An Invitation from the Bishop

Come Hear About Our Companions, The Diocese of Ezo

Thank you for your prayers which sustained Tom and I as we journeyed to and from the Sudan. As many of you know we had quite a trip. While the frustration of cancelled flights and the challenges of no electricity or running water, and bumpy dirt roads will be part of our memories for a long time, the beauty of faithfulness offered by the people we met is already providing gifts of spiritual grace far more nourishing and thought provoking than any inconveniences we experienced.

We have many pictures and video images that bring to life the personalities and Christian joy of the people of the Diocese of Ezo, and we created a power point presentation that we wish to share with you, followed by some personal reflections.

Our first presentation will take place at the Church of the Epiphany, East Providence, where the light of Christ’s hospitality is leading so many to a new understanding of the Christian message and its call to faithful response. We will gather there at 4PM on Sunday, January 18th to share some of our experiences, and to suggest some ways that we might offer hope to the people of our new companion diocese.

After the presentation, a sample of typical southern Sudan food will refresh our bodies and give us yet another way of sharing fellowship with each other and with the life of the people of Ezo.

Some offerings may be brought with you. We hope to send the diocese the following:

• Black clergy shirts with tab collars. Some of our priests and deacons must have a few around.
  



• Contributions towards purchasing bicycles for parish priests, who walk many, many miles to make pastoral calls (ten miles is not unusual).




• Stoles and chasubles that you are no longer using, and maybe an alb. At Christmas they wore the two chasubles available; one black and one purple.

And then, looking toward the future, Bishop John Yawo and his assistant expressed a need for special assistance with education and communications. We will share with you some ideas for helping them help themselves in these areas.

Tom and I, and the people of Epiphany are very excited about our afternoon together and hope that you will join us.

--The Rt Rev. Geralyn Wolf, and Tom