Jumping In
I am writing to you from Mexico. It is Tuesday during our second week in Cuernavaca and we are deep into our studies. This morning we have classes from 9 to 11 a.m. and from 11:30 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. One is a conversation class, and the other focuses on grammar. So far everyone seems to be having a great time and enjoying the study, the teachers, and the interactions with staff and other classmates. We have been treated well and several people are already thinking of returning again next year. We are truly blessed.
During times like this I also have a bit of extra space to just sit and think and pray, and I feel deeply thankful for this as well. I was sitting in a coffee shop this morning and I started to think about faith, and how finding faith in God and growing in my faith is a lot like swimming. Yes, you heard right: swimming. I know a lot of people who are interested in faith and religion, but they are like people who want to learn to swim but have never dipped their feet in water. You can study swimming (or religion) all you want, but you will never begin to understand swimming (or faith) until you actually try it out. And even then you have many choices about how you will experience water — or faith in God.
Some individuals like to get into the water and just play around, while others use it to exercise. It may become a way of life, for those who scuba dive or teach children to swim. Others are content to simply sit in a bath tub or sauna. We all have various relationships with water, and we have various relationships with faith. For some faith is a thing to be studied, for others it is a something to make them stronger, for others it is a way of life and for some it is a living.
However you experience your faith is fine, but I would make one main observation: it will always be theory until you jump in. Studying swimming will never get you to the point of understanding how water works on a body, and studying religion will never get you to the point of understanding how God works in one’s life. So, to those who like to study I say fine — now consider jumping in!
I pray you are well wherever you are in your journey of faith and that you will continue to experience the love of God in your life and in the life of those you know and care about. Jumping into the culture of Mexico continues to help me understand how blessed I am in life, and causes me to pause and give thanks to the Lord.
Blessings,
+Michael
View an online photo album from the Cuernevaca 2017 team.
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Register Now for Convention
Registration is now open for all delegates, clergy, and visitors, and will be processed by Eventbrite.
Click here to register.
September 30 is the deadline for registration.
More details, including hotel information, how to register as an exhibitor, and a brief proposed agenda are on our website.
Other Convention notes:
The deadline for proposing Resolutions of Policy is July 29.
The Rev. Nancy Gallagher is leading the Nominating Committee for the open diocesan positions. If you are interested in serving in this capacity, go to our
Convention page for position descriptions and nomination forms.
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The Trinity Cathedral Choir of Girls and Adults European Tour
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Between July 27 and August 7, the Trinity Cathedral Choir will sing in two of the monuments of Western Christianity and civilization – Notre-Dame de Paris and St. Paul’s Cathedral, London. Sandwiched in between those two visits will be a sung Eucharist at the American Cathedral (Episcopal) in Paris, the seat of the Episcopal Church’s Diocese of Europe.
The musical, social and pedagogical benefits of such a trip are beyond compare, and the choir is grateful for the support of its clergy and people, including the 40 or so parishioners and friends who will travel alongside the choir on a Companion Tour.
Tour information and social media links are on our website.
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The Calendar
Upcoming diocesan and church events:
Invitation to Diaconal Discernment Meetings: Learn more about serving God and the Church as a deacon and steps for discerning if you have a calling to the diaconate. Grace Memorial, Portland, August 6, 1:30 - 3 p.m. or St. Thomas, Eugene, August 27, 1:30 - 3 p.m.
First Friday Art & Poetry:
Photography by Tom Healy, local artist. Poetry commemorating those killed/injured defending others on the Portland Max May 27. St. John's, Milwaukie. August 4, 5 - 8 p.m.
Dinner Table as Communion Table: celebrate an all-ages Eucharist and dinner to experience fellowship in the tradition of the ancient church. Trinity Cathedral, Portland. August 9. 5:30 - 7 p.m.
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Today in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:
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Tillamook: St. Alban. Dorthy Neilsen, interim priest-in-charge.
Toledo: St. John. Pauline Morrison, deacon.
Waldport: St. Luke by the Sea. Judith Jones, vicar; Senitila McKinley, deacon.
Click here for the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer.
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Transitions
Resigned: the Rev. Georgia DuBose has resigned as priest-in-charge at St. Philip the Deacon, Portland, effective July 31.
Thank you to Georgia for her service at St. Philip and throughout the diocese!
New Call: the Rev. Dcn. Maureen Hagen will be moving from Christ Church, Lake Oswego, to St. Stephen's, Portland. Her last day at Christ Church will be August 20 and her first Sunday at St. Stephen's will be September 10.
Blessings to Maureen on this new call!
New Call: the Rev. Dcn. Linda Goertz has been called to serve at Christ Church, Lake Oswego, beginning Sunday, August 27.
Blessings to Linda on this new call!
Rest in Peace, Rise in Glory: the Rev. G. Palmer Pardington III, most recently associate priest at St. Stephen's, Portland, passed away on Wednesday, July 27, after a long illness.
Read the full announcement.
Find employment opportunities and other important information on
Clergy Resources
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Word of the Week
Whether you're a cradle Episcopalian or just walked through the red doors yesterday, chances are you've encountered some of the special vocabulary specific to our faith and wondered, what does that mean?
Check out previous Word of the Week entries and other photos on our
Instagram account.
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We are the People of the Diocese
Congratulations to the Rev. Dcn. Marla McGarry-Lawrence! On Tuesday, she was honored by Bishop Enrique of the Diocese of Cuernevaca for her two decades of relationship-building with the Mexican people.
Marla writes, "I feel the urgency of bridging language and culture, especially with our neighbors to the south and the homeland that so many of our Latino members had to leave behind. It's also important that as a faith community, we have an opportunity to learn from and share ministry with the Anglican Church in Mexico."
Thank you, Marla, for your passion and commitment, which inspire so many people within our diocese!
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Employment Opportunities
Childcare Staff Member, Trinity Cathedral, Portland
Full-time Vicar, St. James the Apostle, Coquille
Choir Director, St. Michael & All Angels, Portland
Part- to Full-time Rector, St. Paul's, Oregon City
Half-time Priest-in-Charge, SS. Peter and Paul, Portland
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