Pack the Backpack 2009

With a giving heart, this year the Christ Church Cathedral congregation continued to organize and donate school supplies for Indianapolis children needing assistance. The Adopt-A-Family committee organized and helped coordinate the project. The backpacks were already purchased late last year at a reduced rate to be used for this years' project. One hundred backpacks each containing a list of needed supplies were handed out to parishioners at Christ Church, St. Timothy's and St. Phillip's. In just two weeks, 12 empty backpacks were filled by St. Tomothy's and 36 packs by St. Philips. The remaining 52 were filled with school supplies by the cathedral parishioners.

This year's backpack program was a big success thanks to the generosity of our parishoners and the organizing skills of Barbie and Bryon Russell and Betty and Steve Whaley. Of the 52 backpacks that the cathedral filled, 22 were given to Better Indy Babies, who have been our sole recipients in past years. However, this year 30 were designated for children in our congregation who needed assistance. Plans for next year's project are already in place and we hope to continue to reach out in hospitality and charity with the many gifts that we receive.

From rural Africa all the way to urban Indianapolis, some words of wisdom come to us from Robin Denney, Episcopal missionary in Southern Sudan. On her blog Robin writes, "It is not the few and the powerful that change the world, it is each and every one of us. We each have the decision every day to love, to give, to serve. And our decisions inspire others." It's easy to think that mission is something that happens far away and in another world, but sharing God's love happens on our doorstep, in our homes, and sometimes with just a small gift.

Missions Committee hosts coffee hour

Missions Committee members helped host the Sunday coffee hour on August 2nd. To prepare cookies and scones and other goodies, several members met early on Saturday morning in the church kitchen to get baking. We also prepared a bulletin board with recent photographs of the Ecuador mission trip, the trip to Brazil and several parishioner involved missions. Everyone enjoyed the fellowship and the chance to show hospitality to the church.

Making banana bread and arranging fruit may seem like a trivial activity for mission work, but building companionship to one another in service and heartfelt giving is really at the heart of missions. Bishop Waynick once told me that the Latin root of the word companionship comes from companio - one who eats bread with another. Serving oatmeal cookies and a cup of coffee to anyone on the church's front lawn is indeed the kind of companionship that is at the center of mission work!

Friday: The last work day in Quito!

Let me start with a big thank you to those that helped make this blog happen! We have had some challenges this week. We have had to learn to type with keys that have no letters on them. We have had to find a place that had a good connection. We have had to put off the pictures until we get home. Sorry, they will be on here soon. We have had to walk up and down and up and down the streets here over and over. Our leg muscles will never be the same. We have had broken down buses, and strange cab rides. We have been lost. Through all of it though we have gained a relationship with wonderful people, God, and ourselves. We are going to continue our work today until we are done, sorry to be leaving this community, but happy we are knowing what we have accomplished.

We reflected on our time here this morning in our service and prayers. We were asked what we would do when Jesus calls us. The ladies today have had to go on without the men to Comite Del Pueblo to have the festival for the children, so as the men could complete the build. We miss the children but would like to thank them for the extra build time.

Saturday we head to Otavalo, where the worlds oldest existing market is held for some fellowship with each other, and some gifts for our friends and family at home. We will leave this place proud of what we have done. I must go now they are waiting on me to deliver an 80 lb bag of concrete down the hill again.

Love Brian

Day 5: Quito

It is lovely, I am once again watching the hummingbirds awaiting the one with the long tail like a bird of paradise. The flowers in the courtyard are wide open and full of color, as the bees dance about them. The sun is shining and all of God´'s rays light it all up. We all ache this morning, and I remind everyone that we feel this way because of the wonderful things we are doing. After we reflect in prayer together we shall journey back to the people of Reconciliation. We know that they will be awaiting us with open arms.

Smiles, Brian

June 24, 2009: Quito

We have worked hard. The people of Reconciliation have worked hard. We have framed two walls in upstairs. The door jamb in the back room is in. Another painful load of bricks has been delivered as well. Bishop Ramos even helped us load them in. The wall in the courtyard is taking shape. The Episcopal shield is all but done in the entry. The floor is being leveled in the back room. Today we were present for the feeding of Colombian refugees with the Bishop. We broke bread with them. It was a good day. We are exhausted and we miss our families, but we know they understand.

Peace, Brian

Day 4: Quito

It is beautiful here again, today the skies are clear. You can see for miles. We are once again eager to work and get started for the day. Transportation problems have made the group take different means to get to the church, but all is well.

The people of Reconciliation are working hard with us hand in hand. It is a great thing to see such pride from within the community. They are very grateful and proud of their church and what it is becoming. -- Brian

Day 3 cont'd: Quito

We have accomplished so much. What a great day it was! Supplies were delivered and everyone worked so hard. Supports are in for the courtyard wall. The shield is 75% painted in again. The first wall upstairs is laid out and the doors have been ordered. Window holes have been cut into the interior wall by George in the back room. The ladies from the church cooked us a feast to show their appreciation. I bought them 2 doz. roses in thanks.

The feast consisted of all native indigenous foods that are only prepared on very special occasions. This is where I cannot wait to be able to show you pictures!!!!! We had: Roasted cuy (coo eee, guinea pig), roasted chicken, plaintains, rice, broccoli, regional papas (potatos), choclo (a hominy type corn), a radish salad from the garden outside, bananas, melon.

The meal was incredible! Everyone was stuffed, and yes a few of us enjoyed the cuy! I ate an entire one. Bob Goyette ate half of one. Jackie and George each ate half of one. Marilyn, David, Father Drew, and Betty tried it as well!

If you would like to know where our hearts and minds are today please read: Math:5 versus 1-17 -- Peace, Brian.

Quito: June 23, 2009

It is our third day and everyone seems to have adjusted to the altitude very well. It is simply gorgeous today with a light mist in the mountains. We just had service this morning at Reconciliation. Everyone is hard at work, very hard at it, if I do say so.

We have all taken this on with much importance and seem to be getting closer together, closer to our new friends, and closer to God. We have encountered some set backs like our bus trip this morning breaking down on our way to the church, but we are persevering on with faith trying to do what we were all sent here to do.

Thank you all for your patience and love, Brian

Day 2: Quito

We awoke to a lovely day, had a wonderful breakfast together, and were all eager to start with the challenges and tasks ahead of us. The ladies in the group went to Comite Del Pueblo to prepare for the festival, and the men all went to Reconciliation to start work on a room for a Columbian refugee youth.

We held a small lovely service this morning, and than went to work. We are tearing down walls to make more space. We are building a wall in the courtyard and attaching an iron gate to separate it for safety. We started painting the Episcopal shield on the entry wall.

We split up and went to start purchasing supplies. We all met up again and discussed our very productive day. The ladies told us they got lost today while delivering supplies for the festival. They said they were crammed in a cargo van on the floor, they were still in good humor about it though.

Please pray for our journey. thank you, Brian

Quito Blog: Sun. June 21, 2009

Happy Fathers Day. We arrived safely late last night and were very tired. In the morning we awoke feeling refreshed. We met up with Bob Goyette. There were people running a marathon in the streets outside the hotel. All of the streets were closed off to traffic, but we managed to catch a bus to "Reconciliation" anyway to attend service.

Father Drew gave a sermon and Betty Whaley translated it. We then went with the Parish to see what needed to be fixed and/or built etc. They have many projects to work on, so many that we need to use our resources and time wisely. After our meeting with the parish we went to La Mitad Del Mundo or the equatorial line monument at 0 degrees latitude.

The skies opened up on us and soaked us, then snow and hail came down from the mountain caps. It went from 72 and sunny to rain, snow, and hail. We than went to meet with the Bishop, Father Ramos, and the Bishop to be, Father Luis Ruiz. Our meeting was very progressive and upbeat.

We feel that our partnership is moving in a positive direction and can only get stronger. We have good loving ties with our friends in Ecuador.

Please excuse that cannot send photos at this time - I will put them on later, thank you Brian

Ecuador Construction Mission 2009

The Ecuador construction mission will be from June 20th through June 28th. We look forward to sharing some posts and pictures with you while we are there. The following list of people will be on this mission: George Alyea, Marilyn Duran, Charles Farmer, Karen Farmer, Robert Goyette, Edwin Imasuen, Andrew Klatte, Jacquelyn Kenton, Robert Shakespeare, Betty Whaley, Steven Whaley, and myself Brian Shields. Please pray for our safe trip and return.

Peg Black trip to Camp Coast Care: Day 4 and 5

May 28th Today we continued to work on Johnny Roza's house. We just about have all the dry wall finished. Then, I walked down the new pier and talked to some of the local to see how the fishing was. They had just gotten there so none had been caught. I then went to another pier where the shrimp boats dock. One gentleman welcomed me aboard and I took his picture. Last night we walked the beach. We have been blessed with good weather!

May 29th Yesterday evening I walked to the new pier, then to the shrimp boats. Some gentleman asked me if I wanted to see inside, so aboard I went. Physically I am exhausted, but it feels good. Today we pretty much finished the dry wall of Johnny Roza's house. We'll catch the last of the sunset this evening and hit a local restaurant. All and all it's been a good trip. You meet a lot of people from across the country who come and work for a week. Blessings to you!

Peg Black trip to Camp Coast Care: Day 2 and 3

May 26th - Beautiful day! Went to Johnnie Roza's house to put up drywall. We are all using muscles we didn't think we had. He's a single gentleman who happens to be a contractor, but can't find a job. It's alot better down here than last year, but still so many homes are needed to complete.

May 27th - Still at Johnny Roza's house. On the dead palm trees they have carved an eagle. Stopped at Sonic for a cool drink. Will go to the beach and send some beach pictures. I can already tell a difference about the beach since I last came down. It's much cleaner! We seem to be working in teams now. There are 2-3 people per team. We seemed to get a lot done today. I don't know if we will finish all the dry walling, but we are definitely getting a good portion done.

Peg Black trip to Camp Coast Care: Day 1

May 24th - We arrived safely and ate at Longhorns before camp.








May 25th - This morning we moved in furniture at St. Patrick's Church. They will have their 1st service Sunday in their new building. It being Pentecost Sunday, it is very fitting. They are waiting for the Bishop to come in August to bless it. It's been very rainy so we have gotten a little wet. But, who cares!

This past month several parishioners of Christ Church Cathedral have spent time volunteering with Camp Coast Care in Long Beach, Mississippi. Peg Black has had a wonderful experience and has been sending us photos from her trip. Please join her on her mission as we post short excerpts from her travel journal.



More about Camp Coast Care:
“Since the first days after Hurricane Katrina, we have offered help to survivors in the form of a distribution center for food, cleaning supplies, personal hygiene products, clothing, and free medical services.

Camp Coast Care has also hosted thousands of volunteers from all over the world who have come to clean out and rebuild lives, homes, and communities.

Camp Coast Care continues to adapt to the needs of the people affected by Hurricane Katrina. Since housing is now the critical ongoing concern, our focus has become the renovation and building of homes. Volunteer work crews rebuild homes, clean up, and restore the beauty of the Gulf Coast. Volunteer participation is also vital to the functioning and cleanliness of Camp Coast Care.”

highlights on local mission

Do you think that “mission” only means traveling to far away places, helping on a limited project and then returning home again? While these trips are a great way to engage in mission, Christ Church Cathedral also participates in rewarding and prayerful mission work right here at home.

As another example of local mission, last July a young adult team from Christ Church Cathedral participated in overhauling one of the family rooms at the Dayspring Center. The Dayspring Center serves as a refuge for homeless families with children and acts to offer a wide range of services to families on the road to self-sufficiency. In 2007 Daypsring sheltered 160 families and over 500 children.

Although you may think of mission as something that strictly happens during the Ecuador mission trips, our church does a lot of local mission right here in Indianapolis. Some of Christ Church's local covenant ministry partners include The Children’s Bureau, Inc., The Damien Center, The Dayspring Center, Inc., The John P. Craine House, Inc., The Imani Church, and St. Thomas Clinic. Other projects are organized directly by the Missions Committee, such as our yearly Adopt-a-Family program and the backpack project.

We hope to continue our local mission opportunities this year. Stay tuned for more information about how to get involved!

May is Missions Month!

This month the missions committee hopes to share some of the church’s involvement in mission, within our city, our diocese and our world. Throughout May you will find members on the committee or those who have participated in mission wearing buttons inviting you to approach them about their experiences. Please come talk to us! We hope to share some of the wonderful ways we are called to love and serve God through active ministry outside our parish. You may be surprised at how many diverse ways parishioners at Christ Church are serving as faithful witness.