T H E
E P I S C O P A L D I O C E S E W E S T E R N K A N S A S
O F
THE PRAIRIE SPIRIT W I N T ER
2 01 6/ 2 01 7
I S S UE
FROM THE BISHOP INSIDE THIS ISSUE: From the Bishop
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Advent Virus
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Ordinations & Confirmations
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Around the Diocese
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Diocesan Convention
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St. Francis Community Services
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CONTACT US 1 North Main, Suite 502 Hutchinson, KS 67501 Phone: 620-669-0006 Email:
tec.wks2011@gmail.com
Website: www.diowks.org
Diocese of Western Kansas
Episcopal Di of WKS
diowks
Diocesan Convention, this year, brought two pieces of information that will impact the diocese in the near future, and maybe beyond. The first is the announcement of my intention to resign as the Bishop of Western Kansas at the end of 2018 (traditionally bishops resign instead of retiring). What this means is that the Standing Committee will be meeting early in 2017 to begin the process of moving toward the search and election of a new bishop sometime in mid-2018, with a consecration either late in 2018 or January 2019. This part may depend on the Presiding Bishop’s calendar. In conversations with the diocesan leadership it feels that the diocese would be well-served with the use of dual-role bishop using lessons learned over the past 6 or 7 years of my episcopacy. As we move forward with this process be assured that every effort will be made to keep the entire diocese in the loop as to what is taking place. As the process moves forward if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me or any member of the Standing Committee. The second important action that took place at our convention was the vote not to consider any merger with the Diocese of Kansas. While I applaud your support this action, we must never forget that diocesan vitality does not exist just because we wish it so. To remain a stable and viable diocese into the future we will need two basic things (in addition to faith and prayers), those being people and money! Until you and I are willing to reach out to the world around us and invite people into our faith fellowship we will continue to shrink and finally disappear. Every congregation in our diocese has experienced shrinkage in the past generation. We wring out hands and lament that no one comes to church anymore. Maybe, instead of wondering why no one comes to church we should be inviting people to come to our church. After all, if you are an Episcopalian you must find something in our liturgy, our spirituality, our world-view that speaks to your heart and soul. Share that! Invite people, all people, to come and experience the divine mystery of God in the ancient prayers of our Eucharist or our Daily Offices. Invite people, all people, to know the presence of the Risen Christ in the bread and wine of the Eucharist. Invite people, all people, to experience the power of the Holy Spirit in Baptism, or Confirmation, or Marriage, or Healing. People are not going to know about all the great wonderful things we have to offer unless you invite them to join you in church. In my address to the Diocesan Convention I mentioned that we needed to get back to, and re-emphasize the basics: Bible Reading and Study: Does your congregation offer a Bible Study, or Bible Reading, or Bible Sharing opportunity for your own members and all those others you will invite? If not, why not? Need help with how to start a Bible Study or materials. Give me a call. Good Worship: Whether we are doing High Mass in the Cathedral, or a l ay-led service of Morning Prayer in Garden City, let us do the best job we can do. Let us honor the Lord with our voices, our prayers our attitudes. Let us worship such a way that we know the Lord is in our midst. As the Daily Office says: Let us worship Lord in the beauty of holiness! Needs some help with this? Give me a call! The Faith: When was the last time you took time to quietly meditate on our Faith as outlined in the Nicene Creed? Have you ever read through an Outline of the Faith: Commonly Called the Catechism? You can find in on page 845 of your prayer book. Don’t’ have a Prayer Book? Call me. I will get you one! Maybe you could start a discussion group about our faith. How about over lunch at a local café? A Life of Prayer: Simple, just talk God. Then, let God talk to you. Need some help? Call me! While people may be our most important asset we also need the money! Without sounding too crass money is very important in the life of the church. Money pays for utilities. Money pays for the bread and wine of the Eucharist. Money pays for the support of full-time and part-time clergy. When
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you read through the Gospels one of the things Jesus talks most about is money, and our attitudes about it. You may have to ask some pointed questions: Do you support your local congregation financially? Do you pledge each year? Do you keep your pledge? Have you consistently increased your pledge over the past 10 years? Or, are you still giving what you gave in 2006? Do you know that the accepted standard of giving in the Episcopal Church is the tithe? Tithe means 10%! The bottom line, my friends, is that if we want Western Kansas to continue to maintain our independence, our unique place in the Episcopal Church then we are going to have to pay for it. We have maintained our place in the Episcopal Church for 115 years. I think we should shoot for another 115 years! Faith... prayer...worship...study...money...people! The concept is simple! The work is hard! I have never known Western Kansans to be afraid of a little work!!! May God bless us richly, Bishop Michael
WARNING……WARNING: ADVENT VIRUS Be on the alert for symptoms of inner Hope, Peace, Joy and Love. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world. Some signs and symptoms of The Advent Virus: A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences. An unmistakable ability to enjoy each moment. A loss of interest in judging other people. A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others. A loss of interest in conflict. A loss of the ability to worry. (This is a very serious symptom.) Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation. Contented feelings of connectedness with others and nature. Frequent attacks of smiling. An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen. An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.
On November 30, St. Andrew’s Day, the Cathedral celebrated the ordination anniversaries of Fr. Jim Cox, Fr. Bruce LeBarron and Fr. Jerry Jones (not pictured). Senior Warden, Steve Hoffman cuts the cake while Fr. Cox and Fr. Lebarron look on.
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ORDINATIONS
Father John Seatvet was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests on September 3, at St. Cornelius in Dodge City.
Mother Casey Rohleder was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests on July 23, at St. Michael's in Hays
Mother Terry Deokaran was ordained into the Sacred Order of Priests on July 9, at All Saints in Pratt.
Mother Amy Long and Father Bill Waln were ordained on December 10, at Grace Church in Hutchinson. Father Basil Price was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests on November 5, at the Cathedral in Salina.
CONFIRMATIONS & RECEPTIONS
On September 11, at All Saints in Pratt, Bishop Milliken Confirmed Hunter Egging and Jackson Montei‐Wallace. The Bishop received Patrick & Maria Egging.
On July 24, Eric Rohleder was received at St. Michael’s Church in Hays by Bishop Milliken.
On August 21, Bishop Milliken was at Saints Mary and Martha , in Larned where he confirmed Kelley Kensell , Halle Barker, Hunter Barker, Ivory Muldrow, Adayle Kirlin, Miryia Scott, and Cathleen Cowell .
On October 23, at St. Cornelius in Dodge City, Bishop Milliken Confirmed Don Bates, Vincent Carlos, MacKenna & James Spencer, Aaron Trent, and Payson Hatfield.
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Some of the Diocese’s newest Clergy gathered in Dodge City early in December for a retreat. It was an opportunity to get to know each other and share ideas.
Bishop Milliken attended the Conference for Bishops of Small Dioceses in Salt Lake City on November 30—December 1.
YOUTH MINISTRY Anyone having an interest in youth ministry is invited to join in on some brainstorming and ideas at a meeting at Saints Mary and Martha Church in Larned. Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 21, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. If you are interested please let the Diocesan Office know that you will be attending. More information will be coming out after the Holidays.
From the Ecumenical and Inter Religious Officer The Rev’d Larry Carver
As the Reformation is continued to be celebrated, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops have released a resource, titled Together in Christ: Lutherans and Catholics Commemorate the Reformation, that is available for your use. This could be the foundation for a Lenten Series or for individual study. The material is available in both English and French at: http://www.elcic.ca/ecumenical/TogetherInChrist.cfm
A table is set up at St. John's Church in Great Bend for food donations. Food will be bagged up to hand out to meet the needs of the people in their neighborhoods; homeless or otherwise. The Church is praying it will be a successful and continuing outreach mission program. For further information contact Teresa Lahar at 620‐639‐1879 (BKSM student). Donations would be gratefully accepted.
The Rev. Eileen Heden has accepted a calling to be a part‐ me Vicar at St John's Episcopal Church in Bandon, Oregon. She will be moving soon a er the new year as soon as housing is located. Rev. Heden said, “I am very happy to be returning to my home diocese of Oregon and very grateful to have the opportunity to serve again.”
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Diocesan Conven on 2016 The 2016 Diocesan Conven on was not our usual format. This year we had a joint Conven on with the Diocese of Kansas at the Airport Hilton Doubletree in Wichita on October 28‐29. The combined Conven on drew in about 350 delegates, clergy and other visitors. Although our opening Eucharist, meals and banquet were combined, we each had our business sessions separate. The theme of the Conven ons was Love your Neighbor as Yourself from Mark 12:31. At the Friday evening banquet, Bishop Milliken awarded three Bishop Crosses. While the Bishop's Cross is not made of gold or silver it is given in love and gra tude for faithful ministry to our Lord, our Church, and our Diocese. Well done, thou good and faithful servants! The first went to Mrs. Sherry Denton, who has served as Secretary of Conven on for several years. Sherry has been a General Conven on delegate, and ac ve at the Province level as well. She is currently the Province VII President. Sherry a ends Incarna on Church in Salina where she has served as a Lay Reader and Senior Warden. The Second Cross went to Dr. Mike Wamsley. Mike a ends Grace Church in Hutchinson where he has been a vestry member, lay reader and has served as the Church Treasurer for many years. He is also the Diocesan Treasurer. The Final Cross went the Rev. Canon James Cox. Fr. Cox was not present at the Diocesan banquet, but was later awarded the cross by Bishop Milliken during Church services on November 27th. Canon Cox has served faithfully for many years as a Diocesan and Cathedral Canon, Chaplain for many years to St. John's Military School, Vicar of Transfigura on in Bennington, Kansas; and even spent a few years as the diocesan treasurer.
Mrs. Sherry Denton shows off her Bishop’s Cross.
Dr. Michael Wamsley saying a few words after receiving his Bishop’s Cross.
Canon Cox pictured with Bishop Milliken
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Conven on contd.
During Saturday’s business session, elec ons were held for various Diocesan Conven on. Those elected /appointed to posi ons were: General Conven on/Provincial Synod: Rev. Carolyn Ballinger, Rev. Mark Cowell, Rev. Randy McIntosh, Julie Cowell, Sally Russell, Pam Smith, Susan Smith Standing Commi ee: Rev. Dennis Gilhousen, Sally Russell Diocesan Council: Rev. Mark Cowell, Rev. Laird MacGregor, Mike Rees, Mike Wamsley and to a one‐ year term to fill a vacated spot, Rev. Canon Phyllis Flory Commission on Ministry: Rev. Dr. Ted Blakley, Rev. Terry Deokaran, John Helmer and Carolyn Peterson Disciplinary Board: Rev. John Seatvet, Rev. Bill Waln, Intake Officer: Sherry Denton Congratula ons to them all!
Bishop Milliken gave Rylynn Davis a birthday blessing for her 6th birthday during his visitation July 10.
While in Larned for his visitation on August 21, Bishop Milliken Installed a new order of Daughters of the King. Bishop Milliken visited Ascension Church in Colby on October 2nd. Pictured is Fr. Don Martin, Macey Lamb and Richard Britton.
Grace Church’s Sally Russell Re res A er over fourteen years as serving as Grace Church’s Parish Administrator, Sally Russell re red on September 30. In her honor, a Celebra on of her Ministry was given in Early October. A new Administrator has been hired. Brenda Hoefer began her du es on October 3rd.
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SAINT FRANCIS COMMUNITY SERVICES KICKSOFF ANNUAL CHRISTMAS FOR KIDS CAMPAIGN
SALINA, KS – Saint Francis Community Services (SFCS) has begun its annual Christmas for Kids campaign, which provides presents to children in foster care at Christmas. Each year, Saint Francis and its community partners work hard to ensure that no child served by the ministry goes without a gift under the tree on Christmas morning. “Christmas for Kids is our major event of the year,” said Vickee Spicer, director of marketing. “Saint Francis staff throughout the state work closely with our community donors and supporters to brighten the lives of children. We really get excited about it.” Saint Francis Community Services sees to it that each child’s basic, seasonal needs are met - such as winter clothing, coats, and shoes. Christmas for Kids, however, helps meet a child’s wants. Working with corporate sponsors and individual donors, Saint Francis provides Christmas gifts for about 3,200 children each year. Saint Francis employees throughout Kansas have started collecting toys, gift cards, and cash donations to purchase presents in preparation for a December distribution. Organizations and businesses interested in sponsoring toy drives are encouraged to contact Saint Francis to learn more about Christmas for Kids and to arrange pick-up of collected toys and gifts. Persons interested in providing a present for a child in foster care this Christmas can visit www.christmasforkids.com to find the nearest office or to make an online donation.
Clover House Opens Saint Francis Community Services began celebrating this month’s opening of Clover House with a “virtual” open house and blessing on November 16th at Kansas Wesleyan University in Salina. The home began providing services on December 1st. Clover House, a restorative residential program for adolescent girls who have experienced the unique and complex trauma of child sex trafficking, offers a homelike environment where they receive the time and space they need to heal physically, psychologically, and spiritually. The program brings together girls with shared experience; mentors who provide care, acceptance and guidance; and a program that responds to the girls’ individual needs. Rev. Susanne Methven, Clover House priest-in-residence.
During the Diocesan Conven on we gathered the United Thank Offering Fall collec on. We sent $3,806.95 to UTO. Thank you for your generous contribu ons! The next ingathering will be on Mother’s Day, Sunday May 14, 2017.
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