Meeting New People

Posted By: Mrs. Ann Bustard

As a deputy to General Convention 2009, we have had wonderful opportunities to meet other deputies in legislative committees, legislation sessions, and chance meetings!  For me, it is very important that I am intentional about meeting others whom I have never met before.  As I have listened to the stories of others, and heard their prayers and concerns, my life has been enriched to the point that I shall remember these stories in the days ahead with thanksgiving.

Live from LA…

For this General Convention, Episcopal Church Center staff members in communication and information techs  have developed an amazingly powerful tool for everyone to use: The Media Hub. Want info on an upcoming piece of legislation? Want to see this morning’s sermon? Want to hear people share in legislative hearings? See what’s happening right now? All this and more awaits you. You’ll find the media hub referenced in our blogroll on this page for a direct link, or type this into your favorite browser: http://gchub.episcopalchurch.org/

Telling Stories

Posted By: The Rev. Canon Matthew Stockard

This Thursday morning offered all present for The General Convention a time of mission conversation prior to the celebration of The Holy Eucharist, at which The Most Rev’d The Lord Archbishop of Canterbury preached. The conversation was a moment of hearing one another. All deputies, visitors, exhibitors, and bishops are invited to participate in this work, which is one aspect of an extensive ‘Public Narrative’ experience in which ultimately all Episcopalians are invited to participate and to share.

So what is this grand thing? It’s a short time for the disciplined practice of what may be a long lost art. Telling personal stories which provide clear articulation of personal motivations, so that others are invited more deeply into an understanding and potential participation of God’s call to ‘love one another’ and the ways that call is lived out in mission and ministry. That’s a mighty big sentence. Let me try a smaller one. When we share stories that have inspired us to action, we invite others to join us in this work.

E Pluribus Unum

Posted By: Ms. Keri Dixon

Imagine sitting in a warehouse-like room as the sound of over 6,000 voices wash over you in song.  Now imagine the sound of over 6,000 chairs scraping against the concrete floor as over 6,000 people stand up and sit down during worship.  Now, imagine hearing the readings in your native language, and then hearing another reading in one that is foreign to you, but native to the person sitting to your left.  Imagine hearing the Presiding Bishop’s voice echo throughout the cavernous space as she gives her sermon on transplanting the heart.  This is opening eucharist.  A rich mixture of habitual and warm with the foreign and unusual.

My Packing List

Posted  By: Mr. David Abbott

And, suddenly, what seemed so far in the future, is NOW!  I’ve actually been preparing for General Convention for a long while–keeping up with Church news online and in print, following several blogs and list serves, poring over the “Blue Book” and going over the so-far-submitted resolutions on the Episcopal Church website.