The sixth annual spiritual renewal retreat was held at Gray Center 26-28 August 2011.
This event is sponsored each year by The Diocesan Committee on Ministry with LGBT Persons and the Diocesan Office. There were 65 attendees from five states including many parishes from the gulf coast to Southaven in the north and Vicksburg to Meridian in central Mississippi. Of that number, seven were clergy including Bishop Gray.
This year’s leader was The Rev. Deacon Joanna Seibert, MD, from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Little Rock, AR. Her theme was A Spiritual Journey with Psalms, Harp and Stories. Drawing from her books, The Call of the Psalms (A Spiritual Companion for Busy People) and The Call of the Psalms (A Spiritual Companion for People in Recovery), Dr. Seibert led the participants with readings from these publications followed by periods of meditation enhanced with music she played on the harp.
The three central considerations for her presentations and discussion groups were:(1) How God cares for us in times of suffering; (2) How God heals and speaks to us in community; and (3) How help came when we thought solutions were impossible. The weekend was further enriched with Compline on Friday night, Morning Prayer on Saturday morning, A Service of Healing on Saturday night and Eucharist on Sunday morning. The musician for these services was Dr. Robin Webb.
The Seventh Annual Retreat will be held at Gray Center 24-26 August 2012.
John Lever is the chairperson of the Diocesan Committee on Ministry with LGBT Persons.
