the record - summer 2013

Summer Guideto Churchesin Our Diocese

VOL. 4, ISSUE 2 • SUMMER 2013

2 The Record/Summer 2013 Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

All submissions directed to the Secretary of Convention should be submitted to: The Very Rev. W. Richard Hamlin, Secretary of Convention Email: [email protected] or FAX: 313/831-0259

If electronic submission or FAX is not possible, please mail hard copies to: Secretary of Convention Diocese of Michigan c/o 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201

June 28, 2013Proposed amendments to the Constitution and Canons are due to the Chair of the Committee on Constitution and Canons. (Canon 7.1) Please submit to: Chair, Committee on Constitution and Canons Diocese of Michigan 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201 with a copy to the Secretary of Convention (see above) June 28, 2013Certification of Lay Delegates forms are due. (Canon 1.1.1.2.2) Please submit to: Office of Diocesan Convention 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201-1399Email: [email protected] FAX: 313/831-0259 July 14, 2013 Nomination Forms for elective office are due to: Chair, Committee on Nominations and Elections Office of Diocesan Convention 4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201 FAX: 313/831-0259

July 26, 2013Mailing of 2013 Slate of Candidates and Petition Forms (Canon 1.2.2.3)Slate of candidates whose names have been received by the Committee and petition forms are mailed to clergy and lay delegates. (Deadline for nomination forms is July 14, 2013)

July 26, 2013 Mailing of 2014 Proposed Budget, Draft Budget for 2015 and Congregational Commitment Form (Canon 2.4.2.2) July 26, 2013 Exhibitor Reservation forms due to: Convention Exhibit Reservation Office of Diocesan Convention4800 Woodward Avenue Detroit, MI 48201-1399

Timeline To The 179Th ConvenTion of The DioCese of miChigan October 25-26, 2013 Detroit Marriott Hotel at the Renaissance Center

July 26, 2013Journal Reports due Please email all reports to be included in the Convention Journal to Beth Rowley at [email protected]. If electronic submission is not possible, please mail a hard copy of the report to: Office of Diocesan Convention 4800 Woodward AvenueDetroit, MI 48201-1399 August 26, 2013 Proposed resolutions to diocesan convention are due to the Secretary of Convention. (Canons 1.1.4.1 and 1.1.4.2) Please submit to:FAX: 313/831-0259

Note: Proposed resolutions (electronic form preferred) must be received no later than 4:30 p.m. August 26, 2013. (Resolutions not received by this date and time will require a 2/3 vote of convention to be considered.)

If electronic submission is not possible, a hard copy may be submitted to the Secretary of Convention at the mailing address on the first page of this timeline. August 26, 2013Congregational Commitment forms due in the Office of the Bishop (Canon 2.4.2.3)

September 10, 2013All nominating petitions from candidates running for Diocesan offices by petition are due. (Canon 1.2.2.4) Please submit to: [email protected] FAX: 313/831-0259

September 25, 2013

Convention packets mailed to lay and clergy delegates:

Questions regarding Diocesan Convention? Please contact Canon Jo Ann Hardy, Diocesan Administrator

313.833.4422 or [email protected]

2014 Proposed Budget, 2015 Draft Budget and Reports of the Committees on Reference, Nominations and

Elections and Constitution and Canons.

The Record/Summer 2013Episcopal Diocese of Michigan 3

The Record is a quarterly magazine for the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Vol. 4, Issue 2 Summer 2013

The Record4800 Woodward AvenueDetroit, MI [email protected]

www.theRecordOnline.org

Phone: (313) 833-4425

The Rt. ReverendWendell N. Gibbs Jr.Bishop of the Diocese

[email protected]

The Reverend CanonLisa A. Tucker-GrayCanon to the Ordinary

[email protected]

Canon Jo Ann HardyDiocesan Administrator

[email protected]

Sue McCuneExecutive Assistant Office of the Bishop

[email protected]

Beth RowleyAssistant for Program

and Administration [email protected]

The Reverend Michelle Meech

Ministry [email protected]

Eric TravisMissioner for Youth and

Young Adults [email protected]

Mark Miliotto

Director of Finance [email protected]

Kara Chapman

[email protected]

Knena CauseyWhitaker Institute

[email protected]

Episcopal Diocese of Michigan Episcopal Church Center

4800 Woodward Ave.Detroit, MI 48201-1399

(313) 832-4400 • Toll Free (866) 545-6424

Rick SchulteDiocesan

CommunicationsEditor, The Record

[email protected]

TABLE OF CONTENTS

The InterviewBishop Wendell Gibbs Jr., Page 4Canon to the Ordinary accepts call, Page 5

Diocesan NewsPage 6-7

Outside his comfort zoneWhy take on the call to teach in Haiti? Growth. Page 8

Youth and Young AdultsTake a look at what’s coming up. Page 9

Cover Story: Destination ChurchesHit the road this summer; a visit to any of our churches, including St. John’s, Detroit, should be a historical eye-opener. Page 10All Saints, Brooklyn celebrates 150 years, Page 13

Opinion: A way of seeingWe need to be ready to meet the Jesus of the marginalized. Page 14

Episcopal Migration MinistryReaching out to refugees an important duty. Page 15

Opinion: Life is so very fragileThe gamut of emotions following a suicide is understandable. Page 16

Found on FacebookPage 17

Book ReviewPage 18

The Final WordRemembering the tribulations of Jackie Robinson in ’42,’ Page 19

How to Subscribe to the Record: Email [email protected]


THE INTERVIEW: BISHOP GIBBS

The Diocese of Michigan is un-dergoing some internal change these days. The Rev. Canon Lisa Tucker-Gray, canon to the ordi-nary for several years, accepted a call to become priest-in-charge at St. John’s, Plymouth. Rick Schulte, editor for The Record, discussed the concept of accepting change and listening to God’s call that of-ten takes us outside our comfort zone.

Question: We were talking in our staff meeting about a comfort level, in terms of Canon Tucker-Gray leaving us. For you, she has done a very good job for many years. You’ve built a rapport. But even though it might make things harder for you, it’s still a matter of doing the right thing. How diffi-cult was it to let her move on?

Answer: It was very difficult. However, after 25 years of min-istry, I’ve kind of learned that if you’re not going to jump on board with what the Spirit is do-ing, you need to step aside and get out of the way. Standing in the way of what the Spirit has to do is not a comfortable place to be. Every time I’ve tried to do that, God reminds me that I surren-dered. Not just that I have sur-reneded, but I surrender every day. The more I live into that, the more important it really is to em-brace that way of feeling. There was sadness, yes, there was shock, there was an initial desire to try and block it. I certainly could have. The congregation called me and asked for permission to talk to Lisa, and I could have said no. But that would have been about me and not about God’s mission. I think it’s pretty clear, some of the things the vestry has shared with me, plus some things I’ve seen on my own and some things Lisa has shared with me…I think

Accepting Changes in Life: A Reminder of Who’s in Charge

God’s hands are all over this. While it may make me person-ally sad, the Spirit has a better idea. So initially, what I decided was to step aside to see what the Spirit would do. Now that I have seen that, I’ve decided to jump on board. There is both sadness and joy. We’ll deal with it.

Q: It’s human nature to dig in with what you are com-

fortable with, whether it’s a job, a relationship, a church, a health issue…but sometimes, you have to let go.

A: Absolutely. We talk many times a great game about

discernment, and we say we have submitted things to prayer. But more often than not, because of human nature, when we pray about something, we already

have an answer in mind. I do it, too. You pray about something and you already know what the outcome is you want. So it’s really about the outcome. You’re not praying for God to lead, God to guide. True prayer, true relation-ship and surrender to God, is to pray for God’s will to be done. It’s hard, because it’s about giving up control.

Even with Lisa, I had a plan in mind. Not long ago, we sat down after she came back from her sab-batical, and we decided what we going to do during my time as the bishop. And it was very comfort-able. It felt good to know that I had a canon to the ordinary that was willing to ride this ship all the way through to the time where my ministry would end here. It’s a very comfortable place to be.

When we get comfortable is when God always comes up with a better idea. It kind of shakes us out of our comfort zone.

You’re right. Too many of our churches, too many of our insti-tutions…we say we’re discerning, we say we want to be led to what’s next, what’s right, what’s best. We like to be comfortable. And what we’ve known is more comfortable than what’s unknown. We like to dig our heels in and say, ‘no, no’, we don’t want to go and we don’t want to change. We don’t want to innovate or risk. It’s easier, be-cause it’s something we know al-ready. But it usually doesn’t lead to new life.

Q: On a personal note – and you may have to put your

thinking cap on for this – what’s the first instance in your life when you stepped outside of your comfort zone, to let go and turn it over to God?

A: In my life? It was prob-ably when I first went

into the monastery. I have always loved church and churchy things, and in the vernacular, I’ve always been a sacristy rat. But I never re-ally contemplated religious life. Probably initially, I thought by going into the monastery I was running away from something. But it actually became very clear I was running to something. It was probably where God and I had our first major argument, and where the relationship I have with God got firmly established. Not only is arguing with God pos-sible, but monologues with God are less effective. It either has to be a true conversation or I need to shut up and listen. I believe, in my memory, that is where I first said, ‘I surrender.’ But I have to be reminded regularly. Even when


“Over the years I have heard Lisa use the following quote from a 13th century Sufi mystic to describe her approach to ministry: ‘Go where you are sent, wait until you are shown what to do, do it with your whole self, remain until you have done what you were sent to do, walk away with empty hands.’

“So, it is with a mixture of joy and sadness that I write to share with you that a time has come for Lisa to ‘walk away.’ The Rev. Canon Lisa Tucker-Gray, my Canon to the Ordinary for the last 6+ years, has ac-cepted appointment as Priest-in-Charge at St. John’s, Plymouth. Lisa has served me and our diocese with abiding faith, deep commitment and a love for ministry that is a gift and a blessing. In addition to her fine service as Canon to the Ordinary, she first came to diocesan staff as Canon for Youth Ministry. The sadness in my heart at Lisa’s depar-ture from the diocesan staff is tempered by the joy that she will remain in the diocese and as such still a colleague in ministry.

“Between now and June 28, Canon Tucker-Gray and I will tend to the matters of transition. Sunday, June 30, will be her first Sunday as my newly appointed Priest-in-Charge. Of course, I will be expecting great things for all of us as Lisa joins the wonderful community at St. John’s Plymouth and together they embrace God’s dream for mission in that part of God’s vineyard.

“Meanwhile, please join me in thanking Lisa for her servant minis-try during her tenure on staff and rejoice in the knowledge that there will be another community of faith embracing the power of the Holy Spirit as they move forward with a new, faithful, gifted and passionate priest. Congratulations Lisa and St. John’s!”

– The Rt. Rev. Wendell N. Gibbs Jr.10th Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Michigan

Canon to the Ordinary AcceptsCall to St. John’s, Plymouth

The Rev. Canon Lisa Tucker-Gray

I left the monastery, and even when I left the Roman church and became Episcopalian, when I went to seminary, when I gradu-ated seminary, when I was or-dained, when I changed churches and accepted a new call, and cer-tainly, when I was elected bishop, there’s time where surrender is easier, and surrender is really, re-ally, really hard. God sort of qui-etly says, ‘Didn’t you surrender?’ And I usually am reminded of that. It’s hardest when you have to be reminded of surrender.

Q: I want to ask this in a manner that is not offen-

sive to some of our friends from other faiths. You have people who faithfully attend services, but complain about one aspect of their religion or another. For instance, there’s the percentage that use birth control, or actually know and support gay people. Do you think some churches are guilty of not listening to Je-sus?

A: All of them are, includ-ing our own. Because the

churches, as we know them today – Catholic, Episcopalian, Luther-an, Baptist, Presybterina, Meth-odist, Church of God, you name it – are human institutions. I worry all the time that the church Jesus established – and I’m not convinced Jesus started a church, I think he started a movement – but if he did start a church, or if the churches we call churches to-day are supposed to be an exten-sion of or evolutions of the move-ment he started, Jesus wouldn’t recognize it. Politics being what

they are (and I don’t mean secu-lar politics), every church has politics. I think we’re all guilty of pushing our own wills and not that of Christ. That goes back to the surrender question. Do we really surrender to God? I think there are times we do, and there are times where we don’t. I think we’re all guilty of that. Every last one of us. None of the churches are perfect; none of them are. Be-cause God is not running these churches. People are. So it can’t be perfect.


NEWSCanon Richardson Succumbs to Cancer

The Rev. Canon Saundra Rich-ardson, known by many as the secretary for the annual diocesan convention and a much-loved member of the Detroit clergy community, died June 6.

“Since early 2012, Saundra bravely lived with pancreatic cancer, often delivering pastoral care to those who seemed to be more devastated by her diagnosis than she,” said Bishop Wendell Gibbs Jr. in a statement.

Canon Richardson was em-ployed by Mariners Inn, where she served as a human resources specialist. However, she actually wore many hats – perhaps this is part of the reason Canon Richardson was so well-known. She also served as an administrative assistant for Christ Church, Detroit. As an ec-umenical officer for the diocese, she touched many clergy not only throughout the diocese, but regionally and even nationally, working on a wide range of projects over the years.

For the diocesan convention, Canon Richardson was one of the key members of the event, working tirelessly to help the event run smoothly as its secretary for many years.

A celebration of her life and ministry took place June 13 at Christ Church, Detroit.

Meech, Causey Take New, Expanded Whitaker Roles Effective June 1, the Rev. Michelle Meech, cur-

rently on staff as Ministry Developer, assumed the responsibilities of Provisional Director of the Whita-ker Institute. Michelle, who originally joined the staff in 2012 as Ministry Developer, will continue to work with the Total Ministry and developing congre-gations of the diocese. She will also draw on her pre-vious experience as director of the Center of Angli-can Learning and Leadership of the Church Divinity School of the Pacific.

“As the tasks of ministry development and formation occur con-currently, I am sure that the intersection of the two areas of ministry will enhance our ability to respond to the needs of our congregations,” Bishop Gibbs said.

Knena Causey, already on staff as Whitaker’s Program Assistant, is assuming an expanded role.

“We are pleased that Knena will continue to provide the support, clerical expertise and coordination that we have come to appreciate and rely upon,” Bishop Gibbs said.

Causey is available to provide information about Whitaker pro-grams and resources at [email protected] or (313) 833-4423.

Third Bishop’s Picnic Set for July 27 at Emrich

Registrations are requested through July 17 for the annual family event, hosted by Emrich Retreat Center, Brighton. The event runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For $5 per person or a maximum of $20 per family, guests are treat-ed to food, fellowship and a variety of entertainment at the diocesan

Reminder Regarding Convention Visitfrom Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori

As the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori will be present at our diocesan convention, local clergy and congregations are re-minded the Presiding Bishop’s schedule must be respected.

“The Presiding Bishop’s time in the Diocese of Michigan will be coordinated by the Office of the Bishop,” Bishop Gibbs said. “Her time with us must follow the customary that has been pro-vided to us by her office. As such, the schedule will be organized through my office only. It would be both inappropriate and un-manageable for requests for time with the Presiding Bishop to come from individuals, groups, agencies or congregations in the diocese.”

The Office of the Bishop requests no contact with the Presid-ing Bishop or her office be made regarding her time with the Diocese of Michigan this October. Her convention schedule will be finalized shortly. Any questions about her visit should only be directed locally to the Office of the Bishop (313-833-4435) or Canon Jo Ann Hardy (313-833-4422 or [email protected]).

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori

Rev. MichelleMeech

The annual Bishop’s Diocesan Picnic will once again take place at the Emrich Retreat Center, Brighton.

retreat center. In addition, guests are encouraged to bring school items for Backpack-pa-looza, which helps provide backpacks and supplies to young persons from families in need.

To RSVP for the event, please contact Sue McCune at [email protected] or (313) 833-4435.

Rev. Canon Saundra Richardson


June 29Diocesan CouncilSt. John’s, Plymouth9 a.m.

July 1-5Green WeekOffice of the Diocese ofMichigan closed;Business conducted offsite

Diocesan Calendar

July 1-15Camp CompassionPuerto Plata, Domincan Republic July 26-29Bass Lake FestivalCamp Michi-Lu-CaFairview, MI Times, dates and location

subject to change.

NEWS

Renewals and Farewells

There were several comings and goings in diocesan congregations re-cently. In May, Christ Church, Grosse Pointe welcomed a new rector, the Rev. Andrew Van Culin. The new rector previously served at St. John’s Cathedral, Denver. In addition, Tom Krell was received as a new priest at St. David’s, Southfield. He is with the Rev. Chris Yaw, rector at St. David’s, during a May ceremony. Later, at St. Philip’s, Rochester, the Rev. Geoffrey Boyer received a warm send-off from his church on June 2. After serving his church for 10 years, he is retiring and moving to Georgia.

July 28Diocesan PicnicEmrich Retreat CenterBrighton

Sept. 10Deans MeetingSt. Paul’s, RomeoNoon


OUTREACH

Zachary Baker, 23, never really stepped out of his comfort zone.

But now, he feels a compelling need to get away and do that. All the way to Haiti, in fact.

Baker will be heading to Lakai, located in the southern country-side of Haiti, where he begins work later this summer. Through the Young Adults Service Corps (YASC), he will be teaching Eng-lish at the Bishop Tharp Institute, a business and technology school offering associate degrees. The school is affiliated with the Epis-copal Church of Haiti. Episcopal Relief and Development estab-lished the school in 2005.

Baker will be teaching students who are his age and younger. That in itself will be a new expe-rience, but it should pale in com-parison with being in a new part of the world.

“They asked, how do you feel being isolated? Well, I only lived a year away from home, which was 30 minutes from my house, so I’ve never really lived any-where else,” Baker said. “But that’s what I love about it. It takes me out of my comfort zone and places me in a world that’ll help me be more independent and better equipped for different situations. I need to be out of my comfort zone.”

That should be no issue for Baker, who recently graduated from Oakland University with a degree in French language and literature. He is a member at St. Luke’s, Ferndale, first attending an Episcopal church Jan. 2011. Eighteen months later, he was re-ceived into the church.

“I knew I wanted to do mission work,” he said. “I went to Moroc-co my senior year in high school. It was a holiday, but I saw beg-gars and a lot of different things. So I knew I wanted to do mission

Outside his comfort zoneRecent college grad to teach in Haiti through YASC

work.”Baker explained how he tends

to think globally. And he has al-ways had a desire to do some kind of work abroad.

“I knew the Episcopal Church had to have some sort of mission work available,” he said. All it took was a simple Google search to discover YASC, which offers the type of challenges Baker was seeking. He was disappointed

The Skinny: Young Adults Service CorpsWhat is the Young Adult Service Corps and who can apply? The Young Adult Service Corps is a ministry for young adults who are interested in exploring their faith in new ways by living and serving in communities around the Anglican Communion. YASC brings young adults into the life of the worldwide Anglican Communion and into the daily work of a local community. At the same time, it brings the gifts and resources of the church into the lives of young adults as they explore their own faith journeys. YASC is open to Episcopalians between the ages of 21 and 30. Applicants must have a high degree of maturity and possess a faith commitment, the willingness to be a humble guest, and the ability to be an authentic companion.

How many Young Adult Service Corps volunteers (YASCers) are there each year? Though the number of YASCers varies from year to year, there are generally 12-20 each year.

What do I get out of the Young Adult Service Corps?You get a unique opportunity to be in relationship with people from a different culture in a different part of God’s world. Many YASCers use their year of service as part of the discernment process for continued lay and ordained ministry in the church. YASC also provides a foundation for ongoing work in development-related fields.

When are applications due and what does the application/discernment process include? Applications are due in early January of each year. Applicants invited to continue the process will attend a discernment weekend in early February. The discernment weekend is an important part of the application process. It is a time for all applicants to come together and engage in conversations about mission and the calling to serve God overseas. This weekend includes one-on-one and group conversations, and it is a time of mutual discernment for the applicant and the Mission Personnel Office. Following the discernment weekend, the Mission Personnel Office will work on place-ment arrangements for accepted applicants. During this time, YASC candidates will work on fundraising and preparing for their placements. All candidates must attend a two-week cross-cultural orientation session, usually held in June.

Zachary Baker, 23, is preparing for a year long educational trip to Haiti.

to discover he had just missed the deadline for serving in 2012; however, he was likely the first inquiry when 2013 registration opened.

Once he went through a dis-cernment process – “it solidi-fied my call to do mission work,” Baker said – he was part of the group heading to Haiti. Along with teaching, he will also be do-ing some translation work for the

local diocese in Haiti.“This will be different. I’m

from Royal Oak,” he said. “It’ll be a transistion, for sure.

“But I just love school. If Haiti doesn’t change me, which I know it will, nothing will. I want to teach…I have that calling to go and serve, to do something in the world that can help me become a better person. Four of five years of college, that taught me a lot about things and books, but there was no hands-on stuff. I don’t want to say change the world, I don’t know if I’ll change it. But it’s important to do something to make a difference somewhere.”

Baker will be there for a school year, likely in Haiti until May 2014. As part of the arrangement with YASC, one of the require-ments will be to maintain a blog (a link to which can eventually be found at www.theRecordOnline.org).


YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS

Bass Lake: Bass Lake is a Christian Music Festival for high school-aged youth, providing an “outside the box,” grace-filled experience of the Christian faith. Music, unique learning opportunities and a re-laxed, community-building atmosphere help share the Gospel with youth from all backgrounds and levels of maturity in a beautiful out-door setting.

Camp Michi-Lu-Ca (a Lutheran camp) and Living Water Ministries host the event July 26- 29. The Youth and Young Adults program from the Diocese of Michigan holds two cabins for Episcopal churches. Cabin spaces for up to 24 have already been reserved.

Registrations will not be taken after July 19. Those who sign up until June 30 are charged a fee of $140 per person; from July 1-19, the fee is $160.

Learn more about this and other YaYA programs at www.edomi.org/yaya or contact Eric Travis at (313) 833-4418.

Mission: Possible: All Saints, Pontiac hosts this from 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 29 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 2. This is an overnight camp. The fee is $275. The fee is $275; campers will receive a fund-raising packet to help create prayer partners. The event is in Pontiac and involves building up, tearing down, cleaning up and caring for those who struggle. Eighth-graders through college-aged persons are invited; adults skilled in construction are encouraged to donate a day or more to help.

Contact Andrew Wilke, Youth Minister at Advent Episcopal Church, at (248) 921-9694 or [email protected]; or register on Facebook page Mission: Possible.

Episcopalooza: This is a new diocesan event, scheduled for Sept. 7. This will be a day of fun, carnival games, opportunities for service and a day of celebration and connection. More information will be released soon.

Diocesan Convention: New this year will be a “Youth Experi-ence” during the convention (Oct. 25-26 at the Renaissance Center, Detroit), which will include participation in the banquet, opening Eucharist and convention. A Friday-night overnight lock-in features a one-on-one interaction with the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori.

If you are interested in coming to the Youth Experience (grades 8-12) or being an Adult Helper, mark your calendar for Oct 25-26, 2013. More information will be available soon.

Episcopal Youth Event: Plan ahead for the triennial event, set for July 9-13, 2014 in the Philadelphia area. Open to students in grades 9-12, it is a gathering of students from all over the Episcopal Church. Each diocese has a limited number of participants it can bring. Appli-cations from adults who would like to chaperone will also be accepted. More information will be forthcoming

A Rundown of Upcoming Youth Activities

In April, St. Paul’s, Brighton hosted Happening 12 for young people of the diocese. Be sure to keep an eye out for details about the next Happening event, scheduled for Nov. 8-10.


DESTINATION CHURCHES

By Rick SchulteProbably the most bustling dis-

trict of Detroit is the ‘Foxtown’ area, flanked on the west side of Woodward near I-75 with the Fox Theatre. On the east side of Woodward is the large entrance to Comerica Park (home of the Detroit Tigers). A little further east is Ford Field (home of the Detroit Lions).

And while these entertain-ment venues draw in large, vocal crowds throughout the year, the oldest structure in the neighbor-hood is not full of fireworks and fury, but is home to the tradi-tional church community of St. John’s.

If you are looking for a modern experience, with bells and whis-tles, this is not the church for you.

But as the Rev. Steven Kelly (rector at St. John’s since 2001) gladly provides a walking tour of the church prior to a weekday worship service, it’s apparent St. John’s is one of those churches rich in history.

“Yes, I do love history, as a matter of fact,” Fr. Kelly said. “That does come in handy with a church like this. There is just so much history here.”

St. John’s was organized in 1858, with a chapel built a year later. Realizing this area (known as Piety Hill because of the num-ber of local churches) of orchards and farms was going to grow with time, it quickly became apparent a larger church was need. In 1861, a larger church was built.

The design is Victorian Gothic, with its limestone exterior com-ing from a quarry in nearby Riverview (floated upstream by barge). A tower and belfry rising over 100 feet creates a distinctive landmark for thousands heading

Home to HistoryLocation, history, architecture make St. John’s, Detroit unique

through the area on a daily basis.As Kelly walks through the

church, his depth of historical knowledge is apparent. But it gives a real sense of the history of the church and the area in which it presides.

“It wasn’t like this when this

was first built,” Fr. Kelly said. “In fact, if you go out onto Wood-ward, the building originally reached into the northbound left lane.”

That’s because Woodward used to be a small road. When it expanded as Detroit expanded “wood-ward” toward the forests of northwest Detroit and Oak-land County, the existing struc-tures sitting close to the street had to be moved.

In 1936, after much debate, the congregation opted to keep its address, but physically move the building 60 feet to the east. To allay fears that the church’s 40-ton roof would not be able to withstand such a move, steel stanchions were erected from the church undercroft to support the roof.

There is much more tradition that can be found in the church, in the stained glass windows (many over 130 years old) to the

Did You Know: The parking lot to St. John’s is available for use on game-day by the Lions and Tigers (plus Fox Theatre), which helps create a solid, seasonal income for the church.

Meet Our ChurchesWith nearly 80 churches in the Diocese of Michigan, covering an area from Detroit to Lansing, and from Romeo to Hillsdale, there is a wide variety of churches from which to choose. People often travel during the summer. We encourage everyone to visit any of our churches for summertime visits; we are highlighting a handful based on their history, architecture or location. We will also highlight three different churches with each future edition of The Record, giving everyone a chance to learn about all the churches in the Diocese of Michigan.

artistic backdrop above the white stone altar.

St. John’s is also traditional in the sense that it worships from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer and The Hymnal, 1940.

History and tradition seem to be a part of the daily ritual at St. John’s. Fr. Kelly related a story of how the church wanted to deal with a fully-stocked fallout shel-ter found in the basement.

“We called Homeland Secu-rity and said, ‘we’ve got a fallout shelter from the 1950s here, fully stocked. What do we do with it?’ They said they’d get back to me,” he said. Eventually, he did get a return phone call saying it was indeed the church’s property, and they could do what they wanted with it.

“We did open a tin of crackers. They were still very fresh. Didn’t taste so great, but they were still fresh,” he said, with a laugh. “We didn’t eat anything more after that.”

St. John’s, Detroit sits among the Fox Theatre, Comerica Park and Ford Field in Detroit. At one point, it was moved 60 feet when Woodward Ave. was widened in the 1930s.


A guide to all of our churchesThis is a listing of all the churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan. Please note: Some churches have altered or combined their service times for the summer season. We encourage you to visit any of these churches; we also advise calling ahead to find a current worship schedule.In addition, once you’ve visited a new church, we’d love to hear about it! Post your thoughts/pictures on our Facebook page, or email us at [email protected].

AdrianChurch Name: Christ ChurchLocation: 720 Riverside AvenuePhone Number: 517-263-1162

Allen ParkChurch Name: St. Luke’sLocation: 15603 Wick RoadPhone Number: 313-381-6345

Ann ArborChurch Name: Canterbury HouseLocation: 721 E. Huron StreetPhone Number: 734-665-0606

Church Name:Church of the IncarnationLocation: 3257 Lohr RoadPhone Number: 734-769-7900

Church Name: St. Aidan’s Location: 1679 BroadwayPhone Number: 734-663-5503

Church Name: St. Andrew’sLocation: 306 North Division StreetPhone Number: 734-663-0518

Church Name: St. Clare of AssisiLocation: 2309 Packard RoadPhone Number: 734-662-2449

BellevilleChurch Name: Trinity ChurchLocation: 11575 Belleville RoadPhone Number: 734-699-3361

BirminghamChurch Name: St. JamesLocation: 355 West MaplePhone Number: 248-644-0820

Bloomfield HillsChurch Name:Christ Church CranbrookLocation: 470 Church RoadPhone Number: 248-644-5210

Bloomfield Twp.Church Name: Nativity ChurchLocation: 21220 W. Fourteen Mile RoadPhone Number: 248-646-4100

BrightonChurch Name: St. Paul’sLocation: 200 W. St. Paul’s StreetPhone Number: 810-229-2821(Note: Services will move to St. Mary Magdalene, Brighton during a year-long construction project).

BrooklynChurch Name: All SaintsLocation: 151 N. Main StreetPhone Number: 517-592-2244

ChelseaChurch Name: St. BarnabasLocation: 20500 Old U.S. 12Phone Number: 734-475-8818

ClarkstonChurch Name: Church of the ResurrectionLocation: 6490 Clarkston RoadPhone Number: 248-625-2325

ClintonChurch Name: St John’s Episcopal ChurchLocation: 122 E. Church StreetPhone Number: 517-456-4828

DearbornChurch Name: Christ ChurchLocation: 120 N. MilitaryPhone Number: 313-565-8450

DetroitChurch Name: All Saints Location: 3837 W. Seven Mile RoadPhone Number: 313-341-5320

Church Name: Cathedral Church of St. PaulLocation: 4800 Woodward AvenuePhone Number: 313-831-5000

Church Name: Christ ChurchLocation: 960 East JeffersonPhone Number: 313-259-6688

Church Name: Church of the MessiahLocation: 231 East Grand Blvd. Phone Number: 313-567-1158

Church Name: Grace ChurchLocation: 1926 Virginia ParkPhone Number: 313-895-6442

Church Name: Spirit of HopeLocation: 1519 Martin Luther King Blvd.Phone Number: 313-964-3113

Church Name: St. Christopher/St. PaulLocation: 20750 West McNicholsPhone Number: 313-538-2320

Church Name: St. Cyprian’sLocation: 6114 28th StreetPhone Number: 313-896-7515

Church Name: St. John’s Location: 50 East Fisher Freeway (at Woodward)Phone Number: 313-962-7358

Church Name: St. Martin’sLocation: 24699 Grand RiverPhone Number: 313-533-3600

Church Name:St. Matthew’s and St. Joseph’sLocation: 8850 Woodward AvenuePhone Number: 313-871-4750

Church Name: St. Peter’sLocation: 1950 Trumbull AvenuePhone Number: 313-496-0938

DESTINATION CHURCHESOthers to visit:Christ Church Cranbrook,

Bloomfield HillsThe church gained a level of

notoriety in 2011, where a few scenes from the movie “The Ides of March” were filmed. However, that alone does not make Christ Church Cranbrook unique.

This is part of the sprawling Cranbrook educational commu-

nity. Newspaper magnate Charles Booth decided in the early 1920s that a church was needed to serve the local community; ground-breaking began in 1925.

The church is unique with its artistic and architectural detail. From the woodcarvings, stained glass windows and large Kather-ine McEwen fresco at the front of the church, Christ Church is a

thriving church community with a breath-taking house of worship.

St. James, Grosse Ile St. James, which held its first

services in 1868, is the only church in the diocese sitting on an island. Accessible by a pair of bridges, Grosse Ile is about 20 miles south of Detroit.

No history of this church is

complete without mentioning Lisette Denison Forth, a former slave, who willed a portion of her estate (approximately $3,000) to help build St. James. The remain-der came from William Biddle, whose son (Col. John Biddle, former mayor of Detroit) donat-ed a large Tiffany glass window. This helped create what is now the chapel. The larger church, a



DeWittChurch Name:Christ United (St. Anne’s)Location: 1000 Webb RoadPhone Number: 517-669-9308

DexterChurch Name: St. JamesLocation: 3279 Broad StreetPhone Number: 734-426-8247

East LansingChurch Name: All SaintsLocation: 800 Abbott RoadPhone Number: 517-351-7160

EcorseChurch Name: Church of the ResurrectionLocation: 27085 West Outer DrivePhone Number: 313-382-1781

Farmington HillsChurch Name: Trinity ChurchLocation: 26880 La Muera StreetPhone Number: 248-474-2860

FerndaleChurch Name: St. Luke’sLocation: 540 West LewistonPhone Number: 248-543-5900

Grosse IleChurch Name: St. JamesLocation: 25150 E. River RoadPhone Number: 734-676-1727

Grosse PointeChurch Name: Christ ChurchLocation: 61 Grosse Pointe BlvdPhone Number: 313-885-4841

Grosse Pointe WoodsChurch Name: St. Michael’sLocation: 20475 SunningdalePhone Number: 313-884-4820

HamburgChurch Name: St. Stephen’sLocation: 10585 Hamburg RoadPhone Number: 810-231-3220

HillsdaleChurch Name: St. Peter’s Location: 3 North Broad StreetPhone Number: 517-437-2833

HowellChurch Name: St. John’s Location: 504 Prospect StreetPhone Number: 517-546-3660

InksterChurch Name: St. Clement’sLocation: 4300 Harrison RoadPhone Number: 734-728-0790

JacksonChurch Name: St. Paul’sLocation: 309 South Jackson StreetPhone Number: 517-787-3370

Lake OrionChurch Name: St. Mary’s-in-the-HillsLocation: 2512 Joslyn CourtPhone Number: 248-391-0663

LansingChurch Name: St. Michael’sLocation: 6500 Amwood DrivePhone Number: 517-882-9733

Church Name: St. Paul’sLocation: 218 W. Ottawa StreetPhone Number: 517-482-9454

Lincoln ParkChurch Name:St. Michael’s and All AngelsLocation: 1325 Champaign StreetPhone Number: 313-382-5525

LivoniaChurch Name: St. Andrew’sLocation: 16360 Hubbard RoadPhone Number: 734-421-8451

Madison HeightsChurch Name: St. Patrick’sLocation: 1434 East Thirteen Mile RoadPhone Number: 248-585-9591

MasonChurch Name:St. Augustine of CanterburyLocation: 546 West South StreetPhone Number: 517-676-2525

Michigan CenterChurch Name:St. Aidan’s Episcopal ChurchLocation: 361 East Grove StreetPhone Number: 517-764-2950

MilfordChurch Name: St. George’sLocation: 801 East Commerce StreetPhone Number: 248-684-0495

MonroeChurch Name: Trinity ChurchLocation: 11 West Third StreetPhone Number: 734-242-3113

Mt. ClemensChurch Name: Grace ChurchLocation: 115 South Main StreetPhone Number: 586-465-4573

NoviChurch Name: Holy CrossLocation: 40700 West Ten Mile RoadPhone Number: 248-427-1175

OnstedChurch Name: St. Michael’s and All AngelsLocation: 11646 Old Pike RoadPhone Number: 517-467-7855

Carpenter Gothic structure, was opened in 1958.

St. James is on the National Register of Historic Places.

St. Paul’s, LansingIf you have a hard time finding

St. Paul’s, there’s an easy way to regain your bearings. Simply look for the State Capitol building; St. Paul’s is directly across the street.

In fact, the Senate rooms of Capitol Building are where the beginnings of an Episcopal com-munity gathered for worship in 1847. Slowly, the church com-munity began to grow, although it still needed a true home. (Many Sunday activities took place

on the Capitol lawn). A small structure was erected, but need-ing more room, a larger church building was opened in 1873. Growth of the church (which was the first Episcopal church in In-gham County) was helped by its proximity to both the Capitol, plus Michigan Agricultural Col-lege (now Michigan State Univer-sity).

The current church building opened in 1914, constructed at a cost of $27,000. Interestingly enough, as history tends to show how prices increase, the large round window in the church was installed in 1963 for $17,500. They still cast a beautiful light in

the nave, as do the other stained-glass windows throughout the church.

St. Andrew’s, Ann ArborAmong the diverse cluster of

churches in and around Ann Ar-bor is St. Andrew’s, which stands out as the community has been in existence since prior to the Civil War.

The current church was con-secrated in 1867 and holds the distinction as the oldest, con-tinuously used church building in Ann Arbor. The detail of the stone structure is remarkable and is original. The church tower was added to the building in the late

1800s.A Gothic structure, St. An-

drew’s features many fascinating details that require a closer look. The main aisle of the nave is lined with stones from Pewabic Pot-tery.

As a reminder that St. Andrew’s is not only in a college town, but also accessible to students at the University of Michigan, there’s a pew near the rear of the church bearing a plate reading “Edmund Erskine Brady, Student Pew, 1869.” In that era, pew rentals were common. Brady funded the pew to allow U-M students to at-tend services “free of charge.”



Pleasant LakeChurch Name: Christ Episcopal ChurchLocation: 9900 North Meridian RoadPhone Number: 517-769-2333

PlymouthChurch Name: St. John’sLocation: 574 South Sheldon RoadPhone Number: 734-453-0190

PontiacChurch Name: All SaintsLocation: 171 West PikePhone Number: 248-334-4571

RedfordChurch Name: St. Elizabeth’s Location: 26431 West ChicagoPhone Number: 313-937-2880

RochesterChurch Name: St. Phillip’sLocation: 100 Romeo StreetPhone Number: 248-651-6188

RomeoChurch Name: St. Paul’sLocation: 11100 West St. ClairPhone Number: 586-752-3212

Royal OakChurch Name: St. John’sLocation: 26998 Woodward AvenuePhone Number: 248-546-1255 SalineChurch Name: Holy Faith ChurchLocation: 6299 Ann Arbor Saline RoadPhone Number: 734-429-2991

Shelby Twp.Church Name: St. Luke’sLocation: 7700 22 Mile RoadPhone Number: 586-731-1221

SouthfieldChurch Name: Church of the RedeemerLocation: 18140 Cornell RoadPhone Number: 248-569-4418

Church Name: St. David’sLocation: 16200 West Twelve Mile RoadPhone Number: 248-557-5430

SouthgateChurch Name: Grace ChurchLocation: 15650 Reeck RoadPhone Number: 734-285-0380

St. Clair ShoresChurch Name:Trinity Episcopal ChurchLocation: 30205 East Jefferson AvenuePhone Number: 586-294-0740

TaylorChurch Name: Christ the KingLocation: 23045 Wick RoadPhone Number: 313-291-4570TrentonChurch Name: St. ThomasLocation: 2441 Nichols DrivePhone Number: 734-676-3122

TroyChurch Name: St. Stephen’sLocation: 5500 North Adams RoadPhone Number: 248-641-8080

Walled LakeChurch Name: St. Anne’sLocation: 430 Nicolet StreetPhone Number: 248-624-3817

WaterfordChurch Name: St. Andrew’sLocation: 5301 Hatchery RoadPhone Number: 248-673-7635

West BloomfieldChurch Name: Advent ChurchLocation: 2399 Figa AvenuePhone Number: 248-338-3505

WestlandChurch Name: St. John’sLocation: 555 South Wayne RoadPhone Number: 734-721-5023

WilliamstonChurch Name: St. Katherine’sLocation: 4650 Meridian RoadPhone Number: 517-349-4120

WyandotteChurch Name: St. Stephen’sLocation: 2803 First StreetPhone Number: 734-284-8777

YpsilantiChurch Name: St. Luke’sLocation: 120 North HuronPhone Number: 734-483-4253

The sounds of a bagpipe play-er, leading the congregation in a procession around the grounds of All Saints, Brooklyn, served as a audible reminder of the Irish history of the church. On June 9, All Saints celebrated the 150th anniversary of its consecration as a church.

The congregation was first es-tablished in 1858, although it took a few years to erect a church building. (Legend has it that as the church opened even before windows were installed, a don-key once stuck its head through one of the openings, bringing a few laughs during a worship ser-vice). To give an idea of how long ago 150 years is, consider that All Saints’ construction was delayed

All Saints, Brooklyn Celebrates 150 Years in Irish Hillswhen several members of the congregation went off to fight in the Civil War.

The church building itself is a classic representation of avail-able local resources. Butternut ash, maple and oak were milled at the south end of town. The soft brick used for the church was se-lected with a possible future issue in mind – there were concerns Brooklyn could have become a ghost town if the population moved south to the crossroads of ‘The Old Sauk Trail’ (which is now the intersection of US-12 and M-50 highways, near the Michigan International Speed-way). Instead, the railroad came through Brooklyn and kept the future of the town bright.

The church building bears re-semblance to many Irish and English countryside churches, which features a unique porch on the side of the building. This has served as the primary church entrance.

The church (and many in the area, in fact) were established by the Rev. William Lyster, an Irish-born priest who was charged with establishing church com-munities in the southern wild-nerness of the state. Lyster said the “these hills remind me of my native homeland;” it is believed this is from where the name Irish Hills was derived.

Working with a true mis-sionary zeal, Lyster was a literal workhorse preacher. In 1841,

he preached 140 sermons, from Detroit to Kalamazoo, traveling through the wilderness by horse-back.

The history of the church can still be seen today. A window in the nave was dedicated to the A.P. Cook family in 1862. There’s also a window with the Lyster family coat of arms, dating back to the 1870s. A visit to this church re-quires an early entrance, to give enough time to examine the win-dows, architecture and general unique nooks of the building.

The Rev. Gary Fertig is rector for All Saints.


OPINION

Continued on Page 15

How many of you remem-ber the crack epidemic from the early 1980s? Crack, you may recall, was the poor per-son’s cocaine, spreading like influenza through our inner cities and wreaking havoc in a lot of lives. And one of the big concerns at that time had to do with crack babies. Any-one remember the crack-baby scare? The idea was that we were going to get this whole generation of kids with seri-ous, life-long impairments because they were born to addicted mothers. The co-caine in their system at birth was going to make them per-manently impulsive, violent, learning-disabled and poor at decision-making—surefire candidates to swell a coming tide of vicious crime and law-lessness.

There was only one prob-lem. It wasn’t true. It turns out all that hysteria was based on one, short-term study of only 23 babies. Most of the symp-toms it cited were symptoms related to the babies’ pre-mature birth and not to the mothers’ drug use. More rig-orous, long-term studies have found, at most, only subtle effects from fetal cocaine ex-posure. So there was no tide of crack kids overwhelming “every social service delivery system that they (came) in contact with,” as one expert had predicted. In fact, fetal alcohol syndrome has much more dangerous and long-lasting effects on health and development.

So then, what was the whole

We need to be ready to meet the Jesus of the marginalizedA way of seeing

crack-baby scare about? Well, it was about many things –poverty, addiction, lack of choices--but I think it was also about a way of seeing. Spe-cifically, it was about a way that a powerful, light-skinned major-ity saw an impover-ished, dark-skinned minority – for crack, as you may remember, was understood to be an African-American drug. And everyone piled on: Scien-tists, politicians, the New York Times and Newsweek and Roll-ing Stone, Peter Jennings, Tom Brokaw, Dan Rather. The worst cases of negligent, drugged-out “welfare moms” were trotted out before us on the nightly news to confirm, for us, the character of an entire population.

And we (as ‘White America’) reacted. We got tough on crime. We declared a war on drugs –par-ticularly drugs in certain neigh-borhoods. Mothers – mostly poor, mostly black or Latina – were actually charged, convicted and sentenced for child abuse

because they had a crack addiction while pregnant. Did we pay attention to the ex-perts who, even then, were questioning the flimsy evidence on which all this hyste-ria was built? We did not. Did we prosecute alcoholic mothers, who were doing much

more damage to their fetuses than crack mothers? We did not. You know what we did? We built prisons. We built prisons and filled them with drug offenders of color, most of them nonviolent. In this way, the very symptoms of poverty and oppression became a justification, in the minds of the majority – white minds, our minds – to inflict further oppres-sion. It was about a way of seeing.

This way of seeing is prob-ably not so different from the way Roman soldiers viewed and treated their Jewish subjects in first century Palestine. No doubt, they had the same kinds of judg-ments and prejudices that fueled our crack-baby hysteria. “Those people” are lazy, stupid, irrespon-

sible, untrustworthy, violent, criminal and dirty. That’s how the thinking tends to go among groups that dominate other groups. It’s a way of see-ing.

And yet in today’s gospel, we have this Roman Centuri-on who defies that way of see-ing to seek help from Jesus, a Palestinian Jew. This is a heal-ing story. On one level, Jesus heals the Centurion’s slave because of the Centurion’s faith. But on another level, the story is also about heal-ing division between peoples. In this sense, the Centurion is also healed by the interaction, which he himself initiates by first acknowledging his need for it. Think about that for a minute. That is a profound act. In reaching out to Jesus, this guy has to overcome all those toxic beliefs, all those messages reinforced by his colleagues and friends, that Jews are dirty and dangerous and not good for much.

It’s as if you or I had stood up in the 80s to all those ex-perts and news exposés about irresponsible, welfare-suck-ing, crack moms and said, “Wait a minute. We are get-ting poisoned by a way of see-ing here. And we need to be healed of that way of seeing. We need to really examine the hard science, but more than that, we need to go out and seek the presence of Christ in the people we have been so quick to judge. We need to ac-knowledge our need for these

Rev. Ivan Reed Twiss

Tom Brokaw and other newscasters were all over the crack epidemic, which was supposed to produce a generation of ‘crack babies.’ It didn’t quite work out that way. (Photo courtesy NBC News).


EPISCOPAL MIGRATION MINISTRIES

others in order to be healed.” That’s what the Roman Cen-turion did.

I don’t mean to sound like I am diminishing Jesus’ role as the savior and healer here. Of course, it is in Jesus the Christ, and not just any Pal-estinian Jew, that the Centu-rion needs to place his heart. But it’s also no accident that this Son of God appears to the Centurion as a Palestinian Jew, as the Other, as a mem-ber of the group toward which the Centurion should be most hostile.

Friends, today is a heal-ing Sunday. In a little while some of us will come to the kneeler to receive prayer and anointing for healing. There are many personal wounds of which we might need to be healed, and I hope you will come to have those wounds washed in the balm of prayer if you feel so moved. But to-day’s gospel reminds us that there are also social wounds of which we need to be healed – racial animosity, religious suspicion, political polariza-tion. And to heal these things, we need to seek and find Je-sus not just here, but outside of these walls, in those Others whom we most misunder-stand. Just as the Roman Cen-turion needed the Jesus who met him as a Palestinian Jew, so do we need the Jesus who meets us as the illegal immi-grant, or the inner-city addict, or the transgendered per-son, or the worshipper at the mosque – whoever it might be that can help to heal us of one way of seeing by opening us to another.

The Rev. Ian Reed Twiss is pastor of Holy Faith Church, Saline, an Episcopal-Lutheran community. This was from a sermon delivered June 2, 2013, following the Gospel from Luke 7:1-10.

Worldwide, there are more than 40 million refugees who are facing a wide range of hardships.

Diocese of Michigan, Lutheran Social Services Offer Help, Opportunities

World Refugee Day (which took place June 22) was estab-lished by the United Nations as a reminder for the courage shown by the millions of men, women and children who are forced to flee their homes. The threats they face come in the form persecu-tion, violence and conflict.

Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM) is active locally, working with Lutheran Social Services of Michigan to help refugees. EMM worked through the Diocese of Michigan years ago before bud-get restrictions brought that to a close. But the diocese is partner-ing with Lutheran Social Services to offer many helpful options.

“There are locations through-out the country that are places refugees come in, gateways into the country,” said the Rev. Mi-chelle Meech, ministry develop-er for the Diocese of Michigan. “Episcopal Migration Ministries works with people that are on the ground, processing refugees.”

EMM is currently process-ing large numbers of Chaldean refugees. Chaldeans are generally Christian Iraquis who also have languages differences than other

Iraquis. The Detroit area features the largest concentration of Chal-deans outside of the Middle East.

“With the large Chaldean pop-ulation in this area, this makes Detroit a primary location to come into this country,” Meech said. Specifically, there is a large Chaldean community on the north end of Detroit, and a sig-nificant community in the north-ern part of the diocese (parts of Oakland and Macomb counties).

“Already, the Oakland Dean-ery is very interested. There are some connections being made,” she said.

The effort pays off when refu-gees are provided with the ba-sic needs to put down roots in a safe place. EMM’s network of faith groups, community orga-nizations and volunteers makes it possible to not only relocate these refugees, but also give them a chance to succeed. Many come to this country with nothing but the clothes on their backs, so it really is a matter of starting from scratch.

In 2011, EMM helped more than 3,600 refugees from 34 countries. Worldwide, there are

more than 40 million refugees who have been forced away from their home.

While the diocese is working on further developing relation-ships in the Chaldean communi-ty, individuals and congregations can have an impact, too.

“If a congregation feels this could be a part of their ministry, they could become a congrega-tion that co-sponsors,” Meech said. Help can come in many forms – financial pledges, do-nations and the like. But it also comes simply from being willing to provide other support.

“Sometimes, they could use people to shuttle them around, or a friendly face at the airport when they arrive,” she said. “There are so many ways to get involved.”

In the coming months, the Dio-cese of Michigan will provide up-dates on how to help through the Weekly Connection e-newsletter and online at www.edomi.org. Another good place to find infor-mation is through www.lssm.org, the website for Lutheran Social Services of Michigan.

Continued on Page 14


OPINION

By the Rev. Terri PilarskiWho would have thought, just

a few days ago, that we would be here tonight? This has been an es-pecially difficult few days.

Days like these remind us that life is so very fragile.

One moment all seems well, and the next moment a sudden heart attack strikes. Or a moment of distracted driving and an ac-cident happens. Or an historic tornado blows through town. Or a there’s a bombing or a shoot-ing. Lives are lost in a moment of time. Life is fragile.

For Thomas, his life too was fragile, and now, in an instant, he’s gone

And no one could have pre-dicted just how vulnerable Thomas was.

Perhaps some of you are feeling guilty or questioning what you could have done to help Thom-as more? The truth is, everyone did the best they could. Thomas didn’t die because you failed. Thomas died because of his ill-ness. You, his family and friends, did the best you could. Thomas didn’t die because you didn’t do enough.

Some anger at Thomas, should you feel that at some point in time, is appropriate. This isn’t fair or easy or convenient. Thomas’s death changes everything and makes so many aspects of living that much harder. Remember, sometimes a fatal illness leaves more questions than answers. We don’t need to have answers to all of our questions. Some ques-tions will never be answered this side of God’s kingdom.

But there are plenty of things we do know.

We know that Thomas was un-conditionally loved by his mother and his father. He was loved by his brothers and family, and by many friends.

We know that Thomas had this unique ability to touch the lives of

Life is so very fragilepeople in significant ways. You’ve no doubt been telling and hear-ing some of these stories over the past several days. You shared stories, even some laughter, at the viewing yesterday. You’ll con-tinue to share stories, even some laughter, through the days ahead, as you remember him. You’ve also shed many tears and there will be more of those, but inter-mingled, there will always be some laughter. Life is complicat-ed that way, a tumble of emotions as we remember…

That is something you can do. In the coming days and weeks and months, remember Thomas, and share stories. Some stories will make you smile in amazement, or bring up feelings of sadness, nostalgia, and even sometimes raucous laughter. Perhaps you will discover something about yourself and something about Thomas as you tell these stories. When you tell these stories, take a moment, as you are able, to be grateful, especially grateful to God for placing Thomas in your life.

This is a good day to give thanks to God for placing Thom-as in your life.

We know that Thomas has played an important part in shap-ing who you are. This is evident because his death has left a huge aching hole in the center of your being, a hole that will now always be a part of your life.

And so today we also acknowl-edge the hurt and pain and the gaping hole, love ripped open.

But today is also a good day to care for one another. It is a good day to honor the fragility of life and hold one another tenderly. Because when we care for one another we are doing God’s work.

This is a good day to allow peo-ple to comfort us.

Perhaps you are wondering how you can comfort his par-ents and this family? Here are

a couple of ideas: As time goes on, call them just to say you love them. And sometimes, just show up with a cup of coffee. Listen as they tell stories or share their despair. Just listen. You don’t have to have any answers, there really aren’t any anyway. Say the name of their beloved child out loud. Ask, “What have you been remembering?” or “What’s the hardest thing these days?” But most of all, just be present in a loving way. Remember, grief takes the time it takes. It can’t be rushed. Don’t judge, just love them.

Because the Christian hope for life is that we will know God’s love in our lives and share that love with others, graciously and abundantly.

We come here today to cel-ebrate the life of Thomas, but to also hold up the Christian under-standing of life and death.

As Christians we believe that death is not the end of a life but a life changed. I mean this in the most spiritual of realities. Grounded in God we come to understand that, in death, a per-son is born into a new life with God. In this new life, all pain and suffering is gone. In this new life, the one we love is transformed from despair into peace.

Today is a good day to remem-ber that Jesus, and God, know the depth of your despair. It’s a good day to remember that through Je-sus, God transforms our despair into peace.

We know that God made some irrevocable promises to Thomas. Long ago, Thomas was baptized and became a child of God. That was a relationship that God promised never to abandon. I am confident that God kept God’s promise and Thomas resides with God today.

On a day like this it is so im-portant to let the words from the Gospel of John take hold of us:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also...”

The Gospel of John assures us that Jesus waits for us. That Jesus had a place prepared for Thom-as, greeted him with open arms, and comforts him this day. That brings us hope. We know that God loves Thomas uncondition-ally. God accepts Thomas into God’s arms, too. God forgives him all that needs to be forgiven, and assures him that all is well. That brings us peace today.

And so, it is a jumbled up day with all these emotions of despair and grief, hope and love, assur-ance and peace all mixed togeth-er. Slowly, over time, jumbled up emotions will settle. God’s peace will take hold of today’s grief and soothe its brittle pieces. The grief will always be there, but through the grace of God and the love of God, God’s peace will prevail and the ragged edges will soften.

Be not afraid, for Jesus goes be-fore us, and will give us rest.

May Thomas rest well this day and every day in the peace of Christ. May you know Thomas’s abiding love in your lives, in your memories, in your stories, in your tears and in your laughter, in and through all the days of your lives, until you meet again in that place where suffering is no more, but love and peace prevail.

The Rev. Terri Pilarski is rector at Christ Church, Dearborn. To grant his family privacy, the name Thomas was used as an alias in the print version of this sermon. To read the blog that helped in-spire this sermon and to learn more, visit www.theRecordOnline.org.


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We discovered this photo of Detroit from 1942.

Robert Campbell:The Woodward Ave trolley, the last in Detroit, was discontinued in April 1956. (Michigan-Gratiot went in 1955 and East Jeffer-son in 1954). On weekdays in the 1940s, the Woodward trol-leys ran every minute in the rush hour and every 2 minutes in the middle of the day. They were run by DSR, which some be-lieve means Detroit Street Railways, but more accurately refers to the City of Detroit Department of Street Railways, as public transit in Detroit has been a municipal function since the early 1920s. I think the buses on Woodward now run about every 7 minutes in the rush hour and every 9 minutes in the mid-day, so ridership is down some 80% plus, 70 years later.

Woodward had trolleys made in the late 1940s, and when the last streetcars ran, they were in such good shape that they were sold to Mexico City and ran for at least two decades there. It looks like Woodward may get trolleys back, but only from downtown to the New Center, and not all the way to the Fair-grounds, like they used to run (and the current D-DOT buses). Trolleys haven’t operated into the distant suburbs since the early 1930s (Royal Oak and Dearborn had trolleys into 1946-67), and the inter-urban version of the trolley ran not only to Pontiac, but also to Flint and to Imlay City, as well as many oth-er eastern Michigan locations.

Nancy Camp:Before I was born, but I remember some of the sights...My Mom and Dad were married there in 1941.

Paul Haebig:Would love to have some kind of public transit available from Ann Arbor to the mid-town area. I’d go to more events at the Cathedral if I didn’t have to drive.

Mother’s Day: Tell us who you are celebrating today

Margaret Lumpkin Love:My mother, and my daughter, who made me a mother, and the stellar volunteers at our church who mother so many every week with the Grace Church soup kitchen and community sup-pers.

The celebration of life for Lance Massey, music minister at St. James, Grosse Ile:

Andrew Johnson: He was a true musician and Christian in every sense of the word. He will be missed beyond words!

Mikell Thurston Griffith: I sang with Lance at St. Augustine’s in Kalamazoo. His composi-tions, his musicianship and his compassion for music and the artist are memories deep in my soul. Thanks Lance!

Notice the downtown skyline, the vintage cars on Woodward Avenue (driving alongside our Cathedral Church of St. Paul, on the left) and the trolley tracks running down the middle of the street. How cool is this?


BOOK REVIEW

Many grown ups who love to read find sharing an excellent book with a young relative or friend a joyful experi-ence. But children of different ages, boys and girls with diver-gent interests can pose a challenge. The youngest girl wants a book about baby ani-mals and the oldest boy wants an exciting book. The adult only hopes he or she will enjoy reading it aloud.

Thank goodness for Dinotopia! It has a story to tell, and what a story it is! In 1862, Arthur Deni-son and his 12-year-old son, Will, are shipwrecked on an undiscov-ered island in the South Pacific. Father and son are rescued by friendly dolphins and carried to shore. Once they recover from their ordeal, they discover the Is-land of Dinotopia is full of wonders. The plant-eating dinosaurs are clever and cooperative. They take care of toddlers, study philosophy and lend their massive strength to construction and engineering projects to benefit humans and dinosaurs alike. A diverse group of humans lives on the island. They’ve kept track of the gen-erations since a rescued ancestor joined Dinotopia, and they speak many different languages. For-tunately, Bix, Protoceratops and ambassador, volunteers to act as a guide for Arthur and Will. She enjoys travel and speaks 17 dif-ferent human and dinosaur lan-guages.

Of course the book is a fantasy, but the information on dinosaurs has been carefully researched.

‘Dinotopia’ a book to share with the entire family

All the dinosaurs are shown in beautifully colored illustrations based on James Gurney’s stud-

ies of prehistoric life. Every page has at least one sumptuous illustration, and ev-ery dinosaur is care-fully labeled. Readers see them perform-ing peaceful tasks. A Kentrosaurus delivers bagel-style loaves of bread looped over its spikes. A Lambeosau-rus uses the resonating

chamber in its crest to make mu-sic, while its human assistant cre-ates similar music with an elabo-rate wind instrument. Granted, the carnivores are more hungry

than peaceful, but Bix gains safe passage through their swamp with baskets of fish.

Human children care for dino hatch-lings, while smallish dinos watch over hu-man toddlers. These dinosaurs are just

as intelligent as we are, and are much more committed to pre-serving their island and keeping life positive and peaceful. Cel-ebrations and festivals are fre-quent. I love looking at proces-sions of children in their prettiest party clothing and at parading dinosaurs decked in garlands, brocade hangings, and very large gold medallions. Most human children carry dinosaur toys, and most hatchlings have a special human friend.

Every person sharing the book will find a favorite character and storyline. Adventurous readers will enjoy Will and Sylvia’s train-ing as they learn to ride the gi-ant pterosaur, Quetzalcoatlus. Book Two even has a story about

Dawn McDuffie

a baby animal, Stubb. These are pictures and stories to talk about and share. The designs of equip-ment and jewelry might inspire some original pictures and art projects.

The family might try sharing the dinosaur greeting: Breathe deep. Seek peace. I can imag-ine a discussion of the dinosaur code of conduct and what would be one or two good rules to add

to the code. The dinosaur alpha-bet, all based on the footprints of three-toed dinosaurs could lead to making up coded messages to share with family members. If you can’t visit an exotic location this summer, visit Dinotopia with the children.

Dawn McDuffie is a freelance writer and a member of the Cathe-dral Church of St. Paul, Detroit.

There’s more news online.Read theRecordOnline.org

Including:The Nuts and Bolts Blog

More Destination Churchphotos and information

Whitaker Celebration


The issues of gay marriage and LGBT rights fall into hot-button category these days. And while it may be hard to believe, there may be a time when gay marriage (gay union, or whatever you wish to call it) won’t be such a huge deal. In the future, there will be people who oppose it; just like there will be people who won’t fully appre-ciate the struggles endured today by the LGBT population.

Such is the case with the rac-ism and society’s overall attitude toward African-Americans in post-World War II America, as depicted in the movie ‘42.’

The film, which chronicled all that went into Jackie Robinson becoming the first black Ma-jor League Baseball player, was a thoughtful reminder of how things were. During World War II, blacks (including Robinson) were allowed to serve in the mili-tary, and did so with great pride.

But once the war was over, things to returned to how they always were. While Jackie Rob-inson attended UCLA (and later lived in California), he was in a part of the world where issues of race really weren’t a big deal. That was one part of the world. Much of the rest of it, in America, was quite different.

While playing on a Negro League team, he and his team encountered a gas attendant who tried to stop Robinson from us-ing a ‘whites only’ bathroom. The movie elevates its images of racism from there, starting when Robinson was signed by Brooklyn Dodgers owner Branch Rickey.

Why sign Jackie Robinson, Rickey’s minions quipped. There was concern the idea of a “Negro” playing baseball with white men would turn off paying custom-

THE FINAL WORD

Rick Schulte

The movie ‘42’ reminds us of challengesfaced by baseball’s Jackie Robinson

ers. Rickey’s response? He didn’t care about the color of a man’s skin; he only cared about green (the color of money), of which Rickey would make plenty if the Dodgers won a World Series.

As the movie pro-gressed, there were ugly instances of rac-ism, ranging from threats of violence while Rob-inson stayed in Florida during spring training, to one player beaning him in the head with a fastball once he arrived in the big leagues.

Two scenes in particular stood out. One, during a road game in Cincinnati (along with St. Louis, being one of the southern-most Major League cities during the era), a young boy is thrilled to be seeing local hero Pee Wee Reese playing for the visiting Dodgers. But when Robinson takes the field, he is at first mortified to hear the vitriol directed toward the game’s only black player. When he sees his father is screaming as loudly and profanely as everyone else, the young boy follows suit and uses the N-word to cut down Robinson.

Another scene (ex-tremely graphic, but out of necessity to ful-ly get an appreciation for the hate Robinson encountered) has an opposing manager peppering Robinson with every ugly taunt imaginable. Robin-son knew he couldn’t respond to it. He was carrying the burden of being the first black

baseball player, and he couldn’t sully it by making any kind of response. And Robinson surely couldn’t let him know this was getting under his skin.

So after one at bat, Robin-son went into the dugout and ran down the clubhouse tun-nel, where no one could see him. He repeatedly smashed his bat against a wall, sobbing. You could feel his pain. You realized that while there were segments of society that were accepting of blacks (just as it had earlier ac-cepted Jews, Italians, Irish or any other ethnic group), there were many who were either racist or indifferent.

In some sense, that’s where we are today with LGBT issues. I have heard and read the argu-ment “Jackie Robinson didn’t

choose to be black. But homo-sexuals have a choice” more times than I can count.

But Jackie Robinson indeed chose to play baseball. He – and the other groundbreaking black baseball players like Larry Doby, Roy Campanella, Satchel Paige – weren’t content with hiding in the Negro Leagues simply be-cause they didn’t want to offend traditional, conservative, white baseball fans. Yes, there was a fi-nancial reward to playing Major League Baseball. But that incen-tive had to be tempered by the fear existing among these athletes who had experienced racism and knew of the painful greeting awaiting them.

In 2013, how often do you hear anyone say blacks shouldn’t be al-lowed to be baseball? Society has moved forward since the 1940s. It’s not perfect by any means, but it’s not the same, either.

Today, the idea of members of the LGBT community be-ing afforded the same rights and comforts of heterosexuals is awk-ward and uncomfortable to many people. Change does take time, although it is undeniably under-way.

When NBA player Jason Col-lins recently announced he is gay, some referred to him as a hero. Some vilified him for be-ing gay. Is he today’s Jackie Rob-inson? That’s open to debate. It is fair to say, however, there was only one Jackie Robinson, who walked into what he knew would be a firestorm of controversy and handled it with grace and dignity.

That is a lesson all of today’s groundbreakers should remem-ber.

Rick Schulte is director of com-munications for the Diocese of Michigan and is also editor of The Record.

Brooklyn Dodgers first baseman Jackie Robinson (portrayed by Chadwick Boseman) tips his cap to the crowd in a scene from the movie ‘42’. (Photo: Warner Bros.)


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