Saturday, May 13
Ariane Lydon to perform at St. Barnabas in Portage
St. Barnabas Episcopal Church - 929 E. Centre - Portage, MI www.stbarn.org
(click on their address for a map)

Ariane Lydon will be in concert at St. B's CoffeeHouse on Saturday, May 13 at 8pm. (doors open at 7:30 pm)

An exceptionally talented vocalist, harpist, guitarist and songwriter, the admission price is $10 at the door. Contact John Kinslight at: jkingslight@chartermi.net or 324-4902 for reservations. This is Mother's Day eve - so a good night to bring your mother too... or you mothers - have your family bring you!

Visit www.arianelydon.com for more on Ariane - including song samples
"Marvelous voice, brilliant harp and guitar work. Never saw anything like it" --John Renbourn (Pentangle)
"Ariane is a great, sultry singer and a funny, funny girl who can make 2,000 people roar with laughter..." --Joanie Madden (Cherish the Ladies)

August 25-26, 2006
SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT PROGRAM

Spiritual Discernment program Application Form & Program Essentials can be downloaded here:
http://www.edwm.org/pdf/2006-SDP.pdf

PLEASE NOTE:
The Spiritual Discernment Program will now be held at Grace Church, Grand Rapids, beginning August 25-26. It will not be held at Kettunen Center, Tustin as previously advertised. This move will lower program costs considerably and utilize a more central site. Overnight accommodations will be arranged in private homes, essentially offering bed and breakfast, at no cost to students.

The previously announced application deadline of May 15 is hereby extended to May 31 in order to get the word out.

Fr. John Crean, Program Director
paulepigrr@aol.com
616-540-4566 

• Fri & Sat:
  June 30-July 1
  July 28-29 and
  Aug 18-19, 2006
  (Must attend all three sessions
  at Transformations Spirituality Center, Kalamazoo, MI

• MICHIGAN ORGANIZING PROJECT: Justice Assembly
  Kalamazoo, MI - Thursday, May 11, 2006
  
• Would you like to see more family-supporting jobs in our community?
• Do you think our immigrants deserve a chance at the American Dream?
• Do you think homeless people deserve a decent, affordable place to live?

Come and make change possible in these areas…We will have key decision makers in attendance from the City of Kalamazoo, Kalamazoo County, as well as state and federal legislators from our area.

THURSDAY MAY 11 2006 - 7:00 P.M.
MOP JUSTICE ASSEMBLY
ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL
930 LAKE STREET, KALAMAZOO, MI
Sponsored by Michigan Organizing Project (269-344-1967)

• DAUGHTERS OF THE KING - SPRING ASSEMBLY
  MAY 13, 2006 9:30am – 2:30pm

  Spring Assembly and Labyrinth Walk at the Cathedral in Portage (directions below)
  Brown Bag Lunch – Please Remember To Bring Your Own Drinks
  Muffins, coffee & tea will be available upon arrival in the morning.
  An ice chest will be available to keep your drinks cold.
  ALL WOMEN ARE WELCOME
  (you do not need to be a Daughter of the King, or even Episcopalian, to attend)

  Please RSVP to Penny Campo-Pierce at (231) 946-1224, or pcampopierce@chartermi.netmailto:pcampopierce@chartermi.net

  Directions to Cathedral of Christ The King:
  Located near I-94 (east of US-131). From I-94, take Exit 75, Oakland Dr., and turn north (you will be on Oakland Dr.) Turn left at Vincent Ave. and continue 0.3 miles until you reach the Cathedral at 2600 Vincent Ave., Portage, MI.

• HERE COMES EVERBODY!: Christian Communities That Work
  Trinity Church presents
  a Live Internet Telecast Exploring Christian Communities That Are Coming Alive!
  May 25, 2006 at 8:00 p.m.
  

  NEW YORK- Trinity Church-St. Paul’s parish in Manhattan will present a live online telecast on Ascension Day, Thursday, May 25, 2006 exploring the increasing interest within Christianity to build inclusive and progressive faith-based communities.

  Here Comes Everybody!: Christian Communities That Work is for lay and clergy leaders who want to learn how to re-build their faith community through the renewal of basic practices of hospitality, discernment of the church’s calling, personal testimony, observing the Sabbath, and constructive, open conversation.

  Some might find it surprising that “emergent churches” are forming because people feel called to form communities without a creed, doctrine, biblical orthodoxy, or even the structure of a denomination. They simply feel called to share a spiritual journey in a dynamic Christian community. This program will show how they are doing it.

  This telecast will bring together three prominent advocates for reimagined discipleship including Diana Butler Bass, a senior researcher at Virginia Theological Seminary and director of the Project on Congregations of Intentional Practice; the Very Reverend Alan Jones, dean of Grace Cathedral in San Francisco; and Brian D. McLaren, founder of Cedar Ridge Community Church, an innovative, nondenominational church in the Baltimore-Washington, D.C. area.
  
  Here Comes Everybody!: Christian Communities That Work will be telecast live at www.Trinitywallstreet.org from 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. (EST) and will include an in-depth interview with each guest, and a panel discussion with telephone and email Q&A from viewers. Following the live telecast, the program will be available for viewing online and by ordering DVDs through www.TrinityWallStreet.org.

• FIT 2006
  a self-guided summer fitness program designed to encourage individuals and groups to increase their level of physical activity. Citizens of Michigan and Rotarians are joining with counterparts in Finland, aiming at increased fitness levelsand better health.

  The goal is to be physically active for the summer of 2006 - a minimum of 30 minutes a day, five days a week - and ultimately for life. This is a three-month commitment from June 1st to August 31st - walking, running, biking, dancing, lawn mowing, etc. Your effort must be for a minimum often minutes at a time. You do it when and where it is convenient.

  Encourage your family and friends, church, workplace or other groups to join Fit 2006 with you. It is simple to participate and there is no cost. Register online or CLICK HERE for registration form and complete information.

  For more information, you may also contact Karl Sandelin at sandelin@iserv.net

• A BENEDICTINE EXPERIENCE
  AT THE EPISCOPAL HOUSE OF PRAYER COLLEGEVILLE, MINNESOTA
  September 19-24, 2006. Sponsored by the Friends of Saint Benedict & the House of Prayer
  
  The Benedictine Experience is a time spent in community designed for those who wish to nurture and strengthen their daily lives through prayer and spiritual companionship. It is modeled after the balanced way of life set out by St. Benedict in his Rule, giving due attention to body, mind and spirit.

  This will be our 11th Benedictine Experience at the very lovely House of Prayer. Several participants have returned year after year, and they requested a Benedictine Experience for alumni or for those who have had some exposure to the Rule of St. Benedict. The format will remain the same but the lecturers will be invited to speak beyond the basics. However, we would like to emphasize that past participation is not a requirement. All are welcome who wish to come and enter into a simple rule of life, which supports their witness to Christ at home, work and church.

  For a complete flyer with registration information, fees, schedule and more - please visit the diocesan website
  FILE DOWNLOADS - CONFERENCES or click HERE

CALENDAR ITEMS:

MAY:

• 5/6/2006: Registration Due - Safeguarding God's Children - St. Mark's Grand Rapids
  Call Mary McGuire @ the Episcopal Center for additional information and to register.
  
• 5/6/2006: ECW of the Diocese of Western Michigan will hold its 125th Annual Meeting
  on Saturday May 6,2006 at Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, 5333 Clyde Park SW, Wyoming , MI 49507. Click link to GOOGLE® Maps.
  A complete packet containing a letter of invitation, registration form, flyer, directions, agenda and board nomination form is available at the following link: http://www.edwm.org/ecw/pdf/2006_ECW-PACKET.pdf
  
• 5/8/ through 510: THE 2006 CLERGY CONFERENCE
  "Lord, let our eyes be open and our bodies be healed." St. Francis Retreat Center - Dewitt, MI.
  Click HERE for a downloadable .pdf with additional information & registration
  
• 5/11/2006: CONFIRMATION - Lakeshore Deanery - St. John's Episcopal Church - Grand Haven - 7pm.
  
• 5/11/2006: MICHIGAN ORGANIZING PROJECT - JUSTICE ASSEMBLY - 7 PM
  ST. JOSEPH CATHOLIC SCHOOL - 930 LAKE STREET, KALAMAZOO, MI (269-344-1967) for more information.
  
• 5/13/2006: DAUGHTERS OF THE KING - Spring Assembly
  Please RSVP to Penny Campo-Pierce at (231) 946-1224, or pcampopierce@chartermi.net
  
• 5/20/2006: SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN CERTIFICATION TRAINING - St. Mark's Grand Rapids
  Call Mary McGuire @ the Episcopal Center for additional information and to register.
  
• 5/20/2006: Executive Council
  
• 5/20/2006 - Anti-Racism Training Traverse Deanery
  9AM-4PM @ Grace Church, Traverse City - Registration due: May 6
  
• 5/25/2006: Retired Clergy Luncheon - Cathedral of Christ the King - Portage
  11:00am Eucharist. Lunch follows the service.
  Please RSVP to Anne Labat-Gepert as soon as possible: gepertranda@aol.com or 269.217.8864
  
• 5/25/2006: Here Comes Everybody!: Christian Communities That Work -Webcast -
  Trinity Church presents a Live Internet Telecast Exploring Christian Communities That Are Coming Alive!
  May 25, 2006 at 8:00 p.m. (www.trinitywallstreet.org)
  
• 5/25/2006: FIT 2006
  Fit 2006 is a self-guided summer fitness program designed to encourage individuals and groups to increase their level of physical activity. Register online or CLICK HERE for registration form and complete information.For more information, you may also contact Karl Sandelin at sandelin@iserv.net
  
• 5/29/2006 - MEMORIAL DAY - EPISCOPAL CENTER OFFICES WILL BE CLOSED

JUNE:

• 6/14 - 6/18/2006 E3 – Youth Participation at General Convention
  Where: Columbus, Ohio (site of General Convention 2006)
  Contact Gennie Callard at the Episcopal Center for more information on attending.
  This is an opportunity for high school students (young people in grades 9-12) to attend the General Convention with a group of other high school students from the entire Episcopal Church (all around the nation and even beyond!).
  
• 6/22 - 6/24 WESTERN MICHIGAN CURSILLO
  Grace Church Holland.
  

JULY:

• 7/7-8/2006: WOMEN OF FAITH - CHICAGO, IL
  Visit their website for more information: www.womenoffaith.com

AUGUST:

• 8/26 - Registration Due: Anti-Racism Training - Lakeshore Deanery on September 9, 2006.
  
• 8/25-26/2006: SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT PROGRAM
  Spiritual Discernment program Application Form & Program Essentials can be downloaded here: http://www.edwm.org/pdf/2006-SDP.pdf
  

SEPTEMBER:

• 9/1-4/2006 - SOLO FLIGHT and the Spirituality of Homing (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/soloflightepis/)
  A national Episcopal Conference for adults who are single. Kanuga Conference Center, Hendersonville, NC. A non-refundable deposit of $50.00 (made payable to Kanuga Conferences) should be sent to: Registration Services - Kanuga Conferences, P.O. Box 250, Hendersonville, NC 28793 (Tel: 828-692-9136) http://www.kanuga.org For further information: Offices of Solo Flight - Catch the Vision, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 27, Paris, KY 40362 kcollierm@diolex.org or davidwperk@aol.com
   
• 9/9/2006 - Anti-Racism Training - Lakeshore Deanery
  9a - 4p at St. John's in Grand Haven. Registration due: August 26th.
  
• 9/24/2006: SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN CERTIFICATION TRAINING - St. Luke's - Kalamazoo
  Call Mary McGuire @ the Episcopal Center for additional information and to register.
  
• 9/30/2006: SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN CERTIFICATION TRAINING - Emmanuel - Petoskey
  Safeguarding God's Children 9:00am-12:00pm
  Adult's Model 12:30pm - 3:30pm
  Call Mary McGuire @ the Episcopal Center for additional information and to register.

OCTOBER:

• 10/7/2006: Anti-Racism Training - Grand Valley Deanery
  Location to be announced. 9a - 4p