Jenks Remembers: The First Half: 1973-1994

The First Half:  1973-1994

During Jenks’ first 20+ years at Trinity, Sunday church attendance rose from about 35 to over 110.  In retrospect, Jenks thinks that all of the significant events in those two decades relate to this growth in attendance and the resulting evolution of the structures and processes of Trinity.

In April 1979, Jenks remembers that Trinity went through a crisis.  Attendance was down, the budget was severely in deficit, the vestry was often at odds with Jenks, and the church began to think it might close its doors.  Jenks was not thinking of going elsewhere, but he did realize that, at six years, his tenure was already longer than almost all recent rectors of Trinity.  Jenks says that he came to Trinity a young minister at his first church, full of his own ideas, and into a church that was family size (less than 50) where everyone knew each other and most grew up with one another.  

Trinity engaged a consultant, Bernie Johnson, from our diocesan staff, to guide the church through a painful but productive planning process.  Jenks said that he learned to listen to and really hear what the vestry had to say to him; and the vestry learned that adding to the congregation many new people that they did not know required rethinking almost everything about the church.  Through a rigorous process in the summer and fall of 1979, Trinity began to grow the vestry, adopted specific goals for the church, and expanded the organizational structure and processes, thereby involving more people in church leadership.  

Jenks recalls that from April 1979 to December 1979, attendance grew from about 30 into the 50s, and the church ended the year with a surplus of $5000, not with closed doors as had been feared! Years later, he read materials that told him that the church had grown from a Family Chapel to the beginnings of a Pastoral Church.  In a family church, says Arlin Rothaugh in Sizing Up a Congregation (I borrowed a copy from Jenks), “well established patriarchs and matriarchs” guide the church as an extended family, with the priest serving as family chaplain, but not as “the primal father.”  As the church grows into a pastoral church, leadership shifts to the minister, who is at the center of almost all activities.  Jenks thinks that "the rise in attendance, income, and activity resulted from embracing together the reality of a pastoral sized church having passed the limits of what a family chapel size could do.”  He reflects that “from a somewhat negative and fearful attitude resisting change in early 1979, we managed to evolve into a congregation which welcomed everybody’s gifts and was excited about moving forward together.”

Based on the new structures and processes and the “education” of Jenks and the vestry, in the 1980s and beyond, Trinity grew in its programs, services, and lay leadership out of a self-conscious sense of what Trinity was and what it wanted to be.  Sunday School grew as the number of children increased. Lynne Baines was an early Sunday School Superintendant; Lucy Oliver and others followed. The Wednesday morning Bible Study began by reviewing the readings for the coming Sunday. Then in 1986 they began at Genesis 1:1 and read straight through for 16.5 years. (they then began again 12 years ago this month). Jenks has always led this, but in the very collaborative style that he seeks to apply in many aspects of leadership at Trinity. Trinity’s involvement in Curcillo aided in raising up lay leadership and involvement.  Later in the decade and into the 1990s, lay readers, lay litanists, and lay eucharistic ministers grew in participation in services and church work.  Jenks recalls one parishioner quipping, “If we keep this up, Jenks won’t have anything to do.”  This growth and expansion of programs and lay involvement was integral to the influx of “boomers” and their children.  

By the 1980s, it was obvious to many members that the church needed to expand physically, as well as programmatically.  A first step was taken in 1985 when twenty feet was added to the Parish Hall.  This created the Bromfield Room and space in the basement for the rector’s office and parish office, which had been located in the rectory.  But, this was only the beginning.

With 110 in regular attendance on Sundays and growing, many began to think that the sanctuary was too small and that the lot was too small to facilitate any further expansion.  A long study process in the early 1990s recommended that Trinity move its building to the edge of town and build a new parish hall.  Jenks says this was a very difficult time in the church as the move was not popular. It was a time of acrimony and angry voices filled many open meetings, with Jenks and the Senior Warden taking much of the heat.  It became clear that the church wasn’t going to move because such a decision would have divided the congregation.  No architectural plan that was explored for expanding the sanctuary proved feasible or affordable on the existing site.  So, another solution to growth emerged in 1994----the 9:15 family service.

In a growing church, increasingly filled with newcomers from elsewhere, ideas for changes in the worship service were bounced around. In the early '90's Trinity decided to experiment at the 11:00 service once a month with a differently styled "family service."  When Jenks was on his first sabbatical in 1994, he explored alternative worship styles in various churches.  In December 1994, Trinity the separate 9:15 service was born.  It was a short 45 minutes, more informal, filled with upbeat hymns that young children did not have to read, and included the now famous Question Box.  Charlotte Nichols first played the organ for the service, as well as led the choir for the 11am service.  But, soon Lorraine Duisit joined the service with her children and volunteered to play the guitar.

So, besides providing alternative services for the increasingly diverse congregation, the 9:15 service provided an imaginative way to expand worship space as the numbers continued to grow in the later 1990s to around 130 average Sunday attendance.  Without knowing it, Trinity had grown toward the upper edge of the Pastoral sized church.

Jenks Remembers:
The Jenks and Todd Show

Rappahannock County, Trinity Church, and Jenks in 1973

By Todd Endo

Jenks preached his first sermon at Trinity Church on July 1st in1973.  That was a long time ago.  Jenks has changed since then.  Trinity Church has changed as well.  The town of Washington has changed.  Rappahannock County has changed.  What were all of these like in 1973?  Jenks remembers....

When Jenks arrived in 1973, the 211 bypass had just been completed.  Prior to that, 211 came up Middle Street, entered a sweeping curve at the intersection with Main Street with a blinking red light warning signal, and continued out of town on Main Street.  He remembers folks telling him that before the bypass there was a lot more street noise, especially caused by traffic and even buses on Middle and Main Streets, many bringing skiers to the nearby ski slope in Harris Hollow.

Merrill Ford and Esso, once one of the oldest Ford dealerships in the country, occupied what is now the Post Office and the Country Cafe. Its showroom windows are now those of the Country Cafe.  Merrill Ford began on the site now occupied by the Inn.  After Merrill moved, what were to become the Inn buildings became an antique shop. In 1978, The Inn began as a small restaurant and grew into it present mega status. Jenks say that “despite occasional ruffled feathers over parking issues, they have been good neighbors on many counts and continue to pay their monthly parking rent right on time.”

Clopton House, Jenks recalls, was a private low income apartment building with five units. The church parking lot was part old concrete floor, part potholed gravel, purchased about 1962 and cleared of buildings at that time. The church bought the Quiet Place prior to Jenks' arrival and tore down the buildings on it, which had been in disrepair and “were rumored to house ladies 'of ill repute.'” Trinity House was owned by Reed Payne and then later by Roger Batchelder. Mountainside Market, later moved to Sperryville, began there. In 1999, Trinity bought it and renovated it to its current uses. The Rappahannock Medical Center was built about 1974.

In 1973, the population of Rappahannock was at its lowest ebb in the 20th century—about 5200 people by the 1970 census. The general layout of the town of Washington was about the same as now, but there were more empty and run-down buildings.  He remembers more drinking and driving, racing through the town at night.  There were more children living in town then. He vividly recalls stories about the town telephone operators, Alice Verner and her daughters, prior to automatic dialing. “The daughters had made the switchboard the proverbial gossip center and source of much useful information, such as which young lady already had a date, so no use to call!”

The current physical Trinity Church remains pretty much as it was in 1973. Built in 1857 with the bell tower/vestibule added about 1900, all of it was stuccoed in the 20's. The Parish Hall was built in 1957 and was twenty feet shorter until its expansion in 1985.  The Dried Flower Sale & House Tour was begun to pay off the mortgage on the original hall. 

A dominant force in the church when Jenks arrived was Emily Miller, seemingly in charge of everything, although she held no official position in the church. She lived on the phone, she knew everything, she knew everybody. She helped Jenks begin his process of understanding who was here, who was who, and who was kin to whom. He had a standing invitation to have lunch with her, and went once or twice a week so that she could tell him what he needed to know about who was in the hospital and such.

When Jenks arrived in 1973, Trinity had one service on Sunday, attended by an average of about 35 worshippers.  Most of them, Jenks quipped were either named Miller or kin to them. Low church Virginia Morning Prayer was the dominant liturgy, with communion once a month.  The 8:00 communion service began in 1974, as soon as Jenks was ordained priest. He recalls that the service rarely had more than five worshippers in the 1970s, often none. Many of these were weekenders. Jenks remembers that the growth of families with children began shortly before he arrived and continued during his early years at Trinity. The 9:15 service was added in 1994 to accommodate that continued growth. Along the way the liturgical practice of Trinity has evolved into a rich variety of expression.

Jenks says that his path to Trinity was pretty direct, although not foreordained.  He tells some of this story in his “From the Rector’s Desk” column in this issue of the Trinity Times.  I will conclude this segment with Jenks’ decision to choose Trinity Rappahannock over Trinity Arlington where he had done his seminary internship.  Jenks says that he “was proudly country and ready to return after 11 years of educational time in the city. This Trinity was a clear choice!”  We are happy that he did!

Photographs from Rosettenville

Altar Area before Service

The Reverend Rod Greville and his wife, Beta Ann

Exterior, St. Mary's, Rossettenville

Before the Early Service

Interior View before a Service

The Reverend Rod Greville before a baptism

Stained Glass Window

Stained Glass Window

Haiti Update

By Russ Collins

Mission Trip Feb 21st to Feb 25th, 2015

I’ve scheduled a 5-day trip to St. Marc, Trouin in February.  The intent is threefold: checkup on activities at the St. Marc Schools; introduce new missioners to our work in Haiti; and review progress on a Goat Program, which Trinity initiated in October.  We will leave early Saturday so as to arrive in Trouin late that afternoon, attend church on Sunday with some time to relax, observe school activities on Monday and Tuesday and travel home on Wednesday.   I want to organize our team early in December, so please contact me soonest if interested (russcoll@comcast.net)

Recent Visit to St. Marc, Trouin

Mary Frances leMat and Peggy Spillenkothen made a brief visit to Trouin late in October to follow-up on construction accomplished under the Mustard Seed Grant from our Diocese, observe activities at the school, and continue our relationship with our friends in Haiti.  They were warmly received, as always.   Please ask them to share their impressions when you see them.

Trinity Goat Program for Trouin

Thanks to special contributions from several of our members, we matched resources provided by Voix et Actions to begin a goat program in the Trouin area.   The program will improve goat care and breeding and ultimately donate goats to 110 families. The goats will improve the economic situation of over 500 people who now live in poverty.   Viox et Actions is a Haitian organization affiliated with the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti which manages our micro-loan and student loan programs in Trouin.  

Jenks Remembers

Jenks Remembers

By Todd Endo

This is the first article in a series in Trinity Times based on interviews with Jenks.  In this introduction, Jenks describes his initial responses to my question about the key events and issues in his 40+ years of ministry at Trinity Episcopal Church.  We will follow with both a chronological approach and a thematic approach. For future articles, we ask for your ideas of key events and issues that you wish Jenks to address.  Send your ideas to toddendoarlington@gmail.com and jenks333@mac.com 

Not surprisingly, the first two key events that Jenks relates are personal ones.  Jenks first describes, in some detail, his ordination in the Trinity Church sanctuary, officiated by Bishop John Baden.  He was pleased that the Diocese chose to ordain each minister in his own church in the midst of family, friends, and parishioners.  Jenks remembers:

So many people were here, family and friends from other places. The congregation was here and it was a great celebration. I do very much remember kneeling on the chancel step with the full sense of the other priests who were there joining in the ordination and a very strong sense of the Holy Spirit pressing down on me and saying this is where you're supposed to be! And this occurred with no inkling on my part that this is where I would be for 42 years, or 41 from that point in 1974.  All has unfolded with the power of the Holy Spirit through good times and bad, through the struggles we have had and joyous celebrations. My father's sermon at my ordination was based on the parable of the talents. I hope that I have been faithful to that and the effort will continue because I will retire as rector but not as priest.

Jenks next shared other personal events as fond memories:  the birth and baptism  of his son, Jennings, in 1979 and three years later the birth of his daughter, Berkeley.  He also related the death of his father in 1991 and the following Sunday service at Trinity, at which Sean Kilpatrick gave the sermon on his father’s ministry.  In all of these, said Jenks, he felt immersed in the community of the church, which shared his joys and sorrows.

As important worship services, Jenks highlighted two that extended beyond the Trinity Church community--the traditions of the 11 o’clock Christmas Eve service and the Easter sunrise service.  He recalled that Nels Parson volunteered his land for the Easter service and talked Jenks into it in 1984.  With great peace and joy, Jenks described standing on the hill facing into the sunrise and “celebrating the moment when the women discovered that Jesus had risen.”  About both services, Jenks fondly emphasizes that people from throughout the community attend, not just regulars at Trinity Church.

Also, as part of Trinity’s fun community outreach activities, Jenks listed as two of his key events, the first chancel play by youth in the late 1980s and the ongoing tradition of Vacation Bible School.  He said that the first play was called “Psalty” and featured youth choirs from Trinity and Washington Baptist and a solo for which he was coached diligently by Dawn Fisher, youth choir leader.  About Vacation Bible School, Jenks emphasized the partnership with Washington Baptist Church (and early on, the Methodist Church) and the fact that, for many of the children, the summer week was their only exposure to church all year.  Jenks’ indelible memories of these two youth activities rest heavily on his joy of having fun with kids:  “I love having fun with the kids and that goes back to my original call to share the joy of God.”

Of course, some of the key events on Jenks’ list focus on the programs and structures of the church.  The first he emphasized was the impact of participation in Cursillo beginning in 1981.  Libby Snead, a returned Peace Corps volunteer, wanted to attend the introductory three day retreat and needed the church pastor to attend with her.  So, Jenks agreed to go.  From that start, dozens of Trinity members attended the Cursillo retreats and the follow-up small study groups.  Jenks resonated with Cursillo’s joyfulness in God:

It changed our sense of who we were and how we celebrate God and how we serve God. It had a tremendous effect on me, on Trinity, and on our life together. Cursillo gave me the blessing, if you will, an affirmation of my sense of joy in God. From my earliest time and my early sense of call as a young person, I found God to be fun and joyful.... Cursillo gave me a way to make that fit. It was joyful, it was exciting, and it was based in God.

Moreover, Jenks thinks that Cursillo profoundly and permanently changed Trinity, especially in its commitment to outreach to the local and larger community:

I think that the group reunions with the requirement of weekly talking about piety, study, and action, thinking of our relationship with God became the foundation of the great sense of outreach that this church has today. For the size of our church today we do a great deal of outreach both across the world through formal programs, and locally through the inspiration for each individual one of us to impact the community around us.

Almost twenty years later in 1999 or 2000, pushed by Holly May, Jenks introduced another study group, Education for Ministry, into the life of Trinity.  He said that he had expected, by now, to have passed the leadership of EFM on to someone else, but now will still find it very difficult to let loose of the reins.  Jenks observes that the influence of Cursillo and EFM on the church is seen in by the high proportion of Cursillo enthusiasts who became vestry members, and likewise for EFM members in the last decade.

Finally, Jenks pointed to the crisis of 1979 as a watershed year for the church and for his ministry at Trinity.  He points to this period as a difficult time for the church and for him.  The finances were in the “red,” participation in church leadership and church activities were lagging, and the structure and processes of the church were out-of-date.  Through the help of a consultant from the diocese, Trinity planned for a more dynamic life, involved more people by asking for more and getting more people to say “yes.” A most tangible result was increased church attendance, resulting in getting the church out of a deficit. Working through the crisis of 1979, Jenks ended the string of relatively short-term ministers at Trinity and embarked on his lengthy journey with Trinity Church. 

Climate Change as an Ethical Challenge by Bev Hunter

Climate Change as an Ethical Challenge: 
Religious Creativity and Empowerment for Change 

Conference at Virginia Theological Seminary September 20, 2014
Organized by the Stewardship of Creation Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia
 Summary by Beverly Hunter, Trinity Episcopal Church of Washington, Virginia

Three members of our parish attended this conference: Sharon Kilpatrick, Carolyn Emerick, and I.
This meeting was timely for me, as I consider next major efforts and offerings in my own mission for stewardship of creation.  The meeting helped me to dispel some ideas that are unhelpful, reinforced and deepened some ideas I have been working on, and helped me focus on areas of next efforts.  The keynote speaker's thinking also could have implications for Trinity Washington congregation if the congregation wishes to address these matters in a deep way.  For example, there are possible implications for liturgy, local outreach projects, and special forums.

Keynote speaker Willis Jenkins is Associate Professor of Religion, Ethics, and Environment at the University of Virginia. The scope of his teaching and research interests is interdisciplinary with university connections to Religious Studies, Environmental Sciences, Politics, the Bioethics Program in Philosophy, the Environmental Law Program in the Law School, and the Department of Public Health Sciences in the School of Medicine.
Willis says  that churches must do more than issue official pronouncements against climate change or in favor of specific policies. “Climate change represents a much broader moral and cultural crisis. So the creative, pragmatic action that is needed must show how we can become the sort of people and societies that can bear responsibility for the atmosphere. It’s more than policy.”

His recent book is titled The Future of Ethics: Sustainability, Social Justice, and Religious Creativity.  He interprets  big questions of sustainability and social justice through the practical problems arising from humanity's increasing power over basic systems of life. What does climate change mean for our obligations to future generations? How can the sciences work with pluralist cultures in ways that will help societies learn from ecological change?

Jenkins started his talk by dispensing of some ideas he says are common but not helpful as we look at ethical challenges involved in climate change.  The idea that we must seek a “solution” or a “plan” to climate change is not helpful.  There is not one “solution” either to be found or agreed upon.  The idea that we need “certainty” about climate change, either scientific or moral, is not helpful.  The question is, what is ethical in a world where humans now play a role in atmospheric behavior?  Religious communities should be openly examining these ethical questions in many forums and in liturgy.

Further, he says it is not helpful to say we need “world view change” in order to address climate change or ethical challenges.  That is too hard of a challenge, and probably is not helpful from a cognitive standpoint either.  There is no true false solution.  Climate change is a “wicked problem.”  It is complex, on multiple scales temporally and geographically.  There is no central authority.

As I heard Willis, I understood him to say that focusing on climate change deniers is not helpful.  We are all in everyday denial in our lifestyles, behaviors, investments, infrastructure.  Better to focus on tactics that will create positive directions to move in, rather than abstract arguments against deniers.

Some ethical questions to ask are:  What is the global allocation of responsibility when we have dispersed causes and effects?  There is a perverse asymmetry of interests and impacts.  There is also the intergenerational dimension.  Cause and effect are dispersed over time.  There is ineptitude.  We lack concepts and institutions.  The whole problem exceeds cognitive and political capabilities.  There is radical inequality between human impoverishment and energy development.  How to allocate ownership of the sky?

His questions are:  What is the implication of climate change and what role can religion play?  We need “moral creativity” with potential to negotiate uncertainty.  For example, the practice of “love your neighbor”.  Where is love in a global scene?  In the West, we ask “What is our idea of justice, not just among people but all of creation?  In the East, we ask “Bring us into communion with all nature.”  In the Global South, we say “Polluters should be held accountable.” 

Willis advocates examining and acting on specific tactics.  In the examination example, he discussed divestment.  Divestment is a tactic and a movement.  The idea is to divest from assets in fossil fuel companies.  This might be akin to slave holders joining the abolitionists.  But slavery is morally wicked.  Burning fossil fuels is not inherently wicked.  In that regard it is different from slavery.  Should church divest?  If so, you must state your terms of the engagement.  What terms are demanded of the companies you are divesting?  What is the possible desired future you are seeking?

A tactic Willis mentioned briefly, that is of special interest to me, he describes as “Food as sacrament of new life.”  Invest in changes in a way of life, in how food is produced and distributed.   

It's Graduation Time at Trouin, Haiti

While the primary purpose of our visit was the opportunity to attend graduation of the first class from the Professional School, we continued to build relationships with our brothers and sisters in Haiti. Relationship is the gift we exchange with each other when we take the time to visit.  We did, however, bring 3 suitcases of school and church supplies with us (shown on the table).  

Everyone was dressed up for graduation and who could resist Pascal's daughter, checking out Nicole's iPhone in the photo.   In contrast to Rappahannock County, we get excellent cell service in the mountains around Trouin, Haiti.   Pascal operates the "water house", a project of Living Waters of the World, which provides clean water for St. Marc and Trouin.

Region XIII provided a few instruments for the music class at the Professional School last spring and Dory, one of the students was delighted to demonstrate his keyboard skills for us.

Another highlight of the trip was a soccer (“futball”) match between supporters of St. Marc and a team of local young men.   You can see at a glance why "futball" is the world's sport.   Nicole and Lori played in the match and raised the bar for women’s sports in Trouin. A great time was had by all, including the spectators like Russ.  

Please, contact Russ Collins at russcoll at comcast.net if you would like to learn more of our work in Haiti.

"The parish of St. Marc, Touin, Episcopal Diocese of Haiti thanks Region XIII, Diocese of Virginia for everything you are doing in the community of Trouin.  God bless you."

The Graduates

Dory

Dressed Up

Gifts

Soccer

Outreach Projects in China-Congregation of the Good Shepherd

Trinity’s Outreach tries to go where our support is most needed, will go the furthest, and we have contacts to know the situation.  Our projects in China have been through the Congregation of the Good Shepherd (COGS) in Beijing, China, an international, interdenominational congregation.  Dick and Judy Reidinger worked with their service projects for five years while living in Beijing.  COGS supports a range of projects all over China; members visit projects several times a year to keep in touch.  

In spite of economic progress in China, there is little government safety net or other help for those in need or disadvantaged.  Chinese Christians face many obstacles, even persecution, and are often extremely poor.  COGS works with churches all over China.

Projects have included programs for blind and disabled children, pastor training, help for poor rural schools, orphanages, agricultural and medical projects, etc.  With special help from Trinity, COGS also responded to the 2008 earthquake in Sichuan with some of the first trucks with medicines, blankets, etc. in some of the devastated areas.  They then helped rebuild one of the local churches, which despite its poverty and damage was serving as a center of help in the area.  Our outreach really can make a difference!  COGS also works with churches all over China, and has ongoing collection of food, clothing, etc. Website: http://www.cogs-bj.org/programs/service/

Besides current projects shown below, COGS has supported many others, including orphanages.

Special Education School for Mentally-Challenged Children: “Granny Han” Pengcheng - Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province

This school for children with special needs has become known in China for its unique ability to make a difference in the lives and even in the I.Q. of severely mentally challenged children. “Granny” Han Rufeng, a retired teacher, established the school in 1989, after she was unable to find a school that would take her grandson, whose I.Q. was below 50. Due to the school’s unique teaching methods, the students are able to learn life skills, read and write, and to be employed after graduation.  This school, from its bare beginnings in a shack (which Judy visited) has become a model in China, but still struggles for adequate support, with very low teacher pay. http://www.pop-market.com/ (video); http://www.characterreflections.com/granny-hans-school/ (by former pastor of COGS, Elyn Macinnis.  (who has visited Trinity).  

Rural Development:  Evergreen Project - Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province

Evergreen is a Christian organization that operates health, education, agricultural and economic programs in Shanxi Province. Their work includes boosting farmers’ livelihoods by improving pig breeding and vegetable growing techniques, providing refresher courses for local English teachers, and developing family medicine and public health care.  COGS sells hand-cut paper cards produced by very poor families under one of Evergreen’s programs. COGS members also provide financial support and offer their homes to volunteer workers for holiday breaks.  Evergreen has a remarkable history - the grandson of a missionary killed by the Japanese during WWII was asked (during China’s isolationist period of not allowing foreigners like this) to come and renew his grandfather’s work. www.evergreenchina.org

Support for Poor, Rural Churches: Lisu Christians - Fugong County, Yunnan Province

Christianity thrives among the Lisu minority people in a remote, rural part of Yunnan province, with hundreds of churches that offer multiple services held each week.  However, the area is desperately poor, with many homes and churches in tremendous states of disrepair. In addition, there is a great need for more religious leadership in the area, with only three pastors serving over 50,000 Christians.  COGS is currently helping rebuild one of the churches, with members of the local congregations contributing about half – about a month’s income from each local family.

Pastor Training:  Shaanxi Bible School - Xi’an, Shaanxi Province

China has a great need for trained and dedicated pastors. (One previous estimate was there is only one pastor for 7,000 Christians in China – often untrained).  New churches are being built daily and congregations are asking for pastors who can help them learn more, and lay leaders are asking for training.  Shaanxi Bible School is working to become a fully accredited Seminary in China, which requires it to expand its facilities and faculty.   

Help for the Blind: Golden Key Research Center of Education for Visually-Impaired - Beijing

Golden Key supports educational, rehabilitation, and cultural causes for visually impaired children, emphasizing educational materials and training to teachers and elementary education for children in the poorest areas, enabling them to attend their local schools. The center also trains masseurs, enabling blind and visually-impaired people to lead independent lives, prints Braille materials and publishes the only Braille magazine for blind children in China. Members of COGS congregation also volunteer at the center, helping with website design, translation, administration and teaching English.  www.goldenkey.org.cn

Girls’ Education : Spring Bud - Zhushan, Hubei Province, and Gansu Province

Spring Bud program helps rural girls continue with their education. Because of the traditional emphasis on boys, families may deny their daughter an education if money runs short. Our funding helps middle and senior level girls continue with higher education or start vocational training.

Shidu School: Shidu Town, southwest of Beijing

Food, electricity and warm clothes for elementary school children in a very poor remote mountainous area two hours from Beijing. Some children live too far to go home for lunch and in the winter months may not attend school.  Assistance of $83 per child from COGS is given to 30 extremely poor children whose families have a meager income of $33 or less per month.  This helps to partially cover board and lodging for the poorest students.  Most of the parents are illiterate and did not have the opportunity to complete their primary school education.  COGS also visits at least annually to bring school supplies, food, and clothes.  With the help of COGS since 1998, some children have been even able to go on to high school and later to college.

Kaifeng Training Center for the Deaf - Kaifeng, Henan Province

The Center provides services in hearing screening, hearing aids, speech rehabilitation therapy, cochlear surgery, and mental development training for deaf and hard of hearing children and some children with cerebral palsy, preparing them for preschool education.  After 10 years in operation, KCD has successfully helped over 300 deaf children to enter normal kindergarten and primary school.  COGS helps with financial and fundraising and awareness project assistance.

Granny Han and Kids

Lisu church in construction

                                                                    Shidu school children

Shidu scholarship child

AIDS orphan and nun

Shaanxi Bible College – Nativity scene

                  

Some Photographs from the Maraigushu Secondary School Near Lake Naivasha, Kenya

Students in Class

Girls' toilet with new privacy door

Lunchtime in "Dining Hall"

More from Bev Hunter on the Tent of Nations

UPDATE May 20

Dear Friends of Tent of Nations,

Today at 08.00, Israeli bulldozers came to the fertile valley of the farm where we planted fruit trees 10 years ago, and destroyed the terraces and all our trees there. More than 1500 apricot and apple trees as well as grape plants were smashed and destroyed.

We informed our lawyer who is preparing the papers for appeal. Please be prepared to respond.  We will need your support as you inform friends, churches and representatives when  action is needed. Please wait for the moment and we will soon let you know about next steps and actions.

Thank you so much for all your support and solidarity.

Blessings and Salaam,

Daoud

Russ Collins' Update on Haiti

Region XIII Receives Mustard Seed Grant

The Diocese recently approved Region XIII’s request for a $4,975 Mustard Seed Grant, drafted by Trinity Washington, to improve facilities at the St. Marc School.  Improvements to be completed this summer include:  

Installation of secure storage for laptop computers so the students can access them on a daily basis;

Construction and installation of storage cabinets for the cooking and sewing classes, and partition of the Trade School classroom into two classrooms;

Two new doors for security and four additional windows for more light in the classrooms;

Electrical lights for late classes, to be run from the school solar power which was installed by Region XIII, under the leadership of St. James, Leesburg, last year; and

Construction of a Sidewalk along the street side of the 8-room academic school, along with completion of the building foundation.

Pere Goursse's visit to Trinity Episcopal Church, Washington, VA.