January 2017 Edition
DIOCESAN DIGEST
News for and from Inland Northwest Episcopalians 
We are the Episcopal Branch of the Jesus Movement 
in Eastern Washington and North Idaho
Bishop Waggoner's January Schedule
Dear Friends,

As we enter this new year and continue preparation for a new day in the life of the Diocese with my retirement and the ordination of Bishop-elect Gretchen Rehberg, we across the Diocese continue to live out the orderly transition designed to serve all well.

As part of the transition, and with the encouragement and support of the Standing Committee, Gloria and I are taking the month of January to concentrate on preparations for retirement, including relocation from Paulsen House.

During January, I will be working primarily out of the office and will not be available for day-to-day matters in the customary way. The Rev. Canon Karen Schomburg will serve as chief coordinator for any items that require my response and action beyond that which is regularly managed by staff.

Gretchen and I will remain in conversation during this time as she prepares to begin working for the diocese full-time February 1.

With every confidence that we will continue to journey well together during this phase of transition, and with thanksgiving for what has been and holy anticipation for what is to come, I wish all a blessed and life-giving new year.

Gratefully yours in Christ,

James E. Waggoner, Jr.
Bishop

Bishop Transition Committee January Update 
by Dr. Katherine Karr-Cornejo 

February 15 is the deadline for submitting photos/stories!

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ:

Greetings from the Transition Committee, currently spread across two continents!

We continue to await the completion of the church-wide consent process to our episcopal election as we make arrangements for the conclusion of this transition process. I am very thankful to all of the members of the committee, and especially to the Rev. Frances Twiggs, the Rev. Chris Hagenbuch, and the Rev. Kathy Lamphere, who have stepped up to provide leadership in two important areas of our work: the Ordination and Consecration of our next Bishop, and the Celebration of the ministry of our retiring Bishop. What information is currently available is also being shared with this newsletter.  Read More
Bishop-elect Rehberg attending College for Bishops
By the Rev. Cn. Karen Schomburg 

Bishop-elect Gretchen Rehberg has begun her first session at the College for Bishops this month at the  Roslyn Conference Center in Richmond Virginia. 

Those attending will be from last years' class as well as 20 newly ordained, or about to be ordained, Bishops from around the country. 

The program is led by Bishop Clay Matthews, who is the Director of the Office of Pastoral Development and the managing director of the College for Bishops. Other Bishops will be offering training sessions as well.

We wish Bishop-elect Rehberg safe travels and a fulfilling first experience at the college.

Rooms for March 18 Going Fast
If you haven't booked a room for the big event on March 18, you're encouraged to do so soon. The rooms we had blocked at The Madison Inn are filled, and there are only about 37 rooms available at The Quality Inn Downtown Spokane. 

More details about celebrations, singing in the all-diocesan choir, and much more will be posted on online and updated when available. 

110 East 4th Avenue
Spokane WA 99202
(509) 838-6101
1 bed - $78 + tax + $2 parking/night
2 bed - $88 + tax + $2 parking/night
(use Episcopal Diocese of Spokane)
40 rooms blocked (37 available as of January 13)

A Prayer of Gratitude
By the Rev. Cn. Kristi Philip 

Everliving God, we greet this new year with gratitude: For the ministries of Jim, our retiring bishop and Gloria his spouse;  for Gretchen, our bishop-elect, and for the diocesan leaders who have guided us through this transition. Watch over Jim and Gloria, we pray, as a new chapter opens in their lives; guide Gretchen and her team in the first steps of her new role and responsibility in ministry among us;  and give us all  a spirit of community and openness as  we move ahead.  We pray this in the name of Jesus, who gives us light and life.  Amen 
Youth Winter Weekend Approaching 
Feb. 17-19 at Mission Ridge! 

All 6th-12th graders are invited to put on their snow gear and gather in Wenatchee, Snowsport at Mission Ridge, and grow in fellowship. Begins Friday evening February 17th and ends on Sunday the 19th at St. Luke's, Wenatchee. This is not an event where teens can be dropped off and picked up at the church, camp style. 

We need each participant to come connected to an adult chaperone with a winter weather appropriate vehicle. 

We need drivers to be chaperones; to stay for the event, help care for and nurture the teen guests, and build relationships with other people in this diocese who are committed to ministry with young people. If you are a guest and need help finding a chaperone/driver, we can help make those connections. 

Everyone is welcome.  REGISTER NOW

Bishop's Annual Appeal 

Dear friends,

Recently you received the Bishop's Annual Appeal  flyer.  We want to call your attention to this, and urge you to respond. 

The Annual Appeal provides much needed funds for mission and ministry and fund raised in the current Bishop's Annual Appeal will be spent for mission in 2017. 

It is this money which allows us to help with such ministry as Between the Ridges, West Central Episcopal Mission, the College for Congregational Development, and other vital mission work in our diocese.  We count on funds each year from the annual appeal in order to fully live into the ministry God has called us to do. 


Read more and donate online
2017 Roanridge Trust Award Grants deadline February 3, 2017.
Applications are now accepted for the 2017 Roanridge Trust Award Grants from the Episcopal Church. Our diocese has benefited greatly from these grants. 

HISTORY: The Cochel family originally gave a working farm in Missouri called Roanridge to the Episcopal Church to provide a unique setting in which Episcopal clergy, seminarians, and lay people could develop an understanding of farming operations and rural community structure. Through educational programs such as conferences, seminars, and institutes, the non-profit corporation that managed Roanridge sought to help Episcopal clergy and laity better serve communities in rural and small-town America. The farm was eventually sold and the Roanridge Trust was established. 

More information, and the applications, are online

Happy New Year (Again) 
The new year starts when, again?

For those of us still learning the Anglican/Episcopal way, the liturgical year can be one more point of confusion. 

Thankfully, The Episcopal Church has a handy reference article to clear thing up. Go take a look HERE and you'll see what I mean. Plus you can impress your friends with your newly-stretched vocabulary by adding such words as "Theophany" (meaning manifestation of God). How cool is that?  

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 

1 For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:

2 a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
3 a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
4 a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
5 a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
6 a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
7 a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8 a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

Admit it. You  just started humming the tune  Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season) by The Byrds. * Extra trivia point: what American folk singer and social activist wrote this song? 

Here's to a wonderful New Year. Whenever it started.

Cate Wetherald
Communications Director, The Episcopal Diocese of Spoakne
*Pete Seeger 
 
The Episcopal Church is a community of 2.4 million members in 100 nationwide dioceses (including the Diocese of Spokane), 10 overseas dioceses, and six extra-provincial territories.
 
The Episcopal Diocese of Spokane  is a Christian community of 40 congregations in Eastern Washington and North Idaho. 

We exist to sustain our community of churches, congregations, and ministries while living into our Baptismal Covenant to proclaim - by word and example - The Good News of God in Christ, to seek and serve Christ in all persons, and to strive for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being. 

Media Contact for churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Spokane is  Cate Wetherald, director of communications at  509-624 3191 |  CateW@SpokaneDiocese.org