Bishop Akiyama's Message to the Diocese following the Uvalde School Shooting
Dear diocesan family,
There are no words that adequately express the horror and deep sadness I know we all feel regarding the deaths from the mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, on Tuesday.
Last week I suggested that we read the news through the lens of The Bible. I added that, in times of grave tragedy and evil, we read Scripture twice as long as we spend reading the news. I urge you to do so. And let us all continue in our prayers for those whose lives have been traumatized by this horrific act. Prayer matters; it makes a difference. Pray - in time, you will see how this is true. Fervent and consistent prayer is like a refiner’s fire; out of its crucible comes clarity and a call for action. Today, however, it is time to come together in prayer. Gather your community together and pray.
The light of Christ shines ever so bright, and darkness will not overcome it.
May God bless us in prayer,
+Diana
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O God our Father, whose beloved Son took children into his arms and blessed them: Give us grace to entrust your beloved children of Uvalde to your everlasting care and love, and bring them fully into your heavenly kingdom. Pour out your grace and loving-kindness on all who grieve; surround them with your love; and restore their trust in your goodness. We lift up to you our weary, wounded souls and ask you to send your Holy Spirit to take away the anger and violence that infects our hearts, and make us instruments of your peace and children of the light. In the Name of Christ who is our hope, we pray. Amen. |
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Resources from around the church:
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Bishops United Against Gun Violence's website has several resources for congregations and individuals, including a Litany in the Wake of a Mass Shooting.
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The Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon's statement on gun violence following the school shooting in Uvalde, Texas, available online.
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Lift Every Voice Oregon is collecting signatures for Initiative Petition 17, which will focus on reducing gun violence by making gun owners safer and ammunition less lethal. You can read the petition here, and you can sign the petition at home and/or help to gather other signatures here.
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The Episcopal Church's Resources to Respond to Gun Violence organized by the Office of Government Relations.
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The Diocesan Office will be closed on Monday
Please note that the Diocesan Office will be closed this Monday for Memorial Day, and the staff will be off. The office will open again on Tuesday morning.
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Nominations for Diocesan Leadership Positions now open!
You can stand for election yourself or nominate someone to one of the following bodies:
- Standing Committee
- Board of Trustees
- Diocesan Council
- Trinity Cathedral Chapter
- Deputies to the 81st General Convention in 2024
You can learn more about each of these elected bodies and the open positions in those bodies, and access the nomination form on our website. All nominations must be submitted online by July 1, 2022.
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Who to contact over the summer for Communications
While Alli is on parental leave (June 18 - September 6), you can contact the following individuals:
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Christina Munoz for the summer mini-digests.
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Tracy Esguerra for the Annual Meeting of the Diocesan Convention and changes to clergy information.
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Derek Moyer for emergency/urgent parish website assistance.
If there are communication projects that can wait, please contact Alli after September 14 (after the Presiding Bishop's visit).
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The Flowing Light of The Spirit, ECW 30th Anniversary Spirituality Day - May 28
Join the Episcopal Church Women of the Episcopal Church in Western Oregon for their Spirituality Day at St. Francis of Assisi, Wilsonville on Saturday, May 28 from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm.
To view a schedule, and workshops, and to access registration please visit the diocesan ECW website.
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Music that Makes Community event happening this June
Join the Liturgy & Music Working Group and others from around the diocese for a one-day paperless music workshop at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, Eugene, on June 25. The program will go from 9:00 am to 4:30 pm and will dive into the practice of paperless singing leadership, communal prayer, and fellowship with others.
You can learn more about the workshop here. There is a registration cost.
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Camp Registration!
Episcopal Week at Suttle Lake Camp is July 18-23, 2022.
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Elementary Week 1 Camp - Click here to learn more & register campers currently in 3rd-5th grades.
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Mid-High Summer Camp - Click here to learn more & register campers currently in 6th-11th grades.
Cost: Subsidized Rate: $545 | Full Rate: $615 (A non-refundable $50 deposit is required to hold your spot. This deposit will not be refunded but may be transferred to another session.) Scholarships are available, up to $200 per camper, please email the Rev. Carol Sedlacek to learn more.
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Holy Land Pilgrimage: October 8-19
The Rev. Sara Fischer and the Very Rev. Nathan LeRud are leading a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from October 8-19, 2022. Please note registration will close on Tuesday.
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Presiding Bishop's visit to our Diocese
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will visit our diocese from September 10 - 12, 2022. His visit will take him from Portland to Lincoln City to Eugene. This visit is an opportunity for him to meet with individuals and groups from across the diocese to learn about our ministries in a variety of local communities, lead us in worship, and experience the beauty of our state.
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Congregation & community events on our calendar over the summer
Please add all summer items to the calendar soon! To assist with communications while Alli is away, please begin to add any summer items or events to our diocesan calendar via this form.
In order to have a shortened Summer Digest, starting next week many events will not be listed in the Digest, as they are below. Therefore, please bookmark our website's calendar today to check for upcoming events!
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UPCOMING EVENTS:
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May 27 & June 4: Silent Auction begins May 27, Live Auction on June 4 hosted by Christ Church, Lake Oswego
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May 28 at 8:30 am: The Flowing Light of the Spirit - ECW 30th Anniversary Spirituality Day, more information above
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May 29: Bishop Visitation to St. Barnabas, McMinnville
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May 30: Memorial Day - the Diocesan Office will be closed, and the staff will be off
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June 2 at 10:00 am: Standing Committee Meeting
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June 3 at 7:30 pm: Broadway Night! at St. Michael & All Angels, Portland
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June 4 at 9:00 am: June Deacon Meeting with Bishop Akiyama, register here.
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June 4 at 7:00 pm: "Summer Fireworks" Concert at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Portland
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June 5: Bishop Visitation to All Saints, Portland
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June 5 at 2:30 pm: Central Convocation Meeting
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June 5 at 4:00 pm: Kurleen George Laplanche, African-American Spirituals Concert at St. Paul's, Salem
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June 11 at 10:00 am: Diocesan Council Meeting
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June 11 at 7:00 pm: Theodicy Jazz Collective in Concert at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Ongoing invitations:
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Tuesdays at 2:00 pm - Office Hours with the Rev. Chris Craun, Missioner for Thriving Congregations (link to join here)
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Thursdays at 1:00 pm - Office Hours with Derek Moyer, Missioner for Lifelong Formation (link to join here).
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Thursdays at 2:00 pm - Office Hours with Alli Gannett, Director of Communications (link to join here). Her final office hours for the summer will be June 9.
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Fridays at noon: Say Their Names at St. David of Wales, Portland, to honor and lament the black and brown people killed by racial and police violence.
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Today we pray for...
In our Diocesan Cycle of Prayer (DOWNLOAD):
- Sutherlin: Holy Spirit
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Tigard: St. James. Beth Mallon, rector; Julie Smith, priest associate
In the Anglican Communion Cycle of Prayer (DOWNLOAD):
The Diocese of Louisiana - The Episcopal Church
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Clergy calls with Bishop Akiyama:
We will be taking the next few months off of the monthly calls with the Bishop. The next call will be Tuesday, September 6 at 8:15 am. The link to the call information, found here, will remain the same.
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FROM THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH |
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The United Thank Offering and Episcopal Migration Ministries are teaming up to bring you the 3rd Annual Great EpisGOpal Race!
Building on 20 years of partnership, UTO and EMM are coming together for the 2022 Great EpisGOpal Race. The funds raised from this race will support EMM’s Neighbor to Neighbor initiative and the 2022 UTO Ingathering.
Anytime between September 3 - September 11, choose your preferred mode and distance and race for good. You can bike a 10K, run a half marathon, or skate a mile—the options are limitless.
Learn more and sign up online.
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The 80th General Convention to be shortened over the summer
[Episcopal News Service] The 80th General Convention will now be held July 8-11 in Baltimore, Maryland, shortened from eight to four days under a recommendation from the design group charged with planning a “shorter, smaller, safer” gathering, according to a letter to the church sent May 17 by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies. Continue reading about these changes here.
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