Tuesday September 8, 2009

Hello and welcome to the September 8 edition of the eSpirit of Wyoming!

Uh…September 8? Yes, the eSpirit is a tad behind, but caught back up. The biggest event were some technical glitches last week, including the entire building’s power transformer going out. That meant that the Diocese was not only without power, but without phones, as our phones run over the Internet which…need power. Interesting day, as that was the day our DSL line was to be installed. The wife of a staffer showed up with flashlights and lanterns; the network people showed up with a backup battery; and the Quest guy was able to put our line in. So…the worst of the glitches are (hopefully) over and all is well in the Diocese and in the Communication Office.

Wyoming Convention is closing fast and big plans are being made to welcome everyone to Casper! 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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By Ms. Jessica Reynolds. Email: jessica@wyomingdiocese.org

Greetings from the Diocesan Office!

As most of you have heard the Presiding Bishop will be here in Wyoming at this year’s convention and you are all welcome to join us! This year’s convention is being held at the Parkway Plaza Hotel and there is a limited number of seats available. If you are planning on heading to Casper to see the Presiding Bishop, please let us know.
Here is the plans for the Presiding Bishop:

Thursday October 1, 2009
7 PM: The Presiding Bishop with preside and preach at the opening Eucharist.

Friday October 2, 2009
9:00 AM Come here the Presiding Bishop Speak
6:00 PM Reception with the Presiding Bishop
7:00 PM Dinner with the Presiding Bishop

If you are planning on attending any of the meals, please fill out the meals only form and send it into the office. If you are planning on attending, but do not require the meals, please e-mail me at jessica@wyomingdiocese.org, so that we have a head count.

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By The Rev Kay Rohde. Email: kay@wyomingdiocese.org

Diocesan Youth Event is coming!!

When: October 2 - 4 ,2009
Where: Casper Wyoming - as a part of the Diocese of Wyoming's Annual Convention
Who: All youth, grades 6-12

Program leader is Jenifer Gamber, author of "My Faith, My Life" with musician Fran McKendree. Weekend to include lively worship, guided conversation, "I dream of a church...",, service project, late night activities (open mic, miniature golf, swimming). Meet Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferets Schori, celebrate Bishop Caldwell's ministry in Wyoming.

Email for Application. Send back to the diocesan Office by September 20. COST: $70.00 plus hotel rooms.

Note: Program does not include overnight lodging or supervision. Please reserve rooms for youth and chaperones - Funding assistance is available!

Come join us! Don't miss this opportunity to connect with other youth from around the diocese.

WATCH FOR FLYERS COMING SOON! SIGN UP NOW!!
Contact Kay Rohde for more information: kay@wyomingdiocese.org and 307.265.5200

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A Feast for the Sabbatical Season
Fall 2009
Throughout the fall, St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Laramie is sponsoring a number of events around the theme, “Taste and see that the Lord is good.” These will include opportunities for the community to experience music, discussions, food, and spiritual growth. We would like to invite you to join us. For more information or to sign up for any of these events, please call the church office at 307-742-6608. All are welcome.

Feast on Education
Dr. Shannon Jung
Friday, September 18
The issues of hunger and unhappiness in a world of plenty are addressed by Shannon Jung in his book Hunger & Happiness: Feeding the Hungry, Nourishing Our Souls. Dr Jung will be in Laramie September 17-19 as one of St Matthew’s sabbatical programs and will lead a discussion of his book on Thursday, September 17 at 7:30 pm, in the Sherwood Room in Hunter Hall.

Dr Jung will spend Friday morning, September 18, at a local farm, will eat lunch at the Soup Kitchen, will visit the Farmer’s Market from 3:30 - 5:00 pm, and will join with us in dinner made from local foods at the Cathedral Undercroft at 5:30 pm. Community members are encouraged to accompany him at any of these events. Please sign up by emailing charlie.dewolf@yahoo.com or by calling the Cathedral office (742-6608). Following dinner, Dr Jung will give a presentation, “ Reflections on the True Cost of Cheap Food”, at 7:00 pm, Friday, September 18 in the Cathedral Undercroft.

Copies of his book are available in the office at a cost of $15. Please pick up a copy and read it before Dr. Jung’s visit if you are able. The Sabbatical Book Group will meet after Dr Jung’s visit and decide on other books related to food or of interest to people. Jane Dominick will lead the book discussions which will meet monthly at a time agreed upon by those who wish to participate. Dr Jung is a professor at St Paul School of Theology and has written two other books on the theology of eating. He also recommends Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle and Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma. Dr Jung insists that questions of physical hunger are related to those of spiritual want. The “cheap” food system has damaged our environment as well as our national, economic, and spiritual health. He is interested in efforts and education to eat food grown “locally” – most items we consume have been shipped on an average of 1500 miles – and emphasizes the need to inform ourselves as citizens of the world of the ethics and spirituality of food.

More Feasts are coming:

Feast on Music
Professor Patrick Evans
Friday, October 16, 7-9 pm
Saturday, October 17, 9:30-Noon, 1:30-4:00
A congregational choral workshop, Renewing Congregational Song, with Patrick Evans,
Professor of Sacred Music, Yale School of Divinity. Mr. Evans is committed to the reclaiming and renewal of congregational song. These workshops will examine how singing magnifies worship. Practical, musical, and pastoral ways to help the members of the assembly reclaim their voices and their own musicianship will be addressed.

Feast on Education
Rev. Tom Harries
Saturday, October 24
Lunchtime Forum ~ 11:00 am-2:00 pm
Green Renovation of Church Buildings
Evening Forum ~ 5:00-8:00 pm
Greening Your Congregation
The Rev. Tom Harries is currently pastor of the Church of the Holy Communion in St. Peter, MN. Having grown up in the woods around Duluth and sailing on Lake Superior, Fr. Harries developed his love for nature early. He is currently co-chair of the Minnesota Episcopal Environmental Stewardship Commission and has served on that committee for 11 years. Fr. Harries will lead discussions on green restoration possibilities and his research regarding ecology and spirituality.

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By The Rev Warren Murphy. Email: warrencmurphy@gmail.com

RAISING UP YOUR CONGREGATION
A Short Course on Church Administration

The Thomas the Apostle Center announces an upcoming course on September 26 entitled, RAISING UP YOUR CONGREGATION. This course will focus on church administration and will be especially designed for clergy and church administrators both paid and volunteer. This course will include practical organizational information such as how to do proper record keeping, maintain parish registers, develop budgets, run efficient meetings, prepare for an increasingly technological future and develop communication and marketing techniques. Updated corporate legal requirements for churches will also be included. Representatives of any denomination are welcome to participate.

RAISING UP YOUR CONGREGATION will be offered at All Souls Episcopal Church in Wheatland. It will begin at 9 AM and conclude by 3 PM. There is no limit on the amount of attendees. It is part of the "TAC on the road" educational program and will also be offered free of charge. There is still room available for this same course to be held at the Thomas the Apostle Center on September 11-12. Funding for both of these programs is made possible compliments of a grant from the Episcopal Foundation of the Diocese of Wyoming.

The course will be led by The Rev. Warren Murphy of Cody. Warren has over 32 years of experience administering congregations and not for profit programs in Wyoming. He has served parishes in Little Snake River, Lander, the Shoshone Mission and Cody. Most recently he has served as Director of the Wyoming Association of Churches. He will be joined for these sessions by Andrew Kerr of the Episcopal diocesan office who will present the section on communications technology. Warren stated , " the course is designed to help clergy and administrators in charge of running a congregation maintain an efficient office so that others in the congregation may effectively do their ministries".

To enroll in the course please contact TAC at thomap@tritel.net or call them at 307-587-4400. Remember, those who desire to stay at TAC may register for free.
Contact TAC for any further information.

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

Holy Spirit, invisible to human eyes, you breathe on what is fragile
within us. And so the anxieties of our heart can be transfigured into
humble trust and profound joy.

Please join us on Friday, September 11, for the first service in the style of Taize' of the fall season at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Cheyenne. Join us at the very special Reception following the service, featuring artwork created by the children of St. Mark's in support of the city-wide Electronics and HAZMAT Disposal Drive on Saturday, September 12. Weather permitting, the Reception will be held outdoors along the brick walkway used as the entrance on Taize' evenings.

We hope to see many of you on the 11th. Invite a friend or neighbor to join you.

St. Mark's is located at 1908 Central Avenue in downtown Cheyenne. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for those desiring a time of silence and meditation.

Taizé is a meditative prayer service that incorporates simple, repetitive song and chant, scripture readings, and periods of group silence in a setting of peace and soft light that fosters communion with God. Through Taizé, participants can worship in a community setting, yet remain open to the voice of God and discover the prayer within themselves.

The Taizé community has fostered an ecumenical form of prayer meant to further reconciliation and peace among all people. Christians of all traditions share in this ecumenical group. Taizé Prayer is meditative common prayer. Gathered in the presence of Christ, we sing simple repetitive songs, uncluttered by too many words, allowing the mystery of God to become tangible through the beauty of simplicity.

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Submitted by The Rev Ann Fontaine. Email: annfontaine@me.com

Seeing the Face of God in Each Other: Anti-Racism Training for the Episcopal Church

The Rt Rev. Joe G. Burnett and Anti Racism Commission invite you to participate in Anti-Racism training presented by the Office of Social Justice Ministries of the Episcopal Church.

This training will take place two days before Annual Council in North Platte, November 4-5, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM at Church of Our Savior, 203 W. 4th Street in North Platte. (This location is subject to change. If that should occur, all registered participants will be notified of the change.)

This session will be led by Mr. Lou Schoen, Province Coordinator of Anti-Racism for Province VI.

The training fulfills the 14 hour contact anti-racism training as required by General Convention Resolution 2000, B 049 for lay and ordained leaders as well as members of committees, commissions and boards and leaders in the Episcopal Church. Any other interested person is invited to attend.

The cost is $50.00. Please register at the Diocesan Website at http://www.episcopal-ne.org/. Some scholarship money is available. If you have that need, please contact Deacon Nancy Huston at n.huston@cox.net, 402 341 7528 or 3000 Farnam St., 9F, Omaha, 68131.

Participants are responsible for their own lodging and dinner. Rooms are available at the Sandhills Convention Center, 2102 South Jefferson St., North Platte, 308 532 9090, www.sandhillcc.com. Transportation to the training site from the hotel will be provided.

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All Quiet on the Western Front...But Busy, Busy Behind the Scenes!

The Wyoming Bishop Search and Transition Committees met face-to-face earlier this month in Casper for two days of training and planning facilitated by our national church consultant Suzanne Foucault.

Report from Linda Anderson, Search Committee chairwoman ~ The process of discernment and the role of the bishop was a primary focus of the Search Committee‚s meeting. The education sub-committee has been teaching the committee as a whole about these important topics, and at the Casper meeting we spent time in prayer and conversation, particularly about the criteria for discerning the next bishop for Wyoming. With guidance from our c onsultant, Search members carefully studied the Diocesan Profile to consider more fully what Wyoming Episcopalians said about their vision and aspirations for our diocese. We listened for the voice of the Diocese as spoken by you in the Profile comments. From this, we gleaned eight critical criteria for screening bishop applicants. Applicants‚ essay responses, resumes, Church Deployment Office files, telephone interviews and references will be viewed with an eye toward how each connects the critical criteria.

Clergy wishing to be considered for the episcopate in Wyoming must submit their applications by the August 31st deadline. The Search committee will meet in person twice during September for further training on evaluating applicant essays, CDO files, resumes and letters of reference. We‚ll also be trained on how to conduct reference checks and telephone interviews.

The entire Search committee has met every week by phone for the past several months. The time we have spent together in person and on the phone has bonded us into a cohesive group. We don‚t always agree, but have with God‚s grace been able reach common decision. The committee appreciates your ongoing prayers and support. The next few months will be especially important as we begin discernment for the slate of candidates and we ask for your continued prayers.

Report from John Peacock, Transition Committee co-chairman ~Transitions Committee members also participated in the recent meeting at Casper. We especially appreciated having our consultant, Suzanne Foucault, on site with us and the great meals provided by Cindy King and Pamela RW Kandt.

At the top of our current To-Do list is planning for the Saturday evening dinner at Diocesan Convention in Casper. We spent a good deal of time brainstorming the farewell celebration for Bishop Bruce Caldwell and all we'll say at this point is October 3rd will be an evening you won't want to miss or will soon forget!

The Transition Committee is largely responsible for organizing the walk abouts with the bishop candidates, the electing convention for the new bishop and the consecration service for the bishop-elect. At our recent meeting, we reviewed what has and has not worked well in the past and then envisioned what an ideal event for Wyoming would look like in 2010. Our committee will soon begin monthly conference calls as planning for these important events moves into high gear. We are honored to be trusted with these tasks and ask for your prayers and God's guidance as we go about our work.

Questions on the process or our work? Please contact Linda Anderson, Search Committee chairwoman (307-388-0883 / anderson_linda_@hotmail.com); Cindy King, Transition Committee co- chair (307-259-2023 / cindylking@juno.com); or John Peacock,
Transition Committee co-chair (307-631-8914 / mettenheim@msn.com)

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Check out Region 4 Ministry Developer Doug Wasinger's blog on his week to week happenings: http://holypilgrimage2009.blogspot.com/

Contact Doug at doug@wyomingdiocese.org

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

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

Diocesan Council
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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