dreams realized in two dioceses, on two sides of the world ... · regular location becomes...

Dreams realized in two dioceses, on two sides of the world . . . A4

INSIDE DIOCESAN LIFEredeem the Gift card [Bishop Paul A2]christ church, reading, and Father John Francis receive 2009 national clergy renewal Program Grant [A2]we don’t help people, we help them help themselves [A3]e.c.w. sponsors another way of giving [A3]new hope grants awarded to reading & emmaus churches [A3]

dreams realized in two dioceses, on two sides of the world [A4]youth happens [A4]Sudan--u.S. Policy and new hope [A5]Senior Space at St. Luke’s Scranton [A5]respect on the road [A6]Bishop Paul Appoints Members to Lifelong christian Formation commission [A6]ecumenical and interfaith relations [A6]

dive in! A day exploring baptism [A6]calendar/Prayer cycle [A7]deacon ordinations [A8]

INSIDE EPISCOPAL NEWS MONTHLYthe Presiding Bishop’s recent visit to the episcopal church of Liberia...the diocese of Puerto rico’s ministry includes responding to its increasing social-service needs...church Pension Fund’s denomination-wide health care plan

Second SeasonTrinity Bethlehem organizes churches to shelter homeless people from coldBy dAVid howeLL

More participating churches andnew grants have been welcome newsfor the dedicated people who provideshelter for thehomeless in thisunex-pectedlyseverewinter.Theemergencysheltering program, coordinated byBethlehem’sTrinityEpiscopalChurch,isinitssecondyear.Itbeganin2008,when Trinity Soup Kitchen staff dis-coveredthattherewerenoemergencyshelter beds for people in Bethlehemduring a particularly cold period, andpeoplewereindangeroffreezing.Thisyear, the weather made it necessaryto start on December 6 in the ForteBuilding in the south side of Bethle-hem rather than on January 1 of thenew decade when churches originallyplannedtoopentheirdoors.Thepro-gram is scheduled to conclude at theendofMarch.

Of the thirty or so homeless peoplewho have used the program, there areabouttwentyregularswhocomenearlyevery night. Participants are given anevening meal, breakfast the followingmorning,andamatandasleepingbag.Whenthechurchesare far fromcentercityBethlehem,peoplearealsoprovided

with transportation to and from eachshelter.

One change this year is that thewomen (usually about four or so anight) arehoused separately from themen, either at different churches orin separate quarters within the samebuilding.

Many families have inquired aboutthe shelters, andone actually appearedwitha twomontholdbaby.CallshavealsocomeinfromothersheltersliketheSalvationArmyinAllentown,andfromschoolsandthepolice.

Father Scott Allen, priest-in-charge ofSt. Andrew’s Episcopal Church on theAllentown/Bethlehem border, says thatthisyearbothhostsandguests“knowthedrill. There is more normality and theyknowwhattoexpect.”Althoughtherearefewnewfaces,hesaysthatthenumberofguestsisaboutthesame.

Luckily,thereisabitmoreoutsidehelpandmoreresources.Guestscannowusetheirownbeddingeach time theyvisitthechurch,whichgivesthemasenseofstability. They can also be given smallbagsofpersonalcareproducts.

A grant of $4,500 was received fromtheMoravianChurch,and$2,500came

from FEMA (Federal Emergency Man-agement Agency). The latter grant re-quires that more statistics be gatherednightlyforeachguest.Agrantof$7,500from the Pennsylvania Department ofEconomic Development was approved,but has been delayed and has still notbeenreceived.

TheLehighValleyReligiousSocietyofFriends(Quakers)hasalloweditsbuildingtobeusedasabackupemergencysiteifaregular location becomes uninhabitableorunavailableforanyreason.Currentlo-cations,all inBethlehemexceptSt.An-drew’s,areChurchoftheManger,ChristUCC,HolyTrinityLutheran,ElShaddai,New Covenant, College Hill Moravian,WestsideMoravian,UnitarianonCenterStreet and the Cathedral Church of theNativity.

Anyone who wishes to volunteer ortodonatebedding,personalcare items,food,orothersuppliesmaycontactsoupkitchen social worker Marcie Light-wood, [email protected], 610-867-4741X302.[Dave Howell of Trinity Bethlehem is a free lance writer who volunteered his time and talent for this story. Marcie Lightwood of Trinity provided mate-rial for the story.]

Editor’s note: With this February issue of Diocesan Life, the national insert, Episcopal Life, will be replaced by Episco-pal News Monthly (ENM) which will continue to offer in-depth re-porting and analysis of local, re-gional, national and international news compiled from Episcopal News Service. ENM will replace Episcopal Life as the offi cially sponsored monthly newspaper of the Episcopal Church published for Episcopalians and others in-terested in the church’s mission and ministry.

Find daily news and information online at the Episcopal Church’s Episcopal Life Online, www.epis-copalchurch.org/ens, and the Dio-cese of Bethlehem’s newSpin blog, www.diobeth.typepad.com.

With this issue, Kat Lehman, In-formation Technology coordinator for the Diocese of Bethlehem, has begun doing design and layout for Diocesan Life while Bill Lewellis serves for a while as volunteer con-tent and copy editor. We are grateful to Jenifer Gamber who has so gen-erously served for the past two years in a voluntary capacity as Diocesan Life’s art director.

At the emergency shelter of St. Andrew’s Allentown/Bethlehem, Audrey LeVan and Cindy Bowlby prepare breakfast. photos provided by sCott allen

Vol.1No.1,February2010~diobeth.org

a diocesan edition of episcopal

news monthlyBethlehemDreams realized in two dioceses, on two sides of the world . . . A4

Vol.1No.1,February2010~diobeth.org

a diocesan edition of episcopal

news monthlynews monthlyBethlehem

news monthlynews monthlylifediocesan

www.diobeth.org Live God’s love: tell what you have seen and heard www.diobeth.org

A2 diocesanlife February 2010

THE ANGLICAN COMMUNIONAfreelychosenglobal fellowshipofchurches incommunionwithoneanotherandwiththeSeeofCanterburyinEngland,some80millionpeoplein38self-governingchurchesinmorethan160countries.www.anglicancommunion.org

Archbishop of Canterbury TheMostRev.RowanWilliamsLambethPalaceLondon,EnglandSE17JU

EpiscopalSeat:CanterburyCathedralwww.archbishopofcanterbury.org

diocesanlifeTheDioceseofBethlehemeditionofEpiscopalNewsMonthly,the newspaper of the Episcopal Church. Copy deadline is thesecondMondayoftheprecedingmonth.OpinionsexpresseddonotnecessarilyrepresentthoseoftheBishoportheDioceseofBeth-lehem.SendarticlesandletterstotheEditor.Editor:[email protected]:KatrinaLehman,[email protected]#177-940ispub-lishedmonthlybyTheDomestic&ForeignMissionarySociety,Inc.,815SecondAvenue,NewYork,NY10017.PeriodicalpostagepaidinNewYork,NYandadditionalmailingoffices.POSTMASTER:Sendchangeof address toEpiscopal NewsMonthly,POBox2050,VoorheesNJ08043-8000.Tochanagesubscriptionaddresses,contact:EpiscopalNewsMonth-ly Circulation Department, PO Box 2050, Voorhees NJ 08043-8000,[email protected],800/374-9510.

THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH One of 38 self-governing national churcheswithin the worldwide Anglican Communion,2.4millionmembersin7,679coungregationsin110diocesesintheU.S.(95),MexicoandCentralAmerica.www.episcopalchurch.org

Presiding BishopTheMostRev.KatharineJeffertsSchoriEpiscopalChurchCenter815SecondAvenue•NewYork,NY10017212-716-6000•800-334-7626

EpiscopalSeat:TheWashingtonNationalCathedralwww.episcopalchurch.org/pb

THE DIOCESE OF BETHLEHEMThe Episcopal Church in eastern and north-eastern PA, 63 churches in 14 counties: Berks,Bradford,Carbon,LackawannaLebanon,Lehigh,Luzerne, Monroe, Northampton, Pike, Schuylkill,Susquehanna,WayneandWyoming.www.diobeth.orgBishopTheRt.Rev.PaulV.Marshallbpoffice@diobeth.orgAssistant BishopTheRt.Rev.JohnP.CronebergerArchdeaconTheVen.HowardStringfellowarchdeacon@diobeth.org333WyandotteSt.•Bethlehem,18015610-691-5655•800-358-5655

ChristChurch,Reading,hasreceivedagrantof$37,981toenabletheirrector,FatherJohnR.Francis,toparticipateinthe2009NationalClergyRenewalPro-gram funded by the Indianapolis-basedLillyEndowment. It isoneof149con-

Last Christmas, a loved one gave me a very nice gift card … to Dairy Queen. I was grateful for their kindness but I determined to pass the card on to some-one better able to metabolize an Oreo Cookie Blizzard. But also aware of my ability to lose things, I immediately put the card in a safe place until I could give it away. When I came upon it al-most a year later, I was startled that it was still around, having neither ben-efi ted nor harmed anyone.

Besides realizing that I had stumbledacross a sermon or column illustration,I began to wonder if there were othergiftcardscofflawsoutthere.So,IhittheInternet.Ilearnedthattwenty-sevenper-centofpeoplewhoreceivegiftcardslosethem, accidentally throw them away,or justnevergetaroundtousingthem.Indollars, during2008, that casualnessamountedto$8billionoutofabout$65billionworthofgiftcardssold.

The idea that occurred to me thispastChristmaswasthatthereismuchin the holiday that goes uncollected,ortousethedeliciouslanguageofthefine print on the card itself, there ismuchthatgoesunredeemed.

Alw

ays

and

Ever

ywhe

re Itisrightand

agoodandjoyfulthingalwaysand

everywheretogivethanks.

By BiShoP PAuL V. MArShALL

Redeem the Gift Card[Editor’s note: This is a slightly edited version of the sermon Bishop Paul preached at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, on Christmas Eve 2009]

Take time and relationships. Time istheonethingwecannotevergetback.Spending time with the people whomatter to us is not a small thing, andeveryopportunitythatislost,islostfor-ever. Eventually people leave this life,too.Soeventhoughsometimeswemaybefrazzledbylifeandambivalentaboutwhatgoesintogatheringsoffamilyandfriends, especially when we are youngandhavesomuchtodo,thoughtsofin-carnation during Christmas holidays oratothertimesaresignalstoenjoypeople,enjoytheirexistence,ifnottheirjokes.

Of course, if you never felt thatanyoneenjoyedyourexistence,ifyoueverfeelundesired,yourultimategiftcardisGodbecomingmanforyou.Itiswortheverythingtocashitin.

ItisbecauseGodenjoysourmereexis-tencethatthestoryofGod’sincarnationis told in the splendor of Christmas. ItisbecauseGoddelights inhumanfleshthatGodcameasatotallyvulnerablein-fant,puttinghimselfintoourhands.Wecannotcontemplatethecrècheorimag-ine hearing the song of the angels andbelieve thatGoddespisesusoranyoneelse.Theincarnationispermissiontowalk away from all those inheritedformsofreligiositythatdonothonoreveryhumanbeing,andtowalkmoregentlythroughlife.

ThoughtsofGodbecominghumanareopportunitiestocashinonfreedomfromanxiety.Thefirstdecadeofashinyanewmillenniumhas seen serious troubleonevery level. Our lists of what is wrong

maydiffer,butgenerallyspeakingthereisplentyofconcernindividually,forournation,andforthespecies.

For me at least, the situation in-vites a special kind of cashing in thegiftcard.Ineedtoletmyselfenterthestory of God becoming human ratherthanwatchitorhearit,akindofna-tivity pageant of the heart and mind,thekindyoucanhaveeveryday.

You can try out all the characters. Iimagine myself as at least a shepherd,takingaplaceat themangerand look-ingintotheeyesoftheinfant.WhenIletthathappenIfeelmyall-too-pent-uploveforGodflowoutofme,andIseeinthepupils of those eyes,God’s love forme,whichissoeasytoignore.

God is with us; the God who sawJesus through theworstof theworstis walking with us and will see usthrough whatever life brings. Jesusmakes no promises for the materialcircumstancesofourlifeexceptthis,“I am with you always, even to theendoftheage.”Peoplewhohaveap-propriated the courage of that gifthave joyfully lived meaningful anduseful lives. Some have even beenfamous.Mosthavenot;theylookor-dinarybutstrangelycalm.

So,Ithink,redeemingthegiftcardofGodbecomingoneofusistoenjoyeachotherasGoddelightsinus.Maythelov-inggazeofGodmoveusfromanxietytocourage.Mayweallstepinto2010withconfidencethatGodgoeswithus.

The incarnation is permission to walk away from all those

inherited forms of religiosity that do not honor every

human being, and to walk more gently through life.

Christ Church in Reading and Father John Francis receive 2009 National Clergy Renewal Program Grantgregationsacrossthecountrysupportingtheirministersintheprogramthatallowspastorstostepbackfromtheirbusy livesand renew their spirits for the benefit oftheirongoingministries.

A few years ago, a similar grant wasawarded to Grace Church, Allentown,andFatherPatrickMalloy.

Now in its 10th year, the programinvites Christian congregations andministers to consider and plan a pe-riod of intentional reflection and re-newal.Itprovidesatimeforministersto take a break from their daily obli-gationsandgainthefreshperspectiveandrenewedenergythatacarefullyconsidered “Sabbath time”of travel,study,rest,andprayercanprovide.

Each congregation is eligible to ap-ply foragrantofup to$50,000.Upto$15,000of thatamountcanbeused tofulfill pastoral duties during the min-ister’s absence and for expenses related

tothecongregation’sownrenewal.The149grantsthisyeartotal$6.2million.

Aftermanyyearsofministryasafaith-ful priest, including enabling a largeinner city parish to grow in its ethnicdiversity, Father Francis will spend anextended timeof spiritualhealingwithhis family and immerse himself in therootsofhisfamilyintheCeltic,Anglo-SaxonandHispanicchurch.

Hewillbeginandendhissabbati-cal time on one-week silent direct-ed retreats in monastic settings. Hewill make a three-week pilgrimageto Christian holy sites in England,Scotland, and Wales with his son,who is currently a graphic art ma-jorincollege.Theywillenjoytimetogether and increase each othersunderstanding of art history andspirituality. They will also visitwithhismother’sextendedfamilyintheBritishIsles.

Returning to Pennsylvania, hewill spend four weeks at home withhis family while working through alanguage-learning software program forconversational Spanish. Spanish is hisspouse’sfirst language,andhisdaugh-ter and son are bilingual. Then, forthreeweeks,thefamilywilltravelandexplore Puerto Rico, where the par-ents of his spouse were born, havingdescended from generations of TainoIndians,theSpanishandAfricans.

Father J. Douglas Moyer, curate, andCanon Ginny Rex Day, retired fromTrinity Church Mt. Pocono, will beavailable for Sunday services, funer-als,weddings,andotherpastoralneeds.ChristChurch’sadministrativestaffwillworkwiththeclergy,laypastoralvolun-teersandvestrytomaintaintheparish’sdailyoperationswhileFatherFrancis isonsabbatical.Theseniorandjuniorwar-denswillbetheecclesiasticalauthority.


February 2010 diocesanlife A3

We don’t help people, we help them help themselves[The Ven. Howard Stringfellow is Archdeacon for the Diocese of Bethlehem and supply priest for Good Shepherd Scranton. This article appeared on the Diobeth newSpin blog on December 16, 2009.]

Some weeks ago the Daughters ofthe King invited me to become theirChaplain. This development was notanticipated, but I agreed to accepttheirtrulysincereinvitation.Thenmyinternal debate began. I am comfort-ableopeningthedoortoit.

The Daughters probably don’t knowthat the seminary training (entitled‘TheTheoryandPracticeofMinistry’)inpastoral care Ihadwas (how shall Iputthis?)acoursetaughtbyagaggleofprofessorswhoseexpertiselayelsewhereandwhose syllabuswaschartedbyper-sonalreminiscencesratherthanbyany-thing approaching the normative con-tentofPastoralCare,anacademicfieldaswell-definedasany,repletewithbibli-ographies,histories,surveysofthelitera-ture,andabstracts.Whenthisconcernarose, I saw it to be a growth oppor-tunity,andopportunitytofunctionupandtotakeresponsibilityforwhattheseminarydidn’t teach.Thisisnothingnew:I’vebeendoingthissincegradua-tion.Secondly,theDaughtershadseensomething in me for which they, too,haddecidedtoberesponsible.Weareinthisrelationshiptogether.Theprospectsfor this new ministry were looking up.I’lldomypartasbestIcan.

Thenthe“help” issuecametomind.This is a tough one to describe effec-tively.It’saminorityview,certainly;it’sa view that can trigger disagreement,misunderstanding,conflict,andevenre-sentment.Icanshowyoumyscars.Yearsofpracticeandreflectionarerequiredtokeep these results at bay. Holding thisviewremindsmeofbelievingthatNewYork pizza is just fine and then servingit—inChicagowhere theyenjoyadif-ferent pie altogether. It’s a view thatempowersanundertow;it’saviewthatcanbeaflashpoint.

Chaplains, by vocation, help people.Helpingisahighexpectationofthemasthey are generally understood to func-

tion.DoIneedtoexplaintotheDaugh-tersthatwhenhelpingpeoplecomesup,Ilookinaslightlydifferentdirection?

WhatItrytodoisperceiveaperson’sresponsibilityandfunctioningfairly,andthen ask, if needed,why someone isn’tstepping up. This is a version of Bene-dictinepractice:aruleisset,andwhentheruleisbroken,oneaskswhyandgoesas deeply as necessary in search of theanswer. The result is an improvementin following the rule. Chaplains, ontheotherhand,lookforhurtingpeopleand thengive them the attention theyneed or want or both. The bigger thehurt, the more attention the Chaplaingives.Greaterattentioncanbegivenac-cordingtootherfactorsaswell,suchashowobstreperousapersoncanbe ifhedoesn’t get theamountof attentionhefeelsishisrightorwhetherthepersonisasubstantialdonor.

But I approach the role of Chaplainorgiverofpastoralcarefromadifferentperspective, admittedly from a minor-ity point of view. A request for help isan invitationtocreatea triangle.First,there’s the person making the request.Second,thereisaperson,anexperience,afear,alimitation,aparentalinfluence,an automatic behavior—something—thathasenoughpoweroverthepersonto hinder the person from meeting herorhisownneeds.Theperson,byaskingforhelp,attemptstoalleviateortoworkaround the stress or anxiety that existsbetweenherorhimand thehindrancebybringingsomeoneelsein(theChap-lainorwhomever)whowillstanduptothesomething,whatever it is,andsavethe person from working through thatstressoranxiety.

Andso, requests forhelp, invitationstocreateatriangle,havetobeevaluatedcarefully. What is the something, thehindrance, that keeps the person fromfunctioningwellonherown?Whyhas

he given it the power he has given it?WhatrolecantheChaplaintakethatatonetimebothdecreasesthepowerofthesomething and increases the maturityand responsibilityof theperson?Therearewaystodothesethings,butIsubmitthat theymove in adifferentdirectionfromreinforcingthehindranceandfromgivingtheattentionthepersonexpects.Thewaysmoveinthedirectionofliber-atingthepersonfromthehindranceandofsettingthepersonfreefromthesenseof being stuckwhich led theperson toseek help in the first place. For somepeople, this medicine is too strong. It’snoteasy. It takesveryhardworkandalotof time. It canbe a lotmore costlythan just getting someone else to takecare of it. We don’t help people—wehelpthemhelpthemselves.

Some Chaplains fall into the trap ofthetriangle,andsomeevenexploitthetriangle’sflexibilitytoincreasethepow-erofthehindranceoverthepersonandsimultaneouslyincreasetheperson’sde-pendenceontheChaplain.SomeChap-lains, let’s call them wolves in sheep’sclothing, do this quite consciously anddeliberately.Theygettoplaysavioranddevourthesheepatthesametime.MostChaplains, however, function in thisway only unconsciously. I can just saythatthetriangle,workedinthisfashion,isbasicallyunhealthy forallpeople in-volvedinit.

The resolution given me for this“help”concernwasratherlikethatofthefirstone.TheDaughtersfoundme.Inthisrelationship,inthisChaplaincy,Iplead that Iwas likeMoses,whowastending the flocks of his father-in-law,Jethro (Exodus3:1); Gideon, who wasbeatingoutwheatinthewinepressandtrying to hide it from the Midianites(Judges 6:11); the Virgin Mary, who,we are simply told, was engaged to aman whose name was Joseph (Luke

1:27); and others in the Scriptures: Iwas quite literally minding my ownbusinesswhentherequestcame.Theyand I have felt our way along in ourconversation, and I expect that all ofus will grow closer and grow in themeasureofthefullstatureofChrist.

TheServiceofInstallationwasheldatThe Church of the Good Shepherd inScrantononAdvent3.GoodShepherddoesnothaveaChapteroftheDaugh-ters, and Ihope thatwomen therewillsenseacall to formone.FatherJoeDeAcetis, the formerChaplain, preached,and I offered the Eucharist. SeveralDaughterswhoplannedtoattendcouldnot do so because of the inclement

weather.TheHandbookof theDaugh-tersthatincludestheInstallationhasmepromise to be a spiritual guide, to pro-vide pastoral care, to be a person whogivessupport,andtoaidinmaintainingthe group. I interpret this last to meantoaidinthemaintenanceofthehealthyfunctioningofthegroup,asIamsureyounowunderstand.

IthinkyounowknowwhatImeanbythataswellashowIproposetogoaboutitwithGod’shelp.

By ArchdeAcon howArd StrinGFeLLow

Onceagain,newsweatshirtsandpantsalongwithunderwearandsockswereamongthedona-tionspresentedatDiocesanConvention.Over600 items were collected in response to theDiocesan Episcopal Church Women’s appealfortheseitems.Recentlythedonationsofnewclothingweregiventothediocesanprogramsfordistribution.Twooftheorganizationsthatbenefited were St. Stephen’s Wilkes-Barre’s“Reach”programandNewBethanyMinistriesinBethlehem.

Cathie Shollenberger, New Bethany’sTransitionalHousingProjectDirector,afterreceivingasharethecontributionofcloth-ing,wrote:“ThankyousomuchforkeepingNewBethanyMinistries in yourheart andthankyouforsharingyearafteryear.”

Since 1997 the ECW has organized aprojectthatunifiedtheDioceseofBethle-heminadiocesan-wideeffortofoutreach.This year the exact total of garments isunknownbecausenotallcollectionformswere returned at Convention. However,the response was wonderful, and the or-ganizations who received the garmentswere most grateful. ThanksbetoGodandthankyoutoalloftheparishesforyoursupport.

New Hope grants awarded to Reading and Emmaus churches

The New Hope Northeast Pennsyl-vania Grants Committee has awardedS.P.A.R.K. (Support for Parents andActivities and Resources for Kids) ofChrist Church, Reading, a one-timefood ministry grant of $25,000. ThegrantwillenableS.P.A.R.K.(1)tohelpeducate families about basic nutritionandtositdownwitheachfamilytolookattheirfoodbudget,takingintoaccounthowmuchtheyreceiveinWICandfoodstampsandwheretheyareshoppingfortheir food, and (2) to provide eithersupplemental food or transportationvouchers so they can avoid the limitedvarietyandhighcostsoftheneighborhoodcorner storeandcanget toaneconomi-callypricedgroceryorsuperstore.

Thegrantscommitteealsodesignated$4,000 to St. Margaret’s, Emmaus, forstart up costs for the parish’s new out-reach ministry to help adults improvetheir literacy and basic life skills whiletheir children are being cared for oneeveningaweek.

Remember...Ash Wednesday

February 17E.C.W. sponsors another way of givingBy LAurA cheGwidden

Laura Chegwidden and Marlene Hartshorne present some of the clothing designated for needy children which was collected during the Diocesan Convention to New Bethany Ministries.

photo provided by Cathie shollenberger



Dreams realized in two dioceses, on two sides of the worldBy chArLie BAreBo [Charlie Barebo is diocesan missioner for development and chair of the New Hope Campaign.]

ArchdeaconHowardStringfellowandI leftonamissiontriptoKajoKejionOctober20,2009.Formethetripbegantwo days before, at Bishop Paul’s NewHopeDonorsreception,andendedwitha presentation to the Presiding Bishopin November. The October event wasa meeting of New Hope donors. Wesocialized for about an hour. BishopPaul gatheredthe group andhe blessed theNew Hope do-nors and thebronze dedica-tionplaquesthatwould soon bemountedonthewalls of schoolsin the Sudan.It was an emo-tional momentfilled with love,the Holy Spiritandthememoryof loved ones.There were fewdry eyes in theroom.

We set off onthe 8,000 milejourneywith80poundsofplaquesandgreatexpectationsthatweresurpassed.Themin-ute we landed on the dirt strip at KajoKeji,significantchangesbecameevident.In the distance we saw dozens of metalroofs, two FM transmission towers andfourcellphonetowers.

We saw no people wearing rags,there was some form offootwearoneveryfootandperhaps most significantlythere were no protuberantribs, denoting an end tostarvation.

As we entered the mainroadtoRomogitherewasnobouncing, no bobbing. Theroadhadbeengraded.Itwassmooth, wide and we weretravelingat45mph.Thereisaspeedbumpeverytwokilo-meters;anintentionalspeedbumpinKajoKeji isanoteofremarkablechange.

Ontheafternoonofarriv-al we met with the Dioceseof Kajo Keji’s constructionpanel.Wereviewedcontrac-tor performance in terms ofquality, cost and timeliness.ArchdeaconStringfellow,Ste-phen Tomor and I met witheachof the four contractors todiscuss theprojectsanddoaninformalprocessreview.

ItisevidentthatNewHope’sstrictfi-nancialprotocolshaveprovidedanedu-cationforSudanesecontractors.Oftheoriginalfivecontractorsonlytwowillbeusedgoingforward,TwinsandNasera.

WemetwiththeRev.DanKure.Danis a physical engineer who works for alarge construction company in Juba,capitoloftheNewSudan.Danwasor-dainedin2008.HehasagreedtooverseetheremainingNewHopeconstruction.Heaptlypointsoutthatnolightningrodshave been used at Romogi or GaderuSchools. We are putting those light-

ening rods in place! Dan will visit thebuildingsatleastfourtimesduringtheirconstruction and insure that they areproperlybuilt.Wewereimpressedbyhiscapabilities. One noticeable differencehere – as a Sudanese, Dan has a morecritical eye than the Westerner GarryIon. We continue to benefit from thecommunityofthefaithful.

On the second day, Howard and Ivisited Sodogu, the site of one of thenext primary schools to be built. Wewere warmly welcome; a processionofchildrenwalkedusintothevillage.Thereweretwohoursofspeechesandrequests,mostlyinBari.Theheatandthejetlagmadthisalmostpainful.The

landlordpointedtothesiteofthenextschool. We addressed the crowd andaskedfortheirhelpinprocuringbricks,gravelandsandfortheconstruction.

Then,ontoGaderuforthededicationof the new school. We were over twohours lateduetoanunscheduledstopattheBethlehemTailoringCenter.Thechil-drenwalkedroughlyfourkilometersfromthe school to greet us. They escorted ustotheschoolsitemarchingandsingingawelcomesong.Wegreetedallthestudentsandparents.TheNewHopeandNewSu-dan flags were raised. We said a prayerof thanksgiving for the new schooland the donors that made the school

possible. Howard cut the rib-bon and the entire communityinspected theirnew school.Wethenwentintothechurchfor––youguessedit––twomorehoursofspeeches,inBari.

OnSaturdaywebegana90Su-danese-minute drive to Liwolo,siteofournextprimary school.

150 American-minuteslater we arrived. (RumorhasitthatStephenTomorlostatwo-dollarbettoanunnamed benefactor onthelengthofthejourney.)The students and PTAwarmly greeted us. After acompressed program of speeches(only90minutes)headmaster,theRev. Charles Kenye who was or-dainedbyBishopPaulgreetedus.Charles is the future of the NewSudan.Welleducatedandcharis-matic,hewillseethatthechildrenreceive a sound education andwalkinthewaysoftheLord.Thelandlord donated the land to thechurchinperpetuity.TheparentsandPTAwereoverjoyedwithourpledgetocompleteaschoolthereinthenextyear.

On Sunday we went to an EnglishserviceatSt.Luke’sChurchinWoodoo.We sat with the clergy; this was thefirst Sunday service we’ve attendedwithoutabishoppresent.Laypersonslargely conducted the service. Therewerehymnsbutwithout instrumentalaccompaniment. And then came the

collection. Peopleprocessed to thealtar and droppedtheir offerings inhoop-type basketsas in England. Astory fromtheGos-pels played in frontof our eyes whenyou least expectedit. ArchdeaconStringfellow and Iwitnessedthegiftofthe Widow’s Miteacted out not oncebut one hundredtimes.ConsecrationSunday will neverbe the same for meagain.

Monday was thebigday.Weofficiallyopened the college

andtheRomogiNewHopeSchool.Webeganatthecourtyardof the college. The New Hope flag wasraisedsimultaneouslywiththeflagoftheNew Sudan. It was a moment of greatemotionforpeoplewhohadneverbeforeraisedtheirnationalflag.Wewerestand-ingwithmodern-dayAdams’s,Otis’sandHamilton’s. Bishop Poggo said a prayerandwecuttheribbonstosevenbuildings.

We walked to the Romogi NewHopeSchool, a gleaming jewelunderthe mango tree. The sun bounced offthe dedication plaques. There was arainbowintheskybetweentheofficeblock and classroom block A. Rain-bowsseemtowaitforusatthisschool.

Temporarytablesandchairshadbeenbuilt and the entire village awaitedus.Therewasthemandatoryprogramand speeches in Bari. Bishop Poggothanked us. We said a prayer and cutthe ribbon. There was a feast for thevillageandeveryoneatetheirfill.

Adults with wide smiles and tears intheir eyes thanked us. They called usthe good Samaritans. I realized that Iwas seeing dreams, from both sides oftheworld,beingfulfilled.Itwasadayofgreat joy and thanksgiving because anunselfishBishopandhispeoplehadde-cidedtolivetheGospel.

Our dreams for the New Hope cam-paign are beginning to come true. IaskedforGod’sblessingsforallinbothdioceses this year and I thank you forsharing the miracles of your generos-ity inmypresence.This is thegreatestblessingIcouldaskfor.Amen.

InJulytheyouthoftheDioceseofBeth-lehem traveled to New Orleans to helpwiththerebuildingofahomeinGentilly.WehaveheardfromourcrewchiefMaryBess,thattheyhavefinishedthewalls,thewiring and the floors and that the fam-ily shouldmoveback inby this summer.MaryBessalsosentpicturesoftheroomsfromwhentheypaintedthemandputintheflooring.ThesepicturescanbefoundonthenewSpingBlog.

ThisfalltheyouthofthediocesehadaretreatfocusedonourBaptismalcovenant.WespentaweekendatKirbyHouseusingthe sacrament of Baptism as our startingpointandexploringourfaiththroughex-perienceandworship.Theweekendwasspirituallyfruitfulandwelookforwardtotheopportunitytocometogetherincom-munityagainthisyearatChristophanyatWatsonHomesteadinApril.

YouthHappens......

Char l i e the Evange l i s t recru i t s Ph i l l i e s Phans.

Charles Kenye, ordained by Bishop Paul, is the future of the new Sudan.

Students gather a t the new Liwolo Schoo l .

photo by kim rowlesFall retreat leaders, Kayla Farley, Tim Duncan and Jensen Appleman give a thumbs-up to the weekend.

photo by Charlie barebo


photo by howard stringfellow

February 2010 diocesanlife A5


Sudan--U.S. Policy and New HopeBy ArchdeAcon howArd StrinGFeLLow

Charlie Barebo and I flew toKajo Keji October 20 none thewiser.Welandedonthegrassandgravel airstrip the following daystill not knowing anything hadhappened.WhenBishopAnthonyarrivedfromJubahavingattendedanelectionoftennewbishopsfortennewdioceses in theEpiscopalChurchofSudan,hetoldus.

“President Obama has changed U. S.policyregardingSudan.Itjusthappened.”Ilookedathimblanklyfortworeasons:Iknewnothingabouttheoldpolicy,andassurelyIknewnothingaboutthenewone.But right away my neglected homeworkstoodrightinfrontofme.Nowayaroundit.Anagendahadbeenset.“Archdeacon,I will send you some documents that Ijustreceived.”

It wasoneofthosem o m e n t sthatseemedthen andnow asthoughtimeslowed, andsomethingwas beingr e v e a l e dfrom some-where be-yond thesurface. Ifind thatthe priestlyv o c a t i o nis like this.Another layer of possibility and real-ityisrevealedwhenyouleastexpectit.There’snodangerofmissingtherevela-tion, but there’s every danger that therevelationwon’tbeheededorwon’tbehonored. We come in to the pictureheedingandhonoringtherevelation;wecome into thepicturebyaccepting theloveofGodtherevelationrepresents.

And Bishop Anthony was true tohis word. The documents found theirway to my notebook computer beforeI returned to Bethlehem. You candownload the most important of thedocuments from the State Depart-ment’swebsite,AndyoucanfindthebackgroundarticleaboutSudanatthesame website, http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/5424.htm. Read them, andyouwillknowmoreaboutSudanthanmostallofthepeopleintheworld.

I draw from thefirst link, “Sudan:ACritical Moment, A ComprehensiveApproach,” that the old policy differslittlefromthenewoneexceptthatthenewoneiscomprehensive.Notlostonme, either, is the presence of the wordcomprehensive in the document out-lining the policy and in the name ofthe Comprehensive Peace Agreementof2005thatbroughtthewartoanendwhile the world watched. Old policieshavebeensuturedtogethertomakethenewone,andthenewone,theStateDe-partmentpromises,willbeimplementedby uniform and consistent application.Thepolicyhasthreestrategicobjectives:

1. A definitive end to conflict,gross human rights abuses, andgenocideinDarfur.

2. Implementation of the North-South Comprehensive Peace Agree-ment that results inapeacefulpost-2011 Sudan, or an orderly pathtowardtwoseparateandviablestatesatpeacewitheachother.

3. Ensure that Sudan does notprovide a safe haven for interna-tionalterrorists.

InMarchPresidentObamaappointed(RetiredAirForce)MajorGeneralScottGrationtobehisSpecialEnvoytoSu-dan.Borntomissionaries,hespenthisyouthinthenowDemocraticRepublicof the Congo and Kenya. Gration ischargedwith implementing thenewpolicy, and he reports to SecretaryHillaryClinton.NewsstoriesindicatethatGration sitswithotherU.S.of-ficials quarterly to evaluate Sudan’sprogresstowardthegoalsofthepolicy.

Their nextmeetingisinJanuary.Iamon the look-out for re-ports of thismeeting.

Travel toSudanmovesme deeply.I have saidthat my par-ticipation inNewHopeisthemostim-portantthingI have donein my life.New Hope’s

mission in Kajo Keji is life-giving: build-ingschoolsoffersnewhopetohundredsofschool-agechildrenandtheirfamiliesinourcompaniondiocese.Newschools representsystemicchange,animprovementthatwilladdresspovertyintime.

And our mission there gives us newhopealso.OurmissioninthepoweroftheSpirithasledtheDioceseofBethlehemtotranscendourparochialinterestsandtodosomething for otherpeoplewhoneed it.AsChristians,ourlivesarenotjustaboutus;ourlivesareaboutourlifeinChristandthelivesofallofhispeople.NewHopehas

given us theopportunityto know andtoexperiencehow fullytruethisis.

InNovem-ber I startedcatching upon some ofthe overdueh o m e w o r kabout Su-dan. I heardthe call inthe briefconversationwithBishopA n t h o n y.But Ididnot let thatbe theend to it.IstartedspendingmoretimeprayingaboutSudan,allthepeopleofSudan,offeringinaspiritualwaysomethingtoaccompanywhatIamcontinuingtodoadministrativelyandfinancially.

PrayeraboutSudanhasbecomemoreand more important to me. Tensionsrise as elections, scheduled for April,approach.OnSaturday,TheNewYorkTimesreportedatribalconflictbetweentheDinkaandtheNuerinDukPadiet.Suchconflictsarenotunusual,butre-centlytheyhavebeenmoreintensewithmoreweapons,freshuniforms,andmilitaryparaphernalia.PeoplefearthatNorthernSudanstokestribalcon-flicts in the South to sabotage SouthSudan’sunity andpeace.Recent skir-mishes have raised the possibility ofoutsidesupportandinterference.

In 2011, also, according to theComprehensivePeaceAgreementof2005,areferendumwillbeheldthatwillofferSouthSudanthechoiceofself-determination. Then the peopleofSouthSudanwill decidewhether tosecedeorremainpartofaunifiedSudan.Northern Sudan grudgingly acceptedthe U. S.-sponsored CPA, and stayingonscheduleforthereferendumremainsU.S.policy.InJanuary2005,whentheCPA began the cease-fire, Sudan hadcaptured much of the world’s atten-tion.Thatinterest,Iobserve,haswanedsomewhatbutnotverymuch.Thenew

U.S.policy indicatesourofficials’eyesareonSudan.

Yesterday, a report from the BBC(that Bishop Paul shared with us) andonefromtheVoiceofAmericaindicateagreementshavebeenreachedbetweenthemajorpoliticalpartiesofNorthandSouth Sudan about the proportion ofvotesandturnoutrequiredfortherefer-endumtobebinding.Someotherissue,unnamed in the BBC report, remainsunresolvedatthemoment.

To answer these concerns and toanswer the needs of our sisters andbrothersinKajoKeji,IwroteanduseaprayerthatIwanttosharewithyou.It’stheprayerweusedatGoodShep-herdinScrantonyesterdayinresponsetoBishopPaul’srequestforprayersforSudanfromallofourchurches.

A Collect for All the People of SudanLord Christ when first you came to

earth, you proclaimed the Kingdom of God by blessing the poor in spirit and by healing the sick: Grant such grace to all the people of Sudan that they may grow to the measure of your full stature; all this we ask in your holy Name. Amen.

Growing to the measure of Christ’sfull stature Christ wants for each oftheSudanese.Andhewantsitforyouand forme, too.WithNewHope,wehaveaninstrumentinplaceforChristtousetoaccomplishthatforthemandforusatthesametime.

Archdeacon Howard Stringfellow dedicates the new Gaderu Primary School.

The Widow’s Mite was acted out many times.

Senior Space at St. Luke’s Scranton

SeniorSpace,aprogramtobringtogeth-er the downtown seniors from the localhigh-risebuildings inScrantonforanaf-ternoonofsharingfoodandfun,beganatSt.Luke’sEpiscopalChurchinJune,2009.

Heldonthe secondSundayeveryothermonth, 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., attendance hasbeen increasing: June (21Seniors andfivevolunteers), August (27 Seniors and eight

volunteers),andOctober(40Seniorsandfivedif-ferentvolunteersfromSt.Luke’s).

Atoneof thegatherings, anaccomplishedpi-anistguestenter-tained everyone.He promised toreturn.

With thebacking of St.Luke’s rector,Father Peter

D’Angio, the vestry and 26 pa-rishionersorganizingtheseafter-noons, Senior Space coordina-torsBeverlyHoeffnerandLindaHowarth said they are “lookingahead hopefully to expandingthis new community service.”Responses received in December

indicatedthatsome60to70Seniorsandeight new volunteers have signed up fortheJanuary10event.



photos provided by st. luke’s, sCranton



Respect on the Road

By cAnon Anne e. kitch

Isatwithaclassof5thand6thgradersafewyearsagowhilewediscussedhowwe were going to honor Lent. We hadmoved the discussion beyond the ideaof “giving something up,” to thoughtsof how we might work toward chang-ingsomebehaviorinourselvesthatkeptus from acting in love. We had agreedthat we would each write our personalLentenchallengeonacard,andwouldcheckinwithoneanotherabouthowitwasgoingduringtheseason.

I sat at that tableand thoughtaboutwhatIwantedto,neededto,changeinmy life. The first three thoughts that

came to mind were excellent oppor-tunities for Lenten discipline. None,however, was anything I would admittoagroupof11-year-olds.IstruggledtothinkofsomebehaviorItrulywantedtochangebutwasalsowillingtotalkabout.HowcouldIpossiblyleadthesekidsbyexampleifIwasn’twillingtotakearisk?So I did two things. I told them theymight have something important theywantedtochange intheir life thatwastooprivatetosharewiththegroup;thatwasfine.ThenIwroteonmycard,“Stopyellingatotherdrivers.”

At the time I felt it was kind of awimpychoice.True,Iwasinthehabitofyellingatotherdriversontheroadwhentheyirritatedme.Actually,Ididn’tyell;I simply made exasperated comments.Theotherdriverscouldn’thearmeany-way.So,waschangingthisbehaviorre-allyworthyofaLentendiscipline?

Still, that iswhatIwroteandthat iswhat I did. It was a richer experience

thanIcouldeverhaveimagined.First,itwasdifficult.Thewordswouldflyoutofmymouthas someonemadeaturnwithout signaling, drove at a snail’space,orpulledout in frontofmetooquickly.Ireallyhadtopayattentiontomy reactions in order to stop the flipcomments.OnceIhadmanagedthat,Ibegantonoticethings.FirstIobservedjust how often I engaged in verbalcommentary about the other driverson the road. Then, as with practice Iwasabletocurbmytongue,Iperceivedthat I developed more compassion-ate thoughts about the other drivers.Perhaps there was a very good reasontheperson in frontofmewasdrivingslowly. Perhaps that guy really hadn’tseen me when he pulled out and hadmadea simplemistake.Perhaps Iwasthe one in too much of a hurry whoneededtoslowdown.

By the timeEaster camearound Iwasadifferentdriverandacalmerperson. It

turnsoutthatit is impos-sible to spewirritation atothers (evenoutside oftheir hear-ing) and nothave it spillall over one-self. Huh.Thecorollaryis also true.Treating oth-erswith simplecourtesyalsobolstersone’sowndignity.

Of course, not all good habits remaininplaceifnotpracticed.ThisLent,Iamgoing to commit to being courteous tootherdrivers,inwordanddeed.Again.Thosewhoride inthecarwithmemostoftenwillbegrateful.AswillallthosewithwhomIsharetheroad,evenastheygoabouttheir business unaware of my actions. Be-causerespectingthedignityofeveryhumanbeingmatters—insmallinstancesaswellasmonumentaloccasions.

BishopPaulhasappointed tenmem-bers to the newly formed CommissiononLifelongChristianFormationfortheDioceseofBethlehem.TheRev.AnneE. Kitch, Canon for Formation in theChristianFaith,willchairthisCommis-sion.

The mission of this group will be tosupport lifelong Christian formation intheparishesoftheDioceseofBethlehemwith particular emphasis on children’sministry and adult formation, to liveinto theCharter forLifelongChristianFormationadoptedby the76thGeneralConvention of the Episcopal Church,and to uphold General ConventionResolutionA083(2009)toformulateaDiocesanStrategyforLifelongChristianFormation. The Diocesan Mission-er for Youth will be an ex-officiomember of this commission, andthemissiontosupporttheyouthof

ourdiocesewillcontinueundertheYouthMinistries.

The Commission will be responsiblefor planning Bishop’s Day for Kids andother formationevents, continuing theworkofAWEChildren’sMinistries,pro-vidingtrainingdaysforChristianEduca-tors,providingresourcestosupportpar-ishChristianEducationandFormationprograms, and supporting the work oftheCanon forFormation in theChris-tianFaith.

Joan DeAcetis (St. Peter’s, Hazelton) Marion Meiss (St. Peter’s, Hazelton) Ann Mickus (Nativity, Bethlehem) Linda Moggio (Christ Church, Reading)Brian Pavlac (St. Stephen’s, Wilkes Barre) Kim Rowles (St. Gabriel’s, Douglasville)Ellyn Siftar (Trinity, Bethlehem) Judith Snyder (St. Anne’s, Trexlertown)Terry Wible (St. Luke’s, Lebanon)

Bishop Paul Appoints Members to Lifelong Christian Formation Commission

Dive In! February 27, 2010A Day Exploring BaptismWhat does it mean...to be baptized and to live a bap-tized life? How can you nurture your life in Christ? How can your congregation live more deeply into baptismal ministry? A day of Christian Formation for parents, Christian educators, clergy, and anyone seeking a deeper life in Christ.Presenters:The Rev. Canon Anne E. KitchThe Rev. Hillary Raining

Where: Church of the Good Shepherd1780 North Washington St.Scranton, PA 18509

Time: 9:30am to 3:30pm

Other: For more information and to register go to Diocesan Event Registration at www.diobeth.org or call Rosie Hummel 610-691-5655.

Sponsored by the Commission on Lifelong ChristianFormation of the Diocese of Bethlehem

*********Think Spring********

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Ecumenical and Interfaith Relations“ I am happy to announce that after

aperiodofgatheringfor initialconver-sations,weonceagainhaveaCommis-sion on Ecumenical and Interfaith Re-lations,” Bishop Paul wrote recently tomembersoftheDioceseofBethlehem.

“It is comprisedof a goodnumberofclergyandlaypeoplefromthenorthandthe south of the Diocese. Because thiswork is so important and because theRev. Maria Tjeltveit has put so muchtimeandenergyintotheeffortssofar,Ihavenamedherthechairofthecommis-sionasCanonforEcumenicalandInter-faithRelations.Iknowyouwillwanttocongratulateheronherappointment.

“Those who attend convention arealready familiarwith her reportsand her dedicat-ed work on thedialoguewiththeMoravians. Oneof the Commis-sion’s tasks is tokeepuseducatedand motivatedin these matters,

sowithyou I look forward tohearingfromthem.”

Canon Maria W. E. Tjeltveit hasbeenrectoroftheChurchoftheMe-diator,Allentown,sinceSeptember1,1999. (Her first name is pronounced“Mariah” and her last name is pro-nounced“Cheltvate”.)

She is a member of the Moravian-Episcopal dialogue on the nationallevelandisactiveinJewish-ChristianandMuslim-Christiandialogue.SheisEcumenical and Interfaith Officer fortheDioceseofBethlehem.

Commission MembersRodney Conn (Diocesan Staff)Lou Divis (Deacon)Peter D’Angio (St. Luke’s, Scranton)Daniel Gunn (St. Stephen’s, Wilkes-Barre)Elizabeth Haynes (Christ, Stroudsburg)Fred Mauger (Retired)Mariclair Partee (Nativity, Bethlehem)Lexa Shallcross (St. Margaret’s, Emmaus)Maria Tjeltveit (Mediator, Allentown)Norma Meyers (Mediator, Allentown)Jon Rinnander (Trinity, Bethlehem)Jerry Gaeta (Lutheran Ecumenical Member)

February 2010 diocesanlife A7Mar. 11:ClergyBibleStudy2,Mar. 11: Clergy Bible Study 2, St.

Stephen’s,Whitehall2:00P.M.Mar. 13: Commission on Ministry

Meeting(viaConferenceCall)Mar. 14:DaylightSavingTimeBe-

ginsMar. 14: Bishop Paul, St. Mark’s,

NewMilfordMar. 14:BishopJack,Christ,Read-

ingMar. 16: Clergy Bible Study 7, St.

Mark’s,Moscow2:00P.M.Mar. 21:TrioJolieinConcert,Trin-

ity,Pottsville,4:00P.M.Mar. 21:“BadHabits”,ACathedral

PlayersProduction,CathedralChurchof theNativity,Bethlehem,4:00P.M.Formoreinformation,contactRussellJackson,610-865-0727.

Mar. 23: Clergy Bible Study 8,Christ,Towanda4:00P.M.

Mar. 23:ArchdeaconVisit,St.Ga-briel’s,Douglassville6:00P.M.

Mar. 25: Chrism Mass, Nativity,Bethlehem11:00A.M.

Mar. 30: Clergy Bible Study 3, St.Alban’s,SinkingSprings2:00P.M.

Apr. 1:MaundyThursdayApr. 4: Bishop Jack, St. Gabriel’s,

DouglassvilleApr. 4: Bishop Paul, Cathedral,

BethlehemApr. 6:ClergyBibleStudy6,Holy

Cross,Wilkes-Barre2:00P.M.Apr. 8:ClergyBibleStudy1,Nativ-

ity,Bethlehem2:00P.M.Apr. 9-11: Province III Youth

Event, Bishop Claggett Center Buck-eystown, MD. For more information,seetheProvince3YouthpageonFace-book.

Apr. 10: Commission on MinistryMeeting

Apr. 13: Clergy Bible Study 7, St.Mark’s,Moscow2:00P.M.

Apr. 15: Clergy Bible Study 2, St.Stephen’s,Whitehall2:00P.M.

Apr. 16-18:ChristophanyApr. 18: Bishop Jack, Christ,

SusquehannaApr. 18: Bishop Paul, St. James’

SchuylkillHavenApr. 18: Monocacy Chamber Or-

chestradirectedbyDonaldSpiethfea-turingPoulenc’sOrganConcertowithRussell Jackson as soloist. For moreinformation, contact Russell Jackson,610-865-0727.

Apr. 20: Clergy Bible Study 8,Christ,Towanda4:00P.M.

In the Diocese of Bethlehemwww.diobeth.org

February 7: St. Andrew’s Church,Alden.TheRev. JohnLeo,SupplyandTrinityandSt.Philip’sChurch,Lansford.TheRev.RobertWellner,LicensedtoOfficiateFebruary 14: Church of the Me-diator,Allentown.TheRev.CanonMarieW.E.Tjeltveit,Rector,TheRev. Walter Krieger, Assistant andtheDiocesanStaff.February 21: Grace Church, Al-lentown. The Rev. Patrick L. Mal-loy,RectorandTheRev.ChristinaNord,AssistantPriestandtheCom-missiononMinistry.February 28:St.Andrew’sChurch,Allentown.TheRev.T.ScottAllen,RectorandtheDiocesanCouncil.

Anglicans Around the Worldwww.anglicancommunion.org

February 7: The Church of theProvinceofCentralAfricaFebruary 14:IglesiaAnglicanadelaRegionCentraldeAmericaTheMostRev.dMartinde JesusBara-honaPrimateofIARCA&BishopofElSalvadorFebruary 21: Provincede L’EgliseAnglicane Du Congo The MostRev.d Henry Kahwa IsingomaArchbishopoftheCongo&Bish-opofBogaFebruary 28: The Church ofEngland The Most Rev.d RowanDouglas Williams Archbishop ofCanterbury

The Diocese of Kajo Keji

February 7: Beliak Parish. TheRev. Elikana Lodu. Pasiki Parish.TheRev.CosmasLoburiYustoFebruary 14: Ajira Parish. TheRev.JosephLomuja.PomojuGirlsSecondary School and PomojuParish. The Rev. John Mono andStaff, The Rev. Jeneti Poni, andTheRev.StephenDukuLotiyoFebruary 21: Akuboro Parish.TheRev.StanleyRumbe.RetiredBishop & Canon Emeritus. TheRt.Rev.BishopManassehBinyiFebruary 28:AndejoParish.TheRev.NelsonWolyanAdaria.RodoParish.TheRev.ScopasModiandTheRev.AggreyLudoru

planAhead prayFor

In the Diocese of Bethlehemwww.diobeth.org

February 7: St. Andrew’s Church,Alden.TheRev. JohnLeo,SupplyandTrinityandSt.Philip’sChurch,Lansford.TheRev.RobertWellner,LicensedtoOfficiateFebruary 14: Church of the Me-diator,Allentown.TheRev.CanonMarieW.E.Tjeltveit,Rector,TheRev. Walter Krieger, Assistant andtheDiocesanStaff.February 21: Grace Church, Al-lentown. The Rev. Patrick L. Mal-loy,RectorandTheRev.ChristinaNord,AssistantPriestandtheCom-missiononMinistry.February 28:St.Andrew’sChurch,Allentown.TheRev.T.ScottAllen,RectorandtheDiocesanCouncil.

Anglicans Around the Worldwww.anglicancommunion.org

February 7: The Church of theProvinceofCentralAfricaFebruary 14:IglesiaAnglicanadelaRegionCentraldeAmericaTheMostRev.dMartinde JesusBara-honaPrimateofIARCA&BishopofElSalvadorFebruary 21: Provincede L’EgliseAnglicane Du Congo The MostRev.d Henry Kahwa IsingomaArchbishopoftheCongo&Bish-opofBogaFebruary 28: The Church ofEngland The Most Rev.d RowanDouglas Williams Archbishop ofCanterbury

The Diocese of Kajo Keji

February 7: Beliak Parish. TheRev. Elikana Lodu. Pasiki Parish.TheRev.CosmasLoburiYustoFebruary 14: Ajira Parish. TheRev.JosephLomuja.PomojuGirlsSecondary School and PomojuParish. The Rev. John Mono andStaff, The Rev. Jeneti Poni, andTheRev.StephenDukuLotiyoFebruary 21: Akuboro Parish.TheRev.StanleyRumbe.RetiredBishop & Canon Emeritus. TheRt.Rev.BishopManassehBinyiFebruary 28:AndejoParish.TheRev.NelsonWolyanAdaria.RodoParish.TheRev.ScopasModiandTheRev.AggreyLudoru

prayFor

St. Andrew’s Church,Alden.TheRev. JohnLeo,SupplyandTrinityandSt.Philip’sChurch,Lansford.TheRev.RobertWellner,

Church of the Me-diator,Allentown.TheRev.CanonMarieW.E.Tjeltveit,Rector,TheRev. Walter Krieger, Assistant and

Grace Church, Al-lentown. The Rev. Patrick L. Mal-loy,RectorandTheRev.ChristinaNord,AssistantPriestandtheCom-

St.Andrew’sChurch,Allentown.TheRev.T.ScottAllen,

Anglicans Around the World

The Church of the

IglesiaAnglicanadelaRegionCentraldeAmericaTheMostRev.dMartinde JesusBara-honaPrimateofIARCA&Bishop

Provincede L’EgliseAnglicane Du Congo The MostRev.d Henry Kahwa IsingomaArchbishopoftheCongo&Bish-

The Church ofEngland The Most Rev.d RowanDouglas Williams Archbishop of

Beliak Parish. TheRev. Elikana Lodu. Pasiki Parish.

Ajira Parish. TheRev.JosephLomuja.PomojuGirlsSecondary School and PomojuParish. The Rev. John Mono andStaff, The Rev. Jeneti Poni, and

Akuboro Parish.TheRev.StanleyRumbe.RetiredBishop & Canon Emeritus. The

AndejoParish.TheRev.NelsonWolyanAdaria.RodoParish.TheRev.ScopasModiand

prayFor

In the Diocese of Bethlehem

St. Andrew’s Church,Alden.TheRev. JohnLeo,SupplyandTrinityandSt.Philip’sChurch,Lansford.TheRev.RobertWellner,

Church of the Me-diator,Allentown.TheRev.CanonMarieW.E.Tjeltveit,Rector,TheRev. Walter Krieger, Assistant and

Grace Church, Al-lentown. The Rev. Patrick L. Mal-loy,RectorandTheRev.ChristinaNord,AssistantPriestandtheCom-

St.Andrew’sChurch,Allentown.TheRev.T.ScottAllen,

Anglicans Around the World

The Church of the

IglesiaAnglicanadelaRegionCentraldeAmericaTheMostRev.dMartinde JesusBara-honaPrimateofIARCA&Bishop

Provincede L’EgliseAnglicane Du Congo The MostRev.d Henry Kahwa IsingomaArchbishopoftheCongo&Bish-

The Church ofEngland The Most Rev.d RowanDouglas Williams Archbishop of

Beliak Parish. TheRev. Elikana Lodu. Pasiki Parish.

Ajira Parish. TheRev.JosephLomuja.PomojuGirlsSecondary School and PomojuParish. The Rev. John Mono andStaff, The Rev. Jeneti Poni, and

Akuboro Parish.TheRev.StanleyRumbe.RetiredBishop & Canon Emeritus. The

AndejoParish.TheRev.NelsonWolyanAdaria.RodoParish.TheRev.ScopasModiand

prayFor

Apr. 24:DiocesanTrainingDay,St.Stephen’s,Wilkes-Barre9:00A.M. to2:00 P.M. Online registration opensFebruary20th

Apr. 27: Clergy Bible Study 3, St.Alban’s,SinkingSprings2:00P.M.

Apr. 27:ArchdeaconVisit,St.Al-ban’s,SinkingSprings6:00P.M.

Apr. 30 – May 2: Creating a Cul-ture of Peace, Diocesan Peace Com-mission,CathedralChurchoftheNa-tivity,Bethlehem.Costis$25forthreedaysoftraining.Moredetailstocome.

May 2: Progressive Organ Recitalin Bethlehem. Nativity at 4:00 P.M.,Trinity at 5:00 P.M., and CentralMoravianat6:00P.M.Formoreinfor-mation,contactRussell Jackson,610-865-0727.

May 4:ClergyBibleStudy6,HolyCross,Wilkes-Barre2:00P.M.

May 4: Archdeacon Visit, St. Ste-phen’s,Whitehall6:00P.M.

May 6:ClergyDayMay 8: Commission on Ministry

MeetingMay 10: Archdeacon Visit, Nativ-

ity,Bethlehem6:00P.M.May 11: Clergy Bible Study 7, St.

Mark’s,Moscow2:00P.M.May 13:ClergyBibleStudy1,Na-

tivity,Bethlehem2:00P.M.May 16: Bishop Jack, St. Alban’s,

SinkingSpringsMay 16:BishopPaul,St.Stephen’s,

WhitehallMay 16:St.Matthew’sSocietyDin-

ner,LehighValleyCountryClub,Al-lentown3:00P.M.to6:00P.M.

May 16: Soprano Mara Hazzard inConcert,Trinity,Pottsville,4:00P.M.

May 16: Celebrity Organ Recital,Cathedral Church of the Nativity,Bethlehem,4:00P.M.GivenbyMollieNichols,DirectorofMusicforChurchoftheHeavenlyRest,NYC.Formoreinformation, contact Russell Jackson,610-865-0727.

May 18: Clergy Bible Study 8,Christ,Towanda4:00P.M.

May 18: Archdeacon Visit, GoodShepherdandSt.John’s,Milford6:00P.M.

May 20: Clergy Bible Study 2, St.Stephen’s,Whitehall2:00P.M.

May 23: Bishop Jack, Good Shep-herdandSt.John’s,Milford

May 23: Bishop Paul, Nativity,Bethlehem

May 25: Clergy Bible Study 3, St.Alban’s,SinkingSprings2:00P.M.


The Bakery and the newSpin newsletter –– The onlineBakery,includesnews,ideas,opinionandconversationrelatedtoourdiocesan community, theEpiscopalChurch and theAnglicanCom-munion.ConsiderbecomingabakerintheHouseofBread.Bethle-hem,youknow,means“HouseofBread”inHebrew.NewsispostedintheBakerylongbeforeyouseeitinprintinDiocesanLife.Ifyouprefertoreceiveonlytwoorthreeemailnotesweekly,newSpinisforyou.Visitourdiocesanwebsite,www.diobeth.org, tojoineitherBakeryor newSpin. Complete the bit of information requested at the “GetConnected”box,aboutonescreendowninthecolumnontheright.

Jan. 27-29: Building an EthicalEconomyby theTrinity InstituteatZion’sEvangelicalLutheranChurch,OldZionsville,PA.Costis$35.Formoreinformationortoregister,[email protected].

Jan. 28:DiocesanCouncil,Grace,Kingston6:30P.M.

Jan. 29-30: Bishop’s Open MicwithYouth,GoodShepherd,Scran-ton. Registration is now open atwww.diobeth.org. Registration clos-esJanuary25th.

Feb. 2:ClergyBibleStudy6,HolyCross,Wilkes-Barre2:00P.M.

Feb. 2: Archdeacon Visit, St.Clement’s and St. Peter’s, Wilkes-Barre6:00P.M.

Feb. 4:ClergyBibleStudy1,Na-tivity,Bethlehem2:00P.M.

Feb. 5:HuganEpiscopalianDayFeb.6:CelebrationofNewMinis-

try,Grace,Kingston4:00P.M.Feb. 9:ClergyBibleStudy7,St.

Mark’s,Moscow2:00P.M.Feb. 11:ClergyBibleStudy2,St.

Stephen’s,Whitehall2:00P.M.Feb. 13:CommissiononMinistry

Meeting(viaConferenceCall)Feb. 14:BishopPaul,St.Peter’s,

TunkhannockFeb. 14: Bishop Jack, Trinity,

WestPittstonFeb. 16: Clergy Bible Study 8,

Christ,Towanda4:00P.M.Feb. 17:AshWednesdayFeb. 21: Bishop Paul, St. Clem-

ent’sandSt.Peter’s,Wilkes-BarreFeb. 21:BishopJack,HolyCross,

Wilkes-BarreFeb. 23:ClergyBibleStudy3,St.

Alban’s,SinkingSprings2:00P.M.Feb. 23: Archdeacon Visit, Re-

deemer,Sayre6:00P.M.Feb. 27: Dive In: A Day Explor-

ing Baptism with the Rev. CanonAnne Kitch and the Rev. HillaryRaining, Good Shepherd, Scranton9:30A.M.to3:30P.M.Costis$10.Registrationisnowopenatwww.di-obeth.org.RegistrationonlineclosesFebruary22nd.

Feb. 28: Bishop Paul, St. Luke’s,Lebanon

Mar. 2: Clergy Bible Study 6,HolyCross,Wilkes-Barre2:00P.M.

Mar. 2: Archdeacon Visit, St.Mark’s,NewMilford6:00P.M.

Mar. 4:ClergyBibleStudy1,Na-tivity,Bethlehem2:00P.M.

Mar. 7: Bishop Jack, St. Brigid’s,Nazareth

Mar. 7: Bishop Paul, Redeemer,Sayre

Mar. 9:ClergyDay



Bishop Paul ordains three new deacons

Above right,Deacons Christine Sutton and Michelle White prepare the altar for Eucharist. Above, Deacon Brian Pavlac, Bishop Paul Marshall, Deacon Michelle White and Deacon Christine Sutton pose for proud family members. Left, Deacon Brian Pavlac serves Mr. Frank Conyngham during the Eucharist.

OnDecember21st,2009,atSt.Stephen’sPro-Cathedral,Wilkes-Barre,BishopPaulordainedBrian Pavlac, Michelle White and Christine Sutton to the sacred order of deacons. The Rev.Christine Sutton, a member of Prince of Peace, Dallas, has been assigned to serve her intern-shipatSt.Mark’s,Moscow.TheRev.BrianPavlac,amemberofGraceChurch,Kingston,hasbeenassignedtoservehisinternshipatSt.Stephen’sPro-Cathedral,Wilkes-Barre.TheRev.Mi-chelleWhite,amemberofGoodShepherd&St.JohnEvangelist,Milford,isservingatAllSaintsChurch,Hoboken,NJ.

A church message with universal appeal

Maybeitwasthebrickwallsandmod-est marble columns, or the wood floorcraftedfromthousandsofslatsnotmuchbiggerthanPopsiclesticks.

Maybe itwas thehalfdomeabovethe altar, sporting a semi-circle ofpetite stained glass windows backlitjustenoughtogiveaglimmerofthedetailtheycontained.

Maybeitwastheflamedcopper“facadepipes”oftheorganthatcanstillbedeemedrecently restored. True, the refurbishinghappenedsevenyearsago,butsincepartsoftheinstrumentaremorethanacenturyold,sevenyearssoundsrecent.

Orperhaps itwas theopen-armedan-gelsthatemergefromtheornatewooden

trusses in theceiling at St.Stephen’s Epis-copal Church.With elbowsgentlybentandhands curvedinward, thecarved heaven-ly hosts lookedlike they couldbe guiding thesound into justthe right loca-tion for listen-ingpleasure.

Someth ingmade the acoustics sing during a spe-cial“Evensong”lastweekthatmarkedwhatwasbelieved tobe thefirstvisitby the Episcopal Presiding Bishop in190years.

I know choral church music isn’teveryone’s cup of tea – heck, it’s tor-tureforsome--butwhendoneright,Ifinditspirituallyupliftinginawayfewother human endeavors match. And,frankly, the Catholic churches I’vebeen attending have shrunk so muchthey rarely have the people power topulloffafull-throatedsongfest.That’snoreflectionontheirmusicministries;it’sjustarealityofourtime.

Presiding Bishop Katherine Jef-ferts Schori didn’t have much to dootherthansitandlisten.Thiswasn’taMass,oranelaborateritual.Itwasmostlyaconcertwiththecrowdoc-casionally joining in, punctuated byafewreadings,highlightedbyJeffertsSchori’ssermon.

She openedby rattling offsome of the na-tions the Episco-pal Church callshome. “Greetingsfrom our diocesein Colombia, TheDominican Re-public,Ecuador…Austria, Belgium,France, Germany… and the other99 Episcopal Dio-cesesintheU.S.”

The last com-mentdrewchuck-

les during a pause, after which she added“Theyprayforyou;Iwouldaskthatyouprayforthem.”

Jefferts Schori acknowledged short-comings not only of her faith, but ofreligion in general. The number ofAmericans who are essentially notconnectedtoanychurchkeepsclimb-ingrapidly,evenasthevastmajorityofusclaimtobespiritual.

She stressed that faith is a lifelonglearning process. “We don’t learn whatweneedtoknowbythetimewearecon-firmedattheageof12or13.”

Thepresidingbishopdidnottouchon any of the issues threatening todivide the Episcopal Church, suchas appointing an openly gay bishop,allowing priests to bless same-sexunions, or the ordination of womenasprieststhat,whilenotnew,ranklestraditionalists. Jefferts Schori is thefirst female presiding bishop in the220yearsthepositionhasexisted.

Iconfess,afteralifetimeofmale-on-lysermonsinCatholicchurches,therewas something refreshing about hear-ingawoman’svoiceatthepodium,butit may have simply been the novelty.Itwastheuniversaltidbitsinhermes-sagethatstruckme.

When she summed up the Episco-palian mission in a single sentence, Ithought the message transcended themoment.Thoughspokeninachurch,itshouldholdtrueinanysetting;aworth-whilegoalforeveryone:

“Weparticipateintryingtohealthisworld.That’swhatwe’reherefor.”

By MArk GuydiSh

Open-armed angels

“We participate in trying to heal this world. That’s what we’re here for.”

Canon Mark Laubach, Minister of Music, plays the organ for the Presiding Bishop’s visit.

photos this page by kat lehman

Times Leader, Wilkes-BarreNovember 17, 2009Reprinted with permission

dreams realized in two dioceses, on two sides of the world ... · regular location becomes...

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