From the Province: Rise Church in Portland, Maine is an Anglican church merged from three congregations: what was formerly the Church of the Holy Spirit, a Sudanese church, and the newer, Rise Church. The physical church building, over 100 years old, is seeing new life breathed into it as God grows the church in unexpected ways.

See the original article from the ACNA here.

Can a Classical Concert Foster Encounter with the Divine, Break Down Barriers, and Plant New Seeds of God’s Kingdom?

Sarah pictured with Tiffany Fox, violin, and Jonathan McBeath, piano/organ

It was a warm summer day when I was contacted by a voice from the past: The Venerable Jerry Smith was my husband Steve’s professor and personal mentor in seminary at Trinity School for Ministry over 20 years ago and was now calling from the island country of Bermuda! He wanted to invite me to come to Bermuda to play a concert at the cathedral in the fall. I immediately said yes (who wouldn’t?) and started planning my repertoire.

As a classical musician, I am fully aware that classical music remains a niche medium in many places. It can be seen as esoteric, hard to “get into”, or just for the elite listener. For much of my professional life I have pushed hard against that, working with living composers, playing concerts in unusual venues, collaborating with dance companies or visual artists, all to try to bring what I believe can be a deeply moving experience to those who might otherwise not have the opportunity or think they “like” classical music.

Bishop Drew commented, “I stand in awe of what Rev. Gabrielle and her church have done and are doing. In fervent prayer, love and humility they have played a central part in bringing the body of Christ together and in partnership with the city’s government in the activation of Jesus’ greater hope for Bridgeport. In prayer and in service they are bringing renewal. There is still much to be done - but there is undeniably beauty rising from the ashes. You can see it and feel it everywhere you look.

As nearly 300 clergy, leaders, church attendees, teens, children, and various friends of the diocese, gathered in Newburyport for the 2024 Reawakening Conference, Bishop Drew Williams welcomed the attendees by quoting Robert Capon “...one thing we most needed even from the start, and certainly will need from here on out into the New Jerusalem: the ability to take our freedom seriously and act on it, to live not in fear of mistakes but in the knowledge that no mistake can hold a candle to the love that draws us home.”

It was the desire to return to this home-drawing, re-centering love that inspired theme of this year’s conference: Growing in the Gospel.