Aug. 29, 2013

Three EWARM refugee families lose everything in Aug. 27 fire

Three families who fled war-torn Burma as refugees and started a new life in Wichita, through the resettlement work of the Episcopal Wichita Area Refugee Ministry, lost everything they own in an early morning fire that struck their apartment building Aug. 27.

Later that day Bishop Dean Wolfe sent out an appeal for donations to help them, and on Aug. 28 he visited the scene of the fire.

Bishop Wolfe writes, “When we lose our most personal possessions, we lose a piece of our personal history. The families we have helped resettle from Burma are people with very few possessions who have come at the invitation of our government to start a new life. Many of them lived in refugee camps for long periods of time before being able to come to the United States. Many of them have heroic stories of faith and perseverance.

“Now 28 people in three families have lost everything to a terrible fire. We are grateful there were only minor injuries and no lives were lost. I hope we can show these brothers and sisters who we are and what we value by our generous response to this crisis.”

Checks may be made payable to the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas with “Refugee Fire Fund” in the memo line. Mail them to:

Refugee Fire Fund

The Episcopal Diocese of Kansas

835 SW Polk St.

Topeka, KS 66612-1688

The bishop’s full appeal is online at

Among the news reports on the fire are these from the Wichita Eagle, and and KWCH-TV,

Bishop Wolfe calls two to ministry on the diocesan staff

Bishop Dean Wolfe has announced that two people have accepted calls to become members of the diocesan staff – the Rev. Meghan F. Froehlich to serve as Canon Interim for Administration and Transition, and the Rev. Stephanie Jenkins to serve as Campus Missioner.

Froehlich will begin her ministry in the diocese on Sept. 3, and Jenkins will begin on Sept. 20.

More information about both women is on the diocesan website,

Bishop Wolfe urges attendance at Sept. 12 inclusion forum

Bishop Wolfe and West Missouri Bishop Martin Field will be featured during a “Bishops Open Forum” Sept. 12 sponsored by the Greater Kansas City Chapter of Integrity.

It will take place from 7-9 p.m. at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 West 13th St., in Kansas City, Mo.

The event is designed to help clergy, lay leaders and others who are interested look at where dioceses and parishes stand following the decision by the 2012 General Convention to authorize use of a rite to bless same-sex union.

Participants will have the chance to discuss a variety of questions, including:

  • Has there been any change in your parish as a result of this resolution?
  • Has your parish been asked to bless any same sex unions?
  • If your church has done so, what has been the reaction?
  • If your church hasn’t been asked, has your vestry and congregation discussed the issue in anticipation of such a request?

The gathering also will discuss ways churches can reach out to the gay and lesbian community so they know what the Episcopal Church has to offer them as members.

Event organizers would appreciate a sense of how many plan to attend. An online sign-up form is at

Diocesan Convention reminders

Registrations are due Sept. 20. The deadline for all convention registrations to be received in the diocesan office is Sept. 20. That also is the deadline to sign up for childcare services during convention or to obtain a booth in the Exhibit Hall. All registration materials are on the convention web page,

Pre-convention meetings for convocations arescheduled for September. These are the meetings at which information about Diocesan Convention will be presented and discussed. Members of the Council of Trustees and diocesan staff will attend to assist with questions. The convention book will be mailed ahead of these meetings.

  • Southeast Convocation: Saturday, Sept. 7, 9 a.m., St. John’s, 1801 Corning, Parsons
  • Southwest Convocation: Saturday, Sept. 7, 2 p.m., Trinity, 400 W. Ash, El Dorado
  • Northeast Convocation: Saturday, Sept. 14, 9 a.m., Trinity, 1011 Vermont St., Lawrence
  • Northwest Convocation: Saturday, Sept. 14, 1 p.m., Grace Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave., Topeka

Two priests will jointly celebrate their 50th ordination anniversary

The Rev. David W. Kent, former Canon to the Ordinary for the diocese, and the Rev. David F. With, former rector of St. Michael and All Angels in Mission, will celebrate the 50th anniversary of their ordination to the priesthood on Saturday, Sept. 21 at the 5:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist at St. Michael’s, 6630 Nall Avenue, Mission.

Following the service there will be a reception in the Parish Hall. Your prayers and presence are requested.

Safeguarding God’s Children training set for Oct. 12 in Parsons

The required training course for all those who work with children and youth in the diocese will be offered on Saturday, Oct. 12 at St. John’s, 1801 Corning Ave. in Parsons. T will take place from 10 a.m. to noon, and there is no charge to attend.

Pre-registration is requested by contacting the Rev. Jan Chubb at r (620) 421-2878.

Youth news

Register now for Fall Fun Fest.Sept. 21-22 at St. Margaret’s in Lawrence. Start the year off right with the first diocesan youth event of the school year. For youth in grades 6-12.There will be music and games, including an inflatable obstacle course, human hamster ball races and sumo wrestling. There are opportunities to make friends with youth from all over thediocese and learn about Christian spirituality. All youth are encouraged to invite a friend to this welcoming event. Registrations are available online at

Youth can be pages at Diocesan Convention. Youth in grades 8-12 are invited to be pages at Diocesan Convention Oct. 25-26. Pages pass out ballots and other materials during the business sessions. Youth are also needed to serve as acolytes and assist with a Taizé service on Friday night. Interested youth should register by Sept. 23. Forms are on the diocesan youth website,

Parish again offers “Walking the Mourner’s Path” groups

St. Thomas the Apostle in Overland Park will offer two sessions this fall of the "Walking the Mourner's Path" small group for grief work. These groups are for anyone who has lost a loved one in the last year or more.

The groups meet at St. Thomas’ once a week for eight weeks, following a workbook and spending time in prayer and conversation together. Alumni of the program will keep the group in prayer throughout.

Groups will meet on Sunday afternoons and Tuesday evenings in September and October. For specific times and dates or for more information, please contact the Rev. Ben Varnum at St. Thomas’, (913) 451-0512.

Save the date for diocesan verger workshop

A workshop centering on the liturgical ministry of vergers will take place on Nov.3, All Saints Sunday, at Grace Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave. in Topeka.

The event is open to anyone interested in learning more about the role vergers play in the church.

More information will be available closer to the event date.

5K race to benefit Episcopal Community Services of Kansas City

Kansas City’s first 5k Hunger Run is set for Saturday, Oct. 12 beginning at 8 a.m.The 3.1 mile race will take participants through the scenic Unity Village. The event not only raises money for the anti-hunger programs ECS offers but also will raise awareness of the organization in the community.

The cost to register is $35 before Oct. 11 and $40 on race day. Those who register by Sept. 21 are guaranteed a tech race shirt, and all finishers will receive a custom medal. There also are special activities for children.

More information is on the race website,

September is Hunger Action Month

Episcopal Community Services of Kansas City has several special activities scheduled to mark Hunger Action Month during September. All members of the diocese are invited to participate in any of these events.

  • Sept. 5: Culinary Cornerstones graduation and Food Expo. 6 p.m., at Founders Hall, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Mo.
  • Sept. 16: Third anniversary of the new Kansas City Community Kitchen, 750 Paseo Blvd., Kansas City, Mo.
  • Sept. 20: Fall Harvest Grand Tasting benefit, “Rediscovering the Old World.” $45 per person. 6 p.m. at Founders Hall, Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral, 415 W. 13th St., Kansas City, Mo.
  • Sept. 21: Garage sale to benefit Culinary Cornerstones. 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., Round Hill Barn, 8932 Maple Circle, Overland Park.

For more information, visit the ECS website,

Upcoming classes offered at the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry

The Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, the newly created joint school operated by the Dioceses of Kansas, West Missouri, Nebraska and Western Kansas, offers a variety of classes in the coming months. If you are interested in attending any of these for personal enrichment, contact the dean, the Rev. Andrew Grosso, at or (913) 367-3171.

Sept. 14-15: BIBL 100: Old Testament Survey (Dr. Melissa Tubbs Loya); HIST 200: Catholic Tradition (The Rev. Dr. George Wiley); MINI 700: Polity & Canons (Mr. Larry Bingham)

Oct. 12-13: BIBL 110: Pentateuch & Histories (Dr. Melissa Tubbs Loya); MINI 200: Homiletics (The Rev. George Pejakovich); MINI 300: Educational Ministry (The Rev. Canon Dr. Bill Fasel)

Nov. 9-10: BIBL 120: Prophets & Writings (Dr. Melissa Tubbs Loya); MINI 330: Adult Catechesis & Formation (The Rev. Canon Dr. Bill Fasel); THEO 100: Church Dogmatics Survey (The Rev. Ben Varnum)

Dec. 14-15: MINI 080: Diakonia (The Ven. Dr. Charles Pearce); MINI 090: Presbyterate (The Very Rev. Dr. Benjamin Thomas); THEO 300: Doctrine of the Incarnation (The Rev. Dr. Andrew Grosso)

Public, clergy invited to view new illuminated Bible in Kansas City

Rockhurst College in Kansas City, Mo., is hosting a variety of events to showcase the Saint John’s Bible, a hand-written, hand-illuminated Bible that was more than 10 years in the making. This one-of-a-kind work is 1,150 pages long and was created on calf-skin vellum using hand-cut quills and rare Chinese inks.

On Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m., the public is invited to see the Bible and hear from the director of the Saint John’s Bible program. That will take place in Mabee Theatre in Sedgwick Hall on the college campus, 54th and Troost in Kansas City, Mo.

Clergy of the diocese are invited to a special showing on Sept. 11 at 8 a.m., also featuring the Bible program’s director. This will take place in Massman Hall, Room 250. Reservations are required for this, by calling (816) 501-4599 or emailing . The deadline to sign up is Sept. 6.

Clergy news

The Rev. Marcus Cunningham, who has been rector of Epiphany, Sedan, since 2009, has accepted a call to Trinity, Oshkosh, Wis., in the Diocese of Fond du Lac. His last day at Epiphany will be Sunday, Sept. 15.

Anniversaries of ordinations

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

Sept. 1: Deacon Christine Lampe, St. Thomas, Garden City, Diocese of Western Kansas (6 years)

Sept. 9: Deacon Gail Reynolds, St. Paul’s, Kansas City (13 years); Deacon Dick Tracy, Trinity, Lawrence (13 years); Deacon Rita Tracy, Trinity, Lawrence (13 years)

Sept. 11: The Rev. Marcus Cunningham, Epiphany, Sedan (7 years)

Diocesan office to be closed for Labor Day

The diocesan office in Topeka will be closed in observance of Labor Day on Monday, Sept. 2. The office will reopen on Tuesday, Sept. 3 with regular office hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

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.

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