February 28, 2007

Spotlight: Shrine Mont Camps

Registration has begun for the 2007 Shrine Mont summer camp season, and forms have already started coming in.  All diocesan churches received packets of camp brochures in January at Annual Council, so check with your church to get one. If your church does not have any brochures, write Paris Ball at pball@thediocese.net.

For those who don’t know, there are eight wonderful summer camps held at the Shrine Mont retreat and conference center.  Do you like to doodle or do crafts?  Maybe you enjoy exploring the great outdoors and learning how to cook a meal in the woods?  You may want to bring your musical instrument with you to camp – or possibly it’s basketball that you can’t live without.  Whatever your interests, we have a camp that would be great for you.  All of our camps have a slightly different focus, but they are all based around providing campers a safe and fun environment in which to learn about and develop their relationship with God.  The lifelong friendships, kooky counselors, pool parties and campfires are just some of the added bonuses that all the camps share.

And don’t forget: all the information you need can be found at our camp Web site at www.camps.thediocese.net. See you this summer!

Shrine Mont Volunteer Work Weekend
Volunteers ages 16 and older are needed to spend March 16-18 at Shrine Mont to help the camps and conference center get ready to open for 2007. Volunteers receive room and board at no cost. Projects are available to suit all skills and strength levels. If interested, please contact Tom von Hemert at 434-832-2331 or thomasvh@oar-jacc.org.

Young Adult Camping Trip
Calling all young adults in the Church: this summer the Diocese is offering a camping trip just for you. Join us June 7-11 as we canoe, camp, and laugh our way through the first annual camp just for young adults.  If you are 21 or older, we have a spot for you.  Check the camp website (www.camps.thediocese.net) for updates and registration forms or write Paris Ball (pball@thediocese.net) for more information. 

 


 

News & Events

Live (almost) from Trinity Wall Street: The Presiding Bishop
Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori delivered a live Web cast at 10 a.m. February 28 from Trinity Church, Wall Street, New York City. Among other things she commented on the recent meeting of the Primates in Tanzania. The Web cast clocks in at just over an hour and remains available for viewing at http://www.trinitywallstreet.org/calendar/index.php?event_id=40355.

Preparing for 213th Annual Council
The Certificate of Election of Lay Delegate and Alternate for the 213th Annual Council is now available online at http://www.thediocese.net/diocese/annual_council_213.shtml. The 2008 Annual Council will take place Jan. 25-26 at the Hyatt Regency Reston. Each diocesan church must submit a certificate of election by April 15, 2007.

Maundy Thursday Renewal of Ordination Vows
April 5, Emmanuel, Brook Hill, Richmond and St. Luke’s, Alexandria
All clergy of the Diocese are invited to participate in a service of Renewal of Ordination Vows for clergy and the Blessing of Oil of Chrism. Services will be held on April 5 at 11 a.m. at Emmanuel Church, Brook Hill, Richmond, and St. Luke’s Church, Alexandria. More information and a reply form can be found online at http://www.thediocese.net/brochures_flyers/Maundy_Thursday_Invite.pdf.

Annual Stewardship Conference
March 24, Good Shepherd, Burke, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Learn how to “think outside the box” at the diocesan Stewardship Conference with speakers the Rev. Gary Nicolosi and the Rev. Canon J. Hugh Magers. Six workshops will be offered covering stewardship fundamentals, planned giving, teaching and preaching about stewardship, communications and donor relationships. Download a brochure online for more information and a registration form: http://www.thediocese.net/stewardship_comm07_web-1.pdf. Registration is $35 per person if paid by March 4, $45 per person if paid after March 4, and $10 for seminarians.

Small Seeds; Big Grants
The 2007 Mustard Seed Grants Program
The Mustard Seed competitive grant program began in 2002 with funding from the 5th Century Fund. Grants are awarded in four broad areas: youth and college ministries; local outreach; world mission; and strengthening local churches. Guidelines and an application form for the 2007 grants are now available to download online:
            Mustard Seed Grant Guidelines
            Mustard Seed Grant Cover Sheet

Lenten Retreat: An Enneagram Workshop
March 3, St. George’s, Fredericksburg
One of the most powerful tools for understanding ourselves is the Enneagram, an ancient symbol that is also a system of personality profiles that help us know ourselves and God better. To learn more about this workshop and about the Enneagram, download the brochure at http://www.thediocese.net/Enneagram.pdf. To register, contact Carol Thomson at cthomson@thediocese.net

Vestry Education Day
March 10, St. Mary’s, Richmond
Please note that the location of Vestry Education Day has changed to St. Mary’s, Richmond at 12291 River Rd. Join keynote speak Diana Butler Bass to learn how to “imagine a new old church.” More information can be found online at http://www.thediocese.net/programs/vestry_education.pdf.

Lenten Quiet Day
March 10, St. Paul's on-the-Hill, Winchester, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Join us for a time of quiet with meditations offered by the Rev. Stephen Wade, noted retreat leader and spiritual director. The topic for meditations will be "The Vocation of the People of God in a Confused Church—Three Meditations on Isaiah." In addition to the Rev. Stephen Wade, the Rev. Dr. Hilary Smith and the Rev. Helen McKee will be available for conversation or the sacrament of reconciliation between the meditations. For more information visit www.spoth.org.

Save the Date

Other Links

212th Annual Council
e-Bazaar: A listing of items that parishes would like to donate or receive.
Calendar: A listing of Diocesan and local church events. Don’t see your church event listed? Add it using the links at the bottom of the calendar.
Bishop Coadjutor Transition Committee: Official website for the search for Bishop Coadjutor.
Employment: The latest information on ministry opportunities for clergy and lay. General Convention: A summary of General Convention actions.
Global Mission Website: Read and submit mission stories and mission trip dates



Want to subscribe/unsubscribe to this email list? (Instructions)