The nine-session Living the Way of Love in Community curriculum is
designed for small groups organized for the purpose of exploring The
Way of Love. Group members study and experience each of seven practices:
turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest. These intentional
small groups may choose to meet weekly, every other week, or once a
month. The facilitation guide offers leaders a process for guiding an
intentional small group for nine, 90-minute sessions with an option for
extending a session 30-minutes should a group choose to gather over a
meal. Each session includes prayer, a check-in process, discussion,
practice time, a check-out process, and worship. Suggested scripture
readings and hymns are also included.
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
New Way of Love, Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life resources for small group use
A year after the introduction by
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of the Way of Love, Practices for a
Jesus-Centered Life, The Episcopal Church continues to offer new
resources for congregations interested in following the Way of Love as a
way of life. New this fall are the FAQ's for Small Group Ministry
video, a social media infographic, as well as a postcard-sized
infographic. These resources are available here.
Young Adult Service Corps accepting applications for 2020-2021 placements
Applications are now available for
2020-2021 placements with the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC), the
international missionary program of The Episcopal Church. YASC offers
Episcopalians ages 21-30 the opportunity to follow the Way of Love into
deeper relationship with God and the global Anglican Church while
spending a year living and working with communities around the world.
From Guatemala to Oman, the Philippines to England, El Salvador to South
Africa, and dozens of countries in between, YASC volunteers are
building relationships that transform their lives and their faith.
These young adults serve as teachers
in church-run schools, work alongside development professionals who seek
to empower their local communities, and participate in the daily life
and ministry of churches and cathedrals around the Anglican Communion.
Potential placements for 2020-2021 include (but are not limited to)
Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, England, Guatemala, Honduras,
Hong Kong, Oman, Panama, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka,
Taiwan, and Tanzania. Additional information, as well as the application
form and instructions, for a 2020-2021 placement is available here. The application deadline is Friday, January 10, 2020.
Tuesday, October 8, 2019
Message about hurricane recovery efforts from Bishop of the Bahamas
Southern Virginia is one of the dioceses that has contributed to hurricane recovery and general outreach in the Bahamas. On September 30, Bishop Laish Z. Boyd, Sr. sent this message to the bishops and dioceses of The Episcopal Church:
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Sincere and warm greetings from my Diocese. We are comprised
of 46 parishes on 25 islands: 21 islands in The Bahamas and 4 islands in
The Turks and Caicos Islands, with 96 individual congregations in all.
As you know two of our islands, Grand Bahama and Abaco, were
devastated by Hurricane Dorian recently. These two islands are the
second and third largest economies, respectively, in the country. This
category 5 system was a monster storm. We have never experienced or
imagined anything like it: catastrophic damage to homes, businesses,
infrastructure, two economies, landscape and crops. More than fifty
persons are confirmed dead so far and the number is expected to rise
significantly.
The most heart-breaking aspect of this is the humanitarian
crisis: between the two islands, 70,000 persons disrupted, many
dislocated, many homeless, some have lost loved ones, many people are
still unaccounted for, not to mention thousands evacuated. The Bahamas
nor the Diocese has the capacity to recover from alone.
Thank you for the compassionate reception which our dilemma
received at the recent House of Bishops meeting. We appreciate your
prayers and your generosity in supporting short term relief and long
term rebuilding efforts. We are particularly grateful to Episcopal
Relief and Development for agreeing to journey with us along this
difficult road.
We need assistance of any and all kinds from you, and your
Dioceses as we seek to continue to recover from the worst natural
disaster in this country's history. We will have many long-term
rebuilding and development needs. At this time money would be extremely
helpful.
The Rt. Rev. Laish Z. Boyd
Bishop of the Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands
Nominations for elections at Annual Council now being accepted
The following elections will take place at Annual Council:
- Standing Committee (one lay and one clergy)
- Disciplinary Board (two lay and one clergy)
- Provincial Synod (one lay)
- General Convention 2021 (4 clergy deputies, 4 lay deputies) Note: Alternate deputies will be elected in 2021
Visit the Annual Council page of the diocesan website for more information about these elections and to obtain a nomination form.
Historic St. Luke's Twilight Cemetery Tour tickets now available
Dead men don't tell tales, but their tombstones do! Historic
St. Luke's Church in Smithfield has been the site of burials since the
1600's. Enjoy the stories of local saints and sinners on a guided tour
through the Ancient Cemetery. They have two dates for cemetery tours
this Halloween season: an Adults Only tour on October 18, and a
family-friendly tour on October 19. Learn about local lore and ancient
curses through a historical lens, and separate fact from fiction. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.
Wednesday, October 2, 2019
Registration is live for November Weekend!
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For youth in grades 6-12
The demands of our daily lives can often be stressful and
draining. We simply can't rest and replenish our souls when we are on
the go all the time, multi-tasking, constantly bombarded with noise, and
always on our phones. November Weekend is an opportunity for youth to
come together with friends from all over the Diocese and to spend time
in retreat with God. This year we will explore the ongoing process of
personal growth and the inner strength that God's great love provides us
all.
Fellowship is fun, spiritual, motivating, musical, and active... AND it's at Chanco, so register now at www.diosova.org/youth!
Sign up today! Happening #71 registration closes Oct. 10
CE-Net gathering on October 10
Join CE-Net (Christian Education Network) for an informal roundtable
conversation on Thursday, October 10, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. at the
Diocesan offices. Please share one thing from your ministry that is
going well AND one thing that is a growth opportunity in your ministry.
If you are available, please join us for a Dutch treat lunch at a
nearby restaurant. Hope to see you there!
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