[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

JUNE 1, 2006
 
*** The weekly bulletin for clergy, wardens, diocesan committee members, convention delegates and church administrators in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington ***

PRAYER OCTAVE FOR GENERAL CONVENTION
The Rev. Gregory Straub, executive officer of the General Convention, is encouraging parishes to pray the Octave (an eight-day prayer cycle from June 4-11) and to take and send an electronic photograph of worshipers on Trinity Sunday to octave at episcopalchurch.org. The photos, which should be sent as an attachment, will be shown on giant screens in the House of Deputies to remind convention members of the congregations whose prayers are supporting them in their work. Resources for the Octave of Prayer for the 75th General Convention are available at 
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/53785_74428_ENG_HTM.htm

SACRED GROUNDS: FIRST FRIDAYS
"Sacred Grounds: First Fridays," a monthly forum at St. Thomas', D.C. (1772 Church Street, NW, two blocks from the Dupont Circle Metro) invites younger Episcopalians (20s/30s) from around the diocese to come and socialize in a casual setting. The event begins at 8 p.m. June 2 and includes refreshments, art and music. Contact Dustin Cole at 202/441-0907 dustindc at gmail.com for more information. 

WASHINGTON EARLY MUSIC FESTIVAL SET FOR JUNE 2-25 
This year's Washington Early Music Festival, set for June 2-25, showcases early music performers (European classical music composed from the Middle Ages through the Baroque period) from around the world and features lectures, art exhibits and workshops. This year's festival celebrates the music of Italy. A number of the events will take place at churches in the Diocese of Washington. The festival schedule is available at www.earlymusicdc.org. Tickets to most events may be purchased at the door.

ROCK CREEK FESTIVAL SET FOR JUNE 10-16
The 4th Rock Creek Festival of the Arts will take place June 10-16 in the buildings of St. Paul's, Rock Creek. A brochure is now available - call Mauricio Franco at 202/726-2080 for copies and details of admission prices. A ticket of admission to all the main evening concerts is available for  $90 ($50 for seniors and students). All other events are free of charge. Full details can be found on the parish's Web site: www.rockcreekparish.org

SMALL RURAL CHURCH SUMMIT
Bishop Ed Leidel of Eastern Michigan and Rob Voyle of the Clergy Leadership Institute are inviting clergy and lay leaders of small, rural churches to participate in an Appreciative Inquiry training. The goal is to help participants re-imagine their churches, to create new models that are sustainable in their communities and have integrity, and to equip the leadership with strategies they can use. The training costs $250. The summit is set for July 27-30 at Huron College, Ontario. For information and/or registration go to www.clergyleadership.com or contact Rob Voyle at rob at voyle.com or 503/647-2382.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:
* Carole Humphrey - hospitalization
*  Hannah Atkins - personal health
*  Nancy Lee Jose - personal health
*  Barbara Duncan - Recovery from surgery 
*  Bishop Ronald Haines - personal health
*  Robert Stephenson - Wife (Sally's) hospitalization 
*  Rita Steadman - for the health of her expectant baby 
*  Jim Hunter - wife's (Jeannine) personal health 
*  Rip Coffin - personal health 
*  Tom Logan - personal health 
*  Edgar Romig - personal health
*  Velma Brock - personal health
*  Jim Naughton - father's (Frank) health
*  Rich Kukowski  - father's (George) health
*  Stuart Kenworthy - serving as an Army Chaplain in Iraq

>>> REMINDERS:

NEWS FROM GENERAL CONVENTION
News from General Convention will be posted online at edow.org and blogofdaniel.com. Jim Naughton, the diocese's director of communications, will be attending the convention. He will file news stories for the diocesan Web site and will be keeping a diary that will be updated at least once a day on the diocesan Web log.

ORDINATION AT WASHINGTON NATIONAL CATHEDRAL
Bishop John B. Chane will ordain Deirdre Anne Eckian and Caron Annette Gwynn to the sacred order of deacons during a 10 a.m. June 10 service at Washington National Cathedral. Clergy, vest in red stoles. A reception will follow the service.

DIOCESAN REVIVAL - SAVE THE DATE
The diocese's first 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.

MARRIAGE GUIDELINES AVAILABLE ONLINE
A copy of the "Bishop's Guidelines for Marriage and Remarriage" is being sent to all clergy of the diocese this week. It is also available online at www.edow.org/marriage

ATTENTION CLERGY:
Please provide any updates to your entries for the 2006 Journal and Directory to Ann Talty at atalty at edow.org or 202/537-6548 by June 9.

CYCLE OF PRAYER
The Cycle of Prayer through Nov. 26 is online at: 
http://www.edow.org/parish/congregation/liturgy/cycleofprayer/index.html

GALA RECEPTION FOR EPISCOPAL SENIOR MINISTRIES
A gala reception to benefit Episcopal Senior Ministries is set for 6:30 to 9 p.m. June 8 in the lobby of the Homer Building (601 13th Street, NW). The event, "Magical Moments & Milestones" will honor the 20th anniversary of Joe Resch as ESM's executive director, the 35th anniversary of Friendship Terrace Retirement Community, the 25th anniversary of Christian Communities Group Homes, and the 10th anniversary of ESM Cares Geriatric Care Management Services. Tickets are $125 each, $175 each for friend's tickets, and are available at www.esm.org or at 202/414-6315.

CPR/DEFIBRILLATOR COURSE AT ALL SOULS, D.C.
All Souls' HELP Committee (Health Enhancement for Lay People) is offering training sessions for CPR and defibrillator use. Sessions will be at All Souls (2300 Cathedral Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20008, 202/232-4244, www.allsoulsdc.org) on June 13, 15 and 19 (6:30-9:30 p.m.), and July 8 (9a.m. to noon). An alternative to the July date may be June 17 (still pending). All Souls is offering the Rescue One training for $25 per person for the three hour course (usual cost is $70 and higher). A minimum of 10 registered participants is required for each session. If you are interested in attending, contact Al Muller at 301/657-1671 or g2mdal at aol.com. 

WHO ARE WE?
In preparation for General Convention, there is a three-session curriculum on the  Diocese of Ohio's Web site:
http://www.dohio.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=399
The sessions are designed to last between 50 and 80 minutes, and the topics are 1. The Polity of the Episcopal Church (How do we organize ourselves as the Body of Christ in the Episcopal Church?); 2. Truth, Justice, and the "Anglican" Way (What do we stand for? How do we know?); and GC2006! 

A PRAYER FOR OUR CHURCH'S GENERAL CONVENTION
This prayer is being commended to the congregations of the Diocese of Washington by the Bishop John B. Chane, to be prayed now through General Convention (June 12-21):   
General Convention Prayer: By your eternal word, O God, you call all things into being and fill them with your goodness.  Be with your Church gathering in convention by your calling in the coming days; fill it with your wisdom and your love; empower it with abiding courage and patience; sustain it through your spirit to carry out the decisions made in council; and in all things grant that our General Convention may unfold in a manner worthy of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose name we pray.  Amen

LATINO MINISTRIES CELEBRATION - SAVE THE DATE
This year's Latino Ministries celebration will take place from 6 to 9 p.m. Sept. 16 at Our Savior, Silver Spring. Bishop John B. Chane will preside at the Eucharist; a meal will be served afterward. 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.

FATHER'S DAY BENEFIT FOR SAMARITAN MINISTRY 
Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington is selling orchestra seats for the 7:30 p.m. June 18 performance of SPAMALOT at the National Theatre. Tickets, including a pre-show reception around the corner at Epiphany, D.C., are $150 each ($59 is tax deductible). Send checks (payable to Samaritan Ministry) to SMGW Spamalot Benefit, 1516 Hamilton St. NW, Washington DC 20011. Visit www.samaritanministry.org or contact Diane Aten at 202/722-2280 or daten at samaritanministry.org.
 
TO GROW OR NOT TO GROW TRAINING
Is your congregation interested in growing? This fall, the Diocesan Office of Congregational Ministries will sponsor "To Grow or Not To Grow" training, designed to help parishes assess the barriers to and readiness for growth. Training will be given by members of the Diocesan Consultants Network, who also will provide individual consultation to participating parishes. Parishes must commit to attending all eight sessions and engaging their congregation in discussions throughout the year. For further information or to sign up, contact the Rev. Canon Carol Cole Flanagan at 202-/37-6556.
 
REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES: SAVE THE DATE
Clergy, wardens and lay delegates are asked to attend and vote at their respective Regional Assemblies this fall. If you can't attend your own regional meeting, you can still attend (but not vote at) another one for the plenary session. 
* Regions 1 and 5:  9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 28
* Regions 2 and 3:  9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 21
* Region 4: 2 to 6 p.m. Oct. 21
* Region 6: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 14

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 

SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN - 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:
* 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. June 8 at All Souls, D.C. 
For more information or to register, visit www.edow.org/prevention

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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