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January 20, 2010
Diocesan Prayers

For Sundays in January please pray for the various youth ministries within the diocese, especially for those who are involved with Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) and for all those in your local congregation who are involved with faith formation ministries to and with children, youth and young adults.

Sunday, January 24 is 3 Epiphany
St. Paul's congregations, Brainerd, Duluth, LeCenter, Minneapolis, Owatonna, St. Paul, Virginia, Winona

Anniversaries
1/24 Charles Wickman, d 1984
1/25 William Bulson, p 1997
1/25 David Garwood, d 1982
1/25 Barbara Mraz, d 1982
1/25 Barbara Ramnaraine, d 1984
1/25 Jean Swesey, d 1984
1/25 Clifford Robinson, d 1984
1/27 Henry Doyle, p 1990
1/27 Janet Wheelock, p 1994
1/29 LeeAnne Watkins, p 1994

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
Anglican Cycle of Prayer
Gospel Based Discipleship
Resources
Meet Bishop-elect Brian N. Prior videos now available
Get to know the IX Bishop of Minnesota! Two "Meet Bishop-elect Brian N. Prior" videos are now available for view on the diocesan website and on the Consecration website. If you requested a DVD, they will be mailed this week.
Request from the Presiding Bishop
Good Friday Offering
"For almost a century, the Good Friday Offering has been a source of support, love and hope for the people of the Episcopal Church in Jerusalem and the Middle East. This year's 88th Good Friday Offering offers us the opportunity to be nourished by a deepened bond with the churches in the region so central to our faith... Through our support of these churches we are helping to realize God's vision of shalom." Read Presiding Bishop Schori's complete letter here. For more information about the Good Friday Offering and how you can participate, click here.
 
Haiti
Open sing to benefit Haiti
Singers and instrumentalists of all ages are invited to participate in an Open Sing of Mozart's Requiem this Sunday, January 24, at 4pm at Epiphany, Plymouth. After rehearsing for an hour, there will be a short break for refreshments, and then the group will play it straight through without stopping. A donation of $10 is suggested - every dime goes to CARE, the international relief organization, for their efforts in Haiti. Bring your own choral score, or borrow one at the door (scores provided by the University of Minnesota). Instrumentation: 2 clarinets or basset horns, 2 bassoons, 2 trumpets, 3 trombones, strings.

Facts about the Diocese of Haiti and the aftermath of the earthquake
  • Facts from The Episcopal Church's Haiti webpage
    The Episcopal Diocese of Haiti is part of The Episcopal Church.The Rt. Rev. Zache Duracin is Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti. He is unharmed; his wife suffered an injury to her foot.
  • The Episcopal Church in Haiti has lost a cathedral, convent, Holy Trinity Complex, College St. Pierre, and a Jubilee Center.
  • The Episcopal Church's three missionaries who were in Haiti are all accounted for.
  • The Diocesan offices are located in Port-au-Prince.
  • Episcopal Relief & Development has disbursed emergency funding to the Diocese of Haiti to help meet critical needs such as food, water and shelter for those affected.
  • Haiti is the largest and fastest-growing diocese in The Episcopal Church. There are over 83,000 Episcopalians in Haiti.
  • There are 97 Episcopal churches in Haiti.
  • In 2008, the diocese celebrated over 200 child and adult baptisms, and over 700 child and adult confirmations
Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation
In the wake of tremendous destruction, loss of life, agony and chaos caused by the earthquake in Haiti, Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation is calling all people of faith to two immediate and specific actions: 1) Pray often, pray now, pray without ceasing. The Rt. Rev. Jeffery Rowthorn, Chaplain and Board member for EGR, has written a prayer service specifically for Haiti, available here.
2) Give. Please support Episcopal Relief and Development's Haiti Fund and the work they are doing to make a difference--right now--in Haiti.

The Episcopal Public Policy Network - Policy Alert
From Alex Baumgarten, Director of Government Relations for the Episcopal Church
About 14 months ago, I was fortunate to travel to Haiti, the largest diocese of the Episcopal Church, with a delegation led by Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. Traveling around the country, I experienced a nation whose people - despite the most difficult recent history imaginable - were working joyfully to build a future of prosperity and peace... How unfair it seems that, just as the Haitian people were gaining some traction in overcoming a history of poverty, internal strife, and other natural disaster, devastation of this magnitude returns. Like so many other Americans, I've felt moments of helplessness this week, wondering what I can do. Here, the answer is three-fold: Pray, Give, and Advocate. Read complete article on the diocesan website.

Ways to support Haiti relief
The diocese has established a dedicated fund to which you may make a tax-deductible donation. Funds collected will be divided between Episcopal Relief and Development for emergency relief and through the congregations participating in the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti Parish Partnership Program. Click here for a link to our online giving site. If you have not used our online giving or registration, please use the "Need a login?" link. You may also either send a check to the Episcopal Center (make the check payable to the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota and write "Haiti Fund" in the memo line) or call Helena Bedell at 612-871-5311 and she can take your credit card information over the phone.

Other Resources
Episcopal Life online
The Episcopal Church's Haiti webpage
Litany in response to the earthquake in Haiti
A Prayer for Haiti
Consecration of the IX Bishop of Minnesota
ix consecration logo Plan to attend on February 13, 2010
God willing and the people consenting,the Reverend Brian N. Prior will be Ordained and Consecrated IX Bishop of Minnesota on February 13, 2010 at 11:00 am at the Minneapolis Convention Center (1301 Second Avenue South, Minneapolis). All are encouraged to participate in this joyous occasion. A reception will follow. Clergy should vest in red; Bishops, cope and miter. For more information about this event, please visit the Consecration website, www.ixbishopconsecration.com.

Logistical details
A block of rooms has been secured for the weekend of Consecration at the Hilton in downtown Minneapolis. Details are on the Consecration website, www.ixbishopconsecration.com.

Transportation opportunities
St. Paul's, Duluth, is sponsoring a motor coach bus to the Consecration. The bus will depart from St. Paul's at 7:00 am on Feb. 13th and return around 5:30 pm. Cost is $22 per seat (non-refundable) due by noon on February 5.  Please make checks payable to "St. Paul's Church" and send them to: Secretary, St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 1710 E. Superior St., Duluth, MN  55812. Please include your phone number with your payment. Please contact Annie Henninger (715) 395-9917 with any questions.

Music participation
Be part of the 'Massed Intergenerational Choir' at the Consecration. Participants of all ages are encouraged to be part of this wonderful offering of music. For more information and to register, please visit the music and choir page of the consecration website.
Celebrate Bishop Jelinek's ministry
st paul celebration Celebration events welcome hundreds
Last weekend's celebration events welcomed hundreds of individuals from across the diocese who wanted to thank Bishop Jelinek for his years of ministry in Minnesota. The photos at left are from the two brainerdevents, Brainerd and St. Paul. Larger versions of the photos areavailable at www.thanksbishopjelinek.com.

One more celebration event to go...
There will be one more event to celebrate Bishop Jelinek's 17 years of ministry with the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota. This event will be held on Sunday, January 24 from 3 to 6 pm at St. John's, Mankato. All are invited to attend this reception and show their gratitude to Bishop Jelinek.

It's not too late...two ways to send your greetings to Bishop Jelinek
A community website has been established where you can send your greetings to Bishop Jelinek. Simply email your greetings, which can include photos, videos, and graphic files, to post@thanksbishop.posterous.com. These greetings will be posted to a dedicated website,  www.thanksbishopjelinek.com. You can also post greetings on the "Thanks Bishop Jelinek" page on Facebook.
News
10th annual broomball tournamentbroomball players
On Sunday, January 10th, seven Episcopal churches met at Church of the Epiphany, Plymouth, to participate in the 10th annual broomball tournament. The event was a huge success, and Epiphany looks forward to host it again next year. The churches that participated were: St. Stephen's, Edina; St. David's, Minnetonka; Trinity, Excelsior; Holy Trinity, Elk River; Nativity, Burnsville; St. Mary's, St. Paul; Epiphany, Plymouth.

st marys tower ely newsSt. Mary's, Tower and Ely, commission three new licensed preachers
Mary Groeninger, Eunice Koch, and Gail Sheddy join Pam Webster to spread the Good News in Tower and Ely. The people of St. Mary's are preparing for a team commissioning in Total Ministry later this year. Pictured here L-R: Mary Groeninger, Pam Webster, Eunice Koch and Gail Sheddy.

Local Moravian celebration
Submitted by the Rev. Dr. Douglas Sparks
"Val...Val...Valerie Anne...Valerie Anne...where are you?" These are the words the Rev. Val Lehman, Pastor of Berea Moravian Church in St. Charles, used to begin her homily on Sunday, 17 January at St. Luke's in Rochester. She was invited to preach at all three services on the weekend closest to the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, 18-25 January. Read full article on the diocesan website.
Ordinations/Confirmations
st lukes hastings A busy day at St. Luke's, Hastings
On January 9, the family and friends of St. Luke's, Hastings celebrated the Confirmation of four young people, Ordinations of one deacon and two priests, as well as the commissions of three lay ministers. Pictured back row, L to R: Joe Robinson, Rev. Frank VanDeSteeg, Emily Valentine, Darcy Valentine, Beth Wanamaker, Bishop Jelinek, Rev. Bob Langenfeld, Rev. Betty Herman Front row, L to R: Rev Connie Claxton, Maria Yandrasits, Andrew Herrmann, Lyn VanDeSteeg and Domingo Yandrasits.
This Week in the Diocese

January 23: Junior high mini-TEC (Teens Encounter Christ), St. Stephen's, Edina

January 24, 3:00 pm: Bishop's Celebration Reception, St. John's, Mankato

January 27 12 pm: Region IV Clericus, St. Peter

A complete Calendar of Events is available on our website.  Other events can be found on the community calendar, the Region 7 Calendar and the Episcopal Music Calendar.