Open Positions        e-Bazaar        Give Now        Diocesan Calendar       Misconduct Prevention         
2015 Advent Resources
 
The diocesan office of Christian Formation wants to help enrich your Advent journey! We have created a new 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! 


Advent: The Most Wonderful Time of Year
We are excited to announce that Bishop Goff has filmed an inspiring class called Advent: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year for ChurchNext.

Click here for a video preview.

The Diocese of Virginia has partnered with ChurchNext to build every interested parish its own online school. We've arranged a discount with ChurchNext for those who would like to participate. For $300, ChurchNext will help you build your own 52-week online school and begin offering dozens of courses to your members right away. Phone and email support are available to help you get your school built and new courses are launched nearly every week. Please contact Julie Simonton at jsimonton@thediocese.net to learn more.
 
Mission Trips
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.
Calling all who love summer camp!
Shrine Mont Camps
is seeking directors for THREE
 of our 2016 camps- Explorers' Camp, St. Andrew's Camp and St. George's Camp. If you are or know someone who has leadership skills, loves working with children and youth and would be a fantastic fit for any of these positions, please send them our way. Check out our camps website for more information about the positions as well as an application and please contact Paris Ball with any questions you may have.
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!
 
 "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.
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
The United Thank Offering Board is now accepting applications for the Young Adult Grants. The purpose of these grants is to provide start-up money for a new project that focuses on any of the Five Marks of Mission.  In addition to awarding ten (10) grants of $2,500 (the amount has doubled from last year) to the top ten grant applications received from young adults the Board will also award ten (10) grants of $2,500 to ten seminarians regardless of their age. Click here for more information and forms.

Download the 2016 UTO Grant Application and Deadlines Information form. Click here for a list of the UTO Grants Review Committee for 2016.

If you missed the Nov. 19 Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society's webinar, "Rapid Response Webinar: Syrian Refugees" you can access the presentation and materials below:

"Rapid Response Webinar: Syrian Refugees" Content

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.
 
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.
  
Other News & Events
Brunch with Santa 
Bring your wish list, family and friends to Roslyn on Dec. 12 for a delicious breakfast buffet, photos of Santa and plenty of holiday cheer! Seatings are at 10:30 am and 1 pm. Adults: $30, Children 4-12: $15, Children 3 and under are free.
Prepaid reservations are required and accepted until December 4, 2015. For more information or to make a reservation, please call 804-288-6045 or email info@roslyncenter.org.


Robert B. Wynne, an associate in the tax and employee benefits department at McGuireWoods LLP has been elected to the Board of Trustees of Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services.
 
A native of Cary, North Carolina, Mr. Wynne received his Bachelor of Arts from Sewanee: The University of the South, his Juris Doctor with Honors from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and his Master of Laws in Taxation from the Georgetown University Law Center.
  Mr. Wynne and his wife Tsveti reside in Richmond, and he looks forward to his board service to an organization that helps children with mental health disorders.
 
Church Events
11/26: Thanksgiving Day Service, Christ Church, Millwood
11/26: Thanksgiving Day Service (St. Stephen's, Richmond), St. Bridget Roman Catholic Church, Richmond
11/28: Advent Retreat: "Roads to Bethlehmen", St. Stephen's, Richmond
11/28: Celtic Communion, St. Paul's on-the-Hill, Winchester
800-DIOCESE | www.thediocese.net