Trinity Topics

The Newsletter of Trinity Episcopal Church in Toledo, Ohio

SEPTEMBER 2009

Time for
Reflection
Where do you
look for God?

Where does God

look for you?
litur g y & events Ourcombined
Our combined
service
summer continues
service
at 10:00
begins at
10:00
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 6 — PROPER 18 SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 27—PROPER 21
Proverbs 22:1-2, 8-9, 22-23; James 2:1-10, (11-13), 14- RACE FOR THE CURE
17; Mark 7:24-37 Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22; James 5:13-20; Mark 9:38-50
10a Parish Eucharist 8:15a 15-minute Runner’s Eucharist

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13 — PROPER 19 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 4—PROPER 22

RALLY DAY Job 1:1; 2:1-10; Hebrews 4:1-4; 2:5-12; Mark 10:2-16
Proverbs 1:20-33; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38 9a “Animal-free” Parish Eucharist
10a Parish Eucharist 10a Parish Eucharist & Blessing of the Animals

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 20—PROPER 20 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 11—PROPER 23

Proverbs 31:10-31; James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a; Mark 9:30-37 Job 23:1-9, 16-17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
10a Parish Eucharist 10a Worship, Tree-planting & Picnic at Pearson
Metropark

Ministry Fair set for September 13

Are you fairly new to Trinity, and want to get more involved? A long-time member, but don’t
know who to ask to become a reader? Newly retired, and want to do some church-based volunteer
work during the day? Somewhere in between? Come to church on September 13 and find out more
about the ministries available at/through Trinity.
Rally Day (traditionally, the Sunday after Labor Day) is the time when many churches officially
begin the program year. This year, we’ll be celebrating Rally Day with a Ministry Fair. Vestry Clerk
Karen Wabeke says, “This is a time more for education and discernment than recruitment.” So we
won’t twist your arm, drive slowly past your house, or call you repeatedly during dinner. This is a
time for you to find out about needs, time commitments, skills, gifts, and limitations.
Some of the ministries to explore:
Adult Formation Buildings and Grounds Hospitality Prayer Chain
Altar Guild/Sunday Choir/Music Ministries Lay Eucharistic Visitors Readers
Setup Children’s Formation Liturgical Assistants Social Justice
Arts/Textiles ministries Flower delivery Next-to-New Sunday Lunch Bunch
Bread Guild Greeters and Ushers Outreach Vestry

Do you want to help host a table? Are we missing your favorite Trinity ministry? Call Liddy at
the church.

2
Back to School, Back to Church

from the rector

My heart still runs on a school year calendar. This time of year I always feel a mix of wistful-
ness and anticipation for whatever the new year may bring. I have several neighbors who are
elementary and middle school teachers, and I have asked them what they like most about their
work. All of them have had the same answer: they love seeing students grow and change during
the year. We too will grow --and grow up-- with God in ways we did not plan, and the growth in
us will be good.

As we get back into a “school year schedule,” let’s see what we have to look forward to:

New Schedule: Instead of two ser-

vices, we will have one service at
10:00. We have experimented with this
schedule during the summer, and it
seems to work for most people. It will
also allow for a possibility of early for-
mation at 9:00 for those who want it,
and later formation, confirmation class,
and church committee meeting times
afterward. You can have all that and
still make it out to lunch at about the
same time as before! I realize it will
not be optimal for everybody. Give it
a chance.

Home room: We will retain the elements and style of the later service, while having a blend
of music and prayer styles that will represent traditions from both the early and the late service.
Again, we have done this during the summer, and it seems to be working. Keep talking and
working and playing and praying together.

Classes: You will play a big part in determining what classes we have this year. First, we will
have kitchen table talks in people’s homes and at church to hear what you think about spiritual-
ity and what you need from church to enhance and encourage your spiritual life. Books will be
dealt with as we go along. You may already have a few of the books, which can be found in that
great 66-book anthology known as the Bible.

Extra/Supercurricular activities: Want to learn about all of the wonderful ways you can get
more involved and help inside and outside of church? Come to the ministry fair during coffee
hour on September 13!

Supplies: There are only a few things you need to bring—a keen sense of curiosity, a willing-
ness to pray, and a little flexibility. And don’t forget that box of 64 crayons that you carry inside
of you. It’s perfectly fine if a few of them are broken.

A note from the school nurse: You will need a new pair of glasses! But don’t worry, these
won’t cost as much as the usual pair of no-line bifocals. These are a different kind of no-line
glasses: they allow you to see that there is no line between Sunday and the rest of the week, no
line between praying and worshipping on Sunday and bringing that same spirit of thanksgiving
and reflection and community life to your job, your friends, and your home life.

Liddy

3
 Making a Difference,
congre gation/wor ld One Blanket at a Time
Most Sunday mornings you’ll find pre-
cut fleece ready to be tied in the Living
Room by 9:15. This is an opportunity be-
fore the worship service to make sleep
sacks* for the Blanket Blitz project.
Consider joining the group around the
Living Room table to “Talk & Tie”.
On the second Sunday of each month,
there is also a mini-Blitz for an hour or so
after church. The first one yielded 6 com-
pleted sleep sacks. Join us on September
13 and October 11.
The final blow-out
Blanket Blitz weekend
is coming up next
month, October 22-25.
Many Ways to Pray on Sept. 27—
Race for the Cure
Northwest Ohio’s 16th Annual Susan G. Komen
Race for the Cure will be held on Sunday, September
27. For years, Trinity has embraced this neighborhood
event by participating in many ways. We ask that
every member of the parish get involved in at least
one of our Race for the Cure efforts:
Our only worship service on Race day is the
Runners’ Liturgy at 8:15, and it takes place at the
corner of Jefferson and Summit Streets. Attend and
help with this service; greet the folks who depend on
us for prayer and communion before the race.
Run or walk the 5K race, or join the 1-mile
Family Fun Walk, starting around 9:00. More informa-
tion and online registration (until September 16) is
available at www.komennwohio.org. There’s even a
registration category for supporters who prefer to
“Sleep in For the Cure”.

*Sleep sacks are a new style of blanket Help with food at the corner of Washington
we’re making. One end is not cut or tied, and Huron, across the street from 5/3 Field:
which makes them faster to complete. Set-up (early risers) 6-9 am
Hand-out (those who enjoy chaos) 9-11 am
Clean-up (sleep in a bit later) 10:30-12:30
Lots of help is needed with this. Jill Snyder can set
you up.
Birthday Blessings Serve as hosts at Trinity from around 8:00 ‘til
noon, to direct people looking for our regular liturgy or
September 1 .............. Fred Miller just needing a bathroom or drinking fountain.
Michael Sage
September 4 .............. Bud Gartz Purchase raffle tickets for the 2009 Promise
September 5 .............. Robert Boes Quilt from Alice James or Jane Zohn.
September 7 .............. Thomas Greiner
Shirley Witt Wherever you are on that morning, pray for the
September 9 .............. Solveig Barnes Race participants and all those touched by breast cancer.
September 10 ............ Fred Sherman
September 14 ............ Lyndon Stygles
Robert Stygles
September 15 ........... Richard Gingher
September 16 ............ Thomas Webb, Jr.
September 17 ........... Ann Stranahan
September 18 ............ Mary Sage
September 21 ............ Nancy Paulas
September 24 ............ Jamille Jamra
September 25 ............ Suzanne Smitley
September 26 ............ Pat Crawford
September 28 ............ Mary Wabeke
September 29 ............ Ruth Oatis

4
Regional Diocesan Gathering to Blessing of the Animals Oct. 4
Discuss General Convention Trinity’s annual St.
Francis’ Day cele-
Regional meetings will be held across the diocese
bration on Sunday,
this month to share information from July’s General
October 4 will
Convention. The local gathering will take place on
welcome our animal
Wednesday, September 23 at 6:00pm at St. Andrew's,
companions as we
2770 W. Central Avenue. If you plan to attend, please
honor God’s other
RSVP directly to St. Andrew’s (419.473.1367) so that
creatures. There will
suitable space can be prepared.
be two services on
this Sunday: an
“animal-free” liturgy
at 9:00, and the
A Note from Susan Lowrey “animal-friendly”
10:00 service. Please remember that your pets must be
Treatment is done. Life is back to somewhat normal.
on a leash or in a carrier.
Practicing feeling cancer-free.
This year we will also be collecting donations of
Thank you, Trinity, for your love and prayers. dog and cat food (dry or canned) on St. Francis
Sunday which will be given to the Toledo Area
Susan Humane Society. If animals are part of your family,
please consider making a pet food donation in their
honor on this day.
Budget Update
Our income picture through July 31st shows that July YTD July YTD
we're behind in promised parishioner pledge donations 2009 Budget Budget Actual
by approximately $14,500. As always, you can help our Revenue
budget by staying current with your pledge.
Plate Offering 4,000 2,845 (1,155)

We have not had to use $37,000 in budgeted Trust Pledge Payments 79,083 64,575 (14,508)
Spending Policy dollars during this same time. The rea- Combined Investment
son is because we received an insurance check earlier Income 151,667 114,603 (37,064)
this year to cover major water damage that happened in
January. The work to correct that damage wasn't started Other Operating Income 583 294 (289)
until recently. We used the insurance dollars to cover
our cash expenses during the 1st and 2nd quarters, al- Total Revenues 235,333 182,317 (53,016)
lowing our budgeted Trust Spending Policy dollars to
stay in the Trust for potential earnings growth. Expenditures
Personnel 116,449 115,922 (527)
We've done well keeping our expenses within Buildings & Grounds 88,361 103,718 15,357
budget, except in Buildings & Grounds. We‘re over
Operations 18,142 16,156 (1,986)
budget in utilities and insurance. We’re also over
budget in contract services and repairs; snow removal Diocesan Assessment 24,218 19,729 (4,489)
and boiler/air conditioning service account for most of
that. Local Outreach 3,208 3,965 757
Programs 16,371 12,596 (3,775)
One bright spot on the expense side is our Nave Loan Interest Payment 19,600 7,113 (12,487)
Loan interest payment, which is $12,000 below budget.
Low interest rates have helped us tremendously. Total Expenditures 286,349 279,199 (7,150)

With heartfelt thanks for your continued service and

stewardship at Trinity,
Net Surplus/(Deficit) (51,016) (96,882) (45,867)
Jane Bueche, Parish Accountant

5
Trinity Sponsors Two Children at Emanuel Children's Home
The Outreach Committee has decided to sponsor two chil- Estrella (pictured at
dren at the Emanuel Children’s Home in Honduras on behalf of right) is a year older than
the Trinity community. The children are Jose David Meijia Her- David, being born on
nandez (David) and Estrella Nicole Cabellero Garcia. November 2, 2005. In
January 2007, when
Sponsorship of a child requires a financial commitment of Estrella and her two older
$25 per month. Sponsorship funds are deposited in the General sisters were brought to
Fund of the Home, which is used to purchase food, clothing the Home, all three were
and shelter for all the children living there. In order to avoid in need of medical care
favoritism, no gifts are forwarded to an individual child. Trinity from severe neglect and
used funds budgeted for outreach to sponsor David and abuse. Estrella is now
Estrella for a year. thriving. She is very out-
going, reaching out
David (seen here in a to play with every-
photo with Lucia Cooper’s one. She lives up to
granddaughter, Laura) is her name, which
one of the youngest children means “star” in Spanish.
at the Home. He was born
in Texas of Honduran par- Please send letters and cards to David and Estrella,
ents on November 5, 2006. especially on their birthdays and other holidays.
He and his sister were Feel free to tell them about yourself and your family.
brought to the Children’s The children love learning about their sponsors.
Home last December due to Their address is:
family conflicts. David is El Hogar de Ninos Emanuel
still adapting to life at the Apartado 716
Home, and spends most of Colonia Bogran
his time alongside one of San Pedro Sula, HN C.A.
the educators. He has a
very sweet but sensitive Above all, be sure to include David and Estrella in your
character. He is starting to participate in group activities and prayers. If you want more information about sponsoring a
some group outings. child, contact Lucia Cooper.

Lutheran Assembly Approves Ministries of Partnered Gays and Lesbians

From the Episcopal News Service

The 2009 Churchwide Assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) on August 21 approved
opening the ministry of the church to pastors and other church professionals living in committed same-gender rela-
tionships. The resolution, passed by a vote of 559 to 451, overturns previous church policy that prohibited the partici-
pation of gays and lesbians in church ministries unless they were celibate.

Discussions about human sexuality dominated the August 17-23 assembly in Minneapolis, the chief legislative
authority of the 4.6 million-member denomination. The assembly approved a resolution committing the church to
find ways for congregations that choose to do so to "recognize, support and hold publicly accountable life-long, mo-
nogamous, same-gender relationships." It also approved a resolution committing the church to respect differences of
opinion on the matter.

ELCA shares a full-communion relationship with the Episcopal Church, which asserted the openness of its ordi-
nation process to gays and lesbians (Resolution D025) and called for "generous discretion" for the blessing of same-
gender relationships (Resolution B012) at its July 8-17 General Convention in Anaheim, California.

6
 Cross-Country Ride Supports the
Fight Against Malaria
From the Episcopal News Service
On July 17, the last day of the 76th General Con-
vention, eight Ohio cyclists riding to raise money and
awareness for Episcopal Relief and Development's
fight against malaria, led by Ohio Bishop Mark
Hollingsworth, departed Anaheim, California, riding
in relay format around the clock. The team, along with
three supporters, completed their 4,000-mile, 13-state
journey on July 28 at the Episcopal Church Center in
New York.
"This is crazy enough to be really interesting," said
Bishop Hollingsworth. "Once we decided to do it, we
decided to do it for a cause." The "Riding for their
Lives" ride raised more than $35,000 for ERD’s
NetsforLife® program partnership, which provides
insecticide-treated mosquito nets in 17 African
countries.
Stephen Morrison/European Press Agency
You can still make a donation to support the
NetsforLife program through any of these Websites:
www.er-d.org
www.netsforlifeafrica.org
www.dohio.org (Bishop’s Annual Appeal, ERD
Bike Ride)
Diocesan Convention
The 193rd Annual Convention of the Diocese of Ohio
will meet on November 13-14 at Trinity Commons in
Cleveland. On Friday, November 13, convention dele-
gates will spend the day doing community service pro-
jects. All convention business will be conducted on Sat-
urday, November 14.
If you’re interested in doing the business of the dio-
cese by serving as a diocesan convention delegate or
alternate, please contact Jeff Albright.
Stewart Academy Fall Collection
Now that school is back in session for the
2009-10 academic year, we’re collecting
hats, scarves, gloves and mittens for
the students at Stewart Academy for
Girls. In past years we’ve collected
these items in January, but they are
needed much earlier. Any color is
welcome—the brighter the better! We’ll
gather them in to be blessed in mid-
November
Sunday School’s Goin’ to the
Chapel
At the suggestion of Trinity parents and grandpar-
ents, we're going to move the Sunday School down to
a new home in the Chapel and get it ready for the new
year. Extreme Makeover, Sunday School Edition is
planned for Sunday, September 20 from 11:30am –
2:00pm. Please pitch in to help with this Chapel
cleaning and moving workday.
Consider Serving Your Diocese
In every parish, gifted men and women serve on
vestries, lead ministry projects, and commit
themselves to stewardship and the business of the
church. Our parish communities become even
stronger when these leaders have the opportunity to
know one another and serve together in diocesan
leadership.
The Diocese of Ohio is undertaking a broad search
for parish leaders who are ready to use their gifts as
diocesan leaders. In November, Diocesan Convention
delegates will elect new members of the Diocesan
Trustees, Standing Committee, Diocesan Council,
Episcopal Community Services, and the Cathedral
Chapter.
Please consider prayerfully whether you or others
in your parish community are ready to give, grow and
serve through diocesan leadership. You, and any
member in good standing of a parish in the Diocese,
can nominate consenting candidates to stand for
election. The deadline for nominations is September
15. Nomination forms are available on the diocesan
website at www.dohio.org/convention.
7
Kitchen Table Meetings to Discuss
NCD Survey Results
Our Natural Church Development survey results
identified “passionate spirituality” as Trinity’s weakest
quality characteristic, the area most in need of our
attention and nurturing. If we can strengthen this
characteristic, we can expect to increase our commu-
nity’s health and growth.
In order to begin this process, the Church Health
Team will host a series of Kitchen Table meetings this
month. Gathering in small groups in people’s homes or
at the church, we’ll be talking about what passionate
spirituality is, and why the opportunity to develop this
part of our faith lives has been identified.
Plan to attend one of the
4 or 5 meetings (on different
days of the week, in differ-
ent parts of town) to share
your thoughts on passionate
spirituality. Why is this the
area we most need to grow?
Sign-up sheets are on the
piano beside the columbar-
ium.
We’ll be exploring ways
to nurture our spirituality in
the next year. Please pray
regularly for Trinity and for
our involvement in the NCD
process. Our NCD prayer is printed below.
Trinity’s NCD Prayer
Merciful Creator, we invite you to be with us
here and now. As we embrace Natural
Church Development, keep us mindful of our
purpose in this work – to empower your peo-
ple, grow and strengthen your church, and glo-
rify your name. Fill us with your Spirit of Wis-
dom and Truth as we humbly examine our-
selves and our community. Help us to em-
brace new opportunities for growth and im-
provement. Renew our energy, guide our
work, and lead us to new life in you; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
8
Trinity’s Prayer Chain
Trinity has a group of members whose
ministry is prayer. The Prayer Chain is a net-
work of approximately 15 parishioners who are
committed to praying on behalf of others,
recalling Jesus’ story of our need “to pray
always and not to lose heart,” (Luke 18:1). The
Prayer Chain faithfully takes regular, prayerful
action on behalf of the Trinity community, our
city and the world by lifting up specific requests
and concerns.
If you want to ask for prayers from the
Prayer Chain, call Ginny Shafer in the Trinity
office. Your prayer request can be printed in the
Sunday bulletin and in Topics (see the back
cover), or passed on to the Prayer Chain, or both.
Prayer requests are emailed once a week to
members of the Prayer Chain. If you want to
commit to regular prayer as a member of the
Trinity Prayer Chain, call Ginny.
Inching Toward God
Don't have a daily spiritual discipline? Check out
Forward Day by Day. It’s a booklet of 3 months worth of
brief daily meditations reflecting on a Bible passage cho-
sen from the lectionary readings.
These very short reflections are rich
in substance and offer a wide range
of viewpoints and experiences.
Each month’s meditations are writ-
ten by a different anonymous au-
thor, so if one month’s reflections
don’t resonate with your mind and
heart, keep reading!
One brief reading per day can
provide a meaningful connection
between your faith and your daily
life. Free copies of Forward Day by
Day are available at church in both regular and large-
print format.
If you prefer to get your daily dose of God’s good-
ness online, add this address to your Favorites:
http://forwardmovement.org/forward-day-by-day/.
Ramadan 2009: Day 1
Here is my prayer today:
God, Creator of all people, in this month when a bil-
lion people will observe Ramadan with fasting and
prayer, with devotional reading and with kindness to
the needy, may your Spirit be at work in the hearts of
Muslims, Christians, and Jews (who together make up
over half the world's population) as well as people of
other faiths and no stated faith.
May your gentle voice call us to move beyond our
tribal visions of a deity who loves "us" but hates "them."
Help us to see you more truly as you
are, a God who is pure light, rich in
mercy, whose mercy triumphs over
judgment, who knows us each by
name, and who graciously considers
us beloved, wherever we are from,
whatever our background, whatever
labels we apply to ourselves or oth-
ers apply to us.
May your voice of truth call us
to question the prejudices and mis-
conceptions about you and about
one another that we learned from
well-meaning but misinformed au-
thority figures, even when they
thought they were speaking in your
name.
May your voice of peace make us
ashamed of our violence, hatred, fear, superiority, and
resentment. And may your voice of courage inspire us
to walk in the way of reconciliation, even when that path
is dangerous and difficult.
May your voice of compassion teach us to see one
another - and ourselves - with new eyes, your eyes. And
so may we forgive one another where we have been hurt
by one another; may we humble ourselves and admit the
truth where we have done the hurting; may we repent
where we have chosen the small ways of revenge and
exclusion rather than your greater ways of reconciliation
and embrace.
May your voice of wisdom call us out from our vi-
cious cycles of self-destruction.
With your help, Lord, may we, who are faithful and
loyal to the different doctrines and traditions we learned
from our beloved parents and respected teachers, not let
our loyalty to sacred teachings and traditions make us
disloyal to you or to one another. For in this age of
crushing financial debt, we all have a beautiful and liber-
ating debt, Lord, to you and to one another: a debt of
love. For as Jesus taught us, the greatest command is to
love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength,
and to love our neighbors - including those who con-
sider themselves our enemies - as ourselves.
May your voice of goodness nourish in our hearts a
desire that is even greater than the desire
for food and drink. May you create in
us an insatiable hunger and thirst to
be filled to overflowing with your
goodness - to everyone, Lord, but es-
pecially to the poor, the sick, the mis-
understood, the rejected, the vulner-
able, the forgotten. For the common
good, Lord, bring together those of us
who have all that we need and more,
and unite us together with those in
need, so that all will soon have
enough and more to share.
It is good, Lord, when people pray
and sing praises to your name. But
how hollow are those words and
songs when we do not also honor you
by honoring one another. For how can
we honor the God who cannot be seen
when we dishonor our neighbor, made in your image,
who can be seen?
So, Creator and Provider and Sustainer of Life, Giver
of all grace, Source of justice and mercy, may your voice
be heard deep in my heart, and in the hearts of all people
on earth, this beautiful planet that displays your artistry,
majesty, and power. Amen.
From an August 22, 2009 post on Brian McLaren’s blog, at
http://www.brianmclaren.net/
9
September is Hunger Action Month
1 in 8. That's the number of Americans who will
struggle with hunger today. But equally striking is the
number of meals you can provide with even a small do-
nation: 3-4 meals for every dollar given to a food bank.
This is Hunger Action Month, an effort sponsored by
Feeding America (formerly America’s Second Harvest)
to raise awareness of the ongoing fight against hunger,
and to show people just how big a difference they can
make.
As the nation’s leading domestic
hunger-relief charity, Feeding Amer-
ica’s network of food banks supply
food to more than 25 million Ameri-
cans each year, including 9 million
children and 3 million seniors.
Feeding America
(feedingamerica.org) will host events
across the United States this month
that directly benefit hunger-relief
efforts. They’re asking all of us to
take action against hunger in what-
ever ways we can. There’s something everyone can do
to help eliminate hunger. Here are a few simple, local
ideas:
Food for Thought always needs peanut butter, jelly,
chips, pretzels and cookies for its Saturday lunch pro-
gram. If you’d rather give time than food (or both time
and food), people gather every Friday night at New Har-
vest Christian Church, 3540 Seaman Road in Oregon to
prepare the lunches starting at
6:00pm and finishing up around
7:30pm. Food sharing and rela-
tionship building happen on Sat-
urday mornings beginning
around 10:00am at the corner of
Michigan and Adams Streets, just
outside the Main Library and just
a few blocks from Trinity. Volun-
teers are always welcome.
Feed Your Neighbor can always use donations of
non-perishable food items and/or money. Bring the
food to Trinity on Sunday mornings and put it in the
Feed Your Neighbor basket. Or make your check pay-
able to Trinity Church, and write “Feed Your Neighbor”
on the memo line (then Trinity will keep track of these
tax-deductible contributions for you).
10
There’s a local Hunger Action Month event: on
Thursday evening, September 24, the Toledo Northwest
Ohio Food Bank will host its 4th annual Hunger Aware-
ness Interfaith Celebration at Our Lady of Lourdes
Catholic Church, 6149 Hill Ave. near Holland-Sylvania
Rd.
Two online anti-hunger efforts are no effort at all –
you click, and someone else donates and delivers the
food!
Share a Little Comfort is a partnership between
Feeding America and Kraft Foods. Knowing the comfort
that a simple dish like macaroni and cheese can bring to
tables across the country, Kraft is sharing that feeling
with those in need with this campaign. With the click of
a mouse, visitors to www.ShareALittleComfort.com can
contribute one box of Kraft Macaroni & Cheese per day
to Feeding America, up to one million boxes.
The Hunger Site offers a way to help prevent hun-
ger in mere seconds a day. With a daily click of the big
yellow "Click Here to Give - it's FREE" button at The
Hunger Site (www.thehungersite.com), visitors help
provide food to those in need. Visitors to the site pay
nothing; the food is paid for by the site's sponsors and
distributed by Mercy Corps and Millennium Promise
worldwide, and by Feeding America to food banks
throughout the United States. In 2008, visitor clicks
yielded more than 8.2 million pounds of staple food for
hungry people. Bookmark this site and click every day;
no spam will follow. On those days when you feel like
one person can’t make a difference, your click here will
make a difference.
Hunger Action Month is a reminder to all of us to
become engaged in ending hunger in God’s world.
Who Would Jesus Friend?
by Lynette Wilson
Madison Avenue has long
known that word of mouth is the
best advertising — a truth regularly
played out on Facebook, the online
social networking site.
Brandon Mozingo, 32, of
Chattanooga, Tennessee, became a
fan of the Episcopal Church on
Facebook after noticing a friend
became a fan. The same with Ann
Redmond, 54, of Tallahassee,
Florida, a member of St. John’s
Episcopal Church and a singer in
the choir.
As of August 16 the 2.2 million-
member Episcopal Church had
7,455 Facebook fans. Another 883
people follow the Church on
Twitter, the social network/micro-
blogging online instant messenger.
The Episcopal Church created a
Facebook presence in early 2009
and began sending “tweets” via
Twitter in April. Initially the
Facebook page saw a huge spike in
fans, but adding new fans now
trends toward gradual growth.
Tweets from the recent 76th General
Convention in July in Anaheim,
California, spiked the number of
followers on Twitter, said web
producer Barry Merer.
Elizabeth Apgar Triano, 45, of
Patterson, New York, became a fan
through Episcopal Café, an online
source of aggregated Episcopal
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/episcopalian
Twitter: http://twitter.com/iamepiscopalian
Episcopal Life Online: www.episcopalchurch.org/elife
news, blogs, visual arts and
spiritual readings produced by the
Diocese of Washington.
“One of the reasons I signed up
for Facebook in the first place was
to keep track of Episcopal things,”
she said in a telephone interview. “I
like it because when something gets
posted it is sent straight to me, I
don’t have to go over and check. I
love my church and it’s very
handy.”
It works like this: top stories
posted to Episcopal Life Online and
news posted to the Office of
Communication’s News Line are
fed automatically to the church’s
Facebook page by Real Simple
Syndication, or RSS. The article’s
headline appears on the main page.
Clicking on the headline takes you
to a “note.” The full article can be
viewed by clicking on the “View
Original Post” link on the note
page. Fans of the page can also
share links, news stories, photos,
videos, etc. (News stories posted to
Twitter link directly to the story.)
Merer administers the site,
which so far has policed itself, with
fans respecting the open, unedited
dialogue approach, he said.
Rex Tomb, 59, of Arlington,
Virginia, posts stories to the Episco-
pal Church’s Facebook page to
draw attention to the suffering and
persecution of Christians
worldwide.
“It [Facebook] provides
tremendous freedom,” Tomb said,
adding that he sticks to posting
stories from credible news sources
like the Washington Post, the
Christian Science Monitor, and
United Press International (UPI).
Redmond said Facebook is a
good way to “get better in touch
with the lay community,” and
likened it to the old days when
“people went to the town square to
pass information around.”
In a church as widespread as the
Episcopal Church and the Anglican
Communion, it’s nice to hear
members’ voices in an open,
insightful dialogue, said Mozingo,
who is also pursuing the priesthood
in the Episcopal Diocese of East
Tennessee.
A drawback, however, Mozingo
said, is that people don’t always
read the articles they post
comments on.
An article in which the Episcopal
Public Policy Network requested
that Episcopalians support
healthcare reform drew a record
number of responses: 95 people
“liked” the story and 89 people
posted individual responses
ranging from “The Episcopal
Church should try spreading the
Gospels and should stay out of
politics,” to “Every tax-paying
American should have affordable
health care coverage.”
Ginger Mortimer O’Connell, 60,
of West Virginia, said she follows
the Episcopal Church on Facebook
because, she says, “I think it is the
most convenient way to be daily re-
minded that the church is a living
organism in transition.”
—Lynette Wilson is staff writer for
Episcopal Life Media.
11
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Episcopal Diocese of Ohio

2230 Euclid Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44115-2499
vision & mission
Trinity is called to be a progressive, inclusive, creative urban faith community.
800.551.4815 216.771.4815
We will practice radical hospitality.
The Rt. Rev. Mark Hollingsworth, Jr., Bishop Ordinary
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that connect us to God, to one another, and to the world around us.