Youth Missioner leads retreat in Chatham

 

The first ever Chatham Hall youth retreat was held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church the weekend of Feb. 7th. For two nights, Youth Missioner Megan Dern, led the girls in prayer stations and practices, small group discussions, a service project and a town scavenger hunt. The scavenger hunt took the girls around town, to businesses and other important places in the town. The girls then wrote prayers for each place they went and these prayers were offered during a noon day worship service at a local gathering spot in town.  

 

In their evaluation the girls mentioned the importance of learning about different ways to pray, making an Anglican Rosary and the time for spiritual reflection. 

Volunteers needed for Easter Morning Sunrise Service on Jamestown Island

The Easter Morning Sunrise Service on Jamestown Island is looking for Volunteers. We especially need lay readers and singers. If you are interested in participating in one of the longest-running Sunrise Services in the country, at  the birthplace of the Protestant Church in America, please contact easterjamestownisland@gmail.com.

The Easter Morning Sunrise Service on Jamestown Island is an annual service that has been held under the Jamestown Cross for more than 65 years. It is an all-volunteer organization.

 

Walking Toward Truth Pilgrimage

This Lent, the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia and the Episcopal Church Center invite you to a sacred time of pilgrimage, reflection, ritual, prayer, and embodied witness as we walk toward the truth about our Church's role in slavery. The pilgrimage will occur Friday, March 6, Noon to 5 p.m. and Saturday, March 7, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Space is limited to 40 participants.The $25 registration fee includes transportation, entrance fees and lunch both days. Register here 

 

We'll visit sites of memory at Old Point Comfort, the Emancipation Oak, and the Tucker family cemetery in Hampton on Friday, and Historic Jamestowne and Colonial Williamsburg on Saturday. Our time together will include a welcome from our new Bishop Susan B. Haynes, worship at historic St. John's, Hampton and Bruton Parish, presentations, historical interpretation, and a panel presentation with churches reflecting on their history, facilitated by Barbara Hamm Lee, host of Another View.

 

Inspired by The Episcopal Church's Becoming Beloved Community and our diocesan Repairing the Breach initiatives, this pilgrimage promises to be an important step in our ongoing journey toward racial healing, reconciliation, and justice.

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.