We're Going!!

Camp Hardtner  *   February 17-19, 2017

Bishop Jake's Thanksgiving Message

 Hate, Love and Thanksgiving

The Nazis imprisoned my mother in one of the lesser-known concentration camps. Mauthausen was located about 12 miles from her home, Linz, Austria. More people are familiar with camps like Auschwitz, Dachau, and Treblinka, but Mauthausen and its nearly 100 subcamps was one of the largest labor camps of the Nazi Regime. 

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One More Reminder!

Please join us on the bayou for the 61^st annual St. Thomas BBQ.  

Saturday, October 1^st -  5:30-7:30 p.m.

3706 Bon Aire Drive, Monroe, Louisiana 

:-)  In a completely unrelated item - St. Thomas's will hold our annual blessing of the animals on Sunday Morning, October 2 at the 10:00 a.m. celebration of Holy Eucharist. Bring your pets!

ULM BBQ Ad ;-)

BBQ Time!

61^st Annual St Thomas BBQ

Please join us on the bayou for the 61^st annual St. Thomas BBQ.  The event will be held Saturday, October 1^st from 5:30-7:30 p.m. 

Our menu includes chicken, pork loin, sausage, baked beans, potato salad, and homemade desserts – the fun includes music and a cakewalk. 

The cost is $15 per ticket or 5 for $50. Students with ID will be $5. Tickets can be purchased from the church or at the BBQ. All proceeds will go to our community outreach this year. 

This is an opportunity for good food, fun and fellowship.  If you have any questions, please call and leave a message at 318-343-4089. St. Thomas Episcopal Church is located at 3706 Bon Aire Drive on beautiful Bayou DeSiard, here in Monroe.

Engagement party! My house: 79 Quail Ridge Dr., 6 - 8 p.m. Friday. Dinner will be grilled pork chops, veggies and corn on the cob, with ice cream for dessert.

Go east of campus on Desiard St., which becomes Hwy 139. When you come to the flashing yellow light with a Chevron station on the corner about 6-8 miles east of town, that's Hwy 594. Turn right, go one long block, turn left onto Walker Road, go one long block and turn right onto Quail Ridge Dr. You'll go through a stop sign and then my house is on the left about the third house past the stop sign. Mottled brown brick with a reddish roof and a black Honda CR-V in the carport.

And Canterbury Kick-off, this Friday, Aug. 26, 6 p.m., at Deacon BJK's house, 79 Quail Ridge Dr. in Swartz.

Bring friends. Food provided. RSVP via text message to 318-372-8117.

The Archdeacon Awarded for Excellence!

Our Archdeacon recognized for excellence! (Like we didn't know!?!) ;-)

Read all about it here.

Today Northern & Central Louisiana Interfaith conducted a press conference in solidarity with our sister organizations in Baton Rouge and Dallas. I made the opening statement. Here's what I said:

Luke chapter 4 tells the story of Jesus going to his hometown of Nazareth, where he goes to the synagogue as was his custom. He is given a scroll, and he chooses to read these words:

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

After reading these words, Jesus hands back the scroll and says to the people, Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.

Those of you familiar with the Hebrew scripture know that Jesus is quoting Isaiah, one of the great prophets of Israel, who is preaching the Word of God to God’s people.

Those of you familiar with the Christian scripture know that this event, recorded in Luke chapter 4, signals the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry on earth.

As this story illustrates, the call to stand with those who are poor and oppressed links Jewish and Christian traditions.

Today, in this year of election politics, I propose that in this passage, Jesus is laying out God’s platform and claiming it for himself. He is saying, this is God’s  mission, and I am here to fulfill that mission. It is a political mission in any age.

Today our economic system is creating inequality at the fastest rate in recent history. The gap between the wealthiest in our society and those huddled at the bottom has nearly tripled in the last 30 years. (Wealth Inequality in America by politizane; on YouTube; based on research at Harvard)

Millions of Americans work, and work hard, often at 2 or more jobs, and still barely make ends meet. They are one major car repair, or one major medical bill, away from homelessness and the clutches of the predatory lenders. (ALICE, a study by United Way)

And the income gap is worse in Louisiana than in most of the country. Many are forced into an alternative economy.

Alton Sterling was trying to feed his family selling CDs in a parking lot.

To stand in solidarity with those who are poor and oppressed, to seek to open the eyes of those who are blind to inequality and injustice is unavoidably political. It requires us to leave the comfort and familiarity of home and neighborhood, and join hands across lines of race, religion, and socio-economic status that traditionally divide.

In the words of a praise song we sing in my religious tradition, it requires us to get out of our stained glass boat and walk on the water... without worrying about getting our feet wet or how, exactly, we’re going to get to the other side.

We, the people of God, are called to do just that. And we are called to do it as peacemakers, without falling captive to the fear and violence that plagues our society. We must not be divided by the polarizing forces in our politics and in our media.

And we must bring forth real solutions. One of those is to move people out of unemployment and under-employment, out of minimum wage jobs, into jobs that will support their families.

Northern & Central Louisiana Interfaith was one of the founding forces of a workforce intermediary called NOVA – New Opportunities Vision Achievement. NOVA helps people get the training they need, then matches them with employers who offer living wage jobs with a career path and benefits.

More than 80% of those who enter NOVA’s program, finish it and are placed in such jobs. NOVA graduates contribute approximately $8 million annually to the Ouachita Parish economy.

NOVA has already expanded from Ouachita parish into the Delta. We need comparable programs here in Shreveport, in Baton Rouge and throughout Louisiana. We need to use dollars recovered from Industrial Tax Exemptions by Gov. Edwards’ recent order to expand workforce development.

Today Interfaith, Together Baton Rouge and our sister organization in Dallas stand in solidarity and invite people of good will to work with us to free our State from the oppression of poverty, to free us all from the prison of racial distrust and fear, and to bring about the year of the Lord’s favor.

We refuse to be divided.

 

Surf Shack V.B.S. Dates

The folks at the Episcopal Church's in Monroe and West Monroe - Grace Episcopal Church, St. Alban's, St.Patrick's, and St. Thomas' will work together again to host Vacation Bible School

Save the dates for our Surf Shack V.B.S. - July 17-21, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. held at St. Alban's this year! Look for more information soon!

ULM Canterbury eats free!

St. Thomas' Fish Fry

They are biting again! Hungry Episcopalian and guests at least will be doing the biting - not the fish! 

St. Thomas' Fish Fry is ON AGAIN, this Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Hope everyone will join us!

St. Thomas' Fish Fry Cancelled!

NOTICE: Due to the weather forecast and unforeseen circumstances, St. Thomas' Annual Fish Fry scheduled for this Saturday, April 30, has been cancelled! Any ticket money will be gladly returned. The event may be rescheduled - so stay tuned! Thanks for understanding!

Reminder...

St. Thomas' Fish Fry is this Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. 

Hope we to see you all there!

Brother Give Me a Word: Resurrection

Our memory fails us if we think of Jesus’ resurrection only in terms of “then” and not also in terms of “now.” We are not reenacting Jesus’ resurrection; we are reappropriating Jesus’ resurrection power.

-Br. Curtis Almquist

 

 

Brother Give Me a Word: Sacrifice

Sometime this week, someone will need you to lay down your life for them, and you will need another to lay down their life for you; when that happens you will be in the presence of love. You will be in the presence of God.

-Br. James Koester
 

Brother Give Me a Word: Give

God’s generosity is boundless and, in turn, prompts in us a generosity that is boundless as well.  This is a generosity that does not count the cost. This is the generosity that anoints the feet of Jesus.   How different it is to the gift that serves to our own advantage.  And be assured, we can and will know God’s generosity if we give ourselves to others without expectations or requirements.
-Br. Eldridge Pendleton (1940-2015)

Brother Give Me a Word: Carry

Carry
“By loving us first, God makes it possible for us to love others, and Jesus asks only that we share that love. But in so doing he tells us that we must take up our cross and follow him. Our hands must reach out, pick up the rough wood, and carry it – for ourselves and for others.”

– Br. Robert L’Esperance

    

This is going to take some practice!

Weather Cancellation!

Tonight's Lenten Eucharist at Supper at St. Thomas' has been cancelled because of the weather. Stay dry and pray for those in areas of local flooding!

This Week!

Ok, lots to do this week, BUT.....

Canterbury@ULM will not meet 

at our usual Monday evening time!

The reason is a bit of a long story, which I will share with you Monday, 3/14/16, the date of our next meeting. The short version of the story is that I must go to Baton Rouge Monday and will not get back until late, and I did not have time to make other arrangements for you.

In the meantime:

RES WEEK  

It's Res Week on the ULM Campus. I don't know everything that's happening, but I'll be checking the Quad regularly to see what's going on Tuesday thru Thursday.  The culmination is a worship service Thursday:

Carry the Love

7 p.m. Thursday

SUB Ballroom

 And, of course, our Episcopal Lenten series continues:  

Lenter Eucharist

St. Thomas' Episcopal

3706 Bon Aire Dr.

Preaching: Fr. Michael Bordelon

Wednesday, 6 p.m.

Followed by free supper.  

 Hope to see you at these events!

 

This one speaks directly to me!

Next Week!

    Monday, Feb. 29, 6:30 p.m.

St. Mary's Chapel

Grace Episcopal Church

405 Glenmar Ave.

Fr. Michael Bordelon will preside over Holy Eucharist and meet with you afterward for fellowship and to talk about Growing a Rule of Life, or whatever you want to talk with him about. 

Chloe will bring food to share. You will meet in the Chapel for H.E. then go to a conference room. 

Have a wonderful time! I'll seen you soon.

 

This Week @ Canterbury

Second Week of Lent

Lenten Lunch Series

Grace Episcopal Church

12 Noon - 1 p.m.

(no charge for lunch;

you can leave whenever you need to)

February 23: Archdeacon Bette Kauffman

Eucharists and Suppers

February 24: Grace Episcopal

Preaching: Archdeacon Bette Kauffman

H.E. 6 p.m.; Supper 7 p.m.

 

 

Yes, me, both services! That was inattention to detail on my part, but, hey, after this week, I'll be able to sit back and relax!

 

 

First Week of Lent

Lenten Lunch Series

Grace Episcopal Church

12 Noon - 1 p.m.

(no charge for lunch;

you can leave whenever you need to)

February 16: Fr. Bill Easterling

Eucharists and Suppers

February 16: St. Alban's Episcopal

Preaching: Fr. Richard Norman 

H.E. 6 p.m.; Supper 7 p.m.

Our Lenten Journey

         

            Canterbury@ULM - Monday, 6:30 p.m.
        St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, 3706 Bon Aire Dr.

Bring a friend! 

Next Week

What a fun time we had meeting at St. Thomas' Monday evening! Yes, we'll get some stuff on the walls. 

We mentioned that next Wednesday in Ash Wednesday, but didn't mention the fact that we have Mardi Gras break Monday and Tuesday next week. Therefore, Canterbury will not meet Monday evening. 

If you are in Monroe Tuesday, both St. Thomas' and St. Alban's will have Shrove Tuesday Pancake Suppers. A feature of the evening at both churches will be burning palms to make ashes for Ash Wednesday. That's at 6 p.m. at either or--if you're really hungry--BOTH churches!

The booklet above is a Lenten workbook offered by the Brothers of St. John the Evangelist, a really cool group of monks who publish a wonderful daily meditation online and always have something great going on during the special seasons of the church year. I have ordered a copy for each of us! They are supposed to arrive Feb. 9, so if I see you at an Ash Wednesday service, I'll have it for you.

 Have a safe and fun Mardi Gras break!

Meeting Monday!

Canterbury@ULM

Monday, Feb. 1

6:30 p.m.

St. Thomas' Episcopal

3706 Bon Aire Dr.

At our meeting Friday, we decided to try something different. Since we can no longer meet at lunch time any day of the week, we decided to try Monday evening at 6:30. And since most of us will be coming back for this meeting, we decided to try meeting at St. Thomas' Church. 

In fact, St. Thomas' has a room set aside for Canterbury. I announced it today in church and they are delighted. 

I will bring pizza for dinner! See you there.

 

Meeting Friday

Dear Canterbury Participants:

I struck out in my attempt to find a new meeting time via text messaging. I had hoped we could move to Wednesday or Thursday at 11, but both of those leave out at least one person.

So, I decided those of us who can need to go ahead and meet:

Friday the 29th at 11 a.m.

Walker 1-113 

Our two main agenda items: 

1. When shall we meet this semester? If we cannot find a time that works for everyone, what works best for the most people? Mary & Blake, I trust Blake can convey some information on Mary's behalf. Our alternative to an 11 a.m. meeting one of those three days (Wed., Thurs., Fri.) is a late afternoon or early evening, so please check your schedules and be prepared to discuss that.

2. The Bishop's College Conference scheduled in April.

We'll also do Noonday Prayer, of course.