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In the News
Christ Church, Oberlin St. Mark's, Canton
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Homesteading Retreat at Bellwether Farm
Bellwether Farm is holding a Homesteading Retreat on September 26. As a participant, you will choose four workshop offerings, including topics such as regenerative gardening, farm-to-table cooking, pickling, sewing and mending, and more. A farm-fresh lunch and dinner will be provided, and participants have the option to stay for an Evening Compline service upon the completion of dinner. All workshops and meals will be observing strict social distancing guidelines and masks will be required for the duration of the retreat. The design of these programs is intended for participants 16+. Please contact Amy Melena, Camp and Program Director, with any questions. There are only 20 spots available. For more information, visit the Bellwether Farm website. Should cost be prohibitive, please contact Amy Melena.
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We could use a hand! Bellwether Farm is busier than ever and we would love volunteer farm help! For every Wednesday and Friday in September, we are looking for volunteers interested in harvesting, weeding, seeding, and sorting our fall season crops. Wednesday mornings have been designated "adult-only" to allow adult volunteers the opportunity to safely help out on the farm, while Fridays are being catered to participants of all ages. Please sign-up through the appropriate Eventbrite and reach out to Amy Melena if you have any questions.
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Youth in grades 6-12 are invited to gather for Diocesan Youth Days - separate three days in three separate locations. The final Diocesan Youth Day will be held on September 26. Each one will be a little different, but each will give us a chance to unplug, relax, and enter a rhythm of prayer. Let's remind each other that with God, we can survive, thrive and vibe - even in the wilderness. All Safeguarding and social distancing protocols will be strictly enforced, following Diocesan standards. Masks covering nose and mouth are required at all times (except when actively eating). We will not be singing. All activities will be outside, and we will only enter buildings for restrooms. Health checks will be conducted day-of, and we will practice contact tracing. Each event will be capped at 15 youth. You may register for more than one. Each day will run roughly from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m., but more details will come after you register. More info and registration can be found at Dohio.org/DYE. Any questions can be directed to the Rev. Anna Sutterisch, Canon for Christian Formation at 216.774.0460, 513.582.8319, or asutterisch@dohio.org.
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2021 Episcopal Community Services Grant
Episcopal Community Services (ECS) provides grant funding for parish ministries and partnerships in the Diocese of Ohio that strengthen our communities and serve our neighbors. The Bishop's Annual Appeal provides essential resources for ECS to help parishes fund community ministries. We expect our funds for 2021 grants to be limited compared to prior years. Therefore, we will be giving priority to parish based programs over other community programs in the coming grant cycle. The submission of a 2021 Episcopal Community Services grant application is an online process. Applications will be accepted until September 30. You will receive an automatic reply acknowledging when your grant application is submitted. If your grant is approved, you'll receive funding in February 2021. For additional information, please email grants@dohio.org. For technical difficulties, email bbergstrom@dohio.org.
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Personal and Family Retreat
Bellwether Farm is beginning to provide limited overnight accommodations. Personal and Family Retreats are a safe way to provide individuals, couples, and families an opportunity to spend the weekend at Bellwether on October 9-11, October 16-18, and October 23-25.
These self-led retreats begin at dinner on Friday night and end Sunday morning with breakfast and a farmer's market. The package includes two dinners, two breakfasts, one lunch, and room accommodations. All meals are farm-to-table and locally sourced, allowing guests to experience the creative collaboration of Chef Lonny and Farmer Kyle in every meal. Guests also have the option to reserve one of five common rooms for additional space for gathering - perfect for reading and games. Each includes a coffee maker, mini-fridge, couches, chairs, and a table. Fishing poles can be reserved for $5 per family (live bait included!), as well as campfire pits free of charge.
Guests will have the option to volunteer on the farm Saturday morning with Farmer Kyle. Outside of farm work and meals, retreatants are free to fill their time on the property as they please. We ask that you share close proximity only with those within your group and keep socially distanced from other guests and staff. Please remember to bring your mask.
Visit the website for a schedule of the weekend, as well as individual and group pricing. Register via Eventbrite soon; space is limited for each weekend .
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Ministry Discernment Day will be held on Saturday, October 10 from 10:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. This day is for anyone seeking information on the ordination process either to the diaconate or to the priesthood. Both you and your rector are required to attend. The meeting format and place are still to be determined.
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Anti-Racism training is required for all individuals in elected and appointed Diocesan positions, and it is also open to all members of the Diocese.
The Commission for Racial Understanding will offer this two-day training on the following dates: - October 10 and 11 (5 openings left) - Zoom video conference (Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. both days)
- November 6 and 7 (Session is full. Please register to be added to the wait list) - Bellwether Farm (Friday and Saturday) from 10:00 a.m. until 7:00 p.m. on the first day and 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. on the second day. Food is covered by the Diocese of Ohio.
The cost of the training materials is covered by the Diocese of Ohio, but lodging is the responsibility of the participant (or their parish). You must commit to attending the full sessions and to doing the off-line work. Lodging options for Bellwether Farm are shown on the registration form. To register for Anti-Racism training please click the registration form.
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Exploring God's Creation: Spiritual Walks at Bellwether
Bellwether Farm is a ministry rooted in a Christian spirituality of inclusive community and care of creation. As one way to connect with God in creation, we will host regular Sunday afternoon walks offering nature-based spirituality in the context of the woods and wonders of Bellwether Farm. All generations are invited and welcomed to join Chaplain Anna to hike, pray, explore, and connect to God and each other through nature in these masked, socially distant, curated hikes. This will be a year-round offering, with our first gathering on October 11 from 3:00 - 5:00 p.m. A simple soup supper, served in accordance with state and diocesan protocols, will be available following, and a freewill offering will be collected. Please register for the Spiritual Walks prior to attending.
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Clergy Day will be held from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. via Zoom on October 13. The topic will be "November 3rd - How do you feel? How do you lead?" Please register with Betty Kondrich at bkondrich@ohio.org. All full time parochial clergy are required to attend. Exceptions may be made by writing the Bishop's Office in care of Eva Cole at ecole@dohio.org.
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Bellwether's Buy 1 Give 1 Turkey Project
Bellwether Farm is raising turkeys this season, caring for them and giving them access to all the things they love: sunshine, pasture, and all kinds of bugs. We expect to have a limited number available by Thanksgiving and will be selling them as part of our 2020 farm-to-parish COVID-19 response initiative, Feeding the Beloved Community. Since May, we have been able to donate produce and pork to five parochial hot meal programs, and are excited to have the opportunity of adding turkeys during the holiday season. Here's how it works: A contribution of $100 ($50 of which is tax-deductible) will cover two turkeys - one to enjoy with your friends and family and one to be enjoyed in the hot meal programs we are supporting. There will be 45 partnerships available on a first-come, first-serve basis, and you can sign up here, or by contacting Kyle Mitchell. Pick-up days will be Saturday, November 21; Monday, November 23; and Tuesday, November 24. Your turkey can either be fresh or freshly frozen.
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The Young Adult Ministry Grant, funded by the United Thank Offering (UTO) and distributed by the Diocesan Young Adult Task Force, is a new grant to encourage parishes, mission areas, etc. to experiment and take bold action to attract and engage young adults (19-30). Applications will be reviewed monthly, and funds must be used by May 2021. Members of the task force are available to brainstorm with you, and have included some ideas in the grant application.
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Resources from the Episcopal Church for addressing racist violence are available. This is a growing list of litanies, learning opportunities, and suggested actions and connections from across The Episcopal Church and beyond. There are links to some specialized resources on the Diocesan website. As you are thinking about how to respond in your parish and community, please be in touch with the Rev. Margaret D'Anieri, Canon for Mission, at mdanieiri@dohio.org.
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Groundwater Equity Training
Trinity Cathedral is offering an online Groundwater Equity Training beginning on October 3. The curriculum of this program is rooted in the national Episcopal Church's Becoming Beloved Community curriculum. Due to a generous donation from a private donor and grant funding from the Diocese, this class will be offered at a greatly reduced cost. Registration is now open.
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Grants Available from Grace, Sandusky
Grace, Sandusky announces the opening of the Outreach Grants Fall 2020 process. Any individual or organization may request a grant from $200 to $1,000. Grant guidelines and a simple grant application are available. Grants must be completed by September 1, 2021. Grantees will have the opportunity to share written and pictorial information of completed projects. Grant requests for funding that incorporate Christian Episcopal beliefs of learning, serving and sharing will be given preference. The grant application deadline is Tuesday, October 13 (postmarked). Checks will be distributed by December 31. For more information call the Rev. Jan Smith Wood at 419.625.6919 .
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The Basics of Faith-Based Public Advocacy
Province V of The Episcopal Church, a network of fourteen mid-western dioceses including the Diocese of Ohio, is partnering with the Public Theology Network to offer a mini-series, The Basics of Faith-Based Public Advocacy. The series will be held on October 6, October 13, October 20, and October 27 from 6:00-7:15 p.m on Zoom. The topics include: How to be an Advocate (October 6); Moses and Jesus as Public Theologians (October 13); "Can I say that?": Religious Speech, the First Amendement and your 501(c)3 Status (October 20); and What does the world really think about the U.S.? (October 27). Register for all or one of the events. For more information, visit the Province V website.
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Episcopal Evangelism Grants Available for Local and Regional Efforts
Episcopal institutions can now apply for the next round of the Episcopal Evangelism Grants Program, designed to fund local and regional evangelism efforts in the Episcopal Church. The application deadline is November 15 at 11:00 p.m. The new grant cycle will focus on projects that explore new methods of evangelism. Congregations, dioceses, provinces, schools, monastic communities, and other Episcopal organizations are eligible to apply. Regional collaborative partnerships with non-Episcopal entities are welcome as long as an Episcopal entity is the project leader, active manager, and reporting agent. Groups receiving grants are expected to make significant financial contributions toward their projects, and to report what they have learned to the wider church. The Grants Committee will make its recommendations to Executive Council in December, and funds will be distributed in early 2021. More information can be found on The Episcopal Church website.
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