Jan 2013 - Diocese of the Rio Grande

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6 Women’s Spirituality Retreat Set for February Women are invited to a Spirituality retreat from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 9 at the Church of the Holy Faith in Santa Fe. The retreat will be led by Ms. Deborah Smith Douglas. We all live in what the poet W. H. Auden Deborah Douglas called the “age of anxiety.” But we are also invited into the peace of God, a peace so radical that it “passes all understanding.” How can we get from here to there? Without denying the power of what we fear, how can we learn to live in trust and hope? This retreat will use Scripture and poetry, as well as insights from psychology and art and the lives of the saints, to explore ways we might loosen the grip of worry on our lives, and enlarge our faith that we might hold our anxieties both more lightly and from a deeper place. Ms. Deborah Smith Douglas has degrees in literature and law, and is a writer, spiritual director and retreat leader. She is the author of The Praying Life: Seeking God in All Things and, with her husband David Douglas, of Pilgrims in the Kingdom: Travels in Christian Britain. Her essays have been published in Weavings, Commonweal, Desert Call, Spiritual Life, Christian Century, and The American Benedictine Review. She is a laywoman in the Episcopal Church, and a Camaldolese Benedictine oblate. IN THE EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE RIO GRANDE Women-Inspired and Inspiring Gather at Bosque By Ms. Cynthia Davis Women of the DRG met at the Bosque Center for Crazy Quilt Conversations on November 9 and 10. We were the inaugural group to use the Center and found it to be a delightful venue. Two dozen women from across the Diocese gathered the evening of November 9 for a time of fellowship and conversation with Bishop Vono. Saturday was spent in creating a vision for Women in the DRG. With broad strokes, the women painted a dream of active, diverse lay and ordained women involved in ministries both inside and outside of church walls. Participants created a vision of women as leaders empowered with retreats, mission, and education through communication and fellowship. The final session of the ‘Crazy Quilt Conversations’ involved planning concrete steps. The steering committee will meet in February to create a mission statement for the Women and set up focus groups to build communication with various demographics to help identify needs and desires of all women. Several women’s events are already planned: • February 9 Women’s Spirituality Retreat, Nov. 9 at Holy Faith in Santa Fe, led by Deborah Smith Douglas. • March 2 Lively Lent, a Retreat with Bishop Vono at St. Francis on the Hill, El Paso (co-hosted by St. Christopher’s). • March 23 Lent Retreat with Canon Kathleen McNellis at St. Andrew’s, Roswell. • Pentecost weekend 2013: A Day for Women with The Rev. Barbara Taylor Brown. • June 2013: Body, Mind, Spirit Retreat in Taos. • Fall 2013: Women of the DRG Retreat at the Bosque Center Information about these and other Women’s Activities may be found at www.VarietiesofGifts.blogspot.com. “Breaking news” is emailed to women of the Diocese, so email Ms. Cindy Davis (cdavis@ CynthiaDavisAuthor.com) with your contact info to be added to the list. If you are interested in being part of a focus groups, are curious about an event, or have and event or ideas for Women in the DRG, email Cynthia Davis (cdavis@CynthiaDavisAuthor. com). Women at the Bosque Center envision the future of ministries in the DRG. After 38 Years at All Saints Episcopal Church: Rev. Dr. Martin Bayang to Retire By Mr. Bob Clark All Saints’ Episcopal Church, Grants, NM Fr. Bayang The Rev. Dr. Martin Bayang, who has served as Vicar of All Saints’ Episcopal Church for more than 38 years, retired at the end of 2012. All Saints’, located on Highway 605 in Milan, serves Episcopalians who live in Milan, Grants, Cibola County and other areas of Northwestern New Mexico. Fr. Bayang’s final worship service, as Vicar of All Saints’ Episcopal Church, took place at the 10:00 a.m. at the church on December 30, followed by a festive Pot Luck Luncheon, a Church tradition that he has instituted. Fr. Bayang, and his wife, Veronica, were born and raised in the Philippines. They moved to the United States where he studied and graduated in the Ph.D. program at Boston University. He was ordained to the diaconate on May 30, 1961, and to the priesthood on February 14, 1962. In 1974 the Bayangs moved to Gallup, and he became the Vicar of the small All Saints’ Episcopal Church in Milan. Members of the congregation credit Rev. Bayang for being the stabilizing force that led the Church through the intense social and economic transitions of that era. Many cite his spiritual strength for holding the church family together through exceptionally traumatic times. According to Ms. Carolyn Finster, the Bishop’s Warden who heads the Committee, “Father Bayang’s decision was made after considerable thought and prayer. For the entire tenure of his ministry at All Saints, he and his wife have resided in Gallup and driven to Grants for services on a weekly basis. While they remain active and healthy, it is increasingly difficult for them to make these weekly trips, according to Finster. “And, as much as we are disappointed that they will be leaving our midst, the entire congregation supports their decision and wishes them well in their retirement years.” Mrs. Connie Dixon, a long-time All Saints’ member who serves as the Church Treasurer, commented: “we are truly a church family. We were established over fifty years ago, and have weathered the pendulum swings of the economy in Cibola County, always ‘landing on our feet’ During most of that time, Martin (Fr. Bayang) was our stalwart, our leader, our spiritual rock. He has been up, when many of us have been down. The Bayangs departure is a great loss, but we all bid them adieu and God speed.” The Rev. Canon Kathleene McNellis and the Rev. Canon Daniel Gutierrez, already have met with church members to assist in mapping a plan of action to find a new priest for the small Church. According to Canon McNellis: “we will have an interim Priest-in-Charge at first. It will probably take a while to identify a clergy person, but the right person is out there – I am quite certain of that.” Canon Daniel Gutierrez agreed. “This church has the spirit and intensity of soul to move forward. Fr. Bayang has been the spiritual ‘glue’ that has held the membership in sync and together for many years. He is leaving an extremely strong-willed group of believers, who will undoubtedly move the Church toward to even higher expectations. He should be very proud of that legacy – and he is.”
IN THE 7 EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE RIO GRANDE St. Alban’s Gathers for Thanksgiving By the Rev. Canon Michael Perko Thanksgiving weekend was a special time at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church, El Paso. Our celebration began on Thursday with a choral Mass of Thanksgiving, followed by a potluck dinner shared by fifty of our parishioners, family, and friends. An abundance of festivities, food, and fellowship made this a wonderful occasion for everyone, and an opportunity to introduce a host of people to St. Alban’s. The following Sunday, the Solemnity of Christ the King, was marked by a High Mass at which we ended another year of Diners share Thanksgiving dinner at St. Alban’s grace, and baptized three of our newest members, children of one of our military families. The event was celebrated not only by parishioners, but by a number of visitors, including the children’s grandparents, Gen. Tommy Franks (ret.), and his wife, Cathy. Gathered around our common Thanksgiving table, and the Table of the Lord for these events, it’s no wonder that our community can give thanks to God with all our hearts, for the countless ways that we’ve been blessed as a parish family, and for the new life in our midst that enlivens who we are. God’s abundant love and grace have never been more real to us all. Bishop Michael Visits St. Mary’s in Albuquerque On December 9th, Bishop Vono made his official pastoral visit to St. Mary’s in Albuquerque to confirm Nancy Hendricks, Darrell Leland, and Bob and JoSele Swopes, and to receive Richard Karner into the Episcopal Church. Bishop Michael officiated at the 8 and 10:30 a.m. services, preaching at both. After each service he visited with those who stayed for fellowship. Before the confirmation service, he spent about an hour with those who were being confirmed or received for a general discussion and to answer any questions. It was a blessing to have Bishop Michael on the Second Sunday in Advent. San Gabriel Rector featured in Meditation Book Praises Abound: Hymns and Meditations for Lent & Easter from the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest, edited by Russell Schulz-Widmar, has just been published by Church Publishing, New York. It is an anthology of original hymns and meditations gathered by Professor Schultz-Widmar over his 36 years as professor at the seminary, where he served on the editorial board for The Hymnal 1982. The selection chosen for the 5th Day of Lent was written by The Rev. Rhonda Smith McIntire when she was a student at Southwest in 1994. She now serves at San Gabriel the Archangel Episcopal Church. Schultz-Widmar writes in the introduction, “Seminary is about preparation, formation, and transformation; it’s about living in Christian community. Seminary is a journey. In this book, students at the Semiinary of the Southwest place before you something of their journey, some of the fruits of their labors. And they invite you to make this part of their journey part of your journey through Lent and Easter Week.” For more information and to order a copy, go to www.churchpublishing.org/ praisesabound . The Rev. Rhonda McIntire Bishop Vono with St. Mary’s blessed. Bishop Welcomed at Trinity on the Hill Daughters of the King: One in the Spirit through Prayer The Daughters of the King is an Order where women and girls can live more fully into their baptismal vows. Daughters live the vision of knowing Jesus Christ, to make Him known to others, and to become reflections of God’s love throughout the world. This is lived out through a Rule of Life including Prayer, Service and Evangelism. Prayer provides a spiritual foundation for Service in the Name of Jesus and Evangelism as people see Christ lived out. Amid the busy-ness of daily life, belonging to an Order like the Daughters of the King provides a place of centering, sisterhood, and focus, from which Daughters are empowered for their many ministries. The Very Rev. Mark Goodman blesses blankets for the BethanyKids Ministry in Kenya at a gathering of the Daughters of the King at the Cathedral of St. John. With the vision of Daughters as women empowered by the Holy Spirit to be prayer warriors who lead and inspire through service to bring others to Christ, the theme for 2013 is Prayer. Daughters of the King in the diocese will be focusing on the Prayer aspect of their Rule of Life with retreats and studies. One such book is Take My Heart, Oh God, a rich devotional for your personal use. If you are interested in learning more about this Order for women, contact Mrs. Cindy Davis, Diocesan President (cdavis@CynthiaDavisAuthor.com) or the Daughters of the King in your parish, and check out the Daughters blog (drgdaughters.blogspot.com). Bishop Vono confirms one of the several at Trinity on the Hill. Bishop Michael Vono visited Trinity on the Hill Episcopal Church in Los Alamos on November 18 for Confirmation. According to the Rev. Colin Kelly, “Our Bishop, accompanied by The Rev. Canon Daniel Gutierrez, joined us and led a beautiful service of Confirmation. “Our congratulations go to confirmands Amelia Kirkland, Ruby Selvage, Jason Rutledge (we also welcomed his wife, Christine Rutledge as a new member), Chris Scully, Kristen Pope, and Maryann Blackhart who was received. I was very moved when a number of others came forward from the congregation to renew their Baptismal Vows. “While at Trinity on the Hill, Bishop Vono also joined the vestry for a beautiful potluck dinner organized by Leigh Maynard, assisted by Mari Mahler. During that time, he covered a number of topics and confirmed the timing of my retirement.”
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Jan 2013 - Diocese of the Rio Grande

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