In This Issue:
The Christian Education Director and program will be funded for two years from a bequest.
We will be instituting an agreement for outside groups desiring to use our facilities.
Judy Yeakel is our new Senior Warden, with Bill Carruthers continuing as Junior Warden.
We discussed having a 55th anniversary celebration probably in June.
There was a suggestion that we do a pictorial directory using our own photographers.
We will look at procedures to be sure we use our “Time and Talent" volunteers.
Discussed advertising for a Christian Education/Formation Director who would also teach.
Voted to take $1000 from Endowment Fund interest for the Diocesan Student Scholarship Fund.
Approved Jay Ryan as the Risk/Insurance manager.
Discussed how to handle the situation when Rachel McDougald goes to Italy for six months.
Approved Building Use document including fees.
Agreed to hire Marion Anderson as organist/choir director through Easter.
Approved Al Rose to work on a pictorial display of parishioners’ pictures.
Discussed possible trip to Iona with Nigel in July 2007.
The entire Minutes are posted in the undercroft.
Diana Klein, Vestry Clerk
By Pandora Halstead
As I write this the day before Valentine’s Day, 2007, the ECW’s 10th annual Rack Sale preparations are going forth with much enthusiasm and high energy. I’m sure the end results will be rewarding both for those local charities the funds support, as well as all those who helped out in so many ways, including purchasing the clothing. Thanks so much!
By Judy Yeakel
This is my first message to you as Senior Warden and it will be short and basic. The Vestry is made up of nine parish members elected by other members of the parish at the annual meeting. By definition “the vestry is the body within the congregation that, with the clergy, leads the parish." Each vestry member is available to every member of the parish to hear your concerns and ideas and to answer questions.
In addition to me, Bill Carruthers, who continues as Junior Warden, and Paul Miller have one more year of service. Susan Sandri, Sue Idso and Albert Rose all will serve for two more years. Diane Divelbess, Isabel Neddow, and Tom Williams have just been elected to three-year terms. Get to know these people and we will do our best to get to know you.
Our Vestry meetings are held on the third Thursday of every month beginning at 6:30 PM. We usually meet in the Undercroft. You are always welcome to attend the meetings to see what we do. You can come and stay as long as you wish. However, the Minutes and financial reports are always posted in the undercroft on the Vestry bulletin board that is located on the kiosk nearest to the windows. We invite your questions and comments on our work.
This work is the work of the parish and we need your help and participation on committees to help plan and make things happen. Many of you are already involved but there is a way for everyone to participate.
In John 1:35-39 there is the story about two men, disciples of John the Baptist, who decided to check out this man, Jesus, who John called God’s Passover Lamb. The men set out to find Jesus and as they came near to him, Jesus turned to them and said, “What are you after?" Startled by such a direct question from Jesus, one of the men said, “Where are you staying?" Jesus replied, “Come along and see for yourself."
So I invite you to come and see for yourself what is going on at St. Augustine’s. We have some exciting things planned for this year. Join in.
By Bill Carruthers
A new Building and Grounds committee has been formed. Those members are Paul Miller, Grant Heiken, Anne Pringle, Margaret Schultz, and Bill Carruthers.
There are several projects that we are considering. After the successful ground work by Bruce Bell to stop leaking water into the furnace room and undercroft, we need to deal with the stairwell painting and bulletin board.
As a result of the extremely cold weather this year a gutter pulled away from the roof. Jim Langler and myself have attached that section back and cleaned the entire gutter area.
Five concrete barriers have been permanently placed in the upper parking lot.
Also, we have the opportunity to clean-up a section of Honeymoon Bay Road. We would need enough people to clean up trash two times during the year. We will then have a St. Augustine’s sign approved by county to display at the beginning of Honeymoon Bay road at SR 525. The sign will say that the area is cleaned by members of our church.
Jason Heggenes has completed his work of removing fallen branches and trees. We are planning a spring clean-up of the parking lot.
By The Rev. Rachel K. Taber-Hamilton, Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
On Sunday, February 11th, with The Rt. Reverend Nedi Rivera presiding, St. Stephen Episcopal welcomed The Rev. Rachel Taber-Hamilton with a communal Celebration of New Beginnings. Thank you for your presence with us that day and for your support. Your presence and your prayers have been very important to the St. Stephen Episcopal community. Your willingness to stand beside us in this important moment of our Church’s history is a precious gift to our diocese, to the national church and to churches within the global Communion who are facing the same challenges. St. Stephen Episcopal currently meets at 11:00am for Sunday service in the Chapel (located in the small, brown building to the left of the main building on Regatta Drive, Oak Harbor). We are still attempting to negotiate with St. Stephen’s Anglican leadership for the occasion and service time of any move we would make into the sanctuary of the main church building. Currently, we are permitted to post sandwich board signs on the roadway near the church entrance on weekends only. If anyone would like further information about St. Stephen Episcopal, please call us at 360-670-2023 and be sure to visit us online at ststephenepiscopal.com. Thank you again for your support, and please continue to keep us in your prayers. May the Peace and Grace of Christ be with you all, now and forever.
It is the salvation and frustration of our faith that God loves whomever God loves without asking our permission.
By Nigel Taber-Hamilton
New Beginnings – St. Stephen Episcopal back in its building.
From Vancouver to Bellingham, from Montesano to North Bend,
Episcopalians from across our diocese packed St. Stephen Episcopal Church February 11 for the parish’s celebration of New Ministry with its rector, Rev. Rachel K. Taber-Hamilton.
Nearly two hundred people were present, including two bishops, 20 clergy, and visitors from several denominations – most notably 8 ELCA Lutheran clergy – for the moving two-and-a-half hour service that was frequently interrupted by applause and cheers.
For some of the St. Stephen Episcopalians this was the first time they had been back in their building to worship since the October 17, 2003 declaration by former rector Rev. Carol Harlacher that St. Stephen would now be an “Anglican" church under the authority of the subsequently-defrocked Brazilian Episcopal Bishop of Recife, Robinson Cavalcanti.
The faithful St. Stephen Episcopal exiles continued to meet, this time in each others’ homes. St. Stephen member Lynn De Shong described that time as “the most powerful and moving experience I have had as a Christian."
This celebration was made possible for our brother and sister Episcopalians as the result of a novel Covenant Agreement with those former Episcopalians who remained after the 2003 split, forming “St. Stephen’s Anglican Church". The rector of this congregation, Rev. Paul Orritt, a priest from the Anglican Church of Canada, was also present.
The standing-room-only celebration heard homiletic words of love and reconciliation from Bishop Suffragan Nedi Rivera, shared in a common confession with anointing, renewed baptismal vows, and participated in a joyous Eucharistic celebration.
As the service began Bishop Nedi read a celebratory greeting from Bishop Diocesan Vincent Warner to the Episcopalians of St. Stephen.
ELCA Bishop W. Chris Boerger, also sent his greetings. “I really wish I could be with all of you on this great day, to share in this important celebration" he said, in a message delivered by ELCA Pastor Terry Kyllo.
Bishop Assisting-retired Sandy Hampton, who also participated in the service, had a one word comment: “Wow!" And his wife, Mari, said “This is the Episcopal Church at its best!"
Following the service, members of St. Stephen Episcopal Church expressed their gratitude for what they described as “such an impressive show of support from our brothers and sisters of the Diocese of Olympia and the Northwest ELCA Lutheran Synod." Member Sandy Taylor echoed Bishop Sandy’s comment: “Wow!"
The day was summed up by St. Stephen’s new rector, Rachel Taber-Hamilton: “This is a time when we have experienced the incarnated Body of Christ as the Church. We can only move forward in this new Covenant relationship with the support of our diocesan brothers and sisters", she said. “Thank you."
By Nigel Taber-Hamilton
“I invite you…in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word." Book of Common Prayer, page 264
So concludes the “invitation to a Holy Lent" which is an integral part of the Ash Wednesday Liturgy, and precedes the Imposition of Ashes in that service.
“…prayer, fasting, self-denial, reading and meditating on God's holy Word…."
Lent is a time of self-reflection in which we are invited to use a particular set of tools to help that important process.
First of all we are to pray. A contemplative lifestyle is not particularly popular in our 21st Century world – faster is always understood as better, it seems. Yet the discipline of slowing down and setting aside particular times when we will not do anything else but focus on this core Christian practice is enormously valuable in enabling us to know who we are and what we are about in such a complex and fast-moving world.
Then we are to fast. This is a time-honored Christian practice that goes back to our Old Testament roots. It allows us both to understand better – even if just in small measure – what it means to go hungry, and also allows a personal sacrifice acknowledging that we depend on God’s good grace for our daily bread.
Self-denial is perhaps the least well understood of the Lenten disciplines. It isn’t about giving up chocolate for a few weeks! Or, at least, it isn’t only this. Self-denial only truly has meaning when it leads to something else – giving up one thing only makes Christian sense if we also take something else on. Examples would be not eating out and, instead, giving the money we would have spent to Episcopal Relief and Development, or giving up a day to work helping someone in need clean their yard.
And, lastly, we are to “read...and meditate...on God's holy Word" (from "An invitation to the observance of a holy Lent", BCP p.265) . We discover our identity as Christians in the Sacred Texts of our forebears, gathered together in one book. To understand who we are and what we are about we have to refer to their experiences of encounter with God, especially encounters with Jesus, and what they did as a result.
I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to just such a holy Lent, praying that, together, we may come together on Easter Day freshly prepared to celebrate God’s great love for us in Jesus’ resurrection.
Blessings and peace to you.
Nigel
By Rachel McDougald
As most of you know by now my husband has been offered a temporary six month assignment in Italy. While I am saddened by their decision, I realize that the parish leadership’s choice not to hold my job was necessary.
This position came to me as a fluke, almost on accident. When Sean began school I intended to return to my previous career in Public and Non-Profit Administration. I applied for this job not because I really wanted it, (and I certainly wasn’t qualified!) but because I wanted to brush up on my interview skills. Was I surprised when Nigel offered me the job! The perfect “Mommy Hours" and flexibility were too good to pass up and the job I thought I’d stay in a year or two pulled me in for six!
I couldn’t leave without saying goodbye and sharing the impressions I’ve had. You are a wonderful parish. As a group you very much take to heart St. Francis’ instruction to preach the gospel at all times, and sometimes use words. Many times in my own work with the Food Bank, Holiday House, and School programs I have found myself working with people from St. Augustine’s and it is hard to pick up the local paper without seeing one of you working on some good cause. The hungry, the homeless, the sick and the needy are all aided through your work in the community and it has been a blessing to work with you and for you. You inspire me.
I especially want to thank you all for the way you’ve included Sean throughout the years. Being here on non-school days has given him the opportunity to offer his services, his own stewardship, in a meaningful way. We will both carry lasting memories of his helping Andy Pringle fix the deck along the church, of his helping the garden crew weed, and of his helping Georgia Gerber put in the frog statue for Frances Maxwell who was a friend of ours. Every Jr. Warden has found ways to put the kid to work changing light bulbs, hauling logs, cleaning the shed and keeping things watered in the summer. Sean enjoys photography and was delighted when we used his picture of the church covered in snow for our winter advertising. And of course we have many happy memories involving snow and the hill down to the church! You have all been an important part of his childhood.
Thank you for your example, your inspiration and your friendship. I will be keeping my email address, rachel@whidbey.com, so I’ll be easy to reach. Please keep us in your prayers as I will keep all of you in mine.
Blessings and Arrivederci!
Rachel
By Dick Hall
Below is a note of thanks directed to Episcopal Peace Fellowship and St. Augustine's for the Martin Luther King event. It is from Tom Ewell who is associated with the Clinton Society of Friends (Quakers).
“This e-mail gives me the opportunity to thank ... all the members of the Episcopal Peace Fellowship at St. Augustine's for the superb MLK, Jr., commemoration program. In all the years I have attended such events I have never experienced a better organized, better presented memorial service, and the speaker, of course, was exemplary.
It was an opportunity to say, "Thank you, Martin," and to dedicate ourselves anew to his vision of nonviolence and equality. I am deeply grateful for the faithful leadership of your parish in practicing and modeling a peace community on South Whidbey.
Gratefully,
Tom Ewell
Society of Friends (Quaker)"
From medieval chant to large choirs to an old-time brass band, Music at Trinity invites you into the living art of traditional music. Join us for some truly enjoyable events.
All events are at Trinity Parish Church, 609 Eighth Avenue, Seattle, unless otherwise noted.
- Sunday, March 11, 3:00pm Venus Rising: A Musical Celebration of Women
- Saturday, April 21, 8:00pm The Renaissance Singers
- Sunday, May 27, 1:30pm Music for Awhile: a Collection of Early Music Favorites
- Sunday, June 3, 1:30pm Langpapp Great Hall at TPC Cornucopia Concert Band and Ice Cream Social
- Sunday, June 10, 2:00pm Mirinesse Women’s Choir
- Every Wednesday at 12:10pm 40 minute organ recitals
A suggested donation will be posted at each venue. Parking available nearby.
By Claree Vandegrift, Chairperson
It is not too early to mark your calendars for April 8th at 9:00 am for our annual Easter Brunch in the Undercroft. The tables will be preset – so please be ready to sign the attendance sheet beginning March 18th. This popular event fills up quickly and we want everyone to have a seat.
Details will follow in the April issue of the Light.
During Lent we will add the Liturgy of the Stations of the Cross every Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Church to our usual round of weekly worship. Holy Week begins this year with our usual Palm Sunday services on April 1st.
Our Holy Week Services are:
| Monday, 4/2 |
Morning Prayer |
9:00 a.m. |
| |
Solemn Evensong (with incense) |
5:30 p.m. |
| Tuesday, 4/3 |
Morning Prayer |
9:00 a.m. |
| |
Solemn Evensong (with incense) |
5:30 p.m. |
| Wednesday, 4/4 |
Morning Prayer |
9:00 a.m. |
| |
Tenebrae |
5:30 p.m. |
| Thursday, 4/5 |
Morning Prayer |
9:00 a.m. |
| |
Maundy Thursday Eucharist |
7:00 p.m. |
| Friday, 4/6 |
Solemn Three Hours (at Trinity ELCA) |
12:00 - 3:00 p.m. |
|
| Good Friday Liturgy |
7:00 p.m. |
| Saturday, 4/7 |
Morning Prayer |
9:00 a.m. |
| |
Easter Vigil (at Langley United Methodist Church) |
8:00 p.m. |
I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation.
I arise today Through the strength of Christ's birth and His baptism, Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial, Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension, Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today Through the strength of the love of cherubim, In obedience of angels, In service of archangels, In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward, In the prayers of patriarchs, In preachings of the apostles, In faiths of confessors, In innocence of virgins, In deeds of righteous men.
I arise today Through the strength of heaven; Light of the sun, Splendor of fire, Speed of lightning, Swiftness of the wind, Depth of the sea, Stability of the earth, Firmness of the rock.
I arise today Through God's strength to pilot me; God's might to uphold me, God's wisdom to guide me, God's eye to look before me, God's ear to hear me, God's word to speak for me, God's hand to guard me, God's way to lie before me, God's shield to protect me, God's hosts to save me From snares of the devil, From temptations of vices, From every one who desires me ill, Afar and anear, Alone or in a mulitude.
I summon today all these powers between me and evil, Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul, Against incantations of false prophets, Against black laws of pagandom, Against false laws of heretics, Against craft of idolatry, Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul. Christ shield me today Against poison, against burning, Against drowning, against wounding, So that reward may come to me in abundance.
Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me.
I arise today Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity, Through a belief in the Threeness, Through a confession of the Oneness Of the Creator of creation. Amen.
By Anne Pringle
The Way of the Cross observance is found in the Book of Occasional Services, and is traditionally observed on the Fridays in Lent. This year the service will be conducted beginning on Friday, 23rd February (the first Friday following Ash Wednesday), and will continue every Friday at 5:30 pm until Good Friday, which has its own special liturgy.
The devotion known as “the Way of the Cross" is an adaptation to local usage of a custom widely observed by pilgrims to Jerusalem: the offering of prayer at a series of places in that city traditionally associated with our Lord’s passion and death.
The number of stations, which at first varied widely, finally became fixed at fourteen. Of these, eight are based directly on events recorded in the Gospels. The remaining six (numbers 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 13) are based on inferences from the Gospel account or from pious legend.
The officiant at the service, whether clerical or lay, customarily leads the opening versicle at each station and reads the concluding Collect. The Readings (and the versicles which follow) are appropriately assigned to three or four others gathered.
Observing the Way of the Cross is very meaningful as we journey through the Lenten season.
By Isabel Neddow
One of the library’s anonymous donors left “The Full Cupboard of Life" by Alexander McColl Smith on the desk. Smith’s delightful heroine is the No.1 Lady Detective, Precious Ramotswe.
However, also left were a few Smith books whose hero is Prof. Dr. von Igelfeld. I started and ended with “The Finer Points of Sausage Dogs" at the point where von Igelfeld had mistakenly cut off three of a dachsund’s legs. An acquired taste.
Bev Babson has donated three books for our library – “The Wisdom of Wilderness" (242/MAY) by Gerald G. May; “The Jews in the Time of Jesus" (290/WYL) by Stephen M. Wyler; and last “Jesus Through Jewish Eyes" (290/BRU) edited by Beatrice Bruteau. Conversation rather than conversion is the theme of the latter two books, and each is written to be dipped into and not read as a novel.
As I read “The Wisdom of the Wilderness" I realized that I had lived for years in one of those wilderness areas in the Catoctin Mountains of Maryland.
These books will be on the rolling cart as soon as we find where they were hidden during The Rack.
By Connie Williams
This Sunday goes by two names: both Palm Sunday and Passion Sunday. It is also the beginning of Holy week. The second name resonates: if I am anything this week I am passionate.
And so, on this Sunday I begin a walk with Jesus - a walk that only ends with a death.
The walk starts just outside of Jerusalem. Jesus enters the city riding on a donkey. There is a crowd walking with him laying palm branches in his path and shouting “Hosanna, Hosanna to the King." This is indeed a wonderful sight and I want to stay here. But, the procession moves on.
By the end of the day the “Hosannas" have turned to “Crucify him". I wonder – having walked with him into Jerusalem – why the crowd has suddenly changed – suddenly turned on him. And I don’t understand why I allow myself to get caught up in their betrayal. This is the first time that I turn my back on my Lord.
The journey continues, and I find myself in an upper room, where Jesus has gathered his disciples to share one last meal. The mood is somber and tense. During the meal Jesus takes off his outer robe and begins to wash their feet. He tells them that if he is a servant to them then they should become one to others. At this point no one understands what is going on. Not me. Not the disciples
After supper Jesus journeys up the Mount of Olives to a plot of land called Gethsemane, and – telling the remaining disciples to wait there – he asks Peter, James, and John to accompany him a little distance off, to a familiar corner of that lonely place where he can pray. I believe that this is the hardest moment in his ministry. He wonders if there is any other alternative to death – that the cup will be taken away – hoping to find some alternative, yet willing to accept his fate if God so wills it. Jesus does not want to die.
To see his agony in this very human moment is painful beyond words. I want to reach out, to touch, to comfort. But the distance of ages prevents it.
Jesus decides to go through with his plan. The outcome is determined, and everything is set in motion. I still do not understand what is happening, and so, just as Judas and the guards enter the garden, I turn my back to my Lord for the second time.
If seeing Jesus’ struggles at Gethsemane was difficult, nothing could prepare me for the events yet to come: seeing Jesus before Pilate and Herod is almost more than I can stand. It is not just the beatings, which are horrific, but the taunting and humiliation that sickens me the most.
Through all of this Jesus remains silent. The longer he remains silent the angrier his tormentors get.
And I still do not understand.
I do not understand why he does not defend himself.
I get angry with him.
And I weep.
I weep knowing somewhere inside he is doing this for me.
When the beatings stop I do not recognize him, his face is so bloodied and bruised.
And now there is nothing left to do except to walk to Golgotha and to death.
Jesus is weak. So weak from the beatings that he cannot carry his cross and he falls under its weight. The soldiers grab a by-stander in the crowd – someone named Simon, from Cyrene – and force him to carry the cross the rest of the way.
The walk seems to go on forever. Perhaps the outcome will be different, this time?
But no – here is the garbage dump, and a place for the cross. Jesus is going to die.
And I still do not understand why.
Crucifixion is a horrible death. It is tailored to exact as much pain as inhumanly possible.
And now the cross is laid on the ground and Jesus – exhausted, now – is thrown down onto it.
The mallet is raised, and quickly it falls. Iron spikes bite into soft flesh. Somehow it feels as though the nails are also being driven into my hands.
There is knowing here. Finally. But it is a hard knowing. I have no choice but to turn away.
For the third time.
This is Holy Week.
Each year it plays out the same way.
I am never ready for it.
There is much to learn from this journey. But the learning will depend on the walking.
And once the first step is taken there is another knowing – that God walks with me.
In that, I – we all – can take comfort.
By Ted Brookes, Committee Chairman
The Sabbatical Planning Committee has just reconstituted itself as the 8th Day Committee in commitment to the ideas and principles generated by our final Sabbatical workshop "Living Into the 8th Day." Our new mission and charter is to capture the momentum and spirit gained during the Sabbatical Program and galvanize it into an exciting, vibrant Christian Education Program for St. Augustine’s in the current Church year. Our principle objective is to plan, promote, and promulgate an adult curriculum that will emulate and build upon a highly successful 2006 experience. The overarching theme for this year’s program will be "Exploring Our Faith in the Light of the 8th Day."
The program will run from the first Sunday in Lent (25 Feb) to the last Sunday in Pentecost (25 Nov). It will be divided into 6-week increments that generally parallel the Church calendar. For example, Lent has five Sundays in which we will have scheduled forums (25 Feb plus 4, 11, 18 & 25 Mar) and one Sunday (1 Apr-Palm Sunday) where there is no forum. Each 6-week segment will explore our faith in terms of spiritual heritage, witnesses and martyrs to the faith, the scriptures (both Old and New Testaments), and our Liturgy. One Sunday per segment will be dedicated to congregational conversation. We plan to have topical discussions ("hot button" issues), "Ask-the-Rector" sessions, or special assemblies like MSO and Parish Ministries days on that ad hoc Sunday.
The forums will be DVD, VHS, or Power Point presentations conducted by Fr. Nigel Taber-Hamilton, Fr. Fletcher Davis, and Ted Brookes. Additionally, Nigel and Fletcher plan to conduct a series of Thursday night discussions titled "Opening the Prayer Book" during Lent (8, 15, 22, 29 Mar). These discussions will be modeled on those we experienced during the Sabbatical.
A Saturday Retreat in Lent and a capstone workshop at the end of Pentecost are also being considered for possible inclusion in the overall program.
We will publish a Master Schedule of Events when all of the program parts are assembled. Meanwhile, each 6-week segment will be fully described and well publicized in advance so you can mark your calendars accordingly. The 8th Day Committee is excited and moved to bring you this follow-on Christian Education program. We hope the enthusiasm, support, and participation you demonstrated during the Sabbatical will repeat itself over the next 10 months.
By Ted Brookes
The 8th Day Committee will kick off this year’s adult Christian Education program with a five-week series of forums during Lent. They will begin on 25 February and end 25 March. There will be no forums on Palm Sunday or Easter.
The forums will be DVD or Power Point presentations led by the Rector, Fr. Fletcher Davis, and Ted Brookes. They will begin promptly at 9:15am and end sharply at 9:45am. There will be ample time at the end of each presentation for a Q and A session.
The forum schedule, subject matter, and presenter are as follows:
- 4 Mar Martyrs to Christianity, Part 2. This DVD continues the material presented in the first session. Ted Brookes presents.
- 11 Mar New Testament Witnesses, Part 1. This DVD takes us through the gospels, reviews Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount, and recounts selected stories of Jesus. It is testimony to those people who bore witness to the events in the life of Christ, and who became the shapers of the early Christian faith and Western culture.
- 18 Mar New Testament Witnesses, Part 2 This DVD continues the material presented in the third session. Ted Brookes presents.
- 25 Mar Easter Reflections on the Holy Land. This Power Point presentation will examine those sites in the Holy Land that we normally associate with Easter. We will observe and discuss how they are today and reflect upon what they may have looked like in Christ’s time. The sites include Gethsemane, Golgotha, Christ’s Tomb, and the Hill of the Ascension. Fr. Nigel presents.
March’s MSO will go to Enso House, a local licensed adult care facility unique in its mission as a ‘heart-centered’ home for the dying where qualities of humility, service, compassion and forgiveness can deepen both the giving and those receiving care. Enso House is located on Wahl Road, south of Freeland, on 20 acres of rolling meadows and forested land. Open to guests of all, or no, religious affiliations, the facility provides a serene and welcoming environment to guests as well as family and friends of guests.
A staff of skilled caregivers is on hand 24 hours a day: certified nursing assistants help with bathing, feeding, toileting and moving about. A full range of palliative care is available while guests maintain their primary care physicians and receive support from Home Health and Hospice of Whidbey General Hospital.
The name ENSO symbolizes a single stroke Zen circle which focuses on the unity of all things and endless transformation. Begun as a vision of Zen Master Shoda Roshi, Enso House’s intention is to enable each individual to live the time remaining with grace and dignity within his/her own spiritual tradition. Several St. Augustine parishioners have lived their final days at Enso House – in this caring community where stays range from one day to a number of weeks. We urge you to support this Mission Sunday Offering.
Contributed by Fred and Teresa Gilbert
Fred and Teresa have just finished a new log home in the Honeymoon Bay community, a few miles north of St. Augustine’s church. They moved to Whidbey Island from Lynnwood in 2005 and lived in a rental until their home was completed. Since last November they have been applying the finishing touches that make it a beautiful, comfortable home.
Fred works at the Community College in Everett as an instructional technician in the Photography department. He has just completed his master’s degree in history and hopes to find a position as a professor at a nearby community college.
Teresa holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Washington and works as an office manager at Wyatt Refrigeration in Lynwood. She hopes to find a similar position here on the island.
Fred was born and raised in Rhode Island and has lived in Cape May, New Jersey, New York City and Napa, California. He came to Washington in the 1970’s while serving in the Coast Guard and has traveled extensively in the United States and recently visited Ireland.
Teresa was born in Birmingham, Alabama and came to Washington as a baby. Her family settled in Magnolia where she spent her childhood. She has lived in San Francisco and has traveled extensively in Europe, Scandinavia and the United States.
Fred is interested in photography, historical research, genealogy, woodworking and fly fishing. Teresa is a scrapbooker, makes custom, handmade cards and collects Irish pottery. She has been a volunteer at the Seattle Art Museum and currently volunteers her time at the Make A Wish Foundation.
Fred and Teresa were married in May 2005, are very much in love and consider it to be quite an accomplishment to have survived building their new home so soon in their new life together.
by Nancy Langler
Having been born and raised in New England, Jean Davis graduated from Smith College in North Hampton, MA. Her junior year there, she met her husband to be, the late Laird Peterson, when visiting her college roommate in Tacoma. They were married when he returned from Italy after WWII. They lived in West Seattle for 20 years where they raised their two daughters, Susan and Karen. Laird was an attorney and Jean, having received her BA degree in Education and Psychology, taught in the Seattle schools.
After Laird died, Jean remarried and moved to Medina. It was at this point that she says she did the best thing she has ever done—she went back to school. She completed a three year program at the Seattle Psychoanalytic Institute in Child Therapy. She had her own private practice in Bellevue as well as Psychotherapy in the schools and did volunteer work as well. Now we know why Jean is such a great conversationalist. She asks just the right questions, listens intently and meets everyone on their own level.
Friends introduced Jean to Bob Davis, following her divorce. They were married and Jean moved to Whidbey Island. She quickly established her own private practice as a Certified Mental Health Counselor. She also worked for Island Mental Health (now Compass).
Jean was raised in the Congregational Church. She and Laird had been very active in the Fauntleroy Community Church. At this time, Jean was looking for a church to attend. When 525 was being widened in the early 90’s, islanders were forced to use either Honeymoon Bay Road or Bush Point/Smugglers Point road. Honeymoon Bay was an easy right when Jean drove north. She noticed a cute little church in the woods and decided to pay a visit. On her very first visit she met Beth Gannon in the Narthex. She and Beth had worked together at Swedish Hospital many years before. Sometimes a little road construction is not a bad thing.
Jean has been active at St. Augustine’s ever since. She served on the vestry at one time and was MSO chairman for 9 years. That was her favorite church position thanks to 12 wonderful committee members who were, and still are, devoted to the organizations they represented. She feels that St Augustine’s has become her family.
Jean loves living on Whidbey. It reminds her so much of her childhood on Cape Cod. She enjoys her home on Sun Vista Circle, visiting with friends, and collecting and restoring antiques. She especially enjoys visits from her daughters and grandchildren. Her daughter, Susan, lives in Salt Lake City and has a grown son and daughter. Her daughter, Karen, lives in Bellevue and has grown twin sons.
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