Oct. 10, 2013
Special updates about Diocesan Convention
Here is some news about Diocesan Convention you won’t want to miss.
Bishop Sauls offers Thursday afternoon class session. Keynote speaker Bishop Stacy Sauls, chief operating officer of The Episcopal Church, will offer a special afternoon session on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. in the Pioneer Room of the Maner Conference Center (the same building as the main convention venue). His topic will be “Giving our treasure away.”
This special opportunity is open to everyone, whether or not they are a delegate to convention.
>Thursday evening welcome reception offers time to gather and greet. All who are in Topeka on Thursday evening are invited and encouraged to attend a welcome reception hosted by members of the Council of Trustees. It is set for 7:30 to 9 p.m. in the Emerald Ballroom in the Capitol Plaza Hotel, site of hotel accommodations and early check-in. This informal time with refreshments is a chance to gather before the start of convention and greet old and new friends.
> Keynote topics are announced. Bishop Stacy Sauls will present two addresses during convention, and all are invited to attend. He will speak on Friday, Oct. 25 at 1 p.m. with the topic, “Remembering the sacrament of the poor.” He also will speak on Saturday, Oct. 26 at 9:10 a.m., on the topic, “Celebrating the sacrament of the poor.”
Bishop Sauls became chief operating officer of The Episcopal Church in 2011, after serving as Bishop of Lexington for 11 years. He coordinates the work of the church’s mission program, communication, finance and administration offices, while assisting the Presiding Bishop in her role as chief executive officer. Bishop Sauls was a practicing attorney before entering seminary.
> Friday Eucharist is open to all. All are invited to attend the Convention Eucharist will take place on Friday, Oct. 25 at 10 a.m. at Grace Cathedral, 701 SW 8th Ave. One need not be a delegate to attend.
Bishop Dean Wolfe will give his annual bishop’s address during this service.
Clergy are invited to vest (white stoles) and walk in procession. They should be in the cathedral’s lower level Great Hall no later than 9:30 a.m. to vest and line up.
> Some banquet tickets are still available. Visitors who want to attend the Friday evening banquet still have the chance to purchase one of the remaining tickets. The cost is $30 per person. The banquet begins at 7 p.m. in the Sunflower Ballroom of the Maner Conference Center. Ticket holders also can participate in the cash bar social hour that begins at 6 p.m. Contact Michele Moss at or (785) 235-9255 to make arrangements.
> Pick up a Happening banner or two while at convention. The diocesan Youth Office no longer has room to store all the banners that were made for previous Happening youth weekends (the one in November will be Happening #88). Parishes are invited to pick up a banner or two while at convention, for display in a parish hall, Sunday school room, youth room, nave or some other appropriate space.
The goal is to help youth feel excited for future Happening weekends, and these displays will honor and share the hard work that has gone into the creation of these banners.
To view images of the Happening banners, “like” the Facebook page for Happening Alumni: Questions can be directed to Youth Missioner Karen Schlabach at or (913) 708-5927.
Celebration of New Ministry in Manhattan set for Oct. 16
All are invited to the Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Patrick Funston and Deacon SandyHorton-Smith at St. Paul’s, Manhattan, on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. at the church, 601 Poyntz.
Bishop Dean Wolfe will be celebrant, and preaching will be Funston’s father, the Rev. Eric Funston, who formerly served in this diocese.
Clergy are invited to vest (red stoles), and a reception will follow the service.
Youth news
Happening registrations now are being accepted for participants and staff. The next Happening takes place Nov. 8-10 at St. Thomas in Overland Park. It is open to youth currently in grades 9-12. It begins Friday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. and ends on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 3 p.m.The registration fee is $50 for those who register by Oct. 28.Some scholarship assistance is available from the diocese. We typically are able to cover half the fee for those with financial need, and ask parishes that can to pay the other half.
Happening is a Christian experience that was based on Cursillo. At this youth-led event, high school students go deeper into their faith and learn about Jesus and the church from their peers. There will be games, music, great food and a chance to talk about things that really matter. If you haven’t heard much about it, that’s because there are lots of awesome surprises for the people attending Happening for the first time.
Happening is one of the opportunities for youth to gain experience in leadership and ministry. Once a student attends Happening for the first time, they can sign-up to be on staff for future Happening weekends to help make the experience great for others. We always need adult staff to help with the weekend, as well.
Forms and more information are available on the youth website: Questions can be directed to Youth Missioner Karen Schlabach at or (913) 708-5927.
ADVENTure registrations are now available. A special youth event to celebrate the season of Advent is set for Dec. 7-8 at St. Andrew’s, Emporia. ADVENTure is designed for youth in grades 6-12. It will begin Saturday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m. and will end at noon on Sunday, Dec. 8. The registration fee is $35 for those registered by Nov. 25.
Some scholarship assistance is available from the diocese. We typically are able to cover half the fee for those with financial need, and ask parishes that can to pay the other half. Forms and more information are available on the youth website: Questions can be directed to Youth Missioner Karen Schlabach at or (913) 708-5927.
This event was created last year by two youth who wanted more time with their Episcopal friends. The season of Advent is about waiting for the birth of Christ, and part of the weekend will be spent in silence, listening and waiting for God. There’s also a tradition of making gingerbread houses, music and a movie. Instead of the typical youth event T-shirt, the youth will make Advent wreaths and learn how to take that spiritual practice home to their families. The event has been dubbed “Silence and Celebration!”
Clergy news
The Rev. Foster Mays is the new rector of Epiphany, Sedan.
Directory updates
The Rev. Gary Kennedy has a new address: 705 Galena Ave., Galena, KS 66739
The Rev. Steve Mues has a new address: 2445 Tee Time Rd., Rochester, MN 55904
The Rev. Robert Harris has a new address: 7321 Robinson, Overland Park, KS66204
Grace, Ottawa, has a new 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.
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)
Saturday 5K race to benefit Episcopal Community Services of Kansas City
Kansas City’s first 5K Hunger Run is set for this 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. All finishers will receive a custom medal. There also are special activities for children.
More information is on the race website,
Episcopal Relief and Development offers items for Advent
Episcopal Relief and Development has sent out its annual “Gifts for Life” catalog, which gives people the chance to make a meaningful gift of livestock or other items to people in need around the world. ERD also has produced an Advent toolkit to help parishes and other groups plan, construct and host an Advent campaign to support giving through “Gifts for Life.”
The toolkit is online at
ERD offers matching grants until Dec. 6
From now until Dec.6, all donations to Episcopal Relief and Development will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of half a million dollars. This is made possible by funds provided by a group of generous donors.
Gifts to any fund, including the “Gifts for Life” program, are eligible for the match. The matching amount will go to the Global Needs Fund, to help ERD make a difference in the areas of greatest need.
More information is online at
Stewardship materials offered by The Episcopal Network for Stewardship
The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) has produced an annual giving campaign that helps Episcopalians explore the question, “How can our giving help us to flourish in faith?"
Seven contributing writers explore the question of faithful giving over the course of six weeks, beginning Sunday, Oct. 6 through Sunday, Nov. 10. Each reflection integrates the gospel lesson of the day with a stewardship principle and practice.
The material is available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean.
It is available for purchase at
Anniversaries of ordinations
Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:
Oct. 11: The Rev. Rita Stockton, Church of the Upper Room, Lakin, Diocese of Western Kansas (10 years)
Oct. 12: The Rev. Nicolette Papanek, non-parochial (11 years)
Oct. 13: The Rev. Barbara Bloxsom, retired (23 years); the Rev. Richard Brooks, retired, Diocese of Western Kansas (15 years)
Oct. 15: The Rev Ty Petty, non-parochial (41 years)
Oct. 19: Deacon Cliff Davis, non-parochial (15 years)
Oct. 21: Deacon Karen Wichael, retired (13 years)
Oct. 23: Deacon Mary Jane Ware, Trinity, El Dorado (17 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 Wednesday, Oct. 23, a day earlier than usual because of Diocesan Convention.. Information to be included should be sent to Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications, at , no later than Monday, Oct. 21.
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