The Honor Dance at Whirlwind Mission in Watonga is this Saturday, September 8. It begins at 1:00 p.m. with Gourd Dancing and continues with worship, dinner and contest dancing, a full day and night of excitement. The way we do worship every year is unique to the Diocese of Oklahoma.

Much of the service will be familiar, and comes from the Book of Common Prayer. What is unique is that we add elements of our tribal cultures and traditions. Tribal hymn singing has always been a part of Native American congregations in Oklahoma. On Sunday mornings across the state you can hear hymns sung in Choctaw, Cherokee, Mvskoke, Kiowa and many others languages. We sing Cheyenne Hymns every Sunday at Whirlwind Mission and we are always working to learn more.

Another tradition that we follow is blessing ourselves with cedar smoke before worship begins. A similar comparison to this is the use of incense in many parishes. I know many choirs do not like incense, but even so, it is a wonderful image of the Spirit dwelling with us, blessing us, and taking our prayers to God.  

Some things will look different when you worship at Whirlwind Mission. We burn cedar in an abalone shell on a stand. Next to the stand is a Cheyenne Beaded Processional Cross. Much of the furniture around the altar is made from cedar, which has a long history of being used in Native American ceremonies. We use Native American baskets to collect our offerings, and have a beautiful set of Zia Pueblo pottery for Holy Eucharist. We look forward to seeing you as we celebrate our life together in the Church, and that we are all one tribe in Christ!

The Second Loaf

Friday Oct. 5 , 6:00 pm through

Saturday Oct. 6, 12:00 am

Nag Hammadi Library

Saturday Oct. 6, 12:00 pm through

Sunday Oct. 7, 2:00 pm

St. Crispin's Camp and Conference Center

Contact Jan Ridle at jridle@sbcglobal.net or Denise McGough  

The following dates and times have been set for the pre-convention regional meetings for Clergy and Lay Delegates to the 75th annual Diocesan Convention.

Pre-convention Tulsa Regional Meeting

Pre-convention NE Regional Meeting           

10/21                   St. John's                                         2-4 pm

                             522 West Canadian

                             Vinita OK 

Alpha begins at St. Mary's, 325 First Street in Edmond (just west of UCO) and begins Sunday, September 9 from 5:15-8:00 pm and runs for 10 weeks. A free meal is provided weekly and free childcare is also available for children thru 5th grade. Reservations are required.

Alpha presentations are made by Nicky Gumbel, a renown Anglican priest. He discusses the following topics:

1.  Who is Jesus?

2.  Why did Jesus die?

3. How can we have faith?

4.  Why and how do I pray?

5.  How and why should I read the Bible?

6.  How does God guide us?

7.  The Holy Spirit

8.  How can I resist evil?

9.  Does God heal today?

10. Telling others/what about the church?

Below is a green tip from Whole Creation Community.  Please share your green tips by sending them to Ferrella@hotmail.com. 

Not-much about mulch, but enough...

Mulch conserves moisture by reducing evaporation of water vapor from the soil surface. This reduces water requirements. Mulching prevents compaction by reducing soil crusting during natural rainfall or irrigation. Falling drops of water can pound the upper 1/4 inch of soil into a tight, brick-like mass that blocks air and water movement from the root zone. Mulching also reduces disease problems. Certain types of diseases live in the soil and spread when water splashes bits of infested soil onto a plant's lower leaves. Mulching and careful watering reduce the spread of these diseases. Mulching also keeps fruit clean while reducing rot disease by preventing soil-fruit contact. Most weed seeds require light to germinate so thick mulch layer shades them and reduces weed problems by 90 percent or more.-Source:  Bryce Hulsey (Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality)

Dr. Stephen Goforth - trumpet virtuoso

performing on 8 (or more) different kinds of

trumpets, playing music from Baroque to Blues

accompanied by

Dolores McCreary - innovative organist

Sunday, September 9th - 3:00 p.m.

in the sanctuary of St. Luke's Episcopal Church

This concert is being presented free of charge

by the Outreach Committee of St. Luke's Episcopal Church

as a gift to the Bartlesville community.

Learn more about the Outreach Projects of St. Luke's Church

and meet the performing musicians at a reception in Metcalf Hall

following the concert.

Zarrow Mental Health Symposium, Tulsa

Conference Purpose - The Conference will bring together local, state, and national leaders to focus on current research, best practices, emerging knowledge, and model programs aimed at addressing the critical issues of housing, recovery, and community support for people living with mental illness.

Conference Overview - This three-day event will provide participants with information and practical tools they can use in their professional practice, agencies, and communities to assist with facilitating homeless prevention/intervention, housing development, clinical practice, recovery services,a nd wraparound supports for individuals who live with mental illness and/or substance use-related disorders, and other vulnerable, at-risk special populations.

For more information, go to: http://www.fromhousingtorecovery.org/

September 14-15

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

St. Mary's Episcopal Church

325 East First Street

Edmond, OK 73034

Do you have some stuff you would like to donate?

Call 405-341-3855 for more information!

Support St. Mary's

Episcopal Church Women

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.

Mission:Possible is the theme of our lock-in for convention. Lock-in to be held at St. Paul's Cathedral, check-in starting at 5:30 p.m. with dinner at 6 p.m. Click here for registration form! This is open to youth 6th - 12th grade, and adult volunteers, youth ministers, and anyone who wants to have fun! (Adults, you must have Safeguarding to participate)

September

9: Boxes for Blue Star Mothers - St. Patrick's

16: Program Night - Good Shepherd

(Where do we turn in Scripture?)

23: Paint Fight Party - St. Dunstan's

30: Program Night - St. Patrick's

(God in Pop Culture)

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.