Three new deacons in Southern Virginia

Jan Brown, Genevieve Nelson and Linda Ricker were among the nine deacons ordained on Saturday at Christ Church, Glen Allen. They are the first class of graduates of The Deacons' School, a collaboration between the three Episcopal dioceses in Virginia - Southern Virginia, Southwestern Virginia, and Virginia -to form future deacons of the Episcopal Church. The Rev. Jan Brown is from Bruton Parish, Williamsburg and will be serving at Bruton Parish. The Rev. Genevieve Nelson is from Ascension, Norfolk, and will serve at Good Shepherd, Norfolk. The Rev. Linda Ricker is from St. Luke's, Powhatan, and will serve at St. John's, Chester.

Spring Clergy Day May 3 at Chanco

2016 Spring Clergy Day will be Tuesday, May 3, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Chanco on the James Program will be "Loving the Addict in the Pew: The Journey to Wholeness" presented by Jan M. Brown and Cindy Barnes. What if we believed addiction was really a disease? How might we respond to those who are struggling in our midst? This presentation will assist clergy in defining addiction, understanding recovery, and knowing their role in ministering to families as well as the individuals themselves. Click here for information and registration. Deadline for registration is April 24.

Digital ministry conference June 6-8

This year webinar access is available to much of the e-Formation Conference and the cost to attend online is just $89. Get more information and register here. The full conference program is available here. Webinar participants will also receive access to the recordings after the conference ends at no additional cost.

eFormation is an ecumenical conference on ministry in a digital world. It's an excellent opportunity for lay leaders and clergy, especially those involved in faith formation and  communications ministries. You can participate in person on the Virginia Theological Seminary campus or via live webinar. The conference is June 6-8.

Fairy Godmother celebrates 10 years of helping Jackson-Feild students

For the tenth year running, The Fairy Godmother program at Collegiate Schools in Richmond recently helped residents of Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services shop for prom outfits at no cost to the girls and boys.

 

Founded in 2006, the Fairy Godmother program has provided prom outfits to more than 350 residents. Their mission is to provide a special high school prom experience for children whose circumstances would otherwise exclude them from attending a high school prom.

 

Throughout the year, Collegiate students collect donated prom attire and conduct fundraisers to purchase supplemental items needed to complete an outfit. They also solicit donations from individuals, corporations and foundations in support of their effort. They store the items in a SmartBox provided by the owner of the local franchise, Bryan Bostic, and on April 8 the box was transported to the JFBHS campus for the day.

 

The Collegiate students met with JFBHS residents and helped them select the right outfit for the prom which will be held in May. Based on the smiles and laughter throughout the room, everyone had a wonderful time shopping for prom. For ten years now, these special volunteers from Richmond have provided not only the clothing to make prom special, but they have helped the children at Jackson-Feild feel valued and important.

 

GraceInside seeking part-time prison chaplain

GraceInside (Virginia's State Prison Chaplaincy Ministry) will soon have a part-time prison chaplain opening. It is a 25-hours-per-week position at River North Correctional Center in Independence (Grayson County), VA. Position will be vacant as of July 1.  However, we would prefer the new chaplain to begin on or near June 1 to have time to shadow the current chaplains and take all of the mandated state training. Click here for more information. 

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls for prayer for Ecuador

Presiding Bishop and Primate Michael B. Curry has called for prayers for the people and Dioceses of Ecuador following a devastating earthquake on April 17. Two dioceses of the Episcopal Church are located in Ecuador: Litoral Ecuador led by Bishop Alfredo Morante; Central Ecuador led by Bishop Victor Scantlebury. A magnitude-7.8 earthquake hit the South American country on Sunday, April 17.  News reports indicate the death toll is over 200 people with 2500 injured.

The following is the message Presiding Bishop Curry sent to the bishops and people:

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Please know that your brothers and sisters throughout the Episcopal Church are praying for you. We will be with you during this time and in the days ahead. You are not alone. May the love of God embrace and strengthen you.

Earth Day resources

Click here  for online resources, lesson plans for children, and bulletin inserts and other items assembled by The Episcopal Church for understanding and honoring Earth Day, April 22 by congregations and individuals. Among the resources:

• A bulletin insert on Earth Day, ideal for congregational use. 
• Creation Justice Ministries, centering on Care for God's Creatures and includes ideas for hosting an Earth Day Sunday.
• Earth Day Sunday with information about biodiversity and faith through Creation Justice Ministry's #EarthDaySunday Resource 
• Earth our Garden Home: Creation Care Lessons for Children and Wild Faith: A Creation Care Curriculum for Youth, a curricula ideal for summer and fall, developed by Cynthia Coe of the Diocese of East Tennessee, an Episcopal Church Mark V fellow, the curricula are ideal for Sunday school and teen discussion groups.
• Learn about Environmental issues and the Anglican Communion through a video from Episcopal News Service
• Receive information about The Episcopal Church's environmental advocacy efforts through the Episcopal Public Policy Network (EPPN)

For more information, contact Jayce Hafner, Episcopal Church Domestic Policy Analyst, at jhafner@episcopalchurch.org.