Standing Commission on Liturgy & Music to present options on possible prayer book revision

The Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music (SCLM) plans to present the 2018 General Convention with four options regarding the possible revision of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer, said the Rev. Devon Anderson, commission chair. "We want to give General Convention everything it needs to give the SCLM very detailed direction and sufficient funding to follow that direction," Anderson said. "We want to call the church to a collective discernment that leads to a decision." Click here to continue reading.

Imputed income for life insurance available now

Imputed Income for life insurance for 2016 is now available. The IRS allows employees $50,000 of employer-paid life insurance without any tax implications. Life insurance in excess of $50,000 has a taxable value, and that value must be added to the employee's W2. For clergy and lay employees enrolled in the defined pension and life insurance plans at CPG, those figures can be obtained by contacting Nancy James, njames@diosova.org or 757-213-3386.

Parochial Report

In a few days you will receive by mail a packet from the national church with instructions for completing your 2016 parochial report. You should receive it no later than Monday, December 12.  It is important to the national church, as well as to the Diocese, that you complete and file it on time (by March 1, 2017), as we get very important data from the reports. Online filing will begin January 2, 2017.  

 

Journal Information Form and Salary Survey

Journal information form and salary survey will be emailed in early January.

Clergy transitions

The Rev. William Queen, Jr. will begin as Interim Rector at Christ & Grace, Petersburg on December 1, 2016.

Boys Home quilt raffle

Boys Home of Virginia is very excited to raffle this beautiful quilt made by Donnie Wheatley's sister, Phyllis Gibson. Phyllis is a very talented quilter and she has made it a tradition to donate handmade quilts to Boys Home each year for us to raffle. Phyllis and her friends Alan and Nancy Kontak also work hard each year to make sure every boy has a handmade quilt on their bed. We're so thankful for the dedication Phyllis shows by blessing Boys Home and the boys with her talents.

The quilt we're raffling this year is 96" x 92" and is a professionally quilted "Charleston Romance" pattern quilt. Tickets are $5 for 1 ticket or $45 for 10 tickets. We will draw the winner on March 17, 2017. All proceeds will go to Religious Life at Boys Home.

Please share this raffle with your friends, coworkers, family, church family, and whoever else you feel might be interested buying a ticket to win this quilt!

 

Click here to download the Quilt Raffle form. 

 

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry on the news from Standing Rock

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry issued a statement on Dec. 5 on the news concerning the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation:

"This morning, the sun ascended over the Great Plains of our nation and hope truly dawned anew. After months of courageously and peacefully working to prevent the laying of the Dakota Access Pipeline, which posed potential danger to the water supply of the people of the Sioux Nation and transgressed their sacred burial grounds, the water protectors on Standing Rock have won a notable victory. Yesterday afternoon, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced their decision to deny an easement for the Dakota Access Pipeline's construction across the sacred land and water of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, and this long-awaited announcement is cause for joyful celebration and thanks." Click here to continue reading.

Evangelism Matters conference video available online

On-demand video recordings of the Evangelism Matters, an Episcopal Church Evangelism Conference held November 18-19 in Dallas, TX, are available for viewing at www.evangelismmatters.org. Evangelism Matters is ideal for congregational discussion, adult forums, youth groups, and other Episcopal gatherings-for anyone who would like to learn more about evangelism and available resources to share our faith. The churchwide event was co-sponsored by Forward Movement and the Presiding Bishop's Office, and was hosted by the Diocese of Dallas and Church of the Transfiguration, Dallas, TX where the conference was held.

 

United Thank Offering Grant applications now accepted

The focus for the 2017 United Thank Offering grants is The Jesus Movement - evangelism, reconciliation, and following Jesus' way of creating loving, liberating, and life-giving relationships with God, each other, and all creation. United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally in the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion. The funds are not permitted for the continuation of ongoing ministries. Detailed guidelines and application are here.

IMPORTANT: The grant deadline is March 3. This is the deadline for each Diocese to submit its selected grant application. Individual applications MUST be submitted to the Bishop's office no later than February 17 for consideration.