Seek!
Autumn 2017
Following Jesus in the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Convention news
Meeting this November 17 & 18 in Hannibal, Missouri, the annual convention of the diocese on the theme "The Mighty Waters" and living into our baptismal covenant. Inside, a note on the convention's theme from the bishop; interviews with both convention presenters, the Rev. Hope Welles Jernagan from Magdalene Saint Louis, and the Rev. Charles Wynder, Jr., from the presiding bishop's office regarding On Becoming Beloved Community and racial justice; and nominees to leadership positions.
Parish highlights
from St. Barnabas', Grace Kirkwood, St. Mark's in Portland, St. Francis', St. Stephen's, Holy Communion, Deaconess Anne House, the Church of St. Michael and St. George, Emmanuel, and Trinity Church in St. Charles.
Reflections
New St. Francis Church Nears Completion Finishing touches in late October and early November, the great unpacking, followed by a few Sundays of worship in the new space before the dedication and consecration of this new church in Eureka on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2pm. The new church buildings are located at 602 Rockwood Arbor Drive in Eureka, Missouri, 63025. This diocese celebrates!
on the Tanzania pastors' conference, the Porter at the Door, John the Baptist and gun violence prevention, Longing for the Holy City, a season of Gratitude, and Closing the Circle as well as news from the Dismantling Racism Commission and the Commission on Ministry, and recent podcast episodes of JesusHacked. ph: 314-231-1220 www.DioceseMo.org Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Offices of the Bishop 1210 Locust St. St. Louis, Missouri 63103
Š The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, 1210 Locust St., St. Louis, Missouri 63103 ph: 314-231-1220 web: diocesemo.org
JesusHacked podcasts
Have you caught an episode of the new podcast, sharing faith stories of Episcopalians and ministry in this diocese and the wider church?
www.diocesemo.org/podcast
Monthly by mail: It's the quarterly SEEK mailed to your home, supplemented by postcards on diocesan events. Weekly by email: our weekly newsletter is Seek's baby sister, the iSEEK. Daily by email: The Missouri Episcopalian includes news from diocese, the Episcopal Church, and parishes that publish online. Subscribe to these three via: diocesemo.org/subscribe Facebook is where the majority of diocesan members get their social media. Look on the diocesan FB page (Episcopal Diocese of Missouri) for late breaking news and sharing events. More diocese on social media? Look up diocesemo.org/socialmedia
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Making Disciples
This quarter's episodes include: • Discerning God’s claim on our lives. Unpack the dense term “discernment” and understand how a person, how a community hears God’s call to deeper ministry or to ordination. • Hearing the call to prevent gun violence. Brenda Phillips on how a pilgrimage around the places in Cape Girardeau where violence had occurred was the catalyst for going deeper into this ministry of hope, education and presence. • When the Standing Committee gets to sit. Dr. Adam Pearson, a member of Standing Committee, explains its purpose and work, how that work affects the health of the church. • What is the Council of the Diocese and why does it matter? Al Ludwig serves on Diocesan Council and explains what council does, who would be well suited to this work, and how being a member has influenced his daily life. • Jesus got me, the faith story of Gayle Fisher-Stewart. After retiring from the Washington DC police force, seminary and ordination, Gayle is now associate rector of Calvary Episcopal Church in DC, and the founder of the Center for the Study of Faith in Justice. • How does a downtown church find God’s work beyond their red doors? A downtown Jefferson City congregation discerned they wanted to be not only more visible in their community, but more active and engaged. It led them out the front doors and to connections to be made. • Being Church in a town of 400. What it was like to move to a small town and be invited to and welcomed by a church, and the difference that has made in Tina Dillon's life.
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
The Dedication and Consecration of St. Francis Episcopal Church in Eureka When we talked with St. Francis’ vicar the Rev. Sally Weaver just before All Saints’ Day, she described feeling about getting everything finished before their first Sunday in the new church as, the clock is about to strike midnight and we’re just hoping it’s not going to turn into a pumpkin. Spoiler alert: no pumpkin appeared. And visual proof in this week’s Eureka Leader newspaper, with a page one story. What is palpable is the joy of this congregation that has been worshiping for many of their 26 years in the orange-shag-carpeted Eureka Masonic Lodge, creating then taking down a holy place for worship at each gathering. This “wonderful, glorious, most incredible” thing in the life of St. Francis has happened. From the outset, the church members have been involved, working initially from a ‘who we are and want to be’ imagining to the
nuts and bolts of carpet and paint color. This congregation is ready! St. Francis invites the diocese to the dedication and consecration of the church on Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2 pm. The service is actually in our Book of Common Prayer, starting on page 566. Standing at the door of the church, the Bishop says Let the door be opened. The procession enters and prays, the font, then the lectern and pulpit are blessed. More prayers and blessings, then a sermon. The Bishop then says Let us now pray for the setting apart of the Altar. Followed by the vesting of the Altar and great jubilation, the peace, the eucharist. What a day for the Church!
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• Sunday, Dec. 3 at 2pm • 602 Rockwood Arbor Drive in Eureka, Missouri, 63025
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The 178th Diocesan Convention in Hannibal
On this year's convention theme “The Mighty Waters: Baptism and Reconciliation” is the theme for Diocesan Convention this year. I chose this title because of a firm conviction that ongoing baptism renewal, in our practices and in our theology, marks a way forward in our life together. New Testament books, including Acts, Romans, Galatians, Ephesians, and 1 Peter, among others, establish baptism as a foundation in Christian life, and an ever-present point of reference.
Our Book of Common Prayer 1979 places baptism at the very center of things Christian, with a ceremonially rich rite and a coherent baptismal understanding of the Church’s life throughout its pages. People frequently, and correctly, refer to the Baptismal Covenant whenever they address any issue in Christian life and belief, what with its strong statement of belief linked to a commitment in discipleship.
by Bishop Wayne Smith
The recovery of the Eucharist on Sundays and renewed practices around baptism are the two great hallmarks of liturgical reform in the Episcopal Church, given expression in our current Prayer Book. Our Church, however, has been more successful at recovering the Eucharist than at the renewal of baptism in its fullness. I argue that this formative sacrament remains hidden in plain sight, a boundless, if under-utilized, resource for the present and into the future.
This article is something of a teaser for what I intend to describe in more detail when I address the Convention in Hannibal and which will be published in the next edition of Seek. We say that baptism establishes the full dignity and responsibility of the Christian life, a truth to which I hold. Do we in fact believe it? The New Testament scriptures cited above, together with our Prayer Book, trumpet such an understanding. I think that closer, more careful attention this point, and to all things baptismal, can help us navigate the changes and chances of these days. Stay tuned.
The Mighty Waters: Baptism and Reconciliation The 177th Meeting of the Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri November 17-18, 2018, in Hannibal, Missouri Preliminary Schedule Friday
Preliminary Schedule Saturday
10:30 am - Bishop's address 12:00 noon - Working lunch 12:15 pm - First Presentation by Chuck Wynder 1:30 pm - Open Hearings 2:15 pm - Convention business 3:30 pm - Second Presentation by Chuck Wynder 5:30 pm Eucharist, Followed by dinner at Star Theatre
7:00 am - Morning Prayer and Coffee hour at Trinity Church (optional) 8:30 am - Convention business/voting 9:00 am - First Presentation by Hope Jernagan 10:00 am - Convention business 11:00 am - Second Presentation by Hope Jernagan 12:00 noon - Working lunch 12:15 pm - Convention business
Online at diocesemo.org/convention2017 4
Making Disciples
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
The 178th Diocesan Convention in Hannibal
Magdalene's Hope Jernagan speaks at convention One of the two keynote presenters we look forward to at convention is the Rev. Hope Welles Jernagan, the executive director of Magdalene St. Louis, a residential program for women who are survivors of abuse and sexual exploitation. It is modeled after Magdalene House and Thistle Farms in Nashville, TN. Magdalene St. Louis helps women heal and rebuild their lives through three essential program components: free long-term housing, comprehensive physical and mental healthcare, and job readiness. Women can stay in the Magdalene residential community for up to two years. They live together, recover together, and provide sisterhood and support for one another. Magdalene residents are connected with physical and mental healthcare providers at no cost to them. They also receive support from partnering organizations through case management, trauma therapy and addiction recovery. Through the social enterprise of Bravely, women receive training in business skills and
are employed at a living wage. Upon graduation from Magdalene, they will have accumulated savings and transferable job skills which will empower them to support themselves for life. The initial conversations around forming Magdalene St. Louis took place before Hope Jernagan had moved back to St. Louis with her family. But Magdalene is a story of Holy Spirit moments, and they just keep happening. When someone is needed, be it board members, women who will live in the house, volunteers, even an executive director—the right person shows up. Enter Hope. When Hope Welles was a student at Washington University and Rockwell House campus ministry, she began discernment for ordination to the priesthood. She went to seminary in NY, was ordained, and took her first placement as a school chaplain in Jacksonville, FL. Fast forward through marriage and the birth of three babies and she returned to this area when husband the Rev. Luke Jernagan answered the call to be rector of St. Peter’s
Church in Ladue. This is an exciting time for Magdalene St. Louis; a couple of weeks ago they celebrated their first graduate from the program. Hope and Magdalene are thankful for the way the Episcopal Church in this diocese has shown up and been involved with the program. “Churches, individuals and groups from this diocese have been loyal and faithful supporters,” Hope said, and she will share some of that celebration with convention. She’ll also share some of how their community works, its values and practices which focus on living into more authentic ways of being with one another and practices of empowerment. “The community we’ve intentionally created at Magdalene St. Louis is not unique to survivors of exploitation. It has all of the elements of healthy community everywhere,” she added. “People are inspired by how this community works and there’s nothing to stop others from taking on these practices and values.” We'll also learn more about Bravely. They looked for an employment component that was authentic and spoke to the women's recovery and healing, and decided upon a (mostly) clothing line with inspirational sayings. The women in the program come up with the phrases that are on the products. “We’re lifting up their voices,” said Hope. "It’s not just selling the story of their trauma, but the hope of recovery and a new life." Photos of Hope Jernagan, and the team at Bravely/Magdalene St. Louis.
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The 178th Diocesan Convention in Hannibal
The Rev. Charles Wynder presents on Becoming Beloved Community Joining us on Friday of diocesan convention is the Rev. Charles Wynder, Jr., the presiding bishop’s Staff Officer for Social Justice and Advocacy Engagement. He is also the priestin-charge at The Episcopal Church of the Holy Comforter in Washington, D.C. Chuck will present two sessions on Becoming the Beloved Community, which is the church’s response to General Convention resolution C019, “Work for Racial Justice and Reconciliation.” On Becoming Beloved Community is the resource that emerged from the presiding officers of the church as they reflected on their own narratives in engaging the work of racial justice and healing, both inside and outside of the church. “We were charged with developing this initiative to address systemic racism, to imagine how we as a church can participate in God’s reconciling mission,” explained the Rev. Wynder. “And how we can invite the whole Episcopal Church into this work.” For some of his time with the diocese, he
hopes to celebrate the work we are engaged in, of the Dismantling Racism Commission, our responsiveness to Ferguson and the Stockley verdict. “In St. Louis and around the diocese, the church has been present and grappling with racial injustice. Missouri Episcopalians have been on the ground and engaged in truth telling and justice making, but also there for the healing work that is ongoing,” he added. He intends to invite the people of the diocese at convention to “come into the labyrinth” and engage the work of becoming beloved community. We imagine this labyrinth as our journey to reconciliation and healing, organizing our efforts to respond to racial injustice and grow a community of reconcilers, justice-makers, and healers. Becoming Beloved Community imagines this labyrinth with four quadrants: Telling the Truth about the Church and Race; Proclaiming the Dream of Beloved Community; Practic-
ing the Way of Love; Repairing the Breach in Society and Institutions. There is no single path imagined for every person or even every Episcopalian. At convention, Chuck will share information on this, and in table discussions we’ll reflect on how and where we enter the labyrinth individually, and as a diocese. The Becoming Beloved Community resources are linked on the convention page at diocesemo.org/convention2017.
Resolution Number 2015-C019 Work for Racial Justice and Reconciliation Resolved, That the 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church confesses that, despite repeated efforts at anti-racism training as well as racial justice and racial reconciliation initiatives including the passage of more than 30 General Convention resolutions dating back to 1952, the abomination and sin of racism continue to plague our society and our Church at great cost to human life and human dignity; we formally acknowledge our historic and contemporary participation in this evil and repent of it; and be it further Resolved, That in the wake of the brutal, overtly racist murders of nine of our Christian brothers and sisters of Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church on June 17, 2015; numerous inexcusable deaths of unarmed black men and youth at the hands of law enforcement personnel; and the moral atrocity of mass incarceration in which a hugely disproportionate number of persons of color have been unfairly caught in the net of an unjust criminal justice system, the 78th General Convention affirms as a top priority of The Episcopal Church in the upcoming triennium the challenging and difficult work of racial reconciliation through prayer, teaching, engagement, and action; and be it further Resolved, That the Church understands and affirms that the call to pray and act for racial reconciliation is integral to our witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ and to our living into the demands of our Baptismal Covenant; and be it further Resolved, That the Presiding Bishop, President of the House of Deputies, Vice President of the House of Bishops, and Vice President of the House of Deputies be charged to lead, direct, and be present to assure and account for the Church’s work of racial justice and reconciliation; and be it further Resolved, That the General Convention request that the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance consider a budget allocation of $1.2 million for the Triennium for the implementation of this resolution.
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Making Disciples
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
The 178th Diocesan Convention in Hannibal
Nominees for leadership positions
Nominees for Cathedral Chapter, electing 1 clergy person & 1 lay member who are not Cathedral parishioners, and are from congregations outside St. Louis city or St. Louis County, for three year terms: • •
The Rev. Carol Wesley, Priest-in-charge, St. John and St. James Church, Sullivan Greta Lambert, Trinity Church, De Soto
Nominees for Diocesan Council, electing 2 at-large lay members for 3 year terms: • • • • • •
Scott Ferguson, Church of the Holy Communion, University City Sondra Kekec, All Saints’ Church, Farmington John Meinhardt, St. Vincent’s in the Vineyard, Ste. Genevieve Janet Thompson, Calvary Church, Columbia Rudolph (Rudy) Walz, Emmanuel Church, Webster Groves Elizabeth (Liz) Yount, St. Peter’s Church, Ladue
Read the nominees' biographies online at www.diocesemo.org/convention2017 The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
Nominees for Disciplinary Board, electing 1 clergy & 2 lay members for 3 year terms: • • • • •
The Rev. Dawn-Victoria Mitchell, Rector, Trinity Church, Hannibal The Rev. Doris (Beth) Simpson, St. Matthew’s Church, Mexico Kristina (Krissy) Bender-Crice, All Saints’ Church, Farmington Jeanne Lucas King, St. Martin’s Church, Ellisville Scott Thompson, St. Mark’s Church, St. Louis
Nominees for Standing Committee, electing 1 clergy person & 2 lay members for 4 year terms: • • • • • • • •
The Rev. Kevin McGrane, Deacon, Church of the Good Shepherd, Town & Country The Rev. Leslie Scoopmire, Assisting Priest, Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis Thomas “Tom” G. Allen, St. Martin’s Church, Ellisville David (Dave) Buck, Emmanuel Church, Webster Groves Timothy L. DeMent, St. Vincent’s in the Vineyard, Ste. Genevieve Lisa Fox, Grace Church, Jefferson City Loretta Go, St. Martin’s Church, Ellisville Jeffrey (Jeff) Yount, St. Peter’s Church, Ladue
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by Chester Hines
Updated interactive training, manual, debuts in January
• Sat. & Sun., Jan. 13 and 14, 2018 • 8:30 AM - 4 PM • held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Ferguson • No cost, lunch and snacks included • Register online at: diocesemo.org/dr beginning in early Dec.
The next dismantling racism training will be held on Saturday and Sunday, January 13 and 14, 2018 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Ferguson. At the training, the Dismantling Racism Commission will present its revised training program and manual, which is designed to be move interactive and incorporate more active participation and sharing from participants. The previous training model primarily offered a lecture format with some oral discussion. It has been determined by the Commission over time that this model does not allow the expertise of the participants to be shared throughout the two-day experience. The new format will have a smaller, tighter manual and will include more movement, small group activities, and cross-sharing among participants. The revised training model also includes modules requested for inclusion by the Episcopal Church, including manifest destiny and intersectionality. Additional
new components include the context of our work as we connect the spirituality of the issue of racism to our religious life, journal writing, pairing and sharing personal experiences and large group sharing. The training will continue to include Antiracist Transformation, so all can be assured of leaving with a plan of action to begin their own personal journey of dismantling racism where they live, work, and play. Anyone who has previously participated in the training can register for this one and be assured of a totally different experience. It is always important to note that this training is required training by the Episcopal Church for all ordained persons in the church and persons elected or appointed to leadership positions in the church. It is also a training that invites any person in the diocese who is interested in learning not only how racism adversely affects our lives but how any “ism” has a negative and debilitating effect. Registration is required, and will be available online by early December. Limited to a class size of 30 participants. The training is offered at no cost and lunch and snacks are provided. The Rev. Chester Hines, Jr., is the chairperson of the Dismantling Racism Commission, and a deacon just reassigned to Holy Communion Church in University City.
Raising Anti-Racist Children for a Beloved Community Join the Diocesan Commission on Dismantling Racism for a child-friendly workshop with hands-on activities to help families explore how to build an anti-racist, beloved community together.
Sat., Feb. 10, 2018 9:30 to 12:30 (lunch 11:30 to 12:30)
at St. Martin’s Episcopal Church in Ellisville. To reserve a spot for you and your children (or grandchildren), please register at: http://tinyurl.com/ajones2018 Child-friendly activities will include: Storytelling, Drama & Role Play, Hands-on Black History Museum, Music, Multicultural Books 8
Making Disciples
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
Another successful "Fill-the-Ford" led by St. Barnabas' Church We first learned about this ministry from Trinity Church in Kirksville. It involves a large pickup truck, a busy Saturday, a friendly neighborhood grocery store, many helping hands, and the generosity of shoppers donating suggested purchased items or cash to go to a food pantry. St. Barnabas' Church held their most recent event on September 30 at the Dierbergs in Florissant. There were 113 bags of groceries and $694.00 in cash donated. Said member Sally Boyd (who rounded up these photos), "Not bad for a gorgeous fall day. We live in a generous community!"
The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri
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by Jeanne Lucas King
Gratitude's Season
As a diocese we need to recruit the next generation of ordained leaders in the church, specifically priests and deacons. Help us to know, who are we looking for? What qualities define a good priest or deacon? The Commission on Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri is looking for your input on these questions. A survey can be filled out by individuals in the diocese (both lay and clergy), and groups such as vestries, youth groups, adult groups. Online at www.diocesemo.org/COM.
As families and friends gather for Thanksgiving, it’s a great time to bring out your Blue Box and have everyone share what they are thankful for from the past year. You don't know what I am talking about? What's a Blue box? The Blue Box is a symbol of the United Thank Offering—a well established missional part of the Episcopal Church. It is all about the theology of gratitude. You acknowledge your blessings by putting a coin in a" blue box". Then your blessings are gathered and distributed in the form of a grant. The United Thank Offering in-gatherings have supported our Diocese, other Dioceses, and missions around the world. The United Thank Offering is an outward sign of our inward gratitude for each blessings/ gift we receive. Then it is turned outward in a visible mission. We are blessed...but are we grateful? Jeanne King is the Diocese of Missouri UTO Coordinator. Read more about this ministry online at www. diocesemo.org/uto
St. Stephen's Church and the SoulFisher Ministries
On September 15, 2017, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education awarded SoulFisher Ministries a $355,653 grant to become a 21st Century Community Learning Center hosting two sites in the Riverview Gardens School District and one site at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Ferguson. This grant will allow the organization to expand its Educate Now to Achieve Later (ENAL) (two-day per week math tutoring program), provide a STEM-focused tutoring program including reading and English Language Arts five days a week, and continue its 8-week summer initiative hosted by St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Ferguson. The ENAL program model is modeled after a local university-based after-school program that has had marked success in improving both the test scores and academic attitudes among urban-area youth. Next summer (2018) will be the third summer of the partnership between SoulFisher and St. Stephen's.
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Making Disciples
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
by the Rev. Lu-Anne Conner
John the Baptist and Gun Violence The appalling massacre that took place in Las Vegas is almost too much to comprehend. The death toll and the numbers of injured are staggering. As is often the case, we will never fully know what was in the mind and heart of the shooter, or why a group of innocent people became the target of his rage. In the face of such unspeakable violence, there are loud and insistent voices coming from many sides. There are some who advocate arming ourselves to the teeth. Others call for the total disarmament of civilians. There are lots of folks in between these two extremes who are overcome with grief and sorrow, who despair of ever finding a way to stop what has become a familiar pattern of violence and bloodshed. There are no easy answers here, but that does not mean that there is nothing we can do. In fact, I believe that John the Baptist might teach us something about our response to the massacre in Las Vegas. In the third chapter of Luke’s Gospel, the word of God comes to John the Baptist in the wilderness. John begins to preach in the area around the Jordan River, calling people to re-
pent of their sins and be baptized, so that they might become a new people fit for the coming of the Lord. John is not subtle - he entices the crowds to the river’s edge, only to insult them by calling them a brood of vipers. He speaks in ominous terms about an ax that is already lying at the root of the trees, ready to destroy those that do not bear good fruit. John’s vision is radical: he is calling for a new kind of purity based not on one’s religious heritage, but on words and deeds that reflect the will of God. And the people get nervous. They ask John what they should do to avoid the wrath to come. They expect him to blast them with all sorts of radical life changes that few of them would be able to achieve. Instead, John’s reply is stunning in its simplicity: “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” John also has an answer for the soldiers who ask his advice: “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.” Sharing clothing and food? That’s it? That’s all that God requires of us? And what
about the soldiers? Why didn’t John command them to throw away their weapons and quit supporting the oppressive Roman occupation? What happened to the wild revolutionary who wanted to turn the world upside down with radical living for God’s sake? What John asked the crowds to do was to consider the humanity of the “other.” Stop long enough to notice who is going without, he says, and simply share what you have. Stop long enough to notice the fear and terror in your neighbor and offer yourself as an instrument of God’s peace, even if you’re a soldier. Come in from the extremes and join the circle of our common humanity. Be willing to take the first step toward those with whom you disagree. Talk to one another. Listen deeply. Reason together. Persist in seeking God’s will. These are the deeds that will bear fruit in these troubled times. The Rev. Lu-Anne Conner is the rector of the Episcopal Church of the Transfiguration in Lake St. Louis.
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.
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(BCP p. 212)
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by Robert Lowes
Holy Communion Members Make Human-Rights Trek to El Salvador
are universal,” commented Karen Payne, a Holy Communion member making the trip.
The work of Cristosal
Cristosal, founded by Episcopal clergy in 2000, aims to empower ordinary citizens in El Salvador and neighboring countries to be their own architects and agents of change. One guiding principle that Cristosal executive director Noah Bullock shared with us is that human rights are best seen through the eyes of the victims. “We learn what human rights are when they’re violated,” said Bullock. Some of Cristosal’s labors are in the courts, seeking protection for citizens uprooted from their homes by gang violence, and prosecuting government perpetuators of a civil warera massacre in which some 1,000 civilians perished (our country supported the El Salvador government during the Members of Holy Communion pondered conflict). Cristosal also has the Monument to Memory and Truth in advised the United Nations El Salvador, engraved with the names on addressing the plight of of more than 30,000 people who died refugees. during that country's civil war. Its prime mission is helping others to secure their own rights. We visited a vilThere’s a black granite wall in San Salvaafter the civil war. We came to understand that lage where activists coached dor, the capital of El Salvador, engraved with El Salvador’s champions of human rights have by Cristosal have organized soccer games for young people much to teach us about working for justice in the names of more than 30,000 people who and persuaded gang members were killed or “disappeared” during that coun- the United States. to paint over graffiti that once try’s civil war from 1980 to 1992. stigmatized their area to the We quietly walked the wall’s length, Similar issues pausing to ponder names and sometimes trace Like our country, El Salvador has an intol- point of losing government services. We learned how them with our fingertips. erable gap between rich and poor, only wider, activists in one San Salvador “There must be walls like this all over the as evidenced by the mansions and corrugated world,” said Scott Ferguson, senior warden of tin shacks we saw. Police sometimes summar- neighborhood teach youth to play musical instruments, the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion ily execute real and suspected gang members with bands becoming an in University City. just as government death squads during the alternative to gangs. In nearEleven members of Holy Communion, civil war gunned down “communists.” People by Santa Lucia, graduates of along with the Rev. Beth Scriven, campus of color in the United States know a similar ministry chaplain at Rockwell House at Wash- terror. While abortion rights are under attack Cristosal’s Citizen Formation School are part of an effort ington University, and a friend from another here, abortion there is a crime that can land a to clean up a polluted river church spent a week in El Salvador this sumwoman in prison. LGBT rights in El Salvador and win other environmental mer to learn about its past and present suflag far behind those gained to the north, an victories. fering as well as a human-rights group called animus abetted by many church leaders. Cristosal that’s helping to pick up the pieces “No matter where we live, our problems
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Making Disciples
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
The Holy Communion partnership with El Salvador and Cristosal. Below, members of Holy Communion joined El Salvadoran lawyers, social workers, and students for human-rights training at Cristosal.
A partnership
The Holy Communion delegation, together with El Salvadoran social workers, lawyers, and students, studied how to do community organizing in Cristosal workshops. We split up to create mock human-rights campaigns, for example. One group devised a gun buy-back program that would reward participants with scholarships and internships. Much of our time was spent honoring Christians in El Salvador whose advocacy for human rights cost them their lives. We sat in the chapel where Archbishop Oscar Romero was assassinated in 1980 while performing mass, one day after he had urged government soldiers in a radio broadcast to disobey orders to murder their countrymen. At the José Simeón Cañas Central American University, we walked through the dorm where the army killed six Jesuit priests, their housekeeper, and her daughter in 1989. “When they talked about the massacres, it rang back to me about Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Medgar Evers,” said Holy Communion member Gretchen Wilkes. “It was just like the civil rights movement.” Our deeply felt experience in El Salvador convinced Holy Communion’s vestry to form an official partnership with Cristosal, said our rector, the Rev. Mike Angell, another summer pilgrim. Mike said Holy Communion envisions holding an annual human rights conference with Cristosal, alternating between St. Louis and San Salvador. The first conference could take place here as early as fall 2018. Other Episcopal parishes have expressed an interest in joining Holy Communion in future trips to El Salvador to learn from our brothers and sisters in Cristosal. Said Mike, “It’s about building a movement.” Robert Lowes is a journalist and poet. He and his wife Saundra belong to the Episcopal Church of the Holy Communion in University City. Read more about Holy Communion's partnership and Cristosal at www. holycommunion.net/service/el-salvador/. Any parish or individual called to join this partnership, contact the Rev. Mike Angell, information on the church web site.
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New Order of Daughters of the King in Portland
Introducing the newest chapter and seven new vowed members of the Order of the Daughters of the King from St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Portland, MO. After a three-month period of study and discernment, each new member takes vows to uphold the two Rules of the Order, the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service. The seven are (l. to r., first row): Vickie Catalina, Melody Brownell, Melissa Leisinger, Carolyn Leeper, Tina Dillon Back row: Michala Roll, and Deacon Nancy Belcher. Also, Mary Steiling, the diocesan DOK president and the Rev. Marshall Crossnoe, Vicar of St. Mark's. Deacon Nancy said, "It was a great day and another way this small congregation is being Christ's Body in the World."
Messy Church at Grace in Kirkwood Messy Church is an alternative Sunday worship and fellowship event happening at Grace Church in Kirkwood on the first Sunday evening of every month. All ages are invited to come to learn and have fun with messy crafts and activities at 4:15 p.m. Worship begins at 5 p.m., with uplifting songs of praise, a brief kid-friendly homily, and Holy Eucharist. A casual buffet-style dinner is served at 5:30. Grace’s Messy Church is based on a program that originated in the UK and is now found all around the world. It combines creativity, hospitality and experiential faith practices.
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Making Disciples
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
The Church Service League supports CSMSG ministry and discipleship
by Alison Wiedle
The Church Service League (CSL) of The Church of St. Michael and St. George (CSMSG) sponsors the Marché de Noël Christmas Bazaar and Luncheon each year on the Tuesday following Thanksgiving. The bazaar includes vendor tables, crafts made by CSL members, silent auction items, and a delicious luncheon. This event generates holiday spirit, Christian fellowship, and the funds for the financial gifts given by the CSL. This year’s Marché de Noël will be held on Tuesday, November 28. All are invited to attend. Watch for details at http://www.csmsg.org/upcoming-events-paralax/. CSL, a women’s ministry at CSMSG, has been a part of the church’s history for many years. CSL dates from 1914, with the creation of St. Michael & All Angels Church. With the merger of that church and St. George Episcopal Church in 1928 to form The Church of St. Michael and St. George, it was joined by the Episcopal Women’s Missionary Society of St. George Church. From September through May CSL meets Tuesdays for Bible Study, Holy Eucharist and lunch. Programs, service projects or meetings follow lunch. A six-week Lenten Series culminates with a program by the Holy Week minister. Other program topics include faith journeys, travel, finances, storytelling, and hobbies. Addressing needs within and outside of the church, CSL’s contributions have included financial gifts to CSMSG ministries, to the Episcopal Church Women’s scholarship fund and dues, and to ministries outside of CSMSG. Support has been given for ministries such as the Youth Ministry mission trip, Children’s Choir, Hunger Ministry, and Servers Guild. The Board of Religious Organizations, UTO, Episcopal City Mission, and Meals on Wheels Endowment fund have been supported by CSL monetary contributions. CSL has supported agencies through the collection of eye glasses, cookbooks, and stuffed animals. Each year members help the Nicaragua mission through layette assembly as well as the sewing of sundresses and shorts for the Nicaraguan children. Monthly tray favors are made for the Meals on Wheels lunch program. For information about the Church Service League or the Marché de Noël Christmas Bazaar and Luncheon contact President Lynne Roney at 314.727.7175 or Lynneroney@sbcglobal.net. Alison Wiedle is the Secretary of the Church Service League at the Church of St. Michael & St. George
Scenes from last year's Marché de Noël luncheon and bazaar
The
Season of
Advent
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP p. 212) www.diocesemo.org/Advent
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by the Rev. Betty Bowen & Michelle Heitman
The Food Ministries of Trinity Church in St. Charles COMMUNITY GARDEN
In 2010, the St. Charles Ministerial Alliance was trying to figure out how to start a community garden to serve food pantries in St. Charles County. At the same time, Trinity Church was discussing a garden ministry. In 2011, as part of the celebration of their 175th Anniversary, a community garden was begun in cooperation with the St. Charles Ministerial Alliance with a grant from BJC-St. Peters Hospital for seed and materials. With the help of HopeBuild, St. Louis, they created six raised beds. About 40 people from eight churches, including Trinity, did the initial work. For about the first three years five churches helped Trinity plant and maintain the garden. As the dynamics of churches have changed, there is now only one other church helping directly with the garden; but, the Ministerial Alliance continues to provide funds every year. Trinity provides space, most of the labor, and all of the water for the garden, which is now expanded to ten 4x8 and five 4x12 raised beds; and two ground-plots, 20x50 and 20x20. Over the years, we have planted and
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harvested potatoes, onions, green beans, tomatoes, okra, zucchini, broccoli,cabbage, peppers (sweet and hot), herbs, cucumbers, eggplant, and recently, asparagus. The food harvested is donated to OASIS, FISH and Salvation Army Food Pantries, in addition to the Share-A-Meal and King Foods programs (see below). All three food pantries have welcomed the fresh vegetables we donate and look forward each week to whatever we happen to harvest. This year, 2017, the garden has looked its best and the harvesting has been extremely good, yielding about 1000 pounds of food.
Making Disciples
Building Congregations
SHARE-A-MEAL
In December 2009, St. John United Church of Christ on Fifth Street in St. Charles began offering lunch for the homeless on the first Saturday of the month. In April 2010, Trinity Church joined St John UCC‘s effort, and committed to feed the homeless/hungry on third Saturdays of each month. Three teams of eight from Trinity Church took turns by months. About three years ago, two other churches joined, so the program expanded to every Saturday, including fifth Saturdays. We plan, purchase and prepare a meal in the St.
For the Life of the World
John kitchen and feed whomever comes by with a warm, healthy meal. Any leftovers are given to those who attend to take home either for themselves or others who are unable to be there. We feed anywhere between 19 – 40 people each week. This program is now in its seventh year. Leftover bread and pastries from the St. Louis Bread Company are also picked up each Friday night and used for the meal on Saturday.
18-year tradition of alternating shared Thanksgiving services. The offering from our Thanksgiving service includes canned or boxed food, as well as cash, all of which goes to FISH or OASIS. At our Epiphany service, Trinity Church has a tradition of wrapped gifts of canned or boxed food to be offered to the Christ Child, all of which also go to a food pantry.
KING FOODS
Trinity‘s Outreach Committee introduced ―Shop & Share‖ about ten years ago. The committee purchased 100 bright green shopping bags and gave to our parishioners to use when they went shopping to purchase specific items that local Food Pantries have requested each month. The items are listed in our newsletter and in the weekly bulletin. Parishioners bring in the green bags full of the specifically designated foods on last Sundays each month. OASIS and FISH alternate months in making specific requests. A volunteer keeps track of what they are asking, informs the Church Office, and delivers the food in the week after the last Sunday each month.
King Foods is the third iteration of a form of cooperative purchase for food, mostly frozen, delivered monthly to Trinity Church and distributed to people who order it online or in person at the Church. King Foods ministry serves two purposes: The church manages the distribution of healthy, cost-effective foods for any person or family who wishes to order for themselves, either in person at the church or online. Parishioners also make monthly tax-deductible contributions to the church for the program. Contributions are pooled and used to order family food boxes for a local food pantry. The program is open to anyone, regardless of economic status, although the focus is on families most in need. The Trinity Church director consults with the pantry as to what boxes of food—there are several choices—will be the most beneficial. Trinity Church is both a distribution and transfer point for King Foods. We would be happy to work out ways of distributing the boxes elsewhere in the metro area, or beyond. At Christmas in 2014, other churches in our diocese joined us to send 300 boxes of food to Ferguson, where it was distributed through St. Stephen‘s Church to 300 families. Churches included St. Peter‘s Church in Ladue; Grace, Kirkwood; Emmanuel, Webster Groves; Transfiguration, Lake St. Louis; St. Martin‘s, Ellisville; and St. Timothy‘s, Creve Coeur. In 2015, we invited metro-area Episcopal Churches to order food for their own area food pantries. Although we received little response to that idea from other Episcopal churches, in St. Charles, other denominations assisted in purchasing 125 boxes for families served by OASIS and FISH.
SHOP & SHARE
THE LITTLE RED WAGON
For at least the past 25 years, Trinity Church parishioners have made a weekly habit of bringing in a can or two or boxes of non-perishable foods to donate to area food pantries. About 15 years ago, to encourage more people to form this habit, the Outreach Committee came up with the idea of the little red wagon as the place to put just one food item each Sunday. Almost everyone who brings food has responded by bringing more than just one thing. Parishioners put their bags of food into a bright red Radio Flyer at the entrance to the church when they arrive. At the Offertory, the wagon is pulled up the aisle, usually by one or two of our young children, to be blessed with the monetary offerings and the gifts of Bread and Wine. The wagon-offering is delivered weekly to FISH, OASIS, or the Salvation Army food pantries. Ordained a deacon in 2007, the Rev. Elizabeth (Betty) Bowen served Trinity Church, before retiring, and Michelle Heitman is Trinity's church secretary.
TWO SPECIAL IN-GATHERINGS
Transfiguration Church in Lake St. Louis and Trinity Church in St. Charles have an
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by Deborah Goldfeder
About The Jesus Movement We’re following Jesus into loving, liberating and life-giving relationship with God, with each other and with the earth. we follow Jesus. We are simply the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement, seeking every day to love God with our whole heart, mind and soul, and to love our neighbors as ourselves (Matthew 22:36-40).
About The Episcopal Church The Anglican Episcopal family consists of an estimated 85 million Christians who are members of 45 different Churches around the globe, led by the Most Rev. Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury. The member churches of Communion are joined together by choice in love, and have no direct authority over one another. Archbishop Justin is acknowledged as the spiritual head of the Communion, but does not have direct authority over any Anglican church outside of England.
The Episcopal Church: 1.75 million follower of Jesus in 109 dioceses and three regional areas in 17 nations, led by the Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Presiding Bishop and Primate.
The Episcopal Church is in communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and the Moravian Church in North America.
The Diocese of Missouri: 10,000 members in 42 churches, and campus ministry and Deaconess Anne House (Episcopal Service Corps), led by the Rt. Rev. George Wayne Smith, 10th Bishop of Missouri.
SEEK, Autumn 2017
Episcopal Diocese of Missouri Offices of the Bishop 1210 Locust St. St. Louis, Missouri 63103
Seek is a quarterly publication of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri. Diocesan members may request a complimentary subscription by mail: send address to the Offices of the Bishop attn: Seek Subscription. Archived editions of Seek are online at diocesemo. org/seek.
Closing the Circle By now, I hope that all know that the shipment to the Kiryandongo Refugee Camp of shoes and salves arrived on September 11 and we know that the seeds are in Juba awaiting delivery to Lui Diocese in time for next year’s planting season. The ongoing war in South Sudan make the seed delivery from Juba to Lui Diocese very dangerous but Bishop Stephen has a plan to get them there. When I was telling everyone that we hoped to get the seeds and shoes to the folks in need no later than September apparently I failed to say what year! If I had known that it would take so long to finish this job, I don’t know what I would have done. I guess I wouldn’t have gotten my hopes up so many times only to have them dashed with more bad news. So when I received a message from Mable in Kampala, Uganda, that the shoes would be delivered on that Monday, I had an unexpected reaction to the news. I felt flat, nothing. Honestly, I wouldn’t let myself believe that it was true. On that Monday, I heard nothing. Not a picture, a word, a text or anything else. I just waited but on Tuesday morning, my phone blew up with forty-seven pictures from Kiryandongo! While I was happy to see these, I still couldn’t quite feel the joy that I had hoped for. Something was missing. On Friday of that week, I finally called
Editor: Ms. Beth Felice, Director of Communications Editorial Board: the Rev. Daniel Handschy, Dean of the Episcopal School for Ministry; the Rev. Edie Bird, rector Christ Church, Cape Girardeau; Mr. Kurt Greenbaum, St. Martin’s Church, Ellisville; Mr. Paul Jokerst, Transfiguration Church, Lake St. Louis; Dr. Carter Whitson, Trinity Church, St. Louis; the Rev. Joe Chambers, Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Missouri.
The Rev. Deborah Goldfeder is Deacon at Advent Church in Crestwood and chairperson of the Companion Diocese Committee. See photos and videos of the shoes arriving at diocesemo.org/shoes.
Submissions by post attn: Beth Felice, or online via diocesemo.org/submit. Deadline: Dec 20, 2017 for the edition available Winter 2018.
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Making Disciples
WalMart to look for the woman who had helped us order all those darned shoes only to learn that she didn’t work at that store anymore. I told the woman on the phone that I was, “The Crazy Shoe Lady,” and that I wanted to tell Michelle that we had finally accomplished the mission. Apparently, the nickname worked because she told me where Michelle worked now. It wasn’t too far out of my way so I called that store to see if she was working. I wanted to thank her in person for all she did for the Diocese of Missouri and for our refugee friends. Michelle ordered shoes from other stores and warehouses, placed them on pallets, shrinkwrapped them in plastic with signs telling warehouse people not to mess with them until we could load them in trucks. She ran totals of the shoes and faxed them to the diocesan office so they could cut checks which was out of the normal procedure for WalMart. She went above and beyond. She even helped load the trucks! Without her help, we wouldn’t ever have accomplished what we did. I had to thank her and I had to do it in person. So, I went to that new store, walked up to the Customer Service and asked her to be paged. As I stood waiting for her, workers came by to ask me if I needed help but I said, “No, no thank you, but I’m waiting to see her!” as I spied Michelle coming down the aisle. I said, “Michelle, they got there! The shoes got to the refugees!” The two of us embraced in the aisle as I thanked her for all she did. I showed her pictures of the children with the shoes with big smiles and pictures of Sosthen+ and Veronica, people she had come to care about through this project. And, I felt that joy at last. Hallelujah!
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
Longing for the Holy City
by Adrienne Dillon
Adrienne Dillon writes a reflection on Becoming Beloved Community and our yearning for the new Jerusalem. She's a member of the diocesan Dismantling Racism Commission and All Saints/Ascension Church. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. . . And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Revelation 21:2, 5 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. . . Its gates will never be shut. . . Revelation 21:23, 25a The last two chapters of Revelation paint a picture of God’s holy city. It is beautiful, adorned like a bride. Its walls consist of precious stones. The tree of life never ceases bearing fruit. The gates are always open, but nothing evil can enter. At the center is God’s throne,
from which the river of life flows. The city is illuminated by God’s holy light. God is served by “a kingdom of priests from every family, language, people and nation.” There is no death, grief or pain. There is no fear, and there is no hate. How we long for this holy city! Creation groans in a great act of giving birth. We are participants in this labor. God calls us to join in the creation of the holy city filled with God’s light, where the Beloved Community may dwell. There is work for everyone, and the need is quite urgent. Love must defeat hate. The Presiding Bishop has given us a vision of the Beloved Community. More recently, the church has provided suggestions for each of us to engage in the work of fight-
ing hate and injustice. We must listen to each other, face the painful truths of the church’s participation in the sins of exclusion, and envision a church that is a true Body of Christ where all members are honored. People will speak of many things, and we must discern the spirits of good and evil. Joining in prayer and love, we must seek reconciliation, understanding and justice. We must oppose hate and violence with every means we have while we work to repair the damage that has been done. According to the Book of Common Prayer (p. 855), the church’s mission is to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ. The church carries out its mission as it prays and worships, proclaims the Gospel, and pro-
motes justice, peace and love. Renewing our vows of baptism, we promise to persevere "In resisting evil, proclaim the Good News by word and example, seek and serve Christ in all persons, and strive for justice and peace." (BCP p. 305) If we trust God’s love, we need not fear that one person’s gain means loss for another. We need not deny the humanity of someone of a different color. We need not struggle for control or dominance over others. We need not use wealth as a measure of superiority. Instead, we must look for God’s presence in everyone we encounter. Recognizing the divine in each other, we must call to account the unjust social structures that divide us. In God’s holy city, no one lacks food, shelter, education or health care. In the Beloved Community, no one is privileged and no one is rejected. God is in the center, and we see by God’s holy light.
Look Back, Look Ahead
A Celebration of Diocesan Racial Awareness We talk about the sin of racism and the complicity of our church in this history, as well as about racial reconciliation, in our church and in the world. But how do we get there, how do we start this work as a parish in Missouri? This is the second year that the Dismantling Racism Commission is offering a half-day workshop being coled by diocesan churches involved in the work of racial reconciliation. How did they get started?—the practical and the inspirational. Where do they see their work taking them as a faith
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community. What is the ongoing work of the commission; how does it support and how is it supported by these ministries. The workshop is 10 am to Noon on Saturday, Dec. 2, 2017, followed by lunch until 1 pm, and held at St. Martin's Church in Ellisville. (No cost for workshop and lunch, but registration is required.) Come to learn best practices, celebrate our achievements so far, and leave with inspiration. Because truly, none of us do this work alone. RSVP: www.diocesemo.org/DR
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The Porter at The Door
by Deborah Caby
Recently, I was asked what exactly does the Community of Hope do? I was taken aback! What do you mean you don’t know who we are? Puzzled and concerned, I turned to Scripture and The Rule of Benedict. Reading the rule, I think I found our answer... Knock, knock. “Who’s there?” said the novice. The teacher bowed his head and shook it slightly while saying, “Try it again, this time with your Benedictine spirit.” Knock, knock. “Welcome, you are a blessing to us. How can we help?” The teacher smiled and told the novice to begin. Over 1500 years ago, Benedict of Nursia founded a monastery outside of Rome. He crafted a document still used today, which is known as The Rule of Benedict. It is a rule of balance and wisdom which guides a community into spiritual living. This document, ancient as it is, still rings true today and is the framework in which the Community of Hope operates. Benedict believed that to live a spiritual life, one must live in community, for it is in community where we find the Christ in others. Everyone has a job. No person’s job is more important than another. It is a community of respect for one another, where each job is linked to the well-being of the other. Everyone works for the good of the community. Recently, I was asked what exactly does the Community of Hope do? I was taken aback! What do you mean you don’t know who we are? Puzzled and concerned, I turned to scripture and The Rule of Benedict. Reading the Rule, I think I found our answer. You see, one of the important roles assigned is the role of the porter at the door. He or she is to stay stationed at the door of the monastery to receive any visitor who may arrive (at any hour). Joan Chittister in her explanation of the Rule writes, “Answering the door is one of the arch activities of Benedictine life. The way we answer the door is the way we deal with the world.” Our response is to fling open the door and welcome the visitor, receiving the Christ in the other. Community of Hope is an international community with over 1500 learning centers. The Episcopal Diocese of Missouri has two learning centers training lay pastoral chaplains: Grace in Kirkwood and the Church of St. Michael & St. George. The training is intensive and trains lay chaplains in the ministry of presence. Members of other churches within
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Making Disciples
Building Congregations
For the Life of the World
our diocese along with other denominations take this training and are a part of our Care Circles. As with Benedictine life, there is the balance of work, study and worship. To distract and focus on only one aspect, does a disservice to the life of the community. Our ministries are as varied as the people in our community. Some have feeding ministries, some visit the sick or infirm, some walk with people in their final hours in hospice. Still others visit prisons. There are others who have prayer services in nursing homes, or group homes. We even have a person who uses her talent of music to bring joy and uplift people in a nursing home. We can be Eucharistic ministers bringing Communion to those in hospital or our homebound. The only agenda we have is to relieve the suffering in the world with the gift of our presence. We daily practice being the hands and feet of Christ in this world. Our presence and our training allows us to have no agenda but to serve the Christ in others. We often are the only contact to our care receiver has who has no agenda, to only be there for this person, fully present and listening to whatever the care receiver has to say. This is where the balances of worship and study help correct us. We are reminded to be humble, this is God’s work, and we are lucky enough to be the hands and feet of Christ. As I wrote earlier, we are the Community of Hope, but we do not live in a monastery. Ours is a monastery without walls. Because we live amongst you, we have no physical door; ours is a door of spirit. We must each become the porter at the door. We welcome you as Christ welcomes you! The Community of Hope offers training each year in the diocese. To read more about this organization and find contact information, visit diocesemo.org/COH. In addition to her porter duties as a member of the Community of Hope, Deborah is a member of Grace Episcopal Church in Kirkwood.
Meet Deaconess Anne House members Rebecca and Kevin This year's mighty duo of Episcopal Service Corps members at Deaconess Anne House are Rebecca Cole and Kevin Rysted. We asked them how they heard about DAH, and their hopes for this coming year before and now that they're living in the house. Rebecca Cole is from Mobile, AL, and a graduate of Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. She first heard about DAH online at the Episcopal Service Corps website, then met with ESC volunteers in Memphis. "Pretty much from that initial Google search I knew that I wanted to do ESC," Rebecca said. "When looking around at the different locations, DAH stuck out with its Jesus and Empire class as well as its focus on semi-monasticism. After my conversation with Jillian [Smith, DAH director], I was sold! It was one of those weird circumstances where I had an idea of what I wanted to do, and it actually existed." Rebecca was hoping to join a strong community of people with whom she felt comfortable while delving into the big faith questions. "Since we have a smaller community this year," she said, "that looks a little different than I imagined, but we have received so much support. It is a good reminder that community extends outside the four walls of DAH." Kevin Rysted hails from Moore, OK, and is a graduate of the University of Oklahoma. He heard about ESC from mentors and friends in the Diocese of Oklahoma then learned more about Deaconess Anne House from the ESC website Kevin knew in a moment that he was applying for Deaconess Anne House. "I had been praying pretty heavily that week," he said, " and considering my prayerful reflections with trusted friends and mentors." He arrived in St. Louis hoping to feel connected to the community in a deeper way. "Since moving here, I have felt weirdly 'home' in St. Louis," he said, in spite of his short time here and the sometimes complicated compartmentalization of St. Louis neighborhoods. "Downtown, Ferguson/ Florissant, the Hill, and University City are all 'St. Louis', and my home in some way, even if Old North is where I live." Lots of photos on DAH's Instagram site @esc_stl. Top: at the house; l. to r. the Rev. Martie Metzler, Kevin, Jillian, Rebecca, the Ven. Mark Sluss; study with the Rev. Chris Slane; help out at a Laundry Love ministry with Holy Communion in U. City.
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Global Motherhood Initiative Co-Founder to speak at Emmanuel Dear Friends, On Saturday December 16th, from 1-3pm, Emmanuel Episcopal Church will host a special guest speaker, Jane Drichta, one of the co-founders of a new NGO called the Global Motherhood Initiative. Jane and her team fulfill a unique need in the areas of Iraq which have been recently liberated from the control of the Islamic State. Perhaps you recall a few years ago when the Islamic State first made headlines with their persecution of a small ethnic minority called the Yazidi people in Northern Iraq. Thousands of men were killed and thousands of women were abducted. Unlike other strands of Middle Eastern culture, the women who have returned to the Yazidi community have not been cast out because of “dishonor,” but have largely been embraced and received back into their communities. However, there is psychological trauma from years of captivity and sexual slavery that these women continue to face after their release. Jane Drichta and the Global Motherhood Initiative seek to serve these Yazidi women with pre- and post-natal care using a new integrative care method designed in consultation with midwives, mental health professionals, and local public health authorities. Gentle, respectful, mother-centered midwifery care is completely integrated with deep trauma therapy. Each visit is attended by both a midwife with education in trauma informed care, and a therapist specializing in refugee/IDP issues, with training in basic maternal health. All care plans are written cooperatively, with guidance from the mother herself. We are honored to invite Jane to speak to us. There is no cost to attend, there will be free parking, light refreshments, time to ask questions of Jane, and an opportunity to donate to the Global Motherhood Initiative.
We are very far away from the conflicts in the Middle East, but here is a chance to have a significant impact on the restoration and future well-being of this fellow community of God’s children. Thank you for your consideration. In Peace, The Rev. Christopher Slane, Assistant Priest, Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, 1 - 3 PM Emmanuel Episcopal Church 9 S. Bompart Ave, Webster Groves 63119 www.emmanuelepiscopal.org
Seminarians & Priests!
L. to R.: Martin Geiger, Mike Angell, Loren Lasch, Michaelene Miller, Oct. 10, 2017 at Virginia Theological Seminary
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Diocesan Youth Missioner the Rev. Loren Lasch and Holy Communion's Rector, the Rev. Mike Angell were at Virginia Theological Seminary in October. They're both on the Alumni Association Executive Committee and were there for the Alumni Convocation. They met up with familiar faces among the seminarians, from Deaconess Anne House, the Episcopal Service Corps intentional community in St. Louis. Michaelene Miller (DAH's first class) is in her third year at VTS and raised up by St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Conway, Diocese of Arkansas. Martin Geiger (DAH 2 & 3) is in his second year at VTS and just joined All Souls Episcopal Church in Washington D.C. as a quarter-time as Seminarian. He'll complete a field education internship with them as he progresses toward ordination as a priest in the Diocese of Missouri.
For the Life of the World
Tanzania Pastors' Conference, continued from p. 24 the pastors were very keen about getting the question just right, so that they could get the “right” answer from the passage. They were treating these as “workbook” exercises. This was very discouraging. At the end of the first day, I thought the whole thing might be a complete failure. The second day, Anne arrived, and gave the first presentation of the day on the importance of good nutrition for children to do well in school. The pastors had never heard about good, balanced nutrition and they took copious notes. Anne was going to be worth the price of admission, even if Pamela and I completely bombed. In the afternoon of that second day, Pamela talked about the two creations stories at the beginning of Genesis (Genesis 1:1-2:4 and Genesis 2:5-25), something that every seminary student in the US takes for granted. The pastors nearly exploded with resistance to the idea that there were two creation stories. Each night after dinner, I did a “question and answer” session. That evening, the first question was about the two stories. A pastor raised his hand and said that learning there were two stories made it seem like there were two Gods. Oh, dear. I asked the pastors if any of them knew a Tanzanian creation story. I said that likely the missionaries suppressed those stories, but maybe someone remembered one. After a long hesitation, one of the pastors stood up and told the story of the origin of the Hehe tribe. The story was long and he told it quickly, and my translator had a hard time keeping up, so I got the condensed version. The Hehe were hunters who had migrated from the north, had fought several wars, and won the right to marry into other tribes. When he had finished telling his story, I asked the pastors if they could tell from the story what the Hehe ate. One of them joked “ugali,” the corn-meal mush we ate for
lunch. I asked instead what kind of a tribe they were, and they said hunter. “Right,” I said, “so what do they eat?” Meat, was the response. The story told how the gods had given them permission to hunt. So, then, I went back to Genesis 1 and asked what God had given the humans permission to eat. They answered that God had allowed the humans to eat grain and fruit. Then I asked them to think about the story in Genesis 2, and what the humans would eat. Because God had given the humans care of all the animals, they agreed that humans would eat meat in that story. So, I suggested that two different tribes were remembering the same events, and telling the same story in different ways. That made sense to them. This was a turning point in the conference. In the remaining days of the conference, I focused on the stories of Pharaoh amassing a surplus of food and then doling it out to the Egyptians and Hebrews until all the people had sold all their possessions, their land, and even themselves into slavery for food (Genesis 47:13-26), and the Exodus (crossing the Red Sea, the destruction of Pharaoh’s army and the manna in the wilderness). Pamela focused on ‘asset mapping’. Often, when institutions face a crisis, they fixate on the magnitude of the problem and are frozen into inaction. Asset mapping instead asks the institution to look at the resources on hand. We had the pastors practice this by looking at a vacant plot of land at the conference site and identifying everything they saw as assets there. Anne presented two more talks, one on planting fruit trees, and another on bee keeping. On the final day, I asked the pastors to compare and contrast the story of the manna in the wilderness and Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand. I had compared the crossing of the Red Sea to Jesus’
crossing of the sea and casting out the legion of demons into the herd of pigs. The pastors laughed when I compared the destruction of Pharaoh’s army to the drowning of the pigs (legion is a word for a unit in the Roman army). They acknowledged that they had never thought of bible stories in that way before. I could barely get them to stop their discussions about the manna and the feeding of the 5000. One of them even laughed out loud that when Jesus asked the disciples how much food they had, he was asset mapping! For the final eucharist we had asked the pastors each to bring a bag of seed from his home farm to be blessed. We had the group that catered the conference make some of the local flatbread (called chipati, just like the Indian bread) to use at the eucharist. The pastors were delighted when, in my sermon, I said that when Jesus took the five loaves and two fish, he first looked to heaven, said the blessing, broke the bread and then gave it the disciple to distribute, just like they do with the eucharistic bread. I then asked what they thought the disciples would do with the twelve left-over baskets, and they all agreed that they would have to give them away before the bread rotted like the manna. I think that this way of reading the bible and preaching was a true revelation for these pastors. They could see that these bible stories had direct application to their own circumstances. When we talked about Pharaoh, I asked them who Pharaoh was in their experience. They said that the colonial powers and the multi-national corporations that tried to control the natural resources of Tanzania acted like Pharaoh. Learning to use the resources at hand to feed their own people is a much more immediate reading of the bible than reading to know how to make sure one’s soul gets into heaven. I would love to go back in a year, and see how their preaching
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has changed. At the last exercise at the conference, I asked the pastors what their diocese could help them with, so that they might take these ideas back to their parishes. They listed things like demonstrations of drip irrigation, composting, fruit tree planting and bee keeping. The day after the conference ended I met another student of mine from the Diocese of Mpwapwa, Agripa Nditila. He had not been able to attend the conference. He joined us for breakfast and brought his laptop to show us all the things he is doing at St. Philipp’s Theological College, where he is the principal. The students and faculty all work together in the farm and use drip irrigation; they have planted fruit trees; they raise chickens and use the guano as fertilizer; and they keep bees! I told Anderson he could check the first five items off the list of things the pastors wanted the diocese to help them with because St. Philipp’s was already doing those things, and it was just a matter of arranging for the pastors to come and spend some time at the college. Another frog on a fence post! At dinner on Saturday night, when it is customary for each person to share what they have learned, the friends they have made, etc., the diocesan secretary of the Mothers’ Union(MU) said that she had had a conversation with Dr. Outwater. Anne's community nursing students are required as part of their clinical education to go out into the regions of Tanzania and give talks on nutrition. The MU Secretary had already arranged for these students to speak at an MU conference scheduled for June. Another frog on a fence post! Clearly, Someone besides me or Pamela had been in charge of the whole conference! All we needed to do was get out of the way and let the Spirit take over.
The Rev. Dan Handschy, PhD, is the rector of the Episcopal Church of the Advent in Crestwood, and Dean of the Episcopal School for Ministry.
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by Dan Handschy
A pastors' conference in Tanzania, a frog on the fencepost I have just returned from my trip to the Diocese of Mpwapwa in the Anglican Church of Tanzania at the invitation of Anderson Madimilo, one of my students at Eden Seminary. Anderson was particularly interested in helping the pastors in Mpwapwa to learn to preach about the importance of food security and addressing issues of poverty. Mpwapwa had been evangelized in the 1910s by the Church Missionary Society (CMS), a British evangelical mission. The preaching of the CMS focused on individual conversion and salvation, and the instruction they gave the pastors highlighted a very evangelical understanding of the faith. Anderson observed to me, however, that it is very hard to talk to people about the salvation of their soul, and getting into heaven when they are starving. To them, salvation will look a lot more like food than like conversion and a personal relationship with Jesus; but the pastors of Mpwapwa don’t know how to preach about food as part of God’s plan of salvation. After Anderson finished his studies, he invited me to come to
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Mpwapwa and lead a conference for pastors on exactly this issue— how to preach God’s salvation as the physical as well as spiritual good of the people. Bishop Wayne agreed to fund part of my trip from mission funds available in the diocese. Also attending was the Rev. Pamela Dolan (previously of Church of the Good Shepherd in Town and Country). Anderson returned to Mpwapwa in May, and Pamela and I spent the months planning the four day conference held September 5-8. We probably over-planned, but we identified a number of biblical passages concerning farming, care of the earth and particularly God’s presence at meals throughout the bible. Pamela also prepared to talk about how Good Shepherd had started their garden and what they did with the produce. Neither Pamela nor I knew the first thing about what grows in Tanzania and what farming techniques work there. Pamela contacted Peter Raven, the retired director of the Missouri Botanical Garden, who had just finished co-authoring a book on the flora of coastal Tanzania with a woman who lived in Dar es Salaam.
Making Disciples
We sent her an email asking for any helpful resources and she replied that she would be delighted to come to the conference. Anne Outwater, it turns out, is not only an expert on the native plants of Tanzania, she is also a registered nurse and a professor of community nursing. She was able to rearrange her schedule at Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences and attend the conference. This was the first of what my mom would call a frog on a fencepost. That frog didn’t get there by itself, someone put it there. Someone else was in charge of this conference, we couldn’t have imagined such practical help. I had been worried before departing for Tanzania that the conference would not go particularly well. There were too many unknowns: would the pastors be receptive to a couple of mzungus (white people) talking to them about agriculture and the bible? What would be their education level? and other imponderables. When we arrived at the conference facility, it appeared my worries were not unfounded. Bishop
Building Congregations
Chimeledya, the Bishop of Mpwapwa (and the Archbishop of Tanzania) could not be at the conference. The Vicar General (we would call him the canon to the ordinary) seemed to have his nose out of joint that he wasn’t organizing the conference instead of Anderson. The pastors seemed to be taking the Vicar General’s part. I don’t understand a word of Kiswahili, but I understand tension, and it was tense. On the first day of the conference, there were several questions from the pastors that were not translated for us, but it was easy to catch the drift of these questions—“What do these people know about farming in Tanzania?” A couple of times, Anderson had to take over, and on one such occasion he asked the pastors how many of them had ever preached a sermon about water conservation (Pamela had talked about how she had preached about collecting water from Good Shepherd’s roof for the garden as good stewardship). Not a single pastor raised his hand (there was only one woman pastor in attendance). When I posed discussion questions about certain bible passages, continued on p. 23
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