Diocesan Visioning Sessions
Bishop Goff and Bishop Brooke-Davidson invite you to take part in the Diocesan Visioning Tour during the season of Epiphany. This will be a series of conversations with your bishops about the vision for the Diocese for the next few years. Please plan to attend a gathering near you.

Dates and Locations
Wednesday, January 15, 6:30 p.m. at Christ Church, Glen Allen
Thursday, January 16, 3:30 p.m. at Christchurch School
Thursday, January 23, 7:00 p.m. at Aquia Church, Stafford
Thursday, January 30, 6:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s, Ivy
Saturday, February 8, 1:00 p.m. at Calvary, Front Royal
Saturday, February 15, 1:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd, Burke
Saturday, February 29, 10:00 a.m. at St. Peter's, Arlington

Shrine Mont Camps Registration Now Open
Registration for Shrine Mont Camps’ Summer 2020 opened on January 7. Discounted Early Bird rates are available through the end of February. Register now to reserve your camper’s spot. Dates, rates and camp descriptions can be found at www.shrinemontcamps.net .
The First-Ever LGBTQ+ Diocesan Retreat
Bringing Our Whole Selves: Exploring the Vital Gifts the Queer Community Offers to the Church
August 21-23 | Shrine Mont, Orkney Springs

Join us and deepen your walk with Christ in a spiritual space designed by our community, for our community, sponsored by the Diocese of Virginia. Come and share your whole self with God and the Church without pretenses. Start new friendships with people across our Diocese, deepen existing relationships, be at peace in the presence of God and your fellow siblings. Our keynote speaker will be the Rev. Elizabeth Edman, Episcopal priest and author of Queer Virtue: What LGBTQ People Know About Life and Love and How It Can Revitalize Christianity . Registration ends on May 10 and space is limited! Learn more and register . For questions about the retreat and scholarships, email lgbtqministrydiova@gmail.com .
Lunch & Learn – Discuss Lenten Resources with Formation Leaders
January 16, 12:30-1:30 p.m., via Zoom

The Lunch & Learn formation webinar series will kick off with a discussion led by Paris Ball on Lenten resources for the upcoming season. This series of monthly webinars is an opportunity for lay and ordained church staff and volunteers to come together and discuss a monthly topic of interest. Learn more and register.
Creation Care Advocacy: The Intersection of Marginalized Communities and the Environment
February 22, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Trinity, Fredericksburg

At the 225th Annual Convention, we heard about the importance of caring for God’s creation. Learn how carelessness for creation affects the most vulnerable and how we can be advocates for change. Registration $20, lunch included. Questions? Contact Aisha Huertas .
Week of Prayer for Christian Unity
January 18-25
Service of Observance | January 22, 7 p.m.
St. Bernadette Catholic Church, Springfield

The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity has  a history of over 100 years , in which Christians around the world have taken part in eight days of prayer for visible Christian unity. This year, the Week of Prayer will be observed with a service in Northern Virginia led by Bishop Jones, Bishop Michael Burbidge of the Catholic Diocese of Arlington and Bishop Leila Ortiz of the Metro DC Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Fellowship and a light reception will follow the service.
Designing Dynamic Liturgies: A Ten-Week Course for Clergy & Musicians
Tuesdays at 7 p.m., February 25 - April 28, via Zoom

This course will explore principles and best practices for designing dynamic liturgies. The topics covered include the liturgical year, the Eucharist, Baptism, Lent and Holy Week, and special services. Special attention will be paid to smaller-resourced parishes. Learn more and register.
PitchTank - Exploring Church Entrepreneurship
January 24
Rooted in Jesus Conference

VTS TryTank is casting a wide net for the next great innovation idea for the church by introducing PitchTank, an opportunity for church entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas to a panel of experts. Pitch your ideas live at the conference or over videoconferencing. The selected ideas will receive a budget of up to $5,000 to launch their experiment. Learn more. Submit an idea.  
Upcoming at VTS
Join Us in Prayer
We pray for Emmanuel, Greenwood; Christ Church, Luray; Olivet, Alexandria; Christ Ascension, Richmond; and St. John's, Columbia (pictured), as they prepare for their Bishop's Visitations. We pray for Bishop Goff, Bishop Brooke-Davidson and Bishop Gulick as they travel to these congregations. 
Calendar and Church Events
January 12: Mass on the Epiphany in Creation Hear Mary Oliver’s poetry in the framework of the Eucharist and become aware of God’s presence among us in everyday, unexpected places. S t. Aidan's, Alexandria.
January 19: A Celtic Service of Evening Prayers and Holy Eucharist Grace, Kilmarnock.
February 9: Benefit Concert for Haymarket Regional Food Pantry St. Paul's, Haymarket . 
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