DioLog is the biweekly newsletter sent by e-mail (usually) every other week to more than 700 clergy and lay leaders across the diocese and elsewhere.
The next edition of DioLog will be sent to subscribers on Thursday, Feb. 4.
If you have items to submit, contact Melodie Woerman, director of communications, at (785) 235-9255, (800) 473-3563 or by email.
Parishes are free to excerpt anything printed in DioLog; attribution that material is reprinted from DioLog is appreciated. Feel free to copy this and make it available to parishioners in whatever way is most useful.
Subscribe to DioLog and/or The Harvest, our bi-monthly diocesan magazine
Past issues are available for download or by contacting the diocesan office.
Current Issue: January 21, 2021
Bishop offers guidance for Ash Wednesday services
Bishop Cathleen Bascom is effectively transferring her guidance about Christmas services to Ash Wednesday. This applies no matter what a church’s county’s “color” is on the diocesan Covid tracker spreadsheet.
“Churches may have one indoor, in-person service . . . lasting no more than 30 minutes and with a maximum of 25 people attending. Pre-registration or sign-ins for all in attendance must continue. Masks must be worn by everyone, and [except for imposition of ashes] distancing is required. Outdoor worship and other activities continue to be permitted, with wearing of masks and [except for imposition of ashes] physical distancing required.”
Two items to note:
- Bishop Bascom is interested in this reflection on the development of the Ash Wednesday liturgy by Bishop Neil Alexander:. Note especially that the rubric for the Ash Wednesday service indicates that the imposition of ashes is optional, and the bishop is encouraging congregations to consider the “dusting” practice mentioned in the reflection.
- Traditional imposition is allowed if necessary, but everyone in the line must be masked, distanced, moving and, except for the one service mentioned above, outside.
Parochial reports must be filed by March 1
All congregations of the diocese soon will be receiving notice directly from the General Convention Office about filing their required parochial report. The form will be filled out online.
The deadline to file remains March 1.
There are some important new things to note:
Instructions on completing the form, along with a video walk-though, are on the General Convention website.
Important information for churches that received PPP loans in 2020. Churches that received Paycheck Protection Program loan funds during 2020 should include that amount in calculations for line 5 of the financial section of the parochial report. (The “instructions” link above goes into more detail about this.)
Also, so that any PPP loan funds are not subject to diocesan apportionment, a parish’s PPP amount (the number included in the calculation for line 5 of the report) needs to be reported on the diocesan supplement page in the designated section. Questions about reporting PPP loans should be directed to Jay Currie at jcurrie@episcopal-ks.org, (800) 473-3563 or (785) 235-9255.
Diocesan supplemental forms. Hard copies of the required supplemental forms have been mailed to all churches, and online versions are available on Forms page of the diocesan website.
Questions about these supplemental forms should be directed to Michele Moss at mmoss@episcopal-ks.org, (800) 473-3563 or (785) 235-9255.
Online meeting will discuss Ash Wednesday and Lent
Anyone in the diocese interested in discussing liturgical options for Ash Wednesday and Lent is invited to a Zoom meeting on Saturday, Jan. 30 at 10 a.m. The meeting will last between 60 and 90 minutes.
The meeting will give people the opportunity to discover and share ideas on how to carry out liturgies and ministries for Ash Wednesday and during the season of Lent
The discussion will be facilitated by Scott Howard, St. Peter’s, Pittsburg, and the Rev. Ashley Mather, St. Paul’s, Manhattan, who both are members of the diocesan Liturgy, Music and the Arts Task Force
The meeting will be online using the Zoom video conference platform, but participants also can join only by phone.
Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84223540953?pwd=ZEZaOGtqWkdXa2h5VVlMRFgzTEgrdz09
Meeting ID: 842 2354 0953
Passcode: 486621
Join by phone: (312) 626-6799 or (346) 248-7799
News from Bethany House and Garden
New Bible study
Bethany House and Garden has begun a Bible study on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. at Bethany House. This takes place in person with Covid restrictions in place (masks and distancing). The subject will be the parables of the kingdom of heaven.
Thank you for hats!
Thanks go to all the knitters and non-knitters alike who generously have been providing hats for the Bethany House and Garden “grace bags.” Anyone with hats to be picked up should contact the Rev. Jennifer Allen at jallen@episcopal-ks.org or (913) 620-7773. Hats also can be mailed to Allen at 835 SW Polk St., Topeka, KS 66612.
Monthly youth game night and Compline continues
All youth in the diocese in grades 6–12 are invited to join a fun online game night on the first Sunday of the month, from 7–8:30 p.m. The next meetings are Feb. 7 and March 7.
Activities will include Charades, Siri-oke, Survey Says and lots more. The evening will end with the traditional youth Compline. Email Karen Schlabach for the link and password: kschlabach@episcopal-ks.org.
Weekly programs at Canterbury Houses resume
Canterbury House at K-State, Mondays 6:30–8 p.m.
Join us every Monday evening for dinner, program and Compline. The brief programs each week are led by campus peer ministers on topics relevant to young adults, faith and college students.
Monday, Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m. on Zoom, Welcome Back program. Contact Anastasia at internksu@episcopal-ks.org for the Zoom link or to sign up for a take-out or delivery meal.
Canterbury House of Lawrence, Tuesdays, 6–7:15 p.m.
Join us for our weekly dinner and program. After dinner, there will be a half-hour program related to Christian education, such as a presentation on Christianity in popular culture or a round of Bible trivia. Program is followed by a short service of worship, usually Compline.
Meetings are on Zoom or in person outside, depending on weather. Contact Clarke at internku@episcopal-ks.org for more information each week.
The Word @ Washburn, Mondays noon–1 p.m.
Washburn students and the program assistant gather in the Washburn Student Union to experience fellowship and discuss a weekly theological or philosophical question. Contact Clarke at internku@episcopal-ks.org for more information.
College student small group, Wednesdays 7–8 p.m. online
Small group is an informal space for discussing theological ideas like the Trinity or free will. Meetings start with a short check-in when participants share where they saw God in the past week, before diving into the week’s topic. Come for fellowship and lively discussion. Contact Clarke at internku@episcopal-ks.org for the Zoom link or more information.
Online Lenten meditations now available from Episcopal Relief & Development
In response to the unprecedented events of the past year, Episcopal Relief & Development’s 2021 Lenten Meditations share deeply personal reflections on the theme of lament from a diverse group of writers. Many of the authors share experiences related to a variety of issues including disease, violence, racial injustice and poverty.
Information about the online meditations is available on the Episcopal Relief & Development website. A link to download a PDF is also there.
The link also provides a place to sign up to receive the daily meditations by email.
Church Pension Group launches new podcast
The Church Pension Group has launched “Choose Well,” a new podcast series focusing on well-being. It will feature interviews with health and finance experts who provide insights and suggestions on a variety of topics, including financial wellness, cultivating healthy behaviors and leading a balanced life.
The podcast is available through podcast apps or on the CPG website.
Episcopal Church offers way to have hard conversations
The Episcopal Church has provided material for a new “From Many, One: Conversations across Differences” effort.
This campaign invites Episcopalians and neighbors to engage in one-to-one listening and sharing across the many differences that separate people.
It will focus on four questions:
- What do you love?
- What have you lost?
- Where does it hurt?
- What do you dream?
Inspired by the Latin phrase on the Great Seal of the United States – E Pluribus (“from many”) Unum (“one”) – the campaign is designed to offer a faithful perspective and time-tested practice for knitting deeply divided communities into a diverse, more perfect union.
Those wanting more information can sign up on the Episcopal Church website.
Materials also are available in Spanish.
Is your church’s listing on the Episcopal Asset Map up-to-date?
It’s important that all churches make sure their listing in the Asset Map is up-to-date. The map is used as the “find-a-church” feature on the diocesan website.
Not only is correct contact information important, but so are lists of parish ministries and worship times, both in-person and online.
Here is how to add items to make your listing as complete as possible:
- Go to www.episcopalassetmap.org
- Find your church/organization using the search function in the center of the screen.
- Click on the pin that designates your church/organization.
- On the right-hand side of the screen, click on the box that says “More Details.”
- In the upper left, click on “Update this place.”
- On the left-hand side, click on the areas you want to update.
- After all updates have been made, go to the bottom and hit “Save and submit.”
Questions? Contact the diocesan Asset Map administrator Melodie Woerman at mwoerman@episcopal-ks.lorg.
Clergy news
The Rev. Robert Harvey, who served in this diocese from 1983 to 1995, died on Nov. 20 in Minneapolis. He was 90. He was rector of St. Mark’s, Wichita from 1983 to 1989, and after it merged with St. Matthias’ to form Good Shepherd, he was rector of the new parish from 1989 to 1995. He also was evangelism officer for the diocese from 1988 to 1994, and he served as dean of the Southwest Convocation from 1987 to 1991.
He is survived by seven children, nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. Memorial arrangements at St. John’s, Linden Hills, Minn., will be announced at a later date.
May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace and rise in glory.
People notes
Dr. Barbara Andres has announced that she will retire on May 31 as executive director of Breakthrough/Episcopal Social Services in Wichita. She began her career in 1987 with Breakthrough Club, which is now part of the agency. A search for her replacement now is underway.
Anniversaries of ordinations
Congratulations go to these people as they celebrate the anniversaries of their ordination in the next two weeks:
Jan. 21: The Rev. Robert Harris, Grace, Ottawa (15 years)
Jan. 23: The Rev. Jerry Rankin, retired (36 years)
Jan. 25: The Rev. Steve Lipscomb, St. Paul’s, Leavenworth (29 years)
Feb. 2: Deacon Susan Drury, St. Michael and All Angels, Mission (24 years)
Stay in touch with the diocese on social media
You can find news, features and updates from the diocese on social media. We’re on Facebook – EpiscopalDioceseofKansas; Twitter – @EpiscoKs and Instagram – @EpiscoKs.
You can find diocesan youth and campus ministries on Instagram, too:
- Youth: @edokyouth
- Canterbury House of Lawrence: @canterburylfk
- Canterbury at K-State: @canterburyatkstate
Bethany House and Garden, one of the newest ministries of the diocese, offers these ways to stay connected:
- Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/bethanyhouseandgarden/)
- Instagram: @bethanyhouseandgarden
- Twitter: @garden_bethany
835 SW Polk St.