October 27, 2024 • 16 mins
Weekly Update: Roswell Relief, Election Guidance & Diocesan Convention In this week's update from the Diocese of the Rio Grande, we extend our thoughts to those affected by flooding in Roswell and discuss the diocese's collaboration with Episcopal Relief and Development. As the presidential election approaches, we offer guidance for maintaining peace and community trust, including tips on faith, responsible voting, and managing media consumption. Also featured are updates on the upcoming Diocesan Convention and the exciting 'Episco Disco' silent dance party. Stay informed and connected during these challenging times.
00:00 Weekly Update Introduction
00:19 Roswell Flooding Crisis
02:15 Diocesan Convention Preview
02:28 Election Season Reflections
05:13 Promoting Peace and Stability
07:10 Bishop's Tips for Election Season
08:31 Encouraging Trust in Our Communities
09:47 Managing Media Consumption
10:41 Prioritizing Self-Care and Prayer
12:06 Episco Disco: A Silent Dance Party
14:19 Diocesan Convention Updates
15:56 Weekly Update Conclusion
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:11):
Hey there, Diocese of the Rio Grande.
Welcome to this, your weekly update for the week of October 27th, 2024.
First up, and before we get to the rest of this weekly update, our thoughts and our prayers are especially with the people of St.
Andrews in Roswell, and the people in Roswell this week. 5 00:00:29,949.999 --> 00:00:41,240 As I'm sure you've heard in the news, Roswell got five to six inches of rain within about an hour, and that flooding has flooded over 500 homes in the Roswell area.
(00:41):
A number of our beloved St.
Andrews parishioners have been affected, some of them displaced from their homes, and our prayers are with them.
I've been on the phone communicating with Susan Pigott, who is the rector there in Roswell. 9 00:00:56,19.999 --> 00:00:56,880 The church, St.
Andrews, survived the flooding.
There wasn't major damage there.
Parts of Roswell are okay, but the major river that runs through Roswell, Roswell, over flooded his banks.
(01:08):
.999You'll remember, of course, that just a few months ago, we were giving thanks to Roswell for being the place where everybody fleeing the fires coming out of the mountains in Ruidoso.
We're, we're being evacuated to Roswell and the churches in Roswell have been responding to help care for the people there.
.0005Now the rains have followed the fires and, there was so much water that came so fast that the river over flooded the banks. 16 00:01:35,40.0005 --> 00:01:38,50.0005 Our canon for finance and administration, J. 17 00:01:38,50.0005 --> 00:01:38,330.0005 P. 18 00:01:38,330.0005 --> 00:01:47,220.0005 Arossa, has been on the phone with Katie Mears from, Episcopal Relief and Development this week, and we are working with the people in Roswell and St. 19 00:01:47,220.0005 --> 00:01:49,890.0005 Andrews in order to coordinate relief efforts. 20 00:01:50,229.9995 --> 00:02:03,659.92272222 Those efforts, of course, will change as the needs of the community change, but, right now, one of the needs is, So, what we need is places for storage as people moved things out of their homes and, as houses are going to need to be rebuilt following the floods. 21 00:02:03,899.92272222 --> 00:02:06,849.92222222 So, we'll keep you up to date on the needs in Roswell, St. 22 00:02:06,849.92222222 --> 00:02:07,429.92172222 Andrews. 23 00:02:07,979.92272222 --> 00:02:10,609.92272222 People in Roswell, our prayers are with you. 24 00:02:10,609.92272222 --> 00:02:13,319.92272222 We'll keep praying night and day, and we won't just be praying. 25 00:02:13,589.92272222 --> 00:02:14,789.92272222 We'll also be sending help. 26 00:02:15,199.92272222 --> 00:02:21,259.92272222 In this weekly update, I want to talk to you a little bit more about diocesan convention coming up in a couple of weeks. 27 00:02:21,779.92272222 --> 00:02:25,269.92172222 And in particular, I want to talk to you about Episco Disco. 28 00:02:26,79.92272222 --> 00:02:28,339.92272222 But before we get into that, I want to get political. 29 00:02:28,769.92272222 --> 00:02:30,799.92272222 Yeah, we're going to talk about the election. 30 00:02:34,369.92272222 --> 00:02:39,389.92172222 It's a tight presidential election coming up and anxiety is running high. 31 00:02:40,189.92272222 --> 00:02:51,859.92272222 Your news feed and your news channels and the radio are full of all kinds of reporting and polling about what may be one of the most tightly contested elections in the history of the country. 32 00:02:52,459.92272222 --> 00:02:54,649.92272222 I'm feeling Bush gore all over again. 33 00:02:54,659.92272222 --> 00:02:55,589.92172222 I don't know about you. 34 00:02:56,9.92272222 --> 00:02:59,189.92272222 And it's not just about whether it's going to be a tight election. 35 00:02:59,839.92172222 --> 00:03:09,534.92272222 There is also increasing news coverage on concern about the possibility That the election might be contested from one side or the other. 36 00:03:09,844.92272222 --> 00:03:12,154.92272222 And if that were to happen in a serious way. 37 00:03:12,664.92272222 --> 00:03:22,744.92272222 Would there be violence on the streets, unrest in our towns and cities? What would happen? And so all of our anxieties are a little bit on edge. 38 00:03:22,764.92272222 --> 00:03:28,224.92272222 We see the political signs and bumper stickers and people are looking at each other with suspicion. 39 00:03:29,354.92272222 --> 00:04:17,784.92272222 Some of us are beginning to worry about what Thanksgiving is going to be like post convention, wondering, are we going to be able to sit down as a family and have a conversation? And the reality is that if this election is really close and if it's contested, We may not know the outcome of this election for days or even weeks or heaven forbid more than a month while our Democratic system sorts out the results of this election So I wanted to begin today by saying you're about to receive your clergy Your congregations are about to receive a little election guide to be in the Episcopal Church in 2024 In that there's just a few suggestions about how our church can continue to be a place of peace and healing for our communities. 40 00:04:18,214.92172222 --> 00:04:20,334.92272222 You know, I say it a lot and it's still true. 41 00:04:20,394.92272222 --> 00:04:23,884.92272222 Our Episcopal church is about half Republican, half Democrat. 42 00:04:24,314.92272222 --> 00:04:28,444.92272222 Our Diocese of the Rio Grande is about half Republican, half Democrat. 43 00:04:28,734.92272222 --> 00:04:32,114.92272222 And what that means is that we are a place of hope. 44 00:04:33,4.92272222 --> 00:04:39,844.92272222 We are a place where every week and throughout the week, Republicans and Democrats come together in the name of God. 45 00:04:40,199.92272222 --> 00:04:44,299.92272222 To love each other, to work together, and to build up our communities. 46 00:04:44,719.92272222 --> 00:04:52,579.92272222 We share resources and decide together how to spend money on building up the neighborhood and caring for the poor and looking after those in need. 47 00:04:52,879.92172222 --> 00:04:59,499.92172222 We are seeking to love one another as God loves us and to love our neighbor as ourself. 48 00:04:59,799.92172222 --> 00:05:01,529.92172222 And that kind of trust. 49 00:05:02,369.92272222 --> 00:05:13,329.92272222 That kind of respect, that kind of knowing we don't agree and yet loving each other anyway, that's the kind of spirit that the United States of America needs these days, my friends. 50 00:05:13,589.92272222 --> 00:05:30,779.92272222 And so I'm calling upon the diocese of the Rio Grande and the Episcopal Church in general to be a place of stability, To be a place of love, to be a place seeking understanding in every village and city and town and countryside where we exist. 51 00:05:32,229.92272222 --> 00:05:36,879.92272222 We leave the Eucharist every Sunday, go in peace in the name of the Lord. 52 00:05:37,529.92272222 --> 00:05:44,989.92272222 It is that peace that is within us, that peace that we know in Jesus Christ, which our anxious world needs to hear. 53 00:05:45,534.92272222 --> 00:05:47,844.92272222 and to feel these days. 54 00:05:48,754.92272222 --> 00:05:54,604.92172222 So we're going to send your clergy and your congregations, your vestries and bishops committees can sit down and look through it. 55 00:05:54,864.92272222 --> 00:05:59,464.92272222 Some ways to think about preparing your congregation for the election that is to come. 56 00:06:00,344.92272222 --> 00:06:12,474.92272222 And there's lots of different ideas for both before, during, and after this election season, because the fractures and tension in our communities aren't just going to go away after election day. 57 00:06:13,394.92172222 --> 00:06:14,364.92272222 We are divided. 58 00:06:14,444.92272222 --> 00:06:15,614.92272222 We do not agree. 59 00:06:15,934.92272222 --> 00:06:18,744.92272222 And there's a lot of hostility and rancor. 60 00:06:19,554.92172222 --> 00:06:25,479.92272222 How can our Episcopal Church Not just at the beginning of November, but throughout the months to come. 61 00:06:26,9.92272222 --> 00:06:30,619.92272222 How can we be a source of peace and stability? We're going to send you a little guide. 62 00:06:30,819.92272222 --> 00:06:35,19.92172222 It's also going to have some prayers that we have gathered from a couple of wonderful sources. 63 00:06:35,439.92272222 --> 00:06:48,539.92272222 The National Association of Episcopal Schools has released a wonderful collection of prayers and also commentary about the way our theology in the Episcopal Church has traditionally addressed you. 64 00:06:48,784.92272222 --> 00:06:59,224.92272222 The separation of church and state and why we pray for our nation and how we're also going to include some wonderful prayers in a collection that were put out by forward movement. 65 00:07:00,604.92272222 --> 00:07:09,514.92272222 And then we're going to have a list of suggestions for our congregations as you all seek to be places of peace and stability in these uncertain times. 66 00:07:10,594.92272222 --> 00:07:27,54.92272222 So let me take just a moment to share with you some tips from me, your bishop, to you, the Diocese of the Rio Grande, about how we might face this election season without losing our mind and with keeping our minds and hearts on Jesus Christ. 67 00:07:28,204.92272222 --> 00:07:36,494.92272222 Number one, remember, we are the body of Christ and we are here to extend peace and love to all of our neighbors. 68 00:07:36,884.92272222 --> 00:07:43,974.92172222 Let's not lose track of the fact that whether you're Republican or Democrat, we are all members of the body of Christ first. 69 00:07:44,504.92272222 --> 00:07:45,354.92172222 We love God. 70 00:07:45,554.92272222 --> 00:07:46,654.92172222 We love one another. 71 00:07:46,664.92172222 --> 00:07:49,14.92272222 So let's stay rooted in our faith. 72 00:07:49,534.92272222 --> 00:07:51,964.92272222 And not let our politics take the wheel. 73 00:07:53,54.92272222 --> 00:07:59,204.92272222 Second, let's model Christ like behavior in our neighborhoods and on social media. 74 00:07:59,574.92172222 --> 00:08:02,784.92272222 Let's not encourage the hype and the rancor and the hatred. 75 00:08:02,804.92272222 --> 00:08:10,344.92272222 Let's encourage understanding by modeling the kind of listening and love that Jesus exemplifies in the gospels. 76 00:08:11,44.92272222 --> 00:08:13,674.92272222 Third, Hey folks, remember to vote. 77 00:08:14,44.92272222 --> 00:08:23,124.92272222 If you are in the United States of America and you have the right to vote, Why don't you exercise that right? That's the strongest way to send your message. 78 00:08:23,444.92272222 --> 00:08:31,374.92272222 Rather than getting on social media and telling everybody what you think, let's go to the voting booth, let's cast our vote, and then let's get on with our life together. 79 00:08:31,714.92272222 --> 00:08:34,504.92272222 Fourth, let's encourage trust. 80 00:08:35,644.92272222 --> 00:08:42,734.92272222 Part of living in society, part of being a part of a group of any kind, is learning to trust one another. 81 00:08:43,434.92272222 --> 00:08:50,429.92272222 Sure, you might need to trust and verify if you're not quite sure you can trust me, Trust and verify, that's fine. 82 00:08:51,119.92272222 --> 00:08:56,179.92272222 But let's remember that our country requires us to trust one another. 83 00:08:56,189.92272222 --> 00:09:09,429.92272222 When we are driving down the highway and there's just that little yellow line, those two little yellow lines separating us from the oncoming traffic, We are all trusting each other not to swerve across that line. 84 00:09:10,479.92272222 --> 00:09:14,19.92272222 Let's remember that trust is a bedrock of what keeps us all safe. 85 00:09:14,439.92272222 --> 00:09:15,989.92272222 And let's trust the process. 86 00:09:15,989.92272222 --> 00:09:23,699.92172222 Let's trust those volunteers who have signed up to man the election, um, voting centers. 87 00:09:23,939.92272222 --> 00:09:26,169.92272222 Let's thank them when we go to cast our vote. 88 00:09:26,569.92272222 --> 00:09:35,479.92172222 Let's thank them for their being willing to take on the responsibility of helping to manage that election and count those votes and, and look after all that. 89 00:09:36,9.92272222 --> 00:09:37,339.92272222 We've got to trust each other. 90 00:09:37,559.92272222 --> 00:09:46,869.92272222 Let's make sure that we try to increase the trust in our communities by being kind to one another and acting like Jesus in the midst of these troubled times. 91 00:09:47,389.92272222 --> 00:09:50,959.92172222 Number five, let's manage our media consumption. 92 00:09:51,764.92272222 --> 00:10:07,644.92272222 We can all get connected into our Facebook feeds and our YouTube channels and our news and our radio stations and get ratcheted up as we hear this poll or that poll or get nervous about this candidate said that or that candidate might do this or whatever. 93 00:10:08,334.92172222 --> 00:10:12,54.92272222 Let's remember that this election is only part of our life. 94 00:10:12,929.92272222 --> 00:10:28,19.92272222 And let's not forget to live the rest of our life by being particularly careful to ratchet back our media consumption and paying attention to what is giving us more anxiety and not helping us out. 95 00:10:28,319.92272222 --> 00:10:39,439.92272222 So I encourage you to be informed, certainly look at the candidates and what they're talking about, but let's not let that, this election process swamp the whole rest of our lives. 96 00:10:39,439.92272222 --> 00:10:39,789.92272222 Okay. 97 00:10:41,69.92272222 --> 00:10:44,179.92272222 And finally, let's pay attention to our self care. 98 00:10:44,909.92272222 --> 00:10:54,179.92172222 This is a time to deepen our lives in prayer, to pray for the nation, to pray for our leaders, to pray for all those that are involved in this process. 99 00:10:54,819.92172222 --> 00:11:04,509.92272222 Let us pray for this country and for peace on earth in the midst of the wars and conflicts that are happening globally. 100 00:11:06,129.92272222 --> 00:11:10,409.92272222 In addition to prayer, take care of yourself in the weeks ahead, especially. 101 00:11:10,804.92272222 --> 00:11:15,774.92272222 Work on getting enough sleep by not staying up too late watching YouTube stuff about politics. 102 00:11:16,994.92272222 --> 00:11:17,724.92272222 Eat right. 103 00:11:18,124.92272222 --> 00:11:19,314.92272222 Get your vegetables. 104 00:11:19,574.92272222 --> 00:11:30,384.92272222 You know, when we feel stressed and anxious, that third box of Krispy Kreme donuts starts to look really good, but then you eat the third box of Oreos and you realize, ugh, I shouldn't have done that. 105 00:11:31,164.92272222 --> 00:11:39,304.92272222 Let's focus on eating right, exercising, and praying, and also spending time with friends and family. 106 00:11:39,734.92272222 --> 00:11:42,364.92272222 laughing and enjoying each other's company. 107 00:11:43,494.92272222 --> 00:11:56,44.92272222 So those are some tips to help you get through this, uh, tense election season by practicing your faith and staying rooted in your church and in your faith in the midst of these trouble times. 108 00:11:56,549.92272222 --> 00:11:57,579.92272222 Hang on, my friends. 109 00:11:57,719.92272222 --> 00:11:59,19.92272222 We'll get through this together. 110 00:11:59,359.92272222 --> 00:12:00,649.92272222 God is still in charge. 111 00:12:00,719.92272222 --> 00:12:01,669.92272222 Don't you ever forget it. 112 00:12:06,739.92272222 --> 00:12:22,509.92272222 Speaking of enjoying one another's company, it is not an accident that it, at our diocesan convention, just a few days after the election, we have planned some festive fellowship to be able to be together and to share time. 113 00:12:23,229.92272222 --> 00:12:31,869.92272222 It's called having dinner together after the Eucharist at our, at our convention Eucharist, and then having some time for dancing at Pisco. 114 00:12:31,869.92272222 --> 00:12:32,379.92272222 Disco. 115 00:12:32,949.92272222 --> 00:12:38,129.92272222 What is Pisco Disco? You might ask, and you might be worried like, I don't like nightclubs. 116 00:12:38,129.92272222 --> 00:12:39,89.92272222 That's not a good thing. 117 00:12:39,89.92272222 --> 00:12:43,409.92272222 It's too loud, it doesn't work with the way my hearing works and all that kind of stuff. 118 00:12:43,649.92272222 --> 00:12:49,769.92272222 So let me assure you and remind you, the way Pisco Disco works is it's a silent dance party. 119 00:12:50,404.92272222 --> 00:13:00,634.92172222 Which is that everybody's going to get a set of headphones and there's going to be three channels of music representing different eras of popular music. 120 00:13:01,54.92272222 --> 00:13:10,94.92172222 And you can tune into whichever era you would like and to adjust the volume on your own headset and adjust the channel on your own headset. 121 00:13:10,394.92172222 --> 00:13:14,574.92272222 And then we're all going to be dancing together in a disco like environment. 122 00:13:14,584.92272222 --> 00:13:16,294.92272222 So if you have your headphone off. 123 00:13:16,764.92272222 --> 00:13:19,444.92272222 It's going to just be silent and a bunch of people dancing. 124 00:13:27,174.92272222 --> 00:13:36,604.92172222 But when you put your headphones on, you'll be able to tune into this channel or that one, and then associate with each other, enjoying the music from the different channels. 125 00:13:36,864.92272222 --> 00:13:40,374.92272222 And if you want to hear what the kids are listening to today, you can hear that. 126 00:13:40,384.92172222 --> 00:13:44,424.92272222 If you want to remember what you listened to when you were a kid, you can hear that. 127 00:13:44,704.92272222 --> 00:13:50,694.92272222 We're going to have some fun laughing and getting down with our bad selves, enjoying some grooves together. 128 00:13:51,149.92272222 --> 00:13:53,179.92272222 I think we're going to need to blow off some steam. 129 00:13:53,359.92272222 --> 00:13:54,599.92272222 We're going to need to laugh. 130 00:13:54,669.92272222 --> 00:13:56,639.92272222 We're going to need to enjoy one another's company. 131 00:13:56,639.92272222 --> 00:14:00,729.92172222 So if you haven't yet, sign up and join us at Episco Disco. 132 00:14:01,129.92172222 --> 00:14:07,689.92172222 Initially, it looks like we've got well over, um, a hundred people that are going to be there getting a groove on. 133 00:14:07,699.92272222 --> 00:14:11,959.92272222 So I look forward to seeing you at Episco Disco during this convention. 134 00:14:19,269.92272222 --> 00:14:36,224.92272222 Finally, in this weekly update, I want to remind you that we are constantly updating, or I should say, The Secretary of Convention, Ken and Lee Curtis, is constantly updating our diocesan website, that's Diocese RG, Diocese Rio Grande, dioceserg. 135 00:14:36,224.92272222 --> 00:14:36,724.92272222 org. 136 00:14:37,274.92272222 --> 00:14:40,484.92272222 On the convention page you can get constant updates. 137 00:14:40,744.92272222 --> 00:14:58,954.92272222 What's about to happen is the reports from the various staff members of the diocese, the various committees and commissions of the diocese, your deputation to general convention, the reports from this year are going to start appearing, most of them in video form, on that diocesan website. 138 00:14:58,974.92272222 --> 00:15:10,519.92272222 So I encourage you to keep going back and looking at The legislation that's coming up, the reports that are coming in, inform yourself as we prepare to join together for diocesan convention. 139 00:15:11,169.92272222 --> 00:15:27,19.92272222 And finally, one final bit, you've probably heard the news by now that in a very, very tight election, our beloved Canon Lee Curtis came in second and is not going to be the next, um, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of West Texas. 140 00:15:27,414.92272222 --> 00:15:36,824.92172222 And I have to say, hallelujah, we get to keep you Lee Curtis and you Hannah Curtis and your two boys here in El Paso in the Diocese of the Rio Grande. 141 00:15:37,324.92272222 --> 00:15:38,944.92272222 I love working with you, Lee. 142 00:15:39,124.92272222 --> 00:15:41,124.92272222 I'm grateful that you're going to still be here. 143 00:15:41,484.92272222 --> 00:15:49,674.92272222 I know that God may be calling you to be a bishop in another place at another time and I support you in that because I think you're fabulous and you would be a wonderful bishop. 144 00:15:50,249.92272222 --> 00:15:55,929.92272222 But I'm also mostly grateful that you're going to get to work here and I get to work with you some more. 145 00:15:56,169.92272222 --> 00:16:05,329.92272222 So that's your weekly update Diocese of the Rio Grande for this week of the 27th of October, 2024, October 27th. 146 00:16:06,219.92272222 --> 00:16:07,129.92172222 I like that day. 147 00:16:07,939.92172222 --> 00:16:09,279.92172222 That's the day I was born. 148 00:16:10,549.92272222 --> 00:16:11,639.92272222 Happy birthday to me. 149 00:16:12,189.92272222 --> 00:16:13,569.92272222 I love you, Diocese of the Rio Grande. 150 00:16:14,219.92272222 --> 00:16:14,869.92272222 We'll see you soon.
Hey there, Diocese of the Rio Grande.
Welcome to this, your weekly update for the week of October 27th, 2024.
First up, and before we get to the rest of this weekly update, our thoughts and our prayers are especially with the people of St.
Andrews in Roswell, and the people in Roswell this week. 5 00:00:29,949.999 --> 00:00:41,240 As I'm sure you've heard in the news, Roswell got five to six inches of rain within about an hour, and that flooding has flooded over 500 homes in the Roswell area.
(00:41):
A number of our beloved St.
Andrews parishioners have been affected, some of them displaced from their homes, and our prayers are with them.
I've been on the phone communicating with Susan Pigott, who is the rector there in Roswell. 9 00:00:56,19.999 --> 00:00:56,880 The church, St.
Andrews, survived the flooding.
There wasn't major damage there.
Parts of Roswell are okay, but the major river that runs through Roswell, Roswell, over flooded his banks.
(01:08):
.999You'll remember, of course, that just a few months ago, we were giving thanks to Roswell for being the place where everybody fleeing the fires coming out of the mountains in Ruidoso.
We're, we're being evacuated to Roswell and the churches in Roswell have been responding to help care for the people there.
.0005Now the rains have followed the fires and, there was so much water that came so fast that the river over flooded the banks. 16 00:01:35,40.0005 --> 00:01:38,50.0005 Our canon for finance and administration, J. 17 00:01:38,50.0005 --> 00:01:38,330.0005 P. 18 00:01:38,330.0005 --> 00:01:47,220.0005 Arossa, has been on the phone with Katie Mears from, Episcopal Relief and Development this week, and we are working with the people in Roswell and St. 19 00:01:47,220.0005 --> 00:01:49,890.0005 Andrews in order to coordinate relief efforts. 20 00:01:50,229.9995 --> 00:02:03,659.92272222 Those efforts, of course, will change as the needs of the community change, but, right now, one of the needs is, So, what we need is places for storage as people moved things out of their homes and, as houses are going to need to be rebuilt following the floods. 21 00:02:03,899.92272222 --> 00:02:06,849.92222222 So, we'll keep you up to date on the needs in Roswell, St. 22 00:02:06,849.92222222 --> 00:02:07,429.92172222 Andrews. 23 00:02:07,979.92272222 --> 00:02:10,609.92272222 People in Roswell, our prayers are with you. 24 00:02:10,609.92272222 --> 00:02:13,319.92272222 We'll keep praying night and day, and we won't just be praying. 25 00:02:13,589.92272222 --> 00:02:14,789.92272222 We'll also be sending help. 26 00:02:15,199.92272222 --> 00:02:21,259.92272222 In this weekly update, I want to talk to you a little bit more about diocesan convention coming up in a couple of weeks. 27 00:02:21,779.92272222 --> 00:02:25,269.92172222 And in particular, I want to talk to you about Episco Disco. 28 00:02:26,79.92272222 --> 00:02:28,339.92272222 But before we get into that, I want to get political. 29 00:02:28,769.92272222 --> 00:02:30,799.92272222 Yeah, we're going to talk about the election. 30 00:02:34,369.92272222 --> 00:02:39,389.92172222 It's a tight presidential election coming up and anxiety is running high. 31 00:02:40,189.92272222 --> 00:02:51,859.92272222 Your news feed and your news channels and the radio are full of all kinds of reporting and polling about what may be one of the most tightly contested elections in the history of the country. 32 00:02:52,459.92272222 --> 00:02:54,649.92272222 I'm feeling Bush gore all over again. 33 00:02:54,659.92272222 --> 00:02:55,589.92172222 I don't know about you. 34 00:02:56,9.92272222 --> 00:02:59,189.92272222 And it's not just about whether it's going to be a tight election. 35 00:02:59,839.92172222 --> 00:03:09,534.92272222 There is also increasing news coverage on concern about the possibility That the election might be contested from one side or the other. 36 00:03:09,844.92272222 --> 00:03:12,154.92272222 And if that were to happen in a serious way. 37 00:03:12,664.92272222 --> 00:03:22,744.92272222 Would there be violence on the streets, unrest in our towns and cities? What would happen? And so all of our anxieties are a little bit on edge. 38 00:03:22,764.92272222 --> 00:03:28,224.92272222 We see the political signs and bumper stickers and people are looking at each other with suspicion. 39 00:03:29,354.92272222 --> 00:04:17,784.92272222 Some of us are beginning to worry about what Thanksgiving is going to be like post convention, wondering, are we going to be able to sit down as a family and have a conversation? And the reality is that if this election is really close and if it's contested, We may not know the outcome of this election for days or even weeks or heaven forbid more than a month while our Democratic system sorts out the results of this election So I wanted to begin today by saying you're about to receive your clergy Your congregations are about to receive a little election guide to be in the Episcopal Church in 2024 In that there's just a few suggestions about how our church can continue to be a place of peace and healing for our communities. 40 00:04:18,214.92172222 --> 00:04:20,334.92272222 You know, I say it a lot and it's still true. 41 00:04:20,394.92272222 --> 00:04:23,884.92272222 Our Episcopal church is about half Republican, half Democrat. 42 00:04:24,314.92272222 --> 00:04:28,444.92272222 Our Diocese of the Rio Grande is about half Republican, half Democrat. 43 00:04:28,734.92272222 --> 00:04:32,114.92272222 And what that means is that we are a place of hope. 44 00:04:33,4.92272222 --> 00:04:39,844.92272222 We are a place where every week and throughout the week, Republicans and Democrats come together in the name of God. 45 00:04:40,199.92272222 --> 00:04:44,299.92272222 To love each other, to work together, and to build up our communities. 46 00:04:44,719.92272222 --> 00:04:52,579.92272222 We share resources and decide together how to spend money on building up the neighborhood and caring for the poor and looking after those in need. 47 00:04:52,879.92172222 --> 00:04:59,499.92172222 We are seeking to love one another as God loves us and to love our neighbor as ourself. 48 00:04:59,799.92172222 --> 00:05:01,529.92172222 And that kind of trust. 49 00:05:02,369.92272222 --> 00:05:13,329.92272222 That kind of respect, that kind of knowing we don't agree and yet loving each other anyway, that's the kind of spirit that the United States of America needs these days, my friends. 50 00:05:13,589.92272222 --> 00:05:30,779.92272222 And so I'm calling upon the diocese of the Rio Grande and the Episcopal Church in general to be a place of stability, To be a place of love, to be a place seeking understanding in every village and city and town and countryside where we exist. 51 00:05:32,229.92272222 --> 00:05:36,879.92272222 We leave the Eucharist every Sunday, go in peace in the name of the Lord. 52 00:05:37,529.92272222 --> 00:05:44,989.92272222 It is that peace that is within us, that peace that we know in Jesus Christ, which our anxious world needs to hear. 53 00:05:45,534.92272222 --> 00:05:47,844.92272222 and to feel these days. 54 00:05:48,754.92272222 --> 00:05:54,604.92172222 So we're going to send your clergy and your congregations, your vestries and bishops committees can sit down and look through it. 55 00:05:54,864.92272222 --> 00:05:59,464.92272222 Some ways to think about preparing your congregation for the election that is to come. 56 00:06:00,344.92272222 --> 00:06:12,474.92272222 And there's lots of different ideas for both before, during, and after this election season, because the fractures and tension in our communities aren't just going to go away after election day. 57 00:06:13,394.92172222 --> 00:06:14,364.92272222 We are divided. 58 00:06:14,444.92272222 --> 00:06:15,614.92272222 We do not agree. 59 00:06:15,934.92272222 --> 00:06:18,744.92272222 And there's a lot of hostility and rancor. 60 00:06:19,554.92172222 --> 00:06:25,479.92272222 How can our Episcopal Church Not just at the beginning of November, but throughout the months to come. 61 00:06:26,9.92272222 --> 00:06:30,619.92272222 How can we be a source of peace and stability? We're going to send you a little guide. 62 00:06:30,819.92272222 --> 00:06:35,19.92172222 It's also going to have some prayers that we have gathered from a couple of wonderful sources. 63 00:06:35,439.92272222 --> 00:06:48,539.92272222 The National Association of Episcopal Schools has released a wonderful collection of prayers and also commentary about the way our theology in the Episcopal Church has traditionally addressed you. 64 00:06:48,784.92272222 --> 00:06:59,224.92272222 The separation of church and state and why we pray for our nation and how we're also going to include some wonderful prayers in a collection that were put out by forward movement. 65 00:07:00,604.92272222 --> 00:07:09,514.92272222 And then we're going to have a list of suggestions for our congregations as you all seek to be places of peace and stability in these uncertain times. 66 00:07:10,594.92272222 --> 00:07:27,54.92272222 So let me take just a moment to share with you some tips from me, your bishop, to you, the Diocese of the Rio Grande, about how we might face this election season without losing our mind and with keeping our minds and hearts on Jesus Christ. 67 00:07:28,204.92272222 --> 00:07:36,494.92272222 Number one, remember, we are the body of Christ and we are here to extend peace and love to all of our neighbors. 68 00:07:36,884.92272222 --> 00:07:43,974.92172222 Let's not lose track of the fact that whether you're Republican or Democrat, we are all members of the body of Christ first. 69 00:07:44,504.92272222 --> 00:07:45,354.92172222 We love God. 70 00:07:45,554.92272222 --> 00:07:46,654.92172222 We love one another. 71 00:07:46,664.92172222 --> 00:07:49,14.92272222 So let's stay rooted in our faith. 72 00:07:49,534.92272222 --> 00:07:51,964.92272222 And not let our politics take the wheel. 73 00:07:53,54.92272222 --> 00:07:59,204.92272222 Second, let's model Christ like behavior in our neighborhoods and on social media. 74 00:07:59,574.92172222 --> 00:08:02,784.92272222 Let's not encourage the hype and the rancor and the hatred. 75 00:08:02,804.92272222 --> 00:08:10,344.92272222 Let's encourage understanding by modeling the kind of listening and love that Jesus exemplifies in the gospels. 76 00:08:11,44.92272222 --> 00:08:13,674.92272222 Third, Hey folks, remember to vote. 77 00:08:14,44.92272222 --> 00:08:23,124.92272222 If you are in the United States of America and you have the right to vote, Why don't you exercise that right? That's the strongest way to send your message. 78 00:08:23,444.92272222 --> 00:08:31,374.92272222 Rather than getting on social media and telling everybody what you think, let's go to the voting booth, let's cast our vote, and then let's get on with our life together. 79 00:08:31,714.92272222 --> 00:08:34,504.92272222 Fourth, let's encourage trust. 80 00:08:35,644.92272222 --> 00:08:42,734.92272222 Part of living in society, part of being a part of a group of any kind, is learning to trust one another. 81 00:08:43,434.92272222 --> 00:08:50,429.92272222 Sure, you might need to trust and verify if you're not quite sure you can trust me, Trust and verify, that's fine. 82 00:08:51,119.92272222 --> 00:08:56,179.92272222 But let's remember that our country requires us to trust one another. 83 00:08:56,189.92272222 --> 00:09:09,429.92272222 When we are driving down the highway and there's just that little yellow line, those two little yellow lines separating us from the oncoming traffic, We are all trusting each other not to swerve across that line. 84 00:09:10,479.92272222 --> 00:09:14,19.92272222 Let's remember that trust is a bedrock of what keeps us all safe. 85 00:09:14,439.92272222 --> 00:09:15,989.92272222 And let's trust the process. 86 00:09:15,989.92272222 --> 00:09:23,699.92172222 Let's trust those volunteers who have signed up to man the election, um, voting centers. 87 00:09:23,939.92272222 --> 00:09:26,169.92272222 Let's thank them when we go to cast our vote. 88 00:09:26,569.92272222 --> 00:09:35,479.92172222 Let's thank them for their being willing to take on the responsibility of helping to manage that election and count those votes and, and look after all that. 89 00:09:36,9.92272222 --> 00:09:37,339.92272222 We've got to trust each other. 90 00:09:37,559.92272222 --> 00:09:46,869.92272222 Let's make sure that we try to increase the trust in our communities by being kind to one another and acting like Jesus in the midst of these troubled times. 91 00:09:47,389.92272222 --> 00:09:50,959.92172222 Number five, let's manage our media consumption. 92 00:09:51,764.92272222 --> 00:10:07,644.92272222 We can all get connected into our Facebook feeds and our YouTube channels and our news and our radio stations and get ratcheted up as we hear this poll or that poll or get nervous about this candidate said that or that candidate might do this or whatever. 93 00:10:08,334.92172222 --> 00:10:12,54.92272222 Let's remember that this election is only part of our life. 94 00:10:12,929.92272222 --> 00:10:28,19.92272222 And let's not forget to live the rest of our life by being particularly careful to ratchet back our media consumption and paying attention to what is giving us more anxiety and not helping us out. 95 00:10:28,319.92272222 --> 00:10:39,439.92272222 So I encourage you to be informed, certainly look at the candidates and what they're talking about, but let's not let that, this election process swamp the whole rest of our lives. 96 00:10:39,439.92272222 --> 00:10:39,789.92272222 Okay. 97 00:10:41,69.92272222 --> 00:10:44,179.92272222 And finally, let's pay attention to our self care. 98 00:10:44,909.92272222 --> 00:10:54,179.92172222 This is a time to deepen our lives in prayer, to pray for the nation, to pray for our leaders, to pray for all those that are involved in this process. 99 00:10:54,819.92172222 --> 00:11:04,509.92272222 Let us pray for this country and for peace on earth in the midst of the wars and conflicts that are happening globally. 100 00:11:06,129.92272222 --> 00:11:10,409.92272222 In addition to prayer, take care of yourself in the weeks ahead, especially. 101 00:11:10,804.92272222 --> 00:11:15,774.92272222 Work on getting enough sleep by not staying up too late watching YouTube stuff about politics. 102 00:11:16,994.92272222 --> 00:11:17,724.92272222 Eat right. 103 00:11:18,124.92272222 --> 00:11:19,314.92272222 Get your vegetables. 104 00:11:19,574.92272222 --> 00:11:30,384.92272222 You know, when we feel stressed and anxious, that third box of Krispy Kreme donuts starts to look really good, but then you eat the third box of Oreos and you realize, ugh, I shouldn't have done that. 105 00:11:31,164.92272222 --> 00:11:39,304.92272222 Let's focus on eating right, exercising, and praying, and also spending time with friends and family. 106 00:11:39,734.92272222 --> 00:11:42,364.92272222 laughing and enjoying each other's company. 107 00:11:43,494.92272222 --> 00:11:56,44.92272222 So those are some tips to help you get through this, uh, tense election season by practicing your faith and staying rooted in your church and in your faith in the midst of these trouble times. 108 00:11:56,549.92272222 --> 00:11:57,579.92272222 Hang on, my friends. 109 00:11:57,719.92272222 --> 00:11:59,19.92272222 We'll get through this together. 110 00:11:59,359.92272222 --> 00:12:00,649.92272222 God is still in charge. 111 00:12:00,719.92272222 --> 00:12:01,669.92272222 Don't you ever forget it. 112 00:12:06,739.92272222 --> 00:12:22,509.92272222 Speaking of enjoying one another's company, it is not an accident that it, at our diocesan convention, just a few days after the election, we have planned some festive fellowship to be able to be together and to share time. 113 00:12:23,229.92272222 --> 00:12:31,869.92272222 It's called having dinner together after the Eucharist at our, at our convention Eucharist, and then having some time for dancing at Pisco. 114 00:12:31,869.92272222 --> 00:12:32,379.92272222 Disco. 115 00:12:32,949.92272222 --> 00:12:38,129.92272222 What is Pisco Disco? You might ask, and you might be worried like, I don't like nightclubs. 116 00:12:38,129.92272222 --> 00:12:39,89.92272222 That's not a good thing. 117 00:12:39,89.92272222 --> 00:12:43,409.92272222 It's too loud, it doesn't work with the way my hearing works and all that kind of stuff. 118 00:12:43,649.92272222 --> 00:12:49,769.92272222 So let me assure you and remind you, the way Pisco Disco works is it's a silent dance party. 119 00:12:50,404.92272222 --> 00:13:00,634.92172222 Which is that everybody's going to get a set of headphones and there's going to be three channels of music representing different eras of popular music. 120 00:13:01,54.92272222 --> 00:13:10,94.92172222 And you can tune into whichever era you would like and to adjust the volume on your own headset and adjust the channel on your own headset. 121 00:13:10,394.92172222 --> 00:13:14,574.92272222 And then we're all going to be dancing together in a disco like environment. 122 00:13:14,584.92272222 --> 00:13:16,294.92272222 So if you have your headphone off. 123 00:13:16,764.92272222 --> 00:13:19,444.92272222 It's going to just be silent and a bunch of people dancing. 124 00:13:27,174.92272222 --> 00:13:36,604.92172222 But when you put your headphones on, you'll be able to tune into this channel or that one, and then associate with each other, enjoying the music from the different channels. 125 00:13:36,864.92272222 --> 00:13:40,374.92272222 And if you want to hear what the kids are listening to today, you can hear that. 126 00:13:40,384.92172222 --> 00:13:44,424.92272222 If you want to remember what you listened to when you were a kid, you can hear that. 127 00:13:44,704.92272222 --> 00:13:50,694.92272222 We're going to have some fun laughing and getting down with our bad selves, enjoying some grooves together. 128 00:13:51,149.92272222 --> 00:13:53,179.92272222 I think we're going to need to blow off some steam. 129 00:13:53,359.92272222 --> 00:13:54,599.92272222 We're going to need to laugh. 130 00:13:54,669.92272222 --> 00:13:56,639.92272222 We're going to need to enjoy one another's company. 131 00:13:56,639.92272222 --> 00:14:00,729.92172222 So if you haven't yet, sign up and join us at Episco Disco. 132 00:14:01,129.92172222 --> 00:14:07,689.92172222 Initially, it looks like we've got well over, um, a hundred people that are going to be there getting a groove on. 133 00:14:07,699.92272222 --> 00:14:11,959.92272222 So I look forward to seeing you at Episco Disco during this convention. 134 00:14:19,269.92272222 --> 00:14:36,224.92272222 Finally, in this weekly update, I want to remind you that we are constantly updating, or I should say, The Secretary of Convention, Ken and Lee Curtis, is constantly updating our diocesan website, that's Diocese RG, Diocese Rio Grande, dioceserg. 135 00:14:36,224.92272222 --> 00:14:36,724.92272222 org. 136 00:14:37,274.92272222 --> 00:14:40,484.92272222 On the convention page you can get constant updates. 137 00:14:40,744.92272222 --> 00:14:58,954.92272222 What's about to happen is the reports from the various staff members of the diocese, the various committees and commissions of the diocese, your deputation to general convention, the reports from this year are going to start appearing, most of them in video form, on that diocesan website. 138 00:14:58,974.92272222 --> 00:15:10,519.92272222 So I encourage you to keep going back and looking at The legislation that's coming up, the reports that are coming in, inform yourself as we prepare to join together for diocesan convention. 139 00:15:11,169.92272222 --> 00:15:27,19.92272222 And finally, one final bit, you've probably heard the news by now that in a very, very tight election, our beloved Canon Lee Curtis came in second and is not going to be the next, um, Suffragan Bishop of the Diocese of West Texas. 140 00:15:27,414.92272222 --> 00:15:36,824.92172222 And I have to say, hallelujah, we get to keep you Lee Curtis and you Hannah Curtis and your two boys here in El Paso in the Diocese of the Rio Grande. 141 00:15:37,324.92272222 --> 00:15:38,944.92272222 I love working with you, Lee. 142 00:15:39,124.92272222 --> 00:15:41,124.92272222 I'm grateful that you're going to still be here. 143 00:15:41,484.92272222 --> 00:15:49,674.92272222 I know that God may be calling you to be a bishop in another place at another time and I support you in that because I think you're fabulous and you would be a wonderful bishop. 144 00:15:50,249.92272222 --> 00:15:55,929.92272222 But I'm also mostly grateful that you're going to get to work here and I get to work with you some more. 145 00:15:56,169.92272222 --> 00:16:05,329.92272222 So that's your weekly update Diocese of the Rio Grande for this week of the 27th of October, 2024, October 27th. 146 00:16:06,219.92272222 --> 00:16:07,129.92172222 I like that day. 147 00:16:07,939.92172222 --> 00:16:09,279.92172222 That's the day I was born. 148 00:16:10,549.92272222 --> 00:16:11,639.92272222 Happy birthday to me. 149 00:16:12,189.92272222 --> 00:16:13,569.92272222 I love you, Diocese of the Rio Grande. 150 00:16:14,219.92272222 --> 00:16:14,869.92272222 We'll see you soon.
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