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Diocesan Digest, February 23
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Let Us Break Bread Together
I have a passion for cooking.
I like it because at the end of the day there is a finished product that you can taste and, if you are lucky, enjoy. I enjoy it because while you are cooking there are so many sights and sounds and tastes to engage; it is a rich experience. I love it because it moves toward people gathered together for a meal and conversation. Years ago someone noted that Jesus seemed to love dinner parties because many of the recorded stories we have of Jesus with his disciples are set around a meal, the Last Supper being a central example.
“This is my body broken for you, this is my blood poured out for you and for all.” “Take and eat.”
Meals and conversations are essential ways we gather and discuss the issues that give us passion and those that divide us. A meal shared can give us hope and can open new pathways to solutions for problems we have in families, in church communities and in the wider society.
Next week the church will again walk into the season of Lent and in many of our communities there is a tradition of a common meal shared on a weeknight with classes attached for those who can stay. What an excellent time to consider how we might learn once again to listen to each other and how to look for shared common Gospel values that can guide us in this particular time as a community. I do hope many of you can be a part of such a weekly experience this Lent.
Soon the diocesan staff will begin to read a book* about congregational life as we build a common understanding of the challenges faced by parish leaders. (I suspect, whether we plan it or not, there may be food involved in these conversations!) We are engaging this work so that we can continue to serve you, the people and leaders of the Diocese of Oregon, as we together create the church in God’s mission.
I pray you enjoy the last Sunday in Epiphany and bid you prepare for a holy Lent.
+Michael
*Some of you will wonder what book we have chosen and I will share the title with a little reluctance, because I do not like the title and I do not think it really reflects what the book is about! The title is: Ten Dumb Things Churches Do and How to Avoid Them. It was written by an Episcopal priest and for me it is really about ten smart things churches do and how to keep on doing them. I suspect that the publisher felt the title they gave the book would sell more copies…such is life.
Read other recent news on our website.
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Congregation Close-up: St. Mary, Woodburn
We are a small congregation dedicated to loving and serving especially those who are less fortunate in the community of Woodburn. Having that as our mission, most of our ministries focus on that goal; for many years we have been hosting AA, NaA, and NeA meetings. We have had a clothing closet and now we are also hosting “Love and Breakfast,” a community breakfast for our homeless neighbors and any people who want to come and have some conversations.
A blessing for our congregation was the creation of Centro Montesinos. This is a joint effort between the Diocese and the Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). This is a Latino congregation founded with the spirit of Antonio de Montesinos, a Dominican friar who in 1511 was the first one to preach against slavery and support the rights of the “Indians.” This has become a very active small congregation of about 40 people who share the building with us.
Our congregation is going through a huge transition. We are an older congregation that is getting smaller every year but we do see some new families that are starting to come and join our church life. It will be very important for us to receive the visit of Bishop Michael on February 26 so he can help us determine the direction that our congregation will be taking.
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World Mission Sunday
Did you know that the last Sunday before Lent (Sunday, Feb 26th) has been designated as World Mission Sunday? This is our opportunity to celebrate the gifts and transformation that mission engagement is bringing to our church; to encourage those who are already exploring global mission through their diocese, church, organization or as missionaries in the field; and to envision new opportunities to be transformed through partnering with God in mission.
Here are 10 ways that you can celebrate mission this year!
1) Use a Special Liturgy for World Mission Sunday. The Episcopal Church Office of Global Partnerships offers World Mission Sunday bulletin inserts, sermons and other excellent resources. Find them here.
2) Do a Global Mission Book Study.
Here are two great books that we recommend, to get you started. Check the Global Episcopal Mission Network Book Study Page for more information and to order books directly from their website.
Read the rest of this article from GEMN on our website.
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Featured Program: United Thank Offering
40 days, 40 items, 40 blessings!
United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. By nurturing daily blessings and developing a habit of offerings of gratitude, men, women and children discover that thankfulness leads to generosity. These offerings are distributed throughout the Episcopal Church and in invited Provinces of the Anglican Communion in the world.
If you went to our diocesan Annual Convention in November or were at the Province VIII Episcopal Church Women's gathering last summer, you may have heard about an idea for Lent that is a bit different. Lent begins on March 1 and continues for 46 days until Easter Sunday on April 15. Each day (not including Sunday) remove one item from your closet you no longer wear or need and place it into a bag. And as you place the item into a bag, add a coin into your "blue box" and prayerfully be grateful for your abundance. You are blessed to be able to share what you have with others. Be thankful! At the end of Lent you will have a bag of clothing to share with a shelter or with someone in need, and your United Thank Offering box will be ready for your Spring in-gathering time.
More details are available on our website.
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Upcoming diocesan and church events:
There are several Safe Church and
Diverse Church 1
trainings around the Diocese this year.
P
lease register early so plans can be finalized with accurate numbers.
Friends of the Arts Salon:
an evening of poetry readings by Marjorie Powell and a talk by Sidnee Snell on her exhibit "Safe Haven." Trinity Cathedral, February 25, 5 - 7 pm.
Piano Concert: Heidi Louise Williams comes to St. Paul, Salem, to play a concert on the 9’ Yamaha concert grand piano on March 5, 4 - 5:30 pm.
Youth Mission Trip: applications are now available for YMT 2017, returning to the Paiute Reservation in Burns to host VBS and do work as needed around the reservation.
Check out the
online calendar
for the full schedule.
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Events and Notices
Bishop Michael's Visitation Schedule:
St. Mary, Woodburn: February 26
St. Edward, Silverton: March 19
St. Gabriel, Portland: March 26
Mark your calendar: Clergy Conference will be April 24 - 26 at the Oregon Garden Resort. Our guest speaker will be Sister Simone Campbell of the Catholic social justice group "Nuns on the Bus."
Transitions
Welcome to the Rev. Eileen Heden, who celebrated her first Eucharist as rector of St. John, Bandon, on February 12!
The Rev. Albie Hazen has announced his retirement as vicar of St. James, Coquille. Albie+ plans to retire in May.
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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 entries on our
Instagram
account.
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We are the people in the Diocese
Marie Bagwell, Executive Assistant to the Bishop and Vocations Coordinator
In May I will have been with the Diocese for nine years and was part of the interim transition team before Bishop Michael arrived in 2010. My sabbatical begins on Ash Wednesday, March 1 and I will return on May 1. Most of my time away will be in Siena, Italy with travels to Assisi with reading and reflection on St. Francis. I will also be walking a portion of the ancient Via Franicigena pilgrim trail and studying Italian along the way.
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