A Start Up! Start Over! Conference for Small Churches

New Chapter: Your Church in God's Unfolding Story 

Come December 1-3,  Thursday afternoon until Saturday noon, to the Williamsburg Woodlands in Colonial Williamsburg for a congregational vitality conference featuring The Rev. Tex Sample - prolific writer, story-teller and  author of nine books on the intersection of faith and culture. Our diocese is partnering with the Episcopal Church Center Office of Congregational Vitality to host this national event especially for congregations with an average Sunday attendance under 75 people. This conference is highly subsidized by the Episcopal Church Center, and provides an excellent opportunity to send a team from your congregation to help you move to the next chapter in your church's life. Discover ways to increase vitality in your congregation by sharing stories of Good News with the world. As an incentive, our diocesan Mission Network is also offering $40 per person rebates to the first 50 people who register with a team of 3 or more people from their congregation or cure. Other need-based scholarships for laity may be available through the Christian Formation department. The Convocational Mission Initiative Grants may also be used to send teams to this conference. Registration is $295/person for a single room; $225/person for a double room; $150/person for commuters. Includes two nights hotel, breakfasts, snacks, Thursday dinner and Friday lunch. Go to http://events.SignUp4.com/suso11 to register. For more information contact The Rev. Canon Jeunée Cunningham, 434-603-1782 or jcunningham@diosova.org .

Exploring Gifts for Ministry in Daily Life: Being a Christian 24/7

Join us for this new workshop designed especially for laity to assist them in identifying their spiritual gifts and to begin discovering new ways to use these gifts to glorify God. Sponsored by the Commission on Ministry for Ministry of the Baptized. Questions? Contact Caroline Black, cblack@diosova.org. Saturday, Nov. 12 from 8:45 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fee is $25. Registration deadline is Oct. 29. Click here for more information and registration.

Mission Initiative Grant Applications Due October 1

Don't let your Convocation miss out on up to $1000! So far, two Convocations have submitted proposals and received their grants: Convocation 1, the Eastern Shore, is using their grant for website and promotional brochure development. Convocation 5, the Jamestown Convocation, is holding a facilitated retreat to develop an evangelistic strategy for their region. 

Grant applications are available on the Congregational Development page of our website. Grants can be used for anything that furthers the evangelistic mission of your region: sponsoring a conference or speaker to equip congregations, advertising and marketing, hosting events for the community, and more. Contact the Rev. Canon Jeunee Cunningham with any questions, 434-603-1782, jcunningham@diosova.org.

ECW Time for Reflection: Praying in Color

The Prayer & Worship Committee of the Episcopal Church Women welcomes Sybil MacBeth, author of Praying in Color, to lead their 2011 Time for Reflection October 7-8 at Chanco on the James. Sybil is a longtime friend of many in our diocese. She is a teacher and author. What she is not, she stresses, is an artist. She is a doodler and it is from that unconscious activity that her prayer practice, book and retreat were born. The Parish Book Store will be at Chanco for this retreat and will have copies of Sybil's book available for purchase. You can learn more about Praying in Color at prayingincolor.com. Click here for a retreat brochure and registration form.

Changes at Chanco

As of August 31, 2011 Talley Banazek will complete her tenure as Interim Executive Director at Chanco on the James. During her six month tenure Talley has provided amazing leadership at a time when Chanco was experiencing many, many transitions. In addition to typical managerial duties, Talley implemented systems that improved communication with the Office of the Bishop, resulting in improved training and accountability for our Summer Camp staff. In addition, Talley was instrumental in a property-wide survey that identified several areas of needed renovations and oversight. This survey is crucial in planning future improvements to both our property and our service. Prior to assuming the helm as Interim Executive Director, Talley led Chanco's marketing and development efforts, resulting in over $70,000 in annual donations and steady growth in both the camp and conference center business. Talley will be succeeded by Mr. Bill Porter, former Sr. Warden of Bruton Parish, who will assume responsibilities on September 1. Please join me in thanking Talley for all of her service, and wishing her well in her future ministries.

God's Peace,

The Rev. Conor M. Alexander, Chanco on the James Board President

Resources & Services Commemorating 9/11

Christ Church, Danville

Forward Movement has created a webpage of resources to support prayer and reflection in the month leading up to the 10th Anniversary of 9/11. You can access them here.

Congregations across the Diocese will be commemorating this anniversary in a variety of ways. Redeemer, Midlothian, is inviting their local community and representatives of local fire, rescue and police departments and service members and veterans to participate in a special service. Emmanuel, Jenkins Bridge, will hold a Service of Remembrance and Prayer Sunday morning; and Trinity, Portsmouth, will join with other local churches for a special community commemoration service on Sunday evening. Good Samaritan, Virginia Beach, has created a Litany of Remembrance that they will use to open their worship on September 11. Christ Church, Danville, is constantly reminded of the tragic events of 9/11 - a parishioner's brother was killed that day and a stained glass window was placed in the church and dedicated to all victims of 9/11. The window, pictured here in this post, is also on our Facebook page. They will commemorate the anniversary with special prayers and music at all services on September 11. Epiphany, Norfolk, will observe the 10th anniversary of 9/11 by tolling the church bell on the hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. The doors of the church will be open wide all day in invitation to any and all who seek to enter for prayer and meditation. St. Paul's, Suffolk, will gather Sunday morning to hang ribbons in the sanctuary, each representing a person who died during the attacks. The 10:30 a.m. celebration of Holy Eucharist on Sept. 11 will use liturgy, lessons, sermon and music to take a journey from remembering 10 years ago to envisioning how we would like the world to be 10 years from now; dreaming how we might work, pray and give to make it happen. St. Thomas, Chesapeake, has invited city of Chesapeake police, fire and rescue officers to participate in a special Service of Remembrance Sunday morning, Sept. 11. Chesapeake Mayor Alan Krasnoff and Police Chief K.L. Wright will be special guests as that service. St. Anne's, Appomattox, will hold an evening prayer service on September 10 at 5 p.m. focusing on peace and reconciliation. The service will be followed by a prayer vigil that will conclude with the Sunday morning worship on September 11. Christ & Grace, Petersburg, will hold a service of Remembrance, Recognition and Reconciliation on Sunday morning September 11 at 10:30. They will remember those who died and their families. They will recognize first responders in their city, and will seek great understanding and reconciliation with Muslims in their community. Representatives from police, fire and emergency services will participate in the service. A Muslim sergeant major from nearby Ft. Lee will also participate and will speak at the Adult Forum regarding Muslim/Christian relations.

Neighboring Diocese of Virginia invites those in the Richmond metro area to take part in an interfaith service on the 10th anniversary of 9/11 on Sunday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m. at Temple Beth El, 3330 Grove Avenue The focus of the service will be Memory & Hope. Participants will include Richmond Mayor Dwight Jones, Methodist Bishop Charlene Kammerer, Rabbi Martin Beifield, Imam Ammar Amonette, and other members of the faith communities.

If your congregation is holding a special 9/11 commemoration, please tell us about it. Send your announcement to Ann Turner, aturner@diosova.org. 

Retreat: Writing Down Your Prayer - Journaling With God

The Commission on Prayer & Healing will offer another in their retreat series, Saturdays with God, on September 17 at St. Luke's, Smithfield. The retreat, Writing Down Your Prayer: Journaling With God, will be led with meditations by the Rev. Gary Barker, vicar of St. Luke's and rector of Christ Church, Smithfield. The retreat is from 9:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is free. Registration is not required, but appreciated. Please email Gary, garyjmbarker@verizon.net, or call Christ Church, 757-357-2826, before September 12. Go to our website to download a retreat brochure.