The Latest eRISEN- June 25th 2010

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eRISEN June 25th 2010 issue

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The Women of Ezo have Received Their Solar Lamps!

The RI & Ezo Companion Diocese Committee has teamed up with an organization called Solar Sister to bring solar lamps to the Women's Union in the Diocese of Ezo. Word has just been received that the lamps have arrived! Visit Solar Sister's Facebook Page to see photos of the Mother's Union in Ezo, who will be selling these Solar lanterns to provide income for their families and a clean, healthy,inexpensive alternative to kerosene lamps to light their villages!

LARI Update: The Gulf Oil Spill, in the Diocese of Louisiana

A Letter From the Diocese of Louisiana


The oil spill tragedy unfolding along our coastline has been weighing heavily on many hearts in this Diocese. Even as we brace for the long-term impact, Episcopal Community Services of Louisiana has begun to step in to support families in Terrebonne Parish whose livelihoods and businesses have already been hurt by the spill’s impact on fishing communities. Working in partnership with Bayou Grace Community Services, a faith-based organization serving the 5-bayou area south of Houma — and with support anticipated from Episcopal Relief and Development and from Oxfam America — ECSLA will provide assistance with groceries and gas cards to help families make ends meet, as well as provide referrals, legal assistance, and pastoral care to residents trying to navigate the assistance channels.

ECSLA is proud to support the resilient and hard-working residents of our fishing communities, and we welcome your help. If you have qualifications to assist with legal aid or pastoral care, and can commit to regular days and times in specific communities, please contact Nell Bolton, Executive Director of ECSLA, at nbolton@edola.org . Donations to support this effort can be made through the secure donation site at http://www.ecsla.org/ or by clicking here.

Thank you.

The Latest eRISEN

You can view the latest issue of eRISEN, our biweekly email events calendar, at the link below:

eRISEN June 11th 2010 issue

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Update: Restoration of the Cathedral Close

During the last two years Bishop Wolf, Dean Krauss and the Cathedral Chapter have spent much time seeking God’s guidance through prayer and exploring what other dioceses have done when faced with enormous expenses to restore their cathedral. This has been a particular challenge in such very awkward financial times.

But we believe that God’s people are empowered to boldly solve any problem. As we embraced this attitude, it became obvious that the way forward had to be seen in light of the resources we actually have. Foremost we have a wonderful quartet of ministries which occupy a whole block of the historic district of Providence: The Edwards’ Homes which provide low-income residences; Hallworth House which is a distinguished nursing and rehabilitation facility; the headquarters of the Diocese including the Bishop’s office, staff offices, the headquarters for Episcopal Charities and the Diocesan Resource Center and last but not least, the ancient Cathedral of Saint John.

A committee of representatives from the governing bodies and staff of the Diocese met for several months with John Grosvenor, Principal of Newport Collaborative Architects, to work out a concept plan. That rethinks our use of this entire block, in an attempt to be better stewards of the resource.This plan was presented to the Standing Committee, The Diocesan Council, the Cathedral Chapter and Parish and at the Diocesan Convention in October 2009 It was received with great enthusiasm. It likewise has been very well received by the Architectural Committee of the Providence Preservation Society.

While the plan features the restoration of the Cathedral it also integrates all of the Cathedral Close properties as far as possible for mixed-use development. Parking will be increased substantially and such issues as handicapped access and green considerations are at the forefront. The Cathedral offices and parish activities expect to share a common space with the Diocesan office. There will also be commercial rental space and apartments or condominiums. The garden areas and the charming old cathedral graveyard will be made accessible from North Main Street and at the same time compliment the Rogers Williams National Memorial across the street.

So it is appropriate to take things one more step with the creation of a feasibility study and a design plan. While the concept plan was financed through funds made available to the Bishop, this stage requires support from a broader base. We have a goal of $500,000 to raise for this phase. Your Cathedral Chapter elected to raise a tithe of the amount, $50,000, from the Cathedral Parish. As of this writing four donors have contributed $132, 000 toward the larger amount and the cathedral parish has exceeded its goal with pledges $70,656. $30,000 of this is in hand, making a total of $162,000. Quite a few more pledges are expected from the Cathedral community, and those friends who are committed to this important and ambitious project. Needless-to-say, we welcome prayers and contributions toward these exciting plans from anyone in the Diocesan family and the general public. Don’t miss this opportunity to contribut to new and life-changing ministries.

Contact Dean Krauss at the Cathedral office (401.331.4622) or Bishop Wolf’s office 401.274.4500 x223 for more info

Out of the Box Outreach: St. Martin's and the Providence Preservation Society

On Saturday June 5th St. Martin's, Providence is getting involved with their neighborhood in a new and exciting way.

The Providence Preservation Society (PPS)is holding their 31st annual Festival of Historic Houses, and this year's walking tour features nine houses in the near vicinity of St. Martin's, on the Eastside of Providence. St. Martins, who's building itself is on the National Register of Historic Places,is hosting registration and ticket sales at the start of the tour, and then offering a mid-afternoon lecture for participants at 1:00pm.

What a great way for the St. Martin's family to be an involved and visible presence in their neighborhood. What a fabulous chance to welcome those who might not otherwise enter through the parish doors!

Read more about the PPS Walking Tour, and St. Martin's, in the Projo:
http://www.projo.com/home/content/wk-pps_tour_06-03-10_LOIFGIO_v33.50045ea.html

The Royal School of Church Music's Newport Summer Course for Kids

The Royal School of Church Music in America (RSCM America) is pleased to announce that a weeklong overnight summer course will once again be available in New England! Girls, boys and teens alike will find this new course, in residence at Salve Regina University in beautiful and historic Newport by the Sea, a wonderful setting for a week of fine music-making, fun and fellowship.

The course Music Director is Mr. Benjamin Hutto. Mr. Hutto is the Director of Performing Arts at St. Albans School for Boys and the National Cathedral School for Girls in Washington, DC, where he directs Upper and Middle School choral ensembles, serves as school Organist, and oversees choral music, instrumental music, theater, and dance for the schools on The Close of Washington National Cathedral. He is a past president of RSCM America.

Choristers will rehearse daily with Mr. Hutto and opportunities for small group and individual instruction will be provided. Final choral services will be held at Emmanuel Church, Newport, with Evensong, Friday, August 6 and Festival Eucharist, Sunday, August 8.

The course is open to boys and girls, ages 9-16; the cost is $575, not including music. RSCM members receive a $25 discount. Please Register by June 15th! For more information visit www.emmanuelnewport.org/rscm-newport-course-2010/

The Mission Task Force wants to hear from you, on facebook.

What is important to you, as a Rhode Island Episcopalian? What were you doing when you felt most alive in the spirit? What does your congregation do that you could share with other congregations?

The Mission Task Force is asking, and they have set up a Facebook group to make it easy for you to answer.

The Mission Task Force was established last October by Diocesan Convention, to review and evaluate the mission priorities of our diocese. Our mission priorities have long been the Hispanic Ministry, Episcopal Camp and Conference Center (ECC)), Congregational Development, and Christian Formation, but it has been some time since these programs and focus areas were reviewed. It has also been some time since Rhode Island Episcopalians have been asked as a whole what they feel is most important.

The Mission Task force is spending this year asking just that. You are the diocese and they want to know what you think this diocese as a whole is doing or could do in the future to bring us together as RI Episcopalians and make a difference in the community. They want to hear you reflect and express your sense of purpose, meaning and mission as Christians in the community and the world.

The Task force has created various opportunities to listen to what you think. In April and May of this year the Task Force held several “Listening Gatherings” across the state to provide space for parishioners and clergy to reflect together in person. Nearly 150 people came to these meetings, but in a diocese of over 20,000 Episcopalians from 56 congregations, that is a relatively small sampling of our collective voice!

In addition to the listening gatherings, the Task Force has set up their Facebook group to facilitate discussion among people who might not have been able to attend any of the listening gatherings. 87 people have joined the Facebook group so far and there has been some lively discussion around topics such as the importance of ministering to our youth, the effectiveness of current programs such as the Episcopal Conference Center, and what in general draws RI Episcopalians closest to God.

You can join in the online discussion too. Share what is important to you, and you will help form and guide the future of your diocese! Join the facebook groupto comment on any of the current discussions or even start your own new topic. Your voice matters.

The Latest eRISEN

You can view the latest issue of eRISEN, our biweekly email events calendar, at the link below:

eRISEN May 27th 2010 issue

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