June 2019 Topeka, Kansas Vol
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Grace Episcopal Cathedral June 2019 Topeka, Kansas Vol. 93, No. 6 From Mother Nic Practicing the Way of Love Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate “When the day of Pentecost had come, the apostles were all together Michael Curry has in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush won a broadcasting of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.” award for his —Acts 2:1-2 sermon last year at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The Bishop of Repton, Jan McFarlane, chair of the Sandford St. Martin Trust, said, “One of the indisputable broadcasting highlights of the 2018 royal wedding was Bishop Curry’s sermon. His words were broadcast around the world and were instrumental in shining a spotlight on the central role faith plays in the wider social discourse, and on how religion can be both hugely engaging and unifying for the public.” An estimated 1.9 billion people worldwide heard Bishop Curry remind us all, “Love is the way.” I am a great believer in practice. Do I like to practice? No, I do not. But, I know practicing helps me get better at doing something. One of the examples from my own life has to do with prayer, specifically extemporaneous prayer, or prayer without a book. The first time I remember being asked to pray without the Book of Common Prayer, was at the bedside of someone critically ill. I knew the continued on page 2 From Mother Nic About the window… culture of the person, family, and importantly, Jesus lived out God’s On the top left corner this issue’s friends, but I was not a member of great love for us in all that he was cover, we feature the Pentecost (or that particular culture. I had a and is, and all that he did and does. Whitsunday) window damaged in the moment of sheer terror thinking my What does that mean for you devastating fire of 1975. This was the effort might be misunderstood or personally? How would practicing southern most window on the East wall seem false. A moment later, I laid love, living in love, and spreading in McClintock Chapel (now St. Mary’s my hand on the person’s forehead love in the world change things? Chapel) that late November evening. and simply opened my mouth. Imagine a world of love. What This panel (about 2/3 of the entire Amazingly, out poured the words can you do to help God create that window) was returned to the Cathedral they needed to hear. world of love? What might we do at approximately 15 years ago, without No credit to me, I can only say Grace Cathedral to help God our knowing it had survived the fire. this happened because of all the continue to create that world of love Following the renovation of our practice that went before that day. in our Grace community and in the new Common Room, the window was That, and God centering me in love world? back-lit and installed on the east end of and then forming the words in my — Blessings ~ Nic+ the Cloister Gallery hallway. mind and heart. That’s what Jesus talked about: love, love, and more love. Most The Day of Pentecost Sunday, June 9 We will have ONE SERVICE ONLY at 10 a.m. The color of the day is RED PENTECOST commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit in the form of flames to the Apostles. The Holy Spirit allowed the apostles to speak in other languages, and they started preaching the word of Jesus to the Jews who were in Jerusalem for the feast of Shavuot (Pentecost). Many Christians recognize the Descent of the Holy Spirit as the birth of the Church. Parish-wide Pentecost Picnic June 9 following the 10 a.m. service We will gather in All Saints Hall and outdoors for food, games and other activities. Hot dogs, drinks and table service will be provided. Please bring a side dish or dessert. Invite a friend or two! From the Sr. Warden Daughters of the King June luncheon Grace Chapter of Daughters of the King will When we first started down the meet Saturday, June 1, 9:30 a.m. in the Bubb road of transition in May of 2018, we Room. Bailey Grey, LMSW, will present her knew we had some options about the work as a therapist for children and families, best way to proceed. We talked about and share her therapy dog, Cooper, and his using supply priests versus going role in her work. All women of the church are welcome to share in this with an Interim Dean. Eventually we meeting and learn more about our Order as Daughters of the King. Please decided to move towards an interim. contact Suzanne DeWeese ([email protected]) for more information. That seemed like a sensible choice in light of having had the same person Documentary on Exodus as Dean for the better part of two dec- Join us for Patterns of Evidence: Exodus, a film exploring the evidence for ades. the Biblical account of the Exodus. There will be two showings of this As our profile process moves for- amazing documentary: the first on Monday, June 10, 6 - 8:30 p.m., and the ward, your vestry has met to discuss second on Saturday, June 15, noon – 2:30 p.m., both in the Robyn Room. our stewardship, how the family of Please use the southwest door to All Saints Hall to enter and exit for the Grace Cathedral is preparing for the movie. You can park in the Polk Street parking lot or on the south end of the future, and what we want the next main parking lot. Contact Mike Deibler, [email protected] for several months to be like. Therefore, more information. a decision has been made to move Fellowship volunteers needed forward relying upon supply clergy. We need you! Do you like to plan and/or host parties? Do you want Mother Nic has agreed to remain on parishioners and strangers to feel welcome in our space at Grace Cathedral? staff as Interim Dean until the end of Then the Fellowship Committee would like you to join us in providing June. hospitality to others. This is not limited to women or bakers or cooks. We In July and August, we will be need your smiling faces and willing hands. We have fun and support one seeing a lot of Bishop Bascom at the another, but we feel called upon to embrace others and make everyone feel Cathedral on Sundays. She’s deeply at home here. The more the merrier and the less anyone needs to do. Should committed to the success of the Ca- you want to join us, please contact Carolyn Jones ([email protected] or thedral, to its future and to the ongo- 785-408-1269) or Jan Irby ([email protected] or 785-550-4688). ing care of our new curate, Ashley. I want to thank Mother Nic for Keep up with pledges this summer! her willingness to come on board and Headed out on vacation this summer? Unfortunately our expenses don’t take share her knowledge of transition a vacation, so don’t forget to pay your monthly pledge before you leave. with us, and I want to invite all of Also, if you visit other churches during your travels, bring us a service you to express your appreciation, one bulletin. We are always interested in what other Episcopal churches are -on-one, as you feel led. doing! Most importantly, have a safe trip! We know that change is never easy. Sometimes it feels like a lot of Children’s Chapel continues this summer things are happening all at once. We Children’s Chapel for kids ages 4-8 will continue on Sundays, 10:30 a.m., want you to know that the vestry through the summer. Children will meet upstairs in Sloan Hall. takes its commitment to each and every one of you, and to our care for Note of thanks this place, very seriously. We ask you I wish to send a special thank you to all who sent me cards, attended Frank’s to come and talk to us about your service, and just stopped to wish me comfort at church since Frank’s concerns and ideas. passing. I really felt the love and support, and send love back to my church We also take the admonition of family. the Bible – “Do not fear” – to mean — Ruth Ellen Sayia what it says. So we move forward, Sympathies confident of God’s presence and help. Sympathies of the parish go out to Ruth Ellen Saiya on the death of her May God bless us and this place husband, Frank; and to Paul Smith on the death of his sister, Charlotte. May as we move forward to calling our their souls, and the souls of all the faithful departed, rest in peace. next Dean. — Keith McKibben, Sr. Warden Ashley Mather to be ordained transitional deacon Ashley Mather, who will be joining the Cathedral staff as a curate, will be one of three people ordained to the diaconate in a service on Saturday, June 1, at Grace Cathedral. All are invited to attend the 10:30 a.m. service. Ashley graduated May 16 from Virginia Theological Seminary. She will be ordained as a transitional deacon, meaning she will later be ordained as a priest. Ashley’s first Sunday at the Cathedral will be June 2.