TECSC churches communicate, find ways to pray together through Florence

UPDATED Saturday, September 15, 6:30 pm

NEW: Some churches have changed their Sunday plans following the storm. Please check the lists below to see who is having services.

NEW: Deadline extended until September 21 for Convention resolutions, nominations. Details here.

As Florence continues to make its way across the Carolinas, leaders in our diocese continue to pray for those hard hit in North Carolina. Here in South Carolina, through daily diocesan check-in, emails and phone calls, we have heard from clergy and leaders in the Grand Strand and Pee Dee areas where the storm passed overnight. Power is out in some areas, and future flooding remains a concern, but for now, the reports are good.

Our Diocesan Disaster Coordinator, the Rev. Fred Thompson, offered this prayer at the Episcopal Relief & Development daily check-in today:

Gracious Lord, who speaks a word of peace to calm our troubled seas, who nudges us away from fear and panic; and, fills us with awe, open our eyes to help us see you in our boat today. Open our ears to hear your words of reassurance for your people during and after this storm. In your name we pray. Amen.

Morning check-ins began Wednesday and are continuing daily so leaders can pray, share information, and give updates on how their churches are faring. 

Watch a video message from Bishop Adams
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Diocesan Disaster Coordinator the Rev. Fred Thompson and diocesan staff are participating in similar daily check-in meetings with Episcopal Relief & Development’s disaster team, along with personnel from the other dioceses where the storm may be headed. The organization is providing support and resources for churches before, during, and after the storm.​

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Holy Cross Faith Memorial in Pawleys Island was one of the many churches using Facebook to keep parishioners informed .

Bishop Adams said that Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has called to assure him of the Church’s prayers, and other church leaders echoed that. “You are not alone,” The Rev. Cn. Mark Stevenson, the Presiding Bishop’s Canon for Ministry Within the Church, told the group on the Episcopal Relief & Development call this morning. “Thank you for being the Church in this time.” 

NEW: SERVICES AND CANCELATIONS
This list is being updated so please continue to check.

Services are canceled at:

Cheraw Worship Group
Messiah, Myrtle Beach
Good Shepherd, Sumter
Heavenly Rest, Estill
Holy Communion, Allendale
Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawleys Island
St. Alban's, Kingstree
St. Augustine's, Wedgefield
St. Catherine's, Florence
St. Francis, Charleston
St. James-Santee, McClellanville
St. Mark's, Charleston
​St. Stephen's, North Myrtle Beach
St. Stephen's, St. Stephen
The Episcopal Church in Okatie

Bishop's visitation postponed
Bishop Adams had been scheduled to make an official visitation at St. Alban's, Kingstree. It was postponed due to the likelihood that road near the church may not be passable on Sunday.

NEW: Suicide conversation postponed
A community discussion on suicide hosted by Holy Cross Faith Memorial, Pawley's Island, is postponed until September 26 at 7 p.m.

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The Rev. Rob Donehue of St. Anne's, Conway is offering daily prayers on Facebook Live.

These churches will offer services Sunday

(All these are on the regular schedule unless otherwise noted):
All Saints, Hilton Head Island
All Saints, Hampton
Calvary, Charleston
Christ Church, Denmark
The East Cooper Episcopal Church
The Episcopal Church on Edisto
Epiphany, Summerville
Good Shepherd, Summerville 
Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston (also livestreaming online, see below)
Holy Communion, Charleston: (1 combined service at 10:30 am)
St. Anne's, Conway (10 am at 1005 Snowhill Drive Conway SC 29526)
St. George's, Summerville (1 combined service at 10 am)
St. Mark's, Port Royal
St. Philip’s Chapel, Voorhees College (Denmark)
St. Stephen's, Charleston (1 combined service at 11 am)
St. Thomas, North Charleston

(Read below to find links for livestreaming Sunday services, and for how to find an Episcopal church if you have evacuated to another diocese)

At St. Stephen’s, Charleston, the Charleston Pride Interfaith Service at 5 pm Sunday has been postponed because many of the participating clergy from around the city were evacuating. The Rev. Adam Shoemaker, rector of St. Stephens, said they hope to announce a new date soon. The church will have one morning service at 11:00 am Sunday.

While some services are canceled, clergy and lay leaders are still carrying on with ministry, contacting parishioners directly and encouraging them to check in with their plans and locations, using phone trees, texts and other tools, so they can account for everyone after the storm.

At least one church explored ways to worship together via social media. At St. Anne’s, Conway, the Rev. Rob Donehue is offering daily prayers on Facebook Live via the church’s Facebook group. His first Morning Prayer was joined by a few dozen people who tuned in from their devices. He said he will continue with Morning Prayer at 8:30 a.m. and Evening Prayer at 6:00 p.m. daily “as long as the power stays on.”

“With all of the added distractions, it's easy to lose sight of what gives us hope,” Fr. Donehue said. “For us who are Christians, our hope is founded on God and our belief in the Risen Jesus. . .No matter what storms may come our way, we are anchored in our faith in God.”

In McClellanville, which endured the full force of Hurricane Hugo’s storm surge in 1989, Wardens Larry Mellichamp and Macy Frampton and a team of volunteers gathered at St. James-Santee on Wednesday morning to move prayer books, hymnals, Bibles and pew cushions to the upper floors of the parish house.

In announcing their Sunday plans, church leaders were urging people in the affected areas not to drive or travel this weekend until local and state authorities give the "all clear" to travel. With the potential for hazardous conditions and flooding, safety is the priority.

For the second year in a row, the Bishop Gadsden Episcopal retirement community in Charleston had to evacuate to Kanuga, the Episcopal conference center near Hendersonville, NC. Residents were enjoying a day of good weather and activities early Thursday, and Bishop Gadsden is keeping friends and family up to date via its Facebook page as well.
 
Evacuees: Finding an Episcopal church
 
Episcopalians who are evacuating to surrounding dioceses and states, and are looking for a place to worship on Sunday, can find information here: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/find-a-church
The site allows you to search by location and zip code, and includes maps and contact information.
 
Livestreamed services this weekend
 
If you are unable to get to church Sunday, here are some Episcopal churches that livestream their Sunday services:
Grace Church Cathedral, Charleston – Sunday, 11:00 am Eastern time (unless unable to livestream due to the storm)
St. Philip's Cathedral, Atlanta – Sunday, 11:15 am Eastern time
Trinity Wall Street  Sunday, 9 am and 11:15 am Eastern time.
Washington National Cathedral Sunday,  11:15 Eastern time.
St. Michael and All Angels, Dallas 11 am Central/10 a.m. Eastern: Traditional (Rite II); 11 am Central/12 pm Eastern Contemporary Rite II  
St. James, Lancaster, PA - Saturday 5 pm, Sunday 10:30 am

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