Josie's Journal

June 2011
Work of the Deacon

June 26, 2011
Saint Alban, Patron Saint of Converts & Refugees

July 2011
Vacation Bible School

August 2011
Wednesday's Saints

October 2011
I will, with God's help

The Reverend Deacon Josie Williams

Josie's Journal

November 2011

I attended my first clergy conference, October 24-27 at Gray Center. It was a renewal process that I was very happy to have had. I had a chance to talk with priests and deacons from all over the diocese.

The speaker Brian McLaren was electrifying and the music was uplifting and helped guide the conference. Music seems to play a part in our lives and this was no different. Monday evening worship included the song The Day Thou Gavest, Lord, Tuesday worship included Morning Has Broken and concluded with worship in the chapel where we were anointed with water and renewed our baptismal vows. It wouldn't be a time for renewal and rededication to service without singing The Magnificat, which we did. Wednesday we ended the worship with the song Creator Spirit, By Whose Aid. Our concluding worship before we departed on Thursday afternoon included the reaffirmation of our ordination vows ending with the hymn Go Forth for God.

Sessions started with breakfast at 8:00 am and concluded at 8:30 pm. This was an opportunity to worship, think, reflect, and renew. I came away refreshed and eager to return home to St. Alban's.

P.S. I almost forgot - Theo and I attended the closing ceremony at Cursillo 121. We saw friends from all over the diocese and experienced singing and communion with them and David Pruett, who we sponsored. Hugs and tears were shared by all. It was a great experience just to be at Gray Center on a beautiful Sunday afternoon with people you love.

The Daughters of the King retreat was held in Starkville on October 21-22. The Rev. Carol Mead gave a presentation entitled "The Word Resurrected". I took notes and am anxiously waiting to hear the next part when she presents it at Holy Trinity in Vicksburg, time to be announced. Our own Very Rev. Billie Abraham delivered the sermon and I have the notes from it. It was a weekend of prayer and fellowship with forty other Daughters of the King from the diocese. I have been fed with spiritual food and inspiration as I return to St. Alban's renewed.