THIS SUNDAY:
May 3, 2020
Fourth Sunday of Easter
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ALL ON-SITE CHURCH SERVICES CANCELLED
8:15 - 9:00AM
Online Morning Prayer Service Music*
9:00AM
Online Morning Prayer Service*
*available on the All Saints' website and Facebook page, and via phone, see info below
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Easter Season Bible Study
Jonah 1: Jonah fleeing from God's call to preach to the Ninevites
Tuesday, May 5th
6:30 - 8:00PM
Join zoom conference here:
or call in 1-253-215-8782
meeting ID: 329 748 0222
Password: 594274 (if it asks for a password)
Daughters of the King
Thursday, May 14
th
7:00 - 8:00PM
Join zoom conference here:
or call in 1-253-215-8782
meeting ID: 329 748 0222
Password: 594274 (if it asks for a password)
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RECURRING EVENTS
ALL RECURRING EVENTS SUSPENDED UNTIL MAY 15
th
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Sunday School
Every Sunday, 9:30 - 10:15AM
Memorial Hall
Aloha Hour
Every Sunday, 10:45AM - 12:00PM
Under the big tree
Monday Crew
Every Monday, 8:00AM
Church Office
Laundry Love
1
st
& 3
rd
Wednesday, 5:00PM
Kapa`a Laundromat
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McMaster Slack Key Guitar and Ukulele Concert
Every Wednesday, 6:00PM
Church
Daughters of the King
2
nd
& 4
th
Thursday, 7:00 - 8:00PM
Memorial Hall
Choir Practice
Every Thursday, 6:00PM
Choir Room
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All Saints' Response to COVID-19
ACCESSING SUNDAY SERVICES
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Please be advised that Kahu Kawika and Fr. Andrew from St. Michael and All Angel's Church in Lihue are collaborating to provide a special joint service recording for Sunday's worship service.
The recording will be available for viewing on our website,
www.allsaintskauai.org
and the All Saints' Facebook page by Sunday morning.
Congregants will also have the option to listen to the recording by calling the church office, (808) 822-4267, and following the prompts provided through our new auto attendant feature
.
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Reflection from
Kahu Kawika
His Master's Voice
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Ka`u `Ohana i ke Akua,
Recently, I got a suspicious email supposedly from our “Bishop.” What was strange was that I got it around 3:15am, which seemed an odd time for him to send me a personal email. Also, there was a sense of urgency in it that asked for an immediate response, yet was vague and unspecific as to why an immediate answer was even necessary. The language and tone of the email just seemed uncharacteristic of Bishop Bob. Sure enough, when I moved my computer cursor over his email name, a different email address appeared from “Rev. LouiseWeezie.” Needless to say, this confirmed that this was a bogus email disguised as coming from our Bishop – so I promptly trashed it. Later that day, the real Bishop Bob sent out an email from his true address to all the clergy to warn us of the bogus emails and to reject them without reply. This was definitely a “call” to which I’m glad I didn’t respond. I knew my Bishop’s “voice,” and thus did not respond to an imposter.
The theme of “call and response” runs within and even just outside of our Gospel reading for this Sunday from John 10:1-10. With the arrival of the fourth Sunday in the Easter Season on May 3
rd
, we come to the halfway mark in our time between Easter Day and Pentecost (the birthday of the Church, this year on Sunday May 31
st
). Every year, Easter 4 is known as “Good Shepherd Sunday,” when we honor Jesus as our Good Shepherd who laid down his life for his sheep, and even cares for sheep “not of this pen” (John 10:16), that is, people beyond Jesus’ home culture of Judaism.
As the Good Shepherd, Jesus repeatedly tells the religious authorities, who regularly challenged the legitimacy of his ministry, that the real sheep hear the call of his voice and respond accordingly (John 10:3-5, 16, 25-27): “The sheep listen to his (the Shepherd’s) voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out … his sheep follow him because they know his voice … my sheep listen to my voice – I know them, and they follow me.” This suggests a rhythm of “call and response” in the relationship between Jesus as the Good Shepherd and we as his flock of sheep.
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Many of us are aware of the old RCA record label featuring Nipper, a terrier-mix dog, and the tagline “His Master’s Voice” – in fact, even today a British record label is still called HMV, the initials for the words in that motto. Relevant to our Gospel reading for this Sunday is that, similar to dogs, sheep also get familiar with the voice of their shepherd and trust that voice over against any other voices that would otherwise lead them astray. This ability to recognize their shepherd’s voice is sometimes the difference between life and death – for instance, inasmuch as the sheep heed the warnings of their shepherd against adversaries like wild animals or robbers, or conversely follow their shepherd when she or he indicates fertile pastureland upon which to feed. The sheep soon recognize that it is in their own best interest to do what the shepherd says – in short, to respond to the shepherd’s call to them.
In any point in our lives, and especially in these trying times, it is easy to get distracted by the many other voices inside and around us that would obscure and dampen the voice of our Good Shepherd – voices of doubt, worry, anxiety, selfishness, greed, xenophobia, racism, sexism, or any of the other “-isms” that call for our attention and devotion. But God calls us to listen to the Divine Voice as our North Star, pointing the way in which we should follow.
How do we cultivate the ability to hear God’s voice? Certainly through the daily practice of prayer, in which we not only bring our concerns and words of thanks to God but also take time and space to be still and hear God’s voice, indicating which way for us to think and to act in our lives. There are helpful resources for this, including getting a copy from the church or church office of “Forward Day by Day,” as well as following “Daily Devotions for Individuals and Families” in our Book of Common Prayer (pages 136-143 – we have copies of the BCP you can borrow).
We also hear God’s voice through external means like the wisdom of those who are more experienced in spiritual and social matters; noticing God’s character in the Bible and abiding by the moral codes enjoined therein; and remaining connected with one another – certainly through regular church worship (usually in person, but presently through electronic means) and spiritual engagement like Bible studies, prayer groups, joint outreach efforts to affect positive change in our community and world, and the like.
Let’s cultivate the practice of hearing our Master’s voice and responding to God’s call.
I ka mahalo o ke Akua,
-Kahu Kawika+
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For the aged and infirm, for the widowed and orphans, and for the sick and the suffering, especially Jenni, Richard, Mikey, Netta, Bill, and those we name silently or aloud, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy.
For all who have died, especially those affected by the COVID-19 virus and those we name silently or aloud, in the hope of the resurrection, and for all the departed, let us pray to the Lord. Lord, have mercy. Amen.
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April Meeting Highlights
Your
Epistle
, working with the Vestry, is pleased to present an update on recent Vestry decision-making. This article is intended to keep you up-to-date with important Vestry matters. As always, you are encouraged to contact a member of the Vestry directly if you have any questions or feedback.
April 28, 2020
Finances
Comparing March 2020 with March 2019 we see the following trends:
Total Income
March 2020: $
22,921
March 2019: $
24,803
Net March Decrease: $
-1,882
Total Expenses
March 2020: $
27,247
March 2019: $
21,991
Net March Increase: $
5,256
Net March Loss Year-On-Year
-$7,138
Buildings and Grounds
Graveling/Concrete Project: $2,900 expense, of which $2,000 was donated by members of our Mainland `Ohana who approved of its application to this project.
Fiber optic internet and electrical upgrades: The WiFi installation is on schedule and will be finished by the end of the first week in May. Thanks to the
Henry Digby Sloggett Memorial Fund for supporting this project.
Labyrinth: Four days of work to commence after Mayor Kawakami allows within safety protocols. Thanks to the
Henry Digby Sloggett Memorial Fund for supporting this project.
Worship
When we get the go ahead from government officials and the Bishop, we will resume in-person gathered worship in modified form according to safety protocols. In the meantime, we are continuing recorded worship with St. Michael and All Angels.
Preschool
Remote instruction will continue until the end of the school year. Plans are to open for in-person teaching at the start of the school year in August.
-CeCe Caldwell, Vestry Member
Kahu Kawika+
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Announcing Bible Study for the Easter Season
Zoom to the Rescue!
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Aloha kakou,
I do miss seeing all of you on a regular basis! Hope you all are doing well, considering our social circumstances.
We're going to have a Zoom bible study during a portion of Tuesday evenings, 6:30PM - 8:00PM, in the Easter Season. We will focus on the prophet Jonah - the fifth of the twelve so-called "Minor Prophets" found toward the end of the Old Testament. Although this book was probably written later than the storyline of the 8th century BCE (some biblical scholars estimate that it was even written as late as the 3
rd
- 2
nd
centuries BCE during the Greek occupation of Palestine), the story of Jonah is one filled a profound message of God's love for all peoples within a narrative framework that is action-packed with touches of humor.
It is a short book (just four chapters). We will dig into the book as such:
- Tuesday 5 May: Jonah 1 (Jonah fleeing from God's call to preach to the Ninevites)
- Tuesday 12 May: Jonah 2-3 (Jonah's prayer within the great fish and Jonah's second call to preach to the Ninevites)
- Tuesday 19 May: Jonah 4 (Jonah's defiance to God, and God's response to Jonah)
Depending on the level and depth of our discussions, we may flex what material we end up covering in any one Zoom meeting.
Here is the Zoom contact information:
or call in 1-253-215-8782
meeting ID: 329 748 0222
Password: 594274 (if it asks for a password)
Looking forward to our talk story and to learning more about God and each other!
-Kahu Kawika+
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From Buildings and Grounds
Stewardship in Action
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COVID-19 might knock us down but it will not keep us out of the game!
Since we had gym repairs in mind, Ron, Wayne and Carolyn decided to replace the worn out roof over the gym restrooms. The corrugated roof was full of holes and the support beams were rotting and ready to fail. It turned out to be a fun weekend project for the crew! Our roofer will finish the job with asphalt tile soon.
Mahalo nui loa to all who contributed to the project.
-Ron Morinishi
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Face Masks Available from All Saints'
A Generous Donation from Wayne Doliente's Sister
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Wayne Doliente dropped off about 20 cloth face masks his sister made for those who still need one. If anyone is interested, I can mail it to their homes. They can call the office at 822-4267 or email
church@allsaintskauai.org
.
-Cami Baldovino
Parish Adminstrator
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All Saints' Tree of Love
Send Your Love and Messages of Hope
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Update:
The first cards have been hung on the cross. You still have a month to add yours!
For this Easter Season, All Saints’ invites the congregation to send their love and messages of hope.
Similar to the Japanese “Wishing Tree,” members may fill in an
order form online
with a short message and names of those they want to dedicate it to.
The messages will be written on Lily cards like the one pictured above and hung on the wooden cross in front of All Saints' Church.
This “Tree of Love” will be up through the Easter season (until May 31
st
).
Feel free to invite your friends and family members outside of All Saints’ to participate.
Those who also want to include a love donation may send their checks to All Saints' or visit our Paypal site with the memo “Tree of Love.”
Thanks!
-Cami Pascu Baldovino
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PRESCHOOL ANNONCES REVISED SCHEDULE
Classes to Resume in August
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I regret to inform you that we have made the decision NOT to reopen the preschool until August. Due to the Covid-19 social distancing guidelines, we would not be able to accommodate all of the children and we feel that since we only have one more month of school, it is in the best interest of our staff and the children to keep everyone home through the end of May as the Department of Education has decided to do and as many authorities are saying is the safest measure. If you are in need of child care, please see below or go to
patchhawaii.org
or call 246-0622 for possible updates.
-Chris Wataya
Director
All Saints Preschool
808-822-0122
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The Episcopal Church Virtual Choir and Orchestra
Voices and Instruments from Across the Globe, Joining in Easter Praise!
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Combining nearly 800 submissions from more than 600 participants all around the world, we invite you to celebrate Easter with us as we come together in one voice to proclaim - The Strife is O'er, the battle won!
A special thanks to all who worked to bring this project together:
Arrangement by Erik Meyer, audio engineering and post-production by Kory Caudill and Sean Truskowski, video editing by Tom Verga. Special thanks to The Episcopal Church Office of Communication/Multimedia Services unit and Natalee Hill, director of communications at Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Philadelphia, Pa.
And of course, our greatest thanks to each of you who lent your voices and talents to this project. Look for more to come!
Please click on the link below and enjoy.
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Click
here
for the donation form.
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This Week In Sunday School
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Sunday School has been suspended until the Diocese gives us the ok to return to the All Saints' campus for worship. Until that time, the Sunday School article in
The Epistle
will include more information so the parents of our keiki can share the lesson with their children.
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Summary of Today’s Story
John shares a series of revelations and visions that tell how God will defeat all of the enemies of God and reward God’s faithful people with the blessings of a new heaven and a new earth.
The story told in this lesson focuses on the visions of praise to Christ, the lamb from the whole universe, and the visions of heavenly bliss when God has triumphed over evil.
Weaving our Story with the Biblical Story
The Revelation to John was written at a time when Christians were being persecuted because of their faith in Christ. The writer’s main concern is to give hope and encouragement and to urge his readers to remain faithful during times of suffering and persecution.
The book consists mostly of a series of revelations and visions couched in symbolic language. It is John’s vision of the end of the age, when Satan and all evil are defeated by God and we shall “see God face to face.”
As John describes in beautifully poetic language, our final reconciliation with God in heaven brings life free of the alienation begun in the Garden of Eden.
The Episcopal Thread
The book of Revelation is seen by Episcopalians as a message of hope, not one of condemnation. The Anglican love of learning, with its respect for human reason and intelligence, leads Episcopalians to look at the context of the biblical writings and to see their message in the life situation in which they were written. Thus the book of Revelation is recognized as a writing of comfort and hope for people under severe persecution, not—as some believe—a prediction of the future.
In this light, some passages in Revelation are used quite widely as a lesson in the Rite of Burial. Because the document expresses the joy that will come when God finally reigns at the end of time and the Lamb will sit at the throne over all creation, these passages that give praise to God the King, and to the saints who have found reward through their goodness, are read on All Saints’ Day, on the day commemorating the Holy Innocents (the babies slaughtered by Herod in Bethlehem) and during the Easter season when we look to the themes of resurrection and redemption.
The violent passages of Revelation are not read in church, and generally these passages are seen in their historical context in which John comforts the persecuted Christians by promising vengeance on the persecutors and the oppressors. But the message of hope that is woven within this book are of great comfort to all of us who look at the New Jerusalem and hope for the New Newark, or the New Cincinnati or the New Detroit, where God’s rule will finally be supreme over all creation.
Telling the Story
Read aloud today’s story from a children’s Bible, showing the pictures, tell the story in your own words.
To add drama to your storytelling, play soft music in the background.
After telling the story proceed to Prayer, saving any discussion for later, while having snacks or doing an activity.
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Upcoming Family Retreat
Make plans now!
Save The Date -
August 28-30, 2020
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All Saints' has reserved YWCA Camp Sloggett for the weekend of August 28-30, 2020.
Hopefully we will be through with the coronavirus restrictions and be able to participate in a fun family-centered and spirit-filled weekend. Reserve the date and stay hopeful.
Registraton forms and complete information will be available once we get closer to the date.
-Mary Margaret Smith
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BISHOP SUSPENDS ALL WORSHIP & GATHERINGS IN OUR CHURCHES THROUGH
MAY 15, 2020
PLEASE GO TO THE DIOCESE'S CORONAVIRUS WEBPAGE FOR ALL THE LATEST UPDATES AND INFORMATION & STAY INFORMED
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From Bishop Bob Fitzpatrick
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The Bishop announced on April 24, 2020, the moratorium on public worship in Episcopal Churches in this Diocese will continue at least until May 15. He will continue to re-evaluate the situation on a week to week and county by county basis. As of now, there is nothing in the situation to suggest that we will be back in public worship on May 3 or even May 10.
The current orders for O`ahu opens golf courses, but church services have to wait. As the Bishop has previously noted, the Diocese and all our churches will follow the guidelines established by the State and by each of the Counties.
There is no indication that gathering people is prudent without social distancing, face masks, and a limitation on the number of people. Public worship is still imprudent. Churches should not be open for public gatherings or worship until approved by the State and the County of the church, and with the permission of the Bishop.
We might have local county variations, but a Sunday will be set for a major Diocesan celebration when we can all gather in our churches across the State in a healthy way.
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PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE
TAKE THE TIME TO LISTEN TO THIS SPIRITUAL GUIDANCE FROM OUR BISHOP!!
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During this time of separation, Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick will be sharing video messages on Mondays and Wednesdays. The Wednesday message will be a lesson/reflection. He invites all to join him over the next few weeks as he continues to discuss the First Letter of Peter. To watch the video, click on his image above, or visit the Diocesan website
HERE
.
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BISHOP'S WEDNESDAY MESSAGE
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2020 Summer Camp Program Cancelled
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It breaks our hearts to announce that we have made the difficult decision to cancel our 2020 Summer Camp program. This decision has not been made lightly. This decision was reached after consultation with local health care professionals and considering information provided by the CDC, ACA (American Camp Association), Hawai`i Department of Health, and federal "Opening America Again" guidelines. The health and safety of our campers, their families, and our staff remains, as always, our primary concern.
Families of campers who have already registered to participate in any of our 2020 Summer Camp programs are being contacted directly, and given the opportunity to either:
- Apply their balances to a future camp experience at Camp Mokule`ia,
- Donate all/part of their balance to the ministry of Camp Mokule`ia, or
- Receive a full refund
Please know that you and your families are in our thoughts and prayers during this challenging time.
We look forward to seeing you next summer!
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Darrell Whitaker
Executive Director
Contact Us For More Information
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Word to the Church: What Would Love Do?
Episcopal Church Office of Public Affairs
Posted Apr 29, 2020
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[
April 29, 2020] A Word to the Church regarding the rubric of love during the COVID-19 pandemic from the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. In the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, we are now at another one of those threshold moments when important and significant decisions must be made on all levels of our global community for the good and the well-being of the entire human family. In this moment, I would ask you to allow me to share with you a Word to the Church: What Would Love Do? (Way of Love companion resources available
here
.)
A Word to the Church: The Easter Season A.D. 2020
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To watch the video of the Presiding Bishop's message, click on the Bishop's picture below.
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The Legend of the Dogwood
April 30, 2020
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Long ago, the trees spoke to us,
and we listened,
and treasured their lore and wisdom.
After all,
woods and forests are ancient places,
giving life to creatures both great and small,
and many trees live longer than any of us individually.
Every tree–
from great, towering redwoods,
tallest sentinels of the overstory of the forest…
and smooth baobabs, with trunks as wide as elephants…
to graceful birches with their curling paper bark…
to quivering stands of aspen…
to whispering pine…
and stubborn burr oak–
each of them reminds us
of the wisdom of community and generosity.
Every tree gives of itself,
shelter and shade,
habitat for birds and insects,
fruit and seed for food,
sap for sweetness,
even purifying the air that we breathe.
This story is from that time long ago
when we listened to the trees speak to us.
Today, dogwood trees
only grow in Europe, East Asia, and North America.
But ages ago, some have claimed
that the dogwood was a mighty tree,
with a broad straight trunk.
It was prized by carpenters everywhere,
especially around the Mediterranean.
Ancient Israel was not known to have many large trees,
which is why buildings were often made
with cedars from Lebanon,
or acacia wood.
When the Romans invaded a country,
they ruthlessly put down rebellions
by executing rebels on wooden crosses.
The trees hated being put to such uses.
Worst of all was when the Romans crucified Jesus.
The trees wept at being forced to take part
in this terrible spectacle.
The tree that wept the loudest was the dogwood.
It cried out to God
to keep it from ever being used
in such a way
ever again.
And so God granted the dogwood’s wish.
“Henceforth, O loving dogwood,
you will become part
of the understory of the forest.
Your wood will be twisty
and your trunk will be narrow.
You will bear flowers
of softest white, red, and pink.
You will be close to the earth,
and you will carpet the forest floor with beauty.
“Your flowers will tell the story
of Jesus’s resurrection.
Each year at Easter time,
you will burst forth with blooms
even while the other trees are bare.
Each bloom will be cruciform—
four petals in the shape of a cross.
“On the end of each petal
will be a mark,
to remind all who seen them
of the four wounds in Jesus’s hands and feet
just as the disciples saw long ago.
At the center of each bloom
will be Jesus’s crown of thorns,
now turned green and golden
as a sign of victory.”
And so it has remained to this day.
Each time we see a dogwood tree bloom in early spring,
we know that Easter is here,
and that Christ is risen.
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Welsh Vicar Coordinates Hub to Make
Face Shields
Posted Apr 28, 2020
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The Rev. Rebecca Sparey-Taylor’s sons, Joseph and Isaac, assemble face masks. Photo courtesy of the Church in Wales
[The Church in Wales] A vicar from Wrexham, Wales, and her family are coordinating a coronavirus PPE hub producing hundreds of face shields for the National Health Service, care homes, doctors and community nurses.
The Rev. Rebecca Sparey-Taylor, a curate at St. Margaret’s Church in Garden Village and St. Mark’s Church in Caia Park, is working with more than 20 volunteers to make and deliver the face shields across North Wales.
To read the entire article, click
here
.
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Saints Philip and James, Apostles
May 1
st
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Saints Philip and James’ Story
Philip and James were both apostles, and both served Christ faithfully during the very early days of the Church.
James, Son of Alphaeus: We know nothing of this man except his name, and, of course, the fact that Jesus chose him to be one of the 12 pillars of the New Israel, his Church. He is not the James of Acts, son of Clopas, “brother” of Jesus and later bishop of Jerusalem and the traditional author of the Letter of James. James, son of Alphaeus, is also known as James the Lesser to avoid confusing him with James the son of Zebedee, also an apostle and known as James the Greater.
Philip
:
Philip came from the same town as Peter and Andrew, Bethsaida in Galilee. Jesus called him directly, whereupon he sought out Nathanael and told him of the “one about whom Moses wrote” (Jn 1:45).
Like the other apostles, Philip took a long time coming to realize who Jesus was. On one occasion, when Jesus saw the great multitude following him and wanted to give them food, he asked Philip where they should buy bread for the people to eat. Saint John comments, “[Jesus] said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do” (Jn 6:6). Philip answered, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little [bit]” (Jn 6:7).
John’s story is not a put-down of Philip. It was simply necessary for these men who were to be the foundation stones of the Church to see the clear distinction between humanity’s total helplessness apart from God and the human ability to be a bearer of divine power by God’s gift.
On another occasion, we can almost hear the exasperation in Jesus’s voice. After Thomas had complained that they did not know where Jesus was going, Jesus said, “I am the way. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him” (Jn 14:6a, 7). Then Philip said, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us” (Jn 14:8). Enough! Jesus answered, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father” (Jn 14:9a).
Possibly because Philip bore a Greek name or because he was thought to be close to Jesus, some gentile proselytes came to him and asked him to introduce them to Jesus. Philip went to Andrew, and Andrew went to Jesus. Jesus’s reply in John’s Gospel is indirect; Jesus says that now his “hour” has come, that in a short time he will give his life for Jew and gentile alike.
Reflection
As in the case of the other apostles, we see in James and Philip human men who became foundation stones of the Church, and we are reminded again that holiness and its consequent apostolate are entirely the gift of God, not a matter of human achieving. All power is God’s power, even the power of human freedom to accept his gifts. “You will be clothed with power from on high,” Jesus told Philip and the others. Their first commission had been to expel unclean spirits, heal diseases, announce the kingdom. They learned, gradually, that these externals were sacraments of an even greater miracle inside their persons—the divine power to love like God.
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From
An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church
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Executive Council Meets Virtually to Start Discussing What a Post-Pandemic Church Might Look Like
By Egan Millard
April 30, 2020
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At a special virtual meeting of The Episcopal Church’s Executive Council on April 29, church leaders discussed some of the possible changes in store as the church prepares to “re-tool” in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The brief, previously unscheduled meeting of Executive Council – called for by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, House of Deputies President the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings and Council Secretary the Rev. Michael Barlowe – was held on Zoom in advance of the council’s regular June meeting, which was scheduled to take place in San Juan, Puerto Rico, but will now be held online.
During his remarks, Curry praised the church for its swift and creative response to restrictions on in-person worship, as bishops and other church leaders navigated unprecedented legal, medical and theological dilemmas. Questions emerged about the
logistics of the Eucharist
– including canonical concerns about the availability of both the bread and wine and hypothetical scenarios like remote consecration – that required quick and thoughtful responses, and ministries like food pantries
adapted their practices
to the new reality on the fly.
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Officers of Executive Council, which is tasked with enacting the policies adopted by General Convention and meets at least three times per year, shared updates and discussed topics that the various committees would need to take into consideration before the June meeting. Among the possible changes discussed was a reorientation of the church’s operating budget to provide more support to dioceses. While council was assured that the church has enough funds to continue operating – including $3 million from the
Payroll Protection Program
– the ongoing financial implications of the pandemic have forced the church to reevaluate how funds will be spent in the coming year.
“We need to assess how we can transform our grant programs to support more fully the new realities that dioceses and congregations are facing and consider how we can provide relief to the dioceses that may soon be unable to pay their full assessments,” Jennings said in her remarks.
Diocesan assessments (The Episcopal Church’s largest income source) are still coming in, said Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Kurt Barnes. The Rev. Mally Lloyd, chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Finance, said dioceses have been assured that they will have some flexibility in paying their assessments, as they are able, but only two dioceses have so far requested relief. And the Diocese of Dallas, which had previously
held off on paying its full assessment
, has decided that it will do so for 2020 and future years.
Other budgetary concerns discussed during the meeting included the need to examine grant applications in light of the pandemic. While previously approved grants are still being disbursed, Lloyd said it will be important to ensure that going forward they are not funding unsafe practices like large group gatherings or going to organizations that may have folded.
And just as COVID-19 has exposed the race- and class-based fault lines in Americans’ physical health, the same has been true for financial health, Jennings told council. One of council’s priorities, she said, will be to ensure that it is not only the wealthy churches that
survive the pandemic
.
“In order to emerge from this pandemic with a church that matters, I believe we have to keep the injustices and the systemic racism that the coronavirus has laid bare in a new way at the center of our conversation about who we will become,” Jennings said.
– Egan Millard is an assistant editor and reporter for Episcopal News Service. He can be reached at emillard@episcopalchurch.org.
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Church of England’s Free Worship Phone Line Gets 6,000 Calls in First 2 Days
Posted Apr 29, 2020
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[Church of England] A free phone line offering hymns, prayers, and reflections 24 hours a day while church buildings are closed because of the new coronavirus has received more than 6,000 calls in the first 48 hours.
Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby launched
Daily Hope
on April 26 as a simple new way to bring worship and prayer into people’s homes, during the lockdown period.
The line – which is available 24 hours a day on 0800 804 8044 in the United Kingdom – has been set up particularly with those unable to join online church services in mind.
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IN BRIEF . . .
These news briefs were featured in previous issues of "The Epistle"
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KUPUNA SHOPPING ASSISTANCE MINISTRY
Any of our All Saints' kupuna who need assistance with grocery shopping can contact Carolyn Morinishi (808-651-2061) to set up a delivery.
ALL SAINTS' VIRTUAL SWAP MEET
If any ministry has an unmet need, reach out to put it in the All Saints' Virtual Swap Meet and it will be published in the
Epistle
. Contact Bill Caldwell at
news@allsaintskauai.org
.
PASTORAL CARE CONTACT INFORMATION
Whenever you have a need for support, please call (650) 691-8104 and leave a voice mail. The system will immediately forward the information to the Pastoral Care Committee who will respond to each request. If you prefer, you may send an electronic pastoral care request via email to
pastoralcare@allsaintskauai.org
.
PRAYER CHAIN MINISTRY
Individuals who want to participate in the Prayer Chain Ministry must re-enroll to continue receiving the email communications
. To re-enroll, please visit the newly established
Pastoral Care web page
or contact the Church Office at (808) 822-4267.
SUBMITTING A PRAYER REQUEST
Prayer requests will now be
submitted online
or by contacting the Church Office at (808) 822-4267.
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE
Names can be added to the Prayers of the People petitions by using the
Prayer Chain Request form
or by contacting the Church Office at (808) 822-4267. Names will remain in the Prayers of the People for a maximum of four Sundays before a name must be resubmitted.
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