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Upcoming Diocese Events | | |
To register or for more inforamtion please go onto the Dicoesan Web Site below or call the local congregation:
September 27-30
Co-Ed Spanish Speaking Cursillo
St. Crispin's
November 30
One-on-One with Dave Hagan from Digital Faith - helping to design, implement, and improve your congregational web site.
Diocesan Offices Starting at 1 p.m. with 30-minute appointments
December 1
Website Training Program
Diocesan Offices
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Learn tips for beginning, up-dating, or taking your website to the next level. Bring your computers!
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Save The Date | | |
October 5 - 7
St. Crispin's
ECW Fall Retreat
lead by The Rev Debora Jennings
more information to follow in the coming weeks.
October 6 (Saturday)
Michaelmas Country Fair
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
St. Michael's in Norman
www.stmichaelsnorman.org
October 8 - 9
St. Crispin's
Retired Clergy/Spouse/Widows Gathering
October 27 (Saturday)
Health Fair
St. Christopher's Midwest City
9 a.m. Speaker - Bruce McIntyre of Quail Springs Church of Christ, speaking on "Graceful Transitions"
10 a.m. Booths open
Mary Mahoney nurses will be here to give flu shots
October 27 (Saturday)
St. Luke's, Tulsa
is sponsoring a fundraiser "Holiday Fair" 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Lunch will be served between 11 am & 2 pm; Booth Space available at $25 for a 6'X8' space; Contact: 918-834-4800 - church office
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Companion Diocese Uruguay
Holy God, source of healing and of peace, bless with your grace the companion dioceses of Oklahoma and Uruguay. Through our partnership one with another may we grow in mutual affection and communion, seek a more profound experience of truth, build up the Church in unity and give glory to Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.
New Web site:
http://uruguay.anglican.org/
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The Next Issue of this Newsletter will be on Friday,
August 24, 2012.
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We Are Epiok.org
August 17, 2012
Issue 33 |
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 News, Events, and Offerings |
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St. Christopher's, Midwest City, Kicks Off School and Dedication of Nursery
St. Christopher's held its annual Blessing of Backpacks plus Slip and Slide on Sunday, August 19th. School employees and students were prayed over at both services, followed by a grand old soapy time out in the courtyard on a slip and slide. Celtic prayers were given to adults and children to stick in their backpacks or briefcases to help ground them in their works in our schools.
A special feature this year was the invitation of the children and staff of the Mid-Del Emergency Youth Shelter (a foster home) to join in the day. 14 children and adults joined us for our 10:30 service and for the festivities afterwards.
We also rededicated and reopened our remodeled nursery on the 19th as well, which had been in temporary quarters since Easter Sunday while carpeting was ripped out, floor and ceiling tiles replaced, painting completed, closet turned into a changing cubby, and a system installed which allows nursery staff to watch the Sunday service via a camera at the back of the nave.
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Education for Ministry (EfM) Mentor Training Completed
This past weekend, 30 EFM Mentors and 4 trainers gathered at St. Crispin's, for the annual Mentor Training event. Three trainers from out of state and our own Angela Hock, lead the four groups. Beginning on Thursday and ending on Saturday, they offered 18 hours of training, as required by Sewanee.
While most of the participants were from Oklahoma, people came from Arizona, Missouri, Kansas, and Arkansas. We also had a Lutheran who anticipates expanding the program participation in the Oklahoma-Arkansas Synod of the ELCA.
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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 |
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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. |
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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. |
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Honor Dance
The Gourd Dance is one type of Native American dance. It is often associated with Pow wow's beginning in the afternoon, but can also be a separate event lasting all day. The Kiowa, Comanche and Cheyenne all have origin stories about how the Gourd Dance began. Today you will see the Gourd Dance at just about every Pow wow in the State of Oklahoma.
Every year we have Gourd Dancing at the Honor Dance in Watonga. We call it an Honor Dance because we are celebrating David Pendleton Oakerhater's Feast Day and because we are recognizing and celebrating Native American Ministry within the Episcopal Church.
Every tribe has different traditions for the Gourd Dance, and for the Southern Cheyenne it is a man's dance with the women participating by wearing a beautiful fringed shawl and dancing behind their male counterparts. You will see the men holding a feather fan and gourd rattle while wearing a sash and bandolier. Everyone wears their best "Sunday Clothes" to Gourd dance. Children are encouraged to join the dancing with their families.
The Gourd Dance takes place inside the circular arena, with the Head Singer and drum under a large arbor in the center of the arena. The movement in the arena is clockwise, you will never see anyone cut across the arena. The Head Singer begins the Gourd Dance with the "Calling Song." This song is the single for everyone to make last minute adjustments to their regalia and step out into the arena for dancing.
Through most of the song, dancers dance in place lifting their feet in time with the drum and shake their gourds up and down or side to side (depending on tradition). The songs get progressively faster through the afternoon, and normally end with a fast song called the "Charlie Brown."
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, September 8th in Watonga! |
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Whole Creation Community
The Cathedral has successfully completed several intriguing book studies over the past several months. We have read The Fragrance of God by Vigen Guroian, The Four Loves by C.S. Lewis, and Water, Wind , Earth and Fire: The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements by Christine Valters Paintner. We are currently reading David Pendleton Oakerhater's letters in preparation of the Honor Dance September 8th.
Ferrella March from The Cathedral, has volunteered to visit parishes and facilitate a 4-week book study on one of the above mentioned book, or if your group is interested in knowing more about Whole Creation Community. You may contact her at ferrella@hotmail.com. |
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St. Luke's Bartlesville
About 135 persons joined in the festivities in Metca lf Hall after the 10:30 service at St. Luke's in Bartlesville on Sunday, August 19th, for a pot-luck meal as we bid good-bye to our wonderful assistant, Mthr. Stephanie Mitchell.
Messages of how she had impacted the lives of the parish were shared by many, and Fr. Lee Stephens then gave sincere words of thanks, along with one of his very special small brass statues of Jesus "With Arms Wide Open" and a "treasure chest" of personal notes written by almost all members of St. Luke's. |
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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. |
Safeguarding Policies Apply to Everyone - From Administrators to Sextons
Not only is Safeguarding required for almost everyone in a congregation, the Diocese has designed and adopted Policies for Parish Ministries with Children and Youth. These policies and supplemental (forms) can be found on the Diocesan web page, under Congregational Resources. These policies set out the requirements for maintaining employment files, sets out who is required to have Safeguarding, and sets out appropriate monitoring and supervising policies. These policies were adopted in October 2008.
If you are not aware of these policies and how they apply to our congregations, please run off a copy from the web site, review them, and then look at your congregation's policies and files to see if you are in compliance. |
Safeguarding God's Children Training
Safeguarding is required every 4 years for clergy, vestry, treasurers, bishop's committee members, those who work with children - Sunday School teachers, youth ministers, choir directors, and sextons, those who serve on vestry or Bishop's Committees, and anyone with a key to a congregation. This would be a great time to get trained before the beginning of your program year.
September 2 from 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Norman
Contact the church at stmec@earthlink.net to register
September 5 from 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
St. Matthew's, Enid
Contact the church to register info@stmatthewsenid.org
September 22 from 10 am - 1 pm, bring a lunch
All Saints', Duncan
Contact the church 580 255 6165 to register |
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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.
Next Youth Commission Meeting is September 29, at the Diocesan Offices, Noon. Planning for Convention and Miqra. We will be working on the Mission:Possible theme, and worship for Saturday morning of convention. Bring prayers, song ideas, worship thoughts and come join the fun. Please note the change of date. |
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Christian Formation Resources |
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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 |
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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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Contact Information
Sabrina Evans
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