The Diocesan Dialogue
Current Issue
September 2007

Coffee Hour — What's Perkin' in the Parishes

On Aug. 5, St. Jude's, Cedar City celebrated its annual mass from the time of Elizabeth I followed by an English high tea in the parish hall. St. Jude's has been celebrating the mass for almost two decades now as an offering to the community and to visitors to the Utah Shakespearean festival.

Prior to the service, Dr. Douglas Burger spoke about the Books of Common Prayer in use at the time of Elizabeth I, stressing the emphasis on via media from our early days.

The English high tea featured scones, Devonshire cream and jam; shortbread; cucumber and egg salad sandwiches, and several kinds of tea.

The Monday Reading Group will meet at noon every Monday at the Diocesan offices, soon to be the Episcopal Church Center. After the summer break, the group will begin a new book on Monday, Sept. 10: Karen Armstrong's The Great Transformation.

St. Paul's Episcopal Church and Kingsbury Community United Church of Christ, in Vernal, and St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church, Whiterocks, welcomed 20 children who became Sky Scouts, June 11- 15, at their summer Vacation Bible School, LIFT OFF! SOARING TO NEW HEIGHTS WITH GOD. The event was held at Kingsbury Church and coordinated by the Rev. Jim Vierra, Kingsbury, and the Rev. Nina Stasser, Rector of St. Paul's.

The program offered fun, interactive activities that combined the world of hot air ballooning with the discovery of how to reach new heights with God. Each lesson was supported with Bible stories, science activities, songs, crafts, parachute routines, and snacks. The children gathered food gifts for Turning Point Shelter as their mission project, and delivered their gifts when they toured the shelter on Friday morning. The Vernal churches shared a special worship service on Sunday, June 17 that featured the young Sky Scouts and the theme and music of LIFT OFF!

"Celebrate the Good News" was presented at St. John's, Logan on Aug. 18-19.

The event included a presentation about learning the Good News at St. John's and how to share it by the vestry and the diocesan "M & M" (Mission and Ministry) group and unveiling of the vestry's Good News Program on Saturday.

The Rev. Canon David Bailey was preacher at the festive Eucharist on Sunday.

Return to current issue Table of Contents
Return to Dialogue main page »