Camp Beckwith Stands as a Testament to a Relationship Built on Trust

By Jamie Sawyer, writer for Poarch Band of Creek Indians

As our nation was crawling out of the depths of the Great Depression, a relationship formed between the Episcopal Church and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians. In 1930, the bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama began a mission to the Tribe, bringing medical care, education and religion. The mission progressed slowly until the Episcopal missionaries formed a relationship with Chief Fred Walker. Within a couple of years, they had worked together to build St. John of the Wilderness and St. Anna’s churches as well as the Consolidated Indian School. 

During the same period, the Diocese had been gifted 40 acres of land along the banks of Weeks Bay by the Beckwith family. Thirty years earlier, Bishop Charles Beckwith had purchased the land from Rev. Howard Walker, an Episcopal missionary priest. He built a cabin on the land and it became his personal retreat for more than twenty years. Six months before his death in 1928, the cabin burned to the ground. The land that his widow gifted to the church had long been contested by squatters. 

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What is an End of Life Doula?

Submitted by Sue Rollins

Doulas are the bookends of life. Just as a Birth Doula is there at the beginning, an End of Life Doula is there for the end. An End of Life Doula is there to support a person, and those important to them, in the last weeks or months before the end of a person’s life. The goal is for the last months or weeks or days to be compassionate, calm, natural, and as normal as can be. Support is provided for those with terminal diagnosis, the elderly, and those living with dementia too. We work in the person’s home as well as hospices, hospitals, and care homes. An End of Life Doula fills a non-medical role to preserve the quality of well-being, sense of identity, and self-worth. We are sensitive to practical, emotional, and spiritual needs. We are a consistent and compassionate presence with knowledge, experience, and understanding. This supports those that we are alongside to exercise choice about where and how they are cared for. We facilitate an end of life that is as peaceful, graceful, meaningful, and dignified as it can be. 

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The Changing Environment, Earth Care, and Faith

Submitted by the Rev. Bob Donnell

Where do faith and caring for the Earth intersect? I think they are inseparable. Our faith in the Creator God—and as Christians in the Christ Jesus—provides us with love of our neighbors who suffer from our changing environment, hope in the face of despair, and can energize us into action to address the challenges of the changing climate. This article by Sydney Cromwell, “Faith for the Future,” in the Southern Science journal addresses the challenges we now face with the climate-related changes on our home Earth, and stresses the importance of our faith in confronting them. It cites the work of environmentalist Stephen Guesman and his program WERiSE (Weatherize Every Residence in the Southeast). Guesman does workshops that train people how to weatherize their homes and churches, turning them into more energy efficient buildings, and saving money on power bills in the process. Gulf Coast Creation Care hosted Stephen twice last year at All Saints’ church in Mobile. 

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Mission Team Returns to Dominican Republic

Submitted by Geary Gaston

A team of missioners from throughout our diocese will return to the Dominican Republic from February 29 through March 10 this year. Except for taking a couple of years off due to COVID-19, the diocese has been sending a construction team to the DR for the past 18 years. On these trips, the team builds furniture for Dominican Episcopal churches.

This mission ministry began in 2006 when Bishop Duncan traveled to the DR with three members of the Commission on Global Mission Engagement (back then it was named Commission on World Mission) to explore mission possibilities. Our objective was to find out if the Episcopal diocese there had a need that we could fill. It was learned that the Episcopal Church there was growing and that, with the help of donations from the States, new churches were being built and old churches that had fallen into disrepair were being renovated and brought back into service. All of these churches needed furniture for use in their worship.

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Spiritual Direction Program Invitation for 2024

Submitted by Joseph Taylor

The world needs more people who are willing to offer spiritual accompaniment for the benefit of others. Please consider if you, or someone you know, is ready and willing to be formed as a Spiritual Director/Spiritual Companion and serve a great need of our time.

Metagem Institute: Spiritual Direction Certification Program

Applications are due February 28

Those who have experienced the transformational power of soul-caring conversations are invited to apply.

Spiritual Direction is a spiritual practice involving intentional conversations to cultivate greater depths of relationship with the Divine, other people, all of creation, and the Self. Learn how to accompany others along their sacred pathway and—in the process—discover the depths of your transformed life in Christ.

This two-year program includes six required intensives, five of which are in person and one on Zoom.

For detailed information about the program or to request an application, visit the program webpage. Click here for an informational video about the program.

Episcopal Relief & Development Lenten Meditations

Episcopal Relief & Development's Lenten Meditations are now available online. Visit their website to sign-up to receive their daily messages throughout the season of Lent. This year's reflections were written by Miguel Escobar, an Episcopal Relief & Development Board member and the Director of Strategy & Operations at the Episcopal Divinity School in New York City.

53rd Annual Diocesan Convention

Friday, February 23, to Saturday, February 24, 2024

St. Paul's, 28788 N Main St, Daphne, AL

Come, "Be Transformed," during the 53rd Annual Diocesan Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast to be held February 23-24, 2024, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Daphne, Alabama. Whether you come as a delegate or as a visitor, make your plans now to attend this yearly event centered around our collective life as Episcopalians along with diocesan business and elections.

Registration and up-to-date information is available on our website at www.diocgc.org/2024-diocesan-convention.

Men's Conference: "Rekindling the Gift of God Within"

Friday, March 1, to Sunday, March 3, 2024

Beckwith, 10400 Beckwith Ln, Fairhope, AL

All men in the diocese are invited to this annual weekend retreat of fellowship and formation. The guest speaker will be the Rt. Rev. Gary Lillibridge, retired bishop of West Texas.

Cost varies. Room and commuter rates available.

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

Cursillo #170

Thursday, March 7- Sunday, March 10

Beckwith, 10400 Beckwith Ln, Fairhope, AL

Cursillo (“Cur see yo”) is a three-day weekend that introduces people to simple methods for nurturing and growing their relationships with Christ. It provides an experience of living in a Christian community centered in worship, prayer, study of scripture, and interaction with other Christians. Its mission is to build up our parish churches by encouraging and empowering its members to prepare for doing the work of the church- the spreading of the Gospel.

Cursillo is now accepting applications for Cursillo #170. Please consult with your clergy before submitting this online application.

Worship in the Woods

Sunday, April 21, 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. CT

Saloom Properties, 2835 Bookers Mill Rd, Evergreen, AL

Worship in the Woods is a diocesan-wide gathering hosted by the churches of Convocation IV. We will celebrate God's creation with a special Stations of the Resurrection, followed by Eucharist and fun fellowship. [Click here to see photos from last year's event]

Bring your own picnic lunch and lawn chair or blanket. Wear closed-toe shoes and sunscreen. Bring your water bottles; water provided.

RSVP HERE | DOWNLOAD FLYER

Episcopal Church Lent Resources

Click here for new and updated resources for individuals, small groups, and congregations, including the following:

• Lent curriculum, sermons, lesson plans, devotionals, and meditations
• Lent Madness
• “Life Transformed: The Way of Love in Lent” – adult forum sessions with videos
• “Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community” podcast series
• Sermons That Work for Holy Week and Easter
• 40-day gratitude challenge via text
• Publicity material, bulletin inserts, and more