Dear partners in prayer,
Happy New Year! ¡Feliz Año Nuevo!
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
This week's overview:
1) We continue to create, transform and update courses in the midst of the holiday festivities.
2) Julie's dad left for Colorado this week in the midst of the storm, and arrived safely. The storm had rearranged our family plans; my mom stayed with us for a bit while Julie's dad was here; both are octogenarians. So, what was tight quarters last week, shrank this week. All our daughters joined us for Christmas. A good time was had by all.
Prayer requests:
1) For the students and their courses. The next round is scheduled to be in place on January 12th, to begin on January 19th.
2) For safe and timely travel in the first half of 2013: to visit the Diocese of Western Tanganyika in Tanzania in April, and for the next trip to Belize in May.
3) For increased financial support. We received some special blessings this week.
Your prayers are really important for us. I pray for you every day.
God bless you, and thank you for praying.
In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+
Monday, December 31, 2012
Friday, December 28, 2012
Scripture Prayer
Proverbs 1: 2-5
To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.
As we approach a new year, Lord, we thank You for every blessing that you bestowed upon Father Shaw and his students in 2012 and we ask for more of the same in 2013. May both teacher and pupil know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight, receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity. May they give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance. Amen.
To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.
As we approach a new year, Lord, we thank You for every blessing that you bestowed upon Father Shaw and his students in 2012 and we ask for more of the same in 2013. May both teacher and pupil know wisdom and instruction, understand words of insight, receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity. May they give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth. Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance. Amen.
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Prayer Mail
Dear partners in prayer,
Merry Christmas! ¡Feliz Navidad!
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
This week's overview:
1) We are between "live courses". Having arranged for students to take courses by Internet, they may finish the 24/7 version of the courses whenever they need to. Which means: students are hiking at different paces along the ministry trail, so to speak.
2) Julie's dad, and our daughter Ruth have joined us for Christmas day. Julie's dad returns to Colorado shortly, but in the meantime, Julie and I were able to enjoy with holidays with Ruth, Hannah, and Lydia. This coming year should be interesting for all of us.
3) Lydia has passed through the Advent season with a look at the past, while heading towards the future. She has navigated around a major landmark reasonably successfully, at least as far as we can tell.
4) We have enjoyed the services we have been attending (or leading), and we have enjoyed telling people what we do. Apparently, it seems to some people that we move about quite a lot. In hindsight, it has been God's plan for us, and I wondered what God was saying to us in all the comments. And then, as I was preparing a sermon on Monday morning, it occurred to me that what we are doing as SAMS missionaries is somewhat like what the Apostle Paul did. He was in Ephesus for about as long as we were in Peru, and we have moved from place to place just as the Holy Spirit led Paul from place to place in his missionary adventures. However, there are differences, as is befitting the times: our missionary home base is Wynantskill, instead of Antioch, and we use the Internet a lot instead of Roman roads.
Prayer requests:
1) For our family members during the Christmas season. Julie's dad will be staying with us to the 27th. We believe that he has enjoyed his stay with us. It was a bit cramped, but on the whole, we have navigated through this time rather well.
2) For the students who are concluding their courses, and for the development of the upcoming courses during the live course break.
3) For safe and timely travel in the first half of 2013: to visit the Diocese of Western Tanganyika in Tanzania in April, and for the next trip to Belize in May.
4) For increased financial support.
Your prayers are really important for us. I pray for you every day.
God bless you, and thank you for praying.
In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+
Merry Christmas! ¡Feliz Navidad!
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
This week's overview:
1) We are between "live courses". Having arranged for students to take courses by Internet, they may finish the 24/7 version of the courses whenever they need to. Which means: students are hiking at different paces along the ministry trail, so to speak.
2) Julie's dad, and our daughter Ruth have joined us for Christmas day. Julie's dad returns to Colorado shortly, but in the meantime, Julie and I were able to enjoy with holidays with Ruth, Hannah, and Lydia. This coming year should be interesting for all of us.
3) Lydia has passed through the Advent season with a look at the past, while heading towards the future. She has navigated around a major landmark reasonably successfully, at least as far as we can tell.
4) We have enjoyed the services we have been attending (or leading), and we have enjoyed telling people what we do. Apparently, it seems to some people that we move about quite a lot. In hindsight, it has been God's plan for us, and I wondered what God was saying to us in all the comments. And then, as I was preparing a sermon on Monday morning, it occurred to me that what we are doing as SAMS missionaries is somewhat like what the Apostle Paul did. He was in Ephesus for about as long as we were in Peru, and we have moved from place to place just as the Holy Spirit led Paul from place to place in his missionary adventures. However, there are differences, as is befitting the times: our missionary home base is Wynantskill, instead of Antioch, and we use the Internet a lot instead of Roman roads.
Prayer requests:
1) For our family members during the Christmas season. Julie's dad will be staying with us to the 27th. We believe that he has enjoyed his stay with us. It was a bit cramped, but on the whole, we have navigated through this time rather well.
2) For the students who are concluding their courses, and for the development of the upcoming courses during the live course break.
3) For safe and timely travel in the first half of 2013: to visit the Diocese of Western Tanganyika in Tanzania in April, and for the next trip to Belize in May.
4) For increased financial support.
Your prayers are really important for us. I pray for you every day.
God bless you, and thank you for praying.
In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+
Friday, December 21, 2012
Scripture Prayer
Psalm 126:2-3
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.
The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Lord thank you for all the blessings that You have bestowed upon Fr. Shaw and his students in Belize this year. Thank You for the successful start of the on-line theological program. May Father Shaw and his students and his whole family be full of joy, peace and love throughout the Christmas Season. Amen.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.
The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad. Lord thank you for all the blessings that You have bestowed upon Fr. Shaw and his students in Belize this year. Thank You for the successful start of the on-line theological program. May Father Shaw and his students and his whole family be full of joy, peace and love throughout the Christmas Season. Amen.
Monday, December 17, 2012
Prayer Mail
Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
This week's overview:
1) We are winding down the semester with this semester's live course, and the semester keeps going with 24/7 courses.
2) It is quite possible that I may be connected with online course planning for the online part of the Anglican seminary in Jamaica, this week.
3) In 1985, Julie and I visited Trinity School for Ministry and stayed with the Lang family as our student hosts. Years later, one of the Rev. Dale Lang's sons was shot and killed in his high school in Canada as part of a Columbine copycat incident. Dale Lang's response to what happened to his son has served as a courageous example for me: http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr0207.htm. You can also find out about him on YouTube.
4) The horrific events in Connecticut this week remind me that when I travel to places such as Belize, I travel and work by the grace of God. By that I mean that I never can be certain that I am going to be alive at the end of the day, every day of such a mission trip. I am reminded of that whenever the Bishop drops me off at a house and waits for me to enter the house safely before he drives off. In Belize City in July of this year, people said there were safe areas. When I returned in October, people not only said there were no longer safe areas, but also, there were a rash of murders of young women in the Western part of the country, highly unusual. I think one of the things that grabs my attention when I visit Belize City is the nightly news tv report that lists by name all the murders that took place that day, one murder victim per screen at a time. I am convinced that your prayers help keep me safe.
Prayer requests:
1) For our family members and the upcoming Advent and Christmas plans. Julie's dad will be staying with us from the 21st to the 27th. He has advanced Parkinson's disease.
2) For the students and the courses, to the glory of God. Particularly that current students of the live course would end on a strong note, on/by December 21st, and that students taken the 24/7 would keep going strong.
3) For safe and timely travel in the first half of 2013: to visit the Diocese of Western Tanganyika in Tanzania in April, and for the next trip to Belize in May.
4) For increased financial support.
Your prayers are really important for us. I pray for you every day.
God bless you, and thank you for praying.
In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
This week's overview:
1) We are winding down the semester with this semester's live course, and the semester keeps going with 24/7 courses.
2) It is quite possible that I may be connected with online course planning for the online part of the Anglican seminary in Jamaica, this week.
3) In 1985, Julie and I visited Trinity School for Ministry and stayed with the Lang family as our student hosts. Years later, one of the Rev. Dale Lang's sons was shot and killed in his high school in Canada as part of a Columbine copycat incident. Dale Lang's response to what happened to his son has served as a courageous example for me: http://www3.telus.net/st_simons/cr0207.htm. You can also find out about him on YouTube.
4) The horrific events in Connecticut this week remind me that when I travel to places such as Belize, I travel and work by the grace of God. By that I mean that I never can be certain that I am going to be alive at the end of the day, every day of such a mission trip. I am reminded of that whenever the Bishop drops me off at a house and waits for me to enter the house safely before he drives off. In Belize City in July of this year, people said there were safe areas. When I returned in October, people not only said there were no longer safe areas, but also, there were a rash of murders of young women in the Western part of the country, highly unusual. I think one of the things that grabs my attention when I visit Belize City is the nightly news tv report that lists by name all the murders that took place that day, one murder victim per screen at a time. I am convinced that your prayers help keep me safe.
Prayer requests:
1) For our family members and the upcoming Advent and Christmas plans. Julie's dad will be staying with us from the 21st to the 27th. He has advanced Parkinson's disease.
2) For the students and the courses, to the glory of God. Particularly that current students of the live course would end on a strong note, on/by December 21st, and that students taken the 24/7 would keep going strong.
3) For safe and timely travel in the first half of 2013: to visit the Diocese of Western Tanganyika in Tanzania in April, and for the next trip to Belize in May.
4) For increased financial support.
Your prayers are really important for us. I pray for you every day.
God bless you, and thank you for praying.
In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Scripture Prayer
Psalm 100:1
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands;
Serve the Lord with gladness
And come before his presence with a song.
As Christmas approaches Lord, we pray for your joy to permeate all of our gatherings and all of our busy-ness. We pray for the students in Belize who are finishing up their first semester of seminary work. Bless them mightily Lord and lead and guide them to get all of their projects done. Bless Father Shaw as he continues to develop courses and give him some rest during the break between semesters. Also bless Julie and Lydia and Hannah and Ruth and we pray for some quality family time during the holiday. And we pray for financial provision, Lord. May a benefactor looking for end of the year donation opportunities step forward and be an answer to this prayer. We know You will provide, Lord. Thank You.
Be joyful in the Lord, all you lands;
Serve the Lord with gladness
And come before his presence with a song.
As Christmas approaches Lord, we pray for your joy to permeate all of our gatherings and all of our busy-ness. We pray for the students in Belize who are finishing up their first semester of seminary work. Bless them mightily Lord and lead and guide them to get all of their projects done. Bless Father Shaw as he continues to develop courses and give him some rest during the break between semesters. Also bless Julie and Lydia and Hannah and Ruth and we pray for some quality family time during the holiday. And we pray for financial provision, Lord. May a benefactor looking for end of the year donation opportunities step forward and be an answer to this prayer. We know You will provide, Lord. Thank You.
Monday, December 10, 2012
Prayer Mail
Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
This week's overview:
1) Course development work continues.
2) Students are focusing on the final part of the semester.
3) A number of things have come to our attention for various reasons in the last few days.
Therefore, prayerfully taking everything into account, we have decided it will be more helpful if we made a clearer distinction between our Online Anglican Theological College (OATC) Google resource site and our (OATC) Moodle course site. Both sites continue as 2 complementary parts of our education mission, but we find it necessary to refine the mission of the Moodle course site. Here is the distinction as of this past Sunday:
3a) The OATC Google site continues to be a resource site open to anyone in any diocese or denomination for self-improvement purposes: you may avail yourself of the library links and downloadable resource section for each of our OATC Moodle site courses as you desire, as self-improvement students. A password is not needed to access these pages, but let us know by email that you are a self-improvement student. The home page is: https://sites.google.com/site/onlineanglicancampus/ Feel free to look around.
3b) The OATC Moodle course site requires a password and at the moment is primarily reserved for the Diocese of Belize and the Diocese of Western Tanganyika. If you are a supporter, a bishop or diocesan leader from a diocese other than Belize or W. Tanganyika, or an archbishop, and you would like to look around, it would be my pleasure to give you a tour.
Prayer requests:
1) For our family members and the upcoming Advent and Christmas plans.
2) For the students and the courses, to the glory of God. Particularly that:
2a) current students would end on a strong note, on/by December 21st, and
2b) prayers for the next course beginning January 19th, and
2c) for which students would be attending them.
2d) for our Spanish speaking students.
2e) for the conversion of the current lives courses to 24/7 courses, beginning December 15th.
3) For travel plans in the first half of 2013:
3a) to visit the Diocese of Western Tanganyika in Tanzania in April (current plan is to meet the Bishop of the Diocese here in the US, in March, and then, a group of us travel back possibly with him to Tanzania). This trip is a prerequisite for establishing an online education program at Kasulu Bible College; while in Tanzania, I may be teaching students in Belize, online. With online education, I can do that, and
3b) plans to visit Belize after Ascension Day, in May, to teach in situ (on location) for a week or so, and
3c) the Bishop of Belize has mentioned that he would like me to visit the seminaries in Barbados and Jamaica, on my next visit, to see if we can develop stronger ties there, and
3d) The April trip requires visas, vaccinations (as needed), ticket coordination with others, letter of introduction as needed, and so forth, in advance (some of it at least month in advance); so prayer for all those matters would be appreciated, as well as safe and timely travel, and hopefully having at least some basic vocabulary knowledge of Swahili.
4) Financial support, that it would increase, to take into account travel plans in the first half of 2013.
Your prayers are really important for us. I pray for you every day.
God bless you, and thank you for praying.
In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
This week's overview:
1) Course development work continues.
2) Students are focusing on the final part of the semester.
3) A number of things have come to our attention for various reasons in the last few days.
Therefore, prayerfully taking everything into account, we have decided it will be more helpful if we made a clearer distinction between our Online Anglican Theological College (OATC) Google resource site and our (OATC) Moodle course site. Both sites continue as 2 complementary parts of our education mission, but we find it necessary to refine the mission of the Moodle course site. Here is the distinction as of this past Sunday:
3a) The OATC Google site continues to be a resource site open to anyone in any diocese or denomination for self-improvement purposes: you may avail yourself of the library links and downloadable resource section for each of our OATC Moodle site courses as you desire, as self-improvement students. A password is not needed to access these pages, but let us know by email that you are a self-improvement student. The home page is: https://sites.google.com/site/onlineanglicancampus/ Feel free to look around.
3b) The OATC Moodle course site requires a password and at the moment is primarily reserved for the Diocese of Belize and the Diocese of Western Tanganyika. If you are a supporter, a bishop or diocesan leader from a diocese other than Belize or W. Tanganyika, or an archbishop, and you would like to look around, it would be my pleasure to give you a tour.
Prayer requests:
1) For our family members and the upcoming Advent and Christmas plans.
2) For the students and the courses, to the glory of God. Particularly that:
2a) current students would end on a strong note, on/by December 21st, and
2b) prayers for the next course beginning January 19th, and
2c) for which students would be attending them.
2d) for our Spanish speaking students.
2e) for the conversion of the current lives courses to 24/7 courses, beginning December 15th.
3) For travel plans in the first half of 2013:
3a) to visit the Diocese of Western Tanganyika in Tanzania in April (current plan is to meet the Bishop of the Diocese here in the US, in March, and then, a group of us travel back possibly with him to Tanzania). This trip is a prerequisite for establishing an online education program at Kasulu Bible College; while in Tanzania, I may be teaching students in Belize, online. With online education, I can do that, and
3b) plans to visit Belize after Ascension Day, in May, to teach in situ (on location) for a week or so, and
3c) the Bishop of Belize has mentioned that he would like me to visit the seminaries in Barbados and Jamaica, on my next visit, to see if we can develop stronger ties there, and
3d) The April trip requires visas, vaccinations (as needed), ticket coordination with others, letter of introduction as needed, and so forth, in advance (some of it at least month in advance); so prayer for all those matters would be appreciated, as well as safe and timely travel, and hopefully having at least some basic vocabulary knowledge of Swahili.
4) Financial support, that it would increase, to take into account travel plans in the first half of 2013.
Your prayers are really important for us. I pray for you every day.
God bless you, and thank you for praying.
In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+
Tuesday, December 4, 2012
December Newsletter
Looking towards 2013.
Mayan ruins in western Belize, Central America.
Our missionary plans for 2013 are taking shape.
As I visit parishes, people regularly ask when I am going to be visiting Belize or Tanzania. Actually, the main part of our missionary work is done online from home in New York State, but we have settled on a plan to visit Belize twice a year, and Tanzania once a year. These trips are essential life-lines that keep the online ministry happening in New York.
Current plans for the Diocese of Belize in 2013 include at least one trip to Barbados and one trip to Jamaica from Belize, to strengthen ties between all the seminaries. Culturally, the other deans need to meet with me in person to enable any future steps forward as per the Bishop of Belize. (Jamaica is about 1,500 miles from Belize, and Barbados is about 3,000 miles from Belize.)
And, before we can set up our adjunct online courses from New York for Tanzania, it is an important cultural point for Shaw to visit the seminary and to meet the students in Kasulu, Tanzania.
2013 will be an important year, culturally.
And we need your continued prayer and financial support. Because the online missionary ministry is our main activity, we need continued financial support for daily living in the US to keep the ministry going, as well as for daily living and ministry matters in Tanzania and Belize, for missionary activity work in the US and other countries, and so on. Being SAMS missionaries, contributions to SAMS for our missionary support goes for both our living and missionary expenses in the US and other countries, just as if we were full-time living in another country and visiting the US.
Ways to support us.
Your prayers and financial support make the online educational ministry happen. Thank you.
Please make checks out to: "SAMS", and put "Mudge" in the memo space. The mailing address is: SAMS, P. O. Box 399, Ambridge, PA 15003-0399.
God bless you,
Shaw+ and Julie+
Global missionaries of SAMS and Albany.
Our missionary plans for 2013 are taking shape.
As I visit parishes, people regularly ask when I am going to be visiting Belize or Tanzania. Actually, the main part of our missionary work is done online from home in New York State, but we have settled on a plan to visit Belize twice a year, and Tanzania once a year. These trips are essential life-lines that keep the online ministry happening in New York.
Current plans for the Diocese of Belize in 2013 include at least one trip to Barbados and one trip to Jamaica from Belize, to strengthen ties between all the seminaries. Culturally, the other deans need to meet with me in person to enable any future steps forward as per the Bishop of Belize. (Jamaica is about 1,500 miles from Belize, and Barbados is about 3,000 miles from Belize.)
And, before we can set up our adjunct online courses from New York for Tanzania, it is an important cultural point for Shaw to visit the seminary and to meet the students in Kasulu, Tanzania.
2013 will be an important year, culturally.
And we need your continued prayer and financial support. Because the online missionary ministry is our main activity, we need continued financial support for daily living in the US to keep the ministry going, as well as for daily living and ministry matters in Tanzania and Belize, for missionary activity work in the US and other countries, and so on. Being SAMS missionaries, contributions to SAMS for our missionary support goes for both our living and missionary expenses in the US and other countries, just as if we were full-time living in another country and visiting the US.
Ways to support us.
Your prayers and financial support make the online educational ministry happen. Thank you.
Please make checks out to: "SAMS", and put "Mudge" in the memo space. The mailing address is: SAMS, P. O. Box 399, Ambridge, PA 15003-0399.
God bless you,
Shaw+ and Julie+
Global missionaries of SAMS and Albany.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Prayer Mail
Dear partners in prayer,
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
Welcome to Advent, and the beginning of the Church year!
1) Course development work continues, on several courses.
2) Students are entering the final part of the semester.
3) We begin to turn our attention to plans for 2013.
Prayer requests:
1) For our family members and the upcoming Advent and Christmas plans.
2) For the students and the courses, to the glory of God. Particularly that:
2a) current students would end on a strong note, and
2b) prayers for the next courses, and
2c) for which students would be attending them.
2d) for other interested students (the Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies and the Bishop of Belize have mentioned that anyone who wishes may join the students of Belize in the online courses, so if anyone would like to participate, please let me know; it might be an interesting cross-cultural experience), and
2e) for our Spanish speaking students.
3) For travel plans in the first half of 2013:
3a) to visit the Diocese of Western Tanganyika in Tanzania in April (current plan is to meet the Bishop of the Diocese here in the US, in March, and then, a group of us travel back possibly with him to Tanzania). This trip is a prerequisite for establishing an online education program at Kasulu Bible College; while in Tanzania, I may be teaching students in Belize, online. With online education, I can do that, and
3b) plans to visit Belize after Ascension Day, in May, to teach in situ (on location) for a week or so, and
3c) the Bishop of Belize has mentioned that he would like me to visit the seminaries in Barbados and Jamaica, on my next visit, to see if we can develop stronger ties there, and
3d) The April trip requires visas, vaccinations (as needed), ticket coordination with others, letter of introduction as needed, and so forth, in advance (some of it at least month in advance); so prayer for all those matters would be appreciated, as well as safe and timely travel, and hopefully having at least some basic vocabulary knowledge of Swahili.
4) Financial support, that it would increase, to take into account travel plans in the first half of 2013.
Your prayers are really important for us. I pray for you every day.
God bless you, and thank you for praying.
In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+
This is our weekly public prayer mail.
Welcome to Advent, and the beginning of the Church year!
1) Course development work continues, on several courses.
2) Students are entering the final part of the semester.
3) We begin to turn our attention to plans for 2013.
Prayer requests:
1) For our family members and the upcoming Advent and Christmas plans.
2) For the students and the courses, to the glory of God. Particularly that:
2a) current students would end on a strong note, and
2b) prayers for the next courses, and
2c) for which students would be attending them.
2d) for other interested students (the Archbishop of the Province of the West Indies and the Bishop of Belize have mentioned that anyone who wishes may join the students of Belize in the online courses, so if anyone would like to participate, please let me know; it might be an interesting cross-cultural experience), and
2e) for our Spanish speaking students.
3) For travel plans in the first half of 2013:
3a) to visit the Diocese of Western Tanganyika in Tanzania in April (current plan is to meet the Bishop of the Diocese here in the US, in March, and then, a group of us travel back possibly with him to Tanzania). This trip is a prerequisite for establishing an online education program at Kasulu Bible College; while in Tanzania, I may be teaching students in Belize, online. With online education, I can do that, and
3b) plans to visit Belize after Ascension Day, in May, to teach in situ (on location) for a week or so, and
3c) the Bishop of Belize has mentioned that he would like me to visit the seminaries in Barbados and Jamaica, on my next visit, to see if we can develop stronger ties there, and
3d) The April trip requires visas, vaccinations (as needed), ticket coordination with others, letter of introduction as needed, and so forth, in advance (some of it at least month in advance); so prayer for all those matters would be appreciated, as well as safe and timely travel, and hopefully having at least some basic vocabulary knowledge of Swahili.
4) Financial support, that it would increase, to take into account travel plans in the first half of 2013.
Your prayers are really important for us. I pray for you every day.
God bless you, and thank you for praying.
In Christ,
Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+
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