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Michelle Heyne -
Michelle lives in
Seattle with her
son, Chace, and
works as the Chief
Compliance Officer
for a regional
investment firm.
She previously
served as Treasurer
of St. Paul's,
Seattle. She is
interested in church
development issues,
as well as
the impact and
complexity of
spirituality on work
and public life.
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News
Retreat-Chapter 2007
| We gathered at Saint Paul's Church, Seattle |
| We appreciate the hospitality that Melissa Skelton and the people of St. Paul's showed us during our time in Seattle. |
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| Renewals of Professed Membership Lowell Grisham, Royster Hedgepeth, and Greg Rickel renewed the Promise during the an Office on Thursday -- My promise is to seek the presence of Jesus Christ in the people, things and circumstances of my life through stability, obedience and conversion of life. The promise is taken every three years. The tradition of the Order is that along with the second time of making the Promise there is a life long intention. |
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| Scott & Greg | Jeremy & Royster |
What Members have been up to
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Father Greg Rickel has been elected Bishop of Olympia. He will leave his position as rector of St. James Church in Austin sometime in July. |
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Father Lowelll Grisham is rector of Saint Paul's Church, Fayetteville, AR. The parish has established a Servant Leadership School. Lowell is continuing to write a bi-weekly newspaper column on the intersection of faith and culture. |
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Father Jeremy Bond is enjoying retirement after 42 years in parish ministry. |
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Father Scott Benhase is the rector of
Saint Alban's Church, Washington, D.C.
Scott has been rector of Saint Philip's Church in Durham, NC. Saint Paul's continues to grow into a large size parish. making the transition has been a challenge in rethinking about how to organize for mission. The parish recently held a HipHop Mass.
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Royster Hedgepeth's
consulting work focuses on developing healthy organizations thorough
board development, strategic planning, and increasing fundraising
capacity. He is currently active as a board member helping revitalize
the Amherst Survival Center and is developing a model for mutual
ministry review.
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Father Robert Gallagher continues with his consulting and training. His book, Fill All Things, on the spiritual dynamics of parishes will be available later this year. |
| Quotes from homilies during the retreat I think this Order empowers me, and keeps me grounded, to always begin again each time I gather with you. It is a power born out of the tremendous gift of the Ascension, of not adapting to immaturity, but instead as focusing on the strengths forged in these holy friendships. ... My heart is bigger, once again. I am stronger, I thank God for you. Greg Rickel Holy Unity brings anxiety and occasionally hate. And in one of the lovely paradoxes of faith -- oneness also is how we bear the anxiety and hatred that comes upon us. The thing that brings down the spirits of fear and hate is also what saves us. In and with Christ we are one with the Father. The Oneness is our Protection. Bob Gallagher |
| Visitors - Companions We had three guests from Seattle join us for part of the gathering. Alissa, Susan and Michelle participated in worship, mutual spiritual guidance the book discussion and chapter. Alissa and Michelle accepted invitations to become Companions. |
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| Alissa Newton | Susan Forshey | Michelle Heyne |
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Being a Companion means: - You come with an interest in joining the Order. There's no decision to be made at this point by you or us. Just let us know if at any point you decide the circumstances of your life allow you to enter the formal discernment process. Being a Companion is not a permanent form of relationship (as it was earlier in OA history.) -You're welcome to attend the yearly gathering. -You will shape your spiritual discipline in a way that is congruent with the Rule (it's on the web site in the documents section). -The participation might have some limits on it. For example, if there was an issue that needed to be discussed by members only. Or we may want to say that your participation in Mutual Spiritual Guidance was just as this year (offer comments and feedback) or if you are in a consulting or parish leadership position we might invite you to do your own sharing. -The assumption is that you will make intentional progress toward Professed Membership during the next three years. That can be extended as` needed. The issue is seeing some movement. Doing the Church Development Institute is one example; coming to another annual gathering might be a second. -You will make an annual gift of $100 to the Order. -You may wear the medal of the order; if you agree to be a Companion on will be sent to you. -Pay your own travel and room costs to the annual retreat; meals would be paid for by the Order
The process of becoming a Companion is to participate in a couple of days of retreat/chapter, receive an invitation from the Order, and respond to that invitation.
The two Companions
Alissa Newton - is Junior Warden of St. Paul's Episcopal Parish in Seattle, WA. St. Paul's is a growing urban parish that revels in its Anglo-Catholic heritage and diversity of life. Aside from her involvement at St. Paul's and deepening interest in Congregational Development work, Alissa is also a drummer, married to a rock star, and an employee of the University of Washington. She will be completing the Church Development Institute this summer and continue her training by participating in LTI workshops.
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| Additions to the Rule We added three quotes from our history to the Rule. Any authentic priesthood must derive from an inner core of silence, a life hid with Christ in God ...Only those who are at home with silence and darkness will be able to survive in, and minister to, the perplexity and confusion of the modern world. Let us seek that dark silence out of which an authentic ministry and a renewed theology can grow and flourish. Kenneth Leech during the 1988 retreat Your Order grows out of the friendship of men and women who have worked together in ministry. A religious community is a community of friends. And all Christians have friendship with God as their ultimate vocation and end. Emmett Jarrett Sermon during the Mass and taking of the Promise 1988 Do not be afraid to follow the vocation wherever it leads, to follow Christ to Calvary and to the mount of the Ascension, into the life of God. Today you dare to accept the friendship to which Christ calls you, to share in the life of the Blessed Trinity. Don't be afraid. You will receive power to do the work Christ calls you to, the work of the Kingdom of God. Emmett Jarrett Sermon during the Mass and taking of the Promise 1988 |
| Ascension Press Decisions Books and CD's in the works -- the spiritual dynamics of the parish, reflections on change in three large parishes, a handbook for prayer, Eucharistic spirituality, and congregational options |
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2008 Common Life Gathering Retreat/Chapter June 2 - 5 We will meet in Seattle at Trinity Church |
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