Administrators & Treasurers Lunch Group to meet Dec. 17 at Diocesan office

Take a break from your busy end of year work and join other parish administrators and treasurers to talk about common issues - including financial management, administration, communications, and much more. We'll be meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Diocesan office (11827 Canon Blvd., Suite 101, Newport News). Bring your own lunch; beverages will be provided. There's no agenda for this gathering - just an opportunity to get together, share, encourage, support, and ask questions. RSVP to Nancy James, njames@diosova.org.

Episcopal Church Foundation spotlights Administrators & Treasurers Lunch Groups on their blog

The monthly Administrators & Treasurers Lunch Group was featured on Episcopal Church Foundation's Vital Practices blog in November. The lunches are a wonderful opportunity to meet with other parish administrators and treasurers to talk about common issues. There's no agenda for this gathering - just an opportunity to get together, share, encourage, support, and ask questions. Currently, the lunches alternate monthly between the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area and the Peninsula. If you're interested in attending or hosting a gathering, contact Comptroller Nancy James, njames@diosova.org.

Stitchers benefits Jackson-Feild's children

Jim Otto, project coordinator; Tod Balsbaugh, VP of Advancement for Jackson-Feild, and Tom Foster with one of the quilts.

Stitchers for a Cause, a Glen Allen based organization, prepared 50 quilts to be given to the residents of Jackson-Feild Homes for Christmas. The group meets every Thursday at Glen Allen Church of Christ in Richmond. These talented quilters have been using their talents and skills for the past eight years to help needy and deserving groups and individuals to improve their quality of Life.

Jim Otto, coordinator, and his wonderful volunteers have been making quilts, bags for walkers and wheel chairs and other specialty items for non-profit organizations. They also make items to be raffled to raise funds for needy individuals who have acute medical needs. They have donated over 2,648 quilts, 1,034 pillow cases, 3,067 wheel chair bags and 5,883 other kind of items sewing only one day a week.

For many of the residents Christmas is a very difficult time of year filled with bad and sad memories. They look longingly at other children who have happy and cherished Christmas memories. They don't want to get their hopes up for fear of another letdown....another day to hide their deep disappointment.

The quilts donated by Stitchers for a Cause will help the children feel valued and appreciated and make this Christmas a season they will cherish for a lifetime.

Reverse Advent Calendar, online resources and webinar

Here's an idea for a different kind of Advent calendar - a Reverse Advent Calendar. Here's the idea - find two empty wine boxes and keep them in your kitchen or pantry, somewhere where they will be at the front of mind. Starting December 1, place a non-perishable food item into one of the 24 compartments each day. Once the boxes are full, donate them to your local food bank.

#AdventWord 2015 - Participate in Society of Saint John the Evangelist's Advent calendar. Respond to a daily meditation with images and prayers that speak to your heart and be part of a global Advent calendar that brings people from around the world together.

Episcopal Church Foundation has collected links to lots of free Advent resources, including calendars and devotions; Advent wreaths and activities; St. Nicholas Day; and preparing for Christmas visitors at your church, and lots more.

Click here for an Advent toolkit that you can use to bring your community together in support of Episcopal Relief & Development.

ChurchNext has just launched a new online offering - Advent: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Bishop Susan Goff of the Diocese of Virginia offers a deeply inspiring class that's available for individuals, or groups. Watch a preview here. 

News from Mission of the Holy Spirit

By Keith Josey, Lay Pastor, Mission of the Holy Spirit

As we prepare for the holiday season I would like to take a moment to remind you that many families depend on the generosity of individuals like yourselves to ensure that their family has a blessed holiday session.

 

Each year our challenges are increased due to the ever-growing needs of others. The generosity of churches and individuals like you has allowed us to serve numerous families. This year we have seen great changes and have enjoyed the growth of our members in the following ways: Currently our Sunday service has a Eucharistic presence on the second and fourth Sunday, we now have a number of parents who attend weekly and actively participate in the worship experience alongside their children. This helps to create a stable environment both at the Mission and in their homes. Our enrichment program has assisted many of our youth to achieve academic success. We continue to offer support to our college students and are excited about the members who will graduate this May. We have another exciting year of health and wellness with nursing interns from ODU here to assist our members and encourage healthy life choices for our children, adolescents, and adults.

 

Overall we are doing well, but there is a continued need for funding and the development of continued resources for the Mission. Remember that people tend to give to the organizations they know and trust, so this is why I'm sharing our successes and educating you about the needs we strive to meet.

 

While I am grateful for the support of all the Individuals and churches, we especially need your continued support for the following:

• Groups and individuals to assist with donations for Christmas gifts for the children and Christmas food baskets
• Volunteers to assist with enrichment and other programs
• Volunteers who can help coordinate regular fundraising activities
• Volunteer who wish to become members of our board

As we work to leave the hardships of our past behind us and live in the present, we must keep looking toward the future. Remember: "He who is not courageous enough to take risk will accomplish nothing in life." --Muhammad Ali

For more information or to volunteer, contact the Mission at 757-858-0010 or info@MissionoftheHolySpirit.org.  Click here for the Fall 2015 newsletter.

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