[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

NOVEMBER 20, 2008

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

TREASURER'S/HUMAN RESOURCES WORKSHOPS
Two workshops for rectors, wardens, treasurers and vestry members are
set for Dec. 6: Treasurer's Workshop (a.m.) includes discussion on the
financial state of the diocese, best practices for parishes, fund
accounting, loans, construction projects and property sales. Human
Resources Workshop (p.m.) focuses on Lay Employee Guidelines, new health
insurance plan and will offer an overview of HR Practices in the
diocese. Come for one or both workshops and optional lunch. Detailed
agenda and on-line registration at www.edow.org/events "Treasurer's and
Human Resources Workshop"

ECF FELLOWSHIP PARTNERS PROGRAM CALL FOR APPLICATIONS
The 2009 application process for the Episcopal Church Foundation's
Fellowship Partners Program is now open. Application deadline is March
15. The program awards both academic and transformational ministry
fellowships, and enables fellows to share their knowledge, experience
and best practices with the wider church in practical ways. Emphasis is
on partnerships that will have important impact in local communities and
beyond, and enhance lay and clergy leadership formation. Lay and clergy
applications welcome. Awards range from $3,000 to $15,000. Recipients
will be announced in May. Visit www.EpiscopalFoundation.org or call
800/697-2858 for further information.
 
CLERGY AS CAREGIVERS PROGRAM 
The Clergy as Caregivers program originally set for Dec. 2 will be
rescheduled for the spring. In the meantime, ESM Cares is available via
telephone to offer guidance and support to clergy as they address family
caregiving needs. Call Mary Ann Buckley at 202/364-0020 for assistance.

ADVENT RETREAT WITH YOGA AND CENTERING PRAYER
The Rev. Scott Benhase, Lacey Gude and Sally Craig will offer an Advent
retreat: "Centering Prayer, Quiet Time, Gentle Yoga and Guided
Relaxation" Dec. 5-7 at Dupont Memorial House in Rehoboth Beach. No
prior experience with yoga or centering prayer is necessary. Yoga is
optional and suitable for beginners; mats and props provided. Meals on
Saturday will be shared in silence; there will be a Eucharist on
Saturday evening. Cost is $220 for double occupancy and includes six
meals. To reserve a place, send a $100 check (non-refundable) made out
to St. Alban's Parish to Jennifer Martin, 8821 Ridge Road, Bethesda, MD,
20817. For more information, call Sally at 202/362-7192, Lacey at
301/229-1599 or Jennifer at 301/469-7786.

KIDS ADVENT ACTIVITY DAY AT ST. PAUL'S, K STREET
St. Paul's, K Street is hosting a Kids Advent Activity Day on Dec. 20
for pre-school through middle school students. The program will begin at
10 a.m. in the dining hall with breakfast snacks, songs and lighting
Advent wreath candles. Treasure hunt and brass polishing in the church
and then back to the dining hall to make decorations for a children's
Christmas tree. After trimming the tree there will be a  pizza lunch and
prizes. Parents are welcome to stay and join in the fun, or return at 1
p.m. to pick up the  children. Contact Jo Stelzig, 703/426-0487 or
jastelzig at yahoo.com, by Dec.12 to register or with questions.

HELP THE HOMELESS WALKATHON
Join Bishop John Bryson Chane and Karen Chane in the Help the Homeless
Walkathon on the National Mall on Nov. 22 as they walk to benefit
Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington. Pre-register online through
Nov. 21 at www.samaritanministry.org and clicking on the Help the
Homeless link. Or register the morning of the walk on the Mall.

BECOMING AGENTS OF GOD'S FUTURE WITH MARTIN SMITH
The Rev. Martin Smith offers "Becoming Agents of God's Future" at St.
Columba's, D.C. from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Jan. 10. Registration is $50
in advance (includes lunch); deadline to sign up is Dec. 15. For further
information e-mail SCHC-DC at innernet.net or call Pat Preston at
301/345-2302. Please send your name, address, telephone number, e-mail
address and any dietary restrictions with your check, which should be
made out to SCHC Washington Area Chapter and mailed to Annette van
Hilst, 22 Van Cleavesville Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430. Contact the
Rev. Harriette Sturges at 202/363-8286, extension 203 or
hsturges at st-albans-parish.org for further information. (Sponsored by the
Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross).

ADVENT RETREATS AT DAYSPRING SILENT RETREAT CENTER
* Dec. 5-7 Patience Robbins will lead an Advent retreat, "Encircling the
World With Compassion and Love," at the Dayspring Silent Retreat Center
in Germantown.
* Dec. 9 there will be an Ember Day (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.)
* Dec. 12-14 join Potters House Church for an Advent retreat that will
not have a leader.
* Dec. 18 Day Retreat (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
Visit www.dayspringretreat.org for details on these and other retreats.

LECTURE ON CONTEMPLATIVE PRAYER
The Rev. William Sheehan, OMI, will deliver a lecture on contemplative
prayer, "Be Still and Know That I Am God," at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 20 in the
chapel of Our Lady Of Mercy Church, 9200, Kentsdale Road, Bethesda Md.
20854. RSVP to Kelly Athey or Florence Fitzgerald at 301/365-1415.
Sponsored by Contemplative Outreach of Greater Washington. 

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS
Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your
prayers this week:
* Carol Humphrey (clergy widow) - personal health 
* Michael Marrett - personal health
* Sarah Duggin - personal health
* Travers Koerner - personal health 
* Claudia Tielking - son's health (Josh) - thanksgiving for completion
of recent stage of cancer treatment

>>> REMINDERS:

ADVENT QUIET DAY
The Diocesan Retreat Committee will hold a one-day Advent Quiet Day
retreat at St. Paul's, Piney in Waldorf from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec.
12. Led by the Rev. Frank Wade, this will provide participants an
opportunity to stop, listen and reflect on the words of the Advent
collects. Information and registration at www.edow.org/events, or
contact Margaret Bennett: 202/337-3415, bennmargar at aol.com.  

HELP TO BRIGHTEN THE HOLIDAYS 
Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington is asking for donations of food
and gift cards to make the holidays brighter for program participants.
Thanksgiving food baskets with all the ingredients for a holiday meal
will be delivered Nov. 25. Samaritan Ministry also needs children's
gifts, refreshments and volunteers to help with Christmas parties in
each of its three offices. For a list of needed items, visit
www.samaritanministry.org To volunteer for the Christmas party contact
Catherine Rodman at 202/722-2280 x 324.

LEARN ABOUT SAMARITAN MINISTRY'S NEXT STEP PROGRAM
How do homeless people and others make changes in their lives through
Samaritan Ministry's Next Step Program? Attend a Next Step Experience
from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Dec. 16 at 1345 U St., SE, Washington, D.C.,  20011
and find out. Contact Mary Belknap at 202-722-2280 ext. 327 or at
mbelknap at samaritanministry.org for further information/reservations.

ECW ADVENT PRAYER BREAKFAST
The Episcopal Church Women of the diocese will host its 4th annual
Prayer Breakfast at 9 .m. Dec. 6 at the Sheraton-Washington North Hotel,
4095 Powder Mill Road, Beltsville. The speaker will be the Rev. Mpho
Tutu, assisting priest at Holy Comforter and founding director of the
Tutu Institute for Prayer and Pilgrimage. This is a ticketed event.
Contact ECW-EDOW at ecw at edow.org or 202/537-6530.

DISCIPLES OF CHRIST IN COMMUNITY CLASS
A Disciples Of Christ In Community winter-spring class is set for
Tuesdays Jan.27 through April 28 and Saturday Feb. 7 at Washington
National Cathedral. DOCC is a Christian formation program for adults
that builds community while encouraging individual spiritual growth.
Each session consists of a presentation followed by small group
conversations. $100 fee includes course materials. Contact Linda Terrell
at lterrell at cathedral.org or 202/537-5240 for more information; register
at https://tickets.cathedral.org/public/

SAVE THE DATE 
The second annual Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington Mardi Gras
Celebration is set for 6:30 to 9 p.m. Feb. 6 at the NRECA Conference
Center, 4301 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, Va. For more information, contact
Mary Belknap, 202-722-2280 x 327 or mbelknap at samaritanministry.org

ANNUAL DIOCESAN CONVENTION SET FOR JAN. 30-31
* The 114th Diocesan Convention is set for Jan. 30- 31 at Washington
National Cathedral. Preacher at Friday night's Eucharist is the Rt. Rev.
Musonda Trevor Mwamba, Bishop of Botswana. Evangelist and author Brian
McLaren will give the keynote address.  
* Exhibit requests must be received no later than Dec. 17 and can be
made at  www.edow.org/convention "EDOW Convention Exhibit Space
Request." Please note: not all requests for exhibit space can be
accommodated. 
* Resolutions or canonical change requests must be signed by a member of
the convention and received no later than 5 p.m. Dec. 1. For assistance
and format, call Ann Talty at 202/537-6548 or visit
www.edow.org/convention  Submit resolutions to:  Secretary of the
Convention, Episcopal Church House, Mount St. Alban, Washington, D.C.,
20016.

2008 CHILDREN TO CHILDREN ADVENT APPEAL
Materials on this year's Children to Children Advent Appeal have been
mailed to every parish to the attention of the Sunday School/Christian
Education Director. Information on this year's appeal for anti-malaria
bed nets for children in Mozambique is also available on the Southern
Africa Partnership Committee web page, www.edow.org/sapc The SAPC also
has a limited number of mosquito bed nets that can be loaned to
parishes. If interested, contact Cheryl Daves Wilburn at
cwilburn at edow.org or 202/537-6543.
  
RESIDENTIAL RETREATS AT THE CATHEDRAL COLLEGE
* "Making Room in the Inn," led by Frank Griswold and Barbara Braver
Dec. 7-10. Advent retreat with prayer, classical spiritual disciplines
and poetry. $400.
* "Crossing the Threshold: A Contemplative New Year Retreat," Dec. 30
through Jan. 1. Guided reflections about the passing year and time to
reflect on the future. $350. For information and registration, visit
www.nationalcathedral.org

ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS
At 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7, the University of Maryland Episcopal-Anglican
Campus Ministry, St. Andrew's, College Park and the Keiskamma Gospel
Choir from South Africa will hold a service of celebration with hymns,
anthems, scripture readings and reflections. An offering will be taken
up for the HIV ministry of the South African visitors.

AN EVENING WITH ARCHBISHOP DESMOND TUTU
Archbishop Desmond Tutu will speak at an event titled, "Healing and Hope
For Our Times," at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at Old St. Paul's, Charles St. &
Saratoga St., Baltimore, Md., 21201. The event will include a concert of
Sacred Music. For information and tickets ($25), call Shelley
Klinefelter at 410/467-1399 or visit www.ang-md.org Proceeds will
benefit The Tutu Institute for Prayer & Pilgrimage and the Bishop's
Initiative on Reconciliation in the Diocese of Maryland.

MDG MINISTRIES IN THE DIOCESE  
The Millennium Development Goals Committee is compiling a storybook of
MDG ministries within the diocese. If your parish or organization has
one or more MDG ministries, please provide the following information:
Title of ministry; implementing parish or organization; name of MDG
contact, e-mail and phone; description of ministry and intended
beneficiaries; materials on the ministry; source of funding. Please
complete a separate list for each ministry.  Submit stories, comments
and queries to Janeschubert at aol.com  

GRISWOLD TO LEAD ADVENT RETREAT AT ST. COLUMBA'S
The Rt. Rev. Frank T. Griswold, former presiding bishop of the Episcopal
Church and a noted retreat leader and spiritual guide, will lead an
Advent Quiet Day from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 13 at St. Columba's, D.C.
(4201 Albemarle St., NW). Lunch will be provided at a cost of $10.
Please reserve a place by calling 202/363-4119.

REMEMBERING BETHLEHEM THIS CHRISTMAS
The second annual Joint Simulcast Worship Service with the People of
Bethlehem is set for 9:30 a.m. Dec. 20 in Washington National
Cathedral's Bethlehem Chapel. Stand in solidarity with Bethlehem's
suffering Christians. The service is sponsored by the Ad Hoc Committee
for Bethlehem, the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, Sharing
Jerusalem and Washington Interfaith Alliance for Middle East Peace. For
further information, contact Grace Said at gsaid at comcast.net or
301/951-5270.
 
CLERGY: APPLY NOW FOR THE SUMMER COLLEGIUM
Applications are still being accepted for the Summer Collegium, a Lilly
Endowment project in support of small congregations. Clergy and
spouses/partners from all Christian denominations will be invited to VTS
for "Body, Mind and Soul: Celebrating, Strengthening and Sustaining
Clergy Wholeness in Small Congregations" from June 24 to July 1.
Applications must be postmarked by Dec. 15. Visit
www.vts.edu/education/collegium or call Marilyn Johns at 703/461-1760. 
 
ADVENT SILENT RETREAT
The Diocesan Retreat Committee will hold an Advent Silent Retreat at the
Cathedral College on Dec. 5-7. The theme of the retreat will be "The
Lord said to Moses "Why do you cry out to me? Tell the people to get
moving!" The Rev. John Carleton Hayden, will lead the retreat. Drawing
upon the biblical account of Moses, Hayden will speak about a
discipleship that weaves together identity, conversion, freedom and
vocation. The fee is $195. Scholarships are available. To reserve a
space, applications and a deposit of $100 must be received by Nov. 7.
Visit www.edow.org/retreat for information and application instructions,
or call Joan Shelton at 202/232-1667.

FALL 2008 SAFEGUARDING GOD'S CHILDREN TRAININGS
Trainings for Safeguarding God's Children (prevention of child abuse)
will resume in September. This training is required for all paid
full-time staff and any volunteers who work with children and youth,
including Christian Education leaders and Sunday School teachers. All
training sessions are on Saturday unless otherwise indicated. 
* Dec. 2 (Tuesday: 6 to 10 p.m., with dinner); St. Columba's, D.C.
* Dec. 13 (9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.); St. Mary's, D.C. 
Registration will be available soon at www.edow.org/prevention 
   
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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