Oct. 13, 2016

Last-minute reminders about Diocesan Convention

>Thursday evening dinner . Lay delegates and clergy who are in Wichita on Thursday are invited to a fun dinner hosted by Good Shepherd Episcopal Church, 8021 West 21st Street North, beginning at 6 p.m. A freewill offering will cover the cost of the meal, which will include smoked meats, salads and side dishes, along with cobber and ice cream. Entertainment will feature the Great Plains Jazz Orchestra.

> No clergy vesting for Friday Eucharist. Because the convention Eucharist will take place in the hotel ballroom, clergy who are not part of the altar party will be seated at the tables. Thus, there is no need to bring vestments for that service.

Remember to bring your church banner to Diocesan Convention. Bring your church banner, with a stand (be sure to put your name on your stand), to the Emerald Ballroom at the hotel no later than 8:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 28. Banners also may be placed in the ballroom on Thursday evening, for delegates and clergy arriving then.

Bring a themed basket to raise money to fight human trafficking. The Episcopal Church Women of the Dioceses of Kansas and Western Kansas invite churches, individuals or ECW groups to bring a themed basket to Convention, for a raffle to raise money to help fight human trafficking. The baskets may be filled with seasonal items, tickets to sporting events, gardening, cooking, entertainment, etc. The “baskets" don't even have to be a basket – use any container in which the contents may be seen. Baskets need to be in the exhibit area by Friday morning, Oct. 28.

Youth still needed to be a part of the Official Youth Presence at Diocesan Convention

Youth in grades 8-12 are invited to help out at Diocesan Convention as acolytes, pages and worship leaders. It’s an excellent way to learn more about the Episcopal Church and meet lots of people from around the diocese.

Youth participation is paid for by the diocese. Oct. 27-29 in Wichita; see all the information and registration form.

Health insurance information for 2017 now is available

Rates for 2017 for health plans approved for the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas have been released for lay employees and clergy who are covered under the Episcopal Church’s Medical Trust.

Those are detailed in a PDF on the diocesan website at

The diocese’s open enrollment period will be Nov. 7-23.

More information is on the diocese’s health insurance web page,

Celebration of New Ministry set in Newton

A Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Les Jackson, rector of St. Matthew’s, Newton, will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. Bishop Dean Wolfe will be the celebrant.

Clergy who attend are invited to vest (white stole) and walk in procession.

Safeguarding God’s Children training set for Parsons Nov. 5

The Rev. Sharon Billman will offer Safeguarding God’s Children training on Saturday, Nov. 5 from 10 a.m. to noon at St. John’s, 1801 Corning in Parsons.

This training is required for all clergy, church employees, and those who regularly minister with children and youth.

To sign up for the event, contact Billman at .

Youth news

> YouthTide! registration is now open. YouthTide! is an event where participants learn more about the entire Episcopal Church calendar.Come ADVENTure with us through all the seasons of the Episcopal Church year. It is one weekend filled with Advent wreaths, gingerbread nativities, king’s cake, spiritual gifts, silent prayer, the Last Supper, an Easter egg hunt and much more.

Christian poets say that the liturgical year is a wedding ring we wear to remember our covenant with the Christ-like God.

  • When:Nov. 11-13
  • Where:St. Andrew’s, Emporia
  • Who: Youth currently in grades 6-12
  • Fee: $50 (fee increases by $15 after Oct. 27)
  • Priority deadline:Oct. 27
  • Registration forms:

> Mark your calendars for youth events in 2017

  • Miqra, Jan. 14-16 @ St. Michael and All Angels, Mission
  • Music Weekend, Feb. 10-13
  • Happening, March 24-26 @ St. David’s, Topeka
  • New Beginnings, April 28-30 @ Good Shepherd, Wichita
  • Episcopal Summer Mega Camp, June 4-10 @ Camp Wood, Elmdale
  • Girls’ and Guys’ only weekends, June 30-July 2
  • Episcopal Youth Event, July 10-14 @ University of Central Oklahoma, near Oklahoma City
  • MissionWichita, July 26-30

SSJE now can send noonday prayers

The monks of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist have added special noonday prayers to the offerings subscribers can receive by email.

Many currently subscribe to their daily morning “Brother, Give Us a Word” reflection. The brothers now have added noonday prayer emails that will focus on one of the seven forms of prayer: adoration, praise, thanksgiving, penitence, oblation, intercession or petition.

More information, with a link to sign up to receive these new daily emails, is at

Institute offers conference on differences in faith communities.

The Kansas Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution will offer a two-day conference on “Managing Conflict in Faith Communities” Jan. 25-26 on the campus of Bethel College in North Newton.

The conference seeks to help clergy and congregational leaders better understand the roots of conflict and learn how to transform it into spiritual and community renewal.

The cost is $300 per person. For a congregation that sends more than one person, the cost is $250 each for two people, or $200 each for three or more.

More information is on the event flyer at

Online registration is at

Kansas Coalition Against the Death Penalty plans conference

All interested people are invited to attend the 2016 Annual Abolition Conference and Annual Meeting of the Kanas Coalition Against the Death Penalty.

It will take place on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 1-3:30 p.m. at St. Aidan’s Episcopal Church, 14301 S. Blackbob Road, Olathe.

The conference will offer information on how the death penalty impacts the state of Kansas.

To sign up, send an email to or call (785) 235-2237.

More information about the group’s work is at

Workshops on how to be an advocate in the political system set for Topeka

Resources Council of Topeka is partnering with the YWCA of Northeast Kansas to offer a three-part series on the basics of political advocacy.

Three sessions will take place from 8 to 11:30 a.m. on Nov. 2, 8 and 16. The cost is $35 per session.

More information and registration are at

Anniversaries of ordinations

Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:

Oct. 21: Deacon Karen Wichael, non-parochial (16 years)

Oct. 24: Deacon Harry Craig, St. David’s, Topeka (30 years); Deacon Deedee Evans, St. James’, Wichita (30 years)

Oct. 26: Deacon Kitty Shield, St. Jude’s, Wellington (26 years)

Oct. 27: The Rev. Gail Davis, retired (15 years)

Oct. 28: Deacon Tom Herlocker, Grace, Winfield (28 years)

Nov. 1: The Rev. Sam Criss, retired (58 years)

Nov. 3: The Rev. Charles Pedersen, retired (64 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, Nov. 3, a week later than usual because of Diocesan Convention. Information to be included should be sent to Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications, , no later than the morning of Tuesday, Nov. 1.

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