Letters to the Churches of Carbon County and Beyond

Does it seem that the month of March stretches on and on? Where February was quick this month seems to go on forever. Well this is the last Monday of this month and now it seems that everything is happening quickly. As the fine folks of St Luke pointed out their Bishop Visit in about two week away. Now that came up quickly. As I put together my pictures for this posting I realized there was a theme. Everybody was smiling. That sure seems counter to the idea of Lent, but this year I think it is appropriate. There is much to be grateful about. I hope this letter finds you well.

St. Luke's (Medicine Bow): Last Thursday I drove through town and picked up Lillian and together we headed to Laramie to meet with Alren's preaching discernment group at St. Matthews. Arlen has put together a fine group who asked good questions about the process and expectations. Two churches will be working together in this effort. St. Matthews will be working on Arlen's theological development and St. Luke's will be working on presentation and content of the sermons. Together, along with the prompting of God's calling, we will discover the abundance of God's love among us. Yesterday the dedicated members of St. Luke's gathered after the service to (a) plan the Bishop Visit in April and (b) to plan a DiSC(r) training using the Biblical Profile System. There was some discussion about replacing a furnace for next year. There was honest sharing and I am looking forward to seeing what God does with our prayers and dreams.

St James (Encampment): I have been in conversation about the building of a parish hall. They want to respond to an e-mail that was sent to them from the UTO. During the pondering of the e-mail that there may be a time line issue that needed to be worked out. I am really impressed with the attitude of integrity. I am confident that God will honor the intention of the spirit of honestly and openness that this faithful group of people bring to this effort. I also have been working with Vonnie to make plans for the Bishop Visit in May and this event will be shared with St. Barnabas in Saratoga. It looks like that is coming together nicely and once again another opportunity for different Episcopal Churches in the Diocese of Wyoming are working together for the grace of God.

St Thomas (Rawlins): I met with the Gospel Group last Tuesday and I didn't envy the preach last week the reading was full of threads and ideas for preaching. I shared with Arlen (who preached at St Luke's) that it was almost too much to cover and one had to pick to one idea and allow the grace knowing that there will be more preaching events in the future. I didn't make it to Rhythms of Grace, but I did receive a picture and it looked like the kids were having a great time. Last night I did make it to the Square Dancing event at the Jeffery Center and members of the Methodist Church were counted among the crowd. It was fun watching people dance. The caller was good and in some ways when we listen to God as the caller we all can dance and beautiful dance. When I got home the middle child took some paper, cut it up in the shape of people, taped them together, and showed Kellie and I what she did at the Jeffery Center. Yup, it was people square dancing. Nice image.

St. Paul (Dixon): This was my off week and I did not travel to the Valley. Linda wrote a sermon this week and I read it. I was impressed with the theme of invitation and sharing what it means to being an Episcopalian. We are often a bashful bunch when it comes to sharing our faith with others, well simply because we (as a church) are people who prefer to have our actions do our talking. Yet, talking also requires listening. Linda has gently pulled out the power of sharing and the importance of sharing the Good News of Christ with others. It is not about recruiting, but caring for one another.

What is coming up? Today (Monday) is a WebEx meeting with the Ministry Developers at 8 am. Then I head to Baggs to meet with the Spring Bible Cafe group at 2 pm. Tuesday I will be meeting with the Gospel Group of St. Thomas at Kraft Hall starting at 9 am. Wednesday is office hours at Kraft Hall from 10 am to 12 pm. That afternoon I will be meeting with the Communications Visioning Group via the VTC at 3 pm. Thursday is sermon writing day. Saturday I meet with the preaching ministry group of St. Thomas at 10 am. Sunday I will be preaching and presiding at two churches starting at St. Thomas (Rawlins) at 9:30 am and St. Paul's (Dixon) at 3pm. There will be a Ministry Support Team meeting following the service at St. Paul's. Keep on smiling!

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County

I think it was yesterday evening when all the travel caught up to me. I was a bit grouchy, but I got over it quickly. I am also pleased to report that I got to spend Saturday afternoon with my girls outside as they rode their horses. It was nice to be outside and in the wind. Talking about wind, last week was packed with activities that covered two states and four cities/towns. By the grace of God I went and I am happy to say I can write about it today. Now it is time to cover everything I did for the past week.

St. Paul (Dixon): On Monday I arrived for the Spring Bible Cafe with smiles. This faithful group have finally completed Isaiah and started Jeremiah. It is becoming clear that spring is coming by looking at all the mud that is starting to form around on the ranches. Friday I returned to the Little Snake River Valley aka LSRV for the COM Community interview. The COM reps were impressed (I was not surprised) and Linda shared with what she is doing to both assist with the administration and how some of those task are being shared with others. The carry in dinner was turkey with all the fixings. I also heard that the St. Paddy's day, which took place the day before, was a good start as an outreach ministry and there was some discussion of another event being planned for May. On Sunday I returned to St. Paul's to preach and preside. The effort to get there was a story. I headed out only to be stopped about three miles down the road. I-80 Westbound was closed. So, I called Linda and informed her that I was at the Flying-J and will be late as I wait for the road to open. I turned around and headed back to Rawlins. I sat and waited for about 20 minutes and the road opened up. I think going back to Rawlins was a good idea because I managed to get down the road in a timely fashion. Meanwhile the folks of St. Paul changed the order of the service to accommodate my late arrival. I made it in time for the end of the Prayers of the People. I read my sermon, said the confession followed by the absolution, and we were right back on track. Nice work St. Paul's.

St. James (Encampment): I spoke to Jim about a matter in regards to DiSC(r) and he told me that the wind was blowing and the mud is growing. What timing considering that St. James is in the process of getting all the paperwork together to get a building permit to build their parish hall. They also have been receiving correspondence about their UTO grant proposal and that was considered good news because it is getting attention. I will keep people posted as I learn more.

St. Thomas (Rawlins): I attended the Gospel Study last Tuesday and most of the ice has melted off the sidewalks. I also heard reports that the planning for the St. Patrick's meal was coming along quiet well and invitations were extended to all. St. Thomas has eagerly accepted the invitation to play this Lenten season. I don't think they are too far off theologically because I believe the disciples were excited about the coming Passover with Jesus. I can only image what this holy week is going to look like. It is going to be an event to remember. Other news was the Rhythms of Grace planning group met this Sunday. I also completed a series Prepare and Enrich session for marriage counseling with a couple and that is nice to wrap up that body of work.

St. Luke (Medicine Bow): This is the week I get to be face to face with them. I have not heard much news from them last week. I will be working with Arlen this week for his preaching licensing for 2011.





Ministry Development: Wednesday I spent the day in Casper. The Communication Strategic Visioning group met for an all day workshop. The work we will do will be sent to the Visioning Team (group of 12 people) and all that will be presented at the up-coming Convention. The work is on-going and unfolding. The process is sound and I was impressed with what we were able to accomplish during our time together. I also spend all day Thursday in Denver co-presenting “6 Steps of ReThinking Communication” workshop by BridgeWorks. There were about twenty four people there and we had a good time. The work that I learned there has strong connections with the work I do as a Ministry Developer and I consider myself blessed to be apart of BridgeWorks.

What is coming up? As I look forward to another week I realize that I get some down time. Monday I will be on the weekly WebEx meeting with the Ministry Developers at 8 am. Tuesday I will be participating with the Gospel Study at Kraft Hall starting at 9 am. Wednesday I have office hours at Kraft Hall from 10 am to 11:30 am and another WebEx meeting with the Evangelism Team starting at 2 pm. Thursday I will be in my last DiSC(r) and Discipleship session from 8 am to 9:30 am and then I hit the road to Laramie to meet with Arlen's preaching discernment group at 2 pm. Friday I will be attending an all day workshop in Rawlins that addresses recognizing sexual abuse in children that is being put on by the county. The workshop starts at 7:30 am and wraps up at 5:30 pm. Sunday I head over to St. Luke's in Medicine Bow for a service that starts at 10:30 am. For those who are in Rawlins, Rhythms of Grace will start at 1 pm and there will be Square Dancing at the Jeffery Center at 5:30 pm. Hope to see many friends throughout the week.

Letters to the Churches of Carbon County

Today I look at my coming week and I looking at the possibility of pulling off an amazing week that is full of travel, fun events, and discovery. It is counter-cultural to the season of Lent in which a person is invited to spend more time (I read slow down) with the church, as it turns out I will be spending more time on the road going from event to event to work on my personal and professional development. Throughout the week I will work with three different churches in Carbon County, which is great news. I am looking forward to seeing how all this work will be integrated into the overall mission of the church. I hope this letter finds you well.

St. James (Encampment): On Sunday I traveled to Encampment. As I was driving along, my middle child was taking in the view and noted that the landscape of Wyoming looks spectacular this time of year with the fresh snow on the mountains and the ground is starting to wake up from a wintery sleep. The members of St. James are working hard on taking an important and notable step in their ministry and recognize a dream the building a parish hall that includes a bathroom. They have made a down payment with the contractor and will be applying for a building permit this week. They also have received a letter from the Diocesan Office about the up-coming Bishop Visit in May and have begun to make plans. This year Bishop Visit weekend will cover two churches and so the details need to be worked out between Encampment and Saratoga. The DiSC(R) training will be hosted in April which will be better because of the increased daylight. It is good to see this congregation come alive with anticipation of something big and wonderful right around the corner or at the top of a mountain.

St. Thomas (Rawlins): Wednesday I found myself looking at my watch and saying to myself that I can make the 7pm Ash Wednesday service. As it turned out that was a good thing because I was asked to step in to preside. It was nice to participate in the service and share the responsibilities with another priest. On Thursday the Ministry Support Team met and we filled in the “wheel” or the “ministry circle” with many different activities. The exciting development at St. Thomas along with the building of their lift is the outreach is starting to take place with foster care families. Great plans are being made which include a Safeguarding God's Children training. I am in conversation with the Rev. Tristan English (communications officer) about how to make this training available throughout the Diocese through the VTC. I also met with the vestry and during our meeting it was suggested to look at the by-laws of the church and up-date them to reflect the current life and operation of the church. As I think about this work I realize that this is a Ministry Review that takes a longer view and goes deeper. My impression is that the work will be done around roles and expectations of the ministries, Vestry, Ministry Support Team, Local Priest and etc.

St. Luke (Medicine Bow): Not much to report this week. I do think long and hard about what I can do to help develop this community. They are a faithful group of people who are reliable and you can count on them to be present every other Sunday for worship. I trust that God will show us all the way forward when it comes to this community. They always hope that a company that has been looking forward to building a coal to liquid plant will pass another step to move forward on that project.

St. Paul (Dixon): This last Sunday I preached and presided at their Ash Wednesday service. I moved to the unfamiliar and preached without notes. As we gathered around the table a retired Episcopal priest assisted. As it turns out this was one those special times in which I got to celebrate Ash Wednesday services with fellow priests. I don't think that will happen again for a long time. They are getting read for the COM's community interview that is to take place this week. This community has been working on this development for a long time and it is nice to see some notable stages reached.

What is coming up? The theme this week is travel! Monday I head to Little Snake River Valley for their winter/spring Bible Cafe and we will complete Isiah. Tuesday I will be participating in the Gospel Study and then that afternoon I head to Denver for a Landmark Education seminar. Wednesday I head to Casper for a Communications Visioning Strategic all day workshop. From there I return to Denver so that on Thursday I can co-present “6 Steps of Rethinking Communication” with BridgeWorks Inc. Friday I return to St. Paul's in Dixon to participate in the COM community interview. On Sunday I will be at St. Paul's (Dixon) to preach and preside. I think I need more to do.

Letters to Churches of Carbon County & Beyond

These two past weeks were full of activity and I find myself spending less time on the computer and more time on the phone and seeing people face to face. I believe that would make a nice Lenten discipline. A quick overview of what has taken place for the past two weeks – YES! Ski Camp in Cody and Montana; winter bible cafe; two church services; gospel study, and professional development. Like I said a full couple of weeks. Now to offer more details about what is taking place throughout the County.

St. Paul's (Dixon): Here is a group that went from quiet and peaceful days to have a month of March full of activities! Will they pull it off? I say yes they will with God's help. A couple of weeks ago I arrived to participate in the Winter Bible Cafe. As it worked out one of the leaders of this event was on a roll expressing her thoughts and feelings about how people go back and forth in following God which matched with the opening of Isaiah chapter 62. Great timing on God's behalf. Another God moment took place yesterday. I was asked (it was a really long shot) to see if I could assist in locating a homeless man in Redding California as it turns out the Rev. Charlie Poole (I think I spelled that right) who is a retired Episcopal Priest from Redding was in attendance at the church service. He said that he will help out and listed three different organizations that he can talk with to help location this man. WOW talk about bring things together in a mysterious way.

St. Paul is also getting ready for their Strove Tuesday Pancake dinner supper this week. Then it is the first of hopefully many Fun, Family, Faith Night on March 17, 2011 at the Baggs Community Center starting at 6pm to about 8. It is designed for families with young children to meet and make new friends and to kindle old friendships. It is like a potluck with boardgames and childcare will be provided. Then St. Paul will have a COM Community Interview to about complete the first stage of Linda Fleming's process toward the priesthood and that is scheduled for the next day. Yes they will be busy for March!

St. Thomas (Rawlins): This group is plugging along. I have attended a couple of the Gospel Study meetings that take place every Tuesday morning from 9am to 10am and all are welcomed. These times together give me a sense of how to understand the Gospel story in today's context. I have also heard that Rhythms of Grace was well attended in February with about fourteen people including children and adults participating. They too are getting geared up for Strove Tuesday as a time for the congregation together for food and fellowship. St. Thomas will also have a St. Patrick’s evening meal and the church is already becoming green. Yesterday was “Give a Lift” Sunday in which everybody gathered after church in the undercroft for coffee and sweet food. During the time together we watched a twenty minute DVD on the Freedom Flight in which WWII Veterans visited Washington for about 48 hours to see the WWII Memorial and meet the Senators and Representative of Wyoming. One of St. Thomas' own was on the flight!

St. Luke (Medicine Bow): I really admire their effort to be the church with the different challenges they face. I have heard a report that the Round's wrestled with bad roads and weather. I also heard that one service was held at a home to assist with the heating issue (it would take too long to heat up the church). I spoke with Arlen today (Monday) and we had a great brain storming session about different ideas that expand beyond the local church. We are also working on getting his preaching licensing started. The date seems to be a moving target!

St. James (Encampment): The last one in the list, but not in my mind! I spoke to Vonnie on Monday morning as it turns out we had scheduled a Biblical DiSC(c) training lined up that now needs to be moved to April for a couple off good reasons. One, an important member of the church will not be available for the training and two, another member of the church could be there in April. So, we moved the date to April. I heard the Rev. Jess Smith was snowed out the last time he was heading to Encampment and so they carried on without him. All Shall be Well!

Ministry Development work: Where do I start? I have been working on DiSC(c) and Discipleship which I have found to be insightful and challenging for me to look at how I preach, preside, and lead in the church. This program is giving me tools to “change up” and to offer more to the church. I am also working with Rebekah Simon-Peter on co-presenting a workshop called “6 Steps to ReThinking Communication” in Denver on March 17, 2011. I see this as further professional development. The Regional Reps and the Ministry Developers met last week by WebEx and we checked in. This Lent is going to be full of surprises and I hope I can keep up!

What is coming up this week? Tuesday I will be attending the Gospel Study at St. Thomas (Kraft Hall) @ 9am for an hour. That afternoon I will be attending a seminar put on by Landmark Education called “Breakthroughs: Living outside the Box”. Wednesday I will be at Kraft Hall from 10 am to 12 pm. Thursday is going to be busy. Starting with a DiSC(c) and Discipleship conference call at 8am to 9:30 am. That afternoon I will meet with the Ministry Support Team and the Vestry of St. Thomas starting at 5:30 pm. On Saturday I will meet with the worship leaders of St. Thomas at 8:30 am at McDonald's. Sunday I will be heading to St. James in Encampment to preach and preside starting at 9am. Have a great week!