Celebration of New Ministry

A Celebration of New Ministry for Ascension, Norfolk, and the Rev. Stewart Mason Tabb will be held Tuesday, January 12 at 7 p.m. Bishop Hollerith will celebrate. A reception will follow the service. Clergy: green stoles. 

Safe Church tip of the month and upcoming training

Ensure your staff are aware that they have a legal and ethical duty to report suspected abuse. Also create a policy that requires employees and volunteers to report red flag behaviors to supervisors. Consider creating an incident report form and chain of command that ensures you are responding swiftly and effectively, even if the incident does not rise to the level of abuse.

We offer both live classroom training and online training. Based on the positive training evaluations received from participants, we strongly recommend that all first-time users complete a live classroom training. The collaborative learning, and question and answer period are invaluable in evaluating individual parish needs. Upcoming classroom training:

• Jan. 23 - Johns Memorial, Farmville
• Feb. 27 - Good Shepherd, Richmond
• Mar. 19 - St. John's, Hopewell
• Apr. 23 - Hickory Neck, Toano

Click here for more information about Safe Church training and to register for an upcoming class or for online training. 

New online courses for individuals and groups from ChurchNext

ChurchNext is an online resource that lets you learn from expert teachers in Scripture, liturgy, and important Christian topics. Students can interact in a safe, online environment that's convenient, engaging, and affordable. ChurchNext has several new online courses suitable for individual or group study:

• Become more educated about Muslims with Introducing Islam with Mustapha Elturk.
• Holy Hardware with Deon Johnson is a helpful new class for liturgical churches.
• Think more deeply about violence by exploring Rene Girard's mimetic theory in Violence, Myth and Scripture with Suzanne Ross.
• Re-Inventing Your Church Board with Dan Hotchkiss, an Alban Institute consultant, is a course your vestry might find helpful.

FREE for 2016: A Sermon Every Sunday

"A Sermon Every Sunday" will be Free for 2016.  You have access to these lectionary based sermons by the best preachers in America like Michael Curry, Will Willimon, Lauren Winner, and Brian McLaren. These sermons can be used in churches without regular clergy, for adult forums and bible studies, or as part of your personal spiritual development. Go to www.asermonforeverysunday.com.

Latino Ministries enters a new era

Signaling a clear commitment to the growth of Latino ministries in our diocese, the Executive Board recently approved calling Angelica Garcia-Randle to a part-time, contracted position as Latino Ministries Coordinator for the Eastern Shore. The move represents a critical step toward strengthening Latino ministries throughout Southern Virginia by capitalizing on efforts already underway on the Eastern Shore. The Mission Network and Congregational Vitality ministries, under the direction of Bishop Hollerith, are seeking to develop ministry with the growing Latino population in Southern Virginia.

Ms. Garcia-Randle is a native of Los Angeles, CA and the daughter of immigrants to the United States. Her mother emigrated from El Salvador and her father comes from a small village in the Mexican state of Guanajuato. Angelica, who is fluent in written and spoken Spanish, moved to Virginia from Southern California in 2011 when her husband, The Rev. Cameron Randle, was called as rector of St. James, Accomac and St. George’s, Pungoteague. Together, the Garcia-Randles have pioneered Latino and Food Justice ministries in Southern Virginia.

Angelica is Director of Dos Santos Food Pantry, a ministry of the churches of St. George’s Parish. Dos Santos (two saints) is a partner agency of the Foodbank of Southeast Virginia and the Eastern Shore and the only Spanish-speaking pantry in the region. The outreach serves a sizable migrant farmworker and Latino immigrant community by providing staple foods such as corn flour for tortillas, rice, beans, poultry and fresh

vegetables, along with clothing and personal hygiene items.

In the past year, Dos Santos has expanded to include an organic community garden to help supply the pantry and a vibrant new tutoring program for children of Latino immigrant parents in two key Accomack County public elementary schools. A mobile version of the pantry also distributes food and other necessities in trailer parks and migrant camps.

A marketing professional with photography and graphic design experience, Angelica has studied at the Paeir College of Art in Hamden, CT and The Rhode Island School of Design. She is presently working toward a degree in Applied Design with a concentration in Photography at The University of Maryland, Eastern Shore in Princess Anne, MD. She is a liaison to the Migrant Services Council of the Eastern Shore and has served on the board of Boys & Girls Club (Eastern Shore Unit), United Way and Una Familia, a tutoring program of the United Methodist Church in partnership with Dos Santos tutoring.

“I am honored to be able to help people in need and to contribute to cultural awareness on a broader level,” she explains.

In her new diocesan role, Angelica will make available resources and information for parishes and parish leaders drawn to establishing or cultivating Latino ministries. This includes cultural education and information exchange across the diocese through workshops, site visits, etc. A seven-member Advisory Board for Episcopal Latino Ministries was recently formed to provide oversight and create benchmarks and goals for the venture.

“Latino ministry has been part of Bishop Hollerith’s vision since the beginning of his episcopate, and the Eastern Shore, with the largest percentage of Latino population is the logical place to begin our concentrated efforts,” said the Rev. Canon Jeunee Godsey, Diocese of Southern Virginia’s Canon for Congregational Development.  “Angelica’s work incorporates what we learned through the Hispanic Ministry Conference last spring, and I believe we will see much spiritual fruit from this investment of our Mission and Ministry grant funds to support this venture. Our diocese is blessed to have Angelica offer her skills, gifts, and experience not only to grow the Latino ministry on the Eastern Shore, but also to serve as a resource to explore and expand Latino ministries throughout the diocese.”

Pre-Council Convocation Meetings

Location, date and time of each Pre-Council Convocation meeting will be posted on the Annual Council page of our website as they are received.

Convocation 1 - Sunday, January 17, 5 pm at St. James', Accomac

Convocation 2 - TBA

Convocation 3 - Sunday, January 31, 2 pm at St. Andrew's, Norfolk

Convocation 4 - Wednesday, January 27, 7 pm at St. Paul's, Suffolk

Convocation 5 - Wednesday, January 20, 7 pm at Bruton, Williamsburg

Convocation 6 - TBA

Convocation 7 - Wednesday, January 20, 7 pm at St. David's, North Chesterfield

Convocation 8 - TBA

Convocation 9 - TBA

Registration open for Happening #64

Happening is an experiential weekend retreat developed by teens for teens. Come and see what it's like to be transformed by God's love!

Happening #64 will be March 11-13 at Chanco on the James. It is open to all youth in grades 10-12 and adults who have never attended a Happening program. Cost to attend is $165. Please register no later than Friday, Feb. 26 so we can prepare for you.

Click here for more information and registration.