Hocking Valley Deanery

Each year on the Day of Pentecost, a bishop has presided at the Deanery Pentecost service at Good Shepherd in Athens. Typically the music is festive, the food and refreshments are ample, and the liturgy is strikingly Anglican; with baptisms, confirmations and reaffirmation's-of-faith usually taking place.

On the 4th-of-July, St. Peter's Church, Gallipolis, holds a Deanery Eucharist featuring patriotic hymns "out of the back of the hymnal," and ends the service just in time to catch the parade that goes right by the front door. Then an all-American cook-out takes place at the St. Peter's rectory.

In late summer, the parishioners at St. Paul's, Logan, with some assistance from Epiphany Nelsonville, host the Deanery ice cream social. Huge amounts of home made ice cream of various flavors, with rich toppings, are served following a brief service of Evening Prayer. The service includes prayers for the Deanery, the community, and in true Anglican fashion, even for the Queen.

The business of the Deanery is conducted at several meetings during the course of the year, and the bishops gather the Deans and Provosts for regular retreats. James Parsons, Ph.D., a member of Epiphany Church, Nelsonville, currently serves as Provost, and the Rev. E. F. Michael Morgan, rector of Good Shepherd Athens, is the Dean.

The Rev. Rebecca Michelfelder is currently at Gallipolis.
The Rev. Michael Jupin is currently at Logan and Nelsonvile.
Bill Bales is Deacon at Nelsonville.
The Rev. Katharon Foster and Rev. Jim Bernacki are the ministry team at Pomeroy, which is part of the River Bend Cluster of Episcopal Churches.