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MINISTRIES REPORT
GULF ATLANTIC DIOCESE
SEPTEMBER 4, 2012
ANGLICAN 4TH DAY
A4D, with the expertise of Skip Cope, recently launched our own website, http://www.a4dgad.com, which has been very well received. Since then, we have created a Facebook Group managed by Pattie Halle'. Pattie can be reached at pattieangel001@comcast.net for inclusion. Our e-Newsletter, New Day Coming, continues to be sent monthly to almost 600 A4D/Cursillo alumni.
The A4D Council hosted its fourth Parish Coordinators' meeting in August at Advent Christian Village (ACV). This was our third semi-annual meeting. Many relevant topics were discussed such as sponsorship, status of the upcoming #12 weekends, team training and the next printing of our A4D songbooks. It was a wonderful time of sharing in Eucharist and fellowship with our brothers and sisters in Christ from around the diocese.
Lay Director Pat Mierse attended the 2012 Grand Ultreya in Montgomery, AL in June. This Provincial gathering had representatives from as far away as British Columbia, Canada to the Northeast USA, from California to Indiana to the Southeastern USA. The attendees discussed common interests/issues as well as sharing how their weekend operations were similar or
differed. The host church, GAD's own Christ Church XP, not only was a beautiful, well-thought out facility but their congregation set an amazing example of hospitality.
The Lord continues to bless our A4D movement in many, many ways. Our golf cart is utilized by the office at ACV between A4D weekends. This ministry helps individuals with temporary
needs for this type transportation. We determined that this usage also keeps the golf cart in better working condition than just having it sit unused between A4D weekends. Through the generous donations of our greater community, we are able to meet the weekend expenses not covered by the team and pilgrim fees. Except for a couple of dollars, those fees go directly to ACV for food and lodging expenses. In addition, we have established lay and clergy scholarship funds, the latter named after The Rev. Dr. Gil Crosby upon his retirement as rector of All Saints, Tallahassee and in honor of his years of service to A4D and Cursillo.
Once again, it is our intention to tithe 10% of what we have at year's end to GAD. As always, we appreciate the support and encouragement we receive from our Bishop.
Pat Mierse, Lay Director
DYNAMOS REPORT
Steering Committee
The members are: Barbara Boone, St. Peter's, Lay Chair; Connie Parsons, Redeemer - Registrar and Treasurer; Fr. Andrew Rowell, St. Peter's; Shaun Lafferty, Redeemer Karis Needham, Holy Cross, Tallahassee; and Neal Ford, Trinity, Thomasville, GA.
A planning retreat was held in July, 2012. As a result, I have rotated off the Committee effective July 7, 2012. Fr. Andrew Rowell, St. Peter's Anglican was elected Steering Committee Chair for this year, term ending June 30, 2013. Karis Needham, Holy Cross Anglican was elected Steering Committee Chair-elect for this year and will become Chair beginning July 1, 2013 - June 30 2014. 2 new committee members were recommended for appointment, one representing a Gainesville church and one representing a Savannah church to join after Dynamos #12. (A requirement to serve on the Steering committee includes having participated in a Dynamos Weekend Team).
Weekends
"Dynamos" continues to thrive by offering 2 weekends each calendar year at Camp Suwanee, Advent Christian Village in Dowling Park. Dynamos # 12 is scheduled for November 30 - December 2, 2012 and Dynamos #13 will be April 19 - 21, 2013. We use the GAD website to keep all the churches informed of upcoming weekends, team trainings and candidate application forms/deadlines. We have a Dynamos Facebook group which is a closed group and only those individuals who have attended Dynamos are invited to join. We use it as a communications tool and a way to keep the Dynamos community informed and connected through messages, prayer requests and photos.
Financial
At the Steering Committee's direction, Connie Parsons worked with Harris Willman to revise financial statements to accurately reflect income and expenses and to confirm that we will continue to maintain a zero-base budget.
Facilities
Camp Suwanee is our current venue. The steering committee decided at its July retreat to explore other venues, one being the location used by Camp Araminta. Depending on the outcome of this research, we may be making a venue move by Dynamos # 14, the Fall of 2013.
Strategic Plan
The Steering Committee met for a Retreat in July. Various specifics were discussed and the group is working to revise letters to parents and sponsors and to create a specific "duties and responsibilities" document for priests serving on the God Squad for the weekend. Selection of leadership for the weekend was discussed and that process will be outlined in detail so that students, parents, youth ministers, etc. can understand the steps to becoming a member of the Core Team. Other items included maintaining good stewardship of our materials, equipment and resources from weekend to weekend.
May I close by saying I have been thoroughly blessed by my experience in the governance and leadership of the Dynamos Ministry of the Gulf Atlantic Diocese! It has been by honor to serve by God's grace with all the amazing students, parents, youth directors and diocesan representatives. My plan is to continue to volunteer on weekends as time permits and to always be available to assist in any way needed. Looking forward to whatever God has in store for me!
God bless,
Barbara Boone
CAMP ARAMINTA
We had our biggest year yet at Camp Araminta 2012! 80 campers grades 4-8 attended, along with about 2 dozen high school students who served as work crew, activity assistants, and counselors-in-training, and another 2 dozen "assorted adults" - ranging from college-age counselors to our leadership team. One of our 10th-graders was a 7-year survivor - she began in 2006 as a young camper, and has attended every year through last summer on the Flight Crew and this year she was a CIT. Each year we behold in amazement the young leaders that the Lord brings and has grown among us, and how their servant hearts and energy make camp an incredible time of growth and fellowship for all involved. The campers get the opportunity to live in community, learn more about the Christian walk, and have a blast all at the same time! This year we had six different discipleship program groups, with our longest-time campers participating in a track on how to filter the culture and live in holiness. The leaders and leaders-in-training are blessed by being a part of this process, and as is always the case when serving the Lord, He is faithful to pour into us His love, strength, and new insights and encouragement for our own lives.
Our partnership with Lake Swan is growing and strengthening; again the Lord's timing in moving our location is evident. The staff there is a blessing to us, and we are told that they look forward to our week each year - the feeling is mutual! They are in the midst of renovations that will make the facilities even better for the many groups that come each summer and throughout the year. Our own Camp Araminta work crew participated in two days of work on their current renovation project - they will be able to see the fruits of their labor next summer and for years to come! The director, Perry Rollins, has great vision for the ministry that Lake Swan has to church groups and camp groups. We would like to hold them up in prayer for financial provision and the needed manpower for these improvements.
We have reserved 150 spots (from campers to adults) for next year's camp. When we reach 200, we will be able to reserve the entire camp for just Araminta. That is our next goal! We appreciate the support of Diocesan leadership for this ministry. Please pray for our leadership team as we meet this month (September) to discuss growth and what it means for our leadership structure and for the future of the camp as we strive to serve the youth of the Diocese in the way that the Lord wills.
Thank you!
In Him,
Beth Kirby
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A Pastoral Letter to Calvary Anglican Church. Special to the October 2012 Communique by The Reverend Shawn Porter
If you had been a Christian in Germany in the late 1930's through the mid 1940's would you have spoken out against the Nazi evil that ran rampant through the country? Or would you, like over 90% of the Christians in the country, have quietly stood by while over six million Jews were murdered? Maybe not liking it, but knowing you couldn't really do anything about it, so just being quiet.
I have always imagined that I would have been like Bonheoffer. I would have preached against it. Even to the point of giving my life. This week I learned something that can no longer allow me to hold on to that fanand has caused me to deeply repent.
quietly by, not really liking it, but thinking there was nothing I could really do about it. For the most part, aside from a sermon or two, a couple of passionate conversations, a few dollars, and one march for life in D.C., I have done nothing.tasy,
Since 1970 Planned Parenthood alone has now surpassed six million total abortions. This one business in the USA has now murdered more innocent people than the holocaust! Planned Parenthood preforms slightly more than 25% of the abortions in America. That means that our Country, that we love, that we are proud to be citizens of, is responsible for the deaths of almost 24 million of the most innocent human beings the world will now never know. And for the most part, to my shame, I have sat
I know that I must do more. I don't know what God will do in your heart with this information. But consider this: Two times in the Bible God records the mass killing of children. Once when the forces of evil were trying to stop Moses from being born and the other when they were trying to stop Jesus from being born. Who are they trying to stop from being born now?
The Rev. Shawn E. Porter
Rector, Calvary Anglican Church
Jacksonville, Florida | | |
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February 2013 Israel Trip
 There are very few experiences that have changed our lives more than traveling to Israel . And very little in our discipling of others has had a greater impact than taking them to Israel . We therefore want to share with you several exciting opportunities to experience Israel with others from around our diocese. You are invited to join one of our diocese leaders' Israel study tour sponsored by Shoresh Tours, a CMJ ministry (see www.CMJ-Israel.org). |
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The Communiqué
October 2012 Newsletterof the Gulf Atlantic Diocese |
I rejoice in the Lord as we continue our ministry together in the Gulf Atlantic Diocese. We send out regular email newsletters to enable us to be more faithful in the Lord's call for us to be servants in his everlasting kingdom.
Please pass this information on to all who are part of our diocese or may be interested in our life together.
+ Bishop Neil G. Lebhar |
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Hurricane Isaac Relief Request
 Dear Diocesan Family We have just received the following from Dr. Page Brooks. Page is a pastor, military chaplain, and seminary professor in New Orleans. I have just confirmed him as an Anglican this past summer.
In the Messiah,
+Neil
The Rt. Rev. Neil G. Lebhar
NLebhar@GulfAtlanticDiocese.org
Hurricane Isaac
I was staying at the National Guard base in New Orleans during the night Hurricane Isaac was coming on shore. About 3am I received a text from one of my church members. He stated that the levees had overtopped the Gulf-side levees in Braithwaite, LA. They immediately climbed into their cars and drove to the top of the Mississippi River levee where they would be safe...and wait to be rescued.
A few days later after the storm, I loaded up in my military vehicle along with my chaplain assistant to travel to Braithwaite. Braithwaite is a small community on the East bank, near the mouth of the Mississippi River. The smell in Braithwaite was a mixture of marsh mud and trash that had been swept to the levee when the water came rushing in with high surf of the hurricane. I had two missions: one was to check on the soldiers for whom I cared as a chaplain, and two was to check on a church member's home in the area.
As we drove down the road, we passed homes that had literally been swept off their foundations. Crypts from the local cemetery had been washed up to the road and cracked open (above ground tombs are common in South Louisiana). Some neighbors reported finding bones in their back yards.
After seeing my soldiers, we drove past the neighborhood where my church member lived. The 15-foot wall of water had pushed the house several feet from where its pillars stood. My church member ran a citrus farm, which abound in the area. The oranges were turning brown from the salt-water exposure. This source of his livelihood was ruined, at least for this harvest season.
For some of the citizens of Braithwaite, the worst part was not that a flood came. The worst part was that it came AGAIN. It was the seven-year anniversary of Katrina. The flood was a reminder of what had happened just a few years before. The heartache was perhaps twice as hard this time.
Our church, Canal Street Church: A Mosaic Community, mobilized immediately to help families. As we gathered at the church the Saturday after the storm, I told them to pray over every article they pulled out of the flooded home to which they would go. I told them to pray that the Holy Spirit would be there in that place to start the healing process. I knew our church's ministry would not just be doing clean up. It would be a process of bringing restoration physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
"We've lost everything, but we know our Lord is still in control. We could be a whole lot worse," said one of our church members to me. Every bit of their possessions was under water. Yet their faith held them strong. It would be their faith that would allow them to continue the healing process.
Canal Street Church believes God is calling us to be a long-term means of restoration for the affected communities. The outpouring for Hurricane Isaac will not be like it was for Katrina. However that does not mean there are any less opportunities to literally be the hands and feet of Jesus during this rebuilding process.
Thousands have literally been washed out of their homes. Relief volunteers have been pouring in, including volunteers from Mormon to Muslim organizations. Thankfully evangelical Christians have been doing our part as well. However there is still much to be done. But if we don't continue the effort, others will do it in our place! Our church has established a separate non-profit development ministry to help with the rebuilding process called The Restoration Initiative. We are partnering with several organizations and groups to continue the rebuilding process.
The ministry we are doing in the affected areas is really something that should be nothing new for believers. In fact, it is the type of ministry we should be doing every day. Certainly we are not doing it on such a large scale as hurricane disaster relief. Just as we are being the hands and feet of Christ to people whose homes have flooded, every day we should be the hands and feet of Christ to those we are around. We want to invite you and your church to be a part of this relief effort. We hope that you will in some way be blessed by the relief effort here, and then go back and want to bless others back in your community.
How can you help? We want to invite churches and groups to partner with us in several ways. First gift cards and cash donations are accepted and go directly to families and the reconstruction effort. Gift cards are an easy way for us to give a helping hand to families in a very tangible way. Second, organize missions groups to come down and help with the rebuilding efforts. We are currently housing groups at our church and other network churches in the area. We can use people of all skill levels to help.
Last, and most importantly, please pray. Life in the New Orleans area has returned to normal, but then lives of some families will never be the same. Help us be the hands feet and love of Jesus Christ to the people that will be rebuilding for months to come.
For more information please call our church at 504-482-1135, and visit our website at canalmosaic.org, or thericc.org. |
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Discipleship Journal by Marcia Lebhar
Do... THEN See
 One of the most oft repeated principles taught at the recent ACNA conference at Ridgecrest was Bishop Todd Hunter's reminder: obedience precedes understanding. The phrase is variously attributed to the church fathers, George McDonald, and a host of others. And I thought I discovered it!
In the years when a large group of young adults met weekly at our house, the question of guidance was frequently at the forefront of their preferred topics for study and discussion. How do we hear God? Are you ever absolutely sure that what you think you have heard is actually from God? How can people speak so easily about what God said to them? What if what I think I heard doesn't make sense to me?
As I searched the Scriptures for understanding, what I found there validated my own experience with stunning consistency. Notice how many biblical saints were given instructions which mystified them... or worse, instructions which must have tempted them to think they had heard incorrectly, or that God was not actually good. Noah could not possibly have envisioned the need for the ark he was told to build. (Genesis 6:9-22) How could Abraham not wonder whether he'd heard correctly when told to sacrifice his son? (Genesis 22) Moses must have doubted God's benevolence, or his own sanity, when he was asked to pick up a snake by the tail. (Exodus 4:4) How about Joshua's bizarre instructions for the capture of Jericho? (Joshua 6) Jesus told his disciples to feed thousands of people with just a few loaves and fish. (Mark 6:37) Or worse, he said that he must go to Jerusalem, not to finally overthrow the oppressive Romans, but to die. What??? The disciples followed him, but they could not possibly have understood the deliverance God intended or the part they themselves would play in making it known. (Luke 18:31-34) At least they couldn't see it on the front end.
And that would be the point for us as well. First we do... and THEN we see. DO what you think you hear and then SEE what happens! Obedience precedes understanding.
My most fruitful adventures have followed this pattern. Once, while on a speaking assignment in South America, I received a very counter-intuitive instruction from the Lord about sharing the Gospel with a person I'd just met. The nudge was heart-stopping to me and I imagined I'd invented it, but the Holy Spirit compelled me. The immediate result was a new sister in the Kingdom!
Back at home, I remember a particularly pedestrian example. I was driving home from the first of a series of Hebrew lessons at a local synagogue. As I was turning in to a fast food drive-thru lane to pick up lunch, the Lord spoke to me. At least I thought it was the Lord: I want you to fast for your Hebrew teacher. Seriously? Maybe that was just a perverse mental twist based on my hunger! I wrestled with the idea as I waited in the turning lane. Finally, dejected and full of uncertainty, I left the lane and drove home. All afternoon I alternated between faithful prayer and faithless (and hungry!) impatience. When could I eat again? Was that even God?
Just before dinner the phone rang. I will never forget it. My Hebrew teacher's heavy Israeli accent came through. "I have been going through the checks written for the class, and I see that your husband is a minister. Would you mind if I asked you a few questions about Jesus?" And my heart had been prepared.
Assuming that what we hear does not contradict the Scriptures, this is how we learn to hear the Lord, by doing what we think we hear and then seeing what happens. It gets easier every time. When the prophet Malachi conveys the Lord's tithing challenge to his people, it reads like obedience precedes understanding:
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse so there will be enough food in my Temple. If you do," says the Lord of Heaven's Armies, "I will open the windows of heaven for you. I will pour out a blessing so great you won't have enough room to take it in! Try it! Put me to the test!
Malachi 3:10 NLT
We pray that our diocesan family will be distinguished by this kind of venturing obedience. Let's ask the Lord to teach us to hear him. Let's covenant together to DO what we think we hear. Then let's share our stories.
I declare your marvelous deeds. Psalm 71:17 NIV
(For an interesting take on this principle, try the book by Clare De Graaf, The 10-Second Rule.) |
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Geriatric Outreach Conference, October 20
St. Peter's Anglican Church
901 Thomasville Rd., Tallahassee, Florida (Map)
 St. Peter's Anglican Church, Tallahassee, will be holding a conference on how to expand Geriatric Outreach (ACLF Prayer Services, Lay Eucharistic Ministry, and Hospice Care) on Saturday, October 20th from 9:00am to 12 noon. Clergy and laity who are interested in Geriatric Outreach are invited to discuss strategies on evolving this ministry. There will be discussion on the following topics with an eye to identifying people who would like to become involved in this ministry:- Needs of this Population
- Issues Peculiar to this Population
- Worship Materials
- Facility Requirements and Limitations
- Characteristics Helpful in Leaders
- Alternative Approaches to Worship
There is no fee for the conference, but snacks will be provided. Please RSVP to Steve Dean at 850-893-1469 or stephenfdean@comcast.net.
We hope clergy will be able to join us and bring or send several lay members of your churches who have a heart and gift to participate in this needed and rewarding outreach ministry.
Eric Dudley +
Rector, St. Peter's Anglican Church |
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St. Peter's Anglican Church presents
John Michael Talbot
Two Nights!
Monday, October 29 and
Tuesday, October 30
7:00 pm
St. Peter's Anglican Church
901 Thomasville Rd., Tallahassee, Florida (Map)
Reduce your anxiety and renew your body, soul and spirit. A two-night series of inspirational music, motivational speaking, humor leading to deep prayer and meditation facilitated by John Michael Talbot.
John Michael Talbot is one of the pioneering artists of what has become known as Contemporary Christian Music. He is recognized as Catholic music's most popular artist with over 4 million sales. His compositions are published in hymnals throughout the world. His newest album, "Worship and Bow Down" is the 53rd album in his 37 years in Christian Music Ministry.
Each night is DIFFERENT! Our prayer is to bring hope, peace, joy, music and meditation to people of all faiths. You can help. Come and bring a friend. All ages and faiths are welcome. A generous love offering will be requested.
Books and CDs by John Michael Talbot will be available for sale. Cash, checks, and all credit cards will be accepted.
Gulf Atlantic Diocese churches: Download Poster (PDF - 785k) for distribution to your parish. |
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We hope you have found this issue of the diocese newsletter to be helpful and enjoyable. If you have received it directly from us, you are already on our mailing list and you will contin.ue to receive future issues unless you choose to unsubscribe by using the link at the bottom of this page.
If you have received it as a forward from a friend and would like to be added to our subscription list, please click the "Join our Mailing List" button in the top left column of this page. Sincerely, Harris Harris G. Willman
Administrator
Gulf Atlantic Diocese of the ACNA Email:HWillman@gulfatlanticdiocese.org Website:http://www.gulfatlanticdiocese.org/
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