Ongoing Events

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. The former Tuesday evening gathering has been changed to Monday. We hope that you will join us and see how contemplation can enrich your own experience.

Welcome our Bishop-Elect to St. Augustine



The Feast Day of St. Augustine of Canterbury

Please plan to join us to welcome our Bishop-Elect, The Rev. Canon Megan Traquair, on Sunday, May 26 ^th, at either the 8 or 10 a.m. service. She will preach at both services. We will have an opportunity to welcome her to our diocese and to St. Augustine. We look forward to Bishop-Elect Megan's visit!

Official Notification

The diocese is pleased to share they they have received notification from Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael B. Curry and registrar of General Convent, the Rev. Canon Michael Barlowe, that Bishop-Elect Megan Traquair has received the required majority of consents in the canonical consent process detailed in Canon III.1 1.3.

The Rev. Canon Megan Traquair was elected Bishop on February 9th. President Bishop Curry will officiate at her June 29 ^th ordination and consecration service.

Saturday, June 29, 2019

11 a.m.

Mondavi Center

Davis, CA

The Reverend Canon Megan Traquair

will be ordained and consecrated

Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California.

Official invitations and links to tickets will be sent in May.

Please check the diocesan website for information as it becomes available.

From our Bishop-Elect

Dear Friends in Christ,

Our relationship together in Christ has begun, and I rejoice in it. 

It is as if we are walking two parts of a converging road. We can recognize the same landmarks as we move forward, Shrove Tuesday with pancakes and fun, Ash Wednesday with repentance and ashes, and the long prayerful walk of Lent. Our paths will converge after Easter, starting in mid-May.

At that time I will start in the Diocesan office, and the following six weeks will be a time of intense learning. With Bishop Beisner sharing his wisdom and the skilled staff, I will become acquainted with the workings of the Diocese. All the while the preparation for the consecration will be ongoing - indeed it has already begun.

I look forward to joining our large Diocesan family, where I can hear your struggles and your joys - and you can hear some of mine as well! Our first two years together will be an intensive time of relationship building. We will discover how God is building us up in Christ together.

I am currently working hard to make sure that my current Bishop concludes his time with joy and that my new Bishop makes a strong beginning. Philip and I are working on our own steps of transition as well. At this time I cannot be responsive to you by email or phone calls. I want to be connected with you - but we have to let the transition process move through its various stages. For projects that really do need the input from the Bishop-Elect, Jacqi Seppi, in the Bishop’s office, will be the conduit, and she will forward urgent matters to me directly.

Meanwhile we both have good work to accomplish until our paths draw close in May and truly converge on June 29 ^th . Thank you for your warm welcome to me, and thanks for the good care you are taking of Bishop Beisner, his excellent staff, and each other.

“Therefore, as you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, 

just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.”

Colossians 2:6

Faithfully in Christ,

The Rev. Canon Megan Traquair

Bishop-Elect

Diocese of Northern California  

 Join the Diocese as We Celebrate Bishop Barry

Our journey through this episcopal transition has carried us to the place where we intentionally and joyfully celebrate the ministry and gifts of Bishop Barry and his episcopate in this diocese.

We ask you now to send photos of your church, ministries and people, as well as cards, notes and stories about the way that Bishop Barry has blessed you during his time as a bishop to: [email protected] . Photos and notes will be included in a memory book for him. Please include the church city and name in the subject line.

The diocese is also giving Bishop Barry and Rev. Ann a trip to begin their life in retirement together. You may donate at https://goo.gl/DRQ1Me (or on www.norcalepiscopal.org, under “Online Giving.”) Donors will be recognized.

We honor Bishop Barry.

Join the diocese as we gather in three different events to honor Bishop Barry Beisner. These events are free. Please RSVP online if you plan to attend:  https://goo.gl/v6LkBi    

Saturday, May 11 ^th , 5:30 - 8 p.m. 

St. John's, Petaluma 

Friday, June 7 ^th , 5:30 - 8 p.m. 

Trinity Cathedral, Sacramento 

Saturday, June 15 ^th , 1:30 - 4 p.m. 

All Saints, Redding 

For questions about these events, please visit the bishop search website.

O God, by your grace you have called us in this Diocese to a goodly fellowship of faith. Bless our Bishop Barry, Bishop-elect Megan, other clergy and all your people. Grant that your Word may be truly preached and truly heard, your Sacraments faithfully administered and faithfully received. By your Spirit, fashion our lives according to the example of your Son, and grant that we show the power of your love to all among whom we live; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Adult Formation Classes



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]

On the second Wednesday of each month, St. Augustine hosts 70-plus homeless men, women and children, guests of The Gathering Inn, 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 meal items.

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.

 

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’d never even know anyone had been there!

What 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. Sign up at the Welcome Center to help with this ministry. The next hosting event is Wednesday, May 8 ^th . This is an amazing way to serve.

Rick and Janice Stenzel are in charge of this ministry. If you have questions, please contact Rick at [email protected] or Janice at [email protected].

The Gathering Inn Donations

The Gathering Inn has a great need for underwear: specifically women's small and men's medium, large and extra-large. Clothes for warmer weather are also needed.

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!

TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE FOR THE

MAY 4 ^TH OUTREACH STAMPEDE

TICKETS MAY BE PURCHASED ONLINE

OR

FOR MORE INFORMATION,

CALL CAMILLE GRABOWSKI

916-409-5509

Outreach Stampede

Calling all cowboys and cowgirls! Mark your calendars and save the date for the St. Augustine Outreach Stampede on Saturday, May 4 ^th . The event will feature a Western theme with a spectacular BBQ dinner, a special raffle of some extravagant items and a live auction of our traditional luscious desserts.

Instructor Bill Swayne will be on hand to give us an introductory line-dancing lesson - children included. There will be prizes for the best Western outfits. The Outreach Team is hard at work organizing this extravaganza, and it is sure to be an outstanding event. Proceeds go towards various outreach programs supported by St. Augustine. The event begins at 5 p.m. Tickets are $50 each.

Holy Week Images...

...Photos by Fred Buhler

Palm Sunday

Maundy Thursday

Easter Morning!

The children are leading the Lord's Prayer!

Easter Egg Hunt

St. James Food Pantry Ministry

Thank you to all who have generously donated food to support the pantry. The pantry in Lincoln has grown in size and scope, and your continued support is appreciated and important. Food scarcity is a very real situation and is 24/7. Canned chicken, tuna, rice, pinto beans, flour or corn tortillas, cereal and juice are pantry favorites. Other items are also appreciated.

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.

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, May 16 ^th are John Redmond, Jack Dillon 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

A Special Thank You from Father Noe Bernier in Haiti

Father Noe, seated front right, along with the teachers, expressed his heartfelt thanks for the generous support we have provided at St. Luc School in Thomassique, Haiti. The children are healthy and growing. They have just finished exams. The feeding program is going well, and the teachers are working very hard and are grateful for the salary program.

St. Augustine Church began a partnership with St. Luc Episcopal School in April 2016, beginning with a trip there to make our first connections and to begin building relationships. The Haiti partnership program is long standing and one that connects Episcopal churches and schools in the United States with Episcopal schools in Haiti, supporting their educational programs and goals. Our efforts, so far, have supplied uniforms and tuition for the over 100 students at St. Luc, teacher salaries and training, clean water on site and a daily meal for students. Please join the Haiti Team on the third Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. for our monthly meeting. All are invited to come and hear about our Partnership goals and plans.

Youth Group News & Updates

Come & Worship with FISH

The FISH Youth Group, grades 6 - 12, meets Sunday nights for dinner, activities, discussion and prayer. Dinner is served at 6 p.m. All Church members are welcome to join the group at 7:30 p.m for youth-led services. The group's last meeting will be Sunday, May 12 ^th. FISH will begin meeting again in the fall.

FISH Calendar

Sunday School News

Sunday School continues to go well. We will have Sunday School through the summer months. There is still a need for assistants, so please consider helping with this program. You are welcome to observe before committing. Assistants are there to encourage the children during class, help them if needed and assist the lead teacher with tasks. Please see Melissa Lovin if participating in this is tugging at your heart.

Without two teachers for each class, we will need to cancel the session for that Sunday. See more details below.

Natalie and Kara will be the lead teachers, alternating each week. However, we still need assistant teachers. We currently have just a few teachers available for this role. Please contact Melissa Lovin if you would like to be a part of the children's program.

The responsibility of the assistant is: Arrive a few minutes early to help with any last-minute set-up; assist with activities and/or reading; encourage participation of the children; watch for the Nicene Creed in the sanctuary to let the lead teacher know there are eight minutes left of class; be sure the attendance sheets are accurate where the children sign in and assist in cleaning up the classroom afterwards. We also hope at some point, if an assistant is interested, that they will consider being a lead teacher when needed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Melissa at the new Children's Ministry email:

[email protected]

You can also reach Melissa at 916.833.6263.

UPCOMING DATES TO REMEMBER

(more info to come)

May 4 - Outreach Stampede Fundraiser

Childcare will be provided

May 17 - Family Picnic and Bingo (See below)

June 23 - Family Play at the park

July 28 - Family Play at the park

August 2 - Parents Night Out

Please mark your calendar for Friday, May 17 ^th at 6 p.m. for the Family Picnic and Bingo Night. This event is for ALL ages and families. Bring your dinner and a blanket, and we will picnic on the patio from 6 to 6:45 p.m.We will have tables set up for our more mature families.

At 6:45, we will move into Canterbury Hall and play bingo. All are welcome to play. Each family member will receive a bingo card, and you can help each other win within your family. We have some amazing prizes for the winners!!!

At 7:45 p.m., we will head back outside and roast marshmallows and make s'mores around a campfire. We are also hoping to have someone help us with some campfire songs to sing.

We will wrap up the evening by 8:30 p.m. Please sign up at the Welcome Center or contact Melissa Lovin. We want to be sure to have enough s'more materials for all.

News from the Nursery

Our Nursery is a very active place. Please know that you are welcome to bring your child back into the nursery after communion if you choose.

Please let Emma Andres, our Nursery Attendant, know you plan to do this so she is prepared. Our attendants do take turns for communion, but there is always someone in the Nursery.

We are currently seeking additional assistants to help Emma in the nursery each week. Please contact Melissa Lovin if you are interested:

[email protected]

or

916-833-6263

IMPORTANT CAUTION ALERT REGARDING NURSERY DONATIONS!

Parents and members…it seems that folks have been leaving toys and games in the nursery. As much as they are appreciated, please check with Melissa Lovin, Interim Children’s Ministry Coordinator, before leaving anything in the nursery.

All toys and games must be checked for the size of parts. Many times the parts are small and can be a great choking hazard to our little ones. We do not want any of our babies or toddlers to choke on a toy! Also, the toys or games must be cleaned and sanitized before they can become a part of the nursery collection.

Thank you for your generosity and for your attention to this important notice.

Please remember that any items that folks want to donate should come through Melissa first. Melissa can be reached at:

[email protected]

Children's Choir

The St. Augustine Children’s Choir is in its second year - rehearsing and performing. The Choir rehearses on the first and third Sundays of the month following the 10 a.m. service and concluding by noon.

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

Questions? Contact Amy Quinney at:

[email protected]

or

916-257-2343

Daughters of the King

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

The Daughters provided lunch for the volunteers who helped with the Clean the Church project on April 14 ^th. They will not meet May 12 ^th which is Mother's Day. Members have collected items for the women at Acres of Hope as a special Mother's Day service project.

The DOK Spring Assembly, which includes members from throughout the diocese, will take place Saturday, May 18 ^th, at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, Auburn. The event will be hosted by The Visitation of the Hill Country Chapter, St. Luke's, Auburn.

On June 30 ^th, the Daughters will hold a Service of Admission for Camille Grabowksi, Lyn Fuson, Barbara Woolman, Priscilla Kriner and Janet Dickens. This group completed five study sessions to become new members of the St. Augustine Chapter. Kathleen Quigley and Greer Nave were the facilitators.

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 boys 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 and the meeting," said Rob Shonk, Director. If you have an interest in learning about the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, please contact Rob or Secretary John Redmond.

The Brotherhood will not meet Saturday, May 25 ^th , which is Memorial Day weekend. Instead they will meet Saturday, May 18 ^th at 9 a.m. in the Sunday School room.

If you have questions, please contact Director Rob Shonk or Secretary

John Redmond:

[email protected]

[email protected]

Summer BBQ

The Brotherhood members are planning for their annual summer BBQ, which will be held June 9 ^th after the 10 a.m. service. The menu includes hamburgers, hot dogs, salads and chips. This is their fundraiser for the year, and there will be a free-will offering.

Brotherhood of St. Andrew



National Day of Service

April 27 ^th was National Service Day for the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, an event where members of the St. Augustine Brotherhood performed service events around the community. The Brothers were called to help several parishioners with home improvement jobs at their residences. In all, there were nine volunteers who performed eighteen different tasks during the day.

The day started off with Brother Wayne Hardage preparing breakfast for the members and volunteers. A short Brotherhood meeting followed featuring Spiritual Advisor, Fr.Tom Gartin, reading the Gospel and offering a Blessing for the Volunteers on National Service Day

Featured tasks were the following:

Parishioners who received help expressed appreciation and thanked the Brotherhood and other Church volunteers for their assistance.

Brotherhood & Church Volunteers on National Day of Service



Steve Mershon, John Eccles, Rob Shonk, John Redmond, Wayne Hardage, Fr. Tom Gartin, Fernando Sandoval, Diego Sandoval, Lloyd Kriner, Fred Buhler and Pearce Leavell.

It is believed that the origin of the prayer shawl can be found in the books of Numbers and Deuteronomy in the Old Testament.  Moses wrote that God instructed him to have the men make tassels for the four corners of their cloaks to remember God’s commands. Some Christians believe that Jesus wore such a shawl and wish to follow His example.  

Wherever it started, there has been a growing interest in recent years to provide such shawls to people who need a visible sign of caring and comfort to face life’s more difficult challenges. Members of our ministry either knit or crochet the shawls with very soft, washable yarn that can be easily cared for and is very comfortable.  

The group gathers every second Monday of the month at the Church at 1:30 p.m. to work on our projects and enjoy each other’s company.  If you wish to request a shawl for someone, notify Pastor Liz, Pastor Maryellen or Greer Nave. 

Please contact Greer if you are interested in joining the ministry:

[email protected]

Companion's Corner

Befriending Jesus

In April, I shared a favorite piece of scripture with you: "I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father. You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures." (John 15:15-16).How do we befriend Jesus? As a dear friend would say, “Let me count the ways.”

Here are but a few of the ways:

As we do these things, we become an active member of the Jesus Movement and work towards the goal of making him our BFF (best friend forever). Remembering that “I have told you everything I heard from my father,” we join the millions of persons who have found their reason for living in this risen Christ.

May blessings dear friends!

Carole Peterson

"You are my friends if you do what I command you. I do not call you servants any longer, because a servant does not know what his master is doing. Instead, I call you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father. You did not choose me; I chose you and appointed you to go and bear much fruit, the kind of fruit that endures."

John 15:15-16