The year 2010 is drawing to a close. It is natural to take this week between Christmas and New Years to think and review all that has taken place. As I write this letter I am surprised to discover that much has taken place. At the Diocesan level we said good-bye to one bishop and welcomed another. The first part of 2010 was about the walk-about and election. The Ministry Developers said good-bye to Rev. Margaret Babcock, Rev. Warren Frelund, Rev. Tommy Means, Rev. Linda Wilson, and Rev. Kathy Robinson; the Ministry Developers also welcomed Rev. Joel Dingman, Rev. Melinda Bobo, Rev. Roy Walworth, and Rev. Walt Seeley. The Diocesan Staff also has been through some changes with Andy Kerr, Katie and Pat Walsh all moving on to explore and do other things and welcomed Rev. Tristan English. This time of a year is bitter/sweet as we say good-bye and welcome. I hope this letter finds you well.

St. Luke (Medicine Bow): Prior to Christmas I spoke to Arlen on the phone. As it turned out one of the steady members of the church was not able to attend the Christmas service this year. Her family arrived a week early and she spent the holidays with her children. Yet the show went on and I heard that there were 21 people in attendance! It is looking like a new tradition is starting to form in Medicine Bow when it comes to Christmas services. That is encouraging news.

St. Thomas(Rawlins): These past couple of weeks have been full of fruitful activities. I have heard in passing that St. Thomas sponsored a family for Christmas and used some of their Mustard Seed Money to make a bleak Christmas a brighter one for a family in Rawlins. There was a soup and sharing dinner on the Monday prior to Christmas in which some honest and open sharing was done in preparation for the arrival of the Christ child that changed everything. I was able to participate in the worship event at St. Thomas from the pews. Sticking with the good-bye and welcoming theme (with an emphasis on welcoming) St. Thomas experienced their first Christmas with their local priest preaching and presiding. That is a major mile stone for this congregation.

St. James (Encampment): I started my Christmas Eve day in Encampment and worshiped with the congregation of St. James. I arrive and the parking lot was plowed! I was told that the snow was really high, but some of it had melted off. The people in attendance participated in an activity in which they were invited to “Look around you People of God” with the intention that they will discover that God was present among them (sticking with the idea that God was born as child and lived among us human beings). It went really well. This congregation will be saying good bye to no more running water and hello to a parish hall with running water! We also prayed for one of the grand-daughters of the member of the church as she will be deployed in Afghanistan for four months. We pray for a speedy return to the United States.

St. Paul's(Dixon/LSRV): Sunday the 19^th I spend my whole day in the valley. It started with preaching and presiding, followed by a Ministry Support Team (aka MST) meeting in which this congregation is using the “wheel” to lead the discussion, and then I ate lunch and the Senior Center. After having a wonderful meal and fellowship I headed to 3 Ladder Ranch to visit with the Salisburys. After my visit I returned to St. Paul's to wish Jesus happy birthday. On Christmas Eve I arrived to visit the Salisburys again and to pay George a visit along with his extended family. As it turned out George passed away on Christmas night around 10pm. The evening service at St. Paul's was a fun event and there was a young couple (mostly my age!) who are musically talented and they led “Silent Night” by playing the flute and singing the first verse. It was a holy moment. George's memorial service will be January 3^rd at 11 am in Baggs.

What is coming up? It is a quieter week for me (as you can see I am writing in the middle of the week). I will be meeting with “building committee” of St. Thomas as they work through figuring out the next steps in building a lift for the church at 3pm on Wednesday. On Sunday I will be preaching and presiding at St. Thomas starting at 9:30 am and then I will be going to St. Paul's for a 3pm service. Monday I will be spending most of the day in the Little Snake River Valley attending to George Salisbury's Memorial.

Like I said, there has been some saying good-bye and welcoming that took place during 2010. It looks like 2011 will be more changes that will be woven throughout the entire Diocese. Take time to mourn what has been lost and celebrate the new discoveries of the coming year. Happy New Year!

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond

It is really interesting how events can change so quickly in one days time. Wednesday I had a full day lined up, but by the time the day was complete I finished my sermon that I was planning on writing on Sunday. Then the sermon that I was planning on preaching at St. James in Encampment changed because I was going to preach and preside at St. Barnabas in Saratoga. Advent is time for preparation, but prepare for what (smile)? As it goes to for planning … the difference between me and God is that God KNOWS that he is not me! I hope this letter finds you well.

St. James (Encampment): On Saturday I received a phone call from a member of the church. As it turns out two people where planning on attending church and she wanted to know if I wanted to make the trip for two people. My response was sure, after all I wrote a wonderful sermon and I wanted to share it with the congregation (the wonderful sermon is subject to debate!). Then I received a call from St. Barnabas confirming my meeting with the congregation. As it turned out the fine folks of Encampment were willing to change their plans and worship with St. Barnabas (in the spirit of working together and for me it meant that I could address two congregations in one meeting). Today (Sunday) I received a text message informing me that the people of St. James in Encampment were sick. It all turned out ok in the end. I am looking forward to Christmas Eve worship event in Encampment!

St. Paul's (Dixon/LSRV): I made it to Baggs last Friday to spend some time answering questions for the second part of the Social History for those who are entering the process for the call to Holy Orders. Similar to my week, the snow was blowing, then the sun was out, then it was cloudy, and the wind was either blowing or not. That was just for the trip to Baggs. Linda laughed at one point as she looked out the window and saw a whiteout taking place. I smiled and said I am not worried and I was right. The weather cleared right up. Much like the social interview in the midst of chaos there is clarity. I have been working with Linda for about seven years and I am still learning more about her every day. Linda, Jill, Julie and I have been reading a book called Christianity-The First Three Thousand Years written by Diarmaid MacCulloch. The concepts that the author are talking about and the way they are put together is very complex, however the way the material is presented is well done and accessible. This is going to be a good book study.

St. Thomas (Rawlins): Last Wednesday I was schedule to meet with a couple to continue with their marriage counseling (mostly preparation for the couple since they are newly married) and one of the parties had to work so we changed our plans. Thursday I meet with the Ministry Support Team and we discussed various events and happenings that are taking place at St. Thomas (going around the wheel that looks at – worship, pastoral care, administration, formation, and transformation). I have also pointed out that the members of this team have met their one year commitment and so we talked briefly about how to include others in this work in the future. After the MST meeting I spent some time with the vestry as they too discussed activities that are taking place at the church from an administrative perspective. The installing and building handicap accessibility bathrooms will be a major project for 2011. Most people know when a building project at this size does tend to disrupt things and in this case for the right reasons!

St. Luke (Medicine Bow): On Monday I received a call from Arlend asking if I knew who was coming over to preach and preside. About three months ago I was planning on attending Landmark Form in Denver Colorado from December 9^th through the 12^th and 14^th. As I turned out I changed my plans and so Jess Smith and I changed or service schedule. I was going to take St. James in Encampment and Jess was going to St. Luke's in Medicine Bow. Poor Alrend and Jess were spinning around trying to figure out who was where. I have also received useful direction as for Arlend's preaching licensing process.

Ministry Development (well it is a development): Sunday I had a good conversation with St. Barnabas (Saratoga). This started with a phone call from Ralph Hicks who was looking what and how to get licensed for preaching. That started two years ago. I helped Ralph put together a discernment group (similar to a MST). Today I explained the process of congregational development in that is it a process and not a program. The congregation liked the approach. It took seven years of driving by the church, help from Rev. Ray Griebs and with God's help. I am very hopeful for the future with St. Barnabas.

What is coming up?: Monday I will be heading reviewing a joint project with the Rev. Tom Fiske and Rev. Tristan English. Tuesday is the Gospel Study meeting at St. Thomas. Wednesday is office hours at Kraft Hall (Rawlins). Thursday is administrative day (sermon writing and etc.) Sunday I will be preaching and presiding at St. Paul's (Dixon); making a pastoral visit and enjoying ARK's Christmas program (having a birthday party for Jesus). Take care.

A sense of the range and breath of my work

Here is a map showing all the congregations of Wyoming. I primarily work in Region 4. To give you a sense of distances, I often see my travel not in miles but in time. St. Paul (LSRV/Dixon) is about 167 miles around trip or about one hour and fifteen minutes of travel one way. You can find the congregation in the lower central part of the state. St. Luke's (Medicine Bow) is located to the east and north of Rawlins. Is about 123 miles round trip and takes about an hour to travel one way. St. James (Encampment) is also to the east of Rawlins, but to the south. The total mileage round trip is about 128 miles around trip and it takes about an hour to drive one way. I often joke with others when I tell them that my “office” is about the size of Connecticut with a fraction of the population.

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond

Today is an important day in the history of the United States. Pearl Harbor was attacked and the outcome of that battle lead the United States to enter World War Two. It was a game changer or a point in history that defined a different direction. I am not a historian or ever claim to be one, but that battle changed the United States at its core. Prior to that moment, the United States was on the sideline in most world events. Most of the United States family life was organized different. Then the Greatest Generation was born and they changed the very social fabric of this country. We continue today to live with the change. Japan who was an enemy is now an important partner with the United States on the international level. Europe appears to be more stable now then 69 years ago. These are big changes. What about changes at the local level? I was talking to a 87 year old woman this morning and she said that church has changed from her earlier years as mother of five children. “Congregations are struggling to be congregations.” was what she said. I noted to myself was that what as changed is our understanding of leadership and ministry. If we like it or not (and I do) there is a shift from gathering around a person to gathering around ministries. Sure this change in our congregations are impacted the same way Pearl Harbor changed the United States, nevertheless, we are living through an important point in history that is changing the direction that we are moving as a Church. I have come to believe that the God that I have come to know intentionally built an altar around a tent because we are a people that move, grow and discover new lands and ideas as we journey together as a people of faith. The change we now experience is more of a local expression than grand global one. I hope this letter finds you well.

St. Thomas (Rawlins): Last week St. Thomas was asked a difficult and painful reality, the birth of a baby who was born at 18 weeks and lived for only a few moments outside of the womb. This is a painful part of our lives and it has been my experience that it does not get talk about much. It is hard to prepare a pastoral response to such an event, yet God does provide. The young baby was baptized by Rev. Karen Buckingham at birth and four days later a memorial service was held to assist the family and friends in dealing with their grief and sadness. In some ways it was a recognition of my personal dream and vision. Throughout this entire response I was able to remain on the sidelines so to speak. I was able to sit in the pews and be supportive of the leadership so that family got to witness a group of people responding to a need and ministry. It was truly a collaborative effort with many people contributing both visibility and behind the scenes. I count this one of my prouder moments of ministry and a blessing in the midst of great pain and distress. On another front St. Thomas is working hard and putting together some final details on moving forward in installing a lift to grant more people access to the under-croft for fellowship. Another dream that is coming to fruition.

St. Paul's (Dixon/LRSV): I preached and presided at St. Paul's last Sunday and there were some slight changes. One, we moved the service from 5pm to 3pm so that we all can travel in the daylight. The deer like to hang out on the road at dusk and I sure like seeing God's creatures with plenty of time to avoid hitting them! What I forgot to mention last week was a group of people from St. Paul got together a couple of weeks ago and made Advent baskets for those who consider themselves members of the church, but are not regular attendees for different and various reasons. The outcome so far is that one person attended church and others have written thank you letters. Linda and I continue to put together the needed paper work for her call to the priesthood and you will see a picture of her looking up her baptism date.

St. Luke's (Medicine Bow): I received notice that the Rounds are looking at see what it would take to put in a new wall furnace. The old one that is near the lectern has failed. There has been some looking around for a replacement. It is funny how when one starts to do research they find more questions than answers! I am sure this will resolve itself all in due time. On another front I have composed a joint letter for Arlen's preaching licensing and so that will be send to the Diocesan office.

St. James (Encampment): I spoke to Rev. Jess Smith and he informed me that they are “jazzed” about receiving their grant. It will not be until spring until they are able to “break ground” for their new parish hall that will include a bathroom, a gathering place for the community, and will include handicap accessibility to the church in the next phase. This could be a moment in the history of this congregation that changes who they are and perhaps communicates to the larger community that there is much that can happen when a committed group of people pool their passions that is worth while and grand in vision!

What is coming up? Tuesday evening I will be meeting with a group of planners for Rhythms of Grace at St. Thomas. This is a liturgical event that is designed with people with special needs such as autism so that families and people who have autism can experience worship in a meaningful and real way. Wednesday I will be at Kraft Hall for office hours and then marriage counseling that evening in Rawlins. Thursday St. Thomas has a Ministry Support Team meeting before the vestry meeting in which I will be in attendance for both. Friday I will drive to Baggs to conduct a social interview of Linda Fleming (St. Paul's/LSRV). Sunday I will be heading over to Encampment to preach and preside. Following that service I will head to Saratoga and meet with the fine folks of St. Barnabas about how Shared Ministry works and the implications of having a local priest in their midst.

In closing I hope that some point in this Advent Season you will look back and say that there was a meaningful moment that an encounter with the Divine took place and that your lives were forever changed. Keep praying for our armed forces who are deployed here stateside and abroad. May some day all the world experience peace that is beyond comprehension.

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond

It is the first Sunday of Advent for the Episcopal Church. A parishioner of St. Paul has this to say about Advent (in a round about way): It is sure nice to be a part of a church that thinks and acts with liturgical seasons. Welcome to the new year. Advent is about preparing for the arrival of God in our midst. Incarnational in spirit and by through living and being in relationship through the church and our local communities we see the the physical manifestation of this reality. I hope this letter finds you well.

St Luke's (Medicine Bow): As I write I am sitting in Medicine Bow. I finished with a brief meeting with the leadership of the church. It turns out this was outreach Sunday! They decided to make some contributions to the following organizations: Nets for Life (ERD); the local museum; the Medicine Bow's Methodist Church to support the the parish hall community outreach activities; Medicine Bow's senior center; and Lion's club. Talk about being the physical presence of Christ in the local community. There has been some talk about a coal to fuel plant being built in the Medicine Bow area. Surveys are taking place with plans to break ground in 2012. This has been a long process; however the upside is employment of about 400 people is in the mix. This is promising news.

St Paul's (Dixon/LSRV): Not much to report from last week. I want to keep with the weekly discipline of writing about activities throughout the region. As it turns out this was a short week (only three days) and so I move on to the next church in this posting!

St. Thomas (Rawlins): Again not much to report. I do know that the Wednesday Morning Prayer was canceled last week because of Thanksgiving. This is not a bad because people had a chance to worship and give thanks for God's many blessings the next day. On to the next church.

St. James (Encampment): I trust that the Rev. Jess Smith made it to preach and preside this Sunday the first Sunday of Advent. I made some changes in my schedule and will be preaching and presiding twice in December of 2010. Next.

What is coming up? Ok here we go … Monday is the weekly WebEx meeting with the Ministry Developers starting at 8:30 am. Tuesday I will be attending the Gospel Study group at St. Thomas for preparation for sermons. Wednesday I drive to Casper for a face to face meeting with the Evangelism Team and return to Rawlins for a marriage counseling session. Thursday is my sermon writing day. Friday there is another WebEx meeting with the Regional Reps and Ministry Developers at 5:30 pm. Sunday I will start my day at St. Thomas in Rawlins, head to 3 Latter Ranch for a pastoral visit and preach and preside at St. Paul's at 3pm. Also this week I am the on call Chaplain for the Rawlins Police Department. It is going to be a fun week. Take care.

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond - Nov 23 2010

Good morning folks. I trust that your preparations for the pending and long anticipated Thanksgiving Holiday is fruitful! I was talking to a friend in Rawlins yesterday and she has a friend coming down from Canada. It was noted that perhaps her friend would like to spend time with her family on the holidays. When it was pointed out that Thanksgiving is a United States Holiday I started to laugh! Talk about not being in tuned with other countries. Well it is good that the spirit of being together is recognized throughout the world and where the United States has a holiday in November I am sure many other countries have their own days of celebration. I hope this letter finds you well.

St. Paul's (Dixon aka LRSV): Last week I wrote up the discernment process for Linda Fleming as we (Linda, the Diocese, and myself) work through the process of getting all the paper work put together in regards for those who are entering Holy Orders. The process is bit front loaded with the administrative tasks, but that makes the final steps a bit easier. I also responded to a couple of question from a parishioner from St. Paul's. She is eager to learn and asked informed questions. The result from our brief interchange of e-mails was Linda Fleming now has a “study-buddy”. An example of studying in community. Sunday I preached and presided at St. Paul's. There were children in abundance as the boys remained in the church and the girls played in the parish hall, some things never change. During communion I saw a mother, with her husband and three boys all lined up at the communion rail. I laughed because that is an image of my household only in reverse! Later that afternoon I drove up to 3 Latter Ranch and visited with George Salisbury. My children accompanied me and so as we shared communion we once again had children dancing about us and the laughter was delightful.

St. James (Encampment): I have some great news to report. The hard working folks of St. James submitted a grant request to start building a parish hall that will include a bathroom, handicap accessibility, and a gathering place for the town of Encampment. They received the full amount that they could receive which is close to half of the total project. Now they need to gather bids and could be “breaking ground” in the spring. This is a fine example of what a group of committed people can accomplish when they work toward a common goal. I am looking forward to seeing how this work unfolds in the future.

St. Luke (Medicine Bow): I talked to Arlend last Friday about next week. He graciously extended the invitation to preach (it is a good way to keep his skills sharp). We are working on his licensing for preaching. I also received a report that St. Luke didn't have church a couple of Sundays ago due to the weather. The snow was blowing and visibility was bad. It was decided that Rev. Jess Smith would remain in Laramie and wait for another day. I am heading up to “the Bow” next Sunday and it will be good to hear what they are up to. Advent starts that Sunday and the Episcopal Church begins another liturgical year.

St. Thomas (Rawlins): I received a request from St. Paul Episcopal Church in LRSV to let people of St. Thomas know that a “bi-member” of both St. Paul's and St. Thomas was in the hospital and if anybody from St. Thomas could stop by and say hi, pray, and offer to visit would be greatly appreciated. The Pastoral Team jumped right into action and visited this person twice a day for a week straight! Nice response. The VTC (video teleconferencing) equipment is now fully operational! I was a bit nervous as the technician and I walked around the building trying t locate an ideal location to set-up the receiving and sending unit as it turned out St. Thomas as the near perfect location. By the time all was said and done St. Thomas has a near perfect connection and everything is working well. It is a “win” for St. Thomas and the Diocese as a whole. St. Thomas is also working on establishing a worship experience for families with special needs with children. The Rev Karen Buckingham has discovered a wonderful resource called Rhythm of Grace that provides direction and structure for this very kind of outreach work. This has great potential as outreach to the community of Rawlins and I am looking forward to seeing how this work unfolds in the future.

What is coming up? Yesterday (Monday) I drove down to LSRV for their bi-monthly bible study. They are working through the bible one book at a time and they are currently reading Isaiah. Plenty of justice issues being addressed and the outcomes are prickly (what a surprise) yet there is hope woven into the the selections. This time around there was much “review” as names of groups of people in the bible were brought up. Tuesday (today) is working around the home office day. I am planning on wrapping up a couple of administrative tasks before entering the holiday spirit. We are planning on traveling this year, but we will have to wait and see about the weather. Next Sunday (Nov 28^th) I will be presiding at St. Luke's in Medicine Bow and listing to what Arlend has to share with his preaching. I hope your week is full of good cheer and wonderful fellowship.

I end this posting my work with the HR Wilderness Camp aka Wyoming Wilderness camp. I am a member of the programing group that has gathered to begin looking at programing ideas and recommendations to the Board as to what could be accomplished in 2011. The work is challenging, but I trust that in time God will reveal a direction. It is important to stay in touch with one another and try to be honest about your feelings and thoughts about the Camp. You can contact Bruce Hellbaum (chair of the HR Wilderness Camp) at bhellbaum@netcommander.com; Rev. Tristan English (Diocesan Office) at Tristan@wyomingdiocese.org for more information.

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond

This time of year seems to invite memories. The summer events are now slowly fading into the past and the more recent fun of hunting (for those in Wyoming), high school football (LSRV won their 6 man state championship last weekend), Halloween along with other fall activities are now complete. In some ways November is a harvest month in which we as a nation will take a day of the month, gather around family and friends to celebrate the blessings of our lives. I understand that not everybody will be in good cheer, but the fact that we do gather could provide hope for a better future. With Pat Walsh leaving the position of the Director of the Wyoming Wilderness Camp aka HR Wilderness Camp brings about mixed feelings for me. Pat has done wonderful work with the camp and was a loyal and dedicated member of the Diocese of Wyoming. I admire his spiritual courage to face the challenges ahead by asking me to honor him by doing what I can to continue to honor the ministry of the youth of Wyoming. Where the future may be unknown to him at this time, I am sure that God will continue to honor his personal integrity as a person and as a baptized member of the church. During my conversation with Pat on Saturday he wanted others to know that he would like to here from you when you get a chance. His contact information will be sent in a different e-mail. I will have fond memories of when Pat and I worked together during presentations of Safe Guarding God's Children, two sessions of Middler Camp II in 2009 and 2010, and our lively talks. I pray that the Episcopal Church will continue to harvest the fruits of the seeds that Pat, through the prompting of God, have planted over the past eleven years in Wyoming. Pat was, and still is, a good friend. Ok, now onto the events and happenings of Carbon County. I hope this letter finds you well.

St. James (Encampment): I was heading out the door yesterday with my middle child and my youngest surprised me by quickly getting dressed and ran out the door with me. I have decided a couple of years ago that I would not talk my daughters out of going to church. If they want to come along they are more than welcome to do so. We arrived and the faithful were present. This time of year ranching operations change and selling and breeding of cattle become an important aspect of the landscape (I hope I got that right!). Also the fact that other members of St. James were away on a long anticipated vacation the when two or more are gathered God will be there was in full effect. It was nice to catchup and inform them that I will be preaching and presiding on our normal rotation in the month of December. They await to hear any word about their grant proposal from the Foundation. I am optimistic about what is to come. The girls enjoyed their time in Encampment.

St. Thomas (Rawlins): Last Tuesday I participated in the weekly Gospel Study which has been rewarding and helpful for my sermon preparation. Wednesday I stuck around for short period of time at Kraft Hall and headed home to get some resources on my laptop for the parish administrator. Thursday I sat down with the Ministry Support Team aka MST and we decided as a group that in our future gatherings it would be held an hour before the vestry meeting and they will review five areas – Worship, Pastoral Care, Administration, Formation, and Transformation and share what is taking place in these areas. What is helpful is the agenda for the meeting is set along with the time and date. Everybody can participate and see the large picture.

St. Paul (Dixon/LRSV): Now I have a funny story (well for others it may be funny it could have ended poorly but it didn't) about driving on the “Baggs Highway.” Last Monday I headed out of Rawlins and noticed that I had a ½ tank of gas according to my gauge in my car. I was south of Cresten Junction which is 24 miles west of Rawlins on I-80 where a person turns south to head for Dixon when the gas gauge dropped to low fuel status. I did ok until I was about 19 miles north of Baggs when the fuel ran out. How do I know the exact location? My GPS told me. Any ways I surrendered to the fact that I was about to share a similar experience with Jesus and walk about the same distance they covered in a day. As it turned out God had other plans. I was given a ride into town, found a friend who had a 5 gallon gas can which we filled up and he drove me back to my car. I arrived at my scheduled event just in time to enjoy the goodies. Whew! That was a close one. Thursday I drove back to the Little Snake River Valley (this time with plenty of fuel) and talked to different people from St. Paul's about the next steps for Linda to move forward to the priesthood.

St. Luke (Medicine Bow): Not much to report other than I am heading to St. Luke's in a couple of weeks to preach and preside. These smaller churches provide an icon into God's gracious and wonderful blessing. Spending time with smaller churches give me a deeper appreciation of the depth and range of the church and how it takes all kinds of churches to make the entire body healthy and vital. The Diocese of Wyoming landscape provides a nice diversity when it comes to sizes of congregations.

What is coming up? This morning (Monday) I was on the weekly WebEx meeting with Ministry Developers in which we welcomed two new members to the team – (Rev) Roy Walworth and (Rev) Joel Dingman. Tuesday I will be working with (Rev) Tristan English on exploring seeing if we are one more step closer to getting the VTC up and running. Wednesday I am planning on hosting and participating on a WebEx meeting with the Wyoming Wilderness aka HR Wilderness Camp spiritual planning team. Thursday is my write my sermon day and Friday I will be on another WebEx meeting with the Evangelism Team that Kathy Robinson has put together. This upcoming Sunday I head to St. Paul's in Dixon to preach and preside and to eat at the senior center following the service. That evening Rawlins will be having a Community Thanksgiving Event at the Jeffery Center starting at 5pm. Have a great week.

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond

The snow is starting to fly here in Rawlins Wyoming. It is hard to imagine what winter looks like due to the mild and very pleasant Fall that we have been experiencing. My youngest daughter awoke on Tuesday morning, looked out the window and saw the snow on the ground. She said, “Dad! It is Christmas Time!” Talking about daughters, my middle child asked me the other day why do I go to meetings at the church? I told her that is my job. She asked me if I am going to be the the bishop and I laughed and said, “No, that is too much for me to handle right now, and I like what I am doing right now.” Then she replied, “You know Dad I like what I am doing, being an Acolyte.” The church is drawing toward an end of a liturgical season and soon will begin another year. As this takes place, I take pause and give thanks that the God that I have come to know and love is always stirring about and prompting new and wonder blessings, planted, growing, harvesting, and surrendering. The Diocese of Wyoming is entering its first (or second depending upon how one looks at it) month of listening and learning to discover God's calling for the future. With change comes grief and with this grief a new hope is born. There is much to celebrate in Carbon County and I hope that you find, in some small way, your own story being told in this weekly letters.

Ministry Developer: As I work with (Rev) Tristan English on enhancing the VTC (video/teleconferencing network) I am learning a new kind of technology language. I am also learning that there is a difference between up and down speeds on the internet. Most of us have quick “download” speeds but very limited “upload” speed. This is important because the VTC needs both. It looks like he has found a solution which could be good news for us all throughout the state. I am looking forward to moving this work from start-up to ongoing use. I am in contact with Saratoga about possibilities about ministries and I am hopeful about the future.

St. James (Encampment): I am looking forward to catching up with those fine folks of Encampment next week. I admit that being gone for almost two months is really too long. I don't want to intrude on the weekly events and I have come to learn that they do well throughout the week. Somethings that I ponder is what can I do to continue to be of service and to support the ministry of St. James? During my conversations in the past it seems to me that they enjoy being together on a weekly basis and children are important to them. Their future holds promise as they continue to look at ways to build a parish hall that will serve in so many different capacities – restroom, meeting place for the community, and provide handicap accessibility to the church. St. James don't surrender that dream of a better future for yourself as well as the town of Encampment.

St. Luke (Medicine Bow): The last time I was in Medicine Bow the weather was mild and comfortable. I am sure now that the weather is changing the proposed new wall furnace would be a welcomed idea. St. Luke finds ways to keep going in spite of challenges of life. They too are one of the two churches that are still active in this part of the state that don't have a bathroom. However, Medicine Bow is popular place for the Fish and Game to set up a check in station for the hunters in the region. What may appear as quite and sleepy can be deceptive in that there is plenty of life to be found if a person can slow down long enough to find it. The now growing familiar faces of the town are a welcome sight for a weary traveler. Keep the home fires burning.

St. Thomas (Rawlins): I preached and presided last Sunday. A couple of months ago the idea of starting a Sunday School was brought up and one of the members of the vestry put forth the energy and effort to organized one. She was honest by saying that to host an event every week would be simply too much; however once a month is doable. So, she called some parents and received favorable responses. This past Sunday was the first Sunday as it fell on All Saints Sunday and the number of kids doubled the attendance for the day. It was quite a buzz going on in the undercroft (basement). There was also a generous contribution to the “lift” that nobody knew what to do but stare at it for a while to make sure it was the real deal. It was and for the unknown saint of Rawlins … thank you.

St. Paul (Dixon/Little Snake River Valley): I arrived early on Sunday to catch up with Linda Fleming and together we went to visit George Salisbury and his family. George is a life long Episcopalian who is now home bound. He has a large family who are willing and eager to step in and to provide him the needed support for him to remain in his home as his health slowly surrenders to the final chapter of life in this world. We had an abbreviated church service in which communion was served. As George's great-grand daughter distributed the bread and we all shared the wine I saw tears in George's eyes along with his primary home care provider. To witness such a holy moment makes all the driving worth while and then some. Linda Fleming has received support from St. Paul to take the first steps into entering the priesthood and I am in the process of collecting signatures and talking to others at St. Paul about what that will mean for them. This is an exciting time for the congregation on the Little Snake River in the southern part of the state of Wyoming.

What is coming up this week? Yesterday I drove to Dixon to meet briefly with the group that likes to gather for the bi-monthly bible reflection. Tuesday I spent an hour with St. Thomas to reflect on the assigned Gospel for the up-coming Sunday. Wednesday I will be in Kraft Hall (Rawlins) from 10:30am to 12pm and marriage counseling from 6 pm to 7:30 pm. I am also in the process of calling the members of the Ministry Support Team of Rawlins to see if they are up for gathering prior to the vestry meeting which will be begin at 6:30 pm on Thursday. Friday I will be taking an ad-hoc day off as I drive to Green River to pick-up my vestments. Saturday is the worship planning team of St. Thomas will be gathering at 8:30 in the undercroft (basement) at St. Thomas. Sunday I will be found in Encampment for fine fellowship with the members of St. James which begins at 9am. Talk to everybody soon!

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County

Today is All Saints Day! I heard a quote - “They are Saints and they are saint makers!” I would count myself as a maker rather than the real thing. I do believe it takes all kinds. For me a saint is the quiet ones who work behind the scenes making sure that others are successful in what they do. As a Ministry Developer I measure success by the confidence that members of the church have in their own ministries. I attempt (with various levels of success) to be an energizer of ministry and to help others get excited or connected to their passions to service Christ. To all the Saints of the Church known and unknown, have come and yet to arrive, thank you for all that you have done and I look forward to another chapter in our journey together. I hope this letter finds you well.
St. Thomas (Rawlins): It was a typical week for me when it comes to my relationship with St. Thomas. On Tuesday I was in attendance to the Gospel Study group. I have taken the summer off and now I have re-engaged with this group. They were kind in changing the date from Monday to Tuesday so that I could participate. Wednesday I had office hours in which I shared my up-coming weekly calendar and worked on planning the All Saints Church Service (today at 6pm – St. Thomas) which provides some ground work for the All Saints Sunday Service that is coming up this Sunday (November 7^th). Thursday I manged to catch up with a member of St. Thomas who is in the process of re-licensing for preaching.
St. Luke (Medicine Bow): Not much to report on this end. In the past I would preside at St. Luke's on the 5^th Sunday of the month; however since they have partnered with the Bishop's Office that has changed. At the same time I was traveling to Region 5 to provide sacramental support. Now my time in Region 5 have wrapped up as Roy Walworth and Walt Seely will be picking up those responsibilities at the end of November. I am sure more will come up as we travel with God on this journey of serving Christ.
St. Paul (Dixon): They are plugging along in the Little Snake River Valley. Last week I spent the afternoon at the bi-monthly Bible Cafe in a new home. A young couple has moved to the area and they are quickly getting involved in the life of the church. It will not be long before they will be asked to serve in an expanded leadership role. This group does not sit around waiting for people to get involved. I also received news that a birth has taken place in the Salisbury's family household – welcome to a new baby boy! I am sure George Salisbury will be pleased as he learns about his 4^th generation great-grand child.
St. James (Encampment): Like reported last week there is a great effort being put on by the kids of the church to raise funds to return to Wyoming Wilderness Camp next year. They also have been busy with various and sundering activities throughout the week. It is not a group that sits still for very long. I am looking forward to connecting with them in the coming two weeks.
Ministry Developer: The other activities of the week were attending WebEx meetings. The first one was the weekly meeting with the Ministry Developers as we check in and learn about what is taking place throughout the Diocese from a Ministry Developers perspective. The second WebEx meeting was about Evangelism in which Kathy Robinson is working so hard to develop a comprehensive approach for the Diocese. This is timely work. The third WebEx meeting was with the Regional Reps in which we welcomed new members to the group. It was a good meeting for the newer members of the group to learn about expectations and group norms on the phone/computer.
What is coming up? Today (Monday) I was on WebEx meeting with the Ministry Developers and tonight I will be at St. Thomas (Rawlins) for All Saints Church Service starting at 6pm. Tuesday I will be attending the Gospel Study group at St. Thomas (Rawlins) as I prepare to preside and preach in Rawlins this coming Sunday. The group meets at 9am at Kraft Hall. Wednesday I will be hosting office hours at Kraft Hall (Rawlins) from 10:30am to 12pm and marriage counseling from 6 to 7:30pm. Thursday I am planning on working on my sermon and testing internet speed for the VTC here in Rawlins. Friday I will travel to Casper for a farewell gathering for Linda Wilson and Kathy Robinson as they draw their ministry to a conclusion and enter another chapter in serving the church. And yes I will be attending to other needs when they come up! Perhaps some professional development is in order. You know, to work on my sainthood status!

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County

I cannot imagine how much material I have covered for the past ten years through writing this weekly letter. This all started back in seminary when a professor told my class that most people will not understand us as we are transformed over the three years. That started my weekly habit of writing letters to family and friends. When I arrived in Wyoming to continue my calling into Shared Ministry I continued to write. Week after week I wrote and today I continue to follow that discipline. Why do I write? First it was to sharpen my writing skills and to keep others informed about what I do week to week. As a Ministry Developer it is easy for people to fall into that trap – out of sight out of mind. I now write to tell the story of Region 4 in Wyoming. I am not sure that I fully capture the stories that are told, but I remain faithful and let outcomes be what they are. Ok, now onto what has taken place for the past week. I hope this letter finds you well.

St. James (Encampment): I don't have much to report this week. I heard that they are in conversation with the Foundation about their grant proposal to build a bathroom/parish hall. There was a suggestion that the project be done in two stages and it was pointed out in the grant proposal that was a possible suggestion. Rev. Jess Smith presided yesterday and there is a chance that he will be back next week to catch them up on the Eucharist Services next week. St. James is also planning on attending the local Senior Center Flea Market and the kids of the church are planning on selling baked goods to raise money to pay to them to attend Wyoming Wilderness Camp next year. Other than that they are busy with various events of life.

St. Luke (Medicine Bow): Last Sunday I received encouraging news. One of the faithful members of the church who has in the past travels south for the winter and informed the church that this year she has checked it out with her doctors and family and has received permission to remain in Medicine Bow for the winter. It may be her last because after that she will be ninety years old. Great to be that vital at that age! There also has been some brief discussion about purchasing a new “wall furnace” to lower the heating costs. As it turns out there is enough money from their rummage sale this year to pay for about half of the cost upfront. Not bad at all for a church that is stilling looking at ways to have a bathroom!

St. Paul's (Dixon a.k.a. LSRV): Last week they hosted a discussion about immigration in the United States and more particularly what is taking place in Arizona. As it turns out members of the church leadership winter in different parts of Arizona and so it was nice to hear more of what people are struggling with from a local perspective. The big insight for me was to hear stories that for some people from Mexico they have traveled to the United States because they are safe here in large part as a response to the growing drug trafficking problem and wars among gangs jockeying for position among themselves.

St. Thomas (Rawlins): Oh how did I manage to overlook St. Thomas? Perhaps it is because I was just there! What is taking place? Last week I was a member of a graveside service of Wyoming Engstrom who received sacramental support from St. Thomas for as long as I remember. Also Rev. Karen Buckingham has attended her 5^th of 6 systems retreat last week. I am looking forward to hearing about what she has learned.

Ministry Developer: Last Thursday I talked to two people from St. Barnabas about discernment and preaching licensing. We shall see how this unfolds in the future. What is coming up? Well I attended the Fall Bible Cafe in LSRV on Monday and today I attended the Gospel Study at St. Thomas. I have made a couple of phone calls and now I am moving toward the middle part of my week in fine fashion. I am the “on-call” chaplain this week and so I will be dropping in for the briefings with the Rawlins Police Department. It is also a week for WebEx as I will be participating in three meetings – Ministry Developers, Evangelism, and Regional Reps. This Sunday I head over to Region 5 to preside at St. David's (Fort Bridger) and St. John's (Green River) and I will be back in home to enjoy the Halloween festivities. Have a great week!

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond

Ok folks. Nothing profound in thought or meaning this week. It will be a typical up-date of activities throughout Carbon County and what I am doing with the churches that I work with. The colors of the trees are changing and it seems like this took place like a flip of a switch. Much like the past two weeks. Now, to move on to the activities of Carbon County and Beyond! I hope this letter finds you well.

St. James (Encampment): This is what I know. Their grant proposal for a bathroom/parish hall with renovations to the church building has been reviewed and there needs to be some slight adjustments to the grant. This is encouraging news. I have the privilege and honor to be affiliated with a church that continues to meet and worship on a regular basis and does not get distracted by physical limitations of the building. Good work! The Rev. Jess Smith and myself continue to be members of the team who provide the sacramental support to this community of faith.

St. Luke (Medicine Bow): Arlen and I are in conversation about the Preaching Licensing to be completed by December 31, 2011. Arlen was a licensed preacher under the previous process. This year the COM (Commission On Ministry) have revised the process and has asked all licensed and inspiring preachers to enter this current process (in my words) so that uniformity and standards will be met in the coming years. Again Rev. Jess Smith and I are members of the team of people who provide sacramental support for this community of faith.

St. Thomas (Rawlins): Last week I met with the Gospel Study group after being away for the summer months of 2010. It was nice to reconnect. I also talked to the MST (Ministry Support Team) of St. Thomas to share that the Diocese has entered a strategic listening and learning period that will last until next convention of 2011 in Cheyenne. It is my understanding that everything is on the table for discussion including my role as a ministry developer. This did not alarm anybody and I take this as a sign of spiritual maturity of this church. Good work St. Thomas. I also met with the vestry to explain the process of preaching license and the vestry role in the process. St. Thomas has also decided to begin having a children's Sunday school once a month and is preparing for the Fall/Winter activities such as the Rawlins Bazaar and selling Christmas wreaths.

St. Paul (Dixon): I presided at St. Paul's yesterday and I was blessed with arrival of a new family to the area. They are familiar with the liturgical worship setting and the mother of the 3^rd grader has many questions. Bring them on! We also tried something new during the Prayers of the People and played music in the background to enhance the prayerful experience. It worked well; however we need to turn the volume down so that others can hear. A very minor adjustment. The members of St. Paul's are also discerning a local priest and are considering what direction they want to take in the future.

Ministry Development (Doug): I have been working on establishing a static IP for Rawlins so that the Diocese can fully utilize the VTC (video teleconferencing) equipment. The Rev. Tristan English, Shane Glassburn (Rawlins) and I have been in conversation. I believe we are about 90 percent complete, but you never know when it comes to technology were you stand from moment to moment! I also sat in the Wyoming Wilderness Camp Board meeting last Saturday in Casper. What I can report is that this board is looking toward the future with an encouraging attitude. The camp is growing in numbers and slowly becoming more economically viable. One major growth area is if every community could send 5 to 6 kids to camps this could increase outreach at the local level and expand the opportunity for the next generation to encounter God who continues to surprise us in wonderful and unexpected ways.

What is coming up? I completed my weekly WebEx meeting with the Ministry Developers. Tuesday I will be visiting with the Gospel Study group of St. Thomas (Rawlins) @ 9am followed by meeting with the Rev. Tristan English to continue our work on the VTC. Wednesday I will have office hours at Kraft Hall (Rawlins) from 10:30am to 12pm and then I am heading to St. Paul's (Dixon) to participate in a learning and discussion session about immigration issues starting at 6pm. Friday I will be presiding at a graveside service in Rawlins starting at 10am. Sunday I will be heading to St. Luke's (Medicine Bow) to preside. Have a great week!