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Register Today for the 221st Annual Council

January 21-23, 2016, Hyatt Reston Hotel, Reston

Registration for Annual Council is now open. Register by Friday, December 18 to receive the early bird discount.

Follow the link to find information about registration, exhibiting, nominations, awards, 2016 Annual Council forms, and the pre-council open hearings.
We're Connected!
See Our New Video

 "Urgently relevant" - that's how Bishop Shannon Johnston describes the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. Over 80,000 strong, we are a "breathing reality for Jesus in this world."

In a new video, we've captured the transformational work we are doing together, as we live into our stewardship theme of "Connected in the Kingdom." We invite you to play this video for your vestries, congregations and neighbors. Help us make new "connections" as we spread the word about mission and ministry. 
Spiritual Direction
Pathways: Spiritual Direction, a ministry of spiritual direction is currently being offered at Roslyn Retreat Center in Richmond.  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
Please keep those with November mission trips in your prayers including St. George's, Fredericksburg to Honduras and Region 13 to Trouin, Haiti. If your church is taking a mission trip in November and you are not included on this list, please contact Ashley Cameron at acameron@thediocese.net.
Advent 2015 Resources

The diocesan office of Christian Formation wants to help enrich your Advent journey! Next week, we'll officially launch a website featuring tools and resources to guide us as we await the coming of Christ. The website, thedioceseadvent.weebly.com will feature the journey of advent trough scripture, prayers, art, reflections, music and thought provoking media. A new weekly offering will be available each Sunday of Advent.

Use this great, new resource throughout your personal Advent journey and don't forget to share it with your parish, friends, and through social media!

Read next week's e-communique for more details.
 
Survival Skills for Lay Professional Training
Jan. 28, 2016, Church of Our Saviour, Charlottesville

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 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and includes a working lunch. 

Register here. 

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
Advent Grief and Loss Group. Dec. 2, 9 and 16 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., St. James's Episcopal Church, 1133 W. Franklin Street (Michaux House Room 205), Richmond. The group will be facilitated by parishioner and Licensed Clinical Social Worker Catherine Ferguson.  This group can provide a warm, supportive and confidential environment with others who have experienced losses.  Please register online at www.doers.org or by calling Gina at 355-1779, ext. 315 at St. James's Church no later than 5:00 p.m. the Monday before each session.

Thanksgiving Lunch Is your church hosting a community Thanksgiving lunch? If so, please contact Mary Anne Bryant in the office of Mission & Outreach, mabryant@thediocese.net.

El Hogar: Breaking the Cycle of Poverty in Honduras One Child at a Time
St. David's, Ashburn, will be hosting an evening with El Hogar, an organization working to end the cycle of poverty by working with the children of Honduras.
This informative event will be held at St. David's on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 7 p.m. The featured speaker will be Liz Kinchen, El Hogar's North American Executive Director. She will be sharing stories about the lives that have been transformed by the initiatives that have been undertaken by El Hogar in Honduras. Members of past service teams from St. David's will also share about their life-changing experiences volunteering at El Hogar and attendees will be given the chance to become a part of El Hogar's work.

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.
Other News & Events
On Monday, Nov. 23, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) will be holding a Candlelight Vigil of Remembrance and Hope for the victims of impaired driving crashes, and as a reminder to the community to be safe during the holidays. Visit the organization's website for more information.
  
Church Events
11/11: Taize Prayer Service, St. George's, Arlington
11/14: St. Michael's Harvest Festival, St. Michael's, Arlington
11/14: Christmas Bazaar, St. Alban's, Annandale
11/15: Makoto Nakura, marimba, St. Patrick's, Falls Church
11/15: RVA Talks @ St. Mark's - A series on race, reconciliation, and healing, St. Mark's, Richmond
11/19: Pohick Church Christmas Mart,  Pohick, Lorton
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