Saint Monica's Episcopal Church
Messenger
September 2017
From the Rector’s desk by Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie, II
Father and son set out on a Homeric journey to place themselves directly into the path of totality last Sunday after church. To say we were excited about the eclipse and the trip is to understate the feeling. We were truly giddy! Trey and I traveled to a place in the mountains just outside of Blue Ridge, Georgia. An old friend of mine’s family owns a hundred year old place tucked right into the mountain. Stanley Creek flows by just the other side of their yard. Rainbow, brook, and brown trout are in the deep pool just to the side of the driveway as you descend down from the road located at roof level above to house. Hummingbirds battle for the best positions overlooking the touch-me-not forest betwixt the field and the creek. Their chittering fills our ears the entire day. It is night, though, when we arrive, late. It is chilly, much cooler than back home. When the sun goes down here the temperature drops precipitously. The dew covers all and makes our sandal shorn feet cold. We fight the swarms of gnats, choking on them as we set up our tent cots. Trey calls them “air fish” as they look and seem like some writhing bait ball suspended in the air, inches from our noses, and many times, in them. The barn that is the front cover of the book “Hillbilly Elegy” is just down the road from this place. Cell phones don’t work here. The pump at the house isn’t primed. We’ve gone back in time. And we’ve come together. We’ve come together to see a spectacle, something we won’t get the chance to see again until Trey is in college. The eclipse starts and everything is ideal. The tension is palpable. The first bite of the cookie is gone. Soon, more is gone, a crescent in the sky. Trey says it looks like a yellow moon. A cloud obscures our view for a moment. But then more eclipse watching. And then a few more clouds. I start to worry. What’s going to happen? Should we leave and
try to move to drive to a more cloudless area of the mountains? Or will we just miss it trying to get to that cloudless area? Passing the point of no return, it looks like we will make it. The sun is just a sliver. We decide to stay, together. Two minutes before totality, the darkest cloud of the day obscures our view and stays there until 2 minutes after totality. We missed it. Quietly, we admit our disappointment to each other. Silently, we start the truck and close the gate behind us. Traffic is a nightmare. We pull off and eat at a place in Ellijay. Trey has the best barbecue pork he’s ever had and I break my diet for some chicken and dumplings and a burger with a fried egg on it. Traffic is still horrible, so we break out of it and go to Panorama Apples and for the first time since coming here, the place is deserted. 100,000 people are streaming by outside on the highway, and Trey and I have the place to ourselves. We take our time. Eat samples, and find candy. Even after that, traffic was crazy. I hand Trey the phone and tell him to find us a back way to Highway 27. I trust him and don’t double-check him. He gets us there, like a champ. Because of the traffic I get an extra 2 hours in the truck with my son… Somewhere, in the dark, on the interstate, as Trey naps, I realize that we didn’t really miss anything. We gained. We gained.
Meet us at Beckwith!
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
Sunday, September 10 Holy Eucharist begins at 11 am
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
Don’t get bitten by the flu bug By Nurse Sally
How do you like the warmer – hot weather? Nice, huh? I am a northerner, but prefer the hot weather. The north is nice and especially beautiful during the different seasons. Speaking of different seasons, it will soon be fall. I want to share with you information about flu shots. St. Monica’s is scheduled to give FREE flu shots in late October (Details will be announced we get more information). It’s important to get your flu-shot—especially if you have an autoimmune disease, such as rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. 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. Arthritis raises your risk. Autoimmune diseases, such as arthritis can affect the immune system, which may make you more likely to get the flu or become sicker with it than people without arthritis (Matteson/Mayo Clinic.) Some medications also raise your risk. Certain arthritis medications, including disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs, biologics and corticosteroids, interfere with the immune systems, making it more difficult for your body to fight off the flu and leaving you vulnerable to complications. The vaccine changes: Strains of the flu virus constantly change, so the vaccine also changes each year. Plus your body’s response to the vaccine can decrease over time. Next month we will have for information as to specifics, but in the meantime, be sure to inform neighbors, friends and family. God Bless, Nurse Sally
The Bishop is Coming! The Right Reverend Russell Kendrick Sunday, September 17 A Service of Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, Reaffirmation & Acceptance Don’t miss this opportunity to spend some time with Bishop Russell and support those who are being confirmed, reaffirmed or accepted as Episcopalians!
Everyone is invited to attend this year’s Bay Lights, A Homecoming Weekend and Fundraiser at Beckwith, September 29 through October 1. Enjoy a weekend of fellowship and fun in support of Beckwith. Weekend events include Friday night at The Undercroft Café with “Sean of the South,” sponsored by St. Andrew’s Destin and St. Andrew’s, Panama City. Sean Dietrich, is a columnist and novelist known for his commentary on life in the American South. Café opens at 6:30 pm with Sean of the South appearing at 7:30 pm. On Saturday beginning at noon, enjoy the Bishop’s BBQ sponsored by Holy Spirit, Gulf Shores. At 1:00 pm there will be a Happening Reunion and at 2:00 pm, a Diocesan Ultreya. Throughout the day there will be fun activities for the family and youth including Cornhole, Badminton, Blooper Ball, Pool Volleyball, Kayaks, Canoes, Paddleboards, Giant Water Slide and College Football in Wilson Hall. On Saturday evening, sponsored by Holy Trinity, Pensacola and Good Shepherd, Mobile, there will be a Live Auction, Low Country Boil and Music by Rock Bottom. Music starts at 5:00 pm with Low Country Boil at 7:00 pm. There will be a First Pick Raffle Draw at 6:00 pm prior to the Live Auction. Auction items this year include, a stay at a Five Bedroom House in the US Virgin Islands for one week, a Why Not Camp Quail Hunting Weekend, Deep Sea Fishing Trips, Hunting and Skeet Shooting overnight at Seven Springs Plantation, a Mike Owen Custom Cross, a week in a Breckenridge Colorado Condominium, a Lucy McGowin child’s face portrait, Steelwood overnight golf package, a week at a five bedroom house at Perdido Beach, Inshore fishing trip for two with Florida Boy Adventures of Destin, Deer Hunting weekend at Big Cypress Game Management Club, Sunset sail on Mobile Bay, Hiking Weekend at Talladega or Bankhead National Forest, FSU Football Tickets, a week at a house on Perdido Bay in Lillian, Sunset Cocktail Cruise out of Pensacola Bay, a week at a three bedroom house in Grayton Beach, and a week at a four bedroom house in Santa Rosa Beach. The weekend ends Sunday morning with Bishop Kendrick celebrating Holy Eucharist at 10:00 am. To register, go to http://www.beckwithal.com/baylight
Saint Monica’s Messenger
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Charity of the month Our Charity for the month of September is Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, a non-profit organization that works to provide appropriate care to injured or orphaned indigenous wildlife. They receive injured or orphaned wildlife, provide medical care and fostering during recovery, and rehabilitate and release wildlife, if possible. They work in cooperation with local, state, and federal wildlife agencies and also provide educational outreach and conduct educational programs Operating expenses are huge so they rely on the generosity of the public to keep saving these animal’s lives. Please help them continue this important work by supporting them throughout September.
The Saint Monica’s Parish choir with our youth and children will be presenting a musical gift during the Advent season. We and 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 will begin: Thursdays, beginning September 21 Youth 5:00 PM - 5:45 PM Adults 6:00 PM - 7:15 PM Sundays, beginning September 24 Sunday music - adults 8:30 AM - 9:10 AM Christmas - youth and adults 9:15 AM - 9:45 AM Children during children’s church
Here’s a list of needed items: Purina Puppy Chow White copy paper Liquid laundry soap Sunflower seeds (no salt) Graham crackers Trash bags (13 and 45 gal.) 1st class stamps Astroturf mats Qt. freezer Ziploc bags Purina Cat Chow Fresh/frozen chicken Venison/red meat Fresh/frozen fish Fresh/frozen veggies Zip ties Wasp spray
Shovels and rakes Pine straw Meat baby food Pecans and walnuts Suet cakes Amdro Masking and duct tape Rope Bungee cords Paper towels Kleenex Animal crackers Sweet potatoes Walmart, Lowes, Sam's, Home Depot, and Walgreens gift cards
There are many exciting things going on in the life of our church. It is always amazing and gratifying to see people support the church with their time, talents and financial gifts, and we thank them. Fred Woods and his friend worked on patching the roof leaks on Thee House and will be repairing sheetrock soon. Lewis Galatas has been mowing the church property, and it looks so beautiful. Four anonymous donors have given money to purchase new microphones and other needed sound equipment. Money was also donated to buy cleaning supplies to strip, clean and wax the floor in the Parish hall.
Looking for more volunteers: Sign up for flower arranging (A class will be offered in October Clean and wax the Parish Hall Clean “Thee House” (1-2 times a year) Pressure wash sidewalks and outside walls of church and Thee House
Haul off garbage by dumpster Tractor mowing Weed the flower beds
Please see Beth Woods if you are able to serve in any of these ways.
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Saint Monica’s Messenger
Episcopal Peace Fellowship Pilgrimage to Koinonia We’re making a Pilgrimage! For a celebration for peace and justice to a living, breathing, inclusive, sustainable community: Koinonia. Please join us! Friday eve October 27 ─ Saturday October 28 ─ Sunday October 29 to Noon 1942: The USA was coming late to a war already raging ─ while in the South, Jim Crow laws were rigidly enforced to “keep them in their place.” Archaic agricultural practices were keeping Southern farmers, black and white, unproductive. But a New Testament Greek scholar out of Southern Baptist Seminary who learned advanced agriculture from the U of Georgia, knew that this could be changed through openness, love and education ─ and in the midst of war, refused to succumb to violence. Clarence Jordan founded Koinonia Farm, south of Americus. The war over, the Koinonia community built new housing along a back road to help poorer neighbors. Thus, the beginning of Habitat for Humanity. Could a community of men and women committed to a life of nonviolence overcome hostility, boycotts, gunfire, dynamite and arson? The question answers itself—at Koinonia Farm. Our Pilgrimage dates are the midst of the pecan harvest of a thriving farm, a part of the Koinonia achievement. THE PILGRIMAGE PROGRAM: ▪ Friday: Dinner on the road. ▪ On Arrival, get your package at the Welcome Center. After five, in the box outside. ▪ Join us for social time and Evening Prayer. ▪ Saturday: 8:00 – Breakfast followed by Introductions by EPF Convener Elizabeth MacWhinnie, ▪ Morning tours of farm, crops, and animals for adults and children ▪ Lunch and work >> keeping with the communal spirit of Koinonia, we ask you to volunteer for cooking and cleanup ▪ Presentation by The Rev. Deanna Vandiver, Director of the Center for Ethical Living and Social Justice Renewal in New Orleans ▪ Children with children’s leader during the presentation ▪ Free time after. At 5:00 PM – Multicultural Celebration of Gratitude and Commitment, with Music and Dinner ▪ Evening Program and Fellowship ▪ Sunday: Early breakfast followed by church at Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, GA – church of President Jimmy Carter. (He teaches Sunday School about three Sundays a month at 10:00 AM followed by the service at 11:00 AM). Pilgrims who sing have been invited to join the Maranatha choir. About Koinonia: ▪ Walk around all you like. The farm is lovely and interesting. Ask at the Welcome Center for a guide to the Summit, about one-half mile, because of animals. ▪ Late October is pecan harvest! ▪ There is a playground for
children. ▪ There is a library. Alcohol may be consumed indoors only. BYOB ▪ Koinonia is not equipped with TV. To get there ▪ Koinonia is 20 minutes south of Americus, GA on GA Route 49 — about 4 ½ hours from Pensacola. ▪ US Route 231 is as good a place as any to turn N from I-10. Have a map or GPS or laptop from there on. Koinonia is Eastern Time ACCOMODATIONS AND COST: Program and Food: $54 Lodging: $70 (for two nights) in two-bed bedroom (single beds) or $50 (for two nights in four-bed bedroom) Let Bill Sloan know if the cost is hard for you. We will not let cost prevent you from attending! Other lodging options: motor campsites w/water and 30amp, primitive camping sites, and hotels in Americus (about 20 minutes from farm) Learn more about Koinonia Farm at koinoniafarm.org. Contact Bill Sloan with questions at wmsloan35@gmail.com or 850-748-2314. Send registration form and checks to Bill at 1613 E. Jordan St., Pensacola, FL 32503. Sorry, we're not equipped to take credit cards. Please write "Koinonia" on the outside of the payment envelope. Best to register by email, but please send all the information. Please put "Koinonia" in the subject line.
Pilgrim Name _______________________________ Phone _________________________ Email ______________________________________ Additional Family Members Attending (include ages of children) _______________________________________________________________________________________ Name of Roommate __________________________________________________________________ If no roommate, we'll assign one. We need to use all the beds. Lodging Choice: Two-bed room(s) _______________ Four-bed room _______________ (one) Other ___________________________________________________________________
Jim Morningstar
Beth woods TBA To the glory of God Valerie Smith
Beckwith Picnic Beckwith Picnic To the glory of God Beth Woods
Ann Philen
TBA
To the glory of God
Jim Morningstar
Ray Farrel
Nursery
Coffee Hour
Flowers
Arrangers
Eucharistic Visitor
Carol Farrel
Bill Heart
Ray Farrel
POTLUCK
Carol Farrel
Trey MacWhinnie, Katherine Chaapel & Rachel Ludwig Valerie Smith & Carol Farrel Jeff Woods & Chuck Barnett
John Velaski
* 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
Trey MacWhinnie, Katherine Chaapel & Rachel Ludwig Connie Chamberlin & Chuck Barnett Bill Ramsey & Jim Warner
Trey MacWhinnie, Katherine Chaapel & Rachel Ludwig John Velaski & Carol Farrel Jim Morningstar & Ron Giles
Trey MacWhinnie, Katherine Chaapel & Rachel Ludwig John Velaski & Tom Chaapel Ray Farrel & Jim Warner
Acolytes
Beth Woods
Ray Farrel
Ray Farrel
Beth Woods
To the glory of God
TBA
Beth Woods
Trey MacWhinnie, Katherine Chaapel & Rachel Ludwig John Velaski & Tom Chaapel Ray Farrel & Jim Warner
Ray Farrel
John Velaski
Lector Epistle reading
Fred Woods
Connie Chamberlin
Trey MacWhinnie
John Velaski
Carol Farrel
John Velaski
October1
Chuck Barnett
Psalm
Tom Chaapel
Kathy Vail
John Velaski
Carol Farrel
Connie Chamberlin
September 24
Lector 1st Lesson
Ray Farrel
September 17
John Velaski
September 10
Eucharistic Minister
September 3
Service Schedule for September 2017
September Prayer Requests
Military and First Responders Prayer List
LaJoy Battles Amber Cambell & baby Ellie May Connie Chamberlin Bill Cross Traci Ferguson Ashton Gaff PPaul Giles Ron Giles Harry Green Cindy Holifelder Camilla Johnson Tommy Johnson Cathy Johnson Jan Mann
Adam Blankenship Field Cross Aaron Gaff Adrian Gaff Benjamin Gaff Justin Hanson James Klinginsmith Andrew Kuntz Cody Melancon Chase Scott Matthew Velaski
Kelley Mann Bob Matlock Debbie Gurley Mahoney Gina McCrory Amber Moffit & baby Nicholas Frank Murphy The Quilters Jean Rasmussen Maggie Rose Rodak Rusty Sellers Texann Stevens Melanie Velaski Betty Whiten Beth Woods
Birthdays in September
5, Trey MacWhinnie; 21 Chuck Barnett, Wayne Horn
Anniversaries in September
18, Ron & Dora Giles; 22, Maurice & Mary Currie 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!
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. Sept. 3, 2017—Crenshaw County Jail, Luverne, Alabama Sept. 10, 2017—Covington County Jail, Andalusia, Alabama Sept.17, 2017—Coffee County Jail County Complex, New Brockton, Alabama Sept. 24, 2017—Choctaw County Jail, Butler, Alabama