Dinner concert raises $3,000 for flood relief at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields by Allison Askins
An evening of great music and delicious food brought in some $3,000 for flood relief work by St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Columbia, earlier this month. The funds will be donated to the South Beltline Flood Relief Program, which formed after the 2015 flood in the Columbia area and continues to do work as a result of that natural disaster to this day.
St. Martin's parishioner Frank Avignone with The Rev. Susan Prinz
The event which took place on the one-year anniversary of the flood -- Oct. 4 -- drew more than 100 people who had purchased $25 tickets that provided a New Orleans style meal cooked by parishioners and a concert by Dick Goodwin and the Capital City Big Band. The event seemed to strike just the right chord. Participants raved over the food and danced during several musical numbers.
Another aspect of the evening that brought unexpected success -- and nearly $1,000 of the $3,000 to be donated -- was the Patisserie, a room filled with home-baked goodies that participants purchased for their desserts. Many also bought whole cakes to take home for later enjoyment.
Le Patisserie!
Delivery of leftovers to the Oliver Gospel Mission in downtown Columbia the next day was another bonus of the event's outreach efforts.
The Rev. Susan Prinz delivering food to Oliver Gospel Mission in downtown Columbia
Happy pictures filled Facebook feeds the next day, as well, a joyful sign of a parish coming together in fellowship with the community in a mutually-supportive relationship.
As you may have heard, mine has thus far been an exciting
summer. The greatest example of that is
my recent pilgrimage to Canterbury, UK, where I spent two weeks in close
community with seminarians and recently ordained clergy from Anglican provinces
all around the globe. As part of the
experience, I got to visit the Anglican Communion Office, which was
particularly eye opening for me, with my interest in the global affairs of the
wider Church. I also was privileged to
take part in a group audience with Archbishop Welby—I even got to ask the ABC a
question myself during the Q & A after his prepared remarks. That was a once in a lifetime moment. The majority of the pilgrimage was spent on
the cathedral grounds, however, worshiping together in both the Quire and the
Crypt and attending morning and afternoon lectures. But by far the most significant aspect of the
experience was time spent together with my brothers and sisters in Christ
outside of the classroom, sharing meals and stories, hopes, fears, and
joys. I came away understanding that the
Church is both much bigger and much smaller than I had realized before. In fact, in the fall I will be taking a class
from Bishop James Tengatenga of Malawi, the bishop who ordained one of my new
international friends, the Rev. David Mpona, the youngest priest in Malawi at
the time of his ordination.
I am deeply indebted to the Diocese of Upper South Carolina
for these experiences. I would not have
known of the program had Bishop Waldo not brought it to my attention, and I
would not have been able to attend, even after being selected to participate
and receiving a UK scholarship for tuition, had the diocese not generously
reimbursed me for the cost of traveling there and back. For this support I am profoundly grateful.
In the meantime, I recently had the opportunity for the
first time to preach on a Sunday morning in my home parish of St. Matthew’s in
Spartanburg. I had served for a number
of years as a lay worship leader for St. Matt’s Wednesday night healing
service, but this was my first chance since beginning seminary to preach as
part of the regular Sunday liturgy. It
was a great honor to be able to serve my family and friends in that way and to
give something back in return for all of their support the past two years.
In other news, Dean Alexander of The School of Theology at
Sewanee recently recommended me for a prestigious scholarship and subsequently
helped me get it. His nomination came as
a bit of a surprise—I had not even known of this particular scholarship until I
received a letter from the dean informing me that he had put my name down for
it.
It has definitely been an exciting time. This coming weekend, my family and I will be
visiting my parents for a little recreation, and then it will be just about
time to get ready for classes. I’m
looking forward to this senior year, though it is difficult to believe I only
have two semesters of seminary left. It
continues to be an amazing journey.
Please let me know if there is anything I can do for the
Commission or anything else you require of me. Again, I am deeply grateful to have the support of The Episcopal Diocese
of Upper South Carolina as I move ever more deeply into this process of
priestly formation. Thank you!
a sermon by The Rev. Jack Hardaway, Rector, Grace Episcopal Church, Anderson, SC at the ordination to the transitional diaconate of Jimmy Hartley, Kristen Pitts and Jane-Allison Wiggin June 3, 2016, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
So twenty one years ago I sat right where you are and
listened to Dr. Don Armentrout preach. Actually, I don’t remember where I
was sitting, or much about the sermon. I think it had something to do
William Porcher Dubose and the Chalcedonian definition and a vision for
ministry, I could be wrong about that.
Back then we had a full year transitional diaconate. I
served at St. Peter’s in Greenville with the vocational deacon Steve
McDonald. One of the problems with a long diaconate is that people get
impatient with your not being able to do priestly things.
This one time I grew impatient myself and said, “I can’t do
that, I’m just a deacon.”
Well Steve McDonald didn’t appreciate that, and what made things
worse was that someone started making T-shirts that said “I’m just a deacon." Steve and I wore them with pride.
Yep, that pretty much set the tone for my whole career, one
long humorous lesson in humility, the first in a long line of T-shirts that are
best forgotten, but worn with pride.
Steve had a thing about serving the poor, I did too, so we
hit it off really well. He had me working with the homeless on my days off,
re-meeting old friends it turns out, from elementary through high school, whose
lives had been one long rocky road.
One thing I have noticed is that there are always reasons
not to be present with the poor. We have our reasons and logic that
at the end of the day always explain away clergy being present to the
poor.
I don’t have much advice about ordained ministry, but I
think the first little bit of my not much advice is to beware of flawed
logic that justifies deacons not knowing the names and faces of the poor, and
the poor not knowing the names and faces of the clergy who belong to them.
I think the second bit of flawed logic is that the
transitional diaconate is only transitional. I don’t think we lose the
diaconate when we are ordained priests. The vision for ordained ministry is greater than the false
logic of necessity that all too often has very good reasons for forsaking the
personal presence of clergy being with and for the poor. I think this
happens because our vision from ministry usually revolves around institutional
maintenance, rather than a vision that comes from somewhere else, or rather
someone else.
And that brings us to what George H.W. Bush called “the
vision thing."
“Write the vision” from Habakkuk or “without a vision the
people perish” from Proverbs, these are about visions of God being present in
the world, but they are often relegated to institutional shopping lists,
visionless visions that are quickly forsaken and forgotten. It is so easy
to become cynical about the vision thing. But the vision thing is for real, a vision of God present
and active in the world, it is the only thing that can rescue us from reducing
faith to mere institutional and ideological shopping lists.
Why do we so often take God out of the vision thing - Or the fullness of the vision of God that is Jesus, the wisdom and the word of
God incarnate, the fullness that brings life back to our myopic humanity?
I’ve been spending time with St. Irenaeus over the past
several years. Usually he is attributed as saying that “the glory of God
is a human being fully alive." As cool as that is, his intention is
something else. It was actually about the vision thing. What Irenaeus intended goes more like this, “The Glory of
God is the living man, Jesus, and the life of humanity is beholding that vision
of God.”
It was the climax of Irenaeus’ case for God being made known
in many ways that sustain life, but especially in Jesus. The Gnostics didn’t appreciate God being so mixed up with
things and so super-generously known in the messiness of life. That is
why the heretics left the Church, they weren’t kicked out, they left because
the Church was too messy, not spiritual enough, not pure enough, while
Irenaeus on the other hand found the glory of God in all the imperfection and
messiness of the humanity of the Church. God’s glory is messy.
The vision of God’s glory vivifies (a really cool word that
Irenaeus liked to use) humanity and all creation. My last little bit of
not much advice is to always seek the vision of that particular and messy
glory, don’t let it be relegated, deleted or reasoned away. There will
always be new ideas, processes and techniques but they only work if they are
filled with the vision of the humanity of Jesus who is God’s glory and life
itself.
Be filled with that vision of God, the glory that is among
us as one who serves, whose greatness is on a cross, that image, that icon of
God.
Be fully alive with that vision of messy glory, may your
eyes be filled, may your eyes grow wider and wider with beholding.
a book review by Connie Britt, Trinity Cathedral Columbia
Ms. Carla Damron is a member of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Columbia. Her book has been chosen for the 2016 One Columbia's One Book, One Community read. Congratulations, Carla.
Pat Conroy's
“jacket blurb” for Carla Damron's novel THE STONE NECKLACE says, “Damron's
masterful portrayal of misery giving way to empathy leads us toward a
glimmering hope of redemption for families and a community on the cusp of bold
rebirth. This is a novelist to be read
again and again.” For any writer, those
words from that wordsmith must be the ultimate validation. For the reader/reviewer they are keys to
analyze and appreciate this lovely, touching novel.
The first
key is “portrayal” for the portraits of the widely diverse cast of characters
in this story are cleanly and honestly drawn. These are real people. Lena
Hastings and her husband Mitch are a
couple you might know if you belong to the country club – they live in a lovely
home in one of Columbia, SC's best
neighborhoods, they are active in their church, supporters and participants in
the community's art circles, the parents of three children. Tonya Ladson, her husband John, and their
young son Bryon are a young family struggling to make ends meet; financial
pressure, the pressure of juggling a small child's needs when both parents are
working, and the pressure of feeling they are not living up to the expectations
of their parents are very familiar to too many young families today. Nurse Sandy Albright has been through
several hells – a miscarriage, a divorce, drug addiction, job suspension – when we meet her as she comes into the
hospital locker room on her first day back at work. And then there's wonderful Joe Booker who has
done some yard work for Mitch Hastings - a homeless man who has found a more or
less permanent shelter in the graveyard up close to the church wall behind Mr.
Pinckney's stone at the church where the Hastings worship.
Joe Booker,
Sandy Albright, Tonya Ladson, and Lena Hastings are the four characters who
form the corners of the frame for this story; but there are many other
wonderfully drawn characters who are woven into their seemingly unrelated
worlds. Each of these four main
characters has known pain and disillusionment; each has battled his or her own
demons. Thus the ground is plowed for
them to be attuned to the pain of others, particularly young Becca Hastings the
teen-aged youngest child of Lena and Mitch. The character of Becca is beautifully drawn. This child on the cusp of adulthood dealing
with peer pressure, insecurity, and then the loss of her father becomes a focal
point for decisions and actions that impact those around her. In their reaction to and concern for her
others are pulled away from their own sorrow and become stronger than they
thought they were because she needs them.
Empathy is
not a synonym for sympathy. It is active, not passive. It is acknowledging, not judging. Rev. Bill Tanner and Mitch acknowledge Joe;
they find work for him when they can; thy don't lecture. Sandy Albright sees the pain in Becca; she
recognizes the struggle Becca has with herself; she doesn't preach but gives
Becca her phone number. Lena's love for
her daughter forces her to look inward and honestly appraise what has happened
in her life, why it has happened, and what steps she must take next. In example after example throughout the book,
from minor characters to major characters, the theme that in interpersonal relationships empathy can emerge and
lead to healing and redemption is brought home.
A final
note, a grace note, this is a novel with deeply important themes about
individuals we care for and the interrelationship of individuals and
community. However, in the depth this
powerful story is humor. The chatter in
Tonya's office with her friend Marion and their immediate supervisor Ruth aka
“Ruthless” is fast and dead-on. The
descriptions of the early attempts of Joe to stay clear of a homeless woman
named Rag Doll are both poignant and funny. The dialogue between Becca and her older brothers as they watch the
football game between the University of South Carolina and Troy State University
with their mascots, the “Cocks” and the “Trojans,” will bring a grin to anyone
with any SC connections,
A melody has
more that one note. A symphony has more
than one theme. A good story invokes
more than one emotion; and this is a very good story.
by Carrie Graves All Hallow’s Eve was a clear-skied, cool day in Washington,
DC. The National Cathedral stood out against the sky like a “castle,” as one DC
Uber driver put it. The Cathedral was ready for a big event to take place
on her grounds and in her sanctuary the next day on All Saints’. Her noonday
bells began to clang with Beethoven’s 9th, followed by Lift Every Voice and Sing, hinting at
the cycle of the Good News to take place over the next 24 hours.
All Hallow’s Eve is the time when we, as Christians, can
recognize, act out and even laugh at the darkness inside and outside of ourselves, knowing
that the next day, we celebrate the community of saints. On the third day, we
recognize the redemption of All Souls and the notion that, as
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry would say, “All
Lives Matter.”
The evening of October 31st in Georgetown was one
of welcome, joy and celebration. Families came out in droves to trick or treat, and the stranger was greeted happily at every door in the neighborhood of
Glover Park. The diverse community – students, parents, people of faith from
several religious denominations, and an international families– gathered to
be together and have fun, laughing at the darkness that separates us during the day.
The next morning brought light rain, a good sign, perhaps,
as is told to a bride on her rainy wedding day? By 10:30 am, hundreds of people
stood in a semi-circle in front of the Cathedral, excitedly awaiting their turn
to enter. The rain had let up, a cool breeze blew, and the international family
that comprises The Episcopal Church greeted each other with joy, hinting at what it might be like in the kingdom of heaven, where we are all together, feasting in love as
one.
Scotty Burch and Angela Daniel photo credit Episcopa Diocese of Upper SC
As I approached the enormous line with anticipation, I did
not expect to see anyone I knew. I heard my name. It was Mary Waldo. I walked a
few more feet and saw Scooty Burch and Angela Daniel (Province IV
President), two of our deputies to General Convention, at which we elected our new Presiding Bishop this summer in Salt Lake City.
Scooty’s husband, Dr. Earl Burch, had traveled across the sea to
Haiti the day before in his role as EDUSC Partnership Cange Coordinator. Yet
the Bishop of Haiti was just across the driveway from us in Washington, DC, perhaps having
crossed Earl in the air on Saturday? Father
Father Casseus photo credit Episcopal Diocese of Upper SC
Casseus, Canon to the Ordinary to
the Diocese of Haiti, stood in line in front of the Cathedral. The web of
connection was almost tangible. The line continued to grow into what was “one
of the longest lines in Cathedral history,” according to a staff person.
Looking to the center I saw a straight line of bishops making a cross through the semi-circle of congregants. Bishop Waldo came scooting up
to his place in line with an excited air. Getting permission from Cathedral
staff, I ran over to greet him. Seconds later Bishop Gene Robinson walked up to greets us
both – all together for this happy occasion, regardless of doctrinal position.
Bishop Waldo
before the service photo credit Episcopal Diocese of Upper SC
It was time for me to head to the east end of the Cathedral,
where I could enter the South Balcony for my press seat. And then... it was time to get
up and run back to the front of the
Cathedral to await Bishop Curry’s knock for entry to the Cathedral.
By this time the sun was shining brightly on the Presiding
Bishop’s head.
Bishop Curry seeks entry to the Cathedral photo credit Episcopal Diocese Upper SC
(According to the Canons of The Episcopal Church, Bishop Curry
became our Presiding Bishop on November 1, which began at midnight
the night before.) He waited peacefully on the Cathedral steps for the sign to
request entry to the Cathedral where he would be installed (an installation is
literally the sitting of a bishop in the bishop’s seat in his or her cathedral).
Bishop Curry enters the Cathedral photo credit Episcopal Diocese of Upper SC
After the knock the seconds ticked by timelessly, Bishop
Curry jovially wondering if he might be granted entrance after all. The time finally came. The Great West Doors opened, and the Presiding Bishop, mitre on his head and
staff in hand, entered. Those of us with cameras and a press pass ran back
around the east end and plunged into the medieval-style winding stone staircase
to the south balcony, still blinded by the sun, trying not to fall on our
faces.
Words echoed from the back of the nave:
Dear
friends in Christ, we bring before you this pastor and bishop who has served
among us faithfully. With gratitude in our hearts, we send him forth to be
Chief Pastor and Primate of this Church.
Tell
us who you are.
I
am Michael Bruce Curry, a child of God, baptized in St. Simon of Cyrene Church
on May 3, 1953, and since that time I have sought to be a faithful disciple of
Jesus Christ.
Our 26th Presiding Bishop, The Most Reverend
Katharine Jefferts Schori, blessed water. She and Bishop Curry practically
danced up the nave to Wade in the Water,
asperging the congregation. Approaching the Great Choir, Bishop Curry was led
to the Presiding Bishop’s stall:
Bishop's Stall at WNC photo credit Episopal Diocese of Upper SC
On
this historic day we extend to you the hospitality of the Cathedral Church for
the exercise of your ministry, and invite you to take your seat in this chair,
which is symbolic of the office of Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church and
Primate.
After kneeling and praying, Bishop Curry joined Bishop
Katharine in front of the altar to receive the Pastoral Staff, symbol of his authority
and ministry as Chief Pastor and Primate of The Episcopal Church.
threw her arms
around him in a gesture of love and gratitude for his service and ministry.
The Liturgy of the Word was filled with prayers, songs and lessons
read and sung in different languages and styles, representing the worldwide presence of The
Episcopal Church and connecting us across all cultural traditions within the
Church.
And then, the moment you’ve all been waiting for… the
preaching! Michael Curry doesn’t preach without exclamation points. You can
watch his sermon here:
Bishop Curry’s faithful love of all people rang through in
his words, sharing the love of Jesus with ALL
people. He urged us to care for Mother Earth and every person that dwells here
with us, letting no child starve, enivisoning "a new heaven and a new earth." This is the Jesus
Movement, Curry announced. We are his disciples. We are all part of the Jesus
Movement.
Perhaps the most moving part of the sermon is the story he told
about a black couple, she an Episcopalian, he studying to be a
Baptist minister. They attended worship one Sunday in the 1940s at an Episcopal Church –
before Rosa Parks sat down on the bus and while Martin Luther
King was still in seminary. They approached the rail for communion. Bishop
Curry, in his traditional humor-filled preaching style (see the list of Top Ten Things Most Likely to Be Heard in a
Michael Curry Sermon here), acted out the role of the priest bearing the wine who
had only
one cup. What to do?!
That couple were served from the one cup. (Equipped with hyper-zoom vision it’s likely we could have seen goosebumps on the arms of the people in the Cathedral in that moment.) The man decided right there that any church where
black and white could be served from one cup was a church he wanted to be a
part of. He hadn't thought that could happen in America. Spoiler Alert: Bishop Curry stated that the couple were the parents of your Presiding Bishop. Silence followed…
This story is perhaps most powerful to those of us in the
South, who also probably cannot imagine this event occurring in America before
desegregation. Bishop Curry used the story to highlight that his ministry in
the next nine years will be about reconciliation of all people, but that a key
stepping stone to the coming of the kingdom is racial reconciliation in the
United States. (If you haven’t watched A
Seat at the Table, an ETV documentary on race reconciliation, you may view it here.)
The Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls photo credit Episcopal Diocese of Upper SC
The Cathedral Choir of Men and Girls sang Mine Eyes Have Seen the Glory as the
offertory hymn. The sounds of loud singing, timpani and drums filled the
Cathedral.
Bishop Curry began to celebrate his first Holy Eucharist as
Presiding Bishop. After his blessing the bread and wine, all sang the Lord’s
Prayer (Albert Hay Malotte 1895 – 1964).
Holding hands in the north transept during the Lord's Prayer photo credit Episcopal Diocese of Upper SC
In the north transept, clergy and communicants held hands across the aisle.
Midway down the nave, the acolytes held hands. On either side of the nave,
bishops, communicants, and staff held hands. At the doxology (For thine is the kingdom…) the people
raised their held hands, gently lowering them back down to land with the Amen. It was a Kairos moment.
Hands raised and held during the doxology in the nave photo credit Episcopal Diocese of Upper SC
For the closing hymn, all sang a joy-filled rendition of Lift Every Voice and Sing. It was three
hours after the procession began.
And then the people exited to wait in line.
For nearly three more hours Bishop Curry stood, guarded by police officers and
surrounded by a near mob, greeting and loving and hugging and blessing everyone
who came into his presence. One young police officer stated, “This is like the
Pope came back!”
At one point during the receiving event, a tall priest came
rambling up beside the line saying “I gotta cut to the front of the line. I got
a plane to catch.” As he got closer he began shouting, “That’s MY son! That’s
MY son!” Again, goosebumps all around as people scrambled to get out their
cameras and phones to capture a proud mother and father with their son.
Bishop Curry with his father photo credit Episcopal Diocese of Upper SC
Bishop Curry with his parents photo credit Episcopal Diocese of Upper SC
On All Saints' Day, the National Cathedral looked down to her front lawn to see people from all cultures, countries, and even religious traditions gathered together to celebrate their common bond in the love of God, just a few blocks away from historic Holy Rood Cemetery. The night before, that cemetery was the perfect scene for a Halloween story. The next day, it was the burial place of saints, 1,000 of whom are African American, slave and free. Burials no longer take place in this cemetery that stands at the highest point in Washington, DC. May we no longer bury our bonds with all people as the children of God.
The people of EDUSC welcome the one who is sent, The Most
Reverend Michael Bruce Curry, first among equals. We look forward to our shared
ministry with you as the people of The Episcopal Church.
During the day Wednesday, water distribution continued at St. Simon and St. Jude, Irmo; St. Michael and All Angels, Columbia; Trinity Cathedral, Columbia; and All Saints, Cayce. Holy Cross, Simpsonville delivered 1700 gallons of water to St. Simon and St. Jude and to Trinity Cathedral on Tuesday. On Wednesday, October 7th, All Saints' had a successful water day. The Reverend Patricia Sexton, Rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church, reports they distributed 300+ cases of bottled water. It was collected and delivered by St. Thaddeus Episcopal Church in Aiken, site of our Diocesan Convention only next week. Deacon Jane Hostetter brought a 24-by-24-foot horse trailer from Aiken to Cayce and arrived at about noon. Volunteers from All Saints' unloaded the trailer and distributed the water in several ways: "We gave water to people who came to All Saints', and we also delivered water to AC Flora High School, the Red Cross site at Mt.Tabor Lutheran in West Columbia, and Forest Heights Elementary School, which was running out of water. We were happy to help people in so many different places," says Sexton. Many thanks to the people of All Saints' for participating in the water drive. Below are some photos from their day Wednesday.
Wednesday night began with a prayer service at St. Michael and All Angels, Columbia. St. Michael's has been distributing water since Tuesday and received another shipment on Thursday, October 8th.
St. Michael's continues to provide water to those in need - they are dedicated to offering water for parishioners but have also delivered water to many place with folks who cannot get out, including St. Lawrence Place, Christopher Towers, Wardlaw Apts., Marion St. Lower and Oak Reed Apts, AHEPA (Pelham Dr.), Medical Clinic, Finlay House, and the South Kilbourne area.
St. Michael's thanks St. Peters and Church of the Redeemer, both of Greenville; The Spartanburg County Sheriff's Dept., Church of the Advent, Spartanburg; Grace Church, Anderson; and Movement Mortgage Co. (Columbia) for delivering water. Also for volunteers from Camden Military Academy; St. John's, Shandon; and Trinity Cathedral, Columbia. If you see the St. John's, Shandon bus driving around town, you know what's on it!
By Wednesday morning, EDUSC had received a very kind and generous offer from The Episcopal Church in South Carolina to come to Columbia next week
EDUSC and TEC in SC enjoying some time together at General Convention this summer in Salt Lake City, Utah
to help us with prep for our Diocesan Convention, which will take place October 16th and 17th. Many of us are engaged in disaster relief in the Diocese and yet our 93rd Diocesan Convention will go on next week to ensure the future of our many ministries. We are very much looking forward to working with our friends from Charleston next week.
Teen volunteers ready to go in the "movie room" at St. Martin's
On Wednesday, St. Martin's-in-the-Fields offered Childcare for 1st- through 5th-graders. The Parish Hall was open and staffed to care for up to 50 first- through fifth-graders. The children made banners for first responders, played games and watched movies. This opportunity allowed parents to work despite area schools' being closed.
The St. Martin's Drop-In Nursery was also available as usual for infants who are eight weeks old through kindergarten but offered extended hours to allow families in this hard-hit area to get difficult tasks done.
By Wednesday afternoon we had also received an offer from Forma (Episcoforma), the national association of Episcopal Christian educators, to help our churches in any way possible. Many thanks to Forma for connecting with our deacons organizing relief efforts. More relief came Wednesday in an offer from McDonnell Tax Services to help anyone in need with tax returns: To anyone who has been displaced by the 2015 flood or suffered property damage:McDonnell Tax Services, LLCwill amend 2014 returns or file 2015 returns free of charge. When you are safe and ready, callRick McDonnellat 803-397-2884 to discuss which option is best for you. Rick's wife, Michelle, is the Director of Children's Ministries at St. Martin's-in-the-Fields, Columbia. Church of the Advent, Spartanburg collected water until Thursday morning. The water arrived on Thursday afternoon. They wrote to their parish: We are planning to pick up
a U-Haul truck at 10 am and anticipate being ready to load at 10:30 am. Our destination will be St. Michael
and All Angels' in the Forest Acres neighborhood of Columbia - about 100 miles
away.
Here is what we had at 2 pm after a van had made a morning pickup: gallon jugs
(220), cases of 24 and 40-pack bottles (165), and 24 of the 37 50-pound boxes
of gallon containers generously donated by St. Matthews, Spartanburg. Thank you, St. Matthew's!
Trinity Cathedral has continued its efforts at providing water, as well as aid to parishioners and those in the community in need. Trinity parishioners, as well as those of St. Martin's-in-the-Fields and St. Michael and All Angels living in Forest Acres suffered devastating damage from the flood. Dean Timothy Jones wrote to his parishioners on Thursday:
The Men of Trinity developing strategies for flood relief at the home of Dr. Walter Edgar
Dear Trinity Family:
I continue be moved by the response of our parish to those whose homes have been flooded. As I've walked among the households that have been severely affected, I have witnessed sadness, weariness, great compassion, deep faith, and glimpses of hope.
Trinity Youth on the way home from their youth trip to Awanita Valley Christian Retreat Center in Marietta, SC. They were delayed coming home until Monday, and decided to pick up water at Ingles on the way home.
We have come together in an outpouring of compassion. At least 100 of our parishioners, youth and adults, have worked as volunteers on site. Others have helped in behind-the-scenes ways. Thank you. Continue to pray and reach out. If someone comes to your mind, consider at least making a phone call. Note these developments:
Along with the immense and immeasurable help being giving informally, we have also been organizing. Thanks to the leadership of Walter Edgar, 600 Trinity families living in or near flood areas have received a check-in call. The calls were made by volunteers from Daughters of the Holy Cross and the Men of Trinity...
We are in touch with lawyers who can offer legal advice relating to insurance and FEMA paperwork. Please call or email as mentioned just above. Trinity member Walker Williams of The Cavalry also can offer clean-up and restoration advice at 454-8200.
Trinity Youth writing messages of hope and love on the water they purchased at Ingles.
Get the word out to those who may need help. We are here to serve! Trinity comes together to do remarkable and magnificent things. We've seen it again in these last few days.
Warmly in Christ, Dean Timothy Jones
Holy Innocents', Atlanta
Holy Innocents', Atlanta, of whichEDUSC's own (fomerly)Michael Sullivan is the rector, got right to work when they became aware of the disastrous flooding in SC. Holy Innocents’ Episcopal School is a parish school, founded in 1959 by Holy Innocents’ Episcopal Church in Atlanta, near Sandy Springs. They are the largest Episcopal day school in the country, serving 1,364 students ages three through 12th grade. Michael gathered his student community, who worked very hard on this endeavor of love. In addition, his post on FB about getting a truck mobilized the church and school
community, resulting in two large trucks and a bus filled with bottled
water for SC. The water arrived in Columbia on Thursday, October 8th, delivered from Grace, Anderson to St. Michael's, Columbia. Many, many, thanks to Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church and school. We are grateful beyond measure for your support, love and hard work.
Loaded up in Atlanta. Michael Sullivan, Rector of Holy Innocents', Atlanta is pictured second from the left. Others pictured are students from Holy Innocents' Episcopal School, as well as volunteers from both the school and the church
The crew after unloading at Grace Church, Anderson. A job well done!
Jay Reid unloading at Grace Church, Anderson
Final destination - St. Michael and All Angels, Columbia! The Reverend Deacon Margaret Jennings Todd is coordinating deliveries of water to so many in need.
On Thursday evening we received a lovely picture from our Charleston friends of a banner in the undercroft of Trinity Church, New Orleans. It was sent to them and they sent it to us in the hope of giving us all a smile.
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 The Deacons of EDUSC are coordinating efforts to get clean water to residents of Columbia in need from the severe flooding that began early Sunday morning. Several of our churches are serving as drop-off points. At this time, only water and money are needed, as these serve the immediate need. Once the efforts to provide as much clean water as possible are accomplished and once the water has receded in the city streets, Deacons Al Hipp and Fergie Horvath will assess the needs of the community regarding shelter, clothing, furnishings and other needs and will make information available on how we, as the Church, can help.
Please note – Governor Haley has declared it unsafe for you to be out on the roads today. Also, there is no water available in most stores at this time. Please do not venture out in an effort to help, but instead share this on Facebook, tell your friends and neighbors who are in need and give them the following contact information. The Deacons have arranged for trucks of water to be delivered to our drop-off points. Information regarding the availability of emergency supplies at our drop-off points will be updated periodically on the EDUSC website and via social media.
The Reverend Deacon Fred Walters was swept off the road early Sunday morning on his way to church. Fortunately, he rolled down his windows before the power went out in his car. He was able to swim and received help from folks in the neighborhood.
The video below is of the Forest Acres neighborhood where many communicants of EDUSC live. Businesses were ruined and homes badly flooded. One of our churches very nearby, thankfully, is safe but for a few leaks.
Forest drive#SCFlood
Posted by Christopher Aakjer on Sunday, October 4, 2015
Drop off points for clean water are as follows:
COLUMBIA/FOREST ACRES -St. Michaels and All Angels– please contact The Reverend Margaret Jennings-Todd at 803-414-4582. WATER AVAILABLE NOW - 12:30 pm, Tuesday - 6408 Bridgewood Road, 29206. www.smaae.org.
COLUMBIA/DOWNTOWN - Trinity Episcopal Cathedral - WATER AVAILABLE NOW - please contact Rusty Miller at 803-466-0702. The church office is open now and has coffee, power and availability to charge phones and laptops. There is plumbing, but no drinking water until the shipment arrives this afternoon. All are welcome. Trinity Cathedral is helping with home clean up, as well.
IRMO -St. Simon and St. Jude, Irmo – please contact The Reverend Mark Abdelnour at 803-315-2084 or The Reverend Deacon d’Rue Hazel at 803-603-1510.
WEST COLUMBIA - All Saints', Cayce - please contact The Reverend Patricia Sexton, Rector, at 803-318-0833 or The Reverend Deacon Dianna Deaderick at 803-622-6509. Water available on Wednesday. More details to come.
For congregations (in and outside of the diocese) that want to send disaster relief assistance, please contact The Reverend Deacon Al Hipp at 864-449-6362 or The Reverend Deacon Fergie Horvath at 864-316-4333. They will be working with local authorities to schedule pick-ups, drop-offs, etc.
Churches in the Foothills Convocation, please contact Al Hipp at 864-449-6362. Piedmont and Catawba Convocations, please contact Fergie Horvath at 864-316-4333 .
Notice - if you are on social media, please LIKE us on Facebook and on Follow us on Twitter @eduscnews. Information about the #scflood is flowing rapidly on social media, often with minute-by-minute updates from our local news reporters and our churches.
Heartbreaking scenes from the home of Trinity parishioners
The Reverend Canon Bob Riegel and his wife, Keren, posted a plea for help on Facebook early Sunday morning and were rescued by boat from their home in one of the flooding Columbia neighborhoods.
The Riegel's flooded neighborhood after water had receded. Photo credit Buffy Farnsworth
From Bishop Charles vonRosenberg and The Episcopal Church in South Carolina
Prayers For Those Affected by Storms and Flooding
As people continue to experience the devastating effects of record rainfall and flooding, please continue to pray for all those who are being affected in South Carolina and beyond. Here is a prayer suggested by Episcopal Relief & Development for times of natural disaster.
O God, our times are in your hand. In the midst of uncertainty lead us by your never-failing grace as we seek to be agents of healing and hope. Walk with us through difficult times; watch over us in danger; and give to us a spirit of love and compassion for those who suffer and mourn. And finally, remind us that you have promised never to leave us so that even in the valley of the shadow of death your love may be felt, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
From EDUSC - Bishop vonRosenberg and The Episcopal Church in South Carolina have been in touch with their parishes and have found, blessedly, that very few communicants were affected by the #scflood other than suffering minor damage in their homes. TEC in SC are now in the process of reaching out to other denominations. Bishop Waldo and Bishop vonRosenberg are in communication on how we can be of help to each other. Many thanks to Holly Behre, Director of Communications of TEC in SC, for sharing the word on social media about the water collection work of the Deacons of The Episcopal Diocese of Upper South Carolina.
The First Water Arrives - St. Simon and St. Jude, Irmo, 5 pm Monday
Many Thanks to the Deacons and Communicants of Upper SC for Their Efforts (update as of 9 pm Monday night)
An update from Deacon Fergie Horvath, St. Christopher's, Spartanburg
We have just pulled out from St. Michaels and All Angels. Today, the Spartanburg Co. Sheriff's deputies, head chaplain, deputy trainees, and New Spring Church volunteers have delivered approximately 6000 bottles of water.
St. Simon and St. Jude: ~1800 bottles (And they had more from another source)
From St. Michael and All Angels
St. Michael and All Angels: ~2300 bottles
EOC (Emergency Operations Center):~ 2500 bottles
Al Hipp is collecting water from the Foothills convocation. The Piedmont convocation will be collecting this week as well. Please continue to pray for these churches and their ministries and for first responders, Chaplains being part of that group. Pray for the people of Columbia. Pray for the low country. Pray for SC. Pray.
Rockbridge Road bridge completely washed out, just around the corner from St. Michael and All Angels, one of our distribution sites. Photo credit Patterson Graham.
Upstate Churches Collecting Water for Columbia: (update as of 12 pm Tuesday afternoon)
Many, many thanks to St. Peter's, Greenville, who collected 988 gallons of water that is already on its way to Columbia.
Also to Christ Church, Greenville, who collected water that has been delivered to Trinity Cathedral.
And - to the Episcopal Church of the Advent, Spartanburg who is collecting water today and tomorrow to be shipped to Columbia Thursday.
Water from St. Peter's, Greenville. From request, to truck, to arrival at St. Michael and All Angels, Columbia. Photo credits The Rev. Dorian del Priore, St. Peter's, and Morgan Lee, St. Michael's
We are so very grateful to everyone. Bishop Waldo spent time at today at the St. Michael and All Angels and Trinity Cathedral collection sites after struggling to get back into town Sunday night and Monday morning after being away.
USC Flood Relief Offers to Help EDUSC via Twitter - (update as of 12:30 pm) Tuesday
We received a direct offer from The University of South Carolina relief team to help us! Deacons coordinating efforts will be in touch as needed. Many, many thanks to USC!
Forest Acres Neighbors and WLTX Offer us Volunteer Help - (update as of 12:50 pm)
