New Resources Available

J From Laurie Wozniak, Diocese of Western New York comes this tip:

I'm always looking for ways to upgrade the skills of our parish communicators here in WNY. I offer workshops for them each year, but if you've ever done that, you know that you can never find the right date, time and location to suit some people's schedules - yet they tell you continually, that they want to attend!

A couple of years ago, I discovered Hewlett Packard's Online Learning Center . It offers many online classes on a variety of communication topics on a regular basis. I registered with them and took a few myself. They're free, and they're good!

Here are few of their current offerings:

•   High impact, low cost marketing
•   Digital photography for your business
•   Advanced Adobe Photoshop 7 applications
• How to Think like Leonardo Da Vinci

Every month or so, they email you a list of current offerings. What I do is send info about useful courses to my email list of parish communicators. I've gotten good feedback from those who have taken a course.

Take a look for yourself at http://www.hplearningcenter.com

J Seeking submissions for New Episcopal Young Adult Magazine

I know this is way past the submission deadline, but it sounds like an exciting project and we can all anticipate the first issue and perhaps know some young adults who would like to submit work for the next issue!!

Open submissions are being accepted for an experimental magazine created by young adults in the Episcopal Church. The project is funded by a grant from the Episcopal Evangelical Education Society, and is being shaped and edited by young adults from Episcopal Divinity School.

The magazine seeks to share the art, stories, spiritual wisdom, prophetic insight, and social justice work of the current generation of young adults in the Episcopal Church.

Creative expressions of faith are wanted from folks age 18 to 35 for the magazine pilot that will be published and distributed to Episcopal campus ministries and Episcopal churches with young adult programs. Creative expressions of all sorts are welcome, including but not limited to art, creative non-fiction, poetry, and photography.

"Expressions of faith," may by all means include doubt and searching.  We seek art from all genres, and writing that is creative, raw, and authentic. Deadline for the pilot issue is August 27, 2004, to be published by January 2005.

Send submissions along with your name, address, email, age, and a little something about yourself and about your submission to:

Experimental Magazine Project
99 Brattle St. #119
Cambridge , MA 02138
Or by email to  cbrorsen@episdivschool.edu
If possible, please send written submissions by email and visual submissions by post.
Your questions or comments are also welcome. Direct them to Carol Brorsen at the above email address. 

Fine print sorts of things:

• Writing should be short for this, no more than 500 words, and not published elsewhere. If you send media like photos or slides and want them back, send along a self-addressed stamped envelope. All submissions will be acknowledged by email. Everyone who has
• something published will receive two copies of the publication and will be acknowledged in the magazine with a photo and a short bio.

Please pass the word near and far.
Individuals may also receive a free copy of the pilot issue. Simply send a request by email with your address. 

J Kids in Common: A Children's Book of Common Prayer

HARRISBURG , PA — Kids in Common: A Children's Book of Common Prayer has been released by Morehouse Publishing as a unique component of its All Things New Episcopal curriculum, which was recently introduced for children in preschool through 6th grade.

This curriculum was designed to provide time-pressured leaders meaningful, yet easy-to-use Episcopal materials. All Things New consists of best-loved Bible stories and Episcopal basics in a leader-friendly format. The program is colorful and contemporary, with a diverse mix of activities targeted for each age level.

Kids in Common includes best-loved psalms, prayers, and liturgies, plus interactive pages children personalize with their own art and words. In addition to the faith formation program, Kids in Common can be used to involve children in Sunday worship .

As a special introductory offer, any customers ordering the All Things New curriculum for Fall 2004 before June 30th will receive a free copy of Kids in Common: A Children's Book of Common Prayer.

Other components of the All Things New curriculum include Leader's Guides, Children's Papers, Interactive and Multicultural CDs, Poster Packets, and Parent Calendars.

A free All Things New brochure can be requested by calling 1-800-877-0012. The brochure includes samples of the Leader's Guides and Children's Papers for preschool through 6th grade, plus detailed descriptions of the other components. All Things New can be ordered now for Fall 2004 by calling 1-800-877-0012, or faxing orders to 717-541-8128.

Morehouse Publishing has been serving the Episcopal Church with books, curriculum materials, church supplies, and other services for 120 years. For more information, contact Gail Hickert at 303-832-4427 (x103) or gail@livingthegoodnews.com.

J Give Us Grace: An Anthology of Anglican Prayers

Give Us Grace: An Anthology of Anglican Prayers by Episcopal priest and author Christopher L. Webber has been released by Morehouse Publishing. This hardcover keepsake will be a welcome addition to both personal and church libraries.

No other family of churches has been praying in English as long as the Anglicans, whose prayers have been influenced by the rhythm and beauty of the Book of Common Prayer, Webber said. Anglicans blend what is best from the Celtic, Orthodox Christian, and Roman Catholic traditions, and add to them ideas important to Anglicans – nature, incarnation, social justice, and more – to create unique and beautiful prayers.

This collection spans the ages and the continents, from Thomas Cranmer in the 16th century, through contemporary writers such as Desmond Tutu, David Adam, and Madeleine L'Engle. Biographies of each writer are provided. Prayers from a variety of Anglican prayer books, such as the First Primer of Edward VI, the New Zealand Prayer Book, and prayer books from South Africa , Kenya , Japan , Canada , Australia and others also are included.

The prayers collected in Give Us Grace , arranged chronologically and indexed topically, offer words of comfort for the individual as well as inspiration for priests and lay ministers.

Give Us Grace: An Anthology of Anglican Prayers sells for $29.95. To order directly from Morehouse, call 800-877-0012, or order online at www.morehousegroup.com. A full selection of other books also are available.

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Officers of Province II - 2005

(Quick Reference)

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News From the United Thank Offering Committee

The United Thank Offering Committee met April 20-April 27, 2004 at the Vallambrosa Center , Menlo Park , California . The main focus of the meeting was the consideration of 198 applications totaling over 8 million dollars in requests for funds. This amount available for funding for 2004 was $2,741,965.54. This amount represented all of the offerings received in 2003, amounts from small trusts, interest and returned/rescinded grants. Every penny of the money was granted.

During prayerful meetings, 123 grants were partially or fully funded. Overseas regions will receive 49% of the amount granted. The 2004 Grants Booklet to be published this summer will list and describe grants to the United States , as well as to Africa, Asia/South Pacific, Caribbean, Central America , Mexico , South America, Europe , Jerusalem/Middle East and Regional Grants.

A surprise and generous gift was received from the Third Order, American Province of the Society of St. Francis, American Province, Inc. toward the work and ministry of the United Thank Offering.

There will be a Face To Face Weekend February 4-6, 2005 in El Paso , Texas , where Diocesan Coordinators who have not previously attended are invited to learn to be more effective representatives of the UTO.

The Grants awarded in Province II were:

• $3,150 – Albany , Christ Church , Duanesburg – to install an entrance ramp for persons with disabilities
• $25,000 - Haiti – to purchase a vehicle for use by the Dean of the Episcopal Theological Seminary
• $40,000 – Virgin Islands – St. Andrew's Seek and Serve, Inc. – to improve programs to the elderly and to start up intergenerational musical and vocational programs
• $35,000 – Convocation of American Churches in Europe – The Greater Athens Anglican Chaplaincy – to upgrade Anglican Church in Athens to accommodate the chaplaincy ministry during the Summer Olympic Games
• $30,000 – Convocation of American Churches in Europe – Church of St. Augustine , Wiesbaden Germany – to purchase land to accommodate expansion of church and community outreach programs
• $30,000 – Long Island – St. George's Community Development Corp., Brooklyn – partial award to purchase a shuttle bus to pick up senior citizens and to benefit youth program
• $7,800 – New Jersey – St. Augustine 's Episcopal Church, Asbury Park , NJ – partial award to install a unisex bathroom to be accessible to persons with disabilities.
• $29,457.42 – New York – Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen – to help repave deteriorated courtyard used by Soup Kitchen guests
• $20,000 New York – Incarnation Camp Summer Watch Program – to expand services available to handicapped youth by building a challenge course
• $15,000 – Rochester – To help develop strategic models for youth ministry in the diocese
• $10,000 – Newark – Episcopal Community Development – to purchase woodshop equipment to train disadvantaged community youth in carpentry skills
• $7,500 – Rochester – Church of the Epiphany – to construct a walkway between a parking lot of a church and a senior living community
• $6,665 – Newark – The Apostle's House – to partially furnish a multigenerational house for teen age mothers and their mentors

Muriel W. Sobers
Provice II Representative to the United Thank Offering

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Editor's Note

Many thanks to all of the network chairpersons and others in the Province who sent news for this issue. There are so many exciting things going on and so many interesting folks doing such fascinating work that it is wonderful when we can gather their stories and celebrate their ministries.

In these unsettled times of global unrest, the violence of nature, and man's continued inhumanity to man, one of Mother Teresa's prayers seems appropriate:

"Make us worthy, Lord, to serve our fellow men throughout the world who live and die in poverty and hunger.

"Give them through our hands this day their daily bread, and by our understanding love, give peace and joy."

Please enjoy this issue of The Grapevine. Remember that it and back issues are available on-line at the provincial website: <www.province2.org> Material for the next issue is due to me by January 7, 2005. If possible, please send them by e-mail to <grapevine@province2.org>

Jan

Jan Paxton, Editor

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