August 14, 2015

In this issue:  

 


BishopMarkNotesNotes from Bishop Mark
 
Left to right: Bishop Mark Bourlakas, Martha Bourlakas, Linda Baines, Bishop Nick Baines
Return from England:Martha and I, our new Youth and Young Adult Missioner, Connor Gwin, Joe and Laura Harden, along with eight youth from our diocese are now safely home from our summer trip to our companion diocese of West Yorkshire and the Dales. The trip provided so many opportunities explore and deepen the bonds of affection in this time when both of our dioceses are going through great change and attempting to adapt our Gospel mission to the changing cultural landscape. My conversations with Bishop Nick and Bishop Toby, the new area bishop for Bradford, were highly productive and will enable us to increase our learning from each other.


 


 



Marriage Rites for Trial Use: I will soon be sending an email to our clergy containing new policy guidelines for the use of the marriage rites approved for trial use by this summer's General Convention. The email will contain PDF files of the rites. My policy for the use of these rites along with the PDFs will also be made available on our diocesan website. The rites, by act of General Convention, will be available for use at the beginning of Advent.
 
Click photo to see more from Christ, Pearishburg 
Sunday Visitations and Weekday Parish Meetings/Events: This past Sunday, I worshipped with the people of Christ Episcopal Church, Pearisburg. This Sunday, I will be with Good Shepherd, Blue Grass.

Fall Clergy Overnight: Save the Date ~ October 8 & 9
 
Pastoral Concerns: 
● The Rev. Canon Kathy Dunagan had a car accident a couple of weeks ago. Despite the traumatic nature of the wreck, which resulted in the totaling of her car, she only sustained a rather minor injury to her left hand and arm. We give thanks that she is well and pray for her recovery.  
● The Rev. James Hubbard had surgery a couple of weeks ago without complication. Keep James in your prayers.  
● The Rev. Deacon Butch Eanes is now at Springtree Rehab where he is receiving physical, occupational, and speech therapy. Please keep Butch and Carol in your prayers.
 

ConnectingConnecting

. . .  with Evans House

●The Summary of Actions of the 78th General Convention is now available as a downloadable file. More General Convention links and resources are here.

● Applications for St. Nicholas Day Grant Recipients are due August 15. Read more.  
    
 
 
● 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. Check out the Bulletin Boardsection of the diocesan website to learn about upcoming seminars, trainings, and more! 

. . . within the Diocese 

● Christ, Blacksburg, would like to remind everyone that they are holding a Sareguarding God's Children training on Saturday, August 15, from 9 AM to 1 PM--and it is not too late to register. Emily Talbot-Guillote and Elizabeth Foster lead. Please contact them at e-bethfoster@verizon.net or eptg1019@gmail.com to register or if you have any questions.

● Boys Home of Virginia will be holding a luncheon celebration for Donnie Wheatley's thirty years of service on September 11, at 1 PM. Read more.

● The DVD program,The Jesus Fatwah: Love Your (Muslim) Neighbor as Yourself explores the relationship of Christianity and Islam and the importance of love, charity and respect for our neighbors. Saleem Ahmed has offered to work with congregrations in presenting this educational material. (Contact information: 540-819-6159; saleem_ahmed57@hotmail.com.)  

. . .  within the Wider Community 

● The Society of St. Andrew offers parish resources for use during September, designated Hunger Action Month. Read more.

● The Holy Eucharist with the Installation of the 27th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, Bishop Michael Bruce Curry, will occur on Sunday, Nov. 1 at noon Eastern at Washington National Cathedral. Read more.

● Applications are open for Episcopal delegates to the March 2016 meeting of United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW). Read more.

● The 2015 Fundraising Symposium will be held at Holy Innocents' Episcopal Church in Atlanta, Georgia from Thursday, October 8--Friday, October 9, 2015. This is designed for directors of development of dioceses, congregations, and other Episcopal organizations, as well as clergy or lay people interested in parish and diocesan fundraising. Read more.
ResourcesandLinksResources and Links

as of August 13, 2015
Something to talk about!
as of August 6, 2015
as of August 13, 2015
Bishop Marmion Resource Center
as of June 5, 2015
Bishop's Dollar and More