This Christmas, give your child a gift that is meaningful! Reserve your child's spot at All Saint's Summer Camp for the 2015 camping season.  To reserve your child's spot apply online and pay the reservation fee.  There is a $30 Primary and CIT fee and a $50 fee for Sr. High, New Horizon's, and Jr. High. These fees are refundable until March 1st, since prices for the 2015 camping season are still under review with Trustees and Council. We will notify you at the appropriate time to let you know when prices become available. Remember, it is our sincere hope that every child can go to camp; so if you need help with the fee, please notify Kendall Badgett at kendall@episcopalky.org.

Do you have a culture of giving at Christmas that extends beyond your family? Then help a child attend camp by donating $10, $25, $50, or more towards the Camp Scholarship Fund. Every dollar ensures another child is able to experience the love and community of Christ at camp.

The Diocese is now on Instagram! Our new account started to post daily images during Advent using the tags #adventword and #Episcopaladvent. After Advent we'll be posting pictures from throughout our diocese. Follow us at www.instagram.com/episcopal_ky

I am not sure where you stand on the whole Ferguson spectrum. I know we all come to the table with differing opinions, though one thing is true. It is time to have dialogue about race relations. It is my hope to share my story, give you simplistic questions to have a dialogue, and give you some resources to open up deeper conversations for you within your homes and churches.

One fact you ought to know about me. I was a Peace Corps member and volunteer. I served from 2006 to 2007. We left early due to my husband's health.  We served in Madagascar, an island off of the coast of Southeast Africa. The language we spoke was Malagasy, and the culture was diverse. There were Africans, Malaysians, and Indians, and their dialects reflected their cultures all over the island. In this place I was the minority. I was referred to as "Vazaha," meaning foreigner, which seems harmless enough. Though, my differences were pointed out to me on a daily basis. Not by everyone mind you.  Though just enough people pointed it out to make me feel different and not a part of my community at times. Don't get me wrong; the people were lovely. There was and is a lot to be learned from this community of people, but feeling different was hard. I tried to master the dominant language and culture, but I always stood out. I would often get something wrong. Little children were scared of me due to the cool colors of my eyes and skin. They are blue and white and not warm brown like the others. I think they thought I was a ghost. Some days I didn't mind being different and soaked up the many wonderful treasures of this foreign place and island. Some days it made me feel bitter to have my differences pointed out. I just wanted to blend in or feel like it was okay to be me. I would reach out and talk to people in my village and some days my language was wonderful and the communication felt smooth. Some days it was like nothing seemed to work, and I would fumble a simple greeting. It was a growing experience to be in this place and have this opportunity. Some days were great and some days were long and hard. That said, I wouldn't trade it for the world.

 I share a small portion of what I felt during this time to give you a glance into what it is like to be an "other" (aka the non-dominant culture). These were some of my emotions in the almost two years of living as a member of a country and village as someone of the non-dominant culture or race. I've often found that fear and our preconceived notions of one another dominate our perspectives of others. As an outsider, it is often hard to understand a new or different culture when our own often clouds what we see.

 Here are some simplified questions dealing with differences.

1. Can you tell me about a time in which you felt different? How did you feel? Did others point out your differences?
2. Can you tell me about a time in which you were scared of someone different than you? Why?
3. How does fear of someone different, affect the way you treat them?
4. Have you ever felt bitter due to being different? How did the bitterness come out?
5. How can you welcome someone different?
6. How can you dispel the fear associated with differences?
7. What can you do to gain more perspectives of other cultures and races?
8. Have you ever learned another culture or language before? Can you tell me some of the triumphs and struggles with that?
9. Have you ever stood up for another person with nothing more than your humanity to unite you? How did you feel? How did they feel?
10. What can you do at home in your schools and churches to facilitate a dialogue to learn and spread knowledge of each other? Where one spreads seeds of knowledge, love, and understanding, fear lingers no more.

Talking about race and our differences is HARD! Because it is hard, people shy away from it. Be brave. Start a dialogue. Be honest but respectful! Listen. Be empathetic. Please don't enter into dialogue, within a place of guilt. Be open. Don't be afraid of bitterness.

Here are more resources for your church and home when facilitating a discussion group on this subject and more

• A Way Forward: Reflections, Resources & Stories Concerning Ferguson, Racial Justice & Reconciliation by the Episcopal Public Policy Network
• Reflections from and about Martin Luther King Jr. from the Seattle Times
• Fear, Ferguson and the First Step Toward a Lasting Solution by Ron Davis of the Huffington Post
• Collection of articles on the topic "Race Relations in America" on the Huffington Post

Recently, my husband Jim and I were at my parents' house and we sorted through some old boxes of memories I kept stored. Amidst the journals and report cards and newspaper clippings, Jim found this: An "icon" of me that was a craft everyone did for themselves one summer that I attended All Saints. A picture of me was glued onto a small wooden plaque and I'd decorated it with sequins and purple paint. In it, I was smiling wide with braces and wore a bandana on my head. I look awkward and happy and unsure and ready to explore. I was 15.

Now I'm 30, the newest deacon in the diocese and gearing up to graduate seminary this spring. And I wouldn't trade my time at All Saints for anything. The All Saints community (which is constantly changing as the people are coming and going) was a catalyst for me. I learned to make my faith my own while valuing the diversity of my friends around me. I learned that I was made in the image of God and that was both reason to laugh (see picture) and rejoice. The youth program of the diocese helped me not just learn all these things, but experience them for myself.

There is so much given to us on a Sunday at church that we are unaware of. When you go through the motions, you can forget how life-giving church is to all of us no matter what stage of life we are in. I often hear from parents that they are just too tired to get up on a Sunday, or so and so doesn't want to come to church. That's understandable. The pace of life these days is so fast. I, too, am a mother.  A mother of 2 small children, and it would be so easy to sleep in on a Sunday morning when we are tired. That being said we get up every Sunday for these seeds of faith.

 A church culture - I know it sounds strange but churches have a culture. Churches are places filled with strange customs, languages, and smells. Thankfully there are schools for our children where they can learn and get accustomed to it all. Thankful for us adults, we too have classes where we can become more versed as we move forward in our faith journeys. We need this as adults, so that as we bring the church culture into our own homes we can help guide our children along their own faith journeys.

 Responsibilities - We gain responsibilities such as the jobs we take on in this community. These jobs could be anything from an acolyte, bell ringer, teacher, server at coffee hour, altar guild, vestry, youth group (they often do things in their church communities and outside of community), reader, chalice bearer, member of the choir, to so much more.

 Social skills - This may seem like something small, but in a world where more and more socialization is happening through phones and computers, unplugging and getting the opportunity to be social in a face-to-face way can be refreshing and vital to childhood development and our faith. There are opportunities to socialize in classes for Christian Formation, at coffee or refreshment hours with people of all ages, and within church programs. These could include youth group, altar guild, food pantries, potlucks, bizarres, and more. Socializing like we do at church provides our children an opportunity to learn to talk to people of all stages and walks of life. This can help them later on with job interviews, meeting new people, and exploring new experiences all together.

 To live in community - As part of a community it is important to give in some way to contribute to the common good. That could be with money, time, talent, etc. Another important aspect of being a part of community is be a safety net for those in need, whether it is a spiritual need, a need for companionship, or a physical need like some assistance when someone looses their job. Members of a community support each other. That also includes celebrating and mourning together. These experiences draw us nearer together and teach us to be good stewards of our community.

 Listening skills - We use this skill in many aspects through out our time at church. We listen to sermons in order to understand the Bible on a deeper level. We listen to what the churches needs are. We listen in Christian Formation classes so we can go deeper into our faiths. We listen to each other through conversations, and we learn to listen for God's voice.

 To be a servant -In this world of greed and "I want's", we take time at church to think of others. How can we help others? Be it a friend, a person within the church community, or someone in the community-at-large. What are the needs around us, and how can we help? How can we be the hands and feet of Christ in the world today? This seed of faith helps us get out of our own heads and focus on those around us.

 When I think of all of these seeds of faith I know I want my children to have them. Doing so I will give them the gift of a spiritual life. My husband and I work hard to plant the seeds of faith. We will have to nurture these seeds as they grow through the years. Knowing that nothing grows without nourishment, we too will need to provide our children nourishment as we navigate this journey together. Nourishment can come by regularly going to church, being involved in all aspects of the community, reading scripture in the home, praying at meals, remembering their baptisms with special prayers and pictures, praying with our Advent wreaths at Christmas, and getting them involved in diocesan youth programs. This last one allows them to walk their faith journey without parental influence while still being supported by a faith community that encourages them to find ownership in their faith.

 All of this makes getting up on a Sunday morning worth it. When it comes to my children, I'm not just looking at today but at the years to come. My husband and I are planting seeds, nourishing them, and looking forward to watching them grow.  

It was Palm Sunday 1998 and the priest had all the children up front talking about Holy Week.  He asked, "Who knows what will happen on Thursday?" and many hands went up.  They all shared their answers.  Then he asked, "Who knows what Good Friday is?"  Only Sarah Katherine's little 3 year old hand went up.  I moved to the front of my pew feeling so proud as only first time parents who have yet to be humiliated enough in public do.  "Yes, Sarah Katherine" he kindly acknowledged her hand.  Very proudly she reported, "It's when the Easter Bunny nails Jesus to the cross."  I really tried to slink under the pew, but I was holding a 3 month old and a 20 month old, it was not to be.  The congregation burst out laughing; I turned more bright red, and SK continued to sit proudly certain she had it correct.  I remember the priest looking over at me with kindness (or was it sympathy or judgment) in his eyes as he said, "And that my fellow brothers and sisters is a wonderful example of church and culture clashing. L thank you, Sarah Katherine."

We are in the midst of the Advent season; it is a different season than Christmas, and yet culture has melded the two along with Santa, Frosty and the Heat Miser.  As parents rearing our children in the church we struggle with how to both keep the season holy and focused while all around us the frenzy of commercial Christmas churns.  And if I'm honest, I want my children to have both.  I want them to understand the holiness of Advent-the season of waiting; the miracle of Christmas and God's amazing love AND I want them to put cookies and milk out for Santa, feed the reindeer and participate in parties.  It's a conflict many of us face.  Here are a few ideas that have worked for our family.  I'd love to hear yours.

1. We put our decorations up minus our tree in early December.  The tree goes up the night before Christmas Eve and is decorated Christmas Eve morning.  (For all of you with small children full of energy and impatience on this LONG day, it gives them a focus.  But beware, if you have a 3-year-old Caroline she might tell your neighbor, "Having a tree up already is inappropriate."
2. Light the advent wreath every night at the dinner table.  Yes, the candles will be small nubs by Christmas Eve, but it will set the tone.
3. We put our creches out but not baby Jesus or the wise men.  Christmas morning one child places him in the manger (which is why if you have multiple children it's a good idea to have multiple creches-fights on Christmas morning really kill the spirit.)
4. Use purple napkins throughout the month and then bring out special ones on Christmas Eve.
5. Read a Christmas book every night of December and alternate between secular and holy.
6. Leave your tree up until January 6th.
7. The wisemen arrive at the crèche on the morning of January 6th.
8. We used to give a gift a day for the 12 days of Christmas (but that was when a pack of lifesavers was considered a "good" gift).

Have a blessed Advent and Christmas season.