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Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast

January 25, 2023

Join us for the 52nd Annual Diocesan Convention to be held March 3 and 4, at the University of West Florida Conference Center, hosted by Holy Trinity Pensacola, St. Cyprian's Pensacola, and St. Monica's Cantonment.

Becca Stevens, founder and president of Thistle Farms, will be our keynote speaker. All are welcome to attend, registration is needed. Churches may register their clergy and lay delegates through January 31. All other attendees (non-delegate clergy and all other lay attendees) may register through February 15. Fees vary.

Hotels are filling up fast. There is a college basketball tournament in town the same weekend, so be sure to make your reservations as soon as possible if you need accommodations.

Clergy and lay delegates may make nominations for Standing Committee members (3yr term) and General Convention deputies (for GC81 in 2024) by January 31, by using the appropriate forms below.

Attention clergy and lay delegates: The Pre-Convention Meeting will be held on Zoom on February 5, at 4 pm CT. A link to join will be emailed to all delegates prior to the meeting.

Good Book Club: Ruth & Esther

During the season of Epiphany, the people who have published the Good Book Club are once again offering a seasonal study of books from the Bible. This year, the publishers of the Good Book Club have created a detailed study guide and commentary to the reading outline that we have found to be comprehensive and enlightening. In lieu of our normal video series for the Good Book Club, we are strongly encouraging and supporting their offering as one that would be fruitful in your congregation. 

All the resources you will need to participate are available at www.goodbookclub.org. 

In Case You Missed It

• January 11 edition of Coastline READ

Bishop Russell had a wonderful and fun filled visit with the congregation from Church of the Nativity in Dothan! Pictured above are the confirmands and below Bishop Russell is pictured with guest crozier carrier, Lucy. More photos are available on Nativity's Facebook page.

Photo credit: Josh Hicks

On Thursday, January 12, both the active and retired clergy of Convocation V of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, along with their spouses and surviving spouses, were invited for luncheon at the St. Andrew Bay Yacht Club in Panama City as the guests of Bishop Russell who graciously hosted a most enjoyable afternoon.

Members of Church of the Advent participated in the annual Lillian Christmas Parade. This is always a big event with other participants including marching band, antique cars and tractors, a boat on top of decorated for Christmas sitting on a trailer, motorcycles, golf carts, a fire truck, and a horse. Church members tossed out bags of candy which included cards with the church name, address and service times.

Priesthood Ordination - Amanda Dosher

Sunday, January 29, at 4:30pm CT

St. James Episcopal Church - 860 N Section St, Fairhope AL

All are welcome to attend as Bishop Russell ordains Amanda Dosher into the Sacred Order of Priests.

The service will be livestreamed on St. James' website and Facebook page.

Happening #60 Registration Open

March 17-19 at Beckwith

Encourage teenagers in your congregation to attend!

Teenagers in grades 9, 10, 11 and 12 are invited to a weekend Christian experience presented by their peers. It's a weekend filled with so much love and laughter and sometimes tears and healing. Happening is a safe space to nurture and grow in relationship with Christ. Come be transformed!

Youth who have already attended a previous Happening are encouraged to serve on the youth staff.

DETAILS AND REGISTRATION

Evangelism Brainstorm Sessions

First Wednesday of each month on Zoom

Two session times are available: Noon and 6pm

Join the Rev. Lydia Knizley Johnson, Missioner for Development and Evangelism, on Zoom for an hour of ideas for engaging and serving our neighbors during the season of Thanksgiving through Christmas, then on to Epiphany, Lent and Easter. If you have evangelism ideas you would like to share, please join the session or contact Lydia at lydia@diocgc.org. 

Register in advance for these gatherings by using the links below.

For lunchtime gatherings (12pm CT), register here: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEsf-6pqz0tGNJdo91XisMEEwQJbQBMNnbh 

For evening gatherings (6pm CT), register here:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0lcOiorDgtHNT8-8S0SN6M4-c-_h3i4T5d 

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

January 28: Taste of St. Peter's; St. Peter's, Bon Secour

February 2: Sages, Saints, & Seers; Mobile Christian-Jewish Dialogue

February 5: Black History Month Celebration; Christ Church Cathedral, Mobile

February 11: The Market on Blue Angel Parkway; Holy Trinity, Pensacola

Events beyond six weeks out can be found at www.diocgc.org/church-and-community-events

No job posts at this time.

Save-the-date

‘It’s All About Love: A Festival for the Jesus Movement’ 

with Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

July 9-12, Baltimore, Maryland

Mark your calendar to join us for this churchwide festival of worship, learning, community, and action for the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement. Join in person or host a virtual satellite event in your community. Watch for more details coming soon.

January 29

Holy Spirit, Gulf Shores

Priesthood Ordination; St. James, Fairhope

February 5

St. Francis, Dauphin Island

Pre-Convention Meeting; Zoom

Printable versions of the prayer cycles are available at www.diocgc.org/cycle-of-prayer.

Please be sure to direct any mail for the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast to our post office address: PO Box 13330, Pensacola, FL 32591-3330.

Coastline is a publication of the Episcopal Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast, published on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month.

Update your email preferences by clicking on the "Update Profile" link below.

SUBMIT AN ARTICLE - due the Friday prior to publication date.

SUBMIT AN EVENT - posted on our website as received.

Direct inquiries to communications@diocgc.org.