“We have to be braver than we think we can be, because God is constantly calling us to be more than we are.” Madeleine L’Engle | |
FROM SCRATCH: Beginner workshops
February 23 - 25, 2024
The Alabama Folk School's "From Scratch" weekend is a workshop series designed for true beginners. If you’re interested in learning a new instrument or craft, this is the weekend for you! This year’s offerings include classes with expert musicians, artists, and the return of beginner ceramics. With more than 1,140 acres of forest consisting of breathtaking canyons, waterfalls, miles of hiking trails, and glistening streams, there’s plenty of exploring Camp McDowell to do during your free time. Take a hike, go canoeing, or pick a porch and rocking chair to relax.
Register here
Questions? Contact AFS Registrar Jordan Hughes.
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Invitational Singing Leadership Workshop
February 3-4, Birmingham
Paperless singing is an ancient practice that has enabled music to be passed down for generations, without the need for hymnals or bulletins. Today, it is used to encourage faith communities to engage with one another, to spark joy and meditation, and to help people co-create something beautiful.
In this workshop, we will learn practices of effectively leading paperless singing in community. We will also share and learn songs that work well in small congregations, or in settings like house eucharists, feeding ministries and retreats. You do not have to be a paid church musician to attend! We believe that paperless singing can also encourage a community to grow deeper spiritually, in their capacity to invite and connect, and in lay leadership.
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Nomination for Diocesan Office
Those wishing to participate in the life and governance of the Diocese of Alabama are welcome to nominate themselves or someone else to serve on a diocesan body. This year, nominations will be taken for the Standing Committee, Diocesan Council, and the Disciplinary Board.
Please use this form to pre-file nominations for available diocesan offices. Nominations will also be taken from the floor at Diocesan Convention. Self-nominations are welcome. If nominating someone else, please ensure that you have spoken to this person and that this person is willing to accept the nomination. If you wish to have a printed nomination form that you may complete and return by mail, please contact Elizabeth Blake at Carpenter House at 205-358-9224.
Pre-filed nominations will close at 5:00 PM CT on Friday, February 2, 2024. The 193rd Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama will be held in Montgomery, Alabama, on Feb. 8-10, 2024.
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Resolution Submission for Diocesan Convention
Those wishing to submit a resolution to be presented at Convention may do so by submitting the resolution, in proper format, to diocesanconvention@dioala.org. The deadline for submissions is January 12th.
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Did you know that the Diocese of Alabama has a Youth Department? The Youth Department (YD) consists of twelve high school youth chosen by their peers at our annual EYC Convention to represent the Episcopal Youth Community in the Diocese of Alabama. This year, Youth Department elections will take place at the EYC Convention Lockin! The event will be held at St. John’s in Montgomery and we will be able to attend part of Diocesan Convention as part of the weekend as well as visit the Legacy Museum. To register for the event, click HERE. For more information about the Youth Department click HERE.
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Founders Place Respite Volunteer Training
Wednesday, January 24 • 9:00am - Noon
St. Luke's Episcopal Church
3736 Montrose Road • Birmingham, AL 35213
Do you want your volunteer time to MAKE A DIFFERENCE in 2024? As any current Founders Place Volunteer will tell you, this DIRECT MINISTRY fills you with a sense of PURPOSE, MEANING & CONNECTION. This is a DIRECT MINISTRY of neighbor helping neighbor. Sign up to learn more (even if you are not going to volunteer – this is a very useful training to be a better friend or family member to someone with memory challenges due to Alzheimer’s or another type of dementia). Come see what the buzz is all about – catch the Founders Place spirit! Send an email to foundersplace@saint-lukes.com, call (205) 802-6218 or click the link below to sign up for training.
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The Reformation Anglicanism Lecture
February 5, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Samford University’s Hodges Chapel
Each year, this event will include an evening lecture by an internationally recognized scholar exploring the relationship between the history, theology, worship and pastoral significance of the English Reformation and the broader tradition of Anglican Christianity. The lecturer for 2024 is Professor Simeon Zahl, who is Professor of Christian Theology at the University of Cambridge and a Fellow of Jesus College, Cambridge. Zahl’s recent research has focused on the doctrine of the Holy Spirit, the place of experience and emotion in Christian religious life, and the theological legacy of the Protestant Reformation, culminating in the publication of "The Holy Spirit and Christian Experience." He is working on a new book on the theology of sin and its contemporary relevance. Professor Zahl will speak on “The Book of Common Prayer: Thomas Cranmer’s Technology of the Heart.” The lecture will be followed by a reception for all in attendance. The lecture begins at 5 p.m. and the reception will end by 7 p.m.
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Radical Wholeness Weekend Workshop in Birmingham!
February 9 - 10, 2024, (Friday & Saturday) 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
At Trinity Commons
St. Andrew’s is very fortunate to be helping host this workshop by the world renowned author and teacher, Philip Shepherd. The gift of embodiment brings ease, freedom, and security to our lives. But we live in a culture that deems the body to be without intelligence and trains us to live in our heads. We come to accept an anxious, contracted, harried state of being as normal.
This internationally acclaimed workshop helps you gently recognize within yourself the learned patterns that hold you in a divided state, and shows you how to soften beyond them. By coming home to your body, you come home to your life with a renewed sense of grounded spaciousness. And you will carry with you new practices and skills to last a lifetime.
- Early bird pricing ends December 31, 2023!
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For a fuller description of the workshop, please click here
- Workshop is taught by Philip Shepherd and runs from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm each day
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For info on what to prepare for the workshop, please visit Shepherd’s website (https://embodiedpresent.com/)
- Some concessions available
- Please note meals and accommodation are not included
Contact Barbara Sloan or Roger Conville for more information!
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ONE DIOCESE ONE BOOK - A Diocesan-wide Lenten Study
The purpose of the Lenten study is twofold:
- to offer individuals and parishes a reflective journey to increase awareness of the need for racial healing in ourselves, our churches, communities, and country; and,
- to encourage conversation within churches and throughout the Diocese about our shared stories of race and faith and offer practical ways to seek racial healing and justice.
The Book: THE NIGHT IS LONG BUT LIGHT COMES IN THE MORNING, by Dr. Catherine Meeks, executive director of the Absalom Jones Center in Atlanta, (centerforracialhealing.org)
When: Ash Wednesday (February 14) – Holy Week Wednesday (March 27)
How to participate:
- In your local church – contact your priest or education director for group discussion opportunities
- Diocesan discussion groups on Zoom
- Individual study
To Register: https://forms.office.com/r/DDgK9KGKGA
For More Information
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Contact Breanna Mitchell, Missioner for Racial Healing and Pilgrimage, bmitchell@dioala.org, (205) 358-9230.
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“What Does Contemplative Spirituality Offer the 21st Century?”
Father Adam Bucko, Presenter
Saturday, March 16, 2024
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Birmingham, AL
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
This is a conference with Father Adam Bucko sponsored by Contemplative Outreach Birmingham, the Commission on Spirtuality of the Episcopal Diocese of Alabama, and Metagem Institute.
Father Bucko is on the staff of the Episcopal Cathedral of the Incarnation, Garden City, New York, serving as a developer and director of the Center for Spiritual Imagination of the Cathedral where he is a member of “The Community of the Incarnation,” ‘a new monastic’ community dedicated to democratizing the gifts of monastic spirituality and teaching contemplative spirituality, in the context of hearing and responding to the cry of the poor and the cry of the earth.
Follow for information for this event and for registration
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WORK CREW NEEDED at CAMP McDOWELL
Camp McDowell is hosting 2 work weekends in 2024:
May 3-5 and November 8-10.
Come solo or bring the whole family! There will be no charge for lodging and meals for volunteers. We will have options to come earlier in the week if desired.
We are looking for all levels of skill and talents! Please give us more details in the sign-up form.
Our needs range from trail maintenance, construction, running machinery, landscaping, building repair, space clean out and organization, roadside clean up, and more!
Click HERE to sign up now. If you sign up before February 29th, you will receive a free Camp t-shirt.
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CLERGY NEWS AND JOB OPENINGS | |
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Celebration of New Ministry
You are cordially invited
to the Celebration of New Ministry for
The Reverend Peter A. Helman
Rector of St. Andrew’s, Birmingham
Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
Clergy: Red stoles Reception to follow
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Part-time Clergy Job Positions in our Diocese
For more information about clergy jobs in our diocese contact
Rev. Cn. Geoff Evans.
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Lay Job Openings in our Diocese | |
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