The Church in Hiaw

athalandN

orthern Michigan edition of Episcopal Journal

Vol. 4 No. 6 June 2014

New

s for and about the Episcopal Diocese of N

orthern Michigan

Inside this issue...Page 2B Bishop Spong and civil rights Cycle of Prayer

Page 3C Meetings and Events, Ishpeming commissioning, UTO

Page 4D Youth news, Around the Diocese

Speaking with courage, listening with the heartDan Hines (pictured left) came to Marquette May 16-17 to guide a retreat for the diocese on listening to our hearts, speaking with courage, and learning to listen well to one another as we deepend our faith in God.

As this issue of Hiawathaland was going to press, the retreat was still underway. Look for more news and reflections on the retreat at www.upepiscopal.org.

Mary Sullivan

A BIG thanks to all of you -Yoopers, Snow-birds, and Friends-of-Yoopers - who clicked

in to QuickCallSwick.com. and voted for Camp New Day. We made it – we won the $500 Gold Star Giving program for April! This amount will sponsor one camper for

“This intersection of life- this inner teacher and Spirit within me- lines me up and gives me a bearing. My heart has become my source of courage: my source of trust that I can move ahead in a steady direction.” --Dan Hines

UP-Date from Camp New Day U.P.

Continued on page 3C...

Page 2B Church In Hiawathaland June 2014

Diocesan Cycle of PrayerJune

1 Holy Trinity Church, Iron Mountain [Calvary, Quinnesec]

8 Grace Church, Ishpeming [Bethany, Bethel, Faith, Trinity]

15 Trinity Church, Gladstone [First; Bethany, Calvary & Trinity]

22 St. Alban’s Church, Manistique [Zion]

29 St. Peter’s by the Sea, Eagle Harbor [Shepherd of Sea, Copper Harbor]

[local ELCA churches in brackets]

Burt Purrington Many clergy and laypeople in the Episco-pal Church have been in the forefront of the struggle for social justice in America and throughout the world. We hold in our col-lective memory the Episcopal civil rights martyr Jonathan Daniels, the Philadelphia 11 and the ordination of Bishop Gene Robinson. Most movements for social change, especially structural change, are complex. They tend to create divisions while they are evolving -- often between people of good will. With the passage of time and genera-tions, however, these divisions generally are healed for all but the most hard-core resisters, and we often forget how raw, volatile and even scary such struggles were

ing would truly be a gathering of the young people in the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina.” The bishop’s response, he says, “was a quick and emphatic no.” The people of the diocese, the bishop wrote back, were “not yet ready” for an interracial youth gathering, particularly “the vision of Negro boys and white girls swimming together in the pool.” The rationale that people are simply “not yet ready” for changes that would open doors to those who have been shut out has been a deterrent to social justice in our churches, our communities and our na-tion for more than a century. Thankfully, despite powerful resistance, both within the Church and beyond, there have been leaders in the Episcopal Church who have decided that the time for inviting and welcoming all to God’s table is NOW -- and Bishop Spong is one of these leaders. Although Bishop Spong did not actively challenge the Church on its racial divisions when he was a youth leader, once he was ordained, he could more effectively work for change. In his second parish, in a small town in North Carolina, he learned that simply carrying out his duties as a Chris-tian and as a priest brought him up against deeply held racial prejudices. As a result of his actions on behalf of racial equality and integration in his community, he received not entirely friendly visits from people ranging from members of his vestry to the Ku Klux Klan. (At least the people in his church made appointments and came during normal waking hours.) The story of his role in bringing God’s justice, mercy and love to ALL people, as recounted in Here I Stand, is a powerful reminder that despite the fact that much remains to be done to bring God’s universal, all-embracing love into our world, we have come a long way and we should learn from and be encouraged by the courage, compassion and conviction of those who preceded us. To prepare for Bishop Spong’s visit, his autobiography is an informative and inspiring place to start. Bishop Spong will be with us from Septem-ber 12-14 and deliver two public presenta-tions in Marquette on Saturday, September 13.

Ministry Support Team members and others from around the diocese gathered in early May for a workshop on same-gender bless-ings. Walking through one possible way to conduct a liturgy for same-gender couples wishing to have their committed relation-ship blessed (same-gender marriage is not legal in Michigan), the group explored the service together and reflected on what spe-cial needs and prayers might be appropriate.

Responding positively to the worship and pre-blessing preparation resources that The Episcopal Church center has made avail-able, participants agreed that the materials not only addressed those issues raised in the context of same-gender relationships, but also helped in thinking through what is helpful in preparing heterosexual couples for marriage.

People come to the church with a wide variety of life and relationship experiences and situations: children from previous mar-riages and relationships, divorced, living together, from positive and negative past

relationships. Same-gender couples add in the challenges of living as LGBT (lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender) in our society with widely mixed openness or judgment. The TEC resources address the many ways that people find themselves coming to the church for a blessing of their commitment to one another.

In the Diocese of Northern Michigan, priests and congregations are currently au-thorized and encouraged to offer same-sex blessings to persons seeking the Church’s blessing of their relationships. If Michi-gan’s ban on same-sex marriage is offi-cially overturned (a challenge to the law is currently working its way through the court system), clergy will continue to be permit-ted, but not required, to witness same-sex marriages in the State of Michigan and to officiate at the blessing of these holy unions using the approved liturgical rite.

The resources offered at the workshop are available from local ministry developers.

Participants in the demonstration same-gender blessing liturgy reflect with workshop participants. Pictured left to right: Peg Padilla, Bob Railey, Rise Thew Forrester, Cathy Clark, Kevin Thew Forrester.

Same-gender blessing workship explores resources

and how much they accomplished. Our September speaker, Bishop Jack Spong, born and raised in North Carolina, has been one of the leaders of the move-ment for justice and equality for all both within the Episcopal Church and the wider community. In his autobiography, Here I Stand: My Struggle for a Christianity of Integrity, Love and Equality, Bishop Spong recalls his early days as a youth leader in the Episcopal Church in North Carolina, when he learned to his amazement that there were not one but two Episcopal youth organizations in the state, one white and one black. In 1949, as president of the diocesan Young People’s Service League, he was to preside over the annual diocesan youth convention. In that role, he wrote to his bishop, who he describes as a “gifted and saintly man,” and requested that the young black people in the diocese be in-vited to the convention so that “this gather-

Fall 2014 Event

Bishop Spong and Civil Rights

John Shelby Spong will be presenting two talks this September 13 in Marquette

JUNE2-3 Province V Bishops Chicago, IL5 Judicatory Heads 10:00 am tba, Marquette5 Good News Awards tba, Marquette7 EMST 10:00 am Dio. Office, Marquette14 Diocesan Council 10:00 am Harvey Building15-20 Diocesan Youth Camp Presbytery Pt, Michigamme21 Hiawatha Dist. Mtg. 10:00 am St Stephen, Escanaba Hosp/Mutual Care Wksp 1:00 pm St. Stephen, Escanaba20-21 Intl Symposium planning Minneapolis, MN22 MST Commissioning St. James, Sault Ste. Marie27-28 Endowment Committee Diocesan Office, Marquette28 Huron District mtg/Picnic St. Matthias, Pickford

JULY4 Independence Day - Diocesan Office Closed11 EMST 10:00 am Dio. Office, Marquette13 MST Commissioning St. Alban’s, Manistique12 Diocesan Council 10:00 am Harvey Building14-19 Camp New Day UP Clear Lake Education Center28- Aug 2 Standing Comm Small Congs Dallas-Fort Worth

AUGUST22 Trust Association 10:00 am Dio. Office, Marquette23 Diocesan Council 10:00 am Harvey Building29 EMST 10:00 am Dio. Office, Marquette

SEPTEMBER1 Labor Day- Diocesan Office Closed6 Diocesan Council 10:00 am Harvey Building12 EMST 10:00 am Dio. Office, Marquette13 John Selby Spong Talks Marquette, MI15-23 House of Bishops Taiwan27 Commission on Ministry 10:00 am Dio. , Marquette29-10/2 Epis Bus Admin Conference NYC

OCTOBER10 EMST 10:00 am Dio. , Marquette11 Environmental Conf 10:00 am St. Paul’s, Marquette24-26 Annual Convention Holiday Inn, Marquette

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

June 2014 Church In Hiawathaland Page 3C

Meetings and EventsAll times Eastern

May 4th, the community of Grace Church, Ishpeming celebrated Baptismal Ministry with the Commissioning of a Ministry Support Team. Family, friends and visitors gathered to share in the celebration. Bishop Rayford Ray presided at the commissioning/ordination. Cathy Clark, formerly from Grace Church, who currently serves as Ministry Developer for the Huron District offered the homily. The photo shows the ministers of the community gathered after the liturgy. (Photo: Manuel Padilla)

a week at camp. Things are shaping up well for our 13th season and we are creating another exciting program for the youth we serve. This program relies on dona-tions from individuals, churches, services organizations, businesses, and grants from foundations. Equally important are the individuals who volunteer to help us with transporting campers to and from camp at Clear Lake Education Center in the central U.P. Without generous donations of time and treasure, camp would not exist. 25% of our donations come from individuals and 25% come from faith groups; of that 25%, half are from Episcopal churches in our Diocese.

We are closing in on our projected budget goal. If you would still like to donate, here are some ways you can help:

• You can sponsor a camper for 1 week @ $500; for 1 day @ $100; or for a ½ day @ $50.

• You can sponsor an activity: canoe rental @ $50 for the week; high ropes @ $24 per camper; or arts & crafts at $10 per camper.

• You can provide a gas card to help with transportation costs @ $25 per card.

• You may make your check out to: “Camp New Day U.P.” We have a mailbox in the church office.

We are a 501c3 organization and all contri-butions are tax deductible.

• If you are able to help with transportation, please contact Ann Smith at: awspickle@charter.net

• If you have other questions about Camp New Day, please contact Mary Sullivan at: marysullivan54@sbcglobal.net.

Camp New Day U.P. is a one-week camp for Upper Peninsula youth age 9-14 whose lives have been affected by the incarcera-tion of a parent or close family member.

This will be our 13th camp season. It is a labor of love and faith and it wouldn’t be possible without you!

Grace Church, Ishpeming commissions next generation MST

Dear Lord, Help us to remember daily through the United Thank Offering, our gratitude and thankfulness for all the gifts you have given us. Help us to use these resources to further your work and serve as a reminder to others of your enduring love and grace. In his name, Amen. (Linda Kennedy, UTO Alabama)

We are in the Spring Ingathering season. It is time to remind ourselves of our bless-ings and thanksgivings and to share these with others through our monetary gifts placed into the United Thank Offering Blue Box. There are many needs in our world that can benefit from sharing our blessings and thanksgivings. The Spring Ingathering money will be granted at the United Thank

Offering granting session this summer. The list of grants for 2013 can be found on the UTO web site: http.//www.utochange.org.

Remember, we are not passive receivers, but active participants in the filling of our Blue Box. We are ‘Changing Lives, by one grant at a Time’. We are the vehicle through which Christ’s Love is shown to help with the needs of others.

If your congregation has held its Spring UTO Ingathering, THANK YOU! If not, prayerfully the next Sunday will be your Ingathering. All money should be sent to Teena Maki, 470 Hwy 141, Crystal Falls, Mi 49920.

Support for Camp New Day

Page 4D Church In Hiawathaland June 2014

Summer camp!June 15-20

Grades 3-12p We’ll be in a new setting this year, at Presbytery Point, on Lake Michigamme. They have a great camp setting, and we’re looking forward to being there for all of the fun we’ve had in the past. Brochures are in the mail!

Plans are in place, registrations are coming in--don’t miss out!

For more information, contact Susan Harries, bmcsharries@yahoo.com or Rise Thew For-rester, risetf@gmail.com

Hope we’ll see you there!

Genevieve Raboin, resident of the Golden Living Center in Florence Wisconsin celebrated her 100th birthday on Sun-day, April 27. Several family members, friends and nursing home residents, as well as folks from St. Mark's Crystal Falls, joined in the celebration. She is pictured here with her cake and a framed congratulatory letter from President Obama.

Huron District Meeting Our next district meeting will be held on June 28 from 10:00 - 2:00 at St. Matthias’ parish hall in Pickford. This will include a picnic lunch and the usual business items.

Holy Trinity, Iron Mountain continued their tradition of sending care packages to 5 college students studying for their finals this spring.

Hiawatha District meeting and workshopsThe next district meeting will be June 21 at 10am, followed by lunch and two short workshops on Hospitality and Mutual/Pas-toral care, at St. Stephen’s, Escanaba.

TransitionsBaptisms

Cameron and Ruby McLaughlinHoly Trinity, Iron Mountain

Confirmation/ReaffirmationMarcy Maynard

Trinity, Gladstone

GraduationsJared Hunter (high school)

Abby Flaminio (high school)Trinity, Gladstone

Penny Smith (NMU)Pamella Vincent (Bay College)

Holy Innocents, Gwinn

Around the diocese...

St. James’, Sault Ste. Marie will commission their next mutual minis-try generationon Sunday, June 22, 10am All are welcome! The bishop will be here, followed by a parish cook out. Come one, come all to celebrate our parish, summer and mutual ministry.

Come join in commissioning a new team

St. John’s, Munising celebrated the return of their central stained glass window in mid-May, after extensive refurbishing by Shadetree Studios in Petoskey. This is part of an ongoing project of several years, saving the windows from further distinigration from weather and time.