October 1, 2014

Diocesan Events & Info

Jump Start Workshop, Oct. 4, Emmanuel Brook Hill, Richmond

There is still time to register for this one-day workshop! This Saturday, participants will gather to address how your congregation can Jump Start itself to a more vibrant, vital and authentic community of faith. This is an opportunity to think creatively about how to be a church of the future. Learn more and register today!

Fall Youth Day of Service, Oct. 4, St. Thomas', McLean

Participants will help with the St. Thomas' pumpkin patch, a program that raises funds for the congregation's mission and outreach work. The event is free and open to all 6th- through 12th-grade youth (accompanied by a chaperone). Learn more and register.

New Clergy Orientation, Oct. 14, Mayo House, Richmond
All clergy who have begun new ministries in the Diocese within the past 18 months are invited to attend. Come to have lunch with the bishops, attend Eucharist, meet the diocesan staff and learn about the resources available to clergy. Learn more.

ECW Fall Meeting, Oct. 16, All Saints', Richmond The 124th Fall Meeting & 126th United Thank Offering In-gathering of the Episcopal Church Women will meet under the theme "Many Paths - One Journey... Many Callings - One Purpose." Learn more.

Anti-Racism Workshop, Oct. 17-18, St. Mark's, Richmond

Hosted by the diocesan Committee on Race & Reconciliation. Learn more.

Bishop's Fall Clergy Retreat, Oct. 20-22, Shrine Mont

This year's Fall Clergy Retreat will feature the Rev. Martin L. Smith, who is well known throughout the Episcopal Church and beyond as a preacher, retreat leader and writer of a number of widely read books exploring contemporary spirituality. Learn more.

Fall Camp, Oct. 27-30, Shrine Mont
This year's four day adult conference sponsored by the Tri-Diocesan Council on Aging will include Keynote speaker Terry Hershey, the Rt. Rev. Martin Towsend and folk theologian, Ed Kilbourne. Fall Camp is an opportunity to spend time in the mountains of Virginia with other seniors from across the Commonwealth and from other states. Learn more and register.

Camps Fundraising Dinner, Nov. 1, Virginia Theological Seminary
Show your support of the Shout It From the Mountain campaign to renovate camp facilities and endow scholarships. Reserve your seat by Oct. 22. Learn more and register.

Diocesan Planned Giving Workshop - Nov. 1, Holy Cross, Dunn Loring

Facilitated by Karl Mattison, executive director of the Presbyterian Endowment Education & Resource Network, this workshop will discuss how planned gifts to the church help ensure a future that will help serve as a testament of your values for generations. Learn more.

Disaster Preparedness & Response Volunteer Day, Nov. 8, St. Stephen's, Culpeper
Meet with a Hurricane Sandy relief coordinator, and learn about recovery mission opportunities and how to get started planning recovery mission trips. Attendees can join in a Q&A session, enjoy a free lunch and participate in the misconduct prevention trainings necessary for mission trips at this diocesan event. Contact Mary Anne Bryant, mabryant@thediocese.net to register. Learn more.

Need to Know

OPEN ENROLLMENT IS COMING! The online Open Enrollment for employee 2015 health benefits will run from Oct. 31 - Nov. 21, 2014. IMPORTANT NOTE: For 2015, employees will no longer receive a unique user name and password specifically for Open Enrollment. You must use the same user name and password created to access benefits information on MyCPG Accounts to access the enrollment web page as well. If you have not already created an account on MyCPG Accounts, please do so at your next opportunity. For assistance, contact the Client Services Team at 800-480-9967 or mtcustserv@cpg.org.

Episcopal Relief & Development, in response to the Ebola crisis in Liberia and Sierra Leone, has set up an Ebola Response fund to help source and ship medical supplies to clinics and hospitals in infected areas. Download the half-page or full-page bulletin insert for information on how to contribute to this fund.

The diocesan cycle of prayer for October - December is now available for download.

If your church or region is planning on taking a mission trip this October, November or December, please inform Melissa Eadie, the new intern working alongside the Office of Missions and Outreach: intern@thediocese.net. We would like to add these individuals and trips to our prayer list.

Church Calendar

10/1: Covenant Class, Christ Church, Alexandria
10/1: Adult Bible Study, Holy Comforter, Vienna
10/2: Spiritual Gifts Series, St. Mark's, Richmond
10/2: Barbara Brown Taylor, St. Stephen's, Richmond
10/3: Eyes on Richmond, St. Paul's, Richmond
10/4: Fall Fun Festival, St. Margaret's, Woodbridge
10/4: Homecoming Weekend, St. Francis, Great Falls
10/4: Jazz, Blues and the Spirit: A Concert, St. Francis, Great Falls
10/4: St. Francis Fair, St. Francis, Great Falls
10/4: Labyrinth Prayer Walk, Christ Church, Alexandria
10/5: Evensong, Emmanuel, Harrisonburg
10/5: Celtic Evensong & Communion, St. George's, Fredericksburg
10/5: Blessing of the Animals service, St. Francis, Great Falls
10/5: Blessing of the Animals service, Christ Church, Millwood
10/5: Blessing of the Animals service, The Falls Church, Falls Church
10/5: Blessing of the Animals service, St. John's, Richmond
10/5: Blessing of the Animals service, St. George's, Arlington
10/5: 20s/30s Vision Group Dinner, Christ Church, Alexandria
10/5: Launch "Where is Your Heart?" Stewardship Campaign, Christ Church, Alexandria
10/5: Choral Evensong & Festive Reception, Christ Church, Alexandria
10/5: Feast of St. Francis, Blessing of the Animals, St. James's, Richmond
10/5: Blessing of the Pets, Christ Church, Alexandria
10/5: 30 Good Minutes - The Bible (All ages), St. David's, Ashburn
10/5: Blessing of the Animals, St. Stephen's, Culpeper
10/5: Blessing of the Animals service, St. Barnabas' , Annandale
10/5: Blessing of the Animals service, Pohick, Lorton
10/5: Blessing of the Animals, St. Gabriel�s, Leesburg
10/5: Pumpkin Patch, Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, Alexandria
10/5: Choral Evensong: Evening Prayer in the Anglican Tradition, St. Mary's, Arlington
10/5: Blessing of the Animals, St. Peter's, Arlington
10/7: Christian Compassion At Work For Those With Mental Health Issues, Emmanuel, Harrisonburg
10/8: Mental Health First Aid, Epiphany, Oak Hill

More Church Events

Other Events

The Virginia Council of Churches will host a symposium on evangelism on Oct. 7: "Engage the Culture, Reach the Community." Learn more and register.

The ARISE campus ministry at George Mason University will present Brian D. McLaren, prominent Christian pastor, author, activist and speaker, on Oct. 15. Learn more and register.

Frances Caldwell of GOTAP Consulting will offer a series of workshops: "Changes: Assessing them, Making them, Thriving with them." This year's workshop will help you sort through new ideas, practices that will work, and others that have run their course in order to find the balanced way to use the best of the old and new. Learn more and register.

Task Force on Reimagining the Episcopal Church

This Thursday, the Task Force on Reimagining the Episcopal Church will host a Church-wide conversation - and you're invited!

The Washington National Cathedral will host an in-person gathering, and a free webcast is also available. Follow the link for more info!

Registration is required for in-person attendance, and requested for online attendance.