Advent 2018 Newsletter

Transcription

1 Advent 2018 Newsletter Inside this issue: Dear Friends in the ADSW, Inside Story 2 Inside Story 2 Inside Story 2 Inside Story 3 Inside Story 4 Inside Story 5 Inside Story 6 Having just celebrated Thanksgiving, I would like to take this opportunity to thank God for all of you and the ministries you are engaged in. While we are blessed to serve in the land of rocky mountains, blue skies, and stark landscapes, we also work in settings that are most likely isolated and remote. The Desert Fathers used this beauty and isolation to draw them deeper into the heart of God. I pray that all of you will use this season do just that. As a child, the four weeks of Advent seemed to take forever. The week between lighting one Advent candle and the next seemed to drag on into eternity. As an adult, I find that if I blink my eyes between Halloween and Christmas Eve, that Christmas Day arrives instantly. I do love this season and wish Advent were 8 weeks instead of 4. However, I have been in ministry long enough to know that the Holidays are not always filled with joy for many. Memories of painful childhoods and broken families often bubble up to the surface. Too often we let these bad memories color our picture of the new family we have been adopted into by grace and the saving work of our brother, Jesus. Through Christ, we have access to a new Father and he is good. In the midst of preparing for Christmas, my prayer is that we would all find time and peace to rest upon the good Father s lap: Inside this issue: Bishop s travels 2 Calendar 2 Dr. Courtney s ordination Dia de todos los Santos Bishop re: Dean of Mexico From new Dean Roger Griffin Visiting with Pastor Roberto Devotions for Advent O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me. O Israel, hope in the Lord from this time forth forevermore. Psalm 131 This Advent, after the rush of busy days, and broken promises, step outside when the evening falls. When the stars come out to play, look in the heavens and take a few moments to spend time on the Father s lap. There will we find quiet and calm for our souls. +Bishop Mark Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

2 Page 2 ADVENT 2018 NEWSLETTER Bishop s Adventures Pastel Workshop, Junction, TX Our dog, Burt, with our newest grandson, Rowan (above); wedding of our daughter, Kirsten, and Ben (right) November This is the third year I have participated in the Pastel Workshop in Junction, Texas. The workshop is run by Margaret Evans. She is a gifted teacher and artist from Scotland. This is a great time of fellowship and refreshment for me. The workshop is held in a retreat house called the Great House, run by Steve Blaylock. We begin each day with prayer and singing. The meals are some of the best West Texas can offer. Over the years I have come to respect Margaret and her husband, Malcolm, greatly. There is so much about life that can be learned in art. Lessons of balance and lessons of learning to be loose or free so there is room for the Spirit to work. Albuquerque hosts a national Pastel workshop in June every year. I look forward to attending and hosting Margaret for a few days after the meeting this June. Bishop s Adventures visit to The Table, Indianapolis, IN November I recently had the pleasure of visiting a church plant in Indianapolis. I went on behalf of Bishop Todd Hunter from the C4SO Diocese. The church is run by two young pastors, Ben Sternke and Matt Tebbe and they are all new to Anglicanism! Saturday night, we held the ordination of J R Rozko to the diaconate. On Sunday, we had three baptisms, two reaffirmations, and seventeen confirmations/receptions. It was wonderful to see what is happening in the ACNA in a distant neck of the woods. The Bishop s Upcoming Adventures Dec 7-9 Visitation to All Saints & St. Paul s Midland, TX Dec 12 Standing Committee meeting January 7-11 College of Bishops meeting Melbourne, FL January 26 Midland Area Deanery Meeting St. Paul s, Midland, TX

3 Page 3 ADVENT 2018 NEWSLETTER Dr. Courtney Brown s Ordination St Clement s, El Paso, TX Congratulations to Dr. Courtney Brown on her ordination to the vocational diaconate. She joins the ministry at St. Clement s and will continue in her other vocation of surgeon. Praise be to God!! Deacon Courtney s parents carry the elements & her dad jokes they are her first customers (left); newly ordained Courtney with the Bishop and some of the St. Clement s clergy (above) Almighty God, who by your divine providence has appointed diverse Orders of Ministers in your Church, and who inspired your Apostles to choose into the Order of Deacons the first martyr Stephen, with others; mercifully behold your servant, Courtney, now called to the same Office and Administration: so fill her with the truth of your Doctrine and adorn her with holiness of life, that, both by word and good example, she may faithfully serve you in this Office, to the glory of your Name and the edification of your Church; through the merits of our Savior Jesus Christ, your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen. Día de todos los santos (All Saints ) Gran Pastor, Fresnillo, Mexico Dios todopoderoso tú has entrelazado a tus elegidos en una sola comunión y hermandad en el cuerpo místico de tu Hijo Cristo nuestro Señor: Danos gracia para que de tal modo sigamos a tus benditos santos en toda virtuosa y santa vida que alcancemos los gozos inefables que tú has preparado para los que te aman sinceramente; por Jesucristo nuestro Señor, que contigo y el Espíritu Santo vive y reina, un solo Dios, en gloria sempiterna. Amén. (Almighty God, you have knit together your elect in one communion and fellowship in the mystical Body of your Son: Give us grace so to follow your blessed saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those ineffable joys that you have prepared for those who truly love you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.)

4 ADVENT 2018 NEWSLETTER Page 4 Bishop Mark appoints Deacon Roger Griffin as Dean of Mexico November 21, 2018 Re: Appointment of Roger Griffin as Dean Dear Friends of the ADSW, After a good deal of prayer, I have decided to appoint Roger Griffin as Dean of Mexico. Roger and his wife, Joanne, come to us by way of the Anglican Diocese of South Carolina. Roger has consulted his bishop and we have requested that his transfer letter be sent to the Anglican Diocese of the Southwest. Roger is looking for an apartment in Aguascalientes. Please pray that he is able to find the right place to live. Roger has been helping with the MOCLAM training in Aguas and is known by our friends in Central Mexico. I have spoken with Roger and he understands that his main job is to keep in regular contact with all of you. I pray that he will be able to let us know what your needs are, and how we can better pray for you and support your ministries. I pray also that we will be able to make it easier to bring in pastors and congregations into the diocese. I am very excited about what the Holy Spirit is doing in Mexico. I believe Roger and Joanne will be a blessing to all of us. In Christ Bishop Mark

5 Page 5 ADVENT 2018 NEWSLETTER From our newly appointed Dean of Mexico, Roger Griffin Deacon Roger and Joanne Griffin November 22, 2018 It is with great pleasure that I enter into this calling to be your dean. These last few years have been an amazing journey as God has unfolded our ministry before us, from ordination to re-involvement in Latin America, to bringing MOLCAM courses to Aguascalientes and now moving there as your dean. I have had the pleasure of meeting most of you personally, either in class or at the recent synod and look forward to meeting and getting to know everyone else soon. As Bishop Mark said, my primary job is to be a contact point for you, to support, strengthen, encourage and help you in your ministry in any way I can. As we get to know each other, work together and grow together, I ask for your patience as Joanne and I get settled in and reacquaint ourselves with Mexico. We have five years of experience leading a congregation in Mexico City but we know there are mistakes to be made and lessons to be learned. So, please know that you have my permission to ask me any question, correct my Spanish when needed and share any ideas you may have. Joanne and I are very excited to be moving back to Mexico after being away for so long. Most everything is in place for our move in January. Please be praying with us that God will send someone to buy our house soon. This is the only obstacle we have. I am in Aguascalientes with Peter Sholl teaching a MOCLAM course as you are reading this. If I don t see you there, I will very soon. Feel free to communicate with me via , WhatsApp, text, skype or Facebook Messenger. With you, I am your brother. For you, I am your dean, Dean Roger Griffin Rogergriffin2k@gmail.com

6 ADVENT 2018 NEWSLETTER Page 6 Missionary and Pastor Rob Reed visits the ADSW Pastor Roberto Reed, formerly a pastor in Las Cruces, is curious about and has been praying for us here in the ADSW all the way over in Cardedeu, Spain! He is currently here in the States, raising support and speaking about the call he and his wife, Nancy Maldonado, have answered to minister in Spain. While here, Pastor Roberto visited St. Clement s and hung out with our very own Gus Haddad and the Rev. Eduardo in Juarez and served as a spontaneous guest preacher there. Deacons Greg and Noel got to hang out with him in Albuquerque. Rob works with Freedom in Christ and they have also started a ministry that partners with local people and businesses to help flourish their city and the people in it that God loves so much. They train others to do the same in their own contexts. Not knowing yet how long the Lord is calling them to be in Spain, they have come into relationship with us here in the ADSW, with a look to exploring the possibility of joining us in the future. Please pray for them (see the list of prayer requests to the left) as they discern God s plans for them and for the people of Spain who do not yet know Christ s love, to whom they minister everyday. We look forward to getting to know them better and seeing the future relationship God has in store for the Reed Maldonado family and the ADSW! If you would like to learn more about Pastor Rob and Nancy and Cardedeu and how to support them or get to know them, please contact at roberto.reed@ficminternational.org, learn more at onecollective.org or view this video: or donate at (Reed-Maldonado). Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your name. AMEN. Suggested Advent Devotionals & Meditations to help us rest in our Father s love this season (online) Biola s Advent Project Scripture, prayers, and the arts offer opportunity for daily reflection and occasion for us to pray with our eyes and ears as well as our hearts and minds (online) Trinity School for Ministry Advent Devotional Devotional written by Anglican Seminary students. (book) Advent and Christmas Wisdom with Henri J. M. Nouwen daily Bible reading and prayers throughout Advent and Christ mas seasons (this whole series is recommended!) (music) From Darkness to Light: The Salisbury Advent Service Service/dp/B003SC8Y00 (music) Advent Vol. 1 & Advent B Sides by The Brilliance ref=ntt_mp3_rdr?_encoding=utf8&sn=d

7 Anglican Diocese of the Southwest P.O. Box Albuquerque, NM Phone: If you wish to include us in your end of year and Feast of the Incarnation giving, please visit our secure, tax-deductible and oh-so-convenient donation link or copy text below and paste in your Internet browser: token=qpx4mamxdaxj4tj57r1ji4_0hhwuk15sgarebvzdbixvjsdicjfe3twz1kehmhiy6cbyf0&country.x=us&locale.x=us Thanks be to God for His inexpressible gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15) Have a praise, prayer request, event, photos or other communication you would like in the January 2019 Newsletter? Please send all relevant information by December 31st: newsletter@anglicansw.org ADSW Office Bishop Mark Zimmerman: bishop@anglicansw.org ADSW Gus Haddad, Mission/Finance/Operations: gus@anglicansw.org Noel Collins, Communications/Admin: noel@anglicansw.org