The sermon starts about 7 1/2 minutes in.

South Carolina could be less than two weeks away from receiving its initial shipment of COVID-19 vaccines, officials say.

Stephen White, the state Department of Health and Environmental Control’s immunization program manager, said if both Pfizer and Moderna receive approval for their respective COVID-19 vaccines when anticipated, South Carolina could be in line to receive limited quantities of both vaccines before Christmas.

“Things can change, decisions could linger, things could be expedited,” he said on a media call Thursday. “But that is the time frame we’re thinking the vaccine could be available, if the (emergency use authorization) is approved and (the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices) provides their guidance.”

White said the agency anticipates receiving the Pfizer vaccine first, perhaps by Dec. 14, with the Moderna vaccine arriving the following week.

Both vaccines, which have been submitted to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for approval, are considered safe and have both been more than 90% effective in initial trials, according to preliminary data.

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The coronavirus vaccine will come to South Carolina in “very limited” quantities and on a rolling basis. DHEC officials did not reveal how many vaccines the state will receive. https://t.co/oTiOnWEUU8

— The Charlotte Observer (@theobserver) December 3, 2020

The sermon begins about 25:20 in.

Bishop Lawrence’s Annual Visitation schedule has just been released. In order to allow time for the Bishop Coadjutor’s selection, election and consecration, the calendar has been extended through the first of March 2022.

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Catch up on the latest news from The Anglican Diocese of South Carolina: https://t.co/gHYdfk9aG4 pic.twitter.com/dnQmWQbLUW

— Anglican Diocese of SC (@anglican_sc) November 19, 2020

Enjoy the whole thing and be on the watch for a section on the theology of CS Lewis.

The sermon starts about 25:30 in.

Take the time to enjoy the whole thing, especially the section on the four comfortable words and the theology of Thomas Cranmer.

After preaching yesterday morning at Saint Michael's, Charleston #parishministry #homiletics #southhcarolina #anglican @StMichaelsChrch @CityCharleston #theology #christianity #charlestonsc #lowcountrylife #religion #photography pic.twitter.com/Wwpu36GA8r

— Kendall Harmon (@KendallHarmon6) November 9, 2020

You may download it there or listen to it directly there. Listen carefully for an important reference to the late Carl Sagan’s Cosmos Program.

Saint Philip’s Episcopal Church in Charleston#dougbarnardphotography #charleston #lowcountry #southcarolina #holycity #potd #explorecharleston #charlestonsc #dailychs #canon #canonphotography #skyline #clouds #sky #cityscape pic.twitter.com/wiKcv6nhjP

— Doug Barnard Photography (@DougBarnardPics) June 24, 2018

The introduction and sermon begins just past 227:30 in.

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South Carolina health officials reported another 755 new cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, as the state’s rate of cases continues to rise over the past month.

Tuesday’s case count marks the fifth time in the last six days officials from the Department of Health and Environmental Control have reported more than 750 new cases of the novel coronavirus, and the state’s seven-day rolling average of new cases is now just under 1,000, a mark it hasn’t passed since early September.

State health officials also recorded 19 more confirmed deaths related to the virus Tuesday. Since the first cases were identified in South Carolina in March, officials have reported 164,802 cases and 3,602 deaths.

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The rate of new cases and percentage of positive tests have increased over the past 30 days, DHEC reports. https://t.co/5E5HdR9gsn

— The State Newspaper (@thestate) October 27, 2020

The sermon starts about 23:50 in.

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The S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control is seeking a new leader to fight the coronavirus pandemic as the unprecedented health crisis marches through the state — and some officials say it’s critical that DHEC choose the right person.

It may be late December before the agency makes a decision on a new executive director to replace Rick Toomey, who resigned in late spring during the height of the pandemic. Toomey, who had high blood pressure and a heart condition, served less than 18 months.

So far, the board has received 45 applications for the director’s job, which pays a minimum of $178,126 annually. Acting director Marshall Taylor, the department’s chief legal counsel, has not applied for the position, a spokeswoman said.

The agency’s board is scheduled to meet Monday to discuss the vacancy.

“The board is committed to ensuring the most appropriate, qualified, and experienced individuals are reviewed for this important position,’’ agency spokeswoman Cristi Moore said in an email.

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State agency seeks leader as coronavirus rages in South Carolina https://t.co/VbvDlzGloZ

— The State Newspaper (@thestate) October 24, 2020

In lieu of this year’s cancelled Clergy Conference—Bishop Lawrence held two smaller gatherings October 19-21, the first held for Rectors and the second hosting Vicars, Associates & Deacons. The theme of the retreats was “Seeing Covid-19 as a Season of Exile.” The brief gatherings included teachings from Jeremiah—his life and writings and from insights gleaned from Eugene Peterson’s book, Run With the Horses: The Quest for Life at its Best, small group discussions, fellowship, and personal time for reflection on the call of God.

Some of the questions they considered included:

1. How has Covid-19 been for you, your family, or your congregation?
2. How is your congregation adapting to this exilic environment?
3. Where are you in need of such a renewal and new commitment now?
4. What has God appointed you to do or be—to what work has he given you now?
5. When Jeremiah bought the field at Anathoth he was buying into God’s promise. During this time of Covid-19 and social unrest how is God calling you to buy into what you believe?

“It was time well spent!” said the Rev. Karl Burns, Rector of Church of Our Saviour, Johns Island, “The Bishop’s teaching from Jeremiah was relevant and it was just good to be with my fellow rectors in a relaxed environment. Just to be able to sit and share in the atmosphere of where we are was very good.”

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The University of South Carolina decided to cancel an annual college rite, spring break, to avoid a potential COVID-19 outbreak from thousands of students returning to campus after traveling.

The week of days off usually scheduled in March will be sprinkled throughout the spring semester, the state’s largest college announced in an email to parents and students Thursday. USC is calling the days off “wellness days” scheduled for: Thursday, Feb. 25; Friday, March 12; Tuesday, March 30; and Wednesday, April 21.

“I certainly understand your disappointment with this announcement,” USC Provost Bill Tate said in an email sent to university community. “However, I, and the medical community, firmly believe it is the right thing to do in light of the unprecedented worldwide pandemic.”

College of Charleston, South Carolina’s third-largest school, canceled spring break as well. Clemson University, second only to USC in enrollment in the state, has not announced a decision.

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NEW: @UofSC cancels spring break to avoid #COVID19 outbreak https://t.co/FCYqV9eUFi

— Post and Courier Columbia (@PCColumbia) October 22, 2020

The sermon starts about 18:30 in.

It covers topics such as grace, justification, guilt and the gospel–Listen to it all.

For the first time in over a month, South Carolina logged more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases on Thursday.

The 1,072 new cases are the highest number of positive tests the state Department of Health and Environmental Control has announced in a single day since Sept. 4, according to records maintained by The Post and Courier. DHEC’s amended data, which includes cases that were reported late, shows the department tallied 1,000 cases Oct. 8.

It’s a marked change from midsummer, when DHEC’s amended data shows the state regularly counted over 2,000 cases per day. Experts warn that cases could swell in the fall as cool weather drives people indoors, but expect masks and social distancing to mitigate the spread.

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For the first time in over a month, South Carolina logged over 1,000 new coronavirus cases today.https://t.co/E9tV3jTTcC

— The Post and Courier (@postandcourier) October 15, 2020

The sermon starts about 22:30 in.

Fewer infants died in South Carolina last year, pushing the state’s infant mortality rate slightly closer to the national average.

But data published by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control shows that all improvement was observed exclusively among White babies, further widening the large racial gap that exists between White and Black infant deaths.

In 2019, Black infants born in South Carolina were nearly three times as likely as White babies to die before their first birthday.

DHEC spokeswoman Laura Renwick said agency experts haven’t finished analyzing the 2019 infant mortality data. The department’s official report is expected to be ready sometime later this month, she said.

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In 2019, Black infants born in SC were nearly three times as likely as White babies to die before their first birthday, according to data from @scdhec.https://t.co/eTZlvgUwKb

— The Post and Courier (@postandcourier) October 11, 2020

University of South Carolina researchers have developed a model of the coronavirus pandemic showing that masks have stemmed the spread of disease and prevented tens of thousands of infections in places that have adopted them widely.

The team’s aim is to put hard numbers on a refrain that public health experts have repeated for months: that masks make a difference and could bring the virus to heel. The lead researcher says he wanted to give decision-makers a clear view of how big that difference is.

That’s particularly significant in South Carolina, which doesn’t have a statewide mask requirement. Instead, questions about whether to wear a mask are far more localized here. It’s up to local governments to decide whether to require them, and for the millions of people here who aren’t bound by mandates, wearing a mask is an individual decision.

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The researchers' aim is to put hard numbers on a refrain that public health experts have repeated for months: that masks make a difference and could bring the virus to heel.https://t.co/cOifHcGM5s

— The Post and Courier (@postandcourier) October 10, 2020