2007: This Week from Bishop Wayne Wright
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DECEMBER 19, 2007
The last busy days before Christmas are finally here. I wish you all the very best for a blest and joyous Christmas. After the investment of much time and energy I hope that your Christmas celebrations are beautiful, meaningful, and renewing. I also hope that you will have some time for refreshment after the holiday. I will be visiting St. Peter’s, Lewes on Epiphany and back in the office the next day.
Don’t forget that the Celebration of New Ministry for Brad Hinton and St. David’s Church, Brandywine Hundred is scheduled for Saturday, January 19, 4 p.m. You will be receiving an invitation shortly. Please reserve the time and plan to attend. Also, our diocesan Clergy Retreat will be taking place at Pendle Hill, Monday afternoon, January 28th through Wednesday midday, January 30. Please be sure to send in your registration.
Michael Mayer died recently following a brief illness. He was a wonderful person with a distinguished record of service to the church. Plans are being made for a memorial service at Christ Church, Dover in January. Also, Trudy Shipp died on Monday. Along with Matt, her husband, Trudy was a leader in our community and a faithful member of the Episcopal Church. Her burial service will be Friday, 11:00 a.m. at the Episcopal Church of Sts. Andrew & Matthew. May she rest in peace.
Faithfully, Wayne Wright, Bishop of Delaware
DECEMBER 12, 2007
I always aim to allocate extra time for pastoral ministry during Advent. It’s amazing how hard this is to do. The urgencies of Christmas preparation quickly seem to fill up the calendar. It is so easy to postpone or procrastinate visiting the sick and shut-ins. When I let a busy schedule crowd out these opportunities, in the long run I always end up regretting it. Looking back I realize that my most satisfying memories of this season come from these pastoral moments.
The Celebration of New Ministry for Brad Hinton and St. David’s Church, Brandywine Hundred is scheduled for Saturday, January 19, 4:00 p.m. You will be receiving an invitation shortly. I hope that you will reserve the time and plan to attend. Also, our diocesan Clergy Retreat will be taking place at Pendle Hill, Monday afternoon, January 28 through Wednesday midday, January 30. Please be sure to send in your registration.
Faithfully, Wayne Wright, Bishop of Delaware
DECEMBER 6, 2007
In the midst of this busy season I wanted to remind you of a couple of dates for your January calendar. The Celebration of New Ministry for Brad Hinton and St. David’s Church, Brandywine Hundred is scheduled for Saturday, January 19, 4 p.m. You will be receiving an invitation shortly. I hope that you will reserve the time and plan to attend. Also, our Diocesan Clergy Retreat will be taking place at Pendle Hill, Monday afternoon, January 28, through Wednesday midday, January 30.
Faithfully, Wayne Wright, Bishop of Delaware
NOVEMBER 2, 2007
The Christmas shopping season is well underway. Here in Wilmington the increase of traffic around the Christiana Mall and on Concord Pike is noticeable. Crowds are flocking to the outlets malls in Lewes & Rehoboth.
This year there are several positive, creative opportunities for alternative gift giving. The Episcopal Relief & Development website offers many ways to make gifts and support worthwhile projects around the world. Also, web shoppers thinking about making a purchase from Amazon.com should first visit the AIDS Delaware website. AIDS Delaware will earn up to 10% of the purchase price by simply clicking on their link before visiting Amazon.
There are many other similar opportunities available for gift givers. I hope you will make them known and encourage generous giving by your members. The needs are always very great.
Faithfully, Wayne Wright, Bishop of Delaware
NOVEMBER 21, 2007
Thanksgiving is a very special day. Unlike other national holidays like July 4th or Labor Day, Thanksgiving has both a spiritual and a civic dimension. We recognize our blessings as a nation. We are grateful for God’s presence and blessings in our lives. As we gather with family and friends for a great feast, we also remember the long Thanksgiving tradition of caring for the poor. The opportunity is always there at Thanksgiving to discover a renewed sense of personal gratitude. This experience deepens faith and inspires disciples to serve in Jesus’ Name.
Faithfully, Wayne Wright, Bishop of Delaware
NOVEMBER 9, 2007
November is the month when many congregations receive the United Thank Offering Fall In-Gathering. This is such an important ministry of the Episcopal Church. Funds raised through the United Thank Offering have supported remarkable ministries here locally, around our country, and the world. In 2006 Episcopalians gave $2,439,342 to the United Thank Offering. I hope that you will urge your members to support the UTO.
It is also time to think about asking for a grant from the United Thank Offering in 2008. Mary Ann Brillhart has the UTO grant application forms. She would be glad to send one to you. I know that there are many outreach/service ministries in Delaware that would benefit from this kind of support.
This coming Sunday is Veteran’s Day. Several of our congregations will be taking up special collections to assist members of the armed services and their families. It will also be a special opportunity to pray for all in harms way and to ask God for peace on earth.
Faithfully, Wayne Wright, Bishop of Delaware
OCTOBER 31, 2007
We have all seen and read about the devastating fires in Southern California. I received an email from Jim Mathes, bishop of San Diego concerning the situation there. He describes how the Episcopal Church is responding and how each of us can help. I have sent a check from the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund. I hope that you and your congregations will consider helping. Bp. Mathes letter is included below.
It was good being with you last Thursday for the Celebration of New Ministry at Christ Church, Christiana Hundred. It was a very happy occasion. Our prayers are with Ruth Kirk and the members of Christ Church as their new season of ministry begins.
Thank you for encouraging vestry leaders to attend the recent series of meetings held with wardens and treasurers around the diocese. We had a very good turnout and useful conversations. I am especially grateful to Larry Heinold, treasurer of Diocesan Council, to Judi Gregory, our business manager, and to members of the Council’s Finance Committee for their help preparing for the meetings.
This coming Sunday I will be visiting St. Stephen’s, Harrington. I look forward to being with John Desaulniers and St. Stephen’s congregation.
Faithfully, Wayne Wright, Bishop of Delaware
A LETTER FROM BISHOP JAMES MATHES, BISHOP OF SAN DIEGO
Dear brothers and sisters:
Many of you have already contacted us with news of your prayers and offers of assistance, for which we are deeply grateful. As you might imagine, our situation in San Diego is very fluid. The fire fighters and aid workers are doing extraordinary work. Please pray for the safety of those battling the fires both in the air and on the ground.
What is becoming clear is that we will be involved in a two-fold endeavor: a short-term ministry of housing and hospitality helping those who have been displaced through evacuation; and long-term assistance in recovery and rebuilding. We are currently matching requests for housing with those who have offered that blessing, and our clergy are fanning out to evacuation centers to provide pastoral care. Some of these clergy are evacuees themselves.
To prepare for the long-term recovery work, we have established a 2007 Fire Relief Fund. Please send gifts designated for that fund to:
The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego
2728 6th Ave.
San Diego, CA 92103
Individuals can make a gift to the fund via our website: www.edsd.org. Please add: “Fire Relief” to the memo line. In addition, we are collecting gift cards to Target, K-Mart, Walmart, and JC Penney to be distributed to people who have lost property. These gift cards can be sent to the above address to the attention of Canon Howard F. Smith. Any communication of these requests would be a blessing.
Please know of our deepest appreciation for your concern and prayers. It is another reminder of the blessings of our Episcopal Church.
Faithfully, The Rt. Rev. James R. Mathes, Bishop of San Diego
OCTOBER 24, 2007
Last week Harvey Zendt announced his decision to end his tenure as Headmaster of St. Anne’s Episcopal School at the end of the 2007-2008 academic year. He wants to pursue his passion both for working for world peace and environmental sustainability. A search committee has been formed and a consulting firm engaged to guide the search process. I have agreed to serve on the committee.
Harvey Zendt has been an outstanding head for St. Anne’s School. He is much loved by the students and faculty. He is much respected for the challenging work of leading the school during its founding years. He has prepared it well for the next season of its life. Our thanks and prayers are with Harvey as he finishes his work at St. Anne’s and begins his new vocation.
Tonight we will hold the second of three regional meetings for vestry leaders. Thank you again for encouraging participation by your church leaders. Remember that diocesan clergy are also invited to attend. Here is the date and place for the final remaining meeting: Monday, October 29 at St. Peter’s Lewes, 2nd and Market Sts, Lewes, 7 pm
The Celebration of New Ministry for Christ Church, Christiana Hundred and Ruth Kirk, their new rector, is scheduled for tomorrow evening Thursday, October 25th at 7:00 p.m. Loren Mead will be the preacher. It is important for all of us to attend events like these. It is another way to show support for our colleagues and to strengthen friendships among clergy in the diocese. I hope that you have reserved the time and are planning to attend.
Don’t forget that we have a Diocesan Clergy Continuing Education Day scheduled for Tuesday, November 27th at Christ Church, Christiana Hundred. Gordon Lathrop, noted liturgical theologian and scholar will be our presenter.
Faithfully, Wayne Wright, Bishop, Diocese of Delaware
OCTOBER 17, 2007
Bishop George Packard has written to remind all of us that October 22-28 is “Pastoral Care Week.” This special observance is an opportunity to recognize the clergy and lay pastors who provide care in specialized ministry settings. Bishop Packard was our guest for the most recent Diocesan Convention. He gave a powerful witness to the importance of these ministries. There are resources about Pastoral Care Week available on the Internet.
During this week you may want to remember in prayers of thanksgiving all who offer pastoral care in Christ’s Name. It is also an opportunity to express personal thanks to our many colleagues engaged in this work.
The new “Gifts for Life” catalogue was just published by Episcopal Relief (ERD). It offers simple and affordable ways for anyone to support mission and outreach. I hope you will encourage your members to utilize this resource – especially in the upcoming Christmas giving season. More information can be found on the Internet.
Faithfully, Wayne P. Wright, Bishop of Delaware
September 26, 2007 — On Leaving the House of Bishops' Meeting
As I leave the New Orleans House of Bishops' meeting, I am profoundly grateful to be your bishop and for the opportunity to share with the larger church our experience in the Diocese of Delaware. The spirit of this meeting was good. As the bishops met, I was always aware of your support and prayers. Thank you.
We were honored by the presence of the Archbishop of Canterbury and other guests from around the Anglican Communion. They were a living reminder of the friendships that are at the heart of our communion. Their voices brought an important perspective to our work.
Katharine Jefferts Schori will soon celebrate her first anniversary as our Presiding Bishop. She is a strong and thoughtful leader with many personal gifts. This is a good time to serve in the House of Bishops.
All our work was overshadowed by the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the challenging work of rebuilding communities. Even after two years, the needs are very great. Almost $1 million was raised from around the Episcopal Church and presented to the Gulf Coast dioceses at a special ecumenical service. The Archbishop of Canterbury was the preacher.
Keep in mind that a Delaware Mission Trip to New Orleans is being organized for early 2008. I hope you will encourage folks to volunteer. Individual congregations may want to organize their own trips or find other ways to help. There is still much to do.
On Sunday morning, Holly and I returned to Grace Episcopal Church, our former parish. I was the celebrant. Gene Robinson was the preacher. The church is now almost completely rebuilt. This recovery was only possible because of gifts made by Episcopalians from around the country. It was a very moving experience. On Saturday Holly drove to Angola Prison. She has been corresponding with an inmate there for many years. She was able to see him for the first time since we moved to Delaware.
The Presiding Bishop asked me to chair to committee that wrote the two documents adopted by this House of Bishops' meeting. I believe that the documents both provide further clarity and point toward next steps in our continuing dialog. [The full text of one of the documents is available at Episcopal Life On-Line, and we expect the other to be available soon.]
Our experience in the Diocese of Delaware helped to inform these documents. They build upon and confirm the approach we have been taking here and the understandings we have gained. There is room for all at our common table.
This was a good meeting. I return to Delaware strengthened and committed to the mission we share in Christ.
Faithfully, Wayne P. Wright, Bishop of Delaware
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