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C July/August 2013
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CALENDAR
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Sunday Services PRAYER & WORK
8:30 am — Holy Eucharist Rite I: Traditional Service 10:45 am — Holy Eucharist Rite II: Celebration Service
Wednesday Services 8:45 am — Morning Prayer, Rite II 12 noon — Contemplative Eucharist, Rite II 5:00 pm — Evening Prayer, Rite II
Sunday, August 4 Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
We are called to pray. We are called to work.
8:30 am & 10:45 am Services
Wednesday, August 7 8:45 am, 12 noon & 5:00 pm services
Such a spiritual realization can draw and bind us to one another. It can engender compassion and a desire for justice for all of people. Jesus had been praying as he was wont to do. He worked and he prayed for his friends and for his city, Jerusalem, and its surrounding towns and villages. Jesus prayed for the people of God. Jesus prayed, talking with God, listening for God’s voice.
Sunday, August 11 Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost 8:30 am & 10:45 am Services
Wednesday, August 14 8:30 am & 10:45 am Services
Sunday, August 18 Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost 8:30 am & 10:45 am Services
Wednesday, August 21 8:45 am, 12 noon & 5:00 pm services
St. Augustine, where everyone makes new friends.
I was on my first retreat in San Francisco staying at a religious house and trying to get used to its rhythms. The bell rang calling everyone to prayers three times every day. The community gathered in the midst of all their labors to pray, to be together, to be with God in this particular way. In my brief time there I was reminded that the Church prays and the Church works. It’s really quite simple. Ora et Labora -Prayer and Work are simply the two things that we who are the Church are called to do.
To seek the welfare of the places where God sends us is no small task. Jesus would give his whole life to this task. Such a vocation demands all of who we are. The disciples asked Jesus to teach them to pray as John the Baptist taught his disciples. This is a really interesting request, don’t you think? The scriptures are not clear whether Jesus prayed in that way himself or not (though we assume he did), but that’s how Jesus’ disciples wanted to learn how to pray. So, Jesus told them what John the Baptist taught his disciples. Father, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Give us each day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive everyone indebted to us. And do not bring us to the time of trial. They were taught to pray for God’s kingdom to come into their lives, for enough bread, for forgiveness, for the strength to forgive others, and for an escape from all that might tempt us to live otherwise. Has there ever been a time in the history of humankind where we did not need such a word as this from Jesus?
14700 North May Ave. | Oklahoma City, OK 73134 405.751.7874 staugustine.episcopaloklahoma.org
Jesus, again and again in his ministry, claimed that the time of God had already begun.
goes home leaving all participants on both sides of the wire to process the day’s lessons.
There is no need to wait. There are no more excuses.
This is not bible study. The goal is to introduce people to God and to have the Holy Spirit enter their lives so that they can come out better than when they went in. In short, give them a shot at a better life whether inside or outside the wire.
There is no need to hide... to hole up in the corner somewhere and wait to be good enough, rich enough, or smart enough. The call is the same to one and all and God is reaching out to us to help us fulfill the call “to seek the welfare of the city.” God is here. The time of God’s Kingdom is now. This is the God Time. So often we can relegate our faith and our prayers to the realm of ideology or an interior space that will never see the dirt of the streets or the light of day for that matter. We protect that part of ourselves from the world. The trouble with that is when we do seek to do God’s work we may find ourselves cut off from our Source in the process. But what does this have to do with our praying in worship? The prayers of our worship services remind us that God’s Kingdom is to be present here and now and that we who pray such words might be instruments of God’s Kingdom. Amen. Father Joseph
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Karios Chuck Evans 232.4820 | chuck@efs.tzo.com This ministry can be pivotal in the lives of those most in need. If that isn’t enough to get you interested a visit with Chuck is bound to. Karios is a program that provides three day structured weekends for reflection. Similar to a Walk to Emmaus and other Christian retreats, Karios focuses on a person’s spiritual needs, in this instance it is for those people that are incarcerated in prison. Participation in Karios decreases the percentage of prisoners that fail on the street and find themselves back behind bars. The actual weekend events are structured to include 42 selected inmates assigned to groups that consist of six inmates and three Karios members. Over the course of the next three days they will listen to talks, and follow up after each talk with discussion and the creation of posters. Each night during the event the prisoners return to their cells and the Karios group
In order to volunteer, those interested must take a one day training class and be provided a badge for use when entering and exiting the prisons. Chuck encourages anyone who is interested to contact him and attend one of several planning sessions beginning in September for the next Karios Weekend coming up this November. When he first participated 15 years ago Chuck was concerned about what he would say and do; would he help or cause harm. But now he says, “As long as you go and be honest, faithful and dependable, God will take care of the rest. He will lead you where you need to go — the Holy Spirit is so strong.”
Holy Hospitality Karen Koch, 918.625.0141 | hunnykoch@cox.net As the end of summer draws near, so does the Holy Hospitality hiatus. Fall will bring with it many events at St. Augustine’s. Their success will depend, in large part, on the combined efforts of many people. Would you like to be a part of Holy Hospitality and help others experience the warm and welcoming atmosphere for which St. Augustine’s is known? We have a dedicated bunch, but there’s always room for more. Some of the skills that are a great fit with being part of Holy Hospitality are: creativity; organization; leadership (and the ability to delegate); responsibility; and timeliness. If any (or all) of those traits describe you, then you can be a big help to the group. Activities with Holy Hospitality include: Coordina ng volunteers for weekly hospitality events Se ng up/tearing down for event and, of course, cleaning
up a erwards Cooking and planning Helping with kitchen, prep and procedures Working with parishioners to plan weddings, funerals, an‐
niversaries… Shopping weekly for supplies Laundering of all tablecloths Working with team for bi‐yearly cleaning Spearheading campaign for silver trays, bowl, serving piec‐
es, etc. To learn more about Holy Hospitality and sign up to become a committee member, contact Karen Koch.
14700 North May Ave. | Oklahoma City, OK 73134 | 405.751.7874 staugustine.episcopaloklahoma.org
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Barbara Maroney That vivacious redhead seen at St. Augustine’s on Sunday mornings is Barbara Maroney. She joined the church six years ago this month after relocating from Colorado. The music has always drawn Barbara to the second service at any Episcopal Church she has attended. Early morning services are too quiet for her. There are so many great things going on in the 10:45 service that it is difficult to pick a favorite. The Children’s moment stands out though because it benefits not only the children but all the adults as well. She is so happy Father Joe is making the church grow and said she wouldn’t even consider going anywhere else. Friendships and reliability are a plus at St. Augustine. Barbara can always count on walking in to a welcoming atmosphere with those faces she knows and new faces to meet. She’s seen a lot of changes in the last six years and says she’s just can’t think of any improvements needed. She tries to keep herself busy now that she is retired. At 65 she was still climbing ladders installing awnings and skirtings on mobile home in Arizona, a business she and her late husband started. Now its knitting, crocheting and counted cross stitch among other things. She has turned in 25 finished pieces to the Prayer Shawl ministry so far. Her family is scattered around the US but her daughter Debra and son-in-law Eddie (aka Bishop Ed Konieczny) can be depended on to take great care of her.
Anthony Cominos On the front row at the early service you will find Anthony. He is in his second year at St. Augustine after finding the church from his yellow pages search. A widower since 2003, Anthony was involved in Financial Planning , Real Estate, Life Insurance and Investments for 27 years before retiring. A favorite pastime before and after retirement was golf. He’s had five holein-ones and had a 2 handicap before being forced to leave the game behind due to health reasons. Anthony has grown children in California and Oklahoma City and has two granddaughters, one grandson and a great grand baby due to arrive in the next few weeks. The sermon is his favorite part of the early morning service and admittedly, he’d prefer that the prayers during the service would be spoken without organ accompaniment and singing. Other than that he wouldn’t want to make any changes at St. Augustine. “It’s just
friendly, that’s all”. And for Anthony and many others, that says enough.
Joice Thompson Considering herself more of a traditionalist, Joice typically attends the early Sunday service and frequently enjoys the Wednesday service as well. She finds the homilies insightful, but could live without the incense. Communion is important as well, and not just the sacramental kind. Joice believes all members need to be in communion with each other in order to prevent outside influences from dragging one down. Joice joined St. Augustine in August of 1988. It was close to home and when “you walked in the door you could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit”. It was very welcoming and not all Episcopal churches can make the same claim. As a long time member she misses having just one service where it was easier to meet and make friends. There used to be monthly pot lucks and other opportunities to gather as well creating more of a community, more of a family feel. Retired now, Joice has a “ton of hobbies” including sewing, baking, cooking, cross stitch, knitting and gardening. She was also Hospitality chairman for a long time and was in charge of the reception when Father Joe was received into the Episcopal church. Her adult sons both live in Houston and have graced her with three granddaughters, two grandsons and one great granddaughter with another one on the way. Joice just loves all the people at St. Augustine and she feels very accepted and loved in return. She would like to see more opportunities when both congregations can come together to create more of a collective body. A directory with pictures would be helpful; people need to know each other. Some of the changes in the church have been hard but Joice says “Father ‘s a task master and what he wants—he wants; you hop to and get it done for him.”
Laurel McLoughlin Father Joe’s exuberance brought Laurel to St. Augustine. “I love how he makes church very interactive”, says Laurel. The candle lighting during the prayers of the people, the sermons, and passing the peace with other members are all important parts of the service to her. She attends the second Sunday service with her son Alex (a lector/intercessor) and daughter Alyi. Her husband, Canon Jose works for the Bishop and is usually
14700 North May Ave. | Oklahoma City, OK 73134 | 405.751.7874 staugustine.episcopaloklahoma.org
Laurel McLoughlin continued otherwise obligated on Sundays but he attends when and can and enjoys the opportunity to preside and/or preach when needed. Laurel is the middle school math teacher at St. Mary’s Episcopal School but finds time to enjoy reading books about spirituality, working Sudoku puzzles and hanging around outside in the midst of nature. She also enjoys creating photo albums on line. Development of a youth group is something she would like to see in the coming years. She would also like to see the church hire someone to head up Christian Formation. “The best thing about St. Augustine is the sense of joy and happiness that you feel when you enter the door. People are very genuine and comfortable with who they are. I love that! How many congregations do you know that the adults will wear a king crown for the entirety of a service?”
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14700 North May Ave. | Oklahoma City, OK 73134 405.751.7874 staugustine.episcopaloklahoma.org
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2013