From the Companion Diocese Committee: Bringing Louisiana to ECC Summer Camp

Dear Diocesan friends:


Here is your opportunity to both support ECC (our Episcopal Camp and Conference Center) and our companion relationship with the Diocese of Louisiana! LARI, the Louisiana/Rhode Island subcommittee of the Companion Diocese Committee, is seeking to bring campers from New Orleans to ECC for the four sessions serving kids 13-17.

There are four ways you can help:

• Sponsor a camper $335-345 per session
• Make a donation toward a campership (any amount appreciated)
• Make a donation toward airfare ($200-$400)
• Donate frequent flyer miles

As we continue to build our relationship with the Diocese of Louisiana, and especially with the people and congregations of New Orleans, members of LARI would love to come and talk with your parish about the opportunities this covenant relationship holds for all of us.

The Diocese of Louisiana has made a commitment to the renewal of New Orleans, and especially to addressing some of that city’s most intractable problems of poverty and racism. LARI believes that we have a lot to learn about our own challenges here in Rhode Island by working with our brothers and sisters in Louisiana, and we are eager to share our enthusiasm for this ministry around the diocese.

Connecting youth from our two dioceses is one way to strengthen the bonds between us. It will be a great opportunity for our own kids, as well as for the young people who will be our guests this summer. Please help us bring a little bit of Louisiana to ECC!

For financial donations, please make checks out to The Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island, with “LARI ECC Scholarship Fund” on the memo line. To donate frequent flyer miles, please contact Jim Rezendes via email: jimrez@cox.net.

Thank you for your support and good will.

The Rev. Clare Fischer-Davies, Mary Ann Kolakowski and Jim Rezendes for LARI

Flood recovery information from FEMA

Disaster News
April 22, 2010
DR 1894-RI-NR021
FEMA News Desk: 401-468-3163
Governor's Office, Amy Kempe: 401-954-3873
SBA, Michael Lampton: 404-331-0333
RIEMA Contact, Steve Kass: 401-663-9776

LOCATIONS SET FOR FLOOD CLEANUP TIPS
Specialists Offer Tips To Fight Mold

WARWICK, R.I. - FEMA mitigation specialists know one of the most destructive effects of flooding is the contamination of homes and buildings with mold. In order to help Rhode Islanders deal with mold cleanup and other aspects of flood damage, information booths staffed by FEMA specialists will be at several area stores over the next few weeks.
In addition to help with reducing mold and mildew, Federal Emergency Management Agency specialists will be available to discuss other flooding-related issues such as: protecting electrical systems, furnaces, and other appliances; reinforcing structures; safeguarding valuables; and securing other important personal property. Information on flood insurance will also be available.
Locations and hours of operation for the FEMA flood recovery information booths are:
Lowe's
510 Quaker Lane
Warwick, R.I. 02866
(7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and Monday, April 24, 25, 26, 2010)

Home Depot
1255 Ten Road
N. Kingston, R.I. 02852
Opens Saturday, April 24, 2010 through May 5, 2010
(7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) ( 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday) (Closed Tuesday, April 27, 2010)

LOCATIONS SET FOR FLOOD CLEANUP HELP-2

Sam's Club
25 Pace Blvd
Warwick, R.I. 02886
Opens Saturday, April 24, 2010 through May 5, 2010
(7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday) (10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday) (Closed Tuesday, April 27, 2010)

Lowe's
247 Garfield Ave
Cranston, R.I. 02920
Opens Wednesday, April 28, 2010 through May 3, 2010
(7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday)
(7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday)

Information is free. No registration is required. There is no limit on the number of times someone can visit with a specialist or on the number of publications they can have.
Mold problems often appear five to six weeks after a flood has occurred, but steps can be taken to combat mold growth and its potential to cause serious health problems as well as structural damage to homes, according to state and federal officials. Warm weather speeds up mold growth.

Removing some flood contaminated materials and household goods and thoroughly cleaning or drying out others are essential steps to combat mold.

Flood waters compromise household fixtures in different ways. Porous materials are nearly impossible to clean. Flood soaked carpets, carpet pads, linoleum, fabric covered furniture, wet insulation and ceiling tiles should be discarded. There is no way to clean them. For heirloom rugs and furniture, contact a professional cleaner.

Appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, cooking stoves, dishwashers, hot water heaters, washing machines and driers contain insulation which may harbor mold spores without visible evidence and should be discarded.

Heating and air conditioning filters should be changed and the system ductwork cleaned by a professional so that mold spores don't circulate in the dwelling or business.

Damaged wallboard should be discarded. Water can rise in the material higher than the visible water line. The best practice is to remove the wall board at least two feet above the water line.


LOCATIONS SET FOR FLOOD CLEANUP HELP--3
Non-porous surfaces, including glass, ceramic, metal and plastic, can be cleaned. A combination of household bleach and soap or detergent can be used to wash down walls, floors and other mold-contaminated areas. Follow directions on containers and take particular note of warnings. Mixing chlorine liquids and ammonia creates an extremely dangerous poisonous, potentially explosive gas. Wear rubber gloves, protective clothing and a tight-fitting face mask when working around mold.

Remove heating and cooling registers and ducts, and then hose the ducts to prevent contamination from flowing through the ducts when the unit is turned on. After hosing ductwork, wash with a disinfectant. If ducts are in slab or otherwise inaccessible, have them cleaned professionally.

Links to additional information about mold and mildew may be found at the Rhode Island State Health Department web site, www.health.ri.gov/, or www.epa.gov , or http://www.fema.gov/

###
FEMA's mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.
Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.
The Small Business Administration (SBA) is the federal government's primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps homeowners, renters, businesses of all sizes, and private, nonprofit organizations fund repairs or rebuilding efforts, and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For information about SBA programs, applicants may call (800) 659-2955 (TTY 1-800-977-8339).

Mission Task Force 2010: Where Meaning and Mission Collide

The vitality of any organization depends upon a periodic review of its mission. The mission priorities in the Diocese of Rhode Island have long been the Hispanic Ministry, Episcopal Camp and Conference Center, Congregational Development, and Christian Formation.

Last year a group of RI Episcopalians believed that it was time to look at these priorities again, and so they presented a resolution to Diocesan Convention in October calling for their review. The resolution was adopted by the clergy and delegates of Convention, and the “Mission Task Force” was created.

The Mission Task Force will spend this year listening to you, parishioners, clergy, committees, and other leaders of our diocese as you reflect and express your sense of purpose, meaning and mission as Christians and Church in our communities and the world. Our goal is to present a report and resolutions to Convention next October, which will articulate the energy and commitment of our diocese to new and/or renewed mission priorities.

So far we have been busy at work. In February we began our communication launch with an exhibit at Convocation and our blog.

The months of March, April, and May will be spent in the actual listening process. We will seek feedback from the youth and adults in our parishes, the leaders of the current mission priorities, and the diocesan staff and committees. At this same time, Diocesan Council has convened four groups to review the effectiveness of our current mission priorities.

The listening process is probably the most important part of our work. So we hope, dear reader, that you will be looking for opportunities to pray, reflect, and share your ideas with us about where you find meaning and mission colliding in your personal experience of being Christian and Church.

It is important that our conversations in this process reflect the diversity that we find in our churches and communities, so we request your feedback on these key questions:

• What are you doing when you feel most passionate and alive in the spirit?
• What is your congregation doing that you can celebrate and share with other parishes?
• What could we do as RI Episcopalians that would bring us together and make a difference in our community and the world?

In April and May we will be having regional gatherings to hear your reflections, and we also invite you to share your thoughts and enter into a conversation with others across the diocese by going to the Mission Task Force blog.

We intend to use the latter part of May and June to synthesize, discern and meet with Bishop Wolf and Diocesan Staff about our findings. During July and August we will prepare our reports and formulate resolutions for October’s Convention in plenty of time for your review.

We hope you’ll think about this in the days ahead and offer your feedback at the meetings listed below,as well as on our blog. Feel free to email us your thoughts.

Listening Gatherings:
Saturday April 24th, 10 am, St. Paul’s, Pawtucket
Wednesday April 28th, 7 pm, The Cathedral of St. John, Providence
Thursday April 29th, 7 pm, St. Mark’s, Warwick
Wednesday May 5th, 6:30 pm, St. Columba’s, Middletown
Saturday May 8th, 10 am, Epiphany, East Providence
Wednesday May 12th, 7 pm, St. Luke’s, East Greenwich

Clergy will gather:

Wednesday May 19th, 10 am, St. Paul’s, Pawtucket

Task Force Members: Modesta Pellot, Diocesan Council; Fran Gammell-Roach and The Rev. Jennifer Pedrick, Standing Committee; Brian Ehlers and Scott Nicholson, appointed by Bishop Wolf. Deanery Representatives: The Rev. Pam Mott, Aquidneck; Jim Segovis, Central; Susan Wright, West Bay; The Rev. Dcn. Ricky Brightman, Narragansett; David Isherwood, East Bay; and The Rev. Buck Close, Blackstone. The Rev. Bill Locke is the Mission Task Force Chaplain.

Advocacy, partnerships bolstered as Sudan approaches general elections

By Matthew Davies, April 09, 2010


[Episcopal News Service] As Sudan heads to the polls this weekend to hold its first democratic elections in 24 years, Episcopalians in the U.S. have been ramping up advocacy and raising awareness of the issues that confront Africa's largest and most war-torn nation amid fears that it could plunge back into civil war.

Richard Parkins and Russ Randle, two leading Episcopal Church advocates for Sudan, have continued to pursue the U.S. Congress and Obama administration pressing them to make the African country's peace agreement a priority and to ensure that fair elections are conducted... read more

Flood Relief in the Diocese of RI

What is your parish doing to help flood victims this Easter season? Please email ruth@episcopalri.org to let the diocese know. We may be able to connect your parish with aid from outside agencies through an initiative of the Rhode Island State Council of Churches, and we would love to share your creative ideas and inspiring stories with other churches across the state! Keep us updated.

In our own response to the flooding in RI last week, The Diocese of Rhode Island and the Episcopal Charities Fund of Rhode Island are taking donations for flood relief. All contributions will go to "Neighbors Helping Neighbors", a fund set up through the city of Warwick.

You can make your contribution online through Episcopal Charities at the link below:

www.episcopalri.org/charities

Please specify that donations are for Flood Relief. If you prefer to donate by mail you can make your check payable to the "Episcopal Charities Fund of Rhode Island" and mail it to The Diocese of RI, 275 North Main Street, Providence, RI, 02903.

The Latest eRISEN

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

eRISEN March 26th 2010 issue

Want to sign up to the eRISEN mailing list? Want to submit your event? Just visit our website

SUDANESE CHURCH LEADERS' FORUM: A Vision for a Peaceful Sudan

23-26 March 2010 Juba, Southern Sudan

Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8)

More than 60 Sudanese Church leaders from 14 churches throughout Sudan gathered in Juba with their international partners from 23-26 March 2010 to review the current situation in Sudan and to prepare for the future. Church leaders from Kenya, Uganda, Malawi, Rwanda and South Africa and partners from the international community were present in solidarity with the Church and people of Sudan. Representatives of the Muslim community attended part of the meeting.

This is a historic period in the history of Sudan. After the referendum in 2011 Sudan will never be the same again, whether it remains united or becomes two countries. Time is short and urgent reflection and action are needed to ensure a peaceful future. This is Sudan’s Kairos Moment. There is no time to waste.

The Sudanese Church is concerned at increasing violence within the south and Darfur, at delays in implementing the CPA, and at the lack of an international political consensus on the next steps. The Church cares about the freedom, dignity and human rights of all the people of Sudan, whether in the north or the south, and encourages a spirit of good neighbourliness and cooperation.

The Sudanese Church:

• Is concerned that popular consultation does not meet the aspirations of the people of Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile. The issue must be put at the top of all stakeholders’ agendas as a matter of priority. Their special situation requires special status and a new way of looking at them. The Church fears that failure to address the aspirations of the people of these two states could derail any peaceful post-2011 transition.
• Calls upon all stakeholders to ensure that the forthcoming elections in April 2010 are peaceful, free and fair. This is an opportunity for the Sudanese to exercise their democratic rights within the framework of the CPA. Following the elections, all parties must accept the results. If there are grievances and disputes, these must be solved by legal means, not by violence.
• Calls for an end to violence between ethnic groups and political factions within southern Sudan, and other conflicts within Sudan. In particular the Church calls on political leaders to play a constructive role in healing and reconciliation.
• Calls for the full and peaceful implementation of the CPA, particularly the timely, free and fair referendums for the south and Abyei and popular consultations for Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan.
• Calls for immediate and ongoing discussions about the post-referendum transition, especially if secession is chosen by the south and Abyei. Good relations between north and south are essential. The position of the Church in northern Sudan is of particular concern. The Church calls for engagement with the concerns of local communities and civil society about both northerners in the south and southerners in the north.
• Calls on the international community to continue its commitment to rehabilitation and reconstruction.

The Sudanese Church:

• Has begun a new process of re-engagement with the burning issues of the day, building on its experience and credibility gained during the previous war. The Church Leaders' Forum is the first step in this ongoing process.
• In response to a request from the Sudanese Church, the All Africa Conference of Churches and the World Council of Churches have jointly appointed an Ecumenical Special Envoy to Sudan to accompany the process.
• Invites all Church-related bodies, such as evangelical alliances, to participate in and support this process.

The Sudanese Church undertakes:

• To roll out a new People to People Process of dialogue to counter internal conflicts in the south, the marginalised areas and other parts of Sudan.
• To set up a task force to analyse the situation in Sudan and advise the Church how to respond quickly to events.
• To engage with national, regional and international bodies, including the Governments of National Unity and Southern Sudan, neighbouring governments and churches, AU, IGAD, Arab League, EU, UN, and key governments such as USA, UK and Norway, for lobby and advocacy to explain the feelings of southerners and people from the marginalised areas and their likely reaction to events, and provide guidance on what to do.
• To inform and work with these international and regional partners on the position of the Church in northern Sudan, and to empower the Church in the north to sustain itself during the post-referendum transition period.
• To engage with all stakeholders within Sudan, including traditional authorities, parties, civil society, and other faiths.
• To increase its role in civic education, awareness raising and monitoring on elections, referendums and popular consultations.

The Sudanese Church commits itself to speak the truth fearlessly, and to continue its Gospel-led mission to give a voice to the voiceless, the poor and the marginalised, and addressing issues of national concern.

Signed by the Church Leaders from Sudan Council of Churches member Churches and non-member Churches.

26 March 2010

Roman Catholic Church
Episcopal Church of Sudan
Presbyterian Church of Sudan
Sudan Presbyterian Evangelical Church Sudan
Sudan Interior Church
Africa Inland Church
Orthodox Church
Greek Orthodox Church
Sudan Pentecostal Church
Lutheran Church of Sudan
Sudan Brethren Church
Baptist Church of Sudan

Rt Rev Bishop Ezekiel Kondo
Chair, SCC

Rev Ramadan Chan

Secretary General, SCC

RISEN Magazine Wins 5 Awards at National Conference

This past week RISEN Magazine won 5 Polly Bond Awards at the National Episcopal Communicators Conference. One of these awards was the coveted first prize for "General Excellence in a Magazine or Periodical" award, which arguably raises RISEN Magazine to the position of the top magazine in the Episcopal Church.

The Polly Bonds are awarded at the Episcopal Communicator's annual meeting for outstanding achievement in the previous year. Awards are given in the categories of excellence in web design, journalism, design and editorial work, video, and social media initiatives to name a few. Each category is judged by an acclaimed professional in the field, and this year's judges hailed from such notable media outlets as The New York Times, Fox News, and Spirituality and Health Magazine.

Rhode Island nearly made a clean sweep in the design and editorial categories of this year's contest, winning three first prize awards of excellence, an award of merit and an honorable mention.

Ruth Meteer, who became RISEN Magazine's Editor-in-Chief when she joined our diocesan staff a little over a year ago, won first prize for "Overall Use of Photography" in her first issue of the magazine, Summer 2009's "The Way of a Pilgrim" in addition to the General Excellence award for the Magazine.

Ruth also won two out of three prizes in the "Best two page spread" category. She received the First prize Award of Excellence for the design and layout of an article titled "5 Places to Pilgrimage to in New England" which was written by Sister Grace, SSM, and an honorable mention for the design and layout of an article on the Camino de Santiago de Compostela which was written by the Rev. Jennifer Pedrick. Both articles appeared in the summer 2009 "The Way of a Pilgrim" issue.

Ruth even took an award of merit for her cover art on fall 2009's, "A Conventional Issue".

Congratulations are due to all who contributed the stories, photos, and ideas which made RISEN Magazine's 2009 season so successful. You have made Rhode Island proud, keep up the wonderful work.

For Lent, East Providence Parishioners De-Clutter Their Lives

The above headline about The Church of the Epiphany in East Providence ran in the Providence Journal today, Monday March 15th 2010! The article is about 70+ Epiphany parishioners who have pledged with their rector, The Rev. Jennifer Pedrick,to give up "stuff" for Lent this year. These parishioners have agreed to refrain from buying anything but food, medicine and fuel during Lent, while also clearing out the clutter they have accumulated in their houses and spiritual lives in preperation for Easter.

The Wonderful article and accompanying photos took up an entire page in the paper. What great publicity for an outside-the-box Lenten program. Check it out:

http://www.projo.com/ri/eastprovidence/content/The_Simple_Challenge_03-15-10_1OHM930_v46.30f0717.html

Youth at the Diocesan 30 Hour Famine Fast to Feed the World.

“Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40.

40 youth from 9 parishes in the diocese gathered with their Youth Leaders at St. Martin’s Providence on January 30th 2010, for the second annual Diocesan 30 hour famine. The 30 Hour famine is a national fast program sponsored by World Vision to raise money and awareness among youth, of world hunger.

To participate, our youth had to find sponsors, stop eating by midnight on Friday, and then gather at noon on Saturday for fun activities, a Eucharist and a sleep over. Check out the online photo album of the event here.

It was an informative, lively and touching day for all involved. Between juice breaks and games intended to teach the youths what life is like for the underprivileged in various parts of the world, our youth leaders had a chance to share ideas and thoughts and the youth had a chance to meet Episcopalians from other parishes, make friends and hear about each other’s lives and faith.

Together, these 40 youths and 9 parishes raised a total of $3,937.00! Since $1 feeds 1 child for 1 day in many countries, this amount of money will make a big difference in many lives. Our youth collectively decided to send half of their hard-earned money to World Vision marked to benefit Haiti for Earthquake Relief and the other half to be used for needs in the South Sudan where our companion diocese, the Diocese of Ezo is situated. Many youths also took the opportunity during a bit of reflective downtime, to write letters, greetings, and prayers to our friends in the Diocese of Ezo.

Would you like your parish to be involved in next year’s famine and other Diocesan Youth Events? Email maryann@episcopalri.orgor contact the youth leaders of the parishes listed below for more information. These events can be a fantastic opportunity for some of our parishes with smaller youth groups, or just a few kids to find some fellowship!

Parishes Involved:

• St. Paul’s, Pawtucket
• St. Stephen’s, Providence
• St. James, Woonsocket
• Grace Church, Providence
• St. Martin’s, Providence
• St. John’s, Barrington
• St. Augustine’s, Kingstown
• St. Peter’s by the Sea, Narragansett
• St. Matthew’s, Barrington