February-March 2004

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New year, new beginnings for the Episcopal Carmel of Saint Teresa By LISA BAILER The New Year means new beginnings for the women of Episcopal Carmel of Saint Teresa.The Rev. Mary-Pat Ashby and the congregation of Grace Church, New Market have offered them a temporary home.They will occupy the second and third floors of the parish house until their permanent home in Anne Arundel County is complete.While a modular house and land have been donated, $130,000 is still needed for the installation of a road, a septic and electrical system, and the building of an adequate foundation. Regardless of when the Carmel is able to meet this financial obligation and move onto their land, a period of approximately eight months will be needed to obtain the necessary permits for grading the land, installing the septic, wiring the property, and moving the house. Sister Teresa Irene would like to thank the Diocese of Maryland for their continuing support and for a grant of $5,000 for furniture. Also, special thanks is given to a generous donor from New Jersey who contributed $1,000, to several parishes in Ohio and Virginia that have taken special collections for Episcopal Carmel of Saint Teresa and to the parishes that have given food donations, on which the women of the Carmel are dependent. Sister Constance FitzGerald, Prioress of the Baltimore Roman Catholic Carmel, joined Sister Teresa Irene at her Profession on October 15, 2003. Sister Constance was present to assist with the Profession and also to represent passing the Carmelite tradition to the Anglican Communion. Sister Teresa Irene’s Profession marked the transition from the first phase of developing the community, during which time Sister lived a more liberal Oblate Rule, to living the more enclosed, silent and solitary life of a Carmelite nun. Also present were representatives of the Episcopal Community of the Transfiguration in Cincinnati, Ohio, St. John the Baptist in Mendham, New Jersey, and the All Saints Sisters of the Poor in Catonsville,Maryland.The Right Reverend Robert Ihloff, Bishop of Maryland, received Sister’s vows in place of Bishop Visitor Dorsey Henderson who was unable to attend, and the Very Reverend Donald W. Krickbaum, recently retired Dean of Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Miami, Florida, gave the homily. Living under Carmelite Rule includes semi-enclosure within the monastery. During her time in England, Sister Teresa Irene spent nearly four years in strict enclosure. Physical enclosure within the monastery facilitates the work of the community, which is prayer. Sister believes that “you have to be enclosed on the outside before you can become mentally enclosed.” Episcopal Carmel of Saint Teresa plans to hold a daily Eucharist and morning and evening prayer.Their worship schedule will be available on the answering machine as well as listed on the Carmel website http://www.episcopalcarmelofsaintteresa.org. For worship information and prayer requests please contact the monastery by phone at 301.865.4151, by U.S. mail at P.O. Box 276, New Market,Maryland, 21774, or by email at stiperk@aol.com. [Return to Top of Page] Ghana Tour 2004 Welcomes You, Your Family and Friends Ten years ago, Ken Jennings and his wife took a trip to the Ivory Coast of West Africa. Overwhelmed by the hospitality, beauty and spirituality of the country, they vowed to return. Not only did they return once, but this July will mark their sixth visit. Ken Jennings, along with a Ghanaian local, will lead the tour for this Episcopal based trip, which will be a voyage of discovery, fellowship, and spiritual journey for those who attend. Departing on Monday, July 26 from BWI, Ghana airlines will fly you directly to Kotoka International Airport in Accra, Ghana. After a welcome dinner by the Diocese of Accra, the tour will begin with an excursion to the home of W.E.B. DuBois, the harbinger of Black Nationalism and Pan-Africanism, who Dr. Martin Luther King described as “a tireless explorer and a gifted discoverer of social truths.” The Cape Coast will be the next destination with a visit to the Kakum National Park that is inhabited by over 40 species of large mammals such as forest elephants and royal antelopes, eight species of primates including the Diana monkey and flying squirrels, and over 300 species of birds.The park is especially known for its canopy layer, a continuous layer of natural cover, and its canopy walkway,100 feet high and 1000 feet long, made of a system of ropes, cables and safety nets. The tour will then move inland to Kumasi, Ghana’s second largest city and home of the Ashanti Kingdom. On the agenda will be a trip to the Central Market, the largest market in West Africa, where you can browse the stands of intricately hand-carved sculptures, clothing made from bright, colorful batiks and other local wares. Thirty kilometers south of Kumasi, you will journey to Lake Bosumtwi to view the terrestrial impact crater believed to be 1.07 million years old. Then eastward to Akosombo and the Volta River area. Upon return to Accra, you will make side trips to the major seaport city of Tema, a traditional village, as well as other attractions. Throughout the trip, there will be significant interaction with members of the Diocese of Accra.The cost of this 15-day trip is $3200 for adults and $2400 for children under the age of 12. Flight, hotels, transportation and two meals are included in the cost. For a copy of the trip brochure, call the Diocese at 410.467.1399, or for questions, call Ken Jennings at 410.730.3374 or email at ojise1952@aol.com. [Return to Top of Page] Recognizing the God within each of us - The spiritual voyage of Journeys Community By JENNIFER GROW Journeys Community, a seeker ministry supported by the Diocese of Maryland for the past three years, is designed to reach those whom the church does not currently serve. Led by the Rev. Dr. Harry Brunett, Journeys Community is a bridge between our spiritual lives and the contemporary world around us. Many who come to Journeys Community are open minded and interested in exploring their relationship with God, but have been unfulfilled through previous religious experiences. Journeys Community has found that using a variety of sources to explore spirituality not only engages community members on a personal level, but also serves to unite them with the larger world of spiritual ideas and faiths. In so doing, this enables the community to feel more connected with the spirit of God. How does this work? Upon entering a service, community members quiet themselves by listening to meditative music (perhaps Mozart or nature sounds or Buddhist chanting) while a series of images and quotes are projected onto a screen in the front of the room. The quotes introduce elements of the day’s theme and are a popular part of the services, allowing members to begin to engage with the theme as it touches their lives. Journeys Community uses contemporary readings, film clips and music to develop and explore the spiritual theme for the day and move the community to a deeper spiritual level. There is also a reflection, spiritual convergence and spiritual meal to enhance contemplation and meditation on each week’s theme. The spiritual readings are drawn from many sources.Journeys Community has used the Prayer of St. Francis as a meditation, an excerpt from Nelson Mandela’s autobiography in a theme about Freedom, and a passage written by Mother Teresa to explore Compassion In Action.They’ve used the Bible, the poetry of Rumi,Wendall Berry,T.S. Eliot, and Kahlil Gibran; also the Bhagavad Gita, Joseph Campbell,T hich Nhat Hanh, Herman Hesse, Rabbi Harold Kushner, and even Dr. Seuss among many others. The readings are intended to reflect and address the questions seekers encounter as they explore their relationship with God. Journeys Community has found that film clips often reinforce a spiritual message. For instance, in reflecting upon Forgiveness, they used a clip from the film “Dead Man Walking.” The ministry team has also found relevant clips from movies such as“Shawshank Redemption” to illustrate the power of Hope;“Cider House Rules” reflecting upon rphanhood;“Fahrenheit 451” for the Power of Words; “Schindler’s List,”“On Golden Pond,”“The Simpson’s,” and “Charlie Brown.”Any art form, film or video that helps illustrate the power of the theme for the day is appropriate. Music is fundamental to the Journeys Community services. With a vocalist, pianist and guitarist, live music helps transform the spiritual experience of its members. As much as possible, the ministry team tries to find contemporary music that crystallizes a connection with the theme. They’ve used songs by Bonnie Raitt, U2, Sting,The Beatles, George Harrison, Bette Midler, Sara McLaughlin, Emmylou Harris, Louis Armstrong, Ziggy Marley, and many others. Journeys Community also engages members with music that has deeper roots: gospel music and old spirituals, bluegrass, Native American chants, and African drumming. Part of the experience of the music comes from reading the lyrics that are projected onto a screen so anyone can sing along if they wish. Many times community members comment that they never realized how spiritual contemporary music is until they read the words. The reflections given by Journeys Community’s spiritual leaders focuses on their own personal experience of God as told through stories that relate to the theme. The spiritual leaders tell stories of healing; their daily interactions with the world and the lessons learned from these encounters; stories of gratitude and awareness of God’s presence; and experience with prayer in a spiritual discipline.These stories serve to keep the Journeys Community reflections experiential rather than prescriptive. The personal narratives reveal an authenticity that’s believable, accessible and inspiring. In this way, the services move the relationship with God from the head into the heart. Journeys Community uses contemporary readings, film clips and music to develop and explore the spiritual theme for the day and move the community to a deeper spiritual level. A further expression of this willingness to connect with the experience of God comes through what Journeys Community calls a spiritual convergence. By writing letters to themselves, building altars, joining in prayer, laughing, engaging in group discussions, and reciting a litany of thanks one at a time around the room, the community attempts to bring the love and peace of God into their lives in an immediate and tangible way. The spiritual convergence for each service is a symbolic vehicle for connecting the community with each other and with God. For instance, in a service about Fear and Faith, the ministry team stacked bricks on a stage before the service to represent the walls of fear we build around ourselves to keep others and God away. For the spiritual convergence, community members came forward and tore down the wall, brick by brick, then placed the bricks on the floor in a line to create a symbolic pathway to God. In other services, the spiritual convergences become more thoughtful and personal as the experience of God moves inward. Journeys Community also includes a spiritual meal each week as another means of connecting with the theme and with each other. The spiritual meal is always a symbol of spiritual nourishment, the food of God needed to sustain us through our lives. The actual meal changes from week to week depending on the theme. For example, in a service about community, the spiritual meal consisted of a bunch of grapes to represent our individuality in the midst of our connection with others; for a theme about the Spiritual Journey, the community ate trail mix for the path ahead. Very often, the ministry team serves simple bread and olive oil as spiritual sustenance, but they’ve also designed spiritual meals that are more elaborate, such as Persian cakes to celebrate the coming of spring, traditional Jewish fare to confront regret and repentance, or a Japanese tea ceremony to become quiet, listening for the still, small voice of God within. Sometimes community members come forward for the meal as they would for a traditional communion service; other times, members pass the meal from one to another, serving each other as a means of sharing their spiritual connection and recognizing the God within each of us. The format for Journeys Community differs from week to week; no two services are exactly alike. There is not a prescribed order for the readings and film clips and music. Rather, the peaceful rhythm and flow of each service is determined by the spiritual content. One week, the reading may lead the spiritual leader into his or her reflection, another week, the film clip is the most powerful and emotional heart of the service. Some services are designed around music, while others center on silent meditation. Always, the order of the service is designed to enhance the spiritual theme for each week. Likewise, community members seem to respond well to the thoughtful about the presence of God in their lives. This is the second 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] 2004 Session:Mix of money problems and political views By DON SCHROEDER, BISHOP’S DEPUTY FOR PUBLIC POLICY Governor Robert Ehrlich, Jr. and the 188 members of the 2004 General Assembly are one-fifth of the way through the 90-day session. They are faced with some very tough legislative issues that will impact Marylanders for years to come, not the least of which is the current state budget deficit projected to be over $700 million and expected to grow in future years. Don Schroeder, Bishop’s Deputy for Public Policy, covers legislative bills for the Diocese that, thus far, include the death penalty, the ban on assault rifles, opposition to legalizing slot machines/casinos, access to health care, budget cuts on child care and social services, clergy reporting on child abuse, environmental issues and funding for the Thornton Commission on education. Schroeder reviews the bills, testifies and meets with legislators. He shares an office in Annapolis with the Lutheran, Methodist and Presbyterian advocates where they work collectively on issues of common concern. Madeleine Beard, the church website coordinator, works with Schroeder to garner the support of Episcopal volunteers of the Maryland Episcopal Public Policy Network to make the Episcopal Church views known to their legislators. Governor Ehrlich has a longer list of legislative priorities this year and it remains to be seen how he will work with lawmakers to get his bills passed. From what we know, at this stage, that will include supporting the stretching out of funding for the Thornton Education, some incremental steps in access to health care, addressing Medicaid problems, his continuing support for legalizing slot machines at racetracks, closing the loophole on corporate tax dodgers and tax credits for historic preservation. Anyone seeking a copy of a legislative bill can visit the Maryland General Assembly website at http://mlis.state.md.us or contact Don Schroeder at donandhope@comcast.net. [Return to Top of Page] Seafarers’ Ministry serves the spiritual needs of visiting Seamen Brother Ed Munro, BSG, visits Dutch ship, Spaarnegracht, at the Locust Point Terminal near Fort McHenry For the past 11 years, Seamen from around the world coming into the Port of Baltimore have availed themselves to the Baltimore International Seafarers’ Ministry, a Peace and Justice Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Since 1992, Rev. Ed Munro has been the director of the Center that serves the Dundalk and Locust Point marine terminals. Located a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry at the entrance to the Locust Point terminal, the Center serves berthed ships carrying cargoes such as autos, iron ore, petroleum and newsprint. The Maryland Port Administration provides the small but well-designed building. Over the years, donations have provided for the purchase of a transportation van, television and recreation area, an ecumenical chapel, Internet and telephone service, a small store for the purchase of toiletries and snacks, and a clothing closet. In Need of Volunteers and Financial Assistance Brother Ed is the heart and soul of the Center. He has a staff of one and too few volunteers. The Center is open every day except Saturday. It is in need of more volunteers and financial assistance from shipping firms who call on the Port of Baltimore. Each time Brother Ed or his staff go onboard to visit the ship’s crew, they make them aware of the Diocesan services of the Center and their efforts to provide justice advocacy and spiritual needs. Brother Ed will be retiring in two years and wants to move the Center to a higher level of service before he leaves. For more information, call Brother Ed at 410.685.1240 or visit the website at www.baltseafarers.ang-md.org.[Return to Top of Page] Why are Missionaries coming to St. Mark’s? By THE REV.ANNE O.WEATHERHOLT In January, missionaries Heidi and Prioleau Alexander will be moving from Charleston, South Carolina to Fairplay, Maryland to work with Saint Mark’s Episcopal Church, Lappans. “Our mission work focuses on the planting of Alpha Courses,” says Heidi. “Alpha is a fun, casual, upbeat course that explains the basics of Christianity from A to Z. It’s designed to address the questions most seekers and non-believers struggle with, but even ordained ministers have fun taking the course.” The Alpha course at St. Mark’s will begin with a Celebration Reception scheduled for Tuesday, March 2, 2004, beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. “Over 5 million people worldwide have taken the Alpha Course,” says Prioleau. “It is one of the most effective evangelism tools in history, because the only responsibility for a Christian is to invite their seeker friends to attend. The speaker on the video,The Rev. Nicky Gumbel of Holy Trinity, Brompton, in London, England, does all the teaching. As a speaker, Nicky is funny, engaging and down-toearth. This course and Nicky’s explanation are what took me from Seeker to Believer.” For more information, visit the Alpha website at www.alphana.org. You can learn more about Heidi and Prioleau and read about their calling to become missionaries on the American continent at www.ponyexpressmissions.com. They look forward to renewing their family ties* with the St. Mark’s community and hope to set up an Alpha program that will run for decades to come. The Alexanders are happy to consult with Diocesan churches that are interested in beginning an Alpha Program at their site. They have made a number of trips to London to meet with Alpha founder,The Rev. Nicky Gumbel, and have helped to lead over a dozen Alpha sessions in South Carolina.While in Maryland they may be reached at the Woodley Farm, 301.582.5351. They will be in residence there from January through May. *The Alexanders are direct descendants of the Maddox family who owned Woodley Farm and gave the land to build Saint Mark’s Church. It is located just south of Saint Mark’s on the Sharpsburg Pike, within sight of the church, and has remained within the family for many generations.[Return to Top of Page]   A Redeemer Garden in Africa By MARJORY SPRAYCAR The garden was dedicated to the Church of the Redeemer and the memory of Zack Merrill. Pattie Murray and villager next to plaque. There is a new garden in Africa, thanks to the faithful contributions of Church of the Redeemer parishioners and three Peace Corps volunteers with the vision and savvy to see the project through.The garden, in the village of Kemeni in the West African country of Mali,was completed in September 2003, and already bears food for the families in the community. The story of this garden is gloriously uplifting, but it is also a story of heartbreaking sadness. Zack Merrill, the Peace Corps volunteer whose vision it was to build the garden, died before it was completed. Zack had already led the building of one such garden in his own village, Kampolosso, and the undertaking with Redeemer was his second garden project. Peace Corps volunteer, Pattie Murray, who lived and worked in the nearby village of Kemeni and was a friend of Zack, completed the garden after his death.The Redeemer garden is dedicated to Zack’s memory. The Beginning of the Garden Constructing the well for the garden. The story of this garden is gloriously uplifting, but it is also a story of heartbreaking sadness. Zack Merrill, the Peace Corps volunteer whose vision it was to build the garden, died before it was completed. The story of the garden began soon after September 11, 2001. A committee of three Redeemer parishioners, Shirley Noll, Nancy Spiva, and Marjory Spraycar, met periodically to decide how to distribute the $2,000 of funds collected in Hunger Fund boxes. After 9/11, the committee felt the need to reach out to the world, even make a small difference. They wanted to send $1,000 to Africa to buy food.They knew it would not be easy to send the money to Africa, but they were committed to finding a way. Redeemer parishioner, Brook Pessin-Whedbee was serving a two-year Peace Corps term in Mali,West Africa. “All of us on the committee knew Brook from when she was a teenager and active in parish life,” said committee member, Marjory Spraycar.“We knew she was highly capable and responsible and would be the perfect partner for the project.” The committee sent her an email and asked for her help. She replied promptly and with enthusiasm but cautioned them on the difficulties of dealing with the politics and ethics of donating money in Africa. A month later, they received a message from Brook telling them about Zack Merrill and his vision. “I think I’ve found the perfect project,” Brook wrote.“Zack Merrill, a Peace Corps volunteer in the northern Segou Region is working with a village to build a community garden (a well, fencing, etc.) that will provide much needed fruits and vegetables to the more arid parts of the country. I think this would be a very responsible and sustainable way to spend the money. It would be a gift that keeps on giving.” A month later, Zack emailed them with details of the project: dimensions, cost, and plans for managing and tending the garden.“We will work largely with the mayor’s office in the village to get the garden in place, but the women of the village will be in charge of it from there,” he wrote.“They will grow a variety of crops, including tomatoes, onions, carrots, eggplant, peppers, potatoes and cabbage.This garden will not only provide the women with better dietary options for their families, but will give them an independent source of income, which many do not have.” The committee discussed Zack’s proposal and agreed to fund the garden.Together with their funds and some additional funding from a Redeemer Outreach grant, the committee gave Zack the goahead, and he set about making arrangements for the work to begin.That was June 10, 2003. On July 11, the Peace Corps announced that Zack Merrill had died. “This is a tremendous loss for the Peace Corps and especially the program in Mali,” the news release stated.“Zack was a model volunteer who gave selflessly of his time, talents and energy. He was a leader among his peers, and was committed to the mission of the Peace Corps and the people in the village of Kampolosso.While Zack will be sorely missed, his dedication to helping others will live on in the numerous projects he completed during his service.” Zack had taken his own life.Who could imagine that such despair could take up residence in someone so brilliant in building hope for others? He left behind his mother, father and a younger brother, who live in Portland, Oregon, as well as many friends in the United States and Mali.The Redeemer congregation offered prayers for Zack the following Sunday, and the committee waited for word from Africa, not knowing if the garden project would survive. On July 29, an email arrived from Peace Corps volunteer, Pattie Murray, who had been working on the garden with Zack. It was in her village, Kemeni, where the garden would be built. Pattie told the committee that she was determined to finish the work Zack had started, and wrote with details about the transfer of funds, materials that would be purchased, and the schedule for the work.“Pattie was a wonderfully responsible steward of Redeemer’s funds in very difficult circumstances,” said committee member, Marjory Spraycar.“We are very grateful to her for seeing the project through.” Back in Africa After committing to see Zack’s work to completion, Pattie arranged to receive Redeemer’s donation and get started with the work. She and two other villagers went to the city of San (an hour away from Kemeni) and purchased a half-hectare of fencing and iron rebar, a pulley for the well, wire, cement and other materials for the garden. The installation of the garden could finally begin. The villagers of Kemeni were instrumental in every step of the process: they dug holes every 1 1/2 meters around the garden, cemented the metal bars into the ground, and attached fencing to the bars.They dug out two large overgrown basins to be filled with water from a nearby solar pump, and reconstructed the garden well. For the more technically challenging labor, they worked closely with the mason and well-team from Zack’s village who had worked on the first garden. Meanwhile, Pattie worked to organize a garden committee that would pay regular dues, meet with other local gardens to exchange ideas, and divide the garden into plots for each woman to work on. On September 11, 2003, Pattie reported that the garden was completed and that a metal plaque would be installed at the site with the names of both the Church of the Redeemer and Zack Merrill. By October, as she was preparing to say goodbye to Kemeni and return to the United States, the village women had already planted a variety of vegetables including soybeans, potatoes, peppers and okra. At home, in Virginia, Pattie talked about how much the garden meant to her:“It was a great way to help my community while also honoring my friend and teammate.”At every step along the way, Pattie and the villagers of Kemeni took into consideration how Zack would have completed the garden, and used his first garden as a model: “If there was something that looked as if Zack would not have agreed, we changed it, in order to honor him.” For Pattie, giving up on this project wasn’t an option, it meant too much. As for the village of Kemeni, the garden remains a symbol of friendship and dedication, uniting Zack Merrill’s vision and commitment to making a difference in his neighbors’ lives and the Church of the Redeemer’s generosity in reaching out to a small West African community. [Return to Top of Page] Lenten Quiet Day at the Cathedral with The Rev. Eleanor Holland On Saturday, March 20, The Rev. Eleanor Holland will lead a Quiet Day at the Cathedral of the Incarnation. Everyone is invited to attend this retreat that begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends with the Eucharist at 3:30 p.m. The Rev. Holland is presently the interim rector of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Prince Frederick, Maryland. She brings to her ministry a rich and varied background of experience as a missionary, a teacher, a filmmaker, an AIDS counselor, and other social justice and church ministries. The day will be a powerful experience for those on a Lenten journey. The Rev. Eleanor Holland was born and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia as the youngest of seven children. She graduated from Georgia Southern with a bachelor’s degree in Art Education. She then served as a missionary teaching English in a women’s school in Kitakyushua, Japan with the Southern Baptist Mission Board. In 1974 she entered the Peace Corps and served as Director of the English Language Program for the Ministry of Agriculture in Suewon, South Korea. She next went to Barcelona, Spain where she taught English and studied painting and the visual arts. In 1979, Ms Holland began work with the North Carolina Heart Association as a printer. She also became involved with a non-profit organization monitoring hate crimes in North Carolina and later began full time employment with them documenting and filming Ku Klux Klan and other white supremacists rallies. In 1984, Ms. Holland began work at the National AIDS Hotline and then the U.S. Public Health Service in Washington, DC. She became active in St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church in Columbia Heights and in 1998 was made a Postulant for Holy Orders in the Diocese of Washington, DC. She received her Masters of Divinity from Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained to the deaconate at Washington National Cathedral in 2001. The following year she was priested at St. James, Baltimore and is now serving as interim priest at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Prince Frederick, Maryland. The Quiet Day meditations will be held in the Peace Chapel. The labyrinth, patterned after the medieval cathedral at Chartres in France, will be available, as will the gardens and the entire cathedral-diocesan house complex. A freewill offering will be taken and attendees are asked to bring a bag lunch. Beverages and bagels will be provided. For more information, please call Adele Wakefield at 410.366.2627 or email at adelewakefield@yahoo.com, or call the Cathedral Office at 410.467.3750.[Return to Top of Page] New videos in the Resource Center THE WALL – PARACLETE PRESS This dynamic drama introduces Gestas and Dimas, two condemned prisoners agonizing in their prison cell in the early hours of Good Friday as they wait to be crucified. As the two men talk about their fear of death and the eternal fate that awaits them, they look into the next prison cell where another prisoner, accused of being the King of the Jews, may offer some hope.As the doomed men grapple with their impending death, they struggle between believing in the possibility of a Savior and succumbing to cynicism and bitterness. Raising and confronting some of life’s most searching questions, this video, along with an accompanying study guide, is an ideal tool to encourage discussion in a Lenten class or retreat, or as a personal exploration of forgiveness and salvation. [Return to Top of Page] THE APOSTLES’ CREED: KNOWING WHAT WE BELIEVE – PARACLETE PRESS “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, the Creator of heaven and earth....”Thus begins the Apostles’ Creed, a statement of faith recited by Christians of all denominations the world over. The Apostles’ Creed: Knowing What We Believe draws young people to explore the Creed phrase by phrase, to discover the profound truths expressed in its simple language.Through lively presentations and illustrations that relate the Creed to ordinary life, this video presents the Creed as a guide to live by and a tie that binds Christians into one body. DANGEROUS JOURNEY The video “Dangerous Journey,” based on John Bunyan’s classic “Pilgrim’s Progress,” is not just a children’s video. Through excellent narration and graphic pictures, this video tells the story of a Christian’s journey from his home in the “City of Destruction” to the “Celestial City.” It is a journey filled with great danger as he faces the menacing temptations of Mr.Worldy Wiseman, Hypocrisy, Mistrust and others; enters in fierce battle with Apolloyon; travels through the valley of the shadow of death; is captured by Giant Despair; and encounters many other dangers and temptations - all in the hope of reaching the Celestial City. The video remains faithful to Bunyan’s classic story, and graphically draws the viewer into the story - and into our own spiritual journey from our state of “destruction” to the joy of an eternal life with God. Back by popular demand in the Resource Center. ONE LITTLE CHURCH MOUSE, BY THE REV. ANNE E. KITCH ( MOREHOUSE PUBLISHING) One mouse gathers a joyful group of ten along the way in a charming illustrated rhyme about opening up the church to everyone and worshiping God together. Rev Kitch is also the author of The Anglican Family Prayer Book, a resource for Episcopal families who want to pass on Anglican prayers and traditions to their children and teach faith in everyday settings. The Resource Center is open on Wednesday and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and on Tuesday afternoons from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m., and by appointment.We can be reached at resource@ang-md.org, or by phone at 410.467.1399 or 800.443.1399.We will gladly send requested materials. [Return to Top of Page] From Bishop Rabb Building Partnerships This fall, we completed the first phase or “quiet phase” of our capital funds campaign, “Building on Faith for the Future.” We were pleased to have raised $2 million of the $4 million Phase I goal. As we announced in early December, the second phase or “public phase” is going to be a partnership between the congregations and the Diocese. In response to information received from the clergy survey, through visitations, and in meetings with vestries and advisories, we learned that congregations need help with stewardship, their own capital needs, and in some cases, planned giving. And so with Glen Holliman and Holliman and Associates we created a program called CAP (for capital, annual and planned giving) which will use the resources not only of Holliman and Associates but a team consisting of the Rev. Canon Mary Glasspool, Canon to the Bishops, the Rev. Mark Gatza, Missioner for Congregational Development,Mr. John Kline, Director of Development and Ms. Ellen Chatard, Assistant for Development, all of whom will collectively work with me to assist congregations. Our hope for “Building on Faith for the Future” is that congregations will give a percentage of the increase in stewardship or the raised capital to the capital funds campaign.The Diocese will absorb the costs of the professional work as well as make available significant staff time. I see this as a great opportunity for all of us. At a deeper level, this is how we should be doing mission and ministry, as partners. It has been my custom at visitations when greeting the congregation to say the Bishops and the Diocesan staff and resources are your partners. In looking at the compelling needs for mission, it is clear to me that stewardship is the key for all we do. And it makes sense that we will be doing this as partners. I trust we will avoid the issues of “us” versus “them” and see that we are called together to build for mission. The past few years have seen a shaky economy, fears of terrorism, and issues within the Episcopal Church that have divided us. At the same time, the compelling needs for mission grow.The congregations in the Diocese continue to reach out to meet not only the needs of the congregation but the needs in the communities as well.The Bishop Claggett Center is used such that we are in desperate need for expanded as well as new facilities. We need to start new congregations. A number of our congregations need to expand and, in at least two instances, build new facilities in new places. After years of seeing churches close we have, through the St. Mary’s Outreach Center in Hampden, Baltimore, had a new start in the city. Under the direction of the Rev. Richard Morley as Missioner for Western Maryland, we have begun a new ministry, a total ministry program, for Allegany and Garrett Counties.These are examples of the many things happening in the Diocese. As partners we can do this and more. “Building on Faith for the Future” now affords us the opportunity to move forward on the new and expanded facilities at the Bishop Claggett Center, on new congregations, and for us, our parishes, to build up new and needed resources.We do all this as partners.We have already begun to work with four congregations in the past month and we look forward to working with all of you in the coming year.   +John L. Rabb [Return to Top of Page] National Board of the Episcopal Church Women to stand together By BARBARA B.MCKEE, PROVINCE III EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN REPRESENTATIVE TO THE NATIONAL ECW BOARD The National Board of the Episcopal Church Women has determined they will stand together. The Board is comprised of representatives of women in all nine provinces of the Episcopal Church USA. Meeting on the campus of the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, they affirmed their position of coming together as a peacemaking, healing part of the church. Harriett Neer, President of the 2003-2006 Board states, “If the energy and enthusiasm the Board members demonstrated at this meeting is indicative of the commitment to reconciliation by the women they represent, the Episcopal Church has little to fear.Though each of us here has prayerfully sought guidance regarding issues which would divide us, easy answers have not been forthcoming. We have reached very strong yet widely differing conclusions and opinions. But we choose to stand together. And we walk the middle road together in love.” During the weeklong meeting, the 16-member Board addressed social justice issues, leadership training opportunities and global mission initiatives.[Return to Top of Page] A Prayer to Start a New Year “A new year is unfolding—like a blossom with petals curled tightly concealing the beauty within. Lord, let this year be filled with the things that are truly good—with the comfort of warmth in our relationships, with the strength to help those who need our help and the humility and openness to accept help from others. As we make our resolutions for the year ahead, let us go forward with great hope that all things can be possible—with You.” . . . Anonymous [Return to Top of Page] The Ranney Archives – Keeping History Alive By MARY KLEIN| The Rt. Rev. William R. Whittingham (Photo courtesy of the Maryland Diocesan Archives) The Diocese of Maryland can be justifiably proud of its wonderful Archives. Said to be one of the two best in the Episcopal Church, this status can, for the most part, be attributed to the contributions of two remarkable men. The Rt. Rev.William Rollinson Whittingham and the Rev. Ethan Allen combined their love for history and their inability to ever throw anything away to form the basis of the Diocesan Archives. William Whittingham was Bishop of the Diocese of Maryland for nearly forty years from 1840-1879. He never had a secretary (or an office either) but kept up a voluminous handwritten correspondence with hundreds of clergy, fellow bishops, lay people and family members. He kept meticulous records of every letter he received, noting on the back of the letter who had written it, when it arrived and the date he answered the letter, which was almost always immediately. The Archives has all the letters Bp. Whittingham received, making up a large portion of their holdings. The Rev. Ethan Allen was a contemporary of Bp.Whittingham (in fact they died the same year) and the Diocese’s first historiographer. He traveled around Maryland collecting manuscripts relating to the history of the Church in Maryland, and compiled records on every clergyman who had served in the state. In 1855 he offered his huge collection to the Diocese “on condition that a safe place of deposit be provided for the same.” Eventually in 1869, the Diocese received Ethan Allen’s great collection, and when Bp.Whittingham died, he also bequeathed his great library and huge collection of papers to the Diocese. Bp.Whittingham’s daughter Margaret was appointed the first Librarian in 1880, but signed many of her letters “Keeper of the Records,” in other words,Archivist. Today the Archives are indeed housed in a “safe place of deposit”- the Diocesan headquarters, and you are encouraged to visit.We are open Monday to Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m., or by special appointment. Come by and experience the wonderful and unique legacy left by Bp.Whittingham and Ethan Allen! [Return to Top of Page] Y o u t h M i n i s t r y N e w s St. Mary’s Outreach Center in Hampden - New home of Youth Missioner’s office New Year, New Year, New Happenings By SHERRY MCCALL ROSS As we turn the corner on the New Year, there are many exciting things on the horizon for Youth Ministry in the Diocese. First, the Youth Missioner’s office has moved to St. Mary’s Outreach Center in Hampden! You can now find Sherry McCall Ross among the many new sights and sounds at 3900 Roland Avenue in Baltimore. Please stop in Monday,Wednesday or Friday to say hello and to see the new happenings around the facility. Also, with the New Year comes the East Coast Conference for Religious Education, February 6-8 in Washington, DC.This annual event sponsored by the National Center for Pastoral Leadership offers a range of workshops for clergy and laity working with people of all ages in Christian Formation.The theme for this year’s Conference is Bringing It All Home:Whole Community Catechesis, which encourages formation that is “highly participatory, embraces all ages and generations, and stresses the domestic church where parents play a vital role. (The belief is) that nurturing the healthy adult is the key foundation for developing a healthy parish, ministry and family.” Visit www.ncpl.org for more information. That same weekend hosts the kick-off event for parishes who have elected to use the Equipping the Saints model for preparing adults in the ministry of teaching through a nine-month course that covers biblical background, the basics of Christian beliefs and an introduction to good teaching practices. Author Sara Covin Juengst will join parish leaders and course participants for an orientation and training event Sunday afternoon, February 8 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at St. John’s, Ellicott City. February also introduces 3rd Thursday Roundtables for Youth Ministry for all persons working in ministries with middle and high school age youth.The first Roundtable will be February 19 at St. Mary’s Outreach Center.The evening will begin at 6:30 p.m. with prayer followed by dinner and a brief presentation of highlights from the East Coast Conference. Casual conversation continues until 8:30 p.m. Contact Sherry if you wish to attend at 443.326.3542 or by email at smccallross@ang-md.org. Roundtables will continue throughout the year… always on the 3rd Thursday, 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. (locations will rotate). As we move into the Lenten season, candidates in preparation for Confirmation and their leaders are invited to a day of conversation and reflection at one of the two Bishops’Teaching Days in March.The first will be Saturday, March 13 at All Saints, Frederick. It is being held in conjunction with a Diocesan Confirmation Retreat, March 12 - 14, also at All Saints.The second Teaching Day will be Saturday, March 27 at the Diocesan Center. It will be followed by the Diocesan Youth-led Lenten Healing Service and dinner. Visit the youth ministry website for details on these and other events for youth and youth ministry leaders at www.youth.ang-md.org. [Return to Top of Page] <

(c) 2004 The Episcoplal Diocese of Maryland