The renovation work is (mostly) finished and on Friday the movers returned all of our office furniture, so as of today, the diocesan office is back to our normal location at 412 Sycamore Street.
Prompted by a complete overhaul of the ancient heating and air conditioning system, the newly renovated Diocesan House has new electrical wiring, fresh paint, carpet and ceilings throughout. The bishop's staff is now busy unpacking and settling in to a fresh, clean and comfortable working space. Hopefully all will be back to normal in a few weeks.
If you find yourself in downtown Cincinnati, we hope you will stop by and see our beautiful new space!
We may have new furniture, but the same friendly face is manning the front desk to welcome you! Erick "The Voice of the Diocese" Williams will be happy to give you a tour!
Resources
Looking for forms, policies, all the “stuff” that churches need? Our resources page is a hub that will take you to whatever you are looking for!
Filing of the 2021 Parochial Report opened January 4.
To prepare for the upcoming filing year, downloadable forms and instructions are available on our website and the Episcopal Church website. There you will also find a video tutorial and detailed instructions.
A reminder that reports are filed online at: https://reports.dfms.orgusing your previous login information from the previous year. Administrators should have received an email from the General Convention Office with the login information.
The canonical deadline for filing your 2021 Parochial Report is March 1, 2022.
Becoming Beloved Community
With support from the United Thank Offering, the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio has committed to the call of Becoming Beloved Community, with deepening focus on the work of racial healing, reconciliation, and justice-making.
How to send your input in fast timeline for new district maps
In twin decisions making national headlines, Ohio’s Supreme Court ruled that the new state and Congressional district maps adopted this fall by the General Assembly are unconstitutional, and ordered them to be redrawn to comply with specific standards based in the constitutional amendments overwhelmingly approved by Ohio voters to prevent partisan gerrymandering. The rulings come in the thick of the national battle over protecting the principles that all votes should count equally and all eligible voters should have equal access to the vote. This week – starting with the national holiday honoring voting rights leader Martin Luther King – brings a climactic debate on both issues in the U.S. Senate.
By a tiny thread – 4-3 bipartisan decisions by our state Supreme Court – the voter-approved redistricting process keeps alive the hope of fair maps. Meanwhile, by making an icon of the filibuster (long used by segregationists to block voting rights), two Democratic Senators are stopping the U.S. Senate from passing uniform national standards to prevent gerrymandering and replace state laws that disproportionately hamper the ability of poor and minority voters (including Native Americans) to cast their votes.
The Ohio Supreme Court retains jurisdiction to review the constitutionality of the revised maps
Public input is vital to keep a bright light on this process. As of Jan. 17, the email address to the Ohio Redistricting Commission was not functioning, so the best option is to write to your Senator and Representative (see “Who Represents Me?”) and two Redistricting Commission members who are also members of the General Assembly: House Speaker Bob Cupp and Senator Vernon Sykes. In a short letter, cite your values, tell why changing the map matters to you, and how gerrymandering affects your community and its needs.
Read more for links to the Ohio Supreme Court decisions, in particular the sections relevant to Hamilton and Franklin County, which contain the majority of the congregations in our diocese.
Advocacy briefings and updates are compiled by Ariel Miller, a member of Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming, and a member of the diocesan Becoming Beloved Community Leadership Team.
Forming, a podcast from the Formation Team, is back with Season 2. Click here to catch up on all of our episodes and subscribe to get notifications when new episodes are released.
In Season Two, we will invite new guests, cover new topics, and have a chance to engage with listeners! In our first episode, the Rev. Christopher Richardson interviews leadership from the October TransFaith Matters event and they share more about the TransFaith Matters community.
Clergy Formation Opportunity
Christian teaching about the resurrection is at the bedrock of our faith and our hope and yet is often poorly understood.
Join Father Dan McClain, Priest-in-charge at St. Paul’s, Dayton, and Affiliate Professor of Theology at the General Theological Seminary, for a five-session series, beginning February 3 at 3 p.m. (through June 2), on the Resurrection, using Archbishop Rowan Williams’ book, Resurrection: Interpreting the Easter Gospel (Dartman, Longman, & Todd: 1982).
Copies of Resurrection will be provided for participants.
Procter Center is a mid-sized retreat and event facility located in London, Ohio, that serves spiritual, community, business and youth organizations. Procter is also available to families and individuals who seek inspiration, reflection, education, team building and togetherness in a simple, peaceful and secluded setting.
Soaps, candles, sweet treats, teas, coffee, syrups, jams, honey, home décor, Procter apparel, holiday decorations, ornaments, jewelry, spices and spice blends, salsas, dips, dressings, art pieces, and more!
In the past, we have always closed for the months of January, February and March. Not this year! In 2022 the store will hold winter hours, open each Saturday, 9 a.m. to noon.
In April the store will have our Spring Plant Sale and go back to our Thursday, Friday and Saturday operating hours.
Stay up to date on store events by following us on Facebook!
News from our Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is located at 318 E. 4th Street in downtown Cincinnati.
For the health and safety of all, the cathedral has reinstated its policy requiring the wearing of masks by all who attend its worship services or events.
Music Live at Lunch
Music Live at Lunch, Christ Church Cathedral's weekly concert series, is celebrating its 50th year! These free concerts are presented on Tuesdays at 12:10 p.m. Patrons may bring their own lunch or purchase one at the cathedral.
Jan 25: The Faux Frenchmen – Hot Club-driven jazz
Feb 1: Heri et Hodie – A Viking-inspired program
Feb 8: The Matt Tolentino Band – Jazz
Feb 15: Cantata Chamber Ensemble – Bach cantatas
Feb 22: Wayside Winds – Classical & contemporary music
Choral Evensong
Sunday, February 6
5 p.m.
The Christ Church Cathedral Choir
Canticles: The Chichester Service – Malcolm Archer
Anthem: All Wisdom Cometh from the Lord – Philip Moore
Organ Recital
Sunday, February 20
3 p.m.
Organist Nathan Laube performs a recital on the cathedral’s new organ, Richards, Fowkes & Co. Opus 24. The program features fantasies and fugues from the Baroque stylus fantasticus to the modern era, exploring the contrast between the heightened drama of the fantasy and the fugue’s clarity of design.
No admission charge.
News from the diocesan community
Put your events on the community calendar, and we will highlight them here! Send events to Julie Murray to be added to the calendar.
February
6: Choral Evensong at Christ Church Cathedral, 5 p.m.
11: Red Door Community Concert at Holy Trinity, Oxford, 12:15 p.m.
20: Organ Recital at Christ Church Cathedral, 3 p.m.
Frank Huang is a Steinway Artist and currently serves as an Associate Professor of Piano at Miami University in Oxford, OH. A native of Seattle, WA, Mr. Huang obtained both a Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Juilliard School and a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music. He has gained international recognition for his artistry and technical command as well as his "thoughtful and accomplished performances." Among his creative interests is performing lesser-known classical music and works of our times, including the works he will play at this concert. This concert should be a real treat!
News from The Episcopal Church
Follow the latest news from The Episcopal Church by subscribing to the Episcopal News Service newsletter
Province Vof the Episcopal Church is a wonderful networking resource to connect with Episcopalians from the Midwest who share interest in a same ministry area. Province V Newsalso has information about webinars and other events of interest.
Want to support Afghan families but not sure where to start? Join ‘Welcoming Afghans’ webinar Jan. 20
[Office of Public Affairs] Episcopal Migration Ministries will host a webinar on Thursday, Jan. 20, from 2 to 3 p.m. ET for those interested in learning more about how to provide support and welcome to Afghan individuals through a new sponsorship initiative.
Episcopal Migration Ministries’ Neighbor to Neighbor program, which connects Episcopal congregations with asylum seekers for friendship and support, is now an official Sponsor Circle Umbrella under the Sponsor Circle Program for Afghans. This initiative is a partnership between the U.S. State Department and Community Sponsorship Hub, a project of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors Inc.
Through this new program, individuals are able to form sponsor circles to provide initial resettlement assistance to Afghans as they arrive and build new lives in local communities. Many evacuated Afghans are at military bases across the U.S., awaiting placement.
A church focused outside our doors, loving and serving Jesus Christ in our beloved communities in relevant ways, both new and traditional.
OUR MISSION
Christ is calling us into meaningful connections with each other that transcend all boundaries, and to act on those connections for the benefit of all. By these connections we are made whole.
