Fiji

The news from Fiji is bleak after Cyclone Winston devastated the island nation. It is the worst ever storm recorded in the southern hemisphere. The death toll is 42 people. Contact has yet to be made with many remote communities. Tens of thousands of Fijians are homeless and living in evacuation shelters. International aid agencies are delivering supplies, but the scale of damage to infrastructure including communication is making it hard to reach remote communities where help was most needed. The Fijian Methodist Church is working on a plan, alongside other aid agencies.
Please pray for the recovery of Fiji and particularly for the Deaconesses and the Methodist Church in Fiji in all their efforts.

Who Can Help Fiji Be ‪#‎StrongerThanWinston‬?
Bank: Westpac
Bank Address: 1 Thompson Street, Suva, FIJI
Account name: Trustees Methodist Church in Fiji - Hurricane Relief Fund
Account number: 9806098696
Swift Code: WPACFJFX
BSB: 039 001
Please include your name and location in the narration.

Vale, Deacon Janice Byrd

Deacon Janice Byrd has died at the age of 83 years (March 29, 1932 - February 7, 2016). She was an Episcopal Deacon (USA) in the Episcopal Diocese of NW Texas.
Janice was born in Breckenridge, Texas. She graduated from Texas State College for Women as a licensed dietician. She worked for the Veterans Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, Hardin Simmons University in Abilene, for Indian Health Services in Tahlequah, Oklahoma and Santa Fe, New Mexico, and then finally as the head of Food and Nutrition at the Big Spring State Hospital where she retired at the age of 82. Her work was her life.
Janice was ordained an Episcopal Deacon in 2002 for the Diocese of North West Texas and was assigned to St Mary's Episcopal Church. She served there with her sister, Deacon Connie Fowler.
Janice is survived by two daughters, four grandchildren, six great grandchildren, two sisters and a brother.
Deacon Becky Orem said, 'Janice played a significant role in my decision to pursue ordination. She was so real - no nonsense, and she had a great sense of humour. She always said, 'Jesus, keep your arm around my shoulders and your hand over my mouth'.

Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord' 

And my light perpetual shine upon her. 

May her soul, and the souls of all the departed, 

through the mercy of God, rest in peace (BCP p 502)

Rest eternal grant to her, O Lord;

(see more here)

Rev Kim Francis - beginning a new ministry

Rev Kim Francis, ordained as a Deacon in the Uniting Church in Australia on 18th October 2015, was inducted into Maylands Mt Lawley Uniting Church on Sunday 7th February.

For 19 years, Kim worked as the children and family co-ordinator at Nedlands Uniting Church; running kids clubs, play groups, a family worship service as well as the children’s program during their Chinese English bilingual service. Prior to working with the Nedlands congregation, Kim worked as a maths teacher.

During her 7 years of candidating for ministry, Kim held placements at Juniper, Uniting Church in the City, Ross Memorial West Perth, Trinity School for Seniors and with the Uniting Church WA Social Justice Unit.

Kim said that she is looking forward to this new step on her journey with God, walking alongside the people of Maylands Mt Lawley Uniting Church and the local community. She is especially hoping to focus her time on intergenerational worship, music and community outreach.

“I do believe that today the call on my life by Jesus Christ has been fulfilled,” she said. “I thank family and friends who have helped me along the study and ministry journey. It is my prayer that God will strengthen and enable me to work alongside the people of the Maylands Mt Lawley community and church so that the kingdom of God and the Christian community in this area may deepen and grow.”

Read more here. 

Rev Jenny Walker

Rev Jenny Walker, a Deacon in the Uniting Church in Australia, was inducted into a new placement at Prospect Uniting Church in January 2016. Blessings on your ministry, Jenny.

Photos: Rev Jenny Walker (left) with the Moderator, Dr Deidre Palmer; (top right) Rev Sandy Boyce (preacher);
(lower right) prayers with Dr Deidre Palmer and Rev Jenny Walker

Vale, Deacon Lynne Hough

Deacon Lynne Hough (1938-2015) served as Senior Deacon in the Diocese of Mississippi, and served on the Discernment Committee and Commission on Ministry. She was ordained a Deacon on February 18th, 1996, and served at St Patrick's Episcopal Church in Long Beach for 20 years, and as chaplain at Memorial Hospital Gulfport for 23 years. She died Tuesday, December 22, 2015 in Gulfport. 
We give thanks for people like Lynne who have embodied diaconal ministry, and have served with humility, compassion and commitment.
Sun Herald article here. 

In the labouring.....

Thelma

This seems timely.....

The wonderful Jan Richardson writes: If you haven't met Thelma yet, I'll tell you that she showed up at my drafting table years ago, as I was working on the artwork for my book “Night Visions.” You can see that Thelma is not much like the ethereal, benign depictions of angels we often see today. Thelma is more like the angels who show up in the Bible, those messengers who come with outlandish invitations and wild expectations. In the reflection that accompanied her image in “Night Visions," I wrote, "An angel named Thelma is what I need in this season; an uppity angel at my shoulder. Someone who can breathe fire. Who will remind me that being nice won't sustain me through the labor. Who will cry out with me in the birth pangs. Who will dispatch the dragon who waits to devour what is struggling to be born." 

An Advent Blessing from an Angel Named Thelma 

Sweetheart,
I am here to tell you
that if you need to push,
if you need to press on,
then I will hold your hand
in the laboring.
Move heaven and earth
to clear a way for you.
Help you holler.
Cheer you on.

But I am thinking
that maybe first
what you need
is a nap.
That what is called for
is to lay yourself down
and rest
just for a little space.
Maybe do some dreaming.
Maybe think for a bit
on what is really
yours to do.

When you wake up,
when you rise,
I promise
then we will take on
the world.
Then.

—Jan Richardson 

Image: "An Angel Named Thelma" © Jan Richardson
janrichardson.com

Merry Christmas!

DIAKONIA Prayer Letter December 2015

This year our attention has been drawn to many areas of concern including:
* an escalation in global fear with the increased focus on acts of terrorism;
* desperate people fleeing conflict and war, seeking refuge and asylum in places far from home;
* the dramatic impact of climate change reflected in weather patterns, and the COP21 talks in Paris with a positive commitment to respond to climate change. 

Reflect on the areas of joys and concerns in your area of ministry, in your diaconal association, and in your nation/region. Let us hold them in our prayers together. 

Reflect on your own ministry context. May our actions and priorities reflect Jesus’ love and compassion as we respond to the challenges in our own time and place. 

Christmas invites us again to recognise Jesus, the Prince of Peace, and to remember that Jesus and his family were refugees, fleeing Herod’s acts of cruelty and murder. It also reminds us that Jesus, hope of the world, has a human face. In Jesus, God has ‘moved into the neighbourhood’, present among us. 

May the words of this poem (written by my friend Craig Mitchell) be words of hope and encouragement in your ministry, and sustain you in your prayers. 

Today God has a human face

Heaven's child in earth's embrace

Blanket wrapping grubby grace

Today God has a human face

Today hope has a human face

New life born in dusty shed

Promise crying to be fed

Today hope has a human face

Today peace has a human face

War zone cut by infant's sigh

From Beirut and Palestine

Today peace has a human face

Today joy has a human face

Angels pointing down our street

Heaven swirling at my feet

Today joy has a human face

Today love has a human face

Prodigals are welcome here

Refugees no longer fear

Today love has a human face

All earth today sees heaven's face

Mystery present in this place

Turning point of time and space

All earth today sees heaven's face

God’s blessings be with you in your ministry, 

and may your ministry be enriched by the company of Christ 
and the empowerment of God’s Spirit. 

Amen!