In this Issue:

Good News + Welcome Bishop Shand + New Name for Website

Shrine Mont Camps + Recorded Sermons from Annual Convention

From Grief to Healing to Action

"Sometimes I feel like a motherless child.” This hymn opened the Service of Community Lament held at St. Thomas, Richmond on November 5 – specifically, lament over the epidemic of gun violence. It is part of a series called: Beyond Thoughts and Prayers: A Pastoral and Prophetic Response to Gun Violence. “Beyond Thoughts and Prayers” seeks to move people from grief over gun violence, to a healing awareness of God’s presence in the midst of that violence, to public prophetic witness, and local action for justice. The series hopes to also make the Church visible to and present for those who may not usually attend church.

The program was conceived by the Rev. Deacon R. Dale Smith, assisting clergy at St. Thomas. “I’ve felt a call to respond to gun violence in some form since the 2012 school shooting in Sandy Hook,” said Dale. “I’ve written many, many letters, gone to demonstrations, gone to vigils. Still, I wondered, what else can I do?” Read on.

Join in a Service of Community Healing from Gun Violence Sunday, December 3, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. at St. Thomas, Richmond

Diocesan Website Renamed!

As announced at Convention, our website name is no longer thediocese.net. Our online home is now www.episcopalvirginia.org. Why the change? It's a better representation of who we are and a friendlier way for church seekers to find the Diocese and its churches through a generic search.

Accordingly, all diocesan staff addresses follow the format of first initial, last name, @episcopalvirginia.org. Please make a note of these changes and update our email addresses in your contacts. Questions? Contact Erin Kamran at ekamran@episcopalvirginia.org.

Annual Convention Recordings

Sermons and More

Many of you have asked about recordings from Annual Convention. Here are links for several presentations and sermons on our YouTube Channel.

Bishop Stevenson's Pastoral Address
Bishop Harris' Sermon
Bishop Perumbalath's Evensong sermon: video and text
Dr. Meeks’ Presentation
Discipleship presentation from Canon Chanta Bhan and Ms. Heidi Kim
Panel discussion
New diocesan logo video
Triangle of Hope Pilgrimage video

Bishop Stevenson Announces Appointment of Visiting Bishop

The Rt. Rev’d E. Mark Stevenson has announced the appointment of the Rt. Rev’d James Joseph “Bud” Shand as a Visiting Bishop in the Diocese of Virginia. He will serve in the Diocese from January through May of this year and will be based in Northern Virginia.

Bishop Shand is the retired Bishop Diocesan of the Diocese of Easton (Maryland), where he served from 2003 to 2014.

“Bishop Shand is a Jesus-loving disciple whose easy-going style and pastoral gifts will be a wonderful addition to our diocesan staff and a blessing to the clergy and parishioners of the entire Diocese,” said Bishop Stevenson. “I’m so grateful he will join the diocesan family on our journey in Christ.” Read on .

Shrine Mont Camp 2024 Dates Now Available

Mark your calendars for Shrine Mont Camp Sessions in 2024! Dates are posted on the camp website. Rates will be posted soon.

According to the 2023 Parent Survey:

98% of parents said their child had fun at camp.
97% said they are planning to send their kids to camp at Shrine Mont in the future.
95% of parents said it’s clear that Shrine Mont Camp had an impact on their child.

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.

Two Diocesan Related Organization Hiring for Shared Position

The Trustees of the Funds and the Diocesan Missionary Society are hiring one full-time employee to serve both organizations in roles related to customer relations, bookkeeping, and finance. View full job description.