More great speakers and workshops coming to Synod 2017!

Saturday, November 18, 2017
All Saints' Church (Woodbridge, VA)
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

Optional Lunchtime Breakout Sessions
 

Listening to God’s Direction in Your Life: The ancient practice of spiritual direction provides us with a powerful way to enter into deeper relationship with our Triune God. This session will introduce you to the biblical and historical roots of spiritual direction and will give you an experience of the kind of listening presence that a spiritual director offers. Offered by the faculty of Anam Cara for Training for Spiritual Directors.

The Rev. Sue Hardman is a priest at Truro Anglican Church and has been a spiritual director for more than 30 years. 

Desiree Barker is an experienced spiritual director, retreat leader, and teacher; she serves on the staff of the Titus Institute for Church Planting as the Resource Director.

Hope Foster Britt is a spiritual director, retreat leader, teacher and the founder of Caol Ait, a retreat community in Clifton.

 

Developing Your Emerging Leaders: Tom Herrick and Patrick Cunningham will meet with church leaders interested in developing their emerging leaders. Come hear about the many ways the Great Commission Committee can assist your congregation in identifying, training, coaching, and deploying your leaders to enable them fully to develop their gifts for leadership.

The Rev. Dr. Tom Herrick is Canon for Church Planting for the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic and Executive Director of the Titus Institute for Church Planting. 

Patrick Cunningham has served in various leadership and staff roles at Resurrection Anglican Church in Lutherville, MD, and the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic since 2005. Patrick has worked for and now serves on the board of directors of the Titus Institute for Church Planting. As a certified coach for church planters and leaders, he has worked with various planters and leaders throughout North America with emphasis in the Baltimore Area. Patrick has a passion for developing and mentoring leaders in the Church. He is also a postulant in the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic.
 

Taking the Next Bold Steps: The Rev. Rick Wright and the Rev. Joe Acanfora will meet with church leaders who wish to hear about the ReMissioning Workshop series that will be offered by the Great Commission Committee in early 2018. This series is ideal for those congregations who wish to assess and build on their strengths, identify and address their challenges, and design a plan for taking the next bold steps as a congregation.

The Rev. Rick Wright serves as the vice chair of the Great Commission Committee for the Diocese. As such, he helps the Committee fulfill its mandate to support church planting in the Diocese and to help strengthen our established congregations. Rick also serves as the Director for Congregational Care at the Falls Church Anglican. 

The Rev. Joe Acanfora is the Rector of Church of the Apostles, Fairfax, VA. Joe and his wife, Beth, have hearts to minister with power and God’s grace, serving his Church and reaching out into the community to serve others. Joe is a long term member of the Great Commission Committee and is eager to help our churches reach their full potential.

 

Conversation on Race and Grace: Race issues have become contentious and difficult to talk about, so how can I and my church deal effectively with racism? How can we, in some way, be agents of change and reconciliation? Are there prejudices in my own life of which I am unaware? How can I deal with that? Join the conversation.

Tom Tarrants is the Vice President for Ministry & Director, Washington Area Fellows Program at the C.S. Lewis Institute in Washington, D.C. He is a former Ku Klux Klan terrorist. He was ambushed by local police during a planned dynamite bombing at the home of Mayer Davidson a leading Anti-Defamation League official in Meridian, MI. He was severely wounded in the attack and later served eight years in prison. While in prison he came to Christ and renounced his racist beliefs. Tom has served as co-pastor of Christ Our Shepherd Church in Washington, D.C. and as a member of churches in our diocese, most recently The Falls Church Anglican. He is the author of two books, and consults with churches and organizations seeking to develop discipleship programs and materials to strengthen the local church. Tom holds a Master of Divinity Degree, as well as a Doctor of Ministry Degree in Christian Spirituality. 

 

Afternoon Breakout Sessions

A History of Race and the Church in the American Anglican Tradition: This breakout session will take a deep look at the history of racism in the Church from its origins in the fifteenth century to the modern era, with an emphasis on the Anglican tradition in the United States. 

Albert Thompson is a war, conflict and peace historian and an instructor of history at Northern Virginia Community College. He joined the Anglican Church in North America in 2011. In 2016, he was elected to the Vestry of Christ the King Church (Alexandria,VA) and to the Standing Committee of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. He holds a Masters in Military History from Norwich University where his research focused on the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He is currently pursuing his Ph.D. in history at Howard University where he focuses on post-Second World War American identity. He is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts. 
 

Community Vacation Bible School: Coming to a Neighborhood Near You? Come learn how to become an ambassador for Christ in your mission field, right on the streets where you and the members of your church live. Community Vacation Bible School (CVBS) is a partnership of churches from different denominations united in the mission of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and loving their neighbors. This unique model of stationary and mobile missionary teams reaches people in local yards, parks and shelters who have never heard of Jesus or experienced his love and would not likely step inside a church building on their own. CVBS has powerfully touched hundreds of families in rural, suburban and inner city communities. After experiencing this model locally, Community Vacation Bible School volunteers of all ages have then taken CVBS to neighborhoods in Sudan, Jamaica, Nicaragua, Thailand and Ukraine.

Lindsey Feldman is the Children’s Ministry Director at All Saints’ Church in Woodbridge, VA and leader of the Community VBS (CVBS) movement. Lindsey also chairs the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic’s Child Protection Committee and trains Child Protection Workshop Leaders throughout the diocese and in other denominations. With a BSW and a MA in Counseling, Lindsey worked for many years as a Probation Officer and Family Counselor for the Juvenile Court and helped establish and lead the Juvenile Justice Parenting Program through Cooperative Extension. As the Community VBS Director, Lindsey travels to more than 35 local sites annually and has journeyed to Sudan, Nicaragua and Jamaica to join teams of volunteers taking the Gospel to mission doorsteps in many cultures. In 2016, the Community VBS movement was featured in a workshop at the New Wineskins Mission Conference.

 

Reaching the Jewish People Around Us: How we could bring thousands of our Jewish neighbors into our Churches: The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic matches geographically the footprint of the seventh largest Jewish population center in the USA. 700,000 Jewish people live within the boundaries of our diocese, approximately 14% of the US Jewish population. This breakout will take a look at those demographics and the geography of this mission field and its implication for ministry. Historically, Jewish people have chosen to live in mostly homogeneous neighborhoods in one part of a major city. The nature of the Washington DC metropolitan area and its proximity to Baltimore has caused a different configuration. Instead of one major neighborhood, there are many smaller, but still concentrated, clusters throughout our diocese. Many of these Jewish neighborhoods are in the same areas our parishes are located. Of equal importance is the rapidly accelerating percentage of Jewish/Gentile couples, i.e. 44% of all Jewish people are married to Gentiles. Recent studies show acute disharmony in those relationships. A sensitive outreach program to these culturally mixed secular marriages, is a largely untouched field in which the news of Jesus the Jewish Messiah can bring spiritual harmony. Many of you already know that your parish is near a Jewish neighborhood. This session will be an opportunity to explore how to effectively reach out to them. 

The Rev. Daryl Fenton is National Director of CMJ-USA—the Church’s Ministry Among Jewish People. Daryl previously served as Canon to Archbishop Robert Duncan of the Anglican Church in North America, overseeing mission relationships nationally and internationally. He also served as Canon and Chief Operating Officer for the Anglican Communion Network, a founding organization of the Anglican Church in North America. Daryl is a graduate of Wheaton College in Wheaton, IL, and Trinity School for Ministry in Ambridge, PA.

 

What Did I Just Sign? Affirming Our Fundamental Declarations: We sign things all of the time, whether it’s the electronic form promising our good behavior before we log onto the wifi network at Starbucks, or the dozens of signature sheets that are part of making a major purchase. Sometimes we never get around to understanding what we have signed. We don’t want that to be the case when you come to diocesan synod. Part of being a delegate to this year’s synod was signing the Anglican Church in North America’s “Fundamental Declarations.” Our goal is that at the end of this session, you will have a deeper understanding of the theological, churchly and christological commitments we have all signed on to as Anglicans.

The Rev. Peter Frank is Rector of Church of the Epiphany in Herndon, VA. 
The Rev. Nicholas Lubelfeld is Pastoral Associate at the Falls Church Anglican in Falls Church, VA.

 

The Way Forward: Discipleship—You know it is important, but what is it?  And how do you raise it from a class or program to a way of life? “The Way Forward” will provide you with a framework for answering this question: What is the mission of the church? What part does discipleship play in this mission? How do you align your church to accomplish it? What resources and tools are helpful? “The Way Forward” addresses these questions in an informative, engaging presentation.

Steve Cannizzaro is the Director of Discipleship and Outreach at The Falls Church Anglican. He is responsible for growing firmly rooted, mature disciples of Jesus who bear the fruit of the Spirit; nurturing wholehearted Kingdom communities that reflect the glory of God; directing those communities to love and serve our neighbors across the street and around the world; and equipping them to share the good news of Jesus Christ. Steve is attending Trinity School for Ministry where he is studying to obtain a Masters of Arts (Religion) in Christian History and Theology. He is a Postulant for Ordination in the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic.  

 

The Jesus Way of Discipleship: Developing Relational Environments to Foster One-on-One Discipleship: Come explore how Jesus made disciples. We will be looking at using existing cultural practices to create environments for discipleship. And looking at how meeting felt needs within the culture can lead to amazing ministry and discipleship opportunities. 

The Rev. Josh Kammerer is the lead pastor for Apostles Campus Church at George Mason University in Fairfax, VA and is working with an awesome team to spread the word on campus about how amazing the love of God is. He, his wife Stephanie and their young son live in Washington, DC. He is also the associate rector at Church of the Apostles, Fairfax, VA and oversees various aspects of discipleship in the life of the church. Josh uses the Campus Church environment to “beta test” various methods of discipleship before unleashing them on the Apostles congregation.

Bart Murnion serves as the Church Administrator at Church of the Holy Spirit, Leesburg, VA. He has responsibility over finance, administration, and facilities. He is also the director of Muintearas House, a unique residential discipleship training ministry for a group of men, who live with his family.

Registration is now open for Synod 2017 - Register today!

By Lisa Anderson

Registration is now open for Synod 2017 
November 17-18. 2017
Click here to REGISTER.
 

Registration is now open for Synod 2017 (November 17-18) at All Saints’ Church, Woodbridge, VA. Synod is not only for clergy and delegates, anyone in the diocese is more than welcome to attend.

Synod is not only for clergy and delegates, anyone in the diocese is more than welcome to attend and see what we’re all about.

WHO NEEDS TO REGISTER?  

• You need to register if you would like to attend the Pre-Synod Session on Friday, November 17, 3-6:30 p.m. – Making Disciple-Making Disciples. Dinner is provided afterward for those attending the session who indicated on their registration they wished to be included in the dinner count. The Pre-Synod Session is open to everyone - You do not have to attend Synod to attend this workshop.
• Clergy and delegates must register so that ballots can be prepared for them. 
• If you would like to attend Synod as a guest or observer and stay for lunch on Saturday please register so we have an accurate count for lunch. There is no charge for this event.  Everyone who registers will receive a nametag and packet.
• No registration is needed if you only plan to attend the Friday night Eucharist or the Saturday breakout sessions. You also do not need to register if you plan to just drop by to visit the exhibits.

Synod 2017 Documents

Synod 2017 Timeline

ACCOMMODATION

Should you require overnight accommodation Friday evening:

• A block of rooms has been reserved at the Comfort Suites Hotel, 14525 Gideon Drive. (703-490-4100) 
• The cost is $92.00/night plus tax and includes breakfast. 
• Ask for the group rate for DOMA Synod 2017
• The cut-off date for this discounted group rate is Friday, November 3

VOLUNTEER

Synod 2017 is a major event in the life of our diocese and we need lots of volunteers to make everything run smoothly. If you would like to become more involved and volunteer, click here to volunteer or contact Lisa Anderson at lisa.anderson@anglicandoma.org,

We look forward to seeing you at Synod 2017!

Lisa Anderson is the Event Coordinator for the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic.

Calling all Anglicans into Action for Life!

 

Click here to register.
Click here for more information.

Into the Harvest Series

Coming Soon: A new Anglican church for Arlington, Virginia!

By Nathan Dickerson

In the Fall of 2014, as our congregation, Restoration Anglican Church, moved into our new facility that is located just north of the Ballston Metro stop in Arlington, we began to dream about what it would look like to help plant other new Anglican churches inside the Beltway. That desire led to lots of conversations, strategy sessions, times of prayer, and listening to the insights of our members. Out of this emerged a vision to plant a new work in South Arlington. 

A few key leaders stepped forward to help direct this effort – Rev. Liz Gray (associate rector at Restoration), the Rev. Morgan Reed (a newly ordained priest in our diocese), and Amy Rowe (a key lay leader and a postulant in our diocese). They are now in the process of gathering a launch team to help plant this new work, which will be called Incarnation Anglican Church.

This is an interview I had with this team to let you know more about this emerging work.

Tell us how you were drawn to plant this new congregation in South Arlington:

Amy: My husband and I have felt a call to cross-cultural ministry since we were in college. We always anticipated that this would mean a move overseas at some point. But instead, when we moved to South Arlington, we discovered that God had brought people from all over the world to our doorstep. We love living in such a vibrant, cross-cultural neighborhood, where we are more likely to hear Arabic than English on the playground, and the gas station on the corner sells freshly made injera. Almost since the day we moved into our house here, we have been asking God to send us people who would join us in befriending and praying for our neighbors. So, when Restoration announced its church planting efforts here, it felt like a clear answer to our prayers. 

Morgan: My wife, Ashley, and I moved to south Arlington back in 2012 because we wanted to live in Virginia and needed an “inexpensive” place to live while I did graduate work at the Catholic University of America. After beginning the ordination process, Bishop John reminded me of the importance of a priest getting to know his or her neighbors. We took that exhortation seriously and began getting to know our neighbors’ names and being a part of their lives. Because this had become a normal rhythm of life for Ashley and I, when we heard that Restoration wanted to plant in our zip code, God seemed to make it clear that this is exactly what he equipped me for. My academic studies and upbringing have made me a bridge between several different Christian communities and I long to see a church that bridges not only ethnic communities, but partners with local churches to see the Holy Spirit transform neighborhoods.

Liz: In my outreach role at Restoration I have had the huge privilege of working cross culturally in many different countries over many years, and with church planters in many global contexts. When Restoration began exploring church planting in South Arlington I was immediately intrigued by the fact that all the nations of the world were gathered on our doorstep! Did you know 150+ languages are spoken along Columbia Pike? So, I have jumped in - My husband and I have sold our North Arlington home, and we are now moved into a local community in South Arlington. We are curious as to whether our new neighbors already know Jesus, and praying that if they don’t we can be a part of their journey to know him.

What excites you about serving in this particular community? What is unique about this place?

Amy: I love the ethnic and socioeconomic diversity of this neighborhood. A few weeks ago, my kids and I were playing in a neighborhood park which has a stream that runs under a bike path. A big family of immigrants was splashing in the stream; the kids were playing while the mother beat wet clothes against a rock, presumably doing her washing. Meanwhile, cyclists in expensive gear whizzed past overhead. What would it look like for these people to worship Jesus together? In planting a church in this context, I see an opportunity to grow a community that reflects God’s ministry of reconciliation and the rich diversity of heaven.

Morgan: There is a beautiful diversity in these neighborhoods that is complemented by a desire to create healthy neighborhoods. In some of our prayer walks throughout South Arlington, we discovered that some families have lived in their home for generations (a rarity for the DC-Metro area). Several times a year, one of the civic associations organizes food-truck gatherings with a host of cuisines and live music. These neighborhoods care about healthy relationships and quality of life. When I grill in the public park, it seems like every table around me is speaking a different language and this kind of diversity excites me for what God might do when we build relational bridges.

Liz: Somehow it actually reminds me of home - well all my homes, both South Africa and London. I love the mix of races, languages, cultures...

How have you seen God at work as you have begun to lay the groundwork for this new church?

Amy: This preliminary work is slow and sometimes discouraging, as the task ahead of us is far too big for us to accomplish in our own strength. But God has provided steady reassurance from his Word, his Spirit, and the well-timed encouragement of others all along the way. And there have been some very specific, incredible answers to prayer that re-energize me. I’ll share one story: One evening, I was feeling discouraged because one family who had shown initial enthusiasm was no longer interested in joining the church plant. I cynically texted our team, wondering whether anyone would come to this church at all, when an Ethiopian woman knocked on my front door and started up a conversation in halting English. Thirty minutes later, she shared that she was looking for a church home in South Arlington! It seemed that God was gently reminding me that of course people would come to this church; just not necessarily the people I had envisioned. 

Liz: I have another story to add: Amy and I were looking at potential worship space properties with a realtor. In one particular property, the rental space was downstairs while the owners lived upstairs. Before we even fully understood what was happening, the realtor had brought us upstairs to meet the owners. We found ourselves sitting around the kitchen table with the property owner, an older Iranian woman who fed us cookies and teared up as she talked about her husband’s illness (he was asleep in the bedroom) and her distant grandchildren. We offered to pray with her, and she told us a story of a dramatic encounter with Jesus in a vision earlier in life, and professed that she had loved Jesus since that day. We prayed with her in the name of Jesus and prayed a blessing over her home. It was not at all what we expected from that realtor appointment, but exactly what God had in mind for us in that space at that time. It reminded us that God has already gone ahead of us to work in the hearts of people in this neighborhood.

Morgan: One day during the summer we worked with several local churches to give away back-to-school supplies to the surrounding neighborhoods. God provided us someone in the launch team who is nearly a professional balloon modeler (i.e. he’s great at making balloon animals). Families were lining up on both sides of the sidewalk so that kids could come and get their balloon puppies or balloon swords. He taught me how to make a sword as well, and so standing there in my collar behind the table, I made sword after sword. This was a very incarnational moment as I reflected on who we are as Anglicans (having a formal grounded-ness) and who we are as Incarnation (approachable, thoughtful, caring). After we finished with all our balloons, we had a chance to pass out cards to people and offer prayer. The response that people of various ethnic communities had was that they were excited we were there to love and serve them, and one gentleman that I spoke with found comfort in knowing that I only lived two blocks from him. Moving forward, God keeps reminding me that I might be the priest wearing an alb in the sanctuary and having a balloon hat on my head during the coffee hour...and I love that!

What challenges or potential obstacles are you facing right now?

Amy: Worship space is a big one. Although our particular corner of Arlington is comprised of many working-class families, the cost of living is still high, and rental space is at a premium. Balancing our competing needs for strategic location and financial feasibility is challenging. Another challenge has been what feels like heightened spiritual attack. Some of this has been in the form of health issues in ourselves and our families. Physical and spiritual weariness is intense at times. And finally, being bi-vocational is stretching and challenging for all of us. Liz works full-time at Restoration; Morgan and I both work part-time; all three of us are students; and we all have families who need and deserve our attention. We want to plant a community that is restful and balanced, but to do so, we must embody healthy rhythms of work and rest in our own lives.  

Liz: I would agree with Amy—finding boundaries of time and space for rest! Also, knowing exactly where to worship as we begin.

How can others in the diocese pray for you or support you?

Amy: It sounds like a cliché, but prayer is really what we need most. We face spiritual opposition as well as limited time and resources. We need God to go ahead of us and clear the path. And of course, we need financial support (particularly as we anticipate a working- class congregation). And if anyone has a spare communion table and liturgical supplies lying around, we’ll gratefully take those too. :)

Morgan: Prayers for guidance. We want to allow enough time for the Holy Spirit to form us according to the very specific needs of South Arlington. Personally, I would love prayers for productivity in my dissertation. Sometimes I am embattled by the discouragement of trying to fuse my generalist/pastoral calling with my specialist/academic calling. I invite prayers against that discouragement and invite creative input on how others have done this in their setting.

Liz: Prayers - yes! Please! If anyone would like to get more specific prayer requests please email me, liz@incarnationanglican.org  And pray for us for clarity, wisdom, godly intuition and much joy in the process of finding where God is working and leaping in to join Him!

How to stay connected with Incarnation:

We are diligently working on the website (incarnationanglican.org), but until it is finished, you can keep up-to-date with what is happening on our Facebook page or send Morgan an email (morgan@incarnationanglican.org) in order to be added to our prayer letter.

The Rev. Nathan Dickerson is the Associate Rector at Restoration Anglican Church in Arlington, VA.

Could you be called to the ministry of Spiritual Direction?

By Desiree Barker

Anam Cara is a School for Spiritual Directors that was founded in response to the rapidly growing need for trained spiritual directors, particularly in the Washington, DC area. 

Currently students are travelling as far as Arizona, the Midwest, and New England to participate in programs that will enable them to walk alongside another in the role of spiritual director. Hence, we asked, "Why not utilize the gifted spiritual directors already in place in Northern Virginia to train others?" 

Anam Cara is offering a morning retreat on October 21, 2017 at Caol ‘Ait Retreat Center in Clifton, Virginia from 9 to noon for those interested in exploring a call to the ministry of spiritual direction. The retreat will also include details about joining the next training cohort (beginning in early 2018). If you or someone you know is being called to this vital ministry we would love to have you join us! Contact hope2glorify@gmail.com for further details and to register for the retreat. The fee for the morning is $25.

Desiree Barker is a member of All Saints' Church, Woodbridge, VA. She also serves as a member of the Great Commission Committee. 

You are invited to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land

By Dean Schultz

Would you like to go on an adventure with fellow Anglicans that will help to make the Bible “come alive” for you in a way that you have never experienced before? The Rev. Dean Schultz and his wife, Glorianne, would like to invite you to join their Faith Pilgrimages Team for an 11-Day Pilgrimage to the Holy Land January 22-February 1. 2018, where you will have a unique opportunity to walk in the footsteps of Jesus (not to mention the Old and New Testament saints).

This unique pilgrimage includes visits to top Biblical sites, life-transforming times of teaching, praise accompanied by Davidic instruments, prayer, reflection, great fellowship over delicious Mediterranean meals and first-class accommodations.

To download a brochure with itinerary and registration information go to worshipequippers.org, and click on Holy Land Pilgrimages. You can also connect with Rev. Schultz via email at DSchultz@worshipequippers.org, or by calling 703.297.8139.  You are encouraged to register ASAP (registration deadline is October 15).

The Rev. Dean Schultz is Associate Rector of Church of the Holy Spirit in Leesburg, VA.

Anglicans participating in Hurricane Relief efforts

By Christine Jones

In the past month, I imagine you—like me—have seen more heart-wrenching photos of hurricane damage than you ever wanted! However, I hope you have also been following us on Facebook to read about some of the relief efforts put in place by the local church. Many of you generously gave and your funds are supporting these efforts. Giving shelter to those who have lost everything, participating in rebuilding efforts, handing out school supplies to shell-shocked kids—the local church has truly been the hands and feet of Jesus during these crises. 

You may wonder, how does ARDF decide to designate relief funds? Why the focus on Houston for Harvey and Jacksonville for Irma relief? Why were there no appeals for the Mexican earthquakes? What about Hurricane Maria? 

The ARDF model always involves the local church. For domestic crises, we work through the ACNA College of Bishops to partner with an ACNA diocese willing and able to manage the relief funds. The process starts with a local church coming forward to accept this responsibility. ACNA is growing, but it hasn’t yet penetrated all the areas where disasters hit. When there is no ACNA presence on the ground, we pledge to refer you to reputable partners: people and organizations who share our commitment to working through the local church.

This model of working through the local church is how we work internationally as well. This is why we are excited to offer you ARDF Vision Trips: the opportunity to go and meet local leaders doing good in their communities through the local church. Watch Jennifer Collins talk about how her first ever mission trip deepened her passion for global missions. Might 2018 be the year you travel to see firsthand where ARDF invests your money? Rwanda is calling!

ARDF is based on relationships. And relationships have the power to transform lives. Join us in the effort!

Donate to Hurricane Irma relief

Donate to Hurricane Harvey relief

Donate to Hurricane Maria relief

Christine Jones is the Director of Mobilization for the Anglican Relief and Development Fund.

Margie Harper to lead "A Day of Ministry and Prayer"

By Jan Rooney

On Saturday, October 28, 2017, the Women's Ministry of Church of the Apostles (Fairfax, VA) will sponsor a "Day of MInistry and Prayer" led by Margie Harper. It will be held at Calvary Hill Baptist Church (9301 Little River Turnpike, Fairfax, VA 22031) from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. All women are welcome to join us!

This day will be an opportunity for God to find us, heal us, renew, and deepen our intimacy with Him. In the morning there will be a teaching on "Healing the Mother Wound." This will help us not only understand what a sense of well-being is at the deep level of the heart, but it will also help us minister to others who may be struggling with similar wounding. The afternoon teaching, "He Makes Me Lie Down in Green Pastures," will free us to rest in His love, and rise up to bless others. 

Cost: $25.00 – A light breakfast, lunch, and beverages will be provided. Free childcare is provided with advance registration.

Register at: www.churchoftheapostles.org/women or call the Church of the Apostles office at 703-591-1974 by Tuesday, October 24, 2017.  Payment can be made online at the registration site or by mailing checks to the church office at:  3957 Pender Dr., Suite 100, Fairfax, VA  22030. Questions? Call Ingrid Barton at 703-354-0492.

Jan Rooney is a member of Church of the Apostles, Fairfax, VA.

Goliath Must Fall: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants

By Chloellen Miller

Plan to join us through October 31, 2017, for Pastor Louie Giglio’s new Bible Study, Goliath Must Fall: Winning the Battle Against Your Giants. “Many of us have giants in our lives—hang-ups and habits, fears and insecurities that keep us from reaching our full potential. Frozen, we lose sight of the promise God has for our lives and settle for far less than best. But there is a better way forward… Louis Giglio offers powerful insights from the Biblical story of David that will help you overcome your giants once and for all by fixing your eyes on the size of your God, not the size of your giant.”

We meet in All Saints’ Church (14851 Gideon Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22192) in the multi-purpose room each Tuesday from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 noon. This is a great way to introduce a friend to Bible Study. Whether you’ve done many Bible Studies or none, all women are welcome, and we’ve saved a place for you. The cost for this DVD based series and workbook is $9. Free childcare is available in the church nursery.

Contact Chloellen@comcast.net for more information, to order a workbook, or to reserve a place in the nursery for your child.

Chloellen Miller is a member of Immanuel Anglican Church in Woodbridge, VA.

The Coracle Fellowship is now taking applications

By Bill Haley

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.”  --- Howard Thurman

When these words came through my email in a reflection written by one of our current Coracle Fellows, I was arrested, for two reasons.  One, they were by Howard Thurman, one of the most important African American voices in the 20th century, a theologian-leader-prophet-academic-mystic-luminary.  At the suggestion of one of our other Fellows, I’ve been reading Thurman quite a bit this year, and he’s taken me to the deep places.

The second reason I was so moved was that “Thurman is describing exactly what the Coracle Fellowship is all about!!” My goodness!  Below are the words that describe our yearlong spiritual formation program. Are you longing for more?  Do you want to grow?  Do you feel God calling you to greater depth and passion and service?
 
God made you beautifully and radically unique. God did this so that you could joyfully thrive in this world for the sake of the world through your unique experience and expression of deeper union with Jesus. The Coracle Fellowship leads you through a yearlong process of discovery and deepening in community with others who are also seeking more in their relationship with God and in their redemptive engagement in the brokenness that surrounds us all. It is program of “Spiritual Formation For Kingdom Action.” We offer it for your joy and freedom, and because the world needs more people who are alive and strong in God to powerfully be his presence wherever you go and wherever God leads you.
 
Friends, here’s the deal: This year’s pilot of the Coracle Fellowship has been powerful in ways only God can do, and 2018 will be even better for all that this year has taught us. The Coracle Fellowship 2018 starts January 6, and as of today we’re taking applications. We’d love for you to prayerfully consider this, AND forward this along to anyone you think might be interested and really benefit from it.
 
My prayer for weeks (which will continue) has been “God, please lead to our Fellows 2018 who you really want to meet through it.” Is that you?
 
You can find the full description of the Coracle Fellows here, including all the retreat dates for the coming year, and you can apply here.  We’re taking applications through November 15 and will be back in touch by December 1, then dive in in early January.
 
I’m so grateful for the Coracle Fellows this past year, and look forward to seeing to the community God creates for 2018!

The Rev. Bill Haley is Executive Director of Coracle and is the Associate Rector of The Falls Church Anglican.

DOMACAST: Into the Harvest Series

The Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic brings insightful podcasts featuring a cross section of speakers from all walks of our Christian life.  Listen on the diocesan website and subscribe to DOMACAST here.

We’ve launched a new series on DOMACAST called Into the Harvest. This series will focus on the mission and ministry of church planting and church health. This work in the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic is led by  the Great Commission Committee (GCC). Tom Herrick, Canon for Church Planting for the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic (as well as the Executive Director of the Titus Institute) is the chair of the GCC. We asked Tom to be our first guest in this new series. Listen online or subscribe today!

Next up we interview the Rev. Jay Baylor, Vicar of Church of the Apostles in the City (Baltimore, MD). Jay Baylor writes, "I never expected to end up in the city. I’m the son of farmers and truck drivers from Central Pennsylvania. In 2006, I was challenged by Heidi Baker’s testimony to “go where only the Gospel could make a difference.” I felt the Lord guide us into East Baltimore, one of the most challenged neighborhoods in our region." Listen to the interview online or subscribe here.

Our latest episode features the Rev. Alex Leighton, Associate Rector of All Saints' Church. He talks about living a "full life" and actively engaging in "ministry on our doorstep," right where we live. Click here to listen.

You may also find featured talks in the DOMACAST podcast available for free in the iTunes Store here.  You may listen to episodes online, download to your device, or subscribe.

Check out the Jobs Board

One of the top hits on the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic website is our Jobs Board that advertises employment in our churches and related organizations in the diocese.

Click here to see the latest employment openings. To request that a position be posted, please send an email to Mary Ailes with the position title, a brief description of the position, a website link to further information if available, the deadline for applications if appropriate, and the email address of a point of contact.  

Get the message out and pass the word

It's easy to subscribe to receive the Mid-Atlantic Messenger. All are encouraged to sign up to receive the official newsletter of the Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic. You may post the link on your Facebook page, tweet it or run the information in your weekly service leaflet.

To receive the Mid-Atlantic Messenger just click here and fill out the simple form online. After you finish completing the form, be sure to click on the link sent to you in your confirmation email and you are all set!  Questions?  Contact Mary Ailes at mary.ailes@anglicandoma.org.

The Mid-Atlantic Messenger

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