E-Communiqué: The Good News; Sacred Ground; Bishop Taylor's Learning Series; Matching Funds for Bishop's Appeal and more

Bishop's Learning Series

My Story; Our Story; The Story

How fiction and poetry can take us deeper into our faith

Bishop Porter Taylor's next online class is intended to deepen one's awareness and reservoir of story and image. Participants will read short stories and poems and use them as the way to go deeper into the Good News and how we encounter it in our lives. This theology class uses fiction and poetry as the doorway into the mysteries of our faith. If you wish to join the class, email Anita Lisk and indicate if you are clergy or lay. Read the full class description

Clergy track:

Thursdays at 4 p.m., January 13 - February 24

Lay track:

Wednesdays, 3 p.m. January 12 - February 23 OR Thursdays, 1:30 p.m. January 13 - February 23

New to the Bishop Taylor's Learning Series? Check out what former participants have to say.

Sacred Ground Circles Forming for February

The Diocese of Virginia, in collaboration with Virginia Theological Seminary, will be hosting new Sacred Ground Circles in late February. Sacred Ground is a sensitive, prayerful resource that creates space for difficult but respectful and transformative dialogue on race and racism, holding at its center a vision of Beloved Community — where all of God’s children are honored, protected, nurtured, and flourish. Registration links for upcoming Sacred Ground Circles will be made available in early 2022. If you are interested learning more, contact the Rev. Dr. J. Lee Hill, Jr., diocesan Missioner for Racial Justice and Healing.

Covenant Bridges the Miles from Virginia to South Sudan

By Joseph Reynolds

This year, the people of St. Francis, Great Falls, raised funds to repair a well that is now pumping water to serve a community in the Diocese of Ezo, South Sudan. Over the 23 years of the congregation’s covenantal relationship with the Diocese of Ezo, St. Francis has also provided support for the schools, purchased seeds for planting, and supplied money for medical supplies. The need is enormous. At last report, there are 18,000 Christians in the Diocese of Ezo and many refugees from other regions in need of help. Forged in 1998, the covenant between St. Francis and the Diocese of Ezo embodies mutual promises that bind the two very different Christian communities.Read more.

Wilderness Church

It was a curious sight to joggers and dog-walkers to see a priest walking along Roosevelt Island’s wooded trails, strumming a guitar, with dozens of followers strolling behind him. The walking congregation paused periodically to recite poems and sing fitting hymns like “Just a Closer Walk with Thee,” “I’ll Fly Away,” and “Down to the River to Pray.” Read more.

Matching Funds Available for Bishop’s Appeal

You can be the key to unlocking the match! The Jessie Ball duPont Fund is matching online gifts totaling up to $25,000 and, thanks to our generous supporters, we are halfway to that goal.

Thanks to the duPont Fund, online gifts from individuals make DOUBLE the difference and help those who are hungry, hurt, sad, or alone through our diocesan Bishop’s Appeal grants. Please consider making a gift and encourage your friends, family, and fellow parishioners to join you. Share on social media what our mission means to you. Use the special hashtag #BrokenOpen so we can harness the power of connection to help share your story!

Ways to Give

Online: Make double the impact and help us meet our $25,000 match through your gift at https://bit.ly/BishopsAppeal
Mail: Send your check to Bishop’s Appeal, PO Box 27426, Richmond, VA 23261

Use Your Voice for Environmental Justice Advocacy

Advocacy Training with Virginia Interfaith Power and Light

January 5, 6:30 p.m., online

Many parishes and their surrounding communities will be affected by legislation that will be presented at the Virginia General Assembly session in January. The diocesan Creation Care Task Force invites you to join them for this training where you'll get basic advocacy tools and an overview of the 2022 General Assembly session. Register

Formation News and Events

Diocesan Cohort for Forma Conference - Join & Save

January 18-22, Online

Calling all formation leaders! The Diocese of Virginia is convening a cohort to attend the 2022 Virtual Forma Conference: The Church for Today and Tomorrow. Members of the cohort will have access to free registration for the conference, so this is an excellent opportunity for congregations without continuing education resources -- or volunteer formation leaders -- to be supported in their work. To learn more about the 2022 conference, visit the Forma website. If you wish to join the Diocese's cohort and attend "together," please email Paris Ball.

Applications Open for 2022 General Convention Official Youth Presence

The Episcopal Church invites teens ages 16 to 19 to apply to become part of the 80th General Convention’s Official Youth Presence, a group whose members have seat and voice in the House of Deputies. Up to two youth from each of the church’s nine provinces will be selected to participate in the Official Youth Presence from July 4-14 in Baltimore, Maryland. Applications and nomination forms are due by Dec. 23. Spanish applications and nomination forms are also available.

Staff Transitions

The Rev. Sarah Brockenbrough, diocesan Transition Minister, has resigned from her position and will complete her work in the Diocese on January 28. During Sarah’s tenure, she has guided more than 150 clergy transitions, working in close consultation with vestries and search committees of congregations. The search for an Interim Transition Minister has begun. The job description and application procedures are here. The bishops and diocesan staff are making every commitment and effort to ensure that clergy and congregations in search will continue to be well served during the search process.

“I am grateful for Sarah’s clarity and wisdom these past three years," said Bishop Susan Goff. “I will miss her gentleness of spirit and wish her every blessing in the next chapter of ministry.”

Good to Know

The Bishops Are Coming!

Want to know when one of your bishops will next visit your church? The Bishop's visitation schedule for January - June, 2022 is now available here.

Best Practices for Virtual Congregational Meetings The Annual Convention of the Diocese passed a resolution establishing best practices for digital and hybrid vestry and congregational meetings. The practices guide congregations and vestries in arranging, publicizing, conducting and reporting the results of their meetings. They are posted on the diocesan website here.

Trustees of the Funds New Secretary-Treasurer

The Trustees of the Funds (ToTF) is pleased to announce that Kim Henderson will succeed Laura Hicks as Secretary-Treasurer of The Trustees of the Funds, beginning January 1, 2022. The Trustees express their gratitude for Laura, a diligent, thoughtful, much-appreciated member of the ToTF organization since 2004. Since 1991, Kim has been the Corporate Secretary/Assistant Treasurer of the Church Schools in the Diocese of Virginia. Kim’s email at ToTF is: khenderson@trusteesofthefunds.org. If you have any questions about the transition, please contact Lynn Ivey, Executive Director of ToTF at livey@trusteesofthefunds.org.

St. Philip's Blood Drive - January 6 St. Philip's, Richmond will host a blood drive January 6. Central Richmond churches and members are asked to help spread the word using this flyer.