Make/Equip/Send: The Stories that Shape EDUSC

We recently held the 98th Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina. In his address, Bishop Waldo shared with us how followers of Jesus must bring light to the darkness, hope to the hopeless, and healing to the broken.

Resources from the 98th Diocesan Convention can be found here.

This week we're joined by the Rev. Jenny Getty's, rector of Church of the Incarnation in Gaffney, S.C. She shares how her congregations has adapted its worship, fellowship, and outreach to our new pandemic realities.

In our continuing exploration of ministry during COVID, we talk with Maggie Mallette, the Director of Family Ministries at St. John's, Columbia. She shares how her community is adapting formation, connection, and ministry during the pandemic.

What does campus ministry look like in a time of virtual school and social distancing? We sat down with Olga-Maria Cruz, Campus Minister at WELCM (Winthrop Episcopal-Lutheran Campus Ministry) to talk about her work, her community, and resilience.

Resources mentioned in this episcopde:

• Jesus and John Wayne
• OASIS Young Adult and Campus Ministry Conference
• Chaplaincy Innovation Lap
• SkillPop
• Newbigin Fellowship
• BAND - The app for groups

What does Church look like in this time of pandemic? In this season of the podcast, we'll be looking at the ways we are worshiping, learning, and serving as the Body of Christ.

"Overwhelm us, and transform us, with the power of your loving, merciful, and just Holy Spirit."

Take a few minutes and listen to Bishop Waldo's sermon from yesterday, preached with the people of the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour, Rock Hill.

To view the video series created during Bishop Waldo's trip to Ghana, click here.

To learn more about the work of EDUSC's Race & Reconciliation Committee, click here.

Raphiell Ashford, Rector of St. Luke's, Columbia, reflects on where he sees signs of new life in his congregation and community.

Hannah Flack, Director Of Youth Ministry at Christ Church, Greenville, offers our latest reflection on signs of new life this Easter season.

Kris Neely, a parishioner at St. Christopher's, Spartanburg, reflects on where he sees signs of new life in his community.

Click here to view more of Kris' artwork.

The Rev. Janey Wilson, rector of Our Saviour, Rock Hill, reflects on where she sees signs of new life in her community.
Click here to visit the Amazon wishlist page to support Our Saviour's Little Free Pantry.

We're launching a new video and podcast series where we're asking folks from around the diocese to reflect on this question: Where do you see signs of new life in your families, communities, and congregations? Today Bishop Waldo kicks off the series with his reflection.

Bishop Waldo preached about God's contagious love at Trinity Cathedral's Easter Eucharist on Sunday, April 12, 2020.

The Rev. Mitch Smith preached a powerful sermon at Caitlyn Darnell's ordination last night, calling her (and all of us) to participate in God's mission in this time and place.

At the end of our Pre-Lenten Clergy Retreat, we gathered for eucharist and the renewal of ordination vows. In her sermon, the Rev. Janey Wilson (Our Saviour, Rock Hill), talked to us about her call, Samuel's call, and our call to follow Jesus.

Cameron Vivanco, EDUSC missionary in Ecuador and founder of Education Equals Hope, is facilitating our 2020 Pre-Lenten Clergy Retreat at Camp Gravatt. In her opening session, she shared her story and invited us to look for God in the midst of our stories.

Our 97th Diocesan Convention was held Nov. 8-9 at Christ Church, Greenville. Bishop Waldo's sermon during the convention Eucharist helped focus us on our call to be Baptized for Life.

Resources from the 97th Diocesan Convention:
https://www.edusc.org/97th-diocesan-convention/

EDUSC partnered with the SC Collaborative for Race and Reconciliation for the 2019 Equity Summit, a space for those actively engaged in race equity and inclusion efforts across the Southeast to lean on and learn from each other. In one session, Dr. Catherine Meeks, Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, spoke with us about moving from racial reconciliation to racial healing.

Links from this episode:

• SC Collaborative for Race and Reconciliation
• Equity Summit
• Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing
• EDUSC Race & Reconciliation Committee

St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Greenville, S.C., recently celebrated it's 50th anniversary. Bishop Waldo's sermon that day focused on how we as disciples discern who we are, where we are going, and why.

Click here to learn more about the history of St. Peter's.

If you've ever planned a funeral for a loved one, you know how difficult that can be. This week I sat down with Patricia Sexton, rector of All Saints, Cayce, to talk about her work with the South Carolina Funeral Consumers Alliance.

Links mentioned in the show:

• South Carolina Funeral Consumers Alliance
• Funeral home price surveys
• The Episcopal Church's efforts around race and reconciliation
• Sacred Ground study series

EDUSC clergy and spouses recently gathered at Kanuga for our annual Fall Clergy Conference. This year, Donald Romanik from the Episcopal Church Foundation led us in a discussion of stewardship as a way of life. I hope you enjoy his opening plenary from the conference, focusing on Transformative Stewardship.