VA Uninsured Medical Catastrophe Fund needs your help

Virginia's Uninsured Medical Catastrophe Fund needs us. The UMCF came from the hearts of two Virginians-one a long-time Episcopalian in our diocese-who learned of a fellow Virginian, a woman, diagnosed with breast cancer and left untreated for more than a year because she was uninsured. They turned their anger into action and took their idea to the General Assembly where it was given life in 1999. It was created to do one thing only-save the lives of uninsured Virginians diagnosed with a medical catastrophe and 108 people have been saved, most of them suffering from cancer. Critically, the UMCF has a balance of less than $24,000 as of the end of January and so the Commonwealth of Virginia's Department of Medical Assistance Services, which administers the program, has established a waiting list. Additional modest funding, $225,000, is expected to arrive through the state budget after July 1. But that leaves five months and a growing waiting list for people who cannot wait. The UMCF is a tax check-off on Virginia income tax forms but it can also receive direct donations at any time. Now would be a program-saving, life-saving time. Checks should be made payable to: DMAS-Uninsured Medical Catastrophe Fund and mailed to: Uninsured Medical Catastrophe Fund, Dept. of Medical Assistance-Fiscal Unit, 600 East Broad Street, Suite 1300, Richmond VA 23219.

Help Saint Paul's College win a Home Depot grant

RETOOL YOUR SCHOOL is a campus improvement grant program created by The Home Depot, designed to help historically black colleges and universities make enduring improvements to their campus and facilities. Thirteen grants will be awarded in 2012 - some as much as $50,000. Grants will be awarded based on a ratio of consumer voting and advisory board panel selection. How can you help? Go to the Home Depot RETOOL Your School website and VOTE for Saint Paul's College! You can vote once every day. Right now, Saint Paul's is 14th out of 66 schools. Cast your vote daily and help Saint Paul's get this well-deserved and much-needed funding!

Absalom Jones service

There will be a service celebrating the life and work of Absalom Jones on Sunday, February 26, 4 p.m., at St. Augustine's, Newport News. Absalom Jones (1746-1818), ordained in 1804, was the first African-American priest in the Episcopal Church. All are welcome! A repast will follow the service.

Training opportunity for new vestry members

"Who's on First? Equipping & Guiding New Vestries" is a brand new vestry training workshop being offered March 24 at Christ & Grace, Petersburg and again on April 28 at Emmanuel, Hampton. Healthy, skilled vestries who understand their role in the life of the church and their relationship to the clergy and the congregation are essential in creating and maintaining vital congregations. This workshop is designed for new vestry members, and will include:

• Presentations on the role and duties of the vestry
• Best practices
• How to deal with conflict
• Role-play and discussion of common challenges that vestries face

Click here for information and registration for the March 24 session. Deadline to register for this session is March 10.
Click here for information and registration for the April 28 session. Deadline to register for this session is April 13.

Workshop focuses on ministry with the aging

A Changing Landscape: Ministry with the Aging is a new workshop that will be offered March 6, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at St. Martin's, Williamsburg. Vic Maloy, executive director of the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, will offer guidance in understanding the issues involved in the last half of life and assist us in charting a new course allowing the church to have a strong new response. Click here for more information and registration.

Workshop on year-round stewardship coming in May

"Gratitude, Giving and Gladness: Making the Move to Year Round Stewardship" is the first in a series of annual stewardship events for our diocese. This first event will be held Saturday, May 19 at St. Martin's, Williamsburg, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is designed for parish teams of up to three persons which may include clergy and stewardship chairs. Cost for the event is $25.00 per person. Deadline for registration is Monday, May 7. Click here to register.    

Our presenter for this event is Susan Lee Vick, founding chair of the Commission on Gratitude in the Diocese of Northern California. An in-demand preacher, speaker, consultant, and trainer, Susan celebrates the ministry of stewardship as "the joy business," a lifelong opportunity to learn and teach that it really is more blessed to give than to receive. Susan is the Co-author of Grateful, Glad, and Giving: Year Round, Abundance Based, Stewardship, Congregations around the country have found Grateful, Glad, and Giving an engaging, highly customizable, and integrated approach to stewardship, leadership development, and congregational revitalization. "G3," as it's affectionately known, spotlights and amplifies abundance, on all fronts. Susan is a postulant for ordained priesthood, the founder and Chief Development Officer of the Church Investment Group, and the mother of four children aged 14 - 22. Her home parish, The Church of the Incarnation, is in Santa Rosa, California.

Union of Black Episcopalians hosts first annual Bishop's Ball

The Diocese of Southern Virginia Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) is sponsoring an evening of great food and dancing on Saturday, June 9 at the Norfolk Waterside Marriott Hotel. The Gala event is a fundraiser supporting Saint Paul's College and the local UBE Chapter. Tickets are $60 and will be available at the UBE table during Annual Council. If you have any questions, please contact Olivia Osei-Sarfo at 757-288-2611 or David Flores at 757-466-1991 or silverfox42639@yahoo.com.