[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

JUNE 19, 2008

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

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.

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.

2008 DIOCESAN JOURNAL AND DIRECTORY
Any clergy with recent or upcoming changes in address or employment should contact Governance Officer Ann Talty (atalty at edow.org or 202/537-6548) in the next week to have those changes in made in the 2008 Journal. Also, this is last call for any vestry elections or delegate changes to be listed in the Journal. Forms for these lay changes are at:  http://www.edow.org/diocese/clergy/transition/vestryanddelegateinfo.html or contact Kim Adams at kadams at edow.org or 202/537-6526.

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. The retreat, led by Sr. Catherine Grace of the Community of the Holy Spirit, aims to create an awareness and renewal of ways to integrate individual spiritual needs and find ways to become better stewards of God's creation. There will be time for individual spiritual direction and conversation with Sr. Catherine. 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. 

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week: 
* Robert Harvey - mother-in-law's death (Sancy) 
* 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) 
* Susan Blue - personal health    
* Martha Wallace - personal health 
* Anne Gilson - personal health  

>>> REMINDERS:

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. 

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 this 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.

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

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
 
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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