Church of the Redeemer is located at 2944 Erie Avenue in Hyde Park. Call 513.321.6700 for more information.

The annual Advent Festival of Lessons and Music will take place at Church of the Good Shepherd, Athens, on Sunday, Dec.6 at 4:30 p.m. The choir, directed by Marsha Reilly, will be assisted by Jan Robison, organ, Lizzie Hamilton, flute and Amy Schaaf, trumpet. A free will offering will be collected to support the June Black Music Fund. A reception will be held in Nehls Hall following the program. There will also be the Holiday House with seasonal items for sale.

Church of the Good Shepherd is located at 64 University Terrace in Athens. Call 740.593.6877 for more information.

The Sisters of the Community of the Transfiguration would like to invite all to attend Christmas Eucharist at 11 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 24. at the Chapel of the Transfiguration, 495 Albion Ave. Cincinnati. There will be reception after the service.

Catholic Social Services of Southwest Ohio is teaming up with the State Department to resettle 325 refugees in the coming months.  Most of the initial group will come from Africa. All undergo an extensive vetting process and arrive with financial support from the US Government to help with their expenses in the first 90 days, after which they are expected to be self-suffiient.  

Catholic Social Services staff provide intensive case management and referral to housing and jobs. Among the many ways churches can help include assembling welcome baskets of household supplies, volunteering to drive families to appointments, and tutoring in English. For more information on the resettlement process and how you can help, go to https://www.ccswoh.org/services/refugees/.

The Community of the Transfiguration has teamed up with StreetChurch from Church of Our Saviour/La Iglesia de Nuestro Salvador, for the past year, providing healthy brown-bag lunches every week which are distributed among homeless and indigent people in Cincinnati early Sunday afternoon.

We need help getting the lunch bags from the Convent in Glendale to the Church in Mt. Auburn, on Sunday mornings any time between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. The Sisters are not able to do this, and most able bodied parishioners with cars are already involved in church carpools, with routes far from Glendale.

Ideally, we would like to count on a rota of volunteers who might keep the same Sunday once per month, or two people who can alternate, and a backup. You don't have to attend services at the Convent or at COS/LINS to help with this ministry.  But all of us will offer prayers of thanks for the blessing of your part in this vital ministry!

Contact the rector Paula M. Jackson at  mtr.paula@gmail.com  or 513.207.1248 if you can be a link for this ministry once a month or more.

The learners are many, drivers and tutors few!

Can you spare two hours a week to help kids with their homework?  Very rewarding, because the kids are eager to learn and love the interaction.

The Price Hill Learning Club, which receives money from ECSF and the Latino Ministry Commission, has many new students. These are "English Language Learners", children born in the US but who only hear Spanish at home.

Right now we are transporting students with a van given to the ministry by the Sisters of the Transfiguration. Many more students would participate if we could only transport them!

Can you take a Monday or Wednesday late afternoon to help a) transport students a short distance from their Price Hill homes to the Learning Club, (3636 Warsaw Avenue), then tutor from 4:30 to 6:15 p.m. and ferry them home? Guaranteed to be the highlight of your week!  No Spanish needed...

Contact Nancy Sullivan at badgmur@gmail.com if you can help with this critical outreach ministry.

Applications are now accepted for the 2016 United Thank Offering grants: 10 grants of $2500 for young adults (ages 21-30); and 10 grants of $2500 to seminarians (no age limit).

"The United Thank Offering Board is broadening the scope of granting to reach out to groups of people who are working on innovative ministries who might not have a clear pathway in the grant process," noted  Sandra K. Squires, Ed.D., United Thank Offering Board President. "Historically, seminaries were not included in the grant process unless they applied through the diocese where they are geographically located.  Starting this year, seminarians will be able to apply for grants alongside the Young Adult grant process."

Established by United Thank Offering, a ministry of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society to promote thankfulness and mission in the whole Church, the purpose of the grants is to provide start-up money for a new project that focuses on any of the Five Marks of Mission.  The funds are not permitted to the continuation of on-going ministries.

"The expansion of the Young Adult program is a recognition by the United Thank Offering board of this important ministry, and an indication of the board's support of their work," remarked the Rev. Heather Melton, the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society's Missioner for the United Thank Offering.

Samuel McDonald, Deputy Chief Operating Officer and Director of Mission, agreed. "The United Thank Offering grants for young adults and seminarians are an avenue for mission and ministry as well as leadership development for The Episcopal Church."

Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally in The Episcopal Church.

Young Adult Grant Process
* Young Adult grant applications must be written by and the subsequent project (if awarded) led by someone aged 21-30.
* Young Adults should submit their applications to their diocese by the deadline set by the diocese.
* The bishop will select one application per diocese.The diocesan office will submit its choice by Friday, January 29, 2016 at 5 pm Eastern to utoapps@episcopalchurch.org.
* A bishop's signature is required on the application. Applications without a bishop's signature will not be accepted.
* Young Adult Grant applicants will be notified of the status of their application on March 1, 2016.  Grants will be paid to the Diocese at that time, unless the diocese has outstanding grant reports.
* Information available here

Seminarian Grant Process
* Seminarian grant applications must be written by and the subsequent project (if awarded) led by someone currently enrolled in one of the ten accredited seminaries of The Episcopal Church.
* Seminarians should submit their applications to their dean by the deadline set by the dean of the seminary.
* The dean will select two applications per seminary. The dean's office will submit its choice by Friday, January 29, 5 pm Eastern to utoapps@episcopalchurch.org
* The dean's signature is required on the application. Applications without a dean's signature will not be accepted.
* Seminarian Grant applicants will be notified of the status of their application on March 1, 2016. Grants will be paid to the seminary at that time.
* Information available here

Webinars
United Thank Offering will offer two sets of webinars to answer questions. The first set is for those interested in applying who might have questions about the process or their specific project: December 9 and 10 at 8 pm Eastern.

The second set is to help screening committees with their questions and will be held on January 13 and 14, 2016 at 8 pm Eastern.

To join: Click here or call 415.762.9988, Meeting ID: 814 040 8194.

More information
For more information contact Melton at hmelton@episcopalchurch.org.

From 1964 to 2015, the Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) has named 214 scholars and ministry leaders as ECF Fellows. The application for the 2016 Fellowship is now open.

All applicants to the Fellowship Partners Program should bear the following in mind:

ECF is committed to strengthening the leadership capability of the Episcopal Church. Applicants to the academic and ministry tracks are asked to describe how they will be developing the next generation of leaders for the Episcopal Church, whether in the context of academia, a local congregation, through a church-wide initiative, or in another setting.

An ECF Fellowship provides both financial support and networking opportunities. ECF has typically awarded three to four Fellowships per year. New awards range up to $15,000 for the first year and are renewable for an additional two years. In addition to this financial support, new Fellows join a wide network of past Fellows and ECF partners with them so that they may share their knowledge, experience, and best practices with the wider Church.

The selection process for an ECF Fellowship is highly competitive. A strong application requires a significant investment of time and effort and ECF encourages all applicants to begin this process early. Applications are due on March 11, 2016. ECF will announce the 2016 Fellows in late May of 2016.

Please visit the ECF website to learn more about the Fellowship Partners Program, the application process, and be sure to review our list of Frequently Asked Questions. You will find profiles of the 2015 Fellows here and our complete list of all ECF Fellows here. Please email Miguel Escobar, Managing Program Director or  Brendon Hunter, Associate Program Director, should you have any questions about this program or the application process.

The 2016-17 Confluence Year application is now open! www.esc.hiretouch.com

Confluence is excited to be hosting our fourth class of Episcopal Service Corps members. Confluence welcomes recent college graduates or young adults who commit to a year of spiritual formation, vocational discernment, social justice and intentional community.

Starting in August, corps members work 35 hours per week in direct-care or administrative positions at some of Columbus' most innovative and caring social service agencies and churches. The members live in intentional community, sharing the Hospitality House in the Franklinton neighborhood, while serving the homeless and volunteering in the community. They receive support and educational enrichment through Confluence staff, neighborhood partners, the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio, and the congregational community of St. John's Episcopal Church.

Please pass along the application link esc.hiretouch.com to any young adults you know that may be interested, and keep up with Confluence by following us in the following places.

Facebook: Facebook.Com/ConfluenceYear
Website: ConfluenceYear.Org
Twitter: @ConfluenceYear
Instagram: ConfluenceYear

The annual Explorer's Retreat will be held the evening of Feb. 6 through the early afternoon of Feb. 7 at the Procter Center. The registration deadline is Jan. 23.

The Explorer's Retreat provides an overview of the discernment and ordination processes as well as plenty of time for conversation about the diaconate and the priesthood. Anyone who desires to begin a formal exploration of a possible call to ordained ministry is required to attend this informational and fun weekend.

Considerations prior to attending the Explorer's Retreat:

• Explorers should have been in serious and regular conversation with their clergy person about their call for an extended period of time (in the neighborhood of a year). Both the clergy person and the explorer should have done some deep thinking about the explorer's vocation prior to Explorers' Day as this day assumes that intentional vocational discernment has already begun.
• Only those who have been confirmed or received in the Episcopal Church and have been active members of the Episcopal Church for at least two years should attend the Explorers' Retreat.

The Global episcopal Mission Network (GEMN) is blessed to have many partner organizations who are sent as Christ's "hands and feet" throughout the world. If you feel a call to join them in short- or long-term mission, here are some opportunities that we encourage you to explore:

Shorter-term mission opportunities:
Colforpaz (www.colforpaz.org) Working in Colombia, COLFORPAZ and GEMN will jointly run a 7-day global mission education program called "The Colombian Encounter: A Global Mission Leadership Program", to be held Jul 30-Aug 6, 2016 (Cost: $975)

Cristosal (www.cristosal.org) works in El Salvador and offers a variety of courses through its Global School, as well as pilgrimages and custom trips. Its programs center around human rights, community development and local empowerment. (Cost: $800)

Dominican Development Group (dominicandevelopmentgroup.org) is working in the Dominican Republic. DDG can help with facilitation, planning and deployment for mission teams of all sizes throughout the year, including construction and medical mission.

Elewana (www.elewana.org) works in Kenya to promote education and local leadership. Elewana offers summer and teaching internships, volunteer opportunities and a residential training program in service learning, sustainable development and global partnerships.

El Hogar (www.elhogar.org) operates four schools for abandoned and hopelessly poor students, and welcomes service teams of up to 15 from Feb through Oct. ($2500/team + $200/pp)

Grey Dove (www.greydoveinc.org). Grey Dove coordinates medical mission teams to Haiti for both medical and non-medical personnel, as well as conducting conferences on best medical mission practices.

Haiti Connection (www.haitiepiscopalconnection.org) provides important conferences for connecting Episcopalians and others who are working in Haiti. Their next conference will take place in Port-au-Prince April 6-8, 2016.

Longer-term mission opportunities:
Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) is for 21-30 year-olds who are interesting in serving for a one-year placement. The application deadline for 2016 is Jan 8th, 2016. Visit www.episcopalchurch.org/yasc for more information and to apply.

Episcopal Mission Personnel (www.episcopalchurch.org/page/mission-personnel) is for adults of all ages who are interested in exploring a mission placement in all areas of the world, typically for three years. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Contact the Mission Personnel office for more information and for assistance with discernment.

December 8: Kyle Meadows (hammered dulcimer) and Tisa McGraw (Celtic harp)
Position available
A docent position is currently available at Christ Church Cathedral for someone who is interested in working a few hours a week during Open Door hours. Interested candidates would have compassion, patience and understanding, and be available to answer questions or direct individuals as needed as they come through the cathedral.

This paid position requires light walking and some administrative work, as well as other duties in limited capacity. This role is perfect for college students with a break during their day, or retirees looking to fill in their late mornings/ early afternoons. The Open Door hours are 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. M-F. Those interested in more details, or to apply, should email Mark Priest at mpriest@cccath.org.

Christ Church Cathedral is located at 318 E. 4th Street (4th and Sycamore) in downtown Cincinnati. For more information, visit www.cincinnaticathedral.com or call 513.621.1817.

A SoulCollage Quiet Day

Saturday, Dec. 5
St. Barnabas, Montgomery

One way to avoid feeling deflated on Dec, 25 is to spend time in early Advent reflecting on what you would like to see happen during this liturgical season. Setting intentions to accomplish your desires is the first step toward a more meaningful Advent.

Christians have traditionally used the four Sundays and weeks of Advent to prepare for Christmas. We will honor this tradition by reflecting on traditional incarnational theology as well as exploring more contemporary insights into the Incarnation.

We will then utilize images from magazines and other publications to collage new understandings of the Incarnation for ourselves. No artistic talent or training is needed!

This Quiet Day is for participants 18 and older.

Click here for a full-sized flyer

The Church of the Good Samaritan is pleased to offer a preventive health event. Life Line Screening, a leading provider of community-based preventive health screenings, will host their affordable, non-invasive and painless health screenings on Wednesday, December 9. Five screenings will be offered that scan for potential health problems related to

• blocked arteries which is a leading cause of stroke
• abdominal aortic aneurysms which can lead to a ruptured aorta
• hardening of the arteries in the legs which is a strong predictor of heart disease
• atrial fibrillation or irregular heart beat which is closely tied to stroke risk
• bone density screening for men and women, used to assess the risk of osteoporosis.

Register for a WellnessPackage which includes four vascular tests and osteoporosis screening from $149 ($139 with our member discount). All five screenings take 60 to 90 minutes to complete. In order to register for this event and to receive a $10 discount off any package priced above $129, Please call 888.653.6441 or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/community-partners.

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

Join Mary's proclamation as you let your soul sing the Magnificat with her. Walk with Mary this Advent as your prepare your heart and mind and ready yourself to respond to Jesus with the same humble, gracious yes, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

These daily meditations carry you from the first day of Advent through Epiphany and feature the writings of well-known faith and thought leaders in The Episcopal Church.

Authors include Ray Suarez, a nationally known broadcast journalist; Christopher Wells, editor of The Living Church; Kate Moorehead, dean of St. John's Episcopal Cathedral; Thomas E. Breidenthal, bishop of the Diocese of Southern Ohio; and Christine McSpadden, a member of the clergy team of St. Paul's Cathedral in London.

Click here to read a sample selection from each author.
 

Buy It Now:
#2382 | $5 | Read With Your Church! $4 each for 10+