Save a date: 2016 Vestry Training Days

Healthy, skilled vestries who understand their role in the life of the church and their relationship to the clergy and congregation are essential in creating and maintaining vital congregations.  

 

These workshops are designed for all vestry members, and will include: Presentations on the role and duties of the vestry; Best practices; Opportunities to have conversations with other vestry members; Discussion of common challenges that vestries face.

 

In 2016, we will be hosting three events:

• February 13 at St. John's, Halifax - Anyone is welcome, but this will be focused on the churches of Convocations 8 & 9, as their context is somewhat different from parishes in other parts of our diocese.
• February 20 at Good Shepherd, Norfolk
• February 27 at St. David's, Chesterfield - At this session there will be a concurrent workshop for new senior wardens with the Bishop.

Further details and registration will follow in January, but please save one of these dates to join us, along with your fellow vestry members. Spread the word!

 

Radical Sending: Go to Love and Serve

As congregations explore their emerging visions, they need support in "equipping the saints" for their day-to-day lives and ministries beyond the doors of the building. The Dismissal - "go in peace, to love and serve the Lord" - becomes as important as the Eucharist in feeding the people for the journey. But churches often fail to focus on this baptismal calling to "go" into the worlds of work, family, and community. This book fills that void, focusing on how the baptized become "go-ers," providing practical and tested ways of fulfilling that calling.

 

* Core resource for discernment in living out baptismal promises
* Empowers the laity for their ministries beyond the church doors
* Study questions for small group discussion or individual reflection concludes each chapter.

 

Radical Sending: Go to Love and Serve builds on and complements the work of Stephanie Spellers' Radical Welcome, which called congregations to move beyond diversity and inclusion to be places where the transforming gifts, voices, and power of marginalized cultures and groups bring new life to the mainline church. Each chapter is followed by discussion questions for use with small groups or for personal reflection.

 

Author Fletcher Lowe has been a parish priest for 37 years and has served parishes in the Dioceses of Southern Virginia and Virginia. He has a passion for empowering the laity for their ministries in daily life. He is the co-editor of Ministry in Daily Life, Living the Baptismal Covenant and he compiled Baptism: the Event and the Adventure. He lives in Richmond, Virginia.

First Holiday Lock-In at Chanco a great success

Last weekend, 35 registrants participated in the first ever Holiday Lock-In for teens in grades 6-12 at Chanco. Beginning with icebreakers, followed by Eucharist, and finally a massive dance party on Friday night, the weekend continued with more games, discussions, worship and outdoor recreation on Saturday. Teens brought their sleeping bags and camped out overnight in Conference Rooms C and D. The fee to attend was just $15 along with a donation of canned goods. The donations from the youth were generous and will go to support the food pantry at St. Paul's, Newport News. We were blessed mild and sunny weather for the event, so we were able to enjoy a little gaga and a walk down to the dock. Initial feedback from participants was overwhelmingly positive, and they all said they would like to see us host more of these relaxed, affordable, short-term programs. So be on the lookout for another lock-in soon!

Registration open for 124th Annual Council, Feb 5-6, 2016

Continuing the Sacred Conversation:Racial Justice and the Role of the Church

Registration is now open for the 124th Annual Council of the Diocese of Southern Virginia, February 5-6, 2016 at the Williamsburg Lodge Convention Center.

Our keynote speaker this year is the Very Rev. Mike Kinman, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis, MO. Kinman will make two presentations, "#Ferguson Theology" and "Sacred Conversations About Race and Class, Power and Protest".

Preacher at the Council Eucharist will be The Rev. Canon Dr. Sandye A. Wilson, rector of St. Andrew and Holy Communion Episcopal Church in South Orange, New Jersey.

Click here for more information about Council, including registration and lodging, Youth Delegation application, Communicator Credentials, and nominations for elections. 

Administrators & Treasurers Lunch Group to meet Dec. 17 at Diocesan office

Take a break from your busy end of year work and join other parish administrators and treasurers to talk about common issues - including financial management, administration, communications, and much more. We'll be meeting on Thursday, Dec. 17 from 12 to 1:30 p.m. at the Diocesan office (11827 Canon Blvd., Suite 101, Newport News). Bring your own lunch; beverages will be provided. There's no agenda for this gathering - just an opportunity to get together, share, encourage, support, and ask questions. RSVP to Nancy James, njames@diosova.org.

Episcopal Church Foundation spotlights Administrators & Treasurers Lunch Groups on their blog

The monthly Administrators & Treasurers Lunch Group was featured on Episcopal Church Foundation's Vital Practices blog in November. The lunches are a wonderful opportunity to meet with other parish administrators and treasurers to talk about common issues. There's no agenda for this gathering - just an opportunity to get together, share, encourage, support, and ask questions. Currently, the lunches alternate monthly between the Norfolk/Virginia Beach area and the Peninsula. If you're interested in attending or hosting a gathering, contact Comptroller Nancy James, njames@diosova.org.

Stitchers benefits Jackson-Feild's children

Jim Otto, project coordinator; Tod Balsbaugh, VP of Advancement for Jackson-Feild, and Tom Foster with one of the quilts.

Stitchers for a Cause, a Glen Allen based organization, prepared 50 quilts to be given to the residents of Jackson-Feild Homes for Christmas. The group meets every Thursday at Glen Allen Church of Christ in Richmond. These talented quilters have been using their talents and skills for the past eight years to help needy and deserving groups and individuals to improve their quality of Life.

Jim Otto, coordinator, and his wonderful volunteers have been making quilts, bags for walkers and wheel chairs and other specialty items for non-profit organizations. They also make items to be raffled to raise funds for needy individuals who have acute medical needs. They have donated over 2,648 quilts, 1,034 pillow cases, 3,067 wheel chair bags and 5,883 other kind of items sewing only one day a week.

For many of the residents Christmas is a very difficult time of year filled with bad and sad memories. They look longingly at other children who have happy and cherished Christmas memories. They don't want to get their hopes up for fear of another letdown....another day to hide their deep disappointment.

The quilts donated by Stitchers for a Cause will help the children feel valued and appreciated and make this Christmas a season they will cherish for a lifetime.