You Are a Blessing to The Wider Church |
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One of the wonderful things about this congregation is your willingness to embrace a variety of leaders. Hearing from many different Christian voices is important because there is no end to the layers or the richness of knowing God. God may be speaking through you, so add your voice to the conversation.
The out-growth of the loving way you support parish leadership makes it possible for other individuals to think of growing in their ministry. When a congregation is seen to work together for the good of the parish, it tells those who would lead that you desire their success. You understand that none of us can succeed without also seeking the good for everyone else, so this is how you live. You have done this for numerous deacons, priests, and others discerning a call to ministry in the Episcopal Church.
A current example of a ministry flourishing in your midst is that of Dakota Bennett. You have enjoyed it as he has played for us this summer on the organ and the piano. Many have shared their compliments with me. This Sunday, August 14, is Dakota’s last Sunday at St. James for a while. Dakota is off to do an internship through the Episcopal Service Corps. For a year, he will participate in the planning and conduct of liturgy at St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Center City, Philadelphia, PA. This is not a music-related internship. Dakota will be there exploring a wider ministry in the Episcopal Church. Our best wishes and continuing prayers will be with him. Please take advantage of the opportunity this Sunday to say thanks and farewell to a skilled musician and exploring Episcopalian.
Remember, you raised Ashley Petty Mather. You saw Ashley through high school, college, internships, and seminary. Today she is a priest serving the Church with confidence because you loved and encouraged her. You are currently supporting Maddy Bishop as she follows a path through internships, jobs, and seminary. We are so proud of Maddy for successfully finishing her first year at Princeton Theological Seminary. Maddy is in Wichita and will be with us at all services on Saturday, August 20 and Sunday, August 21. She will be our preacher. At 5:30 p.m. Sun., Aug. 21, we will support her at a spaghetti dinner held to raise funds for the continuation of her education. Come to dinner on Sunday the 21st where you may give a free will offering being received for Maddy. If it is more convenient, or you are unable to attend, you can send a contribution to the church office or place it in the offering plate. Please make sure you write “Maddy” on the memo line of your check.
I hope you are gratified when you think how many people you have equipped for ministry. God bless you for the supportive community and loving you care you give to people in your midst. They thrive locally, and from the firm foundation they have helped them build, they go into the wider church eager to know the Good News more deeply and excited about sharing God’s love with the world. Good on you! Keep up the good work.
May God bless you today and always,
Mother Dawn+
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This weekend will include special Prayers for Education. Prayers will be offered at church on Saturday, August 13, and Sunday, August 14.
A new session of Basic A is starting in September. The class will be held in the chapel on Tuesday evenings at 6pm from September 20 through November 20. Contact the parish office if you are interested in attending the class. For additional information, look under Parish News below, or find Basic A on the church website.
A Special School Supply Drive for the PANDO Initiative is underway. The Outreach Committee is collecting (for the month of August): Backpacks, Earbuds, Crayola brand markers, and Finance Calculators. For more information about PANDO, please view the handout HERE.
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The Lessons appointed for the Ninth Sunday After Pentecost, Proper Fourteen, Revised Common Lectionary, Year C
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Basic A is starting on September 20 |
Basic A is a short-term class introducing and exploring the Episcopal Church. People at any point on a faith journey are welcome in this group. Adults, and their guests, are invited to take part on Tuesday evenings at 6pm. These fun sessions, each about an hour long, are conversations for the curious.
Those to be confirmed as members of the Episcopal Church attend all sessions prior to their formal confirmation on Sunday morning, November 20.
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Our next Seasons Newsletter deadline is August 19. Please send your articles to the office. This newsletter will cover activities until Advent. If you'd like to receive the newsletter and are not currently, please call or email us. |
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Consider EfM - Education for Ministry
This four-year study course is available to anyone interested in broadening their knowledge of the Bible and Theology. Through study, prayer, and reflection, EfM groups move toward a new understanding of the fullness of God’s kingdom. We will start up on September 14. If interested or for more information contact Dr. Paul Rillema or Deb Bagby
“EFM has really stretched my soul! I find myself considering what I have read or what group members shared throughout the week. Some of the reading is dense and does require extra time to absorb but I view this most of the time in a very positive way. Spirituality is hard work! And I am grateful for the challenge.” - Thoughts from a second year participant
St. James/ St. Stephen's Book Club is reading Cloud Cukoo by Doerr. They meet every Thursday at noon and welcome new members to join. As of now, they are meeting via Zoom. Click here for the link. Questions, contact Mary Sloan.
Creation Care Committee
There are many ways you can make a positive difference for the environment: Check out the ideas in this article: Click here.
Adult Forum meets every Sunday
Join us at 9:45 in the Guild Hall as we discuss the weekly readings in our series "Going off the Lectionary Grid."
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Pocket Change Ministry:
At this time we are saving toward a $500 gift to a special program for run-away and homeless teens. This program called Crossroads is located near St. Francis Hospital and is run by the Wichita Children’s Home. Each month Crossroads helps troubled youth find apartments and get settled with a new beginning. During our Suitcase Drive, we delivered 12 suitcases there. Crossroads will greatly appreciate our donation. They will use it to purchase apartment needs for their youth in transition. Thank you St. James for your continued generosity.
MORE THAN A SACK LUNCH:
The Saturday lunch distribution at St. John's, for homeless people and those in need, sometimes includes more than the lunch bag and a bottle of water. The volunteers try to identify items which are greatly needed by the people they serve. St. James' liaison: Joan Bledsoe
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Year-around need: socks. Stretchy short socks are especially appreciated during the summer.
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Current need: Bags of dry dog and cat food. Any size is appreciated; the dry kibbles are divided into smaller bags for the pet owners. Just drop a bag off in the entryway.
SHOWER UP:
At several locations downtown, including St. John's and Breakthrough/ESS, the big Shower Up van pulls into a parking lot, connects hoses to a water supply and provides a private place for homeless people to have a hot shower. Volunteers assist with sanitizing after each shower and hand out soap, towels, razors and other supplies. Sometimes, there is even a barber to cut hair.
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Current need: GYM SHORTS; Men's Large, X-large, 2X and 3X gym shorts. Drop them off here at St. James.
Paxton's Blessing Box
Needs your donations! Please consider dropping off non-perishable food items (especially ready-to-eat food), snacks, and/or hygiene products in the box in the lobby. This food feeds people in our immediate neighborhood. Thank you!
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There is no Children’s Sunday School nor is there Children’s Chapel next month on Sunday, September 4 (it is Labor Day weekend). The first Children’s Sunday School and Chapel of the school year will be held on the first Sunday in October. |
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YAW (Young Adults Wichita) is a ministry of the Wichita Minster led by Father Dillon. It includes members from St. James, St. John’s, Good Shepherd, and St. Stephen’s. We meet weekly, currently Mondays at 6 p.m. (time/dates subject to change). If you know anyone interested in participating, please connect them with Dillon at 256-762-5110 or at dillongreen7@gmail.com. If you aren’t a young adult (18-35) and want to be involved, we are always looking for people to provide meals for the group each week. Instructions are to prepare for six to 10 people. If you’re interested in helping out that way, please contact Dillon.
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Spiritual Life
The Canon for Spiritual Life and Clergy Care is offering quiet days and retreats around the diocese throughout the year. A complete list is kept on the website https://episcopal-ks.org/spiritual-life/. If you would like to invite her to create something for your parish, minster or convocation please reach out.
Sacred Collage
In this workshop we will be putting paper and thoughts together in a method that might feel random but isn’t at all. Using tissue paper, pictures, words from magazines, and old boxes of family snapshots, the collages will come together. During this time, we will do four pieces, one on family, one on prayer, one on dreams, and one outside on the beauty of nature. Since our date is in summer, I suggest this is a gentle way to realize how we’ve been blessed. Guided by The Rev. Mary Donovan.
Monday, August 15, 2022, 10 am - 1:30 pm
Upton Hall, Topeka
Cost: $25
https://edok.formstack.com/forms/sacred_collage2022
Vocationers’ Retreat
The Vocationers' Retreat welcomes all seekers in the Diocese of Kansas to support their response to God with their lives. Hosted by the Commission on Ministry and led by the Canon for Spiritual Life and Clergy Care, the Vocationers' Retreat is strongly recommended for those exploring ordained ministry. Others who are interested in exploring lay ministry in a more formal way are also welcome.
The retreat will use techniques in the Christian art of discernment so that each participant is personally invited to reflect with God in community. There will be time for large group learning, small group sharing and personal time of guided reflection. Content will include exploration of various expressions of professional vocations, and choose optional learning about Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, the official ordination process in the Diocese of Kansas, and other workshops on ministry.
Friday, August 26, 6 pm to Sunday, August 28, 11:30 am
Upton Hall, Topeka
Canterbury House at K-State
Seeks new Program Assistant
The Campus Ministry Program Assistant facilitates the development and administration of Episcopal Campus Ministry at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. Their work is focused on the identification and formation of student peer ministers who will grow and maintain the ministry.
There is a monthly stipend with housing and utilities provided at the Canterbury House. This position is especially designed for recent college graduates discerning a call to ministry, service, or higher education work. We will be accepting applications until the position is filled. A complete job description and the application is available online here: https://edokformation.wordpress.com/program-assistants/
If you have questions, please contact the Director of Young Adult Ministries, Chad Senuta at 913-620-0007 or csenuta@episcopal-ks.org.
Help connect young adults to local ministries
We want to stay connected with Episcopal young adults after they finish high school. If college is in your future, we want to know if you'll be attending one of the schools in Kansas that has a campus ministry program. If you'll be attending elsewhere or doing alternative activities, we want to help connect you with a local program or church. Complete this form with a current phone and/or e-mail so we can stay in touch.
Other News & Reminders
Saturday, August 13, 2022, 10 am to noon
Trinity Episcopal Church, 1011 Vermont Street, Lawrence
In our Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage liturgy we promise to uphold newlywed couples in their marriage. Beyond the emotional and spiritual component, the legal rights of all married couples should also be supported by the Church. It is with that promised support in mind that Trinity Church is hosting a workshop on safeguarding the legal rights of LGBT+ couples and their families, including parental, medical, and property rights. The workshop will be led by David J. Brown, Attorney at Law.
David J. Brown is managing partner of The Law Office of David J. Brown LC in Lawrence. He began his professional career as an award-winning reporter and editor, working for 10 years in the field before attending Albany Law School in New York and then moving to Lawrence. He taught for one semester at KU's William Allen White School of Journalism, then went to work as a research attorney first for the Kansas Court of Appeals and later for then-Chief Judge Mary Beck Briscoe. He held that post until August 1992, when he opened The Law Office of David J. Brown. Since that time, Brown has held various legal leadership roles in the community and has been an involved board member and advisor for nonprofit organizations working to better life in Douglas County. He has written and lectured extensively on the areas of privacy, family law, and ethics. Brown has extensive experience in assisting traditional and nontraditional families on issues of premarital and cohabitation agreements, adoption, separation or divorce, child custody, estate planning, wills and trusts, and family business concerns.
Churchwide News & Events
By Mary Frances Schjonberg
The 80th General Convention passed 14 resolutions, with little or no debate, speaking to the full inclusion and protection of LGBTQ+ persons in the life of The Episcopal Church and the larger society.
By David Paulsen
The sudden, unexpected emphasis on a 1998 Lambeth Conference resolution opposing same-sex marriage has sounded alarms ahead of this year's Lambeth Conference of Anglican bishops in Canterbury, which gets underway this week, with some warning it could become a 'huge distraction' for the conference.
By Melodie Woerman
Four bishops ordained and consecrated in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, with small services and a minimum of three bishops attending, have made a pilgrimage to the Diocese of Aberdeen and Orkney in the Scottish Episcopal Church, where in 1784 Samuel Seabury, the first bishop of The Episcopal Church, was ordained with three bishops in attendance.
Diocesan Calendar
We are doing our best to keep the Diocesan calendar updated with Task Force and Minster meetings as well as other diocesan gatherings. If you notice an error or have something to add, you may notify any diocesan staff person and we will get it updated as quickly as possible.
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Parish Prayers for the Week of August 12 |
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Parish Prayers
The Extra-Provincial Churches
Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger
Pray for St. David’s, Topeka
St. James Church prays for these individuals as well:
Our seminarian, Maddy Bishop;
Those serving in the military:
J. David Anderson-Lusk, Will Corkins, Maureen Tanner.
Those who have died: Judy Wilkinson, Richard Coleman Clausen; Joyce Essmiller; Terry Downs, Richard Williams; John Leurding; Richard Williams; Jewellean Alford; Jim Basham; Betty Blair; Robert Clark; Toby Graves; Lois Griffith; Brian Kahl; Nan King; Cathy Lawrence; Diane Lewis; Richard Lewis; Roger Nyenhuis; Duane Rector; Dean Ritchie; Cynthia Rutherford; Lloyd Tritle; Elisabeth Wannow; Brenda Wright;
Those in trouble, sorrow, need, sickness or any other adversity: Lucy C. & family; Diana; Andy; Pat; Arnell & John; Peggy S., Deedee, Judy W., Gary, Deb H., Paula, Bill and Jeri, Tom T., Tom G. Jayne P., Barbara H., Dana F., Suzy R., Ashley M., Phil S., Helen B., Marcia and Lowell, Bill and Carolyn, Dave W., Carole, Kitty, Laura S., Bob and Sue, Marge R., Pam M., Dal, Gus, Joan J., Martha L., Betty, Sage, Joseph B., Sam and Beth, Jerry M., Joy J., Jonathan
For the sake of privacy, we do not list the last names of those who are on our prayer list because of trouble, sorrow, need, sickness, or adversity. We do our best to include last name initials in the event that two parishioners with the same first name exist.
If your prayers have been answered, let us rejoice with you. Please contact the office to let us know we can remove your prayer request. If you have prayers you would like added to the prayer list, please contact the office at office@stjameswichita.org or 316-683-5686.
Loving, Liberating and Life-Giving
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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