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Episcopal Youth Event Leader Hails from St. Mary’s, Arlington

Umalkhar "Umi" Abdi of St. Mary’s, Arlington is one of 12 young people from across the country who will help to plan one of the largest gatherings in The Episcopal Church. As a member of the Planning Team for the Episcopal Youth Event 2023 (EYE 23), Umi and her teammates will help to shape the programs and logistics for the big event, including speakers, performers, presenters, worship, and more.

What is EYE? It’s a gathering of more than 1,400 youth from around the world who assemble every three years on a college campus to learn, laugh, and worship together. The culture of EYE is like summer camp…a really, really big summer camp!

This year's EYE takes place July 3-8 at the University of Maryland. (EYE applicatio n)

Umi says she hopes through EYE to bring more youth into the church. Read on .

Got a Good News story to share? Send it to Nancy Chafin.

Christ Church Celebrates 250th Anniversary

Bishop Curry to Preach Sunday, February 26

Christ Church in Alexandria is celebrating 250 years of continuous worship in its historic church. The celebration lasts all year with a monthly series of guest preachers, an anniversary gala, history lectures, concerts, and visits from Christ Church mission partners from across the globe.

The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, will preach on Sunday, February 26 at the 10:00 a.m. worship service. The service will be livestreamed here. Join Christ Church in person or online as the congregation commemorates its history.

Other preachers throughout the year include Dr. Catherine Meeks, Bishop E. Mark Stevenson, Bishop Eugene Sutton, and Bishop Gene Robinson. To see the full schedule of events, click here.

Ordination to the Sacred

Order of Deacons

Saturday, March 4, 10:30 a.m.

Church of the Epiphany, Herndon

God willing, the Rt. Rev'd E. Mark Stevenson, Bishop of Virginia, will ordain Kyle Micah Bomar, Stephen G. Bragaw, Janettarose Lavoie Greene, Amanda Katelyn McMillen, Marybeth Sanders-Wilson, and Sarah Katherine Spurlock Biggs to the Sacred Order of Deacons. The Bishop and the Standing Committee request the honor of your presence. For more information, including the livestream link, click here.

Summer on the Mountain

More than 200 campers are already registered for Shrine Mont Camps 2023! This summer on the mountain features some new camps as well as traditional favorites, including St. George’s, Explorers the Great, St. Andrew’s, St. Elizabeth’s, Family Camp, and the joyful return of Senior High Youth Conference!

What's the Scoop on Lil's Camp? All Saints?

New this year are “Lil’s” Camp and All Saints Specialty Camp. Lil’s is designed to give our youngest campers a taste of camp in a shorter three-night stay while they enjoy the same programming of longer sessions like St. George’s.

If your camper loved MAD Camp or Sports Camp, they will love the same offerings in All Saints Specialty Camp. Campers can elect to spend their morning and afternoon time in one program – Sports or Music and Drama – or mix it up and do a bit of both.

Detailed descriptions of all camps are found at shrinemontcamps.org. Secure your campers spot by registering early!

Those interested in working as cabin counselors and camps staff can fill out an application or reach out to Camps Director James Williams.

Discernment Retreat for Lay and Ordained Ministry

March 17-19

Roslyn Retreat Center, Richmond

The first step in the process for anyone discerning a vocational call to ordained or lay ministry is to attend a diocesan discernment retreat. Nominations for retreat attendance can be made by emailing Sarah Kye Price and Gloria Parham. Seekers do not need to have clarified their call prior to attending the retreat. It is customary for clergy nominating a member of their parish to cover the costs of the retreat. Financial support is available so that cost does not deter anyone’s attendance. There will be two additional retreats this year in summer and fall. Please visit the diocesan discernment webpage for more information.

Affordable Housing and Social Justice

Sundays, March 5 - April 23, 4:00 - 5:00 on Zoom

Affordable Housing is a hot topic in many communities today, but how many people really understand the complex issues and underlying root causes? St. George’s, Arlington and Virginia Diocesan Homes will present a 7-week online educational series about affordable housing and social justice. Each session will feature a range of experts and time for participant discussion. Topics will include: Racial Disparities and Housing; Refugee/Immigrant Issues; Seniors and Persons with Disabilities;

Government Initiatives; Advocacy; and Faith Leadership, particularly in TheEpiscopal Church. Join the conversation so you can be informed, educate others, and advocate for affordable housing for all. Register here. Questions? Please contact Nina Janopaul.

Toward a More Just Future

Expanding Our Moral Imaginary Beyond the White Gaze

Wednesday, March 1, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

In person or online Register

Join the Center on Faith and Justice and the Georgetown University Women’s Center for an evening with the Very Rev. Dr. Kelly Brown Douglas, Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School at Union Theological Seminary. Douglas will explore the role of Black women in the church, followed by a moderated discussion with the Rev. Ebony Grisom, Interim Director of Protestant Christian Ministry at Georgetown University.

The event is co-sponsored by the Diocese of Virginia, the Diocese of Washington, and the Washington National Cathedral. It takes place on Georgetown University’s main campus. For those unable to attend in-person, the event will also be livestreamed on The Center on Faith and Justice Facebook and YouTube pages.

Good to Know

Daily Text Messages for Lent: Notice and Give Thanks

This Lenten season, the United Thank Offering (UTO) is inviting you to 40 Days of Gratitude. This year's Lenten gratitude challenge will be in the form of daily text messages. If you sign up for the UTO challenge with your mobile number, you will receive one text message every morning for the entirety of Lent. Each day the text will be a different prompt, encouraging you to notice and be grateful for something in your daily life. Sign up here.

Holy Living, Holy Dying: A Lenten Workshop Series on End-of-Life Issues

As Christians, we are called to consider our mortality faithfully and responsibly, giving our loved ones the gift of making known our choices for end-of-life care and death. St. Paul's, Richmond will host two workshops: Honoring Our Wishes through Advance Health Care Directives, Saturday March 4, 10-Noon; and Dust to Dust: Deciding the Fate of Our Earthly Remains, Saturday, March 11, 10 - Noon.

Feel free to attend one or both workshops. Registration is required. For more information, contact the Rev. Gwynn Crichton at gcrichton@stpaulsrva.org or call (804) 545-5415.

Pysanky Egg Workshop to Support Ukrainian Crisis Response

Holy Cross, Dunn Loring will host three Pysanky (Ukrainian egg painting) workshops during Lent to continue fundraising efforts for Episcopal Relief and Development Ukraine Crisis Response. Details

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