Social Media for Congregations Workshop in Virginia Beach

St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach, will host a Social Media for Congregations workshop on Saturday, September 17 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. This workshop will introduce the most popular social media services, including blogging, Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Information moves in very different ways today than it did just a decade ago. We'll talk about what that means for your church communications plan and how to get the most benefit from these powerful communications tools. Led by Ann Turner, diocesan communications officer. Cost is $20. Click here for registration.

Chanco Restoration Project Under Way

Gracious volunteers Doug Weymouth, Jack Mace, Bruce Comfort, Latane Sale, and Steve Wallace arrived at Chanco Ausgust 8th to begin the 10-day project of restoring Conference Center building A. They went straight to work removing siding as they begin the process of re-insulating, re-siding and re-roofing the building. Numerous volunteers are donating their time over the next ten days to make this much needed project a reality. Special thanks is extended to Doug Weymouth, Jack Mace, Bruce Comfort and Steve Wallace who are generously giving 10 full days to working on this project. If you are interested in donating a day or more to helping Chanco renovate, it's not too late! Contact Interim Executive Director Talley Banazek at talley@banazek.com  with your availability (project date: August 8-18). Not able to give any time? Donated funds are making this project a reality and are still needed. Checks may be made to Chanco on the James with "restoration fund" in the memo line and mailed to Chanco at P.O. Box 378  Surry, VA  23883.  Thank you for your support of Chanco and the improvement of its facilities.

"Rebuild Our Church in Haiti" Update

Thanks to all of you who have worked so hard to "sell bricks" for the Rebuild Our Church in Haiti campaign. To date our Diocese has raised $21,561.45. Participating congregations:

Advent, Norfolk

Ascension, Norfolk

Christ, Eastville

Christ the King, Yorktown

Emmanuel, Virginia Beach

Epiphany, Norfolk

Grace, Yorktown

Holy Trinity, Onancock

Hungars Parish, Eastville 

Johns Memorial, Farmville

Old Donation, Virginia Beach

St. Andrew's, Norfolk

St. Anne's, Appomattox

St. George's, Accomac

St. James', Accomac

St. John's, Chester

St. John's, Halifax

St. John's, Hampton

St. John's, Portsmouth

St. Martin's, Williamsburg

St. Paul & St. Andrew, Kenbridge

St. Paul's, Newport News

St. Paul's, Norfolk

Trinity, Portsmouth

Trinity, South Boston

This is a wonderful contribution to our church in Haiti! Thank you. If any church is still working on the project, please contact Diocesan Coordinator Barbara Byers, byersbk@cox.net or call 757-537-6605.

Leading A Holy Life Task Force Convenes

In his address at the 2011 Annual Council, Bishop Hollerith spoke of the need for conversation to occur around questions of human sexuality that will come before next summer's General Convention. The Bishop spoke of our need in the Diocese of Southern Virginia to prepare for that moment thoughtfully and in fellowship with one another.

To that end, the Bishop has called together a task force called Leading a Holy Life: Human Sexuality & Blessing of Relationships, and appointed each of us to serve on it. We have met twice and divided into three working groups to have more focused discernment around the following areas:

•      Biblical & Theological Questions
•      Diocesan/Communal Relationship Questions
•      Personal/Individual/Pastoral Questions

We are a diverse group of lay and ordained persons whose stories and perspectives closely match the wide spectrum of our diocese. We see ourselves called to service by the Bishop for the health and welfare of us all. We look forward to our task, to God's leading, and to open communication with every member of the diocese as our work progresses.

Canon Caroline Black
The Rev. Kathleen Bobbitt
The Rev. Richard Bridgford, Co-Chair
Mike Diaz
Juli Edwards
The Very Rev. Keith Emerson, Co-Chair
The Rev. Drew Foisie
Bill Hunter
The Rev. Maria Kane
The Rev. James Medley
Cornelia Taylor
Ann Turner
Jeff Vogel
The Rev. Rhonda Wheeler

Virtual Bike Ride Benefits Boys' Home

Paul English, member of the Boys' Home Board of Trustees and immediate Past President of the Board, was scheduled to participate in a transcontinental bike ride to begin June 19 in Astoria, Oregon. His ride was to last 50 days, go through two countries, ten states and one province to total 3,667 miles. Paul was embarking on this journey to raise awareness for Boys' Home and specifically the Boys' Home School in Covington. While raising awareness, he was aiming to raise $100,000 for the school to be used this coming school year. During his final preparation for the ride, Paul sustained a broken collarbone. While he was disappointed that he wouldn't be able to complete his trip, he and the Boys' Home staff decided to turn the ride into a virtual walk/bike ride. Since the virtual ride has been created, there has been a high level of participation from Boys' Home residents, staff and supporters. They are striving to match the 3,667 miles and, so far, have 1,806 miles.

Everyone is welcome to turn in their miles from biking. walking, rowing, swimming or any other activity. Send your miles to Sandra Scruggs at sfscruggs@boyshomeinc.org. Miles will be accepted up to August 20. Donations can be made at boyshomeinc.org, using the link to Paul's Bike Ride. You can follow the progress of the virtual ride on Facebook.

Boys' Home provides residential education for young men, ages 6-18. With the focus of socially and economically disadvantaged young men, they center on those who have great promise, but few opportunities for success. Boys' Home operates on 97% private funds which is why Paul's Virtual Bike Ride for the boys is so important.

New 2011-2012 Youth Ministry Toolkit Available Online

The new 2011-2012 Youth Ministry Toolkit is now available on the diocesan website. You'll also find updated registration and permission forms, Youth Community Covenant, Youth Ministry Planning Calendar, and much more. All of youth pages have been updated for the upcoming program year. Check them out here.

Bishop's Days Registration Open!

Registration for Bishop's Days with Parish Leadership 2011 is now open!

Click to register online for:

EAST: October 8 at Good Shepherd, Norfolk

WEST: October 15 at Redeemer, Midlothian

Click here to download a brochure for registration by mail or fax.

For more information about Bishop's Days for Parish Leadership, including full list of workshops, go to our Bishop's Days blogsite, www.bishopsdays.blogspot.com.