Safe Church classroom training in 2016

The 2016 Safe Church classroom training schedule is online. You can learn more about Safe Church training and register for upcoming classes here. Upcoming classes are:

• Jan. 23, 2016 - Johns Memorial, Farmville
• Feb. 27, 2016 - Good Shepherd, Richmond
• Mar. 19, 2016 - St. John's, Hopewell
• Apr. 23, 2016 - Hickory Neck, Toano
• May 21, 2016 - St. Christopher's, Portsmouth
• Jun. 18, 2016 - Good Shepherd, Norfolk
• Sep. 17, 2016 - Galilee, Virginia Beach
• Oct. 1, 2016 - St. Augustine's, Newport News

Latest issue of ECW Grapevine newsletter is here

The ECW Grapevine is a quarterly, print-ready newsletter with occasional special editions. The deadline for the next issue is Friday March 18.  Please help us with distribution via email or, printed copies for folks who don't have computers. If you have news you would like included in The Grapevine, or would like to be added to the email list, please contact Nancy Smith, nsmithwtr@aol.com. In this November 2015 issue you'll find:

• President's letter from Nancy Sands
• Getting to know Diocesan ECW Board members
• A real-life love story
• Women to Women update

Lost Boys Foundation: Volunteers needed

Outreach Africa: Lost Boys Foundation helps our Sudanese refugees (many of whom are now citizens) as advocates in the complexities of American life. It also raises money to help their younger relatives get an education in Kenya. Founder Julie Hill is in need of volunteers on the Peninsula to help with patient advocacy and with fair housing issues. Go to  http://lostboysUS.org to learn more about the Foundation and the Lost Boys or contact Julie at 757-749-3644 or julhill@cox.net to learn how you can help!

Robert B. Wynne elected to Board of Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services

Robert B. Wynne, an associate in the tax and employee benefits department at McGuireWoods LLP has been elected to the Board of Trustees of Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services. A native of Cary, North Carolina, Mr. Wynne received his Bachelor of Arts from Sewanee: The University of the South, his Juris Doctor with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his Master of Laws in Taxation from the Georgetown University Law Center. Mr. Wynne and his wife Tsveti reside in Richmond, and he looks forward to his board service to an organization that helps children with mental health disorders.

Young Adult and Seminarian Grant Programs from United Thank Offering

Young Adult and Seminarian Grant Programs from the United Thank Offering are accepting applications. In addition to grant applications from Young Adults, the UTO Board has also created a process for seminarians to apply for UTO grants for projects either at their field education site or in their home diocese.

 

There are a couple of changes from last year for the Young Adult grants. Instead of awarding one per province, the Board will select the top ten applications to fund. A video is not required, but applicants are welcome to submit one if they feel so called. Young Adult grants are for projects led by people 21-30 not for projects to minister to that age group.

 

All of the applications are also available on the UTO website, www.unitedthankoffering.org. The deadline for applications is January 29 at 5 p.m. Eastern time.

November Weekend 2015 hits maximum capacity!

Last weekend, nearly 70 individuals gathered at Chanco for our annual middle school retreat, and we used every available conference room to host these teens. This year's turnout was the largest ever; the program has grown steadily since it originally kicked off as an overnight lock-in at St. Martin's, Williamsburg, in 2010. Now November Weekend runs from Friday evening through Sunday morning at Chanco and features engaging worship, music, mixers and games, a dance, zip lines, and field games. To learn more about our diocesan youth programs visit www.diosova.org/youth or contact diocesan Youth Missioner Ashley Scruggs at ascruggs@diosova.org.

Registration open for Holiday Lock-in at Chanco for youth in grades 6-12

What's even more fun than a lock-in?  A lock-in at Chanco! Come with your parish youth group, or by yourself, or make plans to reunite with favorite camp friends from all over the diocese at this fantastic youth event for teens in grades 6-12. Friday, December 4 through Saturday December 5, we will be hosting an overnight full of fun games, creative worship and a jamming dance! Teens will stay lock-in style in our two large conference rooms, so bring your own pillow, sleeping bag and toiletries. Snacks Friday night, breakfast and lunch on Saturday are provided. Check-in is on Friday after dinner between 7-8 pm and pick up is at 3 pm on Saturday. Fantastic food, friendly fellowship and fabulous fun can be yours for the very low cost of $15 per person plus a donation of two canned goods for our Christmas Food Drive. This is the perfect opportunity to reunite with camp friends, bond with your youth group outside of church and/or to try Chanco for the first time and meet some wonderful new friends! Don't miss it! Click here to register. Questions? Contact Diocesan Youth Missioner Ashley Scruggs at ascruggs@diosova.org.