<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/" xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom" version="2.0"><channel><title><![CDATA[Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast]]></title><description><![CDATA[diocgc]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/news-and-stories</link><generator>RSS for Node</generator><lastBuildDate>Fri, 14 Aug 2026 03:14:43 GMT</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://www.diocgc.org/blog-feed.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title><![CDATA[St. Francis Episcopal Church Awarded Grant to Launch Community Healing Ministry]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Kim Giryluk St. Francis Episcopal Church is pleased to announce it has been awarded an $8,500 Vital Worship, Vital Preaching Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship to launch a new community initiative, Healing for Your Mind, Body, and Spirit: Come and Be Loved. This funding will support a year-long series of monthly healing services designed to foster spiritual renewal, emotional well-being, and meaningful community connection. Building on St. Francis Episcopal Church's...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/st-francis-episcopal-church-awarded-grant-to-launch-community-healing-ministry</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a7c984893f99962b918c0b4</guid><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2026 16:04:28 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_5cc4d012fb824176999ed3b3a9bdb2c3~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_987,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Congregation in Transition: St. Luke's, Mobile]]></title><description><![CDATA[Status: Starting process; forming search committee Contact: The Rev. Ashley Freeman, Canon to the Ordinary, at ashley@diocgc.org with inquiries. Location: 1050 Azalea Rd, Mobile, AL 36693]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/congregation-in-transition-st-luke-s-mobile</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a736d7f0ed53bd28b893db9</guid><category><![CDATA[Transitions]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:08:01 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_ba507691e4e24ce59669226e67f43d86~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_717,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Congregation in Transition: St. Paul's Chapel, Magnolia Springs]]></title><description><![CDATA[Status: Starting process Contact: The Rev. Ashley Freeman, Canon to the Ordinary, at ashley@diocgc.org with inquiries. Location: 14755 Oak St, Magnolia Springs, AL]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/congregation-in-transition-st-paul-s-chapel-magnolia-springs</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a736cc40ed53bd28b893c16</guid><category><![CDATA[Transitions]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:05:15 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_b6e590a9497146c5af09cf075629263d~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_400,h_289,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Congregation in Transition: St. Simon's on the Sound, Fort Walton Beach]]></title><description><![CDATA[Status: Interim in place; search committee formed Contact: The Rev. Ashley Freeman, Canon to the Ordinary, at ashley@diocgc.org with inquiries. Location: 28 Miracle Strip Pkwy SW, Fort Walton Beach, FL]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/congregation-in-transition-st-simon-s-on-the-sound-fort-walton-beach</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a736b98421979b2d96b2d70</guid><category><![CDATA[Transitions]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:02:20 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_d504ca5cf4204bb9926be2cdcffdf9bc~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Congregation in Transition: St. Peter's, Bon Secour]]></title><description><![CDATA[Status: In process; starting transition Contact: The Rev. Ashley Freeman, Canon to the Ordinary, at ashley@diocgc.org with inquiries. Location: 6270 Bon Secour Hwy, Bon Secour, AL 36511]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/congregation-in-transition-st-peter-s-bon-secour</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a736a332dc76a37da38056e</guid><category><![CDATA[Transitions]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2026 16:55:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_d3186ed3dd224e87a22d72f56c399e75~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_600,h_600,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Watersheds of the Gulf Coast Eco-Region]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Commission on the Integrity of Creation has been working in partnership with creation care commissions in the Dioceses of Louisiana and Mississippi to form the Watersheds of the Gulf Coast Eco-region. The priorities of our new eco-region include wetland and biodiversity loss, industrial incursion, sea level rise, warming waters, and pollution of waterways, drawing on local and historical knowledge and practices, and on great spiritual resilience. We will accomplish this effort to...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/watersheds-of-the-gulf-coast-eco-region</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a5faa7520510c8475e61635</guid><category><![CDATA[Integrity of Creation]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 21 Jul 2026 17:52:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_c61bcabd79204688b1df88d38f3e7b1c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_750,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Of Sacred Space]]></title><description><![CDATA[By Valerie Mitchell, Co-Chair, Commission on Racial Justice and Reconciliation This year’s Jonathan Daniels and the Martyrs of Alabama Pilgrimage will take place in Hayneville, Alabama, on Saturday, August 15. The Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, through its Commission on Racial Justice and Reconciliation and others, will be representing. Everyone is invited to join us there. You can contact Commission Co-Chairs Joe McDaniel (mcdanieljoe43@yahoo.com, (415) 225-9066 or Valerie...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/of-sacred-space</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4e96f038b98d875b892e55</guid><category><![CDATA[Racial Justice & Reconciliation]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:47:06 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Partnerships Help St. Monica's Extend Its Community Impact]]></title><description><![CDATA[Building Partnerships, Serving Our Community One of the great joys of ministry at St. Monica's Episcopal Church in Cantonment, Florida, is witnessing how God continues to open doors for us to serve our neighbors. While outreach has long been part of our parish identity, this past year has been marked by the development of new partnerships that are allowing us to expand our impact in ways we could not accomplish alone. Feeding Children During the Summer In the summer of 2025, St. Monica's...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/partnerships-help-st-monica-s-extend-its-community-impact</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a4e634f1f10d1afcb57be0f</guid><category><![CDATA[Evangelism]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 08 Jul 2026 14:54:38 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_ae08e38ecd2148f6a1cfc6e073436883~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[An Invitation to Grow: Education for Ministry]]></title><description><![CDATA[The Rev. David Clothier, EfM Coordinator for the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast Education for Ministry (EfM) offers a unique opportunity to deepen your faith, connect Christian tradition with daily life, and grow in your ability to live out your baptismal calling. Through mentor-guided study, theological reflection, and small-group discussion, participants gain a richer understanding of Scripture, theology, and the Church's tradition while discerning how God is at work in their...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/an-invitation-to-grow-education-for-ministry</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a298f072a057aa1c77ba08b</guid><pubDate>Wed, 10 Jun 2026 16:28:26 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_9642ed301723407aa28de62c5b982a64~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_300,h_300,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[2026-2027 Lay School Information]]></title><description><![CDATA[From the Rev. Joy Blaylock, PhD, Dean of the School for Ministry I have begun to get inquiries about our Lay School options for next year, so I want to share some pertinent information.  The School for Lay Ministry offers five tracks: pastoral care leader, worship leader, preacher, catechist, and evangelist. You can find the application and a detailed description of each track here on our diocesan website: https://www.diocgc.org/_files/ugd/4525a9_b72707a49302441c83d5db419cb98ce7.pdf  With...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/2026-2027-lay-school-information</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a172c57e39bc17a59ba77ca</guid><category><![CDATA[School for Ministry]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 17:44:19 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Standing Committee and bishop appoint committee to review canons]]></title><description><![CDATA[By the Rev. Dr. Brent Norris, Standing Committee president At the 55th Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of the Gulf Coast, delegates passed a resolution to begin revising the diocese's canons to better guide the Church's work and mission in our present context. The resolution required that the bishop and Standing Committee invite nominations for lay and clergy members to serve on the committee and to assemble the committee in a way that reflects, as much as possible, the wide...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/standing-committee-and-bishop-appoint-committee-to-review-canons</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a17099ef840e8662c42ec77</guid><pubDate>Wed, 27 May 2026 15:37:22 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Stewarding the Time Given: Finding Redemption in the Present]]></title><description><![CDATA[Written by Joe McDaniel, Jr. On April 12, during Bishop Kendrick’s visit to Christ Church, Pensacola, he quoted from Tolkien’s "The Lord of the Rings" in his sermon. To paraphrase, Frodo says he wishes the Ring had never come to him and that none of these events had happened. Gandalf answers that many who live to see such dark times feel the same, but people cannot choose the times they live in — they can only decide what to do with the time they are given. That passage is a favorite in much...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/stewarding-the-time-given-finding-redemption-in-the-present</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a037254618ba45174fd3de4</guid><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 18:43:29 GMT</pubDate><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[2026 Senior Warden Day]]></title><description><![CDATA[Our 2026 Senior Warden Day was held on Saturday, May 9, at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church in Gulf Breeze, Florida. Below are the various handouts given that supported the presentations. Bishop Russell's Presentation Handouts: Canon Ashley Freeman's Presentation Handouts: Dwight Babcock's Presentation Handouts: Links: Vestry Resource Guide Emergency Preparedness Safeguarding Racial Justice and Reconciliation Training Jenn Roberts' Presentation Handouts: Link: Article Submission Guidelines]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/2026-senior-warden-day</link><guid isPermaLink="false">6a03589b68a3e7adcb131f99</guid><category><![CDATA[Senior Warden Day]]></category><pubDate>Tue, 12 May 2026 16:58:43 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_1cd9a508a0334e7fa675f49d37b15c3a~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Congregation in Transition: St. Mary's by the Sea, Coden]]></title><description><![CDATA[Status: In process; starting transition Contact: The Rev. Ashley Freeman, Canon to the Ordinary, at ashley@diocgc.org with inquiries. Location: 4875 Hwy 188, Coden, AL 36523]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/congregation-in-transition-st-mary-s-by-the-sea-coden</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69fb9e808a769b9e6e00e09b</guid><category><![CDATA[Transitions]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 06 May 2026 20:11:54 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_487170b43345418cbc83de2e01c346ec~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_720,h_960,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[2026 Earth Day Message from Bishop Russell]]></title><description><![CDATA[Today is Earth Day. If you forgot, that’s all right. I nearly did too. It can be one of those annual observances that gets buried by headlines, calendars, and the pace of ordinary life. And yet, perhaps this year more than many years, a moment to pause and remember the gift of creation might be exactly what we need. After all, this is where the story begins.   “In the beginning…”  Let there be light. Let there be sky. Let there be land and sea. Let there be plants and creatures of every kind....]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/2026-earth-day-message-from-bishop-russell</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69e911ca25a9c96f142aaace</guid><category><![CDATA[Integrity of Creation]]></category><pubDate>Wed, 22 Apr 2026 18:34:14 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="http://youtu.be/8Hft3pXW7DM" length="0" type="video"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Scholarship Opportunity for Fall 2026]]></title><description><![CDATA[We are excited to announce that applications for the Episcopal Diocese Scholarship Program for the fall of 2026 are now open. As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the educational pursuits of our youth, we will once again offer scholarships to students entering post-secondary education this coming fall. Details regarding eligibility criteria, application, and deadlines are provided in the application linked below - due June 16. If you have any questions, please contact Diocesan...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/scholarship-opportunity-for-fall-2026</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69d7eb94c55f668b53079f53</guid><category><![CDATA[Youth]]></category><pubDate>Thu, 09 Apr 2026 18:12:32 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_ae89aa4f5e924628b7be18459f783c0b~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_1000,h_900,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[2026 Easter Message from Bishop Russell]]></title><description><![CDATA[2026 Easter Message from Bishop Russell [text]: About ten days ago, on Tuesday, I was on my way home from Texas, where the annual gathering of the House of Bishops had met. The journey home began with a two-hour shuttle ride from the camp to the airport, a ride that usually takes only one hour. It was not a good way to start the day, and as I was about to learn, it was a sign of things to come. Our destination was the Houston airport, where TSA wait times were running at about four...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/2026-easter-message-from-bishop-russell</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ce9077535e7bcd26982c38</guid><pubDate>Sun, 05 Apr 2026 10:00:10 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_a87ac86908be4945b876f404fd3b4b43~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_738,h_414,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Keeping Watch: Prayers of Lament and Hope]]></title><description><![CDATA[Join us for a diocesan-wide online prayer service, "Keeping Watch: Prayers of Lament and Hope," on Monday, March 30, at 6 p.m. on Zoom , as we gather in unity with Episcopalians across the church for a special vigil. Rooted in the  invitation of Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe , Bishop Russell will lead us through a service that offers a sacred space to pray for the continued conversion of our hearts and for God's blessing on our witness as we enter Holy Week. Churches across the diocese are...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/keeping-watch-prayers-of-lament-and-hope</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69bd4c5bd037c0f2a949944d</guid><pubDate>Fri, 20 Mar 2026 14:22:48 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_c616d572636a401abb47054f32fa2e8e~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_534,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nominations Sought for Canon Review Committee]]></title><description><![CDATA[A Season of Renewal: Nominations Sought for The Committee to Review the Terminology and Canons of the Diocese At the 55th Annual Convention of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, the Convention adopted a resolution establishing a Committee to Review the Terminology and Canons of the Diocese. This resolution invites us into a season of prayerful renewal—an opportunity to reflect on how our governing documents serve the mission to which Christ calls us.   The Canons of the Diocese of the...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/canon-review-committee</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69ab4a9d6a10107e67a2c810</guid><pubDate>Fri, 06 Mar 2026 21:48:42 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_c8337515e3c0432297ad1e2c014cbc0c~mv2.png/v1/fit/w_940,h_534,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item><item><title><![CDATA[Walking the Way of Creation]]></title><description><![CDATA[One of the highlights of the 55th Annual Diocesan Convention  was a new liturgy developed especially for the convention, entitled "Walking the Way of Creation," which was held outside on the beach and concurrently inside in the main convention meeting room. The outside event ended at the shoreline near sunset. The diocesan Youth Delegation led the indoor Way of Creation! Many participants indicated that they wish to use the Way of Creation at their own churches, perhaps for Earth Day or...]]></description><link>https://www.diocgc.org/post/walking-the-way-of-creation</link><guid isPermaLink="false">69a8a03359c2d6395a44c5f1</guid><pubDate>Wed, 04 Mar 2026 21:46:46 GMT</pubDate><enclosure url="https://static.wixstatic.com/media/4525a9_28ecf4cec1054b2fb96f38579ce7bc01~mv2.jpg/v1/fit/w_1000,h_1000,al_c,q_80/file.png" length="0" type="image/png"/><dc:creator>Post</dc:creator></item></channel></rss>