The Rev. David Klutterman will serve as Priest-in-Charge of St. John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, Wisconsin Rapids of the Diocese of Fond du Lac, the Episcopal Church in northeast Wisconsin. The responsibilities of the position are similar to that of a Rector. The appointment was made by the Rt. Rev. Matthew A. Gunter, Bishop of the Diocese of Fond du Lac and affirmed by the Vestry. The position is on a part-time basis. Fr. David retired from active service in February 2018. He previously served St. John the Baptist, Wausau, St. James, Mosinee, St. James, Manitowoc, St. Matthias, Minocqua and St. Mary of the Snows, Eagle River. Fr. David's first Sunday with St. John's will be January 6, 2019. St. John the Evangelist is had its start in the 1870s when the present Wisconsin Rapids area was settled. The congregation moved from mission to parish status in 1941. It is a worshiping community of about 50 people. It has a tradition of supporting community outreach including the Neighborhood Table, a feeding program, and Personal Essentials Pantry. Learn more about this congregation stjohnschurchwr.org.
The 144th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Fond du Lac was held October 19-20, 2018 in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. The convention began in prayer in Evensong at the Cathedral of St. Paul. This was followed by a time of fellowship and a banquet at a local hotel. Banquet guests viewed the “Way of Love” video featuring from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. The expected guests from our Companion Diocese of Masvingo were unable to attend because of last-minute Visa issues. Saturday also started in prayer at the Convention Eucharist held at the Cathedral. Bishop Matt Gunter gave his Pastoral Address “Abide in Jesus, the Way of Love.” The focus was that in a time of political, economic, social and religious upheaval and uncertainty, we can still experience the abiding love of God. After the service, worshippers moved four blocks to the Thelma Sadoff Center of the Arts for the business session. Regular business was conducted with a constitutional amendment passing its second reading. Its effect is setting a more practical quorum for the convention of a majority of clergy and lay delegates duly registered. Stewardship of financial resources across the diocese was addressed by raising awareness of the need to complete financial reviews in a timely manner, some required by canon to ensure voting privileges for lay delegates. Several presentations were made including these topics: the diocesan discernment process, youth ministry, Cursillo, the 2019 Way of Love revival, and a revitalized United Thank Offering under a new diocesan coordinator. Elections were held to fill diocesan positions and appointments were made and confirmed. Three new deans were installed to serve deaneries. A proposed budget was approved. One of the exciting reports was from the team leading the Faithful Innovations Learning Community process. This process builds on last spring’s diocesan vital congregations conference and is a multi-denominational process facilitated by Luther Seminary. Faithful Innovation is not a program, but a process to assists congregations and their members to be more deeply involved in their faith and how to live it out in their community. One delegate summarized the convention this way, “It dealt with the needed business of being the diocese without getting mired in peripheral issues.” Information on aspects of the diocesan convention, including the Pastoral Address, election results, video and images may be found at diofdl.org/convention. Each October, Grace Episcopal Church Sheboygan, hosts a Quiet Day and Pilgrimage in commemoration of Our Lady of Walsingham. This year, the Rev. Chris Arnold led the three meditations on Friday and preached at the Holy Eucharist on Saturday. You are invited to watch the videos for all of the events. Texts of the meditations will be available online shortly. Hardly a day goes by that Islam is not raised as a subject of concern by the news media. Islam has been on the minds of Americans since the events of 2001; however, it seems clear that most Americans know little more about Islam than they did before 9/11. “What exactly is Islam?” “What do Muslims believe?” “How should we as American Christians relate to Muslims?” Oftentimes, when we don’t understand a group of people whose faith and culture is different than ours, we approach them with fear and distrust. In Unveiling Islam, Episcopal priest and former Muslim, the Rev’d Canon Ezgi Saribay Perkins, will present a series of talks intended to engage the Fond du Lac community in a meaningful dialogue about the beliefs practices of Islam, paying particular attention to its similarities with and differences from Christianity. The talks will be held on Wednesday nights from October 10-31 at 6 pm in Trakel Hall of the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul the Apostle, 51 West Division Street in Fond du Lac. Refreshments will be served. The Rev’d Canon Ezgi Saribay Perkins was born in Western Turkey and raised as a Muslim. After coming to the United States for college education, she converted to Christianity. In 2008, she became an Episcopalian and continued her faith journey in the Episcopal seminary, where she met her husband, the Very Reverend C. Patrick Perkins. She currently serves the Canon Precentor to the Cathedral Church of Saint Paul the Apostle. |
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