connections masthead

Conecting with ...


December 8, 2015
What's new this week
Staff announcement

Ann Sabo Welcome to Ann Sabo, who has joined the diocesan staff as executive assistant to Bishop Thomas E. Breidenthal. Ann will also provide administrative assistance to the Canons. 

Ann has enjoyed a long career in the administrative field supporting presidents and CEOs for over 20 years in the computer software, paper and home building industries. Ann is married, a mother of four and soon to be grandmother. She lives in Loveland and enjoys travel, cooking, gardening and spring time with her family.

Ann can be reached at 800.582.1712 ext. 103, or [email protected].
Upcoming events


SRC logo


ERD Challenge

Bishop's video series

Many of you have expressed interest in hearing Bishop Breidenthal preach more often. For the Bishop's Video Series the communications department travels along with the bishop on the first Sunday of each month in order to accommodate this request. 

Today's video is the sermon from the bishop's visit to Grace Church, Cincinnati, on Sunday, December 6, 2015.





Training cancelled

Anti-Racism training scheduled for this Saturday, Dec. 12 has been cancelled due to a low number of registrations.

The next opportunity to take the training is on Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016 at St. Stephen's, Columbus.

Register at http://diosohio.org/events/event/anti-racism-training-6/ 
December Celebration

December Celebration A new holiday choral CD, December Celebration: New Carols by Seven American Composers, (available on iTunes) features a composition by classical composer David Garner, 2015 recipient of the American Prize for Composition, Chamber Music, and brother of Margaret Breidenthal.

Lyrics for the piece, Three Carols, were written by the brother-in-law of the composer - our own Bishop Tom Breidenthal!

The Breidenthals attended the CD release concert held in San Francisco, CA, in late November.

Connecting with ... Events around the diocese
MARCC delegate council
Connecting with ... Our cathedral
Cathedral logo Music Live at Lunch performances in December
Music Live at Lunch, Christ Church Cathedral's weekly concert series, will feature the performers listed below in December. These free concerts are presented on Tuesdays at 12:10 p.m. Patrons may bring their own lunch or purchase lunch at the cathedral for $5.
 
December 15: Christ Church Cathedral Choir performing Benjamin Britten's A Ceremony of Carols

Cincinnati Men's Chorus Holiday Concert at Christ Church Cathedral
The Cincinnati Men's Chorus will perform at Christ Church Cathedral on Saturday, December 12, at 8 p.m. and Sunday, December 13, at 2 p.m.

Titled "Our Christmas Wish," this concert features a collection of favorite holiday songs performed by Cincinnati Men's Chorus over the past 25 years. Some more lighthearted, all near and dear to Cincinnati Men's Chorus members' hearts. And all guaranteed to put you in the holiday spirit.

Ticket information: CincinnatiMensChorus.org


A Ceremony of Carols
The sopranos and altos of the Christ Church Cathedral Choir will perform on Tuesday, December 15, at 12:10 p.m.

For over four decades, the sopranos and altos of the Christ Church Cathedral Choir have presented Benjamin Britten's masterpiece, A Ceremony of Carols, during the holiday season. Considered one of the loveliest collections of carols, Ceremony is gloriously medieval in spirit - sometimes joyous, sometimes mysterious, and always deceptively simple. This year's performance features Elizabeth Motter on harp.


A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
The Christ Church Cathedral choir will perform on Sunday, December 20, at 6 p.m.

Based on a beloved service offered at King's College in Cambridge, England, since 1918, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols takes an imaginative approach to liturgy, weaving together scripture and song, moving from prophecy to fulfillment, to tell the story of the birth of Jesus. The service will be preceded by an organ recital at 5:30 p.m.


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 [email protected].

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.
Lift your spirits at the 76th annual Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival: Free group tickets available
 
Boar's head Christ Church Cathedral invites congregations to join our greater community to end the Christmas season with reflection and inspiration for Epiphany and the New Year. We offer FREE tickets for the Dress Rehearsal for up to 15 members.
 
Immerse yourselves for ~1 � hours in the glorious orchestral music, colorful pageantry and moving carols to inspire hope for the year to come. At this full Dress Rehearsal, you may experience the drama of the two crowd scenes twice.

The Dress Rehearsal will be held on Saturday, January 2, 2016 at 2 p.m. Click here to order group tickets. Requests for group tickets must be received no later than Dec. 10.

For more information and to see a schedule for all Boar's Head and Yule Log Festival performances, visit http://cincinnaticathedral.com (search for Boar's Head Festival) or check out the Boar's Head blog at http://boarsheadcincinnati.blogspot.com.

Connecting with ... Public Policy
public policy logo


Current headlines/ topics for conversation:
 
EDUCATION
ENVIRONMENT
Food & Water Watch  The Wayne National Forest could get fracked!          
 
GUN VIOLENCE
Everytown for Gun Safety  Airports, daycares, colleges - more dangerous than ever (could churches be the next approved concealed-carry site?)
HEALTH
 
HOMELESSNESS
 
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Ohio Attorney General's Commission on Human Trafficking  November 2015 updates on Ohio's anti-trafficking efforts
 
IMMIGRATION/REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT
 
VOTING RIGHTS

If you have any questions/comments about the subjects presented, please contact the Rev. Deniray Mueller, Social Justice & Public Policy Convener, at [email protected] or 614.668.6036.
Connecting with ... Procter Center
First Night ad

Connecting with ... Volunteer opportunities
How to help refugees in Southwest Ohio

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/.
Help the Sisters, help the homeless!

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  [email protected]  or 513.207.1248 if you can be a link for this ministry once a month or more.
Rides, tutors needed in Cincinnati

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 [email protected] if you can help with this critical outreach ministry.

Connecting with ... Formation opportunities
New conference highlights Missional Communities in the Episcopal Church

Leading voices from around The Episcopal Church will gather April 15-16, 2016, in Alexandria, Va., to discuss missional communities and innovative ministries. The first-ever Missional Voices conference is being held at Virginia Theological Seminary.

Organized by a group of VTS seminarians, Missional Voices will be a place where dynamic incubation of new ideas is the norm - not the exception - and where people doing uncommon ministry find support and encouragement.

The 2016 Missional Voices conference will feature presentations by notable leaders engaged in a variety of missional communities throughout The Episcopal Church, as well as group discussions and inspiring worship. The confirmed speakers include:

Stephanie Spellers - Director of Mission and Reconciliation at General Theological Seminary
Winnie Varghese - Director of Community Outreach at Trinity Wall Street
Christian Kassoff - Coach with Laundry Love
Jane Gerdsen - Missioner for Fresh Expressions in the Diocese of Southern Ohio
Eric Cooter - Canon for Ministry Development in the Diocese of Southwest Florida
Katie Nakamura Rengers - Vicar and Directory of The Abbey, Birmingham
Bob Leopold - Southside Abbey
Sara Shisler Goff - Co-Pastor of The Slate Project
Glenna Huber - Priest and Co-Chair of BUILD Baltimore
Jay Sidebotham - Director or Renewal Works
Jason Evans - Young Adult Missioner in the Diocese of Washington

Early-bird registration is $60, and includes conference materials, dinner on Friday, and breakfast on Saturday. Register online at www.missionalvoices2016.eventbrite.com.

Missional Voices exists to help the Church turn inside out. We aim to connect laity, clergy, and everyday innovators in The Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion - anyone pursuing the mission of God in their context. To learn more, visit www.missionalvoices.com.

For more information, contact Alan Bentrup at [email protected].

Apply now for Confluence Year

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

Confluence logo 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

Explorers' Retreat for those discerning a call to ordained ministry

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.

Connecting with ... Mission opportunities
Are you ready to step out and engage in mission?

about GEMN 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.
Repeat announcements 
Preventative health event at Church of the Good Samaritan

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.

Taste of the Holidays




Great Cookie Caper






The wardens, vestry and people request your prayers and presence as we celebrate the new ministry that God has called us into with
The Rev. Phyllis A. Spiegel
as we install her as fourth rector of
St. Anne Episcopal Church

Saturday, December 12, 2015
11 a.m.

The Rt. Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal
Bishop of Southern Ohio, presiding

Clergy: purple stoles
Propers: Feast of St. Lucy

St. Anne Episcopal Church
6461 Tylersville Rd
West Chester, Ohio 45069

Reception following; Childcare available
Celebration of New Ministry
 
The Wardens, Vestry, and People request your prayers
and your presence as we celebrate the new ministry
God has called us into with

The Rev. Suzanne J. LeVesconte

as we install her as the
Rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Hamilton
 
Saturday, December 19, 2015
Eleven o'clock in the morning
 
The Rt. Rev. Thomas E. Breidenthal
Bishop of the Diocese of Southern Ohio, presiding
 
Clergy: Purple Stoles
Propers: Feast of St. Lillian Trasher
 
Trinity Episcopal Church
115 N. 6th St.
Hamilton, OH 45011
 
Reception to follow
Advent events and resources
Advent Flash Compline in Uptown Westerville

Join St Matthew's, Westerville, for Flash Compline on the Wednesdays of Advent (December 2, 9, 16, and 23). We will meet at 7 p.m. at the Episcopal House at 23 E. College Avenue and walk together in candlelit procession to various spots in Uptown Westerville (no more than 2 blocks away). All are welcome!
Three Kings poster
A Community Advent 2015

Festive activities during December at St. Paul's, Dayton
 
St. Paul's, Oakwood, invites the greater Dayton community to A Community Advent 2015, featuring seasonal events in the month of December. Admission to all events is free.
 
In the Christian tradition, the season that begins November 29 and runs through Christmas Eve is called Advent. Advent is the beginning of the church year and a time of anticipation for the arrival of the Christ Child. During this season, St. Paul's will host programs for community participation.
 
December 20, 6 to 8 p.m.: LIVE NATIVITY and CHRISTMAS SHOP 
child and sheep The Second Annual Live Nativity will be presented on the green space at Far Hills and Dixon, next to the church. Parish members will recreate the roles of Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, town folk and the Three Kings, as Bethlehem comes alive - a witness to the birth of our Savior. The cr�che scene will include live animals and beautiful lights! Warm beverages and treats will be served. Winter campfires will keep you warm!
 
The Christmas Shop will be held inside the church, in a room accessible from the outdoor site. The Shop will offer many choices for stocking stuffers, holiday confections, cold weather wear - the last bits you'll need for your Christmas festivities!
 
December 24, 4 to 6 p.m. : ST. PAUL'S COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
ALL children are welcome! Rehearsal: Saturday, Dec. 19, 10 a.m. to noon;
December 24: 3 p.m. costume call; 4 p.m. Pageant service.
Visit our website www.stpauls-dayton.org for more details.
 
St. Paul's is located at 33 W. Dixon Ave, at Far Hills Avenue and Dixon Avenue in Oakwood. Free on-the-street parking is available for all events, as well as parking in the Oakwood Municipal lot off of Park Avenue. For more information, contact Jean Berry at 937.293.1154 or [email protected].

Lessons and Carols

Christmas Eve at the Community of the Transfiguration

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.

CCC Advent prayers Advent Prayers 2015 from Christ Church Cathedral
 
Every year, Christ Church Cathedral's Christian Formation Committee publishes an Advent prayer booklet to help diocesan members and friends prepare for the coming of the Christ Child. Compiled by cathedral members David Thomson and Noel Julnes-Dehner, the booklet offers a prayer for each day in Advent. Members and friends of the cathedral congregation write the prayers, including our bishop! 

Copies of the booklet may also be downloaded here. To have a print copy mailed to you, contact Crystal Jones at 513.621.1817 or [email protected].

Soul Proclamations: Singing the Magnificat with Mary

What will your soul proclaim this Advent?

Soul Proclamations 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. FM logo
 

Buy It Now:
#2382 | $5 | Read With Your Church! $4 each for 10+
Job opportunities
Interim Camp Director
The Diocese of Louisiana seeks an interim director for the Hardtner Camp and Conference Center in the Diocese of Western Louisiana.  There are things that need to be organized administratively, as well as organizing program and hospitality. A director is needed as soon as possible who can see the big picture and get on board with helping move the Camp and Conference Center forward. The board is in transition and coming along well.  Some small fund-raising campaigns are in place to upgrade facilities. The current part-time interim is working on administrative changes and organization. The Summer Camping Committee is now in place and will be getting organized for summer 2016.  The camping program is the largest part of the ministry; the conference center will need some attention as well.  This is a bishop's appointment.  Compensation: $50,000, plus a furnished house and utilities. For more information, interested persons, lay or ordained, should contact the Very Rev. Ronald H. Clingenpeel, transitions consultant at [email protected]

Missioner for Transition Ministry
Applications are now being accepted for the position of Missioner for the Office of Transition Ministry for the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society (DFMS).

The Missioner for the Office of Transition Ministry is a regular full-time position and will be located remotely. The Missioner is a member of the Mission Department of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society.

Information on this position as well as application instructions are available here.
Information on all available positions as well as application instructions are available here.
For more information contact a member of the Episcopal Church Human Resources Team at [email protected]. 
 
 Youth Director
The Indian Hill Episcopal Presbyterian Church is seeking a Youth Director to continue and grow our existing youth program. We are seeking someone who is passionate about youth and the issues that they face, being able to relate to them whether in the classroom, on a mission trip, in times of struggle as well as celebration.  We are seeking someone who can engage them, who can encourage them to participate in the life of the church, and who can walk with them in their journey of faith. This is a part-time job which pays competitively.
A full job description can be found on the Indian Hill Church web site at http://www.indianhillchurch.org/job-openings
Interested candidates can submit any questions or their resume to [email protected]
Or via standard mail at:
Youth Director Search Committee
Indian Hill Church
6000 Drake Rd.
Cincinnati, OH. 45243

Youth Minister
Part-time Youth Minister opening at St Mary's Episcopal Church in Hillsboro OH. Prefer someone who is familiar with the Episcopal Church and loves kids! Training for Youth activities available. Apartment available as part of the package. Contact the Rev. Judi Wiley at [email protected] or 937.205.4292.

Connections Deadlines
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 first day of the month:   
 
Dec 1 (January issue)
Feb 11 (March)
April 1 (May)
June 1 (July)
Aug 1 (Sept) 
Oct 1* (Nov) 
 
Please send items to [email protected]

*convention issue. Deadline subject to change
Diocese of Southern Ohio | 800.582.1712 | http://www.diosohio.org
 [email protected]
412 Sycamore St.
Cincinnati, OH 45202