[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

APRIL 3, 2008

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

REGISTRATION FOR CLERGY CONFERENCE NOW OPEN
Registration is now open for the diocese's May 20-22 Clergy Conference,
"Taking Care of Self: A Must for Clergy Wellness and Effective
Ministry." Keynote speaker: Margaret M. "Peggy" Treadwell. Register at
www.edow.org/events "Clergy Conference." The Washington Episcopal Clergy
Association and Bishop John Chane invite you to join fellow clergy at
Shrine Mont, Va., to explore issues of wellness and how they impact our
lives. This year's conference will explore strategies to enhance the
ability to improve overall health of body, mind, spirit and
relationships, which can lead to greater wholeness and effectiveness in
ministry.  

CLERGY PLEASE NOTE: CONFIRMATION SERVICES 
Confirmation services are set for 10 a.m. May 17 and 10 a.m. June 21 at
Washington National Cathedral. Please respond to
CathedralConfirmations at edow.org if you will or will not be bringing
candidates to either service. If participating, please give an
approximate count of how many candidates in each category (confirm,
receive and reaffirm).

LILLY ENDOWMENT - DEADLINE MAY 14
Applications for grants from the National Clergy Renewal Program,
sponsored by the Lilly Endowment, are due May 14. The grants support
extended sabbaticals for pastors and a complementary set of activities
for "congregational renewal" in their parishes. A maximum of 120
congregations will receive grants of up to $45,000 each, of which
$15,000 may be used for expenses associated with the renewal program.
Additional information is available at http://www.clergyrenewal.org
Christian congregations that have an ordained pastor with a master of
divinity degree from an accredited theological school are eligible to
apply. The grants are available for congregations in all states except
Indiana, where the endowment offers a separate program.

KREITLER ENVIRONMENTAL LECTURE AT VTS
On April 22, Virginia Theological Seminary will host the 2008 Kreitler
Environmental Lecture entitled, "Remembering the Land: Reading the Bible
Through Agrarian Eyes." The lecture, given by Ellen Davis, professor of
Bible and Practical Theology at Duke Divinity School, will begin at 7
p.m. in the Seminary's Lettie Pate Evans Auditorium. A reception will
follow the lecture. There is no charge for the event but an RSVP is
requested. Reply to vdooley-burney at vts.edu if you plan to attend.

PARISH ADMINISTRATOR - ST. DAVID'S, D.C. (F/T)
St. David's, D.C., is seeking a full-time (40 hours/week) Parish
Administrator. Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, Quark Express or
Publisher (or similar) required. Responsible for weekly bulletins,
monthly newsletter, financial oversight, and management of buildings and
grounds. Familiarity with Episcopal Church a plus. Salary based on
experience with benefits package, paid annual and sick leave, plus
Federal holidays. Submit resume and cover letter to
robindodge at starpower.net.
 
PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your
prayers this week: 
* Ken Howard - personal health 
* Susan Blue - personal health   
* Joy Rose - personal health 
* Martha Wallace - personal health 
* Rich Kukowski - prayers of thanksgiving for healing and recovery  
* David Black - personal health 
* Anne Gilson - personal health 
* Betsy Hague - personal health and husband's (Ralph) 
* Tom Logan - personal health 
* Martha Bonwitt - husband's health (Bill) 

>>> REMINDERS:

BISHOP HAINES MEMORIAL SERVICE
There will be a memorial service for Bishop Ronald H. Haines at 2 p.m.
April 26 at Washington National Cathedral. An obituary for Haines, the
Bishop of Washington from 1990-2000, is available at
http://www.edow.org/news/window/2008/april/haines.html 

WASHINGTON EPISCOPAL CLERGY ASSOCIATION
The next meeting of the Washington Episcopal Clergy Association is set
for April 10 at St. Barnabas', Temple Hills (5203 St. Barnabas Road,
Temple Hills, Md. 20748; Tel: 301/894-9100). Coffee and social hour at
10 a.m. in the parish hall; program at 10:30 a.m. Program topic is
"Mutual Servanthood: Caring for Each Other." If you plan to stay for
lunch at noon, please call the parish office or contact Sherrill Page,
host, at storyrev at aol.com All clergy of the diocese are members of WECA
and invited to attend.

PARKING AT CHURCH HOUSE
The first anniversary of the Cathedral Foundation's parking garage is
approaching. During this first year, we decided to ease the transition
by absorbing the cost of parking for our visitors. On March 31, we will
conclude our practice of paying for parking for guests, and as of April
1, will no longer validate parking for visitors to Church House. We will
continue to purchase parking for major diocesan events at the Cathedral,
such as Convention, Ordinations and Confirmations. Other parking options
include street parking (2 hour limit). After 3:30 p.m., surface parking
is permitted on the Cathedral Close.
 
20S 30S RETREAT
The Cathedral College and the diocesan Young Adult Ministries Network
are sponsoring the third in a series of retreats for people in their 20s
and 30s. "Awakening to the Spirit" is set for May 9-10 at the Cathedral
College. Retreat participants will learn several Christian prayer
practices for everyday spirituality. Sign up at
http://www.edow.org/news/calendar/upcoming.html Space is limited. Cost
is $25. Lunch on Saturday is provided. Questions? Contact the Rev.
Shearon Sykes Williams at 301/862-2247 or shearon.williams at comcast.net.


TALENT SHOWCASE FOR THE EPISCOPAL CENTER FOR CHILDREN
The 10th Annual Talent Showcase for the Episcopal Center for Children is
set for 4 p.m. April 20 in the National Cathedral School's Hearst Hall
Auditorium. The Very Rev. Samuel T. Lloyd III, dean of Washington
National Cathedral, will be the master of ceremonies, and music will be
provided by Christ Episcopal School, Rockville, St. Andrews Episcopal
School, Potomac, Holy Trinity Episcopal Day School, Bowie, St. Francis
Episcopal Day School, Potomac, St. John's Episcopal School, Olney, the
National Cathedral School and St. Albans School. Goodwill offering, $10;
Friends $25 (includes pre-concert reception and reserved seating);
Patrons $100 (includes program listing). Call Susan Niedenfuhr at
202/363-5196 or Sharon Whitehouse at 301/229-3203 for further
information. Early reservations are recommended. Free parking will be
available in the National Cathedral's garage.

ART OF SPIRITUAL COMPANIONSHIP COURSE
Applications are now being accepted for the 2008/2009 Art of Spiritual
Companionship course, which is designed to introduce the theory,
spirituality and practice of the ancient Christian tradition of
spiritual direction. Graduates may serve as spiritual resources to their
faith communities to help others discern the work of the Spirit in their
lives. Further information is available at
http://www.cathedral.org/cathedral/programs/ArtofSC.shtml or from Terri
Lynn Simpson at tsimpson at cathedral.org or 202/537-5246.

PROBLEMS RECEIVING CHURCH HOUSE NEWS?
Not receiving Church House News? To be sure you receive CHN in your
mailbox each week and to avoid problems with spam filters, please read
this article in the EDOW technical support knowledgebase:
http://tinyurl.com/2css4l
 
SEEKING PRINTER AND TONER CARTRIDGES!
The youth of St. John's, Mt. Ranier, are developing a fundraising
project and need your help. They are collecting old printer and toner
cartridges to raise money for the church's Youth Ministry. Please help
by collecting and donating your used printer and toner cartridges.
Contact Diane Baldwin-Piper at 301/927-1156 to arrange to either drop
these items off or to schedule someone to pick them up.

FOSTER GRANDPARENT PROGRAM
Join representatives from the United Planning Organization at Trinity,
Piney Branch (7005 Piney Branch Road, Washington, DC 20012 ) and find
out more about how you can become a Foster Grandparent. Coffee at 10
a.m. April 25; program follows at 10:30. 
RSVP to Diane Robinson at 202/291-0696 or dlr814 at aol.com

FRIENDSHIP TERRACE OPEN HOUSES 
Open Houses at Friendship Terrace Retirement Community (4201 Butterworth
Place, NW) are set for 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. April 10 and 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
April 24. Call 202/244-7400, ext. 18 or e-mail Rose Chambers at
RChambers at esm.org for more information.
 
HEARING ON PROPOSED GUIDELINES FOR VOCATIONAL DIACONATE
A hearing on the proposed Guidelines for a Vocational Diaconate has been
rescheduled for 10 a.m. to noon April 12 at St. John's, Beltsville,
11040 Baltimore Avenue (U.S.1). Ample parking is available. Guidelines
are at www.edow.org/diocese/clergy

VOCATIONAL MINISTRY RETREAT
The next vocational ministry retreat is set for April 11-12 at St.
Mary's Conference Center in Baltimore. The retreat leader will be author
and speaker Marjory Bankson. This retreat is open for anyone seeking to
explore God's call to any ministry. The cost is $120, inclusive of room
and board. Register at www.edow.org/events 

LUTHERAN BISHOP OF BOTSWANA TO VISIT WASHINGTON 
The Rt. Rev. Cosmos Moenga, Lutheran bishop of Botswana, and his wife,
the Rev. Tshenolo Moenga, will be the featured speakers at a global
mission celebration at Grace Lutheran Church (16th and Varnum, NW) at 2
p.m. April 19. The celebration will be followed by a multi-cultural
reception. Episcopalians are especially invited to come. For more
information, contact 202/829-9400 or gracelc at verizon.net.
 
BISHOP WALKER SCHOOL FUNDRAISER
Bishop Walker School Bookfair. Hosted by Politics and Prose (5015
Connecticut Avenue, NW) from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 5. Twenty percent of
all proceeds will go to the school, and there will be a list of books
needed by the school that can be directly donated.

ELECTRIC UTILITY SAVINGS
Direct Energy Services, through a new agreement with the diocese, can
now offer electricity to parishes through its discounted fixed price
program. DES is a leading energy retailer and can offer customers highly
competitive rates and adjustable contract durations (as short as three
months). Most parishes in the diocese buy electricity from Pepco
(customers of SMECO, a private rural collective cannot participate)
which recently has seen elevated rate increases, with another rate hike
anticipated in May. Buying electricity through an energy supplier gives
parishes control over the decision to convert to a fixed price whenever
market conditions are right. (For example: If your parish is currently a
Pepco customer and decides to switch to DES, your savings can be 10 to
25 percent at current rates.) Visit directenergy.com for more
information, or call DES account manager, Jeff Hammer, at 301/634-5403.
Diocesan property manager Robert Tomlinson also is available to discuss
this at 202/537-6523 or rtomlinson at edow.org.
 
THE PRACTICE OF PRAYER: BODY, MIND AND SPIRIT 
Join the Rev. Mpho Tutu, of The Tutu Institute for Prayer & Pilgrimage,
and certified Yoga instructor Erin Callahan for a weekend retreat
designed to enrich your prayer life, May 16-18 in Richmond, Va.
Registration deadline is April 25. Price is $300 for double occupancy;
$350 single. Includes meals and materials. For registration form and
more information, visit www.tutuinstitute.org or call 703/677-5642. 
  
EPISCOPAL SENIOR MINISTRIES SUNDAY
May 4 has been designated as Episcopal Senior Ministries Sunday.
Parishes are asked to pray for all seniors and their ministries in the
church, including Cedar Lane Apartments, Christian Communities Group
Homes, Collington Life Care Community, Episcopal Senior Ministries, ESM
Cares Geriatric Care Management Service, The Fellowship of St. John,
Friendship Terrace Retirement Community, St. Anna's Fund, St. Mary's
Court, and St. Philip's House and Senior Van. Speakers from these
ministries are available to parishes as are brochures describing the
ministries. For more information, contact 202/414-6314 or
MHunter at esm.org.

SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN - NEW DATES
New dates for Safeguarding God's Children training sessions are as
follows:
* April 5: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at St. David's, D.C.
* May 10: 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Trinity, Newport 
* June 4: 6:30  to 9:30 p.m. at Ascension, Silver Spring
Online registration required by going to www.edow.org/prevention 
 
RACIAL RECONCILIATION TRAINING  
The diocese's Committee on Racial Reconciliation will conduct a Racial
Reconciliation Training program on May 16-17. For further information,
please contact Marie Zackrie-Hall, Racial Reconciliation Coordinator, at
202/423-4300.

12-STEP EUCHARIST
St. Alban's, D.C., and its Hope for Recovery ministry team offer 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 
 
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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