January 2017
From the Rector’s desk by Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie, II
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! It seems that there are three camps when it comes to New Year’s resolutions. There is the “yes” camp, who makes them and tends to stick to them. There is the “no” camp who has no need of resolutions. And then there are the “wafflers”. I’m one of those… Sometimes I make resolutions and sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I keep them. And most times I don’t. And because most times I don’t, I don’t like to make them, because it feels like I’m setting myself up for failure. But, change is good, right? Positive change is, at least. And the New Year seems like a great time to start. It’s traditional anyway. It’s a new year and a new start. I think that my problem is that I only want to change if something bad happens. You know? I think that’s how a lot of us operate. I can break the speed limit all I want, until a police officer pulls me over. Then I have to change my ways. At least for a little while. And I don’t have change my diet or exercise, until my pants don’t fit any more, or worse, the doctor says something is wrong with me physically. And I don’t have to stop all sorts of bad habits, until something comes along that tells me I do have to stop them, or makes me stop them.
Our Staff & Vestry Rev, Anthony MacWhinnie, II, Rector Vestry: Chuck Barnett - Senior Warden Jim Warner- Junior Warden Beth Woods, Susan Early, & John Velaski Twinette McDonald - Music Director Sally Putters - Parish Nurse
Why do we so often operate like this? It can’t be good for us, but still we do it. Paul has a lot to say about the flesh, and our wants and desires. Sometimes we just have to tell them “no.” Elizabeth and I have this discussion all the time. “I don’t want to be good. I just want to WANT TO be good.” That’s a start, I suppose. The truth is, I know what I need to do, and it doesn’t rely on anyone else’s behavior or emotions. It’s all about what I need to do to be better. I know what I need to do. I just need to do it. I’m betting you do too. There’s no day like today. There’s not time like now. And with God’s help, we can do it. Let’s do it. Peace, Anthony+
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
New Year, New You by Nurse Sally Putters Happy New Year, yes 2016 has faded into the history books and we can look forward to what 2017 will bring. Are you thinking about New Year’s resolutions. The number one on the list should be about us focusing on good health. That is a broad area, but we should focus in on areas that are reasonable for us. Some of the areas we can spend time on are: *Attitude: It is very difficult to be positive all the time, but you can try for part of the time. Don’t be afraid to seek consultation of a professional or a good friend, someone you can be comfortable with, or join a group to learn how others deal with problems. *Exercise: Being active, especially if you find yourself sitting most of the day or sitting through several hours of TV or hours at the computer. Just sitting can increase your risk of heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes and cancer. Simply walking around your house or apartment or office can reduce your health risk. It is recommended that you get up once an hour if you are sedentary. Some of this activity can be intentional like walking 30 minutes a day. This can be 5 to 10 minute intervals and can be done 5 days a week. To maintain your muscle strength, do some stretching exercises as well as resistance exercises. This activity can help improve your attitude as well. *Nutrition: Focus on your diet by having regular meals and snacks. Watch your fats and carbs, and especially practice portion control. Consume a variety of lean protein, such as beans, nuts, chicken, fish and eggs. Eat generous portions of fruits and vegetables. Keep away from high carb snacks such as processed foods. I could get quite involved in nutrients, but a balanced diet will provide enough to keep your energy levels up during the day. A
Heart Health Screening Thursday, February 9 9-11:30 am
healthy diet can help with that positive attitude. *Hydration: Hydration is very important to our wellbeing. Drinking six to eight glasses of water per day is recommended. A squeeze of lemon or fresh sprig of mint can help refresh it. * Rest: Make sure you get adequate sleep which varies for all of us. Rest is a contributor to positive healthy feeling and your body needs it to maintain its healthy attitude. Get healthy this New Year. February is national Heart Health month and we will be providing Heart Health evaluations in February. Sacred Heart Health Systems will be sending out their screening team again on February 9. They will be doing heart health screening from 9 until 11:30 am. More details will follow soon. Happy New Year Nurse Sally
Icon Writing Retreat At St. Christopher’s Iconographer Teresa Harrison will conduct a five-day Icon Writing Retreat Writing icons is an ancient contemplative, spiritual practice dating back to the Early Christian church. Join this long line of iconographers in creating an icon in the traditional Byzantine style in a week-long workshop led by experienced teacher and iconographer Teresa Harrison. Each day begins with a Eucharist service in the Episcopal tradition and includes intentional silence, listening to Gregorian chant, noon day prayer, group reflection and teachings on the history of icons and the practice of praying with icons. This time set apart is joyful, most often transformative and challenging, open to all faiths and to those with or without art experience. The Rev. Bob Graves will join Teresa as chaplain for this retreat. The cost of the workshop is $430.00, which includes instruction, all materials, and lunch each day. Class size is limited. For more information and registration contact: Teresa Harrison at (619) 206-8116 or tshart2@gmail.com or Dianne Blair at (850) 377-4167 or adblair52@gmail.com For more information about Iconography and Teresa, go to her website at www.teresaharrison.com
Saint Monica’s Messenger
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Souper Bowl of Caring to aid Manna & St. Monica’s More than 25 years ago, the Souper Bowl of Caring began with a simple pray fro a single youth group: “Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those without a bowl of soup to eat.” Since that day more than $125 million has been raised for local charities across the country through Souper Bowl of Caring. It has become a powerful movement that is transforming the tie around the Big Game into the nation’s largest celebration of giving and serving Through this mission, we make a positive difference in the world as we collect food, raise money and volunteer to work in charities the provide shelter to the homeless, food for the hungry and compassion to those in need. Join us in sharing God’s love with those in need. Please give generously throughout the month of January leading up to Souper Bowl Sunday on February 5. Our chosen charities are Manna Food Pantries and St. Monica’s Emergency Food Pantry. Manna Food Pantries is a local, grassroots non-profit organization whose mission is to offer emergency food assistance, service the food-related needs of vulnerable populations, and engage the entire community in the fight against hunger. Manna’s most needed items are breakfast foods (individually packaged oatmeal and grits), canned fruit (15 oz. can, in natural juice), spaghetti sauce or pasta sauce (24 oz. can), plain spaghetti noodles (1 lb. bag), plain rice (1 lb. bag), dried beans (1 lb. bag), peanut butter (18 oz. container), canned chicken (13 oz.), individual microwaveable soups (10-15 oz.) (for backpack programs), Hormel Compleats (9 oz.) (for backpack programs), and individual serving peanut butters (1.5 oz.) (for backpack programs). St. Monica’s Emergency Food Pantry provides emergency food relief for those in our community who turn to us for assistance. We provide non-perishable food items to sustain their immediate needs. Most needed items are jelly or jam; canned meats such as Vienna Sausage, Spam, tuna; cans of pasta such as Chef Boyardee, granola-type bars; crackers such as Saltines or Ritz; packages of peanut butter crackers or cheese crackers; and raisins.
Epiphany January 6
Charity of the Month
& St. Monica’s Food Pantry
Feast of the Holy Name & Epiphany New Year’s Day may be the world’s most celebrated public holiday, observed in different ways in different cultures at the stroke of midnight on December 31. Each year on January 1, The Episcopal Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus Christ Our Lord (sometimes called the Feast of the Holy Name). The feast commemorates the eighth day after Jesus’ birth, when in Jewish tradition, infant boys are circumcised and named. Jesus is the Hebrew word for “savior” or “deliverer.” Remember that the name of Jesus is a sign of our salvation. Pray that our Eternal Father plant in every heart the love of the Savior of the world. Epiphany falls on January 6 and celebrates the revelation of God the Son as a human being in Jesus Christ. We also commemorate the visitation of the Magi to the Baby Jesus and our own Baptismal Covenant by remembering Jesus’ baptism by St. John the Baptist. In The Episcopal Church, we are baptized in the water and lovingly adopted by God into God’s family – the church. Take a moment to remember your own Baptismal Covenant with God and celebrate that we have been given God’s own life to share, and nothing can separate us from
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
December Highlights
Taco So la Night Caroling, Greening the Church & Christmas Eve
Carol Farrel
Chuck Barnett Trey MacWhinnie Trey MacWhinnie Katherine Chaapel Rachael Ludwig John Velaski and Tom Chaapel Jeff Woods & Chuck Barnett
Beth Woods
Pauline Somerville
Trey MacWhinnie Katherine Chaapel Rachael Ludwig
Valarie Smith
Bill Ramsey & Jim Warner
Ann Philen
Psalm
Lector Epistle Reading
Acolytes
Altar
Ushers
Nursery
Coffee Hour
Valerie Smith
Jeanine Black
Pauline Somerville
Ray Farrel
Arrangers
Eucharistic Visitor
Ray Farrel
Jackie Wright
* If you are unable to meet your obligation, please call a replacement, or swap with someone.
Carol Farrel
To the glory of God
To the glory of God
To the glory of God
Flowers
John Velaski
Ann Philen & Twinette McDonald
Danice Beadle & Jeanine Black
Beth Woods &; Twyla Hinton
Carol Farrel & Kathy Vail
To the glory of God
TBA
Carol Farrel
Beth Woods
John Velaski
Beth Woods
To the glory of God
POTLUCK
Ann Philen
Bill Ramsey & Jim Warner
Jim Morningstar & Ron Giles
Ray Farrel & Jim Warner
Trey MacWhinnie Katherine Chaapel Rachael Ludwig
Pauline Somerville
Beth Woods
Chuck Barnett
Connie Chamberlin
January 29
Valarie Smith
Trey MacWhinnie Katherine Chaapel Rachael Ludwig
Beth Woods
Tom Chaapel
Kathy Vail
Ron Philen
January 22
John Velaski
Trey MacWhinnie Katherine Chaapel Rachael Ludwig Chuck Barnett & Connie Chamberlin
Ray Farrel
Ron Philen
Connie Chamberlin
Fred Woods
John Velaski
Lector 1st Lesson
Ray Farrel
January 15
Connie Chamberlin
January 8
Eucharistic Minister
January 1
Service Schedule for January 2017
January Prayer Requests
Military and First Responders Prayer List
Sherrie Burgess Myrna Claywell Janice Courson Bill Cross Shanna Earl Ashton & Tracie Ferguson Gabriel Ferguson Ashton Gaff Marie Gibbs Ron Giles Tom Giles Kim Hartford Julianna Horn Bob Matlock
Connor Aligood Adam Blankenship Daryl Coy Field Cross Mark Feely Patrick Ferguson Aaron Gaff Adrian Gaff Benjamin Gaff Tim Heartford
Rita Morgan Jean Moss The Quilters Maggie Rose Rodak Rusty Sellers Dee Dee Slettahaugh Texan Stephens Eddie Velaski Melanie Velaski Heidi Woods The Woods Family Canaan Thomas Wright Priscilla Wright Jackie Wright
Birthdays in December
Johnny Hurd James Klinginsmith William Knapp Andrew Kuntz Cody Melancon Chase Scott Jeremy Wright
Prison Ministry Cycle of Prayer
5, Twyla Hinton; 6, Carol Farrel, Jeff Woods, Jackie Wright; 26, Nancy Holland
Please make your prayers for the inmates, staff, victims of crime everywhere, and their families at each of these institutions rather than for the institutions themselves.
Anniversaries in December
Jan. 1-7, Jackson County Corrections Facility, Mariana, FL Jan. 8-14, Holmes County Jail, Bonifay, FL Jan. 15-21, Okaloosa County Jail, Crestview, FL Jan. 22-28, Santa Rosa County Jail, Milton, FL
3, Bill & Sally Putters; 18, Mike and Fay Scordato
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 All are welcome!