The Rev. Jim Adams, recently called as 13th Rector of Christ Church, was our special guest celebrant and preacher at the 10:00 service on Sunday, July 18. CLICK HERE to listen to his sermon. Jim officially begins his rectorate on Aug. 10. His first Sunday with us will be Aug. 15.
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In a July 6 letter to the parish, the Vestry announced that the Rev. James Patrick Adams has accepted the call to become 13th Rector of Christ Church, effective Aug. 10.
Jim Adams, 45, served the last 10 years as Rector of Saint Alban's Episcopal Church in Cape Elizabeth, ME. He is known as a gifted preacher and teacher and his ministry at Saint Alban's was marked by dramatic growth as well as a sense of vitality, warmth and hospitality.
At the 10:00a service on July 18, Jim will be formally introduced to the parish, and will celebrate the Holy Eucharist and preach.
Jim Adams, 45, served the last 10 years as Rector of Saint Alban's Episcopal Church in Cape Elizabeth, ME. He is known as a gifted preacher and teacher and his ministry at Saint Alban's was marked by dramatic growth as well as a sense of vitality, warmth and hospitality.
At the 10:00a service on July 18, Jim will be formally introduced to the parish, and will celebrate the Holy Eucharist and preach.
On April 20, 2010, an offshore oil rig exploded and sank, killing 11 people and causing a massive oil spill that is threatening states along the Gulf Coast. Episcopal Relief & Development is working closely with Episcopal Community Services of Louisiana http://www.ecsla.org (ECSLA) and their partner Bayou Grace Community Services http://www.ecsla.org to reach affected coastal communities in Louisiana's five-bayou parish of Terrebonne.
In many areas, fishing grounds and oyster beds have been closed because of oil contamination threats, leaving those who earn a living from fishing, shrimping, oyster harvesting and other related businesses without the means to support their families. There has not yet been an emergency food stamp program established in the Terrebonne region, southwest of New Orleans. Due to the 10-day waiting period for the standard food stamp program, families cannot get critical assistance when they find themselves in need. In addition, many families do not have the necessary information to make informed decisions about taking out loans or accepting financial settlements related to the spill.
"We're working to leverage our existing ministries and connections in the region to reach people who are falling through the cracks," said Katie Mears, Episcopal Relief & Development's Program Manager for USA Disaster Preparedness and Response. "This is happening because they can't access sufficient resources, whether because of transportation challenges, lack of information or uncertainty about the different avenues they might pursue for assistance."
Critical support will include distributing grocery cards that can be redeemed at local stores, gas cards for those who must travel to reach stores and distributing food items directly from the Dulac Community Center. In addition to food assistance, volunteers will provide legal assistance, pastoral care and information referrals both at the Bayou Grace office in Chauvin and with the help of an ECSLA vehicle. The RV will travel through the area on a set schedule, bringing information to those unable to travel to Chauvin.
"Episcopal Community Services of Louisiana is proud to support the resilient and hard-working residents of our fishing communities, whose livelihoods and very way of life are so gravely threatened by this disaster," said Nell Bolton, ECSLA's Executive Director. "As the long-term implications of the spill begin to sink in for all of us, we know that the Church needs to be a steady partner through these challenging times. ECSLA is also fortunate to be in partnership with Bayou Grace, with whom we share many values and whose local networks are invaluable to being able to reach the people most in need of our help."
"By helping to meet basic needs for food, providing information and pastoral care and offering guidance to address legal questions, we'll be able to assist families and communities in the face of ongoing anxiety and financial hardship," said Mears. "It will be extremely effective to tap into the existing network of churches and community centers in the area, because leaders connected with these sites already have a good understanding of the people in need in their communities."
To learn more about Episcopal Relief & Development's work or make a donation, please visit www.er-d.org http://www.er-d.org/ or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.
Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States and an independent 501(c)(3) organization. The agency takes its mandate from Jesus' words found in Matthew 25. Its programs work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Together with the worldwide Church and ecumenical partners, Episcopal Relief & Development strengthens communities today to meet tomorrow's challenges. We rebuild after disasters and empower people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.
In many areas, fishing grounds and oyster beds have been closed because of oil contamination threats, leaving those who earn a living from fishing, shrimping, oyster harvesting and other related businesses without the means to support their families. There has not yet been an emergency food stamp program established in the Terrebonne region, southwest of New Orleans. Due to the 10-day waiting period for the standard food stamp program, families cannot get critical assistance when they find themselves in need. In addition, many families do not have the necessary information to make informed decisions about taking out loans or accepting financial settlements related to the spill.
"We're working to leverage our existing ministries and connections in the region to reach people who are falling through the cracks," said Katie Mears, Episcopal Relief & Development's Program Manager for USA Disaster Preparedness and Response. "This is happening because they can't access sufficient resources, whether because of transportation challenges, lack of information or uncertainty about the different avenues they might pursue for assistance."
Critical support will include distributing grocery cards that can be redeemed at local stores, gas cards for those who must travel to reach stores and distributing food items directly from the Dulac Community Center. In addition to food assistance, volunteers will provide legal assistance, pastoral care and information referrals both at the Bayou Grace office in Chauvin and with the help of an ECSLA vehicle. The RV will travel through the area on a set schedule, bringing information to those unable to travel to Chauvin.
"Episcopal Community Services of Louisiana is proud to support the resilient and hard-working residents of our fishing communities, whose livelihoods and very way of life are so gravely threatened by this disaster," said Nell Bolton, ECSLA's Executive Director. "As the long-term implications of the spill begin to sink in for all of us, we know that the Church needs to be a steady partner through these challenging times. ECSLA is also fortunate to be in partnership with Bayou Grace, with whom we share many values and whose local networks are invaluable to being able to reach the people most in need of our help."
"By helping to meet basic needs for food, providing information and pastoral care and offering guidance to address legal questions, we'll be able to assist families and communities in the face of ongoing anxiety and financial hardship," said Mears. "It will be extremely effective to tap into the existing network of churches and community centers in the area, because leaders connected with these sites already have a good understanding of the people in need in their communities."
To learn more about Episcopal Relief & Development's work or make a donation, please visit www.er-d.org http://www.er-d.org/ or call 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to Episcopal Relief & Development, PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058.
Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States and an independent 501(c)(3) organization. The agency takes its mandate from Jesus' words found in Matthew 25. Its programs work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Together with the worldwide Church and ecumenical partners, Episcopal Relief & Development strengthens communities today to meet tomorrow's challenges. We rebuild after disasters and empower people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.
(Episcopal
News Service) Presiding Bishop Katharine
Jefferts Schori has issued a pastoral letter to the Episcopal Church, in
which she refers to the Pentecost letter from Archbishop of Canterbury
Rowan Williams and urges continued dialogue with those who disagree with
recent actions "for we believe that the Spirit is always calling us to
greater understanding."
In his May 28 letter, Williams acknowledged the tensions caused in some parts of the Anglican Communion by the consecration of Los Angeles Bishop Suffragan Mary Douglas Glasspool and the ongoing unauthorized incursions by Anglican leaders into other provinces. Glasspool is the Episcopal Church's second openly gay, partnered bishop. MORE
In his May 28 letter, Williams acknowledged the tensions caused in some parts of the Anglican Communion by the consecration of Los Angeles Bishop Suffragan Mary Douglas Glasspool and the ongoing unauthorized incursions by Anglican leaders into other provinces. Glasspool is the Episcopal Church's second openly gay, partnered bishop. MORE
The immediate response from the Christ Church Vestry was to encourage our parishioners to provide initial monetary response to Episcopal Relief & Development (ER&D), which has agents and channels already in Haiti. Checks made payable to Christ Church with the memo "Haiti - ER&D" will go to ER&D and 100% will go to the short-term needs in Haiti. In response to this first appeal, Christ Church Outreach Ministries (CCOM) has approved the immediate disbursement of $4,521 in disaster relief funds to ER&D for immediate assistance to the people of Haiti.
In addition to this initial action, CCOM has begun working with agencies with which we have existing relationships to provide financial and other aid to the people of Haiti. In the past Christ Church has worked with Stop Hunger Now, which sent many of the meals we packed last November to Haiti. We have sent missionaries to Haiti through the Haiti Fund and its CODEP group that primarily focuses on Haitian development. We also have worked with the Water Ministries in Charleston, SC, to produce and distribute water purification units to Haiti and other locations. We believe that there will be a long-term need in Haiti, and these organizations will give our parish a direct way to assist the Haitian people in the months ahead.
Financial support will be needed for these Christ Church relief efforts to Haiti, and we ask for your support. Checks should be sent to Christ Church with the memo "Haiti - CCOM." Checks can be placed in the alms basin during services, or mailed or brought to the church.
As plans develop, we also will seek your direct participation in these relief efforts. Needs are being assessed on the ground, and we will identify the ways that our parish can reach out to the victims of this disaster. Your direct and personal support to Christ Church relief efforts may be through activities such as;
- packing additional meals through Stop Hunger Now
- preparing health and other aid packages
- assembling additional water purification units
- and for some, participating in mission trips to Haiti.
For more information contact:
Andy Givens, Chair of the CCOM
Marshall Lamb, Haiti relief coordinator, CCOM
Cassie Struthers, church staff support for CCOM
