E-Communiqué: Shrine Mont Camps Registration Open; Good News at The Falls Church; Bishop Porter Taylor's New Memoir; Lenten Series on Creation Care; and More

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Secure Your Camper's Spot for a Great Summer on the Mountain

More than 100 campers have already signed up in the past week! This year's Camps include traditional St. George's, a new Lil's Camp for first-time younger campers, and All Saints, where kids choose a specialty area like sports or art. As always, we'll host Family Camp, (Explorers) The Great, St. Andrew's, and St. Elizabeth's. And Senior High Youth Conference is back!

Scholarships

Shrine Mont Camps believes that cost should never keep any child from attending camp. Ample scholarships are available. Contact your clergy person or Camps Director James Williams for details.

Staff Needed

If you or someone you know is interested in working at camp, our Staff Application is now available . We are looking for positions from cabin staff to nurses, chaplains to leadership! If you aren't yet 18, please consider being a volunteer at one of our St. Elizabeth's sessions!

NOTE: We have new website address: www.shrinemontcamps.ORG. Please make a note of it.

Marching Into Our Past and Future

by Nancy Chafin

What does racial justice ministry look like? How does a church make a concrete witness to something that has eluded our understanding for generations? One model can be found at The Falls Church, where the congregation is embracing a multi-faceted, deeply relational ministry that is integrated into all aspects of their church life and worship.

It begins with acknowledging a painful history. Like many Virginia churches built in the 1700s and 1800s, The Falls Church was built using the labor of enslaved people. Now, the congregation is delving into that history. The research team has thus far identified 40 enslaved people by name and the work continues. Through genealogical records, the team hopes to identify living descendants and connect with them.

When the Falls Church began an intentional Racial Justice Ministry three years ago, the congregation knew that the work of reconciliation doesn’t happen by staying inside the walls of the church. So they reached out to several area organizations and non-profits to involve people from communities unlike their own, including the members of the Rock Christian Center, an African-American Baptist Pentecostal congregation that worships at The Falls Church. Read on

Newly Ordained

Bishop E. Mark Stevenson performed his first ordination on January 7 at Christ Church, Glen Allen. The newest priests of the Diocese are the Rev. Samuel Bush, the Rev. Rebecca Maria Maguire, the Rev. Ann Kilpen Singer, and the Rev. Blake Singer.

We give thanks for their faithful, courageous response to God’s call, and rejoice in their commitment to life in ordained ministry.

For more photos from the service, checkout the diocesan Facebook page.

Episcopal Youth Event 2023

July 3-8

University of Maryland, College Park

For youth ages 15-19

The Episcopal Youth Event is a gathering of more than 1,400 youth from around the world who assemble on a college campus to learn, laugh, and worship together. The culture of EYE is like summer camp…a really, really big summer camp!

Each diocese throughout the church is invited to send youth and adult attendees. The Diocese of Virginia is hoping to take 25 students and five adult chaperones to the University of Maryland for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Time is spent in worship, large group presentations, small group discussions, workshops, and hanging out with new friends from around the world.

The cost is $400 (includes EYE, the Province 3 Pre-event, and transportation). The Diocese of Virginia is covering costs for transportation and the Pre-event. Scholarship assistance may be available. For more information about applying, contact James Williams or Sue Cromer.

Who can go?

Youth participants in EYE23 must be enrolled in 9th -12th grade during this school year and must be 15-19 by July 3.

Adult Chaperones

Delegations must send a minimum of two chaperones; one must be 25 years old or older. All other chaperones must be at least 21 years old at the time of the event. All adults must have completed Safeguarding Training and must have a Criminal Sexual Background Check on file. For more information about serving as an EYE chaperone, contact James Williams or Sue Cromer.

Youth and adults wishing to apply to attend EYE with the Diocese of Virginia delegation must fill out an application and registration. Registration will be live in early February.

Bishop Porter Taylor's Memoir

Bishop Porter Taylor's newly published memoir, Are You Persuaded? In and Out of Being a Bishop, is now available through Amazon Prime. The book covers many major events in the Church including:

The General Convention approving the election of Gene Robinson as the Bishop of New Hampshire.
The Elections of Katharine Jefferts Schori and Michael Curry as Presiding Bishops.
The Lambeth Conference in 2008.

Praise from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: “In this deeply personal account, my friend and fellow bishop Porter Taylor offers a candid glimpse into the realities and costs of saying 'Yes' to God’s call to leadership set against a backdrop of historical changes in both the church and country.”

Lenten Series on Creation Care and Spiritual Resilience

via zoom Thursdays, 7:00-8:15 p.m., February 23 - April 13

The Diocesan Creation Care Task Force invites you to a Lenten journey based on Debra Rienstra’s book, Refugia Faith: Seeking Hidden Shelters, Ordinary Wonders, and the Healing of the Earth. Rienstra skillfully weaves together her wisdom of science, nature, theology, faith communities, relationships, and story to address the issue of climate crisis. Led by the Rev. Randolph Charles, the sessions will be held with the intention of finding places of hope and ways that we can become healers of a damaged earth. Participants are asked to do the weekly readings, practice the discernment reflection process, and participate in group conversations. Space is limited, so please register today.

Triangle of Hope Youth Pilgrimage

Late June - Early July, 2023

Liverpool, England

The Triangle of Hope is a covenantal community between the dioceses of Liverpool (England), Kumasi (Ghana), and Virginia, dedicated to transforming the long history, ongoing effects, and continuing presence of slavery in our world through repentance, reconciliation, and mission. Help us connect with youth in your church by sharing the application form. Current eighth graders and high schoolers are invited to apply.

This summer’s trip will be to Liverpool, England, with pilgrims from Kumasi, Liverpool, and Virginia participating. Each diocese can have up to 15 pilgrims plus chaperones. Costs and other information are on the application form. Please contact the Rev. Rock Higgins with any questions.

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Diocese of Virginia