Tuesday July 7, 2009

Hello and welcome to the July 7 edition of the eSpirit of Wyoming!

The Diocese mission trip is back from Honduras! They had some amazing adventures, including some civil unrest in the country. The focus of the trip, however, remained the medical clinic in La Ceiba, and at no time was the group in any danger (La Ceiba is far from the capital city). Exciting photos, videos, and stories will be coming out in the next couple of weeks to tell the story about the medical mission.

Right now several folks from Wyoming are in Anaheim, California for the Episcopal General Convention. This event runs from July 8 – July 18 and expect several special editions of the eSpirit to bring you news of what is happening here and what the Wyoming Diocese is doing there.

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 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

andrew@wyomingdiocese.org

back to top ^

By Mr. Pat Walsh. Email: pat@wyomingdiocese.org

The Douglas, Wyoming newspaer, The Douglas Budget, has published a great article about the Wyoming Boy's and Girl's Club Leadership Camp experience in a July 2, 2009 edition (www.douglasbudget.com ) 42 youth from 8 different Wyoming spent a wonderful week at Wyoming Wilderness Camp at Esterbrook. Read about thier experience in this article (link downloads a PDF of article): http://tinyurl.com/lwdxwv

More (different) youth will be comming again in August. The camp continues to grow in it's outreach to the youth of Wyoming.

We still have room in all of the the upcomming camps:

Art and Music Camp- July 12-17
Junior High Adventure - July 19-24
Wind River Mission and Leadership Camp- July 26-31
Big Horn Blast - August 2-7
Boy's and Girl's Club Camp II - Aug 9-14

Plus, The Rev Doug Wasinger has set up a great blog for camp: http://wyomingwilderness2009.blogspot.com/

back to top ^

By Ms Nina Walker. Email: vallywalk@gmail.com

June 13, was a beautiful spring day in Wyoming. Area 3 churches held their annual Barn Dance at Cottonwood Hall. Meat was provided by the churches. Other dishes were provided by the families attending the dance. Attendance at the supper was not as large as expected. We are considering not having a carry in supper next year, possibly just sandwiches and drinks. We may start the dance an hour or later.

The dance began immediately after supper. Music was provided by the Timberline Express. Rex Martin, local priest in Hartville is the leader of the band. Other members of the band are Robin Troudt. Guernsey and Chris Pfaff, Cheyenne. We had a very good attendance at the dance, families with young children,teenagers, and seniors. A good time was had by all in attendance. Rex wanted to knock off earlier than he did, but the kids kept begging for more and they got it; Rex is easy when it comes to kids. Thanks Timberline for your music.

back to top ^

By Ms. Linda Fleming. Email: lfleming22@yahoo.com

Photo by Linda Fleming
Tom Williams stands besides Justine in front of St. Paul’s sign after the prayer in remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi was prayed for Justine by St. Paul’s congregation.
 

Blessings for Justine

Tom Williams, St. Paul’s , a long distance marathon runner, has been running with a burro, named Justine, all spring preparing for the Burro Days at Fairplay, Colorado on July 25 and July 26. Justine and Tom also participated in the local Walk 4 Life event in late May. On Sunday, June 28, the two ran from Slater to Dixon arriving in time for the 10:30 a.m. service. Justine and Tom were greeted at the front door by the congregation at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. In the custom of remembrance of St. Francis of Assisi’s love for all creatures a special prayer was prayed for Justine.

“Blessed are you, Lord God, maker of all living creatures. You called forth fish in the sea, birds in the air and animals on the land. You inspired St. Francis to call all of them his brothers and sisters. We ask you to bless this burro. By the power of your love, enable it to live according to your plan. May we always praise you for all your beauty in creation. Blessed are you, Lord our God, in all your creatures! Amen.” Justine is three years old and is one of Joe Jussiia’s burros.

 

back to top ^

By Ms. Kay Flores. Email:

Wyoming Wilderness Camp (A ministry of the H R Foundation and the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming)

Did you know the staff of Wyoming Wilderness Camp spends 10 days in training as they prepare for camp? The staff works on a multitude of topics. They complete a course in Wilderness First Aid and CPR. They review the rules for working with youth of many ages. They learn the ropes course – high and low. They learn rock climbing and horseback riding and hiking. And they learn to help campers look for God at camp and at home.

I showed up on a Friday evening during staff training. The staff had been working in rain for six days. They were just settling down for a movie, so I joined them. “Australia” is a mighty long movie, but a good one.

In the morning, the staff and I explored the movie with these two questions:
1) Who was the family?
2) How did the family show God’s activity?
We had a deep and spiritual discussion about the movie with these two questions – we talked for 45 minutes or more.
I told a story from my own life, and we used the same questions to explore my story. Who is the family? How did the family show God’s activity? Once again, we had a great conversation.
The sun was shining, and staff was ready to be outdoors. I gathered my water bottle and camera and tagged along with them.
I was a spotter as they navigated some of the low ropes elements. As they finished the reflection on the leadership skills they had tried, I asked the questions again. Who is the family? How did the family show God’s activity?
If you haven’t seen these questions – you will. They are part of the diocese’s Evangelism project . You’ll have a chance to try them out at a workshop coming soon to your part of the diocese, and to win prizes for your participation. Visit http://wyoevangelism.ning.com for more information.

More Wyoming Wilderness Camp
A few weeks ago I sent a request for funds to improve our Wyoming Wilderness Camp scholarship fund - a fund that was stretched to the limit with requests for scholarships totaling $8000. The immediate need was to find a way to send 10 members of the Casper Boys and Girls Club to camp for the Boys and Girls Club Leadership Camp.

We did it! Thanks to the generosity of individuals from around the diocese, a gift from the Dick Garrett Memorial Fund, and a gift from St. Stephen’s Mustard seed money, we raised enough to send 10 campers from Casper to camp. Other churches and groups in Wyoming have shared money with youth in their own communities, and a total of 42 campers from seven different Boys and Girls Clubs attended camp last week, including the 10 from Casper! The leaders who spent the week at camp report that a week at camp is life-changing for these youth, and that the youth remember camp all year. We’ve been promised reports from the Boys and Girls Clubs later this summer.
During staff training, the staff wondered about how to reflect with campers at the non-church camps like Boys and Girls Clubs. We came up with these reflection questions, borrowed from EfM:
1) Where did you see gathering?
2) Where did you see brokenness?
3) Where did you see healing?
4) Where did you see feeding?

These questions offer a way to explore events using a Eucharistic theme, but in a way that is accessible for our non-church camps. I knew during the weekend that the staff would use these questions because they practiced on me. A group of us were gathered outside a cabin watching a huge but retreating thunderstorm, one of the staff members asked me, “So, Kay – where do you see gathering?”

The Episcopal Foundation gave a generous gift to the scholarship fund, and your donations, large or small, are welcome year round. Offer a child the gift of time in God’s creation by sponsoring a scholarship or helping a child to register.
And - please pray for Wyoming Wilderness campers and staff this summer. We as a diocese are making a difference in the lives of Wyoming children as we offer them a week at camp.

In Christ,
Kay Flores

back to top ^

By The Rev JoAnne Moore. Email: kmoor@rangeweb.net

Have you always wanted to take EFM (Education for Ministry from the Episcopal School of Theology, Sewanee TN)? Try it by signing up for the first year and see how you like it -- there are 4 years altogether if you decide to stay with it. In the first year, we study the Old Testament - discover the back-story on David, Moses, Sarah and all the rest! Learn how to integrate your learnings and your life through theological reflection.

●We listen for God in community
●We do theology in community, reflecting on our tradition and contemporary issues
●We discern the call to ministry in community
●We worship in community
●Since our EfM course is mentored, not taught, mentors and members share learning and insights in community.

There are groups in many of our Wyoming communities.

Read about how EfM works at http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/index.htm

For those who are unable to attend a weekly class in person, there are also EfM online groups. Read here about how EfM online works. http://www.sewanee.edu/EFM/EFMONLINE.htm

The cost is $340 but the Commission on Ministry can offer grants if you need scholarship aid.
 

back to top ^

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

Picture: St. Paul's, Dixon

Well put another month in the books! Where did it go? As I look forward I have a full July and I have this nagging feeling that I am not alone. Looking around the county briefly this is what I am seeing – St. Thomas has completed their sideway and parking lot accessibility project coming to a completion; St. Paul had their first Compline and Sharing gathering last week; St. Luke is most likely recovering from Medicine Bow’s 100 year celebration; and Encampment is enjoying the fine summer. As for me I am finding this month one of personal discernment. I hope this letter finds you well.

Monday was a day in the office and I found myself helping Kathy (fellow Ministry Developer) on the Evangelism Project. She is putting together a process of sharing stories to connect the church with the world and the world with the church. Soon this presentation will be on the road. Roy is working with Kathy on this project. More details about this will be coming out in the following months.

Tuesday was an all day web/phone meeting with the Ministry Developers. We had general check in which includes what is happening with the Mustard Seed Project, Apostolic Teams, and other events in our regions. We also talk about personal developments and the like. We are currently working on discernment in a form of writing scenarios. We also had a report about the COM meeting and began planning for our face to face meeting in July. Given that we have been working with this technology for about a year or so we are becoming comfortable with it and our time together is productive. It is hard to imagine that a couple of years ago we would be doing meeting together on-line with such ease.

Wednesday I made a couple of follow-up phone calls about the Apostolic Team meeting for Region 4 and that evening I went to Little Snake Rive Valley (LSRV) for a Compline and Sharing gathering. This is a summer event that has been taking place for the past 6 or more years. It is a time for the members of St. Paul’s along with others to gather outside build community and have a meal. I brought my famous Italian Soup along with the recipe and the theme was about fond memories around a meal. The weather was perfect for such a meeting.

On Thursday Warren Frelund, Karen Buckingham and I had a working lunch in Rawlins. It was a good time to gain clarity about the Transitional Diaconate. I like Warren’s working definition - Transitional Diaconate – To gather (or pull) people into the Diaconate Ministry of the Church during this time of transition with the clear understanding that upon ordination into the priesthood the ministry(s) will handed off the gathered leadership in those ministry(s). So this will occupy most of Karen’s work until she is ordained into the priesthood.

Saturday was the Apostolic Team meeting for Region 4 and we gathered in Laramie for our face to face. We opened with a liturgy from LifeCycles which included a check in time. Then we talked about Mustard Seed Projects, had a teaching item about private/public relationships, and then moved into business. Our business was about the Bishop search and sharing of Diocesan resources for congregational development. We talked briefly about working on a mission statement and shared lunch together. It was a productive time together.

Sunday I was in Fort Bridger and Green River. As I drove to that part of the state I was amazed to still find snow in the mountains. We are having a very cool spring and early summer. The folks of St. David’s (Fort Bridger) were happy to see me and they are doing great. The lost their musician due to graduation and now seeking another one. St. John’s (Green River) is doing great. At the conclusion of the service a group of ladies got together and headed over to Salt Lake for an Art Festival.

The remainder of the week looks like this – Monday I am heading for Laramie with Kellie for a doctors appointment. Tuesday I am planning on working a resolution for Safeguarding God’s Children and preparing a baptism service at St. Thomas. Wednesday I will be on the weekly web/phone check in with the Ministry Developers and will be on a web/phone meeting with EDS that evening. Thursday I will be heading to Green River for a Wade in the Water – Session 3 starting at 6:30pm. Friday I will be in Laramie to work on a personal project and then head to Wheatland for the 4th of July weekend.

I will be at Wyoming Wilderness Camp also formally known as HR Wilderness Camp all of next week. I will be blogging my experiences and you can check it out at this address - http://holypilgrimage2009.blogspot.com/ I will include pictures and videos and I hope not to disappoint.

Be well my friends,

Doug

 

back to top ^