the Light Newsletter February 2007

In this issue:

• Many Thanks!!!
• Mary’s Place
• Holiday House
• From the Rector
• Junior Warden Report ~ January, 2007
• Annual Meeting ~ January 14, 2007
• Prayer Schedule Update
• Dedication of the Day
• Blessed Are the Peace Makers
• St. Augustine’s Parish Endowment Fund
  
• Correction for February 2007 Light
• St. Stephen Episcopal Church: A Time for Reflection and Renewal
• Getting Reacquainted
• Getting To Know You
• Mission Sunday Offering for February 2007

Many Thanks!!!
La Iglesia de la Resurreccion

By Jan Mulder and Cleveland Riley

On Sunday, December 17^th, 2006, we gathered the packages, bags and cartons of clothes and toys the parishioners of St. Augustine’s had lovingly donated for the children of La Iglesia de la Resurreccion in Mt. Vernon. There was not an inch of spare space left in the SUV! Gracefully, Diane Divelbess volunteered to make another trip to Mt. Vernon later in the week with additional packages that had arrived at the church after Sunday.

The Reverend Jo Beecher welcomed us into the church, where the hallways, rooms and social hall were overflowing with bags and parcels. Dozens of “elves” were busy sorting and wrapping – getting ready for the big Fiesta on the 22nd. She told us the 2006 number of needy children to receive a gift or two had increased from the previous year’s 600 to an astounding 720! Jo was overwhelmed and so grateful for all that was being done for ‘her’ children, and asked this to be conveyed to all who had donated gifts or made financial donations to make Christmas such a wonderful event for these children.

Mary’s Place

By Joan Focht and Gretchen Wood

The Church of Mary Magdalene and Mary's Place opens their doors to nearly 1,000 individual women every year.  Your gifts truly make a difference in homeless women's lives. We support them throughout the year by donating supplies such as toiletries, lingerie, socks and craft supplies.  During the Christmas season we ask for new hats, scarves, socks, gloves, mittens and lotions as gifts.  Our church gave two boxes of gifts to the women.  Thanks to each of you for reaching out to the women at Mary's Place.

Holiday House

By Gail LaVassar

On behalf of the Holiday House and the Island County Readiness to Learn Foundation, thank you for your donations and support of Holiday House.

We are grateful and humbled by the giving spirit in our community. This year 403 children received gifts through Holiday House. Your assistance means the world to them and to us.

Thank you again.

From the Rector

The Rev. Nigel Taber-Hamilton

Who would have thought that Epiphany is almost over and Ash Wednesday is right around the corner! Time flies, they say, when you’re having fun! If feels as if it was only last week when I was wandering Iona Island, or praying at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem.

For that matter, I can still recall with great clarity such minutiae as the arrangement of the seating at General Convention in Columbus last June. And I recall some of the decisions – though likely not the ones most of you heard about.

I am referring in particular to the requirement that all Episcopal congregations adopt the Revised Common Lectionary as the lectionary of our Church effective the first Sunday of Advent – the legislation also allowed for the immediate adoption of the RCL, if so desired. We chose the former (Advent 1).

If you turn to page 888 of the Book of Common Prayer you will find a description of what a “lectionary” is, along with the lectionary itself. Basically a lectionary determines which biblical passages are read on what Sundays throughout the Church year, using a three year cycle: A, B, and C.

Prior to the 1979 BCP readings repeated every year, and did not include any Old Testament reading (except, of course, a psalm). When the Roman Catholic Church revised its liturgy during Vatican II it adopted a three-year cycle. Our now-familiar cycle is modeled on their cycle, but our church adapted a few of the choices of text to suit our needs. Most of the readings are the same, but not all.

The Revised Common Lectionary was produced by the Consultation on Common Texts, with also produced agreed texts for the Gloria, the Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and so on that are included in our Church’s “Enriching our Worship” series. The RCL came into its final form in 1992 – well after the Episcopal lectionary in the BCP (1976).

The RCL is also based on the Roman lectionary. One member of the CCT group said this about the RCL:

“The three-year, three-reading plan is exactly the same. The calendar is virtually the same. The Gospel readings are almost always the same, as are the second-lesson selections, drawn from the Epistles and (after Easter) the books of Acts and Revelation. The only serious divergence is at the point of the Hebrew Bible lessons after Pentecost, where we laid aside the Roman "typological" choices in favor of a broader kind of linkage that uses the Patriarchal/Mosaic narrative for Year A (Matthew), The Davidic narrative for Year B (Mark), and the Elijah/Elisha/Minor Prophets series for Year C (Luke).”

In other words, it is almost impossible to see any difference unless you are intimately familiar with the BCP lectionary’s contents!

Many denominations now use the RCL, including the Lutherans, Presbyterians, Methodists, and – now – ourselves. There is much to be said in favor of this ecumenical venture, and few (if any) negatives.

You will not notice any difference on Sundays with the RCL texts except that – on those Sundays where the gospel reading is different – a piece of paper will be paper-clipped into the Book of the Gospels.

This latter reality means that we will be purchasing a new Book of the Gospels (between $500 and $1000) when it is published by our own Church Publishing later this year. The cost differential is a result of our choices around the amount of ornate decoration on the book itself. If you would like to make any sort of memorial donation toward the cost of this book please contact me or one of our wardens.

Blessings and Peace to you.
Nigel

Junior Warden Report ~ January, 2007

Bill Carruthers, Junior Warden

Several repairs have been done this month. The electric system involved with the well pump has been updated. The well pump had to be replaced. The heater in Nigel’s office was replaced, and the element in the electric water heater was replaced. The cost for the new pump was $1,000 and the electric work amounted to $1500.00. These expenses came out of the money in the Buildings and Grounds account. The winter storms have brought down more limbs and trees. Thanks to Nigel for organizing work parties which included his wife, Jerry Lubinski, and Fletcher Davis. The Jr. Warden appreciates the work done as he was out of town on both occasions. Another parish-wide clean-up was a success. Thanks to Art Taylor for providing the pressure washer. Many volunteers made the clean-up easy.

The Undercroft bulletin boards are now displayed and add so much to the decor and organization of the Undercroft.

Thanks to Larry Leonard, Margaret Schultz, Stephen Schwartzmann, Art Taylor, Jim Langler, Nigel, Jerry Lubinski, and Clarence Noyer for working to spruce up the parking lot from windy weather. It looked great for our visitors and parishioners for Christmas.

The Leonards donated a Christmas tree from their farm, and Jim and I cut it and placed it in the church sanctuary. Thanks to the Altar Guild and everyone else who helped with the Greening.

I am currently planning on digging around the west end of the church to see if we can discover the reason for water leaking into the furnace room in the Undercroft. The roof gutter has also come loose in one area and I will contract to get that repaired.

Annual Meeting ~ January 14, 2007

New Vestry members elected were: Albert Rose for a two year term, Diane Divelbess, Isabel Neddow and Tom Williams for a three year term.

Convention delegates elected were Beverly Babson and David McClellan. They will serve the first year as alternates and then two years as delegates.

Fr. Nigel thanked Jim Langler, Louise Deskey-Wegg and Dick Hall for their service as Vestry members for three years.

The Annual Report was given out along with the financial reports. Bill Smith explained the reports and answered questions regarding our finances, which appear to be in good shape.

We will be receiving undesignated money from two estates and the vestry will decide how best to use it for the good of the parish.

The Sabbatical Committee will continue to function, changing its name to the 8th Day Committee.

The Building Committee is working on options for building expansion and will be giving out a survey for congregation input.

Ray Haman was thanked for his eight years as Stewardship Chairman.

The full Minutes are posted in the undercroft.

Diana Klein, Vestry Clerk

Prayer Schedule Update

By Anne Pringle

We will be doing Morning Prayer on Fridays through Epiphany and beginning the Friday following Ash Wednesday, we will be switching to Way of the Cross on Fridays at 5:30 p.m.

Dedication of the Day

by St. Ignatius Loyola

Father, I dedicate this new day to you;
as I go about my work.
I ask you to bless those with whom I come in contact.

Lord, I pray for all men and women
who work to earn their living;
give them satisfaction in what they do.

Spirit of God,
comfort the unemployed and their families;
they are your children and my brothers and sisters.
I ask you to help them find work soon.

Blessed Are the Peace Makers

By Dick Hall

On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day over ninety individuals from the Whidbey Island community gathered at St. Augustine’s for an ecumenical community event, “Blessed Are the Peace Makers.” This was the second of what has become an annual Martin Luther King Day event sponsored by the St. Augustine’s Episcopal Peace Fellowship.

The service was preceded by a sandwich lunch in the undercroft enjoyed by about fifty of those attending the service. The Dances of Universal Peace, Lisa Fladager, Serafina Strickland and Michael Sheehan, led the gathering in song and rhythmic movements to the music that increased the spiritual depth of the service.

The St. Augustine’s Episcopal Peace Fellowship presented a narrative of the witness of Dr. King beginning with Montgomery and continuing through his assassination in Memphis. Melissa Doss read the narrative with Episcopal Peace Fellowship members reading excerpts from the speeches and writings of Dr. King. Among the more familiar were readings from “The Letter from the Birmingham Jail,” the speech “I’ve Been to the Mountain Top” and the speeches climaxing the voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, “Drum Major” and “I Have a Dream.”

The highlight of the gathering was Cleveland Riley’s sharing of his experiences under racism as a black youth in rural Louisiana. Cleveland shared from his heart the pain and damage done to both races by the racial segregation.

The community event closed with the gathering holding hands and singing the Civil Rights anthem “We Shall Overcome”.

St. Augustine’s Parish Endowment Fund
Addendum to the Annual Report 2006

By Judy Yeakel

The Parish Endowment Fund (Fund) went through several changes in 2006. The decision was made by the Vestry with recommendation of the Endowment Fund Trustees to transfer all assets of the Fund from the Diocesan Investment Fund in Seattle to the Episcopal Church Foundation Investment Management Services. This was accomplished by March 31, 2006. Currently asset allocation is divided between Diversified Equities, Fixed Income, and Cash Equivalents. The Account Summary that appears below covers activity from April 2006 through November 2006.

At their November meeting the Vestry approved a recommendation by the Trustees to make $13,218 available for use by the Vestry for approved purposes. Traditionally, funds from this allotment are used for college scholarships and matching funds for the Mission Sunday Offering (MSO) of up to $500.00 per month, but are not limited to those purposes.

The Trustees also made the recommendation to use $5,000.00 of the Fund principal to invest in the NICA Fund (Nicaragua Credit Alternatives). NICA is managed by Wisconsin Coordinating Council on Nicaragua, (WCCN) and provides micro-credit to people in Nicaragua. The Vestry gave their approval for this action at their November meeting.

Endowment Fund Trustees are Jim Langler, Judy Yeakel and Ray Haman.

ACCOUNT SUMMARY (Year to date)

Correction for February 2007 Light

In last month’s Light, Dick Hall, not Maureen Masterson, wrote the MSO Article about the Chapel of Sts. Martha and Mary. Our apologies.

St. Stephen Episcopal Church: A Time for Reflection and Renewal

By The Rev. Rachel K. Taber-Hamilton

St. Stephen Episcopal Church in Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island was founded in 1953 with Rev. Charlie Forbes as vicar.  It was a faithful congregation in the diocese and was led by what could be characterized as traditional anglo-catholic Episcopal priests until approximately 20 years ago. At that time the parish hired a charismatic priest, The Rev. Jack Tench, who brought a growing conservatism to the congregation along with an increased charismatic style of liturgy and music.

The Rev. Scot Wright (now Priest-in-Charge at St. John’s, Kirkland) followed Tench’s tenure and was involved in the founding of what became the American Anglican Council (AAC), drawing St. Stephen’s into that emerging community.  In 2000 the congregation called the Rev. Carol Harlacher from the arch-conservative Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh.

After General Convention approved the consecration of the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson in 2003, St. Stephen’s stopped paying its assessment to the diocese and joined what became the Anglican Communion Network (ACN).

A day before the release of the Windsor Report the vestry voted to pull out of The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Olympia.  It created its own bylaws and held a vote that was not publicized to the entire congregation; members known to not be in favor of leaving the Episcopal Church were not informed that there would be a vote (it was advertised as an “informational only” meeting, of which there had been many previous).

Rev. Harlacher sought and gained alternative oversight from the Episcopal bishop of Recife, Brazil, Rt. Rev. Edward Robinson de Barros Cavalcanti. This action was taken by Rev. Harlacher even while promising Bishop Vincent Warner that she would not do so.

In 2005 Cavalcanti was deposed along with 40 of his clergy by the House (“Chamber”) of Bishops of the Episcopal Church of Brazil. The Concluding statement of the deposition text stated: “All [Cavalcanti’s] canonical, sacramental, pastoral and liturgical bonds, as well as all prerogatives and duties of the ordained ministry in the Episcopal Anglican Church of Brazil do hereby cease.” Cavalcanti and the others then claimed the name of the “Anglican Diocese of Recife.” They had expected recognition by the Archbishop of Canterbury, but that has not yet been forthcoming. However, The Most Revd. Gregory Venables, Primate of the Southern Cone of America extended his “recognition and protection” to Cavalcanti, with Venables considered a legitimate Primate in the Communion.

Over the six years of Harlacher’s tenure at St. Stephen’s, many Episcopalians left the community not realizing how many of them shared similar concerns.  In 2004, a small set of families and couples refused to completely abandon St. Stephen’s. However, they were unwilling to return to what was now being called an “Anglican” church with a polity and governance outside the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. Consequently, they began to meet in one another’s homes, continuing as St. Stephen Episcopal Church. They created new outreach programs, a church budget and vestry, and continued to pay an assessment to the diocese.

Bishop Warner appointed The Rt. Rev. Sandy Hampton to provide oversight to what would become known as the exiled community. Additionally, the now retired Rev. Charlie Forbes was invited to provide pastoral presence and support.  Bishop Hampton also invited Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton to be part of the rotation of clergy supply for the Episcopalians, and the three of them have been the primary pastoral support to the Episcopal church of Oak Harbor.

Last April, Bishop Warner began a formal negotiation process between the St. Stephen’s Anglican, St. Charles, Poulsbo (the two communities with alternative oversight in our diocese) and St. Stephen Episcopal to develop a covenant which would allow the Episcopalians use of the church physical plant while also recognizing the autonomy of the “Anglican” community.

In July of 2006, Harlacher left her position at “St. Stephen’s Anglican.”  She left believing (as she shared in a final letter to the community) that, “The Lord placed me here to lead the move out of ECUSA.”

The covenant agreement was signed between the two “Anglican” communities (St. Stephen’s “Anglican” and St. Charles “Anglican”) and the Episcopalians of Oak Harbor on December 12, 2006. Earlier, in November, “St. Stephen’s Anglican” called The Rev. Paul Orritt, a resident of Canada and a member of the Anglican Communion Network.  He has since moved to Oak Harbor with his wife and children.

During the days before Christmas, Rachel was formally invited by Bishop Warner to become the priest in charge for St. Stephen’s Episcopal.  They celebrated their first Christmas together in their own service at St. Augustine’s in Freeland on Christmas Eve.  Rachel officially begins as priest-in-charge on February 10^th.

The Episcopal community has begun the steps of moving back into the church to use the space mutually, in keeping with the covenant agreement.  Rev. Forbes presided at the first service of return to the physical plant in the chapel on January 7th. This was especially appropriate given that he helped to build it many decades ago.

St. Stephen’s Episcopal will welcome Rachel with a communal Celebration of New Ministry scheduled for Sunday, February 11th in the sanctuary of the church (555 Regatta Drive, Oak Harbor) at 3:00pm – The Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera presiding.

If you are able to attend, please know that your presence and support will be very important for the St. Stephen’s Episcopal community. They will know that others in the diocese are willing to stand beside them in this important moment of our Church’s history. Others will know that their community is a precious gift within the wider community of the diocese, within the national church, and within the heart of God.

Getting Reacquainted

by Nancy Langler

Bob and Ethel Waters moved to Whidbey Island from California on June 20th, 1980. They bought 10 acres outside of Clinton, planning on being self sufficient. Self sufficiency did not come easily. After digging two dry wells and several unsuccessful perk tests, they sold off five acres; purchased water rights from a neighbor ¼ mile away; installed a pipe to bring water the same distance; put in the first mound septic system on the island and set about building a solar house (also the first on the island).

Bob has always been interested in wood work and did much of the work himself with Ethel’s assistance. Things did not always go smoothly. On one occasion they actually made two trips to the emergency room in one day. The first was for Ethel who knocked the hammer out of Bob’s hand when she was trying to hand him a board. The hammer fell and caused Ethel to suffer a concussion. When they returned Bob wanted to finish one more thing and cut himself. “Ethel, are you up to driving me to the hospital? “, he asked. They over- planted their first garden. Ethel had to learn to can. Bob built lovely maple shelves for all the jars. The jars were so attractive on the new shelves, they did not want to use them.

Ethel was born in England and came to the U. S. as a baby. Bob was born in Utah but was raised in Missouri. When he was 17 years old he had his own radio show in St Louis. It was a request show where people called in and asked Bob to sing solos. After WWII he used his G.I. bill to study voice in Los Angeles. He freelanced—mostly opera and light opera. At one time he had a contract for solo work with a Christian Science Church on Wednesday nights, the Jewish Synagogue on Fridays and sung in two other large churches on Sundays. He was a purchasing agent at the time of his retirement but was always able to enjoy his music career as well.

Ethel was employed by the Santa Barbara school district for 20 years. She was a secretary for the first model health program and then in the personnel department. This was good training for her present involvement in SHEBA (Statewide Health Insurance Advisors). She was instrumental in establishing the program on the island and is still active writing a monthly article as well as counseling and training volunteers.

The Waters became active in St. Augustine's when they came to the island. They both joined the choir and were in a long term bible study group. Bob’s woodworking skills made him an invaluable asset when the old church was converted to a preschool and a perfect candidate for Junior Warden. He named this publication THE LIGHT when he was on the vestry. His very large shop came in handy when fellow choir member Charles Williams carved the lovely wooden panels of St Augustine and St Francis on either side of the altar. Charles Williams encouraged Bob to shave the wood a little bit. Bob was afraid he would make a mistake but he did do one or two little spots. Ethel was treasurer of the ECW for 15 years. She remembers a fund raising auction where someone donated a cow. The cow was brought to the church parking lot for several Sundays before the auction to entice bids. It went for $500.

Two years ago the Waters moved to “St. Augustine’s South “(Wheel Estates, where five other parish family members live) in Langley. Their son, Bob, lives near them. Their daughter Kathy, lives in Langley and their other daughter Ginger, lives in Hawaii. This last summer they celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary with their entire family.

We celebrate their presence and contributions to both St. Augustines and the island.

Getting To Know You

By Nancy Paris

Grant and Michele Anderson and their four children moved to Whidbey Island a year and a half ago from Oceanside, California. Their home is on Cedar Acres Lane, southeast of Langley.

Grant works in marketing analytics with Harte-Hanks, for whom he telecommutes and travels in order to support six auto manufacturers in Irvine, California. He was born in Moscow, Idaho and has lived in New York, Michigan and Montana, as well as California. At home, he is involved with his four children and their activities. In view of the recent storm conditions, he was hoping for a chainsaw from Santa to ‘do battle with the fallen trees’. He and the older children are regulars at a Monday evening Chess Club and cordially invite others to join them!

Michele is a native of North Carolina, born in Jacksonville. She has also lived in Oklahoma, Hawaii, California and Bozeman, Montana while attending Montana State University. She is a very busy ‘home-schooling Mom’ these days and particularly enjoys collecting classic and children’s literature, playing the violin, and attending theatrical and musical productions with the children. She also enjoys swimming, karate, photography, nature studies, and exploring the history, culture, geography and geology of the Pacific Northwest.

The Anderson’s four children are 11 year old Emily, nine year old Christopher, six year old Erik, and three Year old Caitlyn.

Mission Sunday Offering for February 2007

By Wren MacLean

The Mission Sunday Offering for February will benefit Hearts and Hammers, a program designed to repair and rehabilitate homes of people on South Whidbey who are physically or financially unable to do it alone.

Starting in 1994, it has grown to the point where 30 or more families are helped each year. Four to five hundred volunteers are divided into teams headed by an experienced leader with amazing results.

There is no paid staff, but the cost of materials amounts to about $30,000. This is a tremendous community effort and merits our generous support. The endowment fund will match donations up to $500.

If you would like to volunteer, this year’s workday is May 5^th. For more information please call (360) 221-6063.