Tuesday October 27, 2009

Hello and welcome to the October 27 edition of the eSpirit of Wyoming!

Some breaking news today! Bishop Bruce Caldwell is on route to Washington DC to participate in the White House signing of the Matthew Shepard/James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act. He will then attend a reception hosted by President Obama. A special eSpirit bulletin will go out later this week so Bishop Bruce is able to share his experience with the Diocese. Thanks to The Rev Ann Fontaine for posting this update to the Episcopal Café.

As always, 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. Linda Fleming. Email: lfleming22@yahoo.com

ARK: And they came two by two

Amazing River Kids (ARK) met at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church’s Parish Hall in Dixon on Thursday, October 22 at 3:30 p.m. to begin the ARK season. There were 38 children in attendance, and yes, indeed they did come into the parish hall just like the animals on the ark, two by two, and they just kept coming.

Thursday’s attendance was the largest first day attendance the program has known. This is the tenth year for the alternative program for a Sunday School. All children in the community from age 2 to grade 4 are welcome to attend the Christian education program.

All programs begin with snacks, followed by prayers, a Bible story in the church, singing and finally a craft project. The Bible story on Thursday was the story of Noah and the Ark. The children were divided into two craft groups. The older children made a wall size rainbow and stuffed the rainbow with tissue paper. The younger children colored a rainbow and made a mobile by attaching an ark to the rainbow.

For more information on the formation of an after school Christian Education program or project ideas please contact Christy Stocks at: cstocks@dteworld.com.

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Picture of the hyberbaric chamber and the compressors provided by the Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming to the Diocese supported clinic in La Ceiba, Honduras. 

The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming has a long tradition of assisting with the humanitarian need of Honduras. Through the Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming, even more support has been given with the purchase and installation of a hyperbaric chamber at the Foundation/Diocese supported clinic in La Ceiba. Currently, Honduras is in political crises. That has equated for them to be far worse than just politics, as it has shut down many public supported services that so many of the people rely on for basic needs. As countries around the world, including the United States, have withdrawn financial support, the average Honduran has suffered greatly. Honduras is the second poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere (behind Hati) and can little afford any financial instability.

Here is a current update from Dr. Elmer Mejia, the doctor that has worked for years with Bishop Caldwell and Rev Gus Salbador and many others across our Diocese:

“I would like to inform you how is the Centro Medico "La Bendicion" doing. So far we are able to see many patients every day at the clinic, and one of the reasons is because the public health system is paralyzed since the last 2 months due to the political situation, at this moment only the emergencies at the hospitals are working. Here at the clinic most of the people are unable to pay for medical attention which is Lps. 100.00 ($ 5.00) but even with that situation the clinic is becoming self sufficient, We are able to pay for all the bills wish included electricity, telephone, medications, fuel, and the salary of Rosa who is helping us at the clinic with the future purpose to send her to the nurse school next year during weekends and work at the clinic from Monday to Friday. And at the same time we have Carlos who is Rosa's brother who is under training on the operation of the hyperbaric chamber. The idea is to have a team of four people with myself that can be able to operate the hyperbaric chamber and do the clinic simultaneously, and make all of us well trained to work in any place in the clinic depending the needs. I speculate that with a few more patients the clinic will be able to cover all the needs by it self, I am sure about that.”

Regardless of what you feel about the removal of former President Zeleya from office, please keep Honduras in your prayers and consider giving money to assist in the many relief efforts undertaken by the Diocese and the Foundation. For more information on giving, contact Mr. John Masters of the Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming at john@efwy.org or call 307.233.4222, or give directly through the Diocese website at: www.wyomingdiocese.org
 

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Wyoming Wilderness Camp is not just in Esterbrook!

Just becuase winter is here doesn't mean the fun of Wyoming Wilderness Camp has stopped! The camp offers programs year-round that come to YOUR community to do programs for your church (youth, adults, & youth AND adults) or community group. The HR Camp Foundation is very excited to invite our churches and communities to join Wyoming Wilderness Camp in participating in winter activites at the camp as well as other around Wyoming.The camp programs offer cross country ski trips, weekend retreats, and snow shoe trips from December 2009 through March 2010. Already groups are lining up, including Douglas Boy’s and girl’s Club and the Converse County School District to take part in exciting, fun, and enriching winter activities in the beautiful winter Wyoming wilderness.

If your church is interested in experiencing the outdoors in a new and different way, contact us online: www.wyomingwildernesscamp.org or contact camp director, Pat Walsh, as pat@wyomingdiocese.org. Or give Pat a call at 307.351.7006.

Get ready to enjoy the great outdoors!

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Celebrating the Faith
November 6-7 at Thomas the Apostle Center

“Celebrating the Faith” will be the title of Thomas the Apostle Center’s final workshop sponsored by the Foundation of the Episcopal Diocese in 2009. This workshop will be focused on doing traditional and creative liturgy in the Diocese of Wyoming and will be held November 6-7 at TAC’s retreat facility in Cody. As in the past, the first 15 participants will be offered free housing at TAC. There is no cost for this event. It will begin at 5 PM on Friday evening and conclude with lunch on Saturday.

The “Celebrating the Faith” workshop will present an overview of traditional liturgical practices in the Episcopal Church. It will include an historical perspective as well as outline required diocesan standards. It will also review the role of deacons in the liturgical life of the church and expose participants to some creative ideas for doing liturgy. It will be an opportunity for participants to ask questions of the several presenters on liturgical issues that affect their ministries.

Leaders for the workshop will be The Rev. Warren Murphy, who will present the liturgical overview, and The Rt. Rev. Bruce Caldwell, bishop of the diocese. Also participating will be the Rev. Warren Frelund who works with the diocese’s diaconal ministry and The Rev. Meg Nickles who has specialized in some of the new liturgical possibilities available to congregations.

The “Celebrating the Faith” workshop is being especially designed for parish priests, deacons and lay liturgical leaders. Please register by contacting TAC at 307-587-4400 or thomap@tritel.net . The weekend’s event is made possible through a grant to TAC by The Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming.

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From the The Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs

Episcopal Church Center new structure: project-based, goal-oriented
“We are all committed to the work of the Church.”

Following deep budget cuts which caused personnel reductions and a re-focus of work operations, the staff of the Episcopal Church Center is gearing up for a new strategic model that is project-based and goal-oriented.

The new structure, calling for a Department of Mission, five program-based Mission Teams and two specialized ministries, was presented to Executive Council at its October meeting by Linda Watt, Chief Operating Officer.

“We use our expertise and experience to support the dioceses and the networks of the Church in their ministries,” Watt said. “We are the empowered servants who seek to enable the work of others through resources, strengthening of networks and affinity groups, and lifting up best practices.”

The $141 million budget for 2010-2012 adopted by General Convention called for cuts in most areas and results in staff reductions across program, canonical and corporate areas. Approximately 40 staff positions were either eliminated or reduced.

“The changes brought about by General Convention 2009, although deeply challenging, are also an invitation to further the re-visioning and re-inventing begun two years ago,” Watt continued. “The journey is difficult, but we are working our way through the challenges and looking ahead.”

The new model
In the new model, there will be a Department of Mission led in a team approach by two Directors of Mission. Antoinette (Toni) Daniels and the Rev. Margaret R. Rose will assume the responsibilities as the directors; both have served as Center Directors since early 2008.

In the Mission Department, there will be five program-based Mission Teams and two specialized ministries, each with a team leader, who will carry a ministry portfolio as well as a mentoring role.

The Mission Teams are: Global Partnerships; Diocesan and Congregational Life; Lifelong Christian Formation; Ethnic, Multicultural, Social and Environmental Witness; and Government Advocacy for Peace and Justice.

The specialized ministries are Episcopal Migration Ministries and Federal Ministries/Chaplaincies.

Staff members from all the teams, as well as from other Church Center departments, associated agencies and other groups, will participate in Project Working Groups, organized around topical issues and initiatives. “The Project Working Groups will draw from the expertise of multiple staff members,” Watt said. “Some will be short-term, such as Lenten Resources, and others will be ongoing, like Women’s Empowerment.”

“It’s important to note that the design of this new system was staff-driven,” Watt pointed out. “Many staff members participated in the discussion and preparation of this model.”

Goals
In the new configuration, there are eight goals: accountability; cross-functional collaboration among program ministries; focus on work appropriate to the churchwide level; commitment to strengthen networks throughout the church; renewed responsiveness to the priorities of the Church’s governing bodies; and project-based work will be the main focus.

Other cost-cutting measures
Watt also cited cost-cutting measures that are underway throughout the Church Center, including a reduction in staff travel, greater use of today’s technology, forming a peer review process for events, reducing overhead expenses, contracting with a new café vendor, and consolidation of functions, such as folding the mailroom operation into Episcopal Books and Resources. Work processes in non-program areas are being re-thought as staff reductions are implemented.

Speaking to the diversity of the Church Center’s staff, “We are clergy and laity, Episcopalians and not,” Watt said. “We are all committed to the work of the Church.”

The Episcopal Church welcomes all who worship Jesus Christ in 110 dioceses and three regional areas in 16 nations. The Episcopal Church is a member province of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

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By The Rev Daphne Grimes. Email: daphneg@tritel.net

On October 2, fifteen of us from five countries landed in Blantyre, Malawi, to a warm reception from my 1980’s seminary classmate, Bishop James Tengatenga. He was accompanied by his wife, Josie, and several women’s groups in blue and white, who greeted us with rousing dancing and singing, a foretaste of the song and dance that punctuated our five day visit. Our Compass Rose president, Bishop Philip Poole of Toronto along with Secretary General Canon Kenneth Kearon, were presented to the group, then we were driven in the mini-bus that was to be our excursion home to the very comfortable Hotel Protea Ryalls for a welcome opening dinner.

Early the next morning, we set out for a two hour drive through a very populous and active rural area for Magomero, the site of the first Christian mission in the then wild area, founded in 1868 by
Bishop Charles Mackenzie. Several hundred people were gathered for a four-hour out-door celebration and mass in his honor. Their exuberance must be seen to be believed. The Mothers’ Union and other women’s groups took the lead in the singing, but many other groups were vigorously involved. We were all impressed, however, at the good behaviour of the great many children, many barefoot and in tatters who sat quietly through the long service. Bishop James presided, but many other bishops and clergy were present, including Bishop David Urquhart of Birmingham, who preached. Both Philip and Kenneth were vested, and part of the long processions between singing women and the service. A late chicken lunch was provided for us under the trees afterwards.

In the afternoon, we went up a bumpy red dirt road to a small rural school sponsored by the diocese. Out of the seeming emptiness, children, not from the school which was not open, swarmed up to us , looking hungry and in rags, but very eager to wave to us and have their photographs taken. Bishop James told us that at least 15% of the children would be orphans, from the heavy incidence of HIV Aids. We smiled at them with heart-felt sadness.

The next morning, Sunday, we attended the three hour High Mass at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Blantyre, conducted in the native language, Chichewa. The singing, clapping and dancing from at least three choir groups throughout the liturgy was such no westerner could have imagined. Bishop Philip preached, with a theme, “God has a dream”, translated by the Dean, the Very Revd. Auster Kalilombe. A lunch was provided later, in a small restaurant, where I enjoyed talking with him and the Vicar General, Charles Masina.

The following day we drove south-west, down out of the mountains, into the Shire river valley, then down 30 kilometers of red road to Chapananga, a rural community center being established by the Diocese. A clinic, largely for maternity care is being built, along with priest and teacher housing, with the already existing church, out of the local home-made red bricks seen everywhere. The priest, Fr Stephen Seyani Nkomah, told us of the present situation and of hopes and dreams for the future, especially in education and agricultural development. Children of course were there and the ladies also sang.

We drove on through a large South African sugar plantation and processing factory to their Club House, where we had a pleasant late lunch, then back through the sugar cane to Nyala Wild Life Preserve sponsored at least in part by the plantation group. We were fortunate in seeing, through the heavy brush, zebra, a giraffe family, wildebeest and a herd of another large antelope. It was a long day, however, and I was grateful to be riding in the car with Bishop James, especially for the opportunity to hear in greater depth the needs he felt for the Diocese, as well as his own moving story.

We arrived at the hotel at six, with just time to freshen up before going to the home of active Diocesan supporters, James and Angela Chimwaza, who hosted us for dinner. When we arrived, Bishop James, who had to leave in the morning for Crete, for a World Council of Churches meeting, told us of the diocesan needs. He emphasised education, much needed reconstruction of the Diocesan Office complex, which we had seen the first day, as well as Chapananga and the school we were to visit on the morrow. After dinner on the cool patio, we said farewell to him, and also Josie, who had accompanied our expeditions.

Our last day was no less full than the others. Accompanied by Bishop James’ Chaplain, Rev Makweya Chanza, we first went to Sunnyside School a little way out of town. We were shown round by the Deputy Head, Wilson Phiri. A boarding school, both primary and secondary, it had been taken over by the Diocese two years ago. It needs much refurbishing, and they are concentrating now on building up a library, refitting an old building and acquiring books. They also need equipment for their science department, as well as more good teachers. They are using a Malawi curriculum, preparing students for university there, rather than sending them abroad and often losing them for good.

From the school, we drove south of the city through immense tea plantations to All Saints Church in the Thyolo Parish, with Fr. Willard Kamandani. We were quite late, and many people elderly and young that the church feeds regularly had been waiting for us to come before they had their lunch. After much hand shaking, some of us helped serve them, then had our own lunch in the priest’s house. Everyone then met in the church as the priest and People’s Warden, Joyce Kululanga told us of the work of the parish. They feed all impoverished comers, other denominations and Moslems as well as their own constituents. They run carpentry and sewing training programs, as well as literacy classes. The priest also serves several outlying churches. It was very humbling to see how much they do with so little. While others visited the craft shops, I got surrounded by some twenty or more children who were interested in my sketch book, and being photographed. They started telling me their names, Susan, Beatrice, Fatima, Chichewa names I couldn’t pronounce, and the priest’s daughter, Alice, who was surprised when I told her Alice was my middle name too. One establishes so quickly a rapport with all those eager faces.

So our visits ended. We had a free evening to pack and make ready for the next day’s long journey. A final meeting in the morning gave us a chance to reflect together on our experiences and brainstorm on various ways Compass Rose might help meet some of the pressing needs of the Diocese. The vision of Bishop James Tengatenga, his priests and staff, have been an inspiration to all of us. May the rest of the Society catch a taste of God’s work among these people, and be inspired both to pray for them and assist them in their struggles as they bear so movingly the light of Christ.

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