Posts from — June 2010

St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church continues its Summer Serenade Series by featuring popular pianist Al Martin group on Wednesday June 23. The event begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be held on the church lawn at 3200 N. 12th avenue. Patrons are encouraged to bring lawn chairs, food and drink if desired. There will be sandwiches, snacks, ice cream and soft drinks available for purchase. In the event of unfavorable weather, the event will move inside the parish hall.

More details here

June 9, 2010 – The first session of Beckwith opened on Tuesday with 107 campers. Registration went very smoothly, according to Summer Camp Director Curt Kennington.

Wednesday evening campers were led in a Camp Beckwith Litany at Byrne Chapel, an  outdoor chapel constructed of stone pews laid in amphitheater style, and situated on the beach of Week’s bay.  Fr. Albert Kennington, Dean of this week’s camp session and father of Camp Director, Curt Kennington, wrote the litany earlier this week specifically for Camp Beckwith.

Download the litany here

See photos of oil spill prevention efforts at Weeks Bay

Our diocese is a co-sponsor of a workshop planned for June 22….

GIVE US THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD:

Feeding Godʼs Children
A Hunger and Food Security Workshop

GET RESOURCES YOU CAN USE IMMEDIATELY TO ADDRESS HUNGER IN SOUTH ALABAMA

Panels on local food ministries, government aid agencies, community gardens, and more

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? ALL ARE WELCOME…
Especially outreach ministers, social justice leaders, social workers, teachers, and any
people of faith concerned about addressing our community’s hunger needs

Tuesday, June 22, 2010
9 AM – 1:30 PM
Dauphin Way United Methodist Church, Mobile
Registration – $15 – begins at 8:30 AM
Includes light breakfast, lunch

Please pre-register online: AlabamaPossible.org/rsvp

Co-sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Alabama Cooperative Extension System,
Alabama-West Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, and the South Alabama Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church USA

By Viven Welch, Coastline Communicator
St. Monica’s, Cantonment

On Sunday, June 06, 2010, Bishop Duncan visited St. Monica’s for the 10:30 service. St. Monica’s welcomed four new confirmands, Dodie Matlock, Jennifer Kizer and Lisa and Brandon Nagum. Being received from The Church of England and Roman Catholic Church respectively were Nancy Johnson and Brian Cavanna. Sisters Aubree and Addison Ahearn were baptized.

The Bishop and Kathy joined the congregation for a delicious potluck luncheon following the service. Fr. Milledge Baker and Senior Warden John Velaski Sr, representing the Vestry. presented the newly confirmed and received, each with a personal Book of Common Prayer. It was a special surprise for Viven Welch when Fr. Milledge and John also presented her with a prayer book/hymnal in recognition for her volunteer work on the newsletter, web site, bulletin and photography.   See more photos

Stephen Ministry—Holy Cross, Pensacola

Submitted by Betty Enfinger

A Stephen Minister is a child of God who walks beside a person who is hurting.  A Stephen Minister is a congregation member with gifts for care-giving who was carefully selected to serve in this role. A Stephen Minister is a lay person who has received 50 hours of training in providing emotional and spiritual care. A Stephen Minister is a caring, Christian friend who listens, cares, prays, supports and encourages.

A Stephen Ministry was recently commissioned at Holy Cross. A class of lay ministers underwent extensive training for six months in Christian care-giving skills. Throughout the training, the theology of caring and working with the whole person was emphasized. The trainees are now ready to begin their ministries of caring for those who may be experiencing problems in their lives within Holy Cross. Each relationship will be held in strict confidence. The Stephen Ministers have been trained in many different areas: hospital ministry; counseling for depression, suicidal tendencies, those undergoing separation/divorce, childbirth, single parents, shut-ins, retirement; end of life issues for the individual & family; those struggling with their faith in God– in other words anyone who may need care.

The efficacy of the Stephen Ministry will require a total involvement from the Holy Cross family. Members will receive a Needs Assessment for each family that will ask the number of individuals who would benefit from a caring relationship (not their name). After the assessments are collected, forms will be available for referring loved ones and friends. At that time a Stephen Minister will be matched with the referral, and there begins a caring relationship.

We ask for your prayerful support of our new lay ministry. If you have any questions about the work of the Stephen Ministry at Holy Cross, feel free to call Fr. Jeff at the church office (477-8596) or our Coordinator, Barbara Kessinger at 478-7696.

May God bless us all as we seek to remember that all gifts come from God and that we are called to live in relationship with all God’s creatures and creation, seeking justice and witnessing to the power of Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Rt. Rev. Philip Duncan, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast”

Bishop Duncan and Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori talk on the pier of Beckwith Camp and Conference Center. Photo by Cindy McCrory, May 2009

As brown globs of oil began washing onto the beaches in the Gulf Coast, Bishop Philip Duncan sent a diocesan wide email this afternoon to parishioners across the Episcopal  Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, urging everyone to pray.  He referenced several links for pastoral,  news, and educational resources.   Read The Bishop’s Notes