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September 1, 2016
In this issue:
During the summer months, Notes from Bishop Mark appear every other week.
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 Connecting
...with Evans House
● Bishop Mark visited with the people of Christ, Buena Visita, last Sunday, where he toured and blessed their brand-new clothes closet ministry. Find more photos here.
Left: The people of Christ, Buena Vista, with Bishop Mark on the steps of the church
● Lynn Robertson thanks the 29 parishes who have already responded to her survey about the best way to share diocesan forms and paperwork. She urges the remaining parishes to share their preferences as well using the link emailed to them.
● Safeguarding God's Children training will be offered from 9 AM--noon on September 24 at Evans House; this certification is required for all those working with children and youth. Safeguarding God's People will be offered that same day from 1--4 PM; this certification is required for those involved in pastoral relationships, whether clergy or lay. You may attend one or both sessions, and there is no charge for the training. A brown-bag lunch is recommended for those attending both sessions. Learn more and register here.
● The Youth Ministry Team (YMT) is moving to a more missional, regional model for the Fall Youth Events. There will be four, day-long youth events across the diocese this fall for high school youth (and in the spring for middle school youth). Please print out this poster to hang in your churches and spread the word to your high school youth.
● Look ahead to Youth@Convention (January 27-29, 2017)! This gathering of youth from across the diocese will be held at St. John's, Roanoke. The band Live Hymnal has signed on to provide music again for this event.
● The Aidan Community is open for applications. If you know someone aged 21--35 who is looking to live in Roanoke in an intentional faith community, have that person visit www.aidancommunity.com for more information. ● The Sharon Bryant Memorial Garden at Bear Mountain has been added to the list of online donation recipients found on the diocesan website. Sharon served as Chief of the Monacan Nation and was a candidate for ordination at the time of her death. She is remembered with great affection and respect. ● The Phoebe Needles Center is in desperate need of a pickup truck. The need for a pickup truck similar to a F-150 or 1500 with 4-wheel drive, extended cab, long bed, and an automatic transmission is almost daily. Please contact the Rev. John H. Heck at johnhheck@gmail.com or 540-483-1518. ● More than a hundred people, from over 30 parishes, attended Joining God in the Neighborhood last Saturday. Thank you to Christ, Blacksburg, for hosting this event!
The Rev. Paul Nancarrow, who led the training, has provided a file including the original handout presented, as well as information about the larger Living Local: Joining God process and how congregations can start the initial discernment. Find the follow-up document.
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● Bishop's Reminders
--Fall Clergy Gathering with the Rev. Dr. Dwight Zscheile ~ Save the Dates: The diocesan overnight clergy gathering will be Wednesday evening, October 19, through early afternoon on Thursday, October 20. Attendance by all active clergy is expected and is encouraged of all others.
--Visitation Calendar: Lynn and Bishop Mark are in the process of scheduling the bishop's visitation calendar for the first six months of 2017. Please let Lynn know if you have preferences for particular Sundays. Also, if you have any special occasions or date specific planning, like the conclusion of a large confirmation class or a celebration of new ministry, let us know this.
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● Music that Makes Community is offering a workshop in October that's designed to help form singers into community song leaders in ways that enhance parish community life. Deborah Hunley and others from our diocese are attending and looking for others to join them. Read more.
● On Sunday, September 4, the Julius Quartet will give a free recital at St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Christiansburg, VA. The recital begins at 3:30 PM, with an ice cream social to follow. Music educators and string enthusiasts are invited to the quartet's public masterclass at the church preceding the performance, from 1-3 PM. Read more.
● On Tuesday, October 4, from 9 AM to noon, Safeguarding God's Children training will be held at St. John's, Roanoke. To register, contact Meredith Harper at mharper@stjohnsroanoke.org or 540-343-9341.
● St. John's, Roanoke, will also offer two classes this fall. Frolic is a six-week faith formation class for parents and babies (ages 6--36 months) that will take place on Wednesdays at 10:00 AM, beginning September 7. Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University is a life-changing class about getting out of debt, budgeting, saving for retirement, etc. Classes will take place on Wednesdays from 5:30--7:00 PM starting on September 14, with childcare provided. Register on their website and contact Meredith Harper with questions.
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Remember to check out the diocesan
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. . . with the Wider Community
● Welcoming Sunday. Homecoming Sunday. Back To Church Sunday. Welcome Home Sunday. Registration Sunday. Gathering Sunday. The names vary, but the purpose is the same--events and activities slated for that one Sunday in each congregation which marks the conclusion of summer and the beginning of the new program year. Click here to find resources and ideas to consider for use in congregations, ministry, discussion groups, etc. ● Twenty young adults representing eighteen Episcopal Church dioceses are serving as missionaries in the Young Adult Service Corps (YASC) for the 2016-2017 term in locales throughout the Anglican Communion. Five of them are continuing their ministries with YASC for a second year. Read more. ● The Beecken Center will be offering Volunteer Disaster Chaplaincy Training in November. Learn more and register. ● Nashotah House welcomes two new staff members for the positions of Director of Church Relations and Alumni Communities and of Recruiter. Read more.
● The Richmond chapter of the Leadership Program for Musicians (LPM) is pleased to announce what promises to be an amazing fall workshop on October 6, led by St. James Music Press president and editor Mark Schweizer. Learn more and register.
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Links and Resources
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as of April 28, 2016
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Bishop Marmion Resource Center
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as of August 25, 2016
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Includes the Sharon Bryant Memorial Garden at Bear Mountain
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www.dioswva.org
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Episcopal Diocese of Southwestern Virginia
1002 1st Street SW ~ Roanoke, VA 24016
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