February 23, 2021
Next Zoom gathering to focus on mental health
virtual gatherings
The subject for our next laity Zoom gathering with the bishop (Tuesday, March 2, 6:30 p.m.) is coping with mental health issues among adults and teens in our congregations that are brought on by the restrictions of COVID-19. Bishop Price has invited certain individuals within our diocese to speak to this subject, but in addition he commends for your reading articles from the Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic,, CDC, NIH and other sources that the Rev. Dr. Kathleen Murray, a priest and physician in our diocese, has provided. We will also have some time for those on the call to share any challenges affecting your congregation and ways you are coping.


If you have not yet registered for the gathering, it is not too late. Register in advance at: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAscuuqrTkuGdFkHVq0pmQp1yZJtXF9zm5N After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. If we reach our maximum attendance, another call may be added. The conversation will be recorded and made available on our Video page for those who are unable to attend.
Church Foundation Grants
The Church Foundation, an elected body of the diocese, awards grants primarily for one-time capital projects and/or emergency assistance for facility improvements. We are accepting Church Foundation applications at this time and any pending applications need to be submitted by Wednesday, March 3, for the trustees to discuss at their March 12 meeting. 

For more information on how to apply for a Church Foundation grant, visit https://episcopaliansinconnection.org/financial-assistance-2#ChurchFoundation or contact the Rev. David Getreu at dgetreu@diosohio.org.
Formation
The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song
An intimate four-hour series from Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Explore the 400-year-old story of the black church in America, the changing nature of worship spaces, and the men and women who shepherded them from the pulpit, the choir loft, and church pews. 
Both episodes can be found on the PBS website and at the following links:
Introducing Lent
Lent is the Christian tithe. Forty days which we give back to God by intentionally drawing near to the Lord. The season of Lent is an opportunity for life-change, as we are invited to participate in special rituals and activities centered on Christ’s own preparation for death and resurrection.

Maggi Dawn knows much about this. She is the author of a book on Lent called Giving It Up, and has a special place in her heart for the ways in which Lent can transform lives and point them back at God.

This course (which can be found on the Diocesan Learning Portal) is an inspiring introduction to this holy season and is appropriate for those who are new or have spent years commemorating Lent.
Learn about the latest formation information, courses and events at https://episcopaliansinconnection.org/formation/ or by signing up for the Formation team's new e-newsletter here.
Becoming Beloved Community
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.
Circles of Practice
Today (right now!) we launch our new Tuesday Circle! Any and all are welcome to join, anytime! (Find registration link below.) We will continue weekly, each Tuesday from 7-8:30pm 

“We never know what can happen when we feel called to follow Jesus’ gospel witness of welcome. Heeding such a call can require incredible courage. Sometimes this gospel way of welcome can lead us to put our very lives on the line. But Jesus’ way of welcome can inspire us to keep working to do what is right in a world where too often too much is wrong.” – The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry

This circle offers a place for us to grow together as people who love God and love the image of God that we find in our neighbors, in ourselves, and in creation.

We will begin by rooting ourselves in the vision and practices of Becoming Beloved Community. All are welcome.

Register here and reach out to ahowton@diosohio.org with questions. Zoom link will follow.
StorySharing Circles
You are invited to join in a Lenten StorySharing Series each Thursday throughout Lent, from 7-8:30pm on Zoom. Register here.

StorySharing—not storytelling—because relationship matters, story matters. We will deeply listen to one another’s unique stories without fixing or solving... we will practice witnessing each other, just as we are.

This Thursday (Feb. 18), we will explore wilderness. We will answer the question What does it mean for me to follow Jesus into the wilderness at this particular moment?

Join us in Becoming Beloved Community during Lent. All are welcome!
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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
More news
Webinar video now available for viewing
Video of the February 19 administrative webinar on filling out the Annual Reporting Form is now available for viewing on our Video page. A reminder that Annual Reporting Forms are to be filled out after your annual meeting and before April 1 to be eligible for the Mission Share Incentive program. Fill out your form here.

The next webinar, an introduction to our new online giving option, will be held on Wednesday, March 10 at 12 p.m. More information will be available soon.
Spring webinar series from Sewanee
green good news
The spring webinar series features a variety of speakers and topics exploring how we live in right relationship with all of creation while responding to the theological, ecological and cultural challenges of our time. Join us on February 25 with author and minister T. Wilson Dickinson to talk about The Green Good News.

Dickinson is a writer, teacher, and minister who lives in his hometown in Central Kentucky. He is director of the Green Good News, an organization that is rooted in a number of food justice ministries and which educates, cultivates, and organizes Christian communities to follow the ways of justice, joy, and simplicity. He also teaches theology and is the Director of the Doctor of Ministry and Continuing Education Programs at Lexington Theological Seminary. He is author of Exercises in New Creation from Paul to Kierkegaard, and The Green Good News: Christ’s Path to Sustainable and Joyful Life, and serves as chair of the Christ Seminar with the Westar Institute. He holds a PhD from Syracuse University, an MDiv from Vanderbilt Divinity School, and is an ordained minister in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). 

Solarize Cincy residential co-op launches this week
The City of Cincinnati Office of Environment and Sustainability is excited to announce the launch of the 2021 Solarize Cincy Residential Solar Co-op. OES is partnering with nonprofit group Solar United Neighbors to help Greater Cincinnati residents go solar.

Since 2015, Solarize Cincy campaigns run by the City have provided over 4,500 free home assessments of solar potential and helped over 140 homeowners install rooftop solar systems. The success of the Solarize Cincy program has helped Hamilton County become the number one county in Ohio for solar installations.

Solarize Cincy and Solar United Neighbors will host a Kick-Off Webinar on Wednesday, February 24 at 4pm. Additionally, the program will hold several online information sessions to educate community members about solar energy and the co-op. Sign up for the kick-off webinar here. Learn more about the program at their website here.
What is Mine to Do?
Looking for a day long retreat opportunity during Lent? Why not join us at Transfiguration Spirituality Center on Saturday, March 6 via Zoom.

Westina Matthews is a deeply spiritual presenter and has led retreats throughout the country. The theme of “What is Mine to Do” will invite us to reflect on how we can prepare ourselves not only for the coming of Easter, but the resurrection season that will be ours post pandemic. 

Register at www.ctretreats.org or email ctretreats@gmail.com.
Episcopal Toolkit for COVID-19 Vaccination Distribution
The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations has developed a toolkit for individuals, congregations and ministries to facilitate and promote COVID-19 vaccine distribution in the United States. This toolkit promotes the ongoing work that parishes and dioceses have already been doing, shares best practices, and offers ideas for ways that communities can help U.S.- based Episcopalians to facilitate vaccination, overcome vaccine hesitancy, and find information from state and local officials. Churches and church leaders (lay and ordained) can serve as an important trusted bridge between public health officials and communities.

Read more (In English and Spanish) here.
 
VIE Ability: Delivering supplies + social impact
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The Cincinnati Association for the Blind & Visually Impaired (CABVI) has a program to support people with disabilities by creating jobs and supplying office, break room and janitorial supplies with competitive pricing.

VIE Ability has excellent pricing on sneeze guards, cleaning supplies and custom interior signage, as well as ADA-compliant signage.


Connecting with our cathedral
Music Live at Lunch
Music Live at Lunch, Christ Church Cathedral's weekly concert series, will feature these upcoming performances listed below in March. Currently these free concerts are being live streamed via Facebook on Tuesdays at 12:10 p.m.

Mar 2: The Price Hill Duo
Mar 9: Wayside Winds
Mar 16: The Faux Frenchmen
Mar 23: The Brussels Sprouts
Mar 30: Cathedral resident musicians: Vocal and instrumental music for Holy Week
Choral Evensong
Sunday, March 7, 2021
5 p.m.
The Christ Church Cathedral Choir 

Canticles: Magnifcat and Nunc dimittis in F – George Dyson
Anthem: The Altar – Roland E. Martin
*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.
Repeat announcements
Nominations for Society of St. Simeon and St. Anna

Is there a senior member of your congregation who is the epitome of positive aging? The Society of St. Simeon and St. Anna of the Diocese of Southern Ohio is now accepting nominations for candidates to be inducted into the class of 2021.

Read more
www.dsoconnections.org
WCP grant applications
William Cooper Procter
During the bishop transition period, William Cooper Procter Memorial Fund grant applications will be approved by The Chapter of the Diocese on a quarterly basis. Applications must be submitted by the dates listed below to be considered. 

1st Quarter submittal date – March 1, 2021                    
1st Quarter Chapter review date – March 23, 2021
2nd Quarter submittal date – June 1, 2021                      
2nd Quarter Chapter review date – June 22, 2021
3rd Quarter submittal date – September 1, 2021          
3rd Quarter Chapter review date – September 21, 2021
4th Quarter submittal date – December 1, 2021             
4th Quarter Chapter review date – December 22, 2021

Grant applications can be found here.
Stories
Connecting with The Episcopal Church
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calls for Good Friday Offering to support ministry in Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East
In his Good Friday letter, Presiding Bishop Curry asks each bishop and congregation to consider providing assistance for the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East.
The Episcopal Church offers a new Global Mission Digital Toolkit 
The Global Mission Digital Toolkit is now available. Launched on World Mission Sunday, which was observed on the last Sunday after Epiphany, February 14, this resource is a collaboration between The Episcopal Church Office of Global Partnerships (OGP), the Global Episcopal Mission Network (GEMN) and the Standing Commission on World Mission (SCWM). This toolkit explores The Episcopal Church teaching that the mission of the church is “to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ” (Book of Common Prayer, p 855) in a global context and offers resources to help Episcopalians live into this teaching. The project collaboration is supported by a generous grant from the Constable Fund.
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Follow the latest news of The Episcopal Church at Episcopal News Service: https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org
Job opportunities
Grace Church, College Hill
St. Paul's, Oakwood (Dayton)
St. Barnabas, Montgomery
Calvary, Cincinnati
See all job opportunities at https://episcopaliansinconnection.org/job-opportunities/. Need a job posted? Send your information to communication@diosohio.org.
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