Registration now open for Episcopal Youth Event - July 9-13 in Philadelphia

Registration is now open for the popular Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) scheduled for July 9-13, 2014 at Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia, PA.The 2014 event marks the twelfth EYE and remains a popular and well-attended event. EYE 2014 is geared for youth in grades 9-12 during the 2013-2014 academic year and their adult leaders. Bronwyn Clark Skov, Episcopal Church Youth Ministries Officer, explained: "EYE is an opportunity for the youth of the church to meet their peers and church leaders in a richly diverse environment, actively engaging the Five Marks of Mission while in Philadelphia."

If you are interested in attending EYE14, please contact Youth Missioner Ashley Scruggs, ascruggs@diosova.org or 757-213-3393. The application forms for EYE 2014 are available on the Youth Events page of our website. 

Applications for Seeds of Hope Grants now being accepted

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. Grants must support the development of new programs or support the expansion of such ministries that are already in action within congregations of the diocese. Click here for more information and application form.  

Presiding Bishop calls for Day of Prayer for South Sudan on February 16

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori has called for a Day of Prayer for South Sudan for February 16. Bishop Jefferts Schori is joined in this call by the Rev. Gradye Parsons, the Stated Clerk of the Presbyterian General Assembly and the Reformed Church in America.

"The world is increasingly concerned over the rampant violence in South Sudan," the Presiding Bishop said.  "The recent increase in armed conflict, murder, and mayhem has been fomented in part by inaccurate reports of tribal partisanship.  The new nation needs peace, in order that all its people might thrive. The Episcopal Church of Sudan is partnering with others on the ground in that work of peace-building. The Sudanese communities within our own Episcopal Church have been important and effective leaders in this work. I ask your prayers for peace, as well as your awareness and involvement in the lives of our brothers and sisters across the globe. The Prince of Peace serves the whole world.  As his disciples, may we do no less!"

Click here for prayers and other resources from Episcopal Relief & Development. 

Absalom Jones Service on Feb. 23

A service celebrating the life and work of Absalom Jones will be held on Sunday, February 23 at 4:00 p.m. at St. Cyprian's, Hampton. Bishop Hollerith will celebrate and the Rev. Willis Foster, rector of St. Stephen's, Petersburg, will preach. 

Absalom Jones was an African-American abolitionist and clergyman. After founding a black congregation in 1794, he was the first African American ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church of the United States, in 1804. 

CE-Net Speaker Series: Planning domestic and foreign youth mission trips

Please join CE-Net on February 27 as we welcome The Rev. Wes Wubbenhorst, Canon for Youth for the Diocese of Maryland; Ashley Scruggs, Youth Missioner for the Diocese of Southern Virginia; and Steve Tonic, Staff Development Director for Appalachia Service Project for a panel discussion on the Lunch will be provided. nuts and bolts for planning successful and meaningful international and stateside mission trips. Thursday, February 27, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Hickory Neck, Toano. Cost is $15 for all attendees. Click here to register. For more information, please contact Jennifer Nauroth, at jenny.nauroth@cox.net.

LPM Spring workshop: Recruiting and maintaining a children's music program

The Leadership Program for Musicians will present a workshop led by Walden Moore on Recruiting and Maintaining a Children's Music Program on March 7-8 at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church in Richmond. Moore is the organist and choirmaster at Trinity Church, New Haven, CT. Register before March 1 for a discounted rate of $50 per person. Click here for more information and registration.

Report from our Episcopal Relief & Development diocesan coordinator

By The Rev. Dr. Keith Emerson, St. Paul's, Suffolk

I want to express my thanks to the parishes in our diocese who contributed to Episcopal Relief & Development between October and December in 2013. The following parishes made undesignated gifts. These gifts are particularly helpful because they allow Episcopal Relief & Development to apply funds where they are most needed:

                  100.00      St. Luke's, Powhatan

                  100.00      St. Luke's, Blackstone

               1,000.00      Church of the Good Shepherd, McKenney

                  155.00      Emmanuel, Virginia Beach

                  500.00      Christ and Grace, Petersburg

                  500.00      Diocese of Southern Virginia

                  100.00      St. Luke's, Powhatan

                  300.00      St. George's, Newport News

                  150.00      Christ Church, Waverly

                  100.00      St. Luke's, Powhatan

                  100.00      Christ Church, Amelia Court House

               1,330.00      Emmanuel, Hampton

                  300.00      St. Luke's, Blackstone

                  200.00      Emmanuel, Virginia Beach

                  200.00      Emmanuel, Franklin

                  500.00      St. James, Warfield

               3,475.00      St. Michael's, Colonial Heights

                  125.00      St. Michael's, Chesterfield

                  800.00      Christ Church, Waverly

                  300.00      St. Paul and St. Andrew, Kenbridge

 

The following parishes made donations toward disaster and/or tornado relief efforts:

               1,375.00      St. Andrew's, Newport News

                  300.00      Christ Church, Amelia Court House

                  300.00      Christ Church, Amelia Court House

                  100.00      St. John's, Chester

                  514.00      John's Memorial, Farmville

                  813.14      St. John's, Hampton (also included funds for Malaria relief efforts)

               2,000.00      Bruton Parish, Williamsburg

                  201.00      Emmanuel, Hampton

                    35.00      St. Andrew's, Lawrenceville

A great number of parishes gave funds to aid relief work in the Philippines:

               3,000.00      Bruton Parish, Williamsburg

                  500.00      St. Michael's, Chesterfield

                  621.43      St. Stephen's, Newport News

               2,993.00      Galilee, Virginia Beach

                  569.21      St. Paul's, Norfolk

                  255.65      John's Memorial, Farmville

                    50.00      St. Cecelia Guild, Christ Church, Eastville

                  975.00      Emmanuel, Hampton

                  747.50      Holy Apostles, Virginia Beach

                    50.00      St. Paul's, Norfolk

               4,000.00      Bruton Parish, Williamsburg

                  100.00      St. Stephen's, Newport News

               1,000.00      All Saints', Virginia Beach

               6,000.00      Bruton Parish, Williamsburg

               1,850.47      Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach

               1,000.00      Christ Church, Eastville

                  100.00      Old Donation, Virginia Beach

                  275.00      St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach

               4,688.00      Diocese of Southern Virginia

                  200.00      St. Martin's, Williamsburg

               2,150.00      St. Simon by-the-Sea, Sandbridge

                  225.00      Galilee, Virginia Beach

                  300.00      Emmanuel, Franklin

                  300.00      St. Matthias', Midlothian

                  835.00      Christ the King, Yorktown

                  150.00      Galilee, Virginia Beach

               1,388.00      All Saints', Virginia Beach (a portion was designated for Tornado Response)

                  200.00      Good Shepherd, Richmond.

St. John's, Hampton also made a $55 contribution toward Malaria relief.  

Diocesan Coordinators do not receive specific information about individual contributions to Episcopal Relief & Development. I do know that during the fourth quarter of 2013 Episcopal Relief & Development received 447 contributions from people and congregations in the Diocese of Southern Virginia for a total of $112,330.00. Thank you for this fantastic response.

I also want to thank congregations who raised funds in Advent for pigs, goats, beehives, and chickens through the Gifts for Life program. St. George's, Newport News raised $1,278.93 and St. Paul's, Suffolk raised $712.00. These gifts will change lives and are greatly appreciated.