Integrity Eucharist on September 29

Please join the Virginia Beach Chapter of Integrity USA as we invite everyone to an Integrity Eucharist on Sunday afternoon, September 29, at 5:00 pm at St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach. There will be a reception afterwards. Integrity USA is an Episcopal organization that advocates for the full inclusion of the LGBT community in the life and sacraments of the church. We meet regularly on the third Tuesday of the month at MJ's Tavern in Norfolk at 6:30 for a meal together and a business meeting. Follow us on Facebook.

Help Mission of the Holy Spirit change lives

By Hank Luhring, Chairman, Mission of the Holy Spirit

There is a great photo on Facebook of Tiffani Satterwhite's newly decorated dorm room at Mary Baldwin College.  What an inspiring young lady!  Besides doing well in her course work at Granby High School, Tiffani was very active in ROTC.  She has been working for the last several years to help support her family.  And she has been a leader in the Mission, urging younger kids to keep up with their studies.

Tiffani is a good example of a young person with great potential benefiting from the support you give to the Mission. We have eight other Mission kids that will be in college this Fall. The need for assistance is great. Although a lot of their expenses are covered by scholarships and grants, there is a small but crucial gap that the Mission helps fill. Your donation helps immensely.

Supporting the Mission college students has an impact on the younger kids as well. They have watched the older kids get through high school, go through the college application process, get accepted, start college, and come back with stories of the new horizons and opportunities that college opens up for them, and jobs that will lift them from poverty. The younger kids are inspired, and strive to do better with their schoolwork.

Your donations are impactful in many ways -- they make it possible for our college kids to achieve success: this Fall we will be filling 25 new backpacks for our school-aged kids with supplies they need to succeed; the Tuesday and Thursday evening programs keep the kids focused on doing their schoolwork each week; and the Sunday church service is the core that brings God into the kids' lives and gives them hope through prayer, hearing the Word, and experiencing an uplifting sermon by Pastor Keith Josey, one of the best interpreters of God's role in these young people's lives that they'll ever hear.

Donations may be sent to Mission of the Holy Spirit, 1445 Norview Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23513. Questions? Call 757-858-0010. On behalf of those of us involved at the Mission, we thank you in advance for your donation. It truly makes a difference in the lives of a whole community of people.

 Follow Mission of the Holy Spirit on Facebook!  

ECW supports Mothers' Union through Women-to-Women

Susan Broaddus to speak at ECW Fall Annual Meeting Oct. 19

 

By Nancy Smith, Diocesan ECW 

L to R: Kathy Klein, Abingdon Church, Gloucester; Mme. Claudaline Muhindo, Mothers' Union; and Susan Broaddus, former mission partner, Diocese of Southern Virginia.

The ECW of the Diocese Southern Virginia voted to raise $10,000 in 2013-2014 to support the work of the Mothers' Union in the Diocese of Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo, through Women-to-Women, a ministry formed by the Diocese of Virginia in 2010.

Since revolutions and tribal wars began in the Congo in 1997, over 5 million people have died. Some 20 militias roam the area today raping, torturing, pillaging. The Mothers' Union provides rape counseling and job training for women; help for orphans, widows and teenaged girls and for Pygmies whose lifestyle has been disrupted by militias hiding in the forests. Women-to-Women helps spread the word about and gain support for the wonderful work being done by the Anglican Church in one of the most dangerous parts of the world.

To learn more about Women-to-Women, come to the ECW Fall Annual Meeting at Bruton Parish in Williamsburg, October 19. Susan Broaddus, the keynote speaker, will report on her visit with the Mothers' Union in Goma, Diocese of Bukava, Congo in May. To register for the meeting, please call or email Louise Boss, 757-678-5331, lrboss@isp.com. 

Christian Formation leaders take part in Essential Building Dimensions program

 

Christian Formation leaders from Southern Virginia joined with colleagues from Diocese of Maryland this past weekend at Virginia Theological Seminary to take part in a new initiative, Essential Building Dimensions. This program is designed to help formation professionals to be effective leaders in the Episcopal Church through sharing and developing resources, relationships, nurturing and support. This new initiative is sponsored in partnership by the Diocese of Southern Virginia and the Diocese of Maryland. Pictured L to R: Sue Davis, St. David's Chesterfield; Jennifer Nauroth, Emmanuel Hampton; Ann Meyer, St. Martin's Williamsburg; Marguerite Alley, Emmanuel Virginia Beach; Anne Zobel, All Saints Virginia Beach; and Caroline Black, Canon for Formation.

There's still time to join the diocesan choir for our Service of Repentance, Reconciliation & Healing

It's not too late to join the Diocesan Choir for our Service of Repentance, Reconciliation & Healing on November 2. This choir is open to all singers who wish to participate. There are only two rehearsals for this choir, which will be conducted by Kevin Kwan, music director at Christ & St. Luke's. The rehearsals will be held at Christ and St. Luke's, Norfolk, and will be on Saturday, October 19 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and Saturday, October 26 from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. The warm-up on the day of the service (November 2) will be at 10 a.m. The repertoire for the service (two choral anthems) will be sent out in September. There is no audition for this choir, but it comes with the understanding that singers will prepare the music before the rehearsals. If you are interested, please email kevin.kwan@christandstlukes.org, giving your name, parish, and voice part. The deadline to sign up is September 17. Rectors and choir directors - please forward this information to anyone in your parish who might be interested in this opportunity.

Upcoming Safe Church training

There are currently two upcoming opportunities for Creating Safe Churches for Congregations and Children classroom training. These sessions are recommended for all vestry members, church employees and licensed Eucharistic Visitors. Any parishioners, volunteers, clergy and staff who work with children are requested to complete the Child module. 

September 21 at Grace Church, Norfolk

Click here for details and registration.

September 28 at Johns Memorial, Farmville

Click here for details and registration.

Upcoming Diocesan ECW events

Diocesan ECW Board Meeting

September 7, 10 a.m.
St. Francis, Virginia Beach

 Click here for information and registration.

Crossing Borders: Women to Women
Saturday, Sept. 21, 10 a.m. to noon
Good Shepherd, Norfolk

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of the Diocese of Southern Virginia invite you and your parish to learn more about what's happening in the Congo and what the Episcopal Church is doing to help at "Crossing Borders: Women-to-Women," a brunch and presentation on Saturday, September 21, from 10 a.m. to noon, at the Church of the Good Shepherd, 7400 Hampton Boulevard, Norfolk. Our speaker is the Rev. Deacon Carey Dougherty Chirico of St. George's, Fredericksburg. Donations of $10.00 per adult and $5.00 per student are requested and can be sent to Mrs. Grace Martino-Strid, 3457 Chesapeake Blvd., Norfolk, VA 23513 by September 16. Reservations can also be made by phone, 757-853-8520. We are serving food with an African theme. Please reserve your space now and so we will know how much food to prepare!  Click here for a registration form.