News & Notes: April 15, 2026

Weeks of April 19 • April 26

Third Sunday of Easter
Collect & Readings

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
St. Christopher’s, Havelock &
Episcopal Campus Ministries

Fourth Sunday of Easter
Collect & Readings

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer
St. Mark’s, Roxobel &
St. Stephen’s, Goldsboro

Upcoming Events

New Beginnings 59 at Trinity Center, April 17-19, 2026. Click here to learn more and register.
April Formation Leader Gathering on Zoom, April 21(7PM) & 22 (2PM), 2026. Learn more and register here.
Cursillo EC107 at Trinity Center, April 23, 2026. Find details here.
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.
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

Scam Email Alert

We’ve been alerted that folks from around the diocese are receiving emails from scammers pretending to be Diocesan House employees. If you receive an email from someone at Diocesan House, always make sure to check the email address. If you’re unsure, contact Diocesan House to confirm the email.

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!

Gifts for Bishop-Elect Sarah Fisher

On May 23, we will gather at the Riverfront Convention Center in New Bern to ordain and consecrate the Rev. Sarah Fisher as the Ninth Bishop of the Diocese of East Carolina.

One of the most beautiful traditions of an ordination is this: the people of the diocese give their new bishop the gifts of the office.

These are the sacred vestments and symbols she will wear as she serves among us — a cope, chasuble, and mitre adorned with images of fish and water; a bishop’s ring set with an amethyst and containing gold from her family; the rochet, chimere, and bishop’s scarf; and a pectoral cross that was worn by Bishop Thomas Wright (1945-1973).

Every item is being handmade by individual artisans. They are gifts FROM us, carried BY her, as a sign of the bond between a bishop and her people. Over the coming days, we’ll be sharing more about each gift.

A donation of any size helps vest our bishop. You can give toward a specific gift or make a general donation — and any amount given above the cost of the gifts will be placed in Bishop-elect Fisher’s Discretionary Fund. Every gift matters.

Give today: https://dioec.regfox.com/gift-for-bishop-elect-sarah

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!

April Formation Leader Gathering | on Zoom, April 21(7PM) & 22 (2PM), 2026

Join for this program year’s last Formation Leader gathering focused on creating safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces for gathering for formation or workshop.

Click here to learn more and register!

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.