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October 14, 2014
Planning
the Next Steps
Oasis Ministry Meets
Oct. 24 in Lansing
Oasis Ministry Outreach is a ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. The ministry welcomes, affirms and supports transgender, bisexual, lesbian and gay people. On Oct. 24, prior to the start of the annual Diocesan Convention, the group will be holding an important ministry planning meeting.

This is a time of major transition for Oasis Ministry; the discussion will center around the focus of the ministry going forward and determining who has energy and passion to do this work. A planning meeting runs from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. in the Regency Room II at the Radisson Hotel, Lansing. RSVPs for this are encouraged, but not mandatory. Contact the Rev. Joe Summers at (734) 846-3578 or [email protected] for more information. You may also Click Here to learn more about Oasis Ministry.


Get Connected 
Subscribe to YAYA Connections

A good way to stay in touch with the offerings available to the young people in our diocese is through YAYA Connections, an e-newsletter. There is no shortage of events and opportunities from which to choose. 

Click Here to read the most recent edition of YAYA Connections and to subscribe to future editions. 

 

Happlogo_color_clean copy 

Happening #15 Coming
to St. John's, Saginaw
Happening is a retreat weekend "for youth" "by youth" that allows young people (grades 9-12) to explore their relationships with Jesus, each other and the world. This fall, we join our friends from the Diocese of Eastern Michigan to meet Nov. 14-16 at St. John's Episcopal Church, Saginaw.

Click Here for more information about the event.
The Countdown is On
The 180th Diocesan Convention Returns to Lansing Next Weekend
Can anyone believe the 180th Diocesan Convention is next weekend? Time sure does fly!

The annual event for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan is Oct. 24-25 at the Lansing Center. We've provided links to various documents you will need for the event. All of the following documents may also be found on our Website, which also includes a link to the Convention Journal. Here are the other available documents:

More Information:


Saturday Volunteers Needed
Hospitality volunteers are still needed to work Saturday, Oct. 25  at our annual convention. It's worth it to volunteer -- In addition to our gratitude, volunteers also receive special treats and perks. Volunteers may also take advantage of discounted room rates available to delegates.

For more information or to request a volunteer form, contact Julie Travis, convention volunteer coordinator, at a new, updated number (734-233-7334) or email her at [email protected].
Radisson, Quality Suites are Booked
If you plan on staying in Lansing for the convention, please note the Radisson Hotel and Quality Suites are both booked for the weekend.
The Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau identified the two hotels below as having rooms available for the night of Oct. 24. If you have not already done so, please book your room as soon as possible.
 
Best Western Plus Lansing (formerly the Causeway Bay)
(517) 694-8123
 
Crowne Plaza Lansing West
(517) 323-7100
Share Your Images
for Presentation
At each convention, we show a video highlighting the work of each church in our diocese. We'll be doing it again this year. You can be a part of it; share images of your church with us through Friday. There are a number of ways of doing this.
What Do You Have to Offer?   
Fill Welcome Bags for Refugee Children with La Iglesia Detroit  
Please assist La Iglesia Detroit (a ministry of our diocese) and Sta. Teresa y San Juan Iglesia Episcopal in collecting the following items for "Welcome Bags."  When children arrive at refugee shelters, there are basic items these shelters are not ready to provide during the first night. You can donate many of these items to make "Welcome Bags" that will help the children feel welcome. The basic items needed include:  
  • Toiletries: Shampoo, soap, wash cloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant.
  • New Undergarments: Packs of new socks and new underwear for children and teenagers of different ages. 
  • Clean or New Sleeping Clothes: Pajamas, sweatpants or shorts of different sizes for children of different ages.
Contact the Rev. Marcia Ledford ([email protected]) or the Rev. Juan Perez ([email protected]) for more information. 
Music Events
Phantom of the Opera, St. James, Birmingham. This begins at 6 p.m. Sunday, featuring the silent movie "Phantom of the Opera" with organ accompaniment by Glenn Burdette. Freewill offering. For details, go to www.stjamesbirmingham.org or call (248) 644-0820.

Congregational/Other Events
St. Stephen's, Hamburg turns 170 years old this fall. At 6 p.m. Thursday, Bishop Gibbs visits for a service, followed by dinner with the Bishop and the congregation at RJ's Grill on M-36 (tickets will be sold for dinner). On Sunday, Nov. 9 at 10 a.m., the Rev. John Franklin will be officiating the service which will be done in a style very similar to the services offered in 1844. Call (810) 231-3220 for details.
 
Rummage Sale, All Saints, Pontiac. From Wednesday through Saturday, items include furniture, books, clothes for everyone, electronics and tools, kitchen and housewares, antiques and high fashion. The event begins with the First Choice Wine & Cheese Preview & Sale from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday with a $5 admission. Thursday sale is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; Friday is also 9 to 3 (with 25 percent off); Saturday sale is 9 to 3 with half off in morning and bag sale in the afternoon. Call (248) 334-4571 for more details.

Lay Caregiver Workshop, Samaritan Counseling Center. The Rev. Rob Kerr (St. John's, Westland) will present ideas and insights with those who are caregivers from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday at Nardin Park UMC (29887 West 11 Mile Rd, Farmington Hills). Registration is $15 per person and closes on Thursday. Call (248) 474-4701 to register.

Spaghetti Dinner, Grace Church, Detroit. Grace holds its annual Italian Festival from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 22. Dinner is $10 per person; proceeds will help fund repairs from recent flood damage. Call (313) 895-6442 for details.

Cranberry Chutney Sale, Trinity Church, Monroe. The Episcopal Church Women at Trinity are holding their annual cranberry chutney sale. The cost is $5 per half pint or $8 a pint.
To order and to learn about the pick-up dates (in early November), call (734) 242-3113 or email [email protected].

Craft and Vendor Fair, St. Michael and All Angels, Lincoln Park. The semi-annual event goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. In addition to handmade seasonal crafts and everyone's favorite vendors, the fair includes snacks, a bake sale, tin-can raffle and a "Christmases Past" resale shop in the church annex. Tables are still available for rent. Contact Claudia at (313) 706-8881 or e-mail [email protected].  Proceeds to benefit on-going church and outreach programs.

Knot Just for Knitters, St. Luke's, Shelby Twp. The Knot Just 4 Knitters ministry has grown and now meets Monday nights from 7 to 9:30 p.m., and Wednesdays  from 1 to 3:30 p.m. Feel free to bring a friend. Don't know how to knit? We would be happy to teach you! Contact Capi Puszcz at [email protected] for suggested supplies and more information. 

Saints, Sinners and Cynics, Coral Gables, East Lansing. This Monday-night meeting (6:30 to 8:30 p.m.) gathers for meaningful and deep conversation, prayer requests, personal challenges, good jokes and much more. Volunteer facilitators pull questions/issues out of a box for all to consider and discuss. People of all faiths, or no faith, are welcome. Call the office at St. Michael's, Lansing at (517) 882-9733 or email [email protected] for more information.  

The Table at St. Patrick's, Madison Heights. The Table meets Sundays at 6 p.m. at St. Patrick's, Madison Heights for those whose schedules prevent them from being able to worship on Sunday mornings. Click Here for details.

Task Force on Violence, Gun Control and Mental Health, Christ Church, Grosse  
Pointe. The group (formed in conjunction with Church of the Messiah, Detroit) meets Saturday mornings from 9 to 11 a.m. to explore what can be done to support national and local efforts to address the problems of violence. Established in response to the 2012 Sandy Hook massacre, the meetings are open to others in the local faith community. More information is available at christchurchgp.org or by calling the church office at (313) 885-4841.

Order of St. Luke the Physician, St. Stephen's, Hamburg. This interfaith healing group meets the third Wednesday of each month at 10.30 a.m. Call (810) 333-7300 for details.  
 
Caregivers Group, Holy Cross, Novi. The group meets on the second Saturday of each month at 10 a.m. in the parish hall. It offers support and open discussion for all those dealing with Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. 
 
The Shops at All Saints, Pontiac are open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The
Produce Market features fresh fruits and vegetables at near wholesale prices and accepts EBT cards. The Old Rectory Resale Shop has fashionable, nearly new clothes for women, men and children, plus lots of kitchen and decorating items at bargain prices. Both are open every Saturday. The Book Nook is open the first Saturday of every month and has thousands of used books, fiction and non-fiction in every genre, plus CDs and records.

Stations of the Resurrection Walk, St. George's, Milford. The church hosts a resurrection walk during daylight hours through mid-fall. The walk lasts about 25-35 minutes and pets are welcome. Feel free to walk it alone, with a friend or bring the whole family. Go to stgeorgesmilford.org for more information.

Ministering to Suicidal Depression, Farmington Hills. Samaritan Counseling Center of Southeastern Michigan invites clergy and congregational leaders of all faiths, and all counselors, to 'Soul Shop,' a one-day training for those in the helping professions to help people in crisis by addressing suicidal thinking and depression. The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 17 at Nardin Park United Methodist Church (29887 W. Eleven Mile, Farmington Hills). The program fee is $70 and includes lunch. Click Here to learn more.

Flu Shots, Med-Share, Southfield. Anyone over age 10 that has any insurance is being offered a no deductible/no copay flu vaccine shot and anyone without insurance a $15 flu shot. The price is much lower than the uninsured can get at a pharmacy or doctor's office. The vaccination is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Northland Radiology, 20905 Greenfield, Suite 105, Southfield. No appointment necessary. Call (248) 569-0296 for details.

TENS Church Resources. The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) is a valuable source of information for churches. Go to tens.org to learn more. To access the group's resources, contact Jim Gettel, canon for congregational life, at [email protected].

General Convention, Volunteers Needed. There are many olunteer opportunities for next year's General Convention in Salt Lake City. Click Here to learn more. 
Jobs
St. Michael's, Grosse Pointe Woods needs a Parish Administrator (25 hours a week). Professional, organized, good communicator, computer proficient and compassionate. Email inquiries to [email protected].

St. Mary's In-The-Hills, Lake Orion seeks a part-time Director of Christian Education. Contact the Rev. Laurel Dahill at [email protected].

St. Philip's, Rochester seeks a part-time Spiritual Formation Director. Email resumes to
Christ Church, Grosse Pointe is looking to fill several positions, including Curate and Associate for Parish Life and Christian Formation. For more information, Click Here.
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