September, 2011 • Volume 136, Issue No. 9 Annual Council in Vicksburg February 3-5 By Becky Drake for those who would like to go for a sunset cruise The planning committee has been hard at on Old Man River. You will need to call the tour work preparing for the 185th Annual Council of company for advanced reservations. the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi which is Also of interest are the exhibits which will be scheduled to take place the weekend of February set up in the Convention Center. Numerous ven - 3-5, 2012. The event will take place at the dors are expected to have booths displaying vari - Vicksburg Convention Center located on Mulberry ous items for sale. A stroll through the exhibits is Street in the heart of Vicksburg. a delight and also a good time to visit and make Episcopalians from approximately ninety con - new friends. gregations throughout the state are expected to Friday night will feature Evening Prayer and visit the River City to attend Council and enjoy the the 2012 address to be given by Bishop Duncan M. sights and sounds of historic Vicksburg. Blocks of Gray III, the ninth Bishop of the Mississippi rooms at various hotels and bed and breakfast Diocese. Past bishops who have served the establishments have been reserved at special rates Mississippi Diocese are: William Mercer Green I; for those attending Council. Registration is avail - Hugh Miller Thompson; Theodore DuBose able on the Diocesan website, http://annualcoun - Bratton; William Mercer Green; Duncan cil.dioms.org/. Montgomery Gray; John Maury Allin; Duncan Annual Council is a time when Episcopalians Montgomery Gray Jr. and Alfred Clark Marble, Jr., Inside this issue throughout the state gather to visit, conduct II. church business, and worship together as a family. Saturday will be a full day of business meet - Mississippi Women, Four churches from the Vicksburg area are hosting ings and convention related activities, ending with Vol II. Review . .4 the 2012 Council: St. Alban’s, Christ Church, St. a Down South dinner and dance. The final day of Who’s new at seminary . .5 Mary’s and Church of the Holy Trinity. The theme Serving on the planning committee are (pictured left to Council will conclude with a diocesan Celebration right): Richard and Susan Price, co-chairs, the Reverend Distinguished Clergy Awards . .6 for this year’s event will be Celebrating One of the Holy Eucharist, a glorious service that brings Church. Sam Godrey, rector of Christ Church and the Very Reverend the entire diocese together for worship and praise. Parish joins Hati partnership . .12 We encourage everyone to take the time to Billie Abraham, rector of St. Alban’s, Bovina. Everyone, including the general public, is invited visit Vicksburg’s gift shops, boutiques, art galleries, antique stores and antebel - to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. lum mansions as well as to explore some of the history of the city. The National Put the date on your calendar and plan to be a part of the 2012 Annual Military Park and the Old Court House Museum are two of Vicksburg’s most pop - Council as it convenes in Vicksburg to Celebrate One Church. ular tourist attractions. Weather permitting, Mississippi River tours are available Becky Drake is a communicant of St. Alban’s, Bovina. Society of St. Andrew feeds the hungry in Mississippi — how you can help By Scott Lenoir Jackson and Love’s Kitchen in The Society of St. Andrew Meridian. And finally I coordi - (SoSA ) brings millions of nate the volunteers who actually pounds of food to poor people go out to harvest produce from in the United States every year. the fields.” In Mississippi alone, SoSA has “Due to the heat, we usual - delivered over 6 million pounds ly start very early in the morning of salvaged potatoes and other and work until about ten a.m.,” food to the needy in Mississippi said Usey. through its Potato and Produce Usey said SoSA gleans food Project. from back yard gardens as well SoSA has eight regional as large farms and, “I encourage offices throughout the nation, people to call me if they have including one in Jackson and is small gardens that they would known as the premier food res - like to share produce from.” cue and distribution ministry in Jackie Usey, SoSA Program Coordinator, center, gets ready to A mound of sweet potatoes are dropped off, bagged at the site Usey gleans produce from the nation. glean a turnip patch with volunteers. and delivered to distribution agencies. farms near Indianola, Vardeman, The Christian based min - Hattiesburg, Meridian and Port istry began in 1979 and has its ers have finished harvesting and simply pick up the tons of good Gibson among other cities. national office in Big Island, Virginia. It has grown into an ecu - produce left behind. The volunteers represent groups from vari - Bishop Duncan Gray III said that the broad base of farms menical, non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to leading ous church denominations, synagogues, youth groups, other civic allows the opportunity for parishes and mission all over the others into lives of Christian community and service. organizations, individuals, and inner city residents. Diocese of Mississippi to participate in helping this outreach min - The food gets to the needy through a volunteer-driven The Program Coordinator in the Jackson regional office is istry to help feed the state’s poor. Gleaning Network. In Mississippi that network includes volunteers Jackie Usey. Usey works with three separate groups to get pro - “The Society of St. Andrew is a great way for parishes and who save fresh produce every year and use it to feed hungry peo - duce rescued from fields and distributed to the needy. missions across the diocese to get some good hands on ministry by ple all across the state. “I work with farmers and produce houses which are the coordinating efforts with a well organized and much needed out - Through the Mississippi Gleaning Network, volunteers work sources of the rescued food. I work with distribution centers reach organization,” said Gray. the SoSA throughout the state who actually enter fields after farm - which feed the poor like the Mississippi Food Network, Stewpot in Society of St. Andrew feeds hungry, Continued on page 9 OUR DIOCESE the Anglican perspective of C.S. Lewis. The office at 601-924-2261. Creator, Clinton Dinner. Bishop Lee is one of The Episcopal Notes & Quotes Reverend Dr. Robert MacSwain, Assistant Redeemer, Biloxi is thinking football, cool Church’s most dynamic leaders and teachers. Professor of Theology and Ethics at the School of nights, pumpkins, and their annual Fall Festival. Mark Sept. 26 on your family calendar and join By Jim Carrington Theology, has recently edited The Cambridge Although the festival is set for October 22. The us for a time of celebration and reflection on our First from Companion to C.S. Lewis, and will guide us in first organizational meeting for the festival on Stewardship of Christ’s gifts. Resurrection, considering what we may yet be able to learn in Tue., August 30th at the Parish House on Popps St. Columb’s, Ridgeland is hosting its Starkville , we learn of our contemporary context from Lewis, the most Ferry Rd at 6PM. If you would like to help with annual Draw Down Draw Saturday evening, a different stewardship influential and beloved Anglican writer of the this fun annual project, bring your ideas and October 1. Tickets are available from many tactic, the Oktoberfest 20th century. He will draw especially from Mere thoughts as we develop what I hope will be the parishioners or call the church office at 601-853- Pledge Kickoff : “ To cel - Christianity and Letters to Malcolm. The formal best Fall Festival of the Gulf Coast season. 0205. Log on to www.stcolumbs.org for more ebrate the beginning of event concludes Saturday afternoon, but partici - Refreshments will be served . Please call Clint information. our annual pledge sea - pants are welcome to register for an additional Burchfield at 228-353-3205 or email St. Timothy’s, Southaven is inviting all to son, Resurrection will informal evening with Dr. MacSwain, concluding [email protected] . test their trivia skills at Pub Trivia Night on be hosting an Oktoberfest party on Sunday, Sunday morning. The cost for the event varies, St. James’, Jackson is offering a parenting Saturday, September 24 at 6 p.m. The Trivia September 25th, from 6pm to 8:30pm..” The including rates for overnight participants and program in Sept. and October. Thursday nights, contest starts promptly at 7:00pm with the Rev. Carol Mead reports that there will be a tast - commuters, and some scholarship assistance is 6:30-8:30 p.m. September 15, 22, 29, October 6, theme for the night being: The Mad Hatter. ing competition sponsored by local home brew - available. For more information, or to register, 13, 20. Positive Discipline is for parents who are Come put your wits to the test in the first ever ers as well as non-alcoholic beverages. Food will please go to http://cffm.dioms.org. looking for long-term parenting skills to encour - Pub Trivia Night. Bring a team of up to 10 mem - include bratwurst grilled by parish chefs and Also from CfFM ,The Rev. Patrick Gahan, of age their children to think for themselves, bers - friends, family, co-workers, all adults are other popular German favorites. Games and Wimberly, Texas, will be at the Gray Center on become more responsible, achieve greater welcome! Bring snacks and beverages for your activities throughout the evening will help sup - October the 7th - 9th leading a weekend devoted respect for themselves and others.