Seeing the Episcopal Church in a new way

by Rick Cole, St. Luke's, Powhatan

I have concluded a three-year term as our Convocation 7 lay representative on the Executive Board of the Diocese of Southern Virginia. Though it was a step outside my comfort zone and it did take time and work, I received far more from the experience than I gave. 

• Learning - I knew I had a lot to learn, but I did know how much I did not know. I became more informed about Diocesan programs and ministries, staff, procedures, budget, and church governance. Most importantly, I came to the realization that the Diocese is not us and them. It is only "us" and it is made up of regular people working unselfishly to do God's will and support each other (not some mysterious entity or bureaucracy that exists only to perpetuate itself).
• Inspiration - You cannot help but be inspired by the amazing people and amazing ministries in our midst.
• Networking - You work with and get to know fellow Episcopalians who face many of the same challenges you do. You formally and informally share and brainstorm strategies for dealing with those challenges.
• An opportunity to serve - God has given each of us gifts to share and grow. Serving the larger church is one way to serve God's people and his church.
• A broader perspective - being around people from the different areas of the diocese with different viewpoints and priorities helps give you a greater appreciation for the needs and assets of our diocese.
• New friends!

I conclude my time as an Executive Board member as a better advocate for who we as a Diocese and with a greater appreciation of the boundless potential that we have when we take advantage of opportunities to work together. I encourage you to prayerfully consider the opportunities to participate in Diocesan activities and on committees or boards.

The Episcopal Church in Southern Virginia is a diverse Eucharistic community, committed to the Gospel, collaborating for strength, innovating for growth, equipping each other to live in the world as disciples of Jesus Christ. -- Diocese of Southern Virginia Vision Statement

Presiding Bishop's Lenten message

Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori presents a challenge in her Lent Message 2013 to pray, fast, study and give alms. "As you engage this Lent, I would encourage you to pray, to fast, to act in solidarity with those who go without," she offers.  "Learn more, give alms, share what you have." Click here for video. Click here for text.

Lenten resources available online

Episcopal Church Foundation's Vital Practices blog provides this list of Lenten resources:

• A Lenten Carbon Fast resources developed by  Earth Ministry and Washington Interfaith Power & Light  
• Episcopal Church in Minnesota's  Mission Project 2013: Seeds & Scholarships, Planting Promise, Harvesting Hope 
• Episcopal Relief and Development's  2013 Daily Lenten Devotional focuses on Hunger, Healing
• Lent 2013:  Formation Ideas, Activities & Resources for Children, Youth & Adults from Church Publishing
• Lent Madness 2013 
•  Love Life Live Lent developed by the Church of England 
•  Praying Our Lives: This Lent join the Brothers of SSJE on a daily journey into the heart of God in prayer
• Tread Lightly for Lent a program of the Presbyterian Church
• The Text this Week http://www.textweek.com/lent.htm  
• From 2012: Lenten resources on the Episcopal Church's website  

Christ Walk: A unique Lenten resource

A unique Lenten resource is the Christ Walk program created by Anna Courie, a former member of Emmanuel, Hampton. Anna created the program and used it during Lent at Emmanuel. The program integrates exercise (walking) with scripture and meditation. Anna calculated the distances between various sites in the Holy Land (Jerusalem to Bethlehem, Jerusalem to Damascus, etc.) and used these distances as goals for individuals (or teams) to walk during Lent. Anna's book, Christ Walk: A 40 Day Spiritual Fitness Program, has just been made available on Amazon. You can contact Anna at christwalk@courie.com to learn more and ask questions about the program. You can also follow Christ Walk on Facebook. "Christ Walk is a really good program for those who would like to do something more than just embark on a spiritual discipline for Lent as it integrates spirituality with physical exercise," says Boyd Duncan, a member of Emmanuel, Hampton who has participated in the program.

Celebration of the Feast of Absalom Jones

The Joint Service of Churches in the Diocese of Southern Virginia celebrating the Feast of Absalom Jones, the first African American priest of the Episcopal Church, will be held on Sunday, February 24, at 4 p.m. at St. Stephen's, Petersburg. The Rev. Isabel Steilberg, rector of St. Paul's, Newport News, will preach.

Absalom Jones was an African-American abolitionist and clergyman. After founding a black congregation in 1794, in 1804 he was the first African-American ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church of the United States.

Training for new vestry members

New to the vestry of your church? Then you should plan to attend our upcoming "Who's on First? Equipping & Guiding New Vestry Members" workshop. It will be offered on Saturday, March 2 at Emmanuel, Hampton, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and again on Saturday, March 23 at St. Paul's Petersburg, 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. 

Healthy, skilled vestries who understand their role in the life of the church and their relationship to the clergy and congregation are essential in creating and maintaining vital congregations. This workshop is designed for new vestry members, and will include: presentations on the role and duties of the vestry; best practices; discussion of common challenges that vestries face. Presenters will be: Caroline Black, Canon for Formation; the Rev. Canon Jeunee Godsey, Canon for Congregational Development; the Rev. Canon Michael Spear-Jones, Canon for Transition & Clergy Development.

Click here to register for March 2 in Hampton.

Click here to register for March 23 in Petersburg.

Mission of the Holy Spirit seeking recipes for their new cookbook

The Mission is collecting recipes so we can put together a cookbook. They would like to be able to include a recipe from every church in Southern Virginia.  Recipes should be e-mailed to info@missionoftheholyspirit.org, and we'd like to have the name and home church of each recipe author.