Diocesan Youth Caucus

Bishop Rabb's Message

 “At Home in the Cosmos”
– Remembering the Second Annual Green Gathering of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

By DIANE PIERCE, IN COOPERATION WITH THE REV. PAT UNDERWOOD, REPORTING FOR THE DIOCESAN COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT

On November 8, 2003, at the Cathedral of the Incarnation, a group of concerned stewards of the Earth gathered together to celebrate their love of Creation and to become better informed about how they could carry the vision of environmental stewardship and loving kinship with all God’s creatures to their various and diverse parishes.

The morning began with a presentation by The Rev. Pat Underwood entitled The New Story of Creation: Cosmic Destiny and Human Fulfillment. Responding to the Gathering’s theme, At Home in the Cosmos, Pat talked about the spiritual bond of awareness that unites all creatures in a “covenant” with the Holy One (cf. Hosea 2:18), and that invites us to look forward to the new heavens and new earth, our eternal home, as this present cosmos is transfigured and all is made new. (cf. Isaiah 66:22 - also Revelation 21: 1 – 5). “The New Story,” he remarked, “needs to be open to the gifts of modern cosmology and the insights of other faith traditions, thus potentially bringing humankind together as co-creators of the planet’s future.”

In his presentation, Pat brought a spiritual depth to our understanding of our mission as stewards of God’s Creation. He enabled the group to share their own stories and experiences. He lovingly encouraged participants to continue to gain knowledge and awareness of God’s loving Spirit in the Creation - and among us, God’s people - and to accept the challenge of “making all things new.”

Martha Gardner was the second speaker of the morning. She presented: Living the Covenant in the Local Parish: Resources for Worship,Teaching, and Simpler Living. Ms. Gardner is Consultant for Environmental Stewardship in the Office of Peace and Justice Ministries at the Episcopal Church Center in New York. Ms. Gardner’s enthusiastic and encouraging presentation provided the participants with a wealth of resources and websites available for parish ministries.

The group enjoyed a delicious lunch of healthy goodies and closed the day with a beautiful Eucharistic service celebrated by Bishop Robert W. Ihloff.

As spring approaches, many congregations will be preparing for Earth Day or Rogation Sunday worship. Ms. Gardner offered her assistance in facilitating the development of environmental ministry at both the diocesan and local level and may be reached at mgardner@episcopalchurch.org or by phone at 1.800.334.7626, extension 6056. Parishes wishing to undertake new earth ministries or be in touch with concerns of the Committee on the Environment of the Maryland Diocese may contact The Rev.Arthur (Pat) Underwood at 410.329.9097 or email at ahun@starpower.net.

The Committee on the Environment hopes you will mark your calendars now for the Third Annual Green Gathering to be held at the Cathedral of the Incarnation next fall, October 30, 2004 Together we can make a difference for the future of our children and grandchildren. [Return to Top of Page]

 “Challenges and Opportunities for Episcopal Schools Today”
– A Church Club Discussion

By WILLIAM STUMP
Challenges and Opportunities for Episcopal Schools Today” will be explored in a presentation and panel discussion when the Maryland chapter of the Church Club holds its spring dinner meeting at St. Paul’s School, Brooklandville, on Wednesday, April 28. Tom Reid, the school’s headmaster, will introduce the program; the keynote speaker will be The Rev. Dr.D. Stuart Dunnan, Jr., headmaster of St. James School, the 162-year-old boarding and school located near Hagerstown. Other panel members are Nancy Eisenberg, headmistress of St. Paul’s School for Girls, and Dr. Elizabeth Lengenhausen, headmistress of St. James Academy in Monkton.

If you’ve not worshipped in the impressive St. Paul’s School chapel, here’s your opportunity.The evening begins with a 5:30 p.m. service conducted by the school chaplain,The Rev. Michael Wallens, followed by a reception and dinner in the school’s Ward Center. During the reception, members and guests will see exhibits from many of the 21 schools affiliated with the Diocese – eight grade schools and 13 preschools and kindergarten schools.

Although members of the Church Club are lay people, clergy guests are sincerely welcomed. Both our Bishops regularly attend.

The Church Club was founded as the Churchman’s Club in 1898 by Bishop William Paret, who was eager that lay people from different parishes get to know one another. He hoped that every club gathering would be “convivial,” and wrote “I cannot see why pleasure and religion should be divorced. Everything that can help us carry true, but bright religion into social life, or bring social life in touch with the church, will be a great gain.”This continues to be the Club’s goal – 106 years later.

For reservations and information, call the Club secretary, Dolly Chin, 410.889.2884. [Return to Top of Page]

Church Club sponsors Historic Church Tour

By WILLIAM STUMP
Once again, preservationist architect James T. Wollon will guide a tour of five historically and architecturally significant church buildings in the Diocese – this time in Baltimore City.

The bus tour, sponsored by the Church Club, is May 22, 2004, with the bus departing from the north parking lot of the Church of the Redeemer on Charles Street at 8:30 a.m.The cost per person is $42, which includes a box lunch.

The churches to be visited include St. Luke’s, Carey Street, the largest church building in the Diocese; St. Paul the Apostle,Washington Boulevard, a classic example of Romanesque Revival; the Church of the Advent, South Charles Street, described by Mr.Wollon “as a spectacular example of early 20th Century church architecture;” Mount Calvary, North Eutaw Street, which has a unique floor plan and where Robert E. Lee was a worshipper when he lived in Baltimore; Old St Paul’s, the fifth church building of Baltimore’s first parish, incorporating the walls of the fourth church.

James Wollon is a member of the Church Club Council (governing board) and has previously led tours of Harford and Anne Arundel’s church buildings.

The deadline for reservations is May 15, 2004. Checks should be sent to James T.Wollon at 600 Craigs Corner Road, Havre de Grace, Maryland, 21078. His telephone number is 410.879.6748 or fax, 410.879.0291. Because space is limited, a prompt response is the best guarantee of a reservation for this informative adventure into Baltimore history. [Return to Top of Page]

Deadline Set for Grant Requests

The Diocesan Grants Committee has set a deadline of May 31, 2004 for submitting grant requests for calendar year 2005. Applications to request a Diocesan grant for CY 2005 will be available from the Diocesan Business Office after April 10, 2004. For further information, contact Marty Strickland at the Diocesan Center, 410.467.1399. If there is anyone who would like to assist in this important ministry and be a member of the Diocesan Grants Committee, starting in June 2004, please contact the Chairman, Jim Rauth at jarinc@webtv.net. [Return to Top of Page]

First Annual Health Care Conference and Fair

ByWAYNE C. SPIGGLE, M.D. AND THE REV.TAMMYWOOLIVER, DIOCESAN HEALTH CARE TASK FORCE

Bishop John Rabb and the Diocesan Task Force on Health Care call all parishes to have a presence at the first annual Health Care Conference and Fair that will take place at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday,May 22, 2004 at St. John’s, Ellicott City.The purpose of this conference is to identify and network parish and Diocesan health ministries and to educate the Diocese and its parishes on critical issues facing health care.

Parishes are encouraged to set up tables or booths to demonstrate their involvement and experience in parish based health ministry. Contact Bishop Rabb’s office if you would like to participate.

The morning session will address ways to increase access to health care for patients in need through referrals to MedBank of Maryland and other available programs.

The afternoon will feature presentations on public policy issues and the role faith communities have in improving health care delivery. Among the speakers will be nationally recognized medical statesman, Quentin Young, M.D., who leads the 7,000 member Physicians for a National Health Policy (PNHP). He will discuss the many misconceptions there are about universal coverage and address alternatives to nationwide coverage without socialized medicine.

For more information, contact Dr. Spiggle at wspiggle@mac.com or The Rev.Tammy Wooliver at twooliv1@jhmi.edu. [Return to Top of Page]

Journeys Community –
One voice in many languages

“I was first introduced to Journeys Community during one of their early prototype services. The music immediately impressed me because the musicians played contemporary songs that I knew and could connect with. The spiritual team also showed a brief clip from the movie Cider House Rules and that dramatization helped move me to a deeper emotional level than a sermon ever could. Though I consider myself a spiritual person—I pray and meditate regularly and try to live my life with a view towards helping others— I’ve never felt comforted by religion. Being told which doctrine I should believe and how I should worship has kept me away from the traditional church for years. Even the symbols and rituals seem far away and disconnected from my life. But at Journeys, I’m given the opportunity to align my spiritual life with the contemporary world around me and to explore my relationship with God in a way that feels more immediate and accessible.” – Jen Grow

Journeys Community, the Seekers ministry, is grounded in the experience of the apostolic church of the First Century. The

early Christians were given power by the Holy Spirit at Pentecost to speak to the spiritual seekers of that day in their own language and describe the wonderful things God had done (Acts 2: 5-11). Now, at the beginning of the third millennium, Journeys Community attempts to speak in the language, media, music, and style of the spiritual seekers of our day.

For many of the Journeys Community ministry team, this outreach is grounded in our commitment to the life and teachings of Jesus who stands at the heart of a faith that stretches us to seek God beyond the limits of any particular tradition, and encourages us to discover and be discovered by God in the ordinary experiences of life and in those people whose lives reveal the love of God.

While the traditional church conserves and passes on the best of its heritage, the church is also called to honor the search for God and truth in a changing world and in a culture that is not bound by the answers and formulations of the past. Journeys Community is committed to Jesus’ words in the Gospel of John that through our ministry all people “might have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10).

“Like many of the Journeys Community members, I sought spiritual growth outside the traditional church because I couldn’t connect with the traditional liturgy. I felt I was missing an opportunity to deepen my spirituality because so much of the service was in an archaic language or so prescribed that it didn’t require me to engage on a personal level. Without that engagement, I was missing the experience. The Journeys services use the language and mediums of today—film clips, poetry, visual images, scripture from all the major religions as they speak to particular topics, and current music. God is speaking to us all the time; all we need do is look and listen. Every service is uniquely fashioned to engage the listener on a personal level, and there is no way to assume that you know what will happen next in the service. For me, this has made all the difference.” – Valerie Bornemann

This is the third in a series of articles on Journeys Community. For more information, visit their website at www.journeyscommunity.org or email the Rev. Dr. Harry Brunett at journeyscommunity@mris.com. [Return to Top of Page]

Celebrate Presence is Looking for a New Home!

Do you know of a place to both sell and showcase a wonderful collection of Palestinian crafts? We are searching for a bookstore or a church that will house our inventory: *Pottery, pillows, wall hangings, rugs, glassware and wrought iron *Olivewood figures and nativity sets *Embroidery We need to find a partner organization or individual(s) willing to work with us so we can have high visibility and leverage our opportunities to realize our mission: “Celebrate Presence is dedicated to improving the lives and image of Palestinian artisans by providing sales and marketing opportunities in the US”. If you have an idea or are interested please call me! Judith Cloughen 410.329.3140 [Return to Top of Page]

Letters

I was sorry to read, in the February/March Maryland Church News, that The Rev. Bill Field is so distressed about the state of our denomination when it comes to being relevant for today. As I read this publication, I am increasingly excited by the diverse ways that our churches and our Diocese plan programs and work to reach out to all of God’s people “wherever they are.” Here is a partial list Journeys Community, St. Mary’s Outreach Center, the continuing improvements to maintain the Bishop Claggett Center, the diverse offerings of the parishes in the Calendar of Events. We are also fortunate to have inspiring, active and progressive leadership from both of our Bishops. Therefore, the fact that there are some parishes or individuals that value more traditional forms of liturgy says to me that the Episcopal Church has something for everyone. If you don’t like traditional forms of liturgy, you don’t have to worship in the parishes that offer that form of worship. However, if you need the solace and comfort of traditional forms of worship, they are available. The strength of the Episcopal Church is that we serve many diverse people in many diverse ways.Any move to limit our choices would only serve to reduce our effectiveness.
Nancy Knauff Damico
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This is in response to The Rev. Bill Field’s Reflection:“The Struggle to Reconcile Old with New” in the February/March Maryland Church News”. From his remarks, I infer that Rev. Field is referring, somewhat obliquely, to the current struggle in the Episcopal Church over the issue of a ‘new’ sexual morality. He speaks of “the paradox that exists between our divine commission to be forever a source of new and fresh life in the world, and our somber propensity to value the old and hold onto the past.” We do indeed have a propensity to value the old and to hold onto the past, sometimes at the expense of new and fresh forms. To hold our old forms of worship loosely and to be ready for new and fresh ones is admirable. But the current struggle in our Church is not about forms, but about the substance of our faith - the authority of scripture - and that is something not to be held loosely, but to be grasped and held onto firmly. If we are continually ready to re-interpret scripture in new and fresh ways, we will always be influenced by the culture of our times, rather than being influential in our fallen world. Let us not confuse substance with form. The substance of our faith includes the belief that the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. The “new wine” that Jesus warned us wouldn’t fit in old wineskins is the new wine of his shed blood for the forgiveness of our sins, all of them, including our sexual sins. Let’s pass this good, unchanging news along to the ‘new generation’ so that the ‘new dreams’ they dream will be based in truth. Objective, unchanging Truth.

Madeline S.Whitaker Member, St. John’s, Glyndon
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Following the footsteps of Paul – A pilgrimage to Greece

By JOHN KLEIN
On October 11, 2004, The Rev. John Wm Klein of Mount Calvary Church in Baltimore will lead a ten-day pilgrimage to Greece. The pilgrimage will focus on the “Coming of Christianity to Greece” and will examine Ancient Greek Philosophy and Religion, and the Art and Architecture that was the prelude to the Gospel in Greece. Participants will look at Paul’s Missionary work, Apostolic Foundations and will see Modern Greek Orthodox Christianity in practice, including praying with Icons.

Join us as we journey in the footsteps of Paul through the scenic land of Greece. Our pilgrimage will begin in Thessaloniki where Paul wrote two letters to the people, and will then move on to Kavala where he landed after sailing from Troy. We will visit the mysterious Hanging Monasteries of Meteora; Delphi, home to Apollo; and Corinth, where Paul wrote his Epistles.We will explore Athens, visit the Acropolis and Parthenon, and climb Mars Hill where Paul preached to the people, and then take a one-day cruise on the magnificent Aegean Sea visiting the Saronic islands of Aegina, Poros and Hydra.

Our pilgrimage will include time to celebrate the Holy Eucharist, to meet the people of Greece and to explore our own spirituality.We will have a private coach and driver and our own English-speaking guide who will be with us throughout. Most meals are included as are superior accommodations, roundtrip airfare from Baltimore and basic travel insurance.

Come share the joy of a pilgrimage with your church family as you follow the footsteps of Paul through the ancient land of Greece. For more information, call The Rev. John Klein at 410.728.6140. [Return to Top of Page]

Brother Andrew de Carpentier to visit the Diocese of Maryland

By THE REV. CHARLES CLOUGHEN
Twenty-seven years ago, Andrew de Carpentier arrived from Beirut in Salt, Jordan west of Amman, to direct the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf. The school then was small, its students underfed, and government authorities were planning to close it. Today this Institute, an agency of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem, flourishes with 120 boarding students, 20 to 25 local students, and workshops for teachers of the deaf held beyond Jordan in countries including Yemen and Iraq.

Andrew de Carpentier is a native of the Netherlands, where he earned the BSc in civil engineering from Rotterdam. He is a member of the monastic Order of St. Luke / Christian Deaf Community. In Beirut he earned a BTheol from the Near East School of Theology and studied special education for two years. As a teacher of the deaf and a sign language interpreter, he has worked for the past 33 years to improve the condition of deaf, hearing-impaired, and disabled people in the Middle East. In 1984 he was ordained to the priesthood.

The Holy Land Institute for the Deaf, founded by The Rev. J. J. Andeweg, another Dutch Anglican, is a model institution providing education, vocational training, audiology, hearing aids, and other services. Recently, a residential unit was added for children who are both deaf and blind. Outreach programs to schools throughout Jordan, including refugee camps, benefit several hundred more deaf children. A qualified team of dedicated people offers frequent courses for teachers and hearing-aid technicians in neighboring Arab countries.

“Over the years, things grew,” Br.Andrew said. “I thought it was fun to start with nothing and end up with something.”

The Institute’s mostly Jordanian students range in age from 4 to 20. When they arrive, many do not know how to communicate, so teachers begin by training them in Jordanian Sign Language. Students also learn reading, writing, arithmetic, arts, and sciences in Arabic. From about the age of 13, students begin to prepare for future employment. Boys learn auto mechanics, auto body repair, metalworking, carpentry, and painting. Girls study such homemaking skills as sewing, weaving, machine knitting, and childcare. A few skills are taught to both boys and girls, including computer use, printing, ceramics, and the manufacture and repair of hearing aids. The Institute staff has developed a Dictionary of Jordanian Sign Language containing over 5,000 signs.

On April 22, 2004, Br.Andrew will be speaking about his experiences in the Peabody room at the Diocesan Center from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. In the evening he will deliver the Homily at the 7:30 p.m. service at the Ascension Evangelical Lutheran Church on York Road,Towson. His presentation is being sponsored by the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem. All are welcome and encouraged to attend.

For more information, call The Rev. Charles Cloughen at 410.821.5489. [Return to Top of Page]