Notes from the Triennial
July 17 2009
It is officially finished! Today is a day of mixed emotions. We are exhausted and ready to return home, but have a sweet sadness in leaving the new friends and will miss the exhilaration of being with such a large group of Sisters in Christ. But the echoes of the empty meeting rooms will retain the marvelous reaffirmation of the powerful energy of Christian women!
“Grow in the Grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." - what an awesome theme!
We leave with a renewed sense of how God calls each of us to be in relationship with Him through listening hearts, open minds and loving relationships with one another. We struggled with the definition of grace in our own lives and hearts and reaffirmed our belief that growing in grace can only be done together - in the joys and struggles. We are all charged to grow in grace to love and serve the Lord.............the challenges and opportunities abound!
The End
Love, Kay
July 15 2009
When I wrote notes in the subject line, I meant notes!
Amidst the seriousness of convention, there is always humor. As I wrote the other night, we had the privilege having of Elizabeth von Trapp give a benefit performance for our New Orleans housing project. In the course of the evening we had an opportunity to speak with her, in fact we talked so long that her CD's were sold out. The next day, she was to have a CD signing in the Exhibit Hall and asked us to meet her there.
The three of us (Central Florida delegates) were next in line for the signing, when we were interrupted by a local TV stations request for a very quick interview and song from Elizabeth. Having met us the night before, she turned to us and asked her to join her. As you know I am not even allowed to sing the National Anthem at football games and my gift to my friends on their birthdays is NOT to sing!........So my singing debut and my swan song occurred at the same moment in time as I "sang" with Elizabeth von Trapp on a local TV station..............over 5000 women in attendance - what are the odds??
It was to be aired that night and I forgot to even check it out. In fact by the time we stagger back to our rooms at night, I don't even think to turn on the news. I honestly never thought about it again, I just THOROUGHLY enjoyed the moment.
Laughingly and lovingly, Kay
July 15 2009
One item we receive each day is a newsletter called the Daily, which outlines the previous days events in the General Convention and also the ECW Triennial. I picked up my issue this morning and there was a nice article about our Honored Woman, Doris Mattingly. The last seven days have been a special blessing for Betty Palmer and I as we have come to know this very special sister in Christ. Doris was honored along with the other women chosen by 73 other diocese during an official recognition ceremony during our meeting and were we ever PROUD!
Love, Kay
July 14 2009
Sadly, it took me a trip to Anaheim to realize how very vital UTO is to the health of our ECW. I will definitely propose a bylaw change to assure that our UTO representative is always present at the Triennial conventions. That being said, one of my greatest thrills at convention, was representing the Central Florida UTO at the Diocese. We were announced and went up on the big stage during the Offertory and shook hands with Bishop Katharine (who has a unique way of looking you in the eyes, straight into your soul!) and deposited our slips. I felt so proud to represent our UTO and was even prouder that I did not trip!
However, an even greater thrill was sitting in the delegation and hearing Central Florida announced as a winner in the web site competition. I was so excited for Sara and our Diocese! I even had to have my picture taken (sorry Sara). I was so pleased that our dear Sara received this recognition for her tireless and faithful work on our behalf!
Off to morning meditations....Love, Kay
July 14 2009
Greetings from Anaheim!
My original intent was to create a Day by Day journal of each days activities. By the first night I realized that goal was not realistic as each day begins by 7:00 am and ends between 9:30 - 10:30 pm. This in itself is not a problem, but unfortunately during those hours we are required to think!! The larger problem, however, has been the overwhelming storm of emotional and spiritual infusion. I expected a business meeting with a very special keynote speaker each day, what I did not expect was the transforming impact of the speakers and events. Balancing the uplifting spiritual impact of the ECW meetings is the tension coming from the General Convention floor. The dialogs are getting more intense day by day and the orthodoxy of our core beliefs is under siege in a very well orchestrated attack. The greatest source of reassurance however, is the fact that Judeo/Christianity undergoes massive upheavals (such as the Reformation) every five hundred years. We are living in the midst of such a change and though painful, Christianity will be stronger as it emerges in the future. Prayers for the church are needed as never before in our lifetime.
The theme of the General Convention is UBANTU, a Zulu word that expresses sharing, caring and humanity’s harmony with all creation. Our daily Eucharist have been celebrated by a variety of Bishops, Primates and included the Archbishop of Canterbury, who made his first ever trip to an Episcopal General Convention. The theme has been addressed from different angles, but has basically been about the experience of being transformed through community through mission and ministry. Thousands routinely share our daily Eucharist, but on Sunday, we were joined by many parishioners in the L.A. area, and chairs were set up for 10,000...WOW!
The theme of the ECW Triennial has been “Grow in the Grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." Our keynote speakers have ranged from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, International Bishops, well known Christian writers and as a bonus, last night we enjoyed the mission in music through Elizabeth von Trapp who has aligned her mission work with our national ECW initiative, the Jericho Project - which is raising monies for housing in New Orleans. I have an hysterical story about that I'll share later.
Unfortunately, I will never be able to fully articulate this amazing experience, but I‘ll bore you more in the future………….for now, I need to end this very long day.
Love, Kay
July 12 2009
My original intent was to create a Day by Day journal of each days activities. By the first night I realized that goal was not realistic as each day begins by 7:00 am and ends between 9:00 - 10:00 pm. This in itself is not a problem, but unfortunately during those hours we are required to think!!
I have a very brief window of time and just wanted all to know that Central Florida Diocese was one of three winners in the web site competition. We were SO excited and I did get a chance to call Sara yesterday, but wished for all too know this excting news! YEAH for SARA!
We are having an amzing experience and wish all coulld be here with us. This morning, we shared the Eucharist with 10,000 Brothers and Sisters in Christ. The Spirit in the worship center was poignantly beautiful.
Off to a workshop. I probably won't get much opportunity to be in contact, but please know each of you are in our prayers daily.
Love, Kay