Have you ever considered the diaconate?

As baptized christians we all seek to find our particular place to serve God in our church. We have chosen to be members of a wonderful community that offers many different opportunities to serve.

In both the lay and ordained roles we see leaders emerge in the church who see the call clearly to serve God through work both in the church and in the community.  Many deacons have well established ministries in the community long before they have any thoughts of ordination.

The role of deacon is one that lies in between the church and the community.  Many deacons spend time showing the world what God has called us to do, to serve each other and to be the hands and feet of Christ in the world.

Because deacons also serve at the alter the church community is able to see the transition of the world to the altar.  Support is given to the priest in the form of Sunday services that can include Gospel reading, assisting with Eucharist, occasional sermons and dismissing the congregation into the world.

The decision to seek the diaconate may not be a simple or clear one.  Many times it takes others in the church to point out that you have the 'heart of a deacon'.  Then the journey begins with prayer and discernment with spiritual leaders, advisors, your local priest, the Archdeacon and local deacons to determine how you might want to approach this process.

Discernment committees help by offering questions for consideration and reviewing spiritual autobiographies. Shared educational programs involve options of Swanee based Education for Ministry (EFM) or on line programs offered through the University of the South coupled with quarterly weekend sessions at Honey Creek focused on Diocesan level issues for deacons and bi-vocational priests.

The deacon is a servant leader and in the traditional role is one of the oldest in Christianity.  While the service is nonstipendary the rewards are invaluable.

Cursillo

An Opportunity to Know and Be Known

From people who know freedom.

I attended my first Cursillo last year and served on the team this past year at #119. Like many folks who've gone before me, I was hesitant to get involved. After all I'd seen these strange folks wearing their many colors, adorned in buttons, crosses, and rooster paraphernalia! To make matters worse, whenever I asked about the weekend, one would reply with an air of mischief, "You must see for yourself!"

What I saw and experienced in my heart was exactly what the song De Colores declares. In our culture so devoid of intimate connections, Cursillo gave me the opportunity to know and be known by others, to engage in relationships with people across the diocese. People from diverse backgrounds and spiritual experiences; people all seeking to know freedom together.

Cursillo simply responds to God's command for us to love one another exactly as we are, to be accepted as family. Like any step taken on our spiritual journey, Cursillo demands from us a leap of faith, to taste and see for ourselves that the Lord is good. I can't tell you what will happen because that is God's gift to you. Yet I can promise that the divine will touch your life, and you too will see the colors from people who know freedom! De Colores!
 

St. Andrew's and St. Cyrpian's, Darien

Women's Retreat at Honey Creek

St. Elizabeth's, Richmond Hill will again host a Women's Retreat at Honey Creek. The retreat meets October 16-18. With the theme "Deeper Into the Heart of God: Place of Freedom" the weekend is dedicated to bringing participants into an ever-deepening love relationship with Jesus.

For more information or to register, contact Emily Hubbard at (912) 856-7902 or email her at emchub@aol.com

The final camp session of the summer is taking place now at Honey Creek with the second Camp St. Peter for those in middle school.

St. Luke's, Rincon, holds a summer arts camp instead of a Vacation Bible School. The camp is pictured above and below at right.

Positions Available