Click "Read More"

CLERGY PASTORAL NOTES: Nativity, Huntsville's rector The Rev. Andy Anderson's mother, Wudie Anderson, died suddenly on Saturday, April 26 in Jacksonville, Florida. The Rev. Timothy Hoff's mother-in-law, Betty Witherspoon Nevill, died peacefully April 10 in Overland Park, Kansas.  May they rest in peace.  The Rev Deacon Clyde Pearce fell at his home last month while doing storm repairs. Clyde broke bones in both feet. Please keep him in your prayers.  Seminarian Basye Holland-Shuey remains in the hospital. Please remember her in your prayers.

 

CLERGY NEWS: The Rev. Ken Fields is leaving Canterbury Chapel, Tuscaloosa, to join the staff of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Houston, Texas,  June 1st. The Rev. Van Foreman will begin his ministry as Rector of Church of the Resurrection, Gadsden, on June 1st. The Rev. Tim Murphy began his ministry as Rector of St. Mary's, Jasper in April. The Rev. Chris Girata, from the Diocese of Atlanta, will join the staff of St. Luke's, Birmingham on June 1st. The Rev. David Crippen is retiring from St. Joseph's-on-the-Mountain as of May 11th.

 

CHOOSING A CURRICULUM WORKSHOP, May 10

One Size Doesn't Fit All: How to Select Curriculum for your Congregation is a free workshop to learn about different types of curricula for use with children, you and adults.  Led by Sharon Ely Pearson, Christian Formation Specialist, and sponsored by Morehouse Education Resources and Church Publishing, the event will take place Saturday, May 10, at St. John's, Montgomery.  Contact spearson@cpg.org for more information.   

 

FAITH-BASED WATERSHED TRAINING: In cooperation with the Sierra Club,  the Diocesan Task Force on the Stewardship of Creation invites everyone, and especially youth groups, to attend a conference on current water issues and conservation at Camp McDowell on Saturday, May 31. 2008. After a morning of information gathering and learning (8:30-noon), and lunch, participants will head out in the afternoon to explore the area's waters and canyons. The conference ends about 3:30 pm.  For registration information contact Joey Jarrell, McDowell Environmental Center, 205-387-1806 or outreach@campmcdowell.com.   

 

STEWARDSHIP OF CREATION TIP OF THE MONTH

SPRING is finally here!  With it come many activities that we may approach with care for the earth in mind.  Cleaning out the garage or basement?  Remember the three R's: Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.  Try finding new uses for items before just throwing them out to be sent to the landfill. That old galvanized tub might make the perfect container for growing some daisies! Perhaps a neighbor might like the broadcast spreader you replaced with a new model.  Old electronics part of your basement clutter you intend to clear out? Watch your local newspaper or call your city or county agencies for recommendations for proper recycling sites.  Also Circuit City, Staples, Best Buy, Radio Shack, and other retailers accept many such items, including batteries, for recycling. For more information on how to recycle your spring-cleaning discards, try the EARTH 911 Website: http://earth911.org or simply type in recycling electronics (or paint, etc...) into your search engine.   

 

FORM 5578 DUE TO THE IRS: Congregations which operate, supervise, or control a private school must file this certificate annually.  The certificate is due on May 15.  The definition of "school" includes pre-schools so this requirement effects many parishes.  Download the form:  www.irs.gov. 

 

PAROCHIAL REPORTS have not been filed by the following parishes: de la Gracia, Birmingham; St. Alban's, Hoover; St. John's Deaf Church, Birmingham; St. Mark's, Boligee (last report in 2002); St. Mary's, Childersburg; Church of the Good shepherd, Decatur; Christ Church, Fairfield (last report in 2003); St. Michael's-Holy Cross, Faunsdale-Uniontown (last report in 2002); St. Paul's, Greensboro; Church of the Nativity, Huntsville; Holy Cross St Christopher's, Huntsville; St. Thomas, Huntsville; St. Wilfrid's, Marion; Church of the Good Shepherd, Montgomery; Calvary, Oneonta; Grace Church, Mt.Meigs; Resurrection, Rainbow City; and St. Matthew in the Pines, Seale.  If you need assistance filing reports online please contact Nanci Warner in the diocesan office. nwarner@dioala.org.

 

CLERGY REFLECTION DAY is Tuesday,  June 17.  We will convene at 10:00 a.m. and be ready to depart at 4:00 p.m. Lunch is provided.  We will gather at Church of the Ascension in Vestavia Hiils (Birmingham).  The Church buildings are located at 1912 Canyon Road.  More information and registration cards will be mailed later this month.  The next Reflection Day is scheduled for Tuesday, September 16. 

 

PARISH MISSION TRIP TO HONDURAS

Monica Romano is leading an intergenerational mission trip to Honduras, July 18-28. on behalf of St. John's, Montgomery. They would love to take any interested youth from other parishes with them!  If you have any youth (ages 16 and up) with a heart for mission and unable due to date conflicts to join your own mission trips this summer, contact Monica. OR, if you are interested in doing a foreign mission trip with your parish and would like to join us this summer as a part of your own reconnaissance work (there are already two youth ministers from other dioceses going for this reason), there's still time to sign up! Contact Monica Romano, monica.a.romano@gmail.com or call 334.262.1937 (w), 334.546.1848 (h/m). 

 

FAMILIES IN RECOVERY HEALING SERVICE scheduled for Sunday, May 18 at 2:00 p.m. at St. Luke's Church, Mountain Brook (Birmingham).  The Celebrant will be The Rev. Deborah Braden, Assistant to the Rector, St. Mary's on-the-Highlands, Birmingham.  The service is intended for for all who suffer from any addiction and all who struggle with them in sorrow, patience and love.

 

CHURCH BUSINESS AFFAIRS training for vestries is available from the diocese.  The one hour orientation includes information on taxes, clergy and lay compensation and benefits, insurance, accounting, audting, employment law, canonical requirements and financial oversight.  For more information or to schedule the presentation for your vestry contact Rob Morpeth in the diocesan office: rmorpeth@dioala.org.

 

ORDINATIONS: Bishop Parsley and Bishop Sloan will ordain Robyn Elizabeth Arnold,Walter Marion "Chip" Broadfoot, Judith Walton Comer, Thomas R. Joyner, and James Lee "Jamie" McAdams to the Sacred Order of Deacons in May at their home parishes. Robyn, who graduated from the Church Divinity School of the Pacific will be ordained at 6 p.m. on May 31 at St. Andrew's in Birmingham. Chip, a graduate of the School of Theology at Sewanee, will be ordained at 6 p.m. on May 14 at St. Stephen's in Birmingham. Judith, who also graduated from Sewanee, will be ordained at 11 a.m. on May 17 at Holy Comforter in Montgomery. Jamie,  also is a Sewanee graduate, will be ordained at 11 a.m. on May 24 at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham.Thomas, who graduated from General Seminary in New York City, will be ordained at 6 p.m. on May 20 at St. Stephen's in Huntsville.

 

Diocesan Calendar

May 2008

 

5/4/2008	Visitation:  Bishop Parsley	St. Luke's, Birmingham	8:45 AM
	Bishop Sloan	Christ Church, Tuscaloosa	9:00 AM & 11:00 AM
5/6/2008	Fresh Start	Carpenter House Conference Room	10:00 AM - 1:30 PM
5/7/2008	Visitation:  Bishop Parsley	St. Joseph's on-the-Mountain, Mentone	6:00 PM
5/8/2008	Parish & Development Meeting	Carpenter House Conference Room	10:00 AM - 1:00 PM
5/8/2008	Liturgy Meeting - Jim Wallace	Carpenter House Upper Room	11:00 AM - 2:00 PM
5/11/2008	Visitation:  Bishop Sloan	St. John's, Decatur	8:00 AM & 11:00 AM
5/15/2008	Dept of Camp McDowell		10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
5/16/2008	Spirituality Commission	Birmingham St. Luke's	10:00 AM - 2:30 PM
5/18/2008	Visitation:  Bishop Parsley	Ascension, Montgomery	10:15 AM
	Bishop Sloan	Nativity, Huntsville	8:00 AM & 10:00 AM
5/21/2008	Mission & Outreach	Carpenter House Conference Room	10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
5/22/2008	Diocesan Council	Carpenter House Conference Room	10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
5/25/2008	Visitation:  Bishop Parsley	Holy Comforter, Montgomery	10:00 AM
	Bishop Sloan	Good Shepherd, Decatur	10:30 AM
5/28/2008	Finance Dept/Trustees	Carpenter House Conference Room	9:00 AM - 2:00 PM

 

URBAN MINISTRIES PRAYER CALENDAR

May

- Community Soup Bowl, Tuscaloosa

- Community Kitchens, Birmingham

- Christian Women's Job Corps