Last Chance to Reserve Hotel Rooms for Annual Convention
November 14-16
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel, Arlington

The Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington has extended the room reservation deadline to 5 p.m. on Monday, October 28 . To take advantage of this opportunity to receive a discounted rate on your hotel room for Annual Convention, use this  hotel reservation link.

The final day to register for Annual Convention is Friday, November 1.
Brian Sellers-Petersen to Co-Lead Creation Care Discussions at Annual Convention
The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff is pleased to announce that Brian Sellers-Petersen will serve as a keynote speaker at the 225th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Virginia, Nov. 14-16. He will join the Rev. Melanie Mullen in leading a series of conversations on creation care, climate change and the church’s response.

Previously, the Rev. Mullen was scheduled to present alongside the Rt. Rev. Marc Andrus, Bishop of the Diocese of California. For health reasons, Bishop Andrus has been advised to temporarily reduce his travel schedule and will not be able to attend the Convention.

Brian Sellers-Petersen is the Missioner for Agrarian Ministry in the Diocese of Olympia, where he provides support and education, planning formation and guidance to congregations interested in beekeeping, vegetable and food gardening and other agrarian work related to the stewardship of creation and care of the earth. He is co-founder of the Episcopal Food, Farming and Faith Network. In his recent book  Harvesting Abundance: Local Initiatives of Food and Faith , he shares success stories of faith communities involved in the faith-and-food movement.

Mr. Sellers-Petersen has worked with Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) for the past 15 years in a variety of capacities, including as the creator/developer of ERD’s Abundant Life Garden Project curriculum, as a leader of pilgrimages to sustainable agriculture programs in Ghana and Central America and senior adviser to the president of ERD. He has also served on staff at World Vision, Bread for the World and other church and diocesan positions in the United States and South Africa. Read more.
Show Us Your Wonder in Creation!
The Diocese of Virginia is full of parishes, schools and related organizations doing amazing work caring for God’s creation. We want to feature your work in a slide presentation at our 225th Annual Convention, where the theme will be “Wonder in All!” 

So, please take a moment to send us pictures of your community gardens, your food pantries, your teaching kitchens, your fruit trees, your clean-up days, your beehives and your beautiful natural surroundings!

Please submit photos no later than November 4 to Nancy Chafin. Photos should be high resolution (sent in the largest file size available).
 
“Give them an inquiring and discerning heart, the courage to will and to persevere, a spirit to know and to love you, and t he gift of joy and wonder in all your works .”
Altar Guild Swap
November 14-16
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel, Arlington

Declutter your sacristy and swap unused and unwanted items (linens, candles, metal ware, vestments, stoles, etc.) with churches around the Diocese. Drop off items on November 14 at the altar guild booth in the exhibitors area, and come back for the swap on November 15. There will also be a collection of purificatory and corporals for Shrine Mont. If you plan to participate or have questions, contact Sharon Nachman .
Upcoming at VTS
Signs of Life Retreat
Saturday, November 2, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. $50 (includes lunch). This retreat explores five Christian symbols (light, water, food, shelter, and community) while exploring worship traditions and spaces.  Register .

A Conversation on Cultivating New Faith Communities
Tuesday, October 29, 7-8:30 p.m. $10 suggested. Discuss reinventing church with church planters the Rev. Emily Scott  (Lutheran pastoral leader of  Dreams and Visions ) and the Rev. Daniel Vélez-Rivera (Vicar of  St. Gabriel’s, Leesburg ), in dialogue with Professor Altagracia Pérez-Bullard . Register
Join Us in Prayer
We pray for Calvary, Hanover; St. Mathew's, Richmond; Meade Memorial, White Post; St. Luke's, Simeon; St. Aidan's, Alexandria; St. Peter's, Oak Grove; and Meade Memorial, Alexandria, (pictured) as they prepare for their Bishop's Visitations in the coming weeks. We pray for Bishop Goff, Bishop Ihloff, Bishop Gulick, Bishop Jones and Bishop Mathes in their travels to these congregations. 
Calendar and Church Events
October 27: The Episcopal Church's Presence at the Mexican Border Learn about how the Diocese of Rio Grande is faithfully responding to changing immigration policy restrictions and how the Episcopal Church is working on behalf of immigrants and refugees on both sides of the border. St. Gabriel's, Leesburg.
November 1: Let the People Praise Thee, O God A concert in celebration of the new music director and the music ministry at St. Stephen's, Richmond.
November 9: Dr. David Hurd Workshop R enowned organist, composer and musician Dr. David Hurd is coming to the Winchester region to share his experience and insight from a lifetime of celebrated excellence in sacred music.