Let us Walk Together

Sewanee farm goats

Life of a Bishop... | May, 2024

“It is true that God may have called you to be exactly where you are. But, it is absolutely vital to grasp that he didn’t call you there so you could settle in and live your life in comfort and superficial peace.”

Francis Chan, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit does not make Christian life easy.

Never has the Holy Spirit made it easy for anyone to live a Christian life in the history of the world. Now, that does not mean she did not help. She made it possible for us to fulfill the call she gave us, one step at a time, focusing on what is important here and now. Never acting on what God calls us to do is not a luxury we have.

I believe there is a reason the Episcopal faith is still alive and well in Idaho. The Episcopal Church in Idaho is called to live into the needs of the world today, not of the past. Idaho's people and systems could benefit from a community that lives the unconditional love of Christ. That's us.

We can't settle in our comfort, and we can not be curtailed by our fears of any kind. Money, resources, people, and leaders will emerge when and if we are willing to dream with the Holy Spirit. I have seen this happen over and over. But it does take a few people to believe in the Holy Spirit and believe in her invitation to move away from fears and comforts and give in to the call.

These images and hopes you see here are signs of such a call. But this can not be all of it, as far as I am concerned. These are simply glimpses for us to get excited and be ready for what is in store for us. It will call each of us to a sacrificial, spiritual, and trusting relationship with one another, but more in God, in Jesus and the Holy Spirit and never be ashamed to admit that we believe in Jesus!

As we prepare to celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, I invite you to pray with me, "Maranatha, come Lord." Come into our common life as Episcopalians in Idaho, that we may see the light in the paths you are leading us.

Celebrating our Eastern Idaho Deans!

Bruce and Barbara Tuner

The week after Easter, I was scheduled to have a party with the folks in the Eastern and Central Deanery at the Indian Diner. Kimby and I were planning to help cook. However, as you know, I got sick and couldn't go. That gave our Eastern Deanery Deans an opportunity to organize and plan for the Diocesan Convention coming up in November in Pocatello.

Both deans dropped to Salmon along with Br. Andee Book, of whom I will share more in the section below, conducted a Zoom meeting with representatives from all churches. A great plan has been made, and work is in progress. Barbara and Bruce Turner have done an amazing job of organizing the small details for the big celebration of the 2024 Diocesan Convention. I was part of the conversations and enjoyed the enthusiasm and willingness of the people who want to serve in our diocese.

They also had conversations with the Standing Committee to get the contracts signed, food arrangements made, and more. Of course, Eastern Deanery Missioner Mother Lea and other clergy and leaders in the area have been very helpful. It was a delight to watch Barbara and Bruce lead the conversation and gets input and insights from those who participated. Kudos to them for their hard work and ministry. Thank you! Please send a note of thanks to the Deans.

Thank you, Mother Barbara and Mother Bruce Turner, for your fun-filled ministry!

Exploring New Pathways, Salmon

Ministry of a Dominican Friar: Br. Andee

Redeemer and the First Presbyterian Church in Salmon are excited! We have a new opportunity. The Holy Spirit is moving, and she is working mightily in the hills of Salmon. Two congregations have come together and worked out a solution that will provide them with an opportunity beyond the usual and comfortable. They are willing to take the risk and walk into this unknown territory, and the Holy Spirit is with them all along. They are calling an Anglican Dominican Friar to help them with the next chapter of their spiritual life.

Br. Andee is a Dominican Friar, music professor at the University of Arkansas, Pine Bluff, and also someone who worked with our campers in the summer of 2023. He connected well with the youth and adults at Paradise Point, so this year, he is returning to do more of that and help Megan and Caitlin at the camp. He will be available to lead some retreats, preaching, and leading some events at each of your congregations if called upon. Keep him and this opportunity in the back of your mind.

After his time at the camp, he is called to serve as the Bishop's Lay Chaplain at Redeemer, Salmon. He is discerning his call to ordained ministry, and hopefully, God willing, and with everything working out, he will begin his discernment process soon.

Ministry of a Bishop where there is no resident clergy

As you see in the image above, Venerable Archdeacon Eileen, Deacon Ellen Blackmon, and other clergy and leaders help me minister to congregations without a resident priest. When there is no clergy as priest-in-charge or rector, the bishop becomes the rector. That is a lot for one person to do and keep track of without sufficient help. We have about 16+ churches without a full-time rector or priest-in-charge. Technically Bishop is their rector! hmmm... How will that go without the help of amazing deacons and clergy willing to share their time and talent? Nowhere. I rely on our deacons and priests to help with the administration and ministry.

I attend vestry meetings remotely in these congregations from time to time. I help them make timely decisions and discern what to do next when facing difficulties, decision snags, and more. I rely heavily on amazing lay leadership in our congregations. I also help many of them with their websites. (we don't have a volunteer or a paid position to help with that.) I also help them plan some development and ministry while trying to help them with finances and support as much as we possibly can.

In short, there is not a dull moment in the life of a BIshop, at least not for me. It is also absolutely amazing to see talent emerge from around the diocese to make things happen. I get to facilitate great ministry with great people, which is the joy of being a bishop. Thank you to the clergy and leaders who let me help when I can.

Exciting ministry @ St. Thomas

I had the best time in the world seeing these kids! They had so many questions. as you can see in the photo below, they wanted to know all about my cross. They also wondered why I wore a miter and then the stick, the crozier. So they got to wear them, hold them, and take a picture with me. What a joy. Thank you, St. Thomas, for letting me be part of your wonderful community.

Fr. Jonah and Mother Kathleen do an amazing job. St. Thomas has a vibrant community that is active in mission and ministry. St. Thomas, as you know, is one of the big and active churches in the Woodriver Valley.

They are embarking on an expansion to accommodate more ministries. I want to thank the vestry for their diligence, hard work, and willingness to take risks to make an impact.

Global Mission Partnership

The Diocese of Butere, Kenya | Ministry of Deacon Blackmon

In the last Epistle, I spoke about our Global Partnership with the Diocese of Butere, Kenya. We talked about this at the last Convention. Deacon Ellen Blackmon had been working with the Presiding Bishop's Office to identify the diocese, ministry, and ways to work with a global partner. And we have one.

The Anglican Diocese of Butere. They have the first woman bishop of Kenya. Bishop Rose. With 22,000 Anglicans, 170 churches, and 52 Priests to serve them, they are eager to partner with us so that we can grow and learn together and from each other. They have plenty to teach us as much as we have plenty for them and a lot to learn from each other. This is an exciting opportunity for us to look beyond our boundaries and find God's kingdom growing in and through each of us. More news on this will come in the coming months. But for now, enjoy this photo of the kids in one of their churches. Several of our churches in Idaho are mission-focused and eager to get started and work with the Diocese of Butere.

Dr. Lisa McClain, a St. Stephen's Episcopal Church member and the Author of Divided Loyalties, invited Fr. Shibu and me to spend time with her students studying world religion. When we visited them at Boise State University, the focus of the day was Early Christianity in India.

Fr. Shibu, Priest-in-Charge at Holy Nativity, Meridian, shared amazing insights into the history of the Marthoma Church in Kerala, one of our communion Partners. I shared some of the cultural practices and life of the Early Christians in Kerala with the students. It was a great time to meet the young and curious minds in Dr. McClain's class. Thank you to Dr. McClain for giving us this opportunity.

The above church is Santhome Basilica, dedicated to St. Thomas the Apostle. It is built over the apostle's tomb. Only two other churches in the world are built over the tombs of apostles: St. Peter's in the Vatican and St. James the Great in Spain.

IEF Bishop's Reception

Celebrating Great Ministries

April 20th was a special day as we celebrated the amazing ministry of the Idaho Episcopal Foundation and the wonderful work of St. Thomas Playhouse in Sun Valley. This year, the Playhouse received the IEF award, and I was honored to celebrate the day with the award recipient and many friends and benefactors of the IEF.

Congratulations and Blessings to St. Thomas, Sun Valley, for their amazing ministry in the Woodriver Valley.

House of Bishops

Meeting The Nominees for Presiding Bishop

Centering Prayer Mini Retreat and Introduction

Here is a Centering Prayer Mini Retreat for anyone interested in learning more about Centering Prayer. This is one of the introductory sessions. New live sessions will be scheduled later, but this may benefit anyone wanting to learn more.

Writing songs about the Holy Spirit has been fun for the last two months. Here is my new album on the Holy Spirit, a dream of a lifetime.

On Mother's Day, I was at Emmanuel, Hailey. So, I shared this song I had written in honor of my mother, Rosy, and my Blessed Mother, Mary. The song is the prayer 'Hail Mary, full of grace,' but in Spanish. If you want to know what I am up to when I am free and on my days off, check out my YouTube channel and subscribe to it. I love to make music, and that's how I relax and renew! Making music takes me to a new world each night!

Thank you! Walk with me!

Pentecost. The Holy Spirit does not rest. She is ready for you and willing to challenge you to walk the path that you are not comfortable taking yet. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit in your heart and hear where the Lord is inviting you next. Take the plunge, she won't abandon you! Trust me!

May God watch over you and bless you. May the Lord who loves you dearly bless you and your family abundantly. Please know I may not be with you every Sunday, but I am not far from you in prayer daily!

Don't settle in where you are. The Holy Spirit did not leave you there to rest! Let there be new fire within and around you!

With love and paternal blessings

Your friend and bishop

+Jos

In the next edition!