St. Augustine's Episcopal Church Weekly Newsletter

St. Augustine's Episcopal Church Weekly Newsletter

“Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read.” William J. Toms

The Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost /September 20, 2026/  Vol. 9 Iss. 3                    

The Collect - Grant us, Lord, not to be anxious about earthly things, but to love things heavenly; and even now, while we are placed among things that are passing away, to hold fast to those that shall endure; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Preparing for Worship

The congregation is encouraged to read and study the lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. On September 20, we will observe Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost. The readings are Psalm 145:1-8; Jonah 3:10-4:11; Philippians 1: 21-30;Matthew 20:1-16.

Circle of Prayers in the Diocese for the Week of September 20 

In our Diocesan Circle of Prayers, we pray for Good Shepherd, Norfolk and Grace, Norfolk; and for all who suffer from addiction and those who provide recovery resources and ministries.

Why do we exchange the peace in the middle of the liturgy? 

 “Sharing God’s peace is not simply offering a friendly hello to those sitting around you. Sharing God’s peace is not a time for catching up on news with your neighbor or for reminding someone about an upcoming meeting. Sharing God’s peace does not require each worshiper to offer a sign of God’s peace to every other worshiper present. The “exchange of peace” (also commonly called “sharing the peace” or “passing the peace”) is an act of reconciliation that serves as a transition point between the Word and Meal portions of the liturgy.

Addressing the Coal Dust in Our Community 

John Herbst (shown center in suit and tie) of St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Newport News, led a meeting of members of St. Andrew’s and friends to meet with Virginia State Delegate J.D. “Danny” Diggs, District 24 (shown center in the red polo shirt) on Tuesday afternoon, September 8. St. Andrew’s invited interested members of the PMP (Peninsula Ministry Partnership) to join. The meeting was called to discuss the serious ongoing problem that the air-borne dust from the open-air transport and storage of coal poses to our community, how we inspire our elected leaders to address it, and with whom should we speak, and to what order, so that real solutions can be found and mandated. St. Augustine’s member Sharnya Smith (second from right) and I attended and each of us told the State Senator our concerns. The meeting group was much larger than the group photographed, as a number of people, including the Revs. Anne Kirchmeier and Marc Vance, had to leave before the meeting was over.

The meeting was wide ranging. Themes included:

• Recognition by the churches of this very real, long ignored problem

• Need for and best practices for educating lawmakers about community issues, like Coal Dust

• Whom to approach ([Sen. Diggs recommended a scattershot approach, hitting up local (city) government, and congress (representatives and senators)]

• In what order – start right now with City Council

• What is the benefit and who ordered the latest round of monitors and testing?

It was a friendly and productive meeting with Senator Diggs. He seemed genuinely interested to hear the participants’ concerns and ideas.  He said with evident surprise that this was only the second group to approach him about this issue – the first was an Environmental Advocacy group, just last week - in his three years in this position. As a Republican, he spoke proudly of the legislation he has crafted with his democratic colleagues across the aisle.  

Next Steps

Taking what we learned from Senator Diggs, John Herbst will be meeting on Friday with Newport News councilman Cleon Long and a small group. John writes, “My goal for the meeting is just to figure out how to get the city to work with our legislators, so that we’re sure that coal dust is a real priority for everyone.”

John further asks interested people for help: “There are a couple of other things for us to do. First, it seems time to send a written letter to Cia Price.” John had scheduled a phone meeting with Marcia Price in the afternoon of Monday, August 24th, which I joined, from the rector’s office at St. Andrew’s, but the calls to her went unanswered. Three weeks later, John is still waiting to hear back from her. He writes, “I do not want to be contentious, but we want her to be aware that we’re very interested to know where things stand with her and coal dust. Obviously, meeting with constituents is a core part of her job, so a written letter is a reasonable step. Would anyone care to take a crack at crafting such a letter?

“I’d like to try to arrange meetings with all members of Newport News representatives in the Virginia Legislature: Delegates Shelly Simonds (276-3022) and Mark Downey (757-912-0022), and Senator Mamie Locke (825-7327). Would any constituents of these legislators care to make a call? We prefer to meet in person at their offices or St. Andrew’s, and they should expect between 8 and 12 of us. We want to know their familiarity with the coal dust problem (I hope that they know more than Danny Diggs!), and their ideas about finding a good solution. When you leave a message, they can call you OR me.

“It also occurred to me that since many of these people have day jobs, we might want to consider meeting them in evenings or weekends, for their convenience. Let me know how you feel about this. Thanks for your time and energy. Blessings, John.”

If you would like to join this effort, you are most welcome to participate. John simply asks that you please let him know what you are doing, so that he can continue to coordinate this effort. You can reach john at (434) 228-0210 and [email protected].

With you on the journey,

Charlie

On The Calendar

Friday, September 18         Cory A. Johnson Memorial Golf Bag Tournament     

Sunday, September 20        Morning Prayer; ECW Meeting

Sunday, September 27        Holy Eucharist with Fr. de Kay       

Sunday, October 4              Morning Prayer

Sunday, October 11            Holy Eucharist with Fr. de Kay

Saturday, October 17          Women in Leadership Symposium - see flyer below.

Sunday, October 18            Morning Prayer

Grace Expectations: What God’s Been Up to Lately”

Won’t you please share how you’re seeing God in your life?  Your stories can be little moments or significant moments.  It can be shared anonymously if you like.  We’d really love to hear it.  And I believe that this will be pleasing to God, too.  A few weeks ago in church we heard Jesus say: “What I say to you in the dark, tell in the light, and what you hear whispered, proclaim from the housetops.” (Mt 10:27) This is one way we can do just that and be a blessing to each other, which ripples ever outward.

With you on the journey,

 Charlie +

Bible Study

Bible Study every Thursday from 7-8 pm; new attendees welcome! Material used is published on the Episcopal website written by church teachers, organized by liturgical occasion church season.

Thursday Join the Zoom:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84370729616?pwd=M2JoVGw1bVpEMFBFTk55QWphN2R

Pdz09

Invitation to Compline with St. Mark’s

On Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM, St. Mark’s hosts a service of healing prayers,

followed by either traditional Compline or New Zealand Night Prayers. This usually takes no more than 20 minutes. They would love to have other members of the PMP join them. It’s presently hosted on the St. Mark’s Zoom channel (info is below or click the Zoom icon at the bottom of www.smechampton.org).

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84430506697?pwd=bUluNDZES1JscHFTcjdaQlptL2F

Edz09

Meeting ID: 844 3050 6697

Password: 5414

One tap mobile

+13017158592,,84430506697# US

Dial by your location

        +1 301 715 8592 US

        +1 253 215 8782 US

        +1 267 831 0333 US

Meeting ID: 844 3050 6697

PRAYER LIST

If you know someone who is unable to get to church, for any reason, please let us know. We’d love to be able to visit with them and take them communion. If you know of someone who is sick, please do not assume we know. A quick phone call or email to the church secretary would be greatly appreciated. Judith Neal: [email protected]. Please let Judy know when to remove a name. Thank you.

Currently on our Prayer List are Forrest Black, Alberta Boyd, Bettye Collins, Burgandi Collins (Granddaughter of Bettye Collins), Imani Collins-Black, Eric Curtin,  DeVera Cooke, Ret. Bishop Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe, Bishop Susan Haynes, Fr. Charles de Kay and Family, Peggy Dawkins, Edwin (Larry) Hall II (Brother of Pam Hall and Wanda Tynes-Childress), Carolyn Hobson (Harmony on the Peninsula, Yorktown), Brandon Hooks (Brother-in-law of Hollie Monroe-Johnson), Tiffany Johnson and Son, William; Pat Jackson; Nina Kenney-Dunn, Zeniah Maldonado, Fr. Dan and Elizabeth Ann Mannen, Phyllis Mather, Vermon and William Miller, Mia Monroe, Joan Wood Moore, Judy and Leonard Neal, Beverly Pryor-Dunomes, Thaddeus and Lady Savage, Russell Swann, Peggy Theiss (twin sister of Fr. Dan Mannen), James Thomas, John Torres, Marian Travis, Lamar Tynes, Craig Wallace, Bobby Whitted and Clyde Yates (husband of Lauaretta Jones-Yates).

A Gentle Reminder

The prelude, the first act of worship, allows the organist to set the tone for the service, inviting worshipers to gather, to transition from their busy lives into a sacred place of communion with God and with each other. It should be understood that the prelude is not just pretty background music, but music that is selected with the specific intent of inviting people into worship, to gather their thoughts and meditate upon the music being offered. All talking should cease to facilitate quiet reflection.

The postlude is the loud and enthusiastic “Amen” to worship! It is a piece of music played after the service is over. Worship ends at the last note of the postlude, just as it begins at the first note of the prelude. The postlude provides the transition from sacred worship back into our varied lives and activities, equipped with renewed courage, energy, and a commitment to serve God and others, until we are able to meet again, as a community, in worship.

Services on YouTube

St. Augustine’s services are live streamed on YouTube. You do not need to have an account to watch. The link is emailed each Sunday morning. If you miss the live stream of the worship service, a recording will remain on YouTube to view later. Access by entering “st augustines nn episcopal church.”

September Birthdays and Anniversaries

2 – Lawrence G. Stewart, Jr.

3 –  Rogèt Maldonoda

4 –  Ana Maria Incorminias

       Adrian Neal

5 –  Vermon Miller

       Michael Saunders

6 -   Michael Draper

       Anthony Saunders

8 -   Hope An’Nisa El-Amin Walton

9 –  Zelma “Zee” Maldonado

11 -  Michelle Draper

11 – The Rev. Ralph E. Haines III

 12 - Brittany Ransom

13 – Annette Monroe-Martin

15 – Brionna Atkins

        Fatimah El-Amin Walton

        Lisa Whitaker-Taylor

17 – Forrest Lavar Black

        Darnell Hooker

18 – Cynthia Adams

        Deborah Ransom

20 – Leila S. Earl

21 - Joyce B. Ponton

        Brittany Watson

25 – Torrin Travis

28 -  Jessica  Incorminias

        Velma Person

29 – Curtis Brian Ponton

30 – Morgan Incorminias

        Danielle Williams Canada

 September Weddings Anniversaries:

1 –   Thaddeus and Lady Savage

21 – Hope Sayles and Nate Pope

24 – Lenny and Amy Price

27 – Leonard and Judith Neal

29 – Christian and Zandria Haines

If this is your birthday month and your name does not appear on the list above, please contact Judy Neal or Rose Parker with an email or text at [email protected] or [email protected].

Heads of Parish Organizations

Altar Guild – Valeria Hundley

Daughters of the King – Marcia Black

Episcopal Church Women – Rose Parker

Men’s Club – George Whitted

Outreach – Pam Hall

 Choir – Joyce Ponton

Samaritans – Roscoe Redcross

Trustees

Roscoe Redcross and Bobby Whitted

Lay Readers

Lay readers are invited to visit www.netministries.org/Bbasics

For correct biblical pronunciations.

News and Events across the Diocese

Receive Parish News and Events from the Diocese of Southern Virginia by visiting www.diosova.org

Check out St. Augustine’s on FaceBook. Be sure to look for our specific profile, as there is another St. Augustine’s with a FaceBook presence. St. Augustine’s website: staugustinesnn.us

St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church Newsletter

Your newsletter contact is Rose Parker. Reach Rose at [email protected].