The Diocese of the Episcopal Church of Louisiana
EDoLA News: a monthly e-newsletter of the Diocese of LouisianaVolume 8, Issue 11
December 2014
Advent Message from Bishop Thompson

 

Bishop Morris Thompson "His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."  Matthew 3:12

 

 

Chaff, that part of the grain that Jesus says is useless and will be separated from the wheat and burned eternally.  I've never heard this piece of scripture the way I have this morning, that is, I am both wheat and chaff.  Chaff is a protective covering over the seed or grain.  As the plant grows, the chaff is naturally separated so only the wheat is used.  In the beginning chaff is useful, protecting the fruit for birth.  Without this thin covering the seed might be bruised or harmed or deemed unworthy of being used. 

 

In the beginning of our lives we need protection, people to keep us from harm because we are helpless.  Our understanding at that moment is what we need at that moment.  But as we grow, choices that were made for us now become our choices to do what we deem necessary.  These knowings become shadowy and uncertain.  This is maturity moving forward, growth taking roots.  We begin to choose what is left behind and what is kept.  Learnings that once made sense to us, gave us courage to enter another day may not give us such hope.  We must decide if we want to keep the old shell that protected us or to shed these shells and allow new growth to take place, growth that breathes hope and new beginnings.

 

It seems to me this understanding is the gift of Advent, to reflect upon the chaff in my life that needs to be thrown into the fire, the fire husking away obsolete meaning, and seek new discernment that bids me deeper into the Great Mystery. If I am honest there is much in my life that needs to be stripped away.  Oh, to have a new heart, new eyes, new ears and a new mouth to praise God, to live with generous hope. 

 

Lord, take the chaff in my life this Advent time and burn it until there is newness of hope and courage, of forgiveness and grace.  Burn away from me all that is burden so I may be ready to receive new birth, to receive Emmanuel.  

 
Announcements from the Bishop's Office
Community Mission Appeal 
2014 Grant Application Now Available

 

The Community Mission Appeal, formerly known as the BAMA Fund, has been established in order to help parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana to serve God through reaching out to their neighbors who are most in need. Application materials are available at www.edola.org/cma-grant, and applications are due by January 30, 2015.  

 

 

Please include the Community Mission Appeal in your year-end and Christmas giving. To make a tax-deductible donation, visit http://www.edola.org/cma, or mail your check (with "Community Mission Appeal Donation" written in the memo line) to the following address:

 

Community Mission Appeal

Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana

1623 7th Street            

New Orleans, LA 70115

 

Contact Max Niedzwiecki at [email protected] for further information.

 


Diocesan Convention February 27 & 28, 2015
Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans

 

The 178th Diocesan of the Diocese of the Episcopal Church of Louisiana, hosted by Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans, will be February 27 and 28, 2015. 

 

For information contact:
Joy Shackelford

1623 Seventh Street

New Orleans, LA 70115

Phone: 504-895-6634  Fax: 985-895-6634

[email protected]

 

http://www.edola.org/2015-convention is the official point of distribution for material related to the Convention.

Pre-Convention Meetings


 

Please join Bishop Thompson and Canon Manning to learn more about the proposed budget, Diocesan initiatives, and information about Diocesan Convention. 

 

January 7, 2015 at 6:00 PM

Pre-convention at St. James Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge

 

January 8, 2015 at 6:00 PM

Pre-convention at meeting St. Augustine Episcopal Church, Metairie

 

January 14, 2015 at 6:00 PM

Pre-convention meeting at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, Mandeville

 

January 22, 2015 from 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM 

Clergy gathering at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, Metairie

 

Call for Exhibitors/Vendors for Diocesan Convention

 

Information on registering as an exhibitor /vendor for the upcoming Diocesan Convention can be downloaded by clicking here.  

 

Diocesan Convention will be held Friday, February 27 and Saturday, February 28 at Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans.

 

Registration forms are due January 12 to Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave, New Orleans, LA 70130. For more information, please contact Sharon Weathersby at [email protected] or 601-606-9538.

 

Annual Report Materials Mailed

 

The Annual Report instructions and forms have been mailed to each church. For any questions or information, please contact the Rev'd Canon Shannon Manning at 504-895-6634 or [email protected]. 

Feast of Blessed Frances Joseph Gaudet

 



All are invited to attend the annual feast of Blessed Frances Joseph Gaudet, educator and prison reformer. She is also the only person from Louisiana on the Calendar of Holy Women, Holy Men. The diocese is honored to carry on her legacy through a trust in her name. Come celebrate and learn more about this remarkable woman. 

 

Sunday, December 28, 2014 at 5:00 PM

St. Luke's Episcopal Church

1222 N Dorgenois St, New Orleans

 

Reception following in Gaudet Hall

Gaudet Community Grants Now Available

 

The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana desires to fund not-for-profit agencies that create, manage, and expand educational opportunities for African American children within the Diocese of Louisiana. Not-for-profit organizations and agencies are eligible and encouraged to apply.

 

Grant applications are now available and carry the application deadline of January 31. The period of funding is for one calendar year, and grants may be applied for annually. Programs that receive Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana funds may be required to submit an external program evaluation, quarterly financial statements, an end of year Income & Expense statement, and/or periodic progress reports.

 

The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is proud to honor the legacy of Mrs. Frances Joseph Gaudet, a turn-of-the century educator and activist. Mrs. Gaudet had the wisdom to leave her trust to the Episcopal Church in such a way that her mission would continue to find new ways of expression in changing times. Mrs. Gaudet dedicated her life to building alliances with people of every race and class. The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is committed to keeping her purpose alive.

 

Grant applications are available for download here. More information on the Gaudet Fund can be found on the diocesan website here. 

 

United Thank Offering Provides Special Anniversary Grants for Young Adults

 

[December 1, 2014] In honor of its 125th anniversary, the United Thank Offering has created a special $1250 grant for young adults (ages 21-30) to provide start-up funds for a new project that focuses on any of theFive Marks of Mission.

One grant will be awarded in each of the nine provinces of The Episcopal Church.

Deadline for young adults to submit applications to their diocesan bishop is February 1, 2015. From there, bishops will select one application per diocese. Applications are due from the diocesan offices on February 15.


 

Application and additional information are available here.

 

The funds are not permitted to the continuation of on-going ministries.

A video of the start-ups will be showcased at the 78th General Convention in Salt Lake City, UT in June/July 2015.


 

For more information contact the Rev. Heather Melton, United Thank Offering coordinator, [email protected].


 

Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally.


 

The Five Marks of Mission are:
To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom
To teach, baptize and nurture new believers
To respond to human need by loving service
To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation
To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth
2015 United Thank Offering Grants

 

In recognizing the Five Marks of Mission, especially "to seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation", the United Thank Offering is seeking to address the current culture of violence by supporting the mission of peace as expressed in the Gospel. The Gospel of Love proclaimed by Jesus Christ is the focus for the United Thank Offering Grants during the 2014-2015 period.


 

The 2015 United Thank Offering Grant Application is now available. The following information should be helpful in preparing a United Thank Offering grant application. All additional forms necessary for the completion of a United Thank Offering Grant are also included below. The deadline for submission of a completed application (and required documents) is 5pm (EST) on Friday, January 15, 2015.

 

If you need assistance or have questions about the application, please contact Heather Melton, United Thank Offering Coordinator.
 

More information and forms available here.
 


Listen to a Festival of 
Nine Lessons & Carols 
from 
Christ Church Cathedral
on Dec. 14, 2014

 

 

Christmas Services throughout 
the Diocese of Louisiana

 

stained-glass-header.jpg

O God, you make us glad by the yearly festival of the birth of your only Son Jesus Christ: Grant that we, who joyfully receive him as our Redeemer, may with sure confidence behold him when he comes to be our Judge; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

View a list of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services on our 

Bishop's Office Holiday Schedule 
  

The Bishop's Office will be closed for the following days during the Christmas and New Year Holiday:

 

December 17 (from 10:30 AM on)  
Staff Christmas Party


December 24 - December 26  
Christmas Holiday


December 31 - January 2   
New Year Holiday

 

Clergy Anniversaries
December 1

The Rev'd Don Campbell- Priest

Deacon Elaine Clements- Deacon

Deacon Mark Hudson- Deacon 

Deacon Joyce Eskamire-Jackson- Deacon
Deacon Charmaine Kathmann- Deacon
Archdeacon Priscilla Maumus- Deacon

The Rev'd Richard Moore- Priest 
The Rev'd Bill Terry- Deacon 

   
 
December 2

The Rt. Rev'd Morris K. Thompson, Jr.- Deacon

 
December 4

Deacon Jay Albert- Deacon

The Rev'd Denny Allman- Priest

Deacon Elizabeth Becker- Deacon
 

The Very Rev'd Susan Gaumer- Priest
The Rev'd Watson Lamb- Priest

Deacon Camille Wood- Deacon 


 

December 5

The Rev'd Mary Hardy- Priest


December 6

The Rev'd Harry Jenkins- Priest
The Rev'd Rodney Roehner- Priest 


December 8

The Rev'd Patrick Edwards- Priest
The Rev'd Minka Sprague- Deacon 

 
December 9

The Rev'd LeBaron Taylor- Priest


December 10

The Rev'd Travers Koerner- Priest
The Rev'd Hal Roark- Priest 


December 12

The Very Rev'd Paul Bailey- Priest

The Very Rev'd Craig Dalferes- Priest
The Rev'd Canon John Kellogg- Priest 
The Rev'd James Morrison- Deacon
The Rev'd Ted Petterson- Priest 


December 13

The Rev'd Stephen Craft- Priest
The Rev'd Cal Lane- Priest 


December 15

The Rt Rev'd James Brown- Priest

The Very Rev'd Henry Hudson- Priest

The Rev'd Terence Johnston- Priest
The Rev'd Roman Roldan- Priest 


December 16

The Rev'd Canon Shannon Manning- Priest


December 17

The Very Rev'd Mark Holland- Priest
The Rev'd Richard Rowland- Priest 
The Rev'd Mitch Smith- Deacon 

The Rev'd Alina Williams- Deacon


December 18

The Rev'd Prentiss Dunn- Priest


December 19

The Rev'd Floyd Knox- Priest


December 20

Deacon Patsy Lyle- Deacon


December 21

The Rev'd Jay Angerer- Priest 

The Rev'd Carl Cannon- Priest
The Very Rev'd Ronald Clingenpeel- Priest 

The Rev'd Fred Devall- Priest
The Rev'd Gene Haddock- Priest

The Rev'd Dan Krutz- Priest 
The Rev'd Jerry Phillips- Deacon 

The Rev'd Phillip Thomas- Priest


December 27

The Rev'd Rob Courtney- Deacon

Deacon Alyce Jefferson- Deacon
The Rev'd Peggy Scott- Deacon 


December 28

The Rev'd Stephen Crawford-Deacon
 

The Rev'd Richard Easterling- Deacon

The  Rev'd A.J. Heine- Deacon


 

December 29

The Rev'd Howard Bushey- Priest
The Rev'd Howard L'Enfant- Priest 
The Rev'd Winston Rice- Deacon 

The Rev'd Canon Mark Stevenson- Deacon


December 30

The Rev'd Nelson Tennison- Deacon


 

January 1

The Rt. Rev'd Joe Doss- Priest
The Rev'd James Douglas- Priest 

The Rev'd Richard Hicks- Priest
The Rev'd Will Hood- Priest
The Rev'd Ronald Whitmer- Priest


January 4
The Rev'd Don Brown- Deacon
The Rev'd Anthony Klaas- Priest
The Rev'd Katherine Sharp- Priest

January 5
The Rev'd Doug Lasiter- Priest
 
January 6
The Rev'd Daniel Hanna- Priest 

 

Press Releases From The Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop's 
Christmas Message 2014

[December 8, 2014] Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, in her Christmas Message 2014 prays: "May Christ be born anew in you this Christmastide.  May his light burn in you, and may you labor to spread it in the darkness."
 
Applications now accepted for Official Youth Presence at Episcopal Church General Convention 2015
Applications and nominations for high-school teens to participate in the General Convention Official Youth Presence (GCOYP) are now open. In collaboration with the General Convention Office and the President of the House of Deputies, the Office for Youth Ministries is coordinating the application and discernment process for high-school teens to become a part of the GCOYP. This group was established by a resolution at General Convention in 1982 and has been further defined at subsequent conventions, with legislation passed as recently as 2000. Those selected are limited to no more than two high school youth from each of the Episcopal Church's nine provinces, and are granted seat and voice on the floor of the House of Deputies under the current Rules or Order of the House of Deputies. More information.

Presiding Bishop's statement on the way forward from Ferguson

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has issued a statement on the way forward from Ferguson.


 

Resources for discussion available here
 


 
News From Around the Diocese
The Rev'd Rodney Roehner Called to Florida

 

The Rev'd Rodney Roehner, Associate Priest at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in New Orleans, has been called as rector of St. Paul's Episcopal Church in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Fr. Rodney celebrated his last service at St. Paul's, New Orleans, on November 30. 

 

Photo courtesy of St. Paul's Episcopal Church: Father Rodney (left) with his wife Carolina and daughters.

 

The Rev. Duane Nettles Installed as Rector of Church of the Annunciation

 

The Rev'd Duane Nettles was installed as rector of Church of the Annunciation, New Orleans, on Sunday, November 23, 2014. The Very Rev'd Henry Hudson preached. The Rt. Rev'd Morris K. Thompson officiated. 

 

The Rev'd LeBaron Taylor Resigns from All Saints, Ponchatoula

 

The Rev'd LaBaron Taylor resigned from All Saints Episcopal Church, Ponchatoula. He is currently serving as supply priest for Church of the Incarnation in Amite.

 

The Rev'd Maggie Dennis Resigns from St. Michael & All Angels, Baton Rouge

 

The Rev'd Maggie Dennis resigned from St. Michael & All Angels Episcopal Church in Baton Rouge.

 

The Rev'd Sharon Alexander Begins as Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church

 






Sunday, November 30, 2014, The Rev'd Sharon Alexander began her first Sunday as Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Baton Rouge. 

 

Photo courtesy of Trinity Episcopal Church: Mother Sharon Alexander (right) with Mother Margaret Austin (left), Pastoral Associate of Trinity.
 


 Invitation to Celebration of a New Ministry


 

Your prayers and presence are requested at the 

Celebration of a New Ministry:

The Induction and Institution of 
The Reverend Sharon A. Alexander 

as the Eighth Rector

 of Trinity Episcopal Church

0n Tuesday the thirteenth of January

in the year of Our Lord two thousand and fifteen

at six o'clock in the evening

3552 Morning Glory Avenue

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

 

Clergy, white stoles                     Reception to follow

The Rev'd Jim Morrison Begins as Rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church

 

Sunday, November 30, 2014, The Rev'd Jim Morrison began his first Sunday as rector of St. Andrew's Episcopal Church, New Orleans.  

 

 

 

Milenberg Joys at Chapel of the Holy Comforter

 

Sunday, November 9, at Chapel of the Holy Comforter, New Orleans-- The First Annual Milenberg Joys, reviving the high life that marked the area where Holy Comforter now stands before the Levee Board tore down the camps and filled in the edge of the lake; Music by the New Leviathan Oriental Fox-Trot Orchestra.

 

Christ Church Visited by Sera Jey Monastery

 


A group of Tibetan Monks from the Sera Jey Monastery in Mysore, India, visited Christ Episcopal Church and School, Covington, on November 13-16 as a part of their U.S. Tour. They are from a monastery in India that focuses on education. The monks toured Christ Episcopal School and created a sand mandala. After the 11:15 service on Sunday, November 16, there was a sweeping up ceremony and the sand was dispersed in the Bogue Falaya River.

 

The monks also performed a program of sacred music at Trinity Episcopal Church, New Orleans that same day.

 

Photo courtesy of the Rev'd Anne Maxwell. She is leading the group of monks to the river during the sweeping up ceremony. 

St Andrew's Family Fest at the New Orleans Po-Boy Festival

 

  Sunday, November 23, Family Fest at St. Andrew's Episcopal School, New Orleans- Those attending the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival were able to find a place to relax and still take part in the fun. The school had music, po-boys and activities for kids.


 

Photo courtesy of St. Andrew's Episcopal School.

 

Families Reunite: Immigrant Family Reunification Training at St. Augustine's



Monday, November 13, 2014, St. Augustine Episcopal Church, Metairie hosted Families Reunite: Immigrant Family Reunification Training for Trainers / Facilitators. The training qualified participants to facilitate parent education that address the issues of reuniting immigrant children with their families and/or caretakers. Over 60 people were in attendance, primarily social workers from the Jefferson Parish Public Schools. The program will continue in our diocese through the work of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, Metairie, who partner with Bissonet Plaza Elementary School to provide assistance to students where needed. The church has recently hired Melanie McGuire to act as a facilitator of the program.

 

Funding for the training was provided by Episcopal Relief and Development and the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana. 

 

Retired Clergy and Spouses Honored at Annual Evensong and Dinner at St. Anna's Episcopal Church, New Orleans

 


Wednesday, December 3, 2014, St. Anna's Episcopal Church, New Orleans--

Annual evensong and dinner honoring retired clergy, spouses, surviving spouses, and elders of the Church. Hosted by St. Anna's clergy, parishioners, and staff. 

 

Listen to the Treme Choir of St. Anna's at the Solemn Evensong (the Feast of St. Francis Xavier):

 

Nunc Dimittis Click here

Magnificat Click here

Lord's Prayer Click here
 

 

Teaming Together to Improve Taylor Park

from Holly Heine, Jericho Road Episcopal Housing Initiative

 

On December 6, 2014 the Hoffman Triangle Neighborhood Association teamed up with Jericho Road to build improvements at Taylor Park.  Work was completed on a community bulletin board and trash cans were painted and refurbished for the neighborhood park. Funding for this project was provided by the NCBI (Neighborhood Community Building Initiative) Grant which was distributed as a partnership between the City of New Orleans and NeighborWorks America. 


 

 

Christ Church, Slidell, to be a Host Congregation for Family Promise of St. Tammany

 

The Vestry of Christ Episcopal Church in Slidell recently voted to be a Host Congregation for Family Promise of St. Tammany. This exciting opportunity for Christian Service provides temporary evening shelter for families who are members of the community who have found themselves in unfortunate circumstances. This program will provide housing for up to fourteen people rotating between 13-14 host congregations throughout St. Tammany Parish. Family Promise is a national organization with over 185  affiliates in operation with other Louisiana affiliates in Lafayette and West Monroe. The program focuses on keeping families intact and provides dedicated case workers to make the family's homeless situation temporary. St. Tammany Family Promise is committed to starting operations in early 2015. For more information on Family promise, visit www.familypromise.org or call Krista Carpenter at (985)630-0223.

St. James Episcopal Church Christmas Feast for the Homeless
from the St. James Episcopal Church Facebook Page

 

Sunday, December 12, 2014- St. James Episcopal Church hosted their annual Christmas Feast for their homeless neighbors. Each December parishioners cook a traditional Christmas meal, provide entertainment, and give gifts of warm winter gear and toiletries. 

A Program of American Music at St. John's, Thibodaux

from St. John's Episcopal Church, Thibodaux

 

On Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2014, St. John's Episcopal Church hosted the Thibodaux Music Club. The program featured a concert by the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia music fraternity from Nicholls State University, with a program of American music. It was a great concert, and they surprised Ana Lorena Kearns (Music Club officer) by serenading her during the concert! Afterwards everyone shared coffee and treats in Horgan Hall.

Camp Kindness Veteran's Ministry

by Deacon Charmaine Kathmann, St. John's Episcopal Church, Kenner

 

After a lively service for veteran's day on Sunday morning at St. John's in Kenner, the two year old "Camp Kindness" Veteran's Ministry still marches along.  In the twilight hours on the eve of Veteran's Day, high school student Spencer Frame installed a sign and 22 American flags to represent each of the twenty-two veterans who take their life each day in the USA.  When people make their morning commutes to work and on errands along Williams Blvd. they cannot help but notice the 22 American flags in front of the church's parish hall.  This is a reminder that it is not just enough to say "Thanks for your service" once a year to our veterans, but to stand shoulder to shoulder with them as many follow a sad and lonely road back home from wars they fought.  There is help and that is why the hotline number (1-800-273-8255, #1) is on the sign by the American flags.  And in case any of the flags happen to walk away; we have plenty more in stock to make sure there are always 22 in front of the church.

 

In the past two years, St. John's Church has offered educational forums, collected items to furnish new apartments of formerly homeless veterans, bought school uniforms for veteran's children, bought Christmas toys for their children, furnished diapers and baby formula for veteran's newborns, connected veterans with the services they needed - often walking them there instead of just directing them, and of course being an advocacy center for veterans.  Some in the church have volunteered to count the homeless on cold nights in New Orleans and talk them into seeking shelter. 

 

Now St. John's is raising awareness that our heroes are not always cared for as well as most of us think they are.  A cadre of volunteers from St. John's Church attended the Homeless Stand-Down to help homeless veterans at the Community Resources and Response Center in New Orleans.  Our biggest hope is to open CAMP KINDNESS which will be a transitional housing center for formerly homeless veterans who are stabilized and whose physical and mental health is well enough that they are on their way to live in their own home.  St. John's will offer meals and case management and connect them with the resources they need to attain and keep an apartment or house to live in.  For those veterans who need it, St. John's has AA and NA groups who meet on the church premises seven days a week and these groups will be beneficial to some of the veterans.   St. John's in Kenner asks all Episcopal churches to keep the needs of our American veterans and their families in your prayers.  

 

Trinity Counseling and Training Center- Tips for Caregivers

from Trinity Counseling and Training Center

 

 

November was "National Family Caregivers Month"

 

TRINITY COUNSELING & TRAINING CENTER (TCTC) acknowledges those in the community who serve as caregivers for your loved ones.   We celebrate and honor your love, care, strength and steadfastness.  Below are a few tips for you to care for yourself in order to be the best caregiver for another.  TCTC will continue to offer a Care for the Caregiver Support Group each academic semester.  

 

 

"...the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you..."

2 Thessalonians 3:3

 

TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS

10 Tips for Effective Caregiving

1.      Become informed - Know as much as you can about the illness you're facing. Ask the doctors questions and use the internet as a resource.

2.     Communicate - Communicate how you and your loved ones are handling the ups and downs.

3.      Reach out for help - Just remember, you can't do it all on your own.

4.      Journal - Journal regularly, and seek help or support when needed.

5.      Build a support network - Form a network of support around your loved one. 

6.      Maintain a positive attitude - There are certainly ups and downs, good days and bad. The best gift you can give is a positive attitude.

7.      Get help navigating the maze - Take advantage of hospital and online resources to find the help you need.

8.      Take time off - Take a walk, go to the mall, or set up a standing date to thank yourself for your efforts.

9.      Trust your instincts - Go with your gut and you'll say - and do - the right thing.

10.  Spend quality time together - Find ways to enjoy each other's' company with games and other activities you once enjoyed.

 
St John's and Trinity Hold Joint Youth Lock-in

from St. John's Episcopal Church, Thibodaux, and Trinity Episcopal Church, Morgan City

 

Friday, Nov. 8, St. John's Episcopal Church in Thibodaux joined Trinity Episcopal in Morgan City for our first Youth Lock-In! It was great-- 25 young people, a dozen pizzas, and lots of fun. St. John's and Trinity share Rector Doug Lasiter, and we always have fun when we get together!

 

 

 

St. Matthew's School Students Give Christmas Cheer to Mariners

from St. Matthew's Episcopal School

 

The 4H Officers, Fr. Craig, and Coach along with Fr. Winston Rice and Michael Nation from the Seamen's Church Institute packaged Christmas boxes for mariners that will be away for Christmas. Inside each box, they put a knitted cap or scarf with a handmade Christmas card from the students and prayer cards from the Seamen's Church Institute.  These boxes will be sent out to the boats of Enterprise Marine and Tidewater.  Our students packaged 89 boxes.  


HTV was present and we were told that the footage would be in a Christmas program they will air closer to Christmas. 

It was a fun activity for the students and I am glad they were able to assist with such a kind project for our mariners.
 

 

Trinity and All Souls Celebrate Christmas Together in the Lower Ninth Ward

from Trinity Episcopal Church Facebook Page

 

Trinity Youth and kids at All Souls had a great time at their annual Christmas Celebration. A big thanks to all of our parishioners who bought gifts for the children.

 

 

 

The Bishop's New Shoes

 

 

The Bishop's colorful new shoes given to him by the students of St. James Episcopal School, Baton Rouge, at a recent chapel service. Now Bishop Thompson has shoes just like ones the students wear.


 

Photo courtesy of the Rev'd Canon Shannon Manning

Celebrating St. Nicholas

from the St. James Episcopal Day School Facebook Page 

 

This morning we celebrated the feast day of St. Nicholas of Myra during our Monday morning prayer service. Father Mark dressed up to depict St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myra, and reminded the students of how St. Nicholas helped the members of his community. Students also left their shoes outside of their classrooms while they attended the service. When they returned, the shoes were filled with special treats just as St. Nicholas did for children in his community long ago! Celebrating the feast of St. Nicholas is an annual tradition here at St. James. 

Christmas Tea at St. Alban's

from the St. Alban's Chapel Facebook Page

 

Christmas Tea at St. Alban's Chapel on December 7.

Sock Babies

from the St. Martin's Episcopal School Facebook Page 

 

Second and 3rd graders from St. Martin's Episcopal School made sock babies for premature babies. They were blessed in Chapel before delivery. 

Frosty the Snowman

from the St. Luke's Episcopal School Facebook Page 

 

Christmas Service project from the students of St. Luke's Episcopal School, Baton Rouge.

St. Andrew's Bell Choir Performs at Windsor Court 

from the St. Andrew's Episcopal School Facebook Page 

 

The 8th Grade students from St. Andrew's performed at the Windsor Court in December.

 

Advent Calendar from SSJE

 

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EDOLA News is published electronically monthly by the Diocese of Louisiana. For more information contact Karen Mackey at 504-895-6634 or [email protected] 
 

To submit news or events for the EDOLA:  [email protected].  
Submissions for the monthly EDOLA News due by the 25th of each month.
Submissions for the weekly EDOLA Events due by Thursday morning of each week.