October 27, 2011
New Wichita refugee ministry announces kick-off news conference Saturday
The Episcopal Wichita Area Refugee Ministry, or EWARM, will host a news conference this Saturday, Oct. 29 with Bishop Dean Wolfe to share information about the new ministry with the Wichita community. It will take place at 3:30 p.m. at St. John’s Church, 401 N. Emporia.
Peg Flynn and Shirley Orr, both members of St. John’s, have spearheaded the effort to get this new effort operating. They said they expect that the first refugees will arrive in Wichita early next year.
EWARM is an affiliate of Episcopal Migration Ministries, an Episcopal Church agency that works with the US State Department to provide a new home to people who have been forced to flee their country because of political or religious persecution.
Flynn said EWARM expects to welcome about nine families, most likely from Burma, next year.
Want to help?
Flynn said EWARM is looking for “ambassadors” from around the diocese to help provide a warm Kansas welcome to those the agency helps to resettle. Needs include everything from local transportation to welcome gift baskets to help in furnishing families’ new housing.
Parishes should look for a bulletin insert in coming weeks detailing how members can help. In the meantime, if interested contact Flynn at
UTO grant applications now available; deadline is Dec. 15
The application process for the 2011 United Thank Offering grants is now open, with forms available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/110043_117733_ENG_HTM.htm
The deadline for all grant applications to be submitted to the diocesan office is Dec. 15, 2011.
From among the grants submitted to the diocese, Bishop Wolfe will select one to forward for consideration. Grants will be approved in July 2012 at the ECW Triennial Meeting that takes place during General Convention. Funds for approved grants will be available starting August 2012 for a one-year grant period.
Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally within Anglican provinces, dioceses and companion dioceses.
Questions about the UTO grant application process in the Diocese of Kansas should be addressed to the Rev. Craig Loya, canon to the ordinary, at or (800) 473-3563.
Diocesan health insurance information meeting deadline nears
Do you get your health insurance through a policy with the Episcopal Church Medical Trust? If so, please be sure you have signed up for one of the informational meetings to describe changes in the policies being offered for 2012.
Two meetings will take place on Saturday, Nov. 12:
· 9:30 a.m. – Good Shepherd, 8021 W. 21st St. N., Wichita
· 3 p.m. – St. Margaret’s, 5700 W. 6th St., Lawrence
A representative from the Medical Trust will be on hand to talk about options for health insurance and to answer any questions.
The deadline to RSVP is Tuesday, Nov. 1.
A packet of materials about the new plans was sent on Oct. 5 to everyone insured under an existing policy.
Questions about the meetings or the policies may be addressed to the Rev. Craig Loya, canon to the ordinary, at or (800) 473-3563.
Bishop Seabury Academy to host annual convocation gathering
All members of the diocese are invited to attend the Convocation at Bishop Seabury Academy on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at 9 a.m. in the gymnasium at the school, 4120 Clinton Parkway in Lawrence.
The speaker will be Dr. Jim Woelfel,professor of philosophy and professor of humanities and western civilizationat the University of Kansas.
All members of the diocese are invited to attend to support the students, faculty and staff of the diocese's only Episcopal school. Questions can be directed to the Rev. A. Patrick K. Funston, chaplain, at .
Help send a girl to prom next spring
Grace, Winfield, is seeking gently used formal dresses and accessories to help make prom available to girls in Cowley County schools who otherwise couldn’t afford to attend.
Three years ago the parish started the Prom Dress Express at the urging of school social workers. Since then they’ve provided formal dresses, shoes, jewelry, evening bags and make-up to girls who stop by the parish’s annex building and are able to shop for the finery they want.
The Rev. Betty Glover, Grace’s rector, hopes others in the diocese might have formals or accessories that the Prom Dress Express could provide before prom in mid-April 2012. She’s happy to answer questions or discuss donations; call her at (620) 221-4252.
Survey says…your opinion is needed about communications
If you haven’t yet filled out the online survey about diocesan communications, you still have time to do so: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/KsCommSurvey
The 22 questions should take fewer than 10 minutes to complete. So far 70 people have completed it, but many more responses are needed so we can make our communications efforts the best they can be.
Please share this link with members of your parish or group. We want lots of feedback from all portions of the diocese.
The survey also is included in the issue of The Harvest that should be in subscribers’ mailboxes next week. Please complete the survey onl yonce, whether online or in print, please
ERD will match donations through Nov. 30
From now through Nov. 30, donors have the opportunity to make their dollars go even further toward healing a hurting world.
During the Matching Gift Challenge, any donation made to Episcopal Relief & Development will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to $500,000. This means a total of up to $1 million to support programs that alleviate hunger, promote health, create economic opportunities and overcome disaster.
Any size gift to any of ERD’s funds – online, by mail or by phone – will be matched in full until Nov. 30, or as long as matching funds are available. The matched gift amount will be donated to the Global Needs fund, which supports the organization’s work worldwide.
Last year’s Matching Gift Challenge, also with a $500,000 match, was an unprecedented success. In just six weeks, it raised a total of $1.8 million for ERD’s core programs.
To support the work of ERD, visit www.er-d.org or call toll-free (855) 312-4325. Gifts also can be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.
Youth news
Happening #86. Nov. 18-20 at St. David’s, Topeka. For high school youth,
Happening is an event by youth for youth. It's a weekend retreat, focusingon Jesus and what he taught. This is a great opportunity for youth to take a break from their busy schedules and talk with peers about owning their faith.Registration forms can be found online at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/happening.html
Miqra 2012. Jan. 14-16, 2012, at Grace Cathedral and St. David's in Topeka. For youth in grades 6-12.
MIQRA (meek-rah) is a weekend retreat that focuses on the Bible and allows teens to discover what's in it, why we should care and how to read it. Registrations are available now online at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/miqra.html
KSM classes now accepting enrollments
Enrollment now is open for Kansas School for Ministry classes during the upcoming academic year. KSM offers one or two classes each month, based at the Bethany Place Conference Center adjacent to the diocesan offices near downtown Topeka.
According to the Rev. Andrew Grosso, KSM’s coordinator and the diocesan missioner for theological formation, students this year will fall into four categories:
· Those studying for ordination as a deacon;
· Those studying for ordination as a priest;
· Those working toward a lay ministry certificate (congregational leadership, worship leader, lay preacher, sacramental minister or prayer minister); and
· Those taking courses for their personal continuing education and enjoyment.
The tuition is $150 per course for those in the ordination and lay ministry certificate tracks, and $100 per course for those studying for personal enrichment.
Students must pre-register by contacting Grosso at (913) 367-3171 or .
Upcoming courses, with instructors, are:
· Nov. 11-12: Old Testament survey (the Rev. Bill Breedlove); homiletics (the Rev. George Pejakovich)
· Dec. 9-10: pastoral theology (the Rev. Lisa Senuta); doctrine of the incarnation (the Rev. Andrew Grosso)
· Jan. 13-14: Old Testament II, the Pentateuch (Dr. Melissa Tubbs Loya); New Testament II, the Gospels (Dr. Jim Lewis)
· Feb. 10-11: church dogmatics survey (the Rev. Andrew Grosso); history of the Episcopal Church (the Rev. Bill Wolff)
Bonhoeffer scholar speaks in Lawrence tonight
Dr. Ferdinand Schlingensiepen, a founding member of the Dietrich Bonhoeffer Society and author of a biography of Bonhoeffer, will offer a public lecture tonight, Oct. 27, at 7 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1245 New Hampshire, in Lawrence.
The title of his presentation is “Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Martyr, Thinker, Man of Resistance. There is no charge, but a free-will offering will be taken.
Speaker offers forgiveness workshops for Advent retreats
If your parish is searching for something new to offer to members this Advent, consider a retreat entitled “Season of Hope: Forgiveness and Healing in Family Relationship” offered by Stephanie Walker.
The holidays are a time for family togetherness and joy. Few families enjoy that ideal, though, without some effort, and many ask themselves if there is more they could or should do to improve family relations.
Walker’s workshop contemplates this question and looks to scriptural and doctrinal reference points from several spiritual traditions to point to a path to peace with the past and to hope for healing in Jesus Christ.
Walker offered a similar forgiveness workshop earlier this year at Grace Cathedral, Topeka, prompting one participant to say, “This was a wonderful workshop and I would encourage anyone to bring it to your house of worship. It's amazing and healing. It begins a process that you can continue long after the workshop is over!”
For more information, contact Walker at or see her website, http://www.acrosstraditions.com/
Clergy notes
Ben Varnum has been called as assistant at St. Thomas, Overland Park, beginning Oct. 10. He will be ordained as a transitional deacon on Nov. 1 by the Diocese of Chicago. He received divinity degrees from the University of Chicago and is a former member of St. Michael and All Angels, Mission.
Daylight Saving Time ends soon
Daylight Saving Time ends at 2 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 6. Remember to set your clocks back one hour before going to bed.
Anniversaries of ordinations
Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:
Oct. 27: The Rev. Gail Davis, non-parochial (10 years); Deacon Carolyn Graham, retired (18 years)
Oct. 28: Deacon Tom Herlocker, Grace, Winfield (23 years)
Oct. 30: Deacon Lee Allen, St. Christopher’s, Wichita (24 years)
Nov. 1: The Rev. Sam Criss, retired (53 years)
Nov. 3: The Rev. Charles Pedersen, retired (59 years)
Nov. 8: Bishop Dean Wolfe, to the episcopacy (9 years)
Next DioLog
The next edition of DioLog will be sent to subscribers on Thursday, Nov. 10. Information to be included should be sent to Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications, at , no later than Tuesday, Nov. 8.
DioLog is a publication of the Office of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.
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