[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

DECEMBER 6, 2007

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

CONVENTION 2008 (Jan. 25-26)
> WEB SITE: http://convention.edow.org All materials will be posted here.
> WORKSHOPS: at least two are set for the afternoon of Jan. 25 - one for committee chairs, and another offered by keynoter Peter Steinke.
> EXHIBITS: Register online for exhibit request no later than Dec. 14.  
> VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Register by Jan. 11. Registration packet collators, hospitality, election tellers, registration assistants, cashier, floor tellers, marshals, ballot collators and pages are needed. Sign up online or contact Ann Talty at atalty at edow.org or 202/537-6548. Please advertise the need for volunteers in your church bulletins.
> DELEGATE FORMS: All parishes that have not submitted delegate/alternate delegate forms this year, please get them in immediately.

COLA APPROVED BY THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL
The Diocesan Council approved a 3.4 percent cost of living adjustment for clergy, lay employees and musicians at its November meeting. The 2008 Compensation Tables are available at www.edow.org For more information, contact Kathleen Hall, human resource administrator, at khall at edow.org or 202/537-6522.

SAVE THE DATE
The 2008 Stewardship Conference is set for April 19 at St. Paul's, Rock Creek.

ECC FUND RAISING CAMPAIGN
The Episcopal Center for Children is a private, non-profit, non-denominational treatment center and special education program for emotionally troubled children and their families from the greater Washington, D.C. area. The program receives no funding from the Episcopal Church and depends on contributions to supplement the funding it receives from local municipalities to cover the costs of its intensive programs. You will shortly receive a letter, brochure and reply envelope from Bishop Chane. This mailing is the only fund raising request from the Center in 2007. Please consider a generous, tax-deductible donation to assist this much needed program. If you do not receive the mailing by mid-December, please call the Center at 202/363-1333 to request that one be sent to you.  

DIANA BUTLER BASS TO SPEAK ON FEB. 23
Author Diana Butler Bass will speak on Christian practices and congregational vitality at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Burke, Va., on Feb. 23. Full brochure with schedule, cost, and registration information available in early January. For more information, visit www.good-shepherd.net and click on "conferences." Contact the Rev. Megan Stewart-Sicking at 703/323-5400 or bassconference at good-shepherd.net with questions.

BECOMING THE GOSPEL (Feb. 7-10)
What do we need to live our God-given passion daily? This is an experiential event rich with silence, small group sharing and practical application. Feb. 7-10 at the Wellspring Retreat and Conference Center in Germantown. For more information: www.wellspringministry.org; 301/428-3373 or missionwel at aol.com

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & PUBLICATIONS (F/T)
St. Columba's, D.C., is accepting inquiries for the full-time position of Director of Communications and Publications, which will become open in January. Responsibilities include planning and production of parish publications and Web site; advertising and media relations; and supervising a part-time assistant and printer. Candidates must have significant background in writing, editing and layout (preferably Adobe InDesign and Photoshop); previous church experience would be a plus. Send resume and cover letter to afowler at columba.org or to Anona Fowler, St. Columba's Episcopal Church, 4201 Albemarle St. NW, Washington, D.C. 20016.

MUSICIANS NEEDED AT ST. JAMES', BOWIE
Musician(s) are needed at St. James', Bowie to assist with the 10 a.m. Sunday morning service. Pianists and/or guitarists are especially needed to support the church's contemporary style worship. Commitment is weekly, but the parish would be open to working with musicians who can't commit for all the Sundays of a month. Experience in leading a congregation in a church setting is helpful, but not necessary. Please contact the Rev. Anne-Marie Jeffery at 301/461-0037 or at rector at stjamesbowie.org

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:
* Tom Andrews - personal health
* David Pollock - personal health
* Margot Critchfield - mother's health (Maggie) 
* Betsy Hague - husband's health (Ralph) 
* Martha Bonwitt - husband's health (Bill) 
* Tom Logan - personal health 
* Bishop Ronald Haines - personal health

>>>REMINDERS:

2007 CHILDREN'S ADVENT PROJECT
This year's offering will be sent to Beauty Bala in the Siyaphila township outside Johannesburg, South Africa. Bala operates a crèche (daycare) for more than 60 young children and infants, many of whom are also infected with HIV.  Please help her provide for these young children. More information can be found at www.edow.org/southernafrica

PARISH PHOTOS FOR CONVENTION SLIDESHOW
Slideshows on parish life will be shown at the Diocesan Convention in January. To ensure your parish is included, send four to eight photos to photo at edow.org by Jan. 7. 

ONLINE ADVENT CALENDAR
Visit the diocese's fourth annual online Advent calendar at edow.org/advent. Daily photographs of figures from the crèche exhibit at Washington National Cathedral and links to a daily meditations and carols, podcasts and giving opportunities.

CYCLE OF PRAYER THRU FEBRUARY 3, 2008
The cycle of prayer through February 3, 2008 is available at http://www.edow.org/parish/congregation/liturgy/cycleofprayer/index.html

AN ECUMENICAL CELEBRATION OF THE WORD OF GOD
Congregations from 10 denominations in the Silver Spring area will come together for an Ecumenical Celebration of the Word of God at 3 p.m. Jan. 20 at Epiphany Lutheran Church, 14411 Old Columbia Pike, Burtonsville. The service is part of the area's observance of the 100th annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and the theme this year is "Pray without ceasing." The public is cordially invited!    

BIBLICAL STORYTELLING 
Biblical storyteller and educator Tracy Radosevic will lead a class at the Ecumenical Institute of Theology in Baltimore beginning Jan. 16. For more information, visit http://www.stmarys.edu/ei/Spring2008brochure.pdf

ANNUAL GREENS SALE
St. John's, Georgetown will hold its Annual Greens Sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 8. Call 202/338-1796 for more information.

VOCATIONAL MINISTRY RETREAT
The next vocational ministry retreat is set for Jan. 4-5 at Bon Secours retreat center in Marriettsville. This retreat is sponsored quarterly by the Commission on Ministry and features Marjorie Z. Bankson as the retreat leader. Register for the event at www.edow.org/events and click on the "vocational ministry retreat" listing. Cost is $120; scholarship assistance is available. The cost includes all meals and lodging. 

MEETING ROOM AVAILABLE
St. Stephen and the Incarnation (1525 Newton Street NW ) has a conference room available for use by community groups and organizations. For more information, contact Brian Best at 202/232-0900 or brian.best at saintstephensdc.org.  
 
AED (AUTOMATED EXTERNAL DEFIBRILLATORS) PROGRAM 
The diocese is encouraging its churches and schools to learn more about Automated External Defibrillators. If you are interested in setting up a program, contact Robert Tomlinson at rtomlinson at edow.org or 202/537-6523 or visit www.rescue-one.com 

2008 HEALTH PLAN RATES AVAILABLE
The Diocese of Washington is pleased to announce a 6 percent premium increase with no plan changes for the 2008 calendar year. It continues to offer the BlueChoice Opt-Out Plus plan which includes dental, prescription drug and discount vision care. If you have questions, contact Kathleen Hall at 202/537-6522 or khall at edow.org.

PILGRIMAGE TO ENGLAND
St. Dunstan's, Bethesda is planning a pilgrimage to England from April 17-28, led by the Rev. Jeffrey MacKnight in conjunction with Worldwide Pilgrimage Ministries. A full itinerary is available at www.stdunstansbethesda.org  Cost is approximately $3,500. Contact Christina Barton at 301/229-2960, ext. 10 or stdunstans at verizon.net.

UTO GRANT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE
UTO Grant Applications are now available. To receive an application, call the Episcopal Church Women's Office at 202/537-6530. Applications also are available at www.episcopalchurch.org/UTO. Please do not submit the application online, send it to the Office of Episcopal Church Women, Diocese of Washington, Church House, Mount Saint Alban, Washington, D.C. 20016 by Dec. 21.
 
DIOCESAN GROUPS LOOKING FOR NEW MEMBERS
Three diocesan groups are in need of new members: the new Task Force on Alcohol and Substance Abuse; the Diocesan Retreat Committee; and the Committee on the Environment. For descriptions of the groups and talents needed, visit www.edow.org/committees or contact Ann Talty at 202/537-6548 or atalty at edow.org.

RACIAL RECONCILIATION TRAINING  
The diocese's Committee on Racial Reconciliation will conduct Racial Reconciliation Training programs on Feb. 8-9 and May 16-17, 2008. Locations TBA.

FALL SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN TRAININGS:
Fall dates for Safeguarding God's Children training sessions are as follows:
* Dec. 8: 9:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. at St. Paul's, Rock Creek (Saturday)
Online registration required by going to www.edow.org/prevention Refresher courses for those whose three-year certification is expiring is yet to be scheduled.  
 
APPLY NOW FOR THE 2008 SUMMER COLLEGIUM
The Summer Collegium, a project that supports small congregations, is accepting applications for next year's event, set for June 25-July 3. This all-expenses-paid conference is open to clergy who pastor small congregations and their spouses or partners. Applications at www.vts.edu/education/collegium or contact Marilyn Johns at mjohns at vts.edu or 703/461-1760. Applications must be postmarked by Dec. 15.

12-STEP EUCHARIST
St. Alban's, D.C., and its Hope for Recovery ministry team offers a 12-Step Eucharist at 7:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month. It's not necessary to be in a 12-step program to attend. Please contact Sally Craig at sallycraig at aol.com or the Rev. Margot Critchfield at margotc at st-albans-parish.org with questions.
 
AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITES SOUGHT
Episcopal Senior Ministries and THC Affordable Housing are looking for sites on church property, public land or private property for the development of 50-100 units of independent senior living with services. For more information, contact Joe Resch at 202/414-6310 or Suzanne Welch at 202/291-5535.
 
BISHOP'S APPEAL
If you have not done so already, please make your contribution to the fourth annual Bishop's Appeal at http://www.edow.org/diocese/giving/index.html 

CONTRIBUTING TO THE BISHOP JOHN T. WALKER SCHOOL
Contributions for the planned Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys 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

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