September 2008 Edition of Canterbury Tales

Have you visited the Diocesan website?  http://www.episcopalri.org

and the website of the Episcopal Church at large?

www.ecusa.org

St. A's Family Photo Album now at Photobucket! http://s198.photobucket.com/albums/aa301/StAKingston/

Being Generous As God Is Generous

“Tithing” is the recommended giving ministry goal for Episcopalians, based on the biblical mandate to offer back to God in thanksgiving the firstfruits of our “harvest.” Whether the traditional 10% tithe is based on gross, net, after college tuition, including all charitable gifts or just church gifts, or however one might determine it, for most Christians tithing would mark a new approach to stewardship.

3 steps to tithing recommended by our Church are:

1)       BECOME A FIRSTFRUITS GIVER - whenever you receive money, give thanks by giving something back to God. Don’t worry so much about how much, just do this FIRST, before all other spending.

2)       BECOME A PERCENTAGE GIVER - No matter how large or small, decide what percent of your income you believe in giving back to God and begin doing it.

3)       INCREASE AS YOU ARE ABLE - Pray often. Talk it over with God so that God can help you decide when to take risks and when to be cautious with what you have.

And I’d recommend a 4th step: GIVE JOYOUSLY - blessings flow back to generous givers, since when we build up the world we are sharing in God’s own work of generosity. Shame, resentment, embarrassment have no place in the thoughts of the Christian steward who is following the steps listed and giving with thanks and praise.

Some people find the bringing of money to the altar in worship services crass, but it is part of the same sacred movement of offering ourselves as we come forward to receive God in the Sacrament of Communion, and the offering of bread and wine - fruits of our labor and the earth made abundant by God - to be blessed and returned to us to strengthen us for service, and the offering of groceries to help feed our neighbors in need and obey the mandate of Jesus to feed the hungry in order to serve Christ.

Though parishes generally start an annual stewardship drive in the Fall, every season of the Church is the season for stewardship, for giving back to God in joy and gratitude, and for repairing the broken creation as best we can with all that we have and all that we are.

Rev. Dr .  Jennifer Phillips,

Rector


Chicken Barbecue News

The 3rd Annual Chicken Barbecue was held on Saturday, July 26.  Despite two earlier postponements of the date, the event was very successful.  A total of 220 tickets were sold versus over 250 sold last year.  A big decline in pre-sales was made up by 92 walk-in sales at the event, a 50% increase from last year.  Much of the increase in walk-in sales was a result of numerous lawn signs placed around the Kingston area over the 10 days prior to the barbecue, and the placement of some very large signs along Kingstown Road during the barbecue.  We had several repeat customers from previous years, numerous beach goers and vacationers, and some spectators from Leap Fest.  We ended up raising about $700 for the church.  We are planning to schedule next summer’s barbecue on the same day as Leap Fest and to increase our signage around town.

An event of this size cannot run itself.  At least 19 volunteers were needed to pull it off.  A big thank you to Fran Noring, Nancy Brown, Zeke Olsen, Marianna and Bob Richardson, Nancy Hampton Beeley, Mary Kalaymun, Carol Miro, Marge Hunt, Huie Chang, Bruce and Anne Dunham, Dick Hathaway, Peter Horgan, Dwight Giles, Dave Masse, Jennifer Phillips, Anne Ravenscroft, Clucky the Chicken, and any one else that we may have overlooked.

Hospitality News

Senior Lunch.  The summer Senior Lunches were held on Thursday, June 5 and Wednesday, July 16.  In June, eighteen guests enjoyed a meal of meatloaf, mashed potatoes, vegetables, and homemade pudding.  July saw the Senior Lunch hit the road for an outing to the China Buffet.

Starting in September, the Senior Lunch will be held the second Wednesday of each month.  The next lunch will be on September 10 at noon and will feature Italian cuisine.  Seniors, near seniors, and friends of seniors are welcome to attend.  Invite your friends.  It is a good way to share our fellowship with people from outside the parish.  A free will offering would be appreciated to cover expenses.  If you plan to attend, or think you might be attending, please RSVP with the expected number of guests to Rob Ravenscroft or the church office by Sunday, September 7.

We need volunteers to assist at future lunches.  If you can give an hour either before or after the event, your help would be greatly appreciated.  This is a very good way to help the church without having to make a big time commitment.  Plus, you get to join a great group of people for lunch.  We are also looking for volunteers to cook the lunch.  Don’t worry if you have never cooked for a large group.  We can help you with menu planning, recipe amounts, and shopping.

Fall Welcome Back Barbecue.  The 5th Annual Welcome Back Fall Barbecue, featuring barbecue chicken and spare ribs, coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, and home made pies, will be held on Sunday, September 28 at noon .  Tickets are $15.00 for adults; $5.00 for children ages 5 and older, school students, and college students.  Children 4 and under eat free.  If you cannot attend, take out orders will be accepted.

Your help is needed to make the barbecue a successful event again this year.  How can you help?  The easiest way is to attend and have a good time.  Better yet, invite your family and friends.  It is a wonderful way to introduce people to St. Augustine ’s and to share our fellowship.  Or, put your culinary skills on display and bake your favorite pie.  Finally, volunteer to help set up, clean up, or cook.  An event of this size requires many helping hands.  Helping out is a great way to get to know your fellow parishioners.

Tickets will be on sale Sunday, September 7 through Sunday, September 21.  Tickets can be reserved or purchased after the Sunday services, at the church office, or by contacting Rob Ravenscroft at 782-0434 or ravenscr98@yahoo.com .

Donation News.  A big thank you to the parishioners who made donations this summer.  We have received two large donations towards a new refrigerator and are now within a few hundred dollars of the cost of a new unit.  A large cooler on wheels was donated in time for the Chicken Barbecue.  It has capacity for 120 cans of soda and ice.  We also received two large professional quality skillets and a pair of professional quality sauce pans.  A large charcoal chimney was recently donated for use with our grills.

Vestry Highlights July 2008

At our meeting your vestry voted to

1)       adopt the Memorandum of Agreement with People’s Power and Light, a branch of Intrefaith Power and Light. This will enable individual households to sign up to pay a small premium to have their electric company purchase either 50% or 100% of the home’s energy supply from green sources, as close to RI as possible. By using a church pamphlet to sign up, parishioners can insure that both St.A’s and PPL will get a $10 incentive contribution for each of the first 3 years you subscribe. (more info: Kathy Gibson)

2)       adopt a new parish logo showing our belltower with dancing people

3)       formally elect Dick Hathaway as Assistant Treasurer

4)       refurbish and expand our parish sign on Lower College Road

5)       Elect Elinor Schneider (term 2010) and Ann Dunham (term 2011) to a vacant vestry slot and one from which Becky Olsen resigned this month.

And we discussed the budget to date - pledges are lagging about $6 thousand behind our projected total for this year - a cause for serious concern.

Candidates for our musician position continue to be sought and interviewed.

A vestry retreat day is planned for 9/20 and a vestry budget workday for 11/22. Next meeting of vestry 9/17 at 7pm .

An Invitation to Harvest Green Ideas

            We are not alone!  Of course, as Christians, as people of faith, we very much believe that this is true....God is our Creator and embraces our human family with love...with mercy, with forgiveness, and with guidance.  

            We are not alone!  We see another congregation or group making efforts in some way to address the challenges of a changing climate and we know that we can do that as well...Others see us. There is a reciprocal nature to this, a “pass it on” feature that goes with the territory.  We are meant to look around (and within), to listen, in an effort to discover ways to respond.  This relational system is one of our strengths.

            The movie “Renewal” recounts the experiences and actions of 8 different religious groups around the country as each has addressed and grappled with a response to one or more aspects of environmental stewardship.

            Please join us between services at our Adult Discussion Group on Sun., Sept. 14, 28, and Oct. 5th at 9 AM to view the segments of “Renewal”, 2 or 3 at a time.  As we see what others are doing and reflect on our efforts at St. A’s (and personal commitments too), common threads will be apparent, we will be encouraged and maybe even inspired.

            On Sun., Sept. 21st, Annie Averill, a local farmer for a CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture Business) in town, will help inform us about participating in a “subscription for local produce” program.  To gain a bit of background on the CSA movement, please take a look at the short article (clipped from a recent edition of Triple A’s monthly newspaper) which will be posted on the bulletin board in the stairway area...near the “Green Tea” cup and teapot display

            For those who would be interested in joining...or just observing St. A’s Green Team’s workings, we will be meeting on Thurs., Sept. 11th from 7 to 8:30 .   All are welcome.

Welcome House

Did you know that 3 families from St. Augustine ’s provide a dinner for the Welcome house residents on the first Sunday of the month? A few of them have been doing this for several years and need a break.  We’re looking for 3 individuals or families willing to take over this service.  Here’s what you would have to do:

The people providing the meal alternate between the main course, vegetable and dessert. The items are dropped off to Welcome House by 4 pm on the first Sunday of the month, either as a group or individually.  You need to cook or buy enough for about 20 people.  Examples would be cooking a chicken dish or spaghetti and meatballs, making a salad or cooking a green bean dish, baking cookies or bringing fresh fruit.

Contact Anne Dunham (789-9422) for more information or if you’d like to help.

Vestry & Learning Community Update

            The Vestry & Learning Community had a busy summer.  The Vestry elected, per the bylaws, 2 new members - Elinor Schneider and Ann Dunham.  Elinor will fill the position vacated by the resignation of Becky Olsen and Ann will fill a position that had been left unfilled.  We also elected Dick Hathaway as Assistant Treasurer.  We’ve discussed a variety of issues from the church’s budget deficit to the need to remove trees on the property to adult education and Sunday school programs to the upcoming stewardship campaign.  Minutes of the meeting are posted on the bulletin board.

            The Learning Community voted on the new parish Logo.  Two artists submitted designs and the one chosen is by Joyce Hempstead Morrow.  It will be used on upcoming magnets, stationary and parish literature.  Check it out on the bulletin board.  We also agreed to a plan to update the “ St. Augustine ’s” sign in front of the church.  The sign will be restored, sturdy posts attached, and a new removable hanging sign placed where special events and services can be advertised.  Look for the work to begin in the next month.  An ad was placed in the South County Living magazine (August edition) inviting people to St. Augustine ’s.  Extra copies are in the bulletin board area.

PRAYER from Bishops in Zimbabwe :

"We offer this prayer for 

sanity and resolve to bring all people in Zimbabwe to the realization 

that we are all God's children, created in His image to love one 

another.  As bishops we commend all God's children in Zimbabwe to His  mercy that they may live in love, justice and peace."

“Lord, you asked for my hands that you might use them for your purpose.

I gave them for a moment

 then withdrew them for the work was hard.

You asked for my mouth to speak out against injustice.

I gave you a whisper that I might not be accused.

You asked for my eyes to see the pain of poverty.

I closed them for I did not want to see.

You asked for my life that you might work through me.

I gave a small part that I might not get too involved.

Lord, forgive my calculated efforts to serve you

Only when it is convenient for me to do so,

Only in those places where it is safe to do so,

And only with those who make it easy to do so.

Father, forgive me, renew me

Send me out as a usable instrument

That I might take seriously the meaning of your cross.”

Please pray for the Bishops and the people of Zimbabwe in a time of great turbulence and danger!

Welcome To Our New Minister of Music!

We are delighted to welcome H. Edward Seaholm as our new Minister of Music as of August 24th. Ed has played as interim organist for Pilgrim Lutheran Church and St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church in Warwick, and St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Columbia, in Western Missouri. He has also played for and led worship at Christ Church in Boonville
(rural southern Missouri ) and played for other churches in Missouri and Massachusetts .

He was Minister of Music for 3 years At Christ Church , Swansea , MA , as well as other Lutheran and Baptist churches over his 35 years as a musician. He is a graduate of Barrington College with his BA in Church Music, and is an American Guild of Organists member.


    Ed’s first love is playing and directing music that strengthens worship and enhances the singing of the congregation. His wife, Linda, has sung in a church praise band. The Seaholms with stepdaughter Grace were with us for a Sunday in July, and met the choir and Ed played organ and piano for the service. He enjoys a broad repertoire 

of music styles and looks forward to working with our choir on Sunday mornings.


He was licensed to lead worship in the Episcopal Diocese in Missouri where he lived, and has been a lay Eucharistic Minister and Eucharistic Visitor also. He works as a security guard also.

 Welcome Ed, Linda and Grace!

  Journey to Adulthood and Rite 13

Amanda Hughes and Tracey Herzer wrote in the wonderful introduction to this curriculum for 13018 year olds. Why are our churches so empty of teenagers?...We build beautiful nurseries and early Sunday School classrooms. We do a pretty good job of making the church a safe and welcoming place for our young children. But something happens around the 5th grade¦.We want more than token membership for our children. The young person leaves the church at 14 or 15. They
leave at the very time in life when they are experiencing the most powerful changes in their hearts, minds, and bodies that they will ever experience in all their lives ¦.They go to high school. They get their driver's licenses. They choose colleges and careers. They change the way they dress and talk and laugh and look. They are likely to fall in love for the first and second and third time, and we are not there to talk to them about Christian love, covenantal love. Meanwhile, they are likely to have their first sexual experiences. They are likely to experiment with alcohol and drugs¦. They are asking all sorts of questions based on all sorts of ideas they have never considered before.

J2A and Rite 13 are back-to-back programs for these young people in profound transition between 13 and 18, focused on manhood and womanhood as gifts from God, and adulthood as a status to be earned in the community. Congregations that have used them give them five stars for excellence and find their young people eager to be part of their church
and their program. To introduce them at St. A's we would need some adults who have a love for teenagers, and a deep commitment to work with a group through the hard issues of maturing in life and faith -- a calling to this ministry and these members of our community. Might God be calling you to work with teens in a start-up Rite 13 group of 6th and 7th graders? Jennifer is planning to attend a diocesan training event Wed. Oct. 1, 6-9pm -- would you like to come and learn about Rite13/J2A?