INDEX

For more than 25 years Faith Alive weekends have been taking place throughout the nation. During these weekends tens of thousands of Episcopalians have prayerfully reflected on their vows of Baptism and Confirmation. Lay men and women under the spiritual direction of the church's rector lead the weekend. The weekend is designed for the parish community to have an experience of spiritual refreshment. Episcopalians from across the nation form a team and come to share their spiritual journey and how they actively seek God's leading. The team consists of people from all walks of life who have made a conscious decision to follow Jesus as their personal Savior and Lord. They come to the weekend at their own expense to share how God is at work in their lives.
    Faith Alive is a prayer driven ministry. Thursday evening, before the "witnesses" arrive, the weekend begins with a 24-hour prayer vigil. The "witness" team arrives by 5:00 p.m. Friday. Parish members participating in the weekend arrive for a 6:30 dinner, followed by a program in the parish hall. At 8:15 everyone breaks into assigned small groups. Teens and children are in their own groups.
    Saturday morning the church community is broken into neighborhoods and pre-arranged coffees are hosted. This is an opportunity for the parish to have a small home group experience where more witness talks are given and personal sharing is encouraged. At noon all meet back in the parish hall where women eat together and witness, as do the men. The afternoon is free time for the team; however, some may be called to visit shut-ins. Dinner is at 6:30 followed by a program in the parish hall. Small groups follow. In these group parishioners are encouraged to look at where God is working in their lives and consider recommitting themselves during Sunday morning services.
    During the summer Ralph and I experienced God's nudge to be witnesses on a Faith Alive weekend. We traveled to Vero Beach, Florida, in October to serve on our first team. God richly blessed us with this experience and gifted us with an adopted parish family. We made good friends with team members and parishioners. They welcomed us into their homes and gave us food and shelter and a wonderful sense of God's connecting love. We were all blessed by this experience of apostolic action. Call if you have questions or visit http://www.faithalive.org.

Dr. Carol Doran teaches Liturgics, Music & Arts (LMA) at Virginia Theological Seminary. I'm taking "Music in Liturgy" with her this semester. She was ill in early September, and returned late in the month. Her first class back was glorious, and included a couple of "moments of mystery." Dr. Doran told us, "Music and other arts are able to reveal God and to be a means by which we become aware of God's presence." She is hoping to teach us to become liturgical leaders who experience this, so that we will be "able to build up the church by shepherding others in this knowledge." (What a blessing Michael Bedford is! He does that by shepherding for St. John's constantly and in such a graceful way).
    The first "moment of mystery" that day came with Dr. Doran's asking us to imagine an initial encounter with a group of six-year olds in a church we're newly serving. She taught us a Gloria to teach them ­ a simple song from the Iona Community with the lyrics, "Glory to God [raise your right hand]; Praise to the Son [raise your left hand]; Love to the Spirit [raise both hands]; Three and yet One [hold up three fingers, then grasp them with the other hand]." It was fun and praiseful. Six-year olds would see it that way, too.  The moment was electric.
    The second moment came when my friend said, in reaction to Dr. Doran's statement that the high point in the Eucharistic service is when we sing the Gloria during the Eucharistic prayer, "That's when the veil between God and us is thinnest." Such a lovely idea that is. The veil might be thinnest for me at a different moment ­ when we come to the rail and permit ourselves to be served, at the same time offering ourselves by making a throne of our hands on which Christ's body rests, being enveloped by and then infusing us. But my friend's insight gave me a glimpse I had not had before. That moment, too, was electric.
    Moments of mystery are when we feel the presence of God, God's over-abounding love, most palpably. Watch for those moments. They come at the most ordinary times, and make those times most extraordinary. Praise God for folks like Dr. Doran, Dr. Bedford, and my friend!
    Be well. You are in my prayers; please keep me in yours.

I am a Christian door.

My rails and stiles hold six panels, two small and four large.

When you look upon me, remember the open Bible, which holds the word of our Lord, and the cross that he bore for our sins and the sins of the world.

I was crafted by the master craftsman from the materials of the earth.

With his hands he shaped me, and with love he hung me in my place so I would swing freely and be an Opening to others to enter and know him.

Life has opened and closed me more times than I can recall.

I have gotten soaked from the storms and stuck unable to open.

I've been covered with so many layers of life's paint that the fine details in my construction are obscured from those who look upon me and even from myself.

I have been slammed and shaken so many times that my hinges are broken and I don't know which way to swing.

Until this weekend......

Apprentices to the master craftsman, who made me, saw me.

They said, "We know what you are."

They said, "You are the work of our master," and they took me down from my place.

With the skill and passion of the master who created me they stripped away the years of paint uncovering the details in me.

They took me apart and renewed my rails and stiles.

With care they placed my panels back in place so that again, when you look upon me, you would see the open Bible which holds the word of our Lord, and the cross that he bore for our sins and the sins of the world.

They worked with the hands that had been trained by the master to do his work of renewal and
redemption.

Now, made new I can do the work the master craftsman intended for me, to remind everyone who sees my Bible and my cross of his word and his love, and to be an open door for them to walk through.

De Colores!
Used by permission.

The Tulsa Area Cursillo Community began monthly Ultreyas the first Sunday in October following the September Cursillo. The first was held at St. Peter's, Tulsa; the second at St Paul's Claremore and the third at St Bede's, Westport. Prior to the start of the traditional Ultreya format, a topic from the "Day of Deeper Understanding" was presented. In October, the topic was Group Reunion, and it took the format of a panel discussion on what has worked for various Groups. Panel members were Doug Brown, Doug Laird, Bill Miller and Nancy Lewis. Some of the ideas offered were:

On a cold, rainy and dreary Saturday in early November, thirty pilgrims traveled from distant places to St Augustine of Canterbury in Oklahoma City to spend a day deepening their relationship with the Lord and each other. The parish hall was warmed by the greetings "De Colores." There were lots of hugs and smiles. Our voices rose in hymns of praise as family gathered to remember our "special weekend." We shared stories of how God has been working in our lives since we were last together. Bishop Cox being with us and sharing his wisdom and knowledge and presence with the Holy Spirit blessed us. He brought a soft glow to the room that I believe we all felt. It is especially sad at family gatherings to remember those whose chairs were empty. We dedicated the day to remembering Margaret Hall and Suzy Wood. Somehow I think they may have been there! Our day ended with a sumptuous feast of bread and wine. We gave hugs and prayers for safe travel and said our good byes to the pilgrims. Thank you God for blessing us.

Do you ever wish you could take your Cursillo experience and use it in a way to help others enrich their walk with Jesus? Well, there is a way ­ a very good way!
    Kairos Outside is a non-profit ministry designed to support the wives, mothers, sisters, daughters, etc. of men and women who are incarcerated. This is done by providing a safe environment for a short time (a 2-day weekend) with Christian people and the opportunity to interact with women in similar situations. After the weekend, the women are encouraged to meet regularly in prayer and share groups, and to attend quarterly or semi-annual reunions. We believe that women are "doing time" right along with their loved ones, and we want to let them know that there is a Christian community who cares about them and their needs.
    The first six weekends in Oklahoma hosted approximately 125 women as guests. These women have discovered the hope and love that comes from the support of a Christian community. The seventh weekend in Oklahoma will be held in June 2003. Teams consist of approximately 30 women, 2 spiritual directors and 10 men (our kitchen/prayer team). Team members attend four meetings to prepare and plan for the weekend. For people who cannot commit to full team membership there is the opportunity to serve as an Angel ... someone to help for a few hours during the weekend assisting with transportation, set-up, clean-up and other work behind the scenes. Angels are asked to complete applications and be scheduled for their duties.
    Please prayerfully consider whether God is calling you to be a part of this life changing ministry. Contact Susan Whitley, KO #7 Leader at 405-359-8341, Nancy Decker at 405-348-5290, or Janet Schisser at 405-872-8817 or write to the address shown below for more information.
    Your support is also invited through the sponsorship of all or a portion of the guest's cost ($150) to attend. There is no charge to the ladies to attend this weekend, so the team will raise the support necessary. If you would like to help, make checks payable to Kairos and write Kairos Outside on the memo line. Mail checks to Kairos Outside, PO Box 30073, Edmond OK 73003. Two very special parts of the weekend are open to the outside community for their par- ticipation: Las Mañanitas on Sunday morning at 5:30am, when the guests are awakened with song and fresh flowers, and Closing which begins at 3:00pm on Sunday afternoon. You do not need to complete applications to attend Las Mañanitas or Closing. Call us for details.