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PLAY Conference: Finding God in Celebration
April 17-18
Play opens us up to joy, new possibilities, and creativity. What might happen if the church took up PLAY as a spiritual practice? What if we played together and imagined a new church into being?
PLAY is a gathering of people interested in in celebrating creative ways to engage God's mission in our communities. PLAY will offer ideas for fostering imagination and creativity, planning non-traditional worship, missional church planting, and how to gather community in new ways through radical hospitality, storytelling and inspiring music. The Rev. Ben Norton, a pioneer minister in the Church of England, will share his experiences creating three different fresh expressions of church in the last 10 years in the UK. Ben invites us on a journey to meet people and connect the Christian story to the story of people outside of the church and to gently grow spiritual communities in the process. Ana Hernandez, musician, conversation host and mischief maker, will lead us in music that makes community. PLAY explores how we give each other permission to imagine a new way forward together and an opportunity to reinvigorate your soul and your church.
If you are interested in learning more about fresh expressions, being part of some inspiring worship, or just want to have fun, you won't want to miss this gathering. PLAY is for everyone, young and old, musicians and artists, lay and ordained, people who love the church and those who don't. We invite you and members of your community to join us for this experience! Don't miss this opportunity to PLAY! More info: http://praxiscommunities.org/conferences/play/ |
Planning for Tomorrow Conference
Lay Employees: Thursday, April 30, 2015
Clergy: Friday, May 1, 2015
The Planning for Tomorrow conference sponsored by the Church Pension Group (CPG) is a great opportunity for both clergy and lay to learn and plan for their financial future. Spouses and partners are also encouraged to attend. CPG subsidizes the cost of the conference - and also subsidizes child care and elder care costs.
We strongly encourage lay employees to attend this conference and we strongly encourage that they be granted paid time off to attend.
No matter your stage of life, it's a unique chance for you and your spouse or partner to understand your current and future benefits, manage your finances, plan for your future, and improve your overall financial wellness.
To register:
Lay employees register here
Clergy register here
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Last Things: Program explores death and burial planning
Procter Conference Center
Saturday, April 18
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Woody Allen once quipped, "It's not that I'm afraid to die. I just don't want to be there when it happens."
Many of us feel the same way. Even so, the Church encourages us to grapple with the reality of our "last things." There's good reason for this: the time of death is always a crisis. For each one of us who lives on, the death of those we care for is (to one degree or another) a painful and traumatic experience. It's an event that changes the landscape of our lives, for the rest of our lives.
And yet, despite its inevitability, we tend to come to death not only suffering from natural grief, but unprepared. The crisis, then, deepens and becomes even more painful as we are forced to do what we don't want to do, and to make decisions for which we have not planned. The spiritual, emotional and financial repercussions can be immense.
The time to think and talk with one another about death is now - instead of waiting for the moment of crisis. Such preplanning is a prudent and loving act that yields a multitude of blessings - now, and
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| | The Rev. Charlie Brumbaugh |
in the hour of our death.
The Affirmative Aging Commission invites you - whether you are nineteen or ninety-nine - to join the Rev. Charlie Brumbaugh at the Procter Center for Last Things, an exploration of these issues on Saturday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The cost of $15 per person covers the whole program and lunch. Please register by April 4 at www.diosohio.org.
There will be much to learn and many stories to tell as we consider Christian perspectives on death, grief, burial practices, rites of burial and stewardship in death. It's our hope that by the time you drive home, you'll be well on your way to making wise and loving decisions about what is to happen upon your death. We are confident that you'll find this seminar not only informative and useful, but also thought-provoking and, yes, even fun!
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Apply now for campus ministries grants
Applications are now accepted by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society for grant proposals from dioceses, parishes or community colleges/colleges/universities for new as well as current campus ministries in higher education institutions located throughout The Episcopal Church.
"The proposals for grants are meant to assist in the start-up of new campus ministries or the restart of dormant campus ministries," explained the Rev. Shannon Kelly, Acting Missioner for Campus and Young Adult Ministries for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society.
There are two categories of grants:
*A series of Campus Ministries grants to provide seed money to assist in the start-up of new, innovative campus ministries or to enhance a current program; grants will range from $3,000 to $5,000.
* One Leadership grant to establish a new, restore a dormant, or re-energize a current campus ministry; the grant will range between $20,000 and $30,000 and can be used over a two-year period with all monies being dispersed in 2015.
The grant applications are for the 2015-2016 academic year with the monies being dispersed in 2015. Deadline for submitting grant proposals is April 30.
Guidelines, addition information and to submit a proposal(s) here. A total of $95,292 in grant money is available.
For more information contact Kelly at skelly@episcopalchurch.org
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Kathryn Challoner is a physician and expert in tropical diseases at UCLA, and a Third-Order Franciscan. She is in Liberia treating Ebola patients. She sends weekly letters to Bishop Breidenthal and others to raise awareness of the ongoing work fighting Ebola in West Africa.
I rise at 5 am - really not my choice! There is a demented rooster in my yard with no sense of time -actually he starts crowing earlier but somehow I can almost drown him out until 5 am.
Cold water bucket bath, Morning Prayer, then breakfast of rice and beans and instant coffee and then in the cool grey mist of dawn, I leave for the ER.
It is so easy to pray here - spirituality is so much a part of everything here - it is part of the cycle that sustains all things and we start and end every event of the day with prayer.
This is the best time in Liberia. The mists rise to heaven and the air is cool and sweet. When the sun breaks through it is almost like the dawn of creation.
All along the way I smile and wave "Hi" to the children. Schools are still closed so they are walking to work. Wee ones in ragged clothes carrying on their heads enormous loads of bread, fruit, and they are so happy! "Hi, Dr Kathryn", they say. I long to hug them all but the no contact rule still prevails. I can give them my smile... "Hi guys, I say..." "How is everything going?" and they grin and giggle...
The children at the Phebe compound are probably the luckiest in all Liberia. They have homes, wells, a school, clinics and a nearby church and hospital. The grounds are kept cut and maintained and security patrols day and night - a sharp contrast to everywhere else.
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| | Kathryn Challoner, in full PPE (protective gear) - worn whenever there is contact with an Ebola patient |
I enter the restricted zone- hands and boots in chlorine, temperature, routine questions ad then I enter the ER. Stacked patients - the RNs have done a great job all night but they all need to see a doctor.
Rounds at 8 am - we are currently looking after 90 patients in house........teaching rounds and then we dive in. I am virtually running the ER because everyone else is working flat out. Thankfully most of the stuff I can handle...and there willing help if I am faced with something like neonatal tetanus for instance.
Around 1 pm - a headache is throbbing, and I am sweating buckets even in "modified PPE" which we see all patients in - it is still pretty intense - so back to the cottage for 3 bottles of water and goat stew and I almost feel human.
Back to the ER - the nurses work horrible 12 hour shifts had have no breaks and are trying to care for everyone and they are too far from home to go back for a meal. I have taken to bringing fruit every day for them as well as feeding the security guards (and these are the fortunate few who have jobs!)
The generators come on between 6:30-7 and there is light and you shout "fiat lux" - OK goofy and say evening prayer then rice and beans and tea and maybe you can do some email and you collapse. We are still seeing Ebola suspects and there has been a surge in cases the first week in February. The fight is not over yet.
Yet this is where I have always longed to be - and I dream of others of our Religious Orders coming also. Because isn't this what we have always dreamed of ?
Blessings
Kathryn TSSF
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.
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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.
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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.
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| | 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.
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CoCL Best Practices Conference March 21
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. Deadline to register is March 12.
Register here
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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.
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Communications Coordinator
St. Thomas, Terrace Park seeks a part-time communications coordinator. The Communications Coordinator has two main responsibilities: 1.) communication within the parish, and 2.) public relations to the larger community; both being formed by our core purpose: To make God's love known by who we are, what we practice and how we serve others in Christ's Name. As a member of the program staff team, the incumbent collaborates with the clergy, staff and volunteers in developing, administering and evaluating the different means of communications and designs the various publications as specified and planned. The incumbent must have experience / background in various verbal, written and graphic communication skills, such as creative writing, public speaking, editing, desktop publishing, production coordination, and digital design, including photography and video. See more
Choral Scholar
St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Terrace Park, Ohio is seeking a professional singer to supplement the Parish Choir and act as alto soloist when called upon. Typical time commitment involves being present at Wednesday Evening rehearsals (7-9pm) and Sunday morning services (10:45am with preceding rehearsal). Position commences immediately and lasts for the duration of this program year (May 2015). See more 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. 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. Deadline March 31. See full job description 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 is required. 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 procterfarm@diosohio.org. Director of Christian EducationChrist 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 |
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)
*convention issue. Deadline may be changed in order to have all convention materials available for pre-convention meetings.
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