Episcopal Diocese of Albany - Priests and Deacons Update

Business Office: 68 South Swan Street - Albany, NY 12210 - (518) 465-4737
Christ the King Spiritual Life Center: 575 Burton Road - Greenwich, NY 12834 - (518) 692-9550

February 3rd, 2005

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Saturday, Feb 5, is our final Parish Leadership Conference and it appears that the response (like those in the North Country and the Susquehanna) is overwhelming. We are looking forward to the third appearance of Fr Tory Baucum. Because of the surge of registrations the sessions will take place in the Chapel of Christ the King. Box lunches will be distributed for lunch. Meals can be taken in the Great Hall, outside, the Healing Center or the Library complex. It appears that over 600 Leaders will have participated in the PLC’s this year. A very encouraging number!

A big help would be for participants to car pool. Since it’s winter and construction is continuing on-site for the New Beaver Cross and the Welcome Center it would be helpful to compress parking as much as possible.

A small ‘dig’ at the nearby intersection yesterday severed the telephone lines for us and several of our neighbors on Swan Street. As a result the phones were inoperative as well as internet access. There were several repair attempts during the day. We hope the repairs are permanent.

Dennis Crimi arranged a joint meeting with Bishop Dave and me and Bob Dennis, Provincial Coordinator for the Brotherhood of St. Andrew. It is a parallel organization and complements the Daughters of the King; we can hope that in the days to come most parishes will have a men’s' ministry such as the Brotherhood of Saint Andrew. The BSA will hold a Workshop at Convention 2005 to acquaint people with this vital ministry for men. Dennis has taken a lot of initiative in evangelism for the diocese, and in men’s ministry, reflecting his own passionate discipleship.

Christ the King Spiritual Life Center will commence its own quarterly newsletter under the editorship of Laura Hartnett. Laura is a communicant of Trinity, Watervliet and has a rich history of assisting in youth ministry in the Diocese. We welcome Laura to this important ministry as part of the outreach of the SLC.

Ash Wednesday I am honored to lead the Quiet Day to commence Lent at Trinity Seminary in Ambridge. Bishop Dave will officiate at the combined Ash Wednesday services for the Troy Churches.

The Venerable David Chillingworth, Archdeacon of Down and Dromore, has been elected Bishop in the Episcopal Church of Scotland. Bishop-elect David was part of the early visitation group to Albany from D&D. I have been invited to participate in his Consecration at Saint Ninian’s Cathedral in Perth, Scotland on March 11. It was the Scottish Episcopal Church which provided Episcopal Ordination to our first bishop, Samuel Seabury, as the British Parliament would not permit the consecration of anyone who would not swear allegiance to the Crown.

Josiah Garno was born early this morning to Scott and Sarah (Hinrichs) Garno. Father Bill baptized him. He lived six minutes. Our hearts and prayers go out to all the Garnos and the Hinrichs. May the angels take him into paradise, where with the Holy Family he may have eternal life. Amen. There will be a memorial service in Ambridge, PA and a funeral Mass in Ogdensburg.

Correction: For the Chrism Mass reservations for the Clergy for lunch, for the North Country, Wednesday of Holy Week, March 23, at Noon, at St Thomas, Tupper Lake, send your reservation to Father Bill Cooper.

Sunday Bishop Dave will be at Grace Church, Mohawk and I will be at St James, Oneonta.

On Monday, Feb 7 Deacon Patti Hanson-Foss of Ausable Forks and Isabel DeTringo of Potsdam leave for a three week mission in collaboration with the Church Mission Society of Ireland, in Sudan. Please pray for their apostolic ministry.
On Feb 9 Father Bill Love leaves for Uganda to be part of a Team with a ministry of Healing, led by Fr Mike Flynn. Pray also for the Holy Spirit’s empowerment for them.

Saturday, Feb 12 is the Quiet Day at Clifton Park for the Daughters of the King.

Diocesan Lenten Service of Healing is set for Tuesday, Feb 15, at 7pm at St Stephen’s Church, Delmar. This is a non-Eucharistic service; everyone, churched and unchurched, is invited. Bring any friend you desire.

The Very Rev’d Michael Shank will be inducted as Rector of Christ Church, Gilbertsville on Sunday, Feb 20th.

Tues, Feb 22 is the Susquehanna & Western Mohawk Lenten Service of Healing at Christ Church, Cooperstown, 7pm. And the St. Lawrence & Northern Adirondack service will be at St. Mark’s, Malone on Monday, Feb 28th. Nigel Mumford will be at all the Diocesan Lenten Healing Services, along with clergy and ministering teams.

ENT is the Season above all to allow the Lord to deepen our discipleship. How willing are we to be taught by His Word, to be formed and reformed and transformed? Fasting, giving up TV, etc all have the purpose to give the Lord more access to our lives. Did you ever try to talk with someone watching TV? Hard to get their attention. Christ seeks our attention. As the days len(g)t(en), let our attention to the Lord lengthen. Easter will find a different us.

One of the saddest comparisons is church halls filled for pancakes, and pews empty for ashes.

LORD JESUS, as we prepare for Lent, enable us to give you the undivided attention and affections of our hearts. Strengthen our discipleship as we fast and pray, as we read the Scriptures and receive the Sacraments. Turn our eyes toward you, mindful that as only You can change water into wine, only You can turn our hearts from stone to flesh. Amen

In Christ,
+ Dan

The vision of the Diocese of Albany:

One Church
with many missionary outposts
organized around the Great Commandment and the Great Commission,
rooted in the catholic structures of Anglicanism,
moving from membership to discipleship,
and equipping every
disciple to make disciples.

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