Spirit of Wyoming Convention 2018

Transcription

1 Spirit of Wyoming Convention 2018 Photo courtesy of Meganne Acres

2 A New Way of Being The Fresh Expression movement helps existing churches decide against helplessness in the face of change. It s about congregations with a great history deciding to have a great future of kingdom investment. Collins, Travis. Fresh Expressions of Church. Seedbed Publishing, It will be good to welcome many of you to our diocesan convention in Gillette, Wyoming over the first weekend of October. We chose to have our convention in Gillette because the newest church in the diocese is ready to be shown off! By the grace of God, through generous donations of their members, with the help of our foundation and because of the long-held vision by the members, Holy Trinity Church in Gillette is happily in their new building. We will have services there on Friday evening, giving everyone who attends an opportunity to experience the good work they have done. The congregation has been worshiping in Gillette since 1912 but they recently moved into their new building, one that more adequately meets their needs and strategically places them in blossoming neighborhoods. The theme of this year s convention is centered around, Fresh Expressions of Church. I think we are at a critical moment in the life of the Diocese of Wyoming. For years, even decades, we have been watching the aging of our congregations. We have attempted several ways to address these concerns as well as the continuing survival of our rural congregations. Bishop Jones first initiated the work of volunteer Canon Nine clergy. Bishop Caldwell took the diocese into a much deeper relationship with what we know as, mutual or shared ministry. We have continued to address this model in ever evolving ways, most recently by equipping our clergy through their participation in the Iona Collaborative. We have been able to stabilize most of our congregations though we are still seeing congregations in many places with fewer and fewer younger participants. There are some exceptions but the trend remains. Fresh Expressions in the United States and United Kingdom is reversing this disturbing trend and that fact is a source of hope for us. Fresh Expressions of Church invites us to a new way of being. It invites us to not just open our doors in the most welcoming way we know how but to go out of our doors and introduce people to a relationship with the living God. It is not a church growth program. It is rather a response to our Lord s great commission to go out and make disciples. At this year s convention we will explore more deeply what it means for us to engage Fresh Expressions of Church. We will explore ideas, have times of reflection and work at becoming more open to the movement, presence and invitation of the Holy Spirit. God loves this church of ours and it s my belief that God wants us to carry on for generations to come and I believe this is one of those moments when God is giving us a way forward. Thanks be to God and may each of you experience a fresh expression of God s grace and love for you today. +John

3 The Spirit of Wyoming The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming Convention 2018 >> CONTENTS << 8 The Rev. Canon Jane Gerdsen Ms. Genie Easton, Editor Administrative Assistant Rev. Bobbe Fitzhugh, Editor Missioner for Fresh Expressions Questions and feedback: The Spirit of Wyoming c/o The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming 123 South Durbin Street Casper, WY info@wyomingdiocese.org Serving Christ Himself 17 Reflections on General Convention National Altar Guild/The Order of the Daughters of the King / Reflections on ECW Episcopal Relief & Development Initial Pioneers for Fresh Expression Named Glimpses of Fresh Expressions in recent Foundation Grants A Supreme Opportunity Clergy News: Transitions, Retirements and Ordinations St. John s Episcopal Church, Jackson and Santa Maria Magdalena, Cuba - Partnership The Spirit of Wyoming 2

4 Reflections on General Convention The 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, an event held every three years, was held in Austin, Texas from July 3rd to July 13th. Along with the General Convention, the Episcopal Church Women held their triennial conference, the National Altar Guild Association also met and, prior to the General Convention, the Order of the Daughters of the King conducted their triennial convention. Although the days were long and sometimes arduous, most deputies agreed that the experience was very fulfilling and an important link to the broader Episcopal Church. The Holy Spirit s presence was clearly in the House! The Rev. Ron Phillips (Clergy Alternate) - The General Convention was for me, an alternate deputy, mostly listening. It was exciting and enlightening to listen to people testify before committees, and then to follow the resolutions through committee discussions to the floor of the House of Deputies. Then, again, I could listen to the delegates discuss and debate. It was like listening to the body of the church gather its thoughts, seek God s will, and find a way to live it out. The Rev. Jim Shumard (Youth Chaperone) - This trip was a great opportunity to build community among our youth from around the diocese. It was a good opportunity for them to see how General Convention functions and I think they will remember it as adults when they consider serving in our church. Joe Wildman (Lay Alternate) - An awesome experience!!!! Learned a lot about the management of the Episcopal Church. I enjoyed our Presiding Bishop Curry s evangelistic gathering. Tim Boyd (Lay Deputy) - I am pleased to have been allowed to enjoy the diversity present at GC. A beautiful Rainbow! Special moments were bringing Cuba back into the fold and changing the rules to allow deputies to keep, and breast feed, their newborns less than one year old on the house floor. The two weeks of General Convention seemed so long in front of me, and so short on day fourteen. I thank the Diocese of Wyoming for this opportunity to serve. The Rev. Bobbe Fitzhugh (Clergy Deputy) The diversity and colorful images that make up the Episcopal Church was what really fed me at General Convention. No matter what one s general beliefs and ideologies, 3 The Spirit of Wyoming

5 conservative or flamboyant clothing, passionate speeches or soothing voting secretary voice, there that an undercurrent of great respect and deep love for the Holy Spirit moving in our midst. All means all, y all! The Rev. Melinda Bobo (Clergy Deputy) - General Convention was a spiritfilled experience of the Church at its best: not necessarily of one mind, but of one heart and spirit. People thought first of being beloved community, then made decisions that had that dream at the center. We laughed, we cried, we danced, we sang, we argued, we prayed, we broke bread and drank wine and were one Body. What stood out for me was having conversations with homeless people that didn t start with the usual patter about needing money but were about where God was in our lives, and ended with us praying for each other. Giving money was in that context sharing God s blessings, not me giving what I had and they lacked. Casey Horton (Lay Deputy) - When I went to General Convention I expected to be challenged by the technology and by the long hours of deliberating on the 500 or so resolutions that came our way. I expected to be renewed by the worship and by some time alone with my wife. Some experiences at General Convention were a surprise. I was delighted at how connected our Wyoming deputation became, how we made new friends and deepened old friendships. The other unexpected joy was getting to know strangers including a liturgical artist from Oregon, an architect who had helped build my wife s alma mater, and deputies from the Diocese of Michigan we met around a crowded lunch table. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to serve the church I love. The Rev. Joel Dingman (Clergy Deputy) - At the 79th General Convention the deputies and Bishops had the unique opportunity to reflect in small groups on 3 topics. Folks from various geographical and theological expanses of the Episcopal Church related a contextual experience of Racial Reconciliation, Evangelism, or Care of Creation. These brief, concise, and passionate public presentations aided us in our small group conversations. As we reflected we were no longer deputies and Bishops grinding through the 10 days of legislative work of the Church, we were peers planting seeds of desire and vision for God s Kingdom. This to me was an example of how the Episcopal Church is continuing to engage the Holy in ways not yet imagined. What a blessing! The Spirit of Wyoming 4

6 National Altar Guild By Marcia Himes A little known part of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church is the triennial meeting of the National Altar Guild Association. 60 members gathered in Austin, Texas in July 2018 to join in this gathering of the church. During our time in Texas, we learned about floral arranging, the making of papyrus paper, and some fabric liturgical arts. We also heard from our keynote speaker, Demi Prentiss, who spoke on Radical Welcoming and Radical Sending. On the day of our field trip, we traveled to four painted churches. These are mostly Roman Catholic churches, built by Russian or Czechoslovakia immigrants. They wanted their places of worship in their new land to look like the ones they left behind. One had pillars that looked like marble, but were actually hollow wood, painted to look like marble. But the biggest service of the National Altar Guild is helping with the daily Eucharist at General Convention. This year, there were nine stations in the worship space. The altar guild provided two members to each table. Wine, water, bread, vessels, and linen were gathered in the sacristy, then delivered to each station. With the help of volunteers to administer the bread and wine (4 bread stations and 8 wine stations at each table) and the deacons at each station, we were able to serve communion to people in under 15 minutes. After the service, the altar guild functioned just like they do at home take everything back to the sacristy and get ready for the next service. I was happy to represent Province VI and Wyoming this year at the National Altar Guild Association triennial part of the General Convention. Please let me know if you have any questions, or would like more information about the National Altar Guild. Over the past week many people have been asking me how my summer was. Busy!, I answer. Yes, it was extremely busy, filled with volunteer work supporting two national conventions back-to-back in Austin, Texas. As the National Treasurer of The Order of the Daughters of the King, I was intimately involved with our National Triennial Convention where 800 women and girls gathered to Walk HIS Way. This was followed a few days later by participating in the General Convention of the Episcopal Church as a deputy from the Diocese of Wyoming. My days of rest before starting school this week were limited in number. However, as I reflect on my summer activities, I realize that I didn t miss out on a summer of rest, rather I had the opportunity to completely focus my ministry on service: service to my sisters in The Order; service to the members of the Diocese of Wyoming; and service in sharing the Good News of our Loving, Liberating, and Life-Giving Jesus Christ. All of which is ultimately service to God. 5 The Spirit of Wyoming

7 Reflections on ECW By the Rev. Carole Buckingham The Rev. Steven Charleston This was my third time at Triannual. My favorite part is always the gathering at the daily Eucharist where the whole company of General Convention and the women of ECW worship. In the opening service we got to listen to our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, who is always inspiring - Love one another, trust the Father, abide in Jesus. We are the vine and called to produce fruit. Our triennial conferences always have inspiring speakers. We had the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, President of the House of Deputies, who spoke about how far we have come as women and the opportunities to do more. Our keynote was the Rev. Steven Charleston, who spoke on his journey - Although I m the writer I m not the author. He talked about how the Holy Spirit uses him and gives him meditations after praying to share and how the Spirit moves within us, speaking to us as to how to center our lives on Jesus and abiding in Jesus love. We always have workshops to educate us and hopefully give us knowledge and enlightenment to share when we get back to our diocese. I think the one I enjoyed the most was Creative Liturgy, which used the tools of paper and word to interpret a Psalm by action and dance. It was great fun! The highlight for me is gathering together, sharing and visiting with one another from all over the globe, breaking bread together, singing, the joy. There are no strangers, we are all one body in Christ. At both events I heard proclaimed the message of evangelism; a message about the importance of loving one another, of caring for each other, and of being bold in our declaration of God s love for us. Through the various speakers and workshops at the Daughters of King Triennial, through the discussions held with Bishop Smylie and other deputies at General Convention, through the consideration of numerous legislative proposals, through daily worship in community, and through the revivals held at both events, I gained energy and found myself recharged to continue to walk in the way of Jesus, to love and serve my brothers and sisters in this world. Days of rest are necessary and they will come. My prayer today, however, is for all our days, busy or not, to be in service to God spreading the Good News of God s love with all those we meet. By Annemarie E. Delgado The Spirit of Wyoming 6

8 DIOCESE OF WYOMING AND Diocese of Wyoming churches and members have until Diocesan Convention in October to collect contributions for Episcopal Relief & Development and bring a record/check to Convention. We are blessed in the Diocese of Wyoming to have the support of The Foundation for The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming (FEDW), to match up to $25,000 for Episcopal Relief & Development. These funds gathered and presented at the Episcopal Relief & Development dinner on Friday, October 6, 2018 in Gillette will be matched dollar for dollar by FEDW. You may recall that in 2017, Wyoming churches stepped up in a big, big way to help with disaster mitigation from hurricanes and wildfires. Over $76,000 was raised and then matched by FEDW for a total contribution to Episcopal Relief & Development that exceeded $150,000. Let s show our care and compassion again this year. Episcopal Relief & Development facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives in communities struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Working with Anglican and ecumenical partners to reach more than 3 million people each year, the organization is committed to addressing three transformative program priorities - women, children and climate. This is in addition to the ongoing disaster relief efforts. Let s top the $25,000 mark again in 2018! The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming 52 nd Annual Convention Agenda Friday October 5th, :00-12:00: Registration (Main Lobby) 10:00-12:00: Foundation Board Meeting 10:00-12:00: Clergy Spouse Luncheon 12:30-1:00: Opening Liturgy & Welcome to Gillette 1:00-1:45: Budget Hearing 1:50-2:30: Resolutions Hearing 2:45-4:00 Fresh Expressions Keynote Address 4:20-5:20: Bishop s Address 6:00-6:30: Celtic Service at Holy Trinity Church 7:00 Buffet Dinner at CamPlex Saturday October 6th, :00-8:30: Morning Liturgy; Call to Convention 8:30-10:00: Foundation Annual Meeting 10:15-11:45: Fresh Expressions of Church - Part 1 12:00-1:15: Lunch *Clergy Spouse Luncheon 1:15-2:15: Fresh Expressions of Church Part 2 2:30-5:00: Business Meeting 7:00 Dinner and Entertainment Sunday October 7th :00 Fresh Expressions Eucharist at CamPlex *Clergy to vest and wear red; all attendees invited to wear red. 7 The Spirit of Wyoming

9 Joining us at Convention... The Rev. Canon Jane Gerdsen The Rev. Jane Gerdsen is the Missioner for Fresh Expressions in the Diocese of Southern Ohio. She is the founder of Praxis Communities, a diverse network of emerging Christian communities. Jane works with young adults, immigrant communities and those who have been disenfranchised from the church in some way. She has a heart for those on the margins. She has served as the chair of the Episcopal Church s Advisory Group for Church Planting and Missional Initiatives. Prior to her work with Praxis Communities, she served for five years at St. Andrew s Episcopal Church, an inner city church in Dayton, Ohio. She is also a wife and mother to two young children. Initial Pioneers for Fresh Expressions Named Congratulations to the initial group of Pioneers for Fresh Expressions of Church. Bishop Smylie and Missioner for Fresh Expressions of Church Bobbe Fitzhugh have selected eleven initial apostles to pioneer Fresh Expressions of Church in Wyoming. This initial team was selected with an eye toward regional, gender, and generational balance across the Diocese. Those pioneers are: The Rev. Bobbe Fitzhugh Team Leader and Missioner for Fresh Expressions of Church Mary Beth Evers St. Peter s Sheridan Powder River Deanery Margaret Hutton St. John s Jackson Grand Teton Deanery The Rev. Mary Erickson St. John s Jackson Grand Teton Deanery The Rev. Randy Belton St. Andrews in the Pines Pinedale Grand Teton Deanery The Rev. Tom Ketner Christ Church Douglas Platte River Deanery Allen Finch Christ Church Glenrock Platte River Deanery Leslie Zimmerschied St. Christopher s Cheyenne Snowy Range Deanery Candy Snead St. Christopher s Cheyenne Snowy Range Deanery The Rev. Mary Fabin St. Barnabas Saratoga Snowy Range Deanery Kim Daniels St. James Riverton Wind River Deanery By agreeing to be part of the original Pioneer Team, this group will help work diocesan-wide to nurture and develop fresh expressions as part of the Task Force on Fresh Expressions Wyoming-style. The team will head to Leicester, England from October 29th to November 12, The goal of this trip to Leicester is to offer a good introduction to pioneering and Fresh Expressions of Church from our friends who have been doing this for a number of years. These first twelve pioneers will be multiplied over time, much as the original apostles grew Christianity in first Century Jerusalem. And, we need both Antioch and Jerusalem - We need leaders of existing churches who are willing to create a missional atmosphere in the congregations they lead. AND we need to bless and release those with the unique gifts and callings to create fresh expressions of church. The Spirit of Wyoming 8

10 We are the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming 2nd Annual Womens Backpacking Trip with Jill Smylie Holy Communion, Rock Springs Oregon Trail, Eden Valley Deacon Ordinations at St. Matthew s Cathedral, Laramie St. Stephen s, Casper St. Christopher s in the Bighorns Spirit on the Mountain 9 The Spirit of Wyoming

11 We Belong to God! St. Paul s, Evanston Potluck in Torrington St. John s, Jackson St. Andrew s in the Pines, Pinedale St. Thomas, Dubois St. James, Kemmerer St. James, Encampment The Spirit of Wyoming 10

12 Deacon s Corner Serving Christ Himself Did you know that deacons are serving in fewer than 1/4 of the parishes in the Diocese of Wyoming? With the ordination of Sydney Johnson on July 25th at All Saints in Torrington and of Steven Davis on June 21st at Holy Communion in Rock Springs, the number of active deacons grew to 11; there are also five retired deacons living in Wyoming and two retired deacons living out of state. Since 2008, only four deacons have been ordained in the Diocese of Wyoming, two in 2014 and two in Perhaps this helps explain why many Episcopalians do not fully understand what the ministry of a deacon is and how deacons service fits into the life of the Church. The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world s deep hunger meet. Frederick Buechner wrote these words in the 1970 s. I first read them in 2003 during my discernment; they touched me deeply then and remain with me as part of my call to diaconal service. These words and a renewed awareness of that call flooded back to me as I listened to Bishop Smylie speak the words of The Presentation, The Examination, and the Consecration to Sydney Johnson and all those present on July 25th. The Catechism states, The ministry of a deacon is to represent Christ and his Church, particularly as a servant of those in need; and to assist bishops and priests in the proclamation of the Gospel and the administration of the sacraments. (Book of Common Prayer [BCP], p. 856). Therefore, deacons serve both inside and outside the church building, and not just on Sunday mornings. Called to the specific role of servant leader, they are ordained to remain deacons and to serve directly under their bishop. Deacons do not work for or belong to a parish or a WE all are the Church. WE are called to live as Christ tells us: to follow the Summary of the Law, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, all our soul, and all our mind and to love our neighbor as ourselves, and to obey the New Commandment, to love one another as Christ loved us (BCP p. 851). 11 The Spirit of Wyoming

13 The strength to do this comes from our faith and that of our communities of friends and families, as we work to comfort and love and make disciples of all people, for Christ is with us always, to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). priest; they are not paid and they are not parish decisionmakers or rectors. The diaconate is often explained as a full and equal order, enriching our lives of faith by performing specific liturgical functions and by serving as a bridge between the congregation and the world, advocating for social justice and the care of Creation. Deacons are sometimes referred to as vocational or permanent deacons to distinguish them from transitional deacons. All deacons are ordained with the same words in The Ordination of a Deacon (BCP, pp ), but transitional deacons are ordained to serve as deacons before they can be ordained as priests, usually no longer than the required six months. In The Examination part of the ordination service, the bishop tells the ordained that he or she is to serve all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely, and is to interpret to the Church the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world and to show Christ s people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself (BCP, p. 543). After the Consecration of the Deacon, the newly ordained and vested deacon is greeted during The Peace, and then sets the Table for Eucharist for the first time. This action is symbolic of the deacon s role, but our formation and experience teach us that we are to spend only 5% of our time and energy serving in the liturgy; the other 95% is to be spent in work at other times and in other places, beyond the church walls, where we encounter and interact with the often less comfortable world. The word deacon derives from the Greek diakonos, meaning servant or minister. Diakonia is the sense of being called and sent to serve the world in Christ s name. We know that the Church s work for God s Kingdom is done through the ministry of all the baptized. I believe that this work is not just the ministry of all the baptized, but more intentionally the diakonia of all the baptized. This mobilization of the baptized for service demands and deserves much attention and much time, both from the deacon and from the people. But deacons do not do it all: they help the people discern where the needs are, invite them to figure out how to address them, and encourage and support them as they participate in doing that work. Probably most of us Christians have felt guilt over our own inaction or less-than-effective action in the face of overwhelming need. A deacon is called to step beyond that guilt and act anyway to know by faith that something can be done and to get to work. to By The Rev. Deacon Leigh Earle The Spirit of Wyoming 12

14 Transitions Clergy News The Rev. Karen Buckingham heads south (to Encampment) It s never too late! No, it s never too late to make a big change in your life. It s been nearly a year since the Rev. Karen Buckingham transitioned from St. Thomas, Rawlins, to St. James, Encampment. Karen attributes the move to the Holy Spirit and gladly proclaims that good news! Buster (Karen s husband) and she travel a total of 120 miles each Sunday to join the good folks of St. James where Karen now serves as priest. It s been a good move for the Buckingham s and she is forever grateful to all the people that supported her in this move. The Rev. Melinda Bobo moves from one Mountain Community to Another The Rev. Melinda Bobo, most recently the Rector at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Dubois, has accepted a call to serve as Rector of St. Andrew s in the Pine, in Pinedale. Melinda s last service in Dubois was July 29, Melinda is excited about pursuing new adventures in her new community across the Wind River Mountain Range. The Rev. Wendy Owens to Serve Newcastle The Rev. Deacon Wendy Owens has relocated with her secular job as an attorney from Casper to Gillette. As a result, Wendy has been serving as a Deacon in Christ Church Newcastle as she further discerns her calling. Retirements The Rev. Ed Farmer has retired from his position as rector of St. Alban s. Ed is focusing on his recovery from some serious health problems. The Diocese of Wyoming wishes Fr. Ed and Rita the best and prays for his continued recovery. The Rev. Jim Stewart has retired from St. Christopher s in Cheyenne where he served as priest-in-charge, a position that proved difficult to merge with his full-time vocational position. Jim and Sylvia are looking forward to traveling around Wyoming seeing where they are called to serve God s people. His last Sunday at St. Christopher s was August 26th. 13 The Spirit of Wyoming

15 Ordinations to the Priesthood The Rev. Pam Bright was ordained to the Sacred Order of Priests on June 22nd, at St. Paul s Episcopal Church in Evanston. Pam is a recent graduate of the Wyoming Iona School, receiving her Certificate in Theological Studies from the Iona Initiative in May of Ordinations to the Diaconate Sydney Johnson was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Wednesday, July 25th at All Saints Episcopal Church in Torrington. Syd is a recent graduate of the Wyoming Iona Collaborative, receiving her Certificate in Theological Studies from the Iona Initiative in May of Steve Davis was ordained to the Sacred Order of Deacons on June 21st at Holy Communion Church in Rock Springs. Steve is a recent graduate of the Wyoming Iona Collaborative, receiving his Certificate in Theological Studies from the Iona Initiative in May of Ordinations to the Transitional Diaconate On Saturday, June 30th, five transitional deacons were ordained at St. Matthew s Cathedral in Laramie Lara Gilbert of St. Mark s Casper Linda Anderson of St. Alban s Worland Carey-Lea Dmytriw of St. James Kemmerer Bonnie Deyo of St. Andrew s Atlantic City Margaret Hotchkiss of St. Barnabas Saratoga Transitional deacons are transitioning to ordination as priests and are traditionally ordained in the Cathedral. All priests must first be ordained as deacons, emphasizing the importance of serving others outside the church. The Spirit of Wyoming 14

16 Glimpses of in recent Foundation grants Are you having a hard time understanding exactly what a Fresh Expression of Church is? Are you thinking you ve recognized a few glimpses of Fresh Expressions in parish ministries with which you ve been involved? While assisting people in need, often in places very removed from church buildings, is not necessarily accomplishing Fresh Expressions of Church, there is no question that working to serve people in need in the wider community can be an introductory step toward creating Fresh Expressions of Church. Outreach and mission are the processes of serving people in need. Fresh Expressions of church is the process of bringing people to faith in Jesus Christ in settings that often engage the unchurched. Glimpses of Fresh Expressions can be seen in various parish ministries; service to those in need can be, and often is, a way to introduce Episcopalians to communities of people who might not otherwise be interested at all in church or in people of faith. You from St. Alban s, Worland - do you not remember Rain Horse Equine Therapy Services? From the very beginning of the relationship between your church and Rain Horse, several parishioners predicted they would take on important roles away from their church buildings nurturing troubled teenage boys from the Wyoming Boys School through food, and through spirit-filled caring and conversation. Therapy for youth-at-risk using horses involved day-long, ranch gatherings which included generous lunch-breaks with time to tell personal stories which revealed deep feelings, and often, faith. Before the group dove into sloppy joes, coleslaw, beans and potato salad, Father Ed Farmer offered grace, praying: Have the healing hand of Jesus guide these wonderful horses; touch with your Grace the minds and hearts of these young men. The depth of the connections parishioners of St. Alban s were able to make with those boys surprised us all, except perhaps Father Ed, who smiled softly when a teenager said, I have felt God at work in my life during my time with these horses. 15 The Spirit of Wyoming

17 Yasser Rostrom s The Tree symbolizes Adam and Eve as the birth of humanity and the monotheistic religions as they reach toward the hand of God. (Copyright Caravan.org) outside the walls of our churches: You from St. Christopher s, Cheyenne - do you not think of Fresh Expressions as you remember your Walk of Grace around Sloan s Lake in Lions Park? You from St. Matthew s, Laramie, St. John s, Powell, Holy Communion, Rock Springs, and Trinity Church, Lander - do you not remember the interfaith art exhibit called The Bridge brought to us by CARAVAN, Inc.? In each of those places committees of mostly church members organized community events to accompany the exhibits. You all discussed with people from across your communities the commonalities and differences within the three major, global faiths. Participants in that programming convened in college classrooms, auditoriums, lunchrooms, local art centers, and community meeting rooms to share thoughts about religion, discrimination, inequality, social justice, and the beauty and power of art. The paintings were stunning and the Christian engagement with people not necessarily churched was deep. Glimpses of Fresh Expressions reveal themselves in dozens and dozens of ministries You from St. Frances on the Prairie, Wright - when you think of Fresh Expressions are you not thinking of your Clothing Swap in partnership with Wright Community Assistance at the community hall downtown? Much ministry is accomplished by our Wyoming Episcopal parishes every day without the help of Foundation dollars. But Foundation grants have certainly assisted the outreach of Episcopal churches such that greater numbers of people are served over longer periods of time often through programming that comes at considerable cost. By Press Stephens We are not here to condemn those who die by suicide, but rather to offer hope and acceptance to those who are impacted by this tragedy. We can do this by caning how we talk about depression and suicide The Spirit of Wyoming 16

18 A Supreme Opportunity When I was approached with the opportunity to do an international devotional service for Job s Daughters International (JDI), I knew I had to say yes! Jobies is a Masonic organization for girls ages years who gain skills over time including reverence for God, public speaking, charity and much more. I was 11 years old when I joined Job s Daughters; became a third generation Past Honored Queen (equivalent to a president of the group) as a teen and now serve on the Guardian Council as an adult. I try to share my passion for the organization, stay as involved as I can and be a good role model for the girls, including my little sister. I credit this organization to my comfort at speaking at the pulpit and even my marriage, as it was through a Jobie event that I met my husband, Ryce. There are three levels to JDI: Bethel is individual groups in a city (Bethel #19 in Evanston is where I serve), Grand is jurisdictional (Wyoming is our Grand jurisdiction), and Supreme is International. Grand and Supreme each have yearly sessions with Guardians (adults in charge) and Honored Queens at each level. In November, I was asked 17 The Spirit of Wyoming By the Rev. Stephanie Aaron-Ludwig to give a devotional service for a Grand event, as the Supreme Guardian and Supreme Bethel Honored Queen would be in attendance. It was amazing to hold a service for the people that mean so much to me for the organization that plays such a large role in my life. Several months after this service, the Supreme Chaplain ed me, saying the Supreme Guardian had enjoyed my service in November, and asked me to do the Supreme Session Devotional Service, which would be in Layton, Utah this year. I was in shock to be asked to do something of this magnitude. It was a dream come true - to serve two of my passions - God and this organization TOGETHER. When the day came, people just kept trailing in - 75 in all. It was an honor to share God, his servant Job, and their story with so many people. What an amazing experience in my ministry that I will never forget. Our current Grand Guardian, Linda Cole, has asked me to serve as Grand Chaplain this year. Again, what an honor to share both my passions together, I am truly blessed. For more information on Job s Daughters, visit the Wyoming JDI website

19 St. John s Episcopal Church Jackson and Santa Maria Magdalena Cuba Partnership The vision of turning an old house into a chapel and planting sustainable gardens for the community in Favorito, Cuba, has opened the hearts and minds of parishioners from St. John s and Santa Maria Magdalena alike. While St. John s has supplied financial and moral support, the people of Favorito have opened their homes, shared their stories, and masterfully transformed a building with few tools. Since 2012, over 60 parishioners have traveled to Favorito. St. John s is honored to have supported Santa Maria Magdalena with building supplies, a water purification system, sewing machines, clothes, shoes and most importantly, their love. Recently Jackson has helped their Cuban partners realize a dream of expanding the church. When a house became available for sale adjacent to the chapel, St. John s raised the funds for purchase and renovation. In 2014, The Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming awarded St. John s Episcopal Church the George B. Storer Outstanding Mission Award for their work in Favorito, Cuba. The award recognizes the work on the Chapel of Santa Maria Magdalena, which has transformed a small, deteriorated house in rural Cuba into a chapel for a community alive with hope and Holy Spirit. St. John s member Kathie Harrington shared her experience the first time she traveled to Cuba: As a first-timer on the Cuban mission trip, I was outfitted with work clothes, gloves, and ready to roll up my sleeves and get to work! Much to my surprise, the hard work that I encountered was a lot of mixing and mingling with our brothers and sisters from Itabo and Favorito. As I reflect on my experiences with our companion church and its members, I now realize that there really is a lot of muscle in fellowship. St. John s has made a huge impact on the community of Favorito with our gifts of money and people. This in turn has allowed the Santa Maria Magdalena congregation and community to roll up their sleeves and turn an old house into a Christian community center. The benefits of our resources and fellowship came shining through with the pride of their progress and their abundant hospitality of great food and conversation. Our hard work has clearly paid off in so many ways and I am blessed to have been a part of this incredible mission trip. The Spirit of Wyoming 18

20 2019 Draft Budget for The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming Diocesan Income Sources Diocesan Expenses

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22 Diocesan Salaries Your Diocesan Staff The Rt. Rev. John Smylie Bishop of Wyoming The Rev. Bobbe Fitzhugh Missioner for Fresh Expressions and Communications The Rev. Canon Joel Dingman Canon to the Ordinary Mrs. Jessica Reynolds Comptroller and the Bishop s Executive Secretary The Very Rev. Lori Modesitt Director of Education The Rev. Roxanne Friday Wind River Indian Reservation Coordinator Ms. Genie Osburn Administrative Assistant

23 2019 Draft Budget for The Foundation for The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming Foundation Income Sources Foundation Expenses Foundation Salary Your Foundation Staff Mr. Press Stephens Executive Director

24 The Episcopal Diocese of Wyoming 123 S. Durbin St. Casper, WY If you no longer want to receive this magazine call the Diocesan Office at or with your name and address. Bishop Smylie s Upcoming Visitations St. John s, Green River, September nd Annual Convention, Gillette, October 5-7 St. Paul s, Dixon, October Holy Nativity, Kinnear, October St. Francis on the Prairie, Wright, October Holy Trinity, Gillette, November All Souls, Kaycee, December 1-2 St. Thomas, Rawlins, December 8-9