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.

Emmanuel, Chatham

Heavenly Father, we acknowledge our struggle to be one body, the people you call us to be.  Fill us with your Spirit that we can love others as you love us.  Remove the blinders of our own desires so we may see and minister to the needs of others.  Cleanse us from us all bitterness, fear, vanity, and pride that we may truly listen with respect and speak with love.  Open our eyes to see the strengths of others and our own, even as you open our hearts to give and receive forgiveness for whatever weaknesses we find.  Keep before us awareness that this is your church and we your people, who are not just limited by our brokenness but empowered by your boundless love.  Allow us to see whatever discomfort we encounter can be the threshold to greater life.  We ask this, O Father, in the name of your Son and through the power of your Spirit, for only in your love alone can we find abundant life, both now and for ever.  Amen.

St. Cyprian's, Hampton

Almighty and Most Merciful Father, we thank you for all the blessings of this life. We thank you especially for St. Cyprian's Church and the Diocese of Southern Virginia. We ask you to guide us this year as we work to find more ways to serve our global village and local community. By your grace, equip us to feed the hungry, provide clothing for those in need, offer shelter to the disenfranchised and facilitate access to basic healthcare for those without voice or advocates. Give us the strength to persevere as we invite others to join us in our common life. Help us address the racial and class divisions in our nation that we all may be one. Lead us as we strengthen the faithful, find good and godly ways to restore the absent and open our doors to the stranger. Bless us so that we might move into new ways of being and doing for the sake of those who hunger for spiritual food and thirst for living water. All this we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 

Jackson-Feild in need of folding tables

Jackson-Field Homes is in need of folding round tables. The Home hosts a number of events and outings in its gym which serves as a multipurpose building. These events include the annual prom, college and career day, Beautiful Me self-esteem program, wrapping party for Christmas presents, special luncheons and other events that are scheduled during the course of the year. These tables would also be used outdoors, weather permitting, for quarterly Bible school and other spiritual program activities, for field day, ice cream socials, cookouts and recreational activities.

If your church has unused tables and would like to donate them to Jackson-Feild please contact Ann Chaffins at 804-354-6929 or achaffins@jacksonfeild.org.

Communications Grants available

Communications Grants from the Diocese of Southern Virginia provide congregations within the diocese with funding for development of their communications efforts. Grant funds are intended to assist churches that do not currently make use of digital communications methods to create and implement a new digital communication program. Funds may also be used to assist churches with an existing digital communication program that have discovered needs within their congregation or community that can be addressed with a new digital communication initiative. Click here for more information and application.

Clergy Transitions

The Rev. Julia Messer began as Priest Associate at Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach, 2/1/2015

The Rev. Marguerite Alley, Deacon, left Emmanuel, Virginia Beach, 3/26/2015

The Rev. Alan Meade, Interim Rector, left Ascension, Norfolk 4/15/2015  

The Rev. Stewart Tabb will begin as Rector of Ascension, Norfolk 5/1/2015  

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.

St. Augustine's, Newport News

Almighty God, Creator of all that abide in the heavens and inhabit the earth, we the work of your hand praise you and adore you. You have revealed thorough Jesus Christ your son, our mission in the East End of Newport News and you call us to a ministry of love and care of your sheep. We thank you God for the benevolence you show to our community of faith; your grace allows us to open our doors to the least and the lonely, sharing your blessings with those whom you call, "my beloved children." Dear God, we ask that you support the congregation of St. Augustine's to do all that you ask us to do: proclaim your word, feed the hungry, visit the sick and those imprisoned, and to welcome the outcast and the lonely. We also prayerfully ask that you instill within our congregation the desire to become leaders within our church, for our community and the diocese of Sothern Virginia so that we may offer all that we are to your service. May we secure these blessings for all your children in the name of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Epiphany, Danville

Gracious and merciful God, We give you thanks for our abundant blessings and for the many gifts we receive daily, especially for those we neglect to acknowledge. We now bring before you our church, Epiphany Episcopal in Danville.  We ask forgiveness for our failure in this time of trial. Lead us out of our darkness. We ask for healing in each of our hearts.  Draw us closer together. We are very grateful that you have sent Becky to assist us in this difficult time. Continue to guide and direct her in the decisions to set us a right. And grant us the wisdom and courage to be one body so that we may truly and devoutly serve you. Hear our prayer for this parish family, through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Learning to Live: An American Story

By The Rev. James W.H. Sell

"Learning to Live: An American Story" is the story of my journey through the ordained ministry of the Episcopal Church. Much to my surprise, it was a life that suited my values and personality like no other. It began when the American culture was fueled by the norms and standards of institutional religion in the late 1950's and early 1960's.  

But from the time of my ordination in 1969 up until the present moment, we have watched international and American church worship life decline year after year. Today, almost all denominations and faiths are retracting into an uncertain future. It can be argued that at the current rate of decline, the entire religious enterprise in America has less than one hundred years of life remaining.  

Somehow, my life has run counter to the trends and demographic realities by which we have been surrounded. I discovered solid spiritual values that gave my life a sense of abundance. At the same time, every church I was a part of grew and flourished. So, contrary to the cries of the legions of naysayers, I am nothing if not hopeful. To be a Christian is to live with a sense that resurrections are at the very core of every history.  

I believe that, in very real ways, we are just getting ready to return to our most ancient roots, where, once again, on the fragile edge of society, we will become a steady pathway to an abundant life and, ultimately, the driving force for liberation and justice.

Learn more about the book at www.jameswhsell.com.  

Spring 4th Day Gathering at Chanco

The Cursillo Spring 4th Day Gathering will be May 9 at Chanco. Please join us in welcoming our new cursillistas with lunch, a witness talk, group reunion and more. Please bring your favorite spring dish to share. Get more information about Cursillo at www.cursillodsv.org.