Friday August 21, 2009

Hello and welcome to the August 21 edition of the eSpirit of Wyoming!

Wyoming Convention is closing fast! The Preconvention Meeting on August 8 went well and was attended by representatives in regional centers via videoconference. Big plans are being made to welcome everyone to Casper and this year’s exciting event is the participation of the Presiding Bishop, Katharine Jefferts Schori. For more information email: office@wyomingdiocese.org or call 307.265.5200.

Also, if you are still in the planning (or even preplanning) stages for the Mustard Seed Mission, the Diocese and Foundation are standing by to help you! Let us know! As always, we are a phone call (307.265.5200) or email away. At the October Convention each congregation that participated in the Mustard Seed Mission is expected to report back at Convention. A bulletin insert about the Mustard Seed and the guidelines for sharing projects through a poster session have been emailed and mailed to each church. So if you are stuck, or just need an extra helping hand, please contact the Diocese and Foundation offices.

A reminder that if you have articles you would like to share with the rest of the Diocese, please email them (and a picture if you have one) to info@wyomingdiocese.org. It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering news or events, but anything you would like to share.

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RAISING UP YOUR CONGREGATION

Thomas the Apostle Center, in partnership with the Episcopal Foundation of Wyoming, is sponsoring a special workshop entitled, RAISING UP YOUR CONGREGATION.

This presentation is designed to assist congregations in dealing with many of the practical aspects of efficiently administering a congregation in this time of radical technological change. It is especially designed for clergy and those in charge of financial and volunteer administration.

The workshop will be first offered at the Thomas the Apostle Center (TAC) in Cody on September 11-12. It will begin on Friday at 5 PM and conclude on Saturday with lunch at noon. This workshop is free and made possible though a special grant from the Episcopal Foundation. Accommodations at TAC are also free for the first 15 enrollees.  A second “TAC on the Road” workshop will be offered September 26 from 9 until 3 at All Saints Episcopal Church in Wheatland. This will also be free with lunch provided.

RAISING UP YOUR CONGREGATION will be led by The Rev. Warren Murphy, former director of the Wyoming Association of Churches and long time Rector at Christ Episcopal Church in Cody. He will be assisted by Andrew Kerr, Communication Director for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming. The workshop will address such issues as legal requirements for churches and non profits, keeping accurate and transparent financial records, making a congregation technologically proficient, updating communication through websites and on-line newsletters, and how to better utilize volunteers and run efficient congregational meetings.

This workshop is open to any congregation as well as Episcopal Churches. According to Rev. Murphy, “There are many changes going on these days in the world of church development”. He goes on to say, “The TAC workshop is designed to enable congregations to be proactive in addressing the changes that lie ahead”.

Registration for both workshops can be made by contacting TAC at thomap@tritel.net or call them at 307-587-4400.

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Come worship in the great outdoors (and at 10,500 feet)!

St Alban’s Chapel is located outside of Centennial, in the Snowy Range. A ministry of St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Laramie (and just a 30 minute or so drive), offers Morning Prayer at 10 a.m. every Sunday in July and August. The beautiful open-air chapel is attended by Episcopalians and campers since 1941 when it was first consecrated.

Join St Matthew’s in celebrating in worship this Sunday (August 23) for an all-church Holy Eucharist service at 10 a.m. This year it is August 23. The The Very Rev Marilyn Engstrom will preside and parishioners are encouraged to bring a picnic lunch, blankets, lawn chairs, etc. for a time of fellowship immediately following that service. For more information on St. Alban’s and getting a map & directions, go to: http://saintmatthews.qwestoffice.net/St_Alban's.htm

For more information, call 742-6608 or email: stmattslaramie@aol.com

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By Mr. John Peacock. Email: mettenheim@msn.com

This article is being reprinted to remember The Rev Jonathan Daniels this Sunday

August 13, 2009, Cheyenne, Wyoming....,,Governor Freudenthal has proclaimed Sunday, August 23, 2009 as Jonathan Daniels Remembrance Day and St. Mark’s will be observing the Feast of Jonathan Myrick Daniels, Seminarian and Witness for Civil Rights, on August 23, 2009. The Rev. Judith Upham, seminary classmate of Daniels, will be guest priest. The Rev. Upham will preach at both the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. services and lead a Sunday Forum between services. The Forum will afford a unique opportunity to meet and ask questions of a participant in the civil rights marches of the 1960's.

Jonathan Myrick Daniels (March 20, 1939 – August 20, 1965) was an Episcopal seminarian, killed for his work in the American civil rights movement. On August 13, 1965, Daniels, in a group of 29 protesters, went to picket whites-only stores in the small town of Fort Deposit, Alabama. All of the protesters were arrested and taken to jail in the nearby town of Hayneville. Five juvenile protesters were released the next day. The rest of the group was held for six days; they refused to accept bail unless everyone was bailed. Finally, on August 20, the prisoners were released without transport back to Fort Deposit. After release, the group waited by a road nearby the jail. Daniels with three others — a white Catholic priest and two black protesters--went down the street to get a cold soft drink at Varner's Grocery Store, one of the few local stores that would serve nonwhites. Tom L. Coleman, an engineer for the state highway department and unpaid special deputy, who wielded a shotgun, met them at the front. The man threatened the group, and finally leveled his gun at seventeen-year-old Ruby Sales. Daniels pushed Sales down to the ground and caught the full blast of the gun. He was killed instantly. The priest, Richard F. Morrisroe, grabbed the other protester and ran. Coleman shot Morrisroe, wounding him in the lower back. Daniels’ death helped galvanize support for the civil rights movement within the Episcopal Church. He is regarded as a martyr in the Episcopal Church. (source-Wikipedia)

The Rev. Judith Upham, who graduated from the Episcopal Theological School in 1967, spent most of the spring semester 1965 in Selma, Alabama, working with Jon Daniels. She was ordained Deacon on December 6, 1975 and Priest on January 6, 1977. She was Rector of Grace Episcopal Church in Syracuse, New York, from 1979 to 1991. Since then she has served as Interim Rector for a number of parishes throughout the country.

Observances at St. Mark’s are sponsored and made possible by The Jonathan Daniels Society, the Church’s Peace and Justice Ministry. The public is invited. St. Mark's is located at 1908 Central Avenue.

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By The Rev Bob Edlan. Email: eldan@bresnan.net

(Note corrections made in bold/italics below)
 

The following positions will be voted on at the Diocesan Convention:

Diocesan Council
1 lay person for a 3 year term
2 clergy person for a 3 year term
One adult communicant not over 19 years of age to be elected by youth delegates - 1 year term
Bishop appoints one person

Ecclesiastical Court
1 lay person for a 3 year term
1 clergy person for a 3 year term

Provincial Synod
3 lay persons for a 1 year term
3 clergy persons for a 1 year term

Standing Committee
1 lay person for a 3 year term
1 clergy person for a 3 year term

If you are interested in any of these positions please submit to Bob Eldan (nominations chair) your name along with a statement of why you fill suited by October 1 at the latest. Via email: eldan@bresnan.net, phone: 307-332-2075,
or mail:
249 Mount Arter Loop
Lander, Wyoming 82520-2921

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By The Rev Doug Wasinger. Email: doug@wyomingdiocese.org

Hello folks of Carbon County and beyond. I hope this month of August is treating you well. For those who live in Carbon County they can breathe a sigh of relief now that fair week is in the books. Kellie was talking to Reba from Little Snake River Valley (LSRV) and she has faithfully attended the County Fair for close to 60 years! I once read a quote from a person at the fair, “I live in Carbon County and I find my friends at the Fair.” It was a good time for all. St. James in Encampment is busy playing and I spoke to Roxan last week and she is engaged with fair activities; St. Thomas (Rawlins) is plugging along and from what I can gather enjoying the month of August; St. Paul continues to read the bible on book at a time; St. Luke is also enjoying their August summer month. With the conclusion of fair days it is a sign that summer is coming to a close and early fall is right around the corner. I hope this letter finds you well.

Last Monday I was privileged to spend an important hour with the folks of St. Thomas (Rawlins) for sermon preparation. I am now meeting with this group on the Monday before I am scheduled to preach to “check in” with the church and to discern with others about how God is calling St. Thomas to be the church in the world. Our reflection time has a structure that has a gathering prayer, guiding principles, reflection on the Gospel, prayers of the people, Apostle’s creed, the Lord’s prayer, and wrapped up with a rule of life for the group. I also called the senior warden for the month at St. Thomas to start a conversation for a COM grant request from Karen Buckingham. I also got together with Andy Kerr of the Diocesan staff to become more familiar with WebEx. Kathy Robinson also called and we discussed her work with Evangelism.

Tuesday was a lighter day. I made a couple of phone calls and overall worked with helping Kellie prepare for fair. Wednesday was my web/phone conference day. It started with the Ministry Developers weekly check in call and we spent a bit more time this week learning about WebEx. We didn’t spend all our time playing around and learning this new platform. The Ministry Developers also discussed up-coming on-line Ethics Course that will be presented as a joint effort from EDS and the Diocese of Wyoming this fall. We also reviewed our scenario training. That evening I was a conference call (no web) with the Evangelism team and we discussed our work as a group. The Evangelism work is about how to do a theological reflection that expands our vision of God’s work in the world and in doing so we find connecting points with God’s work. Check out this web-site to learn more: http://wyoevangelism.ning.com/

Thursday I drove over to St. John’s (Green River) for another session of Wade in the Water. I am discovering some wonderful gifts about that church. They have a positive history of dealing with changes to their worship space and are open for more changes. They also have a good working model on how two different Christian Faith communities can share one space with harmony. Good stuff going on at St Johns. Also the group has met faithfully through the summer and that is no small feat!

Friday was a day of administrative work and not much to report in this posting. However, I have been working with Pat with the Wyoming Wilderness Camp this year and they have started a blog. It has been up-dated and worth checking out: http://www.wyomingwilderness2009.blogspot.com/

Saturday was the pre-convention meeting for the Diocese. Region 4 met in Laramie and was connected throughout the Diocese by compressed video. The bishop made a brief statement about the state of the Diocese and his experiences as he travels throughout Wyoming. The budget was discussed and a resolution was proposed about Safeguarding God’s Children training.

Sunday I was at St. Thomas to preside. There was a new family in attendance that Sunday and she seemed like she enjoyed the service. There also been a family coming from Wamsutter with their new born child who seems only happy in her father’s arms. There was a brief vestry meeting to sign a letter of support for Karen Buckingham’s grant request from the COM and some more discussion about the Mustard Seed Money’s. I can say that the Mustard Seed Project is doing its job people are talking about mission.

This week looks like this: Monday I am headed to St. Paul’s (Dixon aka LSRV) for the summer café bible reflection. Tuesday I am heading to Saratoga to begin talking about how to license a local preacher. Wednesday is the weekly web/phone meeting with the Ministry Developers and that evening the Regional Reps and the Ministry Developers will also have a web/phone conference. Thursday it is looking like I will be having office hours at Kraft Hall (Rawlins). Sunday I will presiding at two services starting at St. James (Encampment) @ 9am and that evening I will be at St. Paul’s (Dixon) @ 5pm.

Be well my friends!

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