Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Applications accepted for grants focused on climate change and creation
Applications
are now accepted for grants that focus on local faith-based projects
for mitigating climate change and safeguarding the integrity of
Creation. The Episcopal Church Advisory Council for the Stewardship of
Creation, enabled by Resolution A030, Create Task Force On Climate
Change, approved at General Convention 2015, will make recommendations
for grants up to $10,000. Only Episcopal institutions (parishes,
dioceses, provinces, schools, seminaries, monastic communities,
Episcopal organizations and other Episcopal affiliated entities) are
eligible to receive these funds. Partnerships with non-Episcopal
entities are welcome and encouraged, but an Episcopal entity must serve
as the project leader, active manager, and reporting agent. Deadline
for applications is Dec. 31, 2016. Application information is here.
Tuesday, November 1, 2016
Administrators & Treasurers to meet Nov. 17
The
Administrators & Treasurers Lunch Group will meet on Thursday, Nov.
17, 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Diocesan Office in Newport News. This is a
wonderful opportunity to meet with other parish administrators and
treasurers to talk about common issues. Bring your own lunch; beverages
will be provided. There's no agenda for this gathering - just an
opportunity to get together, share, encourage, support, and ask
questions. RSVP to Nancy James, njames@diosova.org.
CE-Net meeting on Nov. 10
CE-Net (Christian Educators Network) will meet on Thursday, Nov. 10 from 9:30 to noon at the Diocesan Office in Newport News. Would
you like to learn how you can continue formation at home? Or how
would you like to send weekly updates on what you covered in formation
so parents have an idea of what to talk to their kids about? If these
questions interest you, CE-Net would like to invite you to a working
session with diocesan Communications Officer Ann Turner who will walk us
through how to set up a blog and how to use a recently added feature
to the diocesan website. Bring your laptops and your questions. Lunch
will be provided. Ann will also be available until 2 p.m. to answer
any individual questions. Please RSVP by Nov. 8 to jenny.nauroth@cox.net.
Clergy Compensation Guidelines for 2017
The Executive Board approved a 1% cost of living increase for 2017. The 2017 Clergy Compensation Manual
is now available on our website. The manual includes a review of
diocesan and national canonical requirements, federal regulations,
traditional and generally accepted personnel practices. The manual may
be used as guidelines in discussions between vestries and clergy in the
Diocese of Southern Virginia. Additional consultation is available from
the Canon for Administration Ed Tracy, etracy@diosova.org, 757-213-3378 or 800-582-8292.
Young Adult Service Corps accepting applications for 2017-2018 placements
Young adults (21-30 years old) have an
opportunity to transform their own lives while engaging mission and
ministry in the Anglican Communion by joining the Young Adult Service
Corps. Now, applications are available for 2017-2018 placements in the
Young Adult Service Corps, commonly known as YASC. Click here for more info and application.
Currently
YASCers are serving throughout the Anglican Communion, working
alongside partners in administration, agriculture, communication,
development, and education. They are serving in Brazil, Costa Rica,
England, France, Haiti, Hong Kong, Japan, Jerusalem, Panama,
Philippines, and South Africa. Adrienne Davis of St. David's,
Chesterfield, is currently serving in YASC in Hong Kong.
Among
possible placements for 2017-2018 are Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador,
England, France, Ghana, Haiti, Honduras, Hong Kong, Japan, Jerusalem,
Mexico, Panama, Philippines, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, and
Tanzania.
Advent devotions offered by heads of Episcopal Church, Anglican Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada
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L to R: Presiding Bishop Michael Curry; the Rev. Susan Johnson; the Rev. Elizabeth Eaton; the Most Rev. Fred Hiltz |
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Bishop Hollerith at Washington National Cathedral
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L to R: Rev. Canon Stephanie Spellers; Rev. Dr. Rosemarie Duncan; Rt. Rev. Mariann Budde; Rev. Canon Kelly Brown Douglas; Bishop Hollerith; Presiding Bishop Michael Curry; Rev. Canon Jan Naylor Cope; Very Rev. Randolph Hollerith
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Bishop Hollerith was at the National Cathedral on Sunday,
Oct. 23 - preaching at the morning service and participating in the
installation of his brother, the Very Rev. Randolph M. Hollerith, as
11th Dean of the Cathedral. You can watch video of both services on the
cathedral website, www.cathedral.org.
125th Annual Council Feb. 10-11 in Williamsburg
The 125th Annual Council of the Episcopal Diocese of
Southern Virginia will be held February 10-11, 2017 at the Williamsburg
Lodge Convention Center. Bookmark this page, www.bit.ly/diosova125,
where you can find the most current information about the 125th Annual
Council, including: Nomination form for elections; Youth Delegation
application; Communicator Credentials application; and hotel
information. Council hashtag is #diosova125.
Stewardship: It's not about money... It's about relationships
Our keynote speaker will be the Rev. Canon Timothy Dombek, Canon for Stewardship in the Diocese of Arizona. Dombek will give three presentations at Council: Building Relationships = Increased Giving; How to Talk About Money & Pledges; and The Most Overlooked Aspect of Congregational Stewardship.
Registration will begin Nov. 28
Council registration will open on Monday, Nov. 28. You will be able to register individually or you may register your entire delegation. Attendees will need to make their own hotel reservations. Discounted rates will be available at the Williamsburg Lodge and The Woodlands.
Volunteer Choir
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Our keynote speaker will be the Rev. Canon Timothy Dombek, Canon for Stewardship in the Diocese of Arizona. Dombek will give three presentations at Council: Building Relationships = Increased Giving; How to Talk About Money & Pledges; and The Most Overlooked Aspect of Congregational Stewardship.
Registration will begin Nov. 28
Council registration will open on Monday, Nov. 28. You will be able to register individually or you may register your entire delegation. Attendees will need to make their own hotel reservations. Discounted rates will be available at the Williamsburg Lodge and The Woodlands.
In celebration of our 125th annual Diocesan Council, the opening
worship service on Friday, February 10 at 11 a.m. will include a brass
quintet and volunteer singers from around our Diocese. Rebecca Davy,
Music Director and Organist at Bruton Parish, Williamsburg, will direct
the volunteer choir and is looking for singers to participate in this
special service. If you would be interested in singing, contact her at bdavy@brutonparish.org or 757-645-3431.
Dismantling Racism workshop Nov. 5
Virginia Organizing will offer a Dismantling Racism workshop
on Saturday, Nov. 5, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Trinity, Portsmouth (500 Court
Street). During this workshop, people of different racial and ethnic
backgrounds will have the opportunity to reflect on personal
experiences, discuss issues, explore theories in anti-racism work, and
focus on how to make changes within their organizations and communities.
This is an opportunity to talk in an open, diverse, and safe setting
about racism and to develop action plans to take home. Click here for more info and registration. Please register by Nov. 3.
2015 Parish Audits due now
2015 parish audits were due September 1. We have received
34. If you have not turned in your church's audit, please contact Kellie
Riley at the diocesan office, kriley@diosova.org, to let her know the status of the audit.
If you need information about how to conduct an audit, you can go to the diocesan website, www.diosova.org, or contact Nancy James, njames@diosova.org or 213-3386, or Kellie Riley, kriley@diosova.org or 213-3374.
If you need information about how to conduct an audit, you can go to the diocesan website, www.diosova.org, or contact Nancy James, njames@diosova.org or 213-3386, or Kellie Riley, kriley@diosova.org or 213-3374.
Help ECW fund outreach - submit dues by Nov. 1
Each fall the ECW Diocesan Board asks Episcopal Church Women
diocese-wide to help fund outreach in the diocese, nation and world.
Each parish is requested to contribute annual dues of $3 per person. Two
of those dollars ($2) fund the ECW Diocesan Budget on page 33 in the
Yearbook and Directory. At year end, recipients world-wide receive
donations allotted by percentages based on the amount of money received.
The remaining dollar ($1) helps fund the administrative fund.
The board also asks for voluntary contributions to help fund
the Church Periodical Club and Miles of Pennies; the Elise Holladay
Scholarships for high school graduates to further their education; the
Book of Remembrance-gifts in memory of loved ones also fund the Elise
Holladay Scholarships; God Bless the Children, Jackson-Feild Homes and
Boys Home graduation gifts; and With These Hands, Holy Cross Anglican
School, Belize Feeding Program.
All contributions are due November 1. Please mail one check
payable to: ECW Treasurer with the Parish Annual Contribution Report to
Betty Mariner, ECW Diocesan Treasurer.
Who's Who is ECW?
We need your help to keep contact information up-to-date in
the ECW Yearbook and Directory. We also want to honor our sisters in
memoriam. Please complete and mail the ECW Parish Information Report,
due November 1, and the ECW Convocation Report 2016,
due November 15, to Louise Boss, Second Vice President. You can find
all the forms in the 2016 ECW Yearbook and Directory. For a copy, email
or call Ann Turner, Diocesan Communication Officer, aturner@diosova.org, 757-213-3388.
Connect with Evangelism Matters conference through FREE live webcast and on-demand
Congregations, dioceses, groups, and individuals can connect with Evangelism Matters without traveling to Texas for the groundbreaking event. Evangelism Matters,
an Episcopal Church Evangelism Conference on November 18-19 in Dallas,
TX, is designed for anyone who would like to learn more about
evangelism and available resources to share our faith. The churchwide
event is co-sponsored by Forward Movement and the Presiding Bishop's Office, and is hosted by the Diocese of Dallas and Church of the Transfiguration, Dallas, TX where the activities will be held.
Key portions of Evangelism Matters will be live webcast to allow for individual and group viewing during conventions, discussion groups, and local evangelism gatherings. The webcast is free and does not require registration. Get more information on how you can access the conference here.
Key portions of Evangelism Matters will be live webcast to allow for individual and group viewing during conventions, discussion groups, and local evangelism gatherings. The webcast is free and does not require registration. Get more information on how you can access the conference here.
Church Leadership Conference Feb. 17-19 at Kanuga
The
Church Leadership Conference, sponsored by Kanuga and the Episcopal
Church Foundation, will be held at Kanuga February 17-19, 2017 and will
explore the theme "Finding Your Place." Join Rachel Held Evans, Canon
Frank Logue, and a team of presenters as they discuss leadership skills
that will enable churches to thrive. For more information and to
register, please visit www.kanuga.org/churchleadership.
Monday, October 17, 2016
Two new online courses from ChurchNext
ChurchNext has launched two brand new courses, suitable for individual or group study:
- Practical Forgiveness - Forgiveness continues to be one of the greatest issues facing humankind. Class led by Rob Voyle. Click here to learn more.
- A 7 Week Advent - With Advent approaching, there's a small but hearty movement to expand the season from four weeks to seven. Episcopal rector Stephen Smith leads this course. Click here to learn more.
MissionInsite demographics: Ministry benefits of PeoplePlot
Who are we? It's an important ministry question for
churches. the MissionInsite demographics tools - available to all
churches in Southern Virginia - includes PeoplePlot. With this tool you
can:
- connect with visitors and new movers
- discover the financial support potential of your church
- view your people by neighborhood
- discover small group opportunities
- respond to natural disasters in your area
- and much more
Thomas W. Meehan elected to Jackson-Feild Home's Foundation Board
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Mr. Meehan, a native of Newport News, began his career in
real estate in 1970 with C. D. West & Co. and is now the sole owner
and president. The company provides oversight of apartment projects in
Virginia and Georgia, and has developed 1,000+ residential lots in
Virginia and South Carolina and built 300+ single family homes. Earlier
in his career, Meehan was a real estate appraiser and has appraised more
than 3,000 houses and over 75 commercial properties.
Mr. Meehan serves on the boards of the Hampton Roads Academy,
Achievable Dream, and Boys & Girls Club of the Virginia Peninsula.
He is a past director of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission
and the American Cancer Society in Hampton Roads.
Church asked to observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month
In honor of National Disability Employment Awareness Month,
observed throughout October, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry has asked
all Episcopalians to remember and honor the invaluable contributions of
disabled lay and clergy who have served, and currently serve, within
the Episcopal Church.
The 78th General Convention in 2015 renewed
and reaffirmed the Episcopal Church's commitment to the inclusion and
protection of the civil rights of all persons with disabilities through
the passage of Resolution D034: Support the Civil
Rights of Disabled Persons. National Disability Employment Awareness
Month presents all dioceses and congregations with the opportunity to
fully implement Resolution D034 through seeking education from
community deaf/hard of hearing and disability organizations on
supporting full inclusion of disabled persons in all aspects of public
life.
"Renewed commitment calls for renewed
action," Presiding Bishop Curry said. "This October, let us walk
together in the footsteps of Jesus Christ to transform the unjust
structures of society and more fully welcome our disabled brothers and
sisters living within our congregations and our communities."
For ideas and resources to observe National Disability Employment Awareness Month contact Jayce Hafner, Episcopal Church Domestic Policy Analyst, jhafner@episcopalchurch.org.
Tuesday, October 11, 2016
November Weekend registration is open!
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Seminar: Spiritual Wholeness in a Sexually Broken World
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The Addictions and Recovery Commission invites you to a half-day seminar, "Spiritual Wholeness in a Sexually Broken World" with T. C. Ryan on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Woodlands Hotel, Williamsburg. The seminar is free and open to the public.
The purpose of this seminar is to help us think about how we
see our sexuality, to understand sexual brokenness and to consider
strategic ways by which we can help ourselves, each other and the Church
become healthier in handling human sexuality and growing as spiritual,
healthy people.
For nearly twenty years T. C. Ryan was founding and senior pastor
of a large church. He resigned in order to concentrate more fully on his
ongoing recovery from a lifelong sexual addiction. Dr. Ryan now has a
ministry of spiritual direction with individuals and groups, preaches,
writes and leads seminars on achieving spiritual wholeness in a sexually
broken world.
This seminar will be the first presentation of Recovery Ministry of
the Episcopal Church's annual Gathering. To register for the full
conference, click here. For more information call 757-903-0000.
Resources to help parishes plan Day of Repentance and Reconciliation
Annual Council Resolution R-1 (2013) resolved that "November
2, 2014, All Souls Day, will be designated as the 'Day of Repentance and
Reconciliation' in the Diocese of Southern Virginia and parishes will
annually hold this observance during the octave of All Saints."
Please take plans to live into R-1 and plan a meaningful service during the octave of All Saints. In the diocesan service we used a story format. "Repentance, Reconciliation and Healing: A liturgical resource for congregations" follows the format of Holy Women, Holy Men. This booklet offers several options for readings and psalms.
Please take plans to live into R-1 and plan a meaningful service during the octave of All Saints. In the diocesan service we used a story format. "Repentance, Reconciliation and Healing: A liturgical resource for congregations" follows the format of Holy Women, Holy Men. This booklet offers several options for readings and psalms.
Union of Black Episcopalians to meet Oct. 13
The James Solomon Russell chapter of the Union of Black
Episcopalians (UBE) will meet on Thursday, Oct. 13 at 10:30 a.m. at
Grace, Norfolk (1400 E. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk).
The Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) invites ALL Episcopalians, regardless of race, to become members of UBE and join them in their mission of fighting racism and encouraging the involvement of Black people in the total life of the church.
The James Solomon Russell chapter of the UBE meets on the second Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. at Grace, Norfolk. All Episcopalians in the Diocese of Southern Virginia are invited and encouraged to join the UBE and become members of this diverse and concerned group. Annual dues are $70 for individuals, $60 for retired, and $105 four couples. For more information contact David Flores, drf71137@gmail.com.
The Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) invites ALL Episcopalians, regardless of race, to become members of UBE and join them in their mission of fighting racism and encouraging the involvement of Black people in the total life of the church.
The James Solomon Russell chapter of the UBE meets on the second Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. at Grace, Norfolk. All Episcopalians in the Diocese of Southern Virginia are invited and encouraged to join the UBE and become members of this diverse and concerned group. Annual dues are $70 for individuals, $60 for retired, and $105 four couples. For more information contact David Flores, drf71137@gmail.com.
Episcopal Relief & Development assisting with Hurricane Matthew recovery
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Devastation in Haiti from Hurricane Matthew. |
"Due to the power outages and communications challenges in the
aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, information about the scale of the
storm's impact is coming in slowly," said Abagail Nelson, Episcopal
Relief & Development's Senior Vice President for Programs. "From
what we are seeing so far, the damage is extensive in a number of areas
and it will take a long time, even years, for many of these places to
recover."
Episcopal Church-affiliated organizations and networks in Haiti
and Cuba continue to assess damage and respond to emergency needs. In
Haiti, Episcopal Relief & Development support will enable local
partners such as the Bishop Tharp Institute (BTI) to provide food and
water to displaced people sheltering on the school's campus. BTI is
located in Les Cayes, one of the most hard-hit areas of Haiti's
southern peninsula. As of October 9, more than 1.4 million people are
in need of humanitarian assistance and over 61,000 people are in temporary shelters, according to UN OCHA. The Haitian Directorate for Civil Protection has confirmed 336 fatalities as of October 8, though other sources place the death toll upwards of 1,000.
In the United States, the slow-moving storm grazed the Florida
coast and had a large impact further north into the Carolinas.
Episcopal Relief & Development is in contact with dioceses along
the southern Atlantic coast, providing technical assistance to local
leaders who are reaching out in their communities. After several days
of heavy rain, flood levels continue to rise in areas of South Carolina
and eastern North Carolina, stranding large numbers of people and prompting evacuations.
Church partners are monitoring the situation locally and communicating
as able regarding property damage and community members with emergency
needs.
Please continue to pray for communities affected by Hurricane
Matthew, for first responders who are rescuing and caring for people in
need and for the families and friends of those who lost their lives.
Donations to the Hurricane Matthew Response Fund will help Episcopal Relief & Development provide critical assistance to communities in need.
Monday, October 3, 2016
Seeds of Hope grants: Laundry Love
Diocesan Seeds of Hope grants support the development or expansion of social justice ministries in Southern Virginia.
In 2015, a Seeds of Hope Grant was awarded to Laundry Love, a partnership between St. Andrew's, St. Paul's, Mission of the Holy Spirit, Unitarian Universalist Church of Norfolk. Laundry Love empowers those struggling financially. It pays for laundry, so money saved can be used for groceries, gas, school supplies, etc. However, Laundry Love is only a bridge to our neighbors. Clean clothes come second to the relationships being built.
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In 2015, a Seeds of Hope Grant was awarded to Laundry Love, a partnership between St. Andrew's, St. Paul's, Mission of the Holy Spirit, Unitarian Universalist Church of Norfolk. Laundry Love empowers those struggling financially. It pays for laundry, so money saved can be used for groceries, gas, school supplies, etc. However, Laundry Love is only a bridge to our neighbors. Clean clothes come second to the relationships being built.
The first Laundry Love event was held in January 2016 and held
monthly since then. In the beginning, flyers were distributed around the
neighborhood and through local charities. By March, the laundromat was
packed and flyers were no longer necessary. They rely on word of mouth
and post events on a Laundry Love Facebook page. This program has become
a wonderful example of grace - they do not try to determine if people
really need free laundry. "We have no idea what people are going
through. We ask everyone who enters if we can pay for their laundry,"
report project organizers.
In addition to the Seeds of Hope Grant, funding for this ministry
comes from St. Andrew's, who matched the grant and then doubled their
match. St. Paul's matched St. Andrew's contribution. Other funding comes
from private donations. At each event, people regularly contribute to a
donation jar (an empty detergent bottle) so much that it covers the dry
cycles.
A community is emerging from meeting every third Thursday of the
month to do laundry. It's more than dirty laundry that brings people to
Laundry Love. They come from many situations - low income, homeless.
Others are experiencing the challenge of a washer breaking down or have
recently moved. Linette was yelling at God when she went to another
laundromat and her laundry got stuck in a malfunctioning washer. There
was no attendant, just a phone number she called multiple times trying
to get help. She waited several hours for a refund, but no one came. She
happened into a Laundry Love event and was floored when her laundry was
paid for - she had lost so much money at the other laundromat that she
worried she'd have to spend grocery money to get her clothes clean.
Mark your calendar for lunch groups
Treasurers & Administrators Lunch Group
October 20, 12 to 1:30 p.m. at Christ & St Luke's, Norfolk
This is a wonderful opportunity to meet with other parish
administrators and treasurers to talk about common issues. Bring your
own lunch; beverages will be provided. There's no agenda for this
gathering - just an opportunity to get together, share, encourage,
support, and ask questions. Please RSVP to Nancy James, njames@diosova.org or 757-213-3386.
Communicators & Secretaries Lunch Group
November 2, 12 to 1:30 p.m. at St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach
Join church communications volunteers and staff and parish
secretaries for this casual colleague group. Bring your own lunch;
beverages will be provided. There's no agenda for this gathering - bring
your questions, or ideas or resources to share, or just come to enjoy
the support of your colleagues from across the diocese. RSVP to Ann
Turner, aturner@diosova.org or 757-213-3388.
"A Lifting of Voices" to benefit Boys Home
You are cordially invited to "A Lifting of Voices", the first
annual celebration of uplifting a cappella music to benefit Boys Home of
Virginia. The concert will be held on Sunday, October 30 at 3 p.m. in
the Robins Theater at the Steward School in Richmond.
The concert includes five of the Richmond area's finest a cappella
groups - Soundworks, Uncommon, Beaux Ties, The Virginia Girls and Boys
Choirs, and Main Street Station - performing songs from across the
musical spectrum. Each group will perform individually followed by an
inspiring finale in which all groups will come together into one
ensemble.
There are a limited number of reserved seats available for a
minimum donation, as well as additional open seating. For more info and
to reserve your seats, go to www.LiftingOfVoices.org.
Presiding Bishop to address value of Historically Black Colleges & Universities
The Office of Black Ministries of the Episcopal Church is
sponsoring a public recognition event in Washington, DC on Thursday,
November 10 for its affiliated Historically Black Colleges and
Universities of St. Augustine's University, Raleigh, NC and Voorhees
College, Denmark, SC.
Music will kick off the day at 9 a.m. on November 10 at St. John's Church, Lafayette, Square, Washington DC with musical renditions presented by the combined choirs of St. Augustine's and Voorhees. Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry will present the keynote address, followed by a question/answer session. In the afternoon, panel discussions will be led by the university presidents and students as they share their experiences.
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Bishop Hollerith will install new ECW Board members at Oct. 15 meeting
All Episcopal Church Women are invited to the
ECW Fall Annual Meeting Saturday, October 15, 9:30 a.m., at Grace,
Norfolk. Bishop Hollerith will install new board members elected at the
meeting. Nancy Polick Sands, ECW diocesan president, featured speaker
at the meeting, will talk about the current state of the ECW. Contact
Louise Boss, corresponding secretary, to register for the meeting at
757-678-5331 or louiseboss@exede.net by October 1. The registration fee of $20 includes lunch.
Bishop Hollerith celebrates Pilgrims Mass
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L to R, clockwise: The Rev. Keith Emerson (St. Paul's, Suffolk) and the Rev. Dale Custer (St. John's, Chester); the pilgrims; Bishop Hollerith at the opening of the service. |
Bishop Hollerith celebrated a Pilgrims Mass last night, Sept. 27, at St. Michael's, Bon Air, for a group of twenty pilgrims embarking next week on El Camino de Santiago de Compostela Ingles (The English Way of the Way of St. James).
Monday, September 26, 2016
Seeds of Hope grants: St. Thomas, Freeman
St. Thomas, Freeman, was the recipient of a
diocesan Seeds of Hope Grant for 2015. Seeds of Hope grants support the
development or expansion of social justice ministries in Southern
Virginia.
Diocesan Seeds of Hope Grants to St. Thomas, Freeman, in 2015 funded a Youth Empowerment program, Senior Pals Project and a Women's Conference.
The Senior Pals program assists senior citizens in the community
with computer training, financial literacy and social activities. This
year's activities included learning to crochet blankets for those who
are homeless using strips cut from grocery bags and a Paint Party.
"Senior Pals workshops were a blast this year," said one participant. "I
was so excited to get up on Tuesday mornings and go to St. Thomas and
fellowship with different people." The Women's Conference included a
Zumba class that was such a hit that regular classes are offered to the
Senior Pals.
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Senior Pals program at St. Thomas, Freeman. |
Diocesan Seeds of Hope Grants to St. Thomas, Freeman, in 2015 funded a Youth Empowerment program, Senior Pals Project and a Women's Conference.
The Youth Empowerment program provides mentoring, tutoring
and cultural events for the young people of their community, as well as
educational programs for their parents. This year included a "Saddle Up
for Success" program - a Saturday event attended by 30 elementary and
high school students with 20 adult volunteers.
"The beautiful part of Saddle Up for Success program was that
St. Paul's Memorial Chapel, Lawrenceville, partnered with us," reported
Iris Jones, St. Thomas' Senior Warden. "Their donations, expertise and
fellowship made this the most special activity of the year."
The western-themed day included educational activities,
career planning, preparing for college, importance of voting, as well as
games, arts and crafts.
Ridley Foundation awards scholarships to 49 students
The Ridley Foundation Board awarded scholarships
totaling $151,272 to 49 students from the Diocese of Southern Virginia
and Southampton County for the 2016-2017 academic year. The Board also
awarded grants of $10,000 each to Mission of the Holy Spirit and Boys
Home of Virginia. Click here for a list of scholarship recipients.
Churches participate in MissionWorks at Boys Home
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Boys Home was blessed to host four Mission Works groups this
summer from all over Virginia, including Trinity, Portsmouth, and
Galilee, Virginia Beach. All of the groups worked hard, but made sure to
have fun activities planned with the boys as well.
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Galilee held a sports camp for the boys
and planned activities throughout the week. They worked hard to make
sure the camp was fun for the boys and spent a lot of time getting to
know the boys while they were there.
Boys Home is
thankful to all of the mission groups who spent time on campus this
summer. It means so much to the staff and boys. To learn more about Boys
Home and how you can support their ministry, go to www.boyshomeofva.org.
An Extraordinary Member of the Jackson-Feild Team Retires
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In her role as Assistant Vice President of Advancement at
Jackson-Feild, Ann went above and beyond the call of duty every day, in
everything she did. Whether reaching out to donors, attending
convocations, speaking to church groups, or training interns and new
employees in the Richmond office, Ann put people at ease and let them
know how important they are and how much she - and Jackson-Feild -
appreciated them. She worked tirelessly to ensure that the development
operations met expectations and fulfilled its goals.
Bill Northen, former member of the Board of Trustees said,
"Ann has been a great friend and mentor. She's been the voice of calm
reason for as long as I can remember, and her determination and
professionalism have been something I have tried to emulate. I'm proud
to call her a friend, and I wish her every continued success in her next
endeavors."
Ann tells us that while she will miss the relationships she's
established with donors and co-workers, she's looking forward to
traveling and spending more time with her husband Dave, her children
Katherine and Winston and their spouses, and her four grandchildren.
Wednesday, September 21, 2016
House of Bishops issues a Word to the Church for the World
The House of Bishops, meeting in Detroit, MI has issued the following A Word to the Church for the World. Video is available in English and Spanish here. Text in Spanish is here.
"Greetings
from Detroit, a city determined to be revived. Greetings also from
the city of Flint, where we are reminded that the gift of water has for
many of our brothers and sisters become contaminated.
Here we have been exhorted to set our sights beyond ourselves and
to minister to the several nations where we serve and the wider world.
We lament the stark joylessness that marks our present time. We decry angry political rhetoric which rages while fissures widen within society along racial, economic, educational, religious, cultural and generational lines. We refuse to look away as poverty, cruelty and war force families to become migrants enduring statelessness and demonization. We renounce the gun violence and drug addiction that steal lives and crush souls while others succumb to fear and cynicism, abandoning any sense of neighborliness.
Yet, in all this, "we do not despair" (2 Cor. 4:8.). We remember that God in Christ entered our earthly neighborhood during a time of political volatility and economic inequality. To this current crisis we bring our faith in Jesus. By God's grace, we choose to see in this moment an urgent opportunity to follow Jesus into our fractured neighborhoods, the nation and the world.
Every member of the church has been "called for a time such as this." (Esther 4:14) Let prophets tell the truth in love. Let reconcilers move boldly into places of division and disagreement. Let evangelists inspire us to tell the story of Jesus in new and compelling ways. Let leaders lead with courage and joy.
In the hope of the Resurrection let us all pray for God to work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish God's purposes on earth."
We lament the stark joylessness that marks our present time. We decry angry political rhetoric which rages while fissures widen within society along racial, economic, educational, religious, cultural and generational lines. We refuse to look away as poverty, cruelty and war force families to become migrants enduring statelessness and demonization. We renounce the gun violence and drug addiction that steal lives and crush souls while others succumb to fear and cynicism, abandoning any sense of neighborliness.
Yet, in all this, "we do not despair" (2 Cor. 4:8.). We remember that God in Christ entered our earthly neighborhood during a time of political volatility and economic inequality. To this current crisis we bring our faith in Jesus. By God's grace, we choose to see in this moment an urgent opportunity to follow Jesus into our fractured neighborhoods, the nation and the world.
Every member of the church has been "called for a time such as this." (Esther 4:14) Let prophets tell the truth in love. Let reconcilers move boldly into places of division and disagreement. Let evangelists inspire us to tell the story of Jesus in new and compelling ways. Let leaders lead with courage and joy.
In the hope of the Resurrection let us all pray for God to work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish God's purposes on earth."
New video from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: Loving, liberating and life-giving
Seeds of Hope grants: St. Paul's, Newport News
St. Paul's, Newport News, was the recipient of a diocesan
Seeds of Hope Grant for 2015. Seeds of Hope grants support the
development or expansion of social justice ministries in Southern
Virginia.
St. Paul's, Newport News, is a beacon of hope to the needy and the
homeless in the downtown area of Newport News. St. Paul's provides hot
meals five times a week, coupled with Bible Study on Sunday morning as
well as a Seeds of Hope Bible Study/breakfast on Mondays. Three days a
week St. Paul's provides a "Safe Place" in the mornings with coffee, a
snack, bathroom and laundry facilities to anyone in need. A critical
part of that ministry has been to provide a place to do laundry. For
those who either wear or carry everything they own in a backpack or
plastic bags, St. Paul's provides the only opportunity to clean their
clothes-and with it to restore some dignity. A Seeds of Hope Grant in
2015 enabled St. Paul's to purchase a washer, dryer and refrigerator to
expand their ministry.
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The
Episcopal Church is offering grants for Mission Enterprise Zones and
for New Church Starts and St. Paul's is exploring expanding these
programs through the establishment of a Mission Enterprise Zone (MEZ) in
Downtown Newport News. These two innovative Episcopal Church
initiatives are funded through the Five Marks of Mission triennial
budget, approved by General Convention July 2012/2015.
Learn more about St. Paul's ministries to the downtown community at www.stpaulsnn.org.
Learn more about St. Paul's ministries to the downtown community at www.stpaulsnn.org.
Episcopal Relief & Development update
By The Rev. Keith Emerson, Diocesan Coordinator for Episcopal Relief & Development
I want to extend my thanks to the following congregations that made
contributions to Episcopal Relief & Development during the 2nd
quarter of 2016:
All
told, individuals and congregations in our diocese contributed
$26,165.18 to Episcopal Relief & Development between April and June.
Once again, thank you for your generosity. Working together we are
healing a hurting world.
Undesignated Gifts
$128.81 St. Stephen's, Newport News
$75.00 St. James, Portsmouth
$100.00 St. Luke's, Powhatan
$461.00 Church of the Holy Apostles, Virginia Beach
$191.03 St. Michael's, Colonial Heights
$43.45 Christ and Grace, Petersburg
$163.50 Christ Church, Amelia Court House
$1,123.00 St. Michael's, Bon Air
$100.00 St. Luke's, Powhatan
$932.32 St. Andrew's, Newport News
$100.00 St. Luke's, Powhatan
$50.00 St. Christopher's Episcopal Church Women, Portsmouth
Designated Projects and Disaster Relief
$500.00 Bruton Parish, Williamsburg
$475.00 St. John's, Hopewell
$805.00 St. George's, Newport News
$200.00 Church of the Advent, Norfolk
Biblical storytelling workshops Oct. 8 and 15
The Rev. Mark and the Rev Wendy Wilkinson are
offering workshops in the basics of biblical storytelling. These
workshops will give you a good start on developing the skills to learn
and to tell bible stories in a way that brings the scriptures to life.
This is also a great workshop for lectors, Godly Play teachers and
anyone who enjoys telling stories. There is no fee to attend.
Mark's
workshop will be at St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach, on Saturday, October 8
from 9 to 10:30 a.m. and Wendy will offer a workshop on Saturday,
October 15 from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at Good Samaritan, Virginia Beach. To
register, email Mark at rector@aidnavbva.net or Wendy at wendywilk54@verizon.net.
Grants from Ridley Foundation and Bruton Parish provide funds for Jackson-Feild renovation
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The rest rooms have needed to be renovated for some time, but funds
were not available for the project. Grants from the Ridley Foundation
and the Mission and Outreach Committee at Bruton Parish have made the
much needed renovations possible. Work began in late August and was
completed in September. New tile was installed on the walls and floors.
Commodes were replaced in both rest rooms and a new urinal was installed
in the boy's rest room. Existing partitions in both bathrooms were
sanded and painted. New LED light fixtures replaced fluorescent fixtures
in both bathrooms which will improve lighting and save operating costs.
The children and staff thank the board of the Ridley Foundation and
the members of Bruton Parish for their wonderful support to complete
these much-needed renovations.
Tuesday, September 13, 2016
14 Seeds of Hope Grants awarded
At its August 25, 2016 meeting, the Executive Board approved
14 diocesan Seeds of Hope Grant awards, totaling $24,625, to 11 parishes
or organizations. Funded projects include a nutrition program for
senior citizens, "From Guns to Art" project, youth mentoring, Laundry
Love project, and a community garden.
Seeds of Hope grants support the development or expansion of
social justice ministries sponsored by diocesan congregations and
organizations. Seeds of Hope grants were the heart of our diocese's
Second Century "Feed My Sheep" campaign conducted fourteen years ago.
Funds from this campaign produce income that is available on an annual
basis for social justice ministries proposed by parishes, diocesan
departments and commissions.
Over the next few weeks, the Diocesan eNews will feature stories of ministry funded by 2015 diocesan Seeds of Hope Grants.
Over the next few weeks, the Diocesan eNews will feature stories of ministry funded by 2015 diocesan Seeds of Hope Grants.
2016 awards were made to:
St. Andrew's, Norfolk
Good Samaritan, Virginia Beach
GraceInside Prison Chaplaincy
St. Andrew's and Grace, Norfolk
St. James, Warfield
St. Paul's, Lawrenceville
St. Paul's, Newport News
St. Thomas, Freeman
Holy Apostles, Virginia Beach
Mission of the Holy Spirit, Norfolk
CE-Net meeting Oct. 6
Join CENet for an informal morning of coffee and
conversation on Thursday, October 6, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at the Diocesan
Office in Newport News. We would love to talk about how your program
year has been going and are what you are trying for the first time.
Please post to the Formation in Southern VA Facebook group any other things you would like to talk about or would like more information about.
Clergy Continuing Education Grant applications due Oct. 1
Clergy are reminded that applications for Clergy
Continuing Education Grants are due in the Diocesan Office by October 1.
Further information, including the application and evaluation forms,
can be found here.
Fall issue of The Grapevine newsletter is here
Click here for the Fall 2016 issue of The Grapevine, a quarterly newsletter
of the Diocesan ECW distributed via email. If you have news you would
like included in The Grapevine, or know of someone who would like to be
added to email list, please contact Nancy Smith, ECW Diocesan
Communication Chair, at nsmithwtr@aol.com. The deadline for the Winter 2016 issue in October 31, 2106.
Acolyte Festival at Washington National Cathedral
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Chanco seeking new members for the Board of Directors
Each
year, a class of board members rotates off and a new class begins. Our
new class will begin February 2017 and we are seeking applications now.
The Chanco board meets monthly or bi-monthly on the first Tuesday of the
month at 4 pm at Chanco. These volunteers are responsible for the
oversight and strategic planning for Chanco's future. If you have a
passion for Chanco's ministry, this could be for you! Members must be in
good standing in an Episcopal Church in our diocese. Click here for a board member application. Questions? Contact Executive Director Gareth Kalfas at director@chanco.org or at 888-7CHANCO (888-724-2626). Thank you for your prayerful consideration of this important service to Chanco.
Applications accepted for UTO young adult, seminarian grants for 2017
Applications are now being accepted for the 2017 United Thank
Offering grants: 10 grans of $2500 for young adults (ages 19-30); and
10 grans of $2500 to seminarians (no age limit). The focus of the grants
is Evangelism and Reconciliation.
UTO is a ministry to promote thankfulness and mission in the whole Church. Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering awards grants for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally in the Episcopal Church.
Complete guidelines are here.
UTO is a ministry to promote thankfulness and mission in the whole Church. Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering awards grants for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally in the Episcopal Church.
Complete guidelines are here.
Friday, September 9, 2016
Meet Diocesan Disaster Coordinator Carter Sinclair
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I am Carter Sinclair, the newly appointed Diocesan Disaster
Coordinator for Southern Virginia. I am a member of Eastern Shore
Chapel, Virginia Beach, and a Postulant for the Vocational Diaconate. By
profession I am a structural engineer and also a structural specialist
with Virginia Task Force 2, an Urban Search and Rescue Team with FEMA.
I will be contacting parishes throughout the diocese, introducing myself, and will also be present at Annual Council in February 2017. I want to help Southern Virginia be as prepared as possible when emergencies occur. Helping parishes to appoint and equip their own disaster coordinator and encouraging members to enroll in ERD's volunteer and skill database, Ready to Serve, are some of the ways I hope to achieve that goal.
I will be contacting parishes throughout the diocese, introducing myself, and will also be present at Annual Council in February 2017. I want to help Southern Virginia be as prepared as possible when emergencies occur. Helping parishes to appoint and equip their own disaster coordinator and encouraging members to enroll in ERD's volunteer and skill database, Ready to Serve, are some of the ways I hope to achieve that goal.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns, wcs@spc-eng.com (work), sinclair.carter@gmail.com (home), 757-417-0565 ext. 11 (work), 757-376-8984 (cell).
Thank you,
Carter Sinclair
Wednesday, September 7, 2016
YASC missionary from Southern Virginia to serve in Hong Kong
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Adrienne Davis and her mom, Sue Davis, Director of Child & Youth Formation at St. David's.
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"HDH does lovely work in advocacy for the population of foreign domestic workers in Hong Kong. In large part these women migrated from the Philippines and Indonesia to work in peoples houses doing things like cleaning, childcare, and elder care," said Adrienne in a recent blog post. "For numerous reasons these women are often abused by their employers, when this happens we provide a variety of services including but not limited to education of legal rights, support on criminal and civil court cases, and liaising with relevant government agencies."
YASC is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for young adults,
ages 21 - 30, who are interested in exploring their faith in new ways by
living and serving in communities around the Anglican Communion.
Please keep Adrienne, her mission and her family in your prayers. You can follow her experiences on her blog here.
Please keep Adrienne, her mission and her family in your prayers. You can follow her experiences on her blog here.
Communicators & Administrators/Secretaries lunch group to meet Sept. 22
The Communicators & Administrators/Secretaries Lunch
Group will hold its first meeting on Thursday, September 22, 12 to 1:30
pm at the Diocesan Center in Newport News. Extend an invitation to
anyone you think would like to participate. Bring your own lunch,
beverages will be provided. There's no agenda, just come with your
questions, resources you'd like to share, or just come to get to know
your colleagues in Southern VA. If you plan to attend, RSVP to Ann
Turner, aturner@diosova.org.
News from Episcopal Church Women
Fall Annual Meeting, Oct. 15 in Norfolk
All Episcopal Church Women are invited to the ECW Fall Annual Meeting Saturday, October 15, at Grace Church, Norfolk. Nancy Polick Sands, ECW diocesan president, featured speaker at the meeting, will talk about ECW current state of ECW. New board members will be elected and installed. Contact Louise Boss, corresponding secretary, to register for the meeting at 757-678-5331 or louiseboss@exede.net by October 1. The registration fee of $20 includes lunch.
All Episcopal Church Women are invited to the ECW Fall Annual Meeting Saturday, October 15, at Grace Church, Norfolk. Nancy Polick Sands, ECW diocesan president, featured speaker at the meeting, will talk about ECW current state of ECW. New board members will be elected and installed. Contact Louise Boss, corresponding secretary, to register for the meeting at 757-678-5331 or louiseboss@exede.net by October 1. The registration fee of $20 includes lunch.
ECW 2015 Outreach Totals Over $21,000
"Many
thanks to your contributions, ECW outreach totaled over $21,000 in
2015," said Nancy Sands, ECW Diocesan President. The ECW gave over
$3,400 to eight organizations in the diocese, nation and the world
through the Diocesan Budget funded by dues; and $9,875 in Elise Holladay
Scholarships, funded by the Flora A Penick Fund, to 13 high school
graduates in the diocese, $4,200 to Congo and Malawi (see thank you note
in the adjacent column) scholarships from the Bishop Tucker Fund; and
$2,195.02 to the Church Periodical Club funded by your voluntary
contributions.
"We also gave $1,600 in
graduation gifts to Jackson-Feild Homes and Boys Home of Virginia
graduates through my president's 2015 outreach project "God Bless the
Children," not to mention all your wonderful wish list contributions to
both homes," Nancy said. "I am really thankful for you everything you
are doing in your churches to help others."
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
Youth Events: Register now for October Weekend and Happening #65
October Weekend: You Could Be a Hero
Oct. 7-9 at Chanco on the James
Join us for our annual fall retreat for teens at Camp Chanco! The event includes a variety of activities and opportunities to make new friends, including zip lines, small group conversations, music and singing, a dance, and so much more! Click here for details and registration.
Happening #65
Mark you calendar now and plan to participate in all of the 2016-2017 diocesan youth events. More info events and registration coming soon to www.diosova.org/youth.
Oct. 7-9 at Chanco on the James
Join us for our annual fall retreat for teens at Camp Chanco! The event includes a variety of activities and opportunities to make new friends, including zip lines, small group conversations, music and singing, a dance, and so much more! Click here for details and registration.
Happening #65
Nov. 11-13 at Chanco on the James
Happening is an experiential weekend retreat developed by teens for teens. Come and see what it's like to be transformed by God's love! Open to all youth in grades 10-12 and adults who have never attended a Happening program. Click here for details and registration.
Happening is an experiential weekend retreat developed by teens for teens. Come and see what it's like to be transformed by God's love! Open to all youth in grades 10-12 and adults who have never attended a Happening program. Click here for details and registration.
Mark you calendar now and plan to participate in all of the 2016-2017 diocesan youth events. More info events and registration coming soon to www.diosova.org/youth.
- October Weekend (grades 8-12) - October 7-9, 2016 at Chanco on the James. Click here for details and registration.
- Pre-Happening Staff Weekend - October 29-30, 2016 at Chanco on the James.
- Happening #65 (grades 10-12) - November 11-13, 2016 at Chanco on the James. Click here for details and registration.
- November Weekend (grades 6-9) - November 18-20, 2016 at Chanco on the James.
- Winter Camp at Chanco - January 13-15, 2017 at Chanco on the James.
- Annual Council - February 9-11, 2017. Be a part of the official Youth Delegation to Council.
- Pre-Happening Staff Weekend - February 25-26, 2017 at Chanco on the James.
- Happening #66 - March 10-12, 2017 at Chanco on the James.
- May Weekend (grades 6-12) - May 19-21, 2017 at Chanco on the James.
- Episcopal Youth Event (EYE17) - July 10-24, 2017 on the campus of University of Central Oklahoma, Edmond, OK.
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