e-Communique for Wednesday, February 2

February 2, 2011

The Confirmed Communicant in Good Standing Form and the Certificate of Election for the 2012 Annual Council are now available online. Churches must submit both forms by April 15. Annual Council will take place Jan. 27-28, 2012.
In response to the large number of inquiries about the Diocese of Haiti's partnership program, the Diocese will host an informational conference call on Tuesday, February 8 at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the ways parishes and regions from the Virginia can form a partnership within the Diocese of Haiti. Please RSVP for the call to Cathy Gowen at cgowen@thediocese.net, including your name and church. The dial-in information is 605-475-4800, access code 720849#. (Regular long distance rates apply.)
Episcopal Relief & Development's 2011 Lenten Meditations are available - free of charge - at episcopalmarketplace.org. More information and additional resources, such as sermon notes, special prayers and bulletin inserts, are available at er-d.org/Lent.
The Episcopal Church Center recently released a groundbreaking video project, "Transforming churches, Changing the World." These videos, available online, will highlight healthy congregational practices.
Nominations are now being accepted for membership on seven bodies or positions to be elected at the Episcopal Church General Convention 2012. The deadline is February 22.

The first Ordination to the Vocational Diaconate will take place this Saturday, February 5 at St. Alban's, Annandale. The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston will ordain Barbara Lockwood Ambrose, Dana Evenson Buchanan, Mary Elizabeth Emerson, Marty Monroe Hager and Linda E. Murphy. All are welcome to join in the celebration.
Save the date for World Mission Sunday on March 6. More details TBA.

First Things First will offer three upcoming opportunities to help clergy minister to couples: a February 10 luncheon at Bon Air Baptist, Richmond with speaker Jeff Kemp; a March 8 Prepare-Enrich Clergy Certification event at the Virginia Baptist Resource Center; and an August 19-20 "The Marriage You've Always Wanted" event with Gary Chapman. Visit firsthingsfirstrichmond.org.