The vision statement of the Church of the Good Samaritan states that we seek to be “transformed by God’s love and empowered to serve our neighbor.” The Vision Statement of the Outreach Committee states, “Therefore, it is the committee’s goal to invite every member of the Church of the Good Samaritan to be involved in serving our community in the name of Jesus Christ.” In accordance with that goal, we will provide financial, organizational and volunteer support to the ministries and programs that help our neighbors in need and provide opportunities for every Good Samaritan to participate. Parishioners discover their own gifts in everything from home repair, financial counseling, mentoring single moms, supporting women in crises pregnancies, serving meals, distributing food, providing fellowship and comfort, helping to move, giving a ride, or advocating for the disadvantaged. Some of the many ministries offered by Good Samaritan include: the Benevolence Committee, the Food Closet, Job Seekers, and Prison Ministry. Good Samaritan sponsors many outside ministries and raises funds for missions and outreach through various programs throughout the year.
Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. John 13:14-17
For the homeless and poor, the primary mode of transportation is often walking, whether to work, the Drop-In Center, or their camp site in the woods. Obviously this takes a toll on their feet. Furthermore, many of these same individuals have medical conditions such as diabetes, which affects the circulation to their feet. In 2003, parishioners at All Saints’ Church learned of a foot-washing ministry to the homeless in Chicago that began primarily as a teaching tool for nursing students to use their assessment skills.
All Saints’ began a similar program of foot washing on the first and third Mondays of the month. Parishioners wash feet, rub in some lotion and powder and give each individual a clean pair of socks. Originally the time coincided with a visit by the Medical Van so if any problems were detected, they were referred to a nurse. One person had undiagnosed diabetes; his feet were very swollen. The nurse immediately tested his blood sugar which was sky high. He was admitted to the hospital that night and stayed for over a week. After a few months and more visits to the hospital, social workers were able to place him n a group home. Another individual asked to be taken to an AA meeting and eventually was reunited with his elderly parents. Because of budget cuts, the Medical Van no longer comes, but there is one All Saints’ volunteer who is a nurse and another who is an EMT. They take blood pressure, which is popular with everyone, and monitor the foot washing.
The number of people served varies, as do the success stories. But it is a good way to get some conversation started, and to tell them the story of Jesus washing his disciples feet. We pray for that person whether out loud, or silently. Parishioners have been blessed so much by this- even when they do not see any tangible changes. They preserve by knowing that Jesus wants to reach these forgotten and often invisible members of society.
(The Ministry Focus for April will be ministries and programs that focus on prayer. Please submit information about your church's prayer ministries and events to hreichert@acn-mac.org.)
A few weeks ago, I led a Lenten retreat at a Virginia church. I stayed with a family very well versed in things both theologically and politically Anglican (no small feat in these confused days). In the course of our conversation, I began saying, “Bishop John Guernsey, one of our Network bishops....” My host interrupted me and said, “But he’s a Uganda bishop!” The answer is of course that Bishop Guernsey is both. But the exchange made me realize just how much confusion our current situation has generated.
That being the case, it seemed to me that some comment on who exactly is “in” the Network is required. By our latest figures, the Anglican Communion Network has 828 affiliated parishes.
To arrive at that number, we are counting the parishes of the nine affiliated Network dioceses of Albany, Central Florida, Dallas, Fort Worth, Pittsburgh, Quincy, San Joaquin, Springfield, and South Carolina. (Rio Grande took a number of steps towards affiliation, but had not finalized its status when its bishop resigned to join the Roman Catholic Church.) We do not count the parishes in each of those dioceses who have asked to be removed from the Network’s database. For instance, that means that we don’t include the five parishes in the diocese of San Joaquin that have clearly thrown their lot in with The Episcopal Church.
To speak very frankly, we don’t expect all of these dioceses to maintain their Network affiliation indefinitely. However, we are not in the business of kicking people out. Affiliated parishes and dioceses can change their status as they wish, and we honor their decisions.
We are also counting the 105 parishes under the pastoral care of the Anglican provinces of Kenya, Uganda and the Southern Cone. These parishes, and the bishops that oversee them, look to the Network to provide their connection to Common Cause, as well as to other orthodox Anglicans, whatever their jurisdiction. With them, the Network’s system of convocations continues to operate. There are currently 136 parishes primarily connected to Network convocations. The vast majority of these remain within The Episcopal Church.
A smaller group of Network parishes have also decided to come under the jurisdictional authority of our Common Cause Partners. These include the Convocation of Anglicans in North America or the Reformed Episcopal Church. We are happy for these parishes to maintain their relationship with us.
Of course, at the end of the day, it doesn’t much matter how many parishes we count as affiliates. It does matter a great deal how we work together to build a biblical, missionary and united Anglicanism here in North America. That’s our mission, and, we hope, the mission of all those who have joined with us since we began more than four years ago.
Yours in Jesus,
The Rev. Canon Daryl Fenton
Chief Operating Officer
Anglican Communion Network
"Compelled by Christ: The Whole Church for the Whole World," is a conference designed to help lay people to become involved in mission work. The conference, co-sponsored by Truro Church, will take place at All Saints Church on Saturday, April 19, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm and will feature exciting and motivating plenary speakers.
Common Cause: Working Together in Mission & Ministry
with Church Planting Pre-conference
April 17 - 19, 2008
Holy Cross Anglican Church
Loganville, GA
www.acn-sec.org
Anglican Communion Network and Common Cause moderator Bishop Robert Duncan will be keynote speaker at the event’s Thursday evening opening session. Veteran church-planter, the Rev. Tom Herrick, will lead a pre-conference seminar on Thursday. Friday’s morning session will feature Bishops Alex Dickson, John Rodgers, and David Anderson, Bishop-designate William Ilgenfritz and other Common Cause leaders in a panel discussion on God’s work being accomplished through the gathering – or “clustering” – of Anglican congregations all over the United States.
The 2008 National New Church Conference, “Exponential ‘08” will feature speakers such as Rick Warren of Saddleback Church and Tim Keller of Redeemer Presbyterian (PCA). The conference offers “seven main tracks packed full of practical and inspirational material [that] will include dozens of leaders in church planting and church leadership.”
Anglican Men's Weekend - West Coast
May 16-18, 2008
Forest Home Christian Conference Center
Forest Falls, CA
http://www.stjamesnb.org/
This event is hosted by the Men’s Commission at St. James Anglican Church. The speakers include The Most. Rev. Henry Luke Orombi, the Rt. Rev. John Guernsey, and the Rt. Rev. David Anderson. The cost is $175 if registration is received before April 15, 2008.
Anglican Men’s Weekend - East Coast
May 30-June 1, 2008
Clarion Resort
Shepardstown, WV
The theme is "Courage: At home, in the family, in the workplace and in the Church.” The speakers include Bishops Guernsey, Bishop Bena, Bishop Minns and the Rev. John Yates. The cost is $195 per participant and registration will be available online on a first come-first served basis beginning Sunday April 6, 2008.
Sharing Our Faith
Anglican Communion Network
Calendar Year 2008
Throughout the country
The ACN is holding evangelism training events throughout the country. These include workshops to train in evangelism, as well as actual outreach gatherings.
April 11-13, 2008: Bakersfield, CA
April 17, 2008: Loganville, GA
June 7, 2008: All Saints, Long Beach, CA
June 21, 2008: St. Edward's, San Jose, CA
September 12-14, 2008: Ascension, Pittsburgh, PA
If your church is having an event, we would be happy to publish it, not only so that interested people might attend, but so that we can be praying for you. Send information to newsletter@acn-mac.org .
Feel free to forward this newsletter to members of your congregation.
Let us not be satisfied with just giving money.
Money is not enough, money can be got,
but they need your hearts to love them.
So, spread your love everywhere you go.
-- Mother Theresa
John Guernsey, Dean | George Beaven, Church Planting Director | Heather Adams, Executive Assistant | Heidi Reichert, Administrative Assistant
Mid-Atlantic Convocation | Anglican Network Communion
c/o All Saints' Church | 5290 Saratoga Lane
Woodbridge, Virginia 22193-3455
Tel: 703-670-0093www.acn-mac.org
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