I hope you will forgive me if this cover letter is not as reflective as some and focuses more on the business of the diocese. These are exciting times in the diocese and I want to make sure you as a congregation feel informed. We are getting very close to the time we will elect a new bishop. There are now five candidates, one of which will be elected the 10th Bishop of The Diocese of Southern Virginia. You can find out about these candidates by going to the Bishop Search website: www.svabishop.org . The most current Jamestown Cross also has biographies of all five candidates. (Some names may have been added through a petition process but they are not available as of this writing.) Saturday September 27, 2008 the Episcopal Election will be held at Powhatan High School. The Delegates and Alternates who will be going to this election from St. Christopher’s are Kathy Hall and Donald Epley (Delegates) and Jamie Jamieson and Brenda Edmondson (Alternates). There will be several “Walk Abouts” so that you can meet the candidates – these are open to everyone and I strongly encourage you to go. This way you can make your desires known to myself and the delegates who will be representing you when electing your new Bishop. The dates for the Walk Abouts are below:
September 12 – 15 – Episcopal Candidates’ Walk Abouts (open to everyone):
- 12th (Friday) – 1st Baptist, South Boston – 6:30 to 10:00.
- 13th (Saturday) – Methodist Center, Blackstone – 9:15 to 12:45.
- 13th (Saturday) – St. Andrew’s, Newport News - 4:00 to 7:30.
- 14th (Sunday) – Galilee, Virginia Beach – 3:00 to 6:30.
- 15th (Monday) – Northampton High, Eastville – 7:00 to 10:30.
After the Walk Abouts have bee completed we will have a parish meeting to talk about the candidates.
On the Bishop Search website you will also find several prayers to use during the process. In the next week or so we will begin using these in our worship. Please use them in your personal prayer life as well.
O God, in your wisdom and mercy you have entrusted us to Jesus, your Word made flesh: Grant us his clear vision, kind heart, and self-giving love, as together we seek a Bishop for this diocese. Through his Spirit may our wills be so gathered into your will that your reign of justice and love come on earth as in heaven. In our blindness enlighten us, from our stubbornness free us, in the breaking of the bread renew us, that in all things and in every creature we may love you and serve you now and to the ages of ages. Amen.
God be with you all and with our diocese as we move on,
Eileen+
The Rev. Eileen Walsh, Rector
