A Day in the Life: The Bishop's Journal - September 2007

A Day in the Life

The Bishop’s Journal

September 2007

 

Sept. 1-2.  Weekend off.

 

Sept. 3.  Labor Day.  Drove to St. Luke’s, Kearney for lunch meeting with Karen Park and Richard Kauders re: Search Committee matters, and Executive Commission businesss.  Stayed over to celebrate closing Eucharist for youth Happening, which included a great turnout of parents and friends, and a fine group of “Happeners,” staff and assisting clergy.  Back to Omaha late afternoon.

 

Sept. 4-6.  Flew to Cleveland, Ohio for one and a half day meeting with colleagues in my “class” of bishops, in preparation for our upcoming House of Bishops’ meeting.  Returned very early on Thursday.  Thursday afternoon I worked in home office and had telephone conferences, plus final preparations for Executive Commission meeting tomorrow.

 

Sept. 7.  Full day meeting of the Diocesan Executive Commission at St. David’s, Lincoln.  Overnight in Central Nebraska.

 

Sept. 8.  Visitation to St. Mary’s, Bassett; arrived Saturday afternoon for meeting with the Development Committee of the parish, which is considering ways to enlarge the nave to accommodate growing attendance!  Dinner tonight with Priest in Charge Randy Goeke and committee members.

 

Sept. 9.  Celebrated, preached, and received new members, followed by a delicious champagne brunch in the parish hall.  Attendance at today’s service was double what it was on the occasion of my first visit here in December of 2003!  Wonderful to see the newly designed and landscaped Prayer Garden, which has become the talk of the town! 

 

Sept. 10.  Stopped in Grand Island for morning appointment with Mother Catherine Kuschel.  Lunch appointment enroute back to Omaha.  Took Monday afternoon off.

 

Sept. 11.  Morning meeting of Bishop and Trustees.  Late morning meeting with Canon Anderson, Deans Hurley and Medina, and Fr. Ron Whitmer to discuss strategies for supporting the emerging ministry and parish life of St. Martin’s in South Omaha.  Afternoon spent catching up on email, correspondence.

 

Sept. 12.  Morning sermon preparation for tonight’s service.  Midday meeting with Canons Anderson and Schaefer at St. Augustine’s.  Stayed for afternoon meeting with Omaha Presbyters to discuss upcoming meeting of House of Bishops.  Late afternoon meeting with chairs of the Commissions on Ministry and the Standing Committee, along with Fr. Bob Bee.  Drove to St. Martin’s for evening service celebrating their new ministry with Fr. Ron Whitmer as interim rector.  A wonderful spirit and turnout, both from continuing members, visitors, and respresentatives from area parishes.  A blessed new beginning!  Home late.

 

Sept. 13.  Dropped off car early for service.  Morning meeting of Finance Committee in my office.  Drove to St. Martha’s, Pappillion, for annual Eucharist, luncheon, and board meeting of the Fricke Food Pantry.  A good turnout for this vital ministry of feeding which supports many efforts in the metro area—what a fitting legacy to the ministry of Dean Jack Fricke.  Brief appointment with Mo. Judi Yeates.  Chancellor Woody Bradford joined me for an aternoon telephone conference in my office with David Beers, Chancellor to the Presiding Bishop.  Canon Anderson sat in for part of the session. 

 

Sept. 14-15.  Participated in the second annual Ministry Conference in Grand Island, and was extremely gratified by the attendance, and the very high quality of the many workshops offered.  Keynoter Jim Lemler, Director of Mission for the Episcopal Church, provided a strong foundation and closing for our efforts.  Celebrated the early morning conference Eucharist on Saturday.  Conference concluded mid-afternoon.

 

Sept. 16.  Early morning drive on to Lexington for visitation.  Celebrated and preached, and enjoyed good visit with Mother Liz Montes, and Fr. Kay Knudson and parishioners of St. Peter’s in the Valley after services.  Returned to Omaha in the afternoon, and immediately began final packing and preparations for upcoming trip to House of Bishops meeting in New Orleans.

 

Sept. 17.  Day off, preparing for trip.

 

Sept. 18-26.  House of Bishops’/Spouses’ Meeting in New Orleans.  We were joined for the early part of the meeting by the Archbishop of Canterbury, and several members of the Joint Standing Committee of the Anglican Consultative Council and the Primates.  Several, including the Archbishop, addressed and/or otherwise engaged our gathering.  Over the weekend members of the House engaged in various work or orientation projects related to Katrina recovery.  On Sunday I traveled at the invitation of Bishop Phil Duncan of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast to Mobile, and was guest preacher at their largest congregation, St. Paul’s.  Enjoyed a wonderful morning, including lunch and conversation with their vestry afterwards.  Our meeting in New Orleans resumed on Sunday evening, and continued through Tuesday night.  (See related stories elsewhere in this issue, and in my Pastoral Staff article). 

 

Sept 27-30.  Traveled from New Orleans on Wednesday afternoon to Evanston, Illinois, for the annual meeting of the Anglican Theological Review Board at Seabury-Western Seminary.  I enjoyed an appointment on Thursday with Jami Anderson of Holdrege, who was attending an alumni event at the Seminary.  Also enjoyed the hospitality of the Deanery, and Dean Gary Hall and wife Kathy.  We were joined for our meeting by the former Presiding Bishop, Frank Griswold, who also stayed at the Deanery.  Returned to Omaha Sunday midday, weary after almost two weeks of meetings.