The Oregon Trail

Evangan edietion of lEpisciopal stLife The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon JUNE 2009 Convention welcomes Bp. Rivera COVE--A happy, larger-than- expected crowd of about 275 Episcopalians welcomed The Rt. Rev. Bavi Edna “Nedi” Rivera with unanimous lay and clergy votes May 23 to be Provisional Bishop of the Diocese of Eastern Oregon. Rivera will be working in the dio- cese about one-third time, under an arrangement with the neighboring Diocese of Olympia, where she is suffragan bishop. She is one of four provisional bishops in The Episcopal Church. The others are Bishop Jerry Lamb, in the Diocese of San Joaquin; Bishop John Buchanan in the Diocese of Quincy, and Bishop Ted Gulick, in the Diocese of Fort Worth. Members of Diocesan Standing Committee presented Rivera with The Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera, new Provisional Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Eastern Oregon, and newly ordained deacons the symbols of office, including the Kay and Bob Totten dance to the joyous hymn Siya Hamba --We are marching in the light of God Photo by Terry Joakimides diocesan crozier; a pectoral cross made by Bob and Aloha Despain; a Presiding Bishop Katharine Diocesan seal, and a tippet that was Jefferts Schori’s schedule in presented to Bishop Rustin Kimsey Bend on Tuesday, June 9: at his consecration in 1980. 10:30 am retreats at Trinity Committee member Amy for diocesan clergy and Martinez, charged with presenting the keys, drew a roar of laughter spouses, followed by Holy when she admitted they could not Eucharist and lunch; 4 pm be located “at this time.” EDEO-only gathering at the In her homily, the bishop said the Boys & Girls Club across from first priority is getting to know her Trinity; 5 pm public Evening new flock “because we are nothing Prayer service; 6 pm public Q if we are not together.” She promised, “God will be with & A session. us.”

In this issue: nTalking with Bishop Nedi Rivera 2 n The Despains are Nobel laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu preached and celebrated at St. Paul’s, sending 1,000 pocket crosses to The Dalles in May. Story, more photographs on page 5. Photo by Jeanie Senior General Convention 3 n Convention photos, Desmond Tutu visit 4, 5 nSeminarian Michelle Meech on pew aero- bics 6 n Around EDEO 7 nAscension School update, Trinity Bend’s Rite 13 kids 8

St. Paul’s, The Dalles, blesses Seeing Eye puppy Falco as he heads off for a new mission. More on page 7

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com The Oregon Trail Evangelist Bishop sees “amazing opportunity” Vol. 3, No. 3, JUNE 2009 The Episcopal Diocese of Eastern udice as to what should and should- Joaquin from 1968 to 1989. Jeanie Senior, editor Oregon’s newly-affirmed provisional n’t happen in the next couple of Rivera, 63, grew up in Visalia, 541-386-2091 or 503-936-8835 bishop thinks the diocese is facing a years.” Calif., the oldest of three daughters; [email protected] new frontier. The diocese has some beautiful her middle sister is a therapist and “We’re moving into a new place in buildings “and I hope we treat them the youngest is a California Appeals a part of the world where people well and honor our heritage and all Court justice. don’t even have the foggiest idea that,” she said. During her childhood, Rivera The Episcopal Diocese of what church is, what it should be “But the real chafed because church rules didn’t Eastern Oregon, founded as the about,” said The Rt. Rev.. Nedi treasures are allow girls to be acolytes. Missionary District of Oregon in Rivera. the people of “I really had a sense God was invit- 1907, became a diocese in 1970. “We’ve got, in the Pacific God--how will ing me in,” she said. “I never imag- It includes all of Oregon east of Northwest, a second and third gener- they be served ined that I could be a priest--until the the Cascade Mountains as well as ation of people who have never set and how will church started really talking about it; Klickitat County, Washington— foot in a church, whose parents did- they serve in a once it was clear that the church was some 69,000 square miles. There n’t and grandparents didn’t. So how way that makes someday going to do this, then I are 22 parishes and more than do we be church in that kind of cul- Christ known.” went to seminary.” ture? How do we do evangelism in As a woman She graduated from the Church 2,600 Episcopalians in the dio- that kind of culture, how do we do who is a priest Divinity School of the Pacific in cese. ministry in that kind of culture?” and a bishop, Bishop Nedi Rivera 1976 and was ordained to the priest- She added, “The opportunity is Rivera is familiar with new frontiers. hood in May, 1979, not quite three The Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera, amazing for us, and I think we’re on When she was consecrated in years after a vote at the 1976 General Provisional Bishop the frontlines of this, we’re just the January 2005 as the first Bishop Convention moved The Episcopal first wave. The rest of Province 8 is Suffragan in the Diocese of Olympia, Church to acceptance of women PO Box 1548 going to follow us, and then the rest she also became the first Hispanic priests. 601 Union Street of the church will follow Province 8.” woman bishop in the worldwide Her father was opposed to the ordi- The Dalles, OR 97058 Among the other questions facing Anglican Communion. nation of women priests. “We agreed this diocese, she said, are “who we She is a third generation priest, and to disagree, there was never a break are called to be together, and how are a second generation bishop: her in our friendship or our relationship 541-298-4477 we going to do that? father, the late Victor Manuel Rivera, at all,” Rivera said. Fax: 541-298-4477 “Ireally do come here with no prej- was Bishop of the Diocese of San And by the time she was elected bishop, he had changed his mind. www.episdioeo.org “He was one of my ordaining bish- [email protected] ops, it was wonderful. He and my DDiioocceessaann CCaalleennddarar mom put my cope on me after the The Episcopal Church, organ- service--his cope.” Both her parents ized in 1789, is a community of died later that year. June 5-6 Diocesan Council, Trinity, Bend 2.5 million members in 114 dio- Rivera’s husband, The Rev. Robert June 9 Bp Rivera will be in Bend ceses in North American and June 9 Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori visit to EDEO, B. Moore, also is an Episcopal priest. Bend Now retired, he has what she calls “a abroad. June 10-11 Bp Rivera, Canon Kiefer at church conference, Sacramento dream job”-- he works for the Seattle June 12 Bp Rivera at St. Barnabas, Bonanza and St.Luke’s, Lakeview Mariners, leading tours of Safeco The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts June 13 Bp Rivera at St. Andrew’s, Burns Field. Schori, Presiding Bishop June 14 Bp Rivera will celebrate at St. Albans, Redmond The couple have four children: his June 30-Jul 1 Diocesan Commission on Ministry, The Dalles, Bp daughter Cristin, lives in the Bay Rivera will attend Episcopal Church Center Area, and the rest live in the East, 815 Second Ave. July 2 Bp Rivera meeting with Lutheran Synod representatives, The including her daughter Mary, hus- New York, NY 10017 Dalles; at All Saints, Heppner in evening. band Jack and their 6 1/2 year-old July 3 Bp Rivera will be in central Oregon daughter Katherine; his sons Rob, July 5 Bp Rivera will celebrate at 8:30 am and 10:15 services at The Anglican Communion is a Transfiguration, Sisters wife Sarah and their children Oliver, July 3 Diocesan office closed for Independence Day holiday 3 and Lily, 1; and Jonathan, wife global community of 70 million July 8-17 General Convention, Anaheim, Calif. Jessica and 1-year-old twins, Elliot Anglicans in 37 member July 30-August 2 Adult Ed Camp, Ascension School and Zachary. provinces around the world. August 2 Ascension School board meeting, Cove “I really do feel my first year is August 13-15 Art Festival/Cherry Fair, Ascension School about just getting to know who peo- The Most Rev. and Rt. Hon. August 21-22 Diocesan Council, Diocesan Office, The Dalles ple are, what their questions are,” Rowan Williams, Archbishop of said Rivera, who said by late May Canterbury that she had visited perhaps half of Diocesan Cycle of Prayer the diocese’s 22 parishes.” She posed another question: “when London, England SE1 7JU June 7 For All Saints Episcopal, Hope Lutheran, Heppner June 14 For St. John’s, Hermiston we say we’ve got a congregation June 21 For Church of the Redeemer, Pendleton somewhere, is that something that is Episcopal Life ISSN 1050-0057 June 28 For all campers attending youth camps at Ascension School primarily for the folks who are there, USPS# 177-940 is published or is there something that’s supposed July 5 For the 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church monthly by the Domestic and July 12 For all who serve on diocesan commissions, committees and to be transformative in the communi- boards. ty?” Foreign Missionary Society, Inc. July 19 For the Northwest Convocation As her parish visits accumulate, the 815 Second Ave, New York, NY July 26 For St. Mark’s, Hood River bishop said, “it’s become very, very 10017. Periodical postage paid in August 2 For St. Paul’s, The Dalles clear to me that I haven’t the foggiest New York, NY and additional August 9 In thanksgiving for Adult Education Camp and for individual idea where this is going yet. I really mailing offices. POSTMASTER: growth and formation in our faith do hope, and it’s my style, that it Send change of address to August 16 For members of diocesan staff won’t be my decision, it will be August 23 For the Southwest Convocation Episcopal Life, PO Box 20050 August 30 For St. Luke’s, Lakeview something we come to together.” Voorhees, NJ 08043-8000 Page 2a Oregon Trail Evangelist JUNE 2009

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com Cross Makers 1,000 of Bob and Aloha Despain’s handmade pocket crosses will be given to delegates at General Convention in Anaheim in July.

Deputies to the 76th General help but Aloha Despain, who is 80, to make 100 in the interest of time. success for more wood with the same Convention of The Episcopal Church, said they considered the convention The Despains never charge for the mark. held in Los Angeles this July, will crosses a special ministry that, if pos- crosses; instead, they suggest dona- Former EDEO Bishop Rustin take something from the Diocese of sible, they wanted to do themselves. tions to Ascension School’s scholar- Kimsey keeps a supply of the cross- Eastern Oregon home with them: one They made their deadline, despite ship fund. es on hand to give away. So does of Bob and Aloha Despain’s pocket health issues--Bob Despain, 85, is Bob Despain started making the Diocesan Chancellor Jim Foster. crosses, hand-made of Oregon being treated for prostate cancer, and crosses in the late 1980s, after they Aloha Despain says they often get juniper. she’s had a painful bout of carpal tun- sold their auto parts store in Heppner. requests for the crosses from people The Despains, members of All nel syndrome. Her best guess is that they’ve pro- dealing with illness or grief. Soldiers Saints, Heppner, started work on a They also provided Provisional duced about 22,000 since then. carry them into war zones, and in thousand crosses for convention Bishop Nedi Rivera with 250 crosses That’s an amazing total, given that Kosovo, a pocket cross deflected a about 18 months ago, soon after they for the May 23 diocesan convention, there’s nothing like an assembly line bullet. They sent the soldier a got the request. Friends offered to but they accepted Jim Mosier’s offer involved, except maybe for the tem- replacement, she says. plate that he’s used from the very beginning to cut out the crosses. “Sometimes we have to go to the About mountains to get juniper, sometimes people will bring us some,” she says. He cuts the wood into boards of the General correct thickness, does a preliminary sanding, then cuts out the crosses. Convention The crosses come into the house from his shop for the finish sanding, then she rubs in a coat of wax. WHAT: 76th General Their technique has refined over the Convention of The Episcopal years-- “I’ve still got one of those Church, July 8-17 original crosses but I wouldn’t want to show it to anybody,” he jokes. WHERE: Diocese of Los Each satin-smooth cross is unique-- Angeles, Anaheim, Calif. the size and shape varies slightly, the wood grain and color are individual. WHO’S GOING FROM Aloha Despain says that “You will EDEO: get the biggest blessing when you give one away.” Still, she says she’s Bp. Nedi Rivera likely to keep the cross she wears on Elected lay deputies include a gold chain around her neck: it’s John Adams, St. Paul’s, The juniper, centered with the outline of a Dalles, chair of deputation; red heart. Amy Martinez, St.Paul’s, Bob and Aloha Despain, in the porch swing he built and installed at Founders Hall After he found that piece of wood, Nyssa; Josh Kingsley, St. her husband said, he looked without at Ascension School. Mark’s, Hood River; Peggy Ziegler, Trinity, Bend; Jean Gillespie, alternate, Trinity, Bend. New deacons are moving to coast Elected clergy deputies are When Bob Totten, an actuary for has no clergy. The Rev. Jan Kozak, St. Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Kay They are saying goodbyes, includ- Mark’s, Madras; The Rev. Totten, a nursing instructor, moved ing a service on May 24 at Nancy Sargent Green, All from Boise to Baker City a few years Redeemer, Pendleton, with The Rev. Saints of the Cascades, ago, she says, “we thought we were Frank Moss, who mentored both Kay retiring.” and Bob “and solidified Bob’s call to Sunriver; The Rev. Richard They bought a house in Baker City, parish ministry,” Kay says. Landrith, St. Luke’s, and joined St. Stephen’s. St. Andrew’s offered the job to Bob Lakeview; The Rev. Dcn. And then God started speaking to three days after he interviewed with Stephen Schafroth, St. them--first to Bob, then to Kay. them. “It was like a God thing-- Paul’s, The Dalles. The Rev Add in a few years of advanced heartbreaking but we still have to let Alison Dingley, St. Paul’s, schooling and note Bob’s graduation go,” she says. “This is very painful Klamath Falls, is the clergy from Church Divinity School of the for us, to let go staying in the dio- alternate. Pacific in Berkeley on May 22, as cese of eastern Oregon.” well as Kay’s completion of a two- He will start work in early July. WHAT TO EXPECT: Long year vocational deacon program Before that, the formerly-retired hours, lots of legislation, through the Diocese of Utah. Mark Tottens are taking a couple of weeks about 550 deputies. This will May 23 and their ordination to the off and going to Ireland. diaconate by Bishop Nedi Rivera. “We need a vacation,” Kay says. be Adams’ fifth General Bob already has been called to be “His graduation and our ordination Convention, Martinez’s sec- vicar of St. Andrew’s, Florence, in were so close, we need time to ond, a first-time experience the Diocese of Oregon. They’ve process. It will just be a time to say, for the rest of the EDEO bought a house on the coast. Kay, What really happened to us?” deputation. who has been working as a chaplain Kay says the church in Florence is at St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton, a healthy one with a hvery active QUOTE:from Adams: “At is exploring possibilities for her next membership that includes many Holding hands, Bob and Kay Totten General Convention you will post. She may work at the small musicians. “I think we were meant to away their ordination to the dia- see the best of the church Episcopal church in Gardiner, which be over there.” conate on May 23 in Cove. and you will see the worst.” Page 3a Oregon Trail Evangelist JUNE 2009

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com Convention in Cove, May 23, 2009 Clockwise from top: Lay delegates raise their credentials to vote to receive The Rt. Rev. Nedi Rivera as Provisional Bishop of Eastern Oregon; The Rev. Archdeacon Jim Mosier, The Rev. Deacon Jane Dey, The Rev. Deacon Ruth Brown and Kay Totten, about to be ordained to the diaconate, gather in front of Ascension Chapel before the procession to Cove High School; Bp Rivera leans forward to receive the crozier from The Rev. Janis Johnson, a member of Standing Committee; Bp. Rivera consecrates Bob Totten, kneeling, to the diaconate. Page 4a Oregon Trail Evangelist JUNE 2009

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com Senior Warden Ellie Luba carries the banner for All Saints of the Cascades, Sunriver, in the procession from Ascension School to Cove High School. Following are clergy and parishioners from Transfiguration, Sisters; St. Thomas, Canyon City; St.Paul’s, Klamath Falls; St. Patrick’s, Enterprise; St. Paul’s, Nyssa and St. Paul’s. The Dalles.

Desmond Tutu delights The Dalles Many small acts of good can collective actions, including those come together to create change, of “many who have thought their Archbishop Desmond Tutu said contribution was miniscule,” he when he visited St. Paul’s, The said. “Nothing is lost,” said Tutu, Dalles on May 3. who won the Nobel Peace Prize “We can do a great deal, because in 1984. “You make your contri- the good that we do, even when it butions where you are.” seems ineffectual, doesn’t just The son of a teacher, Tutu was disappear into the ether,” Tutu, admitted to medical school but his 77, said. family lacked the money, so he In Oregon to give Ecumenical trained to be a teacher. Leah Tutu Ministries of Oregon’s 40th annu- “who had been my father’s star al Collins Lecture, Tutu, wife pupil” also was a teacher. When Leah and their son-in-law came to the South African government The Dalles to visit old friends: “introduced a form of education former EDEO Bishop Rustin for black people that was deliber- Kimsey and his wife Gretchen. ately inferior, both of us felt we About 350 people attended the could not collaborate in this trav- St. Paul’s service, including other esty; we both resigned.” longtime friends, former Presiding At that point, Tutu said, he asked Bishop Ed Browning and his wife his Anglican bishop “if I would Patty, who live in Hood River. have any avocation for the priest- Before he preached and celebrated Holy Eucharist at St. Paul’s, The Dalles on May 3, The 1994 end of apartheid in hood. He was so persuaded.” Archbishop Desmond Tutu and his wife Leah spent time with the children who prepared a South Africa happened because of “Thank God!” Kimsey said. book of drawings for them; above, right, the Tutus wave at one of the young artists. Page 5a Oregon Trail Evangelist JUNE 2009

PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com Notes from seminary Is it all just a bunch of pew aerobics? By Michelle Meech something that’s happening in the are right while others are wrong even though I don’t think that God is A part of any spiritual practice is liturgy. Many people call this “pew (mostly). Rather, the most important “up there,” I recognize that the ges- developing the “observer;” that part aerobics. Most of the gestures I thing is that we think about what we ture is really about joy and gratitude. of yourself that notices things. A learned came from watching other are doing and why we are doing it. I feel those things when I raise my keen observer begins to notice pat- people respond to certain points in I’m quite sure that he would say hands to the sky. And the gesture is terns in how we the liturgy. But it’s confusing doing cartwheels down the aisle dur- what helps me to feel them. respond to our prac- because different people do different ing confession is not a “proper” The same holds true outside of my tice. Observations things. And the more I learn in my response. But when we talk about practice. I often catch myself avoid- like this can then be liturgy classes here at CDSP, the things like bowing towards the altar ing eye contact with homeless people very helpful when more I realize that there is good rea- when you enter the church, it’s not a on the streets of Berkeley. When I we begin to apply son for my confusion. simple decision of what’s right or reflect, I realize that gesture is about the same technique Why do we bow before entering wrong. As a matter of fact, of all the being scared. Averting my eyes to life outside our the pew? Why do we genuflect when gestures from which we have to makes me feel protected. But what is practice in our inter- we leave the pew to receive com- choose, there is very little that can be God calling me to do? Is God calling actions with God’s munion? Why do we cross ourselves labeled as right or wrong. It comes me to be scared of someone just creation. when the Trinity is invoked? Why do down to personal piety. It comes because they don’t live in a place that As a spiritual practice, dance gives we cross our forehead, lips and heart down to your prayerful consideration has a roof? Or is God calling me to me plenty of opportunity to develop when the gospel is read? Why do we of the question, What is the way I am something else? Everything shifts my observer because I find that my kneel at the altar rail? Why do we called to respond to what is happen- when the gesture shifts. When I body naturally responds to the music stand at the altar rail? Why do we ing? don’t avert my eyes I feel connected, in ways that I can see patterns. For stand during the Eucharistic prayer? The word liturgy has its roots in even if they aren’t looking back at example, when music comes on that Why do we turn to face the gospel Greek where it was a word that me. The gesture itself evokes the feels like praise music or has a book when the deacon reads the described the work of the people. feeling. gospel feel, I find that my hands will gospel or are we supposed to be fac- Today, the word carries more of a So, what do these gestures mean? instinctively reach upwards towards ing the cross? Why do we bow when connotation of ritual, but we would What do they say about how we see the sky. It’s interesting to think what the cross goes by? do well to remember that liturgy is God? Or how we see ourselves in this might mean. Am I responding Yikes! the work of the people in our relation to God? What kind of that way because I have seen count- Louis Weil is my liturgics professor response to God’s call. It is an response are we offering to God? less numbers of people raise their here at the Church Divinity School of answer to the question, How are we And reflecting on our gestural hands skyward in praise? Or has the the Pacific (CDSP) and has been being called to respond? responses during our church services instinct to raise our hands toward the teaching people about liturgy for a I think it’s really important to may just open up questions about sky truly become an instinct over very long time. As one of the fore- reflect on our bodily response how we respond to God outside the centuries of genetic coding? Or do I most liturgists in the country, he’s because I think the way in which we building. How are you being called really think God is in the sky? one of those “fonts of information” respond to God while we are inside to respond to God? In fact, I do not think that God is about which you’re always hearing. the church building has implications in the sky. But I also do not think Louis tells us that while there are for how we respond once we leave This fall Michelle will be a third- that raising my hands skyward in meanings behind gestures and while the church building. The liturgy con- year seminarian at Church Divinity praise is an inappropriate gesture. he certainly has an opinion about tinues as we live our daily lives. Our School of the Pacific in Berkeley, CA. Being at church is a lot like danc- how they are used or not used in our response to God never stops. She is a candidate for Holy Orders ing. Not because there is music, but practices today, he also tells us that After further reflection about why I sponsored by Trinity, Bend. because we are always responding to the most important thing is not some raise my hands to the sky in praise “I will never be exactly the same...” By Vicki Kelsey pened and how I blamed myself for my shortcom- Hospital a month later. After that time, I slowly On August 10, 2008, I jumped from a platform ings that had culminated in this terrible outcome. started to get better. into a lake in Mexico, hit the surface of the water Very slowly, with the help of the chaplains, I came Recovery has been a long-term lesson in awkwardly, and broke my back. One vertebra was to some acceptance of my new condition and patience, humility, and acceptance of limitations. crushed and two others were simply broken. I was could realize that what had happened was just a It is humble daily obedience to my doctor’s pre- taken by ambulance to a Mexican hospital and horrible accident. scribed regimen. It is surrender to God’s eventually flown by air ambulance to St. Vincent’s When I told one chaplain my story timetable; before each every-three-months X- Hospital in Portland, where I had and why I blamed myself, she did ray, I think “Thy will be done.” two surgeries to repair the dam- not disagree with me. She simply In April, my surgeon allowed me to gradual- age, as much as it was possible. said “God forgives you.” That was “Lying in my ly cease use of the hard plastic brace; by I was in pain and frightened what I needed to hear. I could not hospital bed, I early May it and the electronic bone-growth about what the future held for change the past or wipe it away, but was done with stimulator device were things of the past. By me. I lay in my bed and thought I could have a fresh start. June 8 I will be back to work. “My God, what have I done?” Many years ago I had a children's pride.” Of course I will never be exactly the same Our sins catch up with us soon- book that retold in verse the gospel as I was a year ago (and which one of us is, er or later, and I blamed myself story about four friends who lowered a paralyzed even absent a serious accident?), but I have come for what had happened. I told man on a litter down through a hole in the roof so back much farther than I ever dared to hope for, in myself that the injury was the that he could get close to Jesus. I don’t remember the dark days and weeks after the accident. result of pride, of trying to prove to everyone that I much of the text except one line: Jesus saw “the One might think that recovery from a serious was fearless, strong, able to do anything. Pride, sad and worried look” on the man’s face and said accident or illness is a matter of doctors and pride. What had I been thinking? Why didn’t I “Your sins are forgiven.” That phrase had stuck in scalpels and pills, but that is only half of it. It is stop before I almost killed myself? my mind because I was aware that the gospel writ- equally a matter of having the will to live and to The gospel writers tell us that in the desert Satan ers did not mention the sad and worried look, and I keep on living, and this comes from the support of tempted Jesus to do three things, one of which was had always wondered why the author put it in. people who may not have scalpels in their hands to jump from the pinnacle of the temple and land Now I understand; I have been there. Like me, but do have love in their hearts. My family, my unharmed on the stony courtyard far below. If this man was sad and worried. Like me, he had church family, and my work family all kept my Jesus had done so, it would have astounded all the lain on his bed, blaming himself over and over for mind grounded on the real world, and my eyes onlookers. It would have proven beyond doubt whatever accident had caused his paralysis. focused on the future. I don't see how I could that Jesus was a special person, that he could do Twenty days following the accident, and after have done it without them. things no one else could do, and that he was better five days at the Providence Acute Rehabilitation Repentance is not very valuable unless it’s fol- than everyone else. It would have been the ulti- Center learning to walk again, dress myself, and lowed by amendment. The repentance part is mate in showing off. Wisely, Jesus decided not to generally function at a minimal level, I went easy; in fact, it’s sometimes instantaneous. The jump. How I wished that I too had resisted the home. I wore an armpits-to-hips hard plastic amendment part is harder, a daily concentration on temptation to show off and had decided not to clamshell brace. I was weak, scared, and over- changing attitudes, changing behaviors, an effort jump. whelmed by the challenges of just getting through that never ends. Lying in my hospital bed, I was done with pride. the day. Vicki Kelsey, a registered nurse who works at Whatever help was available, I knew I needed it, Although I had escaped paralysis, there was some Providence Hood River Memorial Hospital, is a so every day I asked to have a chaplain come see spinal cord damage with annoying neurological long-time parishioner at St. Mark’s, Hood River , me, and over 2 1/2 weeks I met many of them. symptoms, and complications from my first spinal where she is a member of the Vestry. Every day I repeated the story of what had hap- surgery that led to a two-day stay at Hood River

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The Rev. Jim Mosier (center) archdeacon at St. Matthew’s, Ontario, cuts the rib- The Rev. Dcn. Janet Warner, St.Andrew’s, Prineville; (above, left); Gabriella bon at the opening of the Four Rivers Community Garden, next to the church. Whitehead, Tyler Mann distribute Mother’s Day posies at St. Mark’s, Hood River.

The Rev. Archdeacon Jim Mosier wielded a pair of supersized scissors at The youth at St. Mark’s, Hood River led Morning Prayer on the ribbon cutting for the Four Rivers Community Garden, adjacent to St. Mother’s Day, May 10, as a special present to the parish, and especially to Matthew’s, Ontario. Also on church property: the Next Chapter Food the mothers in the church. Children ushered, acolyted, did the readings and Pantry, in a building that formerly housed a thrift shop. led the prayers; they also passed out flowers to all the women in the congre- A nonprofit community group, aided by a Ford Foundation grant, helped to gation. clear the land, lay pipe and build garden beds and paths. Water is provided by Parishioner Pravin Rajamoney, who helped the kids put together the service, a well owned by St. Matthew’s. drew on his experiences at the Anglican church where he grew up, St. “Imagine,” wrote parishioner Fran McLean. “More local food for families George’s in Georgetown, Penang Island, Malaysia. Young people in that in need. A gardening space that serves as both learning center and gathering parish often take part on Sundays, he said. place. And a beautiful showcase for the gardening skills of our dedicated friends and neighbors.” Below, a couple of photographs from the European tour that the choir at Transfiguration, Sisters, along with other parishioners, took in The youth group at All Saints, Heppner and Hope Lutheran February and March. They visited, and performed in, historic venues, and raised $728 in pledges for the local MS Walk, and earned $243 in donations joined a mass choir performance of The Messiah. More photos are posted on with their Easter breakfast, with proceeds donated to the Heifer Project and the church website: www.episcopalchurchsisters.org Nets for Life. All Saints and Hope now are seeking leaders for a middle school group. According to the churches’ newsletter, “the high schoolers would appreciate it if the middle schoolers had their own group!” The newsletter added, “Having youth who want to be in a youth group is something for which we have prayed. And now that we have prayed, we have an answer.”

There were some tears and a lot of fond smiles when St. Paul’s, The Dalles recently sent a faithful member out into the world to do new ministry. Falco, a golden retriever- yellow lab mix, has been the con- stant companion for about a year of John Adams, who received him from Guide Dogs for the Blind when he The Rev. Janet Fullmer, John Adams, was two months old. and Falco Falco now is at the Guide Dogs’ facility in Boring, where he will receive six to nine months of intensive train- ing and health checks; if he passes, he will be given--not sold- to a new owner who is blind. Falco is the third Guide Dog puppy Adams has raised-- and just one of several Guide Dog puppies trained by Episcopalians in The Dalles. Adams’ first puppy, Lindy, had what the nonprofit calls a “career change” because of allergies and now lives with The Rev. John and Harriet Langfeldt in The Dalles. His second puppy, Terra, graduated as a guide dog and went to live with a stay-at-home mother in West Jordan, Utah.

The Rev. Dcn. Janet Warner of St. Andrew’s. Prineville, who was ordained to the diaconate seven years ago, began a nine-month sabbatical on May 1. She is studying First and Second Thessalonians-- “Self-care, silence and service speak to me--a slowing down time for listening, learning and loving of self, the Holy and all others!” she wrote in the St. Andrew’s Announcer.

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PDF created with pdfFactory trial version www.pdffactory.com ASCENSION UPDATE: Camping season is here Ascension School Camp and ber of campers participating in the Macdonald, the Anglican Church of Ascension Schedule 2009 Conference Center, 85 years old in second year of the Caring and Canada’s first National Indigenous 2009, is heading into summer with a Sharing program, provides scholar- Bishop. new green curriculum--Handle With ships to the children of persons who Macdonald was Bishop of Alaska Senior High Camp June 23- Care--and plans are incarcerated in an 1997-2007 and July 3 (grades 9-12) for more outdoor eastern Oregon remains the Discovery Camp July 9-13 activities that take prison. Assisting Bishop of (preK-grade 2, plus adult) advantage of Parishes in central Navajoland for the Beginners Camp July 12-18 Ascension’s prox- Oregon alone are Episcopal Church. (grades 3-5) imity to rivers, hoping to raise As a priest he had Junior High July 19-25 meadows and $6,000 to send some parishes in both (grades 7-9) mountains. 20 children to camp. Canada and the U.S., Intermediate July 26-Aug 1 Because the fal- There’s a new camp is the editor of (grades 5-7) tering economy has dealt a blow to session for 2009, Patty Olson Lindsey the book Ritual and Adult education Aug 6-9 investments that usually yield schol- from Sept. 4-7. Inculturation: arship money, the camp’s board of Reunion Camp is aimed for former Reclaiming Native Art Festival/Cherry Fair directors is urging local parishes to Ascension campers between the ages Tradition in Aug 13-15 (all ages) focus on fund-raising for scholar- of 23 and 40. Christian Liturgy. Reunion Camp Sept 4-7 ships. Adult education camp, Aug. 6-9 will (adults 23 - 40) An increase is expected in the num- be led by The Rt. Rev. Mark L. Info:www.coveascensionschool.com An appreciative view of Ascension School and its offerings By Katy Nesbitt Grande, who has been attending when Bishop Remington opened a Kimsey Commons makes possible The spring youth retreat at Ascension since she was pre-school summer camp, which now has run year round camping and conferenc- Ascension School, April 24-26, age, retorted, “That’s because we continually for 85 years. ing. The same weekend as spring reflected this year’s camp theme, made most of them up, like the The accommodations of the first youth retreat, a quilting group from “Handle with Care,” which focuses Lobster song and the Quail song.” camp were tents, a few rustic cabins, Washington’s Tri-Cities rented the on the biblical mandate to be stew- One song, The Cove Hymn, is a tra- and the former carriage house , Kimsey Commons; it’s an annual tra- ards of creation. dition that campers over the ages which had been converted into a dition that started in 1992. On Saturday morning, campers pre- share. Written by Bishop William kitchen and dining hall.Morris Hall “It is so serene here we keep com- pared raised garden beds for seed Remington, the camp’s founder, it is now houses Ascension’s administra- ing back, we love seeing wildlife and planting, and painted wooden cut sung every night directly before bed- tive offices. hearing the coyotes,” said Fran outs to decorate the gardens. time at Circle, when campers encir- A 1983 event at Ascension lives in Murray of the Tri-Cities Quilters “We hope to grow a lot of the food cle the campfire, arms crossed, hands the memories of Episcopalians and Guild. “We brag about our retreat we serve our campers,” explained linked and sing their final prayer. locals alike: a visit from Bishop center all the time.” Cori Brewster, Summer Program The heart of all activity is Desmond Tutu. Still living under apartheid, Bishop Tutu’s permission Director, a former camper and camp Ascension Chapel, constructed dur- to travel was not granted until his counselor and a faculty member at ing a wave of Northeastern Oregon departure day, so his appearance was Katy Nesbitt wrote a longer version Eastern Oregon University in La Episcopal Church building in the uncertain until almost the last of this piece for the Diocese of Grande. 1860’s and 1870’s. Listed on the minute. Oregon newspaper, introducing Most of the kids at the retreat also National Historic Registry as well its During one of his talks that year he Ascension School to Episcopalians in come to summer camp. “It is like my rectory, Barton House, it sets the described celebrating mass over their western Oregon. second home,” explained Saryna tone for this idyllic camp setting. garden fences with people who were Katy’s father, The Rev. John Nesbitt, Horace, a freshman from Irrigon who In 1882, a local farmer gave 100 under house arrest. was ordained by Bishop Kimsey in has come to Ascension since she was acres adjacent to the church to build In 1998, Ascension School honored 1987; he served at St. Luke’s, five. Calen Holmes, Ontario, echoed a ladies boarding school. Ascension much-loved Bishop Rustin Kimsey Lakeview, and retired this spring her comment. Episcopal School for Girls opened by naming its new state-of-the-art, from St. David’s, Portland. She At the retreat, new counselor Sarah September 4, 1884. The entire moved back to Oregon from Burton admitted to campers, “I need school burned to the ground in 1892, adult conference center after him. Colorado, where she worked in food to learn the songs. I only recognized except for the carriage house, now KimseyCommons houses 22, with a aid non-profits. She lives in Minam, two last night.” Morris Hall. dining hall and kitchen that can serve where she manages the Minam Jessi Swain, a junior from La The land was unused until 1924 up to 50 Motel, and writes. Trinity, Bend’s intentional move to commit money and time to a developed program for youth recently marked a milestone. With special liturgy and a celebratory lunch, the church honored the nine members of the Rite 13 group for middle schoolers, four of whom turned 13 this year. Overall, church school numbers at Trinity have more than doubled in the last year, said Mary Wells, family ministries coordinator. “A low Sunday for us now is 25 kids; it used to be we maybe had eight.” When Trinity set out to expand its offerings for kids, “one of the things that made it doable is the church itself; it wasn’t just a few peo- ple,” Wells said. “They raised money to do it, so that is a huge piece.” The God’s grace part, she said, includes the the people who have gotten involved, including 26 Sunday School teachers who share duties for classes from pri- mary through high school.

Rite 13 participants include (clockwise from far left) Joy Tooley, Family Ministries Coordinator Mary Wells, Tristan Helmish, Will Griffiths,leader Peter Boehn, Cate Cuthbert, Emma Paulson, Nicole Cuddihy and Janelle Maguire. Not pictured, Nathan Wissing. Page 8a Oregon Trail Evangelist JUNE 2009

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