[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

JULY 27, 2007
 
*** The weekly bulletin for clergy, wardens, diocesan committee members,
convention delegates and church administrators in the Episcopal Diocese
of Washington ***

REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES 2007:  
Clergy, wardens and convention delegates are entitled to vote and should
plan to come to the 2007 Regional Assemblies. Other members of the
vestry are encouraged to come as well to participate in discussions.
Dates, times and locations are as follows:
* Regions 1 and 2: 8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 20, at Epiphany,
D.C.
* Regions 3 and 4:  8:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Oct. 13 at St. John's,
Olney
* Region 5: 1:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 13 at St. John's, Beltsville
* Region 6: 1:30 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20 at St. Barnabas', Leeland

LATE SUMMER/FALL SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN TRAININGS:
New dates for Safeguarding God's Children training sessions are as
follows:
* Aug. 27: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. Alban's, D.C. (Monday)
* Aug. 28: 1 to 4 p.m. at Washington Episcopal School (Tuesday). * For
staffs of Episcopal Schools only.*
* Sept. 15: 9:30 a.m. to noon at Ascension, Lexington Park (Saturday)
* Sept. 29: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at All Saints', Chevy Chase
(Saturday)
* Oct. 27: 9:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m., location TBA in Region 1 (Saturday)
* Nov. 10: 9:30 a.m. 12:30 p.m. at St. Mark's, Silver Spring (Saturday)
* 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
will hopefully be scheduled in October.  More information to come.

NEW BENEFITS ADMINISTRATOR
Kathleen Hall has joined Church House staff as the diocese's new
Benefits Administrator. Kathleen currently serves as parish
administrator at Christ Church, Kensington and as a member of the
diocese's Human Resources Committee. Over the next month, she will be
splitting her time between Church House and Christ Church. Mary Manson,
who has served as the benefits administrator for the last eight years,
has resigned her position to take a job with CC Pace, a financial and
technology consulting firm. Please join us in welcoming Kathleen and
wishing Mary a fond farewell.
 
EPISCOPAL PEACE FELLOWSHIP MEETING SCHEDULE
The Episcopal Peace Fellowship's Washington Chapter resumes its regular
meeting schedule on Aug. 1: 7 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month
in the St. Alban's Rectory. There will be updates on the latest efforts
by Christian Peace Witness in Iraq and reports on new actions aimed at
combating torture and in favor of restorative justice.  Visitors are
welcome. For more information, contact Andrew Ramsey-Moor at
arm2k at earthlink.net

PARISH STAFF: PLEASE COMPLETE THE CPG SURVEYS 
Most of you have probably noticed by now the number of surveys and
requests for information you have received from the Church Pension
Group. The number of requests and surveys may seem a little daunting,
but the surveys are important and the data and information produced from
them will be instrumental in formulating recommendations that will
influence the course of employee benefits for the next 10-20 years. The
surveys include a lay employee census, a knowledge/awareness survey, a
lay employee survey, an employer healthcare benefits questionnaire and
an employee healthcare benefits questionnaire. If you haven't already
completed the A147 questionnaires, please do so. The surveys only take
10 to 15 minutes. If you have lost your User ID, contact Anne Hurst at
CPG at a147info at cpg.org or 800/223-6602, ext. 9405.

ST. GEORGE'S, GLENN DALE TO PERFORM GODSPELL
GODSPELL performances are 8 p.m. Aug. 24; 3 p.m. Aug. 25; and 2 p.m.
Aug. 26. St. George's is located at 7010 Glenn Dale Road, Glenn Dale
Maryland 20769. GODSPELL is a religious experience to be felt joyously,
and is a release of one's spirit into the larger heart of humankind.
Tickets may be reserved by calling 301/262-3285 or purchased at the
door. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for children under the age of
12.  

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your
prayers this week:
*  David Pollock - hospitalization
*  Myles Edwards - personal health
*  Dick Hewlett (historiographer) - recovery from surgery
*  Kelly Brown Douglas - sympathy on the occasion of her mother's (Mary)
death 
*  Kathy Jordan - husband's health (Bob) 
*  Tom Logan - personal health 
*  Craig Eder - personal health
*  Harrison West - personal health 
*  Jim Naughton - brother's personal health (Tim)
*  Simon Bautista - mother's health (Maria) 
*  Luis Leon - mother's health (Mary) 
*  Velma Brock - personal health 
*  Martha Bonwitt - husband's health (Bill) 
*  Bill Truitt - personal health 
*  Charles Daugherty - personal health

>>> REMINDERS:

URBAN MINISTRY: VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONGREGATIONS 
Learn about volunteer opportunities throughout the city at a luncheon
meeting from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. July 29 at Sayre House on the grounds of
Washington National Cathedral. 
Feed and clothe the homeless, help former prisoners and the homeless
find jobs, tutor young people, fight racism and AIDS and advocate for
social change. RSVP to bwillette at cathedral.org, or contact Christie
Olsen at 202/537-3127 with further questions. If you cannot attend but
are interested in volunteering, you are invited to add your name to the
mailing list.

PLANNED GIVING WORKSHOP
The diocese will hold a Planned Giving Workshop from 9 a.m. to noon Aug.
25 at St. Barnabas, Temple Hills (5203 St. Barnabas Road, Temple Hills).
The three-hour workshop will be led by David Lewis, who will cover
options from the Episcopal Church Foundation and other sources to give a
more complete picture of what can be done with a planned giving program.
Useful whether you are just starting out or are looking for new ideas.
Light refreshments will be served. Online registration only at
www.edow.org/events.

EFM GROUPS FORMING FOR FALL
Several new Education for Ministry groups are forming for September 2007
throughout the diocese. EFM is a program of theological study, prayer
and reflection from the School of Theology of the University of the
South. The Diocese of Washington is a sponsoring diocese for the
program. For more information on EFM, and for the location and contact
people for groups, go to www.edowefm.org.

COMMUNITY GRANT PROGRAM
The Ober, Kaler, Grimes & Shriver Law Firm has an annual grant program
to support organizations with educational programs focused on improving
the lives of disadvantaged children in the Washington, D.C., area.
Eligible applicants include nonprofits and community-based
organizations. The deadline for applications is Aug. 3. Approximately
$35,000 is available to fund three awards, ranging from $10,000 to
$15,000. For further information, contact Mary Ellen Chambers at
410/230-7185 or mechambers at ober.com; or go to: http://www.ober.com/.
GrantID: GD2014 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING SITES SOUGHT
Episcopal Senior Ministries and THC Affordable Housing have agreed to
pool their expertise to develop more senior housing in the Washington
metropolitan area. They are looking for development 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.

NEW VOCATIONAL GUIDELINES ISSUED
After a two month period of public comment, the Commission on Ministry
has approved new guidelines for those discerning a call to ministry.
These guidelines address vocation for those seeking to serve the church
as priests and those seeking a call to serve the world and in the church
as laity. Draft guidelines for a vocational diaconate are being
completed by the COM and will be available for public comment in the
fall, along with guidelines for those seeking ordination in the
Episcopal Church who have been ordained in other traditions. The
guidelines can be found at www.edow.org/diocese/clergy/index.html. 

OFFICE SPACE AVAILABLE AT ST. STEPHEN'S, D.C.
St. Stephen and the Incarnation, D.C. (1525 Newton Street NW) has three
small offices to rent (each office is approx. 190 square feet - 14 feet
by 14 feet). The space will be available in August. Each room rents for
approx. $438 per month, including utilities, basic cleaning, and a
security guard at the main door 60 hours per week. 

CHILD CARE CENTER IN SEARCH OF A CHURCH
Christ Church Children's Center is looking for a new location. The
center is independent, non profit, fully licensed and accredited by
NAEYC and will handle all liability and insurance costs. The center is
looking for a church or other location with 5,000 to 10,000 square feet
of classroom space that's available during the week, plus outdoor play
space. If you have available space or other suggestions, please contact
parent Kakki Lewis at kakki_lewis at yahoo.com or 202/251-0142, or for more
information visit www.c4childcare.org. The center would be open to
merging with an existing preschool that doesn't provide infant care, or
other creative possibilities.

ATTENTION PARISH ADMINISTRATORS
All parish administrators and administrative assistants in the Diocese
of Washington are invited to monthly luncheon meetings of the
Administrators Group. Topics of interest are discussed and useful
information is shared. New administrators will find these particularly
valuable.  Meetings are the third Tuesday of the month at All Souls, on
Cathedral Avenue. It is metro-accessible and parking is available. You
also are invited to join our listserv which provides a means to exchange
information between meetings. Next meeting is set for 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Sept. 18. Contact the group at:
http://www.edow.org/parish/administration/resources/index.html

CATHEDRAL'S PARKING GARAGE OPEN
Washington National Cathedral's underground parking garage is now open.
Visitors to Church House should enter the garage from the main entrance
off Wisconsin Avenue just south of Woodley Road. 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. Please park legally at all times;
enforcement activities are in effect. Questions about parking on the
close may be directed to ParkingInfo at cathedral.org

FALL MINISTRY CONFERENCE AT VIRGINIA THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY 
On Oct. 15, the Virginia Theological Seminary will hold a one-day Fall
Ministry Conference at its campus in Alexandria, Va. Learn about the
seminary's programs, talk to faculty and students, go to classes, have
lunch and tour the campus. To register for the conference or for further
information, visit www.vts.edu, or email Admissions at vts.edu.  Space is
limited, so register now if you are interested in attending.

PARISH NURSE/HEALTH MINISTRY TRAINING COURSE
The National Episcopal Health Ministries will hold a parish nurse/health
ministry training course from Aug. 27 to Sept. 1 at the Virden Center in
Lewes, DE. The NEHM course is endorsed by the International Parish Nurse
Resource Center, offers RN continuing education credit, is taught from
the Episcopalian viewpoint, and also is open to those doing health
ministry who are not RNs. Tuition for this five day residential program
is $400; fee for double room and meals at the Virden Center is $400,
with private rooms available for $200 additional. For more information
or to register, visit www.episcopalhealthministries.org or contact Carol
Sullivan at 410/827-6907 or songofjoy at dmv.com

COMPUTER TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES
The diocese has negotiated with the following vendors to provide
discounted training to parish staff and volunteers. Please contact them
if you are interested in their offerings:
* Kind Technology, Potomac ( www.kindtechnlology.com ) offers classroom
courses in Microsoft Office programs including Word, Excel, Powerpoint
and Adobe Photoshop. 
* Antharia has a new training Web site ( www.antharia.com ) and schedule
for Web and graphics design classes, including Adobe Photoshop,
Illustrator, CSS, PHP, Dreamweaver and e-mail marketing. 
* TJP&A (www.tjpa.com ) offers group rate discounts and offers classroom
courses in Web and graphic design, including Dreamweaver, Contribute,
Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark and  InDesign.
Further information is available at
http://technology.edow.org/training.html  

RACIAL RECONCILIATION TRAINING DATES SET
The diocese's Committee on Racial Reconciliation will conduct an
expanded and re-formatted Racial Reconciliation Training program on  *
Nov. 2-3 * Feb. 8-9, 2008 * May 16-17, 2008 * Nov. 14-15, 2008. Advance
registration is required, and will be announced when locations are
known.
 
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. Please urge members of your
congregations to contribute generously. Donate online at
www.edow.org/donate

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." 

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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