DIOCESAN
Province V Sacred Ground Teach-In
Please join with colleagues across Province V on June 25 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. to:

  • Learn from others’ experience
  • Gain customizable tools and resources
  • Connect with others across Province V interested in Sacred Ground
Intergenerational Camp at Bellwether Farm
Bring your family or “pod” to Bellwether Farm for a weekend of camp on July 2-4 or July 16-18! Registration is required by June 28 and July 12, respectively. Following an Olympics theme, pods will participate in team-building activities, friendly competition, and traditional camp activities including arts and crafts, fishing, swimming, hiking, and canoeing. Participants will also work on the farm with Farmer Kyle, caring for both plants and animals, and in the kitchen helping Chef Lonny prepare delicious farm-to-table meals. Evenings will include bonfires and s’mores, movies, stargazing, and large group games. Mornings and evenings will also include family-friendly prayer and reflection. Pods are responsible for supervising themselves and abiding by Bellwether Farm rules, with staff members organizing and coordinating activities. Pods can choose to stay in a retreat room with a private bath, or a cabin (sleeps up to 10). For questions, please contact the Rev. Anna Sutterisch.
Parish Audits
CPA and Diocesan audit team audits are due by July 15.
Yoga Retreat at Bellwether Farm
Join Valerie Williams in a yoga retreat at Bellwether Farm on July 23-24. Participants will practice meditation, intention-setting, and yoga amidst the fields, forests, ponds, and livestock of Bellwether Farm. A farm-to-table lunch will be served on Saturday. While the bulk of programming is scheduled for Saturday, participants are encouraged to arrive Friday evening for dinner, a bonfire, and overnight respite. The cost is $40 per person for Saturday only. A single retreat room is an additional $110 and a double occupancy room is an additional $150. Registration is required by July 19. More information is available on the Bellwether Farm website.
Pilgrimage at Bellwether Farm
A Pilgrimage will be held at Bellwether Farm on Saturday, August 28 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. Registration is required. The cost is $30.00 and includes lunch. You will have an opportunity to enjoy the serenity and beauty of hiking on the trails at Bellwether Farm. A pilgrimage is a spiritual retreat. It is a time when you can set aside your daily concerns and open yourself to the holy. Come spend time with God; experience the healing power of walking in nature. Feed your soul by setting aside time in peace and quiet and allowing God to speak to you. Please contact Betty Kondrich at [email protected] if you have questions or would like more information.
Church Life
The summer 2021 issue of Church Life is now available online.
Giving Tools Update
A new QR code is available for gifts to parishes through the Diocesan website. 
Reimagining Sunday School: Curricula
The Diocesan Resource Center is no longer providing universal access to the Weaving God’s Promises curriculum. Instead, we’d like to work with you to find the program or curriculum that makes the most sense and will make the most impact in your specific context. The diocesan website features our recommendations on quality free resources, offers the ability to apply for financial aid to subscribe to paid curricula (like the excellent Weaving God’s Promises and others), or to request a conversation with us to help envision what might work best in your parish. Every child, faith community, and curriculum is different— and we’d love to accompany you in discerning what might be the best fit for you in this moment.
Safeguarding God's Children
All vestry members must be trained in Safeguarding God’s Children. If you are a newly elected vestry member, or you elected new leaders at your parish, it might be time to check if everyone has been “Safeguarded.” Trainings are self-paced online modules. To register, email Mary Ann Semple at [email protected]. If you would like to be trained as a facilitator to lead Safeguarding trainings, please contact Mary Ann. 
Quality Training for Your 2021 Stewardship Team
The Congregations and Christian Formation office is partnering with TENS to provide a series of four webinars offering stewardship training for your parish. The 90-minute webinars will be held on the first Tuesday of each month through August beginning at 6:30 pm. There is no cost. More details and registration information are available. 
PARISH
Final Service at St. Andrew's, Akron
The final service at St. Andrew’s, Akron will be held on Wednesday, June 30 at 6:00 p.m. Bishop Hollingsworth will preside.
Trinity Youth Mission
The Trinity Youth Mission, “Together we are CLE,” will be July 26 - July 30 with Trinity Cathedral being the "hub" for youth from 7th to 12th grade. On July 26 – July 29, youth will need to be dropped off at 9:00 a.m. sharp and will need to be picked up from Trinity Cathedral by 7:00 p.m. On Thursday night, there will be an overnight at Trinity Cathedral. This is an urban mission, we will be working with the community to help outreach organizations such as the Urban Garden, The Friendly Inn, Trials for Hope, and a special Bike refurbishment project for the community called "Flats 2 Friendship". We will also be building community among the youth by going to an Indians game and going to the beach. Each youth is asked to participate in at least one of two fundraising events on either June 27 or July 11, both at the 10:00 a.m. service at Trinity Cathedral where the youth will sell t-shirts and water bottles. Unfortunately, due to the circumstances we have all been experiencing, this is a last minute decision so youth who would like to be involved must confirm their participation by Sunday, June 27. Please contact either Delaney Ryan at [email protected] or 330.492.1641 or Shannon Smoot at [email protected] or 216.906.7173. 
Urban Garden Assistance
Trinity Cathedral’s Urban Farm is available to help parishes looking to start a community garden at or near the parish, or assist parishes grow their existing urban garden. Whether you’re looking to build raised beds, install a drip irrigation system, learn about crop rotation or find community partners, Trinity’s 16-year-old farm may have the answers. If you are interested in finding out more, email Scott Blanchard at [email protected].
A Conversation with Austin Channing Brown
St. Paul's, Cleveland Heights partnered with several local churches to host Austin Channing Brown for a virtual conversation as she discusses her book, “I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness.” Brown is a bestselling author, public speaker, and producer. Her work centers around the Black experience in America and engages a diverse audience in the work of racial justice. The conversation is available to watch.
OTHER
Discernment for Lay Ministry
Dr. Kate Gillooly is offering a four-month course on Discernment for Lay Ministry again through Bexley Seabury (online) that will begin in July. The class is open to everyone churchwide. (Please note - it is not for discernment for ordination.) More information can be found on the Bexley Seabury website.