Rest In Peace Fr. Skip! May you find rest in the green pasture beside the still water before returning to work in the vineyard of the LORD. Thank you!

It is with great sorrow that I write this morning.

The News Sentinel has confirmed reports that Most Reverend Father Earl Paul Brian Carsten, Metropolitan Archbishop of the Orthodox-Catholic Church in America has crossed into eternal pastures this past Friday at the age of 65 due to a childhood defect of his heart that had recently surfaced and caused the stroke which caused him to fall into a coma and pass from his mortal flesh with friends and colleagues surrounding him in prayer and praise to GOD our almighty Father, ABBA!. Archbishop Carsten is survived by his mother, Isabelle, of Auburn.

Funeral Services and Divine Liturgy of Commendation (aka Mass of Christian Burial) will be celebrated by Archbishop Alfred L. Lankenau on Friday the 3rd of April at 4P with calling from 1-4P. The Divine Liturgy and Commendation will be hosted with graciousness at Fairview Missionary Church 525 East 200 North in (MAP) Angola, Indiana.

DIRECTIONS: You may arrive at Fairview Missionary Church via Interstate 69 by taking the Crooked Lake interchange number 150 @ County Road 200 West turning left if from Fort Wayne or right if from Michigan and proceed (north) approximately a half mile, turning right (or East) onto West County Road 200 North and then proceed 2.5 miles down the road and the Church will be on your right hand side. If you intersect with State Road 827 North you are sitting right next to it. Please look behind you before you back into somebody when trying to turn around.

There is more sorrow in this untimely loss of Fr. Skip's boisterous at times but contemplative presence, which was compounded by the horrendously inaccurate article written by Aaron Organ and published in the News Sentinel, that both defamed the character of this humble Servant Shepherd and the Orthodox-Catholic Church in America [website], which he guided for the last nine years with great respect and responsible stewardship.

I can only reflect the albeit massive loss and tears shed that the members of the three congregation local Community of the Cross and my fellow clergy and friends in the OCCA are feeling at this moment in their 100 year plus history. This is also a time of joy and peace knowing that it will be alright and that he can do a lot more from where he is now. This following link MY ARCHBISHOP is a commentary by Father Roger Vaughn whom knew him better than I did and much longer. Please enjoin this sharing of a man, a mission, and the mysteries celebrated by workers in the LORD's vineyard that joined all together, even me, for the last many years under Fr. Skip's leadership (2nd from left in purple @ St. Mary Magdalene Chapel, Crosswood Centre, Auburn)

Now if y'all don't mind the Western Rite within me from bubbling up, allow me to say this simple prayer for all of you: "May all of us and many others whom loved Father Skip and those whom he loved, find the Holy Ghost as their Comforter; and the Holy Mother of God, their Consolation! As we all struggle on our path to live that Indwelling presence, that he so diligently taught us to look for, may we find that peace that is GOD with us! AMEN!" Father Skip, thank you for the fellowship and challenging me to find new ways to live my commissioning as a Servant Shepherd also!

Bona Pascha! Feast Well At The Banquet Table!

Fr. "Fozy Bear" Jude Thaddeuss of Prompt Succor
MRev. Kenneth R. M. White, Jnr., Bishop, OIRCC

General Community Update

Some of the new categories for this blog's link list and resource guide are not complete quite yet but I figured since the revamp of the blog is some what on target I would introduce a few of the categories with news and curiosities that I have found while traversing across the electronic super highway.

Category one: Support 3 Rivers Athletics
If any body has any of this information please forward it to me via comments here, please. (illustration picture under category still in debate, primary links: college/ professional/ semiprofessional are done, need to follow up with community sports organizations now,
need to follow up with high school athletics next,)

Befriend the Fort Wayne Derby Jeerleaders

Our jeerleader squad wants to be your friend! Send them a friend request at www.myspace.com/fwdgjeerleaders And don't forget, not only are we holding try outs for interested skaters on Jan. 7 and 9, we are also looking for dedicated individuals to volunteer, ref or join our jeerleader squad.


Category Two: But There Are Things To Do In Fort Wayne
(Category not posted on side bar will be a reoccurring theme)

IPFW "Fall-Into-Finals" Party and Drinking Convention announced.

With an IPFW student I.D. and $6, you can apparently drink yourself stupid tomorrow (the 30th) at the Quality Hotel (3330 W. Coliseum Blvd., Fort Wayne) while being hopefully entertained by The Freezing Scene as well as The North River Agents. One IPFW I.D. admits two people. It's apparently all-ages, so I guess that means fake I.D.'s are welcome and encouraged. It starts at 9pm but the bands wont start playing until like ten or eleven.

One more proof that yes in fact there are things to do in Fort Wayne but only if you have money, a car, and are enrolled at IPFW. I have no issue with drinking but this has got to change. Next is a beginning example of how easily the Cultural Studies Credit Program could work.

The Fort Wayne Youth Theatre announced that The Best Christmas Pageant Ever will be presented on Saturday December 15 and Sunday December 16 at 2:00 p.m. on stage at the Arts United Center at 303 E. Main St. in Fort Wayne.

To make reservations you can call the box office at 422-4226 beginning Monday, December 10 between 12:00-4:00 p.m. Tickets are $12.00 adults and $8.00 children. If you'd like to see the show for free you can let the Director, Reuben, know if you are available on December 10 from 10:00-5:00 to help hang set pieces and lights for the show. If you work for 2 hours, you can get a comp ticket to see the show...

... and trust me he will need some help!

I figure that is enough rambling for now but just to let y'all know I will be going on my annual Advent retreat on Saturday up at the Chapel and Skete @ Crosswood Centre (Skete= Russian Orthodox term for Monastery) in Auburn, Indiana. It will be fun to reconnect and have fellowship with my friends whom are clergy of the Orthodox-Catholic Church of America and the lay members of the local communities they serve. Every time I go up to Crosswood Centre I am refreshed for another long haul with in my pastoral duties and personal life.

[UPDATE: Much as the story of my life normally tells, I was called away early this morning on an pastoral issue and could not attend the retreat today. Thank yous go out to those who prayed for me! Fortunately I have the opportunity to go on another retreat shortly after the Christmas season in mid January, probably on one of my patron feast day.]

One last note you will find that certain religious links have been pulled off this blog. All religion and spirituality links with the exception of mine and organizations directly affiliated with me are on Our Lady Rejoice Ministries third edition of The Reign And Rook, which is now in blog format and will debut in limited form this Sunday. I hope you are enjoying the transitions.