Introducing Our New Small Membership Church Intern

Greetings Blososphere:

The Office of Congregational Development is pleased to announce a new intern in our mix. Her name is Licia, and she will be working with Dr. Charles Arn and me on the development of our pilot program--Multiple Choice Church: Reaching the Unchurched with a New Style Service.

Now it's your chance. Licia's statement of introduction is pasted below. She's a bright, energetic seminarian anxious to know all there is about the small Episcopal Church. Share your wisdom...what would you like a "rising senior" seminarian to know about the small church? What would you hope that she gain from her experience here in our office? From her work? From our pilot?

Licia (and I) look forward to your response...

Hi there!

My name is Licia and I am a student at General Theological Seminary in New York City. I am a “rising senior” which means that in September I will begin my last year of school. I was born and raised in Italy and I moved to the US in 2000 due to my husband’s job. He is Italian too and works in the field of cancer research and we have a beautiful, incredibly smart, sweet, and funny (but I may be biased…) almost-five-year-old daughter.

I became an Episcopalian at St Bart’s (the church, not the island)in 2003 and one year later my family moved to Scottsdale, Arizona, where I went through the discernment process and was accepted as a postulant for ordination.

I always joke that the people of my sponsoring parish are so nice that I fooled them into sponsoring me, but to tell the truth they are a wonderfully supportive community who embraced my whole family and lifted me up in my spiritual journey with great love and constant prayers.

Last summer, thanks to a dear mutual friend, I met Suzanne and became interested in the process of helping churches reach out to people in Christ in new ways. I am very excited at the prospect of working on a pilot project aimed to support congregations interested in introducing new types of services in their schedule in order to share Christ’s message with a variety of different people.

Since my whole experience with the Episcopal Church has been mainly through medium and large sized congregations I am particularly intrigued by the dynamics of “smaller” churches and believe that my experience in this internship will help me become a more effective leader in times of growth and transition.

Suggested Strand: Reaching Out

A reader of this blog writes:

Hi there! I am the Senior Warden at St Swithen's Episcopal Church. We are a small congregation with typical Sunday attendance around 60. There are so many other small Parishes like ours and we have a lot to share. We are currently trying to come up with ways to attain growth. I'm sure you know the struggles of doing such a thing.
Another endeavor we are embarking on is to develop an Outreach program. But we were wondering what other Parishes are doing to reach out to the Community. We're trying to find out how we could be the most effective in helping out our neighbors. Could you possibly start a thread going concerning what others might be doing to reach out to those in need? If you could provide any information, that would be wonderful! Thanks!!

Okay readers, time to stop being shy and share. With 100+ readers a day I know there are many stories and wisdom to be shared..what is your small congregation doing to reach out and help your neighbors? And if you are not part of a faith community, when you look around at "church", at what we profess to be, and see our neighbor's need, how would you answer this faithful senior warden?

Episcopal Congregations in Europe

On April 20-22, 2007 my son (pictured in striped sweater on right) and I had the honor of attending the first ever mission festival celebrating the ministry carried out by the Episcopal mission congregations in Europe. The gathering was held in Rastatt, Germany.

The Rt. Rev. Pierre Whalon (pictured above addressing the children at the closing Eucharist) was in attendance for the entire celebration, and played an integral role in terms of teaching, vision, and encouragement.

I look forward to sharing the pictures and stories of these congregations in the days to come --including the stories of the two missions that will be closing shortly, the booming new church plant of ex patriots and the new church sprout of refugees from Rwanda. What a gathering!

This trip reinforced (once again) that as Episcopalians we are a diverse group of people who are united by the experience of knowing the transforming love of Christ on a heart, mind and soul level, and who want to share this experience with the wider (and increasingly secular) world. I continue to be warmed by the spiritual depth and beauty of our brothers and sisters in Christ, both at home and abroad...

Blessings,

A jet lagged blogger

ECC Resources

In preparation for an upcoming visit with the Convocation of Churches in Europe, I have gathered a collection of resources produced by colleagues from the Episcopal Church Center. While I was aware of many of these resources, to see them all gathered in one place (on my office floor no less--all in preparation for shipping to our brothers and sisters in Christ in Europe), to see the breadth of knowledge and passion, and to imagine the new ministry that they can catalyze is incredible.

I wrote out the name of each resource by department, and included contact information. While this document is long (probably too long for a blog) I am quite anxious to share. Departments are listed alphabetically with resources listed beneath each one. While this is by no means an exhaustive list, it is a beginning...

Blessings friends, and I look forward to sharing photos and stories of our mission festival in Germany upon my return.

Suzanne

Episcopal Church Center Resources

Office of Anglican and Global Relations

“Windows on Mission-stories of DFMS missionaries around the world” highlights eleven unique mission journeys with missionaries who share their joys and challenges of doing God’s work throughout the world. 2 DVD Set, $39.95. (each of the eleven segments run between 15 and 25 minutes in length.)

An accompanying study guide will soon be available, also through Episcopal Books and Resources, and available for download with out charge at http://episcopalchurch.org/agr.htm

Contact Episcopal Books & Resources
212 716-6059
800 334-7626
E-MAIL: blucas@episcopalchurch.org

Colleges and Universities of the Anglican Communion

Guide to Episcopal Colleges Contact the Episcopal Colleges Office at 1.800.334.7626, ext. 6148 or visit www.cuac.org

Congregational Development

Stewardship Handbook
Visit the Stewardship pages of The Episcopal Church web site at http://episcopalchurch.org/stewardship.htm At this site you will find a large amount of downloadable and very useful information designed to help leaders in congregations and dioceses to development stewardship programs that help carry out the work God is calling them to do. Most of the information found in the Stewardship Handbook (on the display table at events) is also in downloadable format at this site. For more information contact
Terry Parsons Stewardship Officer Congregational Development
tparsons@episcopalchurch.org
or 800.334.7626, ext 6284


Small Church Growth Strategy Handbook http://www.episcopalchurch.org/smallchurch_4167_ENG_HTM.htm (Summer 2007 edition to be uploaded soon) Contact Suzanne Watson at 1.800.334.7626, ext. 6185 Or e-mail swatson@episcopalchurch.org


Voices of the Young: Listening to twenty-somethings talk about the Church (DVD) http://episcopalchurch.org/49662_78132_ENG_HTM.htm

Truth and Hope: A Time of Truth and Hope for the Episcopal Church by Charles Fulton and James Lemler available from Forward Movement Publications http://www.forwardmovement.org/showbook.cfm?prodid=1877

FACTS on Episcopal Growth (and much more statistical data) Kirk Hadaway Visit http://www.episcopalchurch.org/research.htm

Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations

Interfaith Education Initiative: A Manual on Interfaith Dialogue Available through Episcopal Books and Resources at www.episcopalbookstore.org using reference number 60-0416.

Handbook for Ecumenism Available through the Office of Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations at 800.334.7626, ext. 6127 Or e-mail jschwarz@episcopalchurch.org

Episcopal Life
Visit e-Life on line at http://episcopalchurch.org/episcopal_life.htm

Episcopal Migration Ministries
“A Map of Faith-Sharing the Journey with the Uprooted” DVD Available through Episcopal Migration Ministries at 800.334.7626, ext. 6057 Or e-mail jdenaro@episcopalchurch.org

Episcopal News Service
Visit the new interactive Episcopal Life site http://episcopalchurch.org/78650_23228_ENG_HTM.htm
To receive Episcopal News Service via e-mail, subscribe at http://episcopalchurch.org/78650_23228_ENG_HTM.htm

Episcopal Relief and Development

For brochures, magnets, and more information about the Millennium Development Goals and the Episcopal Church
For gifts that will make a lasting difference in the lives of children and families living in extreme poverty, consider giving from the Gifts for Life catalog
For more information call 1.800.334.7626 ext 5129, or visit http://www.er-d.org/ for information about the vital ministry of Episcopal Relief and Development.

Office of Ethnic Congregational Development

A Disciples Prayerbook available through the office of Native Ministries at 800.334.7626 ext 5350 or e-mail at wfodor@episcopalchurch.org

Hispanic Ministry: Opportunity for Mission And The Hispanic Mission: Things to Consider in Starting an Hispanic Mission by The Rev. Isaias Rodriguez. Both Available through the Office of Latino/Hispanic Ministries at 1.800.334.7626 ext 6328 or e-mail at aguillen@episcopalchurch.org

Black Ministry Resources
Contact The Rev. Angela Ifill at 800.334.7626 ext 5343 or e-mail at aifill@episcopalchurch.org

Asian Ministry Resources
Contact The Rev. Winfred Vergara at 800.334.7626 ext 5344 or e-mail at wvergara@episcopalchurch.org

Office of International Partnership for Service Learning and Leadership

For more information on the Service Learning Summer or Semester Programs or the Master of Arts in International Service, visit www.ipsl.org or at 212.986.0989 or e-mail at ino@ipsl.org

Ministries With Young People

· For all handbooks, publications, DVD’s, and music resources contact Luke Fodor at 800.334.7626 ext 6158 or lfodor@episcopalchurch.org

· Handbooks and Publications (most available for download with out cost):

· Handbook for Ministries with Young Adolescents in the Episcopal Church
· Handbook for Ministries with Older Adolescents in the Episcopal Church
· Discovering: Called to Teach and Learn—A Process to Explore the Church’s Primary Teaching Resource
· Called to Teach and Learn: A Catechetical Guide for the Episcopal Church
· Youth Ministry in the Age of AIDS
· In Dialogue with Scripture: An Episcopal Guide to Studying the Bible
· Awake My Soul: A Liturgical Resource for use with Children and Adults
· Youth and Young Adults: Resource Book For Ministries With


DVD and Music Resources:
· Voices of the Young: Listening to twenty-somethings talk about the Church (DVD)
http://episcopalchurch.org/49662_78132_ENG_HTM.htm
· REMix: Greatest Hits from Ministries with Young People

Announcements of Mission Opportunities:
Young Adult Service Corp
Short-Term Domestic Internship Program
Young Adult Internship Programs

Mission Program

2020 The Vision for Mission Today and Tomorrow James Lemler Available from Forward Movement Publications www.forwardmovement.org

Groundwork (Lenten Study Guide) Available to download with out fee at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/groundwork/

Truth and Hope: A Time of Truth and Hope for the Episcopal Church by Charles Fulton and James Lemler available from Forward Movement Publications http://www.forwardmovement.org/showbook.cfm?prodid=1877


Office of Ministry Development

Supporting Christians at Work: A Practical Guide for Busy Clergy by Mark Green, available through Episcopal Books and Resources at www.episcopalbooksstore.org or at 800.903.5544

Theological Education for All: Knowledge of God, not a forbidden fruit. Go to www.TEforALL.org/go

Ministry in Daily Life: Go to www.episcopalchurch.org/mdl

Office of Government Relations

Visit www.episcopalchurch.org/eppn/ or 800.2280515 for more information on:
God’s Mission in the World: An Ecumenical Christian Study Guide on Global Poverty and the Millennium Development Goals
Corporate Engagement by the Episcopal Church on Issues Related to Israel and the Palestinian Territories

Office of Peace and Justice Ministries
Engage God’s Mission: Policy for Action—The Social Policies of the Episcopal Church, USA
Anti-Racism Training and Material
Jubilee Ministry: Outreach Ministry Program of The Episcopal Church for the Past Quarter Century
"Changing Lives: Behind the Walls at Angola" is a new feature-length video documentary following the effects of an Episcopal chaplain's ministry inside a prison once considered the bloodiest in America: the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola, Louisiana
Contact 800.334.7626, ext 6050 for more information or e-mail eblair@episcopalchurch.org

United Thank Offering

UTO 2006: Grants List
Contact 800.334.7626 ext 6022, or e-mail Steven Bailey at sbailey@episcopalchurch.org

Women’s Ministries
Shall We Gather: Anglican Women Together (DVD)
Anglican Women’s Empowerment (AWE) Brochure
Beijing Circles: Resource for Women of Faith Changing the World
Beijing Circles: East Timor to Yonkers (DVD)
For more information contact Kim Robey at 800.334.7626 or e-mail krobey@episcopalchurch.org

Additional Resources on Table:

Changing Lives for Good: visit www.changinglives.org.uk

Happy Easter

from Connecticut...

Continuing Christ's Mission of Making Disciples

Should Your Congregation Consider Starting a New Church Service With a Different Style?

Charles Arn, in his book How to Start a New Service: Your Church CAN Reach New People begins with a chapter on which congregations should, or should not, begin a new church service. By new, he means new-style, with the goal of reaching out to new people to continue Christ’s mission to make disciples. Should your congregation consider starting a new-style service? The following questions help determine the answer:

1. Is your congregation’s highest priority being “like a family”?
2. Is your congregation’s highest priority preserving “correct” doctrine and “correct” interpretation of Scripture?
3. Has your congregation split from a more liberal church or denomination in the past 50-75 years?
4. Is your congregation’s highest priority survival (i.e. with avoiding death than pursuing life)?
5. Does your priest/pastor/leadership team plan to leave in the coming year?
6. Does your congregation seem too small to add another service?
7. Is your congregation’s attendance declining?
8. Is your congregation’s sanctuary less than filled on Sundays?
9. Does your congregation lack the personnel to add a new service?
10. Does your theology or liturgical beliefs not allow for a different style?
11. Is your church in a bad location?

Response: Did you answer yes to question number 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5? If so, starting a new service is probably not the best strategy for your congregation at this time. About 50% of congregations fall into this category.

Did you answer yes to question number 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 or 11? Guess what? These are excuses for not starting a new service, but they are not reasons. If the idea of a new service (despite the excuses) seems like it might have merit, consider purchasing Arn’s book which is widely available (http://www.amazon.com/How-Start-New-Service-Church/dp/0801090377/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-9706170-8008855?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175021528&sr=8-1 . )

Additionally, watch this space (or e-mail swatson@episcopalchurch.org ) for the announcement of a new pilot program for small churches interested in making new disciples through a new-style service.

Start Up Start Over

Start Up Start Over, the congregational development seminar in its twentieth year (!!!) is launching a new blog.

While attending the event, community quickly forms among the participants. Participants then return from Start Up Start Over energized to equip their congregations to bring Christ to the post-Christendom world in new ways.

What has been lacking is a way to stay in touch, to share stories, struggles, accomplishments, ideas, etc.

If you have attended Start Up Start Over in the past, please visit www.startupstartover.blogspot.com and share your experience. If you have not yet attended, please feel free to visit and see what others say. It may be a seminar worth your (and your congregation's) consideration.

Growth in ASA vs. Transformation: Lent 3 Reflection

One of my fondest memories as a child is of spending time with my grandmother in San Diego. She was a loving, down-to-earth woman who loved and served God with her whole heart and soul. And it was through her, and the times we spent together, that I began to learn about what it is to be a person who follows Christ.

Her lessons were never overt. Instead, they were taught in subtle and earthy ways. Ways that I could somehow hear, and that took root to sprout later in life. For example, she had a many fruit trees in her back yard. She would save her kitchen scraps, and after meals, we would march out and spread the organic scraps around the base of the trees. She told me that the sandy soil in coastal San Diego made growing fruit trees difficult, but with proper care and extra nutrients it was possible. I remember one day harvesting several ripe figs from her garden, warmed from the sun, and then returning to her porch swing to enjoy our feast. As we enjoyed the figs, she read me the parable from Sunday's (Lent 3) gospel.

A MAN HAD A FIG TREE PLANTED IN HIS VINEYARD. AND HE CAME LOOKING FOR FRUIT ON IT AND FOUND NONE. SO HE SAID TO THE GARDENER, SEE HERE. FOR THREE YEARS I HAVE COME LOOKING FOR FRUIT ON THIS FIG TREE, AND STILL I FIND NONE. CUT IT DOWN!!! WHY SHOULD IT BE WASTING THE SOIL? HE REPLIED, SIR, LET IT ALONE FOR ONE MORE YEAR, UNTIL I DIG AROUND IT AND PUT MANURE ON IT. IF IT BEARS FRUIT NEXT YEAR, WELL AND GOOD; BUT IF NOT, YOU CAN CUT IT DOWN.”

Let me dig around it and nourish it…if it bears fruit next year well and good. If not, you can cut it down…

Today’s gospel raises the question, how can we, as communities who profess to follow Christ, dig around and nourish ourselves so that we bears fruit?

How do you know if your congregation is “baring fruit”? A great deal of my work involves traveling and speaking at provincial and diocesan conferences, both in the US and overseas. I always ask people why they made the choice to take a Saturday and attend. Almost universally the response is “because we want our congregation to grow!” It’s always a set up, because the one characteristic most linked with decline in attendance in a congregation is the desire to grow. Most often, wanting to grow means a congregation is looking a little empty on Sunday mornings, or maybe that the congregation is aging a little bit, or that finances are getting a little tight. Growth, or wanting to grow, is not how we tell if a congregation is baring fruit.

Instead, a congregation is baring fruit when people are being transformed by the love of Christ. This means that with in the congregation member’s lives are being transformed, and that the congregation is reaching out, and transforming their corner of the world and, possibly, beyond…Transformation is the fruit of the congregation in full bloom. A bi-product of transformation is that the congregation that transforms people and wider community usually does grow, but growth in numbers in the congregation, in and of itself, is not the end.

This Sunday I'm attending a new church...here's hoping that as my family and I walk in we find a place as welcoming as my grandmother's porch swing, and discover a community of people happily producing plump figs, warmed by the sun...

S.

Tween Talk

When speaking to gatherings of congregational leaders, one of the most common frustrations voiced is an inability to keep the "young people" engaged in the church.

One of the issues might be the gulf between how different generations profess belief in Christ.

As a mum of teens and tweens myself (four of them!) I am keenly interested in this subject, and frequently challenged by my kids about generational "church-speak."

As an example, I share something written by a teen to profess his belief in Christ to back up an assertion he made about a controversial issue:

"Yes,>> >>as a matter of fact I AM a...>> >>Wideyed Sanctified >> >>blood bought spirit taught>> >>Bible totin' scripture quotin' Satan bashin' sin trashin' Christ>>followin`>> >Pride swallowin hard prayin' truth conveyin' >> >>faith walkin' gospel talkin'>> >>BONAFIDE BIG TIME BELIEVER>> >>And proud of it!!!" (original source not cited in post)

Compare these words with the form of language used in worship to profess faith--words which speak to my soul at a deep and resonating level. I see a huge gulf between the two (although a Lenten discipline of "faith walkin' gospel talkin'" has a rather appealing ring to it--even for this boomer mom!)

So friends, what is the way forward? Is it to try and train up the young in "our" ways so that they understand when they hit the tween and teen years, or is it beginning to reach out, understand, and listen to these meaning-seeking kids and help them to develop and grow in Christ through worship in ways that touch their soul at that deep and resonating level. If it is the latter, are we ready to facilitate that process?

Living Stones: A Gathering to Focus on Total Ministry

On February 17-20, 2007, I was honored to be included as a guest at the annual gathering of Living Stones in Spokane, Washington. Living Stones is a partnership of dioceses and communities of faith engaged in Christian mission, committed to the ministry of all the baptized. In the context of theological reflection, the Living Stones Partnership exists to support, challenge, and strengthen ministry in their respective jurisdictions.

The gathering included over twenty diocese and communities of faith from ECUSA and the Anglican Church in Canada. Those present formed "cluster groups" in which four different groups presented a situation for peer evaluation and consultation. Many of the presentations focused on the "nuts and bolts" and "strengths and opportunities" of living out the ministry of "locally identified and trained teams" as congregational leaders (called total ministry, ministry of all the baptized, local shared ministry, or many other names...this is a model where teams with in the congregation are identified, locally trained, and ordained--including the ministry of priest and deacon--and are then facilitated by a regional missioner who is commonly seminary trained and works with several congregational teams.)

The gathering in Spokane was filled with life, and it is exciting to see such a large group of dynamic church leaders creatively working together to find ways to continue to proclaim the gospel locally in these changing times.

If you are part of a diocese that has small churches that might wish to explore the concept of total ministry, attending Living Stones as a visitor would be a great opportunity to explore this option. Many of the congregations present initially looked to this alternative model because of finances and budget, but now embrace it and clearly state that they would not return to the one-priest one-altar model.

Unfortunately Living Stones does not have a web site for further information. If you would like more info. send me an e-mail and I will forward it to someone who can assist...

Bringing Christ to the Post-Christian World

Greetings friends from the Seattle airport! I am in transit from New Zealand, where myself, and a team of ten other Americans (from three denominations), presented the seminar entitled "Bringing Christ to a Post-Christian World."

Over 60 leaders from New Zealand (both North and South Island), Canada, and the United States gathered to look at where and how God is calling us to proclaim Christ in this rapidly changing world.

The design of the conference included a 30-minute cultural relevance discussion to follow each presentation. These sections were informative and much cross-pollination of thought, learnings, and passion for Christ's mission were exchanged. However, it was also abundantly (and quickly) clear that the churches in New Zealand, Canada, and the United States are all facing similar circumstances. What was also clear is that we together, as brothers and sisters in Christ, are on fire with the mission of Christ, and hungry for ways to proclaim Christ's timeless and always relevant message in new relevant ways to this post-Christendom world. I, for one, am honored to have been part of this event.

Blessings mates...S.

Being...

The meditation below is written by the Rev. Donald P. Fuselier (revchfdon@sbcglobal.net), who serves at St. Dunstan's Episcopal Church, Carmel Valley. Don is also a Volunteer Chaplain at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Chaplain for the Monterey County Chief Law Enforcement Officer's Association, and Chaplain for Monterey Peninsula College Police Academy.

Don's reflection warmed my heart--even on a day when it is well below freezing in New York City--and brought a tear to my eye. It especially touched me because it reminded me of my own grief and that of my four young children when my husband died suddenly several years ago. It was other people's ability (and willingness) to just be present that somehow helped us to know that God really was present, even through the darkest of valleys...S.

"Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh" (Luke 21:21b)

As volunteer hospital chaplains, we become accustomed to ministering to individuals facing life threatening illness in their own lives and those of family members. Recently, however, I found myself in a situation that overwhelmed me and left me feeling completely helpless and speechless.

After completing my "rounds", I returned home only to be paged and directed to return for an emergency. On arrival at the hospital I was informed that a 28 year old mother of two had just died very suddenly and unexpectedly. I was told that this young woman's mother, brother and sister, and fiancee had just been informed and were sequestered in a "quiet room" just 30 feet away. The charge nurse asked me to go to them and "bring them comfort".

As I slowly walked the short distance I felt as helpless and inadequate as I have ever felt in my life. What could I possibly say to a mother who just lost a beautiful young daughter? What could I say to her brother and sister? What could I say to her finance who just saw his hopes and dreams vanish in a heartbeat? Everything I could think of seemed flat and empty.

When I entered the room I found it was even more complicated than I thought. The mother was foreign born and spoke little or no English. She was wailing and pulling at her hair as the others in the room sat weeping. I stood there trying to find something to say.

Nothing came to my mind other than this woman's uncontrollable and overwhelming grief. At last I simply reached out and hugged the woman to me and held her as we rocked back and forth in silence. After quite some time she regained her composure and wept silently. After a while I offered a prayer in English and she prayed in her language. I could not understand her and doubt she understood me but we were united in prayer. As she left with her remaining children she gave me a slight smile and nod of her head.

Sometimes there are simply no words to offer. There is just being there for a brother or sister in pain and holding them, just as God holds us all.

Appreciative Inquiry Opportunities (and discussion!)

The below is from the Rev. Dr. Robert Voyle, Director of the Clergy Leadership Institute. I would welcome a conversation about the use of the Appreciative Inquiry technique in small congregations and stories from those who have implemented some of the principles. What are the strengths? In what situations is AI most appropriate? When might other alternatives be better?

Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a positive organizational process that uses focused interviews and dialogue to discover, build on, and grow the inherent life giving qualities of any individual or human system. The appreciative approach contrasts many contemporary organizational development interventions that utilize an illness model to focus on and eliminate problems. Beyond being an organizational process, appreciative inquiry becomes a generative way of being in the world that energizes and enables the creative best in people and their organizations. While positive in focus the appreciative approach does not avoid problems. Rather AI looks to what is working and creatively expanding those activities to motivate and inspire transformational solutions.

The Clergy Leaderhsip Institute is offering many AI trainings in 2007 in locations across the country.

For further information and to registger, please contact
the Rev. Dr. Robert J. Voyle, Psy.D.
Director, Clergy Leadership Institute
24965 NW Pederson Rd. Hillsboro, OR 97124-9210
http://www.clergyleadership.com/
503-647-2382

eMinistry Classes Announced

From The Rev. Elizabeth Hasen:

eMinistry's February newsletter is available for download. It has information on all of our classes, how to become a class leader, and statistics on eMinistry's first six months. New and upcoming classes are noted below. For more information on eMinistry visit their website at http://www.eministrynetwork.org/

Classes in the next two weeks:
Designing a Confirmation Program that Speaks to Youth and Invites Ministry -- new expanded (90-minute) format, this Thursday, February 1 at 7:00 pm Eastern.

Praying in the Celtic Way -- Monday, February 5 at 7:00 pm Eastern. Leader: The Rev. Mary Earle

How to Find and Do God's Work in Today's World -- Begins Tuesday, February 6 (two sessions) at 7:00 pm Eastern. Leader: Wayne Schwab

Knowing and Loving Scripture: A Class for Adults Who Work with Youth -- Thursday, February 8 at 7:00 pm Eastern. Leader: Greg Syler

The Women Jesus Knew Begins Tuesday, February 27 (two sessions) at 8:00 pm Eastern. Leader: Bonnie Ring

The Spirituality of the Labyrinth (with Lauren Artress) -- Begins Monday February 19 (two sessions) at 7:00 pm Eastern. Leader: Lauren Artress

The Millennium Development Goals: Strategies and Resources for Adult Education -- Thursday, March 8 at 8:00 pm Eastern. Leader: Lallie Loyd

Progress and Strategies for Millennium Development Goal 1: Eradicate Extreme Poverty and Hunger -- Thursday, March 29 at 8:00 pm Eastern. Leader: Lallie Loyd

Creating A Singles-Friendly Congregation: Ministry To and With Single Adults -- Begins Tuesday, March 13 (2 sessions) at 7:00 pm Eastern. Leader: Dr. Kay Collier-McLaughlin

Faithful Words: A Class for Lay Preachers-- Begins Thursday, March 1 (2 sessions) at 7:00 pm Eastern. Leader: Elizabeth Hasen

Your Story--God's Story

As a previous comments reflected, a key to evangelism and faith development is becoming aware of how our own story, and that of our congregation, is part of the larger unfolding story of God's redeeming and saving work in the world.

A tool was developed through the Episcopal Church's Office of Congregational Development by the Rev. Charles Fulton and Susie Miller to help people become more aware of how God has and is acting in their lives. This exercise, which I have pasted below, can be used individually or in small groups (or even reprinted in your church or diocesan bulletin or newsletter.)

Personally, I have worked through it a few times. Most striking was seeing clearly how God is and was always active and truly present in my life, even through those times when I had turned away from God's love or thought I was all alone.

I'd encourage you to take some time to do this exercise (I did it for the first time on the train on my way to work.) Then share it. And of course, let me know (and others if you are brave) what you discover...S.

Preparing to Tell Your Faith Story
Charles Fulton and Susy Miller

Draw a time line from left to right on a sheet of paper, the left being your birth, the right being the present.

Time line:


Birth________________________________________________Present


On the time line mark and identify (by year) significant events that were turning points in your life.

Above the line describe the context within which the event occurred. What else was going on in your life at that time?

Below the line describe your awareness of God at that point. Was God present or absent?
What was God doing with you in that event—comforting, challenging, provoking, teaching, giving, providing, loving, affirming, etc.?

Look at the whole time line. Are there patterns in the turning point events of your life? What initiates turning points, what is required of you, how were you different after these events?

What are the patterns in your experience of God and your relationship with God? Is there a consistency in God’s actions and responses in your turning points?

Remember: God is the main character in this story, what God has done and is doing in your life. You are the acted upon.

Imagine telling someone about your insights into God’s presence and working in your life.

Tell your story of how God has come into your life and what has been the result when you have recognized God’s presence.

Tell the story to yourself, then tell the story to a friend. Listen for the story your story will trigger in your friend.

Tell your story to someone outside a faith community.

Commit to inviting God into your life as your life line lengthens into your future, regularly engaging the Gospel with others.

Spiritual Direction

From the Spiritual Directors International Web Site, found at www.sdiworld.org


Seek and Find a Spiritual Director

Are you looking for some direction in your life? Do you have a feeling there just must be “something more” than what you are currently experiencing? Use the Seek and Find Guide to find a spiritual director, companion, mentor, or guide to help you along on your journey of discovery. Use this FREE interactive database to search for spiritual directors in your area. Not sure how to choose a spiritual director? Don’t worry. The Seek and Find Guide includes a handy set of review questions to help you.

What Is Spiritual Direction?

Spiritual direction is the process of accompanying people on a spiritual journey. Spiritual direction helps people tell their sacred stories everyday. Spiritual direction exists in a context that emphasizes growing closer to God (or the holy or a higher power). Spiritual direction invites a deeper relationship with the spiritual aspect of being human. Spiritual direction is not psychotherapy, counseling, or financial planning.

What Is Spiritual Directors International?

Spiritual Directors International is a global learning community of people from many faiths and many nations who share a common concern, passion and commitment to the art and contemplative practice of spiritual direction.

International Rural Church Conference Announcement

The Canadian Rural Church Network &

The International Rural Church Association

invite you to participate

in Brandon 2007...

Cry of the Heart: How Can we Find Hope in the Rural Landscape?

Dates: July 3-9, 2007

Location: Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

Read More...

Downloads: "Cry of the Heart" Information Brochure (PDF file)

"Cry of the Heart" Conference Schedule (PDF file)

The Gift of God's Church to the World

From the Rev. Canon Victoria D. Duncan, Canon for Development of Mission and Ministry, Episcopal Diocese of Western New York

I have a "building as evangelism" story for you from Church of the Ascension in Buffalo, New York (pictured above). Ascension has welcomed in their worship midst for years now a "homeless" man, who draws from the offering plate as often as he contributes. He's there every Sunday at exactly the right time for church. When I've met him, we've had moments when we've connected, eye to eye, and I've blessed him and greeted him. Then his eyes would roll and he'd be somewhere else....

The Ascension folks missed him for a few weeks, then saw in the obituary a person whose basic description was like his, and had the same name. It was their "homeless" Paul.

They shared the news amongst themselves and independently went to the funeral home wake. They met Paul's cousins who all live in the area, and found out that he was a Marine Corps officer in Vietnam who never successfully reintegrated into society and became a drug addict. Ascension learned that he never made it anywhere and hadn't seen his family in over 15 years. The family learned that Paul had a faith community, and that it was the one
appointed time he made -on time- every week. The family welcomed Ascension's presence, and they celebrated the Eucharist together.

Ascension is experiencing his loss, but celebrating the blessing that they both received and were able to share. Amazing people. An example to me of the gift of God's Church to the world.

The Great Commission

CONFLICT BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN TINY RURAL ARKANSAS CHURCH LOCATED IN THE HEART OF THE BIBLE BELT

Submitted by Susie Mosly from Christ Church, Mena, Arkansas

Our tiny mission church in the Ouachita Mountains of western Arkansas is experiencing an awakening. Since Sept. 3 eleven individuals have joined our little church.

THE brief recent history:
Over the summer of 2006 eight members left to form a conservative Episcopal church in our town. They took their story to the statewide newspaper which ran a front page story which included quotes from several Arkansas dissidents including Mena. Before the exit, we had 40 on the roles with the average Sunday attendance of 15. After the exit, we all made a commitment to each other and the church. Individuals stepped forward to do the everyday chores of a church. Individuals renewed their efforts as lay readers and the reading of sermons on Sundays. We did not gossip or say hateful things. We were just very sad. We were making it but...

THE story:
Why are we experiencing this awakening?
For the first time in decades we have a missionary priest. His name is Father Jos Tharakan. He comes to Mena twice a week from his isolated farm 110 miles north of Mena. His biography is fascinating: born a Catholic in southern India, became a Franciscan monk at 16, worked as a priest with lepers for Mother Teresa for three years, came to America and was assigned as a priest to Arkansas, decided priests should be married, left the Catholic church, became a hospital chaplain, met and married an ordained American Baptist minister, had a child, was called to be an Episcopal priest, and his first Episcopal church is Christ Church--Mena, Arkansas.
Father Jos is a very special person!
.
THE rub:
We are desperate to keep Father Jos. Why? We are being spiritually fed. It is as if an angel has been placed in our lives. There are so many in our area who are in need of a spiritual family. We are poor financially. The people of Ouachita Mountains are poor. Our tiny congregation has pledged $6,000 more than last year for a total of $24,000. We are pledged out and are now trying to find ways to pay for Father Jos and his family to be fulltime in Mena. It will take $72,000 according to the salary and benefits required by the Diocese of Arkansas. The irony is our little church for years has given 18% to the diocese which is above what is requested by the diocese. We are a sister church for an Episcopal mission on an Indian reservation in the Dakotas. We now have special needs of our own.

THE question:
We are willing to do what we can to fulfill the Great Commission. Do you have any suggestions or ideas?

Susie Mosley (smosley1@allegiance.tv )

The Right Rev. C. Christopher Epting Joins the Blogging World

The below is from Bishop Epting, who serves as the Episcopal Church's Deputy for Ecumenical and Interfaith relations. He announces the launch of his new blog...

Well, friends, I have decided to take the plunge into the “blogosphere!”

That We All May Be One will contain periodic reflections from me about unity – in the church, among people of faith, in the human family.

You can access it at http://ecubishop.wordpress.com/

The good thing is, you may choose to go to it – but it will never come to you (in your inbox) again!

Happy New Year!.


C. Christopher Epting, Bishop
Deputy for Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations
The Episcopal Church
815 Second Avenue
New York, NY 10017