Friday June 5, 2009

Hello and welcome to the June 5 edition of the eSpirit of Wyoming!

June 5 and the start of the Diocese Council Meeting in Casper for the 5th – 6th! Please pray for safe travels for all those coming into Casper today and leaving tomorrow. Exciting new Bishop Search Website was unveiled today, so read the story and check it out!

Mustard Seeds are sprouting! Thanks to the congregations that contacted me about the great works they are planning and doing! What still 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 God’s peace,

-Andrew

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

Wyoming Bishop Search Website has been Launched

A new website dedicated to the search, transition, election and consecration for the next Bishop of Wyoming is now up and running. The site can be accessed by either www.WyomingBishopSearch.com or www.WyomingBishopSearch.org

The site will provide Wyoming Episcopalians, bishop applicants and others with timely information on the process and progress of the search, transition and election for the 9th Bishop of Wyoming. The site will be updated frequently with materials added regularly, so folks should stop by often. Visitors should be sure to sign up for email updates to receive news reports.

A complete timeline has been posted under the Documents section, as well as other items of interest.

Here are some important dates coming up...

JUNE 26 ~ Diocesan Profile is published and Application period begins
JULY 31 ~ Application period ends

Episcopalians from around the state can contribute to the website by sending digital photos of their church and community which will be uploaded as slideshows to help illustrate the personality of our state. Please send no more than 10 photos to WyomingBishopSearch@gmail.com

If you have any questions regarding any aspect of the search and transition process, feel free to contact the committee chairs:

Search Committee Chairwoman
Linda Anderson
St. Alban's-Worland
307-388-0883
anderson_linda_@hotmail.com

Transition Committee Co-chairs
Cindy King
St. Mark's-Casper
307-259-2023
cindylking@juno.com

John Peacock
St. Mark's-Cheyenne
307-631-8914
mettenheim@msn.com

Do not contact the Bishop or Diocesan staff with any questions concerning the search, transition or election. They are not involved in the process and, consequently, do not have the answers you need.

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

Photo of St James in Encampment

Lordy, Lordy where did the month of May go? It is now June 1st and that means summer is either here or will be very soon. With the arrival of summer most people take off and go play for the three months of ideal weather. I will be one of those crazy people who attempt to cram in 4 to 5 months of play into 3. Don’t think it is possible? Well … who would have thought that one person could have such an impact on human history. On to what is taking place in Carbon County and Beyond … Pentecost was celebrated yesterday and at St. Paul’s in Dixon they celebrate this event by giving away geraniums and St. Thomas had (Rev.) Kay Rhode come to preside and preach. I am not sure what happened at the other churches I work with because I was in Region V to preside at St. David’s at Fort Bridger and St. John’s in Green River. One funny thing that happened at those churches was the absence of music. The more incredible thing was, although music contributes to the worship experience, the worship experience went without a hitch. I hope this letter finds you well.

Last Monday was Memorial Day and I took the opportunity to play with the family and we went to Encampment and Saratoga for a day trip. Tuesday Linda Wilson and I met with the leadership of St. John’s in Green Rive to discuss what is taking place with the Mustard Seed Money and their Thrift Shop. As it turns out they have discovered a growth area in their relationships and are open to learning new things. I believe the Mustard Seed Money has planted some fruitful seeds.

Wednesday was an all day web/phone meeting with the Ministry Developers. Technology is providing some useful ways to gather from around the state. These meetings have a check in period built in along with working on projects. The Ministry Developers are working on discerning our work and seeing what our future holds. After the meeting I was bit bleary from staring at a computer screen and I was ready to move about the great outdoors.

Thursday I traveled to Lander for a focus listening session with clergy from around the Diocese as we move forward to calling the next bishop of Wyoming. It was a productive two hour meeting with Linda Anderson from Worland leading the conversation. As in every search we ask of the “ideal” bishop that can do everything. (With honest humor) I noted that we need somebody who can walk on water and be resurrected from time to time when the work gets overwhelming. With all kidding aside there was honest conversation and areas that have been identified that we see as strengths and areas that need some work. It was a good time to connect with good friends and to talk.

On Thursday afternoon I drove from Lander to Casper to participate in an Evangelism project that Kathy Robinson along with Roy Walworth is working on. The idea was to model a theological reflection where we first identify God working in the world and who is God’s family in the story. It was a blessing to work with such a diverse group of people from Marilyn from Laramie, John from Cheyenne, Joe from (Region 1) Thermopolis, and Kay from Casper. The “debrief” session was also informative as well. I want to also send congratulations to John Peacock who is now working for the Wyoming Association of Churches (I hope I got that right) as their director.

Friday I was assisting the fine folks of St. Thomas as they prepared their Pentecost Service on Sunday. Kay Rhode had sent a liturgy that is specially designed for Pentecost and it was decided that printing out the entire service would be the best approach. As I was running about assisting on that project that rest of the staff was working hard in getting their newsletter out the door. It was buzzing in Kraft Hall.

Sunday I was in Region V. Like I said earlier all the singing was unassisted by music. St. David’s had people arrive dressed in red for the occasion and we were blessed by having a cute child looking about and giving me puzzled looks like who are you? St. John’s was a fun service as the humor and good cheer was present. During coffee hour I learned about Mark Twain and his ability to shake up the church with friendly challenges. Statements like “In the New Testament God found away to pursue people beyond the grave.”

The rest of the week looks like this. Monday I will be driving to LSRV for their Summer Café bible reflection @ 2pm. Tuesday (I hope not everybody faints away) I will be taking a day off to work on some projects around the house. Wednesday I will be on the weekly check in web/phone meeting with Ministry Developers. Thursday first I will be having office hours at Kraft Hall in Rawlins from 10-12pm and then I will be heading to Green River for the first session of “Wade In The Water” program @ 6:30 pm. Friday I will be in Laramie to work on a personal project. Saturday there is a worship breakfast for St. Thomas at Kristi Bakery @ 8am and the Ministry Support Team of St. Thomas will be meeting following the breakfast at the same location. Sunday I will be heading to St. Paul’s and this is how the day will play out, first I will be hosting a Pastoral Care training before the service. At 10:30 am the service will start. Following the service there will be a Ministry Support Team meeting and then we will head over to the Senior Center for lunch.

Be well,

Doug

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Want to keep up the Diocese via Facebook?

Search for "Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming" within Facebook and become a fan! If you don't have a Facebook account and want to join the world of social networking, go to: www.facebook.com. There are many people from all over the Diocese that are members and it is a fun way to share information with each other (and photos, too).

What is Facebook? Click here for Wikipedia on Facebook

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Want to keep up with the Diocese via Twitter?

Go to: www.twitter.com/wyomingdiocese and see the latest happenings in the Diocese. If you have a Twitter account, just click "follow"

Also from the Diocese office:

Margaret: www.twitter.com/MargaretinWY
Andrew: www.twitter.com/rakerr

...and the Ministry Developers, too:

Doug: www.twitter.com/dwasinger
Warren: www.twitter.com/warrenfrelund

If you want to add your Twitter address or blog to the blog roll, email: info@wyomingdiocese.org

What is Twitter? Click for Wikipedia on Twitter

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