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"Come and See"
Bishop's Fall Clergy Retreat
Oct. 19-21, Shrine Mont 
This year's Fall Clergy Retreat will feature Patricia A. Parachini, SNJM, D.Min., a pastoral theologian, educator and spiritual director. In a ministry spanning more than 40 years, she has written extensively on preaching, liturgy, and spirituality, led retreats in national and international settings, and is currently affiliate faculty at Loyola University, Maryland, and The Catholic University of America.  Pat will guide us "to more deeply appropriate gospel spirituality and develop a personal plan for following the Way of Jesus." 

A draft schedule of events is available here. Registration is available both online and by mail. Register here. Registration deadline is Oct. 15.
Episcopal Church Women Celebrating 125th Anniversary at Fall Meeting 
The meeting on Oct.15 will include fun, food, fellowship, education and celebration. Free child care will be provided for children of all ages. Registration deadline is Oct. 5.
2016 Church Leadership Conference
Register today for "Be Still and Grow" and explore how churches can refocus their energies and deepen the faith of their membership. What would it look like if there were a renewed focus on prayer and liturgy? What could the Church become if leadership were more concerned with spiritual well-being than physical or financial? Early bird rates end October 19. Register now.
Need to Know
Syrian Refugees: There are several churches interested in helping Syrian refugees resettle in Virginia. If you would like to learn more about these efforts, please contact Buck Blanchard, bblanchard@thediocese.net 
Ordination of Emily Cobb to the Transitional Diaconate, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at St. Philip's, Richmond.
God willing, the Rt. Rev. Edwin "Ted" Gulick Jr., Assistant Bishop of Virginia, will ordain Emily Cobb to the Sacred Order of Deacons (transitional) on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 10:30 a.m. at  St. Philip's, Richmond. The Bishop and the Standing Committee request the honor of your presence. Clergy: red stoles.
 
Ordination of Bill Roberts to the Transitional Diaconate, 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 21 at VTS.
God willing, the Rt. Rev. Susan Ellyn Goff, Bishop Suffragan of Virginia, will ordain Bill Roberts to the Sacred Order of Deacons (transitional) on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 10:30 a.m.  at  Virginia Theological Seminary's Immanuel Chapel (click here for campus map). The Bishop and the Standing Committee request the honor of your presence. Clergy: red stoles.
 
Stewardship Workshops
Oct. 17, St. Peter's in the Woods, Fairfax Station 
9:30 a.m. - 12: 00 p.m. - Capital Campaigns

Is your church talking about a capital campaign? Do you need more information about what's involved? Deal Tompkins will provide a workshop on Oct. 17 from 9:30a.m. - 12 p.m. at St. Peter's in the Woods, Fairfax Station. For a full explanation of stewardship workshops, visit the  Stewardship and Generosity page on the diocesan website.  Register today! 

Survival Skills for Lay Professionals Training 

The Diocese of Virginia office for congregational development, in collaboration with the Virginia Institute of Pastoral Care, has developed a training program designed to help lay professionals navigate the complex, shifting demands of their jobs in healthy ways. Survival Skills for Lay Professionals will address handling crises, negotiating healthy boundaries, dealing with difficult people and practicing self care.

Faculty for the training will be Dr. Doug Thorpe, executive director of VIPCare, and Julie Simonton, officer for congregational development and stewardship.
  
The workshop is from 9:30 - 1:30 and includes a working lunch. 

Dates include:
  • Nov. 4, The Falls Church, Falls Church
  • Charlottesville training in 2016

Learn more and register. 
Spiritual Direction
Pathways: Spiritual Direction, a ministry of spiritual direction is currently being offered at Roslyn.  Each hour long session is $65, overnight lodging at Roslyn is at an additional cost. For more information, visit our website. 

Please contact Amy Williams, awilliams@thediocese.net to schedule a session.

Future residencies: 
  • Nov. 10 -12: Ms. Linda Nelson
  • Dec. 14 - 17: The Rev. Howard Kempsell
Other News & Events

  • The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society will present a will present a 90 minute webinar on October 15 focusing on the global refugee crisis, U.S. resettlement and how Episcopalians can be involved in this ministry of welcome. Learn more.
  • One is a Whole Number
    What does it mean to be single in a society that tells us we are incomplete until we meet "the one"? Come spend the day with fellow single adult Christians of all ages and types- always single,  divorced, separated, widowed- to discuss this and more. We will learn, talk, listen, participate and celebrate with fellow single members of the church, exploring questions such as: What does it mean to be single in the Episcopal Church? Is being single a calling? What does the Bible say about being single? Our keynote speaker will be the Rev. Dr. Katherine Grieb, the Meade Professor in Biblical Interpretation at the Virginia Theological Seminary. While the day is designed especially for single adult Episcopalians, all are welcome. Continental breakfast and boxed lunch will be provided, and we will end the day with the Holy Eucharist. The "One is a Whole Number" single-day conference will be held on Saturday, Nov. 7 from 9:00-3:00 pm at St. George's, Arlington. There is street parking as well as Metro accessibility. Please register by sending your name, contact information and number of guests who plan to attend to Katherine Spinney at katherine_spinney@yahoo.com by Monday, Nov. 2.  Any questions can be directed to the same.
     
  • Foundation Cristosal invites you to Protecting Central American Refugees: A Faith-Based Response Forum and Pupusa Dinner on Oct. 4, 7 p.m. at Grace, Alexandria. The speakers will include Philip J. Palin, Senior Fellow in Homeland Security, Rutgers University Graduate School; Noah Bullock, Executive Director, Foundation Cristosal; Dr. Sebastian Albuja, Former Head of Latin America and Africa Division, Norwegian Refugee Council; Marc Hanson, Senior Associate, Washington Office on Latin America; To RSVP, please email: Hannah Perls, hperls@cristosal.org.
  • St. Mark's, Richmond, is hosting a 150th Anniversary Speaker Series called RVA Talks @ St. Mark's: What One Community of Faith Can Do to Produce Racial Reconciliation and Healing.  Learn more.  
 
Church Events
10/10 Autumn Pilgrimage, Westover, Charles City
10/10 Prevention of Child Misconduct Workshop, Church of the Holy Comforter, Vienna
10/11 Homecoming 2015 - Celebrating 154 years of "Stirring up the Spirit," St. Phillips, Richmond
10/11 UTO Fall Ingathering, St. James', Richmond
10/11 Blessing of the Pets, Christ Church, Alexandria
10/14 Taize Prayer Service, St. George's, Arlington
10/17 HandsOn Day, Metro Richmond
10/18 The District Eight In Concert, St. Barnabas', Annadale
10/18 U2 Eucharist Service: Mysterious Ways, St. James', Richmond
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