Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Ireland Pilgrimage Sept. 11-21, 2017

The Rev. Dr. Peter Hogg and Toni Hogg invite you to join them for a pilgrimage to Ireland September 11-21, 2017. The trip will include Waterford, Killarney, Galway, Connemara, Sligo and Dublin. Click here for more information. 

Faith, Art and Creative Expression liturgical arts conference at Kanuga

Kanuga Conference Center in North Carolina invites you to join them for Faith, Art and Creative Expression: A Conference of Liturgical Arts, August 20-24.

Explore the Divine through artistic expression led by a caring group of instructors in weaving, needlepoint, photography and choral music. Morning classes are followed by afternoons of continued work or relaxation. On August 21, there will be a special excursion to experience the total eclipse, followed by a special outdoor Eucharist.

For more information and to register, please visit www.kanuga.org/liturgicalarts.

Becoming Beloved Community: Introducing the Episcopal Church's long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation and justice

Following a year of listening, consulting and reflection, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and House of Deputies President the Rev. Gay Clark Jennings and officers of the House of Bishops and House of Deputies are inviting Episcopalians to study and commit to using Becoming Beloved Community: The Episcopal Church's Long-term Commitment to Racial Healing, Reconciliation and Justice. The full document is here. Read more here.
 

Thy Kingdom Come: Episcopal Church joins Worldwide Anglican Communion campaign calling for prayer

The Episcopal Church has joined the Worldwide Anglican Communion in Thy Kingdom Come, a campaign initiated by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby calling for prayer by individuals, congregations and families. Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension Day - May 25 - and Pentecost - June 4 - for more people to come to know Jesus.  #ThyKingdomCome
Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead the Thy Kingdom Come video messages on May 25.
Pledge2Pray
Pledge2Pray kicks off on May 5; sign-up to participate here. Prayer resources for individuals, congregations and/or families can be downloaded here.
After pledging to pray, be a part of the Let the Light shine social media campaign by posting a photo or video holding a candle or tealight, and pledging to pray. Information available here. #Pledge2Pray

Get more info and resources here.

Prepare for hurricane season with resources from Episcopal Relief & Development

Hurricane season begins June 1. Episcopal Relief & Development's US Disaster Program offers a variety of resources to help you, your loved ones, your church and your community to prepare for hurricane season and respond to storms that may occur.

Wednesday, May 3, 2017

Submit a prayer to the 2018 UTO pocket book of prayers


Every three years, the United Thank Offering gathers original prayers from around the Episcopal Church to create a pocket book of prayers available at General Convention. Last Convention they were able to collect 125 prayers of gratitude in honor of 125 years of the United Thank Offering. This year they are hoping to collect original prayers from nine categories: gratitude, guidance, fear/danger, forgiveness, healing, loneliness, crisis/dealing with disappointment or crisis, love of God, or other. Children, women, men, clergy, seminarians or groups may write prayers for this edition of the booklet and they may be submitted in any language. Prayers can be submitted in any format: collect, litany, free form or prose. Please submit all prayers by July 1, 2017. Prayers must be submitted using this webpage. You'll be asked to select which category your prayer fits into best for the pocket prayer book. You'll also be asked to provide a title for your prayer. You may submit multiple prayers, but you will need to fill out a separate form for each prayer. If you need assistance, contact UTO staff at hmelton@episcopalchurch.org.  
 

Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows becomes first black woman to lead Episcopal diocese


Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows greets the congregation at her consecration as Bishop Barbara Harris, center, and Bishop Catherine Waynick, left, look on. Photo: Meghan McConnell, Episcopal News Service
The Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows was ordained and consecrated the eleventh bishop of Indianapolis April 29, making her the first black woman to lead a diocese in the history of the Episcopal Church and the first woman to succeed another woman as diocesan bishop. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry led the service as chief consecrator and was joined by more than 40 bishops from across the church.

Among the co-consecrators at the service was the Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris, the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion. Before the consecration, Baskerville-Burrows told the Indianapolis Star, "The first thing that comes to mind is how grateful I am to the women that have come before. Barbara Harris will be at my consecration, and when I think about what she's done for me and how I've even encountered little girls saying, 'Oh my gosh. One day, may I discern such a call?' That is just everything."

Click here to read more and to see video of the consecration.