Road work between Procter Center and London will cause a closure of State Route 38 Oct. 7-14. This closure may affect direct access to Procter for people traveling to the center from the North.

People traveling to Procter via I-71 North or South to State Route 38 will not be affected. Those who travel to Procter via London to State Route 38 will need to find an alternate route during the road closure. (State Route 41 S to State Route 323 will take you into Midway - turn left at the light.) 

For further assistance, call the Procter Center at 740.206.2036.

For more than 75 years, The Episcopal Church has welcomed refugees to the United States, helping them find safety, security and new lives as American citizens. Now, with at least 60 million people displaced from their homes and lives, the global community is facing the largest refugee crisis since the end of World War II.

"We are all witnesses to this massive human suffering," noted Samuel McDonald, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Director of Mission. "As Episcopalians in the United States, we are called ever more deeply into responding to this tragedy by engaging the life-saving ministry of refugee resettlement."

Lately, the media has been dominated by photos, videos and stories of Syrian refugees fleeing war and seeking asylum in Europe. But the violence in Syria is just one of the ongoing conflicts underlying one the largest migrations in human history. Decades of war and violence in places like Democratic Republic of Congo, Somalia, Afghanistan, Iraq and Myanmar have forced citizens to flee and prevented their ability to return home.

"Episcopalians from across the church have been reaching out to us on a daily basis asking how they can be involved in mission and advocacy that supports refugees," Deborah Stein, Episcopal Migration Ministries Director. "We hope that this webinar will inspire individuals, congregations, and dioceses to engage this life-saving work in new ways."

When refugees cannot return home or stay in the country in which they receive asylum, a very small number may be considered for resettlement to a third country like the United States, Australia, Canada, and Norway, among others.

Presenters
Leading the webinar will be: Allison Duvall, Episcopal Migration Ministries Manager for Church Relations and Engagement; Lacy Broemel, Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society's Office of Government Relations Manager for Online Communications and Operations; Patricia Kisare, Legislative Representative for International Affairs, Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society and Evangelical Lutheran Church in America; and Jen Smyers, Associate Director for Immigration and Refugee Policy, Church World Service.

Registration
Pre-registration is required.  Register for the webinar here.
The webinar will be available on-demand following the event.

For more information contact Duvall at aduvall@episcopalchurch.org.

The deadline for the Fall grant period is fast approaching!  Please apply by October 31 for this opportunity.

Size of Grants: Grants usually range in size from $500 to $2,000.

Eligibility:
* Grants are made to diocesan, parish, or community-based organizations that are within the Appalachian region or serve Appalachian people.
* Organizations or individuals applying for grants must have a clear connection and/or relationship to the Episcopal Church.
* These organizations must serve communities in the Appalachian region or urban Appalachian communities outside the region.
Criteria:
* Appalachian Initiative Grants are intended to be used as seed money for ministries and organizations to seize opportunities of a one-time nature and project start-up costs.
* Grants must be for a specific ministry, project or program.
* Successful grant requests would typically be for purchasing specific items (e.g., computer equipment, building supplies, etc.)
* Consideration will be given to projects that involve awarding "scholarships" to participants of programs if the money is being used specifically for those scholarships.
* Requests for money to supplement or cover regular operating expenses such as salaries, will not be awarded.  Money for "matching grants" will not be awarded.
* Successful applications will usually involve helping Appalachians address regional issues such as poverty, literacy, health care, unemployment, education, cultural affirmation, or the environment through direct service.
Application Process (new guidelines)
* Applications must be submitted through the local diocese and be approved and endorsed by the bishop of the diocese. (The bishop of the diocese may appoint a committee for this process at his or her discretion)
* Each diocese will prioritize the applications received to submit to the EAM Small Grants Selection Committee by the deadlines.
* Each diocese will only be allowed to submit  no more than 2 applications for each grant period (spring and fall, 4 total for the year).
Application Deadlines: 
Applications will be accepted at any time. The Grants Committee usually meets in April and November. Usual project start times are July 1 or January 1. Exceptions will be considered. Applications for April are due March 31. Applications for November consideration are due October 31.

Download Grant Applications Here:

PDF Format (click here)

E-mail your proposal with the subject line, "grant application" to episcopalappministries@gmail.com or mail a hard copy to:

The Rev. L. Gordon Brewer, Jr.
Episcopal Appalachian Ministries
5337 Heritage Lane
Kingsport, TN  37664
Fax: 888.395.1262

Mark Curnutte and Chara Fisher Jackson of Urban League to speak at MARCC meeting Oct. 14  

The Urban League's The State of Black Cincinnati-Two Cities 2015 documents a continuing gulf between the wellbeing of black and white residents of Cincinnati.Distinguished human rights reporter Mark Curnutte, a principal author of the study, joins Cincinnati Urban League's new executive director to share top finding to equip the faith community to take action to overcome this horrifying reality. The meeting is open to all, and takes place at 12 noon in the undercroft of St. Peter in Chains Cathedral, 325 West Eighth Street, Cincinnati.There are plenty of meters which accept credit cards around the Cathedral.  Please enter by the door farthest west, near Central Avenue. Tea and coffee provided - bring your lunch.  

For more information about the Metropolitan Area Religious Coalition of Cincinnati, the city's only interfaith coalition, visit www.marcconline.com or call 513.721.4843.

1. Access to High Quality Preschool for Every Three and Four Year Old in Hamilton County
2. Racial Equity 
3. Economic Fairness 

One City, One Symphony is the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra's community-wide project that brings us together through music. By connecting music the CSO performs at Music Hall to themes relevant to each of us in our everyday lives, One City, One Symphony inspires us, provokes our thinking and celebrates our shared humanity. Amplified by the enthusiasm of dozens of community partners, One City, One Symphony has inspired people and created community conversation since its debut in 2012.

The Music of Freedom
This year's One City, One Symphony concerts being held November 13-14 at Music Hall, center on the theme of freedom, featuring a new CSO commission of three short works that set selections of Dr. Maya Angelou's poetry to music, a particularly befitting tribute to this warrior for peace, justice, and love, and Dvořák's New World Symphony, one of the most beloved symphonies of all time. This celebration of freedom and American music coincides with the 150th anniversary of the 13th Amendment.

Listening Party
To take place in October and November, these parties are held at various venues and offer the community an opportunity to listen to recorded examples of orchestral works, and to delve into the historical and social context of the music. Parties for 2015 will discuss the theme of freedom as it relates to the music. (Please note - these events are not concerts.) A Listening Party will be held at Church of the Advent, Cincinnati, on Monday, Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.

Church of the Advent is located at 2366 Kemper Lane in Cincinnati. Call 513.961.2100 for more information.

Seeking to engage the community in discussion around One City, One Symphony and the theme of freedom, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, with support from the Haile U.S. Bank Foundation, is holding a poetry contest. The original poem submissions will be responses to the question, "What does freedom mean to you?"

This poetry contest is open to legal residents of the states of Ohio, Kentucky, and Indiana enrolled in grades 9-12 or adults age 18 or older at time of entry.

For entrants seeking inspiration for their writing, the CSO recommends reading the three poems by Dr. Maya Angelou being used in the CSO commissioned works at One City, One Symphony. Those poems by Dr. Maya Angelou are Forgive, Equality, and Elegy. The CSO also recommends listening to Antonín Dvorák's Symphony No. 9 From the New World. This recommended reading and listening is merely a suggestion and is not a requirement of entrants and will not be taken into consideration during the judging of submissions.

For more information about One City, One Symphony visit www.cincinnatisymphony.org/onecity 

October 23-24
Common Grounds

Looking for spiritual refreshment, in a beautiful atmosphere, close to home? Then consider an overnight retreat sponsored by Christ Church, Ironton, at Common Grounds in Vinton, Ohio to learn more about forgiveness, restoration and reconciliation. Common Grounds is a restored property of late 1800s Americana, nestled in the beautiful hills of southeastern Ohio in Gallia County Ohio. It is an easy drive from Portsmouth, Ironton or Gallipolis.

Cost for the retreat is $50 a person and includes lodging, dinner, continental breakfast and lunch. Double and twin beds. Retreat limited to 20 people. To register, call 740.285.4090 by October 14. Cash or checks made payable to Christ Episcopal Church. Please note any food allergies or special needs.


Download a flyer and list of retreat leaders here

The Church of the Good Samaritan, Amelia will host a community craft show on Saturday, October 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.. 

Crafters who are interested in participating should call the church at 513.753.4115. We are charging $20 for a space that will include a 6-foot table. If you bring your own table, we will only charge $15. 

Baked goods, soup, sandwiches and beverages will also be available for purchase during the sale.

Church of the Good Samaritan is located at 25 Amelia Olive Branch Rd. in Amelia.