Province 7 Board meets

Nineteen Diocesan Presidents from around Province 7 gathered at the Montserrat Retreat Center in Dallas, TX in September for a time of fellowship, sharing, and learning. By the end, we had gained new friends and shared in worship and laughter. Each of us has a new prayer partner-a fellow diocesan president-with whom to share prayer needs and joys.
New Diocesan Presidents, like Cindy Davis of the Diocese of the Rio Grande, were warmly welcomed by returning presidents and by Brenda Amos, Province 7 President. Her vision is to see Daughters across the Province grow closer to Jesus and to one another in fellowship and to grow the Daughters of the King in our parishes, dioceses, and across the Province. 

Communication is a big part of that effort: Communicating who we are as Daughters of the King to others and communicating between and amongst ourselves! In the Diocese of the Rio Grande, blogs, newsletters, email, face-to-face, and other forms of communication will be used to help existing chapters grow stronger and encourage new chapters to form. Like the sun rising at Montserrat over Lake Dallas, we CAN be stronger and faithful to our vows!
One thing we are all aware of is the need to interest younger women and girls in the DOK. To that end, I'm challenging each Daughter to invite a younger woman to one of your meetings. The idea of a 'Bishop's Chapter' of Jr. Daughters that would be Diocesan wide is also being considered because some parishes really don't have enough girls to form individual chapters.
At the Prov. 7 Meeting we were encouraged to have each Daughter think about 3 questions: “What did you expect when you joined the DOK?” and “Where are you now?” and “Where are we going?” Post some of your answers here in the comments sections-one way to keep in touch!
During the meeting both the Prayer Chair and the Service Chair suggested that we consider looking at the way we do 'prayer lists' and 'service'. In fact, we were urged to think outside the box and maybe even rename these activities. Denise is calling the Provincial prayer list a "Symphony of Prayer" (lovely, don't you think) and Marilyn says we need to consider service as working with "Holy Urgency" (under the guidance of the Holy Spirit)! Remember there is a Prayer page on this blog. Remember, this is only as good as the prayers you send in. If you feel called to be the Diocesan Prayer Chair-contact for prayer requests and worship assistant at DOK gatherings, let Cindy know.
A "Service or Holy Urgency Page" can be added if there is interest in sharing service ideas around the Diocese-and I think we should be sharing.

All chapter presidents have received a letter with lots of other fun info from the Prov. 7 meeting. Ask them to share!  

Daughters of the King Assemble at the Cathedral

The Cathedral of St. John was the location for the annual Diocesan Assembly of Daughters of the King on August 2-4. About 50 ladies from around the Diocese gathered for a time of fellowship, worship, business, and retreat led by Diocesan President Sandy Martin from the St. Mary and Martha Chapter, Mesilla Park. The St. Agnes Chapter at the Cathedral hosted the event with help from the Light in the Desert, Catherine of Sienna, and St. Chad’s Chapters in Albuquerque.

Blankets collected by the Shepherd’s Daughter Chapter (thanks to Evelyn Yates) for the BethanyKids Ministry in Kenya were blessed by the Very Rev. Mark Goodman during the Eucharist on Friday. Even the Jr. Daughters participated with Darcy Robinson of the St. Brigid Chapter reading the Old Testament lesson.  

A teaching by the Rev. Dan Tuton of Hope+in+the+Desert, Albuquerque about the Sevenfold Gift of the Holy Spirit and a workshop led by incoming Diocesan President Cindy Davis rounded out the Assembly. Cindy’s Saturday morning workshop was based on her novels about women in the Bible. She shared how these Biblical women learned that God’s Spirit works to heal as we listen to each other and turn to God. Cindy challenged each Daughter to be part of “an empowered cadre of prayer warriors who lead, support, and minister within and outside our congregations…who are willing to heal divisions by listening and building unity in the Diocese as we live into our vows of Prayer, Service, and Evangelism.”

The newly elected Diocesan Daughters of the King board is Cindy Davis, President; Peggy Way, 1^st Vice President; Anna Marie Dugan, 2^nd Vice President; Carol Ast-Milchen, Secretary, Brenda Restivo, Treasurer; and the Rev. Jeanne Lutz, Chaplain.

On the National DOK Website you can see photos and articles about Trienniel, just completed, and the new National board. Our Diocesan President Sandy Martin attended as did other Daughters from the Diocese.

 (The Executive Board members are: Pam Runyon, National President; Jen Mariano, 1st Vice-President; Missy Denney, 2nd Vice-President; Susan O'Brien, National Secretary; Annemarie Delgado, National Treasurer; one more appointed position TBA; Bishop Romero, National Chaplain; and Grace Sears, Advisor.
The National Council Chairs are: Emily Thrasher, International Chair; Susan Keith, Junior Daughters; Ann Holmes, Royal Cross Editor; Chesley Vohden, Daughter-At-Large Chair; Mariana Bauman, TBA; Christine Budzowski, TBA; Metro Griffith, TBA; Viviana Young, TBA; Patsy Thomson, TBA.
The Province Presidents are: Donna Abramov, Province I; Janet Papa, Province II; Laura Richards, Province III; Lindy Kirk, Province IV; Pam Sebura, Province V; Lyn Zolman, Province VI; Brenda Amos, Province VII; and Carrie DaCosta, Province VIII.)

Remember to pray for your National Board and offer thanks for a blessed Trienniel:
Most Holy Triune God, our hearts praise songs of praise and thanksgiving for the amazing abundance of Your love and blessings poured out upon us during the recent Triennial gathering of our Order. Your gracious providence opened wide the space for joy, much prayer, laughter, the fruit of countless hours of hard work, shared gifts and talents, and connections of the heart that words cannot convey. We see no boundaries. We are grateful for those Daughters and friends in attendance and for the countless others who were with us in spirit and prayer. Now give wise, loving and discerning hearts as we move into a new Triennium, grateful for the past leadership and hopeful under the guidance of those newly-elected to the National Council. we pray that Your will might be perfected through each one of us for what lies ahead. May we delight in Your way, dance with Your Holy Spirit and continue to spread your boundless love throughout your world. Amen.