Praying for the churches of Southern Virginia

As part of our liturgy at Annual Council 2015, each delegation wrote a prayer for their parish. We are sharing these prayers each week in the eNews so that we all can support one another in the upcoming year.

Galilee, Virginia Beach

Heavenly Father, we thank you for your love and redemption experienced in and through Galilee Church in 2014. In the coming year we ask you to lead, shield and anoint this congregation to take joy in every task that you set before them, and to live more deeply into the mission of renewal into which you have guided them. This we ask in the name of your Son Jesus Christ, who with and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

St. James', Portsmouth, and St. Mark's, Suffolk

Almighty God we thank you for knitting together the congregations of Saint James, Portsmouth and Saint Mark's, Suffolk as they tread the path of Shared Ministry in thy church; grant that thy Holy Spirit will guide and strengthen the parishioners of both congregations, through the same thy Son Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit one God now and for ever. Amen.

Leadership Program for Musicians' Spring workshop

The Leadership Program for Musicians' annual Spring workshop will take place March 14 at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church, 4819 Monument Avenue in Richmond. The workshop topic for the morning session is "Discovering Hidden Gems: Mining the 1982 and ELW Hymnals." Ellen Johnston and Martha Burford will lead an exploration of the 1982 hymnal, and Kevin Barger will discuss the ELW hymnal. The presentations will run simultaneously, and participants may attend either one. 

                                                               

Registration is at 9 a.m., and the morning session will begin at 9:30 a.m. and run until 11:30 a.m. Noon prayer and a brief presentation on LPM will take place from 11:30 a.m. until noon. Lunch (included with registration fee) is noon-1 p.m. From 1-3 p.m. Ellen Johnston and Kevin Barger will lead a choral music reading session using the music attendees received in their packets upon registration. The session will focus on anthems appropriate for choirs with limited resources.

The cost of the workshop is $60 per person (includes lunch and music packet for reading session). Those registering after Feb. 22 are not guaranteed a music packet; if, due to late registration, a music packet is not received, the registration fee will be reduced to $25/person. Registration forms are available on the web at http://www.lpm-va.org and may be mailed to LPM Virginia - c/o Nellwyn Beamon, Church of the Ascension, 405 Talbot Hall Road, Norfolk VA 23505. Checks may be made out to LPM Virginia. For more information on LPM or the spring workshop contact Nellwyn Beamon online at  lpmvacoordinator@gmail.com or by calling 757-423-6715.  

St. Paul's, Norfolk, hosts Ultreya

St. Paul's, Norfolk, will be the host of the Ultreya on February 20 (201 St. Paul's Blvd., Norfolk, 23510). There will be a potluck shared meal from 6 to 6:45 p.m. A sandwich meal will be provided. Please bring a salad-type side dish or a dessert and beverage to share. The Ultreya will begin at 6:55 p.m. and end at 8:15 p.m. Come and enjoy seeing friends from our area Episcopal Churches. Please pray about attending, talk it up, invite and offer a friend a ride. Make it part of your plan for the week. Any questions or need a ride? Contact Bruce Comfort, comfort_1 @cox.net or 757-480-0316.  

Clergy Renewal of Vows services

The annual Renewal of Ordination Vows services for clergy will be held on Wednesday, April 1 at 10 a.m. at St. Cyprian's, Hampton, and at 2:30 p.m. at Manakin, Midlothian.

Liturgical items no longer needed can be donated on March 2

St. Mary's Mission, a charitable organization which finds new homes for liturgical and religious items, will be collecting items in our Diocese on Monday, March 2. They are coming to collect the Diocesan Council "Bishop Closet" items that did not find a home elsewhere, and they are also willing to come by your church if you have large items that cannot be transported to the Diocesan Center at Talbot Hall, or St. Michael's, Bon Air before March 2 (ie, baptismal fonts, altars, etc.).

If you have liturgical items to donate (vestments, hangings, prayer books, candlesticks, etc.) and would like to arrange for delivery or pick up, please contact The Rev. Canon Jeunée Godsey at Jgodsey@diosova.org or 434-603-1782.

Clergy Transitions

The Rev. Earl Christian began as Deacon at St. Cyprian's, Hampton, 1/12/2015

The Rev. Katherine Gray began as Deacon at St. Andrew's, Newport News, 1/20/2015

The Rev. Frederick Walker, Rector of St. Mark's, Suffolk, will begin as Priest-in-Charge at St. James', Portsmouth as the churches enter into shared ministry, 2/1/2015

The Rev. John Boucher will begin as Priest-in-Charge at St. Anne's, Appomattox, 2/1/2015

The Rev. Martha Jenkins will begin as Priest-in-Charge at St. James', Cartersville, 2/1/2015

The Rev. Donny Dunn III will begin as Interim Rector at Redeemer, Midlothian, 2/1/2015

The Rev. Tige Newell  will begin as Interim Assistant Rector at Redeemer, Midlothian, 2/1/2015 

Venture Mattress donates to Jackson-Feild

Venture Mattress, headquartered in Franklin VA, recently donated 50 brand new mattresses to Jackson-Feild Homes to improve the bedding and sleeping conditions of its residents. Working with their manufacturer, Mattress Tech, Venture developed the new mattresses and they in turn worked with their suppliers to produce them. Everyone along the way took a personal interest in this project and wanted to ensure the comfort of the children served by Jackson-Feild.

The new mattresses are twice as thick as the old and worn ones they're replacing, and are much better built. Already, the children are reporting that they are sleeping better and waking up in the morning feeling better.

Jackson-Feild is very grateful to Venture Mattress, Mattress Tech, and their suppliers for improving the boys' and girls' quality of life.

Jackson-Feild Homes is a residential treatment program with an accredited private school. It serves adolescent children who have severe emotional disorders. Established in 1855 the Home serves over 100 children annually. They are able to achieve positive outcomes for its residents where others have not.