1 | P a g e

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

FEBUARY 7, 2016

Our First Year Journey By Karen Wilbanks

What began as a few families wanting to continue their Wednesday night Bible Study grew to nearly 30 people who, on Shrove Tuesday 2015, decided to plant a new Church. Through our fellowship we shared an expressed desire to remain faithful to scripture and fulfill the Great Commission.

By Easter, we were being accepted into the Anglican Church in North America, under the Diocese of Cascadia — the first Anglican congregation in the State of Alaska. We were also delighted to welcome precious little Elaina Buckingham to our Christian family in our Church’s first Baptism.

We have enjoyed the gracious hospitality of two churches. First, Shepherd of the Hills, led by Pastor Fred Voss, welcomed us into their building. We worshipped there for several months, until their renovations required us to leave the building. Our Jr. Warden, Huston Prescott, led a team to finding another church. They found Calvary Church on West 80th Avenue and Jewel Lake Road. This congregation warmly welcomed us into their building, and invited us to join them in fellowship. We have participated with them in weekly dinners prior to Bible Study on Wednesday nights, a Fall Bazaar, Fun Fall Festival, a Women’s Retreat (where our very own René Glover was guest speaker) and Thanksgiving Dinner.

We enjoyed a Solemn Holy High Communion Service on Christmas Eve thanks to the welcome addition to our congregation of Canon Will Harrison (and his family). During the service we enjoyed music by the children of our congregation.

For our Lessons & Carrols service the following Sunday, we were blessed by the professional musical talents of Violinist Elise Gellbart and Pianist Janna Preston. The service ended with a delightful Christmas skit by the young children of our congregation.

We will soon enjoy the anniversary of our Shrove Tuesday 2015 decision and, in a few short weeks, St. Andrew’s Anglican Church of Anchorage, Alaska will have been holding services every Sunday for a full year on Sunday, February 21, 2016.

VOLUME 2, ISSUE 1

FEBUARY 7, 2016

2 | P a g e

DECEMBER 20, 2015 DECEMBER 20, 2015 Made with Love and Laughter By Mary Healy and the Saint Andrew’s Sewing Sisters

Alyson Dickson’s sewing room has a panoramic view of Cook Inlet and is usually a serene, sunny room occupied by the diminutive Alyson Dickson and her larger-than-life Newfoundland, Rowan. Once or twice a month it is transformed by 28 yards of blue fabric, pattern tissue in several sizes, tea cups and sewing machines, becoming the home of the Saint Andrew’s Sewing Sisters.

Under the direction (whip?) of Mary Healy the ladies are applying and discovering their gifts as they construct acolyte cassocks for our new church. Jan was the first to tackle the triple-pleated back seams, Sarah can insert a sleeve on her first attempt, Cathy lovingly hems each garment by hand, and Alyson’s quilting accuracy is aptly applied to topstitching the collars and cuffs. While the ladies are learning sewing skills, Elaina Buckingham has learned to crawl and is about to walk!

We had three cassocks ready for Christmas Eve. When the processional began, we were

relieved that none of the hems fell down, and humbled to have participated in praising God in such a tangible way. The service itself, our first solemn high service as a new church, was awe-inspiring and full of reverence.

We are having way too much fun! We talk while we sew and topics of discussion have ranged from books and music, to “how I met my husband”. We are a multi-generational group and all benefit from both the younger approach to a more technological life, and the wisdom and traditions of a bygone era. We take our different views of this life and weave them together with our love for the scriptures.

We meet one or two afternoons per month, from 1 – 4 pm at the Dickson’s; all are welcome. Bring your sewing skills or a willingness to learn. Contact Mary if you are interested in joining us!

3 | P a g e

DECEMBER 20, 2015 DECEMBER 20, 2015

Ladies Prayer Group By Mary Healy

Ladies Prayer Group meets weekly on Tuesdays during the winter, usually at 2pm. We spend 45 minutes reading and discussing the week’s lectionary passages, followed by 45 minutes of prayer time. We gather in various homes, so contact Mary if you would like to find us! We also take phone, email and text prayer requests to Mary’s cell phone. You may also use the church web site’s prayer chain to let us know how we can pray for you (www.staac.church).

4 | P a g e

DECEMBER 20, 2015 DECEMBER 20, 2015

Fun Fall Festival! By Ashlee Adoko

Saint Andrew’s and Calvary Church joined to celebrate the “Light of the world” (John 8:12) by providing a Fun Fall Festival where children and parents enjoyed each other’s families! For the Fun Fall Festival, some children wore costumes and individuals from each church hosted carnival games and provided food, candy, and trinkets. Victoria Glover hosted a cake walk, she and Ashlee Adoko did face painting, Francis Adoko and Erovie Afieroho manned a bounce house, Tom Funk and Dylan Glover ran a fishing booth, and Tom and Rene Glover manned the Ping-Pong ball and straw booth; the goal of that game being to get to the finish line without blowing the Ping-Pong ball off the table! There were ducks to fish out of a pond, musical chairs, and a football to throw through a hoop!

A great time was had by all! We can’t wait until next year!

5 | P a g e

DECEMBER 20, 2015 DECEMBER 20, 2015

Fall Bazaar! By Ashlee Adoko

St. Andrew’s joined Calvary Church in a Fall Bazaar, in which Victoria Glover, Dylan Glover, and Ashlee Adoko made fun and functional bookmarks and book safes, Sarah Buckingham made beautiful ornaments, Rachel, Gabriella, and Mikayla Harrison made lovely crocheted and sewn blankets, barrettes, and other items, and William created a puppet! There were other crafters and bakers who made homemade, handmade, and other items for Christmas, decorating, organizing, and gifts. There were even refreshments, coffee, and baked goods available to enhance the experience!

Children Serving Children; Fulfilling the Essence of Ministry in Love By Ashlee Adoko

As I was viewing the photos of our Children’s Choir practicing “O! Holy night!” I noticed something profound. If you look carefully, you’ll notice what I did; children serving children. You’ll notice Dylan Glover and Mikayla and Gabriella Harrison holding music for Charles Koepp, Hellen Adoko, and Glory Afieroho and helping them sing. You’ll notice Victoria Glover helping Christian Koepp focus. And surely, there’s more than the photos captured. I marveled at, and admired the initiative.

Serving God and serving others is the essence of ministry. God wants all believers to be like His Son, Jesus. “For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the

image of His Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.” Jesus was a servant; His entire life was centered on serving God and serving others. “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45). Then, on the night of His arrest, Jesus washed the disciples’ feet and exhorted them to serve one another by saying, “Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him. If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye

6 | P a g e

DECEMBER 20, 2015 DECEMBER 20, 2015

do them” (John 13: 12-17). God wants all believers to be like His Son, Jesus. Jesus was a servant. So, serving God and serving others is the essence of ministry.

But, serving God and serving others out of obligation or duty and apart from love for God is not what God desires. “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophesy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3). Rather, God wants us to serve Him and serve others because of our love for Him who first loved us. “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins” (1 John 4:9-11).

Moreover, the Bible gives motivations for serving God and serving others. Namely, we are “receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved” (Hebrews 12:28), our service “supplieth want of the saints” (2 Corinthians 9:12), “glorify[ies] God” (2 Corinthians 9:13), and God promises to reward our service. “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward His name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister” (Hebrews 6:10). Finally, we can only give what we’ve received. We’re able to serve God and serve others because He first loved and served us through Jesus Christ. “God is love” (1 John 4:8). For those who truly know God, it’s only natural to respond in love by serving Him and serving others. I aspire to be like these children who know God; who are like Jesus; who are fulfilling the essence of ministry; who serve Him and serve others not out of obligation or duty, but because of their love for Him who first loved us.

7 | P a g e

DECEMBER 20, 2015 DECEMBER 20, 2015

“O! Holy Night!” Like You’ve Never Heard or Seen Before By Ashlee Adoko

“O! Holy night! The stars are brightly shining. It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth.” So began Mikayla Harrison on Christmas Eve and Dylan Glover on Sunday thereafter. “Long lay the world in sin and error pining ‘till He appeared and the soul felt its worth,” continued Victoria Glover and Sophia Wilcox. Then in precious, glorious unison, the Children’s Choir sang, “A thrill of hope; the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.” And then in even more precious, glorious union, “Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine! O night when Christ was born.” Many of us melted at the sight of our precious Children’s Choir, led by our wonderful Katie Nolan, singing “O! Holy night!” Why is it so endearing to hear children sing to God? God speaks to this! God wants us to sing! God wants us to “Let the word of Christ dwell in [us] richly in all wisdom,” and then He tells us how to live this out; by “teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

singing with grace in [our] hearts to the Lord” (1 Colossians 3:16). God also wants us to “praise His name in the dance…” (Psalm 149:3). Accordingly, Janna Wilcox entertained with cheerful dancing, which included twirling and swaying! In singing to God and in dancing, our children let Christ dwell in them richly; they learned Biblical summaries of important truths; to “Fall on [their] knees!” and that “Christ is the Lord!” Singing builds others up! God wants us to “be filled with the Spirit; speaking to [each other] in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in [our] heart[s] to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:18-19). The exhortation to sing in 1 Colossians 3:16 follows the incitement of “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another” (1 Colossians 3:13), “put[ting] on charity, which is the bond of perfectness” (1 Colossians 3:14), “let[ting] the peace of God rule in [our] hearts” so that we will be united (1 Colossians 3:15), and “teaching and admonishing one another” (1 Colossians 3:16). In singing to God, our children are building each

8 | P a g e

DECEMBER 20, 2015 DECEMBER 20, 2015

other up; they’re learning to forbear one another, forgive and love one another, be at peace and unity with one another, and teach and admonish one another! This was evident as our children sang “O! Holy night!” Specifically, Janna found the reindeer on her Christmas dress particularly gorgeous. She demonstrated this by lifting the reindeer off her chest and showcasing it to the children around her. Charles Koepp tried to prohibit the showcasing. It was delightfully disorderly for a moment! Sophia Wilcox and Naomi Koepp encouraged civility and peace and “O! Holy night!” went on beautifully. We witnessed forbearing, forgiveness, love, peace, unity, teaching, admonishing, and adorableness! Singing brings joy! “But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them

also that love thy name be joyful in thee” (Psalms 5:11). “But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for though hast been my deference and refuge in the day of my trouble” (Psalms 59:16). In singing to God, our children are bringing joy! Janna’s bows at the end also brought joy! In sum, singing to God glorifies God! In singing to God, our children are letting Christ dwell in them, building each other up, and bringing joy! Let us sing to God with our children! And on the day of eternity, we will join with our children and the “great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues [singing] Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb (Revelation 7:9-10). Please join me in thanking Katie and the Children’s Choir for their wonderful work.

9 | P a g e

DECEMBER 20, 2015 DECEMBER 20, 2015 The Christmas Story, Presented by the Preschool Children By Ashlee Adoko

Our dear preschool children, led by our amazing Lieza Wilcox, also their Sunday School teacher, presented the Christmas Story on the Sunday after Christmas. It was wonderful and we’ll never forget it. Lieza started by reading that Caesar Augustus decreed that “all the world should be taxed.” At this point, overzealous Mary (Hellen Adoko) and dapper Joseph (Glory Afieroho) literally ran to the front to assume their positions. One of our wise man (Charles Koepp) hastily followed. But who can blame him? Surely, anticipating Christ’s coming overtook him. No harm was done; the wise man’s older, wiser sister (Naomi Koepp) harnessed him back to his place in the pew. Lieza continued that this tax “was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.” Mary and Joseph sat down and stood up about 4 times and Mary twirled her pink sash. Then, as Lieza read that Joseph went to Bethlehem to be taxed with Mary, who was expecting a child, Lieza gently guided Mary and Joseph to their seats by the manger, which contained Jesus. Joseph played a little peek-a-boo and Mary gave a thumbs-up gesture. It was time for our shepherd. Lieza read that there “were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.” Just then, our sweet shepherd (Janna Wilcox) appeared and appropriately caressed the sheep she held in her arms. I couldn’t help but notice her polka-dot pants and boots. Then, our strapping angel of the Lord (Dylan Glover) approached. Lieza read that the “glory of the Lord shown round about the shepherds

and they were terrified.” Our shepherd grimaced and did look absolutely terrified. As our angel sang “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men,” our shepherd yawned and cuddled her sheep. Then, even though Lieza read that the shepherd “hurried off,” our shepherd took her sweet time to get to Mary, Joseph, and Jesus. At this point, Joseph sat akimbo and Mary creatively rocked Jesus in the manger with her foot, which (now it couldn’t be hidden) was decorated with a red shoe. Our shepherd sat by the manger and sweetly and rocked her sheep. Enter our wise men. Lieza read that wise men came from the east to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is He that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east and have come to worship him.” Our wise men (Henry, Christian, and Charles Koepp) hurried to Lieza and Naomi was there to keep them in line. One of our wise men’s (Charles’) crown was backward and covering his eyes. At this point, he looked more like a “Pin the Tail on the Donkey” contestant than a wise man. But again, no harm was done. Naomi gently lifted his crown off his eyes and straightened it. Lieza read that Herod sent the wise men to Bethlehem, “Go and search diligently for the young child.” Lieza read that the wise men departed, and when they saw the star, they “rejoiced with exceeding great joy.” Christian hopped on one leg up to Mary, Joseph, our shepherd, and Jesus; our other wise men made it in their own time. Lieza continued, “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with

10 | P a g e

DECEMBER 20, 2015 DECEMBER 20, 2015

Mary his mother, and fell down, and worshipped Him.” Charles literally fell down. He’d started bowing, lost his balance, and fell to the floor. The weight of his paper crown and cardboard gift likely overhauled him. Lieza read, “And when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh.” Our wise men were prouder of the gifts they bore than anyone I’ve ever seen. Or perhaps they were proud of their ability to lift them; they raised them up and down and around; it looked like Olympic weight-lifting. Eventually, they presented their gifts to Jesus. The grand finale was upon us when Lieza read that they should “call His name Emmanuel, which is” (and then in unison, our preschoolers

shouted), “God with us!” Charles said it a few more times for emphasis. There were so many times I couldn’t help but smile and feel warm. Just as God worked through very humble, ordinary means; a baby, a manger; and people in general, to bring to “as many as received Him [the] power to become the sons of God” (John 1:12), God worked through Lieza, who read directly from Luke 2, Matthew 1, and Matthew 2, and these children, to tell the true story of “the God of hope who [fills us] with all joy and peace in believing that [we] may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost” (Romans 15:13). Please join me in thanking Lieza and the children for their wonderful presentation.

11 | P a g e

DECEMBER 20, 2015 DECEMBER 20, 2015 We’re On The Web!

StAndrewsAnchorage.Church

or

StAAC.Church

Submission for Future Newsletters Requested!

Deadline: 20th of each month

Submitted to:

Ashlee Adoko at Ashlee.Adoko@gmail.com

Preparing for the Weekly Service

In Chapter 15 of Thomas McKenzie’s book, The Anglican Way, McKenzie recommends that “One great way to

prepare for Sunday Eucharist is to read the lectionary readings on Saturday Evening. Spend time with the Sunday

morning verses.” “If you have the time and inclination, spend time praying with one of the readings, especially the

Gospel reading.”

Where can you find the lectionary readings for next Sunday, and the ones to follow?

On our own website, of course!

Check under the Resources tab and select “Lectionary Schedule.”

Want to read more from The Anglican Way but don’t have a copy? See the Parish Clerk, Karen Wilbanks, for a

copy of the book as a gift from St. Andrew’s Anglican Church.