Christ Church, Savannah 

First Sunday Back on Johnson Square

On the heels of a ruling by the Georgia Supreme Court in favor of the Episcopal Church, members of Christ Church in Savannah held services in their historic church building on December 18 for the first time in over four years. 
 

"The church building was filled to capacity and we are all overjoyed to be worshiping here again," said Christ Church's rector the Rev. Michael S. White.

He added, "Since our rebirth as an Episcopal parish in October 2007, we have grown substantially and have proudly celebrated our incredible heritage as the 'Mother Church of Georgia' and as a place where all are welcome to worship and serve God.  Through the work of the Holy Spirit in our midst, we have also experienced the truth that we are called to be faithful stewards of His Word and Sacraments wherever we may meet." 

Bishop Henry I. Louttit, Jr., the ninth bishop of Georgia (retired) served as the celebrant and Bishop Harry W. Shipps, the eighth bishop of Georgia (retired) concelebrated and gave the final blessing.  Assisting Bishops Louttit and Shipps were White, The Rev. Canon H. Neal Phelps, Christ Church's former priest in charge and retired canon to the ordinary for the Diocese of Georgia, The Rev. George M. Maxwell, Christ Church's rector from 1976-91, and The Rev. Deacon J. Sierra Wilkinson. More than 450 worshippers attended the 8 and 10:30 a.m. Eucharists.

Christ Church, Valdosta 

Special Olympics Scarf Project

When the call for knitted and crocheted scarves for the Special Olympics athletes went out, the Christ Church Stitchers of Love and friends in the community rose to the challenge. The scarves, given to the participants in the January 2012 Indoor Winter games in Marietta, are a symbol of unity, support, compassion, and empowerment for the athletes. On Dec. 14, Fr. Peter Ingeman blessed over 135 scarves at Christ Church, Valdosta, and Deacon Patricia Marks expects at least another 50 for the next blessing. As word spread, other groups participated, including in Valdosta, the Withlacoochee Quilters Guild, the Chemo-Cap knitters, members of St. John's Catholic Church and First Methodist, and many other friends in the community; and out of town, the stitchers at St. Paul's, Jesup; St. Andrew's, Darien; and others in the Americus-Albany region. "So many people were generous with their time," Deacon Patricia said, "and we are so grateful to all who participated. Our prayers and good wishes were woven stitch by stitch into every scarf. While all the scarves are red and blue, each one has its own unique pattern and is as special as the athlete who will receive it.  

Above a piper leads the procession out of the church and the clergy gathered for a photograph after the Rev. David Rose's ordination to the priesthood. An album of photos is online here: Rose Ordination Photos.
 

St. Anne's, Tifton

David Rose Ordained to the Priesthood

The congregation of St. Anne's Tifton gathered with clergy from the convocation and friends and family for the ordination of David Rose to the priesthood this past Sunday evening. As David is newly arrived in the Diocese this summer without being introduced, it is a good time for the diocese to meet our newest priest.

David was born in Texas but grew up in Virginia. He was graduated from James Madison University with a B.A. double majoring in History and Religion/Philosophy.  He grew up worshiping in the Stone-Campbell movement having been a member at one time or another of all three major denominations coming out of that movement - the Church of Christ, the independent Christin churches and Churches of Christ, and the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).   While a teenager, he and his family also worshiped at a great many different churches, which means that Ecumenism is a strong christian value to which he clings. 

The summer before his senior year in college David married the former Amy Hundley of Charlottesville, VA.  After graduating from JMU, David and Amy moved to Charlottesville, VA, where David worked for EA.com.  He then began seminary at Emmanuel School of Religion (now Emmanuel Christian Seminary) in Johnson City, TN, and began the ordination process for the Disciples of Christ.  While there, he attended the inaugural gathering of the Churches Uniting in Christ in Memphis, TN as a seminarian participant in 2002.  During his studies at Emmanuel, he also worked full time as the youth Director at Munsey Memorial United Methodist Church, Johnson City, TN, where he served for three years.  David and Amy celebrated the birth of their first two children, Jonathan and Micah, during this time.

While in Johnson City, David began to realize he was not a good fit for ministry within the Disciples of Christ.  After a period of discernment, David left his studies at Emmanuel and his job at Munsey and joined the Episcopal Church.  He accepted a job as youth minister for St. Timothy's Episcopal church, Winston-Salem, NC, in 2005, where he worked for the Rev. Steve Rice who served as Rector of St, Michael's Waynseboro before moving to NC.  While in NC, David and Amy celebrated the birth of their third son, Elijah.  During this time David also served three years as an adult member of the Diocesan Youth Committee.

After going through the discernment process for ordination in the Diocese of North Carolina, David and Amy moved back to VA so he could enroll as a student in the Virginia Theological Seminary in the fall of 2009.  While at VTS, David did his field education at St. Andrew's, Arlington, a parish with a new rector currently going through a process of revitalization.  He completed his Clinical Pastoral Education at the Hebrew Home of Greater Washington during the summer of 2010.  Due to work previously completed, he graduated from VTS this past May, 2011, and was ordained a Deacon by the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry on June 18, 2011.  David and his family moved to Tifton, Ga on June 23, 2011.  He and Amy celebrated the birth of their fourth child, Isaac, in October. David is taking part in the First Two Years program in the Diocese of Georgia which supports priests during their first two years in full-time ministry.

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A poster advertising the Christmas Eve Midnight Mass hangs on the door at the Harveys in Tifton.

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