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From Planting to Harvesting Church Gardens

A Conversation with the Creation Care Task Force

February 21, 7 p.m. via Zoom


Whether your parish or institution has an established garden, is interested in beginning one or wants to learn more about this ministry, you'll want to join the Rev. Deacon Courtenay Evans via Zoom for idea sharing and inspiration. You can register here.

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Lenten Storytelling

Weeks of March 6 through April 3


Bishop Porter Taylor's next online series is intended to help us discover how we can consciously walk the way of Lent. Each week participants will focus on one of the readings from the Lenten lectionary for the upcoming Sunday. This is not a Bible study; this is a community sharing how they have walked and are walking the Lenten pilgrimage by engaging weekly themes embedded in scripture and in selected poems for Lent and Easter. If you wish to join the class, email Anita Lisk and indicate whether you would prefer to join the group meeting on Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m. or Thursdays at 1:30 p.m. Read the full class description

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Invitation Leads to Vibrant Neighborhood Ministry

By the Rev. Anne West


Some stories don’t really have a beginning or a plan -- they are simply God inspired. Two faithful women from Grace Church in Standardsville, Jean Byerly and Betty Moreland, made an offer to some of the neighborhood children to take them bike riding on Thursdays after school. Eventually they added Mondays so that they could keep each riding group to 4 kids and 2 adults. The group became known as FAB (Ford Avenue Bikers.) They rode through town, at the school playground, and down the lane to the harbor, where they could pick and eat delicious berries right off the vine. Read more.



Got a Good News story to share? Send it to Nancy Chafin. 

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Paris Ball Departs Role as Minister of Christian Formation; Continues Leading Shrine Mont Camps through Summer 2022

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The Rt. Rev. Susan Goff, Bishop Suffragan and Ecclesiastical Authority, announced today that Paris Ball will be leaving her position as Minister for Christian Formation on February 25. Paris will, however, remain as Shrine Mont Camps Director through the end of the 2022 summer camp season, at which time she will complete her work on diocesan staff. 


Since 2006, Paris has created and overseen diocesan formation ministries across the Diocese of Virginia, including Parish Youth Ministries (PYM), diocesan Campus Ministry support, formation leader education events, seasonal offerings for congregations, the Grace-on-the-Hill Episcopal Service Corps program, young adult mission trips to Haiti and South Africa, various retreats and events for people of all ages, and Shrine Mont Camps. During her tenure as Director of Shrine Mont Camps, Paris has served thousands of campers and families and directed over 200 employees.


Bishop Goff said, "For 16 years, Paris Ball has brought energy, creativity, skill and joy to ministries with children, youth and young adults in this Diocese. We will miss those gifts, along with her warm smile and quick laughter, as we send her forth to a next big adventure. I thank God for Paris!"  


The Diocese will enter into a period of discernment to consider what shape diocesan formation ministries might take in the future. This process will be greatly influenced by the creative vision and missional priorities of the next diocesan bishop.


Through August 2022, all Shrine Mont Camps-related communications should continue to come to Paris Ball via email or phone at 804-643-8451. In order to support formation leaders in our congregations, the Office of Christian Formation will be building a robust library of resources and connections on our diocesan website. Mark Eastham, Secretary and Chief of Staff, will serve as interim liaison to campus ministries. 

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Ordination of Transitional Deacons

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Saturday, March 5, 10:30 a.m. | The Falls Church (Map | YouTube)



God willing, the Rt. Rev. Susan Goff will ordain Paul Evans, Suzanne Hood, Stacy Kelly, Kevin Laskowski, Kevin Newell, Natalie Perl Regan, Julie Rodriguez, Winnie Smith, and Leah Wise to the Sacred Order of Deacons. Masking and distancing will be observed in person. Livestream available through The Falls Church's YouTube channel.  

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Shrine Mont Camps 2022 is Now Hiring

Do you know a young adult 18-25 years old who might enjoy a summer spent working with young people and their peers? Camp counselors come from a variety of backgrounds, perspectives, and environments -- you do not need to be a former Shrine Mont camper or even have a background working with children to succeed in this job. Help us spread the word and invite young adults to learn more about the open positions on the Shrine Mont Camps website. We're happy to start with a conversation rather than the application, so encourage potential staff to contact Paris Ball.

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Certificates of Election for Annual Convention

We have two conventions coming up in the next several months:

June 4: Special Electing Convention for the election of our next Bishop Diocesan

November 17-19: Annual Convention 

All congregations' Certificates of Election for Convention Lay Delegates are due April 15. If a congregation does not submit certificates before the Electing Convention, your lay delegates to last November's Annual Convention will remain your delegates for the Electing Convention. Congregations that submit by April 15 will have the same delegates for Electing Convention and the November 2022 Annual Convention. Click here for Certificate forms. Questions? Contact Bill Martin.

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