TheCanticle December2009
December2009
THEC
ANTIC
LE
MERRYCHRISTMAS&HAPPYHOLIDAYS!
‘FirstFruits’celebratestherealreasonfortheseasonbySamHall
TheBibletellsusthatGodaskedHispeopletobringthefirstandthechoicestoftheharvesttoHimastheiroffering.(Ex23:19)
GivingtoGodfirst,beforeourownhumanwantsaresatisfied,isadeclarationoftrustthatGodwillprovide.ThisactofgivingisapracticeordisciplineofoneoftheHolyHabits.Thetwoimportantaspectsofmakingone’sgivingaholyofferingistopracticeproportionalgivingandtogivefirstfruits.AsamemberoftheSt.Augustinecommunity,youareinvitedtoconsiderthe
HolyHabitofGiving.
Prayerfullyconsiderallthatyouhaveandallthatyouare.Beforedecidingonyouroffering,givethanksforallyouhave.Makingalistofthingsforwhichyouarethankfulisahelpfultool.Dothisforoneweekandyou’llbeamazed.
Determinewhatpercentageofyourtotalincomeyougiveeachyear.Onewaytodeterminethisistocompareyourlastyear’spledgewithyourtaxreturn.
Next,addupallsourcesofyourincomeandcreateanestimatedtotalfor2009.Determinewhat
St.AugustineofCanterburyEpiscopalChurch
14700N.MayAve.OklahomaCity,OK73134
(405)751‐7874http://staugustine.episcopaloklahoma.org/
percentageofyour2009incomeyouwillgivetoGod’sworkatSt.Augustine’s.
Considerhowyouwillfulfillyourpledge.AskGod’shelpthatyourmindandheartwillbemadegratefulandgenerous.AskGod’shelpthatyoucanbedisciplinedtogivefirsttoHimandtogiveaportionthatispleasingtoHim.
MakeyourofferingonCommitmentSunday,Dec.6.Togetherwewillpresentour2009pledges.Ifyouareunabletoattend,mailyourpledgecardtothechurchsoitcanbeblessedwithotherofferings.
TheCanticle December2009
2
ByAverilSteedman
IwenttotheconventioninBartlesvillenotsurewhattoexpect.IwentwithJudyMoon,whohadgonebefore,butthiswasallnewtome.Ididthinkitmightbedry,boringdiscussions,andIwasconcernedImightnotunderstandwhatwasbeingaskedofme.Totallywrong!StLuke'schurchinBartlesville(above)couldnotdoenoughtomakeuscomfortable.
Thefirstnightwehaddrinksonapatiowithlogfiresandprettylightsinthebushes;thenintothemainhallforadelightfuldinnerwitheachtabledecoratedbytheparishionerswhohadallusedtheirbestchinaandcrystal.Wehadalovelyserviceafterwardsintheprettychurch.
Thenextmorningwewentforbreakfastandtheparishionershadleftabreakfastateachmotelforthevisitingdelegates.OvertotheBartlesvillecommunitycentertobegreetedbymore
food.Thetablesliterallygroanedundertheamountofhomemadebreadsandmuffins.Therewerepilesoffresh,crispapples,coffee,tea,softdrinksetc.Peopleweregreetingpeoplewhomtheyhadnotseensincelastconvention.IpersonallycaughtupwithanumberoffriendsfromStAndrew'sinGrove.
Thenintotheconventionitself.BishopEddidagreatjobofexplainingaboutthebudgetandwhatwasrequiredfromusalltogetnotonlythechurchesbutalsoourselvesthroughthisdifficultfinancialtime.Itwasinterestingtonotethateveryoneagreedwiththeplan.It
ReportfromBartlesville:TheEpiscopalconvention
Seepage3
AverilwithhusbandLen
TheCanticle December2009
3
wenttothegoldclubforawonderfulmealandconversation.Thosewhoweren’ttootiredcoulddance!
Saturdaymorning,againabreakfastpreparedbytheparishionersofStLuke's,andbacktothecommunitycentertodosomeseriousvoting.Thenitwasatimetosaythankyoutoallthepeoplewhohadworkedtirelesslytogetthisconventionofftheground.Icameawaywithanappreciationofallthehardworkthatmusthavegoneonformonthstogetthisconventiontorunsosmoothly.IenjoyedlearningmoreaboutthedioceseworkingsandtomeetsomanypeoplefromalloverOklahoma.
seemsthisisnotwhatnormallyhappens.Coulditbeasignofthetimes?
Thenitwaslunchtime,andagain,loadsoffood.Afterlunchontotwodifferentsessions,oneonhowtohelppeoplegetoutofpoverty,andthesecond,howtoexpandourownchurch.Allveryinterestingandthoughtprovoking.
Thenbacktothechurchforamostmovingservice.Toseeallthepriestswalkingdownintheaislewiththeirrobes,theorganmusic,alongwithatrumpetwasenoughtogiveyougoosebumps!Aftercommunionweallleftand
Birthdays
12/3BryanTison
12/6BrookeHolleman
12/9KyleTison
12/10ParkerInselman
12/11SandraCollins
12/14BriaunnaGonzales
¡2/15JoanStrassner
12/16SarahMarch
12/17ScottBennett
12/20MichelleHasenfratz
12/20SavillaHudson
12/20ArtRousseau
12/22ClarenDenning
12/24AlanHaynes
12/26KarenHall
Anniversaries
12/18BarbaraandRickInselman
12/31HeatherandJ.R.Gonzales
THEANNUALHANGINGOFTHEGREENS
The “Greening of the Church,” will take place on Dec. 20 after the 10 a.m.
worship service.
Soup and sandwiches will be served. Please plan to stay
and help with this annual tradition at St. Augustine’s.
Children are welcome!
ConventioninBartlesville,continuedfrompage2
TheCanticle December2009
4
WARMANDFUZZYTREE
BeginningDec.6thelittlegreenChristmasTreewillbeinthefoyertoremindustoplaceWarmandFuzzyitemsonthetreeduring
Advent.Examples:gloves,mittens,hats,scarves,socks,orwarm
throws.Remembertodonateanitemthatrelatestoyou‐‐ifyouarea
teenagerbringawarmitemateenagermightlike‐‐anddon'tforgettheadultsofallages,menandwomen.Alldonateditemsmustbenew,andwillbegivento
theGuildofSt.Georgetobedistributedtothoseinneed.
FROMTHETREASURER
Astheyearisdrawingtoanendpleasereviewyourpledge
standing.Thecurrentpledgesareslightlybelowwhatwasanticipatedatthistime;however,thebillsare
ADVENTEVENT
Sunday,Dec.6,Following
the10a.m.Service
Thisisthechurch'sBIGparty
tobegintheseasonof
Advent,aswepreparefor
thecomingofJesus
Christ.Itisafunfilled
morningwith1stSunday
Brunch,makingfamily
AdventWreathsandmaking
specialprojectstotake
homeandrememberthejoy
oftheseason.Agreatdeal
offunforallagesofthe
parishtojoinin!
not.Pleasegivewhatyoucantosupportourimportantministries.
ALTARGUILDANGELS
STILLAVAILABLE!Thisyear’sornamentisabeautifulstainedglassangelholdingacross.
TheangelsmakeagreatChristmaspresent,anddonotforgettogetoneforyourself,too!Fundsfromthesalepayforlinens,candlesandthemanyotherneedsrequiredfor
servicesatSt.Augustine.
HolidayEventsandServicesSunday,Dec.19‐‐ECWCookieExchangeatJoice
Thompson’shome,1117NW105thStreet,OKC,748‐5125.PleaseletJoiceknowifyouaregoingtoparticipateintheCookieExchange.
Thursday,Dec.24‐‐ChristmasEveServices,7and10:30pm
Sunday,Dec.27‐‐firstSundayofChristmas“ChristmasLessons&Carols,”10a.m.
(NoADULTORCHILDREN'SCLASSESDec.27;noWednesdayNoonEUCHARISTDec23&Dec30)
GuildofSt.George
DECEMBER:SoupandRamenNoodles.
MessagefromRobbyTrammell
DearFriends,
Thankssomuchforallofyourkindwords,giftsandexpressionsofloveinhostingtheClergyAppreciationreception.ItisanhonorformetoworkwithMotherLynninservingthiscongregation.Likewise,Iwanttothankyouforyourprayersandcardsconcerningmyrecentsurgery.YouarewonderfulpeopleandIconsideritarealblessingtobepartofthisSt.AugustineChurchFamily.
TheCanticle December2009
5
MagicalremembranceofChristmaspastDearFriends,OneofmybestChristmasmemoriesoccurredinthemid‐1980sataChristmasEveserviceatSt.Mark'sEpiscopalChurchinSeminole.LindaandI‐‐alongwithourthreesleepychildren‐‐enteredthechurch'swoodenreddoorsat11p.m.onaclear,coldnight.Thesanctuaryandservicewerebeautiful(whatChristmasEveserviceinanEpiscopalChurchisn't?)withfreshEvergreenandredribbons,smellofincense,thesoftglowofcandlesonstainedglass,joyfulsingingofcarols,thewondrous"ChristmasStory"proclaimed,andHolyCommunionconsumedrightatmidnight.Allofthiswasveryspecialandspirit‐filled,butamazinglythebestwasyettocome.GodprovidedaspecialgiftandChristmassurpriseforusthatnight.Asweopenedthesolidchurchdoorstoleave,wediscoveredthatduringtheservicea"surprise"snowfallhadcoveredthelandscape‐alovelywhiteChristmasdeliveredonlyasGodknowshowandinhisperfecttime.MerryChristmas,DeaconRobby
CHILDREN'SCHOIRANDPROGRAM
SUNDAY,DECEMBER20‐10A.M.SERVICE
GIRLS‐wearyourdaddy'swhiteshirtonbackwardsandrollupthesleevesandwewillprovidethehalosasyoustandtobeseen!
BOYS‐tobeshepherdoutinthefieldswearabathrobewithatowelorclothtiedaroundyourheadasyouprocessuptheaisleaspartofGod'sworldtoberedeemed!
Orananimalyoumightchoosetobe,justcomeearlytoclaimwhatyouwanttobe!
MotherLynnwillhaveastoryforalltohear
AsthechildrenplaytherolesthatleadustoourJesusDear!
Andsingsongsoftheseasonthataresosweettoourears!
E‐mailyourChristmasmemoriesandwe’llpublish
TheCanticle December2009
CONGREGATIONALDEVELOPMENTPILOTPROGRAM
“GrowingthefamilyofGod”
YoumayalreadybeawarethatSt.Augustine’sisoneofthesixcongregationsinvitedtoparticipateinthisDiocesanprogram.WewilljoinwithSt.Christopher’s,MidwestCity;andSt.John’s,OKC;(theotherthreeareinTulsa)inlearninghowandwhatmethodsworkbestinencouragingchurchgrowth.
Intoday’sculturewearebringinginpeoplewhohavenotheardtheGospelanddonotseehowbeingaChristianisalifechangingjourney;notonly
forthembutusaswell.Oursr.wardenBillCollins,MotherLynnandJanPopeattendedthefirstmeetinginOctoberandnowwearereadytomoveforwardwithourfirsttasks.
Overthenextthreemonthssurveyswillbegiventocertaingroups,andeventuallyeveryone,togetabaselineofwhereweare.Forthiswewillneedonevolunteertoenterthedataonthecomputer.BeingfamiliarwithExcelandspreadsheetswillbeabighelp.PleasetalktoBillorMotherLynn.
St.AugustineofCanterburyEpiscopalChurch14700NorthMayAve.OklahomaCity,OK73134405‐751‐7874staugustine.episcopaloklahoma.org
NEWMINISTRY:BATTERYCHAIRPERSON
St.AugustineisveryblessedtohaveasoundsystemforthosethathavedifficultyhearingtheserviceonSundaymorning.ThereceiversmaybepickeduponthelargetableintheNarthex.Pleasefeelfreetopickoneupanduseitoraskanusherforassistance.Followingtheservicepleasemakesurethereceiversare
turnedoffwhenyoureturnthemtothetableintheNarthex.Thereceiversrunon9‐voltbatteriesthatneedtobecheckedeachweekpriortotheSundaymorningservice.Therefore,thechurchneedsa"BatteryMinister"tocheckthebatterieseachweekandtomakesureasupplyisalwaysonhand.Pleasecontact
MotherLynnifyouareinterestedinthisministryopportunity‐‐‐VerySmall‐BUT‐VeryImportant!
