e-Communiqué for April 17, 2013

April 17, 2013

Need to Know

The diocesan Committee on Mental Health is excited to announce the debut of their new free resource: "The Church & Suicide: Compassion & Response." This learning module includes video presentations from clergy and experts in the field, plus a facilitator's guide and resource guide. The module is available as a complementary DVD or can be viewed online through the Diocese's new online Resource Library. Learn more on the DioDocs blog!
The diocesan Communications Office is interested in partnering with Constant Contact to offer a series of free workshops on how to use this product for church e-mail distribution and marketing. To plan these workshops, we could use your feedback. If you use Constant Contact - which is the program we use at the Diocese to distribute electronic communications, including this e-Communiqué - please take this very brief poll.
The deadline for applications for the annual scholarships awarded by the Episcopal Church Women is May 31. Applicants must be communicants of the Diocese and high school seniors or college undergraduates. Please visit the ECW website for the applications as well as a form to donate to this fund.
Are you involved in your parish's feeding ministry? You're invited to be a part of a Diocesan feeding ministry information sharing network. Contact Stephanie Turner at notrealmom@yahoo.com to learn more!
The Diocese is currently receiving applications for a general administrative assistant to provide staff support, particularly for the offices of communications and transition ministry. Learn more.
Calling all nurses! Shrine Mont Camps are in need of RNs or LPNs to work one- or two-week sessions this summer, with compensation. Please contact Paris Ball for more info: pball@thediocese.net.
The necessary certificate of election and communicants in good standing forms for the 2014 Annual Council were due on April 15. If your church has not already submitted these forms, please access them online and submit them this week!

Diocesan Events & Programs

The Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori, presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church, and the Most Rev. Anders Wejryd of the Church of Sweden are holding a seminar on climate change at St. John's Church Lafayette Square, Washington, D.C., May 1-2. Bishop Shannon Johnston will attend the keynote event, "Sustaining Hope in the Reality of a Climate Change," and hopes that interested members of the Diocese will join him for this part of the seminar on May 1 from 7-9 p.m. at St. John's. Please let Bishop Johnston's assistant, Amy Rice Williams, know by April 26 if you plan to attend: awilliams@thediocese.net.
Join the Stewardship of Creation Committee for their next meeting on Saturday, May 4, 2013 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m.) at Church of our Saviour, Charlottesville, VA. We will be providing updates on general "Creation Care" topics, hear from our ecumenical partners, and continue our planning for our annual conference on September 21 (also at Church of our Saviour). Questions? E-mail Craig Dubishar, chair, at wcdubi@cox.net.
Did you know that the Bishop's Spring Conference isn't just for clergy? Clergy, lay professionals and spouses are encouraged to attend! If you haven't already registered for the event, May 6-8 at Shrine Mont, reserve your spot today! Come learn and engage with colleagues while exploring how to unlock church growth. Learn more. Attendees may also register for Prevention of Sexual Misconduct workshops, which will take place prior to the conference on May 6. Please register separately for these trainings.
The Spring New Clergy Orientation for clergy new to the Diocese within the past 18 months will take place at the diocesan offices at Mayo House in Richmond May 28. Participants can join in worship, have lunch with the bishops and meet the diocesan staff. Learn more and register online.

Church Calendar

4/18: Spaghetti Dinner Fund- & Friend-Raiser, St. Mark's, Richmond
4/19: Serenade! Choral Series - Calmus Ensemble Leipzig, St. Paul's, Alexandria
4/20: Stephen Ministry Workshop, Grace, Alexandria
4/20-4/21: Trinity Festival, Trinity, Washington
4/20: Mad Hatter's Tea, St. Barnabas', Annandale
4/20: Concert by the Virginia Bronze Handbell Ensemble, St. Luke's, Alexandria
4/20: Taking the Bible Seriously (Not Literally), St. Stephen's, Richmond
4/21: Evensong, St. Michael's, Arlington
4/21: Candlelight Concert & Compline, St. Mary's, Arlington
4/21: Evening Light, St. John's, Richmond
4/21: Puccini's "Messa di Gloria," Grace & Holy Trinity, Richmond
4/21: Church Service with Pere Kesner or Haiti, St. Timothy's, Herndon
4/21: Shakespeare in Song: A Celebration of Texts, Holy Comforter, Richmond
4/21: Jazz Service, Buck Mountain, Earlysville
4/24: Mental Health First Aid Course, St. Thomas', Richmond

More Church Events

Prayers for Boston

A prayer from Presiding Bishop Jefferts Schori:

Gracious God, you walk with us through the valley of the shadow of death. We pray that the suffering and terrorized be surrounded by the incarnate presence of the crucified and risen one. May every human being be reminded of the precious gift of life you entered to share with us. May our hearts be pierced with compassion for those who suffer, and for those who have inflicted this violence, for your love is the only healing balm we know. May the dead be received into your enfolding arms, and may your friends show the grieving they are not alone as they walk this vale of tears. All this we pray in the name of the one who walked the road to Calvary.

From Episcopal News:

The seven runners from Trinity Church Copley Square who were competing in the Boston Marathon to raise money for the church's anti-violence initiative escaped injury in the two explosions that ripped through the race's finish line that is within 300 yards of the church's front porch.
Bishop Tom Shaw requested prayers "for the City of Boston and all affected by and responding to this afternoons explosions" and said that diocesan staff were checking in with downtown Episcopal churches.

Some Massachusetts churches responded to the tragedy by gathering in prayer.

Read the full story online.

Other Events

Virginia Theological Seminary will host e-Formation 2013: Faith Formation for a Connected, Digital World, May 31-June 2. Learn more.

Richmond Hill has two new spiritual resource offerings. The RUAH School of Spiritual Guidance is currently receiving applications for a new class, to begin in September 2013. This two-year program focuses on the identification of the gift of spiritual guidance, with monthly 24-hour retreats. Applications are due May 15 and scholarship assistance is available. Contact Deborah Steicker, registrar, at dstreicker@richmondhillva.org. The Urban Service Corps, also beginning September 2013, is receiving applications for those interested in spending a year living in an intentional Christian community and engaging in service. Applications are due May 1. Contact the Rev. Andrew Terry at aterry@richmondhillva.org. Questions? Call Richmond Hill at 804-783-7903.

The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) will host its annual conference July 11-12 in Salt Lake City around the theme "Flourish in Faith." Learn more and register.