[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

JUNE 8, 2006
 
*** The weekly bulletin for clergy, wardens, diocesan committee members, convention delegates and church administrators in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington ***

GENERAL CONVENTION SET FOR JUNE 13-21
The Episcopal Church's 75th General Convention kicks off next week in Columbus, Ohio. 
>> DEPUTATION: The Diocese of Washington will be represented by eight deputies, eight alternate deputies and Bishops Chane, Harris and Dixon. For a complete list of the diocesan deputies, visit
http://www.edow.org/news/window/special/generalconvention/2006/deputies.html
>> NEWS: When there is significant news from the convention, such as the results of the presiding bishop election, a special bulletin will be e-mailed to this list. Otherwise, check the diocesan Web site, www.edow.org, for news updates and visit the diocese's Web log, www.dailyepiscopalian.com for a convention diary posted by Jim Naughton, the diocese's director of communications.
>> PRAYER OCTAVE: Parishes in the Diocese of Washington are encouraged to pray the Octave (an eight-day prayer cycle for the convention) through June 11 and are invited to take and send an electronic photograph of worshipers on Trinity Sunday to octave at episcopalchurch.org. The photos 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 are available at 
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/53785_74428_ENG_HTM.htm
>> A PRAYER FOR 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:   
"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"

SAMARITAN  MINISTRY TO OFFER VOLUNTEER TRAINING
Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington is seeking new weekend and lunchtime Meal Program Volunteers. Volunteers will work at area breakfast, lunch or dinner programs and will serve as the liaison between the meal program and SMGW. Volunteers will receive specialized training, will work four hours one day per month and must have good people skills and a desire to work with individuals who are homeless, hungry and poor. The first training session will be from 9 to 11 a.m. June 24 at the NW office of Samaritan Ministry (1516 Hamilton Street NW). For more information, contact Chuck James at cjames at samaritanministry.org or 202-722-2280.
 
ANTI-TORTURE LEADERS TO SPEAK AT INTERFAITH CONFERENCE
The Washington Region Religious Campaign Against Torture invites members of the diocese and of all denominations and faiths to a conference at the River Road Unitarian Church from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 17. Meet the organizers and learn what WRRCAT is doing to mobilize the faith community on this issue. Anti-torture leaders, including Sen. Carl Levin; Pulitzer Prize winner Seymour Hersh; author Jennifer Harbury ("Truth, Torture and the American Way"); the Rev. Beth Pyles, a member of Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq; former CIA analyst and anti-torture activist Ray McGovern; and Mugisho Bazibuhe, a torture survivor and member of the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition will speak. For information and to register, visit www.wrrcat.org. 

SAVE THE DATE: SOUTHERN AFRICA PARTNERSHIP MEETING
A diocesan meeting on the Southern Africa Partnership with Bishop John B. Chane and the Southern Africa Partnership Committee is set for 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sept. 18 at St. Alban's, D.C. Details to come.

ELECTRONIC ORGAN AVAILABLE
A Lowrey organ is available to any parish that can make use of it. It has two manuals, a pedal board and an electronic rhythm regulator. Photos are available. If your parish is interested, please contact Sharonda Myers at smyers at edow.org or phone 292/537-5208 for more information.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:
* Hannah Atkins - personal health
* Nancy Lee Jose - personal health
* 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:

FOURTH ANNUAL 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 also 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.

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

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

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. 

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 

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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