Help us connect college-bound students with Campus Ministries

In an effort to help college-bound students make connections with the Episcopal Church and Canterbury fellowship when they arrive on campus this fall, we are asking one representative from each parish (Parish Administrator, Clergy, DRE, Youth Minister) to complete the data sheet linked below for anyone in our diocese who is college-bound this fall and email it to the Youth Missioner Megan Dern, mdern@diosova.org. If you have questions, please feel free to give Megan a call at 757-213-3393.  

 

Click for College-bound Students Data Sheet

 

The diocesan-sponsored Canterbury ministries at the College of William and Mary, Old Dominion University, Hampden-Sydney College, and Longwood University are eager to welcome new students and the information you provide will help facilitate that connection.  However, we want to make sure students are able to get in touch with a ministry wherever they go, even if it is not at one of the aforementioned universities. This is a great opportunity to support our youth and young adults as they go off into the world and to help continue to foster their relationships with the Episcopal Church. Thank you in for your help in gathering this information! 

 

Celebrating graduating seniors

Also, we are currently looking at different avenues to celebrate graduating seniors.  We know that with the school year cut short and many events cancelled, that seniors are not able to celebrate in ways that they have seen other classes be celebrated.  If you are interested in participating in this conversation, have seniors that you think might be interested in participating, or are doing something cool within your parish, please contact Youth Missioner Megan Dern, mdern@diosova.org.

New resources available

The diocesan website has a wealth of resources to assist churches and their parishioners in being the Church during the coronavirus and new resources are being added each week.  

 

Messages from Bishop Susan, including her lectionary reflections, are all available on our website here.  

 

Here are a few of the newly added resources:

 

Light in Dark Times Healing Souls During the Pandemic and Beyond, a free webinar TODAY at 1 p.m. from Fresh Expressions US.    

 

Youth Group at Home ideas, Galilee, Virginia Beach, has put together some youth group at home ideas for the whole family.   

 

Ecumenical resources for Holy Week and Easter, Christian Churches Together, Churches Uniting in Christ, and The National Council of Churches have joined together to offer resources for Christians who are observing Holy Week and Easter in their homes.

 

Holy Week Resources for Families, a free download from Church Publishing.

 

Holy Week at Home, a resource created by Kristen Ketron, Director of Formation Ministries for Children & Youth at St. Matthias, Midlothian.

 

Stations of the Cross for younger people, a resource created by Kristen Ketron, Director of Formation Ministries for Children & Youth at St. Matthias, Midlothian (a PDF in booklet format).

 

Sermons for Holy Week 2020: New resources for worship, reflections, meditation

 

A new resource, Sermons for Holy Week 2020, is an ideal companion for Holy Week devotions. Like all resources offered by The Episcopal Church's office of communication, Episcopal congregations, dioceses, and organizations and agencies have permission to use Sermons for Holy Week 2020 for online worship, study groups, or other virtual use.

 

Sermons for Holy Week 2020 is designed for public and personal use for group discussions, personal meditations, reflections, and devotional reading by preachers, groups, individuals, adults and youth.

 

Prepared through The Episcopal Church's popular Sermons That Work, the resource is designed for use throughout Holy Week to follow Jesus through the streets of Jerusalem, to Gethsemane, to the foot of the cross, and toward the joy of Easter.

 

Included are resources for Palm Sunday through the Great Vigil, all presented in different voices by the cadre of writers from Sermons That Work. Topics are: Made Holy; Extravagant Love; Shame; The Paradox of Judas; By Our Love; and He Has Been Raised from the Dead.

 

Sermons for Holy Week 2020 is available to download at no fee  here. 

 

Sermons That Work will also be launching a podcast on Palm Sunday, April 4, offering audio versions of the sermon for each day of Holy Week. After Easter, the podcast will continue weekly, with a new sermon available for every Sunday. Find the podcast here or on your favorite podcasting platform.

 

For more information contact Christopher Sikkema, Office of Communication manager for special projects, csikkema@episcopalchurch.org.

Safe Church Training postponed through June

Due to Governor Northam's mandatory stay-at-home order, all in-person Safe Church Training workshops have been postponed thru June. The registration links have been removed from the diocesan website and we will be contacting individuals who submitted registrations to inform them of this decision. We plan  to reschedule the in-person training events once it is safe for individuals to gather, after this health crisis has passed. 

 

Online training is still available, however please do be mindful that the training covers difficult topics and can be a trigger point for individuals who have been victims of abuse. If you wish to register to complete the training on-line, click here. 

 

Watch the e-news and the website for updates about summer safe church training offerings. 

ECW Grapevine newsletter available

The Grapevine, the diocesan ECW newsletter, for Spring 2020 is here! Click here for your copy. This edition includes important information about:

• Annual Spring Meeting cancellation
• ECW Scholarship applications due JUNE 1 (CORRECTION)
• Province III ECW Annual Meeting
• and MUCH more

The Grapevine is a quarterly print-ready newsletter available for individuals and churches to receive via email. Subscribe by going to www.diosova.org  and entering your email address in the "Sign up to receive news" box at the top right of the page.

 

ECW seeking historian/archivist

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of the Diocese of Southern Virginia is seeking an historian/archivist. The Historian/Archivist shall: 

1. Search out and continue to compile records of the history of the ECW.  These  records shall include parish,  convocation and diocesan histories and shall be stored in a fireproof area of a building with public access, said building to be selected by the historian/archivist.
    
2. In addition to these duties, the Historian/Archivist must be able to chronicle and document the history of the Diocesan ECW, placing activities/events and functions in a chronological and historical context.  She must posses excellent writing skills, knowledge of Word processing functions, and the capability to make informed  determinations of which materials or artifacts will be preserved in their original condition or scanned/digitized for future use/reference.
3. Update with information on storing archives. 

If you are interested, please contact Laura L. Manigault, Diocesan Episcopal Church Women President, carver.manigault7@gmail.com or Deborah Austin, Nominating Committee Chair, complianceretired@gmail.com. Please also make this announcement to your ECW Chapter in your Parish.

How you can help Boys Home during the COVID-19 outbreak

The Boys Home in Covington shares these ways you can support them during this time:

• Pray for our students, staff, and administrators.
• Because several spring events had to be postponed, Boys Home can use your gifts now more than ever. The recently-passed CARES Act now allows certain contributions to be deducted "above the line" and loosens percentage limitations on gifts made to non-profits in 2020. Consider a donation to Boys Home and make a difference in the life of a boy. Thank you to those who have remembered us with donations--particularly to the general fund, since that is what helps us the most at a time like this.
• Due to state regulations and an effort to lessen the threat of spreading the virus, Boys Home will not be accepting in-kind gifts until further notice.
• Consider purchasing quilt tickets for our current raffle. More info available in this newsletter.

Triduum during quarantine; other new resources

As we navigate this global pandemic health crisis we are reminded that as we maintain social distancing and are prohibited from physically gathering in our church buildings, for the health of all, we are still the church. We will still be the church during Holy Week and Easter even if our worship looks and feels different from what have previously experienced. Creativity, connection, and innovation have been the new benchmarks for clergy and lay people alike as we explore and experience being church in new ways during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

 

The resources included in this Google Drive were curated and provided by Lisa Kimball and James Farwell from Virginia Theological Seminary for their two-part webinar, Triduum Under Quarantine. You can find the recorded two-part webinar here and also in the Google Drive under "Follow Up email."

 

In addition to those resources, we've provided an edited version of  "The Three Days for Home Use"  for use in Southern Virginia. It is available here in both Word and PDF versions and includes hymns from the 1982 Hymnal (with video links for those without access to a hymnal), and The Solemn Collects for Good Friday.  In addition,  individual names have been removed from the prayers and prompts are provided to encourage users to read or view individual clergy sermons if they are available.

 

We invite you experience a rich, holy and meaningful Holy Week using these resources in your homes.  

 

Messages from Bishop Susan and many more resources on the diocesan website

 

The diocesan website has a wealth of resources to assist churches and their parishioners in being the Church during the coronavirus and new resources are being added. Messages from Bishop Susan, including her lectionary reflections, are all available on our website here. Here are a few of the newly added resources: 

 

Resources for Communities Online - a wide variety of great resources from Virginia Theological Seminary

 

Invite Welcome Connect in Virtual Church - from Episcopal Church Foundation

 

The Work of the People - offers many free films for streaming, including the series The Four Gospel Journey.  

 

Outreach opportunities - Foodbanks in Southern Virginia have information about how you can help provide for the vulnerable and those out of work in our communities. Find that info here.

News from Chanco on the James

Register for Camp Chanco with confidence

 

Though Chanco has currently suspended group activities until further notice, you can register for Camp Chanco with confidence! Camp Chanco registrations are up by more than 50 campers compared to this time last year! The Chanco Board of Directors recently passed an amended refund policy so that our families can register with confidence. In the event of cancellation of your program, your deposit will be refunded, credited toward a future program, or may be donated to Chanco as a gift in support of our mission, based on your preference. Through this policy change, we hope to build on our strong relationships and reputation from more than 50 years in camping to reassure you that you have nothing to lose when you register with Chanco again this year! Click here to read our full message. Click here for a 2020 Camp Chanco dates and rates flyer. Register here today! Questions? Contact us at hospitality@chanco.org or 888-7CHANCO (888-724-2626).

 

Virtual Easter Vigil from the Bluff  - join us on Facebook

 

The Rev. Eileen Walsh will be officiating a special virtual/electronic Easter Vigil from the bluff on April 11. The Easter Vigil is one of the oldest liturgies in the church. This electronic service will involve readings that tell the history of salvation, music, the lighting of the Pascal candle and other candles, the ringing of bells, and the joyous celebration of the resurrection! Join the Rev. Eileen Walsh for a special electronic Easter Vigil from Chanco on Saturday, April 11 at 8 pm via our Facebook page.

A reminder about signs

If you are posting a sign on the front doors of your churches advising that public worship is suspended, please remember, if you are doing any live-streaming or recording of services for Facebook, etc. to put information on those signs directing people to those resources.  This is a wonderful opportunity for us to PROCLAIM the good news of God in Jesus Christ!

 

- Bishop Susan

Pledging during coronavirus

In these unsettling times where the economy is shifting and uncertainty abounds, many churches are wondering what the economic impact will be on their future. Most of us are used to paying our church pledges and tithes while we are sitting in the pews and the offering plate is passed. During this time of compassionate effort to isolate so as not to further the spread of the virus, we of course do not have that opportunity so it would be easy to simply forgo or forget paying your pledge. This is just a reminder to slip a check in the mail if you are able, or to direct your bank to send a check. Some churches have on-line giving options on their websites. Please remember to use them.

 

For churches who do not use on-line giving platforms, Ann Turner (Communications Officer for the Diocese) and Judy Dobson (Diocesan Comptroller) recommend the following platforms which have all received good reviews:

• American Church (same folks that make offering envelopes)
• Tithely
• EasyTithe
• Givelify
• PushPay
• PayPal
• SecureGive
• Churches that use ACS accounting software can set up an online giving platform through ACS. Other church accounting software systems likely offer the same type on on-line giving platforms.

Live links to these platforms available on the Diocesan website so that you can easily visit and research them.

 

- Bishop Susan

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's Word to the Church: On Our Theology of Worship

On March 31, 2020, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry issued A word to the Church regarding the theology of worship during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can read here Bishop Curry's letter about the theological reflection below.

An Offering of Reflection by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry

On Our Theology of Worship: Questions in the Time of COVID-19

 

Across The Episcopal Church the current Pandemic has given rise to many questions about challenges to our liturgical life. Bishops are being asked, "May we do this or that? Will you permit this or that way of celebrating the Eucharist or delivering Holy Communion to the members of our congregations?" Some years ago in an essay titled "Is There a Christian Sexual Ethic?" Rowan Williams observed that in the then current debates about marriage rites for same sex couples, this "permissible/not permissible" way of conducting the conversation was a dead end. The real (and much more productive) question for a sacramental people, he said, was not simply whether a given practice was "right or wrong," but rather "How much are we prepared for this or that liturgical action to mean?" How much are we prepared for it to signify? Sacraments effect by signifying.

 

Sacraments are actions that give new meaning to things. The current questions about the way we worship in a time of radical physical distancing invites the question of what we are prepared for a given sacramental encounter to mean. Sacraments are communal actions that depend on "stuff": bread and wine, water and oil. They depend on gathering and giving thanks, on proclaiming and receiving the stories of salvation, on bathing in water, on eating and drinking together. These are physical and social realities that are not duplicatable in the virtual world. Gazing at a celebration of the Eucharist is one thing; participating in a physical gathering and sharing the Bread and Wine of the Eucharist is another. And, God, of course, can be present in both experiences.

 

And that is surely the most important thing to remember. From the time of Thomas Cranmer, mainstream Anglicanism has insisted that the Holy Eucharist is to be celebrated in community, with no fewer than two people. In contrast to some medieval practices, the Prayer Book tradition was deeply concerned with reestablishing the essential connection between the celebration of the Eucharist and the reception of Holy Communion. Over time, of course, many factors contributed to a general decline in the celebration of the Eucharist well into the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and Morning Prayer became the common service of worship on the Lord's Day. And while it is good and right that the situation has changed dramatically, that the Holy Eucharist has again become the principal act of worship on Sunday across our church, few would suggest that the experience of Morning Prayer somehow limited God's presence and love to generations of Anglican Christians. There are members of our church today who do not enjoy a regular sustained celebration of the Eucharist for a variety of reasons other than this Pandemic - they are no less members of Christ's Body because of it.

 

Practices such as "drive by communion" present public health concerns and further distort the essential link between a communal celebration and the culmination of that celebration in the reception of the Eucharistic Bread and Wine. This is not to say that the presence of the Dying and Rising Christ cannot be received by any of these means. It is to say that from a human perspective, the full meaning of the Eucharist is not obviously signified by them. Our theology is generous in its assurance of Christ's presence in all our times of need. In a rubric in the service for Ministration to the Sick (p. 457), The Book of Common Prayer clearly expresses the conviction that even if a person is prevented from physically receiving the Sacrament for reasons of extreme illness or disability, the desire for Christ's presence alone is enough for all the benefits of the Sacrament to be received.

 

Richard Hooker described the corporate prayer of Christians as having a spiritual significance far greater than the sum of the individual prayers of the individual members of the body. Through corporate prayer, he said, Christians participate in communion with Christ himself, "joined ... to that visible, mystical body which is his Church." Hooker did not have in mind just the Eucharist, which might have taken place only quarterly or, at best, monthly in his day. He had very much in mind the assembly of faithful Christians gathered for the Daily Office.

 

While not exclusively the case, online worship may be better suited to ways of praying represented by the forms of the Daily Office than by the physical and material dimensions required by the Eucharist. And under our present circumstances, in making greater use of the Office there may be an opportunity to recover aspects of our tradition that point to the sacramentality of the scriptures, the efficacy of prayer itself, the holiness of the household as the "domestic church," and the reassurance that the baptized are already and forever marked as Christ's own. We are living limbs and members of the Body of Christ, wherever and however we gather. The questions being posed to Bishops around these matters are invitations to a deeper engagement with what we mean by the word "sacrament" and how much we are prepared for the Church itself - with or without our accustomed celebrations of the Eucharist - to signify about the presence of God with us.

 

---------------------------------------- 

 

Click here for Bishop Haynes' message to the churches of Southern Virginia, as well as a joint statement from the bishops of Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC. 

Feeding program finds fresh expression during epidemic

By The Rev. Jon Anderson, Rector - Epiphany, Danville

 

Disciples meals at Epiphany, Danville, look a little different these days. Normally, we serve a sit down dinner in the Parish Hall on Tuesday evenings at 5:00 p.m. and then offer a sack lunch out of the narthex on Thursdays at 12 p.m.  Attendance at both of these meals varies based on a number of factors, including the week of the month and the weather, but generally vary from a low of around 20 to a high of 60+.

 

Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic we have kept the same schedule and served a meal of ready-to-eat, non-perishable items in plastic grocery sacks hung on the historic wrought iron fence around the church. This allows us to serve our guests safely while still being able to engage with them socially as we always have done.

 

The number of guests is up and last Tuesday we had a record of 67+ guests. We will keep this up as long as we can get supplies, which has become more challenging especially in the last week.

 

Message from Bishop Haynes

[God says]: "When the earth totters, and all its inhabitants, it is I who keep steady its pillars." (Psalm 75:3)

 

Yesterday Gov. Ralph Northam of the Commonwealth of Virginia announced a mandatory stay-at-home order effective until June 10 in an effort to stem the tide of rising coronavirus cases and deaths during the global pandemic. Many have asked how the governor's order will affect churches in the Diocese of Southern Virginia. The order does not change the guidelines that have previously been given except to say that they are now mandated. To that end, the following directives for our churches are and remain in effect:

• Church services continue to be suspended until further notice and likely not before June 10. Churches are encouraged to provide on-line worship experiences of their own if they are able, and to employ and make available for home use resources accessible through the diocesan website here. If you need assistance, the diocesan office stands ready to help you.
• Parking lot gatherings in cars for worship or otherwise, or any gatherings of more than ten people, are not permitted. As reported in the Virginian-Pilot following the governor's press conference yesterday, Gov. Northam "said Monday that Virginia isn't looking to put people in jail, but that anyone gathering in groups larger than 10 could be charged with a class 1 misdemeanor, which carries up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine." The governor emphasized that "we are in a public health crisis, and we need everyone to take this seriously and act responsibly," stating that "our message to Virginians is clear: stay home." We model being Christian citizens when we adhere to the governor's order.
• Church offices may remain open to respond to the indigent who are seeking assistance, so long as not more than 10 people are present at one time and they maintain six feet of physical distance from one another.
• Food and clothing banks and other outreach efforts that address basic human needs may remain open subject to the same restrictions on social distancing and numbering of staff and guests.
• Clergy, musicians, lay ministers and audio/visual technicians may continue to go to church to record or livestream services provided that are 10 or fewer are present.
• Day schools are to remain closed. Childcare may remain open with priority given to children of workers deemed essential, subject to the same limitations on social distancing and number of staff and children.
• FUNERALS: In the event of a parishioner death, families should be encouraged to delay funerals. Funeral homes have been mandated to offer services only to immediate family members (to include spouses, children, parents, grandchildren, siblings in that order and limited to not more than 10). Churches are directed to do likewise.

It does seem perhaps that the earth is tottering and the people are in turmoil. We must remind each other that God established the pillars of this earth and holds them firm. God keeps us steady even if we are tempted to be afraid. Let us not forget the source of our strength and pray for His love and mercy on a daily basis as we continue to be the church during this confusing time. May God bless you and continue to hold you steady and firm in His most loving, all-encompassing hands.

 

Yours faithfully in Christ,

+Susan

 

Click here for a joint statement of the bishops of Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC (in English and Spanish)

Creating sacred space at home

By Canon for Formation Lynn Farlin

 

During this time of social distancing various digital tools are being used to help us stay connected and are providing diverse ways to worship at home. While I'm thankful for those tools, I am also mindful that some intentional, quiet, low tech, sacred space is equally needed for prayer and reflection. The video shows one example of how sacred space was created at home. Visit our Facebook page and share a photo of the sacred space that you have created in your home (or email them to lfarlin@diosova.org). Click here, or the image below, to watch. 

 

Zoom meeting for Christian formation leaders

If you have responsibility for Christian formation (children, family, youth, adult) efforts the Christian Education Network (CE-NET)  would like to invite you to a Zoom gathering  on March 30 at 5:30.  During our time together we will be sharing ideas/resources for enriching formation during this time of social distancing.  Click here to receive the Zoom login information.

Add your live-stream and other digital offerings to The Episcopal Asset Map

The Episcopal Asset Map invites churches who are live-streaming services to update their worship information on the map as soon as possible. Update your page to share what services you are live-streaming, whether those offerings are regular, semi-regular, or occasional services, and in what language they are offered. Click here for step-by-step directions. You do NOT need a log-in to add information.  

 

Habits of Grace: An invitation for you, from Presiding Bishop Curry

As we learn how to adjust our lives given the reality of the coronavirus and the request to do our part to slow its spread by practicing social distancing, I invite you to join me each week to take a moment to cultivate a 'habit of grace.' A new video meditation will be posted every Monday through May. Click here for more info and to watch the videos.

New resources added to diocesan website

The diocesan website has a wealth of resources to assist churches and their parishioners in being the Church during the coronavirus and new resources are being added. 

 

Messages from Bishop Susan  

 

Messages from Bishop Susan, including her lectionary reflections and video, Being the Church during the coronavirus are all available on our website here.

 

Communications

 

Free Conference Call enables you to hold conference calls for free

 

Center for Lifelong Learning at VTS offers numerous video tutorials on the use of digital media like Zoom, Facebook, etc. It also offers recordings of two webinars on Holy Week, Triduum and Easter services that honor social distancing. 

 

Beyond Livestream Worship: What we learned from our experiment with online worship is a series of blog posts by Episcopal Church Foundation

 

Worship and formation at home

 

Creating Sacred Space at Home a video by Canon for Formation Lynn Farlin

 

Lectionary calendar Find the collect and readings for each day   

 

Bedtime Prayers for Children a video from All Saints, Virginia Beach

 

Rule of Life songs for children (videos) from Anne Zobel, Director of Christian Formation, and Rev. Robert Foxwell, Organist/Choirmaster, at All Saints, Virginia Beach. Click here for the lyrics to the songs so you can sing along.

 

Virtual Spirituality Room at All Saints, Virginia Beach

 

Bruton Forum Lecture series with topics range from Scripture, and Science & Faith to the Doctrine of God

 

Other resources

 

COVID-19 Resources for Churches from Episcopal Church Foundation, updated regularly

 

Church Fundraising in a New Normal a webinar recording from The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and the Consortium for Endowed Episcopal Parishes

 

Don't Feed the Beast: Trusting the Gospel in Trying Times a webinar recording from The Episcopal Network for Stewardship and the Consortium for Endowed Episcopal Parishes

 

10 Guidelines for Pastoral Care During the Coronavirus Outbreak article from Christian Century

 

Recommendations for Food Pantries & Food Ministries a very helpful guidelines from Diocese of Virginia

 

Assistance for individuals and small businesses 

 

Dial 211 for questions and assistance 

 

Common Help  

 

Virginia Small Business Development Center   

 

Being the Church during the coronavirus

"We can still be the Church. The Church is open even if we aren't able to come to their buildings right now."

Join Bishop Susan as she begins sharing suggestions for how we can worship in our homes, especially during Holy Week and Easter. Click here or the screenshot below to watch.

Message from Bishop Haynes: Holy Week, Triduum and Easter during coronavirus/COVID-19

On March 12, we directed Episcopal communities in our Diocese to suspend all church activities including gatherings for public worship for a period of two weeks in an effort to stop the spread of COVID-19 disease caused by the now pandemic coronavirus. At that time that we promised that would re-evaluate by March 26. I think it is safe to say that even with March 26 still a few days away, we all realize that our time of social distancing will extend far beyond that date. The Centers for Disease Control and the World Health Organization have suggested a period of up to 8 weeks. Sadly, these 8 weeks encompass our most sacred times of Holy Week and Easter, a time when more people gather to receive the Eucharist than at any other time. How can we NOT gather, we wonder? And yet, our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has asked us to do just that and to encourage and engage online and in-home resources for worship. (See the Presiding Bishop's statement here)

 

In light of Bishop Curry's advice, the advice of health professionals monitoring the pandemic and the directions of government officials, public gatherings for worship continue to be suspended in the Diocese of Southern Virginia until further notice - a time frame which regrettably includes the liturgies for Holy Week and Easter.

 

While I deeply appreciate the enthusiasm and creativity of priests from different parts of the Diocese who have proposed alternative ways of celebrating the Eucharist which might, if very carefully employed, still observe the requirements of social distancing and sanitation, I am not able to authorize those at this time. My reasons are two-fold. First, even though the risks of disease transmission might be mitigated, at least in part, in a "parking lot Eucharist," where the Sacrament is delivered to opened car windows, the risk of transmission would not be eliminated. Likewise with consecrated hosts that are left on the doorsteps of shut-in parishioners. Because we do not yet completely understand the extent of that risk, health officials are cautioning against it. Secondly, as Christians, we are called to attend to the well-being of our neighbor - essentially the good of our communities. Our community officials have asked us to observe a policy of social distancing. As Christian citizens, it behooves us to model adherence to those policies rather than look for exceptions that would enable us to circumvent them, or ways to be excused from them, however well-intentioned our efforts.

 

Likewise, I cannot authorize any electronic consecration, or consecrating of elements over the internet. We live an embodied faith which means physical presence. Our current practices require the actual laying on of hands, not a virtual laying on of hands.

 

These are all painful, difficult decisions. Since the Liturgical Reform Movement of the 1970's, we have been a church centered on the Eucharist. We believe that Christ is powerfully revealed present to us in the breaking of the bread. However, I would encourage you to consider and remember that Jesus is revealed to us in other ways as well - in Scripture, in the kindnesses and loving actions of others, in our reaching out in whatever way we can to the poor and marginalized. Perhaps God is working through this crisis to reveal to us additional ways to connect to Him and the saving work of His Son. Perhaps our task now is to explore and create new ways to live our Baptismal Promises even in the face of this coronavirus.

 

We will be working with you in the next days and weeks to gather resources for use in the homes of all those associated with your parishes to offer ways to observe Holy Week, the Triduum and Easter in their individual homes, rather than in large worship gatherings. We will also continue to make online resources available. Please do not hesitate to contact us. While we all want to help you, in particular, Canon Lynn Farlin (Canon for Formation) and Ms. Ann Turner (Diocesan Communications Officer) are especially equipped to assist you in staying connected with your parishes and each other.

 

I do realize that none of this is news that you wanted to hear today. I did not want to deliver it. I do want to remind you, however, that in this time when social isolation might cause us to feel disconnected and separate, there is nothing, absolutely nothing that can separate us from the love of God in Christ (Romans 8:38-39). Not even the coronavirus! And if we all make our life in Christ, from whom we are joined, then we cannot be separated from one other either!

 

With love and every blessing,

Bishop Susan

Using Sparkhouse Christian formation curriculum in digital space

For Christian formation leaders and churches using Sparkhouse curriculum, here is information about how you can use that curriculum in virtual space.

Sparkhouse recognizes with the spread of COVID-19, churches are moving towards a virtual discipleship method. Here are proposed solutions for distributing materials to your students:

If you are a Sparkhouse Digital Subscriber:

• You may add an unlimited number of users to your Sparkhouse Digital account
• My Account – Leaders – Add New Leader
• You may download the materials and upload them to a temporary, password protected site
• Click here for instructions on how to create a password protected Dropbox folder

If you own the content in physical form:

• It may be duplicated and distributed internally either through physical copies or a temporary, password protected site, including learner leaflets.
• 1517 Media cannot provide assistance with anything outside of our own products (duplicating DVDs, Dropbox, Windows/Mac programs, etc.)
• Consult local IT professionals in your area or conduct your own research online

Any posting online must be to an internal group, i.e. not public.

Certainly if any of your congregations have questions on this topic, they can call us  8AM-4:30PM Central Time Monday through Friday: 877-702-5551, and also at 800-328-4648.

A message from Bishop Haynes - more news on the coronavirus

"But as for me, I have trusted in you, O Lord*

 I have said, "You are my God.

My times are in your hand*

 Rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from those who persecute me.

Make your face to shine upon your servant*

 And in your loving kindness save me"

(Psalm 31:14-17) 

The Psalmist reminds us that in all things, our times are in God's hands. In this time of evolving uncertainty around the coronavirus, the reminder that we are in God's certain hands is a timely reminder. As the situation evolves, we are gaining more information at the diocesan level that we are using to help us make decisions about our communal life together. Because there is so much about this virus that we don't know, our decisions and responses are also evolving and we do ask for the patience of everyone as sometimes we have to make decisions that are disappointing and unsettling.

Because we are learning that the transmission of this virus can happen as easily as that of the common cold, we are beginning to think about the ways in which we gather and how we ought to interact with one another. After consulting with epidemiologists and health officials as well as other church leaders, we have had to make the disheartening decision to cancel a few diocesan-wide events in the coming weeks. We will continue to evaluate this evolving situation beyond the next few weeks and keep you informed. The events which have currently been canceled are:

• Safe Church Training scheduled for March 14
• Happening, scheduled at Camp Chanco for the weekend of March 27-29
• Clergy/Vestry Day scheduled for March 21
• Clergy/Vestry Day scheduled for March 28
• Clergy/Vestry Day scheduled for April 4

Information will be forthcoming about refunds of deposits paid for the Clergy/Vestry Days.

We realize that to some, this decision is distressing and disappointing. We too are distressed and disappointed; but given the lack of information we have on many levels about this virus, we are erring on the side of caution.

Please stay tuned to electronic communications from the Diocesan Office as we try to offer ways that we can stay connected with one another. Our challenge during this uncertain time is to continue to be the Church in times which challenge us. God has us in God's certain hands. 

Prayer for People Critically Ill or Facing Great Uncertainty

God of the present moment,
God who in Jesus stills the storm
and soothes the frantic heart;
bring hope and courage to all
who wait or work in uncertainty.

Bring hope that you will make them the equal
of whatever lies ahead.

Bring them courage to endure what cannot be avoided,
for your will is health and wholeness;
you are God, and we need you.

-Adapted from A New Zealand Prayer Book, p. 765

Walking Toward Truth provided a unique and deep experience for pilgrims

The Repairers of the Breach wishes to express its thanks for the pilgrims who participated in the Walking Towards Truth Pilgrimage that occurred on March 6 & 7. The group spent two days visiting sites of memory related to the arrival of the first enslaved Africans in Hampton and Jamestown and had deep opportunities for education, discussion, reflection and worship.  Special thanks to Terry Brown - Superintendent of Ft. Monroe National Monument, the Tucker Family, Mark Summers -Jamestown Historian, Valarie Holmes - Angela Interpreter, Hampton History Museum staff, Barbara Hamm Lee - panel moderator and panel members Linda Rowe, Rev. Samantha Vincent-Alexander, Rev. Les Ferguson and Rev. Willis Foster. We are grateful to Darlene Jackson, Rev. Willis Foster, Rev. Bob and Chris Randall and Bishop Haynes for enriching our worship experiences. Thanks one and all for an informative and powerful experience!

Beyond Addiction workshop March 20 & 21

Beyond Addiction is a Free Workshop for Parents, Family Members, Recovery Communities and Caregivers. Attendees will learn the Invitation to Change (ITC) approach:

• A new way of thinking about substance use, addiction, and recovery
• Skills and strategies to help facilitate change in a loved one dealing with addiction
• Discussion on how to combat shame and promote self-compassion
• Take-home exercises to use with loved ones, clients, and for yourself

The workshop will begin on Friday, March 20, 6 to 9 p.m. in Historic Lane Auditorium in Colonial Williamsburg with "Let's Talk Addiction and Recovery" Fireside Chat with Edward Grinnan, the Rev. Jan Brown (Archdeacon of Diocese of Southern Virginia) and Dr. Carrie Wilkens. It continues on Saturday, March 21, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Lewis Hall at Bruton Parish, Williamsburg with a practical, compassionate and research-proven roadmap for addressing addiction led by Dr. Carrie Wilkens. 

 

Click here for a flyer with more information.  

To register go to www.spiritworksfoundation.org 

James Solomon Russell Celebration April 5

The James Solomon Russell Commemoration Committee has worked diligently to organize the annual Feast of the Ven. Dr. James Solomon Russell, priest and educator. Please mark your calendars for Sunday, April 5, at 2:00 p.m. Bishop Haynes will be the celebrant and preacher for the event, which will be held at New Hope Baptist Church, 255 Union Mill Road, South Hill.   

 

A Patrons' List will contain the names of individuals who donate $20 or more to the event. Names and funds for the Patrons' List are due by Monday, March 23. Checks should be made out to: Treasurer, James Solomon Russell Commemoration Committee, and should be mailed to Mrs. Annie F. Walker, Chair; James Solomon Russell Commemoration Committee, P.O. Box 463, South Hill, Virginia 23970.

 

The Committee looks forward to your presence and participation in this remembrance of the history of the Episcopal Church in Virginia.

Are you planning to attend this year's Fresh Expressions conference?

This year's Fresh Expressions national conference, The Present Future: Cultivating a Church for Tomorrow Today, is planned for April 1-3 in Reston, Virginia. If you are interested in or planning to attend, please contact Canon for Formation Lynn Farlin, lfarlin@diosova.org or 757-213-3377, to possibly facilitate carpooling.  

Planting & Growing Your Food Ministry webinar

Diocese of Virginia invites you to join them for Planting & Growing Your Food Ministry - a free webinar on March 18, 7 to 8 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required. Register here. 

 

If you have a seedling idea for a food, garden or land ministry, or want to grow your current ministry, join this conversation with agrarian ministry practitioner, Brian Sellers-Petersen. Brian will provide you with:

• Examples from churches across the country that are creatively using their land and property to grow food, feed the hungry and care for the environment.
• Ideas and inspiration to help you become church gardeners and farmers.More uses for your existing church garden.
• Ways your church land can be used to further care for creation.
• Ways to involve our children and youth in creation care, gardening and food ministries.

Brian Sellers-Petersen is the Agrarian Missioner for the Diocese of Olympia and author of Harvesting Abundance: Local Initiatives of Food and Faith. He was a keynote speaker and preacher at Diocese of Virginia's recent Annual Convention.

ECW Spring General Meeting date correction

Please note that the correct date for the ECW Spring General Meeting is Saturday, May 16, at St. Cyprian's Hampton (1242 W. Queen Street). The cost is $20. If you plan to attend, RSVP to Corresponding Secretary Tia Morings, morings1@gmail.com.

 

Also please note that ECW President Laura L. Manigault has a new mailing address: 232 West Gilbert Street, Apt. 143, Hampton, VA 23669

Bishop Susan to conduct Open Office Hours on the Eastern Shore

Bishop Susan will be available for Open Office Hours on the Eastern Shore on Wednesday, March 11. She will begin by attending noonday prayers at Holy Trinity, Onancock, and will then meet with the Convocation 1 Clergy. Then, beginning at 2 p.m., she will open her doors to anyone who wants to come chat. Time slots of 30 minutes each will be offered either on a walk-in basis or you may contact The Rev. Frederick (Rick) W. Willis, the Dean of the Convocation for an appointment, fwrickwillis05@gmail.com. 

Message from Bishop Haynes: Guidelines for congregations to prevent spread of illness

Dear Beloved Family in Christ,

 

This morning I write to you to offer my assurance, prayers, and a few guidelines for your worshipping communities during this season of increased potential for the spread of contagious diseases, including the flu, the common cold and most recently the coronavirus.

 

The first thing that I would stress is that we be prepared, but that we not allow ourselves to become panicked. Preparation anticipates the possible, but it does not paralyze us. When we get into our cars to travel from one place to the next, we fasten our seatbelts in order to protect us and minimize injury in the event of an accident; but we don't stay put in our houses and abandon our travel plans for fear of that accident. Likewise, as we worship together in communities where infectious illness can spread, we take measures to protect ourselves from the spread of those illnesses; but we don't stop worshipping together.

 

Here are a few guidelines to consider during this season:

 

Frequent Hand-washing is counseled as the number one preventive strategy for contagious diseases. Additionally, avoid touching your face, especially the eyes, mouth and nose through which germs can gain easy access to your body.

 

Holy Communion: Those engaged in the preparation and distribution of Holy Communion (altar guild, clergy, and lay Eucharistic ministers) should exit the altar just after the Peace to wash their hands thoroughly in the Sacristy. Hand sanitizer should be available throughout the Church for those who wish to use it. Taking Communion by dipping the bread in the wine should be avoided unless the Lay Eucharistic Minister does that for you. And Clergy are exhorted to remind the people that Communion in one kind is entirely sufficient and people may bypass the Chalice if they prefer.

 

The Peace: While liturgically, the Peace is part of the service, the rubrics allow for the greeting of one another to be voluntary. Rather than shaking hands, greet one another verbally, or with some other greeting besides a handshake that does not involve actual contact (a nod, a bow, a side hug, an elbow bump, etc.) Be especially respectful of people who do not wish to pass the Peace.

 

Coffee Hour: Those who host Coffee Hour, of course, are reminded to follow all food preparation guidelines, especially the washing of hands.

 

Church Attendance: As I reminded all who assembled at Council this weekend, faithful church attendance is one of the ways we keep our first Baptismal Promise (BCP p. 304). However, if you are sick, loving your neighbor as yourself (Baptismal Promise No 4 BCP p. 305) suggests that perhaps the loving thing to do is to stay home. If you choose to stay home, please connect with the community in one of the following ways:

• Listen to Morning and Evening Prayer with The Audio Office at www.thaynes.org. This is a ministry started by the Rev. Thomas Haynes (my husband) when we were in Northern Indiana and features readers from all over North America and Canada (both clergy and lay).
• Tune into worship live-streamed by the National Cathedral, Trinity Wall Street, or the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta - or watch a delayed broadcast via YouTube.
• Pray Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer or accessible online at  www.dailyoffice.app, a website offered by the Brotherhood of St. Gregory, which provides texts for Morning and Evening Prayer, Noonday Prayer, and Compline.
• Give a quick phone call to someone else in your church, just to stay connected.
• And finally, take care of yourself. Make sure you get enough sleep, good nutrition, exercise, leisure. Remember that prevention is worth an ounce of cure!

These are just a few suggestions about how to stay connected. Here in the Diocesan Office, we are working on an expanded list of resources which we hope to send to you soon and to have posted on the website. We as Christians have work to do. We should not permit our fear to keep us from doing it. God has given his angels charge over us to guard us in all our ways.

 

"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 5:34)

 

Blessings and Peace in Christ,

Bishop Susan

 

Additional resources and a printable version of the Bishop's letter can be found here. 

Clergy Continuing Education Grant applications due April 1

Applications for Clergy Continuing Education Grants are due April 1. The primary purpose of the grants are to support programs that are essentially theological in emphasis. This does not, however, rule out programs designed for training in special ministries, or those which would in other ways enhance the effectiveness of an individual in his or her ministry. Click here for information and application form.