We Are Epiok.org

December 7, 2012

Issue 48

Ordination Invitation

By the Grace of God

The Right Reverend Dr. Edward J. Konieczny

Bishop of Oklahoma

will ordain

Justin Price Fletcher

Kenneth Ray Orsburn, Jr.

Carter Clay Towles

to the Sacred Order of Deacons

in Christ's One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church

Saturday, the twenty-second of December, 2012

at eleven o'clock in the morning

St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral

127 NW 7th Street

Oklahoma City

Your Prayers and Presence are Requested

Clergy: Red Stoles

Ordination Invitation

By the Grace of God

The Right Reverend Dr. Edward J. Konieczny

Bishop of Oklahoma

will ordain

Laura Eileen Beck

to the Sacred Order of Deacons

in Christ's One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church

Saturday, the twenty-ninth of December, 2012

at eleven o'clock in the morning

Trinity Episcopal Church

501 S. Cincinnati Avenue

Tulsa, Oklahoma

Your Prayers and Presence are Requested

Clergy: Red Stoles

Tulsa Region Episcopalians Invited to Participate in Parade

 Episcopalians of the Tulsa Region

are having a float in the

Tulsa Holiday Parade of Lights

Saturday, December 8.

The parade runs from 4th and Elgin, down to Detroit, and back up to 1st and Elgin, for a total of a  little less than a mile and a half. Anyone over the age of eight is welcome to walk with the float. We are  supposed to be in costume so please wear red, and a funny or festive hat if you have one. 

Some t-shirts will be available (at cost) that say "The Episcopal Church Welcomes EVERYONE"

The Episcopal Float's staging area near the corner of 5th Street and Frankfort.  The parade organizers ask that walkers be there by 5:30. If people are confused about where to meet the float, they can also go to Trinity and look for a group who will be walking over to the float shortly after 5:30.

If you want to watch the parade, it runs from 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Come join us for fun with your fellow Episcopalians!

For more info check with your clergy or email: maryann@stduntulsa.org

Grace, Ponca City, Participates in Parade

Grace Episcopal Church is proud to have participated in the annual Veterans Day parade in Ponca City.  Over 50 parishoners of all ages braved the windy conditions on November 10 to march in the parade.  Some walked the 1 1/2 mile route while others rode on large trailers decorated with red, white and blue banners.  All the parishoners wore their matching red t-shirts.  The choir members sang patriotic sings along the way. See their facebook page for photographs.

Dancers from Santa Maria Virgen, OKC, helped St. Augustine's of Canterbury kick off Las Posadas with traditional dance and food.  

Las Posadas is a Spanish tradition which involves individuals and families taking the Mary and Joseph to their homes for one night. Instead of actual people, St. Augustine is using 3' statues. The statues are then taken to the next person's home on the list. This tradition recalls how the Holy Family could find no lodging on their long journey. These figures began their journey Sunday after the 10:45 service.   

Mary and Joseph are prepared to begin their journey. A "travel" kit goes with them that contains the storybook, "The Las Posadas", a travel journal, and meditations that families can use.

Dave Hagan of Digital Faith was in our Offices on Friday and Saturday offering one-on-one training and a group workshop. There were many new things learned by everyone including:

Dave Hagan (right) shows some of the advantages of the Digital Faith site

2. Your congregational newsletter can be added to your website in no time at all. 

3. Your newsletter can be liked to your congregational Facebook page! The official Facebook page for the Diocese is The Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma.

4. You can add a "contribute" button to your web page making donations to various campaigns much easier!

All congregations and organizations in the Diocese are eligible for a FREE web page, thanks to the Diocese. 

If you are interested in learning more, contact Dave Hagan at dhagan@digitalfaith.org. 

Ropes Course Completed at St. Crispins!

It's ready for use! Our new ropes course is completed.

Summer Camp 2013 Applications Posted

A job description for St. Crispin's Summer staff  and application are now on-line at  http://www.epiok.org/camps/stcrispins.html. 

This includes summer staff, CIT's, deans, volunteers, nurses, and chaplains! We will conduct staff interviews only for those applying for Summer Staff on January 4, 2013, at the Diocesan Offices.

Safeguarding God's Children

Safeguarding God's People - Train the  Trainer Event

Whole Creation Community

GKSN: Grandparents of Kids with Special Needs

Oklahoma Episcopal Youth Events 

MIQRA

MIQRA MEETING: DECEMBER 15TH 12 NOON DIOCESAN OFFICES. If you want to be in on the planning for this event, come join us. THIS IS OPEN FOR YOUTH (6TH - 12TH GRADE) AND ADULTS.

You have been seeing the word and some information but here's more! A Miqra (meek rah) is a public reading of Scripture.

Our Miqra is to be offered January 19 - 21, at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Edmond. We actually begin on Friday (the 18th) morning, with the help of volunteers - college students, youth ministers, and other volunteers - and the reading begins.

A small group of youth who have been working on the planning will get together on Friday after school and do the prep work to ready for everyone. We will share a meal together and worship together. The reading continues.

The event officially begins on Saturday (the 19st) at noon. Everyone who comes will have an opportunity to sign up to read scripture, but it is not mandatory that you read. Reading slots are 1 hour in length and a maximum of three can sign up for a particular hour.

Periodically throughout the weekend, we will pause in our various program activities to listen to the reading. Participants are also given free time where they can choose to sit in the nave and listen to the reading. Reading continues around the clock from the time we start until finished. These readings are usually covered by parents and adult volunteers.

Now, while the reading is going on in the nave, we are offering all types of workshops for the participants. They will have "tribe time" in which they will engage in discussions or activities. We will have games, movies, crafts, and of course, food.

We will end on Monday morning at 9:30 with a closing worship service. We will read the final chapter of Revelation together as a group at our closing worship.

So what are we asking of you? Hopefully, you will want to attend and participate. Maybe you play a musical instrument and would like to be a part of that offering. Talk it up with the youth in your congregation. Get them excited about this 1st Miqra. Get people registered!

Adults - we need lots of help for this. You don't have to be involved in Youth Ministry to participate. Volunteer to be a tribe leader, reader, provide snacks, or even lead a workshop!

This promises to be one of the best events we have ever offered!

Important Dates for Youth - Diocese of OK

Miqra - January 19 - 21 - St. Mary's Episcopal Church, Edmond. Send in your registrations now!

New Beginnings - 6th - 9th graders - February 2 - 3, 2013, at St. Crispin's - Registrations have been mailed out but you can find the brochure on the web at: 

Mission Camp - March 18 - 22, 2013.

Summer Camp Spring Training, March 22nd-24th, at St. Crispin's. For anyone who is chosen as Summer Staff or Counselors in Training, this is a mandatory training event.

Happening - 10th - 12th graders - August 2 - 4, All Souls' Episcopal Church, OKC.

In December, Vibrant Faith Ministries is offering encore presentations of the following webinars as recordings:

• 10 Tips for Becoming a Transformational Teacher/Mentor
• 10 Tips for Equipping & Encouraging People Who Serve
• Expanding Social Media in the Congregation
• Growing in Faith at Home
• Understanding the Needs of Young Adults  

While these webinars won't be "live" like they were during the original airing, you will have access to the full presentations as well as all of the questions the attendees asked. Plus, you'll be able to listen to them at your convenience-all month long. All you need to participate is a computer and a comfortable chair!

The price for all five webinars is $74.95. At only $15 per webinar, this is a great way to share knowledge with your staff or brush up on some of your favorite key teachings.

The below article came from Amy Cook, Missioner for Education, Formation & Discipleship from the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. 

I've been thinking about this topic a lot recently since it pops up as an area of concern at many churches.  "If only they didn't have sports on Sunday we would have more kids in church." or possibly "Our Sunday School attendance goes down every year because of more and more sports, we just keep losing the kids." But I would challenge you all that it is OUR thinking that needs to be turned around. 

I just read a great blog on this subject from Keith Anderson, a Lutheran pastor that up until recently was at a church in MA but has just relocated to PA.  His blog is very good in general, but in this particular piece Pastors, Stop Complaining About Sunday Morning Sports, he helps us to view the church and our society in a different way.  I encourage you to read the article and think about what you could do differently in your parish.

So instead of fighting it, try to think instead of what might be most helpful to families and to the children and youth themselves involved in the sports programs.  Here are some of my own ideas:

• Many churches have a "blessing of the backpacks" at the beginning of the school year, but how about a "blessing of the sports season" at the beginning of each sports season.  Children and youth could bring a team photo to lay on the altar, or perhaps a piece of equipment that is representative for their sport.  The whole church can then pray for the safety of each person involved in these sports.  (Just please don't pray that God will help your team win!)
• Celebrate with a "Sports Sunday" where the kids wear a team uniform and maybe can share a bit about what they do or why they like it.  That gives the adults in the church another reason to talk with a child they might not know and perhaps share some of thier own love of a sport.
• Spend some time talking to parents and their children together or separately about what it means to be a follower of Christ on a sports team, and help them actually take the gospel with them as they go out from the church. "What does it mean to be a good team player?"  "Is Winning Everything?" "What does it mean to do my best, even if I don't score any points?"  "Does God have a favorite sport? (or team)?"  There are many, many different ways to go with this, but obviously it is a part of American Family Life today - so the church should be helping families (without making them feel guilty) and preparing them to manouver through this sometimes difficult maze of sports, teams, clubs, and commitments.
• Pick some time to have some face to face meetings or group discussions when sports are NOT happening.  Finding a better time for a family schedule is half the problem.  And if getting together face to face is a problem, then consider on-line messages, or using social media.  Instead of fighting against sports, learn to encourage these families where they ALREADY ARE and use this for a discipling, teaching moment. This may mean adding another service time.
• Finally, be prepared to help the child who doesn't like sports or doesn't feel so inclined. Find a way to lift up all the activities that kids are involved in and help them understand how they can live a life for God while involved in all these other things. Also know that some of the kids involved in sports may not want to be involved.  In children's chapel recently I was a bit shocked when a child whom I thought loved sports said that she didn't want to go to the basketball game that afternoon and really disliked being on the team.  Suddenly I needed to be pastoral in a whole new way and realized that I totally misjudged this child and her actions.

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