[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

APRIL 27, 2007
 
*** The weekly bulletin for clergy, wardens, diocesan committee members, convention delegates and church administrators in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington ***
 
FOURTH ANNUAL BISHOP'S APPEAL
The fourth annual Bishop's Appeal will be mailed to members of the diocese during the first week of May. Watch for an article in the May issue of Washington Window, and please urge members of your congregations to contribute generously. Donate online at www.edow.org/donate

THURGOOD MARSHALL DAY
Bishop John B. Chane would like to remind congregations that May 17 has been designated as Thurgood Marshall Day in the diocese. Because May 17 falls on a Thursday this year, churches are encouraged to commemorate the Civil Rights leader and former Supreme Court Justice in their services Sunday May 20. Contact the Rev. Bruce Eberhardt at eberhardtbj at msn.com for a list of suggested propers.
 
HELP BUILD A COMMUNITY PLAYGROUND
The playground at St. Columba¹s will be built from May 1-6.  Construction professionals will lead the effort, but an army of volunteer workers of all skill levels is needed to build the playground. Saturday May 5, and Sunday May 6, from 8 am - 4 pm are the crunch periods (the final touches) and we need 200 volunteers on each of these days. This new playground is planned to be fully accessible and stands to be a monument to the strong foundation that links church, neighborhood and the broader community. PLEASE SIGN UP to VOLUNTEER! Call 202/363-4121 or email playgroundvolunteer at gmail.com
 
FAREWELL RECEPTION FOR CAROL COLE FLANAGAN
You are invited to join Bishop John Chane for a farewell reception for the Rev. Canon Carol Cole Flanagan at Church House from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. May 1. Carol will be leaving for a year to serve as interim rector at Christ Church, Detroit. She entered the ministry from a diocese that did not ordain women, and Christ Church adopted her and sponsored her for ordination, so the assignment has special significance for Carol. She and her husband, Bill, will continue to make their home here, and she expects to be back with some frequency.
 
CLERGY RECEPTION WITH MIDDLE EAST PEACE PARTICIPANTS
Churches for Middle East Peace is pleased to invite clergy and church leaders to a free reception at 5:30 p.m. on Monday May 7 at National City Christian Church, 14th and Massachusetts NW (Thomas Circle). This reception provides an opportunity for clergy to meet participants from across the country, conference presenters and Members of Congress and/or their foreign policy staff. Please RSVP by May 3 to mallori at cmep.org. For further information and to register for the conference, go to www.cmep.org
 
CALL FOR CONFIRMATION CANDIDATES
Clergy are asked to contact Canon to the Ordinary Paul Cooney
(pcooney at edow.org) as soon as possible with preliminary estimates for confirmation/reaffirmation/reception candidates for the May 19 and June 23 services at Washington National Cathedral. 
 
PART-TIME PARISH ASSISTANT | GRACE SILVER SPRING
Grace Episcopal Church, located at 1607 Grace Church Road in Silver Spring, MD, is seeking a part-time Parish Assistant to work 16 hours a week assisting the Clergy, Parish Administrator, and staff with a variety of daily tasks. Candidates must possess a solid working knowledge of Microsoft Office 2003 programs and be familiar with database software programs.  In addition, applicants must know how to operate standard office machines, including a multi-line telephone system; copier; fax machine, folding machine, etc.  Good communications skills are a must. Interested parties should fax a resume with a cover letter to Parish Administrator Tracy Holmes at 301/585-4309.
 
PARISH ADMINISTRATOR | ST. FRANCIS POTOMAC
St Francis Episcopal Church needs a full-time Parish Administrator who can work pleasantly, independently and with good judgment. Individual reports to Rector of parish.   Key functions include assistance to parishioners and visitors, preparation of weekly newsletter and all Sunday bulletins, maintenance of parochial database, and general administrative duties. Knowledge of MS Word and Publisher necessary.  Background in the Episcopal Church preferred. Competitive salary and benefits. Send resume to info at stfrancispotomac.org
 
CHRISTIAN FORMATION DIRECTOR | ST. JOHN'S OLNEY
Christian Formation Director for children's programs - nursery through High School. Direct youth work essential. Full time, high energy Position in creative, exciting, healthy environment. Fax resumes to St. John's Episcopal Church in Olney, MD at 301/774-1346.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:
*  Harrison West - hospitalization with thanksgiving for continued improvement 
*  Anne Monahan - thanksgiving for release from hospital 
*  David Pollock - personal health 
*  David Black - personal health 
*  Doris Attridge - personal health 
*  Caroline Fairless - mother's health (Caroline) 
*  Simon Bautista - mother's health (Maria) 
*  Kathy Jordan - husband's health (Bob) 
*  Luis Leon - mother's health (Mary) 
*  Mariann Babnis - personal health 
*  Charles Daugherty - personal health
*  Velma Brock - personal health
*  Tom Logan - personal health
*  Martha Bonwitt - husband's health (Bill)
*  Bill Truitt - personal health
 
>>> REMINDERS:
 
CATHEDRAL'S NEW GARAGE IS NOW OPEN
Washington National Cathedral's new parking garage opened for visitors yesterday. Visitors to Church House should enter the garage from the main entrance off Wisconsin Avenue and park on the first or second level. The parking ticket received upon entrance can be validated for the diocese's invited guests and committee members. Surface parking restrictions after 3:30 p.m. are lifted, so parking for evening meetings can be done at street level and validation will not be needed.
 
SPRING CLERGY CONFERENCE 
The diocese's Spring Clergy Conference is set for May 22-24 at Shrine Mont, Va. Keynote speaker will be the Rev. Margaret B. Guenther. Registration and program information is now available at www.edow.org/clergyconf 
 
SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN TRAINING
Dates and locations for Safeguarding God's Children training sessions (prevention of child abuse training required by all paid church employees and those working with children and youth - paid or volunteer) are as follows:
* 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. May 5 at St. John's, Broad Creek
* 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. May 16 at Redeemer, Bethesda
* 6:30 - 9:30 p.m. May 21 at Christ, Kensington 
** (new date) 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. June 16 at St. Anne's, Damascus ** Register online at www.edow.org/prevention. Registration is required for attendance.
 
IRANIAN FILM ON LIFE OF MARY 
The Center for Global Justice and Reconciliation will host a screening of St. Mary, an Iranian-made film on the life of Mary, from 3 to 6 p.m. April 29 in Washington National Cathedral's Perry Auditorium. The film begins with the birth of Mary in 16 B.C. and ends with the birth of Jesus. Filmed in Farsi with English subtitles, the film depicts Mary as portrayed through accounts in the Bible, canonical gospels, and the Koran. Contact Katherine Wilkins at kwilkins at cathedral.org or at 202/537-5737 to reserve a seat.  
 
INTERFAITH DIALOGUE - PRINCE HASSAN OF JORDAN
Dialogue Among the Faiths: A Conversation with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam is set for 7 p.m. April 27 at Chevy Chase Presbyterian Church (1 Chevy Chase Circle) with special guest Prince el Hassan bin Talal of Jordan. Prince Hassan will discuss how faith, understanding and reason can combat rising extremism, especially in the Middle East. Free, but tickets required. Call 202/363-2202 to make reservations.
 
CONVOCATION ON TORTURE AND JUST TREATMENT
An interfaith "Faith and Freedom Convocation: An Inquiry on Torture and Just Treatment" is set for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 5 at All Souls Unitarian Church, Washington, D.C. Registration fee ($25; $10 for
students) includes materials, continental breakfast and lunch. For further information and to register visit http://uusj.org/ or quakeractionnetwork at gmail.com The Washington Region Religious Campaign Against Torture, of which the diocese is a member, is among the sponsors.
 
WOMEN'S ORDINATION - SHARING MEMORIES
Bishop Jane Holmes Dixon is working on a book on the history of women's ordination, and is looking for people, especially women, who attended the "irregular" ordination of four Episcopal women to the priesthood at St. Stephen & the Incarnation on Sept. 7, 1975. If you were there and would like to share your memories, contact Diana Marit Kunkel at maritco at erols.com.
 
NEW ORLEANS WORK TRIP, MEMORIAL DAY
As part of the diocesan WERK group, (Washington Episcopalians Respond to Katrina), St. Alban's Gulf Coast Revival team will travel to New Orleans from May 23 to May 28 to assist with cleanup and rebuilding efforts. Housing will be provided for all participants, but volunteers are responsible for all other expenses. All participants must be at least 16 years old.  No prior experience is necessary. Contact Laurie Crowe at 469/233-9576 or moderndiva at hotmail.com for more information.
 
HEARINGS ON DISCERNMENT
The Commission on Ministry will be receiving public comment on the proposed discernment process (posted at http://www.edow.org/discernment) until May 4. Comments should be sent to the attention of the Rev. Mary Sulerud at Church House or by e-mail to msulerud at edow.org.
 
COMMITTEE ON YOUTH - APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
Applications are available for any young person interested in serving on the Committee on Youth for the Diocese of Washington. There is one opening in Region 1 and Region 4, two openings in Region 3 and one at-large position. Visit www.edow.org/youth to download the application and recommendation forms. Contact Paul Canady, deputy for youth ministry at 202/537.6524 or PCanady at EDOW.org for further information. The application deadline is May 4.
 
CHURCH FOR THE 21ST CENTURY CONFERENCE
A "Church for the 21st Century Conference" will take place May 10-12 at Washington National Cathedral. Speakers include: Diana Butler Bass, Michael Battle, Marcus Borg, Barbara Brown Taylor, Fred Burnham, Carmen Guerrero, Tony Jones, Phyllis Tickle and Cathedral Dean Samuel T. Lloyd. $250 registration fee includes meals and reception. Register at www.cathedralcollege.org/21stcenturychurch
 
CENTERING PRAYER RETREAT IN REHOBOTH BEACH: JUNE 1-3 Introduction to Centering Prayer, a retreat led by the Rev. J. Carlyle Gill, will be held at duPont Memorial House in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware from June 1-3. For details and registration information contact LaceyAGude at aol.com or 202/833-3614.
 
COMMITTEE ON THE ENVIRONMENT WORKSHOP
A half-day workshop with the Committee on the Environment is set for April 28. The workshop will focus on actions that parishes can take in their buildings, grounds and beyond to become better environmental stewards and reduce their negative impact on the environment. 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Perry Auditorium of the National Cathedral. Contact Jane Osborne at jane at environmentalacademy.us or 202/716.6248. RSVPs are helpful but not necessary. 
 
HUNGER FUND INTRODUCES ONLINE GIVING
The Hunger Fund is pleased to announce that it is now able to accept online contributions. Visit the Hunger Fund's Web page - http://www.hungerfund.net - and click on "Donate Now Online." Please let your congregation, friends, relatives and neighbors know that this
option is now available.   
 
RADICAL LOVE 
The Wellspring Retreat and Conference Center (11411 Neelsville Church Rd., Germantown, MD 20876-4145) will host a conference titled "Radical Love" from May 3-6. Participants will seek hope in today's world of violence, rage, deception and systemic failures. Cost, $300, including housing and meals. Scholarship available. Contact 301/428-3373, missionwel at aol.com  or visit Wellspringministry.org 
 
EPISCOPAL SENIOR MINISTRIES SUNDAY
Bishop John B. Chane has designated May 6 as Episcopal Senior Ministries Sunday to increase awareness of and support for the 10 Episcopal services for older adults in the Diocese of Washington. Information about these services for newsletters and bulletins, contact information for speakers for rector's forums on that Sunday, and liturgies on aging are available for each congregation. Please plan to set aside that Sunday to recognize all the Episcopal Senior Ministries in the diocese. For more information, contact Marcy Hunter at 202/414-6314 or Mhunter at esm.org.  
 
CONTRIBUTING TO THE BISHOP JOHN T. WALKER SCHOOL
The planned Bishop John T. Walker Episcopal School will serve the boys of Wards 7 and 8 in southeast Washington, D.C., and hopes to provide collaborative education, with the boys and their families, in a Christian setting. Your generous contribution will enable the diocese to continue the planning phase which is a crucial first step toward establishing the school. Contributions can be sent to: The Bishop John T. Walker School, Episcopal Church House, Mount St. Alban Washington, D.C. 20016 or visit www.bishopwalkerschool.org
     
CYCLE OF PRAYER
The Cycle of Prayer through Nov. 25, 2007 is online at: 
http://www.edow.org/parish/congregation/liturgy/cycleofprayer/index.html
 
 
 
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