August 12, 2018 Dear All Saints’ Ohana, Since arriving over five years ago to serve as Rector and Head of School at All Saints’, the most significant lesson I have learned is the importance of ‘Ohana. This month, Erin and I will be blessed with a new member of our ‘Ohana—a beautiful daughter. We are overjoyed by all that awaits us in parenthood—and a little nervous. Our daughter’s birth is a life changing event in so many wonderful ways. Her arrival also means our priorities and needs will dramatically shift literally overnight. As we prepared for this next chapter in our lives, Erin and I identified that our number one long-term priority is for our daughter to grow up surrounded by her immediate ‘Ohana. We also realized that we will want and need the support of our families. Therefore, we concluded that God’s call for our family could eventually include a return home to California to raise our daughter and continue our careers. Following a series of conversations this summer with The Right Reverend David Rice, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin (Central California), we recognized that God’s call for us was materializing much sooner than we ever imagined. Bishop Rice has called me to serve as the Dean of St. James Cathedral in the Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. This is an extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime opportunity both professionally and personally. Professionally, this call will allow me to serve a Cathedral and Diocese in a significant leadership role amid a period of unprecedented rebuilding and resurrection. Personally, our new home will be in the Fresno/Clovis area—centrally locating us to most of our family spread throughout the state of California. Thus, Erin and I have embraced the call and opportunity to return to California later this fall. We imagine this news will be received with mixed emotions. Erin and I share those same feelings. We have been so blessed by the All Saints’ ‘Ohana—it has been an honor and privilege to serve All Saints’ and the people of Kaua‘i. You have shared so much love and support for which we will always be grateful. Mahalo nui loa! We hope you will join Erin and me on Sunday, November 4th (All Saints’ Day) to celebrate the conclusion of our ministry together. Most importantly, on that day, our daughter will be baptized into the household of God surrounded by her All Saints’ ‘Ohana. Erin and I cannot imagine a more appropriate setting for our daughter to begin her life in Christ. It is by the grace of God and through the love, support, and joy of the All Saints’ ‘Ohana that Erin and I have been able to embark on our journey to parenthood. In the coming weeks, the Vestry, with Bishop Bob Fitzpatrick and Canon Sandy Graham, will begin to chart a vision for the transition period and the search process. They are committed to making the whole process collaborative, transparent, and spirit-filled. As one chapter concludes and a new one begins, our call to serve God and those in need is unchanged. May God continue to bless our All Saints’ ‘Ohana. Faithfully in Christ, The Reverend Ryan D. Newman Rector and Head of school
Dear All Saints' 'Ohana, Since becoming a member of All Saints' back in 2003, I have served on the vestry in one capacity or another just about every year. It is my belief that vestry service needs to be personally fulfilling, life-giving, and fun. It is an awesome responsibility to help lead a congregation, especially in times such as these when the congregation is growing and transforming . Amid this period of transformation, especially as we rebuild, renew, restore, and enhance the physical space of the church, we are also seeking to help our congregation to grow and thrive. Many people find transformation exciting and invigorating; however, for others, it can be challenging. New ideas, new approaches, and new people can create anxiety and stress. Yet, with new vitality comes incredible opportunities for innovation and new ways of being the Body of Christ in the world. To serve on the Vestry is both an amazing opportunity and a significant privilege. While it is an honor to be elected to serve on Vestry, the role is not an honorary position-it comes with expectations and responsibilities. Those who serve on the Vestry of All Saints' are expected to participate in the broad life of our church. Regular attendance at worship services and Vestry meetings is the cornerstone of a Vestry member's duties. In addition, vestry members will be called upon to exercise servant leadership by example and by participating in both the business and spiritual life of the church. A simplified Vestry member job description might look like the following:
The work of the Vestry is for everyone-young and young at heart. Whether you have been at All Saints' a lifetime or just a little while, you might be called by God to serve on the Vestry. All of us have very busy lives and lots of demands on our time and energy, but if you can bring a sense of joy and wonder to your work on the Vestry, you will be doing a great service for yourself, your family, and the entire All Saints' 'Ohana. We invite you to submit your name for consideration to be on Vestry. Applications are available at the entrance of the Church (look for the pink form) or can be downloaded. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to Fr. Ryan or Vestry members including myself. Mau loa me ke maluhia aloha - always with loving peace. David Murray Senior Warden GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES FOR ALL VESTRY MEMBERS All vestry members should strive to the best of their abilities to:
All vestry members should be able to make the following time commitments:
All vestry members are responsible for:
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Peace,
This Sunday at the 9:30AM service, we will gather for the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi (more commonly known as the Blessing of the Animals). Since our earliest days in the Church, we learn about Saint Francis’ love for animals and all of God’s creation. However, Francis was much more than an animal lover. He was (and is) a prophetic voice for peace and reconciliation. More than ever, Saint Francis’ vision for peace is deeply needed in our nation and the world. Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. As I prepared to go to bed on Sunday, October 1st, I glanced at my iPhone to catch up on the news of the day. As I opened CNN.com I was shocked to learn of the events unfolding in Las Vegas. A joyous gathering at a country music festival was tragically transformed into the scene of the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. I was in shock and deeply saddened. I wanted to help those suffering . . . but all I could do is pray—so I prayed the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis. Where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith. The government of the United States is failing to protect the people who call this country their home. For way too many years (well before the tomfoolery of the current leadership in Washington D.C.), lawmakers have been in a polygamous relationship with both the people of this great nation and special interest lobbyists. Commentator Dan Hodges said a few years ago, “In retrospect Sandy Hook marked the end of the US gun control debate. Once America decided killing children was bearable, it was over.” Since that awful day on December 14th, 2012 when a madman shot and killed 26 people including 20 first-graders, one would assume that our nation would rally together like never before and begin making the nation safer by enacting stricter gun control laws. We would assume 20 first-graders being gunned down in their classroom would make every lawmaker an immediate advocate for real change regardless of any lobbyist’s influence or party affiliation. Unfortunately, too many of our leaders merely offered heartless and soulless rhetoric aimed at placating their special interest donors and their political party’s platform. Did 20 first-graders simply die in vain? Where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Nothing has changed since the tragedy at Sandy Hook Elementary. On June 12, 2016, 49 people were killed and 58 others wounded in a hate crime inside Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. On October 1, 2017, 58 people were killed and another 489 injured when a gunman fired on a large crowd of concertgoers at the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip in Nevada. Since Sandy Hook, as of October 2nd, 2017, there have been at least 1,518 mass shootings in the United States, with at least 1,715 people killed and 6,089 wounded. The counts come from the Gun Violence Archive, a database that tracks events since 2013 in which four or more people (not counting the shooter) were shot at the same general time and location. O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console, to be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love. We . . . humanity must respond to this humanitarian disaster. Guns and gun violence are tearing apart our nation, they are destroying families, and they are senselessly ending the lives of so many beautiful people. Now, more than ever, we must be instruments of peace in this world and hold accountable those who have significant access and ability to bring about peace, reconciliation, and true change. For it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. We are the voice of peace in this world. We are called to speak out and act on behalf of our children and for our children’s children. We must protect our brothers and sisters from violence, fear, and hatred. God’s call us to be prophetic witnesses of God’s love—a love that is always peaceful. Those who oppose love oppose peace. Those who oppose peace oppose love. May God give us the strength and courage to be instruments of peace to this broken world. Furthermore, may we embody Saint Francis’ vision—to care for God’s creation with every breath of our lives. Amen. The Reverend Ryan D. Newman Rector and Head of School All Saints' Episcopal Church and Preschool |
BLOG Archive
November 2023
|