[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

JUNE 13, 2008

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

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. 

CPG AND MEDICAL TRUST TEAM TO VISIT THE DIOCESE
Church Pension Group and Medical Trust Team will visit our diocese on June 18. Tim Vanover, project manager of the church-wide Health Plan Feasibility Study, and study team members will meet with lay employees from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Active clergy will meet from 1:15 to 2:30 p.m. Both meetings will be held at St. Alban's, D.C., in the Nourse Hall and lunch will be provided. All lay employees and active clergy are invited. RSVP to khall at edow.org or 202/537-6522 by June 16.

PLANNED GIVING WORKSHOP
A three-hour Planned Giving Workshop with Glenn N. Holliman, vice president of Giving Services, Episcopal Church Foundation, is set for 9 a.m. to noon June 21 at Episcopal Church House. Holliman will cover options from the ECF and give a complete picture of what can be done with a planned giving program. The workshop is suitable for those who are just starting out or for those looking for new ideas. Light refreshments will be served. There is no charge for the workshop, but registration is required at: http://www.edow.org/events Contact jsamilio at edow.org with questions.

NATIONAL EPISCOPAL HEALTH MINISTRIES PRAYER CYCLE 
National Episcopal Health Ministries is an organization that promotes health ministry in the Episcopal Church, helping congregations to reclaim the gospel of health and wholeness. It has a weekly prayer cycle that covers each diocese once a year. The Diocese of Washington is on the prayer cycle next week. For more information about NEHM please visit www.EpiscopalHealthMinistries.org 

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.

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week: 
* Lynn Lundelius - personal health 
* Susan Keller - father's health (Thomas) 
* Rip Coffin - personal health 
* Karen Johnson - daughter's health (Susan 
* John Harmon - mother-in-law's health (Grace) 
* Travers Koerner - personal health 
* Claudia Tielking - son's health (Josh) 
* Caron Gwynn - personal health 
* Susan Blue - personal health    
* Martha Wallace - personal health 
* Anne Gilson - personal health   

>>> REMINDERS:

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.  
 
VOCATIONAL MINISTRY RETREAT
The Commission on Ministry is sponsoring a Vocational Ministry Retreat, "What's my life's work?" June 27-28 at St. Mary's Seminary & University Center for Continuing Formation: http://www.stmarys.edu/center/cntr_tour.htm The retreat is designed to help participants begin to discern where and to what God is calling them at this time, and to guide them in getting support from their immediate faith community as they continue to clarify their life's work. The fee for the retreat is $120. Financial assistance is available and space is limited to 20 people. Register at http://www.edow.org/events

30-20-10 CELEBRATION OF MINISTRY
The Rev. Paul Abernathy will be celebrating 30 years as an Episcopal priest, 20 years as a priest in the Diocese of Washington and 10 years as rector of St. Mark's, Capitol Hill with two special events on June 20 and 22. At 7 p.m. June 20, there will be a concert and conversation with folk artist Susan Werner: "The Gospel Truth: A Collection of Songs
for the Spiritually Ambivalent." The conversation will be framed by Werner's year-long exploration of her own religious skepticism and Abernathy's post sabbatical vision of "Engagement with the Other, Conversation not Conversion." At 10 a.m. June 22, a Festival Eucharist at St. Mark's will feature special music by Robert Mack and the Chancel and Children's Choirs. A pub lunch will follow the service. Suggested donation for the June 20 concert is $25; RSVP to ponthy at verizon.net  St. Mark's is located at the corner of 3rd and A Streets, SE Washington, D.C., 20003. 

FAIR LINENS FOR CUBA
Episcopal churches in Cuba need help obtaining altar cloths, chalices, purificators and other fair linens. Does your parish have any extra to spare? A group from St. Alban's is traveling to Cuba in late June and would love to carry your parish's good wishes and donations. Please contact Barbara Manard at 301/801-9866 or BManard at earthlink.net
 
2008 GRAMMY SALUTE TO GOSPEL MUSIC
At 7:30 p.m. June 18, the Recording Academy of Arts and Sciences will present the 2008 GRAMMY Salute to Gospel Music honoring Edwin & Walter Hawkins, Sandi Patty and The Winans at The Lincoln Theater in Washington D.C. (1215 U Street NW). This year's tribute performers include Maurette Brown Clark, Patti LaBelle, Kim Burrell, Richard Smallwood, Natalie Grant, Rance Allen and Avalon; plus surprise honoree performances. Seats are $25 and $50 and can be purchased at 310/314-8281 or at: ticketing at grammy.com. (Director and assistant director of the Voices of Praise Choir of St. George's, D.C. - James McKinney and William E. Smith - serve as vice president and board member of the D.C. Chapter of the Grammys).

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED 
The diocese is looking for volunteers with an interest in numbers to serve on the Congregational Audit Committee. This committee is responsible for ensuring annual audit reports are received from each congregation and summarizing reports for the diocesan Finance Committee. Volunteers do not need audit experience to serve; familiarity with MS-Excel is helpful but not a requirement. Contact Mozart Bernard, committee chair, at mbernard at walkerllp.com or call 202/363-9300 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

CLERGY CRAFT GROUP - FIRST MEETING
First meeting will be 3-5 p.m. June 12, 3-5 pm in the Club Room at Park Potomac Place Condominiums, 12500 Park Potomac Place, Potomac, MD 20854. Men and women clergy who enjoy using their hands and fabric, yarn or thread to create something beautiful are invited to contact Carol Flett, rector of St.Bartholomew's, Laytonsville and Interfaith Programs Coordinator at the Cathedral College, at ccinterfaith at yahoo.com.
 
SILENT RETREAT WITH THE REV. MARTIN SMITH
The Rev. Martin Smith will lead a silent retreat, "Exploring the Jesus Prayer," June 27-29 at Dayspring Retreat Center in Germantown. For more information or to register, call 301/428-9348, or go to www.dayspringretreat.org  
 
PARKING AT CHURCH HOUSE
Church House has concluded its practice of paying for parking for guests, and will no longer validate parking for visitors. Parking will still be provided, however, for major diocesan events at the Cathedral, such as the Diocesan 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.
 
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.
 
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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