[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

JANUARY 3, 2008

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

YOUTH MINISTRY LISTSERV
Is your parish on the youth ministry listserv? The youth ministry
listserv is the primary means of communication from the youth office at
Church House. There are several parishes that are not represented on the
listserv. If your church is missing, please contact Paul Canady at
pcanady at EDOW.org or 202/537-6524 to be added. 

LENTEN SILENT RETREAT
The Diocesan Retreat Committee will hold its 2008 Lenten Silent Retreat
from March 7-9 at the Bon Secours Spiritual Center in Marriottsville.
The theme will be "Praying our Goodbyes," inspired by the writings of
Joyce Rupp, a Servite sister, writer, retreat leader and international
speaker, who describes herself as a "spiritual midwife." The Rev. Joan
E. Beilstein, rector of Ascension, Silver Spring, will lead the retreat.
Beilstein is an experienced retreat leader and long-time spiritual
director. The fee is $195. Applications and a deposit of $100 must be
received by Jan. 18. Visit www.edow.org/retreat for information and
application, or call Margaret Bennett at 202/337-3415.
 
WASHINGTON EPISCOPAL CLERGY ASSOCIATION MEETING
WECA will hold its third meeting of the program year from 10 a.m. to 1
p.m. Jan. 10 at Atonement, D.C. (5073 E Capitol Street, SE;
202/582-4200). The morning will begin with coffee and fellowship;
program will begin at 10:30 a.m. The theme for 2007/2008 is "Mutual and
Responsible Servanthood: You, the People of God, and the Diocese." This
meeting will focus on "How can the diocese serve you?" Following the
program, there will be a time for WECA business, general announcements,
and welcoming new clergy. At noon, all are invited to stay at Atonement
for lunch. If you plan to stay for lunch, RSVP to Joan Beilstein at
revjeb at comcast.net or at 301/587-3272 by Jan. 8.  

DRAFT GUIDELINES FOR THE VOCATIONAL DIACONATE 
The Commission on Ministry has approved an initial draft of guidelines
for the discernment of a call to the diaconate. These are available at
www.edow.org/diocese/clergy The COM will hold three public hearings on
these guidelines on Feb. 19 and 26 (Tuesday evenings), and Feb. 23
(Saturday morning). Times and locations will be announced later this
month. Written public comment also is welcome, and may be e-mailed to
Mary Sulerud, canon for deployment and vocational ministry, at
msulerud at edow.org or George McConnell, assistant for deployment, at
gmcconnell at edow.org or mailed to their attention at Episcopal Church
House, Mount St. Alban, Washington, D.C., 20016. Comments should be
submitted by March 3.  

LIVING WELL, DYING WELL
Epiphany, D.C., will hold a brown bag lunch and presentation, "Living
Well, Dying Well," from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. Jan. 10 in its Parish Hall.
(1317 G Street, NW. Metro Center, 13th and G exit). Light refreshments
will provided. Kevin O'Neill, Associate Professor of Moral Theology at
Washington Theological Union, will focus on ethical issues at the end of
life and how they also touch on issues that are at the heart of living.
Holy Eucharist at 12:10 p.m. in the church before the talk. 202/347-2635
for more information.

NEW CDS FROM THE LARGE-PRINT MINISTRY
The Large-Print Ministry is offering two CDs that can help the blind and
visually-impaired participate in worship more fully. The Large-Print
Book of Common Prayer CD includes the entire 1979 Book of Common Prayer.
It is laid out for 8.5 x 11-inch pages and can be used to help prepare
large-print worship materials. Prayers & Psalms For Today, the second
CD, includes selections from Prayers and Thanksgivings, Prayers for the
Sick, Prayers for Use by a Sick Person, and the Book of Psalms. To order
one CD, send a self-addressed, stamped 6x9-inch envelope with four
41-cent stamps attached (five on a padded envelope) to Ann Dahlen, 1900
6th Ave., Apt. 513, Rock Island, IL 61201. Please add more postage when
ordering more than one CD. Please indicate which CD(s) you want. A
donation to help cover costs is always appreciated. Please make checks
out to Ann Dahlen. For more information, contact Dahlen at a.dahlen@
att.net or largeprinthelp at att.net.
 
SAVE THE DATE
The Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington will hold its 2008 Mardi
Gras
Fundraiser Reception from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at The American
Institute of Architects
Entertainment, hors d'oeuvres, live auction and raffle. For further
information, please contact Lashawn Douglas or Kelli Bland at
202/667-2224 or e-mail events at amomentsnotice.biz

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your
prayers this week:
* Todd Kissam - wife's health (Heather)
* John Ball - wife's health (Linda)
* Bill Underhill - personal health
* Anne Gilson - personal health
* 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:

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.

> 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.

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. 

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.  

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.

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

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

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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