Kanuga – N.C.

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Issue 2017 Vol III August 2017

FROM THE DESK OF THE DIRECTRESS

Diocesan Board: See Page 4 for Board Member contact information.

The Province IV Altar Guild (AG) Conference was held 4-7 June 2017 at the Kanuga Episcopal Conference Center in Hendersonville NC. It was my privilege to attend as the official representa- tive of the Diocese of Central Florida, but two other Central Florida representatives also attended – Sue Geiger (former Central Florida Diocesan AG Directress) from St James in Leesburg and Joan Snead from Holy Trinity in Melbourne. There were Florida attendees eleven attendees from the State of Florida. Florida attendees The Conference always proves to be a busy time with opportunities to learn more about the AG ministry and our mission as we serve God. Although we had some rain while at Kanuga, our lodging and meetings took place in the newly renovated “Inn,” which includes rooms with air conditioning (AC). Yay!!! The weather was cool enough that we didn’t have to use the AC much, but it’s nice to know it was there in case we needed it. One highlight of the Conference was a talk by Fr Thack Dyson (Rector of St Paul’s in Daphne, Alabama) on THE BOOK OF OCCASIONAL SERVICES (available from Church Publishing, Inc). This book is a collection of liturgical resources related to occasions which are not included in THE BOOK OF COMMON PRAYER. The services in this book are optional; none are required, and it is not likely your church will use all of these services, but looking at the Table of Contents, you will see many services that are part of your Church Year. Table of Contents includes, but is not limited to:

- The Advent Wreath - Christmas Festival of Lessons and Music - Vigil for Christmas Eve - Tenebrae - On Maundy Thursday – at the Foot-washing… (continued on page 2)

DATES TO REMEMBER: 17 February 2018 – Annual Diocesan Altar Guild (DAG) Meeting at All Saints in Lakeland (Southwest Deanery) 3-6 June 2018 – Province IV Altar Guild Conference at Kanuga, Hendersonville, NC 6-11 July 2018 – Annual National Altar Guild Conference, Austin, TX 23 February 2019 – Annual DAG Meeting at Canterbury Retreat Center in Oveido TELL EVERYONE ABOUT THE NEWS FROM YOUR CHURCH. When you have something that you think others would like to hear about, please send information about the event to Judy Henderson at jem2415@earthlink.net . This can be events that have already occurred or things that are coming up. We are always looking for articles and pictures to include in the Newsletter; let us hear from you. We would be happy to spread the word about your AG activities and meetings. Feel free to send pictures of your church Altar and/or flowers or AG member get-togethers. If you have any questions, give Judy a call at 321-327-3175.

Province IV Altar Guild Conference (continued from page 1) - The Sacrament, On the Stripping of the Altar - Service for All Hallows’ Eve

Pastoral Services, some of items included: - Welcoming of New People to a Congregation - Blessing for a Pregnant Woman - Anniversary of a Marriage - Concerning Exorcism - Burial of One Who Does Not Profess the Christian Faith - Commissioning of Lay Ministries in the Church - Dedication of Church Furnishings and Ornaments - Restoring of Things Profaned

Episcopal Services, some of the listed are: - Recognition and Investiture of a Diocesan Bishop Fr Thack Dyson - Welcoming and Seating of a Bishop in the Cathedral

This is only a selection of the services included in THE BOOK OF OCCASIONAL SERVICES. Under the section on “Commissioning of Lay Ministries in the Church,” is the note: “The Ministers of the Church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons. Lay persons are commissioned for the ministry by the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, and no form of commissions for Special functions is necessary,” and then it goes on to say that the services in this section may be used when special recognition of the these ministries is desired. Some of the ministries included in this section are: Wardens and Members of the Vestry, Altar Guild Members and Sacristans, Catechists or Teachers, Singers, Lectors, Licensed Lay Readers, Officers of Church Organizations, etc. In accordance with tradition, church furnishings and ornaments are consecrated by being put to the use for which they were intended, but if a rite of dedication is desired, a special dedication may be made. Some of the services included under “Dedication of Church Furnishings and Ornaments,” include: An Altar; Altar Cloths and Hangings; Surplices and Albs; Chairs, Benches, and Prayer Desks; A Cross; A Funeral Pall; and Any Church Ornament.

Even though it’s up to the Clergy to determine when and if the services in the BOOK OF OCCASIONAL SERVICES will be used, it’s good for AG members to be aware of the options in this book. The Keytone Speaker was Paul Anderson, Director of Music at St Paul’s Episcopal Church in Daphne, AL. Paul talked about the history of church music and how it enhances the worship service. He helped us enjoy the beauty of music, just as we enjoy the stained glass windows, the church architecture, and the linens and hangings that we, as altar guild members, have the privilege to care for. Dressed in full costume of his favorite church musician, Paul took us on a trek through the life of Johann Sebastian Bach, who produced hundreds of religious hymns, many of which appear in our Episcopal Hymnal. The Conference also included a Taize service and concluded with an Ice Cream Social. Altar guild members learn from other altar guild members at the Province IV Paul Anderson as Bach conferences, as we take our meals together and meet and socialize together.

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BURNING LINENS THAT CAN NO LONGER BE USED by Judy Henderson How do you dispose of linens that can no longer be used? After many years of use, linens may become worn and develop holes that cannot be mended. The proper way to dispose of these linens is to burn them. At the Province IV meeting each year at Kanuga, linens that can no longer be used are burned after they are de-consecrated during a Morning Prayer service. Phyllis Bruce – Burning the Linens Care is taken to be sure that linens are not burned if they can be “repurposed.” These linens are de-consecrated so they can be cut apart, with the embroidered cross saved for future use. The remainder of the cloth is burned along with linens that cannot be repurposed. You might wonder how these crosses are repurposed. They may be used for a smaller linen piece, such as a purificator included in a Lay Eucharistic Minister visiting kit, or a new purificator or corporal may be made from part of an unusable fair linen. An embroidered cross may also be used in making a stole or chasuble. If you would like to have your linens deconsecrated and burned at the Province IV meeting at Kanuga next year, please bring them to the DAG annual meeting or contact me at 321-327-3175 or jem2415@earthlink.net HIGHLIGHTS IN THE DIOCESE Highlighted in this issue is Grace Episcopal Church in Port Orange. Grace Church was constructed in 1893, and the historic church was used as the primary worship space from 1893 to 1984. The growth of the parish and the community led to construction of the adjacent worship center and, more recently, the Parish Life Center. Would you like to have your Church Altar highlighted in your DAG newsletter? If so, please send a picture of your Altar and a little information about your church to Judy Henderson at jem2415@earthlink.net Altar at Grace Episcopal Church in Port Orange Built in 1985 ADDITIONAL PICTURES FROM THE PROVINCE IV CONFERENCE AT KANUGA

Blessing of Hands at Closing Eucharist Taize Service Relaxing at the end of the Conference Peggy Curlin and Sarah Hill

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PRESENTATION OF STOLES TO THE BISHOP The Diocesan Altar Guild does something each year to support the Bishop’s Oratory, as well as the Camp Wingmann Chapel, and the Canterbury Retreat Center Chapel. On 17 August 2017, DAG Board members, Judy Henderson, Kathy Shearer, and Eve Hyatt (along with Eve’s husband, Frank), attended the Bishop’s Thursday Morning Eucharist at the Diocesan House in Orlando and presented four stoles to Bishop Gregory Brewer. The stoles, made by Eve Hyatt in liturgical colors of green, purple, red, and white, match the burses and veils given by the DAG for the Bishop’s oratory a few years ago. The service included music by Canon Josh Bales, and was well attended by Diocesan Board members and Diocesan staff.

Bishop Brewer Diocesan and DAG Boards with Bishop Brewer DAG Board Members Green, Red, Purple, & White with Green Stole Stoles

CENTRAL FLORIDA DIOCESAN ALTAR GUILD BOARD: -- Directress & Newsletter Editor: Judy Henderson - Home 321-327-3175; Cell 321-536-3965 – jem2415@earthlink.net -- Assistant Directress: Kathy Shearer - Cell 407-230-4350 – wwdassoc@gmail.com -- Secretary: Alex Rockefeller – Cell 585-978-0162 – ayrock70@gmail.com -- Treasurer: Cyndy Berry – Cell 203-215-0125 – cyndy.berry@usa.net -- Chaplain: Rev. Meghan Farr – Work 321-723-5272 – revmeghan@holytrinitymelbourne.org -- Central Deanery: -- Kathy Shearer – Cell 407-230-4350 – wwdassoc@gmail.com -- Eve Hyatt – Home/Work 407-880-3416 – samias@aol.com -- Beth Hyatt - Home 407-884-6058 – Cell 407-252-4934 – samias@aol.com -- Northeast Deanery: -- Judy Valk – Home 386-960-7413 – jayempea@cfl.rr.com; (We need another NE Deanery Board member – won’t you volunteer?????) -- Northwest Deanery: -- Suzie Lore - Home 352-729-2459; Cell 407-761-4920 – Loresl@aol.com

-- Sue Geiger - Cell 352-617-0076 – sue.geiger@outlook.com -- Dianne Casson – Home 352-787-0508 – Cell 352-255-5444 – dcasson@embarqmail.com

-- Southeast Deanery: -- Alex Rockefeller – Cell 585-978-0162 – ayrock70@gmail.com

-- Jeanne Weaver - Home 321-613-2403; Cell 757-871-6576 – jhweaver30@gmail.com -- Southwest Deanery: -- Betty Seckinger - Home 863-324-7323; Cell 863-221-4103 – bettyboop100100@gmail.com -- Betsy Watson - Home 863-688-2162; Cell 863-670-1602 – eswatson675@aol.com

-- Nancy Brantly - Home 863-299-7026; Cell 863-660-8596 – miltnancy@verizon.net -- Cyndy Berry – Cell 203-215-0125 – cyndy.berry@usa.net -- Sharon Smith – 863-370-0315 – smithibeme@tampabay.rr.com 4