The Alabama EPISCOPALIAN 4HE %PISCOPAL $IOCESE of !LABAMA S 3EPTEMBER /CTOBER S 6O L .O
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The Alabama EPISCOPALIAN 4HE %PISCOPAL $IOCESE OF !LABAMA s 3EPTEMBER /CTOBER s 6O L .O Hands-On Learning at Camp McDowell Environmental Center “Remembrance, Repentance, and Reconciliation”— The 13th Annual Jonathan Daniels Pilgrimage ÓÊUÊ/ iÊ>L>>Ê «ÃV«>> ÀÕ`Ê"ÕÀÊ ViÃi The Alabama Episcopalian 3EPTEMBER /CTOBER / À`Ê >ÃÃÊvÊ i>VÃÊ"À`>i` By Diocesan Staff; Photo by the Rev. Deacon Dave Drachlis In This Issue Bishop Parsley and empower the and Bishop people of God in Sloan ordained reaching out, so 13 women and that, in the words men to the of the Ordinal, Sacred Order of Christ’s people Deacons on Sat- may know that ‘in urday, October 1, helping the help- during a service less they are serv- at the Cathe- ing Christ himself dral Church of . ..’ They make the Advent in a healing con- Junior High Summer Camper Samuel Sutherland Birmingham. nection between “wearing” a nonpoisonous gray rat snake; photo by the Rev. Mark Waldo Jr. The new per- the Church and manent deacons, the needs of the For the past seven years, the gentle female gray rat snake who come from world.” in the cover photo has helped educate children and adults parishes through- (Front row) Kelly Hudlow, Jeannie Robison, Cindy Rolf, (second row) Judy Lee, Norbert Wilson, Permanent about snakes and helped many people overcome their fear out our diocese, Maria Asson, Kim Beckett, (third row) David Whetstone, Charlotte Van Slyke, Jerry Jacob, Judy deacons, who are of nonpoisonous snakes through Camp McDowell Envi- Quick, (fourth row) Marti Holmes, Bishop Sloan, David Barfield, and Bishop Parsley are Marla Asson non-stipendiary, ronmental Center’s Alabama Neighbors Program, taught by senior environmentalist Dave Hollaway. As always, the from St. Stephen’s have a role both children who attended Summer Camp had amazing experi- in Huntsville, David Barfield from Holy Comforter in in the liturgy of the Word and the liturgy of the table ences learning about nature and God’s abiding love for us Gadsden, Kim Beckett from St. Michael and All Angels’ during Eucharist, and they also have special ministries and all of creation while they played in God’s backyard at in Anniston, Marti Holmes from St. Stephen’s in Bir- both within and outside their parish. Their formal “Wonderful, Wonderful” Camp McDowell. And as always, mingham, Kelley Hudlow from Canterbury Chapel in preparation included a two-year Deacon’s School for the campers declared, “It was the best summer ever!” Tuscaloosa, Jerry Jacob from Grace Church in Cullman, Ministry program, which consisted of monthly Satur- Summer Camp Director Susanna Whitsett adds, “I hope Judy Lee from Holy Apostles’ in Hoover, Judy Quick day sessions, three weekend sessions each year at Camp that you will have an opportunity to visit camp soon. There from St. Andrew’s in Montevallo, Jeannie Robison from McDowell, and an extensive theological and scriptural is so much to do, so much to learn and celebrate, so much Nativity in Huntsville, Cindy Roff from Canterbury reading program. They also explored a variety of com- to love!” (Please see the stories and photos on pages 10-13, and visit Camp McDowell’s Web site, www.campmcdowell.com). Chapel in Tuscaloosa, C.J. Van Slyke from St. Francis’ munity ministries during their formation. Completion in Indian Springs Village, David Whetstone from Grace of the four-year Education for Ministry curriculum of This year’s Jonathan Myrick Daniels and the Martyrs of Church in Anniston, and Norbert Wilson from St. Dun- the School of Theology at the University of the South Alabama Pilgrimage, held August 13 in Hayneville, featured stan’s in Auburn. in Sewanee is also required before ordination. a historic Service of Remembrance, Repentance, and Rec- They comprised the third class of deacons to be Deacon Asson will serve at Holy Cross-St. Christo- onciliation. During the service, Bishop Parsley celebrated Holy Eucharist on the bench used by the judge during the ordained since the permanent diaconate was instituted pher’s in Huntsville, Deacon Barfield will remain and trial of the man who shot and killed Jonathan on August in our diocese in 1999. The first class of deacons was serve at Holy Comforter in Gadsden, Deacon Beckett 20, 1965, when he shielded Ruby Shields from the shotgun ordained in November 2002, and the second class in will serve at the Church of the Resurrection in Gad- blast—the man was acquitted. Bishop Parsley spoke of St. October 2004. Previously deaconesses were ordained in sden, Deacon Holmes will serve at Grace Church in Paul’s radical vision of a world changed by the reconcil- our diocese, beginning in 1885. Woodlawn, Deacon Hudlow will serve at St. Michael’s ing love of God in Christ and his belief that this meant the Saturday’s ordination increased the number of dea- Church in Fayette, Deacon Jacob will remain and serve reconciliation of us with one another. He held up Jonathan cons actively serving parishes in our diocese to 31. They at at Grace Church in Cullman, Deacon Lee will serve as an example of someone who was “bold enough to live . provide a leadership role in a variety of ministry areas at St. Francis’ Church in Indian Springs, Deacon Quick and give his life for this vision of radical equality.” including disaster relief, prison ministry, mission work will remain and serve at St. Andrew’s in Montevallo, Using the liturgy our diocesan Commission on Race Relations prepared especially for this service, Bishop Parsley in Honduras and Haiti, race relations, ministries to the Deacon Robison will remain and serve at the Nativ- recalled the tragic part the Episcopal Church in the Diocese homeless and the hungry, Jubilee Ministries, and other ity in Huntsville, Deacon Roff will remain and serve at of Alabama played in the sin of racism, and he gave voice outreach ministries. Canterbury Chapel in Tuscaloosa, Deacon Van Slyke will to the Church’s repentance of the past—and our efforts to “The diaconate is about servant ministry,” Bishop serve at Trinity Church in Clanton, Deacon Whetstone overcome that legacy of discrimination. The Rev. Deacon Parsley explains. “Deacons are called and ordained to be will remain and serve at Grace Church in Anniston, and Tom Osborne, cochair of the commission, noted that this servants in a special way, by helping the Church extend Deacon Wilson will remain and serve at St. Dunstan’s in service culminated our diocese’s “Past Imperfect, Present the ministry of Christ to those in need. Deacons lead Auburn. Hope” project. “It called a solemn assembly, collectively confessed and repented of the sin of racism, and asserted the truth that for the Body of Christ there is only one ministry, the ministry of reconciliation.” (Please see page 24, and visit 6ÃÊ-Ì>ÌiiÌÊvÊÌ iÊ6V>ÌÊ>`Ê our diocesan Web site, www.dioala.org.) The Alabama Episcopalian ÃÌÀÞÊvÊ i>VÃÊvÊÌ iÊ «ÃV«>Ê The Alabama Episcopalian is published six times a year (January/February, March/April, May/June, July/August, ViÃiÊvÊ>L>> September/October, and November/December). For the most current news about recent and upcoming events, please visit A deacon is a baptized person called and empowered by God and the Church to be a model of Christ’s our diocesan Web site, www.dioala.org. servant ministry for all people. As agents of God’s compassion and reconciling grace, deacons are missionaries to Please send stories and photographs (color, if available) the world and messengers to the Church of the world’s needs, hopes, and concerns. In the Church, deacons call for The Alabama Episcopalian to Editor Norma McKittrick at forth, empower, and inspire the baptized to respond to these needs. The role of the deacon in liturgy mirrors the [email protected] or 2156 Kent Way, Birmingham, AL 35226. role of the deacon in the Church and world. Deacons are living symbols of Christ’s presence as they embody The submission deadline for each issue is the 1st of the month prior to publication. Christ’s servant ministry and point to the presence of Christ in those they serve. / Ê Ê *- "* ÊUÊ- */ ,É" /" ,ÊÓ䣣 ->ÌÊ>`Ê} Ì\ÊÀÊÌ iÊ Ã « / iÊ>L>>Ê «ÃV«>>ÊUÊÎÊ ÕV >ÀÃÌVÊÛià bread, he sees that they are in real trouble. The need is member the stories of the feeding of the crowds. They are vast; the available resources are tiny. eucharistic stories, and our lives are meant to be eucha- Most of us have been there. I have. It is the “what-on- ristic lives. As Jesus took the loaves, blessed, broke, and earth-am-I-going-to-do-now” moment. gave them, so are we to do with our lives. When we do Jesus shows us the action of the person of faith in such so, like Jesus, God’s abundance is revealed in our scarcity. moments. He simply offers what he has to God. He offers God’s power is shown through our weakness. God’s love it in the absolute faith that God will somehow make it is released through our poor hearts. enough. Where there appears to be only scarcity, Jesus sees This does not mean that everything works out mirac- abundance. ulously in our situations of need and challenge. Some- Was what happened then a multiplication of the lad’s times what we are given is simply the strength to bear up few morsels? Was it that, seeing the lad’s generosity and under the disappointments of life and the courage to keep Jesus’ faith, the crowds began to share the bits of loaves on giving ourselves in the midst of the storm.