News And Notes: September 16, 2026

Weeks of September 20 • September 27

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
Collect & Readings

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
Holy Trinity, Fayetteville
& St. Andrew’s, Columbia

Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Collect & Readings

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
Grace Church, Lewiston-Woodville &
Retired Clergy of East Carolina

Upcoming Events

Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Dr. BJ Buracker at St. Andrew’s on the Sound, Wilmington, September 16. Learn more here.
Happening 85 at Trinity Center, September 25-27. Find details here.
Cultural Festival at La Sagrada Família, Newton Grove, September 27. Learn more here.
Semi-Annual Service at St. Barnabas Episcopal, Snow Hill, October 3. Click here for more info.
Annual Lobsterfest Fundraiser at St. Francis by the Sea, Salter Path, October 10. Learn more here.
Fall Conference for Middle Schoolers at Trinity Center, October 16-18. Click here to learn more.
Lobster Fair at St. Timothy’s, Greenville, October 24. Click here for details.

Since 1989 September has been designated as National Recovery Month overseen by SAMSHA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration). To honor this, we invite parishes to use the Prayer for the Victims of Addiction (Prayer 56 on p. 831 BCP) during the Prayers of the People during the month of September. We also invite you all to visit the SAMHSA Recovery Month page to see this year’s Recovery Month Toolkit and other resources.

Multiple Pathways of Recovery: Recovery Happens in Many Ways | Tuesday, September 22, 1-2 p.m. ET

In addition to the above invitation, we will be sharing the weekly webinar information from SAMHSA. Individuals achieve recovery through a variety of approaches that reflect their unique needs, experiences, values, cultures, and personal goals. This webinar explore how embracing multiple approaches helps create more inclusive and responsive recovery ecosystems.

Around the Diocese

Everyone’s favorite event of the year is coming up quick: Annual Convention! Our 143rd Annual Convention will be November 13-14, 2026 at The Maxwell Convention Center in Goldsboro, NC. Information about registration, accommodations, elections, and other convention business can be found on our Annual Convention page. All our convention pages will be updated periodically, so make sure to bookmark the main page!

Registration is live, so be sure to register soon if you plan to attend convention!

Celebration of New Ministry for the Rev. Dr. BJ Buracker | Wednesday, September 16 at St. Andrew’s on the Sound, Wilmington

The People of St. Andrew’s on the Sound Episcopal Church, Wilmington are pleased to invite you to a Celebration of their New Ministry with the Rev. Dr. B.J. Buracker whom The Right Reverend Sarah K. Fisher, Ninth Bishop of East Carolina, will institute as Rector on Saturday, the sixteenth of September two thousand twenty-six at six o’ clock in the afternoon.

All are welcome, and your prayers and presence are requested.

Clergy – cassock, surplice, and white stole.

2027 Healthcare Plan Costs

Selection rate for 2027 healthcare plan options have been released. Two documents are provided below: one with the healthcare plans, and another that outlines copay rates.

If you have any questions, please reach out to LaTonya Smith at [email protected].

Project Resource Fall 2026 Trainings

Project Resource equips stewardship teams with strategic training and flexible resources to design and execute annual stewardship campaigns that can be replicated and adapted in future years. Project Resource is dedicated to fostering cultural and systemic advancements around stewardship as a ministry in The Episcopal Church. Sessions for Fall 2026 begin on September 13th! Learn more here.

Ministry & Faith Formation
Events and Resources

Fall Conference for Middle Schoolers | October 16-18 at Trinity Center

Join 6th-8th graders and their adult leaders from around the diocese for a weekend of faith, fellowship, and fun. Over the course of the weekend we will explore our faith in community, learning new ways of recognizing God in our lives.

9th – 12th graders may apply to serve on team. All team members must attend at least one of the Zoom team meetings AND be able to arrive at Trinity Center by 2:00 PM on Friday, October 16th.

Deadline for Fall Conference for Middle Schoolers Team is September 14th, Participants is October 2nd!

Click here to learn more and register!

Fall Conference for Middle Schoolers | October 16-18 at Trinity Center

Join with Christian Formation Leaders from around the diocese for our bimonthly gatherings. We are excited to have Missy Morain with us to share ideas and methods for hosting book studies for adults, both online and in person.

A proven format for bringing groups together–even groups of seemingly dissimilar people–is through common reading and discussion. Join with us a we learn how to implement book studies for adult in your context. In addition, you will learn about some books that might be great ways to start a book study or club in your parish!

Missy has served as Lay Professional in the Episcopal Church for over 25 years. She has served in the Midwest, on the East Coast and currently she serves in Los Angeles where she is the Missioner for Christian Formation, Children’s & Youth Ministry.

Click here to learn more and register!