Episcopal Diocese of Utah
December Newsletter
Second Edition
December 17, 2019
Fourth Sunday of Advent
 Liturgical color is purple.
FROM AROUND THE DIOCESE
Bishop Scott B. Hayashi Shares 2019 Advent Message
Bishop Scott B. Hayashi shares his message for this season of Advent, and reminds us that it is a time for preparation and for making space for Jesus in our churches, our homes and in our hearts.
The Standing Committee Offers an Update on Bishop Search Process
Since the announcement of Bishop Hayashi’s resignation/retirement, the Standing Committee has been meeting regularly to build the necessary foundation to launch a bishop search and transition process and to lay the groundwork for calling the next bishop of Utah. Below you will find updates on the process.

Search and Transition Consultant
A consultant is traditionally hired to walk with the Standing, Search, and Transition Committees from the initial building of the foundation of the process all the way to the consecration of the new bishop. Your Standing Committee has met with the Rt. Rev. Todd Ousley, Bishop for the Office of Pastoral Development in the Presiding Bishop’s Office and has hired The Very Rev. Ron Clingenpeel as consultant to guide us in the process of selecting the Twelfth Bishop of Utah.

Theological Statement & Prayer
The Rev. Lynn Briggs, Standing Committee member, has drafted a theological statement (which will be shared in our next communication), and a prayer that we hope each faith community will read, inwardly digest, and pray throughout the entire process of calling our next bishop:

Gracious God, we are grateful for all that You are and for all you have done through the Episcopal Diocese of Utah. We ask you now draw us closer to you and to each other as we engage in the search for our new bishop. Grant us discerning hearts which will fully trust in the guidance of your Holy Spirit. Bless the people of this diocese with your power and purpose and bless this holy work we do in your name to your glory. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Information about the Search/Nominating Committee, as well as a link to the nomination form, is available in the newsletter article below. To read the full update offered by The Standing Committee, which includes a process timeline, information about communications and how to participate in the process, please click here.

If you have any questions about the search, please email standingcommittee@episcopal-ut.org
Submit a Nomination for the Bishop Search Committee
Per the Diocese of Utah canons, the Search/Nominating Committee members are elected by a committee of Electors composed of one (1) lay person from each congregation and all clergy canonically & geographically resident in the diocese. 

The Elector Committee has been organized and will convene on January 11, 2020, to elect the Search/Nominating Committee members. The Standing Committee is now accepting Nomination forms for lay leaders and clergy to serve on the Search/Nomination Committee. 

Christmas Eve Service to be Livestreamed from St. Mark's Cathedral
In keeping with tradition, the Festive Christmas Eve Eucharist at the historic Cathedral Church of Saint Mark will be Livestreamed by the Diocesan Communications Department.

The Livestream player will be available on the diocesan website at 10:45 p.m. on Christmas Eve.
Diocesan Youth Ministry Update
GO MONDAYS - Thank you to The Rev. Christopher Szarke and Terry Palmer for hosting our last Go Monday at St. James and to Preston Palmer for playing guitar as we sang Christmas Carols.

Our next gathering for youth in grades 6-12 is January 13th at St. Mark's Cathedral in Salt Lake City. Doors open at 5:30 for social time and program starts at 6:00 until 8:00 pm, pizza will be provided. We are following along with the program developed by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry called "The Way of Love". Please join us for food, fun, music and good conversation! 

EYE  - Episcopal Youth Event for youth in grades 9-12 will be held at the University of Maryland, July 7-11, 2020. The Diocese is supporting this event by helping cover airline costs. If you are interested in attending this awesome national youth event, please contact Karen Gleeson before January 15th. For more information visit https://events.episcopalchurch.org/eye/

CAMP TUTTLE 2020 SCHEDULE: The Summer Camp Tuttle Schedule for 2020 is posted on our Camp Tuttle Facebook page  https://www.facebook.com/camptuttle/  and our Camp Tuttle website at  www.camptuttle.org . Registrations will open in 2020.
Advent Word
This year, the diocese is participating in #AdventWord 2019.

Advent Word is a global advent calendar, created by Virginia Theological Seminary. Each day of Advent has a special word that is meant to inspire thought and prayer in this season of preparation for the coming of Jesus.

Please feel free to share Advent Word posts from the diocesan Facebook and Instagram pages, or create your own.

The calendar of Advent Words, as well as more information about this program which is used by many dioceses throughout the wider Episcopal Church, can be found here.
New Utah Epodcopalians Discusses the Important Ministry of The Inn Between
As winter approaches, it is difficult to think of those who are ill and homeless. Many of them die on the street alone, without care and without family. The Inn Between is an organization created to address this unfathomable reality. It is a hospice and respite care facility dedicated to the homeless - the first of its kind in the country. The Rev. Canon Steve Andersen, a member of the Board of Directors, talks about the ministry of The Inn Between. He discusses how The Inn Between provides necessary medical care, but even more importantly, the human connection and dignity that every person deserves.

Photo: @_theinnbetween
Diocesan Book Group
The Diocesan Book Group meets every Monday from 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the ECCU. Everyone is welcomed! The group is studying “The Gathering of Zion” by Wallace Stegner and will discuss chapters 11 & 12, pages 275 through 312, on Monday, January 6, 2020 this will the complete the study of the book.

They have 3 suggestions for the next book:
  1. A Pilgrimage to Eternity: From Canterbury to Rome in Search of Faith by Timothy Egan.
  2. Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World by Tom Holland.
  3. That All Shall Be Saved by David Bentley Hart

The group would like to have the next book chosen before January 6th, so reading and examining can begin. Please contact Ernie Hale by email or text (801-532-6406 or erniehale@gmail.com) if you have any other suggestions or ideas.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Salt Lake Avenues Community Choir Annual Holiday Concert
December 19
Libby Gardner Concert Hall
7:30 p.m

Come enjoy the sixth annual Salt Lake Avenues Community Choir. Admission is fee. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.
Winter Retreat at Camp Tuttle 
Saturday February 1st at 12:30 p.m. to
Sunday, February 2nd at 12:30 p.m.

Come and join a fun overnight winter retreat up at Camp Tuttle, with sledding and snowshoeing for youth in grades 6-12! Carpooling is strongly recommended, drop off and pick up will be at the fire station parking lot located near Camp Tuttle. We will be snowshoeing into camp and kids are welcome to bring their own sleds if they want. Registrations open soon .