Time for United Thank Offering Spring ingathering

By Joyce E. Douglas, Diocesan UTO Coordinator

First, I would like to thank each of you who contributed to the United Thank Offering during the 2013 ingatherings (click here to see reports). If you did not participate in the ingatherings last year, it is my hope that you will join the other congregations throughout our diocese in supporting this program with prayers and offerings.

The United Thank Offering is a program encouraging men, women, and children to share their thankfulness to God through daily prayer and offerings, in the Blue Box, and to pass those blessings to others. The power of the Blue Box is unlimited. Your prayers and offerings have built churches and schools, made needed renovations, fed the hungry, clothed the poor, provided shelter for the homeless and provided care and support for those with physical, mental, and emotional challenges.

The times that have been set aside for the ingatherings are the Sunday closest to the Day of Ascension, in the spring, and the Sunday closest to All Saints' Day, in the fall. The months are usually April and October. However, if this does not meet your church's schedule, you may dedicate another month in which to hold your ingatherings. After your ingathering, please have your church treasurer write a check to United Thank Offering. The check(s) may be mailed to: Joyce E. Douglas, 4608 Coronet Avenue, Virginia Beach, VA 23455. (phone 757-496-0192) When your checks are received, they will be mailed to the United Thank Offering.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me. I am here to help you. If you need UTO supplies, they may be ordered from the website of the National Church:  www.episcopalchurch.org/uto.

News from Saint Paul's College

The Saint Paul's College campus in Lawrenceville is for sale in hopes it can continue to educate young black men and women in Southern Virginia. President Millard Stith, Jr. says that the college's goal is to find another college or university that will take over Saint Paul's as an educational institution.

In order to present the school in the best possible light for potential partners, funding is needed to keep the property and its 35 buildings maintained until July 1, 2014. The campus includes dormitories, a president's house and other residences, administration buildings, a Victorian house that served as an arts center, and a student center. Some of the brick buildings were constructed by students.

Saint Paul's alumni have responded to this call for help, and the Department of Education is also providing some funding for this purpose. If you would like to contribute to the Saint Paul's College transition, gifts may be sent to: Saint Paul's College 115 College Drive, Lawrenceville, Virginia 23868.

Scholarship applications now accepted for Episcopal Church grants

Applications are now being accepted for the 2014-2015 awarding of educational scholarships from The Episcopal Church, according to Samuel A. McDonald, Director of Mission/Deputy Chief Operating Officer and convener of the Scholarship Committee.

"As a result of bequests, The Episcopal Church makes available a modest number of scholarships that assist students primarily enrolled in theological education and training," explained Margareth Crosnier de Bellaistre, Episcopal Church Director of Investment Management and Banking  "Funding for the program is derived from annual income of designated trust funds established by generous donors."

Scholarships are available for ethnic communities, children of missionaries, bishops and clergy, and other particular wide-ranging eligibility for education and training. The amounts of the scholarships vary according to the availability of payouts from the funds. The maximum is $5000.

Click here for more  information and a list of scholarships available. Applicants are strongly encouraged to read each trust and identify in the application those trust funds that best fit their own profile. Requirements for applying for the scholarships include: the applicant must be an Episcopalian, must be a member of The Episcopal Church, and must have the endorsement of his/her bishop.

Click here for application form. Deadline for applications is April 30. Only complete applications will be considered. For information contact Terry Foster, tfoster@episcopalchurch.org.

Clergy invited to learn more about Westminster Canterbury Hospice Church Partnership program

Westminster Canterbury invites clergy to join them for lunch and to learn more about the Hospice Church Partnership programs and services that are available through Westminster-Canterbury at Home, LLC. The event will be held May 1 from 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Planned speakers include Dan Nimon, President of Westminster-Canterbury at Home, LLC; Sally Huston, Senior Director of Clinical Services for Westminster-Canterbury at Home, LLC; and Greg Dalle-Tezze, Clinical Chaplain and Pastoral Counselor. Please confirm your numbers of attendees by telephone at 757-217-2273 or by sending an e-mail to Sheila.deGuzman@wcbay.com before April 25.

Welcome Kevan Brown, 2014 Camp Director

Kevan comes to us from Kentucky where he teaches Performing and Media Arts and directs several musicals and plays each year in his school and community. He has been involved in the camping industry for nearly 20 years and has worked at camps in California, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut as a Camp Director. Kevan shares, "My one simple philosophy in camping, teaching and life in general is...If it is not fun doing it, it is not worth doing." Please join us in welcoming Kevan to our Chanco family!

Open House this weekend at Chanco

This Saturday, March 29 from 1 to 5 pm is a FREE event open to the public! Meet our Executive Director and some of our staff and friends, take a tour, see a video, learn more about the best camp in Virginia, and fly along a zip line if you dare (this means you too, parents)! Bring a friend! Remember for every new camper who registers that you refer, you receive $50 off your own camp tuition! So introduce a best friend to Chanco this Saturday and share the fun! Hope to see you there!  Questions? Contact us at director@chanco.org or 888-7-CHANCO (888-724-2626).  www.chanco.org   

Kindling Conference created for young adult ministry leaders

Registration is now open for a visionary Episcopal conference for young adult ministry leaders called Kindling, July 28 - 31 at the Humphrey Center, University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, MN. Designed for leaders in ministry with young adults both on and off college campuses, Kindling will provide an opportunity for those seasoned in these ministries as well as new leaders with young adults to meet, share, discuss and, mostly, learn from each other.

"Our goal in convening Kindling is to equip ministry leaders for engaging young adults where they live, work, and study," said the Rev. Mike Angell, Missioner for Young Adult and Campus Ministries.  "Building a ministry with young adults is like building campfire. You have to pay attention to the kindling, your initial source of heat, for your work to catch fire. This conference is designed to provide those initial sparks of creative ideas, community and inspiration for leaders working with young adults in The Episcopal Church."

Registration and conference information can be found here.