THE EPISTLE of St. Luke’s Episcopal Mission We gather to Worship SUNDAY – 10:00AM Third Sunday after Epiphany January 25, 2015 THE ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION BEGINS FEBRUARY 5th IN NEW BERN So, how is the Episcopal Church governed? First - a bit of history. The Church is an offshoot of the Church of England. Its ministry began with the first colonists. After the Revolutionary War, it broke its formal ties with the Church of England and eventually became an independent branch of what is now called the Anglican Communion. Originally there were thirteen dioceses, one for each State, and each had a bishop in charge. They were autonomous, except there was a Presiding Bishop (PB) elected by the House of Bishops, who was just that, he presided over the House of Bishops and convened a General Convention every three years. In fact, until the early 1900s, the Presiding Bishop remained a Diocesan Bishop during his term as Presiding Bishop. There was minimal central authority. This was a deliberate design as they did not want to be like the Church of England and the Church in Rome where the Archbishop or Pope had dictatorial powers over their church. and at times used them ruthlessly. Having suffered under such, they wanted no part of a centralized power structure. So the various Dioceses were, in a sense, an end unto themselves, except for decisions made at a triennial General Convention. As we know, over the years more and more authority has been added to the office of PB so minimal central authority no longer applies. One of the hot topics at the General Convention this Summer is the re-structuring of the Church. You might be interested in knowing that Bishop Philander Chase (1775-1852) is Bev McGees Great-Great Grandfather. He was a missionary bishop who took the Church into the territory of Ohio. There he established many parishes as well as Kenyon College and seminary. It is now a thriving liberal arts college, but no longer a seminary. A genealogy in the library includes Bev’s name as a descendent. Bishop Chase then was sent to the territory of Illinois to plant the Episcopal Church. There he established Jubilee College in Peoria as a seminary. It is closed, now a State Park and where the Bishop is buried. In those early days the Diocesan Bishop sent out missionaries to form new churches to add to those existing from the earlier time. All churches within the geographical area of a diocese, as a group, are the diocese. Many dioceses have a central church, a cathedral, and that is where the Bishop hangs his hat (mitre) . We have no cathedral in our Diocese. But many consider Camp Trinity at Salter Pass as such. Diocesan bishops are elected by delegates from the parishes, both lay and clergy. We saw that up close last year with the search. election and consecration of Bishop Skirving as our new Diocesan Bishop. Representatives of the parishes come together once a year in a diocesan convention to take care of the business of the diocese. The number of delegates depends on the size of the parish. St. Luke’s being small, is entitled to one lay delegate. And the priests of the parishes are clergy delegates. The convention is divided into two houses, lay and clergy, and matters of import must pass both houses. It is set up much like the U.S. Congress with two houses. Of interest, is that the similarity is not by chance. The Constitutions of both the US and Episcopal Church were written in the same time frame in the same city – Philadelphia. Independence Hall and Christ Church are only a few blocks apart, and 56 members of the US Constitution Convention were Episcopalians. The Chaplain of the US Constitutional Convention, William White, became our first Presiding Bishop - connect the dots! The General Convention takes care of the business for the entire church and meets every three years. It is formed with two Houses - Deputies and Bishops. The House of Deputies are representatives of all the Dioceses, equally split between lay and priest. The House of Bishops is just that. Again to be approved, a piece of legislation must pass both houses So when Gerry and Lyle go the New Bern next week for the Diocesan Convention, they will be taking part in an orderly process established by those faithful patriots who also established this great nation. It is a simple process whereby parishes, the people of the church, govern the church at large. *************************************************** JAN CROTEAU - LAY MINISTRY SCHEDULER Gerry Forbes, who has been scheduling lay ministers for worship services for the past five years has turned over the important ministry of Scheduler to Jan Croteau. Last year Gerry asked to be relieved of this responsibility and Jan has stepped forward. Gerry has worn a number of hats in the life and growth of St. Lukes. A hard working, talented and very effective worker for the Lord, we praise God for her. Jan came to St. Lukes about five years ago, has been very faithful in attendance and always there to serve in any way needed. She requests those who have expressed a willingness to serve to contact her whenever you will be away or unable perform the task assigned. Her telephone # is 860-539-3943. This will preclude the last minute seeking of persons to fill in. Copies of the new schedule are on the counter in the narthex. Thank you Jan for your yes. ****************************************************** FORWARD - Day by Day A supply of booklets covering Feb/Mar/Apr are in the Parish Hall for you to pick-up. You will find them in a basket on the hallway counter One of the ways St. Lukes encourages discipleship is with Forward Day by Day. It is a good tool to use in shaping daily meditation. We hope that each day you will find some time to pray, to learn, and to read a bit of Scripture. We also hope you will encourage others to do the same. Share your blessings. ******************************************* Philippians 4:13 “ I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” **************************************** Acolyte Festival 2015 April 25-26, 2015 Dioceses of East Carolina 6th Annual Acolyte Festival St. Andrews By-the-Sea, Nags Head, North Carolina Regular registration Ends March 10th. **Music will be Crosswinds Band at the Festival** Debbie Luke, Acolyte Festival Coordinator lukecrew@hotmail ******************************************************** PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY- If anyone is interested in learning or brushing up on crocheting or knitting for the Prayer Shawl Ministry, please contact Jan Choteau at telephone #860-539-3943. She has a friend who is willing to teach us and help getting the prayer shawl ministry going. ******************************************* THE HOLY EUCHARIST The Third Sunday after Epiphany ********************************************************** PRAYERS CYCLE OF PRAYER: In the ANGLICAN COMMUNION, we pray for the Diocese of Long Island in the Episcopal Church, USA. In the DIOCESE OF EAST CAROLINA, we pray for St. James in Belhaven; and St. Marys, an Episcopal-Lutheran Community in Burgaw. In The DIOCESE OF THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, our companion Diocese, we pray for La Transfiguracion in Bani. PRAY FOR CHRIST’S HEALING GRACE FOR: Marv, Steph, Diana Epple, Greg Lewis, Gary Ryan, Jerry, Mike and Ginger, Albert Sir, Dave Short, Dewey Bennett, Chuck Ladell, Romel Siervo, Ken Herns, Steve Cruther, Bill Manning, Terry Miles, Cindy Wackerly, Darrell Haymore, William White, Leisa Glisson, Meridith Edman, Constance Richardson, Alan Hall, Vicki Stearns, Tim Plank, Nathaniel Woodward, Billy Byrne, Ed Ish, Ashley Delaney, Monroe Ola, Clevie Hooper, Joyce Lambertson, Alice Wellons, Joe Dodd and David. ******************************************************* THE LESSONS Jonah 3:1-5, 10 Psalm 62: 6-14 1 Corinthians 7: 29-31 Mark 1:14-20 ***************************************************** TODAY’S LAY MINISTERS OBLATIONS Marion Gilbert ACOLYTE Caroline Walker EUCHARISTIC MINISTER David Henley ALTAR GUILD Bev McGee LECTOR - Lessons Jan Croteau LECTOR - Prayers Barbara Henley USHER Mike Hall REFRESHMENTS Jan & Colleen COUNTERS Fey/Beaty ************************************************** HYMNS Processional Hymn # 549 cyberhymnal.org/htm/j/e/jesuscus.htm - followed by: youtube/watch?v=tP1kYuOLYqg Surely the Presence – words found inside cover of Hymnal Sequence Hymn # 680 https://youtube/watch?v=rsHIwXTjAOU Communion Hymn # 660 cyberhymnal.org/htm/o/m/omlmwwt.htm Recessional Hymn #473 https://youtube/watch?v=auHvvjbnFEk . MY BOUNDEN DUTY is to follow Christ, To worship every Sunday in His Church; And to work and pray and give for the Spread of His Kingdom The Book of Common Prayer In Christs love, Jim+
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 17:25:00 +0000
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