TRINITY Advent/Christmas/Epiphany 2014-15 by Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh

A PUBLICATION OF THE ANGLICAN DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH • VOL. 35, NO. 4

In This Issue... Archbishop Duncan’s Visit to Rome Page 14

The Drama of Scripture at Trinity, Washington Page 8

TSM Hotel Groundbreaking in Ambridge Page 4

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O N T H E S U R E FO U N DAT I O N

Savior of the Nations, Come! By The Most Rev. Robert Wm. Duncan, Archbishop of the Anglican Church in North America, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh

Beloved in the Lord, St. Ambrose of Milan (340-397 A.D.) was a great teacherbishop. Not among the obvious candidates for bishop at the time of his election – he was a layman when acclaimed by the Milanese crowd – Ambrose left the Church a great legacy. His was a time when clear teaching about the orthodox faith – amidst many competing claims and philosophies – was essential, just as it is today. Among those Ambrose catechized and baptized was his much more famous student whom we know as St. Augustine of Hippo (d. 430 A.D.) Ambrose knew that one of the great vehicles for conveying Christian Truth was the use of hymns. Some of the hymn-texts still in use in the Church were first penned by St. Ambrose. Martin Luther also understood the value of hymnody in teaching the Faith aright. In one familiar instance, Luther took an Ambrosian text and re-worked it as follows:

Savior of the nations, Come! Virgin’s Son, make here your home.

Savior of the nations, Come! Virgin’s Son, make here your home. Marvel now, both heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth. Wondrous birth! Oh wondrous child, of the Virgin undefiled! Mighty God and Mary’s son, eager now his race to run! Thus on earth the Word appears, gracing his created spheres; Hence to death and hell descends, then the heavenly throne ascends. Come, O Father’s saving Son, who o’er sin the victory won, Boundless shall your kingdom be; grant that we its glories see. This issue of Trinity spans three church seasons: Advent, Christmas and Epiphany. These are the seasons of hymns and carols that tell the Christian Truth in most memorable – yet incredibly simple – ways. In these seasons of God’s gifts anticipated (Advent), given (Christmas) and shared (Epiphany) reflect anew on your favorite hymn-texts and the gospel truths they so memorably elucidate. Give thanks for those who shared with us their Faith – and these texts – and consider how you can share these gospel truths with others,* both in great philosophical statements and in simple, singable rhymes. “Savior of the nations, Come! Virgin’s son, make here your home. Marvel now, both heaven and earth, that the Lord chose such a birth.” n Faithfully in Christ,

Bishop, Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh Archbishop Emeritus, Anglican Church in North America *To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism, Anglican House (2013) is a contemporary catechism available at www.amazon.com. For those seeking to introduce the Christian faith to others, this attractive, leatherbound, gilt-edged resource makes a great gift. ($20) Three hundred and forty-five questions and answers unpack the plain meaning of Christian believing and living.

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TRINITY The Most Rev. Robert Wm. Duncan, Archbishop and Bishop

In This Issue... On the Cover: Archbishop Duncan takes part in the blessing at the Crèche Prayer Service in Downtown Pittsburgh on November 21. See more from the service on page 20.

4 Trinity School for Ministry provides need for short term hospitality at new hotel groundbreaking ceremony.

Trinity Church in Washington approaches teaching the Story of God in unique, participatory way in the Drama of Scripture.

14 Archbishop Duncan visits Rome for a meeting of global religious leaders on approaching love and marriage in modern contexts.

FEATURES 4 • Breaking New Ground by Laurie Thompson 6 • Convention 2014 by Jordan Markley 8 • The Drama of Scripture by Karen Stevenson and Will Burrows 11 • Mission and Me by Diane Babcock

Design Kostilnik & Associates Graphics, Inc. Columnists Archbishop Robert Duncan Canon Mary Maggard Hays Contributors Diane Babcock Will Burrows Fred Carlson Jordan Markley Karen Stevenson Laurie Thompson Steven Tighe Charles Treichler CONTACT INFORMATION

13 • Engage: Talk, Study, Pray by Steven Tighe

Communications Director Ian Mikrut

14 • Archbishop in Rome by Ian Mikrut 16 • ARDF: Stories of Redemption - 2014 Project Impacts by Charles Treichler 19 • BLTF Bible Teaching Training Day by Fred Carlson 22 • Clergy Milestones | Diocesan Calendar: January through March 2015 24 • Diocese Welcomes New Communications Director

EDITORIALS

2 • On the Sure Foundation: Savior of the Nations, Come! The Most Rev. Robert Wm. Duncan, Archbishop and Bishop

23 • Encouraging Words: Extravagant Love The Rev. Canon Mary Maggard Hays

Editor Ian Mikrut

Phone: (412) 281-6131 Email: communications@pitanglican.org Web site: www.pitanglican.org Fax: (412) 322-4505 SUBMISSION INFORMATION Submission Information: 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 Monday, March 9 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 selfaddressed, stamped envelope with proprietary information on the back of each photo.

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BREAKING

New Ground By Laurie Thompson • Photos by Rebecca Murden

As the need for short term hospitality has grown at Trinity School for Ministry, the construction of a new hotel will take place. The groundbreaking ceremony served as an opportunity to begin on a foundation of community in Ambridge.

hristian people oftentimes give mixed messages. When I was in my last year of studying for ordination in 1978 at General Seminary, my fellow seminarians and I were very excited about the release of a new book. The book The Power of their Glory by Kit and Frederica Konolidge*, chronicled a social history of the Episcopal Church. I have never forgotten the next to last chapter which points to a significant issue. It describes the entrance to St. John’s Episcopal Church of Lattingtown

in Long Island, NY. After a description of the congregation and its setting, the authors conclude: As the guests walk across Lattingtown Road, their view of the church, like that of casual drivers headed toward Lattingtown, is dominated by a huge traffic sign that seems to apply more to the church than the little road: “Do not Enter” and “The Episcopal Church Welcomes You.” It is a church of contradictions.

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Many congregations and Christian institutions express the desire to be welcoming and hospitable, but oftentimes a lack of self-awareness and insensitivity to the viewpoint of outsiders creates obstacles and road blocks to those who are visiting. I shall never forget the moment I introduced a service bulletin in Connecticut that included everything: the full liturgy, the Sunday scripture lessons, the full hymns and the announcements. My director of the Altar guild opposed me and asked why it was necessary to have

everything in the bulletin. I responded that it is primarily for our visitors who may not know their way around the Prayer Book to help them feel welcomed and comfortable. She responded that they should not be there if they do not know the Prayer Book. In my inner thoughts I could only say “ouch.”

based in Neenah, is a hotel brand company that prides itself in filling the lodging needs of communities through its upper mid-scale new build brand. BriMark Builders suggested bringing an equity group together to encourage Ambridge and address the hospitality needs.

One of the growing issues at Trinity School for Ministry has been the need for short term hospitality. In the past, with an older average age of students we tended to have more guest rooms available in student homes. But the demand for short term housing has eclipsed the supply of available rooms. So we were sending a mixed message of “we welcome you to the TSM campus, but we have no place for you to stay!”

Like Abigail, the investors want to continue the tradition of warm welcome in the Borough of Ambridge that has always been present in the community.

Now that contradiction is changing. On the morning of October 7 there was a groundbreaking for a new Cobblestone Hotel at 1111 New Economy Drive, Ambridge. But how did all of this start and evolve? In 2001 a group of friends at the seminary noticed a trend. When visitors came to Ambridge for meetings of mission agencies, denominational groups, intensive classes and special programs, there appeared to be less guest rooms available to students and visitors. In collaboration with the developers of New Economy Associates, efforts were taken to explore the feasibility of a potential hotel in Ambridge. Initially the students of the Cornell School of Hotel management helped explore possibilities, and they were able to assist in the consideration of ways to tackle the problem. Eventually a professional feasibility study was done by Core Distinction Group that confirmed the viability of the project.

The name of that group, Abigail (investors), comes from the account in 1 Samuel 25:18. The passage chronicles Abigail seeing the plight of King David, who had been refused hospitality by her husband, Nabal. As the bible recounts: 8 Abigail acted quickly. She took two hundred loaves of bread, two skins of wine, five dressed sheep, five seahs of roasted grain, a hundred cakes of raisins and two hundred cakes of pressed figs, and loaded them on donkeys. 19 Then she told her servants, “Go on ahead; I’ll follow you.”… 35 Then David accepted from her hand what she had brought him and said, “Go home in peace. I

have heard your words and granted your request” (1Sa 25:18-19, 35). Like Abigail, the investors want to continue the tradition of warm welcome in the Borough of Ambridge that has always been present in the community. So now nearly fifteen years since its conception, the new 31 bedroom hotel will be at the corner of New Economy Drive and 11th street (directly between the Fire Station and the Trinity School for Ministry). Representatives from the Ambridge community, Canon Mary Hays of the Diocese, Bishop Henry Scriven representing the Mission Societies, Members of Abigail Investors, local church leaders and an executive from BriMark Builders all took part in the brief groundbreaking ceremony. Janice Tata of BriMark/Cobblestone said it was the largest groundbreaking they have been a part of! With the new installation we can hopefully avoid giving you a mixed message with that word “welcome.” Now when you next come to Ambridge, we can truly be hospitable. At the very least we will be able to offer you a clean, warm place to lay your head. Contradiction free.. n * Konolige, Kit and Frederica, The Power of Their Glory: America’s Ruling Class: The Episcopalians (2nd ed.; Wyden /Simon & Schuster, 1978), 383.

At the end of 2012 contact was made with Janice Tata of BriMark Builders who had reached out to the Borough Manager of Ambridge. BriMark Builders, located in Neenah, Wisconsin, is the General Contractor for this project and has twenty years of hotel construction experience. Cobblestone Hotels, also

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Generous God, Generous People Diocesan Convention 2014 Jordan Markley

Nearly Two Hundred delegates from the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh’s ten districts met together in Johnstown, Pennsylvania in early November. The cohort, consisting of clergy and lay delegates, met for the Diocese’s 149th Convention, an annual meeting of leaders from across the Church’s many congregations.

his year’s convention marked the return of Archbishop Emeritus Robert Duncan from his four month sabbatical following five years of service as the Anglican Church in North America’s leading bishop. After a restful retreat from his duties, the archbishop said he was looking forward to being free to focus on the everyday needs of local congregations. “My episcopate, from the very beginning, has been built on the presumption that I needed to visit every congregation every year, that I needed regularly to come to you,” Duncan said on his return. “My parallel hope was that you would also come to me – call on me and on my team – in moments of special rejoicing and special need, so I (and we) could be with you in both gladest and toughest times.” The weekend kicked-off with the Convention Eucharist service hosted in Memorial Baptist Church in downtown Johnstown. The Archbishop’s Address, offered as the sermon at the service, discussed his decision to return to service in the diocese. After

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asking the Standing Committee what they would have him do if he returned to service, they replied “come back and love us.” “It was the most attractive job description I was ever offered,” Duncan said. In the rest of the address he emphasized the fact that this call to love applies to all members of the Diocese. “It is the Father’s love for His Son, and the Son’s love for us, and our love for each other and for those outside that is our Hope, and the Hope of a very dark and disordered world,” Duncan said. “Love is the thing alone that sustains us, and that confounds and converts those who do not know it [Him].” Following the service, delegates attended a celebratory dinner at the nearby Frank J Pasquerilla Conference Center. Members from congregations scattered across the United States reconnected with old friends, fellowshipped and heard a message from the Rt. Rev. John Guernsey, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of

the Mid-Atlantic. Guernsey’s topic for the weekend, “Generous God, Generous People,” stressed the call upon God’s people to be thoughtful and faithful givers in their finances.

As a result, several delegates raised questions about the timing of the amendment and how it would affect the way priests administered confession.

“It is my prayer for you—leaders in God’s Church—that each of you looks honestly at where you are in your giving,” said Guernsey in his closing. “And as you pray for God’s help to step into a life of greater generosity, of more thankful giving, the Lord will break through in a mighty way in you and in your churches, and bring to you a deeper experience of His peace and contentment and true joy than you have ever known before.”

Archishop Duncan explained that the amendment put the Anglican Church’s practice in writing as a way of clarifying the church’s official position and anticipating legal challenges to the seal of confession that could arise in the future. While there are no current legal cases which would affect the Pittsburgh diocese, many diocesan leaders felt that they should take the opportunity to clarify the church’s position on Confession.

Guernsey’s message of sacrificial giving hit upon many of the themes he discussed with leaders in the diocese at the clergy gathering earlier this fall. An act of giving, he said, is an act of faith with an implicit commitment to rely more fully on God’s provision.

The weekend also featured several presentations from leaders of the Young Anglicans Project, including the Rev. Steven Tighe, who emphasized the need for the Anglican laity to engage with the young people in their congregations. In the future, he said, a few congregations will be blessed with the resources for paid youth workers. The vast majority will not. The Engage Initiative – which asks every congregation to identify those who are called to disciple young people and to share the Bible with them—is set to increase involvement among local congregations with their student populations.*

Canon Mary Maggard Hays, a longtime friend of Bishop Guernsey who invited him to speak, said his message was particularly relevant to the leaders of the diocese. Those tasked with planning for the years ahead often find themselves fretting about the future. “I love the examples Bishop John gave of ordinary people – people like you and me – who trusted God with their finances. What they received in return was beyond imagining,” said Hays. “I am praying that the people of our diocese will have stories like that to share with one another in the months to come.” The business of the weekend moved quickly, often proceeding ahead of schedule. Several changes to the church canons were summarily discussed and approved by the delegates to convention. Including a canon stating the long-held policy that confidentiality in Rite of Confession is inviolable.

“With this Convention we enter a new chapter of Diocesan life. The bishop is no longer archbishop, but simply bishop again. I welcome this new phase of our life together, and the evidence is that you do too,” said Duncan in closing his address. “This Convention is about beginning a new chapter, not about considering the chapter’s end.” The 2014 Diocesan Convention continued to open the door of new beginnings and aspirations of “an extraordinary, ordinary diocese.” n *More details on the Engage Initiative can be found on Page 13. Archbishop Duncan and Guernsey’s sermons can be found in their entirety on the main page of the Diocesan website at pitanglican.org

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The Drama of

SCRIPTURE By Karen Stevenson and Will Burrows Photos by Ian Mikrut

“I had always felt life first as a story; and if there is a story, there is a story-teller.” G.K. Chesterton 8 | TRINITY Advent / Christmas / Epiphany 2014-15

The heart and soul of the Bible is a story. While there are various types of literature, numerous books and authors, overall the Bible is a narrative. These books come together to tell God’s true story and his plan to set the world right again. But even more precisely, we can say the story of the Bible is a drama. The key to a drama is that it has to be acted out, performed, lived. It can’t remain as only words on a page. A drama is an activated story. The Bible was written so we could enter into its story. It is meant to be lived. – From the Outreach Bible, Biblica

everal years ago a Trinity Church leader in our Alpha program discovered the Story of God Outreach Bible published by Biblica (formally the International Bible Society). In the opening pages the story of the Bible was broken down into 5 Acts (later 6) and a germ of an idea began to take root in our leaders. Many of us learned the story of Bible piece-meal, not necessarily in any set order or context. In a desire to better disciple God’s people here at Trinity, a group of Trinity folks (teachers, preachers and small groups leaders) came together to talk about how to better share the story of the Bible with our brothers and sisters in the church in a more coherent and organized way. And so was birthed The Story of God Project. This group met over the late Spring and throughout the summer and shaped an

eight week series that included the following: a Prologue which introduced the series; Act 1 the story of Creation; Act 2 Exile/the Fall; Act 3 the story of the people of Israel; Act 4 Jesus; Act 5 the Church; Act 6 Homecoming/the second coming; finally an Epilogue drawing it altogether. As we had no formal program to follow, the group shaped the themes and content of the preaching for the series. These discussions were incredibly helpful in clarifying our own understanding of the Story. The group also raised grant monies to commission banners that highlight each of the Acts and to provide literature summarizing the story. Biblica was helpful by giving us permission to use the materials they had published in their Outreach Bible. Each week there was a drama related to the act being highlighted and each

week there was an opportunity for the congregation to submit questions on the topic of the day for discussion the following week in our Adult Formation hour.

The Story of God Will Burrows, who was commissioned to create the banners that represent the Six Acts in the Story of God, explains a little about what each banner symbolizes:

A) Creation — The first panel shows Adam and Eve in a lush Garden. They stand beneath the Tree of Life, a massive tree with extensive roots and covered in moss. They are at peace there, with each other, with the wildlife, and also with God. They are blissfully unaware of what it means to be naked.

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Testament is the story of Israel’s disinterest in keeping the Law of Moses, which curses everyone who does not keep it in its entirety, curses everyone. Yet behind the curse of the Sinai covenant there is a “deeper magic,” an unconditional promise made to Abraham that the world would be blessed through his seed.

E) Jesus — In “Jesus,” the fourth panel

D B/C) Exile — The second panel illustrates the expulsion from the Garden. Adam and Eve hide their faces in a mix of shame and terror, having become bent and bound to serve their own egos instead of God. The Serpent coils around their ankles. The Garden is guarded by two fearsome cherubim, their giant wings obscuring the way to God’s direct presence, and a flaming sword flashes on its own in the air between them. They can no longer be permitted to eat from the Tree of Life, lest they live forever in their current state. But in a first act of mercy, God has provided clothing made of animal skins to cover the source of their shame, foreshadowing his climactic act of mercy that would cover the sources of our shame with God’s own self-sacrifice.

of the series, the divine rescue enters a new phase. God comes personally to be shepherd to the sinners, the sick and the stuck. The hand with which Jesus reaches toward the proverbial black sheep is the same hand with which God reaches toward Adam in Michelangelo’s “Creation” on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel. Redemption is a wholly divine and re-creative act. The sheep has done nothing to be rescued but to get lost.

F) Church — The fifth panel, “The Church,” was inspired by the scene in which the risen Lord Jesus appears to two disciples on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24), and shares something with them that looks suspiciously like Holy Communion. In place of the two disciples are hands representing the whole church, a community - even a family - defined not along

the lines of a clan, tribe or nation, but by the receiving of God’s mercy.

G) Homecoming — The sixth and final panel, “Homecoming,” is based on passages in Revelation and Isaiah. The same Adam and Eve from the first two panels stand in for the innumerable multitudes of the redeemed in Revelation 7. They are not those who have been judged “good enough,” but those whose robes have been made white in the blood of the Lamb, those whose sins have been covered by Jesus’ own goodness. Behind them, a small lamb rests comfortably next to a lion lolling about on his back as described in Isaiah 11. In the background is the heavenly city, although admittedly not as described in Revelation 21. And yes, that is Pittsburgh’s own PPG Place on the skyline. We continue to uses this amazingly helpful biblical scaffolding of the drama of scripture for all our teaching and preaching. It has infiltrated the way we teach our children and youth and it is increasingly becoming part of the DNA of the parish. n

D) Israel — In Genesis 32, a strange story is told about Jacob, the grandson of Abraham. He finds himself alone in the desert, where he meets a mysterious stranger, with whom he wrestles all night. The stranger then gives him a new name, Israel, meaning “He-Wrestles-With-God,” and this becomes the name of God’s people in the Old Testament and at times in the New. It has always seemed remarkable that God would give such a name to his people, and as the story unfolds it proves to be apt. Much of the rest of the Old

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“Mission and Me” By Diane Babcock, Women Alive in Christ Leadership Team

n October 18, 2014, thirty-six women from nine congregations around the diocese were fed both physically and spiritually at the Saturday Blessing with the Women Alive in Christ. Sharon Steinmiller, Director of New Wineskins Missionary Network was our guest speaker. Her topic, “Mission and Me,” was a participation-style presentation in which she clearly shared the facts about the world’s need for Christ. She defined ways we can help and convicted our hearts of the need for each of us to become involved. We are called to become personally active in praying, learning, sending, filling needs and supporting those who “Go” and share the Gospel of our Lord to the least, the last and the lost. Somerset Anglican Fellowship hosted the event, with a full contingent of hostesses led by Helen Knupp, which prepared the fall event of worship and lunch. Tables were arranged most beautifully in an autumn theme. The Reverend Larry Knotts celebrated Holy Eucharist and delivered the homily with the lovely accompaniment of music director Cindy Ross. This fall day was made even more beautiful by the opportunity to worship, learn and enjoy fellowship together with our sisters from all corners of our Pittsburgh Anglican Diocese. n

How wonderful to find mission in our own backyard! Feedback from an attendee: “On Sunday the St. Peter’s ladies fellowship group gathered at my house. We talked about students having no place to go for holidays, and foreign students never getting to be in an American home. So we DID something about it! One of us contacted campus ministries and we are going to participate in a Thanksgiving dinner they are having on campus prior to the holidays and find out if any students are going to be left alone for their holidays and make sure that doesn’t happen. We were sure to tell the campus ministry person that the religion of students needing hosts for the holidays does not matter to us. Thank you for nudging us into the Fayette County mission field!” n

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Engage Talk, Study, Pray By Steven Tighe

Join the Young Anglicans Project in Engaging with young teenagers in your congregation. What do we do with our teenagers? Ministering to teenagers can be difficult. Not because teenagers are troubling or bad. They’re just different. No longer children, but not quite yet adults. Children are more compliant to follow the direction of their parents or other adult figures while adults themselves consciously make the choice to be open to God. Communication becomes a much larger issue when dealing with teenagers as it’s easy for them to fall through the wide crack between our children’s ministry and our adult programs. It’s an incredibly important age. During the teenage years, the average person is most open to the Gospel of Jesus Christ- more open than they will be at any later time. As many as 85% of the adults that fill American pews say that they made the decision that led to them being there before the age of 21. A critical period. One that we can’t afford to waste. As Archbishop Duncan pointed out at the 2014 Diocesan Convention in Johnstown, our churches are probably reaching fewer teenagers today than any time in the last fifteen years. Now, there are blameless reasons for that. Much of the last few years have been traumatic. We’ve lost property. We’ve lost people. Our budgets are smaller. All of this

to say, we can’t minister to teenagers the way we used to. Models of youth ministry that require paid staff and large groups just aren’t possible for most of our churches right now. The good news is that there are effective ways of reaching and engaging teenagers that don’t require those things. There was a time when most of the youth ministry in the Church was done by volunteers. I’m the product of that kind of ministry and I’m sure that many of you reading this article also came out of high school and college ministries mostly led by volunteers. An effective, non-traditional model of youth ministry is based on a very simple and historic principle. It involves an older person sitting down with a teenager and opening the Bible together. That is the core of the “Engage” program that the Diocese of Pittsburgh is hosting. We’re hoping that while most of us don’t have the budget or the resources to make a youth group “work”, almost all of us can find someone willing to invest in spending time with a teenager. The Engage model has three steps. First, sitting down and talking. Teenagers are desperate for older people who are interested in their lives. The Engage model starts with the adult asking questions and sharing a little bit about themselves in an open discussion. Next they open the Bible together, read a section and discuss it. It doesn’t require a complicated, planned out curriculum- the Bible itself can be our curriculum. Third, they trade prayer requests and pray for each other. This simple model of discipleship can make a huge difference in the lives of teenagers. And it doesn’t have to entail a large block of time. Maybe an hour. Maybe just ten minutes. The length of time isn’t important. Nor is the age of the adult. Anyone, any age, can sit down with a teenager. Some of the most effective vol-

From Archbishop Duncan: The Engage Initiative is a joint effort of the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh and the Young Anglicans Project (of the Anglican Church in North America) to assist ordinary lay people in “capturing” young minds and hearts for Christ. Who are the adolescents in your sphere of influence? The teenagers who live in your neighborhood? The adolescents who serve you at the local drive-through or in assisted living situations? The young person hanging out alone at Sunday worship? The kids waiting at the school bus stop? Those who walk your dogs or shovel your snow? A grandchild or niece or nephew? Consider this lot and take them all to the Lord to ask

unteers I’ve ever seen have been committed retired people. The people we’re looking for are simply people who love God, like people and are willing to make an investment in the life of a teenager. The Diocese has partnered with the Young Anglicans Project to provide training for people in our churches to do exactly this kind of discipleship. If you want to have people from your congregation involved in this exciting effort, let them know. Engage: Equip. The training weekend for volunteers will take place on January 23-24, at the Family Retreat Center in Mars, PA. We’ll start at 6:30 on Friday and plan on being done by 4pm on Saturday. At that training we’ll connect each volunteer to a youth ministry “coach” who can help them brainstorm methods for connecting to teenagers in your church. We’ll train them in a simple method of studying the Bible, and have them practice questions and prayer together. For more information, and to sign up for the weekend: • Check the Young Anglicans Project website: www.YoungAnglicansProject.com/ EngagePittburgh • Call Whis Hays at Rock the World (724) 266-8876 ext. 102, or • Email office@rocktheworld.org Whether you plan to be there or not, please, pray for Engage. Pray for our teenagers, and pray that God would raise up faithful volunteers to reach them! n

Him which one He has it in mind for you specifically to reach out to. (He will tell you, if you ask him.) Invite the lad or lass for a cup of coffee or a soda in a public place. Tell them that God has put him or her on your heart. (Few will not be interested in such information!) Let them share their life and share their heart. Share yours, too. Share what has meant the most to you from the Word of God. A weekly encounter of this sort for a year or two will change a life and change the world. This is a challenge to the faithful of every congregation to Engage. n

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Archbishop Duncan’s Visit to the Vatican By Ian Mikrut

For three days from November 17-19, Pope Francis called an international conference bringing religious leaders together not only from Christian churches, but Jewish, Mormon, Muslim, Hindu and Taoists leaders, among others. Archbishop Robert Duncan was among those in attendance for the three day program, which focused on supporting traditional marriage through the theme of “complementarity.”

he conference was entitled a colloquium — people coming together to speak to one another, with the simple hope that these leaders with different religious beliefs could find common ground and solutions to tackle the modern morality issues facing most of the world in terms of viewing gender and marriage.

Pope Francis explained the urgency of the situation in that much like natural environments in our world, social environments need protection and that the crisis in the state of broken families has produced an ecological crisis. While it seems unlikely that such a vast variety of people from different religious

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beliefs and backgrounds could find absolute agreement, it’s a testament to all those involved that set the example of trying to work together in the hopes of learning from one another. “The temptation is to try to see Pope Francis as someone who is radically undoing the things that the Catholic

Photo by Vatican Newspaper, L’Osservatore Romano

Complementarity:

Church has stood for and been involved with,” said Archbishop Duncan. “I would say he is certainly one who’s committed to the poor and to speaking the truth of the church with grace and love to the world. He’s not going to take the church to a different place, but his commitment is to say that where we can speak together – we must speak together.” Archbishop Duncan explained the intentions of the meeting were simply sharing with one another about marriage and how it fits into the creation. The results yielded a mutual understanding across the board among the different religious traditions present that in creating us male and female, He has made us complementary genders. The question remains for the leaders moving forward in how to approach speaking to the modern world where so many different gender, sexual and marital ideologies undermine and clash with religious concepts of gender and marriage. One of which is addressing the trend of many young people today dismissing the idea of marriage and its value in today’s society. Pope Francis urged those in attendance to stay committed to the youth and encourage them to become revolutionary and courageous in seeking true and lasting love.

“The church can either say it negatively or positively. We’ve tended to say it negatively because we were in a tradition where we could dictate how things operated. But for the future we need to be able to put forward a vision of marriage which is consistent with what God has designed and has done but is actually attractive,” said Archbishop Duncan. “There’s just so much destruction and there’s a better way. God had a better plan.” The plan revolves around this idea of complementarity which, as Pope Francis explained, takes many forms as man and woman bring distinctive contributions to a relationship. He cited Paul’s first Letter to the Corinthians where it is described that the Spirit has endowed each of us with different gifts so that – “just as the human body’s members work together for the good of the whole- everyone’s gifts can work together for the benefit of each.” Archbishop Duncan further

explained that the understanding of complementarity provides structure in the form of the normative family structure in a father and mother, the fruit of that being children. And this new, more positive message is not a condemnation of other practices and ideologies, but an encouragement and invitation to grow closer to God in this unified vision. “He has made the creation in His great love,” said Archbishop Duncan “[Marriage] is a far more noble way to live ones’ life a far more fulfilling way, a more sacrificial way, a more loving way to live than any other alternative.” Globally across denominations and worldviews, ideas of how to communicate and invite people into this vision may be, as Archbishop Duncan proposes, the greatest contribution that comes out of the discussions initiated in Rome. n

“The liberation the present age offers in the West is not freedom, is not good for children, is not good for women and the only ones who get off Scott-free in a sense are the fathers who make children and then disappear,” Archbishop Duncan said. That’s not a happy future. So the question is how do we in the church talk about this in a way that invites the world into this vision?” Archbishop Duncan explained that one of the fruits to come from the colloquium was an understanding that a call came across the board from every religious leader the need to address and put forth a positive vision for the future in what God has done in creating man and woman.

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Stories of Redemp

2014 Project Impacts By The Rev. Charles Treichler

In a time of strife, what can we be thankful for? God is still at work in the world through the generosity of our faithful partners and donors like you. 16 | TRINITY Advent / Christmas / Epiphany 2014-15

Story of Redemption #1: Relief in Iraq

Christ means there is a spiritual impact in what we do.”

Project Impact: • Serving 130,000+ refugees

In Iraq, intense persecution forced hundreds of thousands of Christians to flee their homes, seeking shelter in refugee camps and neighboring countries.

• More than $100,000 raised

Local Anglican and Chaldean Catholic Churches were overwhelmed by the need to care for the many refugees whose lives have been shattered by war. Thankfully, ARDF supporters stood with these local Christian leaders, donating generously for desperately needed food, shelter and Bibles. In response to God’s love, you made the Gospel tangible to our brothers and sisters in Iraq.

Story of Redemption #2: Community Development in Ethiopia

This story brings to mind something Archbishop Glenn Davies from the Diocese of Sydney, Australia said in a recent interview: “I’m a great supporter of ARDF, because it’s practical Christianity. It’s not just delivering aid to people. It’s delivering aid to people, and relief, in the name of Christ, and in the name of

In Western Ethiopia, generous donations have helped to dramatically increase the impact of the Gambella Anglican Centre.

• Impact: tents, food, water, sanitation, clothing, housing

Many of the communities surrounding the Centre are desperately poor and suffer from an almost 50% infant mortality rate. And in 2014, the situation became critical when the region was overwhelmed

ption: W

ar. Famine. Disease. For many of us, the story of 2014 was one of brokenness and desperate need. But ARDF donors also helped to tell a parallel story of God’s redemption-transforming some of the world’s poorest communities by partnering with local Anglican churches who are already engaged in building peace, offering healing, welcoming the outcast, and proclaiming the Good News. A church service in Iraq during the crisis.

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Investigating new project sites

by a tidal wave of nearly 200,000 refugees fleeing violence in South Sudan. But the heroic staff of the Centre were able to feed refugees, provide training for pastors, and offer a safe meeting place for a growing Anglican congregation. They have also trained mothers in basic hygiene that can reduce infant mortality by over half--and all of this is thanks to your incredible partnership and support. Archbishop Mouneer Hanna Anis of The Province of Jerusalem & The Middle East, and The Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa commented on the project: “ARDF is helping in Ethiopia in establishing the Anglican Centre in Gambella which is helping a lot in doing seminars and conflict resolutions—tribal issues are very important [in the region]. ARDF helped in establishing this Anglican center in Gambella, which is wonderful.”

Project Impact: • Serving 3,696 people • $5.53 needed per person • Impact: education, evangelism, refugee care

Story of Redemption #3: The Grow Initiative At the same time, here in North America, ARDF has started a campaign called “The Grow Initiative”. It is a movement led by young professionals in the

Anglican Church in North America who are passionate about getting involved with the Global Body of Christ and reflecting the joy of the Gospel by standing with the poor and vulnerable. In the spring of 2014 ARDF partnered with St. Stephen’s church in Sewickley to run a marathon relay to support girls’ education in South Sudan. Before the

Archbishop Foley Beach summed it up well: “The Anglican Relief and Development Fund is committed to generously reflecting the Love of Jesus Christ throughout the world. Your giving and my giving make this possible. It enables us to proclaim the Good News of Jesus all throughout the world to those in need. We are able to do that in tangible ways, to reflect the love of Jesus Christ.”

ARDF Vision for 2015 and Beyond: 2014 Pittsburghh marathon team from St. Stephen’s Church, Sewickley. From Left: Melissa Fann, Olivia Forish, Todd Murden, the Rev. Stephen Palmer and Kevin McMillian.

Canon William E. Deiss, ARDF’s Executive Director reflected on our work togething in 2014 and shared ARDF’s vision for the next year:

marathon Kevin McMillan, who ran for ARDF, told us: “I am excited to run for the ARDF just because it’s a chance to get out and be proactive in a way, knowing that we are helping an orgization do something great for the world around us.” We are excited to see young Anglicans get excited about global mission and service to the poor! Melissa Fann, another team member, continued: “ARDF is associated with our Church, so we thought that would be a really good cause to run for. Something that everyone in our church can get behind and get involved in.”

“ARDF is about true partnership and transformed lives. And it is your partnership through ARDF that changes more lives than you can imagine. Through your generosity, we have been able to serve more lives in 2014 than we have ever served before. For the past ten years, we have reached over a million people in the Global South.

St. Stephen’s and several other local churches are teaming up with ARDF to make an even bigger impact in 2015. Find out more and sign up to run for ARDF: http://anglicanaid.net/marathon/

Project Impact: • Members from across the country • Marathon events planned for 2015 • Involving young professionals

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My expectation for the future ten years is that we would reach more than that— maybe double that. ARDF’s Global Trustees have approved $800,000 dollars in development grants over the next 12 months, so our challenge is to raise that type of funding so we can serve everincreasing numbers of people through holistic projects. And we are deeply thankful for our passionate donors who are freely joining in God’s story of redemption in our world.” Find out more: www.anglicanaid.net admin@anglicanaid.net - 724-251-6045 n

BLTF Bible Teaching Training Day Strengthens Our Gifts to Open Up the Word to Others By Fred Carlson of the BLTF

n Saturday morning, October 18, 2014 from 9am-noon, Archbishop Duncan’s Biblical Literacy Task Force (BLTF) presented a no-cost, half-day workshop for the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh entitled “Strengthen Your Bible Teaching Skills.” The four separate sessions were presented to benefit lay adult Bible study teachers, Sunday school teachers and clergy teaching the Bible. The training event was hosted by Saint Stephens, Sewickley. A hearty thanks goes out to BLTF members Gail Macdonald for her logistical help in getting the facility prepared, and to Gladys Hunt Mason for her coordination of the complimentary continental breakfast. The goal, as stated in the BLTF mission, is to improve our congregations in the four areas of: regular Bible reading, Bible memorization, Bible knowledge and encouraging a Bible Worldview. Encouraging effective teaching of the Word and growing successful Bible studies in the Diocese have been key ingredients of this mission since our call to form the Task Force almost six years ago. The sessions were led by three presenters. Kurt Dudt, who leads a weekly Wednesday evening Bible study from Harvest Anglican Church in Homer City (that is tied in world-wide on the internet), kicked off the morning with a session on Best Practices to lead adult Bible studies. Kurt also led the final session on working up a teaching plan from a scripture example, in this case, the calming of the storm by Jesus in Mark 4:35-41. Reverend John Paul Chaney and assistant Nicolas Denton led two sessions on their work at Seeds of Hope in Bloomfield in their summer and after-school programs, planting the Word in the hearts of youth mixing scripture, projected images, song and movement.

Gail Macdonald presented Bible 101, an encouragement and guide for new Bible readers. Gail used her power point illustrations to show that the attendees can lead this content for their own parishes and are encouraged to do so. The half-day program used many of the principles the BLTF has pulled together in the 12-page teaching booklet titled Leading Adult Bible Study in Your Church: Starting, Growing, Keeping, Lasting. All the churches in the Diocese were sent copies of this booklet and all attendees of the workshop received one. If anyone wishes to receive a copy of the booklet contact Fred Carlson of the BLTF 412.856.0982 or fred@carlsonstudio.com The Training Day aimed to stimulate new Bible studies and grow existing ones in the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. The feedback from the attendees was positive. The BLTF hopes to present another similar Training Day soon. Kathy Pierce of Saint Alban’s, Murrysville, said, “We are going to be moving soon!” in regard to Sunday school class. She was particularly impressed with the youth program material. Strengthening parish discipleship in the Word of God is highly endorsed by Archbishop Duncan and has been tightly integral to the Anglican spread of the gospel world-wide since the days of Thomas Cranmer. The BLTF lists free programs that can come to your church, along with recommended resources in the four areas listed above, under the BLTF tab on the Diocesan website at www.pitanglican.org n The best Bible study is when believers are in community reading together. – John Stott

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Recent Events Blessing of the CrĂ¨che On November 21 eleven local leaders from multiple denominations and organizations participated in the annual blessing of the Creche and prayer service. The beautiful nativity scene and Pittsburgh tradition can be viewed in the plaza outside of the U.S. Steel Tower on Grant Street.

Students from St. Ursula play Christmas music to open the ceremony.

Archbishop Duncan, Reverend Doctor James Gretz (Roman Catholic Diocese of Pittsburgh) Major Robert Kramer (The Salvation Army), Bishop Thomas Bickerton (Western Pennsylvania Conference, United Methodist Church) and Bishop Dorsey McConnell (Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh).

Archbishop Duncan takes his turn in blessing the CrĂ¨che with holy water.

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Clergy Day On November 25 clergy members gathered to meet with Archbishop Duncan for discussion, mutual encouragement and prayer for each other at Trinity Church, Washington for Clergy Day.

The Rev. Paul Cooper of All Saints (Cranberry) plays piano as clergy members gather for the midday worship service.

The Rev. Ethan Magness and the Rev. Joe Gasbarre.

Clergy members gather and engage in fellowship before the busy day ahead.

Archbishop Duncan enters for Eucharist. Advent / Christmas / Epiphany 2014-15

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Diocesan Calendar January through March 2015 Bishop’s Schedule (as of December 2, 2014) January 2015

4 7 11 13 21 25 29 31

2 Christmas Wednesday 1 Epiphany Tuesday Wednesday 3 Epiphany Thursday Saturday

Holy Innocents, Leechburg St. George’s, Waynesburg All Saints, Rosedale Redeemer, South Hills Mosaic, North Fayette Our Saviour, Glenshaw Advent, Brookline Deacon’s Convocation

February 2015 1 4 Epiphany 5-6 Thurs. – Fri. 8 5 Epiphany 15 Last Epiphany 18 Ash Wednesday 22 1 Lent 25 Wednesday

Christ Our Hope, Natrona Heights TSM Board Meeting COTS, Ambridge St. Elizabeth Anglican Mission, Bridgeville Incarnation, Strip District – 3:30 PM Canterbury Place Good Shepherd, Harrisburg Transfiguration, Clairton

March 2015 1 18 20-27 29 31

2 Lent Wednesday 5 Lent Palm Sunday Holy Tuesday

St. Thomas Church in the Fields, Gibsonia Grace, Slippery Rock – 6 PM Charis 247, Coraopolis District 7: St. John the Baptist Deanery St. Matthew’s, Johnstown Renewal of Vows / TBD

Clergy Gatherings January TBD 1:00-3:00 pm Ligonier Gathering, Bethlen Home 8 8:30-10:30 am Charleroi Gathering, St. Mary’s Church 8 3:00-5:00 pm City Gathering, Diocesan Office 20 8:30-10:30 am Sewickley Gathering, St. Stephen’s Church 20 1:00-3:00 pm Cranberry Gathering, All Saints Church 22 8:30-10:30 am Ambridge Gathering, Trinity Seminary 27 8:30-10:30 am City Gathering, Diocesan Office

February

5 12 12 17 17 19 24

1:00-3:00 pm 8:30-10:30 am 3:00-5:00 pm 8:30-10:30 am 1:00-3:00 pm 8:30-10:30 am 8:30-10:30 am

Ligonier Gathering, Bethlen Home Charleroi Gathering, St. Mary’s Church City Gathering, Diocesan Office Sewickley Gathering, St. Stephen’s Church Cranberry Gathering, All Saints Church Ambridge Gathering, Trinity Seminary City Gathering, Diocesan Office

March

5 12 12 17 17 19 24

1:00-3:00 pm 8:30-10:30 am 3:00-5:00 pm 8:30-10:30 am 1:00-3:00 pm 8:30-10:30 am 8:30-10:30 am

Clergy Milestones n The Rev. Michael Thorne Jarrett transferred out to the Anglican Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others on July 22, 2014.

n The Right Rev. Francis R. Lyons, III transferred out to the Anglican Diocese of the South on September 1, 2014.

n The Rev. Susantha Ranasinghe was licensed on September 1, 2014.

n The Rev. Micah Joel Chisholm was released as a priest of the Diocese to pursue ministry in the Orthodox Church of America on September 18, 2014.

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n The Rev. Peggy Sue Means began serving as Assistant Rector at St. James, Penn Hills on October 12, 2014.

n The Rev. Benjamin Paul Jefferies was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Robert Duncan on November 11, 2014.

n The Rev. Joseph Gasbarre was called as Rector of Somerset Anglican Fellowship as of November 16, 2014 and was ordained to the priesthood on December 14, 2014.

ENCOURAGING WORDS

Extravagant Love By The Rev. Canon Mary Maggard Hays, Canon to the Ordinary

At the retreat, I read the parable (Luke 15:11-32) out loud to the women three times. The first time, I asked them to imagine themselves as the younger son. “Keep in character,” I suggested, “even when the story is about the Father or about the older son. Keep picturing the story from the point of view of the younger son.” After a time of silent reflection, we shared a rich conversation about what we had heard and learned from hearing the parable from the younger son’s perspective. Then I read the parable again. This time we imagined ourselves as the older son. Another time of silence and another profound conversation. “Thank you, God,” I prayed, “this is working.” I wasn’t prepared for what happened next. As so often happens, the material I was presenting to the women at the retreat was material that God was trying to present to me. As we read the parable a third time, this time imagining the father’s point of view, I was literally

bowled over by the painful costliness of the father’s extravagant love. The younger son expects his father to sell off the family property only to spend it

As so often happens, the material I was presenting to the women at the retreat was material that God was trying to present to me.”

recklessly. And the father, with longing love, showers him with a lavish banquet of honor and joy. And the same lavish and costly love is shown to the older son, even when it is meant with accusations of the father’s stinginess and oppression. “I have slaved for you! I have obeyed you! But you haven’t given me anything!” the son charges his father. How painful for the father – to be accused of stinginess and oppression, after loving your son so deeply and showering him son with good things? I heard the pain and the longing in the father’s response to this resentful outrage, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.” The father wanted nothing more than for his son to know that he was beloved. That he belonged. That he was treasured and valued. Everything that the father did was intended to express this costly, extravagant, lavish love. But the son would not receive it.

I respond to His love as if it is oppressive or demanding or stingy! How often am I that older son, who cannot grasp just how much I have been blessed and honored and showered with good things? “You are always with me and all that I have is yours,” God says to me – and to you. It is this costly, extravagant, unreasonable love that we are celebrating – in Advent, at Christmas, and even into Epiphany. The lavish love of the God of Gods, who became a man in order for us to grasp just how deep and high and wide His love is. May all of us be astounded – astounded anew – by such love. n Faithfully,

Nancy Bauer / Shutterstock.com

t the beginning of November, I flew to Nashville to lead a women’s retreat for St. John’s, Franklin, a congregation in our diocese. I had obsessed over my preparation and had brought my trusty folders full of outlines with me. But as I sat on the plane, I heard God whisper: “Do the Prodigal Son.” “But God!” I replied, “I have all this other material with me, and I left Ken Bailey’s book [with all its enlightening information about the parable] at home!” Still, the message was strong; I couldn’t let go of the fact that God wanted me to do this – and to trust him to speak through me, even if I was underprepared.

I was cut to the quick. God is the father who loves me that way. And how often do Advent / Christmas / Epiphany 2014-15

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Diocese of Pittsburgh Welcomes New Director of Communications Hello all,

et me introduce myself to you: my name is Ian Mikrut and I’m the new Director of Communications for the Anglican Diocese of Pittsburgh. Most of you were probably just getting used to my predecessor Jordan Markley, who was called to a full-time position working at Carnegie Mellon University, so I apologize for any new confusion this transition may bring and thank you for your patience. I recently graduated from Grove City College last May, with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications Studies with an English minor, and joined the Diocesan staff in November just after this year’s Convention. As a Pittsburgh native, I’m thrilled to be here working with the Diocesan staff. Thank you everyone for your support and for welcoming me so warmly. I started this position with just a little over a month to produce this new issue. It was a daunting task, but thanks to the efforts of contributors, we were able to make this issue on-time, well made and back on track in

24 | TRINITY Advent / Christmas / Epiphany 2014-15

production as a true quarterly. It is important to get a wide range of voices in any publication, but especially with one like TRINITY. And I believe this issue accomplished that. I’m looking forward to meeting and working with more of you – so that TRINITY can truly be a voice of the whole diocese! Submissions and contributors are always welcome. The same applies to parish events desiring coverage and any photographers out there wishing to share their work. If you have a press or communications related question, feel free to contact me at communications@pitanglican.org or by calling 412.281.6131 x135. Blessings this Holiday, Ian Mikrut