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News for the Weeks of
February 4 and 11, 2018
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"The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet..."
Around this time each year, I sit down and re-read that sacred text, Martin Luther King, Jr.'s Letter from Birmingham Jail. Addressed to fellow clergy, particularly to eight white members of the clergy who had leveled attacks against King, calling him an 'extremist', among other titles, it is one of King's most famous and enduring writings.
The letter was originally penned on the edges of scrap newspaper and other items that were able to be acquired by the jailed preacher and, so, to read it in such clean print on the pages of a well bound book or a neatly formatted website seems to almost betray the urgency and immediacy with which King's every word is filled. This is the missive that led King's contemporary, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, to write "God is raging in the prophet's words."
At the conclusion of the letter, King shows an awareness of the prophetic nature of his words. He writes,
"
If I have said anything in this letter that overstates the truth and indicates an unreasonable impatience, I beg you to forgive me. If I have said anything that understates the truth and indicates my having a patience that allows me to settle for anything less than brotherhood, I beg God to forgive me."
King's letter seems to be an appropriate read as we near the season of Lent, that time of preparation and penitance, waiting and watching as the old gospel story of resurrection becomes new again. It is about patience in a fast-paced world of restlessness and anxiety. But let us not be fooled into thinking that these coming days of fasting and restraint are about sitting idly by as the world presses on all around us. The days of Lent are about finding new ways to respond to the ancient words of the prophets, new ways of entering into the Jesus story that seeks restoration and reconciliation for all God's children.
In the weeks ahead, we have the opportunity to gather again as a diocese, at our Annual Convention and in a day of formation and conversation. As a diocese, we will be focusing on the theme of reconciliation, of being restored in relationship. We do this in the context of the season of Lent, a time that calls us to reflection and to action.
My prayer for each of us, for you and for me, is that these days ahead might move us toward deeper understanding and relationship, one with another. May we, like the prophets who have come before us, be filled with an urgency to grow closer in right relationship with God and with all God's children and a holy impatience with any barrier that separates us from being together as the people God made us to be - reconciled, restored, forgiven, and drawn together in the name of the resurrected Christ.
The Rev. Andrew J. Hege, Assistant to the Rector
The Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
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ANNOUNCEMENT
FROM THE
STANDING COMMITTEE
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The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Lexington is delighted to announce that
The Rt. Rev. Mark Van Koevering has allowed his name to be placed before convention as our nominee for Bishop Provisional of the Diocese of Lexington. Please
click here to read the January 30 announcement and to learn more about Bishop Mark and the Bishop Transition Process.
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The Rev. Marcia Hunter has been called as the Priest-in-Charge of St. Andrew's Church, Lexington. Her first Sunday serving will be February 4. Previously, she has served as the Interim Priest-in-Charge of Emmanuel, Winchester; Our Saviour, Madison County; and St. Patrick's, Somerset. She also served as a priest at Christ Church Cathedral, Lexington and a chaplain with Hospice of the Bluegrass. She has two grown children.
The Rev. Cn. Helen Van Koevering has been called as the Rector of St. Raphael's, Lexington. In the past two years, she has been serving as a supply priest at various churches in the Diocese of West Virginia. Prior to 2015, she was the Priest-in-Charge of the Parish of Sanjala in the Diocese of Niassa in Mozambique as well as the Diocesan Director of Ministry. She is married to The Rt. Rev. Mark Van Koevering, who has been recently nominated by the Standing Committee to serve as the Bishop Provisional for the Diocese of Lexington. They have three grown children.
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ORDINATION TO THE DIACONATE
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The ordination of this candidate to the diaconate reflects the abundant ways the Holy Spirit has been moving faith communities in the Diocese to join in the work of God in their neighborhoods. The individuals who are to be ordained represent not just their own willingness to respond to God's call to join in that mission, but also the conversations, prayers, practices, service, sweat, friendship, conflict, change, and growth of all the baptized people of the Diocese of Lexington's faith communities.
In the Diocese of Lexington, we see the primary function of Deacons and Priests as those who are sent out to look for gifts in others and then nurture those gifts in order to engage in God's mission in an ever-changing world. Every member of the church is a minister, from the three-year-old coloring in the pews, to the silver-haired faithful, to the teens on the mission trip, to the adults who gave up a week of vacation to accompany them. Through baptism, we are all ministers, uniquely gifted to participate in God's love for the world.
Whether you're being ordained, are a friend, family or faith community member of someone being ordained, a clergy member, or someone interested in celebrating the growth of individuals and leaders in this Diocese, we welcome you to come.
All clergy are welcome to vest and process. Please plan on wearing red stoles and arriving by 6:10 and gathering in the Undercroft.
We give thanks to the Episcopal Church in Minnesota for their inspired words about the ministry of all
from which we have borrowed.
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FORMATION DAY
AND
DIOCESAN CONVENTION
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REGISTER NOW for Formation Day, the Diocesan Convention, and the Diocesan Convention Choir!
To register, please click on the three links below:
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Diocesan Formation Opportunity
Friday, February 23, 2017, 2:30-7pm
This Diocesan Formation Day will center on the work of reconciliation and will include workshops, dinner, and brief evening worship. Our Keynote Speaker will be Dr. Allan Boesak, Theologian, Social Justice Advocate, and Anti-Apartheid Activist in South Africa.
Workshop topics include:
- Reconciliation through Artistic Expression in Parish and Beyond
- Reconciliation through Parish/Community Engagement
- Everyday Peacemaking with Sean Gladding
- Reflections on Traces of the Trade
The cost for this Diocesan Formation Day is $20. Please click here to register.
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The 122nd Convention of the Diocese of Lexington
Saturday, February 24, 2018
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The Nominations Committee of the Diocese of Lexington is looking for candidates, who are communicants in good standing in their local churches, to stand for election for the following offices:
Standing Committee
,
Executive Council
and
Board of Trustees for the University of the South
.
LAST CALL for Nominations! To fill out and submit the Nomination Form,
click here
.
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DEADLINE FOR
RESOLUTIONS:
FEBRUARY 9, 2018
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A Resolution is the legislative vehicle by which the Convention acts; it is the way we enact or change our church laws and practices.
Who can submit a Resolution to Diocesan Convention?
Any elected deputy, vestry member, or bishop's committee member from a parish or mission of the Diocese of Lexington, the Bishop, members of the Standing Committee, Executive Council, or the Officers of the Diocese may submit a resolution. However, every Resolution shall be sponsored by a Member {of Convention} who shall be present at Convention and prepared to move and speak in its favor. The Members of Convention include the Bishop, all Priests and Deacons canonically resident in the Diocese, and Lay Deputies elected from each Parish or Mission.
Is there a deadline for submitting a Resolution?
On or before the 15th day prior to the Convention.
The 2018 deadline is February 9.
Or, past that point, Resolutions may be submitted according to the Rules of Order of Convention: "Resolutions may be introduced during the Convention but may be acted upon only as follows: If introduced in the first business session of the Convention, the question before the Convention shall be whether the resolution shall be considered. Upon the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the delegates {deputies}, the resolution shall be referred to an appropriate Convention Committee for study and report to that Convention. Such resolutions that fail to receive the required vote, as well as resolutions introduced after close of the first business session of the Convention, shall not be considered. This rule shall not apply to resolutions of courtesy.
To whom should Resolutions be sent?
Address any resolutions in writing to the Secretary of Convention, care of the Administrative Assistant, Melanie Yankey, to
adminassist@diolex.org
, or mailed to PO Box 610, Lexington, KY 40588.
Where can I get more information about Resolutions?
- The Rules of Order for Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington
- The Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Diocese of Lexington (specifically Canon 1.09)
- More questions? Please contact Mission House, the offices of the Diocese of Lexington
859-252-6527 or the Canon to the Ordinary by email: elise@diolex.org
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In preparation for our one day convention on Saturday, February 24 at Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Winchester, we will again hold Pre-Convention Hearings for clergy, deputies/alternates to diocesan convention, and other interested people.
There are a few purposes of the Pre-Convention hearings. Deputies and clergy will have an opportunity to:
-- hear about and discuss any resolutions that are being presented to convention;
-- hear about those who are nominated for diocesan leadership roles (Executive Council, Standing Committee, Sewanee Trustee and General Convention Deputies);
-- hear and ask questions about the budget that was approved by Executive Council for affirmation from the Diocesan Convention;
-- and, for new deputies, be oriented to the work of the convention.
In order for us to have a one-day convention we highly encourage all clergy, deputies and alternates to attend one of the
five Pre-Convention Hearings:
| Sunday, Feb 11, 6:30 p.m. |
Good Shepherd, Lexington |
| Sunday, Feb 18, 3:00 p.m. |
St. Alban's, Morehead |
| Monday, Feb 19, 6:30 p.m. |
Trinity, Danville |
| Tuesday, Feb 20, 6:30 p.m. |
Trinity, Covington |
| Wednesday, Feb 21, 6:30 p.m. |
St. John's, Corbin |
If you have any questions about Pre-Convention hearings, please contact The Rev. Canon Elise Johnstone at
elise@diolex.org.
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To submit a Report for Convention, please
click here
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UNITED THANK OFFERING GRANT APPLICATIONS NOW AVAILABLE
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Applications for the 2018 United Thank Offering grants are now being accepted. The focus of the 2018 grants will be "Becoming the Beloved Community: Racial Healing, Reconciliation and Justice".
The deadline for submitting your grant application is
March 2, 2018. All applications must be submitted electronically and require a Bishop's approval.
For more information about the granting process and criteria, visit the national UTO website at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/utogrants.
Each diocese may submit two grant applications, one for a diocesan ministry project and one for a project in conjunction with an overseas companion diocese.
If you have questions about the granting process or this year's grant criteria, contact Diane Gabbard, Diocesan UTO Coordination, at dianegabbard@gmail.com or call 859-581-9113.
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The Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Richmond, KY is currently seeking an Administrative Assistant. Please
click here to view and download this job description.
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Weekly Eucharist at St. Augustine's
Every Wednesday through the end of the semester
 Starting on January 24, 2018 and continuing through the end of the semester, St. A's will offer a quiet service of Holy Eucharist at 8:00 AM. The service will include some chant and time for reflection. Following the service there will be an opportunity for coffee and conversation.
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Artist Reception in Art Space at St. Raphael
February 9, 2018, 6-8pm
Please join us for the opening reception for an exhibition of works by Bonnie Conaway, fiber artist, weaver and quilter. "All Things Wise and Wonderful" will be on display at the St. Raphael Art Space through March, 10am - 2pm.
For more information contact Carol Summers at 859-227-1380 or
bspscarol@aol.com
.
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Choral Evensong and Organ Concert at Good Shepherd
February 11, 2018 at 4:30pm
Join us for Choral Evensong on February 11 at 5:00 pm, sung by the adult choirs of Good Shepherd. An organ concert with Michael Gebhart, Assistant Organist and Choirmaster at Christ Church Cathedral, Nashville, TN, will precede Evensong and begin at 4:30 pm. We look forward to seeing you for this beautiful evening of great music.
To view an image of the concert poster, please click here.
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Shrove Tuesday
February 13, 2018 at 5:30pm
Christ Church Cathedral, 166 Market Street Lexington, KY 40507
Join us on February 13 for a pancake and Cajun supper to celebrate the last day before the beginning of Lent. Supper is 5:30-6:30pm in the Great Hall.
$5/pancake * $8/Cajun * $25/family max. Excess proceeds go to The Cupboard.
We will bury our Alleluias, and burn palms in the Garden! Intergenerational activities begin at 6:15pm.
For more information please contact The Rev. Paula Ott at 859-254-4497 or paula@ccclex.org.
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A Lenten Series: From Prayer to Action
Lenten Wednesdays: February 21, 28 and March 7, 14
Dinner at 6:00pm, Program begins at 6:30pm
Christ Church Cathedral, 166 Market Street Lexington, KY 40507
Lent is a time to share the love we receive from God, to put our prayer into action. While we often think of Lent as a time of self-reflection and fasting, the prophet Isaiah reminds us that God calls us to entirely different fast: To seek justice, care for the needy and tend parched places. When our prayer turns to action, Isaiah proclaims a remarkable vision: God will make us strong and satisfy our needs. Together we will raise the foundations of many generations and be called restorers of God's creation.
February 21 & 28 - Rabbi David Wirtschaffer of Temple Adath, passionate speaker, and social justice advocate kicks off the first two weeks of our series.
March 7 - The Rev. George Kilcourse, Professor of Theology at Bellarmine College, will lift our prayer into action through the mystical and political thought of Thomas Merton.
March 14 - Dr. Tom Kimmerer of Venerable Trees and Dr. Matthew Sleeth of Blessed Earth will inspire our call to creation care with God's Trees: Trees in the Bible and Our Lives.
Please sign up for each week you will attend. $5 suggested donation for dinner.
To sign up please click here.
For more information please contact Dr. Elizabeth Conrad at 859-254-4497 or elizabeth@ccclex.org.
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Youth Event: New Beginnings #24
March 16-18, 2018
"There are times in our lives that we never forget. There are places that stay with us forever."
New Beginnings and the Cathedral Domain is a time and place like that. New Beginnings is a weekend full of fun, taking you through a discovery: Who is God? Who is God to you? Who are you to God? How might this happen? Through making new friends and sharing with old ones. Through singing, skits, talks given by teens, videos, games, worship and conversation with each other! You will want to come back!
To register online please click here.
To download the brochure and mail in the registration form, click here.
For more information contact Cindy Sigmon, Diocesan Youth Missioner, at 859-252-6527, x103.
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Engaging Peace in Uncivil Times
February 8, 2018, 3:30-5pm
Join us as we discuss the practice of peace and share strategies for responding to hate in our community through nonviolence. Led by Dr. Kerby Neill of the Kentucky Council for Peace and Justice.
Suggested donation: $25 (includes the text Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, available to the first 30 registrants).
Click here to download and print the event flyer.
For more information please visit
LexCentral.com/peace.
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Congregational Leadership Conference 2018
February 17, 2018, 10am-2:30pm CST
Deadline to Register: February 9, 2018
Christ Episcopal Church,
1215 State Street, Bowling Green, KY 42101
The Diocese of Kentucky will host a Congregational Leadership Conference (formerly known as the "Wardens and Treasurers" conference). Please
click here to view and share this event on Facebook.
Click here to visit the website and to register.
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Brennan Lecture Series with The Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle: "Church Leadership in a New Missionary Age"
March 2, 2018, 7-8:30pm and March 3, 2018, 9am-2:30pm
Deadline to Register: February 23, 2018
St. Matthew's Episcopal Church,
330 N. Hubbards Lane, Louisville, KY 40205
Church leaders are invited to attend a facilitated discussion with the Rt. Rev. Charles "Andy" Doyle, the ninth current Bishop of the Diocese of Texas. Please
click here to view and share this event on Facebook.
Click here to visit the website and to register.
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10th Annual E. Glenn Hinson Lectures with Ruby Nell Sales: "Where Do We Go From Here- Redemption or Moral Nihilism?"
Ruby Nell Sales is a Public Theologian, Historian, Activist, Social Critic, and Educator. This event is presented by the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky. Registration fee:
$30
.
Please
click here
for more information and to register.
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Sunday, February 4, 2018 (Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany)
St. Thomas Church, Beattyville
The Ven. Bryant C. Kibler, Sr., Priest-in-Partnership
Sunday, February 11, 2018 (Last Sunday after the Epiphany)
The Church of Our Saviour, Madison County (Richmond)
Sunday, February 18, 2018 (First Sunday in Lent)
122nd Convention of the Diocese of Lexington, February 24, 2018
Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Winchester
Sunday,
February 25, 2018 (Second Sunday in Lent)
Christ Church, Harlan
The Ven. Bryant C. Kibler, Sr., Priest-in-Partnership
The
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer is published on the
Resources page of the diocesan website under the "Resources for Worship" tab.
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To submit an event for publication in
DioLink and on diolex.org:
click here.
Please note that
submissions must be received by Tuesday evening
in order to be
included in that week's DioLink. The website is updated continually.
Thank you!
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