All Angels by the Sea

The

SANDPIPER

MARK YOUR CALENDARS

Rector’s Book Club Wednesdays,

January 24, 31, and February 7th, 2:00 p.m.

Lifeline Screening Wednesday, January 31

Call 888-814-0416 to register

Rev. Canon Chris Gray Guest Preacher

Sunday, February 4, both services

Commitment of Pledges Sunday, February 11

Annual Meeting and Brunch

Sunday, February 11 Bird Key Yacht Club

11:45 a.m.

Ash Wednesday 10:00 a.m.

Lenten Series Begins Wednesday,

February 21

Chinese New Year Dinner Thursday, March 1,

5:30 p.m., at Yummy House

ECW Fashion Show And Luncheon

Bird Key Yacht Club Wednesday, March 21

11:30 a.m.

Farewell Snowbirds Thursday, April 12

More details to come

January 2018

RECTOR’S CORNER

Dear Friends,

I don’t know about you, but so far I’m happy to leave 2017 behind and to be in a new year. From a personal standpoint, I had two surgeries in 2017 that entailed significant periods of recovery. And while Hurricane Irma caused us very little physical damage, it was a highly stressful and nerve-wracking experience which Wafa and I do not want to repeat. Similarly, the church was spared any cata-strophic damage from Irma, but it impacted many of us emotionally and disrupted the start of our fall programming. 2017 also witnessed the second highest number of parish deaths during a single year in my time at All Angels. Nationally and in-ternationally, we saw what at least seemed like an unusually high number of natu-ral disasters. Coupled with political uncertainty both at home and abroad—“wars and rumors of wars…for nation shall rise against nation…and there shall be fam-ines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in diverse places,” as Scripture says—the result was a year filled with a general sense of malaise and disease.

Of course for every negative happening named above, I likely could name ten good things that happened, and probably should do so because I generally think of myself as a positive, optimistic person and want to be seen as such. But even more important, how I think and act impacts, for better or worse, those around me. I’ve learned it’s very hard to be positive about the world and even about our-selves if we spend too much time hanging around people who are always down-in-the-mouth. I’m not saying we all need to become Pollyannas who view the world as all sweetness and light when clearly it is not, nor should we be like the prover-bial ostrich, sticking our head in the sand and thinking that will keep us safe from the real and present dangers that surround us.

What we need to strive for is a degree of balance that allows us to face the reali-ties of life head-on while at the same time maintaining a firm belief in the possi-bilities of a better tomorrow. I think of a brief intercession usually referred to as The Serenity Prayer: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the dif-ference.”

During the course of 2018, there undoubtedly will be negative, unfortunately even tragic, occurrences that will touch our lives but that we must nevertheless accept. We will, however, also be presented with opportunities to do good and to make choices that will change our lives and the lives of others for the better. As a firm believer in Divine Providence, I sincerely trust that God will indeed guide us and give us the wisdom needed to make beneficial and worthy choices in this new year of 2018.

Faithfully yours,

VESTRY and OFFICERS

The Rev. David L. Danner, Rector

B.J. Bishop, Senior Warden Don Getz, Junior Warden

Ray Woo, Treasurer

ASSIGNMENTS

B.J. Bishop, Landscaping & Maintenance

Mike Clay, Outreach & Finance

Gloria Detwiler, Membership Bob Erker, Long Range and

Capital Planning Alison Jones, Caring Ministry Mary Ortiz, Caring Ministry

Elaine Smith, Newcomer Welcome & Hospitality

Tom Thomas, Stewardship Graham Toft, Membership

STAFF

Dale Hooey, Music Director and Organist

Missy Bridges, Administrative Assistant

Senior Warden Report

If you did not hear Father Danner’s sermon on Sunday January 7 it is an im-portant message for everyone to read. He started with this: “Harriett Beecher Stowe, author of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, was a celebrated writer from an early age. She achieved her first triumph as an author at the age of twelve while a student at Litchfield Academy. Along with the other Litchfield students, she was required to submit an essay at the end of the term. Her essay was awarded first prize by the unanimous vote of the judges and was one of two read at the graduation exercises by the headmaster. When Harriett’s father Lyman, pastor of the local Presbyterian church, learned of his daughter’s success, he smiled proudly. The smile of her proud father was a reward young Harriett cherished as long as she lived. Her biographer, Noel Gerson, wrote, “Neither the honors nor the success she won in later life meant as much to her as her father's smile, and, in effect, it determined her career.” A father's smile, a mother’s nod of approval. Powerful! Deep within the heart of every young person is a need for a parent to say, “Well done. I'm proud of you!”

In today’s Gospel St. Mark tells us that at his baptism Jesus heard the voice of the Father saying to him, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” Some years later as the ministry of Jesus draws to a close and he sets his face to Jerusalem and the cross, Jesus again hears the same message. What a marvelous affirmation! Would that all children heard such words of grace from their parents.“

I was one of those children who never heard those words. No one ever said I love you or I am proud of you. I am an only adopted child, adopted to “save” a very troubled marriage. Needless to say, my adoption did not improve the marriage, but they stayed together until I was an adult. I tell you this not to feel sorry for me, but to understand the importance of my church family and a family of choice to me. It is from those families that I feel loved and accepted as I do from my husband, children and grandchildren.

What does this have to do with All Angels? A lot. Many of us arrive in Flori-da with no family close by and in many cases no family left. Our church fami-ly becomes our family of choice. Like all families, we may disappoint at times, may frustrate at times, we may disagree, but at the end of the day our love of Christ and of each other as children of God hopefully keeps us close.

Another “Season” is upon us. There will be new faces in the congregation. Remember when you were one of those new faces. Did someone welcome you? Sit with you if you were alone? Bring you to coffee? Have you made a point to sit in a new seat? On a different side of the church? When there has been a social event, have you invited someone you do not know to join your group?

Sometimes we have to move out of our comfort zone to make all members of our family feel included. I hear from time to time that our focus must be on increasing our membership. Yes, that should always be a goal of each and every one of us, but as we see new people arrive at our church, welcome them as you would any mem-ber of a loving family. And, if you have new neighbors, as we almost always do, invite them to come to church with you.

After a very busy Advent and Epiphany, I must say a very special thanks to the Altar Guild, the Flower Guild, our Choir, Dale Hooey, the decorators of the Angel Tree, those who put the Quiet Advent Day together, those who made the Blue Christmas service possible, the chalice bearers, readers and ushers as well as the counters. A great thank you to Missy Bridges, our Administrator. And, finally, those who made the Epiphany Dinner and concert possible. It was a brilliant way to close out the Christmas season. - BJ Webb Bishop, Sr. Warden

Nominating Committee for Vestry The Nominating Committee consisting of Ray Woo, Mike Clay, Alison Jones, Carol Erker, B.J. Bishop, and David Danner recommend the following individuals for election to three-year Vestry terms: Bob Erker (2nd term), B.J. Bishop (2nd term), Sandy Wood (1st term), and Justus Doenecke (1st term).

All Angels by the Sea 2

Outreach Update—Angels Have Hearts! After reviewing requests, the Outreach Committee selected and made grants to four non-profit agencies. The selec-tions were based on both the purpose of the grants and opportunities that we each have to give of our hearts to each agency. As part of the partnership we established with each agency, we hosted representatives from UnidosNow, Children First, Tidewell and Meals on Wheels during our Coffee Hour on January 14. Those who attended the All Angels Have a Heart Celebration learned of many opportunities for giving that go far beyond writing a check.

UnidosNow guides low income, first generation, Latino high school students as they prepare for college. A $10,000 grant will support college tour-related expenses for at least 40 students and their parents. The funding will also provide for incidental expenses that academic scholarships or financial aid packages may not cover, including books and lab materials. There are lots of opportunities to give of our time, whether it is accompanying a student and his or her parents when touring a college or tutoring a high school student. Children First strengthens at-risk children and their families by providing pre-school-age children with a founda-tional educational environment and parents with an opportunity to further their own education, to find or sustain employment in order to help parents achieve self-sufficiency. A $5,000 grant will fund scholarships for at-risk children to attend programs. Volunteers provide a myriad of services ranging from holding babies in the nursery, reading to toddlers, to helping parents prepare for a job interview.

Tidewell Hospice provides care, comfort, and compassion to people with advanced illnesses. A $5,000 grant will help to support the Wishes Fund, meeting patients’ final requests. Whether the wish is to gather far-flung family members for one last visit or an opportunity for a long-married couple to celebrate their anniversary one last time while dining at a special restaurant, Tidewell attempts to grant as many wishes as possible. Volunteers run er-rands, deliver meals, and sit vigil with patients and their family members.

Meals on Wheels of Manatee County will provide special meals on Thanksgiving day and on the Friday follow-ing, thanks to a $7,000 grant. Volunteers perform a variety of services. They deliver meals, help to sort food at the Food Bank of Manatee County and are often found helping out in the administrative offices. - Mike Clay, Chair, Outreach Commission

Musical Musings

I wish to thank all of you for the many greetings of the season and especially to the choirs for their faithfulness and dedication to their music ministry. I know I speak for the parish when I express thanks to those who helped make our Epiphany celebration so successful.

Special thanks to Sylvia Thompson for her musical talents, the cast of The Gift of the Magi, our narrators Justus Doenecke and David Rice, Fritz Thiel and Cristina Peterson, who amazed us with her young voice. There were many more who made it all possible. I speak, of course, of those who planned, set up tables and chairs, ordered the food, served the food, provided appetizers and desserts, and cleaned up after the party ended. If my calcula-tions are correct, this was the 13th year of this annual event.

Following a joyous Christmas season we are now in the season of Epiphany which lasts until Ash Wednesday, February 14. New members are always welcome to sing in the Chancel Choir. Marcy Gobell, the director of the Handbell Choir, has need for additional ringers. Being able to read music is not a prerequisite, although it helps. Please consider speaking to Marcy about becoming a member of the Handbell Choir. Our choirs rehearse on Thursday mornings. Chancel Choir rehearses from 10 to 11 a.m. and the Handbell Choir from 11 a.m. to noon. - Dale Hooey, Organist and Musical Director

January 2018 3

Lenten Series Begins February 21: Eastern Christianity Eastern Christianity is the focus of the 2018 Lenten Series running on Wednesday afternoons at 2 p.m. from February 21 through March 14.

February 21 – Spirituality in the Eastern Orthodox Tradition - Fr. John Bociu is the dean (rector) of St. Barbara’s Greek Orthodox Church, Sarasota.

February 28 – The Challenge of Being a Christian in Today’s Mid-dle East—The Rt. Rev. Barry Howe, Assisting Bishop in our Diocese, board member of the American Friends of the Diocese of Jerusalem and a frequent Middle East visitor.

March 7 – The Role of the Orthodox Church in Russian Society and Politics Today—Dr. Robert Biralski, professor of Russian Histo-ry, has been both a guest lecturer and Gallery artist at All Angels.

March 14 – An Introduction to Icons – Dr. Susan Matthews shares her personal interest in iconography arising out of her work as a spiritu-al director. Using examples from her own collection, Susan’s lecture will draw upon the writings of three renowned iconographers: Vladimir Lossky, Andrei Rublev, and Leonid Ouspensky.

Rector’s Book Club This year’s pick for the Rector’s Book Club is Living Into God’s Dream: Dismantling Racism in America. In a brief and very readable collection of nine essays, Catherine Meeks (ed.) and colleagues take a fresh look at what is arguably America’s most stubborn stain. Copies of the book are available in the office.

4

For a full listing of Church activities, please visit the Parish Calendar on www.allangelslbk.org

Weekly Calendar Ongoing Activities

Monday Poet Series (every other week)10:00 a.m. Memoirs Class (every other week) 10:00 a.m., both classes facilitated by David Rice

Tuesday Men’s Study and Discussion Group, 10:00 a.m.

Women’s Study and Discussion Group, 4:15 p.m.

Wednesday ECW 11:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m., third Wednesday except the Fashion Show

Thursday Chancel Choir Practice, 10:00 a.m. Handbell Choir Practice, 11:00 a.m. Wellness Class, 2:00 p.m., led by Dr. John Nelson

Friday Tai Chi 10:00 a.m., led by Dee Rice

Sunday Worship 8:00 and 10:00 a.m.

Worship Schedule - We Need You! Would you like to engage in a more active role in the weekly services at All Angels? Volunteers are needed to join the ranks of ushers, greeters, chalice bearers, and lectors; all of whom are essential to our services. Positions are available for both 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. services. Commitments are flexible. If you will be traveling or unavailable, you can just let the scheduler know in advance not to put you on the schedule for those weeks. Guidelines and / or training are provided for all positions. Interested or have any questions? Contact Bob Erker at 847-337-3910 or raerker@gmail.com.

Gifting Opportunity

Our set of purple altar hangings and vestments is actually made up of three mismatched sets. Memorial and thank-offering donations to purchase a new matching set would be welcomed. Total cost is ap-proximately $4,000. Individual pieces range from $300 to $2,300. One gift of a $1,000 has already been received. Please speak to Fr. Danner if interested.

All Angels by the Sea

ECW News

ECW is looking forward to a great year with timely programs and speakers. Everyone is welcome. We meet the third Wednesday of the month with a gathering at 11 a.m., business meeting at 11:30 a.m., lunch provided by our wonderful volunteer luncheon committees at 12 p.m., and a program which begins at 12:30 p.m. If coming for lunch and you are not on the call list, please call the church office by Monday of that week for an accurate count. We believe we have programs that will appeal to our men counterparts as well, so please plan on joining us.

In February, we will branch out to tour Selby Gardens on February 21, meeting there at 10 a.m. with lunch at Lib-by’s Café. The Andy Warhol exhibit is featured so it will be an exciting adventure. Sign up on the gallery table if you have not done so. Guests are always welcome. If you have not attended an ECW meeting, this is a great op-portunity to join us and see the beautiful Selby Gardens in Spring.

March brings our annual fashion show at Bird Key Yacht Club on March 21. Fashions by Panache. Still thinking about donating for the raffle? We must have items no later than March 7. This is a firm date. Remember to think outside the box. Dance lessons, dinner invitations to your home or boat, in addition to gift certificates to restau-rants and salons are welcome. Proceeds from the fashion show will go to our outreach programs.

A word of thanks for your tremendous response to our Christmas giving tree. Because of your generous dona-tions, we were able to present Family Promise with $2,585 to buy mattresses for Promise House. - Gail Clay, President ECW

Women’s Bible Study and Discussion Group

After finishing Acts of the Apostles, we spent six weeks in the Christmas season looking at some of the women in the Bible. There is always something new to discover.

The study of the letter of Paul to the Galatians began on January 16. It is a logical progression after Luke and Acts. Please join us for whatever time you are able. We meet on Tuesdays at 4:15 p.m. - Wafa Danner, Facilitator

Library News

At All Angels we are privileged to have an extensive library, expertly maintained by the rector. The more we read from the carefully chosen books each year, the more we will understand our personal religious journey. Take ad-vantage of your library and enjoy! Here are just a few titles of the more than 30 books added in 2017:

Secular Faith: How Culture Has Trumped Religion In American Politics by Mark A. Smith An American Conscience: the Reinhold Niebuhr story by Jeremy L. Sabella The God of Nightmares by Paula Fox Saving Jesus from the Church by Robin R. Meyers The Limits of Forgiveness by Maria Mayo

- David Langhaug, Library Assistant

Columbaria Update Soon you will be noticing some landscaping in the Oak Gardens to make the pathway to those two columbaria more accessible. For those of you who are new to All Angels, we currently have four columbaria – two in the Memorial Garden and two in the Oak Garden - that have niches available for reservation. Currently 14 have been reserved.

These columbaria represent a beautiful final resting place for those who want to be close to the sea and in a Floridian natural setting. If you are interested in more information, please talk with Sandy Wood, Pam Toft, Carol Erker, or call the church office.

The Sandpipers

The All Angels men’s luncheon group, The Sandpipers, has discontinued meetings for the foreseeable future. On behalf of The Sandpipers, Bob Hambrecht donated the group’s assets of $200 to the Episcopal Relief Organiza-tion.

5

January 2018

Fellowship Activities All Angels’ Annual Epiphany Party took place on January 5, 2018. A great time was had by all. A special thank you to Dale Hooey, Sylvia Thomson, Fritz Thiel, Christina Peterson, and our All Angels’ theatrical performers, and to Wafa Danner and her team for the outstanding dinner!

Thanks Pat Anderson for the Epiphany Party photography, as well as Tom Thomas for the Outreach photos.

Chinese New Year Dinner

Thursday, March 1 at 5:30 p.m. As in 2017 this event will be held at Yummy House

3232 North Tamiami Trail, Sarasota.

Watch the Sunday Bulletin and Tidings for details.

All Angels by the Sea 6

7

January Anniversaries

13 - Jinx and Hank Kochan 15 - Catharine and David Burke 19 - Elenor and John Maxheim

January Birthdays

9 - Betty Forrester 11 - Holly Bruce 12 - Louise Rich 15 - James Millikan 16 - Henry Simmons Cody Baldwin Frederick Emrich 23 - Virginia Spitler 24 - Edwin Ortiz 29 - Ann Williams 31 - James Thomas

February Anniversaries

11 - Katzy and C.J. Nager 14 - Ruth and David Beliles

February Birthdays

2 - Sue Bassett-Klauber 4 - Bill Nack 7 - Carol Hambrecht 9 - Jean Rushton 12 - Robert Howell 16 - Richard Machemer Carol Erker 19 - Tom Thomas 21 - Downs Spitler IV 23 - Ginny West

CONGRATULATIONS AND BEST WISHES TO THE FOLLOWING:

March Anniversaries

19 - Pam and Tom Blanton 21 - Carol and Justus Doenecke 24 - Sheila and David Eiss 29 - Jean and Rudy Yessin

March Birthdays

1 - Ray Woo 5 - Justus Doenecke Susan Matthews 6 - Courtney Blackman 10 - Cade Sibley 11 - Ruth Beliles 13 - John Dixon 14 - Bill Walker 19 - Ted Bremble 21 - Jennifer Whitehead 24 - Alan Forrester 27 - Bob Erker 29 - Nancy Bremble Bill Dobbling

Heartfelt Thanks!

After almost five years as co-editors of our parish newslet-

ter, The Sandpiper, Pam and Graham Toft are handing the editorship over to Carole Jesiolowski. The Tofts have done an excellent job in further developing the newsletter as an important tool in our parish communications. They are presently working with Carole to insure a smooth transition

and have pledged their continued support as needed in the future.

January Artist— Fran Mangino

March Artist - Patricia Turner

Reminder: February is Parish Artists’ month.

Please contact Carol Doenecke if you

would like to be included.

Please let the Office know if we have omitted your name or if the date is incorrect

January 2018

All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church 563 Bay Isles Road Longboat Key, FL 34228

Phone 941-383-8161

Current Resident or

NON PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE

PAID MANASOTA, FL PERMIT # 1015

Email: office@allangelslbk.org

For the latest parish news and information, visit our website: www.allangelslbk.org

Annual Meeting and Brunch Sunday, February 11, 2018

Bird Key Yacht Club

Brunch – 11:45 a.m.

Business Meeting Follows the Brunch

$25 per person, by check only, payable to All Angels

Sign up in the Gallery or call the church office to register. Pre-registration and payment required