We Are Epiok.org

August 17, 2012

Issue 33

Times Set for 77th General Convention Forums

This September, a series of forums will be held around the Diocese to help people understand what happened at General Convention. Bishop Ed will be present, as will members of the Oklahoma Deputation. They will make presentations, and there will be opportunity for questions. Please plan to attend a forum near you. 

Wednesday evening, 5 September   6:30 p.m.  

 Southeast Region            St. Philip's, Ardmore

Wednesday evening, 12 September   6:30 p.m.

Southwest Region        St Andrew's, Lawton

Sunday afternoon, 16 September   3:00 p.m.

Oklahoma City Region      St. Paul's Cathedral

Wednesday evening, 19 September   6:30 p.m.

Northwest Region        St. Matthew's, Enid

Sunday afternoon, 23 September   3:00 p.m.

Northeast Region          St. Andrew's, Grove

Wednesday evening, 26 September   6:30 p.m.

Tulsa Region                    Trinity, Tulsa

Preparing for Diocesan Convention 

In preparing for our up-coming Diocesan Convention, the Secretary of Convention is working on a video celebrating the mission and ministry of the Episcopal Church in Oklahoma. Each congregation is asked to submit a video of the congregation saying the words "We are the Episcopal Church." Ideally this would be submitted in electronic format (.mov is preferred) to Melanie Wignall (mwignall@cox.net) via email or mailing a CD or jump drive to her. The video should be shot in 16:9 (widescreen ration). Please submit these to Melanie by September 15th.

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.

Mother Stephanie Celebration, St. Luke's Bartlesville 

 Please join us for a celebration of Mthr. Stephanie on Sunday August 19 at noon right after the 10:30 Sunday service in Metcalf Hall.  You won't want to miss this special occasion as we honor and thank Mthr. Stephanie for her time with us and see her off to her new parish in Massachusetts.  We have been very blessed and enriched by Mthr. Stephanie's time with us and she will surely be missed as well as Richard and Henry.

Please come prepared to share your Mthr. Stephanie stories" as this will be our last time together with her.

26th Annual Honor Dance  

On Saturday, September 8th we will be celebrating the Feast Day of David Pendleton Oakerhater and honoring Native American Ministries in the Episcopal Church with our twenty-sixth annual honor dance. The honor dance will take place at Whirlwind Mission of the Holy Family in Watonga, Oklahoma.

The day will begin at 1:00 p.m. with Gourd Dancing that will be followed by Holy Eucharist. After worship, participants will enjoy feasting on fry bread, corn soup and other Native American dishes. A grand entry and contest dancing into the night will follow dinner.

Whirlwind Mission is located one mile east of Watonga, on Highway 33. Turn South on Laing Street across from Legion Park. Call The Rev. Jim Kee-Rees if you have any questions, or if you plan on bringing a group, 405-974-0024. 

Episcopal Softball Teams Season End  

This is a photo of the "Beloved" St. John's Norman softball team after the league playoff last night at Reeves Park in Norman.

We were 6-2 in regular league play but lost last night to St. Mary's and to St. Paul's.

St. Mary's Edmond won the playoff with St. Michael's Norman second, St. Paul's third and the Beloved last.

Great fun was had by all who played and the after game fellowship was exceptional. Owen Mills of St. John's was the driving force behind the league and was our team coach. He hopes more OKC area Episcopal churches will take part next year.

Camp Sunday 

St. Paul's Cathedral, Oklahoma City, hosted the Camp Sunday this past weekend. 

 
 Here deans, staff, nurses, and volunteers gather.

Here's a shot from the front of the church with the whole group!

More Backpack Blessings Offered 

St. Patrick's, Broken Arrow, offered a Blessing of Backpacks this past Sunday. As you can see from the picture, there was a trememdous turnout for this event.

A Walk in the Woods - St. Crispin's Conference Center

Did you know that in the past years, several youth have completed their Eagle Scout project at St. Crispin's? St. Crispin's is the perfect place for these type projects, and not only for Scouts. If you or your service group is looking for a place or project, Mike Roberts is the person to talk to. "We have a plethora of projects available if anyone is interested."  Contact Mike at mike@stcrispins.org  and plan to visit St. Crispin's to discuss your gifts and their needs.

Whole Creation Community 

Whole Creation Community has partnered with Pura Vida Create Good to provide you with your morning coffee!

The Create Good Foundation is:

Committed to helping the poor who live in coffee growing regions around the world through water and economic infrastructure investments aimed directly at creating sustainable communities.

Please click on this link to be directed to the Pura Vida Create Good website. A portion of your purchases will be rebated to Whole Creation Community.

You may also navigate directly to the Pura Vida Create Good website and make your purchase, attributing it to Whole Creation Community by typing WHOLECREATION in the "Coupon/Fundraising Code" box in your shopping cart.

Camp Schedule for 2013

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

 Registration will begin January 1, 2013.  

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.

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.

Resources

Here are some free curriculum ideas:

Virtual Church School - It was designed for small congregations. Follows the Revised Common Lectionary. Check them out at: http://churchschool.info/index.en.php

Lectionary Links - posting ideas between a book written for children or youth with at least three of the upcoming lectionary passages in the Revised Common Lectionary.  http://storypath.wordpress.com/lectionary-links

Vibrant Faith @ Home http://vibrantfaithathome.org

The Episcopal Youth Community in Arkansas has a list of church resources: http://eycarkansas.org/church-resources

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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