[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

MAY 25, 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
Resources for the Octave of Prayer for the 75th General Convention are available at 
http://www.episcopalchurch.org/53785_74428_ENG_HTM.htm
An octave is an ancient church tradition of eight days of prayer between two feast days, and the octave for General Convention is set for the eight days from Pentecost (June 4) through Trinity Sunday (June 11). All of the resources reflect the General Convention's theme of "Come and Grow," and all are invited to participate in the prayers, reflections and Scripture readings. The octave ends just as deputies and bishops begin to gather in Columbus, Ohio, for the June 13-21 legislative sessions.

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.

HUBER NAMED AS CATHEDRAL'S NEW VICAR
The Rev. Stephen Huber, priest-in-charge at St. Columba's, D.C., has accepted the call to be vicar of Washington National Cathedral. The vicar is to be the executive officer of the cathedral and will act on behalf of the dean, the Rev. Samuel Lloyd, when he is away. In his new role, Huber will be responsible for implementing cathedral programs and ministries and for integrating the many facets of the cathedral staff's work. He also will be responsible, along with pastoral staff, for developing the new cathedral congregation. Huber will begin his new position in mid-July.

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.

UNDOING RACISM - TRAINING SESSION
The diocese's Task Force on Racial Reconciliation is offering the following training from The People's Institute for Survival and Beyond. The Institute will present its flagship program, "Undoing Racism" from June 1-3 at Epiphany, D.C. (1317 G Street NW) Attendance will be limited to 50 participants. Each participant is expected to commit to all sessions, the first of which will begin at 5 p.m. June 1. The cost is $250 per person, payable to "Episcopal Diocese of Washington" and marked "Undoing Racism." For additional information and to register, contact the Rev. Sherrill Page at 301/894-9100.

TEMPORARY PARISH ADMINISTRATOR - ST. JOHN'S, OLNEY 
St. John's, Olney is seeking a temporary parish administrator. This work will be in the range of 20-30 hours per week. Compensation will be negotiated. Please reply to: The Rev. Phillip Carlyle Cato, Priest in Charge, St. John's Episcopal Church, 3427 Olney-Laytonsville Road, Olney, MD 20832 (301/774-6999) www.stjohnsolney.org

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:
*  Bishop Barbara Harris - on the occasion of her sister's (Joey/Josephine) death 
*  Paul Cooney - on the occasion of his mother's (Jean) death 
*  Jim Naughton - father's health (Frank)
*  Hannah Atkins - personal health
*  Nancy Lee Jose - personal health
*  Barbara Duncan - Recovery from surgery 
*  Bishop Ronald Haines - personal health
*  George Timberlake - recovery from surgery 
*  Robert Stephenson - Wife's (Sally) personal health  
*  Rita Steadman - for the health of her expectant baby 
*  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
*  Rich Kukowski  - father's (George) health
*  Stuart Kenworthy - serving as an Army Chaplain in Iraq

>>> REMINDERS:

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.

VESTRY ELECTIONS
Church offices, please file your vestry election and delegate certification forms with the Governance Office by June 1 for inclusion in the diocesan Journal. Contact Kim Adams at kadams at edow.org or 202/537-6526.

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. 

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

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/

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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