Vol 36 No 1 April 2015
A Chapel Rises
In North Augusta, South Carolina
The fun began in the Fall, 2014.
Soon the foundation was being laid.
And the walls were going up!
Brick by brick by brick!
The chapel
floor was
baptized
by rain.
The bones grew tall.
There are lots of curves and angles.
Windows and lines.
A window with a view!
EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Convent of St Helena, 3042 Eagle Drive, Augusta GA 30906-3326
706-798-5201, ext 1
[email protected]
http://www.osh.org/events.html
ASCENSION DAY CELEBRATION
Join us in Augusta
Thursday, May 14, 2015
11:00 am
Festal Holy Eucharist to mark 49 years of worship
in the Chapel of the Ascension
The Rt Rev J Neil Alexander, Bishop Visitor
Presider and Preacher
A light lunch will follow.
RSVP by calling 706.798.5201 ext 1 or by email: [email protected]
UP-COMING CELEBRATIONS IN NORTH AUGUSTA, SOUTH CAROLINA
Saturday, August 29, 11:00 am All are invited to join us in celebrating the 50th anniversary of
Sr Ruth’s Life Profession in OSH. A service of Holy Eucharist will be followed by lunch.
If you would like to write a note or share a story to be part of a memory book, please mail them to
50th Anniversary Memory Book, Order of St Helena, 3042 Eagle Dr, Augusta, GA 30906.
RSVP by calling 706.798.5201 ext 1 or by email: [email protected]
Might You Have a Vocation to Religious Life?
“Come and See”!
Labor Day weekend: September 4-6, 2015
This weekend will provide opportunities to talk with sisters, to meet
others also exploring this vocation and to experience our life of prayer
and community. To make a reservation, please contact Ellen Francis,
OSH by email: [email protected] or by calling 706.798.5201 to leave a
message.
Sunday, November 8, 2015
You’ll want to be there to help us celebrate
the 70th ANNIVERSARY
of the Founding of the Order of Saint Helena!
The Rt Rev J Neil Alexander
will preside and preach
at our new location in North Augusta, SC.
Look for more details to come!
ANNOUNCEMENTS
eBreviary and ePsalter: We are offering a CD of The Saint Helena Breviary: Monastic Edition and The Saint Helena Psalter as a gift in appreciation for your
donation of $25 or more. Go to our web link printed below and check the box indicating you would like to receive the CD. These files are in PDF (Portable Document Format) and readable on a PC or Mac with Adobe Acrobat Reader or other electronic readers (such as iBook). See http://www.osh.org/contributions.html.
Contribute online to OSH: We appreciate and prayerfully steward your contributions to the Order, which are used to help support our guest and outreach ministries, chaplaincy work, spiritual direction, parish involvement, and care of our buildings and grounds. You can donate easily: go to our web link printed below,
press the “Donate for Good” button and follow the directions. If you wish, you may designate your gift for a specific purpose. See http://www.osh.org/
contributions.html.
“Like” us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/OrderofSaintHelena.
CONVENT OF ST HELENA
3042 Eagle Dr, Augusta GA 30906-3326
Phone 706-798-5201 Fax 706-796-0079
[email protected]
http://www.osh.org
Thank you for your prayerful responses and financial support of our ministries.
And thank you for an annual contribution in support of the newsletter’s publication. Please mail checks made to “OSH” c/o Sr Linda Elston. If you would like to
begin receiving the newsletter or if your contact information changes, please
write to the convent or email us at [email protected].
POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Convent of St Helena, 3042 Eagle Dr, Augusta GA 30906-3326. saint helena (USPS 487-590)
is published four times a year by the Order of St Helena, 3042 Eagle Dr, Augusta GA 30906-3326. Periodical postage is paid at Newburgh NY.
PERIODICAL POSTAGE
PAID AT
NEWBURGH NY
AND OTHER OFFICES
The mission of the
Order of Saint Helena (Episcopal)
is to show forth Christ through a life of
monastic prayer, hospitality and service.
Vol 36 No 1 April 2015
The new chapel in North Augusta is rising!
ASSOCIATES COLUMN
Nancy Valenti, OSH Associate
The Order of St Helena has continued to be a mainstay of my life from the 1970s, when I was a
young adult, to the present. My first contact with the Order was a traditional silent retreat offered in
my diocese, led by Sr Josephine. It was such a positive experience, giving me many spiritual tools
which I have used throughout my life. I grew spiritually through classes in meditation, Bible study,
Education for Ministry (EfM), and various parish activities. When an opportunity came to attend
General Seminary in New York City, it occurred to me that I did not want to do this alone, so I
applied to become an Associate of OSH. While earning my MDiv, I attended a meditation group
led by Sr Rachel, who was teaching at the seminary, and Sr Andrea was my spiritual director.
Ordination did not happen for me but I still hear the call, more gently now, to follow God’s will and live my life reflecting the
light of Christ to others. Because of OSH I have structured rhythm into my life by beginning and ending each day with spiritual
readings, by being aware of the rhythm of the seasons and of those around me. I try to balance my life between being and
doing.
There is pleasure in looking back over the years I have been associated with OSH. Also there is joy in knowing, sharing and
praying with the Sisters who are carrying the life of the Order forward. It is exciting to anticipate the opportunities that will
appear with the move to South Carolina. The location is changing but the mission of us all, Sisters and Associates together,
will be the same.