Thy Kingdom Come: Episcopal Church joins Worldwide Anglican Communion campaign calling for prayer

The Episcopal Church has joined the Worldwide Anglican Communion in Thy Kingdom Come, a campaign initiated by Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby calling for prayer by individuals, congregations and families. Thy Kingdom Come is a global prayer movement that invites Christians around the world to pray between Ascension Day - May 25 - and Pentecost - June 4 - for more people to come to know Jesus.  #ThyKingdomCome

Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will lead the Thy Kingdom Come video messages on May 25.

Pledge2Pray

Pledge2Pray kicks off on May 5; sign-up to participate here. Prayer resources for individuals, congregations and/or families can be downloaded here.

After pledging to pray, be a part of the Let the Light shine social media campaign by posting a photo or video holding a candle or tealight, and pledging to pray. Information available here. #Pledge2Pray

Get more info and resources here.

Prepare for hurricane season with resources from Episcopal Relief & Development

Hurricane season begins June 1. Episcopal Relief & Development's US Disaster Program offers a variety of resources to help you, your loved ones, your church and your community to prepare for hurricane season and respond to storms that may occur.

Submit a prayer to the 2018 UTO pocket book of prayers

Every three years, the United Thank Offering gathers original prayers from around the Episcopal Church to create a pocket book of prayers available at General Convention. Last Convention they were able to collect 125 prayers of gratitude in honor of 125 years of the United Thank Offering. This year they are hoping to collect original prayers from nine categories: gratitude, guidance, fear/danger, forgiveness, healing, loneliness, crisis/dealing with disappointment or crisis, love of God, or other. Children, women, men, clergy, seminarians or groups may write prayers for this edition of the booklet and they may be submitted in any language. Prayers can be submitted in any format: collect, litany, free form or prose. Please submit all prayers by July 1, 2017. Prayers must be submitted using this webpage. You'll be asked to select which category your prayer fits into best for the pocket prayer book. You'll also be asked to provide a title for your prayer. You may submit multiple prayers, but you will need to fill out a separate form for each prayer. If you need assistance, contact UTO staff at hmelton@episcopalchurch.org.  

 

Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows becomes first black woman to lead Episcopal diocese

	Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows greets the congregation at her consecration as Bishop Barbara Harris, center, and Bishop Catherine Waynick, left, look on. Photo: Meghan McConnell, Episcopal News Service

The Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows was ordained and consecrated the eleventh bishop of Indianapolis April 29, making her the first black woman to lead a diocese in the history of the Episcopal Church and the first woman to succeed another woman as diocesan bishop. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry led the service as chief consecrator and was joined by more than 40 bishops from across the church.

Among the co-consecrators at the service was the Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris, the first female bishop in the Anglican Communion. Before the consecration, Baskerville-Burrows told the Indianapolis Star, "The first thing that comes to mind is how grateful I am to the women that have come before. Barbara Harris will be at my consecration, and when I think about what she's done for me and how I've even encountered little girls saying, 'Oh my gosh. One day, may I discern such a call?' That is just everything."

Click here to read more and to see video of the consecration.

Outward Mindset: A continuing education opportunity

The Rev. Conor Alexander of St. Francis, Virginia Beach, a licensed facilitator for Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset from the Arbinger Institute, is leading a three-day continuing education event at Chanco on the James for clergy and lay employees in the Diocese of Southern Virginia May 23-25. Click here  to read more about this workshop and all it will offer to help support your ministry! Register here. Questions? Contact the Rev. Conor Alexander at stfrancispastor@verizon.net.

 

Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services elects new trustees

Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services is pleased to announce the election two members to its Board of Trustees.

 

Elizabeth Feild, head of global Management and Professional Development for PAREXEL, has more than 18 years of experience with large scale leadership development. She holds an undergraduate degree from North Carolina State University, a masters from American, and certificates in leadership development and business coaching from Harvard and Duke. As the great-granddaughter of Mr. & Mrs. George W. Feild - donors of "Walnut Grove" - JFBHS holds a very special place in Feild's heart. Prior to job relocations to England and then Massachusetts, Feild served on the Jackson-Feild board of trustees. Now that she and her family are back in North Carolina, Feild is thrilled to once again be actively involved in continuing the mission of JFBHS.

 

Stuart C. Leinenbach, Vice President and U.S. Manager for Iluka Resources, served multiple human resources and organizational effectiveness roles throughout his career. Following a seven-year stint in the U.S. Air Force, he joined Siemens AG followed by Reynolds Metals Company. Leinenbach holds an undergraduate degree from St. Leo University, and master's degrees from both Bethany Theological Seminary and George Washington University. He has served on the Virginia Governor's Council of Career and Technical Education, and is currently an Adjunct Assistant Professor at the University of Richmond School of Continuing Studies.

 

Our Long Journey Home: Caring for others through the seasons of death

St. Stephen's, Richmond, invites you to join them for "Our Long Journey Home: Caring for Others through the Seasons of Death," a presentation by Dr. Thomas G. Long on Monday, June 26. Dr. Long is co-author of The Good Funeral and author of The Witness of Preaching; Accompany Them with Singing: The Christian Funeral, and other books. He is Bandy Professor of Preaching Emeritus and Director of the Early Career Pastoral Leadership Program at Candler School of Theology, Emory University, Atlanta Ga.

Dr. Long has been named one of the 25 most influential preachers in America. He will explore the shifting landscape of American death practices; look at some myths and misunderstandings that surround death; examine the best roles of funeral directors, hospice personnel, clergy, and others who minister to the dying and to mourners after death; and lift up the true value and purposes of a funeral.

 

This event, presented by Bliley Funeral Homes and held at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church (6000 Grove Avenue, Richmond) is geared toward clergy and pastoral care staff and begins with refreshments at 3:30. Dr. Long's talk will begin at 4:00. There will be time for a Q&A session before we adjourn at 6:00 p.m. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Click here for a flyer you can share. Register here.