| | View the weekly checklist of important upcoming dates and deadlines for clergy, wardens, and staff. | | |
Important Finance Notices:
CPG MAP access forms for new online bill pay are due now!
September 1st: 2024 Church Audits due
October 31st: 2026 Mutual Ministry Pledge Commitment due
| | Tomorrow! All are invited to the unveiling of Bishop José's official portrait AND our new parish gallery at the Diocesan office tomorrow! There will be an opportunity to meet the artist, and light refreshments will be provided. We hope to see you there! | August 21 | 12 - 4 p.m. | Diocesan Office - 900b Centrepark Dr., Asheville | | |
The process for developing and discerning the diocesan budget is an intentional process that involves multiple opportunities for participation from many people throughout the diocese. The proposed draft budget is shared with the wider diocese every September through the annual Budget Road Tour. The 2025 Budget Road Tour will take place on Zoom. Copies of the draft budget are provided to those who participate in the presentation. On the Budget Road Tour Zoom meeting, the executive team (Bishop, Treasurer, and CFO) presents the proposed budget, answers questions and welcomes participant suggestions. If any suggestions are offered, people are invited to provide creative ideas to maintain a balanced budget.
September 3 | 5:30 p.m. | Zoom Meeting (Passcode: Budget)
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As we look ahead to another wonderful program year it is time to make sure that our leaders are up to date with their SafeChurch training.
As part of this process, we wanted to share information about the Praesidium Academy Administrator Basics webinar training. This is a great opportunity for those who are new in their role as the Praesidium Administrators to learn how to use Administrator account features. Please note these training courses are not hosted by the Diocese of WNC, so we are unable to help with registration.
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September 9 | 11:00 a.m. | Zoom
October 14 | 11:00 a.m. | Zoom
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WNC Stewardship Roundtable
Gearing up for your stewardship efforts soon? Need some support and information? Join this one-hour roundtable via Zoom to discuss year-round stewardship and free resources available – including “Tell Out My Soul” from the Episcopal Network for Stewardship – that can help you build your stewardship ministry and cast your vision. Bring questions and come to share your ideas too.
August 26 | 5 p.m. | Zoom Meeting
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Lunch & Learn: the Rev. Julia Gatta, Ph.D.
"Jesus and the Use of Wealth: Teaching Stewardship at the End of Year C"
In the fall season many parishes launch their annual stewardship drives. In Year C, St. Luke offers several parables and stories that dramatize how Jesus regarded wealth. We will take a look at some of these together to see how they might inform teaching and preaching about money management: the parables of the rich man and Lazarus and that of the unjust manager, and we’ll conclude with the story of Zacchaeus.
September 2 | 12 p.m. | Virtual
| | Diocesan Helene Anniversary Eucharist at Lake Logan | | |
To honor the one year anniversary of Helene, we are holding a Diocesan Eucharist at Lake Logan Conference Center. This event is open to all with limited capacity, so please RSVP. There will be a lunch at no cost to follow. Please join us as we continue to heal and rebuild together.
This is a family friendly event! There will be programming for kids and youth after worship and Lake Logan is graciously inviting all to spend their day on property - enjoy the lakefront, play in the creek, go for a hike, or just rest in the beauty of God's creation at Lake Logan.
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We still want to hear your experiences from Helene. What are the stories from this time that we need to remember?
Some stories may be used for a project at the Helene Anniversary Eucharist.
| | September 27 | 10 a.m. | Lake Logan Conference Center | | Disaster Response & Recovery Team Spotlight | | The Rev. Kelsey Davis led the above webinar, Disaster Preparedness 101, in partnership with Episcopal Relief & Development. Please watch and consider how to prepare yourselves and your parishes accordingly. |
| Is God inviting you to serve on the Executive Council? | | | | |
The Executive Council helps set the vision and mission of the Diocese and supports the implementation of the work of the Diocese between Conventions. Ideal candidates will have served on a Vestry and have a basic understanding of the work of the Diocese.
We need one Adult Layperson from each of the following Deaneries: Asheville, Foothills, Mountain, and Piedmont; one Clergyperson from each of the following Deaneries: Asheville and Piedmont; and two Adult Laypersons at large (from anywhere in the Diocese.)
| | This Week Around the Diocese | |
Compañeros en Cuba: St. James Dinner Raises Awareness and Support for Cuban Hunger Relief | |
A Cuban-themed dinner on Saturday, August 2 at St. James Hendersonville highlighted the tremendous need for food supplies in Cuba, where hunger is widespread due to shortages. Spearheaded by the St. James group affectionately known as the Cubits, the Compañeros en Cuba dinner featured traditional dishes such as a simple cucumber salad, black beans and rice, ropa vieja made with pork (as well as a vegetarian version), pork sandwiches on pan Cubano, and guava crumble bars with coconut ice cream. Around 100 people were in attendance. All proceeds from the dinner will go to alleviating hunger in Cuba,” say Tari and Jack Watson, members of the Cubits.
“Not only do we prayerfully support our Cuban brothers and sisters, we feel strongly that our faith is strengthened by the witness of our fellow Episcopalians who live out their faith under the most difficult of circumstances.”
To learn more, please contact Jack and Tari Watson at watsonjackandtari@gmail.com.
Read the full story here
| | | | Care for Caretakers Event at Kanuga | We are partnering with Henderson County Disaster Recovery Partnership, Kanuga, and All Souls Counseling to provide a day of rest and fun for Henderson County Educators at Kanuga. Offerings include, kayaking, swimming, guided nature walks, sound bathing, yoga, art collage workshop, and more. Community dinner cookout, campfire, and s'mores provided. Childcare is available. | |
August 24
2 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Kanuga
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Join us for ‘Young at Heart Camp’ for those age 60+. Take a stroll along the river, spot a bald eagle in flight, take out a row boat on the lake, or share some laughs around the game tables in Boojum’s Cave. Evening activities include live local music, history and ecology talks, and good ol’ fashion Camp Henry campfire sing-a-longs.
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August 26-28
Lake Logan Conference Center
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Middle School Retreat is right around the corner. Gather with middle schoolers from across the diocese as we talk about what it means to get lost, make mistakes, and receive unconditional love. Registration is open and this event was at max capacity last year. Please register early to ensure that your middle schooler’s spot is secure!
Email Charlotte Garcia with questions.
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September 13-14
Lake Logan Conference Center
| | All Souls Counseling 5K Benefit | |
We are proud to sponsor the Mental Health Matters Walk/Run for Awareness, a family-friendly 5k hosted by All Souls Counseling Center (ASCC). The purpose of this event is to raise awareness of the mental health resources available in our community and help to end the stigma around seeking help. In addition to being active, come out to learn about some of the mental health and supportive resources available in WNC. Sign up and join our team to support this worthy cause!
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September 20
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
UNC-Asheville
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Discernment Day is intended to help those who feel a call to service, through ordained or lay ministry. We will help answer questions such as: What am I getting myself into? Why do I feel called? What are the first steps? Do I have to move to attend seminary? We will cover topics such as Commission on Ministry, Iona School for Ministry, Ordained Ministry (priest or deacon), and lay ministry. We hope this experience will help you find a path to your call.
Please Register to receive lunch.
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October 4
10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
St. Luke's, Asheville
| | High School Fall Conference | |
Save the date for Fall Conference!
A weekend retreat for high schoolers where we will discover our connection with:
the sky above us - God, Heaven, loved ones gone before us
the earth below us - our responsibility to creation, community, and one another
the fire within us -our calling, passion, and the Spirit moving through us
Email Charlotte Garcia with questions.
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November 21-23
Lake Logan
Conference Center
| | To submit an event, please review the submission guidelines and email event details and a photo for consideration to katie@diocesewnc.org. This space is reserved for diocesan, parish, and conference center events. | | |
All are welcome to participate. The format of each meeting is 25 minutes of silent prayer followed by a reading and discussion of a brief passage from The Path of Centering Prayer by David Frenette. Copies of the book are provided.
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Thursdays
10:00 - 11:15 a.m.
St. John's
Asheville
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Join Grace Church in the Mountains for a worship service on the lawn followed by live music, children's activities, and a delicious meal!
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September 7
10:30 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Grace Church in the Mountains
Waynesville
| | | Stained Glass Window Tour | Deacon Tim will be offering a guided tour of our stained glass. The tour is free, open to the public, and a wonderful opportunity to bring friends and family to St. James to see the unique and vibrant stained glass that tells a coherent story of our faith’s history. | |
August 30 10:30 a.m.
St. James, Hendersonville
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Trails of St. John Ribbon Cutting
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All are invited to celebrate this special event. Members of Holy Hikers WNC are expected to attend as the national chapter salutes five years of monthly hikes across North and South Carolina mountain trails.
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September 7
1:00 p.m.
St. John in the Wilderness
Flat Rock
| | | Award Winning Harpist: Amber Joy Koeppen | The award winning harpist will share an eclectic collection of some of her favorite works for solo harp and will also be joined by two special guest students. Come enjoy an engaging concert full of great music and interesting stories. | |
September 21
4:00 p.m.
St. John in the Wilderness
Flat Rock
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Contemplative Pride Mass
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The Table at St. George's (a small, monthly contemplative gathering) and All Souls are partnering for a contemplative pride eucharist.
All are welcome.
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Sept 28 | 5:30 p.m.
St. George's, West Asheville
| | The harvest-season celebration takes over the fields in front of the Valle Crucis Conference Center. Craftspeople from across the region, High Country musicians and the community of Valle Crucis are busy putting together a joyful celebration this year. Admission to the one-day festival of mountain traditions is FREE, and ample parking is available in the adjoining field for $10 per vehicle. | |
October 18
Valle Crucis Conference Center
| | | John Philip Newell: The Great Search | |
In this time of transition, so many of us are longing for a spirituality of intimacy with Earth rather than a spirituality of alienation from Earth, and a vision of interrelatedness instead of division. John Philip points to a path of healing and transformation for us, both individually and together.
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October 21 | 6:00 p.m.
St. James
Black Mountain
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This Holy Hikes retreat will explore the intersection of Christian spirituality and Native Wisdom and spirituality. Rev Dr Timothy Ross, a professor and member of the Western Cherokee Nation, will lead our discussions. Father Josh Stephens, Rector of St John in the Wilderness, will lead daily liturgical services. All faiths and backgrounds are welcome.
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October 26 @ 5 p.m. -
October 29 @ 8 a.m.
Valle Crucis Conference Center
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Join Rev Wendy and Chris Pinzino, and Rob Field for a sacred time of Centering Prayer to deepen your practice. With comfortable accommodations and healthy meals, participants can
"rest in God" - away from the distractions of work and home.
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September 15-18
Lutheridge Conference Center
Arden, NC
| | The Episcopal Creation Care Gathering is an annual church-wide event focused on the work of Christian ministry, mission, and living on earth. These gatherings create space for conversation, learning, and practice as we explore the deep relationships that bind together spirituality, justice, ecology, discipleship, and evangelism. | |
September 18-20
Procter Center
London, Ohio
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Healing Winds Conference is associated with International Order of St. Luke the Physician. Come for a relaxing retreat focused on Christian Healing. Take time for rest, reflection, and prayer. Learn how to pray for others more effectively. This is a great event for prayer ministers of any experience level.
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September 26-28
Lake Junaluska
Conference Center
Waynesville, NC
| | Have a story or event to share? | | Thank you for being a part of our Diocese! | | | | |
