April 14, 2009 Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond

This sign is found in Israel. It is located that the 2nd location of Jesus' empty tomb and it referred as the Garden Tomb. It is fitting for this time of year.

Here is a picture of Easter Lilies found at St. James in Encampment. I was not there this year (first year since I started in 2003) and Rev Ray Griebs presided. I heard that he had an Easter Sermon for the kids this year and the adults found the sermon enlightening as well.

Here are the girls in search for Easter Eggs. They were four of them as they rushed around the grounds locating the eggs that were hidden after the service. The ground was a bit wet from the rain, nevertheless the kids carried on with their duty and found the eggs.

St. Thomas built a new cross this year. As the flow of the weekly services go this cross was used on Good Friday and it was strip bare. When people came in on Sunday they found that the once stark cross now as flowers on it and it looks alive. Nice touch.

Here we see the leadership of St. Luke's in Medicine Bow working hard to prepare for the service on Saturday. The candle had to be trimmed and the additional helpers of the service need their role explained to them. Overall the event when without a hitch and it was a good time for all.

April 14, 2009

Hello the fine folks of Carbon County and good Easter welcome to those beyond the county who receive these weekly up-dates. I hope that the promise of the empty tomb has opened your heart and mind to new possibilities, new realities, and new hopes. A quick glimpse around the county looks like this – St. Thomas has celebrated an important milestone and coming close to concluding a book study, St. Paul had a commissioning for their Eucharistic Visitors and will continue to work on their pastoral care training, St. James had a wonderful Easter and dinner following the service and is now looking at developing a master plant for their church, and St. Luke is about to welcome the return of one of their members who has been south for the winter. I hope this letter finds you well.

Last Monday (April 6, 2009) St. Thomas had a book study in which a group of people are working through a book called “Bible for Today’s Church” which comes from the original Church Teaching Series. Karen shared a resource that she found in the Choir Loft (the thrift store that St. Thomas runs) and there was a discussion about the sermon that was preached on Palm Sunday and how it connected to the material that the group was reading. They are coming to the end of their time of study together. It has been a good time of learning and growing.

On Monday evening (April 6th) I was a web/phone conference call where the Regional Reps and the Ministry Developers, along with John from the Foundation shared what is taking place with the Mustard Seed Project. I will say I was impress with all that is taking place throughout the Diocese. We will have much to share in October.

Tuesday I made some phone calls to line up a group evaluation event called DiSC. It is tool that is used to help groups evaluate their strengths and how to use them effectively for team building and functioning. This is a new approach in the Diocese of Wyoming and we will learn much from it. I am looking forward to the discoveries. Among the phone calls I began to work on preparing for the second half of the week.

Wednesday I was on the weekly web/phone meeting with the Ministry Developers and we discussed general items such as the Wyoming Visitor Weekend that will take place from April 25th through the 27th in Casper and the surrounding areas. That also led us to work on developing our agenda for our Ministry Developer face to face meeting on April 26th (evening) through the 28th. From there I headed over the Laramie to work on my personal project.

Thursday was Maundy Thursday and my 40th birthday. It was a quite day around the office as I worked on sermons and reflected upon the up-coming events. I presided at St. Thomas and my girls wanted to come along for the service, but wanted to sit in the pews. I found out later that after that service that a 1000 people have taken communion at St. Thomas since the beginning of the year. I also heard that St. Paul had a great service as well that night.

Friday was quite as well as I worked in the office taking care of administrative items, writing sermons and the like. The day itself was emotional for me as I thought about my sense of justice and how God has responded with a restorative sense of justice. I also helped a friend move into her new house in Rawlins which prompted a request for a house blessing in the future.

Saturday I drove over to Medicine Bow to preside for the Easter Vigil at St. Luke’s. Arlen worked hard to prepare the service and brought some extra help (two of his grand-children). Everybody who as assigned a reading came really well prepared. We had some music from a long time (often traveled to Laramie to worship) Episcopalians from Medicine Bow. The evening ended and it was a light rain that cleaned my car all the way back to Rawlins.

Sunday the entire Wasinger clan packed up and headed to St. Paul’s in Dixon for Easter service. The service was well attended and Linda, on behalf of the congregation, commissioned the newly trained Eucharistic Visitors before the exchange of the peace. It was a touching moment and you could hear and feel the power of what they were doing. Following the service there was a quick Easter Egg hunt for the kids and most of the adults headed to their respective homes and other gathering places for Easter Brunch. We were invited to the Davis’ for the afternoon.

Monday I caught up with the fine folks of Encampment for a bible study in which they are going through the Gospel of John (timely with Easter) and had a good talk with Roxan about what is taking place at the church. Some time in the future we will get together and work on their master place for the church. It is a good idea to map out the future and then decide how to proceed in stages. Good thinking.

This is what this week holds: Tuesday was a day in the office, working on projects, planning for the remainder of the month and etc. Wednesday I will be on the weekly web/phone meeting with the Ministry Developers. I am not sure what Thursday will be an administrative day. Friday I will be at Kraft Hall between 10-12pm for office hours. Sunday I will presiding at two services. The first one is Encampment at 9am and the second service will be in Dixon at 5pm. I will be meeting with the pastoral care group of St. Paul’s to begin their training starting at 4pm.

Be well my friends,

Doug

April 5, 2009 - Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond

Here is a stuffed sunk to symbolize a major event at St. Luke's in Medicine Bow. The story goes that Bruce Caldwell arrived for the bishop's visit to be met with this strong smell that made it impossible to worship. Arlen when in search for the offensive odor to discover that a sunk had died underneath the church. With some careful maneuvering, Arlen got the sunk out of the building and all was well.

The great think about this picture was that it was taken about three years ago and those same kids are still seen worshiping at St. Thomas. Yes, they have grown up, but they are still around. As you can see they really enjoyed coloring the eggs. This year St. Thomas decided to us plastic eggs just in case they are not found. No offending odors this year or years to come.

Here was one of those rare events that the church actually made it outside and marched around the church in Encampment. It was fun and a pleasant spring morning. Right now I am sure that the place is covered with snow, but being spring time in Wyoming the snow will quickly melt and green grass is soon to follow.

Boy this picture brings back memories. This is a picture of the Wasinger girls three years ago. The third Wasinger girl will be born about a week later. This picture was taken at St. Paul's in Dixon. Again the church today is under some snow, but given a short period of time it will be green and full of color for Spring.

April 5, 2009

It is April, right? It looks like the “winter storms” about two weeks late. I would expect these kinds of weather related issues to be among us during the month of March, but not in April. Then again we do live in Wyoming where anything is possible. I hope that your entrance to Holy Week is full of anticipation and wonder. And now it is time to move onto the news of Carbon County and beyond. I hope this letter finds you well.

Before I get started I was brought up to speed what is taking place at St. James in Encampment. I have been noting that St. James in plugging along, well this is what plugging along at St. James looks like. Lois has started a new bible study in January. They are working out details for their new parish hall and outreach ministry. Roxanne is collecting bids, and then they will meet soon to walk the church grounds to decide on a placement/orientation for the new building. Then St. James will meet for a carry-in supper to discuss the configuration of rooms, needs and possible solutions. Next steps after that will be to write a Sargent Fund grant and get the ball rolling! See, they are working diligently in their part of God’s Kingdom. Thanks Fred for the up-date.

St. Thomas has worked hard to prepare for their Holy Week by having Maundy Thursday meal. Following the meal there will be a Eucharist service that will including washing of hands. Friday, St. Thomas will have a Good Friday service and then on Holy Saturday there will be another prayer service. Given that the weather does not create too much havoc on travel plans, (Rev) Jess Smith will travel from Laramie to preside at the Easter Sunday services. Following the service there will be an Easter Egg Hunt and a brunch.

I got snowed in Rawlins this Sunday and did not make it to Dixon for the Palm Sunday service. I waited to the very last moment before making the decision not to go. The e-mails and quick up-dates on Facebook between Linda and I keep the conversation going up to the very last minute. I understand that St. Paul had their Ministry Support Team meeting this morning and will catch up with them throughout the week to see what is on the horizon for the next month. St. Paul will have a Maundy Thursday meal and service. I am not sure they will have a Good Friday or Holy Saturday services this year. If you have any questions please give Linda Fleming a call. I am planning on attending the Easter Sunday services at St. Paul’s this year (given that the weather will cooperate) along with Kellie and the Wasinger girls.

St. Luke will be celebrating the Easter Vigil this year on Saturday. Arlen and I will be the worship leaders for these series of services (they are four services that incorporate the entire Easter Vigil event). It is a community event and I am looking forward to seeing some the other members of Medicine Bow on Saturday.

It is looking like a busy week. Other appointments and meetings I will be attending this week are as follows: Monday “The Bible For Today’s Church” book study in Rawlins at 9am. That evening I will be on a web/phone meeting with the Ministry Developers and Regional Reps with the main topic of discussion will be the Mustard Seed Project. That meeting will start at 5pm and last an hour. Tuesday I will be helping an Apostolic Team member get her computer up to speed. Wednesday I will be on the weekly web/phone meeting with Ministry Developers at 8am for an hour and that afternoon I head over to Laramie to work on a personal project and attend to some more tech issues. Thursday I dive into the Holy Week activities starting in Rawlins and ending the week in Dixon. Be well my friends.

Shalom,

Doug