Seek: Voices from the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri 9/1/2016

Seek

September 2016

voices from the

Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

God’s got a mission!

It’s not the mission of the Church. It’s not our personal mission. It’s not the mission of the Diaconate. It is God’s Mission! As we work within that mission, the ‘game’ gets changed when Jesus Christ is at the center of our lives and of our work.

Early on a June morning, deacons Nancy Belcher (serving at St. Alban's, Fulton and St Marks, Portland), Harry Leip (Trinity, Central West End) and Janet Schisser (Calvary, Columbia) drove to Chaska, Minnesota to attend the 2016 Triennial Assembly of the Association of the Episcopal Deacons.

This year’s conference theme was “Diakonia: Engaging God’s Mission” and with over 130 deacons from the U.S. and Canada in attendance, the two and a half days were full of discussion, liturgy, and learning about mission as the participation of the Church in God’s mission and specifically how deacons, through our ministries, help to make this happen.

God’s got a mission. Our vocation as deacons, indeed for all Christians, is to put Jesus at the center. We do what we do because Jesus Christ matters—and for no better reason.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry reminded us that God needs a movement to get God’s mission done—and as we heard repeatedly during the conference, deacons are uniquely called to assist in this wondrous effort.

The Apostles spent time with Jesus— and, like them, when we spend time with Jesus, we become more than we can be otherwise. A prime example is described in the 6 th chapter of Acts. Stephen and six others were selected as deacons to “wait tables.” Not as waiters, but with the task of ensuring equality in Christian community so that everyone is served with love and has enough, no matter their socio-economic status. “Stephen, full of grace and power did great wonders and signs among the people.” (Acts 6: 8) And even when he was being judged through false witnessing, “…all on the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an Angel.” (Acts 6:15) As the Presiding Bishop reminded everyone, we seek justice tinged with mercy.

Evangelism changes the world because it’s the way of life, the way of God. For each “9/11 event”, for every moment of violence like Orlando—we render to no one evil for evil but in fact, we further commit our lives to Jesus, walking in love and compassion, because we believe that in the end, love wins!

On the second day of the conference we heard the keynote from AED’s executive director, Lori Mills-Curran. Her teaching centered on the 6 historic waves of the diaconate (1840s to the present) from Susanne Watson Epting’s book, Unexpected Consequences.

And Lori shared personal triumphs, struggles, and successes from her 30 years of ordained ministry in the diaconate.

She described the missional church as “people of the way” now living in a world which no longer considers Christianity to be normative or even necessary. She explored what a missional church looks like as well as what missional deacons are called to do. Lori also discussed how deacons can strengthen and support each other and continue engaging all people in God’s mission.

By using “insider” church language (language which only church members know and understand) we separate ourselves from our neighbors —especially in our increasingly pluralistic and unchurched neighborhoods.

Lori stated that there are people who do not see distinctions between denominacontinued page 3 ph: 314-231-1220 www.DioceseMo.org Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Offices of the Bishop 1210 Locust St. St. Louis, Missouri 63103

© The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, 1210 Locust St., St. Louis, Missouri 63103 ph: 314-231-1220 web: diocesemo.org

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INSIDE

Got a Mission 1 God's

by Deacons Janet Schisser, Harry

Seen around the diocese...

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Leip, and Nancy Belcher

What is Jubilee Ministry?

by Barbi Click

of A Common Ground 6 Thoughts Gardener by Helen Barnett 7 Refugee Shoe Project Discerning Our Future; 8 School for Ministry Colloquium Deaconess Anne House, 9 Introducing fourth year Hawk 10 The

by Leslie Barnes Scoopmire

Members of Historic All Saints Church in St. Louis sort the bags of shoes, soap, salves in coming from the Refugee Shoe Project (see page 7).

11 Clergy and Congregations God's Goodness 12 Sharing by the Church of St. Michael and St. George

of the most important 14 Some work with young people

St. Mark's Church in Portland had their annual fish fry and cake walk, their best attended, and raised $800 towards the church operating budget. St Mark's cake walk is similar to musical chairs with winners receiving a cake. St. Mark's priest the Rev. Marshall Crossnoe provided the music and an occasional walk for one.

by Loren Lasch

to Mom 15 AbyNote Bill Sanders Diocesan Convention Walkers beckoned 16 Crop

by Pamela Dolan Hurry Back Now 18 You

by Deacons Beth Simpson and Nancy Belcher

News from the ECW 20 Quarterly Board, Diocese of Missouri review: A Faith for the 21 Book Future

Chorister School for St. Paul's, 22 ASikeston your Strategy Diocesan 23 Steer Communications workshop Hard Work of Dismantling 24 The Racism

MAKING DISCIPLES

BUILDING CONGREGATIONS

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God's Got a Mission! tions and label all Churches as a “place of hypocrisy and lies” (especially after the past decade of several high-visibility incidents by other denominations).

Therefore, our task, in each of our communities is to work together and allow everyone to be truth-tellers, especially those who have been hurt by a church or never felt the need for church.

continued

missional relationships where we work together to mutual benefit (I help you and you help me and together we find a way forward).

Bishop Ian Douglas (Connecticut) led a discussion on the need for all of us to tell the Christian stories in our own words to those who have not heard our stories (a personal evangelism). He also shared his understanding of our baptismal As a simple test for mission in covenant as a lens to see our each of our communities, Lori participating in God mission. offered, "To discern how to parWe prayed together and ticipate in God’s mission, look learned together—as deacons around and ask What is happen- serving in numerous ways, in ing in our church neighborhood countless places, participating that is breaking Jesus’ heart.” in God’s mighty mission.

This article team written Simple question—proby the deacons. Personal found and prolific answers. reflections follow.

The good news is that there are resources emerging to help Deacon Nancy Belcher with this work such as comThe conference was meanmunity organizing, asset mapingful to me for several reasons. ping and appreciative inquiry First, excitement: Presiding through the Episcopal Church.

Bishop Curry speaking on being While the three of us had Jesus-centered and what that an opportunity to speak to Lori the evening before her address, looks like. she expressed a bit of hesitation about speaking for a whole hour. After she finished her two-hour talk to thunderous applause from the gathering we all thought, “Why is she stopping? Keep going!”

Two workshop standouts included Bishop Brian Prior (Minnesota) who spoke about the need to step away from a toxic charity mindset (where I give you something so that I feel good) and instead look for

Second, inspiration from the Executive Director of AED about our work toward reconciliation.

Third, "power with." At the session presented by Bishop Ian Douglas we were asked to tell God’s mission in 100 words.

God’s relationship with us is power with rather than power over. Too often we may be doing “power over” ministry, not power with others.

One practical take-away for me was to find the most important points after a conference, then commit to sit and pray with those points over the next month. Too many times we go to meetings and absorb excellent information but get home and forget what we experienced.

Another practical takeaway was why we need a “disaster deacon,” such as Deacon Jerre Birdsong in our diocese, and how Episcopal Relief and Development can help in a disaster. continued page 4

The Association (AED) exists to increase participation and involvement of all baptized persons in Christ's diaconal ministry, especially by promoting and supporting the diaconate.

AED supports deacons in all their varied ministries, provides educational and vocational support and advocates on behalf of the order. The contemporary diaconate with its focus on servant ministry and its charge from the Book of Common prayer to “interpret to the Church the needs, concerns and hopes of the world” began in the late 60s and in 1974 the organization which would become AED was formed as a way to assist in the training of this growing order of deacons (who usually do not attend the traditional three year seminary model).

Additional information about AED, including links to the Presiding Bishop’s opening address and the vigil and rally against gun violence can be found at AED’s website: www. episcopaldeacons.org Find more information on the Episcopal Asset Map at www. diocesemo.org/assetmap and on Episcopal Relief and Development at their website: episcopalrelief.org.

Additional information about the Episcopal Church’s Five Marks of Mission can be found at: www.episcopalchurch.org/ page/five-marks- mission

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God's Got a Mission!

My theological reflection was centered on what it means to be Jesus-centered and how much God loves differences and what that means in our fractured world today.

What can we do to be a reconciling, loving people of the Way of Jesus? Being with so many deacons, all engaged in God’s mission, was inspiring.

I encourage everyone to attend the next AED triennial meeting, clergy or lay, and for all deacons to join AED. You will see the power of God’s mission in action.

Deacon Janet Schisser The Theme “Diakonia: Engaging God’s Mission,” and specifically the words of Presiding Bishop Curry and Deacon Lori Mills-Curran, enlivened and encouraged me. What a powerful preacher PB Curry is.

We have an important role in God’s Mission for the world. It’s not the Church’s mission, nor is it my mission as a Deacon. But, it is God’s Mission, within which I’ve been asked to work. We do what we do because Jesus Christ matters—and it is our, and more specifically my vocation to put Jesus at the center of all we do.

Just by “coincidence” (or is it God-incidence) I was scheduled to preach on Sunday, July 10, on the parable of the Good Samaritan. My reflections from the conference had already given me the message and the words to use, but while preparing to preach I watched the news from Minneapolis, Baton Rouge, and Dallas. I was given words to wrap around God’s desire to change the culture of hate, disrespect, and anger to one of respect and compassion. I preached with boldness—at least more boldness than I use normally!

I returned from Chaska with a new passion for "seeking justice, tinged with mercy," and the guts to more boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus Christ.

Deacon Harry Leip This was a superb conference which MAKING DISCIPLES

allowed us to meet other deacons and to see the prolific kaleidoscope of diaconal ministries. Some of us work in prison ministries, some work with poverty or justice or hunger issues. Some deacons begin new programs which reach out to hundreds of people in need, while some quietly visit hospice rooms and Alzheimer patients who have been forgotten by the rest of the world.

In short, where you find three deacons, you will find three (or more) distinctive and varied ministries—God’s gifts given abundantly to the Church’s deacons for the building up of the Church and her people.

The speakers were passionate, accessible, and informative—from Presiding Bishop’s rallying cry for justice and compassion in a broken world, to Bishop Ian Douglas' conversation about the interrelationship between God’s mission and our Baptismal Covenant. And since the conference took place just a few short days after the Orlando tragedy, it was amazing to see our concluding liturgy at the beautiful St. Mark’s cathedral in downtown Minneapolis followed by a vigil and rally against gun violence.

Liturgy and action—two hallmarks of the diaconate.

The specter of the recent gun violence and murders in Orlando weighed heavily on us and colored many of our conversations

BUILDING CONGREGATIONS

and liturgies. To live in a world of so much bad news continues to affect each of us and we’re often left in paralysis with the question, "What can I do?"

God’s mission asks us to not shy away from this news, not hide in our home trembling with fear.

Instead, God asks us to mobilize our compassionate hearts, to find the lost, to mend what has been broken, with Jesus as our guide—most often in our immediate neighborhood.

To steal from an old phrase, we are called to: think theologically, act locally.

One last note of gratitude. A large portion of the conference expense was paid through the generosity of the clergy of this diocese*. We are exceedingly grateful for the financial support which allowed us to attend while also humbled by the ongoing support for the diaconate here in the Diocese of Missouri. *When MOCA, the Missouri Clergy Association, zeroed out their organizational account they offered a stipend to fund the deacons' participation in the conference. The MOCA email group lives on, details at diocesemo.org/moca.

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What is Jubilee Ministry? by Barbi Click Jubilee Ministry was created by an act of General Convention in 1983 to encourage a ministry of joint discipleship in Christ with poor and oppressed people, “to meet basic human needs and to build a just society. Jubilee Ministries seek to fulfill Christ’s mandate found in the Gospel of Matthew: to provide for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, welcome for the stranger, clothing for the naked, healing for the sick, and companionship for the captive. Today, over 700 ministries across The Episcopal Church have achieved Jubilee status, as recognized by the Executive Council.”

Now under the umbrella of The Episcopal Church's Domestic Poverties Ministries, Jubilee Ministry Centers empower those who are poor and oppressed in their communities by providing direct service, such as food, shelter, and healthcare, while also advocating for human rights.

jubilee; that is how often forgiveness and reconciliation should occur.

Jubilee is not simply a set of verses stuck in the middle of Scripture and ignored because it is a difficult thing to do.

Jubilee must be lived every day. It is a vital part of who we are as the Church.

This diocese is ready to expand its Jubilee Ministry. We are called to feed the hungry but we are also equally called to address the cause of that hunger. The goal of Jubilee Ministry is to know the difference

Jubilee Ministries in the Diocese

What does Jubilee Ministry have to do with this diocese? At this moment, there is one Jubilee Center in this diocese.

Trinity Food Ministry of Trinity Church in the Central West End became a Jubilee Center in 1993.

Charity and justice are both instrumental in alleviating poverty. Assistance must be offered even as we examine and root out the causes of systemic poverty.

Charity without justice can be toxic charity because it is often given for the benefit of the giver rather than for the benefit of the Jubilee as Theology – finding the beauty one being gifted.

Thomas K. Tewell wrote “Root causes in the broken Theologian Walter Brueggemann wrote of injustice usually require questioning the that jubilee is “an invitation to re-choose at institutions and social policies that violate the human dignity of groups of people.” He elemental levels of life, “between life and goes on to write that the changes required death; between God and “mammon” (false will often upset some. Yet, we are bound objects of worship and devotion). by our vows as baptized people “to strive Scripturally, Jubilee is about forgivefor justice and peace among all people, and ness of debt, a way of adjusting the imbalrespect the dignity of every human being.” ance that happens between poverty and Human dignity is violated in every poor and wealth. Every 50 years, every 7 years, every oppressed person. day if one believes that Jesus is the new

and to be ready to work for both to the glory and honor of God. Do you believe your parish or “ecumenical cluster” (Episcopal presence) is doing the ministry of joint discipleship in Christ to work with poor and oppressed people “to meet basic human needs and to build a just society" This past May, Bishop Wayne Smith appointed Barbi Click to serve as Jubilee Officer for the Diocese of Missouri. There have been additional Jubilee projects in this diocese, some ended, some spun-off into nonprofits such as the Howard Park Early Childhood Center begun at St. Martin's.

For more information, contact Barbi Click, bgclick@gmail.com.

from Trinity's Sunday Hot Lunch and Food Pantry Jubilee Ministry, one of the 28 recipients of the 2016 Impact Grant awarded to ministries around The Episcopal Church.

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Thoughts of A Common Ground Gardener Helen Barnett, member of Grace Episcopal Church in Jefferson City, on the garden that connects her to memory This is my second season as a Common Ground Garden volunteer, and I am blessed to have this opportunity. On the days I work in the garden—especially the hot, humid ones—after I finish watering the plants I like to cool off by sitting in the shade on the back steps before heading home. As I contemplate the garden project, my thoughts invariably go to memories of my maternal grandmother and the importance of a garden in her life.

Now my Grandma, Edith, was a self-described "country woman,” born in rural Northeast Missouri, daughter of dirt farmers who as a young woman married a young fellow named Elijah from a nearby farm.

She anticipated sharing a life with 'Lige' on their farm, raising a family and planting a garden—living the kind of country life her parents and grandparents before her lived.

But her life didn’t continue in that direction. Instead, Grandma was suddenly widowed at age 38 and left with four children on a rented farm—just as the Great Depression struck.

Sixty years later, I inherited the small notebook that documented her struggle to pay the rent, to grow a big garden, and to keep the family together.

could be harvested for the dinner table.

As my aunt stated many years later, “If we didn’t raise it, we didn’t eat it.”

Time passed. The children grew up, left home, married, and Grandma moved to town. My dad built her a small house on the two acres he and my mom bought, and Grandma once again had a garden!

This time, the garden wasn’t a survival tool, it was a hobby and a place of enjoyment, a link with a rural past. Located on the property, conveniently just outside Grandma’s back door was the foundation of an old barn, and that was where she could be found on many a spring day, happily shoveling up compost for her garden. My sister and I dreaded the Saturdays that Grandma would call out to us for “just a little help,” and we would walk through the former pasture with a bushel basket, picking up dried cow chips. The garden flourished.

So here I sit on the Common Ground steps, surveying green beans, peppers, Grandma’s garden became a lifetomatoes, onions, cucumbers, potatoes, line that helped sustain my mother and and zucchini—the kinds of plants that my her three siblings. While the older chilgrandmother tended long, long before my dren worked alongside Grandma growing time, and I sense a connection to her. enough crops to feed a few cattle and hogs, I love the miracle that unfolds on Clark the younger children (my mother included) Avenue as seedlings pop through the soil, toiled in the garden—planting, weeding, just as I know my grandma enjoyed her hoeing, and harvesting. Then, preserving plants’ emergence. I like digging in the soil, everything they possibly could, always with the smell of the earth, the scent of lavenan eye to preparing for the upcoming winter der, just as my grandmother did. I appreand with the hope that the garden’s prociate that something I help grow provides duce would last until the next year’s bounty some food for Common Ground neighbors, MAKING DISCIPLES

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although I’m incredibly thankful that no one’s survival depends on my green thumb.

I cherish the moments when I can share some of Grandma’s gardening tips with Common Ground neighbors wanting to develop their own home gardens.

As I start walking to my car, I feel close to God, close to the earth, and close to my grandmother. In fact, I know I heard a whisper, “Helen! You missed a weed!”

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Grace Episcopal Church, Jefferson City, participates in Common Ground Community Building, an ecumenical outreach and educational partnership. Grace parishioners plant and maintain a community garden, putting gardening skills to good use while working toward the Common Ground mission "to love and serve our neighbor."

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Refugee Shoe Project The Companion Diocese Committee sets major goal: collecting 15,000 pairs of shoes and soap Bishop Wayne Smith returned from Kampala, Uganda in May with a report about our companion diocese for the past 10 years, Lui, in South Sudan. He met with Bishop Stephen of Lui and mission partners from Lund, Sweden, and the Vale-Blackmore Deanery of Salisbury. The news was still grim. (Seek, June 2016) Government and rebel forces have met along the major road on which Lui sits.

Fighting, war atrocities, unspeakable horror now lives along this road. Most villages have been burned. People fled to Juba, to the bush, or made their way to a United Nations refugee camp in neighboring Uganda.

The bishops and mission partners visited Kiryandongo camp outside of Kampala. Sosthen, a Lui diocese priest and his wife Veronica, a nurse, have started a large church in the camp. They have named it the Emmanuel Moru Church. At least three priests from Lui diocese are also attached to this church.

As this edition goes to print, more fighting in Juba has sent another wave of refugees from Lui to Kiryandongo camp.

In the camp they are safe from bombing and shooting, but they have very little.

The Moru people are farmers. In the camp they have a small plot of land on which to grow some food, but not enough to grow crops for barter or sale. So finances are tight, there is no market and little extra.

And there is a problem new to the Moru in camp. A sand flea, called a jigger, lives in the ground. It burrows into the bare feet of children and adults, and the nurses who treat them. In a horrific life cycle, it deposits eggs then dies inside the skin. The area bursts, the larvae re-infest the land and skin. To prevent gangrene, the

area has to be cut out, and this is without basic medical supplies. On the Facebook pages of people living in Kiryandongo are heart-wrenching videos of kids enduring this procedure.

And the remedy is so simple, by first world standards. Washing feet with an antibacterial soap and wearing closed toe, closed heel shoes.

Bishop Wayne and the Companion Diocese Committee discussed options. The committee volunteered to try to fill a shipping container with shoes, soap, and salves and get it to Kiryandongo. And do this as quickly as possible.

15,000 Pairs of shoes

When shipping this quantity of goods to a country, the first order of business is procuring tariffs from the destination country for each item. Quick decisions were made limiting the number of items and distributors, locating an international shipping partner, and the items and space needed here to begin the collection.

Large cardboard boxes that fill the metal shipping container (gently used) were located for a great price in Hannibal. Committee members hauled them to All Saints Church on Kingshighway. All Saints has graciously allowed some of their building to be used as a staging area.

And the word was sent out to parishes in this diocese and on social media. Help as you can.

In the original plans it was hoped to get the container on its way by August 20. Outstanding work with customs and product testing agencies is delaying that a bit, but

by how much is not yet known. This project has taken many hands and hearts and surely tried patience. But the need is so great, the solution to this problem so simple.

Gratitude to this diocese

The first week was an outpouring of love from members of this diocese with over 1500 shoes being collected. Parishes are collecting in baskets and many are sending in checks.

As we write this in mid-August we are headed to an in-gathering from the churches, and likely an extension of the shipping date.

How you can help

First, check on the project website at diocesemo.org/shoesproject. You'll see where in the timeline we are.

On that page are detailed instructions for how to procure items (if they are still being collected) and specifically which items are being shipped.

Also, the option for sending money directly to this project are sending a check to diocesan offices, memo line 'shoes project' or donating online at diocesemo.org/donate And, please continue to keep the people and leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of Lu in your prayers. Pray for the work of the companion diocese committee and this project.

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Discerning our future Episcopal School for Ministry proposes to re-start the Program for Congregational Vitality Do you ever ponder the future of the Church? Do you wonder about the future of your congregation? We have heard of the decline of the mainline (in fact, almost all denominations are declining in America) and of the “post-Christendom” church.

While these changes produce an understandable anxiety, as faithful Christians, we remain convinced that God still holds the future of the Church. We have heard it said that the Church does not have a mission in the world; rather God’s mission in Christ has a Church in the world.

If we are true to that mission, God will go with us as we live into new configurations.

Many of us wonder what those new configurations might look like. Many congregations in the Diocese of Missouri are currently facing the realities of this shift in our religious landscape: ebbing attendance,

strained finances, part-time and/or bi-vocational clergy. These are increasingly the new norm. This program will focus on helping congregations identify God’s mission in their changing circumstances, opening themselves to a new future.

The Episcopal School for Ministry proposes to re-start the Program for Congregational Vitality (which went on hiatus after the Spring 2016 term) in January of 2017. We propose to convene interested leadership (clergy and lay) from congregations facing uncertainties and then ‘workshop’ possible directions forward.

We would invite the bishop to address the workshop, and explore with us the core values which could give shape to our common life going forward, and the ministries we share as the Church of God’s mission in Christ. We would also bring in facilitators to help congregations identify their assets and

core ministries. The purpose of the workshop would be to share experiences, refine wisdom gained and begin to discern more clearly the future of our congregations.

If you are interested in such a program, please contact the Rev. Dan Handschy, Dean of the Episcopal School for Ministry at esmdean@diocesemo.org.

Episcopal School for Ministry Colloquium Beginning in January, the Episcopal School for Ministry proposes to convene a colloquium for interested local scholars. The colloquium would research Anglican eucharistic ecclesiologies, or the link between eucharistic theology (concerning presence and sacrifice) and ecclesiology, and the place of both Church and eucharist in soteriology and atonement. A first reading of the history of Anglican eucharistic theologies suggests that ‘lower’ eucharistic theologies (memorialist and/or receptionist) go hand-in- hand with similarly ‘low’ ecclesiologies (the Church as the

MAKING DISCIPLES

number of the elect), while ‘higher’ eucharistic theologies (focusing on the Real Presence and some understanding of a eucharistic sacrifice) link to ‘high’ ecclesiologies in which the institutional Church has a role to play in the economy of salvation.

The colloquium would invite papers on particular Anglican/ Episcopal divines and/or traditions, exploring their eucharistic theologies and ecclesiologies, and setting the divine or tradition against a political and social background.

We hope to edit a volume for publication that would aid Anglican eucharistic theology by elucidating

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the ecclesiological (and political) stakes in the various eucharistic debates in the Anglican traditions.

Some of the non-European branches of the Anglican tradition have begun to recover indigenous understandings of sacrifice and apply them fruitfully to their eucharistic theologies, significantly enriching their experience of eucharistic worship. We believe that the situation of European Anglican eucharistic theologies in their own social and political contexts and ecclesiological debates would bear fruit by bringing to light the stakes in those debates, and provide necessary

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background for any future work of liturgical revision.

The colloquium would meet every other month at Eden Seminary to hear and discuss papers.

Conveners: Marshall Crossnoe Dan Handschy Donna Hawk-Reinhard There is some limited possibility for participation in real time with the colloquium via webstream.

For more information about joining the colloquium please contact ESM Dean Dan Handschy, ESMDean@ diocesemo.org.

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Introducing Deaconess Anne House 4.0

Douglas Hulsether is from Maryville, TN and graduated from Knox College in Galesburg IL. in May. He holds a degree in Classics: Greek and Roman Culture.

"I want to take a year to do meaningful and valuable work in a community while working to discern my call in life. The opportunity to think about the discernment process is especially attractive to me because I am considering multiple career paths. I look forward to living in a community where faith is valued and forms a common vocabulary."

Katie Morse is a resident of Atlanta, GA. She has a degree in Political Science from Belmont University in Nashville, TN. "It is my hope that I can take the love of the Gospels into the world, that I can grow as Christ's follower and see all his children with his eyes. A faith-based service year will be an incredible opportunity to live my faith and grow as one of Christ's followers. My personal spiritual journey has prepared me for this commitment and I feel ready to serve others and share what has been given so freely to me.'

Keep in touch with Deaconess Anne House members this year through their website at esc-stl.org.

(as of August 9)

Jose Marks is continuing on as a second year Corps Member.

Jose hails from St Louis, having studied Information Technology for two years at Sullivan University in Kentucky.

"Team work makes the dream work. It takes a village to raise a child. I'm a firm believer in these assertions, and they ring true with regards to a faithbased community. Individuals are responsible for creating a better environment in which faiths are strengthened. It's a habitat in which love and democracy thrive and everyone's encouraged to love and accept themselves and others. Optimism, fascination, willingness to grow with and grow closer to each other, a smile, and conversation are what I'll gladly bring to the table.

Samantha (Sam) Prescott is a recent graduate of Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts. She hails from Raynham.

Sam majored in social work and sociology for her degree.

"My name is Samantha Prescott and I was born and raised on the South Shore of Massachusetts. I recently graduated from Gordon College where I studied Social Work and Sociology. I am looking forward to my time in St. Louis and anticipate it to be filled with a lot of personal growth. I am excited to be a part of the Deaconess Anne House and to live in community with others while exploring a new place."

You can subscribe to an email newsletter there, too!

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10 The Episcopal Church in the Worldwide Anglican Communion: 80 million Christians around the world, led by the Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury in The Episcopal Church: 2 million Episcopalians in 109 dioceses and three regional areas in 17 nations, led by the Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate. in the Diocese of Missouri: 11,500 members in 41 churches, and campus ministry and Deaconess Anne House (Episcopal Service Corps), led by the Rt. Rev. George Wayne Smith, 10th Bishop of Missouri.

SEEK, September 2016

Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Offices of the Bishop 1210 Locust St. St. Louis, Missouri 63103 Seek is a quarterly publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. Diocesan members may request a complimentary subscription by mail: send address to the Offices of the Bishop attn: Seek Subscription. Seek is also distributed to each congregation in the diocese. Archived editions of Seek are online at diocesemo.org.

Editor: Ms. Beth Felice, Director of Communications Editorial Board: the Rev. Dr. Daniel Handschy, Dean of the Episcopal School for Ministry; the Rev. Edie Bird, rector Christ Church, Cape Girardeau; Mr. Kurt Greenbaum, St. Martin’s Church, Ellisville; Mr. Paul Jokerst, Transfiguration Church, Lake St. Louis; Dr. Carter Whitson, All Saints’ Church, St. Louis; the Rev. Joe Chambers, Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Missouri.

Submissions by post attn: Beth Felice, or online via diocesemo.org/submit.

Deadline: October 7, 2016 for the edition available November 2016.

MAKING DISCIPLES

The Hawk Our softball game was a win by forfeit.

I almost went home. Glad I didn't. We played for fun—and it was.

And then, on the way home, I had an incredible experience. I pulled out onto Lindbergh Boulevard and saw something large and brown lying in one of the southbound lanes.

Then it moved. It was a hawk, lying sprawled on the pavement. It stretched over most of the lane. I was not sure if it was dead, and the movement I saw was simply its feathers being ruffled by the draft off the passing cars.

I pulled over, hoping it was still alive.

There weren't any cars coming, at first. I walked up to it, and it blinked and breathed.

One wing was stretched out on the hot pavement.

A car was headed for us, so I stood in front of the bird and signaled for them to slow down and move over—they did.

From the boot of my car and I pulled out the beach towel I keep there, and walked up to the bird, who seemed stunned. I prayed for several things in quick succession—that he wasn't bleeding, that his wing or beak wasn't broken, that he wouldn't bite me or claw me.

I gently placed the towel over the bird, and pulled the extended wing carefully in, close to his body, and then the other one. I talked to him gently, and asked him to let me help him, and not bite or claw me. I pulled him close to my chest and nestled his head under my chin. I could feel his heart beating against my hand. He just laid there. He was so light for such a big bird. I got into the car, trying to hold him gently but firmly.

Then I realized my keys were lying on the collapsed top and had to get out to get them, still holding the hawk in my arms. I tried to think about how I was going to drive a stick shift with a live hawk on my lap, and decided that I would go to the Sunset Hills

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Police Department (just down the road) and ask for help. I got out again—cars were whizzing around pretty well by now—and got the keys.

He shook his head a little and looked at me. I could feel him flexing his wings in my arms, and I didn't want to hurt him.

There was no traffic on the northbound part of Lindbergh, which I was facing. Suddenly he looked at me again almost saying, "I can do this now," and shook his head a bit more. I loosened my grip thinking that I could just catch him again if I had to, but he pushed off from me so gently, and flew, hesitantly and then stronger, across the street and under and then into the trees.

Two small feathers curled off and landed by my feet.

A lady pulled up behind me a few moments later and said she had seen me holding the hawk. I told her what had happened. My friend Rob also saw me in the middle of the turn lane and came back to make sure I was all right.

It was a beautiful, sacred experience. To hold something that wild and free and have it trust you is an amazing thing.

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Author Leslie Barnes Scoopmire is a postulant for the priesthood in the Diocese of Missouri.

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Clergy and Congregations Transfiguration's Search Committee and the entire vestry worked faithfully for 11 months searching for our new rector, reviewing candidates from throughout The Episcopal Church. This search came to fruition in June after interviewing the candidates and spending many hours in discernment. We believe the Holy Spirit guided and instructed us along this path and know that the entire congregation had us in their prayers.

—Ron Howden, Senior Warden

Congratulations!

The Rev. Steve Lawler and Dr. Lynda Morrison were married on June 22 in Seattle, and celebrated a reception with the people of St. Stephen's Church in Ferguson, where he is rector, the following Sunday.

The Rev. Edie Bird and Mr. Steve EsKate McCormick and Lu-Anne Conner sner were married on August 10 at Christ Transfiguration calls Lu-Anne Conner Church in Cape Girardeau where she is The Vestry of Transfiguration Episcorector. A reception followed. pal Church in Lake St. Louis is very pleased to announce that the Rev. Lu-Anne Conner New Cures has been called as rector.

The Rev. Daniel Appleyard retired as She comes to Transfiguration from Rector of Emmanuel Church in Webster Christ Episcopal Church in Gardiner, Maine Groves in June. While Emmanuel discerns where she served as Transition Priest-intheir next call, the Rev. Doris Westfall will charge. Lu-Anne previously served as rector serve as interim rector beginning in Sepof St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Newcastember. She left as interim as St. Luke's, tle, Maine and as associate rector at St Eliza- where they are still discerning their next beth’s Episcopal Church, Ridgewood, New call for leadership.

Jersey. Her experience has been in both The Very Rev. Mike Kinman resigned large and medium size parishes, expanding as Dean of Christ Church Cathedral to Christian education programs, serving as a answer a call to become the next rector of mentor to young acolytes and confirmands, All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, recruiting and supporting lay leaders, California. His last Sunday at the Cathedral and guiding parishes through challenging was in June. periods of change. Lu-Anne will begin her The Rev. Robert Ard resigned as ministry with us on September 1st.

Priest-in-charge of St. Paul's Episcopal Lu-Anne is married to Kate McCorChurch in Carondelet to answer the call to mick, a retired journalist and active combe rector at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in munity volunteer. Lu-Anne is a native of Tryon, North Carolina. His first Sunday at Boston and Kate grew up in Indianapolis.

Holy Cross was August 7.

The Rev. Catherine Hillquist retired as Rector of St. Paul's Church in Ironton at the end of August.

The Rev. Canon Amy Chambers Cortright resigned as Vicar of Christ Church Cathedral to become Priest-in-charge of St. John's Episcopal Church in the Tower Grove neighborhood of St. Louis. Her first Sunday at St. John's is Sept. 19.

The Rev. N. Shariya Molegoda is resigning from Grace Episcopal Church in Jefferson City to become the rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Madison, Connecticut. Her last Sunday at Grace will be October 30.

Edie Bird and Steve Essner

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

DIOCESEMO.ORG

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” s s e n d o o G s ’ d o “Sharing G

Sharing God’s Goodness

For five days in June, The Church of St. Michael & St. George (Clayton) shepherded 40 middle schoolers through its 10th annual Middle School Mission Week (MSMW). Throughout the week, the missioners and their chaperones combined service, scripture, and fun as they moved through the city and county to explore the meaning of Christ’s call to serve the least among us.

The week began with an “urban adventure” that saw 50 neon-orange “Sharing God’s Goodness” t-shirts riding the MetroLink and MetroBus network to St. John’s Tower Grove, where among other things the missioners learned of St. John’s day-to-day and week-to-week ministry to the poor and homeless in the Tower Grove area. Deacon Kevin made a point of connecting two important dots for the group: much of the produce served at St. John’s weekly Peace Meal comes from the the garden at the Church of the Good Shepherd (Town and Country), where many of the children had worked during MSMW 2015.

As part of the day’s team building activities, a scriptural scavenger hunt through Tower Grove Park ended with a picnic and games before small groups returned to CSMSG by several routes so not to overcrowd the smaller busses on those routes.

On Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, the children spent the mornings out in the community, returning to CSMSG for afternoon Bible study and crafts. The Rev. Melanie Slane (Emmanuel) led this year’s Bible study, which included hands-on activities centered on three icons and related scripture. When not in Bible study, the children cut and tied 20 no-sew fleece blankets as house/apartment warming gifts for residents of Gateway 180 Homelessness Reversed when they transition from the shelter to longterm housing (http://www.gateway180.org/About/).

At the Mary Ryder Home for senior women on Tuesday morning (http://maryryderhome.org), the missioners painted fences and curbs; pruned and weeded shrubs and beds; hauled and spread mulch; moved, washed, and returned 80 dining room chairs; dismantled an expansive window treatment and hardware; helped remove, repair, and reset a (very heavy!) fire door; and collated and folded a stack of newly printed employment applications.

At the St. Louis Area FoodBank on Wednesday morning (http://stlfoodbank.org), they sorted and packed 5,300 pounds of food into 212 boxes, helping to provide 4,300 meals for families in need. And during a visit to Christ Church Cathedral on Thursday, they sorted and packed toiletries for waterproof backpacks for the homeless under the guidance of Kathy Acre, creator of Back@You

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13 (http://backatyou.org/back-at-you-backpacks-for-thehomeless/). Before heading for lunch in City Garden, they were given an engaging and informative tour of the Cathedral by Peter Armstrong (Deaconess Anne House).

During “Friday at the Zoo with Gateway 180!” the missioners and chaperones hosted homeless families for a morning in the Zoo followed by a cookout and games in Forest Park. The week closed with a period of reflection and prayer back at the church.

Planning for Middle School Mission Week 2017 begins in September; for more information, contact the Youth Ministry at The Church of St. Michael & St. George at youth@csmsg.org or (314)721-1502.

From the Church of St. Michael and St. George

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

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Some of the most important work with young people Diocesan Youth Missioner Loren Lasch on Camp Phoenix The theme for Camp Phoenix 2016 was “The Beatitudes: The World Turned Upside Down.”

Right from the start the theme really resonated with me, as my life has been quite topsy-turvy recently! After moving to St. Louis with my family in early June, I began as the Diocesan Youth Missioner on July 18 th.

Just six days later I headed to the DuBois Center in Illinois for Camp Phoenix…a wildly fun introduction to my new role!

I firmly believe that camp ministry is some of the most important work that happens with young people, and I was so glad to get to experience Camp Phoenix right off the bat.

And, let me tell you, Camp Phoenix did not disappoint! What a wonderful week of fun, fellowship, and faith with great campers and a very talented group of counselors and program staff (all gracefully and joyfully guided by volunteer co-coordinators Brenda Butler and Kevin Williams).

The Rev. Mike Angell (Holy Communion, St. Louis) and Jillian Smith (St. Pe-

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ter’s, Ladue) led “Spiritual” throughout the week – hour long sessions where the 86 campers explored the words of the Beatitudes and how Jesus can help us turn the world upside down. The topsyturvy blessings from Jesus helped us to discover the many blessings in our selves, relationships, communities, and world… and how we can be blessings to others!

I am very grateful for the ministry of Camp Phoenix in the lives of the young people in our diocese. While it is just one

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week a year, the lessons, friendships, and faith foundation begun at Camp Phoenix will be a blessing to our campers for years to come!

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Youth Missioner the Rev. Loren Lasch is beginning to visit the parishes of the diocese, mostly on Sundays. You can reach her via email LLasch@diocesemo.org or office phone 314-231-1220 x1383.

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Hi, Mom, Your granddaughter and I are watching the Olympics, and I'm thinking of you.

Remember, you and I always watched the Olympics when I was young, summer and winter. In the summer, you liked gymnastics best and I favored track and field.

We watched Frank Shorter come from nowhere and win the gold medal in the marathon at Munich. We didn't know at the time that we were witnessing the start of the fitness boom in the US. I get to wear this in September. Oh, it would never get confused with the Olympics, there will probably be 50 participants for every spectator and, well, we only get three rings instead of five. But everyone who wears this uniform is just as proud.

We didn't see this coming either.

Made it, Mom! Miss you.

Love, Bill Bill Sanders is a member of Advent Episcopal Church. He'll be competing in the ITU Long Distance Triathlon World Championships, to be held in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma this month. About five years ago, Bill decided to get up off the couch and reclaim his fitness. He blogs his journey at LithiumManTriathlete.com, tagline "one eighth of the way up the periodic table of triathlon."

Nov. 18-19 in Chesterfield: Diocesan Convention The annual meeting of the diocese will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Chesterfield again this year.

Featured presenter will be Canon Liz Easton from the Diocese of Nebraska.

Details as they are available will be on the convention website: diocesemo.org/convention2016.

This year we're electing General Convention deputies and alternates, in addition to members of Standing Committee, Diocesan Council, Cathedral Chapter, and Disciplinary Board. Nominations forms and how to submit a resolution are now online.

Our host parish this year is the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd.

Nominations due Thurs. Sept. 29 Cathedral Chapter Electing 1 clergy & 1 lay member both from within St. Louis City/ County to a 3 yr term.

Diocesan Council Electing 2 lay members for a 3 year term. Council meets 6 times a year, carries out the work of diocesan convention between meetings, and functions as the Corporation of the Diocese.

Disciplinary Board Electing 1 lay member & 2 clergy to a 4 year term.

General Convention Deputation Electing 8 deputies & 8 alternates, in each group 4 lay members & 4 clergy to a 3 year term. The 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church will meet in July 2018 in Austin, TX. Standing Committee Electing 2 clergy & 1 lay member to a 4 year term. SC meets monthly, functions as the council of advice to the Bishop, and is a visioning group for the diocese. They may serve as ecclesiastical authority for the diocese in the absence of a bishop.

diocesemo.org/convention2016 The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

DIOCESEMO.ORG

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Crop Walkers beckoned It’s a beautiful Sunday afternoon in September. The air is crisp and the sunlight golden. You start your walk on the leafy campus of Eden Seminary in Webster Groves. There is no race, no stopwatch, no big crowd at the finish line. What is apparent is a feeling of camaraderie and hope— hope that many people of good will, working together, can make real, powerful, and lasting changes in the lives of people suffering from hunger, poverty, and malnutrition.

This year’s St. Louis Metro CROP Hunger Walk takes place on Sunday, September 25, at Eden Seminary. Registration/check-in begins at 12:30 PM and the step-off is at 1:30 PM. Walkers get to choose between two fairly gentle courses, either one mile or three miles in distance.

Last year the Diocese of Missouri’s Task Force for the Hungry caught wind of this event late in the game and still managed to be one of the most successful teams out there in terms of online fundraising.

This year we plan to do even better.

Who organizes this event and whom does it benefit? The Los Angeles Times called CROP Hunger Walks “the granddaddy of all charity walks.” Begun in 1969, the walks are sponsored by Church World Service (CWS) and organized at the local level.

As is standard with CROP walks nationwide, 75% of the funds will be used internationally and distributed through CWS while 25% stays in the area to be shared by local partners. This year’s committee chose Operation Food Search, Circle of Concern, and Webster-Rock Hill Ministries as local partners to receive those funds. Walkers are also encouraged to bring canned or boxed food items to the CROP Walk.

For more information, head to www. crophungerwalk.org/stlouismo to register MAKING DISCIPLES

by Pamela Dolan

The Mighty CROP Walkers resting up after their 2015 walk. The Task Force for the Hungry team, left to right: Jerre Birdsong, John Dolan, Catherine McGrane, Pamela Dolan, Kate Dolan, Kevin McGrane. (Not in the photo, Leslie Scoopmire.) Team dollars raised: $1155.00, second highest team amount! Funds go to Operation Food Search and Webster-Rockhill Ministries.

for the walk and begin to raise funds online.

That is also the place to go to donate to our team (if you make a donation to an individual on our team, that donation will be included in the team total, or you can just donate to the team generally). Our team is called "HungerTaskForceDioMO" and is easily found on the website. We are also on Facebook at CROP Hunger Walk St. Louis 2016.

Walk. Give. Change the world. It’s really that simple. See you in September!

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The Rev. Dr. Pamela Dolan is the rector of Church of the Good Shepherd in Town and Country, a member of the diocesan Task Force for Hunger, and serves on the organizing committee for this year’s St. Louis-area walk, which is an ecumenical, interfaith, and community-wide effort.

Learn more about hunger issues in our diocese and connect with the task force's page on Facebook, The Hunger Page.

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Join the conversation on social media Diocesan Facebook page Facebook.com/ EpiscopalDioceseOfMissouri Cycle of Prayers is on Twitter.com/DioceseMO News from bishop and parishes Twitter.com/DioMoNews Re-gramming parish and diocesan selfies and mission Instagram.com/MissouriEpiscopal

St Alban's doing great works at the Callaway County Back to School Fair on July 30. We raised $350 with our yummy pancake breakfast on May 7 and donated $336 more for glue. We had such fun giving the glue away to the great children of Callaway County. Over 700 children received school supplies. St. Alban's folk (l. to r.) Sue King,. Sue Slaughter, and Torie Slaughter.

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

DIOCESEMO.ORG

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"You Hurry Back Now" Nursing home ministry in the diocese

Envision what it is like to sit all day without family or friends surrounding you.

You are told when to eat and where. You have little input into your own activities for the day. You are alone and grieving all that you have had to give up—your possessions, neighbors, a familiar routine, perhaps a spouse and a pet.

Now change that image. Imagine a visit from people who have no agenda other than to worship with you, sing with you, and enjoy making a connection with you. People who are happy to see you, who know your name and help you remember happier days.

This is what nursing home ministry looks like from an elderly person’s perspective.

Flip the image one more time and think about that same visit from the perspective of those who show up at the nursing home. You started your day tired and just want to sit on the couch and veg. You drag yourself up and drive to a scary place you’ve never visited before. You imagine you can see your future in the faces of the residents. However, once you start smiling, introducing yourself and engaging in a worship service, an amazing thing happens.

You all see a glimpse into God’s kingdom also known as nursing home ministry.

Deacon Nancy describes her two nursing home ministries

by Deacon Nancy Belcher and Deacon Beth Simpson

the gospel lesson, pray for the community, we pray familiar prayers and sing hymns.

Then it's time for a sing-a-long, led by St. Mark's priest Marshall Crossnoe. Sometimes we've visiting musicians, Ted Koenig and guests. There is such joy in the room from singing that we don’t want to stop. We end with He’s Got the Whole World. It never fails, we are asked to hurry back. We leave having glimpsed God’s kingdom.

The second nursing home ministry is “Godly Play on the Road” for the elderly.

It is held on the second Saturday of each month at Jefferson City Nursing and Rehab with folks from Grace Church in Jefferson City.

We begin with the sing-a-long with musicians, Ted Koenig and Marshall Crossnoe and sometimes additional guests like Terry Allen. Then comes the worship part of the service with the collecting prayer from the previous Sunday.

After prayers, we do a craft project that relates to the Godly Play story one of the members will tell. In the beginning, we played Hymn Title Bingo but the residents seem to enjoy the crafts more.

Godly Play was developed for young children. The faith-at-home website describes it as very simple Bible stories, "with simple props, and offered without interpretation or moral instruction." After a story is presented, the participants and storyteller "wonder together" about the passage.

Our Godly Play storytellers are Sandy Weis, Cathy Libey, and Joseph Figo. We end our time together with the Lord’s Prayer.

The good folks at St. Mark’s Church in Portland, Missouri, have been going to Riverview Nursing Center, in Mokane since February 2014. We visit on the first Sunday of each month. Greetings are exchanged and we re-introduce ourselves. It takes us a bit of time to get everyone in place, which Deacon Beth describes nursing home gives us time to ample time to make sure we ministries meet and greet everyone.

A typical Wednesday finds me heading After introductions, we begin our time east on I-70 by 7:45 AM. I enjoy the 40-mintogether singing Amazing Grace. We read ute commute to Mexico, Missouri, home of MAKING DISCIPLES

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St. Matthew’s Church. It is a low-traffic, lowstress drive that gives me time to prepare for the day ahead.

One Wednesday each month, and one Sunday, I work in the ministry that is the heart of my work in Mexico. I sit with elders in two long-term care communities to read a passage of scripture and offer a reflection on it. We proclaim the Psalm appointed for the day, and I share some of the beautiful prayers in the Book of Common Prayer.

They especially appreciate the Prayers for the Sick on pages 458-461. I recently printed the prayers For Sleep and In the Morning on card stock and gave them to each resident. They comment on the beauty and appropriateness of the prayers, and I am grateful for the riches of the BCP! At one home, we sing favorite old hymns such as In the Garden, Amazing Grace, and How Great Thou Art. I have resurrected my love of playing hymns on the piano—a skill that had been lying dormant and is now serving me well. I have learned that a verse or two is all that is needed.

Even those who have a hard time seeing or remembering can recall a verse or two, and the refrains, of familiar hymns.

I have begun taking my “prayer angel” to both homes, and the residents look forward to our time of sharing joys and concerns and placing them in the angel’s hands. The porcelain figure is kneeling, and her hands are open to receive reminders of prayer needs. I have a card for each resident and when we are together I add their comments and concerns to the cards. When I return home, I return the angel to my study. This practice helps me remember the names of residents and their concerns.

I picture their faces as I pray for them each day.

For fifteen years I served as director of

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19 the Long-term Care Ombudsman Program in Central Missouri. I recruited and trained volunteers who visited nursing homes and we provided advocacy and problem-solving for residents. The work was important and meaningful, but I always felt that spiritual care for residents was lacking, and at long last I have an opportunity to help fill that need.

For three months, I, along with Deacon Janet Schisser and the Rev. Angela Pigg (DOC), will be providing devotionals and spiritual support for residents at two homes in Columbia while

their chaplain is on sabbatical.

It is a privilege to sit with these elders who have lived faith-filled lives and are no longer able to attend their churches. They are grateful, and I am richly blessed to be with them!

naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” People in nursing homes often feel all these things, whether literally or figuratively.

Start this ministry with nothing other than time and a love of people.

What does it take to start a Most of us love to sing nursing home ministry? whether we do it well or not.

It takes wanting to build a This is especially true of older relationship with God’s children people. It is helpful to have a that Jesus talks about in Matthew 25: 35-36, “for I was hungry musician to join you. Songbooks are important to have but many and you gave me food, I was nursing facilities have books to thirsty and you gave me someuse. A fairly inexpensive source thing to drink, I was a stranger of songbooks is ElderSong and you welcomed me, I was

A Christian Conversation on Race & Racism Join us for a public dialogue with local clergy on race, racism and the Church. We will consider both the Church’s complicity and the ways churches have and can work to combat racism and to fulfill Dr. King’s vision of the “Beloved Community.”

Where: Calvary Episcopal Church, Parish Hall

123 S. Ninth, Columbia 65201 When: Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Panel begins 7pm, Refreshments from 6:30pm What: A discussion by local clergy on race, racism and the Christian church Who:

the Rev. Dr. Cassandra Gould, Quinn Chapel AME, Jefferson City; the Rev. Dr. C. W. Dawson, Dawson Journeys Ministry, Columbia; the Rev. Heather Morgan, New Horizons Methodist, Columbia; the Rev. Knute Jacobson, Calvary Episcopal, Columbia. Moderating: Dr. Daive Dunkley, Black Studies, University of Missouri

Publications. Their website is eldersong.com.

If your congregation is thinking about beginning a nursing home ministry, please feel free to contact Beth and Nancy. We are very passionate about engaging in this ministry and would love to help you get started. This is a ministry that only gets better the more visits you make and the stronger you build the relationship with the residents.

Contact Nancy Belcher at nanknitter@gmail.com, and 573-635-1659 and Beth Simpson at andybeth@mchsi.com and 573-239-2875.

And At the Last

An end-of-life planning seminar Where: St. Timothy's Episcopal Church, 808 N. Mason Rd Creve Coeur, 63141 When: Saturday, October 29, 2016, 9 AM to 12 Noon.

Coffee, tea and light pastries provided.

What: A three hour seminar on end-of-life planning, free,

and open to anyone in the greater St Louis area age 18 or above (the age when parents no longer have legal authority in a medical crisis).

Who: Martha C. Brown, CELA, a certified elder law attorney practicing over 25 years in the St. Louis area on

"Important legal Documents for Everyone"

Katherine Ziegler, BSN, MPH, a faith community nurse serving at Emmanuel Church in Webster will lead a discussion of common questions and misperceptions in end-of-life planning.

The Rev. Paul Metzler, DMin, Clergy Associate at St. Tim's will present on "The Gift of a Spiritual/

Ethical Will" Please register in advance with Alice McLaughlin, parish administrator, by calling 314-434-5906 or emailing office.at.saint.tims@ gmail.com. Participants will be sent a pre-seminar questionnaire to complete in advance and bring to the session.

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

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Episcopal Church Women in Missouri Quarterly News from the ECW Board, Diocese of Missouri Diocesan Episcopal Churchwomen Retreat

This April, 46 women from the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri attended the annual meeting and 24-hour retreat planned by the ECW Board.

Located at the lovely Pallottine Center in Florissant, Pamela Dolan served as the spiritual leader for the event.

The retreat was a gift to the women of the diocese from the Board, and the first time that this sort of event was able to be held at no charge to the participant. The Pallottine Center was the perfect spot for the spring event with 86 acres of open land, flowering gardens, a labyrinth to walk, an indoor swimming pool and gym, and home-style meals to tempt any palate.

Pamela broke the spiritual presentations into do-able, interactive segments. Her topic was "From the Wilderness to the Garden" and she managed to incorporate her own experiences with gardens, both at home and at Good Shepherd, the church where she serves as rector.

The women were also given an opportunity to enjoy some quiet time for drawing, reading, coloring, and other similar pursuits. Their reflections mirrored Pamela's presentations as we processed everything we'd heard throughout the day.

Several people posted about this experience on our FaceBook page at MO ECW, and, if possible, please visit that page and follow those posts for additional information, as well as pictures.

Pictures from the retreat: the setting at Pallottine Renewal Center; the Rev. Dr. Pamela Dolan leading the retreat; ECW board members (l. to r.)

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Jo Anne Harris, Ginger Simmons, Kay Fletcher, Marty O'Leary, Jeanne King, Cheryl Ward Gaynor; Worship at the retreat. More photos online: diocesemo.org/Sept2016Seek. You'll also find there a link to the Missouri ECW Facebook account.

Province V Meeting: Mackinac Island, Michigan

May 13-16, 2016 The ECW Diocesan Board traveled to Mackinac Island, Michigan, fresh from their annual meeting and retreat in St. Louis, two weeks earlier. Our diocese is part of Province V, whose president is Karen Birr, a member of St. Barnabas in Florissant. Held at the Grand Hotel on Mackinac, the general meetings, as well as the breakout sessions, were well attended and well received. Our guest speakers were outstanding.

And, of course, the unparalleled scenery and environment fostered a heightened sense of peace and contemplation.

It was a spiritually-nourishing time, and always a wonderful experience, to see and hear what other churches in our province are doing.

We were challenged to think outside the box - at a higher level - regarding what our commitment needs to be towards the women of our own diocese.

The Missouri Diocesan ECW Board, whose Vice President and UTO Director Jeanne King, had spearheaded the collection of backpacks for the schoolchildren of Upper Michigan, responded to this desperate need for school supplies.

It was our chance to "give back," and

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21 the full backpacks were warmly accepted by the Michigan women present, who would ultimately be distributing them.

More good work is always done when we join together. This Province V meeting engendered that momentum and comradery.

Your ECW Board was blessed to have attended, and it has certainly helped to increase our momentum forward.

Annual ECW Board Scholarship

June 1 was the deadline for submission for ECW Board Schol-

arship applications. This deadline does NOT change from year to year.

The scholarship is awarded to a young woman who is at sophomore year of university (or beyond) and who is pursuing a degree or career in one of the service areas. The same individual may apply for more than one year of scholarship aid from the Board.

As a rule, up to two people may receive a scholarship each year. The winners are announced in July and payments are made directly to the university the recipient attends. It is a marvelous opportunity to keep in mind for 2017.

Book review A Faith for the Future

Church’s Teachings for a Changing World, Vol. 3 by the Rev. Jesse Zink Church Publishing Inc., Jan. 2016 The series of which this is a part is the latest version of the Church’s Teachings series, seeking to make Episcopal theology accessible to laypersons, and to encourage discussions within congregations.

Jesse Zink, a priest in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts and director of the Cambridge Center for Christianity Worldwide, takes as his framework for an outline of basic theology, the Nicene Creed, familiar to all Episcopalians from its inclusion in the Eucharist each week.

Zink’s theology is standard orthodoxy, nothing too controversial in the context of today’s church and neither reactionary nor especially progressive. While some might find his use of the traditional “Father, Son, and Holy Spirit” problematic, he explains his adherence due to the limitations of English and problems with alternatives. He does give a nod to current technology, summarizing the Gospel in a tweet—“You are loved with a love

unlike any else, that leads to a life unlike any else— now go, show that love & life to others. #grace #gospel.” The one-word summary is “Grace,” and that “speaks as powerfully to a twenty-first century world as it did to a first-century world.”

He provides a helpful distinction about belief in the Bible. We say it “contains all things necessary to salvation.” That doesn’t mean it’s all necessary for salvation. We don’t have to try to reconcile all the disparate elements of it to understand it. The affirmation means, he says, that “Episcopalians can tell a complete story about the workings of God and its relation to our lives based on Scripture.” And he notes that the liturgy, more than the catechism, expresses our belief in action. So the Creed is a part of that. In a book of this length (only

ECW BOARD

We are always open to meeting the women of our diocese! To that end, we have just completed filling two positions on the ECW Board, and we continue to book Saturday/Sunday trips to visit the churches in our diocese who have ECW groups. Remember: ALL women are considered to be ECW members, so that means trips to every church! We have put together an interactive curriculum to help any group that may be wanting to consider taking a new direction for their ECW or reinvent the group in an attempt to reach more wom88 pages) he does not have room to go into the controversies that shaped it.

That’s not his purpose. Exploring the meaning of what the Creed we have, is.

The main theology of the book, expressed in the chapters on the Old Testament and Jesus of Nazareth, is God’s shalom and hesed, translated from Hebrew as “wholeness” and “steadfast love,” respectively.

Salvation is summed up in those two Hebrew words. A key verse is Micah 6:8—“What does the Lord require, but to do justice and love hesed.” In speaking of Jesus and the New Testament, there are no Greek equivalents to these Hebrew words; but he takes Agape, one of the Greek words for “love,” and Jesus’ summary of the law, as the continuation of the same concepts.

The book is roughly outlined according to the articles of the Creed. A helpful feature is that key words and doctrines are in boldface type, making it easy to leaf through and stop at a particular point to see, for example, what does he mean by “Atonement,” or what does the term “catholic” mean ?

The book is meant to be used for group discussions, and so

en in their church. We will come and spend time with you over that mutually-chosen weekend and help guide you through that process or simply visit your church so we can get to know you better! Please go

to our FaceBook page and leave us a message stating your interest! We are here to serve God and the women of the Diocese of Missouri.

Peace and love, Cheryl Ward Gaynor, President of the Episcopal Church Women Board, Diocese of Missouri

questions are provided at the end of each chapter. All the basics are here, with some suggestions on how they might have relevance in today’s world. It is simple enough that people who haven’t done much study of Scripture or the church ought to be able to engage with it, but rich enough that those who have a lot of such background will not be bored with it.

No basic theology for Episcopalians would be complete without a chapter on the eucharist, so that is included, even though the eucharist is not part of the Creed.

There is also a chapter on mission, or “sending,” since it is essential, in some form, to the “faith for the future.”

Where there is any looking to the past in this book, it’s not to nostalgia for “our church as it used to be,” but to interpreting the stories of Scripture for today. Highly recommended for Christian Education discussions in our parishes.

Reviewer Richard Byrne, M.Div., is an alumnus of the Episcopal School for Ministry in the Diocese of Missouri, who writes occasionally on Biblical studies and other subjects, and who currently attends and participates in the music program at St. Paul's Church, Carondelet.

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

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A Chorister School for St. Paul's in Sikeston "All the pieces just fit together," said Abe Leach, organist and choir director at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Sikeston.

Abe and his wife Ana taught in the Sikeston school district for seven years before taking a year to teach in St. Louis. That year helped them discern that Sikeston was really 'home' and they returned to teaching, Ana in the High School's biology department and Abe is vocal instructor and choir director in High and Middle School.

The St. Paul's position was open when they returned and he was a good fit.

In Abe's musical studies, one defining year was when he studied at Oxford and steeped in the English choral tradition.

He recounts the excitement of writing a paper on the Sarum Rite then singing with the visiting Oxford choir in the Salisbury Cathedral.

So he brought this idea for a chorister school to some members who then took it to the vestry of the church, who shared his enthusiasm.

"A number of students in this area don't have a lot of cultural opportunities, don't have that many venues to sing." The school will provide basic music theory and sight singing training in addition to choral singing. They will use material from the RSCM (Royal School of Church Music) curriculum. "It's a very good training system for children that focuses on the singing an musical aspects important to me as a choir director." He hopes the school will be a place to foster that love of music in children who may not have the opportunities in their school or church or home.

The chorister program will offer classes for boys and girls grades 2 through 12. There will be three classes elementary, intermediate, and High School. Each level will meet once a week at the church for group lessons on singing and reading music.

Students will also have the opportunity to add private piano or voice lessons.

MAKING DISCIPLES

The program will begin at 3:00pm with a time for tutoring, help with homework, and a healthy snack. From 4:30 to 6pm the choristers will be working on becoming better singers and music readers.

The choristers will participate once a month in worship at St. Paul's. The school is open to those from any faith group or none at all.

Members of St. Paul's (retired educators) are helping with the mentoring part of the program and providing snacks.

There will be two semesters, from Sept. through Dec. and Feb. through May. Basic semester tuition is $200 with discounts for St. Paul's members and families with more than one child participating.

Scholarships will be available.

Another learning from his year in England was how important it is for the church musician to be worshipful. "I take time before I play the prelude, to make sure I'm in a right mind and spirit." He was an assistant conductor at St. Giles in that year, and watched the choir gather with the priest to pray before each service, then again after the dismissal at the end of service. He hopes to share this practice with the St. Paul's choristers. "Sometimes as directors, we get focused on the music and forget the choir has to prayerfully prepare, as well."

Abe is excited about the enthusiasm of the congregation for this program, and also notes the Sikeston school district is quite supportive of this type of endeavor.

The chorister school will begin the second week of September and their informational meeting is planned for August 24.

Abe grew up going first to an Episcopal Church and then to a Congregational Church. He recalls a moment from childhood in that church, with its 65 foot ceilings, the sanctuary painted all white with great big clear windows. Abe was praying after communion on a dark and rainy day and

BUILDING CONGREGATIONS

he heard the organist playing something that seemed uncharacteristically bright, happy and joyful. "Near the end of communion, the sun came out, and I remember this feeling of pure joy." It made an impression on him—how the music interacted with, led and followed the liturgy. "Music is more than notes on a page, it is part of the spiritual experience."

FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD

St. Paul's asks for your prayers as they establish this chorister school. They're also looking for a good quality upright piano to be used in the school and worship.

23

Steer your Strategy

Sharing the story of your church in good times and bad Every year in early October the diocese offers a workshop on some aspect of communications, for whomever is involved with telling the story of your parish in the world.

We've talked about social media and copyright, writing and pitching story to media. And often the best conversations we have center on that shared experience communicating a real church situation or event.

So this year, let's get directly to that zone!

Morning and afternoon we'll work on real church stories and events (most from this diocese) and strategize a communications plan. There is room in this conversa-

tion for the seasoned pro, those just tasked with this responsibility, and everyone in between Our presenters and facilitators are Kurt Greenbaum and Daniela Velázquez.

They'll offer a high energy introduction to each session to get our brains working, and help tie up the loose ends as we review the communications plans we come up with.

Bring your creativity and questions.

This is an interactive workshop, so we'll limit the number of participants to 25 to insure an optimum experience for attendees.

• Annual Diocesan Communications Conference • Saturday, October 1, 2016 • 9 AM to 3 PM • at Advent Episcopal Church, 9373 Garber Rd., Crestwood 63126 • Workshop offered at no cost • RSVP required by Tues., Sept. 27 (limited to 25 participants) • Box lunch available for $10, see RSVP • Details and RSVP online at diocesemo.org/CommConf

Kurt Greenbaum is communications director for The Consortium for Graduate Study in Management, a nonprofit alliance of top-tier MBA programs and corporate partners working to increase diversity in corporate leadership and business education.

He has extensive background in print and online journalism, previously working as online news director for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and regional editor for Patch.com.

As principal for Greentree MediaWorks, he consults with organizations to develop and execute media strategy.

He is a member of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Ellisville, where he sings in the choir and has served on the vestry, a rector search committee, and strategic planning committees. Kurt also serves on the editorial board of the diocese.

Daniela Velázquez is a public relations and strategic communications expert and a former journalist. She has helped both corporations and nonprofits with media relations, audience strategy, and content creation.

Since returning to her hometown of St. Louis, she has worked for the ACLU of Missouri, the Ferguson Commission, St. Louis Mosaic Project and Missouri Immigrant and Refugee Advocates. In 2015, she was also part of a team that evaluated the National Minority Consortia for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

Daniela is a member of the Regional Business Council’s YPN Leadership 100, currently serves as Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of the Hispanic Leaders Group of Greater St. Louis, is a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan St. Louis and a member of the Asian American Chamber of Commerce.

She honed her multimedia storytelling skills covering news in the often headline-making state of Florida. She worked as an online news producer for Tampa Bay Online (TBO.com) and reported and wrote feature and general assignment stories for The Tampa Tribune and NBC-affiliate WFLA-TV/News Channel 8. She also covered the public safety beat for the Tallahassee Democrat.

The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri

DIOCESEMO.ORG

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The hard work of dismantling racism Anytown Youth Leadership Institute graduate Alexia Dukes describes the week's work exploring discrimination Anytown Youth Leadership Institute is an eight-day, full immersion, residential experience to prepare youth to be leaders for social justice in their schools and communities.

Scholarships for attendees are available from the diocesan Dismantling Racism Commission. Alexia Dukes, a member of All Saints and active in the work of dismantling racism, was awarded one of these scholarships and attended this summer's institute.

It was hard work.

are asked to work through the exercise and then talk about their feelings about what happened.

"After the hunger exercise we talked in dialogue groups. I had not thought about what some people go through just to get food. I'm used to the safety and comfort of my home and family and plenty of food."

There were a lot of tears, some anger, some sadness in the group as they were confronted with the feeling of unjust inequality.

After such an intense common experience on day one, the group bonded even Days had subjects—the first day more. "We felt we could talk to one another, was focused on race, the second on optrust one another—it felt like a family." pression—with theory, discussion, and Throughout the institute the comexperiential exercises, followed by more position of the small groups changed, so conversation to unpack the emotion of the the youth could see and experience the day. Institute participants would rotate challenges of feeling oppressed in a certain taking on the role of the privileged or the context, even if it was a context of privilege oppressed in the exercises. for them.

On the first day, Alexia was in the The day on sexuality and personal oppressed group during a mealtime. No pronouns was challenging. It began with one knew ahead of time what the 'guest participants creating a poster with what lists' meant, they assumed a meal together pronouns they used (she/her, he/him, they/ of some kind. But assignments were made them). Remembering all the pronoun sets to one of three groups: a group who had a was difficult and frustrating. But hearing bounty of food, a group to an area where from other participants who chose non-bithere was trash all around, or a group where nary pronouns about how important that there were only empty plates. Alexia was in felt to them, made a real impression. the group with trash.

"The world is changing," said Alexia, The groups thought they were waiting and she could imagine having this discusfor food to arrive but learned they needed to sion at her school. either get food from people with food or "go During the racism work one exercise to jail"—and when they returned from 'jail', was called the "race line." Everyone starts they returned to the same spot. in a line and links hands. Those groups of It was jarring for her, having to fight privilege move forward one step at certain over food, something completely outside questions, others move back at certain of her experience. But during these emoquestions. Not everyone is privileged in all tionally charged exercises, participants questions so hands are still linked—until that moment that the chasm of privilege MAKING DISCIPLES

BUILDING CONGREGATIONS

is simply too great. Alexia noted that it revealed areas of privilege that some dominant culture participants had never noticed.

During their immersion, they don't receive news of the outside world, and Alexia said, "There is a lot you can miss in a week."

But she would like to go back as a facilitator in a future year. "I'd recommend this institute for any sophomore, junior, or senior— from those involved in social justice work to those just beginning the conversation."

FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD

Participants at the Anytown Youth Leadership Institute have the opportunity to explore topics of discrimination through experiential exercises and group dialogue, while making close friends from across the state and St. Louis region. Students leave Anytown as young people dedicated to creating a society based on inclusion, trust, and mutual respect. —NCCJ St. Louis