Jump Start Workshop: Pursuing Renewal and Vitality in the Midst of Change

Saturday, October 4

9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Emmanuel Episcopal Church, Richmond 

The Diocese of Virginia, in conjunction with the Episcopal Church Building Fund and Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Richmond, invites you to a one-day workshop to address how your congregation can Jump Start itself to a more vibrant, vital, and authentic community of faith.  

Cost is $25 and includes lunch. Click here for more information and registration. Emmanuel Episcopal Church is located at 1214 Wilmer Ave., Richmond.   

Biking for a Better World raises over $5000

The Biking for a Better World event held in Williamsburg on Sept. 13 raised over $5000 for Chanco on the James and Episcopal Relief & Development. Many thanks to the Very Rev. Keith Emerson, Rector of St. Paul's, Suffolk, and our diocesan liaison for Episcopal Relief & Development, for coordinating this event. Thanks also to St. Martin's, Williamsburg, for their hospitality as the starting location for the event.

"It is difficult for me to express how gratified I am that 22 riders garnered so much support. We will have to use our imaginations to understand how this meager effort will change the lives of future Chanco campers as well as those whose life life is touched by the immeasurable efforts of Episcopal Relief & Development," Emerson posted on our Facebook page. "I can't wait for the 'second' annual Biking for Better World and am also wondering of there are 5K runners out there who are ready to make their contribution."

Resource for November liturgies on healing the sin of racism

A Reconciliation Resource for November Liturgies on healing the sin of racism is now available from the Repairers of the Breach. Following the format of Holy Women, Holy Men, the booklet offers several options for readings and psalms. It is available on the Repairing the Beach page of our website. The Reconciliation Service from November 2, 2013 is also available with anthems and hymns that are suitable for parish use.  

Annual Council Resolution R-1 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." If you need further assistance or have questions, please contact Canon Caroline Black,  cblack@diosova.org or 757-213-3377.  

Observances of a Day of Repentance and Reconciliation: 

St. Martin's, Williamsburg 

The spirit of reconciliation and repentance for the sin of racism will be prayerfully honored at Saint Martin's on November 1 at 5pm as we acknowledge our transgressions of the past and repent for those sins against our brothers and sisters in Christ that we have committed as an institution and as individuals. The service will conclude with the celebrating of Holy Eucharist where we will acknowledge our reconciliation with Christ, as well as the entirety of the Body of Christ. The evening will then conclude with a meal of thanksgiving that will acknowledge the gift of reconciliation that God so bountifully provides to us. The meal will be served in Miles Hall at approximately 6:15 p.m.

  

St. John's, Chester

Contemplative Evening Prayer for Reconciliation and Healing  on Sunday, Nov. 2 at 5 p.m.

Good Shepherd, Norfolk and Mission of the Holy Spirit

On Wednesday, Nov. 5 at Good Shepherd there will be a dinner at 5:30 p.m. followed by a Service of Repentance at 6:30 p.m. 

  

St. James', Accomac

Service of Reconciliation and Healing, Friday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. 

Bruton Parish, Williamsburg 

On Nov. 5, 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Bruton Parish, there will be a screening of "The House I Live In," a documentary that explores the moral failure of the war on drugs and particularly looks at the role that racism has played in incarceration and mandatory minimums. The Rev. Charles Robinson, Vicar of Bruton Parish and Jan M. Brown, Founder and Executive Director, of SpiritWorks Foundation, will facilitate a conversation following the film. On Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m., the monthly First Fridays Eucharist will weave together the themes of repentance, reconciliation and recovery. The Rev. Chris Epperson, Rector of Bruton Parish, will be the celebrant. Parking is available on Duke of Gloucester Street during the service.  

Nominations now being accepted for Annual Council elections

The 123rd Annual Council will be held February 6-7, 2015 at the Williamsburg Lodge Convention Center. You can find the latest information on the Annual Council page of our website. Registration will begin in December.

The following elections will take place at the 2015 Annual Council:

Standing Committee: 1 Lay, 1 Clergy

Disciplinary Board: 2 Lay, 1 Clergy

General Convention Deputation: 1 Lay Young Adult Alternate

Information about each position and a nomination form can be found on our website.

Get ready for the ECW Fall Annual Meeting with the new issue of The Grapevine

The latest edition of the Diocesan ECW's newsletter, The Grapevine, is now available on our website. It's full of important information for the ECW's upcoming Fall Annual Meeting to be held Saturday, October 18 at Christ Church, Danville.

The ECW will celebrate its work in mission at this meeting. Susan Broaddus, Women-to-Women chair, Diocese of Southern Virginia, a former missionary in the Congo, will give an account on the status of the Tamar Project today. ECW board members, including a new diocesan president, will be elected to take office in January, 2015. The Rev. Helen McKee will install the newly elected board members.

Contact Louise Boss, corresponding secretary, to register for the meeting at (757-678-5331) or louiseboss@exede.net by October 10. The registration fee is $10. Lunch is included.

Longwood expresses regret over institution's actions during civil rights era

Longwood University's Board of Visitors has passed a formal resolution expressing regret over the institution's actions during the civil rights era, and established a new "Moton Legacy" scholarship program to support equality in educational opportunity. The university is in conversation with our Diocese regarding next steps forward. 

"It is a moment of great promise, with the Moton Museum and Longwood poised to work more closely together in support of Moton's mission of civil rights in education," said Longwood Rector Colleen McCrink Margiloff '97.  "Through time, Longwood has not always lived up to the ideals we hold dear, and that has caused genuine pain.  The University's mission of citizen leadership is at the heart of the Board's action. "

The resolution passed by the Board also establishes the Moton Legacy scholarship program, which will provide financial assistance for Longwood students with a demonstrated commitment to the cause of equality of opportunity in education.

"This scholarship program will help Longwood honor those who strove so mightily for educational opportunity, by teaching and sending into the world citizen leaders who will do the same in their communities around the Commonwealth and nation," said Longwood President W. Taylor Reveley IV.  Read more here. 

Safe Church trainer responds to NFL child abuse allegations

Ian Danielson, a Safe Church trainer in Diocese of Southern Virginia and a member of St. Luke's, Powhatan, is a licensed clinical social worker and coordinator at Greater Richmond SCAN. He supports the decision by the Minnesota Vikings to keep Adrian Peterson off the field following allegations of child abuse, but he's wary of the team's motives. Danielson works with child victims of abuse every day. Danielson hopes that this case will lead to the creation of set policies regarding violence that all players have to follow, "where all players know equally going in that physical abuse, sexual abuse, domestic violence in general is unacceptable to all." Watch/read the interview here.