November Canterbury Tales. Canterbury Tales. Mother Beth s Message

Transcription

1 November Canterbury Tales Canterbury Tales Volume 7, Issue Vestry Libbi Crowe Senior Warden Written Communications libbi.crowe@gmail.com Chuck Howard Co-Jr. Warden and Finance chuck.howard850@yahoo.com Jennifer Kentgen Clerk of the Vestry Christian Ed jen.a.kentgen@gmail.com Sid Gray At Large Sidney.Gray@us.af.mil Juliet Phillips Worship, Liturgy and Music Outreach julietphillips24@bellsouth.net Eric Straight Co-Jr. Warden Pastoral Care Outreach erics1@mchsi.com Tony Thompson Electronic Communications tony@santarosacares.co Volunteer Staff Donna Narducci Treasurer Rich Apps Assistant Treasurer Virginia Brown Archivist Church Staff Parish Administrator Brenda Harris-Khan Organist O.R. Smith Nursery Becky Vincent Newsletter Editor & Webmaster Libbi Crowe Mother Beth s Message Dear St. Augustine Friends (or soon to be friends), I write to wish you a most blessed Advent and to say that I am excited about what is coming as I prepare to move to Navarre and become your priest. It seems fitting to me that we will begin to get to know each other in Advent since it is a time of great beginnings in the Church. As we await the coming of the Christ Child, we begin to prepare our hearts to receive him. This year, I am also preparing my heart to receive and welcome you all. It is a very exciting time for a priest to enter into a relationship with a new parish. I ve gotten to know a little bit about your story as a parish, and I actually visited St. Augustine years ago when I was visiting my sister who lives in Gulf Breeze. You were still meeting in the doublewide and hadn t built your beautiful buildings yet. And I was so impressed then with your hospitality and obvious caring for each other and the world around you. So I m not coming in blind. I ve met some of you and have been reading materials sent to me by your vestry and search committee. And I am very excited about our making church together. The Lord is always in the midst of our work together through the Holy Spirit, and our job is to tune into this Spirit as best we can. We are to discern just what God is calling us to do and how we are to carry the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world around us. We also prepare to get to know each other, and how I look forward to this! I know that you have been walking a rather tough road of late, and I am amazed at how beautifully you have done this. It tells me that you are a faith community of great love and great strength. I received a note from Libbi Crowe who said something to the effect that you were a very diverse group who loved each other fiercely. I have to tell you that I was won over right then and there! Isn t that exactly what we are supposed to be and do as a church? Recently I ran across a little meditation by Bishop Steven Charleston who is a retired bishop of Alaska and more recently was the Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School. He is also a Choctaw who seems to carry the great traditions of Native American spirituality deep in his being. In this November 2014 meditation, he speaks to us both as we prepare for each other (and the Christ Child). I hope you take great courage from this just as I do: "You will find your way. Never doubt that because the evidence of your resilient spirit is clear in the path you have already followed, through so many twists and turns, so many hard choices and joyful surprises, through so much of what we call life. You are a finder of trails, a watcher of signs, a carrier of wisdom, all the ancient skills that help the soul survive with what we call vision. You have traveled this far because you have trusted, because you have had faith in something greater than yourself, in a goodness and a grace that never fails, a presence stronger than change, a companion unseen but certain that we call God." So dear friends-to-be, I scurry off this morning to do more packing and to say goodbye to dear friends out here in the Pacific Northwest. And as I do, I carry that vision of goodness and grace that never fails and prepare my heart for you hoping you are doing the same. God bless you, Mother Beth+

2 November Canterbury Tales Who Does What Altar Guild Janet peterandjanetw0@gmail.com delray5431@aol.com Archivist Ginny Brown v.brown6789@att.net Assistant Treasurer Rich Apps apps.richpam@gmail.com Caring and Sharing Ann Thompson ann@santarosacares.com Choir Director Libbi Crowe Libbi.Crowe@gmail.com Christian Ed Jen Kentgen jen.a.kentgen@gmail.com Communications Libbi Crowe Tony Thompson Communications.StAugustines@gmail.com Coffee Hour (8th Sacrament) Brenda Whidden bfwhidden@gmail.com Clerk of the Vestry Jennifer Kentgen jen.a.kentgen@gmail.com Daughters of the King Libbi Crowe Libbi.crowe@gmail.com Episcopal Relief & Develop.m.ent OPEN NEED VOLUNTEER Chuck Howard chuck.howard850@yahoo.com Finance Committee Tony Thompson tony@santarosacares.com Brian Phillips phillipsbs@bellsouth.net Flower Guild Donna Howard donnahoward59@yahoo.com Food Bank Marvin and Kate Wilson marvin0429@aol.com c8wilson@aol.com Food Ministry Coordinator Linda Gray sjglkrajg@aol.com Jr. Warden Chuck Howard Eric Straight chuck.howard850@yahoo.com erics1@mchsi.com Liturgy and Music Juliet Phillips julietphillips24@bellsouth.net Men s Breakfast & Fellowship Sid Gray sidney.gray@us.army.mil Newsletter Editor Libbi Crowe Libbi.Crowe@gmail.com Pastoral Care and Lay Eucharistic Visitors Eric Straight erics1@mchsi.com Prayer Warriors Charleen Clark charleenclark1945@gmail.com Shut in Ministry Alethea Straight Sally Strickling aletheama1@mchsi.com lighthousesally@aol.com Senior Warden Libbi Crowe Libbi.Crowe@Gmail.com Supper Clubs Janet peterandjanetw0@gmail.com Treasurer Donna Narducci donnanarducci@gmail.com

3 November Canterbury Tales Christingle Preparation, Pageantry, Prayer, Promise of Poinsettias: Priceless! Poinsettias Preparation: In keeping with the Advent Season, in preparation for the coming of Christ, we have pre-ordered 25 poinsettias from the Arc Gateway charity for Christmas. Pageantry: 25 beautiful red and white poinsettias have been purchased in anticipation of filling the sanctuary with festive adornment to praise God and celebrate Christ's birth! Prayer: Dedication of your poinsettia plant to someone or something close to your heart will be listed in the Christmas bulletins and prayers said for them by the congregation. Promise: Your purchase of a poinsettia from Arc Christingle! Gateway supports their promise of providing life-enhancing programs for developmentally disabled children and adults, and you get to keep your plant after Christmas! Poinsettias: The sign- up sheet is in the Narthex. Write your name and the memorial or other dedication you want for your plant in the designated areas. The cost is $12.00 this year. Please make payment at the time you sign-up if you can. Put your check or cash in a Flower Guild envelope with your NAME on the envelope and place in Donna Narducci's box or the offering plate. Priceless: The cost of the plant is $12.00, but the meaning and purpose of them are priceless! Not only is 21 December the first day of Mother Beth s ministry with us at St Augustine s, it is also our third annual Christingle celebration. There is nothing like being thrown in at the deep end. For those of you new to St Augustine s you are in for a heap of excitement. Christingle comes from a medieval German celebration of the Moravian church where the everyday items of a candle, ribbon, candy and an orange were used to remind people of the wonderful gift that is Jesus. We will be holding a work party at 10:00 on Saturday December 20 to assemble to Christingles. If you would like to be involved in this fun activity please come along to Henderson Hall to help us out. No previous experience is needed, just a joyful heart and willing hands. Las Posadas Posada is Spanish for "lodging", or "accommodation"; it is said in the plural because it is celebrated for more than one day in December originally being a nine-day celebration that represents the nine months of pregnancy, specifically the pregnancy of Mary carrying Jesus. However, at St Augustine s we have taken part of the Posada tradition found in parts of South and Central America and adapted it to suit ourselves. We will have small figures representing the Holy Family and starting on December 1 Mary and Joseph will process from house to house in our congregation seeking lodging. The figures are accompanied by a small notebook for you to note (if you so desire) where you placed the figures and what it meant to you to have them in your home for a night. We would also like to produce a photographic record of the journey made by our Holy family so please use your phone to take a picture and it to the office at Secretary.StAugustines@gmail.com. If you would like to participate by hosting the Holy Couple for one night, please sign up on the sheet in the Narthex. Participating in this spiritual journey promises to be a good time for all involved! This will be fun and interesting, so be sure to sign up!

4 November Canterbury Tales Birthday Wishes We wish happy birthday and blessings to all these who were born in December. If you have a December birthday, but it is not here, please send the informa on to directory.staugus nes@gmail.com Dec 3 Suzie Ball Dec 5 Amy Clark Dec 5 Carolyn Donohue Dec 8 Carmela Zayas Dec 26 Janice Burns Dec 29 Brian Lowman Pot Luck Brunch Follows Annual Meeting The Annual Mee ng is December 7. First we will have one service of Holy Eucharist at 9:30 a.m. Then we will celebrate by having our monthly Pot Luck. This month s theme will be your favorite holiday foods, whether that s Thanksgiving or Christmas. That cake your mom always made, your secret recipe for scalloped oysters, or your world famous garlic cheese grits: whatever dish makes you think, O. K. it s the holidays now! Bring that! Life Line Screening December 12 On December 12 Life Line Screening will be in Henderson Hall all day. The tests, which include screening for cardiovascular problems, do involve a charge, but are reasonably priced. By signing up for this health event, not only will you be able to take your health into your own hands, but you will also receive $10 off any package of $129 or more. The Stroke, Vascular & Heart Rhythm Package includes four screenings: caro d artery, abdominal aor c aneurysm, peripheral arterial disease and atrial fibrilla on. To schedule your appointment and to receive this special offer, please sign up only by using the pink sheets in the narthex, by calling or by visi ng community-partners. Join in the fight against vascular disease! Health Screening December 12 in Henderson Hall. Cleaning Day December 13 We are seeking willing hands to help to prepare the church for our Christmas celebrations. If you are able to help please turn up on Saturday December 13 at 9.:0. Appropriate seasonal music will help the jobs go faster and laughter and light hearts will be the order of the day.

5 November Canterbury Tales We had a wonderful celebration of 30 years of our parish on November 15, Thank you to Juliet Phillips, Eric Straight, Brenda khan, Lorraine Hubbard, Donna Howard, and all who came! The pictures, clockwise from directly above: Donna Howard s lovely welcome arrangement at the front door David Dye and Cathy Butler enjoying the food. Kate and Marvin Wilson in the background. Brian Lowman telling a story about the fountain. Dan and Joyce Walker were among those who first met in the Holiday Inn. Brian Phillips, Libbi Crowe, John Tolbert, Chuck Howard, David Dye and the Walkers. Sarah McCarren, Jackye Jensen and Jan Lovett Brenda Khan and Rich Apps Pamela Apps telling a good story.

6 November Canterbury Tales Around the Parish & Diocese Caring and Sharing 2014 Another year has passed and the time for Caring and Sharing will soon be upon us. Caring and Sharing of South Santa Rosa County is beginning preparations for its Thanksgiving and Christmas distributions. St. Augustine s Ann Thompson has once again been elected President of the organization and many other members of our church continue to be essential volunteers and Board Members. Caring and Sharing assistance includes food baskets at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Through our Giving Tree Program at Christmas, children 12 and under are provided gifts and children 13 through 18 (while still attending high school) receive gift certificates. Vouchers will be provided at the Thanksgiving distribution for used clothing and linens from Interfaith Ministries on highway 98. December Distribution of food and gifts Talk to Ann Thompson or virtually any other long time member of St. Augustine s about the rewards of volunteering and the benefit provided to hundreds of families in South Santa Rosa County (ann@santarosacares.com). The web site is and the phone number is Episcopal Peace Fellowship The Episcopal Peace Fellowship, a national organization connecting Episcopalians seeking and peaceful solutions to social problems, will hold an organizational meeting Thursday, November 13, to found a chapter in the Central Gulf Coast. The first goal of the EPF chapter in the Central Gulf Coast will be to provide a place where people can speak freely and decide how to address issues of concern. "There is a reason for a group of this kind," said Bill Sloan, spokesman for the group. He mentioned the need for a peaceful solution to the Israel-Palestine strife, the wrongful use of U.S. military force as an instrument of foreign policy, threats to Iran, the death penalty, gun violence in the U.S., and violence to God's creation. "Such issues can be politically controversial," Sloan said. "In many congregations, they are risky and potentially divisive to speak about, and especially to act on." The Episcopal Peace Fellowship is an institution of the Episcopal Church. Neither EPF nor the new Central Gulf Coast chapter is associated with a particular church. The organizational meeting will begin at 6:00 p.m., November 13, at 1613 E. Jordan St., Pensacola. A convener or chairperson will be elected and work will begin on issues and action. A light dinner and beverages will be provided. For more information about Episcopal Peace Fellowship, visit the EPF website at epfnational.org/. Become a member of EPF by making the pledge of commitment online or by mail. Or contact Bill Sloan with questions concerning the new chapter at wmsloan35@gmail.com or (850) Men s Breakfast All men of the parish are welcome at the monthly fellowship breakfast at 8 a.m. the first Saturday of every month. This month s breakfast will be December 6. Please join us! Help us advertise in the Navarre Press! When you subscribe to the Navarre Press using the button on the front page of our web site, we get credit toward advertising! Go to AtSugustinesNavarre.DioCGC.org, scroll down and subscribe today! (Alternatively, just point your browser at and subscribe!)

7 November Canterbury Tales Vestry and Delegate Elections We will have three positions open on Vestry this January. Chuck Howard, Juliet Phillips and Tony Thompson will be ending their terms, and counting the ballots for this election. The entire parish thanks them for serving on the vestry these last three, interesting years! If anyone is interested in joining the Vestry nominations are now open, and will also be open at our annual meeting on Dec. 7 after the 9:30 A.M. service. Please let Libbi Crowe know of your interest and write up a short biography to be distributed at the annual meeting. This is an important meeting; please plan to stay! After the Annual Meeting, our First Sunday Potluck Luncheon will be held in Henderson Hall. There are several important items on the agenda, including to elect three Delegates and three Alternates to represent St. Augustine s at the Diocesan Convention. The 44th Annual Diocesan Convention, with the theme, "Be Transformed by the Renewing of your Mind will be held February 19-21, 2015, at Trinity Episcopal Church in Mobile, Alabama. This convention will elect our new bishop. To serve on the Vestry, you must be: 1. At least 18 years old. 2. A Confirmed member of the Episcopal Church. 3. A Communicant in good standing (i.e. a member who attends church services regularly, prays for the work of the Church, and makes financial contributions). To serve as a Delegate or Alternate at Diocesan Convention, you must be: 1. At least 16 years old. 2. A Confirmed Communicant in good standing. 3. Available to attend the Diocesan Convention. Vestry Members are expected to attend church regularly, participate in the life of the church, provide leadership in programs, attend all Vestry meetings, and help make decisions and work for the benefit and welfare of the congregation. Bishop Election After receiving resumes, profiles, and answers to questionnaires, the committee for the search for a new bishop has made selections of those candidates that best fit their criteria. The committee then conducted a number of Skype interviews and got to know each candidate. At the conclusion of that process the committee again narrowed the field. The next step is to have a retreat where the committee will have an opportunity to have face to face interviews with our candidates; to ask difficult questions; observe how they preach, teach and conduct a worship service, and get a sense of the depth of their spirituality. All of this is leading to the nomination of four to seven well qualified candidates, any one of whom we would be proud to have as our next bishop. The committee is expected to make that decision in November and present the slate to the standing committee at its meeting in December. The slate of nominees for the Fourth Bishop of the Central Gulf Coast will be announced by the Standing Committee in early December. Please mark your calendar for January 2015 to meet the nominees. These meetings are open to all members of Episcopal parishes or missions in the Diocese. The schedule is: Monday, January 19 Lunch* 11:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at St. Francis of Assisi, Gulf Breeze Tuesday, January 20 Lunch* 11:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. at St. Mary s, Andalusia Walkabout** 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at St. John s, Monroeville Wednesday, January 21 Walkabout** 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at St. Paul s, Daphne *Lunch meetings will be open to all members of the Diocese. The process for making lunch reservations will be announced by the Transition Committee as the time gets closer. Lunches will be informal times to meet the nominees. There will be no formal programs at these events. **Three walkabout sessions will be held as all nominees travel around the Diocese together. At each location anyone, not only the lay convention delegates and clergy who will vote at the election convention, can gather to hear from and question the nominees as part of the discernment and calling of a new bishop. Again, the process for reservations and the exact agenda for these events will be announced later. Please continue to pray for the candidates, and our committee as they continue in this process of discernment. Walkabout** 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. at Nativity, Dothan

8 November Canterbury Tales Date Time Lector Chalice Acolyte Ushers 8th Sacrament Eucharistic Visitor Flower Guild Altar Guild December 7 2 Advent The Rev. Sandra Mayer ONE SERVICE 9:30 A.M. ANNUAL MEETING Rich Apps Pamela Apps Matt Kentgen Carol Tolbert Pete Peterzen POT LUCK Donna Narducci Linda Gray Janet Jackye Jensen Sally Strickling December 14 3 Advent Lessons & Carols The Rev. David McDowell- Fleming Pete Brian 8 A.M. Peterzen Lowman 10:30 A.M. Six People Autry Dye Donna Gassman Alejandra Montgomery Matt Kentgen David Dye Burns Janet Jackye Jensen Greens Only Janet December 17 Confirmation The Rt. Rev. Phillip M. Duncan II 6:30 P.M. Janet Brian Lowman Please Volunteer Tolberts NA NA Greens Only Janet December 21 4 Advent 8 A.M. Donna Gassman Brian Lowman Brian Phillips John Tolbert Eric Straight Greens Only Linda Gray Jen Christingle DOK Kentgen The Rev. Beth Hoffmann 10:30 A.M. Kate Wilson Alethea Straight Eric Straight Bud Hoffmann Marvin Alethea Straight Othella Wilson December 24 Christmas Eve The Rev. Beth Hoffmann 6 P.M. Rich Apps Pamela Apps Brian Lowman David Dye 11 P.M. Please contact Chuck Howard if you can serve NA NA NA Greens Only Sally Strickling Jen Kentgen December 28 Christmas I The Rev. Beth Hoffmannn 8 A.M. Linda Gray Sid Gray Brian Lowman Bud Chuck 10:30 A.M. Matt Kentgen Hoffmann Howard David Dye Chuck Howard Brian Lowman Libbi Crowe Donna Howard Carol Tolbert Jackye Jensen

9 November Canterbury Tales December 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Usual Sunday: 8a.m. Holy Eucharist 8:50a.m. 8th Sacrament & SML 10:30 Holy :30a.m. MP 6:30p.m. Choir Practice Men's Breakfast Garden Party :30 a. m. ONE SERVICE 10:45 a.m. Annual Meeting 6:30p.m. Boy Scouts 9:30a.m. MP 6:30p.m. Choir Practice 7 p.m. Vestry 9:30 a.m. Cleaning of Church a.m Daughters of the King 6:30p.m. Boy Scouts 6:30p.m. Choir Practice Bishop s Visitation NO MP Boy Scouts Committee Caring and Sharing 10 a.m. Christingle making C&S Prep CHRISTINGLE! Noon Caring and Sharing 6:30p.m. Boy Scouts 6:30p.m. Choir Practice 6 P.M. & 11 P.M. Holy Eucharist Office Closed Distribution NO MP :30p.m. Boy Scouts :30p.m. Choir Practice Remember Caring and Sharing Donations Every Week in December!! Don t forget the Angels!

10 November Canterbury Tales 2014 Events 7810 Navarre Parkway P. O. Box 5425 Navarre, FL (850) Fax (850) Secretary. Gmail.com Mission Statement We are called to spread the gospel and share the love of Jesus Christ by entering into communion with God and each other. We offer opportunities for spiritual growth through worship, fellowship, stewardship and service to others. December 7 9:30 a.m. ONE SERVICE Annual Meeting/Elections /Brunch December Life Line Screening, Henderson Hall December 13 9:30 a.m. Church Cleaning December 14 10:30 a.m. Lessons and Carols at 10:30 a.m. December 17 Bishop s Visitation with Confirmation/Reception/Affirmation December a.m. Christingle making in Henderson Hall December 20 Caring and Sharing Preparations December 21 Caring and Sharing Distribution December 21 10:30 a.m. Christingle Service. Mother Beth s First Sunday with us! December 24 Christmas Eve Services Server Schedule is on Page 8 DIOCESE OF THE CENTRAL GULF COAST The Right Reverend Philip M. Duncan II, BISHOP