Episcopal Diocese of Spokane » marybethj

Review: Honoring Motherhood: Prayers, Ceremonies & Blessings

marybethj — Fri, 11 Apr 2008 03:43:03 +0000

When God commanded us to honor our mothers and fathers, he (some might say “she”) probably didn’t envision our contemporary observances of Mother’s Day and Father’s Day. Yet the months of May and June bring us special opportunities to reflect on our mothers and fathers, on those who have been like mothers and fathers to us, on our own mother- and father-like relationships with the children in our lives.

We know only too well that not all parent-child relationships are loving, gentle, or supportive, and that mothers and fathers cannot protect their children from pain and death. Our daily news, our sacred scriptures and our own experiences remind us of this on a regular basis.

Lynn Caruso has crafted a strong and lovely book in which we see motherhood – and by extension fatherhood – portrayed in all its beauty and promise, as well as its uncertainty and loss. Birth mothers, adoptive mothers, step mothers, foster mothers, god mothers, non-mothers all have an honored place here. A sense of humility, realism, and love permeates these writings – writings old and new, by men and by women, by the famous and not so famous, writings born from great joy as well as great sorrow.

The book is divided into seven sections, beginning with “Tilling the Soil: Honoring Our Maternal Ancestors” and concluding with “Sowing the Seeds: The Power of a Mother’s Love.” In between we move through the seasons of the year, including “Summer: A Season of Growth and Transformation” – where we find Gloria Waggoner’s poem for her grown sons – and “Winter: A Season of Loss.” It is a journey worth taking, and Caruso introduces us to excellent companions.

Gloria Waggoner has copies of the book for sale in Rosa Gallica; contact Gloria at 509-954-4328 or gloriaw@spokanediocese.org.

Lenten Quiet Days (Richland and Spokane)

marybethj — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 23:01:41 +0000

On Saturday, February 16, the associates of the Community of the Holy Spirit offer two Lenten quiet times to all who are interested. At All Saints’, Richland, the Rev. Dutch Carlisle will lead a quiet morning from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. Her topic for meditation is “Our Spiritual Journey.”

The same day at St. Andrew’s, Spokane, the Rev. Cn. Kristi Philip will lead a quiet day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. entitled “Renew a Right Spirit Within Me.” The day will close with Eucharist. Bring a bag lunch.

Please note the different start times in the different locations. Questions: Carolyn Terry 509-448-3037; cfkterry@earthlink.net

New Anti-Racism Resources in Diocesan Library

marybethj — Wed, 19 Dec 2007 23:08:22 +0000

Some thought-provoking new titles have been added to our diocesan anti-racism resources. They help us identify the subtle and not-so-subtle elements of white privilege and power in our own backgrounds and communities.

Episcopalians and Race, by Gardiner H. Shattuck, Jr.
A sobering historical review (1864-1970) of the Church’s efforts to address discrimination and racism

Understanding and Dismantling Racism, by Joseph Barndt
How systemic racism undermines our intentions of good will, and what we can do about it

A House of Prayer for All Peoples, by Sheryl Kujawa-Holbrook
The stories of some local congregations that are building multi-racial unity

Race: The Power of an Illusion (from a PBS series, DVD)
What Makes Me White? (DVD on the creation of “white” identity)
Free Indeed (DVD on the role of whites in supporting or opposing racism)

These will be available to congregations or individuals whenever they are not needed by the training teams. For more information, contact Darcy James, djames@camasnet.com or 208-983-9334

Diocese to Launch Young Adult Internship Program

marybethj — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 21:16:33 +0000

Imagine a program that brings the best and the brightest young Episcopal leaders to the Diocese of Spokane and puts them to work in our congregations and their surrounding communities. The program would focus on developing their leadership and organizational skills through on-the-ground work in different ministry areas. Community living, spiritual direction, outreach and leadership development would be vital components of this program and these participants would leave this program prepared and ready to serve as leaders in their local congregation, diocese and community.

That is the premise of WaterMark—a homegrown program that has been developed by Episcopalians for Episcopalians and is designed from the ground up to be a unique and exciting program of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane. This program is one of only a few such programs across the country and is only the second such program on the west coast.

Based on our being marked by the waters of baptism, the focus of WaterMark is to give the next generation of Christian leaders an opportunity both to shape and be shaped by direct ministry at both the local and diocesan levels. Particular attention will be given to the work of identifying local needs and mobilizing congregational and diocesan resources in order to construct a compelling witness to the Gospel. In addition, the interns are given the chance to travel throughout the Diocese to experience for themselves the breadth and diversity of ministry in our region.

This program will launch with its first interns Fall 2008. We have been included in the 2008 diocesan budget and are receiving ongoing support for this program from the Episcopal Church Center in New York.

Stay tuned to the diocesan website (www.spokanediocese.org) for future information about WaterMark!

WaterMark Mission Statement
We are a Christian leadership development program of the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane, equipping young adults to articulate their faith as expressed in the baptismal covenant and empowering their ministry to transform the church and the world.