Registration for Annual Council 2019 is open

"Fresh Expressions of Gospel Relationships"

The Diocese of Southern Virginia will hold its 127th Annual Council February 8-9, 2019 at the Williamsburg Lodge Convention Center. Go to www.bit.ly/diosova127 for complete registration and hotel information, and all the most current information about Council.  

 

Keynote Speakers

Our keynote speakers will be Gannon Sims and the Rev. Bobbe Fitzhugh of Fresh Expressions, an international movement of missionary disciples cultivating new kinds of church alongside existing congregations to more effectively engage our growing post-Christian society.

Nominations for Elections at Annual Council

The following elections will take place at Annual Council: Standing Committee (one lay, one clergy); Disciplinary Board (one lay, two clergy); Provincial Synod (1 lay, one clergy). Get more info and the nomination form on the Council web page.  

 

Youth Delegation Application

Youth in grades 9-12 are invited to be a part of the Youth Delegation at Annual Council. Use the application form available  here. Applications are due by January 9, 2019. 

 

Communicator Credentials

Church communicators are an integral part of connecting their Convocations and congregations with Council. Communicators (volunteer and staff) can apply to attend Council at no cost. Use the application form available here. Applications are due by January 28, 2019.

Give back to the place you love – Chanco Work Weekend

Come help keep Chanco beautiful and reconnect with old friends at our work day Saturday, December 1st! Breakfast is at 8 AM on Saturday with work to begin at 9 AM. Lunch is provided and Watson Lodge is available to those who wish to stay Friday and/or Saturday night. Feel free to hang out after our work concludes at 4PM on Saturday and join us for a cookout. Projects will range from detailed carpentry to basic property cleanup. All ages and skill levels welcome. Contact Director of Programs Nathan Hoyt at programs@chanco.org with any questions or to register. Food, fellowship and service – it doesn’t get much better than that!

Prayer for the Bishop Search

Please include the Nomination/Search and Transition Committees, and the search for a new bishop in your prayers: 

   

Almighty and most gracious God, source of all wisdom and guidance, send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we seek and discern a shepherd for the Diocese of Southern Virginia. Inspire us with hope, hearts to love you and a desire to serve one another. Grant us grace to entrust you with the future of your Church and all things. We ask in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, now and forever. Amen.  

 

News and updates on the search process can be found at www.bit.ly/diosovabishop.

Tidewater Ultreya meets Dec. 7

The Tidewater Ultreya will meet at Emmanuel, Virginia Beach, on December 7 beginning with a potluck at 6:00 p.m., please bring a dish to share. The Ultreya meets from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. (no later than 9:00 p.m.) Please mark your calendars and join us for an evening of music, grouping, witness talk and worship. Musicians bring your guitars and share your gift, leading us in song and melody. Emmanuel Church is located at 5181 Singleton Way, Virginia Beach. 

 

Women's Advent Retreat at Chanco on the James

Join women from all over the Diocese at Chanco's semi-annual Women's Retreat. Come together with meaningful discussions, spiritually renewing worship, and fabulous fellowship. This event is open to woman 18 years and older. This year's theme will be Waiting in Hopeful Anticipation. During the weekend, we will look at the stories of Sarah, Elizabeth, and Mary - three women from the Bible who had to wait. Come Friday and stay the night on Nov. 30 or come just for the day on the Dec. 1. Click here for details and registration.

Shop with an ELF and make Christmas merrier for Mission of the Holy Spirit

Christmas time is nearly here again. Soon we will be untangling strings of lights, carefully unwrapping nativity scenes and trying our best to shine a light on dark winter nights. We would like to invite you to join us at the Mission of the Holy Spirit in helping our families celebrate this Christmas. Last year's program, "Shop with an ELF" was a resounding success - great fun was enjoyed by children and volunteers alike - so we are happy to be presenting the program again this year.

 

We would like to invite churches and individuals to partner with us in this ministry. Volunteer ELFs would be a great opportunity for your ECW, Men's Group, EFM, outreach committee or other church group! We need volunteers (aged 16+) to sign up to be elves to go shopping with a child. We also need monetary contributions so each child will be able to choose exactly what he or she wants for Christmas.  

 

The festivities start at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 8 at Good Shepherd, Norfolk (7400 Hampton Blvd.) with a mandatory orientation for volunteers. Afterwards, children will be paired with an ELF (volunteer) and share breakfast together with Santa Claus. Immediately following breakfast, our bus will take the children and meet the volunteers at Walmart, where the kids will make their purchases escorted by their ELF.  

 

Please call the Mission office at 757-858-0010 to sign up to be an ELF (please leave your name, phone number and let us know you want to be an ELF if there's no answer), or send donations (marked "ELF" in the memo line) to the Mission in the enclosed envelope. All volunteers must sign up by November 28, and contributions for ELF shopping must in the office by that date as well. Please join us in "Shop with an ELF" and help make the holiday season brighter for our struggling families.

Bishop Search: Convocation Listening Sessions

The Nominating/Search Committee invite all Laity and Clergy to come to one of our Convocation Listening Sessions. We will share what we are learning from the responses to our questionnaire and we want to hear from you the people of the diocese. These Sharing Sessions will help us to complete a vibrant and living profile of our diocese, one that reflects who we are. There is a meeting planned for each con-vocation. If you are unable to attend the meeting in your own convocation please come and join us at one of the other sessions. Click here for dates and locations.