The NewsD of the episcopalominion Diocese of loNg island • brooklyN, QueeNs, Nassau, suffolk Vol. 21 No. 1 Diocesan Edition of the National Episcopal Life Newspaper January 2010 The End of Youth at St. Margaret’s, Plainview, Have the Beginning: a Remarkable Holiday Outreach Ministry Highlights from the Welcoming and Seating of the Bishop at the Cathedral rSee page H Bishop Provenzano, who described his visitation as “wonderful,” flanked by some of the Sunday School and other youth who annually make holiday items and raise a significant amount of money to help others. By Karen Hoenscheid and Bill Hills Each November, around Thanksgiving time, Photos by Danny McGee the children gather at church to fill mason jars with dry ingredients for cook- Eight years ago, a ies, soup and cocoa. The jars parishioner at Saint Margaret’s are then decorated with holiday in Plainview felt that the fabric and ribbons and sold for children should do some $10 each. Preston Merchant Photo Bishop Larry Provenzano and Dean Ted Bean in the outreach during the holidays The support for this project Cathedral of the Incarnation narthex following the to help those less fortunate. has been overwhelming with festive service. One of the moms was over $4,000 donated to various approached to head this charities. project and a new tradition For the first three years, was born. Heifer International was the Starting in February, Episcopal News Monthly During Bishop Larry recipient of their efforts, with will Replace the Episcopal Life publication. Provenzano’s parish visitation With her eyes closed “making a wish,” almost $2,000 donated. This last month he asked that the Karen Hoensheid holds a poster painted charity gives livestock and train- With this January edition of The Dominion by the Sunday School with the name of you are receiving the final issue of Episcopal plate offering from the liturgy one of the many organizations that has ing to people in need through- Life, the national newspaper of the Episcopal be redirected to the children’s received St. Margaret’s outreach support. out the world. In 2005, The Church, which has ceased publication. Starting charity efforts. Reflecting Smile Train received $750. That with the February Dominion you will begin on the outreach effort, the bishop said, “This charity provides surgery to children with cleft lip receiving a new official national publication, visitation was wonderful - wonderful to see how and cleft palate. Episcopal News Monthly. the young people are aware of the needs of others In 2006, we turned our focus toward helping and raising lots of money to help them.” Continued on page C See The Dominion and the latest diocese and cathedral news on the web • www.dioceselongisland.org Thinking Theologically The Episcopal When Bishop Provenzano asked me to accept appoint- That’s thinking theologically. Church in the ment as Canon Theologian, he asked me to help us in the In a Bible study in my parish a few weeks ago, we Diocese of diocese to think theologically. The word theology comes looked at Colossians 3: 12-17, where it talks about forgive- Long Island from two Greek words, theos, meaning God and logos, ness. Forgiveness sounds like a good idea, until it comes to A community of 53,000 members meaning words or thought or thinking. So theology is forgiving someone you have loved, who has wronged you. in 146 congregations. words to do with God. In its formal sense, it’s the study of So how do forgive people who hurt us? The conclusion DIoCEsAn BIshoP God, or, as Richard Hooker put it in the 16th century, “the of one group member was to make a commitment to pray The Right Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano science of things divine.” for the person who had caused her so much pain. That’s All of us have thoughts about God. Each of us under- thinking theologically. 36 Cathedral Ave. stands God a little differently, because of the ways we have A few years ago, in a Sunday School class, we read 1 Garden City, nY 11530 www.dioceselongisland.org been taught and the experiences we have had. Corinthians 12:12-31, which describes the church as being When I was in 8th grade, I was cast as God in a play like a body, and I asked the kids what part of the body The Cathedral of the Incarnation www.incarnationgc.org – and dressed up in a white toga (bedsheet) and a cotton- they were. One eight year old, the clown of the class, said, wool beard. As an adult, my “The funny bone!” (He also told me understanding of God has that when he receives communion, The Episcopal Church, UsA changed, so that I think of he thinks of Jesus and how he loves A community of 2.2 God less in terms of a cos- us and died for us.) That’s thinking million members in God-Talk 110 dioceses in the tume, and more in terms of The Rev. Dr. Raewynne J. Whiteley theologically. our relationship – and so Thinking theologically is what Americas and abroad. Canon Theologian of the Diocese www.episcopalchurch.org today when I imagine God, www.god-talk.blogspot.com we do when we look for the con- it’s often as a person sitting nections between God and our lives. PREsIDInG BIshoP The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts schori in an armchair beside me in Sometimes we’ll begin with God, Episcopal Church Center front of a fire, in the midst of a never-ending conversation. and say something like “If God is like _____, what differ- 815 second Avenue You all have your own images of God, and some of ence does it make for the way I live?” Other times we’ll new York, nY 10017 what I’ll do in this column and its associated blog is begin with something going on in our lives – a struggle, a Washington national Cathedral explore some of the ways we think of God. joy, a dilemma - and ask, “What has God got to say about Mt. st. Alban But our faith isn’t just in our heads. Being a Christian this?” or “What would God have me do about this?” or Washington, DC 20016 is also about how we live – and so thinking theologically is even “How is God responsible for this?” – and in that case www.nationalcathedral.org not just thinking about God, but learning to live our lives “How do I respond?” Thinking theologically is at the very with God in mind. core of how we live out our faith as Christians. So please, The Episcopal Church in Recently I was in Washington, DC, for a conference, join the conversation! The Anglican Communion where I heard the chaplain to the Senate, Dr. Barry C. Black, preach. He spoke about how in Bible studies – with I’ll be writing a more or less weekly blog at the A partner in a worldwide community of 68 million senators from both sides of the political divide – they dis- diocese’s website, www.dioceselongisland.org/god-talk. Episcopalians and cuss how to make ethical decisions, and reflect on how And I’d be happy to receive your questions by email at Anglicans in they would answer to God for the decisions they make. [email protected]. 38 regional provinces. ARChBIshoP of CAnterbury Canon Diane M. Porter The Most Rev. and Right honorable Deputy for Episcopal Administration Dr. Rowan Williams Canon’s Corner Lambeth Palace London, England sE1 7JU www.anglicancommunion.org Christmas Past, Christmas Future and Christmas Presents ________________________ When I reflect on Christmases ket a Tasket” and the other record, admit I have been all too caught up past, I remember the con my par- the Nat “King” Cole Trio performing in the commercial appeal of the sea- The ents put over on me. On Christmas “Straighten Up and Fly Right.” My par- son with its hustle and bustle rather Dominion Eve, my father would go up into the ents were into jazz big time. I learned than heeding each of the progres- Vol. 21 no. 1 January 2010 attic and ring some bells about 5:00 my colors with Ella Fitzgerald and her sive lessons of our Advent readings The Episcopal Diocese of Long Island p.m. and my mother would announce little yellow basket song but the King but this year was really quite dif- that Santa was coming and that I Cole record had a more sinister pur- ferent. A funny thing happened on The Right Rev. Lawrence C. Provenzano, Bishop had to go to bed just then because if pose. Every time my father felt that my way to Advent because I made The Rev. Canon Clement W.K. Lee, I didn’t, Santa would pass over our I needed behavior modification or at a detour through the Intensive Care Canon for Communication house. Obediently I trudged off to my least an attitude adjustment he would Unit of Winthrop Hospital brought Linda Brooks, Art Director room after leaving a ham sandwich, put on “Straighten Up and Fly Right” on by a mysterious infection. While Pepsi-Cola, and cookies on the table and give me the look. I came to know there, I promised God and anybody Episcopal Life Issn 1050-0057 for Santa’s treat. Later on I learned exactly what was or wasn’t expected else listening that if you just let me UsPs# 177-940 is published that I had to get into bed because the of me. I heard that song a lot! out of here, I’ll straighten up and fly monthly by the Domestic and foreign Missionary society, Inc.