and take steps to cool down by going indoors (preferably to a room where there is a fan), drink plenty of water, and sponge with tepid water while you rest. The more serious heat stroke develops if body temperature rises to 105 or higher, and can cause death or permanent disability. Symptoms include rapid pulse, severe headache, dizziness, nausea and confusion, and absence of sweat. This is a medical emergency, so make sure you quickly get medical assistance. Prevention, drink plenty of clear liquids (avoid caffeinated beverages and alcohol as these will dehydrate you) dress in light-colored clothing (don’t overdress), and avoid extended sun exposure or strenuous activities in high temperature. Get exercise in the morning and evenings when it is cooler. Follow these precautions to ensure your summer is safe and enjoyable.
Zane Godwin, Jr. was thrilled when his ticket was drawn for the ECW Independence Day Gift Basket!
Saint Monica’s Messenger
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North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry elected as 27th Presiding Bishop [Episcopal News Service – Salt Lake City, Utah] The Episcopal Church’s General Convention made history June 27 when it chose Diocese of North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry to be its 27th presiding bishop. Curry, 62, was elected by the House of Bishops from a slate of four nominees on the first ballot. He received 121 votes of a total 174 cast. Diocese of Southwest Florida Bishop Dabney Smith received 21, Diocese of Southern Ohio Bishop Thomas Breidenthal, 19, and Diocese of Connecticut Bishop Ian Douglas, 13. The number of votes needed for election was 89. Curry’s election was confirmed an hour later by the House of Deputies, as outlined in the church’s canons, by a vote of 800 to 12 He will serve a nine-year term that officially begins Nov. 1. On that date, Curry will succeed current Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and he will become the first person of color to hold that position. A liturgy marking the beginning of Curry’s ministry as presiding bishop and primate will be celebrated Nov. 1, All Saints Day at Washington National Cathedral. The House of Deputies, which was filled with visitors and bishops awaiting Curry, erupted into sustained applause when Jefferts Schori and Curry entered at about 2:30 p.m. His entrance came about 30 minutes after the House of Deputies confirmed his election. Deputies stood on their chairs, holding aloft their phones, tablets and cameras to capture the historic moment. “Oh, God love ya,” Curry said when he got to the microphone on the dais. “I know you haven’t had lunch so, no sermons now.” The deputies worked past their scheduled 1 p.m. recess to vote on Curry’s election and hear him speak. “It really is a blessing and privilege to serve our church and to serve our Lord in this way,” he said. “I treasure this church, this house, the House of Bishops, all of us. We are God’s children.” Curry said The Episcopal Church is “the church where I learned about Jesus.” “This is a good and wonderful church and we are good and wonderful people and I thank God to be one of the baptized among you,” Curry said, adding, “My heart is really full.” “We’ve got a society where there are challenges before us and there are crises all around us. And the church has challenges before it,” he said. “We got a God and there really is a Jesus, and we are part of the Jesus Movement. Nothing can stop the movement of God’s love in this world” As Curry left the dais, people in the house sang the Doxology. Curry has been North Carolina’s 11th diocesan bishop since he was ordained and consecrated on June 17, 2000. He was the rector of St. James’ Episcopal Church, Baltimore, Maryland, when he was elected to the see on Feb. 11, 2000. He is also the current chair of Episcopal Relief
Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry, bishop of the Diocese of North Carolina, speaks to a packed House of Deputies hall after deputies confirmed his election as the 27th presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. Curry’s family and others joined him on the dais. Photo: Cynthia L. Black/For ENS
& Development’s Board of Directors. This makes the second time in a row that the General Convention made history with its election of a presiding bishop. In 2006, Jefferts Schori became the first woman ever elected presiding bishop of The Episcopal Church. She was also the first female among the primates, or ordained leaders, of the Anglican Communion’s 38 provinces, a distinction she still holds. Curry’s election also made history by being the first time a presiding bishop was chosen on the first ballot. Echoing an old spiritual, Curry said during a video interview after his nomination was announced on May 1 that “our hand must be on the Gospel plow.” “We are followers of Jesus – Jesus of Nazareth – and the truth is we’ve got a message to proclaim, a life to live and something to share and offer the world,” he said. “There’s a lot of suffering in this world. There’s a lot of heartache, there’s a lot of nightmare. We are people who believe that God has a dream and a vision for this world, and that Jesus has shown us how to follow him in the direction of that and how to help this world live into God’s dream and vision for us now. “Our work is actually the work of participating in the Jesus movement, which seeks to realize God’s dream and seeks to accomplish God’s mission in this world,” Curry said. The church must help form disciples who will live like Jesus, Curry said. Such formation must become a priority so that the church is not just creating members, but disciples of Jesus “who actually live out and struggle to live out the teachings of Jesus in their lives, and make a tangible difference” in the world. If such church wide formation combined with Episcopalians’ individual commitments to imitate Jesus, “we would transform this world,” Curry said. (Continued on page 4)
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
“After formation, there’s evangelism and I know sometimes folks are afraid of that word, but I’m not talking about evangelism like other folk do it,” he said. “I am talking about the kind of evangelism that is as much listening as it is sharing.” Being present with another person and listening to that person is a “transforming possibility” of invitation and welcome. Episcopalians must also be willing to “witness in the social sphere, witness in the public sphere, through personal service that helps somebody along the way … prophesying deliverance … [and] being a voice for those who have no voice,” Curry said. To do this, Episcopalians need to partner with Anglicans around the world along with people of other faith traditions, according to Curry. And “we need to create organizational structures that serve the mission, that help the institution and the church become a vessel of the Jesus movement,” he concluded. The election process The names of all four bishops were formally submitted to the General Convention by the Joint Nominating Committee for the Election of the Presiding Bishop during a joint session on June 26, the day before the election. There were no additional nominees from the floor during that session. Anyone intending to make such a nomination had to inform the nominating committee of that intention by May 12 so that additional nominees could undergo the same background screening process that the committee completed for all of its nominees. The committee announced on May 12 that no additional bishops were nominated. The four nominees spoke to convention participants during a three-hour session on June 24, the afternoon before the General Convention formally convened. Bishops gathered at the Convention Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. on June 27 in the Salt Palace Convention Center. Following that, the bishops with seat, voice and vote traveled to St. Mark’s Cathedral, where the election session was closed and took place in the context of prayer and reflection. After Curry was elected but before his name was announced, Jefferts Schori sent a delegation to House of Deputies President the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings informing her of the result. Jennings referred Curry’s name to the House of Deputies legislative committee on the Confirmation of the Presiding Bishop without announcing the news to the full House. The legislative committee was charged with recommending to the House of Deputies whether to confirm the election or not confirm. The deputies heard the recommendation at 1:48 p.m. local time, and began to debate the confirmation request. The House of Bishops remained in session at the cathedral until a delegation of deputies, appointed by Jennings notified the House of Bishops of the action taken. No communication was permitted from the House of Bishops during the election and until confirmation was received.
Shortly after receiving word of the confirmation of his election, Curry came to the House of Deputies. Presiding Bishop-elect Curry (will) preach(ed) at the convention’s closing Eucharist on July 3, and Jefferts Schori (will) preside(d). Presiding Bishop-elect Curry’s past ministry Born in Chicago, Illinois, on March 13, 1953, Curry attended public schools in Buffalo, New York, and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1975 from Hobart and William Smith Colleges, in Geneva, New York, and a Master of Divinity degree in 1978 from the Berkeley Divinity School at Yale. He has also studied at the College of Preachers, Princeton Theological Seminary, Wake Forest University, the Ecumenical Institute at St. Mary’s Seminary, and the Institute of Christian Jewish Studies. He was ordained to the diaconate in June 1978 at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Buffalo, New York, and to the priesthood in December 1978, at St. Stephen’s, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He began his ministry as deacon-in-charge at St. Stephen’s, and was rector there 1979-1982. He next accepted a call to serve as the rector of St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights, Ohio, where he served 1982-1988. In 1988, he became rector of St. James’, Baltimore, Maryland, where he served until his election as bishop. In his three parish ministries, Curry was active in the founding of ecumenical summer day camps for children, the creation of networks of family day care providers and educational centers, and the brokering of millions of dollars of investment in inner city neighborhoods. He also sat on the commission on ministry in each of the three dioceses in which he has served. During his time as bishop of North Carolina, Curry instituted a network of canons, deacons and youth ministry professionals dedicated to supporting the ministry that already happens in local congregations and refocused the diocese on The Episcopal Church’s dedication to the United Nation’s Millennium Development Goals through a $400,000 campaign to buy malaria nets that saved thousands of lives. Throughout his ministry, Curry has also been active in issues of social justice, speaking out on immigration policy and marriage equality. He serves on the boards of a large number of organizations and has a national preaching and teaching ministry. He has been featured on The Protestant Hour and North Carolina Public Radio’s The State of Things, as well as on The Huffington Post. In addition, Curry is a frequent speaker at conferences around the country. He has received honorary degrees from Sewanee, Virginia Theological Seminary, Yale, and, most recently, Episcopal Divinity School. He served on the Taskforce for Re-imagining the Episcopal Church and recently was named chair of Episcopal Relief & Development’s Board of Directors. His book of sermons, Crazy Christians, came out in August 2013. Curry and his wife, Sharon, have two adult daughters, Rachel and Elizabeth.
John Velaski
Connie Chamberlin Chuck Barnett Katherine Chaapel
Texan Stephens Ron Philen Trey MacWhinnie & Bailee McGuffin Tom Chaapel & Dave Somerville Viv Welch Ushers Ray Farrel & Jeff Woods
Carol Farrel
Beth Woods
Katherine Chaapel
Chuck Barnett & Connie Chamberlin
Beth Woods
Ushers
Bill Ramsey & Jim Morningstar
Need volunteers
Psalm
Lector Epistle reading
Acolytes
Altar
Greeters
Oblation Bearers
Ushers
Nursery
Beth Woods
Open
Pauline Somerville
Carol Farrel
Flowers
Arrangers
Eucharistic Visitor
John Velaski
Jackie Wright
Open
Carol Farrel & Pauline Somerville
Carol Farrel
Valerie Smith
Open
POTLUCK
Need Volunteers
Carol Farrel
Jeanine Black
Open
Danise Beadle & Rowena Chaapel
Need volunteers
Bill Ramsey & Jim Morningstar
Ray Farrel & Bill Ramsey
Jim Morningstar & Frank Murphy Need volunteers
Ushers
Ushers
Beth Woods
Ron & Ann Philen
Bill & Sally Putters Ushers
Chuck Barnett & Connie Chamberlin Valerie Smith & Dave Somerville
Katherine Chaapel
Beth Woods
Carol Farrel
Fred Woods
Dave Somerville
August 2
John Velaski & Dave Somerville
Trey MacWhinnie & Balee McGuffin
* If you are unable to meet your obligation, please call a replacement, or swap with someone.
Ray Farrel
Open
Beth Woods & Twyla Hinton
Coffee Hour
Juliana Horn & Jackie Wright
Need volunteers
Chuck Barnett
Pauline Somerville
Mike Scordato
Fred Woods
Ray Farrel
Connie Chamberlin
July 26
Dave Somerville
July 19
Frank Murphy
July 12
Dave Somerville
Eucharistic Minister Lector 1st Lesson
July 5
Service Schedule for July 2015
July Prayer Requests
Military and First Responders Prayer List
John Aligood Don Blankenship Sarah Chesnut Bill Cross Mike Godwin Nancy Holland Bob Matlock Paul Palmer Frank & Polly Welch Brennis Whaley
Connor Aligood Adam Blankenship Brian Condon Daryl Coy Field Cross Mark Feely Patrick Ferguson Aaron Gaff
Birthdays in July…
Benjamin Gaff Tim Hartford Johnny Hurd James Klinginsmith William Knapp Andrew Kuntz Nicholas Matroni Chase Scott Jeremy Wright
5, Ron Giles, Pauline Somerville; 12, Norma Ramsey; 24, Sally Putters, Nancy Argabrite; 27, Bill Ramsey, 30, Darby O’Brien
Anniversaries in July…
5, James & Bernice Warner; 11, Ron & Ann Philen If your birthday or anniversary is not listed or it is not correct, please let Viv Welch know.
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church 699 South Highway 95-A Cantonment, Florida 32533
Phone: 850-937-0001 E-mail: Office@st-monicas.org We’re on the web at Www.st-monicas.org The peace of the Lord be always with you.