The Rev. Devon Anderson, chair of the Diocese of Minnesota's Millennium Development Task Force reflects on "the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity" the MDGs offer the church to rededicate itself to mission. She recalls several other "big initiatives" that have faded into obscurity and suggests the key to success this time is to "go micro" with a focus on individuals first. 

On a recent trip to Tuscany, a group of Minnesota Episcopalians posed for a photo on a street named for Evangeline Whipple, the second wife of Bishop Henry Benjamin Whipple, who had lived out her life there following the Bishop's death. 

Christ Church, Austin, celebrated the Diaconate on July 1. The congregation welcomed its new Deacon, as it celebrated the legacy of its Deacon Emeritus. 

The situation at the diocese's Al Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza has become desperate, as local fighting has overwhelmed the hospital with casualties, while cutting off its sources of funds and even access to the hospital by its medical staff. 

Janet MacNally and Lynn Adwell were ordained to the permanent diaconate by Bishop Jelinek on Thursday, June 28, at St. Mark's Cathedral. 

St. Mark's Cathedral welcomed the Rt. Rev. Miguel Tamayo Zaldivar, Bishop of Uruguay and Interim Bishop of Cuba, to its morning services on Sunday, July 1. 

Seven Minnesota Episcopalians, including five coordinators and representatives to province networks, plus two deputies, participated in Province VI meetings in Omaha the week of July 9. Bishop Jelinek also attended, in his last meeting as President of Province. 

The University Episcopal Center in Minneapolis is looking to Fall with a new office and new worship space. The UEC is also $3000 on its way to receiving a $10,000 matching gift to continue its student ministry. Learn how you can help! 

The Episcopal Church Center’s Office of Women’s Ministries has selected St. James on the Parkway as its site for its first Beijing Circle Conference, October 12-13. It is based on the “Beijing Platform,” which is similar to the Millennium Development Goals, but with a particular focus on women and children, who are disproportionately affected by poverty, violence, war, and inadequate access to healthcare and education. 

Five seminarian "Middlers" will be ordained to the diaconate before their final year of course work. The service will be on Thursday, July 26, at 7 pm at St. Mark's Cathedral in Minneapolis. 

The Canon Musician Emeritus of St. Mark's Cathedral died on July 13, 2007. 

Our diocesan Vocations Coordinator is continuing her theological studies at General Seminary in New York. Gayle Marsh will step in as part-time Vocations Officer. 

The Episcopal House of Prayer has issued the following statement in regard to concerns over one of its upcoming retreat facilitators. 

Five seminary "middlers' were ordained to the transitional diaconate at St. Mark's Cathedral on July 26, and will serve as deacons during their last year of seminary. 

St. Stephen's members are supporting MDG #3 (achieve universal primary education) by donating funds to a community Back to School program. 

After several weather delays, a Minneapolis relay team which included two young Episcopalians successfully swam across the English Channel. 

On behalf of the Diocese of Minnesota, the bishop offers prayers to all who are affected by the devastating bridge collapse in Minneapolis on August 1. 

An interfaith "service of healing" in the aftermath of the I-35W bridge collapse was held at St. Mark's Cathedral on August 5, drawing more than 1400 and attracting national media coverage. 

Nearly 200 people from Holy Apostles, St. Paul, gathered for Sunday Eucharist in the park, and stayed on for a potluck, games, and relaxation. 

An Eagle Scout project provides seating for new outdoor worship space at St. Anne's, Sunfish Lake. 

Volunteers from several Metro churches help provide bag lunches through the Minneapolis Family Resource Center of Episcopal Community Services. 

Young pilgrims visited a different site every day, learning about church history -- and about working together. 

20 children, ages 6-12, participated in the Bishop Whipple Mission Dakota Spirit Camp, held August 6-9, 2007. "Can we do this again next week?" one boy asked. 

Thirty-five children aged 2½ to 13 explored "The Great Bible Reef" during Vacation Bible School at Christ Church, Austin, from August 13-17. 

The basement of Emmanuel, Rushford, remains filled with several feet of water, and power and phone outages have made further damage reporting difficult. A diocesan relief fund has been established to benefit those affected by the disaster. 

An eyewitness report from Canon Missioner Bronwyn Clark Skov. 

St. Mary's, Ely, held its most memorable Northwoods Family Camp yet on August 19. The day included tomahawk throwing, nature crafts, and grinding wild rice to make communion bread for that evening's worship service. 

Minnesota native Marlene Jacobs "comes home" from Kalamazoo, Michigan. Her first Sunday at St. Paul's will be September 9. 

Sarah Heeren, Parish Administrator for St. Luke's, Minneapolis, and a member of St. Clement's, St. Paul, received two ribbons for her baked goods. 

Members of the three congregations of the Spirit of the Heartland Total Ministry Cluster gathered for their fifth annual picnic. 

John Lawyer of St. Christopher's takes home five horticulture ribbons. 

The Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota will officially enter its Sesquicentennial Year on Wednesday, September 19, 2007. All Episcopal churches with bells are asked to ring them at 11 am on that day. Special anniversary prayers will also be distributed soon. 

Too often we think of “ministry” as something reserved for those who are ordained. Education for Ministry (EFM) is a program designed to: increase the awareness of baptized persons of the role of faith in their daily lives. 

As announced in the September 5 Weekly News, congregations are asked to help usher in the 150th year of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota by offering up special prayers on September 16 and by the ringing of church bells on September 19. 

The new Administrative Assistant at the Episcopal Center began her work at the front desk on September 6. 

St. Clement's, St. Paul, designed by famed architect Cass Gilbert, proved to the perfect backdrop for an address by parishioner Hampton Smith to the Cass Gilbert Society on the collaboration of architect and congregation in the church's design and construction. 

Over two hundred adults, youth and children participated in a day-long training summit on Saturday, September 15, designed to equip individuals and congregations to support the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). "What's Your Point 2007? - A Millennium Development Goals Training Summit" was sponsored by the MDGs Task Force of the Episcopal Diocese of Minnesota. 

It’s a long way to travel to Minneapolis to attend a diocesan-sponsored workshop on implementing the MDGs, so Holy Trinity-International Falls had its own training session and raised $1220 for ERD. 

Photographer Jeff Smith died on September 14 

Bishop Donald F. Harker of the Dicoese of George in South Africa, attended the MDG Summit on September 15 and preached at St. Mark's Cathedral on September 16. 

Gethsemane, Minneapolis set out to collect 61 new backpacks for the people on the school bus involved in the 35W bridge collapse. It made that goal, with ten packs to spare! 

"Lively conversation" and a question-and-answer session helped delegates learn about Convention issues at the first of six forums planned for locations around the diocese. 

Bishop Jelinek presented a check to Episcopal Relief and Development representative Lynn Sanders at the September 15 MDG Training Summit, representing part of the diocese's commitment of 0.7% of its budget toward the Millennium Development Goals. 

Members of St. Mark's Cathedral participated in the inaugural conference at General Seminary's new Desmond Tutu Education Center. 

Bishop Jelinek offers his reflections on the September 2007 meeting of the House of Bishops in New Orleans.