[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

APRIL 2, 2009

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

FINDING HOPE IN HARD TIMES
The Episcopal Church Office of Stewardship is offering a free resource, "Finding Hope in Hard Times: Seven Spiritual Practices." Sections include: Count Your Blessings; Count Your Cash; Learn to be Content; Choose a Simpler Lifestyle; Keep on Giving; Rebuild Spiritual Communities; and A Financial Downturn can be a Spiritual Upturn. Each section includes a suggested action, and "Pause for Reflection." Visit http://www.episcopalchurch.org/documents/Hope_In_Hard_Times_booklet1.pdf
or contact Episcopal Books and Resources at ebr at episcopalchurch.org 800/903-5544 or www.episcopalbookstore.org to obtain print copies.

ATTENTION CLERGY: RENEWAL OF VOWS
Clergy who wish to process in the April 9 Holy Eucharist with Renewal of Vows at Washington National Cathedral are asked to vest in alb and red stole and gather in Bethlehem Chapel at 11:15 a.m. (Procession will begin at 11:55 a.m.) Following the service, clergy are invited to a light luncheon in the Pilgrim Observation Gallery. There is no charge, but please register asap at  http://www.edow.org/news/calendar/events.html  "Maundy Thursday Clergy Luncheon"

GOOD FRIDAY OFFERING FOR THE HOLY LAND
Bishop John Bryson Chane urges all congregations in the diocese to support the Good Friday Offering, a special offering sent to the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East. The diocese operates hospitals, schools and orphanages for the benefit of people of all faiths. Offering materials, including a poster, bulletin shell and offering envelopes are available at www.episcopalchurch.org/gfo or by calling 800/903-5544.

PARISH SECRETARY/ADMINISTRATOR, TRINITY, UPPER MARLBORO (P/T) 
Trinity, Upper Marlboro is seeking an organized, motivated individual with good people skills to work in its busy church office. Ability to work with the Microsoft Office suite and e-mail are essential. Contact the Rev. Martha Bonwitt at 301/627-2636 or marthajes at verizon.net.

OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE AT ST. STEPHEN'S
St. Stephen's Church (1525 Newton Street NW) seeks organizations to lease up to 2,000 square feet of office space. Also available for weekday use is a 3,000 square-foot multi-purpose room. The rate is approx. $28.50 per square foot per year. Utilities (except for phone and internet) are included, as is basic cleaning. Numerous progressive non-profits have offices at St. Stephen's. For more information visit www.saintstephensdc.org

EASTER WEEK SERVICES AROUND THE DIOCESE:
* Holy Eucharist with Palm Procession
April 5, 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at St. Nicholas, Darnestown. A family-friendly Palm Sunday service including Holy Eucharist and festive Palm Procession. 

* Choral Evensong, Palm Sunday 
April 5, 5 p.m. at Christ, Georgetown. Choral Evensong series on Palm Sunday, with the music of Philip Radcliffe, George Dyson and William Byrd. Sung by the professional Choir of Christ Church, this series is free and open to the public. For information, call 202/333-6677. 

* Palm Sunday Service and Palm Procession 
April 5, 9 a.m. at St. Augustine's, D.C. Palm Sunday Service. Procession with Palms and reading of the Passion narrative.
 
* Stations of the Cross 
April 8, 7:30 to 8:15 p.m. at St. Nicholas, Darnestown. Re-enact and remember the last day of Jesus' life and he walked toward his death on the cross. 

* Maundy Thursday at St. Augustine's, D.C.
April 9, 7 p.m. at St. Augustine's, D.C. Maundy Thursday Service of Holy Eucharist with foot washing. 

* Choral Eucharist for Maundy Thursday 
April 9, 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Redeemer, Bethesda. This liturgy, which marks the beginning of the Sacred Triduum, includes the Washing of Feet, Procession of the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose, and Stripping of the Altar. Music by Nicholas de Grigny, Maurice Durufle, Edward Elgar, and Richard Shepard. 

* Maundy Thursday Service 
April 9, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. Celebrate Jesus' giving of the new "maundatum" (Latin for "commandment") that we should love one another as he loved us, and re-enact that love, by washing each others' feet, as he did those of his disciples. Jointly sponsored by St. Nicholas, Darnestown.

* Children's Walk Through Holy Week
April 9, at 4 p.m. at St. Columba's, D.C. (4201 Albemarle St. NW) Children explore the events of Holy Week from the triumphant procession of Palm Sunday through the foot washing, the Last Supper and the events of Good Friday.

* Good Friday Noonday Service 
April 10, noon to 2 p.m. at St. Nicholas, Darnestown.  Solemn Collects in remembrance of the hours Jesus spent on the cross. 

* Stations of the Cross for Children
April 10, noon to 2 p.m. at St. Nicholas, Darnestown. Specially designed service commemorating the final day of Jesus' life. 

* Children's Stations of the Cross
April 10, 10:30 a.m. at St. Columba's, D.C.  (4201 Albemarle St. NW) A service of prayer, scripture and music recalling the last journey of Jesus, from trial to tomb.

* The Solemn Liturgy of Good Friday 
April 10, 7:30 to 9 p.m. at Redeemer, Bethesda. A reading of the Passion according to St. John, the solemn collects, veneration of the cross and communion from the reserved sacrament. Music includes plainsong and polyphonic works by William Byrd and Tomas Luis de Victoria. 

* Easter Vigil at St. Augustine's, D.C.
April 11, 7 p.m. at St. Augustine's, D.C. The Great Vigil of Easter. 

* The Great Vigil of Easter
April 11, 7:30 to 9 p.m. at St. Nicholas, Darnestown. Recount the salvation story from the Book of Genesis to the Gospel of John, then celebrate communion with the setting of the sun. 

* The Great Vigil of Easter 
April 11, 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. at Redeemer, Bethesda. The Lighting of the Paschal Candle, the Exsultet, the Prophecies, Holy Baptism, and the first Eucharist of Easter. Music by Edward C. Bairstow, Giovanni Pierluighi da Palestrina, Randall Thompson, and Charles-Marie Widor.	

* The Feast of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ
April 12, 9 to 10 a.m. at St. Nicholas, Darnestown. Celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ with a festival service of Holy Eucharist, followed by an Easter Egg Hunt for the children and a festive fellowship time for the adults. 	 

* Day of The Resurrection at St. Augustine's
April 12, 9 a.m. at St. Augustine's, D.C.  Day of The Resurrection: Festive Eucharist with Reception and Easter Egg Hunt following.	
 
* Festal Eucharist of the Resurrection
April 12, 10:30 a.m. at Redeemer, Bethesda. The celebration of the Resurrection of Christ with music for brass and choir. Works by Edward C. Bairstow, John Scott, Randall Thompson, Charles-Marie Widor, and Charles Wood. Traditional hot cross buns and an Easter egg hunt on the lawn following the service.
	 
* Choral Evensong, Easter Sunday
April 12, 5 p.m. at Christ, Georgetown. Choral Evensong series on Easter Day with the music of William Smith, Alfred Herbert Brewer, and Peter Hurford. Sung by the professional Choir of Christ Church, this series is free and open to the public as a gift to the community. For information call 202/333-6677.
	 
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:
*  Nancy Lee Jose - personal health
*  Janice Robinson - personal health
*  Joe Clark - personal health
*  Will Billow - personal health 
*  Tom Andrews - personal health
*  Bishop Ted Eastman - granddaughter's health (Shannon)
*  Vidal Rivas - personal health
*  Rose Duncan - personal health
*  Elizabeth Carpenter - personal health
*  Susan Blue - personal health
*  Donna Brown - personal health
*  Edward Brightman - personal health
*  Olivia Hilton - personal health
*  Sarah Duggin - personal health
*  John Ball - granddaughter's health (Alana)

>>> REMINDERS:

STEWARDSHIP CONFERENCE 2009 
Nathan Dungan, author, speaker, national expert on family finances and founder of Save Share Spend LLC, will be the keynote speaker at the 2009 Stewardship Conference, set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 9 at Washington National Cathedral. Dungan also will offer a workshop at the conference. Laura Bachmann, Cheryl Meyer and Paul Cooney also will offer workshops and opportunities for discussion. Cost of $30 includes lunch. Sign up at www.edow.org/events Contact jsamilio at edow.org for more information. 

11TH ANNUAL SHOWCASE OF EPISCOPAL SCHOOLS
The 11th Annual Showcase of Episcopal Schools is set for 4 p.m. April 19 at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church and Day School (doors open at 3 p.m.). Master of Ceremonies is D.C. council member Jack Evans. Music selections will be performed by Christ Episcopal School, St. Andrew's Episcopal School, National Cathedral School, St. John's Episcopal School, St. Albans School, St. Patrick's Episcopal Day School and Washington Episcopal School. Tickets start at $10. Proceeds benefit the Episcopal Center for Children, www.eccofdc.org Call Mary Brown, 202/882-7968 or Sharon Whitehouse, 301/229-3203, with questions.

RACIAL RECONCILIATION WORKSHOP
A Racial Reconciliation Workshop is set for 5 to 9 p.m. May 1 and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 2
at Collington. Register now at edow.org/events  For further information, contact Marie Zackrie-Hall at 202/423-4300.

FUNERAL PLANNING SEMINAR
Epiphany, Forestville (3125 Ritchie Road, Forestville) is offering a free Funeral Planning Seminar from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 25. Topics include: choosing a licensed funeral director, pre-need vs. at need, estate planning, social security benefits, living wills, choosing a cemetery, power of attorney and probate. Call 301/735-7717 to register.

NEXT STEP EXPERIENCE
How do homeless people and others find stable housing and secure employment through Samaritan Ministry's Next Step program? Find out at a Next Step Experience, set for 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. April 28 at 1516 Hamilton St., NW. Hear from program participants, staff and board members and tour the program office. Refreshments at 1:15 p.m. RSVP to Mary Belknap at 202/722-2280 ext. 327 or mbelknap at samaritanministry.org 
 
NEXT STEP BREAKFAST AT NATIONAL PRESS CLUB 
Samaritan Ministry's third annual Next Step Breakfast is set for 8 to 9 a.m. May 5 at the National Press Club (529 14th St., NW). NPR's Juan Williams will serve as MC and Next Step program participants will share true-life stories. Visit www.samaritanministry.org for more information. Contact Diane Aten daten at samaritanministry.org or 202/722-2280 x304 to RSVP.

RETREAT WITH J. PHILIP NEWELL, CELTIC THEOLOGIAN 
Celtic theologian John Philip Newell will lead a retreat from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 25 at St. John's, Lafayette Square. If you would like lunch provided, send a $10 check to St. John's Church, 1525 H Street NW, Washington DC 20005, with 'Newell lunch' in the memo line and on the envelope. Newell also will preach at the 9 and 11 a.m. services on April 26 and will lead the 10 a.m. Sunday Forum. RSVP to Jessica.Hitchcock at stjohns-dc.org or 202/347-8766.

DOCC AND TLB TRAINING AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL 
* Disciples of Christ in Community facilitator and presenter training is set for June 19-21 at Washington National Cathedral. Cost is $190 per person with most meals included. To take part, you must be recommended by your rector or priest-in-charge. Those who will be offering DOCC in prisons will participate in the regular program but will have special times together.

* The Cathedral Transforming Literature of the Bible training workshop is set for June 19-20. There is a fee of $100 for licensing and two commentaries. To register for either workshop, send a check or money order to Merry Toups, DOCC Administrator, 2219 Lowerline Street, New Orleans, LA. 70118. Make the check payable to Trinity Church. There is a $50 cancellation fee. For more information, contact Toups at 504/866-0157 or mtoups at trinitynola.com Course information can be found at www.trinitynola.com/docc and www.trinitynola.com/tlb

COMMUNICATIONS SUMMER INTERNSHIP AT SAMARITAN MINISTRY
Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington has received a grant from Exxon Mobil to fund an eight-week summer internship for a communications specialist. The intern must be a returning undergraduate student. For a job description and information on the position, contact Dianne Lewis at 202/722-2280 x 319 or dlewis at samaritanministry.org 

SUMMER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AT SAMARITAN MINISTRY
Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington is looking for summer volunteers to help participants with computer applications, answer phones, sort mail, and more. It's an opportunity for students to fulfill community service requirements. Four-hour shifts are available Monday-Friday at three office locations. For more information, contact Dianne Lewis at dlewis at samaritanministry.org or 202/722-2280 x 319 or visit www.samaritanministry.org 

ECVA CHESAPEAKE CHAPTER FORMING
Attention all artists and art lovers: A new chapter of the Episcopal Church and the Visual Arts is forming. This national network  www.ecva.org exists to support people interested in the intersection of art and spirituality. An organizing meeting is set for 7 p.m. April 28 at the UMD Episcopal Student Center, 4508 College Avenue, College Park (next to St. Andrew's Church). RSVP to the Rev. Peter Antoci: pantoci at umd.edu

FACILITATING FILM-BASED COMMUNITY DIALOGUES
Unity Productions Foundation and the Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs  
will offer an interactive workshop on facilitating dialogue using award-winning PBS films about Islam and Muslims from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 8 at Georgetown University Berkley Center for Religion, Peace and World Affairs, 3307 M St NW, Suite 200 Washington, D.C. For further information, please visit www.20000dialogues.org 

MEET RECTOR OF SOUTH AFRICA'S COLLEGE OF THE TRANSFIGURATION
Join the Rev. Bill Domeris, rector of the College of the Transfiguration in Grahamstown, South Africa, at 7:30 p.m. April 22 at St. Dunstan's, Bethesda (5450 Massachusetts Ave.) for an evening of discussion about biblical perspectives on poverty and the work that CoTT is doing to train priests to work in the context of present day poverty, HIV/AIDS and great social change. Contact Ray Donnelly at 301/320-6146 or 43raydon at gmail.com for further information. 
 
EVANGELISM SERIES: TERRY MARTIN
The diocese's Thursday night evangelism series continues at 7 p.m. May 7 with the Rev. Terry Martin, the new evangelism officer for the Episcopal Church, also known as "Father Jake." Martin will speak in Washington National Cathedral's Perry Auditorium. For further information, contact Jim Naughton at jnaughton at edow.org.
 
SPRING CLERGY CONFERENCE: SAVE THE DATE    
This year's Spring Clergy Conference is set for May 12-14 at Shrine Mont. Keynote speaker will be Phyllis Tickle, an authority on religion in America and author of more than two dozen books on religion and spirituality. Tickle is currently a senior fellow of the Cathedral College and is a founding member of The Canterbury Roundtable. Registration will open soon. 
 
HOW IN THE WORLD DID THEY BUILD THE CATHEDRAL?
Washington National Cathedral was built with the creativity, energy, skill and generosity of generations of artisans, donors and workers. Learn how it was built on Thursdays, 2:30 p.m., March through June in the Perry Auditorium, 7th floor of the Cathedral. The 30 minute presentation is free, and no reservations are necessary. 

THE LIFE AND RELIGIOUS BELIEFS OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN
Explore Abraham Lincoln's knowledge of the Bible as skeptic and believer using art in Washington National Cathedral. The docent-led tour is titled "Abraham Lincoln: Whose Lonely Soul God Kindled," and is set for 2:30 p.m. April 15. Free. No reservations required. The tour is offered as part of the Lincoln Bicentennial, www.lincoln.indc.com
  
BOOK FAIR TO BENEFIT THE BISHOP WALKER SCHOOL 
A book fair to benefit the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys is set for 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. May 9 at the Politics & Prose Bookstore, 5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW. The school will receive 20 percent of all purchases that day, and there also will be a "wish list" of books that can be purchased as a donation to the school library. For further information, call 202/299-6521.

VOCATIONAL MINISTRY RETREAT
"Discerning God's Call In Your Life," the next vocational ministry retreat, is set for April 24-25 at Priestfield Pastoral Center in Kearneysville, WV. The retreat will be led by Marjory Bankson, author of "The Call to the Soul" and recent workshop leader at the Diocesan Convention. The retreat will begin at 4 p.m. on Friday and conclude at 4 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $120. Register at http://www.edow.org/news/calendar/events.html Space is limited to 20 participants.
 
MESSAGE FROM THE MDG COMMITTEE 
* The MDG committee is accepting applications for funds to launch or expand parish ministries that reflect one or more of the Millennium Development Goals. Visit www.edow.org/MDGs or contact Elton King eking0734 at yahoo.com or Janeschubert at aol.com for further information. * Stories of existing MDG ministries in the diocese are here: www.edow.org/MDGs Parishes are encouraged to add their stories. 
  
SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN: CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION TRAINING 
New dates for Safeguarding God's Children, child abuse prevention training for paid full-time staff and all who work with children and youth, have been set for:
* April 18: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Our Saviour, Hillandale (Region 4) 
* May 9: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Mark's, D.C. (Region 1)
* June 6: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. George's, Valley Lee (Region 6)
* June 27: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. John's, Norwood (Region 3)
Register online at www.edow.org/prevention

CELEBRATE EARTH DAY AT THE PENNYWORTH SHOP
In celebration of Earth Day, The Pennyworth Thrift Shop in downtown Silver Spring (955 Bonifant Street) will be open from 1 to 5 p.m. April 19 and April 26. For more information contact Lisa Summers at 301/587-0880 or Summers-Ryder at starpower.net
   
LATINO MINISTRY CELEBRATION -  SAVE THE DATE
The annual Latino Ministry Celebration is set for 6 p.m. Oct. 3 at Washington National Cathedral. Bishop Chane will preside at the Eucharist. Bishop Julio Cesar Holguín, bishop of the Episcopal Church in the Dominican Republic, will be the preacher. A fiesta and dinner will follow. More details to come. For more information, contact the Rev. Simón Bautista, diocesan Latino Missioner, at  202/537-6441 or sbautista at edow.org
 
CONTRIBUTING TO THE BISHOP JOHN T. WALKER SCHOOL
Contributions for the 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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