Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Directory of spiritual directors

For several years, the Rev. Mike Ferguson convened a group of spiritual directors for a monthly gathering at the diocesan office. Whenever I received a request for names of spiritual directors, I would always contact Mike. Since his death, we no longer have a designated contact person for this ministry, even though we receive requests on a regular basis. To that end, we are asking anyone who is doing spiritual direction, to send contact information to Caroline Black at cblack@diosova.org so we can begin to compile a directory. Thanks for your assistance.

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

CE-Net meeting on Nov. 16

CE-Net (Christian Education Network) will hold an informal face to face meeting on Thursday, November 16, 2017 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Diocesan office in Newport News. Please join us as we catch up and discuss future CE-Net meetings. We would love to hear your plans for the upcoming Advent season as well as how your summer programs went.  For those who wish, we can head to a local restaurant for lunch after the conversation. Feel free to pass this invite along to anyone who you think would be interested! Please RSVP to Jennifer Nauroth, jnauroth75@gmail.com, or Lynn Farlin, lfarlin@ascension-norfolk.org

Administrators & Treasurers Lunch Group in Farmville on Nov. 16

Attention parish administrators, treasurers, and anyone (staff or volunteer) involved in the financial or administrative functions of your parish -- on Thursday, November 16, John's Memorial will host the Administrators and Treasurers Lunch Group. This is your opportunity to learn, ask questions, share your experiences, and connect with your colleagues in other parishes. There is no agenda other than the one you set. Bring your own lunch. Beverages will be provided. Please RSVP Judy Dobson, Diocesan Comptroller at jdobson@diosova.org. Johns Memorial is located at 400 High Street, Farmville. 

ACS Year-End Documentation Training Dec. 6

ACS trainer Fred Forry will offer a one-day training on year-end documentation on Dec. 6 at the Diocesan Office, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.. This is an outstanding opportunity for ACS users to get training on these vital processes. ACS is only offering one other year-end training in the Virginia-North Carolina region. The morning session will focus on contributions and the afternoon will cover financials. Participants should download and bring ACS year-end documentation to follow along in class. Cost of training is $50. Lunch is provided. Click here to register.

Lutheran-Episcopal Day of Prayer on Nov. 14

The Lutheran-Episcopal Joint Committee of Virginia is sponsoring a Day of Prayer on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in Arlington. The Day of Prayer will be led by the Rev. Katherine A. Grieb, Meade Professor of Biblical Interpretation and New Testament at Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria, VA. Rev. Grieb will lead participants in considering how and why to pray, whom to pray with, resources for prayer, prayer and the liturgical year, and will share other personal prayer practices. Click here for more info and registration.  
 
Day of Prayer in Richmond  on March 8 
There will be another Lutheran-Episcopal Day of Prayer event on March 8, 2018 at St. Luke's Lutheran Church in Richmond. This day will be led by the Rt. Rev. Susan Goff, bishop suffragan of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. Click here for details and registration for that event. 

Trinity Institute 2018: Values in Action

St. Paul's, Newport News, will be a Trinity Institute Partner Site for the 2018 conference to be held Feb. 2-3, 2018. Mark your calendar and plan to attend this important event.
We all want to create a better world, and that requires action and connection. Discerning shared values is crucial to forming powerful partnerships and moving forward with courageous intention. Explore how you and your community can set a collaborative course at Values in Action, a Trinity Institute conference designed to help you get grounded and connected so you can get going. The 2018 conference features leading activists, theologians, authors, and experts on how to integrate core values into strategic and effective action, including the Most Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church; Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness, and Pádraig Ó Tuama, poet, theologian, and mediator.    
Click here for more information and registration. Cost is $20 per person and includes both days, and lunch on Saturday.

Episcopal Church-United Methodist Dialogue offers report

The Episcopal Church-United Methodist Dialogue Committee met in Washington, D.C., to continue its work on establishing a full communion relationship between the two denominations. The committee has adopted a draft proposal for full communion entitled A Gift to the World: Co-Laborers for the Healing of Brokenness (The Episcopal Church and The United Methodist Church, A Proposal for Full Communion) and is seeking feedback from laity, clergy and bishops in both denominations before an official resolution could be presented to respective legislative bodies. Click here to continue reading.