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

January 23rd, 2007

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today is the Commemoration of Phillips Brooks, who died as bishop of Massachusetts at the age of 58, less than 2 years after his consecration. The line from the epistle from Ephesians is also one of the three optional endings from Morning / Evening Prayer, "Glory to God whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine..." We are marked by our limitations. It is only the Holy Spirit who can overcome them to use us fruitfully for the kingdom. Our question is how available do we make ourselves to/for God??

The Parish Leadership Conferences began 10 days ago with the North Country one kicking off the 2007 round. Over 200 lay and clergy leaders filled Trinity Church, Potsdam for a wonderful day of worship, teaching, fellowship and Eucharist. Outstanding music and lunch. Many thanks to Fr Brown and the team who put it together.

The next set of PLC's are this Friday and Saturday, both at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center. Each includes a meal. Friday's begins with Evensong at 5pm. Friday’s PLC is sponsored by the Metropolitan and Lower Hudson Deaneries, please contact Dean Mojallali at St. Stephen’s: here, or Dean Freeman here with the numbers of people coming from your parish, so they can advise the SLC of the numbers to expect in order to prepare enough materials and food.

Saturday's begins with Coffee at 9:30, and is sponsored by the Southern Adirondack and Upper Hudson Deaneries, please contact either Dean Loughren here, or Dean Scott here with the numbers of people coming from your parish, so they can advise the SLC of the numbers to expect in order to prepare enough materials and food.

The final PLC will be Sunday afternoon, Jan 28, at Christ Church, Cooperstown, beginning at 3pm. Parishes should advise Fr Abbott of the numbers attending for Cooperstown here

Bishop Dave and I along with MaryEllen and Carol look forward to seeing you.

Your prayers and intercessions are asked for Father Dan Moore of Trinity, Gouverneur who was seriously injured on the way to the Potsdam PLC on Jan 13th. Bishop Bill and I, and Father Nigel were able to pray with him in the Potsdam E.R. before he was transported to Fletcher-Allen in Burlington, VT. Father Dan is still in a coma in ICU. His wife Pat asks for prayers specifically for (1) to arrest the lung secretions with their possibility for infection; and (2) for a successful implant of a tube into his stomach for nutrition. He is able to move some extremities, but not voluntarily. Special thanks to Father Con Quinby and Connie who have ministered to the Moore's at Burlington. The Quinbys, from Potsdam, retired to Burlington.

Please pray also fro Mtr Geri Bissell-Thompson who is in her third round of chemo therapy; and for Joella Biddle, wife of Dcn Blair, who is recovering from abdominal surgery.

Deacon Appointments: the Rev'd Richard Cioppa from Holy Cross, Troy to St Luke's, Mechanicville as Deacon Assistant; the Venerable Barbara Hanstine from Deacon Vicar of St Christopher's, Cobleskill to Deacon Vicar of St Paul's Bloomville; the Ven Harvey Huth from Deacon Assistant at St Boniface, Guilderland to Deacon Vicar at St Christopher's, Cobleskill. The Deacons of the diocese are an invaluable component of the apostolic ministry.

Bishop Bill Love will be enthroned as the IXth Bishop of Albany on Sunday, February 4 at the Cathedral during Evensong, beginning at 4:00pm. The service is open to all laity and clergy. All vesting clergy should arrive by 3:30. In order to assure proper choir seating in the Cathedral, please notify Dean Vang of your intention to participate by email here. A reception will follow the service. Please notify the Dean by Feb 1st.

Sunday, Jan 14th, Bishop Bill was at Grace and Holy Innocents, Albany. I returned to Christ Church, Morristown where Carol and I spent 19 wonderful years. It was a lovely mid-winder reunion. That night we had Evensong and Confirmation at St John's, Ogdensburg where Fr Rob Longbottom has built up the parish since becoming rector. Last Sunday I made my final visitation, at Christ Church, Schenectady where we ministered until becoming bishop. During the Liturgy over 130 responded to the altar call, with prayer for the renewing power of the Holy Spirit.

Episcopal Charities held its annual meeting on Sunday evening at Christ the King SLC. The members toured the new Infirmary of the Holy Child Jesus which will be dedicated in the spring and which will honor Art and Marge Bates of St George's. Clifton Park. Following the tour Evening Prayer was held in the Oratory of Christ the Healer and then the annual dinner and election of officers. Continuing as Secretary is Mrs. Carol Drummond, RN; continuing as Treasurer is the Very Rev'd Geri Bissell-Thompson, PhD; replacing Bishop Bena as Vice-President is the Rev'd Canon Robert Haskell. Bishop Bill will automatically become President on Feb 1. Thanks were expressed to Lay Canon George Marshall for his work in assisting the work of Charities.

At the beginning of the tour, Canon Matt Baker reported that just a few shy of 30,000 guests were received at Christ the King during 2006. I think that we were quite astonished at the major growth since its foundation.

Thursday, the Conversion of St Paul, I will be presiding at the elections at the Community of Saint Mary for their five year terms. This is in my capacity as Episcopal Visitor, and will be accompanied by Fr Christopher Brown, the Provincial Chaplain. In a way, the convent is the heartbeat of the Spiritual Life Center. The Sisters have been an immense blessing in their daily round of the Offices and Mass, with their intercessory life and their Benedictine hospitality. We thank God for their arrival and this new foundation.

InterVarsity Press has just released a new book Fabricating Jesus, by Craig Evans; it appears to be a useful refutation of how some scholars distort the gospels. It carries the endorsement of several prominent Protestant and Catholic biblical professors. Particularly important when many folks major theological info source is the local paper or weekly newsmagazine.

Next Sunday, Jan 28, at 11:00 I will be ordaining Joseph Acanfora as Deacon at Christ Church, Gilbertsville. He will assume the title of Deacon Vicar.

Bishop Bill and Karen completed their week of new bishops school, held in New Orleans. It is vital for all of us to hold him and his household in our daily prayers.

LORD JESUS, bless your servant William whom You have made a bishop in your Church;
bless his whole household and cover them with your protecting angels.
Fill him with the expectation that You can do great things through him;
and make us intercessors and encouragers for him.
Surround him with godly helpers and empower him to make You known, loved and worshiped across this diocese. Amen.

In Christ,
+ Dan

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