March 14, 2007

Spotlight: Mission in the Diocese

To download a Commission on World Mission Grant Request form, visit www.mission.thediocese.net and click on “Mission Funding.” Under the Fund program, an individual may apply for a grant of up to $500 and a parish may apply for a grant of up to $800. You can also share your mission experience or add your mission trip to the diocesan calendar on the Web site.

Making Connections in the Gulf Coast
Diocesan staff members Buck Blanchard and Mary Anne Bryant recently made a trip to Mississippi and Louisiana to help with ongoing hurricane relief efforts. Mr. Blanchard and Ms. Bryant spent March 7-9 meeting with Archdeacon Nick Roberts, director of Camp Coast Care in the Diocese of Mississippi, and Butch Jones, organizer of mission trips to Mission on the Bay. They also had the opportunity to meet Archdeacon Dennis McManis, operations director in the Office of Disaster Response in New Orleans.

Hope for Humanity’s Annual Walk for SudanHope for Humanity is an organization committed to developing future leaders of southern Sudan through providing educational opportunities. The organization is raising funds to build a secondary school in southern Sudan. In this particular region, there are 1.5 million youth in need of education. Currently, there is only one secondary school at capacity with 725 students. Hope for Humanity’s new school will be near other villages where additional youth will welcome their chance.

Hope for Humanity needs individuals to walk and raise money at the fourth annual Walk for Sudan on Sunday, May 6, at 2 p.m. at Deep Run High School track in Glen Allen, Va. Walkers are asked to raise funds of any amount, not per mile, and bring their contributions on May 6. Tax deductible donations can be made to Hope for Humanity, Inc., P.O. Box 29117, Richmond, Va. 23242.

For more information, visit
www.hopeforhumanityinc.org or contact Jennifer Ernst at jpe60@aol.com or 804-784-3830.

 
 


News & Events

Virginia Episcopalian Correction: Simply Education Day Location
Simply Education Day will take place on April 28 at Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, Alexandria.

What Color is YOUR Church?
Are you a “green” church? Does your parish take steps to be more eco-friendly? Has your congregation implemented a recycling system or a program to become more energy efficient? Let The Virginia Episcopalian know and your church might be featured in an upcoming article. Please contact Emily Cherry at echerry@thediocese.net to share your church’s story.

Cows, Shrines, Graves & Kitchens: A Virtual Encounter with Biblical Life
March 23, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Virginia Theological Seminary
Come experience a virtual encounter with the biblical world with host Stephen L. Cook, the Catherine N. McBurney professor of Old Testament, language and literature at VTS. Using the latest computer technology and multimedia resources, Mr. Cook will draw on Hebrew Scripture and the latest social-scientific and archaeological findings to experience everyday life in ancient Israel.  The $35 registration fee includes lunch. Contact the Center for Lifetime Theological Education at 703-461-1752 or LTE@vts.edu

Exploring the Future of Stewardship
March 24, Good Shepherd, Burke, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Learn how to “think outside the box” at the diocesan Stewardship Conference. Workshops will cover 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 $45 per person and $10 for seminarians.

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.

Prevention of Sexual Misconduct and Abuse Classes
The most current list of the Prevention of Sexual Misconduct classes can be found on the diocesan website at www.thediocese.net.  Please note the following dates to put on your calendar. Please register for these workshops by emailing Mary Anne Bryant at mabryant@thediocese.net or calling 1-800-DIOCESE ext. 15. For all workshops please bring a bag lunch or dinner.

Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse Workshops
March 19, St. James-the-Less, Ashland, 6-10 p.m.
April 17, Christ Church, Glen Allen, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
April 18, St. George’s, Fredericksburg, 6-10 p.m.
April 19, St. George’s, Fredericksburg, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
April 19, St. Francis’, Great Falls, 6-10 p.m.
April 21, St George’s, Fredericksburg, 9-1 p.m.
April 24, St. Thomas’, Richmond, 5:30-9:30 p.m. (Dinner $6 or bring bag dinner)
April 28, St. Mary’s, Richmond. 9-1 p.m.
Prevention of Adult Sexual Misconduct Workshops
May 19, Holy Comforter, Vienna, 1:30-5:30 p.m.
May 24, Christ Church, Glen Allen, 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Adult Sexual Misconduct Workshops (Same Day)
March 31, St. Peter’s, Arlington (Child 9 a.m.-1 p.m.) (Adult 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)
May 19, Holy Comforter, Vienna (Child 9 a.m.-1 p.m.) (Adult 1:30-5:30 p.m.)
June 9, St. Luke’s Wellington, Alexandria (Child 9 a.m.-1 p.m.) (Adult 1:30 – 5:30 p.m.)

Standing Committee Consents to South Carolina Bishop
The diocesan Standing Committee recently reconsidered its consent to the election of the Bishop of South Carolina. You can read a statement from the Standing Committee on this at http://www.thediocese.net/press/pressroom.shtml.

Save the Date

  • Administrative Professional’s Retreat, March 19-21 at Roslyn Retreat Center in Richmond.  Contact:  Paris Ball at pball@thediocese.net
  • Clergy and Family Easter Respite, April 9-12; no cost to diocesan clergy. Contact Shrine Mont at 540-856-2131 or shrine@shentel.net.
  • Simply Education Day, April 28, Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, Alexandria
Other Links

Mustard Seed Grant Guidelines and Mustard Seed Grant Cover Sheet
212th Annual Council
213th 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



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