Friday May 22, 2009

Hello and welcome to the May 22 edition of the eSpirit of Wyoming!

Mustard Seeds are being planted around the Diocese and are starting to sprout! Thanks to the congregations that contacted me about the great works they are planning and doing! What needs to happen now is to let your communities know these great things! Press releases to your local media outlets need to be sent out and I need your help! Please call (307.265.5200) or email (andrew@wyomingdiocese.org) and we can tell your story! Also, if you are still in the planning (or even preplanning) stages, the Diocese and Foundation are standing by to help you! Let us know! As always, we are a phone call or email away.

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.

Thanks and have a blessed (and safe) Memorial Day Weekend!

God’s peace,

-Andrew

Andrew Kerr, Phone: 307.265.5200 & Email: andrew@wyomingdiocse.org
 

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By Ms. Pamela Kandt. Email: PamelaGRW@aol.com

Wyoming Episcopalians asked to speak up!

Wyoming Episcopalians are being asked to speak up about what they are seeking in the next bishop of the Diocese.

The Bishop Search Committee is organizing opportunities for both clergy and laity to share their thoughts and desires for the future of the Episcopal Church in Wyoming. The information that's gathered will be used in the Profile which potential bishop applicants will read to discern their call to the Diocese of Wyoming.

All clergy are invited to participate in one of two meetings being held next week. The first will be from 10 a.m. to noon on Thursday, May 28, at Trinity Church in Lander; the second will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 30, at St. Stephen's Church in Casper. Clergy may attend the meeting that’s most convenient for their location and schedule.

Meanwhile, the Search Committee has contacted all Senior Wardens with information on how each parish can participate in the information-gathering process. Every church is being asked to hold a SPEAKING DAY where members can express their wishes and concerns regarding the future of the Diocese and selection of our 9th bishop. (These events are designed for laity only – clergy will not be participating.)

Here are the Reflection questions each church is being asked to consider...

* What is currently working well in our diocese?
* What skills and abilities would you like our new bishop to possess?
* What personal attributes would you like to see in our new bishop?
* What are the challenges you see that the diocese needs to overcome to facilitate our spiritual journey?
* What gets in the way of our overcoming those challenges?

Be sure to find out when your parish is holding its SPEAKING DAY. The event will be happening fairly soon because the deadline for submitting parish information to the Search Committee is June 10. (The materials must be postmarked by that day.)

If you are a clergy or lay member who cannot attend the SPEAKING events, you are invited to share your thoughts directly with the Search Committee. Please respond to the Reflection questions in writing on one page only and mail to Bishop Search Committee c/o Doug Weaver, PO Box 219, Wheatland, WY 82201. Again, the enveloped must be postmarked by June 10.

The Search Committee is eager to hear your thoughts!

* * *

Important Information regarding contacts for the Bishop Search process... If you have any questions about any aspect of the search for Wyoming's next bishop, please do NOT contact the Bishop or the Diocesan office. No Diocesan staff members are involved in any way in the search process and they cannot answer your questions. Instead, please contact: Linda Anderson, Search Committee chairwoman (307-388-0883); Cindy King, Transition Committee co-chair (307-259-2023); John Peacock, Transition Committee co-chair (307-631-8914); or Pamela RW Kandt, Communications chairwoman (307-377-7763).

Stay tuned for more news! Next week... The new bishop search website, the timeline for the search & transition process and more!

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By Ms. Nina Walker. Email: valleywalk@scottsbluff.net

Annual Spring Luncheon

The Ladies of Our Saviors, Hartville held their annual spring luncheon for the community. Ladies from the churches in Wheatland, Glendo, Douglas, Guernsey and Fort Laramie were invited. Other ladies of the community were also invited. A total of 93 ladies and 8 young girls attended.

It was a wonderful time of fellowship and fun for the ladies. We now have other ladies in the community offering the use of their china for our luncheon. This is part of our out reach to the community.

After a wonderful meal of salads, games were played, and stories shared. Prizes were given to the ones who had traveled the farthest had the oldest living mother, most children and the youngest mother.
 

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By Ms. Rose Zella Proctor. Email: rzellaproc31@vcn.com

BATS IN THE BELFRY!

I'm sure you have all heard that old saying, "There must be Bats in the Belfry". I'm sure when used it was always intended as an insult. But really the Church of the Good Shepherd in Sundance has bats in the belfry.

Over the years an occasional bat has found its way into the Church and usually succumbs before anyone finds it. Lack of food I imagine. This past summer the outside of the Church was painted and it was power washed before the painting. Immediately dead bats showed up in the building, evidently they couldn't survive the water. Some evening meetings were held in the church during the summer and people coming out just at dusk saw the bats leave their domain in search of their evening meal. Those who saw them said they swarmed out by the hundreds, That caused immediate concern. The bell and cogged wheel pulley are original to the 119 year old Church. We weren't sure what the bats might do to those. And we weren't sure what we would do.

Fall and cold weather came and there was no food so the bats left, but we didn't forget them. Early this year a brave soul named Steve got into a lift and went up to take a look. He took his camera and shot pictures from between the slats in the bell tower. Amazingly there was little evidence of the bats being in where the bell is housed. Evidently there is enough light coming in through the slats that it wasn't good bat habitat. Good news. The bad news- he found several large cracks and holes the bats have been able to get in and it seems that somehow they roost between ceilings in the vestibule. Steve filled these holes with filler in the hope that he has thwarted their entrance way.

Now we wait for mosquito season and the bats return. Hopefully they will find a new home. Of course we also have the proverbial Church Mouse. He got naughty though and got into things he shouldn't so we banished him. We only banish bats and mice though, and there is always a welcome for people to Good Shepherd, the house of the Lord.

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By The Rev Warren Frelund. Email: warren@wyomingdiocese.org

Saturday May 23 Region II Confirmation will take place at Holy Trinity, Gillette. Bishop Vernon Strickland will be present for confirmation and reception of 10-12 people. Sally Boyd will deliver the confirmation homily.

All Saints, Wheatland completed Wade in The Water classes this past Wednesday. This course is an introduction to Baptismal Ministry both in your personal life and church life. Eight members of All Saints meet four consecutive Wednesdays to participate in conversation about baptism and what the baptismal promises mean for each of us and the church. The sessions began with worship. After viewing a DVD from Episcopal Divinity School moderated by Dr. Fredrica Harris-Thompsett, the group discussed questions offered in a study guide. Some of the issues addressed by the group were: History of Baptism, Thinking About Who God Is, Thinking About Who We Are In Relation To God, Focusing On Your Work In The World. The group will continue to discuss how they and the church in Wheatland can make a difference in the community. Other congregations in Region II are considering participating in Wade in the Water.

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

Jill Webb and Skylar lighting a candle at St. Paul's

Hello folks this week in flying by! As I write this I realized that Tuesday is almost behind me. Wednesday is over the hump day and everything flows down hill toward the weekend and the upcoming weekend is extended by a day. A quick look around the Carbon County looks like this – St. James in Encampment will be getting together on Friday night to create a master plan for the church, what will go where and etc. St. Paul in Dixon is planning the big summer kick off with the gathering at Reader Cemetery for Memorial Day and then reconvenes at the Savory Museum for a hamburger fry! St. Thomas is working hard for a grand event and I would ask people to save the date – May 21, 2009 and plan on attending a service that starts at 6:30pm. What am I talking about? Why not come and see for yourself. Soon I will send the minutes of my meeting with St. Luke’s in Medicine Bow and I have already thought of ways of including more Diocesan staff in their efforts to transform the world. I hope this letter finds you well.

Where to start, after all this is May, the month that we manage to do more in less time. I will start with last Monday. I was so pleased to make it to Encampment for their bible study. More importantly I got to reconnect with the leadership of the church and to find out how they are doing. All is well in the quiet and peaceful community of Encampment. That afternoon I participated in a web/phone meeting with the Regional Reps throughout the Diocese. We did a general check in and talked about the Mustard Seed Project and we are now attempting to get a reference point for Safeguarding God’s Children training opportunities.

Tuesday was an informal day off. I worked around the house, planted a tomato plant upside down (this is not a typo). Wednesday was a full day of activity. The standing Wednesday web/phone meeting with the Ministry Developers took place. During our conversation we talked about using twitter (micro blogging) to keep in touch on the fly. We also talked about Safeguarding God’s Children training and did some preparation work for the month of June extended web/phone meeting. Around 4pm I was one of the technology hosts of another web/phone meeting with the group who will be attending General Convention this year. Between the two web/phone meetings I got together with Karen Buckingham to plan a service. It was a full day!

Some people may know about Karen from St. Thomas in Rawlins is a Candidate is getting prepared to be ordained into the transitional deaconate, pending the approval from the Standing Committee; so the altar guild of St. Thomas, Karen, and I got together to learn the process of setting the table. This took place on Thursday.

Friday I was at Kraft Hall and that afternoon I was in Laramie. Saturday I meet with two different, yet similar groups. The first group was the worship leaders of St. Thomas and we planned the worship schedule for the month of June, completed a book study, and talked about the Pentecost Service. About 30 minutes later I met with the Ministry Support Team (MST) and we debriefed from the DiSC training that took place; a full morning.

The reminder of the week looks like this – Tonight I will be participating in a web/phone meeting with EDS to check in with those who are taking a “Ministry Development for Ministry Developers” on-line course @ 6pm. Thursday is a celebration to take place in Rawlins @ 6:30pm. Friday I will be in Kraft Hall for a couple of hours starting @ 10am. Then it is Memorial Day Weekend. Sunday I will be presiding at St. Paul’s (Dixon) starting at 9am (please note the time change!) and then participate with the Reader Cemetery weekend event. Monday I am taking the day off! Have good week.

Doug

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By The Rev Tommy Means. Email: tommy@wyomingdiocese.org

Each of our six regions has ample ministry to be proud of. Region Six extends from a northern point of Jackson, through the Wind River area, south to Atlantic City. Our travel zone is no burden for the ministry developers (:D). Region Six happens to be home to the Wind River Reservation, a unique and blessed ministry setting. Every month there is something of joy to report on, but April 2009 was special.

Path’s Crossings is an annual event that happens the first Thursday through Sunday after Easter. The event moves from one Native American community to another, the place determined during the preceding years gathering. This year’s event was hosted by the Northern Arapahoe people of Ethete, WY. It was also the centennial celebration of their congregation at Our Fathers House, St. Michael’s Mission.

Path’s Crossing is a nation wide program of the Episcopal Church’s office for Native American Ministries where Native and non-Native congregations partner for long-term relationships to better understand each other’s culture and personal stories. Through this sharing we learn how we are all equal partners in God’s Kingdom. The Northern Arapahoe people of Our Fathers House celebrated a 25-year long relationship with Holy Spirit Episcopal Church, Lake Forest, Il. WOW!

The hope and vision of Path’s Crossing has only been accomplished through study of Gospel writings and the life and example of Jesus. They offer us the witness to love, grace and forgiveness that are the primary ingredients for relationship and hope for our life together. Prayer, worship and Gospel based Bible study are a large part of any Native gathering and this year was no exception. Bp. Caldwell set the tone for our gathering by calling us to be friends in the name of Jesus, our brother. Mark McDonald, a member of the Ojibwa tribe and bishop to the indigenous people of Canada and a former bishop of Alaska, called us to faithfulness to our environment and Mother Earth as a sign of our fidelity to each other and God.

Program presentations included: Dr. Marsha Hipp speaking on the history of the Wind River Reservation; Lou Schoen, Donald Fox and deacon Pat Bergie offered a truncated anti-racism training and the Rev. Hank Le Beau a liturgy for a 12 Step funeral. We were also blessed with drumming and dancing by local members of the Arapahoe tribe. Programs for children and youth were well attended, as were the food events, which were delicious.

The event was very well attended by more than 80 people from Alaska, CA, ID, UT, NV, WY, OK, IA, IL, and Navajo Land. We tip our hats in honor to the elders and people of Our Father’s House who planned and coordinated this event. A Ho.

If anyone should be interested in pursuing a rewarding partnering relationship with a Native group, please contact Tommy Means or Linda Wilson for more information.

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