All clergy are invited to attend the Clergy Silent Retreat which begins on Tuesday, January 27th.  Check-in is at 3:00 pm and Evening Prayer at 5:30 pm.  The Evening Meal is set for 6:00 pm.  The retreat concludes Thursday, January 29th, at 11 am (no lunch served).

Retreat Facilitator: Rev. Bridget Tierney.

Cost of the event:  $234 for a private room for two nights with 5 meals (S,B,L,S,B); $190 (per person) for multiple occupancy for two nights with the 5 meals. There is a Day Commuter Option which includes two days with 4 meals for $81.00 per person.

Registration: http://www.eventbee.com/v/secc/event?eid=146726643

Your prayers and presence are requested at the

Celebration of a New Ministry:

The Induction and Institution of

The Reverend Sharon A. Alexander

as the Eighth Rector

 of Trinity Episcopal Church

0n Tuesday the thirteenth of January

in the year of Our Lord two thousand and fifteen

at six o'clock in the evening

3552 Morning Glory Avenue

Baton Rouge, Louisiana

Clergy, white stoles                     Reception to follow

by Lee Crean

At 11:00 a.m. on January 17, 2015, the Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana will once again hold its Service of Racial Reconciliation at Christ Church Cathedral in New Orleans. This Service, which drew a capacity crowd last January, will include the Dean of the Cathedral, David DuPlantier as the Celebrant, and a dynamic preacher, Pastor Antoine Barriere of Household of Faith Family Worship Church. Music will be provided by Anna's Arts, an inspirational youth choir, and the exceptional Cathedral choir. Following the service there will be a reception that will provide not only a delicious array of food, but an exceptional opportunity for fellowship among a diverse group of people from throughout Southeastern Louisiana

Sponsored by the Diocesan Commission for Racial Reconciliation, the Service is the inaugural event in a year-long initiative to establish reconciliation groups in every parish in the Diocese of Louisiana. The Bishop has charged the Commission to establish such groups to assure that each parish not only adopts an anti-racism identity itself, but reaches out to their respective communities to eliminate racism wherever it may have taken root.

The Episcopal Cathedral is located at 2919 St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. 

For information contact:
Joy Shackelford

1623 Seventh Street

New Orleans, LA 70115

Phone: 504-895-6634  Fax: 985-895-6634

jshackelford@edola.org

http://www.edola.org/2015-convention is the official point of distribution for material related to the Convention. 

Important Due Date (with links to forms)

The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana desires to fund not-for-profit agencies that create, manage, and expand educational opportunities for African American children within the Diocese of Louisiana. Not-for-profit organizations and agencies are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Grant applications are now available and carry the application deadline of January 31. The period of funding is for one calendar year, and grants may be applied for annually. Programs that receive Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana funds may be required to submit an external program evaluation, quarterly financial statements, an end of year Income & Expense statement, and/or periodic progress reports.

The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is proud to honor the legacy of Mrs. Frances Joseph Gaudet, a turn-of-the century educator and activist. Mrs. Gaudet had the wisdom to leave her trust to the Episcopal Church in such a way that her mission would continue to find new ways of expression in changing times. Mrs. Gaudet dedicated her life to building alliances with people of every race and class. The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana is committed to keeping her purpose alive.

Grant applications are available for download here. More information on the Gaudet Fund can be found on the diocesan website here. 

In recognizing the Five Marks of Mission, especially "to seek to transform unjust structures of society, to challenge violence of every kind and to pursue peace and reconciliation", the United Thank Offering is seeking to address the current culture of violence by supporting the mission of peace as expressed in the Gospel. The Gospel of Love proclaimed by Jesus Christ is the focus for the United Thank Offering Grants during the 2014-2015 period.

The 2015 United Thank Offering Grant Application is now available. The following information should be helpful in preparing a United Thank Offering grant application. All additional forms necessary for the completion of a United Thank Offering Grant are also included below. The deadline for submission of a completed application (and required documents) is 5pm (EST) on Friday, January 15, 2015.

If you need assistance or have questions about the application, please contact Heather Melton, United Thank Offering Coordinator.
 

More information and forms available here.

In honor of its 125th anniversary, the United Thank Offering has created a special $1250 grant for young adults (ages 21-30) to provide start-up funds for a new project that focuses on any of the Five Marks of Mission.

One grant will be awarded in each of the nine provinces of The Episcopal Church.

Deadline for young adults to submit applications to their diocesan bishop is February 1, 2015. From there, bishops will select one application per diocese. Applications are due from the diocesan offices on February 15.

Application and additional information are available here.

The funds are not permitted to the continuation of on-going ministries.

A video of the start-ups will be showcased at the 78th General Convention in Salt Lake City, UT in June/July 2015.

For more information contact the Rev. Heather Melton, United Thank Offering coordinator, hmelton@episcopalchurch.org.

Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally.

by Karen Mackey, Asset Map Coordinator

If you have not been to the Episcopal Asset Map in some time, take a look now: edola.episcopalassetmap.org. Many diocese around the country are coming on board, including our neighbors- Diocese of Mississippi and Diocese of Western Louisiana. The map is looking great and is a useful tool in our ministry and mission.

St. James Episcopal Church to be a Partner Site

Many Christians worry about being complicit in a system that perpetuates economic inequality, a system that conflicts with deeply held religious values about social justice. But there are those who believe solutions are possible and that economic inequality represents a core justice issue that can be a vital focus for preaching, teaching, and social action.  

From January 22-25, 2015, St. James Episcopal Church's Center for Spiritual Formation will host the broadcast of a diverse group of scholars, faith leaders and economists including Dr. Cornel West, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, Barbara Ehrenreich and Robert Reich  as they offer strategies for developing a more just economy and instill the confidence to take action for social change at Trinity Institute's 44th National Theological Conference, Creating Common Good: A Practical Conference on Economic Equality, at Trinity Wall Street.  Conference participation is open to anyone interested in a practical, theological perspective on economic inequality and ideal for seminarians, students and young church leaders looking for thought-leadership from experts and activists.

Dr. West, author of The Rich and the Rest of Us, will offer an opening keynote building the framework of the conference. Archbishop Welby will consider when inequality becomes sinful and talk about the common good. Ms. Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed, is set to discuss the class divide in American society, delving into issues such as immigration, poverty, gender, and mobility.