TheCanticle Aug.‐Sept.2011

THECANTICLE

AU

G.‐

SEPT.

2011

TheServiceofRemembranceforthe10thAnniversaryoftheattacksof9/11

Pages4and6

BrotherhoodofSt.Lawrenceissmokin’!

St.AugustineofCanterburyEpiscopalChurch

14700N.MayAve.OklahomaCity,OK73134

(405)751‐7874http://staugustine.episcopaloklahoma.org/

OurchapteroftheBrotherhoodofSt.LawrencewenttoTulsainAugusttoparticipateintheThethirdannualOklahomaChampionshipSteakCook‐Off.AccordingtheTulsaWorld,It“featuredseasoned,award‐winningcookingprofessionalssquaringoffagainstpluckyupstartswithadreaminacompetitionthatraisedmoneyforcharitywhilepleasingtastebudsandfillingstomachs.FoundingchairmanTrippHaggardsaidthecompetitionwasconceivedbytheBrotherhoodofSaintLawrence‐amen'sfellowshipgroup‐asa"small‐towntypeeventinthebigcity."

ThisphotofromanarticleintheTulsaWorld,withaphotoofourveryownMarcDillardandTerryCannon,ChadYarbroughandGeorgeLauffer!PhotobyMichaelWyke,courtesyoftheTulsaWorld

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THEAMERICANFLAGusedinSunday’sServiceofRemembranceisonloantousfromtheLauffers.ThisflagwasthefirstflowninWashington,D.C.abovetheCapitolbuildingonJune16,1987attherequestofGeorgeandDianaLauffer.

BIRTHDAYS

8/1LucyHerndon8/2DonMoon8/14HadynRodrigues8/14JaniceWilson8/14BrentZweifel8/21RobertMartin8/21JoiceThompson8/27RonaldChamberlain8/27RickInselman8/27EdraThrower9/1EmilyStone

CHURCHNEWS

CANTERBURYFAIRE:cometotheFaireonSaturday,Oct.1.Morethan25artistsandcrafterswillshowtheirwares,deliciousfoodwillbesold,andFriarTuckwillmakeanappearance!Therewillbefunchildren’sactivities,suchasjoustingonhobbyhorses!

STAINEDGLASS:AbrilliantthankyougoestoClarenDenningforcreatingtwocolorfulstainedglasswindowsfortheChildren’sChapelandtheGodlyplayroom.Pleasestopbyandseethesebeautifulcreations.

AletterfromSabrinaEvans,“FolksIamsothrilledthatpeoplehavesteppeduptoserveinleadershiprolesforourChildren'sSundaymorningformationprograms.However,wehavesomethingmissing‐Men!Therearenomenworkinginanyoftheclasses(withtheexceptionofFr.Joseph).WeneedtoshowourchildrenthateveryonewhohaseverrepeatedtheBaptismalCovenanttrulyunderstanditsmeaningandstepsforwardtohelp.YouwillnotberequiredtoserveeverySundaybutIthinkamaleinfluenceintheseclasseswillreallymakeadifference.Inthe3yearold‐1stgraderoom‐

Children’sChristianFormation

9/2JaimeeMarch9/3KristenShelton9/10LylaRousseau9/12EvelynThrower9/13StacyHolleman9/17Rev.RobbyTrammell9/18FrankStone9/20AinsleyDean9/20JasonClark9/22MannyDuncanson9/28PamelaCastorANNIVERSARIES8/12Margaret&JoelKahn8/13Amy&KurtSmith9/1Nancy&MikeHoward9/3Stacy&BillHolleman9/10Peri&GregBennett9/17Marsha&MarkTygretIfyourbirthdayoranniversaryisnotlistedhere,pleaseletYvetteWalkerknow.

serveasadoorperson‐trainingprovided.Inthe2nd‐5thgraderoom,serveasteacherwithtwootheradults.Additionally,wearelookingforafewpeopletoserveinChildren'sChapel.Thiswilloccurabout1xevery8weeks.Ifyouarewillingtoserveineitherofthesecapacities,pleaseletmeknow.”SabrinaEvansDirectorofChristianFormationEpiscopalDioceseofOklahoma924N.RobinsonOklahomaCity,OK73102christianformation@epiok.org

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GUILDOFST.GEORGE

TheGuildofSt.GeorgewasstartedasanoutreachministryfortheEpiscopalChurchesintheOklahomaCityRegion.BecauseofitsdowntownlocationSt.Paul'sCathedralhasbeenthelocationoftheGuildforovertwentyyears.

SinceopeninginAprilof1983theGuildhasdistributedmorethanamilliondollarsingoodsandservicestoneedypeople.OvertenthousandmealsayeararebeingprovidedfromtheGuild'spantry.TheGuildisalwaysinneedofvolunteersaswellasfinancialandmaterialresources.Eachdaydozensofbustokensaredistributed,numerousprescriptionsandutilitybillsarepaidfor,andnearlyahundredbagsofgroceries

CHURCHNEWS

KAIROSCOOKIESarewantedbyChuckEvansforaKairosweekendonSeptember28th.Ifyouareinterestedinmakingcookiesforthisevent,pleasecontactSarahKelleyatstaugustine@sbcglobal.netor751‐7874.Sarahhasthedetailsforthecookies.

ARTEXHIBIT:FatherJosephisplanningtotakeagrouptoseetheAncientBibleandTextExhibitattheOklahomaCityArtMuseum.Ifyouareinterestedingoing,pleasecontactSarahKelleyat751‐7874orstaugustine@sbcglobal.net.

Ourideawasambitiousandwayoutofthebox.WouldpeoplebringatentandsleepatthechurchasapartofVBS?Itwasn’tuntiltheparishhallwascoveredwithtentsofallsortsthatwegottheanswer–yes!28childrenandadozenmoreadultscantobeapartofSt.Augustine’sfirstVBSLock‐In.UsingthematerialsfromPalestine30A.D.,activitiesweredesignedtohelpus“LiveLikeJesusDid.”

WestartedonSaturdayat1p.m.TentspoppingupandchildrendressingincostumesfromtheChristmaspageant.Then,therewerethreeseparategroupsdoingwork–onewasmakingbreadwhichwewouldlaterfryforpartofoursuppermeal;onewasmakingbutterusingcreamandtheirarms;andthelast

VBS2011:LivinglikeJesusdid

aregivenawaytopeoplewhoneedcharitablehelp.OverthecourseofanygivenmonththeGuildspends$6,000ormoretomeettheneedsofthepoor.

Toiletryitemssuchassoap,shampoo,toothpaste,deodorant,andtoilettissueareneededatanytime.?Weencouragepeoplewhotraveltocollectsoapandshampoofromtheirhotelroomsanddonatetheseitems.

GuildofSt.George

Oct.:Cerealsofalltypes

waspaintingteeshirtsusingnaturalfruitsandvegetables.Werotatedtheactivitiessoeveryonehadachancetomakebread,butter,andpainttheirshirts.

Eachchildhadadrinkingmugtodecorateandusetogatherwaterfromthecommunity“well”whenevertheywerethirsty.TheRev.DanaOrwigcameandprovidedhermusicaltalentswithJewishfolkmusicanddance.Weaddedourmusicalinstrumentstolivenupoursongs.Thiswasagreatadditionandwasafavoriteofallages.Forsupper,wefriedthebread,hadourfreshbutter,boiledeggs,honey,cheese,bananasandpineapple,hummus,bananabread,andsoups.Aftersupper,the

childrenwentoutintotheyardtoplaywhiletheadultsreadiedfortheirnextactivity.Childrenhadwoodenitemstomakeboatsandlambtoys,andthingstopaint,alongwithjewelrytostring.Wecrushedolivesfortheiroilandmadehoneyandalmondperfumefromtheoil.

Thenourresident“rabbi”,FatherJoseph,hadusgatheraroundthefirepitandtoldusthestoryofcreation,usinghisdrumforaccompaniment.Then,itwastimeforustogotoourtentsandsleep.WeroseonSundaymorningaround7a.m.andbreakfastwasprepared.Itwasthesameasoursupperbuttastedjustasgood.Wethenwenttotheearlyserviceandworshippedtogether.–TheVBSteam

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ServiceofRemembrance

for9/11attacksSeptember11,2011

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VacationBibleSchool.July30,2011

“JesuslovesmethisIknow,‘causeTheBibletellsmeso.”

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TodayisSept.11,adatethatwillberememberedforgenerationsyettocome.ItisadatethatAmericansconsideroneofthemostsignificantinthenation’shistory.ItisadatethatisassociatedwithotherepichistoriceventssuchasthefoundingoftheUnitedStates,theendoftheconflictbetweentheNorthandtheSouth,thebombingofPearlyHarbor,andtheendofWorldWarII.Itisrememberedbecauseitisadatethatchallengedthefreedomofafreepeople.

Onthisday,whenwerememberthecarnagewroughtbythatmorning,wecanrecallwithcrystalclaritytheeffectsofdistilledevil.Itisonthisday–tenyearslater–thatwebringthatcollectivepainandlayituponthe“altarofanguish.”

ThedeepwoundtothepsycheoftheUnitedStateshasnotcompletelyhealed.Wefoughtback,firstagainsttheTalibaninAfghanistan,andthenagainstSaddamHusseinandthosewhosupportedhiminIraq.SealTeamSixtookoutOsamaBinLaden,themanbehindtheterror.Yetnoneoftheseactionshasbroughthealing.Thesurfaceisscarredover.

Thepainremains.

Anditisonthisdayofalldays,“9/11.”Asmanycallit,adatethatchallengedthegraceofforgivenessthatwewhoclaimtobeChristianshavebeentoldbyourLordJesusChristtooffer,eventoourenemieswehearinourappointedreadingsofScripture,amixedmessage.

Infact,thethreelectiornarypassagesassignedfortoday,takenfromtheendofthebookofGenesis,fromSt.Paul’sLettertotheRomanChristians,andfromMatthew’sretellingofJesus’parabletohisdisciples,presentuswithprofoundlessonsontoleranceandforgiveness.

Jesusintoday’sGospelansweredPeter’squestion,“HowoftenshouldIforgive?”with“Notseventimes,butItellyouseventy‐seventimes.”

Intalkingaboutrightingwrongs,PaulinhislettertothechurchinRome,echoesJesuswhenhesays,“WewillallstandbeforethejudgmentseatofGod.”HeaddsaquotefromIsaiah,theprophet,“AsIlive,saystheLord,everykneeshallbowtome,andeverytongueshallgivepraisetoGod.Sothen,eachofuswillbeaccountabletoGod.”

IntheverylastchapterofGenesiswereadthefinaleoftheJosephstory.GodtakesevilandturnsitintogoodinordertoachieveGod’spurposeofsalvation.Lifeitselfissometimestooeasy!Andforgivenessisnotaneasygifttogive!Yet,forourownhealth,itisanecessity.

Nottoforgivemeansholdingontothehate.Nottoforgiveislikesomeonedrinkingpoisoninthehopethattheotherpersonwilldie.

Truthbetold,forgivenessismuchmorebeneficialtotheonewhoforgivesthantotheonewhoisforgiven.Allofusknowthatthisisnotjusttheorybutunderstanditstruthfromexperiencelettinggooffeelingsofrevengeandretribution,isapotenthealingact.Ithasnothingtodowithsentiment;itisapowerfulactofwill.

Yet,asnations,wehavefailedmiserably.Ascommunities,wehavenotlearnedtoforgive.ArchbishopDesmondTutuknowsaboutforgivenessthroughthedaringactofhelpingleadsouthAfricathroughtruthandreconciliationaftertheendofApartheid,said:“Toforgiveisaprocessthatdoesnotexcludehateandanger.Theseemotionsareallpartofbeinghuman.”Tutucontinues,“Youshouldneverhateyourselfforhatingotherswhodoterriblethings;thedepthofyourliveisshownbytheextentofyouranger.”

“Forgivenessdoesnotmeancondoning

9/11sermonbyRev.JosephCaldwellAlsaywhathasbeendone.Itmeanstakingwhathappenedseriouslyandnotminimizingit;drawingoutthestinginthememorythatthreatenstopoisonourentireexistence.Itinvolvestryingtounderstandtheperpetratorsandsohaveempathy,totrytostandintheirshoesandappreciatethesortofpressuresandinfluencesthatmighthaveconditionedthem.”

Forgivenessdoesnothavetomeanforgetting,andreconciliationisnotalwayspossible.ForgivenessmeanstrustingjudgmenttoGod,andthisisonlypossiblebythegracethatcomesfromGodalone.ArchbishopTutuwrites,“Forgivingmeansabandoningyourrighttopaybacktheperpetratorsinhisowncoin,butitisalossthatliberatesthevictim.”

Today,weareboundtowonderhowdifferentworldhistorywouldbeifallpersonsandnationsthoughtthisway.

AlexanderPopeoncesaid,“Toerrishuman,toforgive,divine.”

GodbecamehumaninJesusofNazareth.Helivedamongus,notjustteachingaboutlove,butmoreimportantly,showingustheloveofGod.Jesuschosetoshowpowerthroughhispowerlessnessonthecross.Jesuscontinuallygavetheexampleofturningtheothercheek,ofofferingmercy,loveandforgiveness.GodcameinJesusandofferedustheredemptivepowerofhisblood.Healsogaveusapatternforhowhumanscanlivegodlylives.

Jesus’examplewasvital,asmenandwomendonotnaturallyletgoofpasthurts.Wehavetolearngraceandforgiveness.

Untilwefindinourselvesthecapacitytoforgive,wecontinuetobelinkedtothecauseofourangerandourunforgivingemotions.OnlyasweforgiveareweabletomoveonandbecomethemoreChristlikepersonthatGodhascalledustobe.

St.AugustineofCanterbury,Sept.11,2011

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They'reBack!ThosewonderfulChurchBulletins!ThankGodforchurchladieswithtypewriters.Thesesentences(withalltheBLOOPERS)actuallyappearedinchurchbulletinsorwereannouncedinchurchservices.ThankstoCarolShanahan:

TheFasting&PrayerConferenceincludesmeals.

Thesermonthismorning:'JesusWalksontheWater.'Thesermontonight:'SearchingforJesus.'

Ladies,don'tforgettherummagesale.It'sachancetogetridofthosethingsnotworthkeepingaroundthehouse.Bringyourhusbands.

Rememberinprayerthemanywhoaresickofourcommunity.Smileatsomeonewhoishardtolove.Say'Hell'tosomeonewhodoesn'tcaremuchaboutyou.

Don'tletworrykillyouoff‐lettheChurchhelp.

MissCharleneMasonsang'Iwillnotpassthiswayagain,'givingobviouspleasuretothecongregation.

Forthoseofyouwhohavechildrenanddon'tknowit,wehaveanurserydownstairs.

NextThursdaytherewillbetryoutsforthechoir.Theyneedallthehelptheycanget.

IrvingBensonandJessieCarterweremarriedonOctober24inthechurch.Soendsafriendshipthatbeganintheirschooldays.

AbeansupperwillbeheldonTuesdayeveninginthechurchhall.Musicwillfollow..

Attheeveningservicetonight,thesermontopicwillbe'WhatIsHell?'Comeearlyandlistentoourchoirpractice.

Eightnewchoirrobesarecurrentlyneededduetotheadditionofseveralnewmembersandtothe

deteriorationofsomeolderones.

Scoutsaresavingaluminumcans,bottlesandotheritemstoberecycled.Proceedswillbeusedtocripplechildren.

Pleaseplaceyourdonationintheenvelopealongwiththedeceasedpersonyouwantremembered..

Thechurchwillhostaneveningoffinedining,superentertainmentandgracioushostility.

PotlucksupperSundayat5:00PM‐prayerandmedicationtofollow.

TheladiesoftheChurchhavecastoffclothingofeverykind.TheymaybeseeninthebasementonFridayafternoon.

Thiseveningat7PMtherewillbeahymnsingingintheparkacrossfromtheChurch.Bringablanketandcomepreparedtosin.

LadiesBibleStudywillbeheldThursdaymorningat10AM.AllladiesareinvitedtolunchintheFellowshipHallaftertheB.S.Isdone.

ThepastorwouldappreciateitiftheladiesoftheCongregationwouldlendhimtheirelectricgirdlesforthepancakebreakfastnextSunday.

LowSelfEsteemSupportGroupwillmeetThursdayat7PM.Pleaseusethebackdoor.

Theeighth‐graderswillbepresentingShakespeare'sHamletintheChurchbasementFridayat7PM.Thecongregationisinvitedtoattendthistragedy.

WeightWatcherswillmeetat7PMattheFirstPresbyterianChurch.Pleaseuselargedoubledooratthesideentrance.

TheAssociateMinisterunveiledthechurch'snewcampaignsloganlastSunday:'IUppedMyPledge‐UpYours.

Fromtheinternet:Churchbulletinbloopers!