Our Staff & Vestry The Rev, Anthony MacWhinnie, II, Priest in Charge

Vestry: Chuck Barnett - Senior Warden, Dan Ferguson- Junior Warden,

Linda Aligood, Susan Early, Frank Murphy, Ann Philen, John Velaski

Viv Welch—Clerk of the Vestry Brenda Ferguson—Church Secretary Twinette McDonald - Music Director

Sally Putters - Parish Nurse

Saint Monica's Episcopal ChurchSaint Monica's Episcopal Church

MessengerMessenger January 2015January 2015

Happy New Year! Have you thought about what you will resolve to do, or not do, in the coming year? As it’s already January, I’m betting you have. Are you even a New Year’s resolution kind of person? I am, and I’m not. I like the results of resolutions. I just don’t like actually doing them. And since I don’t like doing them, I fail at them. And that is the part which I really dislike. Failure. Elizabeth and I have had a couple of sparse conversa-tions about our resolutions. She is determined to lose weight. Now, of course, I don’t think she needs to lose an ounce, but she thinks that, so that’s the important part. Out of the two of us, I’m far and away the one who needs to shed pounds. And not just a few either. I need to shed a bunch. So, her enthusiasm is helpful. But still, I am reluc-tant. Why? Because I am convinced I will fail. I don’t like to make resolutions because I know myself. I know I don’t keep up those well intentioned good habits that I try most years. And when I don’t, I fail at my goal and I feel guilty. So, my thought is, why try? That’s terrible isn’t it?!? Elizabeth said something to me the other day that was amazingly helpful. She said: “Don’t let the fear of failure prevent you from even try-ing.” Holy smokes, that’s good. That’s really good. Because who knows? I might actually succeed! Don’t let the fear of failure prevent you from even trying. Really, if I never try, I’ve already failed… Here are a few verses from the Bible that may be of help. And good luck, friends. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to every-one. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about any-

From the priest’s desk by The Reverend Anthony MacWhinnie, II

thing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your re-quests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all under-standing, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weak-nesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong. Romans 5:3-5 More than that, we rejoice in our suffer-ings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and en-durance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Peace, Anthony+

New Beginnings Retreat! A Hospitality Workshop

January 16-18 at Saint Monica’s

Ever wondered how to grow the church? Ever wondered what the Bible has to say about that?

Ever wondered how you can help? This is the place for you!

Starts Friday night with dinner, a full day on

Saturday, then concludes with Eucharist on Sunday. Everyone from St. Monica's is encouraged to attend.

This retreat is for you!

Page 2 Saint Monica ’s Messenger

A simple prayer: “Lord, even as we enjoy the Super Bowl football game, help us be mindful of those who are without a bowl of soup to eat” inspired a youth-led move-ment to help hungry and hurting people around the world. This prayer, delivered by Brad Smith, then a seminary intern serving at Spring Valley Presbyterian Church in Co-lumbia, SC, gave birth to an idea. Why not use Super Bowl weekend, a time when people come together for football and fun, to also unify the nation for a higher good: collecting dollars and canned food for the needy? Youth could collect donations at their schools and churches in soup pots, and then send every dollar directly to a local charity of their choice. The senior high youth of Spring Valley Presbyterian liked the idea so much they decided to invite other area churches to join the team. Twenty-two Columbia churches participated that first year, reporting their results so a total could be determined, and then sending all $5,700 they had raised to area non-profits. That was 1990. Since then, ordinary people have gener-ated an extraordinary more than $100 million for soup kitchens, food banks and other charities in communities across the country. In addition, hundreds of thousands of youth have experienced for themselves the joy and satis-faction of giving and serving, inspiring people of all ages to follow their generous example. The mission of Souper Bowl of Caring is to use the en-ergy of the Super Bowl, the biggest football game of the season, to mobilize people in a united national effort to care for people in their local communities who are hungry and those in need. By doing so, Souper Bowl of Caring is able to transform this time into the nation's largest celebra-tion of giving and serving. The organizers of Souper Bowl of Caring believe that

the idea is a gift from God. Every dollar collected through Souper Bowl of Caring is donated directly to a charity se-lected by each participating group. Hunger and poverty have a negative impact on individu-als and the communities in which they live, yet there is joy in serving and giving to those in need. People of all back-grounds and beliefs can work together for a common cause. The excitement and energy surrounding the big game can be used to engage people in service while pro-ducing lasting hope for all people. Every year at this time, St. Monica’s joins the Souper Bowl of Caring effort. Manna Food Pantry is our Charity of the Month, so each Sunday throughout the month of January and until the Big Game, we ask you to bring canned soup or money and place it in the giant soup pot on the altar or in the wagon in the narthex. At the end of the campaign, all of the food and money collected will be giv-en to our local Manna Food Pantry. In addition to soup, Manna is always in need of breakfast items (cereal, grits, etc.), canned fruit, canned meat, tomatoes and especially peanut butter.

Give to the Charity of the Month through Souper Bowl of Caring

Vestiges of bygone ministry bringing new comfort to those in need

Items left behind by the once active Prayer Shawl Ministry were recently discovered, freshened up by Dodie Matlock and delivered for their intended purpose. Chemo caps and prayer shawls which were blessed by Father Anthony were delivered to Sacred Heart Cancer Center on North Davis Highway by Dodie’s husband, Bob, who is a cancer patient there. Pictured left is the recep-tionist Lisa who distributed the items to pa-tients. Crocheted and knitted preemie caps and preemie blankets and regular size baby caps and blankets were also blessed and taken to the little angels of the Ronald McDonald House on Bayou Boulevard. Pictured right are the volunteers at the reception desk of the Ronald McDonald House.

Page 3 Saint Monica ’s Messenger

It’s a new year! By Nurse Sally

Happy New Year, yes 2014 is fading fast and we can look forward to 2015. The New Year is approaching fast, so it’s time to think about New Year’s resolutions. Num-ber one on the list should be about us focusing on good health. That is a broad area, but we should focus in on areas that are reasonable for us. Some of the areas we can spend time on are: *Attitude: It is very difficult to be positive all the time, but you can try for part of the time. Don’t be afraid to seek consultation of a professional or a good friend, some-one you can be comfortable with, or join a group to learn how others deal with problems. *Exercise: Being active, especially if you find yourself sitting most of the day or sitting through several hours of TV or hours at the computer. Just sitting can increase your risk of heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes and cancer. Simply walking around your house, apartment or office can reduce your health risk. It is recommended that you get up once an hour if you are sedentary. Some of this activity can be intentional like walking 30 minutes a day. This can be 5 to 10 minute intervals and can be done 5 days a week. To maintain your muscle strength, do some stretching exercis-es as well as resistance exercises. This activity can help improve your attitude as well. *Nutrition: Focus on your diet by having regular meals and snacks. Watch your fats and carbs, and especially practice portion control. Consume a variety of lean pro-tein, such as beans, nuts, chicken, fish and eggs. Eat gen-erous portions of fruits and vegetables. Keep away from high carb snacks such as processed foods. I could get quite involved in nutrients, but a balanced diet will provide enough to keep your energy levels up during the day. A healthy diet can help with that positive attitude. *Hydration: Hydration is very important to our wellbeing. Drinking six to eight glasses of water per day is recom-mended. A squeeze of lemon or fresh sprig of mint can help refresh it. * Rest: Make sure you get adequate sleep which varies for all of us. Rest is a contributor to a positive healthy feeling and your body needs it to maintain its healthy attitude. Get healthy this New Year. February is national Heart Health month and we will be providing Heart Health eval-uations in February. Sacred Heart Health Systems will be sending out their screening team. More details will follow soon.

Happy New Year, Nurse Sally

Our Annual Parish Meeting was held Sunday, Decem-ber 14. The agenda included various ministry reports, ap-proving the budget for 2015, electing two new Vestry members and three delegates to represent St. Monica’s at the Diocesan Convention in February. A Vestry member must be a communicant of this church. (You have received communion here at least three times in the last year.) They are expected to attend church regularly, participate in the life of the church, provide leadership in programs, attend all Vestry meetings, and help make decisions and work for the benefit and welfare of the congregation. New vestry members are Susan Early and John Velaski. Susan leads Children’s Church, volunteers behind the scenes, and was the chair of the 2014 ECW Yard Sale. John is our verger and a longtime, devoted member of the parish. He has previously served on St. Monica’s vestry and as Senior Warden. A Delegate or Alternate at Diocesan Convention, must be a communicant in good standing and available to attend the Diocesan Convention. (All communicants of this Church, who for the previous year have been faithful in corporate worship, unless for good cause prevented, and have been faithful in working, praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God, are to be considered com-municants in good standing.) Delegates elected are Ron Philen, Danise Beadle and Chuck Barnett. Ann Philen reported on Outreach. Projects included the Beans and Rice Ministry, Camp Beckwith, Manna Food Bank, Jim Allen School, Favor House, and a Coat Givea-way. In 2015 we hope to sponsor an animal charity and Souper Bowl Sunday. John Velaski, reporting for the Liturgical Committee, said volunteers are needed for acolytes, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Readers and Ushers. Please see John if you are interested in participating in any of these ministries. Jackie Wright reminded us that the Quilters Guild pro-vides quilts and gift baskets for Favor House residents. Someone is needed to chair the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Fred Woods talked about Music Ministry and Band of Brothers and Sisters. Twinette, is doing a wonderful job with the choir, but more middle-range vocalists are need-ed. Vocalists are not required to read music. The Band of Brothers and Sisters still meets on the last Saturday. Beth Woods reported on the Flower Guild. There is a new flower chart on the bulletin board in the narthex. The cost of flowers are $25, but you may be share the cost with two or more sponsors. The Flower Guild will host another Flower Arranging Seminar in spring 2015. The last ministry report was from Dave Somerville who said that he Altar Guild is also in need of new volunteers. The Altar Guild prepares the altar for all services and maintains the linens, hangings and Eucharistic vessels. The final item on the agenda was to approve the budget for 2015. The budget approved for 2015 is $151,405, which includes the salary and benefits of a fulltime priest.

Annual meeting recap

Saint Monica ’s Messenger Page 4

The Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs Wednesday, December 17, 2014 Samuel A. McDonald, Deputy COO and Director of Mission for The Epis-copal Church, has announced that the Domestic and Foreign Missionary So-ciety (DFMS) is offering a 4-week video-based Epiphany curriculum and a bulletin insert for faith formation to raise awareness about refugees and the work of DFMS through Episcopal Migration Ministries. DFMS has prepared these materials as part of its cele-bration of 75 years of resettlement work. This celebration also includes the innovative social media campaign #ShareTheJourney.

The curriculum is available at no fee here Link to bulletin insert here

“With more than 50 million people displaced from their homes, we are right now facing the largest refugee crisis the world has known since World War II,” explained Deb-orah Stein, Director of Episcopal Migration Ministries. “As conflicts continue in Syria, Iraq and parts of Africa, we will see these numbers continue to swell, making the ongoing resettlement work of DFMS more vital than ever. We invite you to use these materials to #ShareTheJourney by learning more about the plight of refugees, DFMS’ work in resettlement, and how you can be involved.” The materials are ideal for adult forums, Sunday Schools, youth groups, and faith-formation gatherings for all ages. Among the titles of the videos are Sowdo’s Story, Sup-porting Refugee Students, and Find a Friend. All videos are available here For more information, contact Allison Duvall, Co-Sponsorship and Church Relations Program Manager for Episcopal Migration Ministries, 212-716-6027. Share the Journey Raise your voice to support refugees. Join #ShareTheJourney When a refugee begins her journey, she doesn’t know where it will end. It’s not a journey that anyone wants to take, but sadly, many must, fleeing for fear for their lives due to war, violence, and persecution.

Brenda and Dan Ferguson, Dodie Matlock and Viv Welch completed and installed the first of the Four Gospels floor medallions, St. Luke. On Sunday, December 21, Father Anthony led the congregation to the Narthex where he offered a blessing. Work will begin this week on the next one which will be St. John.

Epiphany resources People like Wahab, who fled Iraq with his family during the war. People like Sowdo, forced to flee Somalia after receiving death threats due to her work as a woman in journalism. Even people like Mary and Joseph who were forced to flee King Herod with the baby Jesus and seek safety in Egypt. Refugees may be people you already know: courageous, resilient men and women who, through resettlement, have a chance to live in safety and peace in their new American communities. Thanks to Episcopal Migration Ministries, thousands of refugees are able to begin again. The journey of escape is over; the journey of hope has just begun. And now, this journey is one you can share. Episcopal Migration Ministries has launched a year-long awareness campaign, Share the Journey, to raise awareness of the church’s role in responding to refugee crises through domestic resettlement. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at the beginning of 2013, there were 15.4 million refugees worldwide. This number continues to rise with the recent refugee crises in Syria, South Sudan, and the Congo. Episcopal Migration Ministries is the church’s foremost response to refugee crises. Working in partnership with offices and groups within the church as well as with gov-ernments, non-government organizations (NGOs), and a network of 30 affiliate offices in 26 dioceses, Episcopal Migration Ministries assures safe passage and provides vital services for thousands of refugee families upon their arrival in America: English language and cultural orienta-tion classes, employment services, school enrollment, and initial assistance with housing and transportation. For each family, the goal is self-reliance and self-determination. After years of living in limbo, thanks to Episcopal Migra-tion Ministries, refugees now have the opportunity to begin again on a strong foundation that honors their stories and dignity. Celebrate the strength, resilience, and contributions of refugees to our communities by becoming part of Share the Journey. Join the campaign! Follow these simple steps: Make a handwritten sign that reads, “#ShareTheJourney with @EMMRefugees.” Take a “selfie” while holding the sign, and post it to your social networks (Facebook, Twitter). Be sure to include the hashtag #ShareTheJourney in your post or tweet. Please also share your post with the church: www.facebook.com/episcopalian www.facebook.com/EpiscopalMigrationMinistries @EMMRefugees (Twitter) Want to do more? Welcome your brother, the stranger. Welcome your sis-ter, the refugee. Welcome refugee families as you would welcome the Holy Family. Join our list of friends and supporters to learn how you can be a presence of welcome and friendship to refugees in your community and across the church. Sign up here.

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Saint Monica’s Episcopal Church

699 South Highway 95-A

Cantonment, Florida 32533

Phone: 850-937-0001

E-mail: Office@st-monicas.org

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

Birthdays in January… 3, Ruby MacWhinnie; 5, Twyla Hinton; 6, Carol Farrel, Jeff Woods, Jackie Wright; 26, Nancy Holland

We’re on the web at Www.st-monicas.org

Roy Aligood Brian Bartels Avery Beadle Adam Blankenship Herman Boudreaux Justin Camber Diane Duncan Tracie Ferguson Amy Franklin Mike Godwin Nancy Holland

Jane Hunter Charlene Lee Bob Matlock Susan Pauline Somerville Marcella Young

Connor Aligood Brian Condon Daryl Coy Mark Feely Aaron Gaff Benjamin Gaff Tim Hartford Johnny Hurd James Klinginsmith William Knapp Andrew Kuntz Nicholas Matroni Chase Scott Jeremy Wright

January Prayer Requests Military Prayer List

Anniversaries in January… 3, Bill & Sally Putters If your birthday or anniversary is not listed or not listed correctly, please let Viv Welch know.