Church of England Installs First Female Bishop |
The Rt. Rev. Libby Lane - the first female bishop in the history of the Church of England - was formally installed as the eighth bishop of Stockport at Chester Cathedral on International Women's Day, Sunday, March 8.
Lane was ordained and consecrated as the first female bishop in the history of the Church of England on Jan. 26 during a service at York Minster.
Lane was appointed Dec. 17. Her appointment and the ordination and consecration on Jan. 26 followed more than a decade of often-emotional debate accompanied by various stages of legislative action. The Church of England voted in July to allow women to become bishops, a decision that was later approved by the U.K. Parliament and given the assent of Queen Elizabeth II. The approvals were required because the church's decision effectively changed English law. (The Church of England is an officially established Christian church with Queen Elizabeth II as its supreme governor.) Read more.
- From Episcopal News Service
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Bishop's Town Hall in Grand Rapids and Kalamazoo
All are invited to the Bishop's Town Hall. Bishop Hougland will be focused on your ideas and dreams for how the Church might move into a deeper relationship with Christ and make a bigger difference in the world. Then, there will be workshops in the afternoon on the following topics:
* Addictions and Recovery
* Vestry & Treasury 101
* Deacon Formation
* Young Adult and Youth Ministries
* Spiritual Discernment
All are welcome, not just members of your church's vestry, though we ask that all vestry members attend.
Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. with Welcome & Introductions beginning promptly at 10:00. We will close at 3:00 p.m. Lunch will be provided.
Parishes, if you have not done so already, please post the flyer for the Bishop's Town Hall on your bulletin boards.
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Mission Trip to Pine Ridge Indian Reservation June 26 - July 4, 2015
The Oglala Lakota people reside on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The 28,000-38,000 people live with 80-90% unemployment, a per capita income of $4,000, a teen suicide rate up to 4x the national average, 8x the national rate of diabetes, and a life expectancy that is the lowest in the nation.
Missioners help with two great needs - the building of bunkbeds and outhouses - bunkbeds because as many as 20 people live in a two bedroom mobile home! Outhouses are needed as many people do not have running water. Missioners make bunkbeds and deliver them with a mattress, sheets, blankets and a new book, build outhouses and deliver them and dig the hole, skirt mobile homes (to insulate), build wheelchair ramps, clean up pow-wow grounds, roof houses, garden, etc.
In addition, there is an emphasis on cultural education. There are speakers every evening who share their life stories and the Lakota culture. Missioners also visit the Badlands and Wounded Knee on Sunday, and then have a tour of some highlights of the reservation later in the week.
Click here for more information and to register. Trip Leader: Carol Abbott abbottcp@aol.com
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The passing of the Rev. Caroline M. Bain
The Diocese has received word of the death of The Rev. Caroline M. Bain on February 25, 2015.
Caroline served in the Diocese of Western Michigan as an interim rector at Holy Trinity, Wyoming and St. Gregory's in Muskegon in the mid 1990s.
More information about her is available here.
We extend our sympathy to her family.
Notes of condolence may be sent to her son at the following:
William A. Bain 29040 Linda Ln. Waterford, WI 53185-1187.
May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
O God, whose mercies cannot be numbered: Accept our prayers on behalf of your servant Caroline, and grant her an entrance into the land of light and joy, in the fellowship of your saints; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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Diocesan Rogation Day
Rogation Days are an old religious custom. The word "rogation" come from the Latin rogare, which means "to ask," and the Rogation Days are four days set apart to bless the fields, and ask for God's mercy on all of creation.
Rogation Day will be celebrated in the Diocese of Western Michigan on Saturday, April 25, 2015 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Holy Trinity Church, Wyoming (click here for map). The day will include activities related to learning about the environment, games and a Eucharist. Lunch will be provided and Bishop Hougland will be present.
Don't forget the Early Bird Camp special, due April 6th. Click here to register!
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Diocesan Confirmation at the Great Vigil of Easter
Now in our diocese, the preparation for this Reaffirmation of Baptismal Vows takes place in local parishes through a fourteen week process of exploration, conversation, and study.
Our next service will be the Great Vigil of Easter on April 4th at St. John's, Grand Haven.
Parishes must register their candidates for confirmation, reception or reaffirmation by clicking here now.
Details about the service are available here.
There will be two more 2015 confirmation services after the Great Vigil - one on the Octave of Pentecost, Saturday, May 30th at St. Mary's in Cadillac, and the Observance of All Saints, Friday, November 6th at Diocesan Convention in Grand Rapids.
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Province V News
Elections to be held: Province V will elect new officers at the April 17 & 18 Synod. The description of the positions and the nominations form will provide information for those seeking election. For nominations to be published before Synod they must be received by March 17. Click here for the nomination form.
Visit the recently re-designed Province V website for more information about news around the Province, including grant processes, upcoming events, headlines and sign up for the Province V newsletter: Convene.
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