[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

MAY 11, 2006
 
*** The weekly bulletin for clergy, wardens, diocesan committee members, convention delegates and church administrators in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington ***

CONFIRMATION ALERT
If you plan to attend the confirmation at Washington National Cathedral on May 13, please be aware that parking is limited. Travel by van if possible, car pool if you can, and allow plenty of time to find a space and to walk some distance if necessary. No photography will be permitted during the service, but the bishops will remain afterwards for photo opportunities. Parish registers should be taken to the chapel of the bishop to which your parish is assigned (not to the slype) and left on the table there to be signed. Finally, please plan to leave any valuables with a family member or friend. 

BISHOP CHANE TO ADDRESS GW'S INTERFAITH BACCALAUREATE SERVICE
Bishop John B. Chane will be the keynote speaker at the George Washington University's Interfaith Baccalaureate Service from 3 to 4 p.m. May 19 at the Western Presbyterian Church (2401 Virginia Ave., NW). As part of the service, Bishop Chane also will be awarded with The George Washington University's President's Medal, the highest honor awarded by the president of the university. Graduating seniors can request up to four tickets by sending their name, phone number and ticket number requested to use at gwu.edu. For additional information, contact Dick Golden at 202/994-3719 or rmgolden at gwu.edu.

ANGUS DUN GRANT DEADLINE
The Angus Dun Fellowship Fund provides grants to support continuing education for clergy of the Diocese for Washington. Due to limited availability, grants are limited to $1,000, and to programs which will enrich applicants and their place of ministry, or the diocese as a whole. Additional information and application materials are available 
at  http://www.edow.org/parish/congregation/grants/angusdun.html The 
deadline for the spring grant cycle is May 26.
 
DIABETES SUPPORT GROUP TO START MAY 18
A new Diabetes Support Group will begin meeting at 7 p.m. May 18 at Ascension & St. Agnes (12th and Massachusetts, NW). As well as offering personal support and serving as a resource for information about the condition, the group will explore the Christian response to serious illness. For more information, contact Cherrill Hoard at 202/347-8161. 

CHARLIE'S PLACE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS
Charlie's Place at St. Margaret's, a program for the homeless that provides breakfast and social services, is in need of volunteers Tuesday through Friday mornings - especially Tuesdays. The program begins at 6:30 a.m. when clients arrive and volunteers prepare food. Food is served at 7:30 a.m. and the program ends at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers also spend time with clients and read a prayer before the meal. Even a commitment to volunteer one day a month is appreciated. Contact Elisabeth Heckmann at 202/232-3066 ext. 7 or eheckmann at stmargaretsdc.org for more information or to volunteer.

NURSERY CARE PROVIDERS SOUGHT
All Souls, Washington, D.C., is seeking two Nursery Care Providers. The positions are for five to seven hours per week, primarily on Sundays. The provider will work directly under the supervision of the rector and may be asked, with advance notice, to provide nursery care at other times for special worship services and parish events and activities. Hourly salary will be paid according to diocesan personnel guidelines. Interested candidates should contact the Rev. Joan Beilstein at 202/232-4244 or revjeb at comcast.net.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:
*  Barbara Duncan - Hospitalization for surgery
*  George Timberlake - Hospitalization for surgery
*  Robert Stephenson - Wife (Sally's) hospitalization
*  Louis Wheeler - he and his family's recovery from an automobile accident 
*  Jim Hunter - wife's (Jeanine) personal health 
*  Rip Coffin - personal health 
*  Tom Logan - personal health 
*  Edgar Romig - personal health
*  Velma Brock - personal health
* Bishop Barbara Harris - sister's (Joey) health
*  Paul Cooney - mother's (Jean) health
*  Rich Kukowski  - father's (George) health
*  Anne Gilson - mother's (Margaret) health
*  Stuart Kenworthy - serving as an Army Chaplain in Iraq

>>> REMINDERS:

CONVERSATIONS BEFORE COLUMBUS - LOCATION DETAILS
Members of the Diocese of Washington's deputation to the Episcopal Church's General Convention (June 13-21 in Columbus, Ohio) will be on hand to discuss any issues and concerns people have before they depart from 6:30 to 8 p.m. May 30 at Trinity, Upper Marlboro. For directions, visit http://trinityuppermarlboro.edow.org/

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
 
TREASURERS' WORKSHOP
The 2006 Treasurers' Workshop for treasurers and wardens, set for May 20 at St. Andrew's, College Park, will build on the theme that good financial management is essential to well-run parishes. Topics will include the audit process, budgeting, loan documentation requirements, discretionary and other restricted funds. The diocesan treasurer, members of the Finance Committee and diocesan staff will be on hand to answer questions, and there will be an opportunity for fellowship with your colleagues. Register online at www.edow.org/events    

MEMORIAL SERVICE FOR THE REV. SOLOMON JACOBS 
There will be a memorial service for the Rev. Solomon Jacobs at 11 a.m. May 22 at Washington National Cathedral for his many friends and colleagues in the area. Reception to follow. Please RSVP to Lisalyn Jacobs at (703) 528-6142 or Lisalyn at prodigy.net

POSTDOCTORAL SCHOLARSHIPS
The Interdisciplinary Research Centre on Family Violence and Violence Against
Women offers two $ 20,000 CAD postdoctoral scholarships to researchers wishing to work on the theme of family violence and violence against women. The application deadline is June 1. More information is available at http://www.criviff.qc.ca/

THIRD CONVERSATION ON MARRIAGE
The Task Force on Marriage will be holding its 3rd Conversation on Marriage on from 8:30 a.m. to noon May 20 at St. Albans, Washington, D.C. Panelists will be the Rev. Kortright Davis, theologian; the Rev. Jean Milliken, pastoral counselor; and Helen Harrington, family law attorney. 

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 

YOUNG ADULT MISSION TRIP TO NEW ORLEANS
Washington Episcopalians Respond to Katrina (WERK) is sponsoring a trip for young adults (age 18-29) to aid in New Orleans' recovery May 17-23. Space is limited; the opportunity is boundless: be a witness, lend a hand, change your life! Contact Barbara Manard for more information: 301/801-9866; BManard at earthlink.net
 
THE DIOCESAN ROAD RUNNERS ARE AT IT AGAIN
Join with fellow Episcopalians from across the diocese to run in the 31st Marine Corps Marathon on Oct. 29. (Online registration for the marathon begins May 17.) If you are interested in joining the diocese's team, please contact the Rev. Joan Beilstein at revjeb at comcast.net. Please pass this invitation along to parishioners at your church.

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:
* 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 20 at All Faith, Charlotte Hall
* 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

CYCLE OF PRAYER
The Cycle of Prayer through June 4 is online at: 
http://www.edow.org/parish/congregation/liturgy/cycleofprayer/index.html

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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