by Allen Fitzpatrick | Apr 18, 2023
Welcome Back!
Washington National Cathedral is delighted to welcome back acolytes from across the diocese and the country to celebrate this vital ministry of service and faith. The day begins with as acolytes, servers, clergy and vergers join in the longest and most colorful procession imaginable—the Grandest of Processions–as we prepare to gather around Christ’s table for a festival Holy Eucharist.
Following the service, participants are invited to spend the afternoon exploring the Cathedral and joining a variety of workshops. Perfect your thurible techniques, create a liturgical streamer, take a look at Cathedral treasures, and hear from Cathedral clergy about their own years of acolyte service.
Lunch will be available for purchase or you are welcome to bring your own. The festival is a time-honored tradition for many congregations, and we are eager for your return this fall as we also welcome those making their first pilgrimage to the Cathedral.
by Emily Snowden | Jan 5, 2023
Tell Me the Truth About Racism is a story that frames racism through the lens of Christian faith for children aged 5-12. Leaders Will Bouvel and Jen Holt Enriquez, first built the foundation of this work in Lent 2021 to teach to children at churches in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. Soon thereafter they began training other Christian formation leaders to do this work in their own churches.
Tell Me the Truth About Racism is respected throughout the church and received a Becoming the Beloved Community grant from the Episcopal Church. The entire training is 7 sessions. This 2-hour workshop, sponsored by the Episcopal Diocese of Washington is an opportunity to learn more about the training and to discern if it is a good fit for your community.
The workshop takes place at Diocesan Church House on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Lunch will be provided. The event is free and open to all. Registration is required. You can register on the learning hub here or at learn.edow.org.
by Allen Fitzpatrick | Oct 5, 2022
Connect, pray, engage, and refresh with other formation leaders from EDOW.
Rhythms of life are changing for many families. In this climate, the traditional models of Sunday School and Youth Group aren’t always as life-giving as they were in the past. This means that Christian formation leaders, whose ministry is to help form young people as Christians, are shifting their ministerial approach. That takes energy, creativity, and trust in the Holy Spirit.
Communities of support – colleagues in ministry – also help. To this end, the diocese is sponsoring an in-person retreat for formation leaders who work with children and/or youth. Held at the Claggett Center Friday, Nov. 4 through Saturday, Nov. 5, 2022, the retreat is an opportunity for formation leaders to connect, pray, engage, and refresh. There will be ample time in the agenda for community building as well as personal retreat space. Participants will stay in private rooms at the Christiane Inn and have access to the center’s beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, including walking trails and a labyrinth.
Retreat attendance is limited to 20 participants. Any formation leader in the diocese working with children and/or youth is welcome to participate. Registration will close once all spots are full. This retreat will take place Fri. Nov. 4 at 2 pm to Sat. Nov. 5 at 2pm.
The retreat costs $50 which covers room, board, and materials.
by Amanda Akes-Cardwell | Aug 18, 2022
Supporting faith formation leaders is part of my ministry as the Missioner for Faith Formation and Development. Since joining the bishop’s staff six months ago, one of my priorities has been to meet with Christian educators and formation leaders working with children and youth. These conversations informed me about how our leaders are doing and what the landscape of formation ministry for rising generations looks like in our diocese.
When asked what they need right now, leaders responded. “I yearn to feel connected,” one leader said. “I want to learn from my colleagues,” another shared. Other sentiments included a desire to hear what’s happening in the diocese and to learn how folks are engaged in formation ministry as we emerge from the pandemic. Others spoke of just needing a break. “I just want some rest,” a colleague said, “this stuff is hard.”
It is hard. Even before the pandemic, rhythms of life were changing for many of our families. In this climate, the traditional models of Sunday School and Youth Group aren’t always as life-giving as they were in the past. This means that Christian formation leaders, whose ministry is to help form young people as Christians, are shifting their ministerial approach. That takes energy, creativity, and trust in the Holy Spirit.
Communities of support – colleagues in ministry – also help. One of my goals is to create spaces where these communities of colleagues can flourish and feed one another. To this end, the diocese is sponsoring an in-person retreat for formation leaders who work with children and/or youth. Held at the Claggett Center Friday and Saturday, November 4 & 5, the retreat is an opportunity for formation leaders to connect, pray, engage, and refresh. There will be ample time for community building as well as personal retreat space. Participants will stay in private rooms at the Christiane Inn and have access to the center’s beautiful indoor and outdoor spaces, including walking trails and a labyrinth.
Retreat registration opens Thursday, September 1 through the School for Christian Faith and Leadership. Any formation leader in the diocese working with children and/or youth is welcome to participate, but please note that attendance is limited to 20 participants and registration will close once all spots are full. The retreat costs $50 and covers all your expenses for the event. I hope you will join us and be refreshed.
For more information about the retreat or other opportunities to connect with formation leaders, contact The Rev. Amanda Akes-Cardwell.
by Allen Fitzpatrick | Apr 27, 2022
“Women in Mission” is theme of online Global Mission Conference, May 12-14
Registration is ongoing for the 2022 Global Mission Conference that will be held May 12-14 online on the theme of Women in Mission. Sign up now to join with people around the world to celebrate and reflect on the vital role of women’s participation in God’s mission.
Sponsored by the Global Episcopal Mission Network, the conference will meet for 3 hours via Zoom on each of the 3 days, 1-4 p.m. Eastern Time. Spanish-language translation will be available.
Visit the conference page here for more information. If you’re ready to register, you can go directly to the registration page here. The conference is free and open to the public, and donations are encouraged via PayPal on the GEMN donation page. Attendees will receive the Zoom connection information upon registration.
Conference plenary speakers will highlight the history of women in mission, Mothers Union work in Africa, women missionaries’ work today, and Anglican women’s work at the United Nations. Workshops will feature the mission work of women in Mozambique, Pakistan, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Cuba, Colombia, India and Korea. The work of religious orders, Episcopal Relief & Development, Five Talents and the United Thank Offering will be featured, and Mission Spotlights will offer further insight into women’s global work.
“Mujeres en Misión” es el tema de la Conferencia de Misión Global en línea, del 12 al 14 de Mayo
La inscripción está en abierta para la Conferencia de Misión Global 2022 que se llevará a cabo del 12 al 14 de mayo en línea sobre el tema “Mujeres en Misión.” Regístrese ahora para unirse a personas de todo el mundo para celebrar y reflexionar sobre el papel vital de la participación de las mujeres en la misión de Dios.
Patrocinada por Global Episcopal Mission Network, la conferencia se reunirá durante 3 horas a través de Zoom en cada uno de los 3 días, de 1 a 4 p.m. Hora del Este. Habrá traducción al español disponible.
Visite la página de la conferencia aquí para obtener más información. Para inscribirse ahora puede ir directamente a la página de registro aquí. La conferencia es gratuita y abierta al público, y las donaciones son bienvenidas a través de PayPal en el sitio web de GEMN.
Las oradoras de las plenarias de la Conferencia destacarán la historia de las mujeres en la misión, el trabajo de Mothers Union en África, el trabajo de las mujeres misioneras en la actualidad y el trabajo de las mujeres anglicanas en las Naciones Unidas. Los talleres presentarán el trabajo misionero de las mujeres en Mozambique, Pakistán, Costa Rica, República Dominicana, Cuba, Colombia, India y Corea. Se presentará el trabajo de UTO, ERD y Five Talents, y Mission Spotlights ofrecerá más información sobre el trabajo global de las mujeres.
