E-Messenger For Feb 17, 2012

Messenger - February 17, 2012
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The Episcopal Diocese of Central New York

"To be the passionate presence of Christ for one another and the world we are called to serve"
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Welcome to the e-Messenger

February 17, 2012 Edition
Diocesan Calendar of Events... click HERE
Articles
A Ministry of Service Seminars Offered at St. Luke's, Camillus Safe Church Training Planned Global Episcopal Mission Conference 2012 First Habitat for Humanity Trip to El Salvador Youth Pilgrimage to El Salvador, July 2012 News from Christ Church, Manlius Kirking of the Tartan Celebration St. Margaret's House News Notes from the Commission on Ministry 2012 Mission of Miracles Report
Featured Article
A Ministry of Service next
In the second of our series on the deacons of Central New York, we hear from the Reverend Deacon Kay Drebert. Deacon Kay is the newest deacon in the diocese, having recently moved to Binghamton from Wisconsin with her husband. I have been a deacon for over thirteen years and passionately enjoy my vocation. I have served in the dioceses of Fond du lac, Milwaukee, and now Central New York. Currently, I am assigned to Trinity Memorial in Binghamton. My husband David is the rector there and we enjoy serving together. A deacon's ministry is one of service; in fact the literal translation of the word deacon is servant. At our ordination service we promise to seek Christ in others and to be ready to help and serve those in need. You will have noticed that our stoles are different than those of priests. Our stoles are symbols of our servant ministry and we wear them over one shoulder to demonstrate that we have one arm free to work.
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The Bishop's Bash is Coming! Diocesan Board Notes Ordination of Kay M. Houck World Mission Sunday Episcopal Church offers Lenten resources Is Your Church Online? Dent-de-Lion
During the liturgy our tasks reflect our servant ministry. We call the parish to confession and read the gospel to remind those present that we are All called to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to the poor, the weak, the oppressed, the sick, and the lonely. During Communion we set the table, help administer communion, and clean up after our shared meal together. When the deacon gives the dismissal at the end of the worship service, he or she is charging the entire parish to join them in serving those outside our doors! This is fulfilling our charge at ordination to "Show Christ's people that in serving the helpless they are serving Christ himself." Deacons are a bridge between the world and the church. We have one foot in the world and the other in the church, and although this is often challenging, it is also very rewarding. Each deacon has a unique ministry that blends their background, training, and skills with the needs of their work place, communities, volunteer organizations and churches. Like many deacons I am secularly employed and work hard to be diaconal in both environments. In my current position I manage customer relationships for a pharmaceutical manufacturer. I have been in customer service or project management for over seventeen years. For me working in the business world helps me to bring the needs and concerns of the world to the church. I have participated in a wide range of diaconal activities. My undergraduate training is in secondary education so I have often focused on ministry to children and young adults. I have assisted parishes in developing Godly Play programs and have been a counselor for diocesan youth camps, youth mission trips, New Beginnings, and Happening. I also mentored children at an inner city homework club. I have advocated for social justice by writing countless letters to congressmen, senators, and governors from a faith perspective and by walking in two protest marches. My husband and I have also helped staff various feeding programs and were volunteer workers for ERD after Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. Like many of you, I view my secular work as a calling. I have approached managing people with a deacon's perspective and sought to serve my teams rather than the other way around. I try to take the time to listen to my employees, colleagues, and customers when they want to share their joys, sorrows, and concerns. Sometimes I even pray with them. At one employer I led the Giving Tree Project which supplied Christmas gifts and clothing to over 60 needy families. Each time I change jobs or move new ministry seems to find me.
Quick Links
Diocesan Website The Episcopal Church General Convention 2009 Episcopal Relief & Development Anglican Communion News Episcopal Life CNY Cursillo Province II Episcopal Network for Stewardship
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Follow the Diocese on Google+
This time around I am becoming involved with ministries I haven't done before. This is the challenging but fun part! Every Sunday at Trinity Memorial I spend time chatting with the guests that attend our free lunch program called Canteen. Sometimes I assist them with additional needs if I can find the right resources. Being a part of the community they form over a shared meal is a blessing to me. Here in the Southern Tier the flooding was devastating for our communities. This prompted me to start thinking about what we should do to be better prepared for disasters. So I have formed a team to help our parish develop a disaster recovery plan. We will be sharing what we learn with the diocese with the intention of developing a diocesan plan. I also plan on completing therapy dog training with our golden retriever Sophie.
Parishoner Snoopi Botten, Rev. Deacon Kay Drebert, and Sophie
That's enough about me. I can't forget that one of the best things a deacon can do is to help someone else match their skills and abilities to community needs. There is great need in all of our communities and there is plenty of work to do. So... Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord! Kay Drebert Return to Top
News of the Diocese
Seminars Offered at St. Luke's, Camillus
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End of Life Seminars Offered
Mark your calendar for a new series of seminars dealing with topics relating to preparing for the end of life. In March St. Luke's will be hosting an end-of-life symposium to provide information for young and old alike.This symposium will be held on each of the Thursdays in March and provide information ranging from living options for the elderly and infirm to organizing your final wishes in case of catastrophic illness or accident.Topics and proposed dates are: March 1 - Cristen Mendoza, Esq. - Legal Paperwork. No job is ever complete until the paperwork is done.This session will cover all the legal paperwork we must have prepared in order to end our lives as smoothly as possible.This paperwork includes: living wills, final instructions, power of attorneys and medical proxies, and how to assemble this paperwork. March 8 - David G.Walker,Axa-Equitable - This evening will be on Estate Planning.The evening will cover what to consider when planning for the distribution of your assets and the different ways you can support your favorite charitable organizations after your death. March 15 - Living Options and Health Care. Jason Santiago, Administrator for Camillus Ridge Terrace, will share with us the continuum of living options for the elderly and how to assess and access the right living arrangement for yourself or family. March 22 - Planning a Church Funeral, the Sacred. Fr. Craig will explore the theology of the Office of Christian Burial and the options available for funerals at St. Luke's and the Episcopal Church. March 29 - Funeral Planning, the Mundane.The staff from Buranich Funeral Home will join us this night to explain the process and options for the disposal of our physical remains as well as the other services a funeral home provides. All seminars will take place on Thursday evenings at 7 p.m. in the library of St.
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Luke's Episcopal Church, Camillus, NY. Return to Top
Safe Church Training Planned

Grace Church, 6 Elizabeth Street, Utica, NY will be sponsoring Safe Church Training on Saturday, 2/25/12 with class sign-in beginning @ 8:30am and the class starting promptly at 9:00am. Please contact Dick or Wendy Douglass @ 315-735-7183 or soccer13a@roadrunner.com to register. Registration deadline is 2/21/12. Return to Top
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Global Episcopal Mission Conference 2012

Educational Institute and Annual Meeting
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Announcing: The Global Episcopal Mission Conference 2012, May 3-5th at the Incarnation Center in Ivoryton, CT. The conference is sponsored by the Global Episcopal Mission Network and the Episcopal Church Center. For information, please visit the event page at: http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=hq8u7oeab& oeidk=a07e5iw9cqxee4a78a7 Register at: https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register /eventReg?llr=hq8u7oeab&oeidk=a07e5iw9cqxee4a78a7
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Event packet and conference schedule (PDF) are available at: http://gemn.org/documents/GEMN2012f.pdf
Peace, Karen Hotte Registrar, 2012 Global Mission Conference Return to Top
First Habitat for Humanity Trip to El Salvador

First Habitat For Humanity Mission Trip to El Salvador May 26-June 3, 2012 Central New York Companion Diocese
Habitat Mission Habitat for Humanity El Salvador works in association with God and people of diverse backgrounds to develop communities with people in need through construction and renovation of houses, allowing every person to have a suitable home in his or her community and experience the love of God, living and growing in everything that God offers.
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Habitat Values
Respect the diversity of thought Transparency in the use of resources Solidarity with the poor Work founded on the love and teaching of Jesus Christ Promote personal dignity Treat all people equally and fairly
Come and Work for Habitat for Humanity in El Salvador

Kip Coerper, assistant construction manager at Syracuse Habitat for Humanity, will be leading a Habitat Global Village work trip for 12 people to El Salvador on May 26 - June 3. No construction experience is necessary. Come and learn to build and make new friends! Our week will include 1 day of learning about and experiencing the culture of El Salvador and 1 day at a beach resort. Global Village
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trips provide an opportunity for members to learn and contribute while expanding their knowledge of unfamiliar cultures and developing their own spiritual identity. The entire trip costs will be $1140 (tax deductible) plus airfare (scholarship money is available for some of the costs). To find out more about this mission trip go to Global Village Trips to El Salvador at Habitat.org or contact Kip at kipcoerper@yahoo.com
Through Global Mission Trips, Team members will:

Learn about the work and witness of local faith communities Build relationships with area Christians, other people of faith, and with each other Serve with members of the local community to meet local needs Experience another context in which the Christian faith is practiced Worship with local congregations Reflect on the mission team experience in light of the gospel.
What Else Should I Know?

If you feel you just might be called to join this Habitat Mission Trip contact Kip Coerper at kipcoerper@yahoo.com. For other mission trips to our companion diocese of El Salvador please contact Chuck Stewart at cnstewart@verizon.net or at (315) 685 8578 or 395 0053. As good as videos and photos are, one cannot get a sense of our sisters' and brothers' lives without being in the churches, kitchens and fields, feeling the heat, smelling the pollution and walking in the dirt. As good as books are, one cannot get a sense of their history without standing behind the altar where their archbishop was shot or standing in front of the Wall of Remembrance with thirty thousand names of those adults and children who died or disappeared in the civil war. And the joy of helping a child paint a T-shirt - perhaps the first new shirt in several years - cannot be described. To see the complete Habitat for Humanity Brochure about this Mission trip, you may download the document by visiting this link: http://tinyurl.com/habitat-info Return to Top
Youth Pilgrimage to El Salvador, July 2012

Youth Pilgrimage to El Salvador
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There will be an information meeting of anyone who might be interested in joining or learning about a mission to our Companion Diocese of El Salvador on Sunday, March 4. The meeting is at 2:00 PM in the Parish Hall of St. James' Episcopal Church in Skaneateles. The Youth Pilgrimage will be July 18 to 25. For more information contact Chuck Stewart at 315-685-8578 or cnstewart@verizon.net.
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News from Christ Church, Manlius

Taize Worship Service at Christ Church, Manlius
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During Lent Christ Church, Manlius will hold a Taize worship service on Sunday evenings at 7:00 p.m. Taize is a style of worship that is quiet, meditative and prayerful. Simple music, scripture readings, prayers, and candlelight set a thoughtful tone. Taize is an ecumenical community in France which draws about 100,000 people each year from all over the world for shared worship and work while living in community. Taize services will begin on Sunday, February 26 and will be offered through Sunday, April 1. They are wonderful as a Lenten discipline or as a time to invite people who might not be comfortable with more structured, formal church services, or for whom Sunday mornings do not work. Services are informal and will be held in Crosby Hall. An average service will last about 30 minutes. For more information please see www.christchurchmanlius.org or call 692-5795. All are welcome.
Final Four Raffle

Are you eager for the Final Four? Would you like to cheer on the winning team while watching on a big screen, high definition television with Surround Sound? Would you be willing to take a chance on winning that television and sound system while supporting a local parish? Read on!
Christ Church, Manlius

March Madness Raffle
LG 47" Flat Screen HD TV
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And Onkyo 5.1 Ch Surround Sound $1800 value Tickets: $5 each or Five for $20 Drawing: March 30, 2012 (in time for Final Four!) For tickets call the office 315-682-5795 or email at ravchristchurch@windstream.net Return to Top
Kirking of the Tartan Celebration
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Members of St. John's, Ithaca, Choir offered their musical gifts at the Episcopal Church at Cornell's Kirking of the Tartan and celebration from the 1627 Scottish Book of Common Prayer in January.
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St. Margaret's House News
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St. Margaret's House and Ecumenical Center
On March 9th and 10th, 2012 from Friday at 5PM through 3PM Saturday, at St. Margaret's House and Ecumenical Center, 47 Jordan Rd., New Hartford, there will be a Lenten retreat led by the Rev. Ann Markle entitled Redeeming Darkness. She is an Episcopal priest from Crossville, Tennessee and chaplain of the Daughter's of the King in East Tennessee. She has a master's degree in clinical psychology and a master's degree in social work. She is a graduate of Berkeley Divinity School at Yale and has served western New York and Tennessee. Join us for a spirit filled weekend and learn more about finding riches, finding miracles, redemption and transformation in dark places of life. Return to Top
Commission on Ministry Meeting Notes
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Notes from the February 9, 2012 Commission on Ministry Meeting The Commission on Ministry opened its meeting with prayer led by Ms. Ruthie Koerts. The Bishop then offered a Teaching Moment which explored what it means to 'believe the Bible' and to 'believe what the Bible says.' The Bishop began with a quote from Ephraim the Syrian: "Scripture brought me to the gate of paradise, and the mind stood in wonder as it entered." Over the course of discussion the Bishop said that he encourages us "to take the Bible very seriously and also to be playful with it." Two significant transitions were acknowledged: The Very Rev. John Martinichio has resigned as Chair of the Commission on Ministry after two years of leadership in order to dedicate more time to ministry in his new parish setting. The members of the COM thanked him for his service. The Very Rev. Deacon Barbara Groves, member-at-large, has also resigned although she will remain a coordinator for one of the five Discernment Centers. The Director of Formation, The Rev. Dr. Rene Tembeckjian, reported progress in refining the process of Discernment for Ministry, both lay and ordained, in order to clarify roles and shape practices. A brochure is being developed, the information for the website is being updated, and Diocesan Discernment Centers are
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coordinating their procedures, all of which should result in a clear, consistent process. The Clergy Continuing Education Team reports that The Rev. Dena CleaverBartholomew will be attending Anti-Racism training in the Diocese of Rochester in order to assess whether the training model used in Rochester would work well in this Diocese and whether the two dioceses might wish to share training. The Discernment for Ministry Team is updating website information for greater ease of access and clarity in its materials. The Formation for Ministry Team will offer a Vestry Day on Saturday, May 5th. Future training opportunities include a day to assist congregations in preparing web pages. The team will be sending out a survey regarding Worship Leaders to all clergy, wardens-in-charge and those who have participate in the Worship Leader training to date. The findings from this survey will help shape future training. The Ordination for Ministry Team is in ongoing conversation with the Director of Formation regarding changes in the ordination process. There were updates on two Persons-in-Process. Other Items included information regarding the possibility of raising up Worship Leaders from among members of the Sudanese congregation worshiping at the Cathedral and continued discernment with the Moravia Team Total Ministry members. The closing prayer was offered by The Rev. Dr. Rene Tembeckjian. Return to Top
2012 Mission of Miracles Report
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Thank you for prayers of support for the 2012 Mission of Miracles medical mission to El Salvador! We have returned safely, tired, humbled, grateful, and in awe of a country which inspires hope and resilience. Over half of the population of El Salvador lives in poverty, struggling to overcome the residual affects of natural disasters, human rights issues, and violence. It was our privilege to work with our partners from the health program of the Diocese of El Salvador to visit villages and offer care to the people.
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This year we increased our El Salvador team by hiring two local optometrists and a dentist to work along side of us for the week. The dentist treated patients along with the Mission of Miracles supported and funded dentist, Roberto Flores. Dr. Daniella Flamenco and two other members of her health team, 8 local translators, and the drivers also joined us. All together, with the 31 who came from Central New York, we were a team of 50 people traveling to each village every day. In addition to dental, vision, mental health, and medical care, we provided opportunities for health promotion and education. High school seniors from Manlius Pebble Hill School and Jamesville-DeWitt produced and participated in skits developed for both children and adults. The topics were handwashing, teethbrushing, germs, and bullying.
Although our work, we pray, is to minister to the poor and oppressed, as always lives on the team are changed also. Each year, one-third to one-half of the team consists of those who have never been to El Salvador before. Over the last nine years, this program has affected the lives of so many here in Central New York just as it has in El Salvador. We pray that this work will continue, with God's help and will, and we look forward to a grand 10th anniversary year next year! Bonnie Adams Chair Mission of Miracles Medical outreach program of the Diocese of Central New York Return to Top
The Bishop's Bash is Coming!

Save the Date for The Annual Bishop's Bash
(For kids in grades 6 though 12)
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The annual Bishop's Bash is scheduled for May 11-12, 2012 at St. Paul's Cathedral, 310 Montgomery Street, Syracuse with Holy Eucharist and an overnight! More details will be in a future edition of the E-Messenger. Return to Top
Diocesan Board Notes

Diocesan Board Notes for E-Messenger Jan. 17, 2012
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The Very Rev. John Martinichio opened the meeting at 1:00 p.m. Opening Prayer was given by the Rev. Joell Szachara Director of Formation, the Rev. Rene Tembeckjian, gave a general update/review in terms of what has been developing in formation initiatives over the last several months. New endeavors are being organized under the umbrella of the Compass Institute which will be instrumental in integrating the Bishop's message in all facets of Diocesan life. Discussed Auditors engagement letter, this is the last year of the 3 year agreement. Ms. Cathy Hobart gave a review of the financial statements for November, and end value of CIF2 & 3. UIF is finalizing its initial figures for publication. The individual parishes will be notified how to access their accounts on line. Parish assessment requests were reviewed and the Board was delighted to learn that two parishes previously asking for relief have paid their arrears in full. Discussion on other requests and appropriate Board responses followed. Bishop Adams reported that he will be attending the House of Bishop's meeting in March and most business will center on preparing for General Convention which will take place this July in Indianapolis, IN. Liturgical renewal and revival will be discussed including the Rite II burial rite. Language regarding the mission of the Board will be looked at the Board retreat. Bishop Adams and Chancellor Paul Curtin met again with SUNY ESF students to review and discuss their land-use projects for the Thornfield property. The Board is looking at all areas related to how we use the resources of Diocese. We are paying attention by actively looking at various sites for possible relocation of the Diocesan Offices; there are ongoing conversations with the Cathedral and Samaritan Center on this topic. Other areas of discussion included but were not limited to the SU Chaplaincy, Ephphatha, and Diocesan Convention.
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We are looking for Diocesan Coordinator for Episcopal Relief & Development (ER&D) which can be a lay or ordained person. Mission of Miracles preparations are finalized and a group of 29 is ready to go including four high school students. The Rev. John Martinichio talked about Title IV training; several districts have requested training in their areas. The Very Rev. Thomas Luck reported that the 310 Montgomery St. Task Force is discussing how the Cathedral building is shared and the challenges involved. The Church Building Fund is being contacted to help look at how the space is used along with possible alternatives. Chancellor Paul Curtin discussed the legal issues facing the Diocese, most of which involve the care and sale of property and concerns for closing parishes. Various topics for the January Board retreat were outlined: Development of the Diocesan Budget How do we do business in a different way that is 21st century, using technology etc. How do we prioritize challenges, opportunities and how to address them? Increased clarity on how the Board operates and identifying who is responsible for follow through. Closing prayer was given by Bishop Adams. Return to Top
Ordination of Kay M. Houck
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God willing and the people consenting The Rt. Rev. Gladstone B. Adams III Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Central New York will ordain as Priest
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Kay M. Houck Wednesday, March 28, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. Church of St. Mark the Evangelist 1612 West Genesee Street Syracuse, NY Your prayers and presence are requested. Clergy: Red Stoles Reception immediately following
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National News
World Mission Sunday - February 19th

Episcopal Church World Mission Sunday theme: Mission is Transformational
Sunday, February 19 The Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs February 9, 2012
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The 2012 World Mission Sunday in the Episcopal Church will focus on Mission Is Transformational. World Mission Sunday, always observed the last Sunday after Epiphany, is February 19. The annual observation was designated to increase awareness of, and participation in, the wider global mission of the Episcopal Church. "Conversations, presentations, and workshops at the recent Everyone Everywhere 2011 Mission Conference highlighted the transformation that all who are engaged in mission experience," explained the Rev. David Copley, Mission Personnel
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Officer. "Participating in Gods mission for the world transforms us as individuals, communities and a Church." World Mission Sunday is an ideal focus for Sunday School lessons, adult education, discussions and forums, prayers of the people and other events in the life of a congregation and diocese. Copley pointed out that World Mission Sunday is an opportunity to connect local congregations and parishioners with the wider church and its international work. Resources for World Mission Sunday, available in Spanish and French, are here or here http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/world-mission-sunday and include bulletin inserts; suggested sermons; suggested reading; and other info. For more information contact Elizabeth Boe at eboe@episcopalchurch.org World Mission Sunday: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/world-missionsunday Return to Top
Episcopal Church offers Lenten resources, meditations

The Episcopal Church
Office of Public Affairs February 10, 2012
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Resources, meditations and study guides for experiencing a reflective Lenten season are available from the Episcopal Church. Also on the Episcopal Church facebook page, an ongoing conversation focuses on Ash Wednesday/Lent. http://www.facebook.com/episcopalian The resources have been complied by the Mission Staff of the Episcopal Church. Seeking God's Justice for All: Exposing the Doctrine of Discovery Part Three: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/sites/default/files/downloads /dod_lent_2012.pdf Elder Abuse Awareness: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/older-adultministries Carbon Fast: Beginning Ash Wednesday and throughout Lent, participants will receive a daily email with the day's suggested carbon-reducing activity. http://www.macucc.org/pages/detail/2410. Lent 4.5: Christian Simplicity: a seven-week faith formation program
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www.earthandspiritcenter.org/lent45 Episcopal Relief & Development 2012 Lenten Meditations http://www.erd.org/Lent/ Good Friday Offering Lenten Education Series from the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/page/good-friday-offeringresources "Claiming the Vision: Baptismal Identity in the Episcopal Church": video resource produced as a collaborative effort of Bloy House (the Episcopal Theological School at Claremont), the Episcopal Church Center, and the Evangelical Education Society. Here or http://bloyhouse.org/vision.html World Council of Churches' Ecumenical Water Network: a Lenten course titled "Seven Weeks for Water: The Blue Economy." http://www.oikoumene.org/en/activities/ewn-home/resources-and-links /seven-weeks-for-water.html The Anglican Communion's Bible in the Life of the Church: a five-week course for Lent 2012 titled "And It Was Good". http://www.anglicancommunion.org/ministry/theological/bible/lent.cfm. Eco-Palms: harvesters gather only quality palm fronds in a way that allows the plant to keep growing. https://www.ecopalms.org/ The Lenten Resources will be available throughout Lent and Easter. Additional resources will be added throughout Lent. Return to Top
Odds and Ends
Is Your Church Online?
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Some thoughts on getting your church website up and running

It's confusing, isn't it? There are so many options available today for getting your church online. Facebook, Twitter, Google+, a website. How can we best use our energy to establish a beachhead on the web? Do we need to have our own domain name, our own server, our own computer, our own web person? Do I really even care about all this fancy computer jargon? Well here's some advice to get you started. You need to think about who will benefit from your efforts. Inside your church, are there people online today? In your community, might there be people looking for
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a church? You should try to understand how people might encounter your website and target your design accordingly. What do you want your online presence to accomplish? To get started, by all means, your church should have a website. There are many options available today, so we'll start with a small list, and let you look around to see what you think is best for your church. There are lots of other options available as well, but this is what I would consider a "Starter List" SteepleConnect.com - Offers a free starter package, along with tiered plans at a fairly low cost. Use a free blog service to create your church website. Here's a short list of resources, with examples to look at what is possible: wordpress.com: Example site: St Mark's Portobello blogger.com: Example site: St. Mark's Episcopal Church, Tampa Google Sites: Free website builder and hosting from Google. Example site: St. Mark's Lutheran Church Concrete5: An open source Content Management System, with low cost hosting solutions available. Example site: Fellowship Baptist Church So which one is right for you? Probably no one solution fits all churches. Remember, to start with, you don't need to be fancy. You need to tell people the basics: Where you are, what time your services are held, and how to contact someone, either via phone or email, or both. Remember, if you give an email address, there needs to be someone who will respond to inquiries in a timely manner! You also need to make sure that the information on your website is up-to-date. There's nothing worse than seeing the schedule for Christmas services as you approach Easter! I recently was trying to decide what to use for a new website for our church, and tried most of these solutions. They all work, but as you might expect, some are easier than others. Here's an example of what I was able to do in about 30 minutes time, using a free wordpress.com blog: http://stmarkscb.wordpress.com/. Notes: The Soundcloud service provides limited free storage for keeping sound clips of sermons, and integrates well into most websites. Youtube provides free storage for video clips. This site is not complete, but convinced me that there were sufficient capabilities to build on for our next website. I also urge you to look at one of my favorite "small church" websites in our diocese, Grace Church in Willowdale. It is simple, graphically attractive, yet tells a visitor all they need to know about coming to their services.
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We'll continue this series next month with a look at Social Networking capabilities, such as Facebook, and whether your church needs to be involved in them. Questions? Ask the Messenger editor, Andy Pierce at messenger@cny.anglican.org. Return to Top
Dent-de-Lion
Rend Your Heart
A Blessing for Ash Wednesday To receive this blessing, all you have to do is let your heart break. Let it crack open. Let it fall apart so that you can see its secret chambers, the hidden spaces where you have hesitated to go. Your entire life is here, inscribed whole upon your heart's walls: every path taken or left behind, every face you turned toward or turned away, every word spoken in love or in rage, every line of your life you would prefer to leave in shadow, every story that shimmers with treasures known and those you have yet to nd. It could take you days to wander these rooms. Forty, at least. And so let this be a season for wandering for trusting the breaking for tracing the tear
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that will return you to the One who waits who watches who works within the rending to make your heart whole. by Jan L. Richardson, from her blog "The Painted Prayerbook", at http://paintedprayerbook.com, used with permission.
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T he M es se ng er Th e Me ss en ge r e Ne ws et te r iis s en t o ut t he f iir st a nd t hiir d F r i d a y o f e a c h m o n t h . e--N ew slle tt er s se nt ou t th e rs t an d th r Articles are always welcome and may be sent to the editor at: The Messenger (messenger@cny.anglican.org) D ea dlliin e f or s ub miis s on o f a rt clle s iis o ne w ee k p riio r t o p ub ca tiio n.. De ad ne fo r su bm siio n of ar tiic es s on e we ek pr or to pu blliic at on If you have a photo to accompany your article, please attach it in .jpg format with your e-mail.
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The Episcopal Diocese of Central New York

Welcome to the e-Messenger

Diocesan Calendar of Events... click HERE

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Join Our Mailing List! Become a Fan of the Diocese on Facebook!

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Follow the Diocese on Google+

Parishoner Snoopi Botten, Rev. Deacon Kay Drebert, and Sophie

News of the Diocese

Seminars Offered at St. Luke's, Camillus

Messenger - February 17, 2012

End of Life Seminars Offered

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Luke's Episcopal Church, Camillus, NY. Return to Top

Safe Church Training Planned

Global Episcopal Mission Conference 2012

Messenger - February 17, 2012

First Habitat for Humanity Trip to El Salvador

Come and Work for Habitat for Humanity in El Salvador

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Through Global Mission Trips, Team members will:

What Else Should I Know?

Youth Pilgrimage to El Salvador, July 2012

Messenger - February 17, 2012

News from Christ Church, Manlius

Final Four Raffle

Christ Church, Manlius

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Kirking of the Tartan Celebration

St. Margaret's House News

Messenger - February 17, 2012

St. Margaret's House and Ecumenical Center

Commission on Ministry Meeting Notes

Messenger - February 17, 2012

2012 Mission of Miracles Report

Messenger - February 17, 2012

The Bishop's Bash is Coming!

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Diocesan Board Notes

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Ordination of Kay M. Houck

Messenger - February 17, 2012

World Mission Sunday - February 19th

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Episcopal Church offers Lenten resources, meditations

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Odds and Ends

Is Your Church Online?

Some thoughts on getting your church website up and running

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Messenger - February 17, 2012

Forward the news today...

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