What's in a name?

The Bishop sent me a link to Wordle today that he thought I could use for future graphics. I was intrigued and played around with it to see what it could do. As I typed I started thinking about the names of churches in The Episcopal Diocese of Arizona and wondered how they would appear since Wordle makes words larger by seeing how many times it is used.

The most common word? St. It was so large I had to remove all but one. What came next? It appears to be a tie between Paul and Andrew and possibly John. We Episcopalians are predictable.

Have mercy on your servant

I learned today that the retired Bishop of Arizona, The Rt. Rev. Joseph T. Heistand, died yesterday at his home in Virginia. Since our Diocesan Convention begins day after tomorrow I don't have time to write much but did want to post a few thoughts.

I attended Bishop Heistand's consecration on Aug. 28, 1976 in Phoenix at the age of 12. I got to know him over the years as I grew more involved with journalism and photography and was honored when he and his wife bought reprints of my photos.

One of my favorite photos of him was taken when Arizona executed Donald Eugene Harding, the first man to be executed in Arizona in 29 years. I was watching Bishop Heistand as he stood outside with death penalty protesters and saw his reaction when he was told that Harding was dead. He pursed his lips and shook his head and looked so sad about the death of fellow human being.

I wish I could post some of those photos now but they're all in storage after my recent move. Since I am preparing for my second Diocesan Convention as the Diocesan Communications officer I had to scramble to find another source of photos. My former employer, the East Valley Tribune, provided the one seen here.

I don't think I saw Bishop Heistand after his successor, The Rt. Rev. Robert Shahan, was consecrated in 1992 but I have thought of him frequently over the years (especially as I come up the stairs to my office and see his photo) and wished him well.

And now I must go back to work preparing for Convention. But as a retired Bishop who presided over many a Diocesan Convention himself, I know he'd understand.

Separation of Church and State

Arizona's Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio is apparently a huge supporter of the Bill of Right’s First Amendment, which is frequently referred to as the “separation of church and state.” He supports it so much that he (the state) is separating people from their churches.

A Hispanic Episcopalian was pulled over recently and asked to show his papers. He was born and raised in the U.S. and had his valid Arizona driver’s license with him but that wasn’t good enough for the deputies since they’ve seen “too many fakes.” So now he, and others like him, are avoiding church because the congregations are afraid of detainment or harassment by over-zealous deputies.

The problem? He, and many others, worship within one of Arpaio’s Crime Suppression Operation, which is bordered by 16th and 40th streets, and McDowell and Indian School roads in Phoenix. Most are of Hispanic origin and they have been pulled over and asked to provide their papers.

According to my boss, The Rt. Rev. Kirk S. Smith, Arpaio's deputies interrupted a confirmation service on April 6 in a Roman Catholic Church in Guadalupe, a largely Hispanic neighborhood where Arpaio started another Crime Suppression Unit. And on Good Friday Bishop Smith received a call from the priest at a Spanish-speaking church in Phoenix. He drove to the scene and found an officer. "I tried to explain to him that not only were his men frightening law-abiding citizens, but they were in fact violating if not the letter, then at least the spirit of the Constitution by preventing people from going to church--it's called freedom of religion. Suffice it to say, the deputy, although polite, was not interested. He had his orders."

This despite the fact that Arapio’s own press release dated Jan. 18 stated, “The posse members and deputy sheriffs will not racially profile anyone in this operation.”

How can Arpaio’s office say that on the same page as “Illegal immigration arrests anticipated.” Are they pulling over French speakers to make sure they haven’t come here illegally from Canada? Are they pulling over blue-eyed blonds as suspected illegal European immigrants? How about people of middle-eastern descent?

A second press release released Jan. 22 crowed that the “Operation nets twenty-seven arrests in first ten hours, including five illegal aliens.”

Let us not forget that Arpaio and his deputies are doing this “as a result of a letter to the Sheriff from business owners in the area who asked for his help saying they have more faith in the Sheriff’s office to reduce the ongoing property crimes occurring there, including the illegal immigration problem.”

More faith in the Sheriff’s office than who, may we ask? Who is he going to go after next? The Holocaust comes to mind when “recent” racial profiling was enacted under the guise of politics protecting the people from a targeted minority. It didn’t matter if you were Jewish it just mattered if you looked Jewish.

I can only hope that Sheriff Joe Arpaio faithfully reads this.

On the Net: http://www.azcentral.com/12news/news/articles/2008/04/11/20080411churcharpaio041108-CR.html

Great photo

I haven't had time to write lately but I wanted to share this photo I took of my mom and daughter at Trinity Cathedral in November. A horizontal version of this is my computer's wallpaper and everyone who comes into my office loves this image. I hope you like it, too.

Death of a four-legged friend

0 God, you created all that is, and you love all that you have made: we come to you this day in grief and with thanksgiving. We grieve the death of our beloved Berry, who has been our companion on the way, and we thank you for the gift of his presence among us as an effective sign of the richness of your creation and of the generosity of your love; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire's Liturgy for the loss of a pet or other animal: http://www.nhepiscopal.org/artman/publish/article_279.shtml



I lost a friend this morning of the four-legged variety. Why am I writing about this in Episcayune? Because it's my blog, my prerogative, and pets are more popular than ever. Our churches are recognizing that fact since most have a Blessing of the Animals.

As I was writing this I was delighted to find that the Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire even has the above liturgy for pets! Since my family has struggled in the past when burying pets I'll be printing this out and putting a copy in my prayer book. When I get Berry's ashes back I'll say this litany as I bury or scatter him.

(As further proof that animal-lovers are not in the minority anymore, I also found an excellent article by Jean Fitzpatrick entitled When a Pet Dies at Episcopal Cafe.)

"Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father." Matthew 10:29 - NRSV.


Berry, a one-eyed lavender-smoke Devon Rex male, would have been 16-years-old next month. As I recall, Berry was abandoned at a groomer's shop in 2001. I got him about six months later when I was hoping to write a book about Devons. (I had written my book The Guide to Owning a Cornish Rex Cat and had several Cornish Rex but wanted more Rex experience.) Sadly, 9/11 tanked the idea of a Devon book but I never regretted getting him.

Berry lost his eye as a kitten and I'm a sucker for the under-dog, or under-cat in this case. But Berry never considered himself to be an under-cat. He packed a lot of punch in his one-eyed glares. In fact, I tearfully laughed when, as he died, his head rolled in my direction for one last (loving) glare.

I'm glad I'll have this litany tonight as I try to explain to my 4-year-old daughter about death for the first time. It's going to be rough, so prayers would be appreciated.

You can also see Berry at my Rainbow Bridge page: rexphiles.com/rainbow.

Another good source for Episcopal animal lovers is the Episcopal Network for Animal Welfare: http://www.franciscan-anglican.com/enaw/

Compassion in action

Have you heard about Darfur? I have. In August 1991 I met my first "Lost Boy" and he was soon followed by many others to my Phoenix church. Lost Boys are (usually male) refugees from Sudan. After spending most of their childhood either on the run or in refugee camps, they have been offered asylum in the United States. Phoenix has a large Sudanese population now and many are Episcopalians since most Dinka tribes are Episcopalian.

I learned a lot about faith from listening to them, and I also learned how truly blessed my whole life has been. My church took the Lost Boys to heart and took them into their homes, basketball games, Christmas parties, etc. Having met and loved these young men, I became aware of a region called Darfur. The horror experienced there is unimaginable. So you can imagine my concern when a very brave and compassionate friend went there to do humanitarian work.

Now s/he is going back to Darfur . S/he can't post due to censorship but I thought I'd post some of the thoughts I received before s/he left.

"I am going back to Darfur, Sudan to help in the building of a guest house that we plan to rent out to the non-governmental organizations in the area, including the United Nations. This is being funded by donors who want to be paid back (less than one year) but more importantly want a continuing source of revenue for humanitarian projects on the ground in Sudan. This, as envisioned, will be that resource for years to come. We envision handing it off lock, stock, and barrel in three-to-five years to the locals who have proven that they have the peoples best interest in mind regardless of tribe or origin.

"That being said, it is a lawless place and one that is inherently dangerous. It is the worst environment I have ever been in -- which includes Iraq. It is also where the most good can be done in the world, which is why I choose to go there and work. My other responsibility will be to help with risk assessments and eventually training of missionaries to try and help them to help themselves by learning how to recognize and avoid trouble. I believe that it is a noble calling and one that is worth the risk. I have asked for and been granted a one-year sabbatical from the process of discerning my calling to become ordained in the Episcopal Church; I am very grateful to the commission on ministry for allowing me this opportunity.

"I will endeavor to write e-mails as I can to let you all know what is happening on my journey. Please understand that I will be in a country that is hostile to the U.S. and that anything I send has the potential to be monitored and could be hazardous to my health. This includes e-mail I receive, so please no attachments and understand that I will respond as I can in the best way I can under the circumstances.

Thank you for all of the love and support you have given over the years and if you would like to send a prayer my way on occasion I will greatly accept it. I depart for one-to-three months depending on visas. May Peace be with you all."

If only we could all be so brave and do the right thing. Prayers for those in Darfur would be appreciated.

Freedom of the Press?

God was willing and Mom is now the Rev. Mom. Woo hoo! A more tired or blissful deacon you have probably never seen. The service Saturday was beautiful (the rain waited until Sunday - phew!) and packed.

I got to do double duty as one of my mom's presenters and as the Diocesan communications officer. Once my duties to her were done I was to wander and take photos of the service and the seven new deacons as they participated in said service.

Imagine my surprise when a woman (lightly) whacked me with her rolled-up order of service and told me not to take photos! I have been taking photos for the diocese since I was in high school and have worked as a professional journalist since 1989. I never dreamed that my first "assault" as a member of the press would happen within church!

I told her that I had the bishop's permission (he is my boss, after all) and she nodded and said "Sorry," but it was still about all I could do not to fall on the cathedral's floor and die laughing.

As I said, I've been doing this since high school and I know the dos and don'ts of church photography; walk softly and carry a quiet camera. I wear rubber-soled shoes and do not use the flash during the service. I'm the first to grind my teeth when I see flashes going off in services, especially important services when the flashes get to look like strobe lights. But the note in the order of service asked people to please refrain from the use of flash photography.

Next time I guess I'll have to ask the cathedral to print in the program:

Please refrain from both the use of flash photography and whacking the bishop's communications officer with your order of service.

The diocese's seven newest deacons gather with their mentor Venerable Canon Veronica Ritson, archdeacon, (third from left), the Rev. Pat Huls (second from right), and Bishop Kirk S. Smith (right) after the ordination service on Jan. 26. Greta Huls/Diocese of Arizona