June/July, 2008.
Having a combined issue of ALIVE! each summer gives me pause as I endeavour to determine just where I left off the previous month and where I should begin without overlap. Discovering the appropriate date to be April 24, it quickly brought about fond thoughts of the wonderful parish family fish fry dinner that night at St. Mark's Cathedral, Shreveport. The turnout was great and the vast number of children present was wonderful!
It was my joy the next morning to begin the day with a grand turnout of students, faculty and parents from the Cathedral school as we shared in Eucharist on the occasion of the Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist.
Sunday visitations took us to Trinity, Tallulah; Calvary, Bunkie; Grace, Monroe; St. George's, Bossier City; St. Paul's, Shreveport; Incarnation, Lafayette; and St. Andrew's, Moss Bluff. I am pleased to say that candidates for confirmation were presented to me on every single visit, and warm fellowship experienced following.
The first of five "Worship Leader" conferences being offered by the Bishop's Centre for Ministry/Institute on Lay Ministry was held at St. Timothy's, Alexandria. The event was well attended and I am most grateful for the leadership of Canon James D. Boyd, M.D. in providing this, and to the Rev'd Walter E. Friese, Jr. and the parish family of St. Timothy's for their gracious hospitality.
Also hosted by St. Timothy's, Alexandria was an anti-racisim conference presented by the Diocesan Task Force on Anti-Racism. This important training program was led by Dick Kerner of Dallas, and Lou Taylor of San Antonio. Attendees came from across the entire diocese and their presence and the leadership of the Very Rev'd John W. Clark, chair of the Task Force was much appreciated.
St. Mark's Cathedral was the setting for the diocesan ordinations on June 7, 2008. The church and service were most splendid and filled about to capacity, and we could not have been treated more warmly. A big "THANK YOU" to the Commission on Liturgy and Music, choir, and the Women of St. Mark's, who under the leadership of Ellen Alley, provided those in attendance with a wonderful reception following the service. On this festive occasion, it was my privilege to ordain Kay S. Hunter (Christ Memorial Church, Mansfield), Bette Jo Kauffman (Redeemer, Oak Ridge), Morgan M. MacIntire (St. Mark's Cathedral, Shreveport), Michael W. Millard (St. Paul's, Shreveport) and Mary B. Richard (St. Mark's Cathedral, Shreveport) to the Sacred Order of Deacons. (The congregation shown following the name is their sponsoring home parish.) The first two ordinands will serve in a diaconal ministry, while the latter three are transitional deacons and, God Willing, ultimately be ordained to the Sacred Priesthood. The Rt. Rev'd Gethin B. Hughes, retired Bishop of San Diego and recent interim dean at St. Mark's, preached. Earlier in the week the deacon candidates and I spent some quality time together in retreat at Hardtner Camp and Conference Center.
Word has been received of the death of the Rev'd James Corey Bean, curate at St. George's, Bossier City (1963-1964). He spent most of his ordained ministry as a chaplain in the United States Army, and died of heart complications. "May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."
The Rev'd W. Murray Bullock died at his home in Tarboro, Mississippi, this past month at the age of 73. He served on the staff of St. Mark's Cathedral, Shreveport from 1977-1983. I ask your prayers for his wife of 52 years, Bobbie Sue, and family. "May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."
Congratulations to Lance Carter and Fallon Carter who came in first and second, respectively, in their weight class at the American Powerlifting Federation national meeting in Baton Rouge. Congratulations are also in order for Quinn LeBlanc who placed third in the Louisiana Regional Science Fair. All three are members of St. Timothy's, Alexandria.
Beginning July 1, 2008, the Very Rev'd John W. Clark, rector of Trinity, Crowley will serve the congregation on a half-time basis. In a meeting with the congregation recently, I shared with those gathered that in light of the diminishing demographics, this action was necessary. In addition to his time at Trinity, Dean Clark will serve on a half-time basis at St. Barnabas, Lafayette.
Word has also been received of the death of the Rev'd Richard R. Cook, former rector at Christ Church, Bastrop (1952-1964) and the Episcopal Church of the Good Shepherd, Lake Charles (1965-1973). He was 81 years of age and died of complications related to a fall that he had taken earlier this year. At the time of his death he was living in Virginia near his daughter, Mary Eleanor. "May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."
Martha Cooper has blessed the Bishop's Centre for Ministry/Diocesan School of Theolgy, with the gift of her husband's theological library. Given in memory of the Rev'd Canon Robert K. (Ken) Cooper, this gift will appropriately be an important part of the ministry formation of many in the years to come.
The Rev'd Deacon Aaron Evans, a transitional deacon from the Diocese of Northern Indiana is residing in Alexandria with his wife, Rachael (see below) and is presently serving at Polk Memorial Episcopal Church, Leesville. God Willing, he will soon be ordained by his bishop, the Rt. Rev'd Edward S. Little, to the Sacred Order of Priests.
The Rev'd Deacon Rachael Evans accepted a call to serve as curate at St. James, Alexandria and began her new ministry there on May 19, 2008. She comes to us from the Diocese of Northern Indiana, and God Willing, will also be ordained by Bishop Little to the Sacred Order of Priests in the not too distant future.
The Rev'd James E. Flowers is now serving as priest-in-charge at St. George's, Bossier City. He has served for the past many months as priest-in-residence, and now takes on the responsibility of the day- to-day work of the congregation.
A memorial service officiated by the Rev'd J. Mark Holland, was held on June 7, 2008 at Chapel of the Holy Spirit, Big Lake, for the Rev'd Pelham E. Mills, Jr. The Mills' were living in South Carolina at the time of his death this past year. I ask that you join me in remembering his family in our prayers at this time. "May his soul, and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen."
It was my honour to preside and preach as the Rev'd Dr. William G. McBride was installed as rector at St. Matthias, Shreveport on May 15. The Celebration of New Ministry and Institution followed by a wonderful reception that reflected the great warmth and hospitality of this parish.
Michael J. Petrosh, III was presented last month with Scouting's highest honour, the Eagle Scout Award. This splendid event took place at his church home, St. Mark's Cathedral, Shreveport.
Virginia Shehee of St. Paul's, Shreveport has been named the Public Citizen of the Year for the Shreveport/Bossier City area. Our congratulations to her on this well deserved recognition.
Other events this past month have included the annual Episcopal Church Women's Time for Joy weekend, and this being an event which Susan and I look forward to with much enthusiasm each year.
Speaking of "joy," Susan and I also shared in the Joy in the Journey recovery retreat at Hardtner Camp and Conference Center. This important event is sponsored each year by the Commission on Addiction and Recovery, under the leadership of Reece Middleton, chair.
Susan and I had the privilege of participating in the graduation events of the Episcopal School of Acadiana, Cade where it was my privilege to preach and celebrate at the year-end Eucharist, and then serve as the commencement speaker that evening.
Opportunities for meetings never lack, and this month included, in addition to the multitude of regular diocesan meetings, the Northern and Central Interfaith immigration project in conjunction with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria, the United Methodist Church of Louisiana, and our diocese.
Gatherings with the clergy continued as I met with the Alexandria and Shreveport Convocations. In addition to a quarterly meeting with the Convocational Deans, I have now been able to meet of late with four of the five Clericus gatherings.
The Provincial Leadership Conference (the presidents, vice-presidents, and coordinators of each of the nine Provinces in the Episcopal Church) met in Atlanta for two days, and I was grateful for this setting as it afforded Susan and me time to have dinner with my sister, Marilyn, and her husband.
The Louisiana Interchurch Conference held a joint seminar for early exploration of the Episcopal/United Methodist Church dialogue this past month at the UMC Wesley Center in Woodworth. This was a day well spent and I was pleased to have a number of people from our diocese present for this event.
Until next time, blessings and prayers!
