The Church in Hiaw

athalandN

orthern Michigan edition of Episcopal Journal

Vol. 3 No. 3 M

arch 2013N

ews for and about the Episcopal D

iocese of Northern M

ichigan

Inside this issue...Page 2B Diocesan Cycle of Prayer, 5 Marks of Mission

Page 3C Meetings with Legislators, Oral Health, Calendar, Transitions

Page 4D Women’s retreat, Haiti connections, Lenten resources/events

Marks of MissionThis month:

To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew

the life of the earth.

Continued on page 2B...Continued on page 2B...

Earthkeepers, a coalition of 10 U.P. faith groups (including the Episcopal Diocese of Northern Michigan), is back after a hiatus. They recently received a grant from the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, for a two year project. One aspect of the grant will be to perform energy audits at 40 U.P. churches and temples, then award grants to help make energy saving repairs or up-grades. They will also provide 25 conser-vation workshops to help people improve household energy usage.

The project also includes building roughly 15 community gardens, which will

In the summer of 2012, the diocesan office alleyway bloomed with flowers and vegetables, one of the community gardens around the diocese.

grow native plants and vegetables for com-munity distribution to food pantries. Earthkeepers has involved people all over the upper peninsula in extraor-dinary projects that protect and conserve

“ What if a Christian community could have spiritual formation as its point of departure? What if theological inquiry and enrichment were the starting points for a faith community, rather than being one piece of a church’s total program? What if a group of people could gather on a regular basis to discuss issues of life and death, faith and doubt--without hierarchy, without committees, and without walls, both literally and figuratively?” These were some of the questions that Carol Bell, Episcopalian and longtime resident of St. Ignace, asked as she sat down to talk last summer with Rayford Ray, bishop Northern Michigan. Good Shepherd Church in St. Ignace had recently closed, and she believed there was a hunger for something new, engaging, something prompted by the spirit. The idea had begun to take shape, she wrote later: “All would be welcome: Episco-palians, of course, but also men and women of other denominations, other faiths, or of no expressed faith. The only criteria for participation would be an honest desire to reflect on the hard questions of life and a commitment to listen with respect. I spoke with Rayford about this not only because he is an old friend but because I know that this diocese is dedicated to discovering new patterns of ministry, new ways of showing forth Christ in the rapidly changing ethos of the 21st century…For over a century, Good Shepherd had been a positive presence in the town, but in recent years its congrega-tion had dwindled to a handful and the building fallen into serious disrepair. My connection to the congregation was rela-tively brief, from 1995 until 1999 when my late husband, Martin Bell, served as minis-try developer for this region of the diocese. Over the years I had listened as many of my friends expressed a hunger for honest conversation about matters of faith. Some indicated that their home congregations had not spoken to that hunger; others found themselves entirely outside the institutional church. “As Rayford and I talked that evening, we agreed that this moment in his-

A new kind of community of faith emerges in St. Ignace

Earthkeepers is back for environmental ministry

Page 2B Church In Hiawathaland March 2013

Five Marks of Mission SeriesOctober: To seek to transform unjust structures of society

November: To respond to human need by loving service

December: To teach, baptize and nurture new believers

February: To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom.

March: To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation

and sustain and renew the life of the earth.

How are you and your congregation living out the mission described in the Five Marks of Mission?

This is the last in a series of stories of mission and ministry in the Upper Peninsula.

Diocesan Cycle of PrayerMarch

3 LifeCycles Partnership (Dioceses of Northern Michigan, Nevada, Wyoming, Vermont. California, Episcopal Divinity School and Leader Resources)

10 Youth ministries of the diocese [add local names] AND the House of Bishops meeting 3/8-12

17 All diocesan outreach ministries, especially: Earthkeepers; Keweenaw Family Resource Center;

Medical Care Access Coalition; Ministries with pris-oners, families and staff ; Our Little Roses Home

(San Pedro Sula, Honduras); [add others]

24 Visitors, travelers & pilgrims among us & our ministries of welcome

31 The Baptismal Ministry of every Episcopalian in the diocese

the local environment. In 2006, the group collaborated with other environmental organizations on an electronics recycling event which collected 320 tons of electronic waste. More recently, Earth Keepers also held annual Earth Day “clean sweep” drives that have collected upward of 300 tons of household poisons and other hazard-ous waste from U.P. residents at dozens of collection sites, and two years ago they collaborated with the Superior Watershed Partnership to provide energy-efficient lightbulbs to members around the U.P.Nancy Auer of Christ Church, Calumet and

tory might well be a propitious time to start something new. Not to plant a new church--not at all. But perhaps we could explore the possibility of forming a Christian com-munity that would exist outside the usual structures, but which would remain part of the wider church. Rayford was extremely enthusiastic and supportive. As was the new ministry developer for our region, Cathy Clark. From the moment Cathy arrived in town, she and I began working on how we might bring such a group into being.” Indeed, Cathy Clark says, “The focus is on spirituality, and it’s not about having answers, but engaging one another’s stories, and listening to one another. What is really meaningful to me is that it is shared, equal; no one has to have all the answers, and that is really powerful. There is no hierarchy; Carol does a lot of the leadership, yet when we all come together, no one has to know more or do more than anybody else.” Beginning in September a group of about a dozen people has met on Sunday evening every three weeks. The gatherings have taken place in participants’ homes. They share a simple supper then discuss a topic or question related to faith and spiri-tuality. Carol writes, “At our first meeting we generated a long list of questions that concerned us. These questions were then transferred to 3 x 5 cards and placed in a box. At the end of each evening, someone draws a card at random. The topic on that

card will form the basis of our next discus-sion. If anyone cares to, he or she can read about the issue at hand, or perhaps spend some time in reflection, but there is no homework. A few of us who have a more formal education in theology are welcome to share our learning. The evening closes with compline or some other form of eve-ning prayer and we then disperse into the Michigan night. Some of the questions the group has discussed include:How do we define faith? What does it mean to say we take a leap of faith?How do we define spirituality? What are examples of spirituality? What holds all ofthese examples together, i.e., what is the concept behind spirituality?-How do we give up control, or the illusion of control? How can we live alife of pos-sibility?-Coincidence: Is there such a thing?- What might we learn from a practicing Buddhist? Can the insights of other faiths help us deepen our own spirituality?-What does church mean? How can church (in any form) help us be servants in the world? How does the church impede us in that quest to be servants? What did church look like in the first century and how might that inform us today?-Liturgy: what is the concept behind all liturgy? What in our lives is liturgical, and how do those elements help us or impede us in our spiritual journeys? What do we find helpful or not so helpful in the church’s

liturgy? How can we incorporate liturgy into our lives in a way that is helpful?-What does evangelism mean, really? How have some images (examples) of evange-lism turned us off, or been inspiring? What is the difference between evangelism and outreach? How does one put evangelism into action? Carol writes, “The tone of the group is one of acceptance, caring, and respect. No one need say anything; every-one’s contribution is valued, including the contribution of silent presence. This has been one of the most exciting and satisfy-ing experiences that I have had as a person of faith: sharing conversation with others who are inextricably caught by the idea that there is something far larger than we are, whether we call that something God, Mystery, or the Universe. We are seekers not knowers; we are by our very nature ag-nostic. We do not expect to find answers, but we do expect to gain insight from one another. And together we have embarked upon an intentional journey to discover more about what it means to be a human being living on Planet Earth.” Rayford Ray has expressed his strong support for the experiment at St. Ignace, reflecting how it is life-giving and energizing for the people involved. A study group working with re-imagining the church has been reflecting on the experi-ence of the St. Ignace faith community, and it served as a ministry case study for Living

Stones, a consortium of dioceses and orga-nizations engaged in mutual ministry. As for the future of the group, Carol Bell says, “We don’t have any idea of where this will lead. We will see how it

Continued from front page...

Inspired by the questions of an inquiring heart

Continued from front page...

Earthkeepers II renews extraordinary ministry with environment

MARCH2 Diocesan Council 10:00 am Diocesan Office, Marquette5 Justice & Peace Committee 11:00 am Diocesan Office, Marquette7-13 House of Bishops Meeting Kanuga Center, NC16 Commission on Ministry 10:00 am Diocesan Office, Marquette23 Episcopal Min Supp Team 10:00 am Diocesan Office, Marquette24 Palm Sunday31 Easter

APRIL1 Easter Monday - Diocesan Office Closed6 Diocesan Council 10:00 am Diocesan Office, Marquette12 Episcopal Min Supp Team 10:00 am Diocesan Office, Marquette13 Workshop - Easter Vigil 10:00 am St. Paul’s, Marquette13 Huron Districrt Meeting Noon St. Matthias, Pickford18-21 Visitors Weekend Around the diocese

MAY 10-11 Planning for Tomorrow Grand Hotel, Mackinac Is.

JUNE 16-21 Diocesan Youth Camp Clear Lake Education CenterJUNE 29-30 Affirmation Weekend St. Alban’s, Manistique

OCTOBER 4-6 118th Diocesan Convention St. Stephen’s, Escanaba

To have meetings included, call 1-800-236-0087 or email jane@upepiscopal.org

March 2013 Church In Hiawathaland Page 3C

Meetings and EventsAll times Eastern

TransitionsDeaths

Dennis West Building on last September’s “Finding Our Voice” workshop, the Justice and Peace Committee is continuing to en-gage our State Senator and Representatives in dialogue. Senator Debbie Stabenow sent a video clip made especially for our September event, Senator Tom Casperson was represented there and Representative Ed McBroom came in person. On January 18th, the Committee met with Senator Casperson at St. Stephens Church in Escanaba, just days after the State of the State speech by Governor Sny-der. The Justice and Peace members urged Senator Casperson to support the Medicaid

sentatives John Kivela and Scott Dianda at the Diocesan Office in Marquette. Repre-sentative Kivela is on the Natural Resourc-es Committee, the Tourism Committee and

Justice and Peace Committee Meets with State Legislators

expansion, which could affect as many as 32,000 low income adults in the Upper Peninsula. (At that point the Governor had not yet included it in his priorities). The Senator and the committee had an excel-lent discussion about the pros and cons of the expansion. While he admitted this was not his area of expertise, he pledged to help our Committee gain access to appropriate leadership in Lansing to advocate for this and for other concerns in the months ahead.Senator Casperson is chairing the Trans-portation Committee and he recently had a tour beneath the Mackinac Bridge. The Department of Transportation staff wanted Legislators to see how the bridge shook, and daylight appeared between the supports when heavy trucks passed overhead. One of the Senator’s jobs will be to convince others that the bridge is due for significant repairs and to find a way to finance them. An area that Senator Casperson has experience and familiarity with is the state of oral health in the Upper Peninsula. He is a champion of Escanaba’s free dental clinic, which received a $1,000 grant from the Diocese in 2012. His wife Susan is an oral hygienist who works in Engadine and in Powers for a Federally Qualified Health Center—the UP Association of Rural Health Services (UPARHS). He was pleased that the Justice and Peace Commit-tee had secured a start-up grant for an oral health care coalition in the UP, and urged us to keep him informed. On Friday, February 8th, the Com-mittee met with newly elected State Repre-

State Senator Tom Casperson (R)

State Representative John Kivela (D)

the Criminal Justice Committee. Represen-tative Dianda is on the Natural Resources Committee, the Transportation Committee and the Regulatory Reform Committee. Committee members shared with them our four priority areas; Support for Seniors at the End of Life, implementation of the Af-fordable Care Act, Education for children ages 3-20, and Oral Health Care for All in the UP. The Committee discussed the Governor’s budget with the Representatives and talked about our hope that Medicaid Expansion was among their priorities too. Kayla West presented an analysis that the expansion could positively impact 32,000 people in the UP, over 10% of the popula-tion! We also talked about our support for early childhood education. Representative Kivela cited studies showing an 8:1 return on investment when children receive educa-tion in those early years.

State Representative Scott Dianda (D)

They also discussed the Oral Health Care Coalition Grant. Represen-tative Dianda had been considerate in allowing Danielle Stein of his Lansing staff to attend part of the Oral Health Facilitator Leadership training held in Lansing at the end of January. The discussion framed the key issues, and both Representatives com-mitted to continue this dialogue with our Diocese.

Kayla West In January, the Diocese of Northern Michigan learned it had received a $1,500 “mini-grant” to support coalition-building toward Oral Health for All in the Upper Peninsula. The grant is from the Michigan Oral Health Coalition, and the purpose of the grant is to inspire com-munities to create networks of innovation, advocacy and leadership to improve the oral health of residents. Networks will align data and resources, and create effective approaches to prevent and manage oral disease that can be replicated. The diocese and our partners will also have access to a broad base of knowledge and expertise through multiple state and national partners, and in-depth assistance related to leadership, strategic planning and program development. The diocese was one of four organizations selected from a field of twelve applicants.

The diocesan Justice and Peace Committee has already sent two represen-tatives to a Facilitation for Social Change Workshop in Lansing. The first order of business was to gain an understanding of three critical practice areas for effective coalitions: Relationships, Process, Results. We have already been busy initiating rela-tionships, including some with our elected State officials. At our March meeting, the Justice and Peace Committee will discuss next steps, including identifying and engag-ing stakeholders, training facilitators, out-lining data needs, and scheduling regional listening sessions. State Senator Casperson has already been briefed on the initiative, and we learned that he is a big supporter of the Escanaba free dental clinic, which received a $1,000 from the Diocese in 2012. Mrs. Casperson is an oral hygienist who works at UPARHS clinics in Engadine and Powers.

Reinventing Oral Health in Michigan

Ben Baldus“Lutherpalian”

Advocate for justice and peaceFriend of Northern Michigan

Agnes DybeckSt. James, Sault Ste. Marie

Priscilla GassTransfiguration Ironwiid

Page 4D Church In Hiawathaland March 2013

Diocesan Youth Summer CampJune 16 -21, 2013 4th - 12th grades

Swimming + Games + Friends new and old + learning + dancing

+ LIFE! +For more information:www.upepiscopal.org

Medjine Tilus from Crochu, in her school uniform, is the scholarship girl from St. Mark’s, Crystal Falls.

She is five years old and in the second level (of three) in kindergarten.

Note her cross, a gift from St. Mark’s parishioners, and her “Jesus” barrette.

Photos: Burt Purrington

Louis-Jacques Dorelian, layleader at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in our companion community, Cro-chu, Haiti, preaching in vestments donated by Church of the Good Shepherd, St. Ignace.

Louis-Jacques and his wife, Tazia Vètinèl, head of the women’s sewing co-op we support, are our two primary contacts and co-workers in Crochu.

Burt Purrtington visited four Haitian communities in four weeks during January and February. He delivered scholarship money from our diocese and expanded our program to include over 20 scholarship students ranging from kindergarten to high school and nursing school. He also provided funding to assist about 40

Elizabeth Jacobson We keep doing this because it’s so great. Women from across the U.P., and five from downstate, congregated at the Marygrove Retreat Center on the Garden Peninsula, to fling cares and responsibili-ties (temporarily) to the four winds – from Friday evening, January 25th through lunch on Sunday. We caught up with dear old friends. We made dear new friends. And everybody used our unstructured, unsched-uled time in whatever ways best suited her, from naps to walks to just hanging out. Food you don’t have to cook, yourself, is well-known to taste better, but the wonderful meals at Marygrove are a treat we all look forward to and appreciate, every year. Personal handicrafts are always much in evidence, but even non-beaders, under the expert coaching of Judy Britten, had fun making their very own “Savior” bracelet, a wonderful souvenir to remind each of us of this special weekend together.

Season One of “Downton Ab-bey” was among the favorite DVDs people brought to share, and there was a glorious moonlit evening walk, with luminaries to mark the path, a tradition of the local com-munity. We always offer Morning Prayer and Compline each day, and hold Sunday Worship Service. And then, after Worship and Sunday lunch, we depart – already looking forward to next year.

U.P. Connections with Haiti continue to strengthen

Lenten Resources and happenings for you and your communityThis Lent the Brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) will offer a daily video series on prayer called Praying Our Lives. Each video will invite view-ers to think deeply (yet briefly) with the Brothers about the joys and challenges, practices, and patterns of prayer that bring us close to the heart of God. The series will include practical tips, personal stories, and questions for meditation. Find the videos at http://ssje.org/ssje/prayer/

What do you get when you com-bine a love of sports with a love of saints? Lent Madness, of course. A year after this unique online devotion went viral—with mentions in Sports Illustrated, the Wash-ington Post, and many other media outlets, Lent Madness is back. Based loosely on the wildly popular NCAA basketball tournament, Lent Madness pits 32 saints against one another in public voting as they compete for the coveted Golden Halo. But it is more

than that: Lent Madness is really an online devotional tool designed to help people learn about saints. The competition began on February 14 and takes place at www.lentmadness.org.

In keeping with our goal to support the Millennium Developmental Goals, Grace Church, Menominee decided to carry the love of our God out into the communities by inviting the community into our parish house. On the Tuesdays of Lent they are hosting a series of presentations to promote awareness and understanding of some of the outreach organizations in our local com-munities such as St. Vincent DePaul, Tri-County Safe Harbors, Kiwanis Club, Marinette Free Clinic, and the Community Action Agency. An offering will be taken to support the corresponding speaker. Theevents will be held in the parish house at 922 10th Avenue in Menominee. The parishhouse is handicapped accessible.

Judy Britton leads a beading project at the recent Women’s Winter Respite at Marygrove.

A weekend at ‘Dear’ camp