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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.
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.
Workshop: Equipping leaders in faith-based communities
Feb. 29- Mar. 4, 2016
Roslyn Center, Richmond

An intensive five-day session designed to enable participants to learn about, build and practice emotional intelligence skills in small group setting.

Skilled facilitators will provide tools and feedback to enable participants to learn about themselves and to immediately practice emerging skills. 
Need to Know

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
  • Jan. 28, 2016, Church of Our Saviour, Charlottesville

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
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 

The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society is presenting a webinar on Oct. 15 tha twill focus on the global refugee crisis, U.S. resttlement and how Episcopalians can be involved in this ministry. The live webinar will begin at 8 p.m. EST. Learn more.

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.
Other News & Events
  • The annual Good Shepherd Episcopal School Fall Festival will be held on Saturday, October 17th from noon to 4:00 p.m. at the school at the corner of Forest Hill Avenue and 43rd Street.  There will be carnival games, live music, food, moon bounce, giant slide, face painting, vendors and more!  Admission is free - tickets need to be purchased on-site for games and inflatables and cash is recommended for food purchases.  Festival will run regardless of weather.  Everyone is welcome! 
     
  • Community Sing. As part of their "Raising the Song" symposium, the Center for Liturgy and Music at Virginia Theological Seminary will host a Community Sing on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Immanuel Chapel.
     
  • 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.
  • 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
10/18: The District Eight in Concert, St. Barnabas', Annandale
10/18: RVA Talks @ St. Mark's - A series on race, reconciliation, and healing, St. Mark's, Richmond
10/18: U2 Eucharist Service: Mysterious Ways, St. James's, Richmond
10/18: Festival Choral Evensong, Holy Comforter, Vienna
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