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On October 16 Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori hosted a live Web cast featuring her comments on the recent House of Bishops meeting and Q & A with the PB via phone and e-mail.
[Episcopal News Service]
'There will be no outcasts in this Church,' Presiding Bishop
tells live Web cast audience
Jefferts Schori reflects on Church's mission, House of Bishops
meeting
By Daphne Mack
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Web cast anchor the Rev. Jan Nunley with the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori [©2007 Episcopal Life Online] |
Opening with an overview of the mission-driven September 20-25 House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori set the tone October 16 for her second Web cast held at the studio facilities of Trinity Church, Wall Street, in New York City.
"We met intentionally in New Orleans, as an act of solidarity with the people of Louisiana and the Mississippi Gulf coast, so that we might represent the prayers and concern of the whole church, and offer a small contribution to the rebuilding effort," Jefferts Schori said in her opening remarks of the one-hour Web cast, anchored by the Rev. Jan Nunley, executive editor of Episcopal Life Media. "We were told that 100,000 housing units were lost during Katrina and its aftermath, displacing nearly 250,000 people. Of those housing units, only about 4,000 have been made habitable once again." . . .
She described the first part of the meeting as "an opportunity for the bishops to hear from our Anglican Communion visitors, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, and to share our own joys and concerns with them."
"We heard some challenging words about different contexts around the Communion, and shared our own. We discovered, as we did in our labors in New Orleans and Mississippi, the reality and depth of our interconnectedness," she explained. "When one part of the body suffers, all suffer. When one part rejoices, the spirits of all are lifted." She said the statement that was produced in the latter part of the meeting represented "a remarkable consensus among the bishops." The Web cast. and full ENS story are available online www.trinitywallstreet.org/calendar/index.php?event_id=41421 and www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_91034_ENG_HTM.htm respectively.
By Matthew Davies
[Episcopal News Service] A report from the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates of the Anglican Communion has found that the Episcopal Church has "clarified all outstanding questions" relating to its response to the requests of the Windsor Report, and questions on which the Primates sought clarifications by September 30. The committee's 19-page report in two parts was issued in response to the House of Bishops September 20-25 meeting in New Orleans. The report is available online at www.aco.org/acc/docs/JSC%20Report%20on%20New%20Orleans%20071003.pdf. The complete ENS story summarizing the report can be found at www.episcopalchurch.org/79901_90678_ENG_HTM.htm.
In response to the Joint Standing Committee report (see above), Bishop Henderson issued the following comments on his blog. You may visit the Bishop's blog and reply to the Bishop at http://upperscvii.wordpress.com.
Sisters and Brothers, the Joint Standing Committee of the Primates of the Anglican Communion has issued its report to the Archbishop of Canterbury regarding the Response of the House of Bishops issued at the conclusion of our meeting last week in New Orleans. It is a significant statement, prepared and signed by the Primate of Australia, the Primate of Wales, the Primate of TEC, the Chair of the Anglican Consultative Council and of the ACC Standing Committee, the Vice-Chair of the ACC and Standing Committee, and four other members of the ACC Standing Committee.
The report—all 19 pages—is well worth reading in its entirety, and may be found at www.aco.org/acc/docs/JSC%20Report%20on%20New%20Orleans%20071003.pdf. For brevity’s sake, however, and to point out significant highlights, I draw your attention to the following excerpts which I trust are an accurate reflection of the thrust of the document. (Those portions appearing in bold print are my emphases.)
Bishop Henderson's comments are enclosed with the snail mail version of this newsletter.
UTO grant application forms are now available. If your church
is applying for a UTO grant, forms can be obtained by calling
the Diocesan Office, 803.771.7800, ext. 23. Completed grant
application forms should be mailed to the Diocesan House (1115
Marion Street, Columbia, SC 29201) by December 14, 2007.
UTO money will be granted in support of programs within Anglican provinces and dioceses that implement actions within the requesting diocese or province to address compelling human needs and/or expand mission and ministry. Detailed information, concerning the type of projects the United Thank Offering supports, can be found on the UTO Web site: www.episcopalchurch.org/UTO.
UTO grants are made possible through offerings received from individual blue boxes. These offerings are presented twice a year during spring and fall ingatherings. The UTO fall ingathering is now underway in churches across the diocese. If your church has missed the opportunity to participate in this outreach ministry, there is still time to schedule an ingathering. For more information, contact Clara Gillentine, UTO Diocesan Coordinator, 803.796.3106, or e-mail: gillentinelc803@aol.com.
“Who are We? Anglican Identity in the 21st Century” is a free program that will be presented at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 193 Old Greenville Hwy in Clemson, on 2 and 3 November.
The Rev. Thomas Davis, who is the Emeritus Rector of Holy Trinity, will present the five-part program, beginning at 7:45 on Friday evening, November 2, and continuing on Saturday until 4:00 in the afternoon.
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The lectures are free of charge. An optional “Henry VIII” dinner will be available Friday evening before the program at a cost of $10.00. Saturday lunch is available for $5.00.
Registration: Please send or telephone your name, address, and email address to Holy Trinity Episcopal Parish, 193 Old Greenville Hwy., Clemson, SC 29631-1335 (864.654.5071). Please indicate whether you would like the dinner on Friday evening (at 6:30) and Saturday lunch. Payment may be by check or at the door.
We plan to use a microphone to aid those who may be hard of hearing. For questions or additional information, contact Giles Carter at 864.653.5513 or at gilesc@mindspring.com. Or contact Carolyn Wheeler at 864.654.5071 or at cwheeler@holytrinityclemson.org.
On November 2 and 3, at the BonClarken Center in Flat Rock, NC, the
St. James [Greenville] Center for Spiritual Development will offer a Women’s Retreat
on Hildegard of Bingen. 
Hildegard of Bingen, prophetess of the Rhine, exemplified the life of the contemplative Christian in action. From a young age she experienced a passionate connection and devotion to God. Her mystical visions guided her considerable energy and creativity until her death at the age of 82. During her life, this charismatic woman founded two convents, wrote works of theology, cosmology, medicinal healing; composed celestial works of music; painted representations of her many visions; fought for church reform; and provided spiritual counsel to nobles, bishops, and kings. When asked how she managed to do all these tasks, she replied that she was but a “feather on the breath of God.”
Retreat leaderChelsea Wakefield, LCSW, is a lifelong spiritual pilgrim, soulful psychotherapist, spiritual director, and retreat leader. She has a gift for facilitating others in the process of developing an ear for “the voice of God” within them, and tapping into the wellsprings of unique calling, wholeness and creativity that energize real service to God. To register: retreats@stjamesgreenville.org; more info: http://stjamesspiritualitycenter.org.
St. George’s Episcopal Church, Anderson, is joyfully celebrating its 20th anniversary! You are cordially invited to the festivities being held on November11, 2007. We will celebrate Holy Eucharist at 10:30 with a barbecue to follow. Please come and share your memories. Find us at 2206 E. Greenville Street, Anderson, SC 29621, 864.224.1104, stgeorgee@bellsouth.net.
From the Episcopal Policy Network (EPPN)
Stand–Up and Speak Out - Against Poverty and for the MDGs:
November 16 & 17
Last year Episcopalians across the country took part in setting a
Guinness World Record by Standing-Up to Fight Poverty. This year the
organizers want to exceed the 23.5 million who Stood Up last year.
Your church can take part—learn more at:
standagainstpoverty.org.
MDG Sunday
The 2006 General Convention set the last Sunday after Pentecost as
"ONE Sunday" for the Episcopal Church. If you don't have the
liturgical calendar superimposed on your day planner – that date is November 25. Get it on your church calendar.
Samples of services, prayers, bulletin inserts and more will be
available in the
coming weeks. Be sure to stay in touch with the
EPPN Web site.
The
Episcopal Forum of South Carolina will sponsor a conference November
3, from 8:30 a.m. till 4:00 p.m., at Middleton Place Conference
Center in Charleston. Speakers will include: Ms. Bonnie Anderson,
president of the House of Deputies; The Rev. Sally Johnson,
chancellor to the president of the House of Deputies; and The Rev.
Frank Wade, well-known speaker and consultant and former rector of
St. Alban’s, Washington, DC.
The goal of this conference is to connect Episcopalians with The
Episcopal Church nationally. Join us to be more informed about and
connected to The Episcopal Church during these challenging times.
The mission of The Episcopal Forum of South Carolina is to preserve unity with diversity in the Diocese of South Carolina and within The Episcopal Church, through the inclusion of a broad range of Scriptural understandings, and by upholding the democratic actions of its Constitution and Canons, conventions and elected leadership.More information and conference registration: http://www.episcopalforumofsc.org/conferences.html
December 7-9 – Lo, God Comes! an Advent silent retreat with the Rt. Rev. Charles F Duvall, retired Bishop of the Diocese of Central Gulf Coast. Advent is traditionally a time to consider the first and second comings of Christ. Yet God comes into the history of planet earth and its creatures in other ways as well. Using the narratives of Scripture and the experiences of people of faith, Bishop Duvall will look at many of the ways God comes into the world. The weekend will be structured around four presentations: God coming as creator, coming through a family of faith, coming in person as Jesus, and coming through each of us..
Charles Duvall, a South Carolina native and Columbia resident, emphasized the teaching office while serving as bishop, and he continues to teach and preach on congregational, diocesan, and national levels. Tapes of his Bible stories interpreted for the modern ear have been recorded by the Episcopal Media Center in Atlanta. When the sisters remarked on his wonderful smile, Bishop Duvall replied, "Everyone's looks are enhanced by a smile; and I smile a lot as there is a lot of joy in Christianity."
All programs are $160 for full weekends including meals and lodging. Some scholarship funding is available.
For more information, contact the Episcopal Convent of St Helena by phone at 706-798-5201, email augustaconvent@comcast.net. Online at www.osh.org.
The Position and Responsibilities:
The Staff Coordinator for children and Family Ministries oversees the programmatic efforts to “prepare young and old for Christian life in the church and the world,” especially as this pertains to the spiritual and formational growth of our children and families.
As a member of the parish staff, the Children and Family Coordinator works under the direction of the Rector, along with other staff members and volunteers in planning all parish programs designed for children and families. The Coordinator is the staff liaison to the Children and Family Program Board, which is comprised of parishioners who manage the overall program. For a complete position description, please contact The Reverend Michael Anderson Bullock, St. Martin's-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church, 5220 Clemson Avenue,Columbia, 29206, 803.787.0392
The
churchwomen of St. Michael and All Angels, Columbia, continue
their long tradition of providing 44 different undecorated
styrofoam symbols.
The price is $1.00 per symbol or $40.00 for 44 individual symbols, plus shipping.
Contact Eleonora L. Cox, Christian Symbols Chairperson, 803.782.7805, or St. Michael & All Angels, 6408 Bridgewood Road, Columbia, SC 29206.
The Institute for Spirituality at Palmetto Health is taking applications for the January 2008 class in its Spiritual Guidance Training Program. This two-year, experiential, faith-based program prepares those involved in ministry—clergy, lay ministers, counselors, parish nurses and others—in the art and discipline of spiritual guidance (spiritual direction). Participants work from within the context of their own faith tradition, and, at the same time draw on the wealth of spiritual masters from other traditions as well as the arts, sciences and humanities.
The program includes home study, classroom experience, guided retreats, practicum, and peer groups. Participants are provided a certificate of completion at the end of the course and may be eligible for dual enrollment with the Graduate Theological Foundation to complete a Doctor of Ministry degree in Spiritual Direction. For more information or to obtain an application, contact Dr. Keith Barron at 803-296-5972 or e-mail him at keith.barron@palmettohealth.org. Information is also available on the Web site at www.palmettohealth.org .
The Bishop invites congregations to bring congregational banners
(with pole and stand), so that these may be displayed in the gym
where convention will be meeting.
All clergy are invited to vest and process for the Holy
Eucharist, 10:15 on Saturday morning. The color of the day is green.
The 2008 John Hines preaching award contest is here again. All preachers - bishops, priests, deacons, and laypersons - are invited to submit one sermon for Virginia Theological Seminary's John Hines Preaching Award. Sermons should reflect the prophetic voice that characterized the sermons of John Hines, presiding Bishop 1965-1974.
The sermon must have been delivered in the Episcopal Church to a congregation between I Advent 2006 and the last Sunday after Pentecost 2007. The sermon must be received by the John Hines preaching Award Committee by December 15, 2007. The recipient of the John Hines Preaching Award will receive $2000.00.
For further information, about the Hines Award, please write or call The Rev. Pamela Webb, Director of Alumni Affairs, Virginia Theological Seminary, 3737 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA 22304, 1.800.941.0083. Please feel free to visit the VTS Web site as well, www.vts.edu.
It is better to give than to receive.
Jesus gave his life for us so that we may have eternal life.
Giving back to the world is the key to a well-lived life.
There are two kinds of people in the world: givers and takers.
I am fifty years old now, and I have been well schooled in the
statements listed above. I give in many different ways, as I’m sure
you do, and I encourage others to do the same. I give of myself for
a living. Giving is modeled by Jesus, all the great saints, and all
of my mentors. I know about giving and about self-sacrifice. In
fact, I’ve walked the fine line of being “given out” before because
of the amount of giving that seemed required in my life at different
times.
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©Photographer: Valery Shanin. Agency: Dreamstime.com. |
And so it was a great challenge for me when Mark Yaconelli, the keynote speaker at a retreat sponsored by “Companions on the Inner Way”, asked us to consider Jesus as the “Great Receiver.” If you want to know how to receive, Yaconelli suggested, look at Jesus. When a woman wants to pour expensive oil over his head he says, “Yes! How wonderful! I will receive this gift.” When someone wants to wash his feet his says, “What a beautiful act of kindness and comfort. Yes, please continue.” When God opens the heavens and says, “You are my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased,” Jesus says “Yes! Yes! Yes! I will receive this affirmation.”
How well do I receive? I can receive a compliment now, although I’ve had to work
on that over the years. I learned how to receive meals from others when my
daughter had surgery. I love receiving a caring, thoughtful phone call or a
gift.
If I keep on digging down, I have to ask myself, “How well do I receive the
amazing gift of every day life? What do I do with the gift of good health?
In what ways do I fully receive the love of my family and friends?”
And deeper, “Can I receive the gift of God’s unconditional love for me? Do I
really believe in the gift of my baptism, that I belong to a communion of saints
and I really am one of them? Can I acknowledge and receive the gifts God planted
in me at my making and own them without apology or a need to make them less or
different than they are? Do I believe that I am enough, just the way I am?”
The therapist in me knows how important it is for people to receive. When a
child offers love to a parent and that love is not received, it does great
damage. Children need to know that their love matters, that their love makes an
impact on their parents, that their parents are actually affected by the love
that is given. After all, love is all a child has to give. The same is true in a
partnership. If a partner cannot receive love that is being given, the energy
that we call love is thwarted and diminished. Aging parents often have a hard
time receiving love in the form of help. Pride gets in the way, and fear of
losing independence, and the love and help that is offered is often deftly
batted away. Love is a circuit, much like electricity, and if either end of the
circuit, the giving or the receiving end is damaged, then you have a short
circuit. I know it is important to receive.
But I had never thought about looking to Jesus as a model of receiving. I am now
wondering about all the ways Jesus received the love of his earthly father and
mother and about the ways he received the love of his followers. I am wondering
what Jesus felt like when he received the affirmation and love of God. How did
it transform him? When he went off to pray by himself, was it to receive? Did
he, like I do, weaken at the knees when truly receiving all of the abundance in
the many forms that it is offered in life?
How can I better receive the love of God? Can I believe that I am enough? I am
playing with/praying with these notions this fall as I think of Jesus as a model
for receiving.
At the time of our offering on Sunday we sang hymn 424 in the Episcopal hymnal.
These are the words to verse three, which struck me this time to be about
receiving.
For the harvests of the Spirit, thanks be to God.
For the good we all inherit, thanks be to God.
For the wonders that astound us,
For the truths that still confound us,
Most of all that love has found us,
Thanks be to God.
I will be praying with these ideas this fall. Receiving requires a softening, an
allowing, an inviting. Moment by moment, softening to this gift that is life,
looking to Jesus as a model of receiving, I invite you to join me.
©Copyright Amy Sander Montanez, 2007
