November 30, 2021
News from the diocese
Coming up on the calendar
December

3-4: Commission on Ministry
7: Bishop's Zoom call with laity, 6:30 p.m.
9: Bishop's Zoom call with clergy, 10 a.m.
10: Trustees of the Church Foundation, 1 p.m.
11: Explorers' Information Session, 10 a.m.
24 - Jan 3: Diocesan office closed
Episcopal Visitations
Bishop Smith's upcoming visitation schedule

Dec 5: St. James, Piqua
Dec 12: St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Hts.
Dec 19: Christ Church, Glendale
Monthly Zoom calls with the bishop
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Bishop Smith will begin holding monthly open Zoom calls with clergy and laity beginning in December.

The first set of calls will be held Tuesday, Dec. 7 at 6:30 p.m. for laity, and Thursday, Dec. 9 at 10 a.m. for clergy. You must register in advance for the calls. The links to register are below.



After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.
Property records request deadline Dec 1
In a email sent Oct. 12 to all church leadership, Bishop Smith requested that all congregations supply copies of certain property records to the finance department by Dec. 1 to help facilitate the work of the Church Foundation. Those documents include:

  • Deed(s) to church property.
  • Any leases applicable to those properties.
  • Any mortgages applicable to those properties, including the promissory note secured by the mortgage.
  • Geographic Information System (GIS) maps of the property, where available, or a recent survey, if available.
  • Copies of the latest real estate tax information, if appropriate.
  • Emergency contact information related to each building, including the sexton, the insurance agent, utilities serving the property, and governmental emergency contacts.

Documents should be sent to the Rev. David Getreu, Associate for Financial Management & Oversight of the Diocese, at dgetreu@diosohio.org.
Explorers' events for those discerning ordained ministry
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Are you discerning a call to ordained ministry? Do you want to explore further that pull you feel to be a deacon or priest?

An Explorers' Information Session will be held Saturday, December 11, from 10 a.m. to noon, by Zoom. The annual Explorers’ Retreat will be January 28 and 29 at Procter Camp and Conference Center. For someone wanting to begin the formal process of exploring a call to ordained ministry in the diocese, they are required to attend both the Information Session and Explorers’ Retreat.


Registrations for both sessions can be found in our online event calendar. There is no charge for the Information Session. There is a $100 fee for the Explorer’s Retreat. If you have questions or need more information, contact Sherri Martin, Diocesan Transitions Officer, at smartin@diosohio.org or Spencer Pugh, Chair of the Commission on Ministry, at spencerpugh@twc.com.
Resources
Resources
Looking for forms, policies, all the “stuff” that churches need? Our resources page is a hub that will take you to whatever you are looking for!
Important Housing Allowance deadline

Keep this important date in mind: December 31, 2021.

Along with being the 365th day of the year, it’s also the last day to designate a housing or parsonage allowance for qualifying pastors.

Making the designation before the end of the year will ensure your pastors receive “the full benefit of a housing allowance exclusion for calendar year 2022,” attorney and CPA Richard Hammar explains.

Please don’t procrastinate. If the allowance isn’t already designated, it can take some time and special preparation to do so.

“The designation should be adopted during a regular or special meeting of the church board and should be contained in the written minutes of the meeting,” Hammar says.

To help with the designation process—and to answer many key questions about the most imporant tax benefit available to ministers—we’ve collected several articles on this topic on a special Recommended Reading page. You might find the sample housing allowance resolution especially helpful as you craft your own resolution.

But this collection of articles offers help beyond the designation deadline. Consider, for example, the Q&A on amending an allowance during the year if housing expenses are greater than expected. Bookmark this Recommended Reading page so it’s handy when housing allowance issues and questions arise throughout the year.
Video of webinar available

A webinar explaining the restricted funds of the diocese was held on two days last week. Video of the Nov. 18 presentation is now available online in the toolkit, or also on our video page.
Becoming Beloved Community
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With support from the United Thank Offering, the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio has committed to the call of Becoming Beloved Community, with deepening focus on the work of racial healing, reconciliation, and justice-making.
Advocacy briefing
Federal bills to protect democracy, strengthen families, and advance stewardship of creation

As litigation continues over the constitutionality of Ohio’s newly-passed state and Congressional district maps, advocates for fair districts are calling again for the U.S. Senate to pass the Freedom to Vote Act, which includes efficient provisions to prevent extreme partisan gerrymandering by either party, as well as protections for voter access and campaign finance reform. If you read this post in time, you can hop on tonight’s Common Cause webinar at 8 p.m. to discuss advocacy for the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act. Interestingly, the speakers will discuss how gerrymandering impedes environmental stewardship.
In addition, the Senate is expected to debate the Build Back Better bill passed by the House in November. The Freedom to Vote Act, John Lewis Voting Rights Act, and Build Back Better bill are supported by the Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations. The House’s Build Back Better bill includes many provisions benefitting families (from child tax credits and grants for preschool to access to in-home and community care for senior citizens) as well as major new policies to mitigate climate change.

Advocacy briefings and updates are compiled by Ariel Miller, a member of Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming, and a member of the diocesan Becoming Beloved Community Leadership Team.
Formation
Sign up for the weekly Formation e-newsletter
Advent Resources
In collaboration with clergy, artists, movie gurus, and the formation team, we are excited to create an Advent resource to provide to parishes and individuals. This Advent Zine is available now! We hope you can join in on our journey.
Young Adult Retreat

Join us on December 17-18 as we explore the themes of Advent! We’ll see how these themes affect the media around us, from movies to music. This is a hybrid retreat which means you can either attend in person or online. We hope to see you there!
“Christian Ethics in a Crazy World”

Through a grant from the Faith in Life Commission, The Church of the Advent will be offering four workshops related to the application of our Christian faith to ethical living in a crazy and messy world.

All workshops will be in person and held at the Church of the Advent, Walnut Hills, Cincinnati on Saturdays from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Space will be limited to 30 participants in each workshop so register early! 

Feb. 6, 2022 
Ethics in My Neighborhood  
(Rooted in a theology of place) 
Michael Smith, Ed.D., Assistant Priest, Church of the Advent               

Feb, 26, 2022 
Ethics in My Workplace 
(Rooted in a theology of work) 
Kyle Schenkewitz, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Mt. St. Joseph University

Mar. 12, 2022 
Ethics and My Healthcare  
(Rooted in a theology of healing and equity)
Connie McFadden Ed.D, Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Nursing, The Christ College of Nursing and Health Sciences, and Michael Smith, Ed.D. 

Mar. 26, 2022 
Ethics, the Internet, and Social Media  
(Rooted in a theology of civility, care, integrity)
Michael Smith, Ed.D., and Stephen Smith, M.Ed., President and Consultant, The Wired Family. 
Episcopal Community Ministries
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Episcopal Community Ministries uses the power of our collective community to help fund local outreach ministries who are in the best position to assess and respond to neighborhood needs.

Every donation to ECM contributes to the well-being of communities all over Southern Ohio, at every level of human need, from food and clothing to jobs and homes.
Today is #GivingTuesday
Giving Tuesday
On November 30, 2021, the world unites for a celebration of generosity.

#GivingTuesday was created in 2012 as a simple idea: a day that encourages people to do good. Over the past nine years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity.

Local ministries funded by ECM grants help the hurting, feed the hungry and care for the stranger. Now more than ever your support for outreach ministries within our diocese makes a real difference in Southern Ohio communities.

Are you in? Help your neighbors help their neighbors – together, we fund faith in action!
News from Procter Center
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Procter Center is a mid-sized retreat and event facility located in London, Ohio, that serves spiritual, community, business and youth organizations. Procter is also available to families and individuals who seek inspiration, reflection, education, team building and togetherness in a simple, peaceful and secluded setting. 
Camp's Christmas List
Did you have something that you just loved while at camp? Maybe it was a craft project, a favorite game, or tie-die? Do you have a passion for connecting kids to nature? Please consider making a donation to Camp via our Amazon Wish List. Our Day Camp Director, Darien McCoy, has added many fantastic (and needed) items:
a. Follow this Amazon link,
b. Choose what you would like to purchase for Camp.
c. The items are sent directly to Procter Center.
How exciting it will be to open the packages for Camp! It'll be like Christmas morning for Procter! We appreciate each and every donation, and the youth and families will too!
News from our Cathedral
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Christ Church Cathedral is located at 318 E. 4th Street in downtown Cincinnati.
Get all the news from Christ Church Cathedral right to your inbox
Advent and Christmas offerings at the cathedral
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Click here to download a flyer of all Advent and Christmas offerings at Christ Church Cathedral.
Masks are to be worn at all cathedral services and events. 
Music Live at Lunch
Music Live at Lunch, Christ Church Cathedral's weekly concert series, is celebrating its 50th year! Music Live at Lunch will feature the performers listed below in September. These free concerts are presented on Tuesdays at 12:10 p.m. Patrons may bring their own lunch or purchase one at the cathedral. 

For more information, visit cincinnaticathedral.com or call 513-621-1817.

Dec 7: Kyle Meadows (hammered dulcimer) & Tisa McGraw (harp) – Celtic Music
Dec 14: Heri et Hodie: Music for the seasons of Advent and Christmas
Dec 21: Cathedral Choir with Elizabeth Motter (harp): Benjamin Britten’s A Ceremony of Carols 
Handel’s Messiah 

Sunday, December 5
3 p.m. 

Christ Church Cathedral’s director of music Stephan Casurella conducts Collegium Cincinnati in its annual performance of Handel’s Messiah (complete) with orchestra.  
 
Ticket information: cincinnaticathedral.com/concerts. The concert will also be live-streamed. 
YPCC Family Holiday Concert 

Saturday, December 11
4 p.m. 

The Young Professionals Choral Collective (YPCC) Community Carolers conducted by Danielle Cozart Steele sing sacred and secular holiday favorites. Children’s activities precede the concert at 3 p.m. 
 
Ticket information: ypccsing.org/events. Children 12 and under admitted at no charge. 
Lessons and Carols Concert 
Lessons and Carols
Saturday, December 18
7:00 p.m. 

Local singer-songwriters offer readings and Christmas carols in a variety of styles. 

No admission charge. 
Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols
Sunday, December 19 
4:30 p.m.: Pre-service Recital (Stephan Casurella, organist) 
5 p.m.: Lessons and Carols 

Based on a beloved service offered at King's College in Cambridge, England, A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols takes an imaginative approach to liturgy, weaving together scripture and song, moving from prophecy to fulfillment, to tell the story of the birth of Jesus. In addition to carols sung by the congregation, the choir will sing Resonemus laudibus (arr. Willcocks), Adam Lay Ybounden (Boles), I Wonder as I Wander (arr. Rutter), O Come, Divine Messiah (arr. Helvey), Virga Jesse (Juneau), A Maiden Most Gentle (arr. Carter), Jesus, Jesus, Rest Your Head (arr. Halley), Sussex Carol (arr. Willcocks), The Magi's Dream (Whitbourn), and The Huron Carol (arr. Daley). 
Community news & events
Community events
December

4: Celebration of New Ministry for St. Stephen's, Columbus and the Rev. Karl Stevens, 5:30 p.m.
5: Handel's Messiah at Christ Church Cathedral, 3 p.m.
18: Lessons and Carols concert at Christ Church Cathedral, 7 p.m.
19: Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols at Christ Church Cathedral, 5 p.m.
Hope Starts Small: A Contemplative Advent Retreat Day

Saturday, Dec. 4, 2021
9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Zoom
Cost: $30 per person
If you have questions, or to register, contact Rich Plant at info@shalemmidwestregion.org or 330.904.2057.
Alice Connor book event
Alice Connor at Joseph-Beth

The Rev. Alice Connor will be at Jospeh-Beth Booksellers discussing and signing her new book, Brave: Women of the Bible and Their Stories of Grief, Mercy, Folly, Joy, Sex, and Redemption, on Wednesday, Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.

Following the success of her beloved book Fierce, pastor and provocateur Alice Connor introduces us to a whole new group of women from the Bible, including Rachel, Leah, Miriam, Esther, and Lydia. Connor invites us to see them not as players in a man's story - as victims or tempters - nor as solely morality archetypes who teach women to be better wives and mothers, but as brave foremothers of the faith. Skillfully drawn by the author, these women's stories are messy, challenging, and beautiful. When we read their stories, we can see not only their particular, formidable lives but also our own.

Joseph-Beth is located at 2692 Madison Rd. in Cincinnati.
News from The Episcopal Church
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Follow the latest news from The Episcopal Church by subscribing to the Episcopal News Service newsletter
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Province V News

Province V of the Episcopal Church is a wonderful networking resource to connect with Episcopalians from the Midwest who share interest in a same ministry area. Province V News also has information about webinars and other events of interest.
Province V collection for Christmas at Sea
hat and scarf
Start making your donations to bring to the BPG!

Province V of the Episcopal Church’s Big Provincial Gathering will be April 29-30, 2022, in South Bend, Indiana. For this event, we are asking persons to bring handmade items – hats, scarves, ditty bags, etc.– for Christmas at Sea. These will be blessed as part of the Eucharist and then sent to the Seamen’s Church Institute for distribution.

Even if you’re not coming to the BPG, you can send items along with people from your diocese. Please remember to include a card with each of your items.

To learn more about the CAS program, visit this link: https://seamenschurch.org/programs-services/christmas-at-sea/

There is also a recorded CAS presentation on YouTube here:  https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dYCnqsX0ePk


If you have any questions, please email Beth Hall, CAS Designer & Crochet Angel, at CAS@ednin.org  Happy hand working! 
Job opportunities
The Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations
St. Andrew's, Pickerington
Trinity Church on Capitol Square, Columbus
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral
Church of the Redeemer, Cincinnati
St. Anne's, West Chester
St. Philip's, Columbus
Grace Church, College Hill
Need a job posted? Send your information to communication@diosohio.org.
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The Diocese of Southern Ohio
OUR VISION
A church focused outside our doors, loving and serving Jesus Christ in our beloved communities in relevant ways, both new and traditional.
OUR MISSION
Christ is calling us into meaningful connections with each other that transcend all boundaries, and to act on those connections for the benefit of all. By these connections we are made whole.
Diocese of Southern Ohio