Alabama has many sacred spaces, places that are often connected with the civil rights movement. For Episcopalians in our state, perhaps the most significant is at Hayneville in Lowndes County, where seminarian Jonathan Daniels was martyred in August of 1965. The Jonathan Daniels pilgrimage has become a fixture for many of us and a reminder that the equality for which he gave his life is a continuing sacrifice. There is something pro- foundly moving about going back to a sacred place and remembering that enables the pilgrim to resolve, to repent, and to carry on the work of building the beloved community.
We will walk from the Lowndes County court house to the jail and then to the site of the cash store where Jonathan was shot point blank and then back to the court house, where his murderer was found not guilty by an all-white jury. There we will have a Eucharist with the judge’s bench transformed into an altar and we will hear the names of all the Alabama martyrs read out. Lunch will be served, and there will be a panel discussion following the meal.
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By The Rev. Doug Carpenter
For forty-five years as an ordained person, I led between two and four services on most Sundays. I don’t remember ever not looking forward to one of those services. When I retired, I wondered what it would be like sitting in a pew.
I still look forward to each service. In fact, it seems so good that I wonder why everyone is not there every Sunday. I have thought about that, and here is how I understand it.
It has to do with whether one comes to a service as a “spectator” or as a “participant.” It has to do with whether one comes to “get something out of it” or comes to share one’s life with others and with Jesus.
During all those years that I led services, I had no choice, I was a participant and it was always something I looked forward to. What I am here to tell you is that “participating” from the pew can be as invigorating as participating from the altar or the pulpit. But being a “spectator” from the pew can be boring. It is not much of a “show” and you see about the same thing week after week. Coming only as a spectator, you can expect to be disappointed. Read more.
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Coming this fall
for our parishes:
A vision for tree planting in the diocese
There is an old adage that says the best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is right now. The Task Force for Care of Creation has a vision for tree planting in the Diocese of Alabama, and we hope you will catch our enthusiasm. We want to begin with and education phase.
Harvey Cotten, retired chief horticulturist at the Huntsville Botanical Garden, author, and national speaker on master gardening, is developing a powerpoint presentation to share in all the parishes by the fall. We hope you will take this opportunity to learn from Harvey of the many ways trees benefit us and use his tips to plant your own tree(s) this fall.
From improving our mental health to sustaining a healthy ecosystem, trees are wonder- fully made by our Creator and broadly support life on the planet. We hope you will join us in our focus on tree planting as a way to rejoice in the beauty of the Creation, to nurture our ecosystems, and to serve the common good.
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Last year the ECW was able to give all the seminarians $100 towards books to assist with their study and growth. This year I would like to challenge everyone to make this year’s CPC contribution double for each seminarian. We currently have 10 in the Diocese of Alabama. One way we could make this possible would be to include the youth of the Diocese in the gathering of annual contributions. A challenge each church could look at doing is starting the challenge of gathering a Mile of Pennies. There are 84,480 pennies in a mile. I think this would be a fun way to involve the youth and educate them on what CPC is and how is helps future seminarians. Here are the names of our current seminarians. One may attend your church and you may not have even realized it:
David Hodnett- 2023- St. Michael and All Angels, Anniston
Jordan Rippy- 2023- Christ Church, Tuscaloosa
Bridget Tytler- 2024- St. Andrew’s, Birmingham
John Kennedy- 2022- St. Mary’s on the Highlands, Birmingham
Sara Willis- 2023- Holy Trinity, Auburn
Richard Alquist- 2023- Christ Church, Tuscaloosa
Jane Major- 2023- St. Luke’s Birmingham
Kelton Riley- 2023- St. Timothy’s, Athens
Karen Price- 2023- St. Matthew’s Madison
Christopher Paul- 2024- St. Michael’s and All Angels, Millbrook
-Jennifer Douglass Alexander, CPC Diocesan Coordinator
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Full-time Clergy Job Postings in our Diocese
For more information about clergy jobs in the Diocese of Alabama please contact The Rev. Geoff Evans, Diocesan Deployment Officer.
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Part-time Clergy Job Postings in our Diocese |
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The Commission on Spirituality of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, Metagem Institute, And Contemplative Outreach Birmingham present
A Reflection Day for Advent
"Mindfulness practices for peace and presence amid a stressful world"
With Beth Cook, LPC, co-founder Alabama Institute for Mindfulness
Saturday, November 12, 2022
8:30 am: Registration opens, 9am- 1pm: Program & Holy Eucharist
Cost $20/ lunch included, in-person; $10/ Virtual
Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Birmingham
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Lay job openings in the Diocese
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