Diocesan News

Consecration of the eighth bishop

May 22, at Christ Church, Greenville. Visit www.edusc.org/Consecration for up-to-date information.

Diocesan Leadership Days to gather like-sized churches

Five days scheduled in April, May & June—

Attend the one that's right for your church!

Program and pastoral-size churches up first, April 24 & May 1

All clergy, elected lay leadership (wardens, vestry, and delegates), lay staff, and interested others are encouraged to attend one of five diocesan Leadership Days scheduled over the next three months. These events are organized according to church size and will offer time for worship, sharing congregational stories, listening to the stories of other faith communities, participating in interest groups around common topics, and entering into dialogue with our new bishop about the ministry we all share in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina. All events take place at All Saints', Clinton. For planning purposes RSVP is required.

The schedule is as follows: Saturday, April 24, Program size congregations; Saturday, May 1, Pastoral size congregations; Saturday, June 5, Transitional size congregations; Thursday, June 10, Resource size congregations; and Saturday, June 19, Family size congregations.

Visit www.edusc.org/Leadership for more information and to get on board. Please RSVP and let us know the total number of persons who will attend. An RSVP link is found at the bottom of each day's agenda.

Questions? Contact Sue von, 803.771.7800, ext. 13.

Gravatt to join Columbia Earth Day celebration, April 22

Gravatt Camp and Conference Center is hitting the road for Earth Day. Join the Gravatt Environmental Education Program and other faith and community organizations on the State House grounds in Columbia on Thursday, April 22, between 11 and 4 for a celebration of Earth Day.

The theme of the event is "Water, Water Everywhere" and the day is a great opportunity for children and adults alike. Drop by and enjoy interactive displays and learn more about water and its role on our green Earth.

Earth Day at the State House is sponsored by Environmentalists, Inc. For more information on Environmentalists, Inc., or the event itself, e-mail Columbia.earthday@yahoo.com.

To learn more about Gravatt Environmental Education Program, which serves school, youth, and community groups through interactive programming on Gravatt's property, please visit the Gravatt website www.bishopgravatt.org or e-mail program@bishopgravatt.org.

Upcoming Events

St. Margaret's to celebrate silver anniversary April 17-18

St. Margaret’s, Boiling Springs, will be celebrating its silver anniversary this year. Anniversary festivities will be held April 17 and 18, with a reception on the 17th starting at 5:30 and dinner at 6:30 followed by guest speakers. All friends of St. Margaret’s, including past and present parishioners, are invited.

Sunday’s service will see all past and interim rectors participating in the celebration of the Eucharist at the 10:30 service. A coffee social hour will follow.

The church was officially organized February 1, 1985 under the leadership of the Rev. Thomas Rickenbaker, who served as rector until 1998. The Rev. Sally Parrot served as interim rector until the Rev. Kate Moorehead became the second rector and served until January of 2003. Under her watch the church was expanded with the addition of the connector in 2002.

The Rev. Roy Cole III served as interim rector for the next three years until the current rector, the Rev. Alan Leonard, began his ministry there.

"All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten," April 22-23, at St. Peter's, Greenville

Please join St. Peter’s, Greenville, to honor The Reverend and Mrs. Eric Schnaufer on the final weekend of their 25-year ministry at St. Peter's with a farewell performance of All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.

This charming play with music will remind you of what is most important in life. You will laugh and you will be touched by this production based on the best-selling book written by Robert Fulghum. Children and adults of all ages are invited to attend. Performances are open to the public and groups are welcome.

Performances are Thursday April 22 and Friday the 23 at 7:30 p.m. There is no charge, although donations to support St. Peter's outreach are most appreciated.

Please contact St. Peter's Episcopal, 864.268.7280, for more information or to make group arrangements.

Two Community of Hope commissioning services, April 24

There will be two Community of Hope Commissioning Services on Saturday, April 24, both at 2:00 p.m. One is at Markley Chapel, Christ Church, 10 North Church Street, Greenville, and the other is at St. Mary's, 170 St. Andrews Road, Columbia.

For information about the Greenville group, please contact Peggy Parham, mkparham@bellsouth.net; Jane Bleckley,  NBleckley@SC.RR.com, serves as contact person for the Columbia area.

The Community of Hope is a program of pastoral care ministry that prepares individuals to serve under the supervision of the clergy to meet the pastoral care needs of their church and of other communities.
Candidates who complete the program are commissioned by the bishop as lay chaplains who minister in many settings. Read more.

St. Michael's, Easley, Chicken BBQ, April 24

Join the good folks of St. Michael’s, Easley, for their annual Chicken Barbeque, April 24, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. 

Plates include barbequed chicken, two side dishes, and beverages. Dine in or carry out! Adult plates, $8.00; children 8 and under, $5.00. Proceeds benefit St. Michael's and the Easley community.

More information? Order tickets? Download the flyer or contact St. Michael's, 864.859.6296, office@stmec.org.

St. Paul's, Batesburg, Annual Rummage Sale, April 30-May1

The congregation of St. Paul’s, 116 S. Perry Street, Batesburg, invites everyone to the Annual Rummage Sale, Friday, April 30, and Saturday, May 1, from 8 a.m. until 2:00pm. We will be offering "gently used" Summer and Year-round clothing and shoes (for both adults and children), household items, outdoor items and toys. We hope to see you on April 30th and/or May 1st.

St. Augustine of Canterbury Spring Festival. April 30-May 1

St. Augustine of Canterbury, Aiken, will hold its Spring Festival on Friday, April 30, from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and on Saturday, May 1, from 9 a.m. until 6 p.m.

The festival features craft vendors (including jewelry, children’s clothes, artists, wood workers, ceramics, and pottery), food, entertainment, children’s games, books, and a bake sale. Fun for the entire family!

St. Augustine of Canterbury is located at 1630 Silver Bluff Road (one mile past Woodside on the right)
Aiken. Please contact the church for more information, 803.641.1913.

Safe Church training, April & May

Click here to see who needs Safe Church training.

Good Shepherd, Columbia, April 17. Please contact the church for details, 803.779.2960.

Advent, Spartanburg, May 2. Please contact the church for details, 864.585.2268.

St. Stephen's, Ridgeway, May 8. Please contact the church for more information, 803.337.2905.

St. Francis of Assisi, Chapin, Saturday, May 15, beginning at 9 a.m. Please contact the church office if you plan to attend, 803.345.1550

SC Christian Action Council's "How We Treat One Another," May 20

On May 20, at Virginia Wingard United Methodist Church, Columbia, all are invited to join the conversation on race for engagement and change. At your SC Christian Action Council's Annual Meeting 2010 we will consider "How We Treat One Another: the Good, the Bad, the Future."

The day begins with ecumenical worship, features a keynote on the topic, and includes a fellowship meal and the presentation of this year's SCCAC Ecumenism awards.

Register online. For more information, contact Doty at sccouncil@sccouncil.net.

"Caring for Creation"at Mepkin Abbey, May 20

"Caring for Creation: A Forum for Religious Education Leaders" will be held May 20 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Mepkin Abbey, Moncks Corner, South Carolina.

This interfaith conference, sponsored by the Center for Humans and Nature, Audubon – South Carolina, and Mepkin Abbey is offered without charge to religious education leaders who wish to know more about faith-based environmental education.

Sister Paula Gonzalez, Ph.D., Sisters of Charity - Cincinnati will be the forum leader and present a keynote address: "Spirituality for the 21st Century." Since 1970, she has presented more than 1,600 programs – workshops, retreats, seminars— on various aspects of global futures. She is a dynamic leader who energizes audiences to teach others that we are participants in creation with the Eternal Creator.

Participants will also learn what South Carolina faith communities are doing to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. Speakers from the SC State Energy Office, conservation groups, and places of worship will offer advice and information on making the physical place of worship less consumptive (thus reducing costs) and on ways to educate congregants to become better stewards of the Earth.

Lunch will be provided. Because of limited space registrations are required by May 10. To register, or if you have questions, please contact Dr. William Bailey at wbailey@sc.edu.

Province IV Leadership Conference at Kanuga, June 9-11

"Leadership Marks for Creating and Growing Vital Congregations," a conference sponsored by the Congregational Development and
Evangelism Network of Province IV, will be held at Kanuga, June 9-11.

Speakers include, William Gregg of North Carolina. Charles Fulton, former Director of Congregational Development for TEC. Thomas Brackett, Program Officer for TEC in Church Planting and Redevelopment
Archdeacon Bryan A. Hobbs, Director of the Nehemiah Process in the Diocese of Southeast Florida; Mary MacGregor, Director of Leadership Development in the Diocese of Texas.

Workshops include "Problem Solvers"; "Strategic Vision for Hispanic/Latino Ministries"; "Setting Goals & Tracking Effectiveness"; Building a Welcoming System"; "Using Gifts and Talents of Others"; and "Peer Workshops for Large, Transitional, and Small Parishes."
 

Download the brochure for more information, Visit www.marksofleadership.org to register.

Christian educators at Kanuga, June 13-18

Christian educators can nurture their own well being as well as their ministry during Kanuga’s Christian Formation Conference June 13-18.

The conference has two tracks of study: Children and Youth Faith Formation, June 13-16, and Adult Faith Formation, June 15-18. Kate Gillooly, past president of the National Association for Episcopal Christian Education Directors, will give keynote addresses during both segments on the theme “Living Our Baptismal Promises: A Call to Wholeness.”

The conference features nearly 40 workshops on topics including caring for teachers, the art of pastoral care, enhancing worship for children, Christian yoga, wine tasting, faith and sexuality, godparenting, narthex evangelism, coping with grief and marketing your church led by some of the best educators in the Episcopal Church. Optional training to lead local programs in Education for Ministry, Godly Play and Journey to Adulthood will be offered, as well as daily children’s programs and recreation options for spouses.

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

Dallas Benedictine Experience, June 23-27

The 13th annual multi-denominational Dallas Benedictine Experience Retreat will take place at The Catholic Conference Center in Dallas from Wednesday, June 23, to Sunday, June 27, 2010.

This retreat is presented by The Friends of St. Benedict, Washington, D.C. Participants will live at the conference center for five days, forming a temporary monastic community to experience the balanced way of life of the Rule of St. Benedict as it divides each day into private and group prayer, study, work, and leisure. Four Benedictine Offices (Lauds, Sext, Vespers, and Compline) will be sung each day in Gregorian chant. There will also be two classes each day on Benedictine spirituality.

Retreat leaders are Sister Mary Donald Corcoran, O.S.B.Cam. and Father Dwight Longenecker. 

For more information, click here, e-mail dallasbenedictine@yahoo.com, or call 214.339.8483.

Opportunities

Clergy consecration info

Stay connected to www.edusc.org/Consecration. And please note, the deadline for securing overnight accommodations at the diocesan rate is Monday, April 19.

88th Convention delegate certification deadline is today, April 15!

For information, instructions and forms go to www.edusc.org/Certification.

Diocesan Leadership Days to gather like-sized churches

Five days scheduled in April, May & June—

Attend the one that's right for your church!

Program and pastoral-size churches up first, April 24 & May 1

All clergy, elected lay leadership (wardens, vestry, and delegates), lay staff, and interested others are encouraged to attend one of five diocesan Leadership Days scheduled over the next three months. These events are organized according to church size and will offer time for worship, sharing congregational stories, listening to the stories of other faith communities, participating in interest groups around common topics, and entering into dialogue with our new bishop about the ministry we all share in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina. All events take place at All Saints', Clinton. For planning purposes RSVP is required.

The schedule is as follows: Saturday, April 24, Program size congregations; Saturday, May 1, Pastoral size congregations; Saturday, June 5, Transitional size congregations; Thursday, June 10, Resource size congregations; and Saturday, June 19, Family size congregations.

Visit www.edusc.org/Leadership for more information and to get on board. Please RSVP and let us know the total number of persons who will attend. An RSVP link is found at the bottom of each day's agenda.

Questions? Contact Sue von, 803.771.7800, ext. 13.
 

Mother's Day Offering, May 9

By standing resolution of Diocesan Convention, the loose offering on the second Sunday of May is designated for Still Hopes and Finlay House.

Please mail your offering, earmarked "Mother's Day," to Diocesan House, Attn. Roslyn Hook, 1115 Marion Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
 

Ordained Ministry Conference, May 8

For those in discernment regarding the ordination process in the Diocese of Upper South Carolina, the next Ordained Ministry Conference has been set for Saturday, May 8, 2010 at Church of the Redeemer, Greenville. The conference will begin at 9:00 a.m. with Morning Prayer and conclude by noon. To register contact Deacon d’Rue Hazel at 800-889-6961 ext. 24, dhazel@edusc.org.

All individuals in the ordination process are required to attend this conference along with their sponsoring priest and a potential and/or current member of their local discernment committee. (Handbook for Discernment for Ministry and the Ordination Process, p. 19)

The fall conference will be held on Saturday, November 6, 2010, at St. David's Episcopal Church, Columbia. It will also be held from 9:00 AM to noon.
The 2011 conferences will be held on the first Saturday in May and the first Saturday in November. Locations are not yet confirmed.
 

Calendar

In the Moment— One Pilgrim's Attempt to Be Present

By Amy Sander Montanez, D. Min.

Awakening from a dream

© Kuco | Dreamstime.com

“Open your eyes. Take a deep breath. Sit up. You’re dreaming,” I told myself over and over. Awakening from these kind of dreams, the ones that you feel so deeply in your body you are sure they are happening, is a precarious act. My dream, my unconscious, was pulling me back in. I, my waking self, wanted to get out. It was an uncomfortable tension.

This particular dream did not feel good. I was troubled upon awakening. I wanted to shake it off, to get out of it. Yet I knew it was trying to tell me something, and probably something I did not want to hear and something I did not already know. Because I believe that all dreams come to us in the service of our wholeness and healing, I was able to allow myself a few more minutes within the dream. I did finally sit up in bed, encouraging myself to breathe, to pray, to ask the Holy for guidance as I opened myself to the possibilities of the dream message.

This dream, I believe, was taking me back about thirty years. I was being asked to consider, to reconsider, the meaning of certain events from that time in my life. New light was being shed thirty years later. I was being asked to do another layer of emotional work and to allow for new healing. The vulnerability I was feeling left me weak and scared. I wanted my husband, who was out of town, and a girlfriend, who lives in another city, to hold me. Sitting with this alone was not fun; still I think it was meant to be. I needed the time to turn to God only with all of my fears and to let the Holy Mystery soothe me.

Why am I dreaming this? What do these symbols mean? Who is this person in the dream? How is it that this stirs me so deeply? As I held all of these questions up in prayer the possibilities began to unfold. Events from a friend’s life were triggering events from my earlier life. God knew I needed another look at all of that and provided me with a new lens. It didn’t feel good. Still doesn’t. I am not thrilled about feeling and looking at this again. Thought I was done with all of it.

There’s a saying, “ If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans.” I laughed remembering this saying. “Okay, God,” I heard myself saying. “You win. I am not done with this and you are not done with me. You want me to be healed from the inside out. That light You are shedding is a little startling, though. I am squinting at best. A little dimmer, a little slower would be better. I promise to hang in there. I believe you are with me.”

Healing is like this. It doesn’t usually happen all at once. We revisit the wounds in our life time and time again to find another layer of God’s grace and mercy, another possible way that in God’s sovereignty our wounds will be used, another place that needs to be surrendered to the Great Healer. It might hurt. It might be scary. My mother use to say, “Being responsible is not for the faint of heart.” She was right, and I believe the healing journey is worth the pain and fear.

©2010 Amy Sander Montanez, D.Min.