Campers and staff wind up another "incredible" summer at the BCH Camp and Conference Center

The summer camp season is wrapping up at the diocese's Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H., one that interim summer camp director Matt Lindeman characterizes as "incredible," having served 946 campers representing at least 122 congregations in and outside of the Diocese of Massachusetts (many of whom, he notes, returned for multiple sessions, bringing the overall total to more than 1,000 for the summer).

"We had a fantastic group of chaplains this year who really got into the spirit of camp and

From top:  Megan Emery from St. James's Church in Amesbury tries her hand at archery; twilit Eucharist in the outdoor chapel; Hadeel Saadeh and Rita Abu Hanna go fishing. (Courtesy photos)

were able to join in on activities," Lindeman reports.

"We had a great year for musicians as well," he said, adding that they recorded an album of worship songs incorporated into this year's camp Bible study theme of "Seeing God, Seeking God." "This year's band was called 57 Strings, named for the tally of guitar strings we've gone through this summer!" he said.

"I'm extremely grateful to the incredible staff here at the camp, both to the year-round staff who keep the registrations organized, the bills paid, the water hot and the food delicious, and to the fantastic group of counselors, team leaders and program staff who constantly put the needs of their campers before their own," Lindeman said.

Even though summer is turning a corner toward fall--"There's a chill in the air again, and a brilliant clarity to the sky," Lindeman said--he's already thinking about next year.  "We look forward to continuing to grow and live into our mission as we approach our 10th summer here at the camp. We thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and support, and look forward to 'Day One' already!" 

From left:  Hadeel Saadeh, Yousef Barhoum and Rita Abu Hanna, with their host, Bishop Gayle E. Harris (PHOTO:  Tracy J. Sukraw)

Summer campers at the Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H., represented at least 122 congregations in and outside of the diocese--including Hadeel Saadeh, Yousef Barhoum and Rita Abu Hanna.  Hosted by Bishop Gayle E. Harris and the Diocese of Massachusetts, these three special guests from the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem spent two weeks in July at the camp.  They said they loved everything about it, but especially the beautiful natural setting, the worship and the camp staff who made them feel special.  

"I can't tell you how fantastic these three young people are. Their visit was not only an active engagement with our continuing relationship and ministry with the Diocese of Jerusalem but also a way to forge relationships on a personal level," Bishop Gayle E. Harris said the day before their departure for home.  "For us it is easy, comfortable and convenient to be Christians. For them, since they are in the minority, it is a daily encounter. We gained more than we gave in the opportunity to have them come here and open our eyes to the larger world."

"Three in One":  Watch the video that camp program counselor and film student Enos "Junior" Mullings made of Hadeel, Yousef and Rita during their summer camp experiences, including an overnight at "Otter Outpost," the camp's remote campsite.  Thanks also to Geoff Cooper, Matt Lindeman, Samuel Gould, Paulina Muratore and Oliver Magee for their help with the video project.

St. Mark's Church in East Longmeadow, in the Diocese of Western Massachusetts, is working with Springfield Christian Ministries to organize a Labor Day work weekend to continue rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of the June 1 tornadoes in that area.  Volunteers are needed for projects requiring a variety of skills and abilities, and both overnight and commuter arrangements are on offer during the Sept. 2-5 effort.  Details are available here.

John C. Koch has been hired as the new interim executive director of the diocese's Barbara C. Harris Camp and Conference Center in Greenfield, N.H., and will begin work on site in early September. 

He brings to the position 20 years of executive experience in Episcopal Church camp and conference center settings, having served as the executive director of the Diocese of North Carolina's former Summit Conference Center and as interim executive director of the Beckwith Camp and Conference Center in the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.  He also served for two years as the stewardship and development director for Chapel of the Cross, an Episcopal church in Chapel Hill, N.C., overseeing the capital campaign and planned giving for the 1,100-member congregation.  He will be relocating from Healdsburg, Calif., where he has been working most recently as director of hospitality and retail sales for Dry Creek Winery and Vineyard.

(PHOTO:  Jason Stonehouse)

A delegation of Episcopalians from the Diocese of Vermont, and their bishop, Thomas Ely, joined the congregation at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston for the ordination service there on June 25.  Newly ordained (pictured, from left, with Bishop M. Thomas Shaw, SSJE and Bishop Ely) are:  The Rev. Lynn Campbell (transitional deacon), The Rev. Suzanne Wade (transitional deacon), The Rev. Daniel Horgan (deacon), The Rev. Thomas Mousin (priest, for the Diocese of Vermont) and The Rev. Brent Was (priest).

"I have no doubt that each of them will serve God, the church and God's mission in the world well and faithfully, but let's not leave it up to them alone to make sure that happens," Ely said in his sermon, throughout which he repeated the refrain, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice."

"What if rejoicing in the Lord is really what it's all about?" he asked.  "What if that is what today is all about?  What the ordination of these men and women is really all about?  What our Baptism is really all about?  What our life in Christ is really all about?  What difference would that orientation make, in our lives, in our church, in the world?  I think it would make a huge difference, and so I call upon all of us, especially Tom and Brent, Daniel, Suzanne and Lynn to help make it so."

(PHOTO:  Tracy J. Sukraw)

Again, rejoice:  During the ordination

service, Bishop Shaw recognized the Rev. Jack and Betsy Bishop, who were there supporting the ordinands and for Jack to help present one of them, Daniel Horgan.  They were also celebrating the 56th anniversary of their wedding, which took place on June 25 right there at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul.  

Centre Street Food Pantry 'makes thankful giving come alive':  

Trinity Church in Newton Centre has been awarded a $6,130 United Thank Offering grant for its Centre Street Food Pantry. "The grant money comes to you through grateful prayer and giving by Episcopalians and Anglicans from around the world.  Your effort makes the personal gift of thankful giving come alive as you expand the circle by addressing compelling human needs," Claudia Conner, the UTO's interim coordinator, said in a letter announcing the grant.  

Ministry milestones:  Congratulations to Grace Chapel in Brockton, which celebrated its first anniversary at First Lutheran Church over the weekend of Aug. 6-7, and to Christ Church in Harwich Port, which celebrates its 85th anniversary at the 10 a.m. service on Sunday, Aug. 28.

A volunteer spends time with a child at the St. Stephen's Church, Boston B-SAFE site (Courtesy photo)

12th B-SAFE summer, by the numbers:  B-SAFE (the Bishop's Summer Academic and Fun Enrichment program) gave 550 city children a safe and fun summer, thanks to more than 50 of the diocese's churches (including five host churches and Epiphany School), 900-plus volunteers making lunches, organizing field trips and reading books with the kids, 90 staff members and 100 teen counselors-in-training.   Read more on the B-SAFE blog and see lots of photos.

Trinity's former rector named priest-in-charge:  Trinity Church in Boston announced July 8 that the Very Rev. Dr. Samuel T. Lloyd III, the dean of Washington National Cathedral and former rector of Trinity Church, will return as Trinity's priest-in-charge in mid-October.  Read more.

New Title IV:  The Episcopal Church's revised clergy disciplinary process went into effect July 1.  Clergy disciplinary matters were formerly brought to the bishop or the Standing Committee.  Now, all matters are reported to an intake officer, initiating a process toward resolution through pastoral care, mediation, an agreement with the bishop, an investigation or any combination of these.  Anyone may contact the diocesan intake officer.  Learn more here.

'Filling the void':  In the August issue of the Episcopal Church Foundation's "Vestry Papers," the Rev. Valerie Bailey Fischer describes a "pipeline model" to help congregation leaders develop strategies that attract and support young families.

'God always leads you back to God':  So says the Rev. Beth Grundy in this July 31 Fall River Herald News story about the new stone labyrinth, open to the community, on the grounds of Christ Church in Swansea.

Best of the Vineyard:  The lobster rolls at Grace Church in Vineyard Haven have been voted "Best of the Vineyard" for the fifth year in the row and were featured on the Hungry Native blog with some great photos.  Get one while they last:  Fridays through September, 4:30-7:30 p.m.

Marriage equality in New York:  Changes last month in New York's marriage law prompted inquiries into policies and pastoral response in dioceses where same-gender marriage is already legal.  The Rev. Canon Mally Lloyd weighs in in this July 11 Episcopal News Service story.

Huntress arrested:  Numerous news reports appeared in New Hampshire and Massachusetts media beginning July 7, when former Episcopal priest Franklin Huntress was arraigned in Hillsborough County Superior Court for felonious sexual assault.  The Diocese of Massachusetts' statement in response is here.

More on marriage:  Cathedral dean Jep Streit comments on the Episcopal Church's "pastoral generosity" provision in this June 26 Boston Globe story on New England Methodist ministers who support marriage for all couples.  (Ed. Note:  Be sure to scroll down beyond numerous ad breaks to get the whole story.)