Events Across the Diocese

The Episcopal Environmental Stewardship Commission is hosting a workshop on March 20th at the Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior in Faribault. This workshop features Michael Schut, who is the Economic and Environmental Affairs Officer for the Episcopal Church.  Michael speaks and leads workshops/retreats around the country, connecting faith, justice, sustainable economics and care for all God's creation. Please pre-register for this event by contacting Patricia Benson at bensongearth@aol.com or Tom Harries at 952-297-5856.

Joint Religious Legislative Coalition (JRLC) Day on the Hill 2010 is coming up the 25th of March. Saint Mary's, St. Paul is hosting an informational forum for the event on March 24th 7-8:30 pm, which will be specifically focused on youth, but is also open to interested adults. We will discuss the process of the day and the legislation that needs the support of the faith community. Grant Abbott from St. Paul Area Council of Churches, and Denise Mayotte from Sheltering Arms will both be presenting. Please join us. If you have questions about the event please contact Rex McKee, rex.mckee@gmail.com. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP to Rex for seating and refreshment planning.

Thursday, March 25 is the Day on the Hill. The theme for 2010 is "Justice We Pursue!" (Deut. 16:18-20). The event will start out at the Rivercentre and continue on to the Capitol. The keynote speaker will be Rabbi Harold Kravitz. To register, or for more information, visit http://www.jrlc.org/day-on-the-hill.

The Anti-Racism Committee and St. Marks Cathedral are proud to sponsor a showing of Traces of the Trade in it's entirety in the Fontaine Auditorium of St. Mark's Cathedral on March 25 from 6:30-8:30 pm. This documentary follows a Rhode Island family's discovery of the role their family played in the Trans Atlantic Slave Trade and what they did about it. There will be some time after the viewing for discussion.

This Lent, in a Friday evening and Saturday morning exploration, we'll take holy time tracing some of the sacred contours of reconciliation and forgiveness, discussing what they are and are not. An intellectual and experiential exploration of their transformational spiritual graces, this program will consider Bishop Desmond Tutu's equation: Truth-telling + Forgiveness = Healing + Reconciliation. The Rev. Michele Morgan and Zara Renander are the presenters at this retreat. More info on the Wisdom Ways website.

Support our Karen friends and neighbors who are enrolled in a sustainable organic farming program with the Minnesota Food Association. The event will take place at Messiah, St. Paul on Saturday evening, March 27 at 6:00 pm. There will be traditional Karen food, performances by the Karen dancers & singers, and testimonies from Burma & Mae La Refugee Camp in Thailand. The goal is to raise $1,500 for the farming program. If you are unable to attend but would still like to give, please contact the Rev. Robin Morical, 952-201-6958. Messiah is located at 1631 Ford Parkway, St. Paul, 55116.  Please remember to pray for many Karen who are still suffering this Sunday, March 14 on the Global Day of Prayer for Burma.

Education for Ministry (EfM) is a theological education program developed at the University of the South (Sewanee). The program, divided into four separate years, provides study material for the Old Testament, New Testament, Church History and living in the present day (Theological Choices). Concurrent with the study is the opportunity to examine everyday life, called Theological Reflection. Local seminar groups are led by trained Mentors. Mentor training will be available April 14-16, 2010. Registration deadline is March 25th, 2010. Any interested person should contact Jim Jacobsen, EfM Coordinator, at (612) 729-5297 or jjacobsen4@comcast.net.

Applications are now available for the Summer Collegium, a project in support of small congregations at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia. Clergy (and their spouses or partners) from 25 small churches of all Christian denominations are invited to spend nine days at Virginia Seminary for encouragement, education, rest and renewal. All expenses, including travel, books, meals, lodging, child care at home and pulpit supply, are paid by a grant from the Lilly Endowment.Application forms are at www.vts.edu/education/collegium. You can also email SummerCollegium@vts.edu or call 703-461-1760 to receive an application in the mail. Applications must be postmarked by December 15, 2009, to be considered. 

The Rev. Richard Collman, MN Regional Chair for the Washington National Cathedral, invites people tour the National Cathedral in Washington D. C. Rev. Collman and his wife, Katherine, will escort the tour which will include Washington sites along with a pilgrimage and tour of the National Cathedral, Sunday morning Eucharist, and lunch at the Sayre House. For more information, call Rev. Collman at 507-645-1357 or email rkcollman@msn.com.

Teens Encounter Christ (TEC) is a 3-day experience of learning about God and yourself, making new friends, and growing in your faith. This event is open to all students 9th – 12th grades, from any church or no church. It is led by clergy and lay adults, and teens who have already gone through TEC.

Upcoming program dates:

Northern TEC: March 19-21, St. John in the Wilderness, White Bear Lake. For more information contact Alison Feigh (afeigh@gmail.com).
Click here to download an information form for Northern TEC.
Click here to download an application form for Northern TEC.

St. Paul TEC: April 16-18, St. John the Evangelist, St. Paul. Click here to download the registration documents for St. Paul TEC. For more information, contact Charlene Peterson (peter069@umn.edu) or 651-779-6707.

Minneapolis TEC: April 16-18, St. Stephen's, Edina. Click here to download the registration documents for Minneapolis TEC. For more information, contact Gary Dietz at 952-920-0595.

Theology and a Pint meets in St. Paul on the second Tuesday of each month at O'Gara's at 8:00 pm. Join your friends for good conversation, great theology, and, of course, a pint. Theology and a Pint is a ministry of St. Mary's Episcopal Church in St. Paul. Contact the Rev. Rex McKee with questions.