Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond - June 29, 2009

Did you ever wonder that perhaps that God does this very thing with us? We extend out hand and God reaches for us. I know this is a play off a famous painting, but what the heck I like the up-date. =0)

Some sharing and pondering together. I love the light and the focused effort of the group to listen. This was taken in LSRV.

St. James being St. James laughing and not taking life too seriously.

This was taken at St. Luke's in Medicine Bow. I love how the light plays in the picture. It is warm and inviting.

June 29, 2009

Well put another month in the books! Where did it go? As I look forward I have a full July and I have this nagging feeling that I am not alone. Looking around the county briefly this is what I am seeing – St. Thomas has completed their sideway and parking lot accessibility project coming to a completion; St. Paul had their first Compline and Sharing gathering last week; St. Luke is most likely recovering from Medicine Bow’s 100 year celebration; and Encampment is enjoying the fine summer. As for me I am finding this month one of personal discernment. I hope this letter finds you well.

Monday was a day in the office and I found myself helping Kathy (fellow Ministry Developer) on the Evangelism Project. She is putting together a process of sharing stories to connect the church with the world and the world with the church. Soon this presentation will be on the road. Roy is working with Kathy on this project. More details about this will be coming out in the following months.

Tuesday was an all day web/phone meeting with the Ministry Developers. We had general check in which includes what is happening with the Mustard Seed Project, Apostolic Teams, and other events in our regions. We also talk about personal developments and the like. We are currently working on discernment in a form of writing scenarios. We also had a report about the COM meeting and began planning for our face to face meeting in July. Given that we have been working with this technology for about a year or so we are becoming comfortable with it and our time together is productive. It is hard to imagine that a couple of years ago we would be doing meeting together on-line with such ease.

Wednesday I made a couple of follow-up phone calls about the Apostolic Team meeting for Region 4 and that evening I went to Little Snake Rive Valley (LSRV) for a Compline and Sharing gathering. This is a summer event that has been taking place for the past 6 or more years. It is a time for the members of St. Paul’s along with others to gather outside build community and have a meal. I brought my famous Italian Soup along with the recipe and the theme was about fond memories around a meal. The weather was perfect for such a meeting.

On Thursday Warren Frelund, Karen Buckingham and I had a working lunch in Rawlins. It was a good time to gain clarity about the Transitional Diaconate. I like Warren’s working definition - Transitional Diaconate – To gather (or pull) people into the Diaconate Ministry of the Church during this time of transition with the clear understanding that upon ordination into the priesthood the ministry(s) will handed off the gathered leadership in that ministry(s). So this will occupy most of Karen’s work until she is ordained into the priesthood.

Saturday was the Apostolic Team meeting for Region 4 and we gathered in Laramie for our face to face. We opened with a liturgy from LifeCycles which included a check in time. Then we talked about Mustard Seed Projects, had a teaching item about private/public relationships, and then moved into business. Our business was about the Bishop search and sharing of Diocesan resources for congregational development. We talked briefly about working on a mission statement and shared lunch together. It was a productive time together.

Sunday I was in Fort Bridger and Green River. As I drove to that part of the state I was amazed to still find snow in the mountains. We are having a very cool spring and early summer. The folks of St. David’s (Fort Bridger) were happy to see me and they are doing great. The lost their musician due to graduation and now seeking another one. St. John’s (Green River) is doing great. At the conclusion of the service a group of ladies got together and headed over to Salt Lake for an Art Festival.

The remainder of the week looks like this – Monday I am heading for Laramie with Kellie for a doctors appointment. Tuesday I am planning on working a resolution for Safeguarding God’s Children and preparing a baptism service at St. Thomas. Wednesday I will be on the weekly web/phone check in with the Ministry Developers and will be on a web/phone meeting with EDS that evening. Thursday I will be heading to Green River for a Wade in the Water – Session 3 starting at 6:30pm. Friday I will be in Laramie to work on a personal project and then head to Wheatland for the 4^th of July weekend.

I will be at Wyoming Wilderness Camp also formally known as HR Wilderness Camp all of next week. I will be blogging my experiences and you can check it out at this address - http://holypilgrimage2009.blogspot.com/ I will include pictures and videos and I hope not to disappoint.

Be well my friends,

Doug