Ongoing Events

Service Times

8 a.m. Sunday Service

This is a simple communion service without music using Rite II. The quiet service will appeal to some every week and to others occasionally as a quieter way to worship.

10 a.m. Sunday Service

The 10 a.m. service is supported by the St. Augustine Choir. Sunday School begins at 10 a.m., except on some Holy days and special occasions. The FISH Youth Group meets during the school year at 6 p.m. for formation and worship (resumes September 8 ^th).

Centering Prayer

One of the themes that is emerging in our ongoing practice of Centering Prayer is the awareness that God just wants to spend time with us. In response to the enthusiasm growing around this feeling, our Centering Prayer gatherings are now offered Mondays at 6:30 p.m. and Fridays at noon. We hope that you will join us and see how contemplation can enrich your own experience.

Adult Formation Classes



Giving in Gratitude

Money can be an uncomfortable subject, but it is a topic that Jesus spent a lot of time teaching about…money is an essential tool in doing the work of ministry as we walk the way of love that he taught us. Our faith shows us that all we have belongs to God and calls us to be faithful stewards of what we have been given. 

On Saturday, September 7 ^th we will kick off our Fall Stewardship season as we begin to prepare our 2020 budget. Following sound financial wisdom, we budget carefully to avoid deficits to carefully nurture the ministries of St. Augustine. So, each year we are asked to make a financial pledge for the upcoming year, and we use these pledges to create our budget.

In the coming weeks, the Vestry will be providing information about our financial health and goals we have that support our ministries. You may have already noticed the charts and graphs in the bulletin over the last few months providing some up-to-date information about our financial progress through the current year. If you have questions, please feel free to talk to me, to Bob Deering (our Treasurer) or to Sharon Mershon (our Parish Administrator). 

As I think about all that God has done through this blessed community, I feel a deep sense of gratitude that leads me back to the mission God has called us into and is calling us into again each day. May we walk faithfully the way of love, and when we look to our right and to our left, may we see Christ walking with us to strengthen and encourage us.

Fr. Tom+

Many hearts fill our Church with love!

Gathering in Gratitude

Fall Stewardship Kickoff

Please join us on Saturday, September 7 ^th  at 5:30 p.m. for a wonderful dinner, fellowship and sharing about our Church community life. The Vestry is hosting this event. Children of all ages are invited to join their families at this dinner. Please let us know if you need childcare for the very young children.

 

The Vestry will share with parish members information necessary for all of us to do our part in being good stewards for St. Augustine. We will take a look back at the year in review and also a look toward the future.

 

Mark your calendars for this event. Plan to be an important part of the future of St. Augustine.

Hosting Coffee Hour is Easy!

All of us enjoy Coffee Hour after church. However, we need more volunteers to sign up to provide snacks. It is easy! Find a partner to share the experience. Keep it simple.

Although occasionally those who host provide a generous offering, that is NOT the expectation. Snacks can be simple finger foods such as: cookies, crackers, cheese, chips, veggies, fruit . . . you get it. You will need about 100 pieces.

TIP: Check out the big box stores for large packages.

Come early to set up, stay late to clean up. You do not have to worry about coffee and tea as those are provided by the Hospitality Coffee person. Look for the sign-up sheet at the Welcome Center. Thank you for volunteering. If you have questions, please contact Camille Grabowski at:

[email protected]

The Gathering Inn Hosting Program

Are you looking for a way to serve? The Gathering Inn Hosting Program is a fabulous outreach ministry. Over 30 Church members volunteer throughout the year to help with the work involved in serving our Gathering Inn guests. Volunteers are needed each second Wednesday of the month for meal preparation, set-up, serving and clean-up. Over 70 guests arrive each second Wednesday of the month for a hot meal and a safe place to sleep.

The menu includes Jack Dillon's special barrel chicken, green salad, rice with chopped vegetables, rolls and homemade desserts. Volunteers begin working Wednesday afternoon to set up Canterbury Hall and the sanctuary and to prep the meals.

After dinner, the guests watch a movie in the sanctuary. Families with children usually sleep in the Nursery or Sunday School rooms. Single men sleep in the sanctuary, while single women sleep in Canterbury Hall. Mats are provided by The Gathering Inn staff. The guests watch a movie in the sanctuary before they settle down for the night.

By 6 p.m., everything is ready for the guests who arrive by bus or van. They drop their bags and duffels in the Sunday School rooms and take a seat. After grace is said, guests line up to get their food which is dished out buffet-style by Church volunteers.

Guests are assigned tasks by The Gathering Inn monitors who accompany them. In the morning, guests serve themselves a granola bar and coffee and juice for the children. They clean the kitchen, sweep the floors, scrub the toilets and reset the sanctuary.

Around 5:30 a.m., a St. Augustine volunteer comes to check our facility and lock up. Everyone is gone by 6:30 a.m., and our Church is back to normal. You would never even know anyone had been there!

Sign up at the Welcome Center to help with this ministry. This is an amazing way to serve. Rick and Janice Stenzel are in charge of this ministry. If you have questions, please contact Rick or Janice at:

[email protected]

[email protected]

The Gathering Inn Donations

The Gathering Inn has a great need for High Energy detergent as well as bleach, bath towels, hand towels, wash cloths, fitted twin sheets and gently used pillows. TGI is also accepting men's undershirts (tee-shirts and tank tops), men's shorts, women's jeans sizes 2-8 or juniors size 11 and women's summer shorts.

Please place your donations in the grocery cart at the entry to Canterbury Hall. Every item is greatly appreciated. Beth Sulc will deliver the items to The Gathering Inn. If you are interested in helping to deliver donations, please contact Beth at:

[email protected]

Thank you for your generosity!

Outreach Ministry

I n the spirit of our Church tradition, the mission of Outreach Ministry is to love others as God loves us. We do this by serving those in need and inviting others into transformational experiences of serving others.

Some of the organizations we serve include:

St. James Food Pantry Ministry

St James Food Pantry is actually busier than ever with school being out for the summer. Thank you for the rice, raw pinto beans, tortillas, canned chicken/tuna and cereal. We can also use healthy fruit cup snacks or drinks with moderate sugar would also be very helpful. Other items are appreciated as well.

Thank you to all who have generously donated food to support the pantry. The pantry in Lincoln is low in supplies. They are distributing a good bit of food every week. The need is not diminishing, and they appear to have expanded their outreach into the community.

St. James is grateful, and we are responding with the specific items of food requested. Your continued support is appreciated and important. Food scarcity is a very real situation and is 24/7.

Please make sure your items are not past the expiration date and are unopened.

The grocery cart is located at the entrance to Canterbury Hall. Thank you for your donations.

Jim Quinney

St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room

A group of volunteers from St. Augustine Church serves meals at the St. Vincent de Paul Dining Room the third Thursday of each month. They volunteer from approximately 9:15 a.m. until 1:45 p.m., helping prepare, cook and serve a warm meal for those in need.

Approximately two to three hours of standing are involved. All food is provided, and no cooking experience is needed.

Volunteers include Jack Dillon, John Redmond, Rob and Deidre Shonk, Catherine Beckman, Jim and Stephanie Tilton, Jim and Carla Dolislager, Rick and Janice Stenzel, Lyn Fuson, Steve Broce, Linda Peterson and Kathryn Jordan. 

Volunteers for Thursday, August 15 ^th are Rick and Janice Stenzel and Steve Broce.

  Please contact Rob Shonk if you are interested in working in this important ministry:

[email protected]

 

Meal Train Ministry

The Meal Train Ministry is an online calendar that organizes delivery of meals for parish families in times of need. Barbara Woolman is in charge of the Meal Train Ministry. If you are interested in providing meals for parish families, please contact:

[email protected]

916-771-8830

Youth Group News & Updates

The FISH Youth Group, grades 6 - 12, is on break now. The group will begin meeting Sunday, September 8 ^th at 6 p.m.

FISH Calendar

From the Lead Teachers

Hello, Busy Parents!

In case you have missed hearing about the exciting changes in Sunday School, here is a quick overview.  

Fr. Tom is now overseeing and supporting the Sunday School program. Kara Diaz and Natalie Cooper have volunteered to be our lead teachers.  They are committed to providing a cohesive learning environment, focusing on activity based lessons, learning a prayer from worship monthly and creating a caring church community for our children.  So far the kids have had very positive feedback! We are also helping the children choose one way to show God's love throughout the week.  

Moving forward, we will be using a Shutterfly share site to communicate with you. It's an invite-only page, so it's "safe" to share pictures and other not-for-public-viewing information. There you can find out who is teaching each week, what our classroom needs, and sign up to volunteer to be the assistant teacher for the week. Please check those other folders for your invite from Shutterfly!

What We Need from YOU! 

We are asking that each family participating in our Sunday School program prayerfully consider committing to one Sunday a month to be the assistant teacher. If everyone just took one Sunday a month, we'd be all set. Our Safe Church policies require two adults with the kids at all times. The assistant is the second adult in the room and might be asked to help pass something out or help a child read. It's easy, rewarding and so important!

Thank you!

Kara and Natalie

BAPTISM

Hudson Atiya Saleh was baptized into the Kingdom of Heaven Sunday, July 28 ^th. His parents are Andrew and Emily Saleh. The godparents are Ryan and Erin Town. Over 25 family members gathered to celebrate Hudson's baptism. He celebrated his first birthday July 30 ^th. We welcome Hudson into the St. Augustine family. The Saleh's began attending St. Augustine about six months ago.

News from the Nursery

Changes in the Nursery!

Please welcome Jordan Craft and Siena Giampaoli as our new Nursery Attendants.

Jordan will be a junior at Whitney High School this fall. She is a member of the Future Business Leaders of America Club and the Varsity Track Team in discus and shot put. Jordan has been active in pageants the last few years and was selected Miss Teen Lincoln 2019.

Siena will be a senior in the fall at Rocklin High School, where she is very active. She is currently on the Rocklin High Dance Team, volunteers for the kids camp that the Dance Team hosts each year and is an active member of St. Peter and Paul Church in Rocklin.

Our Nursery is a very active place, which is awesome. Please know you are welcome to bring your child back into the nursery after communion if you choose. Please let our Nursery Assistants know if you plan to do this so they are prepared. Our attendants do take turns for communion, but there is always someone in the Nursery.

We thank Emma Andres for her service in the Nursery. She leaves next month for UCLA where she will be a freshman. While at UCLA, she will continue competing in gymnastics for the UCLA team. We wish her the best of luck.

Many thanks to Melissa Lovin for her dedicated service as coordinator of the Nursery. Kathy Dillon will oversee the Nursery needs until a Children's Ministry Coordinator is hired.

Please contact Kathy or Fr. Tom if you have questions:

[email protected]

Children's Choir

The Children's Choir will resume rehearsals Sunday, August 18 ^th following the 10 a.m. service, concluding by noon. Rehearsals will take place on the first and third Sundays.

The choir sings periodically during the 10 a.m. service throughout the school year. All children from kindergarten through 5 ^th grade are welcome. Give it a try!

We are looking for more children to share their enthusiastic voices in the awesome Children's Choir.

Questions? Contact Amy Quinney at:

[email protected]

or

916-257-2343

    Mark Your Calendars – Saturday, October 19 ^th

St. Augustine is hosting a Tea Party!  

What a perfect time to be thinking about a Tea Party at St. Augustine. As I am writing this, I am grateful for the AC, as the gauge on the thermometer climbs to 98 degrees. I close my eyes and conjure up an image of brisk cool winds, brilliant blue skies and trees turning the colors of gold, orange and red.

The Tea will be held on Saturday, October 19 ^th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. It will take place at St. Augustine Church. The proceeds will go to the Aesthetics Committee projects.

There will be delicious food and wonderful fellowship. Word is that there is a chance of a good ghost story or two by a couple of old Storytellers who will be there.

Maybe Christine will wear a hat….perhaps a costume!!

Something to think about as you Save the Date!

Daughters of the King

The St. Augustine Chapter of Daughters of the King usually meets on the second Sunday of each month, following the 10 a.m. service

Province VIII, which covers the western states, will host a two-day retreat September 20 ^th and 21 ^st at Faith Episcopal Church, Cameron Park. Newly-elected Bishop Megan Traquair will speak on Friday, and Former Presiding Bishop Katherine Jefforts Schori will be the keynote speaker on Saturday.

Joanne McCormack, our current president, is also the president the Diocese of Northern California. Member Penny Hart is vice president. There are currently 19 DOK chapters in the Diocese of Northern California. A 20 ^th chapter will be instituted at Incarnation in Santa Rosa in September. The Diocese of Northern California is part of Province VIII, which includes eight western states.

The next meeting for the St. Augustine chapter is Sunday, August 11 ^th. We will elect new officers at that meeting.

If you are interested in becoming a Daughter or would like more information, please contact our Chapter President, Joanne McCormack at:

[email protected]

Brotherhood of St. Andrew

The Brotherhood of St. Andrew holds its regular monthly meetings at 9 a.m. in Canterbury Hall the fourth Saturday of the month. Coffee and breakfast are served. All men and youth are welcome and encouraged to attend a meeting.

Even if you are not a member of the Brotherhood, and just have an interest in what we do, you are welcome to join us for breakfast. Rob Shonk is the Director. If you would like to learn about the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, please contact Rob or Secretary John Redmond.

The Brotherhood is gearing up for its second Episcopal Men’s Conference, which will be held at Trinity Cathedral in Sacramento on September 21 ^st . Brotherhood Executive Director Tom Welch and Vice President Jack Hanstein will be in attendance.

Topics include:

The Conference is open to all men and youth. Registration is $20, and includes Continental breakfast and lunch. For more information, contact Rob Shonk.

The Brotherhood is also planning its second Spaghetti Feed/Bingo Night, which will be held Saturday, November 16 ^th .

The next Brotherhood meeting will be held August 24 ^th , 9 a.m. in the Sunday School room.

The dedicated group who knit and crochet our prayer shawls consider it a privilege to share their talents making these garments of comfort and compassion.  Patterns and yarn are available to our members.

Some choose to do all their knitting/crocheting at home, and some enjoy coming to our monthly meetings on the second Monday of the month at 1:30 p.m. at the Church.  

Please contact Greer Nave if you are interested in giving a shawl to someone or joining the group:

[email protected]

Companion's Corner

OUR NATIONAL DISCOURSE

As summer heats, up so does our national and international discourse. Technology has brought a new level of speed to communications, and it can be both divisive and dangerous.

I have never before seen the level of vitriol and rigidity in our national communications. It makes one almost fearful of the election in 2020 that is obviously now in full gear. The international discourse and behavior have also reached alarming levels. One particular newscast so alarmed me this past week that my recourse was to mute the TV and, at the same time, an old hymn began going through my mind. I was grateful as it settled my anxiety, and I found myself humming it throughout the day. It is an old chestnut in the music realm and its lyrics go something like this:

In Christ there is no East or West,

In Him no South or North;

But one great fellowship of love

Throughout the whole wide earth.

It also called to my mind the Biblical spiritual imperative to “become perfect as God, whole.”

As Christians we need to avoid becoming argumentative regarding politics and help ourselves examine the real issues facing this country. Sadly, the hatred and untruthfulness flashing from screen to screen and person to person is one of them.

Galatians gave the basis for the hymn and can also help us live peacefully in the overheated atmosphere in which we currently find ourselves.

“As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus.”

                            Galatians 3:27-29 New Revised Standard Version

A blessed and linguistically cooler August, dear friends,

Carole Peterson