We Are Epiok.org

August 10, 2012

Issue 32

77th General Convention Forums 

Clergy Ordination

Clergy Transitions 

The Rev. Stephanie Mitchell and her family will be leaving St. Luke's, Bartlesville and the Diocese heading to St. Peter's Episcopal Church, Weston, Massachusetts, where she will be serving as Assistant Rector. The congregation will host a Farewell Potluck reception on August 19, her last Sunday.

The Rev. Tim Sean Youmans has begun serving as Assistant Chaplain at Casady School in Oklahoma City. He will serve as chaplain and teacher within the Lower and Middle divisions. TimSean is replacing Sonny Varela who left Casady to accept another position in Ohio.

Clergy Training Set 

There are three trainings required for all deacons and priests and for retired clergy who are still serving as supply in the Diocese:  Safeguarding God's Children, Safeguarding God's People, and Anti-Racism Training. 

On Saturday, October 13, we will offer our first Safeguarding God's People training for Clergy. It will held at the Diocesan Offices and begin at 10 a.m. This is a 3-hour training.

To register, please email Sabrina Evans (christianformation@epiok.org) and let her know you will be attending.

Western Days @ Saint Simeon's

26th Annual Honor Dance  

 All Are Invited

TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL

HONOR DANCE

Celebrating the Feast Day of David Pendleton Oakerhater & Native American Ministries in the Episcopal Church

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Sponsored by

Oklahoma Council on Indian Ministries

Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma

Whirlwind Mission of the Holy Family

Located in Watonga, one mile east on Hwy 33 from intersection of Hwy 33 and Hwy 281. The dance grounds are on the south side of the highway. 

Gourd Dance          1:00 p.m.

Holy Eucharist         3:15 p.m.

Traditional Supper  4:30 p.m.

  Contest Dancing      6:15 p.m.

LOTS OF RAFFLE PRIZES

Contact The Rev. Jim Kee-Rees for Details

Cell 405-974-0024 or jkeerees@episcopaloklahoma.org 

Whole Creation Community 

 
 Please consider the following books for a study: Water, Wind, Earth, & Fire: the Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements by Christine Valters Paintner; and Sacred Acts: How Churches are Working to Protect Earth's Climate by Mallory McDuff.  St. Paul's Cathedral recently had a mini workshop based on the Four Elements. Examples of the four elements surrounded participants as they provided thoughtful insight through meditation and prayer. Toward the end of the forum, participants volunteered prayers/burdens they wished to offer up to God.

These burdens were offered up to God in the center of the Cathedral Labyrinth on July 20th at 3:00 pm by Joyce Gibb, Karen Meites, and Ferrella March.   The following prayer was provided by Joyce Gibb especially for this occasion.

Gracious God, we gather here today in the heart of the Labyrinth to bring to you these words of prayer, written by your children-their concerns, longings, heartaches, need for guidance, thanksgiving, and more. We raise them up to You in this symbolic Fire of Transformation, with our prayers that our Sisters and Brothers may soon feel your transforming presence at work in their lives. Guide us always to be worthy in our ministry of prayer, stewards of Creation and of our faith. Amen.

Grace Ponca City Blesses Backpacks

For some time now it has been my intention to mark the beginning of school with some specific liturgical act here at Grace Church.  I had, unknowingly, thought we had a good bit of time yet to work on this however, this week (as I'm writing this in July) I've discovered to my horror that Ponca City schools are opening on August 9th.  Who would have ever thought such a thing would have happened so early in August. Anyway, I digress.......... 
 
 The important part here is that before school begins we want to invite all of our youth to bring their backpacks filled with their school supplies, or if they don't use a backpack to bring whatever they do use to manage their school supplies to church for a blessing upon all of their educational endeavors as they begin this new school year.  I might add, that if we have any  adult members who find themselves enrolled in higher education, that they are invited to come and participate as well.

Since school is set to begin on August 9th, we will be having this special blessing in the midst of our worship on Sunday, August 5th.

Please do not think of this as just another day or just an ordinary Sunday in this long Season after Pentecost.  Rather I'd like you think of this as a kind of high holy day.  The lives of each and every single one of our youth as they begin this new year of grace in their lives has everything to do with us and our lives of faith.

It is, I believe, God's intention to touch their lives and to be present to them in the midst of all they experience in this coming year. This not only includes their experiences here at Grace Church but also what they can carry of Grace Church into their lives in other places as well.  Their educational lives have everything to do with us.  AND.......it is up to each and everyone of the rest of us to be an encouragement to our youth in all they do.

Remember the ever present truth that there is no place in all of creation in which God is absent.  God is present in our lives and in all that we do.  Each and every day as our youth enter into their classrooms, God is with them and seeking to make his presence felt and known.

SO........come........bless..........pray..........and have each and everyone of our youth on your hearts and prayers as they begin this new year praying that their endeavors will lead them toward being persons of higher character, integrity, and faith.  It's like a sacrament: become an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace. 

Additions to Episcopal Youth Leadership Academy Announced

We are please to announce the addition of three more youth to the EYLA:

Abby Bilsbury           St. Philips, Ardmore

Katie Bilsbury           St. Philips, Ardmore

Keifer Kehl                St. Christopher's, Midwest City

The Parish of St. Augustine of Canterbury - Uruguay  

Theft in Church and Parish Hall

Dear friends, with great sorrow we want to share that we were robbed in the past few days. You can imagine the despair and sadness for all of us. We regret not only the things that were stolen, but the loss of "something of our peace". We know, in Christ Jesus, "He is our peace", that they shall not frighten intimidate us. On the contrary, we will continue working with a firm intention and never be discouraged. As you can see in the article written by the Maestro Stephen, we remain courageous in CAIF, celebrating life permanently.

This Thursday p. Michael Pollesel is visiting with us. We are getting to know one another, and he has had the opportunity to meet, one by one, each of the members of the team of the Centre, as well as of our community, making contact with the joys and sorrows of those who we are in this land of mission.

We are thankful for the greetings and support that we have received and for the promises from many many brothers and sisters, giving us warmth and contentment needed at this moment. We are especially thankful to + Miguel for giving us a chalice and paten, as well as the base of a Paschal candle. To Alejandro +, for trying to get an alarm system in the church. To Pocha and the community of Santiago Apostle, who have offered us plastic chairs. To each and every one, thank you.

Here are all things that we were stolen: 1 silver chalice, a bronze bell, two bronze candle sticks, a bronze base, 1 guitar, 1 gas heater with a 13 Kg propane tank, a stove with a 3 kg propane tank, an electric heater, another heater, a  set of speakers with 2 subwoofers, 10 plastic chairs, 4 P.C. towers, 2 monitors, the glass cruets, a 14 inch TV,  20 bowls, 10 glasses, 20 ceramic cups, two porcelain serving dishes, a mirror,... among other things of lesser value. To all this we can add some broken windows - which we have temporarily repaired.

We thank you for accompanying us, any help that you can offer please do so.

If you would like to help replace the stolen items, you may send a check to the Diocesan Offices and note Uruguay Theft in the memo section. We will collect all funds and send one check to them.

Happening #60 Up-Date 

This past weekend, Happening #60 was offered in the Diocese. A special thanks to Christ Church, Tulsa, for the use of their facility and to the many volunteers in the Tulsa area.

 
 Congratulations to our newest Happeners and the Happening Staff:

Camp Sunday Scheduled

Camp Sunday is Sunday August 12th at St. Paul's. Because school starts for many of the kids the next day (the 13th) we decided to move the time up. The service will begin at 3:00 and the picnic at 4:00. Please make a note of the time change! Come and join in the fun and wear your favorite camp t-shirt!

Camp Dates for 2013

ABC - May 31st-June 1st

Senior High - June 2nd-8th

8th/9th I - June 9th-15th

3rd-5th I - June 16th-22nd

6th/7th I - June 23rd-29th

8th/9th II - June 30th-July 6th

3rd-5th II - July 7th-13th

6th-7th II - July 14th-20th

Camp Wish List

Even though camp is over, we are still accepting miscellaneous supplies to re-stock the craft closet. Crafts are used for all activities and it is helpful to have the craft closet filled with a wide variety of items. Check in those miscellaneous drawers and closets around your house and see if you have any of the items requested from camp! If you do and would like to donate to the supply closet, we'd love to have them. Donations can be dropped off at the Diocesan Offices for delivery to camp.

Box Fans

Bibles (New, Hardcover, all versions)

Embroidery Thread (for friendship bracelets)

Clean Glass Jars (with or without lids)

Scrabble Letters

Large Fake Jewels

Dominoes

Magnetic Tape (self-adhesive)

Children's Fishing Poles, fishing line, hooks, bobbers

Children's and Young Adult's Toothbrushes

Mini Toothpastes

Scissors

Single Hole Punches

Sidewalk Chalk

Jewelry Clasps

Jewelry Wire

Sharpies (Black and Colors, Fine Point)

Masking Tape

Oklahoma Episcopal Youth

MIQRA - Save the date. Next January 19-21, as we offer our first MIQRA. What is MIQRA? It is an event to youth and adults who want to participate in reading the Bible from beginning to end! That's right - three days of non-stop Bible reading - but wait! There's more! There will be games, movies, activities, quite time, and much more going on at the same time! This will be held at St. Mary's Church, Edmond.

New Resources

I Raise My Eyes to Say Yes - A Memoir by Ruth Sienkiewcz-Mercer and Steven B. Kaplan

From Disability to Possibility - The Power of Inclusive Classrooms by Patrck Schwarz

Living with a Brother or sister with Special Needs - a Book for Sibs by Donald Meyer and Patricia Vadasy

Disability is Natural - Revolutionary Commen Sense for Raising Successful Children with Disabilities by Kathie Snow

Education for Ministry Alumni Association Formed
   

At General Convention, EfM announced the new EfM Alumni Assocation! There will be special opportunities for continuing education throughout the year. Subscribers will have access to Oxford Biblical Studies Online and other new resources, along with a discounted subscription to the Sewanee Theological Review. Cost to join is only $25 and all proceeds goes into the EfM Scholarship Fund. For more information, check out this site: http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/EfMAlum.htm

EfM in Oklahoma prepares for Fall

Adults, are you looking for a special place where you can study Bible, review the history of the people of Israel, Cover the Roman Empire, Judaism and the Second Temple,  Galilee, Biblical "Criticism" and the Gospels, study Church History: The Early Church Fathers, Theological choices: Nineteenth Century Anglicanism to Twenty-first Century Challenges, discover the use of Theological Reflections - a way of looking at situations, a way of thinking, a way of being an effective minister in the world, AND, seeing how you already have a ministry in your life and possibly take it further, then EfM is for you!

Groups are forming now. For a list of all current mentors, their e-mails, and congregations, click here.

New Resources Available for Check-Out 

Created by God (Tweens, Faith, and Human Sexuality) Leader's CD-Rom, copy of parent's guide and book for Tweens.

Amazing Gifts - Stories of Faith, Disability, and Inclusion by Mark I. Pinsky

Esau's Blessing - How the Bible embraces those with Special Needs by Ora Horn Prouser

Adult Curriculum Offerings

The Naked Now: Learning to See as the Mystics See by Fr. Richard Rohr. Other Fr. Rohr materials area available at Center for Action and Contemplation Bookstore

Lifelong Faith - Living Well Series http://lifelongfaith.mybigcommerce.com/categories/Living-Well-Book/

The Thoughtful Christian http://www.thethoughtfulchristian.com/

Closing Prayer for August and Beginning of School Year 

 

Dear Lord, as we begin this new school year, we gather

once again as your community of believers.

We thank you for the energy and the spirit that you renewed

in us through the summer months.

We thank you for the time to enjoy our family and

friends and to reflect on what is important in our lives.

Let this year be marked by enthusiasm and love so that,

with the inspiration of your Spirit, we may continue

to grow in our faith.

Help us to fulfill Your hope for us with honest intentions

and works of faith.

Let us be gentle with ourselves and bring laughter, joy

and love to others.

We ask this in your name. Amen.

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