[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

NOVEMBER 30, 2006
 
*** The weekly bulletin for clergy, wardens, diocesan committee members,
convention delegates and church administrators in the Episcopal Diocese
of Washington ***

SACRED GROUNDS: FIRST FRIDAYS  
To commemorate World AIDS Day, there will be a special liturgy
remembering those who are and have been affected by HIV and AIDS
followed by the monthly Sacred Grounds gathering at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 at St.
Thomas', Dupont Circle (1772 Church St. NW). There will be plenty of
food (vegetarian) and drink. Please bring canned food or non-perishable
food items to donate to the House of Ruth. Sacred Grounds is a monthly
event that invites Episcopalians and those exploring their spirituality
in their 20s and 30s to come and socialize with people from around the
diocese. All are welcome! Contact Dustin Cole at 202/441-0907
dustindc at gmail.com for more information. 

TUTORS NEEDED FOR CATHEDRAL LITERACY PROGRAM
The Cathedral Literacy Program trains and provides tutors for children
and adults to help improve basic reading and math skills. The program
has been operating since 1986. New tutors are needed! To volunteer, call
Janice Molchon at 202/537-8990 or to learn more call Canon William
Barnwell at 202/537-5522.  

2007 MEDICAL INSURANCE RATES/PLAN BENEFITS AVAILABLE
Medical insurance rates and plan benefits for parishes and parish
employees are now available at: 
http://www.edow.org/parish/administration/benefits/health.html 
Contact Mary Manson, benefits administrator at mmanson at edow.org or 
202/537-6522 with any questions.

CYCLE OF PRAYER
The Cycle of Prayer through Nov. 25, 2007 is online at: 
http://www.edow.org/parish/congregation/liturgy/cycleofprayer/index.html

INSTALLATION OF ST. ALBAN'S NEW RECTOR
The Rev. Scott A. Benhase will be installed as rector of St. Alban's,
D.C., during a 4 p.m. service this Sunday. (Dec. 3) Clergy are invited
to process - red stoles.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your
prayers this week: 
*  Larry Donathan - at the time of his father's death (Jack) on Nov. 21.
*  Jocelyn Irving - at the time of her mother's death (Cecilyn) on Nov.
22
*  Rita Steadman Henninger - son's health (Cuthbert) 
*  John Talbott - wife's health (Annie) 
*  Paula Robinson - personal health 
*  Martha Bonwitt - husband's health (Bill) 
*  Bishop Ted Eastman - wife's health (Sarah) 
*  Charles Daugherty - personal health 
*  Bishop Bill and Polly Spofford - personal health 
*  Dalton Downs - personal health 
*  Velma Brock - personal health 
*  Tom Logan - personal health 
*  Michael Marrett - wife's health (Margery)
*  Episcopal Chaplains serving in the Middle East - on sea and land

>>> REMINDERS:

'CHILDREN TO CHILDREN' OUTREACH INITIATIVE
By now, all congregations will have received a packet containing 50 mite
boxes, a poster and a letter from Bishop John Chane about the "Children
to Children" Advent project. Congregations should distribute the boxes
to the children in their Sunday Schools and ask them to decorate and
assemble them. The bishop would like the children to make a regular
offering, and for congregations to collect these offerings at the end of
Advent and mail a check marked "Children to Children" to the attention
of Cheryl Daves Wilburn at Church House. The offering will benefit the
children of the Dukathole settlement outside Johannesburg in South
Africa, where a fire recently destroyed about 400 shanties, leaving more
than 1,000 children homeless. You can also contribute online at
www.edow.org/giving Contact Cheryl Daves Wilburn, diocesan liaison to
the Anglican Church in South Africa, with questions at 202/537-6543 or
cwilburn at edow.org.

VESTRY WORKSHOP
Clergy, wardens and vestry members are invited to the diocese's first
Vestry Workshop from 9 a.m. to  1 p.m. Dec. 2 at Epiphany, Forestville
(3111 Ritchie Road, Forestville). Topics include a health insurance
overview presented by Mercer Health & Benefits; a presentation on ways
to empower and renew your leadership by Margaret M. Treadwell, a
national leader in clergy and congregational development; and a talk by
Jim Naughton, the diocese's director of communications, on ways to make
your church more visible and attractive to newcomers. Bishop John B.
Chane also is scheduled to speak. Register at www.edow.org/events by
clicking on "Vestry Workshop." 

112TH DIOCESAN CONVENTION
The 112th Diocesan Convention, convention workshop, hearings and
business sessions will take place Jan. 26-27 (Friday and Saturday) at
Washington National Cathedral.  Resolutions must be signed by a member
of the convention and received by 5 p.m. Nov. 27. For assistance and
standard format, call Ann Talty, the governance officer, at 202/537-6548
or visit www.edow.org . Please submit all resolutions to: Secretary of
the Convention, Episcopal Church House, Mount St. Alban, Washington,
D.C., 20016.

GROUNDBREAKING INVITATION
The people and clergy of St. Nicholas, Darnestown invite all members of
the diocese to the groundbreaking for the parish's multipurpose worship
and ministry center at 2 p.m. Dec. 9. Bishop John B. Chane will preside.
Parking is available at the Seneca Academy, 15601 Germantown Road,
Darnestown.

EPISCOPAL STUDENT CENTER DEDICATION
All are invited to St. Andrew's, College Park at 10:30 a.m. Dec. 10 for
a celebratory Eucharist and the blessing of the University of Maryland
Episcopal Student Center by Bishop John B. Chane. For more information,
contact the Rev. Peter Antoci at 301/405-8453 or pantoci at umd.edu

WELCOME RECEPTION FOR NEW CLERGY
The Washington Episcopal Clergy Association is hosting a reception to
welcome new clergy to the diocese from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Dec. 1 at All
Souls, D.C. (2300 Cathedral Avenue NW). All clergy who are resident or
licensed in the Diocese of Washington are invited; new clergy are
especially welcome. The church is one block from Woodley Park Metro;
parking is available in the church lot. RSVP to the Rev. Joan Beilstein
at 202/232-4244 or revjeb at comcast.net by Nov. 29. Spouses and partners
also are welcome. 

WORLD AIDS DAY - INTERFAITH SERVICE
In recognition of World AIDS Day, St. Columba's, D.C., (4201 Albemarle
St., NW) will host an interfaith service at 7 p.m. TODAY (Nov. 30). The
Rev. Christine Wiley, pastor at Covenant Baptist Church in Washington,
D.C., will be the featured speaker for the interfaith service of
readings, meditation, singing and prayer. A light reception will follow
the service. For further information, contact Susan Elliott, director of
communications, at 202/363-4119.

DO YOU WORK IN A DC OFFICE BUILDING? 
Interfaith Worker Justice, a ministry supported by the diocesan
Commission on Urban Ministry, is working with DC Jobs for Justice to
bring together the tenants of downtown office buildings to support
service workers in their buildings. In these multi-million dollar
buildings janitors get only three sick days a year, parking workers earn
as little as $7 an hour, and security guards are denied affordable
healthcare. Anyone who works in a downtown office building and is
willing to help raise standards for downtown service workers, please
contact mbaris at solidaritycenter.org or kjohnson at stthomasdc.org. 

20s & 30s ADVENT RETREAT
The diocesan Young Adult Ministry Network and the Cathedral College are
co-sponsoring an Advent Retreat titled, "Who Is Christ for Us Today? An
Exploration in Prayer and Reflection." The retreat will be led by the
Rev. Martin L. Smith. Smith is theologian-in-residence at St. Columba's,
D.C., and is a noted writer and teacher on Christian spirituality. This
day of exploration and reflection is set for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. 
Dec. 16 at the Cathedral College, and is designed for people in their
20s and 30s. Cost is $25. Lunch is included. Online registration at
www.edow.org/events

2007 UTO GRANT APPLICATIONS
The 2007 UTO Grant Applications are now available in the Office of
Episcopal Church Women at Church House. Deadline for submission is Dec.
21. For more information, please contact Eulalia Smith at 202/537-6530
or esmith at edow.org.

CALLING ALL YOUNG ARTISTS
The diocese is inviting all children and young people to draw pictures
that illustrate its newly adopted vision and mission statements. The
pictures will be displayed in Washington National Cathedral during the
2007 Diocesan Convention on Jan. 26-27. 
Drawings should be sent to Gerry Perez and Atron Rowe at Episcopal
Church House, Mount St. Alban, Washington, D.C. 20016 by Dec. 18.
Contact Woggon with questions at 301/864-8880 or kmwoggon at comcast.net.
Instructions are as follows:
Draw one or more of the following pictures:
1. Draw a picture of the people of God living and acting as the body of
Christ in the world.  
2. Draw a picture of what it looks like when churches work together.
3. Draw a picture of what it looks like when the church is sounding a
prophetic voice in the community, the nation, and the world.  
4. Draw a picture of what it looks like when the church uses its voice
to help those who need help.

ADVENT QUIET MORNING
Brother Bernard Delcourt, (Order of the Holy Cross) of Holy Cross
Monastery, West Park, NY, will lead an Advent Quiet Morning with a
series of meditations on Dec. 2 at Christ, Chaptico. The day will begin
with Morning Prayer at 8:30 a.m. and conclude with a noon Holy
Eucharist. Between the meditations there will be opportunity for private
counsel or confession. The Parish Hall is located at 37497 Zach Fowler
Road. For more information, contact the Rev. Jesse. Neat at
FatherJessee at AOL.COM or 301/884-3451.
  
ST. GEORGE'S COLLEGE, JERUSALEM
St. George's College is a continuing education center of the Anglican
Communion that enables Christians to encounter the people of the Holy
Land and to study the Bible and history in the context of pilgrimage and
travel. For more information go to www.SGCjerusalem.org or contact
Bishop Allen Bartlett, chair of the North American Regional Committee of
St. George's College at allen.jerrie at worldnet.att.net. A DVD about the
college is available for loan from Church House to interested parishes
or groups (Keely Thrall, kthrall at edow.org). 
 
SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN 
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. Dec. 9 at Epiphany, Forestville
For more information or to register, visit www.edow.org/prevention
 
JOIN ENERGY STAR FOR CONGREGATIONS
Congregations that commit to substantial energy savings can cut utility
costs by up to 30 percent and make significant contributions to a
cleaner environment. Become an ENERGY STAR partner for free technical
support, information and resources, awards eligibility and e-mail
updates. Visit
http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=small_business.sb_congregations to
learn more.
   
BISHOP'S APPEAL - IT'S NOT TOO LATE
We are still accepting donations for the 2006 Bishop's Appeal for
mission and ministry.  Donate online at: http://www.edow.org/giving
 
MARRIAGE GUIDELINES AVAILABLE ONLINE
A copy of the "Bishop's Guidelines for Marriage and Remarriage" is
available online at www.edow.org/marriage

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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