In this Issue:

All Saints Village: Executive Council endorses further exploration of concept

Blessing of teddy bears during Bishop's visit and Children's sabath

Part of the Heart of our Mission: News and pictures form around the diocese

Mission in Mississippi: Diocesan Team Works at 10 Locations in Pascagoula

From the National Front

From the Anglican World

2006 Diocesan Convention

Commentaries

From the Bishop: Thankful for how much we have

Reflection: Saints of the address book

X-ercizing: Community, solidarity and humanity (Part 2)

Diocesan Calendar

Past Issues

Mission in Mississippi: Diocesan Team Works at 10 Locations in Pascagoula

“What struck us was the immensity of the damage…and how much it meant to people that we came.” Nine men and women from the Diocese of Lexington traveled to Pascagoula, Miss., to work with clean-up in the area. Along the way, they delivered hundreds of teddy bears to St. John’s Church in Laurel, Miss., before arriving at St. John’s Church in Pascagoula. Many people had lost everything they owned. Homes were fragments of what they had been; landscapes were changed forever by the damage. The crew tore out drywall and insulation, remnants of cabinets and tile, ruined carpet and wood flooring. They threw out furniture and household goods, cleaned up yards, put tarps over roofs and holes. One volunteer used her clown ministry talent to bring some joy to elementary school students who had returned to school after six weeks, but have no books or supplies. The damage, they say, “went on for miles and miles and miles.” Homes, businesses, possessions, fi nancial and personal records have all been lost. Repairs and re-building will take months, perhaps years. In the meantime, men, women and children live in whatever temporary shelter they can fi nd. As they set about their work, a priest said to the Lexington crew: “The work that is being done by volunteers would take years to complete. We might be able to rebuild the buildings, but only by such personal involvement can people begin to be whole again.” Volunteers included Judy Bonguard, St. Raphael’s, Lexington; Celia Dunlap, St.Raphael’s, Lexington; Ann Richmond, St. John’s, Versailles; David Richmond, St. John’s, Versailles; Martha Moore, Ascension, Frankfort; Tony Baranek, Trinity, Covington; Anna Havrilesko, Emmanuel, Winchester; Pat Allen, Christ Church Cathedral, Lexington, and the Rev. Canon Bryant Kibler, Diocesan Staff, who coordinated the relief work. A second group from the Diocese has traveled to the Gulf Coast this last week in November.

Advocate Online Staff:

© 2005 The Episcopal Diocese of Lexington

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