All the News Since March, 2026
June 9, 2026
Ladies,
Let us catch up with events that have happened since I last wrote in March and upcoming events in the Diocese in which you and your group may want to participate. Here is where I remind you that if you and your group would like to share activities that the women in your church are doing or you want to inviteothers to participate in an event, email me and I will put them in this quarterly newsletter. For example, I love that at my home church (Grace and Holy Trinity Church, Richmond) where we do not have a formal ECW, we have two women’s groups: Spirited Sisters and Spirited Readers that meet once a month. Spirited Sisters’ sole purpose is to meet at a restaurant to share a meal with laughter, talking, and to build community. The Spirited Readers group needs a bit more commitment because they are supposed to read a book each month, but the purpose is essentially the same — build community through a common experience. Your women’s group may or may not be called an ECW, but may be a Daughters of the King chapter, or your altar guild, or a Bible Study. The key point is that we are all Episcopal Church Women.
Upcoming Events
Experience a Taize Service at St. Philip’s Episcopal Church June 10th and/or June 17th from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. 2900 Hanes Ave, Richmond, VA 23222
❖ This is a meditative, ecumenical Christian worship style originating from a monastic community in Taizé, France, characterized by candlelight, silence, and repetitive, simple chants led by Inez Tuck.
❖ It starts with a light dinner of soup and bread served at 5:30 pm in the Ruth E. Little Parish Hall with service starting at 6:00 pm in the Sanctuary.
Walking with the Enslaved Pilgrimage June 13, 2026 — St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (815 E. Grace Street, Richmond) June 14, 2026 — St. Philip’s Episcopal Church (2900 Hanes Ave, Richmond)
❖ On behalf of the worshiping communities of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church and St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, you are invited to register for Walking with the Enslaved: A Pilgrimage toward Truth, Reconciliation, and Hope in Richmond.
❖ Through this immersive, faith-based experience, participants engage with four centuries of Richmond’s racial history. On this journey, we confront the ways that white people distorted Christianity to justify colonization, slavery, and the construct of racial identity while recognizing the role that Christian faith played for African Americans to inspire resistance, hope, and liberation. By uncovering the truth of thishistory, we seek to inspire racial healing and equip communities to enact Jesus-centered justice in the future.
❖ For more information click on the link: episcopalvirginia.org/event
Juneteenth Celebration Starting at St. John’s Episcopal Church June 19, 2026 — A Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. 2401 E. Broad Street, Richmond, 23223
❖ All are invited to the sixth annual Community Juneteenth Celebration, hosted jointly by St. John’s, St. Philip’s, St. Peter’s, and Calvary HanoverEpiscopal Churches, with financial support also from St. Paul’s.
❖ In addition to celebrating Juneteenth as the day of African American freedom, the event celebrates the history of the historic Black Episcopal churches of the Richmond area in collaboration with St. John’s, which was instrumental in the founding of St. Peter’s.
❖ Schedule:
• 8:30 a.m. – Gather outside St. John’s Church
• 9:15 a.m. – Outdoor land acknowledgement, pouring of libations, and singing
• 9:30 a.m. – Celebratory parade from St. John’s to Peter Paul Development Center
• 10:30 a.m. – Worship service inside Peter Paul, with guest speaker Michael Paul Williams
• 11:45 a.m. – Dance performance by the Audacious Diamonds inside Peter Paul Development Center
• 12:15 p.m. – Picnic lunch, fellowship, and children’s activities, including a bounce house, outside St. Peter’s
❖ Bus transportation is available from Peter Paul Development Center to St. John’s from 8:00 to 9:15 a.m.; then for people who choose to ride instead of walk during the parade; and again from Peter Paul Development Center to St. John’s from 1:45 to 2:15 p.m.
❖ This community event is open to all without charge. For more information, contact the Rev. Bill Queen at 804-643-2686.
Third Annual ECW Gifts and Scholarships Tea September 26, 2026 — 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. The Church of the Epiphany, Richmond 8000 Hermitage Road, Richmond, Virginia 23228
❖ Join us for a relaxing afternoon of tea and conversation with all the trimmings of an English Afternoon Tea. Expect finger sandwiches; clotted cream, jam, and English scones; and a selection of sweets.
❖ Salve your conscience knowing that you are helping our young people with scholarships to colleges, universities, community colleges, and trade schools while feasting on all the goodies
❖ The cost for this event is $35.00
❖ Sign-up for this event by clicking on the Events Button at the top of the page.
The Fall Meeting of the Diocese of Virginia’s Episcopal Church Women October 17, 2026 — 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Grace and Holy Trinity Church 8 North Laurel St, Richmond, Virginia 23220
❖ The speaker will be Dr. Lisa Kimball
❖ In a quote dated August 29, 2025, the Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D. Dean and President of Virginia Theological Seminary and the President of The General Theological Seminary, said this about Dr. Kimball upon the announcement of her retirement in July 2026, “Dr. Kimball’s legacy at Virginia Theological Seminary is profound. Each morning, she can be found faithfully in chapel, her presence a quiet testament to her dedication. Renowned as an extraordinary teacher, she is also beloved as a supervisor for Master’s theses and doctoral projects—gentle, pastoral, and fully present to anyone feeling worried or alone. Her service to the wider church has been extraordinary – countless diocesan conventions have benefited from her wisdom.
❖ After hearing her inspirational talk at the 2025 Annual Convention, I said that she was someone who the ECW should hear from.
Summary of Past Events
I asked one of our board members, Beblon Parks, to share the notes she religiously takes at every event as I do not take notes and have a memory like a sieve. My intention was to use her notes as an aide de memoire to write my own summary, but after I read her summary, I decided that I could not improve on perfection. Both the summary of the Province III ECW Meeting and the Spring Meeting of the Diocesan ECW are written entirely by Beblon. I am most grateful for her words. You can see photos from these events in the Photo Gallery.
Province III ECW Annual Meeting in Norristown, Pennsylvania, April 24-25, 2026
On the Road Again
Three of us, Catherine, Phenie, and Beblon, set out on our journey to PA. Along the way we stopped and picked up our fourth, Cindy. To pass away the time, we engaged in a game of Bible Trivia. Each of us was rather confident that we would know the answers to most questions that might be asked. To our surprise, in many cases, we had a “little knowledge” but not always enough to fully answer the questions correctly.
We stopped along the way and were reminded that I-95 North has not changed. There’s always construction and always bumper to bumper traffic. Because the trip took longer that expected and our accommodation, a distance from the location for Evening Prayer conducted by Rev Christopher L. Schwann, Rector at St. John’s Church at Diocesan Center (Norristown, PA), the service had literally just ended when we arrived. Fortunately, we were just in time to join in and enjoy the fellowship of those gathered for refreshments.
Bright and early on Saturday morning, we checked out of our hotel and headed to the Diocesan Center. Dr. Renee Escoffery-Torres, Province III President called the Business Meeting to order. Opening Reflection and Prayer followed this. After the approval of the minutes from the 2025 Annual Meeting, President Renee brought greetings. The Reports from the officers were suspended as they had been sent out by email. Phenie Golatt, CPC Chair, gave an oral report and shared a table to resource with attendees. This was followed by reports from each Diocesan President in attendance. On display on tables around the room were various items brought by each Diocesan ECW present to share with attendees. The Diocese of VA brought emery boards. Province III Representative to the National ECW Board, Beblon Parks distributed copies of her written report that had been emailed prior to the meeting and shared highlights from the last NECW Board Meeting. She gave a brief presentation on the handout, designed by NECW Vice President Cindy Mohr, which contained QR Codes with brief descriptions of NECW initiatives, grant opportunities, scholarships and the 2027 Triennial. Each attendee was also given a “goody bag.”
Following the business meeting and lunch, Rev. Sarah Dunn, Interim Rector at Church of Holy Comforter (Drexel Hill, PA) gave the Keynote Address, “Our World, Many Women: Making a Difference. Rev. Dunn took her text from John 20:11-18, stressing that we should “Live in Resurrection”. One should live fully into abundance, not scarcity. She shared the story of Mary Magdalene and how she “kept showing up.” She suggested that we should “keep finding the Holy One in our midst.” She spoke of St. Julian of Norwich, the Holy Woman Hillary Mattix, St. Bridget of Ireland who “passed on the light of God” and shared that “creation is capable of healing itself.” Rev. Dunn directed participants in table groups to share information on one woman who has modeled death and resurrection. Some shared their stories aloud. She also shared information about the importance of creation care, using recycled materials and compoststrategies, and taking care of this earth. A stark example of a “resurrected” life was a rotten potato sprouting in a bowl she had on display. Rev. Dunn ended her presentation with the following: “For all that has been, thanks be to God; For all that is, thanks be to God. For all that will be; thanks be to God.”
Submitted by Beblon G. Parks
Diocesan ECW’s Spring Meeting May 5, 2026, at St. Martin’s, Richmond
De-Mystifying the Bible
with
Dr. Mark Biddle, Speaker
As he took off his jacket, adjusted his suspenders, and prepared to “de-mystify” the Bible, Dr. Mark Biddle made it clear that “the Bible is to be read on its own terms.” He said that “The Word” is not the Bible. Jesus is the word of God.” He went on to say what the Bible is. He said that the Bible is from the Greek word meaning little books. It is an anthology. It has 66 books and some 200-250 authors. It is canonical literature we are willing to measure things by. He shared that there are two measures of its authenticity: the Apostolicity and Catholicism. That is, it contains some connection with someone who has seen Jesus. (i.e.: The epistle Mark was written by Mark, but it was told to him by Peter who knew Jesus).
Of the 66 books you can hear the word of God but on different frequencies. It is both prescriptive and descriptive. There are many accounts that are not in the Bible because the 66 books that were selected were just that, selected. Others were omitted. According to Dr. Biddle, the Bible is both plain sense and literal sense. And, you can make the Bible say anything you want. There is what is referred to as dynamic equivalence, literacy context and cultural context, and the context of your own lives.
If Dr. Biddle made one thing clear, it was that the Bible was complex, needed lots of study, and was not the “Word of God.” Only the portions of the Bible where Jesus was speaking was the “Word of God.” The lesson for us is that we should read the Bible for ourselves and know that what we read is from many sources that have been authenticated. What is true is that what we read in “ourBibles” as our truths can also found in other religions/beliefs, like Judaism and Islam.
Submitted by Beblon G. Parks
I just have one further point, if you look at the photos from this event in the Photo Gallery, you will notice that many of us are wearing red. That is because May 5th, designated as Red Dress Day, is the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+). It serves as a day of remembrance, activism, and a call to action to address the disproportionately high rates of violence faced by Indigenous communities.
May the Word of God be with you,
Catherine OglePerrin
ECW President
Diocese of Virginia