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Mission Beyond Ourselves

Each year since 2002, the Diocese of Virginia has awarded grants to assist with a broad range of ministries, both here at home and throughout the world. These vital programs depend on your gifts, which come from God's bounty, to empower ministries, transform lives and strengthen the work of our congregations.

Within our community of faith, each of us individually has the opportunity to live out our Baptismal Covenant, to seek and serve Christ in all persons. Give enthusiastically and be a part of this remarkable mission: to see our small seeds grow into great possibilities.

If you haven't had a chance to see our blog series on previous grant recipients, please take a look at the amazing work these ministries accomplished and which your gifts make possible. We can do so much more together than we can do alone!
 
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.
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.
 
A team of visitors from the Diocese of Christ the King, South Africa, will be visiting us for Annual Council and for a week prior to that (January 14-25). They come prepared to tell stories and provide background concerning the path of racial reconciliation work in South Africa over the last 25 years. Are you interested in learning more or having them come and visit your parish? Contact Ashley Cameron at acameron@thediocese.net or (804) 643-8451 x1048.
Mission Trips
Please keep those with December mission trips in your prayers including St. Anne's, Reston, to the Holy Land. If your church is taking a mission trip in December and you are not included on this list, please contact Ashley Cameron at acameron@thediocese.net.
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.  
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.

There is still time to enjoy this new resource throughout your personal Advent journey and to share it with your parish, friends, and through social media! 
Shrine Mont Camps Calendar 
Do you wish that you had more pictures to help you remember the sunshine, laughter and FUN of summer? Now you can with the 2016 Shrine Mont Camps calendar! For $14 you will receive 12 months full of pictures to keep you warm until summer rolls around again. Purchase online by December 16 and you can have one (or several!) in hand for Christmas time- don't worry, we won't tell anyone if you keep one for yourself! Questions? Contact Hannah Roberts at intern@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.
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.
Celebrate the Feast of La Virgen de Guadalupe
St. Gabriel´s Episcopal Church in Leesburg invites you to celebrate the Feast of the Virgen of Guadalupe (Patroness of The Americas) on Friday December 11th, 2015 from 9pm to midnight in a typical Mexican tradition! All are welcome to this traditional Latin American religious feast at St. James Episcopal Church, 14 Cornwall Street. NW, Leesburg. The feast will begin with a procession in the parking lot, prayers, and the Eucharist with the live performance of the National Mariachi of DC. Come and worship with friends and family of all ages!

La Iglesia San Gabriel le invita a celebrar la Misa Guadalupana el viernes 11 diciembre, 2015 desde las 9pm hasta la medianoche. Dirección: 14 Cornwall St. NW, Leesburg, VA. Honraremos a nuestra Virgencita con procesión, rosario y Misa con Mariachi vivo (Mariachi Nacional de DC), culminando con las Mañanitas a la medianoche.  Por favor traiga sus imágenes de la Virgen para ser bendecidas.
Need to Know
Did you miss the Episcopal Migration Ministries Rapid Response webinar? You can watch it here to learn more about the refugee crisis and how you can help now. What is most desperately needed at this time is  your voice and your advocacy.  In addition, as we enter into this holiday season, beginning our holy journey through Advent, we commend to you the United Thank Offering's Challenge to the Church. The United Thank Offering board is challenging Episcopalians to support refugee welcome in the United States through its 2015 Ingathering Challenge. United Thank Offering will match the first $30,000 given by December 31, 2015 that is marked "EMM-UTO."  The challenge, which kicks off immediately, will continue throughout December 2015. Click here to learn more about the challenge. To Donate, select "UTO for EMM Challenge" from the drop-down menu and put "Episcopal Migration Ministries" in the comments. Checks may be sent to:

United Thank Offering
DFMS - Protestant Episcopal Church
P.O. Box 958983
St. Louis, MO 63195-8983
Check notation:  UTO-EMM

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.
  
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.

  
Other News & Events
Fall 2015 National Vigil for Gun Violence Victims and National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend
Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence and the Washington National Cathedral are joining the Newtown Foundation and States United to Prevent Gun Violence in calling all Americans across the nation to pledge your congregation's participation in the Fall 2015 National Vigil for Gun Violence Victims and National Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath Weekend, December 10-14. Learn more.

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.
  
Church Events
12/10: Series on the Rule of St. Benedict, St. Peter's, Arlington
12/12: Ordination to the Priesthood, Holy Comforter, Vienna
12/13: Lessons & Carols, St. John's Chapel, Green Springs
12/13: Contemplative Service with Holy Eucharist, Emmanuel, Richmond
12/13: Advent Lessons & Carols & Eucharist, St. Barnabas', Annandale
12/17: A Blue Christmas Service, St. Barnabas', Annandale
12/17: Series on the Rule of St. Benedict, St. Peter's, Arlington
12/20: A Festival of Lessons & Carols, St. John's, McLean
12/21: Our Christmas Hope, St. James's, Richmond
12/26: Celtic Communion, St. Paul's-on-the-Hill, Winchester
12/27: Christmas Lessons & Carols, Christ Church, Millwood
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