Statements from Bishop Wolfe on Recent Events

Nov. 25, 2015

Statements from Bishop Wolfe on recent events

Bishop Dean Wolfe has issued statements recently about the terror attacks in Paris and the call for a moratorium on resettlement of refugees from Syria in the United States.

Both were posted on his Facebook page ( and the latter statement also was sent out to the diocese. Both also are posted on the diocesan website.

The Paris statement is available at

The refugee statement is available at

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 and 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 .

Daughters of the King prayer retreat plannedfor February in Olathe

All members of chapters of the Daughters of the King in the diocese 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 and fellowship will begin at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at 2 p.m.

Further details will be available soon, but save the date now.

More information can be obtained from Marcia Streepy, St. Bridget’s co-president, at .

Youth news

Spring parish packets are in the mail. Watch for an envelope from Episcopal Diocese of Kansas Youth Ministries, with posters for all of our spring events, including camp. Please post these in your church where youth will see them.

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, 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.

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 January 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, .

Entries will be judged by a team of youth workers. At least one person will be selected to win a $140 scholarship to camp!

United Thank Offering gives challenge grant for refugee resettlement

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,

Reminder: Prayers requested this Sunday for ‘the peace of Jerusalem’

The Diocese of Jerusalem, part of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East, has asked that churches across the globe offer special prayers on Nov. 29, the first Sunday of Advent, for peace from the violence and fear that has swept the city of Jerusalem and the surrounding region in recent weeks.

They have suggested use of a Litany for Peace that was developed at the Cathedral Church of St. George-the-Martyr in Jerusalem. It has been posted on the diocesan website under the Resources tab, you to think about your home, your safety and your family and give a thank offering during Advent to match this grant to EMM.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.

Need to buy a gift? ‘Gifts for Life’ helps people in need.

If you’re in search of a gift for someone who doesn’t need another “thing,” why not consider something from Episcopal Relief & Development’s Gifts for Life catalog? This program allows givers to purchase livestock, clean water, mosquito nets, vocational training and other necessities of life on behalf of people in need around the world.

And, ER&D’s matching gift challenge (see article below) means money spent on Gifts for Life purchases will be matched, up to the $750,000 total limit.