O Ye Frost and Cold. This is Why We Unlock the Doors and Light Candles and Ring the Bell. took to asking people, of a certain age and beyond,

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1 ST. MATTHEW S EPISCOPAL CHURCH FAIRBANKS, AK THE REVEREND SCOTT FISHER VOLUME 108 NUMBER 1 NOVEMBER, 2013 PUBLISHED 6 TIMES A YEAR Volume 108, Issue 1 November 2013 Stories from St. Matthew s: A Blessing on the Eve of the AFN Meeting A small window into Alaskan Church history A pilgrimage in Spain Veteran s Day memories Inside this issue: Sunday School & Youth 2 Meet the Vestry 6 Baptisms, Confirmations & All Saints 8 & 10 Seasonal Schedule 11 Seasons of Life 12 Diocesan Convention 14 Vestry Minutes 22 This is Why We Unlock the Doors and Light Candles and Ring the Bell This is why we turn on the lights and unlock the doors and ring the bell. This is why we light the candles and sing the songs and turn the pages. This is why we stand up and sit down and kneel and stand up and sit down and kneel. This is why we have coffee in the Parish Hall and Vestry meetings in the Parish Library and Sunday School in the Upstairs and Choirs practicing on Wednesday nights. This is why the Sexton mops the floor late on Saturday nights. This is why we wander lost through large stores and stay up late wrapping things and leave milk and cookies for large people arriving unseen during the night. This is why reindeers are flying. This is why Dark green trees are becoming full of Light. This is why stars are singing. It is all because of this. All of everything and everything and everything is just trying to say this. Michael Carey has tousled white hair and amused eyes and a good outlook and commutes home to Fairbanks and St. Matthew s about once a month. He lives in Anchorage but he commutes here, because Fairbanks is Home, where he grew up. He arrives on Sunday mornings about half an hour before the 8AM Eucharist and we sit drinking coffee and talking. He always has stories. Several months back, he explained, he had a project. He took to asking people, of a certain age and beyond, What has surprised you about your Life? And he listened to the answers [It s a good question. Answer it yourself. My immediate answer was espresso coffee, but that s a story for another time.]. Do you know what the best answer I got was? he asks. I asked one old guy the question and he stopped and thought for a long time. Then, with amazement, he quietly said, That I was loved. The name of THAT surprise, The name of THAT amazement, coming towards us now with all of the music and all of the color and all of the smells and all of the dance and all of the poetry and all of the DEEP SILENCE and all of the laughter and all of the stress and all of the memories and all of the tears and all of the laughter and all of the scotch tape and all of the ribbons and all of the tinsel and ALL of THE EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING AND EVERYTHING is Christmas. And all this ancient story, all this small child is trying to say is you are loved. Listen.

2 Page 2 The Sound of Autumn Voices The Sunday School We are still listening. Summer is ending and FallTime is coming, and we are listening to The People of God. They walk by, pass by, pray by, dance by, talking, puzzling, wondering; and we are listening. And this is SOME of what we have overheard this Fall Must have been God. There s no one else around. In the old days, when boats went so slow, and it d take all day to get to Hughes... Trust in the Lord and be strong. That s all we can do. Remember. There s no such thing as perfect flour.... and I baptized 120 people at that swimming pool in Central Asia. We need someone willing to organize the Christmas Pageant this year! By Patricia (Patty) Meritt, Sunday School Director Sunday school is busy. We have about 30 children who attend over the course of several weeks, but usually about 4-6 in the 9:15 service and about 8-15 in the 11:15 service. If anyone else feels called to help out on a regular basis at the 11:15 service, we would welcome you. With the baby, Lisa has not been able to continue assisting every week and we are missing her quiet and effective interactions with the children. Two people are fine on days with 8 children but really not adequate when there are many more kids, because of the varied ages and multiple activities. Serving in Sunday School, helping children learn the Bible stories, sing the songs and about our church, is a very satisfying way to be a part of St Matthews. You can bring your talents and gifts with you play an instrument? We need you! Good at singing? Bring your voice! If arts and crafts are your thing we can use some fresh ideas. Do you like to clean? Every Sunday there are tables to wipe and floors to clean etc. If you have a message for the kids or are willing to learn a Godly Play lesson and share it with them, we have the resources to help you! I confess to being very bad at tracking people s phone numbers right now. If you can help please me at pameritt@alaska.edu or text me at We NEED you! We need YOU! The shoebox project was a great success. Thanks to all who helped! In November, Ned Gaines brought harmonicas More Pictures on Page 22 for all the kids to reflect the Psalm to Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things. The following week Cindy shared the Godly Play story of the holy family. We need someone willing to organize the Christmas Pageant this year. This is such an exciting time for the children and all seem to really enjoy it, so please think about how you can contribute in this area. If you would like to commemorate the passing of a loved one with a donation to Sunday School, you might consider purchasing one of the Godly Play lessons. We can share the information with you from the catalogs. Thanks to Robin Barker, who has agreed to provide artwork for the Easter Godly Play story and lead Sunday School for the last weeks in Lent. [And, a Postscript: Patty has requested that St. Matthew s begin praying, seeking someone new to take over the Sunday School Program.]... and we saw 26 moose when we got there. THAT S A LOT of MOOSE!... and I m going to be in deep kimchee when I get home, because I told my wife I wouldn t, and... I know God loves everyone, but I think He loves more those who have struggled more, who have been through more, and overcome. YAAAA, it s a good time of the year to get ducks now. They re FAT now. St. Matthew s Youth Slumber Party St Matthew s Youth Group had a slumber party the night of October 18, Nine kiddos attended. Some fun happenings during the party were movies, crafts, games, and lots of munchies. A fun time was had by all!! More Picture on Page 23

3 Volume 108, Issue 1 Page 3 A Time to Cry and a Time to Dance Autumn Voices Carrying Tears? Dealing (or Not dealing) with Grief? A grief Circle is beginning hear at St. Matthew s on Thursdays, from 5:30 to 7:00 pm. Bring your song... And those other feelings. We ll have tea. Remember: Jesus wept. - For further information contact Beverly Joseph through the Church Office. And the Facilitator needs help with Transportation. The way we were taught to run fast when we were growing up was, WinterTime, they make us run as far as we can, no socks or boots. We were trained growing up just like that movie- Crocodile Dundee : Look here; Look there. When I saw that movie, I said, HEY! That s the way we were brought up. This is the 1 st Issue of The Newsletter since the March-September 2011 issue was mailed October 13, 2011 ST. MATTHEW S CHURCH RECTOR The Rev. Scott Fisher PARISH ADMINISTRATOR Hilary Freeman PRIESTS The Rev.Shirley Lee TREASURER Brad Johnson The Rev. John Holz SEXTON Bruce Gadwah The Rev. Steve Reed ORGANIST Mary Ellen Koeller The Rev. Bella Jean Savino CHOIR DIRECTOR Barbara Hameister SENIOR WARDEN Allen Todd ALTAR GUILD Cathy Giacomazzi JUNIOR WARDEN Tom Marsh SUNDAY SCHOOL Patty Meritt CLERK Marlin Collins YOUTH MINISTRY Valorie Adams VESTRY Shannon Houlette HEALTH MINISTRY Charlotte Perotti Jeremy Johnson ENDOWMENT BOARD Allen Todd, Chair Pat Sackinger WEB GARDENER Gary Bender Ned Gaines NEWSLETTER EDITOR Maggie Castellini Allan Hayton Victor Apodaca - Endowment Board Liaison UNITED THANK OFFERING Helen Howard DAUGHTERS of the KING Bella Jean Savino Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9AM 4PM Phone# sfisher@mosquitonet.com Website: stmatthewschurch.org

4 Page 4 Autumn Voices...and when they came back to Camp, they couldn t find us, cause we were all up in that cottonwood tree, hiding from that moose we saw. My brother broke a stick and tossed it down at my dad, and he looked up and... Every time I see him, I talk to him about prayer, that things will go easier if he prays. It s not special, I tell him, it s just like talkin to your brother.... and they KNEW they were innocent; that there were these confessions; and the secretaries knew... The Creator is mad. Because people don t pay attention. That s why these things are all happening. Be friends with people, no matter who they are. My Old Mother used to tell me that. Sometimes good things fall apart so that better things can come. I ve seen that. I just wanted to hear your voice for the last time; and know that I love you. Eugene told me that when he gets out the first place he wants to go is THE CEMETERY. To say good-bye to all of those that he s missed these last 16 years.... was out hunting last week and saw a beaver house. NO FEED around it at all. That s how we tell when it s gonna get cold, you know. Funny. Funny business. Who would think to honeymoon in the little town of Hughes? Notes from the Junior Warden By Tom Marsh I made the claim for this Church that it meant LIGHT Journal entry of Archdeacon Hudson Stuck for Sunday, October 16 th, 1904, recounting the first service at St. Matthew s Thirty five years ago I arrived in Fairbanks and started attending St. Matthew's. At that time the light fixtures in the church had parchment shades with burn spots on them. Floyd Ohlsen told me that they had tried to put in brighter bulbs, to make it lighter in the church, but they were too hot and too close to the parchment, thus the burn marks. At few years later we decided to make some changes. I heard about somebody off Badger Road that worked in Plexiglas, and had him form the cylinders we have now. We also modified the fixtures to have a floodlight pointing down to make it easier to read, while keeping two of the four up sockets for general lighting. In the last several years we've been replacing the original incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs, and now LED bulbs. Since the newer type bulbs are much cooler we can also use brighter bulbs. This is one of the ongoing projects at St. Matthew s that I The Perfect Worship Service By Oliver and Andrea Backlund For us who are standing and kneeling there in the cold quiet of an early morning no one can be other than a brother or sister in Christ Recently, we read a book by an English author who described what for her was the perfect worship service an early morning simple service in a country church with lots of silence and few worshippers. The service was the one which she had known intimately from her earliest childhood: the prayers and the order of service were unchanged. After reading her account, we began talking together about why we cherish the early Sunday service ourselves. Perhaps the major virtue for us is that of all the various options that are available for worship these days in the Episcopal Church, Rite I has changed the least from the order that we both knew in our youth. One change is that the congregation participates more in the prayers and that sharing is more valued. In the church of our childhood, most of the service took place with the celebrant facing away from the congregation and except for the sermon and the readings, it was all remote, and for a child, mysterious. But, even after remediation of these seeming shortcomings, the familiar words abide in our consciousness. Six decades since our confirmation, we can recite the prayers and follow the ritual without needing the prayer book for guidance. In fact, that was one reason for our choosing to be 8 o clockers: We both can recite nearly the entire service from memory. This is a form of worship that has endured for centuries, needing little adaptation, so nearly perfect is it as an expression of the sacredness that supports and sustains us. We worship surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses who join in the prayers and go with us as we go back into the world. feel very good about. We've made it brighter in the church, while using less electricity and spending less money. THANK YOU, GARY BENDER, for taking over as our WEBGARDENER ~ actually Gary was one of the original planners for the website. A huge THANK YOU to Beverly Schommer who has been managing the website for many years and lately from Arkansas You can visit the website at stmatthewschurch.org Perhaps the most beautiful aspect of the service is that it is intimate in the sense that we who rise and go to church so early in the day cherish each other in the presence of God and in the stillness of so holy a place as this simple temple. These are not strangers who nod courteously as they pass us in the pew, they are old friends so close as to be family or new folk with whom we are about to share in the highest meal of all. For we who are standing and kneeling there in the cold quiet of an early morning no one can be other than a brother or sister in Christ. This is the coming together of our true family the others who share in God s wonderful gift of His Son in the Bread and Wine. From here we go refreshed not only by partaking of the Eucharist, but by the continued love and fellowship we share with all the dear ones who have joined in this quiet simple hour with us.

5 Volume 108, Issue 1 The Monthly Women s Prison Ministry By Beverly Joseph Page 5 Autumn Voices The Women s Prison Ministry at the Fairbanks Correctional Center meets the first Sunday of each month, from 1:30PM to about 2:30/3:00PM. The Ladies enjoy singing traditional Gospel music, standing to read the Bible Readings, and sharing what God has said accepting responsibility for their individual behavior that day. We close in a Circle of Communions, individual prayers, and Thanks. Why I Attend St. Matthew s By Ken Brown It feels like Home I originally came to St. Matthew's just to find a church to get married in. As it turned out, my wife Marife and I wound up getting married later in the church at Alaskaland. But by that time I had found a church home here at St. Matthew's, a place that felt "just right", with people who are welcoming and friendly and who truly live the Gospel. Father Scott, Hilary, Jim Hameister, and others have always made me feel like this is where I belong. We ask for continued prayers for individual women, a card of encouragement sent to personalize Jesus moving through St. Matthew s Church. I am Beverly Joseph. As you may know, I am legally blind [Father Scott would say ahuh ]. As my Vision goes this way, I ask for volunteers to step up now, greeting their sisters, mothers, wives once a month the 1 st Sunday of each month My Filipina wife feels more comfortable in the Roman Catholic Church she grew up in, so every Sunday I drop her off at Immaculate Conception on my way to St. Matthew's. I always tell her, "Say hi to the Italian Catholics for me!" And she always says, "Say hi to the English Catholics for me!" Because the two churches' schedules are not aligned, I usually have to leave St. Matthew's before Communion in order to pick Marife up, but I don't feel like I have missed Communion. For me, just walking into St. Matthew's on a Sunday morning feels like Communion. It feels like Home. remembering what Christ Jesus said: How good it is that You visited me in prison. If interested, contact Father Scott or Marty Kerr or Beverly Joseph, through the Church Office. THANK YOU, Everyone, for all the prayers, cards, flowers, and love shared with us as we celebrate our Mom, Evolyn Melville s, departure into eternal and everlasting glory. Hilary and Gene Freeman, Ken Melville, and niece Susan Slifer Campfire Tea is ALWAYS better than any other tea.... We just wet down the ground and lay down on the moss; and that fire passed right over us.... and I prayed. I asked The Lord Jesus if I shouldn t do this, please tell me ; and He didn t say anything so I figured it was okay. Why does Winnie the Pooh s friend Piglet always smell so bad? Because He plays with pooh! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!... but in the Falltime we live like Kings and Queens in them days. My Dad always got a moose and we had all the fresh vegetables from our garden and our Smokehouse, a double-decker, was just FULL of fish. Not so much fish now. I only got 2 this Summer. 2 fish.... just need 4 to 6 inches of snow, then we ll be out there. Trapping. THAT service was transcendent. I ve never been to anything like that. We got everything we need. God is HERE and we have everything we need. We HAVE to learn to do things for ourselves again, I think, in case The Church can t send somebody to do the funeral. We could do it; and The Priest just bless the grave when he or she comes. That s the way it was when I was growing up. Still, it s kindof sad to go back to that way.

6 Page 6 Autumn Voices... and there s STILL two caches of gold out there that NO ONE has ever found. It s still out there, you know. He wanted me to take him out so he could get a picture of a moose against a full moon. Why don t you try to get a picture of The Easter Bunny? I asked him. Not bad. She goes out and shoots the dinner; and then cleans the dinner; and then comes home and cooks the dinner. I ve got it made. Well, I spent some time in Eastern Europe, in Bulgaria, with the Peace Corps, but I don t know how much of that relates to the Interior. He was a real miser. He was so cheap, that when he died, he was wearin the same pants that he was wearin when he arrived here in 47. Well, I ve got a lot of meat and dead animals around here, and one lady with the Tour, she was with PETA I guess, and she fainted and passed out. You know what they say: One day of prayin ; Six days of fun; makes the odds for Heaven Six to One. In the Summer, he s like Snow White. When he s going across the River to leave scraps on the bar over there there s just flocks of ravens and seagulls following along behind him. I said to her [The Presiding Bishop], It s just like The Metaphysical Poets! and she said YES! Meeting the 2013 St. Matthew s Vestry PART OF A CONTINUING STORY. In January of each year, the Parish of St. Matthew s meets for its Annual Meeting and, among the tasks for the Meeting, is the calling of new members to serve on the Vestry. The Vestry is composed of 9 members, elected for 3 year terms, and serves, in a sense, as The Board of Directors for The Church. They have the overall responsibility for the Property, financial and Allen Todd has been a member of the St Matthews Vestry since 2013 and currently serves as senior warden. He has served on the St Matthew s Endowment Board for the past seven years, and is the current Chair. He and Irene Nicholia Todd were married at St Matthews in June His son, Hello, I am Marlin Collins. I grew up in Athens, Georgia graduating from the University of Georgia, Go Dawgs, with an undergraduate degree and Master s Degree in Physical Education. I taught in the Atlanta area where I met my husband while working in Marietta. We came to Alaska in 1978 after I accepted a swimming instructor s job in Fairbanks. I flew up and Jay packed up a horse trailer and brought with him both household goods and six otherwise, of the Church. Minutes from the monthly meeting are always posted in the Parish Hall and, also in the Parish Hall, are their framed photographs. There are three officers: A Senior Warden, appointed by the rector; a Junior Warden, elected by the Vestry; and a Vestry Clerk. The 2013 Vestry of St. Matthew s consists of Allen Todd, Senior Warden (term expires 2016), Tom Marsh, Junior Warden (Term expires 2014); Marlin Andrew Todd, lives in San Francisco, California. Allen was born in Salt Lake City, Utah and received undergraduate degrees from Weber University and the University of Utah. He graduated from the Georgetown University Law Center in Allen is general counsel for Doyon, Limited, the Alaska Samoyeds. For the next four years I taught physical education at Aurora and Ft. Wainwright Elementary. When Pearl Creek Elementary opened its doors August 1983, I welcomed students into the gymnasium and continued there for the next 28 years. I found St. Matthew s in 2008 and have been very thankful that I did. I was asked to consider the Vestry in 2009 and was given information about what I might expect in this Collins, Vestry Clerk (Term expires 2014); Shannon Torrence Houlette (Term expires 2014); Victor Apodaca (Term expires 2015); Jeremy Johnson (Term expires 2015); Pat Sackinger (Term expires 2015); Ned Gaines (Term expires 2016); and Allan Hayton (Term expires 2016). Below, four of them introduce themselves: Native Regional Corporation for the Alaska Interior, where he has worked since He retired from the US Army Reserve in 2012 after over 25 years of active and reserve service, including a tour of duty in Iraq. position. I was elected at the 2010 Annual Meeting and have been very pleased to work for you and St. Matthew s in this position. I enjoyed the challenge Fr. Scott gave the Vestry my first year and that was to attend the three Sunday services that St. Matthew s offers. I extended that challenge to attend all the various services that St. Matthew s offers and have enjoyed seeing the Mission Statement of St. Matthew s taking place while attending these services. We the people of St. Matthew s Fairbanks, AK. Receive God s love and are becoming a warm, loving Community who share that love with all God s children.

7 Volume 108, Issue 1 Page 7 More Vestry Members Autumn Voices Edmund Ned Gaines was born and raised in the deserts of southern Arizona. At an early age he was baptized into the Episcopal family and during his youth he served as an acolyte at All Saint s Episcopal Church in Phoenix. Upon leaving home, he traveled widely throughout the U.S. West, Mexico, and spent several Pat Sackinger Long ago in the post-world War II years my brothers and sisters and I were raised in upstate New York. Niagara Falls then was a center of electrical production to keep the U.S. war efforts producing in the large, nearby conglomerates of defense materials plants. Probably in the late 60's and 70's that area became part of the rust belt and, as did our parents and grandparents, we saw the "boom and bust economy". We grew up thinking this was normal. I married; Bill worked for Westinghouse and later Corning Glass (night vision apparatus for Vietnam). We had six children--all adults now and three living in the Fairbanks area. In 1970 we moved to Alaska, as Bill had Shannon (Torrence Houlette) moved to Fairbanks in March 2010, and began her service in St. Matt's choir immediately and her term on the Vestry in January When not years in Southeast Asia, India and Nepal. He returned to Arizona and began his career as an archaeologist. When he first came to Alaska for fieldwork in 2002, he knew that he had found his home. He made the permanent move to Fairbanks in 2006 and shortly thereafter met his wife, Reija Shnoro. When not in church, or on been offered a job teaching electrical engineering at UAF. Later he transferred to the Geophysical Institute and specialized in sea ice, its measurements and movements, e.g. against offshore oil platforms. While he was on field trips the kids and I figured out some ingenious solutions to everyday life, and you know cold and ice fog can be challenging. I had just finished up a Bachelor's degree prior to leaving New York State, and picked up a M.A. in history at UAF both because I was interested in history, and television up here was two weeks behind and not very good! Time was available. I've substitute taught in NYS, mostly 7th, 8th and 9th grade math and science. As kids grew older I at St. Matthew's, Shannon works as a wildlife biologist, gardens, sings in an additional choir, works out, hikes, skis, and picks berries. She is married to Christopher Houlette as of an archaeological excavation, he can be found playing his harmonica, either on his own or with one of his several bands. refreshed my first love, biology, and received nursing credentials. For many years then I worked in health care: the state's home health care program, Dr. Brown's orthopedic practice, and Fairbanks Memorial Hospital - very strange hours sometimes. After I retired from FMH I was a substitute nurse in various schools for several years, and volunteered as aid for the preschool my grandkids attended. Time was much more predictable, and I started attending St. Matthew's - by then I'd met many St. Matthew s people, and thought of it as a great church. You've seen me here in the garden, the kitchen, doing health ministry projects, lay reader at 8, and now on the Vestry. July Shannon has learned a lot about St. Matthew's during her Vestry term, and looks forward to serving the parish in other ways when her term ends this January.... and what about NATIVE MINISTRY? What are WE doing about that?... and the message I bring from Kivalina is: beavers are showing up in our area; and they asked me to ask you, our brothers and sisters in the Interior, how do you cook them? Out of ALL the services I ve been to here at St. Matthew s THAT was the most powerful. THAT was something.... said to me, Leave your problems at the door. NO ONE is going to take them.... got stuck on an escalator AN ESCALATOR! and started yelling Help!. FLAGON. I NEED A FLAGON. The rubrics say to use a FLAGON. I NEED A FLAGON. We ran over, cause we d seen it out through the window, and said, Mom! THAT LIGHTNING JUST HIT YOU!. And she looked at us and said oh?... and The Lord Jesus was sitting there at the foot of the bed. And I said to Him, because I was still too sad, too hurt that he d died, Lord, I don t want to talk to you now. And I walked away. 3, 4 days later, when I was ready, He was sitting there again. Same place. And He said, Now are you ready to listen? It was your love... I ve been on my own since I was 13. I stole my first car when I was 9.

8 Page 8 Autumn Voices 2013 Baptisms and Confirmations Think I ll take a little ride down to Denali Park. With that Government ShutDown going on, who knows what I might run into and have to defend myself against? There s a Government ShutDown? We didn t notice over here. The River s still there; the guys are still out there looking for moose. What I m hearing is the beavers aren t even gathering their Winter Feed yet. They do that the week before FreezeUp. I keep walking over to the Chena to check out that one house over there, but nothing. See that tree across the street? While I m standing here, every leaf on it just came down. It just RAINED GOLD.... and what a lot of people don t know is we lost thousands of birds out in North Pole this Spring. Thousands died when that Cold came back. You re from Fairbanks? The craziest bar fight I ve ever seen in my life was up there, when I was working up there. In a place called... Last year we got 2,000 bales of hay out of that field we got in Delta. This year we got 300. First officially declared drought in Alaska State History. Salmon are just dying on the beaches down there, cause the waters too low to get up the creeks. On the Eastern Wall of the Church, by the Bishop Gordon Stained Glass Window, hangs a Banner. At the top it says: Received into the Household of God. Throughout the ChurchYear, from the 1 st Sunday of Advent on, it records the names of all those baptized or confirmed through the Year. Here they are for this Year. Read the Names slowly and say a prayer, giving Thanks. MAGNA CAROLINE PETTY ( ) TANNER DANIEL LEE HIGDON (12-12) YVONNE NELLIE MARTHA CHICKALUSION (12-12) LOGAN JOHN DAVIS (12-12) AYLA SOPHIA LYNN WEEKS (12-19) KARLY DANILLE FAY CRUMM (12-19) ARYIAH DIANE WEEKS (12-19) HAYDEN DANE CARROLL (1-2-13) MALIA CRYSTAL MOSES (3-30) LADANIAN MATTHEW EDWARD FRANK (3-30) CHRISTOPHER WARREN HOULETTE (3-30) BLAIR AMELIA DEMOSKI (3-30) AYDEN WYATTE MORGAN (3-30) GRAYSON DITSII YEET U BLUEHORSE (3-30) TREVON MARCELO ANTHONY DRUCK (4-17) AVA LISA FERGUSON (4-17) COOPER JAMES RAYMOND (4-17) ARLO SMOKE (5-5, CONFIRMED) NELS RICHARD CHRISTENSEN (5-5, CONFIRMED) STEVE RAY WOODS (5-5, CONFIRMED) ISAIAH DONAVAN HORACE (5-5, CONFIRMED) JAIDA TEANA MATTEA ATTLA (5-5, CONFIRMED) GWENNETH MARY-ALICE SMOKE (5-5, CONFIRMED) St. Mark s in Nenana JOHN JACK HARTWELL LATTIME (5-5, CONFIRMED) RICHARD CASEY WESTENRIEDER (5-5, CONFIRMED) ALICE ELIZABETH DEBLER (6-2) CHARLES LARRY DAVID TATE (7-17) PREONNA MIA STOKES (7-24) JULIANNA LAURA SISTO (8-7) LAUREN SOMMER WIEHL (8-7) MARIELLA RUTH TRINIDAD-KRISKA (9-11) KAYLEE MICHELLE AXINIA SHEWFELT (9-22) BESSIE PEARL HENRY (9-22) MARY ANN JANE WOREL (9-29) DAISY HUANG (10-9) NATHAN CHARLES DRUCK ( ) St. Mark s in Nenana is alive and flourishing. Learning Sign Chi Do, studying proverbs, teaching Sunday School. And having a luncheon feast after service on Sunday.

9 Volume 108, Issue 1 Page 9 A Blessing on the Eve of the Alaska Federation of Natives Meeting [Wednesday evening, October 23 rd, on the Eve of the annual Alaska Federation of Natives meeting beginning the next day here in Fairbanks, Shelby Fisher-Salmon of St. Matthew s Church in Beaver, freshman K eegwaadhat K iighai dzaa nirijyaa eenjit mahsi choo tr iindhan. Juu naii dhijuk datthak gwats an adaa tr ah in geenjit shoo tr iinlii Diitsuu, Diitsii naii gwiinzii diik eegahtii eenjit mahsi choo gooroonyaa. [Translation]: Blessing. Welcome to the Land. Very happy to see you all from everywhere. We thank our ancestors for taking care of us and our Land UAF student, was asked to begin the Rock the Native Vote: Hunt-Fish-Share Concert at Hering Auditorium with a prayer in her language (Gwitch in). This is the prayer she said:] Diineenjit gwiinzii gogwiltsaii eenjit. Tth aii hee naraa zhrii luk keerii in ts a nihts igwinyaa eenjit shoo tr iinlii AFN gwideezhakgwinzii nihky uuntii ts a K eegwaadhat nohaa ooli. Aamin. Because it is providing us with a good life. It is good to continue our Traditions of hunting, fishing, and sharing. During this AFN, take good care of yourself and may God be with you. Amen [And her Great Grandmother, the late Mrs. Charlotte Adams of Beaver, smiles and clasps her hands and says "Mahsi' K'eegwaadhat!" ] News from EfM By Bonnie Marsh Education for Ministry class fills St. Matthews Library on Monday nights. We are all busy reading our bibles and our new text books (from Sewanee, University of the South) this year. We share our thoughts and questions with each other. Then, with guidance through theological reflection, we explore living faithfully in our world today. EfM mentors: Tom & Bonnie Marsh, Cynthia Stragier Autumn Voices I rode my bike from LA to Seattle; caught the ferry; got off in Skagway; rode around and got to Dawson; rented a canoe one way; canoed with my bicycle down to Circle; then rode my bike from Circle into Fairbanks; and then back home to LA, riding down the Alaskan Highway. That was in I like to bike. You re from Alaska? So, what is Sarah Palin REALLY like?... lived 21 years homeless, eating out of dumpsters; and the Lord Jesus Christ saved me from all of that.... had 1100 pounds of salmon and 3 ½ moose. I m tired. It s NICE having AFN here, but it s almost too big for us. I drove by Denny s and there was a line waiting to get in like it was a New York City night club. Isn t THIS GREAT???! THERE S LOTS OF US!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AFN should ALWAYS be here in Fairbanks. We re FRIENDLIER than Anchorage; and everybody knows that. He thinks Lisa Murkowski is his Aunt; ever since she visited his school. He keeps calling her Auntie Lisa. Your granddaughters are incredible. We have a problem at home. My daughter cheats at Clue.

10 Page 10 Autumn Voices I can barely walk. I ve been dancing every night this week and I finally pulled a leg muscle or something. Can I ask you a question? Tell me, what is this Fairbanks Four Thing people keep talking about? People need to realize this Fairbanks Four Case isn t a NATIVE issue; it s a HUMAN RIGHTS issue; it s a JUSTICE issue. Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhh, its November. Going to be a hard month. Too many memories. You re not all the way back home yet from your trip. You need, hmmmmmmmmmmm, one more nap.... and our weapons are what they thought would defeat us. They shouldn t have taught us English. If they hadn t, I would have been able just to speak to my people; but now I can talk to ALL tribes everywhere. It s scary. It s scary getting old. I worry about getting that Alzheimer s or dementia. My Grampa, he lived to be around 111. Every morning he walk out to check the Yukon River out, and walk back, before he have his coffee and cigarette. Too many dead kids; too many. My great Grampa, he s the one that discovered gold in Rampart. That Minook Creek. But those days, Natives couldn t claim anything. I used to tell Georgianna Lincoln, when she was a Senator, about it. I d tell her, Hey! You owe me rent. And she laugh. All Saints 2013 [On the Western Wall of The Church hangs a banner. And through the year, from All Saints to All Saints, names are placed there. These are the ones whose funerals were held here; or in whose commendations, memorials, funerals, or burials St. Matthew s clergy participated. These are the ones who left, in some sense, during the Year, whom we remember during All Saints, and November. These are the 58 candles on the Altar All Saints Sunday this year. These are the Names, and their dates of death. Read them slowly, saying a prayer. Their families are remembering them. And so is The Family of God. ] EUGENE BECKLEY ( ) HAROLD GREENWAY (11-2) JOHN HENRY THIBEDEAU (11-26) MARY HARDY (12-2) MARGARET TRITT (12-16) MARY EVA ANDERSON DILBECK (12-30) JOHN D. WALLIS ( ) RICHARD B. FISHER (1-7) KIAS PETER SR. (1-9) OLIVER CHARLIE (1-9) CECELIA CECE PAUL (1-10) JOHN NATHANIEL (2-2) DOREEN NIKOLAI (2-5) JOHN NUNU ALEXANDER (2-9) MARY SIMPLE (2-14) NATHAN FIELDS (2-18) HANNA TITUS CARTER (2-26) DAVID LEFTY WILSON (2-27) KENNETH THOMAS, SR. (3-13) RALPH GREYWOLF AMOUAK (3-18) MONA STOYER (3-24) MICHAEL RIDLEY (4-1) DOROTHY JOHN (4-10) ARTHA SKOGSTAD (4-10) AGATHA KEYES (5-3) THERESA MAYO (5-25) JANET JOHN-VALENZA (5-25) ELSIE MAILLARD (5-31) ROSE delima ( ) DON delima ( ) ALICE DU DODAALNO AMBROSE (6-9) ALICE AMELIA CARROLL (6-16) MATTHEW FREEDLE (6-22) CATHY JO PLUMLEE (6-24) JOHN ROY FOLGER (7-7) ALAN C. JAMES (7-14) HAROLD WOODS, JR. (7-25) NORMAN BIGJOE (8-4) BARBARA NICKEY ELLIOTT (8-5) FABIAN CHARLIE (8-19) GWENDOLYN JENSEN (8-19) ERVIN MILLER ( ) MABEL MILLER ( ) ROSEMARY FEE WILLIAMS ( ) CHIEF ESAIAS LOOLA ( ) AMALIA TORRES ( ) BERTHA EKLAINE WARD (9-3) TYRONE WAYNE RYDER, SR. (9-18) CHRISTINE ATTLA (9-20) FRANKIE FRANCIS (9-23) SAM JOSEPH (9-24) LIGE AMBROSE (9-25) KAREN DEMIT (10-5) MARGARET STEVENS WALLACE ( ) RICHARD SMITH (10-22) HERTHA EVOLYN MELVILLE (10-26) SAMMY ROBERTS (10-28) MARGARET MARTIN (10-31)

11 Volume 108, Issue 1 Page 11 A Suggested Seasonal Chronology - (Subject to Change & Additions & Whimsy & other Acts of God) Sunday, November 17 th St. Matthew s Endowment Board preadvent sales begin in the Parish Hall between services [Sunday School Theme: Singing a new song HARMONICAS!] Sunday, November 24 th THE FEAST of CHRIST the KING The Last Sunday of the Church Year [Sunday School Theme: Godly Play on the Holy Family] Wednesday, November 27 th 7PM Traditional Thanksgiving Eve St. Matthew s Eucharist Thursday, November 28 th THANKSGIVING DAY 11AM Tanana Valley Conference of Churches Community Thanksgiving Day Service at Fairbanks Lutheran; 2PM St. Matthew s Thanksgiving Day Covered Dish/ Potluck Saturday, November 30 th Last Day of The Church Year, stripping of names off the Baptismal & Funeral Banners (They ll be available for Family members until January 5 th, and then remaining names will be offered in the 12 th Night Fire) Sunday, December 1st THE 1 ST SUNDAY of ADVENT Lighting of the 1 st Advent Candle Exchange of names for St. Nicholas friends at all services [Sunday School Theme: Mary & Joseph] Monday, December 2 nd 5:30PM Weekday Evening Prayer will be prayed in the Church during Advent. Sign up in the Parish Hall to volunteer to lead. Friday, December 6 th THE FEAST of ST. NICHOLAS Saturday, December 7 th 9AM Annual St. Matthew s See s Candies Sale in the Parish Hall Sunday, December 8 th THE 2 nd SUNDAY of ADVENT Lighting of the 2nd Advent Candle [Sunday School Theme: Hanukkah] Thursday, December 12 th FEAST of OUR LADY of GUADALUPE Friday, December 13 th FEAST of ST. LUCY Saturday, December 14 th The Rev. Bella Jean Savino s St. Matthew s Christmas Party in the Parish Hall Sunday, December 15 th THE 3 rd SUNDAY of ADVENT Lighting of the 3rd Advent Candle [Sunday School Theme: St. Lucy] Saturday, December 21 st THE FEAST of ST. THOMAS & WINTER SOLSTICE 12AM Banging Pots to Chase Away The Great Dragon of Darkness Midnight Compline Sunday, December 22nd THE 4 th SUNDAY of ADVENT [The Road to Summer begins; 14 seconds more Daylight today] Lighting of the 4 th Advent Candle [Sunday School Theme: Giving to others] Tuesday, December 24th CHRISTMAS EVE THE EVE of THE NATIVITY of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, being CHRISTMAS EVE The Outdoor Christmas Lights are turned on when the Light of the 1 st star appears 5PM, 8PM, 11PM Traditional Christmas Eve Eucharists, with choirs & special music Wednesday, December 25 th CHRISTMAS THE NATIVITY of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, being CHRISTMAS 11AM Christmas Day Eucharist Sunday, December 29 th - THE 1 st SUNDAE of CHRISTMAS 8AM Holy Eucharist, Rite I 10AM Lessons & Carols, & Holy Eucharist, Rite II [Sunday School Theme: Christmas & Jesus] Tuesday, December 31 st 11PM New Year s Eve & Jump through the Church Door into The New Year Eucharist Wednesday, January 1st NEW YEAR S DAY 12pm Traditional St. Matthew s New Year s Day Potluck/ Covered Dish; followed by Johnny Wallis 1 st Year Anniversary Memorial Candlelight Walk to the Downtown Post Office Sunday, January 5 th - THE 2 nd SUNDAE of CHRISTMAS 8AM Holy Eucharist, Rite I 10AM Lessons & Carols, & Holy Eucharist, Rite II [Sunday School Theme: The Wisemen] 5PM 12 th Night Last of Christmas Covered Dish/Potluck & other Traditional 12thNight activities Monday, January 6 th THE FEAST of THE EPIPHANY The Outdoor Christmas Lights are turned off at Midnight Sunday, January 12 th THE 1 st SUNDAY after THE EPIPHANY [Holy Baptism may be celebrated this Sunday. If interested, contact Church Office] Return to the normal schedule of Sunday Eucharists at 8AM, 9:15AM, and 11:15AM [Sunday School Theme: Godly Play on Baptism]

12 Page 12 Autumn Voices Seasons of Life through the Seasons of Autumn Honestly. I never knew the Lord could bless someone the way I am being blessed. If you only had 1 afternoon to spend in Fairbanks, what would you go see, or do? You re getting snow over there in Fairbanks? Well, send some over here this afternoon on Warbelows. We got nothing here. Just dust. I came in through The Church; and I came up here [the lectern] and saw this book [the Lectionary]. I stood here reading it; and I was thinkin This is a nice book. I should take it. Then I felt this lady in this photograph [Shirley Demientieff] looking at me and... I haven t seen that kind of thing since I was a little girl, THAT Power. There s snow on the ground and we re leaving now. See you in March! An accounting must begin someplace, so let s begin on the 1 st of September, when the temperature is in the +50s, and the magic of Ginessa Peter and Collin Sams wedding the previous day still fills the Church, and the trees and countryside are still Summergreen. Through then the ten weeks after that, through moosehunting or not, through berry picking or not, through falling leaves, and lengthening nights, through Wednesday, November 6 th, when ice is running in the River and the temperatures are dropping, and the leaves are long gone. During the 67 days from Sunday, September 1 st through Wednesday, November 6 th, St. Matthew s gathered and prayed 148 times. An accounting and some of the details: 27 Sunday Morning Eucharists 3 Sunday Afternoon Fairbanks Correctional Eucharists 49 Private Home Communion visits by Clergy or Lay Eucharistic Ministers 1 Tuesday Morning Denali Center Eucharist 10 Wednesday Morning Eucharists 10 Wednesday Evening Prayer & Eucharists 4 Thursday Morning Pioneer Home Eucharists 1 Blessing of a baby before travel 5 Celebrations of Holy Baptism, 6 Baptized 10 Commendations of the Dying/Departed 10 Funerals and/or Burials 2 Funeral/Burials (out of Fairbanks) 2 Memorial Services/Prayers 2 Receptions into the Columbarium 1 All Saints Tolling of The Bell & Midnight Compline 1 Commissioning of Pilgrims 1 Invocation at a Rally for Justice 1 Airplane Motor Blessing 1 New Parish Hall Floor Blessing 1 Wedding Rings Blessing 1 House Blessing/Exorcism 1 Feast of St. Matthew s celebrated 3 Feast of St. Francis Blessing of Animals Services 1 Diocesan Convention hosted # of St. Matthew folk inducted this year into Diocesan Society of St. Simeon & St. Anna Sunday, September 18 th 1 st snowflakes appearing Tuesday, October 22 nd Date ice began running in the Chena River Baptisms and a Blessing Monday afternoon, September 9 th, special prayers and a blessing were said with newly born Harmony Miracle Tritt John. She will be baptized at home in Arctic Village, but her Grandmother and Mother wanted special prayers and a blessing here, before she traveled. Wednesday evening, September 11 th, the Rev. Marilyn Duggar traveled up from St. Mark s/nenana and, together, she and the rector baptized 2 years old Mariella Ruth Trinidad-Kriska. Her Godparents are Carla Jeffers, Lyon Edwin, Daylinda Griffith, Ronda Sue Tweet, and Russell Ketzler. In celebration of the Feast of St. Matthew, on Sunday, September 22 nd, 1 week old (!) Bessie Pearl Henry and 3 months old Kaylee Michelle Axinia Shewfelt were baptized. Bessie s Godparents are Cecilia Simon, Shereen Buster, and Alda Frank. Kaylee s Godparents are Jesse Thomas, Curtis Petersen, Shayna Tritt, and Mae Peter. The first snowstorm of the Season began falling during the baptisms! In a special celebration the following Sunday, September 29 th, the Rev. Steve Reed and the Rev. Shirley Lee baptized 1 month old Mary Ann Jane Worel. Her Godparents are Bradley Mountain, Vanissa Mountain, Rachel Silas, Jacinda Baker, and Melford Sweet. With thought and prayer, and then with a wide smile, 35 years old Daisy Huang was baptized Wednesday evening, October 9 th, with Doris Kaleka Woolsey and Dan Silva of Kapolei, Hawaii as her sponsors. Vestrymember Ned

13 Volume 108, Issue 1 Page 13 Seasons of Life, continued... Gaines stood in for the Sponsors, supporting Daisy in this decision. Finally, Wednesday evening, October 23 rd, 2 months old Nathan Charles Druck, quiet and trusting, was baptized. His Godparents are Noah Skin, Shawn Carroll, Melanie Herbert, and Lila Cardenas. There was Baptismal cake afterwards! Commendations, Funerals, Burials, Memorials Monday evening, June 24 th, with now the Light of the Solstice passing, 55 years old Cathy Jo Plumlee left peacefully in her sleep, here in Fairbanks. She had just returned to Fairbanks the previous month. Long active with the Boy Scouts, Disabled Veterans, and especially St. Matthew s, and an early computer whiz, she moved Outside a number of years ago, and only hoped to come back. Having made it back, she smiled and, with a Cathy sense, stopped. When Summer activities finally had ceased, family and friends gathered here Thursday afternoon, September 12 th, for Cathy s funeral service, led by the rector, and the Rev. Lee and Mary Margaret Davis. Following the service, her urn was received into the Columbarium. Her son Jack Cote, former St. Matthew s acolyte and crucifer, survives her in Fairbanks; and, when Advent begins, and Mary and Joseph begin making their 4 week walk up the aisle of the Church, Cathy (as all of us do) has now disappeared into their Story. She s the one that designed and crafted the figures. Sunday, July 7 th, 101 years old Amalia Torres, of Peru and Florida, died peacefully in Florida. And it came to pass that the family decided her remains should be with her grandson in Fairbanks. And so, they were sent here; with the instructions not to do ANYTHING until he had gone to a Church and had a priest say prayers. And so, Sunday, September 1 st, as the 11:15AM service ended, the grandson and his wife came into the Church; and found the rector. And the Grandson told stories about his Grandmother, whom he loved. And prayers were said. During the early morning hours of Thursday, August 22 nd, 63 years old Rosemary Fee- Williams quietly died in the Fairbanks Hospital, where she had been for the last week or so. Rosemary was the companion of Levi Williams, who kept prayerful and caring Vigil during her hospitalization, and a relative of Patti Brown. Tuesday afternoon, September 3 rd, family and friends gathered for her funeral, led by the rector; and her burial atop Birch Hill Cemetery. Those of us who were there will not soon forget the burial. Earlier that same morning, Tuesday, September 3 rd, surrounded by grieving children and grandchildren, 49 years old Bertha Elaine Ward- Luke died suddenly in the Fairbanks Hospital. With significant organization and speed, her funeral was held here at St. Matthew s the next day, Wednesday afternoon, September 4 th. The service was led by the rector and the Rev. Bella Jean Savino; and the incessant FallTime rain stopped and bluesky arrived as it ended. Her final service and burial were held at home in Fort Yukon in the days following. Sometime during the night of Wednesday, September 18 th, 41 years old Tyrone Wayne Ryder, Sr. passed away tragically and unexpectedly here in Fairbanks. The son of the late Alice Metz, Tyrone spent many years fire-fighting. The pallbearers, and others, wore yellow fire-fighting shirts, in respect and homage, when we gathered at the David Salmon Tribal Hall Friday afternoon, September 27 th for his funeral, led by the rector. Burial, next to his mother atop Birch Hill Cemetery, followed. Suddenly and unexpectedly, 42 years old Christine Attla died in the Fairbanks Hospital Emergency Room Friday afternoon, September 20 th. And the whole Koyukuk River flowed through there to grieve and support each other. Thursday afternoon, September 26 th, the David Salmon Tribal Hall filled to capacity for her funeral, led by the rector, and assisted by Peter Captain. Her funeral and burial followed at home in Huslia Saturday, September 28 th. Monday, September 23 rd, 72 years old Frankie P. Francis, the brother of the Rev. Bella Jean Savino, died suddenly and unexpectedly at home in Fort Yukon. A caring brother to his sister here, St. Matthew s filled to overflowing for his funeral Wednesday, September 25 th. The service was led by the rector and the Rev. Lee Davis. His final service and burial followed at home the next day in Fort Yukon. Tuesday morning, September 24 th, on the edge of the sunrise coming, 76 years old Samuel Joseph of Beaver sighed, and breathed his last, after a brave fight all that week and that last night. Born to the late Angus and Margaret (George) Joseph of Beaver, and later adopted, with his siblings, by the late Charlotte and Salvin Adams of Beaver, Sam had been resident in Fairbanks these last 14 months. (Continued on page 20)

14 Page 14 Impressions of the 38th Diocesan Convention I made my way home floating on a cloud They had singing there, too (I know you can hear it in your head) God is eternal During the worship services at St. Matthews, hymns of praise filled the church. You could feel God s love expand as Holy Spirit raised the roof and the joyous music spilled outside, flowing into the street and down to the Chena. An Anonymous impression... wanted to let you know that the singing at the services was Holy and Good. You get that many people that know the songs and just can't wait to let loose... and that was just the evening services. I caught the end of the Arctic Coast-led noontime service... Gee, I wished I hadn't missed that. They had singing there, too. (I know you can hear it in your head)... Lots of smiling as well... felt real strange to go back to "regular life" away from all that positivity.... this is just so you get a little flavor of what was going on From St. Matthew s Convention Delegate Bernice Aragon The 38th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska, hosted by St. Matthew's Episcopal Church October 3-6, Fairbanks, Alaska. The theme was "Spirit of Health & Happiness". Thank you for electing me as one of your Diocesan Convention delegates. Besides me, Bella Jean Savino and Allan Hayton were also elected from St. Matthew's Fairbanks. I was on the Bishop's Address committee. Matthew DuFour was Chair. Also in our group were Judy Gau, Sara Gavit, Michael Lukshin, Willie Towksjhea and David Yaw. Based on Bishop Mark Lattime's address, we put together the "Psalm for the Health and Well Being of God's People, in Mission to the World. We each made up two-three verses, which Matt typed up and put together. Willie sang "Praise God, Praise God" in the beginning and the end. Bishop Lattime said it was the best Bishop s Address he heard. Needless to say, we all felt awed and blessed. Our keynote speakers were Peter K, who spoke to us about physical, emotional and spiritual wellness, with emphasis on our life style choice in nutrition, exercise and mental well-being; Elizabeth Kraska, on how to maneuver challenges and changes to recognize and increase our personal resilience; Laurie Kazilionis, on tools for health and wellness activities; Cornelia Eaton, on her personal wellness journey and the role of the White Bison Wellbriety in Navajoland. There were also workshops on Sign Chi Do, Art of Moving Prayer led by Mary Margaret Davis; and Reiki, led by Reiki Master Cynthia Lamb-Faust. (Went to the Reiki workshop, though it was hard to choose.) Each day prayers were led by one of the delegate groups October 4th morning prayers led by South Central delegates, noon prayers led by the Arctic Coast delegates, October 5th morning prayer led by Interior delegates, noonday prayers by Southeast delegates. Friday evening October 4th included the St. Simeon and St. Anna celebration and memorial for clergy who have died since the last convention. We had eleven from the Interior come in as new members. David & Helen Burrell, Bev Joseph, Lottie Davey-Beyer, Gene Freeman, Thomas (Tom) Marsh, Irene Roberts, Bella Jean Savino, Al and Ruth Storvick, and Marty Thomas. When they were discussing the different committees, and the 2014 Budget committee/ mission was displayed, I did ask Chairman Marilyn Dugger what happened to the "Native ministries money". The Bishop stood up and explained it went to "Small congregations, meaning it is spread out to the different villages (?) It was not totally clear to me, but I can always ask for a more intricate explanation. I truly enjoyed the convention. It was relaxing, the keynote speakers, workshops, etc. And the food/ service from our wonderful workers was superb - thanks to Bruce, Cindy, Roslyn, Christine, Anne, Pat, and so many others. I am trying to find my "prayer closet" to learn to give thanks more often, for Jesus Christ came that we might have life, health, holiness and happiness, to remember only "God is eternal". And, as Bishop used, 3 John 1:2 Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you may be in good health just as it is well with your soul. Baasee' (Thank you), Bernice From Vestrymember Edmund Ned Gaines St. Matthew s may not be the largest Episcopal church in the nation, nor the fanciest, but the Holy Spirit truly moves in our little log church, and this was never more evident than at the Saturday night Eucharist and healing prayers service that was the capstone event of the recent Diocesan convention. The weeks and days leading up to the convention were frantically busy for so many helpful volunteers, staff, and clergy as we prepared to host our Alaskan Episcopal family. And for their hard work, we are truly thankful. The convention itself was a whirlwind of work and business meetings. In this frantic atmosphere, it would have been easy to forget the true meaning of the event, but we (Continued on page 15)

15 Volume 108, Issue 1 Page 15 Diocesan Convention, continued... (Continued from page 14) were all well reminded of that Saturday night under the new moon of early October. As I walked into the church, crowded with our brothers and sisters from around this great State and as far away as Oregon, Arizona, and Washington D.C., excitement was in the air, as if something joyous and momentous was about to occur. The opening hymn erupted as if accompanied by a chorus of all the saints and angels and launched us into the event. During prayers the enthusiastic refrain of the parish thundered through the room, shaking the walls, lifting ceiling, and seeming to resonate right up to the gates of Heaven. Shortly into the service, Jayce Hafner, the National Church s representative in Washington, D.C., turned to me and exclaimed Wow! What enthusiasm! So different from the East Coast where the people just kind of read along! Soon to be ordained Cornelia Eaton, who traveled up from her home in the deserts of northern Arizona, preached the sermon. Her soft words floated from the pulpit and touched me to the depths of my soul. I will always remember her kind voice as she told us you can t run from the Holy Spirit As we lined up for communion, with the sweet fragrance of sage wafting through the air, I found myself having a profound emotional reaction. Oil was placed on my head and a voice told me God will heal you. God will show you the way. Tingles ran up my spine and tears began to fill my eyes. I looked around in wonder. The eyes and faces of those nearby made me realize I wasn t the only one feeling this way. As I made my way to the altar, a random etymological question from two of the priests sitting in the wings brought me back to the here and now: Hey Ned, when was unction used as a verb? What? Where did this come from? But it did seem appropriate for the occasion, and made us all laugh like little kids. The angelic singing continued through communion with the hymn Let Us Break Bread Together, a song near to my heart from childhood that I hadn t heard in over 20 years. When the opening bars began, I looked around and saw knowing smiles of familiarity from several of the folks around. Yes, we were all having this experience together. When the service was over and we had said our goodbyes and completed the last of the cleaning chores, I made my way home floating on a cloud. As I lay in bed that night a grin stretched from ear to ear. I drifted off to sleep in the arms of the Holy Spirit, profoundly grateful to be part of such an event and eternally thankful that St. Matthew s was able to host the Diocesan Convention. I ve never been part of anything quite like it....excitement was in the air, as if something joyous and momentous was about to occur. God will heal you. God will show you the way Prayer Shawl Ministry By Bonnie Marsh St. Matthews Prayer Shawl Ministry keeps knitting and crocheting along. Prayers of Thanks and Blessings to All! We have yarn, patterns and knitting needles to share. Would you like to join us? We pray as the shawls are created and when finished, they are given a blessing on the altar, then given away to those who need a warm hug. For myself, giving is the best gift of all. One of our members, Casey Smith, recently donated her yarn stash: Lion Brand Homespun, Pink Bamboo Spun, Hot Pink Think Bamboo, Funfur, Le Pingoun 20% wool, etc. I need someone (while Ann is in Africa) to help organize a Prayer Shawl meeting at church so we can all get together and share. Bonnie Marsh, coordinator (907)

16 Page 16 Seeking The Rev. Mr. Wooden: An (edited) Correspondence The Rev. Leonidias Wooden arrives in Ft. Yukon from Skagway as the 1 st resident priest from the American Church. One imagines Mrs. Wooden, assuming she met him, may have felt quite elated to hear the familiar distinctive accent of a fellow Scouser, in a remote place like Fort Yukon!! A small Window into Alaskan Church History In 1899, the Klondike Gold Rush was in full swing, folks were flooding the North every way they could get here, a national magazine was running an article about hunting mammoths north of Fort Yukon and, in September of the year, the Rev. Leonidias Wooden was landing in Fort Yukon as the first resident American priest. He was arriving from Skagway and had been through the shooting of Soapy Smith. I know he was landing in Fort Yukon because in the Diocesan Centennial Historical Calendar, put together by the Rev. Mark Boesser, there is a notation on September 3 rd : The Rev. Leonidias Wooden arrives in Ft. Yukon from Skagway as the 1 st resident priest from the American Church. I m the one that researched the dates for the calendar, but I have no idea where I found this date. Probably from reading old Church magazines. But when I included it in the weekly This Week at St. Matthew s mailing last September, it drew a response, from Beryl & Brian Godfrey in England: Greetings from East Yorkshire, England, UK. During the last few years we have been researching our ancestors and like many folk on this side of the Atlantic our trail has led us to North America. During an internet search this week we have found your St. Matthew s Church in Fairbanks, AK. This search revealed an entry on Tuesday Sept. 3rd on your This Week at St. Matthew s page, our interest is regarding the Rev. Leonidas Wooden (1899 Fort Yukon) and his family. Rev. Wooden s wife was a Miss. Frances Hannah Simpson (our ancestor), from Liverpool, England. They were seeking what further information I might have on Mr. Wooden, and further suggestions on what other resources might help. I replied that regretfully I knew nothing about Rev. Wooden; introduced them to Archdeacon Hudson Stuck and his writings; and suggested they look there. Sometime later came this reply: The name Archdeacon Hudson Stuck was new to us (his writings are proving to be an interesting read) and we noticed from his biography that he had been born in Paddington, London, England. That aroused Beryl s curiosity in itself, since her own Paternal family line also partly originated in that very same place an area which we have previously researched so couldn t resist a little investigation in that direction. Hudson Stuck was actually born James Hudson Stuck, in November 1863, the son of a James Stuck (Timber Wharf foreman), a Londoner, and a Jane Hudson, daughter of a Farmer from the English Lake District. She had attended the Anglican, Home and Colonial School Society teacher training college, in the St. Pancras area of London the only teacher training college in England at that time. Sometime later then a further letter arrived. They wondered how Rev. Wooden and his family got from Skagway (where he had been) to Fort Yukon in the Summer of 1899: we wonder how he, his wife and three children transferred (between June and September 1899), from Skagway to Fort Yukon. Was it by the long searoute via St. Michael(?) and up the Yukon river or was it the overland route from Skagway and down the Yukon river by boat from Bennett/Carcross and Yukon Steamboat. We read that the White Pass and Yukon Route railway construction from Skagway, had reached Bennett, B.C., Canada, on 6 July (Construction started from Carcross to Whitehorse in summer of 1899 for complete opening from Skagway to Whitehorse on 1 August 1900). So was he and family, possibly, among one of its first passengers through to Bennett?... They also noticed, in researching the Census records, that, of the handful of non-indigenous people enumerated in the 1900 U.S. Fed. Census at Fort Yukon, there was a man who gave his birth place as Birkenhead, England a ship s cook/steward. One imagines Mrs. Wooden, assuming she met him, may have felt quite elated to hear the familiar distinctive accent of a fellow Scouser, in a remote place like Fort Yukon!! many miles from Merseyside, England. Finally, they enclosed a researched chronology of the Rev. Wooden s Life. Who was the Rev. Leonidias Wooden who landed in Ft. Yukon in September 1899? An edited version of the chronology follows: Leonidas John Hamlin Wooden was born in 1856 in the State of Indiana. His parents, farmers, moved westwards to the State of Missouri and then again to Ness County, Kansas. In 1880, the Census shows he was 24 years old, living with his parents in Ness City, Kansas, and working as a printer. 7 years later, on January 23 rd, 1887, he was marrying Fannie H. Simpson of Liverpool, England at the Methodist Episcopal Church in Dodge City. In March 1888 their first son William was born; and he died a year and a half later, in May In February 1890 a second son had been born,

17 Volume 108, Issue 1 Page 17 Seeking The Rev. Mr. Wooden, continued... Bowman. In March 1891 a third son (Thomas) had been born; but he died 5 months later. In March 1892 he is now listed as a Candidate for Deacon s Orders and, later that year, he is listed as a prohibitionist in a newspaper account. On December 27, 1893, in St. George s Chapel in Wakefield, Kansas, he is ordained Episcopal Deacon. (A daughter, Blanche, had been born in September 1892). He is given charge of St. George s on New Year s Day, 1894; and his daughter dies three months later. The 1895 Kansas Census shows him still there, with now a fifth child (Johnie) one month old. But by Summer 1895 he is applying to transfer from Kansas to the Diocese of Calgary and, by later that year, he is listed as the rector of St. Marks Church at Innisfail, Alberta (North of Calgary). He has also applied to homestead in Alberta and a 6 th child (Henry) has been born. But a year later (September 1897) they are back in Kansas, listed as Foreign Clergy, and he is the rector of St. James Episcopal Church in Belleville, Kansas. 9 months later (June 1898), he is landing in Skagway. There he also becomes the first chaplain of The Arctic Brotherhood Fraternal Order. A year after that (September 1899) he and his wife and the 3 surviving children (Bowman, John, and Henry) are landing in Fort Yukon. He s about 43 years old. Six years later (1905), they are all back in Kansas. They will stay there, though there are trips to Canada to visit their homestead in Manitoba (The first homestead application for Alberta had been cancelled). His wife Fannie dies in 1932 and is buried at Jefferson Cemetery, Montgomery County, Kansas. In 1940, he is recorded as living with his unmarried son Bowman. On May 5, 1945, on the eve of World War II finally ending, nearly 90 years old, he dies; and is buried at Jefferson Cemetery, Montgomery County, Kansas. Nearly 50 years earlier, he walked up the bank on an early Fall day in Fort Yukon. It was a long ways from the Kansas prairies. He said prayers. Among those he baptized in Fort Yukon was the late Mrs. Charlotte Adams of Beaver. 9 months later he is landing in Skagway. There he also becomes the first chaplain of The Arctic Brotherhood Fraternal Order. Report from Spain By Pauline Wilson Pilgrims are not just folks in black hats feasting on turkey. Pilgrims, Christian and others, have been walking their faith to holy places forever. This past Fall my friend Maria and I had the privilege to become Pilgrims; following in the footsteps of the ages westward across Spain toward the Santiago de Compostela Cathedral, where tradition says lie the treasured Holy bones of St James, Apostle of Jesus. The path to Santiago is known as the Camino, or the Way. According to tradition after the crucifixion of Jesus, St James the Apostle went by boat to Western Spain to evangelize for an unknown time then returned to Jerusalem. He may have been the first Bishop of Jerusalem, but met his end crucified upside down. Faithful followers gathered his bones and eventually carried them back to Spain, where they rested in peace for about 800 years, until a shepherd guided by stars discovered a mound covered with vines. (Santiago de Compostela is also Spanish for Milky Way ). The shepherd alerted archaelogists who excavated the mound; and found a tomb which appeared to part of an ancient Christian graveyard. (Getting spooky? I am writing this on Halloween!) Informed of this discovery, the local Bishop rushed off to tell his king, Alfonso II of Asturias known as the Chaste, that this was indeed the burial site of St. James the Apostle. The king with full entourage arrived to view the tomb and thus became the first Camino pilgrims. Without delay, the king ordered a church to be erected on the site. St James the Apostle was soon adopted as special guardian and patron saint by Alfonso and other early Spanish Kings,as they struggled to throw off the powerful Moors who occupied much of their kingdoms. Stories spread of St James the liberator superhero who appeared in the heat of battle to save the day for the Christians. This devotion to the saint prepared the ground for Spanish nationalism, and brought stone and artisans to (Continued on page 18) Nothing like lots of walking to clear your head and start listening.

18 Page 18 Report from Spain, continued... We recall the beauty and surprises of the natural world We celebrate the kindness of strangers who were our angels helping us stay on our path We appreciate being in the company of seekers (Continued from page 17) build what would become Santiago de Compostela Cathedral. Santiago de Compostela soon became a popular pilgrimage destination for the faithful throughout the western world, because it was claimed as the only sanctuary, apart from Rome, to possess an entire Apostle of the Lord s body. Santiago was distant enough from much of Europe to have appeal as a great adventure without the great dangers of overland travel to the Holy Land. (Far from Alaska, too). Pilgrimages continued as a mass event until the Lutheran Reformation. Flash forward to the 20th Century. In the 1980 s, after about 500 years of wars, and political and religious turmoil, pilgrimages grew again in popularity. The route to Santiago was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe, and a UNESCO World Heritage in While in 1985 only 690 pilgrims arrived in Santiago, pilgrims reaching Santiago now grew to tens of thousands each year. Last year 192,488 completed the journey and over 200,000 are expected by end of this year. A huge impetus for the increasing pilgrimages is economic. Pilgrims = tourism. The most common Camino, starting from the French border West to Santiago, is 500 miles. Many people walk it in 5 weeks. Even pilgrims on a modest budget spend at least $25-35 a day staying in simple dormitory style hostels called Albergues. Others spend more, stay in private rooms and sometimes have their luggage transported between lodgings. Others treat themselves to an occasional bus ride (we did twice, crossing big city industrial sprawl). Some ride bicycles, some I m told, horses, or mules, but we didn t meet any. Just as in the early days, some rode, or were carried; most walked. But why did we go to Spain, and why do others come? Probably there are as many reasons as there are pilgrims. Checking into one night s lodgings we were required to complete a survey. Was our Camino religious, spiritual, cultural, or travel adventure? Fortunately you could check more than one. Many people we met admitted a need for something new in their lives. I just lost my job, my girlfriend quit me, I m newly retired. Others wanted to challenge themselves by getting out of their box. One young man came from the States to reconcile with his French father. Personally I think I was trying to connect the dots of my life s story between my past and present for my journey to the next decades. Nothing like lots of walking to clear your head and start listening. (Be still and know that I am God!) My partner was more social and thrived on the company of our many international fellow travelers. Maria speaks the languages of most Pilgrims-- Spanish, German and English. What a gift! She joyed in meeting our Neighbors, our brothers and sisters. I m happy St James didn t drive all the Moors out of Spain. We met a lovely young Turkish Woman in Leon who was lost and tired. So were we. Together we found our way to our evening s safe haven, and Maria and my last night on the Camino this year. What memories do we treasure from the 26 days of walking? We recall the beauty and surprises of the natural world - from its ditch weeds, berries and bugs to glorious sunrises that greeted our early morning departures. We celebrate the kindness of strangers who were our angels helping us stay on our path, redirect our missed train connection, find lodging for the night, and minister to our small injuries. We appreciate being in the company of seekers, some fellow travelers, and others who bestowed hospitality and blessing through their unselfish deeds and faith. Will we continue our pilgrimage? Yes! God willing! Time goes on but these memories never fade Any Thoughts on Veteran s Day? From Winnie Nowak in Anchorage.. November 11th, Veterans Day, is especially special in my family s life - our Eldest Brother, Charles William White, a member of the British Royal Navy and patrolling the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S.A. was "lost at Sea, believed killed in action. Their English Trawler, converted to an Anti-Submarine ship, was torpedoed off Cape Lookout in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. 4 bodies were washed ashore on Ocracoke Island and are buried in a British Seamen s Cemetery there. I have visited on the Anniversary of the sinking, which was MAY 11th 1942, when ceremonies are held to commemorate the occasion;

19 Volume 108, Issue 1 Page 19 More Salmon For Less Suicide By Audrey Sunnyboy There's a debate about who said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results". Some people say Benjamin Franklin, and some say it was Albert Einstein. Regardless of who said this we need to take the hint and try something else when we are trying to stop people from attempting or committing suicide. We've tried talking and more talking for a few years now and hoped that would work but it hasn't. Talking has not stopped or lowered our numbers of suicide. It's time to try something else. We are losing this struggle. The military plans to spend $10 million on a 3 year study to see if fish oil will help to raise the spirits of their veterans returning from war. A previous one year examination of fish oil seems to be so promising; they have decided to try a large study to see if the oil will work for the veterans. It will. It worked for thousands of years for Alaska's native people. During the recent Alaska Federation of Natives our own elder Rev. Trimble Gilbert said when he was young he didn't hear of suicide. He doesn't ever remember hearing of any suicide. I don't remember hearing of a suicide either; it seems those events began to happen 30 to 40 years ago. That was a bit after our diets began to change to the western world's diet. If we ask what is different between then and now, one thing we know our diet is different. Then, we had fish everyday if we wanted it. Now we can't; and haven't been able to for a while. Part of that is due to the choices we make in life; part of it is due to our food choices; and part of that is there just isn't as much fish for us to choose to eat anymore. Either nature or our laws prevent us from having what was so abundant to us at one time. Two reasons the military decided to use fish oil for their veterans is: 1) it looks so promising and 2) it is inexpensive. And they won't know if it works unless they try it to see if it works. If it causes a change in the veterans and they feel better that will tell the military that fish oil works for lifting depression. We should and could just begin taking fish oil and talking to protect our loved ones and ourselves. Our ancestors already showed us fish oil works; we don't need a study. In the words of Dr. Abram Hoffer, when asked by a patient, what did Doctor think would happen to him (the patient) when he used the nutrients and fish oil, Dr. Hoffer said "Good health, will that be a problem for you?" He was grinning when he said that because he knew the answer. Surely good health would happen to us too; and that would not be a problem! Veteran s Day, continued... his plaque along with others lays there. Time goes on but these memories never fade. From Casey Westenreider, once upon a time in the back pew of the 8AM Eucharist, but now a published author and in Texas As a Veteran, I appreciate the fact that people think about what I've done for them. But I also think about all the pain and sorrow so many veterans go through. I got an from a friend of mine the other day. Her name is Summer. Her father is a Vietnam Veteran and his mind is still in the jungle. She explained to me her resentment of the military and of war. Not because of what it is or the reasons for it, but for the angst and suffering that she had (and has) to endure with her father's mental state. She feels robbed of a better childhood because her father still has hidden scars that cause him pain... even today. So when I think about Veteran's Day I think about the friends I've lost... Doug Green. Brandon Mullins. Rudolfo Rodriguez. (Just to name a few.) But I also think about the veterans that aren't recognized. Suni Chabrow (Doug's mom). Cathy Mullins (Brandon's mom). Rudy's wife and kids. And Summer Williams. The families of Veterans go through more than we give them credit for. We have a Veteran's Day. But (Continued on page 23)

20 Page 20 More Seasons of Life... (Continued from page 13) Lovingly cared for by his niece, St. Matthew s Youth Minister Valorie Adams, Sam was a familiar figure around St. Matthew s. The Church filled for his funeral Saturday, September 28 th. The service was led by his brother-in-law, the rector. The potlatch in the Parish Hall that followed also blessed the new Parish Hall floor, installed the previous day. Monday, September 30 th, Family and neighbors gathered in St. Matthew s Church in Beaver for Sam s final service, led by the rector; and we made the slow walk along the River and then back, and laid him to rest there amidst the trees in the Beaver Cemetery. A potlatch followed in the School Gym. [Housing during the trip was provided by Beaver Lodge Tours]. And also Tuesday, September 24 th, in distant England, Margaret Stevens Wallace, the sister of Helen Burrell, passed away. Her funeral and burial services were scheduled for Noon, October 24 th, in St. Mary s Church in Barnham, England. The night before, Wednesday, October 23 rd, Helen and David attended the Wednesday evening Service at St, Matthew s, and prayers were said. Darlene Reena Herbert Wednesday afternoon, September 25 th, 63 years old Lige Frank Ambrose quietly and peacefully passed away in the Fairbanks Hospital, where he had been for the last week or so. Throughout that time, family and friends had kept Vigil. Born to the late Alice (who died this last June) and Arthur Ambrose Sr of Hughes, and brother to, among others, St. Matthew s Nursery Attendant Millie Ambrose, Lige spent time with the US Army and was crew boss for the Hughes Fire-fighting Crew. A Visitation was held at the David Salmon Tribal Hall Saturday morning, September 28 th ; and his final service and burial was held at home in Hughes Monday, September 30 th. Early Saturday morning, October 5 th, 41 years old Karen Demit of Northway quietly passed away in Denali Center, after a brave struggle the last several days in the Hospital. And, as stories and memories and testimonies flowed, prayers were said. Her final service and burial followed in the next days, back Home, up the Highway. Tuesday afternoon, October 22 nd, 43 years old Richard K. Smith of Fairbanks passed away at the Fairbanks Hospital. And the Rev. Bella Jean Savino said prayers. Richard is the grandson of the late Jean Mason of Fort Yukon. Saturday afternoon, October 26 th, shortly before 3PM, 92 years old Hertha Evoleano Evolyn Melville quietly breathed her last, there in her room in the Pioneers Home, And this Alaskan story, stretching back to the GoldRush, disappeared down the Trail, leaving memories and photographs. Born in Brooklyn (because her father, while serving with the US Navy, had gotten sick in the Bermuda Triangle), she arrived in Fairbanks with her returning parents in She never left the Interior. During the 1950s, she and her husband built and ran a Roadhouse in Fort Yukon (the current Episcopal Mission House in Fort Yukon), while raising their 3 kids Jay, St. Matthew s Secretary/Parish administrator Hilary, and Ken. (They arrived in Fort Yukon in a 20 Rowboat, floating & rowing with children & supplies from Circle. There were mosquitoes.). An avid photographer, part of the legacy she leaves at St. Matthew s (along with everything from playing the organ to founding service on the Endowment Board) is photographic scrapbooks tracing St. Matthew s and Fairbanks events over the last several decades. (Another little known legacy is a series of photographs over the years of her with the rector and Fr. James Kolb during the Golden Days Parade. We have suggested this photograph could be used for a Seminary recruiting poster.). Tuesday afternoon, October 29 th, the Pioneers Home filled to overflowing, as Fairbanks gathered to pay their respects. The rector and the Rev. Bella Jean Savino led the service, along with the Pioneers of Alaska Women s Igloo #8. Bishop Mark Lattime gave the Final Blessing. Organist Mary Ellen Koeller provided music, along with, in tribute to her Ft. Yukon background, the Gwitch in Singers. And we all stood there singing, at the end, The Alaska State Flag Song, remembering. Finally, in the days after, she joined her husband John in the Columbarium. Monday, October 28 th, 69 years old Sam Sammy James Roberts, Jr. of Ft. Yukon passed away unexpectedly. A well respected

21 Volume 108, Issue 1 Page 21 In the Season of Autumn... and loved figure in Fort Yukon he was, as his obituary explained, a soldier, a hunter, a trapper, an outdoorsman, a craftsman, a firefighter, a storyteller, a carpenter, a master gardener, a marksman, an educator, a father, uncle, husband, brother, and a good man. Rainbows were seen in the Night Sky when he died. St. Matthew s filled for his funeral Friday, November 1 st, the Feast of All Saints. The service, led by the rector and the Rev. Bella Jean Savino, concluded with the US Army Honor Guard flag presentation to his wife Margaret, in tribute to his 25 years of service with the National Guard. His final service and burial was at home in Fort Yukon in the days following. Early Thursday morning, October 31 st, on the Eve of All Saints, 95 years old Margaret Martin of Denali Center and Birch Creek peacefully died. A resident of Denali Center for 11 years, the staff there was her second family, and she was everyone s grandmother. Raised in Birch Creek, and the surrounding Country, she was also Birch Creek s first Health Aide; and her granddaughter remembers her studying thick medical texts through the night. Monday afternoon, November 4 th, the rector and the Rev. Bella Jean Savino led Margaret s funeral here; and her final services and burial, led by Bishop Mark Lattime, were held at home in Birch Creek in the days following. Tuesday afternoon, November 5 th, 91 years old Elizabeth Workman of Shageluk died peacefully in the Fairbanks Hospital. Prayers were said by Hospital Chaplain the Rev. Steve Reed and Archdeacon Anna Frank. After a brief service in Fairbanks Wednesday, November 6 th, she returned home to Shageluk for her final service and burial. Finally, Wednesday morning, November 6 th, 35 years old Clifford BigJoe of Nenana unexpectedly died in the Fairbanks Intensive Care Unit, surrounded by encouraging love, grieving family, and prayers. Clifford, whose father Norman died on August 1 st this year, was to have his final service and burial at home in Nenana the following week. Sunday, November 3 rd, 58 lit votive candles shined brightly on the great wooden altar through the services, one for each of the departed since last All Saints. This is who 15 of those candles were. Annnnnnnnnnnnnd. Sunday morning, September 15 th, during the 11:15 service, Pauline Wilson and Maria Billings were commissioned, with holy dirt from the Churchyard, as Pilgrims, as they prepared to leave to walk the historic pilgrimage trail in Spain. (Vestrymember Ned Gaines has also walked this trail). See Pauline s article on page 17 of this Newsletter for her account of what it was like. Wednesday afternoon, September 25 th, a large crowd gathered outside the Courthouse in Downtown Fairbanks as Tanana Chiefs Conference President Jerry Isaac, the Rev. Shirley Lee (Chair of the TCC Justice Task Force), and Bill Oberly of the Alaska Innocence Project held a press conference announcing that they were filing court documents, including a signed confession, exonerating the Fairbanks Four. There were tears and prayers and singing that this 17 years old ordeal was turning. The wait is now for the State of Alaska to respond. And, from Thursday, October 3 rd through Saturday, October 5 th, St. Matthew s hosted this year s Diocesan Convention. Many contributed way over and beyond much for this to happen, but mention must be made of the St. Matthew s Convention cochairs Bruce Gadwah and Cindy Straiger. During the Convention Eucharist Friday evening October 4 th, 11 members of St. Matthew s were inducted into the Diocesan Honorary Society of St. Simeon and St. Anna, recognizing elders and role models for us all: David and Helen Burrell, Lottie Davey -Beyer, Gene Freeman, Beverly Joseph, Thomas Marsh, Irene Roberts, the Rev. Bella Jean Savino, Al and Ruth Storvick, and Marty Thomas. And finally, Sunday morning, October 27 th, we bid safe travels to the Rev. Layne and Casey Smith, who were ending their time with us in Fairbanks (due to an employment transfer) for the wilds of Wasilla and Palmer and the Matanuska Valley. Now a whole mountain range separates us, but we still bump into them in our prayers And thus we prepared for Winter.

22 Page 22 September & October 2013 (edited) Vestry Minutes Sunday School PART of a CONTINUING STORY The Vestry of St. Matthew s meets at least monthly, and more often if events require. The Newsletter picks up this year s discussion and activity in September. Complete minutes and reports are posted on the Parish Hall Bulletin Board each month. Below are edited versions of the September and October minutes. SEPTEMBER 2013 MINUTES The Vestry of St. Matthew s met Monday, September 16 th, with the following present: Senior Warden Allen Todd, Junior Warden Tom Marsh, Vestry Clerk Marlin Collins, Allan Hayton, Pat Sackinger, Ned Gaines, Victor Apodaca, Shannon Houlette, Parish Treasurer Brad Johnston, and the rector. Member Jeremy Johnson was absent, working in Galena. Guests present were the Rev. Shirley Lee, and Convention coordinators Bruce Gadwah and Cindy Straiger. After an Opening Prayer by Tom Marsh, the following actions were discussed or taken: 1. August minutes were approved. 2. The Diocesan Convention Planning Report was received from Bruce Gadwah and Cindy Straiger, with various vestrymembers taking various responsibilities. It was noted, with Bruce s absence the week before the Convention, all responsibility will now rest on Cindy. 3. Parish Treasurer Brad Johnston s Report was received, noting that August Operating Income totaled $23,020 (Year to Date: January August $187,806); and August Operating Expenses (including the Diocesan Tithe paid) totaled $25,270 (Year to Date: January August $202,940). For the Year, January August, St. Matthew s is running a TOTAL DEFICIT of - $15,134.The Treasurer reported that his conservative estimate for September was that we should at least break even for the month. 4. The Senior Warden reported that the Financial Oversight Committee had met the previous week, with the following present: Mike Castellini, Helen Burrell, Laura Bender, and Carolyn Nethken. Marie Reid was out of town and Holly King has been added to the Committee. The meeting went well; and the Committee estimates that $20,000 will be needed for St. Matthew s to break even. 5. The Rev. Shirley Lee led the Vestry in a follow-up Report on the May Three Year Strategic Plan Session. It was moved and seconded to accept the Report, with the Rev. Lee cautioning not to bite off more than we can chew. 6. There was discussion and planning about the October Permanent Fund Dividend Drive, with various members accepting various responsibilities. Members challenged each other to contribute at least 10% of the Dividend to St. Matthew s 7. A cleaning schedule for the Church during the Sexton s absence (September 20-28) was worked out; along with the schedule of vestrymembers making announcements on Sundays. 8. A tentative preconvention meeting was scheduled with the St. Matthew delegates to the Diocesan Convention, to discuss concern for the spiritual needs of the Interior. 9. The rector noted his planned trip in October, missing two Sundays; reported on the hourly breakdown of his days in August; and noted the upcoming St. Matthew s Day potluck. 10. The Junior Warden led a discussion on various Property issues: the new floor in the Parish Hall is scheduled to be laid September 26 th and 27 th ; the new outside outlets have been replaced; Christmas tree lighting is being explored; the outside Cross lights will be replaced with LED lights; replacing the rectory sewer line would cost between $7000 and $9000; and the Front Door still needs work. 11. There was discussion about the FIT grant deadline, the excitement of the Youth Ministry; personal prayer requests, and possible fundraisers. 12. With the noting that God is still working and the Spirit is still moving, Ned Gaines closed the meeting with prayer at 8:40PM. OCTOBER 2013 MINUTES The Vestry of St. Matthew s met Monday, October 14 th, with the following present: Senior Warden Allen Todd, Junior Warden Tom Marsh, Vestry Clerk Marlin Collins, Pat Sackinger, Ned Gaines, Victor Apodaca, Shannon Houlette, and Parish Treasurer Brad Johnston. Member Allan Hayton and the rector were both absent, traveling out of State. Following an Opening Exercise, in which each were asked to share one story from

23 Volume 108, Issue 1 Page 23 Vestry Minutes, continued... the Convention that caught them, the following actions were discussed or taken, with the Senior Warden chairing: 1. Approval of the September minutes was tabled until the November meeting. 2. Parish Treasurer Brad Johnston s Report was received, noting that September Operating Income totaled $20,916 (Year to Date: January September $208,722); and September Operating Expenses (including the Diocesan Tithe paid) totaled $20,847 (Year to Date: January September $223,787). For the Year, January September, St. Matthew s is running a TOTAL DEFICIT of - $15,065. He pointed out that the outlook for October is not promising, since our Sunday offerings have not been sufficient to meet our operating expenses. From October through April our expenses will be up, due to the one or two fuel oil bills (which last year were $1,424/month.); and a number of quarterly or semi-annual payments come due in October. 3. The Senior Warden reported, from the Financial Oversight Committee, that it is clear that St. Matthew s is NOT bringing in enough Operating Income. They offered two recommendations to the Vestry: 1) that a mailing go out to the (estimated) members letting them know we need their help in increasing St. Matthew s offering and operational income. 2) That the recent $450 Organ Repair Bill be paid from one of the reserved accounts. After discussion, it was moved and passed to accept these recommendations. 4. There was much discussion about the September follow-up Report on the May Three Year Strategic Plan Session. It was finally decided to table further discussion until the November meeting. 5. There was discussion about the Sunday announcements by the Vestry, and this will continue through October. The coming resurrection of the Newsletter was noted; and there was discussion about forming a Nursery Committee. 6. It was noted that Irene Todd and others are organizing a FundRaiser at the Tribal Hall for October 22 nd, and that volunteers are needed to help. [Later note: The Fundraiser raised $1287 towards Operating Expenses]. A variety of other Fundraising events were scheduled through the next 4 months. 7. The Junior Warden reported on a number of property issues: The raking of the leaves and other FallTime Winterization events have been scheduled; the Front Door still needs work; the Sacristy roof still needs work; there is a new leak in the rectory; and the Christmas Tree Lights project is still being researched. With a Closing Prayer from Victor Apodaca, the meeting adjourned at 8PM Our treasurer, Brad Johnston, has compared the total annual budget to what has been spent to date using percentages. St. Matthew's is 88% of the way through the year and have received 73% of its revenue budget and spent 76% of its expense budget as of Oct. 31. Slumber Party Veteran s Day, continued... (Continued from page 19) we should also have a Veterans' Family Day because they are the unsung heroes. God bless anyone who has waited at home for their soldier to come home from war and I pray that soldier walks off of an airplane rather than carried off in a box by an honor guard.

24 November 2013 St. Matthew s Episcopal Church 1030 Second Avenue Fairbanks, AK December 6, 2013 Change Service Requested* Can t come to Church? Church will come to You!! As the monthly listing of services shows, there are a number of Lay Eucharistic Ministers trained and willing to bring the Eucharist to those who are sick, shut-in, or unable to come to Church. If you would like someone to bring you the Communion, or know someone who would like that, please contact the Church Office at or slip a note in the offering plate on Sunday mornings. St. Matthew s Youth News St. Matthew s Youth Bible and BCP Study 1st and 3rd Sunday of every month Join us 4:30 6pm In the Parish Hall Journey to Adulthood Following the Footsteps of St Patrick Youth Pilgrimage to Ireland & Northern Ireland June 12-21, 2014 Led by : Sister Barbara Jean Brown Anamchara Fellowship & J2A Consultant Kathy Bryant Worldwide Pilgrimage Ministries We believe that pilgrimage travel brings people of all faiths and nationalities together forming a bond of love and understanding that is one small step toward the giant leap to world peace. -Worldwide Pilgrimage Ministries For more information about participating in this exciting trip please contactvalorie Adams (see page 3)