The Episcopal Diocese  
of Southwestern Virginia
July 9, 2014 
 

In This Issue . . .

Notes from Bishop Mark . . .  

  

This month will mark the first anniversary of my Consecration as your bishop. It has been an exciting and busy year. With many new initiatives, ideas, and renewed cooperation, we are well into a new season of mission in this diocese. I give thanks to God for the many blessings that are ours here in Southwestern Virginia. I am looking forward to the coming year.

Before beginning my second year as your bishop, I will be on vacation with my family during much of the month of July. I welcome the time for reflection and renewal.  

EYE Trip: On Tuesday night I joined our sixteen-member group of youth and leaders at Evans House for discussion and a sending Eucharist as they travel to the national Episcopal Youth Event in Philadelphia. Keep all of them in your prayers as they travel and participate in this significant spiritual event in the life of our Church.

Celebration in England: This Friday, I will travel to Bradford, England, on behalf of our diocese, to attend and participate in Bishop Nick Baines' installation as the new bishop of the recently created Anglican Diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales. It was a great gift and blessing for Nick to travel to Southwestern Virginia for my Consecration, and I look forward to representing us at the ceremony in Bradford. 

I will stay with Nick and Linda while I am in Bradford. This will afford us the opportunity to begin having discussions on how we will move forward as companions in mission. My hope is that we can strengthen our ties with Bradford to the new diocese and talk about a new partnership with another Anglican diocese in the Communion. Please pray for Nick and Linda as he takes up this new post in the Church of England.

Connecting . . .

Notes from Evans House

Check out the diocesan blog space! 

Laura Tuggle Anderson writes that "we are fragile things, humans, mothers, babies," in Motherhood, Loss, and the Nest of the Church
   

News   
 
Members of five congregations in the Abingdon Convocation joined together to serve the community at Boys' Home in Covington.Thirty congregants (and three dogs) went to work, learn, commune, and break bread with one another and the fifty to sixty boys and staff members of Boys' Home. Read more about this multi-parish mission trip.  

The United Thank Offering of the Episcopal Church awarded a grant of $41,239.00 to the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia for dental equipment  for a mobile unit to be operated by the Rockbridge Area Health Center. Read more about this grant, which will benefit impoverished and under-served schoolchildren in the county. Read more about Mo Littlefield's efforts and how this UTO grant serves the community.


Events  
  
● One Word for July 9: INTIMACY 
Women of DIOSWVA--the women's spiritual happy hour continues this Thursday at Evans House from 5:30 to 6:30 PM.

  An Evening with Beth Macy, author of Factory Man: How One Furniture Maker Battled Offshoring, Stayed Local - and Helped Save an American Town, will take place at St. John's Episcopal Church, Roanoke, on Tuesday, August 5, from 7:00--9:00 PM. Special guest Jon Basett III also appears. The New York Times wrote, of Factory Man: "This is Ms. Macy's first book, but it's in a class with other runaway debuts like Laura Hillenbrand's "Seabiscuit" and Katherine Boo's "Behind the Beautiful Forevers"--these nonfiction narratives are more stirring and dramatic than most novels. And Ms. Macy writes so vigorously that she hooks you instantly. You won't be putting this book down." --Janet Maslin

St. John's, Lynchburg, will present "A Star-Spangled Concert" on Wednesday, July 9, at 7:30 PM. Peggy Haas Howell, Organist and Choirmaster of St. John's, will play patriotic works by Buck, Ives, and Hewitt.  She will be joined by percussionist Kevin Super for Dan Locklair's Constellations and John Philip Sousa's The Stars and Stripes Forever. St. John's Episcopal Church, Lynchburg, is located at 200 Boston Avenue.

Spend a day canoeing just for fun! The River Adventure Program (RAP) of DIOSWVA is sponsoring day-long trips for inter-generational canoeing on our beautiful local rivers. These trips are open to anyone interested, all equipment is furnished, prior canoeing experience is not required, and the cost is $10 per person or $30 for a family. Participants must be able to swim. Dates are:

July 12--Maury River

August 2--James River

August 16--New River

AND--

Save the date for the brand new Pedal and Paddle trip on September 26--28 in conjunction with the Mass on the Mountain weekend. For more information on all trips, contact Laura Harden (540-493-4572 or [email protected]) or register at youth.dioswva.org under "canoe trips." 

 

If you're an experienced musician who wants to learn more about church music, an enthusiastic amateur serving as parish musician, a member of your congregation's worship or music committee, or someone who has always loved church music, there is an incredible resource just waiting for you. Read more about The Leadership Program for Musicians.

Faith in our Music:  Many Voices, Diverse Chords, Common Hope takes place on the Richmond campus of Union Presbyterian Seminary September 23-25, 2014. This ecumenical and diverse event, featureing John Bell from the Iona Community in Scotland and other fine musicians, enables participants to learn about new forms of congregational music for all denominations, abilities, and ages. Three or more people from one congregation receive a discount if they register together, especially if they register by the end of this month. Further information and registration may be found at 
www.upsem.edu/leadership_institute. For a printable flyer, click here

 

   
Repeated from Previous Update  

The Washington National Cathedral is offering a variety of tours, concerts, and celebrations. Visit their website to learn more about your chance to interact with acolytes, gargoyles, stained glass, and more!
  
Be sure to share with parish artists of all ages that submissions are invited for original artwork to be used for the 2014 Episcopal Church Christmas card. The artwork should express an understanding of God's incarnation for the celebration of Jesus' birth. Deadline for submission is August 15. Voting will occur September 1 to September 15, and the winner will be announced on October 1. Images must be no larger than 256 mb for submission.  Final Hi-Res images should be available upon determination of winner. Images may be submitted here.

St. John's Episcopal Church in Lynchburg
is in need of a Children's and Youth Ministry Assistant. Please share the following message from the Rev. Bill Watson with those in your parish who might be interested in learning more. "St. John's seeks an enthusiastic creative leader of ministry focusing on faith formation, family inclusion, fellowship and service. Will develop and strengthen connections between children and youth, parish, and diocese. Excellent parish support. Half-time position with excellent salary and benefits. College degree and background check required. Send resume and salary requirements to P.O. Box 3123, Lynchburg, VA 24503."  
 
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