Saint Monica's Episcopal Church
Messenger
December 2014
From the priest’s desk by The Reverend Anthony MacWhinnie, II Greetings all! It’s so good to be sitting at THIS desk, writing THIS newsletter piece! Really! My family and I are so happy to be here. What an incredible blessing to us you all have already been. I suppose I should tell a little about myself here, for those not in the know. As Juanita Farrington used to say at the start of every EFM class, “I was born in a little log cabin that I built with my own two hands.” Well, of course, that’s not true, but it is true that I love Juanita and stealing from her is a great joy. My history with the Episcopal Church goes back to my childhood. In 1977, when I was 7 or 8, my mother decided we were going to church. The church she came to love was the Episcopal Church, specifically St. John’s in Warrington. We quickly became involved in everything and I started my long, illustrious career as an acolyte. Many were the Christmas Eves that I spent, in a robe, hiding behind the wooden boat-rib column that obscured our faces from the congregation at the acolyte desks. We slept through most of Father Nat’s long winded sermons, or made faces at each other from across the wide transepts of St. John’s beautiful Nave. I made life-long friends in those pews and started to hear the call to the priesthood as early as those days. Later in my Episcopal life I was a camp counselor at Beckwith, where I met my first wife, Jane. I came to St. Monica’s, “The little church in the village,” with her and her family, the Philens, in 1989. With Jane, I have a wonderful son, Trey. Our blended family gets along amazingly well, which is a blessing to us all. Somewhere around 2003 I finally said “yes” to that call that I had been hearing so long in my life. I entered the process toward priesthood as an aspirant with Father David McDowell-Fleming from St. Monica’s. The vestry of St. Monica’s unanimously said yes to sending me forward
Our Staff & Vestry The Rev, Anthony MacWhinnie, II, Priest in Charge Vestry: Chuck Barnett - Senior Warden, Dan Ferguson- Junior Warden, Ann Philen, Bill Ramsey, Melanie Velaski, Beth Woods, Linda Aligood, Tom Chaapel, Frank Murphy Carol Farrel - Treasurer Viv Welch—Clerk of the Vestry Brenda Ferguson—Church Secretary Twinette McDonald - Music Director Sally Putters - Parish Nurse
and from there I was sent through the myriad hoops that is the process. Eventually, I was accepted as a postulant and went to seminary at the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest (now called The Seminary of the Southwest, SSW) in Austin, Texas. I was ordained in 2008 to the Diaconate and in 2009 to the Priesthood. I have been honored to be the vicar of St. Thomas by the Sea, in Laguna Beach, FL, and rector of St. Augustine of Canterbury in Navarre, Father Anthony, his wife, FL. Elizabeth, Trey and Ruby. After I had moved to Midway to serve as rector of St. Augustine’s, I rekindled an old friendship I had made with Elizabeth Anagnostis. She was living in New Orleans at the time. We fell in love and were married in October of 2012. This past January our family was blessed with the addition of little Ruby Corinne. She’s definitely the princess in the house now, as life seems to revolve around her. Luckily, she’s got her big brother, her “Bubba”, Trey to be there for her when life gets her 10 month old self “ten month old loud.” So, that’s me in a nutshell. My history as a priest would not be the same, or may not have even happened, if it weren’t for this church. When I say that I love being here, what I really mean is that I love being BACK here. I’ve loved this congregation a long time and I hope to serve you as best as can be done. The Lord willing and the creek don’t rise, it shall be done. Peace to you all. Anthony+
Parish Christmas Party
Saturday, December 13 6 pm until
Come celebrate the season with dinner and fellowship! Please sign up on the sheet in the narthex!
Page 2
Saint Monica’s Messenger
The Episcopal Church Women Craft Fair in the Narthex Yard Sale on the south lawn Saturday, December 6 8 am until noon Free Flu Shots in the Nave 9 until 11:30 am
Autumn Soiree nets $2,000
By all accounts, our very first Autumn Soiree was a huge success! The narthex never looked better with orange lights strung from the balcony and festive fall decorations everywhere. The weather was a bit cool, but it didn’t stop folks from coming. More than 60 people, most of them from outside the church, came and enjoyed. We were overwhelmed by the number of beautiful donations we received for the Silent Auction. The best news is we were able to raise over $2,000 for the playground renovations! Everyone enjoyed delicious food prepared by the men and women of St. Monica’s. Fred Woods entertained strumming his guitar and singing familiar tunes. John Velaski was our emcee and DJ for the evening, keeping us on schedule and tapping our toes to some great music. The planning committee thanks everyone who was involved in making this event a huge success. From the folks who made beautiful crafts, to those who cooked and served food, to those who put up tents and hauled tables, to those who worked behind the scenes, we could not have done it without you!
General Convention Executive Council Resolutions Announced From The Coastline Newsletter, November 25
The Executive Council of General Convention of the Episcopal Church has requested that we (the diocese) provide information on resolutions approved during their most recent meeting. The resolutions were passed by the Executive Council at its October 2014 meeting in Linthicum Heights, Maryland, and have been tentatively certified by the Executive Officer of the General Convention. However, until Executive Council approves the minutes of the October meeting, the resolutions’ texts are subject to change. In order to make actions of Executive Council known as quickly as possible, they have requested the resolutions be shared with all in our Diocese, with special attention to (AN/LMM 003 Ongoing Work in the Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery) and (AN/LMM 004 #BlackLivesMatter,Too). The draft EC resolutions can be found in the Executive Council section under "Documents" on the General Convention website (www.generalconvention.org/ec). The Executive Council of the Episcopal Church is an elected body representing the whole Church. In the course of the three years between General Conventions, known as the “triennium,” the Executive Council will customarily meet once in each of the nine provinces. The Executive Council has the duty to carry out programs and policies adopted by General Convention. As the time for General Convention grows near, we will continue to forward information such as this as official requests come in. You are welcome and encouraged to visit the General Convention website to stay up to date on all General Convention issues and news.
New Beginnings Retreat! A Hospitality Workshop January 16-18 at Saint Monica’s
Ever wondered how to grow the church? Ever wondered what the Bible has to say about that? Ever wondered how you can help? This is the place for you! Starts Friday night with dinner, a full day on Saturday, then concludes with Eucharist on Sunday. Everyone from St. Monica's is encouraged to attend.
This retreat is for you!
Saint Monica’s Messenger
Page 3
Small Church Conference recap Eight members of Saint Monica’s attended the annual Diocesan Small Church Conference on Saturday, November 15. This year the conference was held at Saint Cyprian's in Pensacola. Phyllis D. Findley, administrator of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church in Mobile, shared information on stewardship in small churches. Phyllis has been a member of St. Andrew’s for 28 years and reminded us that Stewardship is not just about finances. She has served on Cursillo staff, as a delegate to Diocesan Convention, as a deputy to General ConOne of the beautiful stained vention, as president of glass windows in the nave of St. Episcopal Church WomCyprian’s, Pensacola. en, and as a member of the third Search Committee for Diocesan Bishop. Phyllis’s honesty, enthusiasm and spiritual presence were inspiring. Dwight Babcock, the new administrator of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, gave an overview of his plans for the diocese including a new diocesan web site which will roll out in 2015 with resources for clergy and parishes. Rounding out the day’s speakers was James Lawrence, Diocesan Youth Coordinator and Summer Camp Director at Beckwith. He presented information on working effectively with the youth in the diocese. St. Cyprian’s showed us great hospitality and provided a fabulous lunch. St. Monica’s has requested to host this event in 2015.
Pictured are Ron Philen, Connie Chamberlin, Brenda Ferguson, Dodie Matlock, Ray Farrel, Chuck Barnett, Ann Philen and Viv Welch.
Services 7 & 11 pm
Vaccine information By Nurse Sally I have had several inquiries regarding shots and what shots are recommended for adults. #1. Seasonal Influenza (Flu). All people age 6 months or older should get the flu shot. If you are 65 years of age or older, talk to your doctor about a high dose flu shot. Flu shots are given anytime during the flu season, which is from September to March. (January and February are peak times.) You should NOT get a flu shot if: you had a severe reaction to the flu shot in the past or you have GuillainBarre’ syndrome, which is when your immune systems attacks your nerves. If you have an egg allergy, talk to your Doctor about getting an inactivated flu shot. If you are sick with a fever, you should wait to get your flu shot until you are no longer sick. All health care workers with direct patient contact should get the flu shot each year. #2. Pneumococcal. The pneumococcal vaccine does not prevent pneumonia. It does prevent serious problems caused by pneumonia which can include death. For most people this vaccine is given only one time. You need the pneumococcal vaccine if you answer YES to any of the following questions: Do you have diabetes, kidney disease, heart problems, liver disease, breathing problems, alcoholism, a weak immune system, an HIV infection, ear implants, or a cerebrospinal fluid leak? Do you smoke? Are you missing your spleen? Are you over 65 years of age? You will need a second pneumococcal vaccine every five years if you: are between 19 through 64 years of age, have chronic renal failure, have a kidney disorder, do not have a spleen, or have a weak immune system. If you are between 50 and 65 years of age, talk to your doctor about the pneumococcal vaccine. #3. Zoster vaccine. Shingles is a painful skin rash. Anyone who has had chickenpox can get shingles. This virus stays in your body all of your life. The virus can become active again if you have a weak immune system. The Zoster vaccine is given to prevent serious problems that may last for several years after a shingles attack. Everyone 60 years of age or older should get the vaccine, even if you have already had Shingles. If you are between 50 and 59 years of age, talk to your doctor about zoster vaccine. Sacred Heart Health Systems will be here on Saturday, December 6 from 9:00 until 11:30 am administering free flu shots.
Page 4
Saint Monica’s Messenger
Making Sausage by Richelle Thompson Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices on Jan. 28, 2013 The four new vestry members were announced at our annual meeting yesterday, and I said a little prayer for them. Give them strength, O Lord. And patience. And, I pray, they'll still want to be a part of this community when their term is over. Working for the church – and being a part of the leadership – can be akin to seeing how the sausage is made. At the end, you may end up vegetarian. To be sure, in the 10-plus years of church work, I have had incredible experiences that have deepened and broadened my faith. I am blessed to be in a work environment where we talk about Jesus every day. At Forward Movement, we read the daily devotionals and pray together each morning. We try to consider in every decision how our work and ministry will build disciples and create evangelists. But over the past 10 years – for the diocese and in my personal involvement with church, there have certainly been times when my work has weakened my faith, when my utter disappointment at the behavior of individuals or groups has made me question the institution. Christians aren’t supposed to behave this way, right? Right?! During my first week on diocesan staff, the archdeacon took me to the side. Remember, he said, working for the church doesn’t mean that everybody is an angel. We are still human, and we’re going to make human mistakes. People will be jealous and petty. They’ll undermine projects and mislead to cover their tracks. They will seek power and make selfish decisions. They will hurt you, purposefully or not. But that’s not God’s fault. It’s human nature. I’ve tried to keep that perspective when my heart has been broken by church leaders and parishioners. Human foible shouldn’t cause a crisis of faith. And that’s at the heart of my prayer for new vestry members stepping into leadership, some for the first time. I encourage rectors and senior wardens to begin the next vestry meeting with the acknowledgement that they're stepping into an inside view of how the sausage is made. And it won't always be pretty. Sometimes the work will become personal, and sometimes fellow Christians won’t behave in a very Christ-like manner. But ultimately, our goal is to build the body of Christ, and we’ll do it together, with missteps and huge leaps forward, ups and downs and the inner workings, all mixed together.
Iconography workshop at St. Christopher's in March Iconographer Teresa Harrison will lead a contemplative icon-writing (painting) retreat at St. Christopher's Church, Pensacola, March 2-6, 2015. Icons representing Christ, Mary the Mother of God, the saints, and feast days are referred to as windows to heaven. This early Christian tradition gives a visual image to aid in understanding God's divine word. The workshop will take the student step by step from a blank board to the gilding of a finished icon using 23 carat gold leaf and acrylic paint. No artistic experience is required to participate in this powerful spiritual journey. The requirements are faith, love, and the willingness to say “Yes” like Mary. Each day begins with the corporate celebration of the Eucharist and includes spiritual reflection, group discussion, and periods of silence in a contemplative atmosphere. Teresa Harrison is a life-long Episcopalian who has been writing icons for 20 years. Teresa has benefited through study with master iconographers Phillip Zimmerman and Ksenia Pokrovsky. Beginners as well as experienced iconographers comment on Teresa’s patient and calm spirit as well as her contagious joy in icon writing. The Rev. Bob Graves will join Teresa as chaplain for this retreat. Class fee is $410. Class size is limited. Hours: 8:30 to 4:30 daily. Lunch will be provided. For more information and registration, contact Teresa Harrison at 619-206-8116 or tshart2@gmail.com, www.teresaharrison.com.
Medical mission to Dominican Republic in March Are you looking for an opportunity to use your skills to reach out to others in need, visit another culture, and bring healing and love to the less fortunate? The Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast will sponsor its annual medical mission to its companion Diocese of the Dominican Republic the first week in March. The group will conduct a family practice clinic in the parish of San Marco Iglesia and Escuela in the town of Haina. They will reach out to the surrounding community and the parish mission sites of San Bartholomew and Piedros Blancos. Unlike missions in the past to Guatemala, the team size is restricted by the Diocese of the Dominican Republic due to transport and accommodation limitations. The deadline for submitting your application is Sunday, November 30. The team size is relatively small; therefore it is recommended that you submit your application as soon as possible. Download application here Questions may be referred to Keith Greene, team leader, by email or phone. Home: (850) 651-4158; cell: (850) 496-7724; email: godthing2@cox.net
Pauline Somerville
Viv Welch
To the glory of God Jeanine Black
Ray Farrel Tom Chaapel & Dave Somerville Bill & Sally Putters Ushers Jim Morningstar & Frank Murphy TBA Carol Farrel & Pauline Somerville To the glory of God Valerie Smith
Trey MacWinnie
Chuck Barnett & Connie Chamberlin
Beth Woods
Ushers
Jim Morningstar & Jeff Woods
TBA
Jeanine Black & Rowena Chaapel
To the glory of God
Jackie Wright
Ray Farrel
Acolytes
Altar
Greeters
Oblation Bearers
Ushers
Nursery
Coffee Hour
Flowers
Arrangers
Eucharistic Visitor
John Velaski
Juliana Horn & Audrey Westbrook
TBA
Ray Farrel
POTLUCK
TBA
Jim Morningstar & Dan Ferguson
Bill Ramsey & Ray Farrel
Carol Farrel
Beth Woods
To the glory of God
TBA
TBA
Jeff Woods & Bill Ramsey
Ushers
Beth Woods
Ron & Ann Philen Ushers
TBA
Valerie Smith & Dave Somerville
Connie Chamberlin
Dave Somerville
Ushers
Trey MacWhinnie
Beth Woods
Carol Farrel
Fred Woods
Ray Farrel
January 4
Ray Farrel
Eileen Jenks
* If you are unable to meet your obligation, please call a replacement, or swap with someone.
Carol Farrel
To the glory of God
John Velaski & Dave Somerville
Chuck Barnett
Melanie Velaski
Lector Epistle reading
Ron Philen
Texan Stephens
Connie Chamberlin
Jackie Wright
Psalm
Dan Ferguson
Mike Scordato
Pauline Somerville
Connie Chamberlin
December 28
Wimberley Murphy
Eileen Jenks
December 21
Dave Somerville
December 14
Frank Murphy
Eucharistic Minister Lector 1st Lesson
December 7
Service Schedule for December 2014
December Prayer Requests Roy Aligood Avery Beadle Helen Beadle Herman Boudreaux Rosalynda Blackburn Max & Marie Cartwright Destiny Coy Michelle Daniel Tracy & Ashton Ferguson Amy Franklin Debi & Cliff Frogatt Mike Godwin Lindsay Harrison Nancy Holland
Jane Hunter Lascenica Knapp Savanah & Maverick Knapp Erik Koonce The Lewis Family Don Lemerick Charlie Martinson Shawna Martinson Steven Martinson Bob Matlock Aurelia Medina Billy Morreau Bill Nix Katherine Pate
Military Prayer List Kay Putters Leroy Robbins Tiny Robinson Barbara Roper Garland Scott Melton Scott Bob Tebbs Brandon Warwick Frank & Polly Welch Brennis Whaley Todd Wilson Marcella Young
Brian Condon Daryl Coy Mark Feely Aaron Gaff Benjamin Gaff Tim Hartford Johnny Hurd James Klinginsmith William Knapp Andrew Kuntz Nicholas Matroni Jeremy Wright
Birthdays in December…
8. Bill Holland; 9, Waymon Fulgham; 12, Susan Early, Kelly Woods; 15, Joseph Johnson; 22, Ernest Johnson; 23, Dodie Matlock; 27, Paul Palmer
Anniversaries in December… 16, Bob & Dodie Matlock
If your birthday or anniversary is not listed or not listed correctly, please let Viv Welch know.
Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church 699 South Highway 95-A Cantonment, Florida 32533 We’re on the web at Www.st-monicas.org
Phone: 850-937-0001 E-mail: Office@st-monicas.org The peace of the Lord be always with you.
Annual Meeting
Sunday, December 14 Following the service.