Jan. 21, 2016
A reflection from Bishop Wolfe
This week’s snow prompted Bishop Dean Wolfe to write a reflection on slowing down, the passage of time and how our worship places us in a place beyond time, or “kairos.” He writes, in part:
“The words and music of worship in the presence of the Holy invite us into a slower state of being. Worship forces us to calm down and, finally, to stop, rest and pay attention. Church is, or should be, a place without clocks. Encounters with God cannot be timed events. They are, as the Greeks described it, “kairos” time – the time with no beginning and no end, the time that is always pregnant with possibility.
“Kairos is the sacred time where God accomplishes miracles of breath-taking magnitude. I am amused at my own attempts (and the attempts of my fellow clergy) to speed this process up, to seek greater efficiencies and to find ever-more intrusive ways to make worship somehow more efficient, as though efficiency were the point. Shorter sermons, more stations to receive Holy Communion, abbreviated hymns, and quicker, spoken prayers all make me wonder why it is that we are in such a hurry. To what destinations are we speeding to arrive?”
You can read his entire reflection online at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/bishop/Meditation-SlowDown.php.
Statements from the meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion
The recent meeting of the Primates of the Anglican Communion resulted in a final statement in which sanctions were pronounced on the Episcopal Church for its actions during last year’s General Convention to make the canons on marriage available to all couples, regardless of gender. You can read the statement at http://www.anglicancommunion.org/media/206038/Primates_Meeting_2016_Statement.pdf
Understandably, this has generated a number of statements in response. Here are a few:
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s statement, with video: http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2016/01/15/presiding-bishop-and-primate-speaks-on-actions-at-primates-meeting/
Bishop Dean Wolfe’s statement: http://www.episcopal-ks.org/bishop/PrimateStatement_response.php
A statement from the Rev. Andrew McGowan, Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and Editor of the Journal of Anglican Studies, recommended by Bishop Wolfe: http://abmcg.blogspot.mx/2016/01/no-episcopal-church-has-not-been.html?m=1
A wrap-up of statements from bishops of the Episcopal Church, and others: http://www.episcopalcafe.com/episcopal-church-bishops-respond-to-primates/
Resources for Lent
Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, which is Feb. 10 – it’s an early start on this holy season this year.
If your church still is looking for resources for use during Lent, here are a few:
· Forward Movement: http://www.forwardmovement.org/Products/CategoryCenter/FMEAS/Lent--Easter.aspx
· Church Publishing: https://www.churchpublishing.org/search/?keyword=lent+2016
· Lent Madness: http://www.lentmadness.org/
· Episcopal Relief & Development: http://www.episcopalrelief.org/church-in-action/church-campaigns/lent
· Archbishop of Canterbury’s book for Lent: http://www.lentbook2016.com/
Women’s Summit planned for April 22-23
All women of the diocese are invited to mark their calendars now and make plans to attend the second diocesan Women’s Summit, set for Friday, April 22 and Saturday, April 23. It will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday and end about 4 p.m. on Saturday.
It will take place at St. Michael and All Angels Church, 6630 Nall Ave. in Mission, in suburban Kansas City.
The special guest speaker will be the Rev. Becca Stevens, founder of Thistle Farms, a community of women who have survived prostitution, trafficking and addiction. Thistle Farms employs more than 50 women through enterprises that include a natural body care company, Thistle Stop Cafe, artisanstudio and a global marketplace called Shared Trade.
More information on the event will be available soon. If you have immediate questions, contact Ellen Wolfe at or Deacon Fran Wheeler at .
Join Episcopal Community Services for a service of installation on Jan. 31
Episcopal Community Services invites you to join parishes throughout the Greater Kansas City area for a Service of Celebration and Installation on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 5 p.m. at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W. 13th St. in Kansas City, Mo.
The event, which includes the Holy Eucharist, will celebrate the work and ministry of the Kansas City Community Kitchen, Episcopal Hunger Relief Network and Culinary Cornerstones Training Program, all programs of ECS.
Those attending are invited to bring a donation of canned food (tuna, chicken, corn, kidney beans, carrots, etc.) for a special offering to the ECS network of food pantries across the city.
Youth news
> Summer youth ministry internship applications now available
Do you know a college student interested in pursuing a vocation in ministry? If so, ask them if they are interested in applying for the Summer Youth Ministry Internship. Applications are due Feb. 28. Learn more about the program and how to apply at http://edokyouth.wordpress.com/internship/
>Adult volunteers and youth ministers can register for Recharge now
Recharge is a one-night retreat for youth ministers and volunteers in the diocese. This year we will focus on Sustainable Youth Ministry based on the book of the same time by Mark DeVries. There will be several educational sessions, and we also will have a resource sharing and problem-solving time.
March 4-5 at Upton Hall, Topeka; cost is just $15. Get more information or sign up online at https://edokyouth.wordpress.com/recharge/
> High school students are invited to participate in music leadership weekend
· What: Leadership games, hang-out time, and most importantly, time to practice worship songs and maybe even record a few.
· Who: High school students who are interested in playing at youth events
· When: Friday, Feb. 19, 6:30 p.m. – Sunday, Feb. 21, 11:30 a.m.
· Where: Upton Hall (behind Grace Cathedral, Topeka)
· Cost: $20
· Registration:https://edok.formstack.com/forms/music_weekend Please sign-up by Thursday, Feb. 4 to help us plan.
> New Beginnings registration is now open
This weekend spiritual retreat is for students in grades 6-8 of the current school year, with high school youth serving on staff. New Beginnings focuses on the two greatest commandments: loving God with all our heart, mind and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. The priority registration deadline is Thursday, March 31.
There will be a staff planning day for high school students and adults on Saturday, April 9, from 1:30-3:30 p.m. More information, registration forms and a poster are available at: http://edokyouth.wordpress.com/new-beginnings/.
> Episcopal Summer Mega Camp registration is now open
Camp is June 5-11 at Camp Wood YMCA. Camp Wood features a variety of activities such as horseback riding, archery, climbing tower, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, water slide, mud slide, arts and crafts, and sports. The volunteer Episcopal staff provides solid Christian education, featuring worship, music, small group discussions and prayer. Camp is open to those currently in grades 3-12 and their friends.
Cost is $420 for the week; register by May 6. For registration forms and more information see http://edokyouth.wordpress.com/camp/
> Check out the 2016 youth camp commercials
Learn more about camp and help spread the word. Our goal is to make sure every child and youth in grades 3-12 is invited to attend Episcopal camp. There were five commercials entered in the camp commercial contest last year, and you can view them all on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIr5V_EJuAejnNymKDyViAbf2rqkKucle
Four different students entered the competition. The winner was Olivia Rimmer, 8th grader from St. Thomas the Apostle, Overland Park, but all the videos are great!
Daughters of the King prayer retreat planned for Feb. 6
All women of the diocese, as well as members of chapters of the Daughters of the King, are invited to a prayer retreat on Saturday, Feb. 6 at St. Aidan’s, 14301 South Black Bob Road in Olathe. The event is sponsored by the church’s St. Bridget’s Chapter.
The day of prayer, fun and fellowship will begin at 8:30 a.m. with breakfast and a get-acquainted time and will conclude with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at 1:30 p.m.
Those attending should RSVP no later than Jan. 30 to Marcia Streepy at .
United Thank Offering grant applications now are available
The form to apply for grants from the United Thank Offering now is available online at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/uto-grants.
The focus for the 2016 United Thank Offering grants is the Fifth Mark of Mission: To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth.
UTO will consider applications that are for start-up costs for a new ministry, not for the continuation of an ongoing ministry, unless there is a definite new direction added to the existing program; and for seed money for start-up positions, either full- or part-time, for a new ministry.
The deadline for applications to be submitted to the diocesan office is Feb. 12. The completed grant application form and a proposed project budget are required.
From among applications submitted, Bishop Wolfe will select one to forward to the United Thank Offering board for possible funding
Additional information and worksheets, along with sample budgets, are on the UTO grant webpage, http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/uto-grants.
Questions about the process should be referred to Canon to the Ordinary the Rev. Torey Lightcap at or (785) 235-9255 or (800) 473-3563.
Do you know someone who speaks Spanish?
If so, the diocese would like to have that person’s contact information for some possible upcoming projects.
Please send the person’s name, church, email address and phone number to Canon to the Ordinary the Rev. Torey Lightcap at or contact him at (75) 235-9255 or (800) 473-3563.
Council of Trustees minutes of October meeting now are online
The approved minutes from the Oct. 24, 2015, meeting of the diocese’s Council of Trustees have been posted on the diocese website at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/news/documents/min_2015_10_24.pdf.
Applications now are accepted for Episcopal Church Foundation Fellows
If you are interested in applying for a fellowship from the Episcopal Church Foundation in either its academic track or its ministry track, the deadline to apply is Friday, March 11.
The purpose of the ECF Fellowship program is to foster research and ministry that will strengthen leadership in the Episcopal Church.
Fellowships awards are for up to $15,000 and can be renewed for up to three years, although amounts awarded in years two and three usually are capped at $10,000. Typically, three or four fellowships are awarded annually.
More information is online at http://www.episcopalfoundation.org/programs/fellowship-partner-program/how-to-apply.
Church leadership conference planned at Kanuga
A conference for Vestries and other church leaders will take place at Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina Feb. 19-21. It is sponsored by Kanuga and the Episcopal Church Foundation.
Keynote speakers will be the Rev. Barbara Cawthorne Crafton, a noted author; and the Very Rev. Neal Michelle of St. Matthew’s Cathedral in Dallas, Texas.
The list of workshops offered is online at http://www.kanuga.org/images/uploads/general/2016_ChurchLeadershipConference_WorkshopList.pdf.
More information and registration is online at http://www.kanuga.org/conference-calendar/conference-calendar-details/church-leadership-conference,
Presentation to explore outcomes from climate change summit
Ret. Brigadier General Dr. Chris King will make a presentation on the recent Climate Change Summit (COP 21) on Monday, Feb. 1 from 7-9 p.m. at Village Presbyterian Church, 6641 Mission Rd. in Prairie Village, Kan.
The event is sponsored by the Sustainable Sanctuary Coalition of Kansas City and the Environmental Action Committee of Village Church.
Registration is requested so plans can accommodate all those attending. Send your contact information to Marianne Weber in the church’s Adult Ministry Office at or call (913) 671-2333.
Anniversaries of ordinations
Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:
Jan. 22: The Rev. Andrew Grosso, non-parochial (11 years)
Jan. 23: The Rev. Jerry Rankin, St. John’s, Abilene (31 years)
Jan. 25: The Very Rev. Steve Lipscomb, Grace Cathedral, Topeka (24 years0
Feb. 2: Deacon Suzy Drury, retired (19 years)
Stay in touch via Facebook and Twitter
You can find news, features and updates from the diocese on social media. We’re on Facebook – EpiscopalDioceseofKansas (https://www.facebook.com/EpiscopalDioceseofKansas) – and Twitter – @EpiscoKs.
Next DioLog
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