Ever wanted to learn the Lord's Prayer in Spanish?

Padre nuestro que estás en el cielo,
santificado sea tu Nombre,
venga tu reino, hágase tu voluntad,
en la tierra como en el cielo.

Danos hoy nuestro pan de cada día.
Perdona nuestras ofensas,
como también nosotros perdonamos
a los que nos ofenden.

No nos dejes caer in tentación
y líbranos del mal.

Porque tuyo es el reino,
tuyo es el poder,
y tuya es la gloria,
ahora y por siempre.

Amén.

ESTADO DE LA IGLESIA

Last week, I had the opportunity to travel to Santo Domingo, along with Province IV Mission Chairman Jackie Robe, to attend the annual board meeting of the Dominican Development Group. A number of dioceses participate in this joint effort to support the work of the Episcopal Church in the DR, including Southwest Florida, Western Louisiana, Georgia, and South Carolina. In conjunction with this trip, it was my great pleasure to attend the opening of the 46th Annual Convention in the Diocese of the Dominican Republic.

In his remarks, the Rt. Rev. Julio C. Holguin had the following to say about the state of the Church in the DR: “Firstly in the past year, the Church has been actively engaged in mission. The congregations, in general, continued with programs, in both evangelism and Christian education, and also in the work of social action, through the educational institutions, micro-enterprise programs for women, children's shelters, and health programs, among others. The Evangelism Committee, for example, held five workshops in four Archdeaneries, and also the Christian Education Committee initiated a workshop for Sunday School teachers with 80 participants, and furthermore, 90% of the congregations participated in Summer Bible School.”

He went on to report that his activities in 2003 included pastoral visits to 36 congregations in the diocese, and the confirmation and reception of 173 persons. Two new seminary graduates were ordained to the transitional diaconate in September, and there were a number of shifts in clergy assignments. In the Dominican Republic, all congregations are considered missions and most of the clergy serve two or three at a time. Church planting continues and they hope in the future to acquire land for the construction of churches in at least six other areas of the country.

He spoke briefly about the recent preoccupation in the Anglican Communion with the consecration as bishop of Gene Robinson, which was approved by the last General Convention.

“As it is generally known, the vote of the Dominican Delegation was not in favor of the consecration. But ECUSA is practically divided, and it is our hope that the Holy Spirit will give wisdom to the church, that we may go forward in our mission, upholding the doctrine and discipline, the teachings which have their foundation in the Holy Scriptures. And so, in the Dominican Republic, we must continue in the work of the Lord, with a spirit of submission and fidelity, guarding and keeping His word, for it is to that which we have been called, clergy and lay persons, and that is what the Lord wants and hopes for us.”

Bishop Holguin then referred to the recent economic crisis in the country, speaking of the rising costs of food, fuel and electricity and the continued devaluation of the currency. Regarding the very difficult economic situation that they have been facing in the Dominican Republic, he goes on to say, "As we know, the Church has also been affected by the economic crisis, as a result of the devaluation of the peso and inflation. But this does not discourage us from moving ahead, steadfastly, doing the work of God. We know the Lord is with us, and as the theme of this 46th Convention says, "God Takes Care of His Children." He will not abandon us. He will provide for the Dominican Republic and for His Church.”

In closing he said, “Therefore, let us hold fast to faith and hope. Let us go forward, standing firm, because God takes care of His children as “God is our refuge and our strength.”

The opening afternoon session and the Eucharist that followed were inspiring, and a reminder of Jesus' parting words to His disciples -- "Go and make disciples of men, baptizing in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, . . . and lo, I am with you always."

Stepping Out in Faith

"I believe Christ is always calling us to move beyond the comfortable, beyond well-established borders, to be forever setting the parameters of faith into the unknown and untested areas of our lives. Often it is in the poverty of our gifts and talents, sensing at times we have nothing to offer, that we discover by God's grace that our very lives are sacred instruments of transformation."

"Faith is that point of departure that claims our will, to do and be that which seems impossible. It is not the abundance of talent that is at stake, rather the faith to allow God to shape our lives and by that holy movement, to give that which God has given us."

-- The Rev. Rick Lindsey, rector, All Saints' Church, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina
and formerly rector of St. Alfred's Church, Palm Harbor, Florida

Ever wondered about the Compass Rose?

The Compass Rose is the emblem of the Anglican Communion.

Originally designed by the late Canon Edward West of the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York, this emblem is set in the nave of the Cathedral Church of Christ in Canterbury, England. At the center of the circular emblem is the red cross of St. George on a silver shield, a reminder of the origins of the Anglican Communion and a unifying link of the past within the communion today. Encircling the cross is a band bearing the inscription "The Truth shall make you free" in the original New Testament Greek, the language studied by all scholars within the communion. From the band radiate the points of the compass, the major divisions colored in gold and blue and the minor divisions in green and gold. The compass symbolizes the worldwide spread of the Anglican faith. Surmounting the shield, at the North, is a mitre, the symbol of the Apostolic Order (the role of the Episcopate) which is essential to all the churches which constitute the Anglican Communion.

To learn more about this symbol, and the Compass Rose Society, check out Compass Rose

Worship

“The world can be saved by one thing, and that is worship. For to worship is to quicken the conscience by the holiness of God, to feed the mind with the truth of God, to purge the imagination by the beauty of God, to open the heart to the love of God, to devote the will to the purpose of God.”

--- William Temple

Drawing Near to God

Looking for a speaker for your next meeting?

Joanne Ellison is the founder and author of the "Drawing Near to God" bible studies which she began in the spring of 2000. A passionate and energetic speaker, Joanne has been teaching in church and community settings for many years. A native of Charleston, South Carolina, she was raised in the Greek Orthodox Church, and has been a member of the Episcopal Church since her marriage to Blount Ellison many years ago. They are the parents of three children and three grandchildren, and are active members of St. Andrew's Church in Mount Pleasant.

The goal of her community bible studies is to bring those who don't know Christ to Him; to draw those who do know Christ into a deeper relationship with Him; and to equip all for ministry to others by the power of the Holy Spirit. Joanne's teachings are currently being audio and videotaped to facilitate the spread of "Drawing Near to God" into churches throughout Charleston and beyond. Joanne Ellison may be contacted by calling 843-884-9595 or writing to her at 409 Church Street, Mount Pleasant, SC 29464.

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." James 4:8

No Fishing Allowed!

“When I bring my sins to the Lord Jesus, He casts them into the depths of the sea – forgiven and forgotten. He also puts up a sign, “No Fishing Allowed!”

--- Corrie Ten Boom

Sounding the Trumpet

"Thus says the Lord: 'Stand in the ways and see, and ask for the old paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; then you will find rest for your souls. But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' Also, I set watchmen over you, saying, 'Listen to the sound of the trumpet!' But they said, 'We will not listen.' Therefore hear, you nations, and know, O congregation, what is among them. Hear, O earth! Behold, I will certainly bring calamity on this people -- the fruit of their thoughts, because they have not heeded my words now my law, but rejected it." (Jeremiah 6:16-19)

In this passage, Jeremiah defines the leader as a watchman. John Maxwell tells us that watchmen were appointed by God to sound the trumpet in times of danger and to serve as His voice. "A watchman provides an outstanding metaphor for a leader. Watchmen guard and guide those they supervise. They guard against anything that would endanger the vision. They guide those they oversee, encouraging them to continue on the path toward that vision. They watch out for danger and maintain quality control. They cry out warnings to those who drift from the vision. They commit themselves to finishing the task they began. Watchmen must possess strong moral fiber and must remain committed to a strong sense of right and wrong."

Maxwell goes on to say that, "Jeremiah served well as a watchmen, but he never convinced the masses to get on board with what was right. In your own leadership, where do you draw the line between doing what is right and doing what will retain followers?"

from The Maxwell Leadership Bible (Nelson, 2002)

He Is

"The one who existed from the beginning is the one we have heard and seen. We saw Him with our own eyes and touched Him with our own hands. He is Jesus Christ, the Word of life."
1 John 1:1

Expanding the Circle of Thankful People

From the website of the North Carolina ECW:

"The United Thank Offering is a gift of love to us and from us. The grant money comes to us through grateful prayer and giving by Episcopalians throughout the Caribbean, Central America, Mexico, the Philippines, South America, Taiwan and the United States. Our efforts make the money come alive in our own place in our own way. This is OUR gift of love.

"The Episcopal Church Women are excited that La Casa de San Marcos/Saint Mark's House in Wilson has been awarded a United Thank Offering grant of $30,000! These funds, along with other monies, will be used to build an interracial and multicultural community center adjacent to St. Mark's Church. This parish center will reach out to residents (including more than 500 children) in a 12-block Black and Hispanic neighborhood.

"The ministry of La Iglesia de La Guadalupana began at St. Timothy's, Wilson, in 1995. In 2000, St. Mark's took a bold step by inviting La Guadalupana to share their facilities. St. Mark's was organized more than 100 years ago, and has a respected place in the life of the Wilson Community. The first school for black children in Wilson County was established at St. Mark's and operated for more than 40 years. La Iglesia de La Guadalupana is now a thriving Spanish-language Episcopal mission experiencing rapid growth. The numbers are more than 450 persons, most of whom are young. To date, there have been 253 baptisms and more than 100 confirmations. St. Mark's is small, growing slowly, and elderly. Both congregations are committed to working together to keep a growing worshipping community focused beyond itself to seeking and serving Christ in their midst and in their neighborhoods.

"With the receipt of this generous UTO grant, we are reminded of the power of prayers, giving thanks, and making our offerings. This mission has been a part of the Episcopal Church for more than 100 years. The United Thank Offering Committee has prayerfully written a new mission statement: "To expand the circle of thankful people. To achieve this mission, we encourage daily prayers, offering, and an awareness of the abundance of God's blessings." Let us remember what a tremendous blessing it is for the United Thank Offering Committee to have awarded the Diocese of North Carolina two grants within the past three years. Two years ago, Christ the King, Charlotte, received a grant to provide educational and playground equipment to serve the vast numbers of children and youth in the intercity area."

New Website for North Carolina ECW

Lisa Towle, President of the ECW in the Diocese of North Carolina, writes: "Did you have a chance to visit our new website: www.ecw-nc.org?" She goes on to say that their theme for the year is 'Go Tell it on the Mountain' and they've set as one of the major priorities this year better communication, both internal and external.

Bravo, Lisa! Jesus tells us to 'Go and make disciples' and effective communication is critical to fulfilling the Great Commission. To check out their amazing website, click on North Carolina ECW

Guide, Guard, and Gauge

"Leaders who last do not merely react to their culture; they base their leadership on timeless and universal principles. They remain relevant because they marry cultural context to timeless truth." John Maxwell considers Proverbs 4:20-27 and encourages leaders to become principle-centered. We can use scripture, God's timeless truth, as a guide, a guard, and a gauge.

"God's principles give us three crucial tools:

They are a guide; they help us stay on the right path.
They are a guard; they keep our hearts and bodies protected.
They are a gauge; they enable us to evaluate where we are"

Do we use the Word of the Lord as a guide in how we approach women's ministry? Do we rely on scripture to guard our vision for the organization? Is God's Word a gauge of our effectiveness in extending His kingdom?

Even in the Quietest Moments

“After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.”
Matthew 14:23

“Do you ever wish you could just snap your fingers and be whisked away from the rattle and thunder of a busy day? Have you ever wondered what a moment in life would sound like apart from the chatter, the clatter, and the commotion of friends, family coworkers, and neighbors? Silence is a precious commodity in a noise-marinated world.

It seems that everyone longs for silence and time alone, for peace and quiet. But silence isn’t always so easy to find. At times, it may seem impossible. Even in the cacophony, however, you can find solitude. Solitude is taking time away from the push and pull of the day – it’s a deliberate time dedicated to your needs.

Even Jesus needed solitude. According to Matthew, immediately after Jesus had fed five thousand people, He sent His disciples across the lake and headed up a mountainside. Alone. Away from the murmur of the crowd. Away even from the familiar voices of his closest friends.

When you’re alone with God, listen. Allow the silence to be God’s time for speaking to you. Perhaps the quiet itself will be God’s message to you. Maybe God will nudge you toward change. Or perhaps you will simply be comforted to know God loves you. Expect to meet God when you are alone, and He will be there.”

From Checklist for Life (Nelson Publishers, 2003)

In this world and the next

“Here in this world He bids us come, there in the next He shall bid us welcome.”

--- John Donne

Ponder Anew What the Almighty Can Do

This is the theme of the Episcopal Church Women in the Diocese of Alabama this year, and it's taken from Hymn 390 in the 1982 Hymnal.

"Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy way and defend thee;
surely his goodness and mercy shall ever attend thee;
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do, who with his love doth befriend thee.

Praise to the Lord! O let all that is in me adore him!
All that hath life and breath come now with praises before him!
Let the amen sound from his people again; gladly forever adore him."

What has inspired your ECW theme for this year?

Take a look at Southeast Florida's "Family Tree"

Check out the new website for the ECW in Southeast Florida at www.diosef.org/ecw/ or just click on ECW

North Carolina ECW

Read the 2004 Diocesan Convention News for North Carolina at The Communicant

Outgoing president Sylvia Nash's report includes:

"The year 2003 was the 121st year of existence for the Episcopal Church Women of the Diocese of North Carolina, and there are currently 67 active and pledging chapters in the Diocese. Membership in the ECW, however, is automatic for all women in the Episcopal Church. The 2003 Annual meeting was held in the beautiful new sanctuary of St. Timothy’s,
Winston- Salem. Approximately 130 women gathered to hear Mary MacGregor speak on “Hungry Hearts and Hectic Lifestyles”; certainly an appropriate topic for the times. Officers elected for the next three years were: Lisa Towle, President; Velma Bradshaw, Vice-President; Jean Kutrow, Treasurer–elect; and Polly Redd, Secretary of Christian Education.

Grants and gifts made during the year 2003 included:

•Lex Mathews Scholarships in the amount of $14,000.00 divided between 11 women.

•The Outside the Diocese Grant of $3,450.00 awarded to the Towel Ministry of the Church of the Holy Cross, Valle Crucis, NC.

•The Annual Meeting Eucharistic Offering of $425.74 to the Bishop’s Relief and Development Fund, earmarked for victims of hurricane Isabel in the Diocese of East Carolina.

•The Christmas Missionary Offering of $3,620.00 which will be divided between our seven missionaries, and the Epiphany Offering of $2,092.00 which will be sent to Allen and Rachel Hill.

•Church Periodical Club Seminarian Book Grants totaling $4,500.00 as well as individual CPC grants of $1,500.00 to the National Book Fund and $180.00 to the Yadkin Valley Cluster. In 2003, La Casa de San Marcos/St. Mark’s House in Wilson received a grant of $30, 000.00 toward the building of an interracial and multicultural center adjacent to St. Mark’s Church. The UTO collection to date in 2003 in the Diocese of North Carolina is $43,702.59."

Faith

"The genuine realist, if he is an unbeliever, will always find strength and ability to disbelieve in the niraculous, and if he is confronted with a miracle as an irrefutable fact he would rather disbelieve his own senses than admit the fact. Faith does not . . . spring from the miracle, but the miracle from faith."

Fyodor Dostoevsky

Doins' in the Diocese of Atlanta

CATHEDRAL ANTIQUES SHOW -- The ECW of the Cathedral of St. Philip presents the 33rd annual Cathedral Antiques Show & Tour of Homes Feb. 1-5, benefiting FOCUS, an organization of support for children with life-threatening disabilities and their families.

Tour of Homes: Feb. 1-2, $25. Antiques show preview party 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2, $75. Antiques show Feb. 3-5 (10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday, 10:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, $10.

Featured speaker Bunny Williams, author of On Garden Style, Feb. 3 at 1 p.m., $20. Collectors’ night 6:30 p.m. Feb. 4. Verbal appraisals Feb. 3-5, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Luncheon available Feb. 3-5. Free afternoon tea 4 p.m. Feb. 3-4. Daily door prizes. Show features 29 dealers from England and U.S. See www.stphilipscathedral.org or call 404/365-1107.

HOLY TRINITY ENGLISH AFTERNOON TEA -- The Episcopal Church Women at Holy Trinity Parish, Decatur, will sponsor an English Afternoon Tea in the parish hall on Saturday, Feb. 8.

Proceeds benefit Hagar's House, the emergency night shelter for women with children in Decatur, and Holy Trinity’s outreach projects. Two seatings: 2 and 3:30 p.m. Tickets $15. Come enjoy a cup of tea with scones, assorted sandwiches, sweets and special music. For information and reservations call 404/377-2622.