Image Description: The stamp for the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. The bottom of the stamp is a orange-yellow shield with a dark blue outline that reads "Estd. 2024" in highly stylized type with two Episcopal-style crosses. On the top of the shield, like it's sailing on it, is the two-sailed ship from the diocesan seal, along with the three stars in the sky. the largest of which represents our new diocese while the two smaller stars represent our two legacy dioceses.
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Image Description: The wordmark for our diocese that reads, "EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF THE GREAT LAKES." The first four words are in all caps in a simple-yet-wide sans serif font. "Great Lakes" is also in all-caps, but in a highly stylized font that is reminiscent of vintage sign art. The G, L and S all have added flourishes that look like waves. This is the horizontal orientation of the wordmark and it is shown in the warm gray (off-white) brand color.
Image Description: A group of adults and two children smile in the parish hall near a generous spread of food. Over the right side of the image is a semi-transparent dark blue color block and text in a bold yellow and rich orange that reads, "being & becoming"

Diocesan Staff: Week of July 13

One of the best parts of being on Diocesan Staff is that we we get to travel around this very pleasant peninsula to connect with people, parishes, and communities. AND, even when we are in our offices and not on the road, we still get to do cool and meaningful work to support Episcopal ministries in our diocese.

Here are some highlights from our team for the week of July 13, 2025.

Alan James, Interim Executive Director

This weekend’s word is hospitality. Since Thursday I have been up at our diocesan camp. Not only is it a beautiful location, but it is impressive to watch the staff shepherd a diverse group of campers in building bonds of care and community. Then this morning I worshipped at Grace Church, Long Rapids. The fellowship meal after service was a feast of sweet desserts. I also learned that they host a monthly dinner. Proceeds from the meals are given away to support local non-profit initiatives.

Image Description: McKenize Bade-Knill, Executive Director of Camp Chickagami in Presque Isle, stands in front of the altar of the outdoor chapel in the woods on a sunny day, holding a microphone and addressing the gathered campers, the back of whose heads are in the foreground of the image.
Image Description: Dusk over Lake Esau. The sky is a deep blue with a few low clouds in the distance. The water is as stil as glass and reflects the sky almost like a mirror. On the left side of the image, the shore, comprising pine woods, is visible.
Image Description: Lake Esau at sunrise from the top of the small hill that meets the shore on its north side at Camp Chickagami. There are a few trees in the foreground and behind and through them, the still lake reflecting the cotton candy blues and pinks of the morning sky is visible.
Image Description: A group of adults and two children smile in the parish hall near a generous spread of food.

Rachel Rose-Ravellette, Director of Communications

I’m so grateful to be able to spend the last week and this one working from Camp Chickagami. Camp is a formative and transformative experience for campers, staff, and volunteers and the work of the Holy Spirit in this Thin Space is so evident, you’d almost have to intentionally try to not see it!

It is worth noting that even in this exquisite and remote natural setting, we still have great WiFi and I have the ability to work with a view! Much of the last week focused on preparing the Ministry of the Episcopate Report. I find so much hope in the results of the work of the Ministry of the Episcopate working team. And I mean hope hope – a confident expectation. God is among us and doing good work and equipping us to even more good work to which They are calling us and friends, we’re ready.

While I was at Camp, I attended a zoning board meeting at Presque Isle Townhall with McKenzie Bade-Knill. The board is considering a proposal from the quarry near Lake Esau (by which most of the Camp Chickagami property is) to rezone and sell off parcels of land on the south side of the lake. She was there to advocate specifically on behalf of Camp and the endangered and federally protected species that we recently learned are thriving in the unique ecosystems around Lake Esau. I was there to advocate on behalf of the diocese and the children from all over the state – including areas which are far removed from natural beauty – who come to camp to experience this unique piece of God’s Creation. There was a HUGE turnout for the hearing both in the room and via Zoom and I was encouraged to see engaged citizens coming together to participate in the democratic process with respect and from informed perspectives.

Finally, another benefit of working from Camp is living in community where the many gifts that the people in our community have are immediately accessible and freely shared, including the amazing still warm loaf of bread that Deacon Beck brought me from the excess when he was making bread for the Eucharist.

Image Description: The photo is shot from behind McKenzie Bade-Knill who is standing in a Zoning Board meeting, addressing the board members who are seated at a long permanently fixed table at the front of the medium-sized room.
Image Description: A selfie of Rachel Rose-Ravellette. She's wearing a diocesan ball camp and holding a half-gone loaf of fresh bread in front of her face. Her eyes are closed and she's smiling in a way that says, "This is realllllllllly good bread." (It was reallllllllly good. And it was still warm. Deacon Beck made it and he's a fantastic baker.)
A photo of Rachel Rose-Ravellette holding her laptop in a hammock in the Director's office as she works from Camp Chickagami.
Image description: Campers and Camp Staff gather for prayers and worship in the outdoor St. Andrew's Chapel. In the foreground, you can see logs and topped trees, remnants from the ice storm clean up.

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