July 2019 Connections

Connections read • share • inspire July 2019

Issue 4 Vol. 6

THE DEEP WORK OF REST

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Icon of "Harrrowing of Hell - Descensus Christi and inferno (latin)" on the iconostas in church Chiesa di San Giorgio in Reggio Emilia.

Sabbath, or Shabbat in Hebrew, is the seventh day of the week, our Saturday. Sometimes we call Sunday the sabbath, but that overturns an ancient tradition preserved in our Prayer Book. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the last day of the week is holy because, according to Genesis 1, on it God rested from the work of creation. So, in order to acknowledge and honor all that God has given us in creation, we too are called to rest from our work.

That is almost impossible on our hectic Saturdays, but it is important to remember that, for the first Christians, Sunday was especially holy because it was on the first day of the week that Jesus rose from the dead. He rested in the tomb on the sabbath and inaugurated a new age of justice and mercy on the first Easter Sunday. What that means is that for the ancient church, Sunday was just the opposite of a day of rest. It was a day of renewed action as followers of our crucified and risen Lord. That is why our worship on Sunday is never a retreat from the world, but an engagement with it. We come together to offer ourselves as a body to God, to be God’s instrument in the world. (For a sense of how our tradition reflects the movement from cross through sabbath to resurrection and mission, take a look at the weekly prayers for Friday, Saturday and Sunday in the Book of Common Prayer, pages 98-99.)

I have Sabbath on my mind, not only because it is the theme of this edition of Connections, but because I recently returned from a three-month sabbatical. The word “sabbatical” is obviously derived from the word “sabbath.”

Historically, a sabbatical was a period of time granted to members of academic faculties to devote themselves more fully to scholarly research than they could while fulfilling their normal teaching and administrative duties. That may not sound like much of a rest! But as a former academic I can tell you that the gift of time to think and write feels like a rest — not just because, as the British say, “a change is a rest,” but because devoting oneself to a deeper understanding of one’s chosen field of knowledge is in itself life-giving, and ultimately enriches one’s teaching and one’s contribution to the health of one’s academic institution.

This casts a new light on the meaning of sabbath in the academy, and, in turn, on the meaning of rest itself. Rest is not the opposite of work. It is taking the time to engage again with the deeper work that undergirds what we do day-to-day. I am sure this understanding of sabbath rest was shaped in part by the Christian doctrine of Christ’s descent to the dead, enshrined in the Apostles’ Creed (Book of Common Prayer, p. 96 and elsewhere), and based on 1 Peter 3:18. On the sabbath following his death on the cross, Christ’s body was indeed resting in the tomb, but his soul

was passionately dragging the dead into new life. This is precisely what is depicted in the classical icon of Easter.

Anticipating his bursting forth from the grave, Jesus is pictured wasting no time offering hope and spiritual rescue to those who have been imprisoned by death. This is work, but work at the deepest possible level. And such work is rest, because it returns us to ourselves.

I’ve been reflecting so far on the meaning of sabbatical in the academic realm. Let’s consider what it means in the life of our clergy, whom we urge to take a sabbatical from time to time. In borrowing the term “sabbatical,” the church is urging its deacons, priests and bishops to put aside their regular work for a while and go deep — indeed, to go deeper than they can in a few days of retreat.

This descent can take many forms. As I developed my plans for my late January to Holy Week sabbatical this year, I wanted to focus on three things: (1) writing poetry; (2) researching American philosopher Josiah Royce (1855-1916), who first developed the concept of Beloved Community, and (3) walking in New York City, where we had lived in the Nineties. (This last goal was made possible by the generosity of the Diocese of New York, which offered Margaret and me an apartment on the grounds of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.) As it turned out, I was most successful in doing the walking, since, as many of you know, my father died unexpectedly right at the beginning of the sabbatical. He was 96, but none of us was really prepared for this. So, to make a long story short, the tone of our time in New York changed appreciably. I found creative writing difficult, and academic research still more so.

But I was forced to do what I might not have done had I been back at the office in Cincinnati and doing the normal round of Sunday visitations around the diocese. I reflected a lot on my relationship with my parents, and how my childhood and youth continue to shape my discipleship as an adult. I saw how much my life has been intersected by Christ, whose hand has always been outstretched to me, as in the icon of Easter. That was the deep work God assigned me. I don’t disregard how privileged I am in being given the time to do this work. My prayer for all of us is that we will find such time, however it is given.

The Rt. Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal serves as Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Ohio. Connect with him at tbreidenthal@diosohio.org.

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Saying no to the culture of now

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My grandparents didn't eat at restaurants or buy things at stores on Sundays. Sunday was a day of rest and you shouldn't ask anyone to work, although it didn't seem to matter that my grandmother worked very hard cooking Sunday dinner for everyone. Their theology changed after they retired and started spending winters in Florida. In Florida, it became a matter of rushing out of church in time to beat the Baptists to the all you can eat buffet; where one of the big draws was a sign on the wall that said, “no tipping allowed.”

Growing up in an evangelic tradition, Sunday was the Sabbath, and that meant going to church. Twice. Once in the morning and once in the evening, not to mention Sunday School before church, Wednesday night prayer meeting and Thursday night youth group. Beyond going to church, I didn't really think much about Sabbath.

Even after I left the evangelic tradition and became an Episcopalian, I didn't really give Sabbath much thought, until the renowned Old Testament scholar Walter Brueggemann walked into St. Timothy's. Luckily, after visiting one Sunday, he decided to stay. He became a faithful member of the congregation, presenting lecture series a couple of times each year and preaching occasionally.

It was during this time that I started to see Sabbath as resistance. Or, as the subtitle to Dr. Brueggemann’s book Sabbath as Resistance puts it, "Say(ing) No to the Culture of Now." It is about saying no to our 24/7 society of consumption.

Perhaps our entire being is out of alignment. We go, go, go.

We stare at screens constantly. While staring at one screen, we are often also staring at another. How often do you find yourself reading something on your phone while you are watching TV?

Come on, be honest. When the person we’re dining with gets up to use the restroom, we whip out our phone to check our email, text, look at stock prices, or read Reddit. You name it.

If Elijah had a cell phone, I wonder if he would have heard God's whisper or if he would have missed it because he was too busy Tweeting about the wind, earthquake, and the fire?

Sabbath is a huge issue with Dr. Brueggemann. In fact, he sees it almost as a fulcrum between the first and the second segments of the Ten Commandments. The first three commandments are about our relationship with God. The last six commandments are about our relationship with each other.

Sandwiched in between them is the Sabbath. Does Sabbath become a time of renewal and realignment that helps give us perspective on our relationship with God and each other?

Perhaps the Sabbath is what unites us.

If Sabbath does tie our relationship with God and our relationship with each other together, then it starts to seem massively important. Perhaps there is so much anger in the world because very few of us take Sabbath seriously. We are out of balance with ourselves, which means we are out of balance with God and with each other.

I wonder what would happen if we all suddenly said "No to the Culture of Now." David Dreisbach serves as Director of Communications for the Diocese of Southern Ohio. Connect with him at ddreisbach@diosohio. org.

RETREATS SUCCESSFUL PRACTICE OF SABBATH

Of the seven practices of the Way of Love – Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, Rest and Turn – the one that I am really lousy at is rest. As a matter of fact, I’m writing this article while I’m at the beach, on sabbatical after seven years of ordained diaconal ministry. See what I mean? I’m flunking Sabbath.

I know that it is good for me to rest on a regular basis, to allow time for reflection, rejuvenation, and restoration. I know that rest strengthens all of my relationships with my family, friends and God. One of the ways that I have been successful at rest is by going on silent directed retreats. I have done four of them in the past seven years, and I have found them to be my most effective attempt at rest.

I have participated in the six-day silent directed retreats sponsored by the Wellstreams Program, run by the Spirituality Network in Columbus. They have been held at beautiful retreat centers around Ohio, in peaceful natural settings. The retreat begins with an opening session on Sunday evening and ends with a closing session that has been on Saturday afternoon in the past but will be on Sunday going forward.

Other than those two meetings, we are silent throughout the retreat, including during meals. The exception is that we meet individually with an assigned spiritual director for one hour each day. This helps me to process what I am experiencing. As they say, God is the director, and the spiritual director helps us hear him. We are encouraged to listen to God, to be aware of God’s movement in our lives. As we lean into the silence, we listen for God to speak his deepest desire for us.

I spend most of my time in prayer, both formally by praying all four parts of the Daily Office each day, and informally through being in nature and conversing with God constantly.

I walk a lot, and swim and bicycle if possible. I journal my thoughts and feelings throughout the week, so that I am able to revisit them later. There is usually a prayer session on Wednesday evening and it is a welcome way to break the silence just a tiny bit. I feel a strong sense of community during the retreat even though we are silent.

I spend most of my waking hours outdoors, either moving or sitting. The grounds of the retreat centers are lovely – truly holy places. I see God’s light everywhere: in the sun, the moon,

Labyrith at Our Lady of the Pines Retreat Center the stars, the fireflies, on spider webs and reflected in drops of rain. The prayers, poems, music and scripture passages that the spiritual directors use to guide me are just right.

The retreats renew my relationship with God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I come away reenergized to strike a balance between work and prayer, and between what I call “Doing Meribah” and “Being Meribah.” I find intentional time with God in retreat to be critical to maintaining my energy for ministry. I feel loved by God. I hear him say that his deepest desire for me is to be happy and joyful, to be balanced, to have peace, and to feel his divine light within me even in darkness.

I return to my routine life inspired to be God’s light shining in the world, and grateful for my time away with God. The next Wellstreams seven-day silent directed retreat will be held at Our Lady of the Pines in Fremont, Ohio, from August 25 until September 1. Check out the details on the Spirituality Network’s website, www.spiritualitynetwork.org.

The Rev. Meribah Mansfield is a deacon who is currently on sabbatical and plans to return to work on the diocese’s Becoming Beloved Community initiative this fall.

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REFLECTIONS ON REST The Way of Love Bible Challenge, a new release published by Forward Movement, features 50 days of Bible readings and reflections that highlight the seven core spiritual practices of the Way of Love: Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go and Rest.

The following meditations are two excerpts from the “Rest” section of this inspirational new resource.

DAY 5

If you refrain from trampling the sabbath, from pursuing your own interests on my holy day; if you call the sabbath a delight and the holy day of the Lord honorable; if you honor it, not going your own ways, serving your own interests, or pursuing your own affairs; then you shall take delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride upon the heights of the earth; I will feed you with the heritage of your ancestor Jacob, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Isaiah 58:13-14 The Way of Love practice that I have the hardest time following is rest. I’m not talking about the rest of taking a nap or binge-watching my favorite show, but the true, restorative rest that God demands we offer one day a week, where we devote time to spiritual pursuits. Laundry, I guarantee you, is not a spiritual pursuit, no matter how you try to dress it up.

Remembering the sabbath is the fourth commandment – and the only commandment that I believe we break consistently and with pride.

Our culture is in a place where we honor busyness. We celebrate our overcommitted schedules, our burgeoning calendars, our inability to get everything done. We pack ourselves tight along with our children and our parents and call it a life well lived. Following the Way of Love reminds us that there is a different path we can take. Isaiah makes clear what happens when we follow our own interests and pursue our own affairs: We trample the sabbath, and we do not honor God with our actions.

With my feet firmly planted in midlife, with aging children on one side and aging and dying parents on the other, I need to acknowledge that rest is what God demands of me – of all of us – and what we must demand of ourselves. No matter how significant our work, no matter how important our child’s dance practice, no matter how serious our parent’s doctor’s visit, we must restore our hearts and minds so that we can live fully into a God-filled existence.

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A conversation with Cherie Bridges Patrick and Amy Howton

When we genuinely rest, we do as God does. When we rest, we give ourselves time to follow all of the other practices of the Way of Love. As these are daily practices, we should allocate some time every day for restoration. On our sabbath day, we should aspire to give the entire day to God. As long as we’re doing something as radical as following Jesus, why not go even further and do whatever it takes to have a holy sabbath?

Miriam Willard McKenney Development Director Forward Movement Cincinnati, Ohio

DAY 7

Therefore, while the promise of entering his rest is still open, let us take care that none of you should seem to have failed to reach it. For indeed the good news came to us just as to them; but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened. For we who have believed enter that rest, just as God has said, “As in my anger I swore, ‘They shall not enter my rest,’” though his works were finished at the foundation of the world. For in one place it speaks about the seventh day as follows, “And God rested on the seventh day from all his works.”

And again in this place it says, “They shall not enter my rest.” Since therefore it remains open for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience, again he sets a certain day – “today” – saying through David much later, in the words already quoted, “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts.” For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not speak later about another day. So then, a sabbath rest still remains for the people of God; for those who enter God’s rest also cease from their labors as God did from his. Let us therefore make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one may fall through such disobedience as theirs.

Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And before him no creature is hidden, but all are naked and laid bare to the eyes of the one to whom we must render an account. Since, then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is

unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who in every respect has been tested as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Hebrews 4:1-16 A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute. Many factors can influence heart rate, including age, fitness, emotions, medications, and more.

But what about a “resting soul rate?” What would that look like? What if we could measure our souls’ rest?

Medical science tells us that our bodies need rest in order to thrive, and this passage from Hebrews tells us that to thrive in the Christian life, we need rest—and not physical rest but soul rest, God’s rest.

So, how does God rest? According to Genesis 2, God looks back at what has been done, calls it good, blesses the work, and then pauses for restoration, ceasing from all productivity.

Noticing. Appreciating. Blessing. Pausing. Restorating.

Savoring. These are the markers of what God’s rest looks like.

Are they the markers of our practice of rest? If not, what are the consequences?

When I am bone tired, in body and soul, I am less likely to have the margin to notice the beauty around me. When I am frazzled and worn down, what are the chances I will be able to see all that I have accomplished over the week and call it good instead of what I usually call it: not enough?

Like sleep-deprived toddlers unable to choose between chicken nuggets and a grilled cheese sandwich, when our bodies and our souls are not rested, we are often reduced to our leasthealthy selves. We are more likely to be snappy, impatient, ungrateful, and unwelcoming.

We are disobedient to the commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves, disobedient to the charges to be patient, generous, long-suffering, forgiving, and humble.

My prayer is that we can begin to see rest as an act of obedience instead of weakness, that we will make time to practice noticing, appreciating, blessing, pausing, restoring, and savoring so that we might live healthy lives as Christ followers.

Jerusalem Greer Staff Officer for Evangelism The Episcopal Church Greenbrier, Arkansas

Excerpts from The Way of Love Bible Challenge, published by Forward Movement. Visit www.forwardmovement.org to learn more.

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DEVELOPING A SABBATH PRACTICE

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Living Well: Christian Practices for Everyday Life presents twelve essential practices for a Christian way of life: Caring for the Body, Celebrating Life, Discernment, Dying Well, Eating Well, Forgiving, Keeping Sabbath, Managing Household Life, Participating in Community, Praying, Reading the Bible, and Transforming the World. Written for adults, parents, and families to use in learning about and living Christian practices, each chapter presents the Biblical foundation of the Christian practice and a variety of practical suggestions for living the practice and how to make it an integral part of everyday life.

The following is an excerpt from the chapter titled, "Keeping Sabbath."

Reprinted with permission from LifelongFaith Associates (www.lifelongfaith.com)

Sabbath is God’s way of saying, “Stop. Notice your limits.

Don’t burn out.” It is a day God gives us to remember who and what work is for, as well as what matters most. Sunday generously hands us hours to look into the eyes of those we love. We have time for loving and being loved. (Adele Ahlberg Calhoun, Spiritual Disciplines Handbook) You don’t have to change your whole life – yet. Plan for one Sabbath at home to start. Put the date on the calendar and pray that God will help you to honor this Sabbath and keep it holy.

Consider what preparations and planning are necessary for making sure that you set aside all types of work and worry on this day. Gather your family or household together to discuss how to arrange your Sabbath for refreshment, renewal, and relationships. Select one or more of the following questions for reflection.

• How do you mark the Sabbath in your home today? In what ways are your practices like those in your home while growing up? In what ways is it different?

• In your home and in your life, what are the obstacles standing in the way of taking at least one day of rest each week?

• What, if anything, would you like to change in the way you celebrate Sabbath?

• Do you see Sunday as the best day for keeping Sabbath?

Or do you need to keep Sabbath on a different day of the week?

• What can you learn from the Jewish observance of Sabbath?

1. Saying “No”: What to Exclude You can begin shaping your Sabbath practice by deciding what should be excluded from this day and what should be included. There are three categories of things that we do well to exclude from our Sabbath. (The following ideas were developed from Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton.)

Work: What constitutes work for us? We must commit ourselves to not doing these things on the Sabbath. We need to identify the challenge and temptations related to our work and establish clear boundaries to protect Sabbath time.

How can you say “No” to work on the Sabbath?

Buying and selling: If we are out buying, selling and engaging in the world of commerce, it means someone has to work and we are contributing to it. It feeds our consumerism, an aspect of life in our culture that needs rest on the Sabbath.

How can you say “No” to buying and selling on the Sabbath?

Worry: The Sabbath is an invitation to rest emotionally and mentally from things that cause worry and stress, such as budgets, major decisions, and planning the week ahead. If

we observe Sabbath on Sunday, perhaps Sunday evening after dinner is a time when, from a place of rest, we can engage in some of the decision-making that needs to be done.

How can you say “No” to worry on the Sabbath?

Suggestion: Prepare a “Sabbath box” or “Sabbath basket.” Each Saturday evening, put all the things you don’t need in order to observe the Sabbath into the box or basket. This might include cell phones, credit cards, pagers, and so on. Put work projects and homework in the box, as well; you can take them out again on Sunday evening.

2. Saying “Yes”: What to Include What is to replace all that we are excluding from our Sabbath practice? The simple answer is, whatever delights you and replenishes you. Consider the following three things to include in your Sabbath practice. (The following ideas were developed from Sacred Rhythms by Ruth Haley Barton.)

Resting the body. What are the activities that rest and replenish your body? The invitation of Sabbath time is to replace the time you would normally spend working with activities that you find restorative, such as a walk or other physical exercise, eating your favorite foods, reading, and listening to music.

How can you say “Yes” to resting the body on the Sabbath?

What types of activities can you do?

Replenishing the spirit. Another invitation of the Sabbath is to pay attention to what replenishes the spirit, and choose only those activities that renew you and bring you joy. Find personal activities that replenish the spirit: silence, reading, dancing, and listening to music. Find activities for Continued on next page

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the whole family that replenish the spirit: a special meal, recreation, games, sharing stories, gathering with relatives and friends.

How can you say “Yes” to replenishing the spirit on the Sabbath? What types of activities can you do?

Restoring the soul. Perhaps the deepest refreshment is the invitation to renew the soul through worship and quiet reflection. This is the part of us that gets most lost during the workweek, which is governed almost completely by the value of productivity. In addition to personal activities, such as silence and prayer, identify rituals or shared activities that create a spirit of reverence for God on this day such as a special meal with a Scripture reading and time to go around the table and talk about where God seemed particularly present with you during the week. Light a candle to mark the Sabbath day.

How can you say “Yes” to restoring the soul on the Sabbath?

What types of activities can you do?

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3. Sunday Worship Worship is an important part of keeping Sabbath. It allows us to acknowledge the gracious gifts of God while celebrating our role as participants in the divine process. Being part of a faith community and regularly worshiping together is an essential part of our Christian faith. In Soul Feast, Marjorie Thompson writes: “We delude ourselves if we imagine we can live the spiritual life in total isolation from Christian community, for it is impossible to be Christian in solitary splendor. To be Christian is to be joined to the Body of Christ....Life in the church teaches us that we are made for communion not only with God but with one another in Christ.”

Going to church on Sunday allows us the opportunity to worship as a community.

We stand with others who believe what we do as we take time to pray together, listen to Scripture, and be renewed through our celebration of the Lord’s Supper. In communal worship we remember that we are not alone, that as part of the Christian community we share a commitment to following the model of Jesus Christ through the gospels and liturgy.

Sunday can be a time for private prayer and devotion, a practice that can extend our Sabbath to every day of the week. Reading Scripture can help us focus on the week ahead, whether we re-read the readings for the day, look ahead to the readings for the following Sunday, or simply reflect on selected passages that speak to us.

You might want to spend time quietly reflecting on the

Scripture readings; perhaps you might talk about the readings with your family or a group of friends. Some questions to consider are: What was Jesus trying to teach through this gospel?

What did it mean to each of us? Is there something we could do during the week to keep the theme of the gospel in our minds and hearts?

Singing hymns or listening to religious music is another form of prayer that can enhance our Sabbath keeping.

However you keep Sabbath, make sure that you take time to acknowledge God’s loving and generous presence guiding the actions and activities of your daily life.

How can you overcome the obstacles to attending church on Sunday?

How can you prepare for Sunday worship or extend Sunday worship in your home?

Review your ideas for Sabbath practice and consider these guidelines: • Do our activities allow us rest in body, mind, and spirit?

• Do our activities nurture our spiritual life in some way?

• Do our activities give us time away from the temporal activities of our lives?

RESOURCES FOR LIVING THE CHRISTIAN PRACTICE OF KEEPING SABBATH

Go to our project website www.lifelongfaith.com for exciting ideas, practical resources, and recommended books and websites to help you live the Christian practice of keeping Sabbath.

HOLY NECESSITY, SABBATH

AND ECSF

Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy, as the Decalogue in our prayer book puts it (BCP p. 350). In Exodus, chapter 20, sabbath is tied to God’s rest on the seventh day of creation. In the fifth chapter of Deuteronomy, it is associated with liberation from slavery. From these two versions of this commandment we learn that the sabbath can be, at least, a day of holy rest to remember the creative and liberating acts of God that call us to new and holy opportunities.

In the gospel according to Luke, we learn that while Jesus was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath, a woman crippled for eighteen years showed up, and when Jesus saw her, he healed her. It was a creative and liberating act of God. She didn’t ask to be healed. Jesus simply saw her and released her from what ailed her and did so because she needed to be released.

Jesus is, after all, about compassion, mercy, healing and release from that which binds us. And the leader of the synagogue didn't like it. Jesus was breaking the sabbath rules.

But healing wasn’t a matter of work, any more than leading an animal to life-giving water is work. It was a matter of holy necessity that knows no boundaries of day or time.

What Jesus did that day in the synagogue was to broaden the interpretation of what it means to remember the sabbath day and keep it holy. By inviting God into that moment, Jesus was going far beyond the idea of the sabbath as merely a day of rest within the tradition, when business ceases, gifts are offered, and celebrations are held. Like so many religious traditions of his day, Jesus broke this one wide open, making room for the creative and liberating activity of God. With Jesus, the sabbath became associated with acts of compassion, mercy and healing that brought new meaning to the sabbath rules. By meeting someone's need on the sabbath, the true spirit of the sabbath was honored.

Human need knows no boundaries of day or time. Jesus’ expansion of sabbath understanding reminds us of that reality, and it calls us to be sensitive and responsive to it. It’s a matter of holy necessity.

"Shouldn't this woman be set free?" Jesus asked.

Well, when you put it that way. . .

Consider how you might participate in the creative and

liberating sabbath acts of God. Where might God’s sabbath compassion, mercy and healing take you? Where do you see opportunities to respond to another’s need?

As many of you know, the Episcopal Community Services Foundation (ECSF) has been serving as the Diocese of Southern Ohio’s outreach fund-raising arm for nearly three decades. What this means is that the generous and gracious pledges and donations you and others make to ECSF address needs in our local communities. Through ECSF, your funds are distributed to organizations with parish connection and involvement to provide creative and liberating acts of compassion, mercy and healing that make tremendous differences in the lives of our neighbors.

This is honoring the spirit of sabbath. It’s a matter of holy necessity. And it is the focus of the Episcopal Community Services Foundation.

To make a contribution and find out more about ECSF, go to https://www.ecsfsouthernohio.org .

The Rev. Canon Lynn Carter-Edmands is Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Southern Ohio and serves as the Bishop’s staff liaison to the ECSF Board. She has been working with the board for the past several months as they move forward in new ways, partnering with congregations throughout the diocese to meet the needs of our neighbors. Connect with her at lcarter-edmands@diosohio.org.

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SABBATH, PARADOX, AND THE REST OF THE STORY The Sabbath/ Shabbat is rooted in Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 20:8-11 and Deuteronomy 5:12-15. It is a most basic reminder “to rest, to cease, to keep.” Jesus brought new light to the Sabbath law and traditions.

Should a doctor stand by at home on the Sabbath and let a patient die?

Does a doctor need a day to rest? What does a Sabbath day mean to you, your neighbor or another faith tradition?

Let us fast forward from Bible lessons and questions about Sabbath to 2019 and fast food and retailing. Toss in a side salad of hypocrisy with a dash of paradox and let us go under the surface to find the truth beyond the headlines on Facebook, Twitter, or your favorite newsfeed. Remember Paul Harvey (1918 – 2009) and ‘The Rest of the Story’?

My taste in fast food has evolved over six decades. My favorites over time went from Frisch’s (especially the fish sandwich, double tartar sauce and onion rings during Lent) to White Castle (midnight snack and delicious coffee ) to McDonald's (double quarter pounders – no cheese), to Wendy's (Chili, Frosty and fries) back to McDonald's (Egg McMuffin or McGriddle) and recently to Chick-fil-A. They offer exceptional chicken sandwiches with pickles, fresh salads and funny advertising.

There has been a mysterious fuzzy line in my mind between

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Faith Food

hypocrisy and paradox. To others the difference in these two words and concepts might be obvious, but not to me.

I went to a dictionary and the Greek root of the words and found hypocrisy = to pretend to be something one is not. Paradox = to find something contrary to expectation.

Personal hypocrisy - I have a love/hate relationship with sugar and could eat a dozen donuts all by myself in one day.

I know that sugar is bad for me and causes systemic inflammation in my body. I tell people to cut back on sugar yet don’t walk the talk as I can put down four chocolate chip cookies with a glass of chocolate milk as an afternoon snack before my nap. This hypocrisy annoys me. I beg for forgiveness and pray for the strength to resist.

Personal paradox - I know Chick-fil-A is closed on Sundays to give their employees a day off to rest and enjoy personal time. Chick-fil-A is thus a rare corporate enterprise that walks its talk and honors the Sabbath. But my digital newsfeed recently announced that the city council of San Antonio, Texas, approved a measure that barred my current favorite fast food chain from opening a location in the San Antonio airport. What? How in the world is a fast food restaurant creating such controversy? What is in the heart of this corporation?

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The media pot was stirred when it became public that some of the donations by the Chick-fil-A Foundation in 2017 went to among others, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Salvation Army and the Paul Anderson Youth Home.

Certain donations by the WinShape Foundation founded in 1984 by the Chick-fil-A founder, Truett Cathy, also came into question. And questions now are swirling regarding the position, if any, of Chick-fil-A on same sex marriage. Dive a little deep in their website and you find more about who Chickfil-A is and their corporate purpose – “To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chickfil-A.”

Consider too the Chick-fil-A response to tragedy despite the corporate position to honor the Sabbath and rest on Sundays.

Aaron Earls, online editor of Facts and Trends, wrote a 2018 article describing four recent times certain Chick-fil-A restaurants were open on Sundays: 2018, Hurricane Florence; 2017, Atlanta Airport; 2016, Orlando mass shooting; 2015, Dallas tornadoes. And my wife recently showed me an article about Memorial Day and how Chick-fil-A honors those who make the ultimate sacrifice.

So, I wrote a letter to Chick-fil-A and asked about the Sabbath and Chick-fil-A and got this reply from Kimberly A. on May 16, 2019.

Dear Mr. Eck, Thank you for taking the time to contact Chick-fil-A. You are very important to us and we appreciate you sharing your thoughts with us.

Truett Cathy, Founder of Chick-fil-A, made the decision to close on Sunday when he opened his original restaurant, The Dwarf House, in Hapeville, GA. He has often shared that his decision was as much practical as spiritual. Operating a 24-hour a day business left him exhausted. Being closed on Sunday allowed him time to recover physically, emotionally, and spiritually. And, of course, being closed on Sunday is in keeping with his personal religious convictions and beliefs.

In Truett Cathy's book, It's Easier to Succeed Than to Fail, he comments on this subject that, "How could I teach the thirteen-year-old boys in my Sunday school class to observe the Lord's Day if my cash registers were jingling at my restaurants?" To explain this at our restaurants, a sign states, "Since 1946, it has been our nationwide policy to be closed on Sunday. Thank you for your patronage, and we look forward to serving you Monday through Saturday."

Again, thank you for your time and interest in Chick-fil-A. Sincerely, Kimberly A.

Would you go out of your way to boycott a business exhibiting behavior and practices you find objectionable? Would you go out of your way to support a business whose behavior you find admirable? What would Paul Harvey have to say if he were alive today? Here is a little more of … the rest of the story.

Mike Eck is a Food Justice Advocate and is actively involved in the local organic food movement in southwest Ohio. Mike and his wife, Denise, are members of Christ Church, Glendale.

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'To Tell the Truth'

Ambassadors of Healing Pilgrimage One of the four foundations of the Becoming Beloved Community movement is to “Tell the Truth” about the history of churches and racism. To better experience and understand that truth, four women from the central Ohio area joined 48 other “pilgrims” from seven states and the District of Columbia in late May for a pilgrimage to civil rights sites in Alabama. The group, led by the Rev. Dr. Gayle Fisher-Stewart of the DC Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, included other denominations as well. Almost equally divided between African and white Americans, the group also included five clergy and an ELCA deacon.

The group was based in Birmingham, with daily trips to sites in Selma and Montgomery as well.

Although words cannot fully express the impact of the trip on each pilgrim, our brief review of each day will, perhaps, help impart the scope and intensity of the pilgrimage.

DAY 1 – BIRMINGHAM

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Like all of Alabama and throughout the South following the Civil War and Emancipation Proclamation in 1867, Birmingham remained a stronghold of segregation, enforced by customs, “Jim Crow” laws, and violence. From 1950-1962, Birmingham witnessed fifty racially motivated bombings of African American homes, businesses and churches, earning the city the name of “Bombingham”. Segregation was the norm in housing, education, and all aspects of public life. In 1963, however, led by a group of local and regional pastors (most notably the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the Rev. Fred Shuttlesworth, and the Rev. Ralph Abernathy), a series of strategically planned, non-violent marches were held that captured national attention and led to the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

On our first day, we began by visiting Kelly Ingram Park, the gathering site for the “Children’s Marches”. During May 1963, over 1,000 teenagers gathered to march, demanding equal rights for themselves and their parents; all were arrested and jailed. For two more days, thousands of youth gathered to repeat the march until jails were filled for a sixty-mile radius from Birmingham. Attacked by dogs, water cannons, national guardsmen, and police on horseback, the children continued to peacefully march and sing, eventually joined by adults. Finally, the city power structure began to listen, and responded by beginning the dissolution of segregation laws within the city. Consequently, today Birmingham is the most vibrant and progressive city in Alabama. Kelly Ingram Park provides a walking trail of moving statues and monuments

Ambassadors of Healing pilgrims to King, Shuttlesworth, and the African American children.

At one point, we were joined by an older gentleman, a deacon from Shuttleworth’s church who had participated in the marches, who passionately explained the intensity and suffering of the 1963 marches.

Just across the street from Kelly Ingram Park is the historic 16th Street Baptist Church, which was bombed in September 1963, killing four young black girls. Founded in 1881, the 16th Street Baptist Church is now on the national historic registry, commemorating this tragic event. The young girls, now called

The Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, AL. “Angels of Change” by the locals, were introduced to us by a church member who knew them. He showed a film about the horrific Sunday event, then spoke eloquently to us about the impact the death of these young martyrs had in accomplishing civil rights reform in Alabama and the nation. We toured the church and left in silence, awed and disturbed by such suffering.

This first day ended with a visit to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, where a self-guided tour of displays, videos, films and holographs and a large research library helped to deepen and reinforce all we had learned.

DAYS 2 & 3 - MONTGOMERY

The Rosa Parks Library and Museum is located in downtown Montgomery on the campus of Troy University. The museum and memorial is in homage to Rosa Parks, whose bravery in 1955 by refusing to give up her bus seat to a white person, really began the civil rights political movement. Mrs. Parks’ great heroism spawned the 11-month long bus boycott in Montgomery. Once again, a well-planned strategy, led by Martin Luther King, Jr. and local African American pastors finally began to break the grip of segregation in Montgomery.

It was astounding to learn the detailed planning and discipline

exhibited by the over 50,000 black citizens of Montgomery as they maintained this monumental example of non-violent protest.

Dexter Avenue King Memorial Church and Parsonage, another historic black church established in 1877, was the first pastorate of the young Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., as he began his ministry. Its basement held the first organizational meetings for the 1955 bus boycott response to Rosa Parks’ arrest. Here we were greeted by two church members who had participated in the Selma marches and other early protests.

A visit to the nearby parsonage where Martin Luther and Coretta Scott King lived with their first child, was a moving experience. The house was furnished as it was in the 1950s, with much of the original furniture. We saw King’s study, the dining table where he held many late-night planning meetings, and the kitchen table where he prayed for guidance and heard God tell him that he would never be alone. On the porch is a plaque denoting the site of one of the many bombings he and his family experienced during the civil rights movement.

The Southern Poverty Law Center is headquartered in Montgomery – and we ended our first day by visiting the fountain, a moving memorial to heroes of the civil rights movement.

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We learned that when the overseas slave trade was banned by the United States Congress in 1808, Montgomery became the center of the domestic slave trade. In 1857, there were more slave auction sites in Montgomery than hotels and churches. Within a few short blocks, one can see the marker of the Confederacy White House, the church where Martin Luther King, Jr. preached, and the corner where Rosa Parks refused to go to the back of the Cleveland Avenue bus.

On day two we visited two projects of the Equal Justice Initiative (EJI), founded in 1989 by Bryan Stevenson. The EJI is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. In addition to securing the reversal, relief, or release of over 125 wrongly convicted people on death row, the EJI has raised consciousness nationally about the continued persecution of black Americans starting with lynchings, through Jim Crow segregation, to today’s mass incarceration.

The Legacy Museum is located on the site of one of the major warehouses used in Montgomery for the slave trade, where up to 435,000 slaves were contained. Slaves were brought from southern ports, imprisoned in these warehouses and then sold to the highest bidder. When Alabama banned free black people from living in the state in 1833, those remaining were returned to slavery and sold. A beautiful fountain now stands at the site of the major auction block; very few non-people of color know its history!

The Legacy Museum contains alarming panoramas of the civil rights struggle through the 1970s. The holographs of slaves telling the stories of their separation from members of their family were heart-wrenching. Videos and testaments of wrongly-convicted prisoners are equally disturbing, not to mention the soil collected from the grounds of hundreds of documented lynching sites in America.

Further down the street near the river docks where thousands of Africans were unloaded from ships for sale stands the new National Memorial for Peace and Justice, also known as the Lynching Memorial, dedicated in 2018. Veiled in silence, this awe-inspiring monument cannot help but leave one feeling anguished and guilty about what white supremacists perpetuated on our African American brothers and sisters for over 400 years. Hanging obelisks are displayed by county and display the names of those African Americans who were lynched there from 1857 through 1950. The verified count is over 4,400 men, Former Procter Manager women andFarm children.

What is not taught in Ohio history is Bethany McCarty. that 18 African Americans were lynched in Ohio!

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Plaque memorializes the Angels of Change

DAY 4 - SELMA

On our final day we traveled to Selma, site of the Edmund Pettus Bridge and the historic march for voting rights in 1965.

We visited the Brown Chapel AME Church, which was instrumental as a meeting place for the protests that finally culminated in the Civil Rights Act. A gathering place for many young protestors, these students would skip school to participate in nonviolent protests. We were fortunate to have guides at the church who were children at the time and participated in these marches.

They reminded us that there were three marches protesting restrictions on voting in 1965, making the 54-mile trek from Selma to the state capital of Montgomery. Since the Birmingham marches in 1963, there had been renewed efforts to register African American voters, resulting in clashes with Southern white supremacists and Alabama law enforcement.

By January 1965, over 3,000 people had been arrested. In early February Jimmie Lee Jackson died after being shot by a state trooper and this lit the powder keg.

On March 7, 1965, 600 protesters crossed the Edmund Pettus Bridge and were attacked by state troopers and vigilante men with Billy clubs and tear gas. This day will be forever known as “Bloody Sunday�. The violence at the bridge and subsequent murders resulted in a national outcry. Protest officials issued a call for clergy and citizens from across the country to join them.

Awakened to issues of civil and voting rights by years of civil rights movement activities, and shocked by the television images

of "Bloody Sunday," hundreds of people responded to the Southern Christian Liberty Conference's call. One of the men who traveled from Massachusetts was Johnathan Daniels, an Episcopal seminarian, who was later killed while trying to register voters. The second march was March 9, 1965; Martin Luther King, Jr. took the people to the end of the bridge, and when the state troopers did not stop them, he and the marchers returned to the church.

As a result of the violence and confrontations, President Lyndon Johnson sent 1,900 National Guard troops, federal agents and marshals to ensure the safety of the marchers. A final march left Selma on March 21, making 10 miles a day, along the Jefferson Davis Highway (U.S. Route 80), and arriving on the steps of the capitol on March 25, 1965. Over 25,000 people entered Montgomery supporting voting rights. The Voting Rights Act became law on August 6, 1965.

At the end of each day, our pilgrimage group met to share thoughts and experiences from what we had seen and heard.

These sessions brought even more understanding to the white pilgrims of the challenges and heartaches every person of color in our society faces daily – as well as the role our white privilege plays in perpetuating their sorrow and struggle. We grew to know one another better, relationships were formed, and the beginnings of a Blessed Community were truly sown.

OBSERVATIONS

The pilgrimage to Alabama proved to be a life-changing experience for its participants, and each left determined to continue the work of cleansing our society of racism, and of unifying all of our citizens in love and community. We gained a new appreciation for the civil rights movement as a major force for human freedom in our country and the world, and we came to admire anew the courage and spiritual strength exhibited by those thousands of African American citizens who comprised the movement.

We made several observations about the movement and the work ahead that will drive our future endeavors if we are to be “ambassadors of healing”.

1. It is imperative that we fight against the return to stringent voter restrictions at the state and federal level. Write letters, call your senators and representatives at the state and federal level.

2. We must actively participate in registration of potential voters and participate in our election process by voting, serving as poll workers, and assisting people getting to the polls.

3. Each of us needs to learn the history of the subjugation of African Americans and all people of color that our schools have often deliberately chosen to exclude.

4. We need to build personal relationships with African Americans, building bridges of understanding experiences for all.

5. We need to fully participate in Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Becoming Beloved Community as a means to reach racial reconciliation, and finally, the healing of our society.

Birmingham is a vibrant city, attracting new industry and growing, partially because they chose to do away with the old Jim Crow legislation and grant African Americans the rights of white Alabamians. Montgomery and Selma appear to be dying cities, probably because of the refusal of their white citizens and leaders to embrace change and work for the good of over half of their population. And so it is with our nation. We can flourish fully as a society only if we work for the common good of all of our people; when any are suffering and deprived, so are we all, and we can only become a truly good and prosperous nation and world when we care for the freedom and welfare of all of God’s children. To do this work will be to become a Beloved Community.

The Rev. Deniray Mueller is a deacon in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. Dr. Karen Peeler is a member of St. John’s, Worthington.

The Ohio obelisk at the National Memorial for Peace and Justice, also known as the Lynching Memorial.

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COMMUNITY HEALTH FAIR On Wednesday, August 21, the diocese, in collaboration with Christ Church Cathedral, will host a community health fair at St. Anne’s, West Chester, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The health fair is open to everyone, and will feature several informative presentations and workshops, various free or low-cost health screenings, relaxing massage, a number of exhibitors, and a free community shred event. Plus, there will be food trucks, music and lots of door prizes and giveaways. Join us for a day of wellness and fun!

There is no cost to attend the health fair, but some of the screenings require prior registration and may need your insurance information. Spaces are limited for certain screenings and presentations, so early registration is encouraged. Register at dsoepiscopal.org/health.

Here's a sneak peek at what you will find at the health fair:

PRESENTATIONS ON

“Normal” vs “Not Normal” Aging (A Better Approach to Memory Care) Fall Prevention 101 (University of Cincinnati Trauma Center) Mental Health Overview (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Finding Calm in a Stressful World (Hamall Oils and Wellness) Fresh Perspectives on Parenting and Grandparenting (Child in Bloom) Yoga While You Work (with Meredith Amann) Pastoral Counseling: When Your Parishioner Becomes a Client (Professional Pastoral Counseling Institute) Raising Money Smart Kids (PNC Bank) Healthy Eating (Chef David from Marjorie P. Lee Retirement Community) Digestive Health: You are What you Eat. Really? (Areawide Wellness) Hatha Yoga (with Phoenix Wilson) Spiritual Direction/Companionship (Diocesan Spiritual Directors) Keep It Safe: Financial Security (PNC Bank) Overview of services provided by Council on Aging Church Pension Group: Counting Sheep at Night? It’s Not Just a Numbers Game! (limited to lay church employees) Grow Through Writing (Barbara Lyghtel Rohrer, M.A.) To Your Credit: Build or improve your credit history (PNC Bank) Conversations of a Lifetime: What might happen if you are unable to make healthcare decisions for yourself (Hospice of Cincinnati) Tai Chi (University of Cincinnati Trauma Center Rehabilitation) Mental Health and Addiction (Lindner Center of Hope) Living in Truth: Body, Mind and Spirit (Living in Truth Ministries) Certified CPR training (NKEMS Health and Safety Training) CPR/AED training (JoAnn Loos, CPR instructor) Silver Sneakers demo (Tivity Health)

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EXHIBITS

National Alliance on Mental Illness Butler County People Working Cooperatively, Inc. Hospice of Cincinnati Silver Sneakers Hamall Oils and Wellness Hamilton County Public Health PNC Bank Hearing Speech and Deaf Center of Greater Cincinnati Child in Bloom Areawide Wellness UC Trauma Center RejuVeination Costco Wholesale Arbonne International Anytime Fitness Monroe Council on Aging

SCREENINGS PROVIDED BY

Cincinnati Eye Institute Foundation Deaconess Foundation Health van Hearing, Speech and Deaf Center of Greater Cincinnati RejuVeination University of Cincinnati Mobile Mammography van

PLUS

Blood drive and blood pressure screenings with Hoxworth Blood Center Table and chair massage with Dori Dreisbach and Juliette Stuard Community shred event by Shred-It

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Jubilate 2019 A Conversation About Prayer Book Revision and our Language of Prayer As the Church engages conversations about prayer book revision and language, this dynamic conference seeks to assist the dialogue with

fruitful thoughts and intellectual arguments from some of the brilliant theologians of our time. Come and enter into this meaningful discussion as we listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit among us!

Featuring: Ephraim Radner

Wycliffe College, University of Toronto

Katherine Sonderegger

Virginia Theological Seminary

Nov. 2, 2019 9am - 4:30pm Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati Ohio Registration & Info: DSOJubilate.org

Ruth Meyers

Church Divinity School of the Pacific

With Responses by: The Rt. Rev. Thomas Breidenthal Bishop of Southern Ohio Chair of HOB Theology Committee

Liza Anderson

College of St. Scholastica

Kids4Peace Cincinnati

Creating new opportunities for Cincinnati youth

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Kids4Peace Cincinnati is a local chapter of Kids4Peace ery of different activities within the curriculum. In addition, the International, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization registered in the campers begin to set goals for next season’s camp and additional United States, with a branch office in Jerusalem and local chap- annual activities. ters across North America. Our combined mission is to connect The entire K4P program is based on the development of longyouth across religious and social divides and empower them to term personal relationships and gives the kids the opportunity be agents for change, by building positive working relationships to continually get together, maintain the friendships developed within our neighborhoods, exploring commonalities of our difduring camp and continue to build new skills. The youth may fering religions and cultures, while fostering the understandstay in the program through high school. ing and mutual respect needed to create a culture of peace and Campers are encouraged to join the K4P Core Youth empowerment for change.

Leadership Program, which continues to meet monthly throughK4P Cincinnati offers a five-day day camp open to all interout the school year. Currently, meetings are held on Sunday ested 6th,7th and 8th grade youth from a variety of cultures and afternoons from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Adath Israel Temple. Time is faiths. During the first three days of camp, the kids will visit available for just being together, as well as preparing activities at least three different types of houses of worship: Christian, such as potential service projects in which to be involved durJewish, and Muslim, to observe and ask questions. Frequently, ing the school year. The youth become the leaders of the group it is the child’s first exposure to a religion different from their and are responsible for identifying needs and implementing own, and they begin to discover that our similarities outnumber action plans for each activity. This year, the kids did all of the our differences. planning, development, and presentation of a public Cultural Daily exercises utilize fun, dialogue, music, sports, art projects Festival. The kids take their responsibility very seriously and and food to learn about team building, conflict resolution and enjoy actively participating in the decision-making process. leadership. The activities of telling their stories and learning Senior youth become members of the governing board. the art of listening enable the kids to begin building trust, and The meetings provide another opportunity to join the K4P to dispel the misunderstandings associated with division, isolaprogram, and any interested youth are welcome to attend. tion, fear, hate, racism and violence. Most importantly, the kids Participants do not have to have attended the camp. develop mutual respect for self and others, and learn to stand Maturing members also have the opportunity to attend with each other in the presence of discrimination, bullying and regional, national and international residence camps. Attending violence. the residence camps enable the members to work On Day 4, the kids volunteer service with a directly with their counterparts from North local social action organization to help them America and other countries. In some of Begin an exciting identify social issues within the commuthe Global programs they also have journey of meeting new friends nity. A major goal of the program is the opportunity to meet directly from across the Cincinnati area and to build a community of peace, so with professionals from the State become a leader for peace in your community. the day is capped off with a joyful Department and other agencies Demonstrate that love and unity are stronger “Friends and Family” cultural that work internationally for than hate. potluck dinner. Parents, sibworld peace. lings and friends are invited All of these experiences 4th annual Kids 4 Peace Interfaith Day Camp to have fun, and continue enable the youth to continuJuly 29-August 2, 2019 spreading the message. ously build lifelong rela9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Day 5 is dedicated to tionships and develop the Camp fees are $200, and there are scholarships available. review and reflect on the tools necessary to empowmany lessons learned er them to stand together, Register at www.k4p.org/Summer2019. during camp. Returning support one another and For additional information about camp or the Core Youth campers become mentors become significant voices Leadership Program, contact K4P board member Judy for new campers, and assist for change and peace both Chamberlain at cjbconsultants@fuse.net or chapter coorwith preparation, and delivlocally and globally. dinator Adam Hayden at Cincinnati@K4p.org.

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CONNECTING

Participants in the 2019 GEMN conference gathered at the Centro de Conferencias Obispo William J. Skilton in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic

GLOBAL MISSION

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Mutual witness to Christ’s love throughout the world

Did you know that the Dominican Republic is part of the Episcopal Church USA? So are Cuba, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe, Haiti, Puerto Rico, Taiwan, Venezuela, and the Virgin Islands. We are a Church beyond the borders of our States, in mission together “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ” (BCP, p. 855).

In April, the Rev. David Kendall-Sperry (St. Peter’s Delaware), Ann Sabo (Executive Assistant to the Bishop, and the Rev. Lee Anne Reat (Canon for Formation) had the privilege of representing our diocese at the annual Global Episcopal Mission Network (GEMN) conference in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic. We gathered with our sisters and

CONNECTING brothers from the broader Episcopal Church as we heard the Rev. Stephanie Spellers relate the Way of Love to global mission and the Rt. Rev. Griselda Delgado del Carpio, Bishop of Cuba, tell the inspiring story of the Episcopal Church in Cuba. We learned best practices for participation in global mission through workshops and displays created by students at the diocesan school. We visited both established and emerging congregations in the DR. And we were immersed in Dominican culture through food, dance and worship.

Much of the conference focused on Best Practices in global mission – how to be in relationship with congregations, dioceses and organizations that fully respect and utilize the gifts of talents of ALL participants in the relationship.

We have all heard of the unfortunate results of a “big brother” attitude to mission. One example we heard was of a group from the States traveling to Haiti to assist with hurricane relief. They had t-shirts printed with “Bringing the Light of Christ to Haiti.” As if the light of Christ wasn’t present already or that the US team was in possession of something their Haitian hosts were not! A well-intentioned gesture that missed the mark and created a “we have it – you don’t” divide.

We will share more on best practices in the coming months, but here is a list of just a few of the guidelines offered at the GEMN conference: • Always work with local churches and with the blessing of the diocesan bishop • Begin from the point of view that everyone in the relationship has gifts and talents to offer. Relationship building is what it’s all about. Our congre-

The Rt. Rev. Griselda Delgaso del Carpio, Bishop of Cuba addresses the 2019 GEMN conference in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic gations may have some significant resources to offer others, but others have equally significant resources to offer us.

• Enter mission opportunities with the goal of transformation, never dependency. Asset-Based Community Development tools and strategies are especially helpful here, as is Robert Lupton’s book Toxic Charity.

• Short term mission trips without a commitment to long term relationships miss opportunities for spiritual and community transformation. Plan for mutual visiting, inviting your companions to visit you and see the love of God active in your community. Seek their wisdom in transforming your congregation.

For additional information on GEMN go to www.gemn.org. Another helpful resource is the book Doing Good…

Says Who? Stories from Volunteers,

Nonprofits, Donors, and Those Trying to Help by Connie Newton and Fran Early.

Our primary purpose in attending the conference was to gain insights that might help us deepen global mission thinking in our congregations and in the diocese. Ann, David, and Lee Anne have completed Year 1 of a two-year Global Mission Formation program. Our formation project is to assess the interest in forming a representative group from the diocese to act as a resource for congregations participating in global mission.

If sufficient interest is expressed, next steps would be to form the group and outline its purpose and activities. If you are interested in sharing in this work, please contact David Kendall-Sperry at frdavid.episcopal@gmail.com, Ann Sabo at asabo@diosohio.org or Canon Reat at lareat@diosohio.org.

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CONNECTING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Professional development grants are available to canonically resident clergy of the diocese and clergy licensed to officiate serving as priests in charge of congregations. Clergy who have received grants to attend conferences and training have been asked to share a short summary of their experience, to give others ideas for their own continuing education.

ASSOCIATION OF EPISCOPAL DEACONS TRIENNIAL MEETING

Irene Radcliff

Irene Radcliff

Deacons Douglas Argue and Irene Radcliff attended the Association of Episcopal Deacons Triennial meeting in Providence, RI with the assistance of Professional Development grants.

Douglas comments, “Triennial was a fantastic way to connect to colleagues from across the church. I was very pleased to hear from deacons that I had not seen in awhile and especially to worship together as a collected community. Having the Presiding Bishop in attendance was an added bonus for the gathering. The workshops offered didn't provide much new information for me, but I was able to take the info and see things from a slightly different angle than before. The emphasis on reconciliation was timely and effective.”

Irene adds, “The triennial was a busy and informative four days, which included workshops, preaching, fellowship and more. I attended several workshops, including “Becoming the Beloved Community through Racial Reconciliation,” Prayer, Community, and Evangelism: Embracing the Jesus Movement, Fostering Reconciliation and Faith in the Public Arena, Fund for the Diaconate and First Time Attendees Orientation, which provided some of the knowledge and support I wanted and needed. However, more importantly was the welcoming atmosphere and fellowshipping with a community of deacons close to home and from around the world.”

They both highly recommend this gathering to other deacons.

WASHINGTON ISLAND: AN IDEAL MIX OF RETREAT AND LEARNING

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The Rev. Canon Lee Anne Reat attended the Washington Island Forum in Wisconsin.

Lee Anne writes, “Washington Island is off the northern tip of Door County, Wisconsin, an oasis of beaches, pine forests, wildlife and hospitality. Each year the Wisconsin Council of Churches and Christian Century Magazine hold a weeklong conference, featuring the wisdom of speakers on a wide variety of subject matter – with plenty of time to kick back and relax.

This year's Washington Island Forum featured author and activist Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove.

He spoke on "A Revolution of Values: The Bible, the Poor, and a Moral Imagination for Faith in Our Common Life," focusing on the misreading of the Bible through the eyes of white privilege and racism.

Wilson-Hartgrove called participants to challenge the false narrative in America that is blind to our Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove biblical mandate to challenge unjust systems of the government, economy, and church. He finds hope in the New Poor People’s Campaign, a national movement to build a justice America for ALL people.

Wilson-Hartgrove is the author of Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, Strangers at My Door: A True Story of Finding Jesus in Unexpected Places, Free to be Bound: Church Beyond the Color Line, and Restructuring the Gospel: Finding Freedom for Slaveholder Religion.”

CONNECTING

THIN PLACES Trips to my mom’s hometown were multi-faceted. The first step was enduring a ten-hour ride in the car with stops for gasoline and restrooms. Then, there was the pursuit of familiar tunes as radio station options diminished mile by mile.

There was also the change in scenery as deciduous trees were replaced by conifers and grasslands were exchanged for rocky areas and red clay.

Her hometown is relatively flat compared to the Greater Cincinnati area. Stop signs and flashing lights, low riding cars and pickup trucks, and the scent of magnolia in the air. We were “home.” It is mom’s home, her birthplace, the place where strangers are viewed curiously, and everyone knows who you visit and your kin.

In each kitchen or on a living room end table is a police scanner. These instruments were magical to a ten-year-old me.

Every few minutes their silence is broken by brief blurbs. Calls into the stations, addresses, and areas of town announced.

From house to house the information is shared. Scanners provide the foundation for quick and lengthy gatherings. They bring the town together. Conversations sometimes start with “We heard Bill…” “Sounds like there was a time…” “I told you Mally would…”

The beat. Steaming days and nights. A world unto itself. A place, a point where heaven and earth comingle. A thin place.

I wonder if others have experienced these thin places. I wonder if spiritual people listen to God and God meets their needs, and they listen to God and God meets their needs? Does the disembodied voice of God help their communities feel intercon-

nected? Does the disembodied voice of God give them conversation starters? (Share your thin places on my blog at https://bit.ly/2WUfKWV) Leaving my mom’s hometown was always a race. Making good time was key as the car traveled north, traffic increased, and familiar songs blared over the road noise. When we were back in Greater Cincinnati, we were reunited with a town without scanners and conversations. We were reacquainted with a hilly, unscented area. The disembodied, crackle of voices was not in our kitchens and living rooms. The hustle of city life would take an adjustment. Yet, my mom’s hometown continues in my spirit and is alive in my memory. When I quiet myself, I am transported back to the thin place. The place where I listen to God, and God meets my needs, and I listen to God, and God meets my needs.

Quinton Jefferson, Adjunct Assistant Instructor of Theology at Thomas More University, is a member of Christ Church Cathedral.

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CONNECTING

Lay Preachers offer something to chew on

In his book, Preaching, author Fred Craddock says that, “[In preaching] the point is not to get something off the chest but into the heart. To preach, then, is to shout a whisper… The bread of life is broken and offered, but the hearers must be allowed to chew for themselves.”

Were you aware of the diocese of Southern Ohio has a whole cadre of laypersons, fully trained and licensed by the bishop to preach the word? It’s true, and they are there for you for the asking.

They would love to come to your church and offer something for your congregation to chew on.

When laypersons in our diocese, after prayerful contemplation and introspection, feel the call to become licensed lay preachers, they show up at the Procter Center on the designated Saturday, beginning in September and continuing through the academic year. The course under the spirited tutelage of the Rev. Dr. Stephen Smith and the Rev. Joanna Leiserson, requires two years to complete.

From the first moment of the first class, students are introduced to and learn the importance of exegesis, a studied, serious process of “pulling apart” a passage of Scripture and getting at its roots. A well-done exegesis helps reveal some things about the chosen passage: What does the text say about God? What is it saying about you? What is it say-

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ELPASO: More than just a city in Texas!

ELPASO (Episcopal Lay Preachers Association in Southern Ohio) provides ongoing support and education to Licensed Lay Preachers in the diocese.

Each member of the group stands ready to be of service to all congregations in the diocese – to come as a visiting preacher, to offer their services when your regular preacher is away, when your congregation does not have an assigned preacher, or whatever the circumstances.

Most of the members of ELPASO are, additionally, Licensed Lay Worship Leaders, giving congregations a sort of “one-stop shopping” option. Many lay preachers take to the pulpit regularly at their own church, polishing their skills and providing relief and backup for their clergy.

If you are in need of someone to preach at one of your services, or if you yourself feel the call to become a Lay Preacher, or have some questions about the program or would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact ELPASO’s president, Mark Conrad at mconrad92@gmail. com or 740.243.4933 or Gary Haslop, at ghdeerrun90@gmail.com or phone 740.637.5843. ing about such things as sin, judgment, grace and redemption? The completed exegesis, however, is not the sermon — it is the linchpin of it, giving the preacher a starting point. Students in the pro-

gram are usually surprised to learn how hard a good preacher works! Personally, I allow two weeks to prepare a sermon, type it up, and rehearse it repeatedly until I no longer stumble over my own syntax.

The end result of Lay Preacher formation is to have available to every congregation this group, which calls itself Episcopal Lay Preachers of Southern Ohio, or ELPASO. The choice of that acronym was fortuitous, in that it’s also the word, in Spanish, for “the step,” “the path,” or “the way.” Jesus himself said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”

In pursuit of perfection, there have been months when I wrestled with the biblical texts and by the time I was standing in the pulpit, had cleared my throat and begun to speak, I was delivering the third sermon I crafted for the occasion, having rejected my first two drafts. We don’t usually know if our sermon has touched anyone out there in the pews, but recently, a parishioner approached me after the service and touched my arm and said, “Your sermon today was beautiful, almost like poetry.”

That is probably the nicest, most uplifting critique I have ever received.

Gary Haslop is a Licensed Lay Preacher and a member of St. Paul’s, Chillicothe.

Members of ELPASO at their annual graduation ceremony and banquet, held on June 14 and hosted by St. Paul’s, Chillicothe. The Rev. Dr. Stephen Smith presented this year’s graduate, Zig Main of St. Barnabas, Montgomery (center, back row) with his diploma.

CONNECTING WITH

PROCTER CENTER t Procter village a k c o m ham The new It is always such a sweet time, the beginning of summer. So much anticipation and freshness all around.

Procter was especially geared up for another great camping season. We have a wonderful group of young adults who are giving service by being a camp counselor at Procter this summer. They learned a lot of new things in staff training and stretched their comfort zones with an overnight in the woods in preparation for being brave souls when the campers are here. For many this is their first night sleeping outside. It is terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. Nothing like a meal cooked over the fire. Hunger is real out there and dinner always tastes so good when you prep and cook it yourself!

The maintenance crew was busy building platforms for our tents and putting a tin roof over the cooking and dining area. This outdoor adventure area was once a thriving part of our camp program. Last year we received donations of tents and other equipment from churches, so we are very grateful for those donations to help bring this program back to life.

We also received a very generous donation this spring from a camp family that wanted to honor their grandmother who had died. This donation was designated to Continued on next page Beatitudes written by the 3rd - 9th grade youth at Youth Camp.

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ia. da Famil ra g a S t a camper A happy

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Storefront of the Procter Store in downtown London.

build a hammock village. We picked a lovely spot up on the hill, under the shade of beautiful trees with the perfect view of the sunsets that are legendary at Procter. The breeze blows through the trees and this is the perfect place for FOB – our rest period. The maintenance team did a great job planning and building the village. I hope you have a chance to experience it.

We offered two specialty camps that we are very excited about and proud of. Sagrada Familia is a family camp that was started two years ago by the Rev. Maggie Foote with the community from the Latino Ministry Center, now known as Espirtú Santo. The first summer we had 14 participants, the second summer we had 59 and this summer we expected over 100. The camp is geared towards Spanish-speaking families, but in keeping with becoming Beloved Community, other non-Spanish speaking folks came to this family camp to celebrate our beloved community here at Procter.

Camp RISE is a camp for children who have a lost a loved one to drug use. Last summer was the first summer that we offered this camp. We served a small number of children but the impact that week had on those kids was huge. One of the teenage boys said through tears at the closing campfire that this was the first place that he had come where everyone was nice to him and no one made fun of him. He lost his mother to a drug overdose; his dad is a long distance trucker and he is being raised by his grandmother. An aunt called to

inquire about the camp and said that the nieces and nephews that she sent to Camp RISE were “thriving when they got home last year, and they couldn’t wait to come back this year.”

The Procter Store opened this spring in downtown London. It is a co-op with over 15 vendors in the store with us. You can get any cut of chicken, pork, beef, or lamb from Procter and our neighbors the Furbee’s, Food Raised Right, meat and eggs. We also have Somerford Gardens with lots of great veggies, a gluten free baker, local honey and maple syrup. There are wonderful artisans who have jewelry, quilted pieces, pottery, photos and other art mediums. The goal of the store is to provide fresh food in an area of town that does not have access to a grocery store nearby. The first month exceeded our expectations and we look forward to continued growth. Please stop by and see us if you are in London – it is just a ten-minute drive from Procter. The Procter Store is open Thursday and Friday from 12 to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

We hope to see you soon. Come and enjoy the peace that is Procter.

Amy Boyd serves as Executive Director of the Procter Center.

Connect with Amy at aboyd@proctercenter.org. Visit their website at www.proctercenter.org.

CONNECTING

Spiritual director sponsors Cincinnati premiere of Native American play The Thanksgiving Play, an achingly funny satire about a white director’s attempt to construct a politically correct school play about Native Americans, has just completed a highly successful run at the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. The production was sponsored by Linda Busken Jergens, a Cincinnati spiritual director, writer, and the wife of retired priest the Rev. Andrew Jergens.

Playwright Larissa FastHorse, winner of the 2019 PEN/ Laura Pels Foundation Award for theater, is nationally renowned, but this is the first time the Cincinnati Playhouse has ever produced a play written by an indigenous American.

Andrew Jergens is a trustee emeritus of the Playhouse, and he and Linda meet every year with Artistic Director Blake Robison and Managing Director Buzz Ward to talk about upcoming plans. When Robison mentioned plans to produce FastHorse’s play, he said the Playhouse hadn’t yet found a sponsor; their ordinary sponsors were considering the play too controversial.

“My heart just beat – I knew this was a God thing,” Linda says, because FastHorse is a Sicangu-Lakota Sioux, whose band had a profound impact on Linda as she trained to become a spiritual director unusually daring in exploring spiritual traditions beyond those familiar to most white Episcopalians.

The heart of The Thanksgiving Play is how virtually impossible it is for Native Americans to get a word in edgewise as clueless whites continue speaking about and “for” them. Four white actors, one a director, struggle to come up with a script that assuages the director’s anxieties about being politically correct and satisfying the demands of her funders without getting fired by the local school board.

Linda volunteered to help the Playhouse find a sponsor, and ultimately decided to do it herself, directing the Playhouse to designate her sponsorship in honor of Women Writing For (a) Change, a non-profit dedicated to encouraging women and girls to claim their voice.

This sponsorship expanded community awareness of WWF(a)C through the Playhouse’s marketing for the show, as well as holding two WWF(a)C writing circles after perforContinued on next page

Linda Busken Jergens with playwright Larissa FastHorse

CONNECTING Continued from previous page

mances of the play. Members of the Greater Cincinnati Native American Coalition also held several talk-back sessions after performances. This made the production doubly effective in providing a platform for people whose voice is still suppressed.

Linda’s first encounter with the Lakota Sioux was as part of an Episcopal work camp on the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota in 1957. She and Andrew returned to South Dakota in 1989 to volunteer on the Rosebud Reservation at the invitation of Bishop Craig Anderson.

Linda welcomed FastHorse to Cincinnati and introduced her to the research of anthropologist Susan Meyn, who recovered the photos and correspondence of Lakota Sioux from FastHorse’s own band, who took up residence at the Cincinnati Zoo in 1896 to engage in cross-cultural discussions with residents of Cincinnati at a time of huge interest in the West.

FastHorse also asked to get acquainted with the indigenous people of this area, so Linda drew on the anthropological expertise of the Cincinnati Museum Center’s Geier Research Center and took FastHorse and members of the cast to visit Mound Builder sites around Cincinnati.

FastHorse, who was adopted by a white family as a child and now lives in California, has asked Linda to help her network with people on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations as she prepares for a residency there to work with other Lakota Sioux on a devised play – unlike The Thanksgiving Play, this time with people who know what they are talking about!

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Ariel Miller is a member of Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming.

Church receives Green Business award Ascension and Holy Trinity, Wyoming, was one of three recipients of the first-ever Wyoming Green Business Awards at the City Council meeting on May 20.

With help from Ohio Interfaith Power and Light and HVAC consultant Tom Williams of Christ Church, Glendale, the AH&T Green Team selected several strategies to reduce the parish’s carbon footprint. As they implemented expensive retrofits, the parish received significant rebates through Ohio’s energy efficiency programs.

Shown here are members of the parish Green Team receiving the award from City Council members Sarah Stankorb, an environmental journalist and chair of Wyoming’s Environmental Stewardship Commission, and Katie Stock. Green Team reps are (left to right) Rich Gómez, Carol OstranderGómez, and Ariel Miller.

CONNECTING SHERRILL ADDED TO DIALOGUE COMMITTEE At its June meeting, the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council elected the Rev. George Sherrill Jr. as a member of the Presbyterian Episcopal Dialogue Committee for a term ending Dec. 31, 2021.

COMING UP

ALL SAINTS HONORED

BY RED CROSS At the annual Ohio River Valley American Red Cross volunteer banquet on June 20, All Saints', Portsmouth, was recognized as the Biomedical Services Organization of the year for their service as long-time hosts of a monthly Blood Drive.

Vestry member Jim Haas was on hand to receive the award on behalf of the parish. Way to go!

Have you ever wondered what the bishop’s staff does? Or what all those commissions do? And what exactly are we electing people to at convention? If you’ve ever wanted to know how the diocese works, our September issue of Connections will unlock these mysteries and more! Submission deadline is Aug. 12.

Coming in November: Storytelling We try to share a few of our stories in every issue of Connections, but for the November issue, let’s fill it up! The popularity of our Storytelling issue in 2018 has prompted us to present Storytelling 2. What has your church been doing this year? What are your successes? What are your beautiful failures? Now is your chance to share your story! Submission deadline is October 1.

We reserve the right to edit material submitted for publication. Submit items to the communications office at communication@diosohio.org.

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145TH ANNUAL CONVENTION The 145th annual convention of the Diocese of Southern Ohio will take place November 15-16 at the Roberts Center in Wilmington, OH. The convention is the official Annual Meeting of the legislative body of the diocese, convened to adopt the budget for the coming year, initiate and/or approve recommended programs and policies of the diocese, and elect people to leadership positions.. Many tasks need to be completed before the convention convenes and there are set deadlines for each of them. Here is a primer of what needs to happen, and when.

REPRESENTATION

All clergy who are canonically resident in the diocese are entitled to seat, voice and vote at convention. Clergy who are new to the diocese must have their Letters Dimissory accepted by the bishop before the start of convention to be considered canonically resident. Ministers of other denominations who serve as pastors in congregations are also entitled to seat, voice and vote. Clergy who are licensed to officiate in the diocese but are not canonically resident are entitled to seat and voice, but no vote.

Lay delegates from each congregation must be elected and certified to vote at the convention. Each congregation that has fulfilled its annual requirements (payment of Mission Share, submitting Parochial Report, completing annual audit) is entitled to seat, voice and vote of lay delegates. Mission congregations are entitled to two lay delegates and parishes are entitled to four lay delegates, and each are entitled to an equal number of alternate delegates.

QUICK LIST: CONVENTION DATES & DEADLINES August 17 (90 days prior) Proposed Constitution/canonical changes requested September 16 (60 days prior) Deadline for proposed Constitution/canonical changes October 1 (45 days prior) Deadline for proposed resolutions Nominations for office requested

Congregations are canonically required (see Canon III, Section 5) to report the election of lay delegates immediately after they have been chosen at their annual meeting. This reporting is done on the Annual Reporting Form, which was due April 1.

Congregations that did not submit their Annual Reporting Form before the deadline can find the link on the diocesan website under Resources for Congregations and are asked to submit the form as soon as possible.

ANNUAL REPORTS OF COMMITTEES/ COMMISSIONS/TASK FORCES

Committees, commissions and task forces of the diocese that receive funding from the Mission Share budget are required to file an annual report of their activities and a list of committee members prior to convention. These reports are made available for review by the convention and are included in the Journal of convention. The deadline for submitting reports is October 31.

October 31 (15 days prior) Deadline for Commission/Committee/Task Force annual reports November 12 (3 days prior) Deadline for late nominations. No nominations will be accepted from the floor.

Necrology deadline Find all convention information on our convention website: dsoconvention.org.

CONSTITUTION AND CANONICAL CHANGES

The Constitution and Canons guide the governance of the diocese. A committee reviews the Constitution and Canons each year and considers whether to propose changes. Proposed amendments may come from any member of the diocese, although the committee requests an opportunity to review the proposal to make sure it abides by wider-church rules.

Proposed amendments should be submitted in writing by August 17 (90 days prior) to convention@diosohio.org. The absolute deadline to submit a proposed change is September 16 (60 days prior). Contact diocesan chancellor Joseph J. Dehner at 513.651.6949 or jdehner@fbtlaw.com with any questions.

NOMINATION FOR DIOCESAN-WIDE OFFICES

Check our convention website dsoConvention.org for a description of each office and a link to the online nomination form. The deadline for nominations that will be posted online prior to the preconvention meetings is October 1. Direct any questions to nominations chair Jon B. Boss at jbboss@fuse.net.

Budget Committee / three-year term Elect 1 lay, Class of ‘22 Diocesan Council / three-year term Elect 1 clergy and 4 lay, Class of '22 Disciplinary Board / three-year term Elect 1 clergy and 1 lay, Class of ‘22 Episcopal Community Services Foundation board / threeyear term Elect 3 clergy or lay, Class of ‘22 (*) Standing Committee / three-year term Elect 1 clergy and 1 lay, Class of ‘22

Standing Committee / two-year unexpired term Elect 1 clergy, Class of ‘21 Trustees of the Church Foundation / five-year term Elect 1 clergy or lay, Class of ’24 Trustees of the Diocese / five-year term Elect 1 lay, Class of ‘24** Procter Center Board of Directors / three-year term Elect 1 clergy or lay, Class of ‘22 Deputies to the 80th General Convention (2021) Elect 4 clergy deputies and 4 clergy alternates Elect 4 lay deputies and 4 lay alternates (*) If interested in serving on ECSF board, please contact the Rev. Theresa Thornton at revtjthornton@gmail.com prior to submitting a nomination. (**) There may be no more than two (2) members of the clergy as Trustees of the Diocese. The opening must be filled by a lay person.

PROPOSING RESOLUTIONS

Proposing resolutions is a key way for the people of the diocese to discuss and reflect upon issues in the church and beyond.

There are a variety of types of resolutions, ranging from those that ask the diocese to take a stand on a particular issue to special observances to calls for commitment to certain ministries.

Resolutions can be submitted at dsoConvention.org. All proposed resolutions must be submitted by September 30 (45 days prior). The Resolutions Committee will meet that following week to review the resolutions.

Those submitting resolutions are expected to attend (or have a representative present) any pre-convention hearings. Contact resolutions chair Jim Heathcote at 937.446.2108 or jheathcote@ earthlink.net with questions.

CONNECTIONS

The official publication of the Diocese of Southern Ohio www.diosohio.org

The Rt. Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal, Publisher David Dreisbach, Art director Julie Murray, Editor Amy Svihlik, Designer Dave Caudill, Copy editor

Submissions: Connections encourages the submission of articles and pictures. We reserve the right to edit material offered for publication. All submissions must include name, phone and email address for verification.

Send submissions to communication@diosohio.org.

Next deadline: August 12

Connections (USPS 020933) is published bi-monthly by the Diocese of Southern Ohio, 412 Sycamore St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-4179. Periodical postage paid at Cincinnati, OH. This publication is sent to all members of Episcopal congregations in the Diocese of Southern Ohio and is funded by mission share payments to the diocesan operating budget. Other subscriptions are $10 annually.

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POSTMASTER: Send changes of address to Connections, 412 Sycamore St., Cincinnati, OH 45202-4179.

We are a people of connection. We kneel around the same table regardless of color, creed, gender, race or sexual orientation.

Connections is a publication of the Diocese of

Southern Ohio, designed to enhance these connections and help foster new ones – because we are continually looking for ways to widen our circle.

dsoConnections.org