[edow] Church House News

Thu Jul 9 11:53:13 EDT 2009

JULY 9, 2009

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

GENERAL CONVENTION

The 76th General Convention of the Episcopal Church is now under way in Anaheim, Calif. 

Daily bulletins, images, resources and more are available at Episcopal Life Online at http://www.episcopalchurch.org/107145_ENG_HTM.htm

Jim Naughton, the diocese's canon for communications and advancement, is blogging about the convention with others from the Episcopal Café at http://www.episcopalcafe.com

SURVEY OF PARISH YOUTH PROGRAMS 

The diocese invites you to take part in a short survey on youth ministry to help better support parish youth ministry. Just click on the link below and the survey will open.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=1o4nJ_2bUdjQcx5TKknlhiJA_3d_3d

Contact Jessica Hitchcock at 202/537-6524 or jhitchcock at edow.org for further information.

ACOLYTE FESTIVAL

The 13th annual Acolyte Festival is set for  10 a.m. Oct. 10 at Washington National Cathedral and acolytes at parishes around the diocese are invited to take part. The event, which draws acolytes from around the nation, will include worship and workshops. Acolytes are invited to bring processional crosses, banners, torches, thuribles, flags and streamers for a festive procession. Liturgical dance groups are also welcome. Further information can be found at www.nationalcathedral.org or by calling 202/537-2228. Deadline for registration is Sept. 25. 

REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES 2009

Clergy, wardens, convention delegates and vestry members should plan to attend the fall Regional Assemblies. The Rev. Bob Gallagher will make a presentation and lead discussion on issues concerning Congregational Growth. Gallagher is the founder of the Church Development Institute, which conducts intensive training programs on congregational leadership and development. 

* Regions 1, 2, 3 & 4: Oct. 17, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Washington Episcopal School, Bethesda

* Regions 5 & 6:  Nov. 21, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Queen Anne School, Upper Marlboro

EMPOWERMENT TOUR COMES TO DC AREA

The "Empowerment Tour: Educate.  Empower.  Employ." will stop at two area locations July 14-15. The tour is stopping at 40 cities across the country offering free career coaching sessions. Two participating career coaches will be available from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; reservations will be accepted online starting June 8 but also can be made on location. There also will be an Education Station where people can apply for a full-tuition scholarship. The tour will stop at the Pentagon City Mall (outside the mall at the Hayes Street Entrance) on July 14; and on July 15 it will be on the National Mall, in front of the Capitol Building on 3rd Street. For a complete list of tour locations or to make a reservation with a career coach, visit www.empowermenttour.com.

FRIENDS OF SABEEL CONFERENCE - SAVE THE DATE

A Friends of Sabeel Conference is set for Oct. 1-3, at Shiloh Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.

The conference theme is, "Pursue Justice, Seek Peace! Framing the Discourse - Mobilizing for Action."  Confirmed speakers include the Rev. Naim Ateek (Director of Sabeel), Jeff Halper (Founder and Coordinator, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions), Bernard Lafayette (Civil Rights activist, co-founder of Student Nonviolence Coordinating Committee, currently Distinguished Senior Scholar at Emory University in Atlanta, Ga.), Phyllis Bennis (fellow of the Institute for Policy Studies in Washington, D.C., and member of the steering committee of the U.S. Campaign to End the Israeli Occupation), Nadia Hijab (Senior Fellow at the Institute of Palestine Studies) and George Rishmawi (Coordinator for Siraj, Center for Holy Land Studies).  For information, contact Grace.Said at verizon.net

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:               

* Michael Wyatt - sympathy to his family at the time of his death (7/7) 

* Gwyneth Bohr - sympathy to her family at the time of her death (7/1)

* Nathan Humphrey - sympathy at the time of his mother's death (Lois)

* Noreen Seiler-Dubay - personal health

* John Lawrence - wife's health (Jerri) - father-in-law's death (Jerome Leslie)

* Margaret Guenther - personal health

* Mark Lewis - personal health

* Claudia Tielking - son's health (Josh)

* Vienna Anderson - personal health

* Jake Beck - personal health 

* Nancy Lee Jose - personal health

* Bishop Ted Eastman - granddaughter's health (Shannon)

* Susan Blue - personal health

* Edward Brightman - personal health

* Olivia Hilton - personal health

>>> REMINDERS:

NEW GRANT AVAILABLE TO AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN IN NEED

The Pitts Emergency Grant was recently created by the Saint Anna's Home of the Diocese of Washington. The one-time grant of up to $1,500 is designed to offer emergency assistance to women of at least 70 years old of African descent who are members of the Diocese of Washington when there is a critical, unexpected event which requires an immediate response. Funds will be paid directly to an entity, not an individual. The request must come from or be endorsed by a clergy member in the diocese. The process is confidential, and requests can be submitted at any time to: Pitts Emergency Grant of Saint Anna's Home, Episcopal Diocese of  Washington, Episcopal Church House, Mt. Saint Alban, Washington, D.C. 20016. For further information, contact Irene V. Jackson-Brown at ivjb at aol.com 

THRIFT SHOP YARD SALE TO BENEFIT BISHOP WALKER SCHOOL

All Saints, Chevy Chase will hold a Thrift Shop Yard Sale from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 11, at the church. All proceeds will benefit the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys. Contact Sally Griffin at 301/654-2735 or dmgrig at erols.com for further information.

HATE CRIME: WHERE IT COMES FROM, WHAT IT MEANS 

Howard J. Ehrlich, director of The Prejudice Institute, a Baltimore-based think tank dedicated to comprehending and combating the growing problem of hate crime will speak at St. Alban's, D.C. as part of the Ideas Alive summer forum series at 11:15 a.m. July 12. Ehrlich will discuss how to  respond to violence that flows from political extremism and how to educate children and young people about it. Copies of his new book, "Hate Crimes and Ethnoviolence: The History, Current Affairs, and Future of Discrimination in America," will be available. For more information contact Andrew Ramsey-Moor at arm2k at earthlink.net or 443/538-1550. 

SUMMER EVENINGS OF PRAYER

If you desire time for silence and prayer, but a busy life puts obstacles in the way, then come to Summer Evenings of Prayer. Learn ways to pray that can be incorporated into your daily routine. Each evening, learn a contemplative prayer, practice it, and review the experience. You may attend any, or all sessions. Meet Wednesdays, 6 to 7:30 p.m., at Epiphany, D.C. (1317 G St, NW) through Aug. 5. RSVP to swalker at epiphanydc.org, or call 202/347-2635 ext 20.

FALL PILGRIMAGE TO THE HOLY LAND

Join Bishop John Bryson Chane and members of the Diocese of Washington on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land from Oct. 22 to Nov. 4. The itinerary includes Jerusalem, Galilee, Jordan, Ramallah and Nazareth. The trip costs $3,425, which includes roundtrip airfare from Dulles, all accommodation, meals and transportation, tour guide and entrance fees. Travelers must have a passport that is valid until at least May 4, 2010 and must obtain a visa to Jordan before leaving the United States. Deposit of $350 is due by July 10. Please contact Tracy Dieter at tdieter at edow.org or 202/537-6545 to reserve a place or for further information.

* If you are interested in serving on the Diocese of Jerusalem Committee, please e-mail Bishop Chane at jchane at edow.org.

MANAGING STRESS SPIRITUALLY IN DIVERSE SERVICE WORK

Washington National Cathedral's Interfaith Program will host a Greenleaf Integrative Strategies event led by Swami Adhyatmananda from 5 to 8 p.m. July 11 in the Perry Auditorium. Adhyatmananda is one of the most sought-after Indian speakers and is the spiritual head of the Shivananda Order located in Ahmedabad, India. The order  is a non-sectarian tradition of Hinduism. The topic is, "Sustaining Service: Managing Stress Spiritually in Diverse Service Work," and is intended to be a gift for those who work on behalf of others. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.; no entry will be allowed after 6 p.m. RSVP to drshah at greenleaf-is.com. Visit http://www.divyajivan.org/adhyatmananda/index.htm for further information.

ICON PAINTING WORKSHOP

The Rev. Peter Pearson will lead an icon writing (painting) retreat/workshop on Labor Day weekend at Trinity, St. Mary's. Classes are set for 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 5 and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 6. Participants will receive step-by-step instructions to start and complete an icon. All materials will be provided. The cost is $225. For more information or to register, call the Rev. John Ball at 301/862-4597 or e-mail trinitysmcmd at olg.com

DIOCESAN YOUTH MINISTRY - TENTATIVE DATES FOR 2009/2010

The following dates have been put forward for Youth Ministry activities in 2009/2010. 

* Youth Lock In at the Cathedral: Nov.13, 2009

* High School Retreat: Feb. 19-21, 2010

* Middle School Retreat: March 19-21, 2010

For further information about any of these events, please contact Jessica Hitchcock, interim youth missioner, at 202/537-6524 or jhitchcock at edow.org.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR BISHOP WALKER SCHOOL

The Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys is seeking volunteers to assist with administrative projects. The school office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, and is currently located at Episcopal Church House. In September, it will move to the new school building in SE Washington. Call Randy O'Donoghue at 202/299-6521 if you are interested in volunteering.

HOSTING 11TH STEP RETREATS 

Samaritan Ministry is launching a new retreat program for Next Step program participants in recovery from substance abuse. Called 11th Step Retreats, the day-long retreat is designed for people who are working the 11th step in a 12-step recovery program of any kind. It is designed to help people find a method of prayer and/or meditation that enables them to draw closer to the God of their understanding. If your parish is interested in hosting a retreat for people in recovery, contact Kathy Doxsee at 202/722-2280 x315 or kdoxsee at samaritanministry.org 

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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