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MINISTRIES
The following are some of the ministries currently active in the Hale Deanery.
These include Educational Ministries, Youth Ministries, and Women's Ministries.

ALPHA is a course of Bible Study developed by pastor Nicky Gumbel. In the 10-week Alpha Course, the fundamentals of following Christ are presented in a simple but challenging manner. It is presented in a series of videotapes accompanied by companion materials to aid discussion. The Alpha course is periodically presented in the Hale Deanery. Please contact Fr. Swan, Canon Missioner of the Hale Deanery, for more information.

EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY (EFM) is a 4-year educational program for lay people who wish to explore and deepen their life in Christ through study. Using materials developed by the University of the South at Sewanee, the EFM group meets weekly during the months of September through June. Anyone interested in finding out more about the EFM program should contact Fr. Swan for more information. (Click HERE for photos from the 2007 EFM Graduation.)

NEW BEGINNINGS is a spiritual renewal weekend for junior high students held twice each year, usually in April and November. Visit the Diocesan Website webpage the next New Beginnings weekend for more information.

HAPPENING is a spiritual renewal weekend for high school students held twice each year, usually in March and November. For more information, go to the Diocesan page for the next Happening weekend.

DIOCESAN CHURCH CAMP is a week-long spiritual experience in July for school aged children, designed to bring youth into a closer relationship with Christ.

DIOCESAN WORK CAMP is a hands-on mission project which helps restore run-down structures. This project takes place in a variety of settings.

ESPISCOPAL YOUTH EVENT (EYE) is held once every three years, EYE is a national gathering of Episcopal high school students, designed to help them grow in their relationship with Christ and learn more about their church. The next EYE will be held in 2008.

WINTER BALL -- Each winter the Youth Department hosts a Winter Ball and Lock-In open to all of the youth of the diocese.

YOUTHQUAKE is a n annual event for Junior and High School youth, held in North Carolina during the month of January. Visit the Youthquake website for more information.

Visit the Diocese of Springfield’s Youth Department's webpage at http://www.episcopalspringfield.org/Youth.htm for more information on these and other programs.

WOMEN'S MINISTRIES

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN (ECW) exists to assist the women of the church in carrying out Christ's work of reconciliation in the world and to take their place as leaders in the life, governance and worship of the Episcopal Church. For more information, you may visit http://www.episcopalchurch.org/ecw.htm.

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING is an Order for women of the Episcopal Church and other churches within the historic Episcopate. It was organized in 1885. Every Daughter pledges herself to a lifelong program of study, prayer, service, and to personal evangelism, dedicated to the extension of Christ's kingdom and to the strengthening of the spiritual life of her parish. Chapters are organized within parishes, missions and institutions with the consent of the Priest, Chaplain or Bishop.