The 2025 ADOSC Convention

The Rt. Rev. David C. Bryan (left), Cam Stuhr, and the Rev. Jeffrey S. Miller at Friday’s social hour on the Parish House lawn

Our 2025 diocesan convention fell on two consecutive blessedly beautiful days in Charleston last weekend. (The torrential downpour came the following day!) Well before the 4:00 p.m. service of Holy Eucharist on Friday, March 14, the official start of the convention, the campus was abuzz with activity: sign-laminating, flower-arranging, nametag-stuffing, food-prepping, table-setting, coffee-making, and much, much more––not even a midday power outage in the Parish House and Chapel could slow anyone down! (The unflappable Rachel Murphy, Executive Assistant to the Rector, merely shrugged her shoulders when the lights flickered and went out not 30 seconds after she’d stepped off the Parish House freight elevator with a cart laden with supplies.)

Canterbury and St. David Choristers gathered in the narthex before Friday’s service.

The Rt. Rev. David C. Bryan, Assisting Bishop for our diocese, preached at the service, which included consecration of oils and the clergy’s annual renewal of vows––and one of the Rev. Jeffrey S. Miller’s favorite anthems, Shawn Kirchner’s rousing “Unclouded Day.”

Following the service, our visitors and church family alike had a lovely time on the Parish House lawn during the social hour. Our chatter and laughter, the abundance of clergy collars, and the musical stylings of the River City Dixieland Jazz Band seemed to capture the attention of many passersby, several of whom stopped to snap pictures. In a rare turn of events, we polished off all the food that Connie had laid out––as well as the choir’s pre-service Papa John’s leftovers, which were brought out after the empty platters had been taken away.

In a not-so-rare turn of events for us St. Philippians, the festivities lasted well past the supposed 7:00 p.m.-end time, but of course no one could stay too terribly late, since all the clergy and delegates had to report for Morning Prayer and the meeting early the next morning.

Thank you to all the volunteers and staff who worked together to welcome our brothers and sisters in Christ to our church home for this year’s convention! To read about the business side of the weekend, please visit adosc.org.

Above: Bill Warlick’s beautiful arrangement was the centerpiece for Friday’s social hour.