26th Presiding Bishop Elected

Katharine Jefferts Schori, bishop of the Diocese of Nevada, has been elected June 18 by the House of Bishops as the 26th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. The House of Deputies has confirmed the election, as is required by church canons. Bishop Schori said: “I am awed and honoured and deeply privileged to have been elected.” Bidding farewell to Nevada, she thanked its people, “who called a stranger to join them in the desert”. The Church has its headquarters in New York.
During her time as bishop, the number of parishes in her diocese has increased, as have the number of worshippers and donations to the church. A licensed pilot, she used a private plane to visit far-flung congregations in Nevada. Before her ordination in 1994 she taught at Oregon State University’s Department of Religious Studies, and was a senior oceanographer. Bishop Schori, who was born in Florida, is married to a retired theoretical mathematician. They have one daughter. She was elected after five ballots at the convention in Columbus, Ohio, yesterday afternoon but consistently polled the highest number of votes throughout the balloting. She was the first woman ever to be selected as a nominee.

News for the General Convention

News about the 75th General Convention of the Episcopal Church may be found at this link. Please pray for our Bishop, our deputation and all attending.

Bingo!

We continue to offer Bingo as a way to pass the time for the evacuees out at King's Camp. About eighty people are living out at the camp from the Magnolia School located in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. The developmentally delayed adults and the staff from the school have been at King's Camp for almost a month and should return to their homes at the end of September. We served soft drinks and cookies and winners had their pick of coloring books, crayons, markers, crossword puzzle books and stuffed animals. The members of our church had as much fun watching and helping as the folks did playing.

Outreach from Old Friends

The Episcopal Church of the Resurrection, in Pleasant Hill, California, sent a package of beautiful cards made by children and adults at their church. Church of the Resurrection was one of the churchs that Whit and Dawnell were involved in while in California. The church sent half the cards to St. Andrew's and the other half to Camp Hardtner for the evacuees and as way to support those of us working to help the evacuees. Their note said, "We want to let you know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Here are a few cards from our congregation with their heart felt expression. I hope some of the cards from the very little people will bring a smile to your face even if just for a moment. We felt deep anguish as we watched on TV and saw you struggles and the devestation of your communites. We hope your spirits are lifted by the support you have received from your surrounding communites and the country at large... You are loved and cared about. "

The cards sent to us will be delivered to the evacuees staying out at King's Camp.

Dinner at King's Camp

Our dinner for the evacuees at King's Camp, near Mer Rouge, was a big sucess! The group from the church meet around 5:00 p.m. and headed out with cars loaded with drinks, food and smiling faces. As we drove up, people started heading for the cafeteria. The evacuess are developmentally delayed adults and the staff that serves them. After the blessing, there was a loud, "Amen," and everyone lined up. It is hard to say how many times someone said "thank you" or "God bless you." All of the food prepared by so many of you was wonderful and we had enough to leave left-overs. We had chicken spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, peach cobbler, ice cream, cakes, cupcakes and drink. Members of St. Andrew's (both adults and children) were on hand to serve the meal and visit with the group. Many came back for seconds.

We will return again soon to host a bingo game with prizes donated by the church. This is a great time for fellowship and provide a needed break from the stress of being relocated.

Thanks to all of you for you help!

National Day of Prayer

President Bush asked all Americans to pray on Friday, September 16, 2005 for all whose lives have been touched by hurricane Katrina. We will gather that day at 6:30 p.m at St. Andrews for Evening Prayer. Please join us to pray for those who have died, those who suffer and all those who are working to help.