BIBLE AND BITES
Bible and Bites is a great opportunity for adults to learn about the Bible while connecting with a fantastic group of people off-campus in a casual and fun atmosphere.
There is no registration for this Bible study. Newcomers, Church members, and friends are welcomed to drop in to Bible & Bites whenever they can. Bible & Bites meets at 6:30 pm on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at Zea's Restaurant in Kenner, Louisiana. The date and location are subject to change so check the Torch, weekly emails, and calendar on St. Augustine's website.
Contact: Linda Jones ljones@belltec.com, (504)388-3761.
BREAK BREAD TOGETHER
This social group gets together for a "pot luck" style dinner on the third Friday of each month (scheduling conflicts sometimes necessitate a date change) to enjoy great food and company. Individuals and couples in this group take a turn hosting the dinner at his or her home (or sometimes Byrd Hall) where the host provides the entree and everyone else brings a dish to share.
This is an adults-only dinner party group. Annual planning for the Break Bread Together group takes place in September. At that time, anyone wanting to participate can get added to the group email and pick a month to host the dinner or otherwise get into the rotation. Please do not feel like you must wait until September if you are interested. Newcomers are welcomed to join the group at the next dinner. Just check the Torch and weekly emails for the name, number or email of that month's host, R.S.V.P. to the host so he or she has an accurate head count, decide what dish you want to bring, and ask to be added to the Break Bread Together group email.
Contact: Janice Zitzmann (504)487-0857, jzitzmann@bhbmlaw.com
BREAKFAST SUNDAY
On the first Sunday of the month our "Breakfast Sunday" crew prepares and serves a hot breakfast in between the two morning services, i.e. starting 9:15 am. Breakfast Sunday is an excellent time to meet new people and visit with friends. People who attend the 8:00 am service stay for fellowship, and people who are going to attend the 10:30 am service come early.
Everyone is invited to the St. Augustine's table for Breakfast Sunday. No reservations are required. Volunteers prepare and serve the breakfast, and volunteers clean up afterward. Extra help is always welcomed.
Contact: Kara Esquivel (504)473-4025, karahoerner@hotmail.com
BOOK CLUB
Book Club members get together to discuss the latest book that they selected and read the prior month. They alternate between fiction and nonfiction, and cover a wide range of interests and topics. Book Club meets in Byrd Hall on the first Monday of each month for about an hour, starting at 2:00 pm. The book selected by the members will be available for sale in the book store.
All book lovers are encouraged to join this group. There is no formal registration. Pick up and read the book club's latest selection from the Book Store or just drop-in on the next discussion to see if Book Club interests you.
Contact: Marilyn Smith (985)796-0925, empteenest@aol.com
CHURCH & CANVAS
Anyone who wants to paint (in any medium) is welcomed to join this group, including non-church members. Church & Canvas meets in Byrd Hall the third Saturday of each month, at noon. Those wishing to paint along with the class should register in September and get their supplies for the class. Independent painters do not need to register. There is no charge or fee, but group members provide their own painting supplies.
Contact: Kay Johnson kaykayj1947@gmail.com
COFFEE HOUR
Coffee Hour is an important ministry here at St. Augustine and is vital to our collaborative effort to make our Church a welcoming place for newcomers by providing a time and reason for them to relax, meet and socialize with existing Church members.
Anyone wanting to help with this ministry can sign up to host a Coffee Hour. The Coffee Hour signup board is in Byrd Hall, and there are small informative flyers available entitled "Coffee Hour Hosts / Information & Suggestions."
Generally, a Coffee Hour host provides and sets up breakfast snacks to share following the particular service's Coffee Hour for which s/he signed up. The Coffee Hour you host can be as simple or extravagant as you choose. What you serve and how you serve it is up to you. There is a $25 stipend/reimbursement available for each Coffee Hour, and the Church provides the coffee, non-dairy creamer, sweeteners, coffee mugs, cups, chilled-filtered water, serving utensils, napkins, plastic utensils, and serving trays or bowls.
Contact: Jeanne B. Roques (Blanchard) (504) 454-3927, chuckjeanne@cox.net
EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
Episcopal Church Women (ECW), as a recognized organization within the Episcopal Church of the United States of America, began in 1871 as the Women's Auxiliary to the Board of Missions. Members of the ECW have always been women of vision and were the Episcopal Church in America's first missionaries to foreign countries. ECW has served the Diocese of Louisiana for 125 years. Here at St. Augustine's Church, the ECW carries on this proud tradition of service. Our ECW supports local, national, and foreign aid, assistance and service programs like the Church Periodical Club, United Thank Offering, Partners in Mission, the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund, and Church Women United, and provides support to St. Augustine's Altar Guild, Youth Group, Pumpkin Patch, Bissonet Plaza Partnership (STAIR program), Honduras Partnership (Shoebox Ministry, clothing shipments, and student scholarship to our sister church and school, Church of the Holy Spirit, in Tela, Honduras) and capital campaigns.
Every Episcopal woman who has reached the age of 18 is "automatically" a member of the ECW. The question for each woman is "What part do you want to play in this ministry?" Here at St. Augustine, the ECW formally meets only quarterly, but the ECW has an activity, event, informal planning meeting, or other working project just about every month. Look for meeting dates, events, and calls for volunteers in the Torch, weekly church emails, or flyers posted in Byrd Hall.
Contact: current President, Joyclyn Yuja, (504) 957-2892, joyclyn3834@att.net
FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
St. Augustine's Church established a Fantasy Football League with the goal of creating a community-building, cross-generational fellowship opportunity. This is New Orleans. We love our Saints. Young people, old people, new friends, old friends, and complete strangers will watch a good football game together, and talk to each other about it. Fantasy Football involves more than just the Saints, but nevertheless provides a backdrop for football enthusiasts of all ages to get to know one another and enjoy the camaraderie and good-natured competition as each team vies for the championship trophy!
The Fantasy Football League can only add new teams or participants in late July of each year because the number of teams (and team owners) need to be established before the real football season begins. There is a $100.00 per team fee that covers league materials, league-provided food, trophies and prizes.
Anyone interested in learning more about Fantasy Football and everyone just interested in having fun and watching football games together are invited to attend the tail-gaiting, pot-luck style parties hosted by the league during football season. Look for the dates of these get-
togethers in the Torch and weekly emails. The parties are often during Saints' "away" games, always involve food, and may involve cook-offs.
Contact: Chuck Blanchard (504)454-3927, chuckjeanne@cox.net
GREETERS' COMMITTEE
The St. Augustine's Greeter Committee has the important task of welcoming guests after each Sunday service. Greeters share their gift of hospitality by welcoming visitors during their assigned times, usually approximately once per month. It's a great way to share your faith and get to know the newest members of St. Augustine's.
Contact: Patricia "Pat" E. Bridges (504)460-7934, pbridges@frfirm.com
MEN'S CLUB
Are you a male member of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church? Do you like getting together to enjoy a good meal, share in fellowship and be entertained and informed by interesting speakers? If so then the Men’s Club is for you. We invite all male church members and any friends they wish to bring to our events. The Men’s Club meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm in Byrd Hall. We always have a good time, strive to present interesting programs, share within our parish and in our community, and occasionally hold off campus events..
Registration and reservations are not required. Gentlemen are encouraged to drop-in. Men's Club members take turns cooking the supper at each meeting and each attendee pays $8.00 (the price varies) for his dinner. Adult beverages can be purchased at the meetings.
Contact: Men's Club President, Tim Gagliano, (504)232-7171, tim@cio-services.biz
PARISH PICNIC
The Parish Picnic is an annual event occurring in late May. The Church provides hamburgers and a waterslide and attendees are asked to bring a favorite side dish to share. The Church has a bingo set available for everyone to play, but welcomes attendees to set up other fun, group activities. A volunteer is needed to chair this event and other volunteers are needed to publicize the event (neighbors, church members and pre-school families are all invited), set up, decorate tables, lead the games and activities, and help clean up after.
Contact: Andre J. Roques (504)469-5306, ajroques@bellsouth.net
PUMPKIN-PALOOZA
Pumpkin-Palooza is a fun, exciting mini-festival that began in 2008 as a way of bringing together the parish, school, and neighborhood. It takes place from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm the Saturday before Halloween, but may be a week earlier some years depending on the pumpkin delivery schedule and other timing concerns. The festival features kiddie carnival games, activities, a pumpkin decorating contest, and prizes for children. The St. Augustine’s Pre-School children put on an adorable performance of holiday songs. Adults enjoy good company, win cakes on the cake walk, win door prizes, and compete in pumpkin cooking and pumpkin decorating contests to win restaurant or other merchant gift cards. Admission is free and open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to invite his or her friends and neighbors. Hot dogs, homemade chili, popcorn, and lemonade are sold during the event.
Pumpkin-Palooza is a team effort. Adult and youth volunteers are in great demand for this event. There are countless ways for you to be involved, and in the interest of space only some will be listed here: promote and advertise the contests; set up and decorate for the event the Friday night before; coordinate volunteers; bake cakes for the cake walk; obtain items for and/or put together door prizes; obtain gift cards/prizes for the contests; help with games, contests, activities and food during Palooza; and help pickup after Pumpkin-Palooza ends.
Contact: Jeanne B. Roques (Blanchard) (504)454-3927, chuckjeanne@cox.net
QUARTERLY PARISH POTLUCKS
Each quarter a family hosts a potluck dinner in their home. The host family provides the main course. Other families bring salads, vegetables, desserts, and appetizers. Everyone brings their own beverages. This is an opportunity for all to gather in an informal setting, so we can get to know one another better, and enjoy each other's company in a more relaxed setting.
Contact: Father AJ Heine (504)887-4801, ajheine@bellsouth.net
Bible and Bites is a great opportunity for adults to learn about the Bible while connecting with a fantastic group of people off-campus in a casual and fun atmosphere.
There is no registration for this Bible study. Newcomers, Church members, and friends are welcomed to drop in to Bible & Bites whenever they can. Bible & Bites meets at 6:30 pm on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at Zea's Restaurant in Kenner, Louisiana. The date and location are subject to change so check the Torch, weekly emails, and calendar on St. Augustine's website.
Contact: Linda Jones ljones@belltec.com, (504)388-3761.
BREAK BREAD TOGETHER
This social group gets together for a "pot luck" style dinner on the third Friday of each month (scheduling conflicts sometimes necessitate a date change) to enjoy great food and company. Individuals and couples in this group take a turn hosting the dinner at his or her home (or sometimes Byrd Hall) where the host provides the entree and everyone else brings a dish to share.
This is an adults-only dinner party group. Annual planning for the Break Bread Together group takes place in September. At that time, anyone wanting to participate can get added to the group email and pick a month to host the dinner or otherwise get into the rotation. Please do not feel like you must wait until September if you are interested. Newcomers are welcomed to join the group at the next dinner. Just check the Torch and weekly emails for the name, number or email of that month's host, R.S.V.P. to the host so he or she has an accurate head count, decide what dish you want to bring, and ask to be added to the Break Bread Together group email.
Contact: Janice Zitzmann (504)487-0857, jzitzmann@bhbmlaw.com
BREAKFAST SUNDAY
On the first Sunday of the month our "Breakfast Sunday" crew prepares and serves a hot breakfast in between the two morning services, i.e. starting 9:15 am. Breakfast Sunday is an excellent time to meet new people and visit with friends. People who attend the 8:00 am service stay for fellowship, and people who are going to attend the 10:30 am service come early.
Everyone is invited to the St. Augustine's table for Breakfast Sunday. No reservations are required. Volunteers prepare and serve the breakfast, and volunteers clean up afterward. Extra help is always welcomed.
Contact: Kara Esquivel (504)473-4025, karahoerner@hotmail.com
BOOK CLUB
Book Club members get together to discuss the latest book that they selected and read the prior month. They alternate between fiction and nonfiction, and cover a wide range of interests and topics. Book Club meets in Byrd Hall on the first Monday of each month for about an hour, starting at 2:00 pm. The book selected by the members will be available for sale in the book store.
All book lovers are encouraged to join this group. There is no formal registration. Pick up and read the book club's latest selection from the Book Store or just drop-in on the next discussion to see if Book Club interests you.
Contact: Marilyn Smith (985)796-0925, empteenest@aol.com
CHURCH & CANVAS
Anyone who wants to paint (in any medium) is welcomed to join this group, including non-church members. Church & Canvas meets in Byrd Hall the third Saturday of each month, at noon. Those wishing to paint along with the class should register in September and get their supplies for the class. Independent painters do not need to register. There is no charge or fee, but group members provide their own painting supplies.
Contact: Kay Johnson kaykayj1947@gmail.com
COFFEE HOUR
Coffee Hour is an important ministry here at St. Augustine and is vital to our collaborative effort to make our Church a welcoming place for newcomers by providing a time and reason for them to relax, meet and socialize with existing Church members.
Anyone wanting to help with this ministry can sign up to host a Coffee Hour. The Coffee Hour signup board is in Byrd Hall, and there are small informative flyers available entitled "Coffee Hour Hosts / Information & Suggestions."
Generally, a Coffee Hour host provides and sets up breakfast snacks to share following the particular service's Coffee Hour for which s/he signed up. The Coffee Hour you host can be as simple or extravagant as you choose. What you serve and how you serve it is up to you. There is a $25 stipend/reimbursement available for each Coffee Hour, and the Church provides the coffee, non-dairy creamer, sweeteners, coffee mugs, cups, chilled-filtered water, serving utensils, napkins, plastic utensils, and serving trays or bowls.
Contact: Jeanne B. Roques (Blanchard) (504) 454-3927, chuckjeanne@cox.net
EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
Episcopal Church Women (ECW), as a recognized organization within the Episcopal Church of the United States of America, began in 1871 as the Women's Auxiliary to the Board of Missions. Members of the ECW have always been women of vision and were the Episcopal Church in America's first missionaries to foreign countries. ECW has served the Diocese of Louisiana for 125 years. Here at St. Augustine's Church, the ECW carries on this proud tradition of service. Our ECW supports local, national, and foreign aid, assistance and service programs like the Church Periodical Club, United Thank Offering, Partners in Mission, the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund, and Church Women United, and provides support to St. Augustine's Altar Guild, Youth Group, Pumpkin Patch, Bissonet Plaza Partnership (STAIR program), Honduras Partnership (Shoebox Ministry, clothing shipments, and student scholarship to our sister church and school, Church of the Holy Spirit, in Tela, Honduras) and capital campaigns.
Every Episcopal woman who has reached the age of 18 is "automatically" a member of the ECW. The question for each woman is "What part do you want to play in this ministry?" Here at St. Augustine, the ECW formally meets only quarterly, but the ECW has an activity, event, informal planning meeting, or other working project just about every month. Look for meeting dates, events, and calls for volunteers in the Torch, weekly church emails, or flyers posted in Byrd Hall.
Contact: current President, Joyclyn Yuja, (504) 957-2892, joyclyn3834@att.net
FANTASY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
St. Augustine's Church established a Fantasy Football League with the goal of creating a community-building, cross-generational fellowship opportunity. This is New Orleans. We love our Saints. Young people, old people, new friends, old friends, and complete strangers will watch a good football game together, and talk to each other about it. Fantasy Football involves more than just the Saints, but nevertheless provides a backdrop for football enthusiasts of all ages to get to know one another and enjoy the camaraderie and good-natured competition as each team vies for the championship trophy!
The Fantasy Football League can only add new teams or participants in late July of each year because the number of teams (and team owners) need to be established before the real football season begins. There is a $100.00 per team fee that covers league materials, league-provided food, trophies and prizes.
Anyone interested in learning more about Fantasy Football and everyone just interested in having fun and watching football games together are invited to attend the tail-gaiting, pot-luck style parties hosted by the league during football season. Look for the dates of these get-
togethers in the Torch and weekly emails. The parties are often during Saints' "away" games, always involve food, and may involve cook-offs.
Contact: Chuck Blanchard (504)454-3927, chuckjeanne@cox.net
GREETERS' COMMITTEE
The St. Augustine's Greeter Committee has the important task of welcoming guests after each Sunday service. Greeters share their gift of hospitality by welcoming visitors during their assigned times, usually approximately once per month. It's a great way to share your faith and get to know the newest members of St. Augustine's.
Contact: Patricia "Pat" E. Bridges (504)460-7934, pbridges@frfirm.com
MEN'S CLUB
Are you a male member of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church? Do you like getting together to enjoy a good meal, share in fellowship and be entertained and informed by interesting speakers? If so then the Men’s Club is for you. We invite all male church members and any friends they wish to bring to our events. The Men’s Club meets on the second Tuesday of every month at 6:30 pm in Byrd Hall. We always have a good time, strive to present interesting programs, share within our parish and in our community, and occasionally hold off campus events..
Registration and reservations are not required. Gentlemen are encouraged to drop-in. Men's Club members take turns cooking the supper at each meeting and each attendee pays $8.00 (the price varies) for his dinner. Adult beverages can be purchased at the meetings.
Contact: Men's Club President, Tim Gagliano, (504)232-7171, tim@cio-services.biz
PARISH PICNIC
The Parish Picnic is an annual event occurring in late May. The Church provides hamburgers and a waterslide and attendees are asked to bring a favorite side dish to share. The Church has a bingo set available for everyone to play, but welcomes attendees to set up other fun, group activities. A volunteer is needed to chair this event and other volunteers are needed to publicize the event (neighbors, church members and pre-school families are all invited), set up, decorate tables, lead the games and activities, and help clean up after.
Contact: Andre J. Roques (504)469-5306, ajroques@bellsouth.net
PUMPKIN-PALOOZA
Pumpkin-Palooza is a fun, exciting mini-festival that began in 2008 as a way of bringing together the parish, school, and neighborhood. It takes place from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm the Saturday before Halloween, but may be a week earlier some years depending on the pumpkin delivery schedule and other timing concerns. The festival features kiddie carnival games, activities, a pumpkin decorating contest, and prizes for children. The St. Augustine’s Pre-School children put on an adorable performance of holiday songs. Adults enjoy good company, win cakes on the cake walk, win door prizes, and compete in pumpkin cooking and pumpkin decorating contests to win restaurant or other merchant gift cards. Admission is free and open to the public. Everyone is encouraged to invite his or her friends and neighbors. Hot dogs, homemade chili, popcorn, and lemonade are sold during the event.
Pumpkin-Palooza is a team effort. Adult and youth volunteers are in great demand for this event. There are countless ways for you to be involved, and in the interest of space only some will be listed here: promote and advertise the contests; set up and decorate for the event the Friday night before; coordinate volunteers; bake cakes for the cake walk; obtain items for and/or put together door prizes; obtain gift cards/prizes for the contests; help with games, contests, activities and food during Palooza; and help pickup after Pumpkin-Palooza ends.
Contact: Jeanne B. Roques (Blanchard) (504)454-3927, chuckjeanne@cox.net
QUARTERLY PARISH POTLUCKS
Each quarter a family hosts a potluck dinner in their home. The host family provides the main course. Other families bring salads, vegetables, desserts, and appetizers. Everyone brings their own beverages. This is an opportunity for all to gather in an informal setting, so we can get to know one another better, and enjoy each other's company in a more relaxed setting.
Contact: Father AJ Heine (504)887-4801, ajheine@bellsouth.net