Messiah Visioning Retreat Continues Today

Sunday Worship Tomorrow, July 16, Ten O'Clock AM

Dear People of Messiah Church

Yesterday, Friday, about 35 people were with us for some or all of the day. I’m excited that our Visioning Retreat with Ann Fleming is now into its second day! Today, Saturday, we'll be here until 5pm. Attending today are many of yesterday's attendees, plus more people who are with us today, but who could not be here Friday. We have a few people joining us Today at lunchtime!

You are quite welcome to join us for the rest of Saturday.

Click here for the full schedule for Friday and Saturday. Here are some particulars on food, schedule and what you can bring.

Lunch: Lunch is at 12:15 Noon. We plan to have sandwiches from Dickey’s BBQ on Saturday.

Saturday Reception: The retreat will conclude with a light food reception at 5pm on Saturday for those who can stay.

Join us for Worship Tomorrow, Sunday, July 16.

I will be preaching at the 10am Worship Service and the sermon will be based on the Retreat Weekend and on the Sunday lessons that are appointed for the day. You can read the lectionary for this Sunday by clicking here!

We've been reading the ancestral stories from Genesis during the Summer. Last week, Abraham helped his son Isaac find his wife, Rebecca. Today, Rebecca gives birth to twins, setting up the story for conflict between the two boys, only one of which can receive the Promise. To quote from Genesis 25:

"When her time to give birth was at hand, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy mantle; so they named him Esau. Afterward his brother came out, with his hand gripping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them."

One of our members is a Jazz Drummer, and we were talking about improvisation in music. I'm thinking about improv in preaching. Since tomorrow, we're worshipping right after our two day retreat, and consultant Ann Fleming worshipping with us, I'll be looking to weave together the themes from the retreat and the Sunday lessons. Join us!

Blessings to you:

Vicar John

Introducing Our Retreat Leader



Ann Fleming, M.Ed

Vice President for Development & Operations, The Episcopal Church Building Fund

Ann was delighted to begin working for the Episcopal Church Building Fund in the fall of 2020. As Vice President for Development & Operations, she works across programs and projects to help facilitate creative and grounded ways for parishes, dioceses, and institutions to think about how they use their buildings and properties in new and mission-aligned ways.

Prior to her work with ECBF, Ann served as a trainer and coordinator with the Diocesan Church Development Institute from 2008-2019. She obtained her Master’s degree in Organizational Performance and Change in 2012, and investigated the impact of organizational culture on the ability of a parish to recover after conflict-related split. She was appointed as the first lay Regional Missioner for the Sangre de Cristo Region of the Episcopal Church in Colorado where she undertook the work of healing and reconciliation for an area that had been deeply damaged from clergy misconduct and abuse. In 2015, she worked as the Capital Campaign Coordinator to raise money for the diocesan camp and conference center. In 2016 she was appointed to the senior staff position of Missioner for Transition and Congregational Development, where she oversaw clergy deployment, congregational development, and a number of affinity groups. Ann has had the joy of working closely with Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley, both in the Episcopal Church in Colorado, and with ECBF.

Ann’s approach is to start with questions, not answers. She believes in the power of the Holy Spirit to inspire and animate the imagination and curiosity of groups gathered to prayerfully discern where God is already at work, and how they can enter in. While she has had her share of grief and loss, she understands that the only way to transform difficulty into opportunity is to go down and through. And that when we surrender our will to God’s will, we can “Let Love Do Its Work.”

From Vicar John: The engagement of Ann Fleming as Messiah’s visioning consultant and retreat leader is funded by Bishop Ruth and the Diocese of South Carolina. Retreat expenses are funded by the Messiah Vestry. A wonderful future is ahead of us. Please join us in discerning and planning the future of Messiah Church in Myrtle Beach!