The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany was observed before the high altar of Trinity Church in Jacksonville. Having served Trinity Church as parish secretary for over 20 years and upon being duly prepared by many thankful rectors, Mrs. Jo Ann Nelson was presented by her husband for reception into this Communion of catholic faith and practice. The Choir added greatly to the expression of Holy Eucharist by their musical offering and liturgical posture. Many children filled the Nave, being instructed in how heirs behave within the kingdom of our heavenly Father. The donation baskets were filled to overflowing for their “Souper Bowl” Sunday canned soup collection day. Trinity Church takes seriously its calling to be a place of right worship, mission, outreach, generous hospitality, and right teaching. The Very Reverend Fr. Zach Brooks has navigated well a post-pandemic recovery with all elements of expected churchmanship being put back firmly in place.

Deo gratias.

The commemoration of Charles Stuart, King and Martyr was observed before the altar of St. Paul’s Church in Alton on Thursday, January 30 while observing the Celebration of a New Ministry by a most reverently offered Rite I Holy Eucharist. Father Garron Daniels was presented by his Vestry to The Right Reverend Brian K. Burgess, DD of Springfield, for Institution as the XXI rector of the Episcopal Parish (St. Paul’s Parish and Trinity Chapel) in Alton, Illinois. In addition to the exuberant laity, clergy from the Episcopal Diocese of Springfield, the Episcopal Diocese of Missouri, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield lent their voices to common prayer and Hymns of high thanksgiving for all that the Christ of God is doing within this historic parish. The Right Reverend Deon Johnson of Missouri was vested, seated in Choir, and assisted in the celebration of the Holy Mysteries. The Reverend Dr. Nathan Hayden of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Ladue, Missouri and clerical member of the Diocese of Missouri’s Commission on Ministry stood as Homilist. Father Daniels is a graduate of The University of the South School of Theology in Sewanee, TN (MDiv.) and has already had a tremendous impact on the spiritual health and missional vitality of this East St. Louis parish within the Diocese of Springfield.

Deo gratias.

posted 2/03/2025

Bishop Burgess observed The Feast of the Holy Nativity on Christmas Eve before the Cathedral altar in Springfield. This is the first Christmas that the Cathedral community enjoyed Peter Roeder, their recently seated organist and choirmaster who did a wonderful job of accompanying the rite musically. Both the 5:00 PM and the 11:00 PM services were beautifully offered with traditional carols, appropriate rite and ceremony, and the elegance that our cathedral has long been known for. Christmas Day began with a trip to All Saints’ in Morton for the Holy Eucharist at 9:00 AM with the Rite of Confirmation. Casey and Caitlin Lore from Trinity Church in Lincoln were presented for Confirmation by their rector, Fr. Chris Simpson. In the hope of getting Casey back to his full-time government position on the east coast and with Bishop Burgess being this close to Lincoln, this particular expression of the Church was welcomed. The congregation lent their voices to common prayer and Christmas carols sung a cappella. Upon Dismissal, those who had peered into the face of Holy Nativity quietly returned to their flock and fields to do the work that the Christ of God has given them to do. In dulce jubilo (In sweet rejoicing).

posted 12/28/2024

Ember Wednesday in the Week of III Advent was observed with the faithful of St. Barnabas’ in Havana during their offering of A Ceremony of Nine Lessons and Carols. The service of Lessons and Carols was first drawn up by Archbishop Edward White Benson when he was Bishop of Truro, England. The service was later simplified and modified for use in King’s College Chapel, Cambridge, in 1918 by its then Dean, The Very Reverend Eric Milner-White. Since the early 1900's, English cathedrals and collegiate chapels have programmed Lessons and Carols as a means of marking the season of Advent with a communal gathering and celebration. Bravo to Fr. Dante Anglin, organist Kim Wiese, and the leadership of St. Barnabas’ for inviting their community into the very best that our tradition has to offer in this time of holy anticipation.

posted 12/21/2024

The Sunday of II Advent was spent with those of St. James’ Chapel in Marion and St. Andrew’s Church in Carbondale. Saturday evening’s Vigil Mass was offered within the beautiful Chapel of St. James. Bishop Burgess took time before the service to meet with a local contractor and Don Monty of St. Andrew’s in Carbondale in the interest of articulating plans for moving forward with evangelical zeal in the fastest growing county in Illinois. This beautifully appointed chapel is a true treasure containing many well-placed memorials ready to be brought forward into a promising future.

Sunday morning was observed before the altar of St. Andrew’s in Carbondale. This leading parish has been through a great many challenges lately that have required much of their capable leadership, including the collapse of their interior ceiling within the Nave. Two “duly prepared” candidates were presented to Bishop Burgess for Confirmation. Fr. Jerry Anderson and a few of the parishioners had traveled to Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, Virginia where Fr. Anderson was being recognized by his alma mater for exceptional work done in the mission field among AIDS victims and the LGBT community. The Mass was beautifully offered while inviting prayer for continued faithful stewardship on this, their Consecration Sunday. Evidence of this parish’s Outreach priorities was seen in the placement of collection baskets for food, socks, and other items needed to sustain others within their immediate community. A delicious reception was offered upon Dismissal in thanksgiving for this parish’s faithful stewards, in recognition of the two who were Confirmed, and as a welcome to Bishop Brian and Denise Burgess.

posted 12/10/2024

The Eve of Thanksgiving was spent with the saints of St. Barnabas’ Church in Havana. This beautiful campus is wonderful to behold during the day and spectacular at night. A well-maintained rectory, beautifully illumined Carpenter Gothic church, and inviting parish hall that places at its center worship, evangelism, and faithful stewardship. The Holy Mysteries were reverently offered before their historic altar with their vicar Fr. Dante Anglin standing as Celebrant. St. Barnabas' is entering into the liturgical season of Advent this year with a greater attentiveness toward expectation as Fr. and Mrs. Anglin are expecting twins.

How lovely is thy dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts, to me!

My thirsty soul desires and longs within thy courts to be;

my very heart and flesh cry out, O living God, for thee.

The Twenty-sixth Sunday after Pentecost was spent with the saints of St. Mary’s in Robinson.  This historic schoolhouse at the threshold to the entire community is beautifully appointed for all sacred usages. St. Mary’s made a tremendous statement of hospitality by placing welcome bags on each table during our 147th Annual Synod of this Diocese, containing candies from the Hershey chocolate plant just up the highway. Excitement is in the air as the community prepares to welcome hundreds of families from the plant’s expansion of beginning to manufacture Payday peanut caramel bars. In addition, this being oil country, the Marathon Petroleum refinery also anticipates calling additional families as operations increase ahead of the priority of our nation’s energy independence.

The leadership here is strong, committed, and thankful as they look toward engaging needed capital improvements that will increase their visibility along their community’s major Thoroughfare (State Highway 33). St. Mary’s Church must be experienced to be truly appreciated. Like the prayers of Hannah (I Samuel 1:4-20), petitions are being offered up.  Specifically, that God will bring them into a future so strong that it bends human history closer to the salvation of God. When in the southern Wabash Valley area of our Diocese, please make it a point to worship before the altar of St. Mary’s in Robinson. Their faithful and stable presence completes us.

posted 11/19/2024

October 22nd through 24th was spent on the campus of Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Nashotah, WI. Many from our Diocese hold positions of leadership, including The Rev. Canon R. Brien Koehler, SSC as Chairman of the Corporation Board; The Rev. Fr. Fred Robinson as Chair of the Board of Visitors, joined by his wife, Linda Robinson; The Rev. Fr. Ben Hankinson as Director of Community Life and Operations; The Rt. Rev. Daniel Martins as past-president of the Corporation; Zachary Buscher as a first-year student of theology, joined by his wife, Bethany Buscher and their daughter, Martha; and Bishop Burgess as a newly elected Director of the Corporation, joined by his wife, Denise Burgess.

Joined by many friends of our Diocese, the week culminated in the offering of a Solemn Eucharist commemorating Raphael, Archangel, with the installation of Lauren Linn Whitnah, PhD as the XXII Dean of the Seminary. Dean Whitnah is a medieval historian with credentials from the University of Notre Dame, the University of Oxford, and Gordon College. Her expertise is in the sacred places in the High Middle Ages and the study of devotion to the saints. Pictured first is Bishop Burgess with Dean Lauren Whitnah, followed by a photo of the Board of Directors (left to right, first row: Mr. Jim Sweeney, Mr. Keith Ackerman, the Rt. Rev. Keith Ackerman, the Rev. Canon Brien Koehler, Mrs. Beth Morphis, the Rev. Charlie Holt, the Rt. Rev. Chip Edgar, the Rev. Dr. Michael Cover. Middle row: The Rev. Fred Robinson, Mrs. Jody Maxwell, the Rev. Tara Jernigan, Dr. Lauren Whitnah, Mrs. Gayle Heatherington, Mr. Rich Baker, the Rt. Rev. Brian Burgess. Back row: The Rev. Doran Stambaugh, Mr. Andrew Bradford, the Rt. Rev. Derek Jones, the Rev. John Jordan, the Rev. John McCard, Mr. Myron Steeves).

Nashotah House Seminary is one of only a few seminaries of the Episcopal Church that still offers a full-time residential program in preparing priests, deacons, and lay-leaders for vocations in the Church. Our association with Nashotah House goes back many episcopacies with a notable number of our clergy having been educated, trained, and formed in the ways of the Church there.

The Sunday after All Saints’ Day was observed with great solemnity before the altar of Trinity Church in Mount Vernon. Asaph Christopher Asplin, the son of Father Parker and Mrs. Laura Asplin, was present by his godparents for the sacrament of Holy Baptism. Their future as a parish has come upon them. Having dedicated resources to the proper refurbishing of the principal doors to the church and sprucing up their landscaping, the saints of this parish now have their eyes turned toward transforming a room of the parish hall being used for storage into a state-of-the-art classroom for the Christian education of their children and youth.

posted 11/04/24

The Major Feast of St. Simon and St. Jude, Apostles was observed with great solemnity before the altar of St. George’s in Belleville. Organ, Choir, acolytes, lectors, and a very proud congregation came together to lend their voices to common prayer and for the seating of The Very Reverend Mark W. Ohlemeier as rector of their parish church. Originally from the Diocese of Kansas, Dean Ohlemeier has served as this parish’s priest-in-charge since early 2021. St. George’s is recognized throughout our Diocese and the community of Belleville as a church that is active in mission, at the forefront of ecumenical relationships, and faithful in the worship of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Bishop Burgess is pleased to announce that The Reverend Fr. David Wells has accepted his invitation to serve as the Diocese of Springfield’s Canon to the Ordinary. In response to Canon Evan’s impending retirement, a detailed position profile was posted and interviews were conducted to call forward the very best candidate for our Diocese in interest of supporting the work, priorities, and vision of Bishop Burgess.

Father David Wells possesses tremendous administrative experience, having served a successful 43-year career in law enforcement at both the state and county levels. He has served honorably at the executive administration level of the Illinois State Police, retiring as state Executive Inspector General. A graduate of Nashotah House Theological Seminary in Wisconsin with a Master in Pastoral Ministry (MPM) degree and a Master in Ministry (MMin) degree, Fr. Wells has also earned academic degrees from Lewis University in Romeoville, Illinois (MS in Criminal Justice Administration) and Elmhurst College in Elmhurst, Illinois (BS in Business Management). Ordained deacon in 2015 and priest in 2016, Fr. Wells is recognized throughout central and southern Illinois as one who serves generously with a servant’s heart.