Dec. 10, 2015
From Bishop Dean Wolfe
Dear Friends,
It has been an unsettling week with the news from the tragedy in San Bernardino coming on the heels of the attacks in Paris. While we are not naïve about other forms of terrorism, there is something terribly sinister about people plotting to do monstrous evils while raising their children and living in our neighborhoods.
Brother David Vryhof is a monk and a brother in the Society of Saint John the Evangelist, an Episcopal monastery in Cambridge, Mass. He writes, “We dare not speak with certainty about God’s intentions or motives in any circumstance. But we can testify that, at times, God is able to use our suffering and trials to instruct us and to deepen our faith. Saints in every age have known that to be true.”
May the saints of this age continue to transform violence into peace and evil into goodness.It is who we are called to be.It is what we have been called to do… no matter what.
Grace & Peace,
+Dean
Checks to the diocese must be in by Dec. 23
From diocesan Comptroller Jay Currie: Any checks to the diocese for things such as parish apportionment or other payments for calendar year 2015 must be in the diocesan office no later than Wednesday, Dec. 23 to be credited to this year.
Address checks to:
Episcopal Diocese of Kansas
835 SW Polk St.
Topeka, KS 66612
Anyone with questions about this may contact Currie at or (785) 235-9255 of (800) 473-3563.
Clergy housing allowance resolutions are required soon
The Church Pension Group reminds parishes of the need to have clergy housing allowances for 2016 finalized by Vestry resolution before a January paycheck is issued.
Give the gift of diocesan youth events
Need a meaningful gift for a teen or tween in your life? Consider a gift certificate to a future diocesan youth event. Gift certificates are good for any of the youth weekend retreats (typically $50) or summer camp. You can purchase in any amount.
Order online at
Cycle of prayer for 2016 now is online
The diocesan cycle of prayer for 2016 has been updated and now is available on the diocesan website at
Entries for the remaining Sundays of 2015 are listed, as well as for all Sundays of 2016. There also are links to a Word document version of the list for both years.
The cycle of prayer includes special intentions for the churches of the diocese and other diocesan and youth events, members of the Anglican Communion, and nations of the world.
Jan. 6 is deadline for scholarship aid requests from clergy children
Jan. 6 is the deadline for clergy children to apply for a Father Young Fund grant for the spring semester. All students interested in receiving an award from the Father Young Fund should send a letter addressed to Bishop Wolfe stating:
- Who they are (their relationship to a clergy person in the diocese);
- Where they are attending school;
- Their year in school; and
- What they plan to study.
Awards from the Father Young Fund are sent directly to the student at their home address in the third week of January.
Guidelines for applying for assistance from the Father Young Fund:
- Assistance will be provided for eight semesters of undergraduate work only.
- Assistance is normally reserved for students attending Kansas colleges or universities.
- Application for the spring academic term is to be made no later than Jan. 6; for the fall term, no later than Aug. 3.
- According to the conditions of the original gift, this fund can only be used for children of clergy canonically resident in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.
- Once enrolled in college, a student becomes eligible to apply for assistance from the Father Young Fund.Assistance has averaged $750 - $1,000 each semester and is based on the number applying and the amount of interest earned on the fund.
To apply, each semester the student should send a letter to the bishop before the closing date. As soon as all applications have been received from the students, the amount of financial assistance will be determined, and a check will be sent to the student.
If you have any questions, please contact Jeanne Atha at or (785) 235-9255 or (800) 473-3563.
Applications for parish-based campus ministry grants are now available
The Campus Ministry Council announces its twice-a-year call for parish-partner campus ministry grants.These grants are for programs with college students that are based in one of the parishes of the diocese. The maximum grant amount normally is $600.
Funds can go to existing programs that are successful, as well as to help establish new programs.
The application form is online at
The deadline to submit applications is Jan. 31. Please send by email to or .
Once submitted, Campus Interns Ashley Petty and Ryan Zavacky will make certain applications are complete before sending them to the Campus Ministry Council for action.
Petty and Zavacky also can answer questions about the application process. Ashley can be reached at r (316) 390-7905. Ryan can be reached at r (269) 757-4552.
Additional information about the program is on the campus ministry website,
Summer youth ministry internship applications now are 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
K2K announces teams for 2016
Applications are being accepted for those wanting to be part of one of the teams headed to Kenya next summer for a variety of mission efforts.
The teams are:
- Community Team, June 16-29 (cost: $3,800)
- Medical/Dental Team, June 23 - July 4 (cost: $4,000)
Those interested in being part of either trip must submit an application, which is available on the diocesan website at Applications must be accompanied by a check for the $400 deposit.
The deadline to apply for either team is Feb. 28.
Completed applications plus checks should be sent to:K2K Teams, The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, 835 SW Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612.
Questions can be sent to K2K director Deacon Steve Segebrecht at .
Topeka poet offers gift of books for parish sales
Dr. Jim Ransom, a member of St. David’s, Topeka, has written an illustrated book of poetry, Immortal Prairie, and he wants to make up to 200 copies available to churches of the diocese to sell.
He suggests that they could be sold through existing church bookstores or gift shops. For churches without such a shop, an exemption in state law allows churches to provide books not for sale but for a suggested donation, bypassing the need for set up a mechanism to collect sales tax.
He notes that the books could be made available at parish fellowship events, adult classes or in conjunction with existing fundraising efforts or bazaars.
He also is available to do a book signing or poetry reading for up to 12 people, at no cost to the church.
Books will be provided to churches as a gift, but the cost of shipping will be the church’s responsibility. Ransom does require a letter from the priest or Vestry acknowledging donation of the books, for his records.
For those who attended Diocesan Convention, Ransom made signed copies of his books available at a table in the exhibit hall.
If your church is interested in this fundraising opportunity, contact Ransom at or (785) 273-9556.
(Note: More information about the book is on the Amazon website at
Miqra registration is now open
MIQRA (meek-rah) is a weekend retreat that focuses on the Bible and allows teens to discover what's in it, why they should care and how to read it. This year's educational focus will be on the Gospels and Acts.
When: Saturday, Jan. 16, 2016, 1 p.m. to Monday, Jan. 18, 10:30 a.m.
Where: Grace Episcopal Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave., Topeka (senior high) and St. David's Church in Topeka (junior high students will be bussed there and back for the weekend)
Who: Grades 6-12
Fee: $60 (if this is someone’s very first youth event, they pay only $15!)
Priority deadline:Thursday, Dec. 31 (price increases by $15 after this date)
Registration forms:Youth and adults can sign-up for Miqra here:
Youth: make a MegaCamp commercial and maybe win a camp scholarship
We're looking for a video that will promote camp to the parishes of the diocese. We are seeking videos with a clear message that will appeal to youth, parents and clergy.
At least one person will be selected to win a $140 scholarship to camp! Entries will be judged by a team of youth workers.
- Create a video that answers one of these questions:
- Why do YOU love camp?
- What is your favorite thing about camp?
- What is your favorite memory from camp?
- Why should other people go?
- What is Episcopal Summer MegaCamp like?
- Must also include:
- The official name for camp: Episcopal Summer "Mega"Camp
- The dates for camp: June 5-11, 2016
- The grades of those who can come to camp: those who have finished Grades 3-12
- If you have the ability to add text to your video, please put the website on it:
- Should be no longer than 2 minutes, 15 seconds (shorter is OK)
- Due by Jan. 1, 2016
- Photos of last summer’s camps are available on Flickr:
- Post to YouTube, tag #MegaCamp2016 and e-mail or Facebook message the link to Karen Schlabach, .
Seeking a new home for the organ from St. Christopher’s
The pipe organ that served St. Christopher’s in Wichita before it closed as an active parish in September is available to any congregation that can use it.
The organ was inspected by Steve Burk, organist at Grace Cathedral, Topeka, who offers this synopsis of it:
- It consists of 18 ranks with preparations for five additional stops that were never installed.
- It has a typical “American Classic” sound.
- The wind chests, bellows and blowers seem to be in excellent condition.
- The mechanical system should be replaced with a solid-state system.
- The pedal board needs to be rebuilt.
- It might require a new blower.
- Several of the larger pipes need to be replaced because of soft zinc used to manufacture them.
Burk estimates that it would cost in the neighborhood of $100,000 to make repairs, move the organ to a new location and tune it. An organ of its size, if new, would be more than $300,000.
Canon to the Ordinary the Rev. Torey Lightcap has photos of the organ, as well as additional specifications. He said that the preference is that the organ be placed in a church that can use it in its ministry.
If interested or for more information, please contact Lightcap no later than Dec. 15. He can be reached at .
Fellowship announced for poverty-alleviation ministry
The Episcopal Church now is accepting applications for a one-year Justice and Advocacy Fellowship devoted to alleviating poverty through the use of Asset-Based Community Development.
The fellowship, based on the Fourth Mark of Mission (to seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation), will provide financial support for service-oriented, professional development and education.
The person selected will help to form leaders across The Episcopal Church in healthy and proven ways to address the chronic nature of domestic poverty in various community contexts.
The fellowship will provide a stipend of $24,000 over a 12-month period. It is sponsored by the Episcopal Church’s Office of Justice and Advocacy Ministries.
Applications and further information are online at
UTO Advent challenge grant for refugee resettlement still available
The board of United Thank Offering has given a grant of $30,000 to support the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries in providing new lives in the United States to refugees, who are people fleeing violence and persecution in their home countries.
UTO also has challenged Episcopalians to match that amount during Advent through their own donations to the work of EMM.
Sandra Squires, president of the UTO board, said, “We invite you to think about your home, your safety and your family, and give a thank offering during Advent to match this grant to EMM.”
Checks, with EMM-UTO in the memo line, may be sent to
United Thank Offering
DFMS – Protestant Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 958983
St. Louis, MO 63195-8983
Online donations can be made at
More information about the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries is on their website,
Clergy news
The Rev. Kay Dagg has been named locum tenens at St. Andrew’s, Emporia, as they proceed with their search for a new rector.
The Rev. Frank Holtz, retired rector of St. John’s, Abilene, is hospitalized in Houston to undergo tests to determine the cause of a seriousillness. He welcomes cards and notes, which may be sent to him at Methodist Hospital, 6565 Fannin, Room SW369, Houston, TX 77030.
Anniversaries of ordinations
Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:
Dec. 11: The Rev. Bill Wood, retired (48 years); Deacon John Roper, St. Andrew’s, Derby (34 years); Deacon Keith Akins, retired (22 years)
Dec. 13: Deacon John Coleton retired (47 years); the Rev. Phyllis Flory, Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Western Kansas (7 years); the Rev. Mary Hixson, Grace, Anthony, Diocese of Western Kansas (13 years)
Dec. 14: The Rev. Matt Zimmermann, St. Margaret’s, Lawrence (19 years); the Rev. Neil Macintosh, retired (53 years)
Dec. 16: The Rev. Jim D’Wolfe, retired (60 years)
Dec. 18: The Rev. Phillip Rapp, retired, Diocese of Western Kansas (54 years)
Dec. 19: The Rev. Frank Cohoon, retired (61 years); Deacon Suzanne Layne, retired (22 years)
Dec. 21: The Rev. Richard McCandless, retired (53 years); the Rev. Bob Terrill, retired (54 years); the Rev. James Mitchell, retired (52 years); the Rev. Tom Miles, retired (39 years); the Rev. George Spratt, retired (60 years); the Rev. Gary Gooch, retired (41 years); the Rev. Fred Robertson, retired (41 years); the Rev. Randall McQuin, non-parochial (36 years); the Rev. Larry Steadman, non-parochial, Diocese of Western Kansas (13 years)
Dec. 22: Deacon Deborah Burns, St. Martin’s, Edwardsville (14 years)the Rev. Hal Emery, retired, Diocese of Western Kansas (55 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 ( – and Twitter – @EpiscoKs.
Next DioLog
The next edition of DioLog will be sent to subscribers on Thursday, Dec. 22. This will be the final issue of DioLog for 2015.
Information to be included should be sent to Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications, at , no later than the morning of Monday, Dec. 21.
Parishes are free to excerpt anything printed in DioLog; attributionthat material is reprinted fromDioLogis appreciated. Feel free to copy this and make it available to parishioners in whatever way is most useful.
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DioLog is a publication of the Office of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas, 835 SW Polk Street, Topeka, KS 66612.