The 32nd annual Absalom Jones Celebration will feature a symposium on race, gender and economic equality followed by a Festal Choral Eucharist featuring music by Theodicy Jazz. Sponsored by the Bishop Herbert Thompson, Jr. Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians, Christ Church Cathedral, Church of the Redeemer and the Diocese of Southern Ohio, the celebration will be held at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, Feb. 14. 

The day will begin at 9 a.m. with registration and continental breakfast. Opening prayer begins at 9:30 a.m. The keynote address for the symposium will be delivered by Clarence G. Newsome, Ph. D., President of the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, followed by a panel discussion facilitated by the Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, the Elizabeth Conolly Todd Distinguished Professor of Philosophy and Religion at Goucher College in Baltimore, MD.

Two workshops will follow lunch at 1 p.m.: 

• How can your organization/congregation engage and participate in the work of social justice? Presenter: Charles A. Wynder, Jr., Office of Social Justice & Advocacy Engagement, The Episcopal Church 
• Second Chance Act, Presenters: Aaron Pullens and Diana Hoskins

At  2:15 p.m. both workshops will be repeated. The day will conclude at 3:30 p.m. with a Festive worship service to commemorate the life and ministry of the Rev. Absalom Jones.

 A choir rehearsal for those wishing to participate in a combined choir at the worship service will be held at 1:30 p.m.

Bus transportation from Dayton and Columbus may be available. Please contact St. Margaret's Church (937.837.7741) in Dayton or St. Philip's Church (614.253.2771) in Columbus for details.

The event is free, but registration is required. Register at: https://diosohio.wufoo.com/forms/renewing-our-commitment/. The deadline for registration is Feb. 10.

Download a bulletin insert for the celebration at 
http://s3.amazonaws.com/dfc_attachments/public/documents/3202332/AJ_bulletin_half2.pdf 

Does your church have a library?

Nancy Elkington, library volunteer at St. John's, Worthington, is collecting information about the prevalence of church/parish libraries in the diocese.  We have a library at St. John's Worthington that we want to be the kind of resource that is capable of supporting children, youth and adults in their formation activities.  I'm hoping that there are other libraries and/or volunteer librarians in the diocese willing to self-identify in order to establish an interest group.  Such a group might occasionally convene in person and also use email or video chat to talk through shared issues and collective solutions. If your church/ parish has a library or book collection, I would very much appreciate hearing from you!

If you can be helpful, please provide responses to the questions below and email them to me at   nancyelkington@gmail.com 

1. Does your church have a library or collection of books intended primarily for use by parishioners?  If yes, about how many books are in your collection?
2. Would you be willing to work with others in the Diocese to survey our combined holdings and to develop a workplan for rationalizing the dispersed collection?
3. Do you have a designated librarian(s) with principle responsibility for ordering and maintaining books in your parish?  Please identify yourself and others by name along with contact details (email and/or phone).

With thanks,

Nancy Elkington

Vestry Member and parish library volunteer

St. John's Episcopal Church

700 N. High Street

Worthington, OH  43085

July 12-18, 2015
Kenyon College, Gambier, Ohio 

Designed for clergy, spiritual directors and seminarians to reach believers and those seeking belief

You feel confident in writing to those you know in your church. Yet clergy of all faiths tell us that there's another conversation that matters, outside their institution's walls, among those who aren't there for services, but are reading, thinking, caring about living a moral and spiritual life. This is your chance to learn the best ways to join the conversation.

Take your seat at this remarkable seminar week of writing, inspiration, and spiritual refreshment, led by world-class practitioners on one of the nation's most beautiful college campuses. Register today to join us July 12-18, 2015. Learn more or apply at http://www.kenyoninstitute.org/programs/beyond-walls-spiritual-writing-at-kenyon/registration/.

Study The Old Catholic Church in The Netherlands

The Old Catholic Church, our longest standing communion partner, is offering students, clergy and interested laity a unique opportunity for summer school with a course called "Old Catholic Theology in its Ecumenical Context."

The Old Catholic summer school will be held from 5-10 July 2015 and is taught by the faculty of the Old Catholic Seminary in Utrecht, The Netherlands. Dr. Joris Vercammen, the Archbishop of Utrecht, will be one of the keynote speakers.

The beautiful historic city of Utrecht provides the venue for the weeklong course, which includes excursions to Old Catholic worship, religious art, and a tour of this old Episcopal city.

More information can be found online at

http://www.utrechtsummerschool.nl/courses/culture/old-catholic-theology-in-its-ecumenical-context.

To register for TI2015 at St. Philip's, Columbus, email stphilipscolumbus@gmail.com or visit www.stphilipcolumbus.diosohio.org

WHERE: St. Philip Episcopal Church, 166 Woodland Street, Columbus, Ohio 43203

WHEN: Thursday January 22 7- 9p; Friday 9a - 530p; 7p Film Screening Inequality For All (optional); Saturday 9a - 330p

COST: $15.00 registration fee which includes lunch (both days, vegetarian options available)