David Hawley-Lowry, diocesan Altar Guild president in the Diocese of Western Michigan and our Province V representative to the National Altar Guild Association, is seeking interest in reconstituting a provincial Altar Guild.

 

The diocesan Altar Guild in Southern Ohio has been inactive for several years. If you have any interest in coordinating with Hawley-Lowry and connecting with other altar guilds around Province V, please contact him at davidh@stmarksgr.org. 

 

For more information on the National Altar Guild Association, visit their website at www.nationalaltarguildassociation.org.

Registration is now open for The Episcopal Church Young Adult Festival, which is scheduled to run concurrently with the 78th General Convention of The Episcopal Church, June 25 - July 3, in Salt Lake City, UT (Diocese of Utah). The event is planned and hosted by the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society.

Always a favorite event, the Young Adult Festival at General Convention 2015 will be different this time.  According to the Rev. Shannon Kelly, Acting Missioner for Campus and Young Adult Ministries for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society, the Young Adult Festival is slated to operate throughout the length of General Convention, but in two distinct segments.

The first segment, Why Serve, will be held Wednesday, June 24 to Monday, June 29. Why Serve is a gathering of young adults, ages 18 - 35, centered on discernment of vocation. Young adults of color are specifically encouraged to apply. Why Serve is open to young adults only.

The second segment, Kindling, will be held Monday, June 29 to Friday, July 3. Kindling is a gathering of leaders who are in ministry with young adults on and off college campuses. Young adult leaders and older adults who work with young adults are welcome to apply.

Young adults can register for Why Serve, or Kindling, or both. 

Information on the Young Adult Festival, costs, groups, spouses/partners, is available here.

Registration is available here. Registration will be open until Wednesday, May 20, or until space runs out.
For more information contact Kelly at skelly@episcopalchurch.org.

The Episcopal Church's General Convention is held every three years, and is the bicameral governing body of the Church. It comprises the House of Bishops, with upwards of 200 active and retired bishops, and the House of Deputies, with clergy and lay deputies elected from the 109 dioceses and three regional areas of the Church, at more than 800 members.

Note: Adult leaders wishing to attend with young adults to Why Serve should contact Kelly at skelly@episcopalchurch.org.

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? 

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/ The cost for PLAY conference registration is $55. 

Lay Worship Leader Training

 

According to the Canons of the Episcopal Church (Title III, Canon 4) a Worship Leader is a confirmed communicant in good standing "who regularly leads public worship under the direction of the member of the clergy or other leader exercising oversight of the congregation or other community of faith."  Leading Morning Prayer as the principal service on a Sunday morning, in the absence of a priest, is currently the most common exercise of this ministry in the Diocese of Southern Ohio.

 

Each person wishing to become a Lay Worship Leader must be recommended by his/her rector (or, if a congregation has no rector, by the senior warden) and participate in a two-day training offered by the diocese. Individuals needing to renew their licenses may choose to participate in one or both of the two training days - if only one, please indicate on your registration which of the days you will be present.

 

This spring, Lay Worship Leader training will be held at the Procter Center on May 2 and 9. Participants should plan to arrive between 9 and 9:30 a.m. to begin promptly at 9:30; the day's work will end about 3 p.m.  Your registration fee of $10 for each part (a total of $20 if taking both parts) covers the cost of lunch and materials.

 

Lay Worship Leader training is led by Debby Stokes, Marti Rideout and the Rev. Marjorie Menaul. The registration deadline is April 20, and a minimum of ten registrations must be received by that date in order for the spring training to be held. To register, visit https://diosohio.wufoo.com/forms/worship-leader-training-spring-2015/. For further information, contact Menaul at mmenaul@aol.com or 570.441.7311.

 

In the early centuries of the Church, congregations would gather together at Easter for the rite of initiation administered by the bishop. There was something - there is something - about sharing those significant and transformative moments with the rest of the Church.

 

As such, we offer opportunities in multiple locations around the diocese to celebrate together the rites of Holy Baptism and Confirmation, Reception or Reaffirmation. The renewal of our commitment as followers of Jesus is no small thing. "Renew in these your servants the covenant you made with them at their Baptism," the bishop prays. "Send them forth in the power of the Spirit to perfrom the service you set before them....Let your Holy Spirit be with them; and so lead them in the knowledge and obedience of your Word, that they may serve you in this life, and dwell with you in the life to come; through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

2015 dates

Saturday, April 18: Christ Church, Dayton; 11 a.m.
Saturday, April 25: Good Shepherd, Athens; 11 a.m.
Saturday, May 2: St. Anne's, West Chester; 11 a.m.
Saturday, May 16: St. Stephen's, Columbus; 11 a.m.

 

We hope this Easter season that many throughout the diocese will take advantage of these opportunities to be blessed by one another's presence and support that extend beyond our own local communities of faith.

 

Please use the online registration form if you plan to present people from your congregation or community of faith for Baptism, Confirmation, Reception or Reaffirmation at one of the Eastertide Area Confirmations. Registrations should be submitted two weeks prior to the date of the celebration so host congregations may plan appropriately.

 

For questions or for more information, contact Amanda Bower, Executive Assistant to Bishop Breidenthal at abower@diosohio.org or 800.582.1712 ext. 103.

 

Procter Farm 2015 CSA

What is a CSA?

CSA (community supported agriculture) is a particular network or association of individuals who have pledged to support one or more local farms, with growers and consumers sharing the risks and benefits of food production. CSA members pay at the onset of the growing season for a share of the anticipated harvest; once harvesting begins, they receive weekly shares of vegetables. 

 

How can I get involved?

Procter Farm is selling subscriptions for $300. We will begin distributing in June and continue for 20 weeks (minimum average $15/week value). Shares will feed 2-3 people, so go in on one with your buddy if that's too much for just you. 

 

We are also looking for people who want to be involved in our 'Volunteer for Veggies' program. If you commit to working on the farm for a total of 40 hours throughout the growing season (Now - October), you will receive your weekly share for free. Time for one share can be split between multiple people. Sign up soon, only 3 spots left!

 

What can I expect in my share?  

This year we will be planting beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, sweet corn, cucumber, eggplant, garlic, green beans, peppers, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, potatoes, pumpkins, melons, radishes, scallions, spinach, summer squash, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini, fresh herbs, and more.

 

Where can I pick up my share? 

We will have three pickup locations: 

• North Market, 59 Spruce St. Columbus 43215 Saturdays 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
• Procter Center, 11235 SR 38 London 43140 Tuesdays 12 to 7 p.m.
• Gabriel's Place 3618 Reading Rd Cincinnati 45229Thursdays 4-7 p.m.

How do I sign up?

Visit https://diosohio.wufoo.com/forms/procter-csa-2015/ to subscribe. You will have the options of paying by credit card online, by credit card over the phone, or by check. For more info contact

procterfarm@diosohio.org. 

 Eat well!

 

Music series at St. John's features award winning organist Kirk M. Rich 

 

St. John's Worthington, invites you to hear prize-winning organist Kirk M. Rich on Sunday, April 19, at 3 p.m.

 

Rich is quickly becoming known as a solo and collaborative artist of integrity, praised for his technical command of the organ and breadth of musical imagination. He was featured in recital as a "Rising Star" at the 2008 American Guild of Organists National Convention in Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minnesota, and in 2014, he won third prize in the AGO's National Young Artists' Competition in Organ Performance. Most recently, he is the winner of the 2015 William C. Hall Pipe Organ Competition. His program for St. John's will include works of Bach, Brahms, Dupré, Stanley, and Vierne. 

 

Rich holds degrees from the Oberlin College Conservatory of Music and Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music; he is currently pursuing a DMA at the University of Houston. There is no charge for admission to the concert; 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.

 

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. Diocesan House will be closed on April 30 so that all lay employees will be able to attend the conference.

 

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 

 

Native American Roundtable rescheduled

The Diocese of Southern Ohio and the Native American Council of Christ Church Cathedral are sponsoring a Native American Roundtable at Procter Center on Sunday, May 3, at 2 p.m. The Roundtable is open to all who are interested in Native American issues, concerns and opportunities.

 

Many churches in the diocese have been involved in mission work and supporting Native Americans on reservations. The Roundtable is being held to promote collaboration and engagement in working for and with our Native American sisters and brothers throughout the US.

 

Topics will include sharing past and present Native American initiatives, developing a vision for collaboration, identifying the best possibilities for achieving the vision and planning future meetings.

 

Check http://diosohio.org/events/event/native-american-roundtable/ for more information or to register. If you have questions, please email the Rev. Anne Reed, Canon for Mission at areed@diosohio.org.