Episcopal Diocese of Western North Carolina | | |
View the weekly checklist of important upcoming dates and deadlines for clergy, wardens, and staff. | |
The Patricia Minkler Howell Grant Committee is pleased to announce the recipients for the 2024–25 grant cycle. These grants encourage creative, community-based outreach programs for children and youth. This year's beneficiaries include:
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Camp Henry: $10,000 for Bilingual Camp scholarships.
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The Cathedral of All Souls: $1,200 for a Youth Acolyte Festival.
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Children & Family Resource Center: $6,300 for the Full Tum, Dry Bum program.
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Diocese of WNC Youth: $3,000 for a pilot children's curriculum program.
- Food Connection: $7,000 for Mobile Meals for Kids.
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Grace in the Mountains: $5,000 for the Children in the Garden program.
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Lake Logan Conference Center - Outdoor School: $7,500 for staff support.
We are grateful for the support from George Howell and the Patricia Minkler Howell family.
READ MORE
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"Through the Red Door" tells the story of The Church of the Advocate, a diocesan homeless ministry housed in the undercroft of Trinity Church, Asheville. Since 1997, this ministry has stood in solidarity with Asheville's materially poor, creating relationships across boundaries. Author, The Rev. Dr. Dena Bearl Whalen, a priest in the Episcopal Church for 31 years, brings her extensive experience in parish churches, Episcopal schools, urban cathedrals, and diocesan leadership to this inspiring narrative. The Rev. Dr. R. Scott White, Rector of Trinity Church, praises the book as a gripping narrative of faith, dedication, and community.
"Through the Red Door" is available now.
Discover the heartwarming and challenging stories of faith, passion, and community within its pages.
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A new trail leading to Crab Orchard Falls at the Valle Crucis Conference Center is now open. The new trail provides a gentler slope up the mountain, as well as more sustainable surfacing and more opportunities for native plants to flourish near the trail. The old boardwalk to the falls has also been replaced with beautiful stone steps. Hikers can choose an up-and-back path on the new trail, or use the old trail to return to the main campus, for a total loop of 1.3 miles and an elevation gain of 324 feet.
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Resources for the Conflict in the Holy Land
The Office of Government Relations in The Episcopal Church has released a webpage of resources to follow the conflict in Gaza, Palestine, and Israel. The page includes ways to take action to support the citizens affected by the conflict, statements from leaders, partner resources, prayers, social media, and a list of press releases. The page is being updated as the situation develops.
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To submit an event, please review the submission guidelines and email Sinclaire event details and a photo for consideration. This space is reserved for diocesan, parish, and conference center events. | |
American Music on Tap
Tenor Tyler Young and Tyler Dellaperute, pianist, perform solo piano and vocal works by American composers at St. Mary's next free summer concert, with works by Amy Beach, Cole Porter, George Gershwin, Scott Joplin, Fats Waller, and others.
Sunday, July 7 | 3 p.m. | St. Mary of the Hills, Blowing Rock
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Communication Conversations: Website Optimization
Join Diocesan Missioner for Communication, Sinclaire Sparkman, for a conversation about keeping your church website looking its best. Elevate your communication strategy by hearing from others and discussing how we get the word out in our context. Come to share or listen. Find the Zoom link on our event page.
Thursday, July 11 | 2 p.m. | Zoom
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Women's Ordination Celebration
The Episcopal Church Women of Western North Carolina is partnering with the Cathedral of All Souls to bring a special celebration for the 50th anniversary of women's ordination along with a screening of The Philadelphia Eleven.
July 19: Screening of The Philadelphia Eleven at 6:30 p.m. with the Rev. Dn. Kelsey Davis talking about the film.
July 20: Eucharist at 11 a.m. Celebrating 50 Years of Women's Ordination in the Episcopal Church with the Rev. Carter Heyward. Lunch and reception to follow.
Please RSVP for the Saturday lunch event by July 10 to Diane Mance at mancediane40@bellsouth.net or by calling 828-275-2972.
July 19 & 20 | The Cathedral of All Souls, Asheville
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Songs of Love and Liberation & French Class
Join the community of Good Shepherd, Tryon for a Pre-Bastile Day concert on July 13 to benefit the church scholarship committee, which is currently supporting a student at USC-S for four years, as well as two students at Camp Henry this summer.
On July 27, a companion French class and cooking demo will celebrate the culinary and musical arts. Reserve a ticket by calling 828-329-2217.
Concert: Saturday, July 13 | 3:30 p.m.
Class: Saturday, July 27 | 11:30 a.m.
Good Shepherd, Tryon
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The 2nd Annual Pirate 5K Run/Walk
Join St. Luke's and the community of Lincolnton for the second annual Pirate 5K. Learn the history of the fabled pirate who may or may not have been laid to rest in the graveyard at St. Luke's under the name Jean Lafitte. Pirate costumes are welcome.
Saturday, Aug. 17 | 7:30 a.m. | St. Luke's, Lincolnton
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Please join us in giving thanks for 28th Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe and his family. Rowe will begin in his role as the face and voice of the Episcopal Church on Nov. 1. In addition to your weekly prayers for Bishop José and our current Presiding Bishop, Michale Curry, Bishop José asks that all congregations add our Presiding Bishop-elect to the prayers of the people.
Read the bishop's letter
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We're in the process of updating our church contact list and would love to stay in touch with you about important diocesan events. Please fill out the linked form with your parish information so we can keep you informed and connected.
Fill out the form
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Bishops, deputies, and all who made the 81st General Convention happen headed home Friday after a busy week. While in Louisville, the convention elected the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe to be its the 28th presiding bishop, reelected Julia Ayala Harris as House of Deputies president, elected the Rev. Steve Pankey as deputies’ vice president, passed a $143 million budget for the next triennium, approved a constitutional change to clearly define the Book of Common Prayer, reexamined its clergy disciplinary canons while agreeing to consider how lay leaders might be disciplined for wrongdoing, and supported changes in the structures of seven of its dioceses.
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Bishop Sean Rowe, elected Wednesday (June 26) to be the Episcopal Church’s next presiding bishop, has decided to be installed in New York in a reduced version of the traditionally elaborate ceremony for the denomination’s transition of power.
In an announcement issued Friday (June 28), Rowe said his Nov. 2 installation will take place in the chapel of the church’s headquarters on Second Avenue in Manhattan instead of under the gothic arches of the Washington National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.
“With gratitude to all involved, I have decided to begin this ministry in a new way,” Rowe said in his announcement. “With a simple service at the Church Center that will include everyone via livestream, we can care for God’s creation by reducing our collective carbon footprint.”
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