Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma
Contents
Presiding Bishop's Easter Message

Give Us Your Best Shot!

Annual ECW Conference and Bishop's Day

St. Michael's, Norman, Spring Serenade

Interfaith Dinner Forum

United Methodist Offer Social Justice Retreat

Living with Grief Program

Episcopal Night with the Thunder a Success!

Episcopal Men's Retreat

Saint Simeon's Staff Member Named Employee of the Year

Newsletter Item
Education for Ministry Gathering of Mentors, Participants, Grads, and Possible Participants

Slay the Dragon of Poverty Fundraiser

Episcopal Night with the Drillers

Stewardship and Development - Free Resources

Whole Creation Community

Safeguarding God's Children Training Opportunities

Acolyte Masters - National Acolyte Festival Scheduled

Diocesan Acolyte Festival Scheduled

Episcopal Youth Event 2014

Youth Dates of Interest

Countdown to Summer Camp

Summer Camp Registration Forms

Young Adult/Campus Ministry News

Pilgrimage to Taize in South Dakota

Ascension, Pentecost, and St. George's Day

Free World Religions Expo

Eboo Patel Coming to Oklahoma City University

Family Blessing Bowl

Bishop's Schedule

 

 

March 24

Palm Sunday

St. Paul's Cathedral, OKC

 

March 25

Holy Monday

Clergy Renewal of Vows 

St Paul's Cathedral, OKC

 

March 28

Maundy Thursday

St. Paul's Cathedral, OKC

 

March 29

Good Friday

St. Paul's Cathedral, OKC

 

March 30

Easter Vigil

St. Paul's Cathedral

 

March 31

Easter

St. Paul's Cathedral

 

Save the Date

 

 

April 26 - 28 

Altered (formerly Vocare)

St. Crispin's

 

May 2 - 4

Men's Retreat

St. Crispin's

 

August 2 - 4

Happening 10th - 12th Graders

All Souls' Church

Oklahoma City, OK

 

August 15 - 17

EFM Mentor Training

St. Crispin's

 

Upcoming Diocese Events

 

To register or for more information please go onto the Dicoesan Web Site  below or call the local congregation:

 

Altered/Vocare

April 26-28, 2013

Open for Young Adults 19 - 30

http://tinyurl.com/aqvv8uj  

 

 

 

New Web Sites and Links

Kevin Martin, Diocesan Congregational Development Officer's Blog
www.kevinoncong.blogspot.com


                            

Companion Diocese Uruguay

Uruguay

     two bishops

 

 

Holy God, source of healing and of peace, bless with your grace the companion dioceses of  Oklahoma and Uruguay. Through our partnership one with another may we grow in mutual affection and communion, seek a more profound experience of truth, build up the Church in unity and give glory to Jesus Christ our Saviour. Amen.

 

 

Web site for Diocese of Uruguay: 

 

 http://uruguay.anglican.org/

 


 
The Next Issue of this Newsletter will be on Friday, 
April 5, 2013.
 

We Are Epiok.org

March 28, 2013

Issue 12

Diocesan Offices Closed - Our offices will be closed on March 29, in observance of Good Friday. We will reopen on Monday, April 1, at 9 a.m.

We wish you and your family a blessed and Holy Easter!
TopNews, Events, and Offerings  
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop's Easter Message 2013
"Easter celebrates the victory of light and life over darkness and death"

Rejoice, rejoice and sing, rejoice and be glad... for earth and heaven are joined and humanity is reconciled to God! [1]
As the Lenten season ends in Easter rejoicing, note what has been wrought in you this year. A remarkable cross-section of America has been practicing Lenten disciplines, even some who are not active Christians. [2] There is a deep hunger in our collective psyche to re-orient our lives toward life and light, healing and peace. We share a holy hunger for clarity about what is good and life-giving, and we yearn to re-focus on what is most central and important in life.

Easter celebrates the victory of light and life over darkness and death. God re-creates and redeems all life from dead, dry, and destroyed bones. We are released from the bonds of self-obsession, addiction, and whatever would steal away the radical freedom of God-with-us. Our lives re-center in what is most holy and creative, the new thing God is continually doing in our midst. Practicing vulnerability toward the need and hunger of others around us, we have cultivated compassionate hearts. We join in baptismal rebirth in the midst of Jesus' own passing-over.
The wonder of the resurrection is upon us once more. May we embrace God's ever-new life with every cell of our being, every yearning of our soul, and every muscle of our will. Christ is risen, death is vanquished, humanity is restored to holy and creative relationship with God's ongoing and eternal liveliness. Praise God who brings light out of darkness, life out of death, and newness out of the stale and moribund. Alleluia! Christ is risen!

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church 
Give Us Your Best Shot!

The Diocese of Oklahoma would like to share the best and most creative images of Holy Week or Easter Sunday at its parishes.
So we invite you to take your best shot and share it with us at sevans@epiok.org. We will share as many as we can via the diocesan website, our next newsletter, and our Facebook page.

Please title the photo, include the name and city of your parish, and the name of the photographer. If your photo includes identifiable minors be sure you have the appropriate parental permission. 
The Annual ECW Conference and Bishop's Day
 
ECW Convention
The 76th Annual Conference and 
Bishop's Day of the Episcopal Church Women, Diocese of Oklahoma-April 26-27, 2013 at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, 555 East Third St., Grove, Oklahoma. Their theme is, "Living Water-Living Word".

The Keynote Speaker, The Reverend Susan Smith, is currently the Rector of St. Alban's Episcopal Church, Bexley, Ohio. Rev. Smith was a Colleague at Women's Spirituality in Kansas City, and she is member at North American Academy of Liturgy. She served as Ass't Prof of preaching and worship at Saint Paul School of Theology and is a participant in pre-tenure faculty group with Toni Craven at Wabash Center for Teaching in Theology and Religion.

Information packets were emailed to all congregations and clergy this week. Packets were snail mailed to congregations without email. 
 
Questions, contact Fran Rahn, Parish Secretary, St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, (918-786-4113), saecgrove@sbcglobal.net.
St. Michael's, Norman, Spring Serenade, Sunday, April 17, 7 p.m.

On Sunday April 17th at 7 p.m., St. Cecilia's Music Guild of St. Michael's, Norman, will sponsor a truly special fundraiser to showcase our wonderful choir singers. They will sing secular selections from operas, operettas, Broadway and ballads,as well as light sacred choral selections.

After the concert, champagne and strawberry shortcake will be served by Catering Creations in the gathering space.

We are selling tickets for $25 (of which $10 is a charitable donation). Seating for refreshments is strictly limited so reserve your space early. Sunday, April 7th will be the last day to buy a ticket. For information about this event or the guild, please contact Dave Zittel at 405-834-8764 or dzittel@earthlink.net 
Interfaith Dinner Forum - May 26, 2013
 
Theme:  Sacred Texts and Their Interpretation - Join us for an evening with select religious speakers who will share insight into their "scriptures" and other writings used in their worship and the practice of their particular faith traditions. 

Sponsored by Oklahoma Conference of Church's Religions United Committee

6 - 6:50 p.m.  Heavy Hors d'Oevres
6:50 - 8 p.m.  Program

First Unitarian Church of Oklahoma City (Daniel Hall) 600 NW 13th Street, OKC, OK.

Speakers include:  Rabbi Vered Harris (Temple B'nai Israel) The Rev. Kris Ladusau (The Dharma Center of Oklahoma), and The Refv. Jonalu Johnston (First Unitarian Church of OKC), 

Registration Fee $15, $10 for students. Click here http://okchurches.org/upcoming-events/ to register. 
United Methodist offer Social Justice Retreat April 19 - 20
scale of justice
 
At this retreat, they will ask, "How does faith connect with social justice?"

Retreat Leaders: Rev Brian McLaren, (internationally known author, speaker, activist, and networker among innovative Christian leaders), Carrie Newcomer (described as a "soaring songstress by Billboard) and preaching, Bishop Robert E. Hayes, Jr., Oklahoma Area- UMC. To be held at the Canyon Camp and Conference Center, Hinton, OK. Register on line at www.okumc.org/church_society.   

Registration begins at 5 p.m. and ends with closing communion at 3 p.m. on Saturday. Lodge space is full but there is plenty of cabin space.
Department of Pastoral Care Presents - Hospice Foundation of America's 20th Annual Living with Grief Program

Improving Care for Veterans Facing Illness and Death
Thursday, April 25
1 to 4 p.m.
INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center
Auditorium
3300 NW Expressway * Oklahoma City
Located on the concourse level of the hospital 
 
army boots and flag
This program will focus on the aging veteran population, primarily those who served in Vietnam, Korea and World War II. Issues such as military culture, trauma and PTSD, stoicism, forgiveness, pain management and grief will be addressed in the context of serious and life-limiting illness.

In addition to individual interventions, the program also will look organizationally at military benefits and intersections with VA systems. Finally, the program explores the traditions and sensitivities of grieving families and resources that can assist them. The information provided by the expert panel will be useful to clinicians, administrators, and other staff working in hospice and palliative care, hospitals, long-term care and assisted living facilities.

PROGRAM FORMAT - Improving Care for Veterans Facing Illness and Death is available via a 2.5-hour DVD program with national experts.

LOW COST CE CREDITS AVAILABLE - Three hours of CE credit are available for nurses, social workers, counselors, clergy, and more. CE credits are available from the Hospice Foundation of America. There is a $35 online processing fee per certificate. CE instructions will be provided to you on the day of the program.

* Frank Sesno - Director of the School of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University
National Expert Panelists
* Scott T. Shreve, D.O. - National Director, Hospice and Palliative Care, Department of Veterans Affairs
* Deborah Grassman, ARNP - Author, Lecturer, Consultant, Department of Veterans Affairs
* Kenneth J. Doka, Ph.D., M.Div. - Professor of Gerontology, The College of New Rochelle, and Senior Consultant, Hospice Foundation of America
* Paul Tschudi, M.A., Ed.S., LPC - Assistant Professor/Director, The George Washington University, and Vietnam veteran
* Ryan Weller, M.S.W., LCSW - Palliative Care Program Manager, Portland, Oregon VA Medical Center

To register for this free conference, please call the INTEGRIS HealthLine at 405-951-2277 or toll free at 888-951-2277.

The first 100 registering by April 11, 2013, will receive, free of charge, the companion book, "Living With Grief: Improving Care for Veterans Facing Illness or Death," thanks to a generous gift from the INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center Volunteer Auxiliary.

If you have any questions, please call the Pastoral Care office at INTEGRIS Baptist Medical Center at 405-949-3195. 
Episcopal Night with the Thunder a Success!
 
Last Friday night was Episcopal Night with the Thunder. As a part of our ticket package, youth under the age of 16 had the opportunity to participate in two fan appreciation activities: Thunder bench warmers and Hi-Five the opposing team. They all received tee-shirts for their participation, then watched the Thunder beat the Orlando Magic!
thunder 2     thunder 1 
thunder 4    thunder 6
Episcopal Men's Retreat

Bishop Ed The Diocese of Oklahoma Men's Retreat is set for May 2 - 4, 2013, at St. Crispin's. It begins with supper on Thursday and ends with lunch on Saturday. The Right Rev. Dr. Edward Konieczny will be the retreat chaplain. The cost for 2 nights and 6 meals is $135 for a double room and $170 for a single. Click here for the registration form. 
Saint Simeon's Staff Member Named Employee of the Year by LeadingAge Oklahoma

saint simeon's

Saint Simeon's employee Teresa Reno has been named Resident Services Employee of 2013 by LeadingAge Oklahoma. Teresa was selected to receive the award out of all resident services employees at not-for-profit senior living communities in Oklahoma.

LeadingAge Oklahoma is the state association of not-for-profit organizations dedicated to establishing the highest standards of excellence for services to the aging in Oklahoma. Teresa was honored during the LeadingAge Oklahoma Awards Program on March 12 at the Oklahoma History Museum in Oklahoma City.

In her role as Activities Coordinator at Saint Simeon's,Teresa is responsible for ensuring that appropriate activities are scheduled in Assisted Living, the Health Care Center, and the Memory Center, and that the Life Enrichment staff has the materials and equipment to do their jobs. Altogether, Teresa coordinates more than 450 activity opportunities for residents at Saint Simeon's and in the community each month. Teresa has been a Saint Simeon's employee for more than 15 years.

Among her many activities with residents, Teresa is involved in arts and crafts, cooking projects, and the "Stitch in Time" crafting group. The "Stitch in Time" group spends much of its time focused on helping those outside Saint Simeon's. The group has made weighted blankets for the developmentally challenged children of the Little Lighthouse and has also made fleece blankets for the underserved children of the Crosstown Childcare Center.

"Teresa's heart is always looking for ways to meet the personal desires of our Residents," said Chris Gruszeczki, Administrator at Saint Simeon's. "She lives each day to ensure other's lives, both Residents and fellow employees, are the very best they can be."
Episcopal Church Scholarship Program

The Episcopal Church Center makes available a modest number of scholarships that assist students primarily enrolled in theological education and training. Several other trusts benefit children of current and former missionaries.

Funding for the program is derived from annual income of designated trust funds established by generous donors. The oldest scholarship trust fund, The Mary E. Hinman Fund, was established in 1879. Currently there are forty-three trust funds available for scholarships.

The program is administered by a Scholarship Committee composed of the Director of Mission; the Director of Human Resources Management; and representatives from various ministries at the Episcopal Church Center and the Treasurer's Office.

Awards are made in accordance with the criteria established for each trust fund and after a thorough review of the applicant's financial need. Each award is based on availability of funds. Awards may be granted annually for no more than four years.

Effective 2013, the Scholarship Committee will meet once a year to review applications and award scholarship. Applications for scholarships must be received by April 30 for the next academic year (which typically begins in September).

If you are interested in seeing the scholarships available, please click here.
Education for Ministry (EfM) Gathering of Mentors, Participants, Grads, and Possible Participants!
  
EFM As you have been seeing in the newsletter for the past couple of weeks, EfM will be having some changes coming soon. We are fortunate in this diocese to have two individuals who have had close ties with EfM for many years, and in fact, one has been a author in the EfM program since 1970!

Angela Hock and Rick Brewer will be leading us in a discussion of the changes, and how it will impact your present groups.

The event is open to anyone interested in EfM.

We will meet on June 29, 2013, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Diocesan Offices. There is a cost of $15 to cover your meal and handouts. You can get a registration form by clicking here.
Slay the Dragon of Poverty Fundraiser

St George and dragon The Guild of St. George "Slay the Dragon of Poverty" fundraiser is set for April 18, 2013, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Dean Wiley Hall, St. Paul's Cathedral, Oklahoma City, OK. Last year, $47,000 was raised for the guild to put back into the community. 

The Guild of St. George tries to meet the critical needs of those who live at the edge of poverty in our community. This Episcopal outreach is a joint project of Episcopal churches in the metropolitan area. The Guild provides food, help with utility bills, bus tokens, and deposits for public housing and assists with medical prescriptions, Oklahoma identification cards and birth certificates. Since 1983 the Guild has served over 100,000 people.

For more information, contact Melody Bereman: melodybereman@yahoo.com
Episcopal Night with the Drillers!

episcopal night - drillers

The tickets have been reserved by Christ Church but each church should collect their own money and ticket reservations and then contact Christ Church to give them updates. At the end, you can send them one check for the cost of the tickets. Questions?Contact Everett Lees. Thanks!

Vicar, Christ Church Tulsa
www.christchurchtulsa.org
10901 S Yale Ave
Tulsa, OK 74137
918-299-7510
Stewardship and Development - Free Resources

Stewardship 

It was great meeting everyone at the Vestry Academy. There were a few questions regarding free resources available to your congregation. You'll find my "go to" list below. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 405-232-4820 or via email at eabernathy@epiok.org.

Google Grants - This might be the highest value item on this list. It's also the most exclusive. Non-profit organizations, meeting Google's eligibility requirements may apply for a grant to receive up to $10,000 of free Adwords advertising per month. Yes, that's ten thousand dollars worth of advertising free for your church!

Adwords is Google's advertising program. You bid on keywords to have your ads appear alongside search results for those keywords. It's pay-per-click advertising, which means you only pay when someone clicks on your ad. In addition to targeting keywords you can exclude keywords or target your campaigns to specific geographic areas. Adwords is an effective way to advertise any size website.

Google Grants is not open to everyone, but most community organizations and advocacy groups should be eligible to apply. They also expect you to make use of the free account and may terminate it if you let it go dormant.

Grassroots.org - Does free search engine optimization (SEO), graphic design, and fundraising tools sound good to you? Register at www.grassroots.org and get connected to volunteers who will help you with everything your church could possible need.

Google Search Video Creator - Google Search Video Creator allows you to create a mission or promo video in minutes.

Animoto.com Nonprofit Program  - Animoto automatically turns your images, video clips and music into stunning videos. You can convey a message with the right balance of information and emotional connection

EventBrite - EventBrite is a simple but powerful tool to manage, promote and sell your events. It is perfect for registering people for your events online.

Wordpress - Blogging is a great way to get your message out. At Wordpress, they make it easy and free. Readers are also allowed to post comments.

Mailchimp - If you have fewer than 2,000 subscribers, you can send up to 12,000 emails per month absolutely free. There's no expiring trial, contract, or credit card required.
Whole Creation Community - Jesus Remember Me

Whole Creation Community is a spiritual community that brings together people of faith who will commit themselves to praying for God's creation, teaching stewardship of God's creation, and whole creation community working to sustain God's creation. Please join us daily on facebook http://stpaulsokc.org/whole-creation for daily meditations. 

Below is a meditation/ reflection posted last week by Fr. Shelby Scott, St. Patrick's-Broken Arrow.

Driving down the Creek Turnpike the scenery is a blur at sixty miles an hour. The rate of travel is vastly different when riding bicycles; at this slower pace, plastic water bottles and discarded bags caught in the underbrush are noticed. Blazing down the highway it is easy not to see the dishonoring of creation caused by our wanton consumption. Jogging on the same exercise trail, even thrown cigarette butts are noticeable as well as the broken glass from discarded beer bottles. Awareness is inversely proportional to the pace of our journey. "This fragile earth our Island home" would benefit from our slowing down this last bit of Lent, and opening our eyes to see the impact of our actions.            Shelby Scott

Focus Stories - Please join Whole Creation Community at St. Paul's Cathedral-OKC for a Taize service April 7th at 5:00 pm. After the service we will have a potluck in Dean Willey Hall. You are encouraged to bring dishes that do not need to be warmed up (i.e., salads, desserts). Please RSVP to Ferrella March Ferrella@hotmail.com by April 5th if you plan to attend. All are welcome!  

Taize has Western European origins, but it has become popular worldwide. The songs usually consist of simple phrases, usually lines from Psalms or other pieces of scripture, repeated and sometimes also sung in canon. The readings and chants for the service on April 7th will be centered on thankfulness for and stewardship of Creation.

For more information on Taize, go to http://www.taize.fr/en. Here is an example of what you might expect:

http://stpaulsokc.org/taize-prayer

http://tiny.cc/4gfmuw

http://tiny.cc/cifmuw

http://tiny.cc/zifmuw

GreenScope Human beings are part of Creation too, and here are some ideas for keeping our personal space free of toxic cleaners that we've come to take all too much for granted! http://www.care2.com/causes/3-tips-for-eco-friendly-spring-cleaning.html                          Tip submitted by Joyce Gibb

If you have a story or green tip you would like to submit, please contact me.
  

Contact Information:   
Ferrella March  
Ferrella@hotmail.com 
405-397-7960 
Safeguarding God's Children Training Opportunities
Safeguarding
 
April 6th
9 a.m.
St. Luke's, Bartlesville
Contact Lauri Watkins to register 
Lauri-watkins@sbcglobal.net
 
April 21st

St. Michael's, Norman
2: 00 p.m.
Contact Amy Gardner to register: awgardner@yahoo.com

 

May 18th

9 a.m.

St. Luke's, Bartlesville

Contact Lauri Watkins to register 
Lauri-watkins@sbcglobal.net

Oklahoma Episcopal Youth Events 

 

Youth

Acolyte Masters - National Acolyte Festival Scheduled

Each year, Washington National Cathedral is host to the National Acolyte Festival. This year's festival is scheduled for October 12. 

In the past, St. John's, OKC, has taken their acolytes to this incredible event. We are hoping that we will have others from throughout the Diocese be able to attend. 

If you are interested in taking your acolytes, please contact Sabrina Evans. We have set aside some funding to help with transportation and would like to connect together all interested Acolyte Masters and seeing how this might become a reality. 
Diocesan Acolyte Festival Scheduled 
 
Acolyte festival 2012

No, you have not missed it! Calendering issues, the Diocesan Acolyte Festival was moved to October 19, 2013. It will be held at St. Paul's Cathedral, OKC. Please get this on your schedules and watch for more information soon!
Episcopal Youth Event 2014

Calendar it now! July 9 - 13, 2014, in Philadelphia, PA. We will want to take a group from this Diocese!
Dates of Interest

Happening for 10th - 12th Graders - August 2 - 4, All Souls' Episcopal Church, OKC, OK.
Countdown to Summer Camp
 
64
 Days to Go!

 
Summer Camper Registration Forms Now On-Line

Yes, everything you need to register for Summer Camp 2013 is now on-line. Camp sessions are as follows:
  Summer Camp 2013 logo
May 31 - June 1 ABC (overnight camp for children who have finished Kindergarten through 2nd grade) and a parent/guardian. This gives the child and parent a taste of the camp experience. Campers stay in cabins with other campers, swim, make crafts, and play like big campers!
June 2 - 8 Sr. High (10th - 12th graders) 
June 9 - 15 8th and 9th graders 
June 16 - 22 3rd - 5th graders 
June 23 - 29 6th and 7th graders 
June 30 - July 6 8th and 9th graders 
July 7 - 13 3rd - 5th graders 
July 14 - 20 6th and 7th graders
Young Adult/Campus Ministry News 


Altered: A Retreat for Young Adults 19-30

Who is God calling you to be? Come explore this question April 26-28, 20-13, at St. Crispin's. 

 

Young adultsThis is a weekend of exploring your faith, personal growth, meeting other young adults, worshiping God, singing, reconnecting with God, thinking about your life purpose, stepping back from your busy life, and especially relaxing. This retreat is run by and for young adults, led by Episcopal lay and clergy leaders from around the diocese. Go to: http://www.epiok.org/Christian%20Formation/vocare.html for additional information and registration form.
Pilgrimage to Taize in South Dakota

There is no churchwide Young Adult gathering this year, but we encourage you to think about making a pilgrimage to Taize in South Dakota. The event is being partially organized by the young adults of the Episcopal Diocese of South Dakota and the Brothers of the Taize Community in France. Go to:
 
The Rev. Tracey Carroll attended one of these events in the past and stated, "When you're singing these incredible prayers with over 2000 others in different languages... well, it feels a little like heaven....you really get a sense of prayers that never cease....and the brothers are so kind and wonderful...and funny.   An experience I will never forget."  She provided this video link for more!   http://vimeo.com/61850341. 
Christian Formation Resources
Ascension, Pentecost, and St. George's Day 
 
Godly Play has a phrase 'The mystery of Easter is so great that it cannot be kept in one Sunday - it spills over into 7 Sundays'. And towards the end of Eastertide we have the great celebrations of Ascension and Pentecost. Now's a good time to start planning ahead for them and you'll find plenty of  information from these links found in Going for Growth!


St. George's Day23rd April is St. George's Day. With St George being the patron saint of the Scouting Movement, you may find that this would be a great time to recognize all those in scouting! Click here for ideas. 
Free World Religions Expo
 
Interfaith symbols 
 
Interested in Religions? Come and learn about other Religions and Christian Denominations on Sunday, April 7, 2013, 2 p.m. until 5 p.m.at the Lower Level of the Chapel at Oklahoma City University. For more information, call 405 208 5284. 
Eboo Patel Coming to Oklahoma City University
 
The author of Acts of Faith will be at the Oklahoma City University as part of their Distinguished Speakers Series with the Interfaith Alliance on Wednesday, October 23, 2013, 7:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public. Eboo Patel

Study groups are being organized across Oklahoma so that people may have the opportunity to discuss Mr. Patel's insightful ideas about interfaith relationships. He is one of the most prominent faith leaders in the United States. Acts of Faith is his story of growing up Muslim in America and how he came to believe in religious pluralism. His highly acclaimed book is a hopeful and moving testament to the power and passion of young people. He lists as the core components of interfaith cooperation (for all ages) as:

Respect of religious identity
Mutually inspiring relationships
Common Action for the common good

Named by US News & World Report as one of America's Best Leaders, Eboo Patel is the founder and president of Interfaith Youth Core, based in Chicago.You can learn more about him and his mission at www.ifyc.org.

If your congregation decides to form a study group with other churches in your city, there are resources available to help open the dialogue. Please contact Sabrina Evans (sevans@epiok.org) for a copy. 
Family Blessing Bowl

This prayer idea comes from Vibrant Faith  http://store.vibrantfaith.org/product_p/mbam.htm - however you and your family could make your own family blessing bowl. 
blessing bowl
This beautiful, handcrafted bowl not only adds a lovely decorative touch to any home, but holds special meaning to the family that owns it. Milestones Blessing Bowls are designed to remind us of those meaningful moments that make up our lives.

Place the bowl in the family room, by the dinner table, or next to the bed - any place you might see it and reflect on the many milestones in your life. This simple bowl filled with stones is a perfect reminder to share our faith stories with our families, and an excellent way to begin meaningful conversations with guests.

The ceramic stones that you place in the bowl depict various family faith milestones. The symbol on each stone also corresponds with the same symbol featured on the mat. Each stone has its own meaning, such as beginnings, gratitude, remembering, quests, loss, etc. When you hold one of these stones, you are invited to share your stories, thoughts, and prayers related to the stone's meaning.

Here are a few suggestions for using the Milestones Blessing Bowl:

At a family gathering, invite each person to pick a stone and share a recent milestone experience.
Carry a stone in your pocket as a reminder of the people and the God whose love goes with you.
Pick a stone at random and pray for the life situation that comes to mind.
Pass the blessing bowl at the dinner table and have every family member share a story of his or her day.
Have children match the stones to the pictures on the mat. Discuss the meaning of each stone.
Build a collection by adding a pebble, shell or small memento to the bowl that holds a special memory. 

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