Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma
Contents
Diocese Welcomes Emily Abernathy to Staff

Stephen Minister Training Offered

Read Through the Bible in 2013

Province VII Older Adults Ministry Task Force

Santa Maria Offers Prayer Service for Sandy Hook School

Church of the Redeemer - Christmas Celebration

Meet our Newest Clergy

Whole Creation Community

Help Us Get the News Out

Safeguarding God's Children

Safeguarding God's People Train the Trainer

Oklahoma Episcopal Youth

Miqra

Important Dates for Youth

Epiphany Resources

New Diocesan Resources for Lent

Other Recommendations for Lenten Study

Prayer for New Year

Bishop's Schedule

 

January 4th and 5th

Diocesan Council Retreat

St. Crispin's

 

January 6

St. Dunstan's

Tulsa

 

January 13

Emmanuel

Shawnee

 

January 20

Resurrection

Oklahoma City

 

January 27

St. Luke's

Idabel

 

Save the Date

 

 

April 26 -28, 2013

Altered (formerly Vocare)

St. Crispin's

 

Upcoming Diocese Events

 

To register or for more inforamtion please go onto the Dicoesan Web Site  below or call the local congregation:

   

January 19 - 21

Miqra - A Public Reading of Scripture

St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Edmond

 

January 25

10 - 1

Safeguarding God's Children Training

Diocesan Offices

 

February 2-3

New Beginnings

St. Crispin's

 

February 7

Safeguarding God's People

Train the Trainer

Diocesan Offices

10 - 4

 

                            

Companion Diocese Uruguay

Uruguay

     two bishops

 

 

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/

 


 
The Next Issue of this Newsletter will be on Friday, 
January 11, 2013.
 

We Are Epiok.org

January 4, 2013

Issue 1

TopNews, Events, and Offerings  

Diocese Welcomes Emily Abernathy to Staff

 Emily Abernathy

We are pleased to announce the hiring of Emily Abernathy as our new Director of Development and Stewardship.

 

As an experienced nonprofit professional, she raised $150 million for various organizations such as the Tulsa Ballet, the University of Oklahoma and the Daughters of the American Revolution.

 

Emily graduated from Oklahoma City University with degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology and earned a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Oklahoma.

 

When not chasing around her 2 and a half year-old son, she enjoys reading, cooking and spending time with her family, including her many pets.

Stephen Minister Training Classes OfferedStephens Ministry logo

 

Don't Wait!  Act now to be part of the next Stephen Minister Training Class!

 

Stephen Minister training provides congregations with the training, resources, and ongoing support to organize and equip a team of lay caregivers--called Stephen Ministers--in the congregation. 

 

Stephen Ministers provide high-quality, confidential, Christ-centered care and support to people experiencing grief, divorce, cancer, job loss, loneliness, disability, relocation, and other life difficulties.

 

Time is running out if you want to be part of our next class of Stephen Ministers which starts Tuesday, January 8th. Take this wonderful opportunity to grow in faith, develop stronger relational skills, and bring Christ's love into the lives of hurting people.  Serving as a Stephen Minister will not only be helpful to others, but it will be one of the most fulfilling and joyful experiences that you have ever had. For more information about this class, contact Father Bright at 842-1461 or Jeanne Jackson at 735-8609 or [email protected].

Read Through the Bible in 2013

 

Open BibleTulsa area churches will read through the Bible in 2013.  Beginning January 7th with Genesis, Episcopalians will commit themselves to the reading of Holy Scripture. The Rev. Irv Cutter, Rector St. John's-Tulsa, developed the reading plan which assigns a daily reading Monday-Friday, a portion of the Psalms on Saturday, and no assigned reading for Sunday. Each week the readings for that week will be posted on tulsabible.wordpress.com

 

In addition to Father Irv, The Rev. Joseph Farber (Good Shepherd-Sapulpa), The Rev. Mary Ann Hill (St. Dunstan's-Tulsa), The Rev. Everett Lees (Christ Church Tulsa), and the The Rev. Blake Woods (St. Dunstan's-Tulsa) have volunteered to write a weekly reading summary to help people as they read through the Bible.  

 

The project will conclude on December 28th will the reading of Psalms 147-150.

Province VII Older Adults Ministry Task Force

 

For 2013, Province VII has again granted scholarship funds to support the Older Adults Ministry (OAM) Network. These scholarships are intended to provide continuing education for those who attended in 2011 and 2012 Older Adult Group and wish to return, and to encourage other dioceses in Province VII to send representatives. The funding is for one representative from each diocese. Those who wish to bring a spouse, friend or 2nd representative must pay for the registration fees. The scholarship pays Camp Allen's fees, including three nights' lodging (Sunday through Tuesday nights), Participating dioceses are expected to continue their support of this vital ministry by covering their representative's travel expenses. Please direct your inquiries or intent to participate before February 1, 2013 to Rev. Dr. John and Alma Belzer, Ph.D., at 13 Lake Lane, Shawnee, OK 74804; [email protected]

 

The OAM Network meeting begins at 4 p.m. on arrival day at Camp Allen, TX on Sunday, March 3rd. The meeting continues Sunday evening through Monday morning, when the 10th annual Abundant Living Conference begins at lunch March 4th and concludes at lunch on Wednesday March 6th. See www.campallen.org for more details.

 

An overall purpose of the Older Adults Ministry (OAM) is education, related to quality of life in aging and lifelong spiritual formation. This meeting/training/conference has inspired participating network members to action back in their own diocese. Several have created their own diocesan version of the conference. Others have pulled together "2nd Half of Life" health fairs, retirement workshops or other one-day events in their local parishes. Others have planned educational activities to grow OAM from their home parish, with special attention to family caregivers. Over time, the challenges and opportunities of an aging church within a rapidly aging society are beginning to be met in unique ways, diocese by diocese, parish by parish, through individuals, committees, councils, and websites.

 

AGING IS CHANGING is a resource that will be utilized during the 2013 OAM meeting. This online guide was developed by the Belzers and 12 other members of the Episcopal Older Adults Ministry Task Force in NYC. This is an online OAM "mega-guide" to handy resources, liturgy and program ideas that was launched in summer, 2012. See the Episcopal Church website http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/older-adult-ministries and also go to this link for the videos of interviews http://www.youtube.com/user/OlderAdultMinistries.

Santa Maria Offers Prayer Service for Sandy Hook School

 

Santa maria prayer service 2

 

On December 24, Santa Maria offered prayers for the victims of Sandy Hook Elementary, in Newton, Connecticut. This experience that has made them reflect on the message to what the churches are doing in light of this tragic situation. The photos are their testimony of prayer and solidarity with the victims who have left us.

 

Santa maria prayer service 1

Church of the Redeemer - Christmas Celebration for Youth and Families

   

On Sunday, Dec 23, Church of the Redeemer packed the pews, welcoming children & families from the surrounding neighborhood to join in an afternoon of worship & celebration.

 

 Redeemer
 

The joyous festivities included a heartwarming children's program on the Christian origins of the Twelve Days of Christmas. The program included songs, chants, a spirited drum solo, and audience participation opportunities. The youth presentation was followed by an uplifting liturgical praise dance performed by Jonathan Hayes. Each of the children were then invited to the altar to receive special prayers and blessings on their behalf.

 

Following the service, Santa Claus visited with the children in the reception hall.  Santa Claus presented every child and teen in attendance with an age-appropriate gift to take home, in anticipation for Christmas morning.

Meet Our Newest Clergy   

 

Congratulations to the Diocese's newest clergy!

 

Unknown
Stewart Doouglas Clem was ordained a Deacon on December 21, at All Souls, OKC.
clay, justin, kenneth
Clay Towles, Justin Fletcher, and Kenneth Orsburn were ordained Deacons on December 22, at St. Paul's Cathedral.
Laura Beck
Laura Beck was ordained a Deacon on December 29, at Trinity, Tulsa.

Whole Creation Community

 

Wholly Reflective

 

whole creation communityWhole Creation Community is a spiritual community that brings together people of faith who will commit themselves to praying for God's creation, teaching stewardship of God's creation, and working to sustain God's creation. Please join us daily on facebook http://stpaulsokc.org/whole-creation for daily meditations. Below is a meditation/reflection posted this week by Fr. David Stock from St. John's, OKC. 

 

"And every stone shall cry, and straw like gold shall shine; A barn shall harbor heaven, a stall become a shrine." Richard Wilbur.

Rain showers pounded on the tin roof, nailed loosely to a squalid sanctuary on the outskirts of the rain forest. The steady plinking clatter drowned out the feeble words of my sermon...while the kind and eager eyes of the people gathered in this porous shelter proclaimed the Word beyond all words, the teeming forest life pressing in from outside, a wisdom long hidden and yet sublime. Father David Stock - St. John's-OKC

 

Greening your congregations

At convention, the Diocese of Oklahoma passed a resolution that encourages each parish or mission to develop a plan that fosters change. By sharing action plans, local communities learn from one another and build a common resource bank to continue growing together in environmental stewardship. The first step is to form a "green team". St. Paul's Cathedral will be meeting in January to begin the process of developing a plan to become better stewards of the environment and each other.

 

Please share with us your intentions for 2013. You may send your stories to Ferrella March at [email protected].  

What will you name your "green team"?

 

Order Coffee/Support WCC

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.

Help Us Get the News Out 

 

emailEach week, we send out our Diocesan Newsletter. We are able to use email addresses from congregational directories to obtain the email information needed. Over the past two weeks, we have had almost 400 emails returned on our "Bounce" list for non-existent addresses. 

 

As we get to the end of the year, many congregations will up-date their rosters. If your congregation includes e-mails in the list, please send a copy of your new roster to us at the Diocese. Without your help, we aren't able to keep the most current list and will have to depend on you to get the information out!

 

Thanks for your help.

SafeguardingSafeguarding God's Children

 

January 25, 2013

Diocesan Offices

10 a.m.

email [email protected] to register.

 

January 26, 2013

Church of the Good Shepherd, Sapupla

10 a.m.

contact [email protected] to register .

Safeguarding God's People - Train the  Trainer Event

 

We will offer our first training session for trainers on February 7, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. here at the Diocesan Offices. If you are interested in becoming a trainer, please contact Sabrina Evans ([email protected]) or call 405 232 4820.

Oklahoma Episcopal Youth Events 

 

Youth

MIQRA

 

REGISTRATION IS OFFICIALLY OPEN FOR THIS EVENT! Get a registration form here! 

 

Our Miqra is to be offered January 19 - 21, at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, 

BibleEdmond. We actually begin on Friday (the 18th) morning, with the help of volunteers - college students, youth ministers, and other volunteers - and the reading begins.

 

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. 

 

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.

 

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: http://www.epiok.org/Christian%20Formation/new-beginnings.html 

 

Mission Camp - March 17-19, 2013. NOTE CHANGE OF DATES!

Make our Mission - St. Crispin's! Several changes are being made to this year's mission camp. (1) It will be held at St. Crispin's; (2) It will be Sunday - Tuesday; (3) It will be open for 6th - 12th graders; (4) You will be one of the first groups to use the new ropes course! Mike and Joanne Roberts will direct us to meaningful work projects to help make the place we all love so much that much better! Registration forms can be found here!

 

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.

 

Province VII Mission Week in Dallas - July 8 - 13. Arriving on Monday, Mission Service will be Tuesday - Friday, with a closing service on Friday night. Mission service can be with children, the elderly, in food (food bank, soup kitchen, etc.) or the environment.Then, Saturday morning - 6 Flags! Back to OK Saturday night. More information coming soon. 

 

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

Christian Formation Resources

Epiphany Resources

 

You'll find plenty of seasonal ideas in the Resource Room section on "seasons" including Epiphany and Lent. More added all the time.

http://www.buildfaith.org/resource-room/seasonal-resources

New Diocesan Resources for Lent

 

Fresh Air - DVD and Book - The Holy Spirit by Jack Levison - Book and DVD. There are 8 video sections which cover: Job's Pledge; Daniel's Discipline; Simeon's Song; Joel's Dream; Chloe's Complaint; Ezekiel's Valley; Jesus' Test; and Peter's Praise.

 

Forgivness: Finding Peace through Letting Go by Adam Hamilton - Book and DVD with leader's guide. There are 4 video sections which cover: The Divine Answer; For Better, for Worse; Seventy Times Seven; and The Dreamcoat.

 

The Way: Walking in the Footsteps of Jesus by Adam Hamilton - Book and DVD with leader's guide. There are 6 video sections which cover: Baptism and the Temptation; The Healing Ministry; Proclaiming the Kingdom; Calming the Storm; Sinners, Outcasts , and the Poor; The Final Week.  

 

We also have two other Book/Video Series by Adam Hamilton:

Final Words from the Cross (6 video sections), and 24 Hours that Changed the World (7 video sections and 1 bonus).

Other Recommendations for Lenten Study

 

Flunking Sainthood: A Year of Breaking the Sabbath, Forgetting to Pray, and Still Loving My Neighbor" by Jana Ries

 

Footsteps of A Fisherman, With St. Peter on the Path of Discipleship by Scott Walker Augsburg Books Available in Softcover, Large Print and Kindle editions Link to Softcover: http://store.augsburgfortress.org/store/product/6007/Footsteps-of-the-Fisherman-With-St-Peter-on-the-Path-of-Discipleship

 

The Power of Forgiveness, by Kenneth Briggs, based on a film by Martin Doblmeier Fortress Press Paperback and Kindle Editions Link to Softcover: http://store.augsburgfortress.org/store/product/3829 /The-Power-of-Forgiveness

 

Abraham, A journey to the Heart of Three Faiths by Bruce Feiler.

Perennial Books, a subsidiary of Harper Collins Available in both Softcover and Kindle editions  

http://www.amazon.com/Abraham-Journey-Heart-Three-Faiths/dp/0060838663/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1354725457&sr=1-1&keywords=abraham+bruce+feiler

 

Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God ... by Joanna Weaver - Doubleday Religious Publishing Group (2000.07.18)

  

"A Practical Christianity: Meditations for the Season of Lent" by Jane Shaw. It has an Introduction plus 5 chapters with reflection questions at the end of each.

  

"Walking the Way of Sorrows" by Katerina Whitley ttp://www.cokesbury.com/forms/ProductDetail.aspx?pid=493883&rank=4&txtSearchQuery=Katerina+Whitley

 

More suggestions next week! 

Prayer for the New Year
    
Bless us, O Lord, and bless the time and seasons yet to come.
Teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain wisdom of heart.
And fill this new year with your kindness,
that we may be glad and rejoice
all the days of our life. Amen.

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Contact Information

Sabrina Evans

[email protected]

(405) 232-4820