Diocesan
Life Columns
Bishop Paul V. Marshall
Bishop Paul's writes a monthly column for the Diocesan Newspaper, Diocesan
Life, edited by Communication
Minister, Bill Lewellis.
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Share the
Bread, Free Your Spirit, Invite a Friend
Bishop Paul V. Marshall
Diocesan Life, September 2000
Two years ago in May, more than 2,000 of us came in buses, vans
and cars to the Kingston Armory "to celebrate God's love and to
learn new ways to share it." Share the Bread 1998 was a glorious
day. I think it is safe to say that our diocesan community never
experienced a gathering of so many people. The living memory of
most of us suggests that 300-400 of us come together for Diocesan
Convention or a special conference, and perhaps 800 for the consecration
of a bishop. It is significant, I believe, that so many more of
us gathered "to celebrate God's love."
On October 14, we will take another leap. For Share the Bread
2000 we have rented a venue that will easily accommodate 5,000
of us as well as our buses, vans and cars: the new First Union
Arena in Wilkes-Barre, with easy access from Exit 46 on Route 81.
We hope 5,000 people will come to Wilkes-Barre for a presentation
of the Episcopal Church at our best. We are at our best when we
are proclaiming by word and example the good news of God in Jesus
Christ. We are designing Share the Bread 2000 around that center.
Share the Bread 1998 was a "family celebration," Share the Bread
2000 will be that and more. Many of us will, indeed, come to share
fellowship with one another, to meet new friends and to reconnect
with old ones as we celebrate the gospel in our lives. Many of
us intend also to invite neighbors, relatives and other friends
to "come and see."
In addition to celebrating God's love in Jesus Christ, we hope
to share that wonderful, incredible news: that God does, indeed,
love us and invites us into partnership "to restore all people
to unity with God and each other through Christ." The Church exists
for that reason, and we are at our best when we are doing that.
Bishop Catherine Roskam and Father Jim Friedrich will be our major
presenters at Share the Bread. Bishop Roskam is known to many of
us from her famous "big loaf" sermon at my consecration. She'll
be back with us to share her unique insights into what it means
to live out the gospel of Jesus Christ in an increasingly urban
and complex world.
Jim Friedrich is an Episcopal priest, an author, an artist, a
media producer a musician and a master storyteller. I think we
all know the power of a story well told. It touches us on levels
that mere information giving cannot get near. Jim has for some
32 years helped people encounter the gospel by creating through
prayer, skillful storytelling and a gifted religious imagination
learning experiences that speak to hearts. He will give us a share
in his deep perceptions of the gospel.
I'm especially happy to tell you that only recently we've learned
that Bishop Manasseh of the Diocese of Kajo-Keji in the Episcopal
Church of the Sudan will be joining us at Share the Bread. He will
be with us for the entire week before the Festival.
The Church in the Sudan is under constant persecution. We have
a great deal to learn from a man who can explain to us their troubles
and, even more, their hope. In the midst of their persecution,
the church is growing.
I will have two opportunities to share with you what I have learned
in the last four years. In one of our small stage times, I will
be doing a not-for-preachers-only presentation focused on what
goes into proclaiming the word of God today, how to address the
culture in words it can hear without denying the gospel we treasure.
I'll also have the opportunity to preach at the Eucharist and try
to tie together the day both in terms of what we have given and
where God calls us to as we move as disciples of Jesus.
By the time you read this, many of you may have viewed the video
recently produced to invite our neighbors and friends to Share
the Bread with us. It has been scheduled to air on several cable
systems throughout our diocese.
I hope it will also be viewed and discussed during adult forums
or other gatherings in all of our churches. The heart of the video
is the concept evoked from Margaret Sipple while she was being
interviewed on camera during Share the Bread 1998. It is the concept
of hospitality as Episcopal evangelism, implicit in the Share the
Bread title.
Hospitality is about caring, inviting and sharing. Like many of
its members and, in fact, like many of its clergy, I came to the
Episcopal Church in my adult years. I came during a time of searching
and during a time not without its problems.
What I found in the Episcopal Church was that the blue and white
signs tell the truth: The Episcopal Church Welcomes you.
In a parish, in my bishop, I found nothing but a welcome that
supported, affirmed and helped move me on in my professional and
vocational growth.
When we went to General Seminary in New York City, our moving
truck was stolen and before we actually arrived at the campus people
had already found furniture for us, clothing for the kids, and
, most of all, they were waiting for us with a welcome to a community
that was alive in faith, joy and hope.
To the extent that we've been able to plan it, it looks like we'll
be having a wonderful day on October 14. I am grateful to the many,
many people who have already put a lot of energy and love into
getting this day ready for us. The has, indeed, been designed to
free our spirits.
I encourage each of you and your loved ones to come and be part
of the celebration, to come and taste the joy from intimate moments
of sharing to hearing the bagpipes blaring as they lead the procession
in at the end.
I ask one thing more. Please consider prayerfully whether there
is someone who is your neighbor or your friend or just an acquaintance
who needs to be there this day. If so, I hope you'll consider asking
them in a simple and direct way if they'd like to come with you
to celebrate what the church is and to get some idea of what the
Episcopal Church cherishes.
Share the Bread. Free your spirit. Invite a friend.
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