Clergy transitions

The Rev. Mignon (Sarah) Brockenbrough left Bruton Parish, Williamsburg to accept a call in Diocese of Virginia, 9/20/2015

The Rev. Mark Riley began as Assistant Rector at St. John's, Hampton, 9/21/2015

The Rev. Terrence Walker resigned as Long Term Supply Priest at Trinity, South Hill and All Saints, South Hill, 9/26/2015

The Rev. Mary (Mimi) Lacey will begin as Rector of Emmanuel, Virginia Beach, 11/1/2015

National Church Administration Day: Technology Impact workshop

The Church Network is a professional association of churches and individuals throughout the United States that provides resource materials, training , professional certification, and networking opportunities for anyone serving Christ through ministry leadership and administration. We invite leaders from all local churches and church-related bodies to join the Tidewater Chapter on Wednesday October 14, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Calvary Revival Church (5833 Poplar Hall Drive, Norfolk) for National Church Administration Day. The theme is Technology Impact and will include sessions on Technology and Security, Why Go Mobile?, and Media Matters. The event is free and open to the public. Lunch will be served. Registration is required no later than Monday, October 12 by contacting Sha Simmons at ssimmons@calvarynn.com or 757-886-7512. Please indicate name, phone number and email address of each attendee.

Finding Grace in Race, part 2: Cultural Bias

Finding Grace in Race is a public lecture series at Richmond Hill retreat center designed to encourage open and honest dialogue around issues of race and justice.

The second lecture in this series will be "Cultural Bias"  presented by Dr. Allen Lewis  on Monday, October 26 at 7:30 p.m. Lewis will explore the definition of cultural bias, how people interface with difference, and steps to manage bias. Lewis is Head of JMU Department of Health Sciences and author of We Are All Racists: The Truth about Cultural Bias.
The 45 minute lecture will be followed by facilitated conversation and group processing time among the audience. The evening begins with worship at 5:30 p.m., dinner at 6:30 p.m., lecture at 7:30 p.m. The requested donation of $20 includes both dinner and the lecture. To register, please contact DeBorah Cannady at retreats@richmondhillva.org or by phone at 804-783-7903.  Click here for more information about the series.

Winter Camp at Chanco

Many of our campers grades 6-12 enjoy returning to Chanco during the school year for events such as October Weekend, Happening, November Weekend, and May Weekend. However, until now there has been no opportunity for our youngest campers to return to Chanco during the school year! We are now offering WINTER CAMP for our youngest campers (ages 7-12). Winter Camp will be held January 15-17, 2016, costs $125 and will involve many of the most loved traditional camp activities such as low ropes activities, zip lines, archery, crafts, evening programs etc. Campers will sleep "lock in style" in sleeping bags in conference center meeting rooms and some of your favorite summer staff will be returning to help lead this fantastic camp weekend. Winter Camp is the perfect opportunity to reunite with your old camp friends, enjoy the gorgeous outdoors of Chanco, and/or introduce a younger camper to Chanco before a one-week or two-week session next summer! Come join us for this fantastic new event! Questions? Contact Executive Director Gareth Kalfas at director@chanco.org or 888-7CHANCO (888-724-2626). Registration is live at www.chanco.org. We can't wait to see you back or for the first time!

United Thank Offering

Our God is always more ready to hear than we are to pray and to give more than we either desire or deserve. Give to your United Thank Offering Blue Box this week as God gives to you.

 

The United Thank Offering has been around for 125 years, and sometimes people think of UTO as something only little old ladies still cling to, something out of date and fading from the modern world. But the goal of encouraging daily thankfulness and generosity in our lives is far from outdated, and that IS the main goal of UTO -- not just collecting money, but creating thankful people.

 

Every Sunday in our liturgy we say it is "right, and a good and joyful thing to give God thanks." It is our duty to give thanks, but like so many Christian guidelines, what God asks of us turns out also to be good for us and makes us happy. Quite a lot of research has been done on the effects of thankfulness in our lives, and the list of its effects on the thankful person is impressive. Thankful people have stronger immune systems; fewer aches and pains; lower blood pressure; better sleep; more joy, pleasure, optimism, and happiness; are more forgiving; and feel less lonely. A good and joyful thing, indeed!

 

But like other Christian duties, thankfulness needs to be cultivated until it becomes a habit, and your UTO Blue Box can help you with that. Every day, take just a moment to name something you're thankful for, that day. It can be as big as the love of your family or as small as the beauty of an autumn leaf. Take a few seconds to put some money into your Blue Box to share that blessing with others around the world. The more moments of gratitude we build into our days, the more we are likely to see the benefits of thankfulness - to ourselves and to the world.

 

The United Thank Offering is not out of date -- it's as current as social media. Like us on Facebook!

Educational webinar examines the global refugee crisis

The Episcopal Church will present a 90 minute webinar on October 15 focusing on the global refugee crisis, U.S. resettlement and how Episcopalians can be involved in this ministry of welcome. Presented by Episcopal Migration Ministries and Episcopal Public Policy Network, the live webinar will begin at 8 pm Eastern.

For more than 75 years, The Episcopal Church has welcomed refugees to the United States, helping them find safety, security and new lives as American citizens. Now, with at least 60 million people displaced from their homes and lives, the global community is facing the largest refugee crisis since the end of World War II.

"Episcopalians from across the church have been reaching out to us on a daily basis asking how they can be involved in mission and advocacy that supports refugees," Deborah Stein, Episcopal Migration Ministries Director. "We hope that this webinar will inspire individuals, congregations, and dioceses to engage this life-saving work in new ways."

Pre-registration is required.  Register for the webinar here. The webinar will be available on-demand following the event. Click here for more information.

Episcopal Relief & Development responding to Syrian refugee crisis

Episcopal Relief & Development is engaging the Syrian crisis through support to agencies in Syria, to the Diocese of Jerusalem's Holy Land Institute for the Deaf and in support of large numbers of people traveling out of crisis areas into Europe.  The agency is in contact with Anglican Communion partners through The Episcopal Church's Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe and The Church of England's Diocese in Europe, as well as interfaith partners such as Islamic Relief.

"Our relationships with Anglican Communion and ecumenical organizations enable us to contribute efficiently and effectively to the relief of those fleeing the Syrian conflict," said Abagail Nelson, Episcopal Relief & Development's Senior Vice President for Programs.  "These agencies are leveraging our support to meet critical needs for basic supplies, as well as language and cultural mediation to lower the anxiety of displacement and help people access available services."

In Italy, St. Paul's Within the Walls Episcopal Church in Rome operates the Joel Nafuma Refugee Center as its primary outreach ministry, providing a safe space for 200-250 individuals per day to access legal, vocational, medical and language services.  Episcopal Relief & Development support will enable the Center to expand its ministry to serve the increased number of displaced people seeking safety and assistance.

The Church of England's Diocese in Europe plans to distribute emergency funds to churches in Greece, Italy, France and Hungary that are responding to the needs of displaced people for food, clothing, shelter materials and medical supplies.  The Diocese is reportedly working with Orthodox churches in these areas as well, which expands the capacity to ensure needs are met.

Islamic Relief is active on the island of Lesvos, Greece, where Syrians fleeing the conflict arrive at the northern town of Molyvos, closest to Turkey, and travel to the southeastern town of Mitilini in order to take the ferry to the mainland.  Arabic-speaking Islamic Relief staff, working with other organizations and local volunteers, are offering food and guidance to those arriving, including information about transportation options such as buses to save the 40-mile journey on foot.

Please continue to pray for all those fleeing violence and unrest. Contributions to the Syria Response Fund will help Syrians fleeing violence as the country's civil war enters its fifth year.

Click here for resources to help congregations and individuals respond to the crisis, including:

• Prayer for Syria
• Episcopal Migration Ministries
• Episcopal Public Policy Network
• UNHCR toolkit for teaching young people about migration and refugees