Parish Administrator Annual Luncheon

The parish administrators had their annual Luncheon at Trinity Episcopal Church in
Newport hosted by Marie Maguire. This picture was taken by a tourist walking up the street past Trinity Church. When we asked if she would take a picture of the group and told her that we were parish administrators, she replied: "I'm a parish administrator in New Jersey!"

Linda Gorman and Diane Papineau from Christ Church in Lincoln graciously volunteered to host the luncheon in 2009!

Rev. Dr. Libby Nestor named Woman Physician of the Year

Photo credit: Dr. Gary Bubly

[Lifespan.org Press Release]

Elizabeth “Libby” Nestor, MD, MDIV, FACEP, an emergency medicine doctor at Rhode Island Hospital and The Miriam Hospital, has been named by the RI Women’s Medical Association (RIMWA) as the 2008 RIMWA Woman Physician of the Year. The award is given annually to a local female physician who has demonstrated excellence and a high level of commitment to medicine, family and the community.

Nestor was the first full-time female faculty member in the department of emergency medicine at Rhode Island Hospital. Prior to medical school at Northwestern University, Nestor received her master’s in divinity from Yale Divinity School. Today, she still practices as a minister at the Rhode Island Episcopal Church.

Nestor is well known for her mentorship to junior faculty, residents, and medical students. She received the Teaching Recognition Award from Brown Medical School in 2006 and the Teaching Excellence Award in 2008, volunteers her time for the Doctoring Program at Brown Medical School, acts as a faculty advisor for EM residents, gives lectures on ethics and serves on the Ethics Committee. She also has a role in interviewing incoming residents for the emergency medicine residency and serves as a National Oral Board Examiner for her specialty. Nestor, with three other EM physicians, has been the recipient of a Center of Excellence in Women’s Health Grant to study the effectiveness of training gender differences in emergency medicine residencies.

Nestor gave a speech entitled “The Intimate Science: 100 Years of Medical History in One RI Family” during the presentation ceremony in her honor of at the RIMWA annual meeting on May 5 at the Providence Marriott.

Dr. Cynthia Shattuck receives Honorary Doctoral Degree

I recieved this posting recently, Cynthia is a longtime member of our Diocese. Her husband is the Rev. Dr. Gardiner H. Shattuck, Jr ("Tuck") Assistant Rector of S. Stephens in Providence. Cynthia is Consulting Editor for Church Publishing, Morehouse & Seabury Books.

[EDS Press Release]

Dr. Cynthia Logan Shattuck receives Honorary Doctoral Degree
for Religious Publishing

May 25, 2008, CAMBRIDGE, MA – Episcopal Divinity School celebrated its 2008 Commencement Ceremony on May 15, 2008 at the First Church in Cambridge, Congregational, in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Dr. Cynthia Logan Shattuck, a lay woman, editor, and publisher, received an honorary doctorate in recognition of her outstanding contributions to theological education and literature. Her career in theological publishing began thirty years ago at Cowley Press, and she continues to expand opportunities within the realm of religious books. In full, EDS conferred 39 degrees including 20 Master of Divinity, six Master of Arts in Theological Studies, six Doctor of Ministry, and two Certificates of Theological Study.

EDS was pleased to also confer honorary degrees on four other individuals who also exhibit distinguished and faithful ministries in social justice: The Rt. Rev. John Bryson Chane, Mr. Kevin Johnson, Ms. Katie Sherrod, and Ms. Hellen Wangusa.

Dr. Shattuck was one of the five individuals recognized with the degree, doctor of divinity, honoris causa. “EDS is proud to have recognized our 2008 honorary degree recipients for their distinguished and faithful ministry in the areas of justice, compassion, and reconciliation,” said EDS President and Dean, The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston. “These principles are at the core of EDS as we work to develop leaders for Christ’s Church and the world who will serve all of God’s people. These men and woman stand with us. By bestowing the doctor of divinity degree on each of them, we celebrate five people of vision, integrity, and gospel courage.”

Dr. Shattuck was presented her honorary doctoral degree by Dr. Fredrica Harris Thompsett, “for exceptional contributions to theological publishing and scholarship.” Shattuck is passionate about her work, and an entrepreneur in the religious press business. She is also co-editor of The Oxford Guide to the Book of Common Prayer and has published the works of authors such as Barbara Brown Taylor and Edwin Friedman to wide audiences. “Several members of this faculty are indebted to you both for your editorial guidance in our own publications, as well as to for publishing other volumes frequently used in our teaching,” said Thompsett.

Jazz Mass

What is a Jazz Mass? The liturgy of the worship service framed in a musical setting with vocal interpretation of the traditional text and improvisational expression of the reverent mood.

Where is a Jazz Mass? At the Episcopal Conference Center, 872 Reservoir Road, Pascoag, RI

When is Jazz Mass? Sunday, June 8th
4:00 - Rehearsal, 5:00 - Light Supper, 6:00 Jazz Mass.

Who should attend a Jazz Mass? YOU, youth groups, those who want to have a different worship experience.

More questions? Call Sue Hurn at 568-4055.

Environmental Stewardship Task Force

[Submitted by Dee Tavolaro]

Greetings from The Environmental Stewardship Task Force of The Diocese of Rhode Island! We are a newly formed small group from around the diocese that have joined together to discuss Environmental Issues in the Diocese. Our task comes out of the resolution passed at the 2007 Diocesan Convention.

Our last meeting was held on May 15, 2008 at St. Paul’s Church in Pawtucket. Our meeting consisted of dealing with official business such as naming officers and voting on our official name. At the meeting we voted to make Zeke Olsen and Katherine Gibson – both of St. Augustine’s Kingstown – co-Chairs.

We also discussed various educational events that the Task Force could sponsor for the diocese in the fall. This is still in the brain storming stage. We also discussed conducting a diocesan-wide parish survey. Such questions as “Have you had an energy audit?”, “Have you a point person in mind for Environmental Issues?”, “What have you done?” and “What do you need?”. Plans for the survey will be finalized at our next meeting.

It was also decided that each meeting will have 10 - 15 minutes of education. Ty Creason volunteered to offer the first educational piece at our next meeting.

If you have an comments, questions, concerns, or interest in joining please contact Zeke Olsen at zfolsen@cox.net.

Our next meeting will be held at St. Mark’s Church in Warwick on June 5, 2008 at 7:00pm.

Proclaiming Good News, when the world looks for bad news

The Rev. Scott Gunn maintains a great blog over at sevenwholedays.org. Recently he wrote an article that is making the rounds on the blogosphere (it was touched upon recently over at Blogula Rasa).

"Candles and vestments were at the center of controversies that nearly tore about the Episcopal Church. In the nineteenth century, lawsuits were files, schism was threatened, and the church was distracted by fights over things that we take for granted today. Is there a lesson for us?

For much of the 1800s, the Episcopal Church in the US was consumed by internal disagreements. On one side, some people insisted that there was no biblical basis for using crosses and candles at the altar. On the other side, some people insisted that these adornments added dignity and reverence to the liturgy, and were justified based on church tradition. People left the church, and efforts at evangelism suffered. Rather than rooting itself in mission and evangelism, the church used its energy to fight about things that today seem unimportant."

I encourage you to check it out.

RI Episcopal Churches Experience Foul Attacks

Flamingo Attacks have been spotted all over RI and continue attacking our churches. Has your parish been attacked (yet)? Send photos to risen@episcopalri.org.

And remember to support EYE!!

EYE Delegation Fundraiser - Uno Chicago Grill
Thursday June 5th at Anytime
Uno Chicago Grill at Smithfield Crossoings Mall
You must present the flyer to have up to 20% of your bill benefit the delegation

Details: There will be a fundraiser for the RI Delegation to the Episcopal Youth Event on Thursday June 5th at Uno / Chicago Grill at Smithfield Crossing. You must bring the flyer (see link below) and up to 20% of the bill will be donated to the delegation! This is a great way for many people to support the delegation and help them get to San Antonio. Go to Facebook for more info and to get the flyer.

Prison Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island

Do you believe in the power of prayer to change your life and that of others?

Join with two or more in your parish to form a Prayer Circle for Prisoners. Your circle will receive the names of two or more prisoners at the ACI and their prayer requests. Prisoners will be chosen by their interest in increasing their relationship with Jesus Christ. Circle members will pray daily for the specific needs of their prisoners and family members and send inspirational notes, cards, and devotional material to encourage them. A required safety training will be given by the Rev. Joyce Penfield, Chaplain; supervision and coaching will be provided by Deacon Ricky Brightman. The first training session will be held in the evening on June 17. Training will also be offered in the fall BUT we wish to get this program off to a good start now.

For more information please contact Deacon Ricky Brightman at 781-9210 or deacon.ricky@stlukeseg.org.

Truth In Advertising

How pleased I was to hear that the national church has launched a series of ads in various media for this summer. Apparently, the print ad will run in the newspaper with the big color pictures this weekend, and they've somehow managed to put something on the talking boxes one sees in airport terminals. I don't know if there are any plans to put them on e-mail machines.
Aside from snarky comments about the church's lack of media saavy and sensibilities that go beyond, oh, 1956, there are other problems:

• are people supposed to bring their own carrot slicers to church, or do we provide them?


• if carrot slicing is the most inspirational thing about coming to church on a Sunday, don't we have bigger problems?


• while I'm not the biggest Jesus-pusher I know, is there a better way to connect HOW slicing carrots proclaims the Gospel? (I'm just reaching here, but maybe a word or two from the Bible might help)

What I hear time and again is that people who aren't in church don't have a problem with Jesus. They have a problem with church. So if someone were inspired enough by this ad to come to one of our churches on Sunday, what will they see? What will they expect to see? Will it fit the ad? Or will they be asked why their carrot slicer is rusty? Will they be told that carrot slicing only takes place on the fourth Sunday of months that begin in J? Will they be preached to about the price of carrots in a conservative church vs. the price in a liberal church?
If we're going to advertise the church, we'd better be clear about what we're advertising. And what we advertise better be consistent with who we are. And if we don't know that, then no amount of advertising will help us. Not even if all we're asking for is help peeling carrots.

Delay in eRISEN

We are currently experiencing "technical difficulties" with Constant Contact, the email management service for eRISEN. It should be resolved within a week and eRISEN will resume as normal.