Dear friends,
This Sunday is All Saints’ Sunday one of the most celebrated feast days of the year. This is the day that we remember those we love who have joined that great cloud of witnesses in the heavens. As we do every year, we will read the names of parishioners and family and friends who have died in the past year. We also read the names of all whose ashes are interred in our Memorial Garden. If you have names that you would like remembered please send them to me. There is no need to send names of people who are in the garden. The service will also include prayers for our nation as we enter the week of the election.
This Sunday we will also have a ministry fair. All of the different parts of church life will be represented, with people to talk to for more information. There is always room for anyone who is interested in getting involved in church life. Please join us.
There is another big event in the Episcopal Church this weekend. On Saturday Bishop Sean Rowe will take office as the Church’s Presiding Bishop, the symbolic head of our denomination. The article below tells you how you can livestream the service.
Two weeks from Saturday will be a day-long workshop on Nature Photography as a Spiritual Practice. There are two parts to the workshop. In the morning from 8-Noon parishioner Tom Wilson, an amazing photographer, will explain what makes a good photograph — both the technical aspects and the composition. In the afternoon we will put what we have learned to practice in the field. Anyone interested in photography is welcome — whatever kind of camera you use (that includes cellphones). The cost of the day is $50, which will go to hurricane relief in Western North Carolina. Make the checks to St. Dunstan’s. Let me know if you plan to come. A flyer with more detailed information is attached.
With love,
Tricia
Presiding Bishop-elect Sean Rowe addresses General Convention on June 26 after his election and confirmation as
The Episcopal Church’s 28th presiding bishop. Photo: Randall Gornowich
[Episcopal News Service] The Episcopal Church is preparing for a leadership transition that occurs once every nine years: This week, the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe takes office as the church’s 28th presiding bishop. On Nov. 2, Episcopalians will celebrate the beginning of the new denominational leader’s term with a service of investiture. Livestream watch parties are planned in dioceses across the church.
This transition, however, will look a bit different from transitions past.
Rowe has arranged for a simpler, scaled-down service at 11 a.m. Eastern Nov. 2 in the Chapel of Christ the Lord at the church’s headquarters in New York. It will be a contrast to the larger, grander presiding bishop installations that typically have been hosted by Washington National Cathedral in the U.S. capital. The cathedral has served as the seat of the presiding bishop since 1941.
Rowe was partly motivated by an interest in reducing the service’s carbon footprint while increasing opportunities for churchwide virtual participation. All of the churches over 106 dioceses and missions were invited to send video greetings for a “roll call” that will precede the investiture, starting at 9:30 a.m. on the livestream. It can be viewed on the church’s Facebook page.
“In the next nine years, we will focus our energy and resources on equipping and supporting our dioceses to participate in God’s mission, and along the way, we will try out many new ideas,” the presiding bishop-elect told Episcopal News Service. “In that spirit, I am grateful to everyone who has embraced the opportunity to do a new thing with this investiture service. I look forward to celebrating with all of God’s people in The Episcopal Church on Saturday.”
Rowe was elected and confirmed in June by the 81st General Convention. He is the fourth bishop elected to serve a nine-year term as presiding bishop. Starting with 25th Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold, who was elected in 1997, the term’s duration was shortened from the office’s previous 12 years. Griswold was followed in 2006 by 26th Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori. Rowe’s predecessor, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, was elected 27th presiding bishop in 2015 and will conclude his eventful primacy on Oct. 31.