2019 Virginia LARCUM Conference

Please plan to join us at this year's Annual State  (Lutheran, Anglican/Episcopal, Roman Catholic, United Methodist) LARCUM Conference being held in Virginia Beach, Virginia at Holy Spirit Catholic Church on Friday and Saturday, November 22 and 23, 2019. Fr. James Loughran, SA, Director of the Graymoor Ecumenical and Interreligious Institute will present the historical development of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, the challenges to the modern day movement and practical ways in which local ecumenical communities can celebrate this year's theme "They Showed Unusual Kindness". Please visit www.virginialarcum.org to learn more. Registration fee is $35 and includes a box lunch - registration closes November 8, 2019.

New Way of Love, Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life resources for small group use

A year after the introduction by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry of the Way of Love, Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life, The Episcopal Church continues to offer new resources for congregations interested in following the Way of Love as a way of life. New this fall are the FAQ's for Small Group Ministry video, a social media infographic, as well as a postcard-sized infographic. These resources are available here.

 

The nine-session Living the Way of Love in Community curriculum is designed for small groups organized for the purpose of exploring The Way of Love. Group members study and experience each of seven practices: turn, learn, pray, worship, bless, go, and rest. These intentional small groups may choose to meet weekly, every other week, or once a month. The facilitation guide offers leaders a process for guiding an intentional small group for nine, 90-minute sessions with an option for extending a session 30-minutes should a group choose to gather over a meal. Each session includes prayer, a check-in process, discussion, practice time, a check-out process, and worship. Suggested scripture readings and hymns are also included.

Young Adult Service Corps accepting applications for 2020-2021 placements

Applications are now available for 2020-2021 placements with the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC), the international missionary program of The Episcopal Church. YASC offers Episcopalians ages 21-30 the opportunity to follow the Way of Love into deeper relationship with God and the global Anglican Church while spending a year living and working with communities around the world. From Guatemala to Oman, the Philippines to England, El Salvador to South Africa, and dozens of countries in between, YASC volunteers are building relationships that transform their lives and their faith.  

 

These young adults serve as teachers in church-run schools, work alongside development professionals who seek to empower their local communities, and participate in the daily life and ministry of churches and cathedrals around the Anglican Communion. Potential placements for 2020-2021 include (but are not limited to) Brazil, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, England, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong, Oman, Panama, the Philippines, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Tanzania. Additional information, as well as the application form and instructions, for a 2020-2021 placement is available here. The application deadline is Friday, January 10, 2020. 

Message about hurricane recovery efforts from Bishop of the Bahamas

Southern Virginia is one of the dioceses that has contributed to hurricane recovery and general outreach in the Bahamas. On September 30, Bishop Laish Z. Boyd, Sr. sent this message to the bishops and dioceses of The Episcopal Church:

 

My Sisters and Brothers:

 

Sincere and warm greetings from my Diocese. We are comprised of 46 parishes on 25 islands: 21 islands in The Bahamas and 4 islands in The Turks and Caicos Islands, with 96 individual congregations in all.

 

As you know two of our islands, Grand Bahama and Abaco, were devastated by Hurricane Dorian recently. These two islands are the second and third largest economies, respectively, in the country. This category 5 system was a monster storm. We have never experienced or imagined anything like it: catastrophic damage to homes, businesses, infrastructure, two economies, landscape and crops. More than fifty persons are confirmed dead so far and the number is expected to rise significantly.  

 

The most heart-breaking aspect of this is the humanitarian crisis: between the two islands, 70,000 persons disrupted, many dislocated, many homeless, some have lost loved ones, many people are still unaccounted for, not to mention thousands evacuated. The Bahamas nor the Diocese has the capacity to recover from alone.  

 

Thank you for the compassionate reception which our dilemma received at the recent House of Bishops meeting. We appreciate your prayers and your generosity in supporting short term relief and long term rebuilding efforts. We are particularly grateful to Episcopal Relief and Development for agreeing to journey with us along this difficult road.

 

We need assistance of any and all kinds from you, and your Dioceses as we seek to continue to recover from the worst natural disaster in this country's history. We will have many long-term rebuilding and development needs. At this time money would be extremely helpful.

 

The Rt. Rev. Laish Z. Boyd

Bishop of the Diocese of The Bahamas and The Turks and Caicos Islands

Nominations for elections at Annual Council now being accepted

The following elections will take place at Annual Council:  

• Standing Committee (one lay and one clergy)
• Disciplinary Board (two lay and one clergy)
• Provincial Synod (one lay)
• General Convention 2021 (4 clergy deputies, 4 lay deputies) Note: Alternate deputies will be elected in 2021

Visit the Annual Council page of the diocesan website for more information about these elections and to obtain a nomination form.

 

Historic St. Luke's Twilight Cemetery Tour tickets now available

Dead men don't tell tales, but their tombstones do! Historic St. Luke's Church in Smithfield has been the site of burials since the 1600's. Enjoy the stories of local saints and sinners on a guided tour through the Ancient Cemetery. They have two dates for cemetery tours this Halloween season: an Adults Only tour on October 18, and a family-friendly tour on October 19. Learn about local lore and ancient curses through a historical lens, and separate fact from fiction. Click here for more information and to purchase tickets.  

Registration is live for November Weekend!

November 22-24 at Chanco  

For youth in grades 6-12

 

The demands of our daily lives can often be stressful and draining. We simply can't rest and replenish our souls when we are on the go all the time, multi-tasking, constantly bombarded with noise, and always on our phones. November Weekend is an opportunity for youth to come together with friends from all over the Diocese and to spend time in retreat with God. This year we will explore the ongoing process of personal growth and the inner strength that God's great love provides us all.

 

Fellowship is fun, spiritual, motivating, musical, and active... AND it's at Chanco, so register now at www.diosova.org/youth!

 

Sign up today! Happening #71 registration closes Oct. 10

 

Happening #71 will be held November 8-10 at Chanco on the James. Happening is an experiential weekend retreat for young adults in grades 10 and up that may just change your life. Come and see what it's like to be transformed by God's love! Details and registration can be found on the Youth page of the diocesan website, www.diosova.org/youth. Sign up now - registration closes Oct. 10.