Seeking an affordable family vacation? Family Camp is for you!

NEW this year, Family Camp is being offered from August 21-24 for campers ages 0 to 100! Families can now enjoy traditional camp activities together. A sampling of favorite camp activities such as archery, boating, crafts and zip lines will be offered along with daily worship and singing. Choose to be active all day or simply enjoy the rest, relaxation and quiet time in God's beautiful creation in the woods along the James River. This program is the perfect way to reunite with old camp friends or to introduce the next generation of campers to Chanco! Click here for a flier with more information on Family Camp. Easy on line registration can be found at www.chanco.org. Questions? Contact Executive Director Gareth Kalfas at director@chanco.org or at 888-7CHANCO (888-724-2626). Share Chanco summer fun with your family today!

Heritage Day at Historic St. Luke's in Smithfield

St. Luke's, c.1632, will have its third Heritage Day Event on Saturday, June 7 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Heritage Day is all about history, and the day's events will transport you back in time. It is a free event for the whole family.  

St. Luke's is the oldest standing Gothic building in America and the oldest standing church from the Anglican tradition. Come learn and share your history with more than 30 event stations. Learn to trace your own genealogy, sit on a horse that is a descendant of the original Spanish horses brought to America in the 16th century. See and purchase plants native to the area and raised by Master Gardeners, explore the history and see artifacts belonging to Gen. Pickett and Sallee Corbell. Tour the church and enjoy the re-enactments of a 18th century court system. There will be farm displays from Chippokes Plantation. The Nottoway Tribe of Virginia will be on site, along with the Historical Society, the School House Museum. Alain Outlaw, archeologist, who made digs on the site, will be available with displays and talks. Various churches, including Christ Church, Smithfield, will have historical displays. Period music will be played and instruments demonstrated by the Itinerant Band. Food will be available for purchase on site with lunch by Budda and Franks BBQ and Darden's Store from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  

This is a great family outing.  For more information call St. Luke's at 757-357-3367. St. Luke's Restoration, Benn's Church Blvd. is located near the corner of Rt 258/32 and Rt.10, Smithfield, VA 23430.

Former EYC President to serve as YASC missionary in Hong Kong

Hello all! My name is Justin Davis and I will be serving as a missionary with the Young Adult Service Corp of the Episcopal Church (YASC for short). I want to start out by thanking all of you for your support. The Diocese of Southern Virginia has played an incredibly large role in shaping who I am as a person, especially through the Episcopal Youth Community (EYC) in which I served as president from 2009-2010, and as a member of St. David's, Chesterfield. I will be forever grateful.  

I have spent the last four years at Virginia Commonwealth University, a religious studies major with a minor in business, and I hope to one day become an ordained minister. I have attended Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Richmond for four years, where I have been active in the Episcopal Campus Ministry. I have also interned for Grace and Holy Trinity for three years. Two of these years I spent as a youth intern and one year as a Campus Ministry Intern. This summer I am working in Fauquier County, Virginia at Leeds Episcopal Church as an intern with the Young Priest Initiative.  

During my upcoming year with in YASC, I will be serving with the Mission to Seafarers in Hong Kong. You will be able to learn more about the programs I am working with, and follow my personal experiences while in Hong Kong at my blog. I am asking you all especially for your thoughts and prayers in the upcoming year.  

I will be fundraising throughout the summer for this trip. My goal is to raise $10,000 before the last week of August, which is when I leave. Donations can be sent to Grace and Holy Trinity Episcopal church at 8 N. Laurel Street, Richmond VA 23220 with "Justin Davis YASC" in the memo. All donations are tax deductible, and I can provide you with a tax ID. 

Feel free to send me an email at davisjb4@vcu.edu if you have any questions or concerns. Once again thank you for your thoughts and prayers as this new adventure begins.

St. John's, Portsmouth, to host 2014 Training Institute for the Catechumenate & RCIA

Go. Baptize. Make Disciples: An invitation to Baptismal living

A Catechumenal Process Training Institute for Newcomers & Experienced Practitioners

September 25-27 at St. John's, Portsmouth

Offered by the North American Association for the Catechumenate (NAAC)

The NAAC is an ecumenical organization that seeks to promote and nurture the catechumenal process in order that the whole faith community might fulfill Christ's commission to make disciples, baptizing and teaching all people. Member denominations include the Episcopal Church, Anglican Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Presbyterian Church USA, and the United Methodist Church. Go to www.catechumenate.org for more information.

Click here for an institute brochure. Click here for online registration. 

LARCUM meeting June 30

The ecumenical communities of the Lutheran, Anglican, Roman Catholic and United Methodist churches will gather at Holy Apostles, Virginia Beach, (1593 Lynnhaven Parkway) on Monday, June 30, at 7 p.m. to celebrate ecumenical progress in the area. Speaker will be Dr. Mitzi Budde, Professor, Virginia Theological Seminary. Dr. Budde completed her Doctor of Ministry in Ecumenism and Reconciliation at Wesley Theological Seminary where she focused on ecumenical formation in denominational theological seminaries. Dr. Budde also earned a M.A. in Religion from Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary in Columbia, South Carolina. She has written journal articles on ecumenical topics for "Ecumenical Trends" and "Congregations". Professor Budde currently serves as Lutheran co-chair for the Lutheran-Episcopal Coordinating Committee and as co-chair and ELCA representative to the National Council of Church's Faith Order "Unity in Mission" study group.

All are welcome and refreshments will be provided. Call 757-427-9434 for more information. 

Special offering for Navajoland ministry

Episcopalians have a great opportunity to aid and participate in the ministry for Native Americans through a special offering that will assist the ongoing mission work in Navajoland. The Navajoland Area Mission is 26,000 square miles that spreads over Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.  

"For over 100 years The Episcopal Church has had a presence in Navajoland," Bishop David E. Bailey stated in an April letter sent to all congregations. "As we work to reclaim our traditional spirituality and culture, we must simultaneously address the damage incurred by our history. Some of that damage is emotional and some of it is physical."

Among the requests cited by Bishop Bailey is the construction of new hooghans, a traditional Navajoland dwelling. He is asking for funds to build the ceremonial and educational hooghan at St. Christopher Mission in Bluff, UT, one of the churches of Navajoland. Hooghans cost $25,000 to build and are used for traditional ceremonies as well as educational purposes.

"I hope that you will consider joining us in prayer and giving to this Special Offering which promises new life for our people," Bishop Bailey said.

Donations can be made online here or send checks to The Development Office, The Episcopal Church Center, 815 Second Ave., NY NY 10017. For more information contact Cornelia Eaton at ceaton@ec-n.org.

Volunteer disaster chaplain training course

The Beecken Center at The School of Theology, University of the South, in partnership with National Disaster Interfaiths Network, invites clergy and spiritual caregivers of the Episcopal Church and religious leaders all faiths to take this two-day Disaster Chaplain Training July 31 through August 1.  Emergency managers and disaster mental health professionals may also take this course to develop their knowledge of disaster spiritual care best practices. This two-day training prepares clergy, religious leaders or spiritual care providers to volunteer as disaster chaplains in mass care settings, or to serve as disaster chaplains within their house of worship, religious community or professional institution. Click here for more information.

Seminarian Mark Riley on mission to Tanzania

On May 7, four Virginia Theological Seminary students left for a mission excursion to St. Phillip's College in Kongwa, Tanzania. The team includes Mark Riley from Southern Virginia (Galilee, Virginia Beach) along with Chandler Whitman of West Tennessee; David Tremaine of Florida and Ben Maddison of New Jersey. The students are joined by The Rev. Jaques Hadler, Director of Field Education, Emeritus.

The purpose of their journey is to help teach at St. Phillip's College, to work with local Church leaders, to learn from and be open to the opportunities and challenges of cross-cultural friendships. They have had a twisting road to get to this point, with several changes along the way. If you would like to follow their progress, please visit their blog by clicking here.

Southern Virginia to mark Apolo Kivebulaya Day with prayer for the D.R. Congo

At its 122nd Annual Council in February, 2014, the Diocesan of Southern Virginia passed a resolution that encourages the parishes in the Diocese to support the Church of the Province of D. R. Congo in the weekly Prayers of the People for peace with justice and to recognize May 30

as Apolo Kivebulaya Day in their cycle of prayer in unity with the Anglican Church in D. R. Congo.

       

Who was Apolo Kivebulaya? There is much on the internet about him, but briefly, Apolo was a converted Ugandan Christian who was sent to a region which is now the D. R. Congo to evangelize an area that had previously rejected the faith. Unlike his two predecessors, Apolo withstood difficulty and after several years, prevailed.   Known for rising at five in the morning, Apolo was known to have spiritual gifts including the gift of prayer for healing. Beginning in a small village in 1896, the Anglican Church of D. R. Congo is now composed of nine dioceses and is considering creating two more in a country the size of western Europe.  

The day Apolo died, May 30, 1933, he wrote this final prayer: "O God our Father and the Son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, may you give me a blessing while in this world while you lead me through the forests, through the lakes and the mountains, so that I may do your work among your people. Grant that I may be loved by you and by your people. Amen."

Prayers and readings for Apolo Kivebulaya Day:

Traditional: 

Almighty and everlasting God, we thank thee for thy servant Apolo Kivebulaya, whom thou didst call to preach the Gospel to the people of Boga in central Africa. Raise up, we pray thee, in this and every land evangelists and heralds of thy kingdom, that thy Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  

Contemporary:

Almighty and everlasting God, we thank you for your servant Apolo Kivebulaya, whom you called to preach the Gospel to the people of Boga in central Africa. Raise up in this and every land evangelists and heralds of your kingdom, that your Church may proclaim the unsearchable riches of our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  

Psalm 96 or 96:1-7
Isaiah 52:7-10
Acts 1:1-9
Luke 10:1-9

Liturgical Arts Festival postponed

The Liturgical Arts Festival to be hosted by Convocation 5 churches May 30 through June 8 has been postponed. Organizers hope to announce a new date by the end of the summer.  

Jackson-Feild Homes emphasizes giving back

In 2011, residential counselor Terri Hicks initiated a volunteer program for the residents of Jackson-Feild Homes. She saw that the residents - recipients of so much help from so many people - had a need to "pay it forward" and help others. As the children offered their time and energy to others, they began to feel better about themselves and they began to care more about others. The program - in partnership with Chaplain Robin Jones - has been a win-win proposition.

For the most recent project, the participants wanted to usher in the arrival of spring. Using painted clothespins, they prepared butterflies to signify a new beginning. They also painted flower pots which were planted with seeds that have since have begun to grow. Hicks, Jones and the children will deliver these items to the residents of Emporia Manor.

These volunteer efforts have brought great joy and satisfaction to the residents at Jackson-Feild, and Hicks is committed to developing creative ways to help the children give back to others. Next up... paracord bracelets for Respect for Law Week in early May.

St. John's, Portsmouth, to host 2014 Training Institute for the Catechumenate & RCIA

Go. Baptize. Make Disciples: An invitation to Baptismal living

A Catechumenal Process Training Institute for Newcomers & Experienced Practitioners

September 25-27 at St. John's, Portsmouth

Offered by the North American Association for the Catechumenate (NAAC)

The NAAC is an ecumenical organization that seeks to promote and nurture the catechumenal process in order that the whole faith community might fulfill Christ's commission to make disciples, baptizing and teaching all people. Member denominations include the Episcopal Church, Anglican Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Presbyterian Church USA, and the United Methodist Church. Go to www.catechumenate.org for more information.

Click here for an institute brochure. Click here for online registration. 

2014 TENS Walking the Way Stewardship Conference

Stewardship is a path of discipleship. Are you ready to take the next step in stewardship? Are you looking for ways to help your congregation and diocese discover the joyful path of generosity and giving? Join guides and meet companions who will walk along side in following the Way.

The theme of this year's The Episcopal Network for Stewardship conference is Walking the Way.  The conference is June 6-7 at Emory University in Atlanta. Access via webcast is also available.

Sister Joan Chittister, The Rt. Rev. Robert Wright, Bishop Diocese of Atlanta, and The Rev. Canon Charles La Fond, Canon Steward at St. John's Episcopal Church in Denver will serve as keynote speakers. In addition, Karl Travis, senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, Texas, known for his work in generational stewardship, will lead the pre-conference, a gathering for diocesan stewardship officers and diocesan stewardship commission members on Thursday, June 5 through Noon on June 6.

Click here for complete details about this year's conference.

Witness the roots of the conflict in the DR Congo

On Saturday, May 31, the local affiliate of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia's Women-to-Women DR Congo Ministry will be presenting a full-length docudrama highlighting the brutal origins of the modern Congolese state under the controversial personal fiat of King Leopold II of Belgium. The movie, White King, Red Rubber, Black Death, followed by a discussion with refreshments, will be presented at historic Saint Paul's, Norfolk in the Parish Hall from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. The event will be facilitated by Drs. Richard and Judith Brown, a team of medical missionaries who worked in Africa for some 30 years, including serving at the Good Shepherd Hospital in Kananga, DR Congo as well as for the Presbyterian Church Clinic, USAID and the ECC in the capital of the Congo, Kinshasa.

St. Paul's is located at 201 St. Paul's Boulevard, Norfolk, VA 23510, 757-627-4353. For more information contact Susan Broaddus at broaddussusan@aol.com or Mac McKinney at Mac166688@aol.com.  

The movie covers the subterfuge and cruelty King Leopold employed to turn this vast and richly-endowed territory in Central Africa into his own private fiefdom under false auspices of Christian charity and how actual Christian missionaries, churches and humanitarians from around the world stood up to confront King Leopold and his formidable resources.

Admission is free but Women-to-Women will gratefully accept donations for this ministry's work in the Anglican Diocese of Bukavu in the Congo.

Executive Board approves gift to Mission and Diversity Transept in VTS Immanuel Chapel

At its May 1 meeting, the Executive Board approved a gift of $10,000 over three years to Virginia Theological Seminary honoring the Mission and Diversity Transept of the new Immanuel Chapel. The transept will honor Bishop John T. Walker, the first African-American student to be admitted to VTS and the first African-American bishop of Washington. Walker also served as Dean of the National Cathedral.

The new Immanuel Chapel will be a "Chapel for the Ages" and is scheduled for completion in October 2015. It is part of a "Worship and Welcome" quad, which includes an improved welcome center. The remains of the 1881 Chapel, which was destroyed by fire in 2010, have been converted into a garden.    

Included in the design of the new chapel are four transepts: a transept honoring congregational and diocesan leadership; a transept celebrating arrival and baptism; a transept near the organ in honor of music; and a transept honoring the seminary's commitment to mission and diversity. The Mission and Diversity Transept will recall VTS history, celebrate the present, and point to a rich future of mission and diversity honoring Bishop Walker and all who have led the way.

William & Mary honors the Rev. John Kerr with Sullivan Award

At this weekend's commencement, the College of William & Mary will present the Sullivan Award to the Rev. John Kerr, Episcopal chaplain to the faculty, staff and students. 

The Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, given in the form of a medallion, is in recognition of influence for good, taking into consideration such characteristics of heart, mind, and conduct as evince a spirit of love and helpfulness. It is awarded each year to one man and one woman from the graduating student body and to a third person who has a close relationship to the College (e.g., staff, coaches, campus ministers, etc). The recipients are chosen by the Commencement Committee at the end of the Spring semester on the basis of nomination from members of the College community.   

Born in Scotland, the Rev. John Kerr is a graduate of the Universities of Toronto, Leeds, and Nottingham. He was ordained Deacon and Priest in Oxford Diocese of the Church of England in 1977/8, serving his Title in Windsor Parish. He then returned to academic life, serving a bivocational ministry, lecturing in physics, chemistry and theology. He was awarded an Athlone Research Fellowship at Leeds University, and a Visiting Research Fellowship at both Merton College, Oxford, and the University of California Berkeley's, Center for Theology and the Natural Sciences. Fr Kerr was one of the founders and second Warden of the Society of Ordained Scientists. He was the first Bruton-Rockefeller Resident Scholar.

Recovery Ministries of the Episcopal Church 2014 annual gathering is June 26-28

RMEC's 2014 Gathering will be hosted by the Diocese of Western New York at Trinity Episcopal Church in Buffalo New York, June 26-28. The conference experience will include practical, reproducible educational offerings, participation in an innovative Twelve Step service sponsored by the Diocese and fellowship with other recovering Episcopalians. Conference attendees will also include be introduced to the Hope Center, a new diocesan sponsored center that serves as a safe place for recovery in the Buffalo community. The major theme of this conference will focus on the role the church can and should perform as part of the healing journey from addiction to recovery.

Guest speakers will include: The Rev. Dr. Stuart Hoke, adjunct professor at General Theological Seminary in New York City, who pioneered a tremendously successful course of study on the Church's role in the treatment of alcoholism and addictive illness. The Rev. Dr. John MacDougall, D.Min., is Director of Spiritual Guidance at Hazelden, and serves as the clinical director for the Spiritual Care Department and the Family Program in Hazelden's Center City, Minnesota campus.