TWO GRANT PROGRAMS TO FUND CHURCH INITIATIVES AND NEEDS 

Churches in The Episcopal Church in South Carolina now have two grant processes available to seek funding from the diocese thanks to programs and funding approved by the Diocesan Council and the Trustees this month.

For several years the diocese has offered the Mission Grants Program to encourage and fund new initiatives. This program has been renamed the Ministry Grants Program, and the Diocesan Council and Trustees have approved a total of $50,000 to fund the 2019 grant cycle. "We hope this will encourage people to tap into their passions and do creative things," Bishop Skip Adams says.

The second grant program draws from the existing Parishes and Missions Support budget line item, which is funded at $150,000 in 2019, up from $100,000 the previous year. This money is available to churches in need of emergency or temporary funding. Churches seeking these grants will go through an application process similar to the one used for the Ministry Grants, and be required to give regular progress reports. 

Photo: Bishop Skip Adams leads a meeting in 2016 for mission congregations who received grants through the diocesan grants process, sharing stories of how the money supported ministry in their churches and communities.

COUNCIL CREATES YOUTH COMMISSION 

With the growth in youth ministry across the diocese, the Diocesan Council on May 16 unanimously approved the creation of a Diocesan Youth Commission that will shape the vision for our diocesan ministry to middle school and high school students and plan events and resources to help young people grow in their life in Christ. 

"The 2019-2020 school year will bring three diocesan youth events, as well as participation in three provincial and denomination-level events," says Andrea McKellar, Diocesan Ministry Developer. Read more about these opportunities for young people at the link below.

Photo: Some of the more than 80 youth and adult leaders who attended Happening #1 at Camp St. Christopher in March 2019.

PRAYER CALENDAR AND BISHOP'S VISITS 

This week we're praying for the Church of the Messiah, Myrtle Beach. Bishop Skip Adams visited Messiah on March 19 for his annual episcopal visitation, celebrating and preaching in the congregations' worship space in Wingard Hall at St. Philip Lutheran Church (in the photo above). See more photos of the Bishop's visit.

Read the Bishop's sermon for the Fifth Sunday of Easter

This Sunday: We'll be praying for St. James-Santee, McClellanville, beginning on May 26. Bishop Adams will celebrate and preach at the 10 am service of Holy Eucharist at the parish's historic chapel-of-ease at 205 Oak St. in the old village of McClellanville. All are welcome.

Upcoming Episcopal Visitations: June 2 at Epiphany, Summerville, and June 9 at St. Anne’s, Conway.

MORE UPCOMING PARISH EVENTS 

May 29: Mental Health presentation at Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island, 6 pm. This is Part 3 of a series that is free and open to the public. This final session will focus on Self Care and Family Support..Find details here.

May 30: 'God On Tap' with St. Mark's, Port Royal, 6-8 pm. Join the group for beverages, food and conversation in a relaxed atmosphere at Common Ground on Bay Street in Beaufort.

LOBSTER SALE CELEBRATION 

The volunteer crew at St. Thomas, North Charleston pauses for a group photo as they celebrate another successful Lobster Sale. Hundreds of the tasty crustaceans were flown in live from Maine and sold, cooked and enjoyed as a fundraiser for the parish.

MUSIC IN MAY: PICCOLO & MORE 

May 25: Choraliers Music Club in Concert
St. Mark's, Charleston, 8 pm (additional performances on June 1 and June 8)
As one of the city's most seasoned choral groups, The Choraliers will present a dynamic
one-hour Gullah-Geechee performance of Gullah Folklore including both arranged and unarranged Spirituals, gospel, blues, and excerpts from Gershwin's Porgy and Bess. Admission $15 adult, $12 senior & student, children under 6 free. (Ticket information)

May 27: Lee Kohlenberg Organ Recital
Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston,  10 am
Lee Kohlenberg, who was coordinator for the Piccolo Spoleto L'Organo series for 11 years as well as the Festival of Churches and Choral Artists Series, will perform a recital featuring English composers: Herman Berlinsky’s “Burning Bush” and Marcel Dupre’s “Variations sur un Noel.” Free admission.

May 27: Atlanta Schola Cantorum in Concert
Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston, 2 pm
Headed up by new music director, Chris Walters, Atlanta Schola Cantorum performs a capella choral works and later works by contemporary composers such as Lauridsen, Part, and Whitacre at this unique event. Free admission.

GOOD SHEPHERD IN THE FIELD 

Good Shepherd, Summerville held its Sunday service on May 19 at the Tupper Farm, and followed it up with a picnic and outdoor fun including wagon rides around the farm. The church returns to its usual space on West Luke Street at 10:30 am this Sunday.

VISITING BISHOP AT GRACE 

The Right Rev. Peter James Lee, 12th Bishop of Virginia and now Assisting Bishop in the Diocese of North Carolina, visited Grace Church Cathedral in Charleston on May 19 to preach and teach, and to dedicate Grace's new St. Andrew's Chapel. Watch his sermon at the 11 am Choral Eucharist (the sermon starts at about 25:20 in the video).

JOIN 'WAVE OF PRAYER' MAY 30-JUNE 9 

Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is once again inviting people around the world to join "Thy Kingdom Come," a 10-day wave of prayer from Ascension Day (May 30) to Pentecost (June 9). Join Christians around the world who will be praying daily for others to come to know Jesus Christ. Learn about it by watching this short video.  Churches and individuals can pledge to be part of Thy Kingdom Come, and find resources, at thykingdomcome.global.

UPCOMING EVENTS