DIOCESE OF THE HOLY CROSS FORTNIGHTLY

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Alabama, Birmingham – St. Bede’s, Episcopal Visit, February 11 – 12.

North Carolina, Southern Pines – Christ Church, Institution of the Rev. Dr. John L. Sharpe, SSC, as Rector, Saturday, March 3, and Confirmations, Sunday, March 4.

Illinois, Belleville – Forward in Faith/NA Council Meeting, 20 – 21 March, at Our Lady of the Snows Retreat Center.

Pennsylvania, Phoenixville – Church of the Transfiguration, Visit, March 25 

The Federation of Anglican Churches in the Americas (FACA) will have its next plenary meeting on Tuesday, April 24 at the Cummins Memorial Theological Seminary, 705 S. Main Street, Summerville, SC 29483, from 9 am to 3 pm.  Details on the Hampton Inn we will be using are forthcoming.

“The Federation was formed in 2006 to provide a vehicle for communication, fellowship and cooperation between the various Anglican Jurisdictions in the Americas.  FACA is comprised of the Anglican Province of America, the Reformed Episcopal Church (both its founding members), the Anglican Church in America, the Anglican Mission in America, the Episcopal Missionary Church, and the Diocese of the Holy Cross.  The FACA vision, in obedience to our Lord’s command that His people be one, envisions faithful Anglicans working together in communion to fulfill the Great Commission.”  (from www.anglicanfederation.net)  FACA has nearly 500 parishes, so we are an important part of the great re-alignment of global Anglicanism.

FACA is a Ministry Partner of the Anglican Church in North America, and has close ties with Forward in Faith in both North America and the United Kingdom.  At the upcoming Synod of the Diocese of the Holy Cross we are looking forward to having with us once again one of the Deans of Forward in Faith/UK, the Rev. Canon Geoffrey M. Neal. 

The next Synod of the Diocese of the Holy Cross will be hosted by the Cathedral Church of the Epiphany, Columbia, SC, beginning at 2 p.m. on Thursday, April 26 and going to the end of Friday, April 27, with a Chrism Mass on Friday morning.  A block of rooms has been reserved at the Clarion Hotel, 1615 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201 (800-277-8711), www.clarionhotelcolumbia.com.  Synod registrations can be taken at afdv1@yahoo.com.  (Synod - $130, Banquet only - $50)     

The Holy Oils that will be used throughout the Diocese for the year to follow are consecrated during the Synod Eucharist by the Bishop and are taken back to the parishes by the priests:  the Oil of the Sick, for healing, the Oil of the Catechumens, for baptism, and the Holy Chrism, for baptism, confirmation, ordinations and consecrations of churches.  The Liturgy for consecrating the Holy Oils is magnificent; to have it sent by e-mail, go to afdv1@yahoo.com.   

At the banquet on Friday evening, the Rev. Dr. Earl W. Angell, Rector of St. John’s, Westminster, SC, will speak on “Our Heritage As Anglicans,” complementing the theme of “Our Destiny as Anglicans.”  How God has shaped us in the past is more amazing than we may have thought, as is what He is doing with us now.

Pre-Lenten themes:  Septuagesima (tomorrow, 70 days before Easter)  by God’s grace we are called to work with Him in His vineyard, to live with Him in His Kingdom, to run the race on His team.  Sexagesima (60 days before Easter)  the harvest of the vineyard, the rewards of the Kingdom, are assured.  Our labor is not in vain; we are not wasting our time.  Quinquagesima (50 days before Easter) the fruit of our work in the Kingdom is to grow in our capacity to love God and our neighbor.

“Ideas for Lent:  the arena of the virtues has been thrown open!”  for this one-page list go to afdv1@yahoo.com.