News
-Anglican Primates' Meeting – Special Saturday Forum
-Diocesan Convention Hosted by St. Paul's Cathedral
-Dramatic Meditation of The Stations of The Cross
-Zydeco Mass - Shrove Tuesday Tradition
Anglican Primates' Meeting – Special Saturday Forum
Dean Richardson has announced that a special "processing session" on the important Tanzania meeting of the Anglican primates will take place on Saturday, March 10, 2007 from 9:00 am till Noon. Watch for further announcements.
In the meantime, here are several links to the primates' official communiqué - a report of their conclusions and to the Anglican Covenant Draft also proposed at the meeting. You will want to read these two items. These links will also take you to several statements and articles in reaction to the primates meeting.
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/
See link to ACNS 4257.22 Feb for text of communiqué and covenant draft. Other links include additional information on the meeting.
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/index_new.htm
See Top Stories > More Stories and link on "Primates' Meeting."
http://episcopalchurch.typepad.com/episcope/
See archives on left side and a list of many Anglican blogs on the right. Titusonenine and Stand Firm In Faith are the two most read conservative blogs. Father Jake Stops the World and Preludium are the most read progressive blogs. Several of the others are of interest, however.
http://www.edsd.org
This is our diocesan web site and will soon include a statement from our own bishop.
Diocesan Convention Hosted by St. Paul's Cathedral
Nearly 400 clergy and lay delegates, as well as some visitors, assembled over the weekend of February 9 & 10 for the annual diocesan convention. The meeting began Friday afternoon with workshops on ministry programming at the Cathedral and hearings on the proposed budget, resolutions and canon changes at All Saints Church. Later Kansas City Cathedral Dean Terry White keynoted a gala opening dinner at the Aerospace Museum in Balboa Park.
Saturday began with a great festival Eucharist organized by Canon Allisyn Thomas and the Cathedral's sacramental team. More workshops followed and then, before and after lunch, the convention turned to the business of the diocese. Several St Paul's Cathedral members were elected to diocesan offices: Brad Lovelace, Diocesan Council, the programming and planning arm; Geoff Hueter, Corporation Board of Directors, the financial stewardship and management unit; Chris Harris, Ecclesiastical Trial Court. Jim Greer also ran for the Corporation Board of Directors, but was defeated.
Newly elected Chapter member Pam Crooks, Chair of the diocesan Peace and Justice Committee, offered a report and made a presentation.
Most of the proposed legislation involved housekeeping resolutions and changes to the canons. There was significant heated debate on two proposals, however. The first had to do with church efforts to advocate for immigration reform; the delegates to convention voted to approve a resolution based on actions taken last summer at the General Convention which supports a continuing movement toward humane immigration policies. The second issue concerns the liturgical practice known as "Open Communion." Last year's convention voted to establish a study group to look at both sides of the issue (i.e., only those baptized are eligible to receive vs. an invitation to all people to come to the Lord's Table). The group commending the finished report for further study was composed of a wide range of clergy and lay people – they testified to the remarkable progress they've made in their understanding of the issue and their appreciation for their colleagues who hold a different view. The recommendation of further study passed after an amendment calling some churches away from their current (i.e., "liberal") practices was defeated. The bishop then reported that he has been in conversation with congregations that were said to practice Open Communion and, after some changes were made in parish policies, now finds them all to be in conformity with the canons.
The Cathedral campus sparkled with draped and tulip topped high and low tables and white folding chairs scattered around both courtyards. Canon Christine Spalding, the Cathedral staff and an affable group of St Paul's volunteers provided support and hospitality throughout the weekend.
See the diocesan website for more details, www.edsd.org
New Patio Landscaping
The new landscaping in the patio garden off Sixth Avenue is the gift of Brad Lovelace, and Canons Andrew Rank and Barnabas Hunt. Longtime cathedral member Lanita Carroll said it was the loveliest the garden had looked in thirty years. Landscapers completed their task in time for the diocesan convention held at the Cathedral in early February. The landscaping project included upgrading of the sprinkler system in the garden. If you enjoy gardening and have a few minutes to spare, contact Tom Wilson at 619-298-7261 x329 to volunteer to help keep the weeds down once we get past the rainy season.
Dramatic Meditation of The Stations of The Cross
Will take place from 7 to 8 p.m, Friday, March 30, in the Cathedral. You may have noticed that there is a series of religious art pieces placed at various intervals on the south and north walls inside the Cathedral. These are the fourteen stations of the cross, which depict Jesus's walk to the cross. Each Friday during the season of Lent people walk the way of the cross with appointed meditations and prayers. Here is a devotional way of deepening one's experience of this very important time of the church year which leads to the celebration of Easter. On the last Friday before Holy Week, members of the Cathedral Drama Ensemble present Stations of the Cross readings from the pulpit, the altar,and at each station using Fr. Michael Quoist's book Prayers.
Time and Talent
We are still a few months away from our stewardship Time and Talent Campaign, but I was given this article from Good Samaritan recently by a parishioner. I don't believe it's too early to think about our gifts, where we serve, why we serve. So, I'm passing this along to you:
I just finished a difficult conversation with a friend of mine over the telephone and it has left me flat. This friend is a priest who quite frankly sounds burned out. He is frustrated with the church for many reasons, very few of them political. As he struggles with his future in the church I am very aware that what is missing in my friend's voice is the passion he once had. Not a passion for the church, necessarily, but a passion for doing ministry with God in and through the church. He at one time pursued ministry based on his gifts, talents and passion. Now, over time, he lost sight of those as he allowed himself to be consumed by the "institutional" realities of church. It seems to me that God gave him, (and all of us), gifts and things we are passionate about in order that we can work with God and work where God is working. When vision of God is lost or passion forgotten, or squelched, then all one is left with in the church is, well it can be many things and most of it unhealthy.
Unfortunately, my friend's frustration is not unique. I have heard story after story of Christians whose lives are transformed by the presence of Jesus Christ and who present themselves to serve in the church only to feel tired and burned out by the experience. More often than not as I talk with these faithful people it comes down to the reality that they had lost their passion. More often than not this was because the church never took the time to ask them what they were passionate about, what God had placed on their hearts, or what the Holy Sprit was inviting them into. Instead, the church asked them to fill slots that had been predetermined by the church. Instead of asking what was the passion in their journey with God, the church would simply say, "we need a (you fill in the blank) and why don't you do that."
The church can no longer survive if it is going to name for people their ministry without discussing what people are passionate about. The church can no longer survive if it continues to build itself around ministries that it determines are important and then tries to sell people on those ministries, or worse, beats people with guilt into "filling the slots." The church needs to begin to ask the questions, where is God at work, where is God working, how is God working and what is God inviting us to do. Then the church had better begin to invite Christian disciples to name with it is they are passionate about and then loose those passions to work with God. And, believe it or not, I believe that the passions of the individuals will match perfectly with where God is calling a community. You see, I simply think God is that clever.
In the short time I have been at Good Samaritan I have had the opportunity to hear of many of the passions that exist in this community. Many of you have talked to me about your passion for the poor, your passion for prayer, your passion for healing, your passion for liturgy and music. But, I have also heard from many of you on how frustrated and tired you are by "church work" and how you have lost your "passion."
I want to invite you to consider your passion. I invite you to ask the question how is it you are fed, what excites you on your Christian walk, how is it you could feel fed and nourished at church, what have you always felt you wanted to do with God. Do not worry if it sounds different or goofy, trust that God is at work and needs the different or goofy ministry. Be honest with yourself, and be honest if you feel you have lost your passion. We can work to rediscover it.
You'll be hearing more of this over the next couple of months, and this seems like a good start.
Jane Vander Velde
Time and Talent Coordinator
Women's Dinner Group Update
Started last fall, this is a small group ministry that focuses on the relationship busy working women have with God and each other. "We wanted an opportunity for fellowship that was self-contained inside of our monthly meetings. There are no homework, tasks, or obligations. We meet to become friends inside of our Christian Faith." say Jane Vander Velde and Susan Rust, who started this group after feeling a need for a deeper connection with other working women. "We're all so busy it's challenging to find time for ourselves, friendship, and God. Hopefully, we provide a respite and a place where all these things come together."
In the past seven months, we've had opportunities to learn more about one another, walk the labyrinth, share stories, and provide personalized birthday cards for the Dorcas House children.
The Women's Dinner Group celebrated Ash Wednesday with a simple soup supper prior to the evening's service, with Lee Teed providing enlightenment on the meaning of Lent.
Noelle Iliff will be the featured speaker at the March 21st dinner to talk about "Spiritual Fearless Uncluttering" - simplifying and organizing our closet, our lives, and whatever else needs to be worked on from a spiritual point of view. Laura Henson, a new member at St. Paul's, will talk about Stress Management on April 18. And, on May16th we will share a late spring walk in Balboa Park followed by a picnic supper.
We'll take the summer off and get together again in September. All women are welcome; it's never too late to stop by. We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of the month at 6 pm, usually in the Guild Room. We share, laugh, do good works and learn from each other; it's just what we all need.
Zydeco Mass - Shrove Tuesday Tradition
"Oh, When The Saints Come Marching In"
The Zydeco Mass was once again an extraordinary worship service with the Dean, clergy and staff dancing into the church to the strains of "Oh When The Saints Come Marching In." As in past years, Cajun music filled the sanctuary with the lively and soulful sounds of New Orleans. The number of people who attend this mass grows each year and we get the opportunity to open our doors and invite many new faces into our midst.
The post-dinner celebration was sold out and everyone had such a good time that it was well into the evening before cleanup could begin. It was an evening of fellowship and friendship with fabulous food, wine, music and conversation.
It takes a village and a great "village" made this year's event fun and easy to carry out, so a heartfelt thanks to the Fun Committee and fellow conspirators: Don Pelioni, Norm Crispen, David Smith, Don Rust, Susan Rust, Deedra Hardman, Judy MacDonald, Bart Smoot, Gary Rinser, Daniel Macmillan, Harold Potter, Lisa Crosby, Bob Ollie, and especially Martin Hall for his unbelievable decorations and setup which transformed the Great Hall. Be sure to mark your calendar to join us next year, we can't wait until 2008!
Peace,
Jane Vander Velde
Susan Rust
