Diocese of Utah Newsletter

Place Your Own Text Here.

Holy Week, 2018

The Episcopal Church in Utah Celebrates 150 Years

As the Diocese of Utah celebrates its first 150 years of ministry, we look forward to the second 150 years. To recognize our heritage, we include a historical photo in each newsletter. We look back at when the Diocese of Utah operated a very popular Sunday School in Helper at the YMCA in the 20's and 30's. We recognize this piece of our history as our diocesan convention takes place a dozen miles from Helper in Price on April 27th and April 28th. The Diocese is most appreciative of the tremendous hospitality of our Ascension St. Matthew's congregation and the heritage of the church in Carbon County.

Diocese to webcast Easter service from the Cathedral

The Diocese of Utah will once again webcast the festive Easter Eucharist from the historic Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Salt Lake City. Join Bishop Scott B. Hayashi and the Cathedral priest-in-charge, The Rev.Tyler Doherty for the live webcast. The service starts at 10:30 a.m. on Easter morning.

Instructions for viewing the webcast are posted on the diocesan webpage, www.episcopal-ut.org. The webcast will go live at 10:20 (10 minutes prior to the service.) The webcast will then be archived for viewing throughout the Easter season on the diocesan webpage several days after Easter.

It is the 148th Easter that has been celebrated at the cathedral.

Diocesan Convention website offers latest information about the event in Price

The website for convention can be found at www.diocesanconvention2018.org .

All information and materials for convention can be found at the link listed above. The convention is set for April 27th and 28th with a full slate of workshops, business meetings and events. Additionally, the Diocese will unveil two new videos, one about the wrap-up of the 150th year of the church in Utah and one is a historical salute to the church in Carbon County, the home of this year's convention.

The registra tion link and a full convention schedule are on the convention website. You can visit the site to find the location information and to submit nominations for diocesan elections. Please note that the following slots are open:

Diocesan Council

1 Lay Regional Representative

(Eastern/Southeastern)

1 Lay Regional Representatove (SLC)

1 Clergy

Standing Committee

1 Lay Representative

1 Clergy

Disciplinary Board

1 Lay Representative

2 Clergy

The Rev. Canon Mary June Nestler accepts major assignment in Jerusalem

After serving a decade as Canon to the Ordinary, The Rev. Cn. Mary June Nestler will move to Jerusalem as Course Director of the prestigious St. George's College. She will also be Lecturer in Contextual Biblical Studies at the Anglican institution that is known for study, pilgrimages, and hospitality for all religions.


	The Rev. Cn. Mary June Nestler

The Rt. Rev. Scott Hayashi says Canon Nestler has graced the diocese w ith her heart-deep dedication to having done the Lord's work in Utah. She also served as Canon Theologian, Formation Director, Transition Officer and Chief of Staff. He stated he is very proud of her service and proud to see such an exciting and meaningful role for the lifelong educator and longtime pries

Prior to serving Utah, The Rev. Cn. Nestler was Dean and President of the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont from 1992 to 2006. She has taught numerous courses for St. George's College for 34 years. She has an extensive background in Roman and Byzantine archaeology of Israel, including her ongoing work as consulting archaeologist and area supervisor for the Mount Carmel Project in Haifa, Israel since 1988. She was also an area supervisor at Sepphoris for seven excavation seasons.

Canon Nestler says while she will deeply miss Utah and its church community, she also has considered Jerusalem as a "second home" with many joyous memories and with a great excitement for her future work. She expects to start in Israel in summer.

The Salt Lake Tribune and reporter Bob Mims offered a nice and comprehensive piece about Canon Nestler. It is found at this link.

Bishop and hundreds from the diocese march

Bishop Scott B. Hayashi, who has made the gun violence issue a cornerstone of his social justice episcopate, was a prominent figure in the "March for Our Lives" Utah march. The bishop's Facebook post has reached nearly 3,000 people with his description of the local march component that coincided with the worldwide effort that drew millions of participants. The march grew out of student involvement from those who lost classmates in the February 14th Florida school mass shooting. Here is the Bishop's account as appearing in both the BIshop's and the Diocesan Facebook pages:

March For Our Lives. We joined in solidarity with those across the nation who marched. Loud cries rang out calling for change to the laws regarding firearms. Cries of "Enough is Enough" were shouted. The collective voices were filled with hope and pain. Pain for those who have been gunned down. Pain for all the times their voices were ignored by legislators who care more for a campaign donation than the lives o f the people they are supposed to represent. Hope that this generation will be the last to live in fear when at school. Hope that with their voices and their votes changes will make all people safe from gun violence. There was no call against owning a gun. Instead there were pleas to stop the sale of assault rifles.

Many people from the Episcopal Diocese of Utah participated in the March. The Bishop is proud of our people helping to make a positive witness for the safety of all.

"Utah Decides Healthcare" and Bishop seek signatures for ballot initiative

The Rt. Rev. Scott B. Hayashi is one of the sponsors of the "Utah Decides Healthcare" initiative to bring Medicaid expansion to the November ballot. The advocacy group is seeking 113,000 signatures to get an initiative in front of Utah voters. The sponsors say getting the issue on the ballot will bring local control to the healthcare debate, by allowing Utah voters to decide what is best for their families. If it passes, the advocates stated that it will ensure affordable access to doctors and hospitals for all individuals and families in Utah with monthly incomes less than $2,727 for a family of four, and less than $1,337 for an individual (below 138% of the federal poverty line). To cover the added costs, sales tax on non-food items will increase from 4.7% to 4.85% - about 3 cents for every $20 - to cover the cost of bringing medical care to tens of thousands of people.

Initiative Highlights:

Keeps eligibility requirements the same for Medicaid and CHIP (Childrens' Health Insurance Program), so they do not become more restrictive.
Expands individuals' eligibility to use Medicaid.
Eliminates putting caps on enrollments for both Medicaid & CHIP.
Keeps premiums, fees, and out-of-pocket expenses capped.

Editor

Monica Daly

mdaly@episcopal-ut.org
Episcopal Diocese of Utah

801.322.4131