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DioLog
DioLog is the biweekly newsletter sent by e-mail every other week to more than 500 clergy and lay leaders across the diocese and elsewhere. The next edition of DioLog will be sent to subscribers on Thursday, March 1.
If you have items to submit, contact Melodie Woerman, director of communications, at (785) 235-9255, (800) 473-3563 or by e-mail.
Parishes are free to excerpt anything printed in DioLog; attribution that material is reprinted from DioLog is appreciated. Feel free to copy this and make it available to parishioners in whatever way is most useful. To be added to the mailing list >>MORE
Current issue
Feb. 16, 2012
Lay Leadership registration is extended to Tuesday
Lay leaders in all congregations have a few extra days to register for this year’s Lay Leadership Academy. Registrations now must be received in the diocesan office in Topeka by Tuesday, Feb. 21.
This year’s Academy takes place Saturday, Feb. 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Grace Cathedral, Topeka, with registration and breakfast beginning at 9:30 a.m.
The cost is $25 per person, which includes lunch, continental breakfast and all resource materials. It is designed for senior and junior wardens, treasurers, evangelism chairs, youth leaders and anyone involved in leadership in a congregation.
Packets of registration brochures were mailed in late January to all church offices. A typeable PDF version is on the diocesan website at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/life/documents/LLA-brochure-typeable.pdf; just open the document, fill in the blanks, print it and mail it to the address provided.
The brochure also can be viewed in flipbook format at http://issuu.com/episcopalkansas/docs/lla2012-brochure.
Those attending will hear from Bishop Dean Wolfe and will be able to attend workshops on a variety of topics:
- Reaching out to youth and young adults
- Gifts discernment for mission
- Introduction to Total Ministry
- Communication tools to help share the Good News
- Evangelism tools and attitudes
- Discerning and designing outreach ministries
- A roundtable discussion for parish treasurers
- A roundtable discussion for wardens
For more information, contact Michele Moss at (800) 473-3563 or mmoss@episcopa-ks.org.
Lent begins next week
As churches move into the season of Lent (Ash Wednesday is Feb. 22), here are some items of note:
- Presiding Bishop’s video message – Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori calls Episcopalians to become involved with the Millennium Development Goals during Lent: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/presiding-bishop
- ERD Sunday can be observed on Lent I – Episcopal Relief and Development Sunday has been set for Feb. 26, the First Sunday in Lent, based on a resolution from General Convention. This Lent, ERD is placing a particular focus on malaria prevention and education through the NetsforLife program partnership and the NetsforLife Inspiration Fund. The NetsforLife Inspiration Fund is a grassroots effort to educate, engage and unite Episcopalians to support the Millennium Development Goals and join the fight against malaria. The goal of the campaign is to build awareness about the disease and how it can be prevented, and raise $5 million for NetsforLife by December 2012. Resources and more information are available online through www.er-d.org/Lent/
- Lenten resourcematerials available – A variety of Lenten resources have been compiled by The Episcopal Church for use by congregations during Lent.
- Lent Madness starts Feb. 23 – What combines learning about lives of the saints, a basketball tournament-style bracket and a little Lenten levity? It’s Lent Madness! Based on college basketball’s March Madness, Lent Madness pits saints head-to-head every day in Lent to win the coveted “golden halo.” It’s all on the Lent Madness website, http://www.lentmadness.org/.
- Update your church website – Be sure that your Ash Wednesday services and any special Lenten worship or study opportunities are easily accessible on your parish website. Lent is a time when people are engaged in spiritual searching, and you want to be sure they can find what your congregation has to offer.
Deadline for youth leaders to register for “Recharge” is Feb. 23
The Recharge weekend for adults who work with youth is set for March 2-3 at Camp Wood YMCA near Elmdale, southwest of Emporia. This event is an opportunity for youth leaders to talk about their ministries and share resources. The deadline to register is Thursday, Feb. 23. More information and registration is available at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/Recharge.html
Other youth news
New Beginnings : April 20-22 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Lawrence. For students in grades 6-8 of the current school year. New Beginnings is a weekend retreat focusing on the two greatest commandments: loving God with all our heart, mind and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. More information is at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/newbeginnings.html
Registration for MegaCamp is now open: Campers now can sign up for MegaCamp – a single exciting week for all campers from the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas. MegaCamp is set for June 3-9 at Camp Wood YMCA near Elmdale, southwest of Emporia, and is available to young people in grades 3-12, whether or not they are Episcopalians.
The cost is $390 per camper, and some scholarship assistance is available. Registration materials are available online at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/summercamp.html . Packets of registration materials will be sent to all parishes in the coming weeks, including hard copies of the required forms.
Staff applications are available now and are due March 15. See http://www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/summercamp.html
Reminder: Parochial reports are due March 1
All parishes are reminded that the deadline to submit the required annual parochial report is March 1. Copies of the reports have been mailed to all churches.
While the report itself can be filed online (http://generalconvention.org/gc/parochial_reports), the diocesan office still needs the following items returned in hard copy:
- The completed signature page (page 1)
- The supplement page
- The directory update form
- The form listing parish delegates
- Clergy continuing education form
- A copy of the church’s directory
Questions about completing the report, in print or online, should be directed to Comptroller Jay Currie, (800) 473-3563 or jcurrie@episcopal-ks.org.
ESS will join Oscar for a “Night on the Red Carpet” Feb. 26
Episcopal Social Services in Wichita again this year is hosting an Academy Award-themed event to raise funds for the agency that serves the poor.
“A Night on the Red Carpet” takes place Sunday, Feb. 26 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Abode Venue, 1330 East Douglas in Wichita, and will include watching the televised event. Tickets are $75 each or $850 for a table of 10, which includes hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, and live and silent auctions. Dress is black tie optional.
To purchase tickets see the ESS website, http://esswichita.org/norc.htm. For more information, call ESS at (316) 269-4160.
ESS is an official institution of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.
St. Michael’s, Mission, announces second annual juried art competition
The deadline is March 30 to enter the second annual juried art competition and exhibition sponsored by St. Michael and All Angels in Mission.
All submissions must reflect the parish’s 2011-2012 education theme of “Blessings.” $850 in cash awards will be available for the top three places.
Artists over the age of 18 may submit work, which must meet the following criteria:
- Be original work of the artist
- Be two-dimensional
- Completed in 2009 or later
- Must be wall hung
- Cannot exceed 30 pounds
More information is available online at http://www.stmaa.net/?q=content/art-exhibit
St. Thomas, Overland Park, to offer training for grief group facilitators
St. Thomas the Apostle, Overland Park, will host a training opportunity for those who head grief support groups. It is open to any diocesan groups that find a need for continuing grief work in their communities.
The training will take place May 2-4 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day and is offered by the national group, “Walking the Mourner’s Path,” http://www.mournerspath.com/.
The cost is $350 for a single student from a faith community or $250 each if multiple students attend.
The training will give participants everything they need to run structured, eight-week grief groups designed to allow participants to engage abiding grief, especially over the loss of a loved one, and connect it to ongoing meaning in their lives and faith journeys.
For more information, contact the Rev. Ben Varnum, (913) 451-0512, bvarnum@stthomasop.org, or the Rev. Gar Demo, (913) 451-0512, gdemo@stthomasop.org.
Two retired bishops to speak in Kansas
Bishop William Swing , retired bishop of California, will offer a lecture on Saturday, April 21 from 1-3 p.m. at St. Michael and All Angels, 6630 Nall Ave., in Mission. His topic will be “Institutional and Intuitional Covenants: agreements according to the letter of the law and according to the heart’s own reason.” Information about the lecture indicates that Bishop Swing will explore “the two most volatile challenges for the Episcopal Church in modern times,” same-sex issues and salvation through Jesus Christ alone.
More information about the event is available from St. Michael’s by calling (913) 236-8600.
Bishop John Spong , the retired bishop of Newark, will speak Feb. 17-19 at Plymouth Congregational Church in Wichita as part of that church’s annual “Word and Note” series. He will offer ticket-only lectures on Feb. 17 and 18 and will preach at the church’s 10:30 a.m. service Feb. 19. More information is available at http://www.plymouth-church.net/wordandnote2012.html
St. James’, Wichita, plans second Holy Land pilgrimage in 2012
After the success of its Holy Land pilgrimage in 2011, St. James’, Wichita, plans another one for July.
There will be separate trips for adults and for high school or college-aged youth.
Adults will visit Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives, Bethlehem, Caesarea, the Sea of Galilee, Jericho and Qumran. The cost is $3,685, which includes round-trip airfare from Wichita, all accommodations, two meals a day, ground transportation in Israel and the services of an English-speaking guide.
Youth making the pilgrimage will participate in activities through the Children and Youth Summer Camp Program. They will stay in various camp-like settings as they interact with Christian youth from the Holy Land, participate in volunteer work and engage in leadership training. They also will visit many of the area’s most sacred and historic sites. The cost will be $3,500 per person.
Leading the pilgrimage again will be the Rev. Amanda Eiman, St. James’ assistant rector, and Sue Abdinnour, a parishioner who is a native of Jerusalem and whose brother operates the travel agency that is making the arrangements.
More information is available on the parish website at www.stjameswichita.org or by contacting Eiman at astrector@stjameswichita.org or (316) 683-5658 or Abdinnour at sue_a@cox.net or (316) 744-8612.
KSM spring classes explore ethics, canons, congregational development and scripture
Enrollment now is open for Kansas School for Ministry spring classes. KSM offers one or two classes each month, based at the Bethany Place Conference Center adjacent to the diocesan offices near downtown Topeka.
Upcoming courses, with instructors, are:
- March 9-10 : Christian ethics survey (the Rev. Andrew O’Connor); church canons (Mr. Larry Bingham)
- April 13-14 : congregational development (Dr. David Thompson); contemporary ethics (Dr. Don Compier)
- May 11-12 : Old Testament III, the Prophets (Dr. Melissa Tubbs Loya); New Testament III, Paul (the Rev. Richard McCandless)
According to the Rev. Andrew Grosso, KSM’s coordinator and the diocesan missioner for theological formation, students this year will fall into four categories:
- Those studying for ordination as a deacon;
- Those studying for ordination as a priest;
- Those working toward a lay ministry certificate (congregational leadership, worship leader, lay preacher, sacramental minister or prayer minister); and
- Those taking courses for their personal continuing education and enjoyment.
The tuition is $150 per course for those in the ordination and lay ministry certificate tracks, and $100 per course for those studying for personal enrichment.
Students must pre-register by contacting Grosso at (913) 367-3171 or rector@trinityks.org.
Attention, parish treasurers
If your church receives checks from parishioners for the diocesan Crossroads campaign and you wish to remit them to the diocese via a single check, please be sure to send a check separate from the one for other diocesan payments (apportionment, loans, etc.)
Money for Crossroads is held in a different bank from the one for the diocesan General Fund, so a separate check is required.
Questions? Contact Comptroller Jay Currie, (800) 473-3563 or jcurrie@episcopal-ks.org.
New email address for Covenant, Junction City
The Church of the Covenant in Junction City has a new email address, effective Feb. 16: episcopaljc@gmail.com
Their old email address will work for only a few more days, so please change your email address book to reflect the correct address.
Scholarships offered by the Episcopal Church; applications now accepted
Applications are now being accepted for the 2012-2013 awarding of more than 60 scholarships from the Episcopal Church.
Scholarships are available for ethnic communities; children of missionaries, bishops and clergy; and other particular wide-ranging eligibility for education and training.
The list of trust funds and scholarships is online at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/scholarships .
Applicants are strongly encouraged to read each trust and identify in the application those trust funds that best fit their own profile.
Episcopal Church brand guidelines and digital graphics now are available
The Episcopal Church logos and shields featuring the new type treatments in both English and Spanish are available at no cost for downloading at http://archive.episcopalchurch.org/Imageshop_345_ENG_HTM.htm
The new graphic guidelines outlining important details for the use of the Episcopal Church shield and logos, including fonts, color palette, use of the shield and important design information, are available at http://archive.episcopalchurch.org/documents/TEC-styleguide-v5.pdf
The Episcopal Church Welcomes You signs are available for purchase from Episcopal Marketplace at www.episcopalmarketplace.org
Anniversaries of ordinations
Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:
Feb. 24: The Rev. Wayne Blakely, retired (22 years)
March 1: Deacon Pat Murphy, retired (9 years); the Rev. Sheila Fellhauer, St. Francis Community Services, Salina, Diocese of Western Kansas (24 years); the Rev. Robert Seaton, non-parochial, Diocese of Western Kansas (9 years)
Past issues
Past issues are viewable as Word documents in the archive. >>MORE