Family Promise to assist homeless in Greenville: Belk donation helps launch effort in 10 cities

From East Carolina-

That’s an element of homelessness that does not always catch the public’s eye, said the Rev. John Porter-Acee, rector of St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church.

Homelessness can be determined by asking the question, “How many people don’t know where they are going to spend the night tomorrow night?” said Porter-Acee, who is familiar with Family Promise from his involvement with the organization in another North Carolina city before he moved to Greenville two years ago.

“We have many more homeless families in the community than people realize,” Porter-Acee said. “(People) are going to be somewhere and they’re going to be somewhere indoors, but they do not have secure housing and it’s not their own and they may be on the floor or they may be on somebody’s sofa ... You go to school as a child and you don’t know ... where you’re going to be sleeping and you have to carry everything with you all the time.” 

Another reason that Belk partnered with Family Promise is that it has a record of success, Hampton said.

More here-

http://www.reflector.com/News/2019/02/18/Feb-14-1.html

‘What a miracle’

From East Carolina-

Power of prayer is an important thing, no matter when or where.

Many prayers were offered this past week for the safe return of a little boy who got lost in the woods.

By now, 3-year-old Casey Hathaway’s story is known by folks from coast to coast about the search effort that, let’s face it, was made scary because of Tuesday’s frigid temperatures and some of the monsoon rains that poured across Eastern North Carolina on Thursday. This nightmarish scenario for the family was something everyone understood when hoping for a miracle.

For two and a half days, people refused to give up hope or stop praying for the boy’s safe return.
Perhaps God heard those prayers loud and clear.

“I think the power of the prayer is incredibly important,” said Reverend Paul Canady of Christ Episcopal Church of New Bern. “My belief is that in God, hearing our prayers is a reminder to ourselves that God is at work in what is going on in both the joyous and the tragic.”

More here-

https://www.kinston.com/news/20190127/what-miracle

Presiding bishop greets area Episcopalians

From East Carolina-

The presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church offered words of hope and comfort Sunday afternoon to area Episcopalians coping with the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.

“We need each other,” Bishop Michael B. Curry told a packed crowd at St. James Episcopal Church’s Perry Hall, citing the passage from Genesis that “it is not good for a human being to be alone.” “We were made for relationships with God and each other.” For those troubled or depressed, he urged, “Do something for somebody else.”

In a lighter mood, the bishop led the crowd in a sing-along of the Bill Withers song “Lean on Me,” with the refrain, “We all need somebody to lean on.”

Curry was touring the region on pastoral visits to those engaged in hurricane recovery and relief. On Saturday, Curry was at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church in Jacksonville, and Sunday morning, he made an unpublicized stop with parishioners of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Southport.

More here-

https://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20181209/presiding-bishop-greets-area-episcopalians

Bishop Robert Skirving elected 25th Chancellor of the University

From Sewanee-

On Friday, October 12, the Board of Trustees elected the Rt. Rev. Robert Skirving (H’15) as the 25th Chancellor of the University.

Skirving serves as the Bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina, which covers the eastern third of North Carolina, where he has been bishop since 2014. Prior to that, he was the Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Midland, Michigan. Ordained to the priesthood in 1986, he served a number of parishes in Ontario before being called to St. John’s in 2005. Skirving is also originally from Ontario, making him the first Canadian Chancellor of the University.

In the wider church, Skirving has been a Deputy to General Convention and a member of the House of Deputies Committee on the State of the Church. 

More here-

https://thesewaneepurple.org/2018/10/13/bishop-robert-skirving-elected-25th-chancellor-of-the-university/

Knocked sideways by Florence, New Bern rushes to get back on its feet

From Eastern North Carolina-

All through the night as Hurricane Florence began hammering this city near the North Carolina coast, Paul Canady’s phone buzzed and beeped with messages from members of Christ Episcopal Church, where he serves as rector.

A collapsed tree leaned against a nearby house where a husband and wife live. A family huddled in their attic to escape the rising floodwaters. There was no electricity anywhere.

But by Saturday morning, the water was receding, the rain had abated and Canady’s flock appeared safe. So he drove downtown to see how the church itself had weathered the storm.Besides the daylight shining through the stained-glass windows, the building was pitch black. Canady walked to the base of the bell tower, the highest point in New Bern, and climbed two metal ladders with a small flashlight. The wooden floorboards were damp, but everything appeared intact. 

More here-

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-florence-new-bern-20180915-story.html

Exhibit to reveal history of Episcopal Church in NC

From North Carolina-

The community will have a chance to learn more about the 200-year history of the Episcopal Church in North Carolina on Sunday when an archivist from the state’s diocese visits St. John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock.

Archivist Lynn Hoke will present her Bicentennial History Exhibit in the church’s parish hall located beginning at 3 p.m. The project is part of the celebration of the bicentennial of the Episcopal Church in North Carolina.

Hoke’s presentation will focus on the results of her 10-year study of the growth of the church in North Carolina and will include 10 vinyl panels featuring some of her research.

“There are a lot of pictures, ten placards documenting from 1817 to where we are now,” said St. John's Rector, the Rev. John Morton. “It shows us better where we fit in the big picture. It ties us in and I like that.”

There are three Episcopal dioceses in the state with 243 yearround churches and 83,000 parishioners.

More here-

http://www.blueridgenow.com/news/20170225/exhibit-to-reveal-history-of-episcopal-church-in-nc

Refugee ministry won't welcome as many this year

From North Carolina-

President Donald Trump’s executive order to reduce the number of refugees to be admitted to the United States is affecting refugees from all over the world, according to the executive director of an area refugee organization.

Susan Husson, executive director of Interfaith Refugee Ministry Inc., an affiliate of the Episcopal Migration Ministries, spoke Thursday evening at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church about refugees coming to the United States and the work that her organization does to help them.

While many focus on Trump’s order about refugees from Iraq, Syria, Iran, Sudan, Libya, Somalia and Yemen, he also reduced the number of refugees from all over the world who will be allowed to come to the United States during the current fiscal year, which runs from Oct. 1, 2016, to Sept. 30, 2017.
Trump reduced the number from 110,000 people per year, which was President Barack Obama’s ceiling, down to 50,000.

There already are 36,000 refugees here this year, so there will only be 14,000 more allowed into the country by Sept. 30, Husson said.

More here-

http://www.reflector.com/News/2017/02/25/Refugee-ministry-won-t-welcome-as-many-this-year.html

State NAACP chief attacks Trump in King sermon in Wilmington

From North Carolina-

The president of the North Carolina NAACP delivered a long-distance sermon of defiance Saturday evening at Wilmington's annual interfaith service for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

"Bowing down is not an option,' the Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II told a packed audience at St. James Episcopal Church, criticizing President-elect Donald J. Trump and many of his Cabinet appointees.

Barber, who could not reach Wilmington, delivered his remarks by telephone, played over loudspeakers in the sanctuary. He still drew applause and "Amens" from the crowd, however, for such assertions as "We're still going to be a witness for justice, we're still going to be a witness for love."

More here-

http://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20170114/state-naacp-chief-attacks-trump-in-king--sermon-in-wilmington

Historic church begins new life

From East Carolina-

A small, historical church in Bertie county held its first regular service in nearly 25 years last week as it began a new life under a special designation of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Roxobel, which traces its roots to 1883, held evening prayer service Saturday attended by 26 people. The event officially began the church's designation as a mission by the East Carolina diocese.

"As a mission, we plan to do things differently and try to reach the community at different times and with different events," said St. Mark Senior Warden Johnna Browne Lewis. "Our services will be held on Saturday evenings, and we welcome everyone."

Restoring the church was a family affair with Lewis working directly with her brother, Joseph M. Browne III, who is Canon for Diocesan Life in the diocese.

More here-

http://www.reflector.com/News/2016/11/25/Historic-church-begins-new-life.html

Fayetteville's St. Joseph's Episcopal Church damaged by fire

From North Carolina-

Carol Graham cried as she watched the St. Joseph's Episcopal Church burn Tuesday evening.

The church, on the corner of Ramsey and Moore streets, caught fire just before 7 p.m.

The building will have some water and smoke damage, but the fire was contained to the back part of the building, farthest from Ramsey Street.

"It could have been a lot worse," Richard Bradshaw, assistant fire chief, said. "I was worried when we first got here, but I'm feeling better now."

As firefighters worked, members of the congregation, church officials and concerned residents watched.

More here-

http://www.fayobserver.com/news/crime_courts/fayetteville-s-st-joseph-s-episcopal-church-damaged-by-fire/article_67f26545-24f7-5f8b-8c2a-e95419d6afb3.html

Local clergy, parishioners preparing for new Bishop

From Jacksonville-

The Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina will consecrate its new bishop this weekend in Greenville.

Rev. Robert Skirving was elected to lead the diocese at a special meeting of priests and lay leaders in New Bern this spring. Skirving has been a minister for the past 28 years and has served in churches in Michigan and Ontario, Canada. The vote ended a year-long search for the diocese’s eighth bishop after Bishop Clifton Daniel resigned after 15 years to serve as Bishop provisional of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

Provisional Bishop Peter Lee has served in the interim.

More here-

http://www.jdnews.com/news/local/local-clergy-parishioners-preparing-for-new-bishop-1.397708

Skirving to be ordained bishop of the Episcopal diocese of East Carolina

From East Carolina-

The Most. Rev. Robert Skirving will be ordained and consecrated Nov. 8 as the eighth bishop of the Episcopal diocese of East Carolina.

The diocese includes 68 parishes in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and other counties stretching from Virginia to South Carolina.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop and primate of the Episcopal Church in the United States, will preside at the ceremony, which will begin at 11 a.m. at the Rock Springs Center in Greenville. All people of God are invited to attend.

More here-

http://www.jdnews.com/features/neighbors/skirving-to-be-ordained-bishop-of-the-episcopal-diocese-of-east-carolina-1.372484

East Carolina diocese elects Robert Skirving as bishop

From ENS-

The Rev. Robert Skirving, rector of St. John’s Church in Midland, Missouri, was elected as the 8th bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina on May 17, pending the required consents from a majority of bishops with jurisdiction and standing committees of the Episcopal Church.

Skirving was elected on the third ballot, receiving 48 of the 70 clergy votes and 97 of the 165 lay votes. Thirty-six clergy votes and 84 lay votes were needed for an election. The first ballot was invalidated due to a procedural error.

The election was held during a reconvened session of the 131st Convention held at Christ Church, New Bern, North Carolina.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/05/19/east-carolina-diocese-elects-robert-skirving-as-bishop/

How N.C.'s next Episcopal bishop will be chosen

From East Carolina-

In the last few weeks, a group of four men and one woman wearing white clerical collars have been on a spiritual road trip of sorts, meeting hundreds of people in Southeastern North Carolina.

With each person they met, the questions followed them – is he (or she) the one?

The four are candidates to be the eighth bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina. They are: the Rev. Mimi Lacy, rector of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church in Greenville and the only candidate from the diocese; the Rev. David Pfaff, Canon to the Ordinary for the Bishop of Milwaukee; the Rev. Robert Skirving, rector of St. John's Episcopal Church in Midland, Mich.; and the Rev. Stephen Smith, rector of St. Patrick's Episcopal Church in Dublin, Ohio.

The diocesan Special Convention to elect the next bishop will be Saturday, May 17, at Christ Episcopal Church in New Bern. You can watch the election results live at http://www.ecdio.org/election.html.

More here-

http://www.starnewsonline.com/article/20140516/ARTICLES/140519719/1177?Title=How-N-C-s-next-Episcopal-bishop-will-be-chosen

East Carolina diocese announces 4 nominees for bishop

From ENS-

 The Standing Committee of the Diocese of East Carolina announced its slate of nominees for election as bishop. The announcement was made as the final piece of business during the 131st Convention of the diocese on Feb. 8, meeting in New Bern, North Carolina.

The nominees are:

The Rev. Mary Cecilia (Mimi) Lacy, rector, St. Timothy’s Church, Greenville, North Carolina;

The Rev. Canon David Pfaff, Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, Wisconsin;

The Rev. Robert Skirving, rector, St. John’s Church, Midland, Michigan; and

The Rev. Stephen Smith, rector, St. Patrick’s Church, Dublin, Ohio.

More information about each of the nominees is available here.

A petition process for submitting additional names opened on Feb. 8 and will close on Feb. 22. Complete information about the petition process and the petition form are available on the website as well.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2014/02/10/east-carolina-diocese-announces-4-nominees-for-bishop/

St. Pauls in the Pines congregation to remember first female Episcopal priest

From East Carolina-

Lucy Talbott said she was called to Fayetteville to heal hearts.

But if a few prejudices were broken along the way, so much the better.

So, when the friends and former congregation of Talbott gather Jan. 18 for a memorial service, they'll share stories of their rector as a friend and comforter, rather than a ground-breaker.

"She was our rector," said Jo Anne Lowder, a member of
St. Pauls in the Pines Episcopal Church for nearly 50 years. "But she was also a friend.

"She changed many things during her time here. But above all, she touched people's hearts."
Talbott, the first female Episcopal priest in eastern North Carolina, served as rector of St. Pauls from 1983 until health problems forced her to retire in 2001. She died Oct. 26 in a care facility in New Orleans.

When Talbott was announced as St. Pauls priest, there were murmurings outside the church.
"People were saying, 'Whoa! A woman priest!'" said Pam Frawley. Another longtime church member, Frawley said anyone who doubted Talbott's ability to lead a congregation was soon set at ease.

More here-

http://www.fayobserver.com/living/faith/article_95bb7afa-e988-525b-a9c6-bb1d698f24e6.html

Christ Church reboots

From East Carolina-

I was thinking of all the reboots we’ve had in the movie industry of late — Star Trek, Spiderman, Batman and Superman, for instance. Naturally this led me to thoughts of Christ Church in downtown New Bern.

We have quite a history of churches in this town. Our oldest house of worship, First Presbyterian, goes back to 1818; our oldest parish (Christ Church) goes back to 1715; and our colorful, if slightly self-obsessed founder, Baron Christoph deGraffenreid, described totem poles in the Indian village, which we can assume was church, even though they didn’t have bulletins, coffee or family-mandated pews.

Old things, of course, get reboots. Revivals, if you will — major changes in direction. In the movies, it can be because the last time a movie was done, it was done badly; or possibly it was done well, but now the times have just really changed and the old version is…well…dated.

Let’s talk about Christ Church’s reboots. Most were brought about for physical reasons (the congregation is on its third building); a couple were from societal causes.

Christ Church started its days Anglican, as one of a handful of parishes in the No Man’s Land of North Carolina in 1715. No Man’s Land? We wouldn’t even officially become North Carolina for another 15 years — we were just a little-known collection of forests and swamps overseen by a Charleston autocrat.

More here-

http://www.newbernsj.com/news/local-columns/bill-hand-christ-church-reboots-1.145619

Peter Lee nominated as bishop provisional for East Carolina

From ENS-

The Rt. Rev. Peter James Lee has been nominated to serve as bishop provisional for the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina, according to an announcement from the diocese.

A formal election will be held March 9 when the 130th diocesan convention will convene at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, Greenville, North Carolina.

Bishops provisional are elected for an interim period until a diocesan bishop is chosen. Lee’s tenure as provisional bishop is expected to begin in early April and last approximately two years.

The Rt. Rev. Clifton Daniel served as bishop of the East Carolina diocese for 15 years. He resigned on Feb. 28 to become bishop provisional of the Diocese of Pennsylvania.

More here-

http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2013/03/04/peter-lee-nominated-as-bishop-provisional-for-east-carolina/