TRINITY VOL. 38, NO. 3
A P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E A N G L I C A N D I O C E S E O F P I T T S B U R G H
152nd ANNUAL CONVENTION C E L E B R AT I N G A Y E A R O F M I N I S T R Y & NEW LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
INSIDE: Two-fold Look at Anglicans Participating in Hurricane Relief
PA R T N E R S I N T H E G O S P E L
We Need Advent By The Rev. James Lafeyette Hobby, Jr., Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh
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he decorations are up. Holiday songs are playing in all the stores. “It’s a Wonderful Life” is making its rounds through all the networks. So, it must be Christmas season. However, the Church says, “Not yet, it is only Advent.” I realize that most of our culture rolls its collective eyes when we say that and accuses us of being party poopers. But, Advent is crucial to making sense of the world in which we live. Advent is the season of waiting. The prayer of Advent is “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” Longing, grief, pain, fear, along with faith-filled hopefulness, are the emotions of Advent because Advent is a season of darkness. Christmas is when the Light comes into the world. Advent
is waiting in the darkness for the promised Light.
Advent is the season of waiting... Advent is our perennial season. Though the King came 2,000 years ago to establish His Kingdom, we are still waiting for its fullness. Though the light of the Gospel shines throughout the world, it shines in darkness. We are waiting for the coming of the Light; for the answering of our prayer for God’s kingdom to come. When a man walks into a rural Baptist church one
Sunday morning and opens fire on the congregation, we remember we are living in Advent. When a spouse or parent dies of cancer, when millions of women post #metoo on social media, we remember that we are living in Advent. We are surrounded by darkness. Our culture wants to skip ahead to a holiday celebration. Sentimentality, however, undermines the benefit of embracing Advent. Trees and gifts and holiday specials distract us from the harsh reality of sin and darkness in the world. Much of the world is living in Pottertown (the decimated town that George Bailey sees in “It’s a Wonderful Life”). Advent allows us to stop and notice the darkness. Advent also gives us the opportunity to declare boldly our hope in God’s promises. We believe the Light is coming to fully eradicate the darkness. So, we need Advent. Not as some joyrobbing set of prohibitions imposed by holier-than-thou church people - as in, “Oh, I see you have already decorated your tree” (said with condescension and disdain). No, we need Advent as a season of hope amid despair; a season of trust in God’s promise; a season of longing for a Kingdom that perfectly displays God’s will. In Advent we declare that we believe that the Light will overcome darkness. May you shine the light of joy and hope in Christ this Advent season as we all await His “coming in glory.” Standing firm, with you, in our hope in Christ,
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TRINITY By The Rev. James Lafeyette Hobby, Jr., Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh
In This Issue...
On The Cover: Archbishop Robert Duncan embraces Bishop Jim Hobby between their reports at the 152nd Annual Convention.
Editor Kristen Parise
9 Introducing a new regular column: Deepening Biblical Understanding
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10 Local physician couples teaches Myanmar village to care for one another medically
Hurricane relief and rebuilding efforts from two perspectives; ARDF and local relief ministers
ANNUAL CONVENTION WRAP-UP 4 • Celebrating the 152nd Annual Convention Annual Convention photos courtesy of Kevin Patterson
6 • Convention Workshops Report 8 • Welcoming Our Newest Parish: Grace Mt. Washington
FEATURES 10 • Honoring Years of Mission Work in Myanmar 12 • Hurricane Relief from Two Angles: Local TSM Students & Faculty and ARDF
NEWS FROM ACROSS THE DIOCESE 15 • In the Heights and Depths of C.S. Lewis: A Report on the Women Alive in Christ Retreat 16 • About the Matthew 25 Initiative and Our Local Involvement 18 • Clergy Member Reflects on Blessings of Clergy Retreat 2017 19 • Recognizing and Understanding Discipleship: A New Initiative 20 • Clergy Updates 22 • Diocesan Calendar
EDITORIALS
2 • Partners in the Gospel: We Need Advent The Rev. James Lafeyette Hobby, Jr., Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh 9 • Deepening Bible Understanding by the Rev. Kirsten Gardner 23 • Mama’s Musings: The Truth Will Set You Free by the Rev. Shari Hobby
Design Kostilnik & Associates Graphics, Inc. Columnists Bishop Jim Hobby The Rev. Shari Hobby The Rev. Kirsten Gardner Contributors Congregation of Harvest Anglican Marian Kreithen Christine Jones Charles Metcalf Dr. Eric Potter The Rev. Bill Starke Drs. Judith & Brian Taylor The Rev. Canon David Wilson CONTACT INFORMATION Communications Director Kristen Parise Phone: (412) 281-6131 Email: communications@pitanglican.org Web site: www.pitanglican.org Fax: (412) 322-4505 SUBMISSION INFORMATION Email: communications@pitanglican.org TRINITY is a quarterly publication of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. Submissions for the next issue of Trinity must arrive at the Diocesan offices by Jan. 31 to be considered for publication. Documents that are not created in MS Word should be sent as text documents. Photos should be minimum 300 dpi and include photo credit when necessary. If physical photos are sent and must be returned they must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope with proprietary information on the back of each photo.
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152nd ANNUAL CON
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NVENTION in Photos
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Lay Delegate Debriefs Convention Workshop Experience A new feature of Annual Convention 2017 was workshops. In total, 8 workshops were presented. Below is how one Lay Delegate experienced and responded to his experience in one of the workshops he attended. Look for more opportunities like this to be added to future conventions. By Dr. Eric Potter
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t the diocesan convention, I attended the workshop, “Deepening Our Prayer Life through Meditation,” led by Rev. Steve Palmer. He began by reminding participants of the Old Testament emphasis on hearing the word of God, and reminded us that knowing God begins with listening to His revelation of Himself. That basic understanding led to the central idea of the workshop: meditating on Scripture can be a gateway to deeper prayer.
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He developed that idea by offering several insights. First, prayer is responsive. As children of a Father, we respond to what God has said to us. Rather than seeing prayer as emptying our minds and asking God to show us things, Palmer suggested that we listen to Scripture (what God has already said to us) and answer back. Second, keeping God’s word central in our prayers can reassure us that we are responding to God and not just to thoughts in our own minds. Third, meditation follows the example of the psalmist who meditates on God’s law day and night. Palmer suggested a sequence of reading, meditating, and then responding to God in prayer. That middle stage of meditating “warms up our hearts,” making them flexible and supple. Fourth, meditation involves applying our life to the Bible and not vice versa. We should go to the Bible not to extract principles that we can plug into our life plans but in order to see ourselves in “light of God’s cosmic story.” And fifth, meditation works in an ordinary way with the possibility of the extraordinary. As with the ordinary eating and digesting by which our bodies are sustained and grow, so meditating on Scripture and praying are the ordinary means which sustain our
spiritual life and growth. That said, at times we may experience amazing insights into the glory of God. As a good workshop should, this one did not stop at teaching but provided opportunity to practice these principles. Taking Ephesians 2:7-10 as the focal text, Palmer first modeled understanding a verse through word-by-word meditation. Then he had participants form small groups and assigned a verse to each group, encouraging members to look at each word and discuss shades of meaning. After we shared insights from our meditation, he instructed us to apply our hearts to the word by answering three questions about the passage: what in it leads us to worship or give thanks to God, what leads us to confess a particular sin or sins, and what leads us to ask God for a need. I left the seminar having been reminded of the way scripture emphasizes meditating on the word, challenged to let meditation warm up my heart for prayer, encouraged to approach prayer via meditation, and provided with an approach and a set of questions to help develop that practice. n About the author: Dr. Eric Potter was a Lay Delegate to Annual Convention, representing Grace Anglican Church in Grove City, PA He is also a Professor of English at Grove City College.
Welcoming Our Newest Parish...
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ur Diocese is growing! Upon the consent of the Deputies to the Annual Convention, Bishop Jim Hobby welcomed representatives from Grace Anglican Church, Edgeworth, as the fifty-ninth church in our Diocese. In a future issue of TRINITY, we will feature the story of Grace Edgeworth as part of a larger focus on church planting efforts across the Diocese. n
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D E E P E N I N G B I B L I C A L U N D E R S TA N D I N G
Isaiah 40:1-11
An Announcement of Hope
The Flight of the Prisoners, James Tissot [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons]
By The Rev. Dr. Kirsten Gardner Editor’s Note: When Bishop Hobby opened the August Discipleship Symposium, he shared a vision that the people and congregations of our Diocese would be marked by their faithfulness and dedication to the Scriptures. That our first, gut instinct in any situation would be to consult Scripture. In that spirit, I welcome a new, regular contributor, The Rev. Dr. Kirsten Gardner. She is an Old Testament scholar and priest in our Diocese. In the hope that we will more fully, deeply know the Scripture this Advent season and in the future, she will be explaining to us the contexts, translations and literary structures of one of the lectionary readings you may encounter.
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ne of the lectionary readings this Advent is Isaiah 40:1-11. Before digging more deeply into the intricacies of that passage, let’s back up and look at the arc of the whole book so we can understand how this passage fits in. The book of Isaiah comprises 66 chapters narrating events across several settings. Chapters 1-39 tell of events that take place during the latter time of King Uzziah (1:1; 6:1) to the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah (36:1) and the aftermath of Sennacherib, the King of Assyria’s invasion. The prophet’s message at this time to the people is one of calamity. Isaiah warns that Jerusalem will fall & its people will be exiled to Babylon. We pick up chapter 40 after the exile has taken place and the people are under the rule of the gentile king, Cyrus of Persia (see 41:2-3, 25; 44:24-45:13; 48:14). Chapters 40-55 situate the people of Israel in exile in Babylon. Isaiah’s message in these chapters is one of restoration. Chapters 56-66 do not explicitly situate their message within historical textual markers, but their content largely addresses the concerns of a nation that has returned to Palestine and is recovering from the trauma of exile. Chapter 40 marks a turning point in the book, away from pending calamity and exile towards an announcement of hope, not only for hope after the exile, but also for the hope of the messianic king and the future fulfillment of God’s covenant promises. Isaiah 40:1-11, the reading for the Second Sunday in Advent, can be linked thematically and structurally with
previous chapters, especially with chapter 6. Isaiah 6 is the call narrative of the prophet - the passage reports the prophet’s vision of Yhwh enthroned in heaven, Yhwh’s question about someone who would accept a mission, and Isaiah’s famous response, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isa 6:8b). Of course, at this time, Isaiah is given a dire message: The nation will go into exile. The opening verses of Isaiah 40:1-11 appear to draw upon the framework provided in the prophet’s call narrative, yet with a new, contrasting message. Again, Yhwh commissions the prophet to speak to the people, but here the message of calamity gives way to a message of restoration. Note below how the threefold kî (‘for’) of 40:2 contrasts with the threefold kî of 6:5 (underlined for emphasis). Isaiah 40:2
Isaiah 6:5
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her; For she has served her term,
And I said: Woe is me.
For her penalty is paid,
For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips,
For she has received from Yhwh’s hand double for all her sins.
For my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.
For I am ruined,
In Isaiah 40:1, “this people” of Isaiah 6:9, 10, has once again become “my people” and received pardon. More importantly, the second half of chapter 40, verses 12-31, reverse another aspect of chapter 6. In the first section of the book, Isaiah had been commissioned to stop the people from understanding, acknowledging, seeing or listening (Isa 6:9-10). The message of chapter 40 implies that all of these things are once again possible (40:21, 26, 28).
Further reading: Eddinger, Terry W (1999). “An Analysis of Isaiah 40:1-11 (17)” in Bulletin for Biblical Research: 119-135. Goldingay, John (1995). Isaiah. Grand Rapids: Baker Books.
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Class of 2017 Volunteer Health Workers
Training Neighbors to Medically Care for Each Other Local Physician Couple Spearheads Health Worker Training in Myanmar By Drs. Brian & Judith Taylor
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ccording to UNICEF, about 1 in 20 infants die within the first month of life. About 1 in 10 children born dies before the age of 5, and 1 in 300 mothers die in
childbirth. In their study, UNICEF concluded that about half of these deaths are “preventable,” and those deaths could be prevented without new hospitals or clinics being built. We are medical physicians and members of St. Peter’s Anglican Church in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. We enrolled with SAMS-USA and in 2012, began a 6-year journey of serving in Southeast Asia, in the country of Myanmar, (also known as Burma). We met with the Archbishop of the Anglican Church of the Province of Myanmar. With his blessing, that first year, we traveled the countryside and consulted with local clergy and villagers. We learned of their diseases & of their very limited healthcare. Then we devised a project of healthcare training in this very poor country. Fundraising began at our local parish which generously supported the project. Later, funding came from Anglican Relief and Development (ARDF).
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Our health worker training of local village volunteers first began in 2013, and continued each year since then. Now we have completed our 5th year of such teaching. This year, the teaching was managed and performed by The Mother’s Union using local people under our guidance. The Mother’s Union of the Anglican Church of Myanmar has successfully adopted and absorbed the project, and will be carrying it forward from here, with God’s help. We use the book Where There Is No Doctor. This resource has a 40-year history with lay health workers. This book is published in 40 languages, so we used English and Burmese editions to make up the PowerPoint slides and other teaching materials. We devised ways of training local Myanmar people from small villages about disease treatment, prevention and managing birth emergencies. Volunteers from local village churches came to the city of Yangon for weeks of intensive health worker training. We formed classes of 30 to 40 students. At first, we taught through translators, but eventually, all the instruction was given in the Myanmar language, by Myanmar citizens. Written materials were in the Myanmar language, including the PowerPoint slides presentations, the books students were issued, and even the large poster books students were given for teaching in their villages. We focused on teaching low tech and low-cost interventions, that can be done now, to help prevent infant deaths, childhood deaths, and maternal deaths. We used games and activities also to make our students better able to understand diseases, treatments and prevention. We encouraged them to share their new knowledge with the rural communities from which they came. Students received colorful lectures on medical knowledge and disease prevention and birth emergencies. Each student received a print copy of the village health book Where There Is No Doctor, in their national language. Each student received their own blood pressure cuff, stethoscope & thermometer, and then the students were drilled
in their use. Students were given instruction and practice in basic physical examination techniques. They had “guest Archbishop Stephen (sitting) at Graduation Ceremony lectures” of local experts in Malaria, Leprosy, Obstetrics and Dentistry. Students had examinations and they were ceremoniously awarded diplomas. Each graduate received a large display poster book for teaching back in their villages. Throughout the course, they got encouragement of the Gospel and the parables of Jesus, to go and serve their neighbors. We served 6 years on this Village Health Worker Training project. The groundwork and structure for this project to continue has been laid through the Anglican Church in Myanmar and the Mothers’ Union in Myanmar. We are confident that the Volunteer Health Workers Training is effective. Now it is in capable hands in Myanmar. It is operated frugally, and with dedication, but for the work to continue in Myanmar, they will need continued financial support from the USA, because the very people this project serves, live on about $1 per day. Archbishop Stephen of the Province of Myanmar continues his support and encouragement for the project to carry on within Myanmar. The Archbishop has been an ardent supporter of this work since its inception. He attended our most recent class graduation ceremony as the honored leader. n
Teaching through a Translator in 2013
Blood Pressure Skill Practice
Group Workshops on Village Teaching using Poster Book
Teaching through a Myanmar Staff Member, 2017
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Fellow Anglicans Participating in Hu
Hurricane Relief — The Local Church in Action T by Christine Jones
he 2017 hurricane season brought devastation to many communities across the southern United States and Puerto Rico. While images of flooded cities, downed trees, and residents escaping with only the shirts on their backs have captured the news, local churches have been reaching out to bring hope and help to those in desperate need. “I am impressed and amazed at how the people of the United States have come together for Hurricane Harvey,” – Bola, a recent Nigerian immigrant commenting on the relief efforts underway.
Houston In Houston, The Church of the Apostles, became an official Red Cross Shelter. Families were able to stay together and parents knew their children were safe with the volunteers at the church while they left to deal with the myriad of details necessary to rebuild their lives. Tricia Lowenfield, wife of Bishop Clark Lowenfield of the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast, describes the effort as, “a loving buzz of energy. The volunteers are pouring in from all over the city to cook, teach, clean, coordinate, give hugs, organize supplies, share Jesus and love and love and love.” Church of the Apostles was already entrenched in the local community. A backpack drive for a nearby under-resourced elementary school had already been planned. But the drive took on new urgency when the church realized that these children who already had so little now, in many circumstances, had nothing. Nancy-Page Lowenfield, a volunteer at Church of the Apostles said, “Backpacks and supplies may seem like small things, but to children living in the midst of post-Harvey chaos, they can provide an amount of comfort and stability that can be rare right now.”
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Florida
Meanwhile, All Soul’s Anglican in Jacksonville, FL has been coordinating relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Through the website, www.irmarelief.faith, both volunteers and those in need have been able to connect. Around the Flagler Estates particularly, elderly residents have received help from teams from all over the country! Rev. Frederic [Ric] Sperry Smith, one of those spearheading the efforts in Florida, comments, “Thank you Flagler Estates for allowing us to help. In three days we helped over 100 families, gave out 300+ care bags and offered 150 meals. We praise God for this opportunity!” Ric and his team are already coordinating another weekend of service, welcoming volunteers from churches across the region. In times of crisis, the local church is vital to rebuilding efforts. Who else can offer the love and hope of Jesus in such tangible ways? Many who might never have noticed the neighborhood church might now consider a relationship with the Jesus who inspires such selfless assistance. Ric described the amazement of one resident, Terry, who received help clearing debris from his home. Ric explains, “[One] night Terry asked, ‘So, are you from Bob’s church?’ I said, ‘yes we are.” Terry replied, ‘I don’t understand it, but I am grateful! Bob is a good man.’” There is still a lot of work to be done. These communities have a long road ahead of them to full recovery. But the local church, working with funds collected by the Anglican Relief and Development Fund plays an important part of the story. To learn more about ARDF’s continued relief efforts, give, and join future volunteer trips, visit www.ardf.org. n About the Author: Christine Jones is Director of Mobilization for ARDF.
urricane Relief and Rebuilding Efforts
Working for the Lord Has Its Moments Local Ministers and Students Help Rebuild Houston Home after Hurricane Harvey by Charles “Charley” Metcalf
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ard, driving rain beating against the walls of your house ... high winds greater than 145 miles per hour ... surging sea water ... hours without electric power ... clogged sewer lines ... overflowing drainage ditches ... toilets that do not work ... porous roofs ... leaking walls ... cracked concrete floors ... damaged, ruined, soiled bedding, clothing, rugs ... and more .... Hurricane Harvey raced across the Caribbean Sea destroying entire communities and countries in his path before slamming into the Gulf coast of Texas on August 25th and August 26th. Among the cities and towns in Texas hit the hardest were the metropolitan area of Houston, (especially the low-lying areas of the city nearest the port) the shipping channel, and the Gulf of Mexico. The Eastwood neighborhood was particularly hard hit. It was there that a team of 12 from Trinity School for Ministry, the Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders – USA [SAMS-USA], and Christ Church (Anglican) in Plano, Texas volunteered. We worked with Missio Dei, a Houston church in the Diocese of the Western Gulf Coast (ACNA), to provide volunteer services to the people of Houston who need it most. When our team arrived for a work week in mid-October, many of the outward, visible signs of Hurricane Harvey’s presence were gone. Residential areas looked clean, pristine, untouched by the storm. The real destruction was hidden behind closed doors, closed curtains, or drawn venetian blinds - out of sight but certainly not out of mind. Many homes still contained moldy walls and carpets, cracked concrete floors, leaky ceilings, broken plumbing fixtures, warped wood panels, peeled linoleum, and more. Owners and renters alike were scattered in shelters and hotels throughout the city and beyond; some have returned to the neighborhood while others have not. Our team faced this real-world challenge.
We worked on Gustavo’s house. Gustavo is an unemployed, single parent, the father of 11-year old Stephanie. He is unemployed because of recent open-heart surgery. Their sole means of financial support is Gustavo’s modest welfare check, food stamps, and Medicaid. Because their home was severely damaged by Hurricane Harvey, Gustavo and Stephanie temporarily share a hotel room, paid for by a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) voucher. This voucher for temporary emergency housing was scheduled to expire in early November. Without this emergency housing, (Continued on next page)
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stuffed friend, a puppy dog whom she also named Fluffy, as well as an age-appropriate Bible signed by the entire team. The bad news is that, while Gustavo’s and Stephanie’s house has been repaired to the point where they can return, there are thousands of people whose homes have not been repaired yet. Few in Houston had flood insurance, and most people do not have the large sums of money required to repair a flooded home. To further complicate matters, Missio Dei doesn’t have sufficient resources—building supplies, money, or work crews— to repair or rebuild houses like Gustavo’s in their neighborhood. In Houston, like other communities where Hurricane Harvey caused extensive property damage, resources are scarce, in high demand, and desperately needed. Poorer neighborhoods and their residents like those in Eastwood, some of whom relocated from New Orleans to Houston following Hurricane Katrina in 2005, are forgotten, ignored, neglected, or overlooked. Cities like Houston that experience chaos and confusion following major natural disasters, need our help, our prayers, and our support. Gustavo and Stephanie would have to find shelter somewhere else, perhaps with family or friends (many of whom face similar housing challenges) or, live in Gustavo’s car. Plus, they’d have to forage for food. All unpleasant but very real options to solve a potentially dire situation. Gustavo’s house had significant damage. By the time we arrived to help, the ruined carpets and moldy walls had been removed, but much was left to be done. The house Gustavo had owned for nearly 25 years looked like it was under construction. Imagine a bathroom without floors, a living room with 2x4’s where the walls had been, and bedrooms with dirt foundations where there had once been a floor. That was Gustavo’s home after Hurricane Harvey. Along with the clothes, furniture, and appliances that were destroyed, Stephanie lost her favorite possession, a Teddy bear she’d named Fluffy. Imagine a child who has nothing left but memories of a once warm and comfortable home. The good news is that in one work week our team hung drywall, sanded and painted those new walls, replaced a broken toilet, and retiled the bathroom. We fixed the plumbing in the kitchen so new appliances could be installed. We donated a microwave oven so that Gustavo could prepare meals for Stephanie and himself. And, Stephanie received a new furry
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If you and/or your church would like to mobilize your talents and/or contribute resources to help people in need like those in Houston’s Eastwood neighborhood, contact SAMS-USA at www.samsusa.org, (724) 266-0669, or The Rev. Mark Ball at Missio Dei Anglican Church, www.missiodeihouston.org, (713) 962-2965, for more information. n About the Author: Charley Metcalf is a member of Christ Church in New Brighton, PA.
News from Across the Diocese
In the Heights & Depths with C.S. Lewis A Women Alive in Christ Retreat with Dr. Edith Humphrey By Marian Kreithen
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nyone who knows C.S. Lewis’s children books comes to love the dauntless Reepicheep — that feisty and lovable character who explores the heights and depths of the wilds with his companions, goes ahead of them into Aslan’s own country beyond Narnia itself, and eventually meets the children as they themselves arrive at its gates. There, he beckons them “further up and further in.” During our October Women Alive in Christ weekend retreat led by Dr. Edith Humphrey at beautiful St. Emma Monastery, we have done some intense exploring with Lewis, adopting him for our very own Reepicheep in a way that brought us full circle— but with our return at a higher level on the spiral. In Dr. Humphrey’s words: “We began by listening to the serious things that C. S. Lewis has to say about words and story, how they are related to a deeper and higher reality than we can imagine. We followed the children, in The Silver Chair, into the realm of subcreation, asking about illusion and reality. We went on in the Abolition of Man to consider the thorough subjectivism of our day that threatens to rob us of our ability to wonder and to respond in awe to the world that God has created, and that leads many to question a foundational ethic for life. We pursued Lewis, sometimes panting, in The Great Divorce, to places that are not always safe, but where Christ himself has gone before us, forging a way for us to be transformed and not lost. And finally, in considering Voyage to Venus, we found ourselves back at Lewis’s starting point, how symbols and images can say best what’s to be said of mystery—the mystery of our humanity, and the mystery even of our sexuality. Wherever we have gone, Christ has gone even higher and deeper, and issues to us a heavenly calling—a calling of which C. S. Lewis makes us more aware.”
With the drawing of this Love and the voice of this Calling We shall not cease from exploration And the end of all our exploring Will be to arrive where we started And know the place for the first time (“Little Gidding,” Four Quartets, T. S. Eliot) The Rev. Shari Hobby will lead our next retreat March 16-17, 2018, at Kearns Spirituality Center. Dr. Humphrey’s most recent book, Further Up and Further In: Orthodox Conversations with C.S. Lewis on Scripture & Theology, will be available shortly. n
Drawing by Joelle Alice Sykes
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News from Across the Diocese
About the Matthew 25 Initiative and Our Local Involvement By The Rev. Canon David Wilson
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n 2015, Archbishop Foley Beach caught a vision to help churches across the Anglican Church in North America [ACNA] to reach the poor and needy in their communities. Out of that vision emerged the Matthew 25 Initiative, an ACNA ministry funded by donations from ACNA dioceses, parishes, individuals and an initial $1 million dollar matching grant from an anonymous donor. The purpose of the Matthew 25 Initiative is to expand and develop ministries in North America that are engaged in working, living, and serving on the margins of society. These programs reach
some of the most vulnerable and underresourced populations, fulfilling Jesus’ call to love “the least of these.” (Matthew 25:40) The Archbishop called upon the Rev David Roseberry, Provincial Canon for Mission of the ACNA, to turn that vision to reality by organizing the Mt25 Initiative which has rapidly evolved into the Mt25 Movement. Since it’s beginning 18 months ago, ministries of gospel justice and mercy have been springing up and growing across the ACNA. This past September, over 100 Anglicans from Canada, the United States, and Mexico came together at the Matthew
Attending from the Diocese of Pittsburgh: (left to right) Deacon Joanne Martin temporarily seconded to the Diocese of the Southwest and Bishop Mark Zimmerman, the Rev Mike and Tina Wurschmidt of Shepherd’s Heart, the Rev Greg Miller the National Director of the Church Army, the Rev David Wilson of the Christ the Redeemer Diaper Pantry and Captain Herb Miller of Uncommon Grounds. Not attending were Mt25 grant recipients: the Rev John Paul and Marilyn Cheney of Seeds of Hope and the Rev Charlie Treichler of Southside Anglican.
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25 (Mt25) Gathering held at the Franciscan Retreat Center in Paradise Valley (Phoenix) AZ, to receive support, training and refreshment of energy to go back home and serve. The stated theme of the Gathering was: “Justice and Mercy Contending for Shalom.” Through this Initiative, Mt25 is finding that a younger generation is energized and engaged around these topics and churches are reaching out to “the least of these” in their contexts. In fact according to their website, to date, 68 different ministries have applied for matching grants under the Matthew 25 Initiative; about 40 of these met the specific criteria and were awarded a matching grant. Five of these ministries reside the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. Shepherd’s Heart Fellowship in the Uptown neighborhood of Pittsburgh strives to serve the homeless in the city with an emphasis on homeless veterans. Seeds of Hope Church in Bloomfield/ Garfield ministers to low-income families especially through their large urban summer camp program called Earthen Vessels Outreach. Uncommon Grounds Café in Aliquippa established by the Church Army in 2001 offers a variety of ministries to the downtrodden and those without hope in that community by focusing on recovery from addictions and moving from “isolation to community.” The Christ the Redeemer Diaper Pantry each month provides 50 free diapers to each qualifying child in need of diapers. Since its founding in February 2015, over a 250,000 diapers have been provided to needy families throughout Southwestern PA. South Side Anglican Church also
received a grant from Mt25 for Expanded Community Development and Outreach Ministry. Each ministry in attendance was specifically prayed for during the Gathering with the laying on of hands. The Church Army was given special recognition for 150 years of gospel outreach to, “the least, the lost and the last.” Professor Albert Thompson, Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic, gave an address titled: A History of Race and the Church in the American Anglican Tradition, followed by a panel discussion, and then open mic responses by those gathered on the issue of race in America. The powerful address took a deep look at the history of racism in the Church from its origins in the fifteenth century to the modern era, with an emphasis on the Anglican tradition in the United States. Professor Thompson gave an exposition on race from ancient times (the Greeks and Romans) until the end of slavery in America in 1865. He did so in a very factual and dispassionate manner without bias explaining the history from the perspective of an African-American whose relatives were slaves. Thompson made it clear that generally our American perspective until recent decades came largely from the group that were the slavers not the slaves. Thopmson quoted Kwame Nkrumah, the first prime minister and president of Ghana, “The history of a nation is, unfortunately, too easily written as the history of its dominant class.” Thompson shared that when the ancients enslaved people they defeated in war, they did so on the basis of conquerors over conquered people not on race or color – it mattered not that they were black, brown, red, yellow or white. It was only following the “discovery” of the New World by the Spanish, Portuguese, French and English that race or skin color was used as the basis
for enslavement. As a Caucasian and a student of history this perspective was not only new to me but an eye-opener as well. It became clear to me that one of the most important reasons in God sending me to the Matthew 25 Gathering was to prepare me to live into the plans our parish had made with the African American congregation around the corner from Christ the Redeemer. On October 29 we visited our brothers and sisters at Mt. Olive Baptist Church for a joint worship service at which I was asked to preach. Mt. Olive will visit us in January with their pastor, the Rev Anita Lovell, as the preacher. The intent of our gathering together began with
Pastor Lovell and my wanting to begin to do our part in dispelling the truth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous words that, “We must face the sad fact that at eleven o’clock on Sunday morning when we stand to sing ‘In Christ there is no East or West,’ we stand in the most segregated hour of America.” This journey has been a blessing to me and to our congregations and we are excited as we anticipate our future relationship with our neighbor church in Canonsburg. n Photos of the Gathering and of Archbishop Foley Beach courtesy of Canon David Roseberry and used with his permission. Pittsburgh photo courtesy of Tina Wurschmidt and used with her permission.)
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News from Across the Diocese
Clergy Member Reflects on Blessings of Clergy Retreat 2017 By The Rev. Bill Starke
S
t. Paul wraps up his Letter to the Philippians with this exhortation in Phil. 4.4: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” Little did I know how much those words would ring true for me when I attended the annual Clergy Retreat of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh, Sept 19-21, 2017, at the Antiochian Village in Bolivar, PA. In my ten years of ordained ministry, this year was the first time that I was able to take in all three days of the retreat. Being able to be away from the day-to-day life as a parish priest, away from the computers, TVs, and such was indeed a blessing for me. Admittedly, my mobile phone was with me, but I did not heed the call to answer or reply as it vibrated throughout the day. Another blessing for me was how the organizers, Bishop Jim, Mama Shari, Paul Cooper, Jonathan Millard, and the Diocesan staff, planned all of our sessions to work through St. Paul’s Letter to the Philippians, both as a large group and in small groups. Why was that so great? Because Philippians was the appointed epistle reading for the four weeks immediately following the Clergy Retreat and I now had a great set of notes for sermons! Studying God’s Holy Word, with brothers and sisters from all over the diocese, in an Orthodox facility, in the Laurel Highlands…well, it does not get much better than that. In essence, our bible study was a bit like being in a 3-day, intensive seminary study…without a test or a lengthy paper…and we all received A’s. In Phil. 4.6, St. Paul tells the believers not to be anxious about anything, turn to God and offer him your prayers and supplications. We were able to do just as St. Paul told the Philippians. We offered our prayers and thanksgivings and shared our many milestones and joys from the past year. We offered our worship to God at morning, noon day, and evening prayer. We also broke bread together celebrating the Holy Eucharist…all in the beautiful chapel at the Antiochian Village. Instead of plain painted walls or stained glass windows on the sides of the chapel, there are Orthodox Icons, depicting the life of Christ and the saints of God. In this special place, the bishop’s blessing took on added significance: The peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. The peace of God had indeed steeped into my heart and mind over the course of the retreat, refreshing and renewing me for the weeks and months ahead. As I drove home that Thursday afternoon, I recalled Phil. 4.13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Not only is this a reminder from St Paul of how everything we have and do comes from and through Christ, it is a scripture favorite for many. Phil. 4.13 is also the couple verse for my wife and I, as we face each day, each challenge, and each trial together. Friends in Christ, as we all work together for the spread of God’s Kingdom throughout our communities, the Diocese, and the world, let us hear the words of St. Paul anew and “rejoice in the Lord always.” n About the Author: The Rev. Bill Starke is Rector at Somerset Anglican Fellowship.
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Recognizing and Understanding Discipleship: A New Initiative By Charles “Charley” Metcalf
O
ur Diocese, under the spiritual leadership of our Bishop, has launched a new initiative, The Discipleship Symposium, a series of three conversations - open to all parishes and their members, describes, discusses, and explains the process of discipleship. The first symposium, which attracted 45 enthusiastic clergy and lay participants, was held this past August at Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA. Two additional symposia have been scheduled: Symposium #2, Cultural Engagement in the Process of Making Disciples, on January 20, 2018; and Symposium #3, Patterns of Making Disciples, on May 5, 2018. A fourth symposium to integrate lessons learned from the three earlier symposia is being considered if there is sufficient demand or interest. Locations for these events have not yet been announced. Registration for the two remaining symposia is now open and available online at www.pitanglican.org or by mailing your registration to the Diocesan office in Pittsburgh.
it. In addition, we should always be ready to give testimony of the reason(s) for the hope that is within us (1 Peter 3:15) and to disciple others to walk in His way. We are commanded to share our faith and tell others about the wonderful changes Jesus Christ made in our lives. No matter what our maturity level in the Christian life, we have something to offer. Too often, we believe the lie from Satan that we don’t really know enough or haven’t been a Christian long enough to make a difference. Not true! Some of the most enthusiastic representatives of the Christian life are new believers who have just discovered the awesome love of God. They may not know many Bible verses or the “accepted” way of saying things, but they have experienced the love and grace of the living God, which is exactly what we are to share with others. Following a study outline developed by The Rev. Jack Gabig, a faculty member at Trinity School for Ministry, and The (Continued on page 20)
A disciple is a follower, one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines of another. A Christian disciple is a person who accepts and assists in the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ. Christian discipleship is the process by which disciples grow in the Lord Jesus Christ and are equipped by the Holy Spirit, who resides in our hearts, to overcome the pressures and trials of this present life and become more and more Christ-like. This process requires believers to respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting to examine their thoughts, words and actions and compare them with the Word of God. This requires that we be in the Word daily—studying it, praying over it, and obeying
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News from Across the Diocese Discipleship (Continued from page 19)
Rev. Paul Cooper, rector and senior pastor of All Saints’ Church in Cranberry Township, in consultation with Bishop Hobby, the first symposium examined Luke’s Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles to better understand the Biblical foundation of discipleship. We discussed the ways in which the Disciples learned how to apply them, so we could follow their lead, not only in our churches and congregations but also in our neighborhoods and our communities. For some of us, it was an eye-opening, life-changing experience. The power and glory of the Holy Spirit walked before, stood next to, and walked behind us. He guided and informed each phase of the symposium. Throughout our time together, we began to more clearly embrace and recognize the importance of our spreading the good news of Jesus Christ. As believing, practicing Christians, we acknowledge and recognize that it is our obligation and responsibility to share what we know about Jesus Christ with everyone ... our families, our friends, our neighbors, our communities, as well as the institutions and organizations to which we belong or support. Forty-five of us heard, got, and hopefully internalized that message at the first symposium. We sincerely hope that you can join us by registering and attending either or both of upcoming symposia. The second symposium is next January (Saturday, January 20, 2018), and the third symposium is next May (Saturday, May 5, 2018). Registration is simple and easy: online (www.pitanglican.org) or by mail. Our goal is to see our Diocese on fire for discipleship so that, working together, we can spread the good news of Jesus Christ not only within our congregations but also within our communities, our neighborhoods, and our institutions. It is our obligation and our responsibility. Your comments and questions concerning this article or the Discipleship Symposium are appreciated and encouraged. Please send them to communications@pitanglican.org. Every effort will be made to acknowledge and answer your correspondence. n About the Author: Charley Metcalf is a member of Christ Church in New Brighton, PA.
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Clergy Transitions n The Rev. Jessica DePree Handy transferred to the Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others on July 17, 2017. n The Rev. Nathaniel Ogden Kidd transferred to the Diocese of the Rocky Mountains on July 31, 2017. n The Rev. Charles G. Flinn transferred to the Missionary Diocese of CANA East on August 8, 2017. n The Rev. Paul Cooper and Sarah Bray were married on August 19, 2017. n The Rev. Christopher & The Rev. Carrie Klukas transferred out to the Gulf Atlantic Diocese on August 22, 2017. n The Rev. Eric Zolner transferred in from the Missionary Diocese of CANA West on August 24, 2017. n The Rev. Canon Jonathan Millard and The Rev. Canon Dr. Andrea Mueller were married on September 2, 2017. n The Rev. Chance Perdue began serving as Rector at Grace, Edgeworth on September 10, 2017. n The Rev. Lauren Scharf began serving as Assistant Rector at All Saints, Cranberry Township on September 10, 2017. n The Rev. Ethan Harrison transferred in from the Diocese of the Great Lakes on September 13, 2017. n The Rev. Raymond Waterman transferred to the Diocese of the Gulf Atlantic on October 10, 2017. He is licensed to serve in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. n Deacon Val Wano Finnell, of the Missionary Diocese of All Saints, was licensed to serve as a deacon in our Diocese on October 11, 2017. n The Rev. Julie Cate Kelly was ordained to the priesthood on November 18, 2017 by Bishop James Hobby. She was also married to Mark Stump on November 18, 2017 (now The Rev. Julie Cate Kelly-Stump).
Celebrating Two Clergy Weddings
T
he Diocese would like to congratulate two of our clergy members who were recently married, The R ev. Paul Cooper, All Saints Anglican Church and The R ev. C anon Jonathan Millard, Church of the Ascension. Fun fact: Clergy weddings are not exactly frequent occurrences in our Diocese, let alone two in the same month! Both couples were married this past August. n
The Rev. Paul & Sarah Cooper
The. Rev. Canon Jonathan & The Rev. Canon Dr. Andrea Millard
Honoring the Ministry of Retiring Clergy: The Rev. Jeff Smead By The Congregation of Harvest Anglican Church
I
n the middle of Jeff Smead’s banking career in Indiana, PA, he received a call from God to be his servant. So Jeff retired from banking, entered seminary, became a deacon and later ordained as a Eucharistic Priest in 2009. In the meantime, Harvest Anglican Church in Homer City was in need of a pastor to lead their congregation. Jeff was available and willing to serve Harvest, and Harvest was excited to have Jeff. While he was at Harvest, Jeff provided us with excellent pastoral care, spiritually based and scholarly sermons, a joyful personality and a caring spirit. Among his many gifts, are the gifts of encouragement and love for God’s people. He will be sorely missed. Jeff’s last day with us was on Sunday, November 5. We all had dinner and then celebrated the Eucharist together. Jeff and Lee will be moving to Ohio to be closer to their children, grandchildren and extended family and friends. n
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Diocesan Calendar December 2017 through March 2018 December 2017
Supplemental Diocesan Prayers for Prayers of the People
A
s a way to keep our congregations connected to the prayer needs of the whole Diocese, we will be releasing a set of supplemental prayers you can add in to your Prayers of the People liturgy. We will release a set of 13 prayers that you can add in once per month, or cycle through every week 4 times each year. Additionally, in future communications, we will release additional Prayers of the People in advance of time-sensitive events in the Diocese. We hope this will be a welcome resource and are open to feedback. n
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3 8-10 12 16 17 25-Jan 2 24 31
Advent Sunday 2 Advent Tuesday Saturday 3 Advent Christmas Eve Sunday
Murrysville, St. Alban’s Uptown, Shepherd’s Heart Springfield, MO, All Saints Institution of the Rev. Canon Eric Zolner Ordination to the Diaconate, Nathaniel Adkins Annual Episcopal Visit Diocesan Council Meeting Claire Megles Ordination to the Priesthood at Trinity, Washington New Brighton, Christ Church Diocesan Office Closed RESERVED RESERVED
January 2018
7 14 21 23 27 28
Epiphany 2 Epiphany 3 Epiphany Tuesday Saturday 4 Epiphany
RESERVED Pittsburgh, Incarnation North Fayette, Mosaic Uniontown, St. Peter’s w/Archbishop Duncan Village Church, Ambridge Lauren Scharf Ordination to the Priesthood at Church of the Ascension, Oakland Natrona Heights, Christ Our Hope
February 2018
4 6 11 14 18 25
5 Epiphany Tuesday Last Epiphany Ash Wednesday 1 Lent 2 Lent
Ambridge, COTS Diocesan Council Meeting (off pattern) Cranberry Twp., All Saints Beaver Falls, St. Andrew’s College Hill Bishop Jim at Canterbury Place Leechburg, Holy Innocents Greensburg, Christ’s Church
March 2018
4 11 17-26 28 31
3 Lent 4 Lent 5 Lent Holy Wednesday Easter Vigil
Mt. Washington, Grace Bellevue, North Boroughs Redeemer St. John the Baptist Deanery Evanston, Christ the King Wheaton, Great Shepherd Elburn, Hope Anglican West Chicago, New Jerusalem Bishop Jim at Trinity School for Ministry Edgeworth, Grace Church
MAMA’S MUSINGS
The Truth Will Set You Free By the Rev. Shari Hobby
“If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32
H
ere is a part of my discipleship story. Being born into a home of believing parents, my progress in the faith has appropriately grown up alongside my physical development, with a few particular exceptions. Growing up as an MK (missionary kid) to Wycliffe Bible Translators parents in Guatemala, my pre-high school years were spent away from home at an MK boarding school. There we had weekly Bible class, daily chapel and devotional time, and weekly Scripture memory assignments, which were a grade on our report card. In fact, I have an old hymnal at my piano which I received as a prize for reciting 72 verses in one sitting, without a mistake. I appreciate that memorization more now than I ever did then. However, while my Scriptural knowledge increased, my psycho-social development had a lot of catching up to do. Years of therapy have aided my growth and development as well as others coming alongside me, to help me to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18). While I expected to grow and experience healing in “typical” discipleship activities, (and I did), in three memorable experiences God showed up unexpectedly in the ordinary creations of the House of Mouse (aka – Disney movies and musicals).
Beauty and the Beast
Peter Pan
Seeing this Disney movie with our young family, the movie opens with the background story of how the prince is turned into a beast. The sequence ends with the line “After all, who could ever learn to love a beast?” Unbidden and as a surprise, the tears started to flow. I identified with that beast, and often had trouble receiving the love that Jim and our daughters lavished on me. It opened my heart to receive in new ways, not only Jim’s love, but also the Lord’s.
Most recently, the Lord revealed himself to me through a song Wendy sings to the Lost Boys in the musical, “Peter Pan.” During a spiritual direction session, I was asked to quiet myself and listen to the words from the gospels of Jesus taking the children in his arms and blessing them. As I sat there, in the Lord’s presence, I very clearly saw myself, as a little child, climbing up onto Jesus’ lap and sitting with him there. He began to sing these words over me: “My child, my very own, don’t be afraid, you’re not alone. Sleep until the dawn, for all is well.” Each phrase of that song was a spiritual truth I needed to hear, wrapped up in love, warmth and song. But, Peter Pan?!
Mulan A few years later, we are out again as a family at another Disney movie. Near the beginning Mulan sings. “Look at me, I will never pass for a perfect bride, or a perfect daughter. Can it be I’m not meant to play this part? Now I see that if I were truly to be myself, I would break my family’s heart… Somehow I cannot hide who I am, though I’ve tried. When will my reflection show who I am inside?” I had been processing so many things related to my family of origin, and once again, the Lord spoke to me through this. Near the end, the Father is so excited to have Mulan back home bearing gifts to honor the family, and he says, “The greatest gift of all…is having you for a daughter.” The tears continued to fall as I continued to receive Father God’s love for me.
“All truth is God’s truth,” said my Wheaton College philosophy professor, Dr. Arthur Holmes. That concept has helped me receive God’s truth in whatever medium it has been spoken. Truth has been spoken to me in different ways that have facilitated freeing me to heal and grow. I am ever grateful for God’s truth that continues to set me free, even in usual ways and places. Where do you see his truth shedding light and freedom into your own life today? n
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