e-Communiqué for January 30, 2013

January 30, 2013

Need to Know

Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday will take place on February 17. To help your congregation prepare you can request a set of Lenten Meditations from ERD. Please submit requests by February 1.
Are you or your congregation involved in prison ministry in any way? Share your story with the Virginia Episcopalian magazine! Please contact Ashley Cameron at acameron@thediocese.net.
Please keep those with February mission trips in your prayers: Christ Church, Glen Allen to Haiti, February 5-11; St. Stephen's, Richmond to the Dominican Republic, February 16-23. If your church is taking a mission trip in February and you are not included on this list, please contact Ashley Cameron at acameron@thediocese.net.
Effective January 1, 2013, the IRS has increased the standard mileage rates as follows:
* 56.5 cents per mile for business travel
* 24 cents per mile for medical or moving purposes
* 14 cents per mile for charitable purposes

Diocesan Events

The Diocese of Virginia will host two performances by the Tallis Scholars, the world-renowned Renaissance vocal music choir: Tuesday, March 19 at the Falls Church, Falls Church and Wednesday, March 20 at St. James's, Richmond. Buy your tickets online now!
On Saturday, February 16, members of the Diocese will join together at St. George's, Fredericksburg at 10 a.m. in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. This event will include a litany of repentance, led Bishop Johnston, and a Celebration of Hope led by the presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori. In preparation for this event, Bishop Jefferts Schori has issued a letter to the Diocese of Virginia asking that we join in prayer. Youth and children of the Diocese are invited to participate in a group dance at this event! Participants should watch the choreography (posted on YouTube with music and without music) and arrive at St. George's at 8 a.m. on Saturday, February 16 for rehearsal. Please wear a white shirt and black pants! Visit stgeorgesepiscopal.net/freedomandhope for more details. Clergy will not vest and are encouraged to sit with their parishioners.
Churches are invited to celebrate World Mission Sunday on February 10.
The Haiti Connection 2013 Conference will be held April 10-12 in Port-au-Prince. Click here to find more details and registration information.
Mr. Chuck McCoart, formerly a Roman Catholic priest, will be received as a priest in the Episcopal Church on Saturday, February 9 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Aidan's, Alexandria. The Rt. Rev. Edwin Gulick will preside.
The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston will ordain Emmetri Monica Beane, Carey Dougherty Chirico, Holly Anne Hanback, William Harrison Higgins IV, Edward Wilson Jones, Kathryn Pauline Haney Thomas and Danny Stewart Wilmoth to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Saturday, February 23 at All Saints', Richmond.
Save the Date: The Episcopal Church Women will host a Lenten quiet day on Thursday, March 21 at Roslyn with the Bishop Goff as leader. Learn more and register.

Church Calendar

1/30: Divinity on Tap with Grace, Alexandria, Cafe 1823 at VTS
2/1: Thus the Gloomy World Began to Shine: Music for Trumpet & Soprano, St. Andrew's, Burke
2/2: The Countertop Ensemble in Concert, St. Barnabas', Annandale
2/2: ONE Campaign Advocacy Day, Holy Comforter, Richmond
2/3: Choral Evensong, St. Mary's, Arlington
2/3: Choral Evensong, Christ Church, Alexandria
2/3: Choral Evensong & Eucharist, St. Paul's Memorial, Charlottesville

More Church Events

Other Events

The Virginia chapter of the Leadership Program for Musicians will host a one-day workshop: "The Music of the Spheres: Coral Anthems from Hymnals and Beyond," March 9 at Holy Comforter, Richmond. Register for $45 before February 28 by sending names and checks to Nellwyn Beamon, Church of the Ascension, 405 Talbot Hall Rd., Norfolk VA 23505.

Annual Council

Recap & Highlights

Thanks to all who helped make Annual Council a success! Read on for some important updates.

Council members made contributions of $1,021.72 to the United Thank Offering. Special thanks to Henry Dwight Williams Burt for his help in making this happen.

The Diocese collected $4,380.25 through the Eucharist offering to benefit special feeding programs.

Did you enjoy the Shrine Mont Camps video that debuted on the Friday of Council? We encourage you to share it with your congregation! The video is available on the homepage of the camp website.

Council approved a budget for 2013, considered a number of resolutions and elected a new class to the Standing Committee. In addition, Council adopted a new amendment to the Constitution of the Diocese. A new version of the Constitution & Canons will be distributed online and in print this spring.

If you are a rector, vicar or priest-in-charge and you did not receive a copy of the Annual Council 2012 Journal, please contact Emily at echerry@thediocese.net.

If your church did not receive a packet of camp brochures, please contact Meg Schwarz at mschwarz@thediocese.net.

The following reports and addresses are available online:

Bishop Johnston's Pastoral Address (Text Only)
Bishop Goff's Report (Text Only)
Bishop Gulick's Report (Text Only)
Dr. Cliff Christopher's Friday Keynote Presentation (Audio Only)
Dr. Christopher's second keynote presentation will be available shortly.

Save the date for the 2014 Annual Council: January 23-25, 2014 in Richmond!

50 Years of Shrine Mont Camps

Want to stay in touch with the news and updates coming out of the discernment process as we explore the future of Shrine Mont Camps? Then sign-up today to receive occasional e-mail newsletters! Visit our website to sign-up. The first newsletter will land in in-boxes tomorrow!