March 27, 2013
Don’t forget the Good Friday Offering to support work in the Holy Land
Again this year the Episcopal Church observes its long-standing tradition of taking an offering on Good Friday to provide assistance for Christians in Jerusalem and the Middle East
Funds collected from the Good Friday Offering are distributed to the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East, which includes the Dioceses of Jerusalem, and Cyprus and the Gulf, all members of the Anglican Communion.
Information and resources for the Good Friday Offering are available at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/good-friday-offering
Donations should be made payable to “Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society” with “Good Friday Offering” in the memo line.
Send them to:
DFMS – Protestant Episcopal Church US
P.O. Box 958983
St. Louis, MO 63195-8983
Chrism Mass recaps now are online
Bishop Dean Wolfe’s sermon along with two sets of photos from Tuesday’s Chrism Mass now are available online.
The bishop’s sermon is at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/bishop/serm_2013_ChrismMass.php
Photos from Michele Moss are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/michelenmoss/sets/72157633094819499/.
Photos from Melodie Woerman are at http://www.flickr.com/photos/melodiewoerman/sets/72157633099180028/
Women’s summit set for April 19-20 in Wichita
The first-ever diocesan Women’s Summit will explore what messages society sends to women, especially through advertising’s emphasis on beauty and perfection, as well as what the Christian faith has to say about that.
The event will take place April 19-20 at St. James’ in Wichita with the theme “Women and Girls: Made in the Image of God.” It is designed for Episcopal women of all ages from high school and older. The cost to attend is $40.
The summit, which will run from Friday at 5:30 p.m. (with registration, gathering time and a light dinner) through Saturday at 5 p.m., will address three questions through speakers and small group discussions:
· What does the Bible say to us about who we are as women?
· What does contemporary society and the media say to us about who we are as women?
· What do we say to each other about who we are as women?
Registration forms have been sent to every church in the diocese, and a copy (in PDF format) is on the diocesan website at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/news/.
Questions about the event may be directed to Ellen Wolfe at or (785) 393-1327; or to Fran Wheeler at or (913) 226-0540.
Tocher Lecture on April 25 will feature Miroslav Volf
The annual Tocher Lecture is set for Thursday, April 25 and will feature Miroslav Volf, professor of theology at Yale Divinity School and Director of the Yale Center for Faith and Culture.
His public lecture will take place at 7 p.m. at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 12251 Antioch Rd. in Overland Park.
He will discuss the development of a "culture of respect" and the nature of relationships between people who are divided by strong disagreements.
He also will participate in a seminar for clergy that afternoon on the same topic. Pre-registration is required for that event.
Volf is the author of 16 books and has been involved in international ecumenical and interfaith dialogues. He is a member of the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Church in Croatia.
The Tocher Lecture Series is sponsored by the Kansas School for Ministry.
More information about either event is available from KSM coordinator the Rev. Andrew Grosso at or (913) 367-3171.
Kansans asked to help provide key household items for Hurricane Sandy victims
Thanks to the efforts of the Rev. Jan Chubb, vicar of St. Timothy’s, Iola, the diocese has the opportunity to partner with a New Jersey church that is trying to obtain kitchen and other household items for victims of Hurricane Sandy who lost everything in last fall’s massive storm.
Called “Heart of the Home,” the project asks churches to collect kitchen supplies,, home office items or other household goods (extension cords, shower curtains, etc.) to help people once they are able to return to a home.
A brochure describing the project is on the diocesan website at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/life/documents/Heart-of-the-Home.pdf.
Chanute names rector; new ministry celebration is planned
The Rev. Joyce Holmes has been elected rector of Grace, Chanute. She has been serving as priest in charge of that congregation since December 2011.
A Celebration of New Ministry now is scheduled for Wednesday, May 8 at 7 p.m. at the church, 209 S. Lincoln Ave. in Chanute.
St. James’, Wichita, plans 85th Old English Tea in May
The Old English Tea of St. James’, Wichita, makes its 85th appearance on Saturday, May 4 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for children age 4-12; a free nursery is available for those younger than 4.
Featured will be the ever-popular English high tea delicacies such as finger sandwiches and lemon curd tarts, as well a bake shop that this year will include gluten-free items.
The event also will include fashion shows at 10:15 a.m. and noon, as well as a silent auction and high-end items for sale.
Tickets may be purchased at the door or in advance from the parish office. Call (316) 683-5686 for tickets or for more information.
Youth news
17 more counselors needed for MegaCamp. MegaCamp is a single exciting week for youth in grades 3-12, and we need about 55 volunteers to help make it happen.
Staff applications are available now and will be accepted until all positions are filled. We’re hoping to recruit nine more female andeight8 more male counselors. Contact the Youth Missioner, Karen Schlabach, if you have any questions, or (913) 708-5927.
MegaCamp is set for June 2-8 at Camp Wood YMCA near Elmdale, southwest of Emporia. Counselors stay with campers in cabins, co-lead a small discussion group, and get to participate in all the fun activities and worship along with the campers! More information about camp is available online at www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/summercamp.html.
Registration for MegaCamp is now open. Youth in grades 3-12 can register for MegaCamp now, whether or not they are Episcopalian. MegaCamp is set for June 2-8 at Camp Wood YMCA near Elmdale, southwest of Emporia. The cost is $390 per camper, and some scholarship assistance is available. Registration materials are available online at www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/summercamp.html
New Beginnings is set for April 19-21 at St. Michael’s in Mission. For students in grades 6-8 of the current school year, with high school youth serving on staff. New Beginnings is a weekend retreat focusing on the two greatest commandments: loving God with all our heart, mind and strength, and loving our neighbors as ourselves. The registration deadline is Friday, April 5, and staff day is Saturday, April 6, 1:30-3:30 p.m., at St. Andrew’s, Emporia. More information is at http://www.episcopal-ks.org/youth/newbeginnings.html.
Campus ministry is seeking new student names
Do you know students who will be attending a college or university in Kansas next school year? If so, the campus ministry program of the diocese would like to help those students get connected to an Episcopal program on their campus. They’ll extend an invitation and, if it’s appropriate, encourage them to become involved as a peer minister.
If those students will be attending KU or K-State, they also are eligible to apply to live in the Canterbury house there, as part of an intentional Christian community.
To submit names of next-year college students, send information to one or all of these people:
· Campus Missioner the Rev. Michael Bell, ;
· K-State intern Taylor Mather, ; and
· KU intern Abby Olcese, .
More information about the diocesan campus ministry program is available at www.episcopal-ks.org/campusministry.
KSM to offer a summer session on English mystical theology
The Kansas School for Ministry will offer a special course this summer on the English mystical tradition.
This course will help participants become more familiar with the sources and figures of English mystical theology, including the anonymous but influential textThe Cloud of Unknowingand medieval writers like Richard Rolle, Julian of Norwich and Margery Kempe.
Leading the class will be Dr. Jim Lewis.
The class will meet June 8-9 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Bethany Place Conference Center.
The cost is $100 per person, which coversinstruction, lodging at the conference center and meals, but not books, travel or other incidentals.
All members of the diocese are invited to learn more about a neglected and often misunderstood segment of Anglican history, faith and practice.
For further information or to register for the course, please contact the Rev. Andrew Grosso at or (913) 367-3171.
Upcoming KSM classes
A variety of classes offered by the Kansas School for Ministry still may have room for students who want to enrich their own spiritual life by extensive study on one of these topics:
· April 13-14: British Christianity (The Very Rev. Bill Wolff)
· May 11-12: History of the Episcopal Church (The Very Rev. Bill Wolff)
The cost to attend is $100 per course for non-ordination students. Fees cover tuition, overnight accommodations in the Bethany Place Conference Center and four meals. The cost of books and other materials are not included.
Those wanting to enroll or who need more information should contact KSM Coordinator the Rev. Andrew Grosso at or (913) 367-3171.
Episcopal Church Foundation offers web conferences
A variety of web-based conferences are being offered in the next two months by the Episcopal Church Foundation. The webinars are geared to developing parish leadership and financial resources.
Most are free; some require a $10 registration fee. Topics include:
· Addressing lackluster stewardship campaigns
· Part 1 of Vestry leadership: principles and practices
· Part 2 of vestry leadership: becoming a mission-focused Vestry
· Basics of a capital campaign
· Why should I give money to you?
· Major donors for dioceses
· Identifying and recruiting new leaders
· Running a holy and effective meeting
· Part 1 of getting to the “why”: building a shared sense of purpose
· Part 2 of getting to the “why”: prioritizing leadership development
Information on all these web conferences, along with sign-up registrations, is on the ECF website at http://www.episcopalfoundation.org/news-and-events/events-detail?newsID=34683907-d33c-4b6b-9bdc-89a955caf18c
Kansas City area churches can apply for energy improvement grant
Kansas Interfaith Power and Light has received a grant to help churches in four Kansas City-area counties – Leavenworth, Wyandotte, Johnson and Miami – to help fund energy improvements in their facilities.
Matching grants of up to $3,000 are available to make energy efficient changes like upgrades to lighting and thermostat controls. The goal is to save the congregation up to 25 percent on their energy costs in the first year.
Because many houses of worship are older buildings that use energy inefficiently, costs can become a burden to church budgets. These grants seekto help address this problem.
Information about the project, as well as links to the application, are on the organization’s website at http://kansasipl.org/2012/04/are-your-churchs-energy-costs-through-the-roof/
The deadline to apply is May 15.
Anniversaries of ordinations
Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:
March 30: The Rev. Amanda Eiman, non–parochial (4 years); the Rev. Konrad Rock, retired, Diocese of Western Kansas (17 years)
April 1: The Rev. Joseph Alford, St. Martin’s, Edwardsville (34 years)
April 5: The Rev. Jerry Adinolfi, retired (16 years)
April 7: The Rev. Christine Gilson, Trinity, El Dorado (10 years)
Diocesan office will be closed on Good Friday
The diocesan offices are closed on Good Friday, March 29. The office will reopen on Monday, April 1 for regular hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Next DioLog
The next edition of DioLog will be sent to subscribers on Thursday, April 11. Information to be included should be sent to Melodie Woerman, diocesan director of communications, at , no later than Tuesday, April 9.
DioLog is a publication of the Office of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.
Parishes are free to excerpt anything printed in DioLog; attributionthat material is reprinted from DioLog is appreciated. Feel free to copy this and make it available to parishioners in whatever way is most useful.