DAYA Connector Articles

DAYA Enews -January 2010 Article

2010-01-15T19:21:00.001-05:00

To Answer the Call…

At any given moment, I am exactly where I am meant to be.

It took me a long time to reach a place where I could believe that statement, but I only now need to look back over the most critical moments in my life to know that it is true. And the moments that amaze me the most are the ones where I leapt freely from a place of comfort to a place unknown and landed exactly where I was supposed to be. Those leaps have been the most exhilarating because they have truly been leaps of faith. I’d like to tell you about a particularly transformational leap that I would like to invite you to take as well.

About a year after I started going back to church (I had taken a long, long hiatus), I heard about a young adult ministry called Vocare. I didn’t know much beyond the fact that a number of the people at my church had attended the previous year and that Vocare meant “to call” in Latin. When I asked a dear friend about it, he said “just go – trust me.”

Unusual for me, I didn’t question it. I filled out a registration form and a month later, I found myself at a camp surrounded by other young adults embarking on the great Vocare experience. Along with all of the other participants, I was a “pilgrim,” and there couldn’t have been a more fitting name. We were pilgrims experiencing a notable milestone on our respective spiritual journeys. For me, it was transformational.

From the first day, I was immersed in a loving and energetic community of Christians my own age. We spent time in fellowship, prayer, singing and deep discussions that enabled me to tackle questions that I had not considered before. I was able to step away from the busyness of my life and actively and prayerfully consider how God is calling me. I left the weekend empowered, energized and renewed, and with a whole new community of friends—many of whom are still a part of my life.

I have now served on staff for three other Vocare weekends throughout the Southeast, and I am blessed to be serving the next Vocare in Georgia as lay rector. On the weekend, there will be a series of talks and discussions that are designed to help us to grow in our awareness of being called by God and to help one another in answering this call. The weekend is not pressure-filled, but rather a fun, empowering, once-in-a-lifetime experience. Besides talks and discussions, we’ll pray together, eat, sing, and play. There will be time for quiet reflection and time for talking with clergy who are there as spiritual directors for the weekend. There will also be time for rest.

Where ever you are on your spiritual journey, Vocare has something to offer. I invite you join us on February 19-21, 2010 at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia for the next Vocare weekend. Registration forms are due by January 22, 2010. The cost for the entire weekend is $60, but scholarship assistance is available. If you have any questions or would like a registration form, please contact me at rector@vocareingeorgia.org.

I hope to see you there!

Peace,

Julie Zorn Shipp

Vocare #19 Lay Rector

rector@vocareingeorgia.org

DAYA Enews -December 2009 Article

2009-12-02T15:35:00.002-05:00

The Young Adult Summit

Written by Julie Zorn

There's something special about being at Camp Mikell in the Fall-the deep hues of orange and yellow enriching the landscape, the crisp chill in the air, and the warm fireplace roaring in the ODH. But the weekend of October 17-19 was made even more special as over 70 young adults from 11 provinces and both bishops from the Diocese of Atlanta came together for the second annual Young Adult Summit.

As young adults, we find ourselves in the sometimes-difficult process of transitioning between the comfort of living at home and establishing our own careers and families, all while looking for our place in the church. With a focus on empowering young adults to grow in our faith and live out the Gospel in our own lives, the Young Adult Summit offered the perfect mix of workshops, panel discussions and time for fellowship-all geared toward that very goal.

The weekend's theme was "Make like a tree and bear fruit," and it wasn't until Bishop Alexander's keynote on Friday evening that I truly connected with this part of our Great Commission. He said, and I paraphrase here, that we are not asked to go out and do anything that we were not designed to do. An apple tree bears apples. An orange tree bears oranges. As Christians, we bear love-the very love that we were shown by our Lord Jesus Christ. In the time of our lives that is filled with so much complexity, the simplicity of that message resonated with me. We are asked to bear love.

As the weekend progressed, I could see how that very love was amazingly present. It could be seen in the dedication all of the presenters to their various workshops, in the staff's hard work to ensure that the weekend ran smoothly, and in all of the participants who gathered together.

The Summit was such a great testament to the strength of young adult ministries. In the span of three days, I personally reconnected with the Great Commission and rediscovered the joy of being engulfed in a large community of young adults. I was reminded that even though we don't often find each other in the pews of our parishes, there is an incredible amount of committed and passionate young adult Episcopalians out there. It has often been said that young adults are the future of our church, and looking around the ODH on that crisp October weekend, I couldn't have been more excited about the months and years that lie ahead.

DAYA Enews -November 2009 Article

2009-11-01T17:03:00.001-05:00

New Ministry for Young Adults in the Northwest Metro Atlanta Area:

“A new young adult ministry is in the works for the northwestern part of the Atlanta Metro area, offering fellowship and worship for college aged and young adults. This new ministry is parish based, but will serve multiple parishes and rotate locations to serve the needs of the members.”

When asked why I was interested in forming a new young adult ministry, I started to think about my own experiences within the church. There has always been a general idea that there was a missing element within the church community as a whole. The one group that I really didn’t encounter was an elusive specimen known as a young adult, which I understand is a portion of “nomadic” church members who occasionally attends service. The absences of these people made me wonder several things, 1) where were these individuals, 2) did these young adults just not care, and 3) how do we bring them back?

The simplest explanation to answer where the young adults were was an easy question – somewhere else. I started to wonder if there was just a time when we as young adults merely fell off the radar in between youth group and having a child. That answer too, seemed fairly simple to answer and yet it offered no real comfort as why I felt alone or misplaced within the church. It’s hard to find a place or identity within a community where the age group as a whole is always adrift in the whirlwind of transition from “college kid” to an adult ready to take on the world. It took the transition from Auburn, AL to the metro Atlanta area to make me realize that missed being involved with a community of my peers in a parish setting. That realization led to conversations sparked the idea of new ministry specifically for young adults that was not a parish ministry, but instead a ministry of parishes. Not identified with a single parish, but with several parishes to allow a group of individuals to form an additional opportunity for community and fellowship. This group will serve the northwest metro Atlanta area and serve both college aged and young adults in monthly fellowship activities.

Our first activity will be a potluck dinner at 7pm on November 15th at Christ Church. The church is located at 1210 Wooten Lake Rd NW Kennesaw, GA 30144-1347. The main dish will be provided, but everyone should bring a side dish of some sort to this meet and greet. Please note that because of the approaching Advent Season will not be meeting until January. If you have any questions, contact Sean Holder 678-230-9214 or e-mail at nwatlepiscopalya@gmail.com

DAYA Enews -October 2009 Article

2009-09-29T17:50:00.002-04:00

SATURDAY’S WITH ST BENEDICT

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The Church of Our Saviour

Benedictine prayer having found its roots in a monastic way of life is rooted in Judeo-Christian tradition. This form of prayer is based on the life of St Benedict who lived during the 5th / 6th century and formed a Rule for a way of life that has been followed both within the monasteries of the world, as well as by many outside these walls and living within the world. It is here where we hope to share in a larger community participating in this monastic form of a daily life: prayer – worship - study – work.

Dewey Weiss Kramer, PhD., Author, University Professor and well known Benedictine Scholar who travels the world to deliver workshops and lead retreats on the subject of St Benedict and others who have practiced this “monastic” way of life, both in the monasteries and within every day life will participate throughout the Saturdays by way of teaching about the Rule of St Benedict as well exploring ways for us to bring the monastery to the world.

Saturdays mornings

 9:30 – 10:00 / Benedictine morning prayer

 10:00 / Holy Eucharist

 10:30 – 12:30 / work & study

 1:00 – shared meal

Life is unified and made sacred. A Benedictine spirituality, like any gospel-based way of life, is a living recognition that God is present, as seen and experienced through Jesus Christ our Lord. We too seek the sacred, internal transformation of individuals, families, and we pray communities. This practice of humility, recognizing this prayer life as the “Work of God”, takes us outside of ourselves, seeks to bring us all closer within the kingdom, experience the power, and participate in the glory forever and ever.

…join us in this rhythm of life

Pax

DAYA Enews -September 2009 Article

2009-09-29T17:47:00.002-04:00

Reasons to Attend the Young Adult Summit
by Bishop Keith Whitmore

Now why would I want to give up a beautiful Fall weekend to go to the Diocesan Young Adult Summit? The answers are endless.

* I love being at Camp Mikell, it brings back such good memories.
* I like sleeping in a cabin with hundreds of other people.
* I love eating out-so Camp is like that-good food no dishes to wash.
* The DAYA members are so cool!
* What the heck is DAYA? Maybe I should find out.
* Could be I might to discover more about me, that spiritual side of me that never quite gets satisfied.
* Maybe I would like to be with people my own age who believe many of the things I do.
* Maybe I would like to be with people my own age who have differing opinions from mine so I can explore.
* I just like meeting new people so this should be a blast.
* I'm a little shy with new people, but this group will give me the space I need.
* Just cause God loves me.

See there are an endless number of reasons not to miss this. Your reasons are the right reasons. Hope to see you there.

DAYA Enews -General Convention Report 09

2009-08-01T21:15:00.001-04:00

I just returned from the Young Adult Festival at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church, and I have to share how much the opportunity to represent Emmanuel Parish and the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta meant to me.

This five-day festival was held in conjunction with the General Convention to offer young adults from around the globe opportunity for fellowship, workshops and worship. It also provided opportunity for the young adult ministry of the church to be readily seen and appreciated by both Deputies and Bishops at the General Convention.

For me, it was an opportunity to learn from other young adults around the world what works best in their ministry to this vital and important part of our church, both globally and in our local parishes. In addition, the workshops offered as part of the festival offered an enriching variety of experiences in worship, formation and community.

The opening reception of the festival was a wonderful event where I had opportunity to meet young men and women from around the globe. I was fascinated with a young lady from Haiti who spoke with me about the challenges of poverty and violence in her country, and my heart sank as she shared the plight of so many of our fellow Christians struggling to survive that poverty and violence. My conversation with several young women from Scotland was cheerful and happy as they described their adventures in the United States. I was happy to meet my roommate for the festival, who also served on the design team, during the evening’s event. It was a marvelous start to what would be a very moving and engaging five days.

Each day many of us would gather for breakfast and then shuttle to General Convention. I spent most mornings observing legislative committees, the House of Deputies and the House of Bishops as they deliberated on the life of the church. The polity of the church is truly amazing, and clearly is founded in the same democratic ideals as those of our national life. Everyone who spoke did so with great passion and earnestness, and at times the emotion of a speaker stirred my own emotions. This was especially true when speakers shared their most intimate life experiences in support or opposition of a particular issue. It was difficult to avoid tears when several at the microphone began to cry as they spoke with great passion about the matter at hand. This was especially true of the matter regarding the inclusion of all the Baptized in the full life of the church.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of the festival had to be the workshops held most days.

The first workshop I attended was entitled “Community Expressions” which centered on the unique ways in which local customs and practices are incorporated into worship. The workshop presented a variety of ethnic musical traditions from South Africa and some liturgical traditions from Japan. It was a fascinating and enjoyable time. I then attended the workshop entitled “Meditation: Beyond OM” which offered a brief discussion regarding the role of meditation in prayer and spirituality. This workshop used the Labyrinth as the example of meditative prayer, and I had hoped for a deeper discussion of other meditative practices.

Saturday’s first workshop perhaps took me out of my comfort zone the most. It was entitled “Don’t Just Sit There! Body Prayer” and was entirely about liturgical dance. Now you may not know me, but I’m a very tall, stout guy who has good dexterity, but I’m definitely not a dancer. This workshop was for me one of the most intimidating experiences, but also proved to be one of the most enjoyable. We learned to use dance to enhance the liturgy; yes, it sounds odd, but it really worked. I could see the value of this immersive form of worship, especially for younger people and children. The next workshop was much more in my comfort zone and was entitled “Prayer Beads: More than a Pretty Necklace.” This workshop offered a primer on the use of prayer beads for centering prayer, and then each participant had opportunity to make a set of prayer beads for personal use. It was tactile, engaging and wonderfully relaxing to assemble my first set of prayer beads. I loved it!

On Saturday evening I had opportunity to attend a special event entitled “Simple Dinner” in which the concept of sustainable farming was presented in a very meaningful and relevant manner. The use of local produce and meat in our meal that evening was the start to an engaging and encouraging presentation about the need for us as Christians to ensure that our environment is well cared for by society, and on a more personal level how the earth can provide for each of us the nourishment and sustenance that we need through our own hands. I believe very strongly in good stewardship of the earth and its’ resources, and this presentation really reinforced the need for this to be one of the focuses of the church.

The most moving experience for me had to be the worship.

At many of the Eucharistic services during the General Convention, I had opportunity to serve as a Eucharistic Minister. This is a ministry in which I serve at my own parish, and I was happy to do so during the General Convention. It was a blessed moment when during my serving of the Host at one of the Eucharistic services, I communicated my own Bishop Neil Alexander. I've never been so moved by the Holy Spirit as I was during Sunday's Eucharistic service, and my emotions overwhelmed me after taking communion. Being fully present in that moment and knowing that with us thousands upon thousands of fellow Christians were doing the same act of worship brought tears to my eyes. To think that each of us are one in the past, present and future when we partake of the Eucharist was overwhelming. What a gift from God! I haven't cried like that since my Mother passed away.

It's always a blessing to be in the body of Christ, and this experience was no different. Being with young men and women from around the world this last week was a joyful, engaging and exciting experience. Participating in the various workshops was great, and seeing the polity of the Episcopal Church in action was amazing. Truly the Holy Spirit moves in this body as the center of every action appeared to be centered on our love for one another and Christ's love in the world.

In all that I experienced at the General Convention, I realized ever more fully how blessed I am to be part of the Emmanuel Parish family. Everyone in my parish are blessings to me, and my unbounded joy at knowing them inspires me to greater service to my parish, my church and my God. I will carry my flame and share it brightly with all those around me, that they may experience the love of Christ through me.

I know that the love of Christ is indeed for all people in all of time, past, present and future.

General Convention and the Young Adults Festival was another opportunity to enhance my own ministry with young adults in Emmanuel Parish. The experience offered me a greater understanding of the importance of this vital ministry to the church, my diocese and my parish. As I shared my time with so many other young adults one thing became clear: each of us brings to our ministries and our lives a passion to share Christ with others and in doing so to bring His kingdom into being for us now through community and love for one another.

Brian Paul Freese is a parishioner at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Athens, Georgia. He serves as the lay coordinator for the young adults ministry, called E2YA, as well as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector and Adult Acolyte.

DAYA Enews -August 2009 Article

2009-08-01T19:13:00.002-04:00

Reflections From Our Pilgrimage

“New York City? Did you say New York City? For a pilgrimage? … I’m in.” As a relatively new member of the Episcopal Church, received in October, I have been eager to take advantage of opportunities to learn more about the church and to meet other young adults who share my faith. The New York pilgrimage met both of those goals plus a lot of fun and an opportunity for personal spiritual growth. Lauren Woody did an amazing job organizing the trip to allow for a good mix of sightseeing, service to others, spiritual growth, two performances, and even an entire day of connecting with several departments at 815 Second Avenue including an hour and book signing with the Presiding Bishop Katherine.
Wednesday was my favorite day. Lauren, Elizabeth, David, Tiffany, and I all went for an unexpected subway tour of the Bronx after we missed our stop. Later that we morning, we strolled through the amazing park surrounding The Cloisters, which is a primarily religious art and architecture museum own by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. After lunch, we traveled to the actual Met. Lauren had scheduled for us each to have audio tours at both museums so while we stayed together as a group, we were also each able to take our time and select the exhibits most meaningful to us as individuals. I particularly enjoyed the American art wing at the Met.
This relaxing time surrounded by history represented in so many beautiful things allowed me to process all of the meetings at 815 Second Avenue the day before. As I studied the different and similar ways civilizations have understood their world and worshiped their gods throughout the centuries, I felt more able to connect my experiences and my understanding while glimpsing the very small role my life plays in humanity’s tapestry. To top the day off, we worshiped at Smokey Mary’s for 12:15 p.m. Eucharist and ate lunch with a couple of the congregation members. This break in the day allowed me to re-center on the purpose of pilgrimage and further connect my faith and the modern Episcopalian order of worship to centuries of church worship.
For all of you were unable to join us, you missed not only one of the best deals on travel for the season, but an amazing time learning about American and Episcopal Church history and yourself. Most importantly, you missed a wonderful opportunity to connect with some amazing young adults in the Diocese of Atlanta and with the community of New York’s Manhattan. Please consider the DAYA trip opportunity next year even though I doubt Broadway’s Lion King and an opera called Shakespeare Comes to America will be on the agenda. ;-)

-Alayna Price

DAYA ENews -June 2009 Article

2009-06-09T16:03:00.005-04:00

New York City Here We Come

by Lauren Woody

Getting ready for our pilgrimage to New York City this month has left me with mixed emotions. I am the kind of person who loves to plan things, so that is a really exciting part of the trip for me. I have gathered ideas from many different people on fun activities and ways to engage everyone in learning more about the Episcopal Church and how we interact with the world around us. I think we have come up with a list of wonderful things that will help us move into a closer relationship with God, while cherishing the community that will help us get there. I can’t wait to see how the people around me react to visiting with the Presiding Bishop, touring the first Episcopal Seminary, climbing the spire at a Cathedral, or seeing a Broadway play.

Among the participants going, more than half have never been to New York. I think being there when they see Times Square or the Statue of Liberty for the first time will be such a gift. I have not been back to New York since 9/11, so I will get to share in the awe and sadness of one of the greatest tragedies of modern times. I am a little nervous as to how I will react. We are taking a self guided audio tour that was put together by people meeting in Trinity Wall St. the day the towers fell. I have listened to it already and I cried when I heard the stories of crane workers, firemen, and family members of the deceased. I wonder where I will see God in the experience of being at this hallowed site.

I have had life changing experiences every time I have been on a trip like this and I expect this trip to be no different. I pray that I have the patience and the wisdom to be present, silent and still in a place so inundated with noise and hurry. I hope that I can open myself up to the presence of God and I can be present with the other people sharing this with me. I hope I can come home and incorporate the things I learn on this trip into my everyday life. I hope it will open my eyes to the wonderful things the Episcopal Church is doing to radically change the world around us. If only some of these hopes get realized it will be a successful pilgrimage. Wish us godspeed.

DAYA Enews- May 2009 Article

2009-05-02T14:51:00.001-04:00

The Great 50 Days of Easter

by Tiffany Hatfield

Whew! After a whir of activity during Holy Week, I feel like I can finally settle in and savor the pure joy of the Great 50 Days of Easter (or at least the 30 or so we still have left before Pentecost). The “Alleluias” are back, and I, for one, couldn’t be happier about it. Don’t get me wrong, I get a lot out of Lent, with its pious tones and time for deep, serious reflection, but I am always glad to hear, “Alleluia. Christ is risen.” during Easter Vigil. He’s back! The same, only different! Like Gandolf in Lord of the Rings, only better! How awesome is that?!

Okay, so now I may have lost some of you as I let a bit of my nerdy side show through. I admit it, I love Lord of the Rings (LOTR). In fact, I booked my flight home from college one year so I could go directly from the airport to a midnight showing of The Return of the King. Bear with me though, even if you’re not a huge fan or haven’t seen the movies.

For last month’s Theological Brew, our Diocesan Coordinator, Lauren Woody had the ingenious idea to create a version of Stations of the Cross using movie clips—from Shawshank Redemption, Simon Burch, Cinderella, Chicago, and more—to tell the story of Jesus’ final hours. Lauren chose a clip from LOTR of the reaction of the characters to the heroic, sacrificial death of Gandalf the Grey to illustrate the despair that was surely felt by the disciples after Jesus died. She also chose a clip where Gandalf returns from apparent death in a glow of bright light—the same and yet remarkably different— to show the shocking nature of Jesus’ return to earth after three days.

As most people who sat through all 558 minutes (of the theatrical version) of those movies would tell you, after you’ve seen the heart-wrenching agony this band of brothers felt upon losing their leader, the reappearance of Gandalf is a sight for sore eyes. Even in a time of peril and uncertainty, there is such joy, such relief, such hope upon his return that your heart can’t help but leap a little in your chest. He’s back! The same, only different! So much like our own Savior! How awesome is that?!

Sometimes, it is easy to think, “Okay, Easter’s over, now back to normal.” Our “normal” is entirely new though. In this Great Eastertide, I keep pondering what a great thing it is that He’s back, that Jesus is raised from the dead. I think that each time we really, truly allow ourselves to experience the power of God breaking through the darkness, through the silence, through our walls and barriers and bodily shells, we come out all the better for it. We see the world in a new way. We encounter others in a new way. We are the same, only different. Like our old selves, only better… and it is truly awesome.

Young Adult Pilgrimage Announcement and Information

2009-03-23T10:38:00.002-04:00

“As I make my slow pilgrimage through the world, a certain sense of beautiful mystery seems to gather and grow.” A.C. Benson

Pilgrimage has always been a strange word to me. I have always thought that life itself was a pilgrimage, and it is, but I have recently begun to understand the very spiritual nature of being intentional about a trip somewhere. Wikipedia defines a pilgrimage as “a long journey or search of great moral significance.” Great Moral Significance.

When I first started planning for the Young Adult Pilgrimage coming up in June, I sat with that statement for a while. We decided that going to New York, to the headquarters of The Episcopal Church, would be a great way to get to know how we fit into a larger picture.

We asked for an audience with the Presiding Bishop because we thought it would be a great way to understand what The Episcopal Church wants from us and what it is doing for us. We want an opportunity to show her who we are and why we are so important to the life of the church. We also think that having an opportunity to explore our cultural and religious history and its significance in the way the church interacts with the community is important. And our last goal is to try to get a better understanding of what the church does in times of crisis, like our relief work after 9/11. I think all this plays in to the exact definition of a pilgrimage, a “search of great moral significance.”

I never really understood the difference between a vacation and a pilgrimage until I went on a trip to Quito, Ecuador, in South America. I never thought that a “vacation” could change my life in the way that trip has.

By going with a group of people who were also there trying to have a life-changing experience, I was able to transform what could have been any other trip with something that opened my eyes to the love and grace that Jesus left when he died on the cross. I was given the language to put my spirituality into words. Having people around you who are searching for a deeper relationship with God is essential to the spiritual growth of any person.

Here’s what we are planning:

Leave June 20 and return on June 27
The cost will be $1100 for an entire week in New York City, which includes flights, lodging, activities, and transportation while we are there.
The activities, which are subject to change at any time and are included in that price, are:
--visits to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Ellis Island, Statue of Liberty, The Episcopal Church offices, Trinity Wall Street (one of the first Episcopal churches ever built)
--tours of General Seminary (the first Episcopal seminary), The Cathedral of St John the Divine including a spire climb, Ground Zero and St. Paul's Chapel (where most of the 9/11 relief was housed)
--a day of mission work
--a Broadway show and a show at St. Mary's put on by the Episcopal Actors Guild; and
--A MEETING WITH THE PRESIDING BISHOP!!

The only thing not included in this price is your food. You will be required to bring extra money to cover that. I suggest you budget $50 a day, which is $350, but you can eat for cheaper than that if you try.

A non-refundable deposit of $500 is due by April 10. An additional $300 is due on May 8, and a $300 payment on June 5.

I hope you will consider joining us for this meaningful trip of discovery to learn who we were, who we are, and who we want to be as Americans, Christians, and Episcopalians.

Lauren Woody
Young Adults Coordinator for the Diocese of Atlanta

For more information or to register, please contact Lauren Woody at lwoody@episcopalatlanta.org.

March 2009 Article

2009-03-23T10:25:00.002-04:00

A Lenten Reflection
by Michael Asmussen

Well, it is that time of the year again. We are now halfway through the time when we give something up or take something on for the 40 days of Lent (well, really more than 40 days, as you are allowed to indulge on Sundays). Growing up I would typically give up something that I had so rarely that I really wouldn’t miss it for those 40 days (like Dairy Queen blizzards). In fact, I got to be pretty good at picking something so specific that I really didn’t have to change my lifestyle. Obviously it was easy for me, but now I feel as if I was really missing the point (although, as a little kid, I think missing the point now and then really isn’t that big of a deal).

In recent years I have taken to giving up candy and ice cream for Lent, which is difficult, because I am a HUGE fan of some of the Easter candy. (Especially Cadbury mini eggs-- in fact, I have been munching on a few while writing this). I figured that these things would be simple enough to give up, and really didn’t think they would be that hard. But the first time I decided to give up candy and ice cream for Lent I really struggled. I would often wrap up work doing groundwater sampling at a gas station, and an ice cream bar or milk shake really would’ve hit the spot. Somehow I managed to restrain myself, and in the process I felt as if, in a strange way, my faith had been strengthened.

Something that I have not tried myself is the idea of taking on something for Lent. As strange as it might seem, for those of us who feel like we have too much going on, or maybe for those that find it too hard to give something up, taking something on might be the better fit. It can be something like trying to exercise more, eat healthier, make an attempt to make a difference in somebody else’s life, or even something as simple as making the effort to take time out of each day to clear your head and re-focus.

If you haven’t started a Lenten discipline yet, it isn’t too late to start. We still have half of Lent left, so whether you decided to give something up or take on something, take the opportunity to step back and think about the promise of Easter that comes at the end.

November Newsletter Article-- Young Adults ROCK

2008-11-13T12:13:00.002-05:00

Young Adults ROCK

There is a reason why Compline is more wildly popular among young adults than say, Morning Prayer. Sure – on one hand, it fits better into the rhythm of our lives, and soothes the mystery of our day with offerings to God. However, if you spend a lot of time reading Compline, and accept – as most Episcopalians do – that praying shapes believing, the words found in this bedtime prayer speak to the deep needs of many young adults today and help us through the “chances and changes of this life.”

Tending to our deep spiritual lives was just one of the topics in the north Georgia mountains on the weekend of October 10-12, 2008. Sponsored by the Diocese of Atlanta Young Adults (DAYA), the first Young Adult Summit was held at Camp Mikell in Toccoa, GA. This gathering – the first of its kind for young adults in the southeast – drew 35+ young adults from three surrounding dioceses, for workshops, fellowship, and discussion on empowering young adults for leadership and personal spiritual growth. With workshop topics ranging from campus ministry to spiritual direction, Episcopal Relief and Development to the discernment process, there was a wonderful balance between learning how to feed our own needs and the needs of others.

Part of what was so amazing about the weekend was that it was hosted, staffed, and sponsored by young adults for young adults. It “practiced what it preached” and “preached what it practiced.” If the point was to empower young adults, the best way it was done was that young adults were the ones doing the empowering. Sure, there were many people of all ages there to support what was happening and to lead workshops, and be resources, but none of it would have been possible without DAYA, director Lauren Woody, and the incredible young adults involved with this group.

Our own Bishop J. Neil Alexander addressed the gathering on Friday night, and was the keynote speaker. He rejoiced in this gathering, and spoke candidly about his own experience as a young adult in the church and his hopes for young adults today. Primarily he spoke of relationships – emphasizing God’s relationship in the Trinity, and urging us to worry less about how much we love God and focus more on how much God loves us.

And that is exactly what it felt like we did that weekend, and what I carried away from this amazing time together. Relating to each other was the purpose – some new relationships were formed, others rekindled, and others deepened. I believe the people that were at the first annual Young Adult Summit were impacted in ways that cannot be contained or measured. The energy was palpable.

You might not have actually felt the shift of the earth on its axis that beautiful fall weekend, but it occurred and nothing will ever quite be the same again. Primarily, we rejoice in just how far we have come already – the recognition of the gifts and ministry of young adult leaders in the Diocese of Atlanta who work many, many hours to make this event, and many weekly events possible. We celebrate and recognize the presence of Christ among us, working through us and in us to make a safe, warm, welcoming place for young adults in our church.

And we look to the future for the second, third, fourth…annual Young Adult Summits and to finding our place in this church and in the world. I am honored to have been a part of this first event, and know that mountains moved that weekend – and trust God is working in us daily to raise up, recognize, and nurture the young adults among us. Watch what happens next!

Submitted by Sharon Hiers

DAYA Enews - May Article

2008-08-13T21:45:00.001-04:00

This is the complete article that appeared in the DAYA Connector - the official enewsletter of the Diocese of Atlanta Young Adults.

A New Community by Charles Shipp
May Enewsletter

When I was in high school, one of my friends told me to be sure to find a church when I went to college because having that community was so important during turbulent times. That advice stuck with me, and after I moved from Memphis to Auburn—seven hours away from home—I quickly realized how true it was. I found a church there, and that community really helped me get through college and grad school.

When I graduated and moved to Atlanta, I had to leave that support group. I felt a little lost—Atlanta is a huge city and I hardly knew anyone here. I found myself thinking “Where do I start? How do I start from scratch and find a new group of friends?”

About a week after I moved in, I got a message on Facebook from a fellow Episcopalian welcoming me to the city. Granted, I was a little weirded out by this. How did this person find me and know I had just moved here? But, I did feel welcome. Then, two days later, I got another email, this time from another Episcopalian about my age. By this point I was thinking there was some covert Episcopal spy network hunting me. Anyway, she told me she was Episcopalian and invited me to church the next Sunday. (God sometimes has a blunt way of getting through to people.) So, I went.

She invited me to meet a group of young adults for lunch after church, and presto: within a week of moving in, I had met about ten Episcopal young adults. It was amazing—instant community. I now had a lifeline in this incredibly big city. Those young adults from across the diocese are now my best friends in Atlanta.

Spring is a big time for moving. School is out, people are coming home for summer, graduating and finding a job. Wherever you end up, reach out and find a group. I know it helped me get my bearings here in Atlanta. The church is such an easy way to get rooted in a new place, be it Atlanta or somewhere else. Atlanta, and much of North Georgia, is full of 20s and 30s, and the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta has some of the best young adult ministries in the country, both in our parishes and at the diocesan level. If you’re moving into the diocese, across the diocese, or to a neighboring diocese, DAYA is a great place to get hooked into to your new community and find some fantastic new friends. Check out the website at www.dofaya.org for information on how to get involved in diocese-wide events, and for links to individual parish young adult groups.

Peace in Christ,

Charles Shipp

DAYA Enews - March Article

2008-08-13T21:41:00.002-04:00

This is the complete article that appeared in the DAYA Connector - the official enewsletter of the Diocese of Atlanta Young Adults.

Don't Call it a Retreat:
A Reflection on the Vocare Experience by Sarah Jordan
March Enewsletter

What does “vocare” mean? Sure, it’s Latin for “to call,” but what does it really mean? As a pilgrim at DOG/DOA Vocare #3, I discovered that Vocare is about discovering who I am meant to be through God’s eyes. I went to a weekend filled with uncertainty and found a loving community who accepted me- flaws and all- and helped guide me through my journey. I learned to rely on God for insecurities that I didn’t even know I had. I found love, acceptance, and clarity all through what- at the time- seemed like goofing off with a bunch of wackos.

I wasn’t expecting to find genuine friends who I would so quickly call “family.” My biggest struggle going into the weekend was a lack of community; I had recently been severely betrayed by those around me and felt weary of everyone. I know God had me attend this weekend to meet them and fill my heart with love and trust again. Even now after Vocare is over, I talk with my new friends daily and rely on them for strength in God’s word. I truly feel like I’ve been adopted into a new family and feel completely blessed to know such strong ties formed through the love of Christ.

As for my fellow pilgrims, many struggled with insecurities about their future. Which path should they go down? Can’t God give them a clear sign? What should they do in the meantime waiting for an answer? I am extremely blessed to know my calling, but others who struggled found peace through the weekend. Slowing down and praying about God’s will helped guide them to trust God into sharing His plan when the time is right.

This sounds intense- I know- but it wasn’t until I began reflecting upon my weekend once I returned home that I discovered these things. While I was there, I thought that I was having a fun time with a group of cool people who just happened to be sitting around having deep conversations. It’s hard to explain what Vocare is because it must be experienced for oneself. I do know, however, that Vocare will be a milestone in my continuing spiritual journey. Don’t call it a weekend. Don’t call it a retreat. Call it an experience. And it’s one I will treasure in my heart always.

DAYA Enews - February Article

2008-03-05T00:23:00.003-05:00

This is the complete article that appeared in the DAYA Connector - the official enewsletter of the Diocese of Atlanta Young Adults.

Tracy Wells on Episcopal Internships
February Enewsletter

Last year, I woke up every morning and went into work at a church office. Wednesday mornings, I helped lead a Eucharist and then dropped in for a brief hello with the Wednesday morning Bible study crowd. Friday mornings I'd head over to a local retirement community for a Bible study and hymn sing and would always be treated to warm banana bread baked by one of our attendees. Sunday mornings I'd vest and process in with the clergy crowd, help serve at the altar, and preach on occasion. During Lent, I led the church's Lenten series, and sat on a committee about starting up a J2A class for the youth. No, I was not a seminarian. I was not even in the formal discernment process for the ministry! I was an intern in one of the Episcopal Church's "Domestic Young Adult Internships," this one called "Resurrection House" in Omaha, Nebraska.

Did you know that the Episcopal Church offers year-long internships for young adults in their 20s? These programs, based out of cities from Boston to Los Angeles, from Omaha to Chapel Hill, N.C., give young adults an opportunity to spend a year in service and discernment, similar to Jesuit Volunteer Corps or Americorps programs. In most of the programs, interns spend their time in service work positions, taking a year to give back to the community and to discern their vocational path.

Some of the programs also have a parish ministry component. Resurrection House is one of those programs, and it does an incredible job of giving young adults a first-hand look at all the ins and outs of ordained ministry. Before even formally declaring that you are interested in discernment to any "official" diocesan discernment committees, you get hands-on experience actually working in a parish and "trying it on" for size. Interns spend 20 hours per week working in a parish, 10 hours per week volunteering in the community, and 10 hours per week in discernment and Sabbath rest (we also meet regularly with a spiritual director). The structure of the program is very healthy and balanced and does not at all lend itself to burn-out, which is EXTREMELY rare in many programs geared toward young people that seem to expect you to be able to run a million miles an hour and burn the candle at both ends constantly. If you are at all interested, even slightly, in the possibility of pursuing ordained ministry, I cannot recommend this particular program (Resurrection House in Omaha) highly enough. Let me tell you a bit about my story and how I wound up there.

In 2006, I was about to graduate with a master's degree in theological studies from Harvard Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but I felt more confused about what direction my life should take as I finished up my degree than I did when I went in! Although I'd thought when I entered the M.T.S. program that I was going to be a journalist, a religion reporter, towards the end of my time in Boston folks had started to suggest that I might think about a career in ministry, but I was still wary of that notion. I had never really seen myself as a leader in the church. But I wanted to take their suggestions seriously and really take some time to consider this potential career path, so the idea of spending a year in discernment was very appealing.

Several of my friends from the Episcopal church I attended in Cambridge had participated in the young adult internship program in Boston -- The Micah Project -- and raved about the program. It sounded great, and so in my head I envisioned staying in Boston another year and doing the Micah Project. I didn't want to move very far, to totally uproot my life. But God had other plans.

I applied for Micah and for the New York Intern Program, but neither of them offered me a spot. The woman who interviewed me in New York, though, asked if I might consider the Omaha program.

Now, I know. It was my first thought, too -- "Omaha?!?! Why the heck would I move to OMAHA?! Is there even anything to DO in Omaha???"

But then it occurred to me -- I am from Columbia, S.C., which is a great city, but if someone from another part of the country were assigned to go there for an internship, they would probably have a similar reaction - "What the heck is there to do in Columbia, S.C.? Who would want to move there?" And yet if they didn't go, they would be missing out on all kinds of wonderful things that Columbia has to offer. I figured Omaha was probably the same way. So I decided right then and there that I would give Omaha a chance, that I would be open to the places God was calling me, even if it wasn't a place that was even on my radar screen before.

In many ways, this seemed like a crazy decision for me to make, to spend a year in discernment and intentional community living in Nebraska, of all places. I had an established home and community in Boston, where I had been living for three years. I had an apartment full of furniture, none of which I could bring with me to Omaha (the program encourages folks to bring as little personal possessions with them as possible and provides a furnished house for the interns to live in). And I had been in school for seven years straight, having gone straight from undergrad to three years of graduate school. It seemed it was time to enter the "real world," to get a "real job" and start making money, rather than essentially taking a vow of poverty for a year and putting off the student loan payments yet another year. There were a million reasons for me NOT to do this internship.

But that little voice in the back of my head that I have now come to understand as the voice of God just wouldn't let go. Nag, nag, nag. It kept pushing and prodding me towards this program - I knew it was something I had to do.

So, I said yes. I packed up all my belongings, shipped them home to my parents' house in South Carolina and put them in storage for a year, and packed up my car with several suitcases and set out across the country into the great wide open -- driving long days across the vast, expansive plains of the Midwest until I arrived in Omaha, not knowing a soul, totally open to the possibilities God had in store for me for that year.

And what an amazing year it was -- I was blessed with incredible mentors in Mother Judi Yeates, director of the Resurrection House program, and Father Bob Scott, rector of Church of the Holy Spirit in Bellevue, Nebraska where I served as intern. Both of them showed me incredible care and interest in my life and discernment path, talking through all my many doubts and questions about the life of ordained ministry.

The congregation where I worked, Church of the Holy Spirit, was an amazing, warm, welcoming community that really sees mentoring the Resurrection House interns as a part of their collective ministry. They welcomed me with open arms into their community and encouraged and empowered me to lead. I never once felt like I was looked down upon or patronized because of my young age, even though most of the folks I was "ministering" to were old enough to be my parents or grandparents. A lot of the program was about watching and observing and just being in the life of a church, but I also got to take some initiative and leadership, such as in the Lenten series that I led. I created an interfaith stations of the cross project that brought perspectives from different faiths to that community and started some interested interfaith conversations. I was thrilled with how open they community was to going along with my crazy ideas and trying them out, even when they didn't always come across as the most well-polished presentations.

The Church of the Resurrection, the parish that sponsors the internship program and houses and feeds the interns each year, also has a HUGE level of ownership in the internship program and really sees the internship as a key part of their parish's ministry. Resurrection is very small parish, but with a very big heart. They have a non-profit community outreach center that actually has a larger budget than their church budget! And they see Resurrection House as a crucial part of that outreach, and take ownership and pride in the mentorship and encouragement of the interns each year.

Through the nine months I was at Resurrection House, I began to feel more and more that perhaps ordained ministry really is where I am called. And it surprised even me. But I would have never have realized this, I don't think, without first trying it on through the Resurrection House internship, and I will be eternally grateful to the folks of Resurrection House, Church of the Resurrection and Church of the Holy Spirit for all they have given me. (To read more about my sense of calling, check out this sermon I gave on my last Sunday in the Resurrection House program this past May: http://tjammas.blogspot.com/2007/05/sermon-for-may-20-calling.html )

And for the record, Omaha is actually a pretty cool city. It has a great downtown area with lots of fabulous restaurants and nightlife, a world-class zoo, great coffeeshops, and I even found a few venues where I could hear live folk music concerts, a particular passion of mine.

So all this is to say -- if you are a young adult interested in ministry**, or even just not yet quite sure what you want to do with your life, consider taking a year of intentional discernment in one of the Episcopal Church's Domestic Young Adult Internship Programs. It will probably be one of the most meaningful experiences of your life.

If you'd like to talk with Tracy more about her experiences in Omaha in the Resurrection House program, feel free to contact her at tjwells@gmail.com.

**If you are particularly interested in parish ministry, you'll want to check out Resurrection House in Omaha, Pathways to Ministry in Dallas or Watermark in Spokane, WA - these three programs have strong parish ministry components. The Micah Project in Boston also has opportunities for parish ministry as well, although not all interns have parish ministry placements.

DAYA Enews - January Article

2008-03-05T00:23:00.001-05:00

This is the complete article that appeared in the DAYA Connector - the official enewsletter of the Diocese of Atlanta Young Adults.

Laura Esposito on Vocare
January Enewsletter

Happy New Year everyone!

When I was asked about nine months ago to be the lay rector of Vocare #3, it seemed as though 2008 would never come. Now, Vocare #3 is less than a month away, and I, along with the rest of my team are very excited. For those of you that don’t know, Vocare is a retreat geared specifically for young adults in the church. The ages of 19-29 are a period of great transition within our lives. We are discovering new experiences, moving, starting new jobs, relationships, schools, etc. Sometimes throughout this hustle and bustle of the twenty-somethings, God and our Christian lives may get pushed onto a backburner. When we do go back to the church, where we established our Christian identities as children and teenagers, it can be overwhelming. As adults in the church, we may ask, “How do we fit in?”

Vocare is a tool to help us answer the question of what part we play in the church and in the community at large. The weekend focuses around twelve talks, which some say can be considered one talk in twelve parts. These talks weave together our identities as Christians and people, our relationship to Christ, the sacraments of marriage and ordination, our place within the greater community, and opportunities to share what is learned at Vocare. After most of the talks, there is time to discuss what was learned and what questions you may have within a group. This is not a group therapy. This is a chance to discuss what the focus of the talks mean to you in an open, honest environment.

Some of you may have heard that Vocare is like an older version of Happening, or a younger version of Cursillo, and though it has come out of the same movement as those two, it is not the same experience you would receive at either retreat. Through a series of talks, group discussions, and worship, Vocare aids in the discovery of our position as adults and leaders within our Christian community. Vocare’s meaning is “to call,” and that is what it does. It calls us to drop our busy lives back home and enjoy in God and each other’s company. Once we have quieted the noise around us, we may finally be able to hear the small still voice within us.

I hope that some of you may choose to join us at Vocare #3. It will be rocking I assure you! You can find the applications online at the DAYA homepage, or you can email me at Lae1984@gmail.com, for an application. The weekend starts at about 6pm February 1^st, and ends around 4 pm February 3^rd. This year it is up at Camp Mikell in Toccoa.

Pax,

Laura Esposito

Lay Rector, Vocare #3

DAYA Enews - December Article

2008-03-05T00:22:00.001-05:00

This is the complete article that appeared in the DAYA Connector - the official enewsletter of the Diocese of Atlanta Young Adults.

A Note from Rev. Paul McCabe
December Enewsletter

Advent is upon us once again where we enter into the sacred journey of the birth of Christ, marked by a spirit of expectation, of preparation, of anticipation, and of longing. And we also renew the long standing debate over Advent and Christmas and what it means to fully participate in Advent while holding off the retail vultures. The tension is very real for many of us as we all like the sights, sounds, and smells of the holiday season and all the warmth and cheer that come with holiday events. Who can forget all the great TV shows that come on like Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, Little Drummer Boy, Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and many more titles. Many of these great Christmas things happen during Advent causing the “Advent Grinches”, or “Advent Scrooges” to come out in force. Who are such people? Why, they are the ones who have come out to protect the true meaning of Advent, this “coming” of our Lord and Savior who shines through the darkness with his precious birth and coming light into the world.

Just like the people of Israel , Mary and Joseph, and those before us, we embark on a journey during the season of Advent, we too long for the presence of God with us as found in Christ and the knowledge there is God’s salvation yet to come. It is in that movement from distant longing and crying out on the first Sunday of Advent, to hope and immediate expectation on the Second, to Joy and proclamation on the Third Sunday, that prepares us for praise and celebration on the Fourth Sunday as the year moves into the Christmas Season. If done well, the liturgical movement takes people along in the journey of our lives, as we enact our own experiences in worship. It gives us a structure in which to take the vagueness of our own distant longings as we identify with Israel ’s longings, and brings us to an expressed hope and faith that God is, indeed, "with us." It is this journey that gives us a context for celebration.

During the season of Advent we are invited to ponder the greatness of God’s gift to us, as the word becomes incarnate through the birth of Christ. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16). There are many different forms of prayer and meditation we can participate in to help us slow down during the hustle and bustle of the consumer holiday season.

Those “defenders of the Advent” only do so out of their desire for themselves and others to experience the true richness that comes with waiting patiently and longingly for the blessed event of Emmanuel, God with us. In our prayer book in the catechism section we are reminded that our Christian Hope is “to live with the confidence in newness and fullness of life, and to await the coming of Christ in glory, and the completion of God’s purpose for the world” (861). Christ will make all things new, not bright and shiny new, but a new creation, a transformed creation, a creation that is “wrapped up” in the glory of God.

This Advent we invite you to share in all the glory of the season, and not to jump to the end of the book, but to marvel at all the splendid stories in between. Then on Christmas day unwrap yourself of all the waiting and anticipating and bask in the warmth and glory of the light of Christ that shines through the darkness of our lives. At Christmas and always we affirm that Christ has come, that he is present in the world today, and that he will come again in power.

DAYA Enews - November Article

2008-03-05T00:21:00.000-05:00

This is the complete article that appeared in the DAYA Connector - the official enewsletter of the Diocese of Atlanta Young Adults.

A Note from Tiffany Hattfield
November Enewsletter

I attended the very first DAYA event ever held with great trepidation, but I left completely hooked. When I got there, I wasn't sure if I would have anything in common with the group-if I would like the people, if we'd have anything good to talk about, and even if the restaurant served my favorite drink. While Manuel's didn't have my favorite beer, I wound up having lots in common with everyone, and there was never a dull moment.

After a year living in Florida, I moved back to Atlanta this past summer and have found so many ways to get involved. At events like Theological Brew, Ichabod's Night at the Movies, and even the recent charity night, I have met so many others with whom I can connect. I appreciate being around Christians who are interested in living a life of vibrant faith but who also have many outside interests. There are so many different ways to get involved with other young adults in Atlanta that I hope each of you will find something that suits you!

DAYA Enews - October Article

2008-03-05T00:19:00.001-05:00

This is the complete article that appeared in the DAYA Connector - the official enewsletter of the Diocese of Atlanta Young Adults.

A Note from Lauren Woody
October Newsletter

As I stare blankly at this empty piece of paper, not knowing where to begin, I marvel at how often GOD sends me messages of encouragement when I need them. When I sat down to write this “first article” for the Young Adult Connector, I opened my old youth bible and this was the first prayer taped into the cover.

Let nothing disturb you,

Nothing frighten you.

All things are passing;

God never changes.

Patience overcomes all things;

He who possesses God

Lacks nothing;

God alone is sufficient.

-St. Teresa of Avila

I haven’t opened that old bible since my first Vocare (a young adult vocation retreat) experience in March of 2006. Immediately after returning home, I received a new study bible for my birthday and had cast that old gem aside. This “changing of the bibles” marked a huge step in my spiritual life. I had spent the last eight years searching for God in all the wrong places and wondering why I felt so empty. I used that weekend at Camp Mikell to reconcile with God and myself, and stop punishing myself for all the mistakes I had made in the past. I was ready to move on and grow, and this new bible was going to be my new start.

I have followed the model of “let go and let God” a lot in my life, mostly out of laziness and an inability to take responsibility for my actions. I think a lot of young adults struggle with that at this point in their lives. But, this group experience somehow forced a change in me. I decided that weekend that I was going to take responsibility for my Christian life and I was going to start by looking for a way to get involved. It did not take me long before I came across an overwhelming need for my friends from Vocare and me to have a way to further our experience once we returned to Atlanta. After meeting once, three of us took on the task of broadening our group base, and the product is DAYA. Over the past year and a half, this group has grown and evolved into a loving, nurturing, amazing environment for people to grow in their relationship with God across the Diocese.

Since DAYA began meeting back in April 2006, this group has received amazing support from Bishop Alexander and the Diocese of Atlanta. We have been blessed with so much response from young adults around the Diocese and praise from the parishes and the Bishop. What started as one monthly event has turned into a great website (www.dofaya.org), three monthly events, a Steering Committee, Braves game with the Bishop, quarterly outings, and community service projects. I encourage everyone to go to our website to get more information on what we have been up to. I am so proud of all the progress we have made and I am even more proud that the Diocese and the Bishop have chosen to recognize our efforts.

The next year will be pivotal for the group. This will be the first time in a number of years that an effort to involve young adults will be taken on by the Diocese of Atlanta in force. The Diocese has agreed to give us a budget to plan events and create opportunities for growth and development. There are a lot of exciting prospects for Young Adult Ministries ahead of us and I hope you will take advantage of this gift we have been given. We are in a unique position in this Diocese to pave the way for young adult ministries across the country. We are fortunate to be in a Diocese that has the funds and the will to support a ministry like this. DAYA and the Diocese of Atlanta hope to be a model for other Dioceses struggling on how to involve young adults and I think with everyone’s continued support we will excel at this task.

Having said all that, the next few months will be paramount to show the Diocese how many people this ministry supports. We are asking that every young adult in the Diocese make an effort to come to Convention this year. It will be held November 9^th and 10^th at the Cathedral. We will be holding a charity poker night on October 12^th at 7:30 to raise money for Convention. We will also be selling t-shirts prior to the event to be worn that weekend to show support, and hopefully hosting an event that Saturday night. If you are interested in any of these things, please email us at admin@dofaya.org for more information. It is imperative that we show the Diocese how many young adults there are and it will also be a great opportunity to meet other young adults if you haven’t been to one our events before. We will be manning a table ready to hear from you about what you want to see from DAYA or give us any suggestions on how to grow and serve better.

On behalf of the Steering Committee, I would like to thank everyone who has supported us so far. We are grateful for all the love and generosity we have received over the last year and a half and we look forward to working more closely with everyone in the future.

See you all at convention!!!