News and Notes August 20, 2013

This is a friendly reminder that all Foundation Grant applications are due by Sept. 1, 2013 (not postmarked by). The grant application can be found here or on the Diocesan Website on the Foundation page. Please contact Terry Everett with any questions.

Campus Ministry Sunday

On Sunday, September 8th members and parishes of the Diocese of East Carolina have the opportunity to support Campus Ministry right here in East Carolina.

Currently the Diocese of East Carolina supports two programs, one at East Carolina University (ECU) and Pitt Community College (PCC) and the other at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW) and Cape Fear Community College (CFCC). Both programs support individuals at a time of significant life transition.

As you put something in the collection plate on September 8th think about this:

60% of non-cradle Episcopalians had their first exposure to The Episcopal Church through Campus Ministry. That's a lot of people!

For those students who were already Episcopalian, many sited having a spiritual and pastoral connection away from home as critical in navigating the new waters of adulthood.

(Reported by Portaro and Peluso in Inquiring and Discerning Hearts: Vocation and Ministry with Young Adults on Campus)

Funds you give will go directly to the mission and ministry of The Well: Episcopal Lutheran Campus Ministry (ELCM) in Greenville and to ECM at UNCW & CFCC. Please contact Emily Gowdy Canady at Diocesan House should you like to learn more about how you can support Campus Ministry in East Carolina.

Campus Ministry News

This summer, The Well: Episcopal Lutheran Campus Ministry attended a total of seven New Student Orientation (NSO) fairs at ECU. The fairs were a great way to invite new students to The Well. Students were given a "carabiner" with The Well: ELCM and the Well's website printed on them. We talked to new students and collected their contact information. Another great year for campus ministry is ahead! Students have plans for a Fall Prayer Retreat, meetings with other campus faith groups, and much more. (below: Pastor Drew Goodson and students at NSO fair.)

On Thursday, August 22nd, at 6:00 pm, The Well: ELCM will have a "Welcome Back" gathering, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, with worship and dinner, group building activities, and a preview of fall programs! Regular Thursday night gatherings continue for the rest of the semester - and your prayers and support are needed! View pictures and other news at www.thewell-elcm.org. If you would like to help support our campus ministry, please let Pastor Drew know.

St. Paul's, Greenville welcomes
two new clergy members

In the August issue of Epistle, St. Paul's, Greenville's monthly newsletter, The Rev. Bob Hudak, rector, welcomes two new members to the staff. The Rev. Andrew Canaan is the new associate rector and Rev. Fran McKinney is the new deacon. To learn more about these editions, please follow this link to an online version of The Epistle.

(Left-The Rev. Andrew Canaan, his wife Ashley and their children, Harry and Meyers. Right- The Rev. Fran McKinney.)

Friends of Honduras USA helping to replace poorly constructed schools

Missioners from the Diocese of East Carolina and the Diocese of Washington join kindergarteners and their teacher in their crudely constructed "school." The Rev. Anne Dale and her husband Roland are working through Friends of Honduras USA to replace primitive settings such as this with safe and secure schools for the youngest of students in San Antonio, Cortes, Honduras.

Upcoming Web Events through

The Episcopal Church Foundation

The following are free webinars. Please click on the link to learn more about each event.

September 10:
Stewardship for the New Millennium- explore the theology of Christian stewardship, understand how to define the mission and vision of your church, develop a financial ministry plan, teach you tools to communicate often and openly with the entire congregation, and how to ask - and thank - more effectively

September 17:
Best Practices for Vestry Leadership- explores common challenges for vestries of Episcopal congregations and offers basic practices for leading vestries effectively.

September 18:
Flourishing in Faith: Celebrating the Harvest!- This webinar will be based on the Flourish In Faith narrative stewardship series produced by The Episcopal Network for Stewardship.

September 19:
Las Campañas Anuales de Mayordomía- En este webinar se discutirán las formas más efectivas para prepararse, contar su historia, motivar la membresía, y desarrollar campañas exitosas.

September 24:
Picturing the Future: Vision and Planning- This web conference focuses on the basic principles of a vision and planning process.

Diocesan Youth Events

yOUThREACH Saturday, Sept. 28th from 9 AM - 4PM at St. Anne's Jacksonville (711 Henderson Dr.)

* 6th - 12th graders and their adult youth leaders

* Registration Deadline - September 18th

Happening #62 - October 18-20th at Trinity Center

* 9th -12th Graders

* Deadline - September 13th

TEAM Registration Deadline is September 4th! Anyone who has served on Team at a Happening in this Diocese or another is invited to serve.

Fall Conference "Living with Lions" - November 8th - 10th at Trinity Center

* 6th - 8th Graders and their adult leaders

Fall Conference TEAM Application Deadline is October 4th! Anyone who has served on a Diocesan Youth Conference Staff before is invited to apply!

Visit the Youth Page for more information. Please contact Emily Gowdy Canady for further information!

Healthy Communities, Healthy Churches Summit

Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) is co-sponsoring a Healthy Communities, Healthy Churches Summit on Saturday, September 7 from 10:00am-3:00pm in New Bern at Christ Episcopal Ministry Center, 311 Middle Street. The Summit will provide information on local health initiatives, funding opportunities for faith-based organizations, as well as information on the upcoming Affordable Care Act.

Lunch will also be provided. Please RSVP today by contacting Pastor Dawn Baldwin Gibson at 252-671-1006 or Chaplain Martha Brown at 252-481-5679.

St. Mark's, Wilmington ECW

presents Women's Day

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of St. Mark's Episcopal Church (600 Grace Street, Wilmington) will observe Women's Day on Sunday, September 15, 2013 at 11:00 am. Valita Quattlebaum, the Chief Communications Officer of New Hanover County Schools will be the keynote speaker.

Mrs. Quattlebaum is an experienced public relations professional and consultant. She also is a lay minister, author and life coach who speaks at churches and presents workshops and conferences.

The public is cordially invited to attend the Women's Day Program. A reception will be held in Jackson Hall immediately following this event. For more information about Mrs. Quattlebaum please click here.

The Rev. Dr. Tex Sample coming to
St. Philip's, Southport

Master teacher and storyteller, The Rev. Dr. Tex Sample will be speaking at St. Philip's Episcopal Church (205 E. Moore Street) Friday, Sept. 20 at 7:00pm, and at the 10:30 Sunday service on Sept. 22. He will also be at Trinity Methodist for a workshop Saturday, Sept. 21 from 10:00am-1:00pm.

He describes his topic, "The Craft of Discipleship," as being for "the ones who walk the talk." Shaped by his Southern oral heritage and early work as a cab driver, laborer, and oil field roustabout, and United Methodist-ordained, the Rev. Dr. Sample has been called "a theologian for ordinary folk." He is known for anchoring faith as Jesus did, in the narratives of everyday life. Now retired from a seminary professorship, he is a favorite speaker at conferences and in the more than 5,000 churches using the DVD series Living the Questions.

St. Philip's Church is offering these talks as a gift to Southport and its Eastern Carolina neighbors. There is no admission charge for any of the events, though free-will offerings will be accepted. For more information, email texinsouthport@gmail.com or call Nan Bush, 910-201-1484. ...»