The Light Newsletter May 2006

In This Issue:

• From the Rector
• Vestry Highlights
• On a Sad Note
• Christian Outreach Committee
• United Thank Offering
• Spring Quiet Day
• A Moment to Ponder
• Men's Breakfast
• Bishop's Blend Coffee
• I'm Glad You Asked
• Classified Ad
• Our Festive Easter Brunch
• Getting to Know You
• Getting to Know You Two
• Getting Reacquainted
• MSO for May
• Librarian's Corner

From the Rector

Easter has come! Every spring we share in this celebration of that new life that lies at the heart of our community’s identity.

We are a people who are to be about that which is life-giving; not that which is death-dealing. So the Easter season brings with it an invitation to reflect and to decide how we can dwell together in ways that are life-giving.

One of my biggest frustrations is the amount of time I have to spend doing administrative things! It can truly be death-dealing. My greatest joy is to be able to spend time with each of you – in fact, one of the original justifications for our parish cell phone was that I was hoping to be out and about so frequently that such a communications device would be essential to reaching me.

But whether St. Augustine’s has 200 people on our rolls or 2,000, the same sorts of administrative tasks are required.

And – as we continue to grow and to move forward with the various initiatives that we have, together, identified – the requirement for a more organized and involved institutional structure grows with it.

This year our vestry has made a determined effort to create just such a functioning structure. It requires a greater involvement from each of you. As the committees and groups that we have envisaged begin to function, then my hope is that I will have more time to spend doing that which lies at the heart of our community identity – spending time together; talking about hopes and dreams and fears, and finding ways that we can grow in grace into that fellowship that is the body of Christ.

So fire up your calendars, and let me know when I can come by to visit with you!

God’s blessings to you,

Nigel

Vestry Highlights

The April Vestry minutes will be available in the undercroft. The monthly Vestry meeting occurred after the Light publication date.

On a Sad Note

Word has been received of the death in February of Evelyn Holmes, former St. Augustine’s parishioner from the early 1970’s until her move to the Tacoma area in 1993 to be near her daughters. Evelyn was 95 year old.

Evelyn and her husband, Earl, an attorney, moved to Whidbey in 1973 following his retirement. He served on the Bishop’s Committee and volunteered two days a week at Legal Aid. Earl died in 1977.

At the time of her retirement, Evelyn was a caseworker for the Department of Public Assistance in Yakima, and later in Everett. She also served as City Chairperson for the Child Health and Protective Committee in Yakima. Here on Whidbey she continued her volunteer work, becoming coordinator of the first Visiting Volunteers Hospice Program on the island.

Evelyn’s daughter, Penny Holmes, may be contacted at 10439 Glenwood Drive SW, Lakewood, WA, 98498.

Christian Outreach Committee

Following the call of the Long Range Plan for a St. Augustine's Outreach Committee to help coordinate outreach activities, a gathering of interested parishioners involved in outreach activities met on three different occasions to draw up a mission statement and select a chair. John Watson was selected as the chair for this new committee. In addition to John, the committee currently consists of Ray Haman, Maureen Masterson and the Vestry liaison Dick Hall. Contact John Watson if you feel called to join the outreach committee.

The mission of St. Augustine's in-the-Woods Episcopal Parish is to worship God, witnessing to Jesus Christ by serving the community and the world in which we live, all through the power of the Holy Spirit.  The Outreach Committee should strive to inspire the parish family to fulfill this mission and inform the community of these efforts.  The Committee's activities should include, but not be limited to:

   
• Disseminating information concerning parish outreach activities and groups to the parish and the Whidbey Island community.
   
• Helping to enable the development of new outreach efforts.
   
• Encouraging cooperation among parish outreach activities and coordinating those activities as may be necessary.

United Thank Offering

Spring Ingathering, Sunday, May 7^th

“Whatever you are doing, whether you speak or act, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” (Colossians 3:17)

In 2005 the UTO committee approved 131 grants totaling $2,710,247.22. Grants will fund projects and programs which meet human needs and/or expand the mission and ministry of the Church. The sources of funds for granting are:

Committee expenses are supported entirely by designated trust funds. This information is amazing when we consider that it all starts with each of us dropping our coinage and other monies into the familiar ‘Blue Box’. These boxes and other materials are available to you in the Narthex and the Undercroft.

As Mother Teresa reminds us: “It is not how much we do, but how much love we put in doing it. It is not how much we give, but how much love we put into giving.”

Spring Quiet Day

A day of meditation and reflection on Mary of Nazareth, Mother of Christ will be held on Monday, May 8, from 3-5 p.m.  Julie Bird, St. Augustine's Deacon, will be the leader of the day, assisted by other women of the parish.  The day will begin with an introduction to Mary followed by brief meditations to guide those attending into three periods of silence and reflection.  We have shared Mary's sorrows at the Crucifixion and we now look forward to celebrating the dedication and sacrifice of all mothers on Mother's Day.

A sign-up sheet is in the Narthex so we can get an idea of how many people to expect; however, you do not have to sign-up to attend.

Those attending are invited to extend their meditation by experiencing the office of Evensong at 5:30 p.m., a brief service that is held every Monday at St. Augustine’s.  The Quiet Day is sponsored by the Spiritual Growth Committee.  

A Moment to Ponder

In Saint Benedict's Rule of Life (observed by many monastic communities) he states that there are two types of zeal; one which is “bitter and divisive” (separating us from God and from one another) and the other, "good zeal" (acts of love) which can lead us, together, into everlasting life.

Men's Breakfast

The next Men¹s Breakfast will be held Saturday, May 13, in the Undercroft, beginning promptly at 8:30am.  The guest speaker will be Mr. John Dean, candidate for District 3 County Commissioner. John is a career community journalist and a graduate of St. Patrick's College Seminary in Mountain View, CA.  He most recently served as the editor and associate publisher of the Stanwood-Camano News.  I have asked John to speak to us about how his personal faith has influenced his role as a newspaper journalist and editor.

Everyone in the parish is welcome and encouraged to come to this meeting.  It should be very informative, insightful, and inspirational. If you plan to attend please let Bill Carruthers at 341-2209 or I know so we have a good head count.

We are still looking for "a few good men or women" to volunteer as cooks for our remaining two Men's Breakfast sessions.  If you are interested in helping us out, please call Bill Carruthers.

Bishop's Blend Coffee

Have you noticed the bags of coffee for sale on the table in the Undercroft? St. Augustine’s ECW offers a special blend of coffee in both whole bean and ground, caffeine or decaffeinated.  ECW has supported this mission project for over 2 years. To understand more about this product, just read the mission statement of the company that distributes it - Pura Vida - a Seattle-based company.

"We believe in a different approach to business. One driven by good rather than greed. One that sees capitalism as an agent for compassion, and faith as an engine for action. Because Pura Vida is 100% charitably owned, all of our resources go to help at-risk children and families in coffee growing countries build more hopeful futures." - Pura Vida Mission Statement

Pura Vida attempts to demonstrate that the worlds of business and charity can not only coexist, but can thrive on one another.
THIS IS HOW IT WORKS.....
Using the tools available in a capitalist economy Pura Vida seeks to break the cycle of poverty. 100% of their product is certified fair trade coffee that is purchased from farmers in 10 different countries. Fair trade coffee is purchased from small farmers providing them with a better return for their labor helping them to feed their families, sustain their communities and break the cycle of poverty. In a fair trade system, the farmer gets paid a “fair amount” up front rather than getting the “leftovers”.

Environmental concerns are also addressed by Pura Vida. Pura Vida purchases organic and shade grown coffee. Organic coffee is grown without chemical fertilizers or pesticides, making it healthier for those drinking it AND for those growing it. Shade grown coffee grows under a tree canopy providing shelter to songbirds and protecting the coffee plants from intense heat.

This project was actually started by our Presiding Bishop. The Episcopal Relief and Development Fund (ERD) is one of three partnerships between Pura Vida and charitable organizations. The other two are Sojourners and World Relief. The Episcopal Relief and Development Fund receives 15% of the profit from the sale of each bag of Bishop’s Blend Coffee. The sale of Bishop’s Blend coffee complements the Christian outreach of St. Augustine’s. It is another way in which we as Christians can attempt to be true to the Gospel call for compassionate justice. In purchasing Bishop’s Blend we help farmers to  receive a living wage and the profits go to ERD to be used for charitable works. The current Bishop’s Blend package states that the purchase of the fair trade coffee allows ERD to help:

    
1. AIDS orphans
2. Create jobs for women to support families.
3. Provide emergency food for people losing homes in hurricanes.

I'm Glad You Asked

I wanted to work on something and dropped by one weekday, only to find the parking lot full and people in the space I needed -  why?
I don’t doubt it, St. Aug’s is a happening place! In addition to regular worship we have 25 active committees that meet regularly, plus the Preschool kids and their parents (two classes a day!) and several “outside” groups that meet here. Next time you might want to check the calendar or call the office first.

Huh. Well, then I thought I’d come ask you some questions and get your help on something, but you were already busy with someone else and the phone wouldn’t stop ringing so decided to come back later.
I wish you’d said something, I’m happy to help but, as you noticed, things can be pretty busy and noisy around here, especially the month before major holy days. Lets make an appointment so I can give you my full attention – I won’t even answer the phone while we meet.

Really? Maybe that is why you didn’t answer and I had to leave a message the other day, you were meeting with someone.
Maybe, however I am also allowed to leave my desk briefly for bathroom and lunch breaks.

It seems like Nigel is always busy or gone when I come by, I never get a chance to talk with him quietly.
Nigel loves to see people and his door is always open – that is unless someone else beats you to him or he is meeting with one of those committees, or visiting the sick… making an appointment is the best (and only) way to insure that quiet one-on-one time.

Now that we have that great new copier I’d like to use it for a non-church project, may I?
Sure, with a couple of caveats. Please recognize that church material comes first and don’t wait until the last minute. The bulletins, announcements, and “Light” all take hours to run and many people/committees need to use the machine so you might want to check with me beforehand. The easiest way to get copies is to e-mail the print-ready document to the office several days before you need it and I’ll be happy to run it for you.

Secondly, we appreciate a donation to cover the cost. Donations can be placed in the high-tech, high-security cigar box in the windowsill near the copier.

What is with your hours? One day you are in the office at 3:30, the next you aren’t, and Tuesday you didn’t get here until 8:45!
Sorry to confuse you, office hours are 9-2 Monday – Thursday and 9-1 on Friday. Technically I’m only in the office 24 hours a week. You and others often find me here much earlier or later – but that has to do with special projects or services or things happening at my son’s school where I work too. You can’t count on me being here outside those office hours unless you’ve made an appointment with me.

Appointments and calendars! Is that your answer to everything?!?!
Yes pretty much. One of my jobs is to keep individual projects, committees, and publications flowing smoothly and, most often, when they don’t it is because the calendar wasn’t appropriately used.

So if I want to get my project on the calendar what do I do? Go write it on that wall calendar?
No! There is a big pink note over the calendar to guide you as well as building use forms to fill out. That wall calendar is a reference only. You can use it to see if your date is likely available, then fill out one of those building use forms and leave it on my desk or in my box. Be sure to write legibly and leave your phone number. Then, at the next Staff Meeting, we will review all the requests and how they would impact liturgical celebrations and other events to be sure that the Non-Profit that plans to borrow chairs doesn’t leave the Worship Committee sitting on the floor. Only after the Staff has approved an event or facility use is it placed on the calendar. I know all that sounds tedious, but with so many people and groups to juggle it’s the only sure way to avoid conflicts.

Now I have a question for you—would you like to help out in the office?
What?! Who me!?! Doing what? I don’t know how to work your equipment. I wouldn’t know how.

Now that Elaine has retired (again) I need someone who can come hold the fort when I’m sick or on vacation. I promise not to ask anything very hard of you, just answer the phone and e-mails and be nice to people who show up. And don’t worry about the e-mails, even if you’ve never done it before it is a snap to learn, really. You’d be welcome to bring your own projects to work on. Mostly we just want people to know that when they reach out to us, (the church as a whole) that they get a real person who cares, not a machine, and an open church door with someone to give them the tour if they’d like it, instead of an empty, locked building.

Why don’t we have a Parish Cat? Lots of churches have a cat. I think we need a cat.
See, this is why I like working here—I just never know what people will bring me next. And don’t think you got away with changing the subject there. I’m starting a new list of volunteers and your name is first!

Classified Ad

WANTED: Someone willing to take on a new job in the area of outreach. Currently, St. Augustine’s is selling a fair trade coffee called Bishop’s Blend, a national project started by the Presiding Bishop. (See previous article) It is a way to enjoy coffee and help Third World countries producing the coffee. An extra benefit is that 15% of the price of each bag goes to the Bishop’s Fund for World Relief.

Qualifications: We are looking for someone with a passion for reaching out to help others. (Hopefully, someone that is not already doing twenty other things for the church!)

Job Description:

1. Reorganize the method of displaying and collecting the money for the coffee.
2. Survey the people presently ordering coffee about the amounts they think they will use and whether they would prefer the light or dark blend.
3. Order coffee every 2 months or less using the info gathered in part (b).
4. Write just one short bulletin announcement that will be put into the church  bulletin one week each month telling about the coffee as our mission outreach project.

Our Festive Easter Brunch

Thanks to all who joined together at the Easter Brunch.  It was a joyful occasion.  Each and every one of you made it so.  Set up, the decorations, food and our faithful “foot soldiers” were always there as needed.  Our youth group was on board to put away the tables and chairs – a big task.  A special “thanks” to Cheryl and Jim Smith for the African Violet plants on each table used as table favors.

Getting to Know You

Albert Rose commutes from Mukilteo each Sunday to attend the 10 o’clock service at St. Augustine’s. He was a resident of the Lake Stevens area before moving to Mukilteo.

Albert is a native Oregonian, born and raised in Lebanon, just east of Corvallis. Later, he lived in Eugene, San Francisco, Puyallup, Seattle and Minneapolis. A self-employed classical realist artist, he painted the official portrait of Bishop Cochrane for the Diocese. He says, “If we can get Bishop Warner interested, I’d like to do another.”

He enjoys a variety of creative pursuits including wood-working, knitting, gardening, as well as hiking. He is the father of one daughter, Theresa, 26.

Albert says, “I am recovering from a divorce last June. South Whidbey feels good for the artist in me, and St. Augustine’s has been wonderfully supportive.” He also belongs to CODA, a 12-step support group for people with co-dependency issues.

He suggests anyone interested in his paintings check his website, www.albertrose.com for more details.

Getting to Know You Two

George and Lucy Sharp moved to Whidbey Island just six months ago from Woodstock, Vermont. Prior to that time, they had lived for 30-plus years in Bedford, New York – north of New York City and very near the border with Connecticut. Their Whidbey Island home is on Blue Heron Way, south of Clinton.

Both George and Lucy were born in New York City, spending early childhoods there. The couple was married following her college graduation and moved to Bedford.

In retirement, George works as a consultant. He has been a member of both the Financial Management and Risk Management Associations. His wide range of interests includes gardening, oenology, bridge, foreign affairs, investment and travel. He is currently a member of Rotary.

Lucy, a graduate of Yale Divinity School, was a hospital chaplain at the time of her retirement. She, too, enjoys travel as well as reading, needlework, choral singing and ‘playing with our 7 grandchildren as often as possible’. Before moving to Whidbey, she belonged to several choral groups, hospital volunteer organizations, The King’s Daughters, and reading groups.

The Sharps are parents of three grown children – Ruth Keilty of Toronto, Canada; Andy of Gig Harbor, and Carolyn of Seattle. They are grandparents to Jack, Jessica, Sloane, Zachary, Sara, Samuel and Margaret.

Lucy says, “We are thrilled to live on this beautiful island, close to two of our children, and to be a part of such a caring community as St. Augustine’s. I look forward to serving as your Lay Pastoral Coordinator.”

Getting Reacquainted

(Editors note: There are so many ‘new?’ members of our parish, we thought it would be interesting to become reacquainted with the ‘old?’ members. How to differentiate is a problem. Rather than ask around at coffee hour as to "Who’s been here the longest?", research in the archives is our source at this time. Your recollections are welcomed.)

Wren and Mitzi MacLean came to Whidbey Island from the Midwest in 1980. They lived in Useless Bay until moving to Langley two years ago. Another parishioner has described this amazing couple as “volunteers extraordinaire”. Indeed, their gifts of time, service and talent have enriched the community and our church.

Wren, a retired engineer, has been a tutor and referee at sports events at South Whidbey schools. At St. Augustine’s, he has taught Sunday school, been a convention delegate and served in many other leadership capacities. At the moment, he is working on our new church directory.

Mitzi, a former school librarian, helped organize our church library, and served as president of the ECW. And, according to gossip, she was a ruthless and fantastic kitchen “cleaner upper”. She has also been involved in the Friends of the Library and the South Whidbey Historical Society.

When asked what were the most significant changes on the island and the church the last 25 years, they mentioned the population growth as evidenced by stop lights and the ferry passengers. There were no stop lights on South Whidbey and they used to know everyone upstairs on the ferry. Wren did mention that, then as now, if you missed greeting someone at the St. Augustine coffee hour you were sure to find them at Payless on the way home.

The MacLeans are fortunate to have family nearby. Two daughters are nurses which, he says, comes in very handy. One is an artist who taught stained glass. One of her best students, we think, is her father. He took a class from her and it soon became his hobby. He did the three wonderful panels in the undercroft. They were all designed by Richard Proctor. The first, wheat and grapes, was done as a money raising project for the ECW. Fortunately, the members decided to donate the money and keep the panel so that it might be enjoyed by everyone for years to come. The second was made to commemorate St. Augustine. The third was done in memory of Bert Johnson and all the wonderful things he had done for the church.

As you know, there is one window with no stained glass. Wren hopes to do one for this space. We all look forward to this…another wondrous gift from Wren and Mitzi.

MSO for May

Once again Time Together Adult Day Services is honored to be designated for your parish Mission Sunday offering this May. As the initiating “godparents” of our very existence in service to family caregivers, you continue to embrace us in both spiritual and financial support.

We continue as a three-day program whose enrollment is generally “full-up”. Most families now find us through word-of-mouth. And most families, though they dread the day they will need our help, soon come to find themselves part of a very special family – and their loved ones once again finding fun and friendship with the human family.

The backbone of our success remains the volunteer and financial support of the South Whidbey community. There would be no Time Together but for those two elements. St. Augustine’s “leads the pack” in both categories. It is easy and fitting to designate you as our “godparents”, as you are to us the true image of that role.

From Time Together’s staff, volunteers, and caregivers – the deepest appreciation!

Librarian's Corner

We are truly blessed at St. A’s to have so many people who give books to the library.  Among the latest donations is “Prayers to She Who Is” by William Cleary from Judy Yeakel.  This book of beautiful prayers opens our eyes to how language shapes the way we think.

Jean Lewis has donated a good mix of books and tapes of traditional Christian meditations by Fr. Thomas Keating.  The books include authors such as Thomas Merton, Elaine Pagels and Frederick Buechner.  You will find a few of these already in the library, but you can never have too much Pagels or Buechner.

When Julie Bird spoke to the ECW she mentioned “Centering Prayer and Inner Awakening” by Cynthia Bourgeault, as an excellent introduction to contemplative prayer.  It, too, is on the rolling cart.

I’m not sure what I thought “This Old Church” would be about, but it turns out to be an informative nuts and bolts way to maintain and restore an old church.  I had hoped it would provide ideas as to how to better use existing spaces, but alas it does not.

“Final Gifts” by Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley is a heartfelt description of hospice care.  These two nurses who care for the terminally ill help us understand the commonality of expressed desires and more importantly the unexpressed desires during those last days.  Another excellent resource on our library shelves (250 AND) is “Sacred Dying” by Megory Anderson with a focus on the need for creating rituals in preparing for death.