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Page 1 South Dakota Episcopal CCCCCChurchhurch NNNNNNewsews www.diocesesd.org September/October 2009 Full Speed Ahead for the Bishop Coadjutor-Elect his has been a busy year for many of us October 31 is All Hallow’s Eve, the day before All T in the diocese. On top of our usual Saints Day. The Presiding Bishop, The Most work, family, and church activities, we pondered Reverend Katharine Jefforts Schori, will be the chief what we wanted in a new Bishop; we searched for consecrator. She and two additional, active bishops, possible candidates; we screened those possibilities; serving as co-consecrators, will be listed in the we traveled around the diocese to see and hear them official Succession of American Bishops register in speak; we gathered to elect the Rev. John Tarrant to the Episcopal Church Annual as John’s consecrators, be with us and guide us through the next decade or fulfilling the constitutional requirement that each so, God willing; we spent countless “man” hours in Bishop be ordained and consecrated by no fewer planning, organizing, and executing; we asked for than three Bishops. and received a rich blessing of volunteers, ideas, and capable hands; we supported and encouraged one The Sioux Falls Convention Center is the place to be another. at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 31, 2009. Thence will begin the biggest procession we’ve seen in this Then—General Convention quickly and unani- diocese in many years, peopled with lay and or- mously approved our election of the Rev. John dained leaders and ministers of all ages and talents Tarrant. from all corners of the diocese. A choir (again from churches around the diocese) will lead the singing of The next step is his ordination and consecration on hymns and service music, and will perform an origi- October 31 – to which we ALL are invited! No nal anthem, written especially for this occasion by tickets, no registration required. Dr. Stephen Yarbrough, Vermillion. The Presiding Bishop and her husband Richard Schori will meet with Bishop and Ann Robertson and John Partners With This and Pat Tarrant on Thurs- A Generous ChurchNews day. Visiting Bishops will God meet with the Presiding issue contains Bishop on Friday morning, and diocesan clergy will Convention Diocesan meet with her on Convention Friday afternoon (for Reports which we need an Oct 2-4, RSVP). 2009 (Continued on page 7) South Dakota ChurchNews September/October 2009 Page 2 Volume 62, Number 5 TTTheThe Diocese race be with you and peace from God our Father of G and from the Lord Jesus Christ. South Dakota This year’s theme for the clergy conference and Diocesan Convention is: “Partners with a Generous God.” We are continuing as a Diocese to embrace the Partners with God structure for our ministry. Under the goal of Stewardship the plan states: Volume 62, Number 5 Statement of Ownership “Believing that all we are and all that we have South Dakota Episcopal are gifts from God, and faithful to our belief that God provides abundantly, we will provide moti- CCChurch NNNews vation, education and support to help individuals (ISSN 0746-9276) and congregations understand stewardship and Published 6 times a year, in Janu- ary, March, May, July, Septem- through gifts of time, talent and treasure promote ber, and November by responsible care for our environment, our The Diocese of church, our community and ourselves.” The Very Rev. John Tarrant South Dakota 500 South Main Avenue This past year Bishop Robertson established a Diocesan Stewardship Sioux Falls, SD 57104-6814 committee chaired by Fr. Bunker Hill. The committee is charged with the Periodicals postage paid at Sioux Falls, SD, and additional opportunity to develop a comprehensive stewardship strategy, which will mailing office. enable us to live more generously, and responsibly, in response to God’s Postmaster: Send address abundant blessing to us. changes to: South Dakota Episcopal The Committee has invited Jim Murphy from the Episcopal Church CCChurch NNNews Foundation to lead our clergy conference. He will give us the theological 500 South Main Avenue and the methodological tools to embark on a planned giving and possible Sioux Falls, SD 57104-6814 Correspondence and articles should capital program for congregations and the Diocese as a whole. During be sent to: convention the stewardship committee will host workshops intended to aid Editor us in exploring different aspects of Christian stewardship. 500 South Main Avenue Sioux Falls, SD 57104-6814 (605) 338-9751 Our stewardship is our grateful response to a loving, giving God. We were E-mail: office.diocese @midconetwork.com created in the image of a giving God and it is through giving that we touch Fax: (605) 336-6243 the Spirit of God. Christian stewardship involves everything we do after we Annual Subscription: $5 say, “I believe.” Whether rich or poor or some place in between we have an obligation in response to God’s grace in our lives to be generous about the Change of address way we spend our lives. Subscription—$5/yr. Cancellation As I have traveled around this Diocese I have been awed by the hospitality Donation and generosity of so many of you. Many who in the eyes of the world would Change of Address? not be seen as rich have given richly in times of celebration and in times of You can help the Diocese of South need. It is this spirit that we hope to extend to all aspects of our lives. It is Dakota save money in postage due. Use this form to give us your this spirit we hope to build upon as a Diocese, so that the love of God that new address BEFORE you move. we have experienced in Christ Jesus might be the force behind all we say ____________________________ and all we do. This spirit is indeed the Holy Spirit, which will enable us “to name do infinitely more than we could ask or imagine.” ____________________________ address ____________________________ God’s peace with you, address ____________________________ date John + September/October 2009 South Dakota ChurchNews Around the Diocese Page 3 Sioux Falls church recognized for 130 men, women, and children to better homes. outreach ministry For that work, Sioux Falls Area Submitted by Craig Friedel Community Foundation on April he Church of the Good Shepherd , Sioux 30 announced MAP as the recipient of its 2009 T Falls, has worked hard developing—and exe- Community Spirit Award. Friedel accepted a cuting—a new outreach program, the Moving As- $2,500 grant on behalf of the all-volunteer agency sistance Program (MAP), and they’ve been recog- he leads during the annual fundraiser for SFACF’s nized for it. The program officially started on grantmaking program. March 1, 2008. The success of the program earned it the Make a Difference Challenge Award in 2008, SFACF first learned about the moving program in and in 2009 they were awarded the Community March 2008, when Friedel applied for an unre- Spirit Award sponsored by the Sioux Falls Commu- stricted Community Funds grant to cover start-up nity Area Foundation. Also, one of the Good Shep- expenses: $550 for packing tape, labels, and gloves; herd youth, Sarah Friedel , won the Spirit of Vol- $170 for tape dispensers; $600 for phone service; unteerism Award sponsored by the HELP!Line and a little more than $1,600 for office supplies and Center and the Argus Leader. Her efforts were di- liability insurance. rectly related to the Moving Assistance Program. MAP turned $3,000 in seed money into a priceless Here’s what the Sioux Falls Area Community Fund gift for those who have been helped. More than a wrote about them in a recent newsletter: quarter of those served were elderly, 83% had physical or mental disabilities, and 22% survived Moving program earns Community honors domestic abuse. One-third of the moves were for families with children. “MAP is a wonderful exam- After a few months of on-the-job training, Craig ple of how a small grant from SFACF and the com- Friedel learned how to reassure a young mother mitment of dedicated volunteers can address a need that her family’s earthly possessions would make it in Sioux Falls in a timely and efficient manner,” to their new home. He found the right thing to say says Mary Tidwell, incoming chair of SFACF’s when someone was embarrassed by where she Board of Directors. lived, even when it was all that person could afford. “Our unrestricted grant fund is designed to do just Friedel answered a call to a unique volunteer ex- that — match gifts from donors with people who perience while working with fellow members of have a vision and the dedication to work to better The Church of the Good Shepherd, an Episcopal our community. It’s a win-win experience for eve- parish. Searching for a meaningful service role in ryone involved!” the community, the group contacted HELP!Line Center. They learned that the Center receives a sig- “It’s always nice to be recognized, but the most re- nificant number of calls each year from people in warding thing for us is to see the results of what need who have the opportunity to move to safer, you can do in the eyes of the people you’re help- more affordable housing, but simply do not have a ing,” Friedel says. “Obviously, the additional funds way to make the move. Some were too frail or old from SFACF help, too. We look at it as allowing us to organize their moves. Others lacked a car, pack- to do more, for more people.” ing boxes, or someone to help with the heavy lift- ing.