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"Tending
God's World – NOW!"
2008 Ministry Fairs
Hands-on ways you and your congregation can tend God’s
world - NOW!
Sustainability: “Living in such a way that provides for the
needs of today’s people while at the same time assuring that
future generations have all that they need to lead fulfilling lives” is
the working definition from “Handle with Care,” the environmental
curriculum used at Rock Point Summer Camp, 2008.
Everybody’s welcome! Come all day or come for part of the day. Choose from five workshops in the morning. Worship and break bread together. Hear from the youth of the diocese. Be a part of the Pre-Convention Hearings in the afternoon, a time to learn more about the issues Convention will be covering.
DATES AND LOCATIONS
October 11, Saint John's Episcopal Church, 15 Summer Street, Randolph
October 18, Zion Episcopal Church,
5157
Main Street, Manchester Center
November 1, Cathedral Church of Saint Paul, 2 Cherry Street, Burlington
SCHEDULE
9:00—9:15 a.m. Registration and Coffee
9:15—10:15 a.m. First Round
of Workshops
10:15—10:30 a.m. Break
10:30—11:30 a.m. Second Round of Workshops
11:30—11:45 a.m. Break
11:45—12:30 p.m. Eucharist
12:30—1:15 p.m. Lunch
1:15—2:00 p.m. Diocesan Ministry Presentation: Conversation with youth
2:00—4:00 p.m. Pre-Convention Hearings
NEW FEATURE! Think Globally, Eat Locally: A delicious home-cooked lunch at the
ministry fair too!
For this year’s ministry fairs, and in the development of best
practices, locally grown and prepared food will be offered as the lunch
at each ministry fair. Two soups, one of them vegetarian, local cheeses,
apples and other fall foods will be served for a suggested donation of
$5 per person. Bring your own mug for coffee and strive to have a “no
waste” lunch. Enjoy the
meal and help to lessen your carbon footprint by decreasing the miles
that the food served at lunch traveled to your plate.
HOPKINS BOOKSHOP will offer
books and resources on sustainability for sale at each Ministry Fair.
Titles will include books by author, educator and environmentalist
Bill McKibben, the 2008 Convention Forum speaker.
REGISTRATION
There are two easy ways to register.
Download the registration form and mail to:
Ministry Fair Registrations
Diocese of Vermont 5 Rock Point Road
Burlington, VT 05408
Contact the Diocesan Office and give your name,
parish and workshop choice:
by phone 802-863-3431/800-286-3431 by e-mail: adminasst@dioceseofvermont.org
MINISTRY FAIR WORKSHOPS
1. Getting started! A Resolution Calling for
Climate/Carbon Neutrality Energy Audits, or What is an energy audit and
how do I get one?
In November 2007, delegates to the 175th Convention of the Diocese
of Vermont unanimously resolved that each of its parishes conduct an
audit of its energy use and consumption patterns and that each parish file
a report before the 177th convention. To help you and your congregation
get started, members of Vermont Interfaith Power & Light (VTIPL)
will conduct a sample energy audit with its do-it-yourself audit workbook
for religious buildings. Workshop leaders will describe the assessment
process and summarize VTIPL's assessments of many Episcopal churches
in VT. They will describe what some churches in the Diocese of VT have
done to decrease their carbon footprints. The final piece to the hour-
long workshop will include an instructional walk. www.vtipl.org
2. Carbon footprint/Carbon
offsets; ways to lighten your impact on greenhouse gas emissions
This workshop, led by Green Mountain Offsets co-founders Tracy Magner
and Bob Waters, will address issues of carbon emissions. In addition
to explaining our carbon footprint, and examining ways we can conserve
to lessen our impact on the environment, we will talk about the concept
of carbon offsets: what they are, how they work, and how they help the
fight against global warming. Green Mountain Offsets is a Vermont-based
company founded with the vision of helping Vermont become the first carbon
neutral state. Through the proper use and implementation of carbon offsets,
this vision may soon become a reality. The photo-voltaic installation
at St. Barnabas, Norwich, Vermont will be highlighted as an example of
what can be done throughout the diocese. www.greenmountainoffsets.com
3. Bread and Community
Bread is a profound and ancient symbol of life. Flour and salt – the
makings of bread – were frequently brought to our early altars.
Today we share bread at almost every meal and it is broken and shared
at the center of our worship every Sunday. We have always known that
in order to live we will always have to receive and care for the gifts
of life. We also know that we must share these gifts. They are not for
us alone. In order to really live, we need to give, we need to share,
we need to love. How are we bread for one another? How do we break, bless
and share all the gifts that God has given us?
This workshop, led by the Rev. Lisa Ransom, Vicar, St. Dunstan’s, Waitsfield, and Theresa Gleason, Vestry member of St. Stephen’s, Middlebury, will focus on the metaphor of bread through meditation, Lectio Divina and the mixing and baking of communion bread using local ingredients. We will share recipes, experiences and offer our bread for our Noonday Eucharist. www.SaintDunstans.com, Gleason Grains
4. The Global Water Crisis Comes to Vermont
Starting off the three-part workshop, the Rev. Sister Laurian Seeber will present
an overview of water issues on the international level (with thanks to Maude
Barlow). The major presenter will be Annette Smith of Vermonters for a Clean
Environment on the statewide situation with water. The third part will be different
in each venue, with folks from Water 1st in Randolph; from Dorset Citizens
for Responsible Growth in Manchester; and People Concerned about Chloramine
in Burlington: all discussing local issues. www.vce.org
5. Developing the Capacities
for Responding to Climate Change: The 350 ppm goal and the call to action
In the late 1980's the level of CO2 in the atmosphere passed 350 ppm,
the safe level of carbon dioxide for maintaining a suitable climate for
our planet, and the Earth continues to warm. Climate change calls us
at once in two directions. It calls us to immediate and powerful action
to protect the future livability of our home planet. But it also, if
we let it, calls us towards greater awareness of the innumerable gifts
the Earth has given us. In this non-technical exploration of climate
change you will explore the criteria for sound paths to achieve progress
toward the 350 ppm goal. This workshop has been developed from materials
created and assembled by
Beth Sawin and Phil Rice from Sustainability Institute and Tina Clarke
from Clean Water Action. www.OurClimateOurselves.org
Diocesan Ministry Presentation:
Providing a Rich Soil for All Generations - Afternoon conversation with
youth
Young people will hold a conversation about strengthening the relationships
between adults, children, and youth. We will explore the ways young people
are good stewards in their congregations by giving themselves to service
in their community and church. Young people have something to say about
how they are perceived by the church and how important spirituality is
to them. Young people will bear witness that they are “Sown in
the Heart of Christ.” Step onto rich soil and experience worship,
conversation, and the abundant fruits that young people offer. This conversation
was inspired by young people who attended the Episcopal Youth Event in
San Antonio Texas July 8-13.
