Paulsen House Holiday Schedule
The diocesan office at Paulsen House will close for the Christmas holidays at noon on Dec. 23. Staff will be in and out during the days between Christmas and New Years, but regular office hours will not be observed. Regular office hours will resume Jan. 4. The diocesan directory has staff phone numbers for emergency contacts.
No Digest During Christmas Week
For most of the 12 Days of Christmas, there will be no Diocesan Digest. The Digest will not be published on Dec. 29 and will resume on Jan. 5.
Continuing Education Report For Priests
Priests are asked to complete their 2009 continuing education reports for the Commission on Ministry before Feb. 1. Click Report Form to access the document. (This link will take you to the diocesan website and the Commission on Ministry section.) If you are unable to access the form here, contact Kristi Philip at kristip@spokanediocese.org or 509.624.3191. There will be another reminder about this after Jan. 1.
Camp Cross, Youth Ministries Visits
Representatives of Camp Cross and Diocesan Youth Ministries are planning winter and spring visits to congregations now. They are scheduled to visit Trinity Church, Oroville and St. Anne’s, Omak on Dec. 20; St. Mark’s, Moscow on Feb. 14; Grace Church, Dayton on March 28; All Saints, Richland on April 11; Church of the Nativity, Lewiston on May 2. More trips are being scheduled. Contact Colin Haffner, colinh@spokanediocese.org or Michelle Klippert michellek@spokanediocese.org for more information or to find out when a visit is scheduled in your area.
Reflection from Bishop Waggoner
This weekend was a profound reminder of why it is such a privilege to get to do what I do. Beginning on Saturday morning with the Shalom breakfast hosted by St. John’s Cathedral and ending with a high spirited celebration of the partnership of Brian Prior and the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection on Sunday evening – with a joyful and uplifting visit to Holy Spirit, Sandpoint/Dover that morning, I was able to participate in church life at its best with people who themselves are the treasures God gives us to watch with as we anticipate this season the coming of Jesus again and again into our midst.
The Shalom ministry began with a candlelight breakfast during which we sat in good company, heard about St. Lucy being a “light bearer” and were reminded how vital the Shalom ministry is to meeting the needs of those in the Spokane community who have suffered misfortunes and need a helping hand.
Holy Spirit in Dover/Sandpoint was a setting for enriching worship – with snow on cedars showing through the beautifully designed windows directly behind the altar in the newly transformed building. There was a bountiful dinner followed by an animated auction of active bidding and good-spirited competition where a renowned cheesecake made by one of the congregation’s own, brought in $70. What a gift it is to be part of an alive group of faithful friends having fun in a real community. In classic prayer book language it was an ineffable experience and joy.
It was a perfect prelude to my visit that evening to the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Spokane Valley where an overflow crowd roasted the Rector in a festive celebration that focused on abundantly fruitful partnership of priest and congregation for more than ten years. It was an occasion to acknowledge the holy gift that Brian, Staci, Brooks, and Gage Prior have been to the congregation and vice versa. No doubt, the Diocese of Minnesota will be as blessed by Brian’s episcopal ministry as this diocese has been by his extraordinary abilities and leadership.
It continues to be a holy privilege to share in these events.
+Jim
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer 2009
The Diocesan Cycle of Prayer is now available on the diocesan website: www.spokanediocese.org. Click on the “Ministries” tab at the top of the page and use the pull- down menu to locate the prayer cycle or visit http://www.spokanediocese.org/ministries/prayer-cycles
For prayer cycle information, contact: The Rev. Lynn Yule, dlyule612@charter.net , 509-582-8635(O)
+++++
Diocesan Calendar as of December 15, 2009
Dec 18 Celtic Solstice Celebration (St. David’s, Spokane) www.stdavidspokane.org
Dec 19 Advent Quiet Morning (St. Andrew’s, Spokane)
Dec 20 Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols (St. John’s Cathedral)Lessons and Carols
Dec 31 Celtic Rite for the New Year (St. John’s Cathedral)
Jan 15-17 Teens Encounter Christ (St. John’s Cathedral)
Feb 1-4 Clergy Retreat (Immaculate Heart, Spokane)
Feb 12-13 Commission on Ministry (Paulsen House)
Mar 12-13 Commission on Ministry (Paulsen House)
Apr 19-21 Clergy Conference (Immaculate Heart, Spokane)
Apr 23-24 Commission on Ministry (Paulsen House)
May 13-16 Cursillo Weekend, St. Paul’s, Walla Walla www.inlandnwcursillo.org
Jun 18-19 Commission on Ministry (Paulsen House)
June 21-26 Ride the Palouse Bike Tour
To submit Digest items, e-mail kristip@spokanediocese.org Deadline is Monday noon.To unsubscribe, reply to this message with “unsubscribe” in the subject line .To subscribe visit subscriptions