50TH JUBILEE CELEBRATION

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all who joined us for - and those who participated in - our 50th Jubilee Celebration events this past December 3-5. We hope you found it to be a time of remembrance of our history, reorientation towards mercy and hope, and renewal of the spirit as we go forward in God's love for us. Our combined services generated over 17,000 views. Because of the digital platform, people from all over the nation joined us.

The services are still available for viewing:

Thursday night's Evening Prayer Service hosted by Christ Church Parish, Pensacola: https://youtu.be/DQWP03S8I7E

Friday night's Just Mercy, Just Jesus Revival hosted by The Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast: https://youtu.be/0j6TQqMeLxI

Plus, we saved plenty of room for you if you would still like to join in on our Go Forward Group meetings. The is an intentional space where we take a deeper dive into the topics discussed during the revival and the Saturday morning Revival Roundup Coffee Hour.

Go Forward Group Meetings hosted by the Evangelism Task Force of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast. There are two ways to connect:

Sundays, 4-5pm, starting December 13 

When publisher Sherry Digmon asked me to write for the December 2020 issue of atmore, magazine she did not mention Covid or hurricanes or this contentious election year or other miseries. But she and you and I know this year of 2020 has been and still is a hard time for lots of people.

As I write this in time to make her deadline, I’m still waiting on a new roof and a new fence, thanks to Hurricane Sally. Covid is on the rise all around the world, including here in home territory. The aftermath of the election is still rumbling, and we’re a long way from healing the unity of Americans. I hope we believe in our Constitution enough to keep striving for “a more perfect union.” I also hope that by the time you read this, 2020 hurricane season will truly be over.

For many of us, Christmas means celebrating together. Celebrating. Together. Two big words with big meanings. Celebrating means remembering and claiming memories of joy and sadness in a mix and finding reason to say, as God said at the end of each day of creation, “This is good.” Together means being with family, friends, and strangers around a holiday table, or in church with special music, or feeding hungry people in shelters. Together may mean parties and reunions with parades and bright lights and buying and giving and getting gifts. Together may mean sending cards and emails and texts to loved ones. Some of this will happen this year, although not for all of us, and not all of this will happen safely.

December offers us joyous reflections, meditations, and songs while often highlighting uncertainties of life- its relationships, its time, and its infinite unknowns. Christmas is not a single, endless Hallmark event, is it?

Sometimes I long to have another Christmas with my grandparents, and often, during this time of year, I dream of Mama and Dada. I dream of a Christmas Eve night sleeping with Mama because she wanted to hear Santa with me. I dream of the fried bacon that Dada cooked within five minutes of his way-too-early, waking time every Christmas morning. The bacon’s scent quickly spread throughout the concrete block house sitting on Highway 90 between Cottondale and Marianna. As I moved towards the kitchen, I knew that Santa had found us yet again at Mama and Dada’s house, with its Santa and reindeer on the roof and its NOEL candles on the small, front porch.  

This new piano is a wonderful addition to Holy Trinity, Pensacola and they are excited about hearing Paul Shimel’s beautiful music from the piano when they resume their inside worship. In addition to Sunday morning use, they plan to provide a venue for piano recitals and piano concerts. Holy Trinity would like to thank the following whose donations made this purchase possible: Pat and Libby O'Brien, in memory of Libby's granddaughter; Fr. Bob and Jane Graves, in thanksgiving for the Holy Trinity family; an anonymous donation made on behalf of all Holy Trinity parishioners; and additional monies donated to Holy Trinity in memory of various members at their deaths.

We will again be participating in the 2021 Good Book Club, January 1 – February 16. Bishop Russell will be sharing weekly reflections on the Gospel of Mark. The readings can be found at www.goodbookclub.org. Video reflections will be released the Thursday prior to the following week’s readings and available on our website here. Videos are suitable for individual or group study. Questions on how to host a Good Book Club at your church, contact Sally Crenshaw at crenshs@cox.net.

Happening, an annual youth retreat lead by the youth, originally scheduled for February of 2021, has been postponed until sometime in the spring due to taking extra precautions concerning Covid-19. Stay tuned for a new date!

Registration is open. Staff applications are being accepted. Visit Beckwith's website for information on dates, rates and tiered pricing system.

[December 7, 2020] “Joy to the world! The Lord is come. In your hearts, in your homes, in your lives, prepare him room,” Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael Curry said in his Christmas Message 2020.

The recording of the Presiding Bishop’s message is here.

December 12, 8:30am to 4:30pm CST, Online via Zoom

Join us for an interactive workshop which will provide insights into the causes and effects of racism. We explore unconscious bias, prejudice and ways to work together to Become the Beloved Community. This offering is required for those in parish leadership (such as vestries) and at the diocesan level (including serving on commissions, committees, agencies, boards, etc.). It also qualifies for 8 hours of clergy training/education for those who complete the day course.

December 13, 7:30pm CST, Online via Zoom

December 27, 10:30am CST, Online

Bishop Russell will offer the homily and the Duvall Center staff will do the readings and prayers. Join us!

WATCH ON FACEBOOK

December 13, 4pm CST

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Christmas Concert will feature Andre Chiang and Olivia Yokers Chiang as vocalists, Tyler Butler and Peter Wood as Trumpeters and Peggy Lyden, pianist. Works by Piazzolla, Purcell, Mendelssohn, Esenvalds, Mozart, Gounod, Chilcott and Rutter. There will be some lovely serious works along with many lighter, favorite Christmas pieces. The event is free and open to the public. Please call the Church Office at (251) 342-8521 to reserve your spot as they can only have 150 people in-person.

December 20, 4pm CST

Now - February 25

Remember to keep logging your miles! We are taking a virtual trip around the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast! Engage your mind, soul and body, and learn about our diocese and our beloved Camp Beckwith. Our mission takes us about 540 miles from Beckwith and back, highlighting each of our 62 churches along the way.

The mission runs now until Diocesan Convention. There's still time to register.

FULL DETAILS AND REGISTRATION | DOWNLOAD FAQ FLYER

A unique opportunity in early care and education is available! St. John’s Episcopal Church is looking for an experienced, high energy individual to become the founding Director of the St. John’s Children’s Center. This full day, full year program will provide care to infants and toddlers (6 weeks to 3 years) in a relationship-based environment. The founding Director will help design the classrooms and playground, recruit and hire staff and lead marketing and enrollment efforts. This full time position offers a competitive salary and benefits.

Coastline is a biweekly publication of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast.

SUBMIT AN ARTICLE - deadlines are 1st and 3rd Fridays of each month

SUBMIT AN EVENT - posted on our website each Friday

Direct questions to communications@diocgc.org