Episcopal Diocese of Albany - Priests and Deacons Update

Business Office: 68 South Swan Street - Albany, NY 12210 - (518) 465-4737
Christ the King Spiritual Life Center: 575 Burton Road - Greenwich, NY 12834 - (518) 692-9550

Shrove Tuesday
February 28th, 2006

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, a day specified by the Prayer Book as a FAST DAY. The Days of Lent are classified as days of Special Devotion. This is our call to reduce or eliminate things or practices that interfere or interrupt our connection with the Lord. Traditionally this includes not eating between meals, and omitting meat on Fridays. Things we can omit are alcohol, tv, sweets, movies, spices, leisure shopping. Things we can include are visiting the sick and shut-ins. Reading the Bible daily. Attending the parish Lenten devotions. Making the Stations of the Cross. Bringing an unchurched friend with us. Join a Bible study.

Tomorrow’s ashes remind us of how transient life is. C.S. Lewis once said that ‘everything that is not eternal is eternally out of date’. Lent helps us get a grip on life, and helps us re-orient ours toward the goal of eternity. It is a season of (re)conversion. Last week as I officiated at the burial liturgies for Fr Alan Macnab and Marty Small I was reminded of how much an impact a single Christ-focused life can make in other folks’ lives. Fr Alan’s funeral required overflow chairs from the town hall and people still standing in the back entryway. An immense number of clergy drove from all over the diocese. Al had a special ministry as a friend of Bill W. and his influence is incalculable. Marty’s especially reminded us of the great vocation she had as a priest’s wife, sort of God’s special agent in Fr Bill’s ministry. May their example encourage us all.

Tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, the Liturgy will be celebrated at Christ the King Chapel at 12:30pm. Bishop Dave will celebrate and impose ashes. In the evening I will be the celebrant and preacher for the 7:00 pm Troy combined Liturgy at Saint John’s Church, 146 1 st Street, Troy.

Nominees Forum for Bishop-Coadjutor will be Saturday, March 4, at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center. Registration is between 8 and 8:45. All registrations will be in the narthex of the main Chapel. The Spiritual Life Center welcomes Volunteers who would like to help on the 4th or on March 24 th.

The first Nominee Forum for Bishop Coadjutor is this weekend at CtK. Registrations have already topped 200. We also have groups from Siena College and Grace Fellowship on retreat...another 100 plus guests for the weekend. We could use some extra hands for the Forum this Friday March 4th...parkers, shuttle van drivers, coffee station attendees, sandwich makers and more.

The Second Forum is also at CtK on March 24th and we could use some extra hands then too especially since we are also preparing 500-600 box lunches for the election at the Cathedral the next day! To volunteer, call or email Barbara Letteney at Volunteers@Christ-the-King-center.org

CLERGY APPOINTMENTS:

The Rev’d John Cornelius, will become the Rector of Holy Cross Church, Warrensburg, succeeding Canon Charles King. Welcome back to Fr John after his meanderings through Rhode Island and Texas.

The Rev’d Jason Catania will be leaving St James, Lake Delaware, after Easter to assume the rectorship of Mount Calvary Church, Baltimore. Mt. Calvary is one of the landmark Anglo-Catholic parishes of the Episcopal Church and we wish Fr Catania well.

ORDINATION of Deacons will occur at the Convention of the Diocese in June. Several clergy have requested that ordinations and confirmations not occur on the same weekend.

So a special PENTECOST Confirmation Liturgy will be celebrated at Christ the King SLC at 4pm on the Day of Pentecost, June 4th. Candidates must be 16 by July 1.

Almost 80 youth and volunteer adults gathered this past weekend for Winter SonShine. And yes, winter did indeed arrive just in time. One item becoming evident...we need to think about transportation for youth events, and adult events, at CtK during inclement weather days. So, if anyone has an extra bus, monorail or train we would love the donation!

Speaking of inclement weather, the brutal windstorm that swept the northeast last week hit the areas around CtK hard. Thankfully, the Center was spared. We were able to provide much needed beds, blankets and other supplies to local shelters. After the storm, we were asked to consider registering CtK as an Emergency Shelter for Washington County. We are working with town officials to do just this.

Registrations are arriving daily for Beaver Cross Summer Camp. You can find more information at http://christ-the-king-center.org/ Also, for those interested in joining the summer camp staff team, contact Chris Copeland at CtK CCopeland@Christ-the-King-center.org

Google Christ the King Spiritual Life Center...we've made it to the top of the page. The End-of-the-Year Annual Report and current newsletter, Speaking of the King, are available to download. You can also search the calendar, research upcoming events, find out about healing and much more. For parishes wishing to link the CtK website to their own, please do so. Chris Copeland can help you with this CCopeland@Christ-the-King-center.org

Some retreats on the horizon are listed below. For a complete offerings, check out http://christ-the-king-center.org/

Growing the Soul

Evening series sponsored by the Glens Falls Celtic Center for Counseling. Gather at the Healing Center of CtK at 7pm.

Ends about 9pm. No charge, free will offering. Call 518-466-0038 to register.

Monday, March 20 Grounding Our Faith in the Word of God

Monday, April 17 Prayer- A Welcome Dialogue with God

Monday, May 15 Enjoying God as a Holy Friend

Holy Week Retreat

Worship, meditation, healing, celebrate with the Community of Saint Mary, confession, Litany of the Lords' Supper, Preaching of the Last Seven Words, and more. $289 for the week includes meals and lodging. Day visitors welcome also. We'll end with the Easter Vigil Sunrise Service. Find out more at http://christ-the-king-center.org/

Men's Retreat - Jesus is Your Compass

April 28 - 30. Led by Don Rohr and Joe Acanfora. Retreat for men ages 11 to 111. Father/son teams welcome. School age young men must be accompanied by an adult. Let Christ guide you through life. Contact CtK today for details.

Altar Guild Day

April 6. Join Shirley Parker, Peg Willis (Mother Superiors' Mother) and the Sisters for a day exploring Altar, Sacristy and Vestment care. $15, includes lunch.

Private Retreats

Looking for a day or overnight retreat? Need quiet, noise, study, healing, meditation, healing, reflection, spiritual direction?? Our Personal Retreat Coordinator, Shirley Parker, will be delighted to help you plan your next retreat at CtK. Contact Shirley at SParker@Christ-the-King-Center.org

Healing Ministry School of Healing Prayer Level 3

Three part school: March 10-11, March 17-18 and March 31-April1. Completion of Levels 1 and 2 necessary. Already 30 folks registered. $375 for private room, $345 for shared room, $220 for commuters. To register, contact Lynn Mumford at healing@Christ-the-King-center.org

Lenten Services of Healing:

4 Regional Services are planned for Lent. These each begin at 7 and will end by 9. They will be non-Eucharistic services, so you are free to invite whomever you wish. Father Nigel Mumford will minister at all Services. One of the bishops will be at each service. Supper for the clergy and spouses will be at 5:00pm.

Monday March 13 Christ Church, Schenectady
Tuesday March 14 Messiah, Glens Falls
(on-street parking or behind the parish house)
Monday March 20 Saint John’s Johnstown
Tuesday March 21 Trinity, Potsdam

Holy Week CHRISM MASSES and Renewal of Ordination Vows
Monday in Holy Week, April 10, 6pm at the Cathedral
Tuesday in Holy Week, April 11, 6pm, St James, Oneonta
Wednesday in Holy Week April 12, Noon, St Thomas Tupper Lake

Vesture: Alb and White Stole. Dinner follows the Mass on Monday and Tuesday; lunch follows on Wednesday. Please notify the host priest of your intention to stay for the Meal. Spouses are welcome.

The Great Vigil of Easter will be celebrated again at 5:30a.m. at Christ the King with the Vigil Office in the Great Hall, the striking of the New Fire on the Helicopter Pad, followed by the Exsultet and Baptisms in the Chapel ending with the First Mass of Easter. Individuals desiring to be baptized or have their children baptized can be referred through their parish priest (or deacon). Names should be sent to Barbara Letteney at the SLC 518-692-9550. Clergy who wish to concelebrate should also contact Barbara.

Please pray this week for the Nominees, the lay and clerical electors, and for the whole Diocese, that we will be directed to the priest whom God wants to serve Him as bishop in Albany. Special thanks go to Col Rittgers, Secretary of the Election, and Patti Gibbons, Secretary of the Standing Committee for their extensive labors.

LORD JESUS, draw us this holy season of Lent to become more deeply converted. Melt our hardened hearts by the working of your Holy Spirit. Dispose us to be formed and reformed and transformed by renewing our faith and repentance. Give us a just horror of sin, and direct us to the path of salvation, for the glory of your holy Name. Amen.

In Christ,
+ Dan

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