In the Breaking of Bread: Finding Christ in Full Communion

May 16-18 at Shrine Mont, Orkney Springs, VA

The Virginia Lutheran-Episcopal Joint Committee is sponsoring a clergy conference led by Gordon Lathrop and Neil Alexander for clergy and rostered leaders of Lutheran and Episcopal churches. "In the Breaking of the Bread: Finding Christ in Full Communion" will be an opportunity to: 

• speak with national ecumenical representatives from both churches and with bishops and deployment officers from the Dioceses of Virginia, Southern Virginia, and Southwestern Virginia (ECUSA) as well as with bishops and synod staff of the Virginia Synod and the Metro DC Synod (ELCA);
• gain a renewed ability and confidence to preside at a full communion partner's table and evening liturgies;
• hear from renowned liturgical scholars Gordon Lathrop and Neil Alexander; and
• foster deep reflections rooted in the full communion relationship between the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Click here for more information and registration.

News from the Episcopal Church Women

Apply now for ECW Scholarships

The Elise Holladay Scholarship, funded by Episcopal Church Women, awarded $9,885 in grants, ranging from $500 to $1000, to 14 young men and women throughout the Diocese last spring. Also, the ECW Beverley D. Tucker Scholarship is available and provides assistance to men and women in church-related training in an accredited Episcopal school. Use the same form, available on the diocesan website here, to apply for either scholarship. Only complete applications will be considered and must be postmarked by April 27 for the student's application to be considered for the fall semester. A student may receive funds twice. If you have questions, call Susan Broaddus at 757-623-0205.

ECW Annual Spring Meeting

The ECW Annual Spring will be at Redeemer Episcopal Church in Midlothian Virginia on May 21. In keeping with our theme "God Bless the Children" the Boys Home of Virginia will be featured. Ms. Megan Drew-Tiller, Church Relations, Boys Home of Virginia will be our guest speaker and presenter. Come and join us. All are welcome.

2016 ECW Yearbook & Parish Directory

At the ECW Spring Board Meeting, the diocesan ECW Board voted to have the 2016 Yearbook and Parish Directory distributed electronically only. This is a big money savings for the ECW. It also offers us the advantage of updating contact information as it changes. In order to preserve privacy, the yearbook will not be posted online, but information on how your ECW members may obtain copies is available on the diocesan website - www.diosova.org/ecw. Since there may be some women who do not use a computer, I hope you will work with all the women in your church to make sure they have access to a copy of the yearbook.

Thank you,

Nancy Polick Sands, ECW President

Upcoming Cursillo weekends

Cursillo is a movement within the Episcopal Church. It is an adult retreat designed to help us grow closer to Jesus Christ. It's also a community where we're encouraged to live joyfully and serve faithfully in grace. For more information on Cursillo or to apply to be a candidate or a team member, please visit the Cursillo website at www.cursillodsv.org.

Cursillo #159: Men's Weekend
April 14-17 at Chanco on the James

Rector: Joe Jerauld. For more information or to apply to be a candidate or a team member,go to www.cursillodsv.org or contact Joe at joe.jerauld@yahoo.com.  

Cursillo #160: Women's Weekend
April 28-May 1 at Chanco on the James
Rector: Susan Summerlin. For more information or to apply to be a candidate or a team member, go to www.cursillodsv.org or contact Susan at susan.summerlin@gmail.com.

Cursillo #161: Co-Ed Weekend
October 13-16 at Chanco on the James

Rector: Ronda Toll. For more information or to apply to be a candidate or a team member, go to www.cursillodsv.org or contact Ronda at rtoll@cox.net.

Saint Augustine's University announces grant worth up to $35,780 for new students

Saint Augustine's University is pleased to announce three institutional grants for new students which is effective for the 2016-2017 academic year.  A renewable grant worth $8,945 annually, which represents a 50 percent discount off the annual tuition and fees of $17,890, will be awarded to students in three categories:

• Children and grandchildren of Saint Augustine's University graduates (Legacy Tuition Grant)
• Episcopal students (Absalom Jones Tuition Grant)
• Community college graduates from Vance-Granville and Wake Tech Community Colleges and other select community colleges (Community College Tuition Grant)

This administration made this decision to help ease the financial burden of new students and increase enrollment for the fall semester.

"We recognize that many families struggle with the costs associated with higher education," said President Everett B. Ward. "Subsequently, this administration evaluated how we could fiscally afford to support these students and established this program for a certain percentage of our prospective student population. If we can responsibly remove a financial barrier to provide prospective students access to a quality education, we have a responsibility to do so."

Saint Augustine's University is a historically black college located in Raleigh, North Carolina. The college was founded in 1867 by prominent Episcopal clergy for the education of freed slaves.
For more information about the institutional grants and to apply for admission to Saint Augustine's University, contact the Office of Admissions at 919-516-4012 or apply online at admissions.st-aug.edu.

The Conciliation Project: uncle tom - deconstructed

Sunday, March 13, 6 p.m. at St. Mark's, Richmond

"The un-told history of our nation's racial past compelled audiences to question their own education and knowledge of history.  It became clear that the production could not exist on its own as merely a play or theatrical performance, it needed to function as the catalyst for a conversation with the audience - a dialogue about the long held feelings surrounding discrimination that would surely arise from a very immediate and very intensely personal response to this topic, as well as the associated feelings of guilt that may result from people not accustomed to facing the simple fact that Racism in America is systemic, institutionalized and current." www.theconciliationproject.org.

Who is uncle tom?  This play examines the idea of stereotypes as grotesque, dehumanizing exaggerations and examines the characters in Harriett Beecher Stowe's novel, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" as a major contributing factor in the way commercial and media images of African Americans are represented today. Built on the title character from Harriet Beecher Stowe's famous 1852 novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, this work is the original poetic drama that gave birth to The Conciliation Project in 2001. Ticket price is $20 - call the office to reserve!  804-358-4771.

 

St. Mark's is located at 520 N. Boulevard, Richmond. 804 358 4771. www.stmarksrva.org.

Renewal of Ordination Vows services

Holy Week Renewal of Ordination Vows services will be held on Wednesday, March 23 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Paul's, Newport News, and 2:30 p.m. at St. Matthias, Midlothian.

Updated Constitution & Canons online

The updated Constitution & Canons (2015) of The Episcopal Church are now available online. You can find them, along with the 2016 Constitution & Canons of the Diocese of Southern Virginia on our website here.