"Necessary for Their Continuing One Religious Communion"

A recent trip to Charleston, South Carolina, left a sadness in my heart for the state of our church. The cathedral church of the group that sued The Episcopal Church and has broken away from this province of the Anglican Communion now has the word "Episcopal" blacked out on its signs. Nice folks inside, and yet the conversations were stilted to say the least. Mere blocks away is a lively and, from what I can tell, growing congregation - Grace Church, Charleston, which is still a member of The Episcopal Church. These are not two separate institutions; they're neighbors and, once upon a time, I'll bet, collaborative partners in ministry. If nothing else, there are certainly shared families and deep friendships between key leaders in both places. Read more...

Bishop's Blog: Acceptance Comes First

Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." - Mark 8:34

Before we can take up our cross, we must accept our cross, and acceptance is not easy. I don't think that it's meant to be. For a cross represents death, and the life force within us will always struggle against death. When, by grace, we're spared from death, how can we be anything but grateful? Read more...
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In the Diocese

"Greening the faith in the Washington area"
This article from the Washington Post features Grace Episcopal Church, Silver Spring

"It started a little more than a year ago, with an innocuous question during coffee hour after a Sunday service at Grace Episcopal Church in Silver Spring. The Rev. Andrew Walter remembers someone asking why the congregants were using paper plates and cups at their weekly gathering." Read more...

The Confirmation Project
You are invited to share your opinions about Confirmation in this 15-20 minute survey. 

Washington National Cathedral Phase I 
earthquake repairs completed
[Washington National Cathedral]Washington National Cathedral has announced the completion of Phase I repairs in its ongoing earthquake restoration work. Read more...
Upcoming Diocesan Events

February 27-March 1
Vacation Bible School Review Fair
Need some help with your VBS planning? The Center for the Ministry of Teaching has been reviewing curricula from popular publishers to give you a head start. Reviews for 2015 will go live Friday, Feb. 27 at keyhallonline.org/vbs. You can come see the kits for yourself in Key Hall at Virginia Seminary in Alexandria Saturday, Feb. 28 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. or Monday March 2 through Friday March 6 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.

February 28
Upcoming Ordinations
Grace Church, Silver Spring
You're invited to the ordinations of Nathan Beall and Gayle Fisher-Stewart as deacons and the reception of Jose Francisco Valle as priest. Clergy planning to process should wear red stoles and RSVP to Cheryl Wilburn.

March 8
Guest Preacher: Father Michael Lapsley
St. Stephen and the Incarnation
Father Michael Lapsley, an Anglican priest and former South African anti-apartheid activist, will preach at the 10:30 am service. Father Lapsley is the author of Redeeming the Past: My Journey from Freedom Fighter to Healer. This event is hosted by the Southern Africa Partnership Committee. Father Lapsley is in Washington to receive a Living Legends Award for Service to Humanity from the Human Symphony Foundation onSaturday, March 7. 

April 10-12
Silent Spring Retreat
Bon Secours Retreat and Conference Center, Marriottsville, MD
This year's retreat will focus on the theme "Beauty in a Troubled Word: Reclaim the Sacred and Holy in God's Creation." The retreat leader is The Rev. Dr. Joan E. Beilstein, Rector of Church of the Ascension, Sligo. Registration deadline is March 12, 2015.  The fee is $325; Scholarships are available. More information...

April 17-18
Live Now Serve Now: Youth and Family Service Day
National Cathedral grounds
Youth and Families are invited to join together from across churches and regions and learn why service and outreach are important parts of a Christian life. Attendees will also participate in a hands-on service project. We will camp-out, worship and service in and around the National Cathedral grounds. Find out more and register now.

July 12-18
Youth and Young Adult Freedom Ride
Lift Every Voice is a new, three-year initiative of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina for youth and young adults ages 15-22 from across the Episcopal Church. The first of these three years is Freedom Ride, 2015. Read more about this initiative. Find out more about how you can apply .
Parish Events

Ebola Relief Effort
The Sierra Leone Episcopal/Anglican Community Ministry is collecting food items, toiletries, and other essentials through February 28 to support ebola relief efforts in Freetown, Sierra Leone. Items can be dropped off at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Aspen Hill. A list of suggested items is available on the website.

Holy Land Pilgrimage
St. Anne's Damascus will be hosting a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from October 19 to November 3. Find out more.

February 27
4pm: The Cathedral Choral Society presents Fauré's Requiem

6pm: The Duke Ellington School of Music will hold its recital at St. Luke's, DC

March 1
10:10am: Promoting Peace: Christians and Muslims in Dialogue at the National Cathedral

March 2
7:30pm: Lenten Taize Service & Healing Rite at Redeemer, Bethesda

March 3
8:30am: Dementia 101 for the Faith Community at Arden Courts in Kensington

March 4
7:30am: Bishop Mariann will emcee the Next Step Breakfast, hosted by Samaritan Ministry 

6:30pm: Wednesday Lenten Eucharist at St. Luke's, DC


March 5
7pm: Good Shepherd invites you to a special Lenten series focused on the Holy Land. Ambassador Philip C Wilcox, Jr., career diplomat and past President of the Foundation for Middle East Peace, will speak. 
Prayer List
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