Safe Church classroom training

Registration is now open for the following upcoming Safe Church training classes:

• February 18 - Grace Yorktown. Click here to register. Registration closes on Feb. 14.
• March 11 - All Saints, Virginia Beach. Click here to register. Registration closes on Mar. 7
• March 25 - Johns Memorial, Farmville. Click here to register. Registration closes on Mar. 21.

Click here for a complete list of upcoming Safe Church training opportunities, online training, and more info about the Safe Church program.

      

Get copies of Episcopal Relief & Development's Lenten meditations for your congregation

The 2017 Episcopal Relief & Development Lenten Meditations booklet is now available here. Churches can order booklets in packets of 20 and individuals can sign up to receive it daily in electronic form. Booklet orders must be placed by February 25 to insure delivery by Ash Wednesday. The booklets are free, all you pay is the cost of shipping.

 

Feb. 1 churchwide webinar: The Episcopal Church Welcomes Refugees

Episcopal Migration Ministries and the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations are sponsoring an important webinar to discuss the basic root causes of refugee crises and to examine critical questions such as: who is a refugee; how a refugee is resettled to the U.S.; how resettled refugees benefit their communities; and how you can engage with local communities to welcome these new Americans.

The Episcopal Church Welcomes Refugees, a free, one-hour educational webinar, will be held on Wednesday, February 1 at 4 pm Eastern. Registration is required and is available here. The webinar will be available on-demand following the event. Click here for more information.

Episcopal Church Revival in Pittsburgh, Feb. 3-5

The Episcopal Church and the Diocese of Pittsburgh are sponsoring a Revival on February 3-5 in Pittsburgh, PA. The Presiding Bishop's Pilgrimage for Reconciliation, Healing and Evangelism in Southwestern Pennsylvania will feature an ecumenical service of repentance involving local religious and civic leaders, a worship service celebrating Absalom Jones, and other gatherings that invite people across boundaries and into reconciling relationship with each other and with God.

Revivals are multi-day events filled with such elements as energizing worship and prayer services, dynamic preaching, personal testimony and storytelling, topical speakers, offerings from local artists and musicians, engagement with young leaders, intentional outreach with people who are not active in a faith community, and a call to action. Each Revival warmly welcomes neighboring dioceses and ecumenical participation.

Many of the Pittsburgh events will be live-streamed or available on demand. Get more info here.

Theological scholarships available, applications due April 1

The Hampton Roads Community Foundation is currently accepting applications for the numerous theological education scholarships. The 2017-2018 theological scholarship application is due April 1, 2017. Students should go to www.hamptonroadscf.org  to view the list of available scholarships and complete an online application. Scholarships include:

• Barron F. Black Theological Scholarship- For students at Virginia Theological Seminary (Alexandria, VA) who are candidates for the ministry. Students must be residents of the geographic region served by the Diocese of Southern Virginia.
• Richard D. and Sheppard R. Cooke Memorial Scholarship - For students from Hampton Roads attending Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond who are candidates for the ministry. Preference will be given to students from Norfolk churches within the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia.
• William F. Miles Scholarship - For a student from Hampton Roads who is preparing for leadership in a field of religious service.
• Reverend Doctor Joyce G. Moss Theologian Scholarship- For students attending Richmond Virginia Seminary or Regent University School of Divinity with the intent of pursuing a full-time career in Christian ministry.  Preference will be given to full-time graduate students who have at least a 3.0 grade point average. 
• Hy Smith Endowment Fund- For students at Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria who are candidates for the ministry. Students must be residents of the geographic region served by the Diocese of Southern Virginia.

 

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Bishop Jay Magness and Bishop Hollerith

Join the Rt. Rev. Jay Magness, pilgrimage leader, and Bishop Hollerith on this life-changing trip October 17-28, 2017.

 

Through the assistance of Lightline Pilgrimages, this pilgrimage has been designed just for the Diocese of Southern Virginia. Pilgrims will have the incredible opportunity to walk in the places where Jesus walked and seeing many of the things that our Lord saw.

This pilgrimage is limited to 35 people.  The registration deadline is February 18. After that we will open up the registration to persons outside of the diocese.

Click here for the pilgrimage brochure which includes a detailed itinerary and registration form.

Register now for Vestry Training Days and Bishop's Day with Senior Wardens

	Photo courtesy of John Fountain

Registration for Vestry Training Days and Bishop's Day with Senior Wardens is now open! Click on the links below for more info and registration.

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. Vestry Training Days in  2017 will be: 

• February 18 at St. Timothy's, Clarksville
• February 25 at St. David's, North Chesterfield
• March 4 at Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach

Bishop's Day with Senior Wardens will be held March 4 at Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach (concurrent with Vestry Training Day).