[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

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

NEWS FROM GENERAL CONVENTION
Major news from the Episcopal Church's 75th General Convention in Columbus, Ohio, will be sent to this list with the heading "General Convention News." For a less formal look at the action, visit www.dailyepiscopalian.com, a Web log where Jim Naughton, the diocese's director of communications, is posting a daily diary.

AGE-IN-PLACE KICK OFF EVENT ON SATURDAY
Age-In-Place will be hosting a Ward 4 kick-off event for the local community on June 17 (Saturday). Stop by the 200 block of Peabody St. NE between 10 a.m. and noon. This program's goal is to help seniors in Northeast D.C. stay at home safely and with dignity. Volunteers help with yard work, house cleaning, painting and minor repairs. For more information, contact Taryn Montgomery at 202/635-9384.
 
SHARING JERUSALEM WORKSHOPS OFFERED
Members of the diocese are invited to learn about the Sharing Jerusalem Campaign at one of three workshops sponsored by the Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace and the local chapter of the Methodist Federation for Social Action. Each workshop will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and will be followed by a light Middle Eastern lunch. This is a pilot program - if successful, synagogues and mosques will be invited to participate in the fall. Workshops are set for: 
* July 8 at St Alban's, D.C. in Saterlee Hall (on the grounds of Washington National Cathedral). Call 202/363-8286.
* July 15 at Woodside United Methodist Church, (8900 Georgia Ave., Silver Spring). Call 301/587-1215
* July 22: St Alban's Episcopal Church, Annandale, (6800 Columbia Pike, Annandale, Va.) Call 703/256-2966.

FATHER'S DAY BENEFIT FOR SAMARITAN MINISTRY 
*** note: Reception location has changed. ***
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 from 6 to 7 p.m. in the Fourth Floor Lounge of The National Theatre (1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW) 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.

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).

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

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:
*  Edgar Dutcher Romig, rector emeritus, Church of the Epiphany, D.C. - at the time of his death (June 13). Funeral at 4 p.m. June 26 at Epiphany (1317 G Street, NW). Clergy are invited to process - cassock, surplice and white stole 
*  John and Mary Miers - hospitalization
*  Nancy Lee Jose - personal health   
*  Bishop Ronald Haines - personal health
*  Robert Stephenson - wife's hospitalization (Sally)
*  Rita Steadman - for the health of her expectant baby 
*  Jim Hunter - wife's health (Jeannine)
*  Rip Coffin - personal health 
*  Tom Logan - personal health 
*  Velma Brock - personal health
*  Jim Naughton - father's health (Frank)
*  Rich Kukowski  - father's (George) health
*  Stuart Kenworthy - serving as an Army Chaplain in Iraq
*  Nan Peete - brother-in-law's hospitalization (Donald Brown)

>>> REMINDERS: 

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. 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.

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.

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 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 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.
 
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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