[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

DECEMBER 21, 2007

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

CHURCH HOUSE CLOSED FOR CHRISTMAS
Episcopal Church House will be closed from Monday Dec. 24 through Jan.1 for the Christmas holiday, and will reopen at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 2. In case of an emergency, please contact Paul Cooney, canon to the ordinary, at 202/288-4417 or pcooney at edow.org.

REMEMBERING BETHLEHEM THIS CHRISTMAS 
The 2nd Annual Christmas Procession for Bethlehem will begin tomorrow (Saturday, Dec. 22) with a 10 a.m. worship service in the Bethlehem Chapel of Washington National Cathedral (gather at 9:30 a.m.) The service will be a joint service, simulcast with the people of Bethlehem. Afterwards, at 10:30 a.m., there will be a procession in the area with Mary, Joseph and donkey. The procession will end with caroling by about 1 p.m. The procession is sponsored by the Ad Hoc Committee for Bethlehem, the Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace and Sharing Jerusalem. For details, go to www.wiamep.org or contact Samia Noursi at 703/255-4150 or samianoursi at cox.net For directions and parking information, go to www.cathedral.org

DAY OF RECOGNITION FOR HISTORICALLY BLACK EPISCOPAL COLLEGES
The Episcopal Church Office of Black Ministries and the Association of Episcopal Colleges will present A Day of Recognition in Honor of The Historically Black Episcopal Colleges - St. Augustine's, St. Paul's and Voorhees - from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Feb. 16 at Howard University's Rankin Chapel (2400 Sixth Street, NW). Metro area high school students and high school college counselors, current students of the colleges, alumni and interested persons should plan to attend. Contact 202/421-4119 for more information, or visit http://www.dcmetrostaugalumni.com
 
113th DIOCESAN CONVENTION:
> PRE-CONVENTION WORKSHOP
The Rev. Peter Steinke, keynote speaker at this year's Diocesan Convention (Jan. 25-26), will offer a pre-convention workshop on "Leadership: Congregations as Emotional Systems" at 1:45 p.m. Jan. 25 in the Perry Auditorium on the seventh floor of Washington National Cathedral. Steinke, an author and therapist, writes frequently on congregational leadership. 
> CONVENTION RECEPTION
The diocese will host a convention reception on Jan. 25 in the Cathedral College at the conclusion of the Convention Eucharist (which begins at 8 p.m.). The Rev. Ian Douglas, who will preach at the Convention, will give a brief talk. Douglas is a professor at Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Mass., and a member of the Lambeth Conference Design team. 

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. The February training is set for 5 to 9 p.m. Feb. 8 and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 9 at St. Alban's, D.C. (Nourse Hall).

"THE DEACONS IN THE DUST PROJECT" 
"The Deacons in the Dust Project: The Rebuilding Of New Orleans" will be presented by John and Mary Miers of St. James, Potomac at 12:30 p.m. Jan. 10 at Holy Comforter, D.C. (701 Oglethorpe Street, NW) Lunch will be served. RSVP to Marcy Hunter at 202/414-6314 or mhunter at esm.org by Jan. 4.  

HOLIDAY CARDS FOR WOUNDED SOLDIERS
Volunteer with the American Red Cross from 9 a.m. to noon Dec. 29 to help bring comfort to wounded service members recovering in military hospitals across the country. Volunteers will gather in the cafeteria of the national headquarters of the American Red Cross to sort and bundle thousands of cards and letters sent to wounded women and men in the armed services. The facility is located at 2025 E Street, NW.  Parking is available in the building. The Red Cross also is accepting cards and letters through Dec. 27. To send your support and wishes for recovery to a wounded soldier write to:
We Support You During Your Recovery!
c/o American Red Cross
P.O. Box 419
Savage, MD 20763-0419
For additional information, contact SlemmerA at usa.redcross.org with "Wounded Soldiers" in the subject line, or call 202/303-4124.

MEETING SPACE AVAILABLE
Redeemer, Bethesda's parish hall and individual classrooms are available for use by community groups and organizations during weekdays and on Saturday mornings and possibly some evenings. For more information, contact Angela Beckman, 301/229-3770 or office.redeemer at verizon.net. The church is located at 6201 Dunrobbin Drive.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Immediate opening for Administrative Assistant to the new Rector of All Saints, Chevy Chase. Duties include typical secretarial tasks in addition to helping maintain the church data base. Please e-mail John Hines for a complete job description at john.hines at allsaintschurch.net.

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT (F/T)
Christ, Kensington is seeking a full-time administrative assistant. Please send resume, cover letter, salary history and three professional references as a Word document attachment to Kurt Ellison at: administrator at ccpk.org by 5 p.m. Jan. 25. You may also send a fax to 301/942-1762. No phone calls, please! 

ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT (HALF-TIME, TEMPORARY)
Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington seeks a temporary Administrative Assistant to work 20 hours per week between early January and late March 2008, during the maternity leave of its Administrative Manager. Salary based on qualifications. Cover letter and resume to ddownes at samaritanministry.org

BOOKKEEPER (P/T)
St. Stephen and the Incarnation is seeking a part-time bookkeeper to start in mid-February. The bookkeeper position is 15 hours per week; hours are flexible. St. Stephen's is accessible by Metro. Send resume and salary history by fax to 202/797-0367; e-mail to staff at saintstephensdc.org; mail to 1525 Newton Street NW, Washington, DC  20010.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:
* Keely Thrall (Bishop's office) - recovery from appendectomy
* 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
* Anne Gilson - personal health
* Bill Underhill (retired) - recovery from by-pass surgery

>>> REMINDERS:

CONVENTION 2008 (Jan. 25-26)
> WEB SITE: http://convention.edow.org All materials will be posted here.
> 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.

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

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

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. 

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

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.  
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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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