Online Bible study forum attracts participants
St. Peter’s, Kansas City, has relaunched its online Bible study forum, and early indications are it’s a hit.
The forum, which can be accessed via St. Peter’s Web site, www.stpetersepiscopal.net, was restarted in April, said parishioner Tim Schwab, who serves as moderator.
“It’s growing,” Schwab said. “When we launched the forum last summer it had 10 participants. Now we have 19.”
Schwab, who has worked in computers his entire adult life and is director of application services for HCA, the world’s largest hospital company, said the online forum was the brainchild of his wife, Laurie, who also is the parish’s organist.
“It just came to her,” he said.
“Basically, we come up with pieces of scripture that people are interested in or are common. People have a chance to think about (the Scripture) and express their ideas. That can be less intimidating online.”
Participants in the forum must register and live chats are set up once a month. The Scripture being studied also changes monthly, Schwab said.
“In one month, if one person learns something, it’s worth it,” he said. “Scripture needs to come alive. This helps it do it.”
Parish representatives for ERD sought
Episcopal Relief and Development’s grants operation office in New York called to see if assistance was needed by any of our parishes in the area affected by the recent tornados that struck the area around Independence and Gladstone in the Kansas City area. After checking with ERD parish representatives in affected area parishes and with Bishop Barry Howe’s office, it was determined, thanks be to God, that no diocesan property suffered damage and there appears to be no one in our diocese needing assistance.
Many of our neighbors in the area suffered great loss and many local Episcopal parishes are providing help and assistance. They need our prayers as well.
This recent potential disaster in our diocese underscores the need for every parish and congregation in the diocese to have an ERD representative. Someone the diocesan coordinators can contact and pass along this kind of offering of assistance and help from the national office and someone from whom we can gather local information to assist in coordinating disaster recovery efforts.
It could be your congregation next affected and in need. If your congregation does not have an ERD parish representative, step up and volunteer through your rector/vicar or contact us directly and we’ll get you all the information you need to be an effective spokesperson in your congregation for ERD. Contact us at dandaw@centurytel.net or at (417) 739.5008.
