News & Notes: April 29, 2026

Weeks of May 3 • May 10

Fifth Sunday of Easter
Collect & Readings

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
St. Paul’s, Greenville &
Pamlico Deanery

Sixth Sunday of Easter
Collect & Readings

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
The Most Rev. Sean Rowe, Presiding Bishop, Julia Ayala Harris, President of the House of Deputies, and Staff of The Episcopal Church

Upcoming Events

Third Annual Spring Arts and Crafts Market at Christ Church, New Bern, May 2, 2026. Click here for details.
Ordination of Gary Fetter, Nicholas Kohlmann, and Stephen Thomas at St. Mary’s, Kinston, May 2, 2026. Learn more here.
World Labyrinth Day at Church of the Servant, Wilmington, May 2, 2026. Click here for details.
Farewell Get Together for the Skirvings at Trinity Center, May 16, 2026. Find details here.
Ordination of the Ninth Bishop of East Carolina at Riverfront Convention Center, May 23, 2026. Learn more here.

View All Upcoming Events

Diocesan News

The Reverend Leslie Enid Roraback, age 57, died surrounded by her family, April 25th, 2026, at the home of her daughter in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Leslie was a beloved Episcopal priest and friend to many, in both the Diocese of Florida and the Diocese of East Carolina. A funeral with a Eucharist of the Resurrection will be held on Friday, May 1, 2026 at 3:00 pm at St. Paul’s-in-the- Pines Episcopal Church, Fayetteville, NC.

Clergy attending are asked to wear white clerical attire. The service will be live-streamed for those unable to join in-person.

Visitation with the family will follow this service at a reception the same day at 5:00 pm, St. John’s Episcopal Church’s Hauser Hall, 302 Green Street, downtown Fayetteville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to St.- Paul’s-in-the-Pines Episcopal Church Priest Fund, or to St. John’s Episcopal Church Cuba Outreach Fund in Tallahassee.

You can read the full obituary here.

Memorial Service for Rev. Alan Neale

A memorial service to remember and honor the Rev. Alan Neale will be held at Zion Episcopal Church on May 15th, 11am.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Zion Episcopal Church, 7302 US Hwy. 264 East, Washington, NC 27889 or to Eagle’s Wings Food Pantry, 932 West Third Street, Washington, NC 27889

You can read the full obituary here.

The Ordination of Gary Fetter, Nicholas Kohlmann, and Stephen Thomas – May 2, 2026 at 10:30am

All are invited to the Diaconal Ordination of Gary Fetter, Nicholas Kohlmann, and Stephen Thomas on May 2, 2026 at 10:30am. The ordination will take place at St. Mary’s, Kinston.

Farewell to the Skirvings | May 16, 2026 at Trinity Center

To celebrate Bishop Skirving’s tenure as Eighth Bishop of East Carolina, we’re having a get together at Trinity Center!

Everyone is invited to Trinity Center for a thoroughly East Carolina event: foodtrucks, the Crystal Coast, and a time to share stories and hang out! If you’d like to attend, please RSVP by emailing the Bishop Transition Committee by May 1.

In addition to the Trinity Center get together, the Bishop Transition Committee is gathering some other gits for the Skirvings! The first is a general fund towards the Skirvings’ upcoming pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona. And the second is a collection of videos for a digital card for the Skirvings. To learn more about both, visit our website!

Form Re-opened for Ordination RSVPs

Those who tried to RSVP for the Ordination of our Ninth Bishop after April 23rd might have received a pop-up saying registration had closed. RSVPs are still being accepted and encouraged! If you haven’t yet, be sure to RSVP here for the big day!

Photos from Around the Diocese

We are preparing for the ordination on May 23rd and could use your help! Please send one to three pictures of your parish in action, people doing ministries they love, for our welcome slideshow. Please make sure that any pictures of children have their parents permission to be included, as this slideshow will also be available, after the ordination on our website. Please also make sure the pictures are from within the past 12 months. And please include your parish’s name!

You can upload your pictures here. https://we.tl/r-J0O8pr74dGFBztRw

Ministry & Faith Formation Events and Resources

ECYC Applications are Open

Applications are open for rising 9th-12th graders who are interested in serving on the East Carolina Youth Council for the upcoming term. The deadline for applying is May 13th.

The East Carolina Youth Council serves young people and youth ministry by visioning, planning, and developing programs and resources. The ECYC is primarily made up of young people from across the diocese supported by adults invested in ministry with and for young people.

The hope of the ECYC is to be a representative body of the Diocese of East Carolina. Typically there are two representatives from each of the Diocese’s five Deaneries and three at-large representatives, totaling thirteen positions.

For questions regarding ECYC applications please contact Emily Gowdy Canady, Missioner for Lifelong Christian Formation in the Diocese of East Carolina.

Click here to learn more and apply!

SUMMA Theological Debate Camp at Sewanee for High Schoolers | July 14-22, 2026 at Sewanee

The SUMMA Theological Debate Summer Camp applications are open! The deadline for applying is May 31st. Click here to apply!

The SUMMA Theological Debate Summer Camp brings together high school students from across the country to one of the largest and most beautiful college campuses anywhere – the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. By exploring life’s biggest questions through theological debate, we broaden students’ understanding of Christianity and its enduring power to speak the truth in love.

Please contact Emily Gowdy Canady, Missioner for Lifelong Christian Formation in the Diocese of East Carolina with any questions.