AUGUST 10, 2006

Spotlight: Parish Youth Ministries

The mission of the Parish Youth Ministries (PYM) is to enable young people to be full and active participants in the life of the church. This mission has three main objectives within the Diocese of Virginia: to develop and maintain a youth ministries network; to provide quality programs, planned, facilitated and nurtured by youth; and, to encourage representation of youth on parish, diocesan, provincial, and national levels.

In the last three years PYM has gone from two weekend events a year to four. The traditional events are the Senior High weekend in the Spring and middle school program in the Fall.

The addition two years ago of the 8th grade weekend in the last weekend in September has met with great success. Last year, 8th graders and their adult sponsors filled St. George’s camp to capacity.

This year Bishop Lee asked PYM to design a confirmation class for those who are going trough confirmation. PYM worked hard to design a program that would be informative and helpful to those making a mature commitment, while still holding the flavor of the other youth events. Bishop Lee, Bishop Jones and PYM had over 100 participants in the first March event.

Upcoming PYM events:

  • 8th Grade Weekend, September 29-October 1st.
  • 6th & 7th Grade Weekend, November 10th-12th.
  • Bishop’s Confirmation Class, March 10th, 2007.
  • Senior High Weekend, March 23rd-25th, 2007.

The Rev. Percy Grant is the Assistant to the Bishop for Youth Development. She is responsible for Christian Education programs, Diocesan and Church youth programs, College Ministry programs, and the Committee on Aging. To contact her call 1-800-DIOCESE, x. 22 or email pgrant@thediocese.net.
 
News & Events

Submit a Nomination for Bishop Coadjutor
The Nominating Committee is accepting nominations for the Bishop Coadjutor position through Sept. 1, 2006. The Nominating Committee has also recently released a profile of the Diocese of Virginia and asks that you share this profile with prospective nominees throughout our community.  Visit www.virginiabishop.info for more information.

Investiture of the New Presiding Bishop
For information on how to request tickets to the investiture of the Rt. Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, visit http://www.episcopalchurch.org/3577_76914_ENG_HTM.htm.

EFM for the Deaf
St. James’, Leesburg, will have a deaf student and his interpreter joining one of their EFM groups this coming fall as a first-year student. Any other hearing-impaired persons interested in joining EFM may contact Henry Stribling at henry@striblingcounseling.com for more information.

Policy Manual on Sexual Abuse and Misconduct Available in Spanish
The newly translated Spanish version of the diocesan manual on sexual abuse and misconduct is available on the Diocese of Virginia website (www.thediocese.net) under resources and will be available on CD soon.

Women in the Anglican Communion
Oct. 12, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Virginia Theological Seminary, Alexandria
Join lay and ordained members of the Diocese in a day of reflection with Rev. Margaret Rose, director of women’s ministries for the Episcopal Church. To register, contact Linda Keener at lkeener@thediocese.net. For more info, contact Rev. Jo-Ann Murphy at joannmurphy@aol.com.

Save the Date

Other Links

Calendar: a full listing of Diocesan events.
Bishop Coadjutor Nominating Committee: Official website for the search for Bishop Coadjutor
General Convention : Official website of the 75th General Convention.
Employment: the latest information on ministry opportunities in our various churches.

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