November 5, 2015
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Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry
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 Notes from Bishop Mark
● Fall Convocations Conclude: This weekend we conclude our round of fall meetings with the Lynchburg Convocation meeting at Grace Memorial, Lynchburg, at 2:30 PM. Along with the fellowship and the electing of new leaders, this time provides us with an opportunity for renewing our commitments to becoming the missional church.
● Survey Regarding a Lodge at The Phoebe Needles Center: As discussed at our fall convocation meetings, the Diocesan Executive Board and the Phoebe Needles Center Board are working to assess the need and costs for an Adult Lodge at the Phoebe Needles Camp and Conference Center in Callaway. This short survey will provide important input to our consideration of mission priorities. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey. It is here.
● The Commission on Ministry ready to Receive Aspirants for Ordained Ministry: The Commission on Ministry met last week to finalize details on the new discernment process. That process is now open and ready to receive aspirants for discernment towards Holy Orders. Please pray and think about members of your community that God may be calling. The new process is now on our diocesan website here.
● Upcoming Ordinations and Installation for Your Calendar:
God willing and the people consenting,
I will ordain Susan Peyton to the Sacred Order of Deacons on Wednesday evening, November 11 at 7 PM at Emmanuel Episcopal Church in Staunton. To the Sacred Order of Priests, I will ordain: --The Rev. Canon Connor Gwin on December 5 at 3 PM at Christ Episcopal Church in Roanoke. --The Rev. Kimberly Glenn on December 12 at 10:30 AM at St. John's Episcopal Church in Lynchburg. --The Rev. Whitney Burton on January 16 at a time to be determined at St. John's Episcopal Church in Roanoke. I will install The Rev. Alexander MacPhail as the Rector of Christ Episcopal Church, Roanoke, on November 18 at 7 PM. ● Sunday Visitations: This Sunday, I will worship with the people of Grace Memorial in Lynchburg.
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 Connecting  . . . with Evans House
●Remember to check out the diocesan Bulletin Board--you'll find information about available MDG grants, upcoming training opportunities, and parish events!
● Open enrollment for diocesan clergy and lay employees has begun and will end November 20. Instructions were sent to each individual from Church Pension Group. Information about costs and plan benefits can be found on the diocesan website. Employees who would like to become new members should contact Kate Garcia. Please note: A Medicare Secondary Payer plan, the BCBS MS EPO 80, will be available for active clergy and lay employees aged 65 or older following approval. A Fact Sheet is available here. The form to be completed by EACH possible participant and parish is here. The form should be returned to Kate Garcia (email ~ kgarcia@dioswva.org; fax ~ 540-343-9114 ; mail ~ 1002 1st Street SW, Roanoke, VA 24016). The approval process can take up to 90 days and occurs outside of Open Enrollment. During Open Enrollment, those wishing to start this process for the upcoming year should still enroll in one of the other four plans.
. . . within the Diocese
● DAR HE: The Story of Emmett Till, takes place on Sunday, November 8, at 3 PM, at Harvester Performance Center at Ferrum College. Read more.
 ● The next program for the Center for Lifelong Learning will be Tuesday, November 10, at 10 AM. Lois Brown and Carol Hagy will make a presentation on the "The Bund Camps." Read more.
● Grace Memorial, Lynchburg, invites all to their Arts and Craft Faire to benefit local outreach on Saturday, November 14. Read more.
● Daughters of the King gathered at Trinity, Rocky Mount, on Saturday, October 31, for their Fall Assembly. Hosted by Trinity's Mary Magdalene Chapter, Daughters were treated to wonderful morning of hospitality and spiritual uplifting. Canon Missioner, the Rev. Kathy Dunagan, presented a program on how the Daughters' vows of prayer, service and evangelism support the missional church. Chaplain, the Rev. Karen Joy Kelly, conducted a Holy Eucharist Service, and preached on the parable of the mustard seed. For information on Daughters of the King, please contact Jo Kelley, Diocesan President, at 434.941.3979 or joakelley3634@yahoo.com.
 ● Members of St. Peter's Episcopal, Altavista, and the Rev. Ron Johnson enjoyed watching Bishop Curry's installation together, following an All Saints' Service and pot luck luncheon. ● Emmanuel's Big Read: In honor of our new Presiding Bishop's installation on November 1 Emmanuel, Staunton, is doing a "Big Read". The parish will be reading and discussing the Most Rev. Michael Curry's book Crazy Christians. Through reading this book together, we hope to better understand Curry's vision for our church and how he experiences God in our world. We look forward to learning more about our new Presiding Bishop as he explores the Dream of God and how we might be a part of that dream as we follow Jesus. Our younger children will be reading Archbishop Desmond Tutu's book, The Dream of God, which has very similar theological threads.
. . . within the Wider Community
 ● Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: "This is the Jesus Movement,and we are The Episcopal Church, the Episcopal branch of Jesus' movement in this world." Read more and view Curry's first message to the Church as Presiding Bishop. Video highlights of the Presiding Bishop's installation can be found here.
●Trinity Institute's 45th national theological conference, Listen for a Change: Sacred Conversations for Racial Justice takes place January 21--23. Read more.
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Resources and Links |
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as of November 3, 2015
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Something to talk about!
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as of September 28, 2015
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as of August 13, 2015
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Bishop Marmion Resource Center
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Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia
1002 1st Street SW ~Roanoke, VA 24016
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