January 2015
Issue 49
For the Mission of the Church

 

Everliving God, whose will it is that all should come to you through your Son Jesus Christ: Inspire our witness to him, that all may know the power of his forgiveness and the hope of his resurrection; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
(page 816, BCP)
What have you done to deny yourself?

   

As a young child, I was introduced to mission work by collecting pennies, nickels and dimes in Sunday School mite boxes during Lent.  It was great to learn about children in other countries and have a festival at the end of the collection.  I especially remember fried bananas at one gathering.  Later in my church life, folders were filled with dimes and quarters for mission work of the Episcopal Church.  I have worked on many community projects to help others in need and traveled on two mission trips, one to a Native American reservation and one to Haiti. 


The dictionary defines "mission", "missionary" and mite" this way: Mission is the sending forth of men (also many women) to preach or spread the gospel.  A missionary is a messenger.  A mite is any small coin or sum of money: the widow's mite.  

As Daughters we have taken vows of Prayer and Service to do Evangelism for Christ.  One of the ways we do this is to support the four funds of the Order.   February Second, The Feast of the Presentation of Christ in the Temple, is the special day set aside for the Ingathering for the Self-Denial Fund.  The donations support our mission work throughout the world.


In 2014 the Order was able to fund 24 mission grant requests for a total of $51,000.  This was a reduction in the number of grants funded and the amount of money collected in 2013.  Most grant requests were limited to $2,000 to support as many grants as possible.  Special grants in Ghana, Jerusalem, Brazil and Iraq were funded for additional money.  Reports from the mission work will be given in future Royal Cross editions and Cross-Links.


However, more than a dozen grant requests had to be turned down due to reduced donations by Daughters.  This makes me sad.  God gives us so much and we can honor Him by the giving of our time, talents, and treasures.  I have found that the more I give to God, the more I receive from God.  


I am challenging all Daughters to give at least a $5.00 donation each year to support the Self-Denial mission work of The Order.  What could you deny yourself in 2015: a latte, a burger or a new scarf?  Just one such act of personal self-denial could become a $5.00 gift to the Self-Denial Fund.  Then together we would fund many more grants to spread the work of Christ, and more people throughout the world would be touched by our generosity.  


Marjorie Rogers

Self-Denial Fund Chair  

 
In This Issue
Self-Denial Fund
Canon Andrew White
Spirited Walking Meditation
Online Triennial Registration
Treasure Hunt
Las Hijas del Rey, Cuba
Rhodium - Plated Crosses
New Chapter Manual
Choosing a Chapter President
Little Flower Junior Chapter
Self-Denial Challenge

Cross+Links Editor

Assistant Editor
Quick Links


Province Presidents
 
Province I
Donna Abramov

Province II
Janet Papa

Province III
Laura Richard

Province IV
Lindy Kirk

Province V
Pam Sebura

Province VI
Lyn Zolman

Province VII
Brenda Amos

Province VIII
Sara MacDonald 
 
National Office
or
 
 770-517-8552  
Where in the World is Canon Andrew White? 

      

The year 2014 was an extraordinary year of travel and tragedy for the extraordinary man who will be our keynote speaker at the DOK Triennial 2015.  As everyone knows by now, the Islamic Extremists - ISIL or IS - either killed or drove out the Iraqi Christians from their ancient homeland. Some of the oldest churches in the world have now been either destroyed or vandalized.  Because of security concerns, the Vicar of Baghdad no longer calls Baghdad home.  The Archbishop of Canterbury (his boss) ordered him to leave and not return.
 
The New Year found him in Israel where he resumed the peace-making and reconciliation efforts with which he has been involved for so long.  He also has continued his speaking and fund-raising trips for his Foundation for Relief and Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME.)  He has traveled to the UK and elsewhere in the world.  Elsewhere includes the refugee camps in the north of Iraq (Kurdish territory) and Jordan, bringing supplies and hope for those who now have nothing.
 
While he has been flying around the world, he also finished his latest book, a year's work on 'his story,' and has begun a new book of daily meditations based on 'his daily story.'
 
Despite what most regard as an already overloaded work schedule, he remains open to new ideas. He plans to work closely with a filmmaker who is doing a film about the Jews of Iraq.  He believes this project will bring together the work of the Foundation in Iraq, Israel and the UK.
 
Despite all the stresses and strains on his health (he suffers from MS) he continues as a devoted servant of our Lord. His new-found public persona has resulted in many interviews and, therefore, much light being shown on the tragic situations in the Middle East.  We ask for your continued prayers for Canon Andrew White, for his health and safety and for the help of the Lord for guidance in his many ministries.
 
Mariana Bauman
PR and Communications Chair  

Spirited Walking Meditation

Our theme this month is Forgiveness 


Too often we think of forgiving as something we do for others. But in reality, we do it for ourselves. Holding on to grievances hurts us far more than the person we are not forgiving. It is another of those stress chemical things! Our forgiveness from God depends on our forgiving "those who trespass against us." This month, reflect on how forgiveness, or the lack of it, has featured in your life.

 

If you have a grievance against anyone, forgive him, so that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your offenses.
(Mark 11:26)

 

Click here to read the rest of this month's meditation about how forgiveness can affect both spiritual and physical health. When we ask God for forgiveness, we also promise to try very hard to do better in the future. Participate in the on-going discussion centered on these articles on the Spirited Walking page of the website.

Online Triennial Registration Now Available  

 

Last month we announced the activation of our new membership-based web site. Over the last few weeks, the implementation team has continued making improvements and activating features.  This month we are highlighting online registration for Triennial.

 

Triennial registration opened on January 1! We highly encourage you to complete your registration online prior to April 1, 2015.  Registration prior to April 1 carries the benefit of an Early Bird Discount of $50 for senior Daughters and $25 for Junior Daughters.  Reports from those who have already registered indicate that the process is not difficult, and no pain resulted!  If you log in to your member record prior to completing the registration form, then your information is partially completed for you based on your member information.  

 

You can register online through www.doknational.org by:
  • Clicking here
  • Clicking on the Triennial link on the calendar on the web site, or
  • Navigating on the website to Events > Triennial 2015 > Registration > Online Registration.
If you have any challenges logging in the first time or completing your Triennial registration, our National Office staff is well-versed in the how-to and is ready to help you (during office hours). Of course, members may also register by mail with payment by check or credit card. Please use the Registration & Credentialing Form included in the special Triennial Issue of The Royal Cross or by navigating on the website to Events > Triennial 2015 > Registration > Printed Registration and printing a form.

While the implementation team continues to make improvements to the website and the related processing procedures, please feel free to explore the new look and features at www.doknational.org.  You will see the latest news highlighted on the Home Page and will have access to the most current literature, forms, and information. You can also update your member profile, pay your dues, make donations, or purchase DOK literature and replacement crosses through our secure online transaction processing.

If you have questions or comments about the website, please use the "Contact Us" link at the top of the website page to let us know.

See you in Midway, Utah, in June!
Treasure Hunt at Triennial

 

The Junior Daughters are going on a treasure hunt while at Triennial.  On Sunday, June 21, the Junior Daughters will be spending most of the day at Wasatch Mountain State Park.  We will meet with the Naturalist at the Visitor Center and then go on a prayer walk to historic Huber Grove where we will have lunch.  The Naturalist will then divide us up to work on several projects to assist the park.  After completing our projects, we will divide up into 10 groups and using GPS units will find our way back to the Visitor Center, finding a small geocache on the way - the treasure we hunt.  Once we return to the Visitor Center, we will find a larger geocache in which we will leave a "trackable" for someone else to find.  This "trackable" will have instructions with it to try to return it to Austin, Texas, in time for Triennial 2018.  In the meantime we will track its travels.  The picture accompanying this article is of the geocache found at Huber Grove, which Mother Deborah Jackson, our Junior Daughters chaplain, discovered during our visit.  You can learn more about geocaching at www.geocache.com.

Susan Keith
Junior Daughters National Directress
Great News and a Gift from Las Hijas del Rey, Cuba

 

Three St. Luke's Daughters of the King admire the new banner!  They include Vice-President Maureen Menosky, President Andy Miller, and member Susan Strang.

Deacon Phyllis Doty holds the banner as member Rose Decker admires it.

Deacons Phyllis Doty and Marie Brian assisted Mother Tulia Sanchez in admitting six new Sisters in Christ when the US Daughters visited Fieles a Jesus Chapter in Matanzas, Cuba in November 2014.  The Cuban Hijas del Rey sent them home with a gift for Charismata Chapter - a beautiful handmade banner!  It is absolutely beautiful and in such a lovely shade of blue!  

Lydia Bush 
Charismata Chapter, St. Luke's, Live Oak, Florida 
 

An Announcement Concerning Rhodium - Plated Crosses  

We are sorry to announce that our stock of rhodium-plated crosses is extremely low.  In fact the stock is so low that we can no longer fill orders for the rhodium-plated crosses.  We are currently working with one supplier who may be able to produce the rhodium-plated crosses, but successful negotiations will not be completed in time to have a smooth, uninterrupted transition in suppliers. We also continue to search for other potential suppliers who may be able to provide quality rhodium-plated crosses at reasonable prices. We apologize for the inconvenience this is causing Daughters. We will let you know, via Cross+Links and the website, as soon as rhodium-plated crosses are once again available for purchase.

 

Jen Mariano

First Vice-President

The New Chapter Manual is Here!! 


It's been two years in the making and the brand new Chapter Manual is finally here!  The new Manual is a comprehensive, all-encompassing look at The Order's ministry.  It is designed to empower a Chapter President, as well as the other officers, in her ministry to her chapter members.

The Manual includes sections on: Resources for Chapter Presidents, Beginning a Chapter, Chapter Life, and Maintaining a Chapter.  There are expanded sections on:  The Junior Daughters, Daughters at Large, Prayer, Service and Evangelism.  New features include: A "How To" section, Honoring a Departed Daughter, and Beyond the Chapter.

There is a lot of useful information in this great looking new Manual and I thank the Chapter Manual Committee, our editors, and everyone who had a hand in editing this manual.  Be sure to get your copy either from the website or for purchase from the National Office.

Jen Mariano
Literature Chair
How Do We Choose a Chapter President?
How we choose a chapter president is not a frequently asked question, but it is an important one. There are no rules, but some guidelines need to be followed.

The first thing to consider is spiritual maturity. This is not about being judgmental but about discernment. A woman of spiritual maturity is respected by most and recognized for her faith.

The second thing I suggest is to make sure your chapter has bylaws with term limits for officers.  An officer should generally serve no more than two consecutive terms. This is just a suggestion. The important thing is not to let an officer serve in perpetuity. It is unfair to her and the chapter. Interest fails for chapter meetings if you do not try to keep them fresh and interesting. I would think that every chapter has a chapter manual by now, but if you do not, get one. There are wonderful guidelines to help you write bylaws.

The third guideline is to make sure the presidential candidate is active in the chapter. Does she attend chapter meetings or do other things pull her away? Does she participate in chapter ministries and service projects?

The next suggestions may seem petty, but they are not. Does she have a good relationship with the clergy? Does she gossip? Is she a member of a clique? Is she fair-minded? Can she be a mentor/mediator?

As I said these are suggestions. If you find someone with all of these qualifications, congratulations, God has blessed your chapter.

The flip side of these guidelines is about YOU.

Do you know how disheartening it is to prepare for a chapter meeting and have only about twenty percent of your members show up? Every president can give up if there is no interest.

Do you sit in the chapter and let others do all the planning and presentation? Is there something you think would be wonderful for your chapter to do? Perhaps God is calling you to do it, not asking you to pass the idea along to the president. Do you come to the chapter meetings with a good and generous spirit?

I think that every prospective member should be asked "What do you expect to get out of Daughters of the King? What gifts do you bring to the chapter?" Membership in the Order is a two-way street. Do not expect to receive only. Your gifts are important to the Order. God has called you to us for a purpose. The first purpose is prayer and the second is service and evangelism. These are active ministries, not passive. Be purpose driven and intentional when you approach your ministries.

When we put on our beautiful cross, we represent first our Savior, our church and our Order. We make a statement of faith and service to our Lord when we wear the cross and should be held accountable to that statement. As that is true, we have the right to expect the same accountability from everyone who wears the cross.

Brenda Amos
Province VII President
The Little Flower Junior Chapter

 

The Little Flower Junior Chapter at Trinity Episcopal Church in The Woodlands, Texas, was busy this past Advent season.  They decorated the Advent Tree, served lunch at Trinity's Angel Market, and assisted with the Greening of the Church by decorating the parish Christmas tree, placing poinsettias around the base of the tree, and setting up the manger scene.



The Junior Daughters also made 25 wooden Nativity sets. These sets were then given to the Interfaith Program.



Susan Keith
Junior Daughters National Directress
Self-Denial Challenge
"The great danger in today's world, pervaded as it is by consumerism, is the desolation and anguish born of a complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience. Whenever our interior life becomes caught up in its own interests and concerns, there is no longer room for others, no place for the poor. God's voice is no longer heard, the quiet joy of his love is no longer felt, and the desire to do good fades.


This is a very real danger for believers too. Many fall prey to it, and end up resentful, angry and listless. That is no way to live a dignified and fulfilled life; it is not God's will for us, nor is it the life in the Spirit which has its source in the heart of the risen Christ."

 

APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION
EVANGELII GAUDIUM 
OF THE HOLY FATHER, FRANCIS
TO THE BISHOPS, CLERGY, CONSECRATED PERSONS AND THE LAY FAITHFUL 
ON THE PROCLAMATION OF THE GOSPEL IN TODAY'S WORLD

 

Daughters of the King can support evangelism by supporting our missionary projects. I challenge each Daughter to practice self-denial during the month of January 2015.  Any money you save by denying yourself something you might want to buy on a whim and/or indulgence can be put into a special container.  You can have pleasure and joy as you watch the amount grow. Then at the end of the month, donate what you have saved to the Self-Denial Fund.

A donation form can be found on the DOK Website:  www.doknational.org.  Go to the link "Support our Mission"  which is on the home page. Contribution forms can be found under this link.

Lyn Zolman
Service and Evangelism Chairman  

For the Self-Denial Fund

 

O God, who makes the church the messenger of your Gospel,
accept this gift of your Daughters to speed your message to the whole world and to enable your love to be the portion of all, through Jesus Christ,
our Lord and King. AMEN.

 

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