Posts from — June 2010

The fifth and sixth graders in St. Paul’s, Foley Vacation Bible School, stuffed boom to aid in the protective barrier being set up at the mouth of Week’s Bay in Fairhope. Click here to the video!

Submitted by Fr. Steve Pankey, Curate at St. Paul’s, Foley

Revolving pool of $7 million available for investment

[June 23, 2010] Funds are available for mortgages, small business loans, community economic development, affordable housing, job creation and other avenues for the mission and ministry of The Episcopal Church through the Economic Justice Loan Funds, administered by the Economic Justice Loan Committee (EJLC).

Established in 1988 through Resolution C030 by General Convention and in 1989 by The Episcopal Church Executive Council, EJLC administers a loan portfolio of $7 million in Church assets. Loans, usually between $150,000 to $350,000, are granted for a term of three to five years to organizations; individuals are not eligible for the EJLC loans.

“The funds are used to provide credit to institutions who may not qualify in the regular markets, but who have worthy community development goals and projects, including housing, social services, childhood education and small business development,” explained Margareth Crosnier de Bellaistre, Episcopal Church Director of Investment Management and Banking. “EJLC does not lend directly to the end-users of the funds. Rather, we lend only to financial intermediaries. They, in turn, re-lend to organizations, groups and individuals with appropriate economic justice development goals and programs.”

Full story here

Submitted by Eugene Johnston, St. John’s, Mobile

St. John’s, Mobile, hosted a Coffee Haus on Friday evening, June 18, 2010.  Complete with music and the Bishop’s Blend coffee beans, the event raised several hundred dollars for Episcopal Relief and Development’s program for buying goats, chickens and geese for third world village families.

Photos courtesy of Eugene Johnston

More photos here

Fr. Thomas Heard, Rector of St. John's, Mobile, leads the congregation in a prayer service, "For the Beauty of the Earth", a Christian Vigil in Thanksgiving and Lamentation for Our Planet Home

On Thursday, June 17, 2010, several churches in the diocese participated in “VIGILance 2010″, an ecumenical National Prayer Vigil for The Stewardship of God’s Earth with a special emphasis on the Gulf Coast and the oceans and waterways of the earth. The vigil was initiated by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, whose rector, The Rev. Paul S. Winton, called for the vigil to occur at the same hour across the nation. Several churches in our Diocese participated.

Submitted by Madge Smith
Holy Nativity, Panama City

What a wonderful time was had by all who attended Holy Nativity’s 14th English Tea and Fashion Show on Saturday June 5th.  The purpose of this event is to provide three local charities, The Council on Aging, Anchorage Children’s Home, and The Mission. a few extra dollars to help them in their efforts to provide services to local people.  We are very blessed to have such dedicated members of Holy Nativity, who provided the delicious home made cakes and sandwiches that were enjoyed by all the attendees, the models who showed off the cloths with great aplomb, the ladies who decorated the tables with their lovely china, and those who worked behind the scenes.  Without these wonderful members of Holy Nativity donating of their time and talents we would not be able to provide every penny collect to these wonderful charities’.  With God’s grace we hope Holy Nativity will be able in the future to continue this worthwhile event.

“Happening #52 has been postponed until Spring of 2011 due to lack of participation.  Please contact Happening Chair, Heather Mills, at hmkiwi@gmail.com or Vanessa Riutta with any questions.  Please be on the look-out for information on how you can help with the growth of this ministry.  Peace be with you all!”