Despite Pandemic, Kingdom Work Continues Through Cursillo

BY NANCY GORDON AND CHUCK PIERCE

Both The Episcopal Church and Cursillo have faced numerous challenges in the year 2020. Due to COVID-19, churches have had to cancel or modify services, and Cursillo canceled all activities, including weekends, reunion groups and Ultreyas. Ultreya is a Spanish term of encouragement meaning “onward,” but for Cursillo groups, the term has a special meaning. It refers to a reunion of reunions, a place where cursillistas (Cursillo alumni) come to support and encourage one another. Gordon provided music. Following two songs, everyone was Even with the pandemic and its challenges, God is opening assigned to breakout rooms, where small groups shared the doors to fresh kingdom paths and ideas for Cursillo. The Cursillo invocation and discussed moments of nearness to God along Commission and Servant Community (Cursillo leadership) with piety, study and action. remain in ongoing prayer for God’s guidance as they consider When the large group came back together, Arbri, who how to hold future Cursillo Weekends and how to effectively attended Coed Cursillo No. 129 last September, presented a communicate the Cursillo message to the church, to parish dynamic lay witness talk. She spoke of the values she learned Cursillo communities and to Episcopalians who have never in her Cursillo Weekend and how she applies them in her life experienced the joy and uplifting spirit of these sacred weekends. with family, work and friends as well as at church. Through this season, God has given the Cursillo leadership the Gordon provided an echo (a brief talk meant as a reflection opportunity for an inward look at themselves and an outward on and “echo” of the larger message) with a Gospel echo by look at Cursillo. With the Lord’s guidance, they intend to Griffith. A song followed some brief announcements, and facilitate an improved Cursillo Weekend that will continue to Griffith led in Compline. The Ultreya closed with the singing of produce Christ-centered lay leaders for The Episcopal Church “De Colores.” and the Christian faith. The Holy Spirit Ultreya Team offers praise to God for achieving Since in-person events had to be canceled, on Sept. 20, Church its goal of hosting the Zoom Ultreya despite technological of the Holy Spirit, Apopka, hosted a Zoom Ultreya. The church’s pitfalls and limited knowledge of the Zoom platform. If another Ultreya Team first sent announcements to the Central Deanery parish wants to learn how to offer a similar event, please of the diocese's rotating Ultreya group and then to the diocesan contact Holy Spirit’s Cursillo parish coordinators, Cindi Shaffer Cursillo Yahoo and Facebook groups. Parishioners from 11 and Nancy Gordon. churches registered to take part. Join us. Pray, think and build As participants gathered online, they had action plans to help make time to get acquainted via an open chat. The Save the Date Cursillo a continued blessing Ultreya began with a welcome by master of Coed Weekend Oct. 1 - 3, 2021 to the kingdom of God both ceremonies Cindi Shaffer, followed by an opening prayer from The Rev. Rob Griffith. Next, Dolly Arbri, Sally Davala and Nancy For more information, contact Phil Phillips, strumminguy55@yahoo.com Karen Stout, 4karenjs@gmail.com during and after the pandemic. Ultreya: upward, onward, persevere! Kim McMaster, kmcmaster1@cfl.rr.com

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