Building and sustaining God's Word

By The Rev. Tyler Montgomery, Bruton Parish, Williamsburg
 

I am pleased to share the good news that the Canterbury Association at William & Mary received $10,000 this month from The Episcopal Church to build and sustain an alumni database. The grant money will fund various student interns throughout the course of the coming academic year. We already have over two hundred alumni names in our database.  The strength of this ministry through the decades is palpable, and we hope that our efforts building and developing an alumni community will further safeguard the future of the ministry.

 

As the Church continues its permanent struggle to live into God's Word, ministries like the Canterbury Association might provide us with some hope of what the future could look like. There seems to be a diaspora of W&M alumni who have been touched by the life of Christ in this place, and through their collective stewardship Bruton Parish might be empowered to strengthen this ministry well into the future. The "Church" is the collective body of Christian believers who are sustained by Christ, and it is to that very body that we must look for nourishment and guidance in the future. Buildings and graveyards, historic and beautiful though they may be, are only holy in so far as they are connected to the living God of Christ working in the flesh of the Church. Like many other areas of life in our increasingly globalized world, "Church" is less local than in might have been in past generations. This alumni database and outreach is more than simply another potential revenue source for Bruton Parish; it is a way of "being Church" that recognizes our most precious treasure to be the souls of those who have seen Jesus in this place, including those who might now live far away.

 

These are exciting times for the Church. Contrary to the narrative of decline so common within mainline Protestantism, I am witness to a generation of students and alumni who deeply care about God in this place, and, perhaps more than anything else, that is our witness to the enduring Truth that God's light shines in the darkness.

 

If you are a William & Mary alumnus or alumna, please let us know by emailing canterbury@wm.edu. We would like to include you in our database!

Pray! Listen! Speak! A message from Bishop Hollerith

Dear Diocesan Family,

 

From Orlando to Minnesota to Dallas, these past weeks we have heard the voices of people in pain and anguish, and voices crying out for justice. Regardless of which side of the issues we happen to stand on, we are all affected by injustice and all have a stake in seeing that peaceful resolution and reconciliation are the order of the day across our land.    

 

Given the complexity of the matters at hand and the fact that many of us are physically removed from the unrest, it is easy at times to feel detached and powerless. It is not always clear what, if anything, we might do to make a difference. It is not always clear how we might respond in a way that is faithful to our calling as followers of Christ. And yet I believe that God invites us to be more than passive bystanders.

 

To that end, I want to suggest three simple things that we can do - both as individuals and as worshiping communities - in response to these events. I offer them as the basis of a spiritual posture which we Episcopalians might assume when faced with social tragedy and conflict.   

Click here to continue reading. 

Flooding and damage at Boys Home

In June, Boys Home of Virginia was hit by two strong storms, both leaving damage in their path. On June 16, in Alleghany County, a heavy, intense wind storm swept through the area leaving trees and branches down, damage to houses and buildings, and thousands without power. A week later, on June 23, Boys Home was in the path of a storm that brought heavy downpours and flooding waters to the area. Boys Home, fortunately, had no damage to buildings during the wind storm and was not among the hardest hit areas during the flooding. However, we have sustained damage to several parts of the campus that will require extensive repairs. Click here to continue reading.

Delano named Secretary of National Association for Children's Behavioral Health

Patricia H. Delano, President and CEO of Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services has been elected Secretary of the Board of Directors of the National Association for Children's Behavioral Health (NACBH).

 

NACBH is a national organization dedicated to enhancing the availability and delivery of services for children with emotional and behavioral disorders and for their families. For three decades, NACBH has been a force for change to help children. It leverages the knowledge and expertise of its members to serve as leaders who impact legislation and initiate conversation concerning children's mental issues.

 

With twenty-seven years of experience, Ms. Delano has served as the CEO of Jackson-Feild for the past seven years. She has guided JFBHS through some of its most challenging times in its 161-year history, and the organization is more viable and successful than ever. She welcomes this new opportunity for Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services to make a greater impact at the national level.

Seeds of Hope Grant applications due Aug. 1

Seeds of Hope grants are available to congregations and diocesan groups (e.g., affiliated institutions, commissions and task forces) within the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia to support the development or expansion of Social Justice ministries sponsored by diocesan congregations and organizations. Grants are intended to be a catalyst to help parishes and other diocesan-affiliated groups begin or expand their ministries that reflect the biblical call to care and advocate for the "widow, the orphan, and the stranger." It also includes the opportunity for special grants for economic justice causes. Applications are being accepted now. Deadline to apply is August 1. Click here for more info. 

Presiding Bishop asks for prayers following shootings

Resources for prayer and conversation

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has issued the following video asking every Episcopalian to share in deep prayer following the shootings in the United States. The video is available here.

Many Episcopal groups have prepared resources that may help congregations and individuals in their prayer and conversation this weekend.

• A liturgy resource for praying after Ferguson, created in the Diocese of Missouri and shared by the Beloved Community: Commission for Dismantling Racism in the Diocese of Atlanta 
• A summary of Episcopal resources for racial reconciliation
• Episcopal News Service feed with statements and resources from across the church

Clergy transitions

The Rev. Michael Stone, began as rector time certain, Christ Church, Amelia, on April 1

 

The Rev. Dr. Thomas D. Bauer, began as Interim Rector at Manakin, Midlothian, on June 4

 

The Rev. Robert R. (Bob) Gilman, began as Priest-in-Charge Time Certain at Glebe, Suffolk, on June 12

The Rev. Jack Lynch will leave Christ the King, Tabb, for a call in Rhode Island; July 24 will be his last Sunday. 

Be ready for the start of Sunday school with Safe Church training

While you're preparing for the start of Sunday school in the Fall, don't forget to make sure your program leadership has completed Safe Church training. The next classroom trainings will be held on Saturday, August 27 at Christ & Grace, Petersburg, and on Saturday, September 17 at Galilee, Virginia Beach. Online Safe Church training is also available. Click here for more information. 

Dedication of sign and cornerstone at the site of St. Andrew's, Victoria

On Sunday, July 10 at 1 p.m., a memorial sign and cornerstone will be dedicated at the site where St. Andrew's, Victoria, once stood. In 1995, St.Andrew's joined St. Paul's to become the Episcopal Church of St. Paul & St. Andrew in Kenbridge. In May 2014, the St. Andrew's church building burned. It was secularized and demolished in 2015. The memorial sign reads:

"St. Andrew's Episcopal Church was erected here in 1921. in October of 1908, Reverend Girard William Phelps, who came to Victoria from North Carolina, who had been appointed to mission work in the Victoria area by The Right Reverend Beverley D. Tucker, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of southern Virginia. Reverend Phelps first held services in St. Paul's, the "old brick" Episcopal Church, one and one-half miles north of Victoria on the Crewe Road. The original St. Andrew's Episcopal Church structure was built in 1908 at First Street and Lunenburg Avenue in Victoria. The Reverend Herbert H. Young arrived in 1916 to assist. Mr. Phelps died in 1918. Mr. Young continued as rector of the Parish until 1921, and it was during his tenure that a larger, brick St. Andrew's was built on this corner of Ninth St. and Washington Ave. in 1921. This marker memorializes those early Episcopalian priests and all who worshiped here through out the twentieth century. In 1995 St. Andrew's joined St. Paul's to become the Episcopal Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew of Kenbridge. Sadly, the St. Andrew's church building burned in May 2014, and was subsequently secularized and demolished in August of 2015."

New online courses at ChurchNext

Summertime is a great time to take advantage of some of the courses available at ChurchNext.tv. There are some new offerings available too.

First, in these tumultuous times, would you like to learn more about renewing your congregation? In conjunction with Forward Movement, seasoned clergyman Jay Sidebotham offers Five Keys to Renewing Your Church, available in both For Individuals and For Groups formats.

Also, does your church work with a local public school? In partnership with the >All Our Children, National Network we've just launched How to Establish a Church/School Partnership, available in both For Individuals and For Groups formats.

Also, why not consider having your church subscribe to ChurchNext? They have a special congregation rate of $300 for the year for unlimited access for your whole church. Maybe this is the year to try it. Email for details at hello@churchnext.tv.

Look for big developments in the weeks ahead: ChurchNext will be launching work from Bishops Ian Douglas and Kirk Smith. Also, in just a few weeks they'll be launching the first-ever online certificate for Vestry Leadership, as well as another free 'Big Class' in the works to help us get through the upcoming presidential election.

Hyppolite recognized by VCU School of Social Work

Marie Hyppolite, Senior Clinician for Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services was honored by Virginia Commonwealth University' s School of Social Work with their 2016 Amy Rosenblum Award.

 

This award is given to field work instructors who supervise undergraduate and graduate social work interns during their field placement with a human/behavioral health organization. It embodies excellence in teaching and supervising students in an on-going collaboration with the School of Social Work. It the School of Social Work's most prestigious award. The recipient receives a monetary honorarium.

 

Ms. Hyppolite has guided many students in their development as professional social workers and the school was very happy to accord her this honor for 2016. She was recognized at an appreciation luncheon for all field instructors.

 

Ms. Hyppolite began her career at JFBHS in 1993 as a case manager at the Eleventh House which was a community-based group home operated by Jackson-Feild to prepare residents for independent living. She was later named director. She moved to Walnut Grove in 2009 to serve as a therapist and was later promoted to senior clinician.

 

She received her undergraduate from Oral Roberts University and her Master of Social Work from Virginia Commonwealth University. She is forever working to improve her skills and is currently working toward certification for EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) which is an effective psychotherapy to treat children with posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms.

 

Help students get connected to campus ministry

In an effort to increase outreach to those headed off to colleges in our diocese, click here to submit the names and any information you have on your college-bound students. The diocesan-sponsored Canterbury ministries at the College of William and Mary, Old Dominion University, and Hampden-Sydney/Longwood Universities are eager to welcome new students. Please fill out the survey for anyone headed to a college within our diocese, even if it is not one of the aforementioned universities. We want to make sure students are able to get in touch with a ministry wherever they go!

You can find a link to the form and much more information on campus ministry on the diocesan website, www.diosova.org/college.

UBE planning bus trip to Virginia Theological Seminary

The James Solomon Russell Diocese of Southern Virginia Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians is planning a bus trip to Virginia Theological Seminary on Saturday, September 17. The group will enjoy a private tour of the seminary, particularly the African-American historical collection, which includes contributions from John Harris, past national president of UBE and a chapter member. Cost will be $40 per person. Please contact David Flores ASAP if you would like to participate, drf71137@gmail.com. 

Summer opportunities for feeding children

Virginia Feeds Kids is an interfaith and interagency initiative of the Virginia Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The Virginia Feeds Kids website provides a repository of ideas and lessons learned to help Virginians find and feed hungry children.

There are some upcoming opportunities for kids to get a meal in Hampton, Chesapeake, Virginia Beach and Norfolk. Click here for information. For opportunities in the Richmond area, click here. Please help spread the word!