Episcopal Relief & Development launches new online prayer experience

On November 30, Episcopal Relief & Development launched a new online prayer experience. It is designed to provide a curated list of prayers to guide supporters in praying for significant seasons in The Episcopal Church, disasters and other events. 

Content will come from The Book of Common Prayer, and other sources such as the organization’s Anglican partners, ecumenical friends, Seminary Ministry Partners, staff members, theologians and spiritual leaders. Initially, the prayers selected focus on all of those who were impacted by or responded to the record-breaking 2020 hurricane season. Future prayer experiences will expand to include prayers for liturgical seasons, other disasters, and Episcopal Relief & Development’s work with women, children and climate. The tool includes an “Amen” button at the end of each prayer which enables users to easily share the prayer with friends and family on either Facebook or Twitter.

Visit the main prayer hub at episcopalrelief.org/letuspray to learn more.

Employment opportunities

Part-Time AV/IT Technician

St. Andrew’s, Newport News, seeks a part-time AV/IT Technician to support the ministry and mission of the church by overseeing and coordinating all aspects of audio-visual production and information technology. To learn more about us, please visit: www.standrews-episcopal.org. Click here for job description and application information.

Data Entry 

 

The Diocese of Southern Virginia is accepting applications for a part-time Data Entry position. Click here for a position description. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Lynn Farlin, Canon for Formation, at lfarlin@diosova.org or 11827 Canon Blvd., Suite 101, Newport News, VA 23606.

The Godspeed Project at Jackson-Feild

A resident at Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services (JFBHS) confided to Chaplain Robin Moore that prior to her placement she had no home and no place to sleep. The girl’s plight touched Moore’s heart and motivated her to act.

The Godspeed Project originated as a partnership between the Spiritual Care Program at JFBHS and Carson United Methodist Church in which the Women’s group graciously made and donated thirty pillowcases. Each pillowcase is unique and stitched with love; perhaps these ladies were thinking of their own children/grandchildren when they worked on putting the pillow cases together. The project seeks to supply each resident with a new handmade pillowcase to keep and take with them as they move on to the next place they will lay their head.

 

The Godspeed Project also includes an effort to partner with churches throughout the Greensville region to collect new, unused hard-sided suitcases to be offered to residents upon discharge so that they can pack their belongings instead of putting them into a trash bag, as is the case with so many youth.

 

Pillowcases and suitcases might seem insignificant, but they provide a sense of normalcy to those receiving and using them. They are tangible reminders to the youth that they are valued as human beings and will not be forgotten as they move on in their lives.

 

JFBHS welcomes churches and parishes to join in the Godspeed Project. If your church would like to help, please contact the Rev. Dr. Robin Moore at rmoore@jacksonfeild.org or 434-594-7909.

A word from Bishop Susan's Medical Advisory Team

As you know, Bishop Susan and Canon Roy Hoffman meet weekly with a team of doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, physicians’ assistants and an attorney to look at COVID case occurrences in the Diocese of Southern Virginia. The medical advisory team strongly recommends that parish leadership monitor metrics through the Virginia Department of Health paying special attention to percent positivity and 14-day trends. If percent positivity approaches 8% and case trends are increasing, parishes should consider ceasing in-person worship and return to virtual worship only. If percent positivity is 10% or above, in-person worship should not occur. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Diocesan Office.

New resources: Advent, Christmas and more

 Advent Resources:

• Ten Advent Resources for 2020
• Episcopal Church Advent & Christmas Resources
• Becoming Beloved Community
• Advent Candle Lighting Litanies

Congregational Vitality Assessment

Thanks to a partnership between Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) and Faith X congregations can take advantage of a free assessment tool to measure vitality (health) and sustainability (people, tools, funds needed to survive). There are several ways that the tool can be administered to gather the data. Visit www.episcopalfoundation.org/cva to learn more.

Creation Care

What’s your carbon footprint? Thanks to the Diocese of California you have access to a web based tool to help you measure your carbon footprint and take steps to improve for a more sustainable life for all. Visit www.sustainislandhome.org/ to get started and take the “WeRenew” challenge.

New Additions to the Diocesan Library

Here are some new additions to the Diocesan Library. If you wish to borrow any of the titles contact Lynn Farlin at lfarlin@diosova.org

• Dialogues On Race (DVD, Facilitator Guide and Participant Book) - Published by Sparkhouse the resource is structured to be completed in seven 1-hour segments.
• Dialogues On The Refugee Crisis (DVD, Facilitator Guide and Participant Book) - Published by Sparkhouse the resource is structured to be completed in seven 1-hour segments.
• Who Is My Neighbor: Refugees In America, (DVD) a 56 minute documentary that explores the refugee crisis and how it impacts churches, local communities, and the United States.
• White Savior: Racism in the American Church, (DVD) a 62 minute documentary that “explores the historic relationship between racism and American Christianity”. 

Join the conversation at "The Questions Project"

The Questions Project is a rich online resource for individual use and for formation leaders. The project explores "questions about faith, about being human, about relationships." This project comes from the Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Soltys (formerly at Grace Church, Yorktown), and includes a podcast - Live Creatively, Friends! - a blog, and video. Video includes prayers, readings and Taize chant as well as a series of Pandemic Shorts, two or three minute video reflections on what it means to be a person of faith in a time of pandemic.

Support Boys Home and have your gift matched!

Dear friends and supporters of Boys Home,

Happy Thanksgiving! We hope this coming week brings you an abundance of joy and good food. While we can't quite believe it, we're getting ready for the Christmas season already.

 

We have some good news! This year, Boys Home has received a $25,000 matching grant from the Jessie Ball duPont Fund for individual donations made online through December 31! The first $500 of every donation will be matched; supporters wishing to give more than $500 can choose to make multiple donations in order to make every dollar count. Please make a donation, and help us reach our goal of $25,000!

 

Despite a year of unpredictability, Boys Home has continued to be a safe, welcoming, and supportive place for our residents. Through everything, our residents inspire us every day by adapting with resilience and grace. Help us support them by contributing to this year's Christmas campaign here!

 

Thank you, and have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

 

Sincerely,

Boys Home of Virginia