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Called to Serve Winter 2013 Youth & Young Adult Ministry

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Called to Serve Winter 2013 Youth & Young Adult Ministry AN i AL op SC pi e A i N i RG Vi of Virginia Diocese Magazine of the Episcopal Quarterly The Called To Serve Winter 2013 Youth & Young Adult Ministry New – and Young – Faces in Diocesan Leadership » 6 A Young Adult Team's Response to Sandy » 8 Young Adults in Mission » 16 Growing in Campus Ministry » 20 FoR ChRist. FoR ThiS TiMe. FoR ALL TiMe. Who We ARe The episcopal DioCeSe oF VirgiNiA FoR ChRist. FoR ThiS TiMe. FoR all TiMe. ViRGiNiA episcopalian WinTEr 2013 The Mayo Memorial Church house: 110 West Franklin St. Published by the Diocese of Virginia – Circulation 19,500 Richmond, VA 23220-5095 Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston 800-DIOCESE Bishop Suffragan: The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff 804-643-8451 Assistant Bishop: The Rt. Rev. Edwin F. Gulick Jr. Fax 804-644-6928 Editor: Emily Cherry Design/Layout: John Dixon The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is a part of the world-wide Anglican Communion and Advertising Assistant: Karen Smith the Episcopal Church. We are a community of more than 80,000 baptized members and 425 clergy in 38 counties of central, northern and northwestern Virginia, serving the Virginia Episcopalian (ISSN 15353621, USPS 019711) is published quarterly by the world through 183 congregations, six diocesan schools, two diocesan centers and six Episcopal Diocese of Virginia, periodicals postage paid in Richmond, 23232-9998. diocesan homes, and home to the largest Anglican seminary in the world. Our episcopal Copyright 2012. Contact the editor for reprint permission. Views expressed in this seat is the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration, Orkney Springs. Organized 1785. newspaper are not official statements of policy by the Diocese. Editorial/advertising policy is set by the editor and Executive Board. how to Reach the Diocesan Staff: Paris Ball, Director of Christian Formation: [email protected] ex. 1042 Communicants: $5/year Buck Blanchard, Director of Mission and Outreach: [email protected] 1016 Non-Communicants: $6/year Mary Anne Bryant, Assistant, Mission and Outreach: [email protected] 1017 Henry Burt, Secretary of the Diocese, Chief of Staff: [email protected] 1030 On the cover: The Diocese of Virginia has a strong commitment to supporting Joy Buzzard, Financial Administrator: [email protected] 1022 ministry for and to youth and young adults. In this issue, you’ll find profiles, Ashley Cameron, Mission and Outreach Intern: [email protected] 1019 stories and resources centered around ministry for these age groups. Emily Cherry, Communications Officer: [email protected] 1021 Illustration: John Dixon. Laura Cramer, Benefits Administrator: [email protected] 1040 Stephanie Higgins, Assistant, Development & Stewardship: [email protected] 1029 Kathlyn Jones, Assistant to Bishop Goff: [email protected] 1031 Wilbert “Skeet” Jones, Sexton 1028 Meg Schwarz, Assistant, Christian Formation: [email protected] 1043 Ed Keithly, Assistant to the Canon to the Ordinary: [email protected] 1015 Karen Smith, Receptionist/Assistant: [email protected] 1010 Michael J. Kerr, Treasurer: [email protected] 1020 Michael Wade, Asst. to the Director of Christian Formation: [email protected] 1027 Mildred Lofton, Bookkeeper: [email protected] 1023 Kate Wettstein, Assistant to Bishop Gulick: [email protected] 703-241-0441 Bill Martin, Assistant to the Secretary: [email protected] 1025 Amy Williams, Assistant to Bishop Johnston: [email protected] 1012 Andrew C. Patty, Bishop's Clerk: [email protected] 1038 The Rev. Canon Pat Wingo, Canon to the Ordinary: [email protected] 1024 Lindsay Ryland, Transition Ministry Officer: [email protected] 1013 Stay iN TouCh WiTh The DioCeSe Here are just a few ways to stay up-to-date with the news, perspectives and discussions coming out of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia. thediocese.net facebook.com/EpiscopalDioceseofVirginia facebook.com/VirginiaBibleChallenge flickr.com/EpiscopalDioceseofVirginia ReSponse-AbiLity: We SeT GoD’S TAbLe the Rt. Rev. SHannon S. JoHnston I’m afraid that it’s not always seen this way, but one of the most solemn parts of the Eucharistic liturgy occurs when the deacon or, in the absence of a deacon, a priest sets the altar in preparation for the celebration of the Holy Communion. The linens are arranged and the paten (plate) and the chalice (the cup) are put into place. Then, the bread and wine are brought to the table and made ready for the prayer of consecration. Yes, solemn all of this is, for the purpose is to enable the holiest part of our worship, receiving the body and blood of Jesus Christ. But it seems to me that, most often, setting the table is viewed as a merely “practical” matter; it’s all simply about Photo: Emily Cherry how to take care of the business at hand. At least some of that Bishop Johnston at the Fall Clergy Retreat. attitude can come from seeing the table being set in an all-too- casual way. Nonetheless, an equal part of the responsibility for a right heart and mind about this solemn moment belongs to the most meaningful to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, is the worshipper. Here, you must be reflective. And what better the gift of yourself. Your heart is what God most needs in order place to be deeply reflective than when in such a moment in for the table to be set for divine ministry in and with this world, church? Don’t miss out just because the offering plates are both through the congregation and the diocese. being passed around and the anthem is being sung! In the first What does it actually mean to give your heart? I think place, never forget that the monetary offering you are making that you know, in your deepest self, just exactly what it means. is literally part of “setting the table.” The Prayer Book’s rubric But we are very adept at finding ways to neglect some or all of on page 361 explicitly directs that the offering plates, not just this, and so I will try to get us thinking about it here. the bread and wine, are to be placed on the table. And the For starters, it means giving up those poisonous anthem being sung is meant to draw you into meditation at personal grudges and then living in forgiveness and that part of the service. reconciliation. With anyone and everyone. Period. It means This is the time to pay pointed attention. It is not a blowing the sense of religious “obligation” out of your moment simply to wait until the next part happens. spiritual life. I can think of few postures as wrong-hearted in Why am I making such a big deal about this part of our our spirituality as that of obligation. It’s all about response. liturgy? Because it is emblematic of your entire life. We – all It’s about “want to,” definitely not “have to.” We want to be of us – are to set God’s table at all times. You bring the gifts, a part of setting God’s table because we simply can’t wait for the opportunities and the struggles of everything you are to what will happen! We look to God’s marvelous promises to God at any given moment, offering them for God to receive, us and we know that God always keeps God’s promises – and bless and transform. every part of our heart wants to be a part of that fulfillment. The table is bare until you – we – set it with our gifts. In your Christmas worship, I hope you have had the God, through our Lord Jesus Christ, trusts us to provide what opportunity to sing a favorite hymn/carol of mine, #112, in our is needed. What a privilege! Hymnal: “In the bleak mid-winter.” I can think of no better way As I write this, it is the time of the annual pledge to conclude this letter than by leaving you with the last verse: campaigns in our congregations, the time when every household is invited to be a part of setting the table. You What can I give him, poor as I am? must not be casual, hurried or careless about this part of If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb; your Christian life. I pray that each you has been a part if I were a wise man, I would do my part; of setting a complete table for God in your place – your yet what I can I give him – give my heart. household – of worship. By the time you read this, the vestries and vestry We can do this! It is our privilege, our joy. It is our committees of every Diocese of Virginia congregation are response-ability. t offering their gifts for the mission and ministry of the wider Church. The diocesan table is, in fact, bare until our family of congregations sets it for God’s blessing and use. God grant that by His grace we may we join together in setting a complete table for God’s blessing and use in and beyond our diocesan household. But I’m not speaking about only money here. The first gift, Winter 2013 / Virginia EpiScopalian 1 Three Virginia boarding schools. Founded in the Episcopal tradition. Focused on the future. Christchurch School offers the rigorous academic preparation young people need to succeed in the years ahead. CCS employs an integrated curriculum to help students build practical, cross- curricular skills that will prove vital in solving problems that might not even yet exist! Students are challenged with a rich, stimulating academic experience that enables them to explore and create in a deeper and broader way. For more information about all that Christchurch School has to offer, contact the Office of Admission, or inquire online.
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