Friday, March 9, 2018

Historic St. Luke's Church offers new program on race and slavery in the Colonial period

Historic St. Luke's Church in Smithfield offers private group tours. Groups of ten or more receive a discounted rate of $5 per person. Tours can be customized specifically for your group. Historic St. Luke's is also now offering a new presentation on the Church and the creation of race, looking at the church's complicity in justifying slavery in the Colonial period. Click here for more information about Historic St. Luke's and its programs.


Monday, March 5, 2018

Apply now for ECW scholarships

Elise Holladay Scholarships are available for young men and women who want to further their education after high school. Also, the ECW Beverley D. Tucker Scholarship  provides assistance to men and women in church-related training in an accredited Episcopal school. Use the same form to apply for either scholarship. Click here for an application. Applications must be complete and postmarked by Thursday, April 26, 2018. Questions?  Call 757-650-8809  

William & Mary Canterbury Black Tie Gala & Silent Auction on April 7

The students of William & Mary Canterbury invite you to their Canterbury Black Tie Gala & Silent Auction on April 7, 6 to 9 p.m. in the historic Christopher Wren Building on the campus of William & Mary. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased at Canterbury's website. Admission includes heavy hors d'oeuvres, beverages and entertainment from William & Mary's Student a capella groups. All proceeds benefit the Canterbury Mission Fund which provides grants to various local charities and scholarships to William & Mary students for international mission trips. This year the Mission Fund will focus on providing scholarships for students in Belize, for local charitable organizations, and for the Pilgrimage to England. If you cannot attend the Gala, but wish to contribute, you may donate online or send your check, payable to Bruton Parish Church with "Canterbury Mission Fund" on the memo line, and mail it to Bruton Parish, PO Box 3520, Williamsburg, VA 23187-3520 or drop it by the parish office.

Clergy transitions

The Rev. Marni Schneider left St. Simon's by the Sea, Virginia Beach, on February 28, 2018.

The Rev. Dale Hirst left St. Stephen's, Norfolk, on February 28, 2018, and began as priest-in-charge at St. Simon's by the Sea, Virginia Beach, on March 1, 2018.

The Rev. Robin Teasley began as rector of Christ & Grace, Petersburg, on March 1, 2018.

Boys Home of Virginia has a new website

Check out the new Boys Home website at boyshomeofva.org. The new format makes it easier to navigate, whether looking for a place to serve the needs of a young man or for those who want to engage with Boys Home and become supporters. 

Jackson-Feild residents celebrate Black History Month


In recognition and celebration of Black History Month, Residential Services Supervisor Katrinka Phillips planned an entire day filled with a number of fun and educational activities. Residents created posters depicting African-Americans who were instrumental in the Civil Rights Movement. They held a poetry reading and read aloud black history information that resonated with them. They even enjoyed a rousing game of "Black History Jeopardy" featuring questions written by staff about important people, places, days, and definitions.
 
Working to ensure that every holiday throughout the year is recognized with a special meal, Jackson-Feild's Director of Food Services Cynthia Easter pulled out all the stops for this Black History Month celebration. Easter and her staff prepared a dinner of fried chicken, homemade macaroni and cheese, strings beans, rolls and apple cobbler that was thoroughly enjoyed by residents and staff alike.
 
Days like this are just one of the many things that set Jackson-Feild apart from other treatment facilities. In addition to receiving the treatment they need, the boys and girls are provided opportunities to explore topics of interest as a group, share their talents, and celebrate holidays that are important to them.

United Thank Offering update

The ECW sends out a heart-felt "thank you" to everyone who donated to the United Thank Offering in 2017. A total of $31,154.78 was collected for UTO in 2017. $26,890.98 was collected in the Spring and $4,263.80 was collected in the Fall. Here's more happy news - donations for 2018 have already started coming in! $2,940.44 has been collected for 2018. This amount includes $959.97 collected in the Blue Boxes at February's Annual Council in Williamsburg. This number is up from $791.83 collected at Council last year. Again, thank you!
 
Donations collected during April and October 2018 In-gatherings throughout the Diocese may be mailed to Ronda Toll, UTO Coordinator, 42 Cherbourg Drive, Newport News, VA 23606. Contact Ronda at 757-869-8873 or rtoll@cox.net with any questions or requests for UTO materials. Donations are collected for UTO throughout the year. 2018 donations will be collected until December 10, 2018.
 
The National UTO Board has created a simple prayer (memorable and easy enough for children to recite) that can be said when making an offering in a Blue Box. Here's the 2018 prayer:
Almighty God, I give you praise
for blessing me in many ways.
Create in me a grateful heart
and with this gift, a blessing start. Amen.