365+ reasons for becoming an Anglican/Episcopalian, or at least checking us out
I am collecting materials for the new website "365+ reasons for becoming an Anglican/Episcopalian" at: <http://newark.rutgers.edu/~lcrew/365plus.htm>l
I would welcome your sending me by private email the 'reasons' you would like for me to consider including. Indicate whether I may use your name and email address with any of your items that I choose.
Please keep each 'reason' short, preferably no wider than this line.
I will also be cycling
the 'reasons,' one per day, at the top of my Anglican pages, following
"Welcome to the Episcopal Church:" The 'reason' that appears
there today is "It's God's table, not our own. If you don't come,
we may not be the Church." I already have 31 more 'reasons,' one
for each day of the month.
When the list reaches 365, I will ask a group of people to identify the best entry, and I will contribute $100 to Episcopal Relief and Development in that person's name.
In thinking of your 'reasons,' try to focus on what draws you and others to this church. Enjoy the exercise! Tell others about it. Invite others to come to your parish to experience this joy.
Lutibelle/Louie
Louie Crew, 377 S.
Harrison, 12D, East Orange, NJ 07018 973_395_1068
The Episcopal Church: You don't have to hang up your mind at the door!
Louie Crew <lcrew@andromeda.rutgers.edu>
It amazes me when I hear the question, "What is E.C.W.?". Who are the Episcopal Church Women? There are many in the church who know nothing about this old and noble organization, and that includes the clergy (experienced and new) and the laity of the church.
The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) is not an exclusive club or a secret organization. All women of the church, by virtue of the fact that they are women and that they are members of the Episcopal Church, are automatically members of ECW. In some parishes the women's group is not called ECW, but the St. __'s Guild or some other name. No matter what the name, we hope that all women of the church take part in the exciting activities of ECW.
Episcopal Church Women began in 1871 as a women's Auxiliary to the Board of Missions. It has evolved into an organization which assists the women of the church in carrying on Christ's work of reconciliation and in taking their places as leaders in the life, governance and worship of the church.
The ECW enables women to carry out their mission and ministry in the church. We play the traditional women's roles, but also foster spiritual growth, education, development of leadership skills, and involvement in social action. We support each other and other women's ministries within the Anglican communion and world wide.
We are affiliated with the United Thank Offering, Church Periodical Club, Daughters of the King, Girls Friendly Society, The National Altar Guild Association, and many others. For more information about the Episcopal Church Women, visit our web site at <http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ECW/> or contact our Vice President for information, Sharon K. Hoffman at 862 Starlight Court, Herrin, IL 62948.
We invite you to pray with us using the "Call To Action Prayer" that was developed by the National ECW Board:
Gracious God, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve, you call us to give ourselves to the service of others as we work for the common good. Give us grace to be light to the whole human race that we may, by the power of your love, transform lives and make that love known to those we serve. Help us to cause a new light to shine in your kingdom, O God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Barbara Taylor
Province II Representative to the National ECW Board
One of the alternatives to printed versions of the prayerbook and hymnal is the software versions available from the Church Publishing Company. With one's computer one can produce print-outs of services, prayers, Psalms, etc. in any size type desired. This is often a real blessing for those whose sight is limited. The software needed is Rite Brain and Rite Song. Unfortunately, some congregations and many individuals cannot afford the cost of this software. Rite Brain costs almost one hundred dollars and Rite Song costs about three hundred dollars. The Church Periodical Club offers grants for software, as well as other printed materials.
National Book Fund
One of the ministries funded by the Church Periodical Club is NBF,
which stands for the National Book Fund, CPC's national granting program
for adult literature. Grants are given out twice a year, in the spring
and the fall . The deadline for the next granting session is February
28, 2002. Applications must be at our national office, Church Periodical
Club, Episcopal Church Center, 815 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10017_4594 by
that date. Applications are available from the national office or on the
CPC Web Site <http://www.episcopalchurch.org/cpc/>
and must be signed by the diocesan bishop.
Susan Kynor
Province II CPC
susan72k@webtv.net
This fall and winter have brought some changes in the province. We will miss our sister, Gwen Carter, who has served so faithfully, and we are grateful to Michael Francaviglia for agreeing to serve in her stead until a new treasurer can be elected by the synod. We welcome Pierre Whalon as Bishop of the Convocation of American Churches in Europe and "Skip" Adams as Bishop in the Diocese of Central New York. Michael Rehill, Vice President of the Province, has been honored by the Diocese of Newark for his service in the diocese. This includes serving as Vice Chancellor beginning in 1985, and then as Chancellor since 1991, some interesting years in the Diocese of Newark!
Since the Provincial Convocation will take place in Albany on May 11, 2002, I am postponing the Grapevine deadline for the next issue to May 24, 2002. This will give us an opportunity to let those of you who are forced to miss this fantastic event find out exactly what it is that you have missed! The deadline for the fall issue remains September 2, 2002.
Please submit your
articles to me in electronic form by e-mail to <grapevine@province2.org>
or on a floppy disk to my snail mail address, Jan Paxton 275 Boulevard
Drive, Wayne, NJ 07470 or fax the article to 973-835-2124.
Jan