[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

DECEMBER 15, 2006
 
*** The weekly bulletin for clergy, wardens, diocesan committee members,
convention delegates and church administrators in the Episcopal Diocese
of Washington ***

112TH DIOCESAN CONVENTION
The 112th Diocesan Convention workshops, hearings and business sessions
will take place Jan. 26-27 (Friday and Saturday) at Washington National
Cathedral. Many volunteers are needed - see www.edow.org/convention to
sign up or contact Ann Talty, 202/537-6548 or atalty at edow.org. Exhibit
requests are due Dec. 19 - forms can be found at
www.edow.org/convention. Pre-convention mailing will be sent to all
clergy and lay delegates around Christmas. Lay delegates and alternates
to convention must be certified by the canonical deadline of Dec. 26
(Dec. 18 if they would like to receive the pre-convention mailing), so
rectors who have not certified them this year, please do so ASAP. Forms
have been sent to rectors, but can also be found at
www.edow.org/convention

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

ADDITIONAL PREVENTION TRAINING OPPORTUNITY AT VTS
Two training sessions on the prevention of abuse will take place at the
Virginia Theological Seminary in January: Prevention of Child Sexual
Abuse is set for 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 24; and Prevention of
Adult Sexual Misconduct will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Jan. 25. Registration deadline is Jan. 19. Cost for one session is $10;
$20 for both. Contact Carol Jubinski at 703/361-1744 for further
information. Sessions will be held in Addison Academic Center Room 101.

PART-TIME OFFICE ASSISTANT NEEDED
St. George's, Glenn Dale is seeking a part time office assistant needed
for approximately two months. Sixteen hours per week. Greeting visitors,
answering phones, some word processing and copying. For more
information, contact the Rev. Connie Reinhardt at 301/262-3285 or
rectorstgeo at verizon.net.

PARISH SECRETARY SOUGHT
Ascension, Sligo (Silver Spring) seeks a parish secretary 20-25 hours
per week. The congregation seeks an energetic, self-motivated individual
who is well-organized and able to multi-task. Good computer and
telephone skills a must. Pleasant atmosphere.  Start immediately. Fax
resumes to 301/587/4279.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your
prayers this week: 
* John Frizzell - on the occasion of his death Dec.13 and funeral at
2:30 p.m. Dec.18 at St. Paul's, Ivy in Charlottesville, Va.). The date
for a future memorial service in the Washington area is yet to be set.
* Bishop Ronald Haines - personal health
* Mariann Babnis - upcoming surgery 
* Charles Daugherty - personal health
* Dalton Downs - personal health
* Velma Brock - personal health
* Tom Logan - personal health
* Bishop Bill and Polly Spofford - personal health
* Rita Steadman Henninger - son's health (Cuthbert)
* John Talbott - wife's health (Annie)
* Martha Bonwitt - husband's health (Bill)
* Bishop Ted Eastman - wife's health (Sarah)
* Michael Marrett - wife's health (Margery)
* For all our seminarians preparing to take GOEs (General Ordination
Exams) in early January.

>>> REMINDERS:

CONTRIBUTING TO THE BISHOP JOHN T. WALKER SCHOOL
The planned Bishop John T. Walker Episcopal School will serve the boys
of Wards 7 and 8 in southeast Washington, D.C., and hopes to provide
collaborative education, with the boys and their families, in a
Christian setting. Your generous contribution will enable the diocese to
continue the planning phase which is a crucial first step toward
establishing the school. Contributions can be sent to: The Bishop John
T. Walker School, Episcopal Church House, Mount St. Alban Washington,
D.C. 20016

DIOCESAN CONSULTANTS NETWORK SEEKS NEW MEMBERS
The Diocesan Consultants Network is a group of professionals who provide
teambuilding, leadership development, strategic planning, conflict
resolution, search consulting and other services to strengthen the
diocese's congregations. The network is seeking to diversify and is
looking for people of color with interest, experience and skills in
organizational development. Minimum professional qualifications include
group facilitation skill and experience, familiarity with group
process/dynamics, and a passion for serving the church. Much of the work
takes place on evenings and weekends and consultants are compensated.
Contact Nancy Warren at nwarren at gmpexpress.net or 301/373-3560 for more
information. 

SPACE AVAILABLE AT NEW EPISCOPAL STUDENT CENTER
The Episcopal Student Center (University of Maryland) is now up and
running. The center has five bedrooms, which students occupy during the
academic year. From June 1 - Aug. 15 this space will be available for
daily, weekly or monthly rentals. The center is very close to the Metro,
and convenient to town. The center is also available for daytime
retreats, year-round. There are two large parlors, a large community
kitchen and an oratory. Parking can be arranged. Contact the Rev. Peter
Antoci for details 
at pantoci at umd.edu
 
CONCERT TO BENEFIT SAMARITAN MINISTRY
At 4 p.m. Dec. 17 the Thomas Circle Singers and orchestra will present
"A TCS Christmas" with all proceeds going to Samaritan Ministry of
Greater Washington. The concert will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran
Church, 4900 Connecticut Avenue NW, and will include a Festival of
Carols for harp and chorus, and carols of the season including an
audience sing-along of favorite carols. Tickets: $20; students/seniors:
$15. Visit www.thomascirclesingers.org to purchase tickets or for more
information.

EPISCOPAL MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
An Episcopal Marriage Encounter weekend is set for March 2-4 in
Charlottesville, Va. EME's mission is to help renew the church and
improve the world by helping married couples and their families live in
happy, intimate and responsible relationships. To learn more about EME
and the weekend, visit www.episcopalme.org ; e-mail
bocampbell at adelphia.net or call 434/973-3518. Early registration is
recommended.

TUTORS NEEDED FOR CATHEDRAL LITERACY PROGRAM
The Cathedral Literacy Program trains and provides tutors for children
and adults to help improve basic reading and math skills. The program
has been operating since 1986. New tutors are needed! To volunteer, call
Janice Molchon at 202/537-8990 or to learn more call Canon William
Barnwell at 202/537-5522.  

2007 MEDICAL INSURANCE RATES/PLAN BENEFITS AVAILABLE
Medical insurance rates and plan benefits for parishes and parish
employees are now available at: 
http://www.edow.org/parish/administration/benefits/health.html 
Contact Mary Manson, benefits administrator at mmanson at edow.org or 
202/537-6522 with any questions.

CYCLE OF PRAYER
The Cycle of Prayer through Nov. 25, 2007 is online at: 
http://www.edow.org/parish/congregation/liturgy/cycleofprayer/index.html

'CHILDREN TO CHILDREN' OUTREACH INITIATIVE
By now, all congregations will have received a packet containing 50 mite
boxes, a poster and a letter from Bishop John Chane about the "Children
to Children" Advent project. Congregations should distribute the boxes
to the children in their Sunday Schools and ask them to decorate and
assemble them. The bishop would like the children to make a regular
offering, and for congregations to collect these offerings at the end of
Advent and mail a check marked "Children to Children" to the attention
of Cheryl Daves Wilburn at Church House. The offering will benefit the
children of the Dukathole settlement outside Johannesburg in South
Africa, where a fire recently destroyed about 400 shanties, leaving more
than 1,000 children homeless. You can also contribute online at
www.edow.org/giving Contact Cheryl Daves Wilburn, diocesan liaison to
the Anglican Church in South Africa, with questions at 202/537-6543 or
cwilburn at edow.org.

DO YOU WORK IN A DC OFFICE BUILDING? 
Interfaith Worker Justice, a ministry supported by the diocesan
Commission on Urban Ministry, is working with DC Jobs for Justice to
bring together the tenants of downtown office buildings to support
service workers in their buildings. In these multi-million dollar
buildings janitors get only three sick days a year, parking workers earn
as little as $7 an hour, and security guards are denied affordable
healthcare. Anyone who works in a downtown office building and is
willing to help raise standards for downtown service workers, please
contact mbaris at solidaritycenter.org or kjohnson at stthomasdc.org. 

20s & 30s ADVENT RETREAT
The diocesan Young Adult Ministry Network and the Cathedral College are
co-sponsoring an Advent Retreat titled, "Who Is Christ for Us Today? An
Exploration in Prayer and Reflection." The retreat will be led by the
Rev. Martin L. Smith. Smith is theologian-in-residence at St. Columba's,
D.C., and is a noted writer and teacher on Christian spirituality. This
day of exploration and reflection is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 16 at
the Cathedral College, and is designed for people in their 20s and 30s.
Cost is $25. Lunch is included. Online registration at
www.edow.org/events

2007 UTO GRANT APPLICATIONS
The 2007 UTO Grant Applications are now available in the Office of
Episcopal Church Women at Church House. Deadline for submission is Dec.
21. For more information, please contact Eulalia Smith at 202/537-6530
or esmith at edow.org.
  
ST. GEORGE'S COLLEGE, JERUSALEM
St. George's College is a continuing education center of the Anglican
Communion that enables Christians to encounter the people of the Holy
Land and to study the Bible and history in the context of pilgrimage and
travel. For more information go to www.SGCjerusalem.org or contact
Bishop Allen Bartlett, chair of the North American Regional Committee of
St. George's College at allen.jerrie at worldnet.att.net. A DVD about the
college is available for loan from Church House to interested parishes
or groups (Keely Thrall, kthrall at edow.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.
  
MARRIAGE GUIDELINES AVAILABLE ONLINE
A copy of the "Bishop's Guidelines for Marriage and Remarriage" is
available online at www.edow.org/marriage

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.



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