February 1999

New Hope and Old Fears: Another Kanuga Success!

In June 225 people gathered from throughout the southeast for the 7th annual HIV/AIDS retreat, co-sponsored by NEAC and the Province IV Network of AIDS Ministries. As retreat leader NEAC’s immediate past president, Jesse Milan, Jr. kept the focus on “New Hope and Old Fears.” As one participant remarked, “Kanuga is the highlight of my year; it carries me spiritually through the whole year.”

As an Episcopal retreat, the weekend follows the daily offices of the Book of Common Prayer from Friday evening to Sunday noon, with morning prayer opening Saturday and Sunday activities.

Jesse presented four meditations throughout the weekend. Twenty-five small groups were formed the first evening to provide opportunities for people to meet several times to discuss the meditations. On Friday evening, each group closed with compline before people retired.

Jesse shared his own personal journey with HIV through first diagnosis, loss of partner, career challenges, and current meditations. He challenged everyone else to share their stories.

On Friday evening we began with remembering those we love whom we have lost. In the second meditation, Jesse asked us to recall those who are our guardian angels (like Gabriel, who announced to Mary, “Fear not!”), those who journey with us through this disease whether we have HIV or not.

On Saturday evening, the Healing Eucharist was presided over by Bishop Dorsey Henderson of the Diocese of Upper South Carolina. Jesse’s meditation called everyone to recognize the power of the healing in Jesus Christ.

Bishop Bennett Sims, retired bishop of Atlanta, presided at the Celebration Eucharist on Sunday. At the Eucharist Jesse’s final meditation was a powerful challenge to all of us to make every day worth while, to live in the fullness of the love of Jesus Christ.