Education and Study
ST STEPHEN EPISCOPAL CHURCh
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| A Faith Community in Oak Harbor on Whidbey Island |
Classes and programs offered by the Diocesan School of
Ministry are beginning September 8. For those interested,
the Cycle of Studies online link is below. Anyone interested
in training to be a Eucharistic Visitor,(Nov 17 and Dec 1) a
Worship Leader (April 5, 19 and May 3)or for the Ministry of
Healing Prayer Workshop I (Jan 19) should contact Bob
Taylor.
Ministry are beginning September 8. For those interested,
the Cycle of Studies online link is below. Anyone interested
in training to be a Eucharistic Visitor,(Nov 17 and Dec 1) a
Worship Leader (April 5, 19 and May 3)or for the Ministry of
Healing Prayer Workshop I (Jan 19) should contact Bob
Taylor.
Bible Study for Intergenerational Groups
Bible study for Episcopalians is exactly that: Bible study.
Studying the Bible is hard work. It takes the commitment of a
lifetime. Now work, however, is more important for the
People of God. The Bible recalls our past, under girds our
present, and shapes our future.
Bible study for Episcopalians is exactly that: Bible study.
Studying the Bible is hard work. It takes the commitment of a
lifetime. Now work, however, is more important for the
People of God. The Bible recalls our past, under girds our
present, and shapes our future.
Good Book Reading List
All books are available in the Sno-Isle Library system except for A Wing
and a Prayer. A copy of that book is available for loan. Check with
Virginia Wagner.
Broken For You by Stephanie Kallos
(a 2005 Pacific Northwest Bookseller Assoc Award Winner -Review:
"Let the angels in! With this story of transformative friendships,
Stephanie Kallos calls us to leave the dreary wisdom of our lives and
seek the company of souls adrift. Good things come in pieces."
A Wing and a Prayer: A Message of Faith and Hope by
Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori- a book of sermons; excellent
bedtime reading.
Knitting: A Novel by Anne Bartlett-
(Amazon review-"I just finished reading Anne Bartlett's novel, Knitting,
and I feel that I have been a witness to holy things.
Oldie but Goodie!
A Prayer for Owen Meanie by John Irving
All books are available in the Sno-Isle Library system except for A Wing
and a Prayer. A copy of that book is available for loan. Check with
Virginia Wagner.
Broken For You by Stephanie Kallos
(a 2005 Pacific Northwest Bookseller Assoc Award Winner -Review:
"Let the angels in! With this story of transformative friendships,
Stephanie Kallos calls us to leave the dreary wisdom of our lives and
seek the company of souls adrift. Good things come in pieces."
A Wing and a Prayer: A Message of Faith and Hope by
Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori- a book of sermons; excellent
bedtime reading.
Knitting: A Novel by Anne Bartlett-
(Amazon review-"I just finished reading Anne Bartlett's novel, Knitting,
and I feel that I have been a witness to holy things.
Oldie but Goodie!
A Prayer for Owen Meanie by John Irving
| Trinity by Jan Neal from the Episcopal Church Website Image Shop |
From many disciples the Apostles ordained seven deacons, including Stephen,
to assist in caring for the less fortunate. While God worked many miracles
through him, Stephen preached with such grace that many came to follow
Jesus.
The success of Stephen’s ministry dismayed the enemies of the Church, who
bribed others to accuse him of blasphemy. Stephen confronted his accusers
without fear, his face, “like the face of an angel.” Stephen spoke bravely about
Jesus, showing that He is the promised Savior and upbraiding the people for
their unbelief. Full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into Heaven, saying that he
saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. At this, his detractors rushed
him, dragged him outside the city of Jerusalem and began stoning him to
death. Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Falling to his knees,
the saint asked God not to punish his murderers and passed to his heavenly
reward.
In this icon, Stephen’s tonsure, or the styling of his hair, and his vestments
reflect those of a deacon in the early Church. The feast day of Saint Stephen,
the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr’s crown, is December 26.
( Bridge Building Images http://www.bridgebuilding.com/narr/mi730.html)
to assist in caring for the less fortunate. While God worked many miracles
through him, Stephen preached with such grace that many came to follow
Jesus.
The success of Stephen’s ministry dismayed the enemies of the Church, who
bribed others to accuse him of blasphemy. Stephen confronted his accusers
without fear, his face, “like the face of an angel.” Stephen spoke bravely about
Jesus, showing that He is the promised Savior and upbraiding the people for
their unbelief. Full of the Holy Spirit, Stephen gazed into Heaven, saying that he
saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God. At this, his detractors rushed
him, dragged him outside the city of Jerusalem and began stoning him to
death. Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” Falling to his knees,
the saint asked God not to punish his murderers and passed to his heavenly
reward.
In this icon, Stephen’s tonsure, or the styling of his hair, and his vestments
reflect those of a deacon in the early Church. The feast day of Saint Stephen,
the first disciple of Jesus to receive the martyr’s crown, is December 26.
( Bridge Building Images http://www.bridgebuilding.com/narr/mi730.html)
| A series of reflections on where we stand by The Rev Tobias S Haller at (http://jintoku.blogspot.com/) |
This shield was adopted in 1940 as the symbol for the Episcopal Church USA.
The shield brings together some of the Episcopal Church USA's history,
offering a brief history lesson through its design.
The Episcopal Church was founded in 1789 as a separate group from its
parent Church of England, from which the churches in the colonies found
themselves divided by the American Revolution. The red white and blue colors
are the colors of the American flag. Many of the founders of this nation,
including George Washington, were Episcopalians.
The white field with a red cross is St. George's Cross, the patron saint of the
Church of England (and incidentally the colony of Georgia). This remembers
the Episcopal Churches roots in the Church of England.
There are nine miniature crosses on the field of blue symbolizing the nine
dioceses that met in Philadelphia in 1789 to ratify the initial constitution of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The crosslets
are formed after the St. Andrews Cross. St. Andrew is the patron saint of
Scotland. This remembers the Scottish Episcopal Churches part in our history
as it was their bishops who ordained Samuel Seabury as the first American
Bishop in 1784.
The Episcopal Church today remains a part of the Anglican Communion, the
name for all those churches around the world which trace their origin to the
church of England.
The shield brings together some of the Episcopal Church USA's history,
offering a brief history lesson through its design.
The Episcopal Church was founded in 1789 as a separate group from its
parent Church of England, from which the churches in the colonies found
themselves divided by the American Revolution. The red white and blue colors
are the colors of the American flag. Many of the founders of this nation,
including George Washington, were Episcopalians.
The white field with a red cross is St. George's Cross, the patron saint of the
Church of England (and incidentally the colony of Georgia). This remembers
the Episcopal Churches roots in the Church of England.
There are nine miniature crosses on the field of blue symbolizing the nine
dioceses that met in Philadelphia in 1789 to ratify the initial constitution of the
Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. The crosslets
are formed after the St. Andrews Cross. St. Andrew is the patron saint of
Scotland. This remembers the Scottish Episcopal Churches part in our history
as it was their bishops who ordained Samuel Seabury as the first American
Bishop in 1784.
The Episcopal Church today remains a part of the Anglican Communion, the
name for all those churches around the world which trace their origin to the
church of England.
| Pray by Zhongxian Tang |
Booktrust, the British reading charity, conducted a survey of 4000 in
Great Britain, to determine the best children’s books of all time. Leading
the list is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Harry
Potter and the Half Blood Princeby J.K. Rowling, placed sixth.
Here are the top ten:
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
Famous Five, Enid Blyton
Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne
The BFG, Roald Dahl
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
The Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson
Great Britain, to determine the best children’s books of all time. Leading
the list is The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis. Harry
Potter and the Half Blood Princeby J.K. Rowling, placed sixth.
Here are the top ten:
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis
The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
Famous Five, Enid Blyton
Winnie the Pooh, A.A. Milne
The BFG, Roald Dahl
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, J.K. Rowling
The Faraway Tree, Enid Blyton
The Wind in the Willows, Kenneth Grahame
Alice in Wonderland, Lewis Carroll
The Gruffalo, Julia Donaldson
Pray daily for the return of our church home.