Newsletter March 2014

Making a Difference.

With Bp. Philip of Belize, at St. John the Baptist Cathedral, Belize City, Belize, Lent 2014.

We are making a difference in our mission work. It has taken quite a few years to get to this point, perhaps 39+. All that preparation work was methodically and gradually working to this point, to the glory of God.

This recent trip to Belize was spectacular. As I mentioned in my prayer mails, it was awesome. People's lives changed. The spiritual atmosphere changed in several settings even as I was preaching or speaking. God is moving in Belize.

I felt like the Apostle Peter. About everywhere I went, whether at a planned event or in a passing conversation, people's lives were changed.

One person said I moved to the top of their favorite person list simply because of a casual conversation that started with a simple question that I asked; that conversation helped them move forward with their plans for job creation.

After preaching at the Cathedral, a matriarch of the congregation said "you can come back to Belize, anytime."

I could visibly see patients in a hospital change as I prayed for them.

Quoting from my prayer mails:

The mission trips over the past few months have been excellent, and this trip has been totally awesome. Ordination processes are bearing fruit. The Lord is blessing what we are doing, and I praise God for those who have been coming alongside to help. Every day is a new adventure. Every day is a walk of faith, and we are making a difference.

Made a transforming presentation on "leaders as stewards", at the diocesan Stewardship Commission commissioning.... The Bishop added me to the Stewardship Commission....

Created the Diocese of Belize Web site, and by doing so, solved a major communications problem that had been plaguing the diocese for about two months or so. Bishop Philip has asked me to become more continually involved in the diocesan Web site development....

A clergyman of a prominent parish requested that I write a summary article of the trip for the Diocesan Newspaper. In talking with Bishop Philip about the request, he reiterated that he would like me to write bulletin inserts for each Sunday of Vocation Month (May) for all the parishes in the Diocese, and added that he would like me to write a regular newsletter article for each issue of the Diocesan newspaper on "vocation and ministry".

In Jesus' Name and God bless you,

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+

SAMS missionaries,

making a difference for the Kingdom of God. 

Support.

Pray, please continue to make checks out to: "SAMS", and put "Mudge" in the memo.

Mailing address:

SAMS, P. O. Box 399,

Ambridge, PA 15003-0399.

Or on-line, at http://goo.gl/nll8ut  

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,

This is a public prayer mail for March 29. 

The awesome mission trip, part 2. I am attaching a summary of the trip in a newsletter format.

With the exception of my next mission trip in the second half of May, I am available up through July for missionary presentations, missionary clerical supply, and making a difference parish visits, on a first come, first served, basis. Holy Week has already been claimed.

Either contact me by phone or email. And for Diocese of Albany clergy, Julie and I will be at the clergy and spouses retreat this week, so you can contact us there. 

We will have a booth at the Diocese of Albany convention in June, and you can contact us there. 

This week's selective overview: 

Regarding the Belizean mission trip highlights:

Preached twice at the Cathedral, and in doing so, addressed a pastoral concern in my sermon for which I was uniquely the right person at the right time, an issue that had been hovering in the background for a long time. I believe the Holy Spirit was actually lifting an air of inertia from the congregation while I spoke. The congregation seemed to come alive. As a matriarch of the congregation said: "you can come back to Belize, anytime." God is moving in Belize.

This being healing Sunday, Bishop Philip and I anointed many for healing at both morning services at the Cathedral. That was a moving experience. At the second service, at a separate time, we also blessed the many children who came forward at the altar rail as a group. God is good.

Strategy planning session with Bishop Philip as to the next phase of ministry. Very awesome. 

Hospital visitations with Bishop Philip. Very moving. Very important. Made a difference in the lives of the people we visited.

Gave a brief devotional talk during the daily Morning Prayer service for teachers at the Anglican Cathedral College (elementary school). It was well received. May the Holy Spirit use the comments to his glory.

A clergyman of a prominent parish requested that I write a summary article of the trip for the Diocesan Newspaper. In talking with the Bishop about the request, he reiterated that he would like me to write bulletin inserts for each Sunday of Vocation Month (May) for all the parishes in the Diocese, and he added that he would like me to write a regular newsletter article for each issue of the Diocesan newspaper on "vocation and ministry".

Is what we are doing making a difference? Absolutely. Thank you, everyone, for making it possible.

Your prayers and continued support are very important for what we do to make a difference. 

Prayer requests:

1) Pray that our parish and presentation visitation schedule, and our making a difference work that we do for Belize in the U.S. be the Holy Spirit's schedule and blessing.  

2) Pray for making a difference on the next mission trip and on what we do in the meantime.  

In Christ,

Shaw+ and on behalf of Julie

Scripture Prayer

Psalm 52: 8-9

 

But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God.

I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever.

I will thank you forever, because you have done it.

I will wait for your name, for it is good, in the presence of the

 godly.

 

Note about this Scripture (from The Quest Study Bible):  Ancient Hebrews honored the olive tree as the king of trees and considered it as a symbol of beauty, virility, prosperity and divine blessing.  By comparing himself to this splendid tree, David was acknowledging God as the source of his strength and fullness.

 

Father God, like David, Shaw Mudge acknowledges You as the source of his strength and the fullness of his work.  We praise You for all that You have done in his life and particularly in this latest trip to Belize.  We trust in your steadfast love forever.  We will thank You forever, because You are the author of all good things.  Your name is good in the presence of the godly.

 

We pray for the balance of Father Shaw’s trip and for safe travel back to the U.S.  We pray that your Holy Spirit continues to guide him as he makes long term plans and that this same Holy Spirit guides and supplies the needs of faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan plans, and parish visits.

 

Amen.

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,

 

This is a public prayer mail for March 17, and I am sending this out instead of our usual monthly newsletter, as it is a bit of both. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day.

 

The mission trips over the past few months have been excellent, and this trip has been totally awesome. Ordination processes are bearing fruit. The Lord is blessing what we are doing, and I praise God for those who have been coming alongside to help. Every day is a new adventure. Every day is a walk of faith, and we are making a difference.

 

This week's selective overview: 

 

A summary of my current Belizean mission trip highlights as of the time of this writing:

Made two transforming presentations at the diocesan clergy retreat relating to the second and third temptations of Jesus and our antidotes to the same temptations (Matthew 4).

Made helpful comments during the teaching at the diocesan Anglican elementary school principals' retreat. Bishop Philip and the participants appreciated the comments. Poignant. On target. 

Mingled at a holiday party I was invited to, after just getting off the plane (by then, it was about 18 hours since I had first left home to begin my trip), and got to know several new people, two of whom said that they "had to meet me". In separate conversations, they launched into deep theological and philosophical topics and pastoral issues of importance to them, and wanted me to share with them. We had a great time. This was important for each person. And, at this point, because of what we were discussing, I simply assumed they knew who I was, but then, in the separate conversations, each person asked me, "so what do YOU do?"....  

At a televised conference about the emotional health of fractured families, the Holy Spirit nudged me to ask a question that produced very helpful immediate concrete suggestions for people in those situations, among the viewing and listening audience. It was an awesome and electric moment. The panelists came alive, focused, enthused, and the program moved.

Led a parish Bible study on knowing Christ and reaching out with him, including on-target applications for a parish in the midst of clergy transition. The clergy and lay people found this really helpful.

Made a transforming presentation on "leaders as stewards", at the diocesan Stewardship Commission commissioning, connecting our stewardship of money in the family, with stewardship of money in the parish, and with stewardship at the diocesan level. It really touched people's lives, and the wind of the Holy Spirit really moved people. They felt liberated to serve the Lord and make a difference. The Bishop added me to the Stewardship Commission....

Created the Diocese of Belize Web site, found HERE, and by doing so, solved a major communications problem that had been plaguing the diocese for about two months or so. Bishop Philip has asked me to become more continually involved in the diocesan Web site development....

Made unscheduled hospital visitations with Bishop Philip; it is always a blessing to touch people's lives and pray for them; there was an appreciable difference in several patients when I prayed and/or counseled them. It can be overwhelming, but it is an important ministry.

Helped a small business owner plan a potentially important next step for the growth of that business, a step which could help the person provide more jobs for people and benefit the economy in Belize. My being there for that encounter was called an answer to prayer by the business owner; I was the right person at the right time. It all started when Bishop Philip and I simply planned to enter the establishment briefly and then move on. And while waiting there, I simply asked a question of the owner.... Praise God. May the venture turn out well.

Several people have sought me for advice or just to be a person who would listen, at all levels of the diocese.

Enjoyed the fellowship of quite a few folks in Belize, some of which I had never met before or only in passing. And for those who I have been continuing to have relationships with, as I keep coming back with each successive trip, we go deeper into each other's lives. It is like a spiritual wind that blows through.

 

Is this trip making a difference? Absolutely. Thank you, everyone, for making it possible.

 

Prayer requests:

 

1) For the balance of my trip to Belize this week, and for longer range plans. Your prayers and support are very important for making such a difference. 

 

2) Pray that our parish and presentation visitation schedule in the U.S. be the Holy Spirit's schedule.  

 

3) Pray that the Holy Spirit would guide and supply the needs of: faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan plans, and parish visits.  

 

In Christ,

 

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

I pray for you, everyday.

 

Scripture Prayer March 15

1Corinthians 2: 12-13

 

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

 

Father we thank You for your Holy Spirit and the way that He worked in the apostle Paul and the way that He inspires Father Shaw Mudge today.  May Father Shaw continue to understand the things freely given by You and to impart the words given by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to his students.

 

We pray for safety and travel mercies for Father Shaw as he returns home from his latest visit to Belize.  We pray that your Holy Spirit may guide him in plans under consideration.  May his parish visitation schedule be your schedule.  And may all the needs of faculty, family, and finances be met.

 

We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ Our Savior. Amen.

Prayer Mail

Dear partners in prayer,

 

This is a public prayer mail. 

We hope you are having a blessed Lent.

This week's selective overview: 

1) Course design work continues. Interest continues to grow in our online program. I have added a "mission" section to our Google library links.

2) Have been preparing for my upcoming trip to Belize, and by the time some of you read this, I may be on my way.

 

3) How are we doing, numbers-wise? Since the beginning of Advent, 125 individual people have been exploring our Google Library links site (open to the public world-wide), 7 new people since I last mentioned it: http://goo.gl/XXF0Ti.  

Prayer requests:

 

1) For my trip to Belize this week.  

2) Pray for plans under consideration. Your prayers are very helpful. 

 

3) Pray that our parish and presentation visitation schedule be the Holy Spirit's schedule.  

 

4) Pray that the Holy Spirit would guide and supply the needs of: faculty, family, finances, plans, programs, diocesan plans, and parish visits.  

 

In Christ,

 

Shaw+, and on behalf of Julie+ 

I pray for you, everyday.

Scripture Prayer

Philippians 4: 11b-13

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.  I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.  In any and every circumstance,I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

We thank You Lord that Father Shaw Mudge, like Paul, can do all things that You want him to do through You who strengthens him.  We pray especially for extra blessings as he gets ready to take another trip to Belize.  We pray for safe travel and for guidance from your Holy Spirit as he does the bishop's bidding and interacts with lots of clergy and potential clergy and people who want to increase their faith and their relationships with You.

We thank You Lord that he can be content in any situation, but we pray that more situations are abounding ones rather than low points.  We ask for blessings for his finances and his family and that all have that abundant life which You promised in John 10:10.

Amen!