epiScope

Unexpected places

Local doctor 'called' to help in Africa
BY GLORIA LaBOUNTY
SUN CHRONICLE
April 5, 2008

NORTH ATTLEBORO - A request from his pastor two years ago ended up leading Dr. Robert Lambe to unexpected places.

First, he embarked on a mission trip to El Salvador, then joined a group that traveled to Tanzania in late December, a journey that brought new commitment to his life.

Now he has involved his parish, Grace Episcopal Church in North Attleboro, in a project to help the people of the African nation.

Working with the Jubilee Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, a ministry aimed at helping people suffering from the HIV/AIDS pandemic in some African nations, Lambe is raising money to help build a dispensary in Tanzania and is working with others to plan future projects.

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Opening doors

SULLIVAN: Open Door open to all
Natick (MA) Bulletin and Tab
Mar 14, 2008

Natick - Joan Cace, president of the board of directors for the Open Door, chats with a guest during the weekly meal at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. The program, which has been running for more than 20 years, is concerned about the dropoff in the number of people attending the event.

Eman Ibrahim, 16, a junior at Natick High School, brings out the Open Door’s main course for the evening — bow-tie pasta with chicken. Volunteer groups take turns in cooking, serving and cleaning up for the free meal.

The Open Door is not just for the elderly, the poor, the homeless, the struggling.

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A Place To Rest Their Heads
The Day (CT)
3/15/2008

It is understandable that neighbors would be apprehensive about plans to permanently locate a 50-bed homeless shelter close to where they live, but in the case of the proposed move of the New London Homeless Hospitality Center, the cry of “not in my back yard” just doesn't seem to make sense.

There is a proposal to move the shelter one-tenth of a mile. It is a short stroll from St. James Episcopal Church, where the shelter is currently housed, to 116 Federal St., the proposed new location.

So what is the difference? What is going to happen at 116 Federal St. that hasn't happened a few doors away, at 76 Federal St.?

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Making a difference

Uganda mission trip subject of presentation
By Angela E. Lackey
Midland (MI) Daily News
03/08/2008

    They went there to make a difference. They returned changed inside.

    The 2008 Uganda Mission Team will talk about their work and experiences at 6:30 p.m. Sunday at Memorial Presbyterian Church. The public presentation will be in the church's fellowship hall and begin with a potluck supper at 6 p.m. There will be pictures, examples of Ugandan handcrafted baskets and bead jewelry for purchase and information on orphan sponsorship.

    Team leader Sue Waechter said team members will talk about the mission's purpose and projects. They also will talk about their impressions and how the trip impacted them.

    The mission trip was Jan. 29 through February 13. The group went to the Muko sub-county in Uganda's southwest Kabale District. Waechter said the mission had three major purposes -- to develop an orphan sponsorship program, to build a new medical clinic and install a solar-powered vaccine refrigerator, and to organize village women with HIV/AIDS to sell their handicrafts.

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Benedict's Rule
Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal
By Galen Holley
3/8/2008

ABERDEEN - A couple of years ago, 25-year-old CJ Meaders was anything but quiet, playing his guitar in coffee houses and bars in Mississippi college towns. These days, he and his two house mates pass hours in quiet contemplation.

Meaders lives in an "intentional community" of three. Together with his house mates - Bailey Ward, 24, of West Point, and Watson Lamb, 22, of Greenwood - they comprise the Bishop's Mission Corps, a project of the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi designed to help twenty-somethings become leaders in the church.

Men in black

In its present incarnation, the Corps - a nine-month commitment, this time with only three males - grew out of a 40-day co-ed retreat, the first of which was two years ago at Camp Bratton-Green in Canton. It was conceived by Bishop Duncan Gray III, with the help of the Rev. Tim Jones, formerly of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Corinth, as a way for young people to step back from contemporary culture. Although the Corps operates under the auspices of the Episcopal Church, it is open to all people of faith.

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Church members help rebuild Mississippi
KARI C.BARLOW
Northwest Florida Daily News
March 8th, 2008

FORT WALTON BEACH – Imagine a place where people from different states gather to rebuild the houses of complete strangers.

They pay out of their own pockets for the opportunity to install drywall, hang sheetrock and yank out window frames.

The hours are long, but smiles, hugs and home cooked food are abundant.

That place is Camp Coast Care in Longbeach, Miss., a ministry of Lutheran Episcopal Services.

Located in the heart of Hurricane Katrina’s devastation, the ministry has a simple mission – renovating and rebuilding storm-ravaged homes.

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Labor for Lent

Churches use the 40 days before Easter to carry on mission projects
By Yonat Shimron
Raleigh (NC) News & Observer
February 29, 2008

Alex Richbourg usually gives up something for Lent -- chocolate or coffee.

But this year, the 41-year-old computer programmer from Apex decided to take something on.

He and 17 other members of Raleigh's Church of the Good Shepherd spent a week in Mexico building a home for a poor family.

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Local woman joins group rebuilding New Orleans
By Janet Redyke
Straus News
February 29, 2008

Vernon - Margaret Fortune, recently returned from a volunteer rebuilding trip to Katrina-devastated New Orleans, is proud to say she is helping people.

Fortune, now retired, had been coordinator of religious education at St. Francis Church in Vernon. She took the trip this winter as one of 15 volunteers who traveled to New Orleans with the help and efforts of Catholic Charities and the Diocese of Paterson. Volunteers paid their own way but were hosted by the diocese.

Working in New Orleans’ lower 9th ward, one of the most destroyed areas, Fortune and her group — who ranged in age from 41 to 74 — had three projects to undertake. Their first was erecting a temporary wall and shaping up a flooded Walgreen’s, after the damaged store was sold for a discounted price to the All Souls Episcopal Church to be used as the new church and meeting area.

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Federal cuts squeezing local food pantries
By Susan Abram
Los Angeles (CA) Daily News
02/29/2008

Federal cuts to pantries have forced some local agencies to turn away needy seniors who want to sign up for government subsidized foods.

At the West Valley Food Pantry in Woodland Hills, where nearly 250 food boxes are distributed the first Wednesday of each month to seniors, no new clients are being accepted.

"We'll continue feeding those that have already signed up, but we can't sign up any new seniors," said Jeanne Bain, co-director of the pantry.

It's gotten to the point that spaces become available only after clients die, she said.

"We can almost tell what's happening with the economy with what's happening here," she said of the new faces coming to the pantry at Prince of Peace Episcopal Church.

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Local church adds sign language to help deliver the word of God
By Amy Jo Johnson
Bay City (MI) Times
March 01, 2008

The Rev. Stacy Walker-Frontjes' first encounter with Jerry Jones stands out in her memory.

It was Pentecost, she said, and she had just preached about sharing the gospel in a language that people can understand.

''And here comes Jerry,'' she said.

Jones, 47, of Bay City, had stopped by St. Alban's Episcopal Church, where Walker-Frontjes is pastor. Jones is deaf and his message was simple: He was looking for a church.

Walker-Frontjes says she knew she must practice what she preaches. The church preaches that it welcomes everyone.

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Community

Brockton church to open day center for city’s homeless
By Elaine Allegrini
Brockton (MA)
Feb 25, 2008

BROCKTON - A new day center for the city’s homeless is part of a plan for a supportive community being unveiled Tuesday by St. Paul’s Community, a nonprofit corporation established by St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

“We’d like to provide something constructive for people who have a hard time making ends meet,” said the Rev. Jacqueline Schmitt, St. Paul’s vicar.

The proposed community center is an outgrowth of St. Paul’s successful soup kitchen, St. Paul’s Table, that serves lunch to the homeless six days a week. The lunch program has been offered for 25 years. Last year, the kitchen served nearly 23,000 meals.

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Warming trends

NEW RECTOR HELPS ST. JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH MAINTAIN ITS COMMITMENT TO OUTREACH AND MISSION WORK
BY JOE RODRIGUEZ
Wichita (KS) Eagle
Feb. 23, 2008

St. John's Episcopal Church has had a presence in downtown for 138 years -- a history as long as the city of Wichita. And like many downtown churches nationwide, the church reached its peak attendance decades ago, when the makeup of the downtown community was much different from today.

Although St. John's has not been a struggling congregation in recent years, members say there is a renewed energy -- sparked by the enthusiasm of the church's new rector.

Inspired by the vision of the Rev. Catherine A. Caimano, members say the church is maintaining its commitment to mission and outreach while also exploring ways to aggressively seek and establish better relationships with people outside the church walls.

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St. Michael's joins fair-trade coffee campaign
Cookeville (TN) Herald-Citizen
Feb 22, 2008

COOKEVILLE — Many churches provide coffee during fellowship times and meetings. Offering a “fairly traded” cup is becoming important to a growing number of churches around the country.

Fair-trade coffee is purchased directly from farmer-based cooperatives in Latin America, Africa and Asia provides a higher standard of living for the farmers, and also provides congregants with the knowledge that they’re making a difference in the lives of others, one cup at a time. Equal Exchange offers churches wholesale pricing on fair-trade coffee, and St. Michael’s Episcopal Church at 640 N. Washington Avenue in Cookeville, is serving their blends at church functions.

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Grace Episcopal Church knitters seek to warm heads, hearts
By ANGEL N. ROSS
Mansfield (OH) News Journal

MANSFIELD -- A chain of people helping people is how Traci Steinebrey-Lynch describes the Warm Heads/ Warm Hearts program at Grace Episcopal Church.

"I feel like I'm helping in a small way," she said. "I can use my skill in some way to help."

Steinebrey-Lynch and Dot Roberts, who belong to Grace Episcopal Church, 41 Bowman St., teamed three years ago to start the church's Warm Heads/Warm Hearts program, which provides handmade hats, scarves and head warmers to people who don't have or can't afford them.

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Thursday Matinee gives homeless women a break
By Juanita Westaby
The Grand Rapids Press
February 23, 2008

GRAND RAPIDS -- For many homeless women, their days are full of restrictions.

They can have shelter for the night but have to be out by a certain time. They can bring a bag and a purse and nothing more. They can receive help, but they can't offer anything to anyone.

That's where the Thursday Matinee at St. Mark's Episcopal Church turns things around.

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Shelter in the storm

Storm strands Milford missionaries
DANIEL TEPFER
Connecticut Post Online
02/22/2008

A Milford church group traveling home after charity work in a poor Mexican border town, found themselves stranded in Texas today because of the winter storm engulfing the Northeast.

"I look at it as another part of the adventure, but the kids were eager to get home and are fretting a little about not having any clothing," said Debbie Smith, co-leader of the group from St. Peter's Episcopal Church.

Earlier this month, the 18-person group, including seven teenagers, their parents and the church's pastor, went to Juarez, Mexico, to build a 450-square-foot home for a family of four. The trip was arranged through the Gateway Mission Training Center.

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Answering needs

Churches step into Noah's shoes
Pet food project will benefit new owners, Sanilac Humane Society
By NICOLE GERRING
Times Herald

LEXINGTON - In the Biblical book of Genesis, God creates the world and all its creatures.

He commands the first man, Adam, to care for his creations.

A group of Sanilac County churches is carrying out that commandment by organizing a pet food drive to benefit the Sanilac County Humane Society in Carsonville.
Trinity Episcopal Church in Lexington is organizing the Operation Noah's Ark pet food collection. The goal is to collect 5 tons of pet food and supplies by May for donation to the Humane Society. The society will distribute the items to new pet owners and use it for animals at the shelter.

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Dallas church launches Kids Against Hunger satellite program
By RACHEL SLADE
The Dallas Morning News
February 18, 2008

Volunteers jammed the small parish activity center of St. James Episcopal Church in Dallas on Sunday afternoon. Two hours later, they had packed up enough food to feed nearly 4,000 people.

The Lake Highlands church has become the first outpost in Texas for Kids Against Hunger, a Minnesota-based charity that ships food to many of the world's poorest countries.

The volunteers worked in teams to mix and seal a combination of textured soy, rice, dehydrated vegetables and chicken-flavored powder. Boiling water is all that's needed to turn it into a nutritionally complete meal.

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Discount Food Program Stays Busy

February 16, 2008--Central Iowans who heard about Angel Food Ministries on Channel 13 decided to take the organization up on their deal -- $70 worth of food for $30. Organizers were shocked when the orders started rolling in and were excited when a truck carrying 40,000 pounds of food arrived Saturday morning.

Angel Food director Andrea Baker said the thousands of pounds of food are going to more than 1,100 people. They'd previously only been serving 150 people per month, and now it's crowding the St. Luke's Episcopal Sanctuary. "Who knew that your sanctuary could be used as a frozen food locker?" Baker said.

Baker says they've had an 803% increase in the past three weeks. Now most of the customers are first-timers.

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Churches answer need for fuel oil
By Judy Harrison
Bangor Daily News
February 18, 2008

The local church is one of the places to which people turn for help in a crisis. This winter, congregations around the state are stretching their already tight budgets further than in years past to help people in need in their communities.

Worshippers are keeping their coats on during services because thermostats have been turned down, and at least one Down East church has closed its doors for 21⁄2 months because of the high cost of heating oil. Sewall Memorial Congregational Church in Robbinston closed on Epiphany Sunday, Jan. 6, and will reopen on Palm Sunday, March 16.

The first priority is helping people stay safe and warm as the cost of heating oil continues to rise.

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Healing heart of a Haitian teen

A St. Petersburg doctor goes to great lengths to get surgery for the youth.
By Nick Johnson
St. Petersburg (FL) Times
February 17, 2008

TIERRA VERDE - Valentine's Day caused many people to turn their attention to matters of the heart last week. But for the last year Dr. Frederic Guerrier has opened up his home, trying to get one heart in particular the attention it needs.

It belongs to Jean Victor Gustave, a 16-year-old Haitian boy, and he suffers from a condition called ventricular septal defect, a two centimeter hole between the left and right ventricles.

Guerrier, a family practitioner, was on a 10-day medical mission to his native Haiti last April when he came across the boy in the town of Leogane. He was among nearly 800 people the doctor saw on his trip.

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Dreams

A lifelong dream fulfilled
News-Leader
February 17, 2008 

Minda Cox wanted to meet her parents in India. She always had. But she had accepted it might not happen.

Cathy Cox wanted her adopted daughter to meet her parents. She always had. But when it seemed like that wouldn't happen, Cathy — an Episcopal priest at St. Alban's of the Ozarks in Bolivar — couldn't find the faith to believe God would lead the way.

Emily Frost knew Minda, her talented art student, would meet her parents. She always did. Even when it didn't seem possible, Emily knew God wouldn't deprive Minda of meeting the parents who gave her a better life.

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Ahearn: Mission Haiti: Sad postcards and fish bones
News-Record
Feb. 17, 2008

The American volunteers were having a last supper on the beach, tossing fish bones to the ever-present scavenger dogs, until they realized: They had also attracted a pack of children, who were trying to get the bones before the dogs did.

Near the water at Jacmel, the closest thing Haiti has to a resort, the local children had gathered to watch and wait. A mission organizer explained: The children had been promised whatever food was left. But first, the Americans should eat their fill.

Mebane Ham looked down at her Styrofoam plate: "Oh, I'm done," she said, studying the head and tail of a fish. "Believe me, I'm done now."

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Mission and ministry

Priest also has role as therapist
By The Associated Press

LIVINGSTON - The Rev. David Gunderson describes his profession as "skillful kindness."

At first glance, it might seem he's talking about his priesthood at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Livingston, but it's his psychotherapy practice to which he's referring.

The 55-year-old Seattle native believes his faith and therapy make a symbiotic "cross fertilization" that helps clients work through their life experiences.

Gunderson earned a master's degree in divinity at a Boston-area seminary and holds a master's in education. While living on the East Coast, he was introduced to psychotherapy during counseling sessions he received.

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Mission project to Haiti grows and grows and . . .
By MARVIN READ
THE PUEBLO (CO) CHIEFTAIN

What started eight years ago as an Episcopalian parish's outreach to the poor people of Haiti has grown to a nationally Catholic-funded medical mission that likely is going to grow even more.

Members of Pueblo's Ascension Episcopal Church began trips to Gonaives, in northern Haiti, when the Rev. Ephraim Radner was rector of the Downtown parish. He and laymen made trips that delivered financial, physical and medical assistance to what is regarded as the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, where eight in 10 people live below the poverty line and more than half live in what can be called abject poverty.

Last month, members of the parish and members of the St. Mary-Corwin Medical Center staff returned from an eight-day trip that involved four doctors, seven nurses and a nurse practitioner and paramedics. Nineteen people made the trip, the second of a three-year commitment to the city, its hospital and St. Basil's Episcopal Parish funded by Catholic Health Initiatives.

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llegal compassion: Lay chaplain faces jail time for needle work
By Miguel Bustillo
Los Angeles Times
February 16. 2008

Bill Day doesn't fancy himself an outlaw - and with his Mr. Rogers demeanor, he definitely doesn't look the part. But soon the 73-year-old lay chaplain could spend up to a year in jail for breaking a law that he considers immoral.

Day hands out clean needles to drug addicts on some of the seediest streets in this San Antonio, Texas. He does it because he's convinced that it reduces human suffering by curtailing the spread of HIV, a view that has been supported by medical research for more than a decade.

However, Day's actions are illegal in Texas - the only state that has not started a needle-exchange program of some kind. So when a San Antonio police officer spotted him swapping syringes with prostitutes and junkies in February, he was arrested on drug paraphernalia charges.

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Guiding faith: Women find fulfillment as clergy
By Peggy Ussery
Dothan (AL) Eagle
Feb 16, 2008

Faith had always been an important part of life for Mother Ede Plovanich.

She was married, had a daughter, a nice home on Mobile Bay and a good job as a hospital pharmacist. All in all, a wonderful life. Then, she got the call.

“My call was something like Samuel’s call in the middle of the night,” said Plovanich, the priest at Episcopal Church of the Nativity.

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Heading west: Ascension parish finds interim pastor in Boston
By MARVIN READ
THE PUEBLO CHIEFTAIN

Boston's 274-year-old Trinity Church will send one of its priests, the Rev. Mary Elizabeth Conroy, to serve as interim pastor of Pueblo's 144-year-old Ascension Episcopal congregation.

Beginning next month, she'll be filling the pulpit held until last August by the Rev. Ephraim Radner, who resigned after a decade in the pulpit to take a position as professor of historical theology at Wycliffe College, an Anglican seminary at the University of Toronto.

Radner was pastor from June 1977, and was assisted in his ministry by his wife, the Rev. Annette Brownlee. Both had come to Pueblo from Connecticut.

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16th in 266 years: The Rev. Thomas Momberg becomes rare new minister at All Saints
By Ron Cassie
News-Post Staff
February 16, 2008

Rectors at Frederick's All Saints Episcopal Church tend to stay awhile. Newly-named the Rev. Thomas Momberg, only the l6th senior pastor assigned to lead the church's 266 year history, plans to continue the tradition.

Momberg, who mostly recently served in Memphis, officially began his tenure Feb. 1 and on Ash Wednesday led his first service at the historic church across from City Hall.

He's hit the ground running, organizing a series of discussions around the topic: "Who is Jesus?" from 7 to 8:30 p.m. on Monday evenings through March 10. And he's already reached out to the Frederick Interfaith community, pointing out that diversity and tolerance has long played a crucial role in his faith.

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Cleveland speaker has Akron connection
By Colette M. Jenkins
Beacon Journal
Feb 16, 2008

The Rev. Gregory Jacobs, a former parish priest at St. Paul's and St. Philip's Episcopal churches in Akron, will be the guest preacher at the annual Absalom Jones celebration 5 p.m. Sunday at Trinity Cathedral, 2230 Euclid Ave., Cleveland.

Jacobs is a staff officer for urban congregational development and transition ministry in the Diocese of Massachusetts. While in the Ohio Diocese, he also was canon for mission and ministry at Trinity Cathedral.

The service is done in honor of Jones, who was born a slave, taught himself to read out of the New Testament, bought his own freedom and became the first African-American priest in the Episcopal Church. The celebration is sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Ohio and the Wilma Ruth Combs Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians.

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Pastoral Institute breaks ground for new buildings in expansion

Rick Alexander replacing Bill Turner as chairman of counseling center
BY ALLISON KENNEDY
Ledger-Enquirer
February 14, 2008

An Episcopal deacon testified about his former isolation and addiction and how he felt alone, ashamed and guilty. A woman, with several children, has been married a couple of times and once was steeped in the drug culture. A businessman spoke of low morale in his office about 10 years ago, compounded by grief in an employee's personal life.

They all share something in common with the Pastoral Institute, a 33-year-old nonprofit counseling and education center. The institute was able to help them pull out of tough times and get back on their feet.

Thursday morning was both a celebration at the institute and a means to look forward through a $14 million capital campaign. Staff, board members and other community leaders broke ground on a new complex that will enhance the present campus on 15th Avenue. About 200 people attended a brief ceremony under a heated tent.

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Ministry roundup

Parishioners embrace Burmese baby in need of care
St. Paul Pioneer Press
January 16, 2008

She's little and cute, and at 1-week-old, Angela Say Kyi is already one of the most popular girls in Rogers Park.

Embraced by the parishioners of St. Paul's Church By the Lake, at 7100 N. Ashland Ave., little Angela, born on Dec. 30, is need of baby items. Angela's parents, father, Thaw Kyi, and mother, Say Htoo, both arrived in Rogers Park last August from a Thailand refugee camp, where the family spent seven years after fleeing Burma.

It’s all here … http://www.pioneerlocal.com/newsstar/news/741702,SN-BurmeseBaby-011608-s1.article

Healing languages comfort clinic's patients
Refugees, immigrants find lack of English isn't a barrier
By Deborah Yetter
The Courier-Journal
January 18, 2008

"Como te llama?" the receptionist asked.

The simple question -- "What is your name?" -- was enough to light up Eliza Mejia's face as she approached the counter at a Louisville medical clinic to register as a new patient.

Recently arrived from Mexico, Mejia knows little English, so she decided to visit the new Family Health Center Americana in the Southside neighborhood, where services are available in multiple languages.
…
Karen Hill, a volunteer from St. Matthew's Episcopal Church who accompanied Ah Mu to the clinic, said access to health care and interpreters has been an enormous help to the family, who came to the United States from a refugee camp in Thailand.

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Wind-power goal in reach, group says
BY STACEY ROBERTS
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
January 18, 2008

FORT SMITH — Arkansas has a chance to help move America toward a goal of generating 20 percent of available energy from wind by 2030, according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s Wind Energy Association.

That goal was part of the challenge presented to more than 220 people gathered for a Wind Energy Conference at the University of Arkansas at Fort Smith on Thursday. Gov. Mike Beebe opened the conference by voicing his support for renewable energy sources.

Larry Flowers, the laboratory’s director, said the group has set a challenge for the country to meet that will benefit the economy and the environment. Currently, the United States produces less than 1 percent of its energy using wind power, according to the laboratory’s tracking.

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Richmond-area plan to end homelessness
Nonprofit outlines five goals to prevent people from living on streets
By WILL JONES
Richmond Times-Dispatch
January 18, 2008

A new plan aims to end homelessness in the Richmond area in 10 years.

But Ronald White can't see life beyond the streets anytime soon.

"I'm not going to worry about myself," White, 53, said yesterday before a lunch for Richmond's homeless at St. Paul's Episcopal Church downtown. "I'm accustomed to the street. I got two pair of pants and take off one when it gets hot."

Homeward, a nonprofit coordinating agency for homeless services in the Richmond area, yesterday released its 10-year plan to end homelessness following 18 months of work.

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Coat donations a warm gesture
By BOB VOSSELLER
Asbury Park (NJ) Press
January 17, 2008

WARETOWN — Lin Murdoch was afraid that due to the unusually warm winter weather last week that people donating coats for her church's ongoing coat drive would forget about the need and not come out. She shouldn't have worried — parishioners of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church and residents turned out in droves to provide hundreds of coats for the needy on Friday.

Murdoch is the coordinator of the St. Stephen's Episcopal Church coat drive and was among six volunteers who worked in the parish hall to organize the donated coats.

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Zoning issues ruffle residents, commissioner
By MARY MARAGHY
Clay County (FL) Sun
January 18, 2008
…
In April, Waste Not will be forced out of its home at Grace Episcopal Church because the day school is expanding.

"If you turn us down, we'll cease to exist," said Sandra Staudt-Killea, Waste Not's board chairwoman.

Bush, who lives at the opposite end of Carnes Street, rallied his neighbors and other residents to speak out in opposition Tuesday calling it bad practice to spot zone to accommodate one group.

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Pointing to God

Episcopalian sees need to adapt for minorities
By ERIN SMITH
The Pueblo Chieftain - Star Journal
November 17, 2007

DENVER - Antonito native Stan Perea is an evangelist in a church not much known for evangelism.

Perea is an Episcopalian, a member of a church often thought of as stuffy, with pews occupied by the privileged. But the Episcopal Church is changing.

Perea was born a Roman Catholic but later sought evangelical churches wherever he and his wife Glenda moved to follow his profession as a certified public accountant.

The 58-year-old Perea is the author of “The New America: The America of the Moo-shoo Burrito,” a book revealing the changing face of mainstream churches - churches that must change with the times and court immigrants and non-whites.

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Church revival: St. David's not only survives, it thrives
By Carrie A. Moore
Deseret Morning News
Nov. 17, 2007

PAGE, Ariz. — At Steve and Jean Keplinger's Thanksgiving table, there will be turkey, ham and sauerkraut, mixed with traditional foods reflecting a potpourri of cultures. Nearly 200 people have been invited, and if you happen to show up, they'll squeeze you in somehow.

That the rector of St. David's Episcopal Church has invited his entire congregation to dinner at home is not unusual in this tourist-trade-dependent, desert community. Thursday's modern-day re-creation of the first Thanksgiving will be complete with gratitude — served up in large portions — for the survival and growth of a tiny church some said had died a long death and would never be resurrected.

They were wrong. In fact, St. David's has become so vibrant and full of life that a new sanctuary is now under construction, destined to the be the newest of 12 churches that line Lake Powell Boulevard in what may be one of the most diverse small-town faith communities in America.

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St. Paul's Episcopal's new steeple rises high
By Gretchen Becker
Indianapolis (IN) Star
November 17, 2007

Pointing toward the heavens as a symbol of faith, a 60-foot copper steeple was hoisted atop a tower at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Friday afternoon.

"This means to us that we want to be more visible in the community," said the Rev. Rich Winters, St. Paul's rector.

A 5-foot brushed aluminum cross was placed at the steeple's peak, making it 125 feet in the air, Winters said.

"It's pointing to God, so to speak," Winters said.

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Signs

No Room for Homeless Families
New York Times
October 21, 2007

New York has taken an especially harsh turn in its homeless policy: it is now refusing emergency overnight shelter to certain families who have no place else to go. The city says some were abusing the system. Even if that is true, the remedy punishes too many families in desperate need and the city should discontinue it immediately.
…
In the first week of enforcement this month, eight families were turned away. Several took refuge on the floor of St. Ann’s Episcopal Church, located near the city’s emergency assistance office in the South Bronx, and one family spent a night in a hospital emergency room. Considering the scope of the problem of homeless families — some 9,500, an all-time high, use the shelter system every night — there is reason to believe that more families will be left in the cold as overnight emergency refuge is routinely refused.

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After 27 years, a soup kitchen worker sees the system start to crack
By Randall Beach
New Haven (CT) Register
10/21/2007

Business is picking up at the New Haven Community Soup Kitchen, but that's not a good thing. It's a sign of the times.

While more and more people are flocking to area soup kitchens because they simply can't afford to feed themselves, the supply of food coming from the federal government is not keeping up with the demand.

David O'Sullivan, who has been the coordinator for the Community Soup Kitchen (CSK) since 1987, is working harder, as is his staff (mostly volunteers) to keep up with the hungry crowds.

If you drive down New Haven's Broadway just before 11:30 a.m. most weekdays, you will see the line of people outside the parish house of Christ Church Episcopal.

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USPG changes name

Changing Face of Anglican Mission
Christian Post
July 20, 2007

The Anglican mission agency USPG is now calling itself USPG: Anglicans in World Mission as part of a new effort to bring greater clarity to its heritage, purpose and vision.

The United Society for the Propagation of the Gospel (USPG) is to start emphasising more strongly its Anglican heritage and its ongoing commitment to the worldwide Anglican Communion.

Part of the exercise involves rolling out a new ‘extended name’. The mission agency will now be known as ‘USPG: Anglicans in World Mission’.

It’s all here …and normally epiScope doesn't cover the religious press, but it's good to have this notice of the name change.