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In This Issue
March 3, 2015
What's new this week:
Diocesan staffer says goodbye

Best wishes to Heather Windle, Administrative Assistant to the Executive Staff and Canons, who left the diocese Feb. 27 to pursue other opportunities. The staff gathered Feb. 24 to celebrate Heather's seven year ministry with the diocese and to wish her well in her new endeavors.

Heather Windle

Positions available

 

Digital Communications Specialist

The Diocese of Southern Ohio is seeking an individual who is creative, computer savvy, fluent in social media and enjoys challenges to serve as a Digital Communications Specialist. This full-time position requires skills in working with databases, websites and a multitude of other digital environments. The ability to write computer code is desirable but not necessary.  

 

See full job description

 

If you're looking for a position that will help the diocese and the Church move confidently into the ever-changing future of digital communications, then we'd love to talk to you. Click here to fill out an online application and to submit your resume.

 

 

Procter Farm (Two positions) 

Procter Farm is hiring for two exciting positions for the 2015 growing season! We are hiring one Farm Assistant and one Farm Apprentice. 

 

The Farm Assistant should have two full seasons of experience on organic farms. This position will report to the Farm Coordinator and be responsible for helping to maintain our seeding, planting and harvesting schedules. Qualified individuals should be able to work independently and make informed decisions about farm operations in collaboration with the farm manager (e.g. greenhouse/hoophouse management, watering, weed/pest management and general plant care).  The Farm Assistant will have the opportunity to run some CSA pickups, farmer's markets, and be involved in some planning decisions. The Farm Assistant position is geared for people looking to make a career out of sustainable agriculture.

The Farm Apprentice position doesn't require any previous experience, though it is helpful.  A commitment to sustainable agricultural and an enthusiasm for hard outdoor work irequired.  Qualified applicants will be able to lift 50 lbs., have a valid driver's license, and be flexible and teachable.  They will have the opportunity to participate in every job an organic farm requires from soil prep and seeding to harvesting and marketing.
 

Both positions come with room, board and a monthly stipend commensurate with experience. Both jobs are seasonal and run from April through October. To apply contact Farm Manager Conor Gilliland at [email protected].

 

Upcoming events
Mar 7: Spring Clergy Day
Mar 7-8: Dayton Regional Youth Event
Mar 21: CoCL Best Practices Conference
Mar 21: Safe Church training (Granville)
Mar 31: Renewal of Vows and Blessing of Oils
Apr 10-12: Spring Procter Retreat (youth)
Apr 11: Anti-Racism training
Apr 17-18: PLAY! Finding God in Celebration
Apr 18: Last Things: Preparing for Death and Burial
Apr 18: Dayton Area Confirmation (TBA)
Apr 25: East Area Confirmation (Athens)
Apr 29: Society of St. Simeon and St. Anna annual meeting and luncheon
Quick Connections
Diocesan website
Diocesan calendars
Diocesan news
Bishop's visitation schedule
Stories from Episcopal News Service

Academic grants for minority women

 

The Lawrence Home Association, founded in 1896 under the will of philanthropist Eleanor Earnshaw, was started to "provide a Christian home for self-supporting, young women on limited means, the most important aim being to help them elevate their standard of life." To this day, the Lawrence Home Association provides opportunities for young women.


There is a eight-member board of women who are appointed by the the bishop. The board meets once a year to vote on recommendations for academic grants for minority women, scholarships for clergy daughters and funding for social service agencies who mission is to serve women of limited means and help them move out of conditions relating to poverty, abuse etc.

 

The purpose of the Academic Grant for Minority Women program is to help finance the postsecondary education of minority women regardless of age who are affiliated with an Episcopal church within the Diocese of Southern Ohio.

 

We have moved the application process online this year to make it easier to apply and to provide an opportunity for all minority women within the diocese to seek grant for the upcoming academic year. 

 

See more information

 

The deadline for applications is April 15, 2015. All applicants will be notified by May 30, 2015 of the status of their application.

 

Applications accepted for domestic poverty ministry grants

 

Applications are now accepted for grants from the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society that center on new or revitalized efforts in domestic poverty ministry.

 

The purpose of the grants is to engage Episcopalians in ministry among the economically impoverished in the United States; to provide opportunity to the marginalized to overcome chronic adversities; to challenge unjust structures that perpetuate the cycle of poverty; and to inspire the wider church to more deeply engage with the poor.

 

The focus of the grants is Mark IV of the Anglican Marks of Mission: To seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation.

 

"A successful application will demonstrate a passion for, and an innovative approach to, inviting Episcopalians into a deep relationship with the poor," explained the Rev. Canon Mark Stevenson, the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society's Domestic Poverty Missioner. "The work should include a plan for sustainability beyond the scope of the grant - either in a continuation of the original proposal or through an evolutionary process that leads to something new."

 

Areas of ministry might include, but are not limited to: community development; early childhood development; education for children, youth or adults; health; homelessness/
affordable housing; hunger; microbusiness and/or entrepreneurship; and racial reconciliation.

 

Grant awards will range between $5,000 and $30,000.

 

All domestic Episcopal dioceses, congregations and institutions are eligible to apply.

 

Grant applications, overview and instructions are available here. All applications must have the endorsement of the diocesan bishop. Deadline for applying is April 30.

 

For additional information, contact Stevenson, [email protected]

 


APSU Chamber Singers

Black Swamp Saxophone Quartet at St. John's, Worthington

 

St. John's, Worthington, will host the Black Swamp Saxophone Quartet for an exciting concert on Sunday, March 15 at 3 p.m.

Black Swamp Saxophone Quartet
The Black Swamp Saxophone Quartet


 
The Black Swamp Saxophone Quartet (Michael Cox, Michael Torres, Wes Miller, and Jay Miglia) has been presenting unique and exciting performances since its inception in 1986 at Bowling Green State University. The quartet plays a variety of musical styles and selects literature from a vast repertoire of classical, jazz and contemporary music. The BSSQ has performed widely and has also been artist-in-residence at the Arosa Musikwochen in Switzerland. They were first prize winners in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition and finalists in the Martigny (Italy) International Music Competition. 

 

There is no charge for admission; a freewill offering will be taken to support the Music Series. St. John's is located at 700 High Street in Worthington (Columbus), on the southeast corner of the Olde Worthington Village Green (High Street at SR 161). Visit www.StJohnsWorthington.org for more information.

 

Evensong flyer

Offerings from Christ Church Cathedral

 

Bernstein's Chichester Psalms & DiOrio's A Horizon Symphony
Cathedral logo

Saturday, March 7 | 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, March 8 | 5 p.m. 

March 6, 2015, marks the fiftieth anniversary of the first rehearsal of the Cincinnati Boychoir's predecessor, All City Boys Choir, and Collegium Cincinnati is helping the choir celebrate. To mark the occasion, we're featuring another work that turns fifty in 2015 - Leonard Bernstein's Chichester Psalms. The performance will also include the world premiere of A Horizon Symphony, a work about adventure and exploration, by the young and talented Dominick DiOrio Trumpets! Drums! Voices! This is an event not to be missed. Ticket information: www.CollegiumCincinnati.org

 

 

Collection for The Sole Clinic

Christ Church Cathedral, in partnership with Cincinnati Medical Volunteers and the Diocese of Southern Ohio, will offer a "Sole Clinic" on Maundy Thursday, April 2, in the narthex from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. We will offer foot washing, foot exams and treatment and new, clean socks to our neighbors who make their home out on the streets. We need donations of new athletic socks (not used), and volunteers to wash feet, greet guests and assist the medical team. Please email Kathy Noe, [email protected], if you wish to be included in this ministry.

 

 

Public Policy Spotlight
public policy logo

 

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Ohio drops in solar jobs ranking; Still in top ten

Clean power plan can keep the lights on in Ohio

Antarctica's retreating ice may re-shape Earth

Ohio oil well output doubles in a year; natural gas triples

AEP's plan for guaranteed coal-plant income rejected

 

HEALTHCARE

Kasich wants nearly to triple cost of puffing on an e-cig

Childhood obesity: Making the healthy choice the easy choice

Ohio bill would expand access to drug overdose antidote

 

HUMAN TRAFFICKING

Central Ohio survivor of human trafficking hopes soap will help save adolescents from prostitution 

U.S. senators propose $1.5 billion fund to combat global slavery 

 

IMMIGRATION

President Obama challenges judge's delay of deportation waivers  

 

LEGISLATION

Distracted driving ban pulled from budget bill for further debate

Ohio Republicans back constitutional amendment against gay marriage 

DeWine rejects petition language for legalized pot 

 

 

POVERTY

Safety net programs reducing Ohio child poverty

Brown introduces bill to improve Trade Adjustment Assistance program 

 


SOCIAL JUSTICE 

Ohioans encouraged to stand up to bullying

 

 

 

MARCC forum in Cincinnati: Who benefits from the new Workforce Opportunities Act?  

 

March 11, noon

 

Learn how the new law passed by Congress in 2014 will change how federal workforce dollars will be invested in Greater Cincinnati and who will be served. Sherry Kelley Marshall, President/CEO of the Southwest Ohio Region Workforce Investment Board, will give this crucial update and take questions.  All are welcome to attend this March delegates council meeting of the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati (MARCC), in the undercroft of St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, 325 W. 8th Street, Cincinnati.  Enter from the last side door of the church across from City Hall. Bring your own lunch. For more information, call 513.721.4891. 


Letters from Liberia
PIMIL (Partners-In-Ministry-In-Liberia), a ministry of St. Matthew's, Westerville and St. John's, Worthington, supplies educational scholarships to students who would otherwise be unable to attend school in Liberia. The Ebola epidemic has greatly affected our children and their families. Several months ago we asked our children in Liberia to write us letters describing the epidemic and how it has affected them and their schools. Here is just one of the flood of heart wrenching letters that filled our mailboxes:

Francis drawing
This drawing by Frances accompanied her letter

My name is Francis Goffa and I live in Caldwell, Coffee Farm. I am  a 12th grade student, 19 years old and I attend the ACFI, Caldwell, New Georgia.


My community Caldwell Coffee Farm was hit for Ebola. Three persons have died in my community. The was a Muslim man who lived in one room with his son. He took sick and died. The Health Team was called and tested positive of Ebola. He was carried to the Ebola Center and later died. His son entered his room which was not (sprayed) by the Health Team before leaving, later got sick and was taken to the Ebola Center. Up to the time of this story we have not heard from the family whether he is living or has died. Another man died in the house close to our house. When the Health Team came back they (sprayed) the whole house and later asked my whole family to leave the area. This affected my whole family because I used to attend evening classes with the residence. We were advised by the Health Team to stay away from gathering, not to shake hands, touch sick persons or dead body, eat bush meat and avoid strangers.This affected my school and my daily life in my new community.

 

This is how Ebola has affected my daily life and my challenge is to do what ever the health team says for me to do so still alive.


Remember the people of West Africa in your prayers

We pray for the people of West Africa, especially in Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea, in the midst of the Ebola crisis.  We pray for those afflicted with the disease, their families, and the health workers fighting to stem the spread of the disease and care for those in need.

Repeats, reminders, etc.
CoCL Best Practices Conference March 21

Fierce Conversations

The Commission on Congregational Life will hold its 2015 Best Practices Conference, "Fierce Conversations," on Saturday, March 21 at the Procter Center. Use Fierce Conversations to engage in more productive relationships and create an organizational culture where candor and curiosity are the expectation.

 

The conference begins at 9 a.m. Congregations who receive CoCL grants are expected to attend, all others are welcome and encouraged. There is no cost for this conference. 

 

Register here
 


Soul Collage flyer

The Seven: A mentored experience in diaconal ministry for young adults

The Seven "Choose seven from among you who are known to be full of the spirit and wisdom?"  - Acts 6:3

Do you want to learn how to integrate your everyday experiences in the world around you with your daily commitment to a life of faith? Do you long to make a difference in the place you live?  

The Seven is a part-time, 10-month hands-on spiritual and educational experience for young adults (18-30 years old) who want to engage in meaningful work and reflection while discerning their own vocational calls, in mentored relationships with Episcopal deacons. The format provides monthly mentorship meetings, formation through readings and reflection online, and two group retreats.  

Interested to learn more? Contact:
The Rev. Jane Gerdsen at 513.543.0440, [email protected]
The Rev. Douglas Argue at 614.312.1176, [email protected]


EPF flyer

Spirit Moxie retreat

Job opportunities

 

Director of Christian Education

Christ Episcopal Church, Springfield, seeks a person to serve in a half-time position as Director of Christian Education and Coordinator of Outreach Ministries. See more

 

Administrative Assistant

St. Alban's, Bexley, is currently seeking a full-time administrative assistant at 40 hours per week to work with us in our ministry. Helpful traits are a gracious ability to interact with visitors and guests, a love of service, and a friendly, warm demeanor. Candidates must have a working knowledge of basic Office computer software including Outlook, Word, and Excel. We also use Publisher, Constant Contact, Google Drive, and a Web site application. See more

 

Connections Deadlines
Didn't see any news about your congregation here? Submit your news! The deadline for each weekly e-Connections is every Tuesday morning at 10 a.m.

The deadline for Connections, the bi-monthy publication of the diocese, is every other month on the last day of the month:   
 
Jan 31 (Feb/Mar issue)
Mar 31 (Apr/May)
May 31 (Jun/Jul)
July 31 (Aug/Sep)
Sept 30* (Oct/Nov)
Nov 30 (Dec/Jan) 
 
Please send items to [email protected]

*convention issue. Deadline may be changed in order to have all convention materials available for pre-convention meetings.
Diocese of Southern Ohio | 800.582.1712 | http://www.diosohio.org
 [email protected]
412 Sycamore St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202