Contents: A Voice of Calm in Anxious Times (Article from our Director) 50th Annual Assembly next week – Don’t miss it! Ecumenical Seminarian Exchange held Feb. 6th Bread or Stones Advocacy Meeting held today, Feb. 27th Bread or Stones meetings/trainings coming up LA Partnership for Children meetings around the state NWCU workshop in Houston March 2020 February - Black History Month – Remembering an old Friend The joys of hosting a Bible Reading Marathon Offering thanks to our recent contributors - we couldn't make it without you all! Board Meeting Dates to Calendar

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A Voice of Calm in Anxious Times   

Blow the trumpet in Zion; sound the alarm on my holy mountain! Blow the trumpet in Zion; sanctify a fast; call a solemn assembly; gather the people. (Joel 2:1,15 NRSV) 

     In several church lectionaries one of the readings for Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Forty days of Lent, is a reading from the second chapter of the book of the prophet Joel.  The tone of urgency in the prophet’s words could certainly be seen as speaking to life in our society today and really around the world.   It may not be too much of an exaggeration to describe our world as experiencing a state of panic.  Today, it’s not wars and rumors of war, but a disease described as a corona virus.  For a while it seemed to be confined mostly to China, but this virus is rapidly spreading with a case now diagnosed in California.  Because of political posturing so rampant today, it seems we should pay more intention to the reports and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the scientific and medical community.       One of my colleagues from the Wisconsin Council of Churches sent a query to State Ecumenical leaders asking what actions the Churches might be able to take.  There were replies from a couple of State Councils indicating partnerships 

with their State Departments of Health to disseminate information through the Faith communities.  The point is for Churches to consider what steps might be taken to help members and the communities we represent to respond to the spread of the Corona virus.  Obviously, there are many ways to help to respond, and in each Faith community those decisions will be made.     Regardless of whether it’s the corona virus or despair over seeming paralysis caused by the political divisions in our State and country stoked by foreign influence, People of Faith can provide a voice of calm: a voice of reason in the midst of chaos and anxiousness.  More than ever Churches need to find ways to work together, to stand in solidarity, and witness to the Truth.   In this Lenten season of repentance and renewal through self‐examination and prayer, may our spiritual journey take us to a new place where the churches can become even more so, safe places and environments for those struggling to find a way forward for themselves, their families and communities. 

                                                                                                      Fr. Dan Krutz  

50th Annual Assembly next week – Don’t miss it!  

We are borrowing an actual Boat and Eight Oars from The Backpacker to be used as a part of the Monday evening worship service ‐ come on out to see why!   

 

Theme: "Visioning for Unity, Striving for Justice" As always, Guests are invited free of charge to all speaker sessions

& to the evening worship service  

Public Schedule:   Speaker Sessions & Discussions on Monday, March 2nd will be held from 3:00 to 5:30pm 

and on Tuesday from 9:00 to 10:30am.  Evening worship in St. Joseph’s Chapel begin at 7:30pm Monday. The Keynote Speaker will be Jim Winkler, President and General Secretary of the National Council of Churches. He was elected as President of the NCC in 2013 and is the public voice for the NCC as it addresses its major priorities: mass incarceration; interreligious relationships with a focus on peace; and racism. Mr. Winkler studied African history at the University of Illinois, received a master’s degree

in American history at George Mason University, and was granted an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Claremont School of Theology. He attends Fairlington United Methodist Church in Virginia. The Evening Ecumenical Worship Service will be held in St. Joseph’s Chapel on the grounds of the Catholic Life Center, 1800 South Acadian Thruway, Baton Rouge, LA, with the Most Rev. Douglas Deshotel of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Lafayette, as preacher. The service will include installation of new officers and the incoming President, Rev. Douglas Deshotel.

We hope to see you there!

Ecumenical Seminarian Exchange held Feb. 6th

After a successful interaction between seminarians from two New Orleans schools in 2019, we are pleased to report a repeat exchange held at the Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans on February 6th.   A group from Notre Dame ventured forth to the Baptist Theological seminary for chapel, enjoyed lunch at their outstanding cafeteria, and then settled in for serious conversation.  An instructor from Notre Dame, Rev. Jeffrey Montz, introduced the topic of work, prayer and rest‐‐‐with many biblical references‐‐‐ suggesting a necessary balance between and need for all three, as lived out by Jesus Christ. It was a successful and thought–provoking day, making one realize that seminarians are full of energy and idealism, a welcome inspiration for spiritually tired or needy individuals.  Our thanks to Fr. Buddy Noel and Mrs. Catherine Townsend for their work on and participation in this gathering.  They are both Regional Coordinators for the LIC.  Rev. Dan Krutz, LIC Executive Director, also attended this Feb. 6th event. 

Bread or Stones Advocacy Meeting held today, Feb. 27th

Members of the Bread or Stones / Public Policy Task Force met today (2/27/20), to hear representatives from Louisiana non-profits and the Department of Children and Family Services, brief the group on upcoming legislation which aims to improve the lives of children. It was noted that 90% of the brain development children occurs in their first three years of life. The group wants to make sure all children have the best opportunities possible. More details from today’s meeting will be shared at the 50th LIC Annual Assembly in Baton Rouge next week.

Mr. Rob Gorman, LIC Regional Coordinator for Region 8, is Chair of the Public Policy Task Force and Coordinator for the Bread or Stones children’s anti-poverty campaign.

Bread or Stones meetings/trainings coming up Tuesday, March 10, 2020 We will join the Legislative Day of the LA Partnership for Children and Families at the State Capitol. Our belief is that it is time for the churches of Louisiana to work together to let our legislators know that our children are their first priority. Advocacy is one of the strategies of the Bread or Stones Campaign, in addition to the strategies of education, social services and community engagement. Friday, April 3 – Saturday mid-day on April 4, 2020 We are holding our first Bread or Stones Coordinator Training at the Wesley Center in Woodworth, LA (south of Alexandria). Attendance (including room and board) is free, but limited. We are looking for one or two volunteers in each part of Louisiana who are interested in becoming Bread or Stones Coordinators. Please let us know ASAP if we can count on you to attend any or all of these events yourself or if you can recommend someone from your church. Click here to RSVP. Please also send us your complete name and contact information. Again, thank you for faithfully responding to Jesus’ call to care for our children (Mt. 7:9).

LA Partnership for Children meetings around the state

Making 2020 Count for Children & Families

Featuring Presentations On: Census 2020 Engagement,

Updates on Policy & Budget for Children, and a Look at the 2020 Legislative Session

Click Here to RSVP for Baton Rouge Monday, March 2, 2020 (Same day as the beginning of the LIC Annual Assembly) EBR Main Library, 7711 Goodwood Blvd., Baton Rouge, LA 70806 Click Here to RSVP for Alexandria Thursday, March 5, 2020 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon United Way of Central LA, 1104 4th Street, Conference Room C Rapides Foundation Building, Alexandria, LA 71301 Click Here to RSVP for Lafayette Thursday, March 5, 2020 2:00 – 4:00 PM Picard Center for Child Development & Lifelong Learning 200 E Devalcourt St., Lafayette, LA 70506

Click Here to RSVP for Lake Charles Friday, March 6, 2020 10:00 AM – 12:00 Noon SEED Center @ McNeese, 4310 Ryan Street, Lake Charles, LA 70605

NWCU workshop in Houston March 2020  “Welcoming as Christ Welcomes” 

March 23‐26, Whitehall Hotel, Houston, TX 

The 2020 National Workshop for Christian Unity will be held in downtown Houston – 23 to 26 March. With a location much closer to Louisiana, we hope that many more of our members will be able to attend. The Workshop will be held in the Whitehall Hotel just minutes from William P. Hobby International Airport.

Registration information is available at http://nwcu.org/ . Mark your calendars today!

February - Black History Month – Remembering an old Friend Article submitted by Mr. Keith Horcasitas, a long-time friend and supporter of the LIC and a mutual friend of the late Rev. Mary Edith Moody, who was also a long-time friend and supporter of the LIC.

“RING-A-LING-A-LING,” blasted and sounded my old landline telephone, which I dashed to answer back in the early 90s. “Keith,” asked the caller, “Can you give me a ride to the upcoming Aging Commission meeting with Rev. Dana Krutz for the Louisiana Inter-church Conference that will be held in Lafayette? “Sure, Rev. Moody! That would be great, and how's your dog, ‘Kingus’ doing?” I asked. “Oh great! Thanks for taking her to the Veterinarian for me the recently,” Rev. Moody noted. As always, she ended the phone call with a reminder that she would be praying for me and my family and with her lovely following phrase that gave rise to the song that I was once inspired by the Holy Spirit to write for her: “God bless you, so that you can be a blessing to others.”

As we are in Black History Month, I can't help but fondly recall the late Rev. Mary Edith Moody, who left an indelible mark of love on my heart. Rev. Moody dedicated her life to God through the ministerial role that had been her vocation. She provided leadership in her church, her neighborhood watch work, and numerous civic and other organizations. This was in addition to an active ministry schedule and multiple Board Memberships. In the past, she was also recognized by both the NAACP and Mid-City Redevelopment Alliance; the latter even established a Lifetime Achievement Award for her community-wide contributions. The NAACP had noted how critical her presence and guidance facilitated the Citizens’ Task Force that worked to resolve the Consent Decree and improve Race Relations in the region. Fellow members had noted that when all attempts at consensus had failed, Rev. Moody initiated prayer and, as she has always been noted by her “gracious assertiveness,” she got people back on tract! Rev. Moody gave of her time and energy to many needs. As a former hospital social worker, I had witnessed her ongoing visitation to patients. She did this simply out of the compassion of her heart – and she greatly facilitated the staff with difficult situations involving life and death. I had the privilege of actually being there for her when one of her family members was being cared for on my hospital unit. However emotionally drained or involved she may have been, she actually took the occasion to reach out to us – by her transparent love and open vulnerability. Rev. Moody demonstrated many concrete “golden deeds” for me and my family, when I was specifically dealing with many crisis related to: 1) my parents/family being displaced by Hurricane Katrina and the subsequent need for my father to be placed in a local nursing home with Hospice care; 2) my mother suddenly died on June 1, 2006 due to Cancer; 3) a significant family member of mine being hospitalized multiple times for emotional needs; and 4) my own job changing situations that occurred during this time. Her golden deeds specifically were: 1) constantly calling and checking on me and my family, 2) visiting my parents/family members at home, the hospital or the nursing home, 3) bringing food or “items of encouragement,” and 4) most importantly, spiritual and emotional support with the desire for none of the above to be made known. I know that there are countless others who have similarly been blessed with Rev. Moody’s support – especially Post-Katrina. There are many ecumenical and interfaith groups she worked with locally to bring people together in the community for common causes. Whether it was the Federation of Churches and Synagogues, Louisiana Inter-church Conference, the Roman Catholic Diocese of Baton Rouge and other such groups, she constantly made herself available in the following ways: consultant, Board Member, prayer leader, ad hoc committee member and otherwise. Thank you, Rev. Mary Edith Moody, for all the many ways you have blessed and touched my and our lives … and so I'll end with the song that the Holy Spirit inspired me to write that embodies your ever giving love: “Rev. Mary Moody, You love way beyond duty, Reaching out to all in need, Preaching out God’s Word in deed. May God bless you, So that you may be, A blessing to others, To those that you see ....” Rev. Mary Edith Moody Song YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p5kMaXLgFp8

By Keith John Paul Horcasitas, LCSW, MHA, BR LA 2/8/20.

The joys of hosting a Bible Reading Marathon Below is an idea worth considering, to “go and do like they did!”: 

Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans held their 2020 Bible Marathon from Tuesday, January 28, 2020, beginning at 12:30 PM and ending Saturday, February 1st at 6:00 PM. It was a public reading, held on the Front Lawn of Notre Dame Seminary for 100 Continuous Hours, with each reader taking approximately a 20 minute time slot (groups could take a 1-hour proclaimer spot which could then be filled by that group in whatever time segments they preferred). Download a Flyer from this event: Bible Marathon 2020 Full Page Flyer Participants and audience members really enjoyed this public reading of God’s Word. Perhaps your Church could host a similar event? Even a smaller scale event will help with proclaiming God’ Word to a world that desperately needs to hear it.

Offering thanks to our recent contributors – we couldn't make it without you all!

The majority of the LIC operating income is contributed through the leadership of our member Judicatories, whom we deeply appreciate and depend upon. Contributions received from February 1, 2020 through February 27, 2020:

Friends of the LIC: Gina L. Anthon

Continuing Education/Sabbatical Fund for Executive Director: St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church

Thank you all!

Please pray for this ecumenical ministry. If you would like to help financially, please mail contributions to: Louisiana Interchurch Conference, 527 N. Blvd., 4th Floor, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, or contribute online via PayPal at http://www.lainterchurch.org/contribute/index.htm.

Board Meeting Dates to Calendar Annual Assembly meeting dates:

2020 March 2-3, Baton Rouge – 50th Annual Assembly – don’t miss it!! Fall Board meeting dates: 2020 Sept. 21-22, Shreveport  

“To live the faith we hold in common” President: The Rev. Dr. Timothy Jones; President Elect: The Most Rev. Douglas Deshotel;

Executive Director: Fr. Dan Krutz