[edow] Church House News

[Church House News]

JANUARY 14, 2010

 

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

 

HAITI EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

Episcopal Relief & Development is providing critical emergency funds to Haiti in the aftermath of Tuesday's earthquake and is accepting donations to its Haiti Relief Fund. ERD will post updates on the situation in Haiti as they become available at http://www.er-d.org/ and has complied inserts for parish bulletins which are available at http://www.er-d.org/BulletinInsertsCT/ 

Bishop John Bryson Chane joins Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori in her call for "concrete and immediate prayers in the form of contributions to ERD."

 

A SERVICE OF PRAYER FOR HAITI

Strength through Unity - L'Union fait la Force: A Service of Prayer for Haiti is set for Sunday afternoon (Jan. 17) at Washington National Cathedral (service time TBA, check here for an announcement: http://www.nationalcathedral.org). All are invited to attend this service of music and prayer for the victims, families, and survivors of the earthquake in Haiti. The offering will benefit Episcopal Relief and Development's Haiti Fund, which provides critical assistance such as food, water, and medicine, as well as long-term recovery and rehabilitation aid. 

 

A LENTEN STUDY PLAN FOR CHURCH SCHOOL

The Southern Africa Partnership Committee still has Swazi Bears available from the Children to Children Advent Appeal. Lent is a time to recognize the needs of others, and the study guide and storybook about the bears help children understand the lives of children in far away Swaziland. The knitted bears sell for $25 - or $30 with the storybook - and sales support the families of the sewing ministry (mothers and grandmothers). Stop by the Southern Africa Partnership Committee exhibit table at Convention to learn more or visit www.edow.org/sapc

 

CELEBRATE THE ENVIRONMENT

The "Season of Creation" is a six Sunday liturgy that focuses on protecting God's creation. The liturgy, a gift from the Anglican Church of Southern Africa, is approved for use by Bishop John Bryson Chane and includes a study guide.  The Southern Africa Partnership Committee has purchased a copy for each parish. Stop by the Southern Africa Partnership Committee's exhibit table at Convention to learn more or visit www.edow.org/sapc/creation

 

HIGH SCHOOL RETREAT

High School Retreat information and registration forms are now available online. The retreat is set for Feb 19-21 and is open to students in grades 9-12. The theme is EpiscoFAITH and offers teenagers a chance to have fun, make new friends and reconnect with old friends and strengthen their relationship with our Creator. Register at www.edow.org/youth by Feb 5. Middle School Retreat information is coming soon!  

 

EARN REWARD POINTS FOR THE BISHOP WALKER SCHOOL

If you shop at Giant Stores, you can earn points for the Bishop Walker School. Giant will round your total to the nearest dollar and give the proceeds to BWS. Visit http://www.giantfood.com/aplus to learn more about the A+ Bonus Bucks Program, and click here to register your Giant card: http://www.giantfood.com/our_stores/bonus_bucks/designate_school?execution=e1s1

 

TUPPER'S TASTING TO BENEFIT SAMARITAN MINISTRY

After a two-year hiatus, Tupper's Hop Pocket Ale is back with the first pouring to benefit Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington. Join Bob and Ellie Tupper, creators of this award-winning brew, at Hard Times Café in downtown Bethesda (4920 Delray Ave) from 5 p.m. Jan. 19. Hard Times is donating 25 percent of the evening's gross proceeds to Samaritan Ministry. 

 

PIANO DUO SPECTACULAR TO BENEFIT SAMARITAN MINISTRY 

At 8 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 20 (with a Feb. 19 "Sneak Preview"), pianists Sophia Vastek and Eric Gustafson will present the classic music of George Gershwin in a duo piano extravaganza titled "Two by Two by Gershwin" at St. Patrick's, D.C. The program will include the dazzling Cuban Overture, the beloved Rhapsody in Blue, and Gershwin's most ambitious instrumental work, the virtuosic Concerto in F. Proceeds from this concert will benefit Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington. To purchase tickets, visit http://www.st-albans-parish.org/worship_music/gershwin.html

 

LISTENING, HEARING AND LIVING 

The Community of Reconciliation at Washington National Cathedral presents the second in its Listening, Hearing and Living series on Feb. 13: The Practice of Recreation, with Tim Carrington, chairman of the Friends of St. Benedict, author, journalist and development specialist. For information on upcoming speakers or to register, visit http://www.nationalcathedral.org/events/COR20100109.shtml

 

PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

Please keep the following clergy and members of the diocese in your prayers this week:

* Arthur ("Pat") Underwood - prayers & sympathy at his death (just prior to Christmas '09). (Retired and formerly of this diocese: served from 1956-1959 as rector of St. Timothy's, D.C.

* Pegram Johnson - personal health

* Ted Karpf - upcoming  knee surgery 1/13

* Allan Johnson-Taylor - sympathy and prayers at the time of his mother's (Mary) death (Jan. 1)

* Louise Lusignan - personal health

* Susan Astarita - husband's health (Bruce)

* Meshack Mabuza (Bishop of Swaziland) - personal health

* Lucy Bremner - personal health

* David and Beth Black - personal health of both

* Kathy Corbett-Welch - personal health 

* Erica Wood - personal health

* Mary Sulerud - sister's health (Chris )

* Claudia Tielking - son's health (Josh)

* Jake Beck - personal health

* Susan Blue - personal health 

* Roy Turner -  personal health

 

>>> REMINDERS:

MARDI GRAS CELEBRATION  

Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington's 2010 Mardi Gras Celebration is set for Jan. 30 at the NRECA Conference Center, 4301 Wilson Blvd.  Arlington Va. Tickets: $65/person.  Visit samaritanministry.org or contact Mary Belknap at 202/722-2280 x305 or mbelknap at samaritanministry.org 

 

SUPPORT FOR THE DIOCESE IN 2010

Rectors, vicars and priests-in-charge are asked to give prayerful consideration to the annual parish pledge to support the work of the diocese in 2010, and to make every effort to return this commitment to the diocese by Jan. 15, ahead of the annual convention. Financial support from congregations constitutes the major portion of funding for the operating budget of the diocese. A pledge form and further information can be found under "Parish Giving" at http://www.edow.org/diocese/giving/index.html

 

UPCOMING ORDINATIONS

During a 10 a.m. Jan. 16 service at Washington National Cathedral, Bishop John Bryson Chane will ordain Sarah Helene Duggin, Greta Getlein, Emily Jo Guthrie, Shell Kimble, Timothy J. Malone, Elizabeth Putnam O'Callaghan, Christopher I. Wilkins and, on behalf of the Bishop of North Carolina, Robert William Black, Jr. to the priesthood. All are invited to attend. Please bring a non-perishable food donation for the food pantries of the churches of the diocese.

Clergy: red stoles.

 

ST. MICHAEL'S CONFERENCE DIRECTOR TO VISIT ST. PAUL'S, K STREET

At 4:30 p.m. Jan. 17, the Rev. Jay James, rector of St. Timothy's, Raleigh, N.C. will visit St. Paul's, K Street with youth from his parish who have been involved with the St. Michael's Conference. Students between the ages of 14 and 21 from any parish in the area are invited to attend this presentation with their parents (and the 6 p.m. service). The conference is set for Aug. 1-7 at the Holy Family Retreat Center in West Hartford, Conn. Cost is $525. Limited financial aid is available from the conference, and sponsoring rectors may be able to assist from their discretionary funds. For more information on the conference, visit www.saintmichaelsconference.com. For directions to St. Paul's visit www.saintpaulskstreet.com. Contact the Rev. Nathan Humphrey at Humphrey at stpauls-kst.com with any questions.

 

HONOR MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. AT THE CATHEDRAL

Celebrate the life and legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan.18 at Washington National Cathedral with the Heritage Signature Chorale, the Hip-Hop Urban Nation Choir, the African American Drummers and Dancers and the Duncan Dancers and City Dance. There is no charge for this event, and no tickets are needed. In the morning, the cathedral is sponsoring service projects in all four quadrants of the city, followed by lunch and an interfaith dialogue. For more information on these projects, please visit www.nationalcathedral.org/celebrate.

 

DEADLINE FOR ANGUS DUN APPLICATIONS

Applications for the Angus Dun Fellowship Fund, a grant of up to $1,000 for the continuing education of clergy in the Diocese of Washington, are due by Jan. 21. Please send applications (including evaluations for grants previously received) to ksanders at edow.org or Attn: Kimberly Sanders - Angus Dun Fellowship Fund, EDOW, Episcopal Church House, Mt. St. Alban, Washington, D.C., 20016. Visit http://www.edow.org/parish/congregation/grants/angusdun.html for further information and an application form. (Please note: The contact and closing date information provided here supersede the information on the Web site.)

 

5 WINTER EVENINGS OF PRAYER

Winter is a time when nature is silent and resting, yet quiet growth is taking place out of sight. If you desire time for prayer that is still and quiet, you are invited to attend Epiphany, D.C.'s winter series on contemplative prayer. Participants will listen to a teaching, practice a contemplative prayer form and review the prayer. The series is set for Wednesdays through Feb. 10 at Epiphany, D.C., 1317 G St, NW. To attend any or all sessions, contact swalker at epiphanydc.org or call 202/347-2635, ext. 20. There is no charge, but reservations are requested.

 

LENTEN SILENT RETREAT 

The Diocesan Retreat Committee will hold a Lenten Silent Retreat at the Bon Secours Spiritual Center (www.bonsecoursspiritualcenter.org) in Marriottsville on March 5-7. The theme will be, "Behold, I Make All Things New." Retreat director will be the Rev. Margaret Guenther, associate rector of St. Columba's, D.C., and professor emerita of the General Theological Seminary. The fee is $195. Scholarships are available. To reserve a space, applications and a deposit of $100 must be received by Feb. 12. Visit www.edow.org/retreat for information and application instructions, or contact Joan Shelton at 202/232-1667 or joanshelton at verizon.net.

 

MILLENNIUM DEVELOPMENT GOALS 

The Millennium Development Goals Committee of the Diocese of Washington urges individuals and congregations to continue to keep the MDGs in mind this year. The third and fourth goals are (3) empower women and promote gender equality and (4) reduce child mortality. More than two thirds of illiterate adults in the developing world are women, and more than 10 million children die annually from preventable diseases. To learn more about the MDGs and how you can support them, visit www.edow.org/MDGs.   

 

32ND ANNUAL ABSALOM JONES SERVICE

The Washington Chapter of The Union of Black Episcopalians presents the 32nd Annual Absalom Jones Service and Celebration for the benefit of the historically black Episcopal colleges' scholarships and endowment funds. The event is set for 3 p.m. Feb. 14 at Calvary, D.C. (820 Sixth Street, NE, Washington, DC  20002). Snow Date is Feb. 21. Derrick Humphries will receive the annual Absalom Jones Award at the service of Holy Eucharist. All are welcome. For more information, contact Janice Wormack at 202/829-6445 or jwormack at washingtonube.org

 

2010 MILEAGE REIMBURSEMENT RATES

2010 Mileage Reimbursement rates announced by IRS: Beginning on Jan. 1, 2010, the standard mileage rates for the use of a car (also vans, pickups or panel trucks) will be:

* 50 cents per mile for business miles driven 

* 16.5 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes 

* 14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations 

 

MISCONDUCT PREVENTION TRAINING

The diocesan cycle of Safeguarding God's Children trainings will resume in February (dates and places TBA)

 

GUIDED TOUR OF GREECE - INFORMATIONAL MEETING 

An informational meeting on an upcoming guided tour of Greece, "Following the Footsteps of Paul," set for May 6-15, is set for 6 to 8 p.m. Jan. 24 in the Cathedral College dining room. Potluck supper, video on St. Paul's journeys and information about the trip, organized by the Rev. Carol Flett of St. Bartholomew's, Laytonsville and the Rev. Susan Pinkerton of St. Mark's, Capitol Hill. To attend the supper meeting and for more information, contact Carol Flett at revflett at yahoo.com or Susan Pinkerton susan.pinkerton at stmarks.net

 

IT'S TIME TO ORDER PALM CROSSES

Palm Sunday is March 28, and African Palms USA, an outreach  ministry of St. John's, Olney is now accepting orders for palms woven by families in nine villages in Tanzania. Earnings are used to purchase food, medicine, clothing and pay school fees, and net proceeds from the sale of crosses and all other donations are returned to Africa in the form of self-help grants. To place an order, visit www.africanpalmsusa.org or call 301/774-2832.

 

HUMAN INTERACTION LAB TRAINING

Human Interaction Lab training, set for Feb.12-15 at St. Alban's, D.C.,  is an opportunity to learn more about yourself, how your behavior impacts others, and how you can function more effectively in a group and interpersonal situations. Participants will learn about their own patterns of behavior as they accept responsibility for a group's life and work. For further information or to register, visit http://www.congregationaldevelopment.com/LTI_programs.htm

 

CONTRIBUTING TO THE BISHOP JOHN T. WALKER SCHOOL

Contributions for the 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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