SYNOD 2022
The 145th Synod of the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield will happen October 21-22, 2022 in Springfield. Events will be held at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul the Apostle and at the Inn at 835.
Sing Unto the Lord a New Song: Liturgical Music in Small Church Settings
All in the Diocese are invited to a Music Workshop on Friday, October 21 at 3:15 pm. Dr. Geoffrey Williams of Nashotah House will lead explore techniques and strategies for music in worship especially for small congregations. After the workshop, please join us for the Synod Eucharist in the Cathedral at 5:30 pm, where we will see elements from the workshop in use during the liturgy. If you are a music director, liturgical planner, lay leader, or simply love to contribute to your congregation’s musical life, this workshop is for you.
The workshop will take place at the Cathedral and Dr. Williams will be the organist for the Holy Eucharist.
Dr. Williams is the founder and artistic director of the GRAMMY-nominated male classical vocal quartet New York Polyphony. He has served the parishes of Emmanuel Memorial, Champaign; St, Mary the Virgin, Times Square; Trinity Church, Princeton; Washington National Cathedral; and was for a decade a Gentleman of the Choir of Men and Boys at St. Thomas Church, Fifth Avenue. You can read his entire biography at the Nashotah website here.
AROUND THE DIOCESE
If you find yourself in or near Springfield during the week, please join us in praying the Daily Offices at the Cathedral. Morning and Evening Prayer will be lead by Cathedral and Diocesan Clergy, in addition to postulants, aspirants, and Cathedral members. We hope to see you Monday through Friday at 7:30 am for Morning Prayer as we begin our day in praise and thanksgiving or at 5:00 pm for Evening Prayer as the workday comes to an end.
St Matthew’s, Bloomington seeks an organist-choirmaster to begin serving the parish in the Fall of 2022. The organist-choirmaster will serve as St. Matthew’s principal parish accompanist and musician, providing music and music leadership at one mass per week, and additional services for feast days throughout the year. They will also lead the adult ensemble/choir. If you or someone you know is interested, please contact Fr. Tom Reeves via email at rector@stmattsblm.org for more information and how to apply.
Join the community of St. Mary’s, Robinson as Bishop Burgess ordains the Reverend Michael Clark to the Sacred Order of Priests on the Feast of St. Luke, October 18th. The mass will take place at St. Mary of the Assumption Catholic Church (112 Embarass St, Sainte Marie, IL) at 6:00pm.
On October 30th, Emmanuel, Champaign is holding a Service for All Hallows’ Eve. We’ll be hearing the story of the Witch of Endor and thinking about the reality of death and of life everlasting through the aid of our liturgy. Afterwards, we’ll join in fellowship at a Dia de los Muertos-themed reception. All are welcome!
St. George’s, Belleville held their Rally Day recently, where many were brought together for prayers of thanksgiving, a delicious breakfast potluck, special Sunday school activities and a bit of encouragement from some tasty cookies. After breakfast, the crowd was entertained by a group of our young singers. A variety of ministries were represented with displays and volunteers.
We are pleased to welcome our new Communications Coordinator!
Well ahead of my arrival as your Bishop-elect, I was informed that our Communications Coordinator wished to bring her tenure with us to a close. Her husband’s acceptance of a call within the Diocese of Central Florida and their subsequent move to establish a new home on the East Coast of Florida were just two of the motivations behind this decision. At the same time, she informed me that she would remain and contribute fully to a smooth transition of not only my getting established, but in the seeking and naming of her successor. At all times, Hannah Dallman was the consummate professional. She took on responsibilities that advanced the mission of this Diocese and she brought us to a place in our Diocesan Communications that not only brings glory to God but has bound us together in shared thoughts, invitations, images and experiences. That is quite a feat when considering our spacious geography and the isolation we all entered into during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our transitions on many levels were successful because of the thoughtful way she invited us all to be part of telling our story as a Diocese. She is a devout woman who has only our best interest and the success of our Diocese in mind. Now that we have identified her successor, we wish Hannah all the joy and prosperity imaginable, and we ask that she remain close as only those in family relationship can understand or experience. To ensure continuity as we enter into the priorities of another transition, Hannah has agreed to remain in close professional relationship with those of the Diocesan Center.
I am most pleased to announce that Mr. Zachery Buscher has accepted my invitation to join the Diocesan staff as our Communications Coordinator beginning October 15th of this year. This is a detailed contract position that allows him to work on-site at the Diocesan Center and remotely in interest of serving the Diocese and her churches. Zachary possesses a love for our Lord and His Church that is contagious. He is a Baptized, confirmed member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Lincoln and his impressive background includes a great deal of the priorities we reached for during our focused search. Zach leans into the conversation and is excited about being part of our Diocesan staff with responsibilities for promoting the image and priorities of the Office of the Bishop.
Zach is a graduate of Lincoln Christian University with a BA in Biblical Studies. His professional background includes having oversight of the worship and digital communications for a corporate size church of the United Methodist tradition. Zach currently lives in Lincoln with his wife Bethany. Together, they enjoy traveling to national parks, taking walks around their neighborhood, and working in their local community garden.
Please join me in thanking Hannah Dallman for her years of dedicated, professional service and for her direct contribution to a smooth transition. Also, please join me in welcoming Zachary Buscher to our Diocesan staff as he gets established as the one we look toward to tell our story and to invite those who are meant to complete us to “come and see.” This can be accomplished during Synod by introducing yourself to him in interest of making him feel welcome. I encourage you to keep sending in news of what is happening in your churches and consecrated lives. By forwarding announcements, stories, and pictures to Zach, we will be able to continue engaging the high-quality of communications and media that we have become accustomed to expecting.
Thank you for your faithful stewardship. Without your financial support, our evangelical reach would be greatly diminished.
In the peace of God, which passeth all understanding;
+BKB
MINISTRIES FAR AND NEAR
HURRICANE IAN RELIEF
Taken from a letter to Diocese of Springfield Clergy on the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels
As Hurricane Ian now passes over the east coast of Florida into the Atlantic Ocean, we are receiving pictures of the destruction left in the wake of this catastrophic natural disaster. Having just returned to my childhood home for the Ordination of the Bishop Coadjutor of Southwest Florida, I now recognize very little of the landmarks on Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island, and historic downtown Fort Myers, once the winter home of Thomas Alva Edison.
Our communicants, congregations and communities will want to donate to the response and recovery efforts that the State of Florida and local jurisdictions will be confronting for many years to come. We do want to encourage their support of and reach toward those affected by this devastating storm. However, as your Bishop, and as a former emergency manager and public safety official for Lee County, Florida (Fort Myers), I respectfully request that we limit and or direct expressions of support at this time to monetary donations. The next few weeks will be defined by well-articulated and thoroughly exercised mutual aid agreements that require those who respond to be self-contained. In other words, their presence will have little or no impact on the communities in which they enter when it comes to lodging, food and support services. In addition, donations of real items are not needed at this time as these items will only become rummage and additional debris if not sent in the quantities, sizes or packaging required or to the specific locations that are equipped to receive such donations.
Disaster recovery is a very difficult but clearly articulated priority for State and local jurisdictions. We do not want to add to the confusion by sending people or items that are not requested at this time.
I suggest that monetary donations be sent either to The Episcopal Relief and Development Fund with designation indicating Hurricane Ian Response and Recovery Efforts or to the Bishop’s Discretionary Fund of one or more of the following Florida Episcopal Dioceses:
The Diocese of Southwest Florida
The Right Reverend Dabney Smith, Diocesan
The Right Reverend Douglas Scharf, Bishop Coadjutor
8005 25th Street, E.
Parrish, FL 34219
The Diocese of Southeast Florida
The Right Reverend Peter Eaton, Diocesan
555 NE 15 Street
Suite 934B
Miami, FL 33132
The Diocese of Central Florida
The Right Reverend Gregory O. Brewer, Diocesan
1017 E Robinson Street
Orlando, FL 32801
The Diocese of Florida
The Right Reverend Samuel Howard, Diocesan
325 N Market Street
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Please pray intentionally and regularly for those who find their lives now in a state of temporal chaos.
O merciful Father, who hast taught us in thy holy Word that thou dost not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men: Look with pity upon the sorrows of thy servants for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their soul with patience, comfort them with a sense of thy goodness, lift up thy countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP pg. 831)
In the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
+BKB
