All Saints Episcopal Church and the Southern Deanery will be sponsoring three mission trips to the Dominican Republic in 2017, and volunteers from throughout the diocese are invited to be part of these trips.

A construction trip the week of March 25-April 1 will focus on constructing a playground complex at LaRedencion and doing some general maintenance. If interested, contact Augie Ghessie at [email protected].

A medical mission trip is planned for May 3-10 to serve 300 patients in a very poor area of Santo Domingo. If you have a medical background and are interested in participating in this very important ministry, contact Dale Finn at [email protected]. 

In June, the mission group will be working with our two sister churches in Barahona, DR, to conduct Vacation Bible School for about 350 children the week of June 17-24 .  We sing, play games, work on crafts, and interact with these beautiful children. If interested, contact Steve Tabor at [email protected]. ​

Members of The Episcopal Church in South Carolina have been working with the Carolina African American Heritage Foundation and the Myrtle Beach NAACP to organize the 11th Annual Freedom Rally in Myrtle Beach during the weekend of the federal holiday that honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  

Members of St. Anne's, Conway were instrumental in planning an ecumenical service on January 15, and have been actively involved in the planning of the entire weekend. Here are some of the activities planned:

Friday, January 13 
A screening of "Here Am I, Send Me" will be offered from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. at Holy Cross Faith Memorial Episcopal Church, Pawleys Island. The film is a documentary about the life and death of Jonathan Daniels, an Episcopal seminarian who moved to Alabama during the heights of the Civil Rights movement and was killed while defending a little girl. The Rev. Judy Upham, who was with Daniels in Alabama to stand up for Civil Rights, will briefly introduce the film and answer questions after the film. 

Sunday, January 15
The Rev. Judy Upham will be guest preacher at Holy Cross Faith Memorial and will lead a discussion between the 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. services about her experiences in the Civil Rights era.

Other events for the weekend include a 5k Freedom Run, "Carolina Has Talent" Program, an Ecumenical Worship & Thanksgiving Service at Mount Olive AME Church in Myrtle Beach, a Musical Tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, and a Freedom Parade on Monday at 12 noon on Ocean Boulevard.
Find a full schedule of events here.

Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last: Grant that your Church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. – Collect for the feast day of Martin Luther King, Jr., Civil Rights Leader and Martyr. Appointed lessons can be found here)

Image: Martin Luther King Jr. statue over the west entrance Westminster Abbey, London, installed in 1998.

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