ECW News column (left, with printed circular seal “Episcopal Churchwomen / Diocese of South Carolina” and portrait of Margaret Miller)

ECW News

by Margaret Miller

How does one follow Bonnie Doty when the follower has never written much more than a letter? By God’s grace only! So, I dedicate my column to Him for His glory.

Kathleen Johnston led the “Sharing Days” in May with the world mission movie “Yes, a difference”. This is a very informative movie with Presiding Bishop Allin touring hunger starved countries. The movie may be obtained from the Episcopal Library for $10.00. I understand that some parishes have had rice dinners with the proceeds going to the Presiding Bishop’s Fund.

The new Diocesan project is St. George’s mission near Summerville. This year old mission serves Summerville, Charleston Air Force Base and the North Charleston area near I-26.

Our prayer partners for 1980-1981 are The Rt. Rev. George Haynsworth of El Salvador and The Rt. Rev. Martin Mate of Eastern Newfoundland and Labrador, our companion Diocese. With this, let’s have intercessory prayer in parishes for each other, as we are one in Christ. By doing so the body of Christ is lifted up.

As I have been sitting in workshops and listening to various conversations, I hear a need for unity. Our first priority as ECW women is worship and study. The other priorities will flow to service. Let’s all get involved and unite together in the business that Christ has left for us to do. As Bishop Weinhauer said at the Annual Meeting in Florence, “Love gives us liberty. The washing of feet makes us humble and is a labor of love. As Jesus our example did for us, we are to go and be His Example in our homes, in the world, next door and in cities”. Where are we in our humility? Let’s deny ourselves and may God’s will, not our will, be done.

Let me hear from you about your bazaars or anything you feel might be of interest to the women across the Diocese . . . 741 Willow Lake Rd., Charleston, S.C. 29412.

Sounds of Joy article (with photo of bell tower and clergyman)

Sounds of Joy

by Sally Parrott

Sounds of joy resounded from St. Stephens Episcopal Church, North Myrtle Beach, S.C. On July 1, the parish received from the Verdin Foundry, Belgium, a C sharp major bell which they have named “Jubilee”. It is the first of three bells that will eventually grace the striking, white stucco bell tower. Conceived by the Rev. Edward M. Covert, Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephens and designed by architects Marrs and Lawson, the bell tower is the focal point for a columbarium, “a structure of vaults lined with recesses for funerary urns.” It is only the second of its kind in South Carolina.

The concept of columbar burial originated in Medieval days when the bodies of soldiers slain in battle could not be returned to their families. The bodies were cremated and the ashes placed in urns. Often, as cathedrals were erected, the ashes were placed in the columns. Today with land at a premium and many old church cemeteries limited in their expansion, columbar burial is becoming an important concept.

St. Stephens’ columbarium consists of five separate walls with niches that semi-circle the bell tower. The entire structure floats on a concrete slab. The tuned, Old World bell housed in a modern concrete and steel bell tower seems symbolic of the need of blending past with present. It is an attempt to re-establish a bit of necessary tradition where it otherwise would have been impossible. The Rev. Mr. Covert likens the columbarium and bell tower to a modern day version of the English churchyard.

For this parish, it holds the hope of a place in which to grow and some day in which to be buried. For a 6-year old church of 130 communicants, the structure and the bell are representative of what can be accomplished with determination and foresight. Thus with great expectation on July 1, St. Stephens awaited the joyful noise of “Jubilee.”

Photograph caption (italic)

The Rev. Mr. Covert, Priest-in-Charge of St. Stephen’s, likens the Columbarium and bell tower to a modern day version of the English Churchyard.

Ventures column (with portrait of Paula Matthews)

VENTURES

by Paula Matthews

Ventures in Christ, Ventures in Song, Ventures in Christian Education. What are ventures? Webster’s New World Dictionary defines venture as a risky or dangerous undertaking in which there is a chance of loss as well as a chance for profit. Roget’s Thesaurus lists possible synonyms such as adventurous undertaking, advance, and put forward. I would define ventures as an adventurous undertaking for the purpose of advancement of ones knowledge or experience — hence the name of this column VENTURES. Hopefully VENTURES will provide a vehicle by which resources and experiences in Christian Education can be shared.

As a beginning, I would like to share one venture that is now underway: the updating and refurbishing of our rsource [sic] library here at the Diocean [sic] House. Included in this will be the cataloging of available resources as well as purchasing new resources and equipment. Available soon will be a curriculum library which will include a wide sampling of available curriculum. This resource will be available for parishes and missions to use in evaluating the various curricula to be used in their Church Schools and EYC groups. Additional resource such as filmstrips, films, puppet, drama, and dance will also be available. Any parish or mission needing to use the resource library or find out more about it need only to call or write the Diocesan House.

I look forward to future Ventures in Christian Education! “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

B The Episcopalian/Jubilate Deo

Essay — From Dr. Allison To The Diocese (right column, signed)

From Dr. Allison To The Diocese

It is most frequently an unpardonable presumption for any person entering a new situation, to come with fixed ideas as to how he intends to apply the principles of his convictions. Such tactics should be determined only after a thorough familiarity with the local and specific situations, conditions, and people. I am fortunate to have the opportunity of working with Bishop Temple, and during this time I intend to learn as much as possible about our diocese and state, clergy and laity, and to discover the needs, opportunities, weaknesses and strengths that are the conditions of the church’s mission in these times.

This tentativeness regarding tactics and methods is, however, in contrast to my firm convictions about strategy. No Faith of My Own by Professor Langmead Casserley expresses in the title my convictions that Christian doctrine, which is especially entrusted to the responsibility of bishops, is not anything that any of us has made up or invented. I am not only comfortable with, but am enthusiastic about, the truth, power, wisdom, and relevance of the Christian faith as set forth in our creeds and enshrined in the official formularies of the Anglican Communion. I believe the alternatives to and “improvements” on classical christianity are, invariably, but new forms of old mistakes. They are neither faithful to scripture nor to the experience of the Holy Book. Scripture’s promise of peace and joy in believing is the result of the kind of orthodoxy defined by S. T. Coleridge as: “a rectitude of the heart”.

The Prayer Book, when speaking of the ministry, frequently uses the phrase “by their life and doctrine”. In addition to my heartfelt enthusiasm for Christian doctrine, I consider that we in South Carolina are blessed with the examples of two especially great 19th Century clergy: Alexander Glennie of Georgetown and A. Toomer Porter of Charleston. For me they are “men for all seasons” and the latter’s book, Led On Step By Step, expresses a vigorous piety and a gentle tenacity by which I should like my own life and ministry to be guided.

Our diocese has a responsibility commensurate with its great heritage and I believe many sense an unprecedented opportunity to grow and flourish. I ask your prayers that we may together be given the confidence, courage, wisdom, and concord that is required to do the Lord’s service in this state of life to which He has called us. My conviction is that as we are faithful, He will richly bless our diocese and, through us, “the world that He so loved that He gave His only begotten son…”