[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

JULY 3, 2008

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

VIRTUAL MARCH FOR THE MDGS
On July 24, more than 600 Anglican bishops taking part in the Lambeth
Conference, their spouses and faith leaders from around the U.K. will
march through London on a Walk of Witness for the fulfillment of the
Millennium Development Goals. The Episcopal Public Policy Network and
Episcopalians for Global Reconciliation are sponsoring a "Virtual March
for the MDGs" to coincide with this walk. Instead of walking through the
streets of London, you will be sending e-mails to members of Congress,
inviting them to commit to the MDGs and to making poverty history. To
participate, register at http://episcopal.grassroots.com/virtualmarch/
On July 24 you will receive an e-mail inviting you to take part in an
MDG-related advocacy action. Congregations can participate by using
"March of Prayer" bulletin inserts for the Sundays of July 20 and 27,
which can be downloaded at http://www.e4gr.org/virtualmarch.html

RENEWAL: AN INTERFAITH CALL TO ACTION
Join Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light, Shomrei Adamah of
Greater Washington, DC Green Muslims, Faith at Work, Teva Learning
Center and Foundry UMC's Green Mission to view and discuss highlights of
the first feature-length documentary to capture the breadth and vitality
of America's religious-environmental movement. Witness how individuals
and communities driven by their spiritual and religious convictions are
being called to re-examine what it means to be human and how we live on
this planet. Connect, discuss and engage to carry this vision forward!
The documentary will be screened at 7:30 p.m. July 16 at Foundry United
Methodist Church, 1500 16th Street, NW. RVSP to allison at gwipl.org 

BEGINNERS SPANISH CLASS AT ST. PAUL'S, K STREET
St. Paul's, K Street will hold a beginners Spanish class, "Spanish for
Christian Ministry," on Monday nights from 6:30 (or immediately after
the evening Mass) to 8:30 p.m., beginning Sept. 8. There is no fee, but
participants must purchase a book: "Easy Spanish Step-by-Step," by
Barbara Bregstein (McGraw-Hill, 2006), available at bookstores or
online. Students also will need a 3-ring binder for handouts. In
addition to basic grammar and vocabulary, the class will include such
topics as the church, theology, and scripture. Class members will learn
to pray, read the Bible, and maybe even sing hymns in Spanish. Although
there will be occasional breaks, the class could continue through 2009
if there is interest. The class is for people who have never taken
Spanish, as well as for those who want a refresher. If interested,
please contact David Allen White at dawh1 at msn.com.

* ANNUAL YARD SALE
All Saints Thrift Shop, 3 Chevy Chase Circle, will hold its Annual Yard
Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 19. Clothes, household items, books,
kid's stuff. Benefits Send a Kid to Camp. * Please note: The date was
listed incorrectly in the Washington Window. 

SAY A PRAYER. CHANGE THE WORLD.
Anglican women and girls are invited to submit a prayer for possible
inclusion in "Lifting Women's Voices: Ending Poverty through Prayer and
Action," a new book from Morehouse Publishing. The book aims to reveal
how Anglican women worldwide are deeply connected, even across cultural
and economic divides, and affirm that nurturing inner lives of prayer
offers others the courage to care and advocate. Royalties will benefit
the International Anglican Women's Network and Episcopal Relief and
Development. To learn more, go to www.churchpublishing.org  Send your
prayer to prayers at cpg.

ONE-DAY CHILDREN'S PEACE CAMP AT SEEKERS CHURCH 
Seekers Church and Little Friends for Peace are offering a one-day peace
camp for kids ages 3-11 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 26.
Counselor-in-training positions are available for youth 12 and up.
Activities will include art, music, games and riding the Peace Train to
learn about conflict resolution. Little Friends for Peace (www.lffp.org)
has been engaging young children and teens around peacemaking and
conflict resolution for several decades. To register or for more
information contact Trish Nemore at trish717 at rcn.com or 301/588-5718;
Sandra Miller at amaizeinggrace at verizon.net or 202/526-0783; or visit
www.seekerschurch.org. 

HOLOCAUST STORYTELLING PERFORMANCE 
"For Tomorrow/Ich hoff auf Morgen: The Story and Poetry of Hilda Stern
Cohen" will be presented on July 10 (7 p.m.), 13 (5 p.m.) and 16 (7
p.m.) at the Capital Fringe Festival. Jewish storyteller Gail Rosen
tells Hilda's story in her own words with nine poems set to music by
William Gilcher (St. Andrew's, College Park) and sung by mezzo-soprano
Rabbi Elizabeth Bolton with accompaniment on flute by Anna Gilcher
(Ascension, Sligo Parish) and on piano by Tom Moore. Tickets are
available at www.capfringe.org or 866/811-4111. More information is at
www.hildastory.com

>>> REMINDERS:

STEWARDSHIP ANNUAL APPEAL WORKSHOPS
Stewardship annual appeal workshops with David Lewis are set for 6:30 to
9 p.m. July 10 and 9 a.m. to noon July 12. Lewis will give a complete
picture of what can be done to help your annual appeal program succeed.
If you are just starting out or looking for new ideas, bring your
materials along to share what worked and what still needs work in your
parish. Light refreshments will be served. Please sign up at
www.edow.org/events Contact Jsamilio at edow.org if you have any questions.

THURGOOD MARSHALL COMMEMORATION 
It is important that the diocese's 2009 General Convention deputation
know how widely Thurgood Marshall was remembered throughout this diocese
on or about May 17, both this year and next. Bruce Eberhardt, a member
of St. Augustine's, is keeping the tally. Please contact him at
eberhardtbj at msn.com if your parish observed the day this year.
 
SABBATICAL GRANT OPPORTUNITIES 
The Louisville Institute is holding its 15th annual competition for
sabbatical grants for pastoral leaders. Awards are made for either eight
or 12-week sabbaticals, to be taken in a continuous single period.
Applicants choose whether to apply for an eight-week sabbatical, with a
$10,000 award, or for a 12-week sabbatical; $15,000 award. Applications
are due no later than Sept. 15. Award announcements will be made by Dec.
15, and sabbaticals must be taken between March 1, 2009 and August 31,
2010. Full program information and application materials are available
at 
www.louisville-institute.org 

ARC CALLS ON CHURCHES TO SPONSOR A BLOOD DRIVE
The American Red Cross (Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Services
Region) is calling for parishes in the Diocese of Washington to help
increase the area's blood supply by sponsoring a summer blood drive. At
present there is less than a 2-day supply of most blood types - a safe
desired blood supply is 5-7 days. To learn more about sponsoring a blood
drive, call Tina Baccante of the American Red Cross at 703/655-2979.  

SAVE THE DATE
Bishop John Bryson Chane will join his former band, The Chane Gang, to
perform a benefit concert for the Bishop John T. Walker School for Boys
on Oct. 10 at Washington Episcopal School. Details to follow. 

PARISH COMMUNICATIONS MANUAL
A parish communications manual full of helpful tips and media contact
information is now available at www.edow.org. The manual was compiled by
Carol Barnwell of the Diocese of Texas, one of the speakers at the June
7 Evangelism Conference.

A WOMEN'S RETREAT
"Behold the Stewards of the Lord! Exploring the Sacred Within Us and
Creation" is set for Aug. 1-3 at the Cathedral College. Registration
deadline is July 20. Led by Sr. Catherine Grace of the Community of the
Holy Spirit. Single occupancy room is $245; w/ private bath $263; and
$200/double; cost includes all meals except for Friday night's dinner.
Contact Shelby Oppermann at 301/904-2532 or ShelbyAlbe at aol.com To learn
more about the Community of the Holy Spirit go to www.chssisters.org 

MOREHOUSE CONSULTANT AVAILABLE TO DISCUSS PROJECTS
Trevor Floyd, a senior consultant from Morehouse Church Supplies, will
be visiting this area soon. He is available, via appointment, to meet
with staff and altar guilds to discuss the services and resources
available through Morehouse, including vestments, altar hangings, albs,
furnishings, stained glass, columbaria, custom work or metalware
products. Floyd can be reached at 866/574-2799 or tfloyd at cpg.org. 

DENOMINATIONAL HEALTH PLAN INFORMATION
For the past 18 months, the Healthcare Coverage Feasibility Study team
of the Church Pension Group has been collecting information about the
delivery of employee healthcare benefits across the Episcopal Church.
This study was commissioned at the 2006 General Convention and final
recommendations will be presented at General Convention next July. Why?
Many congregations are facing financial difficulties and the high cost
of healthcare benefits is central to this issue. Please check the
monthly update to stay abreast of study results and sample health plan
designs. Visit www.cpg.org, click Healthcare Coverage Feasibility Study,
select "Flash" in the Get the Latest Information box. 

12-STEP EUCHARIST
The Hope for Recovery ministry team at St. Alban's, D.C., will not be
having its 12-Step Eucharist in July, August and September. Please
contact Sally Craig at sallybcraig at aol.com with any questions.
 
DAY-RETREAT SPACE
If your vestry, committee, parish or community group needs space (10-30
people) for a day retreat or meeting this summer, please consider the
University of Maryland Episcopal Student Center, College Park. The
center is Metro accessible. For further information and to reserve
space, please contact the chaplain, the Rev.  Peter Antoci, at
pantoci at umd.edu
  
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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