In this Issue:

Good News at San Gabriel + Fire at St. Peter's, Oak Grove + Bringing Advent Home

Shrine Mont Camper Reunion + Path of St. Paul Pilgrimage + Artist's Retreat

Triangle of Hope Applications + Diocese Hosts Book Study Groups

Celebrating the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe

San Gabriel/St. Gabriel's, Leesburg, celebrated the Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe on December 10. The congregation honored Our Lady with a traditional Eucharistic service in which the altar is transformed to depict the story of the Virgin of Guadalupe. The Mariachi Imperio provided all hymns and service music this year, and the Mass concluded with an indigenous Mexican folkloric dance. The service was followed by a fiesta of traditional foods and loving hospitality.

Bishop Stevenson and the Very Rev. Daniel Vélez-Rivera, Vicar of St. Gabriel’s/San Gabriel, shared in celebrating the Eucharist at this year’s Misa Guadalupana, or Guadalupe Mass, alternating from Spanish to English. Bishop Stevenson preached and Father Vélez-Rivera interpreted.

The annual Feast of the Virgin of Guadalupe is an important day in the life of San Gabriel/St. Gabriel’s, Leesburg. The congregation held its first Guadalupe Mass in 2015 to launch its Spanish language service. The Misa Guadalupana was requested by San Gabriel’s Latino ministry launch team to honor the religious traditions of new members. La Virgen de Guadalupe is celebrated in many Latino countries. Read on.

Devastating Fire at

St. Peter's, Oak Grove

In the early morning hours of December 19, a fire broke out at St. Peter’s Church in Oak Grove. Thankfully, it appears that no one was in the building and no one was harmed. Firefighters responded to the scene and extinguished the fire, however, the damage is extensive.

The community and churches of the area have rallied around St. Peter's. St. Mary's in Colonial Beach has opened its doors to St. Peter's for this coming Sunday service at 9:30 a.m. Bishop Stevenson will be with the congregation for the service.

“We pray earnestly for the people of St. Peter’s and the Oak Grove community," said Bishop Stevenson. "Losing a house of worship is heartbreaking. And we also know a church is more than a building, it is a family of believers who gather to offer praise and worship to our Lord Jesus Christ. In this season of Advent as we prepare for the coming of Jesus into the world, we have a sure and certain hope that Jesus is joyfully present with us, even in this time of sorrow. May God bless the people of St. Peter's, the first responders who acted quickly, and all who will assist in the journey before us."

The Diocese has set up an online donations page where you can make gifts to support the St. Peter's Restoration Fund.

Advent Worship at Home

This year, we offer this resource booklet for those wishing to observe the Advent season at home. This resource includes activities and readings for all four Sundays of Advent and Christmas. We invite you to share a photo of your home altar on our Facebook and Instagram pages. We encourage you to also share brief responses to the reflection questions by placing them in the comments section of our posts.

Ordination of Priests

January 6, 10:30 a.m.

All Saints, Richmond

God willing, the Rt. Rev. E. Mark Stevenson will ordain Emma Addison Wright Brice; Joshua Padraig Cavanaugh (on behalf of the Rt. Rev. Alan Gates, Bishop of Massachusetts); Anthony Dalegrand Gaboton, Jr.; Robert Stuart Arthur Laughton; R. Dale Smith; Rebecca Brittany Troutman (on behalf of the Rt. Rev. Susan Haynes, Bishop of Southern Virginia); and Ann Peyton Williams to the Sacred Order of Priests. All are welcome to attend in person or by livestream.

Clergy who wish to vest: Cassock and surplice preferred, and please bring your WHITE stoles. (It is Epiphany!)

Shrine Mont Camp Camper Reunion

January 13, 2024, 1:00-5:00 p.m. | The Falls Church, Falls Church

Shrine Mont Camp campers are invited to reconnect at the annual camper reunion. All past campers ages 7-17 are invited! Contact Jennifer Cox, Shrine Mont Camps Administrative Assistant, at jcox@episcopalvirginia.org for more details.

Shrine Mont Camp Registration is Open!

Camp ministry transforms so many lives within our Diocese, so make sure the children in your life get to join in the experience this summer! Camp dates and rates are posted and registration is open now!

Scholarships for All!

In celebration of Shrine Mont's 100th anniversary, each and every camper will receive a $100 scholarship to attend camp in both 2024 and 2025. Additional scholarship funds are also available. Questions? Contact campregistrar@episcopalvirginia.org. For the latest updates, follow Shrine Mont Camp on Instagram and Facebook, and sign up for the camp newsletter.

2023 Bishop's Appeal

Donations to the Bishop’s Appeal are being collected through the end of the year to support the ministries of congregations throughout our Diocese. Each year, congregations in our Diocese receive grants to enhance ministries that help feed their neighbors’ bodies and souls. Your gifts to the Bishop’s Appeal transform the world in the best way possible.

Gifts can be made online or by mailing a check to: The Diocese of Virginia, PO Box 27426, Richmond, VA 23261.

Begin the Easter Season Walking the Path of St. Paul

April 1-10, 2024

Greece and Turkey

Bishop Gayle Harris, together with Bishop Eugene Sutton and Bishop Coadjutor Carrie Schofield-Broadbent from the Diocese of Maryland, will lead a pilgrimage to Greece following the footsteps of St. Paul, retracing the roots of early Christianity. St. Paul’s missionary journeys took him great distances, from Syria through Turkey and along the Greek Coast as he spread the Good News. We'll visit Athens, Thessaloniki, Philippi, and Ephesus. Other stops include Patmos, Heraklion, Santorini, and Corinth. This historical and spiritual tour will give you a new perspective on the church, as you learn about its earliest days and the lives of the first Christians. Read the pilgrimage brochure. Learn more and register.

Triangle of Hope Youth Pilgrimage Accepting Applicants

2024 pilgrimage, July 24-August 4, Virginia

2025 pilgrimage, Kumasi, Ghana

2026 pilgrimage, Liverpool, England

Current 8^th graders and high schoolers interested in learning and engaging with the historic legacy of the Mid-Atlantic Slave Trade are encouraged to apply to participate in the Triangle of Hope Youth Pilgrimage. The Triangle of Hope Pilgrimage is a three-diocese program dedicated to transforming the long history, ongoing effects, and continuing presence of slavery in our world through repentance, reconciliation, and mission. There will be pilgrims from Kumasi, Ghana, Liverpool, England, and Virginia participating in the 2024 pilgrimage in Virginia. Ideally, students will be current 8^th or 9^th graders, so that they can complete the three-part pilgrimage before graduating from high school. Costs and other information are on the application form. Questions? Contact the Rev. Rock Higgins.

Hope for a Weary World: An Artist's Retreat

January 19 at 5:00 p.m. - January 21 at 1 p.m.

Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond

In this weary, fractured world, how can the arts be instruments of hope? Participants will explore themes of hope in our art-filled faith traditions, make art, and reflect on how the creative Spirit is moving in our world. There will be an optional trip to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts where each participant will be invited to “sit” for a time with one piece of art that speaks of hope. Learn more.

Diocesan Book Studies and Small Groups

Becoming Human Book Study

Weekly on Mondays, January 8 - February 12, 2024

Sign up now to participate in a book study on Becoming Human: The Holy Spirit and the Rhetoric of Race by Luke Powery. This book study, led by the Rev. Dr. J. Lee Hill, Jr., is back by popular demand and will be of particular interest to those engaged in preaching. Contact Canon Hill at jhill@episcopalvirginia.org for more information and to reserve your spot.

Brave Space Book Group

Third Thursdays, 3:00 p.m. beginning February 15

This group is based on the Brave Space Book Group initiated by Dr. Catherine Meeks at the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing. If you would like to co-facilitate any of these discussions, please contact Canon Chanta Bhan at CBhan@episcopalvirginia.org.

See Brave Space Book Group readings.

Spiritual Practices Reading and Reflection Group

Third Thursdays, 12:oo p.m. beginning January 18

This group is based on the Ascetical Theology class taught by Dr. Katherine Sonderegger at Virginia Theological Seminary. Please consider co-facilitating (lay or ordained) and add your name to the signup sheet. The purpose of the group is to read about spiritual practices and incorporate them into our lives through prayer, humility, Scripture meditation, and reconciliation. Parishes and campus ministries (and others) may choose to replicate this model for a small group ministry.