Bishop Taylor to Host Discussion Group on Episcopal Church and Race
In this season when our country has become more aware of its endemic racism, it is equally important that the Church also become more aware of, and thereby repent of, our church's participation in the sin of racism. To that end, Bishop Porter Taylor will lead an online study group that will examine our Episcopal identity around race. In his book Episcopalians and Race: Civil War to Civil Rights, Gardiner Shattuck Jr. tells us the history we don’t want to hear. "Gardiner Shattuck offers an insider's history of the church's efforts, both successful and unsuccessful, to come to terms with race and racism since the Civil War," as described on the book's back cover.

This isn’t intended to be a book group nor an intellectual exercise. Rather the intention is to own our past as a church in order to gain a greater mission of who and what we are called to be. The readings will be relatively short to leave time for discussion.

The class will last 8 weeks – one week per chapter and a week for plenary. The meeting dates will be set to accommodate the groups. Please contact Anita Lisk to sign up and indicate the times that work for your schedule and whether you are lay or clergy. The hope is to begin in September. Learn more.
Ordinations to the Priesthood
September 12-19, via livestream from St. Paul’s, Richmond

God willing, Bishop Goff will ordain eight transitional deacons to the Sacred Order of Priests at St. Paul’s, Richmond:

  • Sat., Sept. 12: Carey Connors at 10:30 a.m. + Jennifer Lazzuri at 1:30 p.m.
  • Mon., Sept. 14: Gwynn Crichton at 10:30 a.m. + Will Dickinson at 1:30 p.m.
  • Thurs., Sept. 17: Matthew Dumont-Machowski at 10:30 a.m. + Pete Nunnally at 1:30 p.m.
  • Sat., Sept. 19: Colleen Schiefelbein at 10:30 a.m. + Sam Sheridan at 1:30 p.m.

All are welcome and invited to attend the services via livestream. For each ordination, there will be a maximum of 10 in-person attendees (wearing masks and properly spaced), following the diocesan guidelines for safe worship during the COVID-19 pandemic. All services will be livestreamed through St. Paul’s Facebook Live, St. Paul’s YouTube page and there will also be watch parties on the diocesan Facebook page. The service bulletin is available here. We will also provide links to the livestream on the diocesan website.
Recovery Month Celebration
Saturday, September 19, 10:30 – 11:45 a.m.
via Zoom

As part of the National Episcopal Church’s annual month-long focus on recovery, Bishop Porter Taylor will be the keynote speaker for the Recovery Month Celebration hosted by the Addiction Recovery Care Ministry at Holy Comforter, Vienna. In addition to the keynote address, there will be two breakout sessions with questions from Bishop Taylor to prompt reflection and comment and there will be an opportunity to share observations with the whole group. It will be a time of reflection, hope and fellowship.
ECW Fall Meeting and UTO Ingathering
Thursday, October 15, 9 a.m. - noon
via Zoom

The Episcopal Church Women invite you to join us virtually as we gather around the theme, “Lord, Make Us Servants of Your Peace.” Special guests include the Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff, Bishop Suffragan and Ecclesiastical Authority; the Rev. J. Randy Myers, President of GraceInside; and Ms. Ajashu Thomas and Dr. Harry R. Salinas from the Human Rights Commission of Fairfax County. A brief business segment will feature the election of new ECW officers, announcement of scholarship recipients and an update on the Triangle of Hope. The meeting will conclude with a worship service led by Bishop Goff and the Very Rev. Kim Coleman, ECW Chaplain. Please register by October 8. For additional information, please visit the ECW website.
Brief but Important
The Bishop’s Fall Conference for Lay Professionals, Clergy, & Spouses
Tuesday and Wednesday, October 20-21, 9:30 a.m. – noon via Zoom
Join your bishops as they offer teachings and reflections on the themes of Communion, Community, Conversation. Register today!

Triangle of Hope Youth Pilgrimage
The Triangle of Hope Pilgrimages are a three-year course of travel between Liverpool, England; Kumasi, Ghana; and Virginia. Participants explore through study, travel, dialogue, service and worship the history, legacy and ongoing impact of historical and modern human trafficking. Interested youth (rising 8th-11th graders) are invited to visit the Triangle of Hope webpage for more information and to apply.

Virtual Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency Course
Registration is now open for the next two sessions of the Virtual Episcopal Latino Ministry Competency Course (VELMC), an innovative five-day intensive course designed for clergy, lay leaders and seminarians to gain practical knowledge and cultural competency for Latino/Hispanic ministry. The sessions will be held October 12-16, 2020 and January 25-29, 2021. Learn more.

Communications Workshops from Caffeinated Church
Caffeinated Church, a ministry of the Episcopal Church in Colorado, offers free, expert-led workshops online this fall. Topics include graphic design for beginners, social media for churches and creative storytelling through video. Learn more. 

Upcoming Online Workshops from Virginia Theological Seminary