Friday February 20, 2009

Hello and welcome to the February 20 edition of the eSpirit of Wyoming!

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. It has been really fun to get to meet so many of you via email and get the stories of what is happening in the Diocese! I hope you can share the eSpirit with others, as the more subsribers, the more stories...the more stories the more sharing...and the more connected we are around Wyoming (and the world, as there are several national and international folks on the eSpirit list, too). Signing up is easy! Just go to www.wyomingdiocese.org and enter your email address in the newsletter box or to www.spiritofwyoming.org to sign up and read past issues.

So thanks and keep the stories coming!

God’s peace,

-Andrew

Email: andrew@wyomingdiocese.org or call (+1) 307.265.5200

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Bishop Bruce Caldwell sat down with Andrew Kerr for an interview about the Apostolic Teams. This link is posted in Diocese's account with MyPodcast http://wyomingdiocese.mypodcast.com/

Give it some time to load...it may take a few minutes. OR, click on one of the many podcast options, including sending the file directly to iTunes.

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by The Rev Canon Margaret Babcock (email: margaret@wyomingdiocese.org) and Ms. Linda Fleming (email: lfleming22@yahoo.com)

Living Stones
February 7-10 Des Moines, IA
Living Stones Partnership is a gathering of over 25 dioceses, seminaries, and communities of faith in Canada & the US who meet annually for mutual reflection on creative and innovative ways to provide leadership to the Church in a Shared Ministry or Baptismal Ministry way.

The Diocese of Wyoming, represented by Bruce Caldwell, Margaret Babcock, Warren Frelund, Jess Smith and Linda Fleming, presented a Baptismal Ministry-Experience and Reflection or BMER ( as the case studies are called in this group). The BMER addressed two goals from the 5 point plan for ministry development that was introduced to our whole diocese during the past year. The goals specifically focused on were the plan to use the Baptismal Covenant as the guide for Ministry Development in all of the congregations by using Apostolic Teams and the use of Associated Priests to help provide sacramental stability, while the building teams and community in the six regions of Wyoming. As our Living Stones team digests the good feedback given by those who reflected on our BMER, we will be sharing the insights with others in the Diocese.

Ministry Developer Collaborative Workshops
Before the Living Stones conference, Linda Fleming attended a workshop named Baptism 101. She joined about ten others and worked through the program, “Wade in the Water, An Introduction to Baptismal Ministry.”It is a resource for dioceses, congregations, covenant groups, and individuals seeking to better understand the rite of baptism as God’s invitation to Christian life and ministry. It is designed as a tool for a variety of contexts and conversations. The DVD is narrated by Dr. Fredrica Harris-Thompsett of Episcopal Divinity School. The program, including the use of the DVD and discussion times, will take 5 hours or a full day with breaks. It could also be used over a period of 5 or 6 weeks in a study series. The Diocese of Wyoming has a copy of the DVD and study guide. It is available by contacting the office in Casper. Linda said, “I would recommend all congregations use “Wade in the Water”. For all those very well steeped in baptismal theology to those for whom baptismal ministry is a newer concept, the discussion led by Fredrica and the group discussions that follow her presentations are invaluable.”

Also held before the Living Stones conference was a workshop for those interested in helping to design a Ministry Developers Certificate program. Attending this from Wyoming were Margaret Babcock, Kay Rhode and Andrew Kerr. While a committee from the Collaborative (including members of many Living Stones dioceses as well as two seminaries) has been working for a year to imagine what kind of educational process would be necessary to form Ministry Developers for the Church, this workshop reviewed their work and talked about how to implement the program. Bottom line is that planning for the initial group of students is going forward and we hope to have this launched in September. Guides will work closely with the participants to design their studies in the areas of Basic Skills, Personal Growth and Transformation, Transforming Ministering Communities and Changing Systems. It is expected that students will engage in many different forms of learning, from traditional reading courses to online classes and experiential field work. The certifying body will be Living Stones.

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

The weekend is over and the tracks are all covered once again with snow. The fierce wind came roaring down off of Laramie peak and tried to blow all of the snow east to Nebraska. But it didn’t blow all of it away, and there was just enough left for 14 youth and 4 adults to wander around on snow shoes and experience a different side of HR Camp. These brave souls from St. Mark’s Church, Casper spent the weekend building community, learning about God’s creation, and yes, having fun and eating good food! So much to thank God for, this place, each other and, oh by the way did I mention the good food!

We even dug out all of the snow from the fire pit so that we could see if roasted marsh mellows are as good in the winter as they are in the summer. The verdict is in – we finished the bag. We even hiked up to the outdoor chapel in the snow! No less. As we drove away in the big blue van – we all yelled at Pat, Pam and Steve – and Hank too – We’ll be back this summer!
 

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By the Rev Kathy Robinson. Email: kathy@wyomingdiocese.org

There are times when I am sure I am not paid enough…..usually when I have driven mile after mile after mile. But then there are times when I can’t believe I actually get paid for the work I do. This past week illustrated both. I will have actually listened to two books on tape by the time the week is done, but I will also have been blessed to be a part of an absolute kaleidoscope of ideas, laughter, and testimonials to the reality of God’s work in people’s lives.

Sunday at St. George’s Lusk I sat and listened to their confirmation class as they grappled with the meaning of the Creeds for the church and their lives together. There was such a desire to learn and grow in their understanding of God and His church.

Monday I participated in a text study in Hartville. It is a place where conservative and liberal ideas seem to mix in harmony rather than clash. The discussion was so lively that our usual time together stretched out to three hours before people were ready to go their separate ways.

Tuesday was spent in Glendo where we are doing a book study of Richard Foster’s book Celebration of Discipline. I can’t remember when I laughed so hard but out of that laughter came some real learning.

Wednesday I drove just up the street to St. Stephen’s – I could have walked - where they were doing a lesson in Life Cycles. I always like the “so what?” that is asked at the end of the lesson. The answer to this question can actually change lives.

Today I will be working on an on-line class Meeting the God We Worship through CDSP. There are six of us from Douglas and Casper doing this together and we make up almost half of the class.

Finally this Saturday is another Regional Team meeting in Glendo. It will be a nice way to finish the week.

What strikes me about this week is how essential it is for a community to study together and explore what God can do in their lives as individuals and in community. I also am reminded that no amount of scholarly study will ever replace the wisdom that is found in those people who have spend time in study, prayer and service to God.

I still don’t like all the driving, but I have got to say the people I have gotten to know make it all worth while. Kathy Robinson
 

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By the Rev Ann Fontaine. Email: annfontaine@mac.com

Trinity held a service of farewell to Deacon Sally Megeath. She and her husband, Joe, are moving to Denver. The community of Fremont County, Lander and Trinity will miss them. Joe is a licensed lay preacher and has served on the Central Wyoming College Board of  Trustees as well as other service to Fremont County. Sally has been active in making Lander a better place to live through her work with the development of a Hospice and aid to those who often fall through the societal safety nets. She preached today (see attached). Deacon Warren Frelund - who oversees and supports the deacons in the diocese was present to offer prayers and words of farewell from the Bishop and Diocese. Deacon Leigh Earle of St. Mark's, Casper, and Deacon Linda Hudson of Trinity, Lander, also were present for the service as well as her many friends from the church.

A deacon in attendance remarked that Sally's farewell homily was the paradigm of a diaconal sermon. An excerpt follow:

I have talked with you many times over the years about the Millennium Development Goals or MDGs, I have also read them to you. Today I want to be more specific. The MDGs are a very specific way that we, all of us, can do something in the world.

Read them with me:

The Millennium Development goals are:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger.
We are hearing more and more about what a billion is in terms of money. There are one billion people in our world who live on less that $1 a day. One billion. And they are hungry.

2. Achieve universal primary education.
There are 77 million children who do not attend primary school – that would be K to 6th grade.

3. Promote gender equality and empower women.
96 million women aged 15-24 cannot read or write. There are new programs being developed in the underdeveloped world which empower women.

4. Reduce child mortality.
26,000 children under 5 die every year during pregnancy or childbirth. 26,000 children

5. Improve maternal health.
500,000 women die every year during pregnancy and childbirth.

6. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases.
One million people die every year from malaria. Malaria is a preventable disease, and there are 14,000 new HIV/AIDS infections diagnosed every year.

7. Ensure environmental sustainability.
1/5th of the world’s population do not have access to clean water within a 15 minute walk. We turn on our faucets and know we have clean water.

8. Develop a global partnership for development.
We must work together to change unfair trade systems, work on huge debts and limited access to markets.

These are huge problems and we each are just one person. So what do we do?
We can pray without ceasing.
We can do as the disciples did and leave their nets, and families behind and follow Jesus?
We can write a check when there is a need – in fact we have a Christian obligation to do so.
We can go and spend a week, a month, a year in an under-developed nation or part of this country and serve the needs of the people.
 

Thank you Sally and Joe. You will be greatly missed.

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