General Convention, Revival, and the Flat Bishop Challenge!

Dear friends,

In just a few short weeks, The Episcopal Church will hold our 81^st General Convention, which is the governing body of The Episcopal Church.  General Convention meets every three years and is composed of a House of Deputies and a House of Bishops, with deputies and bishops coming together from each of our 110 dioceses.  The 2024 General Convention will take place in Louisville, Kentucky from June 23 through 28^th.  This year’s gathering will mark the conclusion of Michael B. Curry’s term as our Presiding Bishop.  (To learn more about General Convention, visit www.generalconvention.org)

You may remember that Bishop Curry loves revivals.  Bishop Curry’s revival ministry has inspired Episcopalians to come together for Jesus-centered worship, prayer, and action.  During his time in office, he has led 26 revivals all across the United States, including one last April here in our own diocese.  Now Bishop Curry is inviting us to join him for one final revival, which will be held on the eve of General Convention. 

The love.ALWAYS. Episcopal Revival will be livestreamed from Louisville on Saturday, June 22 from 7-9 p.m.  We are encouraged to bring friends and family and join the revival online to say "thank you," to renew our love for God and neighbor, and to welcome new friends discovering Jesus through The Episcopal Church.  Go to www.episcopalchurch.org/love-always-episcopal-revival to learn more and sign up.

Our diocese has issued a “Flat Bishop Challenge” leading up to the love.ALWAYS. Episcopal Revival and General Convention.  Flat Bishop is a picture of Presiding Bishop Curry, and we are encouraged to take pictures of ourselves with Flat Bishop and share them through social media.  Here at St. Andrew’s, we will take a picture at each service on Sunday, June 9 of us with Flat Bishop.  If you would like to print and cut out your own Flat Bishop for picture-taking purposes, go to www.episcopalchurch.org/presiding-bishop-michael-curry/official-photos.

Meanwhile, every Wednesday at 3 p.m. EST through June 26, you are invited to join a 15-minute prayer call with the Episcopal Church Revival Team.  The call is an opportunity to pray together for God’s blessing, guidance and protection on leaders preparing for the revival and General Convention and also to pray for the revival of the whole church.  All are welcome; the link can be found at www.episcopalchurch.org/love-always-episcopal-revival.

This is an exciting and important time in the life of our beloved Episcopal Church.  God is at work.  Please join me in holding the love.ALWAYS. Episcopal Revival and our General Convention in prayer in the coming days.  As always, I am so grateful to be part of this parish and the wider Episcopal Church with each of you.

Blessings. -Anne