[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

JANUARY 4, 2006
 
*** The weekly bulletin for clergy, wardens, diocesan committee members, convention delegates and church administrators in the Episcopal Diocese of Washington ***
 
PARISH PHOTOS FOR CONVENTION SLIDESHOWS
If you would like your parish to be included in the popular parish slide show feature at the Diocesan Convention on January 26-27, please send four to eight photos to photo at edow.org by Jan. 8. Please don't send the photos to any other edow email address.
 
PARISH BANNERS FOR CONVENTION
As part of the celebration of the Holy Eucharist at the 112th Diocesan Convention on the evening of Jan. 26, we would like to have as many congregation banners in processions as possible. If you would like to be part of the procession, contact Mary Sulerud at msulerud at edow.org no later than Jan.18 and let her know the congregation and the name of the person who will be carrying the banner. Banner bearers need not vest.
 
112TH DIOCESAN CONVENTION
The 112th Diocesan Convention, workshops, hearings and business sessions will take place Jan. 26-27 (Friday and Saturday) at Washington National Cathedral.  Many volunteers are needed - see www.edow.org/convention to sign up or contact Ann Talty, 202/537-6548 or atalty at edow.org. Deadline for submitting convention reservation forms is Jan. 16 - information is on the convention website as well.  Materials for convention were mailed to clergy and delegates last week.  
 
PAROCHIAL REPORTS
Parochial reports were mailed to church offices just before Christmas. The deadline for submission of the report is March 1. Any questions, contact Ann Talty at 202/537-6548 or atalty at edow.org
 
OPEN ENROLLMENT FOR PARISH EMPLOYEE GROUP HEALTH INSURANCE
Employees that are not currently enrolled in the diocesan group medical insurance can enroll without medical underwriting or waiting periods applied to their coverage between January 1st through January 31st of 2007.  For more information, contact the Benefits Administrator, Mary Manson, at mmanson at edow.org or 202/537-6522.
 
20s & 30s EVE OF EPIPHANY CELEBRATION
Please join us for a Taizé service at 7 p.m. Jan. 5 followed by our Sacred Grounds gathering (8 p.m.-midnight) at St. Thomas', Dupont Circle. To celebrate the eve of Epiphany we will have gumbo, jazz music, and a little champagne for the (Epiphany) count down ;-)  All from around the diocese are welcome! Contact Dustin Cole at 202/441-0907 or dustindc at gmail.com for more information.
 
CLERGY GET DISCOUNTED RATE TO PREACHING CONFERENCE
If three or more clergy from the diocese register for the conference "Preaching Acts:  Enlivening Congregations in a New Day" led by Tony Robinson Jan. 29 - Feb. 2 at the Cathedral College, they qualify for a discounted rate:  $100 off the $750 (or $50 off the $450 for commuters). Includes meals and tuition. Clergy who are working to re-develop churches might be especially interested as Tony is a well-regarded expert in church change. Interested folks can register online (www.cathedralcollege.org) and let Joan Roberts know they are from this diocese.
 
INTENSIVE CENTERING PRAYER WEEKEND
4 p.m. Fri., Feb. 16 to 2 p.m. Sun., Feb. 18 at Dayspring Retreat Center in Germantown, Md. Conceptual content will be part of our weekend as well as times for the practice of Centering Prayer. Retreatants should have an established daily practice of centering prayer of at least 3 months. Cost: $250. For more information, visit: www.serve.com/dayspringretreat/  or call 301/428-9348.    
 
PRAYING WITH THE MYSTICS
Shalem Institute will be offering a four week series entitled "Praying with the Mystics: Deepening the Call to Sacred Activism" on Tuesday evenings, January 9-30, 7-9 p.m., at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 4250 North Glebe Road, Arlington, VA. The cost is $80. Each evening will include a brief meditation on the life and writing of each mystic, a time of silence and prayer, and small group sharing. Jan. 9: Thomas Merton; Jan. 16: St. Francis of Assisi; Jan. 23: Teresa of Avila; Jan. 30: Julian of Norwich. For more information, contact 301/897-7334 or visit www.shalem.org      
 
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week: 
* The Rev. Canon John Frizzell - on the occasion of his death (12/13/06) 
and Memorial Service at the Cathedral Jan. 13 at 10:30 a.m.
* Kelly Brown Douglas - at the time of her father's (William) death (12/17)
* Mariann Babnis - recovery from surgery 
* Charles Daugherty - personal health
* Dalton Downs - personal health
* Velma Brock - personal health
* Tom Logan - personal health
* Bishop Ronald Haines - personal health
* Bishop Bill and Polly Spofford - personal health
* Rita Steadman Henninger - son's health (Cuthbert)
* John Talbott - wife's health (Annie)
* Martha Bonwitt - husband's health (Bill)
* Bishop Ted Eastman - wife's health (Sarah)
* Michael Marrett - wife's health (Margery)
* For all our seminarians preparing to take GOE's (General Ordination Exams) in early January.
 
REMINDERS:
 
20S/30S YOUNG ADULT MINISTRY WEB PAGES
If your parish currently has, or is in the process of updating or creating a Young Adult Ministries/20s-30s page (brief description of ministry and activities) on its Web site, would you please send the link to Preston Hannibal at phannibal at edow.org. All page links to 20s/30s parochial ministries will be listed on the diocesan Web site. Thank you for your help to expand this important ministry.
 
ATTENTION SMALL CHURCHES
The Rev. Suzanne Watson, the Presiding Bishop's staff officer for congregational development and the small church, has a blog designed for leaders of small churches that has lots of resources at http://smallepiscopalchurch.blogspot.com/
 
ADDITIONAL PREVENTION TRAINING OPPORTUNITY AT VTS
Two training sessions on the prevention of abuse will take place at the Virginia Theological Seminary in January: Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse is set for 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 24; and Prevention of Adult Sexual Misconduct will take place from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 25. Registration deadline is Jan. 19. Cost for one session is $10; $20 for both. Contact Carol Jubinski at 703/361-1744 for further information. Sessions will be held in Addison Academic Center Room 101.
 
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
 
SPACE AVAILABLE AT NEW EPISCOPAL STUDENT CENTER
The Episcopal Student Center (University of Maryland) is now up and running. The center has five bedrooms, which students occupy during the academic year. From June 1 - Aug. 15 this space will be available for daily, weekly or monthly rentals. The center is very close to the Metro, and convenient to town. The center is also available for daytime retreats, year-round. There are two large parlors, a large community kitchen and an oratory. Parking can be arranged. Contact the Rev. Peter Antoci for details at pantoci at umd.edu
 
EPISCOPAL MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA
An Episcopal Marriage Encounter weekend is set for March 2-4 in Charlottesville, Va. EME's mission is to help renew the church and improve the world by helping married couples and their families live in happy, intimate and responsible relationships. To learn more about EME and the weekend, visit www.episcopalme.org ; e-mail bocampbell at adelphia.net or call 434/973-3518. Early registration is recommended.
 
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
 
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. 
  
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). 
  
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.
  
MARRIAGE GUIDELINES AVAILABLE ONLINE
A copy of the "Bishop's Guidelines for Marriage and Remarriage" is available online at www.edow.org/marriage
 
 
 
To unsubscribe from CHURCH HOUSE NEWS, do NOT reply to this message. Instead send an e-mail to newslist-request at edowmail.org and type Unsubscribe in the subject line. Leave the body of the message blank. Or go to http://lists.edowmail.org/mailman/listinfo/newslist scroll to the bottom of the page, type your e-mail address in the last field and click "Unsubscribe or edit options." On the following page, under unsubscribe, click the "unsubscribe" button. Either way, the system will send you a confirmation e-mail. Follow the link in the e-mail to confirm.