Friday January 9, 2009

by Mr. Andrew Kerr. Email: andrew@wyomingdiocese.org

Welcome to the second electronic issue of the Spirit of Wyoming, or eSpirit of Wyoming, as we are calling it. The eSpirit is designed as an easy way of communicating with each other in the Diocese of Wyoming: right to your inbox. Expect the eSpirit in your Friday afternoon email about 3-4 times a month (or more if there is a special event). If it is too much, just opt out by unsubscribing (the bottom left column) and read archived issues at your leisure: www.wyomingdiocese.org/spirit or www.spiritofwyoming.org . It is easy to get your friends to register, as well. You can forward the eSpirit to them by using the "Forward to a Friend" box on the bottom left column. Or there is an opt-in box to subscribe on the front page of the Wyoming Diocese website: www.wyomingdiocese.org.

The eSpirit is a publication from the Diocese FOR the Diocese and OF the Diocese. What I mean is this eSpirit is meant to connect our Diocese together through information. Please share your articles and pictures with us by emailing info@wyomingdiocese.org. If you would like articles to go out on Friday, please have them to us by Thursday afternoon.

God’s Peace, -Andrew

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Continuing his series of weekly podcasts, Bishop Bruce Caldwell sat down with Andrew Kerr for an interview about the Mustard Seed Mission. Click the following link to listen: http://tinyurl.com/8zaj5k

This link is posted in the Diocese account on MyPodcast (wyomingdiocese.mypodcast.com)

Please give it some time to load (it may take several minutes). OR, click on one of the many podcast options, including sending the file directly to iTunes.

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Last Monday saw John Masters and Jamie Harkin of the Episcopal Foundation of Wyoming hard at work signing checks for the Mustard Seed Mission! The checks for $12,000 were sent out on Epiphany to 46 churches ($552,000). If your church is still working on discernment or just need help in planning or development, contact the Foundation or the Diocese for help.

Foundation:
John Masters at 307.265.5200 or john@efwy.org
John Smylie at 307.234.0831 or jssmylie@yahoo.com

Diocese: 307.265.5200
Margaret Babcock at margaret@wyomingdiocese.org
Kay Rohde at kay@wyomingdiocese.org
Andrew Kerr at andrew@wyomingdiocese.org

Information is also available at www.wyomingdiocese.org/mustardseedmission

The check is in the mail!
 

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By Ms. Pamela Kandt. Email: pamelaGRW@aol.com

The search process for the next Bishop of Wyoming didn't take much of a break for the holidays as lay members and clergy around the state submitted applications to serve on the Search & Transition Committees. The applications were due Dec. 29 and, currently, the regional representatives are reviewing the dozens of applications received and making recommendations for committee membership. There will be two people from every region on the Search & Transitions committees, plus four at-large members, for a total of 16 on each committee.

The Oversight committee, comprised of representatives from the Standing Committee and Diocesan Council, will make the final determination of the committees' membership at its meeting next week in Casper. The Oversight committee seeks to appoint a wide range of laity and clergy, representing the spectrum of parishes and communities around the state. Those selected to serve will attend a two-day organizational retreat Feb. 20-21 at the UW Extension Center in Casper.

During their weekly Thursday night conference call, members of the Oversight committee expressed their appreciation for the applicants who are willing to devote the next 12-15 months on the search, election and transition for the 9th Episcopal Bishop of Wyoming. They're also grateful to the regional representatives who're presently working on the recommendations and the ministry developers who've helped publicize the application process and encouraged folks to apply.

The Oversight committee is co-chaired by Rev. Joel Dingman of Gillette (jdingman@bepc.com) and Dr. Norm Peterson of Cheyenne (iepete@mac.com). Ms.  Linda Anderson of Worland (anderson_linda_@hotmail.com) is the Search Committee chair; Ms. Cindy King of Casper (cindylking@juno.com) and Mr. John Peacock of Cheyenne (j.peacock@btwwretail.com) are co-chairing the Transition Committee. Also serving on Oversight are Ms. Ann Wafer of Cody (anncon@tritel.net), Rev. Megan Nickles of Powell (mnickles@bresnan.net), Rev. Kevin Jones of Sheridan ( kncjones@fiberpipe.net) and Ms. Pamela RW Kandt of Casper (pamelaGRW@aol.com) who is also handling communications for the group.

Wyoming Episcopalians are welcome to contact any member of the committee with their questions, comments, suggestions or concerns.

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

Jesus tells us that “the Kingdom of God is like treasure hidden in a field.” Have you ever gone on a treasure hunt? Felt the anticipation of something wonderful about to happen? The excitement and then satisfaction of finding something searched for and yet unexpected?

Evangelism defined as “discovering, celebrating and sharing God’s family in our world” is like a treasure hunt with the anticipation of searching for and the satisfaction and excitement of finding God’s family in both the familiar and the unexpected places of our lives. Then recording the wonder of these experiences as each new find adds layer upon layer to the ones before and our awareness of God’s family grows in beauty and depth.

Seen this way Evangelism is a brand new adventure. It is not about gathering experts to analyze what programs or skills will help foster God’s family. Rather it begins by gathering a group of people who are passionate about a particular area and then sending them on a treasure hunt to discover and record, where God’s family is already occurring both inside and outside the church. Always remembering to ask the question: What is it about this story that makes it an example God’s family?

The past two months leaders in the areas of worship, mission, stories, small groups, hospitality, technology, ministry in daily life and the postmodern world have met by way of conference calls to share stories and reflect upon what makes them stories about God’s family. It turns out that this is great fun and a real testimony to God’s presence in all our lives. This last call was recorded and we hope to make some of the stories and reflections available to everyone in the diocese via the internet either in written or recorded form. Then, sometime early next year the leaders to gather together those people who have shown an interest in their particular area, and begin adding more stories and reflections.

When we have collected enough stories it will be time to celebrate all that we have learned with a diocesan wide party. An event where each group will be invited to share some of their stories and what they have discovered with everyone else.

The next step will be to look at everything we have learned, to identify what it is that has given life to all the stories, those patterns that occur over and over again that seem to foster the growth and vitality of God’s family. And finally to use these positive patterns to develop tools that can be used by congregations within their individual contexts.

In the end the ultimate goal we have for evangelism is both to develop the tools and the excitement that will be needed by church communities as they seek to reach out with the good news that we are all in an infinite variety of ways a part of God’s Family. But as in any treasure hunt we are already learning that there will be surprises around almost every corner
And this of course is what makes something like this so much fun: people coming together to discover the treasure that is God’s family in our midst.

If you have any stories to share, or would like join up with a group, just send me an email (kathy@wyomingdiocese.org) or give me a call at: 307-265-1144 or 307-797-0419.
 

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Letters to the Churches of Carbon County (...and beyond) from January 5, 2009

By the Rev. Doug Wasinger. Email: doug@wyomingdiocese.org

Tomorrow is Epiphany – a Christian festival marking the visit of the Magi to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth or, in Eastern Orthodox Church, the baptism of Jesus Christ. Epiphany also means a sudden intuitive leap of understanding, especially through an ordinary but striking occurrence. This same word also means appearance of god the supposed manifestation of a divine being. Could the church be celebrating all of these meanings at the same time? What a party! I hope this letter finds you well.

It will be hard to go back and attempt to capture all that took place during the last couple of weeks of December. So in broad strokes I will attempt to give people some favor as to what happened. They are some events in the church that never really change like vestry meetings, gatherings to work on-going projects and the like. That took place during the last part of December.

Christmas Eve and Day and a “New Year” feel to it this year. A discussion about a birth always opens others up to the possibility to dream a big dream as if the arrival of a child teases us into to thinking of new possibilities and a brighter future. I heard later that the attendance to services throughout the United States were up this year. Could it be that during times of national and personal crisis God seems to be a bit larger than normal and we all draw some comfort in knowing that there is a God bigger in our lives working to secure our future? That is a comforting thought.

Encampment this year had an increase in attendance this year. The fine folks from Saratoga came down and shared not only their fellowship but their gift of music. Yup, the organ was bellowing out Christmas Carols on Christmas Day when it was normally silent. It was fun to listen and sing in a church that has its birthday almost 105 years ago around Christmas Day.

With the arrival of a New Year it means new beginnings it also means the ending of other events. We say good-bye to 2008. It was full of ups and downs. The nation watched with great anticipation the election of a new president. We also watched fuel prices hit all time highs to retreat to new lows in several short months. We have watched the nation struggle with housing and credit crunches and soon we as a Diocese will be blessed with a gift of great abundance to plant some seeds of mission, or dreams of a better future. The Diocese of Wyoming said good-bye (for now) to both Cliff and Roy to retirement. Both of these people had a large role in me becoming a Ministry Developer here in Wyoming. We also heard the announcement of calling for another Bishop as Bruce Caldwell will enter another part of his life in the end of this year. 2008 has been a year of extremes and many changes. I hope they will be some endings so that we become open to a new future.

Talking about Muster Seed Project I have heard a buzz around two churches. One church has listed several ideas that have been presented from the congregation and is close to making a decision to move forward. Other church has been in discussion and soon will organize their thoughts as to what they think would be the best way to proceed forward. What is important that (a) tell the story at this years Convention in Casper (b) don’t worry about failing in the dreaming and acting. Have fun creating and playing with a blessing where a person cannot miss the mark!

The remainder of the week looks like this …. Monday I will participant in a web/phone meeting with Regional Reps, the Oversight Committee for the Selection of a new bishop, and Ministry Developers starting at 5pm. Tuesday will be an administrative day where I plan on preparing and writing reports, sermons, yearly goals and etc. Wednesday I will be heading for Laramie to work on a personal project and that evening be attending a vestry meeting in Rawlins. Thursday I will be in Casper for a doctor’s appointment for Rowan. Friday is the catch all day as I attempt to get those things done that I was unable to get to during the week. Saturday there is a worship breakfast for St. Thomas at Kristi Bakery @ 8:30am. Sunday I will be presiding at St. Thomas @ 9:30am and be attending the Annual Meeting following the service. St. Thomas was very gracious in adjusting their meeting date (normally it is the Sunday before the Superbowl!).

Be well!

Doug

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HR Camp Winter Outreach

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

The snow is falling and HR Camp continues to connect with youth using the wonder of God’s outdoor creation. Youth from the Cheyenne Boy’s and Girl’s club enjoy a day of fun and fellowship at Happy Jack Recreation Area between Cheyenne and Laramie during the Christmas Holiday’s. Fourteen youth and two adults joined Pat, Steve and Pam for a day of fun, fellowship and lot’s of sunshine. All of those participating were on snowshoes for the first time, and most had never been up to Happy Jack. This was one of several scheduled programs that the camp is doing, some at the camp and others at various locations around the state.

Connecting to youth outside the Episcopal Church is one of the Camps goals in an effort to expand programming throughout Wyoming. Last year the camp served over 1100 youth, most of them from outside the Episcopal Church.

HR Camp offers special winter programs for both youth and adults in churches or organizations that want to experience God’s creation in the special setting of winter. Snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and other winter programs are available.  If your group, school, family is interested in participating in an HR Camp Winter activity, contact Pat at 307-351-7006 or email at: pat@wyomingdiocese.org. Get outside this winter and start enjoying the natural beauty of Wyoming with a spiritual focus.
 

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