Episcopal Diocese of Albany

Business Office: 68 South Swan Street - Albany, NY 12210 - (518) 465-4737
Christ the King Spiritual Life Center: 575 Burton Road - Greenwich, NY 12834 - (518) 692-9550

The Martyrs of New Guinea
September 2, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As Labor Day weekend marks the "end of summer vacation" and the beginning of the school year, we also look to the beginning of the church program year. I pray that you will have a rewarding Christian Education program for both adults and youth that focuses on the Holy Scriptures and brings your fellow congregation closer to our Lord Jesus Christ.

At Convention, I announced that the age for confirmation was being lowered to 13 years old. This change is effective immediately and I will be sending a separate letter on my expectations for preparing youth and adults for confirmation. The next regional confirmation is scheduled for All Saints Day, Saturday, November 1 at the Cathedral of All Saints. The service begins at 11 AM and confirmands should arrive by 10 AM.

A Confirmation Preparation Weekend, led by Mother Laurie Garramone-Rohr and Tina Mitchell, is scheduled for October 3 – 5, 2008 at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center. This weekend is for youth ages 13 to 18 and their youth minister, clergy or mentor/sponsor and they will be introduced to the sacrament of Confirmation and help them develop a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ. The adults will see a model for teaching the essential elements of Confirmation and the weekend staff will be available as mentors to those adults/parishes attending. An adult must accompany any youth registered from a parish and it must be one of the following individuals: Youth Minister, Clergy, Mentor/Sponsor.

The weekend starts at 7:00 pm on Friday and ends on Sunday at 2 pm. The cost is $89 per person and includes Youth Cabin lodging, food and any instructional materials. If you prefer to arrive early on Friday and have dinner, there will be an extra cost. Simply call to let us know so the kitchen staff can plan accordingly.

You may register online at www.albanyepiscopaldiocese.org by clicking on Confirmation Conference. Please register early--we only have space for 45 participants. For more details or information, please see the flyer here which can be included in your Sunday Bulletin and posted on your bulletin board or website, or contact the Diocesan Christian Education Coordinator Mother Laurie Garramone-Rohr at (518) 692-9550 ext 131 or send an e-mail

This Saturday at Christ Church, Schenectady, Fr. Alan Hansen, Director of Acts 29, will be leading a conference entitled: Crying Out To God … The role of fasting, intercession and corporate prayer for the renewal of the church. This one day conference is from 9:00 – 4:00 (check-in at 8:30). Cost is $15 per person, which includes lunch and all conference materials. To register call Lorraine Coleman at Christ Church, Schenectady – 518-374-3064.

Coming up this weekend at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center is the Episcopal Church Women Reunion Day. Registration begins at 9:30am at the Barry House Theological Library. Saturday, September 6. For additional information, please contact Shirley Parker at (518) 692-9550, x 103, or go to www.CtKCenter.org.

The following weekend, September 12 – 14 is the Postulants and Candidates Retreat at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center. For those postulants and candidates who have not sent their RSVP to Archdeacon Huth, please contact him by Friday September 5 at hhuth@verizon.net or (518) 765-4625. He will be reviewing the registration list with me the following week.

Clergy Conference is September 24 - 26 at Christ the King Spiritual Life Center. The Conference is open to all clergy and their spouses and begins with worship and dinner on Wednesday evening and concludes with lunch on Friday. To register, go to www.albanyepiscopaldiocese.org/news/events/ and click on registration link for the Clergy Conference in Events calendar. Invitations were sent via email with a hard copy to those who have no email address.

Your continued prayers are invited for Mother Jackie Jones, vicar, Trinity Church, Gloversville who remains hospitalized and had a relapse of her pneumonia over the weekend along with a heart attack. She is in the CCU at Albany Med. Please keep her husband, Deacon Kevin Jones, and their daughter, Stephanie, in your prayers.

Christ the King Spiritual Life Center is bidding goodbye to Michelle Gallo who is returning to school to pursue her doctorate. We will sorely miss her. But, since change is the only constant, we are seeking someone to take over her responsibilities and become the CTK Communications Coordinator. To see an outline of the duties and responsibilities, please go to www.christ-the-king-center.org/jobs/.

We had a wonderful Bible Conference with over 60 people attending and the speaker was excellent. It is with dismay that I report that my chili was not a winner again this year. However, it was a pleasure to present trophies and hearty congratulations to the Chili Chefs at St. Luke's, Mechanicville who won in both categories: Hottest: Rich Marion with his Cajun Chili, and Best-tasting: Adam Travis with his Chili Con Carne. For both Rich and Adam, with the intonation of the Terminator, "I'll be back" for next year's Bible Conference and Chili Contest.

Faithfully in Christ Jesus,
+Bill

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