Wednesday, March 3, 2021

Celebrating the life and legacy of the Rt. Rev. Barbara C. Harris

Join the Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) as we remember, celebrate, and explore the lasting impact the Rt. Rev. Barbara Harris, the Anglican Communion’s first female bishop, has had upon The Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion. Using excerpts from
The Mitre Fits Just Fine!, Parting Words, and Hallelujah Anyhow, as well as personal encounters, our panelists will speak to how this avid support of UBE continues to compel us never to forget “the least, the lost and the left out”. Click here for more information. Registration Required. Register here. To learn more about Bishop Harris and for commemoration resources, click here.

Opioid Use Disorder Toolkit for Faith-Based Community Leaders and Organizations

By The Ven. Jan Brown, co-chair, Diocesan Addictions & Recovery Task Force

Click here for the The Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Toolkit for Faith-Based Community Leaders and Organizations. It is uploaded on the home page the SpiritWorks Foundation's Provisions for the Journey website. We had the privilege of making the request for it to be developed for our use and for use by the Episcopal Church. They were so excited by the project that they released it for national use. There are no hard copies of it yet. We have a request to get them once they are in and plan to distribute them widely throughout the church. I'd love to hear what you think of it.

Episcopal Toolkit for COVID-19 vaccination distribution

The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations has developed a toolkit for individuals, congregations and ministries to facilitate and promote COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the United States. This toolkit promotes the ongoing work that parishes and dioceses have already been doing, shares best practices, and offers ideas for ways that communities can help U.S.- based Episcopalians to facilitate vaccination, overcome vaccine hesitancy, and find information from state and local officials. Churches and church leaders (lay and ordained) can serve as an important trusted bridge between public health officials and communities. Read more (In English and Spanish).

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls for Good Friday Offering to support ministry in Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East

In his Good Friday letter, Presiding Bishop Curry asks each Bishop and congregation to consider providing assistance for the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Read more (In English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin).

Episcopal Church scholarship applications for the 2021-2022 academic year are now accepted

Deadline is April 11, 2021

Applications are now being accepted for educational scholarships from The Episcopal Church for the 2021-2022 academic year. Read more (In English and Spanish).

Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Lent: A Season to Restore and Reconnect

A message from Bishop Haynes

 

In the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens….then the LORD God formed man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being. (Genesis 2:4, 7)

Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 265)
 
Now, as the days begin to lengthen, we enter the season of Lent wherein we remember our mortality. God created humankind from the dust and dirt of the Earth. At our death, we will return to that point of creation. It is a good spiritual discipline to keep in mind our connection to the Earth and the dirt from which we were fashioned.

Normally, Lent is a time when we “give up” something. Often Lenten disciplines ask us to give up something meaningful in order to remind us of our dependence on God. But we have had more than enough of “giving up,” haven’t we? Over the past year we have given up so much – our church buildings, our familiar forms of worship, our frequent face-to-face contact with each other. Perhaps now, as we enter our second Lent during this pandemic, it seems exhausting to contemplate giving up anything else. In this state of exhaustion, we are mindful of our own deep need and longing to be restored and reconnected.

And perhaps that’s what this Lent should be – a season of restoration and reconnection. As we contemplate our origin from and ultimate return to the Earth, perhaps we might be best served to use the 40 days of Lent as a time consciously to reconnect us with that Earth. Why not spend this Lent looking for ways to connect with creation and for ways to steward and care for it? Become mindful of all of the living things God created – all creatures (animals and insects, plants and trees) as well as that gorgeous creation of our brothers and sisters. Connect with them by caring for them – by caring for the Earth and by caring for each other. Research ways to care for the Earth – to be a good steward of Creation. (Incidentally, if you Google “40 Lenten observances for care of creation, you will find some suggested Lenten disciplines along those lines).

Continue in your prayers and in your diligent study of Scripture. Let your chapel be the outdoors as you wonder in God’s creation. Look for safe ways to stay connected with your brothers and sisters in Christ, caring for them in ways that you would enjoy receiving care. This pandemic is not going to last forever. We WILL return from this exile. Even now, we are seeing hopeful signs of its abatement. Hear the prophet, Jeremiah, who reminds us, For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

Yes, let us indeed remember that we are dust. People of the dust are beloved people, connected people – beloved of God and connected to Him and to each other. Let us use this Lent to celebrate and restore ourselves to that connection.

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.