St. Peter's Preschool

This past Sunday I had the pleasure of being with the clergy and laity of St. Peter's in San Pedro. As it was the day before St. Patrick's Day we used a Celtic Liturgy to mark the occasion. It was the day they were kicking off their stewardship focus for the year based on The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) theme of Walking the Way. I had worked with the vestry earlier this year and introduced them to the TENS theme. As with a few other churches in the diocese, they picked up on the theme and ran with it!

At the time of the announcements passports were handed out to everyone. You see, they looked at The Way as in the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compestela in Spain during which the pilgrim receives a passport that is stamped along the route. St. Peter's parishioners are going to use the passports during the year, receiving stamps in them as they attend various events at the church. The FIRST stamps were received on Sunday by those who chose to make a "pilgrimage" up to the preschool run by the YWCA on St. Peter's Campus. I was also given a passport, and as I made the short trek to the preschool, I received my first stamp!

The director of the program took us on a tour of the facilities -- how beautiful! The school has the ability to care for up to 60 children, and their current enrollment is about 43. If you or a friend or family member live or work in the San Pedro area and you have infants and/or preschoolers, you may want to consider the program at St. Peter's! I leave you will pictures of the preschool.

I wonder what kind of stamp I'll receive at St. Peter's the next time I make a pilgrimage there?

New Community Conference.

This conference opened with the celebration of the Eucharist in many languages and with much emotion. The preacher was delayed due to problems with flights out of Chicago, so another stepped in a that last minute-- delivering a most powerful sermon. The Presiding Bishop celebrated, flanked at the altar by our own Jamesetta Hammons, Peter Wu from Hawaii, David Bailey from Navajoland and me. Don't ask me why I gave Jamie that much room at the altar -- I don't know why.




For the last few days we have heard various people speak on the theme:
Together, Advancing the Sacred Dream. Every offering was geared to the Five Marks of Mission. This is the "unofficial" photo of us all as we were being organized for a group picture. Over 200 Episcopalians are here -- and we are sharing our stories.

The various plenary sessions were as follows:
1. Building the World We Dream About -- Addressing White Privilege, Internalized Oppression, Racial Justice and Reconciliation, and Capacity Building.

2. Panel Discussion with The Ethnic Missioners on What's Happening Now.

3. To Proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom: New Church Development in Partnership with Ethnic Communities.

4. Presentation, Listening and Discussion by the Task Force to Reimagine the Episcopal Church (TREC).

5. Praxis and Advocacy -- The Intersectionality of Race and Poverty.

6. To Respond to Human Need by Loving Service -- Children, Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the Ethnic Community.

Tomorrow we look forward to the last Plenary:
7. Environmental Racism: Activating Environmental Mission with the People of the Land.

There were workshops after many of the plenary sessions under various themes:
1. To Teach, Baptize, and Nurture New Believers: Helping the Church Succeed in Ethnic Ministry and Church Planing and Revitalization.

2. To Transform Unjust Structures of Society: Poverty in Ethnic Communities in the U.S.

3. To Respond to Human Need by Loving Service: Children, Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the Ethnic Community.

And tomorrow we look forward to the final one:
4. To Safeguard the Integrity of Creation and Sustain and Renew the Life of the Earth: Engaging Environmental Mission at the Local Level.

It has been wonderful to catch up with people I met two years ago at the New Community Conference in San Diego. More, it is humbling to hear the stories of the struggle our brothers and sisters in Christ still go through simply because they are people of color. The stories of discrimination, of lack of voice, of being invisible made me cry on more than one occasion during these few days.




I am proud of the group that came from the Diocese of Los Angeles. I am also proud and humbled to be the bishop involved in this ministry for our diocese, one of the most diverse in all the church. While we did not have any of our Hispanic/Latino brothers or sisters with us (there is a conference here in August -- Nuevo Amanecer -- that they are planning on coming to), we were well represented!

I look forward to continue to move beyond conversation about New Community to building the New Community in the Diocese and throughout the Church!




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Location:Kanuga Chapel Dr,Hendersonville,United States

Walking the Way

My March article for the Clergy of the Diocese of Los Angeles.


This year The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) is once again offering stewardship resources -- everything a congregation could need -- with the theme Walking the Way.

When I first learned of this theme I was excited by the possibilities it held not only for a focus for stewardship for this fall, but for year-round educational, liturgical and fellowship opportunities. The Diocese of Los Angeles has an annual membership with TENS which enables congregations within the Diocese to have access to these materials without charge. Anyone can join TENS -- www.tens.org. While the TENS materials will be available near the end of this Spring and will be free to you all because of our membership in TENS (and they are available in English, Spanish, Chinese and Korean), the theme offers us the opportunity to jump on the Camino and begin Walking the Way before this fall.



I couldn't help but think of my own, short (only 3 mile) walk on the Camino de Compestela (otherwise known as the Camino) last fall - the beauty of those last three miles along the route to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compestela in Spain. The traditional pilgrimage routes leading to this final walk have drawn hundreds of thousands of pilgrims for centuries. (There are five main Camino pilgrimage routes in Spain: the Camino Frances, the Via de la Plata, the Northern Routes, the English Road, and the Portuguese Road. There are many more than this in Spain, but these are currently the most traveled.) This year our own Kelli Grace Kurtz, Joanna Satorius and Mary Trainor are Walking the Way. Are any of you also planning on walking this year or in the future? Have you walked the route in the past? Let me know if you have or are planning to Walk the Way.


The way is marked by shells along the path - either piled in areas or, in the case when you're close, embedded in the ground you are walking on, as in the picture here. Throughout the Camino shells guide the peregrino (pilgrim).





I love the image of the shell as a landmark, a signpost along the journey. More often than not a vessel either in the form of a shell or a shell itself is used to wash the waters of baptism over us as we are brought into the risen life of Jesus Christ our Savior and raised to the new life of grace. Walking the Way offers us an opportunity to preach and teach again about what baptism is and what following Christ means.


I pray you avail yourselves of this free stewardship offering from TENS. When these resources are ready for you to use, we will alert you via the Angelus and weekly Episcopal News Update. More, I pray that you will call upon our sisters and brothers who have Walked the Way as potential speakers for your adult education forums. Why not host a movie night and screen the movie The Way with a discussion afterwards? Why not design a prayer walk for your congregation -- possibly between you and a neighboring congregation that could include a joint liturgy together at the end? Why not invite peregrinos/pilgrims to journey with you and your congregation this year.


There are lots of ways to Walk the Way this year! I invite you to join me on this journey!


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What are you supposed to be?

This morning I had the privilege of installing the Rev. Philip Hart DeVaul as Rector of St. John the Divine Episcopal Church in Costa Mesa. My chaplain Holly Graham, a member of St. Gregory's in Long Beach was with me, taking care of my gear and helping to get me ready for the service.




Once I was dressed, I turned to the young acolyte next to me and asked her,
"How high am I on the cuteness scale today?" She looked at me and shrugged her shoulders. Okay, I wasn't particularly feeling the love at that particular moment! There I was, standing there in my alb, chasuble, cope and miter, holding my crozier. Then she looked at me and asked, "What are you supposed to be?"

"The Bishop!" was my reply.

What are you supposed to be -- that was such a profound question.

My robes, hat and stick did not trigger who I was for this young lady. It made me start to think -- the outward and visible signs of who we say we are during a church service is not sufficient to truly convey what (or who) we are supposed to be.

Wearing a clerical collar can draw people to us or cause them to run from us. The out trappings of our work can be a help or a hinderance for us. When people meet me and I'm in my "civies" and they find out what I do -- I am sometimes shunned or have to hear why they don't believe in God and why they hate the church. Others can't wait to ask me questions. Maybe you've had that experience as well.

What are we supposed to be? We are supposed to be loving followers of Jesus Christ, drawing the world to him. We are supposed to go out into the world, proclaiming the gospel by what we do and how we live our lives -- and occasionally by personal witness.

What are we supposed to be? Hmmm. I wonder what this young lady will say the next time I see her -- and more, I wonder if I will have a better answer to her question -- What are you supposed to be?




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Location:St. John the Divine Episcopal Church, Costa Mesa, CA

Yes, I know that it is.

My chaplains Bill and Pam and I were welcomed warmly today at St. Theodore of  St. Theodore of Canterbury's church, meeting in Club House Number 3 in Leisure World, Seal Beach. People were busy setting up -- how the club house is transformed into a warm, intimate sanctuary is amazing to behold! Others within another room setting up for a luncheon afterwards.

As is my custom, I stood at the front door and greeted people. Some I knew from St. Gregory's. Others I remember from when I came and spoke with a group at St. Theodore's a few years ago. Sisters, oblates and associates of the Sisters of the Transfiguration were also gathering here this morning. What a blessing!

The service of the Word started: hymns were sung, readings were heard, prayers were said, the peace was exchanged.. The service of the Table was said, and communion was distributed. That's when it happened. Now, I have been ordained for almost 16 years, and this was a first for me. As I gave a person there for his first time the bread of communion, I said to him, "The Body of Christ, the Bread of Heaven." His response? "Yes, I know that it is."

Not amen, not alleluia, not thank you or thanks you very much. I have heard all of those before. Rather, "Yes, I know that it is." He said it in such a way that made me know, deep down inside, that he truly did understand exactly what he was receiving. I sensed such a deep, abiding faith in him. It was as if he was saying: "Ma'am, I understand that God is truly in this -- God is truly among us."

May this eve of the Epiphany, when God in Man is made Manifest, fill your heart with truly knowing so that you can say every day in your heart, "Yes, I know God is in this".

What a wonderful, Spirit-filled visitation today at St. Theodore's! I wonder what great pearls of wisdom I'll hear the next time I'm there!

The Post Wedding Getting Back in the Swing of Things

I don't normally post too many "personal" things but sitting at lunch with the Rev. Bob Honeychurch and the Very Rev. Sylvia Sweeney today I heard myself saying "I haven't caught up yet with everything after the wedding". 

The wedding, of course, was of our son Max to his beautiful bride and our beloved daughter-in-law Devika. 

The FIRST wedding was in Hyderabad, India in July. Devika's family had the responsibility for that event (really, EVENTS) -- they were gracious hosts, and each of the planned events (and the unplanned ones as well) were wonderful. We did have our share of preparations beforehand -- including getting the necessary vacinations, figuring out itineraries, arranging packing (I must have packed and unpacked 10 times!). In the middle of all that, planning for the SECOND part of the wedding -- the ring exchange in Pasadena (our responsibility) was taking shape. (In Hindu services there aren't exchanges of rings.) I made a list of things I wanted to try to buy in India for that event -- that goodness I made a list!

Two weeks in India went by quickly -- as did our time with our children and family. We love India, and being there with Max is always so special -- he is fluent in Hindi and Urdu. He is fearless when it comes to food and going ANYWHERE. People gather around him when he starts to speak. He knew the local coffee and chai vendors by name, and they always greeted him warmly as he did them. I stood back as a VERY proud parent. 

When we came back to Irvine, it was near the end of July. I was Bishop in Residence at Camp Stevens, and before I knew it, it was September, and I've been running ever since! 

Planning a wedding for someone who is in Texas meant that the phone calls, email exchanges and photos flying across the internet were overwhelming. October was fast approaching, and with as organized as I usually am, I felt very out of control. I used my one day off per week to run errands or search for whatever we needed for the October ring exchange. Jon and Mary Bruno graciously allowed us the use of their beautiful back yard for the event -- what a great gift to our family. Still, planning had to happen, and I was on a tight budget.

We pulled it off! With over 40 out of town guests staying in Arcadia at the Hilton Garden Inn (they couldn't have been nicer or more accomodating for us!), we organized a "rehearsal" dinner, people from out of state LOVED LA, and on the most beautiful night in October, the ring exchange happened. Bishop Bruno, my brother Bishop and friend, officiated. He was brilliant, wonderful, spirit-filled. Devika's family and Max's (my) family were all impressed. It was beautiful! 

So? You may be asking yourself. Well, all the 'prep' for not one, but two events has left me on catch-up mode. I have tried to be on top of everything as best as I can. I think I may have dropped a ball or two, but I tried to catch them as they bounced. If I owe you a phone call -- let me know. If I didn't respond to an email -- let me know. It was not intentional -- you may be a victim of the post-two-weddings-catch-up. 

Thank you, Bob and Sylvia, for a bit of resbit and a time to reflect -- it was a great gift to me today. 

I have a bit of down time between Christmas and the New Year -- while there are things with friends and family on that calendar, I plan to rest a bit, catch my breath, and then strap on my roller skates as we begin 2014.

I wonder what I will find as I wander through my work and congregations in 2014?

September

I wrote this a few days ago and am getting a chance to post it now.

My schedule is a bit crazy this month.

I'm sitting on a plane from Newark to Orange County, after having flown down from Albany earlier this morning. Where have I been? Well, this past week at a Church Pension Fund Board retreat and meeting in Vermont, near the headquarters of the Church Insurance Company of Vermont, the Episcopal Church's primary insurer. People have asked me, "did you get to hike?" "Did you get to shop?" The answer is no. With the exception of one evening when we had the opportunity to interact with hawks, and see falcons and eagles it was back to back meetings and gatherings from the time I hit the ground in Vermont.







Months ago I accepted the very generous invitation of Bishop Bill Love to visit his Christ the King Spirit Center, the conference and camp center for the Diocese of Albany. Thank goodness I did! Not only was this a great "in between" time between Church Pension Group and going home, it was timely as well. You see, because of severe thunderstorms Wednesday and Thursday, many flights were cancelled, including the ones I was scheduled to be on. Many people were trapped in either Albany or Newark -- but we were happily touring the beautiful 612 acre center in Greenwich, New York. Bishop Love and his wife Karen took us to the Old Bryan Inn for dinner in Sarataga Springs -- delicious, and haunted -- very cool. We had a good night's sleep at the Spirit Center before leaving early this morning and heading to Albany airport -- about 50 minutes south of Greenwich. Oh, and don't worry about our dog Basil -- our wonderful house and dog sitter Kathy is on the job again! What a blessing to have her in our lives, and she loves staying at our home!

We are on our way home -- this is one of the few times that Steve has travelled with me. When I was in meetings, he was hiking and writing. So it was nice to be together last night with Bill and Karen Love.

I will be home for 4 days and then off to the House of Bishops (HOB) meeting in Nashville. The program theme for this meeting is "Transforming Loss into New Possibilities." As assistant secretary to the HOB, I am privileged to serve on the planning team for the HOB meeting, and I'm encouraged and excited by the theme and what we will be learning and sharing as bishops. Among our guests joining us will be Bishop Suheil Dawani of Jerusalem, representatives of the Church Pension Group and a representative of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

We leave on Wednesday of next week and returning the following Wednesday. I will be home for 4 more days and then head off once again -- to New York for a HOB planning meeting and for a General Convention Rules of Order meeting. Why? Because I'm the assistant secretary to the House of Bishops! I don't have very many meetings with the HOB Planning Committee -- most are on the phone. This is the face to face one, and it comes on the heels of the HOB meeting.

So, September is a very crazy month for me. How do I keep up with mission and ministry in the Diocese of Los Angeles? Easy! The same way I'm writing this blog -- my iPad. I have spoken with clergy and dealt with issues in the congregations in my geographical area of ministry, planned and scheduled future meetings, and in general kept in touch in my time away. It will be no different at the HOB meeting and at the HOB Planning Meeting. There is no reason I can't be in touch -- there may be a slight delay to my replies, but I am available.

While I may be away a great deal this month, know this please -- mission and ministry is still going on, I'm "plugged in" and "online" -- always here for the people of the Diocese of Los Angeles.

I wonder as I wander over to Nashville and New York who I might run into? What new things might I learn? hmmmm.





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Location:various