the canticle
DESCRIPTION
The newsletter of St. Augustine of Canterbury Episcopal ChurchTRANSCRIPT
TheCanticle Aug.‐Sept.2011
THECANTICLE
AU
G.‐
SEPT.
2011
TheServiceofRemembranceforthe10thAnniversaryoftheattacksof9/11
Pages4and6
BrotherhoodofSt.Lawrenceissmokin’!
St.AugustineofCanterburyEpiscopalChurch
14700N.MayAve.OklahomaCity,OK73134
(405)751‐7874http://staugustine.episcopaloklahoma.org/
OurchapteroftheBrotherhoodofSt.LawrencewenttoTulsainAugusttoparticipateintheThethirdannualOklahomaChampionshipSteakCook‐Off.AccordingtheTulsaWorld,It“featuredseasoned,award‐winningcookingprofessionalssquaringoffagainstpluckyupstartswithadreaminacompetitionthatraisedmoneyforcharitywhilepleasingtastebudsandfillingstomachs.FoundingchairmanTrippHaggardsaidthecompetitionwasconceivedbytheBrotherhoodofSaintLawrence‐amen'sfellowshipgroup‐asa"small‐towntypeeventinthebigcity."
ThisphotofromanarticleintheTulsaWorld,withaphotoofourveryownMarcDillardandTerryCannon,ChadYarbroughandGeorgeLauffer!PhotobyMichaelWyke,courtesyoftheTulsaWorld
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THEAMERICANFLAGusedinSunday’sServiceofRemembranceisonloantousfromtheLauffers.ThisflagwasthefirstflowninWashington,D.C.abovetheCapitolbuildingonJune16,1987attherequestofGeorgeandDianaLauffer.
BIRTHDAYS
8/1LucyHerndon8/2DonMoon8/14HadynRodrigues8/14JaniceWilson8/14BrentZweifel8/21RobertMartin8/21JoiceThompson8/27RonaldChamberlain8/27RickInselman8/27EdraThrower9/1EmilyStone
CHURCHNEWS
CANTERBURYFAIRE:cometotheFaireonSaturday,Oct.1.Morethan25artistsandcrafterswillshowtheirwares,deliciousfoodwillbesold,andFriarTuckwillmakeanappearance!Therewillbefunchildren’sactivities,suchasjoustingonhobbyhorses!
STAINEDGLASS:AbrilliantthankyougoestoClarenDenningforcreatingtwocolorfulstainedglasswindowsfortheChildren’sChapelandtheGodlyplayroom.Pleasestopbyandseethesebeautifulcreations.
AletterfromSabrinaEvans,“FolksIamsothrilledthatpeoplehavesteppeduptoserveinleadershiprolesforourChildren'sSundaymorningformationprograms.However,wehavesomethingmissing‐Men!Therearenomenworkinginanyoftheclasses(withtheexceptionofFr.Joseph).WeneedtoshowourchildrenthateveryonewhohaseverrepeatedtheBaptismalCovenanttrulyunderstanditsmeaningandstepsforwardtohelp.YouwillnotberequiredtoserveeverySundaybutIthinkamaleinfluenceintheseclasseswillreallymakeadifference.Inthe3yearold‐1stgraderoom‐
Children’sChristianFormation
9/2JaimeeMarch9/3KristenShelton9/10LylaRousseau9/12EvelynThrower9/13StacyHolleman9/17Rev.RobbyTrammell9/18FrankStone9/20AinsleyDean9/20JasonClark9/22MannyDuncanson9/28PamelaCastorANNIVERSARIES8/12Margaret&JoelKahn8/13Amy&KurtSmith9/1Nancy&MikeHoward9/3Stacy&BillHolleman9/10Peri&GregBennett9/17Marsha&MarkTygretIfyourbirthdayoranniversaryisnotlistedhere,pleaseletYvetteWalkerknow.
serveasadoorperson‐trainingprovided.Inthe2nd‐5thgraderoom,serveasteacherwithtwootheradults.Additionally,wearelookingforafewpeopletoserveinChildren'sChapel.Thiswilloccurabout1xevery8weeks.Ifyouarewillingtoserveineitherofthesecapacities,pleaseletmeknow.”SabrinaEvansDirectorofChristianFormationEpiscopalDioceseofOklahoma924N.RobinsonOklahomaCity,[email protected]
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GUILDOFST.GEORGE
TheGuildofSt.GeorgewasstartedasanoutreachministryfortheEpiscopalChurchesintheOklahomaCityRegion.BecauseofitsdowntownlocationSt.Paul'sCathedralhasbeenthelocationoftheGuildforovertwentyyears.
SinceopeninginAprilof1983theGuildhasdistributedmorethanamilliondollarsingoodsandservicestoneedypeople.OvertenthousandmealsayeararebeingprovidedfromtheGuild'spantry.TheGuildisalwaysinneedofvolunteersaswellasfinancialandmaterialresources.Eachdaydozensofbustokensaredistributed,numerousprescriptionsandutilitybillsarepaidfor,andnearlyahundredbagsofgroceries
CHURCHNEWS
KAIROSCOOKIESarewantedbyChuckEvansforaKairosweekendonSeptember28th.Ifyouareinterestedinmakingcookiesforthisevent,[email protected]‐7874.Sarahhasthedetailsforthecookies.
ARTEXHIBIT:FatherJosephisplanningtotakeagrouptoseetheAncientBibleandTextExhibitattheOklahomaCityArtMuseum.Ifyouareinterestedingoing,pleasecontactSarahKelleyat751‐[email protected].
Ourideawasambitiousandwayoutofthebox.WouldpeoplebringatentandsleepatthechurchasapartofVBS?Itwasn’tuntiltheparishhallwascoveredwithtentsofallsortsthatwegottheanswer–yes!28childrenandadozenmoreadultscantobeapartofSt.Augustine’sfirstVBSLock‐In.UsingthematerialsfromPalestine30A.D.,activitiesweredesignedtohelpus“LiveLikeJesusDid.”
WestartedonSaturdayat1p.m.TentspoppingupandchildrendressingincostumesfromtheChristmaspageant.Then,therewerethreeseparategroupsdoingwork–onewasmakingbreadwhichwewouldlaterfryforpartofoursuppermeal;onewasmakingbutterusingcreamandtheirarms;andthelast
VBS2011:LivinglikeJesusdid
aregivenawaytopeoplewhoneedcharitablehelp.OverthecourseofanygivenmonththeGuildspends$6,000ormoretomeettheneedsofthepoor.
Toiletryitemssuchassoap,shampoo,toothpaste,deodorant,andtoilettissueareneededatanytime.?Weencouragepeoplewhotraveltocollectsoapandshampoofromtheirhotelroomsanddonatetheseitems.
GuildofSt.George
Oct.:Cerealsofalltypes
waspaintingteeshirtsusingnaturalfruitsandvegetables.Werotatedtheactivitiessoeveryonehadachancetomakebread,butter,andpainttheirshirts.
Eachchildhadadrinkingmugtodecorateandusetogatherwaterfromthecommunity“well”whenevertheywerethirsty.TheRev.DanaOrwigcameandprovidedhermusicaltalentswithJewishfolkmusicanddance.Weaddedourmusicalinstrumentstolivenupoursongs.Thiswasagreatadditionandwasafavoriteofallages.Forsupper,wefriedthebread,hadourfreshbutter,boiledeggs,honey,cheese,bananasandpineapple,hummus,bananabread,andsoups.Aftersupper,the
childrenwentoutintotheyardtoplaywhiletheadultsreadiedfortheirnextactivity.Childrenhadwoodenitemstomakeboatsandlambtoys,andthingstopaint,alongwithjewelrytostring.Wecrushedolivesfortheiroilandmadehoneyandalmondperfumefromtheoil.
Thenourresident“rabbi”,FatherJoseph,hadusgatheraroundthefirepitandtoldusthestoryofcreation,usinghisdrumforaccompaniment.Then,itwastimeforustogotoourtentsandsleep.WeroseonSundaymorningaround7a.m.andbreakfastwasprepared.Itwasthesameasoursupperbuttastedjustasgood.Wethenwenttotheearlyserviceandworshippedtogether.–TheVBSteam
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VacationBibleSchool.July30,2011
“JesuslovesmethisIknow,‘causeTheBibletellsmeso.”
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TodayisSept.11,adatethatwillberememberedforgenerationsyettocome.ItisadatethatAmericansconsideroneofthemostsignificantinthenation’shistory.ItisadatethatisassociatedwithotherepichistoriceventssuchasthefoundingoftheUnitedStates,theendoftheconflictbetweentheNorthandtheSouth,thebombingofPearlyHarbor,andtheendofWorldWarII.Itisrememberedbecauseitisadatethatchallengedthefreedomofafreepeople.
Onthisday,whenwerememberthecarnagewroughtbythatmorning,wecanrecallwithcrystalclaritytheeffectsofdistilledevil.Itisonthisday–tenyearslater–thatwebringthatcollectivepainandlayituponthe“altarofanguish.”
ThedeepwoundtothepsycheoftheUnitedStateshasnotcompletelyhealed.Wefoughtback,firstagainsttheTalibaninAfghanistan,andthenagainstSaddamHusseinandthosewhosupportedhiminIraq.SealTeamSixtookoutOsamaBinLaden,themanbehindtheterror.Yetnoneoftheseactionshasbroughthealing.Thesurfaceisscarredover.
Thepainremains.
Anditisonthisdayofalldays,“9/11.”Asmanycallit,adatethatchallengedthegraceofforgivenessthatwewhoclaimtobeChristianshavebeentoldbyourLordJesusChristtooffer,eventoourenemieswehearinourappointedreadingsofScripture,amixedmessage.
Infact,thethreelectiornarypassagesassignedfortoday,takenfromtheendofthebookofGenesis,fromSt.Paul’sLettertotheRomanChristians,andfromMatthew’sretellingofJesus’parabletohisdisciples,presentuswithprofoundlessonsontoleranceandforgiveness.
Jesusintoday’sGospelansweredPeter’squestion,“HowoftenshouldIforgive?”with“Notseventimes,butItellyouseventy‐seventimes.”
Intalkingaboutrightingwrongs,PaulinhislettertothechurchinRome,echoesJesuswhenhesays,“WewillallstandbeforethejudgmentseatofGod.”HeaddsaquotefromIsaiah,theprophet,“AsIlive,saystheLord,everykneeshallbowtome,andeverytongueshallgivepraisetoGod.Sothen,eachofuswillbeaccountabletoGod.”
IntheverylastchapterofGenesiswereadthefinaleoftheJosephstory.GodtakesevilandturnsitintogoodinordertoachieveGod’spurposeofsalvation.Lifeitselfissometimestooeasy!Andforgivenessisnotaneasygifttogive!Yet,forourownhealth,itisanecessity.
Nottoforgivemeansholdingontothehate.Nottoforgiveislikesomeonedrinkingpoisoninthehopethattheotherpersonwilldie.
Truthbetold,forgivenessismuchmorebeneficialtotheonewhoforgivesthantotheonewhoisforgiven.Allofusknowthatthisisnotjusttheorybutunderstanditstruthfromexperiencelettinggooffeelingsofrevengeandretribution,isapotenthealingact.Ithasnothingtodowithsentiment;itisapowerfulactofwill.
Yet,asnations,wehavefailedmiserably.Ascommunities,wehavenotlearnedtoforgive.ArchbishopDesmondTutuknowsaboutforgivenessthroughthedaringactofhelpingleadsouthAfricathroughtruthandreconciliationaftertheendofApartheid,said:“Toforgiveisaprocessthatdoesnotexcludehateandanger.Theseemotionsareallpartofbeinghuman.”Tutucontinues,“Youshouldneverhateyourselfforhatingotherswhodoterriblethings;thedepthofyourliveisshownbytheextentofyouranger.”
“Forgivenessdoesnotmeancondoning
9/11sermonbyRev.JosephCaldwellAlsaywhathasbeendone.Itmeanstakingwhathappenedseriouslyandnotminimizingit;drawingoutthestinginthememorythatthreatenstopoisonourentireexistence.Itinvolvestryingtounderstandtheperpetratorsandsohaveempathy,totrytostandintheirshoesandappreciatethesortofpressuresandinfluencesthatmighthaveconditionedthem.”
Forgivenessdoesnothavetomeanforgetting,andreconciliationisnotalwayspossible.ForgivenessmeanstrustingjudgmenttoGod,andthisisonlypossiblebythegracethatcomesfromGodalone.ArchbishopTutuwrites,“Forgivingmeansabandoningyourrighttopaybacktheperpetratorsinhisowncoin,butitisalossthatliberatesthevictim.”
Today,weareboundtowonderhowdifferentworldhistorywouldbeifallpersonsandnationsthoughtthisway.
AlexanderPopeoncesaid,“Toerrishuman,toforgive,divine.”
GodbecamehumaninJesusofNazareth.Helivedamongus,notjustteachingaboutlove,butmoreimportantly,showingustheloveofGod.Jesuschosetoshowpowerthroughhispowerlessnessonthecross.Jesuscontinuallygavetheexampleofturningtheothercheek,ofofferingmercy,loveandforgiveness.GodcameinJesusandofferedustheredemptivepowerofhisblood.Healsogaveusapatternforhowhumanscanlivegodlylives.
Jesus’examplewasvital,asmenandwomendonotnaturallyletgoofpasthurts.Wehavetolearngraceandforgiveness.
Untilwefindinourselvesthecapacitytoforgive,wecontinuetobelinkedtothecauseofourangerandourunforgivingemotions.OnlyasweforgiveareweabletomoveonandbecomethemoreChristlikepersonthatGodhascalledustobe.
St.AugustineofCanterbury,Sept.11,2011
TheCanticle Aug.‐Sept.2011
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They'reBack!ThosewonderfulChurchBulletins!ThankGodforchurchladieswithtypewriters.Thesesentences(withalltheBLOOPERS)actuallyappearedinchurchbulletinsorwereannouncedinchurchservices.ThankstoCarolShanahan:
TheFasting&PrayerConferenceincludesmeals.
Thesermonthismorning:'JesusWalksontheWater.'Thesermontonight:'SearchingforJesus.'
Ladies,don'tforgettherummagesale.It'sachancetogetridofthosethingsnotworthkeepingaroundthehouse.Bringyourhusbands.
Rememberinprayerthemanywhoaresickofourcommunity.Smileatsomeonewhoishardtolove.Say'Hell'tosomeonewhodoesn'tcaremuchaboutyou.
Don'tletworrykillyouoff‐lettheChurchhelp.
MissCharleneMasonsang'Iwillnotpassthiswayagain,'givingobviouspleasuretothecongregation.
Forthoseofyouwhohavechildrenanddon'tknowit,wehaveanurserydownstairs.
NextThursdaytherewillbetryoutsforthechoir.Theyneedallthehelptheycanget.
IrvingBensonandJessieCarterweremarriedonOctober24inthechurch.Soendsafriendshipthatbeganintheirschooldays.
AbeansupperwillbeheldonTuesdayeveninginthechurchhall.Musicwillfollow..
Attheeveningservicetonight,thesermontopicwillbe'WhatIsHell?'Comeearlyandlistentoourchoirpractice.
Eightnewchoirrobesarecurrentlyneededduetotheadditionofseveralnewmembersandtothe
deteriorationofsomeolderones.
Scoutsaresavingaluminumcans,bottlesandotheritemstoberecycled.Proceedswillbeusedtocripplechildren.
Pleaseplaceyourdonationintheenvelopealongwiththedeceasedpersonyouwantremembered..
Thechurchwillhostaneveningoffinedining,superentertainmentandgracioushostility.
PotlucksupperSundayat5:00PM‐prayerandmedicationtofollow.
TheladiesoftheChurchhavecastoffclothingofeverykind.TheymaybeseeninthebasementonFridayafternoon.
Thiseveningat7PMtherewillbeahymnsingingintheparkacrossfromtheChurch.Bringablanketandcomepreparedtosin.
LadiesBibleStudywillbeheldThursdaymorningat10AM.AllladiesareinvitedtolunchintheFellowshipHallaftertheB.S.Isdone.
ThepastorwouldappreciateitiftheladiesoftheCongregationwouldlendhimtheirelectricgirdlesforthepancakebreakfastnextSunday.
LowSelfEsteemSupportGroupwillmeetThursdayat7PM.Pleaseusethebackdoor.
Theeighth‐graderswillbepresentingShakespeare'sHamletintheChurchbasementFridayat7PM.Thecongregationisinvitedtoattendthistragedy.
WeightWatcherswillmeetat7PMattheFirstPresbyterianChurch.Pleaseuselargedoubledooratthesideentrance.
TheAssociateMinisterunveiledthechurch'snewcampaignsloganlastSunday:'IUppedMyPledge‐UpYours.
Fromtheinternet:Churchbulletinbloopers!