The Red Doorimages.acswebnetworks.com/1/56/DEC2015_JAN2016REDDOOR.pdfYes, the piano had arrived. Yes, the tuner had done his good work. Yes, cheese and crackers had magically appeared

The Red Door

DECEMBER 2015/JANUARY 2016 News of the people and ministries of Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church, Sanibel, FL

MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we sat in the last pew in the nave on Monday evening, I tried to settle my mind

and heart from all the preparations for the concert. Yes, the piano had arrived. Yes, the tuner had done his good work. Yes, cheese and crackers had magically appeared for the reception – as had two lovely women to serve them. Yes, Stanton Lanier had sufficient time to practice and warm up....and yes, his projector actually plugged in and worked. And what a positive attitude our pianist had about our too-small projection zcyeev. “No pyoblew,” ue zatd. “We’ll pyosec| |ue twa{ez ov|o |ue �all beawz beutvd tue al|ay avd waxe t| a lt||le abz|yac|!” What more could one ask for.

Then he began to play. The chemistry major, MBA, financial planner touched the t~oytez, utz w}ztctav’z ueay| avd zo}l ewey{ed, avd �e be{av |o ueay bea}|tr}l z|yatvz of music. Steeped in years of Bach and Beethoven and all the great composers, the “Ptavtz| or Peace” (az ue called utwzelr), uad cuozev |o rtvd utz o�v }vtq}e pa|u or w}ztcal ayyav{ewev|z. Ovce tv a�utle �ea~tv{ tv |ue welodtez or |ue “{yea|z,” ue succeeded in drawing us into new and beautiful chords and clefs – music inspired by scripture.

I was especially touched by his interpretation of Philippians 4:6-7, and remembered the small wooden cross I wear each week at the altar – a cross made by a child from Our Little Roses – an orphanage in Honduras. The same verses are on that small wooden symbol: “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Stanton explained to us that prior to composing this piece, he had heard these verses in his head – not as words but as music – music that moved his soul to not only compose a song, but more importantly, to share, to invite, and to offer peace and hope to those who would hear. The Pianist of Peace.

In the midst of all we have going on in our lives, there are always words of hope. There are always conversations shared of why we need to hope and not press the default key of fear. There are always a myriad of essays and books on the topic of hope. Ho�e~ey, |ueye �az zowe|utv{ dtrreyev| tv “ueaytv{” uope |uyo}{u S|av|ov’z w}ztc – almost as if he were praying the piano with us. The scripture-inspired chords and images of peace on the wall somehow said it better and deeper than mere words. Somehow the ears heard in a more long-lasting way. Sitting together – strangers and friends together in the nave – made the impact even more palpable as I watched heads tilt slightly to the side, eyes looking at the images or closed in meditative response, people holding hands, or leaning into one another as the hope-filled music calwed |ue zo}lz pyezev|. A lt||le ptece or u}wavt|y ryow S|. Mtcuael’z avd |ue surrounding community linked together to hear and draw within.

As we walk through this beautiful season of Advent – even with the stresses and worries in the world, le| }z “tv pyayey avd {yea| |uavxz{t~tv{” pyepaye roy |ue {tr| or the Christ Child in three short weeks. Even more, let us see the hope beyond the great hope of Christmas Day and discover ways we can pray our heart music to those around us during the light and hope-filled days of the Epiphany season – that season when we celebrate the Light of Christ to the world.

Blessings to you all,

Ellen+

Vision Transforming lives through Christ

Mission Our Mission is to demonstrate the love of Jesus Christ so that all may

come to know God.

Guiding Principles Faith: We value our Christian faith; therefore, we will endeavor to conduct ourselves according to Christ’s teachings. Compassion: We value compassion; therefore, we will care for others in the name of Christ.

Service: We value service; therefore, we will share the gifts God has given us. Inclusivity: We value inclusivity; therefore, we will strive to include everyone.

Integrity: We value integrity; therefore, we will treat each other with respect and honesty.

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Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

Worship Services

“A stable lamp is lighted

Whose glow shall wake the sky;

The stars shall bend their voices,

And every stone shall cry.

And straw like gold shall shine;

A barn shall harbor heavens,

A stall becomes a shrine.”

We invite you to join us for one or more of our

special Christmas services this year as we celebrate

the birth of Christ together as a Saint Michael and

All Angels family.

The 5:00 p.m. Eucharist on Christmas Eve will be filled with Christmas carols, a children’s

procession with animals for the manger, and much

music, candlelight, and joy. Please know that all

children and youths are invited to this service –

whether they live here or are visiting for the

holidays – we invite them to be in our procession!

(We’ll be forming that about 4:30)

The 8:00 p.m. Eucharist on Christmas Eve will be our traditional Eucharist with carols, music,

scripture and prayer.

The 10:00 a.m. Eucharist on Christmas Day Join us for inspiring, uplifting music and joyful

prayer and communion as we gather together to

celebrate the birth of Christ.

Taizé – Third Wednesdays Join us on Dec. 16 and Jan. 20 at 6 p.m.

for a peace-filled service of candlelight,

music, prayer and silence. Taizé is a small

town on a hill in southern France where a

community of brothers first opened its doors to the

public to welcome them to pray, sing, and be silent -

most importantly to invite them into a place of peace

from a hectic world. This 25 minute service on the

third Wednesday of the month will offer you a holy

and melodic rhythm - one you may want to take back

into your busy lives. Mostly, it is a time for all of us

to create a space to hear where God is speaking. It

will be followed by refreshments and light snacks.

Thankfulness of Words and

Gratitude of Acts Stewarding at St. Michael’s in 2016

We, on the Stewardship Team, hope that you have

enjoyed your Gratitude Journal as much as the

Neills have. It’s just the beginning. The opportunity

to reflect and give thanks with thought, word and

deed is itself a gift in a season of busy holiday

preparations. Giving thanks grounds us in our

lives, our families, and this church community.

As we move into the stewardship initiative at St.

Michael and All Angels this year, we ask you to

think of how and what you can give to the church in

thanks. We need your time. We need your talent.

We need financial resources. These three gifts are

the pillars that make St. Michael and All Angels

work so well.

This year, under the kind leadership of Don Rolley,

the Stewardship Team is focused on inspiring the

whole congregation – all of us, 100% of us – to

make a pledge, no matter how small. Why do we

want even the smallest pledge? Because our

collective promises bind us together. And

together, large and small, we add up to the

mighty goodness of St. Michael and All Angels in

our community.

In the coming weeks, you will receive a joint letter

from Ellen Sloan, our beloved Rector, and the

Stewardship Team with a pledge form for you to

return, inviting to join in.

You will also be invited to attend a Neighborhood

Gathering at a parishioner’s home to hear from the

Stewardship Team. It’s a great opportunity to ask

questions and get to know folks. An RSVP from

you will help us tremendously, so that we can plan

properly.

In January, Ellen will focus on stewardship in one

of her weekly sermons and we’ll get updates from

the Stewardship Team.

In February, we will celebrate and give thanks for

all we have done together

Thank you now and many times more to come for

joining with us in this effort. It has been said before

but it is worth sharing again:

“The more thankfully we daily receive what is

given to us, the more surely and steadily will

fellowship increase and grow from day to day” Dietrich Bonhoeffer

~ Evelyn Neill, Stewardship Team

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Don’t forget our Christmas

Party at The Cottage on

December 9th, 6-7:15 p.m.

Meghan Warner, Youth Leader

Morning Prayer on Tuesdays Why not try this simple and beautiful way to begin your day – in prayer circled around a single candle. We hope you can join us this year in the Angel Chapel for these 20 minutes of peace and prayer with the Lord. (9:00 a.m.)

The season of Christmas and music are

very much connected together. All of us have memories of favorite carols, family singing, choir anthems and the beautiful

decorations of the Christmas season. The parish choir is working on familiar carols

to be sung during our Advent and Christmas service. Fum, Fum, Fum; Ding Dong, Merrily on High and John Rutter's

well-known Shepherd's Pipe Carol will be featured during our services.

Epiphany will bring us the anthems of the Carol for Epiphany and There Shall a Star Come out of Jacob.

May the joy of the season fill our hearts and reach deep into our souls during this

most joyful time.

~ Hank Glass, Minister of Music

Christmas Sing-Alongs

Monday, December 7th Cypress Cove Sing-Along

Meet at The Lodge lobby at 1:45 p.m.

Tuesday, December 15th Shell Point Sing-Along

Meet at the Pavilion lobby at 1:45 p.m.

All parishioners are welcome, especially those who like to sing, but totally inclusive of

everyone, regardless of ability!

Stewardship

Neighborhood Gatherings Although the stewardship of our time, skills/gifts,

and monetary offerings is ongoing throughout the

year, we try to focus a bit more on the concept of

stewardship during December, January and

February. Invitations will soon go out to all

parishioners inviting you to attend a one-hour,

informal gathering about what's going on at St.

Michael's, where the challenges lie, and how the

Vestry proposes to move forward in the years

ahead.

If you don’t receive an invitation to someone's

home and would like to attend one; OR if

you've been invited on a date that doesn't work

for you, please call the office and we'll give you

some options. Please don’t forget to RSVP the

host! The dates and times are as follows:

Date Day Time Host Site Jan. 7 Thurs. 5-6:30 Jack & Frances Allen Sanibel

Jan. 12 Tues. 5-6:30 Anne Stewart Shell Pt.

Jan. 14 Thurs. 5-6:30 Bill & Stephanie Rahe Sanibel

Jan. 19 Tues. 5-6:30 Betty Cater Sanibel

Jan. 21 Thurs. 5-6:30 Linda Seifert Sanibel

Jan. 26 Tues. 5-6:30 Adair & Carol Heath Shell Pt.

Jan. 28 Thurs. 5-6:30 Lee & Ann Cooper Sanibel

Feb. 1 Tues. 5-6:30 Don & Jane Adams Shell Pt.

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Stanton Lanier Concert

What a unique and wonderful musical evening with

our guest Stanton Lanier, who played and prayed

the scripture through the piano! It was a blessing

that our church was full of eager listeners and that

in addition to parishioners, we had many people

from the surrounding area who came to listen to this

Pianist of Peace. Deep gratitude goes to Stanton, as

well as to the generosity of an anonymous donor at

St. Michael's who paid for his travel, the piano

rental, and other fees. Thank you both for starting

off Advent with hope-filled notes of peace and

hope.

Youth Group Outreach Project Our youth have chosen the Heifer Project for their

Advent Outreach Project this year and you can

purchase a flock of ducks, a hive of bees, a goat, a

sheep, or even a llama and hang the animal’s

ornament on the Angel Tree in the Parish Hall.

These gifts make perfect stocking stuffers and the

animals you purchase will be given to a needy

family – somewhere around the world (even in the

United States), to help them to become sustainable

through the products the animals yield – whether

eggs or milk, or honey, or wool!

A Thank You to Roger Heider from

the Vestry and Congregation Roger was only able to serve one year of his

three-year term on Vestry. He and his wife

Sylvia have moved to California for one year to

be a care and support system for their daughter-

in-law and two grandsons - ages 7 and 11. We

all remain with them in spirit as they grieve the

loss of their son Mark and move physically,

emotionally and spiritually into this new phase

of their lives. We’ll miss you and send you

many blessings.

Nominating Committee Update The Vestry Nominating Committee has selected a

slate of candidates to bring to the Parish for a vote

on February 28, 2016, at the St. Michael’s Annual

Meeting. This is for a three year term, 2016 – 2019.

The candidates for the next Vestry term are (in

alphabetical order) Julie Boyd, Bettie Modys, and

Pierre “Piff” Piffarerio. A short bio of each will

be published in bulletin inserts well before the 30

days prior to the Annual Meeting. This will give

parishioners a chance to learn more about the

candidates.

In addition, Roger Heider (’18), tendered his

resignation due to personal reasons. John Hillman

has graciously accepted the Vestry call to finish

Roger’s term, which, according to our bylaws ends

at the Annual Meeting of February 28. Then at the

Annual Meeting, parishioners will also have the

opportunity to vote for John Hillman to continue on

Vestry for the remainder of Roger’s term of two

years. His bio will also appear in the bulletin insert.

The Nominating Committee is composed of Don

Adams, Jill Dillon, Carl Meier, Don Rolley

(retiring Vestry member), and Joanne Syversen,

Chair. I want to thank them for their thorough,

dedicated and efficient work in recommending

candidates who would serve St. Michael’s well. The

retiring Vestry members are Don Rolley, Anne

Stewart, and Roberta Winters. They are

outstanding Vestry members, and we appreciate all

their work during the last three years.

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Pies for F.I.S.H. Families Many thanks to all parishioners

who baked pumpkin and apple pies

for hungry people on the islands for

Thanksgiving. Gratitude also to

Judy Pryor who organized this project again this

year, and to her husband John for delivering all the

pies to the F.I.S.H. office for packing into

Thanksgiving Baskets. The old saying never goes

away - "It does take a village!"

St. Michael’s Mission Fair

January 10, 2016 St. Michael’s provides financial support to about 25

local and global charitable organizations through

the efforts of the Outreach Ministry and the

Episcopal Church Women (ECW).

The Mission Fair is an opportunity for parishioners

to learn more about the local and global charitable

organizations that St. Michael’s currently supports

or could potentially support in the future. It

hopefully will also provide opportunities where

parishioners could assist these organizations as

volunteers. The Mission Fair is sponsored and

organized by the St. Michael’s Outreach Ministry.

Booths will be set-up in the Parish Hall on Sunday

January 10, 2016 following each of the two Sunday

church services and will be staffed with

representatives from the charitable organizations.

The booths will be open from 9:00 a.m. – 10:15

a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.

Please stop by and talk to people who represent the

organizations supported by your church. Brochures

will be available from each of these organizations.

Also, learn about opportunities to further support

these organizations through financial contributions

and/or volunteer assignments.

If you have any questions or need more

information, please contact Bob Syversen,

Outreach Ministry Chair, at (239) 945-0530.

A Poem by Jeannette Bakke There is enough in One holy birth

For all of heaven

All of earth

To perceive infinite, abiding worth

In life and being

Hope and death.

There is enough in One holy life

For all of heaven

All of earth

To find its meaning in the strife

In life and being

Hope and death.

There is enough in One holy death

For all of heaven

All of earth

For newness, resurrection and rebirth

In life and being

Hope and death.

There is enough in One holy Lord

For all of heaven

All of earth

For birth and life and death

To shape and light

The paths of being and non-being

Of blindness and of seeing

To know joy in depth and height

To magnify His name this night.

Healing Ministry Don’t forget to pick up your book in the office –

“Praying for Wholeness and Healing.” Our next

time together in the Chapel will be Monday,

January 18 at 12:30 and we will be sharing thoughts

on the first chapter.

Save the Date Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration

An Ecumenical Event on the Islands

January 18 at St. Michael’s!

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The United Thank Offering (UTO) Ingathering took

place the weekend of November 14th

and 15th

. Our

congregation gave gifts of $4,240 for ministries in

the USA and around the world. UTO is one of the

ways we show our gratitude to God for our many

blessings and our willingness to share our

abundance with others. Thank you all for your

generous support. We appreciate each and every

gift you all have given.

Margery Almas Chairwoman of UTO for ECW

Christmas Poinsettias: Gifts in:

thanksgiving for…,

in memory of…

…loved ones and friends are welcome as we

prepare for the decoration of the Christmas Season.

Please write your check to St. Michael’s with

“Poinsettia” in memo line, attach to the form below,

and place it in the offering plate or bring or mail it

to the Parish Office:

2304 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957

by noon on Monday, December 21st.

In memory of:

Given by:

In thanksgiving for:

Given by:

Suppers for Six Groups are forming for 2016!

This wonderful tradition of getting to know one another has been going on now for over ten (10) years. We still hear comments about how someone new got to know someone else - and have remained friends - just because of these small, friendly suppers.

If you're new to St. Michael's - or have never signed up for Suppers for Six - here's how it goes. When all the sign-ups have been collected, you'll be put into a group of 6 or 7 people and Dianne will notify you of who is in your group. (The person at the top of the list will act as your coordinator.)

Then, during the months of January - May (depending on when people in your group are here), your group will decide just how you'll get together - usually three times. Some groups take turns hosting brunch or dinner at their home - where everyone contributes a dish. Some groups choose to meet at a restaurant. Some even decide to meet for breakfast! It's all up to your group to decide the day, time, and venue - but keep it simple!

Although we always start meals with a prayer, this year we ask that each time you meet, you read a meditation from Forward Movement. You may take turns choosing the reading and everyone who signs up will be given a meditation booklet. After the meditation, please spend 5-10 minutes discussing/reflecting. This new twist to Suppers for Six came about as a result of the Vestry's Strategic Planning Process. It is one of the Action Plans to infuse more scripture into our very busy lives.

Please sign up on the form below OR on the sign-up sheet by the kitchen in the Parish Hall. Again, small groups like these are an easy and fun way to get to know someone at St. Michael's a little bit better. You'll be thankful that you did!

Dianne Leonardi, Suppers for Six

Deadline January 4, 2016 --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name(s) __________________________________

Tel. or e-mail _______________________________

Group size: (Circle one) 6 7 8

Church service you usually attend:

Sat. 5:00 Sun. 8:00 Sun. 10:30

Dates you will be in Florida: __________________

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Christian Yoga

Tuesdays, 3:00-4:00 p.m. (No class: December 1, 8 & 22)

in St. Michael’s Parish Hall

A Christ-centered approach to physical and spiritual

health is offered, free of charge. Join us as we…

Increase flexibility, balance and endurance

Strengthen and reshape muscles

Improve coordination and range of movement

Relieve tension and stress

Please bring a Yoga mat, tie or strap, small pillow

and abstain from eating 1½ hours before class. This

is a beginner class. All participants must be able to

get up off the floor by themselves. Classes are nice

this time of year – air conditioned room – and fewer

people. It’s great for people to learn something new

and good for them.

Call Gari Lewis (239) 395-2403 certified Yoga

instructor, with any questions.

“Be of good courage, and do it.” Ezra 10:4

Bible Study with the Rector

Beginning on Thursday, January 7 at 11:00, we will delve into the beautiful and symbolic

Gospel according to St. John. This Gospel is unique among the four canonical Gospels.

We'll discover a myriad of contrasts: light and dark, truth and lies, life and death, and

blindness and sight, as well as explore the stories of Nicodemus, the woman at the well,

and Jesus as the Good Shepherd. Come with your hearts open. Come with your

thoughts. Come with the knowledge that you may simply be present and listen. There

is no requirement to have studied this Gospel before nor to worry about "not

knowing enough." These Bible discussions are meant to inspire us, draw us closer to

Christ, and discover relevancy in our daily lives to walk the Gospel even better!

Men’s Fellowship

Deep gratitude to Roger Heider and

Jim Bird for their facilitation of Men's

Fellowship over the past year, and all

the thought and planning they put into

making these gatherings productive and

personal. We welcome Lee Cooper and Charlie

Emerson as the new facilitators of Men's

Fellowship and wish them many blessings. Next

gatherings will be December 8 and 22 (7:30am)

with a light breakfast at 7:15.

The Women of

St. Michael's Luncheons, Programs & Retreat

2015-2016

November 9, 2015 12:30 p.m.

From China to St. Michael’s:

A personal, spiritual journey

Guest Speaker: Lee Williams

December 14, 2015 12:30 p.m.

Ikebana-Holiday Arrangments

Guest Speaker: Brenda Norris

January 11, 2016 12:30 p.m.

Presentation of the Budget

Fashions from the Past

February 8, 2016 2:00 p.m.

Noah’s Ark Fashion Show

March 8-9, 2016

Women’s Retreat

DaySpring Conference Center

March 14, 2016 12:30 p.m.

Wallis Simpson – Royal Obsession

Guest Speaker: Joanna Olsen

April 11, 2016 12:30 p.m.

Annual Meeting + Election of Officers +

Guest Speaker: Kelly Collini Community Housing Resources

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SAVE THE DATE Men’s Retreat February 24-25, 2016

Dayspring Conference Center Retreat Leader: The Rev. Richard Bollman

Women's Retreat March 8-9, 2016

Dayspring Conference Center Retreat Leader: The Rev. Jeanne Person

Vestry Retreat March 16-17, 2016

Lake Placid Camp & Conference Center

Men’s Retreat February 24-25

DaySpring Conference Center

All men in the parish are welcome as we join

together with Retreat Leader, Fr. Richard

Bollman. The theme this year will be "Encounters

with Jesus, the way of the Heart." Please sign up in

the office, or fill out the form below. Questions

about time and cost? Please email or call Lee

Cooper at [email protected] or 812-774-

3316.

-----------------------------------------------------------

MEN’S RETREAT RESERVATION FORM

FEBRUARY 24-25

_____Single $150 _____Double $130

______________________________________

Name (Please print)

______________________________________ Address

______________________________________ Address (City, State)

(Place make check payable to St. Michael’s, noting

“Men’s Retreat” in memo line).

Newcomers and Visitors

Gathering Thank you to Linda Seifert for opening up her

home to our newcomers and visitors at St.

Michael's, and to Chair Peggy Hupfeldt and her

Welcome Team for planning and organizing the

event - AND for bringing all sorts of delicious food.

It was a warm and productive evening with lots of

"new" parishioners present, kind words from the

Chair about the evening and why we were there,

introductions of everyone - including our Minister

of Music and Parish Nurse - and finally time with

the Rector for an overview of St. Michael's

offerings as well as time for questions. If you're

new to St. Michael's and you were not able to be

there, please give Ellen Sloan a call (239-896-

6468). We missed you!

Prayer List

Please Remember in Your Prayers

Parishioners:

Carol Chaveas Daniel Lincoln

Marilee Wood Jim Bird

Rosemary Smith Bishop Dabney Smith

Jack Rushworth Jenny Wilson

Joe DiMicco Don Van Alstyne

Gail Meier Bill Maruchi

Jean Chapman-Castle Wesley Fay

Barbara Wright Bob Ingraham

Peter Blaze Corcoran Dale McGinley

Ron Clarke June Ingraham

Penny Chrysler Bob Howard

Walter Schuman Nancy Cleaveland

Buzz Osterbush Jim Smith

Mary Lou Flynn Dick Jacker

Family of Parishioners: Rob Modys Christina Dillon Cohen

Nan Moore Potter Zackary Almas Phillips

Tucker Cleaveland Colt Salerno

Friend of Parishioners: Charles Porter Harry Gleitz

Chip Lesch

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From The Spiritual Letters of

Dom John Chapman, O.S.B. Prayer, in the sense of union with God, is the most

crucifying thing there is. One must do it for God's

sake; but one will not get any satisfaction out of it, in

the sense of feeling, "I am good at prayer. I have an

infallible method!" That would be disastrous, since

what we want to learn is precisely our own weakness,

powerlessness, unworthiness. Nor ought one to expect

"a sense of the reality of the supernatural" of which I

speak. And one should wish for no prayer, except

precisely the prayer that God gives us - probably very

distracted and unsatisfactory in every way. On the

other hand, the only way to pray is to pray; and the

way to pray well is to pray much...And if

circumstances do not permit even regular prayer, then

one must put up with the fact that when one does try

to pray, one can't pray - and our prayer will probably

consist of telling this to God."

A Spiritual Companion A reminder to everyone that in addition to the

people who are working with Sr. Carol Beevers (in

Spiritual Direction) during this month of December,

she will also be with us one day a month, beginning

in January! For this we are very grateful. For your

planning purposes, Carol will be here on Thursday,

January 11 from 10:00 - 3:00 and will meet with

people in the privacy and comfort of The Cottage.

Please call her on her cell to make an appointment

691-2835. It's only 45 minutes out of your busy

month and I hope you prayerfully think about

doing this and give her a call - now.

An Invitation to Singles Resuming on the first Sunday in January, the

Sunday Singles will get together for lunch after the

10:30 service. Just gather at coffee hour in the

corner near the library so that we can estimate our

number to give the restaurant a heads up. In January

we will go to the Dunes Golf Club for lunch, dutch

treat of course. We are not a large group and hope

you will join us. We welcome anyone, male or

female, who is alone or even just alone for the day.

Please call Charlotte Lattof at 395-1726 or email

[email protected] if you have questions.

We'd love to see you!

Sanibel Captiva Heart Walk 2016 Mark Your Calendar!!

Join St. Michael’s Angels Team for the

Sanibel Captiva Walk 2016 on Sunday,

January 31st following church at 1PM. You can

register on-line under our team name St. Michael’s

Angels. If you go to the web site for the walk and click to

view all teams, you will see ours, then

click to either join as a walker or if you prefer, you can just donate under the team’s general donations. It should be

FUN! Team co-captains are your Parish Nurse and Rector!

The Women at the Well gather under the guidance

of Peg Hupfeldt and Luann Fortune. All women

are invited to this informal, spiritual gathering that

will be held on the 1st and 3

rd Tuesday of the month.

Our next date will be Tuesday, December 15th

at

1:00 p.m. in the library. We hope you can join us

for this time together - whether you want to take

part in conversation or simply listen. We will be

graced by your presence either way! One theme

for December 15 will focus on how to keep God in

the forefront of this busy season.

Health Forum for December Tuesday, December 8

th

Dr. Fred Schaerf will be at St. Michael’s to

talk about "Alzheimer’s Disease-Current

Data and Treatment Update” on. We will

have some snacks or you can bring your

lunch. Also bring your questions!!

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From Your Parish Nurse,

Wendy What is Advocacy? The definition according to

Webster is “the act or process of supporting a cause

or proposal: the act or process of advocating

something.” When we talk about Advocacy in the

healthcare setting, we often might refer to someone

as a Self-Advocate if they are speaking up and

asking questions on their own behalf. If a person

cannot speak up for themselves then they would be

best served in the healthcare setting if they have a

Healthcare Advocate who will be there to speak on

their behalf. In either case it is having a voice to

support you. We are long past the day that no

matter what a healthcare provider says is gospel.

We must ask questions so that we understand what

the treatment plan is, why one test is better than

another or question what the prescribed medications

are used for.

Advocacy isn’t always a person, it could be an

organization. Sometimes these organizations such

as Diabetes, Multiple Sclerosis, and Rheumatoid

Arthritis Foundations have advocates that can help

you navigate and understand your healthcare. They

partner with you as a united voice. These

organizations can also help you with finding

medical providers and coordinating care for the best

continuity. Sometimes they can help with

completing insurance bills and answer questions on

coverage or even help with emergency

interventions.

In researching potential agencies within the Ft.

Myers area that provided Advocacy Services, it was

surprising to find eight different agencies to have

negative remarks listed, so be cautious if that is the

route you take. Be sure to do your research.

Sometimes the best advocate for you is either, you,

a family member or a close friend who understands

you and your needs. When it comes to the point

that someone needs help, hopefully you have

someone in your court. Having a “patient advocate

can really help you and your family through

emotional times such as facing a new diagnosis,

going through treatments, and making tough

decisions.” If it is a family member or close friend,

hopefully a Healthcare Proxy or Durable Power of

Attorney has already been established. It is hard

sometimes to think ahead and set in place some of

these back-up plans, but it is VERY important! Try

not to wait until things become critical.

If by chance you end up in the hospital and have

found that you need someone, ask for the social

worker to identify agencies that can help you. If

family is there, most times spouses or the eldest

child will be asked to make decisions concerning

care if you are unable to make decisions and no one

has been identified as your advocate. If no family is

around or able to be contacted know too, your

Clergy and your Parish Nurse can also guide you in

this process as well, if others are not able to do so.

Don’t wait though, you need to use your voice now

to set up the back-up plan you want.

For questions or concerns, as always, call me at the

church or email [email protected].

Health Forum for January Discussions about what is meant by being or having a

Healthcare Advocate led by Wendy Warner RN,

followed by Susie Wilson who will present “Self

Advocacy in Medical Situations.” This Health

Forum will be on January 14th

, 2016 from 1pm to

2:30pm. Light Snacks will be provided or feel free to

bring your lunch.

CPR Heart Saver &

AED Classes Sanibel Fire Department has classes routinely on

the 2nd

Saturday of every month from 9 a.m. to 11

a.m. The cost of the class is $10 per person and an

additional cost of $15 only if you want to purchase

a book for yourself (Not Required.) You must call

ahead to reserve a slot: at the Fire Dept. at 239-472-

5525. The class will be at 2351 Palm Ridge Rd.

For those of you that do not live on the island and

are looking for a more convenient option, there is a

Fire Department in Ft. Myers that teaches classes.

This is Station #5 of the Iona-McGregor Fire

Department which is located at 15660 Pine Ridge

Rd., Ft. Myers 33908. Laurie is the contact person

for CPR classes. Her phone number is 239-425-

9316 and her email is [email protected].

PLEASE if you can bring a copy of your cards to

the office or email me the expiration date on your

card to [email protected], I would be

very appreciative.

11

News from the Art Ministry Upon your return to Sanibel, you will notice some

changes in the church. One of these is a new

hanging system for the Gallery in the hallway. No

longer will we have unsightly holes in the walls!!

We hope you have all been thinking about the

programs for the upcoming season and producing

art for our shows, whether it’s photography,

paintings, mixed-media, fabric, or anything else that

can be hung. As a reminder, we are listing the

upcoming shows:

December – We are celebrating the contributions of

the Flower Guild for its service with a photographic

remembrance of arrangements that have graced the

sanctuary through the years. Thanks to Jim Bird for

this show!

January - February – “What I Did Last

Summer.” No, you do NOT have to write an

essay!! However, we would love photos and/or

paintings from your summer experiences, whether

you were fishing, hiking, paddle boarding, sight-

seeing, reading to your grandkids, getting ready

for school, or snoozing in a comfy hammock.

Mid-Feb. - Easter – PARISHIONERS’ SHOW! As a theme we are taking the first two verses of the

beautiful hymn, “HOW GREAT THOU ART”

and asking you to illustrate what these words mean

to you – in any medium that can be hung.

“Oh Lord, my God, when I in awesome wonder,

consider all the worlds they hands have made; I see

the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power

throughout the universe displayed.

When through the woods and forest glades I

wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees;

when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur and

see the brook and feel the gently breeze.”

Also, keep in mind the new Featured Artist wall.

If you would like to be a featured artist, please

contact Jim Storer for details.

Again, we emphasize the importance of bringing in

art that is ready to hang – framed with either a wire

across the back or a sawtooth attachment. This is

especially important for our new hanging system,

which I think you will all agree is an improvement.

We look forward to seeing our Nave filled with new

and old friends and our Gallery filled with new art!

~ Helen Ketteman and Mary Jane Keys

Art Ministry, Co-Chairs

Prayer Shawl

Ministry Next meeting:

Thursday, January 21st at 1 PM

At the home of Mary Ann Loh 1549 Sand Castle Rd., Sanibel

Please call Mary Ann if attending –

395-0041

Luminary Night Friday, December 4

th

Amidst the raindrops - and then the downpour - a

little band of St. Michael's parishioners weathered

the evening until they were soaked through and

decided to pack up the outside tables. Hank and the

five musicians, however, played on through the rain

- sheltered by the porch roof of the church!

Thank you to those who made the hot mulled cider

(Pat Jones) and who baked the cookies (Roberta

Winters) and ALL those who came to bring out

(and bring in) tables and chairs and even our little

give-away red flashlights! We did manage to keep a

small contingent of people on the porch and savor

the cider and cookies. Best thing is that we were all

together in Christ's name.

12

Book Group with Doug Lind In all three Abrahamic religions there is great

conflict and debate about how to read sacred texts.

The deep divisions in our own Christian tradition

have their roots in what we believe the Bible is

telling us about what to believe and how to lead our

lives.

Doug Lind will be leading a book study group

beginning January 6th

in the library at 12:30 and

continuing each Wednesday for the month of

January and the first two Wednesdays of February.

We will be reading, "How to Read the Bible" by

Harvey Cox, noted author and Harvard professor.

In the background will be another book the group

will refer to from time to time, written by a noted

contemporary Biblical scholar, Elisabeth Schussler

Fiorenza. Her book is entitled, "Rhetoric and Ethic:

the Politics of Biblical Studies." Our goal is to

develop a clearer understanding of the struggles

surrounding the study of the Bible and the divisions

among people of faith resulting from dramatically

different understandings of what the Bible is saying.

The book that will be necessary to read through is

Harvey Cox’s and the other will be introduced from

time to time by Doug.

Friday Book Group

The Friday Book Group meets at 10AM in the Library.

We welcome new members and are reading Pema Chodron's Living

Beautifully with Uncertainty and Change, 2013 version.

Listen to the current weekend’s sermon on-line. Go

to our website at www.saintmichaels-sanibel.org

and click on “SERMON” in the sidebar, select the

date you’d like to hear.

Congratulations and

Many Blessings to

Colleen & Zane Stoneman Their new baby girl Zoey was born on

November 20. Her brother Zane is happy

about this too.

Adult Christian Education

Forums November–March @ 9:30

The Place of Religion in a

Rapidly Changing World

December & January Forum Calendar includes:

The Rev. Paul Goddard – December 6

Where do you see God in your life in a rapidly

changing world?

Dr. Jan Holly – December 13

Listening to Music and Hearing the Voice of

God

Christmas Week – December 20 & 27

No forums

New Years – January 3, 2016

No forums

Outreach Ministry Members and Community

Representatives – January 10

Mission Fair

The Rev. Canon David Lowry – Jan. 17 & 24

Religion in a Changing Age: The Challenges

of Globalization and Technology on Faith

and Order

Dr. Paul Bartrop – January 31

Confronting the Holocaust: Three Christians

Who Said No

13

Did You

Know…

… that Epiphany comes on the twelfth day of

Christmas? (I'm not sure how the gift of "twelve

drummers drumming" got into the act!) As

Christians, the main focus of the Epiphany season -

beginning on January 6 - should be how we all

serve to manifest Christ to those around us -

especially those who do not know Christ. Unlike the

shepherds of Luke's Gospel, the Wise Men of

Matthew's Gospel were not of Jewish origin, but

rather were thought to be pagans. However, they

were also called to be with the Christ Child. They

also were invited to follow a great light to the

birthplace of light and love and peace. They also

were included in the new hope for the world. Why

not get into the Epiphany season in a deeper way

this year and invite someone you know to church

- someone who may just be waiting to hear and

feel the love and light of Christ in their lives, and

just need YOU to nudge them!

Parish Directory Additions/Updates

Roger and Sylvia Heider (update)

(Temporary Address)

30142 White Wake Drive

Canyon Lake, CA 92587

Roger Cell: (847) 909-2657

Sylvia Cell: (847) 691-5071

Alwyn Johnson (update)

Phone: (316) 491-0339

Email: [email protected]

Mary “Polly” Pinney (update)

8329 Arbor Court

Fort Myers, FL 33908

Mary Jane and Bob Rawlins (update)

8316 Arbor Court

Fort Myers, FL 33908

Jean Stanton (update)

12602 Lakewood Court

Fort Myers, FL 33908

(239) 437-3798

Shared Scholar Program SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2016, 3:00 P.M.

St. Michael and All Angels, Sanibel

Congregational Church, First Church of Christ Scientist, Chapel By The Sea, and Temple Bat Yam will present the 2016

Community Interfaith Shared Scholar Lecture featuring Dr. Zeki Saritoprak as this year’s guest speaker. Dr. Saritoprak

is the Chair in Islamic Studies at John Carroll University and the author of many

books including Islam’s Jesus.

The lecture will be held at the Congregational Church and will be

followed by a reception in Heron Hall. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

Save the Date Rachel Carson Distinguished Lecture The Center for Environmental and Sustainability

Education is proud to present the 2016 Rachel

Carson Distinguished Lecture, Zoologies: Climate

Change and the Spiritual Force of Animals,

Featuring Poet and Essayist Alison Hawthorne

Deming.

The Lecture will take place Friday, February 26,

2016, at 7:00 pm. A reception will be held in the

Parish Hall after the event.

Vestry Members’ Reminder

of future meeting dates:

Dec. 8 – Vestry Christmas Gathering at the Sloans

Dec. 10 & Jan. 21 – Regular Meetings of the

Vestry (1:00-4:00, lunch at 12:15

14

December Birthdays and Anniversaries

If you have not already done so, please consider

sharing your birthday and/or anniversary with us.

Birthdays 2nd Janet Davis 14th June Ingraham

Linda Deason 15th Ruth Amend

4th Marilyn Lewis Anna Kjoller

7th Violet Dhimos 16th Rookie Bradley

Bob Fuchs 17th Nancy Bacon

William Thorndike 20th Roger Heider

8th Judy Moorhouse 24th Carol Daniels

Bob Winters Lynn Mallory

9th Nancy Johnson 25th Paulette Robison

10th Bill Eagleson 27th Patty Sprankle

James Davis Doug Lind

13th Robert Kunde

Yuan Bonhayag

Anniversaries 2

nd Betsy and Jerry McCullough

11th

Marjorie and Will Smith

15th

Laurie and Rob Kjoller

19th

Dottie and Handy Moore

Char and Lynn Mallory

20th

Carol Daniels and Dick Jacker

Betsy and Jack Winters

23rd

Mollie and Parke Avery

Deborah and Bill Larson

26th

Ellen and Ralph Sloan

27th

Ellen and John Bordieri

28th

Sue and Mike Fuller

29th

Joan and Ronn Downey

Welcome Back!! As you start settling back in,

don’t forget to let Susan in the

Church Office know of your

return. Call, e-mail or just stop

in and say “Hi.” We are always

happy to see you.

May She Rest in Peace Jan Arvia

November 9, 2015

January Birthdays and Anniversaries

Birthdays 2

nd Lee Almas 21

st Maureen Luiszer

3rd

Christine Steege Debby Foster

6th Mary Jane Rawlins Sheelagh Clarke

Barbara Stewart 22nd

Joan Wyon

Nancy Cleaveland Ann Stephens

8th Penny Chrysler 23

rd Peter Pierce

Judy Dirks Bill Rahe

Karen Rahn Maggie Warner

Barbara McDonald 24th Liz Coffey

10th Brenda Demaree 25

th Jerry Jones

Mollie Avery Dawn Hillman

11th Gail Meier 26

th Mark Lorenger

12th Dick Schilling Taylor Peach

13th Margaret Duncan 27

th Claire Anderson

15th Marnekia Bradley Melissa Talmage

16th Mary Nelson 28

th Bruce Duncan

17th Jean Stanton Joyce Crawley

Alan Gast 29th Corky Boyd

18th Nancy Paul

20th Susie Scutakes

Martha Eustis

Wanda Adler

Lee Wilson

Anniversaries 8

th Judy and Wes Dirks

16th

Jacquelyn and Tom Wash

20th

Ann and John Stephens

25th

Karen and Brad Rahn

26th

Linda and Ralph Korn

30th

Pat and Don Van Alstyne

Jean and Joe DiMicco

31st Connie and Tom Edgar

15

Dates to Remember December 2015 & January 2016

Sunday School Every Sunday 10:30 a.m.

Adult Christian Education Forum Every Sunday (Dec.-April) 9:30-10:15 a.m. Parish Hall

Morning Prayer Every Tuesday 9:00 a.m. Angel Chapel

Holy Eucharist with Healing Prayer Every Wednesday 9:00 a.m. Angel Chapel

Prayer and Potluck – “First Wednesday” December 2 and January 6 6:00 p.m. Church / Parish Hall

Taizé Service 3rd

Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Angel Chapel

Bible Study with the Rector Every Thursday 11:00 a.m. Library

Book Study Every Friday 10:00 a.m. Library

Choir Rehearsal Every Friday 1:30 p.m. Music Room

Women at the Well Tues., December 1 / 15 1:00 p.m. Library

Cypress Cove Christmas Caroling Mon., December 7 1:45 p.m. The Lodge lobby

Men’s Fellowship Tues., December 8 / 22 7:15 a.m. Parish Hall

Health Forum: “Alzheimer’s Update” Tues., December 8 1:00 p.m. Parish Hall

Pastoral Care Ministry Wed., December 9 10:00 a.m. Vestry Room

Outreach Ministry Wed., December 9 1:00 p.m. Vestry Room

Youth Group Wed., December 9 6:00 p.m. The Cottage

Vestry Meeting Thurs., December 10 1:00 p.m. Vestry Room

Stewardship Signing Night Thurs., December 10 4:00 p.m. Library

ECW Luncheon & Program Mon., December 14 12:30 p.m. Parish Hall

Shell Point Christmas Caroling Tues., December 15 1:45 p.m. Shell Point Pavilion

Christian Yoga (no class: 12/1, 12/8, 12/22) Tues., December 15 / 29 3:00 p.m. Parish Hall

Presentation of 2016 Draft Budget Wed., December 16 3:30 p.m. Parish Hall

Taizé Service Wed., December 16 6:00 p.m. Angel Chapel

S. Ft. Myers Food Pantry Mon., December 21 10 a.m. / 6 p.m. Cypress Lk. Presby Ch

Christmas Eve Service Thurs., December 24 5 p.m. / 8 p.m. Church

Christmas Day Service Fri., December 25 10:00 a.m. Church

Church office will close at noon Christmas Eve and New Years Eve; will be closed Christmas Day and New Years Day

ECW Board Meeting Mon., January 4 1:00 p.m. Vestry Room

Women at the Well Tues., January 5 / 19 1:00 p.m. Library

Feast of the Epiphany Wed., January 6 9:00 a.m. Angel Chapel

Book Study with Doug Lind (6 weeks) Wed., January 6 / 13 12:30 p.m. Library

Mission Fair Wed., January 10 9:15a / 11:30a Parish Hall

ECW Luncheon and Program Mon., January 11 12:30 p.m. Parish Hall

Men’s Fellowship Tues., January 12 / 26 7:30 a.m. Parish Hall

Christian Yoga (no class: 1/5, 1/19) Tues., January 12 / 26 3:00 p.m. Parish Hall

Pastoral Care Ministry Wed., January 13 10:00 a.m. Vestry Room

Outreach Ministry Wed., January 13 1:00 p.m. Vestry Room

Youth Group Wed., January 13 / 27 6:00 p.m. The Cottage

Health Forum: “Advocacy” w /Susie Wilson Thurs., January 14 1:00 p.m. Parish Hall

Healing Ministry Mon., January 18 12:30 p.m. Angel Chapel

David Lowry Special 1 hr. Session Wed., January 18 1:30 p.m. Library

Planned Giving Meeting Tues., January 19 1:00 p.m. Vestry Room

Christian Education Ministry Wed., January 20 1:00 p.m. Library

Taizé Service Wed., January 20 6:00 p.m. Angel Chapel

Vestry Meeting Thurs., January 21 1:00 p.m. Vestry Room

Prayer Shawl Ministry (No Dec. Mtg.) Thurs., January 21 1:00 p.m. Home of Mary Ann Loh

Sanibel Parish Nurse Health Fair Fri., January 29 1:00 p.m. Center-4-Life

16

«LABEL»

SAINT MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2304 Periwinkle Way • Sanibel, Florida 33957

[239] 472-2173 or [239] 472-9289 Fax: [239] 395-1670

www.saintmichaels-sanibel.org

The Rev. Dr. Ellen M. Sloan, Rector [email protected]

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Worship & Fellowship Saturday at 5:00 p.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II, followed by Reception

Sunday at 8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite I, followed by Coffee Hour

Sunday at 10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist, Rite II, followed by Coffee Hour*

(*With Sunday Shuttle pickup at Woodlands and then at SPV Island)

Tuesday 9 a.m. Morning Prayer

Wednesday 9 a.m. Eucharist with Healing Prayer

“First Wednesday at 6:00” Prayer and Potluck – December 2nd

and January 6th

Taizé Service at 6:00 p.m. – December 16th and January 20

th

-------------------- Christmas Eve & Day Services --------------------- Thursday, December 24

th at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Friday, December 25th

at 10:00 a.m.

------------------------ Noah’s Ark Thrift Shop ------------------------ Monday-Friday and first Saturday • 9:30-12:30

Questions? Call the Ark at 239-472-3356

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage

PAID Fort Myers, FL

Permit No. 5761