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Upcoming Events

2011 Statement of Mission process now under way

Any group seeking funding from Upper South Carolina's 2011 Statement of Mission (SOM) must submit a request by the March 22 deadline. Any new or expanding outreach ministry that is carried out locally, regionally or nationally will use the Matthew 25 grant application form. All others will use the 2011 Statement of Mission Request form. All requests must be submitted to the Diocesan House electronically using the forms available on the diocesan Web site at www.edusc.org/SOM.

Who/what does Upper South Carolina's SOM fund?

While any group may request funds from the diocesan SOM, the goal of the SOM is to fund those ministries that can be carried out most effectively at the diocesan level. Many of our congregations are involved in wonderful ministries and the SOM cannot support them all. It is for this reason that we honor requests primarily from committees, commissions, institutions, mission congregations and other entities that are carrying out ministry at the diocesan level.

Essential in the mind of the SOM Committee, in recommending a preliminary Statement of Mission, will be the four goals: that each congregation assess its current situation and develop a strategic plan for mission and ministry through the Healthy Church Initiative; that the Diocese develop an effective strategy for planting new missions and assisting congregations in effective evangelism; that every congregation will have programs in place that provide "womb-to-tomb" formation; and that we, as the Body of Christ in Upper South Carolina, will fully embrace the Millennium Development Goals, with the effectiveness of our attention to the first three goals being measured by our commitment to the MDGs. The Commissions will be charged to make funding recommendations based on these goals.

Free Winter/Spring Concert Series at Still Hopes, West Columbia, under way

The free Winter/Spring Concert Series at Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community in West Columbia is under way. Here's what's coming up.

All concerts are held in the Susan G. Robinson Garden Room. A reception will be held following each evening concert.

For more information contact: Sherry French, Director, Activity Services, Still Hopes Episcopal Retirement Community, 803.739.5015, sfrench@stillhopes.org.  

Grace, Anderson, Lenten Lunchtime Concerts begin March 4

St. Francis', Chapin, Lenten series focuses on the prayer of attributed to its patron saint

Three sessions remain in this discussion of aspects of the Prayer of St. Francis

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace; where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon: where there is doubt, faith ; where there is despair, hope where there is darkness, light where there is sadness, joy O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is in dying that we are born to Eternal Life.

St. Francis of Assisi , Chapin, is offering a Lenten series examining the meaning and relevance of the Prayer of St. Francis in today’s world as part of its Wednesday evening observances during Lent. Three Wednesday-evening sessions remain: March 10, 17, and 24.

Attributed to the thirteenth century saint, St. Francis' prayer is a bold one, asking for strength to give of one’s self in order to meet the needs of others. Led by lay people and clergy from around the Midlands, each session will focus on a part of the prayer and discussion on how it still impacts our daily lives all these years later.

All are invited to attend the Wednesday evening series, which begins with a light supper of soup, salad, and bread at 6:00 p.m. and the presentations start at 6:30 p.m. The schedule is provided below:

March 10, Rev. Dr. Tom Glenn, an ordained Presbyterian (USA) minister, will discuss love.

March 17, Dorian Del Priorie, youth director at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Columbia, will lead a discussion on pardon and forgiveness.

March 24, Sister Carol Andrews of the Convent of St. Helena in Augusta will lead a discussion on prayer in practice for twenty-first century Christians.

There will be a nursery provided for children four years and under. Older children may participate in junior choir or additional activities during the adult forum. For more information, please call the church at 803.345.1550.

Centering Prayer workshop, March 20, at Grace, Camden

Grace Church, Camden, is sponsoring a Centering Prayer Workshop, led by the Rev. Tom Ward, on March 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The workshop will serve both as an introduction to Centering Prayer for those who know nothing of this practice and as a refresher course for those who have been praying this way for some time. Four Conferences give shape to the day: Prayer as Relationship, the Method of Centering Prayer, the Place of “Thoughts” in Centering Prayer, and Centering Prayer and the Fruits of the Spirit. Two sessions of Centering Prayer are part of the design.

The Rev. Tom Ward been an Episcopal priest for over thirty years, serving parishes in Mississippi and Tennessee; from 1994 through 2005, he was University Chaplain at Sewanee, the University of the South (the one university owned and operated by the Episcopal Church in this country). Tom now focuses on the contemplative dimension of the gospel, teaching centering prayer and leading retreats. He has a special interest in fostering this practice in local congregations in general and in Episcopal parishes in particular. For the past fifteen years Tom has worked closely with Thomas Keating and Contemplative Outreach Ltd, a network which seeks to foster contemplation.

For more information or to register, please contact the church, 803.432.7621, or download the flyer. Registration deadline is March 15.  

St. Mary's to present one-man play on the life and ministry of Paul, March 21

At 7 p.m. on March 21, at St. Mary’s, Columbia, assistant rector the Rev. George Roberts will perform his one-man show on the life and ministry of Paul entitled Blessed: An Expression of Faith. The play is approximately forty-five minutes in length and covers much of Paul’s life in flashback, from his persecution of the Church through his conversion to his final journey to Rome as prisoner, before being martyred. Roberts, before entering Holy Orders, was a theatre educator, most recently at the University of South Carolina Upstate. He has been acting professionally since 1990.

The performance is being sponsored by the Christian Formation Ministry at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church. A light soup and muffin supper will be held from 5 to 6:30 p.m., with the performance following. All are invited. Donations will go to the EYC of St. Mary’s planned mission trip, summer of 2011. St. Mary’s is located at 170 St. Andrews Road, Columbia. Please call 803.798.2776 for directions.
 

St. James Center, Greenville, to sponsor March 20 Quiet Day with The Rev. Barbara Crafton

A Spirituality of Joy and Sorrow
A Quiet Day with The Rev. Barbara Crafton
March 20, 2010
9:00-4:30 at St. James Episcopal Church, Greenville

Join the St. James Center for Spiritual Development on March 20 from 9:00-4:30 for a Lenten Quiet Day led by The Rev. Barbara Crafton. Barbara is an Episcopal priest, spiritual director, and author of many books as well as the celebrated “Almost Daily eMo.” The day will begin with registration and coffee from 8:30-9:00. During the day, we will hear several meditations from Barbara and have quiet time for prayer, reflection, or spiritual direction. Lunch is provided as part of the $75 registration as is a copy of one of Barbara’s books. We will end our day with a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Please register by completing a registration form on the St. James Center website (http://saintjamescenter.org).

St. Thaddeus Home and Garden Tour coming up March 27

The home of Bill and Susan Reynolds, affectionately known as “The House of the Two Crazy Dogs”

The St. Thaddeus Home and Garden Tour has been set for Saturday, March 27, 2010, from 10:00 until 5 p.m. This year’s tour features several of Aiken’s oldest homes and gardens, restored and renewed, as well as newer homes built in a historic setting. Later, visitors may stop by the Heritage Market and choose from a selection of vintage linens and other spring gift ideas while they enjoy afternoon tea in the St. Thaddeus Tea Garden, then tour our historic church and the churchyard.

Tickets will be available March 1, and are $25 for individual tickets and $20 for groups of 15 or more. They will be available in Aiken at Material Things, York Cottage Antiques, Plum Pudding, and The St. Thaddeus Church Office, 129 Pendleton Street, Aiken. For more information, contact the church office at 803.648.5497 or go to www.stthaddeus.org. Tickets may also be purchased from the St. Thaddeus website.

This year’s tour is held in conjunction with Aiken’s year-long175th anniversary celebration, “Celebrate Aiken.” Proceeds benefit local outreach projects.

 

Trinity Cathedral to sponsor couples' workshop, March 27

"The Relationship Project: A Day to Invest in a Healthy, Vibrant, Conscious Connection"

Trinity Cathedral is sponsoring a fun and exciting opportunity for couples! On Saturday, March 27, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Bonnie Montgomery, Ph. D.,  from St. John’s, Columbia, and Amy Sander Montanez, D.Min, from Trinity Cathedral will lead couples in a day-long workshop exploring the keys to positive, successful relationships.

Couples will take the PeopleMap personality inventory which is designed to increase self-awareness and awareness of one’s partner, and to foster productive communication. Following this, couples will learn research-based habits that create and support successful relationships.

Both Bonnie and Amy have been in private practice for over twenty-five years and have extensive experience in working with couples. The cost for the day, $125 per couple, includes tuition, morning coffee, and lunch. You can have a lot of fun while gaining tools that will increase the health of your relationship. This workshop is not therapy and is not designed for couples in crisis.

To register, please mail your check for $125, made out to Trinity Cathedral and marked at the bottom for Couples' Workshop, along with your names and a phone number by March 21. Trinity Cathedral’s address is 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29201. If you have any questions, please call 803.254.5650 and ask for Amy or Carrie. This workshop will be limited to 25 couples so register early!  

Ninth annual Kanuga retreat exploring spiritual link with photography, April 25-30

Explore a spiritual link with photography amid the Blue Ridge Mountains in spring bloom during the ninth annual Kanuga Photography Retreat April 25-30.

Students can examine the close-up world of macro photography, learn to use color like a painter, combine photography with hiking, “see the holy” and transform those insights into digital photographs or explore documentary photography in natural light.

Students will get hands-on lessons from professional photographers Kathy Eyster of Missoula, Montana.; Lydia Goetze of Southwest Harbor, Maine; Jon Kral of Boone, North Carolina.; Robin Smith of Columbia, South Carolina; and Beth Reynolds and Thom Burden of Northfield, Massachusetts. The Rev. Janet Tarbox of Edgefield, South Carolina, will serve as chaplain.

Participants pick one instructor to study with for the week. Class size is limited for individual instruction and lessons can be tailored to all levels of experience. Evening programs allow photographers to network and learn from other instructors.

For more information, visit www.kanuga.org or call 828.692.9136.  

St. Alban's, Lexington, to coordinate summer mission trip to Quito, Ecuador

St. Alban's is coordinating a short-term mission to Quito, Ecuador, this June, to work with diocesan missionaries Cameron Graham-Vivanco and Laura Jennings Estevez. The exact dates will be determined by the airline schedule, but will be between June 21st and July 1st. The cost will be around $2,000.00, including airfare, all meals and accommodations for approximately eight days, as well as the cost of supplies. There will be volunteer opportunities for all ages and abilities, except very young children.

For additional information, please contact Libba Rhoad at 803.957.5809, zqueen123@aol.com.  

Get ready for summer at Gravatt

Registration for camp is now under way online.

Early registration ensures the spot in the session of your choice and the best discounts. Questions about Camp Gravatt should be directed to Hope Spruell, Camp Director.

Gravatt Bassmaster Fishing Tournament coming up July 31

Sign up your two-person team for the first annual Gravatt Bassmaster Fishing Tournament. This event is a family-friendly so take this opportunity to share the outdoors with youth you care about. Choose to fish from the bank, from a Gravatt canoe, or your own canoe, or you may bring your own boat (trolling motors only). This tournament will be catch and release only. Awards will given in many exciting categories. Download the flyer with more info and registration form.

Register early as space will fill up quickly. Keep up-to-date with tournament news at www.bishopgravatt.org or on the Gravatt Environmental Education Program Facebook Fan Page.
 

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