We're launching a new video and podcast series where we're asking folks from around the diocese to reflect on this question: Where do you see signs of new life in your families, communities, and congregations? Today Bishop Waldo kicks off the series with his reflection.

Bishop Waldo preached about God's contagious love at Trinity Cathedral's Easter Eucharist on Sunday, April 12, 2020.

The Rev. Mitch Smith preached a powerful sermon at Caitlyn Darnell's ordination last night, calling her (and all of us) to participate in God's mission in this time and place.

At the end of our Pre-Lenten Clergy Retreat, we gathered for eucharist and the renewal of ordination vows. In her sermon, the Rev. Janey Wilson (Our Saviour, Rock Hill), talked to us about her call, Samuel's call, and our call to follow Jesus.

Cameron Vivanco, EDUSC missionary in Ecuador and founder of Education Equals Hope, is facilitating our 2020 Pre-Lenten Clergy Retreat at Camp Gravatt. In her opening session, she shared her story and invited us to look for God in the midst of our stories.

Our 97th Diocesan Convention was held Nov. 8-9 at Christ Church, Greenville. Bishop Waldo's sermon during the convention Eucharist helped focus us on our call to be Baptized for Life.

Resources from the 97th Diocesan Convention:

https://www.edusc.org/97th-diocesan-convention/

EDUSC partnered with the SC Collaborative for Race and Reconciliation for the 2019 Equity Summit, a space for those actively engaged in race equity and inclusion efforts across the Southeast to lean on and learn from each other. In one session, Dr. Catherine Meeks, Executive Director of the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing, spoke with us about moving from racial reconciliation to racial healing.

Links from this episode:

SC Collaborative for Race and Reconciliation Equity Summit Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing EDUSC Race & Reconciliation Committee

St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Greenville, S.C., recently celebrated it's 50th anniversary. Bishop Waldo's sermon that day focused on how we as disciples discern who we are, where we are going, and why.

Click here to learn more about the history of St. Peter's.

If you've ever planned a funeral for a loved one, you know how difficult that can be. This week I sat down with Patricia Sexton, rector of All Saints, Cayce, to talk about her work with the South Carolina Funeral Consumers Alliance.

Links mentioned in the show:

South Carolina Funeral Consumers Alliance

Funeral home price surveys

The Episcopal Church's efforts around race and reconciliation

Sacred Ground study series

EDUSC clergy and spouses recently gathered at Kanuga for our annual Fall Clergy Conference. This year, Donald Romanik from the Episcopal Church Foundation led us in a discussion of stewardship as a way of life. I hope you enjoy his opening plenary from the conference, focusing on Transformative Stewardship.