{e} Connections | May 31, 2022
News
Ordinations to diaconate on June 4
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God willing, the Right Reverend George Wayne Smith, Bishop Provisional of Southern Ohio, will ordain Jake Cunliffe and Dan Carlson to the Sacred Order of Deacons in Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church on Saturday, June 4, 2022, at Christ Church Cathedral at 11 a.m. Your prayers and presence are requested. Clergy are invited to vest and process (red stoles).
Final Listening Session June 1
As announced by the Standing Committee on May 11, several listening sessions were scheduled to discuss results of the recent diocesan survey and learn of the hopes and concerns within the diocese on our upcoming bishop search. The final session, which is open to all, will be held on Zoom tomorrow, Wednesday, June 1 at 7 p.m. This will be the last chance to voice to your Standing Committee what you think they need to know before beginning the bishop search process.

Episcopal Church at Pride
Pride flag
June is Pride month, and communities throughout the diocese are holding in-person Pride parades and festivals again this year. The diocese is proud to sponsor an Episcopal Church presence at all community Pride festivals where churches or individuals would like to march or host a vendor tent spreading the all-inclusive message of love from the Episcopal Church.

Confirmed, sponsored Pride events include:
June 4: Dayton, Hamilton, Hillsboro
June 18: Columbus
June 25: Cincinnati and Granville

If you are interested in marching in a parade or working at a vendor tent at any festival, please contact the organizers by filling out the form at https://episcopaliansinconnection.org/pride/. Churches are welcome and encouraged to bring materials to hand out at the tent in addition to those that the diocese will supply.
PRIDE MASS at Trinity Capitol Square on June 16
Episcopal churches from across central Ohio will host PRIDE MASS to celebrate our LGBTQIA+ siblings on June 16 at 7 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church on Capitol Square. The Rev. Elizabeth Hoster of St. Luke's Granville will preside, the Rev. Devin Rodgers of St. Alban's Bexley will preach, and music will be led by The Noon Service Band from Christ Church Cathedral in Cincinnati. A reception will follow. All are welcome to attend.

Contact the Rev. Jed Dearing with questions.
Resources & Reminders
Forms, policies, and other information for congregational management can be found on the resources hub on the diocesan website.
Campus Ministry grants
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Campus ministry grant applications for the 2022-23 program year are due no later than June 17. The grant application can be found on the diocesan website under Financial Assistance.

All those who receive campus ministry grant funds are required to participate in the Campus Ministry Collaborative, which includes a representative of each campus ministry in the diocese. The Collaborative meets once a year in person at Procter Center and holds additional meetings via video conference. If you are applying for the first time, you will be asked to join the video conference meeting on July 8 at 11 a.m. to discuss your grant request and listen to others discuss their submissions.

Please direct any questions about the grants or granting process to the Rev. Deborah Woolsey at revdebwoolsey@gmail.com.
Annual reporting deadlines
Below are upcoming annual reporting deadlines for congregations in the Diocese of Southern Ohio.


Upcoming Events
A complete list of events can be found on the diocesan calendar.

  • June 1 at 7 p.m.: Open Listening Session on Zoom
  • June 2 at 2 p.m.: Standing Committee
  • June 2 at 2 p.m.: Dispatch of Business
  • June 3 at 10 a.m.: Budget Committee
  • June 4 at 11 a.m.: Ordinations of Deacons at Christ Church Cathedral
  • June 4: Pride festivals in Dayton, Hamilton and Hillsboro
  • June 5: Pentecost
  • June 9 at 10 a.m.: Trustees meeting
  • June 11 at 9 a.m.: Procter Center board
  • June 15-18: Family Camp 1 at Procter Camp
  • June 16 at 2 p.m.: Standing Committee
  • June 18 at 9 a.m.: Diocesan Council
  • June 18: Columbus Pride parade
  • June 19-25: Youth Camp 1 at Procter Camp
  • June 25: Pride festivals in Cincinnati and Granville
Diocesan Ministries & Initiatives
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. Learn more and subscribe to the Diocese of Southern Ohio Becoming Beloved Community newsletter.
Advocacy briefing

Weekly advocacy updates are compiled by Ariel Miller, a member of Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming, and a member of the diocesan Becoming Beloved Community Leadership Team.

In this week's update:
  • Gun violence: The mass murders of fourth-graders in Uvalde, Texas, has evoked a huge outpouring of grief and advocacy. This post includes news of HB 99, a bill on the verge of passing in the Ohio Legislature, that would allow school districts to arm staff with only 22 hours of training. You’ll also find an overview of all the gun bills introduced in Ohio’s current legislative session, and the Episcopal Church’s resources to support your advocacy. Thanks to all the members of the diocese’s Becoming Beloved Community who submitted testimony on Memorial Day for today’s hearing on HB 99. They wrote powerful statements as teachers, pastors, health care professionals, veterans, and counselors striving to help children recover from trauma. 
  • Ohio Legislature passes resolution to put constitutional amendment about bail on November ballot. Bipartisan reform bill HB 315 still in committee.
  • Ohio primary Aug. 2 will use state district maps already ruled unconstitutional

Formation
For more information about seasonal opportunities as well as ongoing opportunities such as Education for Ministry, Safe Church Training and Anti-Racism Training, visit the Formation page on the diocesan website and subscribe to the Diocese of Southern Ohio Formation newsletter.
Who is my Neighbor?: The Zine for Ordinary Time

We are so excited to offer a new zine for our diocese that we hope will guide you through the summer season and the liturgical season of Ordinary Time. We offer this to all who are interested, for families, groups, individuals, the theologically curious and budding theologians, and parishes. We invite you to follow along with us this summer.

The Zine will be published online (links can be found soon on the Formation webpage) and in lieu of printing, we are sending out the books we used for inspiration and content creation!

We used two books:

To receive a copy of each book (1 per family) please sign up.
Summer playground meet-ups for families

Families are invited to meet with others in the diocese for play days at local playgrounds from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on the first Fridays of the month. Come say hello and meet folks who come to play! No sign up or commitment needed.


Cincinnati: Summit Park and Alms Park


South East: Rising Park in Lancaster
Procter Center
Procter Center is a retreat and event facility owned and operated by the Diocese of Southern Ohio and located in London, Ohio. It serves spiritual, community, business and youth organizations, as well as families.
Procter Camp: A place to reflect, learn, and grow

In 2022, Procter Camp programs include Youth Camp for children entering 3rd-8th grade, Senior High Camp for 9th-12th grade, Family Camps for all ages, and Day Camp for 1st-6th grade. We’ll end the summer with Silver Camp, for kids at heart, 50+.

Learn more at proctercenter.org/camp.
Around the diocese
If your congregation would like to have news or an event notice published in the newsletter, email Julie Murray.
Red Door Community Concert at Holy Trinity, Oxford
June 10, 2022
12:15pm

The final Red Door Community Concert this season features David Castillo, Mexican-born conductor and organist, on the church’s Nordlie Opus 27 tracker organ. Castillo was the organist at Holy Trinity when the organ was acquired in 2017. He visited its original home in Kansas to evaluate it.

Celebration of New Ministry at St. Barnabas, Montgomery
Celebration of New Ministry
By the grace of God, and the consent of the people, the congregation of St. Barnabas, Montgomery invites you to a Celebration of New Ministry as they welcome their third rector, the Rev. Canon Jane Gerdsen, on the Feast of St. Barnabas; Saturday, June 11, 2022 at 2 p.m. Clergy are invited to wear red stoles. Your prayers and virtual presence are invited. Reception to follow the service. Please RSVP online.
Updates from Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is located at 318 E. 4th Street in downtown Cincinnati. Learn more on the cathedral website and subscribe to the cathedral newsletter.
Soul Goods
Soul Goods to open June 3

Soul Goods, a new gift shop at Christ Church Cathedral, will officially open on Friday, June 3, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Everyone is invited to the grand opening.

Soul Goods' mission is to empower people to be a part of making the world a more equitable place through the purchase of quality goods. 100% of Soul Goods' profits will go to the good work of bringing equity to the world – donating profits to local and global organizations serving the marginalized and advocating for equity. Soul Goods partners with vendors that are committed to doing good.
Cathedral summer camps
Summer Camps at the Cathedral

Each summer at Christ Church Cathedral, the halls echo even more loudly than usual with the laughter and joyful sounds of children as they are welcomed to the cathedral summer camps. With a focus on art and music, these camps are for geared to help children grow, learn, make friends, and have fun! More information and registration.
Conversations that Matter
Conversations That Matter

Sunday, June 5, Christ Church Cathedral will launch Conversations That Matter – a space for our beloved community to dialogue and have conversations that lead to transformation. During the month of June, we will gather each Sunday, specifically addressing the racism and hate in our nation and world today. Conversations That Matter will not be easy, but through listening and honest dialogue we will experience a mutual liberation – so that we can be set free and each do our part in bringing the love of God to the world. So beloved community, we invite you to join in the challenging work of fighting racism. A work that requires us to not to look back but to look forward. More information and register.
High School Choral Scholar Applications Now Being Accepted

The cathedral’s choral scholar program provides Cincinnati area high school students an opportunity to join the Christ Church Cathedral Choir as apprentices. Successful applicants will receive intensive training in the art of fine choral singing so that they may begin the process of learning to perform at a professional level, and will learn a wide range of repertoire, such as works by Tallis, Brahms and Howells, as well as spirituals and music of other cultures. For their efforts, they are compensated with a monthly scholarship throughout the academic year. Choral scholars participate in all the duties of the cathedral choir, including Thursday evening rehearsals, the Sunday morning Eucharist, monthly Choral Evensong, observances of holy days such as Christmas Eve, Ash Wednesday and Holy Week, as well as other liturgies or concerts as assigned by the cathedral. More information and application information is available here
Cathedral Choir Audition Information

Do you love to sing? Then consider auditioning for a position in the Christ Church Cathedral Choir. As a cathedral chorister, you will sing at weekly Sunday morning services, monthly Evensong services, and other major liturgical observances in the church year. We also maintain a roster of substitute choristers. Positions are open for paid and volunteer choristers, as well as substitute choristers. 

We hold choir auditions at the end of July every year, as well as other times by arrangement with the director of music. Those interested in auditioning for the 2022-23 season can go here to learn more and complete an application. For more information or to schedule an audition time, contact Stephan Casurella, Director of Music, at 513.842.2065. 
Bishop Smith's visitations
June 5: Christ Church Cathedral (Pentecost)
June 12: Church of St. Edward, Whitehall
Job opportunities
See all job opportunities on the diocesan website.


Email Julie Murray to add a job listing.
Quick links
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The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio