In a special two-hour class held at Truckee Meadows Community College, the Reverend Gary Robert Buchanan of the International Community of Christ represented Christianity in a many-sided discussion of the topic “Religion and the Paranormal.” Other religions represented were Hinduism, Judaism, and Spiritualism. Before a general panel discussion, each representative was given ten minutes to speak on the topic from his or her perspective. Much of the discussion centered around reincarnation, daemons, channeling, and spiritual healing.

A meeting of Northern Nevada faith leaders was held August 28, 2009, at Joe Crowley Student Union on the University of Nevada-Reno campus, hosted by U.S. Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D-NV). The purpose of this roundtable discussion among Northern Nevada interfaith leaders was to discuss the importance of faith in Nevada, as well as the role of clergy and religious organizations in working to address issues of mutual concern. The meeting was a prelude to a larger faith summit that the senator hopes to hold in November. Rt. Rev. Gene Savoy assisted Reid’s staff in organizing the meeting, through the budding Nevada Clergy Association, and at the meeting served to introduce Reid to the assembly of religious leaders, almost seventy in all, and to moderate and close the meeting. In the future, Savoy will be working with Reid’s staff to put together the larger and more comprehensive faith summit in November.

The breakfast meeting on October 19, 2009, sponsored by Food Bank of Northern Nevada in conjunction with Feeding America brought together local faith leaders to commemorate International World Food Day. Representing the International Community of Christ was the Reverend Canon Robert Petrovich. Local Food Bank officials spoke at the meeting and introduced speakers from the local community to discuss their experiences in this area. Among these were Lori Anderson, an elementary school principal from Sun Valley, who gave examples of how the Food Bank program works at her school, where 94-99{1fa2ef75e2e78439128d99df03acfe1d8ee3047374abe3d4676fe3470ff8b909} of the students are enrolled in both the Food Bank program and a federal program to provide them with all their primary meals. Local elected officials described the situation of need throughout Washoe County, where about 100,000 people per year now receive assistance from Food Bank. Food Bank officials noted that about 60{1fa2ef75e2e78439128d99df03acfe1d8ee3047374abe3d4676fe3470ff8b909} of the aid provided by Food Bank is provided by faith-based groups.

The 6^th Annual Dialogue and Friendship Dinner, held at the downtown Reno Ballroom, was attended by the Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr. Hosted by the Sierra Foundation, founded in 2004 by the Turkish-American Community of Northern Nevada, the annual dinner reinforces friendship and dialogue between diverse communities and emphasizes the values of mutual respect, understanding, love, and peace. The Sierra Foundation promotes harmony within diversity among he world’s cultures. Bishop Savoy was invited to speak at the 2007 dinner and visited Turkey in 2006 at the invitation of the Sierra Foundation.

The open-air Church of New Philadelphia was reconsecrated on Sunday September 13, 2009, by Head bishop Gene Savoy Jr and Bishop Sean Savoy. The consecration ceremony immediately preceded the Communion Service performed there by the Reverend Ted Staver, newly appointed rector of the Church of New Philadelphia.

A consecration and dedication of the new communion table at the open-air Church of New Epiphany was performed by the Right Reverends Gene and Sean Savoy prior to Divine Service on Sunday October 11, 2009. The new table was installed earlier this season to replace the original table, which had succumbed to weather and dry rot over the past twenty years.

Bridget Elizabeth O’Mara and Daniel Newton Harmon were joined in holy matrimony in the presence of family and friends on October 11, 2009, at the California Building in Idlewild Park, Reno, Nevada, by the Right Reverend Gene Savoy Jr. Bridget and Daniel are acquaintances of Bishop Savoy and requested that he perform their wedding ceremony.

On Wednesday October 7, 2009, the Reverend Deacon Robert Anderson performed the sacrament of anointing and last rites on his former partner of twenty years, Richard Aune, who lay dying of colon cancer. The Right Reverend Sean Savoy instructed and prepared Anderson in Reno for the performing of the rite. The anointing was done at Aune’s home in Palm Springs, California, with his daughter and son-in-law attending. Aune was not conscious for the ceremony but had earlier given Anderson permission to do the rite. Aune’s daughter and son-in-law received comfort from witnessing the rite. Aune passed into the Light less than two days later in the presence of Anderson and Aune’s daughter and son-in-law.

A memorial service was held for Karen Knight, mother of Lisa-Marie Wand, on Saturday August 29, 2009, at the Chapel of the Holy Child. A reception followed at the Rectory-Abbey on Carmel.

The Religious Studies program for Acolytes resumed on Saturday September 26, 2009, in the Chapel of the Innocents at the Rectory-Abbey.