Letters to the Churches of Carbon County - Dec 21 2009

December 21, 2009

And then there was four days before Christmas and the Ministry Developer in Region 4 took a deep breath, let it out, and found that he was excited about the possibilities of the coming year. What has taken place this past week? Four web/phone meetings, a Ministry Support Meeting at St. Thomas in Rawlins, and three services throughout Regions four and five. I hope this letter finds you well.

When I last wrote it was in the AM of December 15, 2009 and there is not much to report on what I did on Tuesday other than tie up a couple of loose ends with the up-coming Ethics on-line course, putting together an agenda for the Ministry Support Team meeting at St. Thomas and a web/phone call with the Evangelism Team. The Evangelism Team is building of a basic theological reflection model through story telling and listening which asks two questions: Who are the people God’s family? and How do they show God’s activity? We are now currently looking at hospitality and the reflection questions are: Where is there inclusivity and exclusivity taking place? We also discovered that people of the church are creatures of habit and when we changed the night that we gathered it was mostly overlooked. A perhaps it could be that it is December and our lives get busy with extra activities.

Wednesday was an all day web/phone meeting with the Ministry Developers. In the past the Ministry Developers would meet face to face ten times a year, however, with the cost of travel on the uptick we have discovered and becoming quite competent in using “webinar” technology to meet. We will continue to have face to face meetings, but they will take place about three to four times a year. During our meeting this past Wednesday we shared our up-coming goals for 2010, up-dates on the Apostolic Team meetings, final touches on an on-line Ethics course with EDS, and got a report from Andy on using technology to connect the Diocese more efficiently in the coming year. We also received a report that the Wyoming Wilderness Camp will be open in 2010 as they (Foundation, Counsel, and other organizations in the Diocese) continue to work on the water and sewer issues. That evening we had a Regional Rep and Ministry Developer web/phone meeting that included items about the Bishop search, technology implementation goals, report on Evangelism, and general check in.

Thursday I work in office in the morning and that night I met with the Ministry Support Team of Rawlins. We discussed up-coming goals for 2010 to be shared with the vestry who met after our meeting. I was on my forth web/phone meeting of the week which was the Wyoming Wilderness Camp programming group in which we discussed dates for the “core” programming that primary focus on the Episcopal population and then talked about how to engage other organizations throughout the state and even on the national level.

Friday I was in Laramie working on my personal project and met with Pat. I was able to help Pat trouble shoot a technology issue and learn a bit more on how to be a resource with others in helping them use WebEx. Pat also purchased a head-set for his computer and we tested it to see how it works.

Sunday was a full day that covered two different regions throughout the Southern half of the state. My day started at Fort Bridger in St. David’s. I should have known that I was going to experience an increase in attendance due to the families gathering for Christmas. I was able to spend a couple of minutes after the service and enjoyed “coffee hour.” Then I arrived at St. John’s in Green River for an 11 am service. I was blessed with the beautiful sounds of children singing and the attendance was again doubled due to more families attending. I arrived in Dixon around 4:45 pm for a 5pm service at St. Paul’s. The fellowship was rich and Linda said it was a nice experience with the “dark church being lit up by the wonderful candles”. Yup the light of the world is coming and we all can rejoice!

The upcoming two weeks looks like this … I have two services on Christmas Eve starting at St. Paul’s in Dixon at 4pm. The second service will be in Rawlins at St. Thomas. Jess Smith will be presiding at St. Luke’s in Medicine Bow this year. I am thankful that we can now provide Christmas Eve services to most of our congregations throughout the state! What a gift. I will be on vacation after Christmas Eve and will return to “normal” work on Tuesday of next week. Keep an eye out for the love of Christ! And have a Merry Christmas!

Letter to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond - Dec 15 2009

December 15, 2009

Hey! I realized that Christmas is about 10 days away and that time will quickly pass by! As pondered on what to say much has taken place in the span of a couple of hours. The big news for St. Thomas is that Karen is scheduled to be ordained into the priesthood on January 30, 2010 @ 9am in Rawlins Wyoming. More details will be coming out after Christmas. As for other events, I was interviewed by the local newspaper about the Mustard Seed Project and it was a good article, Arlen Rounds and John Masters contributed to the article was well. St. James in Encampment continues to plug along and I have received news that last week the area (Saratoga and Encampment) had 5 funerals in 48 hours; much grieving taking place there. The bishop search continues to unfold along with more information about the candidates and the discernment process is made public. As normal for this time of year, the children presentation in Dixon was hosted with snow falling. I hope this letter finds you well.

Last Monday (Dec 7) I started my day helping the members of St. Thomas put up their Christmas Tree in the church (not to worry it will be lit after Christmas) and waited anxiously for the release of the “slate” of names for the next Bishop of Wyoming. During this morning the snow was falling and I was in contact with Linda Fleming in Dixon about developments of the falling snow in that part of the state. We decided by mid-morning that the Wade in the Water session will be moved to the next available Monday which is December 21, 2009. So I worked on other various tasks and goals and had a light day.

Tuesday I caught up with a community leader of Rawlins for a cup of coffee. We discussed what she is working on and possibilities of areas that “communities of faith” could contribute to the development of downtown Rawlins. I also told her about what St. Thomas has been working on with their Mustard Seed Project with the Blessing Bundles. I later found out that conversation lead to a phone call from the local paper as they wanted to learn more about this wonderful opportunity. It is great when a community’s networking flows.

Wednesday was its usual full day. It started with the weekly Ministry Developer web/phone call in which we discussed the up-coming ethics course, the slate, and some general check in. Then spend about an hour at Kraft Hall with the extreme cold keeping me from moving around too much. At noon Karen arrived at Kraft Hall and we (through the use of WebEx) had a learning event in which Linda Wilson facilitated a conversation using family system’s theory from real life situation in the parish at St. Thomas. Good stuff.

Thursday was more like a day of recovery. I took things a bit slower and made a couple of calls and relaxed. Friday was a busy day of travel. It started with my attendance of a funeral in Saratoga. That was perhaps a glimpse of the future. We had four clergy members present. Melinda Bobo, Ray Grieb, and Susan Dyer (she was not vested) a deacon from Colorado and I were all there. As the priests got ready for the service we quickly decided on who would take what part of the service and it was standing room only in both the church and the parish hall. As the service concluded I saw people from all around the County from different Episcopal Churches in attendance we are a remarkable family. That afternoon I headed to Casper to participate in the open house of the newly renovated office building. I like the use of space (it is open) and I am looking forward to learning how to use this new tool for building the church here in Wyoming.

Sunday was another full day and it was nice to follow the biblical principle that people are to travel in pairs. Pat Walsh drove over from Laramie that morning and made a presentation about the Wyoming Wilderness Camp. The camp is close to wrapping up a fund drive and are close to reaching their goal of raising about $40,000 that will be matched by the Foundation. That news is encouraging. The camp itself is currently looking at sewer and water up-dates to continue to provide a safe and wonderful experience for all who attend camp. That evening Pat volunteered to drive with me to St. Paul’s Dixon for the Christmas Program in which the community has a Jesus birthday party. The roads were slick and so we arrived at the end of the presentation and got a slice of pizza and a piece of cake. Pat was impressed with the vitality and the attendance and expressed to me that St. Paul is an example of what a small church vitality could look like throughout the Diocese. Hats off to the leadership of St. Paul and all that they do in that community. This is the second time this year I was blessed with having a travel companion from the Diocese as we visit the churches that I work with in the region.

Monday I had a great conversation with the Boys and Girls Club of Wyoming in Rawlins. Pat for the past couple of years has been working with Boys and Girls Clubs throughout the state and has made important strides in building relationships beyond the walls of our local churches. Pat shared a story about how one child expressed during a quite reflection time that being at the camp was the first time they felt safe in their lives. That is a powerful statement. So, on Monday I talked to the director about looking at opportunities in which we can collaborate together for the sake of our children in Wyoming and I have discovered potential ministry in this area of our world. There is something bubbling waiting to be born into our reality. Tuesday I was pleased to announced that Karen Buckingham will be ordained (God and the People are willing) into the priesthood on January 30, 2010 @ 9am at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Rawlins Wyoming. All are welcomed to attend.

Ok what is going on this week? This evening I will be on a web/phone call for the Evangelism Team as we continue to discover God in our world and build on the spirit of hospitality as people come and worship with us. Wednesday I will be spending most of my time using WebEx as the Ministry Developers get together for our all day meeting followed by another meeting with the Regional Reps that evening using WebEx platform to host the gathering. Thursday I have two meetings in the evenings the first one is with St. Thomas’ Ministry Support Team and then I will be participating in a Wyoming Wilderness Camp Programming web/phone session. On Friday I head to Laramie to continue to work on my personal project. As for Sunday I will be in Region 5 and preside at Fort Bridger @ 9am, Green River @ 11 am and if I have the energy and the time, preside at Dixon that evening. Oh come Emanuel (so that the priests can rest!).

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond - Dec 7 2009

It is the beginning of the third week of Advent for the Episcopal Church. Advent is a time for preparation and anticipation of something wonderful is going to happen. Anticipation can work in different ways, it can be exciting (just ask children about Christmas) and it also can be full of anxiety (just ask people about their Christmas shopping, meal planning, and calendar). What we are faced with is a challenge. Our response to this challenge can be rewarding and deeply satisfying and I welcome it. My personal response to this challenge is to find the grace and gratitude in each day, in each conversation, and in each encounter with the attitude that I will discover something divine. Ok, off the soup box and on to the happenings of Carbon County! I hope this letter finds you well.

Last Monday (Nov 30) I made a couple of phone calls and received a few myself. I was informed that a meeting was schedule on Saturday (Dec 5) and added that to my calendar. That afternoon I drove to Baggs to participate in the Winter Bible Café in which a group of people from St. Paul’s have been meeting faithfully for the past couple of years as they read the Bible from cover to cover. On this day the group started reading the Psalms. It was not later this week when I realized that one of the selections from the Revised Common Lectionary was Psalm 4. That is noteworthy to see how the two calendars intersected.

Tuesday (Dec 1) I worked on my sermon and got most of it written and then I went on “Facebook” (a social networking website) and one of my classmates from seminary posted two good questions. Who are the modern day prophets and where are our wildernesses? I pondered those questions for the remainder of the week. I also made some phone calls that day.

Wednesday (Dec 2) has become one of those days that my schedule has become full. It starts with a weekly web/phone meeting with the Ministry Developers. We are currently working on a technology/communication project in which we will be able to host video conferencing throughout the Diocese with more ease. I am excited about the progress on this project and soon the churches will be receiving a letter outlining this work. We, as a group, are also putting together a roster for the next on-line learning opportunity that the Diocese as partnered with EDS to teach Ethics. Finally we had a general check in time. Then I was at Kraft Hall for a couple of hours. During my time at Kraft Hall I put together a proposed agenda for the Worship Team Breakfast for St. Thomas and talked to MaryBelle (the contact person for the team). That evening I headed to Denver.

Friday (Dec 4) I spent most of my day in Laramie. I got a chance to talk to Jess Smith (Associated Priest for Region 4) about changes that are taking place in the Region and began a conversation about how we will provide coverage for the churches in the coming year. After that wonderful cup of coffee I was able to catch up with Pat Walsh for lunch and got an up-date on his work with the Wyoming Wilderness Camp.

Saturday (Dec 5) I participated in a Worship Leaders breakfast at St. Thomas in Rawlins. We had a good discussion about the role of the presider and have prepared the schedule for the month of January. St. Thomas will be busy for the next couple of months. Upon finishing the breakfast I assisted in cleaning out the basement at Kraft Hall and in turn came across a wonderful sermon idea that fits nicely with the upcoming Sunday (Dec 13).

Sunday (Dec 6) I headed to St. Paul’s in Baggs to preside. Due to the cold weather the roads were in great shape (it was too cold for the snow to melt and therefore no ice). I was not sure what kind of attendance to expect, but as it turned out we had a nice crowd. The sun came out and everything was bright and shiny. After the service the Ministry Support Team met to discuss upcoming events like Christmas (Jesus birthday party) that will be hosted by ARK, annual meeting, pastoral visiting, bishop search, and etc. We also went over to the Senior Center for lunch.

This is what is on my calendar for the coming week. Monday I will be at St. Thomas to enjoy fellowship as a group of people continue to “green the church”. That afternoon I head to St. Paul’s for another session of Wade in the Water. Tuesday I have a relational meeting scheduled and a web/phone meeting pending. Wednesday is that full day again and this time I will be meeting with Karen Buckingham along with Linda Wilson from noon to about 3pm. Thursday I have a web/phone meeting and some administrative items to cover. Friday is the open house event for the renovated Diocesan office in Casper and all are invited to attend. It starts at 5:30pm and I will be there for the event. Sunday (Dec 13) is going to be a busy day. It starts with me presiding at St. Thomas in Rawlins and Pat Walsh will be making a brief presentation on the Wyoming Wilderness Camp. That evening (if Pat is up for it too) I will be attending ARK (Amazing River Kids) annual “Jesus Birthday Party” at St. Paul’s which concludes with everybody heading to Baggs for the Christmas parade.