Click "read more..."

CLERGY NEWS

The Rev. H. Vandon Forman, rector of Christ Church, Albertville, has accepted a call as rector of Church of the Resurrection, Gadsden.  Van will assume the position June1.

The Rev. Neil St. Barnabas Lawson is resigning as rector of St. Peter's, Talladega, effective after Easter. 

The Rev. Stephen McWhorter, a priest canonically resident in the Diocese of Virginia, living in Sylacauga, has accepted a call as interim rector of St. Thomas' Church, Birmingham.

The Rev. Frank Roth has accepted a call as rector of St. Matthias' Church, Tuscaloosa and is in Tuscaloosa.

CLERGY PASTORAL NOTES

The Rev. Robert R. Cook, senior priest in years of ordained service in the Diocese, died March 1 in Huntsville.  He served the diocese as priest since 1952, with 56 years of service.  He was buried from the Church of the Nativity, Huntsville, on March 5. 

Andrew Robinson, Jr., husband of the Rev. Linda Gail Robinson, a canonically resident priest of the Diocese, died February 29 in Clovis, California. Internment will be at the Cathedral Church of the Advent at a later date. 

ART AUCTION FOR CAMP McDOWELL CHAPEL

The diocesan ECW has pledged $65,000 toward the sacristy in the chapel.  On April 17, an art auction will be held at All Saints' Episcopal Church in Homewood from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.  All in the diocese are invited to join in this event to benefit "the heartbeat of the diocese," as the late Rt. Rev. Furman Stough called it.  Please consider donations of artwork, jewelry, trips, tickets, handmade items, gourmet dinners, gift certificates, design work by the hour, flower-arranging, etc., as well as helping with the event itself.  This will be the first event hosted by the newly-recharged All Saints' ECW, so let's help those ladies make it a success.  Call Alleen Cater, 969-7179 or email at alleenc@bellsouth.net with questions.

CLERGY & SPOUSE CONFERENCE, Apr. 23-25

The Bishops' Annual Clergy & Clergy Spouse Conference at Camp McDowell begins with registration as early as 3 pm, and dinner at 6:15 pm, on Wednesday, April 23.  The Conference concludes with after lunch on Friday, April 25.  Child care will be available during the Conference.  Registration, lodging, meals and child-care costs are borne by the diocese through parish covenants.  

PARISH BASED OUTREACH GRANTS - 2008

The Department Of Mission and Outreach has funding available to be used for grants to help our parishes start new or expand existing outreach ministries.  Applications were mailed and are available at http://www.dioala.org/dfc/newsdetail_2/54.  All are reminded that the deadline for submission is May 1, 2008. 

CHOOSING A CURRICULUM WORKSHOP, May 10

One Size Doesn't Fit All: How to Select Curriculum for your Congregation is a free workshop to learn about different types of curricula for use with children, you and adults.  Led by Sharon Ely Pearson, Christian Formation Specialist, and sponsored by Morehouse Education Resources and Church Publishing, the event will take place Saturday, May 10, at St. John's, Montgomery.  Contact spearson@cpg.org for more information.    

CLERGY CONTINUING ED OPPORTUNITY

Creighton University's Summer Program in Christian Spirituality, Omaha, Nebraska, offers opportunities in both sabbatical opportunities, an eight day directed retreat as well as Graduate Certificate Programs in Spiritual Direction and Directed Retreats. For more info, email: csp@creighton.edu or check their website: www/creighton.edu/christianspirituality .

YOUTH PILGRIMAGE TO ALASKA, July 20-27

The Diocese of Alabama, through the Episcopal M ission Exchange, is sponsoring a Youth Pilgrimage to Alaska, July 20-27, 2008.  It is open to all 9^th-12^th grade youth in the Diocese and their Advisors.  The approximate cost, including airfare, meals and housing is $1500-$2000.  Our focus will be the care of creation and working hands on for and with the Episcopal Church in Alaska.  Interested? Contact Leslie Manning, lmanning@dioala.org, or Sarah Sartain, ssartain@dioala.org, or call Carpenter House, 205-715-2060. 

ST. FRANCIS' CHAPEL BRICK CAMPAIGN

Camp McDowell is currently in the midst of raising additional funds for the Chapel of Saint Francis (our new chapel up the hill). The Department of Camp McDowell has been granted permission by Diocesan Council to embark on a Brick Campaign that would allow our friends to donate money and have an engraved brick on the walkway or patio area of the chapel.  Each brick is $125, and further information is available from Michael Goldsmith, Director of Program and Development at Camp. You can reach Michael at work, 205-387-1806 or on his cell phone, 205-275-2969. 

STEWARDSHIP OF CREATION TIP OF THE MONTH

Eat Out In   When you go to a restaurant, try to avoid purchasing food that will be served in plastic or Styrofoam  (or polyvinyl chloride) take out containers. Patronize establishments using paper products that are easily recycled. Better yet, instead of taking your lunch back to your office so that you can work while you eat, or taking your dinner home to eat in front of the television, eat out in the restaurant, taking time to enjoy the ambiance of the setting.  Even if the place is modest, those with whom you share a meal (whether at your table or in the same building) are fascinating subjects once you take a step back and truly observe them.  Give yourself a few moments to sit and think, knowing that you are doing something very good for the earth and for your soul.  

 Stewardship of Creation Sunday, April 27.  Resources to aid your parish in the observance been mailed and are at www.dioala.org.  Resources include hymns suggestions, readings, and forms for the intercessions.

 CLERGY CONFERENCE, APRIL 23 - 25: Spouses are most welcome at the annual gathering at Camp McDowell.  Make your room reservations with Rob Morpeth either by returning your card (preferred) or by email, rmorpeth@dioala.org (if you did not receive a card).  Conference costs are covered by your parish covenants.  Child care will be available (be sure to let us know your coming with children). 

 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS: Parishes are required to offer full-time employees certain benefits including: life insurance, medical benefits, and disability insurance.  Life and disability insurance is available through Church Life by participating in a diocesan group plan.  Medical benefits for lay employees are available through the diocesan plan or parish plans.  Note that parishes may choose to offer these benefits to lay employees at the expense of the employee but the opportunity to participate must be offered.  For information contact Nanci Warner (nwarner@dioala.org) or www.dioala.org, click on the Finance & Insurance tab.

 INVOICES FOR WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE have been mailed by Independent Insurance Agents.  .  Please make payment before the summer. 

 Jared Diamond, author of the 1998 Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Guns, Germs, and Steel, will be the keynote speaker at the Alabama Environmental Education Consortium (ALEEC) Earth Day conference at Samford University Saturday, April 19.   The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) professor will speak on lessons from the environmental collapse of societies.  He wrote about this in his 2005 book, Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed.  A prolific writer who speaks 12 languages, Diamond is the recipient of numerous prizes and awards for his books and scholarship.  He has written on fields as diverse as molecular biology, linguistics, physiology, genetics, archeology and history. 

For additional information: vnbrown@samford.edu

 

 

Diocesan Calendar

April 2008

 

4/3/2008	Examining Chaplains	Carpenter House Conference Room
4/3/2008	Lliturgy & Music Meeting	Upper Room	11 AM - 1 PM
4/4/2008	Comm.on Ministry & Standing Committee	Carpenter House Conference Room
4/5/2008	Anti-Racism Training	Carpenter House Conference Room	Begin at Noon
4/6/2008	Visitation: Bishop Parsley	St. Stephen's, Huntsville	10 AM
	Bishop Sloan	Christ Church, Fairfield	10 AM
4/8/2008	ECW Board Meeting	Carpenter House Conference Room	10 AM - 2:30 PM
4/13 - 4/14	Diocesan Council Retreat	Camp McDowell	6 PM 13th - 3:30 PM 14
4/13/2008	Visitation: Bishop Miller	Epiphany, Tallassee	10:30 AM
	Bishop Sloan	Holy Apostles, Birmingham	10:30 AM
4/18/2008	Spirituality Commission	Home of Billie James	9 AM - 4 PM
4/19/2008	Recovery Ministry Meeting	Carpenter House Conference Room	10:45 AM - 11:45 AM
4/20/2008	Visitation: Bishop Parsley	St. Peter's, Talladega	10:30 AM
	Bishop Sloan	All Saints', Birmingham	8:45 AM & 11 AM
4/23-4/25	Clergy Conference	Camp McDowell	Begins 6:15 pm 4/23
4/27/2008	Visitation: Bishop Parsley	St. John's, Montgomery	10:30 AM
	Bishop Sloan	Cathedral, Birmingham	9 AM & 11 AM
4/30/2008	Visitation: Bishop Parsley	Holy Cross, Trussville	6 PM