{e}Connections | February 13, 2024 | |
{e}Connections is published each Tuesday. If you would like to have news or an event notice published in this newsletter, send it to communication@diosohio.org by noon on the Monday before publication. | |
A letter from the Bishop-elect | |
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Beloved of God in Southern Ohio,
God willing and the people consenting, in four short days I will become your bishop. It will be my profound honor and blessing to serve in that role.
So many people have prepared for this day, from before the time your search began. I am grateful to all of you. Thank you for your prayers, and for your discernment, for your generosity of spirit, and for your hard work throughout this season of transition. It is so very good to be here with you.
Thank you, as well, for your care for John and me as we’ve moved to the Cincinnati area. Your hospitality has helped us feel right at home here, and what a joy it has been to begin to get to know you.
Thanks also for your prayers and thoughtfulness in these last few days as I navigated a mild case of COVID. I am grateful to say that my symptoms have resolved, and that aside from some fatigue, I feel just fine now. It was a reminder, though, that COVID is still very much with us.
In the interest of keeping people safe, I invite you to please test for COVID prior to attending the ordination and consecration on Saturday. If you feel more comfortable wearing a mask, know that you are absolutely welcome to do that — and others will be, too! And if you feel you need to stay home, please join us in prayer and celebration through the livestream available on the diocesan website.
You all are in my prayers, every day, with such joy and thanksgiving.
In Christ,
Kristin
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Ordination & Consecration, Bishop Seating this weekend | |
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Ordination & Consecration February 17
God willing and the people consenting, the Rev. Canon Kristin Uffelman White will be ordained bishop on Saturday, February 17 at 11 a.m. in the Short North Ballrooms at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus. Everyone in our diocese is invited to attend in person, and the service will also be livestreamed on the diocesan website.
Read FAQs about the ordination.
Parking information
There are plenty of parking garages and surface lots at the Greater Columbus Convention Center. The closest parking garage is the Goodale Garage, located at 70 E. Goodale Street. There is an attached sky bridge on Level 3 of the garage that takes you to the closest entrance to the Short North Ballrooms where the service will take place. See more.
The convention center is a cashless facility; please plan accordingly.
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Welcoming & Seating February 18 at Christ Church Cathedral
The Welcoming and Seating of Bishop Kristin White at Christ Church Cathedral will take place Sunday, February 18 at 5 p.m. A festive service of Choral Evensong follows.
The “seating” of a bishop is a joyous rite in which the bishop is received into her cathedral and takes her place in the cathedra (bishop’s chair), the sign of her diocesan authority. All are welcome! A reception will follow.
This service will also be streamed live here.
| New Bishop Pizza Party at Trinity, Columbus | |
All 6th-12th grade students are invited to gather on Friday, February 16 from 7 to 9 p.m., the night before the bishop's ordination, at Trinity on Capitol Square.
Learn more about the ordination, eat fun food, and play games. If you are outside of Columbus and want to carpool, let us know. Hope to see you there!
Register here.
| Absalom Jones Festal Eucharist February 24 | |
On Saturday, February 24, the diocese will celebrate the official feast day of the Rev. Absalom Jones, the first black Episcopal priest, with a Festal Eucharist at 1 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati. A reception will follow the service.
Sponsors for the event include St. Simon of Cyrene, Lincoln Heights, St. Andrew’s, Evanston, St. Margaret’s, Trotwood, St. Philip's, Columbus, the Union of Black Episcopalians, Faith in Life, and Christ Church Cathedral.
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Two Truths in One Heart; Two Peoples in One Land
Presentation on Palestinian/Israeli relations February 25
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On Sunday, February 25 from 7 to 9 p.m. at St. Stephen’s, Columbus, the Faith in Life Committee will offer Two Truths in One Heart; Two Peoples in One Land, a presentation by Rabbi Hanan Schlesinger and Noor Awad, leaders of Roots/Shorashim/Judur, a local Palestinian Israeli initiative for understanding, nonviolence and transformation.
A reception will follow.
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Forms, policies, and other information for congregational management can be found under Resources on the diocesan website. | |
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Lawrence Home Association Academic Grant for Minority Women
The Lawrence Home Association Academic Grant for Minority Women helps finance the post-secondary education of minority women, regardless of age, who are affiliated with an Episcopal church within the Diocese of Southern Ohio. The 2024 application deadline is March 28.
Learn more.
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Parochial report filing
The 2023 Parochial Report must be filed online by March 1 at https://reports.dfms.org. Line by line instructions are available here.
Questions about the Parochial Report should be directed to Susan Byrnside, senior accountant, in the Finance Office.
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Congregations are reminded that the diocesan Annual Reporting Form should be submitted to the diocese immediately following their annual meetings, or no later than April 1.
The Annual Reporting Form includes providing contact information for diocesan staff use for lay leadership and ministry leaders (paid and volunteer) and other information not reported on the Parochial Report. This information also serves as certification of the congregation's lay delegates, in accordance with Canon III, Section 5.
Direct questions about the Annual Reporting Form to Canon Julie Murray.
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Upcoming diocesan meetings, events and deadlines | |
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A complete list of diocesan and community events can be found on the diocesan calendar.
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Diocesan initiatives and ministries | |
The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio has committed to the call of Becoming Beloved Community, with focus on the work of racial healing, reconciliation, justice-making and care of creation. | |
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LEGOS wanted!
Remember stepping on that one loose LEGO barefooted? Felt like misery, didn't it? Well, get rid of that memory and your old LEGOS! Our Sunday School ministries and an upcoming LEGO Madness night will put them to good use.
Drop off new or used LEGOS on Sunday mornings or between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday through Thursday during February at the drop-off locations listed below. All forms and versions of LEGOS will be accepted.
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Looking for meaningful conversation? Check out cuppa
Beginning on February 15, a new gathering in Cincinnati called cuppa provides an opportunity to listen to one another as we share stories from our lives. Bring your lunch if you like and join us as Joey Taylor from BeSpoken leads a time of conversation and sharing stories.
Contact Adam Hayden at 812-430-4464 or ahayden@diosohio.org to RSVP or just show up!
cuppa will be held every Thursday from 12 to 1 p.m. beginning February 15, at Community Happens Here, 6238 Montgomery Road in Cincinnati.
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Using Picture Books for Racial Healing: a Dismantling Racism Certification Course
Picture books offer an excellent way to discover, discuss, and share stories about topics that many people did not study in school but that are crucial to the work of repairing, healing, and seeing God in each other. Registration is open for Dismantling Racism training sessions taking place in the coming months. Miriam McKenney leads the trainings, which take place on Zoom.
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March (12, 19, 26 from 6 to 8 p.m.). Sign up here.
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April (10, 17, 24 from 1 to 3 p.m.) Sign up here.
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May (15, 22, 29 from to 6 to 8 p.m.). Sign up here.
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June (4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 from 12 to 1 p.m.). Sign up here.
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August (14, 21, 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.). Sign up here.
Email Director of Dismantling Racism Miriam McKenney to learn more.
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Creation Care and Environmental Justice Author Book Talk
On February 29 from 7 to 8 p.m., the Creation Care and Environmental Justice Commission will host author and climate activist, Heather McTeer Toney, as she talks about her new book, Before The Streetlights Come On: Black America’s Urgent Call for Climate Solutions, on Zoom.
McTeer Toney brings her background in politics, community advocacy, and leadership in environmental justice to her exploration of why and how Black Americans are uniquely qualified to lead national and global conversations about systems of racial disparity and solutions to the climate crisis.
Registration is required. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to join the webinar. Register here.
If you plan to attend and will commit to reading the book in advance, you can request a free copy here. Copies will be available to the first 20 people who make a request.
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Social Justice & Advocacy
Advocacy update
Advocacy briefings are compiled by Ariel Miller, a longtime community advocate and member of Ascension & Holy Trinity, Wyoming.
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This week: As a journalist, social justice advocate, and member of many teams and leadership bodies in our diocese since 1988, I’ve been writing public policy articles for diocesan publications from time to time for decades. After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, I began providing weekly policy updates to the diocesan e-News as a member of the Becoming Beloved Community Leadership Team. This article is a review of the spiritual basis and sources for that reporting.
Read the Advocacy Briefing.
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Pride planning meeting February 27
Diocesan-wide planning for this year's Pride festivals will begin with a kick-off meeting on Tuesday, February 27 at 6:30 p.m.
The Episcopal Church has a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being. The Diocese of Southern Ohio is committed to providing a significant presence of The Episcopal Church at Pride celebrations in our communities.
Anyone who is interested in being a part of an Episcopal Church presence at a Pride festival in your community is encouraged to attend. We will use this time to learn general information about Pride festivals around the diocese and organize and break into local cohorts to continue planning on the local level.
Register in advance for this meeting here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Contact Julie Murray, canon for communications and community engagement, for questions or more information.
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Upcoming events at Procter Center | |
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Procter Center is a retreat, camp, farm and event facility for daytime and overnight groups located in Madison County, Ohio. Learn more at proctercenter.org.
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Seeding Day at Procter Center
Saturday, March 2
10 a.m.
This time of year, our farmer is busy seeding trays for what will become our beautiful education and production gardens. On Seeding Day, we will begin with story sharing and prayer, and end the day with a meal. This event is for all ages and abilities. Join us, as we turn the greenhouse green together!
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Beautification Day tree planting
Saturday, April 20
1 to 3 p.m.
Get your eco-spirit going at this event for all ages! We’ll spend time honoring the land, praying for the health of ourselves and the earth, and planting beautiful trees on Procter’s west-side of the property. This is part of Procter’s greater mission of Communion Forest.
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Procter Summer Camp Open House
Saturday, April 20
3 to 5 p.m.
Bring your friends and family to our Open House! See what Procter can offer as a retreat and meeting space, as well as what it means to be a camper. Take in the grounds during one of our site tours, then enjoy dinner from the food trucks as you relax under our Pavilion, overlooking the 10-acre lake. This is also a chance to get the kids out to play at Procter!
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Red Door Community Concert February 16
Holy Trinity, Oxford, will hold the fourth concert in the Red Door Community Concert series on February 16 at 12:15 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. Masks are suggested. The concert will also be streamed live on the Holy Trinity YouTube channel.
The event features the duo of Siok Lian Tan, piano, and Tze Yean Lim, violin, playing twentieth century composers from the Americas.
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Stations of the Cross Lenten offering at St. Philip's, Columbus | |
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St. Philip's, Columbus, will offer four evenings of prayer and discussion on the Stations of the Cross beginning February 23 at 7 p.m.
Each Friday evening gathering will feature a different set of the Stations to pray, followed by discussion.
A fish dinner will be offered each week as well.
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Men's Retreat February 24
St. Patrick’s, Dublin, will offer a Men’s Retreat on February 24 from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The Rev. Canon John Johanssen will speak about our diocese as we discover ways to live a Christ-centered life.
A light breakfast and full lunch will be provided. A nominal fee of $25 per person will be charged at the point of registration. All men ages 16 and older are welcome to attend. Register here.
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Events at Christ Church Cathedral | |
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Taft Lecture Series - Save the Date
The Taft Lecture Series of Christ Church Cathedral welcomes Dr. Robert Bullard, the "father of environmental justice," on Wednesday, March 13 at 7 p.m.
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Adult Formation Lent Series: Desert Mothers and Fathers
Wednesday Evening: February 21 and 28
6 to 8 p.m.
Journey through Lent with the wisdom of the Desert Monastics. 4th-century women and men sought the edges of God in desolate places through quiet lives of prayer and simplicity following the institution of Christianity as the religion of the empire. Dinner is at 6 p.m., formation begins at 6:30 each night. Register here.
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Music Live at Lunch
Music Live at Lunch is a free, weekly concert series held on Tuesdays at 12:10 p.m. at Christ Church Cathedral featuring a variety of music. Bring your own lunch or buy one at the cathedral. Find the full schedule of concerts here.
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Christ Church Cathedral is located at 318 E 4th Street in downtown Cincinnati. Learn more at the cathedral website.
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See all job opportunities on the diocesan website.
Latest postings:
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Communications Director, Diocese of Southern Ohio
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Communication specialist, St. Andrew's, Pickerington
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Peaceable Kingdom Nursery Teacher, Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati
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Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Southern Ohio
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Canon for Congregational Life, Christ Church Cathedral, Cincinnati
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Parish Engagement Coordinator, St. Timothy's, Cincinnati
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Camp Counselor, Procter Camp
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Farm Hand Internship, Procter Farm
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Conservationist Intern, Procter Center
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Parish Assistant (part-time), St. Mark's, Dayton
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Parish Bookkeeper (part-time), St. Anne's, West Chester
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Director of Christian Education and Youth, Indian Hill Church
Email communication@diosohio.org to add a job listing.
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Connect with us!
The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio
diosohio.org
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