129th Annual Council is Feb. 22-27

This year's Annual Council is completely virtual and will be spread out over the week of Feb. 22-27. Most of the events during Council Week will be open to everyone and no advance registration is required. You can see the full Council Week schedule and the planned live events here.

Complete information about Council Week, and delegate materials, can be found at www.bit.ly/diosova129.

 

Council Week events open to all Please plan to join us for Council Week's live virtual events on Zoom that are open to everyone! Log in details will be provided by email and on our website the morning of each event. Tuesday, February 23 Spotlight Focus on Formation, 7 p.m. Join us as we explore three free formation opportunities available for use in your community: Sacred Ground, Bible Project, and Embracing Evangelism. We will share insights learned, facilitation suggestions and, highlight the flexibility afforded by these programs to be lay or clergy-led and delivered via Zoom or in-person. 2020 Financial Report & 2021 Budget Presentation and Q&A, 7 p.m. (This presentation will be recorded and available to watch on demand the next day) Wednesday, February 24 Join Latino/a/x Missioner, the Rev. Mario Melendez, for a discussion of Ministry in a Time of Pandemic, 7 p.m. Chanco on the James: Your Camp and Retreat Ministry, 7 p.m. Join Chanco Director Gareth Kalfas to learn more about Chanco, take a look at their new facilities, hear how they weathered 2020 and get info on the 2021 Summer Camp schedule. There will also be time for Q&A. Join us! Thursday, February 25 These events are for youth and college students only - contact Youth Missioner Megan Dern for information and registration, mdern@diosova.org. EYC Hang Out: Council 101 and Compline, 5 p.m. College Ministry Gathering: Council 101 and Compline, 7 p.m.

Friday, February 26 "Rooted in Love" - Keynote speaker Jerusalem Greer Everyone is invited to join us via Zoom on Friday, February 26 at 7 p.m. for “Rooted in Love: Where Good News, Spiritual Practices and our Baptismal promises meet” -- How does our baptism inform our ministries and our lives? What does Good News sound like? What exactly is the purpose of formation? Join Jerusalem Greer, Staff Officer for Evangelism for Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, as she shares about the Way of Love, Episcopal Evangelism, Discipleship, and why our "why" matters most of all. Jerusalem Greer is the Staff Officer for Evangelism for The Episcopal Church in the Office of the Presiding Bishop. She is also a member of the Way of Love creation and leadership team and serves on Episcopal Relief & Development’s Council of Advice.  Saturday, February 27 The business meeting of the Annual Council, convenes at 9:30 a.m. will be live-streamed on the diocesan YouTube channel. (Registered clergy and lay delegates will participate via Zoom.) Zoom & voting practice session for Council delegates Registered Council delegates mark your calendar and plan to join us Monday, February 22 at 7 p.m. for an opportunity to practice with the Zoom tools and digital voting system we'll be using at the Council business meeting on February 27. (This event is limited to registered clergy & lay delegates only. Log in information will be emailed to you.) Virtual Council includes a Virtual Exhibit Hall Visit the Virtual Exhibit Hall which features links to some of our favorite Annual Council vendors.

Way of the Cross free video and reflection guide

The devotion known as the Way of the Cross is an adaptation of a custom widely observed by pilgrims to Jerusalem: the offering of prayer at a series of places in that city traditionally associated with our Lord’s passion and death. This practice is also known as Stations of the Cross. The Department of Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary is offering a video version of The Way of the Cross and a reflection guide in both English and Spanish (coming soon). Through scripture, art, and music, the video invites us to walk with Christians of every generation on a virtual pilgrimage, meditating on our Lord’s passion and death. Click here for more information.

New resource: Lent at Home in Community

The Diocese of Southern Virginia has purchased a license for a program designed by GenOn Ministries called “Lent at Home in Community” that can be used by churches and households in the Diocese of Southern Virginia.  This six-week resource is centered on the Psalm readings for each Sunday in Lent. Each week participants will focus on one of the following concepts: See, Taste, Hear, Smell, Touch, and Give. The program was designed to be a simple, flexible, in-home resource for households of all ages, sizes and stages to use. A weekly virtual gathering component can be added for those seeking additional small group reflection, but it is not a requirement of the program design. If your church community or household is interested in using this resource please email lfarlin@diosova.org to obtain Lent at Home in Community as well as the distribution/use guidelines.

News from Boys Home

Through their Liaison Links newsletter, Boys Home invites you to stay connected with the spiritual life that takes place behind the scenes at Boys Home. This edition includes the Boys Home Lenten Calendar and the annual Quilt Raffle. Click here for the newsletter. Please take the time to read and share!

129th Annual Council is Feb. 22-27

This year's Annual Council is completely virtual and will be spread out over the week of Feb. 22-27. Most of the events during Council Week will be open to everyone and no advance registration is required. You can see the full Council Week schedule and the planned live events here.

Complete information about Council Week, and delegate materials, can be found at www.bit.ly/diosova129.

 

"Rooted in Love" - Keynote speaker Jerusalem Greer

Everyone is invited on Friday, February 26 at 7 p.m. for “Rooted in Love: Where Good News, Spiritual Practices and our Baptismal promises meet” -- How does our baptism inform our ministries and our lives? What does Good News sound like? What exactly is the purpose of formation? Join Jerusalem Greer, Staff Officer for Evangelism for Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, as she shares about the Way of Love, Episcopal Evangelism, Discipleship, and why our "why" matters most of all.

Jerusalem Greer is the Staff Officer for Evangelism for The Episcopal Church in the Office of the Presiding Bishop. She is also a member of the Way of Love creation and leadership team and serves on Episcopal Relief & Development’s Council of Advice. Jerusalem has authored two books and a host of curricula. She lives with her family on hobby farm in rural Arkansas, where they are attempting to live a slower version of modern life. Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.

Virtual Council includes a Virtual Exhibit Hall

Visit the Virtual Exhibit Hall which features links to some of our favorite Annual Council vendors.

There's still time to be part of the Virtual Hymn Recording!

For Annual Council we’ll be recording Hymn 25, O Gracious Light. You - and your friends and family! - are invited to be a part of the recording! Click here for complete details and instructions. Deadline for recordings extended to Saturday, February 13.

Connecting with Jesus across Time and Cul

Let’s be honest. Sometimes we all have those “the Bible is so weird” moments when we are reading or hearing Scripture from our contemporary, Western perspective. This Lent you are invited to join a Zoom class on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m., beginning February 22 and continuing through March 22 to explore some of the ways we misunderstand or don’t understand the ancient culture of the Biblical world. The class is led by The Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Soltys, Priest-in-Charge at Good Shepherd, Norfolk. You must register to receive the Zoom link. Please send an email to office@goodshepherdnorfolk.org to sign up. The class will be a mixed lecture and discussion format.

Life Transformed - The Way of Love in Lent

New and updated resources available for Lent, Holy Week, and Easter

New and updated Lent and Easter resources for congregations, dioceses, and communities of faith are available from The Episcopal Church, with additional offerings coming soon. Available and upcoming resources include: Updated Life Transformed – The Way of Love in Lent curriculum; Sermons That Work for Holy Week and Easter; a new podcast series, Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community. Find resources here. Read more here (in English, Spanish, and French).