Wednesday, July 29, 2015

From Garrett...

"That this evening be holy, good and peaceful, we entreat you, O Lord."-Evening Prayer Rite II - From Garrett in St. Joseph, Louisiana.


Adult Education Classes

Adult Education this Fall -It is time to register for EfM – the Education for Ministry group that will start here this fall. If you are interested, please speak to Fr. Whit – If you want Fr. Whit to order you a World Religion Book for our Sunday Morning Adult Ed Class – do that soon too!

Sunday, July 26, 2015

From Bishop Jake Owensby

Friday, July 24, 2015

Dear Friends in Christ,

Last night an Alabama man opened fire in a Lafayette movie theater. He killed two young women and wounded nine other people before turning his gun on himself.

Among the wounded are two members of one of our local Episcopal parishes and the mother of a student attending a local Episcopal school. There seems to be no personal connection between the shooter and any of his victims. He was attending a comedy.

Words fail to express the shock and sorrow so many of us feel in response to yet another act of senseless, irrational violence. Our hearts go out to the victims, to their families, and to the entire community of Lafayette.

Join me in praying for those who died. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. May the merciful God comfort and console their grieving families and friends.

Join me in prayer for those who were wounded. May their recovery be swift and complete, and may God's healing touch guide the medical personnel caring for them.

Finally, pray for the deceased shooter. Nothing excuses his disregard for the infinite value of human life and his destructive violence. And yet our Lord teaches us to pray even for those who would do us harm and who would reject our prayers. May the infinitely loving God have mercy on his tormented soul.

My heart and mind-probably much like your own-are reeling with the specific horror and agony of the Lafayette shootings. Nevertheless, I am also mindful that these shootings join what seems like an endless stream of senseless violence across our country.

This is not the time to outline a detailed Christian response to our epidemic of violence. But there is space to name it for what it is: an epidemic. The medicine for this epidemic is the Gospel. And that Gospel teaches us to be peacemakers.

We followers of Jesus are not helpless in the face of violence. But we must take the risk to ask how we contribute-in many cases unconsciously and unintentionally-to a cultural addiction to violence. And we must have the courage to take the risky steps and to make the difficult changes to overcome violence with the peace that passes all understanding.


Faithfully in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, PhD, DD
IV Bishop of Western Louisiana


La Santa Eucaristía

La Santa Eucaristía – Domingo, 1:30 p.m. - ¡Nuevo tiempo!

¡Todos son Bienvenidos!


Saturday, July 25, 2015

From the Episcopal Church...

Renew me this night in the image of your love, renew me in the likeness of your mercy, O God. ~ Celtic Benediction, J. Philip Newell

See you tomorrow at Church!


Wednesday, July 22, 2015

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

EYC Pool & Pizza Party

6th-8th Graders
 are invited to an

EYC Pool & Pizza Party

At the home of Doug and Regina Wood
1708 Riverside Drive
Monroe, LA  71201

Sunday, July 26th - 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Don't forget to bring a towel.

This is an EYC (Episcopal Youth Community) Event.

For more information: contact

Wesley Johnson (512) 917-8499 or Regina Wood (318) 791-9744

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Christtrolling: Christian Meanness - A Rule of Life We Reject

From the Ninth Bishop of Texas, Andy Doyle - "This Jesus has taught me: that there is no room in the Gospel for Christian Meanness or Christtrolling and it is a rule of life we must reject. Christian Civility is a rule of life we must take on for the sake of the kingdom and the God we love."

Give it a look - http://texasbishop.blogspot.com/2015/07/christtrolling-christian-meanness-rule.html

Sunday, July 12, 2015

S'more Campfire Stories V.B.S. - Night One

Tonight was the first night of S'more Campfire Stories Vacation Bible School - What a wonderful start!







Friday, July 10, 2015

General Convention 2015 Wrap-Up Discussion Time

Let's talk about this Sunday Morning during the Adult Education hour beginning at 9:30 a.m. in the Conference Room. I will have printed copies. See you there!

See the link below - http://www.saintalbansepiscopal.org/2015/07/general-convention-wrap-up.html

Wednesday, July 8, 2015

An Open Letter on Why We are Breaking Up (Or Why I Am Leaving the Church I Grew Up In)

Dear Church,
If I told you: “It’s not you, it’s me,” I would be lying to the both of us.
It is you.
I know this is hard for the both of us, but it is true. You see, I’ve moved on. I’ve found a church that respects not only me but everyone around me, and it is really nice. I now realize what I have been missing out on all my life.
See, I know you are the church that my mom wants me to be with, the one she wants me to raise my children with, to grow old and die with, but my mom is part of a generation that is getting smaller and smaller every single day. Even though us breaking up will hurt her, I know she will understand.
Frankly, you aren’t a nice church to be a part of. You discriminate. You won’t let me participate in higher church positions because I am a “woman” and not worthy. You made me work the nursery during the summers because I was a girl, while my cousin got to teach the youth groups because he was a boy. Not cool, church.
Also, you are way behind the times. This new church I met (It’s the Episcopal Church, just to inform you) loves all of my friends equally. When I told my priest that my best friend was gay, he was totally cool with it. In fact, as of last week, my best friend can get married in my new church – full on married, with all the sacraments. You, on the other hand, you just weren’t very accepting. You told me he was going to hell. Not cool, church. Not cool.
Also, I am a bit worried as to where you are headed. You rarely help the poor, church, you pour all your money into making bigger buildings, larger parking lots, and more room for a dwindling congregation. Right now, just outside your walls, churches are being burned because of race, kids are going hungry, and the wealth-divide grows more and more with every passing day.
This gospel you taught me, the one that is focused so much on money – money as a reward for faith, having no money as a response to being a sinner, debt being a sign of a polluted soul – isn't the real good news. No, you judge too many people for things they cannot control, and you raised me to do the same. I can’t live that way anymore. I can’t live with you anymore.
Don’t call me selfish for abandoning you, and don’t tell me that my soul is in danger when it isn’t. I have never felt more sure about anything since I decided to move. I see an inclusive church, one I can understand and one that, in turn, understands humanity. I see a place where I can actually make a difference for Christ, regardless of gender, race, or sexuality. I can make a difference because I am human.
You’re founded on something I just can’t support – a closed door.
So I’ve decided to move on. I’ve found a new church. I’m breaking up with you.
Love,
Me

The letter above is by Olivia Jewel Sage and appeared online in Lifestyle on Jul 8, 2015 here -
http://theodysseyonline.com/ulm/open-letter-why-we-breaking-why-i-leaving-church-i-grew/117595

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

S'more Campfire Stories Vacation Bible School

The word is out on S;more Campfire Stories Vacation Bible School. Thanks to Nicole and Pete at KNOE 8 News for helping us spread the word. We begin at 6:00 p.m. (Final Registration Paperwork at 5:30 p.m.) on Sunday evening at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church at 3706 Bon Aire Drive. See you there!

General Convention Wrap-Up

Here is a helpful review of the actions at General Convention 2015 from ENS.


General Convention wrap-up: Historic actions, structural changes

First black presiding bishop, marriage equality approved, church governance revamped

[Episcopal News Service] The 78th General Convention, in a series of historic moments, elected the first African-American presiding bishop; approved marriage equality for all Episcopalians; adopted a budget that emphasizes racial reconciliation and evangelism; endorsed the study of fossil fuel divestment; opposed divestment in Israel, Palestine; and made some significant changes to the church’s governance.
North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry elected presiding bishopThe Episcopal Church’s General Convention made history June 27 when it chose Diocese of North Carolina Bishop Michael Curry to be its 27th presiding bishop.
The House of Bishops elected Curry, 62, from a slate of four nominees on the first ballot. He received 121 votes of a total 174 cast. Diocese of Southwest Florida Bishop Dabney Smith received 21, Diocese of Southern Ohio Bishop Thomas Breidenthal, 19, and Diocese of Connecticut Bishop Ian Douglas, 13. The number of votes needed for election was 89.
Curry’s election was confirmed an hour later by the House of Deputies, as outlined in the church’s canons, by a vote of 800 to 12.
Full story.
Marriage equalityIn the wake of the June 26 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage for all Americans, General Convention followed suit on July 1 with canonical and liturgical changes to provide marriage equality for Episcopalians.
The House of Deputies concurred with the House of Bishops’ approval the day before of a canonical change eliminating language defining marriage as between a man and a woman (Resolution A036) and authorizing two new marriage rites with language allowing them to be used by same-sex or opposite-sex couples (Resolution A054).
Full story.
Budget emphasizes racial reconciliation, evangelismThe General Convention adopted the 2016-2018 triennial budget July 2 after agreeing to add $2.8 million for evangelism work.
While the addition passed with relatively little debate in the House of Deputies, it faced some opposition in the House of Bishops.
The 2016-2018 triennial budget is based on $125,083,185 in revenue, compared to the forecasted $118,243,102 for the triennium that ends Dec. 31 of this year. The expenses are projected to be $125,057,351. The budget comes in with a negligible surplus of $25,834. Its revenue projection is based in part on asking the church’s dioceses and regional mission areas to give 18 percent of their income to fund the 2016 budget, 16.5 percent for the 2017 budget and 15 percent in 2018.
The version of the budget presented July 1 by the Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance (PB&F) also included a major new $2 million initiative on racial justice and reconciliation, even as it reduces the amount of money it asks dioceses to contribute to 15 percent by 2018.
Full story.
Mandatory assessmentGeneral Convention made mandatory the current voluntary diocesan budgetary asking system for the 2019-2021 budget cycle and imposed penalties for noncompliance.
The mandatory assessment will not apply to the upcoming 2016-2018 triennial budget, but becomes effective Jan. 1, 2019. Without getting a waiver, a diocese that does not pay the full assessment will be unable to get grants or loans from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society unless the Executive Council (http://www.generalconvention.org/ec) specifically approves disbursing the money.
(The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society is the name under which The Episcopal Church is incorporated, conducts business, and carries out mission.)
The resolution allows the council to begin granting waivers to dioceses that do not pay, based on financial hardship, beginning Jan. 1, 2016. Council agreed in January to create a so-called Diocesan Assessment Review Committee to work with dioceses that do not to meet the full churchwide asking.
The resolution also agrees to study the issue of whether the House of Deputies president ought to receive a salary.
Full story.
Divest from fossil fuels, reinvest in renewablesGeneral Convention passed two resolutions aimed at environmentally responsible investing and creating a climate change advisory committee.
Resolution C045 calls upon the Investment Committee of Executive Council, the Episcopal Church Endowment Fund and the Episcopal Church Foundation “to divest from fossil fuel companies and reinvest in clean renewable energy in a fiscally responsible manner.”
Resolution A030 calls for the creation of a climate change advisory committee with one representative from each of The Episcopal Church’s nine provinces. The resolution also calls on each province to create a Regional Consultative Group composed “of no fewer than five experts in areas of environmental sustainability appropriate to the demographic, ecological, cultural and geographic specifics of each region.”
Read more here.
Agrees to major structural changes
The General Convention approved two resolutions making major changes to the structure of The Episcopal Church.
Substitute Resolution A004 slightly expands Executive Council’s appointment power concerning three members of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society’s executive staff, including the chief operating officer, chief financial officer and chief legal officer (a position created in the resolution).
Substitute Resolution A006 reduces the number of the church’s standing commissions from 14 to two. The two would be the Standing Commission on Structure, Governance, Constitution and Canons, and the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music. The presiding bishop and House of Deputies president would appoint study committees and task forces to complete the work called for by a meeting of General Convention, with council’s approval. All of those bodies would expire at the start of the next General Convention unless they are renewed.
Full story here. 
Oppose divestment in Israel, PalestineThe House of Bishops sent a strong and clear message July 2 that divestment from companies and corporations engaged in certain business related to the State of Israel is not in the best interests of The Episcopal Church, its partners in the Holy Land, interreligious relations, and the lives of Palestinians on the ground.
The bishops rejected Substitute Resolution D016, which would have called on the Executive Council’s Committee on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to develop a list of U.S. and foreign corporations that provide goods and services that support the infrastructure of Israel’s occupation “to monitor its investments and apply its CSR policy to any possible future investments” in such companies.
General Convention passed two resolutions on peacemaking. Substitute Resolution B013, proposed by Bishop Nicholas Knisely of Rhode Island, “reaffirms the vocation of the Church as an agent of reconciliation and restorative justice,” and recognizes that “meaningful reconciliation can help to engender sustainable, long-lasting peace and that such reconciliation must incorporate both political action and locally driven grassroots efforts.”
Resolution C018 expresses solidarity with and support for Christians in Israel and the Israeli-occupied territories; affirms the work of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem in healing, education, and pastoral care; and affirms the work of Christians engaged in relationship building, interfaith dialogue, nonviolence training, and advocacy for the rights of Palestinians. The resolution also urges Episcopalians to demonstrate their solidarity by making pilgrimage to the Holy Land and learning from fellow Christians in the region.
Full story.
Plans to be created for prayer book, hymnal revision
General Convention 2015 took a step toward revising the 1979 Book of Common Prayer and The Hymnal 1982, directing the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music to prepare plans for revising each and to present them to the next convention in Austin, Texas, in 2018.
Among other liturgical issues, the convention directs bishops to find ways for congregations without clergy to receive Communion, but the House of Bishops defeated proposals to allow unbaptized people to receive Holy Communion or to study the issue.
The convention approved making available a revised version of “Holy Women,Holy Men” with additional saints’ commemorations but left “Lesser Feasts and Fasts” as the church authorized supplemental calendar of commemorations (see article here).
The revised “Holy Women, Holy Men,” is called “A Great Cloud of Witnesses.”
Full story.
Convention takes a first step, admits: ‘Alcohol affects us all’
General Convention passed three resolutions on the issue of alcohol and drug abuse.
Resolution D014 recommends that ordinands should be questioned at the very beginning of the discernment process about addiction and substance use in their lives and family systems.
The bishops also passed Resolution A159, which acknowledges the church’s role in the culture of alcohol and drug abuse.
Resolution A158, to create a task force to review and revise policy on substance abuse, addiction and recovery, passed with one amendment.
Full story.
Closer relations with CubaThe U.S.-based Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Church of Cuba took a step toward closer relations during the 78th General Convention, meeting here June 25-July 3. Convention also passed a resolution calling for the U.S. government to lift its economic embargo against Cuba.
Full story.
Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry sat for a video interviewIn an 18-minute interview with the Episcopal News Service, Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry speaks about his priorities for leadership and administration, the role of the church in engaging God’s mission in the world, the state of race relations in the U.S., the importance of Anglican Communion partnerships, and his commitment to what he calls the Jesus Movement, to go out into the world “to bear witness to the good news of Jesus.”
Full video.
Bishops led a march against gun violenceAbout 1,500 General Convention participants joined a Bishops United Against Gun Violence procession in Salt Lake City the morning of June 28.
 The prayerful procession walked the half-mile from the Salt Palace Convention Center to Pioneer Park while marchers sang hymns and prayed. Members of Utah anti-gun violence groups and civil rights organizations joined in.
Full video.
Greater solidarity for persecuted ChristiansAdvocacy for Christians facing persecution and living in the context of civil war are the subject of several resolutions passed by the Episcopal Church’s 78th General Convention, meeting here June 25-July 3.
Convention agrees that Christians in Pakistan, Syria, Liberia, South Sudan and Sudan are among those for whom the church needs to step up its support and solidarity as many of them live in fear of death, starvation, and displacement in their war-ravaged or extremist-influenced countries.
Full story.

A Sermon from Our Bishop...

Monday, July 6, 2015

From Bishop Jake...

Monday, July 6, 2015

Dear Friends in Christ,

On June 26 the Supreme Court ruled that the right to enter into a civil marriage applies equally to everyone: opposite-sex and same-sex couples. At our General Convention the Episcopal Church authorized trial rites that may be used for same-sex couples.

Reactions to the Court’s ruling and the General Convention’s actions range from jubilation to outrage. There has been no shortage of news stories, blog posts, and social media comments on the subject. Unfortunately, much of this talk has resulted in more confusion than clarity. Some commentators seem more interested in fueling anger than in providing clear, rational explanations.

One effective way to get at the truth and to regain emotional self-control is to ask a clear question. That question is this: What do the Supreme Court ruling and the actions of General Convention mean in the Diocese of Western Louisiana?

We are a majority-traditionalist diocese. And we are also a gracious diocese. There is a place at the table for minority points of view. No congregation, no priest, will ever be forced to perform same-sex marriages. However, we recognize an array of opinions about marriage and make a space for progressive voices.

Before the Supreme Court ruled and the General Convention voted, two of our congregations requested permission to use trial liturgies for same-sex blessings. I granted that permission with the clear understanding that there is no expectation for any other congregation to do so. Just as I have asked traditionalists to respect the brothers and sisters with whom they disagree, I have urged our progressive congregations to embody that same respect. Staying together in disagreement is difficult work. But it is holy work.

General Convention provided liturgies and made canonical changes to make it possible for progressive congregations to perform same-sex marriage and for traditionalist congregations to refrain from doing so. The canon we passed contains the provision that no clergy person can be coerced to preside at a same-sex marriage.

At the same time, the new canon requires that each bishop make some provision for access to these liturgies for couples seeking them. The congregations that already have permission to make use of the previous trial liturgies have permission to use the newly authorized ones. So, as a diocese we are in compliance with canon law, and no additional congregations are required to make use of these liturgies.

We do not all agree. Living together amid our differences is our vocation. We are one in our belief in the risen Christ and in the Triune God. On these two doctrines we do not and cannot waver. However, there are matters—weighty matters—on which we can disagree while retaining our unity.

The House of Bishops recognized this. As a result, we issued a Mind of the House resolution. In that resolution we acknowledged our love and respect for one another in our differences. We stated clearly our need for one another and urged that we all move forward together in the one Christ.

I urge us in Western Louisiana to yield to that same spirit. The Holy Spirit is guiding us through a season of sometimes turbulent social and cultural changes. By his guidance we are groping our way forward. Together.

As we move forward together, stay focused on Jesus. It is he that binds us together. His love for us and our love for him binds us together into a communion not of our own choosing. I will close by reminding you how deeply I love you and how grateful I am to serve as your bishop. Let’s use this time of differences as an opportunity to show the world what real love looks like. Let’s embrace each other and move forward together. The world will know that we are Christians by our love.

Faithfully in Christ,










The Rt. Rev. Jacob W. Owensby, PhD, DD
IV Bishop of Western Louisiana

Note: Printed copies of this letter will be available at the church.

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Domingo


Mientras comían, Jesús tomó en sus manos el pan y,
habiendo pronunciado la bendición, lo partió y se lo dio a ellos, diciendo:
—Tomen, esto es mi cuerpo.
Luego tomó en sus manos una copa y, habiendo dado gracias a Dios, 
se la pasó a ellos, y todos bebieron. Les dijo:
—Esto es mi sangre, con la que se confirma la alianza, sangre que es derramada en favor de muchos. Les aseguro que no volveré a beber del producto de la vid, hasta el día en que beba el vino nuevo en el reino de Dios.
— San Marcos 14:22–25
La Santa Eucaristía – Domingo, 1:30 p.m. - ¡Nuevo tiempo!

Come As You Are

See you tomorrow - Come as you are...

Come out of sadness
From wherever you've been
Come broken hearted
Let rescue begin
Come find your mercy
Oh sinner come kneel
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal
So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
There's hope for the hopeless
And all those who've strayed
Come sit at the table
Come taste the grace
There's rest for the weary
Rest that endures
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't cure
So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You're not too far
Lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Fall in his arms
Come as you are
There's joy for the morning
Oh sinner be still
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal
Earth has no sorrow
That heaven can't heal
So lay down your burdens
Lay down your shame
All who are broken
Lift up your face
Oh wanderer come home
You're not too far
So lay down your hurt
Lay down your heart
Come as you are
Come as you are
Come as you are

Friday, July 3, 2015

Fourth of July...

Have a safe and happy Fourth of July weekend!



Home!

Looking forward to Sunday!
See you for Eucharist at 8:30, a.m. 10:30 a.m.or 1:30 p.m. (En Español)!
Watch the video in the link below and come ready to talk - We've got work to do!

Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry preaches at General

Presiding Bishop-elect Michael Curry preaches at General Convention Closing Eucharist. Watch this... The story is here on Episcopal Cafe.