Register Now for Annual Convention
November 14-16
Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel, Arlington

The registration form, hotel information, how to submit resolutions, nominations and amendments are now available on the Annual Convention webpage . Register before October 4 to receive early bird pricing ($215). After October 4, the registration fee is $265.

If you have not submitted your Certificate of Election form, please do so as soon as possible. Delegate registration cannot be processed until the church’s Certificate of Election (COE) form has been received by the Convention Registrar .  
Save the Date: Bishop’s Fall Conference for Lay Professionals, Clergy and Spouses
October 21 – 23
Shrine Mont

Last year’s beloved workshop leader, Melissa Rau, will return to lead the plenaries at t he Bishop’s Fall Conference this October.

Melissa is the Senior Program Director of Leadership at Episcopal Church Foundation. She is responsible for overseeing the ECF Leadership Resources areas, which includes Vital Practices, webinars and training, publications and the ECF Fellowship Partners program. Melissa focuses in particular on shaping entrepreneurial and transformational leadership in churches and the communities they serve. She has written and published curriculum and numerous articles for online and printed publications, and more recently co-authored a book—Ten Solutions for Small Churches. Stay tuned for even more about the conference. Registration will open August 19. We can’t wait to see you there! 
Ring Church Bells on August 25
August 25, 3 p.m.
Your church

Presiding Bishop Michael B. Curry and the National Park Service invite churches to participate in a National Bell Ringing on August 25. Join churches around the nation in ringing bells at 3 p.m. for one minute to commemorate and honor the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans to British North America. Will you join us? Contact Aisha Huertas . Learn more .
Apply to Participate in the Triangle of Hope Youth Pilgrimage
The Triangle of Hope is a covenantal community dedicated to transforming the long history, ongoing effects and continuing presence of slavery in our world through repentance, reconciliation and mission. Participant s (rising eighth through eleventh graders) will prepare together through worship, prayer, study and retreats. This will culminate in traveling as pilgrims to another diocese or hosting fellow pilgrims each summer for three summers. Participants are expected to be present for all three years. Questions? Contact triangleofhope@thediocese.net. Learn more. Apply .
Ordinations to the Priesthood
September 7
St. Mary’s, Goochland
God willing, on Saturday, September 7 at 10:30 a.m., Bishop Goff will ordain Daniel Johnson, Patrick Keyser, Amanda Kotval and Kristin Wickersham to the Sacred Order of Priests. All are welcome and invited to attend. Clergy: Red stoles.

September 21
Christ Church, Georgetown (Diocese of Washington)
God willing, on Saturday, September 21 at 10 a.m., Bishop Gulick will ordain Crystal Hardin to the Sacred Order of Priests. Clergy: Red stoles.
Seeing the Face of God in Each Other Workshop
September 6-7
St. Stephen's, Culpeper

The Committee on Dismantling Racism will host a “Seeing the Face of God in Each Other” workshop in the Culpeper Region. The goal of this workshop is for participants to acquire anti-racism tools, explore avenues to reconciliation and renew their spirits.  Learn more and register .
Submit Your Art for Display at Mayo House
Mayo House is starting a rotating display featuring the work of artists and craftspersons in the Diocese. If you or someone you know fits that description, email Megan Nolde with “Art at Mayo” in the subject line. Please include four to five sentences about the work to be shown and five to seven images of work, or a website link. Please note: Not all submitted work will be shown due to the amount of submissions and calendar constraints.
Upcoming at VTS
Webinar: Reimagining Adult Formation
August 15, 3 – 4 p.m. | Free. Join Lisa Kimball for a conversation about how we form adult disciples. Explore what works and what needs to be discarded. Register.

Seminary 101: Introduction to Taking Masters-Level Classes
August 26, 6:30 – 9:20 p.m.| Free. Whether you’re auditing a class this fall or pondering taking a class in the future, this one-night class will introduce seminary terminology, expectations and resources for theological studies. Questions? Email Lifelong Learning . Register .  

Two-Day Intercultural Competency Course
August 28-29, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. | $100. Join new VTS community members as presenters share insights on various aspects of intercultural competence. Questions? Email Lifelong Learning .  Register .
Join Us in Prayer
We pray for St. Stephens & the Good Shepherd, Rocky Bar; Kingston Parish, Mathews (pictured); and Abingdon, White Marsh; as they prepare for their Bishop's Visitations this month. We pray for Bishop Goff in her travels to these congregations. 

We pray for all those attending the diocesan discernment retreat this month.
Church Events
August 17: A Service of Lament, Reconciliation and Commitment The Central Richmond Region will gather to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the arrival of the first enslaved Africans at Jamestown with prayer, lament, reconciliation and a commitment to a better tomorrow. St. John's, Richmond.
September 6, 13, 20 and 27: Sowing the Seeds: an Episcopal Approach to Evangelism Learn the Episcopal way of Evangelism and how to share your walk with God in a way that is authentic and inviting to others. St. Matthew's, Sterling.
September 7: Annual Crab Feast Fundraiser Pohick, Lorton.
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