VOL. 4, ISSUE 2 • SUMMER 2013
Summer Guide to Churches in Our Diocese
Timeline to the 179th Convention of the Diocese of Michigan October 25-26, 2013 Detroit Marriott Hotel at the Renaissance Center
All submissions directed to the Secretary of Convention should be submitted to: The Very Rev. W. Richard Hamlin, Secretary of Convention Email: secretaryofconvention@edomi.org or FAX: 313/831-0259 If electronic submission or FAX is not possible, please mail hard copies to: Secretary of Convention Diocese of Michigan c/o 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201 June 28, 2013 Proposed amendments to the Constitution and Canons are due to the Chair of the Committee on Constitution and Canons. (Canon 7.1) Please submit to: Chair, Committee on Constitution and Canons Diocese of Michigan 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201 with a copy to the Secretary of Convention (see above) June 28, 2013 Certification of Lay Delegates forms are due. (Canon 1.1.1.2.2) Please submit to: Office of Diocesan Convention 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201-1399 Email: browley@edomi.org FAX: 313/831-0259 July 14, 2013 Nomination Forms for elective office are due to: Chair, Committee on Nominations and Elections Office of Diocesan Convention 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201 FAX: 313/831-0259 July 26, 2013 Mailing of 2013 Slate of Candidates and Petition Forms (Canon 1.2.2.3) Slate of candidates whose names have been received by the Committee and petition forms are mailed to clergy and lay delegates. (Deadline for nomination forms is July 14, 2013) July 26, 2013 Mailing of 2014 Proposed Budget, Draft Budget for 2015 and Congregational Commitment Form (Canon 2.4.2.2) July 26, 2013 Exhibitor Reservation forms due to: Convention Exhibit Reservation Office of Diocesan Convention 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201-1399
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July 26, 2013 Journal Reports due Please email all reports to be included in the Convention Journal to Beth Rowley at browley@edomi.org. If electronic submission is not possible, please mail a hard copy of the report to: Office of Diocesan Convention 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201-1399 August 26, 2013 Proposed resolutions to diocesan convention are due to the Secretary of Convention. (Canons 1.1.4.1 and 1.1.4.2) Please submit to: FAX: 313/831-0259 Note: Proposed resolutions (electronic form preferred) must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. August 26, 2013. (Resolutions not received by this date and time will require a 2/3 vote of convention to be considered.) If electronic submission is not possible, a hard copy may be submitted to the Secretary of Convention at the mailing address on the first page of this timeline. August 26, 2013 Congregational Commitment forms due in the Office of the Bishop (Canon 2.4.2.3) September 10, 2013 All nominating petitions from candidates running for Diocesan offices by petition are due. (Canon 1.2.2.4) Please submit to: secretaryofconvention@edomi.org FAX: 313/8310259 September 25, 2013 Convention packets mailed to lay and clergy delegates: 2014 Proposed Budget, 2015 Draft Budget and Reports of the Committees on Reference, Nominations and Elections and Constitution and Canons.
The Record/Summer 2013
Questions regarding Diocesan Convention? Please contact Canon Jo Ann Hardy, Diocesan Administrator 313.833.4422 or jhardy@edomi.org
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
TABLE OF CONTENTS The Record 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201-1399 therecord@edomi.org www.theRecordOnline.org Phone: (313) 833-4425 The Record is a quarterly magazine for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Vol. 4, Issue 2 Summer 2013 Episcopal Diocese of Michigan Episcopal Church Center 4800 Woodward Ave. Detroit, MI 48201-1399 (313) 832-4400 • Toll Free (866) 545-6424
The Rt. Reverend Wendell N. Gibbs Jr. Bishop of the Diocese bishop@edomi.org
The Reverend Michelle Meech Ministry Developer mmeech@edomi.org
The Reverend Canon Lisa A. Tucker-Gray Canon to the Ordinary lgray@edomi.org
Eric Travis Missioner for Youth and Young Adults etravis@edomi.org
Canon Jo Ann Hardy Diocesan Administrator jhardy@edomi.org
Mark Miliotto Director of Finance mmiliotto@edomi.org
Sue McCune Executive Assistant Office of the Bishop smccune@edomi.org
Kara Chapman Accountant kchapman@edomi.org
Beth Rowley Assistant for Program and Administration browley@edomi.org Rick Schulte Diocesan Communications Editor, The Record therecord@edomi.org Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
Knena Causey Whitaker Institute kcausey@edomi.org
The Interview
Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr., Page 4 Canon to the Ordinary accepts call, Page 5
Diocesan News Page 6-7
Outside his comfort zone
Why take on the call to teach in Haiti? Growth. Page 8
Youth and Young Adults
Take a look at what’s coming up. Page 9
Cover Story: Destination Churches
Hit the road this summer; a visit to any of our churches, including St. John’s, Detroit, should be a historical eye-opener. Page 10 All Saints, Brooklyn celebrates 150 years, Page 13
Opinion: A way of seeing
We need to be ready to meet the Jesus of the marginalized. Page 14
Episcopal Migration Ministry
Reaching out to refugees an important duty. Page 15
Opinion: Life is so very fragile
The gamut of emotions following a suicide is understandable. Page 16
Found on Facebook Page 17
Book Review Page 18
The Final Word
Remembering the tribulations of Jackie Robinson in ’42,’ Page 19 How to Subscribe to the Record: Email subscription@edomi.org The Record/Summer 2013
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THE INTERVIEW: BISHOP GIBBS
Accepting Changes in Life: A Reminder of Who’s in Charge The Diocese of Michigan is undergoing some internal change these days. The Rev. Canon Lisa Tucker-Gray, canon to the ordinary for several years, accepted a call to become priest-in-charge at St. John’s, Plymouth. Rick Schulte, editor for The Record, discussed the concept of accepting change and listening to God’s call that often takes us outside our comfort zone. Question: We were talking in our staff meeting about a comfort level, in terms of Canon TuckerGray leaving us. For you, she has done a very good job for many years. You’ve built a rapport. But even though it might make things harder for you, it’s still a matter of doing the right thing. How difficult was it to let her move on? Answer: It was very difficult. However, after 25 years of ministry, I’ve kind of learned that if you’re not going to jump on board with what the Spirit is doing, you need to step aside and get out of the way. Standing in the way of what the Spirit has to do is not a comfortable place to be. Every time I’ve tried to do that, God reminds me that I surrendered. Not just that I have surreneded, but I surrender every day. The more I live into that, the more important it really is to embrace that way of feeling. There was sadness, yes, there was shock, there was an initial desire to try and block it. I certainly could have. The congregation called me and asked for permission to talk to Lisa, and I could have said no. But that would have been about me and not about God’s mission. I think it’s pretty clear, some of the things the vestry has shared with me, plus some things I’ve seen on my own and some things Lisa has shared with me…I think
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When we get comfortable is when God always comes up with a better idea. It kind of shakes us out of our comfort zone. You’re right. Too many of our churches, too many of our institutions…we say we’re discerning, we say we want to be led to what’s next, what’s right, what’s best. We like to be comfortable. And what we’ve known is more comfortable than what’s unknown. We like to dig our heels in and say, ‘no, no’, we don’t want to go and we don’t want to change. We don’t want to innovate or risk. It’s easier, because it’s something we know already. But it usually doesn’t lead to new life.
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God’s hands are all over this. While it may make me personally sad, the Spirit has a better idea. So initially, what I decided was to step aside to see what the Spirit would do. Now that I have seen that, I’ve decided to jump on board. There is both sadness and joy. We’ll deal with it.
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: It’s human nature to dig in with what you are comfortable with, whether it’s a job, a relationship, a church, a health issue…but sometimes, you have to let go. : Absolutely. We talk many times a great game about discernment, and we say we have submitted things to prayer. But more often than not, because of human nature, when we pray about something, we already
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have an answer in mind. I do it, too. You pray about something and you already know what the outcome is you want. So it’s really about the outcome. You’re not praying for God to lead, God to guide. True prayer, true relationship and surrender to God, is to pray for God’s will to be done. It’s hard, because it’s about giving up control. Even with Lisa, I had a plan in mind. Not long ago, we sat down after she came back from her sabbatical, and we decided what we going to do during my time as the bishop. And it was very comfortable. It felt good to know that I had a canon to the ordinary that was willing to ride this ship all the way through to the time where my ministry would end here. It’s a very comfortable place to be.
The Record/Summer 2013
: On a personal note – and you may have to put your thinking cap on for this – what’s the first instance in your life when you stepped outside of your comfort zone, to let go and turn it over to God? : In my life? It was probably when I first went into the monastery. I have always loved church and churchy things, and in the vernacular, I’ve always been a sacristy rat. But I never really contemplated religious life. Probably initially, I thought by going into the monastery I was running away from something. But it actually became very clear I was running to something. It was probably where God and I had our first major argument, and where the relationship I have with God got firmly established. Not only is arguing with God possible, but monologues with God are less effective. It either has to be a true conversation or I need to shut up and listen. I believe, in my memory, that is where I first said, ‘I surrender.’ But I have to be reminded regularly. Even when
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Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
I left the monastery, and even when I left the Roman church and became Episcopalian, when I went to seminary, when I graduated seminary, when I was ordained, when I changed churches and accepted a new call, and certainly, when I was elected bishop, there’s time where surrender is easier, and surrender is really, really, really hard. God sort of quietly says, ‘Didn’t you surrender?’ And I usually am reminded of that. It’s hardest when you have to be reminded of surrender.
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: I want to ask this in a manner that is not offensive to some of our friends from other faiths. You have people who faithfully attend services, but complain about one aspect of their religion or another. For instance, there’s the percentage that use birth control, or actually know and support gay people. Do you think some churches are guilty of not listening to Jesus? : All of them are, including our own. Because the
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churches, as we know them today – Catholic, Episcopalian, Lutheran, Baptist, Presybterina, Methodist, Church of God, you name it – are human institutions. I worry all the time that the church Jesus established – and I’m not convinced Jesus started a church, I think he started a movement – but if he did start a church, or if the churches we call churches today are supposed to be an extension of or evolutions of the movement he started, Jesus wouldn’t recognize it. Politics being what
they are (and I don’t mean secular politics), every church has politics. I think we’re all guilty of pushing our own wills and not that of Christ. That goes back to the surrender question. Do we really surrender to God? I think there are times we do, and there are times where we don’t. I think we’re all guilty of that. Every last one of us. None of the churches are perfect; none of them are. Because God is not running these churches. People are. So it can’t be perfect.
Canon to the Ordinary Accepts Call to St. John’s, Plymouth “Over the years I have heard Lisa use the following quote from a 13th century Sufi mystic to describe her approach to ministry: ‘Go where you are sent, wait until you are shown what to do, do it with your whole self, remain until you have done what you were sent to do, walk away with empty hands.’ “So, it is with a mixture of joy and sadness that I write to share with you that a time has come for Lisa to ‘walk away.’ The Rev. Canon Lisa Tucker-Gray, my Canon to the Ordinary for the last 6+ years, has accepted appointment as Priest-in-Charge at St. John’s, Plymouth. Lisa has served me and our diocese with abiding faith, deep commitment and a love for ministry that is a gift and a blessing. In addition to her fine service as Canon to the Ordinary, she first came to diocesan staff as Canon for Youth Ministry. The sadness in my heart at Lisa’s departure from the diocesan staff is tempered by the joy that she will remain in the diocese and as such still a colleague in ministry. “Between now and June 28, Canon Tucker-Gray and I will tend to the matters of transition. Sunday, June 30, will be her first Sunday as my newly appointed Priest-in-Charge. Of course, I will be expecting great things for all of us as Lisa joins the wonderful community at St. John’s Plymouth and together they embrace God’s dream for mission in that part of God’s vineyard. “Meanwhile, please join me in thanking Lisa for her servant ministry during her tenure on staff and rejoice in the knowledge that there will be another community of faith embracing the power of the Holy Spirit as they move forward with a new, faithful, gifted and passionate priest. Congratulations Lisa and St. John’s!”
The Rev. Canon Lisa Tucker-Gray
– The Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs Jr. 10th Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
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NEWS
Canon Richardson Succumbs to Cancer
The Rev. Canon Saundra Richardson, known by many as the secretary for the annual diocesan convention and a much-loved member of the Detroit clergy community, died June 6. “Since early 2012, Saundra bravely lived with pancreatic cancer, often delivering pastoral care to those who seemed to be more devastated by her diagnosis than she,” said Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. in a statement. Canon Richardson was employed by Mariners Inn, where Rev. Canon Saundra Richardson she served as a human resources specialist. However, she actually wore many hats – perhaps this is part of the reason Canon Richardson was so well-known. She also served as an administrative assistant for Christ Church, Detroit. As an ecumenical officer for the diocese, she touched many clergy not only throughout the diocese, but regionally and even nationally, working on a wide range of projects over the years. For the diocesan convention, Canon Richardson was one of the key members of the event, working tirelessly to help the event run smoothly as its secretary for many years. A celebration of her life and ministry took place June 13 at Christ Church, Detroit.
The annual Bishop’s Diocesan Picnic will once again take place at the Emrich Retreat Center, Brighton.
retreat center. In addition, guests are encouraged to bring school items for Backpack-pa-looza, which helps provide backpacks and supplies to young persons from families in need. To RSVP for the event, please contact Sue McCune at smccune@ edomi.org or (313) 833-4435.
Meech, Causey Take New, Expanded Whitaker Roles Effective June 1, the Rev. Michelle Meech, currently on staff as Ministry Developer, assumed the responsibilities of Provisional Director of the Whitaker Institute. Michelle, who originally joined the staff in 2012 as Ministry Developer, will continue to work with the Total Ministry and developing congregations of the diocese. She will also draw on her previous experience as director of the Center of AngliRev. Michelle can Learning and Leadership of the Church Divinity Meech School of the Pacific. “As the tasks of ministry development and formation occur concurrently, I am sure that the intersection of the two areas of ministry will enhance our ability to respond to the needs of our congregations,” Bishop Gibbs said. Knena Causey, already on staff as Whitaker’s Program Assistant, is assuming an expanded role. “We are pleased that Knena will continue to provide the support, clerical expertise and coordination that we have come to appreciate and rely upon,” Bishop Gibbs said. Causey is available to provide information about Whitaker programs and resources at kcausey@edomi.org or (313) 833-4423. Third Bishop’s Picnic Set for July 27 at Emrich Registrations are requested through July 17 for the annual family event, hosted by Emrich Retreat Center, Brighton. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For $5 per person or a maximum of $20 per family, guests are treated to food, fellowship and a variety of entertainment at the diocesan
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Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori
Reminder Regarding Convention Visit from Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori As the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori will be present at our diocesan convention, local clergy and congregations are reminded the Presiding Bishop’s schedule must be respected. “The Presiding Bishop’s time in the Diocese of Michigan will be coordinated by the Office of the Bishop,” Bishop Gibbs said. “Her time with us must follow the customary that has been provided to us by her office. As such, the schedule will be organized through my office only. It would be both inappropriate and unmanageable for requests for time with the Presiding Bishop to come from individuals, groups, agencies or congregations in the diocese.” The Office of the Bishop requests no contact with the Presiding Bishop or her office be made regarding her time with the Diocese of Michigan this October. Her convention schedule will be finalized shortly. Any questions about her visit should only be directed locally to the Office of the Bishop (313-833-4435) or Canon Jo Ann Hardy (313-833-4422 or jhardy@edomi.org).
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Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
NEWS
Renewals and Farewells
There were several comings and goings in diocesan congregations recently. In May, Christ Church, Grosse Pointe welcomed a new rector, the Rev. Andrew Van Culin. The new rector previously served at St. John’s Cathedral, Denver. In addition, Tom Krell was received as a new priest at St. David’s, Southfield. He is with the Rev. Chris Yaw, rector at St. David’s, during a May ceremony. Later, at St. Philip’s, Rochester, the Rev. Geoffrey Boyer received a warm send-off from his church on June 2. After serving his church for 10 years, he is retiring and moving to Georgia.
Diocesan Calendar June 29 Diocesan Council St. John’s, Plymouth 9 a.m.
July 1-15 Camp Compassion Puerto Plata, Domincan Republic
July 28 Diocesan Picnic Emrich Retreat Center Brighton
July 1-5 Green Week Office of the Diocese of Michigan closed; Business conducted offsite
July 26-29 Bass Lake Festival Camp Michi-Lu-Ca Fairview, MI
Sept. 10 Deans Meeting St. Paul’s, Romeo Noon
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
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Times, dates and location subject to change.
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OUTREACH
Outside his comfort zone Recent college grad to teach in Haiti through YASC
Zachary Baker, 23, never really stepped out of his comfort zone. But now, he feels a compelling need to get away and do that. All the way to Haiti, in fact. Baker will be heading to Lakai, located in the southern countryside of Haiti, where he begins work later this summer. Through the Young Adults Service Corps (YASC), he will be teaching English at the Bishop Tharp Institute, a business and technology school offering associate degrees. The school is affiliated with the Episcopal Church of Haiti. Episcopal Relief and Development established the school in 2005. Baker will be teaching students who are his age and younger. That in itself will be a new experience, but it should pale in comparison with being in a new part of the world. “They asked, how do you feel being isolated? Well, I only lived a year away from home, which was 30 minutes from my house, so I’ve never really lived anywhere else,” Baker said. “But that’s what I love about it. It takes me out of my comfort zone and places me in a world that’ll help me be more independent and better equipped for different situations. I need to be out of my comfort zone.” That should be no issue for Baker, who recently graduated from Oakland University with a degree in French language and literature. He is a member at St. Luke’s, Ferndale, first attending an Episcopal church Jan. 2011. Eighteen months later, he was received into the church. “I knew I wanted to do mission work,” he said. “I went to Morocco my senior year in high school. It was a holiday, but I saw beggars and a lot of different things. So I knew I wanted to do mission
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Zachary Baker, 23, is preparing for a year long educational trip to Haiti.
work.” Baker explained how he tends to think globally. And he has always had a desire to do some kind of work abroad. “I knew the Episcopal Church had to have some sort of mission work available,” he said. All it took was a simple Google search to discover YASC, which offers the type of challenges Baker was seeking. He was disappointed
to discover he had just missed the deadline for serving in 2012; however, he was likely the first inquiry when 2013 registration opened. Once he went through a discernment process – “it solidified my call to do mission work,” Baker said – he was part of the group heading to Haiti. Along with teaching, he will also be doing some translation work for the
local diocese in Haiti. “This will be different. I’m from Royal Oak,” he said. “It’ll be a transistion, for sure. “But I just love school. If Haiti doesn’t change me, which I know it will, nothing will. I want to teach…I have that calling to go and serve, to do something in the world that can help me become a better person. Four of five years of college, that taught me a lot about things and books, but there was no hands-on stuff. I don’t want to say change the world, I don’t know if I’ll change it. But it’s important to do something to make a difference somewhere.” Baker will be there for a school year, likely in Haiti until May 2014. As part of the arrangement with YASC, one of the requirements will be to maintain a blog (a link to which can eventually be found at www.theRecordOnline. org).
The Skinny: Young Adults Service Corps What is the Young Adult Service Corps and who can apply? The Young Adult Service Corps is a ministry for young adults who are interested in exploring their faith in new ways by living and serving in communities around the Anglican Communion. YASC brings young adults into the life of the worldwide Anglican Communion and into the daily work of a local community. At the same time, it brings the gifts and resources of the church into the lives of young adults as they explore their own faith journeys. YASC is open to Episcopalians between the ages of 21 and 30. Applicants must have a high degree of maturity and possess a faith commitment, the willingness to be a humble guest, and the ability to be an authentic companion. How many Young Adult Service Corps volunteers (YASCers) are there each year? Though the number of YASCers varies from year to year, there are generally 12-20 each year. What do I get out of the Young Adult Service Corps? You get a unique opportunity to be in relationship with people from a different culture in a different part of God’s world. Many YASCers use their year of service as part of the discernment process for continued lay and ordained ministry in the church. YASC also provides a foundation for ongoing work in development-related fields. When are applications due and what does the application/discernment process include? Applications are due in early January of each year. Applicants invited to continue the process will attend a discernment weekend in early February. The discernment weekend is an important part of the application process. It is a time for all applicants to come together and engage in conversations about mission and the calling to serve God overseas. This weekend includes one-on-one and group conversations, and it is a time of mutual discernment for the applicant and the Mission Personnel Office. Following the discernment weekend, the Mission Personnel Office will work on placement arrangements for accepted applicants. During this time, YASC candidates will work on fundraising and preparing for their placements. All candidates must attend a two-week cross-cultural orientation session, usually held in June.
The Record/Summer 2013
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS
A Rundown of Upcoming Youth Activities Bass Lake: Bass Lake is a Christian Music Festival for high schoolaged youth, providing an “outside the box,” grace-filled experience of the Christian faith. Music, unique learning opportunities and a relaxed, community-building atmosphere help share the Gospel with youth from all backgrounds and levels of maturity in a beautiful outdoor setting. Camp Michi-Lu-Ca (a Lutheran camp) and Living Water Ministries host the event July 26- 29. The Youth and Young Adults program from the Diocese of Michigan holds two cabins for Episcopal churches. Cabin spaces for up to 24 have already been reserved. Registrations will not be taken after July 19. Those who sign up until June 30 are charged a fee of $140 per person; from July 1-19, the fee is $160. Learn more about this and other YaYA programs at www.edomi.org/ yaya or contact Eric Travis at (313) 833-4418. Mission: Possible: All Saints, Pontiac hosts this from 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 29 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2. This is an overnight camp. The fee is $275. The fee is $275; campers will receive a fundraising packet to help create prayer partners. The event is in Pontiac and involves building up, tearing down, cleaning up and caring for those who struggle. Eighth-graders through college-aged persons are invited; adults skilled in construction are encouraged to donate a day or more to help. Contact Andrew Wilke, Youth Minister at Advent Episcopal Church, at (248) 921-9694 or iwillserve333@aol.com; or register on Facebook page Mission: Possible. Episcopalooza: This is a new diocesan event, scheduled for Sept. 7. This will be a day of fun, carnival games, opportunities for service and a day of celebration and connection. More information will be released soon.
In April, St. Paul’s, Brighton hosted Happening 12 for young people of the diocese. Be sure to keep an eye out for details about the next Happening event, scheduled for Nov. 8-10.
Diocesan Convention: New this year will be a “Youth Experience” during the convention (Oct. 25-26 at the Renaissance Center, Detroit), which will include participation in the banquet, opening Eucharist and convention. A Friday-night overnight lock-in features a one-on-one interaction with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori. If you are interested in coming to the Youth Experience (grades 8-12) or being an Adult Helper, mark your calendar for Oct 25-26, 2013. More information will be available soon. Episcopal Youth Event: Plan ahead for the triennial event, set for July 9-13, 2014 in the Philadelphia area. Open to students in grades 9-12, it is a gathering of students from all over the Episcopal Church. Each diocese has a limited number of participants it can bring. Applications from adults who would like to chaperone will also be accepted. More information will be forthcoming
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
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DESTINATION CHURCHES
Home to History Location, history, architecture make St. John’s, Detroit unique
By Rick Schulte Probably the most bustling district of Detroit is the ‘Foxtown’ area, flanked on the west side of Woodward near I-75 with the Fox Theatre. On the east side of Woodward is the large entrance to Comerica Park (home of the Detroit Tigers). A little further east is Ford Field (home of the Detroit Lions). And while these entertainment venues draw in large, vocal crowds throughout the year, the oldest structure in the neighborhood is not full of fireworks and fury, but is home to the traditional church community of St. John’s. If you are looking for a modern experience, with bells and whistles, this is not the church for you. But as the Rev. Steven Kelly (rector at St. John’s since 2001) gladly provides a walking tour of the church prior to a weekday worship service, it’s apparent St. John’s is one of those churches rich in history. “Yes, I do love history, as a matter of fact,” Fr. Kelly said. “That does come in handy with a church like this. There is just so much history here.” St. John’s was organized in 1858, with a chapel built a year later. Realizing this area (known as Piety Hill because of the number of local churches) of orchards and farms was going to grow with time, it quickly became apparent a larger church was need. In 1861, a larger church was built. The design is Victorian Gothic, with its limestone exterior coming from a quarry in nearby Riverview (floated upstream by barge). A tower and belfry rising over 100 feet creates a distinctive landmark for thousands heading
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St. John’s, Detroit sits among the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park and Ford Field in Detroit. At one point, it was moved 60 feet when Woodward Ave. was widened in the 1930s.
through the area on a daily basis. As Kelly walks through the church, his depth of historical knowledge is apparent. But it gives a real sense of the history of the church and the area in which it presides. “It wasn’t like this when this Did You Know: The parking lot to St. John’s is available for use on game-day by the Lions and Tigers (plus Fox Theatre), which helps create a solid, seasonal income for the church.
was first built,” Fr. Kelly said. “In fact, if you go out onto Woodward, the building originally reached into the northbound left lane.”
That’s because Woodward used to be a small road. When it expanded as Detroit expanded “wood-ward” toward the forests of northwest Detroit and Oakland County, the existing structures sitting close to the street had to be moved. In 1936, after much debate, the congregation opted to keep its address, but physically move the building 60 feet to the east. To allay fears that the church’s 40-ton roof would not be able to withstand such a move, steel stanchions were erected from the church undercroft to support the roof. There is much more tradition that can be found in the church, in the stained glass windows (many over 130 years old) to the
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artistic backdrop above the white stone altar. St. John’s is also traditional in the sense that it worships from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and The Hymnal, 1940. History and tradition seem to be a part of the daily ritual at St. John’s. Fr. Kelly related a story of how the church wanted to deal with a fully-stocked fallout shelter found in the basement. “We called Homeland Security and said, ‘we’ve got a fallout shelter from the 1950s here, fully stocked. What do we do with it?’ They said they’d get back to me,” he said. Eventually, he did get a return phone call saying it was indeed the church’s property, and they could do what they wanted with it. “We did open a tin of crackers. They were still very fresh. Didn’t taste so great, but they were still fresh,” he said, with a laugh. “We didn’t eat anything more after that.”
Meet Our Churches With nearly 80 churches in the Diocese of Michigan, covering an area from Detroit to Lansing, and from Romeo to Hillsdale, there is a wide variety of churches from which to choose. People often travel during the summer. We encourage everyone to visit any of our churches for summertime visits; we are highlighting a handful based on their history, architecture or location. We will also highlight three different churches with each future edition of The Record, giving everyone a chance to learn about all the churches in the Diocese of Michigan.
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
Others to visit: Christ Church Cranbrook, Bloomfield Hills The church gained a level of notoriety in 2011, where a few scenes from the movie “The Ides of March” were filmed. However, that alone does not make Christ Church Cranbrook unique. This is part of the sprawling Cranbrook educational commu-
DESTINATION CHURCHES
nity. Newspaper magnate Charles Booth decided in the early 1920s that a church was needed to serve the local community; groundbreaking began in 1925. The church is unique with its artistic and architectural detail. From the woodcarvings, stained glass windows and large Katherine McEwen fresco at the front of the church, Christ Church is a
thriving church community with a breath-taking house of worship. St. James, Grosse Ile St. James, which held its first services in 1868, is the only church in the diocese sitting on an island. Accessible by a pair of bridges, Grosse Ile is about 20 miles south of Detroit. No history of this church is
complete without mentioning Lisette Denison Forth, a former slave, who willed a portion of her estate (approximately $3,000) to help build St. James. The remainder came from William Biddle, whose son (Col. John Biddle, former mayor of Detroit) donated a large Tiffany glass window. This helped create what is now the chapel. The larger church, a
A guide to all of our churches This is a listing of all the churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Please note: Some churches have altered or combined their service times for the summer season. We encourage you to visit any of these churches; we also advise calling ahead to find a current worship schedule. In addition, once you’ve visited a new church, we’d love to hear about it! Post your thoughts/pictures on our Facebook page, or email us at submit@edomi.org. Adrian Church Name: Christ Church Location: 720 Riverside Avenue Phone Number: 517-263-1162
Birmingham Church Name: St. James Location: 355 West Maple Phone Number: 248-644-0820
Allen Park Church Name: St. Luke’s Location: 15603 Wick Road Phone Number: 313-381-6345
Bloomfield Hills Church Name: Christ Church Cranbrook Location: 470 Church Road Phone Number: 248-644-5210
Ann Arbor Church Name: Canterbury House Location: 721 E. Huron Street Phone Number: 734-665-0606 Church Name: Church of the Incarnation Location: 3257 Lohr Road Phone Number: 734-769-7900 Church Name: St. Aidan’s Location: 1679 Broadway Phone Number: 734-663-5503 Church Name: St. Andrew’s Location: 306 North Division Street Phone Number: 734-663-0518 Church Name: St. Clare of Assisi Location: 2309 Packard Road Phone Number: 734-662-2449 Belleville Church Name: Trinity Church Location: 11575 Belleville Road Phone Number: 734-699-3361
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
Bloomfield Twp. Church Name: Nativity Church Location: 21220 W. Fourteen Mile Road Phone Number: 248-646-4100 Brighton Church Name: St. Paul’s Location: 200 W. St. Paul’s Street Phone Number: 810-229-2821 (Note: Services will move to St. Mary Magdalene, Brighton during a year-long construction project). Brooklyn Church Name: All Saints Location: 151 N. Main Street Phone Number: 517-592-2244 Chelsea Church Name: St. Barnabas Location: 20500 Old U.S. 12 Phone Number: 734-475-8818
Clarkston Church Name: Church of the Resurrection Location: 6490 Clarkston Road Phone Number: 248-625-2325 Clinton Church Name: St John’s Episcopal Church Location: 122 E. Church Street Phone Number: 517-456-4828 Dearborn Church Name: Christ Church Location: 120 N. Military Phone Number: 313-565-8450 Detroit Church Name: All Saints Location: 3837 W. Seven Mile Road Phone Number: 313-341-5320
Church Name: Grace Church Location: 1926 Virginia Park Phone Number: 313-895-6442 Church Name: Spirit of Hope Location: 1519 Martin Luther King Blvd. Phone Number: 313-964-3113 Church Name: St. Christopher/St. Paul Location: 20750 West McNichols Phone Number: 313-538-2320 Church Name: St. Cyprian’s Location: 6114 28th Street Phone Number: 313-896-7515 Church Name: St. John’s Location: 50 East Fisher Freeway (at Woodward) Phone Number: 313-962-7358
Church Name: Cathedral Church of St. Paul Location: 4800 Woodward Avenue Phone Number: 313-831-5000
Church Name: St. Martin’s Location: 24699 Grand River Phone Number: 313-533-3600
Church Name: Christ Church Location: 960 East Jefferson Phone Number: 313-259-6688
Church Name: St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’s Location: 8850 Woodward Avenue Phone Number: 313-871-4750
Church Name: Church of the Messiah Location: 231 East Grand Blvd. Phone Number: 313-567-1158
The Record/Summer 2013
Church Name: St. Peter’s Location: 1950 Trumbull Avenue Phone Number: 313-496-0938
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Carpenter Gothic structure, was opened in 1958. St. James is on the National Register of Historic Places.
DESTINATION CHURCHES
on the Capitol lawn). A small structure was erected, but needing more room, a larger church building was opened in 1873. Growth of the church (which was the first Episcopal church in Ingham County) was helped by its proximity to both the Capitol, plus Michigan Agricultural College (now Michigan State University). The current church building opened in 1914, constructed at a cost of $27,000. Interestingly enough, as history tends to show how prices increase, the large round window in the church was installed in 1963 for $17,500. They still cast a beautiful light in
St. Andrew’s, Ann Arbor Among the diverse cluster of churches in and around Ann Arbor is St. Andrew’s, which stands out as the community has been in existence since prior to the Civil War. The current church was consecrated in 1867 and holds the distinction as the oldest, continuously used church building in Ann Arbor. The detail of the stone structure is remarkable and is original. The church tower was added to the building in the late
Grosse Pointe Church Name: Christ Church Location: 61 Grosse Pointe Blvd Phone Number: 313-885-4841
Lake Orion Church Name: St. Mary’s-in-the-Hills Location: 2512 Joslyn Court Phone Number: 248-391-0663
Grosse Pointe Woods Church Name: St. Michael’s Location: 20475 Sunningdale Phone Number: 313-884-4820
Lansing Church Name: St. Michael’s Location: 6500 Amwood Drive Phone Number: 517-882-9733
East Lansing Church Name: All Saints Location: 800 Abbott Road Phone Number: 517-351-7160
Hamburg Church Name: St. Stephen’s Location: 10585 Hamburg Road Phone Number: 810-231-3220
Church Name: St. Paul’s Location: 218 W. Ottawa Street Phone Number: 517-482-9454
Ecorse Church Name: Church of the Resurrection Location: 27085 West Outer Drive Phone Number: 313-382-1781
Hillsdale Church Name: St. Peter’s Location: 3 North Broad Street Phone Number: 517-437-2833
St. Paul’s, Lansing If you have a hard time finding St. Paul’s, there’s an easy way to regain your bearings. Simply look for the State Capitol building; St. Paul’s is directly across the street. In fact, the Senate rooms of Capitol Building are where the beginnings of an Episcopal community gathered for worship in 1847. Slowly, the church community began to grow, although it still needed a true home. (Many Sunday activities took place
DeWitt Church Name: Christ United (St. Anne’s) Location: 1000 Webb Road Phone Number: 517-669-9308 Dexter Church Name: St. James Location: 3279 Broad Street Phone Number: 734-426-8247
Farmington Hills Church Name: Trinity Church Location: 26880 La Muera Street Phone Number: 248-474-2860 Ferndale Church Name: St. Luke’s Location: 540 West Lewiston Phone Number: 248-543-5900 Grosse Ile Church Name: St. James Location: 25150 E. River Road Phone Number: 734-676-1727
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Howell Church Name: St. John’s Location: 504 Prospect Street Phone Number: 517-546-3660 Inkster Church Name: St. Clement’s Location: 4300 Harrison Road Phone Number: 734-728-0790 Jackson Church Name: St. Paul’s Location: 309 South Jackson Street Phone Number: 517-787-3370
the nave, as do the other stainedglass windows throughout the church.
Lincoln Park Church Name: St. Michael’s and All Angels Location: 1325 Champaign Street Phone Number: 313-382-5525 Livonia Church Name: St. Andrew’s Location: 16360 Hubbard Road Phone Number: 734-421-8451 Madison Heights Church Name: St. Patrick’s Location: 1434 East Thirteen Mile Road Phone Number: 248-585-9591 Mason Church Name: St. Augustine of Canterbury Location: 546 West South Street Phone Number: 517-676-2525
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1800s. A Gothic structure, St. Andrew’s features many fascinating details that require a closer look. The main aisle of the nave is lined with stones from Pewabic Pottery. As a reminder that St. Andrew’s is not only in a college town, but also accessible to students at the University of Michigan, there’s a pew near the rear of the church bearing a plate reading “Edmund Erskine Brady, Student Pew, 1869.” In that era, pew rentals were common. Brady funded the pew to allow U-M students to attend services “free of charge.”
Michigan Center Church Name: St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church Location: 361 East Grove Street Phone Number: 517-764-2950 Milford Church Name: St. George’s Location: 801 East Commerce Street Phone Number: 248-684-0495 Monroe Church Name: Trinity Church Location: 11 West Third Street Phone Number: 734-242-3113 Mt. Clemens Church Name: Grace Church Location: 115 South Main Street Phone Number: 586-465-4573 Novi Church Name: Holy Cross Location: 40700 West Ten Mile Road Phone Number: 248-427-1175 Onsted Church Name: St. Michael’s and All Angels Location: 11646 Old Pike Road Phone Number: 517-467-7855
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
DESTINATION CHURCHES
All Saints, Brooklyn Celebrates 150 Years in Irish Hills The sounds of a bagpipe player, leading the congregation in a procession around the grounds of All Saints, Brooklyn, served as a audible reminder of the Irish history of the church. On June 9, All Saints celebrated the 150th anniversary of its consecration as a church. The congregation was first established in 1858, although it took a few years to erect a church building. (Legend has it that as the church opened even before windows were installed, a donkey once stuck its head through one of the openings, bringing a few laughs during a worship service). To give an idea of how long ago 150 years is, consider that All Saints’ construction was delayed
Pleasant Lake Church Name: Christ Episcopal Church Location: 9900 North Meridian Road Phone Number: 517-769-2333 Plymouth Church Name: St. John’s Location: 574 South Sheldon Road Phone Number: 734-453-0190 Pontiac Church Name: All Saints Location: 171 West Pike Phone Number: 248-334-4571 Redford Church Name: St. Elizabeth’s Location: 26431 West Chicago Phone Number: 313-937-2880 Rochester Church Name: St. Phillip’s Location: 100 Romeo Street Phone Number: 248-651-6188 Romeo Church Name: St. Paul’s Location: 11100 West St. Clair Phone Number: 586-752-3212
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
when several members of the congregation went off to fight in the Civil War. The church building itself is a classic representation of available local resources. Butternut ash, maple and oak were milled at the south end of town. The soft brick used for the church was selected with a possible future issue in mind – there were concerns Brooklyn could have become a ghost town if the population moved south to the crossroads of ‘The Old Sauk Trail’ (which is now the intersection of US12 and M-50 highways, near the Michigan International Speedway). Instead, the railroad came through Brooklyn and kept the future of the town bright.
The church building bears resemblance to many Irish and English countryside churches, which features a unique porch on the side of the building. This has served as the primary church entrance. The church (and many in the area, in fact) were established by the Rev. William Lyster, an Irishborn priest who was charged with establishing church communities in the southern wildnerness of the state. Lyster said the “these hills remind me of my native homeland;” it is believed this is from where the name Irish Hills was derived. Working with a true missionary zeal, Lyster was a literal workhorse preacher. In 1841,
Royal Oak Church Name: St. John’s Location: 26998 Woodward Avenue Phone Number: 248-546-1255
St. Clair Shores Church Name: Trinity Episcopal Church Location: 30205 East Jefferson Avenue Phone Number: 586-294-0740
Saline Church Name: Holy Faith Church Location: 6299 Ann Arbor Saline Road Phone Number: 734-429-2991 Shelby Twp. Church Name: St. Luke’s Location: 7700 22 Mile Road Phone Number: 586-731-1221
Taylor Church Name: Christ the King Location: 23045 Wick Road Phone Number: 313-291-4570 Trenton Church Name: St. Thomas Location: 2441 Nichols Drive Phone Number: 734-676-3122
he preached 140 sermons, from Detroit to Kalamazoo, traveling through the wilderness by horseback. The history of the church can still be seen today. A window in the nave was dedicated to the A.P. Cook family in 1862. There’s also a window with the Lyster family coat of arms, dating back to the 1870s. A visit to this church requires an early entrance, to give enough time to examine the windows, architecture and general unique nooks of the building. The Rev. Gary Fertig is rector for All Saints.
West Bloomfield Church Name: Advent Church Location: 2399 Figa Avenue Phone Number: 248-338-3505 Westland Church Name: St. John’s Location: 555 South Wayne Road Phone Number: 734-721-5023 Williamston Church Name: St. Katherine’s Location: 4650 Meridian Road Phone Number: 517-349-4120
Southfield Church Name: Church of the Redeemer Location: 18140 Cornell Road Phone Number: 248-569-4418
Troy Church Name: St. Stephen’s Location: 5500 North Adams Road Phone Number: 248-641-8080
Wyandotte Church Name: St. Stephen’s Location: 2803 First Street Phone Number: 734-284-8777
Church Name: St. David’s Location: 16200 West Twelve Mile Road Phone Number: 248-557-5430
Walled Lake Church Name: St. Anne’s Location: 430 Nicolet Street Phone Number: 248-624-3817
Ypsilanti Church Name: St. Luke’s Location: 120 North Huron Phone Number: 734-483-4253
Southgate Church Name: Grace Church Location: 15650 Reeck Road Phone Number: 734-285-0380
Waterford Church Name: St. Andrew’s Location: 5301 Hatchery Road Phone Number: 248-673-7635
The Record/Summer 2013
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OPINION
A way of seeing
We need to be ready to meet the Jesus of the marginalized How many of you remember the crack epidemic from the early 1980s? Crack, you may recall, was the poor person’s cocaine, spreading like influenza through our inner cities and wreaking havoc in a lot of lives. And one of the big concerns at that time had to do with crack babies. Anyone remember the crack-baby scare? The idea was that we were going to get this whole generation of kids with serious, life-long impairments because they were born to addicted mothers. The cocaine in their system at birth was going to make them permanently impulsive, violent, learning-disabled and poor at decision-making—surefire candidates to swell a coming tide of vicious crime and lawlessness. There was only one problem. It wasn’t true. It turns out all that hysteria was based on one, short-term study of only 23 babies. Most of the symptoms it cited were symptoms related to the babies’ premature birth and not to the mothers’ drug use. More rigorous, long-term studies have found, at most, only subtle effects from fetal cocaine exposure. So there was no tide of crack kids overwhelming “every social service delivery system that they (came) in contact with,” as one expert had predicted. In fact, fetal alcohol syndrome has much more dangerous and longlasting effects on health and development. So then, what was the whole
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crack-baby scare because they had a about? Well, it was crack addiction while about many things pregnant. Did we pay –poverty, addiction, attention to the exlack of choices--but I perts who, even then, think it was also about were questioning the a way of seeing. Speflimsy evidence on cifically, it was about which all this hysteRev. Ivan Reed a way that a powerful, ria was built? We did Twiss light-skinned majornot. Did we prosecute ity saw an impoveralcoholic mothers, ished, dark-skinned who were doing much minority – for crack, as you may more damage to their fetuses remember, was understood to than crack mothers? We did not. be an African-American drug. You know what we did? We built And everyone piled on: Scien- prisons. We built prisons and tists, politicians, the New York filled them with drug offenders of Times and Newsweek and Roll- color, most of them nonviolent. ing Stone, Peter Jennings, Tom In this way, the very symptoms of Brokaw, Dan Rather. The worst poverty and oppression became cases of negligent, drugged-out a justification, in the minds of “welfare moms” were trotted out the majority – white minds, our before us on the nightly news to minds – to inflict further oppresconfirm, for us, the character of sion. It was about a way of seeing. an entire population. This way of seeing is probAnd we (as ‘White America’) ably not so different from the reacted. We got tough on crime. way Roman soldiers viewed and We declared a war on drugs –par- treated their Jewish subjects in ticularly drugs in certain neigh- first century Palestine. No doubt, borhoods. Mothers – mostly they had the same kinds of judgpoor, mostly black or Latina – ments and prejudices that fueled were actually charged, convicted our crack-baby hysteria. “Those and sentenced for child abuse people” are lazy, stupid, irrespon-
Tom Brokaw and other newscasters were all over the crack epidemic, which was supposed to produce a generation of ‘crack babies.’ It didn’t quite work out that way. (Photo courtesy NBC News).
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sible, untrustworthy, violent, criminal and dirty. That’s how the thinking tends to go among groups that dominate other groups. It’s a way of seeing. And yet in today’s gospel, we have this Roman Centurion who defies that way of seeing to seek help from Jesus, a Palestinian Jew. This is a healing story. On one level, Jesus heals the Centurion’s slave because of the Centurion’s faith. But on another level, the story is also about healing division between peoples. In this sense, the Centurion is also healed by the interaction, which he himself initiates by first acknowledging his need for it. Think about that for a minute. That is a profound act. In reaching out to Jesus, this guy has to overcome all those toxic beliefs, all those messages reinforced by his colleagues and friends, that Jews are dirty and dangerous and not good for much. It’s as if you or I had stood up in the 80s to all those experts and news exposés about irresponsible, welfare-sucking, crack moms and said, “Wait a minute. We are getting poisoned by a way of seeing here. And we need to be healed of that way of seeing. We need to really examine the hard science, but more than that, we need to go out and seek the presence of Christ in the people we have been so quick to judge. We need to acknowledge our need for these Continued on Page 15
Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
EPISCOPAL MIGRATION MINISTRIES Continued on Page 14
others in order to be healed.” That’s what the Roman Centurion did. I don’t mean to sound like I am diminishing Jesus’ role as the savior and healer here. Of course, it is in Jesus the Christ, and not just any Palestinian Jew, that the Centurion needs to place his heart. But it’s also no accident that this Son of God appears to the Centurion as a Palestinian Jew, as the Other, as a member of the group toward which the Centurion should be most hostile. Friends, today is a healing Sunday. In a little while some of us will come to the kneeler to receive prayer and anointing for healing. There are many personal wounds of which we might need to be healed, and I hope you will come to have those wounds washed in the balm of prayer if you feel so moved. But today’s gospel reminds us that there are also social wounds of which we need to be healed – racial animosity, religious suspicion, political polarization. And to heal these things, we need to seek and find Jesus not just here, but outside of these walls, in those Others whom we most misunderstand. Just as the Roman Centurion needed the Jesus who met him as a Palestinian Jew, so do we need the Jesus who meets us as the illegal immigrant, or the inner-city addict, or the transgendered person, or the worshipper at the mosque – whoever it might be that can help to heal us of one way of seeing by opening us to another. The Rev. Ian Reed Twiss is pastor of Holy Faith Church, Saline, an Episcopal-Lutheran community. This was from a sermon delivered June 2, 2013, following the Gospel from Luke 7:1-10. Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
Diocese of Michigan, Lutheran Social Services Offer Help, Opportunities
Worldwide, there are more than 40 million refugees who are facing a wide range of hardships.
World Refugee Day (which took place June 22) was established by the United Nations as a reminder for the courage shown by the millions of men, women and children who are forced to flee their homes. The threats they face come in the form persecution, violence and conflict. Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) is active locally, working with Lutheran Social Services of Michigan to help refugees. EMM worked through the Diocese of Michigan years ago before budget restrictions brought that to a close. But the diocese is partnering with Lutheran Social Services to offer many helpful options. “There are locations throughout the country that are places refugees come in, gateways into the country,” said the Rev. Michelle Meech, ministry developer for the Diocese of Michigan. “Episcopal Migration Ministries works with people that are on the ground, processing refugees.” EMM is currently processing large numbers of Chaldean refugees. Chaldeans are generally Christian Iraquis who also have languages differences than other
Iraquis. The Detroit area features the largest concentration of Chaldeans outside of the Middle East. “With the large Chaldean population in this area, this makes Detroit a primary location to come into this country,” Meech said. Specifically, there is a large Chaldean community on the north end of Detroit, and a significant community in the northern part of the diocese (parts of Oakland and Macomb counties). “Already, the Oakland Deanery is very interested. There are some connections being made,” she said. The effort pays off when refugees are provided with the basic needs to put down roots in a safe place. EMM’s network of faith groups, community organizations and volunteers makes it possible to not only relocate these refugees, but also give them a chance to succeed. Many come to this country with nothing but the clothes on their backs, so it really is a matter of starting from scratch. In 2011, EMM helped more than 3,600 refugees from 34 countries. Worldwide, there are
The Record/Summer 2013
more than 40 million refugees who have been forced away from their home. While the diocese is working on further developing relationships in the Chaldean community, individuals and congregations can have an impact, too. “If a congregation feels this could be a part of their ministry, they could become a congregation that co-sponsors,” Meech said. Help can come in many forms – financial pledges, donations and the like. But it also comes simply from being willing to provide other support. “Sometimes, they could use people to shuttle them around, or a friendly face at the airport when they arrive,” she said. “There are so many ways to get involved.” In the coming months, the Diocese of Michigan will provide updates on how to help through the Weekly Connection e-newsletter and online at www.edomi.org. Another good place to find information is through www.lssm.org, the website for Lutheran Social Services of Michigan.
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OPINION
Life is so very fragile By the Rev. Terri Pilarski Who would have thought, just a few days ago, that we would be here tonight? This has been an especially difficult few days. Days like these remind us that life is so very fragile. One moment all seems well, and the next moment a sudden heart attack strikes. Or a moment of distracted driving and an accident happens. Or an historic tornado blows through town. Or a there’s a bombing or a shooting. Lives are lost in a moment of time. Life is fragile. For Thomas, his life too was fragile, and now, in an instant, he’s gone And no one could have predicted just how vulnerable Thomas was. Perhaps some of you are feeling guilty or questioning what you could have done to help Thomas more? The truth is, everyone did the best they could. Thomas didn’t die because you failed. Thomas died because of his illness. You, his family and friends, did the best you could. Thomas didn’t die because you didn’t do enough. Some anger at Thomas, should you feel that at some point in time, is appropriate. This isn’t fair or easy or convenient. Thomas’s death changes everything and makes so many aspects of living that much harder. Remember, sometimes a fatal illness leaves more questions than answers. We don’t need to have answers to all of our questions. Some questions will never be answered this side of God’s kingdom. But there are plenty of things we do know. We know that Thomas was unconditionally loved by his mother and his father. He was loved by his brothers and family, and by many friends. We know that Thomas had this unique ability to touch the lives of
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people in significant ways. You’ve no doubt been telling and hearing some of these stories over the past several days. You shared stories, even some laughter, at the viewing yesterday. You’ll continue to share stories, even some laughter, through the days ahead, as you remember him. You’ve also shed many tears and there will be more of those, but intermingled, there will always be some laughter. Life is complicated that way, a tumble of emotions as we remember… That is something you can do. In the coming days and weeks and months, remember Thomas, and share stories. Some stories will make you smile in amazement, or bring up feelings of sadness, nostalgia, and even sometimes raucous laughter. Perhaps you will discover something about yourself and something about Thomas as you tell these stories. When you tell these stories, take a moment, as you are able, to be grateful, especially grateful to God for placing Thomas in your life. This is a good day to give thanks to God for placing Thomas in your life. We know that Thomas has played an important part in shaping who you are. This is evident because his death has left a huge aching hole in the center of your being, a hole that will now always be a part of your life. And so today we also acknowledge the hurt and pain and the gaping hole, love ripped open. But today is also a good day to care for one another. It is a good day to honor the fragility of life and hold one another tenderly. Because when we care for one another we are doing God’s work. This is a good day to allow people to comfort us. Perhaps you are wondering how you can comfort his parents and this family? Here are
a couple of ideas: As time goes on, call them just to say you love them. And sometimes, just show up with a cup of coffee. Listen as they tell stories or share their despair. Just listen. You don’t have to have any answers, there really aren’t any anyway. Say the name of their beloved child out loud. Ask, “What have you been remembering?” or “What’s the hardest thing these days?” But most of all, just be present in a loving way. Remember, grief takes the time it takes. It can’t be rushed. Don’t judge, just love them. Because the Christian hope for life is that we will know God’s love in our lives and share that love with others, graciously and abundantly. We come here today to celebrate the life of Thomas, but to also hold up the Christian understanding of life and death. As Christians we believe that death is not the end of a life but a life changed. I mean this in the most spiritual of realities. Grounded in God we come to understand that, in death, a person is born into a new life with God. In this new life, all pain and suffering is gone. In this new life, the one we love is transformed from despair into peace. Today is a good day to remember that Jesus, and God, know the depth of your despair. It’s a good day to remember that through Jesus, God transforms our despair into peace. We know that God made some irrevocable promises to Thomas. Long ago, Thomas was baptized and became a child of God. That was a relationship that God promised never to abandon. I am confident that God kept God’s promise and Thomas resides with God today. On a day like this it is so important to let the words from the Gospel of John take hold of us:
The Record/Summer 2013
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also...” The Gospel of John assures us that Jesus waits for us. That Jesus had a place prepared for Thomas, greeted him with open arms, and comforts him this day. That brings us hope. We know that God loves Thomas unconditionally. God accepts Thomas into God’s arms, too. God forgives him all that needs to be forgiven, and assures him that all is well. That brings us peace today. And so, it is a jumbled up day with all these emotions of despair and grief, hope and love, assurance and peace all mixed together. Slowly, over time, jumbled up emotions will settle. God’s peace will take hold of today’s grief and soothe its brittle pieces. The grief will always be there, but through the grace of God and the love of God, God’s peace will prevail and the ragged edges will soften. Be not afraid, for Jesus goes before us, and will give us rest. May Thomas rest well this day and every day in the peace of Christ. May you know Thomas’s abiding love in your lives, in your memories, in your stories, in your tears and in your laughter, in and through all the days of your lives, until you meet again in that place where suffering is no more, but love and peace prevail. The Rev. Terri Pilarski is rector at Christ Church, Dearborn. To grant his family privacy, the name Thomas was used as an alias in the print version of this sermon. To read the blog that helped inspire this sermon and to learn more, visit www.theRecordOnline. org. Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
We discovered this photo of Detroit from 1942.
Notice the downtown skyline, the vintage cars on Woodward Avenue (driving alongside our Cathedral Church of St. Paul, on the left) and the trolley tracks running down the middle of the street. How cool is this? Robert Campbell: The Woodward Ave trolley, the last in Detroit, was discontinued in April 1956. (Michigan-Gratiot went in 1955 and East Jefferson in 1954). On weekdays in the 1940s, the Woodward trolleys ran every minute in the rush hour and every 2 minutes in the middle of the day. They were run by DSR, which some believe means Detroit Street Railways, but more accurately refers to the City of Detroit Department of Street Railways, as public transit in Detroit has been a municipal function since the early 1920s. I think the buses on Woodward now run about every 7 minutes in the rush hour and every 9 minutes in the mid-day, so ridership is down some 80% plus, 70 years later. Woodward had trolleys made in the late 1940s, and when the last streetcars ran, they were in such good shape that they were sold to Mexico City and ran for at least two decades there. It looks like Woodward may get trolleys back, but only from downtown to the New Center, and not all the way to the Fairgrounds, like they used to run (and the current D-DOT buses). Trolleys haven’t operated into the distant suburbs since the early 1930s (Royal Oak and Dearborn had trolleys into 194667), and the inter-urban version of the trolley ran not only to Pontiac, but also to Flint and to Imlay City, as well as many other eastern Michigan locations. Nancy Camp: Before I was born, but I remember some of the sights...My Mom and Dad were married there in 1941.
Mother’s Day: Tell us who you are celebrating today Margaret Lumpkin Love: My mother, and my daughter, who made me a mother, and the stellar volunteers at our church who mother so many every week with the Grace Church soup kitchen and community suppers. The celebration of life for Lance Massey, music minister at St. James, Grosse Ile: Andrew Johnson: He was a true musician and Christian in every sense of the word. He will be missed beyond words! Mikell Thurston Griffith: I sang with Lance at St. Augustine’s in Kalamazoo. His compositions, his musicianship and his compassion for music and the artist are memories deep in my soul. Thanks Lance!
‘Like’ us on Facebook, then join in the conversation with other members of the diocesan household and beyond.
Paul Haebig: Would love to have some kind of public transit available from Ann Arbor to the mid-town area. I’d go to more events at the Cathedral if I didn’t have to drive. Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
The Record/Summer 2013
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BOOK REVIEW
‘Dinotopia’ a book to share with the entire family Many grown ups who love to All the dinosaurs are shown in read find sharing an excellent beautifully colored illustrations book with a young relative or based on James Gurney’s studfriend a joyful experiies of prehistoric life. Every page has at ence. But children of least one sumptuous different ages, boys illustration, and evand girls with divergent interests can ery dinosaur is carepose a challenge. The fully labeled. Readers youngest girl wants a see them performbook about baby aniing peaceful tasks. A Kentrosaurus delivers mals and the oldest Dawn bagel-style loaves of boy wants an exciting McDuffie bread looped over its book. The adult only spikes. A Lambeosauhopes he or she will rus uses the resonating enjoy reading it aloud. Thank goodness for Dinotopia! chamber in its crest to make muIt has a story to tell, and what a sic, while its human assistant crestory it is! In 1862, Arthur Deni- ates similar music with an elaboson and his 12-year-old son, Will, rate wind instrument. Granted, are shipwrecked on an undiscov- the carnivores are more hungry ered island in the than peaceful, but Bix gains safe passage South Pacific. Father through their swamp and son are rescued by friendly dolphins with baskets of fish. and carried to shore. Human children Once they recover care for dino hatchfrom their ordeal, lings, while smallish they discover the Isdinos watch over huland of Dinotopia is man toddlers. These full of wonders. The dinosaurs are just plant-eating dinosaurs are clever as intelligent as we are, and are and cooperative. They take care much more committed to preof toddlers, study philosophy serving their island and keeping and lend their massive strength life positive and peaceful. Celto construction and engineering ebrations and festivals are freprojects to benefit humans and quent. I love looking at procesdinosaurs alike. A diverse group sions of children in their prettiest of humans lives on the island. party clothing and at parading They’ve kept track of the gen- dinosaurs decked in garlands, erations since a rescued ancestor brocade hangings, and very large joined Dinotopia, and they speak gold medallions. Most human many different languages. For- children carry dinosaur toys, and tunately, Bix, Protoceratops and most hatchlings have a special ambassador, volunteers to act as human friend. a guide for Arthur and Will. She Every person sharing the book enjoys travel and speaks 17 dif- will find a favorite character and ferent human and dinosaur lan- storyline. Adventurous readers will enjoy Will and Sylvia’s trainguages. Of course the book is a fantasy, ing as they learn to ride the gibut the information on dinosaurs ant pterosaur, Quetzalcoatlus. has been carefully researched. Book Two even has a story about
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a baby animal, Stubb. These are pictures and stories to talk about and share. The designs of equipment and jewelry might inspire some original pictures and art projects. The family might try sharing the dinosaur greeting: Breathe deep. Seek peace. I can imagine a discussion of the dinosaur code of conduct and what would be one or two good rules to add
to the code. The dinosaur alphabet, all based on the footprints of three-toed dinosaurs could lead to making up coded messages to share with family members. If you can’t visit an exotic location this summer, visit Dinotopia with the children. Dawn McDuffie is a freelance writer and a member of the Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit.
There’s more news online. Read theRecord Online.org Including: The Nuts and Bolts Blog More Destination Church photos and information Whitaker Celebration
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Episcopal Diocese of Michigan
THE FINAL WORD
The movie ‘42’ reminds us of challenges faced by baseball’s Jackie Robinson The issues of gay marriage and LGBT rights fall into hot-button category these days. And while it may be hard to believe, there may be a time when gay marriage (gay union, or whatever you wish to call it) won’t be such a huge deal. In the future, there will be people who oppose it; just like there will be people who won’t fully appreciate the struggles endured today by the LGBT population. Such is the case with the racism and society’s overall attitude toward African-Americans in post-World War II America, as depicted in the movie ‘42.’ The film, which chronicled all that went into Jackie Robinson becoming the first black Major League Baseball player, was a thoughtful reminder of how things were. During World War II, blacks (including Robinson) were allowed to serve in the military, and did so with great pride. But once the war was over, things to returned to how they always were. While Jackie Robinson attended UCLA (and later lived in California), he was in a part of the world where issues of race really weren’t a big deal. That was one part of the world. Much of the rest of it, in America, was quite different. While playing on a Negro League team, he and his team encountered a gas attendant who tried to stop Robinson from using a ‘whites only’ bathroom. The movie elevates its images of racism from there, starting when Robinson was signed by Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey. Why sign Jackie Robinson, Rickey’s minions quipped. There was concern the idea of a “Negro” playing baseball with white men would turn off paying customEpiscopal Diocese of Michigan
ers. Rickey’s response? Another scene (extremely graphic, but He didn’t care about out of necessity to fulthe color of a man’s ly get an appreciation skin; he only cared for the hate Robinson about green (the color encountered) has an of money), of which opposing manager Rickey would make peppering Robinson plenty if the Dodgers with every ugly taunt won a World Series. imaginable. RobinAs the movie proRick son knew he couldn’t Schulte gressed, there were respond to it. He was ugly instances of raccarrying the burden ism, ranging from of being the first black threats of violence while Robbaseball player, and he couldn’t inson stayed in Florida during sully it by making any kind of spring training, to one player response. And Robinson surely beaning him in the head with a couldn’t let him know this was fastball once he arrived in the big getting under his skin. leagues. So after one at bat, RobinTwo scenes in particular stood son went into the dugout and out. One, during a road game in ran down the clubhouse tunCincinnati (along with St. Louis, nel, where no one could see being one of the southern-most him. He repeatedly smashed his Major League cities during the bat against a wall, sobbing. You era), a young boy is thrilled to be could feel his pain. You realized seeing local hero Pee Wee Reese that while there were segments playing for the visiting Dodgers. of society that were accepting of But when Robinson takes the blacks (just as it had earlier acfield, he is at first mortified to hear cepted Jews, Italians, Irish or any the vitriol directed toward the other ethnic group), there were game’s only black player. When many who were either racist or he sees his father is screaming as indifferent. loudly and profanely as everyone In some sense, that’s where else, the young boy follows suit we are today with LGBT issues. and uses the N-word to cut down I have heard and read the arguRobinson. ment “Jackie Robinson didn’t
Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson (portrayed by Chadwick Boseman) tips his cap to the crowd in a scene from the movie ‘42’. (Photo: Warner Bros.)
The Record/Summer 2013
choose to be black. But homosexuals have a choice” more times than I can count. But Jackie Robinson indeed chose to play baseball. He – and the other groundbreaking black baseball players like Larry Doby, Roy Campanella, Satchel Paige – weren’t content with hiding in the Negro Leagues simply because they didn’t want to offend traditional, conservative, white baseball fans. Yes, there was a financial reward to playing Major League Baseball. But that incentive had to be tempered by the fear existing among these athletes who had experienced racism and knew of the painful greeting awaiting them. In 2013, how often do you hear anyone say blacks shouldn’t be allowed to be baseball? Society has moved forward since the 1940s. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s not the same, either. Today, the idea of members of the LGBT community being afforded the same rights and comforts of heterosexuals is awkward and uncomfortable to many people. Change does take time, although it is undeniably underway. When NBA player Jason Collins recently announced he is gay, some referred to him as a hero. Some vilified him for being gay. Is he today’s Jackie Robinson? That’s open to debate. It is fair to say, however, there was only one Jackie Robinson, who walked into what he knew would be a firestorm of controversy and handled it with grace and dignity. That is a lesson all of today’s groundbreakers should remember. Rick Schulte is director of communications for the Diocese of Michigan and is also editor of The Record.
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