ST. ANSELM OF CANTERBURY ENEWS

March 1, 2004

“There is no delight in owning anything unshared.”

Seneca (4 B.C. – 65 A.D) Spanish philosopher

RUNDOWN

* ASH WED. SETS ATTENDANCE RECORD
* LETTER OF THANKS FROM KEVIN SIMONS
* LEADERSHIP SERIES PARTNERS WITH HILLEL COMMUNITY
* FREE STRESS REDUCTION CLASSES OFFERED BY SEAN CARROL
* EPISCOPAL LIFE SUBSCRIPTION UPDATES
* WHIPERING PINES BINGO NEXT WED.
* STANDING NOTICES / CORRECTIONS

NEWS

ASH WEDNESDAY SETS ATTENDANCE RECORD. Last Wednesday, seventy-seven people attended one of three Ash Wednesday liturgies offered at St. Anslem’s. Fifty people alone were present at the 5:30pm service, taxing the maximum capacity of our existing worship space. According to the community register, the number attending last Wednesday has only been exceeded once in the twenty-one years since separate records have been kept for the university ministry. In 1988, when all St. Anselm’s worship services were conducted at St. John’s Episcopal Church, seventy-eight attended two separate services.

OPEN LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY. In January, the St. Anselm community raised $300 as a gift to the music program at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Saginaw, Michigan in memory of Kevin Simon’s father, Mike. Kevin, the former organist/choirmaster at St. Anselm’s is now doing ministry at St. John’s. The letter that follows is Kevin’s acknowledgement of your gift.

To the Community of St. Anselm:

Dearest friends,

How can I begin to tell you how much your recent gift
in my father's memory means to me? In this time of
great tragedy and trial in my life, your compassion
and generosity have yet again shown the strength that
comes from living in communion with one another.

My father loved many things and foremost among them
were music and the church. Your gifts will be used to
further our musical outreach here at St. John's and in
the Saginaw community. He would have been thrilled
not only to see money being used in this way, but he
would have been honored that it had been given by
Canterbury. He visited Canterbury several times and
always came away refreshed and renewed. He thought
very highly of the work of the community and it's
emphasis on integrity-filled worship, outreach and
social justice. He was involved in these areas in his
own church.

I have often said that the music ministry at
Canterbury was not shaped by me, but by the many
people who influenced me as pastors, teachers and
members of my choirs. Chief among these influences
was my dad. He taught me that effective music
ministry had very little to do with music, but much
more to do with transforming lives through music. You
have paid him a wonderful tribute with your thoughtful
generosity.

I reflect on my time at St. Anselm's with great
affection and I think of all of you often. My family
and I are deeply touched by your gift.

Faithfully,

Kevin Simons

CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP SERIES PARTNERS WITH HILLEL. The Jewish and Episcopal university communities are teaming up to present a four week series on the ten commandments (four of them at least). Each evening will include dinner, a video component and reflection on contemporary application of theological themes. The time slot for Christian Leadership Series will change during March to accommodate this partnership.

7:45 pm Monday, March 1 Hillel Hosts. Dinner, film and discussion.
7:45 pm Monday, March 8 St. Anselm’s Hosts. Dinner, film and discussion.
Spring Break. No Session Monday March 15
7:45 pm Monday, March 22 Hillel Hosts. Dinner, film and discussion.
7:45 pm Monday, March 29 St. Anselm’s Hosts. Dinner, film and discussion.

Join us in this time of community building, fellowship and shared faith!

FEELING STRESSED? Would you like to learn how to reduce your stress, gain confidence, and feel more in control? If so, sign-up for a free six-week self-esteem
group at Canterbury. A small group (3-5 people) will meet once a week starting after Spring Break. The date and meeting time will be determined based on participants’ schedules. In order for the group to be successful, please plan to attend all meetings. For more information, contact Sean Carroll by e-mail at scarroll@ou.edu or by phone at 834-5149.

SUBSCRIBE TO EPISCOPAL LIFE MAGAZINE. Episcopal life is the official (free) news magazine available to all members of this community. It’s published monthly and has news on the Episcopal church in Oklahoma and the US. We can arrange to have Episcopal Life delivered to your home. If you’d like to begin receiving your issue of EL, respond to this email with your correct mailing address. You should receive your first issue around Easter. If you’ve moved and your subscription hasn’t caught up with you, email us your new address and we’ll forward the information on to EL.

BINGO NEXT WEDNESDAY. St. Anselm’s will host bingo NEXT WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10TH at 2pm at Whispering Pines. Join your friends at Canterbury around 1:30pm to carpool or meet at the nursing home at 1:45. This is the principal outreach ministry of our community and we could use your help. It’s fun and it brings joy to the residents of Whispering Pines and to volunteer participants as well.

CORRECTION OF CORRECTION. Last week’s Enews incorrectly reported that TIMOTHY SMITH, not Marlon Breaux had been elected to the Advisory board as a non-student board member at our annual meeting two weeks ago. In fact, it was TIMOTHY SCOTT (long time member of this community and personal friend) who was elected. Your chaplain must have been in the throes of a mental spasm when he wrote that correction last week. Sorry Tom…er…I mean Tim.

KITCHEN HELP NEEDED. Calling all cooks! Drop Will Hanner an email and volunteer to cook or clean up sometime during the spring semester. Will Hanner: hanner@ou.edu

WANT TO MOVE YOUR CHURCH MEMBERSHIP TO ST. ANSELM’S? If you have been confirmed in another Episcopal Church and would like to have your “letter” of membership transferred to St. Anselm’s, all it takes is a letter to your former congregation. The chapel office can make arrangements for you. Contact Michael or Mark for questions. Are you a member of another denomination considering becoming an Episcopalian? Or are you baptized, but not yet confirmed? Talk to Michael about receiving instruction together with the sacrament of confirmation.

PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE. If you are in need of prayer or someone you know desires prayer, please let us know and we will include these special intentions during our celebration of the Sunday Eucharist. You may send your prayer requests to us by responding to this Enews.

REGULAR WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday
5:00pm
Holy Eucharist.
A Community Dinner follows.

Monday
3:30pm
Evening Prayer (with the staff)

Wednesday
5:30 pm
Holy Eucharist.

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