ITEMS OF INTEREST

I Wonder

This is an occasional column that answers interesting questions.

I wonder why there is a bank of small candles in church and why occasionally some of them are lit?

The small candles are votive or prayer candles. "Votive means that something is given or offered in fulfillment of a vow. So if a candle is a votive candle it would have meant, originally, that it was dedicated to fulfill someone's vow. Many Anglican churches have provisions for the lighting of votive candles as a means of offering prayer, without their being associated with devotion to individual saints. The candle, from being an offering in fulfillment of a vow made in prayer, has become symbolically the prayer itself, a simple act of devotion."

To go to the site where this information was found CLICK HERE

Clergy

The Rev. Charles Davidson

Vestry Members

Carol Anderson, Cyrus Aimey (Junior Warden), Veronica Airey-Wilson, Joyce Asiedu, Walter Benjamin (Senior Warden, Nora Brown, Terry Brown (Treasurer), Marie Brown-Harvey (Secretary),Evelyn Green, Shannon Holder, Bates Lyons, Joe Noel, Peter Marsele Terrie Thomas, Herbert Bowen (Hon)

Music

Rochelle Holder - Youth Choir

Nathaniel Baker - Music Director/Organist

Rector Emeritus

Canon Cyril Burke

Email

monicahartford@gmail.com

THE BOOK CORNER

The China Study

By T. Colin Campbell

I love juicy steaks, delicious cheese, and big bowls of ice cream. I love to eat out at nice restaurant. And I really like eating without thinking about the operations and consequences of our dietary industrial complex. But I don't get to enjoy these things any more because I read The China Study. Like Neo in the Movie The Matrix, you have a choice, take the blue pill and believe what you want to believe, take the red pill and you will be exposed to the reality of the world we live in.

This is a fascinating book on the capitalism, politics, and human behavior that drives the food industry. It is also frighteningly insightful into the health consequences of an affluent societies' diet. I am not a scientist so I don't know if this is good science. But I did work ten years ago as a government attorney on the USDA dietary guidelines and was surprise by the political influence and acceptance of what the author would call scientific reductionism. I also worked for a man who lived and worked until he was 100 years old, and he had a dietary regime very similar to that recommended by The China Study: not vegan nor vegetarian, but largely based on plants and whole foods rather than animal based foods. So I found this book very persuasive - in fact, too persuasive. It scared me straight so I eat healthy now and that's good for the long term...but I don't enjoy it like I use to.

Review by P. Pinkerton

LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS

Sunday, October 30, 2011: Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost: Youth Sunday

First Lesson: (Joshua 3:7-17)

Psalm 107: 1-7, 33-37

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (1 Thessalonians 2:9-13)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (23:1-12)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Matthew 13:36-43; Tuesday Hebrews 11-32-12:2; Wednesday Revelation 12:1-12; Thursday Revelations 14:1-13; Friday Revelations 15:1-8; Saturday Revelations 17:1-14.

Sunday, October 23, 2011: Nineteenth Sunday After Pentecost

First Lesson: (Deuteronomy 34:1-12)

Psalm 90: 1-6, 13-17, Page 717, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (1 Thessalonians 2:1-8)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (22:34-46)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday Matthew 10:16-22; Tuesday Revelations 4:1-11; Wednesday Revelations 5:1-10; Thursday Revelations 5:11-6:11; Friday Ephesians 4:1-16; Saturday Revelations 7: (4-8) 9-17.

Sunday, October 16, 2011: Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost

First Lesson: (Exodus 33:12-23)

Psalm 99, Page 728, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (1 Thessalonians 1:1-10)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (22:15-22)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday 1 Corinthians 15:30-41; Tuesday Luke 1:1-4; Wednesday 1 Corinthians 15:51-58; Thursday 1 Corinthians 16:1-9; Friday 1 Corinthians 16:10-24; Saturday Philemon 1-25.

Sunday, October 9, 2011: Seventeenth Sunday After Pentecost

First Lesson: (Exodus 32:1-14)

Psalm 106:1-6, 19-23, Page 741, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Philippians 4:1-9)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (22:1-14)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday 1 Corinthians 13: (1-3) 4-13; Tuesday 1 Corinthians 14:1-12; Wednesday 1 Corinthians 14:13-25; Thursday 1 Corinthians 14:26-33A, 37-40; Friday 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Saturday 1 Corinthians 15:12-29.

Sunday, October 2, 2011: Sixteenth Sunday After Pentecost

First Lesson: (Exodus 20:1-4, 7-9, 12-20)

Psalm 19, Page 606, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Philippians 3:4b-14)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (21:33-46)

Suggested Readings for the Week

Monday 1 Corinthians 10:14-11:1; Tuesday 1 Corinthians 11:2, 17-22; Wednesday 1 Corinthians 11:23-34; Thursday 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Friday 1 Corinthians 12:12-26; Saturday 1 Corinthians 12:27-13:3.

NEWS AND EVENTS

Welcome From The Rector

Directions To Saint Monica's

The Rector's Desk

On September 27, 2011 The St. Monica's worship space was filled to capacity and flowing over with parishioners, friends and well-wishers, who had come to celebrate harvest. What a wonderful celebration of God's love that was! We at St. Monica's do love our church and that is manifested in all the things we do to show our gratitude to God. October is Stewardship month when we all must once again make a financial commitment to St. Monica's for the work and ministries of our parish and pledge our time and talents. On Sunday, October 2, 2011 Fr. Davidson talked about the Ten Commandments and our responsibility to be obedient to God who rewards us for our faithfulness. We live in a world that is filled with anxieties in our daily lives. We are preoccupied with the economy and jobs, but the word of God assures us that with God we need not be anxious. Matthew 6:28, 29 "Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these." We as people of faith must truly believe that our Heavenly Father cares for us and will provide for us as we obey his will here on Earth.

Vestry Projector

The vestry now has its own projector. We will continue to use our PowerPoint presentation. It is obvious that we need others to be trained and be willing to help Bates Lyons who so far has done a marvelous job. The PowerPoint presentation saves us from having to print the service and the lessons. We hope you appreciate the effort being made by the vestry as we seek to use wisely the finances you give on a weekly basis for the operation of our parish.

Rescheduling Meetings

Fr. Davidson needs our cooperation if we wish to reschedule a meeting on Monday or Wednesday between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Fr. Davidson schedules interviews and pastoral counseling either before or after Prayer Meetings on Monday. He may also schedule interviews and pastoral counseling on Wednesday. He schedules events when there is no Bible Study. As a courtesy, please call Fr. Davidson to verify if he has anything scheduled.

Activity Calendar

Weekly: 1) Mondays-Prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m.; 2) Wednesdays-Bible Study at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Weekly): 1) Wednesdays and Fridays-Food Pantry opens 10:00 a.m. to noon.

2) Every other Thursday-Pro's and Con's Task Force at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Monthly): 1) First Thursday-Stewardship Committee at 6:30 p.m.; 2) Second Thursday-Vestry Meeting 6:30 p.m.; 3) Third Tuesday-Women of Valier; 4) Third and fourth Saturday opens at 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.; 5) First Saturday-Episcopal Church Women (ECW) at 12:00 noon

Young People's Fellowship Mandatory Meetings

There will be a mandatory meetings for all Young People's Fellowship members and any other youths interested in participating in the youth service on Sunday, October 30, 2011. All meetings will be held at 5:00 p.m. The following are the meeting dates:

1. Sunday October 2

2. Tuesday October 11

3. Saturday October 15

4. Sunday October 16

5. Saturday October 22

6. Sunday October 23

7. Saturday October 29

Please see Marie Harvey, Naomi Brito or Geraldine Williams if you have any questions.

Young People's Fellowship Pie Sale

The Young People's Fellowship is sponsoring its annual Thanksgiving Pie Sale. The cost is $10.00 per pie. All orders must be received by Sunday, November 6, 2011. Please see any member of the Young People's Fellowship to place your order.

Pearls of Wellness Scholarship

Brunch

Epsilon Omicron Omega Hartford Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Inc. Presents Pearls of Wellness Scholarship Brunch On Saturday, November 5, 2011. The brunch will begin at 11:00 a.m. and will be held at the Farmington Club, Farmington, Connecticut. Please see Terrie Thomas for tickets.

Barbados American Society

The Barbados American Society of Hartford is celebrating Barbados' 45th Independence on Saturday, November 5, 2011 and our own organization's 45 years in existence. We will honor some of our founding members. This event will be held at he Hartord Plaza Hotel, East River Driver, East Hartford. Please see Patsy Lindo for further dsetails.

PowerPoint Ministry

We are currently looking for persons interested in the ministry of presenting PowerPoint during the service (8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.). Requirements:

1. Must have a laptop computer.

2. Must have a working knowledge of PowerPoint.

3. Must have access to the internet.

4. Must be reliable.

If you are interested give you name, email address and/or phone number to the Office. A. Bates Lyons will contact you to participate in a training session.

Calendars

Once again we are selling 2012 religious calendars for $10.00 each. Please consider buying these as gifts for you family and friends. See Euna Farrell or Arlette Hurdle to purchase calendars. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Birthdays and Anniversaries in October

Happy Birthday to: Synfoni Green 2nd; Angela Chambers and Trevor Wilson 4th; Beverly Watson and Cordell Tuning 5th; Nicholas Harvey 6th; Susan Davis and Carol Harris 7th; Immauni James 8th and Elijah Henriques 8th; Florence Burke 11th; Patton Duncan 16th; Eddie Davis, Jason Harvey and Neville Radway 18th; Andrea Anderson 22nd; Patricia David 24th; Beverly Forrester and Taylor Jordan 25th; Monet Warren 28th; Edrick Hall 30th.

In Memory For October

Hazel Smith 2nd; Clariana Airey 3rd; Andrew Jordon and Stephan Okrey 8th; Bestrice Mccoy 9th; Clarissa Ford and Hubert Hamilton 10th; Robert Palmer and Louise Waterman 11th; Zelma Smith 13th; Florence Jones and Bertram Jones 14th; Edward Weaver 15th; Susan Reid 16th; Ethel Anderson, Herbert Connover and Ella Holloway 17th; Archibald Reedy 19th; Viola Jones 22nd; Magnolia Cole 23rd; Gwendolyn Calvin and Adeline Power 25th; eugene Nelson, Philip Owens and Delores Swett 27th; Hubert Cooke, Cecilia Irving and Ida Worrell 28th; Cynthia Anderson 29th; Mary Baisden 30th.

Condolences

The Bailey and Green families express their heartfelt thank for the sympathy you have extended toward our families during this time of loss. We are deeply grateful to you.