Tuesday, March 10, 2020

James Solomon Russell Celebration April 5

The James Solomon Russell Commemoration Committee has worked diligently to organize the annual Feast of the Ven. Dr. James Solomon Russell, priest and educator. Please mark your calendars for Sunday, April 5, at 2:00 p.m. Bishop Haynes will be the celebrant and preacher for the event, which will be held at New Hope Baptist Church, 255 Union Mill Road, South Hill.   
 
A Patrons' List will contain the names of individuals who donate $20 or more to the event. Names and funds for the Patrons' List are due by Monday, March 23. Checks should be made out to: Treasurer, James Solomon Russell Commemoration Committee, and should be mailed to Mrs. Annie F. Walker, Chair; James Solomon Russell Commemoration Committee, P.O. Box 463, South Hill, Virginia 23970.
 
The Committee looks forward to your presence and participation in this remembrance of the history of the Episcopal Church in Virginia.

Are you planning to attend this year's Fresh Expressions conference?

This year's Fresh Expressions national conference, The Present Future: Cultivating a Church for Tomorrow Today, is planned for April 1-3 in Reston, Virginia. If you are interested in or planning to attend, please contact Canon for Formation Lynn Farlin, lfarlin@diosova.org or 757-213-3377, to possibly facilitate carpooling.  

Planting & Growing Your Food Ministry webinar

Diocese of Virginia invites you to join them for Planting & Growing Your Food Ministry - a free webinar on March 18, 7 to 8 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required. Register here
 
If you have a seedling idea for a food, garden or land ministry, or want to grow your current ministry, join this conversation with agrarian ministry practitioner, Brian Sellers-Petersen. Brian will provide you with:
  • Examples from churches across the country that are creatively using their land and property to grow food, feed the hungry and care for the environment.
  • Ideas and inspiration to help you become church gardeners and farmers.More uses for your existing church garden.
  • Ways your church land can be used to further care for creation.
  • Ways to involve our children and youth in creation care, gardening and food ministries.
Brian Sellers-Petersen is the Agrarian Missioner for the Diocese of Olympia and author of Harvesting Abundance: Local Initiatives of Food and Faith. He was a keynote speaker and preacher at Diocese of Virginia's recent Annual Convention.

ECW Spring General Meeting date correction

Please note that the correct date for the ECW Spring General Meeting is Saturday, May 16, at St. Cyprian's Hampton (1242 W. Queen Street). The cost is $20. If you plan to attend, RSVP to Corresponding Secretary Tia Morings, morings1@gmail.com.
 
Also please note that ECW President Laura L. Manigault has a new mailing address: 232 West Gilbert Street, Apt. 143, Hampton, VA 23669

Bishop Susan to conduct Open Office Hours on the Eastern Shore

Bishop Susan will be available for Open Office Hours on the Eastern Shore on Wednesday, March 11. She will begin by attending noonday prayers at Holy Trinity, Onancock, and will then meet with the Convocation 1 Clergy. Then, beginning at 2 p.m., she will open her doors to anyone who wants to come chat. Time slots of 30 minutes each will be offered either on a walk-in basis or you may contact The Rev. Frederick (Rick) W. Willis, the Dean of the Convocation for an appointment, fwrickwillis05@gmail.com

Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Message from Bishop Haynes: Guidelines for congregations to prevent spread of illness

Dear Beloved Family in Christ,
 
This morning I write to you to offer my assurance, prayers, and a few guidelines for your worshipping communities during this season of increased potential for the spread of contagious diseases, including the flu, the common cold and most recently the coronavirus.
 
The first thing that I would stress is that we be prepared, but that we not allow ourselves to become panicked. Preparation anticipates the possible, but it does not paralyze us. When we get into our cars to travel from one place to the next, we fasten our seatbelts in order to protect us and minimize injury in the event of an accident; but we don't stay put in our houses and abandon our travel plans for fear of that accident. Likewise, as we worship together in communities where infectious illness can spread, we take measures to protect ourselves from the spread of those illnesses; but we don't stop worshipping together.
 
Here are a few guidelines to consider during this season:
 
Frequent Hand-washing is counseled as the number one preventive strategy for contagious diseases. Additionally, avoid touching your face, especially the eyes, mouth and nose through which germs can gain easy access to your body.
 
Holy Communion: Those engaged in the preparation and distribution of Holy Communion (altar guild, clergy, and lay Eucharistic ministers) should exit the altar just after the Peace to wash their hands thoroughly in the Sacristy. Hand sanitizer should be available throughout the Church for those who wish to use it. Taking Communion by dipping the bread in the wine should be avoided unless the Lay Eucharistic Minister does that for you. And Clergy are exhorted to remind the people that Communion in one kind is entirely sufficient and people may bypass the Chalice if they prefer.
 
The Peace: While liturgically, the Peace is part of the service, the rubrics allow for the greeting of one another to be voluntary. Rather than shaking hands, greet one another verbally, or with some other greeting besides a handshake that does not involve actual contact (a nod, a bow, a side hug, an elbow bump, etc.) Be especially respectful of people who do not wish to pass the Peace.
 
Coffee Hour: Those who host Coffee Hour, of course, are reminded to follow all food preparation guidelines, especially the washing of hands.
 
Church Attendance: As I reminded all who assembled at Council this weekend, faithful church attendance is one of the ways we keep our first Baptismal Promise (BCP p. 304). However, if you are sick, loving your neighbor as yourself (Baptismal Promise No 4 BCP p. 305) suggests that perhaps the loving thing to do is to stay home. If you choose to stay home, please connect with the community in one of the following ways:
  • Listen to Morning and Evening Prayer with The Audio Office at www.thaynes.org. This is a ministry started by the Rev. Thomas Haynes (my husband) when we were in Northern Indiana and features readers from all over North America and Canada (both clergy and lay).
  • Tune into worship live-streamed by the National Cathedral, Trinity Wall Street, or the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta - or watch a delayed broadcast via YouTube.
  • Pray Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer or accessible online at  www.dailyoffice.app, a website offered by the Brotherhood of St. Gregory, which provides texts for Morning and Evening Prayer, Noonday Prayer, and Compline.
  • Give a quick phone call to someone else in your church, just to stay connected.
  • And finally, take care of yourself. Make sure you get enough sleep, good nutrition, exercise, leisure. Remember that prevention is worth an ounce of cure!
These are just a few suggestions about how to stay connected. Here in the Diocesan Office, we are working on an expanded list of resources which we hope to send to you soon and to have posted on the website. We as Christians have work to do. We should not permit our fear to keep us from doing it. God has given his angels charge over us to guard us in all our ways.
 
"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 5:34)
 
Blessings and Peace in Christ,
Bishop Susan
 
Additional resources and a printable version of the Bishop's letter can be found here. 

Clergy Continuing Education Grant applications due April 1

Applications for Clergy Continuing Education Grants are due April 1. The primary purpose of the grants are to support programs that are essentially theological in emphasis. This does not, however, rule out programs designed for training in special ministries, or those which would in other ways enhance the effectiveness of an individual in his or her ministry. Click here for information and application form.