Language Learning is Love
July is a time for summer fun.
For me it is also a time to study Spanish. I will travel to Mexico with many other Episcopalians to study in the Diocese of Cuernavaca and I am looking forward to being back with the good people of that diocese. I have done this work for the past several years, and while I am still quite poor as a Spanish speaker, I do love the work and the way in which Bishop Enrique and the diocese host us for two weeks. Not only are we well taught by good teachers, we are also invited to learn something of the Mexican culture and the area we are in. We eat well and we have fun together, which deepens the ties that bind us together as one body of Christ in a variety of contexts.
I am also grateful to Deacon Marla McGarry-Lawrence for her work in setting up this experience and for helping me and Bishop Enrique to communicate. She is a great blessing to all of those who make this trip from year to year.
This year my goal is to finish the work I need to do to be able to celebrate the Holy Eucharist service in Spanish. The people in our Spanish-speaking congregations are grateful to all the clergy and people of the diocese who try to learn enough Spanish to have conversations in their beautiful language, and they are most forgiving with me for all the times that I struggle with pronunciation. I am grateful to all who help me in this ministry.
I hope that you will keep us in your prayers as we begin this journey and that you will consider this or some other way of learning what you can of Spanish. It is worth the time and effort.
Blessings,
+Michael
More news from around the diocese.
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Congregation Close-up: Grace Memorial, Portland
“Stewardship of church property isn’t just about preserving and maintaining a beautiful structure,” says Martin Elfert, Rector of Grace Memorial Episcopal Church, “it’s also about recognizing that the property has a ministry to proclaim the Gospel.”
The people of Grace Memorial believe that one of their primary resources for sharing the love of God is the physical space they possess. Throughout the week, Grace makes its space available to ministries and to community partners at submarket rates and sometimes for free. As a result, this campus in Northeast Portland is bustling with people all the time!
Read more about Grace Memorial, Portland.
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Featured Program: God's Love and the LGBT+ Community Conference
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Reconciliation and peace is the work of all of us. Our church and our nation have come a long way in recognizing that gender identity is not exclusively fixed and binary, and that God loves all of us. We, in the Episcopal Church, affirm in our Baptismal vows to respect the dignity of every human being, and there is healing and reconciliation work to do to support members of the LGBT+ community in Oregon. You are invited to this July 8 conference at St. Paul, Salem, dedicated to affirming the full recognition of members of the LGBT+ community as a blessed part of God’s beautiful creation.
Learn more about this conference.
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Grant Applications Due Soon!
There are two grant application cycles currently open:
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The Calendar
Upcoming diocesan and church events:
The Diocesan Office will be closed July 3 and 4 for the Independence Day holiday.
Deadline for Nominations: candidates for Standing Committee, Board of Trustees, Diocesan Council, and the Trinity Cathedral Chapter should submit their information by June 29.
God's Love and the LGBT+ Community Conference: the Rt. Rev. Gene Robinson will be the keynote speaker at this ecumenical conference. St. Paul's, Salem. July 8, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
July First Friday: an art exhibit and benefit sale from local artist Gary Michael and poetry reading with open mic time. St. John the Evangelist, Milwaukie. July 7, 5 p.m.
Godly Play Training: learn from international trainer Caryl Creswell about the key elements of the Godly Play method. Trinity Cathedral, Portland. July 14, 1 p.m. to July 15, 3:30 p.m.
Guitar Concert: a family-friendly concert of internationally renowned guitar masters at St. Catherine of Alexandria, Manzanita/Nehalem. July 16, 4 p.m.
Summer VBS and Camps:
Sparks! - Service in the City Camp: Trinity Cathedral. July 10-14 and July 17-21
Lego Vacation Bible School: St. James, Tigard. July 11-13
May the Lord be with You: a Space Odyssey: St. Bart's, Beaverton. July 17-20
St. Paul's Arts and Rhythm for Kids (SPARK) Camp: St. Paul's, Salem, July 17-21.
Interfaith Peace Art Camp: St. Gabriel's, Portland. July 24-28
Cursillo Adult Retreat Weekend: experience the love of God and a foretaste of Heaven. Oregon Christian Convention Center, Turner. July 27 - 30.
Chaplaincy Education Opportunity: a non-residential program is available to clergy and lay ministers working in a variety of settings. Initial applications are due July 22.
Deadline for Proposing Resolutions of Policy at Diocesan Convention: July 29.
Check out the online calendar for the full schedule.
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Today in the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer:
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Chaplains to the Retired Clergy
: John and Alice Scannell, William and
Bernie McCarthy, Frank and Betsy Moss, Jim and Pamela Boston
, Dick and
Marilyn Loop, Edgar and Tina Shippey, Steve Norcross
Those in the Ordination Process:
Ryan Baker
-Fones, Brendan Barnicle,
Catherine Cox, Kevin Gore, Timothy Hannon, CV Hartline, Jeanne
Kaliszewski, Maria McDowell, Brandon McGinnis, Andy McQuery,
Allan
Miles, SuEllen Pommier, Lindsay Ross-Hunt, Geoff Sasser, Regan Schutz
Click here for the Diocesan Cycle of Prayer.
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Clergy Corner
Events and Notices
Bishop Michael's Visitation Schedule:
Grace Memorial, Portland: July 2
Celebration of New Ministry: St. Martin's, Lebanon, and Rev. Melodie Kimball invite you to join them Saturday, July 1 at 2 p.m.
Transitions
Welcome: A much overdue welcome to Rev. Ramiro Rodriguez, who became Vicar at St. Michael/San Miguel, Newberg, in March.
Goodbye: Rev. Jerry Jefferies is retiring and will celebrate his last Sunday, June 25, at St. Alban's, Tillamook.
Welcome: Rev. Dorthy Nielsen, ELCA, will be Priest-in-Charge at St. Alban's, Tillamook, beginning in July.
Welcome: Rev. Iain Stanford celebrated his first Sunday as Curate of Christ Church, Lake Oswego, on June 25.
Moving: Rev. Dcn. Carter Hawley served her last Sunday as Deacon at St. Thomas, Eugene. She will begin serving at St. Matthew, Eugene, in August.
Find employment opportunities and other important information on
Clergy Resources
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YOU are the People of the Diocese
It's here! The Summer 2017 edition of our diocesan magazine,
In Conversation, is arriving in mailboxes this week. If you did not receive a copy at home, your parish should have extra copies or you can read it online.
Thank you to everyone who participated in creating this magazine! It celebrates who we are as people living out our faith everyday, loving God and our neighbors.
The next edition of
In Conversation will come out this winter. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please email Heidi Pitts,
heidip@diocese-oregon.org.
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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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