Social Media Sunday is Sept. 25

"Christ has no online presence but yours, no blog, no Facebook page but yours."

September 25, 2016, is Social Media Sunday - a day to encourage people of faith to share the gospel and be the church online. It's a day to help people get beyond their fear of using digital media and understand that these are just tools that we can use to do what we are already doing: inviting others, showing care and concern for people, telling friends about our church and showing them Jesus. Social media, when done right, is really about relationships, not technology. Click here to learn more. 

An invitation to Cursillo

By Ronda Toll, Christ the King, Tabb

Cursillo is a Spanish word meaning "short course"; the topic of this course is Christianity. During a Cursillo, you are introduced to a method that emphasizes the importance of a balanced life of piety, continued spiritual study, and action. You will encounter Christ on a journey that begins with a three-day weekend.

The Cursillo weekend begins on Thursday with a retreat, allowing everyone to slow down and begin to listen to what God may be trying to say. The next three days are filled with worship, singing, and short talks. There is a clergy team on each weekend to provide sacramental ministry and teaching. After each talk, there is time for discussion, reflection, and to enjoy the beauty of Camp Chanco. The food is legendary and the experience of Christian community and love will touch your heart in a meaningful way.

A Cursillo weekend invites us to dive deeper into the well of our faith and personally connect with God's unlimited love.  Once the weekend is over, Cursillo is an invitation to a pilgrimage which is lived every day for the rest of our lives - in every place that God chooses to plant us. The Cursillo method enables you to:

• Expand your prayer life.
• Spiritually grow through an ongoing formation process that increases your knowledge about God's Word and your faith.
• Form a closer relationship with our King and Savior, Jesus Christ.
• Spread God's Word in a natural way to the people you interact with in the very environments in which you live.

Cursillo is for anyone (including clergy) who wants to go deeper into their spiritual life through teaching and the personal experience of both Christian community and the Holy Spirit. It is ideal as preparation for leadership and lay ministry.

Consider this an invitation should you feel the Holy Spirit calling you to begin the Cursillo Journey. The next Cursillo weekend in Southern Virginia is October 13-16 at Chanco on the James.

Please contact Ronda Toll, rtoll@cox.net or 757-869-8873, to learn more about this amazing experience.www.cursillodiosova.org. 

Online diocesan resources you should check out

Southern Virginia has a few online resources - communities, really - that can be a terrific support for your church leadership:

Diosova Admin email listserv - This is an email listserv for parish treasurers and administrators. You can share ideas, ask questions and join in conversations relating to the financial and administrative work that you do for your parish. To learn more or to be added to the listserv, contact Comptroller Nancy James, njames@diosova.org.

Diosova Communicators Facebook group - This is a private Facebook group where folks involved in church communications can ask questions and share resources. Diocesan Communications Officer Ann Turner moderates the group and posts helpful articles and resources there. Since this is a private group, only group members see your posts.

Formation in Southern Virginia Facebook group - This is a public Facebook group for folks involved in Christian formation. It's especially helpful if you aren't able to attend CE-Net meetings. This is a way you can reach out to your peers with questions and get excellent resource recommendations from the diocesan Canon for Formation Caroline Black.

IMPORTANT! To make sure you don't miss any posts from your Facebook groups, be sure to click the "Notifications" button near the top right of the group page and select "All Posts". This way, when you visit your Facebook page, you'll see the posts listed in your notifications.

Advisory Council on Stewardship of Creation offers report

The Advisory Council on the Stewardship of Creation met in New York City July 20-22 to discern the Church's ongoing response to environmental issues.  The Advisory Council members were appointed by the presiding officers as called for by Resolution A030 adopted at the 78th General Convention. Click here to read the report.  

UBE Sunday is September 4

Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) Sunday is September 4. The UBE invites all Episcopalians, regardless of race, to join them in their mission of fighting racism and encouraging the involvement of Black people in the total life of the church. Congregations are invited to take a special offering for UBE on Sept. 4.

The James Solomon Russell chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) meets on the second Thursday of each month at 10:30 a.m. at Grace, Norfolk (1400 E. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk). All Episcopalians in the Diocese of Southern Virginia are invited and encouraged to join the UBE and become members of this diverse and concerned group. Annual dues are $70 for individuals, $60 for retired, and $105 four couples. For more information contact David Flores, drf71137@gmail.com.

Clergy transitions

The Rev. Dick Budd began as interim rector at Christ the King, Tabb, on August 7, 2016. 

DC Rally4Refugees on August 28

The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations is encouraging Episcopalians to participate in the DC Rally4Refugees on Sunday, August 28, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. In the midst of the greatest refugee crisis since WWII, volunteers and advocates from across the country will gather at the outdoor Sylvan Theater at the Washington Monument on the National Mall in Washington, DC (rain or shine). The rally will raise awareness about the magnitude of the global refugee crisis, encourage advocacy and U.S. action to alleviate suffering through relief efforts and support, and stand in solidarity with refugees and displaced people worldwide. To learn more the rally, watch refugee stories, find resources and ways you can help, even if you can't attend the rally, go to www.dcrally4refugees.org and visit the Facebook page.