2022 Budget applications now available |
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Applications for 2022 Budget Requests for ministries supported by the diocesan consolidated budget are now available on the Budget page of the diocesan website.
The deadline for receiving Budget Request Applications in the diocesan office is May 1, 2021. If you have any questions while working on the application or if for any reason have a concern about making the deadline, please reach out to the diocesan office by contacting Carine de Lange, Operations Executive and CFO at cdelange@diosohio.org or 513-405-3234 or the Rev. David Getreu, Associate for Financial Management and Oversight, at dgetreu@diosohio.org or 740-334-9775.
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Next webinar: Audit procedures |
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The Finance Committee will host our next administrative webinar, outlining the new audit procedures for all parishes, on Friday, April 23 at Noon. All treasurers, audit chairs or audit committee members and parish administrators should plan to be on the call to become familiar with the new process.
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ICYMI: Bishop Price's Holy Week message |
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See Bishop Price's Holy Week video message to the diocese, sent 3/29/21 below, or at this link. |
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An update from the Standing Committee: Findings from the survey |
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March 30, 2021
Tuesday in Holy Week
Dear friends in Christ,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
As we said in our letter last week, we have some results to share from the diocesan-wide survey we conducted earlier this year. Thank you to the 1,300 of you to took part in the survey.
The survey has helped us to gain a sense of where we are as a diocese. It is one very important data point, but it is only part of the picture. In addition to the survey, we have listening sessions coming up. We are also listening to those who contact us.
We shared an overview of the findings from the survey with clergy of the diocese last week. There is a call scheduled for April 6, and all persons in the diocese, both laity and clergy, are welcome to join for another presentation of the survey data and our sense of where we are as a diocese. You can find details of how to register for that meeting in the news announcement above.
To summarize the findings, we have determined that we are not ready at this time to proceed immediately with a bishop search. We have some work to do as a diocese before it is time to appoint a search committee.
Among other things, we find that many of us are in a place low energy and low satisfaction. While we might like to blame this on the pandemic, the data suggest to us that our low morale predates the pandemic and has deeper causes. There are issues of trust and a lack of connection to a diocesan vision.
That’s the bad news, as it were. The good news is that we are confident we can address these issues and move to a place of greater health and vitality. We also note that our survey reported high satisfaction with diocesan efforts in congregational development and support. The survey – and the upcoming listening sessions – will help form plans that current diocesan leadership can undertake to nurture trust and establish a deeper sense of connection.
This post is not the place to summarize the full findings of the survey. You can view a summary PowerPoint on this narrated video (or just look at the slides). We also will have an article in the spring Connections magazine with more insights from the survey.
As a reminder, the Standing Committee will meet for an all-day retreat in late May to map out the remainder of our transition time until it is time to seek, elect, and ordain our next diocesan bishop. We will share the timeline and work to be done shortly after that.
As always, if you have questions or concerns, you may contact us at standingcommittee@diosohio.org.
Once again, we are in the midst of a most unusual Holy Week. We cannot gather as we are accustomed and as we would prefer. Despite the limits on in-person gatherings and the challenges of online gatherings, we very much hope this season is a blessing to you, to your church, and to our diocese.
Let us pray.
Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and peace; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Blessings to you. We are,
Yours faithfully,
The Standing Committee
Mr. Larry Hayes, president
The Rev. Philip DeVaul, vice-president
Dr. James Allsop
The Rev. Dr. Ellen Cook
Mr. Barry Feist
The Rev. Canon Scott Gunn
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Dismantling Racism, the Diocese of Southern Ohio’s Anti-Racism training, will be held on Saturday, April 24 via Zoom.
Training consists of viewing a short video, then attending a full-day workshop. Advance registration is required. BEFORE REGISTERING for the workshop, you must watch one of the pre-training videos available on the DSO Learning Portal in the Anti-Racism pre-training section. You will be asked for feedback on the video you watch on your registration form.
If you are unable to make this training, please visit the Absalom Jones Center for Racial Justice and Healing in Atlanta for online training, which currently is also accepted as official training for our diocese. No in-person training is available at this time.
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Diocesan-wide confirmation class |
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Becoming Beloved Community |
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As the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement, we dream and work to foster Beloved Communities where all people may experience dignity and abundant life and see themselves and others as beloved children of God. |
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Ohio House hearing cancelled on bill to arm teachers with minimal gun safety training: The Ohio House Criminal Justice Committee cancelled its March 25 hearing on HB 99, which would allow school districts to arm teachers and staff with as little as eight (8) hours of gun safety training. At least 58 people submitted opposition testimony and 753 sent messages via Everytown Ohio asking their reps to vote no on this bill.
Ohio Energy policy in flux:The Ohio Legislature continues to wrestle over renewable energy as the giant federal corruption case over HB 6 continues, with First Energy confirmed as the source of bribes and the legislature still unable to decide whether to expel former Speaker Larry Householder, defendant in the federal case.
www.dsoconnections.org
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Advocacy briefings are compiled by Ariel Miller, a member of Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming, and a member of the diocesan Becoming Beloved Community Leadership Team. |
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Follow the latest news and events related to The Episcopal Church's work on Becoming Beloved Community here in our diocese at http://dsobeloved.org.
Click here to subscribe to the Becoming Beloved Community newsletter
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Connecting with Procter Center |
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Order Happy Harvest Boxes from Procter with camp registration |
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While registering for any of our six sessions of Family Camp or Senior High Camp, sign up for a Happy Harvest Box! At the end of camp week, snag your pre-ordered box, which will be packed with fresh-picked vegetables from the farm! $17 per box. |
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Connecting with our cathedral |
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Music Live at Lunch, Christ Church Cathedral's weekly concert series, will feature these upcoming performances listed below in April. Currently these free concerts are being live streamed via Facebook on Tuesdays at 12:10 p.m.
April 6: Boutique
April 13: Wei-Shuan Yu (viola da gamba and cello)
April 20: TBA
April 27: Ricky Nye (piano)
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Good Friday, April 2
7 p.m.
The Christ Church Cathedral Choir
Canticles: Magnifcat and Nunc dimittis – Caleb Burhans
Anthem: There Is a Green Hill Far Away – Philip Stopford
Live streaming available at this link.
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Vigil at the Altar of Repose |
Centennial Chapel
Maundy Thursday & Good Friday
April 1-2
The night before he was crucified, Jesus spent several hours in the Garden of Gethsemane in anguished prayer. When his disciples fell asleep, he pled with them to stay awake to pray, asking, “Can you not watch with me one hour?” Remembering this, and as an act of devotion, Christians have traditionally kept vigil throughout the night leading from Maundy Thursday into Good Friday. This vigil is a time to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament and to watch and wait while contemplating the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. We invite you to make this part of your Holy Week by signing up to take an hour of the vigil from 9 p.m. on April 1 until 12 p.m. on April 2. (Multiple people can sign up each hour.) Sign-up is available online or at the cathedral’s reception desk. The cathedral will have a security guard on the premises throughout the night.
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Taft Lecture Series: How Has COVID-19 Exposed Health Disparities? |
Join us for the first virtual Taft Lecture Series offering of 2021! Local leaders will come together to discuss the health disparities that became impossible to ignore during the COVID-19 pandemic. This lecture series will include a panel discussion with a Q&A session to follow.
We invite you all to join us for this virtual offering on Tuesday, April 13, beginning at 7 p.m.
Funded by The Charles P. and Eleanor Taft Memorial Fund, the Taft Lecture Series features provocative thinkers, writers, teachers, theologians, social justice activists and leaders in the fields of religion, social science, the arts, politics and more. Lectures are presented once or twice or year, as the featured speakers’ schedules permit.
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High School Choral Scholar Program |
Application Deadline June 15
Christ Church Cathedral’s High School Choral Scholar Program provides Cincinnati area high school students an opportunity to join the Cathedral Choir as apprentices. Successful applicants will receive intensive training in the art of fine choral singing so that they may begin the process of learning to perform at a professional level. They study a wide range of repertoire, such as works by Tallis, Brahms and Howells, as well as spirituals and music of other cultures. For their efforts, they receive a monthly scholarship throughout the academic year.
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Christ Church Cathedral Choir auditions |
Monday, July 19 – Friday, July 23
(or earlier by appointment)
Do you love to sing? Then consider auditioning for a position in the Christ Church Cathedral Choir during the 2021-22 season! As a cathedral chorister, you will sing at weekly Sunday morning services, monthly Evensong services, and other major liturgical observances in the church year. Positions are open for paid and volunteer choristers, as well as substitute choristers.
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In addition to the many wonderful offerings happening around the diocese, Christ Church Cathedral would like to welcome you and your families to our Holy Week and Easter services. Services will be held both in person and online, so you can choose the worship experience that is right for you. All are welcome! Details available at cincinnaticathedral.com.
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*In Response to COVID-19
All programming is subject to change due to pandemic-related restrictions. Whenever possible, we will offer services and concerts via live stream if in-person gatherings are not permitted. Please check the cathedral website (cincinnaticathedral.com) for updates throughout the season.
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Christ Church Cathedral is located at 318 E 4th Street in downtown Cincinnati. For more information, news and events, visit cincinnaticathedral.com. |
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IT resources for congregations |
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Churches that need help with equipment or consulting for live streaming or other IT needs to assist them in offering their services and meetings virtually should contact the Rev. Canon John Johanssen in the bishop's office, at jjohanssen@diosohio.org.
Canon Johanssen has begun a project to match the specific IT needs of our churches with the resources we have discovered within the diocese.
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Virtual Annual Meeting of the Society of St. Simeon and St. Anna |
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Please join us for the Virtual Annual Meeting of the Society of St. Simeon and St. Anna on Tuesday, April 20, 2021 on Zoom
10 a.m.: Welcome and Morning Prayer
10:30 a.m.: Induction of New Members
While we are still unable to be together in person for this very important event; we want to gather virtually to accept our newly inducted members and honor our existing members. Register in advance for this gathering here.
If you need assistance using Zoom, please contact Ann Sabo at asabo@diosohio.org or by calling 513-421-0311. We hope to see you there! |
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Province V Suicide Prevention Network |
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Network Meeting - Apr. 6, 11 am ET / 10 am CT
Soul Shop's focus is on equipping congregations and communities to minister to persons impacted by suicide. Come listen to Michelle Snyder as she introduces Soul Shop to us and hear her describe how to create a Soul Safe Community that is protective against suicide and equips congregations for substantive mental health ministry.
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Women Peacemakers Webinar |
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April 7, 2021 (16:00 IST | 9:00 EST)
A virtual event with Churches for Middle East Peace featuring women peacemakers from Israel/Palestine. Tamar Samash (Women Wage Peace) and Huda Abuarquob (the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP)) will speak about their personal experiences engaging women in peacemaking. Facilitating this discussion will be Rebecca Blachly, Director of the Office of Government Relations. Registration required.
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Next Connections: A Year in Isolation
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The Spring 2021 issue of Connections will center on the theme, A Year in Isolation: Stories of Loss, Resilience and Hope. Do you have a story to share? Submission deadline for this issue is April 9.
Submissions for Connections must include a name, phone number and contact email for verification. We reserve the right to edit material submitted for publication. A full two-page spread article with art is approximately 1200 -1400 words, a single page is approximately 600 words. Pictures must be high-resolution .jpeg files (minimum 300 dpi) sent as separate attachments, not embedded in a document file.
For questions or to submit items for publication, contact Connections editor Julie Murray at jmurray@diosohio.org.
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A Post-Pandemic Pilgrimage/Study Trip to the Holy Land
July 27 - August 6, 2021. Explore the sites of the Holy Land (Jerusalem, West Bank, and Galilee) through the theological lens of a pluralist Orthodox Rabbi, an Israeli political activist and a religious educator and Episcopal priest.
Read more
www.dsoconnections.org
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Connecting with The Episcopal Church |
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Join Presiding Bishop Curry for Ecumenical Advocacy Days |
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Ecumenical Advocacy Days, also known as EAD, is an annual gathering of Christian advocates and activists that is just around the corner, happening virtually April 18-21. The 2021 theme is “Imagine! God’s Earth and People Restored.” The Office of Government Relations has been coordinating with EAD and the Presiding Bishop's office, and we are excited to announce that Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will be the opening preacher at this year’s event. There will also be a virtual Episcopal caucus event for Episcopalians in attendance. Act quickly, as the early bird registration deadline is April 1. We hope to have a strong showing of Episcopalians there!
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St. Mark's, Upper Arlington
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Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming
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Grace Church, College Hill
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St. Paul's, Oakwood (Dayton)
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Forward this email to a friend, and encourage them to sign up to receive e-Connections! |
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Download our app! DSOConnect
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