Planting & Growing Your Food Ministry webinar

Diocese of Virginia invites you to join them for Planting & Growing Your Food Ministry - a free webinar on March 18, 7 to 8 p.m. The event is free, but registration is required. Register here. 

 

If you have a seedling idea for a food, garden or land ministry, or want to grow your current ministry, join this conversation with agrarian ministry practitioner, Brian Sellers-Petersen. Brian will provide you with:

• Examples from churches across the country that are creatively using their land and property to grow food, feed the hungry and care for the environment.
• Ideas and inspiration to help you become church gardeners and farmers.More uses for your existing church garden.
• Ways your church land can be used to further care for creation.
• Ways to involve our children and youth in creation care, gardening and food ministries.

Brian Sellers-Petersen is the Agrarian Missioner for the Diocese of Olympia and author of Harvesting Abundance: Local Initiatives of Food and Faith. He was a keynote speaker and preacher at Diocese of Virginia's recent Annual Convention.

ECW Spring General Meeting date correction

Please note that the correct date for the ECW Spring General Meeting is Saturday, May 16, at St. Cyprian's Hampton (1242 W. Queen Street). The cost is $20. If you plan to attend, RSVP to Corresponding Secretary Tia Morings, morings1@gmail.com.

 

Also please note that ECW President Laura L. Manigault has a new mailing address: 232 West Gilbert Street, Apt. 143, Hampton, VA 23669

Bishop Susan to conduct Open Office Hours on the Eastern Shore

Bishop Susan will be available for Open Office Hours on the Eastern Shore on Wednesday, March 11. She will begin by attending noonday prayers at Holy Trinity, Onancock, and will then meet with the Convocation 1 Clergy. Then, beginning at 2 p.m., she will open her doors to anyone who wants to come chat. Time slots of 30 minutes each will be offered either on a walk-in basis or you may contact The Rev. Frederick (Rick) W. Willis, the Dean of the Convocation for an appointment, fwrickwillis05@gmail.com. 

Message from Bishop Haynes: Guidelines for congregations to prevent spread of illness

Dear Beloved Family in Christ,

 

This morning I write to you to offer my assurance, prayers, and a few guidelines for your worshipping communities during this season of increased potential for the spread of contagious diseases, including the flu, the common cold and most recently the coronavirus.

 

The first thing that I would stress is that we be prepared, but that we not allow ourselves to become panicked. Preparation anticipates the possible, but it does not paralyze us. When we get into our cars to travel from one place to the next, we fasten our seatbelts in order to protect us and minimize injury in the event of an accident; but we don't stay put in our houses and abandon our travel plans for fear of that accident. Likewise, as we worship together in communities where infectious illness can spread, we take measures to protect ourselves from the spread of those illnesses; but we don't stop worshipping together.

 

Here are a few guidelines to consider during this season:

 

Frequent Hand-washing is counseled as the number one preventive strategy for contagious diseases. Additionally, avoid touching your face, especially the eyes, mouth and nose through which germs can gain easy access to your body.

 

Holy Communion: Those engaged in the preparation and distribution of Holy Communion (altar guild, clergy, and lay Eucharistic ministers) should exit the altar just after the Peace to wash their hands thoroughly in the Sacristy. Hand sanitizer should be available throughout the Church for those who wish to use it. Taking Communion by dipping the bread in the wine should be avoided unless the Lay Eucharistic Minister does that for you. And Clergy are exhorted to remind the people that Communion in one kind is entirely sufficient and people may bypass the Chalice if they prefer.

 

The Peace: While liturgically, the Peace is part of the service, the rubrics allow for the greeting of one another to be voluntary. Rather than shaking hands, greet one another verbally, or with some other greeting besides a handshake that does not involve actual contact (a nod, a bow, a side hug, an elbow bump, etc.) Be especially respectful of people who do not wish to pass the Peace.

 

Coffee Hour: Those who host Coffee Hour, of course, are reminded to follow all food preparation guidelines, especially the washing of hands.

 

Church Attendance: As I reminded all who assembled at Council this weekend, faithful church attendance is one of the ways we keep our first Baptismal Promise (BCP p. 304). However, if you are sick, loving your neighbor as yourself (Baptismal Promise No 4 BCP p. 305) suggests that perhaps the loving thing to do is to stay home. If you choose to stay home, please connect with the community in one of the following ways:

• Listen to Morning and Evening Prayer with The Audio Office at www.thaynes.org. This is a ministry started by the Rev. Thomas Haynes (my husband) when we were in Northern Indiana and features readers from all over North America and Canada (both clergy and lay).
• Tune into worship live-streamed by the National Cathedral, Trinity Wall Street, or the Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta - or watch a delayed broadcast via YouTube.
• Pray Morning and Evening Prayer from the Book of Common Prayer or accessible online at  www.dailyoffice.app, a website offered by the Brotherhood of St. Gregory, which provides texts for Morning and Evening Prayer, Noonday Prayer, and Compline.
• Give a quick phone call to someone else in your church, just to stay connected.
• And finally, take care of yourself. Make sure you get enough sleep, good nutrition, exercise, leisure. Remember that prevention is worth an ounce of cure!

These are just a few suggestions about how to stay connected. Here in the Diocesan Office, we are working on an expanded list of resources which we hope to send to you soon and to have posted on the website. We as Christians have work to do. We should not permit our fear to keep us from doing it. God has given his angels charge over us to guard us in all our ways.

 

"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today's trouble is enough for today." (Matthew 5:34)

 

Blessings and Peace in Christ,

Bishop Susan

 

Additional resources and a printable version of the Bishop's letter can be found here. 

Clergy Continuing Education Grant applications due April 1

Applications for Clergy Continuing Education Grants are due April 1. The primary purpose of the grants are to support programs that are essentially theological in emphasis. This does not, however, rule out programs designed for training in special ministries, or those which would in other ways enhance the effectiveness of an individual in his or her ministry. Click here for information and application form. 

Scriptural direction for Lenten disciplines

An Ash Wednesday reflection from Bishop Haynes

   

In a culture that does not encourage much attention to the interior life, Lent offers us a time to focus on exactly that. During the 40 days (excluding Sundays) that lead up to Easter, Christians have an opportunity to engage in disciplines that deepen their relationship to God and to each other. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (February 26), and we mark its beginning by receiving the sign of the cross in ashes upon our forehead. Then hopefully, for the next 40 days, we engage in a discipline that enables the deepening of our spiritual life. Many people settle easily on a Lenten discipline. Others are at a loss. If we consider the Scriptures appointed for Ash Wednesday, we are actually given some direction.

 

In the Gospel of Matthew for Ash Wednesday (Matthew 16:1-6, 16-21), Jesus is counseling his disciples on the need for a humble practice of personal piety. The purpose of practicing piety is to move closer to the heart of God, not to show off for fellow Christians. Jesus offers three examples of how to practice this piety. These three examples form a sturdy three-legged stool that makes a good place to sit for Lent: Alms-giving, Prayer, and Fasting.

 

Jesus begins by saying, "Whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they may be praised by others." Notice that Jesus says, "Whenever you give alms..." Not, "If you decide to give alms..." The assumption is that alms-giving is...well...a necessary spiritual discipline that is not a matter of choice. Further it is not a discipline that is done in order to show off. In fact, the secrecy of its execution probably adds to its spiritual benefit. What kind of alms-giving will you make your Lenten discipline? Maybe a dollar a day to your favorite charity? Maybe an item a day to your local food pantry? Maybe a few minutes a day to someone who is lonely and needs your friendship? It's not a matter of if, but when.

 

Jesus goes on to say, "Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others." Again, note that Jesus assumes not if you are going to pray but when you are going to pray. Christians are expected to pray, and Lenten disciplines are incomplete without some attention to prayer. And as with alms-giving, prayer is not a showy discipline but a matter between God and the one praying. What can you do during Lent to deepen your conversation with God? And once again, not a matter of if, but when.

 

Finally, Jesus counsels his disciples, "Whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others they are fasting." Once again, the admonition is when, not if. The practice of self-denial helps to deepen one's prayer life. For some people, fasting, in the earlier understandings of the word (not eating food), is medically counter-indicated. But if we think of fasting as self-denial, it can be the giving up of something upon which we have come too dependent. The point of fasting is to remind us of the source of provision for all of our needs - God alone. Some people fast from social media during Lent. Some fast from saying unkind words or engaging in gossip, disciplining themselves to put money in a jar each time they catch themselves slipping. Imagine the church deficits that could be righted with such a discipline!

 

The most important thing about Lenten disciplines is that they draw us more closely into the heart of Christ. The prophet Isaiah (as he talks about fasting) calls us to a spirit of humility, but also to action:

Is not this the fast that I choose:
   to loose the bonds of injustice,
   to undo the thongs of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
   and to break every yoke?
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry,
   and bring the homeless poor into your house;
when you see the naked, to cover them,
   and not to hide yourself from your own kin? (Isaiah 58:6-7)

 

The kind of fasting, praying and alms-giving to which we are called is a discipline of justice and reconciliation...a kind of discipline that gives life and gives it abundantly. What is your Lenten discipline? If we engage in this discipline faithfully, listen to the promise that Isaiah foretells:

Your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt;

you shall raise up the foundations of many generations;
you shall be called the repairer of the breach,
   the restorer of streets to live in. (Isaiah 58:12)

 

Can you imagine a world where ruins are rebuilt, foundations established that can be trusted, breaches repaired and streets restored? With heartfelt blessings, I wish for you a good and holy Lent, one that draws you and others closer to God.

 

Bishop Susan

 

Click here for a printable PDF of Bishop Haynes' reflection.

Join Bishop Haynes for Clergy & Vestry Day this spring!

In place of our traditional vestry training days, Bishop Haynes is reformulating our approach to include both clergy and vestries. The Bishop will be taking part in all three Clergy & Vestry Days being held throughout the Diocese this year. Clergy will be an integral part of the day with their vestries. Healthy, skilled vestries who understand their role and ministry in the life of the church and their relationship with their clergy are essential in creating and maintaining vital congregations. Bishop Haynes looks forward to welcoming vestries and clergy to this year's sessions.  

Saturday, March 21, at Eastern Shore Chapel, Virginia Beach. Register here.

Saturday, March 28, at Christ & Grace, Petersburg. Register here.

Saturday, April 4, at Trinity, South Boston. Register here.