Bishop’s Message
Bishop’s Message
May 6th, 2015
Dear Friends in Christ,
The 147th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Albany is rapidly approaching. Scheduled for Friday, June 5th through Sunday, June 7th at Camp of the Woods in Speculator, New York, all clergy and laity (young and old) throughout the Diocese are invited and welcome to attend. The Convention is truly intended to be a family event with plenty of activities and events planned for all ages.
This year’s theme: “Three Persons, One God – Three Streams, One Church” (Anglo-Catholic, Evangelical and Charismatic), will be reflected in the various workshops and plenary sessions, as well as each of the worship services.
We are honored to have with us for this year’s Convention the 103rd Archbishop of Canterbury, The Right Reverend and Right Honourable The Lord Carey of Clifton and his wife, Lady Eileen Carey. Lord Carey will be the preacher at the Saturdayafternoon Holy Eucharist as well as the preacher at the Saturday evening Healing Service.
The Very Reverend Dr. Steven Peay, Dean of Nashotah House, will be our Saturday morning Plenary Speaker. The Saturdayafternoon Plenary Session will comprise a panel discussion by four missionary bishops – the Rt. Rev. Dr. Grant LeMarquand (Area Bishop for the Horn of Africa in the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa), the Rt. Rev. Todd McGregor (Bishop of Toliara, Madagscar), the Rt. Rev. Darren McCartney (Bishop Suffragan of the Arctic) and the Rt. Rev. Fanuel Magangani (Bishop of Northern Malawi). The moderator of the panel discussion will be the Rt. Rev. Harold Miller (Bishop of Down and Dromore, Northern Ireland).
Other highlights of Convention include a multitude of workshops (you can see a preliminary list of the workshops and their descriptions by clicking here), Spirit-filled worship, beautiful music (traditional and contemporary), excellent preaching and teaching, a time for prayer and healing ministry, Christian fellowship with family and friends from around the Diocese and the wider Anglican Communion, as well as enjoyable entertainment and recreation, all in a beautiful Adirondack setting.
In addition to everything just mentioned, ministry to the youth of the Diocese is a vital part of the Convention weekend. A Diocesan Youth Rally will be held at Camp of the Woods for the middle school and high school age kids. A Vacation Bible School will be conducted for the elementary school age kids and day care will be provided for the infants and babies. Parents and grandparents, please bring your children.
For those who like to arrive early, registration at Camp of the Woods begins Friday morning at 10:00. The first workshops will be offered at 2:00 p.m. Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer is at 7:00 p.m. followed by the Bishop’s Address and the official opening of the Convention at approximately 7:30 p.m. The first ballot of voting will take place Friday night before adjourning for the evening. The business session will resume at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, and will hopefully be finished by lunch time. The main Convention Eucharist will be celebrated at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. A healing prayer service will be held Saturday at 7:00 p.m. The Convention will conclude with the Youth Mass Sunday morning. (For a schedule for all the events of the weekend, click here.)
If you are a deputy to Convention or are clergy, you can get more information about the resolutions that will be presented, including the Diocesan Budget, and about those running for office, by attending the final Pre-Convention Meeting which is being held at Christ Church, Cooperstown on Thursday, May 7th at 7 p.m.
If you have never been to the Diocesan Convention, this would be a great year to come. If you have been before, please join us again. The Diocesan Convention is one of the highlights of the year. If you are unable to attend, perhaps you could help pay for someone else to come. You can register on-line for Convention by clicking here.
Faithfully yours in Christ,
+Bill