Getting Started with Messy Church conference

Messy Church USA in cooperation with the Diocese of Southern Virginia is offering a regional conference event on the best practices to use in starting your own Messy Church. The Getting Started With Messy Church conference will be held at Ascension, Norfolk, on April 25 from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (lunch will be provided). Cost for individuals is $45, groups of 2 to 4 people per church is $130 (fifth person and over per church is an additional $10 per person). There is a discount for participants from the Diocese of Southern Virginia - contact Lynn Farlin at lfarlin@diosova.org  or 757-213-3377 to get the discount code before registering. Each participating church will receive one issue of the magazine Get Messy! and one copy of the book Messy Church. Click here to register.  

 

This training will give your team the vital tools to begin your own Messy Church. You will learn about the history, values, format and best practices to get your Messy Church started. If you've already begun Messy church, this is an opportunity to share best practices and gain new ideas for sustaining your Messy Church in your local setting. This training is open to all denominations.  

 

Messy Church is a monthly intergenerational worship experience that explores God's love in an accessible way. At Messy Church, today's busy households of all shapes and sizes are invited into a welcoming space to experience faith. Everyone is welcomed as they are. Whether you are singe or partnered, young or old, tidy or messy, have questions or doubts are filled with joy or struggling with life, you will be welcomed with open arms at Messy Church.

Lent 2020: A Call to Prayer, Fasting, and Repentance Leading to Action An Invitation from Presiding Bishop Curry to Turn and Pray on Behalf our Nation

As the season of Lent approaches, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invites Episcopalians and people of faith to turn and pray on behalf of our nation:

 

"In times of great national concern and urgency, people of faith have returned to ancient practices of repentance, prayer and fasting as ways of interceding with God on behalf of their nation and the world. This is such a moment for us in the United States."  

 

Click here to continue reading and to watch video of the Presiding Bishop's message. 

Clergy transitions

The Rt. Rev. Susan Haynes was consecrated the 11th Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Virginia on February 1, 2020.

 

The Rt. Rev. James Magness concluded his tenure as Bishop Diocesan Pro Tempore on February 1, 2020.

 

The Rev. Paul Rowles will conclude his tenure as Interim Rector of St. John, Halifax, on February 9, 2020

 

The Very Rev. Tim Jones will begin as Rector of St. John, Halifax, on February 19, 2020.

 

The Rev. Penny Nash will begin as Interim Rector of St. Michael, Colonial Heights, on February 24, 2020.

 

The Rev. Marc Vance will begin as Associate Rector at St. Andrew, Newport News, on March 1, 2020.

Nags Head Acolyte Festival

This year will be the 11th Annual East Carolina Acolyte Festival, April 24-25 at St. Andrew's By-the-Sea in Nags Head, NC. The Diocese of East Carolina invites all acolytes, directors, youth ministers, and parents to join them. Participants will return home with both new skills and a renewed enthusiasm for liturgy, and the rich, tradition of Anglican worship. Click here for information and registration. 

Susan B. Haynes consecrated as bishop of Southern Virginia

The Rev. Susan Bunton Haynes was ordained and consecrated as the 11th bishop of the Diocese of Southern Virginia at 11 a.m. on February 1 at Williamsburg Community Chapel in Williamsburg, Virginia. Approximately 1,300 people attended the historic service, and over 1,000 watched the live stream, as Haynes became the first woman bishop in the diocese's 128-year history. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry led the service as chief consecrator. The Rt. Rev. Edward S. Little II, seventh bishop of Northern Indiana, was the preacher.  Read more here.  

Visit the diocesan Facebook page for many more photos. Video of the service will be available soon for on-demand viewing. Click here for the service program booklet. Click here for the Eucharistic bread recipe. 

Top photos by Greg Davy of Bruton Parish, Williamsburg.  Bottom photos by Susan Pederson of St. Andrew's, Norfolk.

EYE: unite! ¡unámonos!

The Diocese of Southern Virginia is putting together a group of youth to attend the Episcopal Youth Event, or also affectionately known as EYE, this upcoming summer. The theme for EYE20 will be "unite! ¡unámonos!" and it will be held this summer, July 7-11, 2020, in the Washington DC metro area.  Our Diocesan group will meet together July 6 in Newport News and then travel to the event together on July 7. EYE20 programs will focus on helping develop leadership skills, spiritual practices, and early stages of vocational discernment. Participants must have turned at least 15 and be no older than 19 by July 7, 2020. Current freshman who will be 14 on July 7, 2020 will have an opportunity to attend EYE2023 as the Episcopal Youth Event is on a three-year cycle. The cost for Diocesan participants will be $100 per person. There is limited housing available, so please be sure to register by March 10. For more information about the event check out the EYE20 website here. If you are interested or have any questions, please contact Youth Missioner, Megan Dern, at mdern@diosova.org or 757-423-8287

Safe Church Training spring classes open for registration

Specialized Safe Church Training classes are now open for registration. All workshops are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and lunch is provided. Registration will close five days before the date of the workshop. The schedule of Universal Safe Church Training classes will be available soon. Click here to learn if this is the right training for you and to register for any of these classes: 

• February 15 - St. Martin's, Williamsburg
• March 7 - All Saints, Virginia Beach
• March 14 - St. Thomas, Chesapeake
• April 25 - Grace, Yorktown
• April 30 - Manakin, Midlothian
• May 9 - Epiphany, Norfolk
• May 30 - St. Stephen's, Petersburg
• June 6 - Holy Apostles, Virginia Beach
• June 13 - St. John's, Suffolk

Go to www.diosova.org/safe_church for complete information about Safe Church Training.