Saint Monica's Episcopal Church
Messenger
June 2015
From the priest's desk by The Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie, II
“The Bishop is coming! The Bishop is coming!” Yes, I’ve been waiting a while to say that one... I imagine colonial coated riders on horses warning the townsfolk when I say that, too. But instead of an invasion it’s a great celebration! I can’t wait for the bishop to be here, for several reasons. First, we’ll have confirmations, receptions, and reaffirmations. These will be the first ones IN YEARS that we’ve had at St. Monica’s. It’s a sign of positive growth at this parish This is Father Anthony’s new profile picture as drawn by Zane. and that is an amazing thing. Second, I’m excit- We think the resemblance is ed to share the excitement remarkable! of St. Monica’s with the Bishop. When I talked to him several weeks ago he didn’t know we were growing the way we are. He’s excited for us and I can’t wait to share that with him in person. And third, this will be Bishop Duncan’s last visit with us. As you’ve no doubt heard, the Bishop is retiring, and soon. The new bishop will be consecrated in July, so really, our visit from Bishop Duncan will be one of his last official acts as bishop of this diocese. It’s the end of an era and the beginning of a new one. On June 10th we’ll receive the Bishop here at St. Monica’s. Yes, that is a Wednesday. Yes, the service will be in
Our Staff & Vestry The Rev, Anthony MacWhinnie, II, Priest in Charge 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
the evening. Make plans to be here now. Find rides. Offer rides. Do what you need to do to be here because this is important for our church and for you. It’s not often that we receive a Bishop and it’s very rare indeed that we receive him for the last time. Please be here! And what a great time to invite your friends and neighbors to church! It’ll be a big deal and a great service. The Bishop is a great preacher too, so I can’t wait to see what he has to say. Invite your friends and neighbors! What better time to practice the hospitality of God than now? What better place than here? God bless you! Anthony+
Council on Aging of West Florida Wish List
CRAFT MATERIALS Zippers, buttons, lace, small pieces of leather, fur trim, old jewelry, ribbon, small pieces of fabric, NO CERAMICS, puzzles (less than 1000 pieces) BINGO PRIZES All food items must be individually wrapped. Microwave popcorn (Large size) for snacks while playing Bingo. Wrapped cookies and Rice Krispy Treats, snack packs of Jell-O and pudding cups (not the refrigerated type), fruit cups, Little Debbie Cakes, individually wrapped bite size candies, individual packs of peanut butter crackers and cheese crackers, individual bags of chips, Vienna sausages, potted meat, drink boxes, juice
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
2015 hurricane preparedness plan BEFORE A STORM: Inform out of town family and friends of your emergency plans and stay in contact. Fuel your vehicles prior to evacuating as fuel pumps rely on electricity Have a supply of cash—ATM machines and banks may not operate immediately following a storm Install storm shutters or cover all windows with plywood and secure all doors Bring all outdoor objects, such as lawn furniture, toys and gardening equipment Freeze water in plastic bottles to place in refrigerators and freezers to help keep cold Adjust refrigerators and freezers to their coldest settings Unplug small appliances that you will not use Turn off propane tanks Fill sinks and bath tubs with water DURING A STORM: Should you remain home during a hurricane Please note: secure all windows, doors and take refuge in a Small interior room, such as a closet, hallway or basement Cover yourself underneath a sturdy table for protection When the eye of the storm passes, remain indoors despite calmer condition outdoors, winds will soon rapidly increase to hurricane force in the opposite direction
Home front Surprise!
Shared from Northescambia.com, May 26, 2015
Our own Connie Chamberlin, an Ernest Ward Middle School teacher was featured in Northescambia.com as she received a lunchtime surprise on Friday, May 20 when her soldier son and grandson popped into the school cafeteria. Aaron Gaff, a one-time St. Monica’s EYC member, was home on leave. He is now a U.S. Army CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) Specialist. He is also a former Ernest Ward student and a Tate High graduate.
By Nurse Sally
AFTER A STORM: If you have evacuated, wait until authorities allow you to return before you do so Stay on firm ground and beware of fallen objects, flooded areas and debris Make sure your vehicles have plenty of gas and drive only if necessary Replenish supplies, such as batteries, non-perishable food and water. WHEN YOU RETURN TO YOUR HOME: Enter with extreme caution and beware of home damages and fallen objects Remove shutters or plywood, open windows and doors to ventilate and dry the home Check gas, water and electrical lines for damage but do not attempt to repair Have a professional assess the water line to clear for contamination-do not drink the water or prepare food until the water line is evaluated Avoid using candles or other open flames-emergency personnel may be unable to respond due to blocked roadways should there be an urgent situation Use battery-operated lighting, such as flashlights or glow sticks Only use telephone to report emergencies, including cellular phones Never connect portable generators to your home— your local electric company will be in your area to assist you to determine when power will be restored. For more information on hurricane preparedness, visit bereadyescambia.com. Good Luck, Nurse Sally
Osteoarthritis Screening Wednesday, June 3 9—11:30 am Open to the public! Invite your friends! Brought to you by your Paris Nurse Program.
Saint Monica’s Messenger
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We’ve launched a brand new website! not too late to update your ministry content. One of the best things about this new site is that it can be updated easily and quickly! So, in a nutshell, our new site was developed with these things in mind as well as making our content relevant to our current users. The new site includes all the content our old site did plus a password protected membership directory (e-mail communications@st-monicas.org to receive the password), an up to date server schedule and fresh news from the diocese and the national church. If you haven’t already, visit www.st-monicas.org and take a tour! In case you missed it, St. Monica’s launched a new mobile-friendly, search engine optimized website over Memorial Day weekend. Why is being mobile-friendly so important? It’s estimated that 50% of all consumer internet traffic this year will be on a touch or mobile device; iPads, Android tablets and smart phones. In order for a site to be considered mobile-friendly, its text has to be readable without tapping and zooming, its tap targets need to be spaced out appropriately, and the page avoids unplayable content or horizontal scrolling. A web visitor can view every page of our site on their mobile device by simply using their thumb to scroll! Imagine it is Sunday morning. A potential church visitor is running late. They jump in the car and go, only to realize they don’t remember exactly how to get to St. Monica’s. At a stoplight they pull up our site on their phone to check for directions. Are they going to find what they need? You bet! With a simple thumb tap, there’s a map right there on the front page. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the art and science of getting your website to rank in the top search results for specific search queries. It combines technical web development, creative public relations, social media and content production. In other words, all major search engines such as Google, Bing and Yahoo have primary search results, where web pages and other content such as videos or local listings are shown and ranked based on what the search engine considers most relevant to users. The best ranking websites are those that have multiple pages of in-depth content. This means to be noticed by people surfing the web in search of a church, we need to have a page for each of our ministries that includes staff/ leadership bios and contact information rather than just names and phone numbers. Content on our pages about our ministry programs needs to be well thought out and offer insight about how to get involved, and when they meet. Not only does this information make for a more detailed page that will rank better, it also gives visitors a clear idea of how strong our ministries are. The same goes for our beliefs, our history and “about us” pages. So if you are a ministry leader, it is
Quilters attend White Rose luncheon
The St. Monica’s Sisterhood of Quilters were guests at the Eleventh Annual FavorHouse White Rose Luncheon on May 14. In 2005, FavorHouse established the White Rose Luncheon as its annual signature event to honor survivors of domestic violence and to highlight the courage these victims displayed in breaking away from a life of pain and horror. All proceeds from the White Rose Luncheon are used to support the domestic violence shelter program and counseling services.
Prison Ministry Cycle of Prayer The Diocesan Commission on Prison Ministry has developed a Cycle of Prayer for prisons, prisoners, staff, and families of prisoners and staff, encouraging prayers for various institutions in the Diocese.
June 2015 June 7-13 June 14-20
Elba Work Release, Elba, AL Fountain/JO Davis Correctional Facility, Atmore, AL June 21-27 Holman Correction Facility, Atmore, AL June 28-Jul 4 Loxley Work Release, Loxley, AL
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
Haneyville 50th Anniversary Pilgrimage
Cancer Center outreach
Coastline Newsletter, May 26, 2015
The Diocese of Alabama is sponsoring the Annual Pilgrimage to Hayneville, Alabama on August 15, 2015. This year's pilgrimage commemorates the 50th anniversary of the martyrdom of the Episcopalian Seminarian Jonathon Myrick Daniels who was killed in 1965 during the summer of civil rights protests in the area. The 50th anniversary also commemorates the 13 others killed during the struggle for civil rights in Alabama. The Christ Church Parish Chapter of The Brotherhood of St. Andrew and the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will be jointly sponsoring an air conditioned, restroom equipped luxury tour bus to transport those in our diocese who are interested in making the pilgrimage on August 15th. The bus will leave from the Belmont Street Side of Christ Church Parish's Parking Lot in Pensacola, Florida, at 7:00 am and returning the same day at approximately 6:00 pm. The pilgrimage starts at 11:00 am at the Lowndes County Courthouse Square and retraces the steps of Jonathon, as he was released from the jail house to the grocery store where he was fatally shot as he took a bullet to prevent the death of Ruby Sales, another civil rights demonstrator. The march then winds its way back to the Lowndes County Courthouse, where an all-white jury found the white deputy innocent in the killing of Jonathon Myrick Daniels. After a program in the courthouse, the bus will depart for Greenville, Alabama, where the hospitality group from St. Thomas Episcopal Church will provide refreshments and fellowship for an hour. Please bring your own bag lunch and, because of the August heat, plenty of water and a hat or umbrella to provide shade from the searing sun. The cost is $44 per person with a minimum of 30 people needed to make the trip. We will make several stops along the way to Hayneville, so if you are interested in riding the bus and can meet us on 29 North or one of the I-65 exits, please contact Joe McDaniel at 415-225-9066 or at mcdanieljoe43@yahoo.com. Please mail your checks to Joe McDaniel 709 Roanne Lane, Pensacola, FL 32505 and make the checks payable to "Christ Church Parish" with "Hayneville Pilgrimage" indicated on the notation line. The deadline for receipts of checks is August 1st. Thank You.
On May 22, 2015, 42 crocheted chemotherapy caps were delivered to the Sacred Heart Cancer Center located at 1554 Airport Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32504. The items of comfort, used to keep patients’ heads warm, were handmade and contributed by Mrs. Audrey Westbrook. Pictured here are the lovely Lisa Halford and her coworker Paula Carlisle, receptionists, at the Oncology/GYM Oncology Department on the third floor at the Sacred Heart Cancer Center.
St. Monica’s gets Lay Preacher On May 15, Fr. Anthony received official notification from Bishop Duncan that Elizabeth MacWhinnie was approved as a licensed Lay Preacher in the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. Her license is effective through December 31, 2017. Pictured right is Elizabeth preaching her first sermon at St. Monica’s on The First Sunday after Pentecost or Trinity Sunday, May 31
Summer Camp Registration Underway Summer Camp May 31—August 2 New this year! Family Camp! Summer camp weeks are age group specific. To register for your age group, visit www.beckwithal.com
Tom Chaapel & Dave Somerville Viv Welch Ushers Ray Farrel & Jeff Woods
Chuck Barnett & Connie Chamberlin
Beth Woods
Ushers
Bill Ramsey & Jim Morningstar
Need volunteers
Altar
Greeters
Oblation Bearers
Ushers
Nursery
* If you are unable to meet your obligation, please call a replacement, or swap with someone.
Carol Farrel
Ray Farrel
Carol Farrel
Eucharistic Visitor
John Velaski
Pauline Somerville
Jeanine Black Valerie Smith Jackie Wright
Beth Woods
Arrangers
Ray Farrel
Open
Open
Open
Danise Beadle & Rowena Chaapel
Open
POTLUCK
Open
Texann Stephens & Sally Putters
Flowers
Audrey Westbrook & Brenda Ferguson
TBA Need volunteers
Ushers
Beth Woods
TBA
Beth Woods & Twyla Hinton
Need Volunteers
Ray Farrel & Bill Ramsey
Jim Morningstar & Frank Murphy Need volunteers
Ushers
Ron & Ann Philen
Bill & Sally Putters Ushers
Valerie Smith & Dave Somerville
John Velaski & Dave Somerville
Coffee Hour
Need volunteers
John Velaski
Trey MacWhinnie & Katherine Chaapel
Connie Chamberlin
Acolytes
TBA
Chuck Barnett
Ron Philen
Beth Woods
Lector Epistle reading
TBA
Trey MacWhinnie Katherine Chaapel
John Velaski
Connie Chamberlin
Texan Stephens
Carol Farrel
Psalm
TBA
TBA
Chuck Barnett
Pauline Somerville
Mike Scordato
Fred Woods
TBA
July 5
Ray Farrel
Connie Chamberlin
June 28
Dave Somerville
June 21
Frank Murphy
June 14
Dave Somerville
Eucharistic Minister Lector 1st Lesson
June 7
Service Schedule for June 2015
June Prayer Requests
Military and First Responders Prayer List
John Aligood Don Blankenship Amber & Dalton Campbell & baby Clarissa Kae Sarah Chestnut Ralph Cooper Mike Godwin Connie Goodwin Felisa Hinz Nancy Holland
Connor Aligood Adam Blankenship Brian Condon Daryl Coy Mark Feely Patrick Ferguson Aaron Gaff Benjamin Gaff
Sherry Johnston Michael LaCosta Bob Matlock Llew Newton Paul Palmer Maggie Rose Rodak Bob Tebbs Bill Welch Frank & Polly Welch
Tim Hartford Johnny Hurd James Klinginsmith William Knapp Andrew Kuntz Nicholas Matroni Chase Scott Jeremy Wright
Birthdays in June…
3, Jim Morningstar; 8, Beth Woods; 17, Wimberley Murphy; 20, Bill Putters; 29, Gary Beadle; 30, Brennis Whaley
Anniversaries in June…
16, Bill & Norma Ramsey; 17, Robert & Audrey Westbrook; 19, Bill & Kathy Vail; 20, John & Linda Aligood; 22, Earnest & Jennifer Johnson 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.