This year's Annual Council is completely virtual and will be spread out over the week of Feb. 22-27. Most of the events during Council Week will be open to everyone and no advance registration is required. You can see the full Council Week schedule and the planned live events here.

Complete information about Council Week, and delegate materials, can be found at www.bit.ly/diosova129.

Visit the Virtual Exhibit Hall which features links to some of our favorite Annual Council vendors.

For Annual Council we’ll be recording Hymn 25, O Gracious Light. You - and your friends and family! - are invited to be a part of the recording! Click here for complete details and instructions. Deadline for recordings extended to Saturday, February 13.

Youth Game Night is changing nights! Join us this Wednesday, February 10, 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. This year we are going to be trying a new night to gather. We will be meeting on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Youth from all churches are invited to come join us for fellowship and prayer. Due to hot demand, for our first game night back we will be playing AmongUs. Join us February 10 at 5:30 p.m. for our first game night back. Sign up here.

Messy Church USA in cooperation with the Diocese of Southern Virginia is offering an online “Getting Started With Messy Church” event on March 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The training session will highlight best practices to use in starting a Messy Church program. Diocese of Southern Virginia participants are eligible to receive a discount code.  Contact Lynn Farlin at [email protected] or 757-213-3377 to obtain the discount code before registering. Each participating church will receive one PDF issue of the magazine Get Messy.  The cost to attend (prior to discount code) is: Individual $45, Groups of 2-4 $130, 5th person and over—additional $ 10 per person. Click here to register for the event.

The Diocese of Southern Virginia has purchased a license for a program designed by GenOn Ministries called “Lent at Home in Community” that can be used by churches and households in the Diocese of Southern Virginia.  This six-week resource is centered on the Psalm readings for each Sunday in Lent. Each week participants will focus on one of the following concepts: See, Taste, Hear, Smell, Touch, and Give. The program was designed to be a simple, flexible, in-home resource for households of all ages, sizes and stages to use. A weekly virtual gathering component can be added for those seeking additional small group reflection, but it is not a requirement of the program design. If your church community or household is interested in using this resource please email [email protected] to obtain Lent at Home in Community as well as the distribution/use guidelines. 

Let’s be honest. Sometimes we all have those “the Bible is so weird” moments when we are reading or hearing Scripture from our contemporary, Western perspective. This Lent you are invited to join a Zoom class on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m., beginning February 22 and continuing through March 22 to explore some of the ways we misunderstand or don’t understand the ancient culture of the Biblical world. The class is led by The Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Soltys, Priest-in-Charge at Good Shepherd, Norfolk. You must register to receive the Zoom link. Please send an email to [email protected] to sign up. The class will be a mixed lecture and discussion format.

The Church of the Good Shepherd in Richmond has produced a 12-part video course on the history of the Church in England for its adult education forum. The course is available at www.goodshepherdrichmond.org/christian-education/adult. Senior Warden Dick Hickman wanted to present an overview of church history from the legendary arrival of the first Christian missionary, Joseph of Arimathea, in the Roman province of Brittania, in AD 63, through the English Reformation and the Elizabethan Settlement in 1563. The course is intended for Episcopalians and others who are interested in learning more about the background of the Church of England. The course includes a study guide and 12 video sessions averaging about 20-25 minutes each. The videos were recorded (using an iPhone) in the church sanctuary, and posted on the church web site by Good Shepherd’s new Communications and Technology Committee. This course was originally planned as part of Good Shepherd’s regular adult education hour on Sunday mornings after church, but since in-person gatherings have been restricted, the Christian Education Committee decided to experiment with the video format. For further information contact [email protected].

Due to the interest in the GenOn Round Table last month, they are repeating the opportunity to gather with other church leaders via Zoom to discuss and share ways we have and can create community among generations in pandemic times (and times to follow). There is no charge for this online gathering on Monday, February 22, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Click here to register in advance to receive Zoom access information. 

Raising Resilient Children is the newest online offering from ChurchNext and can help participants learn how to teach children resilience through practices that help them maintain hope, even during challenging times. Click here for more information and registration.

Safeguarding Online Safe Church Training now requires a valid, unique email address for each registrant in order to participate in online training. To register for online Safe Church Training, click here. Once your registration has been processed, you will receive an email from Susan Allen, [email protected], with your login information and instructions. Print this email or write down your user name and password for future reference. Please note that you must be age 16 or older to take Safe Church Training.

By Mary Cole, Christ Church, Smithfield

The Diocese of Southern Virginia is accepting applications for a part-time Data Entry position. Click here for a position description. Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume to Lynn Farlin, Canon for Formation, at [email protected] or 11827 Canon Blvd., Suite 101, Newport News, VA 23606.

Chanco will be hosting a live virtual Zoom event at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, February 24. Enjoy learning more about Chanco’s programs, the 2020 year in review, and a campaign update along with a Q & A period to answer all your Chanco questions! BONUS: Chanco will host. drawing of those present for 50% off of: 1) a vestry retreat (for clergy who attend the Zoom), 2) a camp session, and 3) an individual retreat registration. Must be present to be eligible! Stay tuned here and on our Facebook page for more information upcoming. For now, save the date! Questions? Contact us at [email protected] or 888-724-2626.

Read more here (in English and Spanish).

Traditionally celebrated on the last Sunday after Epiphany, this year World Mission Sunday is observed on February 14. Read more here (in English and Spanish).

At the request of General Convention (2018-A088), The Archives of The Episcopal Church has prepared a set of recommendations for developing local policy on name and gender changes to Episcopal Church records. The Guidelines for Policy on Amending Church Records for Name and Gender Changes are available on the Archives Website with Spanish translation and supporting resources and links. Read more here (in English and Spanish).

New and updated Lent and Easter resources for congregations, dioceses, and communities of faith are available from The Episcopal Church, with additional offerings coming soon. Available and upcoming resources include: Updated Life Transformed – The Way of Love in Lent curriculum; Sermons That Work for Holy Week and Easter; a new podcast series, Prophetic Voices: Preaching and Teaching Beloved Community. Find resources here. Read more here (in English, Spanish, and French).

Episcopal Migration Ministries (EMM), in partnership with members of the Episcopal Asylum Ministry Network, is offering a daily Lenten devotional series. Written reflections will be released daily beginning Ash Wednesday, February 17, through Easter Sunday, April 4. Reflections will also be available on the EMM website blog. Read more here.

Click here for re-gathering guidelines and information, messages from Bishop Haynes, and many resources for congregations as Southern Virginia responds to coronavirus/COVID-19 in our communities.

Churches in Southern Virginia are offering a wide range of opportunities for regular online worship - Sundays and weekdays, from Eucharist to Compline to "Pop-up Prayers". Click here for a listing of ongoing virtual worship opportunities.

Safe Church Training 

Currently no in-person Safe Church Training workshops are planned. Zoom based and online Safe Church Training are available. Get more info and register for Safe Church training.

Centering Prayer - ONGOING, Wednesday mornings, 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. via Zoom. The Rev. Becki Dean will offer Centering Prayer each Wednesday morning now through Holy Week. All are welcome. No experience necessary. Join us as we learn together as the Body of Christ. To join us, visit www.Zoom.us, enter Meeting ID# 872-8404-8784 and Passcode 630659.

Youth Game Night - February 10, 5:30 p.m. via Zoom. Youth Game Night is changing nights! This year we are going to be trying a new night to gather. We will be meeting on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. Youth from all churches are invited to come join us for fellowship and prayer. Due to hot demand, for our first game night back we will be playing AmongUs. Join us February 10 at 5:30 p.m. for our first game night back. Sign up here.

Addictions & Recovery Commission co-hosts Invitation to Change Approach training - The Addictions and Recovery Commission and SpiritWorks Foundation invite you to participate in a virtual training in the Invitation to Change Approach with Dr. Carrie Wilkins and Dr. Jarrell Myers from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays, Feb. 12 and Feb. 19. This training requires a commitment to both days. This training will provide access to evidenced-based strategies and tools for helping families and the community who are affected by addiction. You will learn to help lead the charge in the faith community of helping members of your parish/community with a program that is supported by science and reflects the Christian values of compassion, and a desire to heal pain. We will be setting up groups across the diocese and church to use this model and will help you with setting them up in your context. Participants will leave the training with a new way of understanding and approaching substance use, as well as a set of practical skills and understandings that will help them better help people with substance use issues. If you have any questions or if the cost is prohibitive, please contact the Rev. Lauren McDonald at [email protected]. Click here for more information and registration.

Reverend Absalom Jones Virtual Commemoration - February 13, 1 to 2 p.m. via Zoom. You are invited to the Absalom Jones Celebration hosted by the James Solomon Russell Union of Black Episcopalians (UBE) Chapter. Theme: “To See the Future, Look at the Past”. Speaker: The Rev. Dr. Joseph N. Green Jr, Rector Emeritus, Grace Episcopal Church, Norfolk, VA. The James Solomon Russell Chapter of UBE invite you to make a gift to: The Absalom Jones Fund for Episcopal HBCUs supports two institutions affiliated with The Episcopal Church since the 1800’s: Saint Augustine’s University in Raleigh, NC, and Voorhees College. To donate by mail, please send your contribution to: DFMS – Protestant Episcopal Church USA, P.O. Box 958983, St. Louis, MO 63195-8983. Donations can be made out to “The Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society” with Absalom Jones noted in the memo section. To join the Zoom celebration on Feb. 13, click here. Meeting ID: 833 1089 8138, Passcode: 581958. To join by phone, dial 1-301-715-8592.

Connecting with Jesus across Time and Culture - Let’s be honest. Sometimes we all have those “the Bible is so weird” moments when we are reading or hearing Scripture from our contemporary , Western perspective. This Lent you are invited to join a Zoom class on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m., beginning February 22 and continuing through March 22 to explore some of the ways we misunderstand or don’t understand the ancient culture of the Biblical world. The class is led by The Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Soltys, Priest-in-Charge at Good Shepherd, Norfolk. You must register to receive the Zoom link. Please send an email to [email protected] to sign up. The class will be a mixed lecture and discussion format.

Companion Café: Sustenance for the Journey - Starting mid to late February, groups meet for 6 one-hour sessions with small group leader. Are you feeling weary? Would you like companions on the journey during this time of social isolation? Companion Café provides an opportunity for connection with others in a similar ministry context through guided conversation in small groups facilitated by spiritual directors/retreat leaders. This is an opportunity to engage with like-hearted people for fellowship, encouragement, and support in this time of pandemic separation. During the registration process you will be asked questions to best place you into a group. Groups will be formed on an ongoing basis and will begin meeting in mid to late February 2021.

Designing Dynamic Liturgies: A Ten Week Course for Clergy and Musicians, taught by the Rev. Shawn Strout and Ellen Johnston - Beginning February 16, Tuesday evening class at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom. Are you a musician who is working in the Episcopal Church for the first time? Are you a vocational deacon who desires to know more about the Church’s liturgy? Have you been working in the Episcopal Church for some time but want a refresher course? Or are you just curious about how liturgies are put together? Offered through the Stevenson School for Ministry in the Diocese of Central Pennsylvania, this course will explore principles and best practices for designing dynamic liturgies. Special attention will be paid to smaller-resourced parishes. Also to be discussed: the liturgical and musical challenges presented by COVID-19. Find more information here.

Using Saints and Holy Days to Teach the Faith at Home - February 18, 3:00-4:00 p.m. via Zoom. What if we talked about saints and holy days in our homes with our families and friends instead of only in the church building? Panelists Allison Liles and Miriam McKenney will be in conversation with host Sarah Bentley Allred about exactly that. They will share methods and concrete ideas with participants.

Mission Possible: Finding Your Congregation’s WHY - Saturday, February 20, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. via Zoom. At the core of what we do as a church is why we do it. Yes, it should all be centered on God, but how each congregation lives into that centeredness has to do with our stories. Stories as a people of God and stories as a congregation serving our community. This workshop offered by Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary is a step-by-step guide to help your congregation find that mission clarity. It will involve examples, exercises, and action steps to help you reach the point where you gain clarity and make your mission possible! A month after the workshop, we will have a check in point where you can talk with the presenters about your work and how to move it forward. Registration is by congregation and is limited to 15 churches. A minimum of 2 and maximum of 8 church leaders from each congregation are welcome to participate. The registration fee is per congregation

129th Annual Council - February 22-27, 2021 VIRTUALLY. Click here for information.

Connecting with Jesus Across Time and Culture - Let’s be honest. Sometimes we all have those “the Bible is so weird” moments when we are reading or hearing Scripture from our contemporary, Western perspective. This Lent you are invited to join a Zoom class on Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m., beginning February 22 and continuing through March 22 to explore some of the ways we misunderstand or don’t understand the ancient culture of the Biblical world. The class is led by The Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Soltys, Priest-in-Charge at Good Shepherd, Norfolk. You must register to receive the Zoom link. Please send an email to [email protected] to sign up. The class will be a mixed lecture and discussion format.

Writing as a Spiritual Practice - Thursday evenings, February 25 through March 25, 7 to 8 p.m. via Zoom. What would it be like to write just for you and God? Deepen your awareness of the holy in everyday life and explore new ways that writing can enhance the life of the spirit. Through weekly prompts, workshops and invitations to write both in and outside of class, participants will be invited to explore ways that words can become a way into contemplative prayer – the way of prayer that makes us open and available to God’s love and work in our lives. Sample topics: Writing in Places; People and Encounters; Writing in Nature; White Spaces and Silence. Kathy Staudt, Adjunct Professor in Theological Studies at VTS, leads this five-week course.

Lectio in Lent - The Community of the Gospel (CG), an ecumenical non-residential monastic community with standing in The Episcopal Church announces Lectio in Lent. Using the ancient monastic method of praying the Scriptures, participants will deepen their paschal journeys by focusing on several texts traditionally associated with Lent. The facilitator will be Br. John Charles Westaway, CG, Deputy Guardian of the CG and long-time member of St. Paul in the Desert Episcopal Church, Palm Springs, CA. Br. John Charles is the Chaplain of the Daughters of the King, active in hunger ministries, and involved in diocesan activities. The Community of the Gospel invites all to join in Lectio in Lent beginning Feb. 27 at noon. The event is free of charge. Zoom invites will be issued to those who sign up ahead of time at the Doodle Poll here. For more info contact Br. Daniel-Chad Hoffman at [email protected]. See more here.

Creating Church Community Among Generations During and After COVID Restrictions - Due to the interest in the GenOn Round Table in January, they are repeating the opportunity to gather with other church leaders via Zoom to discuss and share ways we have and can create community among generations in pandemic times (and times to follow). There is no charge for this online gathering on Monday, February 22, 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. Click here to register in advance to receive Zoom access information.

Getting Started with Messy Church - Messy Church USA in cooperation with the Diocese of Southern Virginia is offering an online “Getting Started With Messy Church” event on March 13 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The training session will highlight best practices to use in starting a Messy Church program. Diocese of Southern Virginia participants are eligible to receive a discount code.  Contact Lynn Farlin at [email protected] or 757-213-3377 to obtain the discount code before registering. Each participating church will receive one PDF issue of the magazine Get Messy.  The cost to attend (prior to discount code) is: Individual $45, Groups of 2-4 $130, 5th person and over—additional $ 10 per person. Click here to register for the event.

Contact Ann Turner, [email protected] or 757-213-3388

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram