November Weekend 2015 hits maximum capacity!

Last weekend, nearly 70 individuals gathered at Chanco for our annual middle school retreat, and we used every available conference room to host these teens. This year's turnout was the largest ever; the program has grown steadily since it originally kicked off as an overnight lock-in at St. Martin's, Williamsburg, in 2010. Now November Weekend runs from Friday evening through Sunday morning at Chanco and features engaging worship, music, mixers and games, a dance, zip lines, and field games. To learn more about our diocesan youth programs visit www.diosova.org/youth or contact diocesan Youth Missioner Ashley Scruggs at ascruggs@diosova.org.

Registration open for Holiday Lock-in at Chanco for youth in grades 6-12

What's even more fun than a lock-in?  A lock-in at Chanco! Come with your parish youth group, or by yourself, or make plans to reunite with favorite camp friends from all over the diocese at this fantastic youth event for teens in grades 6-12. Friday, December 4 through Saturday December 5, we will be hosting an overnight full of fun games, creative worship and a jamming dance! Teens will stay lock-in style in our two large conference rooms, so bring your own pillow, sleeping bag and toiletries. Snacks Friday night, breakfast and lunch on Saturday are provided. Check-in is on Friday after dinner between 7-8 pm and pick up is at 3 pm on Saturday. Fantastic food, friendly fellowship and fabulous fun can be yours for the very low cost of $15 per person plus a donation of two canned goods for our Christmas Food Drive. This is the perfect opportunity to reunite with camp friends, bond with your youth group outside of church and/or to try Chanco for the first time and meet some wonderful new friends! Don't miss it! Click here to register. Questions? Contact Diocesan Youth Missioner Ashley Scruggs at ascruggs@diosova.org.   

Watch & Read: Video and books to help you prepare for Trinity Institute 2016

The Trinity Institute's 45th annual conference - Listen for a Change: Sacred Conversations for Racial Justice - will be webcast live at the Diocesan office in Newport News, Jan. 21-23, 2016. This year's conference - TI2016: Listen for a Change - focuses on racial justice. TI2016 is for anyone who is interested in a theological perspective on racial justice and a fuller understanding of present realities and ways to transform them.

To help you get a taste of Trinity Institute and prepare for the rich conversations at this year's conference on racial justice, click here for books and videos from this year's speakers.

The books from TI2016 speakers as well as other important voices are a great preface to the issues that we'll discuss at TI2016, including structural racism, mass incarceration, and policy change. Click here for a reading list you can download.

Get more information and register online at www.diosova.org.

Southern Virginia is participating in the Asset Map of The Episcopal Church

The Asset Map of the Episcopal Church is the first platform of its kind, housing information about all of the ministry programs and institutional resources in United States Episcopal network in the same place. The purpose of the Asset Map is to equip churches and institutions to share their own good news, and connect with the larger networks of mission and ministry diocesan and nationwide. The map could benefit any number of programs, including disaster preparedness and response work, and collaborative ministry development.

 

"The Asset Map is a visual catalog of The Episcopal Church at large, enabling diocesan leaders, church members and church seekers alike to see at a glance and in depth what the Church's presence looks like in their area, both infrastructure and programs," said Abagail Nelson, Episcopal Relief & Development's Senior Vice President of Programs. "It has wide-ranging potential to facilitate the development of new ministries and partnerships, and support the mobilization of resources and expertise."

The interactive map displays pins for each church. Clicking on a pin provides contact information and descriptions of programs at that particular location. Scan and search functions help users find ministries in their area or across the country. This short video  helps explain how the Asset Map works.

 

The Diocese of Southern Virginia is actively participating in the Episcopal Asset Map project.  Bishop Hollerith has asked churches to designate someone to help manage their presence on the map. Communications Officer Ann Turner is the diocesan map administrator. Please contact her if you have any questions about the Asset Map, aturner@diosova.org.

 

Whether you have just begun a food pantry and are looking for churches that have done the same, or you are dreaming of teaming up with another church to create a new ministry, the Episcopal Asset Map can be a valuable resource.  Our diocesan page can be found at http://edsva.episcopalassetmap.org/.

 

YASC Mission to Tanzania: The present is a gift, that's why we call it the present!

By Andy Russell, YASC Missionary, Bruton Parish, Williamsburg

Well folks it's a little hard to believe but I, Andy Russell, am no longer really a stranger to this place called Dodoma.  To be sure, I don't know everything about Dodoma, not even close.  But I know the compound where I live, my walk to work, the CK office, Rose's (where I get lunch most days, as well as a good number of the other store fronts and spots around Dodoma.  This familiarity has brought something else along with it: routine. Click here to continue reading. 

 

News from Chanco on the James

Introducing our newest staff member, Molly Williams  

Chanco is pleased to introduce Molly Williams, our new Director of Programs.  Molly attended Catawba College and graduated in 2011 with a BA in Religion and Philosophy: Outdoor Ministries. She has been involved in Christian camping in some form since she was in the fourth grade, primarily working in United Methodist summer camp and outdoor education programs. Molly shares, "Joining the staff at Chanco has given me the opportunity to fulfill a long time goal of serving Christ in a year round capacity in an outdoor ministry setting. I look forward to becoming a part of the Chanco family and joining in what God is already doing here!"  Please join us in welcoming Molly to the Chanco family! 

Veterans Day

Washington National Cathedral's Veterans Initiative

This week, the nation will honor our veterans, and Washington National Cathedral is proud to release three short "Honoring Our Veterans" videos that can assist churches and other worshipping communities on starting the conversation with those who have served. You can find the videos on the cathedral's YouTube channel here. 

 

Bishop Jay Magness reflects on Veterans Day

"On this Veterans Day 2015, unlike some of my friends in the faith community, I am not all that interested in what we can do for service members and veterans. I am, however, very interested in what these persons can do for the faith communities of America. Service members and veterans, if given the appropriate recognition, honor, welcome, and permission can teach us so very much about the spiritual value of personal and corporate sacrifice." Click here to read Bishop Magness' essay.

Bishop Magness is Bishop Suffragan, Federal Ministries of The Episcopal Church. He was formerly Canon to the Ordinary in the Diocese of Southern Virginia.