Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
A good number of us have been gathering for the Epiphany Conversations on Wednesday evenings. Our focus is to envision life as a diocese and its congregations in a post-pandemic setting. The assumption is that we will not simply be returning to normal, and that God continues to do new things among us which we are seeking to discern. Our conversation guide is a small book of essays called We Shall be Changed, edited by Bishop Mark Edington of the Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe. This past week we responded to the question, “What questions about financial structures and sustainability will emerge from this time of isolation to confront parishes and judicatories? Is self-help the only option?”
In the conversational group I was in, it raised the additional question about our infrastructures of self-standing parochial communities, and whether we could imagine alternative ways of being Church. The pandemic has certainly encouraged us to be creative and imaginative in adapting God’s mission and providing worship in new ways. People are noticing a new group of seekers who are finding us online, and even supporting us financially.
The conversation made me think of the Beloved Community Initiative as a new model of being a community of faith. Situated in Old Brick, Iowa City—itself an example of developing a building as an agent for mission—the Beloved Community was created out of a series of one-on-one conversations with the neighborhood; and then developed along the advice of a Community Board of Advisors, and further supported with a Diocesan Advisory Board. The directing staff has been three persons—co-founders Susanne Watson-Epting and Meg Wagner, and a part-time staff member (now joined by a seminary intern). The ministry focuses on racial justice and training in dismantling racism; and it comes to this through a vision of faith, which I would say is Christ-inspired and ecumenically and inter-faith enhanced. The Book of Common Prayer “Prayer for the Human Race” would express the Beloved Community’s goal well.
I thought—what if we could see in the Beloved Community Initiative’s formation a potential shaping for all our congregations? What if, as we came out of this pandemic, we offered our spaces in new ways to meet the deep needs in our communities and even invited neighbors to be an Advisory Board to serve alongside the vestry? What might we begin to see if we could simply flip our perspective in this way?
People have likened the pandemic to life in exile. God works through exile, even in God’s large-scale plans. Exile sits in the very middle of salvation history; and was the place out of which the Holy writings that we know as the Hebrew Scriptures were thought to have been pulled together in their lasting form. You re-appraise things in exile; hence, the gatherings through Epiphany to talk together and wonder.
I have made a few adjustments of responsibilities of the staff to help support our congregations as we navigate what our post-pandemic Church will look like. I am naming Meg Wagner as Missioner for Congregational Development, Communication and Reconciliation. Meg has been central to our COVID-19 response in terms of worship, ministry, and communication in addition to her work with the Beloved Community Initiative. Over the next few months, she will be contacting leadership in each congregation on your experience during this COVID period and seeking ways that, as a diocese, we can support each other in new and renewed ways of serving God and our neighbors.
In the peace and love of Christ
+Alan
The Rt. Rev. Alan Scarfe, Bishop of Iowa
Diocesan Online Worship
Join us this Sunday as we highlight the Holy Eucharist offered by St. Paul's, Grinnell at 10:30 am.
Joint Chapter Meeting & Leadership Gathering
Join us on Saturday, February 27 from 10-12pm for a Joint Chapter Meeting (with breakouts by individual chapters) followed by Leadership Gatherings from 1-2:30pm offering breakout rooms in the following areas:
• Vestry member orientation
• Treasurers and bookkeepers
• GILEAD grant information session
• Technology forum (live-streaming and communication)
• Safeguarding administrators
• Licensed Ministries (per the Episcopal Church canons) are: Pastoral Leader, Worship Leader, Preacher, Eucharistic Minister, Eucharistic Visitor or Catechist
Parochial Reports
The due date for the 2020 Parochial Report is fast approaching, March 1, 2021. The report has been revised to also capture the statistics during the pandemic. Tina Austin is more than happy to assist you with questions in filling out the report. Please feel free to reach out to Tina by email at taustin@iowaepiscopal.org or phone 515-277-6165 ext. 201.
Pathways Online Courses by Bexley-Seabury
Bexley-Seabury has a new offering called "Pathways." Pathways offers courses and programs designed "to educate, form and catalyze the Body of Christ to blaze new pathways for prophetic and pastoral service in response to God's call." Explore their offerings, some free and some at a small cost in the areas of personal enrichment, licensure, and church-wide imperatives, and communities of practice.
Mini Retreats: H.O.P.E.
The Small Church Core Team in the Diocese of Iowa invites you to a series of four mini-retreats focused on HOPE during these changing times.
Join us on Saturday, February 6, and Saturday, March 6.
From 9:00 am to 10:00 am. We will gather using Zoom technology.
Topics for each session include:
Healing and Hope in December
Opportunity for Community and Hope in January
Patience and Hope on February 6
Expectation and Hope on March 6
Dismantling Racism Training
Register for online training
Grounded in The Episcopal Church's commitment to dismantling racism as essential to our formation as Christians, this ONLINE training is open to all persons who would like to deepen their understanding of racism, prejudice, and privilege.
The training will consist of 2 sessions from 10:00am-12:00pm and 12:30pm-2:30pm, with a break for lunch.
Youth Ministry
Compline/Youth Check-in on Wednesday, February 3
Join us for Compline and a Youth Check-in on February 3 at 7 pm. All are welcome for Compline. Check-ins are for 4th-12th graders.
Zoom information will be emailed. If you would like the link to join, please contact Amy Mellies at amellies@iowaepiscopal.org or at 515-277-6165.
Faithful Innovations
Save the Date: Our next Listening at Lunch session will be Thursday February 18 at Noon
Thanks to all who were able to join in our previous session on Jan. 21! We'll continue to meet on the 3rd Thursday of the month, and you don't need to have attended previously to join us next time.
Email Traci Ruhland Petty: tpetty@iowaepiscopal.org for the Zoom login information or if you have questions.
Epiphany Conversations
Thank you to all 70+ of you who've participated so far! We have three more conversations to go, and you're still welcome to join (even if you weren't able to make the last two...the more the merrier!)
Questions about the series? contact Rev. Tom Early: priest@stalbansepiscopalchurch.org
Questions about registration or technical assistance? contact Traci Ruhland Petty: tpetty@iowaepiscopal.org
