Bishop Vaché Scholarship applications being accepted

The Bishop Vaché Scholarships provide funds to assist both low-income and minority undergraduate college students in the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia. First-year students as well as returning college students are welcome to apply. Scholarship awards range from $500 to $2500 per academic year. 2019 applications are due July 1. Click here for more information and application form. 

Upcoming Safe Church Training workshops

Two levels of Safe Church Training are now offered - Specialized and Universal. Click here to find out which training you should take, and to register for a training workshop.   

 

Specialized Training Workshops: 

• June 8 - Holy Apostles, Virginia Beach
• June 15 - Christ & St. Luke's, Norfolk
• June 22 - Trinity, South Hill 
• September 28 - Redeemer, Midlothian

Universal Training Workshops:

• June 5, 6 to 7:30 p.m. - Ascension, Norfolk
• June 6, 6:30 to 8 p.m. - Galilee, Virginia Beach
• June 25, 6 to 7:30 p.m. - St. Andrew's, Newport News

Safe church training can still be done online, but the number of modules needed to satisfy Universal and Specialized training requirements differ significantly. If you are required to take Specialized training we recommend that you consider completing the training via the workshop format.

Register now for Cursillo #167

Cursillo #167 will be held September 26-29 at Chanco on the James. Cursillo is a movement within the Episcopal church designed to help us grow closer to Jesus Christ. Cursillo is also a community where we're encouraged to live joyfully and serve faithfully in grace. Participants begin by attending a Cursillo Weekend. Go to www.cursillodiosova.org to learn about Cursillo and an application form.

Chatham Hall summer programs; 25% discount for members of the Diocese

Chatham Hall is an Episcopal boarding and day school for girls grades 9-12 in Southern Virginia. Every summer, Chatham Hall offers programs that introduce students to some of the best parts of being a Chatham Hall girl, beginning at age 10. Check out all of the camp experiences held on their beautiful campus, and as a fellow member of the Southern Virginia Diocese, take 25% off registration by using promo code P&G. Register and learn more at www.chathamhall.org/summer

Deep Roots, Wild Branches: Re-missioning the Church from the Outside In

Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at St. Andrew's, Newport News  

 

The God who "makes all things new" is up to something. Amid a Christian landscape that looks and feels like a desert of decline, new oases of the Spirit are springing forth. Congregations are cultivating "fresh expressions" of church and experiencing forms of revitalization. Revitalization occurs through re-missioning from the outside in, when the whole people of God join what the Spirit is up to in our neighborhoods and networks. Click here for more information and registration for this day of interactive learning, sharing tools and practical processes presented by Fresh Expressions US.  

Information from the Office of Government Relations: Summary of General Convention policy on abortion and women's reproductive health

In response to questions related to The Episcopal Church's position on abortion, the Office of Government Relations offers a summary of General Convention Policy on Abortion and Women's Reproductive Health. Additional information, including the text of the official policies and statements of the General Convention and Executive Council of The Episcopal Church may be found here. 

Summer Renew & Refresh for Christian Educators

Summer' Renew & Refresh is an event for Christian Educators in the Diocese of Southern Virginia on Saturday, June 22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at All Saints', Virginia Beach. This is an opportunity to spend a casual day with colleagues engaged in enlivening conversations about both longings and successes. Participants will hear about highlights from the Kanuga Christian Formation Conference and experience relevant takeaway ideas that are adaptable to various ministry settings. We will have time to renew connections with colleagues in addition to  experiencing some Sabbath time as we walk the God's Garden path at All Saints' new Eco Garden. Participants will also have the option the end the day on the beach of the Chesapeake Bay. There is a $10 fee to cover the cost for lunch. Click here to register. 

Cemetery Preservation Workshop at Historic St. Luke's in Smithfield

Join Historic St. Luke's for a hands-on Cemetery Preservation workshop on Saturday, May 18, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Volunteers will learn techniques for cleaning and preserving historic tombstones based on industry best practices. Lunch and the necessary tools for the workshop will be provided. RSVP required! Please contact Rachel Popp, Education Coordinator, at rpopp@historicstlukes.org to reserve your spot(s) for the workshop. Historic St. Luke's is located at 14477 Benns Church Blvd., Smithfield.   

Chanco on the James: Help a child in need come to camp

Year after year Chanco receives more requests in scholarship assistance than our scholarship endowed funds provide.  However, year after year our donors make the difference. Our annual scholarship gifts each year mean that we are able to accept every child who wishes a Chanco experience but is prohibited by cost. Thank you! Again this year, we have received a large amount of scholarship requests, including multiple full scholarships to youth from Boy's Home of Virginia and ForKids, an organization for homeless families. Once again we need our friends to help make a Chanco experience possible for our youth in need. Click here to make your on line donation today and please note "scholarship" in the notes section. Or you may make your check to Chanco on the James with "scholarship" in the memo line and mail to Chanco (394 Floods Drive, Spring Grove, VA 23881). Questions? Contact Development Director Talley Banazek at 804-399-4019 or talley@banazek.com. We thank you in advance for your prayerful consideration of a gift.

Lay and clergy leaders spend a day with Tod Bolsigner

The parish hall at Redeemer, Midlothian, was filled this past Saturday for "Leading in Uncharted Territory" with Tod Bolsinger, author of "Canoeing the Mountains." Throughout the day, Bolsinger shared a combination of illuminating insights and practical tools to help participants re-imagine what effective leadership looks like and how the church can go forward into our rapidly changing world. Bolsinger helped participants dig deeper into the Fresh Expressions introduced by this year's Annual Council speakers.

Bishop Magness addressed these very same issues in his latest blog post -- "this new era of ministry delivery and congregation forming may be so new to us that few have any idea of what to expect.  From where I stand, it appears to be an era of opportunity.  Yet, we'll only be able to see the opportunities when we learn to look in the right places." -- Click here to read the post.

Watch the eNews for another Fresh Expressions event coming this summer! 

Golfers help Jackson-Feild's children

On May 6, Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services (JFBHS) was pleased to host the 24th annual Go Golfing for the Kids tournament at The Golf Club at The Highlands. Proceeds from this year's event will go toward purchasing molded, high-impact, fire-retardant polyethylene bedroom furniture for our cottages. According to the manufacturer, the furniture is "solid as a rock, yet features seamless construction with rounded corners for added safety and security. Each piece can be easily sanitized."

 

Following a lunch provided by Hardees, nineteen teams from all over Virginia and parts of North Carolina enjoyed a beautiful day on the links. Following play, the golfers returned to The Reserve at the Highlands to enjoy the awards dinner and find out who won the various raffle prizes donated by a number of restaurants, museums, jewelry stores, and more. In addition, having the highest bid meant that one golfer took home a gas smoker donated by Parker Oil, and another took home the prize of a week-long vacation at Kill Devil Hills donated by a former JFBHS director of education.

 

Without the support of a number of sponsors, this tournament would not have been possible. JFBHS is tremendously grateful to tournament sponsor Boddie-Noell Enterprises, presenting sponsor Modern Woodmen Fraternal Financial, and awards dinner sponsor Jones LTC Pharmacy. Additional sponsors were Old Point Trust, Virginia South Psychiatric & Family Services, ITA International, WellsColeman, Kim & Steve Winston, Tod Balsbaugh, Partlow Insurance Agency, Inc., Parker Oil & Propane, Boyd Chevrolet, Diamond Springs, Wilson Clary & Associates, Virginia Automobile Dealers Association, The Wilton Companies, Commonwealth Exterminators, Eric Thompson & Family, and Old Dominion Landscapes, LLC.

 

Planning has already begun for the 25th anniversary tournament to be held in May 2020, and all are invited to sign up to play. More details will be available at a later date.

Ridley Scholarship applications due June 20

Ridley Foundation Scholarships are available to college students who are: Southampton County residents; Franklin, VA residents; children of Episcopal clergy; children of diocesan employees; and lay Episcopal residents of the Diocese. Students must be accepted at an accredited college or university and be pursuing a full-time degree program. Click here for more information and application.

The Very Rev. Susan Grimm, rector of Trinity, South Boston, and St. Timothy's, Clarksville, shared how Ridley and ECW Scholarships had made such a difference for two students in her congregation. "I was talking with the single parent of two young women at Trinity Church in South Boston just this weekend," she said. "One will graduate with a degree in engineering from Duke this month, and the other continues to pursue nursing at JMU. Their mother wanted me to know how much the scholarships her daughters have received through the Diocese and the Diocesan ECW have meant to her family. I enourage all clergy to make sure families know about these opportunities and encourage them to pursue them.  It's another way we can encourage our young folks!"

Clergy transitions

The Rev. Mark Wilkinson, rector, left St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach, on April 21, 2019.

Jackson-Feild's Bible School benefits others

Several times a year, Jackson-Feild holds a voluntary Bible School for interested boys and girls. Led by Jackson-Feild's chaplain The Rev. Dr. Robin Moore, an average of 39 residents and staff participated in the most recent daily Bible School activities.

 

With the theme "Sharing God," a key component was for residents to witness and experience how everyone can be in service to others. Each Bible School session includes a service project in which children do something for others in the community. In this session, they made 48 pairs of "Silly Socks" for residents of Emporia Manor, a local assisted living facility. Starting with a pair of plain white socks, and an array of paint, the participants decorated the socks with their own unique designs.

 

Give a kid puffy paints, a pair of socks, and a little time, and something magical happens. While some children worked individually, others worked in teams. The children's creativity came alive through their designs, and the men and women of Emporia Manor will surely enjoy keeping their feet warm with a pair of happy "Silly Socks."

Grand opening of James Solomon Russell - Saint Paul's College Museum & Archives is Aug. 10

The grand opening of the James Solomon Russell - Saint Paul's College Museum & Archives will take place Saturday, August 10, 10:30 a.m. at Saint Paul's College in Lawrenceville. The day will begin with worship at Saint Paul's Memorial Chapel at 10:30 a.m. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 1 p.m. at the former Saint Paul's College Student Union Building, 100 Athletic Field Drive, Lawrenceville. For more information, contact James Grimstead, director, gsmus@aol.com. Click here for event flyer and souvenir booklet ad form.