July 2, 2015

In this issue:

 
ConnectingConnecting
. . .  with Evans House

  ● Bishop Mark is away at General Convention, where the Rt. Rev. Michael Bruce Curry, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, was elected the 27th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church on the first ballot on June 27.

If you're interested in following
Video of Presiding Bishop-Elect Michael Curry 
GeneralConvention in general, and our deputation in particular, consider these options:
--General Convention Media Hub: Livestreaming from SaltLake City, Utah;
--Prayers of the People: hosted by the Society of St. John the Evangelist;
--DIOSWVA@GC--: Conversation with our deputation on Facebook;
--Video blogs posted by our deputation on thediocesan website.

● Clergy, please mark your calendars for the Fall Clergy Overnight gathering October 8--9. More details will follow in the early fall.

● If there's an event or piece of news you'd like to see highlighted here or on our website,please email  news@dioswva.org.   

withinthediocese. . . within the Diocese

● Parishes from the Abingdon Convocation joined together with residents at Boys Home, Covington, to beautify the grounds. Read more. Parishes in the Augusta Convocation were quick to answer a call for donations to equip two of the cottages at Boys Home. Read more in a story contributed by Steve Hansen, of Boys Home.
 
The Rev. Kim Glenn 
● St. John's, Lynchburg has welcomed The Rev. Kim Glenn as their new Assistant Rector.  Kim completed her Anglican Year of Studies at Virginia Theological Seminary and was ordained to the deaconate on June 6, 2015.  She comes from Richmond and brings a background in Christian Formation and Youth Ministry.

● The Phoebe Needles Center invites all to consider attending "Centering Prayer," led by Carolyn Winborne and Judi Barnes on Saturday, September 12th. This timely program explores the ancient practice of centering prayer that has been revived in recent years and is being widely embraced within the Christian community. Coffee and refreshments will be offered beginning at 9:30 AM. The program begins at 10:00 AM. concluding by 3:00 PM. Lunch is served at noon and is included in the fee. The cost for the program is $25. RSVP to
the Phoebe Needles Center at 540-483-1518 or 800-848-1677. Read more and

● Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal~Lutheran, in Galax, will celebrate "A Decade of Joy & Thanksgiving" the weekend of July 11--12. Both Bishop Mark Bourlakas of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia and Bishop James Mauney of the Virginia Synod, ELCA will be present to mark ten years of ministry in our current worship facility.

● Check out the Bulletin Board section of the diocesan website to learn about upcoming river trips,  summer camps, and more!

● The Chapel Choir of Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, England will be in Staunton over Independence Day Weekend. There will be three times to hear this prestigious choir sing. Read more.
 
 . . .  with the Wider Community
 
● In the wake of the June 26 U.S. Supreme Court ruling legalizing same-sex marriage for all Americans, General Convention followed suit on July 1 with canonical and liturgical changes to provide marriage equality for Episcopalians. Read more.

● The Joint Standing Committee on Program, Budget and Finance (PB&F) July 1 proposed a budget for The Episcopal Church in the 2016-2018 triennium that includes a major new $2 million initiative on racial justice and reconciliation, even as it reduces the amount of money it asks dioceses to contribute to 15 percent by 2018. Read more.

●The House of Bishops on July 1 passed three resolutions, one with an amendment, on the issue of alcohol and drug abuse. Read more.

● This article on Presiding Bishop-Elect Michael Curry has a hometown slant: Buffalo Native Elected to Head Episcopal Church.
ResourcesandLinksResources and Links

as of June 23, 2015
Something to talk about!
as of June 18, 2015
as of June 1, 2015
bmrc-online.org
Bishop Marmion Resource Center
as of June 5, 2015
Bishop's Dollar and More