The Light Parish Newsletter, December 2005In This Issue:
Last month our annual Diocesan Convention met at St. Mark's Cathedral for two days of conversation, debate, and legislation.
We struggled during Convention - not over some contentious resolution, but because ten minutes before the meeting was gaveled to order the lights went out! Most of Friday's work was lost in the echoes and unintelligible verbal canyons of the Cathedral’s architecture.
In all of this, however, some progress was made. We endorsed further work on anti-racism training for all church leaders, starting at the congregational level; we expressed concern about punitive immigration regulations; we supported the U.N. Millennium Development Goals; struggled with how to make our General Convention deputation more diverse; wondered how to be fair to laid-off lay church employees; and, perhaps most importantly for our congregation, we lowered the diocesan Assessment Rate from 20% to 18%. This means we will get to keep about an extra $5,000 yearly for our own, local use.
Good humor abounded - we received the bishop’s address via bullhorn, with lots of fits and starts, and praised God for the brightness of his glory when the power finally returned.
And, of course, Bishop Warner confirmed his intention to retire likely in late 2007, though the call process might change this date somewhat.
The life of the institution continues. If you would like more information please contact myself, or one of our delegates.
God's blessings to you all, Nigel
October 25, 2005
- The Vestry discussed adding a bank of niches to the Columbarium and how to fund the installation. Guidelines for memorial sculptures were also discussed.
- The first meeting of the Spiritual Growth Committee has been held and will be working to develop our Christian Education program for all ages.
- There is now an absolute deadline of the 15th of the month for information to be in The Light.
- The Worship Committee will be working on how best to use our space.
- There is about $12,000 available from the Endowment Fund for use by MSO and scholarships.
- A committee chair is needed for the Special Events committee.
- Dick Hall was elected to serve as convention alternate at November s Diocesan Convention.
The November meeting will be Tuesday, November 15.
Diana Klein, Vestry Clerk
The LRPC has completed its work on Phase 1 of the Long Range Plan. A preliminary report to that effect was presented to the Vestry at a Special Meeting on 18 October. The Vestry approved the report in general with some very specific, recommended alterations. The LRPC then met on 20 October to review the Vestry's recommendations and make the appropriate changes to the report. The report in its amended form was then formally assembled and presented to the LRPC on 3 November as a finished product for Phase 1 of the Long Range Plan. The LRPC subsequently agreed to present this report to the Vestry at its meeting on 15 November for final approval.
Phase 1 of the Long Range Plan essentially focuses on six Target Areas that we have identified through our discussions with the congregation, the parish survey, and our own deliberations. Those Target Areas are: Worship & Spirituality, Christian Formation, Outreach, Parish Leadership, Communications, and Parish Life. We have cobbled together a set of achievable and desirable Goals and Objectives for each of these Target Areas. A working list of Suggested Activities for each Target Area has also been assembled to help facilitate the achievement of our ultimate objectives. Implicit in the Goals and Objectives we have listed is the need for improved parish facilities. Whether those facilities take the form of remodeling, rearranging, new construction, or a combination of all three will depend on the will and desires of the congregation as well as the priorities, time lines, and costs assigned to the various changes that need to be made.
Once the Vestry approves Phase 1 of the Long Range Plan that report will be made available to congregation for its review. Meanwhile, the LRPC is in the process of collating and analyzing facilities inputs provided by the various committee chairs and individual congregates. The results of this effort will be reviewed by the LRPC at its next meeting on 20 November. Our near term objective is to develop a Facilities Plan of Action based on your inputs, historic parish data, and outside sources. The Facilities plan of Action in its final form will be presented to the Vestry as a recommended model for facilities development.
Ted Brookes
LRPC Chairman
The vestry has decided that any further sculpture additions to our grounds near the columbarium must be submitted to the Columbarium Committee for its approval. No further statues beyond those already approved can be placed within the concrete area itself. Sculpture additions to the grounds not near the columbarium will be restricted to the Bell Tower garden and the woodland pathway between the columbarium and the children's playground. Decisions about these locations will be handled by the vestry through the Junior Warden.
~ Nigel Taber-Hamilton
Recently four new members were inducted into the Altar Guild.
They are: Lynda Dial, Diane Schwarzmann, and Barbara Strom. Welcome.
Due to staff and volunteer’s travel schedules in December, there will not be an issue of The Light published in early January. Our apologies to the faithful contributors. Please hold your contributions until next month if possible. If the material is time sensitive, please send it to the parish office for inclusion in a Sunday Bulletin. Thank you for your understanding.
The Rev. Julie Bird is organizing a Bible study for all women of the parish. If you are interested in participating please contact her at 331-2028 or by e-mail at birdchilds@aol.com, or see her after Sunday worship.
- Faith is the ability to not panic.
- If you worry, you don't pray. If you pray, don't worry.
- As a child of God, prayer is kind of like calling home every day.
- Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be bent out of shape.
- When we get tangled up in our problems, be still. God wants us to be still so He can untangle the knots.
- Do the math. Count your blessings.
- God wants spiritual fruit, not religious nuts.
- Dear God: I have a problem. It's me.
- Silence is often misinterpreted, not ever misquoted.
- Laugh every day, it's like inner jogging.
- The most important things in your home are not things.
- Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.
- There is no key to happiness... The door is always open.
- A grudge is a heavy thing to carry.
- He who dies with the most toys is still dead.
- We do not remember days, but moments. Life moves too fast, so enjoy your precious moments.
- Nothing is real to you until you experience it, otherwise it's just hearsay.
- It's all right to sit on your pity pot every now and again. Just be sure to flush when you are done.
- Surviving and living your life successfully requires courage. The goals and dreams you're seeking require courage and risk-taking. Learn from the turtle, it only makes progress when it sticks out it's neck.
- Be more concerned with your character than your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
By Carole Hansen
At the close of the year it’s important to look back and recognize the achievements and the miracles in which we took part. Fr. Alexander’s visit with us in September marked our 11th year of acquaintance with him, as well as the completion of our 2nd year in support of Children’s Hospice in St. Petersburg, Russia. The mere existence of this hospice program is truly a miracle in Russia and is due in large part to his faith, vision and diligence on behalf of these unfortunate children. (That s one.)
The hospice itself grew from 65 patients to nearly 100 this past year. Most of these are provided services at home, some receive the care of the hospice staff in hospital, and some do not require regular attention as yet. All of the families served by the hospice are unable to afford the basic necessities of life medical care and hygienic supplies are completely beyond their reach. Children’s Hospice provides them with every thing their child needs: medical care, medicines, diapers, nutrition, pads for the bed, therapies of every kind, education in the care of their sick child, as well as social and psychological support for the child and members of the family.
There is no word in the Russian language for “volunteerism”. As a concept, like pediatric hospice, it has simply never existed. Children’s Hospice operates daily with the miracle of 100 volunteers! Many of these are medical students. Other than the hospice staff these will be the only medical professionals in Russia with exposure to pediatric palliative care. (That s two miracles right there isn’t it?)
The city of St. Petersburg is donating a valuable piece of land as a site for the construction of a permanent facility. The Speaker of Parliament recently wrote to the governor suggesting the appointment of a special Commission to push forward this project to speed up the transfer of the property. (That’s another two!)
The hospice now receives patients with a variety of diagnoses. Since none of these can be cured, the most important commodities the hospice provides to the children are dignity and fullness of life. The staff and volunteers are utterly dedicated to supporting the children in embracing life during whatever the amount of time they may have left. They design services to meet the emotional as well as the physical needs of each patient. Families who were once left to suffer in fear and pain are now receiving the attention of well-qualified practitioners and dedicated volunteers.
Children’s Hospice has been able to do this successfully because of your tremendous and enthusiastic support. On behalf of Fr. Alexander allow me to say may God bless you with a holy Advent and a blessed Christmas, and thank you, thank you for your steadfast support.
Contact Carole if you d like to receive the hospice’s one page monthly bulletin
To encourage charitable giving, Congress passed the Katrina Emergency Tax Relief Act of 2005, which allows a 100% income tax deduction for 2005 income [against adjusted gross income] for cash gifts to a large list of charities, including churches. The gifts must be made --and received-- between August 28 and December 31, 2005. The stated purpose of the Act is to encourage contributions to provide relief for victims of Katrina type disasters in addition to rather than instead of contributions to other charities.
The Act applies only to cash gifts and not to gifts of appreciated stock or other assets. The calculation of this special tax deduction can be quite complicated; so consult your tax advisor to learn whether you could benefit both yourself and St. Augustine's by making an extra cash gift this year.
The Planned Giving Committee
Christmas gifts for Mary's Place (which is associated with Sts. Martha and Mary) will be collected in the undercroft in the container labeled "Mary's Place" until December 10th.
They are requesting gifts of new hats, scarves, gloves, mitten and socks for the homeless women and children who are served by the shelter at 5th and Columbia in Seattle.
If you have any questions please call Joan Focht (360-321-7225) or Gretchen Wood (360-678-0656).
Guess what! The Holidays are here and we are all busily and happily preparing for celebration. Just around the corner will be the February Rack Sale . It will be the ninth annual sale of clothing only that the Episcopal women have hosted. Please begin to gather your used clothing, shoes, hats (everything wearable) to save for the sale. Proceeds of the sale go to local charities, as usual. Thank you.
Pandora Halstead, Chair, Rack Sale.
We will be holding the first part of our Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, December 11, at 9:15am, to elect three new members to the Vestry and Diocesan Convention Alternates. If you are interested in serving, please speak with the Nominating Committee: Lynda Anderson, Ted Brookes, and Louise Deskey-Wegg.
The Episcopal Church Women s Advent Tea for all women parishioners will be at Barbara Strom's home on Saturday, December 3rd at 1:00 p.m. Please bring cookies to share and, if you wish, bring an extra dozen for a cookie exchange.
Parking is limited, so plan to carpool. You may refer to the list of "Drivers and Passengers" posted in the Narthex where there will also be directions to Barbara's home.
Please plan to attend. This is a lovely occasion.
The next Men’s Breakfast will be held Saturday December 10 in the Undercroft. The guest speaker will be our Suffragan Bishop Nedi Rivera. Bishop Rivera will be speaking on a variety of topics near and dear to us as Episcopalians and members of this Diocese. We will also hope to receive her perspective relative to the deliberations of this years' Diocesan Convention. This forum is always open to everyone in the parish. You are welcome and encouraged to attend, not only to give Bishop Rivera our very best St. Augustine's welcome, but to hear a very warm and informative speaker.
As a gentle reminder, the breakfast begins at 8:30 AM and the speaker takes the podium from 9:00 to 10:00 AM.
Sincerely, Ted Brookes
Program Co Chairman
What are the children at St. Augustine's Preschool thankful for? Parents, brothers and sisters, toys, books, dogs, preschool, teachers, birthdays, Christmas, the whole world. Those are things the children thanked God for at their Thanksgiving popcorn parties.
Now with Thanksgiving over, it is time to start thinking about Christmas. Nothing is more exciting in the life of a preschooler than the anticipation of Christmas! During the month of December the children at St. Augustine's Preschool will be learning about the birth of Jesus through stories, songs, and art projects. They will be busy creating gifts for their families and Christmas decorations for their homes. Preschool families and friends from church are invited to attend a Christmas program in the church at 10:30 on Friday, December 16. It is guaranteed to get everyone in a Christmas spirit!
Joan Johnson
Judy Yeakel has just had a book published. The title is, Sister, Tell Us Your Story. The book is a collection of short stories featuring women in the Bible. She hopes to have the book available in bookstores soon. In the meantime the book is available to buy from Judy for $9.75, which includes tax. Call her if you are interested (221-3592). This will make a great Christmas gift.
In addition, Judy will be at St. Augustine's on Sunday, December 4th for a book signing. Books will be available for purchase then as well. The book signing will take place in the undercroft following each service.
The office will be open sporadically the week between Christmas and New Year's to allow the staff time with their families. Phone and e-mail messages will be checked regularly. If you have an emergency please call Elaine at 331-5811.
The recipient of this year's December Mission Sunday Offering will be our own St. Augustine's Preschool, a non-denominational school founded in 1986 by director Joan Johnson and sponsored by St. Augustine's Parish. The school's mission is to provide enriching educational experiences for preschoolers in a Christian environment.
The initial enrollment in 1986 was eight children, most of whom are now college graduates. Current enrollment is forty children ages three through five, divided into three sessions. During the past twenty years hundreds of South and Central Whidbey children have begun their formal education at St. Augustine's.
At school, children learn to socialize and get along in a group situation, to respect the rights of others, to follow directions and listen to the teacher, to share and take turns. Colors, shapes, numbers, and letters are taught, along with units on various topics such as health and safety, transportation, plants, animals, cultural holidays. Bible stories, creative play, puppetry, dramatization, music, art, cooking, group games, individualized activities, decision-making, outdoor play and exercise are all included in the curriculum. Special guests - policemen, firefighters, musicians, storytellers - are welcome, and occasional field trips are taken to local places of interest.
The facilities for the preschool are provided by St. Augustine's Parish. Funds for operating expenses come from tuition paid by participating families. Through the years ECW has contributed funds earmarked for special purchases such as playground equipment or for scholarships.
The MSO ingathering will be used for scholarships. Every year there are families who find themselves with unexpected financial setbacks - sickness or divorce in the family, a laid-off wage earner, a sudden move. Your contributions will provide scholarships to keep the children from these families in school where they belong. Please give generously on December 11.
Librarian's Corner By Isabel Neddow
ADVENT - There are three small books on the rolling cart with prayers and meditations for Advent and Christmas.
A Feast for Advent
Delia Smith
Let Every Heart Prepare
Barbara Cawthorne Crafton
Our December Hearts
Anne MConney
When Nancy Ruff recommended "When Jesus Came to Harvard" she ignored my remark that He probably didn't stay long. It is understandable why Harvey Cox' course on Jesus and the Moral Life was so popular at Harvard for 20 years. Cox reminds us that Jesus was a rabbi who presented moral choices in narrative form rather than in stated laws. One of the most well-attended classes was a re-enactment of Jesus' trial, about which Alan Dershowitz contended that the outcome might have been different if Jesus had had one good lawyer. Altogether a most readable book.
And one of our parishioners, Grant Heiken, has given a book to the library which he co-authored. The Seven Hills of Rome describes the relationship between geology and the history of Rome to demonstrate the importance of geologic setting in a city s past and future.
2 |
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Suzanne Fageol |
| 4 |
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Shirley Erb |
| 7 |
| Cleveland Riley Jr. |
| 7 |
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Colin Scott |
| 11 |
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William Smith |
| 18 |
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Fred Ludtke |
| 18 |
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Haley McConnaughey |
| 21 |
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Pandora Halstead |
| 22 |
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Elaine Ludtke |
| 28 |
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Michelle Hightower |
| 30 |
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Hannah McConnaughey |
| 16 |
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Grant and Jody Heiken |
| 22 |
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Bill Carruthers & Nancy Ruff |
| 28 |
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Marcia and Walt Siring |
| 30 |
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Darcey and Dick James |
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