Harvest September-October 2014

Inside The HarvestFrom the BishopIn 10 years his travels have taken Bishop Dean Wolfe across the Anglican Commu-nion, and in this excerpt from his Con-vention address, he said on each trip he takes Kansas along with him. Page 2

Bishop Kemper SchoolBKSM’s dean, the Rev. Don Compier, offers some reflections on what the school is and what it means for all the people of the diocese. Page 3

Death of Topeka priestThe Rev. Barbara Bloxsom died on Nov. 11 at her home in Topeka. Learn more about her life and ministry. Page 3

Homework HelpersElementary students in Neodesha are benefiting from an after-school tutoring program started by Ascension Episcopal Church. Page 4

Kansas to KenyaHealth care professionals and others traveled this summer to Kenya, where they treated more than 1,000 medical and dental patients, handed out eyeglasses and offered prayers, hugs and kindness. Page 5

Episcopal Youth EventThirteen teens and three adult sponsors spent four days in Philadelphia in July learning about the Five Anglican Marks of Mission, worshipping with a thousand other Episcopalians, and taking their turn on the “Rocky” steps. Page 6

Under constructionThree churches, ranging from large to small, are doing some significant renova-tions to their buildings. Take a look at what they’re doing. Page 7

Convention awardsOutstanding ministry by a lay person, a priest and a deacon were highlighted with awards during the Diocesan Conven-tion banquet. Page 9

Presiding BishopIn September Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori announced that she would not seek a second term as leader of the Episcopal Church. 0

Episcopal ReliefEpiscopal Relief & Development is cel-ebrating its 75th anniversary and encour-ages people to learn more about how they work to heal a hurting world. Page 11

Instagram Advent calendarMonks of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist encourage people to reflect and pray during Advent on their daily word, and then share a photo to create a giant Anglican Advent calendar. Page 11

By Melodie WoermanEditor, The Harvest

The Rev. Jan Chubb, vicar of St. Timothy’s, Iola, died on Sept. 25 from ovarian cancer. She was 59.

She had served St. Timothy’s since 2004, and before that she had served other churches in the Southeast Con-vocation after her or-dination to the priest-hood in 1997. She fol-lowed in the footsteps of her late father, the Rev. T.E. Lindemann, who had been the priest at St. John’s, Parsons.

In announcing her death Bishop Dean Wolfe said, “Jan was a faithful pastor to, and cheerleader for, the people of St. Timothy’s. She proudly supported their many outreach efforts, which ranged from feeding people in the community to providing hope, inspiration and financial support to a congregation in New Jersey hit hard by Hurricane Sandy.

Chubb was the diocese’s liaison to Episcopal Relief & Development and served for many years as chair of the Debatable Resolutions Committee for Diocesan Convention.

Bishop Wolfe presided at two

Requiem Eucharists on Oct. 1 celebrat-ing Chubb’s life, first at St. Timothy’s and later at St. John’s, Parsons, where she had attended since childhood and where her family lives.

In his sermon, Bishop Wolfe said, “Cancer is an insidious foe, but it does give us time to reflect — not nearly enough time, mind you — but a little time to reflect. In Jan’s case, we have had time to think about what she has meant to us, and our grief is so deep precisely because we know what we have lost.

“Gary has lost a de-voted wife, a loving life partner in a close

marriage of a rare quality. Taryn and Mark have lost a loving and involved mother who believed the sun rose and set in them. The family has lost a life force of tremendous energy.

“The community has lost an ex-traordinary friend, teacher and volun-teer. And the church has lost a devoted and gifted leader, an extraordinary priest and a sister in Christ of the deep-est convictions, a servant to us all.”

(Please see Vicar, page 3)

Vicar of St. Timothy’s, Iola, dies of cancer

The Rev. Jan Chubb

Episcopal and Lutheran bishops announce greater cooperationThe Episcopal Diocese of Kansas

The Episcopal and Lutheran bishops that serve congregations in Kansas and Missouri have issued a joint statement pledging renewed conversation about how they can work more closely together.

Bishop Dean Wolfe sent the message to leaders of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas on Nov. 7. In making the announcement, he said, “We are all committed to working more closely together in a number of areas, and we wanted to let the members of our churches know more about this exciting ecumenical adventure.”

He added that they have undertaken this ef-fort “knowing that we will be able to represent Christ and Christ’s Church better by working together than any of us could working alone.”

In addition to Bishop Wolfe, the other bish-ops involved in the conversations are:

� Bishop Michael Milliken of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas;

� Bishop Martin Field of the Episcopal Dio-cese of West Missouri;

� Bishop Wayne Smith of the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri; and

� Bishop Roger Gustafson of the Central States Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Here is the text of the joint statement:

Dear Friends in Christ:“Let us consider how to provoke one

(Please see Cooperation, page 6)

Convention highlights ministry areas with time for fellowship

Bishop Michael Milliken of the Diocese of Western Kansas (center) speaks with Canon Pastor George Wiley (left) and Sue O’Connor, St. Timothy’s,Iola, before the start of Morning Prayer on the Saturday of convention. Bishop Milliken preached the sermon wearing red Converse sneakers, “ruby slippers” given to him and other convention dignitaries by Bishop Dean Wolfe.

Photo by Deacon Bob Hirst


The 155th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas took advantage of a lighter-than-usual agenda to present lay delegates and clergy with addresses from two bishops and in-depth information about a va-riety of diocesan-sponsored ministries.

Convention, which took place Oct. 24-25 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Conference Center in Topeka, also voted to adopt the financial mission plan for 2015 of $1,808,798.

By acclamation delegates elected two re-turning members of the Council of Trustees, Margaret La Rue and the Rev. Laurie Lewis, who ran unopposed in the only election sched-uled for the meeting.

Convention also affirmed four clergy mem-bers of the Council of Trustees who had been elected by their respective convocations:

� The Rev. Robert Harris, Northeast; � Deacon Rex Matney, Northwest; � The Rev. Foster Mays, Southeast; and � The Very Rev. Tom Wilson, Southwest.

(Please see Convention, page 4)

2 • The Harvest • September/October 2014

Publisher: The Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe, BishopEditor: Melodie Woerman

A member of Episcopal News Service and Episcopal Communi-cators, The Harvest is published six times a year by the Office of Communications of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas: February, April, June, August, October and December.

Stories, letters and photos are welcome. They will be used on a space-available basis and are subject to editing. Send all material (preferably in electronic format or by email) to:

Melodie Woerman, editorThe Harvest

835 SW Polk St.Topeka, KS 66612-1688phone: (800) 473-3563

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From the BishopThe Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe

The Anglican CommunionA global community of 70 million Anglicans in 38 member churches/provinces in more than 160 countries.

Archbishop of CanterburyThe Most Reverend and Right Honorable Justin WelbyLambeth Palace, London WE1 7JU, United Kingdom

www.anglicancommunion.orgEpiscopal seat: Canterbury Cathedral, Canterbury, England

The Episcopal ChurchA community of 2 million members in 109 dioceses in 16 countries in the Americas and abroad.

Presiding BishopThe Most Reverend Katharine Jefferts Schori

815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017(800) 334-7626

www.episcopalchurch.orgEpiscopal seat: Washington National Cathedral,

Washington, D.C.

The Episcopal Diocese of KansasA community of about 11,000 members in 45 congregations, two diocesan institutions and one school in eastern Kansas.

BishopThe Right Reverend Dean E. Wolfe

835 SW Polk Street, Topeka, KS 66612-1688(785) 235-9255(800) 473-3563

www.episcopal-ks.orgEpiscopal seat: Grace Episcopal Cathedral, Topeka

Editor’s note: This is an excerpt from the address given by Bishop Dean Wolfe during the 155th annual Diocesan Convention on Oct. 24 in Topeka.

Many of you know I serve on the faculty for the College for Bishops, which is a program designed to prepare new bishops for the demanding work in which they will be engaged. I serve as a coach for new bishops, and Ellen and I help lead the New Bishops and Spouses’ Retreat each year.

During that time, I try to tell new bishops what they’re in for, what it will be like, why it will be extraordinary and why it will be hard.

Now I realize we’re not completely sure about bishops in this country. Americans feared the Brit-ish model of the episcopacy from the beginning and we sought to significantly check and balance the authority of the hierarchy in both government and in the church.

There’s a strong strain of congregationalism in every American Protestant tradition, and I’ve heard it said that Episcopalians are only generous about giving up authority when the stakes are very low.

When there is a liturgical question, someone will often say, “Well, you’re the bishop.” It usually has to do with where the chair will sit during the Confirmation liturgy. No one has ever said as they were looking for a new rector, “Well, you’re the bishop!”

I find myself wondering how to better commu-nicate what I think a bishop is and how I go about being a bishop to you and for you in this particular time, in this particular context, and why I think it’s so important.

A unique worldwide viewThe bishop is a connecting point between the

local congregation and the wider church, a bridge between two fairly distant shores. I have been given a unique view of the breadth and the width and the genius of the Anglican Communion, and in spite of its many imperfections, I have always sought to loyally serve it.

So what does it mean when 50 school chil-dren in Taipei wait for your bus for more than an hour in 100 degree heat to great you with bang-ing drums and cymbals and joyous singing, just because you are a visiting bishop from the United States? How do I bring that experience back to Kansas?

How do I explain the value of a conversation with the Archbishop of Hong Kong, Paul Kwong, who oversees the youngest province in the Angli-can Church and, arguably, one of the most impor-tant, given that it is the jumping off point for the evangelism of all of mainland China?

How can I describe the sensitive conversation we enjoyed and my joy, in the midst of an elabo-rate formal meal with 12 servings to discover the Archbishop did his Clinical Pastoral Education in Topeka, Kansas, at the Menninger Clinic?

What can I say about the tears of a bishop in a Two-Thirds World diocese, who explained to me that he did not have enough money to pay his staff this month, and that he himself has not been paid in over a year?

Or about the bishop who explained that the topic at his Gathering of Presbyters was how not to be a soft target for Islamic terrorists?

How can I describe to you what it’s like to rep-resent our denomination at the World Council of Churches in Busan, South Korea, with more than 1,500 different expressions of the Christian faith represented?

Or what it’s like to preach in the Gangnam

neighborhood in Seoul, and to realize that the interpreter has not been on the same page of your sermon since you began preaching five min-utes ago, and now it looks like all the pages are shuffled completely? (Maybe that’s what it is to preach Gangnam-style!)

How can I explain what it’s like to stand look-ing over “No Man’s Land” into North Korea and to offer prayers for our service members standing guard, and prayers for those lost in the Korean War, and to understand their sacrifice in a deeper and more personal way?

I have flown for nearly three days to reach Zambia to deliver greetings on behalf of the Episcopal Church on the occasion of the 100th An-niversary of the Anglican Church in Zambia, only to turn around after a five-hour liturgy and fly right back home.

I’ve been in intense conversations with the Archbishop of Canterbury, representing the Episcopal Church, and when the evening came to a close and our cab didn’t arrive, the Archbishop of Canterbury, without missing a beat, sweeps me and my fellow American bishops out through the gates of Lambeth Palace and, like a seasoned New Yorker, he whistles down a taxi and has his visitors on their way to dinner, all wondering if the Arch-bishop of Canterbury really just did that!

Taking Kansas with meI think I don’t talk enough about all of this

because I don’t know how to express it in a way that doesn’t sound like it’s about me somehow, or about the experiences I’ve had, because every one of these experiences is an opportunity to represent you.

Each of my hosts wants to know what it’s like in Kansas. “What do the people in Kansas like? What are they worried about? What do they dream about? What makes them anxious?” And univer-sally, archbishops around the globe have taken time to hear about what’s going on in Coffeyville, or in Blue Rapids, or in Lawrence, or Topeka, or Wichita or Kansas City.

So many wonderful things happen each week during my visitations here in Kansas: the children who have drawn special pictures and presented them to me; the students at St. James’, Wichita, who gave me ornaments they had made by hand to raise money for work in Myanmar; the students

(Please see Bishop, page 3)

Being a bishop in this time and in this place

PhOTO By DEaCOn BOB hIRST

Bishop Dean Wolfe addresses the 155th annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas on Oct. 24 during a business session in Topeka.

September/October 2014 • The Harvest • 3

(Continued from page 2)

at Trinity, Lawrence, who made episcopal miters and wore them through the service; the cookbooks and coffee mugs and church calendars presented to Ellen and me with such great love and affection; the privilege of being with clergy and their families who are sick or dying; and to proclaim the power of the Resurrection in the midst of every tragedy.

In the end, I cannot describe it; I can only give thanks for it and for all of you. What we do here in Kansas matters. It has repercussions all over the world, and what happens all over the world, touches and changes us here in Kansas.

May the Lord continue to bless you and your ministry.

In Christ, +Dean v


He added, “Jan would hope to remind us that she lives on and now serves at the altar of our God. Her presence lives on in the contributions she’s made to so many lives, and her example lives on to be handed down from priest to priest, from lay leader to lay leader, from friend to friend.”

Chubb was a graduate of Pittsburg State University and the Kansas School for Minis-try. She also provided ministry

as a chaplain at Labette Health in Parsons.

Through the years she also worked at the former Parsons Precision Products, now Du-commun AeroStructures, and Power Flame Inc.

In lieu of flowers, the fam-ily suggested contributions to funds at two churches:

� The Altar Guild of St. John’s, Parsons, P.O. Box 882, Parsons, KS 67357-0882; or

� The Building Fund of St. Timothy’s, Iola, P.O. Box 802, Iola KS 66749 v

haRvEST fIlE PhOTO

The Rev. Jan Chubb in 2012 displays a stuffed bear with a sunflower bandana, accompanied by a gift card, that members of St. Timothy’s, Iola, sent to members of a church in new Jersey that was hit hard by hurricane Sandy.

Vicar: ‘She now serves at the altar of God’

By the Rev. Don Compier

What is Bishop Kemper School for Ministry?

This new institution for the preparation of Episcopal ministers was launched in 2013, thanks to a unique collaboration and legal agreement between the Dioceses of Kansas, Western Kansas,West Missouri and Nebraska. Students meet in Topeka every second Saturday and Sunday morning, August through May.

Having prepared thoroughly ahead of time, they receive 10 hours of instruction in a single subject from highly qualified in-structors. In addition they devote 90 minutes to careful consider-ation of practical issues in min-istry, and 90 minutes to guided group discussion to explore their emerging sense of call.

The students room together in beautifully renovated Upton Hall. They share meals and worship in Grace Cathedral. In the weeks after focus weekends, the students carefully research and write pa-pers and other final projects.

Currently three tracks of study are offered at BKSM: presbyteral studies (for those preparing to be ordained priests), diaconal studies (for those intending to serve as deacons) and Anglican studies (for persons who have previous ministerial education in other Christian denominations).

Presbyteral students complete 30 courses over three years. Dia-conal students finish 20 courses over two years.

The course sequence of per-

sons pursuing Anglican studies varies, depending on previous study.

Lay persons are welcome to enroll in any of our classes in pur-suit of personal enrichment or to prepare to be licensed in various areas prescribed by the Canons of the church (such as lay preacher and lay catechist).

The curriculum is very similar to that of traditional seminar-ies, and every bit as rigorous. The faculty always maintains a sharp focus on the mission of the church.

Why is Bishop Kemper School needed?

The school’s founders re-sponded to a growing aware-ness of serious gaps in available ministerial education. First, the 11 residential seminaries of the Episcopal Church concentrate on the preparation of priests only.

While all ministry in the church is of equal value according to the Book of Common Prayer and the Canons, in reality deacons and lay persons could only resort to underfunded and understaffed local formation programs.

By pooling the resources of the four participating dioceses, BKSM can offer quality ministe-rial education to all persons called to a variety of ministries.

Second, the cost of traditional seminary education keeps rising, placing a heavy debt burden (av-erage of $35,000) on most gradu-ates. This economic reality meant that many of the good candidates from Kansas, Nebraska and Mis-

souri ended up serving in other parts of the United States.

The weekend model and the use of able local faculty members permits BKSM to offer thorough preparation at a fraction of the cost of seminary training.

Third, our dioceses require church leaders who understand the unique needs of small church-es often located in remote areas. BKSM’s faculty have abundant experience in exactly this type of ministry.

What are the school’s future prospects?

While still under construction, this new institution is on solid financial footing. Each of the participating dioceses has made a strong monetary commitment, allowing BKSM to hire its first full-time dean in July 2014.

With more than 30 students enrolled in the various tracks, tu-ition income is running above the amount budgeted. An enthusiastic alumni/ae association is commit-ted to raising needed funds.

BKSM’s leadership has confidently and enthusiastically pursued multiple grants. The school already has received a $50,000 grant from the Roanridge Foundation.

Tracks focusing on special areas such as community service and youth ministry are in develop-ment and should attract a growing number of lay students.

The Rev. Don Compier, Ph.D., became the first full-time dean of Bishop Kemper School in July 2014. v

Bishop: World, Kansas are connected

Dean Compier reflects on the role of the Bishop Kemper School

Bishop Kemper

School Dean Don Compier (center) joins Bishop Dean

Wolfe (left) and Bishop

Michael Milliken of

Western Kansas at the school’s booth at the Diocese

of Kansas convention.

Photo by Bill Chambers

Topeka priest Barbara Bloxsom dies at age 73

The Rev. Barbara Bloxsom, a retired priest of the diocese, died at her home in Topeka on Nov. 11. She was 73.

She was ordained in 1990 and had served churches in Michigan, New York and North Carolina before be-coming rector of Epiphany, Sedan, in 1997.

After she re-tired in 2007 she served as Assistant to the Rector at St. David’s, Topeka.

In writing to the diocese about her death, Bishop Dean Wolfe said, “Barbara was a friend and pas-tor to many in our diocese. Her contributions to building com-munity and collegiality among the clergy were appreciated by everyone.

“She was one of the first people I met in the Diocese of Kansas when she was a member of the Bishop Search Committee, and Ellen and I found her joy and spirit to be very inviting.

“A joyous light has gone

out in the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas.”

She had been a member of the diocesan Council of Trustees, the Search Commit-tee for the Ninth Bishop, and a longtime member of the dio-cese’s Liturgy, Arts and Music

Committee.She was a Phi

Beta Kappa grad-uate of Chatham University in Pitts-burgh, Penn., and in 1988 from the Episcopal Semi-nary of the South-west in Austin, Texas.

She is survived by a sister, Harriet; a daugh-ter, Jennifer; sons Raymond III and Christopher; and six grandchildren.

Her husband, Raymond, died in 1994.

Her funeral took place on Nov. 15 at St. David’s, with Bishop Dean Wolfe presiding.

In lieu of flowers, the fam-ily asked that contributions in her memory be given to St. David’s, 3916 SW 17th St., Topeka, KS 66604. v

The Rev. Barbara Bloxsom



Boxing above our weight classIn his keynote address, Bishop Dean E. Wolfe

noted that the diocese “boxes above our weight class” when compared to other dioceses. “It means we do more with less. It means we expect continued excellence from our administrative and program diocesan staff. It means our diocesan staff expects excellence from themselves in their ministries. It means the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas has always given our fair share to the wider church.”

The bishop said he regularly receives calls asking him about the diocese’s youth and campus ministry programs, and hearers are often stunned when he describes the scope of the Kansas to Kenya ministry, all of it supported by volunteer financial contributions.

He noted, however, that work remains to be done, including finding new ways to start churches and attract younger members, reaching out to a wider diversity of people in our communities, cre-ating more effective ministries for children, doing more to help small congregations in rural areas, and helping people learn how to better describe why they are Episcopalians.

He lauded the work being done by the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry and said its ability to educate clergy locally makes it a leader for the rest of the Episcopal Church.

Other guestsConvention also heard from Bishop Andrew

Waldo of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina, who described his diocese’s 35-year partnership with the Diocese of Haiti through its work in the small town of Cange.

Their ministry is centered in Bon Sauveur Church, where the school has grown to more than 1,000 students and offers an International Baccalaureate program. The diocese also sup-ports a nearby vocational school and helped provide a dam and pumping stations, in conjunction with engineers from Clemson University.

Joining Bishop Waldo for convention was Dr. Earl Burch, who has headed Upper South Carolina’s Haiti ministry for the past 25 years. The two men also offered one of three workshops for convention goers.

Other workshops were led by Elizabeth Boe, who is the liaison from the Episcopal Church Cen-ter staff to this diocese. She is the Officer for Global Networking and talked about churchwide opportunities.

Archdeacon Monte Giddings led the third work-shop, describing how St. Michael and All Angels in Mission has created a successful men’s ministry.

Bishop Michael Milliken of the Episcopal Diocese of Western Kansas also was a guest at convention and preached at the service of Morning Prayer that opened the session on Oct. 25.

Explaining ministry programsThrough verbal reports and audio visual pre-

sentations, several ministry groups explained their work more fully.

� The Rev. Don Compier, dean of the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, described the growth of the school and its importance in the life of the four owning dioceses — Kansas, West Missouri, Nebraska and Western Kansas. He also said the school plans to expand in greater depth into courses to prepare lay people for a variety of ministries in their local congregations.

� An update on campus ministry was presented by the Rev. Stephanie Jenkins, campus missioner, who told the convention that the program now serves students at 11 campuses across the diocese.

� Youth Missioner Karen Schlabach described the extensive youth program the diocese offers. It provides youth leadership development, six

weekend retreats, summer activities anchored by MegaCamp for elementary through senior high students, and training for adult leaders of parish and diocesan youth events.

� Shannon Mahan, executive director of the Episcopal Wichita Area Refugee Ministry told

delegates how EWARM is mak-ing a difference in the lives of political refugees who now call Wichita their home. The agency is an affiliate of Episcopal Mi-gration Ministries. A family who fled from Burma was present to express their appreciation to the diocese for helping them create a new life in the United States.

� The extensive work offered by Kansas to Kenya was highlighted by Deacon Steve Segebrecht, the group’s director, and by Joe Bob Lake, who de-scribed one of the newest initia-tives, the Agatha Amani House, one of the first safe houses for abused women in that country. Segebrecht invited delegates to join one of three teams heading to Kenya next summer.

� The Rev. Dixie Junk showcased the many outreach

efforts of St. Paul’s, Kansas City, as well as its growing ministry to the Latino community, includ-ing a weekly Spanish Eucharist.

� The Rev. Ron Baldwin, rector of Trinity, Lawrence, also serves as chaplain at Bishop Sea-bury Academy, the diocese’s secondary school in Lawrence, and he showed a video describing what life is like at the school and invited delegates to strop in for a visit.

� New work being undertaken by the diocese’s Board of Examining Chaplains was described by its chair, the Rev. Ben Varnum. He noted that the group is revamping the way it reviews academic preparation for ordination as a priest to be more comprehensive.

Pre-convention activitiesThose who arrived in Topeka on Thursday were

treated to a “tailgate” meal of barbecue sandwiches, provided by the men’s ministry of St. Michael and All Angels in Mission, aided by members of the diocesan staff and Grace Cathedral, Topeka.

The lower level hall was decorated in a baseball motif, in honor of the Kansas City Royals who were playing in the World Series that week.

The convention Eucharist, also at the cathedral, took place on Friday morning before the start of official business. v

Convention: Many ministries touted

verger Tim flynn of St. James’, Wichita, (front) leads Bishops Michael Milliken (left) and andrew Waldo during the opening procession of the convention Eucharist.

PhOTOS By DEaCOn BOB hIRST

Shannon Mahan (left) holds the daughter of a Burmese couple now living in Wichita thanks to the work of the Episcopal Wichita area Refugee Ministry, which Mahan heads.

PhOTO By GaRy ZuMWalT

Bishops make good on World Series bet

Bishop Martin field of the Diocese of West Missouri (left) and Bishop Dean Wolfe wear San francisco Giants caps as part of their wager with the Bishop of California on the outcome of the World Series. Both men, however, remain sad that the Kansas City Royals lost.

While the Midwest cheered the outstanding post-season play of the Kansas City Royals that propelled them into the team’s first Wold Series in 29 years, their loss by a single run in the seventh and deciding game meant that the bishops of Kansas City-area dioceses had to pay up.

Kansas Bishop Dean Wolfe and West Missouri Bishop Martin Field had a friendly wager with California Bishop Marc Andrus, whose office is in San Francisco, home of the Royals’ Series opponents, the Giants.

As the bishops of the losing team, they agreed to wear a cap of their opponent (shown above, taken during the Diocese of West Missouri convention on Nov. 1) and send to their California counterpart Kansas City-based Boulevard beer and some famous K.C. barbecue.

Bishop Andrus had placed on the line Ghirardelli chocolate, sour-dough bread and Anchor Steam beer — none of which, sadly, the Midwestern bishops will get to enjoy.

The three dioceses also engaged in another contest, this one to see which team’s fans would donate the most money to Episcopal Relief & Development during the duration of the World Series. There the San Franciscans also prevailed, raising $555 in the name of the Giants to Royals fans’ $205.

But mostly this was an opportunity for some fun and fellowship as each city and region celebrated their baseball team’s great season.

— Melodie Woerman v

Ascension, Neodesha, in Octo-ber started a tutoring partnership with students in nearby Heller Elementary School, known as Heller Homework Helpers.

On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, a volunteer walks a group of seven children from their school to the church’s Street Hall, a block away. There they have a nourishing snack and get help with their homework from one of seven tutors — four are parish members and three are retired teachers from

the community. Students finish the day with 15 minutes of craft and play time.

Ascension member Pattie Bai-ley said that the children “seem to love” their time there. They have started with a small group, she said, so each child can have indi-vidualized attention. They plan to expand it in the future.

Costs for the program are paid by the parish, which has a mem-bership of 41 people.


a student from heller Elementary enjoys a craft activity with an adult volunteer during an after-school tutoring program started this fall by ascension, neodesha, which is located a block from the school.

PhOTO By PaTTIE BaIlEy

Neodesha church provides homework help to local school children


Story and photos by the Rev. Meghan Froehlich

“I don’t know what is wrong with my baby — will she be ok?”

“My tooth has been hurting for over a year.”

“My eyes don’t work prop-erly — I have not been able to read my Bible for more than two years now.”

These and so many other sto-ries were part of our time of serv-ing in Kenya.

The medical team of Kan-sas2Kenya tended to approxi-mately 1,000 medical and dental patients and gave more than 600 personally fitted eyeglasses, all free of charge.

The generosity of volunteers and donors from parishes all over Kansas made it possible to change the lives of so many people in need in rural areas of Kenya. This is the tenth year that Kansas2Ke-nya’s medical teams have traveled and served.

Physicians, pharmacists, den-tists, nurses, hygienists, medical laboratory technicians, medical students, first responders, nutri-tionists, social workers, spiritual care providers, photographers and other volunteers traveled from Kansas to Kenya in June to offer services in two rural clinics.

The Kansas team was joined by Kenyan care partners in all areas of service. “I feel like we are all one team,” said pre-med student Cole Hanich.

The medical team also worked with the Anglican Diocese of Nakuru and worshipped with St. Christopher’s Anglican parish. Many people said, “That was a lot like our parish service back home.”

What is it like to serve with the medical team?

If you were to take a look around at any moment of the five days of the rural clinics, you would see a flurry of activity and care. The two clinics included a few small buildings, with sporadic electricity. Patients waited out-doors, sometimes in the rain. The triage group was housed under an outdoor tent. The few indoor rooms were reserved for private medical exam rooms.

At each clinic, you would first see smiling Kansas and Kenyan faces greeting the hundreds of people who came for care. The “intake desk” greeted patients and helped determine which service they needed.

Next, the triage teams took vi-tal signs and medical histories. Pa-tients would try out their English, and we Kansans expanded our limited understanding of Swahili.

Each time, the gracious assis-tance of bilingual Kenyan partners bridged the language gap.

But there was no gap in the obvious dedication and love of each volunteer. All day, our social work volunteer was busy, helping the most complicated situations find the right fit.

After triage, patients would see the medical or dental provider they needed. Even with the stress

Kenya medical mission is compassion in action

Members of the Kansas to Kenya dental team examine a patient at a clinic in Maai Mahiu. They were among the 31 health care professionals and support staff who participated in the annual medical mission to Kenya. Together they saw more than 1,000 dental and medical patients in five days.

Above: Deacon Steve Segebrecht, an otolaryngologist who heads the Kansas to Kenya ministry, examines the ears of a patient.

Left: a young Kenyan patient bonds with K2K dental provider Bill Keith after receiving care, as the child’s mother looks on.

of a medical or dental concern, you would see so many smiles and a deep connection among patients and providers. Love is truly universal.

For patients who needed laboratory work, their samples were sent to our rudimentary lab, staffed with highly skilled volun-teers. Without some of the tech-nology we are used to, expertise is even more important.

Many patients needed medica-tion, and the pharmacy team was on the go all the time. We had brought suitcases full of medicine and supplies, and the cheerful teamwork of the pharmacy group, both Kenyan and Kansan, was an inspiration.

Prayer also providedOften, patients requested addi-

tional prayer or spiritual conversa-tion. Some physicians would refer patients with significant stress-re-lated symptoms for spiritual care.

Domestic violence against women unfortunately is common, and it underscores the need for another one of our Kansas2Kenya

projects: the Agatha Amani House that serves those recovering from domestic violence, the only shelter of its kind we know of in Kenya.

The eyeglass team worked quickly and personally. The ex-pressions of gratitude were pro-found from people of all ages who could now see clearly again. Most people received “readers” to suit their vision needs, and some were able to use donated prescription glasses.

In addition to other services, two photographers were available to take and print out photographs of individuals and families (when the electricity was on.) Many people did not have a physical photo of loved ones. The joy in receiving a picture was tangible.

Throughout the day, nutrition-ists offered locally focused teach-ing about foods that would pro-vide the most benefit and balance.

Mornings were early, nights were late and hearts were full. We grappled with the reality of politi-cal unrest just a few hours east.

We recognized the multitude of blessings and privileges we

enjoy as North Americans, and vowed to never take anything for granted — electricity, plumbing, reliable transportation and paved roads, political stability, photos of loved ones, healthy food, telecom-munication, and much more.

We feel honored to serve.

How can you help?Pray. Please pray for all the

Kansas2Kenya teams, our Kenyan care partners and those with whom

we serve.Volunteer. Prayerfully con-

sider if you are called to serve on a team.

Give. Support the Kansas2Ke-nya teams with a financial gift or bequest in your will.

The Rev. Meghan Froehlich, who previously served as the diocese’s Canon Interim, went to Kenya as part of the medical mission team, serving as a pho-tographer. v

Three groups will travel to Kenya next summer: � Community team (June 4-18; cost is $3,800 per person) � College team (June 8-21; cost is $3,500 per person) � Medical team (June 11-21; cost is $4,000 per person)

To reserve your space with any of these teams, a deposit of $400 is due by Dec. 6. Send your check, made payable to K2K, with your name, address, phone number, email address and the team on which you want to serve, to:

Kansas to Kenyaattn: Karen viola835 SW Polk St.Topeka, KS 66612

Want to be part of K2K in 2015?


Thirteen youth and three adults from the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas traveled to Philadelphia in July to participate in the every-three-year gathering known as the Episcopal Youth Event.

They joined a group of more than a thousand people at Villano-va University who spent four days engaged in learning more about the Anglican Communion’s Five Marks of Mission. Bishop Dean Wolfe joined the group for a day.

They heard plenary speeches from people engaged in ministry across the Episcopal Church and participated in a variety of worship experiences. Preachers included Presiding Bishop Katha-

rine Jefferts Schori and North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry.

This EYE was the first to feature a “pilgrimage day” that brought participants into the heart of the city to learn more about the city’s history and the church’s role in it.

Stops included Liberty Hall, Christ Church (the “first” Epis-copal Church), the Philadelphia Cathedral, St. James’ Episcopal School, the Church of the Ad-vocate (where the first women were ordained) and the exterior of the Philadelphia Art Museum, whose long rise of steps was made famous in the movie “Rocky.”

— Karen Schlabach v

Kansas teens take part in the Episcopal Youth Event

Above: Seventeen youth and adults from the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas pose for a photo on the campus of villanova university near Philadelphia during the Episcopal youth Event, an every-three-year gathering that drew more than 1,000 people to explore the five Marks of Mission.

Left: Kansas teens run up the “Rocky” steps leading to the Philadelphia art Museum, recreating an iconic moment in the 1976 Sylvester Stalone movie.

PhOTOS By KaREn SChlaBaCh


another to love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the habit of some is, but encouraging one another, so much the more, as you see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:24-25

In this transitional season in the life of the Christian Church, we five bishops have gathered to discuss new ways for our two traditions to work more closely together.

We want the people and clergy of our synod and dioceses to know how important we believe these conversations are and how crucial we believe it is to invest in rela-tionships across denominational boundaries.

We are committed to working collaboratively toward a common mission and purpose. Indeed, we feel the Spirit of God urgently call-ing us to do so!

To this end: � Each of us has made it a prior-

ity to explore joint opportunities for ministry in Christ’s name.

� Each of us is fully committed to continuing this conversa-tion and to engage in further interdenominational prayer and Bible study.

� Each of us is committed to the faithful consideration of every reasonable opportunity to work more closely together. We invite others, lay and or-

dained, from our two great faith traditions to join us in engaging in the deepest fellowship.

Brothers and sisters, we continue to ask for your prayers, just as we continue to pray for all of you. v

Cooperation: Joint work is a priority

St. Timothy’s, Iola, this summer received a windfall of items following the closure of St. Clare’s, Spring Hill, in May.

The diocese’s church start-up donated not only liturgi-cal items but also furniture and other pieces, including kitchen supplies and paper goods, as well as a contribution from its outreach fund to support St. Timothy’s ministries.

But the small church now is sharing whatever items it can with others, too. “We don’t take for granted that it was just for us,” said Sue O’Connor, senior warden.

The church kept a large wooden veneration cross, as well as a number of Prayer Books and Hymnals.

Their older used books have been handed off to Karen Schlabach, diocesan youth missioner, for use at diocesan youth events.

Copies of Wonder, Love and Praise, one of the hymnals authorized for use by The Episcopal Church, went to St. Paul’s, Coffeyville, and that church, along with St. John’s, Parsons, received children’s Bibles.

Water bottles with the St. Clare’s logo found new homes with local school students.

Thirty-five chairs that just happened to match the color of St. Timothy’s pews expanded seating capacity in the nave to almost 160 people. They were put to good use in September during a funeral, and new tables now provide seating for 50 people.

O’Connor said that she and eight other St. Timothy’s members went to Spring Hill to collect the items and filled two trucks, an SUV and a trailer.

She said the large cross has been placed in the nave, along with a sign about its origin. “We wanted everyone to remember that St. Clare’s was so generous to us, and we would not forget them,” she said.

St. Clare’s was a worshipping community started by the diocese in 2008 in Spring Hill, south of Kansas City.


Items from closed congregation help others

PhOTO By MaRSha BuRRIS

Gifts to St. Timothy’s, Iola, from the now-closed St. Clare’s in Spring hill include a large wooden veneration cross and newer Prayer Books and hymnals. all the pews now are supplied with four copies of each worship book. The church’s older Prayers Books and hymnals have been donated to the diocesan youth program.

Wichita church music group issues its first CDThe contemporary music group at Good Shepherd, Wichita, known

as Heaven’s Gate, has issued its first CD entitled “Cerca Trova,” which means “Seek and Find.”

It includes 15 original songs, including one that takes as some of its lyrics the prayer used by Bishop Dean Wolfe before he begins his sermons.

Charlie MacCoy, the church’s Contemporary Music Director and the director and lead vocalist for Heaven’s Gate, said the album is a collection of prayerful, contemplative and upbeat praise music.

He wrote 12 of the songs and co-wrote two others with Good Shepherd member Kenneth Friedel.

The final track was written by Heaven’s Gate member Pete Hubin.The album was released through St. Mark’s Press, a ministry oper-

ated by Good Shepherd that produces a variety of liturgical books, worship aids and study materials.

MacCoy said this is the publishing house’s first music release. The cost is $12 plus shipping and it can be ordered by calling

(800) 365-0439. v,


Three churches across the diocese undertake

building projects

UNDERCONSTRUCTION


Years ago Bishop Dean Wolfe said that he loved to walk into a church and smell sawdust, because it meant the congregation was engaged in active growth and ministry.

By that yardstick, three parishes in the Epis-copal Diocese of Kansas — ranging in mem-bership from large to small — should make the bishop quite happy.

Here is a look at their projects.

been painted red.Repairs to the boiler piping that

feeds the church are coming just before the onset of cold weather.Ultimately major renovations will include remodeling of the undercroft for more usable space and greater access for those with disabilities.

Grace Cathedral, TopekaThe cathedral recently com-

pleted the first phase of a construc-tion project by renovating the first floor of its Cloister Building into a welcoming entrance area. The space, spanning two stories with an open-air feel, now serves as the foyer for both the worship space and the fellowship hall.

On its website the cathedral said the reconfiguration “will make the entire facility more user-friendly. It will eliminate much of our cur-rent hallway labyrinth and create a space from which the entrances to all other areas of the Cathedral can be clearly viewed and easily accessed.”

The comfort level of parents was kept in mind, with infant and toddler nurseries now grouped together around a shared restroom, and an open staircase leads to the upstairs classrooms.

The project was paid for by a new fellowship hall and expanded kitchen at St. Timothy’s, Iola will allow the church to feed even more people and host more communitywide gatherings.

St. John’s, WichitaThe first phase of the church’s Living Stones

project is underway, designed to “restore, renew and rebuild” the church, which was built in 1893.

The stained glass windows are being repaired where needed and covered with protective glass, with window frames repainted.

New paint is being applied throughout the Education Building, and new tile flooring and windows are being installed.

One of the most visible signs of progress is that exterior doors, recently refurbished, have

donations to the parish’s Capital Campaign Fund, which also seeks to build a large first-floor parish hall.

St. Timothy’s, IolaThe church is nearing comple-

tion of a project to expand its kitchen and Fellowship Hall, and renovate the existing fellowship space.

In spite of its old, small kitchen, church members are known across the community for their commit-ment to feeding people. They cur-rently offer a monthly community dinner, with the proceeds given to a variety of causes.

In recent years they have been asked to provide meals, usually during holiday periods, for athletes who attend Allen Community College. Last winter parishioners fed lunch and dinner to 50 basket-ball players for three weeks when dorms were open but the cafeteria wasn’t, and they also have helped feed members of the cross country team.

The church also offers a large Thanksgiving dinner each year.

Existing contributions recently were aided by anonymous dona-tions to allow the project to get underway much sooner than expected. v

a new two-story entrance greets worshippers at Grace Cathedral, Topeka, and the layout now helps directs visitors through the building.

Refurbished stained

glass windows are just

one part of an overall

renovation project at

St. John’s, Wichita.


Around the diocese � St. John’s, Abilene is asking

members to suggest names for the church’s parish hall. The winner will be selected by a vote of those attending the Annual Meeting in January.

� Trinity, Atchison has new doors on the east and west sides of the church building, thanks to the craftsmanship of Jim Dame and the Buildings and Trades class at Highland Technical College. Junior warden Fred Gage oversaw the project, which was funded by member donations.

� St. Mark’s, Blue Rapids hosts a Men’s Coffee Group that meets every Wednesday from 6-7:30 a.m. Member Joe Wardens gets the coffee perking, which is fol-lowed by discussion on a range of topics.

� St. Paul’s, Clay Center wished member Lucy Mulroney a happy 90th birthday with a party at church on Oct. 5, complete with celebratory refreshments.

� St. Paul’s, Coffeyville hosted its eighth annual “Coats for Kids” motorcycle run on Oct. 18. Rid-ers on two, three or more wheels met in the church parking lot for a parade, followed by lunch at the church. Those attending were asked to make a donation to buy coats for people who need them this winter.

� St. Andrew’s, Derby used funds given in memory of a church founder to enhance the lives of the newest members. On Sept. 21 two diaper changing sta-tions were installed and dedicated, funded by contributions in memo-ry of founder Byron Kinkead. His widow, Margaret, was present for the dedication.

� St. Martin’s, Edwardsville received a new fire pit area thanks to the work of a local Boy Scout troop. Benches and some ad-

ditional work will complete the fellowship area near the church.

� Trinity, El Dorado has revived its Friday morning Coffee and Conversation group. Rector the Rev. Christine Gilson furnishes the coffee, and members are invited to come and chat, or just enjoy each other’s company.

� St. Andrew’s, Emporia offers a place for Episcopal students at Emporia State University to gather on Mondays at 9 p.m. for a discussion about the book of Revelation and to pray the ancient service of Compline.

� St. Mary’s, Galena helped provide elementary students with needed supplies through an annual donation, and money from fund-raiser dinners helped the church sponsor the local Relay for Life by the American Cancer Society.

� Epiphany, Independence par-ticipated in the 100 Mile Yard Sale on Sept. 13 by serving breakfast to those out shopping. Donations for the hearty hot meal will be used to help families in need in the community.

� St. Timothy’s, Iola sponsored a team of 18 participants (plus three dogs) in a 5K/3K run/walk Oct. 11 to benefit the local animal shelter and Hope Unlimited, a battered women’s shelter. They participated in memory of their late vicar, the Rev. Jan Chubb.

� St. Paul’s, Kansas City wel-comed the neighborhood to its outdoor Sr. Francis Day Festival and Animal Blessing on Oct. 5. A parade through the neighborhood the week before shared news of the event.

� St. Margaret’s, Lawrence welcomed home for a visit Karin Feltman, the parish’s missionary to Nepal, who was able to squeeze a trip home on Nov. 2 while she

was in the country for a training event. Feltman has spent the past year living in Kathmandu, pre-paring for a ministry of helping victims of human trafficking.

� Trinity, Lawrence hosted guest speaker the Rev. Corky Car-lisle at its annual Harvest Festival Dinner on Oct. 5. The event took place at Bishop Seabury Academy and offered the chance to give thanks for God’s blessings in the past year and look forward to the year to come.

� St. Paul’s, Leavenworth on Sept. 21 rededicated its needle-point kneelers following a two-year process of cleaning and restoring them. The kneelers were made in the 1970s by women of the church. The restoration was overseen by the parish Altar Guild.

� St. Paul’s, Manhattan mem-bers staffed a church table Oct. 18-19 at the Spooktacular trick-or-treating event at Sunset Zoo. Besides handing out candy, they offered a friendly greeting to chil-dren and family who stopped by.

� St. Paul’s, Marysville joined with St. Mark’s, Blue Rapids, in joint worship Sept. 21 with the lo-cal Lutheran Church in an outdoor service at Waterville City Park, which featured member Paul Kes-singer leading the music. A pot-luck picnic followed the service.

� St. Michael’s, Mission rec-ognized Dr. Ken Walker, director of music and arts ministries, for 25 years of service to the parish. Members brought cards, notes and photos for a memory book of gratitude.

Middle East, featuring the Hon. Roey Gilad, Consul General of Is-rael to the Midwest. The program was presented in partnership with the Jewish Federation of Greater Kansas City.

� St. John’s, Parsons marked its 140th anniversary weekend on Aug. 24, when 25 members reaffirmed their baptismal vows during the visit to the parish by Bishop Dean Wolfe.

� Epiphany, Sedan helps pro-vide a backpack of weekend food for 30 elementary students who are at risk of hunger, working with the Kansas Food bank. Member Carolyn Williams arranged for the entrance fee to the Sedan High School pre-season sports scrimmages to be donated to the backpack program.

� St. Luke’s, Shawnee en-courages members to consider marking important celebrations, like birthdays, anniversaries and graduations, with donations to the parish endowment fund.

� Grace Cathedral, Topeka has welcomed a new Girl Scout troop this fall, with 35 participants. The Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops that started last year now include more than 100 students.

� St. David’s, Topeka has moved up its collection of win-ter hats, scarves and gloves, so they can reach people earlier in the cold-weather season. Items donated starting in October will be distributed by a local social ser-vice agency as they are received.

� St. Luke’s, Wamego orga-nized the “Walk for Warmth and Wellness” for the local Council of Churches on Sept. 28. Parishio-ners staffed the registration table and provided water and refresh-ments for participants.

� Good Shepherd, Wichita again this fall helped the students of Park Elementary School by collecting school uniforms, under-wear and backpacks. Cards with sizes for the needed clothing items were available to guide shoppers.

� St. James’, Wichita continues to support its After School Pro-gram, which this fall is under the guidance of new director Melissa Long. The program serves at-risk students through exposure to art and music programs.

� St. John’s, Wichita offered a Quiet Day on Sept. 27, to provide a peaceful place where people could draw closer to God. The morning offered worship, along with time for personal prayer, reading and reflection.

� St. Stephen’s, Wichita hosted a Ministry Fair on Sept. 14, to give members the opportunity to learn more about ministry groups within the parish and sign up to participate. v

� Ascension, Neodesha offered its community a three-session course in financial planning in Oc-tober at the church. The program was facilitated by a local banker and was designed to help people set financial goals and give them tools to reach them.

� St. Matthew’s, Newton started off the Sunday school year with a new program, based on the Virginia Theological Seminary Curriculum for Children. Wor-ship was the main focus of the program’s fall activities.

� St. Aidan’s, Olathe during September collected healthy snack items to help fuel Mission Trail Middle School students throughout their school day. The church participates in the Olathe School District’s “adopt a school” program.

� Grace, Ottawa offered its “Heavenly Hamburgers and Hot-dogs” outreach fundraiser on the front lawn of the church on Sept. 20, allowing community members to enjoy the food and fellowship.

� St. Francis, Overland Park celebrated its 40th anniversary on Sept. 21 with a festive parish meal after church. Canon Pastor George Wiley was present for the celebration event. The church, which is involved in outreach in the Stilwell community, was founded in September 1974 by 13 people, under the guidance of the Rev. Robert Cavitt. A capital campaign to construct its building started four years later.

� St. Thomas, Overland Park hosted a discussion on Sept. 30 about challenges facing the

PhOTO By DEaCOn BOB hIRST

Wichita church marks 25 yearsBishop Dean Wolfe (left) and the Rev. andrew O’Connor pose on

nov. 1 with a banner marking the 25th anniversary of Good Shepherd, Wichita, where O’Connor is rector.

The banner was designed by Dianne hubin and made by Dorla Waddell and Mikki Shields.

The parish celebrated its founding in 1989, which followed the merger of St. Mark’s and St. Matthias’, with a special service and dinner the weekend of nov. 1-2. v

St. Aidan’s, Olathe is shining a new light on their worship space —literally. All 62 of the ceiling light bulbs are being switched from standard incandescent to LED (light emitting diode) bulbs.

The Rev. Shawn Streepy, the church’s rector, said the need to replace sev-eral burned-out bulbs in the high ceiling prompted the Vestry to decide to switch them all to LEDs, which last 25 to 35 times longer than a regular light bulb.

Streepy said the high ceiling presented a “logistical nightmare” when replacing standard bulbs. “We had to borrow a hoist to reach them,” he said. The longer life of LED bulbs, along with greater energy savings, prompted the Vestry to decide to swap them all out. To make sure LEDs wouldn’t change the look of the space, the church first substituted just one. When it matched the existing bulbs, they knew it was time to do them all.

LEDs do come at a higher price, though. Streepy said each of the new ones cost about $30 when bought in bulk, far more than the old ones. An appeal over two Sundays raised about $1,000 for the project.

Streepy said their supply of old-style bulbs will be given away. v

Olathe church shines brighter with installation of LED bulbs

new lED light bulbs will save St. aidan’s, Olathe, effort and energy.


People

Clergy newsDeacon Fran Wheeler has been assigned by Bishop Dean Wolfe to serve at St. Thomas’,

Overland Park, beginning Nov. 1. She is the chair of the diocesan Outreach and Mission Committee and previously was assigned to St. Aidan’s, Olathe.

The Rev. Kevin Huddleston is the new rector of St. Michael and All Angels, Mission, beginning Nov. 1. For the past seven years he has been Associate for Mission and Outreach at St. Michael and All Angels in Dallas, Texas.

The Rev. Mary Siegmund is the new priest in charge at St. Luke’s, Shawnee, beginning Oct. 16. She most recently has been priest in charge at St. Matthew’s, Newton, where she has served since early 2010.

The Rev. Jon Hullinger is serving as interim assistant rector at St. James’, Wichita, for the next few months while the parish searches for a permanent assistant. Hullinger, from Topeka, was received as an Episcopal priest on June 8.

The Rev. John Nixon has announced that he will retire on Nov. 24 as the supply priest at St. Francis of Assisi Church in Overland Park, where he has served for the past 10 years. He was ordained in the Church of England and serves as licensed clergy in the diocese.

The Rev. David Lynch is the new rector of St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Loch Lloyd, Mo., in the Diocese of West Missouri. He had served as supply priest at Trin-ity, Atchison, following conclusion of his time as assistant rector at St. James’, Wichita.

The diocese’s Campus Missioner, the Rev. Stephanie Jenkins, and her husband Richard, are the parents of a daughter, Coraline “Cora” Jane, who was born on Aug. 21 in Lawrence. She joins a big brother, Henry, who is 2.

The Rev. Patrick Funston, rector of St. Paul’s, Manhattan, and his wife Michael, are the parents of their first child, a daughter, Eirnin (pronounced AIR-neen or air-NEEN) Marjory, who was born on Oct. 19 in Manhattan.

Condolences go to Deacon Deedee Evans, St. James’, Wichita, on the death of her husband Dennis on Oct. 14. His funeral took place at St. James’ on Oct. 17. v

Porterfield’s Flowers, which is owned by David Porterfield, a member of Grace Cathedral, Topeka, and Mark Lamantia, has been named the 2014 Retail Florist of the Year by Florists’ Review magazine and the Wholesale Florist and Florist Supplier Association.

The two men were recognized with the award on Oct. 22 at an event in Miami, Fla.The shop was started by Porterfield’s parents in 1965. He joined them in the

business and then purchased the shop when they retired in 1981. Lamantia began work there as a part-time delivery driver in 1973 and in 1997 became a co-owner.

The floral shop provides the flowers for services and events at the cathedral. v

Photos by Deacon Robert Hirst

Every year three special awards are presented during the Diocesan Convention banquet to honor outstanding ministry by a lay person, a deacon and a priest during the previous year. This year’s recipients are:

� The Bishop’s Chair Award: Pre-sented by Bishop Dean Wolfe to Scott Howard, St. Peter’s, Pittsburg, who is chair of the Campus Ministry Council and led the program’s search for a Campus Missioner. The award is a rocking chair with the seal of the diocese engraved on the back.

� The Archdeacons’ Cross: Presented by Archdeacons Monte Giddings and Charles Pearce to Deacon Jeff Roper, St. James’, Wichita, for his many ministries to the community, including serving as a chaplain at Winfield Correctional Facility. The award is a silver cross on a chain.

� The Canon’s Award: In the absence of a Canon to the Ordinary, this year pre-sented by Bishop Wolfe to the Rev. George Wiley, in recognition of his recent service as Canon Pastor and his 35 years as a faith-ful priest in the diocese. The award is an engraved plaque. v

Cathedral member wins national award

Porterfield’s flowers, co-owned

by David Porterfield (right), was named

the 2014 Retail florist of the year in

the united States. Porterfield is a

member of Grace Cathedral, Topeka, and is shown here arranging flowers

for an Easter service.

Harvest file photo

Awards recognize outstanding ministries

Scott howard tries out the rocking chair given to him as recipient of the Bishop’s Chair award, as Bishop Dean Wolfe looks on.

Deacon Jeff Roper

(left) receives a

silver cross and

chain given by

archdeacons

Monte Giddings

(center) and

Charles Pearce.

Roper was this

year’s recipient of

the archdeacons’

Cross award.

Bishop Wolfe hands the Canon’s award plaque to the Rev. George Wiley, who serves as Canon Pastor. The award honors a priest for outstanding service in the previous year.


National and international newsAnglican news briefsEpiscopal News Service

�Retired Massachusetts Bishop Thomas Shaw dies of brain cancer. The Rt. Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE, monk and, for 20 years, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, died on Oct. 17. He was 69. He had been elected bishop coadjutor of the Diocese of Massachusetts on the first ballot at a special Diocesan Convention in 1994 and became the 15th bishop of the Diocese of Massachusetts in January 1995. He retired in September of this year when his successor, Bishop Alan M. Gates, was ordained. Shaw had been a priest in England and Milwaukee before entering the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE), the oldest religious order for men in the Episcopal/Anglican church, in 1975. He was elected superior in 1982 and served for 10 years. In 1993 he served as chaplain to the House of Bishops. His funeral took place on Nov. 1 at Trinity Church, Copley Square, in Boston.

�Young radio reporters in Liberia to spread the word about Ebola. Young radio reporters in Liberia will soon be broadcasting programs to teach people there about how to prevent the spread of Ebola. The Rev. Charlotte Bannister-Parker, an Anglican priest who heads the Children’s Radio Foundation, said, “We already have an army of young people who are active youth reporters, so what we’re doing now is putting together an Ebola Health Infor-mation Pack to send out to their 29 stations containing accurate, effective information about Ebola.”

�Florida priest cited for feeding the homeless. A Florida priest who was issued a criminal citation for feeding homeless residents in a local park is fighting back. The Rev. Canon Mark H. Sims, rector of St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in Coral Springs, said he is suing the city of Fort Lauderdale for the right to continue to feed the homeless on city streets. He says an Oct. 31 city ordinance that bans feeding of homeless in public places is unconstitutional and discriminatory. City officials have said they want feeding programs moved indoors, but Sims and others say there are simply not enough locations to accommodate growing numbers of homeless families and individuals.

�Anglicans, Oriental Orthodox agree on Christ’s incarna-tion. Senior theologians in the Anglican Communion and Oriental Orthodox Churches recently made history by signing an agreement on their mutual understanding of Christ’s incarnation. This was not just a minor point of theology; it was a subject that divided the church following the Council of Chalcedon in 451 A.D., leaving the Oriental Orthodox Churches separated from the Eastern Or-thodox Churches and the Church of Rome. The work to reconcile these branches of the Christian family on the question of how the two natures, human and divine, were united in one human being, Jesus Christ, began in earnest in the 1990s.

�Muslim Friday prayers to be offered at Washington Na-tional Cathedral. Washington National Cathedral and five Muslim groups have announced that the first celebration of Muslim Friday prayers (Jumaa) at the cathedral would be observed on Nov. 14. The prayers were offered in the north transept, an area of the ca-thedral with arches and limited iconography that provides a space with the appropriate orientation for Muslim prayers. Planners hope that people around the world will take note of the welcome extended by the cathedral so that Muslims everywhere will adopt a reciprocal welcome of Christians.

�South African Archbishop calls on youth for help with Communion eco-strategy. Anglican youth worldwide have been called on to help determine the Anglican Communion’s strategy to protect the environment. Archbishop of Cape Town Thabo Mak-goba, primate of the Anglican Church of Southern Africa and chair of the Anglican Communion Environment Network, has issued an invitation to young Anglicans and Episcopalians worldwide to use social media to let the eco-bishops know what they think should be in a Communionwide strategic plan to address global climate change.

�Former Bethlehem Bishop Mark Dyer dies at 84. The Rt. Rev. James Michael Mark Dyer, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem from 1982 to 1995, died Nov. 11 after battling multiple myeloma for several years. He was 84. He had been a longtime member of the faculty of Virginia Theological Seminary and was a widely respected leader in the worldwide Anglican Communion. v

Episcopal News Service

On Sept. 23, Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori announced through a news release from the Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs that she will not run for a second term as presiding bishop.

There are no terms limits on the service of a pre-siding bishop. Bishop Jefferts Schori, who turned 60 earlier this year, could have served an additional nine years, had she been nominated and elected.

A presiding bishop is subject to the church’s mandatory clergy retirement age of 72. According to Canon 1.2.2, if a presiding bishop will turn 72 before the end of the nine-year term, then he or she must resign at the General Convention nearest to that birthday.

Presiding bishops serve a nine-year term. The General Convention in 1994 reduced the term from 12 to nine years. The 25th Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold, Bishop Jefferts Schori’s predecessor, was the first to serve a nine-year term.

Bishop Jefferts Schori was elected in 2006 by the House of Bishops during a meeting of General Convention in Columbus, Ohio, and her election was confirmed by the House of Deputies on the same day. She was invested as the 26th presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church on Nov. 4, 2006.

The election of the next presiding bishop will take place during the 78th meeting of General Convention June 25-July 3, 2015, in Salt Lake City. The current draft of the convention schedule shows the election taking place on June 27.

The text of Bishop Jefferts Schori’s statement follows:

To all the people of God in The Episcopal Church:

It is a great joy and privilege to serve as your Presiding Bishop. I have been blessed to be able to meet and build relationships with people around the globe –— in every diocese in this Church, most of the provinces of the Anglican Com-munion, our full communion partners (ELCA, Moravian Church, Old Catholics of the Union of Utrecht), as well as civic leaders and leaders of other denominations and faith traditions.

That relational work is fundamental to the reconciliation we seek in Christ. As bridges are built, more and more people can begin to cross the divides between us, and God’s dream begins to take flesh in a more just and peaceful world.

Together, we have navigated a season of ex-traordinary change in recent years. Our Christian values have been challenged and we are becom-ing clearer and more confident about the faith we share.

Today we are far more cognizant of the diver-sity of this multinational and multicultural Church, and the great blessing of the diverse peoples and cultures we represent. Our life as a Church is enriched by the many gifts God has given us in people and contexts around the world.

Together we are striving to live out the Five Marks of Mission, we are exploring new and creative ways of engaging the societies around us with the good news of God in Christ, and we are increasingly willing to spend ourselves and the resources God has given us for the healing of the world.

We are more attuned to voices crying in the wilderness, those living at the margins of human communities, and those without a voice, including this fragile earth, our island home.

Together, we are moving into God’s future with courage, boldness and the humility of knowing there is always more to learn. For all that hope-filled movement, I give thanks in abundance.

Presiding Bishop announces she will not stand for reelection

PhOTO By MElODIE WOERMan

I have spent many months in discernment about how I am being called to serve God’s people and God’s creation in this season. I have resisted the assumption by some that presiding bishops can only be elected to serve one term, knowing the depth of relational work and learning that is involved in this ministry.

There is a trade off between the learning curve and the ability to lead more effectively as a result of developed relationships both within and beyond this Church. At the same time, I recognize that standing for election as Presiding Bishop carries the implicit expectation that one is ready to serve a full term.

I do not at present believe I should serve and lead in this ministry for another nine years.

I believe I can best serve this Church by open-ing the door for other bishops to more freely discern their own vocation to this ministry. I also believe that I can offer this Church stronger and clearer leadership in the coming year as we move toward that election and a whole-hearted engage-ment with necessary structural reforms.

I will continue to engage us in becoming a more fully diverse Church, spreading the gospel among all sorts and conditions of people, and wholeheartedly devoted to God’s vision of a healed and restored Creation.

I will continue in discernment about the min-istry I may be called to in the coming years, but my present focus is and will remain on being the vigorous and faithful leader I believe I am called to be.

God has called us all to be instruments of sha-lom, and we have miles to go before we live in that world of justice and peace.

We are marching upward to Zion, the beautiful city of God. Siyahamba!

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts SchoriPresiding Bishop and PrimateThe Episcopal Church v

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, shown here during a visit to the Diocese of Kansas in October 2013 to bless the Bishop Kemper School for Ministry, has announced that she will not run for reelection in 2015..


From Episcopal Relief & Development

Episcopalians, friends and partner agen-cies around the globe are joining together to celebrate Episcopal Relief & Develop-ment’s 75th Anniversary. The 75-week celebration, which will continue through the end of 2015, invites supporters to learn more about the organization’s programs and get involved in campaigns to raise $7.5 million to sustain its vital work.

In 1940, the National Council of The Episcopal Church established Episcopal Relief & Development — originally the Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief — to respond to the needs of European refugees fleeing World War II. Now, work-ing on behalf of the church with partners in nearly 40 countries, the organization continues its legacy of bringing together the generosity of Episcopalians and others to help communities overcome challenges and create lasting change.

Rob Radtke, the organization’s presi-dent, said, “At this milestone anniversary, Episcopal Relief & Development is cel-ebrating 75 years of healing a hurting world, together with our partners and supporters around the globe whose contributions of time, talent and treasure have made this work happen.”

He added, “Each year, more than three million people participate in innovative, locally led programs that boost harvests while protecting the environment, prevent diseases by mobilizing local volunteers, and empower people to build livelihoods through financial and skills training. It is a

joy to be part of the community of people whose efforts support this life-giving work.”

The 75th Anniversary Celebration is led by a volunteer Steering Committee and an Honorary Committee co-chaired by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori and her predecessors, the Rt. Rev. Frank T. Griswold and the Rt. Rev. Edmond L. Browning.

Kansas Director of Communications Melodie Woerman serves on the Steering Committee.

A chance to engage deeplyThe 75th Anniversary Celebration

provides many opportunities to engage more deeply with Episcopal Relief & De-velopment’s programs and get involved in promoting and sustaining the organization’s work. These opportunities are detailed in a special web section at www.episcopal-relief.org/75, which also includes a social media hub around the celebration hashtag #AllHands75, and an interactive historical timeline.

One of the cornerstones of the celebra-tion is a traveling photo exhibition, which features 33 iconic images of Episcopal Re-lief & Development’s work, along with in-depth explanations and personal reflections through an accompanying e-docent app. Having previewed at Executive Council in June, the exhibition officially launched at New York City’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine and continues its national tour with stops in Denver, San Francisco and Cincin-nati. Other venues are being confirmed.

Similarly, the organization’s 75 Stories

Project provides a window into the pro-grams, events and personalities that have shaped the last 75 years and are changing lives today.

Individuals and groups are encouraged to offer reflections and stories through the “Share Your Story” page, and inspire and energize others to join the celebration.

The Rt. Rev. Robert J. O’Neill, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado, said, “As the Chair of Episcopal Relief & Development’s Board of Directors, I am honored to have personally witnessed a deepening in both the organization’s impact, through the strategic integration of programs that address poverty, hunger and disease, and its ability to engage and energize supporters across the Church and the wider community.”

He added, “I invite everyone to join in the celebration of what we have accom-plished together over the last 75 years.”

Congregations can participateEpiscopal Relief & Development has

created a variety of resources to help indi-viduals, congregations, dioceses, schools and groups to join the 75th Anniversary Celebration.

Worship and prayer resources build awareness and solidarity with the organiza-tion’s partners worldwide, and faith forma-tion materials can spark multi-generational conversation about global needs and what each person can do to help.

Additionally, five campaign toolkits provide easy-to-use informational leaflets, images, videos and creative ideas to rally communities around a specific issue, or

support the organization’s overall mission: � 75th Anniversary Campaign: Lasting

solutions to poverty, hunger and disease � Carry the Water Campaign: Clean

water, hygiene and sanitation � Fast to Feed Campaign: Sustainable

agriculture and livestock � Thrive to Five Campaign: Maternal

and child health � Pennies to Prosperity Campaign:

Vocational training and micro-financeThe overall goal of the campaigns is

to raise $7.5 million by the end of 2015. Downloadable toolkits are available on the organization’s website to help individuals and groups to invite their communities to make a 75th Anniversary contribution and join the celebration.

“Episcopal Relief & Development is one of the foremost outward expressions of faith for Episcopalians, and one of the best examples of what we can accomplish when we join with our brothers and sisters in the U.S. and internationally to strengthen communities and create a thriving future,” said Dr. Catherine George, Chair of the 75th Anniversary Celebration Steering Committee and former Episcopal Relief & Development Board member from the Diocese of New Jersey.

“I think this is great cause for celebra-tion, and I am excited to be leading the efforts to honor Episcopal Relief & Devel-opment’s 75th Anniversary.”

For more information about Episcopal Relief & Development and the 75th An-niversary Celebration, visit www.episco-palrelief.org/75 or call (855) 312-HEAL (4325). v

SSJE monks to offer an Instagram Advent calendarAnglican Communion News Service

Members of Anglican Communion churches worldwide are invited to celebrate Advent through prayer, meditation and by contributing to a global Advent calendar on Instagram.

Advent (from Nov. 30 to Dec. 24) is the season when Christians observe a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the birth of Jesus at Christmas.

The Anglican Communion Office and the Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE) are teaming up to offer Anglicans and Episcopalians around the world a daily word, meditation and beautiful image sent to their email inboxes.

Participants are invited to take a photo with their phone or tablet to share their interpretation of the word for that day — these include #Abide, #Thrive, #Become, #Imagine — and post the picture to Ins-tagram adding the day’s hashtag plus #Adventword.

SSJE’s Brother Jim Woodrum said, “We are hoping that people will join us in praying with their phone this Advent. After reading the meditation, we’d love for people to snap a picture that reflects the theme or their response to it and post it to Instagram.”

“People need help with their daily spiritual prac-tice,” said Brother Geoffrey Tristram, the Society’s Superior. “During Advent, we anticipate the coming of Christ, an event that awakens our deepest desires and longings. This Advent, we are inviting you to join us in looking clearly and honestly at our lives and taking action.”

Jan Butter, Director for Communications at the Anglican Communion Office, said, “It’s all too easy for Christians to be consumers in today’s world, especially during the Advent season. Here we have a chance to not only receive during Advent, but also take part in a global action; to give back to other Anglicans and Episcopalians worldwide by sharing our photos with each other.

Episcopal Relief & Development marks 75 years of helping

“This is also a chance for people who might never have connected with an Anglican religious community before to benefit from the deep thought, meditation and prayer that emanates from such com-munities all around the world.”

To be part of this global Advent initiative, sign up at http://www.aco.org/adventword.cfm. It starts on Nov. 30. v

The monks of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist are inviting anglicans worldwide to share advent photos via Instagram, reflecting images of words for meditations they email to subscribers every day.

SSJE PhOTO

Archbishop invites young Christians to spend a year praying at LambethLambeth Palace

In a unique experiment, Arch-bishop of Canterbury Justin Welby will open up Lambeth Palace in London to Christians aged 20-35, inviting them to spend a year living, studying and praying at a historic center of the Anglican Communion.

Launching in September 2015, the Community of St. Anselm will gather a group of adventurous young adults from all walks of life, hungry for a challenging and formative experience of life in a praying community.

The Community will initially consist of 16 people living at Lambeth Palace full-time, and up to 40 people, who live and work in London, joining part-time. The yearlong program will include prayer, study, practical service and community life.

Members of the Community will live in a way the ancient monastics would recognize: drawing closer to God through a daily rhythm of silence, study and prayer.

But through those disciplines, they will also be immersed in the modern challenges of the global 21st century church.

The Rev. Anders Litzell, an Anglican priest from Sweden, will serve as Prior. He will work

under the auspices of the Arch-bishop, who will be Abbot of the Community.

Litzell grew up in the Swed-ish Pentecostal Church, and during undergraduate studies at Wheaton College in Illinois, he discovered “high church” An-glicanism through St. Barnabas Episcopal Church, Glen Ellyn, where his journey to ordination began.

He will take up the role of Prior on Jan. 5, 2014.

The Chaplain to the Arch-bishop of Canterbury, the Rev. Jo Wells, said, “Archbishop Justin is passionate about prayer and about community. The renewal of prayer and religious life is the first of his three priorities, and that is what the Community of St. Anselm is all about.

“We are inviting people from all around the Anglican Com-munion — and beyond — to live a year in God’s time. There are no qualifications for joining the Community except a long-ing to pray, to learn, to study together the things of God, and so to be stretched in body, mind and spirit.

“Archbishop Justin longs that Lambeth Palace be not so much a historic place of power and authority, but a place from which blessing and service reach to the ends of the earth.” v

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The mission of the Episcopal Diocese of Kansas is to gather, equip and send disciples of Jesus Christ

to witness to God’s reconciling love.

December 20147 Bishop Wolfe at St.

John’s, Wichita13 Classes at Bishop Kem-

per School for Ministry, upton hall and Grace Cathedral, Topeka (through Dec. 14)

21 Bishop Wolfe at St. Pe-ter’s, Pittsburg

24 Bishop Wolfe at Grace Cathedral, Topeka

Diocesan office closed for Christmas Eve

25 Diocesan office closed for Christmas Day

31 Diocesan office closed for new year’s Eve

for more news and information, as well as calendar listings, visit the diocesan website:

www.episcopal-ks.org

follow the diocese on facebook:

EpiscopalDioceseofKansasand Twitter:

EpiscoKS

Want to make a secure online donation? visit the website and click

“Donate now.”

1 Diocesan office closed for new year’s Day

10 Ordinations, Grace Ca-thedral, Topeka

Classes at Bishop Kem-per School for Ministry, upton hall and Grace Cathedral, Topeka (through Jan. 11)

11 Bishop Wolfe at Grace, Ottawa

17 Miqra (youth Bible-based weekend), Grace Ca-thedral and St. David’s, Topeka (through Jan. 19)

18 Bishop Wolfe at Church of the Covenant, Junction City

20 Council of Trustees meet-ing, upton hall

25 Bishop Wolfe at St. Mary’s, Galena

Editor’s note: Deacon Peggy Flynn, St. James’, Wichita, spent five days in September hosted by St. John’s Episcopal Church volunteering at a refugee processing center in McAllen, Texas. Here are some of her reflections on the experience.

By Deacon Peggy Flynn

The processing center is a wonder of organiza-tion: stacks of every size of pants, shirts, boys, girls, babies, women’s, men’s. Then there are the bins with so many shoes — oh they need shoes so desperately. The ones they come in with are torn to shreds, as are their feet, from so much walking.

Some cannot put on real shoes again and so we give them flip flops until their feet heal. Hygiene items, diapers, Pedialyte for the little ones with diarrhea. Blankets for the chilly bus ride. Jackets if they are going very far north.

There are two reception periods. The border patrol buses bring the families twice a day, once in the morning and a second group in the late afternoon — mostly mothers with children, though occasionally there is a father with a child.

When they walk in, all the “sponsors” (the vol-unteers who will escort them throughout their stay at the center) are waiting and clap and say “Bien-venidos!” and wave at the young children, and hug the mothers when they seem to want a hug. And the volunteers continue clapping until everyone last person walks in the door.

At first they look nervous, and the children hide behind the mothers, and then they realize that they are being welcomed — and the greetings are genu-ine — and the first small, shy smiles come out.

We give them water as they sit in chairs, while the experienced volunteers and fluent Spanish speakers quickly process their documents, clearly marking the time their next buses leave so we know how much time we have to prepare them before they leave the center.

Then we hear, “Sponsor!” and one of us steps forward to receive “our” family. We will never leave them alone. We will accompany them throughout their time in the center, so they never feel abandoned, lost.

We introduce ourselves and learn their names and take them for their first meal in the U.S. My family today left Guatemala last Wednesday. I do not know when they had their last meal.

We take them to the bathroom so that they may wash their hands before eating.

Their meal is soup and bananas and water. They cannot have anything else, because their bodies are not accustomed and will become ill.

While they are eating and resting, we take their sizes and begin the process of gathering a clean set of clothes. You should see their smiles when they see the brand new shoes that they get. And pretty blouses, and shirts with cartoon characters for the boys. Clean. Untorn. And belts. They are so small around the waist, we have trouble finding pants that fit.

After many false tries, we finally have things that work and it is time to take them to the show-ers. We show them the face moisturizer for their sunburned and wind burned faces, and lip balm for their parched lips.

When they come out, clean, wearing clean clothes, they are smiling and we gently take their other clothes and put them in the “basura.”

Not much time remains. They have the chance to make one free phone call to family. The children can go to the play center where the Save the Children volunteers are waiting for them to play and color and give them an activity packet for the bus trip. Only specially vetted volunteers can go in there. Too many horrible things have already hap-pened in their young lives.

Then Eli is announcing the bus arrival and everyone scrambles, gathering their back packs with a second set of clothes, hygiene items. They receive a bag of snacks for the bus trip to Con-necticut, Wyoming, Nebraska or wherever their sponsor family is waiting for them.

And then we hug them goodbye and send them with God.

And that’s when the tears start. They cry. We cry. Because somehow in that brief one or two or three hour period, something happened. They changed us. We, perhaps, changed this strange new world, just a little bit, for them. They are no longer “the alien.” We are no longer “stranger.”

Is it ridiculous to say that love begins that quickly? How is such a thing possible? It is pos-sible because love is more than a feeling. Love is action. Love is doing.

Love lives and breathes through our hands and eyes, our smiles and words. And once we have loved another by doing for, or trusted someone enough to allow them to do for us, the door to love is opened and no one but ourselves can prevent us from entering that place. And it is a very wonder-ful place, indeed. v

Deacon describes her time at the southern border

Harvest September-October 2014

Documents

Transcript of Harvest September-October 2014