Episcopal Relief & Development focuses on lament in 2021 Lenten Meditations

In response to the unprecedented events of the past year, Episcopal Relief & Development’s 2021 Lenten Meditations share deeply personal reflections on the theme of lament from a diverse group of writers. Many of the authors share experiences related to a variety of issues including disease, violence, racial injustice and poverty. Click here for more information.

We are collecting Lenten (and other) formation resources on the diocesan website here.

Community of the Gospel offers Lectio in Lent

The Community of the Gospel (CG), an ecumenical non-residential monastic community with standing in The Episcopal Church announces Lectio in Lent. Using the ancient monastic method of praying the Scriptures, participants will deepen their paschal journeys by focusing on several texts traditionally associated with Lent. The facilitator will be Br. John Charles Westaway, CG, Deputy Guardian of the CG and long-time member of St. Paul in the Desert Episcopal Church, Palm Springs, CA. Br. John Charles is the Chaplain of the Daughters of the King, active in hunger ministries, and involved in diocesan activities.

The Community of the Gospel invites all to join in Lectio in Lent beginning Feb. 27 at noon. The event is free of charge. Zoom invites will be issued to those who sign up ahead of time at the Doodle Poll here. Additional information may be obtained from Br. Daniel-Chad Hoffman at danhoffma@gmail.com. See more here.

Inauguration resources, virtual prayer events

The church's Office of Government Relations has compiled a list of resources for virtual prayer and participation in the days around the Inauguration. These include:

• Prayer resources
• Advocacy opportunities in the first 100 days
• Civic mindfulness resources
• Social media content you can download and use

Covid-19 National Memorial Event, Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, Washington D.C. 

Tuesday, January 19, 5:30 p.m. People are “invited to join Washington, D.C. in illuminating buildings and ringing church bells at 5:30 p.m. ET in a national moment of unity and remembrance.” For more information click here.

Virtual Prayer Vigil tonight 7 to 8 p.m.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will participate in a virtual prayer vigil on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 7 to 8 p.m. organized by Sojourners. The vigil, on the theme of “Peace With Justice,” will include a range of ecumenical Christian voices. Click here for more information and registration.

Prayers for Our Nation

Each day at 5 p.m., Washington National Cathedral. www.cathedral.org

Inaugural Prayer Service Jan. 21

Washington National Cathedral is expected to host an inaugural prayer service on Jan. 21, as is traditional. More information will be available at www.cathedral.org.

Online worship in Southern Virginia

Churches in Southern Virginia are offering a wide range of opportunities for online worship - Sundays and weekdays, Eucharist, Morning Prayer, Compline, Evening Prayer, and more. Click here for a listing of online worship opportunities.

Boys Home Liaison Links newsletter

Through the Liaison Links newsletter, Boys Home invites you to stay connected with the spiritual life that takes place behind the scenes there. This month's edition features Epiphany at Boys Home, along with some ways you can help the students. We hope you'll take the time to read and share the news from Boys Home.

House of Delegates Presents Jackson-Feild Proclamation

The House of Delegates of the 244th Virginia General Assembly adopted and passed House Resolution 95 calling attention to and noting the 165th anniversary of Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services.

In a country not just 250 years old, the 165th anniversary of anything is an event to be celebrated. It is an especially remarkable achievement when you consider  that only 18 of our 50 states had been admitted to the union, important inventions such as the telephone, electricity, automobiles, airplanes, vaccinations, etc. had yet to be invented, and events that shaped our nation and world had yet to occur.

 

Delegate Roslyn Tyler recently presented Tod Balsbaugh, VP of Advancement, the proclamation at her office in Emporia.

 

Jackson-Feild is grateful to the General Assembly for this document and for helping to provide essential mental health services to children with severe mental illness.

On the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

 A message from Bishop Haynes

When those who were around him [Jesus] saw what was coming, they asked, ‘Lord, should we strike with the sword?’ Then one of them struck the slave of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched his ear and healed him. (Luke 22:49-51)

When Judas came to betray Jesus, the disciples who surrounded him knew of no other way to respond than with violence. So Peter struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. Jesus, however, had a vision of a new way of responding. He declared that violence was not the answer and reached out with a healing touch to repair the damage inflicted by the violence.

This way of responding without violence was also the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said, “In spite of temporary victories, violence never brings permanent peace.” King envisioned a world that hinged on community, harmony and unity; nonviolence, in his view, was the only way to effect such a community: “We adopt the means of nonviolence because our end is a community at peace with itself. We will try to persuade with our words, but if our words fail, we will try to persuade with our acts.” Words and actions of peace were the goal.

On the anniversary of his birth, we honor the memory of this man who was a great leader in the civil rights movement but who also appears on the church’s calendar of saints. We dedicate ourselves to his dream that we all become beloved community. And we endeavor to do these things, not through violence which might seem a natural response, but through peace and non-violent actions.

The Episcopal Church is launching a new campaign on Martin Luther King’s birthday. The campaign is a conversation called “From Many One: Conversations Across Difference.” The initiative comes from the Latin phrase E Pluribus Unum (from many, one) and hopes to teach, model and foster conversations with those who think differently from us. The conversation starts with the following four questions:

1.   What do you love? 

2.   What have you lost? 

3.   Where does it hurt? 

4.   What do you dream?

You can find out more about the “From Many, One: Conversations Across Difference” here.

It is my hope that churches will use this resource as a way to begin conversation within their own “walls.” (I use this term figuratively since I realize that for the moment we are mostly in Zoom rooms or conference calls.)

Until such time as this conversation launches, it might also be helpful to ask ourselves the following questions:

·    Are our actions aimed at peace or destruction?

·    Do our words and actions comport peace or are they intended to inflict wounds?

·    Whose ear are we cutting off?

·    Whose ear are we being presented with the opportunity to heal, and are we accepting the grace of God to respond?

Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last: Grant that your Church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.