June 18 webinar recounts Episcopal Church legacy of welcoming refugees

Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Office of Government Relations is hosting a one-hour free webinar, Our 1939 Moment: Continuing the Legacy of Welcome, on Monday, June18 at 4 pm Eastern. Presented as part of the World Refugee Day observance on June 20, the webinar will be a conversation about the history and present of the Episcopal Church's legacy of refugee welcome. Registration is required and available here. The webinar will be available on-demand following the event.

Registration open for Safe Church training

Registration is now open for the remaining Safe Church classroom trainings scheduled for this year. Online training is also available. Click here to register for any of these trainings:

• June 16 - St. Paul's & St. Andrew's, Kenbridge
• September 8 - Ascension, Norfolk
• September 15 - Trinity, South Boston
• September 22 - St. Andrew's, Newport News
• October 13 - St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach
• October 27 - St. Matthias', Midlothian

Click here for more information on Safe Church Training and who should take it. Current diocesan policy requires re-certification every three years for online training and every five years for classroom training.   

Episcopal Asset Map unveils redesigned site, invites full participation across church

The Episcopal Asset Map, an online platform showing the location and ministries of Episcopal churches, schools and other communities, has been revamped and refreshed with more-detailed information, easier access and ease of navigation.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, in a video available here, called the Asset Map "truly a tool, a resource" and points out that it has been "revised, expanded, updated, user-friendly and now includes virtually the entire Episcopal Church from the largest cathedral to the smallest house church."

The Episcopal Asset Map is a join project of the Episcopal Church and Episcopal Relief & Development. This innovative partnership tracks local ministries and shows the location and the array of ministries and programs offered by Episcopal congregations, schools and institutions throughout the church.

Because the map is grassroots-populated, local congregations are able to post the most relevant and up-to-date information such as summer worship schedules or special programs that respond to the needs in their communities.    

 

For more information about the Episcopal Asset Map, visit  here. A short video is also available in English and in Spanish. 

Presiding Bishop Curry participates in May 24 procession, vigil to the White House

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will join other faith leaders and elders in Washington, DC to launch the Reclaiming Jesus Declaration at a church service followed by a silent candlelight vigil to the White House on Thursday, May 24.

All are invited to attend the event, beginning at 7 pm Eastern at the National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, Washington DC. At the Church Service, Presiding Bishop Curry will join 10 faith leaders and elders in prayer and preaching. Following the church service at 8:30 pm, an estimated crowd of more than 1000 will follow Presiding Bishop Curry and the faith leaders and elders as they process from National City Christian Church to the White House.

"The church service, the procession to the White House, and silent candlelight vigil is planned in response to the moral and political crises at the highest levels of political leadership that are putting both the soul of the nation and the integrity of Christian faith at stake," noted the Rev. Jim Wallis, President and Founder, Sojourners. "The elders call upon all Christians to remember that our identity in Jesus precedes every other identity."

The Episcopal Church Office of Communications will livestream the church service, procession and silent vigil here. 

Hearts, Hands, Voices: Workshop for church musicians

The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, in conjunction with the Center for Liturgy & Church Music at Virginia Theological Seminary, is offering "Hearts, Hands, Voices", a workshop for church musicians on June 2 at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Richmond. The program will have two reading sessions offering musical selections appropriate for the church year and focused on smaller church choirs. It will also offer effective rehearsal tips to help you bring out the best in your choirs. You'll also get ideas on Psalms and resources to expand your use of the Psalms in worship. Cost is $45, $25 for full time students. Click here for more information and registration.

Clergy breakfast: Care of Creation

Lynnhaven River NOW is hosting a clergy breakfast at the Brock Environmental Center on Wednesday, May 23. The Rev. Cameron Randle, rector of Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach, will be speaking on "Care of Creation: Crafting a Theology of Environmental Stewardship." Breakfast will begin at 9 a.m., registration opens at 8:30 a.m. The Brock Environmental Center is located at 3663 Marlin Bay Drive, Virginia Beach. RSVP to dana@lrnow.org by May 21. You may send a lay leader if you are unable to attend.

Safe Church training rescheduled

Training at St. Paul's & St. Andrew's, Kenbridge, originally scheduled for April 28 has been rescheduled for June 16. Registration closes June 9. Click here to register. Those who registered for April 28 are automatically registered for June 16.

Training at Trinity, South Boston, originally scheduled for June 2 has been rescheduled for September 15. Registration will be available soon.

Online Safe Church training is always available. Several classroom trainings are scheduled for the fall and registration will be available soon:

• September 8, 2018 - Ascension, Norfolk
• September 15, 2018 - Trinity, South Boston
• September 22, 2018 - St. Andrew's, Newport News
• October 13, 2018 - St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach
• October 27, 2018 - St. Matthias', Midlothian

 Click here for more information on Safe Church Training and who should take it. Current diocesan policy requires re-certification every three years for online training and every five years for classroom training.