[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

AUGUST 31, 2006
 
*** The weekly bulletin for clergy, wardens, diocesan committee members, convention delegates and church administrators in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington ***

JUST IN TIME FOR THE NEW SUNDAY SCHOOL YEAR... 
Extensive new resources, compiled by the diocese's Christian Formation Committee, will be available Sept. 1 at www.edow.org  The resources include information on teaching Sunday School, leading a youth group, organizing adult education offerings and planning intergenerational activities.

9/11 UNITY WALK
Join churches, synagogues, mosques, gurdwaras and temples in the 9/11 Unity Walk from 1:30 to 6 p.m. Sept. 10 as people from all faiths come together in peace, healing and understanding. The walk will begin at the Washington Hebrew Congregation (Massachusetts Ave. and Macomb St.), will stop at Washington National Cathedral at 3 p.m. for a "We Are Family" concert featuring Sister Sledge, will continue down Embassy Row to the Embassy of the Vatican and the Islamic Center and will conclude with a celebration at the Gandhi Memorial. For information call 202/244-5006 or visit www.911unitywalk.org Absolutely no signs, banners or placards, please.

PRAYER VIGIL FOR PEACE 
A Prayer Vigil for Peace is set for Sept. 10-11 at Washington National Cathedral. Activities begin at 3 p.m. Sunday with a labyrinth walk in the nave. Music, worship, prayers for healing and guided meditation sessions will take place throughout the day and during the evening on Monday. For more information, contact tsimpson at cathedral.org or visit www.nationalcathedral.org 
 
MINISTRY DEPLOYMENT CONFERENCE
The Rev. Mary Sulerud, canon for deployment and vocational ministry, will represent the diocese at the Fall Ministry Deployment Conference in Roanoke, Va. (Oct. 14-17). If you are a canonically resident or licensed clergy person and would like your credentials presented at the conference for deployment consideration, please submit an updated resume and CDO profile to Sulerud or George McConnell by Oct. 6. The materials should be submitted as an e-mail attachment and sent to msulerud at edow.org or gmcconnell at edow.org. If you need assistance or have questions, call 202/537-6536.  
 
LATINO MINISTRIES CELEBRATION 
A celebration of Latino Ministries in the Diocese of Washington is set for 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 16 at Our Savior, Silver Spring (1700 Powder Mill Road). Bishop John B. Chane will preside at the Eucharist; a meal will be served afterward. Parking is available behind the church or across Powder Mill Road at the Hillandale shopping center. For more information, contact the Rev. Simón Bautista, the Latino Missioner for the Diocese of Washington, at sbautista at edow.org or 202/294-4256.
 
CROSSWALK AMERICA FINALE
Members of the Diocese of Washington are invited to attend the CrossWalk America finale at 4 p.m. Sept. 3 at Foundry United Methodist Church (1500 16th Street, NW). Six members of this ecumenical organization have been walking from Phoenix, Arizona, since Easter. Their focus is on the Jesus commandments. The event, which will feature Bishop John S. Spong, Bishop Carlton Pearson, the Rev. Jimmy Creech, Diana Butler Bass and Harry Knox as speakers, is a celebration as the walkers reach their destination and 2500 mile goal. For more information, visit www.crosswalkamerica.org
 
PHOTOS/DVDS OF DOWNS FAREWELL AVAILABLE
Photo CDs and DVDs of the diocesan farewell held for Father Dalton and Ana Downs at St. Timothy's, D.C., on April 28 and the parish farewell on April 30 are now available. To purchase a photo CD ($10) or DVD ($15), please contact the church at 202/582-7740 or Jozetta Robinson at 202/369-6010. All orders must be placed by Sept. 17. 

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:
* Thomas J. Engram and his family on the occasion of his death (Aug. 17) 
* Stuart Kenworthy - thanksgiving for his safe return from military chaplaincy in Iraq but continued prayers for those who remain 
*  Michael Marrett - wife's (Margery) personal health 
*  Rita Steadman - continued improving health of her infant son (Cuthbert) 
*  Velma Brock - personal health 
*  Mitzie Noble - personal health
*  John and Mary Miers - personal health
*  Bishop Ronald Haines - personal health 
*  Sanford Garner - personal health 
*  Rip Coffin - personal health 
*  Tom Logan - personal health 

>>> REMINDERS:

EDUCATION FOR MINISTRY CLASSES FORMING
Education for Ministry is a four-year program of theological education developed by the School of Theology of the University of the South. Students sign up one year at a time. There are 19 groups throughout the diocese. New groups are now forming for the 2006-2007 academic year. Most classes start in September. For information on classes now forming or with space available for new students, go to www.edowefm.org or contact the diocese's EFM coordinator, Barbara Miles, at BMILES at crs.loc.gov.

LABOR DAY OPEN HOUSE, PICNIC AND U2 MASS
The University of Maryland Episcopal Student Center (4508 College Avenue, College Park) invites you to take part in a Labor Day open house and picnic at 4 p.m. Sept. 4 followed by a U2 Mass at 5:30 p.m. Bring your picnic items. A freewill donation will be taken for the ONE Campaign to end extreme global poverty. For more information, call 301/405-8453, e-mail eaterps at umd.edu or visit www.edow.org/eacm  
 
VESTRY WORKSHOP - SAVE THE DATE
A Vestry Workshop is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Dec 2. Agenda and registration information will be available soon.

KATRINA CLEANUP TRIP
The St. Alban's Gulf Coast Revival Group and Washington Episcopalians Respond to Katrina (WERK), are sponsoring a trip to New Orleans from Oct. 4-9 to help clean up affected areas. Contact Derrick Crowe at derrickccrowe at hotmail.com for more information.

DOCC PROGRAM - CHANGE OF DATES
Disciples of Christ in Community (DOCC), a Christian formation program, will take place at Washington National Cathedral this fall. The program is set for 7 to 9 p.m. (with an optional supper at 6 p.m.) on Tuesday nights from OCT. 10 through JAN. 23, skipping Dec. 26 and Jan. 2, with a required retreat day on OCT. 21. Dean Samuel T. Lloyd and the Rev. William Barnwell, the cathedral's canon missioner, will give the presentations, and participants will respond in small groups. If you are interested in attending, contact Sheri Jackson at 202/537-6222 or Barnwell at 202/537-5522. For further information, visit the programs section of the cathedral's Web site: www.nationalcathedral.org

DIOCESAN REVIVAL - SAVE THE DATE
The diocese's SECOND annual Fall Revival will take place on the evenings of Oct.19-20 at Washington National Cathedral. The Rev. Jeremiah A. Wright Jr., senior pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago will preach.

REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES 2006
* Region 1: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 28 at St. Matthew's, Hyattsville 
* Region 2: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at St. Luke's, Bethesda [note corrected date]
* Region 3: 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Oct. 28 at St. Luke's, Bethesda [note corrected date]
* Region 4: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 23 at Christ, Kensington [note corrected date]
* Region 5: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 28 at St. Matthew's, Hyattsville 
* Region 6: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 14 at Christ, LaPlata
Election Schedule for each region and information on submitting nominations and resolutions can be found at www.edow.org  or by contacting Ann Talty at atalty at edow.org or 202/537-6548.

LOCATION CHANGE - SOUTHERN AFRICA PARTNERSHIP MEETING
The Southern Africa Partnership meeting set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 18, with Bishop Chane and the Southern Africa Partnership Committee, will now be held at St. Columba's.

URBAN MINISTRY TRAINING SERIES DATES SET
The Urban Ministry Commission will offer an Urban Ministry Training Series from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on five Saturdays in 2006-2007. The first will be on Sept. 16 at Epiphany, D.C., with a keynote speaker (to be announced); remarks from Bishop John B. Chane; and introductions to the four areas of urban ministry defined by the commission: congregational development, community connection, service and advocacy. The four subsequent sessions (Feb. 24, April 21, June 16 and Sept. 15, 2007) will each focus on one of these areas. Clergy in charge of parishes will receive a more detailed invitation in July. Each parish is asked to bring a group of 6-8 clergy, laity and non-parochial community members (e.g. residents, business owners or workers).

SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN - FALL TRAINING DATES
Safeguarding God's Children provides participants with the information they need to protect the children they know and care for in their personal lives and the ministries in which they serve. Training dates are set for:
* 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 9 at St. Mark's, D.C.
* 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sept. 23 at Trinity, St. Mary's City
* 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 14 at Grace, Silver Spring
* 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Oct. 30 at St. Luke's, Bethesda
* 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Dec. 9 at Epiphany, Forestville
For more information or to register, visit www.edow.org/prevention

STEWARDSHIP, OUTREACH, AND EVANGELISM
A two-hour workshop, "Stewardship, Outreach and Evangelism; Marketing the Good News!" is set for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 11. The workshop will cover tips, tools and types of events to make the best use of your resources. Light refreshments will be served. Visit www.edow.org/events to register.
 
CAREFIRST BENEFIT NEWS FOR DIOCESAN/PARISH EMPLOYEES
CareFirst now has online member handbooks. Go to http://www.carefirst.com/membsvcs/html/MemberHandbook.html 
and click the option for BlueChoice Opt-Out Plus Open Access Plan (5th link on list). 
If you have specific questions regarding your plan benefits, please contact the Benefits Administrator at 202/537-6522.

ATTENTION SMALL CONGREGATIONS:
Small Congregations: There is a new Web site intended to be a place to share stories of vitality, hope, strength, challenge, education and prayer for the small church community. To review the first posts or join in the discussion, visit http://smallepiscopalchurch.blogspot.com/  If you would like to submit a new article or share an educational piece, please send it to swatson at episcopalchurch.org 

JOIN ENERGY STAR FOR CONGREGATIONS
Congregations that commit to substantial energy savings can cut utility costs by up to 30 percent and make significant contributions to a cleaner environment. Become an ENERGY STAR partner for free technical support, information and resources, awards eligibility and e-mail updates. Visit http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=small_business.sb_congregations to learn more.
   
VTS FALL MINISTRY CONFERENCE
VTS will hold a one-day Fall Ministry Conference on Nov. 14 at its campus in Alexandria, Va. Learn about the seminary's programs, talk to faculty and students, go to classes, have lunch and tour the campus. To register for the conference or for further information, visit www.vts.edu, or e-mail Admissions at vts.edu. Space is limited, so register now if you are interested in attending.

BISHOP'S APPEAL - IT'S NOT TOO LATE
We are still accepting donations for the 2006 Bishop's Appeal for mission and ministry.  Donate online at: http://www.edow.org/giving

EPISCOPAL-AFFILIATED SENIOR HOUSING - FALL OPEN HOUSE DAY
A simultaneous open house at the Episcopal-affiliated senior housing communities in the diocese is set for 1 to 3 p.m. Nov. 12.  Each community will offer activities and tours so seniors and their families can check out the services and programs available. Participating communities are Collington, Cedar Lane, St. Philip's House, Friendship Terrace and St. Mary's Court. For more information, contact Kate Lewis at 202/414-6312 or klewis at esm.org
 
MARRIAGE GUIDELINES AVAILABLE ONLINE
A copy of the "Bishop's Guidelines for Marriage and Remarriage" is available online at www.edow.org/marriage

CYCLE OF PRAYER
The Cycle of Prayer through Nov. 26 is online at: 
http://www.edow.org/parish/congregation/liturgy/cycleofprayer/index.html
 
ALZHEIMER'S CAREGIVERS SUPPORT GROUP AT ST. JAMES', POTOMAC 
The Alzheimer's Association is sponsoring a monthly support group at St. James', Potomac (11815 Seven Locks Road) for those caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or another form of dementia. Meetings take place from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall on the third Thursday of each month. All support givers are welcome to come. Two facilitators trained by the Alzheimer's Association lead the group. For further information, contact Linda Pallett at 301/349-5011 or John Miers at 301/656-3359 or Johngmiers at comcast.net 

GIVE A 'PARTNERING HEART'
Give a "Partnering Heart" by supporting a ministry in the Church of the Province of Southern Africa. Visit http://www.edow.org/diocese/outreach/sapc/hearts.html  
to find several options as well as more details and follow-up instructions.