Saint Monica's Episcopal Church
Messenger
October 2017
From the Rector’s desk by Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie, II It’s a topsy-turvy world of uncertainty in which we live. If I had written this piece yesterday I might have talked about the weather changing, about how fall is here, about how we’re coming to the end of our liturgical year. What does that mean for us in the church? Maybe I’d talk about endings and new beginnings, death and resurrection, that sort of thing. But this morning we all awoke to the news that there was a mass shooting in Las Vegas, yet another in a seemingly unending line of murderous events that plague our nation and world. There is no word yet on motivation for this killer. And we always seek that don’t we? I know I always do. As if knowing why he did this heinous thing will somehow make it make sense in the larger scheme. If somehow we can put him in a box then we can target our disdain. “Oh well, he’s one of those…” And then we can stop thinking about it, because somehow we understand it. It’s in our control. Except for that it’s not. It’s not in our control or our understanding. But what happens next is what always happens, this political side will use this as a wedge to boost its views on the world, and that political side will do the same. We will couch it in terms that make them look the same ole stupid as always, and they will do the same to us. We’ll move beyond the incident onto how it infringes upon our rights. We’ll move beyond the tragedy onto how we must shore up our own defenses of our own agendas, of our own “rightness.” We will move beyond the horror of the loss of innocent life and instead start blaming other people and calling them out for their views. We will allow this to further divide us. Well, we will if we aren’t conscious of this temptation. I urge to stay in contact with the humanity, with, dare I say it, the holiness of the other side. They are people, just like
Our Staff & Vestry Rev, Anthony MacWhinnie, II, Rector Vestry: Chuck Barnett - Senior Warden Jim Warner- Junior Warden Beth Woods, Susan Early, Ann Philen & John Velaski Twinette McDonald - Music Director Sally Putters - Parish Nurse
you. When we isolate ourselves from the other side and begin to place blame and shore up our defenses, the eventual road that leads down ends in a high rise hotel room on the Las Vegas strip. Alone. Murderous. Monsterous. Hopeless. Don’t harden your shell. Let this thing hurt you. And you know why? Because this thing SHOULD hurt you. This thing should not be easy and it should not just be a bump in the road of the day or of the week. We should be appalled. And then, we should reach out. We should get to know someone we don’t already know. We should talk to that neighbor we’ve never talked to. We should have conversations, civil conversations, with people from differing viewpoints. We should pray with people that are not of our faith. We should engage with people of no faith at all. And you know why? Because that’s how we stop these things from happening. You can’t legislate these things away. You can’t build walls high enough to keep the evil away. The only way to do it is to love it away. Love it away.
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
Seeing PINK By Nurse Sally Autumn has arrived! What a special season, and it’s my favorite. The temperature becomes more pleasant as the hot temperatures go away leaving a slight chill in the air. The fall colors are so beautiful and are my favorites. It is a busy time of year with many events on our schedule. Even though it’s fall, you may be seeing a lot more PINK than brown, orange and rust. That’s because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and pink is the official color. Breast cancer is a group of diseases that affects breast tissue. Both women and men can get breast cancer, though it is much more common in women. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the United States. Some women are at higher risk for breast cancer than others because of their personal or family medical history or because of certain changes in their genes. Getting mammograms regularly can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. The United States Preventive Services Task Force recommends that average-risk women who are 50 to 74 years old should have a screening mammogram every two years. Average-risk women who are 40 to 49 years old should talk to their doctor about when to start and how often to get a screening mammogram. Mammograms are covered by most health insurance programs. You can get a screening mammogram without any out-of-pocket costs. If you are worried about the cost or don’t have health insurance, CDC offers free or low-cost mammograms and education about breast cancer. https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/ It’s also important to get your flu-shot in the fall — especially if you have an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. Sacred Heart Health Systems will be joining us on Saturday, October 21 from 9 until 11:30 am to administer free flu shots. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the timing of the flu season is very unpredictable and may vary in different parts of the country and from season to season. Seasonal flu activity can begin as early as October and to continue to occur as late as May. However flu activity most commonly peaks in the U.S. between December and February. These are good reasons to get your flu shot every year. So tell your family and friends and let’s beat the bug! God Bless, Nurse Sally
This Breast Cancer Awareness Gift Basket can be yours! It’s ECW’s raffle this month and features some awesome Pampered Chef items. Tickets are $1/each or 6 for $5.
What is UTO? The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through UTO, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity. UTO is entrusted to promote thank offerings, to receive the offerings, and to distribute the monies to support mission and ministry throughout The Episcopal Church and Provinces of the Anglican Communion.
When you are thankful for God’s blessings,
Saint Monica’s Messenger
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Charity of the month
On Sunday, December 10 at 3:30 in the afternoon, The Saint Monica’s Parish Choir with our youth and children will be presenting a musical gift during the Advent season. We are looking for new choir members, and we invite you to join us for a wonderful time together. No experience needed. FOREVER GOD IS WITH US is for any choir! This is a musical certain to bring to mind favorite memories of Christmases past, while celebrating new traditions and the glorious hope of God with us. FOREVER GOD IS WITH US offers an opportunity to inspire unity, celebration, renewed purpose, and a deeper level of commitment in the choir family, as they minister to the church and community the blessed message of hope, joy, and peace found in the glorious truth that God is with us! Rehearsals are Thursdays, from 6:30 to 7:30 pm. Sunday rehearsals are: Adults 8:30 AM - 9:10 AM Christmas - youth and adults 9:15 AM - 9:45 AM Children during children’s church
Or sign up on the sheet in the Narthex
A variety of canned goods and other items are needed for our Emergency Food Pantry. See a complete in the Narthex. Our charities of the month for October are St. Monica’s Emergency Food Pantry and Beans and Rice Ministries. The ministries were founded to provide food, personal care items and household supplies to a growing number of people in our community who lack these basic resources. We currently serve individuals and families from various backgrounds and financial means. Food from the Emergency Pantry is given on an asneeded basis to those who stop by seeking help to meet their immediate needs. The Beans and Rice are given out on the last Saturday of the month to anyone who comes through our doors. In September we were able to help 27 families with the Beans and Rice Ministry. Food from the Food Pantry and Beans and Rice are shared with love and respect to those who come to us for assistance. It is our belief that they receive not only food for their physical hunger, but kindness and grace which feeds their spiritual and emotional hungers as well. How can you contribute? Specific items needed this month include peanut butter and jelly, individually wrapped crackers with cheese/peanut butter, pudding cups, fruit cups, raisins, grits, juice boxes, granola bars or cookies, canned Chef Boyardee items, canned soups, beef stew, chili, vegetables and fruits, and canned meats such as tuna, chicken and Vienna sausages. Personal care items such as soap, razors, shampoo, deodorant, feminine hygiene products, baby wipes and diapers are also needed. You can contribute to the Beans and Rice Ministry by donating cash so these items can be bought in bulk or by purchasing bags of white rice and dried pinto beans and dropping them off at the church. No donation is too small! For more information on either of these ministries, contact Ann Philen or Connie Chamberlin.
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
3rd Adopt-a-Spot Clean-up nets 12 bags garbage & 3 bags of recyclables Saint Monica’s Adopt-a-Spot Cleanup along Highway 95-A was another huge success! We are working with the organization Keep Pensacola Beautiful, who donate safety vests, grabbers and bags for the project. This was our third cleanup-up of four events scheduled for 2017. This time we concentrated on the area from Old Chemstrand Road, past Tate Road to the self-storage business. There were 10 dedicated volunteers who picked up 12 bags of garbage and 3 bags of recyclables in about one hour. For our participation in helping to keep our area clean, Keep Pensacola Beautiful has mounted a sign with Saint Monica’s name on it at the corner of Hwy 95A and Old Chemstrand, behind Winn Dixie. Thank you to all who participated.
Lights: Here’s a gentile reminder to make sure all air thermostats and lights are in the “off” position when closing up the church. Also, please make sure that all doors are locked and pushed shut. Recycling: Please rinse and save your aluminum, including cans and foil for recycling and deposit them in the blue recycle container outside the Parish Hall door. Our Treasurer, Dora Giles is collecting them and taking them for recycling for our general fund. Dora reported that we received $41.50 from recycling cans in September. added to what we have already received to total about $75. That money alone is enough to pay the water bill for three to four months! Volunteering: Be a blessing! Please see our volunteer coordinator, Beth Woods or our Junior Warden, Jim Warner to learn what you can do to help around the church. Keeping our church clean takes four to six people about two hours per week. There is a major need for weeding the flower beds and pressure washing the sidewalks. Think of it as exercise for your spiritual as well as your physical health. Volunteering might be a way of giving thanks for all your many blessings. St. Monica’s is our spiritual home and like any home, it takes everyone doing their part to keep it going.
Pictured l to r; “Pete”, Beth Woods, Fred Woods, Carol Farrel, Ashton Resmondo, Trey MacWhinnie, Jane MacWhinnie, Elizabeth MacWhinnie, Ruby MacWhinnie, Anthony MacWhinnie and Jeff Woods (not pictured, Viv Welch).
This has become one of our signature outreach projects. Besides that, it’s lots of fun! Please participate wherever you can! We are currently collecting candy for this event. Please leave your donations in the basket in the Narthex. We are also in need of new strings of orange, purple, green & white twinkle lights for the trees We will be decorating the area for this event following Potluck on the 29th. Please sign up on the list on the table in the Narthex.
Jim Morningstar
Trey MacWhinnie, Katherine Chaapel & Rachel Ludwig John Velaski & Carol Farrel Jim Morningstar & Ron Giles Ann Philen Beth Woods & Twinette McDonand To the glory of God Valerie Smith
Trey MacWhinnie, Katherine Chaapel & Rachel Ludwig John Velaski & Tom Chaapel Ray Farrel & Jim Warner
Beth Woods
Danise Beadle & Audrey Westbrook
To the glory of God
Beth Woods
Ray Farrel
Nursery
Coffee Hour
Flowers
Arrangers
Eucharistic Visitor
Carol Farrel
Ray Farrel
John Velaski
Valerie Smith
To the glory of God
John & Rita Nicholls in Thanksgiving Beth Woods
POTLUCK
Ann Philen
Trey MacWhinnie, Katherine Chaapel & Rachel Ludwig John Velaski & Tom Chaapel Ray Farrel & Jim Warner
Ray Farrel
Margaree MillsFitchett & Ann Philen
Beth Woods
Carol Farrel Dora Giles & Dodie Matlock
Trey MacWhinnie, Katherine Chaapel & Rachel Ludwig Valerie Smith & Carol Farrel Jeff Woods & Chuck Barnett
John Velaski
John Velaski
Connie Chamberlin
Trey MacWhinnie, Katherine Chaapel & Rachel Ludwig Connie Chamberlin & Chuck Barnett Bill Ramsey & Jim Warner
Bill Hart
Fred Woods
Carol Farrel
Ron Philen
October 29
Chuck Barnett
John Velaski
October 22
* If you are unable to meet your obligation, please call a replacement, or swap with someone.
Ushers
Altar
John Velaski
To the glory of God
Beth Woods
Ray Farrel
Lector Epistle reading
Acolytes
Trey MacWhinnie
John Velaski
Psalm
Tom Chaapel
Kathy Vail
Carol Farrel
Connie Chamberlin
Lector 1st Lesson
Ray Farrel
October 15
John Velaski
October 8
Eucharistic Minister
October 1
Service Schedule for October 2017
October Prayer Requests
Military and First Responders Prayer List
Paula Anderson Ruth Bates Amber Cambell & baby Ellie May Adelle Cermak Connie Chanberlin Bill Cross Tierra Demby Traci Ferguson Elmer Fitchett Ashton Gaff Paul Giles Ron Giles Harry Green Cindy Holifelder Camilla Johnson Tommy Johnson Cathy Johnson
Adam Blankenship Field Cross Aaron Gaff Adrian Gaff Benjamin Gaff
Jan Mann Kelley Mann Bob Matlock Debbie Gurley Mahoney Amber Moffit & baby Nicholas Frank Murphy The Quilters Jean Rasmussen Maggie Rose Rodak Mickey Sams & Family Rusty Sellers Texann Stephens Betty Whiten Beth Woods
Anniversaries in October 17, Chuck Barnett & Connie Chamberlin; 13, Anthony & Elizabeth MacWhinnie; 18, Fred & Beth Woods If your birthday or anniversary is not listed or not listed correctly, please let the office or 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 All are welcome!
Justin Hanson James Klinginsmith Andrew Kuntz Cody Melancon Chase Scott
Prison Ministry Cycle of Prayer 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. Oct. 1, 2017—Dale County Jail, Ozark, Alabama Oct. 8, 2017—Geneva County Jail, Geneva, Alabama Oct. 15, 2017—Henry County Jail, Abbeville, Alabama Oct. 22, 2017—Houston County Jail, Dothan, Alabama Oct. 29, 2017 Butler County Correctional Facility, Greenville, Alabama
Birthdays in October 2, Maurice Currie; 15, Dora Giles; 16, Robert Westbrook; 19, Texann Stephens; 23, Ray Farrel; 27, Shirley Morreau