Presiding Bishop Curry participates in May 24 procession, vigil to the White House

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will join other faith leaders and elders in Washington, DC to launch the Reclaiming Jesus Declaration at a church service followed by a silent candlelight vigil to the White House on Thursday, May 24.

All are invited to attend the event, beginning at 7 pm Eastern at the National City Christian Church, 5 Thomas Circle NW, Washington DC. At the Church Service, Presiding Bishop Curry will join 10 faith leaders and elders in prayer and preaching. Following the church service at 8:30 pm, an estimated crowd of more than 1000 will follow Presiding Bishop Curry and the faith leaders and elders as they process from National City Christian Church to the White House.

"The church service, the procession to the White House, and silent candlelight vigil is planned in response to the moral and political crises at the highest levels of political leadership that are putting both the soul of the nation and the integrity of Christian faith at stake," noted the Rev. Jim Wallis, President and Founder, Sojourners. "The elders call upon all Christians to remember that our identity in Jesus precedes every other identity."

The Episcopal Church Office of Communications will livestream the church service, procession and silent vigil here. 

Hearts, Hands, Voices: Workshop for church musicians

The Association of Lutheran Church Musicians, in conjunction with the Center for Liturgy & Church Music at Virginia Theological Seminary, is offering "Hearts, Hands, Voices", a workshop for church musicians on June 2 at Epiphany Lutheran Church in Richmond. The program will have two reading sessions offering musical selections appropriate for the church year and focused on smaller church choirs. It will also offer effective rehearsal tips to help you bring out the best in your choirs. You'll also get ideas on Psalms and resources to expand your use of the Psalms in worship. Cost is $45, $25 for full time students. Click here for more information and registration.

Clergy breakfast: Care of Creation

Lynnhaven River NOW is hosting a clergy breakfast at the Brock Environmental Center on Wednesday, May 23. The Rev. Cameron Randle, rector of Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach, will be speaking on "Care of Creation: Crafting a Theology of Environmental Stewardship." Breakfast will begin at 9 a.m., registration opens at 8:30 a.m. The Brock Environmental Center is located at 3663 Marlin Bay Drive, Virginia Beach. RSVP to dana@lrnow.org by May 21. You may send a lay leader if you are unable to attend.

Safe Church training rescheduled

Training at St. Paul's & St. Andrew's, Kenbridge, originally scheduled for April 28 has been rescheduled for June 16. Registration closes June 9. Click here to register. Those who registered for April 28 are automatically registered for June 16.

Training at Trinity, South Boston, originally scheduled for June 2 has been rescheduled for September 15. Registration will be available soon.

Online Safe Church training is always available. Several classroom trainings are scheduled for the fall and registration will be available soon:

• September 8, 2018 - Ascension, Norfolk
• September 15, 2018 - Trinity, South Boston
• September 22, 2018 - St. Andrew's, Newport News
• October 13, 2018 - St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach
• October 27, 2018 - St. Matthias', Midlothian

 Click here for more information on Safe Church Training and who should take it. Current diocesan policy requires re-certification every three years for online training and every five years for classroom training.

Chanco's 50th Anniversary celebration a tremendous success!

There are not words for the gratitude we feel for all of our friends who came from near and as far as Florida, Ohio, Oregon, California and more to celebrate 50 years with us this past weekend. Despite earlier forecasts calling for rain Saturday and Sunday, not a drop fell. Friends of all ages reunited, sang, played and worshiped together. New friends were made; old ones strengthened. It was a celebration many of us will never forget. A full story and photos will appear in the next Chanco Chatter eNewsletter and on the Chanco website. And photos from the weekend will also be posted on our Facebook page very soon. For now, we give thanks with grateful hearts for all of the people - those present and those who could not be with us - that have made Chanco what it is today and what it will become tomorrow.  

In the Chanco spirit,
The Chanco Board and staff

Help Jackson-Feild purchase a new van

Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services is in desperate need of a van to transport students from campus to appointments in the community. They are trying to buy a 2017 van to replace their 2010 van which has over 207,000 miles on it. Jackson-Feild needs reliable transportation to support their twenty-four hour a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year operation. 

The mission of Jackson-Feild Behavior Health Services is to provide high quality, evidence-based psychiatric, residential, education and recovery treatment services for children who suffer from severe emotional trauma, mental illness and/or substance use disorders.  Their rural location is ideal for a behavioral health program as it discourages runaways and all but eliminates negative influences so that residents may focus on their disorders, come to understand them, and learn how to manage them. 

If you would like to contribute toward the purchasing of this new van, you may mail your check to the Diocesan Office (11827 Canon Blvd., Suite 101, Newport News, VA 23606) and be sure to note "Jackson-Feild van" on the check memo line. You may also mail your check directly to Jackson Feild at 4905 Dickens Road, Suite 202, Richmond, VA 23230.

Needed items for Jackson-Feild children

For years the ages of majority of the children served by Jackson-Field has been 15-18 years old. A recent and growing trend is the placement of children ages 11-14. Consequently, Jackson-Feild is in need of "gently used" items for younger children. Heretofore their mental health services were provided in the community. Sadly the acuity of their needs dictates that they need residential treatment services.

 

Their wish list includes age appropriate books (mysteries, adventure, Happy Potter, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Hunger Games, Fangirl, Ask the Passenger etc.) comic books, magazines (teen, Sports Illustrated), art supplies, board games, puzzles, toys and sporting goods. Jackson-Feild is requesting that churches consider holding drives for these items and Jackson-Feild will make arrangements to pick up the items so that they can be pressed into service immediately.

 

If you would like to help please contact the Development Office at 804-354-6929 or email tbalsbaugh@jacksonfeild.org.