[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

AUGUST 8, 2008

*** The weekly bulletin for clergy, wardens, diocesan committee members, convention delegates and church administrators in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington ***

REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES 2008
Clergy, wardens and convention delegates are entitled to vote and should plan to come to this year's Regional Assemblies. Other members of the vestry are encouraged to come as well to participate in discussions. For information on how to submit nominations, etc., visit www.edow.org/regionals
* Region 1: 8:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 (Saturday) at St. Patrick's, D.C.
* Region 2: 8:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 18 (Saturday) at St. Patrick's, D.C.
* Region 3: 1:15 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 18 (Saturday) at St. Luke's, Bethesda
* Region 4: 1:15 to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 18 (Saturday) at St. Luke's, Bethesda
* Region 5: 6:15 to 9:15 p.m. Oct. 22 (Wednesday) at Holy Trinity, Bowie
* Region 6: 8:30 a.m. to noon Oct. 25 (Saturday) at St. Paul's, Waldorf

A FEW WORDS ABOUT THE WINDOW
* Mailing list updates: Washington Window, the newspaper of the diocese, is mailed free of charge to parishioners in all churches of the diocese. In order to ensure your parishioners are receiving this publication, please send an updated mailing list (in any format, but Excel is preferred) to newspaper at edow.org
* Calendar: Parish events that you wish to publicize within the diocese can be posted at www.edow.org/calendar (click the "add an event" link). If posted by the 15th of the month, they also will be considered for inclusion in the Window.
* Ads: Information about ad rates and sizes for the Window can be found at http://www.edow.org/news/window/advertising.html Please note that new ad sizes are now in effect, due to a slight change of format.

EPISCOPAL HEALTH MINISTRY & PARISH NURSING 
National Episcopal Health Ministries will hold an intensive 5-day course that emphasizes Episcopal traditions in the theology of health and healing, liturgy, polity and prayer from Oct. 5-10 at the Bishop Claggett Center, Buckeystown, Md. Practical aspects of developing Health Ministry in a local congregation are addressed. Further information is available at: http://www.episcopalhealthministries.org/prep_course.html or call the NEHM office at 317/253-1277 ext. 34. Registration is limited to the first 20 participants. Health professionals other than nurses are welcome to enroll, as well as other non-professionals interested in learning more about general health ministry as a lay vocation. CEU credits are available.

LARGE PRINT CDS FOR VISUALLY IMPARED
The Large-Print Ministry offers three CDs that can help the blind, visually-impaired and others with special needs more fully participate in worship.
* "The Large-Print Book Of Common Prayer" includes the entire 1979 Book of Common Prayer. It can be used to help prepare Large-Print worship materials. 
* "Sing Praise to Our God" includes the 338 hymns from The Hymnal 1982. 
* "Prayers & Psalms For Today" includes excerpts from Prayers and Thanksgivings; Prayers for the Sick; Prayers for Use by a Sick Person; Ministration at the Time of Death, and the Book of Psalms from the 1979 BCP. 
To order one CD, send a self-addressed, stamped 6 x 9-inch envelope with four 42-cent stamps attached (five on a padded envelope) to Ann Dahlen, 1900 6th Ave., Apt. 513, Rock Island, IL 61201. Please add more postage when ordering more than one CD. More postage is needed on padded envelopes. Please indicate which CD(s) you want. Two CDs can be sent in one unpadded 6x9-inch envelope. A donation to help cover costs is always appreciated. Please make checks out to Ann Dahlen. a.dahlen at att.net.

MUSIC DIRECTOR/ORGANIST - P/T
Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, an Episcopal church with strong historical ties to the Virginia Theological Seminary, is seeking a Music Director/Organist. This is a part-time position for 30 hours per week. The benefits package will be determined in accordance with the compensation guidelines of the Diocese of Virginia and is negotiable based upon previous experience. Interested candidates should send a cover letter of interest with resume and references, no later than Sept. 30 to Immanuel Church-on-the-Hill, 3606 Seminary Road, Alexandria, VA  22304-5200 Attention: Music Committee OR to music1 at icoh.net No telephone inquiries please. 

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week: 
* Kathy Corbett-Welch - recovery from surgery 
* Sarah Duggin (seminarian) - personal health 
* Jack Chamblin - personal health 
* Lynn Lundelius - personal health 
* Susan Keller - father's health (Thomas) 
* Rip Coffin - personal health 
* Karen Johnson - daughter's personal health (Susan)   
* Travers Koerner - personal health 
* Claudia Tielking - son's health (Josh)   
* Michael Marrett - personal health

>>> REMINDERS:

INFORMATIONAL SESSIONS ON DIOCESAN HEALTH INSURANCE
In the coming weeks, there will be six informational sessions around the diocese to address possible changes in the structure of health benefits available through the diocese. 
The Diocesan Human Resources Committee and Diocesan Council strongly urge you to attend one of these sessions to learn more about the Medical Trust proposal. In the meantime, please contact Kathleen Hall, Human Resources Administrator at 202/537-6522 or khall at edow.org with any questions. Further information is available at: 
http://www.edow.org/parish/benefits/2008-health-forums.html
Informational sessions are as follows:
* 1 to 2:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at St. George's Glenn, Dale (7010 Glenn Dale Rd., Glenn Dale)
* 7 to 8:30 p.m. Aug. 12 at St. Luke's, Bethesda (6030 Grosvenor Ln., Bethesda)
* 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at All Soul's (2300 Cathedral Ave, NW, Washington, D.C.)
* 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 4 at St. Paul's, Piney (4535 Piney Church Rd.,Waldorf)
* 1 to 2:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at St. Paul's, Baden (13500 Baden Westwood Rd., Brandywine) 
* 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 24 at St. John's, Olney [church library] (3427 Olney Laytonsville Rd., Olney) 

RENEWAL OF MARRIAGE VOWS - SERVICE AND RECEPTION
Episcopal Senior Ministries will hold a special Eucharist and renewal of vows ceremony for couples throughout the diocese who have been married 25 years or more. The service is set for 2:30 p.m. Sept. 20 at Washington National Cathedral, with a reception immediately following at Satterlee Hall, St. Alban's. Registration fee for couples is $50. Additional guests are welcomed to the reception for an additional cost of $25 per person. A flyer, registration form and fact sheet are available at www.esm.org or by calling 202/414-6314. Registration by Sept. 10 is essential to ensure the certificate of the Renewal of Marriage Vows is prepared and for catering arrangements. Administrators and others should call 202/414-6314 for additional information. 

FALL 2008 SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN TRAININGS
Trainings for Safeguarding God's Children (prevention of child abuse) will resume in September. This training is required for all paid full-time staff and any volunteers who work with children and youth, including Christian Education leaders and Sunday School teachers. All training sessions are on Saturday unless otherwise indicated. 
* Sept. 13 (9:30 a.m. to12:30 p.m.); St. Andrew's, Leonardtown
* Sept. 27 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); St. John's, Beltsville
* Oct. 4 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); St. Stephen and the Incarnation, D.C. 
* Oct. 25 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); St. Peter's, Poolesville
* Nov. 8 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); Transfiguration, Silver Spring
* Dec. 2 (Tuesday: 6 to 10 p.m., with dinner); St. Columba's, D.C.
* Dec. 13 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); St. Mary's, D.C. 
Registration will be available soon at www.edow.org/prevention 
 
BLACK MINISTRIES 8TH TRIENNIAL CONFERENCE
The Black Ministries 8th Triennial Conference, set for Oct. 19-23 at the Intercontinental New Orleans Hotel, will bring diverse groups together to explore both the challenges and best practices in black and multicultural congregations, and for blacks in predominantly white congregations. This year, participation has been expanded to include the voices of lay leaders, young adults, women, Anglicans from other provinces and ecumenical colleagues. To encourage participation, conference organizers have rolled back the registration fee to the 2005 conference rate of $650, and the Episcopal Church Center is subsidizing every person's attendance. However, because of this subsidy, registration is limited to the first 150 people. To register, visit http://www.conference.com/eventmanager/OnlineRegistration.asp?eventcode=H1S
 
THE 2009 JOHN HINES PREACHING AWARD
All preachers - bishops, priests, deacons and laypersons - are invited to submit one sermon for Virginia Theological Seminary's John Hines Preaching Award. Sermons should reflect the prophetic voice that characterized the sermons of John Hines, Presiding Bishop 1965-1974. The sermon must have been delivered in the Episcopal Church to a congregation between I Advent 2007 and the last Sunday after Pentecost 2008. The sermon must be received by the John Hines Preaching Award Committee by Dec. 15. The recipient of the John Hines preaching Award will receive $2,000. For further information, contact the Rev. Pamela Webb at pwebb at vts.edu or 800/941-0083.

SABBATICAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES 
The Louisville Institute is holding its 15th annual competition for sabbatical grants for pastoral leaders. Awards are made for either eight or 12-week sabbaticals, to be taken in a continuous single period. Applicants choose whether to apply for an eight-week sabbatical, with a $10,000 award, or for a 12-week sabbatical; $15,000 award. Applications are due no later than Sept. 15. Award announcements will be made by Dec. 15, and sabbaticals must be taken between March 1, 2009 and August 31, 2010. Full program information and application materials are available at 
www.louisville-institute.org 

EMPLOYMENT POLICIES AND GUIDELINES FOR LAY EMPLOYEES
Employment Policies and Guidelines for Lay Employees have been updated by the Committee on Human Resources and approved by the Diocesan Council. Rectors, senior wardens and junior wardens were mailed copies of the 2008 version this week. These are now available at www.edow.org. For additional information contact Kathleen Hall, khall at edow.org or 202-537-6522.

'LAND AND PROMISE' CONFERENCE SET FOR SEPT. 7
"Land and Promise" a conference co-sponsored by the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission, Metro DC Synod ELCA and the Washington Chapter of the American Jewish Committee is set for 2 to 8 p.m. Sept. 7 at the Cafritz Conference Center, Marvin Center, George Washington University. Register at jewishlutheranconference at gmail.com.

HOT FUN IN THE SUMMERTIME FESTIVAL
St. Timothy's, D.C., will hold its Hot Fun in the Summertime Festival and fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 23. St. Timothy's is located at 3601 Alabama Avenue, SE. For more information, please call 202/582-7740. 

WOMEN'S PRAYERS FOR ANGLICAN ANTHOLOGY
Anglican women and girls are invited to submit a prayer for possible inclusion in "Lifting Women's Voices: Ending Poverty through Prayer and Action," a new book from Morehouse Publishing. Royalties will benefit the International Anglican Women's Network and Episcopal Relief and Development. Submissions should be sent to ecw at edow.org no later than Sept. 8 to be considered for the ECW-EDOW submission to Morehouse. For more information, contact Sarah S. Shapley at ssshap at rcn.com.

NEW EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY GROUPS FORMING FOR THE FALL
New Education for Ministry groups are forming for September 2008. EfM is a program of theological education-at-a-distance of the School of Theology of the University of the South. Its intent is to teach lay people to think theologically in order to better relate and interpret the richness of our Christian heritage to the world and carry out the ministry of the baptized more effectively. EDOW is a sponsoring diocese for this program. For more information, and to locate and contact groups that are forming, visit EfM in the Diocese of Washington at www.edowefm.org or contact barbaramiles07 at comcast.net.

WALKER SCHOOL IN NEED OF VOLUNTEER HELP
The Bishop John T. Walker School, set to open its doors in September, is in need of some volunteer administrative assistance. Particularly needed are people who can answer the telephone, assist with assembling informational packets and performing a variety of tasks around the office. If you are able to offer some time to this endeavor, please contact Project Director James Woody at 202/257-9020 or jwoody at edow.org.
  
PILGRIMAGE TO ETHIOPIA
All Saints Company offers a pilgrimage to Ethiopia from January 16-29. Details are available at http://www.allsaintscompany.org/index.php/events/view/liturgical_ethiopia/ For further information, contact Daniel Simons at info at allsaintscompany.org

PILGRIMAGE TO CHINA 
>From April 14-30, 2009, All Saints Company will lead a pilgrimage to China. To learn more about this pilgrimage, visit: http://www.allsaintscompany.org/events/view/china/ For further information, contact Daniel Simons at info at allsaintscompany.org
 
12-STEP EUCHARIST
The Hope for Recovery ministry team at St. Alban's, D.C., will not be having its 12-Step Eucharist in July, August and September. Please contact Sally Craig at sallybcraig at aol.com with any questions.
 
DAY-RETREAT SPACE
If your vestry, committee, parish or community group needs space (10-30 people) for a day retreat or meeting this summer, please consider the University of Maryland Episcopal Student Center, College Park. The center is Metro accessible. For further information and to reserve space, please contact the chaplain, the Rev.  Peter Antoci, at pantoci at umd.edu
  
CONTRIBUTING TO THE BISHOP JOHN T. WALKER SCHOOL
Contributions for the planned Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys can be sent to: The Bishop John T. Walker School, Episcopal Church House, Mount St. Alban Washington, D.C. 20016 or visit www.bishopwalkerschool.org

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