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Greetings Beloved,

Have you ever felt a strange warmth within, or a disturbance within, that caused you to wonder if perhaps you are being called to discern for Holy Orders? To serve as a deacon, as a priest? Has someone tapped you on the shoulder and said, “have you thought about this?”

If you have, I think you will be interested in the day of discernment that is being hosted for people from both Eastern and Western Michigan. It is going to be a few days of exploring this in prayer and listening to people who may be able to give you some clarity, so that you may have a meaningful way to push through your call.

A long time ago, when I was a student in college, someone tapped me on the shoulder and said “have you considered discernment to become a priest?” and I didn’t take them very seriously immediately. Still, the seed they sowed led to stay with the discomfort which then became a fire in my bones.

The dates are June 24th, starting with dinner, and for the rest of the weekend you will have an opportunity to be with others who are feeling similarly.

If you are feeling this urge within yourself, what can you do about it? Well, first of all you talk to your priest. If you don’t have a priest, talk to your wardens so that they will be able to give you some guidance and clarity.

There will be a lot of details that you can get from them and from our dioceses so that you may do something about it. I just wanted to invite you to be open to the experience. So that we together can be helpful in your discernment.

God Bless.

Saludos amados,

¿Has sentido alguna vez un calor extraño en tu interior, o una perturbación en tu interior, que te ha hecho preguntarte si tal vez estás llamado a discernir? Las órdenes sagradas para servir como diácono, como sacerdote. ¿Te ha tocado alguien en el hombro y te ha dicho “has pensado en esto”?

Si lo has hecho, creo que te interesará la jornada de discernimiento que se está organizando para personas del este y del oeste de Michigan. Serán unos días para explorar esto en oración y escuchar a las personas que pueden ser capaces de darte un poco de claridad, para que puedas tener una manera significativa de explorar tu llamada.

Hace mucho tiempo, cuando era estudiante en la universidad, alguien me tocó el hombro y me dijo “¿has considerado el discernimiento para ser sacerdote?” No lo tomé muy en serio inmediatamente, pero la semilla que sembraron me llevó a quedarme con la incomodidad que después se convirtió en un fuego en mis huesos.

Las fechas son el 24 de junio comenzando con una cena y durante el resto del fin de semana tendrás la oportunidad de estar con otras personas que se sienten de manera similar. Si sientes este impulso en tu interior, ¿qué puedes hacer al respecto? Bueno, en primer lugar, habla con tu sacerdote. Si no tienes un sacerdote, habla con tus guardianes para que puedan orientarte y aclararte.

Habrá muchos detalles que podrás obtener de ellos y de nuestras diócesis para que puedas hacer algo al respecto. Sólo quería invitarte a estar abierto a la experiencia. Para que juntos podamos ser útiles en tu discernimiento.

Que Dios te bendiga.

Excerpted from a message from Colleen Hintz, designer and creator of Bishop Singh’s new vestments. The vestments were a gift from the Episcopal Bishops of African Descent, replacing vestments lost in a house fire last year and marking Bishop Singh’s new start with our dioceses. 

Sign’s new vestment marks his start with the dioceses.

I wanted to share at least part of what was going on in my head as I created your set.

The beauty of the Phoenix rising is, for me, so connected to your reality and all you have been through both personally and professionally. I do believe the Presiding Bishop chose wisely in asking you to take on this unique episcopacy in Michigan. I see you empowering so many with the presence of the Phoenix. I love how the tears of the Phoenix are both yours and theirs to experience. I love how the jewels become sparks lighting the way along the water’s journey. I love how the waters intertwine, interconnect, come close together and move far apart while all at the same time being part of the greater whole.  I see you helping them to experience that reality to the fullest.

The rising phoenix in Sign’s vestments.

I will admit that when it was all finished, I realized there is an error within. Each strand goes over then under then over then under, and on and on throughout the entire chasuble. That is until at one point, there are two overs…

While it was possible to fix, I chose to leave it because of a childhood experience that stays with me to this day.

The blue strand goes over then under the head dress matching the chasuble.

As a young student, I was driven. I wanted only A’s and 100’s. Nothing else was good enough. I can still hear my high school chemistry teacher telling me “girls don’t deserve A’s in chemistry” which only drove me harder. That all was to change when my Girl Scout troop went to NYC the summer of my 15th year on this planet. I can still remember touring the UN. A new Persian rug had just been gifted to the UN and had been hung in a stairwell. It was very large and very beautiful. The guide shared the story that it had taken 3 artisans some 2+ years to create and commented that there were 3 errors within. I immediately tried to find them. She chuckled at me and said I would never find them but each artisan had left their first error in recognition of the reality that only God is perfect… I can still feel that hitting me square in the gut. I didn’t have to be perfect. Only God was!  Even to this day, I prefer to leave my first mistake to honor that reality.

May you wear the set with great joy,

Learn more about Colleen Hintz on her website, www.fruitofthevine.us.

Dear Saints,

Earlier this week, our nation received news about a likely decision forthcoming from the United States Supreme Court. This impending decision to overturn Roe v. Wade after nearly 50 years will have painful repercussions across our country – for the people forced to carry unplanned and dangerous pregnancies against their will, for those of us whose religious liberties are not as protected as others, for those whose protections of privacy now stands poised for contestation – same-sex marriages, access to birth control, and so much more.

As Episcopalians, we commit every day to respect the dignity of every human being – one’s dignity requires the existence of choice over control, freedom over force, and abundant love over fear.

The Episcopal Church is consistent in our support for access to reproductive healthcare, including abortion access, which is the agency of a woman and her loved ones. I commend to you this resource released yesterday by the Episcopal Public Policy Network, including a resolution passed by the General Convention in 1967.

I am aware that while we may see mixed reactions to this potential decision, many are now afraid for their safety and that of their loved ones. I pray for our church, our world, and the communities we serve. As we give thanks for our mothers, may we wisely achieve God’s dream for a world in which no child is afraid or hungry, no person is enslaved, and where our love for one another flows fearlessly.

Yours in Christ,

The Rt. Rev. Prince G. Singh
Bishop Provisional
The Episcopal Dioceses of Eastern and Western Michigan