In This Issue:
This month I'm going to use this space to share some information with you about worship and about pastoral care.
At its March meeting our Pastoral Care Committee unanimously approved Lucy Sharp our Lay Pastoral Care Coordinator. Lucy is a retired hospital chaplain who filled this role in her previous parish in Vermont. She and her husband George moved here for their second retirement last year. Lucy's role will be that of coordination, as the title indicates, in addition to being part of the pastoral care team. Lucy also serves as a Worship Leader (formerly known as a Lay Reader ) at our 8:00 a.m. service.
I am very excited about Lucy's willingness to accept this important responsibility, and the committee is also very enthusiastic. Please consider contacting Lucy for any pastoral need, and she will coordinate our parish response.
In a related development we now have eight parishioners who have been trained as Eucharistic Visitors (formerly Lay Eucharistic Visitors ). This specialized ministry is focused on taking communion to sick and homebound parishioners who are unable to be present on a Sunday morning, thus extending our Eucharistic community to include all members.
We have teams of Visitors from both services — please watch for their names in the bulletin. When requested they will take communion directly from the services to those who request it. If you know anyone who would like to receive this ministry please contact our Deacon, Julie Bird.
Lastly, at its last meeting the Worship Committee discussed the use of the Collect for Purity in both our services. The collect ("Almighty God, unto whom all hearts are open, all desires known, and from whom no secrets are hid") was originally a robing prayer said by the priest as he prepared for the service. Archbishop Thomas Cranmer — the architect of the first Book of Common Prayer — so liked the prayer that he moved it into the service itself. In those days the theology of representative ministry was not fully developed and the priest's role was more exclusive. In many Anglican provinces today - including Canada and England - this prayer is said by the whole congregation, as a preparation for their participation in the Eucharist.
The Committee decided that we will adopt this practice of congregational prayer for the Easter Season, and then review it. As always, your comments would be appreciated.
God’s blessings to you
Nigel
By Diane Klein, Vestry Clerk
Ted Brookes reported on a meeting with Mark Nelson, Architect, to look at the feasibility of renovating and/or building a new structure to add more useable space as projected by the Long Range Planning Committee. More details are in the complete minutes.
It was approved to take any building expenses from the Building Fund.
An Umbrella Parish Life Committee is being formed to coordinate the various Parish Life Committees.
The Parish Treasurer was authorized to transfer the Endowment funds to the Episcopal Church Foundation to open an account.
Saturday, April 1 is the annual cleanup day in preparation for Easter.
The Vestry formally approved the goals for 2006 set at the retreat.
The next meeting will be Thursday, April 27 at 6:30 p.m.
The complete Minutes are posted in the Undercroft.
In just a few short weeks Holy Week and Easter will be upon us. This springtime ritual of death and rebirth will again be writ large across our lives. As usual we will have a full round of worship in this most important of seasons:
| Sunday 4/9 | 8:00am | Palm Sunday Rite I | 10:00am | Palm Sunday Rite II |
| Both services will include the dramatic reading of the passion gospel |
| Monday 4/10 | 8:30am | Morning Prayer | 5:30pm | Solemn Evensong |
| Tuesday 4/11 | 8:30am | Morning Prayer | 5:30pm | Solemn Evensong |
| Wednesday 4/12 | 10:00am | Eucharist | 7:00pm | Tenebrae |
| Thursday 4/13 | 8:30am | Morning Prayer | 7:00pm | Maundy Thursday Eucharist |
| Friday 4/14 | 12:00 noon | 3 hour vigil | 7:00pm | Good Friday Liturgy |
| Saturday 4/15 | 8:00pm | Easter Vigil (at Trinity Lutheran Church) |
| Sunday 4/16 | 8:00am | Choral Eucharist I | 10:00am | Choral Eucharist II |
In addition to sharing the times with you I would also like to issue this invitation: if you would like to participate in any of these services as a lector, acolyte, or lead the prayers, please let the parish office know and we will do our best to schedule you for the appropriate service.
March was Science month at preschool. The teachers and children enjoyed setting up experiments, deciding upon a hypothesis, and then making observations. They created static electricity with balloons, made tornadoes in a bottle, watched raisins "dance" in a water/vinegar/baking soda solution, and grew their own sugar crystals. They also experimented with their five senses and learned about different kinds of habitats.
On "U" day a visiting archaeologist (Jennifer Johnson Zovar) taught the class about things that can be found under the ground and created a "dig" for the children. On "V" day each child had the chance to play a real violin.
The children have also been doing a lot of counting and learning about money. One day they were each given three pennies to spend shopping in the school "store," where they got to buy a small toy or book.
In April the Pre-K class is looking forward to having lunch with the ECW members. On April 18 they will be getting registered for their next big educational adventure - kindergarten! This year is flying by much too fast!
By Lynda Anderson, Temporary Chair, Fellowship Committee
And what a treat it was. The women of La Iglesia de la Resurrección, the Hispanic Mission in Mt. Vernon, prepared more food than we could possibly eat, but we tried. It was delicious. The meal included: Chips Verde (green chili chips), Pozole (chicken & hominy soup), Tamales, Pollo en Molé Oaxaqueno (chicken in molé sauce), Arroz y Frijoles (rice & beans) and Arroz en Leche (rice pudding).
The Rev. Jo Beecher, Associate Minister for Hispanic Ministries from La Iglesia de la Resurrección led the group in a song of praise and thanksgiving in Spanish. She said we were to sing it until we "got it right".
This fun evening was also a fund raiser for their congregation and we raised over $1200 for their mission. St. Augustine's has done a number of programs to support this tiny mission over the past few years. We hope to be able to do even more in the future. Many enjoyed the evening so much they suggested we make this an annual event.
The Fellowship Committee, which hosted this event, will add this to our "to do" list and work with Jo Beecher to see if they have the same desire.
Upcoming events are the Easter Brunch on April 16th (currently scheduled between the services) and a "Just For Fun" potluck on Tuesday, May 9th.
By Cleveland Riley, Jr.
Emphasis of the March 12th meeting was spent on Holy Week preparations. St. Augustine's is hosting the Good Friday Ecumenical service this year. A festive coffee hour between the two Celebrations on Resurrection Sunday is being organized by Claree Vandegrift as well as treats being served after the 10:00 am service.
A Worship Committee Retreat in the Undercroft will be held Saturday, April 29th from 9:00 am to noon. The purpose of the retreat is to review present worship procedures and plan workshops for those who are connected with our worship week by week so that we are all on the 'same page', so to speak.
Worship Committee Members are asked to please RSVP for the retreat to Cleveland Riley, Jr. friendly@pugetsound.net or (360) 331-6532 no later than April 25th.
By Bill Carruthers, Jumior Warden
To: Parishioners
During the month of February the leadership (Father Nigel, Jim Langler as Senior Warden, and Bill Carruthers, as Junior Warden) were forced to cancel church services one Sunday. For those who have not heard or read this information before, here is a recap. The decision to cancel was based upon three problems. Winds had toppled a large tree and many large limbs littered the parking area; several limbs still hung precariously above a heavily used portion of the parking area. The storm-related power outage that weekend was expected to continue through Sunday. And finally, (vandals?) had run over a water pipe and St. Augustine's had no water - a circumstance in which public health regulations require bringing in bottled water and port-a-potties before we could use the church.
In retrospect, we believe it would have been better to communicate more thoroughly these reasons for canceling services as a part of the phone tree message that was initiated late Saturday afternoon. We also learned that with so short a notice and similar power outages, it is impossible to ensure that every individual will get the message by our usual methods of communication.
With the lessons learned, let's use this event as an opportunity to develop a better system for dealing with future emergencies - both of this type and any that certainly might be more serious. Disaster preparedness is an important issue that we will be discussing in the future. Please let a Vestry member know of any suggestions you have to increase the efficiency of communication within the parish. We regret that some parishioners were not fully informed.
By Claree Vandegrift
The annual Easter Brunch will be held at 9:00 am, April 16th between services in the Undercroft. Do plan to attend on this joyous day! Details will be in the Narthex. Your attendance, food and help setting up is requested. Questions? Please call Claree at (360) 221-5988
By John Watson
I have agreed to take a leadership role along with Dick Hall assisting in the area of Outreach. There has been training for those attending the 8:00 am services to become a Eucharistic Visitor under the direction of Deacon Julie Bird and Worship Leader Lucy Sharp. Lucy and I are ready to visit any shut-in or ill person desiring to have communion brought to them at 9:30 am for those who reside in the area of Greenbank south.
By Nigel Taber-Hamilton
We have received a packet from the Bishop Search Committee with materials designed to help us reflect on our hopes for our next Bishop Diocesan. On Sunday, April 2nd our forum will introduce the process, including three questions provided by the Bishop Search Committee for our consideration.
These questions will also appear in the Sunday bulletin with the invitation to think about them at your convenience.
On Sunday, April 23rd, we will have a special Sunday Forum where you will have the opportunity to share what you discerned in a format that can be communicated to the Search Committee from St. Augustine's. If more time proves to be necessary we will return to this topic on April 30th.
The Search Committee also welcomes individual submissions. Please "Mark Your Calendars" for 9:15 am on Sunday, April 23.
By Dick Hall
On March 10-12 Ian Carr and Dick Hall attended a three-day workshop on active nonviolence sponsored by the Episcopal Peace Fellowship and the Fellowship of Reconciliation. The workshop was held in Portland, Oregon. On March 14 the Portland workshop facilitator and national program director for the Episcopal Peace Fellowship, Nick Chavasse, visited St. Augustine's and conducted a condensed version of the Portland workshop. The St. Augustine's session, through presentations and participant interaction, explored definitions of violence; the history and philosophy of nonviolence activism; methods of conducting a dialog with adversaries; the need for inner spiritual strength and the tactics and discipline necessary for nonviolent social change. The nonviolent activist examples and teachings of Jesus, Mohandas Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Cesar Chavez were explained. The session ended with the participants providing a practical learning exercise in dialog. In groups of four, each person took turns speaking with empathy as President Bush, a U.S. soldier in Iraq, an Iraqi child and a peace activist. This exercise is based on an observation of Gandhi, "Everyone holds a piece of the Truth." The session met in the undercroft and was attended by thirteen people, five from outside St. Augustine's.
The next Men s Breakfast will be held Saturday, April 8th, in the Undercroft. The guest speaker will be Pastor Jim Lindus of Trinity Lutheran Church. Jim will have just returned from the Holy Land with several members of his congregation. I have asked him to come and share his experiences and insights with us, particularly while they are still fresh in his mind. Jim is a very eloquent, passionate, and knowledgeable speaker who has visited the Middle East on
several occasions. Everyone in the parish is welcome and encouraged to come to this meeting. It should be very informative, thought provoking, and a perfect segue into our up-coming Sabbatical Program.
We are still looking for "A few good men or women" to volunteer as cooks during our remaining Men's Breakfast sessions. If you are interested in helping us out please call Bill Carruthers at 341-2209. If you plan to attend please let Bill or I know so we have a good head count.
Sincerely, Ted Brookes
Program Co-Chairman
The next ECW meeting will be Wednesday April 5th and we are pleased to have Amanda Fisher, director of the Reading Readiness program on Whidbey. It is an umbrella of services reaching out to families, and is also a recipient of funds from Trash and Treasure. You are sure to be enlightened by her presentation.
Bring a sandwich to share and soup will be provided. The meeting will start at 11:00 with Amanda's program following.
By Barbara Moss
Our annual Spring In Gathering will be held on Sunday, May 7th. The blue boxes for your donations are in the Narthex. It is easy to place your spare change in the box every evening — a small action for you and a large gift for the recipients.
By Bev Babson and Margaret Schultz
A short informational meeting was presented to those interested in joining us for our trip to Russia October 2nd to the 18th, 2006. Father Bill Burnett shared his past trip experiences, as did others attending. Slides and a video showing the highlights of St. Petersburg and the areas surrounding were enticing to a point that several persons have signed on for this amazing opportunity to experience a personalized and guided visit with our brothers and sisters in Christ.
BUT DON T WAIT ANOTHER MOMENT!
SAS airlines must have your deposit of $50.00 by April 2nd to reserve your seat. Bring your check to St. Augustine's on or before Sunday, April 2nd.
Helping Hand was started by Father Bill Burnett and Judy Yeakel of St. Augustine's (amongst
others) and incorporated as a non-profit in 1984. Helping Hand gives assistance to the homeless and those down on their luck who are our neighbors on South Whidbey. Local giving has fallen off due to the community response to the tsunami victims of SE Asia, as well as hurricane overload so we need and appreciate your help more than ever. Sometimes we forget that charity should begin at home and in our community. Please give generously.
Yours in Christ, John Watson
By Nancy Paris
Paul and Charlene Wagner are two of an increasingly hard-to-find group — that is, native Washingtonians! Charlene is from Tacoma and lived there all her life until their move to Whidbey Island. Paul was born in Centralia but also lived in Port Angeles and Olympia before making Tacoma his home as an adult.
The Wagners moved to Whidbey eight years ago and live in downtown Coupeville. Paul is a retired route salesman whose hobby is old cars. As a member of the Whidbey Cruzers Club, he is the proud owner of a 1934 Ford Victoria.
Charlene is employed as Personalized Services Clerk and Engraver at the Navy Exchange Sea Plane Base in Oak Harbor. Both are life-long Episcopalians and former members of St. Stephens in Oak Harbor.
Both Wagners agree, "We enjoy the life-style and pace of Whidbey Island — especially Coupeville. We feel very comfortable, welcomed and spiritually enriched at St. Augustine's."
Welcome to the congregation, Paul and Charlene!
By Isabel Neddow
The final volume in the Mitford series by Jan Karon is on the rolling cart. Gerry Rosenau has donated "Light From Heaven", which is the last chapter in this very popular reader's delight.
Habitat for Humanity is very much a part of the Whidbey Island community and Jerry and Chris Lubinski have donated "The Excitement is Building" by Millard and Linda Fuller (250 FUL). This history with a foreword by Jimmy Carter tells of small beginnings which have evolved into a highly respected worldwide organization.
I was going to talk about "Summer" when it was closer to that wonderfully warm time of year, but I think we need it now. Everyone's summer memories are different; however; this "Spiritual Biography of the Season" contains the slowing and retreat from the every day which we all feel in summer. The contributors are names we all know and if you jump around in these stories, don't miss "Toenails".
Barbara Moss has given us a delight to read — "Too Close to the Falls" by Catherine Gildiner. It is a memoir of a Catholic childhood in the 50's where she was told that it was not unknown for Protestants to lack a funnybone. The nuns told her that the reason the Chinese used chopsticks was so the Communists could perforate the eardrums of little Catholic children. My favorite sage advice was from Cathy's mother who told her to throw out any irons she might receive as wedding gifts because there might be too much temptation to use them. Try it — it's great fun.
The illustration here and on the front of this month's Light was painted by Joel Zovar for their wedding invitation when he and Jennifer Johnson were married last year. The original painting is approximately three feet tall and was done with watercolor paints.
Joel said he wanted to create a unique invitation reflecting the beauty and character of St. Augustine's in-the-Woods.
Joel is happy now to share his painting with the parish which played such an important role in Jennifer's life. In addition to the Light you may notice it on other printed materials as well.
We are incredibly grateful to Joel for this marvelous gift.
Do you have any pictures of the church or grounds you'd like to share? We'd love to see them.
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