Boys Home Christmas Tree Farm open for 26th season

Boys Home of Virginia is marking the Christmas season with the 26th year of harvest from its Christmas tree farm. The boys and staff work on the trees throughout the year to ensure they are ready when the Christmas season rolls around. The tree farm features family activities like choosing your own tree, refreshments and hot chocolate, a photo booth, a children's craft table, small petting zoo, and drawing to win a gift basket. The gift shop is decorated with traditional Christmas trimmings selling fresh garland, ornaments made by the students, a variety of Christmas items, as well as wreaths of various sizes.

The 2019 Boys Home Christmas Tree Farm season began Friday, November 29 and will extend to Saturday, December 21. The tree farm, located in West Augusta, is open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Santa will visit our tree farm on Saturday, December 7 and Sunday, December 8 and Saturday, December 14 and Sunday, December 15 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Be sure to stop in for pictures and hot chocolate with Santa! The tree farm is located off of Route 688 at 1118 Bear Wallow Flat in West Augusta, Va. For more information call 540-965-7700. You can also visit the Boys Home website at www.boyshomeofva.org/our-tree-farm

   

Clergy transitions

The Rev. Daniel Crockett conducted his final services at Hungars Parish, Machipongo, and Christ Church, Eastville, on November 24, 2019.

 

The Rev. Ross Wright will retire from Church of the Good Shepherd, Richmond, on January 5, 2020.

Ridley Scholarship applications due January 15

The Ridley Foundation board will meet in February to consider new applicants for the second semester. New applications and documents are due by January 15. Current recipients need to send their first semester transcript in order to receive the second half of their grant. Complete information about Ridley Scholarships is available here.  

Registration for 128th Annual Council is open

Registration for the 128th Annual Council is now open for attendees and exhibitors. Council will be held February 28-29, 2020 at the Williamsburg Lodge in Williamsburg, Virginia. Go to www.bit.ly/diosova128 for complete Council information, including registration and lodging.  

 

	The Very Rev. Cynthia Kittredge

Keynote Speaker 

The Very Rev. Cynthia Briggs Kittredge, ThD, is our keynote speaker for this year's Council. She is dean and president of Seminary of the Southwest. The focus of Kittredge's leadership is the formation of Christian leaders in community for the vitality of the church and to advance God's mission of reconciliation. Read more here.  

 

Nominations for Elections at Council

The following elections will take place at Annual Council: Standing Committee (one lay and one clergy); Disciplinary Board (two lay and one clergy); Provincial Synod (one lay), and General Convention 2021 (4 clergy deputies, 4 lay deputies. Note: Alternate deputies will be elected in 2021). More info and nomination form can be found here.  

 

Youth Delegation & Adult Advisors

Every year a special delegation of 12 youth in grades 9-12 are invited to attend Diocesan Council. This is an annual gathering of clergy and lay people from all over our diocese. This weekend is a fantastic opportunity to learn about the Episcopal Church, to find out more about the life of our diocese, to participate in and help to lead worship, to hear inspiring keynote speeches, to meet new friends, and to serve the church. Two adult leaders are selected to serve as advisors for the youth delegation to help them engage in and process Council. More info and application forms can be found here.  

 

Communicator Credentials

Church communicators are an integral part of connecting their Convocations and congregations with Council while it is in session and, afterward, through their reporting. Credentialed communicators (whether volunteers or church staff) have their registration fee waived. More info and application form can be found here.  

 

Advent: Transitioning into the dark time of the year

A new blog post from Bishop Magness

 

By another name, transition is change. The longer I live the more I recognize, and at times even accept, that living a balanced life is largely contingent upon how successfully I handle the transitions in my lives.  Ready or not, new events and occurrences happen in our lives and invite us to change. Transitions and changes occur when we move to a job or change positions; when we move to a new school or start a new grade; when children are born into our families and then grow up; when new friends appear and old friends leave; and when our Christian faith community leaders prepare to depart as new leaders prepare to arrive.  

 

Click here to read the full post.

Diocesan ECW seeking vice president and historian

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of the Diocese of Southern Virginia announces the following vacant positions: Vice President; Historian. Click here for information about these positions and their requirements.  

 

If you are interested, please contact Laura L. Manigault, Diocesan ECW president, carver.manigault7@gmail.com or Deborah Austin, Nominating Committee chair, complianceretired@gmail.com. Please also make this announcement to your ECW Chapter in your parish.

 

Jackson-Feild: Sponsor-a-Child for Christmas

For most of us the Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year filled with symbols and traditions that are happy and joyous. Sadly the girls and boys at Jackson-Feild have been denied these happy holiday memorials. Christmas is often the worst time of the year and triggers memories of past trauma which causes anger, sadness and depression.

 

Thankfully you can make this Christmas the best one the girls and boys at Jackson-Feild have ever had----one they will cherish for a lifetime.

 

Please make a gift by sending your tax deductible contribution to Jackson-Feild Homes, 546 Walnut Grove Drive, Jarratt, Virginia 23867. Or you can visit their web site, www.jacksonfeild.org, to make an online or credit card gift. If you have any questions please call the Development Office at 804-354-6929.

 

Since 1855 Jackson-Feild has been helping hurting children. Please help ensure that these children are not forgotten by sending a gift today. Thank you and bless you.