Diocesan eNews - February 3, 2016
124th Annual Council convenes on Friday

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The 124th Annual Council of the Diocese of Southern Virginia will be held February 5-6 at the Williamsburg Lodge Convention Center.

Council will convene at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, Feb. 5. The Council Office will open for registration beginning at 7:30 a.m.


Our keynote speaker this year is the Very Rev. Mike Kinman, Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in St. Louis, MO. Kinman will make two presentations, "#Ferguson Theology" and "Sacred Conversations About Race and Class, Power and Protest".

For complete information on Annual Council, go to www.diosova.org/annual_council.

Delegate Materials
Delegate materials are available on our website. These materials will NOT be available at Council. Delegates should download or print the documents to bring with them.

Dining at Annual Council
Meals are on your own during this year's Annual Council. On Friday, plan to join us at 4:30 p.m. for heavy hors d'oeuvres with carving station and cash bar. Click here for suggested options for dining while you are at Council.

Worship at Council
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated on Friday morning, Feb. 5. Clergy will vest for the service. Stole color is GREEN. Preacher will be The Rev. Canon Dr. Sandye A. Wilson, rector of St. Andrew and Holy Communion Episcopal Church in South Orange, New Jersey. Worship at Council will be projected on the screens, however if you prefer you can download or print the liturgy booklets for your use - Holy Eucharist, Minor Liturgies.  

Hotel Reservations
Click here for more information about Council, including discounted hotel information.

Book signing and Lenten resources
On Friday, Feb. 5, beginning at noon, author Fletcher Lowe will be signing copies of his new book, Radical Sending: Go to Love and Serve. The book signing will take place in the Parish Book Store exhibit space at Council (Piedmont C). In addition to the signing, Parish Book Store will have a great selection of Lenten resources, including many of those featured below. Call now to place an order to pick up at Council, 757-425-0114. 
   
Resources to help you keep a holy Lent
 
Go! offers daily reflections on a scripture verse containing the word go. Among the authors are Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. Available here and on Facebook here.   

Growing a Rule of Life is this year's Lenten offering from the Society of Saint John the Evangelist. This series uses a tool from monastic spirituality called a 'Rule of Life' to explore and cultivate our relationships with God, Self, Others, and Creation.  
 
Episcopal Relief & Development offers a 2016 Lenten Meditations guide. Available in English and Spanish, this year's devotional focuses on creating economic opportunities and strengthening communities, with a particular focus on empowering women.
 
d365 Daily Devotional is written especially for students and seeks to provide reflections on themes that impact our faith journey. Although devotions are available every day of the year, they offer a special series for Lent. For iPhone and iPad users, there's a handy d365 app.
 
Lent Madness is back again! The format is straightforward: 32 saints are placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket. The first round consists of basic biographical information about each of the 32 saints. Things get a bit more interesting in the subsequent rounds as they offer quotes and quirks, explore legends, and even move into the area of saintly kitsch.

Praying in Color - For fans of Sybil MacBeth's Praying in Color, she offers several free Lenten Calendar templates. She say, "On the calendar template I choose a word or name for each day, write the word in a space, and draw or doodle around it. I think of each mark or stroke of color as a wordless prayer. This process can take three minutes or thirty. Each day is different. I love the accumulation of words or peoples' names in a visual tapestry." 
 
Christ Walk is a 40 day program that combines spiritual and physical fitness by Anna Fitch Courie, an Episcopalian formerly residing here in Southern Virginia.
 
ChurchNext is offering a complete free Lenten curriculum. The first of the five courses is "Spirituality and Racial Justice" led by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry. Learn about the spiritual dimensions and responsibilities inherent in building racial justice.

Forward Movement offers very inexpensive devotionals for Lent, including "Meeting Jesus on the Margins" which includes contributions from our Annual Council keynote speaker, the Rev. Canon Mike Kinman. Church Publishing has a nice selection of Lenten reading materials for adults, children and families, including "Love Life Live Lent: Be the Change!", "Under the Fig Tree: Visual Prayers and Poems for Lent", and "What We Do in Lent: A Child's Activity Book". If you're going to be at Annual Council, you can look for these resources, and many more, in the Parish Book Store space (Piedmont C Room). Call in your order now, pick up at Council an save shipping costs, 757-425-0114. 
 
Deacons in Southern Virginia unite to support refugees in crisis - how you can help
 
Deacons in Southern Virginia are raising funds for refugee. Your donation will help refugees forced to flee from conflict or natural disaster. At work in over 40 countries and 22 U.S. cities, the International Rescue Committee leads refugees in their journey from harm to home and supports their efforts to rebuild their lives.

Funds raised in this campaign will go to the IRC in Charlottesville and the newest office in Richmond. They will be used for resettlement, education, language skills and health.


Each year, thousands of refugees are invited by the U.S. government to seek safety and freedom. Forced to flee conflict or persecution, many have survived for years against incredible odds. They step off the plane with next to nothing but their dignity, hope and determination. In Charlottesville, Richmond and many other regional offices across the country, the IRC helps them rebuild their lives.

To learn more and how you can help, go to http://diy.rescue.org/sovadeacons
 
Registration deadline for Vestry Training Days and Bishop's Day with Senior Wardens is Feb. 9 - sign up today!
 
Healthy, skilled vestries who understand their role in the life of the church and their relationship to the clergy and congregation are essential in creating and maintaining vital congregations.  
 
Vestry Training Days 
These workshops are designed for all vestry members, and will include: Presentations on the role and duties of the vestry; Best practices; Opportunities to have conversations with other vestry members; Discussion of common challenges that vestries face. In 2016, we will be offering three opportunities to attend the training: 
  • February 13 at St. John's, Halifax - Anyone is welcome, but this will be focused on the churches of Convocations 8 & 9, as their context is somewhat different from parishes in other parts of our diocese.
  • February 20 at Good Shepherd, Norfolk  
  • February 27 at St. David's, Chesterfield
Click here for details and registration for any of these Vestry Training Days.
 
Bishop's Day with Senior Wardens 
In addition to Vestry Training Days, on Saturday, February 27 there will be a Bishop's Day with Senior Wardens at St. David's, Chesterfield (concurrent with Vestry Training). Click here for details and registration.   
 
Keep Your Church Out of Hot Water: Legal and tax update with Richard Hammar

The Tidewater Chapter of The Church Network (NACBA) will feature speaker Richard Hammar via Skype at their next meeting on Wednesday, February 10 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Calvary Chapel, 361 Beechmont Drive, Newport News. Cost is $25 and includes lunch (NACBA members cost is $5). To register, contact Sha Simmons, [email protected] or 757-886-5012. 
 
You won't want to miss this extraordinary opportunity to be briefed by one of the nation's foremost church law and tax authorities on recent congressional action and court rulings affecting churches, matters affecting 2015 paperwork and filings, as well as key developments to note for 2016, as he addresses his topic, "Keeping Your Church out of Hot Water."

Hammar is a graduate of Harvard Law School, and attended Harvard Divinity School. He is a nationally renowned speaker at tax and law conferences, a teacher at seminaries, a sought after consultant, the author of several books, including the annual "Church & Clergy Tax Guide," and the senior editor of Church Law & Tax Report, a bimonthly newsletter reviewing significant legal and tax developments for churches and clergy, and Church Finance Today, a monthly newsletter for church treasurers.
 
 
The power of Mission Insite demographic research tool
By The Rev. Fletcher Wells, St. Thomas', Chesapeake
 
Did you know that our diocese provides a demographic research tool that allows each parish to know the demographic information of the population in their area?  Said more plainly, we have the ability to know what the spending habits, hopes and dreams, psychology, and even struggles are of the people in and around our churches.

Demographic reports that would cost $250 to $1000 are provided free through Mission Insite to each congregation through our subscription.

Although churches may have an unlimited number of people sign up to use the service, this tool is underutilized. Although over 50 churches have signed up, only 28 people utilized the tool over the last year. The diocese is considering  whether to renew the contract. I think it's a valuable tool.  
 
As part of a course with Dwight Zscheile, a past speaker at Diocesan Annual Council, I was able to do all of my demographic research for a paper describing Chesapeake and the people who live in the area. This program allowed me to see what the people in may immediate area did for a living, how they spent their money, and even infer what needs and concerns they faced. The data collected changed my preaching, changed ministry focuses for the church and helped us to help our community.  
 
As the landscape of the church continues to change, how we do ministry and attract others to our ministry will necessarily change as well. For instance, the time when creating programs for people to take part in simply does not work any longer because folks do not attend church in the ways or in the masses that they used to.  
 
But there is a way for us to continue to grow as individual churches, as dioceses, and as a national church and that is to, in the words of our presiding bishop and primate, be the Episcopal manifestation of Jesus in our neighborhood.  In order to be that, we have gotta get out into our neighborhoods!  
 
Mission Insite helps us to do just that: get out into our neighborhood.  Have you wondered how you might find a niche in outreach?  The mosaic indicator (a program in Mission Insite that tells about who people are) will disclose those types of challenges.  Perhaps you wonder what people struggle with; for instance, in my own ministry neighborhood we found out that people struggle with debt.  We created a forum around finances and it is still one of the best attended events put on by our church.  Now imagine if we had created this for our community, meeting them where they are.  
 
I would like to invite and encourage all parishes to checkout this helpful tool here.  Look at how it can help you find how your great work can meet your communities deep need. Use Mission Insite to create new and wonderful ways to seek Jesus in the neighborhood.  Who knows, you might even find ways to grow with the people around you and grow your church in the process.   
 
Celebrating Absalom Jones  and James Solomon Russell
 
The Union Of Black Episcopalians will celebrate Absalom Jones day on Sunday, February 28, at 4 p.m. at St. Paul's Chapel on the campus of St Paul's College in Lawrenceville. They will also celebrate James Solomon Russell at the same service. A reception will follow the service.

Congregations across Southern Virginia - including choirs and acolytes - are invited to participate in this service. For more information about the service and how your congregation can participate, call David Flores at 757-466-1991 or the Rev. Joseph Green at 757-461-3864.  
 
Why Care About the Congo?

Plan to attend a two hour program at Canterbury Center, ODU, 1526 W. 49th Street, Norfolk 23529, on Saturday, February 20th starting at noon! Following a free lunch will be presentations on the faithfulness of the Church in eastern DR Congo in the face of incredible oppression and danger. Learn why there are still about 30 militias creating unrest with impunity and how the Mothers' Unions are caring for victims. The main speaker will be the Rev. Deacon Carey Chirico of St. George's, Fredericksburg. Cultural activities follow!
  
Church Periodical Club's Miles of Pennies benefits Jackson-Feild 

Founded in 1888, the Church Periodical Club (CPC) is an independent organization affiliated with the Episcopal Church, and it relies on volunteers, clergy, and friends to promote its Ministry of the Printed Word. In 1988 - on its 100th anniversary - the CPC established the Miles of Pennies Fund focuses exclusively on the educational needs of children from kindergarten through high school.

Grants in the amount of $844.80 are awarded to provide books, magazines, audiotape, videos and CDs. Why $844.80? Because it takes 84,840 pennies laid edge-to-edge to cover the distance of one mile. Hence, the name of the fund and the amount of the grants provided.

The Hayden Gwaltney School at Jackson-Feild Behavioral Health Services recently received a full grant of $844.80 from this fund. Over the years, The Gwaltney School has received more than $7,745 from the program. This year's grant was used to purchase 69 hardcover and 77 paperback books written by a wide variety of authors.
 
Teachers and students alike are thrilled to be recipients of this grant, and the books are being checked out and read with enthusiasm.  
 
News from Chanco on the James

National "I Camp" day!


Yesterday was national "I Camp" Day and we wanted to thank our friends for flooding social media with love for Chanco! This photo is just a few examples of the Chanco love flowing on Instagram and Facebook yesterday. We love our campers! Not sure what all this camp love is about? Check us out at www.chanco.org. Summer camp registration is in full swing and we have one and two-week sessions for boys and girls ages 8-16. Contact us at 888-7CHANCO (888-724-2626) or at [email protected] to learn more. We can't wait to see all our campers back this summer!
 
United Thank Offering

If love is greatest of all, then gratitude is the vehicle that carries it from person to person. Share your love with one another and share your blessings; be a blessing to the world. Let your simple offerings of thanks become grand manifestations of love by consciously contributing to your Blue Box.
 
Bishop Hollerith's schedule

February 5-6 - Annual Council 
February 14 - Emmanuel, Hampton
February 21 - St. Mark's, Bracey
February 28 - St. Paul's, Suffolk
March 26 - St. John's, Portsmouth 
April 3 - St. Aidan's, Virginia Beach
April 17 - St. David's, Chesterfield
May 1 - St. Matthias, Midlothian
May 8 - Ascension, Norfolk
May 15 - Christ & Grace, Petersburg
May 22 - St. George's, Newport News
June 5 - Redeemer, Midlothian
June 12 - All Saints', Virginia Beach
June 19 - St. Cyprian's, Hampton
July 10 - St. John's, Chase City 
 
Upcoming Events

For more, visit our website.
    
124th Annual Council of the Diocese of Southern Virginia - February 5-6, 2016, Williamsburg Lodge Convention Center.

Vestry Training Days - These workshops are designed for all vestry members, and will include: Presentations on the role and duties of the vestry; Best practices; Opportunities to have conversations with other vestry members; Discussion of common challenges that vestries face. In 2016, we will be offering three training opportunities. Click here for details and registration.
  • February 13 at St. John's, Halifax - Anyone is welcome, but this will be focused on the churches of Convocations 8 & 9, as their context is somewhat different from parishes in other parts of our diocese.
  • February 20 at Good Shepherd, Norfolk
  • February 27 at St. David's, Chesterfield - At this session there will be a concurrent workshop for new senior wardens with the Bishop.
Pre-Happening Staff Weekend - February 27-28, 2016, Chanco on the James. More information and registration coming soon.  
 
Happening #64 - March 11-13, 2016, Chanco on the James. For grades 10-12. Click here for more information and registration.  
 
Cursillo Men's Weekend - April 14-17, 2016, Chanco on the James. Cursillo is defined as a movement within the Episcopal Church designed to help us grow closer to Jesus Christ. For more information and application go to www.cursillodsv.org. Rector: Joe Jerauld
 
Cursillo Women's Weekend - April 28-May 1, 2016, Chanco on the James. Cursillo is defined as a movement within the Episcopal Church designed to help us grow closer to Jesus Christ. For more information and application go to www.cursillodsv.org. Rector: Debbie Hazzard
 
May Weekend - May 20-22, 2016, Chanco on the James. More information and registration coming soon.  
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Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia.
Contact Ann Turner, [email protected] or 757-213-3388


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