Every voice, one song

199th Annual Council to take place January 30th & 31st in Ridgeland

by the Rev. Canon Gary Meade

The Diocese of Mississippi is invited to gather for the 199th Annual Council, offered this year at St. Andrew’s School in Ridgeland on Friday and Saturday, January 30th and 31st. As always, the gathering promises to be a time of shared worship, mutual work for the benefit of our congregations and people, and—of course!—our own version of a large family reunion. This year’s theme, building on last year’s (Telling Our Story), is “Telling Our Stories: Every Voice, One Song.”

While much remains the same, one big change for this year’s event is a shorter schedule concluding on Saturday afternoon which will allow the clergy of the diocese to be with their congregations on Sunday morning (and potentially save visiting clergy and delegates the cost of a second night of a hotel stay).

“Wait!” you may be thinking, “What about our Sunday Eucharist?” Annual Council will still include a community celebration of Holy Communion, but this year it will be offered on Saturday morning. Churches are encouraged to bring banners to carry in procession, and all singers are invited to lead our worship that morning.

Clergy, delegates, and all interested persons 21 or older are invited to a Diocesan Reception at Georgia Blue in Madison on Friday starting at 8:00 pm. The evening will include food, beverages, and music from Doctor Zarr’s Amazing Funk Monster. Clergy spouses are also being invited to a special luncheon in their honor on Saturday at Anjou Restaurant.

Details about Annual Council can be found by visiting msepiscopalian.com/council or call the diocesan staff at the Allin House, 601-948-5954. Early bird pricing of $150 is available until January 8. Beginning January 9, registration will be $175.