[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

NOVEMBER 13, 2008

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

ADVENT QUIET DAY
The Diocesan Retreat Committee will hold a one-day Advent Quiet Day retreat at St. Paul's, Piney in Waldorf from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12. Led by the Rev. Frank Wade, this will provide participants an opportunity to stop, listen and reflect on the words of the Advent collects. Information and registration at www.edow.org/events, or contact Margaret Bennett: 202/337-3415, bennmargar at aol.com.  

HELP TO BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS 
Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington is asking for donations of food and gift cards to make the holidays brighter for program participants. Thanksgiving food baskets with all the ingredients for a holiday meal will be delivered Nov. 25. Samaritan Ministry also needs children's gifts, refreshments and volunteers to help with Christmas parties in each of its three offices. For a list of needed items, visit www.samaritanministry.org To volunteer for the Christmas party contact Catherine Rodman at 202/722-2280 x 324.

LEARN ABOUT SAMARITAN MINISTRY'S NEXT STEP PROGRAM
How do homeless people and others make changes in their lives through Samaritan Ministry's Next Step Program? Attend a Next Step Experience from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Dec. 16 at 1345 U St., SE, Washington, D.C.,  20011 and find out. Contact Mary Belknap at 202-722-2280 ext. 327 or at mbelknap at samaritanministry.org for further information/reservations.

ECW ADVENT PRAYER BREAKFAST
The Episcopal Church Women of the diocese will host its 4th annual Prayer Breakfast at 9 .m. Dec. 6 at the Sheraton-Washington North Hotel, 4095 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville. The speaker will be the Rev. Mpho Tutu, assisting priest at Holy Comforter and founding director of the Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage. This is a ticketed event. Contact ECW-EDOW at ecw at edow.org or 202/537-6530.

INTERFAITH CONCERT 
The InterFaith Conference of Metropolitan Washington's 29th InterFaith Concert "A Celebration of the Sacred in Song, Dance and Chant" is set for 7:30 p.m. Nov. 18 at Washington National Cathedral. For further information, visit www.ifcmw.org, call 202/234-6300 x 202 or e-mail jan at duplain.com.

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN COMMUNITY CLASS
A Disciples Of Christ In Community winter-spring class is set for Tuesdays Jan.27 through April 28 and Saturday Feb. 7 at Washington National Cathedral. DOCC is a Christian formation program for adults that builds community while encouraging individual spiritual growth. Each session consists of a presentation followed by small group conversations. $100 fee includes course materials. Contact Linda Terrell at lterrell at cathedral.org or 202/537-5240 for more information; register at https://tickets.cathedral.org/public/

SAVE THE DATE 
The second annual Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington Mardi Gras Celebration is set for 6:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 6 at the NRECA Conference Center, 4301 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Va. For more information, contact Mary Belknap, 202-722-2280 x 327 or mbelknap at samaritanministry.org

ORGANIST AND CHOIR DIRECTOR, ST. JOHN'S, OLNEY (P/T)
St. John's, Olney is in search of an organist and choir director to begin Jan. 1. Music is provided for 9 and 11 a.m. services with an adult choir at 11 a.m. Duties include Sunday and seasonal services, and the possibility of weddings and funerals. It is a 12-15 hour a week position. Compensation will depend on educational background and experience. Contact the Rev. Carol Cole Flanagan at 301/774-6999 or ccolef at stjohnsolney.org.
 
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:
*  Carol Humphrey (clergy widow) - personal health 
*  Jeffrey MacKnight - father's failing health (Frank)
*  Michael Marrett - personal health
*  Sarah Duggin - personal health
*  Travers Koerner - personal health 
*  Claudia Tielking - son's health (Josh)

>>> REMINDERS:

HYMNSING AT ASCENSION AND ST. AGNES
Ascension & St. Agnes is hosting a "Hymnsing" at 7 p.m. Nov. 13 led by Isaac Wardell, creative director of Bifröst Arts, a non-profit organization formed to create worship music. The evening ends with celebration of the Eucharist. Free event. For more information contact the Rev. Sammy Wood at cubswn at gmail.com or 662/715-9022 or visit http://www.myspace.com/bifrostarts  For directions, visit http://www.ascensionandsaintagnes.org  

TREASURER'S/HUMAN RESOURCES WORKSHOPS
Two workshops for rectors, wardens, treasurers and vestry members are set for Dec. 6: Treasurer's Workshop (a.m.) includes discussion on the financial state of the diocese, best practices for parishes, fund accounting, loans, construction projects and property sales. Human Resources Workshop (p.m.) focuses on Lay Employee Guidelines, new health insurance plan and will offer an overview of HR Practices in the diocese. Come for one or both workshops and optional lunch. Detailed agenda and on-line registration at www.edow.org/events "Treasurer's and Human Resources Workshop"

ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION SET FOR JAN. 30-31
* The 114th Diocesan Convention is set for Jan. 30- 31 at Washington National Cathedral. Preacher at Friday night's Eucharist is the Rt. Rev. Musonda Trevor Mwamba, Bishop of Botswana. Evangelist and author Brian McLaren will give the keynote address.  
* Exhibit requests must be received no later than Dec. 17 and can be made at  www.edow.org/convention "EDOW Convention Exhibit Space Request." Please note: not all requests for exhibit space can be accommodated. 
* Resolutions or canonical change requests must be signed by a member of the convention and received no later than 5 p.m. Dec. 1. For assistance and format, call Ann Talty at 202/537-6548 or visit www.edow.org/convention  Submit resolutions to:  Secretary of the Convention, Episcopal Church House, Mount St. Alban, Washington, D.C., 20016.

2008 CHILDREN TO CHILDREN ADVENT APPEAL
Materials on this year's Children to Children Advent Appeal have been mailed to every parish to the attention of the Sunday School/Christian Education Director. Information on this year's appeal for anti-malaria bed nets for children in Mozambique is also available on the Southern Africa Partnership Committee web page, www.edow.org/sapc The SAPC also has a limited number of mosquito bed nets that can be loaned to parishes. If interested, contact Cheryl Daves Wilburn at cwilburn at edow.org or 202/537-6543.

PALESTINIAN EMBROIDERY AND OLIVE OIL PRE-HOLIDAY SALE
The eighth annual Palestinian Embroidery and Olive Oil Pre-holiday Sale is set for 5 to 8 p.m. Nov. 14 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 15 at Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ, 1 Westmoreland Circle, Bethesda. For more information contact Gretchen Theobald at gheobald at mindshpring.com or 202/244-2753 or Pamela Mertz at MertzMD at aol.com or 301/229-0973 or (cell) 301/512-4694.

PILGRIMAGE TO SOUTH AFRICA, FEBRUARY 2009
Accompany parishioners from St. Columba's, D.C., and Christ, Georgetown in a journey of prayer, appreciation and learning in South Africa from Feb. 1-16. A $300 deposit is due by Nov. 21. Total cost is estimated at $4,000. For further information, contact Elizabeth Vaden at vadenfamily at verizon.net or 202/237-6058; or Tom Murphy  at tom at christchurchgeorgetown.org or 202/333-6677. 

TAXI TO THE WILD SIDE
St. Alban's, D.C., will present the award-winning documentary, "Taxi to the Wild Side" at 7 p.m. Nov. 19, sponsored by the National Religious Coalition against Torture and the Episcopal Peace Fellowship DC. For more information, contact Helma Lanyi at 202/364-0546 or olivebranch at rcn.com.

JAZZ VESPERS
Christ, Rockville will hold Jazz Vespers at 5 p.m. Nov. 16. Music by the Rev. John McDuffie on saxophone, Marcus Rubenstein on trumpet and the Jim Levy Trio. Levy is a member of the jazz studies faculty at George Washington University. Offering will benefit Samaritan Ministries of Greater Washington.  
  
RESIDENTIAL RETREATS AT THE CATHEDRAL COLLEGE
* "Making Room in the Inn," led by Frank Griswold and Barbara Braver Dec. 7-10. Advent retreat with prayer, classical spiritual disciplines and poetry. $400.
* "Crossing the Threshold: A Contemplative New Year Retreat," Dec. 30 through Jan. 1. Guided reflections about the passing year and time to reflect on the future. $350. For information and registration, visit www.nationalcathedral.org

ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS
At 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7, the University of Maryland Episcopal-Anglican Campus Ministry, St. Andrew's, College Park and the Keiskamma Gospel Choir from South Africa will hold a service of celebration with hymns, anthems, scripture readings and reflections. An offering will be taken up for the HIV ministry of the South African visitors.

AN EVENING WITH ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU
Archbishop Desmond Tutu will speak at an event titled, "Healing and Hope For Our Times," at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at Old St. Paul's, Charles St. & Saratoga St.,Baltimore, Md., 21201. The event will include a concert of Sacred Music. For information and tickets ($25), call Shelley Klinefelter at 410/467-1399 or visit www.ang-md.org Proceeds will benefit The Tutu Institute for Prayer & Pilgrimage and the Bishop's Initiative on Reconciliation in the Diocese of Maryland.

MDG MINISTRIES IN THE DIOCESE  
The Millennium Development Goals Committee is compiling a storybook of MDG ministries within the diocese. If your parish or organization has one or more MDG ministries, please provide the following information: Title of ministry; implementing parish or organization; name of MDG contact, e-mail and phone; description of ministry and intended beneficiaries; materials on the ministry; source of funding. Please complete a separate list for each ministry.  Submit stories, comments and queries to Janeschubert at aol.com  

GRISWOLD TO LEAD ADVENT RETREAT AT ST. COLUMBA'S
The Rt. Rev. Frank T. Griswold, former presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church and a noted retreat leader and spiritual guide, will lead an Advent Quiet Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. Columba's, D.C. (4201 Albemarle St., NW). Lunch will be provided at a cost of $10. Please reserve a place by calling 202/363-4119.

CLERGY AS CAREGIVERS PROGRAM 
ESM Cares, the geriatric care management service of Episcopal Senior Ministries, will offer a special program to the Episcopal clergy in the Diocese who are caring for their older family members. The program, set for 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 2 in the Undercroft of Grace, Silver Spring, will offer support and resource information. For more information and to register contact Mary Ann Buckley at 202/364-0020 or mbuckley at esm.org 
 
DAYSPRING CENTER OFFERS TWO RETREATS
The Dayspring Silent Retreat Center in Germantown is offering the following retreat: Encircling the World with Compassion and Love, Dec. 5-7 led by Patience Robbins, a spiritual director and director of the Personal Spiritual Deepening Program at the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation. To learn more, visit www.dayspringretreat.org  

 
REMEMBERING BETHLEHEM THIS CHRISTMAS
The second annual Joint Simulcast Worship Service with the People of Bethlehem is set for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 20 in Washington National Cathedral's Bethlehem Chapel. Stand in solidarity with Bethlehem's suffering Christians. The service is sponsored by the Ad Hoc Committee for Bethlehem, the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, Sharing Jerusalem and Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace. For further information, contact Grace Said at gsaid at comcast.net or 301/951-5270.
 
CLERGY: APPLY NOW FOR THE SUMMER COLLEGIUM
Applications are still being accepted for the Summer Collegium, a Lilly Endowment project in support of small congregations. Clergy and spouses/partners from all Christian denominations will be invited to VTS for "Body, Mind and Soul: Celebrating, Strengthening and Sustaining Clergy Wholeness in Small Congregations" from June 24 to July 1. Applications must be postmarked by Dec. 15. Visit  www.vts.edu/education/collegium or call Marilyn Johns at 703/461-1760. 
 
ADVENT SILENT RETREAT
The Diocesan Retreat Committee will hold an Advent Silent Retreat at the Cathedral College on Dec. 5-7. The theme of the retreat will be "The Lord said to Moses "Why do you cry out to me? Tell the people to get moving!" The Rev. John Carleton Hayden, will lead the retreat. Drawing upon the biblical account of Moses, Hayden will speak about a discipleship that weaves together identity, conversion, freedom and vocation. The fee is $195. Scholarships are available. To reserve a space, applications and a deposit of $100 must be received by Nov. 7. Visit www.edow.org/retreat for information and application instructions, or call Joan Shelton at 202/232-1667.

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. 
* 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 
   
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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