Saint Monica's Episcopal Church
Messenger
November 2015
From the Rector’s desk
by Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie, II
Fall is in the air! Finally… Right? Finally, there is that crispness in the air that I look for that signifies the change of our seasons here in Northwest Florida. We’ve just celebrated Halloween, and All Saints day here. Did you know that we had 200 kids come through our Trunk or Treat display? What great exposure that is! I love when we get out in the community and show them who St. Monica’s really is. And who we are is pretty special! This time of the year, for me, it feels like I should be getting ready for something. I don’t know why that is. Maybe it’s football season, or hunting season, or fall fishing, or gathering pecans; Or maybe it’s a combination of all these things. Something about right now is ingrained in me to prepare… to get ready… One thing that we’re getting ready for at St. Monica’s is The Annual Small Congregation Conference that we are hosting on November 14. The conference will go from 8:45AM to 2:30PM. The theme of the conference is “Out of the Pew and into the World.” And our very own Bishop Russell Kendrick will be speaking and facilitating discussion. Volunteer opportunities abound for this event! If you’d like to help with food, please speak with Beth Woods. She’ll be doing some decorating as well so check with her on that. Chuck Barnett is also coordinating volunteers for the day to help with set up and with hospitality for our guests. By the way, I’ve just spoken with the diocesan office today about this event and they have already got a HUGE turn-out of registrations and we are still weeks away from the event! This is an opportunity for our congregation to shine so I hope you’ll come on out that Saturday. One more thing that we should be getting ready for is
Our Staff & Vestry 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
the Advent season. Our church new year begins on November 29th this year. Advent is a time of hopeful anticipation of the nativity of our Lord. It’s also a time when the Episcopal Church really shines. Look for a Wednesday night program during Advent this year and bring your friends to church during Advent! They need us. And they need our liturgical traditions. They just don’t know it yet! Elizabeth and Ruby MacWhinnie at Peace, Trunk or Treat, October 31, 2015 Anthony
We will be providing Thanksgiving Dinner for a family in our community with 5 children who attend Jim Allen School. Monetary donations to buy a large turkey and perishables Other items needed: Stove Top Stuffing, white potatoes, sweet potatoes, canned green beans, jars of gravy, canned cranberry sauce (Due to Small Church Conference, Please do not bring any items before November 15.)
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
A statement from Presiding Bishop Health benefits of giving By Nurse Sally Katharine Jefferts Schori Episcopal Church Public Affairs Office, October 23, 2015 Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has issued the following: The Episcopal Church has come a long way in the last 10 years. We are no longer consumed by internal conflict over various social issues. We are clearer about who we are – a multinational church, with congregations in 17 nations, worshipping in countless different languages, thriving in international, immigrant, and multicultural contexts everywhere, and discovering the abundant life that comes in turning outward to love the neighbors nearby and far away. We are far more conscious about our vocation as partners in the mission of God to reconcile and heal the world, particularly shaped by the Five Anglican Marks of Mission. We are holding our identity as Episcopal Christians a bit more confidently, even in the midst of our diversity. We are also more willing to hold that identity lightly and gracefully in engaging other Christians and people of other religious traditions, searching for what we dream of in common – shalom, the Reign of God, a more just and peaceful world, with abundant life for all creation. I am deeply grateful for what God has been up to in the midst of our journey together, and I look forward to seeing how this church of the middle way will continue to lead and partner as we travel the road home, into God’s fullest dream of abundant life for all. I thank the people of this Church and beyond for your prayers over the last nine years – especially in recognition that we do this work together, never alone. May God bless the next chapter of The Episcopal Church’s engagement in God’s mission, as we go together into Galilee!
Free Flu Shot Clinic Saturday, November 7 9 to 11:30 am In the Narthex
Brought to you by your Parish Nurse Program and Sacred Heart Health Systems
As Thanksgiving and the upcoming holidays approach, it is a perfect time to remember what the season is really all about. You have heard the phrases “If you can give you should. “’Tis better to give than receive,” Volunteering can have multiple benefits to you and your community in the following ways. #1 Volunteering connects you to others, it allows you to make your community a better place. It helps you to make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social and relationship skills. #2 Volunteering is good for your mind and body by boosting your self-confidence, self-esteem and life satisfaction. Volunteering provides a sense of purpose by helping others find new meaning in their lives. #3 Volunteering is proven to fight depression by preventing social isolation. Working with pets or other animals has also been shown to improve mood and reduce stress and anxiety. It also helps you to stay physically active. It has been shown to lesson symptoms of chronic pain and heart disease. #4 Volunteering can bring fun and fulfillment to your life. Along with fun it is an easy way to explore your interest and passions. It can be a relaxing and energizing escape from your day-day routine. When considering volunteering consider your own goals and interests. Volunteering opportunities that match both goals and interest are most likely be fun and fulfilling for you. There are many opportunities to volunteer at St. Monica’s. For example, there are multiple steps in the Beans and Rice ministry which require volunteers. Each month, volunteers weigh and package the beans and rice, cook the sausage biscuits, and there are those who actually distribute the packages on the last Saturday of the month. Each week the Sisterhood of Quilters meet to sew quilts that are later given to the women and children of Favor House. The Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Episcopal Church Women are all ministries of the church that are supported by volunteers. You can also search for volunteer opportunities through community service organizations like Lions Clubs or Rotary clubs, animal organizations, and youth organizations. The Council on Aging and adult daycare centers also operate largely with the support of volunteers. Research indicates two to three hours per week or about 100 hours per year provides the most benefit. Volunteering can be fun and rewarding. Good Luck! If you need more ideas on ways you can volunteer, call me. Nurse Sally
Saint Monica’s Messenger
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Presiding Bishop, Michael B. Curry—A word to the Church Episcopal Church Public Affairs Office, November 2, 2015 God came among us in the person of Jesus of Nazareth to show us the Way. He came to show us the Way to life, the Way to love. He came to show us the Way beyond what often can be the nightmares of our own devisings and into the dream of God’s intending. That’s why, when Jesus called his first followers he did it with the simple words “Follow me.” “Follow me,” he said, “and I will make you fish for people.” Follow me and love will show you how to become more than you ever dreamed you could be. Follow me and I will help you change the world from the nightmare it often is into the dream that God intends. Jesus came and started a movement and we are the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement. Near the end of Matthew’s Gospel story of the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead, Mary Magdalene and some of the women go to the tomb to anoint his body. When they get there they find that the tomb is empty, the stone has been rolled away and there is no body there. Then they
Annual Beckwith Picnic highlights Photos by Elizabeth MacWhinnie
see and hear an angel who says to them, “This Jesus of Nazareth whom you seek, he is not here, he has been raised as he said he would be and he has now gone ahead of you to Galilee. There you will see him. It is in Galilee that the Risen Lord will be found and seen for he has gone ahead of us.” Galilee. Bishop Michael Bruce Curry, 27th Which is a way of Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal talking about the Church. world. Galilee. In the streets of the city. Galilee. In our rural communities. Galilee in our hospitals. Galilee in our office places. Galilee where God’s children live and dwell there. In Galilee you will meet the living Christ for He has already gone ahead of you. A few years ago I was in a coffee shop in Raleigh, North Carolina, just a few blocks away from our Diocesan House there. While in line I started a conversation with a gentleman who turned out to be a Mennonite pastor. He had been sent to Raleigh to organize a church in the community on the streets without walls. As we were talking over our coffee, he said something to me that I have not forgotten. He said the Mennonite community asked him to do this because they believed that in this environment in which we live, the church can no longer wait for its congregation to come to it, the church must go where the congregation is. Now is our time to go. To go into the world to share the good news of God and Jesus Christ. To go into the world and help to be agents and instruments of God’s reconciliation. To go into the world, let the world know that there is a God who loves us, a God who will not let us go, and that that love can set us all free. This is the Jesus Movement, and we are The Episcopal Church, the Episcopal branch of Jesus’ movement in this world. God bless you, and keep the faith.
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
Skipping out on Holy Days
by Richelle Thompson on October 27, 2015 Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices Why celebrate the major holy days of the church? The Feast of All Saints is coming up on Sunday, Nov. 1, and many of us will mark the day with special prayers during worship. And of course, we’re in church for the Nativity of Our Lord on Christmas Day and the Resurrection on Easter. But what about the other major holy days? Did you set aside time for Saint James, the brother of Jesus, last Friday, Oct. 23? And earlier in the month, did you observe the holy day for Saint Luke the evangelist? Yeah, me either. I grew up in another tradition and am still learning and absorbing the role of the saints in the life of The Episcopal Church. But that’s really just an excuse. Frankly I don’t make the time, and I haven’t made it a priority. I’m not alone. Most parishioners and many priests don’t celebrate the major feasts. I have heard a few priests say that they would – but it’s not in the piety of their parishioners, so they don’t want to spend their time in that way. (What about leading by example? Ah, a blog for another day). Perhaps because so many of us don’t honor the major holy days (just the major, major ones!), we ask our priests why they bother. Why hold a service for just a few people? Isn’t that a waste of time? My husband, a priest, addressed these concerns in a recent reflection, and it made me think of these feast day services in a new way. Perhaps it will for you too. He wrote, “From time to time, someone will ask, ‘Why do you have those holy day services when only a few people show up?’ The question is always asked with sincerity. My answer is always the same. “’The people who show up for the holy day service are not the audience; God is. So whether there are four in the pews or forty or four hundred, God is the one we do it for.’ “God is the object of our worship. God is the center of activity when we gather any time for prayer and praise. Yes, there are readings, and yes, there is a sermon—and occasionally there is one worth listening to :) And even though it might seem like we are the customers waiting to be served, more correctly viewed, we are the participants in a grand gesture of praise and adoration to the God who created us and empowered us with the gift of creation...the gift of love.’ “So the next time you come to St. Andrew's on a Sunday morning and find it hard to find a seat, or stop by some holy day and find a nearly empty church, or the next time you find yourself alone on your knees in prayer, remember that God is with you. God is your partner in prayer and praise. And with that type of crowd in your heart, you’ll never, ever be alone.” Preach it. Pray it. Participate in it. You have an opportunity tomorrow, with the feast of Saint Simon and Saint Jude, the apostles. Go, and be with God.
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. A copy of the complete Cycle of Prayer is available from the Diocesan office. Following are the prayer dates through November: Nov 1 – 7, Butler County Correctional Facility, Greenville, AL Nov 8 – 14, Monroe County Jail, Monroeville, AL Nov 15 – 21, Mobile County Metro Jail, Mobile, AL Nov 22 – 28, Washington County Jail, Chatom, AL Nov 29 – Dec 5, Wilcox County Detention Center, Camden, AL
St. Francis Day Pet Blessing Photos by Brenda Ferguson
Trey MacWhinnie
Lector Epistle reading
Tom Chaapel & Dave Somerville Bill & Sally Putters Ushers
Beth Woods
Ushers
Bill Ramsey & Jim Morningstar
Greeters
Oblation Bearers
Ushers
Nursery
To the glory of God Pauline Somerville
To the glory of God
Jeanine Black
John Velaski
Flowers
Arrangers
Eucharistic Visitor
Ray Farrel
Beth Woods
Fred & Beth Woods
John Velaski
Jackie Wright
To the glory of God
* If you are unable to meet your obligation, please call a replacement, or swap with someone.
Carol Farrel
Brendav& Dan Ferguson
Jeanine Black & Sally Putters
Coffee Hour
Connie Chamberlin & Dora Giles
Beth Woods
Carol Farrel
Ann Philen
Beth Woods
Bernice & James Warner
Ray Farrel & Bill Ramsey
Jim Morningstar & Chuck Barnett
Ray Farrel & Jeff Woods
Ron & Ann Philen
Valerie Smith & Dave Somerville
Katherine Chaapel
Ushers
Viv Welch
Trey MacWhinnIe & Bailee McGuffin John Veleski & Dave Somerville
Ushers
Altar
Katherine Chaapel
Trey MacWhinnIe & Bailee McGuffin Chuck Barnett & Connie Chamberlain
Acolytes
Ray Farrel
Beth Woods
Connie Chamberlin
Carol Farrel
Beth Woods
Psalm Trey MacWhinnie
Chuck Barnett
Pauline Somerville
Mike Scordato
Fred Woods
Chuck Barnett
Connie Chamberlin
November 22
Dave Somerville
November 15
Ron Philen
November 8
John Velaski
Eucharistic Minister, 9:30 Lector 1st Lesson
November 1
Service Schedule for November 2015
Carol Farrel
Valerie Smith
To the glory of God
POTLUCK
Ann Philen
Bill Ramsey & Jim Morningstar
Ushers
Beth Woods
Trey MacWhinnIe & Bailee McGuffin
Trey MacWhinnie
Beth Woods
Fred Woods
Dave Somerville
November 29
November Prayer Requests
Military and First Responders Prayer List
John Aligood Bill Cross Myron Lewis Bob Matlock Rusty Sellers Frank Welch Danny Williams Ronald Young
Connor Aligood Adam Blankenship Josh Brayman Brian Condon Daryl Coy Field Cross Mark Feely Patrick Ferguson Aaron Gaff Adrian Gaff Benjamin Gaff
Birthdays in November…
13, Shelby Kizer; 14, Fred Woods; 17, Ann Philen, Viv Welch;
Anniversaries in November… If your birthday or anniversary is not listed or not listed correctly, please let Viv Welch know.
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church 699 South Highway 95-A Cantonment, Florida 32533 We’re on the web at Www.st-monicas.org
Phone: 850-937-0001 E-mail: Office@st-monicas.org All are welcome!
Tim Heartford Mark Hill Johnny Hurd James Klinginsmith William Knapp Andrew Kuntz Nicholas Matroni Chase Scott Jeremy Wright