September 2020 Issue 116
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Prayer of St. Chrysostom Click Here Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time with one accord to make our common supplication to you; and you have promised through your well-beloved Son that when two or three are gathered together in his Name you Contact the National will be in the midst of them: Fulfill now, O Lord, our Office desires and petitions as may be best for us; granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the age to come [email protected] life everlasting. Amen. 770-517-8552 -The Book of Common Prayer, page 102 This Season
"To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven." (Ecclesiastes 3:1) This means that all emotions and actions, both negative and positive, have important meaning; and we experience them all throughout our life. This has certainly been true for the year 2020. We are experiencing what almost no living person has suffered ever before with this pandemic. So much of our world has been turned upside down.
I worry in this time about people being alone, especially those who suffer from mental illness, depression, addiction or other diseases. Many people have been placed on furlough or their jobs have been terminated all together. The food bank in my church has expanded to help feed people who are facing hunger. Many, many people have suffered and died. The fear of eviction looms in the lives of many. We want our old lives back. In the face of all these challenges though, I have hope. My hope lies in knowing, having lived through a variety of seasons, what God can do.
Our creative response to sheltering-in-place has included a variety of audio and video offerings of the liturgy in our churches with a few missteps. Drive-by parties have celebrated birthdays, anniversaries and graduations. In our Order, we have learned new ways of being together and continuing to serve. One new way of being together has been our Conversations with Daughters Zoom meetings, successfully allowing us to remain in community while in-person gatherings are not possible.
The Nehemiah Prayer Vigil calls for the voices of all Daughters to be lifted in prayer together asking God to encircle our families, churches and communities with peace and healing. For fifty-two days, we will pray the four prayer points and study the book of Nehemiah (click here for more information.) In a future Conversation with Daughters, we will join together and share stories of how you experienced God working during this vigil. Thank you for praying through out the vigil, and I look forward to hearing your stories.
Krisita Jackson National President Preparing the Table
Join us each month as we prepare our table for our gathering in June 2021. Our candlesticks are cleaned and ready for Triennial. What have you gathered and prepared for your table this month? What are the Days of Awe?
Among the Jewish people the days between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur each fall are known as the Days of Awe. Rosh Hashanah is a New Year celebration, rooted in the Torah observance described in Leviticus 22. This is a time not only for celebration but also serious introspection, a time to consider the sins of the previous year and repent, leading up to Yom Kippur, The Day of Atonement. This year the Days of Awe will be celebrated from the evening of Friday, September 18 to the evening of Sunday, September 27, followed by Yom Kippur ending on the evening of Monday, September 28. As many of you know, there is a chapter of Daughters in Jerusalem, Israel. Their church asks its members to pray with and for the Jewish people during the Days of Awe, when “the Jewish people focus on their individual repentance and relationship with the Almighty.” Daughters in this country are in the midst of a special time of prayer that calls for repentance, restoration, revival, and recommitment, inspired by the prayers and actions of Ezra and Nehemiah centuries ago. We owe an immense spiritual debt to those Jewish prophets and leaders who recorded their experience of God’s mercy and empowerment. As you feel led, please add to your prayers this coming week prayers for the Jewish people—and the Daughters in Jerusalem—during the Days of Awe. Grace Sears National Archives Chair To Everything There Is a Season
In the beautiful Scripture from Ecclesiastes, we are invited to linger over paradox… seemingly opposite times, yet not quite. Taken slowly, each verse and each contrary can be a meaningful and contemplative practice into spiritual awareness. In the second verse – “A time to be born, and a time to die,” our thoughts usually flow to the obvious – the literal birth and death of our bodies.
However, sitting with the same verse we can ask ourselves, “What has been born in me that is not healthy, not of God? What must die in me to be closer to Jesus?
Considering these very difficult and uncertain times, this verse stands out - “ A time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing .” Due to Covid-19, we have refrained from physical embracing, and it has been one of the hardest things to accept. We thrive when we are able to touch, hug and embrace. This constraint has been polarizing in its interpretation, effectiveness and resistance to any authority outside our own. We are hurting, and yet, because of the mandate of isolation, we are embracing in a new way.
We click on a video camera icon, and we embrace a new way of gathering. We are staying connected around the world. Zoom is now commonplace - a new way to meet, listen and engage. Since March, we have had to refrain from embracing travel, meeting in person and soaking up one another’s presence at our annual retreats. For most of us, we are now embracing a less hectic schedule, driving fewer miles, and some spending less money. We are finding more time to pray, serve those in greatest need and taste the flavor of another place of worship clear across the country. Our virtual retreats and Conversations with Daughters are attended by members that we have never met and are unlikely to meet in any other fashion. The initial chatter at the beginning of each meeting never sounded so sweet. The many faces of Christ appear with a click and a swipe, and then we smile.
We are blessed by every season, and God finds a purpose for everything under heaven.
Nancy Severin Province VI President Lift High the Cross
Recently, I realized that I lifted High the Cross - our DOK cross - as a way to explain why I was visiting a hospice patient, Dorothy, who is one of our DOK sisters.
Our Hospital is on COVID protection as many are, only allowing one visitor at a time. Mary, another Daughter, and I were set to go visit Dorothy. She had been moved to the hospital after our alarming Derecho took out her power at home. Mary did not know where to go once we got there, but I did, as I work in this hospital. So I said, “just follow me!"
We made it to Dorothy’s room without being stopped, slipped in and shut the door. Dorothy was so glad to see us! We sat on the couch at the foot of her bed, and after some conversation, we began our prayers. At one point as I was praying, the door opened and in came a nurse. Before the nurse could say anything, Dorothy told the nurse she had to leave as we were in prayer. She did! I continued without skipping a word. After about a half-hour, we were ready to leave, and I asked Dorothy if I could get her anything. She asked for beef broth. “Ok," I said, "I can do that.” That meant we had to talk to Dorothy's nurse!
Mary and I headed to the nurses' station and put in her request. The head nurse said, “No problem, but who are you two?" Without even blinking an eye, Mary and I both held up our Daughter's crosses from around our necks. The nurse said, "Oh I am so glad you came to visit her! Are you Sisters in Christ?" Still holding our crosses, we both said yes simultaneously. Then, we left quickly and got in the elevator. Looking at each other, we realized that we had just passed as nuns. We both laughed very hard as we realized that we are sisters in Christ, and our crosses held high, kept us and Dorothy from getting in trouble. Later, Dorothy told us that she got her broth, and nothing was said about those two ladies! I have held my cross up high many times, but it never felt better than this time.
Judy Frantz Diocesan Assembly of Iowa President Service and Evangelism
In these days of fear and uncertainty, I was encouraged when I received these two emails. I hope they renew your faith, refresh your heart, and restore your hope as they have mine. Remember, “There is a time for everything …”
Shirley Johnson, Christus Rex Chapter, Christ the King Anglican Church, Ocala Florida, writes:
I am an elderly Daughter and extremely high risk for Covid-19. Not only do I have an abundance of medical issues but have mobility problems as well. I have the beginning stages of Macular Degeneration and must receive monthly eye injections to correct or stem the advance of this disease. Our chapter president, Mollie Zell, faithfully drives me to these appointments. This has been a great service to me both mentally and physically. It has truly been an act of love on her part as she drives me an hour's distance from our homes.
And this from Johanna Binneweg, St. Mary & Martha Chapter, St. James Episcopal Church, Las Cruces, New Mexico:
Our chapter is only four women strong at the moment. For two of our members, obligations to husbands and families prevent them from attending meetings regularly, let alone participating in service projects for the community.
As vice-president of the Diocesan Assembly of Rio Grande, I have been calling on our chapters we do not hear from regularly. What I am finding is that many chapters are in the same condition. They may have only one member who is still active; the others are home-bound, taking care of ailing husbands, or else "aged out." They still pay their dues and pray their prayer lists, but the guilt these members feel about not being more active is palpable.
I suggested at our meeting that we modify and clarify our "service" vow. Perhaps women in these situations might be encouraged to consider their work with needy family members as fulfilling the rule of service.
We also need to clarify that any sort of service can be service to the Lord. That Daughters, or would-be Daughters, could be taught that working in an office, teaching, or nursing, etc... are all service to our Lord, if done prayerfully under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
I worked in office settings for twenty-five years and as a teacher for fifteen years. I can verify that working among non-Christians is very challenging, requires lots of prayer support, and is a wonderful way to practice the Christian gifts. We should be encouraging and honoring the service of our sisters who work in the world.
“Christ has no body now on Earth but yours.” - St. Teresa of Avila
Please share with us your stories of Service and Evangelism. You can email me at [email protected].
Pat Hind Service and Evangelism Chair Turn, Turn, Turn Praise and honor to our Lord and Savior!!
I hope you are all well during this season of our ever-changing life. If you are old enough, like me, then you have heard the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds. It was first released in December 1965. The song is taken from Solomon’s words to God’s people.
Solomon wanted the people to know that God has a plan for all. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is all about the seasons of our lives. All the experiences listed in these verses are appropriate at certain times.
Why do tasks happen in my life at a certain time or order? Is it something that I do or don’t do? I know we are born with a purpose.
That timeline from birth to death is important. Your life is powerful, and it matters! God delights in His people. Even when we are not sure what we are called to do, God will use the seasons of our lives to glorify His name.
I struggle with what is going on in our world today, so many things at one time. It makes it very hard for me to do daily things. Does anyone else feel this way? It doesn’t make me a weak person; it just means that my brain is having a hard time processing all that is happening. Solomon is right. There is a time for all things, but I can only take one at a time.
I think that all God wants is for me to do my part. That is not so hard! When I see Him face to face, I hope I hear, “Good job, my daughter!”
So, listen to “Turn, Turn, Turn ." My prayer for each of you is whatever season or time you are in, remember God is holding your hand. Why? Because you have a purpose in this life. You have been called by name. All the people said... Amen!
Denise Rox Worship and Devotions Chair Conversations with Daughters
Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of Your love! Amen. Daughters have been actively coping with the pandemic for the past few months with chapters, diocesan assemblies and provinces learning to host meetings, conduct assemblies and train Daughters virtually. We are excited to announce a spiritually rich program to support and enhance ways Daughters are implementing the Strategic Plan in this environment. Saturday, September 19th begins a three-part Conversations with Daughters Zoom dialogue focused on the Strategic Plan Companion. From September 19th to October 17th, we will feature two of the six goals, using the Strategic Plan Companion as our guidebook. We will pray, read Scripture, share reflections and ideas, answer questions, and generate new ways to achieve the goals of our Strategic Plan. Working together we will renew, revive, and reignite The Order!
The Companion reveals that the Strategic Plan is not just about goals to be achieved. The six goals are about values we strive to live into – inspiring spiritual growth, strengthening our call to service and evangelism, nurturing our members, raising new leaders, fostering community, and instilling a spirituality of giving. These values unite us even more today, as we adjust and live out our vows in these challenging times.
Reading through the Companion before the first meeting is not required, but discussions with your chapter may enhance your participation. If you are a Daughter at Large please send an email to [email protected] to be connected with other Daughters at Large who are participating in the Companion discussion. The Companion, and more information about the 2018-2024 Strategic Plan of The Order, can be found here. Join us in “Conversations with Daughters” beginning 4:00 pm EST on September 19th for Goals 1 and 2; October 3rd for Goals 5 and 6; and October 17th for Goals 3 and 4. Together, with the Holy Spirit, we will spread Christ’s Kingdom in new and powerful ways! In His name and for His sake.
Ane Deister Strategic Planning Chair
Jen Mariano Strategic Planning Co-Chair Master's Fund Continuing Education Grant
Through the Master's Fund, financial assistance is available to Daughters for ministry-related education with an emphasis on a church-related career. These grants for continuing education are limited to members of The Order.
As stated on the website under Master’s Fund, continuing education includes but is not limited to programs such as Education for Ministry, Stephen Ministry, Clinical Pastoral Education, and Spiritual Direction certification. We offer prayer support along with financial aid for women who desire to further their calling and enrich their spiritual lives through these programs. Master’s Fund grant requests are accepted throughout the year, unlike academic scholarships which are accepted and paid, one time, after the ingathering at Pentecost. The continuing education grants are need-based and determined by the amount of money available in the Master’s Fund when applications are reviewed.
Requests for grants should be submitted no less than eight weeks and no more than six months before the time of expected need. Multi-year program requests need to be submitted one year at a time. Applications should be sent to the Master's Fund Chair; only applications that include all required documentation will be considered.
Please visit the website for more information and application forms. One of our goals is to sponsor books for students in the above-mentioned programs and we would like to help you if that is your need.
Please consider making an online contribution to the Master's Fund.
Kathy Schultz Master’s Fund Chair Closing Scripture
A Time for Everything
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3 English Standard Version (ESV)
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